Just One Thing: My new CSI report about Colorado's Medicaid issues
CO Health Policy at a Crossroads: Growth, Costs & Consequences
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Consider LPR
Apply if you want to make a difference for Colorado
I frequently say that going through the Leadership Program of the Rockies is the best thing I've done since moving to Colorado other than become a parent. It is no exaggeration to say I would not be on KOA today without LPR; it absolutely changed my life. A little bit from what I learned and massively from who I met.
If you're interested in making a difference on behalf of liberty and America's timeless principles -- and it can be but doesn't have to be by holding political office -- please consider applying for LPR. The application deadline is August 31st. The class is one Friday a month for 9 months. You'll be challenged intellectually and make life-long friends and valuable connections.
Leadership Program of the Rockies - Leadership Program of the Rockies
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Hulk Hogan RIP
Yes, we talked about this a lot yesterday but still...
Wow: South Park takes on Trump (who is Satan's lover) and the Epstein files
A LOT of bad language in the videos below, especially the second one. Definitely R-rated. Not for kids.
Speaking of the Epstein situation, Democrats are piling on:
Scoop: DNC targets vulnerable House Republicans with Epstein ads
Here are the ads which, according to Axios, will "run before videos on right-wing YouTube channels":
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Today's Guests
Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-4) joins the show to talk about immigration, the "Epstein Files", and her ZIP Code bill about to become law!
GOP, Gov. Polis clash over undocumented immigrants receiving Medicaid
Lauren is against this, calling it amnesty (which it surely is, but amnesty is not inherently a bad word even though some think of it that way): Congressman Gabe Evans Introduces Immigration Reform Legislation | Representative Gabe Evans
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Also, as I'm broadcasting from Broncos Training Camp, my KOA colleagues (and sports/Broncos experts) Ryan Edwards and Nick Ferguson will (probably) join me during the show.
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Other Stuff
A lot of "shiny objects" in DC as the Trump team tries to figure out how to handle the base's obsession with Epstein and Democratic leadership wants to keep driving in the wedge:
Not every Democrat wants to talk about Jeffrey Epstein: "Such bulls**t"
Meanwhile Team Trump is trying to refocus the conversation to the misdeeds -- and there were many -- of Barack Obama's intelligence team. The problems are that 1) there's almost nothing new in what Gabbard is making a lot of noise about and 2) even if there are colorable crimes that were committed, and that's not clear, it's unlikely that there's a single one that isn't barred by the statute of limitations:
Russiagate, Revisited: Gabbard Presents Nothing New about Obama Involvement | National Review
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I do not support ending taxation of income in the form of tips or overtime but I do support making the legislature abide by TABOR and I think that should be a winning argument here. If I were the Dems/left, I might argue that the change isn't really a tax increase, but just the prevention of a tax decrease. But I think that would be mendacious because the fair baseline is "what would the tax level be without any change in state law?"
Colorado overtime tax law faces constitutional lawsuit | Colorado-politics | coloradopolitics.com
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We bought a "dumb" flip-phone for my older kid just yesterday at his insistence: 'Flip phone summer': Gen Z vows to resurrect low-tech
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There never should have been DEI requirements. This is of a similar level of stupidity as hiring pilots based on racial quotas. Medical School Accreditors Scale Back DEI Requirements After Trump Executive Order | National Review
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OK, it might not be accurate but what a cool use of AI: AI device can 'translate' your dreams and play them back for you
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They were probably pushed into this by Trump but the announcement of the product came so fast after Trump's comments that it's clear they've been thinking about it. I think this product will sell quite a lot, including to Trump supporters and MAHA folks and people who just like the taste of "Mexican Coke."
New Coca-Cola with cane sugar to launch in U.S. this fall - UPI.com
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Who gave Trump the info that there was another building added to the project? Trump and Powell’s feud just exploded into the public in an extraordinary fashion | CNN Business
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Trump’s approval ratings are dropping. Is it because he’s not doing a good job? (Probably a little.) Is it because it’s all chaos all the time, which makes it hard to focus on where he is doing a good job? (Probably a lot).
Trump approval approaches record low (Semafor.com)
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I'm so glad this is going away, or at least I hope it is: Did Marathon Petroleum Prioritize DEI Over Safety?
But I want to make a very key point here: I'm not glad it's going away because I want there to be fewer opportunities for racial minorities. I want there to be MORE opportunity for everyone, and perhaps especially for those who most need them to break out of a family's prior history of poverty. But it can't come at the expense of merit or at the expense of the best possible operation of a business. There is far too much focus on just hiring a black (or other minority) person just because of race and not nearly enough focus on why so many of those folks need special priority in order to get a job. In other words, the focus MUST be on changing those things in the relevant minority communities (clearly this would mean black, primarily, perhaps some HIspanic, and not Asian) that keeps them from reaching professional success, and that's almost entirely about two things: the quality of family structure (i.e. way too many black kids without dads in the home) and the quality of public education. It's unacceptable that such a large percentage of black kids in particular can get through high school (or at least what are supposed to be the high school years) and still be darn close to unemployable. Or, for those who succeed better than that, they still might not be at a level that they can go to a top college and/or acquire the most important skills in order to land a great job. We need to do much more to cure the cause of these problems rather than paper over them with fake solutions that, in the long run, do as much harm as good.
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Not surprising: Bottom line on demise of Stephen Colbert and his late show: 'losing money left and right'
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I despise the UAW but I’d be happier about this if it weren’t so bad for consumers: The UAW Gets a Protectionist Lesson - WSJ
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Not surprising, and the way it should be: 'Need this level of support': Donations to NPR stations explode after Trump guts funding - Alternet.org
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Econ stuff:
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The bond package gets even bigger: Denver Mayor Mike Johnston's bond package now has a $935M price tag - Axios Denver
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Some national stuff I didn't get to yesterday but will cover quickly because the story changes so fast:
Trump has, for the first time, lost control over his base on an issue: Full list of Republicans who voted to subpoena Epstein files from DOJ
So what? What does this actually mean (other than what we already know)? Exclusive | Justice Department Told Trump in May That His Name Is Among Many in the Epstein Files - WSJ
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We knew this was coming. Still, it's interesting that a court is trying for a nationwide injunction after the recent Supreme Court ruling on that topic. Note that while the opinion was 2-1, the one dissenter was NOT claiming that Trump's effort is constitutional; rather he argues that the plaintiffs don't have standing to sue.
Donald Trump Handed New Legal Loss Over Birthright Citizenship Order - Newsweek
US appeals court blocks Trump's order curtailing birthright citizenship | Reuters
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From the “tell me something I don’t know” files: "Hidden" home ownership costs Coloradans thousands - Axios Denver
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Can a $6 million banana become boring? I think it has: Someone has eaten artist Maurizio Cattelan’s $6 million banana – again | CNN
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You'd never guess that a guy who looks like this might be driving drunk, right? Florida man arrested for DUI on lawn mower along toll road: FHP | FOX 13 Tampa Bay
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Serioiusly? Colorado jail commander who watched videos of 117 inmates being strip searched faces criminal charges
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Today's Video
Jim VandeHei, the CEO of Axios, linked this video yesterday and I really like it. I need to watch the series.