Weds Blogcast: CU quarterback mentor; Hockey & sex in Canada; Parking scam

Sluggish traffic is jamming

Thanks to listener Jacob for synthesizing our obsession with terms in KOA's traffic reports (frequent appearances of "sluggish" and "jamming") along with Dragon's love of moths:

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Just One Thing: Not a bad mentor for CU quarterbacks

One thing you gotta like about Coach Prime is that other talented folks want to work with him

Byron Leftwich introduced in front of Colorado's team as a quarterback mentor for 2025

Source: Former NFL quarterback Byron Leftwich joining CU Buffs staff – The Denver Post (may require subscription)

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Today's Guest

Dustin Zvonek is a principal at 76 Group and a former member of the Aurora City Council. He joins us to talk about two (similar) ballot measure proposals that have the rather sensible goal -- though it shouldn't be necessary -- to force any level of government in Colorado that receives money raised for the purpose of road transportation funding to actually spend the money on road transportation.

Only one of the measures (at most) will make the ballot, I believe, but we'll ask Dustin. (Because they're very similar, with the key difference being that one of them has a 10-year sunset provision.)

125: https://leg.colorado.gov/content/state-revenue-supporting-road-transportation

126: https://leg.colorado.gov/content/state-revenue-supporting-road-transportation-0

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Other Stuff

There's a fair bit of stuff in today's Blogcast that I didn't get to yesterday (or the day before) and want to try to get to today, starting with this:

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I have much respect for this: Courtland Sutton says he left money on table to keep Broncos intact

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Good timing...the administration announced this the day after Roger Pielke and I discussed that they might do so: Trump Administration Aims to Roll Back Bedrock Climate Tool - WSJ

The upside: Climate Regulation Liberation Day - WSJ

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This sucks...with the UK following France. I don't know whether this is left-wing virtue signaling or whether it's two "leaders" pandering to their significant Muslim populations (the other being Macron of France who said the same thing a few days earlier.)

UK to recognize Palestinian statehood in September — unless Israel backs off in Gaza – POLITICO

Remember, much or most of the stuff you hear about Gaza is exaggerated or simply false. This is the latest: Image of Gazan child with genetic illness being used to falsely smear Israel, COGAT charges | The Times of Israel

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Don't get fooled: Scammers are posting fake QR codes on Denver parking signs

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I think this is the biggest single-day loss of market capitalization (total company value as measured by stock price multiplied by total shares outstanding) for a non-tech company (if you include Tesla as a tech company, at least): Novo Nordisk stock crashes after company cuts sales, profit outlook on weight-loss drug competition

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In politics, as in sports, it's important to remember to look at both sides before making a prediction. For example, even a bad team can occasionally win a game against a good team and, more relevant for this conversation, even a bad team that is an underdog against most other teams can be a favorite against one of the few worse teams.

That's why it's a mistake for Democrats to take great solace in Donald Trump's slightly (and only slightly) declining poll numbers. Because Dems' numbers are MUCH worse. (I'd offer the same caution to the GOP, though. It's not as if you're popular; just, for now, less unpopular than the other guys.)

Why Trump's approval rating is so steady: AP-NORC polling | AP News

Exclusive | Democrats Get Lowest Rating From Voters in 35 Years, WSJ Poll Finds - WSJ

Democrats tumble in new poll - POLITICO

CO Health Policy at a Crossroads: Growth, Costs & Consequences

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Interesting note about the Broncos here: Vibrant Denver Bond: What to know about the big-ticket items | Denver Metro News | denvergazette.com

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Trump adds another twist to the Epstein saga: Trump says Epstein 'stole' Virginia Giuffre from Mar-a-Lago spa | AP News

(Still, I'm unaware of anything that should reflect particularly poorly on Trump given how he abandoned Epstein well before the allegations against Epstein of sexual assault on underage girls were known.)

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Ummm, OK: 'Fridge cigarette' is Gen Z's new Diet Coke obsession that concerns health experts

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The world has gone crazy, and you can always count on Canada (even more than San Francisco, these days) to go along with the most mind-numbing nonsense...

The Paranoid Policy of Affirmative Consent

Five ice hockey players found not guilty in Canada sexual assault case

Why the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial matters beyond the acquittals | CNN

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Why not? Someone has eaten artist Maurizio Cattelan’s $6 million banana – again | CNN

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I hope they're fine...I think the big challenge and the need for wealthy foundations to jump in to help will be for rural stations

NPR Trying To Attain ‘Sustainability’ After Cuts. | Story | insideradio.com

'Need this level of support': Donations to NPR stations explode after Trump guts funding - Alternet.org

Donations to NPR and PBS Stations Surge After Funding Cuts - The New York Times

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Today's Videos

This is how librarians go crazy

Dragon and I both feel this way around 3 PM every day. (By the way, that's a weird looking dog.)