7/28/25 Blog: Imagine Using Road Money For Roads!

SHOULDN'T ROAD MONEY GO FOR ROADS? This seems like a no brainer to me but the Colorado Legislature has been confused about this for some time. Now two ballot initiatives have been filed with the Title Board about using transportation money for actual roads and bridges instead of bike lanes and mass transit we've clearly shown we don't want. I've got Dustin Dvonek on today at 2:15 to talk about the ballot initiatives but you can see more here.

SSUPPORT RICH GUGGENHEIM'S NEW BOOK, PLEASE If you're a reader who enjoys hearing Rich Guggenheim on the show, please consider buying his new book Escaping the Rainbow Plantation. He's being censored by X and other social media because he dares to speak the truth about gender ideology. Buy it here, I bought mine this morning! He joins me at 1 to chat about it.

WHAT EXACTLY IS IN DENVER'S BOND PROPOSAL? The Mayor is going to ask Denverites for even MORE MONEY after he's already demonstrated that he isn't a good steward of taxpayer dollars in my view. However, I don't live in Denver, so I won't vote on this laundry list of things that I think should be in the regular budget. We don't fund any maintenance on buildings? It sure looks that way based on how many repairs made it to the list here. It remains to be seen if the taxpayers of Denver are going to say yes.

REMEMBER WHEN DENVER JACKED UP THE MINIMUM WAGE? And people like me said that it would put restaurants out of business and the Mayor said "Let them eat cake!" and just raise their prices if they have to. I said they would close, and lookie here, there are more downtown bars that say the minimum wage was the final nail in the coffin. Hmmm, I wonder who saw that coming.

Here's another one that closed, citing minimum wage issues. Westword actually has a list of closings for this year...so far...where you can keep count. It's not just minimum wage pressures, it's that people have pulled back their discretionary spending as well but the insane minimum wage isn't helping. Owning a restaurant is a grueling, challenging business and when you make it exponentially harder it stands to reason that places will close. I wonder who saw that coming. The Colorado Sun did a deep dive on this in the spring, and they came up with mixed bag results but the Colorado Restaurant Association had this to say:

Large restaurant chains that are part of the National Restaurant Association count as members of the Colorado organization “if they have local locations” here, said Denise Mickelsen, spokesperson for CRA, but “They do not pay us dues, they pay dues to the NRA.”

That said, it’s more challenging to find historic data on how many “members” CRA had years ago. However, Mickelsen shared these official numbers: 

In 2024, 38 members dropped out due to lack of funds, while 99 dropped out because they went out of business.

In 2023, 16 dropped out due to lack of funds and 62 went out of business.

Again, running a restaurant has never been easy, but it's a lot harder now.

TRUMP IS WINNING AT TRADE DEALS And he just won big with the EU, who signed a deal that has literally no upside for them that I can see other than getting tariffs dropped from 30% on goods to 15%. From the New York Times:

President Trump said that the European Union had agreed to purchase $750 billion of American energy, which Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the E.U.’s executive branch, told reporters would be spread out over three years.

The 27-nation bloc also agreed to increase its investment in the United States by more than $600 billion above current levels, Mr. Trump said, adding that the European Union would buy military equipment. A senior U.S. official said that those investments would include pharmaceuticals and the automotive industry, among others.

The two sides also agreed to drop tariffs to zero on a range of goods, including aircraft, plane parts, certain chemicals, certain generic drugs, semiconductor equipment and some agricultural products, Ms. von der Leyen said.

I asked Grok what other US trade deals had been announced recently and this is what Grok said:

1. U.S.-UK Economic Prosperity Deal (Announced May 8, 2025)

• Key Details: This agreement addresses Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum, allowing for adjustments or quotas starting July 9, 2025. UK-origin products under the WTO Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft are exempt from these tariffs effective June 23, 2025. It builds on prior suspensions and aims to boost bilateral trade while protecting U.S. industries.
• Implications: Part of broader U.S. efforts to recalibrate trade with allies; it finalizes aspects of post-Brexit relations and could lead to expanded zero-tariff categories.
• Status: Fully announced and partially implemented.

2. U.S.-China Preliminary Trade Framework (Announced June 26, 2025; Builds on May 12 Suspension)

• Key Details: Includes China easing restrictions on rare earth exports to the U.S. and suspending a planned 34% tariff hike for 90 days, retaining a 10% rate. In exchange, the U.S. pauses some reciprocal tariffs (e.g., 20% on fentanyl-related goods). No full tariff elimination, but it de-escalates tensions from the ongoing trade war.
• Implications: Described as a "truce extension," it opens doors for further talks, with expectations of a comprehensive deal soon. China commits to increased U.S. agricultural purchases.
• Status: Preliminary agreement; full details pending ratification.

3. U.S.-Indonesia Framework on Reciprocal Trade (Announced July 22, 2025)

• Key Details: Reduces Indonesia's reciprocal tariff rate to 19% from an original 32%, delayed until August 1, 2025. Focuses on balanced trade in goods like electronics and commodities.
• Implications: Aimed at strengthening U.S. access to Indonesian markets while addressing trade imbalances; includes potential for future zero-tariff expansions.
• Status: Framework announced via joint statement; negotiations ongoing.

4. U.S.-Japan Strategic Trade and Investment Agreement (Announced July 22-23, 2025)

• Key Details: Sets a 15% tariff on most Japanese exports to the U.S. (down from a threatened 25%), covering autos, electronics, and other goods. Japan commits to $550 billion in U.S. investments over Trump's term, plus increased purchases of U.S. energy and defense equipment. Zero tariffs on select items like aircraft and chemicals.
• Implications: Described by Trump as a "massive" deal, it averts a trade war but leaves some questions on investment enforcement. Auto stocks surged post-announcement, though Japanese firms like Toyota face ongoing pressures from China competition.
• Status: Preliminary agreement secured; ratification expected soon.

This all looks like winning to me.

LUXURY BRANDS LOVE THE NEW DEAL Because so much of it comes from Europe and they need our market to sell to. But will they still be able to show "growth" by raising prices? That is the big question asked here, but if you're sort to lust after a luxury handbag you may want to buy it now.

POLIS DOESN'T CARE HOW HIGH OUR ENERGY COSTS ARE As he doubles down on "Net Zero" for the state even while others are realizing this is a dangerous and expensive fantasy. In a recent meeting of the Clean Energy Office plans were discussed to shove us further down the all renewable grid plan favored by the Governor even as he recognizes that huge rate increases are happening wherever this idiocy has been tried. From a prior Completecolorado.com article:

In a letter obtained by Complete Colorado, Governor Polis admits he’s concerned those same large rate increases are coming to Colorado if electrification is not “carefully managed.” Polis “strongly urges” the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC), Colorado Energy Office, Office of Economic Development and International Trade, Department of Natural Resources, and Department of Local Affairs to work together for a “proactive whole-of-state approach where sites in Colorado are identified and preliminary early-stage development occurs.”

The letter lays out a goal to offer “developers and owners a comprehensive and attractive package that meets their needs” to electrify all of Colorado.

You should read both articles and then know that the problems that have driven energy prices through the roof in places like Germany who went all in on renewables HAVE NOT BEEN SOLVED. Polis knows what's coming, and he just doesn't care. He wants to be able to virtue signal when he runs for President at our expense.

YOU REALLY NEED TO WATCH THIS SHOW Because I am on it, first of all, but because the interviews in this one are super interesting.

AMAZING WHAT IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT DOES TO CRIME RATES Now I'm the first to say correlation is not causation BUT isn't it interesting to see how crimes drops when we get serious about immigration enforcement? It's almost like a tiny percentage of criminals commit a disproportionate amount of crimes or something (they do). This editorial lays it out well.

WANT A NEW STADIUM? FIX THINGS FIRST That is the message from Jon Caldara in this column about the potential for a new stadium for the Broncos. He makes a good point when he says that we need to fix the considerable problems we have first, before we ask taxpayers to pony up for a new stadium. I'd love to see a cost benefit analysis of whether or not the current stadium did the things for our economy that taxpayers were told it would before making a decision.

ISRAELIS SAY ISRAEL IS COMMITTING GENOCIDE I don't know anything about these two Israeli organizations but I think it is noteworthy that you have Israeli groups calling the war in Gaza genocide. And yet, they are. From the New York Times:

As part of the case for genocide, international law requires that there be proof of intent. In the report on Monday, B’Tselem cited a string of dehumanizing remarks by Israeli government officials, such as a statement by Yoav Gallant, a former defense minister, that Israel was fighting “human animals” in Gaza. Some Israeli politicians have also said that their goal is to drive the remaining Palestinians out of Gaza.

Israeli leaders argue that the country has adhered to humanitarian law, that generals work closely with legal advisers who ensure compliance with standards, and that Israel has gone above and beyond what other Western countries have done in similar situations. Mr. Netanyahu has at times distanced himself from the most extreme statements made by his political allies.

With aid not reaching Gazans the criticisms have intensified, but is starvation happening because the UN is letting it? It certainly seems that way to me.

when asked why the aid it not getting to the Palestinians, the UN seems to confirm why the Palestinians are starving here:

To retrieve the aid at the border — or move around most of the Gaza Strip — U.N. trucks must enter zones controlled by the military after obtaining its permission. Once the aid is loaded, the trucks must get safely to the population. The whole trip can take 20 hours, the U.N. says. Large crowds of desperate people, as well as criminal gangs, overwhelm trucks as they enter and strip off the supplies. Witnesses say Israeli troops regularly open fire on the crowds, causing deaths and injuries.

“Taken together, these factors have put people and humanitarian staff at grave risk and forced aid agencies on many occasions to pause the collection of cargo from crossings controlled by the Israeli authorities,” said Olga Cherevko, a spokesperson for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA.

The UN is pointing fingers at the Israeli Army but when the Army offers to escort the convoys they say no. They want Palestinians to starve in my view. By the way, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is getting food in. Just saying. But are people actually starving? You'd think that would be easy to answer, but The Free Press found out here that it isn't so cut and dried.

BUC-EES COULD BE A HUGE BOON FOR PALMER LAKE As they are back with another offer to get the deal done and the sweeteners they've added are significant. They include:

The Town of Palmer Lake says Buc-ee’s would cover major infrastructure costs if the project moves forward:

Two new wells: Buc-ee’s would pay for a redundant town well and another well for its own water needs, plus a water treatment plant.

Road upgrades: All road improvements, including work near I-25 and County Line Road, would be paid for by Buc-ee’s.

Sales tax boost: The deal would bring about $1 million a year in sales tax revenue to Palmer Lake. Buc-ee’s would get a 1% rebate for 20 years; the town keeps 2%.

Community funds: Buc-ee’s would also contribute a one-time $350,000 community payment and cover ongoing property taxes.

Seems like a good deal to me for a very, very small town. Just saying.

DOING SOME HIKING IN COLORADO? Then buy yourself a two-way satellite emergency communication device. It could save your life. Read more here.

HEY LUMINEERS FANS This is a great article about the death of the lead singers brother recently and so much more. So, so good.

IT'S FAIR AND RODEO TIME! And here is a list of all the events around the metro and beyond.

WILL POWERFUL PEOPLE ACTUALLY BE INDICTED? FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino made quite the post this weekend:

I don't mean to seem completely cynical but I am so I'll say it. I'll believe it when I see it.

WANT TO SEE EUROPE ON FOOT? Then book a guided hiking tour. Find out more here.

PATCHY GRASS PROBLEM? Find out how to fix it here.

VISIBLE SIGNS OF INSULIN RESISTANCE This is super interesting.

THE NEW SPINAL TAP TRAILER IS OUT

AMERICA IS GREAT And this young lady needed a reminder.