This year's stock market contest
For something like the 8th year in a row, I'm doing a stock market contest in which the winner gets lunch with me (and, if Jeana is available, she might join too), with lunch paid for by me!
The S&P 500 closed yesterday (Monday 1/26) at 6950.23
How to enter the contest:
Email me at ross(at)iheartmedia.com The subject should say "Stock market contest" or just "contest". If your email subject does not include the word "contest" there's a good chance I will miss it and you won't be included.
In the email, include three things:
- Your name
- Your phone number (only to be used as a backup if you win and I can't reach you by email)
- Your guess as to the closing price of the S&P 500 on Thursday, December 17th. (I pick a Thursday so I can announce the winner on a Friday, and I pick that particular Thursday in case I end up taking the rest of December off, over the Christmas/New Year time frame.)
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Trump: We're going to deescalate a little bit
He said it so fast, it seemed like it was tasting bitter in his mouth. But he did say it, and it is absolutely necessary politically
Apple CEO Tim Cook calls for 'Deescalation' After ICE Killing of Alex Pretti - Bloomberg
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Just One Thing
I get why people are skeptical over TikTok but for the moment I'm inclined to believe their explanation of recent system failures that have appeared to some to be "censorship" to just be a function of a broader system glitch, with complaints coming from those who wanted to post controversial stuff even though they weren't preferentially impacted. Whether it's a power outage or just another case of Big Tech censorship claims, I understand it when people are skeptical when the flow of information suddenly hits a "glitch" that perfectly aligns with political sensitivities but I don't think that's what's going on here.
A Big Social-Media Shakedown - WSJ
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Today's Guests
- State Sen Cleave Simpson: Colorado’s State Senate Minority Leader joins the show for a legislative update early in the 2026 legislative session.
Senator Cleave Simpson - Colorado Senate Republicans
How the Colorado legislature contributed to the state’s budget crisis
- Steve Cowell: An aviation expert visits the studio to discuss why the deadly midair collision near DC was preventable and how a simple $400 GPS device could have saved lives.
- David Klaus: A Professor Emeritus in CU’s Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences shares his unique perspective on the Challenger tragedy 40 years later, reflecting on his time as a young controller in the NASA shuttle program.
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Other Stuff
Social media giants are finally heading to a landmark trial over claims that their platforms are designed to fuel youth addiction: Social media companies face landmark trial over youth addiction claims
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Xcel is back at it again, warning Colorado residents that they’ll be footing the bill for "storm price increases" on natural gas: Xcel warns Colorado of storm price increase
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Economic data seem OK. Employment isn't great but isn't terrible. Consumer spending remains fairly strong. GDP growth is moderate (don't let the next big number fool you...much of the gain will be due to a decline in exports.) But Americans aren't feeling good: US Consumer Confidence Drops to Lowest Point Since '14
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Bari Weiss isn't pulling any punches at CBS News, telling her staff "we're toast" if the network continues down its current biased path: CBS News chief Bari Weiss tells staff 'we're toast' if they continue on current path
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It’s a sad reality for translation professionals who are now watching their livelihoods vanish as companies pivot to AI tools: Meet the translation professionals losing their jobs to AI
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Neighbors of the Ford Amphitheater have had enough of the noise and are finally taking the venue to court after years of complaints: Frustrated neighbors sue Colorado concert venue after years of noise complaints
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Arvada is finally pulling the plug on a $137 million underpass project; it's a bummer they couldn't finish it, but good for them for recognizing the ballooning costs and stopping the bleeding: Arvada cancels 72nd Avenue underpass after cost balloons to $137 million
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This isn’t local but it annoys me enough to tell you about it: Maine nonprofit returns $65K to shooting victims after nationwide calls, investigation
Investigation story: Shooting victims demand Maine nonprofits return diverted donations
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Big changes are coming for the 2026 Great American Beer Festival, which is officially moving the party outdoors to Levitt Pavilion: Great American Beer Festival will move outside in 2026
Big change coming to 2026 Great American Beer Festival
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Stephen Colbert has set a date for his final episode of "The Late Show" as the late-night ratings continue to struggle: Stephen Colbert announces final episode date for ‘The Late Show’
Here Are Final Late Night Ratings for Q4 2025
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A conservative (clerked twice for Judge/Justice Scalia) federal judge in Minnesota is taking a stand against ICE, marking a significant legal clash in conservative judicial circles: Minnesota’s chief judge, a veteran in conservative legal circles, takes on ICE
Judge Temporarily Blocks Deportation of 5-Year-Old Detained by ICE in Minnesota - The New York Times
Some Colorado economics:
So many new Colorado businesses filed to start up in 2025, but renewals declined
The Metro Denver real estate market is cooling off significantly, with apartment vacancies hitting a 16-year high and half of American homes losing value: Zillow: Half of American homes lost value, housing market divides
Apartment vacancy in metro Denver reaches highest rate in 16 years, pushing down rents again
Archaeologists have made some incredible finds recently, including 430,000-year-old wooden tools and new fossils at Dinosaur National Monument: New fossils discovered at Colorado's Dinosaur National Monument
430,000-Year-Old Wooden Tools Are the Oldest Ever Found
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Today's Video
I definitely understand