Thurs Blogcast: Middle East rumblings; CO's insane insurance costs; Bison!
June 12, 2025
Just One Thing: Trump shouldn't send in the Marines, but he's winning by doing so
Please read my thoughts here and subscribe (for free!) to my Substack:
Send in the Marines (Well, Actually, Don't)
Even though Trump is clearly winning the politics of immigration right now this would be a mistake: Hegseth Suggests LA-Style Troop Deployments Could Happen Anywhere in US 'if Necessary' | Military.com
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Today's Guests
Otho Eskin is the author of the fun thriller novel, Black Sun Rising, just published on Tuesday; Black Sun Rising (The Marko Zorn): Eskin, Otho: 9781959170235: Amazon.com: Books
Part of the reason I invited him on to the show his because his background outside of writing is so fascinating, including serving in the US Army and in the US Foreign Service. Read more about Otho here: Author Otho Eskin
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Rob Bhatt is a home insurance expert at Lending Tree. We'll discuss their new report that shows that over the past 6 years, no state in the country has had a bigger percentage increase in homeowner's insurance costs than Colorado has: State of Home Insurance: 2025 | LendingTree
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Other Stuff
Sad news this morning: Air India AI 171 passenger flight crashes in Ahmedabad | AP News
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Someone recently told me in confidence that the most likely location for a new Broncos stadium was a spot in Denver near an area called Burnham Yard. This seems to suggest that person was right: (Burnham Yard has been mentioned publicly as a possibility so it's not a major surprise.)
Denver Broncos linked to land grab for potential future stadium - Axios Denver
And later this morning, this news: Kroenke Sports buys River Mile development next to Elitch Gardens, Ball Arena from Revesco Properties - Denver Business Journal (may require subscription)
Kroenke Sports & Entertainment’s land ownership near Denver’s Ball Arena just got bigger — a lot bigger.
KSE purchased Denver-based real estate firm Revesco Properties’ interest in The River Mile development, a 62-acre project along the South Platte River north of Ball Arena that includes Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park.
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Does this mean the US is preparing to attack Iran? Or to allow Israel to attack Iran? Or just to make it seem that way for negotiating leverage?
Trump confirms US personnel are being removed from parts of Middle East - ABC News
State Department orders departure of nonessential staff from Baghdad embassy - ABC News
Here's why an attack on Iran is more likely than ever:
UN atomic board censures Iran and Tehran says it will establish a new nuclear site | AP News
Iran threatens to strike US bases in region if military conflict arises | Reuters
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ICE has much more to answer for than CBI does, if this reporting is correct: Colorado notified feds after failed gun purchase by accused Boulder firebomber, months before the attack
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Interesting discussion about Colorado wolves: Commissioners discuss wolf reintroduction program | News | coloradopolitics.com
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Ouch: Christian singer Michael Tait admits to drug abuse and sexual misconduct | Fox News
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More immigration stuff:
How Home Depot Became Ground Zero in Trump’s Deportation Push - WSJ
Home Depot Can’t Be Off-Limits | National Review
ICE arrests Mexican rape suspect in Baldwin Park amid anti-ICE protests | Fox News
ICE targets migrants in courthouses amid Trump immigration crackdown
Arresting nail salon workers, ppl in clothing wholesalers, and day laborers is where Trump and @StephenM 's immigration mania goes to die. Americans want criminals deported, not hard-working immigrants cutting lawns, tending children, delivering food. https://t.co/scDve1PhDw
— Nick Gillespie (@nickgillespie) June 11, 2025
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I like the vote on boys in girls' sports. The flag vote is interesting too: D-11 passes policy impacting transgender student athletes | Education | gazette.com
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I don't know how old this "neural net" algorithm is, but the ruler story is a great cautionary tale: When AI flags the ruler, not the tumor -- and other arguments for abolishing the black box (VB Live) | VentureBeat
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Play stupid games, win stupid prizes: Bison gores man in Yellowstone | AP News
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If you drive on I-25 on the north side of Denver at night or very early in the morning, be aware: Downtown signs warn of I-25 resurfacing: Here's the next round of traffic impacts
And if you drive west on I-70 from Denver, you'll (fairly) soon have this cool thing to try: Idaho Springs gondola project underway, expected to open March 2026
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Has Trump actually made any deal that matters since he became president? These articles are about China, but what has Trump achieved? Didn't stop wars in Ukraine or Gaza. No important trade deal with anyone. Will probably get the Big Beautiful Bill, and that's actually a fairly bad deal for the country. Not the worst ever but much worse than it should be because Trump wants to live up to his stupid promises to eliminate tax on tips and overtime and Social Security so those will likely be in the bill but will likely phase out after a few years because they're so expensive. Then the next Congress will have to decide whether to extend them. (Probably will, but I hope not.)
Trump Has No China Trade Strategy - WSJ
Trump’s latest trade ‘deal’ with China underscores key U.S. disadvantage - POLITICO
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I don't normally spend much time on local issues outside of Colorado but this has implications for national politics. It's stupefying to see Democrats stick with their same losing positions on immigration issues despite it arguably being the reason that they witnessed the unthinkable: the re-election of Donald Trump.
Even (Los) Angelenos are so sick of crime that back in November, by huge margins, they elected a Republican district attorney over the horrific George Gascon who made it office policy to prosecute as little as possible, thus incentivizing organized (and disorganized) retail theft, among other crime. They also, and also by a wide margin, passed Proposition 36 which re-criminalized much of what a prior ballot measure had decriminalized, including a sort of "three strikes" provision where a third conviction for theft is chargeable as a felony. I actually believe that the looting in LA would be worse than it is without these changes.
Los Angeles has a Republican DA: Los Angeles County District Attorney election, 2024 - Ballotpedia
Looters face stricter penalties in California after Proposition 47 reversal | Fox News
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I understand some folks will judge the ruling based on not liking the outcome but this is a great example of needing to protect the Constitution even if it benefits someone who might have broken the law: Judge bars evidence from pat-down in firearms case | Courts | coloradopolitics.com (may require subscription)
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Sanity is breaking out regarding energy and climate (which are really the same issue):
Today's news: World Bank lifts ban on nuclear funding ban in developing countries
Companies Quietly Water Down Climate Claims in Latest Investor Reports - WSJ
I say they're the same issue because most of the radical environmental left doesn't really care about "climate". They are anti-energy, anti-capitalism, anti-American, anti-human. They use the so-called "climate" issue as a lever to try to dominate energy policy, to make energy more expensive and less abundant. Most folks don't understand just how evil and harmful a force "climate" activists are.
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Well, this got me to delete the app from my phone! Chinese Spyware, Only $6.99 - WSJ
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What's up with all the autopen controversy?
Leavitt: Biden Staffers' Use of Autopen Could Be 'Criminal Offense‘
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The national tide toward school choice continues. New Hampshire passed universal school choice, joining a growing trend | Fox News
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Today's Videos
Two Spinal Tap videos
The first ends with a quote I use on the show with some frequency.
The second is a great interview of the director and the cast