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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. Website: https://www.nodoubtaboutitpodcast.com/ Twitter: @nodoubtpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoDoubtAboutItPod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markronchettinm/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D

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. Website: https://www.nodoubtaboutitpodcast.com/ Twitter: @nodoubtpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoDoubtAboutItPod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markronchettinm/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D

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. Website: https://www.nodoubtaboutitpodcast.com/ Twitter: @nodoubtpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoDoubtAboutItPod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markronchettinm/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D

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. Website: https://www.nodoubtaboutitpodcast.com/ Twitter: @nodoubtpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoDoubtAboutItPod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markronchettinm/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D

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. Website: https://www.nodoubtaboutitpodcast.com/ Twitter: @nodoubtpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoDoubtAboutItPod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markronchettinm/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D

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? Website: https://www.nodoubtaboutitpodcast.com/ Twitter: @nodoubtpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoDoubtAboutItPod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markronchettinm/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D

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. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a rating and review so more people can find the show. Website: https://www.nodoubtaboutitpodcast.com/ Twitter: @nodoubtpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoDoubtAboutItPod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markronchettinm/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D

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. Website: https://www.nodoubtaboutitpodcast.com/ Twitter: @nodoubtpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoDoubtAboutItPod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markronchettinm/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D

AI doesn’t have to “turn evil” to wreck real life. It just has to be wrong, persuasive, and everywhere at once and the people closest to the tech are saying that risk is already here. We walk through a resignation and public warnings from major AI labs, then unpack what “alignment” really means in plain language: we’re growing systems from oceans of human content, we can’t fully explain what’s happening inside them, and the moment we can’t reliably turn them off or contain them, the stakes change overnight. From there, we connect AI safety to something you’ve likely already seen: deepfakes and synthetic media in political campaigns. We react to an AI-generated ad that tries to “embody” an opponent, and we explain why that shortcut is so dangerous for election integrity. When video stops being proof, trust collapses fast. We also look at messaging misfires closer to home, including new New Mexico governor ads and what they communicate to actual voters. We then shift to the 9/11 anniversary, because memory is part of security. We share where we were that morning, what changed in the country, and why we never want our kids to forget what happened or why it mattered. You’ll also hear a wild James Woods story about a flight a month before 9/11, plus a lighter finish on our campaign-ad rule: never do something on camera you’re not truly good at. Subscribe to the No Doubt About It Podcast, share this with a friend who’s worried about AI and misinformation, and leave a review so more people can find the show. Website: https://www.nodoubtaboutitpodcast.com/ Twitter: @nodoubtpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoDoubtAboutItPod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markronchettinm/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D

A governor debate gets “announced” before both campaigns agree, and that small-looking scheduling story turns into a bigger question: who is actually serving the voter, the campaigns or the public? We unpack the back-and-forth around a proposed Deb Haaland vs Greg Hull debate, why TV stations don’t want a credibility mess, and why pushing debates past September can feel like a deliberate strategy when early voting is already on the calendar. If you care about New Mexico governor race coverage, debate rules, and what accountability looks like on camera, this is the kind of inside-baseball that still affects real outcomes.  Then we shift to the New Mexico CD2 race with fresh polling that shows just how tight it is between Gabe Vasquez and Greg Cunningham, and why this could be the closest result on the ballot. From there, we follow the thread that quietly shapes everything: energy prices. Diesel costs, refining capacity, global supply constraints, and geopolitical tension all roll downhill into grocery bills and shipping prices, and we talk through why consumer confidence can move faster than any economic report.  We also dig into SNAP food stamp reform and what it means when states finally have financial incentive to reduce errors and verify eligibility. After that, we call out the anatomy of a modern political hit piece through a Wall Street Journal story on Senator John Fetterman and the power of anonymous sourcing. And yes, we end where we always seem to end: with something you didn’t expect, including a report about parasitic worms in tuna and a Sunday Game Day segment where a bear goes after the camera in Angel Fire.  Subscribe so you don’t miss the next one, share this with a friend who follows New Mexico politics, and leave a rating and review. What topic do you want us to dig into next? Website: https://www.nodoubtaboutitpodcast.com/ Twitter: @nodoubtpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoDoubtAboutItPod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markronchettinm/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D

The Rio Grande shouldn’t look like a dry construction site, but that’s exactly what we’re seeing in Albuquerque, and it’s the perfect gut check for anyone counting on weather to bail us out. We start with what the drought looks like on the ground, then zoom out to the question we get nonstop: what does El Nino really mean for New Mexico, and are we headed for a true snowpack comeback? We break down why winter snowpack is more valuable than flashy summer downpours, and we walk through the signals that a strong El Nino is already showing, from Pacific activity to a noticeably quiet Atlantic hurricane basin. Then we get honest about the big wildcard: the Pacific Decadal Oscillation. Even with “Super El Nino” levels of warming off South America, cooler water off the West Coast makes clean comparisons to 1997 and 1998 a lot less reliable. We share Mark’s current snowpack expectation, the revived “bus potential” for a winter bust, and practical guidance for anyone debating when and where to book a ski trip in northern New Mexico or southern Colorado. From there, we shift into the New Mexico data center backlash and the polling that shows just how toxic the topic has become. We talk straight about the public’s real fears: electricity rates, water use, and whether AI infrastructure helps residents or just extracts resources. We also hit key election polling, Senate control scenarios, why independents are swinging hard on inflation, and what it means that 89% of Americans now say government corruption is widespread. Subscribe, share this with a friend who cares about New Mexico’s future, and leave a review so more people find the show. Website: https://www.nodoubtaboutitpodcast.com/ Twitter: @nodoubtpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoDoubtAboutItPod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markronchettinm/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D

A single new poll can flip the mood of a whole election, and the latest Albuquerque Journal numbers do exactly that for the New Mexico governor race. We walk through why Greg Hull suddenly looks like he’s within striking distance of Deb Haaland, what the undecided share really means, and how the independent vote, gender gap, education divide, and regional turnout could decide the finish. If you care about New Mexico politics, campaign strategy, and what persuades swing voters, this conversation gets specific fast.  We also pull back from the horse race to the bigger question voters keep asking: how can New Mexico sit on enormous reserves and rising revenue while still ranking near the bottom on key quality-of-life measures? We talk through tax relief versus one-time rebates, what “open for business” looks like in practice, and why population projections show New Mexico as one of the only western states expected to shrink. The thread is simple: money in Santa Fe doesn’t automatically turn into opportunity on Main Street, and leadership choices determine whether families stay or leave.  From there we hit the national stories that keep spilling into local life: ICE arrest numbers surging and the debate over immigration enforcement, plus a Venezuela oil deal framed as a strategic win with long-term risks. We close with a mix of the tragic, the absurd, and the unexpectedly sweet: a shooting tied to a green chile argument, a skeptical take on TikTok “pheromone maxing,” a heartfelt Dolly Parton tribute, and Sunday game day wildlife footage featuring a bear sprinting through an Albuquerque driveway. Subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review. Website: https://www.nodoubtaboutitpodcast.com/ Twitter: @nodoubtpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoDoubtAboutItPod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markronchettinm/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D

A single headline can make you feel like you already know the truth, and that’s exactly why we slow down and read the fine print. We start with a Santa Fe ICE arrests story that’s framed as a crackdown in a “sensitive place,” then we dig into the details the framing leaves out: how serious allegations can fall apart, how “failure by prosecutor” shows up in real cases, and why politicians rush to score points instead of fixing the system that failed victims in the first place. Then we shift to New Mexico politics and campaign reality, including a governor poll that claims a huge gap but uses choices that can distort results. We explain why polling methodology matters (online-only surveys, registered vs likely voters, and inflated undecided numbers) and how candidates can get dragged into the loudest issue in the room, even when state law and the legislature set the limits. From there, we head west to California for two stories that hit free speech and your wallet: the AB 2624 “Nick Shirley Act” concerns about investigative journalism and fraud exposure, plus a new tire regulation that could push 70% of today’s tires off the market by 2033. We connect it to the broader energy and cost-of-living squeeze, then zoom out to national politics, shifting approval numbers, and early 2028 matchup polling as trendlines. We close with energy, including New Mexico’s role in oil, gas, uranium enrichment, and the case for expanding nuclear power, plus a feel-good New Mexico sports story: Shias Pete and a Navajo milestone with the Dallas Cowboys. If you got value from this, subscribe, share the show, and leave a review. What part of this conversation hit closest to home for you? Website: https://www.nodoubtaboutitpodcast.com/ Twitter: @nodoubtpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoDoubtAboutItPod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markronchettinm/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D

Senior year hits different, and we open with that mix of pride, dread, and the weird reality that every milestone becomes the “last first.” From there, we get into the political mechanics that actually decide outcomes, starting with a blunt point: a quiet governor race is not a good sign for the challenger. We talk New Mexico politics, what “quiet” really means (or does not mean), and why fundraising, paid media, and real voter contact matter more than online noise.  Then we dig into one of the most thought-provoking ideas we have heard in a while: why college campuses can make socialism feel practical. Using a Wall Street Journal argument, we break down the “bundled economy” of modern universities, the amenities arms race, and how invisible price signals shape expectations. When graduates leave that self-contained world, adulthood can feel less like freedom and more like a wall of explicit costs, and that sticker shock can fuel political anger fast.  We also call out how a one-sided news story can mislead without technically lying, using SNAP benefits as the example. Eligibility rules, work requirements, and administrative error rates are not optional details if we want honest policy debate. We wrap by zooming out to the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential landscape: the economy, Democratic infighting between mainstream leaders and DSA-style candidates, and why Marco Rubio’s “moment” may be a now-or-never decision with a Chris Christie-sized warning attached.  Subscribe for weekly analysis, share this with a friend who argues politics at the dinner table, and leave a rating and review so more people can find the show. Website: https://www.nodoubtaboutitpodcast.com/ Twitter: @nodoubtpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoDoubtAboutItPod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markronchettinm/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D

A governor’s race that barely makes noise should make you ask one question: who benefits from the silence? We talk through why New Mexico’s top race feels so subdued, what that suggests about internal data, and how a challenger can sometimes thrive when the favorite delays attacks and keeps the timeline short. We also get into the unglamorous parts of politics that decide outcomes, polling that actually helps, message testing, fundraising signals, and why the first wave of ads can “set” a contest faster than people expect. Then we pivot hard into education and culture after a Wall Street Journal report on the University of Michigan moving to pass or no credit for first-semester freshmen. We connect grade inflation, standardized testing debates, COVID learning loss, and remedial college coursework to the real-world consequences: students paying more for less preparation, graduating with debt, and walking into a job market that still demands competence. Political consultant Jay McCleskey joins us to close with the stories that don’t fit into a tidy headline, including his new YouTube project Breaking Body Cams. We talk kidnapping, human trafficking, fentanyl trafficking routes, and why body camera footage can cut through spin from both media narratives and political press releases, especially as New Mexico debates transparency and access to public records. Subscribe to No Doubt About It, share this with a friend who follows New Mexico politics, and leave us a review so more people can find the show. Website: https://www.nodoubtaboutitpodcast.com/ Twitter: @nodoubtpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoDoubtAboutItPod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markronchettinm/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D