Purplish

Colorado was once the scene of guerilla warfare over labor organizing. This year's fight at the State Capitol isn't as bloody, but it could have far-reaching consequences for Colorado workers.At issue is an 1943 law that makes it harder for workplaces to fully unionize. The last attempt to repeal it died in a surprise veto from a Democratic governor. Is this year's effort headed for the same fate?Hosts Bente Birkeland from CPR News and Jesse Paul of the Colorado Sun dive into the Labor Peace Act: how it works, where it came from and why labor thinks this is the year to have this fight.Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Funding for the Alliance is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.This episode of Purplish was edited by Megan Verlee and produced by Shane Rumsey. Our theme music was composed by Brad Turner.

Before they can get to the fun stuff -- passing laws and debating policy -- Colorado's legislators spend the start of each session sitting through hours (and hours, and hours) of presentations from all the departments and agencies they oversee, going into exhaustive detail on the work they do. A lot of times, these hearings are long on slide decks and short on answers. but lawmakers say, when done right, they can be a powerful tool for transparency and accountability.Hosts Bente Birkeland from CPR News and Lucas Brady Woods from KUNC explore how these hearings got started, and what it takes for them to live up to their full potential.Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Funding for the Alliance is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.This episode of Purplish was edited by Jo Erickson and Megan Verlee and produced by Shane Rumsey. Our theme music was composed by Brad Turner.

From cute kids and ceremonial photos to the peaceful democratic transfer of power, the opening weeks of the 119th Congress have managed to avoid the drama that marked the start of the 117th and the 118th. But that's not to say there's not a lot going on. Colorado has three new congressmen trying to settle in, at the same time one of its congresswomen is working to change how the House operates.Host Bente Birkeland talks with CPR News' D.C. reporter Caitlyn Kim about what she's seen and heard around the Capitol as the new Congress gets to work.Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Funding for the Alliance is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.This episode of Purplish was edited by Jo Erickson and Megan Verlee and produced by Shane Rumsey. Our theme music was composed by Brad Turner.

Before state lawmakers hit the gas on their new session, we look over its opening days. In the House, strains of national politics wove themselves into long-standing traditions in new ways, while in the Senate, the first few bills illuminate an ambitious Democratic agenda on guns and voting. Plus, why some Democrats left the State of the State address upset with Gov. Jared Polis.Hosts Bente Birkeland, of CPR News, and KUNC's state capital reporter Lucas Brady Woods are your guides through all the dramatic moments as the session gets underway. Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Funding for the Alliance is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.This episode of Purplish was edited by Jo Erickson and Megan Verlee and produced by Shane Rumsey. Our theme music was composed by Brad Turner.

Colorado's General Assembly gavels in on Jan. 8 with one big issue hanging over its head: the state budget. With painful cuts looming, lawmakers have some hard choices to make. They'll also be navigating the start of the second Trump administration as "an island of blue in a sea of red."The new legislature also marks a new beginning for Purplish. Joining Bente Birkeland in the studio is KUNC state capital reporter Lucas Brady Woods. CPR and KUNC, along with the Colorado Sun and Rocky Mountain PBS, are partnering to form the Capitol News Alliance with the goal of deepening coverage of Colorado's lawmakers and state government. Funding for the Alliance is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.Going forward you'll see Purplish in your podcast feed weekly, and encounter new voices and stories from the Alliance on the show.This episode of Purplish was edited by Jo Erickson and Megan Verlee and produced by Shane Rumsey. Our theme music was composed by Brad Turner.

Election night has come and gone, but when we went to the mics, there was still one race too close to call. Hosts Bente Birkeland and Caitlyn Kim talk about what happened there, plus what the results in Lauren Boebert's districts -- old and new -- say about the future of Republican representation in the state. Plus, editor Megan Verlee joins to go through all the ballot measures (she couldn't stay away!) and news fellow Kiara DeMare takes us to the 'bittersweet and boozy' Democratic Party's party.This episode was produced by Shane Rumsey and edited by Jo Erickson and Megan Verlee.

On the eve of the election, hosts Bente Birkeland and Caitlyn Kim discuss what they've heard from voters, volunteers and campaigns about the top races on Coloradans' ballots. From Pueblo County to Mesa and Weld, we look at how voters' feelings about the presidential race mirror, and diverge from some of the state's most consequential congressional contests.This episode was edited and produced by Jo Erickson, Shane Rumsey and Megan Verlee.

Once again, conspiracy theories about voting fraud are front and center ahead of a presidential election. Led by their nominee, Republican voters in particular are worried about things like non-citizens voting en masse and bad actors rigging voting machines.Hosts Caitlyn Kim and Bente Birkeland -- with special guest, news fellow Kiara DeMare -- walk through the safeguards in place that keep those things from happening. The tools are as simple as database searches and double-checking results, but the implications are profound for trust in our democracy.This episode was produced by Shane Rumsey and edited by Megan Verlee.

Grab your ballot and follow along as hosts Bente Birkeland and Megan Verlee introduce you to the dozen-plus questions on the state ballot this fall. From protecting abortion and school choice to banning big cat hunting and taxing guns, they'll provide essential context on all the measures, big and small.If you're left with any questions, more information awaits you at our voter guide: www.cpr.org/voterguide2024This episode was produced by Shane Rumsey and Jo Erickson.

For this episode, we're doing something we never have before: recording the show in front of a live studio audience. Hosts Caitlyn Kim, Bente Birkeland and Megan Verlee discuss what's at stake for congress in the upcoming congressional races.Which party controls the U.S. House could have a lot to do with how voters in Colorado's newest district are feeling about their first term congresswoman, and her law-and-order challenger. Plus, Rep. Lauren Boebert's district-hopping gamble has scrambled the races in two of the state's Republican seats. And, what could a new congress hold for other members of the Colorado delegation?

Voters this fall will decide whether to change how Colorado selects its leaders in the future, by doing away with partisan primaries and ranking candidates in general elections. These reforms are part of a national effort backers say could help push politics back toward the center, and that opponents warn could further erode trust in elections.Hosts Andrew Kenney and Bente Birkeland explain how Prop. 131 would work, introduce you to the multi-millionaire behind it, and break down how these reforms have worked in other states.This episode was produced by Shane Rumsey and edited by Megan Verlee.

Purplish is coming back to help you prepare for Colorado's 2024 election, including contentious congressional races and 14 statewide ballot measures.Tune in for the stories behind those initiatives, and to hear arguments for and against them. Also, why Coloradans will choose new representatives in all the congressional seats Republicans hold. Episodes start October 4.Plus, you can participate in the first Purplish live taping on October 8 in Denver. Get tickets here: cpr.org/purplishlive.

Our hosts discuss the big themes that emerged from Republican primary results and what they mean for the future of the party, and for the general election.

How a pair of two-man races in El Paso County and along the northern Front Range are illustrating the increasingly bitter divisions in Colorado's Republican Party.

With Rep. Lauren Boebert out of the running, which of the half dozen Republicans trying for the seat is likely to win the primary and take on Democrat Adam Frisch?

What to make of the nine major party candidates -- including Rep. Lauren Boebert -- all running in Colorado's fourth congressional district? And how does the vacancy race to fill out Ken Buck's term factor into it all?

From the future of our democracy to the state of their bank accounts, Colorado voters have been telling us about their top concerns for the upcoming election.

Lawmakers were in an usually good mood as they wrapped up their session this week, a marked change from recent years.

Lawmakers say sharing an occasional drink can build camaraderie and release stress during long days under the golden dome, but the legislature’s long tradition of social drinking comes with risks […]

Battles over air quality and the future of drilling are threatening to spill out of the state capitol and onto your ballot.

The state has a “train guy” for governor, and the federal government is offering billions in funding.

Spending limits make it hard for the legislature to put new priorities in the budget. But the tax code is another matter altogether.

Each year, hundreds of Coloradans with terminal illnesses use medication to aid their deaths. But guardrails put in to prevent abuse can turn into major roadblocks for patients. Now lawmakers are considering some changes to the policy.

Denver is cutting its budget to keep up with the cost of sheltering the steady flow of arrivals from the southern border, and that's leading to strain between cities, and questions about what role the state should play.

The session started with a protest over the war in Gaza and the issue has continued to reverberate.

From fateful tarmac conversations to contentious committee hearings, Colorado leaders tell the inside of story of their years'-long fight to ensure the high tech command stays in the state permanently. And why it may not be over yet.

The Mesa County clerk is accused of breaching the security of her office's election computers in order to hunt for evidence of massive fraud. How did Peters, a political novice who ran on lowering DMV wait times, become such a pivotal figure in the ongoing campaign to prove false claims that American elections are rigged?

Lawmakers start their annual session Wednesday, after an off-season that contained more than the usual number of bumps and bruises.

We break down the electoral courtroom drama playing out in Denver right now.

The state collected more money from new tobacco and nicotine taxes than it expected, and now voters must decide what to do.

Wondering what this Prop. HH measure you see on your ballot is all about? We explain what this proposal would mean for your finances, and the state's.

Yes, politics may be shifting in this conservative bulwark, but that's only one part of the story.

The end of session brought dramatic developments, bruising disagreements and a few goofy moments.

Here’s a math problem for you: how do you get hundreds of different bills to add up to one balanced budget?

Single-family homes have ruled Colorado development for a century, but Gov. Jared Polis and his allies believe the future needs to look very different.

As Republican lawmakers adapt to their ‘super-minority’ in the House, they’re grappling with a big question: is it better to negotiate when they can, or dig in on delays?

Sky-high utility bills and record corporate profits have many Coloradans — and lawmakers — asking if it’s time to rethink Xcel’s business model.

Housing, recreation, government -- advocates for people with disabilities say there are a lot of ways Colorado could be doing more to make those things accessible to all.

The policy has been banned in Colorado for four decades, but that could all change this year.

From the founding of the state to modern mass shootings, we look at the forces that have driven changes to Colorado law over the years, and what it means for this year's brewing debate.

In the first State of the State speech of his second term, Gov. Polis picked a big fight with local governments, while saying little on a major priority for many in his party.

State lawmakers have returned to session in Denver. We cover a bit of DC-style drama on opening day, and hear from congressional reporter Caitlyn Kim how the actual DC drama went down with the many, many Speaker votes.

Yes, we know what happened Tuesday, but we're still not changing the name of the podcast.

The big day is almost here and our team looks at where the campaigns, the polling and the voters stand, as things come down to the wire.

Colorado's election system has all sorts of checks built in to prevent fraud and subversion, but much of it happens out of public view. We go through some of the biggest security measures -- and some of the biggest conspiracy theories still circulating.

There are 11 statewide measures on the ballot this year, and we're here to give you the key points on each of them. Oh, and Andy plays stump-the-hosts with 140 years of initiative history.

Coloradans are increasingly naming housing as a top issue, and it's one that will appear on ballots this fall in a couple of ways.

One in six Colorado voters is Latino, a fact the campaigns are very, very aware of. But are candidates and parties forging meaningful connections, or just falling back on transactional habits?

Senate candidate Joe O'Dea is getting national attention for his views on abortion, Trump and other issues that set him apart from many in his party. But will his positions be enough to win over the moderate voters so crucial to winning Colorado's elections?

Colorado's Republican establishment is celebrating a night of victories that they believe will give them a leg up on the general election, and could even be a turning point for their party.