Mon Blogcast: rare Broncos loss; Epstein files; Xmas week; Faith Winter DUI

Just One Thing: The (incomplete) Epstein Files release

On Friday afternoon, the Department of Justice released a lot, but not all, of the so-called Epstein Files. Much was redacted and much had been released previously. Still, there was some new stuff but it seems like most people only care because they hope that Trump either does (for Democrats) or doesn't (for Republicans) appear prominently. The fact that not all of the information was released seems like a violation of the law but it's difficult, by which I mean it's impossible, to imagine any situation in which the DoJ pursues any kind of legal sanction against itself no matter what Thomas Massie says.

There are a lot of pictures of Bill Clinton. Some that just make you a little queasy...a lot of pictures of him in swimming pools or hot tubs. Yeech. Others in pictures with Epstein include Michael Jackson, Kevin Spacey, and Mick Jagger. Do you care?

Epstein files: which royals, politicians, musicians and actors are in the photos? | Jeffrey Epstein | The Guardian

Live updates: Trump administration and Epstein files release news | CNN Politics

DOJ Unredacts Epstein Document After Massie and Khanna’s Contempt Threats - NOTUS — News of the United States

More still to come in Epstein saga (Semafor.com)

Get help before this happens to you or someone you care about

I want to be careful with this but it bears mentioning. State Sen Faith Winters (D-Westminster) died in a car crash the evening before Thanksgiving when she rear-ended a stopped flatbed truck in the left lane of traffic on northbound I-25 near Dry Creek Rd. (The truck, which was stopped in a traffic jam due to a prior accident in the area, did not have functioning taillights but law enforcement determined that it was being driven “in due regard”, whatever that means, and no charges will be filed.)

I mentioned on the show the next day that Sen Winter had been known to have significant problems with alcohol including being drunk at the state capitol and at various events, and she had checked herself into rehab last year. I also mentioned that given her history, Occam's Razor suggested to me that there was a real chance that she was driving under the influence when the crash happened. Although I only made that comment very briefly and didn't dwell on it, a couple of listeners chastised me for even mentioning the possibility. Meanwhile, a friend who knows Sen Winter from serving in the legislature expressed a belief that the odds that she had been drinking were "99%".

The Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office announced on Friday -- interesting that it was late in the day on a Friday before Christmas week, but I won't assume they were trying to bury the news -- that Winter's blood-alcohol level was 0.185%, more than double the legal limit, and that she caused the accident. Sen Winter is survived by two teenaged children and her fiancé, Matt Gray, who is also a state legislator.

Colorado state Sen. Faith Winter was legally drunk when she caused car crash that killed her, authorities say - The Colorado Sun

I hope that if you or someone you care about is struggling with alcoholism or an addiction to any other substance, you will do you utmost to get help (for yourself or for the other person) so that there are not more unnecessary and tragic deaths like Faith Winter's.

Today's Guests

Some Broncos conversation today with Dave Logan, Susie Wargin, and Nick Ferguson over the course of the show. The Broncos simply got outplayed on Sunday. The first few drives made it seem like it was going to be a low-ish scoring defensive battle. It didn't turn out that way. The Jaguars outplayed the Broncos in every aspect of the game except for sacks, but several of the Broncos sacks were actually just tackles for no gain. The Jags got a lot of "chunk" plays which more than made up for the fact that they had a hard time gaining yards on most other plays. It's the first time in quite a while that we've seen the Broncos have a worse 2nd half than first half. First Broncos loss for (exactly) 3 months. And the first Broncos last at Mile High for an astonishing 14 months, or 12 straight home wins.

I'm writing this down even though it's not confirmed yet: We might have Secretary of Energy Chris Wright on the show. If so, here are some things we'll discuss:

Can Congress Finally Reform NEPA? - WSJ

Democrats Vote Against Abundance - WSJ

How Chris Wright remade DOE - E&E News by POLITICO

Trump's Energy Secretary Wants Data Centers Everywhere | TIME

US Energy Secretary Wright praises restarting Three Mile Island | 90.5 WESA

Other Stuff

Is this just Trump trying to hurt Colorado because of Tina Peters or because he doesn't like Gov Polis, or is it legitimate restraint of federal spending?

Trump denies disaster declarations for Colorado fires, flooding

This seems pretty nuts, like a California mind-virus taking over Colorado: Colorado statewide recycling boost ready to launch

A related story that I didn’t get to last week: So we’re going to fine you for using a convenient bag and then use the money to implement another coercive rule. Seriously, is there any part of your life that the left won’t tax and regulate?

Denver to use bag fees to implement Waste No More compost initiative

I've seen Justice Hart has a typical Colorado liberal/progressive, maybe not the furthest left on the Court, and likely to be replaced by someone of similar bias. I note that she prior to being a judge she was an active Democratic donor and even a candidate for political office. She's been absent from work (though presumably working from home, if you want to believe that) for about two months due to what she describes as health problems.

Justice Melissa Hart to step down from Colorado Supreme Court - Denver Gazette

Justice Melissa Hart announces retirement from Colorado Supreme Court | Colorado Judicial Branch

A different version of TWISATWINS: How Gary Winnick, Once L.A.’s Richest Man, Went From Billions to Bust - WSJ

(This is TWISATWINS: That Which is Seen, and That Which is Not Seen; by Frederic Bastiat)

On the one hand, I do think Trump is trolling Democrats with this kind of thing. On the other hand I think it's ridiculous and insanely narcissistic, or insanely pandering by bureaucrats.

About face: Lawsuit targets plan to put Trump's image on popular national parks pass - ABC News

Boulder artist makes stickers to cover Trump’s face on National Parks passes — and the orders are flying in

This is a slightly interesting read: The Woman in the Coldplay Concert Kiss Cam Video Is Ready to Talk - The New York Times

It's possible (though in my view not probable) that the US has too many childhood vaccines. But I do not believe, and will never believe, that RFK Jr is motivated by science. He's just a grifter, always has been, who constantly lies about what scientific data actually say. He's a terrible messenger for any possible reform of the US vaccine schedule. Furthermore, while we should be wary of scare tactics from vaccine manufacturers, we should also make sure that government policy doesn't significant reduce or eliminate the availability of vaccines if parents want them for their children. People are rightly skeptical of government health mandates after COVID; unfortunately, grifters like RFK are using that to sow distrust in other vaccines for which there is good safety data. He's also blaming vaccines for an increase in autism rates even though it's likely that the vast majority of the increase is due to expanding the definition of autism and creating an industry to diagnose and treat it.

RFK Jr. wanted to endorse the Danish vaccine schedule. He was forced to pull back. - POLITICO

How do you feel about regifting?

Is It Really Rude to Regift a Present You Don’t Like?

Is it taboo to regift during the holidays? 1 in 3 Americans say no

An important article by Dr Tom Krannawitter: The Bigger Picture - by Thomas L. Krannawitter, Ph.D.

Pretty funny: We Let Anthropic’s Claude AI Run Our Office Vending Machine. It Lost Hundreds of Dollars. - WSJ