10/2/25 Blog: The Federal Shutdown May Be Just Want Trump Needed

GO BACK IN TIME FOR A DANCE FROM THE BIG BAND ERA I love this dance and the entire concept behind it. Khyentse George 1940s Ball Creator and Director joins me today to talk about the event next year. Why so early? Because early bird tickets are already on sale. Find out more about the 1940s Ball here!

THIS SHUTDOWN IS HURTING THE DEMOCRAT'S DEMOGRAPHIC THE MOST This is really interesting to watch because the last time we had a government shutdown (where we also didn't die) Democrats were in charge and they used all the levers to make the American people feel it. It was a decent strategy but not the one being used by the Trump Administration. For the most part the stuff we like is open, like National Parks, though with some limits. And in really bad news for the Democrats, the shutdown puts Trump firmly in charge of how money is going to be spent, so instead of furloughs, we may be seeing permanent layoffs. Now I'm not happy about real people losing real jobs, but as a smaller government person I have to admit I am happy about the prospect of accomplishing that. This story says that Trump is taking advantage of the situation to "dole out firings and political punishment" and they aren't wrong, but the problem for Democrats is that the people suffering vote for Democrats mostly. The shutdown has let the Trump admin cancel $8 billion in Green New Deal projects, some here in Colorado, and I'm good with that.

AND NOW DEMS ARE HAVING TO ADMIT THEY WANT HEALTHCARE FOR ILLEGALS Senator Michael Bennet stridently called Rep. Gabe Evans a liar because Evans pointed out that Democrats are trying to restore healthcare for illegal immigrants. Except Evans was right. We will go through this story where Democrats are beginning to admit that yes, that IS in the bill they want Republicans to pass. Whoops.

BUT I'M SURE THE POLLING DATA ON THE SHUTDOWN IS GOOD, RIGHT? Not so much. What a disaster for Democrats. You really should check out the entire poll here, as the New York Times buried the lede, which is in most areas Trump's approval rating ticked UP very slightly. Huh.

ONE OF THE EVERGREEN VICTIMS IS HOME NOW While the other young man is still fighting to recover in the hospital. I'm really happy for the family of the other teen, and I hope he continues to recover mentally and physically. Read more here.

WHY ARE CHURCHES UNDER ATTACK? Church attacks in the US have risen in the last five years. Groups that monitor such attacks say that they have risen starting in 2022 with attacks doubling since then. Around the world, thousands of Christians have been targeted in the past five years in religiously motivated attacks. We in the US have enjoyed relative freedom from such attacks and we take our Freedom of Religion thing pretty seriously. But religious wars have been a thing forever. Now they seem to be coming here with more regularity. A man has been arrested for making false bomb threats at a Parker church. With the attack on a Mormon church last weekend, I want to hear from my regular churchgoers today about how this has changed how or if you attend church? Now we hear of an attack outside a synagogue in the UK. Four people wounded, but this guy gets why this is happening there.

Tolerance of the intolerant is what has gotten us here. But a fundamental misunderstanding of the mentality of the people we are dealing with is also a problem. Check out this interview with Leland Vittert on his time in Gaza interviewing a woman who had been saved by Israeli doctors.

This is what we're up against, and the UK government just recognized this Palestinian "state". Well done, idiots.

DEMOCRATS CAN'T SEEM TO RUN A BUDGET As Boulder County has a budget shortfall to deal with. How is this possible? It's because they've overspend using one time funds and now those funds have run out is what I'm guessing.

WHY DENVER IS BROKE TOO This analysis of the Denver budget growth is SHOCKING. From the Common Sense Institute:

 Denver’s real expenditures per resident grew 51% in the past decade. 

 In the same time, real revenue per person grew only 30%.

The City of Denver’s real spending rose at a 67% faster rate than revenues between 2015 and 2024.

Real revenue rose 40%.

Real expenditures rose 60%.

Oh, and there's more. They do NOT have revenue problem in the city or the state, they have a SPENDING problem they need to solve.

THE OBAMACARE TAX CREDITS AFFECT ABOUT 3.4% OF COLORADANS This is one of the big sticking points with the Big Beautiful Bill. It has to do with the expansion of tax credits for people making more money. Those are now going away and insurance premiums for those people are going to go up. This is a perfect time for those folks to look into Direct Primary care and a med share program instead of demanding that you and I pay a portion of their heath insurance premiums. Or that they joins the chorus of demand the repeal of Obamacare, which did nothing but jack up the price of healthcare.

DOES A STRANGER ON THE INTERNET EVER TOUCH YOUR HEART? Because of the stuff I like I get a lot of health and fitness stuff in my timeline. This kid popped up a few months ago, and for some reason he touched my heart and now I'm rooting for him so hard.

PAY ATTENTION TO THE SCHOOL BOARD RACES Because Douglas County Schools are kicking booty right now, I'd like the same kind of leadership going forward. There are two "slates" of candidates running, one that has been endorsed by the teachers union (more on that in a moment) and the Common Sense slate of Gambill, Kramer, Smith and Vail. I moderated a forum recently with both sets of candidates, and my concerns with the union backed candidates are: the union endorsed them because they believe they will help bring a collective bargaining agreement back to Dougco, and all of them work in the schools. That second thing concerns me because it can be hard to see the forest for the trees when you are in the forest, BUT obviously they have a knowledge set that is very valuable as well. What I want are people who will continue the good things happening in Douglas County, fixing the things we need to do better (helping kids with various disabilities), and continuing to make sure academics and student achievement are centered at all times. And it's not just about sending kids to college, they even have a class that is training cobblers! This is a great column that gives the background on the district so people know why this election is so important. Read this part:

But here’s where the story pivots—from setback to surge. Since 2022, under the steady hand of its school board and Superintendent Erin Kane, DCSD has orchestrated a turnaround that’s nothing short of transformative. 

By the 2024-25 school years, the district’s graduation rate climbed to 92.2%—the highest in 15 years and well above the statewide average of 84.2%. The Class of 2024 alone secured more than $131 million in scholarships, a testament to rigorous academics and college prep programs that rebounded with vigor.

Test scores tell an even more compelling tale of resilience. In the 2024 CMAS results, DCSD students showed continued recovery, with notable gains in math—particularly in lower grades—outpacing many peers amid ongoing pandemic aftershocks. By 2025, the district topped the charts statewide, with 63.4% of students proficient or advanced in English language arts, edging out competitors like Littleton (61.9%) and Jeffco (52.5%). 

This as the previously vaunted Cherry Creek district now lags behind as they continue to focus on hiding trans kids from their parents and "interrupting the role of whiteness".

AMERICANS ARE NOT FEELING GOOD ABOUT THE POLITICAL CLIMATE And a growing number of them are answering the question “Americans may have to resort to violence in order to get the country back on track?” in the affirmative. I'd love to ask the question "I may have to resort to violence to get the country back on track?" and see what those numbers are. I think a lot of people are very uneasy about how things are going so they are projecting, but how many of them are ready to take up arms against their neighbors?

DENVER GOT A LOT OF IMMIGRANTS Among those who actually had contact with Border Control. We came in fourth for the number of immigrants who came her per capita. Read it here.

SHERIFF STEVE REAMS TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT SPEED CAMERAS And that is that they are just a moneymaker for the cities that use them. Read it here but duh.

A NERDY WATER COLUMN ON THE COLORADO RIVER BASIN I realize most of us don't pay attention to water issues but they are CRITICAL issues and you should understand them. This is a great column about some shenanigans that need to be straightened out and how Trump could actually help.

THE CASE FOR BILLIONAIRES Thanks to Joe for making sure I saw this column about the fallacy of limiting one's wealth. I especially love this part:

A world without billionaires is not a world without poverty, it’s a world without Google, Microsoft, the iPhone, and many of the conveniences that define modern life. The experiments billionaires fund—their risky bets on new technologies—pave the way for millions to enjoy what were once luxuries.

Exactly.

AROD IS DOWN FOR SPOOKY SEASON

NOT SURE WHAT THIS IS ABOUT

PLEASE LET THIS BE TRUE

NETFLIX IS IN THE HOT SEAT Because of stuff like this.

Before you get all "but Mandy don't be anti-gay" I'm far from it and this woman may be able to help.

Now there is a full blown effort to get people to quit Netflix so we'll see how that goes.

COFFEE WITH ZERO FRILLS And I mean ZERO. Watch below or click here.

NOSTRIL KNOWLEDGE THAT IS KIND OF LIFE CHANGING Watch below or click here but WOW, I had no idea!

THE POPE SAYS PRO LIFE EXTENDS TO MURDERERS And I agree with him, watch below or click here. Where the new Pope loses me is when he conflates how we treat "strangers" i.e. illegal immigrants with being pro life.

He kind of glosses over the parts of the Bible like Titus 3:1 that clearly has Paul telling Titus to remind believers “to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good.” But I'm sure he knows better than I do. Or he's trying to grow the church in US by importing good Catholic immigrants? Sorry to be suspicious but the Church has earned it.

SCHUMER V SCHUMER ON THE SHUTDOWNS These are so fun. Watch below or click here.