Weds Blogcast: Now what for CO Dems?; Brad Thor; Campaign finance
July 2, 2025
Just One Thing: The BBB faces its final test
The BBB passed the Senate with changes that mostly weren't as good as the changes first proposed. Now the bill adds more to the deficit (though the original and current estimates of several trillion dollars is utter nonsense that assumes this is a big tax cut rather than an extension of current rates) and may have serious trouble with the fiscal hawks (for whom I'm very grateful) in the House.
I doubt we'll get a House vote before the end of my show but we'll see.
In any case, I suspect that to pass the bill, the House will make some changes and send it back to the Senate. I hope so.
One senator told me yesterday "this bill is a shit sandwich" but that I should expect more spending cuts in later bills because this is really a tax bill, not a spending bill. We'll see. Republicans always find a way to let me down when it comes to spending discipline.
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Today's Guests
Shad Murib is chairman of the Democratic Party of Colorado. He'll join me (in studio, I think) to discuss his efforts to strengthen his party. (As someone who doesn't support the Dems but sees them dominating everything, I find it interesting that he thinks there's a lot of work to be done. Actually, that's a sign of good leadership which the Colorado GOP hasn't had for some time...though with new chair Brita Horn we'll just have to see if that changes.
A Stronger Colorado — Colorado Democratic Party
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Best-selling thriller author Brad Thor is out with his latest, "Edge of Honor."
Brad Thor | #1 New York Times Bestselling Author
Edge of Honor: A Thriller (24) (The Scot Harvath Series): Thor, Brad
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NYU Law Professor Rick Pildes is one of the top constitutional law experts in the nation. He joins us to talk about the Supreme Court agreeing to hear a case challenging their prior ruling (from over 20 years ago) that put stringent limits on how much money a political party can spend in coordination with their candidates. (I think the rule should and will be overturned.)
Richard H. Pildes - Overview | NYU School of Law
Supreme Court takes up Republican appeal over spending limits in elections | AP News
Election law nerdiness for hardcore election law nerds:
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Other Stuff
$200 million is real money even for a city the size of Denver: Denver adopts new rules for looming layoffs - Axios Denver
Denver abandons seniority protections ahead of layoffs. City workers are lawyering up
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The "No tax on Social Security" provision in the BBB really isn't that, and this particular giveaway is, like much else in the bill, temporary: Understanding “no tax on Social Security”: Senate 'big beautiful' bill touts tax help for seniors on Social Security
Things taken out of the Big Beautiful Bill, the first of which I talked about in the past couple of days as being a really terrible idea:
Tax on renewable generation w/Chinese parts was removed: Senate GOP removes tax on solar and wind energy
This also removed, fortunately: Budget Bill Would Gut Federal Courts’ Ability to Enforce Orders | Brennan Center for Justice
Also, a rule to block state AI regulations was removed on a 99-1 vote and $10B per year for 5 years was added to subsidize rural hospitals.
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Let's be honest about this: Republicans say Medicaid work requirements target the lazy. It’s not that simple.
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What do you make of a person like this? Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart, whose ministry was toppled by prostitution scandals, dies at 90 | National | denvergazette.com
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Judge rules that state law prevents Club Q survivors from suing the club for injury because the club was not the predominate cause of the injuries. This seems clearly correct to me given the law. Further, the reason for the law is sound: if a place can be claimed by a plaintiff to be a place of high risk (and everyone might agree on the claim, like for an abortion clinic or gay nightclub), then if such a place could be held liable if a mass shooter showed up and killed/hurt people, it would be nearly impossible to acquire or afford insurance and thus make those businesses impossible to operate.
Judge 'reluctantly' dismisses claim of Club Q survivors | Courts | coloradopolitics.com
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Very clever fraud, actually, so give them a very clever prison sentence.: Hundreds charged in $14.6 billion health care fraud schemes, DOJ says | AP News
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I've only been to Cracker Barrel maybe 3 times, but I do like the old-timey feel of the place. Cracker Barrel Fans Mourn the Loss of That Old-Timey Feeling - WSJ
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I feel like a bit of a broken record but both of these stories make me think, "Why is any of this the federal government's responsibility?"
Colorado scrambles to protect potential targets after Boulder attack - Axios Denver
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This painting is definitely better. Maybe not great, but definitely better: New portrait of President Trump hangs in Colorado Capitol after he complained about an earlier one | AP News
The portrait of President Trump in the Colorado State Capitol will officially be changed to this one here.
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) June 28, 2025
Much better. A painting worthy of the man it depicts! pic.twitter.com/15xnWvKRju
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Why did Penn need to be threatened?
Dept of Ed statement: U.S. Department of Education Announces the University of Pennsylvania Has Entered into a Resolution Agreement to Resolve its Title IX Violations | U.S. Department of Education
Penn statement: Title IX Compliance in Athletics | Associate Vice President for Equity and Title IX Officer
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Thanks to listener Dave for sending: Jesus Delights Crowd By Miraculously Turning Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Into Chocolate Chip | Babylon Bee
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I'm soooooo not surprised: Colorado voters get another bite at 'free' school lunch apple - Complete Colorado
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Offered without comment: Colorado frees Christian summer camp to operate according to beliefs – Alliance Defending Freedom
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UPDATE: IT'S BEING REPORTED AS OF ABOUT 8 AM MT that the jury has reached a verdict on all counts
I don't care but I guess some people do: Diddy Verdict: Jury Agrees on 4 of 5 Counts, Split on Racketeering
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Is it bribery, given that Paramount will be trying to get merger approval? Did Trump really suffer "mental anguish"? Paramount settles with Trump for $16 million over ‘60 Minutes’ interview | AP News
Paramount to Pay Trump $16 Million to Settle '60 Minutes' Lawsuit
Today's Videos
I like Opie