>> NARRATOR: FUNDING FOR NEW  MEXICO IN FOCUS PROVIDE BY THE MCCUNE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION  AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

>> Gene: THIS WEEK ON NEW  MEXICO IN FOCUS, THE STATE'S LATEST PFAS STUDY FINDS TOXINS  IN WATER ACROSS NEW MEXICO.

WE'LL HEAR FROM AN EXPERT.

>> Roose: TRYING TO ADDRESS AND MEDIATE AND HOLD PEOPLE  ACCOUNTABLE FOR CONTAMINATION.

>> Gene: AND REACTION TO THE  ARREST OF THE LEADER OF COWBOYS FOR TRUMP, AS  PRESIDENTIAL POWER CHANGES HANDS.

NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS STARTS NOW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

I AM YOUR HOST, GENE GRANT.

NEW BEGINNINGS THIS WEEK AS  THE LEGISLATURE STARTS ITS 2021 SESSION AND THE BIDEN  ADMINISTRATION GETS TO WORK.

THE LINE OPINION PANEL WILL  TOUCH ON BOTH AND TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT AN IMMIGRATION  PLAN THAT WOULD AFFECT NEW MEXICO.

AND WE'LL TALK TO A BAND MANAGER ABOUT THE LONG ROAD  AHEAD FOR PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS WHO WERE SILENCED BY  COVID-19 AND SOME FEEL IGNORED BY AIDE PROGRAMS.

HERE IS THE LINE.

THE FIRST WEEK OF THE STATE  LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS IN THE BOOKS.

FRANKLY IT HAS BEEN WEIRD.

PLEXIGLASS PANELS DIVIDE  REPRESENTATIVES.

NO STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS  AND LITTLE OPENING DAY PAGEANTRY.

NOBODY MET WEDNESDAY BECAUSE OF INAUGURAL SECURITY CONCERNS  AS YOU KNOW WHICH MIGHT HAVE BEEN FOUNDED DIDN'T AMOUNT TO  ANYTHING, THANK GOODNESS.

NOW THE LAWMAKING BEGINS.

APPROPRIATELY OUR THREE LINE OPINION PANELISTS JOINING US  BY ZOOM, ONE A VERY FAMILIAR BUT ALWAYS WELCOME FACE,  ATTORNEY SOPHIE MARTIN.

LOVE THAT WAVE.

AND SOMEONE WE HOPE WE'LL SEE MORE OF, FORMER REPORTER FOR  THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN, STEVE TERRELL AND RADIO  PERSONALITY, TJ TROUT, WHO IS THE HOST OF HIS OWN SHOW ON  96.3 KOB AFTERNOONS 3:00 TO 6:00 P.M.  STEVE, LET ME START WITH YOU, OUR LEGISLATIVE VETERAN.

REPUBLICANS IN BOTH CHAMBERS ARE UPSET ABOUT THE WAY THE  DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY HAS GONE ABOUT SETTING UP THE SESSION.

THEY SAY IT IS NOT TRANSPARENT, HARDER TO TESTIFY  IN COMMITTEE AND EASIER TO MAKE LAST MINUTE CHANGES TO  LEGISLATION THAT GETS MINIMAL SECURITY.

LET ME GET YOUR THOUGHT ON THAT.

WHAT IS YOUR SENSE SO FAR?

>> Steve: WELL, THEY MAY  ACTUALLY HAVE A POINT THERE ABOUT PUBLIC ACCESS, BECAUSE  THERE IS NO PUBLIC ACCESS, EXCEPT FOR ZOOM.

SO, YEAH, I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD DO IT ANY DIFFERENTLY.

BUT, YEAH, THAT IS A PROBLEM.

OF COURSE, WHEN THE LEGISLATION IS IN SESSION,  SOME OF THOSE TINY LITTLE COMMITTEE ROOMS, IF YOU'RE NOT  THERE AN HOUR BEFORE THE COMMITTEE MEETING MEETS,  YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET A SEAT.

SO, THERE IS ACCESS ISSUES, EVEN WHEN THERE IS NOT A  PANDEMIC AND IT IS OPEN.

>> Gene: LET ME ASK YOU THIS  STEVE.

I GOT ANOTHER THING FOR YOU  HERE.

YOUR OLD COLLEAGUE, ROBERT  KNOT, WROTE ABOUT WORK GROUPS THAT KEY LAWMAKERS ARE  ASSEMBLING INSTEAD OF CONFERENCE COMMITTEES TO  CONDUCT NEGOTIATIONS IN PRIVATE.

THIS IS VASTLY THE OTHER DIRECTION THAT FOLKS WERE  EXPECTING WHEN TRANSPARENCY WAS THE ISSUE HERE.

I AM CURIOUS WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THAT.

IT IS ALMOST DARING PEOPLE TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS.

>> Steve: YEAH.

I WOULD HAVE A PROBLEM WITH  THIS IF I WAS TRYING TO COVER THE LEGISLATURE TOO.

THE TRUTH IS, A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST DON'T LIKE TO DO BUSINESS  IN PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE TEND TO SPEECHIFY AND MAKE  GRAND RHETORIC WHEN THEY COULD JUST BE DOING WORK.

SO, YEAH, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS THING TO BE OVER.

>> Gene: EXACTLY.

>> Steve: NOT THE SESSION BUT  THE PANDEMIC.

>> Gene: TJ TROUT, THERE IS A  LOT OF CONCERN OUT THERE ABOUT LOBBYISTS NOT ABLE TO DO THEIR  THING, SO TO SPEAK.

IF YOU WANT TO TOUCH ON THIS  THAT IS FINE TOO.

ACCESS IS AN ISSUE.

WE HAVE A CITIZEN LEGISLATURE.

IT IS ALL ABOUT HUMAN ACCESS.

IS THE PUBLIC BEING SERVED WHEN LOBBYISTS CAN'T GET  ACCESS?

>> TJ:   YOU KNOW WHAT DRIVES ME NUTS.

WE HAVE A FREAKING PANDEMIC GOING ON.

WE ARE IN NEW TERRITORY HERE.

NOBODY HAS HAD TO GO THROUGH  THIS.

AND SO WE ARE KIND OF FLYING  BY THE SEAT OR PANTS HERE.

AND, IT JUST IRRITATES ME TO  NO END THAT, LOOK, WE HAVE TO ADAPT BECAUSE IF WE DON'T  ADAPT, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS HERE?

WE WANT TO RISK PEOPLE GETTING  INFECTED, SICK, POSSIBLY DIEING BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE ARE  INSISTING THAT ALL THIS STUFF GETS DONE IN PERSON?

I THINK THAT IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.

WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE COUNTRY IS GOING THROUGH RIGHT  NOW.

WE HAVE TO ADAPT.

WE HAVE TO ADAPT RIGHT NOW OR IT IS NOT GOING TO WORK.

YESTERDAY I WAS TALKING ON THE AIR ABOUT THIS, AND I THINK  THE BEST WAY WITH LOBBYISTS TO GET ACCESS, I THINK EVERYDAY  AT NOON, YOU HOLD A TAILGATE IN THE PARKING LOT.

YOU GET THE BRATS, YOU GET THE BEER, YOU GET EVERYBODY OUT  THERE IN THE PARKING LOT, COME TOGETHER AND THEY CAN BE  LOBBIED.

PUSH THEIR ISSUES, GO CRAZY.

THE THING IS, IN THE PAST, IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED THAT WAY  BEHIND CLOSED DOORS ANYWAY, BRING IT OUT INTO THE OPEN.

HAVE IT IN THE PARKING LOT.

>> Gene: SOPHIE, WE ARE  LAUGHING BUT TRANSPARENCY IS LIKE THE WORD AROUND HERE FOR  THE LAST DECADE, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO HAVE SOME TRANSPARENCY  HERE.

>> Sophie: I THINK ABOUT THE  FACT THAT IT WAS JUST A FEW YEARS AGO THAT THERE WAS A  TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PUSH BACK AGAINST BROADCASTING THE  LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS, THAT YOU HAD TO ACTUALLY KIND OF BE IN  THE ROOM, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WAY TO PUT IT, IN ORDER TO  REALLY PARTICIPATE.

I THINK ACTUALLY OF THE  CHANGES -- TO TJ'S POINT, THE CHANGES WE HAVE ALL HAD TO  MAKE AND SEEING HOW THE COURTS IN NEW MEXICO, WHICH IS  DEALING WITH MAJOR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS ISSUES,  ET CETERA, HAVE TRIED TO REMAIN SENSITIVE TO, ON ONE  HAND, WE HAVE TO BALANCE THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH THE FACT  THAT WE HAVE THIS PANDEMIC GOING ON AND WE NEED TO TRY TO  KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.

ONE OF THE DISAPPOINTING  THINGS I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS THE  RESPONSE TO THESE ISSUES IS THAT THEY HAVEN'T COME FORWARD  WITH HERE IS HOW -- WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT TRANSPARENCY  AND ACCESS AND ALL THOSE THINGS, WHICH REPUBLICANS SAY  THEY ARE.

THEIR SOLUTION IS, LET'S WAIT  AND NOT HAVE OUR LEGISLATIVE SESSION RIGHT NOW, BUT I THINK  MOST NEW MEXICANS WOULD PROBABLY AGREE THAT WAITING  EVEN LONGER THAN WE HAVE HAD TO WAIT FOR SOLUTIONS FROM OUR  GOVERNMENT, IS NOT IN FACT A GOOD OPTION.

SO, I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN THE REPUBLICANS COME WITH  MORE CONSTRUCTIVE IDEAS, LIKE THE TAILGATE IDEA.

WHICH I HAVEN'T HEARD BEFORE AND REALLY LIKE.

THIS IS THE THING, IF WE ARE ALL OPERATING IN GOODWILL AND  YOU MAY HAVE OPINIONS ABOUT THAT, OKAY, BRING IT, WHAT ARE  YOUR PROPOSAL BESIDES LET'S JUST NOT HAVE GOVERNMENT FOR  SEVERAL MORE MONTHS.

>> Gene: OR SHOWING UP ON THE  FIRST DAY ALMOST LIKE A STUNT.

STEVE, I HAVE GOT AN  INTERESTING QUESTION FOR YOU.

THIS HAS BEEN AN INTERESTING  THING.

THERE IS ALWAYS A LOT OF  COMPLAINTS THAT POWER IS HELD IN COMMITTEE CHAIR SEATS ON  BOTH HOUSE AND SENATE SIDE BY FOLKS IN THE RIO GRANDE  VALLEY, BASICALLY, A LOT OF SANTA FEANS HOLDING TOUGH  SEATS.

WE HAVE TWO GALLUPITES, SO TO  SPEAK, NOW HOLDING SOME PRETTY KILLER SEATS, FINANCE AND  APPROPRIATIONS, AND I AM JUST CURIOUS WHERE YOU SEE THE  COMMITTEE CHAIR POWER SHIFT HAPPENING.

WHAT IS YOUR SENSE OF IT SO FAR AT THIS POINT IN THE  SETTING.

>> Steve: I WAS PRETTY  SURPRISED THAT MIMI STEWART, WHO IS THE NEW SENATE  PRESIDENT PRO TEM WENT AHEAD AND APPOINTED GEORGE MUNOS,  ONE OF THE MORE CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRATS IN THE WHOLE SENATE  CAUCUS, TO THAT POST.

I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST GEORGE  MYSELF BUT OF ALL -- HE'S THE ONLY ONE THAT SURVIVED OF THAT  WHOLE CONSERVATIVE MODERATE DEMOCRAT GROUP THAT WAS  TARGETED.

HE SURVIVED AND HE IS FINANCE  CHAIRMAN.

THAT DID SURPRISE ME.

I SAW JOE MONAHAN MAKING SPECULATION THERE IS SOME DEAL  BETWEEN THEM AND HE MAY BE VERY WELL RIGHT THERE.

>> Gene: DON'T YOU THINK, MIMI STEWART, YOU MENTIONED HER, I  GOT TO THINK THERE HAD TO HAVE BEEN A CONVERSATION BETWEEN  HER AND MR. MUNOS ABOUT WHEN SHE CAN EXPECT CERTAIN BILLS  TO DROP.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING SHE IS JUST GOING TO TAKE A CHANCE AT  BY APPOINTING THIS SEAT?

>> Steve: SHE IS NOT STUPID,  NO.

MIMI IS PRETTY SOPHISTICATED  WHEN IT COMES TO STUFF LIKE THAT.

THAT PROBABLY WAS PART OF THE DEAL THAT WE ARE ALL  SPECULATING ABOUT.

>> Sophie: I THINK IT IS  REALLY INTERESTING, I NOTICED THE QUOTE FROM MIMI STEWART  ABOUT THE APPOINTMENT.

SHE DIDN'T SAY,   AT LEAST NOT THE QUOTE THAT I SAW, SHE  DIDN'T SAY, WE ARE SO THRILLED THIS IS GOING TO BE A GRAND  NEW ERA.

SHE SAID, HE WAS THE NEXT IN  LINE.

AND THAT SUGGESTS, YOU KNOW,  SUGGESTED TO ME THAT THEY ARE PERHAPS, TO STEVE'S POINT,  THERE WAS SOMETHING GOING ON THERE BUT IT DID SOUND LIKE,  OKAY, WELL, HERE IS WHAT I GOT.

SEE HOW I CAN JUSTIFY THIS.

HE WAS THE NEXT IN LINE.

>> Gene: THAT IS INTERESTING.

SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT.

TJ, I HAVE ANOTHER ONE HERE TOO.

PAY DAY LENDING HAS REAPPEARED.

THERE IS NOW THE IDEA TO CAP THE 175% INTEREST RATE DOWN TO  36% AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, ANY SENSE OF LAWMAKERS?

CAN WE FINALLY GET SOMEWHERE ON THIS ISSUE.

IS THIS THE TIME TO GET PAY DAY LENDING WRESTLED TO THE  GROUND?

>> TJ: SURE.

I MEAN OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A PROBLEM CHARGING 175%  INTEREST.

YOU KIND OF HAVE TO LOOK AT  IT.

TO YOUR POINT, WE HAVE  PRESSING ISSUES RIGHT NOW, THAT MAYBE -- CAN I BRING UP  ONE OF MY PRESSING ISSUES?

DO YOU MIND?

ONE OF MY PET ISSUES THIS YEAR IN THE STATE LEGISLATIVE  SESSION IS WIFI FOR THE ENTIRE STATE.

WE HAVE BEEN -- I DON'T MEAN ARREST CONTROL FROM YOU.

TELL ME WHY WIFI SHOULD BE TREATED LIKE A PUBLIC UTILITY  AND AT THIS POINT SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE STATE  ACCESS EVEN IN REMOTE AREAS.

I THINK THIS IS SO IMPORTANT  WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE STATE OF OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM RIGHT NOW  AND WHAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH WITH THE PANDEMIC.

IF YOU HAVE GOT SCHOOL KIDS WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO  WIFI, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO LEARN REMOTELY?

AND SO, I JUST HOPE SOMETHING IS MOVED FORWARD THERE THIS  TIME.

>> Gene: UH-HUH.

>> TJ: FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH.

HAD TO BRING THAT UP.

>> Gene: THAT IS A GREAT SUBJECT.

WE TALK ABOUT IT A LOT.

>> Sophie: WE WERE TALKING  ABOUT THAT 20 SOME YEARS AGO.

THERE ARE PARTS OF THE STATE  FRANKLY, YOU KNOW, WHERE WILL I PLUG IN MY COMPUTER BECAUSE  THERE IS NO ELECTRICITY.

BUT, THE WIFI, YOU KNOW, THE  WIFI HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THROUGHOUT AND WE STILL  HAVEN'T FIXED IT AND HERE WE ARE, TO TJ'S POINT, IT IS A  CRISIS.

THIS POOR KID WHO HAS TO GO, I  MEAN, THEY HAVE RESOLVED THE ISSUE THEN BUT NATIONAL,  INTERNATIONAL NEWS IN NEW MEXICO KID GOES AND SITS  OUTSIDE A LIBRARY EVERYDAY, YOU REMEMBER THAT EARLIER IN  2020 IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND SCHOOL.

KIDS ARE GOING TO MCDONALDS TO TRY AND ATTEND SCHOOL.

IT KIND OF GOES BACK TO THAT ISSUE OF THE LEGISLATURE.

HOW DO YOU GO BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE?

IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY, RIGHT, YOU HAVE TO DIVE TO SANTA FE  BUT NOT IF THERE IS NO WIFI IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

I AM APPLAUDING YOU TJ.

I AGREE.

>> Gene: ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN THIS GROUP COMES BACK  WE'LL TALK ABOUT JOE BIDEN'S IMMIGRATION PLAN.

A STUDY CAME OUT THIS WEEK REVEALING PFAS, TOXIC MANMADE  CHEMICALS ASSOCIATED WITH PRODUCTS LIKE FIRE FIGHTING  FOAMS, NONSTICK COOK WEAR AND FIRE RETARDANT FABRICS ARE  SHOWING UP IN NEW MEXICO'S WATER.

SCIENTISTS FOUND THE CHEMICALS  ACROSS THE STATE FROM PRETTY REMOTE REACHES OF THE GILA  RIVER TO RIGHT HERE IN THE ALBUQUERQUE STRETCHES OF THE  RIO GRANDE.

CORRESPONDENT LAURA PASKUS  SPOKE WITH THE NEW MEXICO ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT REBECCA  ROOSE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE STATE STUDY AND WHAT IT  MEANS.

>> Laura: THE LAST COUPLE OF  YEARS THE FOCUS HAS LARGELY BEEN AROUND CANNON AIR FORCE  BASE IN CLOVIS AND HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE OUTSIDE OF  ALAMOGORDO.

AND IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY,  THE STUDY IS TAKING A BROADER VIEW OF LOOKING AROUND THE  STATE.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE  GEOGRAPHICALLY WHERE THE SAMPLING LOCATIONS ARE TO  START WITH.

>> Roose: SURE, YEAH.

THIS REALLY DOES REPRESENT AN IMPORTANT CONCRETE SHIFT FOR  THE DEPARTMENT TO MORE PROACTIVE WORK ON THE TOPIC OF  PFAS, WHICH IS EXCITING FOR US.

IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CARRY OUT AND CONTINUE  OUR WORK TO ADDRESS THE PFAS CONTAMINATION THAT IS  WELL-KNOWN AT THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FACILITIES IN OUR  STATE.

SO, THAT IS VERY MUCH STILL A  FOCUS AND ONGOING, BUT HERE WE ARE ABLE TO BE MORE PROACTIVE  IN FINDING OUT MORE ON OUR OWN ABOUT WHERE PFAS MAY BE.

WE SELECTED SITES AROUND THE STATE IN 16 COUNTIES AND THERE  ARE A NUMBER OF, AS I SAID BEFORE, LOCATIONS WHERE WE ARE  TESTING GROUNDWATER SOURCES AND THEN A NUMBER OF LOCATIONS  WHERE WE ARE TESTING SURFACE WATER.

AND IT REALLY DOES COVER A LARGE PORTION OF THE STATE  WITH DIFFERENT SAMPLING SITES AROUND THE STATE WITH SOME  EMPHASIS IN AREAS WHERE WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE POTENTIAL  SOURCES OF PFAS.

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF  RESEARCH AND STUDY, A LOT OF OTHER STATES AND FEDERAL  AGENCIES DOING ANALYSIS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS ABOUT WHERE  DOES PFAS COME FROM?

IF IT SHOWS UP IN OUR WATER,  WHERE MIGHT IT BE COMING FROM?

SO WE WERE ABLE TO DO SOME  ANALYSIS OF THE TYPES OF INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES THAT CAN  BE ASSOCIATED WITH PFAS AND THEN MAKE SOME STRATEGIC  DECISIONS ABOUT WHERE TO BEST DEPLOY OUR LIMITED SAMPLING  RESOURCES AS A STARTING POINT.

>> Laura: IN NEW MEXICO IN  ADDITION TO MILITARY INSTALLATIONS, WHAT ARE SOME  OF THE BUSINESSES OR INDUSTRIES WHERE YOU'RE MAYBE  LOOKING AT MORE CLOSELY?

>> Roose: WELL, WE ARE LOOKING  AT PLACES NEARBY CERTAIN TYPES OF INDUSTRIES, NOT TARGETING  PARTICULAR BUSINESSES OR INDUSTRIAL PLANTS THEMSELVES.

SO, IN TERMS OF WHAT THOSE SECTORS ARE THAT ARE  INDICATORS THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO TEST FOR PFAS IN THE WATER,  THAT INCLUDES ELECTROPLATING AND A WELL-KNOWN ASSOCIATION  WITH PFAS FOR NONSTICK PAN MANUFACTURING, THOSE TYPES OF  THINGS, THINGS THAT ARE NONSTICK, FIREPROOF MATERIALS.

SO IT IS COMMON FOR US TO BE LOOKING AROUND ANY PLACES THAT  MIGHT DEPLOY FIRE FIGHTING MATERIALS ON A ROUTINE BASIS,  AIRPORTS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS, FIRE STATIONS TRAINING  FACILITIES, THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> Laura: AS SAMPLING RESULTS  ARE COMING IN, ARE THERE SPOTS IN NEW MEXICO WHERE YOU ARE  SEEING PFAS DETECTED IN WATER SOURCES?

>> Roose: THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION AND WHAT WE ARE  ANNOUNCING THIS WEEK IS OUR FIRST COLLECTION OF NEW DATA  FROM A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SOURCES AND WE TESTED FOR OVER  20 DIFFERENT PFAS CONTAMINANTS FOR WHICH THERE ARE APPROVED  ANALYTICAL METHODS TO LOOK FOR THE CHEMICALS IN A LAB.

AND THE GOOD NEWS IS WE HAVEN'T FOUND ANYTHING THAT IS  ALARMING TO US FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH STANDPOINT AT THIS  STAGE.

WE ARE GOING TO PUT ALL THE  DATA -- IT IS GOING TO BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ON OUR  WEBSITE AND WE'LL BE HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, IF PEOPLE  HAVE CONCERNS.

AND WE SENT LETTERS TO EACH OF  THE PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ONE OF OUR  TEST SITES SO THAT THEY CAN BECOME MORE FAMILIAR WITH WHAT  WE LOOK FOR AND WHAT WE FOUND.

WE DID FIND IN SOME OF OUR  SAMPLING SITES LOW LEVELS OF PFOA AND PFOS, TWO OF THE MOST  COMMONLY TALKED ABOUT PFAS CHEMICALS.

NOTHING ANYWHERE NEAR WHAT IS THE CURRENT EPA LIFETIME  HEALTH ADVISORY OF 70 PARTS PER TRILLION.

AND THEN FOR SOME OTHER PFAS CHEMICALS WE SAW SOME RESULTS  IN BOTH SURFACE WATER AND GROUNDWATER, AND, AGAIN, AT  THIS POINT, WE ARE VERY PLEASED TO SEE THAT SO FAR, WE  ARE LEARNING A LOT, BUT WE ARE ALSO NOT SEEING ANYTHING TO  CAUSE US A LOT OF CONCERN OR ALARM.

IT IS GOING TO HELP US DO BETTER WORK GOING FORWARD TO  HAVE AS MUCH DATA AS WE POSSIBLY CAN, AS WELL.

>> Laura: FOR THE NEXT PHASES OF THE STUDIES, ARE THERE  CERTAIN PLACES THAT YOU'LL FOCUS ON MORE INTENSELY OR HOW  WILL THE NEXT PHASES GO?

>> Roose: WELL, AS WE MOVE  FORWARD, WE HAVE SORT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE STUDY  IDENTIFIED WHAT WE WERE HOPING TO COVER THROUGHOUT THE COURSE  OF THE STUDY AS WE CONTINUE TO DO MORE SAMPLING OVER TIME.

SO, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE SITES AROUND THE STATE, AGAIN  BOTH GROUNDWATER AND SURFACE WATER, THAT OUR SIMPLING TEAM,  WHICH INCLUDES THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY THAT IS  HELPING WITH THE ACTUAL COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS OF THE  SAMPLES, THEY'LL BE GETTING OUT IN MANY OF THE SAME  COUNTIES WE HAVE BEEN TO SO FAR, BUT IN ADDITIONAL  LOCATIONS, AND PROVIDING MORE DATA OVER MORE COVERAGE ACROSS  THE STATE AS WE GO FORWARD.

>> Laura: ONE OF THE THINGS  THAT WE OFTEN STRUGGLE WITH IS NOT WANTING TO ALARM PEOPLE  ABOUT TOXIC CHEMICALS IN THEIR  WATER SUPPLY BUT ALSO NOT, IN ANY WAY, WANTING TO DIMINISH  THAT FACT THAT THERE ARE PUBLIC HEALTH RISKS TO  EXPOSURE TO PFAS.

AND I AM CURIOUS HOW THE  DEPARTMENT BALANCES THAT, ESPECIALLY IN AN ARID STATE  LIKE NEW MEXICO WHERE NOT JUST DRINKING WATER BUT ANY TYPE OF  WATER IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE STATE AND TO THE STATE'S  SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.

>> Roose:   YEAH.

I RUN THE WATER PROTECTION  DIVISION SO WE ARE THINKING ABOUT WATER QUALITY ACROSS SO  MANY DIFFERENT ISSUES AND ANGLES AND WE ARE, EVERY DAY,  TRYING TO IDENTIFY, ADDRESS, REMEDIATE AND HOLD PEOPLE  ACCOUNTABLE FOR CONTAMINATION WHERE WE HAVE IT.

INCLUDING BUT ABSOLUTELY NOT LIMITED TO PFAS.

AND WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED WITH OUR  WATER RESOURCES IN THE STATE.

IT IS PROBABLY WHY WE CONTINUE  TO RAISE EXTERNALLY TO SECRETARY KENNEY, OUR CABINET  SECRETARY, AND OTHERS, HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE GIVE  THE STATE A CHANCE TO TACKLE WATER QUALITY IN EVERY WAY WE  POSSIBLY CAN, BY MAKING SURE WE ARE PUTTING ENOUGH  RESOURCES TO THESE CRITICAL ISSUES.

RIGHT NOW, WE ARE HAVING TO MAKE REALLY TOUGH CHOICES AT  THE DEPARTMENT HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN WE HAVE THINKING ABOUT AND  WORKING ON PFAS BECAUSE THEN WE WEREN'T TACKLING MAYBE  OTHER TYPES OF CONTAMINATION, OTHER SOURCES OF WATER QUALITY  CONCERNS.

MAYBE WE ARE HAVING TO PULL  BACK OTHER TYPES OF WATER QUALITY MONITORING IN THE  FIELD BECAUSE WE ARE RAMPING UP IN OTHER AREAS.

WE ARE MAKING THOSE KIND OF TOUGH CHOICES EVERYDAY AND  THAT LIMITS OUR ABILITY TO REALLY TACKLE ALL OF THE  PROBLEMS AS COHESIVELY AND COMPREHENSIVELY AS WE WOULD  LIKE TO.

>> Laura: THANK YOU, REBECCA,  FOR JOINING ME.

I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK.

>> Roose: THANK YOU VERY MUCH LAURA.

IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO TALK WITH YOU.

>> Gene: INCOMING PRESIDENTS ARE SUPPOSED TO THINK BIG.

AT LEAST THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE COME TO EXPECT AND JOE BIDEN  HAS HIS SIGHTS SET ON IMMIGRATION REFORM.

MR. BIDEN'S PLAN DOES NOT INCLUDE MORE BORDER WALL  CONSTRUCTION AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE.

IT DOES INCLUDE A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP FOR UNDOCUMENTED  IMMIGRANTS AND A FAST TRACK FOR SOME ESSENTIAL WORKERS AND  PEOPLE PROTECTED UNDER THE DACA PROGRAM.

TJ, WE START THERE.

THIS IS A HUGE SWING TO TAKE  AT FIRST PITCH.

JUST THE SAME, BOTH  REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WANT REFORM.

THEY DO WANT REFORM.

EVERYBODY WANTS REFORM.

WHAT DO YOU SEE HERE?

>> TJ: I HAVE SAID THIS FROM  THE BEGINNING THAT IF BIDEN REALLY WANTED TO START TO  UNITE US ALL AND MAKE PEACE WITH THE OTHER SIDE, HE SHOULD  CHOOSE AN ISSUE THAT IS IMPORTANT TO THE OTHER SIDE,  VERY IMPORTANT TO THEM.

I SUGGESTED THIS WAY BACK THAT  COMING UP WITH A BIPARTISAN COMMON SENSE IMMIGRATION AND  BORDER SECURITY PLAN WOULD BE THE PERFECT WAY TO START.

NOW, OF COURSE, WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN, HE HAS GOT HIS  PLAN, IT IS GOING TO GO TO CONGRESS AND I AM SURE WHAT HE  IS PROPOSING WOULD NOT BE THE END ALL.

I AM SURE IT WILL BE DEBATED.

HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE DEBATED.

THEY'LL COME UP WITH A BIPARTISAN PLAN AND SEND IT  BACK TO HIM.

IT IS A HUGE ISSUE.

TALKED TO STEVE PEARCE A COUPLE YEARS AGO ABOUT THIS  AND HE SAID, LOOK, THIS IS ACTUALLY SIMPLER   THAN YOU THINK.

THERE IS SO MUCH CONSENSUS ON BOTH SIDES WITH COMMON SENSE  BORDER SECURITY AND IMMIGRATION THAT IT CAN  BECOME -- IT CAN BE SOLVED, HE SAID.

YOU KNOW, IF STEVE PEARCE TELLS ME THIS CAN BE SOLVED  WORKING IN A BIPARTISAN MANNER, I CAN ACTUALLY BELIEVE  HIM.

>> Gene: I AM ACTUALLY  TOUCHING MY EAR PIECE TO MAKE SURE I HEARD THAT CORRECTLY.

THAT IS AMAZING.

WOW.

>> TJ: RIGHT.

I THINK IT WAS A BRILLIANT FIRST MOVE ON THE  BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S PART.

I MEAN, AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO  REITERATE WHAT IS GOING TO GO TO CONGRESS IS NOT WHAT WE'LL  SEE COMING OUT OF CONGRESS.

>> Gene: GOOD POINT.

INTERESTING ON THAT NOTE, SOPHIE, TJ JUST PUT IT UP THAT  EARLIER ACTION, MARCO RUBIO, CHUCK GRASSLEY, TOM COTTON,  THE AMNESTY WORD IS BACK.

IT DIDN'T TAKE BUT THREE HOURS  TO THROW IT OUT THERE AFTER BIDEN PUT THE PLAN OUT.

WHAT IS YOUR SENSE OF IT?

>> Sophie: INTERESTING YOU  BRING UP MARCO RUBIO.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE THE POINT  THAT THIS ISSUE, THE IMMIGRATION ISSUE, REALLY  TOUCHES NEW MEXICO FROM THE SOUTHERN BORDER TO THE  NORTHERN AND FROM EAST TO WEST, WHETHER IT IS CONCERNS  ABOUT FOLKS COMING UP THROUGH RANCHES IN THE SOUTHERN PART  OF THE STATE TO, YOU KNOW, THE GREEN CHILE, WHO IS PICKING  OUR GREEN CHILE HERE IN NEW MEXICO TO DREAMERS LIVING IN  VARIOUS PARTS OF THE STATE WHO ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN OUR  LIVES, YOU KNOW.

I AM NOT PUTTING THAT WELL,  BUT, LIKE, WE HAVE PROFESSIONALS AT EVERY LEVEL.

I THINK PEOPLE TEND TO THINK OF IMMIGRANTS AS, YOU KNOW,  NOT REALLY FILLING OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY BUT IN NEW MEXICO  CERTAINLY THAT IS THE CASE.

SO, THIS IS ESSENTIAL FOR US  AND IT IS A CRISIS FOR US HERE IN NEW MEXICO THAT HASN'T BEEN  ADDRESSED.

I LOVE TJ'S POINT THAT THERE  IS A POSSIBILITY FOR CONSENSUS HERE.

I JUST REMEMBER THE BUSH REPUBLICANS SAYING, LIKE, WE  WANT THIS TOO, BUSINESS WANTS IT TOO.

I THINK IT IS VERY DISINGENUOUS OF MARCO RUBIO,  WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THE LAST MAJOR PUSH FOR IMMIGRATION  REFORM, TO BE TALKING ABOUT AMNESTY AND, LIKE, OH MY STARS  AND GARTERS.

I THINK WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT  THERE, UNFORTUNATELY, IS REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

AND I MEAN THIS IS HOW POLITICS WORK, RIGHT?

THEY ARE LOOKING FOR THEIR POUNDS OF FLESH HERE.

AND SO, WHEN THEY ACT LIKE THIS CAN'T BE DONE, I THINK TO  STEVE PEARCE'S POINT AND KNOWING THE HISTORY OF THE  REPUBLICAN PARTY, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET IT DONE.

IT IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TRADE WITH EACH OTHER  IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN THAT I THINK IS THE SOURCE OF  SOME HEARTBURN.

>> Gene: TJ MAKES AN EXCELLENT  POINT IT SEEMS TO ME THE MORE I THINK ABOUT IT, AND SOPHIE  MAKING THE POINT AS WELL, LET'S ASSUME THERE IS SOME  KIND OF SUCCESS HERE.

THAT WOULD BE AN EXTRAORDINARY  LEAP FORWARD FOR OUR COUNTRY IN ONE FELL SWOOP, SOME KIND  OF IMMIGRATION REFORM.

LET ME TALK SPECIFICS IN CASE  ANYBODY WATCHING THAT DOESN'T KNOW, THIS ONLY APPLIES TO  UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN THE U.S. AS OF JANUARY FIRST OF  THIS YEAR.

THAT IS A VERY, VERY KEY  DISTINCTION AND LIKE SOPHIE SAYS, AND TJ, NEGOTIATION IS  GOING TO START FROM THERE, SO TO SPEAK.

I AM CURIOUS YOUR SENSE OF THIS AS YOU HEAR THE OTHER TWO  GO THROUGH THIS.

>> Steve: I AM CYNICAL.

I AM MORE CYNICAL THAT TJ OR SOPHIE.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SEEN THIS SO MANY TIMES BEFORE, ONE MAN'S  COMMON SENSE IS ANOTHER MAN'S LUNACY.

SO, I DON'T KNOW, I HOPE IT HAPPENS.

I HOPE EVERYBODY IS RIGHT, BUT, I HOPE EVERYBODY TAKES  THIS OPPORTUNITY, BUT, I DON'T KNOW, WE HAVE COME OFF ALL  THESE YEARS OF PARTISANSHIP EVEN BEFORE TRUMP, AND IT HAS  ONLY GOTTEN WORSE, AND NOT GOING TO GET BETTER OVERNIGHT.

I NOTICED ONE OF THE NATIONAL ACCOUNTS I READ ABOUT IT,  CHUCK SCHUMER, THE SENATE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY LEADER  DIDN'T SEEM REAL KEY -- HE SAID, WELL, WE HAVE TO DEAL  WITH COVID-19 AND SOME OF THIS OTHER STUFF FIRST, AND I THINK  THEY MAY BE PUNTING OR KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD AS THE  SAYING GOES.

AND PERHAPS FOR GOOD REASON,  SO -- >> Gene: ARE WE -- STEVE, IS  THAT SKEPTICISM, YOU WOULDN'T BE ALONE BY THE WAY, ARE WE  ALL TRIGGERED UP BY IMMIGRATION?

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WE HAVE BEEN SCREAMING AT EACH  FOR LIKE 30 YEARS ON THIS, WITH BARELY ANY MOVEMENT.

I SAY AGAIN, IF SOMETHING CAN CRACK HERE, I GOT TO THINK IT  WOULD WORK OUT FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IN TREMENDOUS  WAYS, IF YOU CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT LITTLE  BIPARTISANSHIP THAT COMES EARLY IN A SITUATION AND JUST  TRY TO DO SOMETHING WITH IT.

SO, YOU KNOW --  >> Steve: ONE AREA WHERE THERE MIGHT BE SOME CALLS FOR  OPTIMISM IS THE DREAMERS, DACA.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE THIS HUGE BILL WITH ALL THESE  VARIOUS ASPECTS, WHICH SOMETIMES IS NECESSARY, OF  COURSE, BUT, I THINK IF THEY COULD JUST DO A SEPARATE THING  ON THE DREAMERS AND DACA, I THINK THEY COULD GET A LOT OF  BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FROM THAT AND START FROM THERE.

AND, THEN, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE AMNESTY WORD WOULDN'T COME UP.

>> Sophie: IT IS NOT SO MUCH DREAMERS.

I THINK THERE IS AN ARGUMENT TO BE MADE, AS HAS BEEN MADE  IN THE PAST, THAT MANY HEALTHCARE WORKERS, YOU KNOW,  ARE AFFECTED BY THIS ISSUE AND RIGHT NOW WHEN YOU SAY WE NEED  TO SUPPORT OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS, THERE MAY BE SOME  ROOM THERE.

WE REALLY HAVE, ESPECIALLY  WITH SOME OF THE OTHER IMMIGRATION PROGRAMS THAT HAVE  BEEN CONSTRAINED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, WE HAVE A LOT  OF NEED FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING IN THESE ESSENTIAL  AREAS AND MANY OF THEM ARE CURRENTLY OR POTENTIALLY JOBS  OCCUPIED BY IMMIGRANTS.

>> Gene: A VERY GOOD POINT,  SOPHIE.

INTERESTING IT IS GOING TO BE  ABOUT FILLING JOBS PARTLY.

TJ, QUICK POINTS, ABOUT A  MINUTE.

HERE IS THE PATH TO A GREEN  CARD.

FIVE YEARS OF PAYING TAXES,  PASSING A BACKGROUND CHECK AND OTHER HURDLES, YOU KNOW,  DREAMERS COULD APPLY IMMEDIATELY.

THAT JUST CAME UP A SECOND AGO AND ONCE THE GREEN CARD IS  ISSUED, ANOTHER THREE YEARS TO NATURALIZED CITIZENSHIP.

THAT IS THE EIGHT YEARS BIDEN IS TALKING ABOUT.

IT IS SUPER AGGRESSIVE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT,  COMPARED TO WHAT WE HAVE BEEN USED TO FOR YEARS AND YEARS  AND YEARS.

IS THAT NUMBER GOING TO BE A  GAG FOR FOLKS?

IS EIGHT YEARS GOING TO BE TOO QUICK FOR SOME  PEOPLE OUT THERE?

>> TJ: TOO QUICK.

IT IS INTERESTING THIS HAS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY.

I MEAN, THE THING IS, TO YOUR POINT, 30 YEARS WE HAVE BEEN  WAITING FOR A REAL SOLUTION ON THIS, YOU KNOW.

EIGHT YEARS, MAN, THE ONE THING, TOO, IS WITH DREAMERS,  WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED IN THIS COUNTRY,  IF WE EXPECT THEM TO ACTUALLY COME OUT AND SAY, OKAY, WE  TRUST THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT NOW.

WE ARE GOING TO REGISTER WITH YOU UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT  BECAUSE WE TRUST THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO JUST DEPORT US.

SO, YOU NEED SOMEHOW FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO GARNER THAT  TRUST FROM THE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE SPEAKING WITH.

PLUS ALSO I AM GOING BACK TO ANOTHER POINT.

I KNOW WE  DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME.

WE NEED THESE WORKERS.

I MEAN.

THERE IS SO MUCH HYPOCRISY  RIGHT NOW.

WE NEED THESE WORKERS TO DO  THE JOBS, PROCESSING PLANTS AND JOBS THAT OTHER AMERICANS  WILL NOT TAKE AND THERE IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF HYPOCRISY THERE  THAT HAS TO BE ADDRESSED.

>> Gene: GOOD FINAL POINT.

THIS GROUP RETURNS ONE LAST TIME TO TALK ABOUT THE FBI  ARREST, LEADERS OF THE COWBOYS FOR TRUMP ORGANIZATION, AND  LINGERING ISSUES FOR REPUBLICANS WHO COZIED UP TO  THE GROUP.

NEW MEXICO'S MUSIC INDUSTRY IS  PATIENTLY WAITING FOR THE END OF COVID-19.

MUSICIANS DREAM OF ONCE AGAIN BEING ABLE TO PERFORM LIVE AT  VENUES ACROSS THE STATE, BUT WITH NO IDEA WHEN LIVE SHOWS  CAN BE A POSSIBILITY, MUSICIANS AND MANAGERS WILL  CONTINUE TO MISS OUT ON THAT CRUCIAL INCOME.

CORRESPONDENT MEGAN KAMERICK TALKED TO BAND MANAGER SYDNEY  COUNCE WHO WORKS WITH LOCAL ACTS, DUST CITY OPERA, ABOUT  HER FRUSTRATIONS AND THE INEQUITIES IN FINDING GRANT  MONEY TO FUEL NEW MEXICO'S DORMANT LIVE MUSIC SCENE.

>> Megan: SYDNEY COUNCE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON NEW  MEXICO IN FOCUS.

AS A MANAGER OF LOCAL MUSICAL  GROUPS IN ALBUQUERQUE, CAN YOU GIVE US A RUNDOWN OF HOW THE  COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS CHANGED THE MUSICAL SCENE IN NEW  MEXICO FOR YOU AND YOUR GROUP?

>> Counce: SURE, OF COURSE.

EVERYTHING IS AT A STAND STILL RIGHT NOW.

IT IS BASICALLY COMPLETELY SHUTTER AND IT HAS BEEN THAT  WAY FOR GOING ON A YEAR.

VENUES ARE CLOSED FOR LIVE  MUSICIANS.

WE RELY ON THE ABILITY TO  CONGREGATE IN GROUPS AND WITHOUT CERTAINTY AROUND WHEN  WE CAN DO THAT AGAIN FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, WE ARE OUT  OF WORK.

>> Megan: WHEN THE PANDEMIC  HIT, DUST CITY OPERA WAS JUST MAKING THE SHIFT INTO BEING A  TOURING BAND.

HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE THE  BAND PERFORMED LIVE AND WHAT WAS THE FINANCIAL LOSS OF  INVESTING IN SHOWS THAT YOU COULDN'T PLAY?

>> Counce: GREAT QUESTION.

WE WERE JUST ABOUT TO EMBARK  ON OUR FIRST MAJOR TOUR THE WEEK THAT MLG ANNOUNCED THE  SHUTDOWN.

>> Megan: THE GOVERNOR.

>> Counce: YES.

WE WERE DAYS AWAY FROM HITTING  THE ROAD AND MADE THE DIFFICULT DECISION TO CANCEL  EVERYTHING.

WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING  TO HAPPEN OR HOW LONG WE WERE GOING TO REMAIN SHUTTERED.

AND I DON'T THINK I'LL EVER GET OVER THE IMPACT OF  INVESTING IN A TOUR THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO TAKE.

AND BEYOND THAT, IT WASN'T LIKE WE COULD STAY HOME AND  CONTINUE TO PERFORM HERE IN THE HOME STATE.

WE CAN'T GET TOGETHER AT ALL SEEING AS IT IS A SUPER  SPREADER EVENT.

WE CAN'T RECORD.

WE CAN'T REHEARSE AND SO WE ARE NOT GENERATING AN INCOME  RIGHT NOW LIKE SO MANY MUSICIANS ACROSS  THE COUNTRY AND WORLD.

>> Megan: WITH THIS TOUR, GIVE  ME A SENSE OF WHERE YOU WERE IN TERMS OF YOUR ASCENT  PROFESSIONALLY?

THIS WAS GOING TO BE A PRETTY  BIG DEAL FOR YOU TO BE ON THIS NATIONAL TOUR.

>> Counce: ABSOLUTELY.

THE BAND STARTED IN 2018 AND I  TOOK OVER MANAGEMENT.

IN 2019 WE HAD JUST BEEN NAMED  ARTIST OF THE YEAR BY MODERN MUSICIAN AND THAT WAS GIVING  US A TON OF MOMENTUM GOING INTO 2020.

WE WERE HEADED TO SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST, WHICH I THINK WAS  THE FIRST MAJOR EVENT TO CANCEL.

>> Megan: I REMEMBER THAT.

>> Counce: IT WAS SHOCKING AT  THE TIME AND WE THOUGHT, CAN WE STILL MAKE THIS TOUR  HAPPEN?

CAN WE JUST GO PLAY ALL OF OUR  OTHER STOPS?

WE WERE GOING TO GO AROUND  CERTAINLY NEW MEXICO AND TEXAS OVER INTO OKLAHOMA AND WE WERE  JUST TRYING TO WRAP OUR HEADS AROUND WHAT IS GOING ON?

HOW CAN WE MAKE THIS HAPPEN?

IS IT SAFE?

ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO COME HOME IF WE LEAVE THE  STATE?

WE JUST DIDN'T UNDERSTAND  QUITE THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 AT THE TIME.

>> Megan: MUSICAL ARTISTS THESE DAYS MAKE THE MAJORITY  OF THEIR MONEY PERFORMING LIVE AT VENUES.

WITH VIRTUALLY NO LIVE PERFORMANCES IN NEW MEXICO,  THE INDUSTRY IS TURNING TO GRANTS, FUNDING FROM OUTSIDE  SOURCES TO PAY THE BILLS.

YOU AND OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN  APPLYING FOR THIS MONEY.

HAVE YOU BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN  GETTING ANY?

>> Counce: NO, AND MOST OF THE  MUSICIANS THAT I TALK TO AND OTHER PEOPLE IN THE  INDUSTRY -- KEEP IN MIND, IT IS NOT JUST MUSICIANS  IMPACTED.

I AM A MANAGER, THERE ARE  STAGE CREW, VENUE OWNERS, A LOT OF PEOPLE BEYOND THE  PERFORMERS THAT ARE FEELING THE IMPACTS.

AND ALTHOUGH THERE ARE GRANTS OUT THERE, BY AND LARGE, THEY  ARE TOO SMALL.

THEY ARE RESTRICTED TO CERTAIN  PEOPLE.

EITHER YOU HAVE TO BE A  PERFORMER OR DO A CERTAIN TYPE OF PERFORMANCE AND MANY ARE  DEPLETED.

MANY OF THE GRANT  OPPORTUNITIES ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE.

SO, WE HAVE RECEIVED VERY LITTLE FUNDING.

IT IS NOT ENOUGH AND CERTAINLY TALKING ABOUT THE CARES GRANT,  THE MOST RECENT CARES GRANT, I DON'T KNOW A SINGLE PERSON  LIKE MYSELF, A FREE-LANCE WORKER AND MUSICIAN OR  SOMEBODY IN OR INDUSTRY, THAT RECEIVED THE MONEY.

AND EVEN IF WE HAD RECEIVED IT, WE WERE CAPPED AT ONLY  GETTING, $2,000.

THAT ISN'T ENOUGH.

THAT IS JUST NOT ENOUGH.

>> Megan: YOU DON'T KNOW OF  ANY OTHER MUSICAL GROUPS THAT GOT ACCEPTED FOR THE CARES  GRANT?

>> Counce: NOT A SINGLE ONE  AND I HAVE BEEN ASKING AROUND.

>> Megan: EQUITY IN SOME OF  THESE GRANTS IS AN ISSUE.

THE AVERAGE FOR CARES WAS  AROUND $15,000.

COMPARE THAT TO GETTING $2,000 AND THIS IS YOUR LIVELIHOOD,  RIGHT?

NOT JUST LIKE SOMETHING ON THE  SIDE.

>> Counce: RIGHT, IT IS.

I THINK IT IS A REAL SHAME.

OUR INDUSTRY, THE  ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY, OFTEN IS OVERLOOKED AND WHEN WE ALL  THINK ABOUT GETTING THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC, WE ARE AT HOME,  WHAT ARE WE TURNING TO?

WE ARE TURNING TO  ENTERTAINMENT, STREAMING TV, WE ARE STREAMING MUSIC.

SO, I THINK PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT THE IMPORTANCE OF  KEEPING OUR INDUSTRY ALIVE BUT WHEN IT COMES TIME TO FUND US,  WE ARE OVERLOOKED TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

THERE IS JUST NOT ENOUGH MONEY FOR US.

WE ALSO DON'T HAVE THE REPRESENTATION THAT WE NEED.

FREE-LANCE WORKERS, THERE IS NOBODY LOBBYING FOR US.

WE ARE NOT PROTECTED BY A UNION.

THERE IS NOBODY SPEAKING UP FOR AT THE GOVERNMENT LEVEL  SAYING, FUNDING NEEDS TO HAPPEN FOR THESE PEOPLE.

SO, WE ARE OFTEN LEFT OUT.

>> Megan: HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE  TO TAKE ADVANTAGE, THERE HAS BEEN A NUMBER OF MUSICAL  GROUPS WHO HAVE DONE STREAMING CONCERTS, STREAMING EVENTS.

I KNOW THAT IS PROBABLY NOWHERE NEAR THE REVENUE YOU  GET AT IN-PERSON EVENTS BUT HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO TAKE  ADVANTAGE OF ANY OF THAT?

>> Counce: YOU ARE RIGHT.

WE HAVE BEEN -- WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO A COUPLE OF  STREAMING EVENTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AMP CONCERTS  AND LAUNCH PAD BUT IT IS STILL NOT SAFE.

AND WE HAVE HAD TO TURN DOWN SOME OF THOSE BECAUSE OUR BAND  IS MADE UP OF PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT HOUSEHOLDS WITH  DIFFERENT JOBS AND DIFFERENT RISK LEVELS AND IT IS REALLY  CHALLENGING, EVEN THOUGH IT IS ON SCREEN FOR THE VIEWERS,  THERE IS STILL THAT RISK OF GETTING THE BAND TOGETHER TO  PERFORM.

AND THEY DON'T GENERATE VERY  MUCH INCOME FOR US.

AND IT IS JUST NOT THE SAME  ENERGY AS GOING TO A SHOW.

PEOPLE GET REALLY EXCITED THEY  WANT TO BUY UP ALL THE MERCH AND BUY MORE TICKETS.

IT IS JUST NOT THE SAME.

>> Megan: WHAT ABOUT FUNDING  FROM OTHER SOURCES?

IS ANY OF THAT VIABLE?

>> Counce: I HAVE LOOKED INTO I WANT TO SAY PROBABLY BETWEEN  40 AND 50 GRANTS THAT WOULD -- WE WOULD SOMEHOW QUALIFY FOR.

AGAIN MOST OF THOSE ARE COMPLETELY DEPLETED.

I HAD HOPED THAT IN THE NEW YEAR WITH NEW BUDGETS THERE  WOULD BE MORE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES.

AND I HAVEN'T REALLY FOUND MUCH HERE IN JANUARY FOR US.

ALSO, BEING IN NEW MEXICO, WE ARE EXCLUDED FROM A LOT OF  OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE IN OUR INDUSTRY THAT ARE BASED  IN, LET'S SAY, LA AND CALIFORNIA OR IN NEW YORK.

MANY OF THESE GRANTS ARE  RESTRICTED BY TERRITORY SO WE ARE BEING LEFT OUT AGAIN BEING  HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

>> Megan: I DID NOT REALIZE  THAT.

AS YOU SAY THIS GOES BEYOND  MUSICAL GROUPS.

THE WHOLE ECOSYSTEM, RIGHT, AROUND LIVE  MUSIC THAT ENABLES LIVE MUSIC TO HAPPEN.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT THERE?

>> Counce: IT IS TOUGH.

IF I  WANTED TO APPLY FOR FUNDING JUST FOR MYSELF AS A MANAGER,  I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF OPTIONS AS A FREE-LANCE WORKER.

MANY OF THE GRANTS THAT ARE AIMED TOWARD THE MUSIC  INDUSTRY ARE FOR MUSICIANS.

THEY ARE NOT FOR VENUE OWNERS.

THEY ARE NOT FOR STAGE CREW OR SOUND ENGINEERS,   AGENTS, PROMOTERS.

SO, THAT IS REALLY CHALLENGING BECAUSE I AM IMPACTED JUST THE  SAME AS MY MUSICIANS ARE IMPACTED AND I THINK THAT IS  JUST ANOTHER LEVEL, ANOTHER LAYER OF THE ECONOMY THAT IS  BEING OVERLOOKED AND LEFT OUT.

>> Megan: YOU SAID THAT YOU  FEEL OBLITERATED AND IGNORED.

THE INDUSTRY IS BEING  OBLITERATED AND IGNORED.

>> Counce: I DO FEEL THAT WAY  AND I ALSO FEEL THERE IS A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY AROUND THE  FUTURE.

WE ARE VERY MUCH, THE LIVE  MUSIC INDUSTRY, IS VERY MUCH A FUTURE-BASED INDUSTRY.

IT IS JANUARY RIGHT NOW AND IN NORMAL TIMES I WOULD BE  PLANNING SHOWS FOR THIS SUMMER OR EVEN THE FALL.

SO, NOT ONLY AM I NOT -- >> Megan: CAN YOU DO ANY OF  THAT?

>> Counce: I CAN'T WORK NOW  AND I CAN'T PLAN FOR THE FUTURE, SO, THAT UNCERTAINTY  IS CREEPING INTO THE MENTAL HEALTH OF MYSELF AND OTHERS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE I REACHED OUT TO ABOUT THEIR FUNDING, THEY  SAID, WELL, YEAH, I NEED MONEY BUT ALSO EMOTIONALLY I AM  SUFFERING, NOT JUST FINANCIALLY.

MENTALLY THE UNCERTAINTY IS REALLY, REALLY SCARY FOR FOLKS  THAT DON'T KNOW -- THERE IS NO END IN SIGHT.

WE CAN'T EVEN PLAN FOR THE FUTURE RIGHT NOW AND IT IS  REALLY SCARY.

>> Megan: I CAN IMAGINE.

YOU MENTIONED THE LAST RELIEF PASSAGE BY CONGRESS, THERE IS  15 BILLION DOLLARS SET ASIDE FOR MUSIC VENUES EVERYWHERE.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT SMALL  VENUES LIKE THE LAUNCH PAD OR EL REY THEATER GETS ITS MONEY,  BUT IF THE BAND CAN'T PERFORM LIVE AT THE VENUES, DO WE KNOW  WHERE THE MONEY WILL BE GOING?

>> Counce: I AM NOT SURE.

I FEEL LIKE I AM IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION BECAUSE,  OF COURSE, I WANT TO SEE THESE VENUES MAKE IT OUT THE OTHER  SIDE.

I WANT ALL OF US TO MAKE IT  OUT THE OTHER SIDE BUT WITHOUT BANDS COMING OUT TO PERFORM, I  AM NOT SURE EXACTLY WHERE THAT MONEY IS GOING.

I KNOW THEY HAVE STAFF TO TAKE CARE OF.

I PERSONALLY KNOW A LOT OF THE FOLKS THAT WORK AT EL REY AND  LAUNCH PAD AND I HOPE TO GOD THEY ARE DOING OKAY AND BEING  ABLE TO GET BY, BUT THAT MONEY IS CERTAINLY NOT PASSING  THROUGH THOSE VENUES TO PEOPLE LIKE ME OR THE BANDS THAT I  REPRESENT OR THE OTHER MUSICIANS IN THE STATE.

IT IS JUST NOT MAKING AN  IMPACT FOR US.

>> Megan: WHAT ARE OTHERS  INVOLVED IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY SAYING?

FRUSTRATION, ANGER, ARE PEOPLE IN THE SAME BOAT AS YOU ALL?

>> Counce: A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE IN THE SAME POSITION AND  CERTAINLY PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED.

I WOULDN'T SAY I HAVE HEARD A LOT OF ANGER, MORE SADNESS AND  UNCERTAINTY.

DEEP SENSE OF ISOLATION.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT CHOOSE THIS INDUSTRY, CHOOSE IT  BECAUSE WE ARE EXTROVERTS.

WE THRIVE ON THE ENERGY OF  OTHERS AND BEING ISOLATED LONG-TERM WITHOUT KNOWING WHEN  WE CAN GET TOGETHER IS A LOT TO PROCESS.

I THINK COLLECTIVELY WE ARE IN A TRAUMA STATE AND WE CAN'T  EVEN COMFORT ONE ANOTHER, YOU KNOW.

WE CAN'T GET TOGETHER AND SAY, IT IS GOING TO BE OKAY.

SO, I HEAR A LOT OF SADNESS AND WORRY ABOUT WHAT WILL  HAPPEN.

AND WHEN WE DO REOPEN, WHAT IS  IT GOING TO LOOK LIKE?

I DON'T THINK IT WILL LOOK THE  SAME.

WILL VENUES BE ABLE TO PAY  PRE-PANDEMIC RATES?

WILL CONCERT GOERS COME OUT AND BUY  ENOUGH TICKETS FOR US TO CONTINUE TO PERFORM.

WE DON'T KNOW FINANCIALLY WHAT IT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE WHEN  WE COME OUT THE OTHER END.

>> Megan: HAVE YOU GUYS BEEN  ABLE TO REHEARSE ONLINE?

I HAVE HEARD MUSICIANS SAY  THAT IS HARD BECAUSE THERE IS A LAG, SO TRYING TO SYNC WITH  EACH OTHER IS -- >> Counce: THAT IS A REALLY  GOOD QUESTION AND WE HAVE TRIED A FEW THINGS.

DUST OF THE OPERA, WE ARE PRETTY LARGE ENSEMBLE.

THERE ARE SEVEN PEOPLE NOT INCLUDING MYSELF.

SO GETTING  TOGETHER IN OUR HOME STUDIO, EVEN WHEN WE HAVE DONE  COVID-19 TESTING AND BEEN SAFE ABOUT IT, IT IS KIND OF  AWKWARD.

IT IS A LOT OF EFFORT WITH  VERY LITTLE RETURN FOR US.

RIGHT NOW THE BEST THAT WE CAN  DO IS WE ARE TRYING TO PIECE TOGETHER RECORDED MATERIAL  FROM PRE-PANDEMIC TIMES AND SEE IF WE CAN GET THAT  RELEASED TO KEEP THAT FAN CONNECTION ALIVE.

WE ARE DESPERATELY TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO CONNECT WITH OUR  FANS AND KEEP THAT CONNECTION ALIVE BUT IT IS REALLY HARD.

IT IS REALLY HARD RIGHT NOW.

>> Megan: IT IS UNSURE EXACTLY  WHEN IT WILL BE SAFE FOR PEOPLE TO CONGREGATE IN  MUSICAL VENUES AGAIN.

OTHER THAN THE OBVIOUS  FINANCIAL HELP, WHAT ELSE WOULD HELP PEOPLE LIKE YOU  STAY AFLOAT WHILE WE WEATHER THE PANDEMIC.

>> Counce: SURE, I THINK FOR ME, WHAT I THINK NEEDS TO  HAPPEN IS WE NEED TO SEE A LOT MORE ACTION AT THE FEDERAL  LEVEL, AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE HAD,  LET'S SAY, LIKE A NATIONAL MASK MANDATE, THINGS THAT ARE  GOING TO SET THE PACE FOR US TO COME BACK TOGETHER.

A BETTER VACCINE ROLL OUT FOR THE COUNTRY.

MASK MANDATE FOR  THE COUNTRY, BECAUSE WHEN IT DOES COME TIME FOR US TO START  PERFORMING AGAIN, WE CAN'T TOUR IF THINGS ARE GOING TO BE  DIFFERENT STATE TO STATE.

WE NEED TO HAVE CERTAINTY THAT  WE CAN HAVE ACROSS-THE-BOARD RULES AROUND, YOU KNOW,  CAPACITY LIMITS FOR CONGREGATING, MASK MANDATES,  VACCINES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE  SOME ACTION ON THAT AND I AM HOPING WITH THE NEW  ADMINISTRATION, WE'LL SEE THAT.

>> Megan: THERE ARE OTHER COUNTRIES THAT DO HAVE FUNDS  TO SUPPORT ARTISTS.

>> Counce: RIGHT.

>> Megan: AND PERFORMERS AND THAT IS REALLY HELPING IN  THESE TIMES AND WE NEVER REALLY HAD A VERY ROBUST  INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE THAT.

>> Counce: WE HAVEN'T AND IT  IS REALLY UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE I THINK, AGAIN, I CAN'T STRESS  ENOUGH THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ARTS FOR THE COMMUNITY,  ESPECIALLY IN GETTING OTHER PEOPLE THROUGH THE PANDEMIC,  WHO TURN TO THE ARTS AS ESCAPE, WHETHER IT BE SITTING  DOWN AND WATCHING THAT FLICK OR PUTTING ON YOUR HEADPHONES  AND LISTENING TO YOUR FAVORITE BAND.

>> Megan: IT IS SUCH AN INTRINSIC PART OF WHAT MAKES  NEW MEXICO UNIQUE IS OUR CREATIVE ECONOMY.

AND YOU ALL ARE PART OF THAT.

IT IS NOT JUST OIL AND GAS AND  OTHER BUSINESSES THAT ARE SUFFERING.

IT IS HURTING EVERYONE AND ULTIMATELY HURTING NEW MEXICO.

SO, I AM HOPEFUL, WE HAVE ALREADY LOST SOME  ORGANIZATIONS AND I AM HOPEFUL WE CAN COME THROUGH THIS AND  FOLKS LIKE YOU WILL ONCE AGAIN BE ON STAGE LIVE WITH YOUR  FANS.

>> Counce: I HOPE SO TOO.

I HOPE SO TOO.

>> Megan: THANK YOU SO MUCH  SYDNEY.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> Counce: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Gene: FEDERAL AUTHORITIES ARRESTED COWBOYS FOR TRUMP  LEADER COUY GRIFFIN LAST SUNDAY AND BRANDED HIM A  THREAT TO THE COMMUNITY AFTER HE BRAGGED AT AN OTERO COUNTY  COMMISSION MEETING THAT HE WAS GOING TO TAKE A 357 HENRY BIG  BOY RIFLE AND ANOTHER 357 HANDGUN IN HIS CAR TO  WASHINGTON.

FBI TOOK NOTICE, GOT AN ARREST  WARRANT FOR MR. GRIFFIN, PUT HIM IN CUFFS AND IN JAIL,  SAYING THAT HIS THREATS HAVE TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.

THAT IS NEWS TO STEVE PEARCE AND YVETTE HERRELL WHO HAVE  OFFERED MILK TOAST CRITICISMS OF MR. GRIFFIN'S PREVIOUS  VIOLENT RHETORIC.

ESPECIALLY IN MS. HERRELL'S,  WELCOMED THE SUPPORT OF COWBOYS FOR TRUMP, DIDN'T SHE?

THEY ARE BACKING AWAY NOW.

QUIETLY.

PURELY AS A POLITICAL MOVE WILL THIS SORT OF SOFT REBUKE  SAVE FACE WITH THE FAR RIGHT OF THE PARTY OR IS THE DAMAGE  DONE FOR MS. HERRELL IN 2022?

>> Sophie: THAT REMAINS TO BE  SEEN, YOU KNOW, THAT IS FAR ENOUGH AWAY IN PEOPLE'S  MEMORIES.

>> Gene: EXACTLY.

>> Sophie: IT IS GOING TO MATTER WHAT SHE DOES IN THE  IN-BETWEEN.

I THINK IT IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR HER, DEPENDING  ON WHAT GRIFFIN DOES, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENS WITH HIM  GOING FORWARD.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK  IS SORT OF REMARKABLE, THERE HAS BEEN A FAIR AMOUNT OF  DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS ONLINE, IS, YOU KNOW, HERE IS THIS GUY  WHO HAS GOTTEN AWAY WITH IT.

I THINK OF ANOTHER GRIFFIN,  KATHY GRIFFIN, WHO GOT A VISIT FROM THE SECRET SERVICE FOR  HOLDING UP A DUMMIED UP HEAD OF DONALD TRUMP, JOHN THE  BAPTIST STYLE, AND SHE GOT A VISIT RIGHT AWAY AND THIS GUY  HAS BEEN GETTING AWAY WITH IT FOR A LONG TIME.

AND THEN  SUDDENLY IT IS SERIOUS, IT IS REAL.

THAT MUST HAVE BEEN A REAL STUNNER FOR HIM AND I THINK  ALSO FOR OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN THAT KIND OF  PUBLIC RHETORIC.

>> Gene: TJ, INTERESTINGLY  WHEN I THINK ABOUT KOB, YOU GUYS HAVE HAD STEVE PEARCE ON  A TON AND RIGHTFULLY SO, AS A LOCAL STATION.

ANY SENSE OF HOW CONSERVATIVES SEE HIM IN THIS SITUATION SO  FAR.

WHAT IS YOUR FEEDBACK FROM  LISTENERS AND CALLERS.

>> TJ: I DON'T GET MUCH  FEEDBACK FROM STEVE PEARCE.

QUITE FRANKLY I HAVE NOT HAD  HIM ON FOR A WHILE.

THAT IS ON ME.

I TELL YOU WHAT, MAN, I THINK TWO WEDNESDAYS AGO I THINK THE  ENTIRE TIDE SHIFTED AND TO OUR POINT, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T SEE  FURTHER VIOLENCE ON INAUGURATION DAY OR AT THE  STATE-WIDE LEVEL AND I THINK THAT WAS IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE  OF THE VIOLENCE A FEW DAYS AGO.

IT WAS SO OUTRAGEOUS.

BACK TO COUY GRIFFIN, WE HAVE  KNOWN WHAT IS GOING ON WITH HIM FOR A LONG TIME.

IT IS NOT A SURPRISE TO ANYBODY WHAT HE HAS BEEN  SAYING.

HIS WORDS HAVE BEEN TINGED  WITH VIOLENCE OR THE IMPLICATION OF VIOLENCE FOR A  LONG TIME.

I THINK WHAT HAPPENED TWO  WEDNESDAYS AGO FOR PEOPLE TO GO, WELL, MAYBE HE SHOULDN'T  HAVE BEEN SAYING THESE THINGS, YOU KNOW.

SOPHIE, TO YOUR POINT, WHETHER THIS IS GOING TO STICK WITH  HERRELL, I TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, I THINK THE DEMS ARE  SALIVATING RIGHT NOW AND LOOKING AT THIS.

WELL, THERE IS OUR CAMPAIGN ISSUE COMING UP IN 2022.

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO LET THIS GO.

I DON'T SEE HOW THEY COULD POSSIBLY LET THIS GO.

IT IS TOO BIG OF AN ISSUE.

>> Gene: STEVE, WHEN YOU TALLY  UP THE SCORE CARD HERE FOR MR. GRIFFIN, WE ARE TALKING  ABOUT ONLY GOOD DEMOCRAT IS A DEAD DEMOCRAT.

GETS KICKED OFF THE INDIAN RESERVATION.

WHO HAS EVER BEEN KICKED OFF AN INDIAN RESERVATION?

I CAN'T THINK OF ONE PERSON.

TELLING BLACK PEOPLE TO MOVE  BACK TO AFRICA.

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR LIKE FOUR MONTHS.

WE SUFFERED AN ENTIRE SUMMER OF THIS.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHERE THE COUNTY COMMISSION MIGHT BE  COMING FROM ON THIS, YOU KNOW, PATIENCE IS ONE THING, BUT HOW  LONG CAN THEY LET THIS GO ON?

>> Steve: IN TERMS OF THE  OTERO COUNTY COMMISSION, THE OTHER TWO MEMBERS HAVE BEEN  SAYING HE SHOULD RESIGN AND IF NOT THEY ARE GOING TO SUPPORT  HECTOR BALDERAS AND TRY TO HAVE HIM REMOVED.

I AM NOT SURE WHAT THE LAW IS WITH REMOVING HIM.

IT MIGHT INVOLVE A JURY TRIAL AND STUFF.

THESE ARE VERY CONSERVATIVE PEOPLE, THESE AREN'T LIBERAL  CLUCKS OR ANYTHING.

THESE ARE TRUE CONSERVATIVES AND TRUE  TRUMP CONSERVATIVES WHO ARE SICK OF THE GUY.

THEY ARE THE ONES THAT WORK WITH HIM, SO, YEAH, I THINK  HIS DAYS ARE NUMBERED THERE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THE COURT  CASE IS GOING TO TURN OUT OR ANYTHING.

I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I LEARNED THAT COUY GRIFFIN ACTUALLY  USED TO WORK FOR DISNEY WORLD IN PARIS, YOU KNOW, AS A  DISNEY COWBOY.

>> Gene: THAT IS TRUE.

>> Steve: MY FIRST REACTION WAS MAYBE HE QUIT WHEN THEY  CAME OUT WITH THE MOVIE POCAHONTAS AND HE FOUND OUT IT  WASN'T ABOUT ELIZABETH WARREN.

>> Gene: GOOD ONE.

>> Steve: THE GUY IS AMAZING AND I THINK HIS TIME IS UP.

>> Gene: SOPHIE, YOU MENTIONED, AND STEVE JUST  MENTIONED IT AS WELL, THE IDEA THAT I AM SORRY, STEVE'S LAST  JOKE FLIPPED ME OUT OF MY HEAD THERE.

IT WAS SO AWESOME.

THE IDEA THAT ONE CAN BE SO  CONTROVERSIAL FOR SO LONG AND NOT HAVE CONSEQUENCES.

I THINK THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR,  IS CONSEQUENCES.

ALL RIGHT, IT IS ONE THING TO  BE A NOW BOOTLESS COWBOY ARRESTED BY THE FBI, BUT I  THINK, YOU KNOW, HOW ABOUT MR. BALDERAS?

WHERE WAS HE FOUR WEEKS AGO.

HE HAS A STIFF LETTER OUT  THERE NOW SAYING YOU NEED TO REIN IT IN OR WE ARE GOING TO  DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, WHERE WAS THIS SIX WEEKS AGO FROM  HIM.

>> Sophie: WHEN WE TALK ABOUT  CONSEQUENCES THERE ARE SO MANY LAYERS AND LEVELS OF  CONSEQUENCES, RIGHT, AND PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE  FIRST AMENDMENT AND OR COUNTRY'S ONGOING COMMITMENT  TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

AND SO YOU KNOW THIS IS A  PERSON WHO MADE STATEMENTS THAT I THINK IN AN OLDER  CONTEXT WERE DISTASTEFUL AND MAY HAVE BEEN UPSETTING, BUT  DIDN'T, AS CLEARLY AS IMMEDIATELY SEEM, TO RISE TO  THE LEVEL OF SHOUTING FIRE IN THE CROWDED MOVIE HOUSE WHICH  IS ONE OF THE STANDARDS WE TALK ABOUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT  THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

SO, YOU KNOW, WHY WERE THERE  NOT CONSEQUENCES AMONG THE VOTERS IN WHICH THE VOTERS IN  OTERO COUNTY SAID, WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN DOING THIS  ANYMORE.

THAT CERTAINLY IS A VERY  LEGITIMATE, NOT REALLY INVOLVING THE FIRST AMENDMENT  KIND OF THING, LET'S VOTE THE GUY OUT.

WHY WEREN'T THERE CONSEQUENCES IN THE MEDIA.

>> Steve: WAS HE UP FOR ELECTION IN 2020?

>> Sophie: I DON'T BELIEVE SO.

>> Steve: IN 2018 NOBODY KNEW  WHO HE WAS.

>> Sophie: HE DIDN'T SPROUT  HORNS IMMEDIATELY, RIGHT?

SO, YOU KNOW, THERE IS  CONSEQUENCE TO THE VOTERS, THERE IS A CONSEQUENCE IN THE  COMMUNITY.

THERE ARE WHOLE LEVELS, LIKE,  WHY IS HE GETTING THE ATTENTION.

PART OF ME, I KNEW WE WERE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HIM, WAS  SAD THAT WE ARE GOING TO GIVE HIM MORE OXYGEN.

ALTHOUGH WE SEEM TO BE CONDEMNING HIM WHICH I AM OKAY  WITH THAT.

THERE ARE LIMITATIONS ON WHAT  GOVERNMENT CAN DO BECAUSE OF THE POWER AND IMPORTANCE OF  THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

AND YOU SORT OF WATCH FOR  LIKE, OKAY, HAVE WE CROSSED THE LINE, DO WE THINK WE HAVE  CROSSED THE LINE.

IT MAY BE THAT WHEN THIS ALL  SHAKES OUT COULD BE THAT THE COURTS FIND HE DIDN'T CROSS  THE LINE, EVEN THOUGH HIS STATEMENTS ARE EXTRAORDINARILY  DISTASTEFUL AND MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT THEY WERE AN  INCITEMENT TO VIOLENCE.

AND YOU KNOW WE ARE GOING TO  HAVE TO SEE WHERE THE COURT ESTABLISHED THAT LINE IN HIS  CASE?

>> Gene: I SO APPRECIATE YOU  BRINGING THAT UP.

THERE ARE FREE SPEECH ISSUES  AND FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUES AS WE KIND OF GUFFAW HERE.

THIS  IS WHY WE HAVE ATTORNEYS LIKE YOU TO BRING BALANCE TO THE  SITUATION.

I WANT TO GO AROUND THE HORN  HERE REAL QUICK, TJ, STARTING WITH YOU.

OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE  FENCING UP AROUND THE ROUNDHOUSE.

NO ONE IS LIKING THAT BUT WE GOT TO HAVE IT.

WE DIDN'T HAVE PROBLEMS BUT WE DO STILL HAVE OPEN CARRY IN  THE ROUNDHOUSE.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT IS  GOING ANYWHERE, CERTAINLY.

I AM NOT QUESTIONING THAT, BUT  FOR ALL OF YOU WHAT IS YOUR SENSE OF HOW WE APPROACHED THE  POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH AT THE ROUNDHOUSE AND HOW WE ARE  DEALING WITH IT.

>> TJ: I THINK THE RESPONSE,  AFTER, AGAIN, I KEEP BRINGING UP TWO WEDNESDAYS AGO, WAS  COMPLETELY LEGITIMATE AND RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THREATS ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA  SAYING WE ARE COMING.

YOU KNOW.

WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO DO?

OF COURSE, YOU HAVE TO DO  SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND AGAIN I AM GOING TO SHIFT GEARS A  LITTLE BIT ONE MORE TIME BECAUSE LOOKING AT THE BROADER  PICTURE HERE, I AM SO UPSET WITH CERTAIN PROPONENTS OF THE  MEDIA RIGHT NOW.

I AM JUST   SPITTING ANGRY.

THAT IS HOW ANGRY I AM WITH  SOME OF THESE PEOPLE FOR PERPETUATING SOME OF THE LIES  AND MISTRUTHS THAT HAVE LED UP TO WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND HAVE  CAUSED US TO HAVE TO PUT FENCING AROUND OR ROUNDHOUSE  AND OR BELOVED SACRED PLACES OF GOVERNMENT BASED ON LIES.

AND LIES WERE PERPETUATED FROM THE TOP DOWN AND WITH CERTAIN  ELEMENTS OF THE MEDIA PERPETUATING AND ENABLING THE  LIES.

>> Gene: A BEAUTIFUL LAST  NOTE.

>> TJ: THAT IS WHY WE ARE  WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

I AM INCENSED ABOUT THIS.

>> Gene: TJ TROUT, SOPHIE MARTIN, STEVE TERRELL, I CAN'T  THANK YOU GUYS ENOUGH.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR READING UP  AND GIVING US YOUR FINAL THOUGHTS.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS IN A MINUTES.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT FOR SOME REASON, I HAVE NEVER BEEN  SO GRATEFUL FOR A LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO START.

STRANGE AS THAT MAY SOUND, THE RETURN TO SOME FORM OF  NORMALCY HAS BEEN SOOTHING TO MY POLITICAL JUNKY SOUL.

BETTER YET IT IS THE HOME FRONT.

IT IS TO ME THE ONLY PROBLEMS WORTH WORRYING ABOUT ARE THE  ONES THAT ARE CLOSEST TO YOUR HOME AND YOUR WALLET.

NOW, THERE IS WORK TO BE DONE, BUT AS THE KIDS SAY, EVERYONE  IN THE LEGISLATIVE BODY IS WOKE NOW.

WHAT EXCITES ME MOST IS THE ENERGY AND IDEAS THAT COME  WITH NEW SEAT HOLDERS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS, BECAUSE WE  HAVE LEAPS THAT NEED TO BE MADE THAT ARE SO HUGE WE CAN  ONLY GET THERE WITH BOLD STROKES THAT MOVE THE BALL  DOWN FIELD QUICKLY.

YES, PROCESS IS IMPORTANT WITH  OUR LEGISLATIVE SETUP, AND THERE WAS AN HONEST EFFORT TO  IMPLEMENT SOMETHING THAT ALLOWS THE PROCESS TO BE BOTH  ACCESSIBLE AND TRANSPARENT AS REASONABLY POSSIBLE.

THAT  REMAINS TO BE SEEN IF THE STEPS TAKEN TO KEEP EVERYONE  COVID-19 FREE WHILE SERVING THE NEEDS OF A PARTICIPATORY  CITIZEN LEGISLATURE IF THAT ALL WORKED OUT.

THAT IS A  GOOD PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS OUR PROBLEM.

THANKS AGAIN FOR JOINING US AND FOR STAYING INFORMED AND  ENGAGED.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK,  IN FOCUS.

>>   FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS PROVIDED BY THE MCCUNE  CHARITABLE FOUNDATION AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.