Twisted times call for a Twisted View. Independence Institute has teamed up with Leland Conway to launch a new show, Twisted View. Every two weeks, Leland and his crew gather around a poker table to deliver their raw, unfiltered take on Colorado politics, twisting the knife on bad policies. We hope you'll tune in and enjoy the show.
We're also gearing up for our 3rd annual W(h)ine and Cheese Party on May 15th. Join us as we break down the good, the bad, and the ugly of the 2025 legislative session, paired with fabulous wine and cheese selections. Speakers include Dave Kopel, Jon Caldara, Ross Izzard, Jake Fogleman, Rob Natelson, Nash Herman, and more. The event is free, and full details are available in the Events section of this newsletter. Come raise a glass with us, celebrate our wins, and look ahead to the fights to come.
Another event we are hosting is an end-of-session wrap-up focusing on Colorado energy legislation. Please join us on May 8th from 3 to 4 PM via Zoom to learn what happened this session and what we can expect moving forward. Amy Cooke and Jake Fogleman will host another roundtable with elected officials and energy advocacy groups. To RSVP, please go to the Events section of this newsletter.
In this week's newsletter, Jake updates readers on bad energy bills killed this session, Nash breaks down the recently signed fiscal bill, and Pam highlights yet another free speech attack from the current legislature.
“It is much more important to kill bad bills than to pass good ones.” – Calvin Coolidge
In the spirit of Silent Cal’s prescient maxim, it’s worth celebrating the demise of two terrible pieces of energy legislation under the Gold Dome in recent days.
Up first is the contemptuous House Bill 25-1277. Sponsored by Democratic lawmakers Junie Joseph, Jennifer Bacon, and Lisa Cutter, the bill proposed mandating that retailers selling certain fuel products like gasoline or propane shame their customers out of buying their products with a first-in-the-nation warning label. With mandates specifying the font size, color, and location of the label, as well as punitive fines for anything but perfect compliance, it would have had to state:
“Warning: Use of this product releases air pollutants and greenhouse gases, known by the state of Colorado to be linked to significant health impacts and global heating.”
Bewilderingly, this exercise in legislative condescension and consumer shaming cleared the state House of Representatives. However, its Senate sponsor was forced to voluntarily kill the bill in its first Senate committee hearing last week after it became clear that the state’s upper chamber didn’t share the same contempt for Coloradans who still dare to drive the most common form of personal vehicle on the road today. Good riddance.
The other failed measure never made it to formal introduction. In a previous newsletter entry earlier this month, I reported that the Governor’s Energy Office was circulating a 64-page draft late bill that would dramatically accelerate the timeline on the state’s already rigorous decarbonization mandates, even though Colorado utilities are already having trouble meeting current standards.
Now, according to CPR reporting, Colorado policymakers seem to have been temporarily chastened by the backlash they’ve received on their proposal to shift the state’s environmental goalposts once again and will not be moving forward with the bill this year. Policy stability will prevail, if only for the year.
Natalie Menten pens a guest op-ed on state Democrats' latest move to stifle civic engagement.
Yesterday, Governor Polis signed the state’s budget bill into law. Despite months of catastrophizing about the “budget shortfall,” the budget is still expected to grow by over $1.5 billion, or 3.5 percent, and maintain some of the Governor’s highest priorities.
At Independence Institute, we do not enjoy saying, “I told you so.” However, the Fiscal Policy Center has opposed special interest tax breaks for years because they divert revenue from tax-paying Coloradans to special interests. You can find these reports on our fiscal policy page.
I want to prepare you for what’s ahead: the following paragraphs will not inspire happiness, but I hope to light a fire in your belly to take a stand. However, it is up to you to follow the links to learn more. Otherwise, you risk staying uninformed.
Colorado House Bill 25-(HB)1312, which focuses on Legal Protections for Transgender Individuals, is set to be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee tomorrow (Wednesday). This legislation serves as a crucial wake-up call for all Colorado voters regarding who truly holds power in our government. The bill has passed out of the Colorado House of Representatives, and now its fate is up to the Colorado Senate and possibly the Governor.
In an opinion piece, Lori Gimelshteyn, the Colorado Parents Advocacy Network Executive Director, explains some of this legislation's dangers. Lori regularly speaks with parents who have heartbreaking stories of how gender-affirming care has harmed their children.
Jon Caldara, president of Independence Institute and a long-time free-speech advocate, articulated how progressives use HB 25- 1312 to infringe on free speech in a columnearlier this month.
On Devil’s Advocate, Jon Caldara interviews Lindsay Datko, Jeffco Kids First executive director, about numerous shocking sexual assaults and misconduct by Jeffco Public School District employees against children.
A week ago today, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Mahmoud v. Taylor about whether parents can opt their children out of LGBTQ content in public schools. The 74, an education policy news source, covered the story here, but I encourage you to listen to the arguments yourself.
I hope you will join in the battle and educate your family and friends about the need for adults to stand up to government overreach, “for the kids.”
Did you know 49.2% of the voters in Colorado are unaffiliated? Have you ever wondered why? Hear from the experts at Independence Institute talk about the issues important to Colorado and how to bring some sanity to this increasingly leftist state.
Devil's Advocate with Jon Caldara is a current events show not to be missed. Each week it features lively - and sometimes heated - debates between elected officials, journalists, activists, concerned citizens, subject-matter experts, and hard-pressing host Jon Caldara, president of the Independence Institute. Jon is not afraid to express his "free-market" views, and his guests are not afraid to take on those opinions. It all makes for an informative, lively public affairs program.
PowerGab focuses on unique energy issues facing Colorado. Hosted by Amy Cooke, Independence Institute's Energy and Environmental Policy Center Director, and Jake Fogleman, Director of Policy. PowerGab tackles the complexities of energy policy and solutions for a broad audience to educate and illuminate all while having a few laughs along the way.
Mandy and Deb Show is your go-to source for sharp wit, candid conversations, and unfiltered takes on the latest issues shaping Colorado and beyond. Hosted by seasoned radio host Mandy Connell and policy pro Deb Flora, the show blends humor, insight, and a healthy dose of common sense as the duo tackles politics, culture, and everything in between.
Twisted View is a raw, unfiltered roundtable where men say what they mean and mean what they say. Hosted by Leland Conway, Ben Allbright, Marc Mager, and Willie B, this testosterone-fueled series brings a male perspective to the madness of modern Colorado. From rising crime to failed homelessness policies and environmental overreach, Twisted View exposes the real consequences of local legislation—no apologies, no political correctness. If you're tired of sanitized commentary, this is your show.
This podcast includes several series of commentaries about the Constitution. Each series will cover a different aspect of the document. This series thumbnails the lives of 14 American Founders and their specific contributions to the Constitution. It covers both well-known Founders, such as James Madison, and those who are lesser known, but who exercised an out-sized influence.
Children must go to school by law, and if parents can't afford a private school or homeschool, children must go to government-run schools. That makes our children's safety at school the government's top priority. Our children are in their custody, after all. Lindsay Datko of JeffCo Kids First has discovered our kids are anything but safe.
New executive orders challenge Colorado's renewable goals. How will these orders affect the state? Does Colorado need to comply, and are the renewable goals that Colorado has even capable of handling the power needs? PowerGab hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss this and more.
Mandy and Deb Show, co-hosted by Mandy Connell and Deborah Flora, talk about where our tax dollars are going, how the tariffs affect us, thrifting with thrifting specialist Summer DiFraia, and more!
Living in Denver has changed for many of its residents. Crime, homelessness, pollution... are these results of local legislation? Twisted View hosts Leland Conway, Ben Allbright, Marc Mager, and Willie B kick off the first episode of Twisted View.
