Mandy Connell

POLAND V VENEZUELA IS NO CONTEST And I am thrilled to have the President Emeritus of FEE Larry Reed back on the show to talk about Poland's adoption of capitalism versus Venezuela's adoption of socialism near the same time. The charts don't lie and if you need more proof that socialism is a greed based nightmare wherever it's tried tune in today at 1 to here Larry. Find his article on the subject here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WHY ARE WE STILL SEEING FENTANYL DEATHS RISE? As other states seem to have gotten fentanyl deaths moving in the right direction, we remain an outlier. The Common Sense Institute did a study on it recently, which you can find here, and I've got Common Sense Fellow Paul Pazen on to talk about it at 12:30.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Mandy Connell Show, Mandy dives into the world of politics and current events. She discusses the recent controversy surrounding Representative Tim Hernandez, who disrupted a debate on civility in politics. Mandy shares her thoughts on the importance of modeling better behavior and respectful debate. She also talks to her guest, Khosro Isfahani, a research director for the National Union for Democracy in Iran, about the current situation in Iran and the Iranian people's fight for freedom. The conversation touches on the regime's brutal tactics and the international community's response. And it's Oscars talk time!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dad joke of the day, word of the day, Mandy's trivia question of the day & jeopardy! It's OF THE DAY! Today's opponent: Dave Lauer and Christian Toto.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WHAT IS LIFE REALLY LIKE IN IRAN? I'm very excited about today's guest at 1. Khosro Isfahani. Khosro was born and raised in Tehran, where he lived for over three decades, working as a journalist and frontline human rights defender until 2021. He infiltrated secretive missile facilities. He smuggled classified documents beyond the regime's reach. He delivered aid quietly to communities placed deliberately in harm's way. Those choices carried consequences: interrogations, threats, surveillance, and finally exile. But exile did not silence him. Over seventeen years reporting on Iran's political and human landscape, Khosro has transformed lived experience into disciplined research and strategic advocacy. Today, he serves as Research Director at the National Union for Democracy in Iran (NUFDI), documenting abuses and articulating a pathway toward a democratic transition. Before NUFDI he worked for Financial Tribune, Article 19, Atlantic Council, and as a professor at Colby College. He has also led Iran research at UC Berkeley and UCLA. We will talk about life in Iran both before the war, now and hopefully after.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Mandy Connell Show, Mandy dives into a lively discussion with State Senator Barb Kirkmeyer about the latest happenings in the Colorado Legislature. They tackle topics like the proposed bill to decriminalize prostitution, which was surprisingly postponed, and the new bill to increase the spending cap under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. Mandy shares her concerns about the potential consequences of this bill, including a potential six billion dollar increase in taxes. They also discuss other bills, including one that regulates AI use by therapists and another that targets compounding pharmacies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dad joke of the day, word of the day, Mandy's trivia question of the day & jeopardy! It's OF THE DAY! Today's opponent: Grant Smith.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

THE ST PATRICK'S DAY PARADE IS THIS WEEKEND Bagpipers and more will invade the show today at 2:30 to pump everyone up for the day we are all Irish. The Parade is this weekend and you can find out everything about it here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

STATE SENATOR BARB KIRKMEYER IS ON WITH AN UPDATE That I call What Fresh Hell Is This from the Capitol where we talk about the many, many ways the Legislature is making life harder here in Colorado. She's on at 1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Mandy Connell Show, Comedian Ali Saddiq joins the show! Mandy then dives into a heated discussion about the 2028 presidential election, specifically the potential candidates Marco Rubio and JD Vance. She asks her listeners to weigh in on which candidate they'd support, and the results are surprising. Mandy also shares a fascinating conversation with an Uber driver from Iran, who reveals the Iranian people's complex feelings about the current regime and their desire for freedom. Additionally, she discusses the recent controversy surrounding Governor Jared Polis's proposal to ban soda and sugary drinks with SNAP benefits in Colorado.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dad joke of the day, word of the day, Mandy's trivia question of the day & jeopardy! It's OF THE DAY! Today's opponent: Ryan Edwards.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

IF YOU LOVE A GOOD STORYTELLER You are going to love the comedy of Ali Saddiq. He is a master storyteller and does so in a way that both gives you window into his world of growing up in the hood, going to prison for being a street pharmaceutical rep, and now living surrounded by lighter hued neighbors in a Houston gated community. He's masterful, profane, and often touches on parts of human nature that cross all racial and economic barriers. He joins me at 12:30, and his show this weekend at the Paramount has NINE tickets available as of this morning, but his show in Aspen has some tickets left if you're headed there this week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Mandy Connell Show, Krista Kafer sits in for Mandy Connell and dives into two timely topics. Christy discusses the issue of gerrymandering in Colorado, where some Democrats want to manipulate the state's electoral map to eliminate Republican representation. She also shares her thoughts on the book "In COVID's Wake, How Politics Failed Us" by Stephen Makado and Francis Lee, which explores how politics failed to effectively address the COVID-19 pandemic. Krista also touches on the importance of vaccination and the effectiveness of mRNA vaccines.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, host Mandy Connell is filling in for the show, discussing the latest news and current events. She touches on the recent change in leadership at the Department of Homeland Security, with Mark Wayne Mullen taking over from Christy Noam. Mandy shares her thoughts on the situation and invites listeners to share their opinions. The conversation also delves into the situation in Iran, with a focus on the country's military capabilities and the potential implications of a conflict. Additionally, Mandy discusses the importance of being informed and critical when using AI tools, and invites Joe Levi, CEO of Noise Media, to share his expertise on the topic.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, host Shawn Drotar explores the disconnect between Washington and the American people. He delves into the history of the US Constitution and how its original intent has been lost in the modern era. Shawn discusses how the founders envisioned a system where elected officials would serve their communities, then return home, but now, the incentives have shifted. He talks about the impact of social media, confirmation bias, and the consolidation of media, which has led to a culture of avoidance and a lack of compromise in politics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the show, we're discussing the ongoing conflict in Iran. Ross filling in for Mandy, who's taking a day off. They dive into the latest developments, including President Trump's comments on the situation. Ross shares his thoughts on the war, its potential implications, and the international community's response. He also touches on the domestic politics surrounding the issue, including the reactions of Trump supporters and the contrast between Trump's campaign promises and his current actions. The conversation also explores the historical context of US-Iran relations and the potential consequences of the conflict.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Mandy Connell Show, Mandy dives into the urban-rural divide in Colorado, discussing the challenges faced by rural communities. She's joined by Wade Haerle, executive director of Club 20, a group advocating for Western Slope interests. They talk about the need for improved roads, energy infrastructure, and a more balanced approach to economic development. Mandy also shares her thoughts on the decline of patriotism among Democrats and the importance of understanding the perspectives of rural Coloradans. The conversation touches on the complexities of rural-urban relationships and the need for cooperation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dad joke of the day, word of the day, Mandy's trivia question of the day & jeopardy! It's OF THE DAY! Today's opponent: Kelly Maher.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SHOULDN'T CHARACTER MATTER IN POLITICS? Shouldn't the reason someone is in office matter? My friend Kelly Maher thinks so and when I saw this column by Jim Geraghty, who was here last weekend for the LPR Retreat, about Colorado's GOP incinerating itself I thought it was time to bring her back on. She's got a PAC called Restoring Standards and its sole goal is to get the crazy out of politics. Find out more about Restoring Standards here. She joins me at 2:30 to talk about it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

THE WESTERN SLOPE WOULD LIKE A WORD We've talked a lot about the urban-rural divide in Colorado so today I've got the new Executive Director of Club 20, a longtime group which advocates for the Western Slope, on the show. Wade Haerle joins me at 1 to talk about the things they are trying to get the Legislature to pay attention to. Find out more by clicking here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The State of The Union was a Trump triumph, Weather Wednesday, and Barb Kirkmeyer joins us with What Fresh Hell from the Colorado Legislature.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dad joke of the day, word of the day, Mandy's trivia question of the day & jeopardy! It's OF THE DAY! Today's opponent: Ryan Edwards AND Benjamin Allbright.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BARB KIRKMEYER JOINS US WITH WHAT FRESH HELL IS THIS As a State Senator she has an insider's view of what's happening in the Capitol building and she shares at 1pm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WE'VE GOT WEATHER WEDNESDAY AT 12:30 So we can find out how much snow the mountains and our snowpack have gotten since last week. Fox 31's Dave Fraser pops in at 12:30 to chat.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Economist Steve Moore joins me to talk about the economy before the State of the Union, then baseball eats the show.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

HOW IS THE ECONOMY DOING? Tonight is the State of the Union and President Trump is widely expected to tout economic numbers that are better than most people thought they would be. Most people is me. I'm interested in hearing anything about foreign policy. I've asked my pal and economist Steve Moore to pop in at 12:30 to give a preview.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The City of Denver ended the contract with a private business to take over, Trump withdraws an endorsement, and Trump levies more tariffs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dad joke of the day, word of the day, Mandy's trivia question of the day & jeopardy! It's OF THE DAY! Today's opponent: Connor Shreve.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our good friend and former KOA traffic reporter John Morrissey is retired down in Mexico so we got some boots on the ground thoughts about what's going on in Mexico.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

IF IT CAN BE FOUND IN THE YELLOW PAGES GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT DO IT A longtime friend from Kentucky used to use that statement all the time when analyzing whether government should be doing some thing or another. It applies perfectly to what the City of Denver is doing to the small business that rents paddle boats at Civic Center park. Or used to anyway. I've got the Josh Catron, owner of the business that is being put out of business by the City of Denver on the show at 1 to talk about this very thing. Read more here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The VA is proposing a massive rules change for disabled veterans, banning child marriages, and Michael Bennet hates wolves and wants them dead*

GOOD NEWS FOR DISABLED VETERANS, BUT ACTION IS STILL NEEDED At 12:30 today my friend and tireless advocate for veterans Rob Williams is going to join me at 12:30 to talk about a rules change that COULD have drastically affect disabled veterans and their disability rating. The VA was considering a rules change that would LOWER the disability rating of veterans whose symptoms were controlled via medication.

A new study shows Medicaid growth is killing our budget, Aurora is looking to slide backwards, and Hersey is ruining Reese's Cups. Plus Rep. Scott Bottoms joins to discuss his claims of pedophile rings at the State Capitol.

Dad joke of the day, word of the day, Mandy's trivia question of the day & jeopardy! It's OF THE DAY! Today's opponent: Shelby Harris.

TIME TO ROLL BACK MEDICAID GROWTH At least that is my conclusion after reading this report from the Common Sense Institute that surprised me by showing a sharp DROP in Medicaid enrollees in the last year. So why has Medicaid spending INCREASED over that same time? I've got study co-author Greg D'Argonne on at 2:30 to talk about it. Spoiler alert, administration grew at an alarming rate even as enrollment dropped.

Colorado state representative Scott Bottoms joins me to discuss his claims of pedophile rings at the State Capitol.

Busy guest day with Weather Wednesday, What Fresh Hell Is This with Barb Kirkmeyer, and Ask the Attorneys! 

Dad joke of the day, word of the day, Mandy's trivia question of the day & jeopardy! It's OF THE DAY! Today's opponent: Shelby Harris.

SENATOR BARB KIRKMEYER REPORTS FROM THE CAPITOL for another segment of What Fresh Hell Is This on what the Legislature is plotting for us these days. We will absolutely talk about the prostitution legalization bill and what they DON'T want us to watch while they debate that. She is on at 1pm.

ASK THE ATTORNEYS WITH GARY, BRAD AND JUSTIN My pals from Bell and Pollock are coming in and if you've got questions about personal injury they've got answers. I've got questions about the terrible wreck down in Pueblo yesterday. They join me at 1.

IS THAT SNOW FALLING IN THE MOUNTAINS? We'll find out at 12:30 with Weather Wednesday with Fox 31's Dave Fraser. Get your weather questions ready!