On Friday, October 27, 2023, Kim Monson examines two pressing crises facing Americans: the escalating Israel-Hamas conflict abroad and collapsing educational standards at home. Terrorism expert Ricky Rarick provides battlefield analysis of Hamas tactics and Israel’s delayed ground offensive, while Adams 12 school board candidates Rebecca Elmore and Ben Hegelson expose shocking proficiency rates in Colorado’s fifth-largest district. Author Rick Turnquist closes with data showing Colorado leads the nation in violent crime.

Start listening at 16:16 – Hour 1

Ricky Rarick, a 40-year veteran of military law enforcement and counterterrorism who was personally recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Defense in 2003, breaks down the tactical situation facing Israel following the October 7 Hamas attacks. Having served on the ground in Beirut and Gaza since the 1980s, Rarick brings firsthand experience to his analysis of why Israel’s delayed ground offensive has shifted tactical advantage to Hamas.

Rarick explains that Hamas fighters are prepared for urban warfare using an extensive network of underground tunnels, comparing the coming battle to World War II engagements at Iwo Jima. He notes that Hamas leadership has already fled to Syria, Jordan, and Qatar, leaving only “the street fighters” behind in Gaza. The longer Israel waits, he argues, the bloodier the inevitable ground incursion will become.

On U.S. involvement, Rarick expresses deep concern about the Biden administration sending $6 billion to Iran while simultaneously launching strikes against Iran-linked groups in Syria. He warns that American forces could be drawn into a multi-front conflict, noting that U.S. special operations units are already advising Israeli forces on the ground. The American taxpayer, he adds, cannot afford another $80 billion commitment on top of existing aid to Israel and Ukraine.

“Hamas’ leadership has already left. They’re in Syria and Jordan, and Qatar is harboring their leadership right now. So who’s left on the ground? The knuckle draggers, the street fighters are left on the ground in Gaza.”

Ricky Rarick, Military Law Enforcement and Counterterrorism Expert

Start listening at 104:45 – Hour 2

Rick Turnquist, author of the “Exactly Wrong” essay series analyzing Democrat policy failures, presents sobering data placing Colorado at the top of national crime rankings. His latest installment, “Exactly Wrong, Democrats and Crime,” documents how state policies enacted by the Democrat-controlled legislature have directly fueled the crime explosion.

Turnquist highlights Colorado’s nationwide lead in car theft and near-top ranking in violent offenses, tracing the crisis to decisions like decriminalizing fentanyl possession, which has driven a surge in overdose deaths. He connects the state’s problems to a broader national pattern of George Soros-funded district attorneys who prosecute law-abiding citizens for self-defense while releasing violent criminals.

The essay author warns that Colorado’s legislature, dominated by progressives pushing for a full-time, highly-paid body, will only accelerate the erosion of freedom. Each legislative session adds hundreds of new laws, and each law represents another small death of liberty. His prescription is blunt: Republicans must win elections to reverse the damage, imperfect as the party may be.

“Every year in Colorado and nationwide, but especially in blue states, freedom dies a little bit more every year because of all these new laws that are put in place.”

Rick Turnquist, Author, “Exactly Wrong” Series

Start listening at 85:00 – Hour 2

Rebecca Elmore and Ben Hegelson, running as part of a three-candidate slate for Adams 12 Five Star Schools, reveal disturbing performance data from Colorado’s fifth-largest school district. With a $492 million budget serving 35,000 students across Thornton, Westminster, Northglenn, Federal Heights, and parts of Broomfield, the district is producing math proficiency rates of just 31% and reading proficiency of 46%.

Hegelson, who spent 19 years teaching in a neighboring district, points out that these numbers fall well below even the underwhelming statewide average of 50% math proficiency. Drawing on his own experience achieving top growth scores with similar student populations, he insists these numbers can improve with proper leadership and accountability. The district, he notes, continues to tout 90% graduation rates while students leave unprepared for life.

Elmore frames the issue in stark terms: students who cannot read and write are “always going to be indentured to somebody else.” She references historical data showing the district achieved 80% proficiency in both math and language arts as recently as 2010, proving dramatic improvement is possible. Both candidates emphasize that parents have been disenfranchised through poor communication and lack of transparency from current board leadership.

“Reading and writing are fundamentals to being able to navigate life. And if we’re not producing students that can navigate life, that can manage their own household, that can succeed in the workplace, they’re always going to be indentured to somebody else.”

Rebecca Elmore, Adams 12 School Board Candidate

The October 26, 2023 broadcast covered the historic selection of Mike Johnson as Speaker of the House, a thorough examination of Colorado’s Proposition HH property tax measure, and conversations with school board candidates fighting for parental rights in Adams County’s 27J School District. Kim Monson explored the responsibilities that come with freedom and the importance of holding government accountable.

Start listening at 42:20 – Hour 1

Wade Miller, Chief Operating Officer at the Center for Renewing America, analyzes the selection of Mike Johnson as the new Speaker of the House. After Kevin McCarthy’s removal by eight members, the process played out as many conservatives anticipated. Steve Scalise was blocked in the first round, moderates retaliated against Jim Jordan, and Tom Emmer faced opposition from Trump supporters.

Miller notes that K Street lobbyists scrambled at Johnson’s selection because he is not one of their groomed candidates. Johnson represents a reset for Congress, someone not beholden to the McCarthy faction’s supply lines of power. Miller emphasizes that what matters most is not a speaker’s individual positions but their interests and how they view their capability to remain as speaker.

“K Street is basically a euphemism for all of the D.C. lobbyists. And so they’re kind of panicking because this is not one of their paid guys that they’ve been grooming for years to make sure that their special interests are taken care of.”

Wade Miller, COO, Center for Renewing America

Start listening at 70:32 – Hour 2

Toby Damisch, Douglas County Assessor, exposes the deception behind Proposition HH. The ballot language asks whether the state should reduce property taxes, but the actual 48-page legislation tells a different story. It creates four new subclasses of residential property, sets up opportunities for special interests to pressure legislators for tax breaks, and requires homeowners to provide Social Security numbers for every household occupant.

Damisch explains that the measure passed through committee in just two to three hours on the last possible day, with no meaningful public testimony on what he calls perhaps the most important TABOR and tax bill in Colorado history. The so-called senior exemption expansion is a myth, as seniors still need 10 years of residency to qualify. Douglas County alone received 31,000 residential appeals this spring, one out of every four homeowners, driven by assessment increases of 30 to 60 percent.

“It’s a myth to call this a property tax bill. An absolute myth.”

Toby Damisch, Douglas County Assessor

Start listening at 24:56 – Hour 1

Derek Easdon and Shauna Herter break down their campaigns for the 27J School Board in Brighton, Commerce City, and Thornton. Easdon, a father of three and lifelong Adams County resident, highlights troubling statistics: the district’s math proficiency sits at 20 percent compared to the state average of 33 percent, while reading proficiency lags at 37 percent against a 47 percent state average. Despite these numbers, the district touts a 90 percent graduation rate.

Herter, running in District 1, emphasizes rebuilding the bond between parents and teachers that deteriorated during COVID. Schools excluded parents from classroom involvement, and that relationship has never been fully repaired. She also raises concerns about bullying leading to student suicides, calling for a return to basics in education.

“We have to see some improvements there. And those are some of my big reasons for running, to hold the district accountable and help the parents have a voice.”

Derek Easdon, 27J School Board Candidate

On Wednesday, October 25, 2023, Kim Monson tackled property taxes from multiple angles, welcoming economic historian Dr. Brian Domitrovic to debate Proposition HH, Lakewood City Councilwoman Mary Janssen to discuss her fight for mill levy reduction, and Colorado Springs D11 School Board President Parth Melpakam to share his district’s remarkable academic turnaround.

Start listening at 42:51 – Hour 1

Brian Domitrovic, economic historian and co-author of Taxes Have Consequences with Art Laffer, breaks down the debate over Colorado’s Proposition HH. Domitrovic explains that while the proposition purports to lower property taxes, the underlying policy mechanics deserve scrutiny. He argues that Colorado’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, while containing positive elements requiring voter approval for tax increases and debt, fundamentally operates as a universal basic income scheme through its rebate system rather than achieving meaningful rate cuts.

Domitrovic contends that keeping tax rates high while rebating surpluses represents one of the worst forms of tax policy. He points to the Rust Belt as a cautionary tale of populations fleeing high-tax jurisdictions. The economist offers perspective on the $1.7 trillion federal deficit, calling Bidenomics a failure and advocating for a return to 2019 conditions with a growing labor force and economic growth near 3 percent.

“It’s not a cut in tax rates, and it’s one of the worst forms of tax policy, which is a tax rebate. They keep tax rates high and then rebate the surplus. It’s one of the worst kinds of tax policies you can have. You have to cut tax rates, not have high rates with rebates.”

Brian Domitrovic, Economic Historian

Start listening at 80:39 – Hour 2

Mary Janssen, Lakewood City Councilwoman and co-owner of Janssen Photography, drove to the studio to share the results of Monday night’s city council meeting where she proposed a significant mill levy reduction. Janssen calculated that without action, Lakewood would receive a $3 million windfall on top of its normal budget due to property valuation increases.

Janssen proposed dropping the mill levy from 4.711 to 3.85, nearly a 20 percent decrease. While her motion was amended down to 4.28, the compromise still saved taxpayers approximately $1.5 million. She notes that none of her fellow council members reached out to support her proposal before the meeting, revealing the resistance to returning money to taxpayers. Janssen also raised concerns about a proposed 400-unit apartment complex threatening to cut down 69 mature trees near a park, warning about inadequate parking of only 1.5 spaces per unit.

“So the numbers were all weird when they kind of proposed what they were going to do in the budget. And I said, this isn’t right. They were about 24%. It was like a $3 million windfall on top of what they were projecting. So I was like, well, that’s a lot of money. So that’s what got us thinking, hey, we need to lower the mill levy to even this out because that’s just too much money.”

Mary Janssen, Lakewood City Councilwoman

Start listening at 64:25 – Hour 2

Parth Melpakam, School Board President for Colorado Springs District 11, shares his district’s remarkable academic improvement. Born in India where education was the pathway out of poverty, Melpakam earned a doctorate in chemical and petroleum engineering before running for school board after discovering American public schools lagged behind his childhood education in India.

Melpakam reveals that 70 percent of D11 students are not proficient in reading, writing, and math, describing it as a travesty. However, since the board’s 2021 shift in priorities, the district improved from ranking 158th out of 178 Colorado school districts to 79th. The board eliminated the diversity, equity, and inclusion department that showed no return on investment, redirected funds to classrooms, increased starting teacher salaries from $41,000 to $50,000, and passed a policy recognizing parental authority. For the first time in a decade, October enrollment increased as parents respond to improved focus on academics over social activism.

“On an average, 70 percent of our kids are not grade-level proficient. So only 30 percent of our kids are at grade-level proficiency in reading, writing, and math. This is a travesty.”

Parth Melpakam, D11 School Board President

Susan Kochevar, entrepreneur and owner of the 88 Drive-In Theater, hosted the October 24, 2023 broadcast while Kim Monson was away. The program featured Douglas County GOP Chair Steven Peck and school board candidate Dave DiCarlo discussing property tax ballot measures 5A and 5B, followed by Dr. Jill Vecchio’s analysis of the Biden administration’s $42 billion net neutrality infrastructure push and its implications for government surveillance.

Start listening at 4:00 – Hour 1

Host Susan Kochevar opened the program with a discussion of capitalism as the Word of the Day, drawing on Ayn Rand’s definition to explain how free markets differ fundamentally from other economic systems. As a small business owner herself, Kochevar shared her perspective on profit as the engine that enables job creation, better services, and community benefit. She challenged the notion that capitalism concentrates wealth in few hands, arguing instead that government regulation and cronyism, not free markets, create monopolistic conditions.

“I cannot put people first without profit. I cannot expand my business and give people better, more meaningful jobs with better pay. My employees are my best asset.”

Susan Kochevar, Owner, 88 Drive-In Theater

Start listening at 62:00 – Hour 2

Jill Vecchio, a radiologist and longtime political commentator, exposed the hidden implications of the Biden administration’s $42 billion broadband infrastructure initiative. Vecchio explained that treating Internet Service Providers as utilities under Title II of the Communications Act of 1934 would give government unprecedented regulatory control over internet access and content. She connected this push to the broader agenda of Central Bank Digital Currencies, noting that universal high-speed internet is a prerequisite for a fully digital payment system where hard currency becomes obsolete.

Vecchio detailed how 5G infrastructure enables mass surveillance and data collection, citing Beijing’s one camera per three people ratio as an example of where such technology leads. She warned that government control of internet infrastructure, combined with digital ID requirements and CBDCs, would give authorities the power to freeze accounts, delete identities, and control individual behavior based on social credit scores. The conversation drew parallels between current policy directions and dystopian scenarios once dismissed as conspiracy theories.

“5G is not about faster internet speeds. 5G is about data collection and surveillance. And I mean surveillance with camera surveillance. In Beijing, China, there is one camera for every three people.”

Jill Vecchio, Radiologist and Political Commentator

Start listening at 31:00 – Hour 1

Steven Peck, Douglas County GOP Chair and former school board member, challenged the district’s request for additional tax revenue despite already receiving significant funding increases. Peck noted that per pupil revenue has increased from $7,300 in 2017 to $10,100 today, even as student enrollment has declined. He emphasized that there is zero relationship between money spent on education and academic outcomes, calling for fiscal discipline rather than perpetual tax increases.

School board candidate Dave DiCarlo provided detailed analysis of the funding structure, revealing the district received $53 million more in state funding year over year, a 10% increase that far outpaces family income growth. DiCarlo advocated for a top-down budget review, examining expenditures line by line to find savings, rather than asking taxpayers already struggling with inflation to fund additional spending. He positioned himself as the only candidate in the race taking a firm stance against the tax increase.

“I know of no working families, and I certainly know of no senior citizens that are receiving that amount of increase. And we’ve also got, at the same time, property taxes jumping through the roof, cost of living is up sharply.”

Dave DiCarlo, Douglas County School Board Candidate

Guest host Brad Beck fills in for Kim Monson on this October 23, 2023 broadcast, tackling climate science misinformation, the Israel-Hamas conflict, and Colorado’s Proposition HH with in-studio guests Karen Levine and Lorne Levy.

Start listening at 30:00 – Hour 1

Brad Beck recounts attending the Colorado premiere of A Climate Conversation, a documentary narrated by Kim Monson featuring scientists Gregory Whitestone, Walt Johnson, Ken Gregory, and Ronald Stein. The film challenges climate alarmism with data showing that the oft-cited claim of 97 percent scientific consensus on man-made global warming is closer to 1 percent when research methodology is examined properly.

Beck describes CO2 as a “miracle molecule” based on the documentary’s findings, noting the greening of Earth and increased agricultural productivity. He contrasts this with policies forcing Americans to purchase electric vehicles manufactured with cobalt and lithium mined under questionable labor conditions in the Congo. The documentary will screen at Perspectives 101 in Loveland at Message of Life Ministries.

“There is no moral equivalency what’s going on in that part of the world today.”

Brad Beck, Co-founder of Liberty Toastmasters

Start listening at 78:39 – Hour 2

Karen Levine, a RE/MAX realtor with over 30 years of experience, explains that the Colorado Front Range has now outpriced both coasts for the first time in her career. Despite rising interest rates creating affordability challenges, opportunities exist for prepared buyers. She successfully helped a first-time homebuyer navigate a competitive offer situation this weekend.

Levine emphasizes that current sellers must adjust expectations from the market peak reflected in recent tax valuations. Downward pressure on values creates opportunity for buyers while sellers retain substantial equity. Builders are offering significant interest rate buydowns rather than price reductions to move inventory.

“What you said in the first hour regarding public speaking is being prepared. And so Lauren’s and my goal is to make sure that our buyers are prepared when they go out into the marketplace and that we have managed expectations so that when we’re on that journey, they actually find it less stressful and more enjoyable.”

Karen Levine, RE/MAX Realtor

Start listening at 88:35 – Hour 2

Lorne Levy, a mortgage specialist with Polygon Financial Group and nearly 20 years of industry experience, addresses the impact of Federal Reserve policies on consumer debt. Credit card debt has surpassed $1 trillion nationally for the first time, with rates approaching 30 percent in many cases.

Levy recommends homeowners with low first mortgages consider fixed-rate second loans or home equity lines to consolidate credit card debt at lower rates. For retirees, reverse mortgages offer options to set up lifetime pension-like income streams without monthly payments. He dispels the common misconception that banks take ownership of homes in reverse mortgages, clarifying that ownership remains with the homeowner unless foreclosure occurs due to covenant violations.

“You just have to be honest with them. I mean, that’s it. A deal you don’t get today might be one you get a year from now.”

Lorne Levy, Polygon Financial Group

Start listening at 104:20 – Hour 2

All three guests unite against Proposition HH, which Beck characterizes as a “bait and switch.” While the first sentences promise temporary property tax relief, the remaining 43 pages would erode TABOR protections and expand government taxing authority.

Levy notes that TABOR keeps Colorado from becoming states that lack fiscal restraint, requiring voter approval for increased spending. Levine points out that legislators circumvent TABOR through fees rather than taxes, achieving the same extraction from taxpayers. The Realtor Association has formally opposed Proposition HH. Beck observes that government never needs voter approval to lower taxes, yet never does so voluntarily.