TGIF Blogcast: Random numbers; Rep Gabe Evans; American meatpackers?
June 27, 2025
Just One Thing: Trump almost won the Hispanic vote
For years I heard some Republicans complain about not just illegal immigration but legal immigration as well. The argument has been "those people will become permanent Democratic voters." Yeah, those welfare-seeking brown people, or something like that, I suppose, is their brain-dead theory. My response has always been, "If the Republicans can't get new American citizens (because we're talking about those people who become able to vote, thus who have become citizens) to support GOP's principles (well, I'm not actually sure they have any) and policies, then maybe the problem is with the GOP,"
And further, unlike a massive percentage of the North African and Middle Eastern immigrants to Europe who do just want to collect welfare, most immigrants to the US want and expect to work, and many of them come from cultures that should make them sympatico with at least some Republican policy stances. So why the years of Republican glumness about the impossibility of turning Hispanic (and, to a lesser degree, Asian) voters into GOP votes?
Again, it struck me as a remarkable lack of confidence by Republicans.
Recent data suggests that Trump has created the change I was describing as possible and necessary for GOP success. As for what it means, we'll talk about that another day. But you can bet that Republican strategists have noticed...and Democratic strategists are panicking.
Trump came close to winning Latino vote in '24 — Pew analysis
Oh, one more thing I should have mentioned. A typical example of the electoral fear of immigrants was when a Republican politician, warning against immigration reform, said, “Of those 11 million potential voters, which will go to 30 million in the not too distant future, you will not get any of those votes.”
His name…Donald J Trump.
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Today's Guests
Rep Gabe Evans (R-CO8) is getting some stuff done, more than usual for a freshman. We'll talk about his latest bill to pass the House.
Congressman Evans' Third Bipartisan Bill Passes the House | Representative Gabe Evans
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Our most frequent show guest, CU Physics Professor Paul Beale, joins the show to talk about a device that uses quantum mechanics to generate true random numbers. (Paul was part of the team that developed it!) We'll also discuss the new Vera C Rubin observatory that just released its first pictures about a week ago.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-01849-8
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-01451
Vera C Rubin Observatory: Rubin Observatory
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Other Stuff
Gen Z is a mess, still: Employers feel dumped by Generation Z applicants 'ghosting' job offers - Washington Times
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On the one hand, seems like a long time. On the other hand, we MUST disincentivize people from doing ANYTHING that impacts elections or the perceptions of election fairness.
Woman sentenced to 5 years in prison for role in election fraud | WesternSlopeNow.com
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A couple of business stories. Don't know yet if the first one will impact Colorado:
Kroger plans to close 60 US stores in 18 months to improve profits | AP News
Colorado Springs Del Taco among reopened CO locations | Business | gazette.com|
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Remember, RFK is basically a grifter and a guy who consistently opposes science while acting like a champion for science.
What is thimerosal, the flu vaccine ingredient targeted by RFK Jr.?
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I like this: We don't really need to talk to Iran. They know the situation: If they try to restart their nuclear program, we will attack them again.
Trump says US would strike Iran again if nuclear program is rebuilt | Fox News
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This isn't awesome...and it's all doable from publicly available data: ‘FuckLAPD.com’ Lets Anyone Use Facial Recognition to Instantly Identify Cops
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I called an Elbert County commissioner (not necessarily someone named in the article, though, so don't make assumptions!) and the person said they're not talking to media until a vote next week so I'll try to get someone on the show after July 4th to talk about this interesting story: Elbert County says no to Xcel Energy’s Power Pathway permits
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Will they be able to pass the Big Beautiful Bill?
Megabill threatens to languish as challenges pile up - POLITICO
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If you've never been to NYC you might know that for many many years, they've just put all their trash out in bags, leaks and stench and all. It has some upside but a lot more downside than you might think for reasons that are specific to New York:
New York Is Putting Trash in Bins. Some People Have a Problem With That. - The New York Times
Speaking of New York, is it even slightly feasible that a well-funded (so-far unnamed) centrist who isn't in the race yet could beat the socialist anti-Semite who is the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York? Maybe...but only if the Republican and Eric Adams drop out and all the non-socialists endorse him or her.
Billionaire Ackman seeks candidate to save NYC from socialist mayoral nominee | Fox Business
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I've been very skeptical that certain industries that currently rely on immigrant (including some illegal immigrant) labor will be able to find American employees at wages that will leave the products affordable. This company is going to try to prove me (and many others) wrong. I hope they succeed! A New Meatpacking Plant’s Novel Pitch to Attract American Workers - WSJ
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This does seem like a really bad idea: Colorado Gov. Polis' bridge to nowhere faces hurdles as opposition mounts - Axios Denver
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She's not the sharpest tool in the shed: Woman allegedly hid syringes and fentanyl 'inside her'
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Polis loses round one: Judge blocks Colorado governor from ordering certain state workers to hand over employment info to ICE - The Colorado Sun
Judge blocks Colorado governor from forcing some staff to aid ICE subpoena - Axios Denver
So now one? Colorado Gov. Jared Polis weighs next legal move after ICE subpoena setback - Axios Denver
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If I were Mr and (almost) Mrs Bezos, I'd have colored each invitation slightly differently just to see whose ended up in the media: Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s Venice wedding invitation revealed
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Good stuff from Bruce Mehlman: Six-Chart Sunday – The Two Chinas
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If this is true, does it have implications for
6 numbers to know about Colorado's wobbly fiscal outlook - Axios Denver
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Today's Video
Just one today because it's kinda long, but this is pretty funny even if it's not recent