Cowboy State Politics

Cowboy State Politics has uncovered Sheridan "teacher," Josh Hanson's Bluesky account.  It is replete with exactly what he thinks should be done with conservatives.  He calls them fascists, of course.  In one case, he comes very close to threatening Wyoming legislators.  This is the same Josh Hanson that I reported on back in September. In another case of social media posting by teachers, Marie Hamilton of the Southeast Wyoming Sentinel joins me to discuss a Goshen County teacher who is also the spouse of the school superintendent--Stacy Kramer.  Her posts clearly violate the school district's social media policy.   Hanson's social media posts are available at https://cowboystatepolitics.com/Show-Content.html  Marie Hamilton's report is available here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1JTjexHySE/  

Laramie County Commissioner Gunnar Malm thinks that government should give your tax dollars to his political allies.  He doesn't come out and say that but it's exactly what he means by government picking winners and losers.  He wants winners.  Not kidding, he actually wrote that. Really, government shouldn't be advantaging one business over another--they don't get to choose which business succeeds and which one fails.  That's called socialism, pure and simple.

Sheridan Democrat Hollis Hackman claims in the Sheridan Press that Rep Pendergraft is going to hack away the Wyoming Department of Health Budget.  Had he bothered to do any research at all, his op-ed wouldn't have been completely wrong.  Surprising though it may be, a piece in Wyofile directly contradicts what Hackman is claiming.  

There are hundreds of millions of dollars worth of privately owned buildings in Wyoming that pay next to nothing in property taxes.  It's worse than that though, you paid for most of them through the Wyoming Community Development Authority.  Rebecca Bextel joins me to explain that in almost every Wyoming county, a Montana company owns and operates so-called affordable housing buildings.  And, it's almost all on your dime.

There have been several GOP events this past week.  All of them honored Charlie Kirk and all of them were very patriotic.  But that's not what the Wyoming media is leading you to believe.  One of them went completely ignored by the media and the state GOP Chairman.  The other two were characterized only by division.  Anyone who paid attention would have seen what was really going on.  But that's not their agenda. Agent 29 sings BOTH verses of the Star Spangled Banner at the Sheridan event; and Gabe Saint and the Wyoming Freedom Caucus honor the legacy of Charlie Kirk at another.

Monday, Trump issued a Presidential Proclamation changing the name of Columbus Day back to Columbus Day.  The breadth and scope of everything Biden changed in four years, is really incredible.  But why is this significant?  Why change it back?  Easy.  If the left can convince you that Columbus slaughtered a whole bunch of people, it's pretty easy to say that's how our country started.  Also, I completely forgot to celebrate the 950th episode of Cowboy State Politics.

Admit it or not, in education, Wyoming has a lot in common with California.  We like to claim that we're different but when you look at policies, Wyoming does many of the same things as the left coast.  Leslie Sawyer is the California Legislative Chair for Moms for Liberty.  She has been right in the middle of some of the high profile education fights in California.  In education, we aren't becoming California, in many ways, we are already there.

Kylie Wall is the Natrona County High School senior who has been having a disagreement with school administration.  After her Turning Point USA Club America chapter was approved, high school staff started harassing her.  He club posters were torn down among other things.  When the press started asking questions, the principal told Kylie she couldn't talk to the press in her free time.  An outrageous infringement of her rights.  Kylie joined me to talk about the entire situation.

Replay of Cowboy State Politics Live from October 9.  There's a deal in the Hamas War, Spying on members of Congress and Senator Cheri Steinmetz called in to talk about her trip to Israel

Yesterday it was revealed that Jack Smith's investigation spied on U.S. Senators.  In talking with Rep Hageman, it turns out that it wasn't just Senators; there was at least one member of the House who was surveilled.  Rep Hageman has her own thoughts about this.  We discussed that breaking news, the government shutdown and a few other items.

A shock poll says that 2/3 of Democrats view socialism more favorably than capitalism.  My friend Ovie Muntean lived through real communism and socialism in Romania.  He's going to be in Sheridan this weekend to attend our Reagan Day dinner and to tell Wyoming young people what socialism really looks like.

Conservatives have a really hard time understanding why Democrats and their less honest counterparts in the Republican Party can lie so easily.  It doesn't really have anything to do with what they're telling you at the moment.  It's that they are trying to get you to believe ALL lies.  The government shutdown is a perfect example: several democrats will swear that this isn't about illegal immigrants.  Why, when it so obviously is?  It's part of a larger strategy.

Replay of Cowboy State Politics Live October 2

Weston County Clerk Becky Hadlock single-handedly messed up the 2024 election in Weston County.  She tried to cover it up; made multiple conflicting statements to the media and maintained that she didn't do anything wrong.  Since then, she's been subpoenaed by a legislative committee investigating her actions.  True to form, she blew that off.  Last November I published an extensive episode about the entire affair.  I even interviewed Hadlock herself.

Senator Lummis weighed in on the Jimmy Kimmel controversy.  While she was referring to FCC licenses, her comments about the First Amendment were in-artful at best.  Susan Stubson too full advantage by penning a piece in the Cow Pie conveniently leaving out the whole FCC part of the quotation to score political points.

Reps Karlee Provenza and Mike Yin, both Democrats, held an event in Sheridan this week.  Both of them dropped by the studio to discuss what they are doing as well as a whole bunch of other topics.  We didn't agree on much of anything, but we were able to have a civil discussion--something we seem to be lacking right now.

A Teacher in Sheridan was caught calling all of us who mourn the death of Charlie Kirk a name--a not so flattering one.  Also the school board in Natrona County is protecting a male custodian in an elementary school who dresses as a woman.  They're not too worried about the kids in the school, it's the janitor.  Rep Jaime Lien joins the program to discuss the school board meeting where this was brought up.

Peter Cozzens is the author of new book Deadwood: Gold Guns and Greed in the American West.  It's a fascinating look into a town with a lot of Wyoming connections.  Wild Bill Hickok wasn't quite the celebrity in Deadwood we all think and Calamity Jane wasn't really the person all her pictures make her out to be.  It's a fascinating history read that feels more like a novel than anything.

The Wyoming Democrats and the WY media are  working overtime to portray conservatives, and specifically Charlie Kirk, as racist.  State Sen Rothfuss said that MAGA is "racist at is core."  Their charge is based on claims that aren't true at all.  In the case of Kirk, that claim is based on things that he said about Martin Luther King--things that are true.

Replay of Cowboy State Politics Live from September 18.

Gabe Saint, the President of Turning Point USA in Casper spoke at an event hosted by Liberty's Place for You.  He spoke for about an hour and covered a wide range of issues.  Coming a few days after Charlie Kirk's assassination, what he had to say was enlightening and uplifting.  Also, a special announcement that I have been dying to tell you about!!

All of us are in a battle of free speech.  The best way to counter vile and hateful speech is with more speech.  It's worth remembering when the University of Wyoming rescinded an invitation to an admitted domestic terrorist.  It's a good example of what not to do.  The question is what should all of us do instead?  Call a spade a spade.

Happy Birthday to Me!!  The Wyoming Democrats wasted no time calling Charlie Kirk a racist.  Provenza, who shouldn't be talking about violent rhetoric decided to denounce it.  And, Rothfuss showed his expertise in taking Charlie Kirk entirely out of context.  And, of course, the Cow Pie went right along with all of it.

U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis joins the program to reflect on the life of Charlie Kirk, the September 11th attack and to share what's going on in the United States Senate.

Harriet recently visited Grand Teton National Park for an onsite committee meeting.  Not surprisingly, the federal government has problems federal permitting for projects on land that it owns.  We also discussed the Clinton era "roadless rule."  It's not a law but a rule that was adopted by the the U.S. Forest Service.  According to Harriet that is the reason for many forest fires and beetle kills in the west.  It's a great discussion.

Josh Dorrell is the CEO of the Wyoming Business Council.  I've long been an opponent of this agency because it's not the proper role of government to be monkeying around in the free-market.  Over it's existence, Wyoming taxpayers have dumped over half-a-billion dollars into it.  All the while Wyoming's GDP actually went down.  And, yes, I asked him about that.  Josh was kind enough to sit down and have a frank discussion about his agency and its proper place.

There is no such thing as affordable housing.  It always turns into a scheme to take your tax dollars.  The most recent example is a housing project in Jackson.  Millions of your dollars were spent to build a big building that private companies are benefiting from.  Rebecca Bextel joins me to discuss the Ford Broncos and Mercedes Benz's in the parking lot of this thing.

Replay - Cowboy State Politics Live September 4

All but 1 Wyoming school district did not give their staff the 8.5% raise promised by the legislature.  Most gave a salary increase far below that.  HB316 specifically says that teachers and staff get 8.5%, that only happened in 1 county.

Happy Marxist, Communist, Radical Domestic Terrorist Day!!  There's a lot more to Labor Day than just barbeques, fishing and having fun.  The reason you aren't working is because of Marxists!  

This week I got the chance to attend a fundraiser in Jackson.  It turns out there are some conservatives in Wyoming's only Democrat county.  Rep Andy Biggs, Scott Perry, Andy Harris and Eric Burlison were there to raise money for conservatives in congress.  They gave the audience an inside view of what it's like to buck the establishment.

Replay of Cowboy State Politics Live August 28.  Reaction to the Gail Symons podcast.  Eric Barlow has to resign his chairmanship and a federal judge in Wyoming has dismissed the UW sorority lawsuit because he's not a biologist and can't define what a woman is.  You can't make this stuff up!

Last Thursday during the Cowboy State Daily Morning Show, Gail Symons claimed that a reprehensible comment made years prior by Rep Steve Harshman about now Secretary of State Chuck Gray was, "Not Inaccurate."  The only reason she brought it up is she thought no one would remember.  That wasn't the only insult she leveled at conservatives.  Predictably, Morning Show host Jake Nichols didn't correct her or push back in any way.  **This episode contains inappropriate language.**  

Tomorrow on the program I'm going to play for you the reprehensible things Gail Symons said about Secretary of State Chuck Gray.  I'd say that Jake in the Cow Pie agreed with her but, frankly, he doesn't know what she's talking about.  After tomorrow he will.

The Wyoming GOP held their quarterly meeting in Hulett over the weekend.  As usual, I was left to do the job the Wyoming media refuses to do.  There were several resolutions presented but the one concerning federal lands caught my attention.

Sheridan County Commissioner Nick Siddle wants to raise your taxes.  Nick and the Transportation Committee  considered a 10 CENT raise to the gas tax at their last meeting.  WYDOT claims that they have a $400 million shortfall.  If that's true an increase in the gas tax wouldn't come anywhere close to closing it.

Replay - Cowboy State Politics Live Aug 21

Eric Barlow claims to be a conservative but his voting record shows that he is the farthest thing from that.  In the past 10 years, Barlow voted 81.88% of the time with the DEMOCRATS--hardly the work of a conservative.  His record on guns and on pro-life bills isn't any better.

Gabe Saint is the President of Turning Point USA at the University of Wyoming.  He's helped to change a lot of things that irritate a lot of us at our land grant university.  We talked about free speech, why Trump is losing support among young people and the Wyoming he wants to see in the future.

For over 20 years, Ben Barto has been "Bone Daddy."  He's been the public persona of the Beartooth Motorcycle Rally.  Now he's the organizer of a professional biker rodeo association.  But he has also spent most of life supporting veteran charitable organizations. projecthealingwaters.org freedomhunters.org

Recap of The World According to Ogden.  He was up until the wee hours of the morning trying to defend his record.  "Trying" is the operative word.  It's pretty hard to defend voting against a bill that would have allowed your doctor to prescribe Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine when you obtained some for your own family.  Interview with U.S. Rep Harriet Hageman and much much more.

Some legislators get an elitist attitude when they have been in the legislature too long.  Ogden Driskill is a perfect example of that.  While Senate President he never would have allowed the behavior he has exhibited over the years.  One thing's for certain, he's a never-ending source of soundbites.

We should start referring to comments on social media as exactly what they are.  Most of them have no support or evidence to back up their claims--they're just inane noise; which, is mostly what you get from the Redcoats.  My advice, just ignore them.

After the closing of 8 newspapers, you'd think the Wyoming media would take stock of where they're at--what they could do to improve.  But they didn't.  Media outlets continued in their biased coverage and one of them published an editorial openly admitting that they are the gate-keepers of information.

Replay of Cowboy State Politics Live August 7.  The closing of 8 Wyoming newspapers.  Why the media is failing and where they went wrong.  That, and much much more.

Legislators ask you to trust them on a whole host of issues.  You shouldn't trust them on anything.  As Reagan said, "Trust but verify."  Some of the Senators and Representatives are asking for your trust; but those same people really didn't act in your best interests during COVID.  Trust the Science is what we were all told.  Not again! There's been some push back to some of the legislative ratings sites.  The scrutiny is absolutely legitimate.  Know what the goal and agenda of the site is before you make a decision to trust the results or not.

Join host David Iverson in this engaging episode of Cowboy State Politics as we delve into a thought-provoking roundtable discussion featuring prominent Wyoming representatives. Broadcasting from the base of the bighorns, David and his guests explore the Wyoming Freedom Caucus's principles amidst recent political controversies and media narratives. In the first segment, the conversation unpacks the labeling of the Freedom Caucus as the 'new right' by local media and examines its implications. Guests John Bear, Bill Allemand, Chris Knapp and Agent 29 offer insights into conservative values and clarify misconceptions related to capitalism and government intervention. The episode then shifts to an intensive debate on nuclear energy and the potential establishment of nuclear waste storage in Wyoming. Representatives share genuine concerns about safety, federal influence, and community impact, particularly highlighting the need for transparency and cautious policy making. As the discussion unfolds, listeners are encouraged to engage with multifaceted views on conservatism, political labeling, and Wyoming's strategic decisions, providing a comprehensive overview of current state politics.

Senator Jim Anderson is the Senate Chairman of the minerals committee.  He also doesn't care if you know what he really thinks.  During this past week's interim meeting, Anderson repeatedly swore on the microphone.  He also allowed Ogden Driskill to basically call other legislators liars and attack the Freedom Caucus--something what would absolutely not be allowed on the legislative floor.

Speaker of the Wyoming House, Chip Neiman joins the program for a wide ranging interview.  The explosive minerals committee meeting, if he is going to run for governor and much more.

Sheridan Attorney Seth Shumaker doesn't exactly see things the same way as the former chief justice.  After the interview with Kate Fox, I wanted a different perspective--certainly lawyers have a different view of things.  Though it's a complete shock, I found a pretty conservative one!

Gail Symons wants you to believe we live in democracy.  She says that everyone should read what the founders wrote.  I agree; she should too.  Symons has a history of making contradictory comments.  This is the most recent example.  It's the Cow Pie's latest attempt at convincing you of something that's not true.