The Forum with Jim Falk

August brings another month of stellar performances at The Santa Fe Opera, and with it, candid, colorful, candid conversations with two leading figures shaping the future of the art form.

This week on The Forum, we reflect on a pivotal moment in world history: the first detonation of a nuclear weapon, carried out 80 years ago at the Trinity site in New Mexico.

Recorded at Hotel Santa Fe (June 3, 2025)

The Forum Plus — An occasional spotlight on compelling people, timely issues and noteworthy events hosted by Jim Falk

Adam Weymouth is an award-winning journalist and author, best known for his 2018 debut Kings of the Yukon, which garnered critical acclaim, including The Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year and Lonely Planet’s Adventure Travel Book of the Year.

In this episode of The Forum, KSFR news reporter Rob Hochschild joins host Jim Falk for a conversation with two key Santa Fe city leaders: City Manager Mark Scott and Fire Chief Brian Moya.

Access to quality healthcare is a cornerstone of quality of life—but in New Mexico, that access is under threat due to a critical shortage of healthcare workers across the system. In this episode, we explore the scope of the crisis and possible paths forward. Dr. David Gonzales, Chief Medical Officer at CHRISTUS St. Vincent, and Fred Nathan, Executive Director of Think New Mexico join the program to discuss How to Solve New Mexico’s Health Care Worker Shortage, a policy report recently published by Think New Mexico. Together, they highlight the urgency of the issue—from the lack of X-ray technicians and nurses to a statewide physician shortfall—and outline practical, evidence-based solutions aimed at reversing the trend and strengthening New Mexico’s healthcare infrastructure.

In this timely episode, Ambassador Tony Garza and Consul Patricia Pinzón Sánchez discuss Sheinbaum’s leadership, growing border security measures, and the essential role of the Consulate in supporting Mexican citizens. They highlight how trade, culture, and education continue to bind our two nations together.

As President Trump marks his first 100 days in office, his approval rating stands at just 42%—the lowest of any recent president. A key factor behind this decline is the administration’s controversial trade policy, particularly the reciprocal tariffs announced on April 2, now called “Liberation Day” by the President. In this episode, Ambassador Robert Holleyman, former Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, and Edward (Ted) Alden, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, examine what has become the defining issue of Trump’s early presidency.

For a change of pace, The Forum invites you to listen to conversations with two bestselling authors Anne Hillerman and Chris Whipple as they discuss their recently published books. “Shadow of the Solstice is the 10th in Hillerman’s acclaimed mystery series. Whipple’s “Uncharted” is the fly-on-the-wall story of the 2024 presidential campaign.

This month, two major spiritual traditions—Judaism and Christianity—enter the holiest seasons of their faiths: Passover for the Jewish community and Easter for Christians. Rabbi Neil Amswych from Temple Beth Shalom and Carmen Flórez-Mansi, Director of Music at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, share how the practices and values of their respective traditions have evolved over time.

Former Secretary of the Interior and current gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland has wrapped up her state-wide listening tour. She voices concern over ongoing budget and staff cuts at the Department of the Interior, highlighting their effects on New Mexico’s public lands and communities. Haaland outlines her plans to address key state issues including public safety, healthcare, and sustainable energy. Composer Brad Ellingboe and poet Tony Silvestri discuss the New Mexico premiere of their ecological cantata, A Place Called Home, taking place at the Lensic on Saturday, April 12. The duo shared insights on their collaboration and the transformative power of music to inspire change.

For nine years, Michael Missal served as Inspector General at the Department of Veterans Affairs—until he was abruptly fired on January 24. Meanwhile, veteran journalist Steve Herman is on administrative leave as the Trump administration moves to shut down the Voice of America (VOA). For the first time in its 82-year history, VOA has been offline since mid-March, silencing a global news source relied upon by millions. What happens next? As Missal and Herman explain, their fate—and the future of government oversight and press freedom—now rests in the hands of the courts.

President Trump has escalated trade tensions by imposing steep new tariffs on China. While Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent argues that Chinese manufacturers will “absorb the costs,” our experts disagree. They believe these tariffs are testing the U.S.-China relationship and could undermine America's global leadership.

Dr. Larry Rasmussen, professor emeritus at Union Theological Seminary, discusses with co-hosts Peter Smith and Talitha Arnold when the guardrails of our nation’s democracy are being tested, we should reexamine the life of German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, an influential anti-Nazi dissident.

Forum Host Jim Falk talks with Amanda Aragon, the executive director of New Mexico Kidscan.

Exclusive Interview with Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber