Podcasts about colorado legislature

The Colorado legislature is challenging Gov. Jared Polis this year unlike it ever has before. Colorado Sun political reporter Jesse Paul joined Bente Birkeland of Colorado Public Radio on the latest edition of Purplish to explore the dynamics. Purplish is the podcast from CPR and the Colorado Capitol News Alliance. https://coloradosun.com/2025/04/28/colorado-legislature-jared-polis-veto-override-fails/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join William Wolfe for today's special LIVE episode on the Center for Baptist Leadership podcast, featuring Pastor Chase Davis, who provides an update on the movement to stop HB1312 in the Colorado Legislature.   J. Chase Davis (M.Div, Th.M, Denver Seminary) is Lead Pastor of Ministry of The Well Church in Boulder, Colorado. Chase is married to Kim and they have two sons. He is the author of Trinitarian Formation: A Theology of Discipleship in Light of the Father, Son, and Spirit (2021). He also hosts the podcast Full Proof Theology. You can find more of Chase's writing at jchasedavis.com.   Learn more about J. Chase Davis: https://www.jchasedavis.com/   ––––––   Follow Center for Baptist Leadership across Social Media: X / Twitter – https://twitter.com/BaptistLeaders Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/people/Center-For-Baptist-Leadership/61556762144277/ Rumble – https://rumble.com/c/c-6157089 YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@CenterforBaptistLeadership Website – https://centerforbaptistleadership.org/   To book William for media appearances or speaking engagements, please contact him at media@centerfor­baptistleadership.org.   Follow Us on Twitter: William Wolfe - https://twitter.com/William_E_Wolfe Richard Henry - https://twitter.com/RThenry83   Renew the SBC from within and defend the SBC from those who seek its destruction, donate today: https://centerforbaptistleadership.org/donate/   The Center for Baptist Leadership Podcast is powered by American Reformer, recorded remotely in the United States by William Wolfe, and edited by Jared Cummings.   Subscribe to the Center for Baptist Leadership Podcast: Distribute our RSS Feed – https://centerforbaptistleadership.podbean.com/ Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/center-for-baptist-leadership/id1743074575 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/0npXohTYKWYmWLsHkalF9t Amazon Music // Audible – https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9ababbdd-6c6b-4ab9-b21a-eed951e1e67b BoomPlay – https://www.boomplaymusic.com/podcasts/96624 TuneIn – Coming Soon iHeartRadio – https://iheart.com/podcast/170321203 Listen Notes – https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/center-for-baptist-leadership-center-for-3liUZaE_Tnq/ Pandora – Coming Soon PlayerFM – https://player.fm/series/3570081 Podchaser – https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-center-for-baptist-leaders-5696654 YouTube Podcasts – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFMvfuzJKMICA7wi3CXvQxdNtA_lqDFV

Send us a message! Really!This week on the Get More Smarter Podcast, Sam Silverii is three weeks old, which is five days younger than the Trump Administration, and even he knows what's going on in DC is bonkers. We check in with our 8th favorite soon-to-be-one-term member of Congress, who has spent his time in Washington hiding when he's not too busy doing Elon Musk and Donald Trump's bidding. And we check in on the Colorado Legislature, where State House Republicans literally show their asses in defense of the January 6th rioters who Trump pardoned for some indefensible reason.But first...Jason Bane sat down with the House Assistant Democratic Leader, Colorado's own Joe Neguse, to ask him what Democrats in Congress can and will do to stop Trump and Musk's wrecking ball, and what you -- yes you -- can do to help. 

This week, after the obligatory blistering blast at the Colorado Legislature, Michael discusses a subject he has focused on for many years — off-body carry. Having a gun in a holster on your person has many advantages, but sometimes it is just not possible. MichaelBane.TV - On the Radio episode # 258. Scroll down for reference links on topics discussed in this episode. Disclaimer: The statements and opinions expressed here are our own and may not represent those of the companies we represent or any entities affiliated to it. Host: Michael Bane Producer: Flying Dragon Ltd. More information and reference links: FlexCCarry Solutions Vedder Holster Pros and Cons of Off-Body/Mikayla Blair Warrior Poet on Off-Body Carry The Shawn Ryan Show with Tu Lam “Running With a Fanny Pack”/Jeff Gonzales, Shooting Illustrated "Training for Off-Body Carry”/Erick Gelhaus, American Cop Wilderness Tactical Waist Pack, DB Defender Eberlestock Bando Bag Hill People Gear Kit Bag The Music of Killdozer The Music of the Carmel Quartet

Read the full story: https://coloradosun.com/2025/02/13/denver-boulder-restaurants-tipped-workers-minimum-wage/ Today: There's a new state bill that would propose cutting the minimum wage for some tipped workers in Colorado. Sun business reporter Tamara Chuang breaks down the bill and what it would mean for restaurant owners and workers. coloradosun.com/love coloradosun.com/eventsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Colorado's legislative session is entering its second month, which means bills are starting to advance through the state Capitol. On today's podcast, we're revisiting our conversation last month with Gov. Jared Polis previewing Colorado's 2025 lawmaking term. Read our full story: https://coloradosun.com/2025/01/20/jared-polis-guns-labor-peace-act-housing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

https://coloradosun.com/2025/01/09/2025-colorado-state-of-the-state-annotated/ Today - Colorado's 2025 legislative session is underway and our politics team is hard at work chasing down what lawmakers will be doing at the Capitol this year. While they're getting acclimated, we're revisiting the conversation Jesse and Brian recorded in November about the big budget deficit facing the state. The budget will be one of the biggest issues at the General Assembly in the coming months. And while the deficit may have shrunk slightly since November when their conversation first aired, big cuts are still needed. https://friendsofchambermusic.com/ Promo code: FCM30CSSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

https://coloradosun.com/2025/01/07/2025-colorado-budget-cuts/ The Colorado legislature's 2025 lawmaking term starts today. Lawmakers will be at the Capitol for 120 days and The Colorado Sun will be there too. Today – Our politics team breaks down what to watch. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Special Guest: Host Dr. James JC Cooley and Guest-CoHost Dr. Michael Mantell have a sit-down discussion with panelists: Andrea Kay --Media Host & Political Commentator, Benjamin Mantell --Administrative Law Judge for the City of New York & Adjunct Professor of Law at Montclair State University, and Steven Paletz – Attorney, Political Activist & Commissioner on the Colorado Economic Development Commission. Points covered  Policies Discussed:  Abortion Economy and Inflation Immigration Reform and Border Security Healthcare Access and Affordable Care Act (ACA) Foreign Policy Tax Policy Racial and Social Justice Climate Change and Environmental Policy Education and Student Loans Biography Andrea Kaye is Host of The Andrea Kaye Show, which broadcasts daily 6ppt on AM 1170 The Answer.  Known as "Dynamite in a Dress", because she tells it like it is! No "fake news" from Andrea Kaye... Andrea talks everything from politics to entertainment and current events from San Diego to DC.  Andrea is also a political commentator and regular contributor on TV and radio shows like Tipping Point on One America News, National Report/Common Sense/American Agenda on Newsmax, CNN, HLN, Fox 5 DC & San Diego, KUSI News, The Dr. Drew Show on KABC, News, Views and Hughes on RNT, and more. Her articles have been published in American Spectator, Townhall.com and more. Biography Judge Benjamin Mantell is currently an Administrative Law Judge for the City of New York and an Adjunct Professor of Law at Montclair State University, Judge Mantell previously served as an Assistant District Attorney in Queens County and as a New York State Assistant Attorney General. In Queens, he led complex investigations into organized crime targeting members of La Cosa Nostra, and while at the Attorney General's Office, he prosecuted major financial crimes. Between roles, he worked at two large banks, developing policies to enhance compliance with U.S. Treasury guidelines. Judge Mantell also competed on his NCAA golf team and received the NYPD's “Commendable Performance” award for his service on September 11, 2001, in the World Trade Center Rescue Operation. Biography Steven Paletz is an attorney and political activist born and raised in San Diego. He currently resides in Denver, Colorado and serves as a commissioner on the Colorado Economic Development Commission. He is a former candidate for the Colorado Legislature and believes strongly in an economy that works for all Americans.  He currently practices real estate law representing developers of forward thinking projects that support growth and economic development.   Brought to you by the J.C. Cooley Foundation, "Equipping the Youth of Today for the Challenges of Tomorrow."#ItsYourLife #Talkshow #Podcast #Radio #JCCooleyFoundationSupport the show: http://www.cooleyfoundation.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A class of drugs that are used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity are becoming increasingly popular as a weight-loss drug. However, the high cost of these GLP-1 drugs—the annual list price is around $12,000—has posed a dilemma for states as they decide whether to cover the drugs in their own state health plans, Medicaid and possibly require private insurers to cover the drugs. On this episode, we get perspectives from three people involved in the debate: Kristen Niakan, a pharmacy management consultant with the actuarial and consulting firm Milliman; North Carolina Treasurer Dale Folwell (R); and Colorado Senator Dafna Michaelson Jenet (D).Niakan explained the background of these drugs, who's using them, the costs involved, and the insurance coverage landscape across the country. Folwell walked through the decision in his state not to cover GLP one drugs for the state's employee health plan, and also discussed a separate decision in his state to extend coverage of the drugs to Medicaid recipients. Michaelson Jenet discussed her efforts to pass legislation that would've required all private insurance companies and the state Medicaid program in Colorado to provide coverage for the treatment of the chronic disease of obesity and the treatment of pre-diabetes, including FDA approved anti-obesity medication. ResourcesDiabetes State Mandates and Insulin Copayment Caps, NCSLEmployers feel the side effects of drugmaker control over Wegovy, Ozempic costs, PoliticoGLP-1 agonists in Medicaid: Utilization, growth, and management, MillimanImpact of anti-obesity medication coverage in the Medicaid and commercial marketsKFF Health Tracking Poll May 2024: The Public's Use and Views of GLP-1 Drugs, KFF

Send us a Text Message.This week on the Get More Smarter Podcast, Ian went on a little summer break and…the entire world changed completely! We'll talk more about the vibe shift, the VP's VP, the Trump campaign, and so much more. Friend of the Pod, Governor Jared Polis, is calling the Colorado Legislature back into a special session, again, to cut property taxes, again, to avoid a really bad hostage situation, again! But first, you know him as the Get More Smarter Podcast's Western Correspondent: Fan Favorite Charles Ashby, the Political Reporter for the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, is back on the pod to give us the latest from the Western Slope including the Tina Peters court case, a Boebert-less existence, and whether or not our favorite "Bread Sandwich" is actually campaigning. 

Join America's Roundtable (https://americasrt.com/) radio co-hosts Natasha Srdoc and Joel Anand Samy with Chairman Doug Lamborn, Strategic Forces Subcommittee, U.S. House Committee on Armed Services discussing the policy issues impacting America's national defense and the nation's security partnership with trusted allies. Today, we are experiencing conflicts in Europe and the Middle East with rising tensions in Southeast Asia. The time-tested policy of "peace through strength" has been weakened by lack of American leadership on the world stage. The conversation also addresses the concern of America's isolationism and the principled message articulated by one of America's greatest presidents: "We in America have learned bitter lessons from two World Wars: It is better to be here ready to protect the peace, than to take blind shelter across the sea, rushing to respond only after freedom is lost. We've learned that isolationism never was and never will be an acceptable response to tyrannical governments with an expansionist intent." — President Ronald Reagan The conversation with Congressman Lamborn also focuses on the promise of a new era in the Middle East with the proposed US-Saudi Arabia Economic and Security Alliance which could transform the region and benefit both nations on the economic and trade fronts. Saudi Arabia could become a major hub for trade and tourism and a gateway to over 400 million consumers in Arab countries. Bio | Congressman Doug Lamborn In Colorado, Doug was called to public office and served in the Colorado General Assembly from 1995 to 2006, in both the State House and State Senate. During his time in the Colorado Legislature, Doug was elected Senate President Pro-Tem, served as Chairman of the Senate State Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, Chairman of the Senate Republican Caucus, and House Majority Whip. Doug was then elected to the US House of Representatives in 2006 to represent Colorado's Fifth District. Colorado's Fifth District, based in Colorado Springs, is one of our nation's most military-intensive congressional districts and the home to more than 100,000 veterans who have served our country with distinction and honor. Because of the district's military and veteran concentration, Doug serves as a high-ranking member on the House Armed Services Committee and a former member for ten years of the Veterans Affairs Committee. In these roles, he has protected important national defense funding, programs, and missions and has fought hard for the right of veterans to receive the healthcare they have earned. Additionally, the Congressman has worked since his first day in office to bring about a dignified and fitting National Veterans Cemetery to the Pikes Peak Region, which is now completed. Additionally, Doug currently serves as the Chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee. The Strategic Forces Subcommittee has jurisdiction over Department of Defense and Department of Energy policy related to strategic deterrence, strategic stability, nuclear weapons, strategic and nuclear arms control, nonproliferation, nuclear safety, missile defense, and space; Department of Defense programs and accounts related to nuclear weapons, strategic missiles, nuclear command and control systems, Department of Defense intelligence space, space systems and services of the military departments, and intermediate and long-range missile defense systems; and Department of Energy national security programs and accounts. Doug also serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and its subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands, and the Energy and Mineral Resources subcommittee. The Subcommittee on Federal Lands is responsible for all matters related to the National Park System, U.S. Forests, public lands, and national monuments. The Energy and Mineral Resources subcommittee oversees public resources on public lands, including offshore energy development. Throughout his time in public service, Doug has been a leader on pro-family and small business issues, a strong advocate for our veterans and our military, and a supporter of lower taxes, immigration reform, less government spending, and protection of the Second Amendment. Doug is married to Jeanie, his wife of 47 years and an accomplished artist and former teacher at the Bemis School of Art in Colorado Springs. The Lamborn's have also raised five extremely successful children. Their four sons were Eagle Scouts and, among them, have served as a doctor, in the military, as an attorney, and as a member of the film industry in Los Angeles. americasrt.com (https://americasrt.com/) https://ileaderssummit.org/ | https://jerusalemleaderssummit.com/ America's Roundtable on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/americas-roundtable/id1518878472 Twitter: @RepDLamborn @ileaderssummit @AmericasRT @NatashaSrdoc @JoelAnandUSA @supertalk America's Roundtable is co-hosted by Natasha Srdoc and Joel Anand Samy, co-founders of International Leaders Summit and the Jerusalem Leaders Summit. America's Roundtable (https://americasrt.com/) radio program - a strategic initiative of International Leaders Summit, focuses on America's economy, healthcare reform, rule of law, security and trade, and its strategic partnership with rule of law nations around the world. The radio program features high-ranking US administration officials, cabinet members, members of Congress, state government officials, distinguished diplomats, business and media leaders and influential thinkers from around the world. Tune into America's Roundtable Radio program from Washington, DC via live streaming on Saturday mornings via 65 radio stations at 7:30 A.M. (ET) on Lanser Broadcasting Corporation covering the Michigan and the Midwest market, and at 7:30 A.M. (CT) on SuperTalk Mississippi — SuperTalk.FM reaching listeners in every county within the State of Mississippi, and neighboring states in the South including Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee. Listen to America's Roundtable on digital platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, Google and other key online platforms. Listen live, Saturdays at 7:30 A.M. (CT) on SuperTalk | https://www.supertalk.fm

Send us a Text Message.This week on the Get More Smarter Podcast, the SINE has DIED; for those of you who for some reason don't speak Latin, the second regular session of the 74th general assembly has come to an end! Best friend of the pod Christy Powell is back to give us the rundown from under the gold dome at Colfax and Sherman. Then, some Republicans are already denying the results of the 2024 election even though it hasn't happened yet! Next, Democrats in the US House of Representatives saved Mike Johnson from his own caucus, mostly because they are basically running the House anyway. And we have an update from everybody's favorite puppy murdering governor of South Dakota, because she just can't stop talking about the time she shot and killed her own dog or the world leaders she did or didn't meet. 

Anybody in Colorado can agree that housing is at the top of the list our most pressing matters. It's expensive, there doesn't seem to be enough of it, people are afraid they won't be able to keep their homes or that they'll never buy one to begin with, and property taxes are going to make the expense issue that much worse. The Colorado legislature has a number of bills regarding housing currently under consideration including ADUs, parking requirements and "transit-oriented communities." Chairman and Host Earl Wright welcomes CSI Housing Fellow Peter LiFari to discuss these bills, what they would do, where they currently stand, and where we move forward from here. This is your inside look at the Capitol as it continues to tackle one of Colorado's most pressing issues: housing. Thank you for listening to Common Sense Digest. Please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. All of our podcasts can be found here. Peter LiFari is Housing Fellow & Terry J. Stevinson Fellow and is the Executive Director of Maiker Housing Partners, a socially conscious public housing authority based in Adams County, Colorado. In his role as Executive Director, LiFari leads a passionate team committed to ending the cycle of generational poverty by providing individuals and families with access to affordable housing, support programs and by engaging in community development. LiFari is a compassionate visionary whose leadership style is grounded in treating individuals with empathy, warmth and grace. 

The Chuck & Julie Show with Chuck Bonniwell and Julie Hayden With Guest, George Brauchler, 23rd Judicial District DA candidate Give him credit, he's willing to walk into the lion's den... 23rd Judicial District DA candidate George Brauchler comes on the show to try and defend himself from the abysmal Red Flag law record. Plus, snowflake Dems at the Colorado Legislature are whining that Republicans are being mean to them.

Today - There's a week left in Colorado's 2024 legislative session but still hundreds of bills left on the General Assembly's calendar. Colorado Sun politics reporters Jesse Paul and Brian Eason break down what some of the biggest outstanding measures are.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Chuck & Julie Show with Chuck Bonniwell and Julie Hayden With Guest, Tom Cooper Writer Tom Cooper details the three kinds of RINOs and what they are terrified about. Plus you won't believe what inside Dems are censoring at the Colorado Legislature.

https://coloradosun.com/2024/04/14/colorado-assault-weapons-ban-passes-house/ Today - Colorado Sun political reporters Brian Eason and Jesse Paul discuss the so-called assault weapons bill embroiling the Capitol — and the big roadblocks the bill has ahead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Chuck & Julie Show with Chuck Bonniwell and Julie Hayden With Guests, Col. Ret John Mills and Rep. Ken DeGraaf Biden's disastrous Middle East policies are on the verge of of launching another “forever” war. Col. John Mills, author of War Against the Deep State explains how this plays right into China's hands. Plus Dems at the Colorado Legislature go off the deep end and won't like Rep. Ken DeGraaf use the word “groomers” because it's mean.

KBB reveals two bills being considered in the Colorado General Assembly designed to remove charter schools from the state and add more gun restricted zones in 'sensitive spaces.' Dennis Miller suggests to Sean Hannity that Donald Trump could seal victory in the 2024 Presidential election by apologizing for past transgressions, like his mean tweet insulting the wife of Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX). Would Trump benefit by issuing a mea culpa on missteps of his past?

The Chuck & Julie Show with Chuck Bonniwell and Julie Hayden Pro Palestinian insurrectionists disrupt an official proceeding as the Colorado Legislature convened its 2024 session today. Not holding our breath for the FBI to go after them. Plus Hunter Biden shows his contempt for Republican members of Congress by showing up at their contempt hearing still refusing to answer questions.

This week on the Get More Smarter Podcast, Republicans from Colorado to Washington DC to North Carolina, to South Carolina, to California, and probably everywhere else too, in between are a big, big mess. We ask the question on everybody's mind, how the hell does anyone still vote for them? The rats are fleeing the ship of our 8th favorite member of congress from Colorado, will it be enough to help Barbora Hurd's Husband return the third congressional district to the red team?Just because you deny the results of an election doesn't mean it didn't happen (we're talking to you, entire Colorado Republican Party); while we were out, the Colorado Legislature had a special session on property taxes and boy are our brains tired; and we announce the series finale of our segment on our 7th favorite member of Congress from Colorado -- What the Buck -- as CNNKenSNBC makes way for the CD4 primary clown car to really get rolling down to Yuma.

The Anti-Sematism on the floor of the Colorado Legislature is Real!  Rep. Ron Weinberg joins George to share the story of a 40-minute speech by a Democrat lawmaker during the special session that turned into an Anti Israel screed.  Rep. Weinberg talks about the Hamas supporters that interrupted the legislature and called America evil.  Those same protestors called Rep. Weinberg a long list of derogatory names in the halls of our legislature.  WOW!  Then Rep. Lisa Frizell joins George and backs up everything Rep. Wwinberg said.  She says it was a shocking display of Anti-Sematism and disrespect that she never thought would occur under the Colorado Gold Dome.  Why hasn't Gov. Polis or AG Weiser spoken out about members of their party supporting a terrorist organization that wishes them dead?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you have faith the Colorado Legislature will be able to find property tax relief without touching TABOR?  Will the Dems ever allow that??  George welcomes CO House Minority Leader and Rep Lisa Frizell this hour to discuss the special session and what possible avenues are open for a solution.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join America's Roundtable (https://americasrt.com/) radio co-hosts Natasha Srdoc and Joel Anand Samy with U.S. Congressman Doug Lamborn, chairman, Strategic Forces Subcommittee, member, House Armed Services Committee and co-chair, The Congressional Israel Allies Caucus. The conversation focuses on the terrorist attacks carried out by Iranian-backed Hamas killing over 1,400 Israelis including 31 Americans. Over 4,500 Israelis have been wounded, and more than 200 Israeli hostages including Americans have been taken from Israel by Hamas into Gaza. Congressman Lamborn provides an update on the realities on the ground, the difficult road ahead, and the significance of the US-Israel partnership in confronting terrorism and instability in the Middle East. The discussion also focuses on Iran, the state sponsor of terrorism, and how the rogue nation's ambition in acquiring nuclear weapons may adversely impact the region and the world. This past week, Reuters reported, “Russia said it need no longer obey U.N. Security Council restrictions on giving missile technology to its ally Iran once they expire…without saying whether it now planned to support Tehran's missile development.” The Abraham Accords are brought to the forefront as the potential Saudi Arabia - Israel normalization of relations could usher in a historic transformation in the Middle East. America's leadership is vital in advancing peace through strength. On America's Roundtable, Congressman Doug Lamborn also addresses serious concerns about the national security crisis at the US southern border. Congressman Doug Lamborn (R-CO) In Colorado, Doug Lamborn was called to public office and served in the Colorado General Assembly from 1995 to 2006, in both the State House and State Senate. During his time in the Colorado Legislature, Doug was elected Senate President Pro-Tem, served as Chairman of the Senate State Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, Chairman of the Senate Republican Caucus, and House Majority Whip. Doug Lamborn was the lead sponsor of the largest tax cut in Colorado history. Doug Lamborn was then elected to the US House of Representatives in 2006 to represent Colorado's Fifth District which is based in Colorado Springs. It is one of our nation's most military-intensive congressional districts and the home to more than 100,000 veterans who have served our country with distinction and honor. Because of the district's military and veteran concentration, Doug serves as a high-ranking member on the House Armed Services Committee, Chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee and a former member for ten years of the Veterans Affairs Committee. americasrt.com (https://americasrt.com/) https://ileaderssummit.org/ | https://jerusalemleaderssummit.com/ America's Roundtable on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/americas-roundtable/id1518878472 Twitter: @RepDLamborn @ileaderssummit @AmericasRT @NatashaSrdoc @JoelAnandUSA @supertalk America's Roundtable is co-hosted by Natasha Srdoc and Joel Anand Samy, co-founders of International Leaders Summit and the Jerusalem Leaders Summit. America's Roundtable (https://americasrt.com/) radio program - a strategic initiative of International Leaders Summit, focuses on America's economy, healthcare reform, rule of law, security and trade, and its strategic partnership with rule of law nations around the world. The radio program features high-ranking US administration officials, cabinet members, members of Congress, state government officials, distinguished diplomats, business and media leaders and influential thinkers from around the world. Tune into America's Roundtable Radio program from Washington, DC via live streaming on Saturday mornings via 65 radio stations at 7:30 A.M. (ET) on Lanser Broadcasting Corporation covering the Michigan and the Midwest market, and at 7:30 A.M. (CT) on SuperTalk Mississippi — SuperTalk.FM reaching listeners in every county within the State of Mississippi, and neighboring states in the South including Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee. Listen to America's Roundtable on digital platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, Google and other key online platforms. Listen live, Saturdays at 7:30 A.M. (CT) on SuperTalk | https://www.supertalk.fm

Colorado teachers' union sues school district over gag policy | Arizona's state Democratic Party has raised 7x more money than AZ Republicans this year | Cecelia Espinoza, Rochelle Galindo, and Tim Hernandez seek vacant Colorado House seat representing Denver-based 4th district | Power shutoffs could prove deadly as Nevadans brace for continued extreme heatSong playsIntro by hostWelcome to High Country - politics in the American West. My name is Sean Diller; regular listeners might know me from Heartland Pod's Talking Politics, every Monday.Support this show and all the work in the Heartland POD universe by going to heartlandpod.com and clicking the link for Patreon, or go to Patreon.com/HeartlandPod to sign up. Membership starts at $1/month, with even more extra shows and special access at the higher levels. No matter the level you choose, your membership helps us create these independent shows as we work together to change the conversation.Alright! Let's get into it: COLORADO NEWSLINE:A Colorado teachers union filed a federal lawsuit against the Woodland Park School District and its board of education over a policy that they say prevents teachers from publicly speaking about school concerns.The Woodland Park Education Association and its president, Nate Owen, filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Denver this week. The school board and district in Woodland Park, outside Colorado Springs in Teller County, has become increasingly conservative in recent years and the schools have become a frequent flashpoint of controversy over a number of issues including curriculum, personnel, transparency, etc.The lawsuit alleges that a district policy known as KDDA, is an unconstitutional prior restraint on speech that goes against the First Amendment.That policy, revised twice this year, states that the superintendent is the official spokesperson for the district and employees cannot talk to the media or even post on social media about district decisions without approval. Violation of the policy is considered insubordination.The lawsuit says “Prior restraints on speech are the most serious and least tolerable infringement of an individual's First Amendment rights. The Supreme Court has routinely held that prior restraints on protected speech are presumed to be constitutionally invalid,”There are examples of courts striking down policies that prevent public employees, like teachers, from speaking to the media without prior approval. attorney Steve Zansberg, who works on cases pertaining to media and the First Amendment said “It is my understanding that policies like this have previously been challenged in other school districts and have been found by courts to be unconstitutional restrictions on free speech rights of school employees.” Because of Owen's standing as president of the local teachers union, he often makes public comments to the school board about working conditions and matters of public concern, as well as comments to the media. The district's policy, however, puts his teaching job in jeopardy if he speaks out.The lawsuit also alleges that the way the policy was revised in February and March violates Colorado's Open Meetings Law. There are no posted minutes or agendas that show the school board publicly discussing the issue.Woodland Park School District Superintendent Ken Witt called the lawsuit a “coordinated political attack” by groups seeking to intimidate him, but of course offered no support for that claim. ARIZONA MIRROR:Arizona Republican Party's fundraising abysmal in run up to pivotal 2024 electionBY: CAITLIN SIEVERS - AUGUST 11, 2023 7:00 AMThe Arizona Republican Party's fundraising efforts so far this year are embarrassing, with Democrats outpacing them seven to one, leaving political operatives wondering if the party's new chairman can right the ship in time to mount any sort of meaningful campaign in 2024. The party took in only $165,000 in contributions so far in 2023, as compared to the Arizona Democratic Party's more than $1,150,000. And the state Republican Party's federal account, which is vital to fund operations during a presidential election year, was in a sad state as of the end of June, with less than $24,000 in cash on hand, compared to the state Democratic Party's nearly $714,000.Because of campaign finance laws, the parties must operate separate accounts for money spent to help elect federal candidates and funds used to bolster state and local hopefuls. Robert Graham, a former Arizona Republican Party chairman from 2013-2017, told the Arizona Mirror, “If this were me, I would be sweating a little bit.” He went on to say that the last party chairman Kelli Ward's extravagant spending and far-right fringe politics have left some big donors hesitant to give.Ward, who chaired the state GOP for four years beginning in January 2019, was part of the group of fake electors from Arizona that hoped to overturn former President Donald Trump's loss to President Joe Biden in 2020. She bought into election conspiracy theories and spent more than $500,000 on an election night party and statewide bus tour in 2022, angering fellow Republicans who would have rather seen that money used to help GOP candidates who lost extremely tight statewide races.In that election, Arizona Republicans suffered losses in the race for governor, secretary of state and attorney general and the U.S. Senate.One former AZ Democratic Party executive director said“Functionally, they're running an operation right now that wouldn't be capable of running one Dairy Queen franchise, much less a state operation to hopefully elect a senator or a president,” “I would be shocked, I think, just given where they are right now, if this time next year they're running any sort of impactful campaign or effort out of the state Republican Party.”DENVER WESTWORD:Firebrand Teacher Tim Hernández seeks seat in Colorado HouseHouse District 4 had been represented by Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, who won an at-large seat on Denver City Council.By Michael RobertsAugust 9, 2023Tim Hernández is a teacher best known for fighting on behalf of diversity, equity and inclusion related to both students and educators. Now he hopes to bring his passion to the Colorado Legislature as a representative for House District 4.Hernandez has been a controversial figure, making headlines last year when students at North High School protested the decision not to keep him on the staff.Colorado's House District 4 stretches roughly from Regis University south to Morrison Road, and from Sheridan Boulevard east to Zuni Street. However, the District's voters as a whole won't be making the selection — at least not yet. On August 26 "appointed leadership of the Democratic Party within the House district, an estimated 69 individuals, will decide who fills out the rest of the term.  Two other hopefuls with significant Democratic connections are also vying for the spot. Cecelia Espenoza previously worked as a counsel for the U.S. Department of Justice and an appellate immigration judge. She is also a former professor at the University of Denver and St. Mary's University School of Law, and a former chair of the board at the National Hispana Leadership Institute in Washington, D.C., as well.Also in the race is Rochelle Galindo, who in 2015 became the first openly gay person to be elected to the Greeley, Colorado City Council. She followed this win by besting Republican rival Michael Thuener to become the state representative for Weld County's District 50 in 2018. She resigned the next year after being accused of sexual assault and providing alcohol to a minor and was cleared of the charges in 2021. Since she left the legislature, Galindo has worked in various roles at advocacy organizations Colorado People's Alliance, Colorado People's Action, and Emerge.NEVADA CURRENT:NV households struggle to pay summer power bills, and it's getting worseBY: JENIFFER SOLIS - AUGUST 15, 2023 5:34 AMRecord heat in Southern Nevada throughout July drove scores of residents to take refuge in air-conditioned homes, but the cost of fighting off summer temperatures will likely leave an alarming number of Nevadans unable to pay their bills. Last month was the hottest July ever recorded in Las Vegas, with a daily average high of 109 degrees. The last two weeks of July were the hottest 14-day stretch on ever record, with an average high of 112 degrees. Nevada residents living in a single-family home saw an average 22% increase — from about $337 per month fo $407 per month - in their energy bills.Electricity rates in July were set to be even higher before NV Energy agreed to temporarily reduce costs for customers.For many Nevada households, an extra $60 to $70 dollars won't completely break the bank, but for low-income households or those on a fixed income, higher utility bills mean choosing between keeping the A/C running or addressing other essential needs like food and medication. In the worst-case scenario, lack of payment may lead to a power shut-off, leaving families scrambling to find enough money to restore service, often only to face disconnection again.Further, Nevada does not require utilities to disclose the number of customers they disconnect, leaving little transparency of the magnitude of the problem. NV Energy, a monopoly with more than a million captive customers, has shown little interest in publicly sharing the number of disconnected customers. An NV Energy spokesperson said in an email that “NV Energy does not share this type of data publicly, though the company works diligently with customers and makes every effort to avoid disconnecting power.”Data that is public reveals that more and more households are struggling to pay utility bills in Nevada. Applications for state utility assistance over the last three months of available data reveal a sharp 37% increase compared to the same period last year. Public health officials anticipate the high demand will continue as temperatures remain high throughout August. The state program, called the Energy Assistance Program, provides a supplement for qualifying low-income Nevadans with the cost of home energy. Eligible households receive an annual, one-time per year benefit paid directly to their energy provider.But the cost of that assistance ultimately falls on NV Energy customers. Part of the program's funding is subsidized by ratepayers through NV Energy's Universal Energy Charge, which adds 46 cents a month to the typical residential power bill.Unpaid bills that can't be recovered by NV Energy are eventually paid by customers too. Nevada law does protect utility customers from power shut-offs during periods of extreme heat, when a lack of air conditioning can result in waves of hospitalizations or even death. According to state statute, a utility company can't terminate service for a non-paying customer if the National Weather Service has forecast a period of extreme heat within the next 24 hours within the customer's geographical area. For most residents in Southern Nevada, extreme heat is defined as 105 degrees. So if it won't be 105 in the course of the next day, service can be terminated. NV Energy must also notify elderly customers at least 48 hours before termination of power.For all other residents in Southern Nevada, a forecast of 105 degrees or higher within a 24 hour period is considered extreme heat. Utilities also can't terminate service to a customer for nonpayment if the outstanding amount owed is $50 or less. But more than $50, it could be lights out. COLORADO SUN:Colorado's Copper Mountain resort starts seeding to spark a huge biodiversity effortJason Blevins3:50 AM MDT on Aug 15, 2023This story first appeared in The Outsider, the premium outdoor newsletter by Jason Blevins.In it, he covers the industry from the inside out, plus the fun side of being outdoors in our beautiful state.SUBSCRIBECopper Mountain has identified 558 acres on the front side of its ski area where soil work can help restore ecosystems and improve biodiversity to help lessen the impacts of climate change. Last year the resort announced a 10-year carbon sequestration plan to plant carbon-storing plants and grasses on its ski slopes. The resort has tapped researchers at Southwestern University in Texas in the effort, with student scientists staking out test plots on five ski runs where they can monitor vegetation growth using native seeds, compost and biochar.The ski area hosted several resort leaders at its second-annual conservation summit earlier this month in an effort to share their research, strategies and projects. A large focus was restoring biological vibrancy on ski slopes, which too often are simply treated pretty much like lawns instead of critical components of mountain ecosystems. Last year sustainability workers at Copper Mountain started collecting seeds from 27 native species and replanting them across the resort's north-facing ski runs.Jeff Grasser, head of sustainability at Copper Mountain said “We are experimenting. We are trying to figure out how to make all this work at a landscape level,” as he sifted through charred wood chips in a 50-gallon drum that he will carefully spread across plots of ski slopes to see how the porous, lightweight biochar might help native grasses thrive. The aptly named Grasser has big plans. What if he could create “tons and tons” of biochar in massive kilns, not just little drums? What if Copper Mountain's corporate owner deploys its fleet of helicopters for heli-skiing in Utah to spread biochar across all the ski slopes at the company's 10 mountain resorts?“We want to do this in ways that can be done on a very large scale and we can't wait to share these results with you,” Grasser told a group of sustainability leaders at a recent conservation summit.The program included a presentation from folks from another Colorado ski area, Arapahoe Basin, detailing how crews replaced vegetation by hand and preserved topsoil when installing new chairlift towers. The crew from Eldora Mountain Resort offered details of a project with the Town of Nederland to build a wetland to replace a trailhead parking lot. Sunlight ski area took a page from Copper Mountain's biodiversity playbook and began collecting native seeds for replanting on ski runs. The Copper Mountain project will build a dataset of more than 100 locations across the ski area, with 10 years of science showing how native grasses, compost and biochar can help resort operators regain a more diverse, balanced ecosystem on ski slopes.“We want to have the data to be able to say,‘Hey this works really well. Don't just take my word for it. We have scientific evidence that supports these methods. These are the first steps in delivering resilience so bio-diversity can grow.'”And your unsolicited concert pick of the week, Ha Ha TonkaThu., Aug. 24, 9 p.m. at the Skylark Lounge in Denver (Bobcat Club) $12-$15An indie / southern rock band originally formed in West Plains, MO, Ha Ha Tonka's "dark view of the realities of socio-economic hardship, backwoods prejudices and drug abuse is leavened by wry humor and a deep appreciation for regional storytelling traditions. New album Blood Red Moon will be released on October 23.After Denver, Ha Ha Tonka will play a slate of shows throughout California, then Columbia, Missouri on November 2nd, West Plains on November 3rd, and Springfield, Missouri on November 4th. hahatonkamusic.comWelp, that's it for me! From Denver I'm Sean Diller. Original reporting for the stories in today's show comes from Colorado Sun, The Outsider, Colorado Newsline, Arizona Mirror, and Denver's Westword.Thank you for listening! See you next time.

Colorado teachers' union sues school district over gag policy | Arizona's state Democratic Party has raised 7x more money than AZ Republicans this year | Cecelia Espinoza, Rochelle Galindo, and Tim Hernandez seek vacant Colorado House seat representing Denver-based 4th district | Power shutoffs could prove deadly as Nevadans brace for continued extreme heatSong playsIntro by hostWelcome to High Country - politics in the American West. My name is Sean Diller; regular listeners might know me from Heartland Pod's Talking Politics, every Monday.Support this show and all the work in the Heartland POD universe by going to heartlandpod.com and clicking the link for Patreon, or go to Patreon.com/HeartlandPod to sign up. Membership starts at $1/month, with even more extra shows and special access at the higher levels. No matter the level you choose, your membership helps us create these independent shows as we work together to change the conversation.Alright! Let's get into it: COLORADO NEWSLINE:A Colorado teachers union filed a federal lawsuit against the Woodland Park School District and its board of education over a policy that they say prevents teachers from publicly speaking about school concerns.The Woodland Park Education Association and its president, Nate Owen, filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Denver this week. The school board and district in Woodland Park, outside Colorado Springs in Teller County, has become increasingly conservative in recent years and the schools have become a frequent flashpoint of controversy over a number of issues including curriculum, personnel, transparency, etc.The lawsuit alleges that a district policy known as KDDA, is an unconstitutional prior restraint on speech that goes against the First Amendment.That policy, revised twice this year, states that the superintendent is the official spokesperson for the district and employees cannot talk to the media or even post on social media about district decisions without approval. Violation of the policy is considered insubordination.The lawsuit says “Prior restraints on speech are the most serious and least tolerable infringement of an individual's First Amendment rights. The Supreme Court has routinely held that prior restraints on protected speech are presumed to be constitutionally invalid,”There are examples of courts striking down policies that prevent public employees, like teachers, from speaking to the media without prior approval. attorney Steve Zansberg, who works on cases pertaining to media and the First Amendment said “It is my understanding that policies like this have previously been challenged in other school districts and have been found by courts to be unconstitutional restrictions on free speech rights of school employees.” Because of Owen's standing as president of the local teachers union, he often makes public comments to the school board about working conditions and matters of public concern, as well as comments to the media. The district's policy, however, puts his teaching job in jeopardy if he speaks out.The lawsuit also alleges that the way the policy was revised in February and March violates Colorado's Open Meetings Law. There are no posted minutes or agendas that show the school board publicly discussing the issue.Woodland Park School District Superintendent Ken Witt called the lawsuit a “coordinated political attack” by groups seeking to intimidate him, but of course offered no support for that claim. ARIZONA MIRROR:Arizona Republican Party's fundraising abysmal in run up to pivotal 2024 electionBY: CAITLIN SIEVERS - AUGUST 11, 2023 7:00 AMThe Arizona Republican Party's fundraising efforts so far this year are embarrassing, with Democrats outpacing them seven to one, leaving political operatives wondering if the party's new chairman can right the ship in time to mount any sort of meaningful campaign in 2024. The party took in only $165,000 in contributions so far in 2023, as compared to the Arizona Democratic Party's more than $1,150,000. And the state Republican Party's federal account, which is vital to fund operations during a presidential election year, was in a sad state as of the end of June, with less than $24,000 in cash on hand, compared to the state Democratic Party's nearly $714,000.Because of campaign finance laws, the parties must operate separate accounts for money spent to help elect federal candidates and funds used to bolster state and local hopefuls. Robert Graham, a former Arizona Republican Party chairman from 2013-2017, told the Arizona Mirror, “If this were me, I would be sweating a little bit.” He went on to say that the last party chairman Kelli Ward's extravagant spending and far-right fringe politics have left some big donors hesitant to give.Ward, who chaired the state GOP for four years beginning in January 2019, was part of the group of fake electors from Arizona that hoped to overturn former President Donald Trump's loss to President Joe Biden in 2020. She bought into election conspiracy theories and spent more than $500,000 on an election night party and statewide bus tour in 2022, angering fellow Republicans who would have rather seen that money used to help GOP candidates who lost extremely tight statewide races.In that election, Arizona Republicans suffered losses in the race for governor, secretary of state and attorney general and the U.S. Senate.One former AZ Democratic Party executive director said“Functionally, they're running an operation right now that wouldn't be capable of running one Dairy Queen franchise, much less a state operation to hopefully elect a senator or a president,” “I would be shocked, I think, just given where they are right now, if this time next year they're running any sort of impactful campaign or effort out of the state Republican Party.”DENVER WESTWORD:Firebrand Teacher Tim Hernández seeks seat in Colorado HouseHouse District 4 had been represented by Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, who won an at-large seat on Denver City Council.By Michael RobertsAugust 9, 2023Tim Hernández is a teacher best known for fighting on behalf of diversity, equity and inclusion related to both students and educators. Now he hopes to bring his passion to the Colorado Legislature as a representative for House District 4.Hernandez has been a controversial figure, making headlines last year when students at North High School protested the decision not to keep him on the staff.Colorado's House District 4 stretches roughly from Regis University south to Morrison Road, and from Sheridan Boulevard east to Zuni Street. However, the District's voters as a whole won't be making the selection — at least not yet. On August 26 "appointed leadership of the Democratic Party within the House district, an estimated 69 individuals, will decide who fills out the rest of the term.  Two other hopefuls with significant Democratic connections are also vying for the spot. Cecelia Espenoza previously worked as a counsel for the U.S. Department of Justice and an appellate immigration judge. She is also a former professor at the University of Denver and St. Mary's University School of Law, and a former chair of the board at the National Hispana Leadership Institute in Washington, D.C., as well.Also in the race is Rochelle Galindo, who in 2015 became the first openly gay person to be elected to the Greeley, Colorado City Council. She followed this win by besting Republican rival Michael Thuener to become the state representative for Weld County's District 50 in 2018. She resigned the next year after being accused of sexual assault and providing alcohol to a minor and was cleared of the charges in 2021. Since she left the legislature, Galindo has worked in various roles at advocacy organizations Colorado People's Alliance, Colorado People's Action, and Emerge.NEVADA CURRENT:NV households struggle to pay summer power bills, and it's getting worseBY: JENIFFER SOLIS - AUGUST 15, 2023 5:34 AMRecord heat in Southern Nevada throughout July drove scores of residents to take refuge in air-conditioned homes, but the cost of fighting off summer temperatures will likely leave an alarming number of Nevadans unable to pay their bills. Last month was the hottest July ever recorded in Las Vegas, with a daily average high of 109 degrees. The last two weeks of July were the hottest 14-day stretch on ever record, with an average high of 112 degrees. Nevada residents living in a single-family home saw an average 22% increase — from about $337 per month fo $407 per month - in their energy bills.Electricity rates in July were set to be even higher before NV Energy agreed to temporarily reduce costs for customers.For many Nevada households, an extra $60 to $70 dollars won't completely break the bank, but for low-income households or those on a fixed income, higher utility bills mean choosing between keeping the A/C running or addressing other essential needs like food and medication. In the worst-case scenario, lack of payment may lead to a power shut-off, leaving families scrambling to find enough money to restore service, often only to face disconnection again.Further, Nevada does not require utilities to disclose the number of customers they disconnect, leaving little transparency of the magnitude of the problem. NV Energy, a monopoly with more than a million captive customers, has shown little interest in publicly sharing the number of disconnected customers. An NV Energy spokesperson said in an email that “NV Energy does not share this type of data publicly, though the company works diligently with customers and makes every effort to avoid disconnecting power.”Data that is public reveals that more and more households are struggling to pay utility bills in Nevada. Applications for state utility assistance over the last three months of available data reveal a sharp 37% increase compared to the same period last year. Public health officials anticipate the high demand will continue as temperatures remain high throughout August. The state program, called the Energy Assistance Program, provides a supplement for qualifying low-income Nevadans with the cost of home energy. Eligible households receive an annual, one-time per year benefit paid directly to their energy provider.But the cost of that assistance ultimately falls on NV Energy customers. Part of the program's funding is subsidized by ratepayers through NV Energy's Universal Energy Charge, which adds 46 cents a month to the typical residential power bill.Unpaid bills that can't be recovered by NV Energy are eventually paid by customers too. Nevada law does protect utility customers from power shut-offs during periods of extreme heat, when a lack of air conditioning can result in waves of hospitalizations or even death. According to state statute, a utility company can't terminate service for a non-paying customer if the National Weather Service has forecast a period of extreme heat within the next 24 hours within the customer's geographical area. For most residents in Southern Nevada, extreme heat is defined as 105 degrees. So if it won't be 105 in the course of the next day, service can be terminated. NV Energy must also notify elderly customers at least 48 hours before termination of power.For all other residents in Southern Nevada, a forecast of 105 degrees or higher within a 24 hour period is considered extreme heat. Utilities also can't terminate service to a customer for nonpayment if the outstanding amount owed is $50 or less. But more than $50, it could be lights out. COLORADO SUN:Colorado's Copper Mountain resort starts seeding to spark a huge biodiversity effortJason Blevins3:50 AM MDT on Aug 15, 2023This story first appeared in The Outsider, the premium outdoor newsletter by Jason Blevins.In it, he covers the industry from the inside out, plus the fun side of being outdoors in our beautiful state.SUBSCRIBECopper Mountain has identified 558 acres on the front side of its ski area where soil work can help restore ecosystems and improve biodiversity to help lessen the impacts of climate change. Last year the resort announced a 10-year carbon sequestration plan to plant carbon-storing plants and grasses on its ski slopes. The resort has tapped researchers at Southwestern University in Texas in the effort, with student scientists staking out test plots on five ski runs where they can monitor vegetation growth using native seeds, compost and biochar.The ski area hosted several resort leaders at its second-annual conservation summit earlier this month in an effort to share their research, strategies and projects. A large focus was restoring biological vibrancy on ski slopes, which too often are simply treated pretty much like lawns instead of critical components of mountain ecosystems. Last year sustainability workers at Copper Mountain started collecting seeds from 27 native species and replanting them across the resort's north-facing ski runs.Jeff Grasser, head of sustainability at Copper Mountain said “We are experimenting. We are trying to figure out how to make all this work at a landscape level,” as he sifted through charred wood chips in a 50-gallon drum that he will carefully spread across plots of ski slopes to see how the porous, lightweight biochar might help native grasses thrive. The aptly named Grasser has big plans. What if he could create “tons and tons” of biochar in massive kilns, not just little drums? What if Copper Mountain's corporate owner deploys its fleet of helicopters for heli-skiing in Utah to spread biochar across all the ski slopes at the company's 10 mountain resorts?“We want to do this in ways that can be done on a very large scale and we can't wait to share these results with you,” Grasser told a group of sustainability leaders at a recent conservation summit.The program included a presentation from folks from another Colorado ski area, Arapahoe Basin, detailing how crews replaced vegetation by hand and preserved topsoil when installing new chairlift towers. The crew from Eldora Mountain Resort offered details of a project with the Town of Nederland to build a wetland to replace a trailhead parking lot. Sunlight ski area took a page from Copper Mountain's biodiversity playbook and began collecting native seeds for replanting on ski runs. The Copper Mountain project will build a dataset of more than 100 locations across the ski area, with 10 years of science showing how native grasses, compost and biochar can help resort operators regain a more diverse, balanced ecosystem on ski slopes.“We want to have the data to be able to say,‘Hey this works really well. Don't just take my word for it. We have scientific evidence that supports these methods. These are the first steps in delivering resilience so bio-diversity can grow.'”And your unsolicited concert pick of the week, Ha Ha TonkaThu., Aug. 24, 9 p.m. at the Skylark Lounge in Denver (Bobcat Club) $12-$15An indie / southern rock band originally formed in West Plains, MO, Ha Ha Tonka's "dark view of the realities of socio-economic hardship, backwoods prejudices and drug abuse is leavened by wry humor and a deep appreciation for regional storytelling traditions. New album Blood Red Moon will be released on October 23.After Denver, Ha Ha Tonka will play a slate of shows throughout California, then Columbia, Missouri on November 2nd, West Plains on November 3rd, and Springfield, Missouri on November 4th. hahatonkamusic.comWelp, that's it for me! From Denver I'm Sean Diller. Original reporting for the stories in today's show comes from Colorado Sun, The Outsider, Colorado Newsline, Arizona Mirror, and Denver's Westword.Thank you for listening! See you next time.

Are you really trying to "fix" an issue with closed door meetings in the Colorado Legislature if you complain 6 months after the session, instead of complaining when it happens?  Even if you are a member of that legislature?  George and callers continue the discussion about a lawsuit filed by two Deomcrat lawmakers claiming Colorado's open meetings requirements were repeatedly violated.  Then George checks in with Danielle Jurinski, Aurora City Councilwoman, about an investigation into the Department of Child Serivces that led to 5 people being fired for fraud.  But the investigators say the department still deserves an A for it's actions and investigations.   https://kdvr.com/news/local/state-evaluation-finds-no-systemic-problems-with-arapahoe-county-child-services/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you, the tax payer have a right to see what is going on in the Colorado Legislature?  Does it include meetings about the bills and actions or should they be able to keep those private?  Two Deomcrat Colorado legislators have filed suit over how meetings are held in apparent violation of the state open meetings rules.  BUT...they filed the suit after the session was over??  Why Wait??  George asks why they waited and if there should be significant consequences for doing this.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Magic Mushrooms are legal in Colorado! Here's what you need to know | $1.7MM Biden Administration grant will support expansion of in-home behavioral therapy across Colorado | Auon'tai Anderson and 4 other Democrats are running for Rep. Leslie Herod's CO House seat in District 8 | Rebirth Brass Band is playing 5 Colorado shows in the next 5 daysSong playsIntro by hostWelcome to High Country - politics in the American West. My name is Sean Diller; regular listeners might know me from Heartland Pod's Talking Politics, every Monday.Support this show and all the work in the Heartland POD universe by going to heartlandpod.com and clicking the link for Patreon, or go to Patreon.com/HeartlandPod to sign up. Membership starts at $1/month, with even more extra shows and special access at the higher levels. No matter the level you choose, your membership helps us create these independent shows as we work together to change the conversation.Alright! Let's get into it: COLORADO SUN:Colorado decriminalized psilocybin. Here's your guided trip through what happens next.What's the timeline? Is natural medicine right for you? Should you microdose? We answer these questions and more.Chryss Cada4:28 AM MDT on Jun 18, 2023Four moms gather around a Saturday morning breakfast table exchanging the obsessive anxieties that come from raising teenagers in today's society.  They share the usual concerns: Does their daughter have enough friends? Is their son being bullied at school? Are their child's frequent dark moods typical teenage emotions, or does their angst cross over into depression? As they talk, it becomes clear that the constant stress of worry for their teens is spiraling them down into anxiety and depressive disorders of their own. Right down to steaming mugs of coffee and plates of avocado toast, the scene is quintessential suburban life in the early 2020s. But this meeting of the moms will likely produce more answers, more insight and more empathy than most. Because the night before these moms consumed some natural medicine known for helping to see things in a new light, bringing clarity to stubborn, problematic patterns. These women, along with thousands of others across Colorado, have found psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) useful in bringing relief from the anxiety and depression so prevalent in today's society. Now, after Colorado voters approved Proposition 122 in November, they no longer have to risk state criminal penalties for their use of this indigenous medicine.The dramatic efficiency of mushrooms to ease mental health disorders that haven't been helped by traditional medicines and therapies isn't just anecdotal. Recent studies from respected institutions like Johns Hopkins School of Medicine have shown psilocybin is helpful in treating everything from alcohol dependence to major depressive disorder. However, those experienced with this medicine suggest that it be approached with intention, reverence and most importantly understanding.Under Proposition 122, The Natural Medicine Health Act, Coloradans 21 and older are allowed to possess and use psilocybin, the psychedelic fungi commonly known as “magic mushrooms.” In addition it proposes the eventual decriminalization of the substances dimethyltryptamine, or DMT, ibogaine and mescaline (excluding peyote). The law allows the state to immediately begin the process of the “medicalization” of psilocybin mushrooms by creating a framework for state-regulated “healing centers,” where people can receive medically guided psilocybin treatments. Although decriminalized in Colorado, psilocybin and the other medicines named in the Health Act remain illegal under federal law. “The measure is therapeutically oriented, so recreational and retail sales are not allowed,” explained Kevin Matthews, one of the authors of Proposition 122. “You can share these medicines with family and friends or in religious uses, but we didn't want this to become a for-profit industry.”A veteran, Matthews found relief from depression during a single psilocybin journey in 2011 and has since worked for increased access to psychedelics for the treatment of trauma. While at a legalization rally he saw a T-shirt slogan that summed up the idea behind The Natural Medicine Health Act in three words: “Healers, Not Dealers.”“We were very careful in the writing of the proposition to put forth a healing model,” he said. “We know that people will still use these medicines recreationally, as they were before this passed. It's not always a clear distinction: for some people taking mushrooms with friends and going to see a show at Red Rocks is therapeutic.”The proposition laid out the problem it was hoping to alleviate, reading in part:COLORADANS ARE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMATIC MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SUICIDALITY, ADDICTION, DEPRESSION, AND ANXIETY. COLORADO'S CURRENT APPROACH TO MENTAL HEALTH HAS FAILED TO FULFILL ITS PROMISE. COLORADANS DESERVE MORE TOOLS TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, INCLUDING APPROACHES SUCH AS NATURAL MEDICINES THAT ARE GROUNDED IN TREATMENT, RECOVERY, HEALTH, AND WELLNESS RATHER THAN CRIMINALIZATION, STIGMA, SUFFERING, AND PUNISHMENT.  In November, 53% of Colorado voters agreed with that wording.  Denver attorney Sean McCallister's phone started ringing as soon as the votes were counted and hasn't really stopped since. Primarily working with those in the cannabis industry since the sale and recreational use of weed was legalized in 2012 in Colorado, McAllister is now a pioneer in the emerging field of psychedelics law. One of the most frequent questions he is asked by those outside the psychedelic community is, “When will mushrooms become legal?” His answer: They already have. “No, you don't have to wait for decriminalization provisions,” he said. “People can cultivate, possess and give away mushrooms, as well as share them and be paid for bonafide harm-reduction therapy and support services.” In an interesting twist, those without licensure will be the first to be able to legally offer natural medicine to clients. “Right now those who don't have a therapy license are able to work with these medicines because they are not bound by the rules of a regulatory agency,” McCallister said. “We are about two years away from the regulations being in place for doctors and therapists to be able to offer this medicine to their patients.” In the meantime, a movement of mushroom guides who have worked underground for years or even decades is starting to push into the daylight.In the first three months following passage of Proposition 122, McCallister wrote up more than a hundred disclaimers for guides to use with their clients. Alexandra Jenkins believes so deeply in the medicine's powers to process and release trauma that she was willing to put herself at risk of prosecution to guide medicine ceremonies underground for the past eight years. Now before the ceremonies she holds with one or two other facilitators she passes out a waiver that spells out what can happen when “sitting with the medicine.” The waiver explains that the effects of psilocybin mushrooms include altered perception of time and space and intense changes in mood and feeling. Other possible effects of psilocybin include everything from euphoria and peacefulness to confusion and frightening hallucinations. The effects of psilocybin vary from person to person, based on the user's mental state, personality and immediate environment. Those who have spent time with the medicine will tell you it's all these emotions and so many more, a roller coaster of a voyage through time and space that can fit what feels like a lifetime into four to six hours.“When this (Prop 122) passed I felt a release of stress I wasn't even aware I had been holding,” Jenkins said. “It feels like an open door to give more people access to this medicine.” She has seen the medicine ground previously malfunctioning nervous systems, help people connect to their higher selves, and in doing so feel more compassion toward themselves and others and tap into creativity and the interconnectedness of life. “There is this plant that grows in the ground, is free and helps us see ourselves and others differently,” Jenkins said. “It's cool to be able to believe in miracles.”The timelineIn addition to decriminalizing the four natural medicines, for mushrooms the new law is retroactive. McCallister had several pending cases that were dismissed as soon as Proposition 122 passed. Among them was the case of Ben Gorelick, a Denver rabbi who was facing prosecution after integrating psychedelic use as part of spiritual practice.When this (Prop 122) passed I felt a release of stress I wasn't even aware I had been holding.— Alexandra Jenkins, a guide“The dismissal of that case was especially meaningful because it highlighted the ways this medicine is used,” McCallister said. A representative of traditional and indigenous use and religious use of natural medicine was one of 15 appointees to the Natural Medicine Advisory Board announced earlier this year. The board, which will advise the Department of Regulatory Agencies on the implementation of the regulated natural medicine access program, also includes representatives from law enforcement, veterans, criminal justice reform, mycology, emergency medical services, health care policy, natural medicine and mental health providers.Colorado Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, is drafting a bill that would clarify who would be implementing Proposition 122. He is considering adding Department of Revenue or Department of Public Health and Environment involvement in the rollout of the program.   Proposition 122 says the state must issue rules for things like drug testing standards, license requirements, and health and safety warnings by Jan. 1, 2024, and the state must begin accepting applications for licensed facilities to administer psilocybin by Sept. 30, 2024.The law stipulates that decisions be made on all licensing applications within 60 days of receiving them.After June 1, 2026, the TNMHA board can decide on the medicalization of the additional substances, DMT, ibogaine and mescaline. This may include “healing centers,” like the ones being established for psilocybin, or some similar system with medical oversight for the use of these three substances.Is natural medicine right for you?For years, psychiatrist Craig Heacock has had patients come through his office he knew could benefit from psilocybin, but he was unable to recommend it because it was illegal.Heacock has been able to provide therapy utilizing ketamine, which works in the brain in ways similar to psilocybin. That said, different psychedelics seem to work better for different conditions. “Ketamine is best for endogenous conditions, such as bi-polar depression that has been present throughout the family history,” he said. These are conditions that are caused by factors inside the person's system.“I'm most excited about the use of psilocybin in the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder,” he said. “There's been cases of people having remission from OCD for weeks or even months following a single dose of psilocybin.”OCD is one of many anxiety disorders that can develop in response to trauma. It is a coping mechanism your mind develops to try to control the possibility of something traumatic happening to you again. The amount of research on psilocybin has been limited by its legal status, leaving practitioners like Heacock eager to explore its possibilities.   “Psilocybin has a rich and broad palette,” he said. “It connects us with self in a way that can alleviate anxiety, depression and a lack of love.”His podcast, “Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in Stories,” has been a pioneering voice in the field of psychedelic-assisted therapy. He and his guests often share their hopes that the healing power of psilocybin can help with society's big issues, such as the communal depression lingering from the COVID-19 pandemic. “With the pandemic we have a whole group of people who are left demoralized and spiritually wounded,” he said. “Psilocybin can help with the big things, like alleviating existential despair.”Although there isn't a strict definition, those in the natural medicine community consider a transformative dose  — one in which emotional breakthroughs are likely to occur — of mushrooms to be 3 grams or more.By disconnecting parts of the brain that form what we call our ego, psilocybin allows you to step back and look at your patterns from a different perspective. It puts you in the audience to watch your life play out on the stage and then whispers in your ear that you could do things a different way.  It allows you to not only rethink who you are, but also who you want to be. Jenkins has seen people shed deep-seated trauma through use of the medicine. “People might have something they've been holding for so long they may not even know it's there,” she said. “The medicine shows them that pain and then helps them process it so they can begin to let it go. There is a lot of strength, strength to change, that comes with the love and self-acceptance of this medicine.”Where do I start?Hearing of possible relief from anxiety, depression and even existential despair has Coloradans (and people from around the world) wondering how to get their hands on some mushrooms — and they don't want to wait.“We were prepared for an increase in interest in psilocybin if the proposition passed,” said Daniel McQueen of Boulder's Center for Medicinal Mindfulness. “But the sheer size of the wave of interest actually took me by surprise.”Although he doesn't want to be specific, given the amount of competition cropping up, McQueen said calls to the center from people interested in trying psilocybin-therapy have “at least doubled” since passage of the law. The center, one of the first legal psychedelic therapy clinics in North America, has led thousands of people through cannabis-assisted and ketamine-assisted psychedelic therapy sessions since its founding in 2014, as well as providing training for psychedelic “sitters,” (guides and psychedelic therapists). The training is done by a team of 15, including a medical doctor, nurse and nurse practitioner, four licensed psychotherapists, four pre-licensed psychotherapists, two ministers and two traditional psychedelic guides. People lay down on mats in a circle. A woman sits crossed legged at the top of the group with candles and a laptop with music.The Center for Medicinal Mindfulness & Psychedelic Sitters School. (Britt Nemeth, Contributed)“Because people are in a very vulnerable state while on a psychedelic journey it is very important that they work with a guide who is well-trained,” McQueen said. “A guide should have professional boundaries, the ability to handle a mental health or medical crisis and work in an environment with oversight and accountability.”Accountability is one of the reasons Heacock is looking forward to having mushroom guiding moving out of the dark and into the light.“On the black market it has been ‘buyer beware,'” he said. “There were no checks and balances, it's not like if someone had a bad experience with a guide they could post a bad review on Yelp.”In Heacock's view another advantage of legalization will be testing of the potency of the medicine. “Even if you take the same amount as you had previously, the strength of the medicine could be substantially different,” he said. “With legalization you will know what you are getting every time.”Jenkins, who classifies her work with psilocybin as “harm-reduction services,” stresses the importance of finding a guide who is experienced with the medicine.“I've always had the energy to be a holder of liminal space,” she said. “Being able to create a safe container for someone to have a psychedelic journey is crucial.”Jenkins has spent extensive time in that psychedelic space, including journeys with ayahuasca, referred to as the “grandmother” of all psychedelics. “You have to know what they will be experiencing by having experienced it yourself, it's not something you can learn from a book,” she said.Jenkins is also trained in a spectrum of holistic healing from yoga to breathwork to somatic experiencing. “All the things I trained in up to the point in my life led naturally to holding medicine space,” she said.Despite helping outline the suggested credentials for mushroom guides, Matthews, the Proposition 122 co-author, still puts the most weight in personal recommendations. “Ask people you know, love and respect if they know someone who would be a good match to guide you,” he said. “It's also important to get a facilitator who can relate to your personal experiences.“If you struggle with depression, find a facilitator who has also experienced depression and can have compassion for what you are going through.” An altar with the sculpture of a woman and child, crystals and a variety of other objects.A primary part of guidance at the Center for Medicinal Mindfulness is helping individuals explore their spirituality, said Daniel McQueen, founder of the Center. (Olivia Sun, The Colorado Sun via Report for America)Plunging in The “come up” of a psilocybin trip takes about 15 minutes, slowly clicking you up that first big hill of a roller coaster. When the cable lets you go, the plunge down is a little different for everybody. Some people hold on for dear life, regretting their choice to get on the ride in the first place. Others put their hands up in the air and enjoy the ride. Some people alternate between the two.  Either way, there is usually a lot of noise when the medicine “kicks in.” In order to “hold the container,” and keep individuals in their own experience, guides will often request quiet in a group setting.Sometimes people find it impossible to not let out a squeal, a moan, a cry, a retching, a giggle or a choice expletive.  “This is an intense experience, sometimes someone gets too loud and there's the risk that they will compromise everyone in the group's experience,” Jenkins said. “An experienced guide can maintain the container through this by going to that person and helping them through.”  While one facilitator tends to the individual who is struggling by taking him or her to another room, the other facilitator sings to the remainder of the group, her voice soaring above the chaos. Trippers have a choice to go on the wings of the medicine to a peaceful supportive place and have their own experience. “Rather than saying it was a bad trip, I would say there are moments in every journey that are challenging,” said Matthews, who has found psychedelics helpful in processing trauma from earlier in his life. “Unresolved trauma comes to the surface, and you can witness with clarity how something that has been buried deeply is influencing the way you are in the world.”Psychiatrist Heacock agrees.“We don't learn when things are going well,” Heacock said of difficult ketamine sessions. “It's the hard sessions, when you feel like you can't stand another second, that can be the real game changers.”Single doseLicensed clinical social worker Michelle Landon, like many in healing professions, has faced her own struggles with mental health. She often tries healing modalities out herself before prescribing them to her clients.“A couple years ago I began hearing a lot about the science of psychedelics and how they can help people heal,” she said. “I wanted to help others with their trauma and disordered thinking patterns, but first I knew I needed to help myself.”People might have something they've been holding for so long they may not even know it's there. The medicine shows them that pain and then helps them process it so they can begin to let it go.— Alexandra Jenkins, a guideLandon, who has been a therapist in northern Colorado since 2004, found psychedelics helpful in coming to terms with the death of her father in 2021.“The last two weeks of my dad's life he started telling my sister he was going on a trip and wanted to say goodbye to everyone,” she said. “I was with him, watching him go in and out of this world.”Psychedelics lightened the impact and pain of the moment. “I mean sure it sucked, but it wasn't traumatic,” she said of her father's final days and the grief that followed his death. “There were moments of beauty and connection. I saw him through the lens of the medicine and he didn't look like he was suffering. He was ready to go.” Through ketamine-assisted therapy, Landon has brought similar relief to clients dealing with a range of mental health challenges from persistent depression to acute post-traumatic stress disorder.“Some people processing trauma find it so hard to shift things and let go with traditional therapy and prescriptions,” she said. “With psychedelics some people have direct access to knowing they are loved and are able to finally let go of their past trauma.”MicrodoseWhile a single-dose psilocybin journey can have profound, lasting effects, many people are beginning to take mushrooms as a daily medication — and a lot of those people, at least anecdotally, are moms. “People are discovering microdosing to be a good alternative to the pharmaceutical approach that is so prevalent in our culture,” Jenkins said. “It gives your serotonin a bit of a boost and puts you more in tune with yourself.  It can really help people with anxiety without a lot of side effects.” Microdosing mushrooms involves taking such small amounts of the medicine (roughly 0.05 to 0.25 grams) that a person doesn't feel the effects outright. People can take a microdose every day or work in days off to integrate the insights gained on days they do take the medicine.“When I've had a microdose I feel so much more confident in the choices I'm making for my family,” said one mom over post-trip avocado toast. “It's like the mushrooms are a little cheerleader in my head telling me I'm doing a great job.” Another mom had been on prescription antidepressants for a little more than a decade before recently switching to microdosing psilocybin to rein in the ruminating, spiraling, obsessive thoughts she has contended without throughout her life.  She wanted to find a more natural way to access what her brain needs.“It was rough going off them (antidepressants),” she recalls. “I was dizzy, nauseous, felt trapped and was really, really, really depressed. Then I started microdosing and it was like my whole brain lit up again.” Those who work with psychedelics caution that they aren't an instant cure, but rather one resource that has been helpful to many in their healing. “It (psilocybin) is a reminder that we hold the answers inside of ourselves,” Landon said.  “It gets the BS out of the way so you can see your true self and your true potential for happiness.”COLORADO NEWSLINE:A new family therapy program in Colorado will meet you wherever you are — even if that's Costco An in-home mental health program for kids that began in January has served 200 people in 20 Colorado counties and has plans to expandJennifer Brown4:00 AM MDT on Jun 15, 2023A 15-year-old boy is sitting cross-legged on his couch in red flannel pajama pants, his hair looking like he just rolled out of bed. Because he did just get out of bed, about three minutes ago. Now, he's sitting across from his therapist, who had to knock on the door for several minutes before the teenager's mom answered via Ring doorbell from the grocery store. “It's open,” she told Bobby Tyman, a family therapist and clinical program coordinator with Paragon Behavioral Health Connections. It's not the first time Tyman has had to rouse the boy from sleep for his 10 a.m. therapy appointment.This is what in-home mental health treatment for adolescents looks like. The teenager, who recently stole and crashed his mother's car and has been using drugs to cope with depression, is groggy and shy, but tells Tyman that he applied for three summer jobs and is choosing a new high school for the fall. The new in-home therapy program, which has served 200 kids and their parents since it began in January, is an extension of the Colorado Boys Ranch. The ranch opened in 1959 as an orphanage in La Junta, then closed its residential program about a decade ago. But its foundation — Colorado Boys Ranch Youth Connect — has continued, pouring its resources into behavioral health care for kids in their homes. The evolution of the program is a reflection of what's changed in the child welfare system in the past decade — Colorado is sending fewer kids to institutions in favor of homes, and has increased efforts to provide in-home mental health care to cut down on the number of children removed from their homes and placed in foster care in the first place. Several youth treatment centers, including Tennyson Center for Children in Denver, have shifted in recent years from residential care to day treatment and in-home therapy.Some of the children are referred by the juvenile justice system as part of pretrial rehabilitation programs, and by the Medicaid program. Parents can also call for help directly, without a referral from a government program. A staff of 40 works in 20 counties, including the entire Denver metro area and throughout the entire state. Camille Harding, Paragon's CEO says “The point is to help kids and teens get better on their terms, as well as to provide a step-down program for adolescents who have visited a hospital emergency room in crisis or been admitted on a mental health hold. The program aims to schedule the first appointment within 24 hours of receiving a call for help.”Kids who are “trying to have their own personality and a say in who they are” can accomplish that better at home, not in an unfamiliar office with a therapist staring at them.“Having it on their own terms is so much more empowering. You get to decide what we do. We can go for a walk. We can go to the park down the street. Developmentally, it just makes more sense.” Some kids in the program have such intense needs that someone from Paragon is in their home 10 hours a week. A therapist helps work on their mental health. A care manager can help enroll in school, sign up for a GED program, or help the family find housing or food assistance. A specialist can teach interventions specifically for kids who have intellectual disabilities along with behavioral health issues. The team approach means kids get better help and staff are less likely to burn out. The program's technology is unique, too. Paragon is installing geo locations on its staff, many of whom are social workers or case managers with bachelor's degrees, and can send reinforcements quickly. That means that if a teenager is threatening suicide or having a violent outburst, a more experienced counselor can assist in person or virtually.A $1.7 million grant, part of Colorado's federal pandemic relief aid, is helping the program build the technology and hire a psychiatrist. Therapy beside someone's bed or in a Costco aisleTyman prefers standing on a client's doorstep to sitting in an office waiting for a client who doesn't show up. He's done therapy on the floor next to someone's bed because the person was too depressed to get up. And one mom is so overwhelmed by her life that the only time she finds for therapy with Tyman is when she's at the park with her kids or walking through Costco. Tyman tells her she can say he's a neighbor or a friend if they run into someone she knows. “It's OK if we start 15 minutes late because you had to get up and make coffee and put on clothes, or whatever it is you had to do to deal,” he said. “If your mental capacity isn't super high, and you're not functioning well, and you're not getting out of bed on time, and you're not able to manage your appointments, you're never going to make it to therapy.COLORADO NEWSLINE:Auon'tai Anderson, vice president of the Denver Public Schools board of education, announced he will end his run for reelection to instead go for a seat in the Colorado Legislature. Anderson, a Democrat who has been vocal against police in schools, announced his campaign to replace Democratic Rep. Leslie Herod in House District 8. As of Monday, five candidates have filed with the secretary of state's office looking to take the District 8 seat, including Anderson, Victor Bencomo, Christi Devoe, Lindsay Gilchrist and Sharron Pettiford. All candidates so far are Democrats. Gilchrist filed her candidacy the same day as Anderson. Anderson told Colorado Newsline his decision was influenced by the recent shootings at East High School in Denver, when a student asked Anderson what he was going to do about gun reform.“We need Democrats that are going to be Democrats 24/7, not Democrats when it's convenient,” Anderson said. “I feel like we've had some very convenient Democrats in the Legislature when it comes to these heavy issues like rent control, or our assault weapons ban that was killed by Dems. So, for me, this was an opportunity to stand up and say ‘I'm going to run.'” As he wraps up his time on the Denver school board, Anderson touted newly enacted board policies that make dyslexia screenings accessible for DPS students, as well as a 90% reduction in tickets and citations for students in the district, during his time on the board.Anderson said “We can't regress into an era where we're going back to criminalizing Black and brown children” If elected to the Colorado House, Anderson said he would prioritize four areas in his first legislative session: banning assault weapons, enshrining access to reproductive health care in the state Constitution, expanding protections for LGBTQ students, and increasing the state minimum wage. And your unsolicited concert pick of the week, Rebirth Brass Band! A New Orleans Institution since 1983 - Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers says “UNBELIEVABLE. HARD AS HELL, FREE AS A RAY OF LIGHT, THERE IS NOT A BAND ON EARTH THAT IS BETTER. STUNNING."Stunning and hardworking too, with Colorado shows tonight and the following 4 nights- Cleland Park in Delta, Ophelia's Electric Soapbox in Denver, Stoke in Salida, Gardens on Spring Creek in Fort Collins, and finally the Durant Street VIP Tent in Aspen. Welp, that's it for me! From Denver I'm Sean Diller. Original reporting for the stories in today's show comes from Colorado Sun and Colorado Newsline.Thank you for listening! See you next time.

Magic Mushrooms are legal in Colorado! Here's what you need to know | $1.7MM Biden Administration grant will support expansion of in-home behavioral therapy across Colorado | Auon'tai Anderson and 4 other Democrats are running for Rep. Leslie Herod's CO House seat in District 8 | Rebirth Brass Band is playing 5 Colorado shows in the next 5 daysSong playsIntro by hostWelcome to High Country - politics in the American West. My name is Sean Diller; regular listeners might know me from Heartland Pod's Talking Politics, every Monday.Support this show and all the work in the Heartland POD universe by going to heartlandpod.com and clicking the link for Patreon, or go to Patreon.com/HeartlandPod to sign up. Membership starts at $1/month, with even more extra shows and special access at the higher levels. No matter the level you choose, your membership helps us create these independent shows as we work together to change the conversation.Alright! Let's get into it: COLORADO SUN:Colorado decriminalized psilocybin. Here's your guided trip through what happens next.What's the timeline? Is natural medicine right for you? Should you microdose? We answer these questions and more.Chryss Cada4:28 AM MDT on Jun 18, 2023Four moms gather around a Saturday morning breakfast table exchanging the obsessive anxieties that come from raising teenagers in today's society.  They share the usual concerns: Does their daughter have enough friends? Is their son being bullied at school? Are their child's frequent dark moods typical teenage emotions, or does their angst cross over into depression? As they talk, it becomes clear that the constant stress of worry for their teens is spiraling them down into anxiety and depressive disorders of their own. Right down to steaming mugs of coffee and plates of avocado toast, the scene is quintessential suburban life in the early 2020s. But this meeting of the moms will likely produce more answers, more insight and more empathy than most. Because the night before these moms consumed some natural medicine known for helping to see things in a new light, bringing clarity to stubborn, problematic patterns. These women, along with thousands of others across Colorado, have found psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) useful in bringing relief from the anxiety and depression so prevalent in today's society. Now, after Colorado voters approved Proposition 122 in November, they no longer have to risk state criminal penalties for their use of this indigenous medicine.The dramatic efficiency of mushrooms to ease mental health disorders that haven't been helped by traditional medicines and therapies isn't just anecdotal. Recent studies from respected institutions like Johns Hopkins School of Medicine have shown psilocybin is helpful in treating everything from alcohol dependence to major depressive disorder. However, those experienced with this medicine suggest that it be approached with intention, reverence and most importantly understanding.Under Proposition 122, The Natural Medicine Health Act, Coloradans 21 and older are allowed to possess and use psilocybin, the psychedelic fungi commonly known as “magic mushrooms.” In addition it proposes the eventual decriminalization of the substances dimethyltryptamine, or DMT, ibogaine and mescaline (excluding peyote). The law allows the state to immediately begin the process of the “medicalization” of psilocybin mushrooms by creating a framework for state-regulated “healing centers,” where people can receive medically guided psilocybin treatments. Although decriminalized in Colorado, psilocybin and the other medicines named in the Health Act remain illegal under federal law. “The measure is therapeutically oriented, so recreational and retail sales are not allowed,” explained Kevin Matthews, one of the authors of Proposition 122. “You can share these medicines with family and friends or in religious uses, but we didn't want this to become a for-profit industry.”A veteran, Matthews found relief from depression during a single psilocybin journey in 2011 and has since worked for increased access to psychedelics for the treatment of trauma. While at a legalization rally he saw a T-shirt slogan that summed up the idea behind The Natural Medicine Health Act in three words: “Healers, Not Dealers.”“We were very careful in the writing of the proposition to put forth a healing model,” he said. “We know that people will still use these medicines recreationally, as they were before this passed. It's not always a clear distinction: for some people taking mushrooms with friends and going to see a show at Red Rocks is therapeutic.”The proposition laid out the problem it was hoping to alleviate, reading in part:COLORADANS ARE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMATIC MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SUICIDALITY, ADDICTION, DEPRESSION, AND ANXIETY. COLORADO'S CURRENT APPROACH TO MENTAL HEALTH HAS FAILED TO FULFILL ITS PROMISE. COLORADANS DESERVE MORE TOOLS TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, INCLUDING APPROACHES SUCH AS NATURAL MEDICINES THAT ARE GROUNDED IN TREATMENT, RECOVERY, HEALTH, AND WELLNESS RATHER THAN CRIMINALIZATION, STIGMA, SUFFERING, AND PUNISHMENT.  In November, 53% of Colorado voters agreed with that wording.  Denver attorney Sean McCallister's phone started ringing as soon as the votes were counted and hasn't really stopped since. Primarily working with those in the cannabis industry since the sale and recreational use of weed was legalized in 2012 in Colorado, McAllister is now a pioneer in the emerging field of psychedelics law. One of the most frequent questions he is asked by those outside the psychedelic community is, “When will mushrooms become legal?” His answer: They already have. “No, you don't have to wait for decriminalization provisions,” he said. “People can cultivate, possess and give away mushrooms, as well as share them and be paid for bonafide harm-reduction therapy and support services.” In an interesting twist, those without licensure will be the first to be able to legally offer natural medicine to clients. “Right now those who don't have a therapy license are able to work with these medicines because they are not bound by the rules of a regulatory agency,” McCallister said. “We are about two years away from the regulations being in place for doctors and therapists to be able to offer this medicine to their patients.” In the meantime, a movement of mushroom guides who have worked underground for years or even decades is starting to push into the daylight.In the first three months following passage of Proposition 122, McCallister wrote up more than a hundred disclaimers for guides to use with their clients. Alexandra Jenkins believes so deeply in the medicine's powers to process and release trauma that she was willing to put herself at risk of prosecution to guide medicine ceremonies underground for the past eight years. Now before the ceremonies she holds with one or two other facilitators she passes out a waiver that spells out what can happen when “sitting with the medicine.” The waiver explains that the effects of psilocybin mushrooms include altered perception of time and space and intense changes in mood and feeling. Other possible effects of psilocybin include everything from euphoria and peacefulness to confusion and frightening hallucinations. The effects of psilocybin vary from person to person, based on the user's mental state, personality and immediate environment. Those who have spent time with the medicine will tell you it's all these emotions and so many more, a roller coaster of a voyage through time and space that can fit what feels like a lifetime into four to six hours.“When this (Prop 122) passed I felt a release of stress I wasn't even aware I had been holding,” Jenkins said. “It feels like an open door to give more people access to this medicine.” She has seen the medicine ground previously malfunctioning nervous systems, help people connect to their higher selves, and in doing so feel more compassion toward themselves and others and tap into creativity and the interconnectedness of life. “There is this plant that grows in the ground, is free and helps us see ourselves and others differently,” Jenkins said. “It's cool to be able to believe in miracles.”The timelineIn addition to decriminalizing the four natural medicines, for mushrooms the new law is retroactive. McCallister had several pending cases that were dismissed as soon as Proposition 122 passed. Among them was the case of Ben Gorelick, a Denver rabbi who was facing prosecution after integrating psychedelic use as part of spiritual practice.When this (Prop 122) passed I felt a release of stress I wasn't even aware I had been holding.— Alexandra Jenkins, a guide“The dismissal of that case was especially meaningful because it highlighted the ways this medicine is used,” McCallister said. A representative of traditional and indigenous use and religious use of natural medicine was one of 15 appointees to the Natural Medicine Advisory Board announced earlier this year. The board, which will advise the Department of Regulatory Agencies on the implementation of the regulated natural medicine access program, also includes representatives from law enforcement, veterans, criminal justice reform, mycology, emergency medical services, health care policy, natural medicine and mental health providers.Colorado Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, is drafting a bill that would clarify who would be implementing Proposition 122. He is considering adding Department of Revenue or Department of Public Health and Environment involvement in the rollout of the program.   Proposition 122 says the state must issue rules for things like drug testing standards, license requirements, and health and safety warnings by Jan. 1, 2024, and the state must begin accepting applications for licensed facilities to administer psilocybin by Sept. 30, 2024.The law stipulates that decisions be made on all licensing applications within 60 days of receiving them.After June 1, 2026, the TNMHA board can decide on the medicalization of the additional substances, DMT, ibogaine and mescaline. This may include “healing centers,” like the ones being established for psilocybin, or some similar system with medical oversight for the use of these three substances.Is natural medicine right for you?For years, psychiatrist Craig Heacock has had patients come through his office he knew could benefit from psilocybin, but he was unable to recommend it because it was illegal.Heacock has been able to provide therapy utilizing ketamine, which works in the brain in ways similar to psilocybin. That said, different psychedelics seem to work better for different conditions. “Ketamine is best for endogenous conditions, such as bi-polar depression that has been present throughout the family history,” he said. These are conditions that are caused by factors inside the person's system.“I'm most excited about the use of psilocybin in the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder,” he said. “There's been cases of people having remission from OCD for weeks or even months following a single dose of psilocybin.”OCD is one of many anxiety disorders that can develop in response to trauma. It is a coping mechanism your mind develops to try to control the possibility of something traumatic happening to you again. The amount of research on psilocybin has been limited by its legal status, leaving practitioners like Heacock eager to explore its possibilities.   “Psilocybin has a rich and broad palette,” he said. “It connects us with self in a way that can alleviate anxiety, depression and a lack of love.”His podcast, “Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in Stories,” has been a pioneering voice in the field of psychedelic-assisted therapy. He and his guests often share their hopes that the healing power of psilocybin can help with society's big issues, such as the communal depression lingering from the COVID-19 pandemic. “With the pandemic we have a whole group of people who are left demoralized and spiritually wounded,” he said. “Psilocybin can help with the big things, like alleviating existential despair.”Although there isn't a strict definition, those in the natural medicine community consider a transformative dose  — one in which emotional breakthroughs are likely to occur — of mushrooms to be 3 grams or more.By disconnecting parts of the brain that form what we call our ego, psilocybin allows you to step back and look at your patterns from a different perspective. It puts you in the audience to watch your life play out on the stage and then whispers in your ear that you could do things a different way.  It allows you to not only rethink who you are, but also who you want to be. Jenkins has seen people shed deep-seated trauma through use of the medicine. “People might have something they've been holding for so long they may not even know it's there,” she said. “The medicine shows them that pain and then helps them process it so they can begin to let it go. There is a lot of strength, strength to change, that comes with the love and self-acceptance of this medicine.”Where do I start?Hearing of possible relief from anxiety, depression and even existential despair has Coloradans (and people from around the world) wondering how to get their hands on some mushrooms — and they don't want to wait.“We were prepared for an increase in interest in psilocybin if the proposition passed,” said Daniel McQueen of Boulder's Center for Medicinal Mindfulness. “But the sheer size of the wave of interest actually took me by surprise.”Although he doesn't want to be specific, given the amount of competition cropping up, McQueen said calls to the center from people interested in trying psilocybin-therapy have “at least doubled” since passage of the law. The center, one of the first legal psychedelic therapy clinics in North America, has led thousands of people through cannabis-assisted and ketamine-assisted psychedelic therapy sessions since its founding in 2014, as well as providing training for psychedelic “sitters,” (guides and psychedelic therapists). The training is done by a team of 15, including a medical doctor, nurse and nurse practitioner, four licensed psychotherapists, four pre-licensed psychotherapists, two ministers and two traditional psychedelic guides. People lay down on mats in a circle. A woman sits crossed legged at the top of the group with candles and a laptop with music.The Center for Medicinal Mindfulness & Psychedelic Sitters School. (Britt Nemeth, Contributed)“Because people are in a very vulnerable state while on a psychedelic journey it is very important that they work with a guide who is well-trained,” McQueen said. “A guide should have professional boundaries, the ability to handle a mental health or medical crisis and work in an environment with oversight and accountability.”Accountability is one of the reasons Heacock is looking forward to having mushroom guiding moving out of the dark and into the light.“On the black market it has been ‘buyer beware,'” he said. “There were no checks and balances, it's not like if someone had a bad experience with a guide they could post a bad review on Yelp.”In Heacock's view another advantage of legalization will be testing of the potency of the medicine. “Even if you take the same amount as you had previously, the strength of the medicine could be substantially different,” he said. “With legalization you will know what you are getting every time.”Jenkins, who classifies her work with psilocybin as “harm-reduction services,” stresses the importance of finding a guide who is experienced with the medicine.“I've always had the energy to be a holder of liminal space,” she said. “Being able to create a safe container for someone to have a psychedelic journey is crucial.”Jenkins has spent extensive time in that psychedelic space, including journeys with ayahuasca, referred to as the “grandmother” of all psychedelics. “You have to know what they will be experiencing by having experienced it yourself, it's not something you can learn from a book,” she said.Jenkins is also trained in a spectrum of holistic healing from yoga to breathwork to somatic experiencing. “All the things I trained in up to the point in my life led naturally to holding medicine space,” she said.Despite helping outline the suggested credentials for mushroom guides, Matthews, the Proposition 122 co-author, still puts the most weight in personal recommendations. “Ask people you know, love and respect if they know someone who would be a good match to guide you,” he said. “It's also important to get a facilitator who can relate to your personal experiences.“If you struggle with depression, find a facilitator who has also experienced depression and can have compassion for what you are going through.” An altar with the sculpture of a woman and child, crystals and a variety of other objects.A primary part of guidance at the Center for Medicinal Mindfulness is helping individuals explore their spirituality, said Daniel McQueen, founder of the Center. (Olivia Sun, The Colorado Sun via Report for America)Plunging in The “come up” of a psilocybin trip takes about 15 minutes, slowly clicking you up that first big hill of a roller coaster. When the cable lets you go, the plunge down is a little different for everybody. Some people hold on for dear life, regretting their choice to get on the ride in the first place. Others put their hands up in the air and enjoy the ride. Some people alternate between the two.  Either way, there is usually a lot of noise when the medicine “kicks in.” In order to “hold the container,” and keep individuals in their own experience, guides will often request quiet in a group setting.Sometimes people find it impossible to not let out a squeal, a moan, a cry, a retching, a giggle or a choice expletive.  “This is an intense experience, sometimes someone gets too loud and there's the risk that they will compromise everyone in the group's experience,” Jenkins said. “An experienced guide can maintain the container through this by going to that person and helping them through.”  While one facilitator tends to the individual who is struggling by taking him or her to another room, the other facilitator sings to the remainder of the group, her voice soaring above the chaos. Trippers have a choice to go on the wings of the medicine to a peaceful supportive place and have their own experience. “Rather than saying it was a bad trip, I would say there are moments in every journey that are challenging,” said Matthews, who has found psychedelics helpful in processing trauma from earlier in his life. “Unresolved trauma comes to the surface, and you can witness with clarity how something that has been buried deeply is influencing the way you are in the world.”Psychiatrist Heacock agrees.“We don't learn when things are going well,” Heacock said of difficult ketamine sessions. “It's the hard sessions, when you feel like you can't stand another second, that can be the real game changers.”Single doseLicensed clinical social worker Michelle Landon, like many in healing professions, has faced her own struggles with mental health. She often tries healing modalities out herself before prescribing them to her clients.“A couple years ago I began hearing a lot about the science of psychedelics and how they can help people heal,” she said. “I wanted to help others with their trauma and disordered thinking patterns, but first I knew I needed to help myself.”People might have something they've been holding for so long they may not even know it's there. The medicine shows them that pain and then helps them process it so they can begin to let it go.— Alexandra Jenkins, a guideLandon, who has been a therapist in northern Colorado since 2004, found psychedelics helpful in coming to terms with the death of her father in 2021.“The last two weeks of my dad's life he started telling my sister he was going on a trip and wanted to say goodbye to everyone,” she said. “I was with him, watching him go in and out of this world.”Psychedelics lightened the impact and pain of the moment. “I mean sure it sucked, but it wasn't traumatic,” she said of her father's final days and the grief that followed his death. “There were moments of beauty and connection. I saw him through the lens of the medicine and he didn't look like he was suffering. He was ready to go.” Through ketamine-assisted therapy, Landon has brought similar relief to clients dealing with a range of mental health challenges from persistent depression to acute post-traumatic stress disorder.“Some people processing trauma find it so hard to shift things and let go with traditional therapy and prescriptions,” she said. “With psychedelics some people have direct access to knowing they are loved and are able to finally let go of their past trauma.”MicrodoseWhile a single-dose psilocybin journey can have profound, lasting effects, many people are beginning to take mushrooms as a daily medication — and a lot of those people, at least anecdotally, are moms. “People are discovering microdosing to be a good alternative to the pharmaceutical approach that is so prevalent in our culture,” Jenkins said. “It gives your serotonin a bit of a boost and puts you more in tune with yourself.  It can really help people with anxiety without a lot of side effects.” Microdosing mushrooms involves taking such small amounts of the medicine (roughly 0.05 to 0.25 grams) that a person doesn't feel the effects outright. People can take a microdose every day or work in days off to integrate the insights gained on days they do take the medicine.“When I've had a microdose I feel so much more confident in the choices I'm making for my family,” said one mom over post-trip avocado toast. “It's like the mushrooms are a little cheerleader in my head telling me I'm doing a great job.” Another mom had been on prescription antidepressants for a little more than a decade before recently switching to microdosing psilocybin to rein in the ruminating, spiraling, obsessive thoughts she has contended without throughout her life.  She wanted to find a more natural way to access what her brain needs.“It was rough going off them (antidepressants),” she recalls. “I was dizzy, nauseous, felt trapped and was really, really, really depressed. Then I started microdosing and it was like my whole brain lit up again.” Those who work with psychedelics caution that they aren't an instant cure, but rather one resource that has been helpful to many in their healing. “It (psilocybin) is a reminder that we hold the answers inside of ourselves,” Landon said.  “It gets the BS out of the way so you can see your true self and your true potential for happiness.”COLORADO NEWSLINE:A new family therapy program in Colorado will meet you wherever you are — even if that's Costco An in-home mental health program for kids that began in January has served 200 people in 20 Colorado counties and has plans to expandJennifer Brown4:00 AM MDT on Jun 15, 2023A 15-year-old boy is sitting cross-legged on his couch in red flannel pajama pants, his hair looking like he just rolled out of bed. Because he did just get out of bed, about three minutes ago. Now, he's sitting across from his therapist, who had to knock on the door for several minutes before the teenager's mom answered via Ring doorbell from the grocery store. “It's open,” she told Bobby Tyman, a family therapist and clinical program coordinator with Paragon Behavioral Health Connections. It's not the first time Tyman has had to rouse the boy from sleep for his 10 a.m. therapy appointment.This is what in-home mental health treatment for adolescents looks like. The teenager, who recently stole and crashed his mother's car and has been using drugs to cope with depression, is groggy and shy, but tells Tyman that he applied for three summer jobs and is choosing a new high school for the fall. The new in-home therapy program, which has served 200 kids and their parents since it began in January, is an extension of the Colorado Boys Ranch. The ranch opened in 1959 as an orphanage in La Junta, then closed its residential program about a decade ago. But its foundation — Colorado Boys Ranch Youth Connect — has continued, pouring its resources into behavioral health care for kids in their homes. The evolution of the program is a reflection of what's changed in the child welfare system in the past decade — Colorado is sending fewer kids to institutions in favor of homes, and has increased efforts to provide in-home mental health care to cut down on the number of children removed from their homes and placed in foster care in the first place. Several youth treatment centers, including Tennyson Center for Children in Denver, have shifted in recent years from residential care to day treatment and in-home therapy.Some of the children are referred by the juvenile justice system as part of pretrial rehabilitation programs, and by the Medicaid program. Parents can also call for help directly, without a referral from a government program. A staff of 40 works in 20 counties, including the entire Denver metro area and throughout the entire state. Camille Harding, Paragon's CEO says “The point is to help kids and teens get better on their terms, as well as to provide a step-down program for adolescents who have visited a hospital emergency room in crisis or been admitted on a mental health hold. The program aims to schedule the first appointment within 24 hours of receiving a call for help.”Kids who are “trying to have their own personality and a say in who they are” can accomplish that better at home, not in an unfamiliar office with a therapist staring at them.“Having it on their own terms is so much more empowering. You get to decide what we do. We can go for a walk. We can go to the park down the street. Developmentally, it just makes more sense.” Some kids in the program have such intense needs that someone from Paragon is in their home 10 hours a week. A therapist helps work on their mental health. A care manager can help enroll in school, sign up for a GED program, or help the family find housing or food assistance. A specialist can teach interventions specifically for kids who have intellectual disabilities along with behavioral health issues. The team approach means kids get better help and staff are less likely to burn out. The program's technology is unique, too. Paragon is installing geo locations on its staff, many of whom are social workers or case managers with bachelor's degrees, and can send reinforcements quickly. That means that if a teenager is threatening suicide or having a violent outburst, a more experienced counselor can assist in person or virtually.A $1.7 million grant, part of Colorado's federal pandemic relief aid, is helping the program build the technology and hire a psychiatrist. Therapy beside someone's bed or in a Costco aisleTyman prefers standing on a client's doorstep to sitting in an office waiting for a client who doesn't show up. He's done therapy on the floor next to someone's bed because the person was too depressed to get up. And one mom is so overwhelmed by her life that the only time she finds for therapy with Tyman is when she's at the park with her kids or walking through Costco. Tyman tells her she can say he's a neighbor or a friend if they run into someone she knows. “It's OK if we start 15 minutes late because you had to get up and make coffee and put on clothes, or whatever it is you had to do to deal,” he said. “If your mental capacity isn't super high, and you're not functioning well, and you're not getting out of bed on time, and you're not able to manage your appointments, you're never going to make it to therapy.COLORADO NEWSLINE:Auon'tai Anderson, vice president of the Denver Public Schools board of education, announced he will end his run for reelection to instead go for a seat in the Colorado Legislature. Anderson, a Democrat who has been vocal against police in schools, announced his campaign to replace Democratic Rep. Leslie Herod in House District 8. As of Monday, five candidates have filed with the secretary of state's office looking to take the District 8 seat, including Anderson, Victor Bencomo, Christi Devoe, Lindsay Gilchrist and Sharron Pettiford. All candidates so far are Democrats. Gilchrist filed her candidacy the same day as Anderson. Anderson told Colorado Newsline his decision was influenced by the recent shootings at East High School in Denver, when a student asked Anderson what he was going to do about gun reform.“We need Democrats that are going to be Democrats 24/7, not Democrats when it's convenient,” Anderson said. “I feel like we've had some very convenient Democrats in the Legislature when it comes to these heavy issues like rent control, or our assault weapons ban that was killed by Dems. So, for me, this was an opportunity to stand up and say ‘I'm going to run.'” As he wraps up his time on the Denver school board, Anderson touted newly enacted board policies that make dyslexia screenings accessible for DPS students, as well as a 90% reduction in tickets and citations for students in the district, during his time on the board.Anderson said “We can't regress into an era where we're going back to criminalizing Black and brown children” If elected to the Colorado House, Anderson said he would prioritize four areas in his first legislative session: banning assault weapons, enshrining access to reproductive health care in the state Constitution, expanding protections for LGBTQ students, and increasing the state minimum wage. And your unsolicited concert pick of the week, Rebirth Brass Band! A New Orleans Institution since 1983 - Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers says “UNBELIEVABLE. HARD AS HELL, FREE AS A RAY OF LIGHT, THERE IS NOT A BAND ON EARTH THAT IS BETTER. STUNNING."Stunning and hardworking too, with Colorado shows tonight and the following 4 nights- Cleland Park in Delta, Ophelia's Electric Soapbox in Denver, Stoke in Salida, Gardens on Spring Creek in Fort Collins, and finally the Durant Street VIP Tent in Aspen. Welp, that's it for me! From Denver I'm Sean Diller. Original reporting for the stories in today's show comes from Colorado Sun and Colorado Newsline.Thank you for listening! See you next time.

Mike Johnston wins Denver mayoral election | All 36 CO DMV offices can now issue driver licenses to undocumented immigrants and international students who qualify | Colorado Democrats and Gov Jared Polis pass statewide ban on ghost guns | AZ State Senator says she was not aware of her flag's neo-Nazi ties. She is now though, and she's keeping it | Talented field of Arizona Democrats compete in primary for Rep. Ruben Gallego's seat in Congress Song playsIntro by hostWelcome to High Country - politics in the American West. My name is Sean Diller; regular listeners might know me from Heartland Pod's Talking Politics, every Monday.Support this show and all the work in the Heartland POD universe by going to heartlandpod.com and clicking the link for Patreon, or go to Patreon.com/HeartlandPod to sign up. Membership starts at $1/month, with even more extra shows and special access at the higher levels. No matter the level you choose, your membership helps us create these independent shows as we work together to change the conversation.Alright! Let's get into it: Looks like we've got a winner! As of recording, it looks like Mike Johnston will be the next Mayor of Denver. After 12 years under the leadership of Mayor Michael Hancock, in which Denver has experienced rapid growth and a booming economy, the growing pains are catching up with us and Denver's new mayor will face crisis-level homelessness, addiction, and gun violence.Mike Johnston is a boyish Ivy League boy who has run for lots of things and served as lots of other, different things. Jokes aside though he seems to have the respect of a lot of people I deeply respect, and I'm excited to see what he can do. COLORADO NEWSLINE:All Colorado DMVs now offer driver's licenses to undocumented residentsBY: SHANNON TYLER - JUNE 6, 2023 3:10 PMEvery driver's license office in Colorado will now offer license and ID card services to undocumented residents and international students, Gov. Jared Polis announced Friday.In 2013, then-Gov. John Hickenlooper signed into law the Colorado Road and Community Safety Act, which made obtaining a standard driver's license accessible for undocumented immigrants and international students. At the time, only four offices in the state actually provided the service.Now, on the 10th anniversary of the signing of the bill, the DMV announced all 36 of the state's driver's license office locations will offer appointments for immigrants and international students to get a standard license or ID card. Gov Polis said  “Here in Colorado, we know that our immigrants strengthen the fabric of who we are. In the last 10 years over 250,000 Coloradans have been able to get their driver licenses and insurance, making all of us safer on the roads.” The law allows all Coloradans to obtain a standard driver license or ID card regardless of immigration status if the applicant can provide proof of identity and Colorado residency. The DMV works with several volunteer nonprofits around the state as a part of the I Drive Coalition to help provide Road and Community Safety Act services for undocumented immigrants to obtain standard license or identification cards. Organizations help to schedule free appointments for people who come to them. Henry Gomez with Grupo Esperanza de Colorado Springs, one of the organizations that supports and provides resources for immigrants, said the legislation is necessary for immigrants in Colorado to do essential daily tasks like driving to a doctor's appointment or taking their children to school. When the bill first passed, it was difficult for people to actually use the service because they had to travel long distances to the few places that offered it and wait hours to schedule an appointment, Gomez said. 1 of 20 statesColorado is one of 20 states, along with Washington D.C., to offer driver's licenses to undocumented residents. DMV spokesperson Stephany Garza said “Colorado has come a long way since the program launched in originally starting in a handful of locations. We've been able to grow it throughout the state, thanks to strong demand and a dedication to partner with community organizations and leaders.” “The DMV's mission is to provide motor vehicle, driver and identity services that promote public safety, trust and confidence, and having trained and licensed drivers on our roads is critical.” COLORADO NEWSLINE: I ain't ‘fraid of no ghost - guns. Because now they're banned in Colorado. BY: SARA WILSON - JUNE 2, 2023 1:48 PMSenate Bill 23- 279 makes the sale, manufacture and possession of ghost guns a Class 1 misdemeanor on the first offense and a Class 5 felony on subsequent offenses.bill sponsor Sen. Rhonda Fields, an Aurora Democrat, said “Ghost guns are untraceable, unserialized weapons that anyone can make or assemble in their own home – and they're extremely dangerous. We worked hard this session to make Colorado safer and prevent gun violence, and this new law is a big step towards reaching that goal.”The legislation was also sponsored by Sen. Chris Hansen of Denver, Rep. Andrew Boesenecker of Fort Collins and Rep. Junie Joseph of Boulder, all Democrats. Every Republican voted no.Law enforcement say ghost guns are being used more often in crimes across the state. The shooters involved with last year's attack at Club Q in Colorado Springs and the March shooting at Denver's East High School both possessed and showed an interest in ghost guns.Ghost gun kits are easily available online for anyone to assemble or 3D-print at home. Because that process bypasses serialization and necessary background checks, the guns can be nearly impossible to trace when used in a crime. Current ghost gun owners have until Jan. 1, 2024 to get the blank firearm, frame or receiver serialized by a licensed dealer. Serialization includes a background check. Going forward, people can still make their own firearms as long as they get them serialized.Eleven states already regulate ghost guns.The Colorado Legislature passed four other bills regulating firearms during this year's legislative session, which wrapped up in early May. That includes a minimum age restriction and three-day waiting period for gun purchases, expansion of the state's extreme risk protection order law to include groups other than law enforcement and a repeal of the state's legal liability protections for the firearm industry.Hats off to Colorado Democrats. They take so much abuse as well as threats from thousands and thousands of extremely aggressive gun rights activists. These gun groups create extremely dishonest and aggressive attack ads, and they do everything they can to show their strength. It takes real guts to pass gun safety laws in the West, and the Colorado Democratic legislators have some serious guts. Congratulations on a great session everyone.  ARIZONA MIRROR:AZ GOP senator proudly flies flag adopted by ‘fringe' far-right extremistsBY: JEROD MACDONALD-EVOY - JUNE 5, 2023 11:20 AMThe desk on the Arizona Senate floor for Republican Sen. Janae Shamp, displays the “An Appeal to Heaven” flag, which has been adopted by Christian nationalists and other extremists in recent years. Shamp says she displays the flag because of its historical ties to the American Revolution, and says she is unaware of its use by far-right extremist groups. But that, of course, is bullshit. The white flag with a pine tree on it and the phrase “An Appeal to Heaven” was originally used by George Washington and the Continental Army. It was later adopted by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as its naval and maritime flag until 1971, when the copy was dropped, leaving only the image of the pine tree. In recent years, the flag has been adopted by Christian nationalists, who see the flag as a rallying call. Christian nationalists believe that the United States is Christian nation that should base its laws and practices around the teachings of Christianity.The flag has also been embraced by far-right extremist organizations like the Proud Boys and other neo-Nazi groups.Shamp did not respond to questions about whether she embraced the beliefs of Christian nationalism, and said she doesn't know anything about Christian dominionism, a closely related belief system.To investigative journalist, author and researcher David Neiwart, who has written extensively about the far-right, the lines between groups have begun to blur into an entire “universe” of far-right groups from QAnon, militias, white supremacists, and other extremist groups who have gained political influence among conservatives. Most of them share a few things in common, including beliefs in “right-wing authoritarianism” and the alleged supremacy of Christianity.After looking at the various people and causes Shamp has supported over the years, including various extremist and Christian nationalist figures and causes, Neiwart said it's clear to him that Shamp ascribes to those beliefs.  “She is definitely a Christian nationalist, she is definitely QAnon, and a fully enraptured Trumpite,” Neiwert said.  While a surge in Christian nationalism in recent years has garnered media attention — due in part to high-profile conservatives like U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who explicitly declared herself a Christian nationalist, and the backing of influential leaders like white nationalist Nick Fuentes — Christian dominionism has similarly been on the rise, though with much less fanfare. One of the more popular Dominionist beliefs is in the so-called “Seven Mountain Mandate,” which draws from the biblical book of Revelations and requires Christians to invade the “seven spheres” of society: family, religion, education, media, entertainment, business, and government. In doing so, American life can be reshaped to hew to conservative Christian values. The idea has been embraced and promoted by people like Turning Point USA leader Charlie Kirk and Paula White, the televangelist who served as a “spiritual advisor” to Donald Trump while he was president. According to David Neiwart, the key difference between Christian dominionism and nationalism is that dominionists want everyone under Christian rule, while nationalists think everyone should convert to Christianity.“Christian nationalists take it a step further than Christian Dominionists,” Neiwart said, adding that a dominionist wouldn't care if a Muslim was present, “they just want them under the thumb of Christian leaders.”One of the biggest promoters of Christian nationalism and dominionism has been disgraced Ret. Gen. Michael Flynn, Trump's first national security adviser, who has claimed that he is waging “spiritual warfare” and building an “army of God.” Flynn is also known to associate with other extremist groups. AZ Sen Shamp is a fervent supporter of Flynn's, and has posted praise of Flynn often on social media. The recent COVID-19 special committee she co-chaired was sponsored in part by an organization that Flynn co-founded. “I get goosebumps every time General Flynn talks about our great Nation!” Shamp said in a December 2021 post accompanied by a video of Flynn. At a Trump rally in Florence in January 2022, Shamp told Business Insider that the “No. 1 person standing up for ‘we, the people' is probably Gen. Michael Flynn.” Shamp, a conservative from Surprise, has also been found to have shared a number of QAnon posts on her Facebook linked to Neo-Nazis and antisemites. The flag, which Shamp displays on her desk and in her Twitter banner image, has also been connected to extremist groups and violent events. During the violent events of Jan. 6, the flag was seen being carried by a number of individuals.  “I would say Christian nationalism as a phenomenon is one of the real undergirding movements involved in the insurrection,” Neiwart said, adding that the militias and other groups such as the OathKeepers all had underlying Christian nationalist roots or beliefs. “All these Christian patriots that formed these militias are Christian nationalists as well.”ARIZONA MIRROR:Meet the Dems vying for Gallego's seat in the U.S. House of RepresentativesBY: GLORIA REBECCA GOMEZ - JUNE 2, 2023 1:33 PMSo far, four candidates have already launched campaigns to represent Arizona's 3rd Congressional District, which includes Laveen, Maryvale and part of Glendale. The district is considered a Democratic stronghold, with left-leaning voters outnumbering Republicans three to one. The winner of the Democratic primary is virtually guaranteed to capture the seat in November.First, Laura Pastor.The most recent entrant into the race is the daughter of Rep. Gallego's predecessor, Ed Pastor, who held the seat from 1991 until his retirement in 2015. The younger Pastor has a long career in elected office herself, with three terms on the Phoenix city council representing areas recently drawn into the 3rd District.Prior to her position on the council, she was a classroom teacher who worked with at-risk students. Ms. Pastor also serves on the governing board for Phoenix Union High School. In a launch video on Wednesday, Pastor invoked her family's political legacy and promised to continue it. “For five generations my family has worked for a better Arizona. From my grandfathers - who organized workers in the copper mines - to my mother - who lived with strength and integrity in a time of discrimination - to my dad. My dad taught me that lots of politicians can talk, but what matters is what you deliver.” “I am running to put my experience to work on behalf of Arizonans – to take care of our veterans, to have someone looking out for family budgets, and to protect all of our access to health care, including reproductive care,” Ylenia AguilarIf elected, Aguilar would be Arizona's first formerly undocumented congresswoman. Her family moved to the U.S. when she was just a toddler, and suffered repeated housing and food insecurity. Aguilar attended as many as 20 different schools. The single mother of two credits her early adversity with inspiring a personal imperative to voice the struggles of others. Aguilar spent more than a decade as a translator before becoming the first Latina elected to the Osborn School District Board, where she's still a member. During the Trump presidency, Aguilar helped author a resolution prohibiting ICE agents from entering schools. She also serves on the state's Central Arizona Water Project Board and as the business development manager for SOURCE Global, a Scottsdale-based renewable energy company that helps tribal and rural communities access clean drinking water via hydropanel technology. Water conservation is among her policy priorities, as well as immigration reform, and access to education and reproductive health care. At the top of her list is representing Arizona's diverse communities where past politicians have failed. “My story is your story,” she said, at her campaign kickoff. “I know what you go through. I know how hard you work, how much you love your children, how difficult it can be to get ahead and how often politicians leave our community behind, or worse — how politicians attack our communities trying to take away our rights. In Congress, I will be your voice, because your voice matters.” Yassamin AnsariPhoenix's Vice-Mayor was one of the first to throw her hat in the ring after Congressman Gallego announced his challenge to U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema. Ansari's election as the city's youngest council member in 2021 followed a career in climate change advocacy that included a stint as a policy advisor for the United Nations. Her work on the Phoenix council includes helping to draft and pass a citywide resolution that deprioritized abortion-related arrests and spearheading efforts to electrify Phoenix's public transportation. Those concerns would follow her to the federal level, with more ambitious climate change legislation a key part of her priorities. The country's as-yet unfulfilled pledge to reach net zero emissions by 2050 is of particular importance to Ansari, who vowed to lead an effort to remedy that. Also high up on her roster is gun violence prevention, housing affordability and a living wage. A daughter of Iranian immigrants, Ansari's election would be a first for the district, whose population is 51% Hispanic and has supported Hispanic candidates since 1991. But Ansari's council district, which spans from southwest to downtown Phoenix and has a similar population makeup as CD3, resoundingly backed her in 2021. She said, “As a daughter of immigrants, I very much understand the challenges that our community faces. My constituents know that I don't just represent one community, I represent all communities. And whether you're Latino, White, Black or any other background, representation is about listening to the community and making sure that you're surrounding yourself with people in the community so that their experiences and challenges are represented in the legislation you support.” She said “It's time to have leadership that is young and hungry and ready to take on some of these bigger crises.”Hector Jaramillo Jaramillo traces his activism back to two pivotal incidents that happened at very different times in his life. When he was 4, his father was deported, which he said “opened (his) eyes to the injustices of our current system.” Then, in his early twenties while protesting the killing of George Floyd in 2020, a gun was pointed at his head. Jaramillo was disappointed to find not much had changed after the nationwide movement against racial injustice, and realized that things would only improve if more people were allowed at the decision-making table. The 26-year-old Phoenix native, who currently serves on the governing board of the Glendale Elementary School District, would be among the youngest in Congress if elected. He noted that what he lacks in experience he makes up for in community engagement and personal, real-life knowledge. He said “Legislative experience is important, but so is lived experience – being somebody who's experienced the injustices of our system.” His goals include improving education funding, affordable health care for all and a complete overhaul of the current immigration system. That includes a pathway to citizenship, opening up government assistance programs for undocumented Americans, and shielding victims of crimes from having their undocumented status used against them. Jaramillo also wants to abolish ICE and Customs and Border Protection. He says their duties can be effectively carried out by their predecessor, the country's Immigration and Naturalization Service, as was the case before post-9/11 policies created the Department of Homeland Security. Jaramillo, who called himself an anti-establishment candidate, is hoping voters who are tired of the status quo will support his bid. He said “If you're happy with the way things are, keep electing the same people. But if you want real, progressive change, try someone new.” Raquel TeránWith a 17-year-long career in Arizona politics, tenures in both the state Senate and House of Representatives and the title of Democratic Party Chair under her belt, Terán is perhaps one of the most experienced candidates in the race to capture Gallego's seat. Born and raised on the Arizona border in Douglas, she attributes her passion for politics to the anti-immigrant rhetoric she grew up around. That motivation resulted in helping to organize a recall campaign against former state Sen. Russell Pierce, who authored Arizona's notorious 2010 ‘show us your papers' law, and working to defeat Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Maricopa County. Teran said, “I have been a fighter at the state legislature, and I'm ready to take on the extremists in Congress. We have a lot of work to do and I intend to bring my ‘si se puede' attitude to Washington DC”.Terán's top priorities include immigration reform, affordable housing, reproductive rights, holding corporate polluters accountable, and requiring wealthy corporations to pay their fair share are key goals for her. On Monday, U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly endorsed Raquel Terán in her bid for Congress. He said “Raquel has spent nearly two decades helping bring together a diverse coalition of voters that turned our state blue.”Welp, that's it for me! From Denver I'm Sean Diller. Original reporting for the stories in today's show comes from Colorado Newsline, Colorado Sun, ABC News, Arizona Mirror, and Denver's Westword.Thank you for listening! See you next time.

Mike Johnston wins Denver mayoral election | All 36 CO DMV offices can now issue driver licenses to undocumented immigrants and international students who qualify | Colorado Democrats and Gov Jared Polis pass statewide ban on ghost guns | AZ State Senator says she was not aware of her flag's neo-Nazi ties. She is now though, and she's keeping it | Talented field of Arizona Democrats compete in primary for Rep. Ruben Gallego's seat in Congress Song playsIntro by hostWelcome to High Country - politics in the American West. My name is Sean Diller; regular listeners might know me from Heartland Pod's Talking Politics, every Monday.Support this show and all the work in the Heartland POD universe by going to heartlandpod.com and clicking the link for Patreon, or go to Patreon.com/HeartlandPod to sign up. Membership starts at $1/month, with even more extra shows and special access at the higher levels. No matter the level you choose, your membership helps us create these independent shows as we work together to change the conversation.Alright! Let's get into it: Looks like we've got a winner! As of recording, it looks like Mike Johnston will be the next Mayor of Denver. After 12 years under the leadership of Mayor Michael Hancock, in which Denver has experienced rapid growth and a booming economy, the growing pains are catching up with us and Denver's new mayor will face crisis-level homelessness, addiction, and gun violence.Mike Johnston is a boyish Ivy League boy who has run for lots of things and served as lots of other, different things. Jokes aside though he seems to have the respect of a lot of people I deeply respect, and I'm excited to see what he can do. COLORADO NEWSLINE:All Colorado DMVs now offer driver's licenses to undocumented residentsBY: SHANNON TYLER - JUNE 6, 2023 3:10 PMEvery driver's license office in Colorado will now offer license and ID card services to undocumented residents and international students, Gov. Jared Polis announced Friday.In 2013, then-Gov. John Hickenlooper signed into law the Colorado Road and Community Safety Act, which made obtaining a standard driver's license accessible for undocumented immigrants and international students. At the time, only four offices in the state actually provided the service.Now, on the 10th anniversary of the signing of the bill, the DMV announced all 36 of the state's driver's license office locations will offer appointments for immigrants and international students to get a standard license or ID card. Gov Polis said  “Here in Colorado, we know that our immigrants strengthen the fabric of who we are. In the last 10 years over 250,000 Coloradans have been able to get their driver licenses and insurance, making all of us safer on the roads.” The law allows all Coloradans to obtain a standard driver license or ID card regardless of immigration status if the applicant can provide proof of identity and Colorado residency. The DMV works with several volunteer nonprofits around the state as a part of the I Drive Coalition to help provide Road and Community Safety Act services for undocumented immigrants to obtain standard license or identification cards. Organizations help to schedule free appointments for people who come to them. Henry Gomez with Grupo Esperanza de Colorado Springs, one of the organizations that supports and provides resources for immigrants, said the legislation is necessary for immigrants in Colorado to do essential daily tasks like driving to a doctor's appointment or taking their children to school. When the bill first passed, it was difficult for people to actually use the service because they had to travel long distances to the few places that offered it and wait hours to schedule an appointment, Gomez said. 1 of 20 statesColorado is one of 20 states, along with Washington D.C., to offer driver's licenses to undocumented residents. DMV spokesperson Stephany Garza said “Colorado has come a long way since the program launched in originally starting in a handful of locations. We've been able to grow it throughout the state, thanks to strong demand and a dedication to partner with community organizations and leaders.” “The DMV's mission is to provide motor vehicle, driver and identity services that promote public safety, trust and confidence, and having trained and licensed drivers on our roads is critical.” COLORADO NEWSLINE: I ain't ‘fraid of no ghost - guns. Because now they're banned in Colorado. BY: SARA WILSON - JUNE 2, 2023 1:48 PMSenate Bill 23- 279 makes the sale, manufacture and possession of ghost guns a Class 1 misdemeanor on the first offense and a Class 5 felony on subsequent offenses.bill sponsor Sen. Rhonda Fields, an Aurora Democrat, said “Ghost guns are untraceable, unserialized weapons that anyone can make or assemble in their own home – and they're extremely dangerous. We worked hard this session to make Colorado safer and prevent gun violence, and this new law is a big step towards reaching that goal.”The legislation was also sponsored by Sen. Chris Hansen of Denver, Rep. Andrew Boesenecker of Fort Collins and Rep. Junie Joseph of Boulder, all Democrats. Every Republican voted no.Law enforcement say ghost guns are being used more often in crimes across the state. The shooters involved with last year's attack at Club Q in Colorado Springs and the March shooting at Denver's East High School both possessed and showed an interest in ghost guns.Ghost gun kits are easily available online for anyone to assemble or 3D-print at home. Because that process bypasses serialization and necessary background checks, the guns can be nearly impossible to trace when used in a crime. Current ghost gun owners have until Jan. 1, 2024 to get the blank firearm, frame or receiver serialized by a licensed dealer. Serialization includes a background check. Going forward, people can still make their own firearms as long as they get them serialized.Eleven states already regulate ghost guns.The Colorado Legislature passed four other bills regulating firearms during this year's legislative session, which wrapped up in early May. That includes a minimum age restriction and three-day waiting period for gun purchases, expansion of the state's extreme risk protection order law to include groups other than law enforcement and a repeal of the state's legal liability protections for the firearm industry.Hats off to Colorado Democrats. They take so much abuse as well as threats from thousands and thousands of extremely aggressive gun rights activists. These gun groups create extremely dishonest and aggressive attack ads, and they do everything they can to show their strength. It takes real guts to pass gun safety laws in the West, and the Colorado Democratic legislators have some serious guts. Congratulations on a great session everyone.  ARIZONA MIRROR:AZ GOP senator proudly flies flag adopted by ‘fringe' far-right extremistsBY: JEROD MACDONALD-EVOY - JUNE 5, 2023 11:20 AMThe desk on the Arizona Senate floor for Republican Sen. Janae Shamp, displays the “An Appeal to Heaven” flag, which has been adopted by Christian nationalists and other extremists in recent years. Shamp says she displays the flag because of its historical ties to the American Revolution, and says she is unaware of its use by far-right extremist groups. But that, of course, is bullshit. The white flag with a pine tree on it and the phrase “An Appeal to Heaven” was originally used by George Washington and the Continental Army. It was later adopted by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as its naval and maritime flag until 1971, when the copy was dropped, leaving only the image of the pine tree. In recent years, the flag has been adopted by Christian nationalists, who see the flag as a rallying call. Christian nationalists believe that the United States is Christian nation that should base its laws and practices around the teachings of Christianity.The flag has also been embraced by far-right extremist organizations like the Proud Boys and other neo-Nazi groups.Shamp did not respond to questions about whether she embraced the beliefs of Christian nationalism, and said she doesn't know anything about Christian dominionism, a closely related belief system.To investigative journalist, author and researcher David Neiwart, who has written extensively about the far-right, the lines between groups have begun to blur into an entire “universe” of far-right groups from QAnon, militias, white supremacists, and other extremist groups who have gained political influence among conservatives. Most of them share a few things in common, including beliefs in “right-wing authoritarianism” and the alleged supremacy of Christianity.After looking at the various people and causes Shamp has supported over the years, including various extremist and Christian nationalist figures and causes, Neiwart said it's clear to him that Shamp ascribes to those beliefs.  “She is definitely a Christian nationalist, she is definitely QAnon, and a fully enraptured Trumpite,” Neiwert said.  While a surge in Christian nationalism in recent years has garnered media attention — due in part to high-profile conservatives like U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who explicitly declared herself a Christian nationalist, and the backing of influential leaders like white nationalist Nick Fuentes — Christian dominionism has similarly been on the rise, though with much less fanfare. One of the more popular Dominionist beliefs is in the so-called “Seven Mountain Mandate,” which draws from the biblical book of Revelations and requires Christians to invade the “seven spheres” of society: family, religion, education, media, entertainment, business, and government. In doing so, American life can be reshaped to hew to conservative Christian values. The idea has been embraced and promoted by people like Turning Point USA leader Charlie Kirk and Paula White, the televangelist who served as a “spiritual advisor” to Donald Trump while he was president. According to David Neiwart, the key difference between Christian dominionism and nationalism is that dominionists want everyone under Christian rule, while nationalists think everyone should convert to Christianity.“Christian nationalists take it a step further than Christian Dominionists,” Neiwart said, adding that a dominionist wouldn't care if a Muslim was present, “they just want them under the thumb of Christian leaders.”One of the biggest promoters of Christian nationalism and dominionism has been disgraced Ret. Gen. Michael Flynn, Trump's first national security adviser, who has claimed that he is waging “spiritual warfare” and building an “army of God.” Flynn is also known to associate with other extremist groups. AZ Sen Shamp is a fervent supporter of Flynn's, and has posted praise of Flynn often on social media. The recent COVID-19 special committee she co-chaired was sponsored in part by an organization that Flynn co-founded. “I get goosebumps every time General Flynn talks about our great Nation!” Shamp said in a December 2021 post accompanied by a video of Flynn. At a Trump rally in Florence in January 2022, Shamp told Business Insider that the “No. 1 person standing up for ‘we, the people' is probably Gen. Michael Flynn.” Shamp, a conservative from Surprise, has also been found to have shared a number of QAnon posts on her Facebook linked to Neo-Nazis and antisemites. The flag, which Shamp displays on her desk and in her Twitter banner image, has also been connected to extremist groups and violent events. During the violent events of Jan. 6, the flag was seen being carried by a number of individuals.  “I would say Christian nationalism as a phenomenon is one of the real undergirding movements involved in the insurrection,” Neiwart said, adding that the militias and other groups such as the OathKeepers all had underlying Christian nationalist roots or beliefs. “All these Christian patriots that formed these militias are Christian nationalists as well.”ARIZONA MIRROR:Meet the Dems vying for Gallego's seat in the U.S. House of RepresentativesBY: GLORIA REBECCA GOMEZ - JUNE 2, 2023 1:33 PMSo far, four candidates have already launched campaigns to represent Arizona's 3rd Congressional District, which includes Laveen, Maryvale and part of Glendale. The district is considered a Democratic stronghold, with left-leaning voters outnumbering Republicans three to one. The winner of the Democratic primary is virtually guaranteed to capture the seat in November.First, Laura Pastor.The most recent entrant into the race is the daughter of Rep. Gallego's predecessor, Ed Pastor, who held the seat from 1991 until his retirement in 2015. The younger Pastor has a long career in elected office herself, with three terms on the Phoenix city council representing areas recently drawn into the 3rd District.Prior to her position on the council, she was a classroom teacher who worked with at-risk students. Ms. Pastor also serves on the governing board for Phoenix Union High School. In a launch video on Wednesday, Pastor invoked her family's political legacy and promised to continue it. “For five generations my family has worked for a better Arizona. From my grandfathers - who organized workers in the copper mines - to my mother - who lived with strength and integrity in a time of discrimination - to my dad. My dad taught me that lots of politicians can talk, but what matters is what you deliver.” “I am running to put my experience to work on behalf of Arizonans – to take care of our veterans, to have someone looking out for family budgets, and to protect all of our access to health care, including reproductive care,” Ylenia AguilarIf elected, Aguilar would be Arizona's first formerly undocumented congresswoman. Her family moved to the U.S. when she was just a toddler, and suffered repeated housing and food insecurity. Aguilar attended as many as 20 different schools. The single mother of two credits her early adversity with inspiring a personal imperative to voice the struggles of others. Aguilar spent more than a decade as a translator before becoming the first Latina elected to the Osborn School District Board, where she's still a member. During the Trump presidency, Aguilar helped author a resolution prohibiting ICE agents from entering schools. She also serves on the state's Central Arizona Water Project Board and as the business development manager for SOURCE Global, a Scottsdale-based renewable energy company that helps tribal and rural communities access clean drinking water via hydropanel technology. Water conservation is among her policy priorities, as well as immigration reform, and access to education and reproductive health care. At the top of her list is representing Arizona's diverse communities where past politicians have failed. “My story is your story,” she said, at her campaign kickoff. “I know what you go through. I know how hard you work, how much you love your children, how difficult it can be to get ahead and how often politicians leave our community behind, or worse — how politicians attack our communities trying to take away our rights. In Congress, I will be your voice, because your voice matters.” Yassamin AnsariPhoenix's Vice-Mayor was one of the first to throw her hat in the ring after Congressman Gallego announced his challenge to U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema. Ansari's election as the city's youngest council member in 2021 followed a career in climate change advocacy that included a stint as a policy advisor for the United Nations. Her work on the Phoenix council includes helping to draft and pass a citywide resolution that deprioritized abortion-related arrests and spearheading efforts to electrify Phoenix's public transportation. Those concerns would follow her to the federal level, with more ambitious climate change legislation a key part of her priorities. The country's as-yet unfulfilled pledge to reach net zero emissions by 2050 is of particular importance to Ansari, who vowed to lead an effort to remedy that. Also high up on her roster is gun violence prevention, housing affordability and a living wage. A daughter of Iranian immigrants, Ansari's election would be a first for the district, whose population is 51% Hispanic and has supported Hispanic candidates since 1991. But Ansari's council district, which spans from southwest to downtown Phoenix and has a similar population makeup as CD3, resoundingly backed her in 2021. She said, “As a daughter of immigrants, I very much understand the challenges that our community faces. My constituents know that I don't just represent one community, I represent all communities. And whether you're Latino, White, Black or any other background, representation is about listening to the community and making sure that you're surrounding yourself with people in the community so that their experiences and challenges are represented in the legislation you support.” She said “It's time to have leadership that is young and hungry and ready to take on some of these bigger crises.”Hector Jaramillo Jaramillo traces his activism back to two pivotal incidents that happened at very different times in his life. When he was 4, his father was deported, which he said “opened (his) eyes to the injustices of our current system.” Then, in his early twenties while protesting the killing of George Floyd in 2020, a gun was pointed at his head. Jaramillo was disappointed to find not much had changed after the nationwide movement against racial injustice, and realized that things would only improve if more people were allowed at the decision-making table. The 26-year-old Phoenix native, who currently serves on the governing board of the Glendale Elementary School District, would be among the youngest in Congress if elected. He noted that what he lacks in experience he makes up for in community engagement and personal, real-life knowledge. He said “Legislative experience is important, but so is lived experience – being somebody who's experienced the injustices of our system.” His goals include improving education funding, affordable health care for all and a complete overhaul of the current immigration system. That includes a pathway to citizenship, opening up government assistance programs for undocumented Americans, and shielding victims of crimes from having their undocumented status used against them. Jaramillo also wants to abolish ICE and Customs and Border Protection. He says their duties can be effectively carried out by their predecessor, the country's Immigration and Naturalization Service, as was the case before post-9/11 policies created the Department of Homeland Security. Jaramillo, who called himself an anti-establishment candidate, is hoping voters who are tired of the status quo will support his bid. He said “If you're happy with the way things are, keep electing the same people. But if you want real, progressive change, try someone new.” Raquel TeránWith a 17-year-long career in Arizona politics, tenures in both the state Senate and House of Representatives and the title of Democratic Party Chair under her belt, Terán is perhaps one of the most experienced candidates in the race to capture Gallego's seat. Born and raised on the Arizona border in Douglas, she attributes her passion for politics to the anti-immigrant rhetoric she grew up around. That motivation resulted in helping to organize a recall campaign against former state Sen. Russell Pierce, who authored Arizona's notorious 2010 ‘show us your papers' law, and working to defeat Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Maricopa County. Teran said, “I have been a fighter at the state legislature, and I'm ready to take on the extremists in Congress. We have a lot of work to do and I intend to bring my ‘si se puede' attitude to Washington DC”.Terán's top priorities include immigration reform, affordable housing, reproductive rights, holding corporate polluters accountable, and requiring wealthy corporations to pay their fair share are key goals for her. On Monday, U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly endorsed Raquel Terán in her bid for Congress. He said “Raquel has spent nearly two decades helping bring together a diverse coalition of voters that turned our state blue.”Welp, that's it for me! From Denver I'm Sean Diller. Original reporting for the stories in today's show comes from Colorado Newsline, Colorado Sun, ABC News, Arizona Mirror, and Denver's Westword.Thank you for listening! See you next time.

Millions of Americans experience mental health problems and frequently experience challenges finding treatment, including in the workplace. That's the context for national task force— Mental Health Matters: National Task Force on Workforce Mental Health Policy—funded by the U.S. Department of Labor working with NCSL and the Council of State Governments (CSG). The guests on this podcast are Colorado Lt Gov Dianne Primavera (D) and Tennessee Sen. Becky Massey (R). The two are at-large co-chairs of the task force, which also includes 27 other state lawmakers from both parties. The two spoke about what they'd learned in the course of the task force's work, and about the goals, which include developing improved benefit and employment; access to mental health resources in the workplace; addressing underserved communities; and the shortage of mental health care workers. The task force plans to issue the policy framework this summer that can serve as a resource for policymakers across the country. 

The Democrats in the Colorado Legislature are trying to pull a fast one on the voters.  Do they really think we are that dumb?  George welcomes Michael Fields, President of Advance Colorado, to talk about the pretend solution passed on the final day of the session, that says it is designed to relieve spiking property taxes sate wide but it's really just a way to get rid of your TABOR refund.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Damage that was and wasn't done by the Colorado Legislature begins tis hour's show.  Jimmy Sengenberger fills in for George and welcome Colorado Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen.  They discuss the legislative procrastination by the Democrats in charge and why it gave the GOP an advantage.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The last day of the Colorado Legislature is today.  Whew, we almost made it.  Jimmy Sengenberger fills in for George.  He welcomes Sage Numann, former spokesperson for the Colorado Senate GOP and current political strategist.  They discuss the mad dash to the finish line and what silly ideas do the Dems want to try and get over the line before midnight tonight. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs FOUR gun control bills into law | Colorado lawmakers stand with Zooey Zephyr of Montana | Anti-hate groups worry domestic extremists will be training Arizona police under new rule | A chance to see her bee business take off | Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit at Red Rocks and on HBO Max documentary Song playsIntro by hostWelcome to High Country - politics in the American West. My name is Sean Diller; regular listeners might know me from Heartland Pod's Talking Politics, every Monday.Support this show and all the work in the Heartland POD universe by going to heartlandpod.com and clicking the link for Patreon, or go to Patreon.com/HeartlandPod to sign up. Membership starts at $1/month, with even more extra shows and special access at the higher levels. No matter the level you choose, your membership helps us create these independent shows as we work together to change the conversation.Alright! Let's get into it: COLORADO NEWSLINE: Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs four gun control bills into lawGOVERNMENTBY: SARA WILSON - APRIL 28, 2023 11:54 AMThe Governor, surrounded by gun-control advocates at a bill signing ceremony said, “Coloradans deserve to be safe in our communities, in our schools, our grocery stores, nightclubs and everywhere in between,” The new laws raise the minimum age to buy a gun to 21, impose a three-day waiting period for gun purchases, expand the state's Extreme Risk Protection Order law and make it easier for gun violence survivors to sue the gun industry.Under Senate Bill 23-170, district attorneys, educators, mental health professionals and other medical providers will be able to petition a judge to confiscate guns from a potentially dangerous person. Previously, only law enforcement and family members had that power under the state's Extreme Risk Protection Order law, also known as the red flag law, which was created in 2019.The expansion aims to increase utilization of the process and extend the petition authority to people who interact with an at-risk person regularly. It is a recognition that some law enforcement officials have been reluctant to use the red flag law when potentially appropriate due to concerns over the Second Amendment.Senate Bill 23-169 raises the age to purchase any gun to 21 years old. Previously, the age restriction was 18 to buy a long gun and 21 to buy a handgun. There are exceptions for members of law enforcement and the military.House Bill 23-1219 imposes a three-day waiting period for people to get a gun after they pay for it. Bill sponsors said that the delayed access to firearms will provide a cooling-off period for people in crisis who might harm themselves or others.Cities will be able to establish longer waiting periods if they choose. If the purchaser's background check takes longer than three days — which it rarely does — they would still need to wait until the background check clears to get their gun.Finally, Senate Bill 23-168 removes a state protection for gun and ammunition dealers and manufactures against lawsuits. Previously, plaintiffs had to pay the legal fees for defendants in dismissed cases involving gun sellers. That is no longer the case.The law makes the gun industry susceptible to lawsuits under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act.bill sponsor Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, a Longmont Democrat, said, “​​We finally, after 23 years of waiting, can open up Colorado courtrooms to gun violence victims and survivors seeking justice,” Less than an hour after the bill signing, Rocky Mountain Gun Owners leader Taylor Rhodes announced on Twitter that the group had already filed lawsuits challenging the minimum age requirement and waiting period laws. He said they are seeking plaintiffs who could establish standing against the other two new laws.Lawmakers are also considering a bill that would outlaw unserialized firearms, also known as ghost guns. Another firearm bill that would have banned semi-automatic weapons in the state died in its first committee hearing last week.The Legislature adjourns on May 8.COLORADO NEWSLINE: Colorado lawmakers stand with Zooey ZephyrDemocratic state Rep. Brianna Titone of Arvada led over 75 Colorado elected officials - including two Republicans - in sending a letter to Montana lawmakers condemning the removal of Rep. Zooey Zephyr and calling for her to be allowed back in the Montana House chamber.In the letter, Rep. Titone said the removal was an attempt to erase trans people amid growing violence against them and an increase in anti-trans laws being passed in state legislatures.Titone said “As elected officials, it is our responsibility to act with integrity and defend our democracy, and we are deeply concerned with erosion of democratic norms we see proliferating in statehouses across the country. Regardless of your personal stance on these issues, she is still a colleague and a duly elected and sworn representative of the people of Montana. Her voice is no less important than yours.”The letter was joined by two Republican lawmakers, state Reps. Ron Weinberg of Loveland and Rick Taggart of Grand Junction.On Tuesday, Montana House Republicans posted a notice announcing they would take up disciplinary measures against Zephyr, Montana's first openly transgender representative, after she said that legislators who voted for a bill that bans gender-affirming care for minors would have blood on their hands, in reference to suicide rates among trans youth. The Montana House voted along party lines Wednesday to bar Zephyr from entering the House floor or gallery for the remainder of the legislative session, only allowing her to participate in votes via Zoom.Rep. Titone made history in 2018 when she was elected the first openly transgender state legislator in Colorado. As chair of the Colorado Legislative LGBTQ caucus, she's worked alongside members of the House and Senate to expand and protect LGBTQ rights in the state.In the letter, Titone applauded Zephyr for her efforts in the Montana Legislature, saying that she has “placed a spotlight of truth on the very real damage anti-trans legislation could have on Montanans who are already struggling with discrimination and growing fear of physical harm.”The Montana state legislative session ends on May 10, and Zephyr is unlikely to be reinstated before the end of the session. Aside from state Rep. Brianna Titone, here are the elected officials from Colorado who signed Titone's letter to the Members of the Montana House of Representatives:Statewide officials:Colorado Secretary of State Jena GriswoldColorado State Treasurer Dave YoungColorado state senators and representatives:House Speaker Julie McCluskieSenate President Steve FenbergHouse Majority Leader Monica DuranSenate Majority Leader Dominick MorenoRep. Ruby DicksonRep. Jenny WillfordRep. David OrtizRep. Kyle BrownRep. Sheila Lieder Rep. Cathy KippRep. Lindsey DaughertyRep. Steven WoodrowRep. Mary YoungRep. Barbara McLachlanRep. Meg FroelichRep. Lorena GarciaRep. Steph VigilRep. Jennifer Lea ParentiRep. Michael J. WeissmanRep. Mandy LindsayRep. Junie Joseph Rep. Karen McCormickRep. Said SharbiniRep. Elizabeth VelascoRep. Regina EnglishRep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez Rep. Elisabeth Epps Sen. Lisa A CutterRep. Tammy StoryRep. Naquetta RicksRep. Dafna Michaelson JenetRep. Andrew Boesenecker Rep. Iman JodehRep. Emily SirotaRep. Shannon BirdRep. Marc SnyderRep. Meghan LukensRep. Jennifer BaconRep. Chris deGruy KennedySen. Janet Buckner Sen. Julie GonzalesSen. Nick HinrichsenSen. Janice MarchmanRep. Eliza Hamrick Rep. Matthew MartinezRep. Ron Weinberg Sen. Rhonda FieldsSen. Faith WinterRep. Javier MabreyRep. Judy AmabileRep. William LindstedtSen. Rachel ZenzingerRep. Leslie HerodRep. Bob MarshallRep. Rick TaggartRep. Tisha MauroSen. Sonya Jaquez LewisSen. Chris HansenSen. Dylan RobertsSen. Jeff BridgesRep. Alex ValdezSen. Jessie DanielsonSen. Tony ExumLocal government:Castle Pines City Councilman Roger D. HudsonBroomfield Mayor Guyleen CastriottaArvada City Councilmember Randy MoormanArvada City Councilmember Lauren SimpsonErie Trustee Emily BaerErie Trustee Daniel HobackErie Mayor Justin BrooksBoulder County Commissioner Ashley StolzmannGreeley City Councilor Tommy ButlerGreeley City Councilor Member Deborah L DeBoutezBoulder Mayor Aaron BrockettDouglas County Commissioner Abe LaydonARIZONA MIRROR: Anti-hate groups worry about Arizona law enforcement trainingBY: ISAAC STONE SIMONELLI/AZCIR - MONDAY MAY 1, 2023 11:32 AMWarnings issued by high-profile civil rights and advocacy groups to Arizona's governor and attorney general failed to stop a rule change that effectively lowers the bar for extremist organizations attempting to radicalize law enforcement officers through government-funded training.Letters sent in March by the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection, the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center warned the rule creates a loophole that could be exploited by domestic extremist groups.The contentious rule change, as first reported by AZCIR in 2022, shifted the responsibility of continuing education training oversight from the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board to local law enforcement heads. In their letters, the groups cited an increase in extremist and conspiratorial rhetoric espoused by Arizona public officials, specifically, publicly elected sheriffs. “We are deeply concerned by the possibility that this amended rule will open the door for Arizona peace officers to receive training from adherents of the ‘constitutional sheriffs' movement and other actors who urge local law enforcement to assume authorities beyond those allowed by law,” wrote Mary McCord, the executive director of Georgetown University Law Center's ICAP, a nonpartisan institute focused on constitutional rights and protecting democratic processes.McCord warned that such taxpayer-funded trainings “would place residents at risk of improper activity by county peace officers” and pose a particular threat to brown and Black communities, “who are at the greatest risk of harm from abuses by law enforcement.”The letters cited previous reporting about so-called “constitutional sheriff” groups, which include the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association. The group is part of a national movement built on the idea that a local sheriff's power supersedes that of higher government entities including the U.S. president and the U.S. Supreme Court, and that sheriffs have a duty to nullify laws they interpret as unconstitutional.The civil rights and advocacy organizations highlighted numerous connections between the CSPOA and a variety of hate groups, with the NAACP denouncing some CSPOA members as “prominent antisemites, QAnon conspiracists, white nationalists and neo-confederates.”Sarah Kader, community manager for ADL Arizona, a state-level branch of a national organization that combats hate groups in the U.S., wrote “If the revised rule goes into effect, we fear that domestic extremists, based on their previous actions, will rush to take advantage of the opportunity,” Rachel Goldwasser, a senior research analyst for the Southern Poverty Law Center, warned that the rule change could be used as a blueprint for creating workarounds allowing extremist organizations to train law enforcement in other states.Neither the governor, Democrat Katie Hobbs nor the attorney general, Democrat Kris Mayes, directly addressed concerns about neo-confederates and other domestic extremists running law enforcement trainings.ADL confirmed it did not receive a response from Gov. Hobbs' office until after the rule change took effect, though a spokesperson indicated the group had “every reason to believe that the Governor's office understands the concerns we have raised in our letters and is taking them seriously.” In their letters, ADL, SPLC and the NAACP all expressed concerns that more than half of Arizona sheriffs are at least partially aligned with the constitutional sheriff movement—connections AZCIR highlighted in its 2022 reporting.Rachel Goldwasser of SPLC said “Arizona has a large extremist presence in the Legislature, sheriffs' offices and among the public, unfortunately. They'll exploit any opportunity for these extremists to spread their ideology.”Three of the four letters also issued a warning about Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, who has known ties to CSPOA and is the frontman for Protect America Now, another so-called “constitutional sheriff” organization.Lamb, who announced a bid for the U.S. Senate in April, has developed a national presence by appearing on a slew of fringe right-wing news networks and podcasts, including those espousing QAnon conspiracies. Lamb did not respond to a request for comment.Sarah Kader of ADL said “In recent years, extreme ideologies have been mainstreamed and normalized at an alarming pace. This is due in large part to the growing number of elected officials and other high-profile individuals who traffic in conspiracies and hate.”This article first appeared on Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.DENVER WESTWORD: How Hard Can it Bee? ZzzzzzBee Here Now: Capella Ranch Has a Honey of an IdeaCATIE CHESHIRE APRIL 25, 2023 6:53AMIn countries like Germany and Slovenia, inhaling the aerosol created by bees in an apiary, or collection of beehives, is an authorized treatment for respiratory diseases. But in the United States, there are only three places that offer the experience: one in Georgia, one in Michigan, and Capella Ranch in Lafayette Colorado, which just opened for its second season.Carolyn Peterson, who owns the ranch with her family said “I'm going to be out here all summer, talking to people and enjoying them and hearing their stories. They're going to come stressed out, and then they're going to leave relaxed.”Capella Ranch currently has sheep, Nigerian dwarf goats, Nubian goats, ducks, chickens, a few turkeys and, of course, bees, the first of which arrived in 2018. To create their bee therapy Shangri-la, the Petersons started by building two cedar huts shaped like irregular pentagons. The cedar contributes to the aroma in the huts, although its durability in the Colorado weather is its chief asset here. The slanted roof of the hut concentrates the aerosol so people can breathe it in while they're lying flat. “Everyone comes out with a different experience,” Carolyn says. “They get in there. They lie down. They take in the whole thing, and then they just sort of concentrate on the humming of the bees.”When bees make honey, there's a lot of water in it at first, so the insects work to reduce the moisture content by flapping their wings. As it evaporates, the moisture is carried into the air to form an aerosol that people find therapeutic.The bees also create an electromagnetic field with their vibration, which is at a frequency that's calming to the human parasympathetic nervous system - a network of nerves that helps relax the body. Some people can feel the field, but most notice the smell first. Underneath the scent of cedar, there is the aromatic tang of the bees at work. Almost like the smell of a newborn baby, but with an extra oomph.“That is all the pollen, nectars, amino acids and essential oils that the bees are bringing in to make the honey,” Carolyn says. “It's just kind of an odd smell, and it's supposed to be very good to breathe in.”In Slovenia, the bee experience has been used to calm firefighters after hard jobs, children who have behavioral problems at school, and parents of those children, who might need some relaxation as well. The Petersons note that they aren't medical professionals, so they don't consider their huts medicinal.“If it happens to help, great,” Carolyn says. “It's relaxing. It's thirty minutes of nobody bugging you.”One person who says the bee huts have helped is Marsha Ruggeri, who lives in Lafayette. She went to Capella Ranch four times during its inaugural season.She first came with a friend who'd bought a deal on Groupon. After struggling with heightened asthma symptoms the past two years — which she attributes to wildfires and air pollution — Ruggeri was excited to learn of a potential way to alleviate her symptoms.And, it worked!“I'm not saying it was a panacea,” she says. “It felt like I was actually doing something that wasn't an inhaler or medication and I was regaining some control over how my body was reacting to all this shit in the air.”On Ruggeri's third visit, she experienced the electromagnetic field produced by the bees.“I was laying on my side, and then all of a sudden, I could feel it,” she says. “It really deserves more than one treatment. It's kind of like people who go for acupuncture, and they're like, ‘Well, it didn't do anything for me.' You really need to try it more than once.”Along with the eight hives in the huts, there are six to eight more near a special pond on the ranch where the bees drink. Last summer, over a hundred people came to Capella Ranch to check out the bees; a TikTok Charlie made announcing that the huts were open has gained about 20,000 views.One of those visitors, a reiki and yoga teacher from Fort Collins named Yarmey, found Capella Ranch on Instagram. “I'm really interested in energy and grounding and our connection to nature,” she says. Reiki is a practice of directing energy to help facilitate healing.After her first visit, Yarmey came back a second time, when she says she was really able to share a meditative space with the bees, reveling in their presence in a way that humans rarely get to do with other species.“When else in your life do you get to share space with a million other beings who all are very clear about their purpose and their path and what they need to be doing? Everything felt a little slower, more grounded.”The huts are now open for a second season; anyone is welcome except those allergic to bee or wasp stings. A thirty-minute session is $35; an hour runs $60. CONCERT PICK OF THE WEEKDENVER POST: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, with Angel Olsen - this Thursday and Friday night at Red Rocks.By JOHN WENZEL | jwenzel@denverpost.com | The Denver PostApril 28, 2023 at 6:00 a.m.Jason Isbell's voice can be a strapping, mournful thing, muscular and dripping with vulnerability as he chronicles his life in song. And on this day, it's still waking up.“This time of year I drink my black coffee cold so I can get it down quicker,” the 44-year-old singer-songwriter said over the phone from his Nashville porch on Monday. “I've spent so many years working late at night that it makes it hard for me to get on with normal life. It's tough, you know? But I think it's tough no matter how you do it.”Isbell's family and acclaimed music career test his resolve while giving him motivation to stay sober and productive. He has won a quartet of Grammy Awards since 2018 — about a decade after getting kicked out of his former alt-country band, Drive-By Truckers, for drinking and drugs In the HBO Max documentary “Music Box: Jason Isbell — Running with Our Eyes Closed,” which was released on April 7, we're afforded a close-up on his life as he records the album “Reunions” with his band, the 400 Unit. His intimate musical and romantic partnership with wife Amanda Shires (who is an acclaimed solo artist herself), his love of his daughter Mercy Rose, his past divorce, and the shock of the pandemic are all there in vivid cross-section.“If you're a recording artist or entertainer with any kind of success, you don't want to spend too much time looking back,” said Isbell, who was born in Green Hill, Ala., to a 17-year-old mother. “It's a self-centered way of living. But one thing I was surprised by watching the (documentary) is that I'd forgotten how hard those old days were, growing up where I did and having addiction issues. It was nice to see but painful to watch, that all of this was real and really happened to me, even if it's long in the rearview.”Isbell will headline Red Rocks Amphitheatre May 3 and 4 with the 400 Unit, on tour for their new album “Weathervanes,” to be released June 9. The lead single “Death Wish” has already been covered by Jack White and featured on “American Idol.” Isbell's melodies channel Americana, folk, country, and rock and roll. His lyrics are cutting, urgent, and full of visceral metaphors. On “Death Wish,” he sings:“I wanted action, she wanted answers / Sunrise with the dealers and the dancers / It takes a whole lot of medicine to feel like a little kid.”Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit With Angel Olsen, Two shows, May 3 and 4, at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Tickets at axs.com, and I think Adam may have an extra still, too. Welp, that's it for me! From Denver I'm Sean Diller. Original reporting for the stories in today's show comes from Colorado Newsline, Arizona Mirror, Denver Post, and Denver's Westword.Thank you for listening! See you next time.

Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs FOUR gun control bills into law | Colorado lawmakers stand with Zooey Zephyr of Montana | Anti-hate groups worry domestic extremists will be training Arizona police under new rule | A chance to see her bee business take off | Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit at Red Rocks and on HBO Max documentary Song playsIntro by hostWelcome to High Country - politics in the American West. My name is Sean Diller; regular listeners might know me from Heartland Pod's Talking Politics, every Monday.Support this show and all the work in the Heartland POD universe by going to heartlandpod.com and clicking the link for Patreon, or go to Patreon.com/HeartlandPod to sign up. Membership starts at $1/month, with even more extra shows and special access at the higher levels. No matter the level you choose, your membership helps us create these independent shows as we work together to change the conversation.Alright! Let's get into it: COLORADO NEWSLINE: Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs four gun control bills into lawGOVERNMENTBY: SARA WILSON - APRIL 28, 2023 11:54 AMThe Governor, surrounded by gun-control advocates at a bill signing ceremony said, “Coloradans deserve to be safe in our communities, in our schools, our grocery stores, nightclubs and everywhere in between,” The new laws raise the minimum age to buy a gun to 21, impose a three-day waiting period for gun purchases, expand the state's Extreme Risk Protection Order law and make it easier for gun violence survivors to sue the gun industry.Under Senate Bill 23-170, district attorneys, educators, mental health professionals and other medical providers will be able to petition a judge to confiscate guns from a potentially dangerous person. Previously, only law enforcement and family members had that power under the state's Extreme Risk Protection Order law, also known as the red flag law, which was created in 2019.The expansion aims to increase utilization of the process and extend the petition authority to people who interact with an at-risk person regularly. It is a recognition that some law enforcement officials have been reluctant to use the red flag law when potentially appropriate due to concerns over the Second Amendment.Senate Bill 23-169 raises the age to purchase any gun to 21 years old. Previously, the age restriction was 18 to buy a long gun and 21 to buy a handgun. There are exceptions for members of law enforcement and the military.House Bill 23-1219 imposes a three-day waiting period for people to get a gun after they pay for it. Bill sponsors said that the delayed access to firearms will provide a cooling-off period for people in crisis who might harm themselves or others.Cities will be able to establish longer waiting periods if they choose. If the purchaser's background check takes longer than three days — which it rarely does — they would still need to wait until the background check clears to get their gun.Finally, Senate Bill 23-168 removes a state protection for gun and ammunition dealers and manufactures against lawsuits. Previously, plaintiffs had to pay the legal fees for defendants in dismissed cases involving gun sellers. That is no longer the case.The law makes the gun industry susceptible to lawsuits under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act.bill sponsor Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, a Longmont Democrat, said, “​​We finally, after 23 years of waiting, can open up Colorado courtrooms to gun violence victims and survivors seeking justice,” Less than an hour after the bill signing, Rocky Mountain Gun Owners leader Taylor Rhodes announced on Twitter that the group had already filed lawsuits challenging the minimum age requirement and waiting period laws. He said they are seeking plaintiffs who could establish standing against the other two new laws.Lawmakers are also considering a bill that would outlaw unserialized firearms, also known as ghost guns. Another firearm bill that would have banned semi-automatic weapons in the state died in its first committee hearing last week.The Legislature adjourns on May 8.COLORADO NEWSLINE: Colorado lawmakers stand with Zooey ZephyrDemocratic state Rep. Brianna Titone of Arvada led over 75 Colorado elected officials - including two Republicans - in sending a letter to Montana lawmakers condemning the removal of Rep. Zooey Zephyr and calling for her to be allowed back in the Montana House chamber.In the letter, Rep. Titone said the removal was an attempt to erase trans people amid growing violence against them and an increase in anti-trans laws being passed in state legislatures.Titone said “As elected officials, it is our responsibility to act with integrity and defend our democracy, and we are deeply concerned with erosion of democratic norms we see proliferating in statehouses across the country. Regardless of your personal stance on these issues, she is still a colleague and a duly elected and sworn representative of the people of Montana. Her voice is no less important than yours.”The letter was joined by two Republican lawmakers, state Reps. Ron Weinberg of Loveland and Rick Taggart of Grand Junction.On Tuesday, Montana House Republicans posted a notice announcing they would take up disciplinary measures against Zephyr, Montana's first openly transgender representative, after she said that legislators who voted for a bill that bans gender-affirming care for minors would have blood on their hands, in reference to suicide rates among trans youth. The Montana House voted along party lines Wednesday to bar Zephyr from entering the House floor or gallery for the remainder of the legislative session, only allowing her to participate in votes via Zoom.Rep. Titone made history in 2018 when she was elected the first openly transgender state legislator in Colorado. As chair of the Colorado Legislative LGBTQ caucus, she's worked alongside members of the House and Senate to expand and protect LGBTQ rights in the state.In the letter, Titone applauded Zephyr for her efforts in the Montana Legislature, saying that she has “placed a spotlight of truth on the very real damage anti-trans legislation could have on Montanans who are already struggling with discrimination and growing fear of physical harm.”The Montana state legislative session ends on May 10, and Zephyr is unlikely to be reinstated before the end of the session. Aside from state Rep. Brianna Titone, here are the elected officials from Colorado who signed Titone's letter to the Members of the Montana House of Representatives:Statewide officials:Colorado Secretary of State Jena GriswoldColorado State Treasurer Dave YoungColorado state senators and representatives:House Speaker Julie McCluskieSenate President Steve FenbergHouse Majority Leader Monica DuranSenate Majority Leader Dominick MorenoRep. Ruby DicksonRep. Jenny WillfordRep. David OrtizRep. Kyle BrownRep. Sheila Lieder Rep. Cathy KippRep. Lindsey DaughertyRep. Steven WoodrowRep. Mary YoungRep. Barbara McLachlanRep. Meg FroelichRep. Lorena GarciaRep. Steph VigilRep. Jennifer Lea ParentiRep. Michael J. WeissmanRep. Mandy LindsayRep. Junie Joseph Rep. Karen McCormickRep. Said SharbiniRep. Elizabeth VelascoRep. Regina EnglishRep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez Rep. Elisabeth Epps Sen. Lisa A CutterRep. Tammy StoryRep. Naquetta RicksRep. Dafna Michaelson JenetRep. Andrew Boesenecker Rep. Iman JodehRep. Emily SirotaRep. Shannon BirdRep. Marc SnyderRep. Meghan LukensRep. Jennifer BaconRep. Chris deGruy KennedySen. Janet Buckner Sen. Julie GonzalesSen. Nick HinrichsenSen. Janice MarchmanRep. Eliza Hamrick Rep. Matthew MartinezRep. Ron Weinberg Sen. Rhonda FieldsSen. Faith WinterRep. Javier MabreyRep. Judy AmabileRep. William LindstedtSen. Rachel ZenzingerRep. Leslie HerodRep. Bob MarshallRep. Rick TaggartRep. Tisha MauroSen. Sonya Jaquez LewisSen. Chris HansenSen. Dylan RobertsSen. Jeff BridgesRep. Alex ValdezSen. Jessie DanielsonSen. Tony ExumLocal government:Castle Pines City Councilman Roger D. HudsonBroomfield Mayor Guyleen CastriottaArvada City Councilmember Randy MoormanArvada City Councilmember Lauren SimpsonErie Trustee Emily BaerErie Trustee Daniel HobackErie Mayor Justin BrooksBoulder County Commissioner Ashley StolzmannGreeley City Councilor Tommy ButlerGreeley City Councilor Member Deborah L DeBoutezBoulder Mayor Aaron BrockettDouglas County Commissioner Abe LaydonARIZONA MIRROR: Anti-hate groups worry about Arizona law enforcement trainingBY: ISAAC STONE SIMONELLI/AZCIR - MONDAY MAY 1, 2023 11:32 AMWarnings issued by high-profile civil rights and advocacy groups to Arizona's governor and attorney general failed to stop a rule change that effectively lowers the bar for extremist organizations attempting to radicalize law enforcement officers through government-funded training.Letters sent in March by the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection, the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center warned the rule creates a loophole that could be exploited by domestic extremist groups.The contentious rule change, as first reported by AZCIR in 2022, shifted the responsibility of continuing education training oversight from the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board to local law enforcement heads. In their letters, the groups cited an increase in extremist and conspiratorial rhetoric espoused by Arizona public officials, specifically, publicly elected sheriffs. “We are deeply concerned by the possibility that this amended rule will open the door for Arizona peace officers to receive training from adherents of the ‘constitutional sheriffs' movement and other actors who urge local law enforcement to assume authorities beyond those allowed by law,” wrote Mary McCord, the executive director of Georgetown University Law Center's ICAP, a nonpartisan institute focused on constitutional rights and protecting democratic processes.McCord warned that such taxpayer-funded trainings “would place residents at risk of improper activity by county peace officers” and pose a particular threat to brown and Black communities, “who are at the greatest risk of harm from abuses by law enforcement.”The letters cited previous reporting about so-called “constitutional sheriff” groups, which include the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association. The group is part of a national movement built on the idea that a local sheriff's power supersedes that of higher government entities including the U.S. president and the U.S. Supreme Court, and that sheriffs have a duty to nullify laws they interpret as unconstitutional.The civil rights and advocacy organizations highlighted numerous connections between the CSPOA and a variety of hate groups, with the NAACP denouncing some CSPOA members as “prominent antisemites, QAnon conspiracists, white nationalists and neo-confederates.”Sarah Kader, community manager for ADL Arizona, a state-level branch of a national organization that combats hate groups in the U.S., wrote “If the revised rule goes into effect, we fear that domestic extremists, based on their previous actions, will rush to take advantage of the opportunity,” Rachel Goldwasser, a senior research analyst for the Southern Poverty Law Center, warned that the rule change could be used as a blueprint for creating workarounds allowing extremist organizations to train law enforcement in other states.Neither the governor, Democrat Katie Hobbs nor the attorney general, Democrat Kris Mayes, directly addressed concerns about neo-confederates and other domestic extremists running law enforcement trainings.ADL confirmed it did not receive a response from Gov. Hobbs' office until after the rule change took effect, though a spokesperson indicated the group had “every reason to believe that the Governor's office understands the concerns we have raised in our letters and is taking them seriously.” In their letters, ADL, SPLC and the NAACP all expressed concerns that more than half of Arizona sheriffs are at least partially aligned with the constitutional sheriff movement—connections AZCIR highlighted in its 2022 reporting.Rachel Goldwasser of SPLC said “Arizona has a large extremist presence in the Legislature, sheriffs' offices and among the public, unfortunately. They'll exploit any opportunity for these extremists to spread their ideology.”Three of the four letters also issued a warning about Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, who has known ties to CSPOA and is the frontman for Protect America Now, another so-called “constitutional sheriff” organization.Lamb, who announced a bid for the U.S. Senate in April, has developed a national presence by appearing on a slew of fringe right-wing news networks and podcasts, including those espousing QAnon conspiracies. Lamb did not respond to a request for comment.Sarah Kader of ADL said “In recent years, extreme ideologies have been mainstreamed and normalized at an alarming pace. This is due in large part to the growing number of elected officials and other high-profile individuals who traffic in conspiracies and hate.”This article first appeared on Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.DENVER WESTWORD: How Hard Can it Bee? ZzzzzzBee Here Now: Capella Ranch Has a Honey of an IdeaCATIE CHESHIRE APRIL 25, 2023 6:53AMIn countries like Germany and Slovenia, inhaling the aerosol created by bees in an apiary, or collection of beehives, is an authorized treatment for respiratory diseases. But in the United States, there are only three places that offer the experience: one in Georgia, one in Michigan, and Capella Ranch in Lafayette Colorado, which just opened for its second season.Carolyn Peterson, who owns the ranch with her family said “I'm going to be out here all summer, talking to people and enjoying them and hearing their stories. They're going to come stressed out, and then they're going to leave relaxed.”Capella Ranch currently has sheep, Nigerian dwarf goats, Nubian goats, ducks, chickens, a few turkeys and, of course, bees, the first of which arrived in 2018. To create their bee therapy Shangri-la, the Petersons started by building two cedar huts shaped like irregular pentagons. The cedar contributes to the aroma in the huts, although its durability in the Colorado weather is its chief asset here. The slanted roof of the hut concentrates the aerosol so people can breathe it in while they're lying flat. “Everyone comes out with a different experience,” Carolyn says. “They get in there. They lie down. They take in the whole thing, and then they just sort of concentrate on the humming of the bees.”When bees make honey, there's a lot of water in it at first, so the insects work to reduce the moisture content by flapping their wings. As it evaporates, the moisture is carried into the air to form an aerosol that people find therapeutic.The bees also create an electromagnetic field with their vibration, which is at a frequency that's calming to the human parasympathetic nervous system - a network of nerves that helps relax the body. Some people can feel the field, but most notice the smell first. Underneath the scent of cedar, there is the aromatic tang of the bees at work. Almost like the smell of a newborn baby, but with an extra oomph.“That is all the pollen, nectars, amino acids and essential oils that the bees are bringing in to make the honey,” Carolyn says. “It's just kind of an odd smell, and it's supposed to be very good to breathe in.”In Slovenia, the bee experience has been used to calm firefighters after hard jobs, children who have behavioral problems at school, and parents of those children, who might need some relaxation as well. The Petersons note that they aren't medical professionals, so they don't consider their huts medicinal.“If it happens to help, great,” Carolyn says. “It's relaxing. It's thirty minutes of nobody bugging you.”One person who says the bee huts have helped is Marsha Ruggeri, who lives in Lafayette. She went to Capella Ranch four times during its inaugural season.She first came with a friend who'd bought a deal on Groupon. After struggling with heightened asthma symptoms the past two years — which she attributes to wildfires and air pollution — Ruggeri was excited to learn of a potential way to alleviate her symptoms.And, it worked!“I'm not saying it was a panacea,” she says. “It felt like I was actually doing something that wasn't an inhaler or medication and I was regaining some control over how my body was reacting to all this shit in the air.”On Ruggeri's third visit, she experienced the electromagnetic field produced by the bees.“I was laying on my side, and then all of a sudden, I could feel it,” she says. “It really deserves more than one treatment. It's kind of like people who go for acupuncture, and they're like, ‘Well, it didn't do anything for me.' You really need to try it more than once.”Along with the eight hives in the huts, there are six to eight more near a special pond on the ranch where the bees drink. Last summer, over a hundred people came to Capella Ranch to check out the bees; a TikTok Charlie made announcing that the huts were open has gained about 20,000 views.One of those visitors, a reiki and yoga teacher from Fort Collins named Yarmey, found Capella Ranch on Instagram. “I'm really interested in energy and grounding and our connection to nature,” she says. Reiki is a practice of directing energy to help facilitate healing.After her first visit, Yarmey came back a second time, when she says she was really able to share a meditative space with the bees, reveling in their presence in a way that humans rarely get to do with other species.“When else in your life do you get to share space with a million other beings who all are very clear about their purpose and their path and what they need to be doing? Everything felt a little slower, more grounded.”The huts are now open for a second season; anyone is welcome except those allergic to bee or wasp stings. A thirty-minute session is $35; an hour runs $60. CONCERT PICK OF THE WEEKDENVER POST: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, with Angel Olsen - this Thursday and Friday night at Red Rocks.By JOHN WENZEL | jwenzel@denverpost.com | The Denver PostApril 28, 2023 at 6:00 a.m.Jason Isbell's voice can be a strapping, mournful thing, muscular and dripping with vulnerability as he chronicles his life in song. And on this day, it's still waking up.“This time of year I drink my black coffee cold so I can get it down quicker,” the 44-year-old singer-songwriter said over the phone from his Nashville porch on Monday. “I've spent so many years working late at night that it makes it hard for me to get on with normal life. It's tough, you know? But I think it's tough no matter how you do it.”Isbell's family and acclaimed music career test his resolve while giving him motivation to stay sober and productive. He has won a quartet of Grammy Awards since 2018 — about a decade after getting kicked out of his former alt-country band, Drive-By Truckers, for drinking and drugs In the HBO Max documentary “Music Box: Jason Isbell — Running with Our Eyes Closed,” which was released on April 7, we're afforded a close-up on his life as he records the album “Reunions” with his band, the 400 Unit. His intimate musical and romantic partnership with wife Amanda Shires (who is an acclaimed solo artist herself), his love of his daughter Mercy Rose, his past divorce, and the shock of the pandemic are all there in vivid cross-section.“If you're a recording artist or entertainer with any kind of success, you don't want to spend too much time looking back,” said Isbell, who was born in Green Hill, Ala., to a 17-year-old mother. “It's a self-centered way of living. But one thing I was surprised by watching the (documentary) is that I'd forgotten how hard those old days were, growing up where I did and having addiction issues. It was nice to see but painful to watch, that all of this was real and really happened to me, even if it's long in the rearview.”Isbell will headline Red Rocks Amphitheatre May 3 and 4 with the 400 Unit, on tour for their new album “Weathervanes,” to be released June 9. The lead single “Death Wish” has already been covered by Jack White and featured on “American Idol.” Isbell's melodies channel Americana, folk, country, and rock and roll. His lyrics are cutting, urgent, and full of visceral metaphors. On “Death Wish,” he sings:“I wanted action, she wanted answers / Sunrise with the dealers and the dancers / It takes a whole lot of medicine to feel like a little kid.”Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit With Angel Olsen, Two shows, May 3 and 4, at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Tickets at axs.com, and I think Adam may have an extra still, too. Welp, that's it for me! From Denver I'm Sean Diller. Original reporting for the stories in today's show comes from Colorado Newsline, Arizona Mirror, Denver Post, and Denver's Westword.Thank you for listening! See you next time.

Aurora Interim Police Chief Art Acevedo stays for the next half hour to answer more questions from you. Then Geroge welcomes Arapahoe County Sheriff Tyler Brown to talk about the Colorado Legislature doing their best to NOT hold juvenile offenders responsible for their crimes, unless they murder someone...but anything else, forget it.  Parents, how would it go with your kids if you only had a punishment for the single most serious thing they could do wrong?  Should we expect a different outcome if this idea becomes law?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the Get More Smarter Podcast, House Republicans continue to filibuster without wanting anything; will they do it for the next 15 days or so? The title of this show, the Get More Smarter Podcast, is intentionally bad grammar (for those of you who have emailed us about it), but someone out there in the world is showing why we can't even joke about it anymore. While more mass shootings happen every single day in this country, Democrats in the Colorado Legislature have passed more bills to address gun violence prevention. And there's a new poll out about our 8th favorite member of congress from Colorado; Rep. Lauren Boebert is in deep, deep cow dung. 

Kyrsten Sinema gets first GOP challenger in AZ Senate race | Poll shows Lauren Boebert is in trouble | Denver students demand action on gun violence | Sen Michael Bennet and Rep Joe Neguse speak out against Utah rail project that would send daily oil trains through Colorado communities | Gipsy Kings announce Renaissance tour kickoff in DenverSong playsIntro by hostWelcome to High Country - politics in the American West. My name is Sean Diller; regular listeners might know me from Heartland Pod's Talking Politics, every Monday.Support this show and all the work in the Heartland POD universe by going to heartlandpod.com and clicking the link for Patreon, or go to Patreon.com/HeartlandPod to sign up. Membership starts at $1/month, with even more extra shows and special access at the higher levels. No matter the level you choose, your membership helps us create these independent shows as we work together to change the conversation.Alright! Let's get into it: ARIZONA MIRROR:AZ Sen Kyrsten Sinema gets her first Republican challengerBY: JEROD MACDONALD-EVOY - APRIL 11, 2023 1:25 PMRepublican Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb is the first Republican to enter the 2024 contest, but is unlikely to be the last. Sinema, who won in 2018 as a Democrat but last year left the party to become an independent, has already drawn a challenge from Democratic Congressman U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego of Phoenix.Mark Lamb was first elected sheriff of Pinal County in 2016, and since then has regularly appeared on far-right fringe media outlets.Lamb has partnered with groups like True the Vote that have pursued far-flung conspiracy theories of election fraud and lied to law enforcement. Lamb has also railed against vaccines, and is part of a right-wing group that call themselves the “constitutional sheriffs.”  Led by former Graham County Arizona Sheriff Richard Mack, the Constitutional Sheriffs are a sovereign-citizen group that believes a “New World Order” is aiming to take away guns — and that sheriffs are on the frontlines of stopping “election fraud.” The group takes a favorable view of armed citizen militias, including militias that are active along Arizona's border with Mexico, and some whose leaders were at the Jan. 6 riot. Lamb is also a favorite of QAnon conspiracy theorists, signing a copy of a book for a QAnon influencer with the QAnon slogan “WWG1WGA.”Lamb has appeared on a number of QAnon-related shows, as well, including one with a history of antisemitic comments. TruNews has published antisemitic rhetoric on its site, including a piece in which founder Rick Wiles spent an hour and a half saying that “seditious Jews” were “orchestrating” to impeach Trump, and calling Jewish people “tyrants.” Wiles has also claimed that the anti-Christ will be a “homosexual Jew.” He was interviewed by Lauren Witzke and, during an episode in which Sheriff Lamb also appeared, Wiles said that Jews “squash” and “crush” people. Witzke is a conspiracy theorist and has echoed white nationalist beliefs herself. During an appearance on the white nationalist podcast No White Guilt, Witzke echoed the racist “great replacement” theory. Lamb supported Lauren Witzke when she ran for U.S. Senate in Delaware, and has also echoed the “great replacement” theory on another QAnon talk show.Lamb is likely to be joined by other GOP contenders in the Senate race, with Kari Lake and Blake Masters two of the most-watched. COLORADO NEWSLINE: Poll shows Lauren Boebert is in troubleBY: SARA WILSON - APRIL 11, 2023 1:19 PMIf the 2024 election were held today, 45% of voters would choose Democrat Adam Frisch, and 45% would choose Boebert, according to findings from a poll released Tuesday.Among voters who knew of both Adam Frisch and Lauren Boebert, Frisch led by 19 percentage points.The poll, conducted by progressive organizations ProgressNow Colorado and Global Strategy Group, surveyed 600 likely voters in Colorado's 3rd Congressional District and has a 4.4% margin of error.Among Republicans who described themselves as not very conservative, 60% back Boebert, 24% back Frisch and 16% are undecided. Pollsters said this shows an opportunity for Frisch to gain ground with moderate voters who may be disillusioned with Boebert's extreme politics and headline-grabbing antics.Boebert's unfavorable rating has grown in the past two years. In March 2021, 39% of respondents had an unfavorable view of her. Now, 50% of them do.The race was unexpectedly close in the 2022 midterms. with Boebert, the highly controversial conservative lawmaker, beating former Aspen City Councilman Adam Frisch by just 546 votes in the right-leaning district. The district encompasses the Western Slope and the southwest corner of the state, sweeping east to include Pueblo, Otero and Las Animas counties. After the most recent redistricting in 2022, the district favors Republicans by 9 percentage points.Frisch has already started his campaign for the seat in 2024 and raised $1.7 million in a strong start.That sets the stage for the race to receive national attention — and dollars — as Democrats view Boebert as vulnerable in a presidential election year with higher expected turnout.The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has announced that it will target Boebert in 2024.COLORADO NEWSLINE: Denver Students Demand Action on gun violenceBY: LINDSEY TOOMER - APRIL 6, 2023 4:00 AM     Student leaders across the Denver metro area want their voices to be heard, as they balance being high school students with pushing state lawmakers to take action on gun reform. Students Demand Action groups have formed at multiple high schools across the city amid increasing gun violence, particularly at Denver East High School. Hundreds of Denver-area students have marched to the Colorado Capitol to testify in favor of gun reform and press legislators on how they plan to keep students safe.This school year alone, East High has seen multiple gun-related incidents involving its students: A freshman at East was shot outside the neighboring Carla Madison Recreation Center. Student Luis Garcia died after he was shot in his car in the East parking lot. Student Austin Lyle shot two faculty members while he was being patted down for weapons, then fled and was later found dead, with a ghost gun next to his body. Gracie and Clara Taub, both sophomores at East High School, started a chapter of Students Demand Action last year and have watched it grow immensely, with about 90 people in the club now. Clara said that while the reason behind the club's growth is sad, it's powerful to bring together and amplify the student voice. Students Demand Action is a national initiative for high school and college students to advocate for gun violence prevention, with more than 600 groups formed since the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Florida.The twin sisters have been advocating gun reform since the Parkland shooting, when they were in fifth grade and Gracie organized a walkout at their school. Now that they've seen gun violence harm their own community, they've led multiple student marches to the Capitol to talk to legislators and testify at bill hearings as co-presidents of Students Demand Action.Gracie said of her sister, “I'm really grateful to have someone by my side who's as passionate as me. We've been working together on everything our whole lives, so it was sort of natural that we did this together.”And it's not just students at East who are getting involved. Gracie said this year they've had students from five or six different schools joining them, along with teachers. The student leaders hope to have a Denver district-wide Students Demand Action meeting soon.Agnes Holena, a sophomore at Cherry Creek High School in Greenwood Village, found out about Students Demand Action through her role in her school's student Senate and started a chapter with two of her peers in November. She said the organization isn't about politics - it's about safety. “Since I've started going to such a big high school, shootings have been a genuine worry of mine,” Holena said. “When I leave my classroom to go get water during class, I always think about ‘Where will I go if somebody were to walk in,' and I just feel like that's not the way I should feel or any other students should feel and that this is something that needs to be talked about.”“When there's more people involved, people pay attention, and when there's more students, legislators see that these are kids,” Holena said. “It's different when there's a lot of adults coming together, but when it's the kids who are saying they're scared going to school, I think that really calls for attention.”For Agnes, engaging with the Legislature has been intimidating, but she's found herself prioritizing it because of the chance she might change just one lawmaker's mind. While some legislators have supported and encouraged Students Demand Action leaders to push their limits in their advocacy until change is made, Gracie thinks others too often make excuses for why they can't support certain gun-related bills or why a state bill to ban assault weapons isn't being prioritized. The Colorado Legislature has a strong Democratic majority, and four bills intended to curb gun violence have already passed both chambers this session. But to Clara, these bills are still “pretty basic gun sense.” She wants to see a state bill regulating ghost guns introduced this session. Clara said her generation is learning the flaws of the legislative process, and is taking notes on how they will change it when it's their turn to lead. COLORADO NEWSLINE: No train for oil!BY: CHASE WOODRUFF - APRIL 8, 2023 4:30 AMSome of Colorado's top Democratic elected officials issued their most united and forceful call yet to halt a planned Utah railway expansion, that would send up to five two-mile-long oil trains per day through sensitive mountain ecosystems. U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet and Rep. Joe Neguse joined state and local leaders on the banks of the Colorado River in Glenwood Canyon, just yards away from the tracks of the Union Pacific railroad that snakes through the canyon, alongside the river and Interstate 70. Not far away were areas burned by the 2020 Grizzly Creek Fire, and sections of the highway that were shut down for weeks by mudslides a year later.Glenwood Springs Mayor Jonathan Godes said “To say that this canyon is anything but an incredibly fragile place, to say that this river is anything but in crisis in the American West, is to ignore reality.” Colorado officials say they're alarmed by the risks to Glenwood Canyon and other vulnerable areas by the Uinta Basin Railway Project, an 88-mile railroad extension that would allow oil produced in Eastern Utah to be shipped to Gulf Coast refineries through Colorado's central mountain communities and the densely populated Front Range.Several key permits for the new railway have already been approved by President Joe Biden's administration, but Sen Bennet and Rep Neguse have called on at least four different federal agencies to conduct additional reviews before the project's financing is finalized and construction begins.Mountain communities worry about the threat of the Uinta Basin trains potentially derailing and spilling oil into sensitive watersheds, or sparking dangerous wildfires in Colorado forests that are increasingly at risk from climate change. Officials in Denver estimate that the Uinta Basin project could quadruple the number of rail cars with hazardous material traveling through the city every day.Colorado State House Speaker Julie McCluskie, state Sen. Dylan Roberts and state Rep. Elizabeth Velasquez, all Democrats who represent mountain communities along the rail route, also spoke in opposition to the project.Five environmental groups and the government of Eagle County Colorado are suing to block the project.As officials wrapped up their press conference beside a popular Colorado River boat ramp, Senator Bennet waved through three anglers who launched their boat and pushed off downriver. Sen. Bennet said that given the importance of the river to the Western Slope's economy and the risks posed by climate change, there aren't any safeguards that would make the risks of the Uinta Basin project acceptable.“This train has no business bringing this oil through Colorado, period.” Sen Bennet said. “Anybody who has spent serious time in this canyon understands what the risks really are — what these mudslides really look like, what these wildfires really look like here.”CONCERT PICK OF THE WEEK: The Gipsy Kings! This legendary group is kicking off a spring tour with the first show in Denver, at the Paramount Theatre on Friday April 14. With more than 20 million albums sold and a career spanning 30 years, the legendary Gipsy Kings are hitting the road in support of their new album, Renaissance. Welp, that's it for me! From Denver I'm Sean Diller. Original reporting for the stories in today's show comes from the Arizona Mirror, Colorado Newsline, Colorado Sun, and Denver's Westword.Thank you for listening! See you next time.

Kyrsten Sinema gets first GOP challenger in AZ Senate race | Poll shows Lauren Boebert is in trouble | Denver students demand action on gun violence | Sen Michael Bennet and Rep Joe Neguse speak out against Utah rail project that would send daily oil trains through Colorado communities | Gipsy Kings announce Renaissance tour kickoff in DenverSong playsIntro by hostWelcome to High Country - politics in the American West. My name is Sean Diller; regular listeners might know me from Heartland Pod's Talking Politics, every Monday.Support this show and all the work in the Heartland POD universe by going to heartlandpod.com and clicking the link for Patreon, or go to Patreon.com/HeartlandPod to sign up. Membership starts at $1/month, with even more extra shows and special access at the higher levels. No matter the level you choose, your membership helps us create these independent shows as we work together to change the conversation.Alright! Let's get into it: ARIZONA MIRROR:AZ Sen Kyrsten Sinema gets her first Republican challengerBY: JEROD MACDONALD-EVOY - APRIL 11, 2023 1:25 PMRepublican Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb is the first Republican to enter the 2024 contest, but is unlikely to be the last. Sinema, who won in 2018 as a Democrat but last year left the party to become an independent, has already drawn a challenge from Democratic Congressman U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego of Phoenix.Mark Lamb was first elected sheriff of Pinal County in 2016, and since then has regularly appeared on far-right fringe media outlets.Lamb has partnered with groups like True the Vote that have pursued far-flung conspiracy theories of election fraud and lied to law enforcement. Lamb has also railed against vaccines, and is part of a right-wing group that call themselves the “constitutional sheriffs.”  Led by former Graham County Arizona Sheriff Richard Mack, the Constitutional Sheriffs are a sovereign-citizen group that believes a “New World Order” is aiming to take away guns — and that sheriffs are on the frontlines of stopping “election fraud.” The group takes a favorable view of armed citizen militias, including militias that are active along Arizona's border with Mexico, and some whose leaders were at the Jan. 6 riot. Lamb is also a favorite of QAnon conspiracy theorists, signing a copy of a book for a QAnon influencer with the QAnon slogan “WWG1WGA.”Lamb has appeared on a number of QAnon-related shows, as well, including one with a history of antisemitic comments. TruNews has published antisemitic rhetoric on its site, including a piece in which founder Rick Wiles spent an hour and a half saying that “seditious Jews” were “orchestrating” to impeach Trump, and calling Jewish people “tyrants.” Wiles has also claimed that the anti-Christ will be a “homosexual Jew.” He was interviewed by Lauren Witzke and, during an episode in which Sheriff Lamb also appeared, Wiles said that Jews “squash” and “crush” people. Witzke is a conspiracy theorist and has echoed white nationalist beliefs herself. During an appearance on the white nationalist podcast No White Guilt, Witzke echoed the racist “great replacement” theory. Lamb supported Lauren Witzke when she ran for U.S. Senate in Delaware, and has also echoed the “great replacement” theory on another QAnon talk show.Lamb is likely to be joined by other GOP contenders in the Senate race, with Kari Lake and Blake Masters two of the most-watched. COLORADO NEWSLINE: Poll shows Lauren Boebert is in troubleBY: SARA WILSON - APRIL 11, 2023 1:19 PMIf the 2024 election were held today, 45% of voters would choose Democrat Adam Frisch, and 45% would choose Boebert, according to findings from a poll released Tuesday.Among voters who knew of both Adam Frisch and Lauren Boebert, Frisch led by 19 percentage points.The poll, conducted by progressive organizations ProgressNow Colorado and Global Strategy Group, surveyed 600 likely voters in Colorado's 3rd Congressional District and has a 4.4% margin of error.Among Republicans who described themselves as not very conservative, 60% back Boebert, 24% back Frisch and 16% are undecided. Pollsters said this shows an opportunity for Frisch to gain ground with moderate voters who may be disillusioned with Boebert's extreme politics and headline-grabbing antics.Boebert's unfavorable rating has grown in the past two years. In March 2021, 39% of respondents had an unfavorable view of her. Now, 50% of them do.The race was unexpectedly close in the 2022 midterms. with Boebert, the highly controversial conservative lawmaker, beating former Aspen City Councilman Adam Frisch by just 546 votes in the right-leaning district. The district encompasses the Western Slope and the southwest corner of the state, sweeping east to include Pueblo, Otero and Las Animas counties. After the most recent redistricting in 2022, the district favors Republicans by 9 percentage points.Frisch has already started his campaign for the seat in 2024 and raised $1.7 million in a strong start.That sets the stage for the race to receive national attention — and dollars — as Democrats view Boebert as vulnerable in a presidential election year with higher expected turnout.The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has announced that it will target Boebert in 2024.COLORADO NEWSLINE: Denver Students Demand Action on gun violenceBY: LINDSEY TOOMER - APRIL 6, 2023 4:00 AM     Student leaders across the Denver metro area want their voices to be heard, as they balance being high school students with pushing state lawmakers to take action on gun reform. Students Demand Action groups have formed at multiple high schools across the city amid increasing gun violence, particularly at Denver East High School. Hundreds of Denver-area students have marched to the Colorado Capitol to testify in favor of gun reform and press legislators on how they plan to keep students safe.This school year alone, East High has seen multiple gun-related incidents involving its students: A freshman at East was shot outside the neighboring Carla Madison Recreation Center. Student Luis Garcia died after he was shot in his car in the East parking lot. Student Austin Lyle shot two faculty members while he was being patted down for weapons, then fled and was later found dead, with a ghost gun next to his body. Gracie and Clara Taub, both sophomores at East High School, started a chapter of Students Demand Action last year and have watched it grow immensely, with about 90 people in the club now. Clara said that while the reason behind the club's growth is sad, it's powerful to bring together and amplify the student voice. Students Demand Action is a national initiative for high school and college students to advocate for gun violence prevention, with more than 600 groups formed since the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Florida.The twin sisters have been advocating gun reform since the Parkland shooting, when they were in fifth grade and Gracie organized a walkout at their school. Now that they've seen gun violence harm their own community, they've led multiple student marches to the Capitol to talk to legislators and testify at bill hearings as co-presidents of Students Demand Action.Gracie said of her sister, “I'm really grateful to have someone by my side who's as passionate as me. We've been working together on everything our whole lives, so it was sort of natural that we did this together.”And it's not just students at East who are getting involved. Gracie said this year they've had students from five or six different schools joining them, along with teachers. The student leaders hope to have a Denver district-wide Students Demand Action meeting soon.Agnes Holena, a sophomore at Cherry Creek High School in Greenwood Village, found out about Students Demand Action through her role in her school's student Senate and started a chapter with two of her peers in November. She said the organization isn't about politics - it's about safety. “Since I've started going to such a big high school, shootings have been a genuine worry of mine,” Holena said. “When I leave my classroom to go get water during class, I always think about ‘Where will I go if somebody were to walk in,' and I just feel like that's not the way I should feel or any other students should feel and that this is something that needs to be talked about.”“When there's more people involved, people pay attention, and when there's more students, legislators see that these are kids,” Holena said. “It's different when there's a lot of adults coming together, but when it's the kids who are saying they're scared going to school, I think that really calls for attention.”For Agnes, engaging with the Legislature has been intimidating, but she's found herself prioritizing it because of the chance she might change just one lawmaker's mind. While some legislators have supported and encouraged Students Demand Action leaders to push their limits in their advocacy until change is made, Gracie thinks others too often make excuses for why they can't support certain gun-related bills or why a state bill to ban assault weapons isn't being prioritized. The Colorado Legislature has a strong Democratic majority, and four bills intended to curb gun violence have already passed both chambers this session. But to Clara, these bills are still “pretty basic gun sense.” She wants to see a state bill regulating ghost guns introduced this session. Clara said her generation is learning the flaws of the legislative process, and is taking notes on how they will change it when it's their turn to lead. COLORADO NEWSLINE: No train for oil!BY: CHASE WOODRUFF - APRIL 8, 2023 4:30 AMSome of Colorado's top Democratic elected officials issued their most united and forceful call yet to halt a planned Utah railway expansion, that would send up to five two-mile-long oil trains per day through sensitive mountain ecosystems. U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet and Rep. Joe Neguse joined state and local leaders on the banks of the Colorado River in Glenwood Canyon, just yards away from the tracks of the Union Pacific railroad that snakes through the canyon, alongside the river and Interstate 70. Not far away were areas burned by the 2020 Grizzly Creek Fire, and sections of the highway that were shut down for weeks by mudslides a year later.Glenwood Springs Mayor Jonathan Godes said “To say that this canyon is anything but an incredibly fragile place, to say that this river is anything but in crisis in the American West, is to ignore reality.” Colorado officials say they're alarmed by the risks to Glenwood Canyon and other vulnerable areas by the Uinta Basin Railway Project, an 88-mile railroad extension that would allow oil produced in Eastern Utah to be shipped to Gulf Coast refineries through Colorado's central mountain communities and the densely populated Front Range.Several key permits for the new railway have already been approved by President Joe Biden's administration, but Sen Bennet and Rep Neguse have called on at least four different federal agencies to conduct additional reviews before the project's financing is finalized and construction begins.Mountain communities worry about the threat of the Uinta Basin trains potentially derailing and spilling oil into sensitive watersheds, or sparking dangerous wildfires in Colorado forests that are increasingly at risk from climate change. Officials in Denver estimate that the Uinta Basin project could quadruple the number of rail cars with hazardous material traveling through the city every day.Colorado State House Speaker Julie McCluskie, state Sen. Dylan Roberts and state Rep. Elizabeth Velasquez, all Democrats who represent mountain communities along the rail route, also spoke in opposition to the project.Five environmental groups and the government of Eagle County Colorado are suing to block the project.As officials wrapped up their press conference beside a popular Colorado River boat ramp, Senator Bennet waved through three anglers who launched their boat and pushed off downriver. Sen. Bennet said that given the importance of the river to the Western Slope's economy and the risks posed by climate change, there aren't any safeguards that would make the risks of the Uinta Basin project acceptable.“This train has no business bringing this oil through Colorado, period.” Sen Bennet said. “Anybody who has spent serious time in this canyon understands what the risks really are — what these mudslides really look like, what these wildfires really look like here.”CONCERT PICK OF THE WEEK: The Gipsy Kings! This legendary group is kicking off a spring tour with the first show in Denver, at the Paramount Theatre on Friday April 14. With more than 20 million albums sold and a career spanning 30 years, the legendary Gipsy Kings are hitting the road in support of their new album, Renaissance. Welp, that's it for me! From Denver I'm Sean Diller. Original reporting for the stories in today's show comes from the Arizona Mirror, Colorado Newsline, Colorado Sun, and Denver's Westword.Thank you for listening! See you next time.

HAS THE SLEW OF LEFTIE BILLS GOT YOU DOWN? Get together with a bunch of other bothered sorts to complain about what the Colorado Legislature is inflicting on us this year at the Independence Institute this Thursday. It's their W(h)ine and Cheese party and you can buy an extremely affordable ticket to it here. Chief Whiner Jon Caldara joins me at 12:30 to discuss.

The Colorado Legislature recently introduced a "Wolf Bill" – Senate Bill 23-256 – that has everyone in a tizzy, and sportsmen hopeful for a way to stop the wolf reintroduction in its tracks. Chris says it's not going to even pass, BUT... For this episode, John McDonald and Justin Nolan join in to talk about the Bill, what it does, what it doesn't do, the Wildlife Commission meeting, the Senate Ag Committee hearing, and the reason Chris changes his mind regarding the Bill by the end of this conversation. There's a lot in here, so if you feel your time is limited, jump to 1 hour and 30 minutes, and start from there, otherwise, listen to it all, process it, and then reach out to Justin at HuntersforColorado@gmail.com and GET INVOLVED! ...we need CHEEKS IN SEATS!!!! Massive thanks to everyone who's reached out and extended their support! Like always, our members – YOU – make all of this possible! I can't thank all of you enough, other than to endeavor to keep these conversations going! Your financial support is the fuel that keeps this engine running!

Arizona GOP moving variety of conspiracy-fueled voter suppression bills | Bill authorizing universal youth mental health screenings at school is moving in Colorado legislature | New Colorado GOP chair is a fringe character, prominent conservatives announce they're leaving the Party | VP Harris announces Biden Administration disbursement of $200 million in wildfire preparedness and mitigation funds | Billy Idol in DenverSong playsIntro by hostWelcome to High Country - politics in the American West. My name is Sean Diller; regular listeners might know me from Heartland Pod's Talking Politics, every Monday.Support this show and all the work in the Heartland POD universe by going to heartlandpod.com and clicking the link for Patreon, or go to Patreon.com/HeartlandPod to sign up. Membership starts at $1/month, with even more extra shows and special access at the higher levels. No matter the level you choose, your membership helps us create these independent shows as we work together to change the conversation.Alright! Let's get into it: ARIZONA MIRROR:Conspiracy theories still dominate Arizona Senate Elections CommitteeBY: JOE DUHOWNIK/COURTHOUSE NEWS SERVICE - MARCH 21, 2023 4:18 PMNearly a month after Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes released documents further disproving claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election, Senate Republicans continue to make the same claims in the election committee.The most recent tantrum came during testimony regarding HB2415, which would remove people from the active early voting mailing list if they go a full year without participating in an election. Republicans said it's a way to declutter the list.Opponents argued that the bill would only disenfranchise voters, as many only vote in presidential elections every four years, and could be removed from the mail ballot list without knowing it.“Conspiracy theories” also came up again later in the committee meeting, this time in regard to HB2591, which would prohibit voters from using ballot drop boxes outside the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and would require that drop boxes be inside or attached to county buildings and be under 24/7 video surveillance. Bill sponsor Gail Griffin, a Republican state representative from Tucson, said she's seen video of “people with boxes coming and dumping ballots,” though she maintained that “2,000 Mules” - a propaganda film about imagined “ballot mules” stuffing ballots in the 2020 election. The fantasy about ballot mules is a cornerstone of the bigger fantasy that Joe Biden stole the 2020 election, even though he won by 3 full percentage points and 7 million votes.Democrats said restricting the times when voters can drop off ballots will make it harder for some to cast their vote. Republicans' only response was that those folks would need to use one of the less accessible options that remain if they want to vote. Cool. The Republican-dominated committee supported five more measures they say will increase election integrity. Republican state Representative Austin Smith sponsored HB2552 to preemptively prohibit ranked choice voting in Arizona. A companion bill already passed through the Senate in February.Jodi Liggett, a lobbyist representing the Arizona League of Women Voters, said more than 60% of Arizona voters support ranked choice voting, which is used in Maine, Alaska, and multiple cities like New York and San Francisco.“There should be no reason to preemptively silence the voice of your own constituents,” she told the committee.The committee ended with discussion on HB2613, which would require that all vote recording tabulation machines be 100% sourced from and built in the U.S. in response to fantasies about foreign tampering of voting machines in the 2020 election - where Donald Trump lost to Joe Biden by 3 full percentage points and 7 million legally cast votes. Jen Marson, representing the Arizona Association of Counties, said the machines used now are already manufactured in the U.S., but some parts, like plastics and electronics, are sourced from other countries.The bill's GOP sponsor said he doesn't know that U.S. companies have the capacity to completely home-grow the voting machines, but “if there is a need, I do believe that the American engineering mindset would step up.”For my part - I'll just say his point makes absolutely no sense.This article was first published by Courthouse News Service and is republished under their terms of use.UCLA HEALTHSuicide rate highest among teens and young adultsMarch 15, 2022By Sandy CohenNote: This article was updated Feb. 23, 2023.Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among people age 15 to 24 in the U.S. Nearly 20% of high school students report serious thoughts of suicide and 9% have made an attempt to take their lives, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.Recent weeks have brought heartbreaking examples of this trend, including the March 1 death of Stanford soccer captain Katie Meyer, 22; and Ohio State football player Harry Miller's revelations that he attempted suicide, shared his struggles with his coach and got help. Miller announced his medical retirement from football on March 10 in a Twitter post that's been shared more than 10,000 times.“This is not an issue reserved for the far and away,” wrote Miller. “It is in our homes. It is in our conversations. It is in the people we love.”Carl Fleisher, MD, who specializes in adolescent and child psychiatry at Boston Child Study Center in Los Angeles said “Teenagers and young adults have had rising rates of suicide compared to 10 or 15 years ago, Young people are particularly vulnerable to suicide. The things that make them vulnerable are where they stand socially and where they stand developmentally.”Developmentally, their judgment and decision-making abilities are still coming online. The prefrontal cortex — the brain's executive control center — doesn't fully develop until one's mid-20s.That makes young people more impulsive "They're not going to weigh risks and consequences in quite the same way older folks will.”Socially, teens and young adults don't have the same connections older adults do. Someone who is married, has a long-term partner or has children or grandchildren is in a different place socially than someone who is just coming into their own, living with roommates or alone.The isolation of the pandemic exacerbated social disconnection even more.So it's good to hear that a bill that would make it easier… Colorado Newsline article followsCOLORADO NEWSLINE:BY: SARA WILSON - MARCH 20, 2023 2:54 PM…  for schools to provide mental health assessments, and connect students to therapy, passed the Colorado House of Representatives on Monday.House Bill 23-1003 would allow public schools to participate in a voluntary mental health screening program for sixth through twelfth graders and refer them to treatment if needed, primarily through the state's existing free youth therapy program, called I Matter.Bill sponsor Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, a Commerce City Democrat, said she was motivated to run the legislation after alarming statistics from the Colorado Healthy Kids Survey that showed nearly 40% of Colorado youth reported feeling depressed for at least two straight weeks.“That's a pretty significant indicator for severe depression,” she said. “I wanted to come up with a way for kids to learn about therapy and access to therapy through screenings in school. We have the I Matter program, so we have somewhere kids can go for help.”In a post-pandemic environment in which Children's Hospital Colorado declared a state of emergency for youth mental health, Michaelson Jenet said screening can be a powerful preventative tool for students under profound pressures.Parents could opt their child out of the assessment, but students 12 years and older would be able to participate even if their parents don't want them to.Under the program, if the provider finds that a student could benefit from treatment, their parents will be notified and given information about the I Matter program, which has provided free therapy services to over 5,500 Colorado youth since it launched in October 2021.If the assessment provider finds that a student is in crisis — at-risk for attempting suicide, physical self-harm or harming others, for example — the school would follow its crisis response protocol.The Colorado Health Institute endorsed the concept of universal mental health screenings in schools in a report published earlier this month.The report authors wrote “Schools are uniquely positioned to help address this (mental health) crisis by meeting youth where they already spend most of their day. Screening all students for social and emotional needs strengthens prevention, detection, and early intervention.”Organizations including the National Association of School Psychologists, the National Research Council, the Institute of Medicine, the Healthy Schools Campaign, Mental Health America also recommend screening all students.Republicans in the House opposed the bill on the grounds that a program where students could participate even if parents opt out violates parental rights. Most of the floor debate centered on whether 12 years old is too young for students to decide whether to undergo a mental health assessment. Existing Colorado law allows minors 12 years and older to seek therapy without their parent or guardian's consent.Democrats hold healthy majorities in both the House and Senate this session.The legislation now heads to the Senate, where it is sponsored by Democratic Sen. Lisa Cutter of Littleton.COLORADO SUN: and on the other side of the aisle: The new chair of Colorado's GOP says people concerned he will end all hope of Republicans winning here, should “relax”.Jesse Paul and Sandra Fish3:20 AM MDT on Mar 16, 2023Dave Williams' election as Colorado GOP chair has prompted prominent Republicans to announce they are leaving the party and heightened the possibility that unaffiliated Coloradans, who make up nearly half of the state's electorate, could be shut out of the GOP's future primaries.Mandy Connell, a conservative talk radio host, tweeted her exit from the GOP on Saturday just after the election denier and former state representative was chosen to lead Republicans for the next two years.Connell told The Colorado Sun, “I hoped the Republican Party could move beyond Donald Trump and looking backwards at the 2020 election. With the election of Dave Williams for the Colorado chairmanship, it is apparent that they are not ready to do that. And I am.”The GOP has steadily lost registered voters in Colorado over the past two decades, a slide that accelerated after Trump took office. The share of registered Republicans declined to 24.2% in January from 31.1% in January 2016. There are no statewide elected Republicans, and the party is in a big minority in the legislature and in the congressional delegation following a disappointing 2022 election cycle that only saw the GOP lose more political power.Some in the party fear Williams, who beat six other chair candidates, may lead to further decline. Dick Wadhams, who was Colorado GOP chair from 2007 to 2011 and now works as a Republican political consultant, worries the “party will have no credibility” if Williams pursues the agenda he campaigned for chair on.Williams says his detractors should “relax.”“I can understand why some people are concerned, especially because of the fearmongering of Dick Wadhams,” Williams said. “But the truth is I'm only here to go attack Democrats, and if they can't get behind that then I'm not sure what else is going to unite us.”Williams, who vowed to be a “wartime” leader of the Colorado GOP, was a divisive figure during his time in the state legislature - and last year he lost a primary challenge to Republican Congressman Doug Lamborn by just shy of 20 points.Williams was elected chair by the Colorado GOP's state central committee, which is made up of about 400 people. During the event Saturday in Loveland, Williams focused his message on defending Donald Trump and preventing unaffiliated voters from participating in GOP primary elections, something Colorado voters approved in 2016. Ari Armstrong, a columnist for Complete Colorado, tweeted that he is leaving the party. “Colorado GOP leaders have made abundantly clear that theirs is the party of conspiracy mongering and petty bigotry,” he said. “The state party is not serious about winning elections or helping to guide policy. Enough.”Denver Post columnist Krista Kafer also hinted on Twitter at a switch: “I think I'll be doing the same (as) Mandy Connell. When I rejoined the party I had hoped it was changing. It is in other states but not here. The lunatic fringe is ascendant.” and speaking of the lunatic fringeCOLORADO NEWSLINE:Feds to send nearly $200 million to help communities prepare for wildfiresBY: JACOB FISCHLER - MARCH 21, 2023 4:30 AM     Vice President Kamala Harris and other administration officials said Monday that the Biden administration will send $197 million from the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law to help communities prepare for wildfires this summer.The funding represents the first round of a new $1 billion Community Wildfire Defense Grant program authorized under the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill that President Joe Biden signed in 2021. Grants in the first year of the program would be available for more than 100 projects in 22 states, according to a White House fact sheet.The funding is meant to help communities prepare for wildfires, which Harris said was preferable to responding to fires already wreaking havoc.“The best time to fight a fire is before it starts,” she said on a Monday call with reporters.The funding announced Monday can be used to write or update wildfire preparedness plans or on other mitigation efforts, such as clearing highly flammable brush.Among the largest grants was a $9.9 million disbursement to the Grant Soil and Water Conservation District in eastern Oregon to clear hazardous fuels from evacuation routes on county roads.The New Mexico nonprofit Cimarron Watershed Alliance also received $8 million to create defensible space around homes and fuel breaks designed to stop a fire's spread.Archuleta County, Colorado, will receive $1.1 million to remove hazardous fuels over 600 wooded acres.Gila County AZ will receive $341,000 for evacuation planning and clearing flammable brush around buildings Communities in Alaska, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, South Dakota, Wiscons, North Carolina and Georgia will also receive grants.A full list of grants announced Monday is available here.The Vice President said the remaining roughly $800 million will be released over the next four years.Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said “This is an initial round of funding - a critical down payment.”The Forest Service, which is part of the Agriculture Department, judged grant applications on three criteria: communities that have experienced a severe disaster, are at high risk of a wildfire and are low income. All grants announced Monday met at least two of the three criteria and most met all three, he said.Wildfires have become more destructive in recent decades for a variety of reasons, including hotter and drier weather because of climate change, as well as increased development in areas at high risk of fire.CONCERT PICK OF THE WEEK: You might know him from the movie “Big” - it's Billy Idol! Mission Ballroom in Denver on Tuesday April 4th at 8pm - that's election night and that's also a kickass venue to see rock and roll giant like Billy. Information at billyidol.net - and don't use .com because there is no redirect.Welp, that's it for me! From Denver I'm Sean Diller. Original reporting for the stories in today's show comes from the Arizona Mirror, Colorado Newsline, Courthouse News Service, UCLA Health, Colorado Sun, and Denver's Westword.Thank you for listening! See you next time.

Arizona GOP moving variety of conspiracy-fueled voter suppression bills | Bill authorizing universal youth mental health screenings at school is moving in Colorado legislature | New Colorado GOP chair is a fringe character, prominent conservatives announce they're leaving the Party | VP Harris announces Biden Administration disbursement of $200 million in wildfire preparedness and mitigation funds | Billy Idol in DenverSong playsIntro by hostWelcome to High Country - politics in the American West. My name is Sean Diller; regular listeners might know me from Heartland Pod's Talking Politics, every Monday.Support this show and all the work in the Heartland POD universe by going to heartlandpod.com and clicking the link for Patreon, or go to Patreon.com/HeartlandPod to sign up. Membership starts at $1/month, with even more extra shows and special access at the higher levels. No matter the level you choose, your membership helps us create these independent shows as we work together to change the conversation.Alright! Let's get into it: ARIZONA MIRROR:Conspiracy theories still dominate Arizona Senate Elections CommitteeBY: JOE DUHOWNIK/COURTHOUSE NEWS SERVICE - MARCH 21, 2023 4:18 PMNearly a month after Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes released documents further disproving claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election, Senate Republicans continue to make the same claims in the election committee.The most recent tantrum came during testimony regarding HB2415, which would remove people from the active early voting mailing list if they go a full year without participating in an election. Republicans said it's a way to declutter the list.Opponents argued that the bill would only disenfranchise voters, as many only vote in presidential elections every four years, and could be removed from the mail ballot list without knowing it.“Conspiracy theories” also came up again later in the committee meeting, this time in regard to HB2591, which would prohibit voters from using ballot drop boxes outside the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and would require that drop boxes be inside or attached to county buildings and be under 24/7 video surveillance. Bill sponsor Gail Griffin, a Republican state representative from Tucson, said she's seen video of “people with boxes coming and dumping ballots,” though she maintained that “2,000 Mules” - a propaganda film about imagined “ballot mules” stuffing ballots in the 2020 election. The fantasy about ballot mules is a cornerstone of the bigger fantasy that Joe Biden stole the 2020 election, even though he won by 3 full percentage points and 7 million votes.Democrats said restricting the times when voters can drop off ballots will make it harder for some to cast their vote. Republicans' only response was that those folks would need to use one of the less accessible options that remain if they want to vote. Cool. The Republican-dominated committee supported five more measures they say will increase election integrity. Republican state Representative Austin Smith sponsored HB2552 to preemptively prohibit ranked choice voting in Arizona. A companion bill already passed through the Senate in February.Jodi Liggett, a lobbyist representing the Arizona League of Women Voters, said more than 60% of Arizona voters support ranked choice voting, which is used in Maine, Alaska, and multiple cities like New York and San Francisco.“There should be no reason to preemptively silence the voice of your own constituents,” she told the committee.The committee ended with discussion on HB2613, which would require that all vote recording tabulation machines be 100% sourced from and built in the U.S. in response to fantasies about foreign tampering of voting machines in the 2020 election - where Donald Trump lost to Joe Biden by 3 full percentage points and 7 million legally cast votes. Jen Marson, representing the Arizona Association of Counties, said the machines used now are already manufactured in the U.S., but some parts, like plastics and electronics, are sourced from other countries.The bill's GOP sponsor said he doesn't know that U.S. companies have the capacity to completely home-grow the voting machines, but “if there is a need, I do believe that the American engineering mindset would step up.”For my part - I'll just say his point makes absolutely no sense.This article was first published by Courthouse News Service and is republished under their terms of use.UCLA HEALTHSuicide rate highest among teens and young adultsMarch 15, 2022By Sandy CohenNote: This article was updated Feb. 23, 2023.Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among people age 15 to 24 in the U.S. Nearly 20% of high school students report serious thoughts of suicide and 9% have made an attempt to take their lives, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.Recent weeks have brought heartbreaking examples of this trend, including the March 1 death of Stanford soccer captain Katie Meyer, 22; and Ohio State football player Harry Miller's revelations that he attempted suicide, shared his struggles with his coach and got help. Miller announced his medical retirement from football on March 10 in a Twitter post that's been shared more than 10,000 times.“This is not an issue reserved for the far and away,” wrote Miller. “It is in our homes. It is in our conversations. It is in the people we love.”Carl Fleisher, MD, who specializes in adolescent and child psychiatry at Boston Child Study Center in Los Angeles said “Teenagers and young adults have had rising rates of suicide compared to 10 or 15 years ago, Young people are particularly vulnerable to suicide. The things that make them vulnerable are where they stand socially and where they stand developmentally.”Developmentally, their judgment and decision-making abilities are still coming online. The prefrontal cortex — the brain's executive control center — doesn't fully develop until one's mid-20s.That makes young people more impulsive "They're not going to weigh risks and consequences in quite the same way older folks will.”Socially, teens and young adults don't have the same connections older adults do. Someone who is married, has a long-term partner or has children or grandchildren is in a different place socially than someone who is just coming into their own, living with roommates or alone.The isolation of the pandemic exacerbated social disconnection even more.So it's good to hear that a bill that would make it easier… Colorado Newsline article followsCOLORADO NEWSLINE:BY: SARA WILSON - MARCH 20, 2023 2:54 PM…  for schools to provide mental health assessments, and connect students to therapy, passed the Colorado House of Representatives on Monday.House Bill 23-1003 would allow public schools to participate in a voluntary mental health screening program for sixth through twelfth graders and refer them to treatment if needed, primarily through the state's existing free youth therapy program, called I Matter.Bill sponsor Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, a Commerce City Democrat, said she was motivated to run the legislation after alarming statistics from the Colorado Healthy Kids Survey that showed nearly 40% of Colorado youth reported feeling depressed for at least two straight weeks.“That's a pretty significant indicator for severe depression,” she said. “I wanted to come up with a way for kids to learn about therapy and access to therapy through screenings in school. We have the I Matter program, so we have somewhere kids can go for help.”In a post-pandemic environment in which Children's Hospital Colorado declared a state of emergency for youth mental health, Michaelson Jenet said screening can be a powerful preventative tool for students under profound pressures.Parents could opt their child out of the assessment, but students 12 years and older would be able to participate even if their parents don't want them to.Under the program, if the provider finds that a student could benefit from treatment, their parents will be notified and given information about the I Matter program, which has provided free therapy services to over 5,500 Colorado youth since it launched in October 2021.If the assessment provider finds that a student is in crisis — at-risk for attempting suicide, physical self-harm or harming others, for example — the school would follow its crisis response protocol.The Colorado Health Institute endorsed the concept of universal mental health screenings in schools in a report published earlier this month.The report authors wrote “Schools are uniquely positioned to help address this (mental health) crisis by meeting youth where they already spend most of their day. Screening all students for social and emotional needs strengthens prevention, detection, and early intervention.”Organizations including the National Association of School Psychologists, the National Research Council, the Institute of Medicine, the Healthy Schools Campaign, Mental Health America also recommend screening all students.Republicans in the House opposed the bill on the grounds that a program where students could participate even if parents opt out violates parental rights. Most of the floor debate centered on whether 12 years old is too young for students to decide whether to undergo a mental health assessment. Existing Colorado law allows minors 12 years and older to seek therapy without their parent or guardian's consent.Democrats hold healthy majorities in both the House and Senate this session.The legislation now heads to the Senate, where it is sponsored by Democratic Sen. Lisa Cutter of Littleton.COLORADO SUN: and on the other side of the aisle: The new chair of Colorado's GOP says people concerned he will end all hope of Republicans winning here, should “relax”.Jesse Paul and Sandra Fish3:20 AM MDT on Mar 16, 2023Dave Williams' election as Colorado GOP chair has prompted prominent Republicans to announce they are leaving the party and heightened the possibility that unaffiliated Coloradans, who make up nearly half of the state's electorate, could be shut out of the GOP's future primaries.Mandy Connell, a conservative talk radio host, tweeted her exit from the GOP on Saturday just after the election denier and former state representative was chosen to lead Republicans for the next two years.Connell told The Colorado Sun, “I hoped the Republican Party could move beyond Donald Trump and looking backwards at the 2020 election. With the election of Dave Williams for the Colorado chairmanship, it is apparent that they are not ready to do that. And I am.”The GOP has steadily lost registered voters in Colorado over the past two decades, a slide that accelerated after Trump took office. The share of registered Republicans declined to 24.2% in January from 31.1% in January 2016. There are no statewide elected Republicans, and the party is in a big minority in the legislature and in the congressional delegation following a disappointing 2022 election cycle that only saw the GOP lose more political power.Some in the party fear Williams, who beat six other chair candidates, may lead to further decline. Dick Wadhams, who was Colorado GOP chair from 2007 to 2011 and now works as a Republican political consultant, worries the “party will have no credibility” if Williams pursues the agenda he campaigned for chair on.Williams says his detractors should “relax.”“I can understand why some people are concerned, especially because of the fearmongering of Dick Wadhams,” Williams said. “But the truth is I'm only here to go attack Democrats, and if they can't get behind that then I'm not sure what else is going to unite us.”Williams, who vowed to be a “wartime” leader of the Colorado GOP, was a divisive figure during his time in the state legislature - and last year he lost a primary challenge to Republican Congressman Doug Lamborn by just shy of 20 points.Williams was elected chair by the Colorado GOP's state central committee, which is made up of about 400 people. During the event Saturday in Loveland, Williams focused his message on defending Donald Trump and preventing unaffiliated voters from participating in GOP primary elections, something Colorado voters approved in 2016. Ari Armstrong, a columnist for Complete Colorado, tweeted that he is leaving the party. “Colorado GOP leaders have made abundantly clear that theirs is the party of conspiracy mongering and petty bigotry,” he said. “The state party is not serious about winning elections or helping to guide policy. Enough.”Denver Post columnist Krista Kafer also hinted on Twitter at a switch: “I think I'll be doing the same (as) Mandy Connell. When I rejoined the party I had hoped it was changing. It is in other states but not here. The lunatic fringe is ascendant.” and speaking of the lunatic fringeCOLORADO NEWSLINE:Feds to send nearly $200 million to help communities prepare for wildfiresBY: JACOB FISCHLER - MARCH 21, 2023 4:30 AM     Vice President Kamala Harris and other administration officials said Monday that the Biden administration will send $197 million from the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law to help communities prepare for wildfires this summer.The funding represents the first round of a new $1 billion Community Wildfire Defense Grant program authorized under the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill that President Joe Biden signed in 2021. Grants in the first year of the program would be available for more than 100 projects in 22 states, according to a White House fact sheet.The funding is meant to help communities prepare for wildfires, which Harris said was preferable to responding to fires already wreaking havoc.“The best time to fight a fire is before it starts,” she said on a Monday call with reporters.The funding announced Monday can be used to write or update wildfire preparedness plans or on other mitigation efforts, such as clearing highly flammable brush.Among the largest grants was a $9.9 million disbursement to the Grant Soil and Water Conservation District in eastern Oregon to clear hazardous fuels from evacuation routes on county roads.The New Mexico nonprofit Cimarron Watershed Alliance also received $8 million to create defensible space around homes and fuel breaks designed to stop a fire's spread.Archuleta County, Colorado, will receive $1.1 million to remove hazardous fuels over 600 wooded acres.Gila County AZ will receive $341,000 for evacuation planning and clearing flammable brush around buildings Communities in Alaska, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, South Dakota, Wiscons, North Carolina and Georgia will also receive grants.A full list of grants announced Monday is available here.The Vice President said the remaining roughly $800 million will be released over the next four years.Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said “This is an initial round of funding - a critical down payment.”The Forest Service, which is part of the Agriculture Department, judged grant applications on three criteria: communities that have experienced a severe disaster, are at high risk of a wildfire and are low income. All grants announced Monday met at least two of the three criteria and most met all three, he said.Wildfires have become more destructive in recent decades for a variety of reasons, including hotter and drier weather because of climate change, as well as increased development in areas at high risk of fire.CONCERT PICK OF THE WEEK: You might know him from the movie “Big” - it's Billy Idol! Mission Ballroom in Denver on Tuesday April 4th at 8pm - that's election night and that's also a kickass venue to see rock and roll giant like Billy. Information at billyidol.net - and don't use .com because there is no redirect.Welp, that's it for me! From Denver I'm Sean Diller. Original reporting for the stories in today's show comes from the Arizona Mirror, Colorado Newsline, Courthouse News Service, UCLA Health, Colorado Sun, and Denver's Westword.Thank you for listening! See you next time.