Just One Thing: The State of the Union (too long but not as bad as expected)
I watched so you didn't have to, but this is how I felt about it:
President Trump gave the longest State of the Union speech ever last night (1 hour 47 minutes), beating Bill Clinton's record. (To be clear, last year's speech was also longer than Clinton's but it wasn't technically a SOTU.) While it was too long, it wasn't as bad as I'd expected. It also will have absolutely zero political impact. There were some great moments, but most had little to do with politics. The two presentations of the Congressional Medal of Honor were great patriotic moments. The reuniting of a Venezuelan woman with her uncle who was Maduro's political prisoner was wonderful. Other folks who were Trump's guests and props for certain points were also good TV.
I did not watch the Democratic response given by new Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger who campaigned as a moderate and lurched far left as soon as she took office.
Trump helped himself by sticking to the script and not going into rants about stolen elections or foreign influence over the Supreme Court. But despite speaking for a long time, he said very little of importance. So the speech was a little better than I expected but still not going to move the needle.
It was great to see the US Men's Olympic Hockey team and it was nice to hear Trump praise the women's team and talk about meeting with them at the White House (after the blowup about his stupid comment on speakerphone to the men's team when he said "I'll have to invite the women's team too".)
Overall Trump didn't say or promise very much and much of what he did say simply wasn't true.
It's not true that tariffs can replace the income tax, nor that there's enough fraud that if it were to be stopped we would balance the federal budget.
It's not true that inflation was 1.7% during the last 3 months of 2025. It's not true that beef prices are coming down. And importantly he really didn't ask Congress to do anything, or say that he would be doing anything in particular, to help with "affordability."
It's not true that other nations are paying his tariffs. Americans are. It's not true that he's significantly lowered the cost of prescription drugs.
It IS true that more Americans are working than ever before but it's also unsurprising because the population is already growing.
Trump got bipartisan applause for saying he wanted to stop members of Congress from being able to trade stocks on "inside information."
There were no threats of sending the National Guard to "blue" cities. In fact, there were very few threats of any kind, which feels like a change.
With very little detail, Trump announced a program that would offer up to a $1,000 federal match of 401(k) contributions for workers who save but don't get an employer match. It seems very similar to a law already passed under the Biden administration: Trump Pledges New Retirement Savings Plan for Workers Without 401(k)s - Bloomberg I get the idea...incentivizing workers to save for their own retirements. It's a great goal. It's also one that we can't afford and also one that would incentivize employers who already only match small amounts, i.e. up to $1,000 or thereabouts, to stop matching and let the government take that money from taxpayers instead. I would support this kind of plan as part of a bigger plan to end or at least massively reduce Social Security.
Here's the provision of existing law which is set to be implemented next year: The Definitive Guide to the Saver's Match
Trump spent very little time on foreign policy. He praised himself for ending various wars/conflicts, mentioned Israel/Gaza a bit more, but pretty much ignored Russia/Ukraine and didn't mention Greenland. This light touch on international issues may be part of what I said I'd advise for Trump: focus more on domestic issues, especially prices, and somewhat on immigration, because that's what people elected you for.
Trump was VERY aggressive on immigration, even talking about the "Somali pirates"...referencing the fraudsters in Minnesota, not the actual pirates in the Indian Ocean, and mentioned the harms of bringing "those cultures" to the United States. His biggest cheer of the night was when he said that the purpose of our government is to protect Americans rather than illegal aliens.
That was one example of dozens over the course of the evening then Democrats did not stand and applaud even on some issues where one would expect they'd be in agreement. Trump castigated them throughout the evening for not standing.
Trump talked about a plan, which is not the same as a law, to make sure that data centers provide their own power so as not to raise the price of electricity for the rest of us. That's become a big issue and we'll talk about it more elsewhere in the show.
Only four Supreme Court Justices attended: Roberts, Kagan, Kavanaugh, Barrett. I was slightly surprised that Gorsuch didn't attend but I thought (and maybe he did) that Trump would attack Gorsuch in his speech...which did not happen though he did criticize the recent tariff decision (in more mild terms than expected.) Thomas and Alito typically don't attend so their absence wasn't surprising. Liberal justices Sotomayor and Jackson also did not attend.
Some other resources:
Trump avoided self-harm in his State of the Union speech. He also missed self-help. - POLITICO
Donald Trump’s Feel-Good State of the Union - by Eli Lake
Trump spotlights battlefield heroism with dual Medal of Honor awards | Fox News
Semafor Washington, DC: ‘It didn’t suck’ | Semafor
5 Supreme Court justices skip State of the Union – including conservatives
Trump says he has told big tech companies to build their own power plants | Reuters
Trump announces new retirement plan at State of the Union
How long is the State of the Union usually? How Trump's record-length speech compares | wcnc.com
Fact-checking Trump's 2026 State of the Union address on inflation, tax cuts, immigration and more
Nobody cared: Frog Suits and Thick Coats: Democrats Try to Fire Up Base on State of the Union Night - NOTUS — News of the United States
Often, things about the speech are leaked so that headlines like this presage what the president says. Not this time. Trump said almost nothing important about taxes. He made the silly claim that tariffs could replace the income tax. That's utterly impossible, at least without cutting the size of government by 90% or so. He also claimed that finding and ending fraud (which is a worth effort but will never fully succeed) would save enough money to balance the government, which is also nonsense. Anyway, this didn't happen: GOP Lawmakers Prepare for Trump's Tax Proposals
Today's Guests
Mark Mix, President of the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation. Four Colorado Safeway workers are taking legal action against UFCW union officials, filing federal charges over illegal strike fines. Mark Mix joins the show to discuss this lawsuit and the broader implications for worker rights. Colorado Safeway Workers File Charges Against Union
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State Sen Lynda Zamora Wilson. The Colorado General Assembly is considering SB26-071, which addresses the use of surveillance technology by law enforcement agencies. Senator Zamora Wilson provides insight into the bill's objectives and how it aims to balance public safety with privacy concerns. SB26-071 Use of Surveillance Technology by Law Enforcement
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Ben Allbright, co-host of Broncos Country Tonight on KOA. The NFL Scouting Combine is underway, bringing together the top draft prospects for a week of intensive physical and mental evaluations. Ben shares the latest news and standout performances from the event in Indianapolis. NFL Scouting Combine Information
NFL combine: Full list of draft prospects invited to 2026 scouting event
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Other Stuff
Love this: 2026 Winter Olympics ratings: Team USA hockey game draws 20.7 million viewers
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Great news but still not sure I'd go to Mexico soon, especially if I didn't already have reservations: Shelter-in-place lifted in Mexico tourist areas after El Mencho death
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Denver changes road configuration change process after city didn't tell GPS apps about street direction conversion Denver Updates Road Project Notification Process
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2026 Winter Olympics average 23.5 million viewers, up 96% from Beijing, highest since Sochi. I'm still glad that the Chinese Olympics had bad ratings. Winter Olympics Viewership Sees Major Rebound
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I don’t like this at all: Douglas County commissioners pass shoplifting reporting ordinance
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Time to start cleaning the places up: Aurora Reaches Settlement Over Apartment Complex Lawsuit
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Conservatives are having fun with this: Controversy Over ID Requirements for Snow Shoveling
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Are you one of the 30%? Study Finds High Spending on Pet Care
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Tariff stuff:
Smart politics even though it won’t even get a vote in the House: Senate Bill Targets Refunds for Disputed Tariffs
As well they should: FedEx Challenges Emergency Tariff Payments
This paragraph from the Neil Gorsuch concurrence in the recent tariff case will stand the test of time (whether or not Congress and voters actually heed his advice)
For those who think it important for the Nation to impose more tariffs, I understand that today’s decision will be dis appointing. All I can offer them is that most major decisions affecting the rights and responsibilities of the Ameri can people (including the duty to pay taxes and tariffs) are funneled through the legislative process for a reason. Yes, legislating can be hard and take time. And, yes, it can be tempting to bypass Congress when some pressing problem arises. But the deliberative nature of the legislative process was the whole point of its design. Through that process, the Nation can tap the combined wisdom of the people’s elected representatives, not just that of one faction or man. There, deliberation tempers impulse, and compromise hammers disagreements into workable solutions. And because laws must earn such broad support to survive the legislative process, they tend to endure, allowing ordinary people to plan their lives in ways they cannot when the rules shift from day to day. In all, the legislative process helps ensure each of us has a stake in the laws that govern us and in the Nation’s future. For some today, the weight of those virtues is apparent. For others, it may not seem so obvious. But if history is any guide, the tables will turn and the day will come when those disappointed by today’s result will appreciate the legislative process for the bulwark of liberty it is.
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I still think that one of the worst parts of all this is how government “leaders” has turned a part of government that serves a legitimate function into an object of fear and loathing. I feel bad for the average ICE agent who just wants to do a job that needs to be done. Political Tattoos and Community in Denver
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Trump hits out at reports that top US general warned against attacking Iran. I believe the initial report. Trump Responds to Reports on Military Strategy
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With someone this narcissistic and venal, it’s not surprising he’s a Nazi-sympathizer too: 'Bone-smashing' trend on social media has people hitting their faces with hammer
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Denver (and its Democratic leaders) are joining other places in tapping the brakes on the rush to build and subsidize data centers Denver Considers Pause on Data Center Construction
City Leaders Halt New Data Center Approvals
Democratic Strategy Shifts on AI Infrastructure
Economic Analysis of Data Center Tax Incentives
Local Opposition to Denver Data Center Project
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The very best of frugality and nerdiness: Creative Energy Savings Using Bakery Products
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AI seems to be declining rapidly in popularity, not so much among actual users but among the broader public: Behind the Curtain: AI's biggest threats
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Today's Videos
I always love these
I can't say I love this but it's rather remarkable. This young man was in a bad motorcycle accident.
Bountiful teen recovering in coma after motorcycle crash - KSLTV.com