No Doubt About It

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Episode 322: New Mexico Early Vote Gap And The PAC Money Story Shaking Up The Governor’s Race Oct 28, 2026

Show notes

The numbers are coming in before Election Day even arrives, and they’re telling a story that’s hard to ignore. We walk through New Mexico early voting totals and the partisan registration breakdown, explain what those reports can and can’t prove, and talk candidly about why turnout has replaced persuasion as the defining battle in modern campaigns. If you’re tired of endless texts and mailers, we also share the simplest move that can make campaigns stop spending money trying to “win” your vote.
Then we get into the headline that lit up New Mexico politics: a PAC supporting Deb Haaland while launching negative TV ads at Gregg Hull, funded in part by major donors with ties to energy and the Project Jupiter data center fight. We break down how independent expenditure PACs work, why there are effectively no donation limits, and why candidates can benefit from outside spending while still getting burned by messaging they can’t control. We also connect the money story to the bigger policy question voters keep asking about data centers: water, electricity demand, grid reliability, and the real safeguards communities deserve.
From there, we zoom out to the national map, including a Michigan Senate ad we think crosses a moral line, new signals on potential Senate outcomes, and a ballot-confusion tactic in Alaska that shows how far campaigns will go to shave a fraction of a point. We close with Trump’s midterm travel strategy, the energy politics behind methane regulations, and what all of it means for your vote in the final stretch. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s still undecided, and leave a review with the one issue you’re voting on this year.

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Episode 321: Women Of The Left Choose Threats & Violence, Early Vote Numbers, Plus Greg Cunningham On Winning CD2 Oct 25, 2026

Show notes

Politics can get ugly. But when it turns into deterrence, threats, and career-ending “payback” talk, it stops being a debate and starts becoming a warning to anyone thinking about public service. We dig into three recent moments from high-profile voices on the left that, to us, signal a dangerous shift toward intimidation and dehumanization, and we talk honestly about how that kind of rhetoric can lead people to justify real-world harm.
Then we pivot to the numbers. The U.S. Senate battleground states are tightening fast, and we walk through what we’re seeing in places like Texas, Michigan, Iowa, Alaska, Kansas, and Maine, plus why Republicans can outperform polls in states Trump previously won. If you care about election forecasting, turnout, and what decides control of the Senate, this is where the math meets reality.
We also bring it home to New Mexico politics with fresh early voting data from the Secretary of State and a blunt message: if your side waits, campaigns waste resources and lose winnable races. We react to the most ridiculous political ad of the season, then talk about Senator Martin Heinrich catching heat from environmental groups over AI data center and permitting legislation. Finally, we sit down with Greg Cunningham, Republican candidate for New Mexico CD2, on crime, fentanyl, energy, tariffs for chile farmers, leadership, and the faith story that drove him into the arena.
Subscribe, share this with a friend who cares about New Mexico elections, and leave a review. What’s the one issue you want Congress to tackle first?

Episode 320: Exclusive New Mexico Governor Poll Plus How Turnout Will Decide Everything Oct 18, 2026

Show notes

Ella turns 18 and suddenly our “kid voting” jokes become real math: two more ballots in the household, one more reminder that elections get decided by the people who actually show up. We talk early voting in New Mexico, why waiting for Election Day can backfire, and what we’re seeing on the ground as turnout ramps up across Albuquerque and the state.
Then we share exclusive Peak Insights polling on the New Mexico governor race, including the current spread between Deb Haaland and Greg Hull, what’s changed since June, and why favorability and party consolidation matter more than hot takes. We also dig into the land commissioner race and explain why that office is a sleeper powerhouse tied to public lands, water, and oil and gas policy. Speaking of energy, we react to polling on oil and gas favorability and what that says about how New Mexicans weigh jobs, revenue, and reality.
From there, we break down the CD2 debate between Gabe Vasquez and Greg Cunningham, including the moment Cunningham presses Vasquez on the infamous “defund the police” mask video. We also unpack a KRQE tweet that exploded into a ratio storm, what it reveals about media trust, and why framing matters when voters already feel like institutions are picking sides. We wrap with Frank Luntz’s turnout lens, a look at Secretary of State early voting numbers, a quick tour of tight national Senate races, a brutal press secretary flameout, and a lighter finish with wildlife cams and our newest family member, a 10-week-old golden retriever.
Subscribe for weekly New Mexico politics analysis, share this with a friend who actually votes, and leave a rating and review so more people can find the show.

Episode 318: Inside The New Mexico Governor Race Numbers Oct 11, 2026

Show notes

A seven point lead sounds decisive until you look under the hood. We walk through a new New Mexico governor poll and explain why the details matter: 1,125 interviews, 100% phone survey work, nine days in the field, and a tight margin of error. From there, we get practical about what the numbers actually mean for Deb Haaland and Gregg Hull, including name ID, the money gap, and why “undecided” often hides softer preferences that only show up late.
Next, we zoom in on the parts of the crosstabs that decide elections in New Mexico: regional vote math in the Albuquerque metro, the persistent gender gap, the Hispanic vote, and the growing importance of independent voters. We also react to dueling attack ads from outside groups, including what lands with persuadable voters and why refusing to draw contrasts can be a strategic mistake when the other side has more money and more airtime.
Then we pan out to the national midterm picture with a tour of the most competitive U.S. Senate races, the growing impact of candidate quality, and voter registration trends in key swing states. Finally, we end on a sharp left turn that still fits the theme of evidence: a new documentary claims the Patterson Gimlin Bigfoot film may be a hoax, and we follow it up with game camera footage that proves at least one thing is real, predators on the mountain.
Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves politics or Bigfoot, and leave us a rating and review so more people can find the show.

Episode 317: Don’t You Know Who I Am Politics Never Ends Well Oct 07, 2026

Show notes

A single body cam clip can change how a whole state sees its leadership, especially when it comes with months of delays and a cloud of “why couldn’t we see this sooner?” We break down the newly released lapel footage tied to New Mexico Senate leader Mimi Stewart’s 2024 Santa Fe crash, including the public records fight, the tone at the scene, and why the optics of power matter as much as the incident itself. If you care about IPRA, government transparency, and whether elected officials play by the same rules as everyone else, you’ll want to hear our take.
From there, we dig into New Mexico tax policy and the cost of living. We react to Gregg Hull’s multi step plan to phase out the New Mexico personal income tax and the predictable pushback framing it as something that “costs the state.” We talk competitiveness, small businesses, and why attracting and keeping doctors, engineers, and other professionals depends on whether New Mexico feels like a place you can build a life, not just pay into a surplus.
We also hit major national narratives: a Trump Iran soundbite versus the headlines that followed, fresh border encounter numbers that show a massive shift, and why energy policy and refinery capacity show up fast at the gas pump. Finally, we run through the tightening midterm map, a sharp Susan Collins debate moment, the unusual Angela Paxton ad in Texas politics, and high profile endorsements for New Mexico candidates.
Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show, then drop a comment with the part you disagreed with most.

Episode 316: Why One Albuquerque House Race Could Change Healthcare Access With Rep. Nicole Chavez Oct 04, 2026

Show notes

New Mexico can’t recruit doctors, patients can’t get appointments, and one legislative race in Northeast Albuquerque is suddenly about far more than party labels. We connect the dots between medical malpractice lawsuits, rising insurance costs, and the brutal reality of waiting a year or more to see a specialist, then we ask the uncomfortable question: who benefits from keeping the system this way?
First, we run through the shifting U.S. Senate map and why Republicans are sounding more confident than the polls suggest. We talk spending advantages, prediction markets, and why “September isn’t November,” plus how candidate quality can matter as much as national mood. We also dig into the tried-and-true strategy of nationalizing local elections, where every Republican becomes “Trump” whether it fits the district or not, and what that means for New Mexico campaigns.
Then State Rep. Nicole Chavez joins us to share the personal story that brought her into public service after her son was murdered in a drive-by shooting. She explains her focus on victims’ rights, public safety reforms, and the bipartisan medical malpractice reform effort she says is essential to keep providers from leaving New Mexico. We also get into the legislator pay constitutional amendment, per diem realities, pensions, and why term limits keep coming up in the debate.
Subscribe for more New Mexico politics and policy conversations, share this with a friend who’s tired of waiting for healthcare, and leave a review with your take on malpractice reform and accountability in Santa Fe.

Episode 315: Why Skipping Debates Works And How Challengers Fight Back Sep 27, 2026

Show notes

Debates are supposed to clarify elections, but sometimes the real game is the argument about whether the debate happens at all. We dig into the New Mexico governor race drama around Deb Haaland and Gregg Hull, why a front-runner might avoid a live stage, and how a challenger can accidentally hand over the perfect excuse. From a campaign operative’s view, we talk leverage, earned media, and why “accept anything” is often the only workable debate strategy when you are being outspent.
Then we get into the surprise twist: the lieutenant governor debate. We explain why it’s strange to see the bottom of the ticket debating when the top is not, and how that hour can create more harm than help. We react to coverage of Stephanie Garcia Richard’s performance versus David Gallegos, the optics that stick on video, and the bigger issue of ticket discipline. We also break down a Gallegos ad that attacks Holland in a way that can confuse voters and signal chaos to national groups deciding where to invest.
We zoom out to the midterm elections environment with a quick check of US Senate polling averages, then hit the core voter reality: cost of living and gas prices. From there, Iran policy and messaging come into focus, including a clip that shows how a candidate’s answer can reveal a lot when emotions and foreign policy collide. And because this is us, we close with New Mexico weather, El Nino rain potential, and a shot at early high mountain snow, plus Sunday Game Day wildlife updates.
Subscribe, share this with a politically obsessed friend, and leave a review if you want more straight talk and behind-the-scenes analysis.

Episode 314: ***Quick Update***The New Mexico Debate Mess Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

The New Mexico governor’s race is heading toward early voting, and the simplest question still doesn’t have a clean answer: will the candidates actually debate? Mark Ronchetti drops a fast, late-night update on the “battle over debates” between Deb Haaland and Gregg Hull, and why the back-and-forth over dates is starting to matter as much as the issues themselves.
We walk through the timeline that’s now in the headlines, including the Albuquerque Journal’s very public pressure campaign and the tug-of-war involving KOB, KOAT, KKOB, and KRQE. Along the way, we call out a proposal that sounds reasonable until you think about it: a 30 minute governor debate. With crime, education, health care, the border, jobs, AI, and so much more facing New Mexico, we explain why that format isn’t serious and why voters deserve more than a rushed segment.
Then we get into the real political mechanics. Mark breaks down the “fog it up” tactic, how confusion can become a strategy, and what each side might do if they’re optimizing for advantage instead of clarity. We also talk about the push for a lieutenant governor debate and why it doesn’t replace the main event at the top of the ticket.
Subscribe to No Doubt About It, share this with a New Mexico voter, and leave a review with your take: should any candidate for governor ever be allowed to skip the debate stage?

Episode 313: Inside New Mexico’s Governor Race And The Data Center Backlash Sep 20, 2026

Show notes

A candidate takes money from a controversial project, then calls for a moratorium on the very thing that funded her campaign. That tension kicks off a fast moving conversation about the New Mexico governor race, the Project Jupiter data center fight, and why data centers have become a political lightning rod around water use, power demand, and utility rates. We walk through what a “pause and guardrails” approach could look like, why public trust matters as much as policy, and how the New Mexico legislature’s reputation for heavy handed regulation shapes the stakes for business and communities.
Then we slow down and analyze a single press conference moment from Deb Haaland that says a lot about modern campaigning. She gets a direct question about donations and accountability, pivots to the cost of elections, and reframes the whole thing around protecting New Mexicans and benefits like Medicaid and SNAP. We explain why that kind of non answer can still be effective political communication, and what an opponent would need to do to force a real response.
From there we widen to the national picture: midterm elections, inflation, gas prices, and the political gravity of affordability. We connect the price squeeze to energy shocks and the Iran war, talk about why “simple messages” win, and why voters often blame whoever is in office even when economic change is slow. Finally, we jump into AI regulation and AI safety, including concerns about lobbying, “watchdog” ecosystems, and a chilling report about a U.S. military close call sparked by AI generated false intelligence. We end with the cultural side of AI, from deepfakes to an AI actress glitching on live TV, plus a quick hit on Greenland and a legal battle over AI disclaimers for political satire.
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Episode 312: Who Gets To Control AI When Everyone Is Afraid Sep 13, 2026

Show notes

The people building the most powerful AI models are now publicly warning that AI could get out of control, and that alone should make all of us lean in. We walk through what’s behind the sudden unity from major players like Anthropic, OpenAI, and Elon Musk, including the language you keep hearing but rarely see explained clearly: AI misalignment, agent swarms, and recursive self-improvement. If AI systems can take actions their creators didn’t explicitly instruct, what does “safe enough” even mean, and who decides?
We also ask the uncomfortable motivation question. When a frontier AI company is racing toward a massive IPO while insiders talk about existential risk, the tension isn’t just philosophical, it’s legal, financial, and political. We break down the argument that calls for government regulation can double as a strategy to create a small set of approved vendors, limit competition, and even reduce product liability if something goes wrong. Then we zoom out to the China factor and the AI arms race problem: even perfect domestic guardrails don’t solve a global sprint.
From there, we shift into politics with the same lens we use for AI: incentives and consequences. We react to a New Mexico lieutenant governor ad that leaves the top of the ticket out entirely, why that kind of message-splitting can damage a campaign, and what issues actually persuade general election voters. We also hit national storylines, including Trump floating a $5,000 “dividend,” the kind of rally talk that makes headlines, and a Texas Senate candidate trying to reinvent himself in real time.
We close on a grounded note with a practical weather outlook for New Mexico, including El Niño’s role in a quiet Atlantic hurricane season and why the next week could bring a welcome monsoon burst, plus a quick Cowboys prediction and some wild mountain footage. Subscribe for more, share this with a friend who’s worried about AI or politics, and leave us a rating and review so more people can find the show.

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