Devil's Advocate

What if outside organizations could place their own people inside government? We break down a little-known Colorado scheme where privately funded staff are embedded within the legislative process—raising serious questions about transparency, influence, and who’s really shaping policy behind the scenes. Is this harmless expertise… or something more?

If you think both Republicans and Democrats in Colorado are getting a little too extreme, maybe there's a way to bring those candidates back towards the middle, back towards sanity. Longtime political strategist Kelly Maher has a few ideas on how to make that happen.

Everybody panic. The state budget is in a deficit again. Watch your wallets.What caused this budget shortfall and how could we get out of it? We put that question to the state's chief economist.

It's not a big surprise that young men have a certain sexual drive. The best way to satisfy that...could it be marriage? Could it be prostitution? We asked that question to Michael Huemer, philosopher and professor of ethics at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

What’s really happening inside America’s schools? In this episode, veteran educator Priscilla Rahn—teacher, former principal, and National Board Certified Master Teacher shares what she’s learned after more than 30 years in public education. We discuss how teacher training and professional development have changed, why many educators say classrooms are shifting away from teaching core subjects, and how parents became more aware of what’s happening in schools during COVID. Priscilla also explains why she left the teachers union, what classical education looks like, and why she’s helping launch a new private school, Excalibur Classical Academy. If you’re interested in education reform, school choice, teacher training, public vs private schools, or the future of American education, this conversation offers an inside look from someone who has spent decades in the classroom.

When you go to the doctor, do you feel like you're treated like a number? Do you remember doctors spending more time looking at their patients than looking at computer screens? Travis Bockenstedt advocates for a new medical model that keeps costs down and keeps doctors doctoring.

Does local talk radio even matter in today's national media landscape? I mean, how do local stories get the coverage they deserve? I discuss it with Ryan Schuiling, host of 630 KHOW's Morning Program.

We often forget Colorado is still a massive agriculture and ranching state. Has the Trump administration been good for our state's farmers and ranchers? Well, we ask former state senator and current Trump appointee Jerry Sonnenburg.

How is it that we have so much choice inside the public school system in Colorado, but absolutely little choice outside of it? I put that question to Ross Izard, Educational Specialist.

Is It Time to free Tina Peters? I put that question to the one and only Dick Wadhams, Republican Consultant to the Stars.

In Aurora, Cindy Romero lived in the apartment complex terrorized by Venezuelan gang members. What did the media miss about that episode? And what does she think of Donald Trump after meeting him in person?

Businessman, philanthropist and political activist Kent Thiry is investing in a new model of elections in Colorado, one that recognizes the dominance of independent voters.Here, does this make sense?

As Colorado turns 150 years old, you gotta wonder if the same value of rugged individualism that defined the state still exists here. No one better to weigh in than Patty Calhoun of Westword.

Grab your wallets and hold on tight.As the Colorado Legislature gets back in session, Director of Policy for Independence Institute, Jake Fogleman forecasts the session and predicts what they're gonna do to us.

We just passed the tax increases prop LL & MM to force Colorado's rich guys to continue to buy lunches for just slightly less rich families. We were told if we didn't, the program would go under. Nash Herman tells us that was a lie and they knew it.

A 12 year old daughter was invited to art club at school only to find out it had nothing to do with art. It was a transgender indoctrination session. Now her mother, Erin Lee, is leading a statewide effort to do something about it.

Is there any place more accepting of diverse ideas than a college campus?Well, just look at Colorado's own Western State College for proof as students try to open up a conservative organization on campus. Savana Kascak from Complete Colorado explains it all.

After all the years warning us of the upcoming energy disaster that is Colorado's energy policy, Amy Oliver Cooke tells us there might be a little bit of hope. Just a little bit of hope.

Is the golden era of local radio and local news television stations over. Is there any way to make sure that these treasures for the community actually stay alive and viable? Justin Sasso of the Colorado Broadcasters Association explains the challenges and some potential mitigations.

How about we take urban at risk kids and teach them to shoot guns? Well, that's exactly what my friend Mike Mills does with his charitable organization, Clay Connections. And the results? Well, they're going to surprise you.

Another Colorado election and another sweep for the left. Marianne Goodland from the Gazette Newspapers dissects the results.

After Charlie Kirk's assassination, what's left of the organization he built into a political machine. Spencer Walker runs Turning Point USA in the Denver area. He sees opportunity to find common ground with his political opponents.

Is school choice only for those who have money? For over 20 years now, Parents Challenge has been helping poor families get the educational services that are right for their kids. Deborah Hendrix explains the secret of their success.

Is there anything like taxing rich people to buy free lunches for just slightly less rich people? Our own Nash Herman dives into the details of ballot issues LL and MM.

Over 50% of all Colorado voters are now unaffiliated or independent voters.Does the old model of Republican and Democrat no longer apply?Dave Ryan of the New Forward Party thinks so.

Is Donald Trump trying to take over the United States government? Is our republic in danger? Or is it possible that the Congress over time has just given him the power to act this way? We ask Rob Natelson, Constitutional Expert.

CompleteColorado.com has been publishing news and views for Colorado for 17 years. What's the secret of their success, and is local media even viable in today's environment? We talked to Complete's editor, Mike Krause.

While we worry about the state of liberty here, it's worth comparing ourselves to those in other countries.Tom Palmer from the Atlas Network travels the globe working with freedom fighters, many of whom pay with their lives, fighting to achieve the freedoms we take for granted.

The Regional transportation district covers 2,300 square miles. Kathleen Chandler is on their board of directors and tries to explain how in the world they can do their job.

Just two days before the shooting at Evergreen High School in Jefferson County, Jon Caldara sat down with Laura Carno, Executive Director of FASTER Colorado, which trains armed school staff to stop a shooter immediately, because when seconds count, the police are only minutes away. Jeffco schools do not have armed staff to protect our children, and Laura Carno thinks they should.

Another Colorado legislative special session or not so special session? There's been four of them in five years, and this one was a mess, as veteran reporter Marianne Goodland explains.

Utility companies are having record profits, our energy bills are skyrocketing even though we're using less energy. And Colorado supposed to meet some renewable mandate without putting everyone into bankruptcy. Amy Cooke, who runs the Energy Policy Center at Independence Institute, answers these tough questions.

Erik Voorhees is a renowned crypto entrepreneur and early Bitcoin advocate who has long championed the digital currency as a revolutionary tool for financial sovereignty. As the founder of ShapeShift and a vocal critic of centralized banking, Voorhees views Bitcoin as a foundational asset for a freer, decentralized financial system. His bullish stance on Bitcoin is sharpened by growing concerns over the global bond market, which he sees as increasingly fragile due to unsustainable debt levels and central bank interventions. Voorhees believes this systemic risk makes Bitcoin not just an alternative, but a necessary hedge against the vulnerabilities of traditional finance and the looming instability of fiat-based debt instruments.

Writer Stephen Green and his wife were drawn to Colorado to raise their family here. Now the changes in Colorado culture is pushing them to leave. Why?

Grandparents love to spoil their grandkids, but they also want them to get a better education than what they're getting now. Linda White founded Grandparents for Kids to recruit a whole different generation to change public education.

Anders Ingemarson is the kind of capitalist that scares your progressive friends. His latest book, Think Right or Wrong, Not Left or Right, is a full throated argument for completely unbridled markets.

It's not just the federal government that carries a lot of debt. So do most all big cities, and Denver is no exception. Except, of course, Denver's going to be asking you soon for even more debt. Citizen activist Jason Bailey says it's time to say no.

I mean, come on, who hasn't wanted to kick Jeff Hunt right up the backside?I mean, isn't that what that social conservative and 710 KNUS talk show host deserves? Well, that's exactly what he got for attending a mostly peaceful anti Trump rally. Just a little assault.

The US Supreme Court has issued a slew of decisions, what does it mean for Colorado? Constitutional expert Rob Natelson interprets it for us.

Raised in a Colorado Jewish family, Dave Kopel made Boulder his home decades ago. He's noticed the town and the state is growing more hostile to Jews.

Is it possible that Colorado's legislature did not make things worse for consumers of energy this last session? Energy expert Jake Fogleman explains there's still an energy apocalypse coming to the state.Colorado State government is crying poverty again as progressives scheme to destroy our taxpayer Bill of Rights. But is the state really in a budget shortfall? Fiscal analyst Nash Herman answers.

How do a few random posts on social media grow into a machine for political activism? Jessica Fenske's journey started with a few tweets as Forest Mommy.

As we all know, conservatives, especially the young ones, hate the environment and want to pollute it. Not so fast, says Hunter Rivera from the American Conservation Coalition.

How does a conservative college student survive on today's progressive university campus? If she's Joelle Webb, she writes a book to tell her progressive friends why she values what she does.

Veteran Capitol reporter Marianne Goodland is tired of the state legislature dodging Colorado's open meeting laws, and they didn't make things any better this last legislative session.