By Matt Grubs, NMiF Producer

As advertised, here’s the remainder of our interview with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. We tackle subsidies in more depth as well as explore the genetic modification of crops and the true cost of food – including livestock. Thanks as always for watching and let us know what you think!

New Mexico in Focus tackles the past and future this week, as the 70th anniversary of the Bataan Death March approaches. United States Senator Tom Udall talks about his efforts – along with other members of Congress – to honor veterans of the march by awarding them the Congressional Gold Medal.

And budget changes at New Mexico’s nuclear laboratories loom large for the future. Senator Udall addresses what’s ahead for Los Alamos and Sandia.

The Line hits the campaign trail in-depth this week, as the opinion panel talks about New Mexico’s place in the national political landscape as well as some new twists in primary battles for seats in the state legislature.

A Republican stalwart in the New Mexico State Senate, Rod Adair stunned the political world this week when he announced he won’t seek reelection in the face of a primary battle. Adair sits down to talk about his efforts to ensure Republican gains in the state legislature and what’s ahead for him.

As always some of the week’s more interesting headlines provide material for The Line to go on the clock, spending and spinning a quick minute on each topic.

New Mexico in Focus March 30, 2012 Audio .MP3
Gene Grant hosts this week of New Mexico in Focus. Featuring Javier Benavidez, Jamie P. Estrada, Javier Martinez, & Dan Foley. Matt Grubs interviews Nathan Collins, Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of California at Irvine on Voting Behavior.

NMiF March 30 Audio [ 58:06 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

By Matt Grubs, NMiF Producer

It’s been a rough week for New Mexico’s public image. First, a lengthy investigation by the New York Times used the state as a prime example of what’s wrong in the world of horse racing. Then, the Duke City grabbed national headlines for a policy of the Albuquerque Police Officers’ Association to pay its officers in cash (or check) after they’re placed on leave following a shooting. The policy itself isn’t new or even all that unique, but it’s not well known and fallout over the publicity cost the top two union leaders their jobs.

We’ll step aside from controversial subjects for a few minutes as political scientist Nathan Collins talks about what the replicants in Ridley Scott’s sci-fi classic “Blade Runner” can tell us about how we vote. Collins theorizes that we use subtle clues – often subconscious ones – to inform ourselves about what a candidate is “really like”.

Thanks for swinging by! Enjoy the show.