Just One Thing: My last show of 2025
Thanks to everyone who reads my blog, subscribes to my Substack and, of course, listens to the show.
This year has been a whirlwind. I know life isn't about politics but just think...Trump was inaugurated THIS YEAR. Make what you will of that reminder.
I had my first kid move out. It's quite a moment for a parent. And my younger kid will likely move out (for college) next year. Crazy.
My personal life this year was mostly dominated by this home-remodeling project which has been a challenge in many ways (not my contractor's fault, to be clear). I sorta regret buying the place even though it'll be amazing when it's done, and I hope to be able to move in within about a month but probably two months is more realistic.
And as far as my work life, this year brought the huge change of my moving from mid-mornings to morning drive, an opportunity which I've wanted as long as I've been interested in radio but which I always assumed was impossible due to the fact that until now KOA has never had a talk show in morning drive. I am honored and not too daunted by the privilege of being offered the first-ever (as far as I know) morning-drive talk show on the "Blowtorch of the Rockies". The show is a little more different than I expected (as compared to my 9 AM to noon show): Shorter segments take some getting used to. And especially having another person in studio with me. Which leads me to mention that I'm tremendously enjoying working with Jeana. I joke about it a lot but she really is a professional journalist and her age, energy and XX chromosomes add a heck of a lot to the show.
I feel like the show is already quite good after only about a month and it's only getting better, and I hope you think so too.
I'd love to get an email from you at ross(at)iheartmedia(dot)com responding to this question: What do you remember about 2025? I want one answer from the news and one answer from your own life.
With that, a brief musical interlude. It's not the end of the line but is the end of this year's shows for me and I like this tune...and it brings up wonderful memories to hear Tom Petty, George Harrison, and Roy Orbison.
.
Today's Guests
George Brauchler is DA of the 23rd Judicial District (Douglas, Elbert, Lincoln counties)
We'll discuss a new ordinance in Douglas County that has already passed on first reading and is likely to become law. My first instinct is that I don't like it even though I understand the intent. (Hat tip to Michael Brown from whom I heard about this.)
In short, it requires businesses to report any and every theft at their business.
Provisions of the ordinance: Retail Theft Ordinance - Douglas County
Jon Caldara doesn't like it: Dougco victimizes business owners with shoplifting law - Complete Colorado
Also: On the one hand, I kinda understand the Court's ruling. On the other hand, if you live in a state with a left-wing soft-on-crime legislature, by this ruling they can set a maximum sentence for a crime that will be too low to deter the crime. A city that's sick of crime can no longer charge the miscreant under local law in an effort to impose a more punitive sentence. This seems like a bad outcome for a state that is already famously (at least to those of us who live here) sort on crime.
.
Intrepid Chad Bowar from the KOA News Desk joins us for the last "Well, Now You Know" of 2025.
.
CU Physics Professor Paul Beale is my last guest of 2025. Couldn't think of a better last guest.
We'll talk about the science side, not the particular business or Trump involvement, of this story: Trump Media to Merge With Fusion Power Firm TAE Technologies in $6 Billion Deal - WSJ
And answer a listener question: has fusion in a lab produced more energy than was required for the process?
And this: Power outage in Boulder area affects atomic clock, "Time is not broken" NIST says - CBS Colorado
.
Other Stuff
.
We need a bigger and better Navy, but "Trump class" battleships? Ummm, no.
Trump announces plans for new Navy 'battleship' | AP News
This is a key reason why we must do something: How Beijing Built an Arms Industry to Rival the West - WSJ
I think Trump should organize a JV with South Korea. They're MUCH better ship-builders than we are. Do the work here but use plenty of Korean workers.
.
One of the most viral video stores of the year:
.
Show me the money: Chiefs announce they will leave Arrowhead and relocate in Kansas | AP News
.
Kevin Roberts, the head of the Heritage Foundation and the guy who decided to defend Tucker Carlson's softball, almost fawning, interview of a Nazi named Nick Fuentes, is now presiding over the collapsing of that once proud organization. There is no future, ever, in populism, and Roberts pandering to MAGA rather than adhering to conservative principle and sound policy has been sad to watch.
Heritage Foundation Turmoil:Legal Scholars Resign | National Review
READ THIS (from a repeat show guest): My Resignation From The Heritage Foundation
.
It doesn't to me but I've heard it a lot before: Why Does Cilantro Taste Like Soap to Some People? | Britannica
.
JD Vance is being corrupted by politics. He should not seek the presidency and instead spend more time talking with his wife, who seems like a better person than he does which he clearly recognizes:
Vice President Vance says people who attack his wife 'can eat s---' - ABC News
Vance Wants Open Borders in the MAGA Coalition
.
How stupid is it that the Secretary of the Navy needs to pander to Trump by talking about how a proposed new class of battleship will be "the best looking" ships? Utterly insane. The stuff of SNL skits.
.
Not to be macabre, but I think this is interesting to reflect on: Noteworthy people who died in 2025 | AP News
.
In AI news:
We Let Anthropic’s Claude AI Run Our Office Vending Machine. It Lost Hundreds of Dollars. - WSJ
.
Gifting questions as we near Christmas:
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
And: What Americans think about giving cash as holiday gifts, according to a new AP-NORC poll
.
History of a truly classic Christmas song: Things Worth Remembering: ‘White Christmas’ Is a World War II Anthem
.
Today's Videos
I don't know just why I think these two are the things I want to end my radio year with, but it just seems right for a nerd and Monty Python fan like me. (A listener just sent me the first one which I hadn't seen since I saw "Monty Python's Meaning of Life" many years ago. And the second, well, you'll see...