In our first program of 2026, The Forum featured conversations with Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández and Senator Ben Ray Luján on their legislative priorities and the issues they see as most critical for New Mexico and the nation as the midterm elections approach.The discussion with Congresswoman Leger Fernández was recorded live in the KSFR studio on January 5, while the conversation with Senator Luján was recorded via Zoom on December 18. Both leaders addressed the anticipated impact of the “Big Beautiful Bill,” expressing concern about its consequences for New Mexican families, particularly in the areas of education and healthcare.

For several years, Forum host Jim Falk has interviewed Tom Standage, editor of The Economist’s annual predictive issue, The World Ahead, a wide-ranging collection of articles and guest columns exploring the year to come. Always fast-paced and entertaining, these conversations have become among the most popular programs offered to members of World Affairs Councils nationwide. We are grateful to Tom Standage for granting KSFR permission to rebroadcast this conversation.Standage was a guest on WorldNow with Jim Falk on December 8, a program hosted by the World Affairs Councils of America. During the discussion, he outlined his “Top 10 Trends” for the year ahead, including reflections on America’s 250th anniversary, mounting challenges for Europe, China’s opportunities, and growing concerns surrounding artificial intelligence.

We had originally planned for this week’s Forum to focus on the Jewish Festival of Lights, Hanukkah (or Chanukah). But in the wake of the tragic December 14 attack on Bondi Beach in Australia, we felt it was essential to begin our conversation with Rabbi Martin Levi about the global rise of antisemitism, the impact of such violence on Jewish communities, and what must be done to confront and counter hate.After the break, Rabbi Martin joins co-host Reverend Talitha Arnold to explore the origins of the eight-day observance of Hanukkah, along with the history and meaning behind its rituals, including music, gifts, and food. Listeners will especially enjoy their discussion of the songs featured in the program, including two versions of Light One Candle.

Last night on The Forum, 84 years after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, we revisited the tense days leading up to that pivotal moment with author Pulitzer Prize winning author/journalist Steve Twomey. His insights into the intelligence failures, missed signals, and human decisions that preceded the attack highlighted the chain of events that ultimately drew the United States into World War II. Twomey’s segment was followed by a conversation with Laureta Huit, director of the New Mexico Military Museum, now maintained by the National Guard. She described how the museum’s collections and programs help visitors understand the sacrifices and heroic actions of New Mexicans who served in battle, preserving their stories through dynamic and engaging exhibitions.

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.