October 12, 2025

Episode 231: A local leader tries to crush a family business, a mayoral race pivots on crime and homelessness, and national media gets called out

59 minutes

A union boss tried to turn a beloved New Mexico tradition into a political weapon—and we’re not having it. We unpack the “prison patch” smear aimed at McCall’s Pumpkin Patch, separate rumor from reality, and talk about what’s really at stake when activists target family businesses to score points. It’s a case study in how online outrage travels, how local news stepped in to correct it, and why communities should back builders over destroyers.

From there, we head into the Albuquerque mayoral race, where crime and homelessness dominate the polls. We analyze Darren White’s hard-hitting ad, Tim Keller’s incumbent playbook, and why a “good ideas, better execution” message from Alex Ubayas falls flat when voters are begging for real change. If you want to win, you have to talk about what people feel on their block—safety, public order, and visible disorder—and offer concrete steps, not abstractions.

Then a wild media moment: Katie Porter’s interview meltdown and the aftermath. We walk through how a few minutes of friction with a local reporter triggered a prediction market swing, revived old staff clips, and raised the bigger question—can you govern if you can’t handle follow-ups? We also scan tight races in New Jersey and Virginia, where endorsements, standards, and cost-of-living politics are reshaping odds. Finally, we tackle the government shutdown, the Senate math behind it, and a heated JD Vance–George Stephanopoulos exchange that spotlights the gap between media priorities and what families are actually dealing with.

Stick around for Sunday Drone Day: soaring fall colors over Angel Fire, a reminder of the place we’re all trying to protect. If you value straight talk on local politics, media accountability, and the small businesses that hold communities together, tap follow, share with a friend, and leave a quick review—what story grabbed you most this week?

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