Starting your day with a chuckle: It's true love
(Thanks to listener Paul for sending this along)
DNC starts today
The Democratic National Convention starts today with much less drama than could have been expected if Kamala Harris hadn't been coronated so quickly and easily by a Democratic Party that will do anything and use anyone to try to defeat Donald Trump. Mandy will likely join us from Chicago Monday thru Thursday this week.
Some of the key speakers listed here: Who is speaking at the 2024 DNC? Here's the list of speakers for the Democratic convention - CBS News
And here: DNC schedule: Who's speaking and what to expect (axios.com)
I note that Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton are scheduled for tonight. Since Monday is the night that gets the least attention by the public, I think that's smart. I was a bit surprised that Hillary was there at all but I guess, for some weird reason, she still has supporters. But as unpopular as she is, it makes sense to hide her as much as possible...and the same goes for President Joe and DOCTOR Jill Biden.
It's being reported that Michelle Obama will speak Tuesday but not sure if that's confirmed. She's probably the most popular Democrat in the country (even though I find her condescending and annoying.)
Kamala accepts the coronation on Thursday. Then we'll wait a week or two and see if the "honeymoon" high levels of polling stay up or if Trump starts to claw his way back in some key swing states.
Just One Thing: A special kind of stupid
As a candidate trying to distance herself from the massive economic failure of the Biden administration and trying to reposition herself as a moderate, it’s a special kind of stupid for Kamala Harris to make her first concrete policy proposal to impose price controls on grocery stores. First, price controls always fail spectacularly, not just not working but actually causing shortages and black markets. Second, grocery stores have notoriously low profit margins, last year under 2% net margin after taxes. Liberal outlets like the Washington Post, the Atlantic, and even the NY Times note that while so-called price gouging legislation may be popular with some, it’s very bad economics. I don’t know if Kamala is stupid or if she thinks we’re stupid. I think it’s both. I wish I were more sure she’s wrong about voters.
This is what Barack Obama's chief economic advisor, Jason Furman, told the NY Times: "This is not sensible policy, and I think the biggest hope is that it ends up being a lot of rhetoric and no reality. There’s no upside here, and there is some downside.”
Economically Dumb, Politically Smart - The Atlantic
Opinion | Kamala Harris’s price gouging proposal is a terrible idea - The Washington Post
Editorial board criticizes Harris's economic agenda as 'populist gimmicks' (thehill.com)
What Is Price Gouging? Here’s What To Know About Kamala Harris’ Policy (forbes.com)
Big picture: Three Big Strikes Against ‘Greedflation’ - The Dispatch
Today's Guests
Kristi Burton Brown (9:33 AM) is Executive VP of Advance Colorado. We'll discuss the upcoming special session of the state legislature to pass property tax relief for Coloradans. (The left is pissed about this, apparently.)
Polis calls for special session on property tax—again | News | coloradopolitics.com
Patrick Hedger (10:44 AM) is Executive Director of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance. We'll discuss the lunacy of Kamala Harris's proposed price controls and maybe other aspects of the rollout of her initial economic plan, almost all of which is utter nonsense.
Taxpayers Protection Alliance (protectingtaxpayers.org)
Harris to propose economic policy focused on lowering food, housing prices - The Washington Post
I expect Mandy Connell to join me from Chicago (11:33 AM) as she's there through Thursday covering the Democratic National Convention.
Other Stuff
Super Blue Moon today! Rare 'Supermoon Blue Moon' begins Monday; 1st of 4 upcoming supermoons - UPI.com
Vote coming tonight on whether Denver Mayor Mike Johnston's massive sales tax hike will go to the voters: Denver Mayor Mike's Johnston's sales tax plan faces consequential vote - Axios Denver
By a show of hands, how many of you believed Joe Biden when he said a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was imminent? Hamas rejects new U.S. proposal for Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal (axios.com)
Oh how soon this failed... Biden's goal: Gaza deal by the end of next week
I can't say this is wrong. I mean, I'm hoping for chaos (but not bloodshed): GOP Rooting for Chaos in Chicago - The Dispatch
I mentioned this on Friday but I think it deserves a little more attention. And while it feels like some sort of violation, I wonder if it's actually illegal. Texas sues GM for selling customer driving data | Legal Dive
Truly amazing that they can figure this out 2000 years later: Pompeii | Catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 was not the only killer of Pompeii - Telegraph India
Trump made comments about immigration that I agree with. But read the comments and you'll see that a lot of voters who seem to be his base, plus some "groyper" types who are racist morons, are really pissed:
He also said this which, whether it was serious or a failed attempt at humor, was really bad. The guy already has a bit of a reputation for not honoring our veterans (even though much of the time he also acts like he does.) Remember when he said he didn't like John McCain because McCain was captured? And this sort of stuf: Report: Trump disparaged US war dead as ‘losers,’ ‘suckers’ (militarytimes.com)
Veterans should be a pretty good constituency for Trump...so why does he say idiotic stuff like this?
Stories from courtrooms:
To me the interesting aspect of these stories is how/whether they'll impact businesses' future behavior should we ever have a similar situation: Former insurance employee gets damages in religious beliefs vaccine case | Insurance Business America (insurancebusinessmag.com)
Two similar cases, one state and one federal:
Police should return defendant's cash, appeals court says | Colorado Politics | gazette.com
Federal Court Rules Police Cannot Seize Property Indefinitely After an Arrest (reason.com)
Court blocks Biden's pro-transgender rewrite of Title IX: Supreme Court Upholds Injunctions Blocking Title IX Rewrite (dailysignal.com)
Obviously: 9th Circuit allows Californians to buy more guns in 30 days (sandiegouniontribune.com)
Kamala probably hates this: Mars agrees to buy Cheez-It maker for $36 billion (axios.com)
An interesting angle on Kamala and patriotism (subscription may be required): Kamala Harris’s Muscular Patriotism - The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Obviously, AI has a lot of promise but it’s not without risks (and enabling cheating isn’t the only one): How Colorado schools are embracing AI this year - Axios Denver
Seems like a lot...but it's possibly one month of income for them, depending on just who the buyer is. Broncos owners, Walton family planning Denver’s most expensive mansion (denverpost.com)
And going back further: Polo Club mansion in Denver sells for $17.7M to buyer of Bill Gates’ Florida estate (denverpost.com) (may require subscription)
Today's Videos
When a horse thinks he's taken 'shrooms
Jim Gaffigan on checking into hotels