Purplish

May 10 2024 632
Purplish Podcast artwork

Purplish is CPR News' weekly podcast about state politics, state government, Colorado policy, and political identity. This season the show is hosted by public affairs reporters Bente Birkeland and Andrew Kenney. Each week while the legislature is in session, they'll break down the latest developments, look ahead to what's next, and dive into the bigger picture of what it all means.

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Ending on a high note

May 10 2024 27 mins  
Lawmakers were in an usually good mood as they wrapped up their session this week, a marked change from recent years.

Drinking at the Colorado Capitol

May 03 2024 25 mins  
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 […]

The new oil and gas war

Apr 19 2024 23 mins  
Battles over air quality and the future of drilling are threatening to spill out of the state capitol and onto your ballot.

Is Colorado really about to commit to passenger rail?

Apr 05 2024 35 mins  
The state has a “train guy” for governor, and the federal government is offering billions in funding.

Lawmakers’ $1.5B tax credit battle royale

Mar 22 2024 28 mins  
Spending limits make it hard for the legislature to put new priorities in the budget. But the tax code is another matter altogether.

Is Colorado’s medical aid in dying law too hard to use?

Mar 08 2024 31 mins  
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.

What do all the new immigrant arrivals mean for Colorado?

Feb 23 2024 31 mins  
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 first month of session, down

Feb 08 2024 28 mins  
The session started with a protest over the war in Gaza and the issue has continued to reverberate.

Inside the fight to keep Space Command in Colorado

Jan 29 2024 34 mins  
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.

Tina Peters is headed to trial – how did we get here?

Jan 23 2024 49 mins  
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?