Rarely does a day go by without New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez making news. Coming off a week in which the First Judicial District Court ordered Meta to pay $567 million and implement reforms in a case widely viewed as a landmark, Torrez was eager to explain why New Mexico’s lawsuit against the social media giant was so consequential.What makes this conversation particularly compelling is Torrez’s discussion of how his early years as a prosecutor ignited an unwavering commitment to protecting children. That experience continues to shape his approach to laws and regulations governing today’s technology, which he believes, if not adequately regulated, poses a significant threat to society, particularly to young people.The conversation also covers New Mexico’s investigation into allegations that DEA agents knowingly allowed fentanyl to reach communities; the state’s refusal to release unredacted voter registration lists; and issues surrounding the ongoing investigation of Zorro Ranch.

In this episode of The Forum Plus, Jim Falk talks with British journalist and author Antonia Senior about her acclaimed new book, Stalin's Apostles: The Cambridge Five and the Making of the Soviet Empire. Drawing on newly declassified documents from Britain and Eastern Europe, Senior offers a fresh assessment of one of the most damaging espionage networks of the twentieth century.The conversation examines how five young Cambridge University students became committed Soviet spies, betraying Britain and the United States by passing some of their nations' most closely guarded secrets to Moscow. Senior argues that their actions influenced the course of World War II and the Cold War far more profoundly than previously understood, including the transfer of intelligence that helped accelerate the Soviet Union's atomic weapons program.

According to Feeding America, one in six New Mexicans experiences food insecurity, including more than 108,000 children. Hunger affects far more than empty stomachs; it can undermine a child's ability to learn in school and thrive later in life.In this episode of The Forum, our guests describe how rising food prices, inflation, and higher transportation costs are driving more individuals and families to food banks while increasing reliance on federal and state nutrition assistance programs. At the same time, recent changes to federal food assistance programs brought about by the One Big Beautiful Bill are making it more difficult for many to receive the support they need.

Featuring an Interview with Student Financial Aid Expert Mark Kantrowitz

What if the next great geopolitical competition isn't over oil, rare earth minerals, or artificial intelligence but biotechnology?In this episode of The Forum Plus, Jim Falk talks with Dr. Jeremy Levin, physician, entrepreneur, and longtime biotechnology executive, about the warning at the heart of his new book, Biotech in the Balance: Saving a Strategic Industry in an Age of Distrust. Levin argues that biotechnology is essential to both public health and national security, and that the United States is at risk of losing its leadership at a critical moment.

In this episode of The Forum, hosts Jim Falk and Peter Smith explore the growing erosion of trust and its impact on personal relationships, communities, and some of America’s most important institutions, including the judiciary and the presidency. Their guests, Dennis Shaw and Yoram Solomon, both military veterans and authors who have written extensively about trust, explain why trust is indispensable in high-stakes environments where confidence in one another can mean the difference between life and death

In this episode of The Forum Plus, Jim Falk talks with acclaimed author Ben Fountain about his new novel, Rasputin Swims the Potomac. Best known for his National Book Critics Circle Award-winning novel Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk, Fountain's latest work is a sharp political satire that blends celebrity culture, religion, and Washington intrigue into a highly entertaining story that, given today's political climate, feels all too plausible.

In this episode of The Forum, Jim Falk and co-host Daniel James explore the forces shaping Santa Fe's future through conversations with the city's tourism and economic development leaders.Fresh from Travel + Leisure naming Santa Fe the nation's best city to visit for the second consecutive year, Tourism Director Randy Randall explains what sets the City Different apart and how his office plans to build on that momentum. From its renowned arts community, outdoor recreation, world-class festivals, rich cultural heritage, and acclaimed culinary scene to accommodations that appeal to a wide range of travelers, Randall discusses why Santa Fe continues to attract visitors from around the world and the challenges of sustaining that success.Tourism is only one part of the story. Johanna Nelson, acting director of the City's Department of Economic Development & Creative Industries, outlines Santa Fe's strategy for strengthening the local economy by supporting existing businesses while attracting new investment.

In this episode of The Forum Plus, Jim Falk talks with bestselling author Robert McCaw about his new novel, Traitors. Best known for his Koa Kāne Hawaiian mystery series, McCaw's latest novel takes readers into the world of counterintelligence, Russian disinformation, and the complex legal and moral choices involved in protecting national security.McCaw believes one reason for the success of his books is that, while he strives to tell a compelling story, he also works to make his plots plausible and relatable to current events.Before becoming a full-time novelist, McCaw spent more than four decades as an attorney handling some of the nation's most significant cases involving money laundering, financial fraud, and national security. He discusses how those experiences shaped Traitors, why he built the novel around Robert Cooper, the Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Department of Justice's National Security Division, and why the spy genre has endured for generations.

Santa Fe's reputation as one of America's premier arts and cultural destinations is central to both its identity and its economy. But how are the city's galleries and performing arts organizations adapting to changing audiences, economic uncertainty, and new expectations?In this episode of The Forum, Jim Falk and co-host Daniel James, executive director of Santa Fe Pro Musica, explore the opportunities and challenges shaping Santa Fe's cultural future with two of the city's arts leaders: Joel Aalberts, executive director of the Lensic Performing Arts Center, and Ken Marvel, co-owner and CEO of LewAllen Galleries.