Politics used to be about policies and positions, but now it’s about threats and fear. Manipulators have been able to appeal to the nonpolitical sorts by tapping into basic survival instincts rather than approaching them with ideas and discussion

I’ve also included information about two upcoming public meetings. I think you’ll learn something new from my article. I hope you’ll give it a read or listen when you have time. /2

Civic engagement in action: the League of Women Voters will host a public forum Oct. 21 for Mesilla Board of Trustees candidates. Come hear directly from those hoping to lead your town.

“You can win elections by tacking to the middle; lots of people have. But you can also win elections by staking a moral position and convincing people to agree with you. You can earn support by demonstrating what is important to you instead of just being determined to nod along with what you hear.”

Great news, Doña Ana County — 8 early voting locations are now open across the county! ✅ Skip the lines. ✅ Vote at a time and place that works for you. ✅ Make your voice heard early! 📍 Find your nearest voting site now at DACElections.com 🗓️ Don’t wait—make your plan to vote today!

If you were out in the streets today, thanks. If you left feeling inspired, please seek out local ways that you can keep organizing with others.

After you’re done protesting today, please go vote! Expanded voting locations open TODAY across Doña Ana County. 🗳️🗳️🗳️

Join us for Open Meetings Act (OMA) and Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) training on Monday, October 27! Virtual and in-person options available, MUST register to attend. Scan QR code to register or visit: nmdoj.gov/event/oma-ip... #NMDOJ #OMA #IPRA

“The Defense Department has confiscated the badges of the Pentagon reporters from virtually every major media organization in America,” the Pentagon Press Association said

NEW: The USDA told New Mexico that it will not pay for food stamps next month if the gov't shutdown continues, HCA secretary said today. 450k NM SNAP recipients wouldn't get $90m in benefits. "As of right now, it’s looking like those benefits will be delayed,” she said. buff.ly/VltjcXO

Town of Mesilla Trustee Candidate Forum - Hosted by the League of Women Voters of Southern New Mexico Location: Mesilla Community Center Date: Tuesday, October 21st Time: 6:00 PM This public event welcomes all residents. Questions from the audience will be taken.

New Mexico lobbyists have already spent $1.25 million in 2025 — continuing what’s become a strong spending trend across multiple years. www.organmountainnews.com/by-the-s-nm-...

“How are we helping farmers feel secure to continue farming w/o the financial burden, whether it's resources or the economic climate? You also hear things like “preserve the historic district,” we have many historic buildings, but they're falling apart…” www.krwg.org/krwg-news/20...

"Most Americans probably don’t have a detailed grasp of what’s happening with ACA subsidies right now, but once people start getting letters notifying them of how much their premiums are going up, it will become a much bigger issue."

According to the latest filings, New Mexico lobbyists have spent more than $1.25 million to wine and dine lawmakers, along with other expenses, so far this year. That's, by far, the highest amount of lobbyist spending since at least 2021. See which lobbyists spent the most here: buff.ly/8uOJ8Lw

Find out how much money local districts will get from the state’s new $35 million school-security fund. Story via @sourcenm.com:

Have thoughts on Las Cruces’ West Picacho, Motel Boulevard corridor? The city wants your feedback on redesign plans.

A resident in a West El Paso neighborhood purchased a small library that was installed this week at Franklin Hills Park to help spread the love for books in the community. MORE: https://www.ktsm.com/local/el-paso-news/local-resident-gifts-little-library-to-franklin-hills-park/

“We really need to think about what Mesilla might look like in the future, while preserving the authenticity and the hominess and the historic part of it. We need to look forward to how we bring people in.” www.krwg.org/krwg-news/20...

The state agency that administers New Mexico’s food stamps program says as many as 32,000 residents’ eligibility could be impacted next month by new federal rules. buff.ly/DVBCi3E

Bonito Lake. Lmk what you think you hear towards the end… 🫎

Dominion Voting Systems, the company at the center of false fraud claims about the 2020 election, has been acquired by an entity called Liberty Vote. n.pr/3Wv0EIt

El Paso Bishop Mark Seitz met Wednesday with Pope Leo at the Vatican and brought him a package of letters from immigrant families fearing they will be rounded up and deported. MORE: https://www.ktsm.com/local/el-paso-news/bishop-seitz-brings-letters-from-migrant-families-to-pope-leo/

If you’re in Las Cruces this weekend, come check out the book festival at the DACC East Mesa Campus! Admission is free, and there's something for every reader and writer in your life. 📚

After threatening that furloughed federal workers might not receive backpay after all, Mike Johnson tries to clarify that *of course* he thinks they *should* get backpay.

Glad to see this resolution be strengthened after it was introduced a few years ago. We don’t sell out or ‘trade off’ our immigrant community. www.abqjournal.com/news/article...

The Census Bureau is looking for temporary workers to carry out next year's major field test of the 2030 census in six states, as the national head count's advocates raise concerns about preparations.

Russell Hernandez’s experience shaking hands and learning names began long before he was elected as the town of Mesilla’s mayor in 2023.

Condolences to Mr. Leyva and his loved ones. 🙏🏻

Bad Bunny responds to his Super Bowl critics in Spanish, and then English: “And, if you didn’t understand know what I just said, you have four months to learn!”

Emergency session of #nmleg passes bills to protect the basics: food security, affordable health care, and access to care following disastrous federal funding cuts Reports @sourcenm.com sourcenm.com/briefs/nm-go...

Here's the creator of The Punisher specifically mentioning challenge coins using the Punisher logo as a huge problem and a sign of a law enforcement agency that doesn't understand its mission. /this is a Reddit comment reproducing a statement supposedly included in a SyFy article now offline.

This is not a moment to abandon principles and morals. Human rights are worth fighting for. Democracy is worth fighting for. People need housing, healthcare, education, and the ability to live a good life. That’s not controversial.

NM Democratic leaders say they are keeping a tight leash on bills for the special legislative session and they hope to wrap by Thursday. Here's what's happening so far.

It's about 12:45 p.m. on a Thursday. Do you know what your state lawmakers are doing? Catch up on the special session, which is likely to end today.

On October 1st, a powerful display of solidarity was demonstrated at the NM State Capitol as students and community members came together to condemn the state's complicity in the violent attacks and inhumane treatment of immigrant communities.

Federal cuts to Medicaid and food stamps prompted New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to call a special session beginning Wednesday, but expiring health insurance tax credits are also on the agenda. Here's what to know: buff.ly/8k1Pgcu

a democratically elected congresswoman is being denied her seat because the speaker simply does not want to seat her and leadership is as unconcerned about this as they seem to be about everything else

For all intents and purposes, the most powerful person in the federal government is Stephen Miller, not the President.

was going through the covid/blm era with my therapist, mostly about how many friendships ended during that time, and she said "I'm sensing a pattern here" and I'm just like...ma'am, a bunch of people in my life openly said they hated Black people and didn't care about spreading a deadly disease.

Unless Democrats and Republicans in Congress can reach an agreement and pass a funding measure before 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, we will face the first government shutdown in seven years. MORE:https://www.ktsm.com/hill-politics/government-shutdown-looms-what-to-know-about-closures-payments-and-more/

A message from Assata Shakur's daughter, Kakuya Shakur:

Assata Shakur joins the ancestors a free woman. She did not die bound by the carceral system and she did not pass away living in a land that never respected or accepted her. Assata taught us that liberation can not be bargained for, it must be taken. Rest Free, Assata.

“A country in denial. Anyway, I was born…” — Assata Shakur 🤎

Assata Shakur has "died in Havana, Cuba, as a result of health conditions and her advanced age." She was 78.

I don’t know what kind of birds these are but I was testing out a new lens the other day. 📸

Legally mandated inspections found ICE violated at least 60 federal standards for immigrant detention 1,400 people are imprisoned in the ICE facility while private contractors are still building the facility where up to 5,000 migrants will be held by years end www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/i...

“The offense is the process that led to the final votes, not the votes themselves. Rather than being grounded in relationship with their constituents, county officials made decisions based on the out-of-state developers’ artificial deadline and threat to leave.” haussamen.com/2025/09/22/p...

Conservative efforts to punish educators over liberal ideas have grown for years, led in part by Charlie Kirk himself. The American Association of University Professors, an organization founded to defend academic freedom, said it was aware of retaliation against about 60 professors and teachers.

They recess for 15 minutes. 51/