Thurs Blogcast: Lauren Boebert fixes ZIP codes; Denver flavored tobacco ban

Just One Thing: Colorado slows down

This year, Colorado’s GDP grew by just 1.4%, putting it in the bottom 10 states. We added only 2% more jobs and the University of Colorado’s Leeds School of Business anticipates that next year will show even less growth. There are many possible contributing factors. For 15 years starting in 2008, Colorado was the top state for home price growth, which great for people who own already, bad for people who want to move here. This year, we’re next to last in the country in home price growth. High home prices and worse traffic may be making Colorado less desirable a place to move and start a business but Democratic policies including the horrendously expensive paid family leave tax are an additional weight. Too many politicians think businesses won’t react to anti-business laws and regulations. They’re wrong.

Colorado's economic outlook for 2025 calls for slow growth - Axios Denver

As Colorado slips behind other states in economic strength, slower economic growth in 2025 is ‘new reality’ | News | gazette.com

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This is pretty cool!

This video is done by a band that includes Michael Harrison, the founder of Talkers, one of the biggest (or maybe the biggest) radio industry publication. I'm in it for about a second at about 1:48 and Mandy at about 2:25

Today's Guests

Congresswoman Lauren Boebert represents Colorado's 3rd Congressional District for 3 more weeks, at which time she'll become the representative for the 4th Congressional District.

Recently we had her on the show to talk about a bill she sponsored to help small towns that don't get their appropriate share of tax revenue and have mail delivery problems because they've been made to share a ZIP Code with another town/area. Lauren's bill would fix this problem for 51 towns across the country, of which 10 are in Colorado. Yesterday, her bill passed the House unanimously and it awaits a vote in the Senate.

Press release re unique ZIP Code bill: Representative Lauren Boebert

Rep. Boebert Fights to Restore Silver Cliff, CO’s Unique ZIP Code | Representative Lauren Boebert

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Comedian Pete Lee joins me in studio. He's a very funny dude with a friendly Wisconsin vibe...looking forward to having him on the show. He's playing at Comedy Works South at the Landmark tonight, Friday, and Saturday.

Pete Lee | Live in Denver | Comedy Works

Pete Lee — That Guy From That Thing!

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Denver City Councilman Kevin Flynn joins to talk about the proposed (and now, it seems, likely) ban on flavored tobacco/nicotine products. I think it's a bad idea that violates Bastiat's warning about secondary effects. If you're never read it before, read at least the introduction and first section ("Broken Window") here: That Which is Seen, and That Which is Not Seen; by Frederic Bastiat

Denver flavored tobacco, vape ban draws intense industry lobbying (may require subscription)

I'll also ask about this: Denver voted for high-quality mental and addiction care, but millions have gone to unlicensed providers with limited transparency

Caring for Denver contract renewed for just 1 year - Axios Denver

Other Stuff

50 years ago yesterday, Friedrich Hayek gave his brilliant Nobel Prize acceptance speech. It's worth your time to read: Friedrich August von Hayek – Prize Lecture - NobelPrize.org

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As I mentioned the other day, the destruction of Hezbollah, the weakening of Iran, and now the collapse of the Assad regime put immense pressure on Hamas. They basically don't have any important friends now. So this is welcome but unsurprising and, of course, might be another Hamas misdirection: Exclusive | Hamas Concedes on Israeli Troops in Gaza, Raising Hopes for Hostage Deal - WSJ

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Trump is very happy about this. Some Dems are mad at Wray because they wanted him to stay and force Trump to fire him: FBI Director Christopher Wray to resign before Trump takes office

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They all want to be on his good side: Meta donates $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund - CBS News

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This seems like a lot: Record-breaking 605 Christmas trees bring Yuletide cheer - December 4, 2024 | Reuters

And another great Xmas decoration: Florida man decorates his yard with a giant replica of the lamp from "A Christmas Story"

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Donald Trump is Time Magazine's Person of the Year (as well he should be, regardless of whether you like him)

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No fun allowed down under: Raygun-inspired musical cancelled in Sydney after breakdancer Rachael Gunn complained | Musicals | The Guardian

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Missing a kayaker and missing some cows:

Wisconsin kayaker who faked his death and fled to Eastern Europe is in custody, online records show | AP News

Missing: 180 cows have disappeared along the Western Slope

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An interesting (but not new) difference among Republicans - avoiding war versus seeming to love it. Can Rand Paul and Lindsey Graham both be wrong? Yeah, I think so. Trump’s influencers | Semafor

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And you wonder why Trump and others think the FBI needs some serious housecleaning?

Trump’s DOJ secretly obtained records of his FBI pick Kash Patel, lawmakers, staffers and media in leak investigations | CNN Politics

And the FBI may have inappropriately gotten private information from banks without the basis they need under the law: House Findings on Financial Institutions Prompt Privacy Resolution

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In Ohio, boneless wings can still have bones: Ohio Supreme Court won't reconsider boneless chicken wing case • Ohio Capital Journal

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Sooooo, they want us to electrify everything but then raise the cost of solar panels? US hikes tariffs on imports of Chinese solar wafers, polysilicon and tungsten products | AP News

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I sure hope Alex Jones loses his site and everything else sooner rather than later: Alex Jones keeps Infowars for now after sale to The Onion is rejected | AP News

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Today's Videos

Dragon LOVES this

And Dragon wants you to know this too

Daniel Penny, recently acquitted of charges that should never have been brought, sat down for an interview


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