Never leave a key in a classified lockbag in the presence of non-cleared people. #Classified101 – Senator Martin Heinrich, calling out President Trump in a tweet attempting to use an AP photo as evidence of Trump mishandling classified documents
The Crib Sheet is a collection of stories, events, and ideas that are shaping the conversation in New Mexico and D.C. politics.
[New Mexico]
- Governor Martinez says the recent immigration rhetoric “isn’t helpful” and that immigration policies should take into consideration “the real flavor of what it’s like to live” on the border.
- Speaking to a joint session of the New Mexico Legislature, Congressman Steve Pearce said he has pitched the Trump administration on the idea of building an oil refinery in New Mexico.
- Yesterday the Albuquerque Journal published the first part of a six part series on the impact and influence of Mexican cartels.
- Results of a recent health impact assessment were released, generated by southern New Mexico residents concerned that recent cancer and deaths in the area might be related to the Trinity Site nuclear explosion in 1945. Congress in 1990 passed legislation to benefit military and others present at the Trinity test, but the law failed to include local residents of the area.
- The Permian Basin rig count broke into the 300s for the first time since 2015.
- New Mexico Education Secretary Hanna Skandera would “absolutely” welcome a visit by newly confirmed U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.
- On Saturday the House Education Committee voted along party lines and failed to advance a bill that “would have made student test scores the main component of teacher evaluations by law”.
- A state food benefit program appears to be on the chopping block.
[D.C.]
- As head of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham wants a meeting with U.S. Immigration and Customs and Enforcement officials over the recent uptick in activity including raids on undocumented immigrants.
- Trump’s senior policy adviser, Stephen Miller, made the rounds on Sunday’s political talk shows to defend the administration’s stance on several major issues including immigration and voter fraud.
- President Trump gave Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe a “bro hug” to kick off their weekend summit and announced on Sunday morning that Mark Cuban is “not smart enough to run for president”. The President’s job approval rating hit a new low Saturday according to new Gallup polling.
- The GOP controlled Congress has begun overhauling rules around public lands and has passed “several bills undoing Obama-era regulations that conservatives opposed, arguing they give the federal government too much control over lands issues.”
[Tech & Strategy]
- Apple CEO Tim Cook is calling for a “massive campaign” to battle fake news.
- The National Republican Congressional Committee announced hires as they prep for 2018.
- A fascinating piece in Popular Mechanics details an operation in the last days of the Obama administration of B-2 Spirit bomber crews executing a 32-hour sortie against ISIS.
[Culture]
- New Mexico food aficionados: New Mexico Restaurant Week returns for the eighth time in 2017; it will take place in Santa Fe on February 19th – 26th, in Taos on February 26th – March 5th, and in Albuquerque on March 5th – 12th.
- Amid the booming New Mexico film industry local filmmakers still struggle to find financial support.
- As expected SNL continues to relish trolling Trump; the show’s ratings are at a six year high.
