On September 2, 2024, Mark Schneider and Scott Powell joined the show. Schneider recounts Lafayette’s journey from 19-year-old French aristocrat to major general in Washington’s army, examining his role in the American Revolution and his 1824 farewell tour marking the 200th anniversary this year Powell explains Labor Day’s deeper meaning, arguing the Bible references work as a virtue more than 450 times.

Start listening at 1:46 – Hour 1

Mark Schneider, who has portrayed the Marquis de Lafayette at Colonial Williamsburg since 1999, recounts the extraordinary life of the French aristocrat who risked everything to fight for American independence. At just 19 years old, Lafayette defied King Louis XVI, purchased his own ship, and sailed to America to serve alongside George Washington.

Schneider explains how Lafayette’s response to Washington’s skepticism revealed his character: “I did not come to teach. I came to learn. I cannot lead until I know how to follow.” This humility forged a father-son bond between Washington and Lafayette that would endure across decades and oceans. The young Frenchman would prove his worth at Brandywine, Valley Forge, and the decisive Virginia campaign leading to Yorktown.

The interview also marks the 200th anniversary of Lafayette’s triumphant farewell tour of 1824-1825, when the aging hero visited all 24 states as the nation’s guest. Schneider describes how 80,000 New Yorkers turned out to welcome him, and how Lafayette used his influence to speak against slavery, even securing freedom for James Armistead, a spy who had served him during the Revolution.

“I am a firm believer that all of the answers to the future can be found in the past if we study our history. And people like the Marquis de Lafayette are worth learning about.”

Mark Schneider, Lafayette Portrayer, Colonial Williamsburg

Start listening at 59:02 – Hour 2

Scott Powell, Senior Fellow at the Discovery Institute and author of Rediscovering America: How the National Holidays Tell an Amazing Story About Who We Are, argues that Labor Day commemorates far more than a day off work. The Bible, Powell notes, references work as a virtue more than 450 times, exceeding mentions of prayer, faith, hope, and forgiveness combined.

Powell traces American prosperity to the self-selecting nature of early settlers who crossed a dangerous ocean willing to sacrifice and work hard. Alexis de Tocqueville observed in 1840 that Americans, unlike Europeans, viewed work as positively honorable. This attitude, rooted in Christian values, transformed colonial poverty into world economic superpower status in little more than 200 years.

The discussion turns to the central struggle between freedom and tyranny. Powell cites Tocqueville’s prescient warning that democracy and socialism share only one word in common, equality, but pursue it through opposite means. Democracy seeks equality in liberty while socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude. Powell also addresses the Arlington National Cemetery reconciliation monument, recently removed despite overwhelming public opposition, which he says symbolizes forces seeking to divide rather than unite Americans.

“While democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude and outcome.”

Scott Powell, Senior Fellow, Discovery Institute

On August 30, 2024, Rick Turnquist, Jim May, Jay Davidson, and Danielle Jurinsky joined the show. Turnquist argues the Democrat Party threatens constitutional governance through tactics like circumventing TABOR, forcing Biden from the race, and installing Harris without primary votes May shares the classic cowboy poem ‘The Horse Trade’ ahead of Labor Day weekend, celebrating frontier heritage and promoting Lavaca Meat Company for holiday grilling Davidson.

Start listening at 28:19 – Hour 1

Rick Turnquist warns that the Democrat Party poses the greatest threat to American constitutional governance. The longtime political commentator traces Democratic efforts to circumvent voter protections from the misuse of the word “democracy” to their systematic undermining of Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights.

Turnquist argues that the forced removal of President Biden from the 2024 race represents “the first coup in American history,” orchestrated by party insiders who installed Kamala Harris without a single primary vote. He emphasizes that the Constitution established a republic with checks and balances, not a pure democracy where simple majorities can trample minority rights.

“When Democrats whine about threats to democracy, I think it’s really important for everybody to just take a step back and recognize that the Democrat Party themselves are the true threat to democracy.”

Rick Turnquist, Political Commentator

Start listening at 59:20 – Hour 1

Jim May of Lavaca Meat Company shares a classic cowboy poem about horse trading as listeners prepare for Labor Day weekend. The cattleman from Old Littleton recites “The Horse Trade,” a tale of an old blue roan horse that bucks hard and a young rider who proves more capable than expected.

May reminds listeners that summer is ending and football season is approaching, recommending Lavaca’s filet bites for Labor Day grilling. The segment celebrates the cowboy tradition of storytelling that connects Americans to their frontier heritage.

“Yeah, this is when the Cowboys take some straw hats off and start to put the other hats back on.”

Jim May, Lavaca Meat Company

Start listening at 69:04 – Hour 2

Jay Davidson of First American State Bank explains how government monetary policy has devastated middle-class Americans. The banker traces the origins of quantitative easing to the Obama administration, when the Federal Reserve began printing trillions of dollars that diluted the purchasing power of every American’s savings.

Davidson distinguishes between the private sector, which creates wealth, and the public sector, which only takes it through taxation. He argues that the Biden-Harris administration’s policies represent a continuation of government overreach that benefits elites while decimating everyday Americans. The conversation turns to Kamala Harris’s proposed price controls, which Davidson frames as another attempt at government control disguised as consumer protection.

“I’m sick and tired of being regulated to death and taxed to death.”

Jay Davidson, First American State Bank

Start listening at 102:39 – Hour 2

Danielle Jurinsky exposes the Venezuelan gang takeover of Aurora apartment complexes after releasing shocking video footage that went viral on national news. The Aurora City Councilwoman describes how the Romero family survived by giving gang members food, money, and clothing while living behind four deadbolts and a door brace.

Jurinsky confronts Governor Jared Polis’s dismissal of the crisis as “purely a feature of imagination” despite video evidence of armed gang members with rifles. She attributes the crisis directly to failed border policies at the federal level and sanctuary policies in Colorado and Denver. Both cars owned by the displaced family were riddled with bullet holes when Jurinsky helped move them to safety.

“This is a result of failed policies at the southern border, failed policies in the state of Colorado, and failed policies in the city of Denver. And now Aurora and the other surrounding cities of Denver are paying for it as well.”

Danielle Jurinsky, Aurora City Councilwoman

On August 29, 2024, Peter McCullough and Carol Baker joined the show. Dr Baker introduced the Liberty Toastmasters Denver club and led table topics discussions on the proper role of government, demonstrating how public speaking skills enhance civic engagement

Start listening at 25:54 – Hour 1

Peter McCullough, an internist, cardiologist, and epidemiologist, delivered a stark assessment of the COVID-19 vaccine program and its aftermath. McCullough explained that gain-of-function research, which began with monkeypox in 2003 under Anthony Fauci’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has created a pattern of engineered pathogens followed by rushed vaccine solutions. He detailed how the COVID-19 vaccines cause myocarditis, particularly in young men, with the spike protein physically lodging in heart tissue and producing damage that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest.

The cardiologist reported seeing dramatically increased myocarditis cases in his practice, going from two cases in his 40-year career before COVID vaccines to potentially two cases daily now. McCullough outlined his spike protein detoxification protocol using natokinase, bromelain, and curcumin, which he said has shown positive results for vaccine-injured patients. He warned that monkeypox and bird flu scares follow the same gain-of-function pattern and urged caution about any new vaccine mandates.

“I’m telling you, the vaccines are not safe for human use.”

Peter McCullough, Cardiologist and Epidemiologist

Start listening at 56:03 – Hour 2

Carol Baker, president of Liberty Toastmasters Denver, joined Kim in studio to discuss how the organization helps citizens develop communication skills essential for civic participation. Baker explained that Liberty Toastmasters is a themed club focused on founding documents, the Constitution, and the proper role of government. Members practice public speaking in a supportive environment where they receive honest feedback to improve their skills.

The hour featured table topics with club members calling in to share their perspectives on the proper role of government. Speakers including Rick Rome, Miso, Marshall Dawson, Terry Goon, Bill Federer, Bennett Rutledge, and Dave Walden discussed themes ranging from faith, family, and community to constitutional limits on government power. Baker emphasized that Toastmasters develops practical skills like using quotes, incorporating humor, and using the word of the day, all techniques that enhance civic communication at school board meetings, city councils, and other public forums.

“If you took speech class in high school or whatever, it’s an opportunity as grownups in real life to be able to get some practice at speaking up loud enough, slowing down to enunciate things well, maybe organize a speech with a good intro and a body and a conclusion, things like this.”

Carol Baker, President, Liberty Toastmasters Denver

On August 27, 2024, Tom McCracken, Kenneth Rapoza, and Jay Valentine joined the show. Former educator and real estate professional running for Chaffey County Commissioner discusses how state-mandated land use codes have tripled regulations, driving builders from mountain communities facing workforce housing shortages Industry analyst explains how Chinese solar companies benefit from double subsidies through both Chinese government support and American Inflation Reduction Act.

Start listening at 72:22 – Hour 2

Jay Valentine exposes the mechanics of mail-in ballot fraud, revealing that hundreds of thousands of ballots in swing states go to addresses where no one can legally reside. Valentine explains that his team has identified 143,000 Colorado addresses where the zip code does not match the city, meaning the postal service cannot guarantee ballot delivery. His organization uses what he calls “reconciliation,” comparing voter rolls against postal service data, property tax records, and DMV files to identify phantom voters registered at Walmarts, gas stations, and homeless shelters.

Valentine argues that poll watchers are insufficient because the fraud occurs before election day through mail-in ballots sent to ineligible addresses. His technology can flag these ballots in real-time as they enter the cast ballot roll, allowing challenges before counting. He emphasizes that Colorado pioneered universal mail-in voting, making it the “petri dish” for techniques now spreading to swing states.

“Well, you’re the petri dish, but you’re the petri dish because you’re the first state that mandated everybody gets a mail-in ballot.”

Jay Valentine, Omega for America

Start listening at 32:24 – Hour 1

Kenneth Rapoza warns that Chinese solar companies receive a “double subsidy,” benefiting from both Chinese government support and American Inflation Reduction Act incentives. Eight of the top ten solar multinationals are Chinese, and at least five are building manufacturing facilities in the United States to capture IRA tax benefits. Rapoza compares America’s position to entering a bodybuilding contest against a competitor on steroids.

The Coalition for a Prosperous America analyst explains that energy costs directly impact American manufacturing competitiveness. When electricity costs ten cents per kilowatt-hour in one location versus twenty-five cents elsewhere, businesses relocate. Blue states mandating renewable energy portfolios are driving up electricity bills, with some California residents paying over $1,000 monthly for small homes. Rapoza notes that while Americans demolish coal plants, China builds nuclear reactors and continues burning coal to power their manufacturing advantage.

“And it’s like entering a bodybuilding contest, and we’re 180-pound natural bodybuilders versus a 250-pound guy who’s juiced up on steroids.”

Kenneth Rapoza, Coalition for a Prosperous America

Start listening at 18:21 – Hour 1

Tom McCracken, candidate for Chaffey County Commissioner, describes how new state-mandated land use codes have tripled regulations from 8,000 to 26,000 words, driving builders out of mountain communities. The former educator and real estate professional explains that requiring 400-amp electrical panels for EV charging adds costs that make construction economically unviable in areas already facing workforce housing shortages.

McCracken traces his civic awakening to teaching high school students about the Patriot Act after September 11, recognizing that surveillance powers would eventually target ordinary Americans exercising their beliefs. He now sees similar overreach in parents being labeled threats for attending school board meetings. His platform centers on reopening Chaffey County for business by reducing regulatory barriers.

“Our current land use code, which sort of mandates or dictates what a property is going to look like and how you develop that property, had 8,000 words in it. But the new one that came down from the state has 26,000 words in it, which is three times as many regulations, which is three times as many boxes for a builder to check, which is three times as many pages.”

Tom McCracken, Chaffey County Commissioner Candidate

On August 26, 2024, Mark Baisley, Virginia Macha, and Natalie Menten joined the show. Introduced a three-page bill to decouple property taxes from property valuations, establishing 2021 district budgets as baselines with increases tied only to inflation and population growth Exposed FAST 41 as a federal mechanism bypassing state regulators to fast-track massive transmission corridors through eminent domain, threatening hundreds of miles of farmland.

Start listening at 16:31 – Hour 1

Mark Baisley, Colorado State Senator representing Douglas and Jefferson counties, breaks down the property tax crisis that began when voters repealed the Gallagher Amendment four years ago. Without Gallagher’s governing mechanism, property values skyrocketed 47% and taxes followed suit. Baisley sits on the 17-member property tax commission created after voters rejected Proposition HH, but expresses frustration that the commission showed little appetite for creative solutions.

The Senator introduces his alternative bill, a mere three pages compared to the 40-page bipartisan compromise. His approach decouples property valuations from property taxes entirely, establishing 2021 budgets as baselines for special districts with increases tied only to inflation and population growth. Representatives Brandi Bradley and Stephanie Luck co-sponsor the measure, along with Senator Van Winkle. Baisley anticipates Democrats will kill the bill but plans to bring it directly to voters as a ballot measure.

“What my bill that gets introduced this morning as a competitor bill, what this would do would be to dissociate, to decouple those two, property valuations and property taxes. Instead, it would establish the baseline of all our special districts, our water district, our fire district, our library districts.”

Mark Baisley, Colorado State Senator

Start listening at 34:10 – Hour 1

Virginia Macha with Stand for the Land Kansas reveals a federal power grab hiding in plain sight. FAST 41, buried within the Biden administration’s infrastructure bill, fast-tracks massive transmission corridors under the guise of national security. The Grain Belt Express, a 480-mile DC transmission line carrying 700 megawatts, will bisect Kansas with no off-ramps for local energy needs, all through eminent domain.

State regulators and the public have been locked out of the process entirely. Macha discovered that Joe Biden designated the Grain Belt Express as critical infrastructure the day after she organized a meeting in Dodge City to educate landowners. Ten giant National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors threaten the Midwest, with Colorado facing its own Mountain Plains Southwest corridor spanning 540 miles and up to 100 miles wide near Pueblo.

The good news emerges from local action. Organized landowners changed 21 incumbent county commissioners in the Kansas primary, with more challenges coming in the general election. Stand for the Land Kansas connects citizens through targeted zip code information and public hearings.

“We will literally turn western Kansas into a desert of glass and wind for energy not meant for Kansas, that will be transferred to the east and west coast, where they have terrible power policies.”

Virginia Macha, Stand for the Land Kansas

Start listening at 70:04 – Hour 2

Natalie Menten, Jefferson County Commissioner candidate and longtime taxpayer advocate, has saved Colorado taxpayers millions over three decades of watchdog work. She runs against an incumbent who spent ten years in court trying to overturn TABOR entirely. The incumbent recently stated publicly that he does not care if taxpayer money subsidizes undocumented immigrants through government housing programs.

Menten sounds the alarm on Senate Bill 24B-0004, sponsored by Representative Weissman and Senator Hansen. The bill would require any statewide property tax initiative to receive secondary approval from local voters, but provides no mechanism for how such votes would occur. Citizens cannot petition at the county, school district, or special district level, meaning statewide initiatives remain the only avenue for property tax reform.

Metropolitan districts exemplify the problem. Developers sitting at conference tables create taxing entities, waive TABOR rights before residents move in, and saddle homeowners with hefty mill levies. Citizens cannot petition to cap these taxes after the fact. Menten argues the legislature should refer a constitutional amendment granting citizens local petition rights rather than restricting statewide initiatives.

“But these are county commissioners who determine your property tax rates, whether you’re being overcharged and whether that county commissioner will just cut your tax bill at the beginning, so you don’t even have to put it out of pocket and wait for a TABR refund.”

Natalie Menten, Jefferson County Commissioner Candidate

On August 23, 2024, Allen Thomas, Paula Sarlls, Lorne Levy, Karen Levine, and Jim May joined the show. Exposed how the Kamala Harris campaign copies Trump-Vance policy proposals while receiving favorable media coverage for identical ideas Invited listeners to the memorial’s 47th anniversary celebration featuring Medal of Honor recipient Drew Dix and Iwo Jima veterans Explained current mortgage rate conditions with conforming loans in the low-to-mid sixes and.

Start listening at 1:30 – Hour 1

Allen Thomas exposes the duplicity in the Kamala Harris campaign’s messaging strategy, demonstrating how the Democratic nominee copies Republican policy positions only to receive favorable media coverage for the same ideas that drew criticism when proposed by J.D. Vance or Donald Trump. Thomas points to the child tax credit proposal as a prime example: when Vance suggested a $5,000 child tax credit on August 12th, media outlets dismissed the idea as unrealistic. Two days later, Harris proposed $6,000, and the same outlets celebrated it as bipartisan common sense.

The pattern extends to the “no tax on tips” proposal that Trump championed throughout the campaign. Thomas notes that the Harris campaign, which previously supported hiring thousands of new IRS agents to audit working Americans, now claims to support eliminating taxes on tips. The media shift in narrative from skepticism to enthusiasm reveals the coordination between the campaign and sympathetic press outlets.

“They have to run a campaign based on hate, because that’s the only way they’re going to win is to make sure you hate Trump more than you like voting for them.”

Allen Thomas, Author at The Kim Monson Show

Start listening at 20:03 – Hour 1

Paula Sarlls, President of the USMC Memorial Foundation, invites listeners to the 47th anniversary celebration happening the following day. The event features Medal of Honor recipient Drew Dix, Iwo Jima veterans Al Jennings and Jim Blaine, and Honor Flight leader Colonel Lowe. Sarlls emphasizes that children attend free and the family-friendly event celebrates those who served.

“These men and women that the memorial honors are worth you coming out and supporting us.”

Paula Sarlls, President, USMC Memorial Foundation

Start listening at 72:03 – Hour 2

Lorne Levy of Polygon Financial Group breaks down current mortgage rate conditions, noting that conforming loans now sit in the lower to mid-sixes, significantly better than a year ago. FHA and VA borrowers can find rates in the fives. The revised jobs report, which cut 818,000 previously claimed jobs, actually helped rates by signaling a slowing economy that reduces inflation pressure.

For homeowners who bought with temporary rate buydowns that are expiring, Levy recommends exploring refinancing options. He offers to pay for appraisals for show listeners considering a rate-and-term refinance.

“This was a big adjustment this past time, like 800,000 adjusted.”

Lorne Levy, Polygon Financial Group

Start listening at 77:28 – Hour 2

Karen Levine of RE/MAX Alliance reports the highest inventory levels in a decade, creating more choice for buyers. Well-priced, well-located homes in good condition still command market value, but properties with deferred maintenance or less desirable locations face significant price reductions. Levine notes a concerning trend: many sellers are leaving Colorado entirely, though new residents continue arriving from other states.

The conversation turned to onerous landlord regulations passed by the Colorado legislature, which have driven small investors out of the rental market. Levine shared how restrictions on asking about income sources and extended eviction timelines place unfair burdens on property owners who must continue making mortgage payments while tenants choose not to pay rent.

“We have the highest amount of inventory that we’ve seen in a decade, which means there’s more choice for buyers.”

Karen Levine, RE/MAX Alliance Realtor

Start listening at 63:06 – Hour 2

Jim May of La Vaca Meat Company entertained listeners with Bill Hershey’s cowboy poem about a rancher’s misadventure shopping for ladies’ undergarments. Beyond the humor, May shared his perspective on the American dream of land ownership, noting that his family’s ranches in Nevada and eastern Colorado represent generational investments built from nothing. He challenged listeners to recognize the correlation between energy policy and economic prosperity.

“Buy dirt and get some water on it too, because you need water for life.”

Jim May, La Vaca Meat Company

On August 22, 2024, Steve Yurash, Lawrence Reed, and Toby Damisch joined the show. Discusses his candidacy for House District 52 as a centrist alternative, advocating for TABOR, limited government, and rational energy policy while drawing on his Silicon Valley background Examines Calvin Coolidge’s centennial as a model of fiscal restraint, then critiques Kamala Harris’s price control proposals using 40 centuries of economic history.

Start listening at 21:21 – Hour 1

Steve Yurash, a 38-year semiconductor industry veteran running for House District 52, argues that Colorado needs moderate voices to counter one-party dominance at the state capitol. The former Intel executive, who left the Republican Party in 2019 to found the Colorado Center Party, brings a Silicon Valley perspective to Front Range politics.

Yurash draws on his experience watching California’s political transformation to warn Colorado voters about the dangers of unchecked progressive governance. He supports TABOR protections and property tax relief while advocating for rational energy policy that balances renewable expansion with reliable baseload power, including nuclear energy.

“The Democrat legislature would skyrocket all of our taxes if we didn’t have Tabor.”

Steve Yurash, Colorado Center Party Candidate for HD-52

Start listening at 31:57 – Hour 1

Lawrence Reed marks the centennial of Calvin Coolidge’s 1924 presidential election by examining lessons from the only president to leave the federal government smaller than he found it. Reed, who has spent decades advocating for free market principles, traces how Coolidge and Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon reduced income tax rates from the 70s to the 20s while cutting the national debt by a third.

The conversation pivots from 1920s fiscal policy to present-day concerns about Kamala Harris’s endorsement of price controls. Reed argues that 40 centuries of economic history demonstrate the failure of government price-fixing, from ancient Babylon to Nixon’s wage and price controls. He connects these historical lessons to Harris’s proposals for federal grocery price interventions, warning that such policies inevitably produce shortages and black markets.

Reed expresses cautious optimism for America’s long-term trajectory while acknowledging concerning trends. He emphasizes the essential connection between personal character and political liberty, noting that citizens who abandon virtues like humility, honesty, and gratitude cannot long sustain free institutions.

“But people like Kamala Harris seem to think that they can make something that has never worked suddenly work for them.”

Lawrence Reed, Foundation for Economic Education President Emeritus

Start listening at 59:00 – Hour 2

Toby Damisch breaks down the chaos surrounding Colorado’s property tax crisis as Governor Polis calls legislators back for another special session starting Monday. The Douglas County Assessor explains how the combination of Gallagher Amendment repeal and the 2023 reappraisal cycle created a perfect storm that sent property tax bills soaring 30 to 60 percent in a single year.

Damisch details the complex negotiations between Advanced Colorado’s ballot measures, Initiatives 50 and 108, and the legislature’s counterproposals. He warns that legislative leadership is pushing for a constitutional amendment that would strip citizens of their ability to place future property tax measures on the ballot. The assessor expresses particular concern about “backfill” provisions that would require the state to reimburse local governments for any revenue lost to tax cuts, potentially costing billions while shielding special districts from fiscal accountability.

The hour-long discussion reveals how Colorado’s tax structure has grown increasingly opaque, with over 3,000 special districts in the state and 330 in Douglas County alone. Damisch notes that monthly mortgage payments have increased by $800 to $1,200 for many homeowners as escrow companies adjust for higher property taxes and insurance costs, putting unprecedented pressure on household budgets.

“Call your representative, call your senator and tell them how you feel about property taxes, because right now, what they’re hearing, are the special interests, who are largely the local governments in special districts.”

Toby Damisch, Douglas County Assessor