As of Thursday morning, the two biggest fires near Los Angeles were both still 0% contained
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection | CAL FIRE
Today's Guests
Phil Weiser is attorney general of Colorado and a recently-announced candidate for governor. We'll talk with him about each of those things...trying to keep them separate, though.
Phil Weiser, Justice Department add big landlords to price-fixing suit
I'll also ask about this: States, Justice Department seek changes to Google business practices to end search engine monopoly - Colorado Attorney General | Colorado Attorney General
And on the campaign side of things:
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The green chicken known as Doomberg is a team of (former) consultants and (mostly energy-related) analysts who now write full-time as they became the most successful Substack in the finance category. Doomberg offers some of the most interesting information, writing, and analysis about issues that usually, but don't always, revolve around energy and they recently wrote a note about a dumb idea right here in Colorado. If you care at all about energy issues and policy, I strongly recommend subscribing to Doomberg. (I am a paying subscriber.)
Colorado wants to ship solar electricity on trains with large batteries
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Dan Cox is Director of the Survey Center on American life at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). We'll discuss a new study that he co-authored: Disconnected: The Growing Class Divide in American Civic Life - The Survey Center on American Life
Daniel A. Cox | American Enterprise Institute - AEI
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Other Stuff
California politicians are getting absolutely crucified for this, and they should be: Fire hydrants ran dry in Southern California just when they were needed most | AP News
What does this CNN headline even mean? Water shortage in Palisades Fire was about delivery, not availability
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RELATED: Part, but only part, of the problem is how regulations make the cost of building so high which raises the cost of insuring property: This could be the beginning of the end for fire insurance in California - POLITICO
WSJ: California Was Already in Home-Insurance Crisis Before Los Angeles Infernos - WSJ
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Once again, we’re relying on a liberal Democratic governor, Jared Polis, to save us from the far left. That’s an uncomfortable place to be.
2025 legislative agenda: Colorado Democrats' priorities | News | denvergazette.com
Denver Post: Live updates as the Colorado legislature gavels in for 2025 session (gift link; no subscription required)
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Many folks are wondering if Trump will go against the financial interests of "First Buddy" Elon Musk. It's a legit question but I have another one: Might Elon Musk say, "Yes, this credit-trading system is great for me but as a matter of principle I'm against it so let's end it"? Two stories from Axios: Tesla's easy money from clean car credits at risk under Trump
How emissions credit trading works
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Not sure it's enough. I don't care that the lie hurt Biden. I care that it was a lie that eroded the foundations of our Republican and I'd despise it no matter who benefited: Ex-FBI informant who fabricated bribery story about Biden and his son Hunter gets 6 years in prison - POLITICO
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The Manhattan DA is supposed to respond today and there will be a hearing on Friday. I think the case against Trump was utter nonsense. I think he didn't do anything illegal. I think that even if he did, it would have been a federal issue and not something for a local DA. And perhaps most importantly I think the conviction was predicated on evidence that the Supreme Court's presidential immunity decision rendered inadmissible. In short, I believe the conviction should be thrown out.
Axios: Trump asks Supreme Court to block hush money sentencing
NBC: Trump asks Supreme Court to block New York hush money sentencing
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It's not just Denver but that doesn't mean it's not a bummer: Denver's restaurant scene has shrunk by 22% since 2021 (subscription may be required)
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Can you imagine how the activist left, who have long seen almost all of "big tech" (at least until Elon Musk bought Twitter) as reliable supporters of Democrats, and only Democrats, must feel about this? It makes me smile: Google gives $1million to Trump inauguration - Live Updates - POLITICO
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A little history of the US military on Greenland...and "diversity training": America's Arctic troops in Greenland go to diversity training
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I REALLY don't like how much "immunity" cops have. There has to be a better balance. Texas cop causes accident chasing prostitution suspect, gets immunity
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I owe you this econ nerdiness from yesterday, and even though it's not about the US, it will impact us bigly both politically and economically.
China will sharply increase funding from treasury bonds to spur growth in 2025 | Reuters
Exclusive | Xi Jinping Muzzles Chinese Economist Who Dared to Doubt GDP Numbers - WSJ
China Must Heed Lessons of Japan’s Lost Decades - WSJ
China’s short-term bond yields fall below 1% for first time since 2009
GT Voice: Western biased judgments fail to capture China’s economic reality - Global Times
Meanwhile, how do you have as a major trading partner a country that won't stop this? More telecom firms were breached by Chinese hackers than previously reported | CSO Online
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Today's Videos
THIS IS FULL OF F-BOMBS AND IS NOT SAFE FOR SENSITIVE PEOPLE but it does give good insight into the mindset of why Donald Trump talks the way he does and why many people support the renewed (if perhaps taken a little too far) sense of American strength. Biden and Obama aggressively pursued weakness. Remember "leading from behind"? How sickening was that? Well that ship has sailed...and hopefully hit an iceberg.
At least he's honest
