Please consider helping
My friend Brad had his foot amputated after a reckless driver hit Brad's motorcycle, sending Brad flying 50 feet through the air and breaking multiple bones. Brad had his 5th or 6th surgery yesterday.
Anything you would like to do help would be much appreciated: Fundraiser by Ross Kaminsky : Support Brad's Recovery After Motorcycle Accident
I'll likely tell Brad about this today. It's going to be quite an amazing surprise.
Thanks in advance for your consideration, whether or not you choose to donate.
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Just One Thing: I don't believe any of them
The Back-Channel Diplomacy Behind Trump’s U-Turn on Iran - WSJ
Please read and subscribe (for free) to my Substack. Today's note: Who's telling the truth? - by Ross Kaminsky
The first few sentences:
When it comes to truthfulness, the best I can say for Donald Trump is that he lies less than the Iranian regime. How much less is hard to say.
So who to believe when Trump says, as he did on Sunday, that there are substantive talks going on between the US and Iran, and that Iran “wants a deal” (and that the US wants a deal too), versus when the Iranian regime says there are no such talks?
Does it make more sense to believe Trump or to believe the Iranians? The smart bet is “neither”.
In the meantime, it sure is hard to say you think the war is going well if our government isn't clearly laying out its goals:
Dan Flynn, a conservative and mostly Trump-supporting writer for the American Spectator writes this:
What does victory in Iran look like? A weakened regime less capable of inflicting damage upon neighbors and the United States? Unconditional surrender that transfers power, i.e., regime change? Something in between? Prominent reasons why Americans consistently do not support this war in public opinion polls include, from my perspective, a lack of a clearly stated casus belli from the administration and a clear articulation of the objective. Given the ayatollahs resembling villains out of central casting, the anemic support jars some proponents of the war. What else explains why Americans oppose this war 60 percent to 40 percent in the latest CBS News/YouGov poll other than hazy justifications and objectives? Other polls more or less report that opponents of the war outnumber supporters just as the CBS News/YouGov poll does. Do Americans know why we fight and for what we fight? I ask because I sense from readers of this newsletter a variety of justifications for this war and a variety of proposed end games. If the supporters of the war lack a consistent message, then maybe the persuadable folks do not go along because the case made thus far lacks coherence.
Does this mean that Gulf Arab nations will get involved militarily? Iran attacks in Strait of Hormuz are ‘economic terrorism,’ UAE oil exec says
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Today's Guests
Julia Minson Is a Professor of Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and author of How to Disagree Better.
She is also the founder of Disagreeing Better, LLC. — a behavioral science consulting firm that offers speaking and training on effective management of disagreement and conflict. We'll talk about her new book (published today!), How to Disagree Better.
Probably a lot of what you've heard about how to disagree most effectively is wrong...
More about Julia Minson
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Bill Scebbi is Executive Director of the Colorado Egg Producers and a member of the Colorado Ag Council. We'll talk about the importance of Agriculture in our state and Colorado Agriculture Day.
Colorado Agriculture Day | Department of Agriculture
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Memphis Orion is CEO and Jon Medina is Chief Creative Officer of their new project, Coba Bathhouse - Denver’s Landmark Bathhouse
Interesting story relating to bathhouses, about which I know very little: As Bars Struggle, Investors Are Turning to This Happy Hour Alternative With 60 Percent Margins
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Other Stuff
There will be quite a few topics in here that I didn't get to yesterday because much of my show plan was preempted by President Trump's announcement of talks with Iran (which Iran denied but nevertheless markets reacted in a dramatically positive way.)
I hope SCOTUS does this. It seems unnecessary and an invitation to shenanigans and error and mistrust to allow ballots to be counted if they arrive after Election Day.
SCOTUS Ruling to Impact the Future of Mail Ballots
Court appears ready to overturn state law allowing for late-arriving mail-in ballots - SCOTUSblog
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Interesting point, and where do we go from here? Colorado’s growing share of unaffiliated voters is making it harder for candidates to get on the ballot - The Colorado Sun
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I think I'd like to see this: 'Project Hail Mary' Blasts Off to Huge $81M Box Office Opening
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Tough call as to whether it's actually illegal but it is stupid: Pentagon policy limiting independent press access is unlawful, judge rules | CNN Politics
And in response...of course they are: Pentagon Further Limits Press Access Following Court Loss - WSJ
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Can't say I care a lot but I do like the story of getting the old statue out of the water and using parts of it for the new statue:
Statue of Christopher Columbus installed on White House grounds | CNN Politics
Christopher Columbus Statue Installed at White House
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A big deal for many Colorado businesses: Pot Inc. is waiting to cash in on Trump's marijuana reclassification — but the DOJ is still dragging its feet
But there are still too many pot companies in our state (in terms of the ability of that many to survive): Cannabis company to close Denver grow facility, cut 132 jobs | 9news.com
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What about paying for a longer war?
Pay-fors are great, but saying you’re going to do it by stopping fraud is like Lucy and the football. And we should never premise anything on tariff revenue. First, a lot of that will never actually come in. Second, we shouldn’t do anything to make politicians think that tariffs are actually a good idea, and become addicted to the money that’s taken from American consumers.
Republicans seek elusive path to restoring DHS funding
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Don't be fooled. I got two of these texts within 10 minutes yesterday: CSP warns of scam claiming to be from a Colorado court
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This is actually a big deal in Denver. Infrastructure Committee pumps the brakes on new scooter contract
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Interesting that they use Pueblo to write this story in a national outlet: Pain at the gas pump is not equally felt in Colorado town - The Washington Post
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I mentioned this on Friday but it deserves to be mentioned again. This is a very big deal. Colorado revenue forecast worsens, pushing budget shortfall to nearly $1.5B - Colorado Politics
The budget writers went with the more optimistic scenario: Why Colorado is facing a massive budget deficit - Axios Denver
JBC Staff memo about budget and differences in revenue estimates between Gov’s office and Legislative Council staff: GFO-03-20-26_0.pdf
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I know that defense stocks have been very strong, as to be expected when we're at war. But I sure hope that in the long run those companies actually decline in value, partly due to less war and mostly due to new entrants forcing down the cost of weapons system. Anduril is the poster boy for that but here's another: America's arsenal of tomorrow: Divergent 3D-prints cruise missiles
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Today's Videos
I sure hope this doesn't happen the first time we turn on our new fan:
The trick is good, but the facial expression is priceless: Watch My Dog Perform a Hilarious Magic Trick! | TikTok