Podcasts about denver mayor mike johnston

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston on Wednesday announced the creation of a new police unit focused on downtown safety, a move that another official said would yield "significant changes in the crime map" for the corridor within a year and encourage people to come back. Joined by Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas and other city officials on the 16th Street Mall, Johnston said the success of the city depends on the success of downtown.“Downtown Denver is not just the backbone of Denver's economy, but it's the cultural and civic heart of the Mountain West," Johnston said in a news release. “These new public safety resources — coupled with $570 million in economic investments through the Downtown Development Authority, the completion of construction on 16th Street, and non-stop events and attractions all summer — downtown is well on its way to being the vibrant core of our city once again."

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and 14 of his top advisors, appointees and lawyers nicknamed themselves "Strike Force" and communicated about the city's migrant crisis through an end-to end encryption app, CBS News Colorado has learned. The app, Signal, proceeded to automatically delete their initial conversations.

(The Center Square) – Four sanctuary city mayors who spent millions of state and federal taxpayer dollars to accommodate illegal immigrants denied that blocking federal agents from deporting criminal migrants violated federal law at a committee hearing Wednesday. Republicans on the House Oversight and Government Reform committee grilled Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and New York City Mayor Eric Adams in a hearing Wednesday. The mayors defended restrictions they approved that prevented local authorities from cooperating with detainer and deportation requests from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials for illegal immigrants that committed crimes. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_9014c7d6-f9e5-11ef-a88b-8bea5954dcc1.html

The Rod and Greg Show Daily Rundown – Thursday, March 6, 20254:20 pm: Representative Karen Peterson joins Rod and Greg today to discuss the details of a bill that slashes higher education budgets and reallocates available funds.4:38 pm: Laura Hollis, and educator and freelance writer joins the program for a conversation about her piece in Townhall on what's behind the demise of the Democrat Party.6:05 pm: Steve Moore, Economist and Co-Founder of Unleash Prosperity joins the show for his weekly conversation with Rod and Greg about politics and the nation's economy.6:38 pm: Glenn Beaton, Columnist for the Aspen Beat, joins the program for a conversation about Denver Mayor Mike Johnston's plan to save the city's dying restaurant scene – to slap an extra 20% tax onto every restaurant tab.

There were hours of testimony, accusations and threats on Capitol Hill as Denver Mayor Mike Johnston defended the city's actions when it comes to immigration. Johnston was part of a panel of mayors called by Republicans to answer questions about their cities' immigration policies. Then, churches have historically been places of sanctuary. But in the immigration debate now underway, do they still fit into the discussion? Also, dozens of people have been caught in avalanches this winter in Colorado -- we re-share one man's amazing story of survival. 

 Colorado confirmed its first COVID case 5 years ago. Today, vaccination rates are flagging -- and so are investments in our health. We'll get a check-up on COVID and what doctors are watching for now. Then, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston testifies in Washington, D.C. about so-called sanctuary cities and immigration. Plus, a Colorado company's about to make history on the Moon in more ways than one. And, Colorado Wonders about the state's sugar beet industry. 

In the first hour of today's edition of the Dan Caplis Show, Dan looks at how Denver's local restaurant owners are finally standing up to Denver Mayor Mike Johnston by pointing out his lies and telling him just how 'not ok' Downtown Denver really is.

We go live to a press conference from 16th Street Mall in Denver, featuring police chief Ron Thomas and mayor Mike Johnston. The latter uses to opportunity to assure everyone the stabbing murders were an anomaly and statistics shows the city is actually getting safer - so there's nothing to worry about, come on down!

The incoming Trump administration's border czar, Tom Homan, announced that mass deportations will commence on January 21, 2025, beginning in Chicago. Targeting illegal immigrants with criminal records, this initiative has sparked fierce resistance from Democratic leaders. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston likened the plan to a "Tiananmen Square moment," despite the administration's insistence that enforcement focuses solely on criminal activity, not families or children. Critics argue that progressive mayors are prioritizing political theatrics over addressing community safety and economic burdens tied to unchecked illegal immigration. Conservatives view this as a necessary response to years of open-border policies that have strained local resources and increased crime. The deportation plan underscores a broader demand for accountability and a return to law and order, resonating strongly with voters frustrated by the failures of liberal immigration policies.

[SEGMENT 2-1] Democrats backing away from stupidity 3 Congratulations Americans, Patriots. Why am I congratulating you? Because YOU forced Democrats to regain part of their sanity. I'm not sure what step this is in the 12-step program, perhaps Step 12, but it's coming. I've NEVER seen an administration so decisive in its actions. The people being selected know their jobs. And they are already making an impact. The FBI is running scared. I saw that McCabe hates that Kash Patel has been picked to run the FBI. In any other Democratic circles, this pick would be heralded. An Indian running the FBI. He has to be the first, right? But no hoopla. And Vivek Ramaswamy co-chairing DOGE with Elon Musk. Another first for many reasons, but no hoopla over it.   And while we will soon feel the effects of the Trump economy first-hand and in a great way, the most impactful to date involves illegal immigration.[SEGMENT 2-2] Democrats backing away from stupidity 4   Remember when Johnston compared his city's commitment to protecting illegal immigrants to the iconic “Tank Man” moment during the Tiananmen Square protests? With zero irony, he boasted about deploying 50,000 angry soccer moms to protect migrants from deportation. “It's like the Tiananmen Square moment with the rose and the gun, right?” he gushed. This was the same guy who told federal immigration officials, “More than us having DPD stationed at the county line to keep them out, you'd have every one of those Highland moms who came out for the migrants.” His bravado didn't last long. President Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, responded with a mic drop: CNN's Kasie Hunt visibly stunned after playing a clip of Tom Homan saying he would gladly throw Denver Mayor Mike Johnston in jail for defying Trump's deportation operation. This is the best video you will watch all day. Homan: Me and the Denver mayor agree on one thing. He's… pic.twitter.com/ab4XMw5GrK — Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 28, 2024 “He's willing to go to jail. I'm willing to put him in jail.” Now that reality has set in, Johnston is singing a different tune. He's gone from "Come get me, Bro!" to "Don't taze me, Bro!" With Denver's resources drained and voters increasingly restless, the mayor's focus has shifted from grandstanding to damage control. Funny how that works. Now that Tom Homan has threatened to throw Democrat Denver Mayor Mike Johnston in prison, he says he ”regrets” making tough guy comments about having his police force stand against federal forces to stop mass deportations “I certainly did not mean to stoke fear on either side of… pic.twitter.com/tB2yfn8csM — Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) November 29, 2024 REPORTER: It sounds like you're walking back the comments from a couple days ago saying that you would be willing to send Denver police officers. Do you regret making those comments and now getting questions like this? JOHNSTON: Yeah. REPORTER: Me asking you about that, and I'm sure Denver police officers are now going home to their families and saying, "Hey, I hear the mayor is telling you that you might be deployed to face off against federal forces." Do you regret making those comments?  JOHNSTON: Yeah. What I wanted people to understand was the scale of what could be coming if we take the president at his word, which is I don't think anyone envisioned U.S. military troops being deployed to American streets to gather up women and children.  [SEGMENT 2-3] Democrats backing away from stupidity 5 Give me your Leftist position and I will show you multiple Democrats who are backing away from Biden administration policies. It's almost as if Democrats were PRAYING for somebody to bring back sanity.   Talk about backtracking. But Johnston made the right decision. Because the Trump administration is serious about enforcing the laws. And if it means locking up a few hard asses, then so be it. Sanctuary cities like Denver operate in open defiance of federal immigration laws. The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) of 1996 expressly prohibits policies that block local officials from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement. Despite this, Leftist mayors nationwide have flaunted sanctuary policies, betting that the Biden administration's Department of Justice would look the other way. But under Trump, that bet didn't pay off. His administration cracked down on sanctuary jurisdictions, threatening to withhold federal funding and enforce existing laws. This enforcement resonated with voters who saw sanctuary policies as a betrayal of their safety and sovereignty. Why Voters Backed Trump—and Why They'll Do It Again Trump's appeal in 2016 and beyond wasn't just about “building the wall.” It was about rejecting Leftist policies that prioritize illegal immigrants over American citizens. Sanctuary cities like Denver epitomize the broader Democratic Party's indifference to working-class Americans. When voters in Colorado and across the country see their tax dollars funding migrant shelters while their own communities crumble, it's no wonder they rally behind someone promising to put America first. Sanctuary City Spectacle: Comedy, Tragedy, or Both? The Democrats' immigration debacle is a tragicomedy of errors. Sanctuary policies like those in Denver don't just fail—they spectacularly implode, leaving taxpayers holding the bag. Johnston's flip-flop from “Tiananmen Square defender” to reluctant realist underscores the absurdity of it all. At the end of the day, Johnston and his ilk are a symptom of a larger problem: a political party more interested in virtue signaling than governance. Illegal immigration is not a crisis of compassion; it's a crisis of competence. And as long as Leftists continue to prioritize their progressive agenda over the rule of law, cities like Denver will remain stuck cleaning up the mess. Thankfully for Denverites, Coloradans, and all Americans, this nonsense is about to come to a necessary and hopefully final end.   Dallas Mayor changes to MAGA Admittedly I treat these flip-floppers with skepticism. It's easy to abandon something when you see that it's a loser. And the Democrats as a party are losers. Still, the fundamental principles should preclude a switch. Take me for example. I can't stand the Republican Party. But I have never abandoned them, for three reasons. One, the Democrats are f'g crazy. Two, Republicans freed the slaves. Three, as Trump proved, Republicans are redeemable. Perhaps that why Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson flipped as well. He left the Democratic Party last fall. And some say that Johnson's departure should have served as an early warning for Democrats. Early? Democrats should have seen this coming since 2016.     Many political pundits were stunned when President-elect Donald Trump led Republicans to sweeping wins earlier this month, breaking apart traditionally Democratic coalitions to clinch a second term and secure majorities in the House and Senate.  The red wave didn't shock Johnson, however, who said during a Fox and Friends appearance this week that “it turns out I was kind of a canary in the coal mine.” “I didn't think I was going to be some anomaly that everyone needed to worry about,” he said. “I thought that I was going to be a harbinger of things to come.” On Fox & Friends @Johnson4Dallas discussed how @GOP mayors across the country are excited to work with @realDonaldTrump to deliver on the promise of making our cities great again. pic.twitter.com/BsMaQuJbNg — Republican Mayors Association (@GOPMayorsAssn) November 20, 2024 Johnson governed one of the largest cities in the country as a Democrat for over four years before shocking colleagues by joining Trump's MAGA movement. Citing desires to use conservative principles to restore urban centers like his own back to glory, the mayor said that too often, Democratic policies “exacerbate homelessness, coddle criminals, and make it harder for ordinary people to make a living.” In the months leading up to the election, Trump received sharp criticism for saying Democrats had destroyed former manufacturing bastions and big cities like Detroit and Milwaukee. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-kevin-jackson-show--2896352/support.

[SEGMENT 1-1] Glad to be back I'm glad to be back. We took our son on another trip to prepare him for life in the real world. During the trip he thanked us, and said that his eyes were opened to how great we have it in America. Where we visited, people make 50 CENTS an hour. He simply couldn't fathom it. Just so you know, we were able to go, because we fly almost free. It costs us $30 each to fly out of the country. And we stayed almost for free. That being said, we still overspent because that's how other countries treat Americans. They tax us. I rented a car for $10 per day. But I HAD to get insurance that costs $250 for the duration of the visit, as a tax they put on Americans. No joke. I did this, because a taxi ride of about 10 miles cost $50. We asked what it would cost to go from our hotel to a location about 12 miles away, and we were told $80 EACH WAY. Anyway, we never expected to have to rent a car, but did. The good news is my son was impacted, and that's the reason for these trips. It's his senior year, and we will be empty-nesters soon. Last chance to imprint. I'm back, and we have so much to look forward to… First of all, YOU'RE WELCOME to all the Leftists out there. I and all of the people who listen to me saved your sorry butts from yourselves. Democrats are starting to realize how stupid Kamala Harris is. Did you see her video. It was bad. They paid over $1B to try to get that alcoholic elected. I guess they figured, “At least she's not totally brain-dead!” Andrew Gillum and Kamala Harris. Remember Gillum?  [SEGMENT 1-2] What I Missed   The Times is reporting that President-Elect Donald J. Trump has prepared an Executive Order for his First Day in Office, which would see the Medical Discharge of over 15,000 Transgender Servicemembers from the U.S. Military, as well as a Ban on Transgender Individuals from joining any Branch of the Armed Forces.   Reginald Denny is FREE. The guy who stopped a crazy man in the NYC subway system… Now you can rest assured that for the foreseeable future, things will be much better. America is a safer place, and in fact the WORLD is a safer place.  [SEGMENT 1-3] Democrats backing away from stupid policies 1   80% of asylum-seekers went on vacation to their countries of origin…   [X] SB – Democrat Congressman publicly wants to stop illegals A New York City Democrat Councilman, Robert Holden is now publicly calling to repeal the City's sanctuary status so President Trump can deport the enormous amounts of illegals currently occupying the city. "I love Tom Homan, the new border czar." "We're shielding [illegals]... The governors, the Democratic governors, and the mayors of these sanctuary cities are shielding criminals and terrorists." - Councilman Robert Holden. Bravo, sir, for having the balls to defy the DNC. I hope they don't start investigating and indicting you for going against their narratives. I bet there are many more Dems just like him who can't come out and say what they know is true because they fear political retribution.     https://www.cityandstateny.com/policy/2024/11/hochul-ill-be-first-call-ice-deport-immigrants-accused-crimes/401333/ As President-elect Donald Trump promises mass deportations of millions of immigrants across the country, Gov. Kathy Hochul indicated on Tuesday that New York state will cooperate to at least some extent with federal immigration authorities. Hochul said that while she supports legal immigrants, including asylum-seekers, she would be “the first one” to call Immigration and Customs Enforcement to deport undocumented immigrants who break the law. The governor would not say what steps, if any, the state would take to protect the hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants who are not recent arrivals seeking asylum.  During an unrelated press conference in Queens, Hochul drew a distinction between immigrants with “legal papers” and those “who commit crimes or are known to be criminals before they arrived here.”  “Someone breaks the law, I'll be the first one to call up ICE and say, ‘Get them out of here,'” Hochul said when asked how she would respond to Trump's plans for mass deportations and whether New York would be a sanctuary state under her leadership. “When those are identified, I'll be the first one to help get rid of them,” she added. “I don't want them here. I don't want anybody terrorizing my citizens.” The governor said that she would allow the asylum process to play out for eligible, law-abiding recent arrivals, and she said that she wants both asylum-seekers and those with Temporary Protected Status to receive authorization to work in the state. “Those who come here legally, we want to get them jobs,” Hochul said, adding that she supports keeping TPS for migrants who currently have it. Hochul has previously expressed a willingness to deport immigrants accused of crimes. She said in February that a number of migrants who were accused of assaulting police officers in Times Square should be deported, even before their cases went to trial. At least one migrant who was initially arrested in connection with the assault was ultimately found to have nothing to do with the incident.  [SEGMENT 1-4] Democrats backing away from stupidity 2   The Democrats have always been tough guys when they're running the show. Why? Because that's how cowards operate. They rig the system, cheat openly, and then brag about their so-called “mandates.” But when their policies start crumbling under scrutiny. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston took what he thought would be a bold stance against the Trump administration on illegal immigration. He essentially challenged Team Trump to a fight, "Come get me, Bro!" But look at illegal immigration by the numbers. [X] SB – Mike Johnston on standing up for illegals Negotiate with reasonable people. Restricting entry at the border     The National Picture: An Open Border Free-for-All Illegal immigration isn't just a line item on the evening news—it's a crisis that impacts every corner of American society. At the national level, Biden's open-border policies have resulted in unprecedented numbers of migrants flooding the U.S. In fiscal year 2023, more than 2.7 million migrants were encountered at the southern border. Add to that the untold number who slipped through, and it's clear we're dealing with numbers that rival the population of some states. The costs? Immense. According to the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), illegal immigration costs American taxpayers $182 billion annually—a 30% increase since Biden took office. These costs hit everything: education, healthcare, law enforcement, and welfare programs meant for citizens. Colorado's Burden: A State Straining Under the Weight Colorado has felt the brunt of this influx. Sanctuary policies, like those proudly championed by Leftist officials in Denver, have turned the state into a magnet for migrants. The result? Overcrowded shelters, skyrocketing costs for social services, and increased pressure on local law enforcement. Denver alone spent over $20 million on migrant services in 2023—and that's just the official tab. Colorado voters aren't thrilled. In 2016, Donald Trump carried much of the rural state precisely because voters were fed up with policies that prioritized illegal immigrants over citizens. Leftists may call these folks “deplorables,” but they're the ones footing the bill for sanctuary policies they never agreed to. Denver: Sanctuary City Shenanigans Denver's self-inflicted wounds on illegal immigration are a case study in Leftist lunacy. Formerly proud of its sanctuary status, the city is Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-kevin-jackson-show--2896352/support.

[SEGMENT 2-1] Democrats backing away from stupidity 3 Congratulations Americans, Patriots. Why am I congratulating you? Because YOU forced Democrats to regain part of their sanity. I'm not sure what step this is in the 12-step program, perhaps Step 12, but it's coming. I've NEVER seen an administration so decisive in its actions. The people being selected know their jobs. And they are already making an impact. The FBI is running scared. I saw that McCabe hates that Kash Patel has been picked to run the FBI. In any other Democratic circles, this pick would be heralded. An Indian running the FBI. He has to be the first, right? But no hoopla. And Vivek Ramaswamy co-chairing DOGE with Elon Musk. Another first for many reasons, but no hoopla over it.   And while we will soon feel the effects of the Trump economy first-hand and in a great way, the most impactful to date involves illegal immigration.  [SEGMENT 2-2] Democrats backing away from stupidity 4   Remember when Johnston compared his city's commitment to protecting illegal immigrants to the iconic “Tank Man” moment during the Tiananmen Square protests? With zero irony, he boasted about deploying 50,000 angry soccer moms to protect migrants from deportation. “It's like the Tiananmen Square moment with the rose and the gun, right?” he gushed. This was the same guy who told federal immigration officials, “More than us having DPD stationed at the county line to keep them out, you'd have every one of those Highland moms who came out for the migrants.” His bravado didn't last long. President Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, responded with a mic drop: CNN's Kasie Hunt visibly stunned after playing a clip of Tom Homan saying he would gladly throw Denver Mayor Mike Johnston in jail for defying Trump's deportation operation. This is the best video you will watch all day. Homan: Me and the Denver mayor agree on one thing. He's… pic.twitter.com/ab4XMw5GrK — Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 28, 2024 “He's willing to go to jail. I'm willing to put him in jail.” Now that reality has set in, Johnston is singing a different tune. He's gone from "Come get me, Bro!" to "Don't taze me, Bro!" With Denver's resources drained and voters increasingly restless, the mayor's focus has shifted from grandstanding to damage control. Funny how that works. Now that Tom Homan has threatened to throw Democrat Denver Mayor Mike Johnston in prison, he says he ”regrets” making tough guy comments about having his police force stand against federal forces to stop mass deportations “I certainly did not mean to stoke fear on either side of… pic.twitter.com/tB2yfn8csM — Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) November 29, 2024 REPORTER: It sounds like you're walking back the comments from a couple days ago saying that you would be willing to send Denver police officers. Do you regret making those comments and now getting questions like this? JOHNSTON: Yeah. REPORTER: Me asking you about that, and I'm sure Denver police officers are now going home to their families and saying, "Hey, I hear the mayor is telling you that you might be deployed to face off against federal forces." Do you regret making those comments?  JOHNSTON: Yeah. What I wanted people to understand was the scale of what could be coming if we take the president at his word, which is I don't think anyone envisioned U.S. military troops being deployed to American streets to gather up women and children.  [SEGMENT 2-3] Democrats backing away from stupidity 5 Give me your Leftist position and I will show you multiple Democrats who are backing away from Biden administration policies. It's almost as if Democrats were PRAYING for somebody to bring back sanity.   Talk about backtracking. But Johnston made the right decision. Because the Trump administration is serious about enforcing the laws. And if it means locking up a few hard asses, then so be it. Sanctuary cities like Denver operate in open defiance of federal immigration laws. The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) of 1996 expressly prohibits policies that block local officials from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement. Despite this, Leftist mayors nationwide have flaunted sanctuary policies, betting that the Biden administration's Department of Justice would look the other way. But under Trump, that bet didn't pay off. His administration cracked down on sanctuary jurisdictions, threatening to withhold federal funding and enforce existing laws. This enforcement resonated with voters who saw sanctuary policies as a betrayal of their safety and sovereignty. Why Voters Backed Trump—and Why They'll Do It Again Trump's appeal in 2016 and beyond wasn't just about “building the wall.” It was about rejecting Leftist policies that prioritize illegal immigrants over American citizens. Sanctuary cities like Denver epitomize the broader Democratic Party's indifference to working-class Americans. When voters in Colorado and across the country see their tax dollars funding migrant shelters while their own communities crumble, it's no wonder they rally behind someone promising to put America first. Sanctuary City Spectacle: Comedy, Tragedy, or Both? The Democrats' immigration debacle is a tragicomedy of errors. Sanctuary policies like those in Denver don't just fail—they spectacularly implode, leaving taxpayers holding the bag. Johnston's flip-flop from “Tiananmen Square defender” to reluctant realist underscores the absurdity of it all. At the end of the day, Johnston and his ilk are a symptom of a larger problem: a political party more interested in virtue signaling than governance. Illegal immigration is not a crisis of compassion; it's a crisis of competence. And as long as Leftists [SEGMENT 2-4] Democrats backing away from stupidity 6   Zuckerberg wants to work with Trump…   What's the body count of people who now have to look stupid after Trump's victory? Biden…the guy who want to kick Trump's butt behind the bleachers. Why does Biden choose those obscure places to fight. What's wrong with in front of the bleachers, or in front of the barn. The only reason you take somebody behind somewhere to fight is if you're afraid of getting your butt kicked. I remember as a kid, a big guy in Jr. High wanted to fight me at lunch, and said let's meet at the back of the building. I said, “I'm fighting you in the front of the building so everybody can see you get your butt kicked. There will be more than ONE version of the story, and the PEOPLE will decided. I was a politician even then. Anyway, Biden met with HITLER. Scarborough and his chica met with Hitler. The president of Mexico called…     The guy who BANNED a sitting president Silenced MAGABecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-kevin-jackson-show--2896352/support.

Dave Rubin of “The Rubin Report” talks about Scott Jennings shocking CNN's Cari Champion with the source for his statistic stating that Elon Musk's X is not in fact dominated by right-wing users, as mainstream media pundits like to continually claim; CNN's Harry Enten sharing polling data showing most Americans are having an unexpected response to Trump's Cabinet picks; Denver Mayor Mike Johnston explaining why he's ready to be arrested by incoming border czar Tom Homan to stop a mass deportation of illegal migrants in his city; Oakland residents having second thoughts about being a sanctuary city after new budget cuts will significantly decrease the number of police officers and firefighters in the city; James Carville accusing Jon Stewart and Bill Maher of lying about Kamala Harris not running a “woke” campaign; Stephen A. Smith telling “Club Random's” Bill Maher why most black men who know Donald Trump personally know that he isn't racist; and much more. WATCH the MEMBER-EXCLUSIVE segment of the show here: https://rubinreport.locals.com/ Check out the NEW RUBIN REPORT MERCH here: https://daverubin.store/ ---------- Today's Sponsors: SimpliSafe - Protect your home with one of the 'Best Home Security Systems' by US News & World Report for 5 years running, and the “best customer service” in home security according to Newsweek. This week only, you can get 60% off any new system with a select professional monitoring plan Go to: https://simplisafe.com/rubin 1775 Coffee - Peaberry coffee isn't your average bean—it's coffee's best-kept secret. It's denser, more flavorful, and packed with bold energy to kickstart your mornings. Rubin Report viewers get 15% off their order. Go to: https://1775coffee.com/RUBIN and use code RUBIN Rumble Premium - Corporate America is fighting to remove speech, Rumble is fighting to keep it. If you really believe in this fight Rumble is offering $10 off with the promo code RUBIN when you purchase an annual subscription, Go to: https://Rumble.com/premium/RUBIN and use promo code RUBIN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tonight's rundown:  Hey BillOReilly.com Premium and Concierge Members, welcome to the No Spin News for Monday, November 25, 2024. Stand Up for Your Country.  Talking Points Memo: Bill breaks down why the No Spin News continues be the program to watch during these historic times. Who will be the two most powerful figures in Trump's cabinet? Former White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney joins the No Spin News to evaluate Trump's second-term staff and share insights based on his own experience. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston retracts his statement about using local police to shield migrants from mass deportations. This Day in History: 36 top musicians record Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?"  Final Thought: Check out the latest 'Not Woke' gear! In Case You Missed It: Read Bill's latest column, Reality Check THE ULTIMATE KILLING SPECIAL. Get Confronting the Presidents PLUS the entire bestselling Killing Series. All 14 books for only $325. SHOP HERE. Get Bill's latest book, CONFRONTING THE PRESIDENTS, out NOW! Election season is here! Now's the time to get a Premium or Concierge Membership to BillOReilly.com, the only place for honest news analysis. Check out the NEW Not Woke Shop! We've got Not Woke t-shirts, polos, bumper stickers, and our signature Not Woke coffee mug. Get yours today and stand out from the crowd! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of “Sara Gonzales Unfiltered,” Sara and the panel dive right into the breaking news that special counsel Jack Smith asked a judge to drop all charges against President-elect Trump stemming from Smith's investigation into the January 6 U.S. Capitol breach. The decision by the DOJ ends the unconstitutional federal cases against President Trump, and it would seem that all the dominos are falling into place. Sara and the panel shift the discussion to defiant Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, who compared his constituents' willingness to defend their sanctuary city and stand against the federal government to their Tiananmen Square moment. Prominent Republicans voiced their outrage, and Mayor Johnson was forced to walk back his incendiary remarks. The panel focuses attention on the absence of government relief and aid in hurricane-ravished North Carolina, where the North Carolina National Guard posted photos and video showing its around-the-clock assistance to all who needed aid, only for it to be exposed as older and outdated footage. Turns out the National Guard vacated the area some time before and was trying to appear as though Guardsmen were still on the ground helping the hurricane victims. The episode concludes with the re-emergence of Kamala Harris, who has been silent since her concession speech. Kamala Harris is back on the radar as her aides announced she is considering her political future with perhaps a 2026 California gubernatorial run or a 2028 presidential run in mind. Sara and the panel encourage her to make another bid for president in 2028. Sara is joined by Blaze Media investigative journalist Steve Baker and BlazeTV contributor Matthew Marsden. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Border Czar Tom Homan ready to throw WOKE Denver Mayor Mike Johnston in JAIL!

Senator Rand Paul issued a rather stern warning to Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, suggesting that any effort to deny the new administration's mass deportation efforts could result in his removal from office.  November 25th 2024   ---  Please Like, Comment and Follow 'The Ray Appleton Show' on all platforms:   ---    'The Ray Appleton Show' is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever else you listen to podcasts.    ---  'The Ray Appleton Show'   Weekdays 11 AM -2 PM Pacific on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 KMJ    | Website  | Facebook | Podcast |   -  Everything KMJ   KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Allen, Joel, and Phil discuss Bonfiglioli's advanced servo motors featured in PES Wind magazine, China's offshore wind dominance, and the economic challenges facing U.S. offshore projects. The Wind Farm of the Week is the 170MW English Farms facility in Iowa, the recipient of the Envision Platinum Award. Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly email update on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard's StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary Barnes' YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us! Pardalote Consulting - https://www.pardaloteconsulting.comWeather Guard Lightning Tech - www.weatherguardwind.comIntelstor - https://www.intelstor.comJoin us at The Wind Energy O&M Australia Conference - https://www.windaustralia.com Allen Hall: We've all had our rental car problems over the last couple of years, ever since COVID. It's been as Joel put it, a crap show in rental car land. Over in Syracuse, which is not very far from me, I was just over there a few weeks ago now the employees at the Syracuse Airport Hertz location left their counter unattended, and they left about six hours early. There's a number of people that had landed in Syracuse and needed a car and there was no one at the counter. So what they decided to do is and about 20 of them decided to do this, they just took the keys that were available at the counter and then went on their way. And one of them was Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, was one of them that needed to be somewhere and didn't have ability to get a car and just grabbed some keys and left. Now, this created a lot of problems, right? Because all of a sudden these cars have disappeared. They don't know who have them, and they were starting to look for them. And now they're concerned that people that did this are concerned what's Hertz going to do to us? But I think they felt like at the time, Joel, that What else am I gonna do? If your employee's left, I need to get a car, I gotta go. Joel Saxum: Yeah, that's a Hertz problem. That's the way I look at it. Technically, it's probably theft, right? Like grand larceny or something like that. I don't know if it's larceny. Grand theft auto? Video games? GTA? Yeah but, it's illegal when you look at it, right? But I can understand being that I've been in that situation where you show up at 11 p. m., you've been traveling all day, and you're like, Worst. Where's my damn car? Like, where's the dang car that I want to go? And I don't know if there's one person in that group who was the first mover, right? There was a pioneer before the settlers. One person was like, screw it guys. Let's go. I'm grabbing these keys. I don't know who that is, but this, that's I don't know. There's some cojones there. Allen Hall: My recent experience with Hertz in Oklahoma was getting to the counter at about 1230 in the morning. And there not being a single car there. And then I was the second one into the little office they have. And then another person came and another person came and then pretty soon there's about 10 of us standing there and the Hertz employee who was attending the place and was trying to do the best that she possibly could said, I have two cars. I'm picking you and you. Just pointed at people. Wow. Yeah, I got one. I never get that. Philip Totaro: Allen, that's like a Seinfeld episode right there. You guys know how to take a reservation, but you don't know how to hold a reservation. Allen Hall: I felt horrible because I was meeting Joel the next morning. I really needed this car. We were going far off into Oklahoma, but there were all kinds of military people there that had things to do, too. Everybody had something to do. So they're, Uber was their best friend at the moment, but man,

Dan Caplis continues to react to Denver Mayor Mike Johnston's meltdown, discusses what President-elect Trump could do in response, and takes listener calls on the topic.

  0:00 - Absentee CPS teachers   12:32 - Denver Mayor Mike Johnston: would be willing to go to jail to defend people in this country illegally   29:51 - Samantha Steele, Cook Co Board of Review...DUI stop   51:17 - Trump 47 cabinet: CDC   01:05:04 - Steven Bucci, visiting fellow in The Heritage Foundation's Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies, responds to Sen Duckworth's statements on Hegseth & Gabbard    01:24:37 - Mamet   01:39:17 - Chris Jones, editorial page editor & chief theater critic for the Chicago Tribune and Broadway critic for the New York Daily News, joins Dan & Amy for a discussion on the Lyric Opera's "Blue" and a hopeful future for Chicago's theater scene. Chris is also the author of  Rise Up! Broadway and American Society from ‘Angels in America' to ‘Hamilton' 01:56:14 - Martin Gurri, former CIA analyst, presently a Visiting Fellow at the Mercatus Center of George Mason University, on Trump's victory and a "profound cultural shift" Check out Martin's book   The Revolt of the Public and the Crisis of Authority in the New Millennium  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sheriff Steve Reams of Weld County joins Dan to provide his law enforcement perspective on President-elect Donald Trump's mass deportation plan, and Denver mayor Mike Johnston promising a 'Tiananmen Square moment' in using Denver Police to resist such federal efforts.How Denver's mayor is responding to Trump's threats to defund sanctuary cities

On today's newscast: Pitkin County commissioners unanimously approved an updated Airport Layout Plan yesterday for the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport; the city of Aspen launched a community survey yesterday to gather public input on the future of the Castle Creek Bridge and the broader Entrance to Aspen corridor; and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston says the city is ready to work with the incoming Trump administration. Tune into these stories and more.

President-elect Donald Trump has made Aurora the centerpiece of his immigration policy. The specifics remain unclear but state and local officials are on alert. Then, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston is also wary of changes that could impact his city. And, remembering pioneering meteorologist Warren Washington. Plus, paleontologists discover a new species of mammal on Colorado's Western Slope. 

It's Friday, and we're rounding up the biggest stories of the week. First, Aurora councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky made an appearance at Trump's rally at the Gaylord last Friday, now she claims she's in possession of “haunting” video related to Venezuelan gang activity and is calling for an investigation into Denver Mayor Mike Johnston. Then, a reddit thread popped up with some wild urban legends about the Mile High City. Are any of them true? Producer Paul Karolyi, host Bree Davies, and producer Olivia Jewell Love dig into the lore, speculate about Jurinsky's video, and share their wins and fails of the week.  Our fall campaign is happening now! It takes a lot to keep City Cast Denver and Hey Denver running strong. Your membership helps us cover the cost of bringing you the local stories you care about. If you believe in what we do, become a member of City Cast Denver today. Every member makes a difference! Paul spoke in more detail about his experience at the Trump rally on friend of the show JD Lopez's podcast Left Hand Right Brain. He also talked about CBS's 2023 report on Denver sending newcomers to Aurora, the mysterious building at Denver Federal Center, new business filings, and a big pumpkin. Olivia talked about some great voter guides for suburban elections and MAKfam. Bree mentioned our episodes about those “We Buy Ugly Houses” signs and Denver's old Chinatown, as well as the Broadway Halloween Parade this weekend.  What should we ask Mayor Johnston next week? Something about the election? How he feels about the Broncos' rookie quarterback? His favorite new donut shop? We would love to put your questions to him directly. Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and he might answer you directly: 720-500-5418‬ For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm/Denver Learn more about the sponsors of this October 18th episode: PineMelon - Use promo code CITYCASTDENVER for $35 off your first delivery Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston is optimistic as he takes on the high cost of housing, reducing homelessness and rebuilding trust with the police. Then, a job fair that helps people with felony records start over. Plus, meet Colorado cyclist Olivia Cummins as she makes her Olympic debut and celebrates her birthday at the same time. And Aging Matters looks at the importance of advance medical planning.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston is optimistic as he takes on the high cost of housing, reducing homelessness and rebuilding trust with the police. Then, a job fair that helps people with felony records start over. Plus, meet Colorado cyclist Olivia Cummins as she makes her Olympic debut and celebrates her birthday at the same time. And Aging Matters looks at the importance of advance medical planning.

Colorado's top Democrats have high hopes for Kamala Harris. We speak with Erik Clarke, a delegate from Denver who'll be at the convention, about the path ahead. Then, as he marks one year in office, is Denver Mayor Mike Johnston fulfilling his campaign promises? And a former Olympian, in recovery from an eating disorder, has advice for commentators and spectators.

Colorado's top Democrats have high hopes for Kamala Harris. We speak with Erik Clarke, a delegate from Denver who'll be at the convention, about the path ahead. Then, as he marks one year in office, is Denver Mayor Mike Johnston fulfilling his campaign promises? And a former Olympian, in recovery from an eating disorder, has advice for commentators and spectators.

Send us a Text Message.This week on the Get More Smarter Podcast, the Colorado GOP's flag burning stochastic terrorism is the straw that broke the camel's back, strangely enough, as local county party chairs are FINALLY calling for their chairman's ouster. Just like we told you in our last episode, being a felon running for President kind of hurts you, at least a little. We also wind up another round of prognostications so we can tell you the future before you experience it yourself.  And friend of the show and newly minted CEO of Denver Water Alan Salazar is BACK on the pod to talk about the essence of wetness, the battle over Colorado's water, and what he thinks about the first year of Denver Mayor Mike Johnston's administration.

When it comes to immigration solutions, the federal government is handing out lemons. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston is making lemonade. This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by David Herman and Andrea Kristinsdottir, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast Support Today, Explained by becoming a Vox Member today: http://www.vox.com/members Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Legal Eagles (4:08, 15:53, 31:17)- Attorneys Ron Coleman and Mike Donnelly join the show and break down the latest Supreme Court Rulings, they discuss the Hunter Biden sham trial and the constitutionality of the latest NRA court case win in NY and the Pro-Life Movement and Federalization of Crime   Jeff Hunt (26:47, 41:18)- Jenna and Jeff discuss Trump's latest campaign efforts on TikTok and they get into the details of Denver Mayor Mike Johnston spending $300 million of the city's money dealing with illegal immigrantsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After 25 years at National Public Radio, Senior Editor Uri Berliner resigned Wednesday following backlash from fellow journalists regarding comments he made about NPR's political agenda. Berliner published an essay in The Free Press earlier this month critiquing his former employer's liberal bias, which allegedly increased following the 2016 election. Before his departure, Berliner was suspended from NPR for failing to secure approval to speak with other news outlets. Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and former member of the Board of Directors at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Howard Husock, joins the Rundown to share why people criticize NPR's public funding and why journalists should remain open-minded. A part of the immigration debate came to an end Wednesday after both articles of impeachment against U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas were voted unconstitutional in the Senate. Illegal migrant encounters reached record levels in 2023, and released migrants are scattered throughout the U.S., with many ending up in self-proclaimed “sanctuary cities.” Denver Mayor Mike Johnston has announced the city plans to spend $90 million to help migrants who come to his city for six months. Within days of the Mayor's announcement, two counties sued, challenging the state's sanctuary laws. Douglas County Commissioner George Teal joins the podcast to explain the lawsuit, how Denver has reached “a critical mass point” with their migrant population, and how the issue threatens to spillover and hurt surrounding communities and migrants alike. Plus, commentary by Jason Rantz, host of “The Jason Rantz Show” and author of "What's Killing America." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After 25 years at National Public Radio, Senior Editor Uri Berliner resigned Wednesday following backlash from fellow journalists regarding comments he made about NPR's political agenda. Berliner published an essay in The Free Press earlier this month critiquing his former employer's liberal bias, which allegedly increased following the 2016 election. Before his departure, Berliner was suspended from NPR for failing to secure approval to speak with other news outlets. Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and former member of the Board of Directors at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Howard Husock, joins the Rundown to share why people criticize NPR's public funding and why journalists should remain open-minded. A part of the immigration debate came to an end Wednesday after both articles of impeachment against U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas were voted unconstitutional in the Senate. Illegal migrant encounters reached record levels in 2023, and released migrants are scattered throughout the U.S., with many ending up in self-proclaimed “sanctuary cities.” Denver Mayor Mike Johnston has announced the city plans to spend $90 million to help migrants who come to his city for six months. Within days of the Mayor's announcement, two counties sued, challenging the state's sanctuary laws. Douglas County Commissioner George Teal joins the podcast to explain the lawsuit, how Denver has reached “a critical mass point” with their migrant population, and how the issue threatens to spillover and hurt surrounding communities and migrants alike. Plus, commentary by Jason Rantz, host of “The Jason Rantz Show” and author of "What's Killing America." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After 25 years at National Public Radio, Senior Editor Uri Berliner resigned Wednesday following backlash from fellow journalists regarding comments he made about NPR's political agenda. Berliner published an essay in The Free Press earlier this month critiquing his former employer's liberal bias, which allegedly increased following the 2016 election. Before his departure, Berliner was suspended from NPR for failing to secure approval to speak with other news outlets. Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and former member of the Board of Directors at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Howard Husock, joins the Rundown to share why people criticize NPR's public funding and why journalists should remain open-minded. A part of the immigration debate came to an end Wednesday after both articles of impeachment against U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas were voted unconstitutional in the Senate. Illegal migrant encounters reached record levels in 2023, and released migrants are scattered throughout the U.S., with many ending up in self-proclaimed “sanctuary cities.” Denver Mayor Mike Johnston has announced the city plans to spend $90 million to help migrants who come to his city for six months. Within days of the Mayor's announcement, two counties sued, challenging the state's sanctuary laws. Douglas County Commissioner George Teal joins the podcast to explain the lawsuit, how Denver has reached “a critical mass point” with their migrant population, and how the issue threatens to spillover and hurt surrounding communities and migrants alike. Plus, commentary by Jason Rantz, host of “The Jason Rantz Show” and author of "What's Killing America." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host of the "Kennedy Saves The World" podcast Kennedy joins Fox Across America With Jimmy Failla to explain how Denver Mayor Mike Johnston's policies aren't prioritizing the legal residents of his city. Jimmy gives us an overview of former President Trump's hush money trial in New York City, and explains why the media reaction to all of this is all just performative outrage. Texas Republican Congressman Chip Roy sheds light on how most of the lawmakers in both parties continue to prioritize the security of foreign nations over that of our own country. PLUS, filmmaker Jeff Hays checks in to discuss his new documentary, The Real RFK Jr. [00:00:00] Third day of Trump's hush money trial in New York [00:39:55] Kennedy [00:58:20] Rep. Chip Roy [01:28:40] Jeff Hays [01:35:10] NPR editor resigns following suspension Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Denver's bold stance as a sanctuary city faces scrutiny as it announces the closure of four immigrant shelters due to budget constraints, starting with one in Aurora. The city's decision highlights the financial and logistical challenges of maintaining sanctuary status amidst a burgeoning immigration crisis. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston's plan to cut the city's $180 million immigration crisis budget by $60 million raises questions about the fate of the displaced individuals. This move comes amid tensions with Aurora, which has distanced itself from Denver's sheltering responsibilities. The closures underscore the complex dynamics between cities, the financial burdens of supporting immigrants, and the broader implications for sanctuary cities across the United States. As Denver grapples with these challenges, the situation sheds light on the broader debate over immigration policy and sanctuary city status, illustrating the tangible impacts of these policies on local communities. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/darien-dunstan3/message

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston announced Wednesday that four migrant shelters in the city will be closing.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston announced Wednesday that four migrant shelters in the city will be closing.

MAYOR MIKE JOHNSTON RIGHT OUT OF THE CHUTE TODAY He joins us at the beginning of the show so we have time before we get kicked off for Spring Training baseball at 1. We're talking immigrants spending in Denver.

In this conversation recorded for Washington Post Live on Feb. 14, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston talks about how the influx of migrants sent to his city has pushed it to “a breaking point,” what the impact of the bipartisan Senate immigration bill would have been and how former president Donald Trump is trying to keep the crisis going.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston speaks with Washington Post associate editor Jonathan Capehart about the failed bipartisan immigration bill, the impeachment of the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, how the influx of migrants is impacting his city and next steps in finding a solution. Conversation recorded on Wednesday, February 14, 2024.

This week on the Get More Smarter Podcast, Republicans have managed to break both chambers of Congress as they refuse to not only accomplish their most basic constitutional obligations, but fail to accomplish even their real bad political objectives. Then, Gabe-ish Evans -- the half-term state representative running for the GOP nomination to lose to Congresswoman Yadira Caraveo in November -- gets Speaker Mike Johnson's endorsement; no word on whether or not he also got Denver Mayor Mike Johnston's endorsement, but we're betting against it personally. Next, we come closer to home with some good old fashioned chaos at the State Capitol, and the disgraced convicted felon who wrote the worst law in Colorado may be running for Congress now that a criminal record is apparently something to be proud of when running for the nomination of the party of law and order. BUT FIRST semi-returning podcast champion Andrew Baumann, Partner at the legendary Democratic Polling Firm Global Strategy Group joins us to review the latest edition of the ProgressNow/GSG quarterly-ish survey, "The Rocky Mountaineer"...

Denver mayor Mike Johnston (D) admonishes Republicans in Congress for failing to support a border bill loaded with poison pills, then announces city budget cuts to the DMV and Parks and Rec department for residents in order to bankroll the continuing flood of illegal migrants to the Mile High City. Also, Dan and Ryan offer up their Super Bowl picks in advance of Super Bowl 58 on Sunday between the AFC champion (and defending Super Bowl champs) Kansas City Chiefs and the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers.

Donald Trump says he will deport all the illegals.  Can He?  George and callers discuss the problems with legal and illegal immigration.  Denver Mayor Mike Johnston recently visited Washington D.C. to explain the issues Denver is seeing and ask for Federal help.  (don't hold your breath).  What is your solution to the immigration crisis?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MAYOR MIKE JOHNSTON AT 2PM TODAY We're going to talk about his success in getting 1,000 homeless people off the streets and then ask, now what? I've got questions from neighbors of the Embassy Suites shelter they'd like asked. I'll also be asking about the cuts to city budgets that he is warning are needed to take care of the flood of illegal immigrants coming to Denver.

The Israeli government outlines a proposal for a post-war Gaza as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken travels to the region. Retired Admiral James Stavridis outlines the areas where the Israel-Hamas war has the potential to expand to a wider conflict. Japan's death toll ticks up following Monday's earthquake. Republican presidential candidates campaign in Iowa and New Hampshire as primary election season draws closer. Doug Heye, Tia Mitchell and Symone Sanders-Townsend join the Meet the Press NOW roundtable. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston joins Meet the Press NOW to discuss the record surge in migrants seeking to enter the United States.

     The final hour of Backbone Radio with Randy Corporon sitting in includes great callers, a check-in from The Great American with a depressing story about how Denver Mayor Mike Johnston intends to damage a historic Denver neighborhood at taxpayer expense, and a courageous stance by Twitter (X) owner, Elon Musk.  Free speech may be needing a lifeline, but we have a shot!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

     The final hour of Backbone Radio with Randy Corporon sitting in includes great callers, a check-in from The Great American with a depressing story about how Denver Mayor Mike Johnston intends to damage a historic Denver neighborhood at taxpayer expense, and a courageous stance by Twitter (X) owner, Elon Musk.  Free speech may be needing a lifeline, but we have a shot!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

     The final hour of Backbone Radio with Randy Corporon sitting in includes great callers, a check-in from The Great American with a depressing story about how Denver Mayor Mike Johnston intends to damage a historic Denver neighborhood at taxpayer expense, and a courageous stance by Twitter (X) owner, Elon Musk.  Free speech may be needing a lifeline, but we have a shot!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

     The final hour of Backbone Radio with Randy Corporon sitting in includes great callers, a check-in from The Great American with a depressing story about how Denver Mayor Mike Johnston intends to damage a historic Denver neighborhood at taxpayer expense, and a courageous stance by Twitter (X) owner, Elon Musk.  Free speech may be needing a lifeline, but we have a shot!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston was clear Saturday when someone asked during a House1000 town hall meeting what will happen to those who say no to free housing.He said taking 1,000 people off the streets with accepting an offer of free housing “allows us to focus much more rigorously on the enforcement of those who don't (want the housing).” He said those in the grips of addiction will be offered “outpatient treatment and if not, we will get you inpatient treatment.” Johnston made his remarks during a town hall meeting at Evans School in Golden Triangle. The forum answered questions from neighbors of proposed micro community sites at 1199 N. Bannock and 1375 N. Elati.Homeless advocates have forecast an expected enforcement sweep following the de-commissioning of encampments. Those fears appear well-founded.Support the show

In this episode, the last of the season, we dig into the housing and homelessness system, as well as the other systems that intersect homelessness. We also dive into the many factors that are contributing to our current homelessness crisis, highlighting a few of the stories you have heard through the season. We touch on the wage-cost of living disparity, the cliff effect, racial disparities, and the need for more responsive housing and supports. You will hear from Dr. Jamie Rife, the newly appointed head of the Office of Housing Stability (HOST), Britta Fisher, former head of HOST and current CEO of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, and many others. They will talk about homelessness prevention, and solutions steeped in collaboration and informed by the users of the system--those experiencing homelessness. It's a jam-packed episode. Enjoy!

Jimmy is joined by G. Patrick Lynch, Senior Fellow at the Liberty Fund, to discuss the election of Javier Milei as Argentina's president and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston promised to crack down on auto theft but hasn't - and now we learn that he had his own car stolen... again!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jimmy is joined by G. Patrick Lynch, Senior Fellow at the Liberty Fund, to discuss the election of Javier Milei as Argentina's president and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston promised to crack down on auto theft but hasn't - and now we learn that he had his own car stolen... again!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen as hospitals struggle to maintain operations with little fuel and dwindling medical supplies. We speak The Washington Post's Sarah Dadouch and Dr. Tanya Haj Hassan about the latest from Gaza as conditions deteriorate inside the area's two largest hospitals. And, Florida Democratic Rep. Angie Nixon faced condemnation from post parties after introducing legislation last week calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. Then, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston talks about the challenges the city is facing from large numbers of migrants seeking asylum.

On today's podcast:      1) Bankman-Fried Found Guilty of Fraud at FTX Criminal Trial     Jurors in New York found Sam Bankman-Fried guilty of engaging in a massive fraud related to the collapse of his FTX crypto exchange. Bankman-Fried's arrest last December, weeks after his exchange filed for bankruptcy, marked a dramatic escalation in the efforts by regulators and prosecutors to rein in what they perceive as excesses in the industry.      2) Israel Latest: Intense Gaza Strikes as Blinken Lands In Tel Aviv     Hezbollah's leader issued a warning to Israel that the Lebanon-based militant group is ready for “all possibilities,” suggesting the daily cross-border fire between the two could tip into a full-blown war.      3) Apple Warns of Sluggish Holiday Quarter After China Slowdown     Apple Inc.'s disappointing holiday-quarter outlook has cast a spotlight on its mounting problems in China, where the iPhone maker is struggling with the unexpected rise of Huawei Technologies Co. and an increasingly hostile business environment.     FULL TRANSCRIPT:     Good morning. I'm Nathan Hager and I'm Karen Moscow. Here are the stories we're following today. We begin with a guilty verdict for Sam bankman freed. It took a jury less than five hours to convict the FTX co founder of seven counts of fraud and conspiracy. Bloomberg's June Grosso begins our team coverage. It's not a surprise because the evidence against him was overwhelming. And think, what did it is? Sam Bankminfried took the stand in his own defense. And when a defendant takes the stand that way, the whole thing in the jury's mind becomes a credibility game. How credible do they find him? Bloomberg's June Grosso says, Sam bankman Fried faces as much as twenty years in prison on each of the most serious charges. He'll be sentenced in March. Well, Nathan Bloomberg, The legal reporter Ava Benny Morrison, was in the courtroom during the verdict, and she continues our team coverage. Dave was pretty emotionless. He was as to stand up by the judge. When the jury delivered its verdict. He faced the jury box, he held his hands in front of him and it looked like he was tearing down at the floor as the jury. As the fourth person to the jury confirmed guilty to each of the seven charges. He then sat back down. When the jury walked out of the room, he was whispering with his lawyers. He was nodding a lot. While he wasn't very emotional. His parents were. They were holding each other. His dad doubled over at one point. Bloomberg Legal reporter Ava Bennie Morrison reports Bankman's lawyer is considering an appeal may Karen Bloomberg. Business Week investigative reporter Zeke Fox wrote a book on ftx's Crypto roller Coaster, and he says Bankman freed struggled under cross examination. When his own lawyer was questioning him, he had a lot to say, but when the prosecution had there turned a cross examine, he suddenly didn't remember anything and in one moment that was dramatic, I mean, especially for me. The prosecutor asked her, as she asked him about the statement, there was more leeway, and he said, I don't remember saying anything like that. She whipped out a copy of my book, number Go Up and walked it over to him like a hard copy and was like turn to page two twenty four in Bloomberg Business Week, Zeek Fox ads the conviction is the first in a wave of legal action against crypto companies. Nathan now to the other major trial happening in New York, Donald Trump's two hundred and fifty million dollars civil fraud case. The former president's two oldest sons took turns on the witness stand, denying any role in preparing their company's financial records. Afterward, Donald Trump Junior addressed reporters before even having a day in court, I'm apparently guilty uh a fraud for relying on my accountants to do wait for it, accounting. Donald Trump Junior's brother is set to continue testifying today. Their sister, Evonka, will take this stand next week. She lost an appeal to delay her testimony. Well, Karen, we now turn to the war in the Middle East. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is back in Tel Aviv. We're determined that this conflict not spread, and we'll be talking to both the Israeli government partners in the region about what all of us are doing to prevent that from happening. When Secretary of State b Lincoln's arrival comes as ground operations continue in Gaza. The Hamas run Health Ministry says more than nine thousand Palestinians have died in the fighting. Israel says seventeen of its soldiers have been killed. Well, Nathan, the House has passed the Aid for Israel bill, but Bloomberg's ad Baxter reports and may have a troubled future. This is a victory for House Speaker Mike Johnson, but it looks as if it is dead to become law. Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer has been saying taking funding from IRS enforcement is a bad idea, and President Biden is out saying if it were to hit his desk, he would not sign it. House Speaker Johnson says it will get done. There is absolutely no equivocation here. We have to stay with Israel, and Republican Congressman Tom Cole says there are different paths to get the aid. We have a lot of unspent money. We ought to use that toward a more important purpose and that's his real So the issue is far from settled at Baxter Bloomberg Radio, Okay, and thank you. Turning the market. Shares of Apple are down more than three percent. The world's most valuable company reported its fourth straight sales decline and its warning holiday revenue will be about the same as last year. Angelo Zeno, as senior equity analyst, it's CFRAA research. It's not the most favorable landscape out there for PCs, even though the broader PC landscape appears to have found some sort of putting for the time being. But at the end of the day, the consumer landscape is still very challenging in nature CFAs angelo Zino says. The results also suggest apples facing a deceleration in China. Well Nathan O their stocks on the move this morning. Shares of DraftKings up seven percent. The sports betting operator reported sales and player numbers that beat analyst expectations, Block shares surging more than a ten percent. The Payments Giant run by Jack Dorsey, again boosting its profit forecast for the year, and shares a Booking dropping as much as seven percent in light trading. The company formerly known as Price Lines as travel demand had been diminished by the Israel Hamas war. On the economic front, karen a busy week concludes with the October Jobs report, a preview of that now from Bloomberg's Michael McKee, FED chair j Powell says a tight labor market could lead to another rate move, which means markets will parse the October jobs report trying to determine what it signals. Is hiring still much stronger than what's needed to absorb an increasing labor force. Have higher interest rates led companies to pull back on hiring or even start letting people go. Our companies still paying up to attract workers, While the Fed we'll also see the November payrolls report before its next meeting. Powell says it will take several months of data to make any decisions. Michael McKee, Bloomberg Radio. All right, Nathan, thank you. It is time now for a look at some of the other stories making news around the world, and for that we're joined by Bloomberg's John Tucker, John, good morning, and Karen. Something maybe rotten in the Big Apple. The mayor's fundraising campaign is under investigation. Let's get more on this report from Bloomberg's Michael Barr. Mayor Adams ditched a White House meeting on the migrant crisis and flew back to the city. The mayor explaining his abrupt return, but you probably heard the reports involved in one of my campaign staffers. The staffer is lead fundraiser, twenty five year old Brianna Suggs, whose Brooklyn home was raided by the FBI. Along with the officers of a New York construction firm called KSK, it made fourteen thousand dollars in campaign contributions. The investigation is looking into whether the company, along with Turkish nationals, made in proper donations in New York. Michael Barr Bloomberg Radio Adams was supposed to be with the mayors of Chicago and Denver. It asked Congress to approve President Biden's request at one point four billion dollars to help the cities and states in the migrant crisis. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, we're both of what wey've done. It's critical for us that this package passes over the next several weeks to get funding to cities, otherwise we'll have catastrophic impacts. The Democratic Mayor's trying to put pressure on the blinded administration to address the humanitarian crisis caused by record crossings at the southern border. The Senate had voted ninety five to one to confirm Admiral Linda Franchetti to be the next Chief of Naval Operations, making her the first woman to be a US military service chief. Set of Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Admiral Fanchette is an exceptional leader with a distinguished career serving our nation. I'm confident she has the experience, the skills, and the vision to succeed as the US Navy's top naval as the US Navy's top officer. Franchetti's confirmation comes amid a temporary break from a blockade by Senator Tommy Tubberville stalling hundreds of military promotions. Riding high on historic contract wins against Detroit's automakers, UAWT President Sean Fain he is confident he can now take on Tesla and it's anti union chief Elon Musk. In an interview with Bloomberg yesterday, Fan said we can beat anybody global news twenty four hours a day and whenever you want it with Bloomberg News. Now, I'm John Tucker, and this is Bloomberg. Karen, all right, John, thanks, so we bring you news throughout the day here on Bloomberg Radio. But now you can get the latest news on demand whenever you want it. Subscribe to Bloomberg News Now to get the latest headlines at the click of a button. Get informed on your schedule. You can listen and subscribe to Bloomberg News Now on the Bloomberg Business app, Bloomberg dot com plus Apple, Spotify, and anywhere else you get your podcasts. Time now for the Bloomberg Sports Update. Here's John stash Hour John Karen Weign. I'm in the NFL Underway with an AFC game in Pittsburgh. The Steelers and Titans were tied at ten, then at thirteen. Pittsburgh trailed in the fourth quarter. Ticket in the shotgun gets the snap looks right. Johnson White open tutop Pittsburgh. The Steelers bunched ninety two yards to take Tully. That's the day Johnson's first touchdown and won a couple season tests. Twenty Games TV had the calls. The Steelers beat the Titans twenty to sixteen. Pittsburgh's five and three Tennessee is three and five In Victor Weinberana's fifth NBA game, the Spurs rookie sensations scored thirty eight points. He had ten rebounds. Some highlight reel baskets as the San Antonio Spurs blew a twenty seven point lead but still beat Phoenix won thirty two to one twenty one. Philadelphia's three and one won by fifteen over Toronto. Joel Mbi scored twenty eight. The Pelicans are four to one. They played without Zion Williams from CJ. McCollums scored thirty three and win over Detroit. Orlando won by two at Utah Paalo Bankero scored thirty. The games tonight of the NBA marked the beginning of the NBA's in season tournament. The Bruins are nine to zhoin one. They beat Toronto three two in a shootout. Nelson Cruz announced his retirement at age forty three. Played nineteen seasons. There eight different teams at four hundred and sixty four home runs as expected World Series ratings, the lowest ever one hundred and thirty baseball players will be free agents. Heading the list show AO Time John Stanshaur Bloomberg sports from coast to coast, from New York to San Francisco, Boston to Washington, DC, nationwide on Syrias Exam. The Bloomberg Business app in Bloomberg dot Com. This is Bloomberg Daybreak. Good morning. I'm Nathan Hager. Guilty on all counts. After a month long trial, Sam Bankman Freed is convicted in one of the biggest cases of financial fraud in decades over the collapse of his FTX crypto empire. For more reaction to this outcome, we are joined now by Bloomberg Law host June Grosso. It's good to have you back with us this morning. Of course, this came after more than fifteen days of testimony that this jury heard. In the end, though it did take only about five hours for those jurors to come back with a verdict. Your thoughts, Yeah, it was a very quick verdict. I think that the evidence of this case was overwhelming. The prosecution had not only documents that they could present, but they also had three insiders, three witnesses who were close friends of Bankment Freed, one a former girlfriend of his, who were in on the process, in on what happened, and they testified, and their testimony was very you know, conclusive, and the cross examinations really didn't expose many holds in their testimony. And you also had the fact that Sam bankmin Freed took the stand, and when a defendant takes the stand, the focus for the jury then becomes the credibility of that defendant. And while he did pretty well on direct examination, on cross examination, the cross exit nomination was just withering and he said I don't know, or words to that effect more than a hundred times. So I think that in this case, he's taking the stand, which was a risky move. Everyone knows that it's a risky move for a defendant to take the stand, and it worked against him. Here, was that the biggest mistake that Sam Bankman Freed made to take the stand? Or is there something more that he could have done to try to rebut that testimony from as you say, what used to be his closest friends, his inner circle, Well, you know, it's hard to say. I don't want to characterize it as a mistake really because I don't know that he had any other choice. The evidence against him, as I said, was building, building, building. He had those those witnesses who turned against him, and really, what else could he have done but take the stand. He really had no other recourse. It was sort of forced on him as the trial was going on, the question will he take the stand or not. And the analysis was, well, he has the kind of personality to want to take the stand. I mean, look at all the times he's talked in the media, but everyone knew that on cross examination he was going to be confronted with not only the testimony of the three people who were closest to him at FTX and Alima Research who turned on him, but also all the statements that he made, all the times he talked to the media about FTX after the bankruptcy. So but what else could he do? It was it was a hail Mary pass and he took it. But you know, the choice was really there wasn't really wasn't much choice because it was so overwhelming at that point that you know, he had to take the chance. And there was, as you mentioned, so much overwhelming testimony against him before the standard. Even before that testimony, I mean, he lost a number of pre trial motions that kept him from calling expert witnesses. And of course there was that moment even before he was allowed to testify before a jury, where he got on the stand in front of the judge to argue for being allowed to testify about advice from his lawyers. So I mean, he had a number of hands tied behind his back, didn't he. Yeah, I think you know so many of the motions, every big one that I can think of. The judge ruled against him, and in particular, he was on the stand, as you mentioned, about three hours testifying before the judge, so the judge could decide whether or not he could get use an advice of council defense and that was really critical to his defense his lawyers, and he wanted to say that what he did he did because he was relying on the advice of his attorneys, and the judge said that he could not do that. I mean, the judge even ruled before trial that they couldn't use that, they couldn't talk about that in their opening statements to the jury. And then then he had those three hours on the stands where the judge decided that he couldn't use that and he couldn't talk about that in front of the jury, and that was really a hit on his defense. And if you go back, I mean even before the trial, the judge, as you mentioned, said that he couldn't use expert witnesses, and the judge threw him into jail after he had communicated with the press, and that was really a surprise too, because he had a huge bail package and the defense was coming in to agree that day to a gag order. Instead, the judge decided that he was going to throw him into jail weeks before the trial, and that really puts a strain on the defense in more ways than one. I mean, not only did he not have his adderall when he was in jail, not have the right dose of it, but he's a vegan and he didn't get the kind of food he eats. He didn't get the kind of food at the Brooklyn Detention Center, so everyone saw that he lost a lot of weight when it came to the courtroom. But more than that, it's very difficult to prepare for trial when you're behind bars and your lawyer has to make appointments to meet you, and you don't have access to all the documents and you know, the internet and the things you need. So it really was an uphill battle for him from the very beginning. And so we've had this uphill battle go on for just about a month. After a relatively quick jury decision, we are expecting that Sam Bankminfried and his lawyers are going to appeal this verdict. How do you expect that to go? Now, Well, you know, they have a lot of issues that they can appeal on, and they're the ones that I was just talking about, the judge turning down the advice of counsel and the expert witnesses, and I'm sure they have a lot more from what happened at trial, but it's it's very difficult to get a conviction reversed on appeal. It happens, but it's very difficult because a lot of these decisions are what they say, you know, in the discretion of the judge, and the appellate court won't touch a lot of a lot of these decisions if they feel that it was in the discretion of the judge and that these may all fit in that category. So you know they will. They do have a lot to talk about, They do have a lot to raise on appeal, but you know, it's another uphill battle for him. This is Bloomberg day Break Today, your morning brief on the stories making news from Wall Street to Washington and beyond. Look for us on your podcast feat at six am Eastern each morning, on Apple, Spotify, and anywhere else you get your podcasts. You can also listen live each morning starting at five am Wall Street Time on Bloomberg eleven three to zero in New York, Bloomberg ninety nine one in Washington, Bloomberg one oh sixty one in Boston, and Bloomberg ninety sixty in San Francisco. Our flagship New York station is also available on your Amazon Alexa devices. Just say Alexa Play Bloomberg eleven thirty plus listen coast to coast on the Bloomberg Business app, serious XM Channel one nineteen, the iHeartRadio app, and on Bloomberg dot com. I'm Nathan Hager and I'm Karen Moscow. Join us again tomorrow morning for all the news you need to start your day right here on Bloomberg DaybreakSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston joins George for the first half of the hour.  They discuss the mayor's housing for the homeless plan.  Did you know Mayor Johnston found a local company to build the tiny homes?  Next, they talk about revitalizing Downtown and some of the challenges facing business owners.  Next, Mayor Johnston talks about a Public Safety initiative to help curb Denver's crime rate.  After that, George plays the audio of Colorado attorney Jenna Ellis pleading guilty to felony election fraud in Georgia this morning.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston announced Monday that Denver's first micro-community to house homeless people will be built along South Santa Fe Drive.Johnston, who has vowed to house 1,000 homeless people by year's end, said city officials will break ground soon at 2301 S. Santa Fe Drive.But nearby residents have expressed concern about the site being toxic ground. It was once a near a Denver Radium Superfund Site.The micro-community is planned to house 120 people, open before year's end and operate 24/7, the mayor's office said in a news release.Denver plans to break ground on the site, currently an empty lot, in the coming week.Support the show

Rundown -    Intro with Troubadour Dave Gunders - 00:35   "Ain't No Way You're Coming Home" by Dave Gunders - 13:36   Rabbi Bruce Dollin - 19:39   When Jews experience problems and boy do we have problems with Hamas now, it is helpful to know what a wise Rabbi, well versed in the Torah, has to say. We have that here.   For nearly three decades, Bruce Dollin was Senior Rabbi at the legendary Hebrew Educational Alliance in Denver. Rabbi Dollin provides valuable knowledge, advice and predictions in the aftermath of last Saturday's bloodthirsty attack by Hamas on Israel.   Rabbi Dollin explains how Colorado's community can best respond. There was an outpouring of love and support last Monday night at Denver's Temple Emanuel and Rabbi Dollin recalls what moved that crowd to give Denver Mayor Mike Johnston a standing ovation.   The long simmering nature of the Hamas - Israel conflict is explained with the wise Rabbi providing many Mosaic Law references to proper Jewish responses during dire wartime circumstances. Jewish law demands certain prayers and procedures when captives are taken.   Discussed are the Amalek and their Jew-hating allies unalterably opposed to Jewish people existing in Israel, or anywhere. The charter of Hamas boldly states its Jew hatred and Israel can no longer tolerate this terror group next door – or anywhere. The roles of Iran, Qatar and Russia are also considered.   The performances this week of President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Tony Blinken are reviewed, and praised. The complicated Bibi Netanyahu situation is analyzed – including memories of the infamous Iran Nuke Deal and Netanyahu's forceful Biden-boycotted 2015 Capitol speech in opposition.   The world is significantly changed given the barbarity and severity of the Hamas attack on the Jewish State of Israel. Rabbi Dollin is confident that Israel and her allies will beat back these enemies. Rabbi Dollin knows Israel.   Rabbi Dollin has long fought anti-Israel indoctrination on college campuses. Dollin organized a memorable protest in 2002 at Colorado College against Hanan Ashrawi, an advocate of terror against Israel. College campus anti-Jew hatred remains problematic for Israel now.   https://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/30/us/invitation-to-palestinian-draws-protest-at-colorado-college.html   The significance of the (10/7) day of Hamas' shameful ambush (Shabbat/Simchat Torah) gets analyzed. Fascists cannot abide human freedom, the type embodied by Torah and the Jewish people. Jews value life here on Earth. Israelis must now fight back, through their tears.   Troubadour Dave Gunders has a rare sad song appropriate for this week titled "Ain't No Way You're Coming Home." Ominous current situation is reviewed. Ain't no way to sugarcoat it. We've got the blues. https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=9tkJZPVyGTA

is it only a crime if the Government is not helping you do it?  George and callers discuss a new Colorado Democrat proposal for safe drug injection sites.  Yes, again.  George wonders why Denver Mayor Mike Johnston's new micro communities have addiction services, while state legislators seem to want to create places to drugs instead of treatment to help stop the addiction.  If safe drug injection sites or "harm reduction centers" as the Libs like to call them now, are such a good idea and help people struggling with addiction, why aren't they a part of Denver's plan to help get homeless off the street?  Why would addiction help be the choice in these communities?  Also, this hour George gets a call from a listener who vacationed in Vancouver this summer. Listen to what he and his family saw near one of these sites.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Homelessness and Free Speech.  George and callers discuss two topics : Denver Mayor Mike Johnston's planned micro communities and former President Trump saying he will investigate main stream media outlets for being "fake".  Does the promise by Trump sound like something our Founding Fathers would support?  Have we given up on the First Amendment?  Are some Americans more in favor of authoritarian rule than a representative democracy?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MAYOR MIKE JOHNSTON ON THE SHOW TODAY to talk about his plans to house homeless people, how the first proposed micro community site meetings are going, and why Step Denver was shut out of the conversation.

An important FAMILY MEETING.  Steffan announces he is retiring from radio.  His final show will be Friday, November 3, 2023.  We then joins CBS News as Donald Trump arrives at a Georgia to be booked after being indicted earlier this month. We wrap with Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and his latest homeless update in Denver in Decay.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We begin with the latest homeless update from new Denver Mayor Mike Johnston - it's more coddling and "here's what we're gonna do for you." Calls and texts. Then - we play sound from a complete lunatic who spoke at this week's Aurora City Council meeting. How is this allowed? Freedom of speech vs. decorum and decency. Goodwill stores have permanently closed all dressing rooms. Forever. We wrap with a recall of Doritos - say it ain't so. (Small recall only in PA.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

IT'S A MAYOR KIND OF DAY ON THE SHOW We've got Mayor Mike Coffman from Aurora at 1:30 today followed immediately by Denver Mayor Mike Johnston for a short interview. You really don't want to miss the 1pm hour.

IT'S A MAYOR KIND OF DAY ON THE SHOW We've got Mayor Mike Coffman from Aurora at 1:30 today followed immediately by Denver Mayor Mike Johnston for a short interview. You really don't want to miss the 1pm hour.

It's one thing when Dan takes issue with a Democrat public official like Denver mayor Mike Johnston, but it's another matter when even The Denver Post takes the mayor to task on his reluctance to continue homeless camp sweeps in the city. Also, Megyn Kelly is irate at Megan Rapinoe and the rest of the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team after many glumly went through the motions during our country's national anthem before their first 2023 World Cup contest against Vietnam. Dan and Ryan agree that it's hard to root for a team representing our nation when so many of the players appear to despise the very country they are playing for on the world stage.

We welcome Brendan Hogan, dad of Jaydynn - who died two years ago today of fentanyl poisoning: www.jaydynnslight.org We talk about Jaydynn, forever 16. She took half of what she thought was a Percocet and died. Brendan talks about CO laws, a message to parents and how you can buy a luminary that will be lit August 26 in Greeley. We wrap with an update on Denver Mayor Mike Johnston's homeless plan. Council extends the emergency declaration through August 21.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Twitter is now X.  Brilliant move or marketing disaster?  Jon Caldera fills in for George. He talks about the Twitter change then discusses new Denver Mayor Mike Johnston's homeless emergency declaration.  What does the "emergency" mean, and can it help?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Super Heros and Homeless Emergency are on the menu.  Jon Caldera fills n for George.  He welcomes bestselling author Joseph Caldara (John's nephew) to talk about his bestselling teenage adventure, The Black Walrus (link below).  Oddly this book has sold like hotcakes despite no woke themes or characters.  Then Jon returns to talking about Denver Mayor Mike Johnston declaring a "Homeless Emergency".   The Black Walrus: Caldara, Joseph, Caldara, Joseph: 9780998429885: Amazon.com: BooksSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lauren Boebert's fundraising lags Democratic challenger Adam Frisch | Rep. Yadira Caraveo (D-CO) raises $450K as her GOP challenger has yet to start fundraising | Anti-LGBTQ laws are being struck down around the country for violating First Amendment rights | Utah Supreme Court considers challenge to GOP gerrymandered Congressional map | Denver Mayor Mike Johnston declares a state of emergency around homelessness | Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Ziggy Marley, Mavis Staples, Robert Randolph Band play Vail on July 24.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:Lauren Boebert's Democratic challenger raised 3x what she did in the 2nd quarterBY: SARA WILSON - JULY 17, 2023 4:07 PMDemocrat Adam Frisch raised over three times what Republican incumbent Rep. Lauren Boebert did over the last three months in Colorado's 3rd Congressional District, as the seat appears likely to be a competitive — and expensive — race in 2024.In 2022, Boebert beat Frisch for a second term by 546 votes. Both candidates are actively fundraising with 16 months until a general election rematch.Frisch reported raising about $2.6 million during the most recent campaign finance reporting period, which ran from April to June, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission. The former Aspen City Council member spent about $1.4 million and has about $2.5 million in cash on hand.During his 2022 campaign, Frisch raised about $6.7 million, including personal loans, and spent about $6.4 million.Boebert reported raising over $800,000 from April to June. She spent a bit over $400,000 and has about $1.4 million in the bank.In 2022, Boebert raised almost $8 million and spent about $7.4 million.Both candidates brought in a large amount of donations under $200 that don't need to be individually listed on reports — about 66% of Frisch's cash and 47% of Boebert's.Frisch listed about 1,400 individual donations from Colorado residents for a total of about $280,000. Boebert listed about 600 donations from people in Colorado, raising about $150,000.Both Boebert and Frisch spent heavily on advertising during the quarter. Frisch reported spending over $600,000 on contact list acquisition and digital advertising and another $290,000 on direct mail. Boebert spent $52,000 on digital advertising and over $100,000 on direct mail. She reported spending over $28,000 on campaign-related travel during the quarter.The 3rd Congressional District encompasses the Western Slope, San Luis Valley and swings east to Pueblo County.In other districts - Democratic Rep. Yadira Caraveo in the 8th Congressional District raised about $450,000 during the quarter. She spent about $120,000 and has about $625,000 in cash on hand.Republican Scott James has announced his candidacy but has not reported any raising or spending so far this cycle.The National Republican Congressional Committee listed the district as a target race for 2024, priming it for an influx of national party attention and resources. At the same time, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will also likely pour money into the race, listing Caraveo as a potential vulnerable freshman member.The 8th Congressional District includes Denver's northeast suburbs into Weld County.ARIZONA MIRROR:.Anti-LGBTQ laws in the US are getting struck down for limiting free speechDR. MARK SATTAJULY 13, 2023 7:11 AMAnti-LGBTQ laws passed in 2023 included measures to deny gender-affirming care to trans children. Photo by Mario Tama | Getty Images via The ConversationNearly 500 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in state legislatures in the U.S. in 2023. Many of those bills seek to reduce or eliminate gender-affirming care for transgender minors or to ban drag performances in places where minors could view them.Most of those bills have not become law. But many of those that have did not survive legal scrutiny when challenged in court.A notable feature of these rulings is how many rely on the First Amendment's protection of free speech. In several of the decisions, judges used harsh language to describe what they deemed to be assaults on a fundamental American right.Here's a summary of some of the most notable legal outcomes:Drag performancesSeveral states passed laws aimed at restricting drag performances. These laws were quickly challenged in court. So far, judges have sided with those challenging these laws.On June 2, 2023, a federal judge permanently enjoined Tennessee's attempt to limit drag performances by restricting “adult entertainment” featuring “male or female impersonators.” When a law is permanently enjoined, it can no longer be enforced unless an appeals court reverses the decision.The judge ruled on broad grounds that Tennessee's law violated freedom of speech, writing that it “reeks with constitutional maladies of vagueness and overbreadth fatal to statutes that regulate First Amendment rights.” He also ruled that the law was passed for the “impermissible purpose of chilling constitutionally-protected speech” and that it engaged in viewpoint discrimination, which occurs when a law regulates speech from a disfavored perspective.Three weeks later, a federal judge granted a temporary injunction against Florida's anti-drag law on similar grounds.And in Utah, a federal judge required the city of St. George to grant a permit for a drag show, ruling that the city had applied an ordinance in a discriminatory manner in order to prevent the family-friendly drag show from happening. As in the other cases, the judge's ruling was based on First Amendment precedent.Gender-affirming careOn June 20, 2023, a federal judge permanently enjoined an Arkansas law, passed in 2021 over the veto of then-Gov. Asa Hutchinson, preventing transgender minors from receiving various kinds of gender-affirming medical care, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy.The judge held that Arkansas' law violated the Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection clause – which ensures laws are applied equally regardless of social characteristics like race or gender – because the law discriminated on the basis of sex.Arkansas claimed its law was passed in order to protect children and to safeguard medical ethics. The judge agreed that these were legitimate state interests, but rejected Arkansas' claim that its law furthered those ends.The judge also held that Arkansas' law violated the First Amendment free speech rights of medical care providers because the law would have prevented them from providing referrals for gender transition medical treatment.During June 2023, federal judges in Florida and Indiana granted temporary injunctions against enforcement of similar state laws. This means that these laws cannot be enforced until a full trial is conducted – and only if that trial results in a ruling that these laws are constitutional.Free speech for the LGBTQ communityIn striking down these unconstitutional state laws on First Amendment grounds, many judges went out of their way to reinforce the point that freedom of speech protects views about sexual orientation and gender identity that may be unpopular in conservative areas.In his ruling on the St. George, Utah case, U.S. District Judge David Nuffer stressed that “Public spaces are public spaces. Public spaces are not private spaces. Public spaces are not majority spaces. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution ensures that all citizens, popular or not, majority or minority, conventional or unconventional, have access to public spaces for public expression.”Nuffer also noted that “Public officials and the city governments in which they serve are trustees of constitutional rights for all citizens.” Protecting the constitutional rights of all citizens includes protecting the constitutional rights of members of the LGBTQ community and of other gender-nonconforming people.Free speech rights also extend to those who want to use speech in order to help promote the well-being of LGBTQ people. In ruling that Arkansas' law violated the First Amendment, Judge Jay Moody stated that the state law “prevents doctors from informing their patients where gender transition treatment may be available” and that it “effectively bans their ability to speak to patients about these treatments because the physician is not allowed to tell their patient where it is available.” For this reason, he held that the law violated the First Amendment.As additional anti-LGBTQ state laws are challenged in court, judges are likely to continue to use the First Amendment to show how such laws fail to respect Americans' fundamental free speech rights.This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The ConversationNEW YORK TIMES:Utah G.O.P.'s Map Carved Up Salt Lake Democrats to dilute their power. Is that legal?The Utah Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday over whether a congressional map drawn to dilute Democratic votes was subject to judicial review, or a political issue beyond its reach.By Michael WinesJuly 11, 2023Last week, Utah's Supreme Court justices appeared skeptical of arguments put forward by the State Legislature that it had essentially unreviewable power to draw a map of the state's congressional districts that diluted the votes of Democrats.The Republican-controlled Legislature approved a map in 2021 that carved up Democratic-leaning Salt Lake County, the state's most populous county, and scattered its voters among the state's four U.S. House districts, all of which were predominantly Republican.The lawmakers acted after repealing a law — enacted by Utah voters in a 2018 ballot initiative — that outlawed political maps unduly favoring a candidate or political party.The Legislature's map was widely acknowledged at the time to be a partisan gerrymander, including by the Republican governor, Spencer J. Cox, who noted at the time that both parties often produced skewed maps.The question before the justices on Tuesday was whether the state's courts could hear a lawsuit challenging the Legislature's map, or whether partisan maps were a political issue beyond their jurisdiction. It was not clear when the court would hand down a ruling.Much of Tuesday's hearing — which was streamed on the state court's website — focused on the Legislature's repeal of the 2018 ballot initiative, given the provision in the State Constitution that all political power resides with the people and that they have the right “to alter and reform” their government.Mark Gaber is a lawyer for the Campaign Legal Center, an advocacy law firm based in Washington that represents the plaintiffs in the case before the court. He said, “the Legislature has for decades engaged in this anti-democratic distortion of the process. And the people said: ‘We have had enough. We are going to alter and reform our government and recognize that we hold the political power in this state.'”Taylor Meehan, a lawyer with the law firm Consovoy McCarthy who is representing the Legislature, said Utah citizens had many ways to exercise political influence even after the repeal. “The people can advocate for a constitutional amendment,” Ms. Meehan said. “The people also can elect and lobby and propose ideas to their Legislature. The Legislature will still be politically accountable for whether they vote maps up or down.”Chief Justice Matthew Durrant questioned the claim. “That seems like an empty promise,” he said. “Ultimately, under the system you're suggesting, the Legislature is always going to have the final say.”In court filings, legislators said that the State Constitution gave them exclusive authority to draw political maps, and that the plaintiffs were trying to impose “illusory standards of political equality” on the mapmaking process.With the U.S. Supreme Court having barred federal courts from deciding partisan gerrymander cases, state courts are becoming a crucial battleground for opponents of skewed maps. Joshua A. Douglas, an expert on state constitution protections for voting at the University of Kentucky, said the growing body of legal precedents in state gerrymandering cases was important because many state constitutions shared similar protections for elections and voters, often derived from one another.Courts in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Alaska, New York and, last week, New Mexico have ruled that partisan gerrymanders can be unconstitutional. So have courts in Ohio and North Carolina. However, the Ohio court proved unable to force the legislature to comply with its rulings, and the North Carolina decision was overturned in April after elections shifted the court's majority from Democratic to Republican.The Kentucky Supreme Court will hear a challenge to that state's congressional and legislative maps in September. And a lawsuit contesting an extreme Republican gerrymander of the Wisconsin Legislature is widely expected after an April election gave liberals a majority on the state's high court.Perhaps the closest analogy to the Utah gerrymander is in Nashville, where the latest congressional map by the Republican-led state legislature divided the city's former Democratic-majority U.S. House district among three heavily Republican districts. Democrats have not challenged the map in state courts, presumably because they see little prospect of winning in a State Supreme Court dominated by Republican appointees.In Utah's case, however, the State Supreme Court's five justices do not have reputations for bending easily to political winds. They are chosen through a merit-based selection process.The Utah plaintiffs — the state chapter of the League of Women Voters, the advocacy group Mormon Women for Ethical Government, and a handful of Utah voters —say that the gerrymandered map ignores a host of state constitutional provisions, including guarantees of free speech, free association and equal protection — provisions that they say should be read as prohibiting partisan maps.Republican legislators contend that they had the right to repeal the 2018 redistricting law, just as they could any other state law. And they say that the plaintiffs' aim is no different than their own: to tilt the playing field in their side's favor.But Katie Wright, the executive director of Better Boundaries — the group that led the effort to pass the redistricting law and that is backing the lawsuit — argued that there was a difference between the two. She noted that the Utah Legislature's disclosure of its new maps in 2021 sparked an unusually large public outcry that continues even today.“The reason we have this gerrymandered map is to keep the people who are in power in power,” she said. “But Utahns have not given up.”Michael Wines writes about voting and other election-related issues. Since joining The Times in 1988, he has covered the Justice Department, the White House, Congress, Russia, southern Africa, China and various other topics.  More about Michael WinesA version of this article appears in print on July 12, 2023, Section A, Page 16 of the New York edition with the headline: Utah's Supreme Court Weighs State Gerrymandering Case. Order Reprints | Today's Paper | COLORADO SUN:Denver's new mayor declares state of emergency on homelessness, sets goal of housing 1,000 unsheltered people by end of 2023Elliott Wenzler9:54 AM MDT on Jul 18, 2023In his first full day as Denver's new mayor, Mike Johnston declared a state of emergency around homelessness and announced that he plans to house 1,000 unsheltered people by the end of the year.Johnston said he will tour 78 neighborhoods across the city to accomplish his goal and that his staff will work with landlords, property owners and hotels to find housing availability. His administration is also looking at nearly 200 public plots to place tiny home communities where people experiencing homelessness can be housed.“This is what we think is the most important crisis the city is facing,” Johnston said at a news conference at the Denver's City and County Building. “We took the oath yesterday to commit to taking on this problem.”Homelessness has been an increasingly polarizing issue in Denver and it was a major focus on Johnston's mayoral campaign. He vowed to create tiny home communities on city-owned property as a way to get people off the street.Johnston said the state of emergency declaration will help the city access state and “possibly” federal funding. He also said it would allow the city to more quickly work through construction, renovation and permitting processes for new housing units.“And it sends a real message to all the rest of the state that we are deeply focused on this. We have real evidence to support that housing first as a strategy will get the great majority of people access to the support they need to stay housed and then access follow up resources,” he said. Johnston's inaugural address Monday was centered on the theme of what he called the “dream of Denver.” He mentioned housing costs, safety, mental illness, addiction and reimagining downtown as top priorities.Johnston said “Those of us on this stage took an oath today. But for us to succeed, every Denverite must take their own oath- an oath to dream, to serve, and to deliver. To dream (of) a Denver bold enough to include all of us. To serve our city above ourselves. To march on shoulder to shoulder, undeterred by failure, until we deliver results.”And your unsolicited concert pick of the week, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue! With special guests Ziggy Marley, Mavis Staples, and the Robert Randolph Band. Monday July 24 at the Gerald Ford Amphitheatre in Vail. I've seen every one of these acts, and I'll just any one of them would be worth the trip on their own.  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, New York Times, Colorado Newsline, Arizona Mirror, and Denver's Westword.Thank you for listening! See you next time.

Lauren Boebert's fundraising lags Democratic challenger Adam Frisch | Rep. Yadira Caraveo (D-CO) raises $450K as her GOP challenger has yet to start fundraising | Anti-LGBTQ laws are being struck down around the country for violating First Amendment rights | Utah Supreme Court considers challenge to GOP gerrymandered Congressional map | Denver Mayor Mike Johnston declares a state of emergency around homelessness | Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Ziggy Marley, Mavis Staples, Robert Randolph Band play Vail on July 24.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:Lauren Boebert's Democratic challenger raised 3x what she did in the 2nd quarterBY: SARA WILSON - JULY 17, 2023 4:07 PMDemocrat Adam Frisch raised over three times what Republican incumbent Rep. Lauren Boebert did over the last three months in Colorado's 3rd Congressional District, as the seat appears likely to be a competitive — and expensive — race in 2024.In 2022, Boebert beat Frisch for a second term by 546 votes. Both candidates are actively fundraising with 16 months until a general election rematch.Frisch reported raising about $2.6 million during the most recent campaign finance reporting period, which ran from April to June, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission. The former Aspen City Council member spent about $1.4 million and has about $2.5 million in cash on hand.During his 2022 campaign, Frisch raised about $6.7 million, including personal loans, and spent about $6.4 million.Boebert reported raising over $800,000 from April to June. She spent a bit over $400,000 and has about $1.4 million in the bank.In 2022, Boebert raised almost $8 million and spent about $7.4 million.Both candidates brought in a large amount of donations under $200 that don't need to be individually listed on reports — about 66% of Frisch's cash and 47% of Boebert's.Frisch listed about 1,400 individual donations from Colorado residents for a total of about $280,000. Boebert listed about 600 donations from people in Colorado, raising about $150,000.Both Boebert and Frisch spent heavily on advertising during the quarter. Frisch reported spending over $600,000 on contact list acquisition and digital advertising and another $290,000 on direct mail. Boebert spent $52,000 on digital advertising and over $100,000 on direct mail. She reported spending over $28,000 on campaign-related travel during the quarter.The 3rd Congressional District encompasses the Western Slope, San Luis Valley and swings east to Pueblo County.In other districts - Democratic Rep. Yadira Caraveo in the 8th Congressional District raised about $450,000 during the quarter. She spent about $120,000 and has about $625,000 in cash on hand.Republican Scott James has announced his candidacy but has not reported any raising or spending so far this cycle.The National Republican Congressional Committee listed the district as a target race for 2024, priming it for an influx of national party attention and resources. At the same time, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will also likely pour money into the race, listing Caraveo as a potential vulnerable freshman member.The 8th Congressional District includes Denver's northeast suburbs into Weld County.ARIZONA MIRROR:.Anti-LGBTQ laws in the US are getting struck down for limiting free speechDR. MARK SATTAJULY 13, 2023 7:11 AMAnti-LGBTQ laws passed in 2023 included measures to deny gender-affirming care to trans children. Photo by Mario Tama | Getty Images via The ConversationNearly 500 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in state legislatures in the U.S. in 2023. Many of those bills seek to reduce or eliminate gender-affirming care for transgender minors or to ban drag performances in places where minors could view them.Most of those bills have not become law. But many of those that have did not survive legal scrutiny when challenged in court.A notable feature of these rulings is how many rely on the First Amendment's protection of free speech. In several of the decisions, judges used harsh language to describe what they deemed to be assaults on a fundamental American right.Here's a summary of some of the most notable legal outcomes:Drag performancesSeveral states passed laws aimed at restricting drag performances. These laws were quickly challenged in court. So far, judges have sided with those challenging these laws.On June 2, 2023, a federal judge permanently enjoined Tennessee's attempt to limit drag performances by restricting “adult entertainment” featuring “male or female impersonators.” When a law is permanently enjoined, it can no longer be enforced unless an appeals court reverses the decision.The judge ruled on broad grounds that Tennessee's law violated freedom of speech, writing that it “reeks with constitutional maladies of vagueness and overbreadth fatal to statutes that regulate First Amendment rights.” He also ruled that the law was passed for the “impermissible purpose of chilling constitutionally-protected speech” and that it engaged in viewpoint discrimination, which occurs when a law regulates speech from a disfavored perspective.Three weeks later, a federal judge granted a temporary injunction against Florida's anti-drag law on similar grounds.And in Utah, a federal judge required the city of St. George to grant a permit for a drag show, ruling that the city had applied an ordinance in a discriminatory manner in order to prevent the family-friendly drag show from happening. As in the other cases, the judge's ruling was based on First Amendment precedent.Gender-affirming careOn June 20, 2023, a federal judge permanently enjoined an Arkansas law, passed in 2021 over the veto of then-Gov. Asa Hutchinson, preventing transgender minors from receiving various kinds of gender-affirming medical care, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy.The judge held that Arkansas' law violated the Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection clause – which ensures laws are applied equally regardless of social characteristics like race or gender – because the law discriminated on the basis of sex.Arkansas claimed its law was passed in order to protect children and to safeguard medical ethics. The judge agreed that these were legitimate state interests, but rejected Arkansas' claim that its law furthered those ends.The judge also held that Arkansas' law violated the First Amendment free speech rights of medical care providers because the law would have prevented them from providing referrals for gender transition medical treatment.During June 2023, federal judges in Florida and Indiana granted temporary injunctions against enforcement of similar state laws. This means that these laws cannot be enforced until a full trial is conducted – and only if that trial results in a ruling that these laws are constitutional.Free speech for the LGBTQ communityIn striking down these unconstitutional state laws on First Amendment grounds, many judges went out of their way to reinforce the point that freedom of speech protects views about sexual orientation and gender identity that may be unpopular in conservative areas.In his ruling on the St. George, Utah case, U.S. District Judge David Nuffer stressed that “Public spaces are public spaces. Public spaces are not private spaces. Public spaces are not majority spaces. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution ensures that all citizens, popular or not, majority or minority, conventional or unconventional, have access to public spaces for public expression.”Nuffer also noted that “Public officials and the city governments in which they serve are trustees of constitutional rights for all citizens.” Protecting the constitutional rights of all citizens includes protecting the constitutional rights of members of the LGBTQ community and of other gender-nonconforming people.Free speech rights also extend to those who want to use speech in order to help promote the well-being of LGBTQ people. In ruling that Arkansas' law violated the First Amendment, Judge Jay Moody stated that the state law “prevents doctors from informing their patients where gender transition treatment may be available” and that it “effectively bans their ability to speak to patients about these treatments because the physician is not allowed to tell their patient where it is available.” For this reason, he held that the law violated the First Amendment.As additional anti-LGBTQ state laws are challenged in court, judges are likely to continue to use the First Amendment to show how such laws fail to respect Americans' fundamental free speech rights.This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The ConversationNEW YORK TIMES:Utah G.O.P.'s Map Carved Up Salt Lake Democrats to dilute their power. Is that legal?The Utah Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday over whether a congressional map drawn to dilute Democratic votes was subject to judicial review, or a political issue beyond its reach.By Michael WinesJuly 11, 2023Last week, Utah's Supreme Court justices appeared skeptical of arguments put forward by the State Legislature that it had essentially unreviewable power to draw a map of the state's congressional districts that diluted the votes of Democrats.The Republican-controlled Legislature approved a map in 2021 that carved up Democratic-leaning Salt Lake County, the state's most populous county, and scattered its voters among the state's four U.S. House districts, all of which were predominantly Republican.The lawmakers acted after repealing a law — enacted by Utah voters in a 2018 ballot initiative — that outlawed political maps unduly favoring a candidate or political party.The Legislature's map was widely acknowledged at the time to be a partisan gerrymander, including by the Republican governor, Spencer J. Cox, who noted at the time that both parties often produced skewed maps.The question before the justices on Tuesday was whether the state's courts could hear a lawsuit challenging the Legislature's map, or whether partisan maps were a political issue beyond their jurisdiction. It was not clear when the court would hand down a ruling.Much of Tuesday's hearing — which was streamed on the state court's website — focused on the Legislature's repeal of the 2018 ballot initiative, given the provision in the State Constitution that all political power resides with the people and that they have the right “to alter and reform” their government.Mark Gaber is a lawyer for the Campaign Legal Center, an advocacy law firm based in Washington that represents the plaintiffs in the case before the court. He said, “the Legislature has for decades engaged in this anti-democratic distortion of the process. And the people said: ‘We have had enough. We are going to alter and reform our government and recognize that we hold the political power in this state.'”Taylor Meehan, a lawyer with the law firm Consovoy McCarthy who is representing the Legislature, said Utah citizens had many ways to exercise political influence even after the repeal. “The people can advocate for a constitutional amendment,” Ms. Meehan said. “The people also can elect and lobby and propose ideas to their Legislature. The Legislature will still be politically accountable for whether they vote maps up or down.”Chief Justice Matthew Durrant questioned the claim. “That seems like an empty promise,” he said. “Ultimately, under the system you're suggesting, the Legislature is always going to have the final say.”In court filings, legislators said that the State Constitution gave them exclusive authority to draw political maps, and that the plaintiffs were trying to impose “illusory standards of political equality” on the mapmaking process.With the U.S. Supreme Court having barred federal courts from deciding partisan gerrymander cases, state courts are becoming a crucial battleground for opponents of skewed maps. Joshua A. Douglas, an expert on state constitution protections for voting at the University of Kentucky, said the growing body of legal precedents in state gerrymandering cases was important because many state constitutions shared similar protections for elections and voters, often derived from one another.Courts in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Alaska, New York and, last week, New Mexico have ruled that partisan gerrymanders can be unconstitutional. So have courts in Ohio and North Carolina. However, the Ohio court proved unable to force the legislature to comply with its rulings, and the North Carolina decision was overturned in April after elections shifted the court's majority from Democratic to Republican.The Kentucky Supreme Court will hear a challenge to that state's congressional and legislative maps in September. And a lawsuit contesting an extreme Republican gerrymander of the Wisconsin Legislature is widely expected after an April election gave liberals a majority on the state's high court.Perhaps the closest analogy to the Utah gerrymander is in Nashville, where the latest congressional map by the Republican-led state legislature divided the city's former Democratic-majority U.S. House district among three heavily Republican districts. Democrats have not challenged the map in state courts, presumably because they see little prospect of winning in a State Supreme Court dominated by Republican appointees.In Utah's case, however, the State Supreme Court's five justices do not have reputations for bending easily to political winds. They are chosen through a merit-based selection process.The Utah plaintiffs — the state chapter of the League of Women Voters, the advocacy group Mormon Women for Ethical Government, and a handful of Utah voters —say that the gerrymandered map ignores a host of state constitutional provisions, including guarantees of free speech, free association and equal protection — provisions that they say should be read as prohibiting partisan maps.Republican legislators contend that they had the right to repeal the 2018 redistricting law, just as they could any other state law. And they say that the plaintiffs' aim is no different than their own: to tilt the playing field in their side's favor.But Katie Wright, the executive director of Better Boundaries — the group that led the effort to pass the redistricting law and that is backing the lawsuit — argued that there was a difference between the two. She noted that the Utah Legislature's disclosure of its new maps in 2021 sparked an unusually large public outcry that continues even today.“The reason we have this gerrymandered map is to keep the people who are in power in power,” she said. “But Utahns have not given up.”Michael Wines writes about voting and other election-related issues. Since joining The Times in 1988, he has covered the Justice Department, the White House, Congress, Russia, southern Africa, China and various other topics.  More about Michael WinesA version of this article appears in print on July 12, 2023, Section A, Page 16 of the New York edition with the headline: Utah's Supreme Court Weighs State Gerrymandering Case. Order Reprints | Today's Paper | COLORADO SUN:Denver's new mayor declares state of emergency on homelessness, sets goal of housing 1,000 unsheltered people by end of 2023Elliott Wenzler9:54 AM MDT on Jul 18, 2023In his first full day as Denver's new mayor, Mike Johnston declared a state of emergency around homelessness and announced that he plans to house 1,000 unsheltered people by the end of the year.Johnston said he will tour 78 neighborhoods across the city to accomplish his goal and that his staff will work with landlords, property owners and hotels to find housing availability. His administration is also looking at nearly 200 public plots to place tiny home communities where people experiencing homelessness can be housed.“This is what we think is the most important crisis the city is facing,” Johnston said at a news conference at the Denver's City and County Building. “We took the oath yesterday to commit to taking on this problem.”Homelessness has been an increasingly polarizing issue in Denver and it was a major focus on Johnston's mayoral campaign. He vowed to create tiny home communities on city-owned property as a way to get people off the street.Johnston said the state of emergency declaration will help the city access state and “possibly” federal funding. He also said it would allow the city to more quickly work through construction, renovation and permitting processes for new housing units.“And it sends a real message to all the rest of the state that we are deeply focused on this. We have real evidence to support that housing first as a strategy will get the great majority of people access to the support they need to stay housed and then access follow up resources,” he said. Johnston's inaugural address Monday was centered on the theme of what he called the “dream of Denver.” He mentioned housing costs, safety, mental illness, addiction and reimagining downtown as top priorities.Johnston said “Those of us on this stage took an oath today. But for us to succeed, every Denverite must take their own oath- an oath to dream, to serve, and to deliver. To dream (of) a Denver bold enough to include all of us. To serve our city above ourselves. To march on shoulder to shoulder, undeterred by failure, until we deliver results.”And your unsolicited concert pick of the week, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue! With special guests Ziggy Marley, Mavis Staples, and the Robert Randolph Band. Monday July 24 at the Gerald Ford Amphitheatre in Vail. I've seen every one of these acts, and I'll just any one of them would be worth the trip on their own.  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, New York Times, Colorado Newsline, Arizona Mirror, and Denver's Westword.Thank you for listening! See you next time.

Does the tune change when you get a new band leader?  Peter Boyles fills in for George and asks about new Denver Mayor Mike Johnston's plan to end homelessness.  is it the same tune with a new band leader?  Mayor Johnston says he can do it in 4 years.  Peter and callers discuss if, this time, the plan will work.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bandimere Speedway on the west side of town is coming to an end.  Peter Boyles fills in for George and he welcomes John Bandimere.  They talk about the run of the drag strip, the experience of generations of racers and what the future holds?  Is there a new landing spot for this important Denver venue?  Then peter and callers return to the promise of new Denver Mayor Mike Johnston to end homelessness in 4 years.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does the tune change when you get a new band leader?  Peter Boyles fills in for George and asks about new Denver Mayor Mike Johnston's plan to end homelessness.  is it the same tune with a new band leader?  Mayor Johnston says he can do it in 4 years.  Peter and callers discuss if, this time, the plan will work. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bandimere Speedway on the west side of town is coming to an end.  Peter Boyles fills in for George and he welcomes John Bandimere.  They talk about the run of the drag strip, the experience of generations of racers and what the future holds?  Is there a new landing spot for this important Denver venue?  Then peter and callers return to the promise of new Denver Mayor Mike Johnston to end homelessness in 4 years.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dan is astounded by new Denver mayor Mike Johnston's inaugural remarks which seem to be brightly-lit 'vacancy' sign to all homeless across America that they will be given a home if they come to Colorado. Also, Colorado GOP chair Dave Williams explains why he is looking to close the primary process to unaffiliated voters and keep decisions on Republican candidates in-house among party members themselves.