Santa Fe resident Matt Gatton is a respected scholar of the use of physical light in ritual spaces during prehistory and classical antiquity. His latest book, The Shadows of Socrates: The Heresy, War and Treachery Behind the Trial of Socrates, draws on original research to reopen the philosopher’s trial, sentencing, and execution. In our conversation, Gatton explains how he first became intrigued by the study of light, why his work is regarded as groundbreaking, and what Socrates’ fate reveals about the volatile swings, often violent, between democracy and oligarchy. As he writes, “A democracy can make a tyrant, but a tyrant can unmake a democracy.”

This week on The Forum, we spoke with Mayor Alan Webber and longtime City Councilors Signe (“Sig”) Lindell and Carol Romero-Wirth as they prepare to step down from their roles in the coming weeks. With each having the option to seek another term, we explored their personal paths to public service, the reasons behind their decisions not to run again, and the lessons they’ve learned in office. They also reflected on the challenge of communicating the complexity of city issues to the public. For anyone interested in how municipal government works—and what motivates citizens to serve—this conversation offers valuable insight.

This week, The Forum spotlights Santa Fe’s two institutions of higher learning—the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) and Santa Fe Community College (SFCC).

Jacob Isaacson, the Chief Policy and Political Affairs Officer at the American Jewish Committee, has dedicated his career to advancing peace and understanding in the Middle East. A participant in the 1991–1992 peace talks in Madrid, Moscow, and Washington, he has since taught in Egypt and Jordan, forged key relationships across the region, and led AJC’s outreach efforts, including opening the organization’s office in Abu Dhabi.In this conversation, recorded on November 11, 2025, in Dallas, Isaacson previews the upcoming Washington meeting between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and President Donald Trump. He outlines what he believes will be required to achieve “normalization” between Saudi Arabia and Israel and credits President Trump—and Jared Kushner—for establishing and expanding the Abraham Accords.While cautiously hopeful, Isaacson stresses that significant hurdles remain. Until Hamas is disarmed and there is change in Palestinian — and potentially Israeli — leadership, he argues that other nations, including the UAE, Oman, and Saudi Arabia, are unlikely to commit funds for Gaza’s reconstruction.

This week, the Forum was broadcast live from the New Mexico Military Museum before an audience of nearly 300 people, most of them members of Global Santa Fe and Friends of KSFR. They gathered to hear Stanford professor and former U.S. ambassador to the Russian Federation Michael McFaul discuss his latest book, Autocrats vs. Democrats: China, Russia, America and the New Global Disorder.However, prior to starting their discussion on foreign policy, Forum host asked Amb. McFaul to talk about his friendship with Amy Biehl, the Fulbright scholar who was murdered in South Africa in 1993. He recalled how Amy encouraged him to accept an internship with the NDI, National Democratic Institute, an experience that ignited his commitment to promoting democracy. At the time of Amy’s death, the Biehl family owned a gallery in Santa Fe. Amy’s younger sister, Molly, is on the staff of Global Santa Fe.

Mark Lee Gardner is a noted authority on the American West, recipient of numerous literary awards for his books including Rough Riders and To Hell on a Fast Horse. In his latest work, Brothers of the Gun: Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and a Reckoning in Tombstone (published November 11th), Gardner takes a deep dive into the surprising bond between Earp and Holliday. Despite their very different backgrounds and temperaments, their friendship, though often tested, remained remarkably strong.

Santa Fe’s incoming mayor shares his priorities, plans and approach to transforming City HallLifelong Santa Fean Mike Garcia, soon to be the city’s 44th mayor, talks about his journey from City Council to the mayor’s office. With advanced degrees from the University of New Mexico and more than two decades of public service with AmeriCorps Vista, Garcia shares why he chose a career dedicated to serving others. No stranger to City Hall, representing District 2, Garcia reflects the steps he will take to meet the expectations that enabled his victory.

This week on The Forum, the conversation focused on two local issues that will shape Santa Fe’s future: the proposal to raise the city’s living wage from $15 to $17.50 an hour, and the $150 million General Obligation Bond on the November 4th ballot to fund capital improvements within the Santa Fe Public Schools District.

This week on The Forum making Santa Fe a safer community for people riding bicycles was discussed with three of our community’s advocates to encourage more people to ride bikes on safer streets and bike paths. The topics ranged from making our streets safer for bicyclists to the larger issues of health, environmental improvement, stronger local communities and neighborhoods, and strengthening the local economy in Santa Fe as the city’s general plan and code go through a much-needed update.

This week on The Forum, we turn to the Middle East at a critical moment — one marked by both hope and uncertainty. The conversation was recorded just two days after President Trump’s announcement of an agreement to free the remaining Israeli hostages, both living and deceased, in exchange for the release of approximately 250 Palestinians. This development represents the first phase of a 20-point plan aimed at ending the two-year war between Israel and Palestine. Our guests are distinguished experts with deep experience in the region — individuals who have spent their careers negotiating, analyzing, and striving to understand this enduring conflict.