Colorado Clarity

Our host DJ Summers, Director of Policy and Research for Common Sense Institute, delves deeper into CSI's recent report "Returning Government Employees to Work a Boon for Urban Economy" on this episode of Colorado Clarity. On January 20, 2025, the new presidential administration indicated a desire to have all federal employees return to in-person work. The administration directed all executive branch departments and agencies to ter...

Everybody wants cleaner energy – but not everybody is going to be happy about how much clean energy is going to cost them.  

Our host DJ Summers, Director of Policy and Research for Common Sense Institute, referencing CSI's recent report "The Future of Energy Prices in Colorado," breaks down the state’s emission reduction laws which require zero carbon emissions from the electric sector by 2040, the increase in electrification for ...

In this episode of Colorado Clarity, host DJ Summers sits down with Chris Brown, Vice President of Policy & Research at the Common Sense Institute, to break down the multi-year inflationary cycle that’s become a central issue in the presidential election. Together, they dive into CSI’s recently released Inflation Misery Index, with a focus on its impact on Colorado’s economy. How much misery are we facing when we address inflat...

In this episode of Colorado Clarity, we sit down with Dr. Reggie Washington to discuss the critical state of maternal healthcare. As an expert in the field, Dr. Washington sheds light on the challenges, disparities, and advancements in maternal care, both in Colorado and across the nation. Join us as we explore the vital role of equitable healthcare access for mothers and the work being done to improve outcomes for families.

Read t...

In this episode, DJ Summers is joined by Former Chief of Police Paul Pazen to discuss the pressing issue of rising crime rates and the upcoming November Ballot Initiative, Proposition 130.

This critical measure aims to allocate funding to agencies across the state to enhance public safety and support law enforcement efforts. With his extensive experience and unique perspective, Paul Pazen is ideally suited to provide insights i...

Ballot Initiative 91, a bold move to ban big cat hunting in Colorado. The group "Cats Aren't Trophies" is leading the charge to stop the killing, wounding, pursuing, or trapping of mountain lions, bobcats, and lynxes. This quirky yet crucial issue is stirring up debates across the state, especially among rural residents and hunters.

How will this impact Colorado's economy? W...

Deep diving into one of the most contentious issues on Colorado's 2024 state-wide ballot: the proposed ban on slaughterhouses. With only one slaughterhouse in Denver and a wave of complaints driving the proposal, we explore how this ban could impact Coloradans.

Is there a tangible benefit to banning these establishments, or is the push fueled by emotion rather than economic sense? We also discuss the implications for Colorado's c...

What is the state of our city? How is Mayor Mike Johnston addressing homelessness? Will housing prices continue to soar unaddressed? Are migrants top of mind for the administration?

DJ Summers & Cole Anderson dive into Denver Mayor Mike Johnston's State of the City address, examining the challenges faced in the past year and his plans for the future. Coloradans need affordable housing, homelessness is draining city resources, t...

Welcome to the pilot episode of Colorado Clarity! Join hosts DJ Summers and Cole Anderson from the Common Sense Institute as they dive into the most pressing policy issues impacting Colorado today. In this episode, they tackle the fentanyl crisis sweeping through Colorado, the significant financial burden of the migrant influx on Denver and surrounding areas, and the staggering rise in property taxes—th...