New Mexico News Insiders

From FBI To City Hall: Albuquerque's New Public Safety Director

For years, Raul Bujanda led some of New Mexico's highest-profile federal investigations as the FBI's top official in Albuquerque. Now, he's stepping into a newly revived role at City Hall, responsible for overseeing the city's public safety system. Chris and Gabby sit down with Albuquerque's new Executive Director of Public Safety to discuss why he made the move, what he learned from a career in federal law enforcement, and how he plans to coordinate Albuquerque Fire Rescue, Albuquerque Community Safety, and the Albuquerque Police Department -- an agency that was the subject of a major FBI corruption investigation during his tenure. Bujanda shares his perspective on tackling crime, addressing youth access to firearms, and balancing accountability with reform. What's his vision for the future of public safety in Albuquerque?

Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico. 

Meet The New Police Chief In Albuquerque

Albuquerque has a new police chief hired from within the ranks. Chief Cecily Barker is the first woman to lead the department in APD's history, and has been a member of the department for 22 years. Chris and Gabby sit down with Chief Barker for an in-depth conversation about her approach to leadership, the future of policing in Albuquerque, and what people can expect under her command. She reflects on APD's decade under federal DOJ reform, evolving use-of-force policies, officer accountability, and the ongoing challenge of rebuilding public trust after the DWI corruption scandal that shook the department. As APD enters a new chapter, Chief Barker offers a candid look at the pressures and priorities of leading New Mexico's largest police force. What makes her stand out from prior leadership at APD? 

Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico. 

How New Mexico Is Running Its Prison System

What does it take to run New Mexico's prison system? Chris and Gabby sit down with New Mexico Corrections Department Secretary Alisha Tafoya Lucero to discuss the realities of overseeing the state's eight prison facilities. Tafoya Lucero offers an inside look at the challenges facing corrections today, including staff shortages, contraband smuggling, inmate healthcare, and reflects on what it was like to navigate prison operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also shares why rehabilitation and reentry have become major priorities for the department, including expanded educational, vocational, and workforce programs designed to prepare inmates for life after release. With roughly 96% of people in New Mexico's prisons eventually returning to their communities, she explains why she believes successful reentry is critical to public safety and reducing recidivism.

The conversation provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at the people, policies, and decisions shaping New Mexico's correctional system.

Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico. 

Leading The Lobos: Garnett Stokes Reflects On Her UNM Legacy

After eight years leading the University of New Mexico, outgoing UNM President Garnett Stokes sits down with Chris and Gabby for an in-depth exit interview reflecting on the highs, lows, and defining moments of her tenure. The 23rd President and first woman in UNM history to hold the position, Stokes discusses the challenges of leading the Lobos through periods of change, the accomplishments she's most proud of, and what she believes should be the top priorities for the university's next leader. From student success and campus safety to athletics, funding, and the future of higher education in New Mexico, the conversation offers a candid look at the legacy she leaves behind. 

Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico. 

Meet The Republicans Running For New Mexico Governor

New Mexico's race for governor is taking shape, and this election could look very different from past primaries. In this special primary election episode, Chris and Gabby sit down with the three Republican candidates running to become New Mexico's next governor: former Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull, small-business owner Doug Turner, and CEO of the cannabis company Ultra Health, Duke Rodriguez. Each candidate is given equal time to answer questions about healthcare, the economy, education, crime, CYFD, and their vision for the state's future as they compete for a spot on the November ballot. With more than half of voters in a KRQE-Emerson poll stating they are undecided in this race, what makes the candidates stand out? 

This is the first primary election in New Mexico history where registered independents and 'decline to state' voters can cast a ballot in the June 2nd primary election, adding a new dynamic to one of the state's most closely watched races. How will this impact voter turnout?

Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico. 

Albuquerque's Route 66 Glow-Up: Art, Investment & Culture

As Route 66 approaches its centennial, Albuquerque is investing heavily in art, culture, and the future of Central Avenue. Chris and Gabby sit down with Shelle Sanchez, Arts & Culture Director for the City of Albuquerque, to talk about the city's vision for the Route 66 celebration. Sanchez also shares what the city learned from a recent creative economy impact study, and the millions of dollars in investments designed to reshape how locals and visitors experience Albuquerque.

Also discussed: the city's role in preserving and operating the historic KiMo Theatre; major investments at the ABQ BioPark; challenges and successes with the new International District Library; and how public art fits into Albuquerque's long-term identity and growth.

Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico. 

Democratic Primary Showdown: Haaland vs. Bregman

New Mexico's race for governor is heating up. Two Democrats and three Republicans are vying for their parties' nomination to earn a spot on the November ballot. In this special primary election episode, Democratic candidates Deb Haaland and Sam Bregman sit down for in-depth conversations about the issues shaping the campaign. Haaland, the former Congresswoman and U.S. Secretary of the Interior, and Bregman, the Bernalillo County District Attorney, outline their visions for the state and how they would tackle some of New Mexico's biggest challenges, including crime, healthcare, education, the economy, and the future of CYFD.

Chris and Gabby press both candidates on their priorities and policy differences ahead of the primaries. This is the first time in New Mexico where independent voters can cast a ballot in a primary race.

Primary Election Day is June 2, and early voting is already underway. Tune in for our live Q&A on Fox 505 with each candidate at 6 p.m. on May 12, followed by live analysis from Chris and Gabby on the New Mexico News Insiders Podcast - livestreamed on YouTube. Interviews with the Republican candidates for governor will air in a later episode of this podcast.  

Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.

New Mexico Vs. Meta: Will Social Media Habits Change?

A New Mexico jury has delivered a landmark verdict against Meta, finding the company knowingly put children and teens at risk, while misleading users about the safety of its platforms. Chris and Gabby break down the trial with on-the-ground reporting from KRQE's Bela Olague, explaining what jurors heard during the six-week trial and why it mattered. Then, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez joins the conversation to unpack the broader impact: what this decision means for families navigating social media, what comes next in the state's ongoing legal fight against Meta, and whether this case could reshape how a generation of parents thinks about their kids' online lives. Is this a turning point for Big Tech accountability? Will it change how any of us engage online?

Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico. 

Promises vs. Reality: New Mexico's Broken Child Welfare System

A year-long investigation into New Mexico's child welfare system is raising serious concerns about the agency tasked with protecting children. Why is the state’s Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD) in crisis? Attorney General for New Mexico, Raúl Torrez, joins Chris and Gabby to unpack the findings of a sweeping report, revealing systemic failures and often deadly consequences for vulnerable children across the state. Where is the system breaking down? What needs to change? And what should be a top priority for New Mexico's next governor?

• Read the report published by the New Mexico Department of Justice: 'Systemic Failures: How CYFD Endangers the Children It's Meant to Protect
• Read CYFD's response to the NMDOJ report 

Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico. 

Gas Prices Surge: Why New Mexico Isn’t Immune

Gas prices are climbing past $4 a gallon in parts of New Mexico. Even in one of the nation's top oil-producing states, locals are feeling the squeeze. Chris and Gabby sit down with Reilly White, Associate Dean of Teaching & Learning at the University of New Mexico, to break down how global conflict with Iran is driving local costs, and the long-term impact of an oil shock like this. Even if prices drop soon, White explains the economic ripple effects could last for months. What does that mean for families, businesses, and New Mexico's economy? White also shares practical tips to help you manage your budget during this stretch of higher prices.

Thanks for listening. If you’ve got an idea, send it to us at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.com. Give us a follow on social media at @ChrisMcKeeTV and @gburkNM. Watch or listen to our prior podcasts online at KRQE.com/insiders and our KRQE YouTube channel, or on broadcast TV every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. MST on Fox New Mexico.