>>> HI, EVERYONE, WELCOME TO COLORADO INSIDE OUT ON THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 21st.

WE ARE INCHING CLOSER TO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THIS HAS BEEN A SESSION WITH EXTENDED CONVERSATIONS OVER MANY DIFFERENT BILLS AND STILL GOING ON.

LET'S INTRODUCE OUR PANEL.

PATTY CALHOUN FOUNDER AND EDITOR OF WESTWORD.

DAVID KOPEL RESEARCH DIRECTOR AT THE INDEPENDENCE INSTITUTE AND ALSO JESSE PAUL.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BIG WEEK IT HAS BEEN DENVER BASED DOMINION.

>> YOU THOUGHT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A SETTLEMENT IT WOULD COME AT THE EVE OF THE TRIAL BUT NOT WHEN OPENING STATEMENTS WAS GOING TO START.

SO YOU HAD -- YOU GOT A CLUE JURY SELECTION HAD STARTED WHEN THEY PAUSED FOR A DAY.

PEOPLE STILL WENT BACK INTO COURT AND READY FOR THOSE ARGUMENTS AND OUT COMES THE JUDGE THE PARTIES HAD REACHED AN AGREEMENT.

IT IS A BIG ONE.

DOMINION SUED AND A LOT OF SATISFACTION BECAUSE FOX DIDN'T APOLOGIZE ON AIR.

IT ACKNOWLEDGED HIS REPORTED FALSEHOOD.

IT WILL CHANGE THE WAY PEOPLE REPORT.

EVEN REPEATING WHAT FOX ON THE AIR.

WE WILL WATCH MEDIA OUTLETS MORE CAREFUL.

>> WE WILL SEE.

DAVID?

>> I THINK IT WAS A FAIR SETTLEMENT.

DOMINION BECAUSE OF THESE FALSEHOOD THEY HAD PEOPLE CONTINUING TO COME TO THEIR OFFICES AND THREATEN THEM.

THE SETTLEMENT WAY MORE THAN DOMINION'S REVENUES.

THE JUDGE IN THE PRETRIAL PROCEEDINGS HAD FOUND THAT THE STATEMENTS THAT SOME OF THEM THAT WERE ON FOX WERE FALSE.

THE QUESTION FOR THE JURY THEN IS THE UNDER THE LIABLE LAWS, YOU ARE LIABLE IF YOU KNOWING MADE A FALSE STATEMENT OR DID SO WITH RECKLESS REGARD FOR TRUTH OR FALSEHOOD.

FOX AND DOMINION HAD GOOD LAWYERS ON EACH SIDE.

THIS WAS THEIR ASSESSMENT WHAT WE CAN GET FROM THE JURY.

IT IS ALSO AN UNUSUAL CASE.

DOMINION IS A PRIVATE BUSINESS.

THEY ARE NOT IN THE PUBLIC EYE.

THEY ARE NOT ELECTED OFFICIALS OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

THEY WERE SUCCESSFULLY ABLE.

A LOT OF THEM MUCH WILLFULLY FALSE.

IT IS HARD TO WIN A LIABLE CASE IN THOSE.

>> JESSE THAT CAUGHT EVERYBODY'S EYE.

>> RIGHT.

AS SOMEONE WHO COVERS COLORADO'S POLITICS THIS IS SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, THE HEAD OF THE COLORADO GOP CERTAINLY AN ELECTION DENIER.

I'M CURIOUS TO SEE THIS BRINGS PEOPLE BACK IN.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS ALWAYS REPUTATIONAL DAMAGE.

MORE TO THAT POINT.

CERTAIN REPUBLICANS OFTENTIMES WILL TALK ABOUT ELECTION DENIER OR HAVING DOUBTS.

AGAIN IT CHANGES THINGS.

IT MAKES PEOPLE THINK TWICE.

I THINK THIS WILL CHANGE THE CALCULUS.

>> ALTON YOU KNOW EQUIPMENT.

YOU KNOW HOW THINGS ARE RUN.

WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THIS CASE?

>> MY REACTION THIS IS A BELL THAT CAN'T BE UNRUNG.

THERE IS JUST NO TWO WAYS ABOUT THAT.

THE DOMINION SYSTEM, DENVER WAS ONE OF THE COUNTIES THAT CREATED THE SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN USED IN FOUR OR FIVE OF COLORADO'S COUNTIES.

I HAVE FRIENDS WHO WORK FOR DOMINION.

I HAVE FRIENDS WHO USED TO WORK FOR DOMINION.

YOU HAD PEOPLE WHO GOT THREATEN BECAUSE OF THE FALSE NARRATIVE.

WE HAVE SEEN EVERYTHING FROM JANUARY 6TH TO ONGOING THINGS THAT JESSE IS REFERRING TO.

I DON'T THINK OUR DOMINION IS BACK ON TRACK.

THE MONITORY CHALLENGES WILL FACTOR INTO THIS.

-- YOU SEE THE SHIFTS AND CHANGES.

I THINK WHAT HAPPENED WITH THIS BILL IS A FAILURE OF POLICY AND PERSONALITY.

THIS IS ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE AN UPHILL BATTLE.

THEY PROBABLY WOULD HAVE PAIR BACK THE BILL.

THERE IS A FRUSTRATION AROUND HOW SHE BROUGHT THE BILL AND AT THE LAST MINUTE TRIED TO PAIR BACK THE LEGISLATION.

THESE ARE DEVICES MAKE A SEMI AUTOMATIC.

I THINK IT WAS A SIGNAL THE WAY IT WAS DEBATED IN THE LEGISLATURE.

IF SOMEONE BRINGS IT BACK IN A DIFFERENT WAY I THINK IT WILL HAVE A CHANCE OF PASSING.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS OF THAT REPRESENTATIVE MADE A POINT IN HER CALLOUT OF THE PARTY.

ONE OF THE THINGS WITH DEMOCRATS AND IT COMES TO MAJORITY POWER.

SOMETIMES THEY DON'T SLING THE SLEDGEHAMMER.

OUTSIDE OF WHEN THEY MADE THE MOVE TO LIMIT THE BASE ON THE OTHER GUN BILLS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I SAW MAKING THE GANGSTER WE ARE IN CHARGE OF THIS THING MOVE.

I WORKED IN THE U.S. SENATE WHEN THE REPUBLICANS TOOK OVER THAT ENTIRE CONGRESS IN 1994.

MY FRIEND WHO WORKED FOR PAT CAME IN THE NEXT DAY.

THE REPUBLICANS WANTED HER OFFICE.

THAT IS HOW MAJORITY OFFICE GETS RUN.

THE OTHER THING WHEN IT COMES TO ASSAULT WEAPONS THINGS AND GUNS IN GENERAL.

SANDY HOOK DID NOT MOVE THE NEEDLE.

WE NEED TO FOCUS LESS ON CONTROLLING THE GUNS AND CONTROLLING THE CRIMINALS WHO ARE OUT USING IT ON PEOPLE.

>> THINK ABOUT THIS.

WE ARE MORE THAN TWO DECADES AFTER COLUMBINE.

WE ARE STILL SO DIVIDED.

WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF BAD BEHAVIOR IN THE LEGISLATURE THIS SESSION SPECIFICALLY OVER THE TOPIC OF GUNS.

IT IS NOT JUST COLORADO.

WE SEE WHAT IS GOING ON NATIONALLY.

THIS WEEK WE HAVE THE WAVE OF PEOPLE SHOOTING, PEOPLE IN CARS WHO HAPPEN TO PARK IN THE WRONG PLACE OR TURN AROUND THE WRONG PLACE OR OPEN THE DOOR AT THE WRONG TIME.

THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT GUNS ARE A PROBLEM IF USED IMPROPERLY.

SOMETIMES VERY NECESSARY.

WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO TRAIN PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO HAVE THEM TO USE THEM AND HOW TO GET -- HOW TO IDENTIFY THE PEOPLE WHO SHOULD NEVER BE NEAR A GUN.

THING THE LEGISLATURE MADE A FEW STEPS FORWARD IN THAT THIS YEAR.

LOOKING AT BEHAVIOR, LOOKING AT THE RED FLAG LAW THAT IS CRITICAL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> MORE WORK TO BE DONE.

JESSE I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OVERNIGHT SESSIONS.

WHAT ELSE IS COMING ON THAT YOU HAVE YOUR EYE ON?

>> THERE WILL BE A LOT OF SLEEPLESS NIGHTS.

THERE ARE STILL A COUPLE OF BILLS THAT WILL BE PRETTY CONTROVERSIAL INCLUDING HOW TO REFUND TAXPAYERS SURPLUS.

A MAJOR PROPERTY TAX CODE REWRITE.

ONE HAS TO DO WITH WATER.

DEMOCRATS PROMISING TO TAKE BOLD BIG ACTIONS.

EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE DROUGHT.

THIS WEEK THEY DROPPED A PIECE OF LEGISLATION OR SAID THEY WOULD DROP A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WOULD CREATE A TASK FORCE.

JUST HOW SENSITIVE AND COMPLICATED IT IS.

THE LEGISLATURE SAID WE CAN'T COME ON IT ON OUR OWN.

SPEND A YEAR LOOKING AT THIS.

BRING US RECOMMENDATIONS.

THE NEGOTIATES THAT HAVE FALLEN APART.

NOW YOU SEE THE STATE LEGISLATURE ALSO SAYING, THIS IS TOO COMPLICATED TO GO FORTH WITH.

>> IT IS SO IMPORTANT.

IT IS SO IMPORTANT.

ALTON WHAT ARE YOU KEEPING YOUR EYE ON?

>> THAT PARTICULAR BILL WITH THIS WATER IS FOR FIGHTING.

I'M KEEPING AN EYE THE BIG ELECTIONS BILL PACKAGE THAT GOT DROP RECENTLY.

KEEP AN EYE ON FOR THOSE IS BECAUSE UNAFFILIATED VOTER GIVES YOU THE CHANCE TO WATCH BOTH.

ANY TIME THERE IS A BIG ELECTIONS YOU WANT TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE AMENDMENT PROCESS.

YOU WILL HAVE ONE SIDE SAYING, HERE IS A CHANCE TO GET OUT HERE AND DISCUSS THINGS LIKE I.D.

LAWS AND CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENTS ON THE RIGHT.

ON THE LEFT SOMETIMES YOU WILL SEE AMENDMENTS LET'S EXTEND EARLY VOTING.

OUR FIRST WEEK OF EARLY VOTING YOU SEE JUDGES SITTING AROUND AND READING.

LET'S LEAVE THE POLLS OPEN UNTIL 8:00.

NO.

IN COLORADO YOU GET YOUR BALLOTS THREE WEEKS BEFORE ELECTION DAY.

EVERYONE HAS PLENTY OF TIME TO VOTE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO A PHYSICAL LOCATION AND SITTING A BLOCK LONG LINE LIKE YOU HAVE TO DO IN GEORGIA.

>> PATTY?

>> IN HONOR OF 420 YESTERDAY.

THE SENATE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE BILL MAKE UP THE REGULATIONS WILL GO WITH 122.

THIS IS LEGALIZING MUSHROOMS.

THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE SOLD IN STORES.

LICENSED TO PEOPLE WHO CAN GIVE THEM TO YOU AS PART OF A HEALING PROCESS.

IT IS SO TRICKY.

THEY ARE LOOKING WHAT HAPPENED TO RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA 12 YEARS AGO.

HOW DID THOSE REGULATIONS TAKE EFFECT.

WHAT MISTAKES DID WE MAKE.

THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO.

THE COMMITTEE THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER, THE ADVISORY BOARD MET FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS WEEK.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN THE NEXT MONTH.

THE LEGISLATURE FIGURED THIS OUT.

IT WILL BE WORKING HARD.

>> IT SEEMS LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN HEARING ALL THE COMPLAINTS WHEN XCEL BILLS WENT THROUGH THE ROOF.

>> THE PROBLEM WITH LEGISLATURE IN COLORADO IS SO MUCH COMES UP AS LAST -- LATE BILLS.

HUGELY IMPORTANT THINGS THAT OUGHT TO BE INTRODUCED BEFORE THE SESSION STARTS AND HAVE LOTS OF TIME FOR THE PRO AND THE CON.

THERE IS TENDENCY LATE BILL AND RAN THROUGH THINGS THAT CAN HAVE CONSEQUENCES WITH LOW UNDERSTANDING.

ONE IS A BILL ABOUT XCEL.

ONE PART IS VERY STRAIGHT FORWARD.

I THINK ANYONE OUGHT TO MAKE A DECISION WHICH IS XCEL CAN'T CHARGE THE RATE PAYERS FOR LOBBYING AND VARIOUS INFLUENCE BUYING IN VARIOUS.

BUT THE OTHER THING IS TO SAY, WE NOW HAVE A SYSTEM THE PRICE OF NATURAL GAS GOES UP.

THAT GETS REFLECTED IN THE BILL.

THEN THE PRICE GOES DOWN THAT GETS REFLECTED.

YOU STRAIGHT FORWARDLY DO THAT.

NOW THEY ARE TRYING TO -- I THINK LIKE IF THE PRICE GOES UP, THIS MONTH, THEN THEY WILL SPREAD OUT THE PRICE INCREASE FOR THE NEXT YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.

THAT SEEMS CRAZY AND COUNTER INTUITIVE.

YOU WANT SOMETHING ECONOMICALLY UPSIDE-DOWN AS THAT TO REALLY HAVE THOUGHT FOR THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSION AND NOT A RUSH.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF THOUGHT THAT NEEDS TO GO INTO THAT.

DENVER'S RUN OFF ELECTION.

MAY 15th IS THREE WEEKS AWAY.

THE RUN OFF IS A TIGHT ONE.

WE SEE POLLS.

IT IS SO CLOSE.

>> IT IS CLOSE.

THE THING THAT IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO WATCH IS HOW THESE FOLKS CREATE SOME KIND OF SEPARATION.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO REMEMBER IS THAT DENVER'S ELECTIONS ARE NONPARTISAN.

THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT RUNNING AS DEMOCRATS.

THEY ARE DEMOCRATS.

AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE KEEPING AN EYE ON ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS.

FIVE YEARS AGO THE NOTION OF ARRESTING PEOPLE WHO WOULDN'T VOLUNTARILY GO IN TO HELP IF THEY ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WOULD BE A NONSTARTER.

SO THAT SHOWS SOME OF THE TRENDS THAT ARE STARTING TO HAPPEN IN DENVER.

ANOTHER TREND AS ALWAYS THE LARGEST VOTER TURNOUT WAS IN THE 65 AND UP DEMOGRAPHIC.

THE LARGEST DEMOGRAPHIC ARE 30 YEARS OLD.

IT WILL BE A MATTER OF WHO GETS ON THE GROUND AND ENGAGES THOSE YOUNGER PEOPLE.

THE OTHER THING THAT WILL BE INTERESTING ABOUT THIS UPCOMING RACE IS IT IS LIKE THE OPPOSITE OF THE LESSER OF TWO LEVELS ARGUMENT.

EVERYONE I TALKED TO THEY CAN DO A LOT WORSE THAN EITHER ONE OF THESE.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING HOW THAT AFFECTS TURNOUT.

AND IT IS GOING TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF DENVER FOR WHAT COULD BE CLOSE TO THE NEXT GENERATION SO PEOPLE NEED TO VOTE.

I DO GET ON THE SOAP BOX ABOUT THAT.

WE MAKE IT TOO EASY.

GET OFF YOUR YOU KNOW WHAT AND VOTE.

>> WHEN YOU THINK 33% OF VOTERS ACTUALLY VOTED THIS TIME.

THESE TWO CANDIDATES HAVE TO WOO ALL THOSE OTHER PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T VOTE BEFORE.

MAYBE IT WAS BECAUSE THEY WERE CONFUSED.

NOW THEY ARE HAVING TROUBLE DIFFERENTIATING BETWEEN THE TWO.

YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THE OTHER VOTERS WHO DID MORE THAN 50% OF THE VOTERS WENT FOR OTHER CANDIDATES.

SO THOSE PEOPLE SHOWED THEY ARE WILLING TO VOTE.

ARE THEY WILLING TO TRADE THEIR LOYALTY TO ANOTHER MAYORAL CANDIDATE.

THESE CANDIDATES ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM MOST OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES WHO WERE ON THE BALLOT.

IT IS GOING TO BE A WILD ELECTION.

WE GOT CITY COUNCIL.

EVERYONE NEEDS TO STUDY UP AND VOTE.

>> YOU HAVE TIME, JUNE 6TH.

DAVID?

>> IF YOU LIVE IN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT THAT IS HAVING A RUNOFF DO PAY ATTENTION.

THOSE RACES THERE ARE SOME BIG DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE CANDIDATES.

ON THE MAYORAL RACE, I'M -- I THINK IT IS TOO GOOD CHOICES AND THEY ARE PRETTY SIMILAR.

THEY ARE VERY EXPERIENCED.

BOTH LEFT OF CENTER BUT NOT CRAZY.

AND THEY ARE BOTH RESPECTED BY PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM AS BEING WILLING TO LISTEN TO THE FACTS MAKING INFORMED DECISIONS AND TALK TO EVERYBODY INVOLVED BEFORE THEY MAKE A DECISION.

I'M SURE THEY WILL TRY TO FIND WAYS TO DIFFERENTIATE THEMSELVES.

>> DENVER IS GREAT WITH EITHER ONE.

THE DIFFERENTIATING.

>> IT GETS ALONG THOSE LINES.

IT IS FASCINATING FOLKS ON THE SIDELINES.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN JOHN HICKENLOOPER.

PEOPLE TRIED TO KEEP THINGS AT ARM'S LENGTH.

ALL THE PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATES I WONDER WHO THEY WILL BACK?

WILL THEY WEIGH IN AT SOME POINT IN THIS RACE?

I'M INTERESTED TO SEE THAT.

I THINK THE CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE STARTING TO HAPPEN WHETHER OR NOT THE SPRING MULTIPLE ELECTIONS MOVED TO NOVEMBER ELECTION, I THINK THEY WILL HEAT UP GIVEN HOW FEW PEOPLE VOTED.

GET OFF YOUR YOU KNOW WHAT AND VOTE.

>> THAT'S THE OTHER THING WE HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE ON HERE IS WHAT KIND OF COALITIONS FORM.

I WAS DISAPPOINTED BY THE LOW TURN OUT IN THE FIRST ROUND OF ELECTIONS.

YOU WANT TO KNOW THE PERSON YOU VOTED FOR WHICH CAMP THEY ARE FOLLOWING IF THEY DID NOT SUCCEEDED INTO THE RUNOFF.

WE NEED TO EXPLORE THINGS RUNOFF.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT DENVER'S LOCAL SIGNATURE THRESHOLD.

IT SHOULD TAKE MORE THAN 300 PETITION SIGNATURES.

>> NOW TO COLLECT A LOT OF MONEY FOR YOUR RUN.

>> ALL THE MONEY.

THANK YOU.

LET'S NOW START OFF OUR LIGHTNING ROUND.

EACH WILL GO DOWN THE LINE AND TALK SOMETHING GREAT THIS WEEK.

SOMETHING NOT SO GOOD.

ALSO NOT SO GREAT.

WE WILL END ON A POSITIVE NOTE.

>> WE HAD THE DOMINION CASE IN DELAWARE AT THE U.S. SUPREME COURT THEY HEARD ARGUMENTS IN COLORADO CASE.

A MAN WHO HAD STOCKED ONLINE A COLORADO MUSICIANS SENDING HORRIBLE MESSAGES TO HER.

I THINK IF YOU WERE ON THE RECEIVING END OF THOSE MESSAGES YOU WOULD ABSOLUTELY THINK IT WAS A CRIME.

>> THE COLORADO LEGISLATURE MAJORITY CLAIMS TO BE PRO-CHOICE ON ABORTION.

ENACTED A CRAZY BILL THAT THE GOVERNOR SIGNED THAT MAKES COLORADO THE ONLY STATE THAT FORBIDS WOMEN FROM USING PROJEST TROEN TO REVERSE TAKING THE ABORTION BILL.

SOMETIMES A WOMEN CHANGES HER MIND.

THE FEDERAL QUARTER ISSUED A TEMPORARY RETRAINING ORDER THAT HELPS PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE TO REVERSE AN ABORTION PILL CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT WHILE THE CASE PROCEEDS.

>> I FOUND THAT LATE NIGHT AND WE WILL HAVE INTERESTING HEARING ON FEDERAL COURT NEXT WEEK.

LAST TIME I WAS ON THE SHOW I TALKED ABOUT HOW THE ROCKEYS LOSE.

I WASN'T DISAPPOINTED.

THERE IS MY NEGATIVE THING OF THE WEEK.

>> MY DISAPPOINTMENT CONTINUES TO BE HOW THE DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS KEEPS TRYING TO THREAD THE NEEDLE HAVING KIDS WHO HAVE TO BE CHECKED FOR WEAPONS INSIDE OF SCHOOLS.

THAT IS JUST ASININE TO ME.

IT REALLY TRUE IS.

YOU JUST DON'T THROW AWAY KIDS.

THERE HAS TO BE AN ALTERNATIVE FOR VIOLENT KIDS.

I'M NOT SURE WHO BOOSTED A BEEF JERKY AT SEVEN 11.

>> PATTY?

>> ON TO EARTH DAY.

GO TO A NATIONAL PARK.

THEY ARE FREE.

>> GOOD.

>> THE NINTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS RULED THAT A LAW THAT FORBIDS NEW CONSTRUCTION TO HAVE NATURAL GAS HOOK UPS IS PREEMPTED BY FEDERAL LAWS.

THAT IS NOT BEHINDING HERE IN THE ROCKEY MOUNTAINS.

>> JESSE?

>> SHOUTOUT TO THE NUGGETS.

>> IT HAS BEEN FUN.

>> ONE CHANCE TO GROW UP IN AN ORGANIZATION THAT I WORKED WITH.

MAKE SURE IT WAS I.D.

VERIFIED 21 AND UP.

MARIJUANA HAS ADVERSE EFFECT ON STILL DEVELOPING BRAINS.

WE HAVE BEEN NEUTRAL ON ADULT CONSUMPTION.

>> THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

YOU CAN REWATCH OR SHARE ANY EPISODE BY CHECKING OUT PBS12.ORG OR OUR YOUTUBE PAGE.

YOU CAN LISTEN TO COLORADO INSIDE OUT ON SPOTIFY OR APPLE PODCAST.

YOU CAN EMAIL US AT CIO AT PBS12.ORG.

I'M KYLE DYER.

I'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON PBS12.

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