Eggs and the Economy - Great info and discussion Tuesday morning
For economics and those interested in the economic situation in Colorado and in economy-related government policy, I highly recommend you attend tomorrow's "Eggs and the Economy" event at the Common Sense Institute (in Greenwood Village). They'll discuss the big annual Free Enterprise Report and the great CBS 2 reporter Shaun Boyd will moderate a panel including KOA regulars Mike Dino and Dick Wadhams.
Eggs and the Economy 3/17/26 7:30 AM - 9 AM
More info: Join CSI for an Eggs & the Economy focused on Colorado’s free enterprise competitiveness. Each year, CSI evaluates nine key policy areas to compare how states stack up in supporting free enterprise and economic opportunity. At this event, Senior Economist Zach Milne will present the latest findings from the report and share key insights on where Colorado is leading - and where it faces challenges. Following his presentation will be a panel discussion with Mike Dino, Dick Wadhams and moderator Shaun Boyd.
Event info:Free Enterprise Report
The report that will be the subject of much of the conversation: Common Sense Institute 2026 Free Enterprise Report
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The Oscars (yawn)
Kristen and I watched 20-30 minutes of the Oscars last night while we were eating dinner. It was 20-30 minutes more than I usually watch. At some point, two people came out to announce an award (for best foreign film, I think) and one of them was Javier Bardem. He was wearing two pins on his jacket and decided we all needed to know that he was cheering for "Free Palestine" and "No to war". We've known about his anti-Semitism for a while and I very much doubt that his "No to war" is against war as much as it is against the US and in favor of the Jew-haters and American-killers in Tehran. We turned off the TV and waited until this morning to learn who won the "big" prizes (though I'm sure an Oscar is big, and deservedly so, to anybody who wins one in any category.)
Turns out that the winners were exactly what our own Chad Bowar predicted (and what betting odds were predicting).
I've copied this paragraph from Dan Flynn's excellent early-morning note for the American Spectator:
A show that few watch that honors movies that still fewer watch played for over three hours on primetime television last night. Amy Madigan won best supporting actress for her role in Weapons, Sean Penn won best supporting actor for his role in One Battle After Another, Michael B. Jordan won best actor for his role in Sinners, Jesse Buckley won best actress for her role in Hamnet, Paul Thomas Anderson won best director for One Battle After Another, and One Battle After Another won best picture.
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Congrats to the USA Paralympic Hockey team
Another gold for the USA
Speaking of international sports, some baseball if you care:
Dominican fans furious after controversial final pitch vs Team USA in WBC
CLEARLY not a strike. Although one article said that umpire had done a decent job throughout the course of the game. Unlike this guy: How the World Baseball Classic's worst umpire pointed out the tournament's biggest flaw
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Just One Thing: Kharg Island
I scribbled (in a typing sort of way) some thoughts this weekend about how the war is playing out, what may come next, etc. I hope you find it interesting. Please read and subscribe (for free) and share with friends!
The Iran war expands -- and it was always going to (The Ross Report)
Here's the first section:
There's a lot of speculation out there: Did Trump underestimate the resolve of the Iranian regime? (I think he probably did.) Did they not plan for Iran trying to close the Strait of Hormuz? (Probably did plan for it; it’s a well-known Iranian plan when facing pressure. But not easy to stop small fast boats that might look like fishing boats.) Will Trump back down in the face of high oil prices, or will he get bored? (I think the answer is no to both, at least for another several weeks.)
Before proceeding, let’s make sure to understand that the Iranian enemy has proven itself resolute and smart even as they can’t come close to matching American military might.
It’s been reported that they already had plans in place to devolve control of military operations to 31 separate IRGC sectors, each of which has operational control of its own area. This has the benefit (to the regime) of allowing commanders to make their best decisions about how to confront the US but the downside of massive reduction in centralized control.
For example, if the US negotiated a deal with some supposed national leader that includes ending attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, how can we know that the several area commanders who might have the ability to target the strait won’t keep doing so?
Again, please read and subscribe! The Iran war expands -- and it was always going to (The Ross Report)
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Today's Guests
Victor Marx is seeking the Republican nomination for governor of Colorado. He joins us for a few minutes to talk about his efforts to get on the ballot as well as his invitation to speak at the International Faith Summit at CPAC,
Victor thinks we "need more men". I think he's right, actually.
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Detective Tony Godwin hosts "Predator Hunters" on A&E. He's a former MP, and for over 33 years (and currently) a Garland, TX police officer and criminal investigator (frequently partnering with various federal agencies) who leads operations (including some of the stings you hear about with law enforcement pretending to be a child online and interacting with a potential predator.) He's been inducted into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame.
The new A+E series Predator Hunters follows 30-year veteran investigator Detective Tony Godwin and his team within the North Texas-based Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force as they uncover online exploitation and bring perpetrators to justice before they harm any children. The series provides first-hand access to real investigations as Godwin—who has partnered with the FBI, Homeland Security, and the U.S. Secret Service—opens his case files for the first time.
Each episode follows three investigations from the first digital clue through undercover online conversations and coordinated law enforcement operations, culminating in dramatic takedowns and arrests. Featuring exclusive, never-before-seen chat logs, raw bodycam footage, and in-depth police interviews, the series reveals how predators operate and the relentless work required to stop them. A recognized expert in the field, Godwin assists law enforcement agencies nationwide, leading to the removal of hundreds of predators from the streets and out of the shadows.
Tony Godwin bio: DETECTIVE TONY GODWIN
Predator Hunters press release: PREDATOR HUNTERS PRESS RELEASE
Other Stuff
Beef might get even more expensive (for a while) thanks to this strike in Colorado: 3,800 workers set to strike at one of the nation's largest slaughterhouses | AP News
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Iran War topics
Sounds right to me but no prediction in war can be made with high confidence: Energy Secretary Chris Wright says Iran war will likely end in weeks - POLITICO
Trump wants NATO to help with the Strait of Hormuz, and maybe China too: Trump warns Nato faces 'very bad' future if allies do not help secure Strait of Hormuz - BBC News
Donald Trump warns Nato faces ‘very bad future’ if allies fail to help US in Iran (The FT)
ADM Stavridis: Iran War: Three Targets for US Boots on the Ground - Bloomberg
I agree: Trump challenged 50 years of Iran fears — and revealed the rotten, decaying truth
I note also that the failure of Russia to defeat Ukraine (at least thus far) shows a similar "paper tiger" story, the difference being that Russia has nukes so nobody will attack them, (And Trump seems infatuated with Putin anyway, which tends to protect the murderous Russian KGB thug dictator.)
I think the idea that Trump is “back on his heels politically” because of the war is wrong. I mean, he was already not very popular but it’s way too soon to say what the domestic political impact of this will be. Could be a disaster, but also could be a significant positive. (That’s the thing about war…) How mixed messaging on Iran may have Trump reeling politically | AP News
I didn't get to this one last week: A huge blunder, if this story is right. Seems like people protecting Trump’s ego and his bizarre preference for Russia. U.S. dismissed Ukraine deal for anti-Iran drone tech last year
They’ll attack whatever they can. And the UAE and other Gulf Arab states will hope to intercept as many drones and missiles as possible: Iran wages economic war in hopes of outlasting US and Israel - The Washington Post
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I think there’s something to this though some of the writer’s commentary demonstrates a bit of left-leaning bias:
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I owe you this from Friday: Alexa+ gets a new 'adults only' personality option that curses but won't get into NSFW content | TechCrunch
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I don't root against the wolves...they're beautiful creatures. But there were so many mistakes in all this, starting with putting it up for a vote. That's not how biology should be managed.
Latest death brings down wolves' survival rate to 44% in Colorado - Colorado Springs Gazette
It always bugs me when prosecutors don’t seem interested in seeking the truth: Can DNA testing exonerate a dead convicted murderer? - The Washington Post
That’s fine but we need more condos so that people can afford to own their own real estate: Denver leads US for apartment concessions as landlords aim to fill oversupply
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Feels this way sometimes: Media: No Motive Yet In Attack On Jewish Synagogue By Radical Muslim | Babylon Bee
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I'm torn on this one: yeah, the ridiculous Gen Z coffee orders are eye-rollingly annoying, but does that actually make the orderer a narcissist?
Opinion | Edmund Burke would hate your Starbucks order - The Washington Post
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We knew this was coming. I suggest people do their best to minimize water use anyway: Denver metro cities consider watering restrictions amid dry, warm Colorado weather
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The horse has left the barn but maybe they can catch it and put it back in. Or halfway back in. Or some other bad analogy: Silicon Valley Elite Plot $500 Million Endowment to Influence California - Bloomberg
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Some of this is driven by Trump’s offensive personality and will go when he goes, but not all of it, and that’s a problem: Top US allies are turning toward China instead. Blame Trump. - POLITICO
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For Broncos fans and NFL nerds: What's the Broncos' strategy with not signing a single NFL free agent?
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Is this a solution in search of a problem? Or a problem in search of a problem? Documents required by GOP's voting bill can be difficult and costly to get | AP News
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Today's Video
THIS