On August 2, 2024, Adam Andrzejewski and Kurt Gerwitz joined the show. Presented Open the Books research showing Vice President Kamala Harris lost 92% of her original staff, comparing this to private sector standards where such turnover would destroy a business Broke down the $20 billion in annual oil and gas subsidies across three categories, explaining how government uses tax policy to.

Start listening at 32:46 – Hour 1

Adam Andrzejewski, CEO and founder of Open the Books, presented hard data on Vice President Kamala Harris’s staff retention crisis. His organization’s research revealed that 92% of the 47 staffers Harris hired in her first year as vice president have since departed. Only four loyal employees remain from that original cohort. The turnover problem persisted throughout her tenure, with half her staff leaving in 2023 alone.

Andrzejewski contrasted these figures with his own organization’s 100% retention rate on the audit team and 88% company-wide retention over the same period. He noted that Harris’s management problems predate her vice presidency, citing her ranking as the ninth worst senator for staff turnover and reports that a California professor stopped referring interns to her attorney general’s office because they returned crying from the toxic environment.

“In the private sector, anybody, you know, all of us employed in the private sector, this would never happen.”

Adam Andrzejewski, CEO, Open the Books

Start listening at 60:23 – Hour 2

Kurt Gerwitz, a finance professor and self-described “legacy catalyst speaker,” delivered a detailed breakdown of the $20 billion in annual subsidies flowing to the oil and gas industry. He identified three categories: direct subsidies through accelerated depreciation and tax benefits, indirect subsidies via research grants and Export-Import Bank support, and externality costs attributed to health impacts from fossil fuel emissions.

Gerwitz explained how government uses the tax code for social engineering, taking money from citizens then offering portions back based on preferred behaviors. He observed that both parties play this game, with Democrats publicly attacking oil companies while quietly maintaining subsidy structures, and Republicans defending the subsidies while claiming to oppose government intervention. The conversation highlighted how large corporations can afford lobbyists to shape legislation while small producers get squeezed out.

“Government seems to be frequently and frustratingly, trying to solve some of the problems that it created.”

Kurt Gerwitz, Finance Professor

Start listening at 64:08 – Hour 2

Kim Monson addressed the expanding wolf population in Colorado, noting that wolves reintroduced west of the Continental Divide are now moving east into populated areas. She connected this to a proposed ballot measure that would ban trophy hunting of mountain lions, warning that reduced predator management combined with wolf proliferation creates compounding risks for livestock, hikers, and backpackers. A listener texted about losing a 10-year-old family member to a mountain lion attack in Rocky Mountain National Park, underscoring the real dangers at stake.

On August 1, 2024, Joshua Sharf, Karen Levine, and Chris Harris joined the show. Sharf examines PERA’s actuarial assumptions and reveals Swiss auditing firm Pnyx found a 25% chance the pension system could remain at 60% funding after 40 years despite continued contributions Levine connects Colorado’s wildfires to cascading effects on insurance availability and home financing while noting current market opportunities with significant price.

Start listening at 30:08 – Hour 1

Joshua Sharf, Senior Fellow in Fiscal Policy at the Independence Institute, breaks down the complex financial situation facing Colorado’s Public Employee Retirement Association. Sharf explains that PERA operates as a traditional defined benefit plan covering state workers, teachers, and most local government employees. The plan replaces Social Security for participants, with benefits calculated based on years of service and the average of an employee’s five highest salary years.

Recent analysis by Swiss auditing firm Pnyx reveals troubling projections for PERA’s long-term solvency. Sharf notes that unexpected salary increases driven by inflation have added approximately $1.5 billion to the unfunded liability. The firm’s sophisticated mathematical modeling suggests PERA’s investments may return only 6.7% rather than the assumed 7.25%, a difference that compounds dramatically over decades.

Most alarming, Sharf reports a 25% probability that PERA could remain at only 60% funding after 40 years, essentially treading water despite $225 million in annual legislative contributions. There exists an 18% chance of reaching 50% funding or less, a point Sharf describes as the threshold of no return where only massive cash infusions or severe benefit cuts could stabilize the system.

“There either has to be a massive infusion of cash or a severe cut of benefits.”

Joshua Sharf, Senior Fellow in Fiscal Policy, Independence Institute

Start listening at 62:03 – Hour 2

Karen Levine, veteran RE/MAX Realtor, reports on the intersection of Colorado’s wildfire crisis and the housing market. With four fires burning across the state including the Quarry Fire in Deer Creek Canyon near Ken Caryl Valley, Levine connects decades of poor forest management to cascading effects on homeownership.

The fires create a chain reaction affecting property values, insurance availability, and financing options. Levine explains that without proper insurance, homeowners cannot secure financing, effectively pricing people out of mountain and foothill properties. She draws a direct line between environmental policies that restrict forest management and the World Economic Forum’s prediction that by 2030, people will own nothing.

Despite these challenges, Levine sees opportunity in the current market. Inventory has reached levels not seen in a decade, prices are experiencing significant reductions, and interest rates have begun declining. For buyers willing to navigate the market now, conditions favor purchasing before any significant rate drops bring more competition and push prices back up.

“We are seeing significant price reductions on available inventory, and we have more choices than we have seen in a decade as far as housing on the market available to purchase.”

Karen Levine, RE/MAX Realtor

Start listening at 85:40 – Hour 2

Chris Harris, retired U.S. Border Patrol agent with nearly 36 years in law enforcement, delivers a stark assessment of border security under the current administration. Harris emphasizes that Denver ranks first per capita among American cities for illegal immigration, making this issue directly relevant to Colorado listeners.

Harris recounts a chilling firsthand experience: an El Salvadoran national with five homicides in his home country nearly walked free because foreign criminal records do not appear in American databases. Only because the man mentioned his crimes in passing was he detained. Harris warns this scenario plays out constantly with people passing through without such admissions.

The cartels have weaponized the asylum process, Harris explains. By pushing groups of 400 people through a single point, they force Border Patrol to pull agents from 50 miles around, leaving gaps through which high-value targets and potential terrorists enter undetected. Harris notes the presence of military-aged males from Russia and China among those crossing, well-built men with crew cuts who bear hallmarks of military training.

“No country, no nation in the history of the world is any time been able to last for any amount of time without being able to control their borders.”

Chris Harris, Retired U.S. Border Patrol Agent

On July 31, 2024, Rich Guggenheim, Jay Davidson, Lorne Levy, Trent Loos, and Paula Sarlls joined the show. Reports on the final push to qualify parental notification and girls’ sports protection initiatives for Colorado’s November ballot, warning that gender ideology threatens family structures Explains the historic significance of the Supreme Court’s Chevron repeal, tracing the administrative state’s origins to Woodrow Wilson and defending America’s constitutional republic design Reports.

Start listening at 21:22 – Hour 1

Jay Davidson, founder and CEO of First American State Bank, delivers a masterclass on constitutional governance and the historic repeal of the Chevron doctrine. Davidson traces the origins of administrative overreach to Woodrow Wilson’s progressive vision of bureaucratic control, explaining how the 1984 Chevron decision unconstitutionally transferred Congressional taxing and regulatory power to unelected agencies under the executive branch.

The Supreme Court’s recent ruling represents what Davidson calls “one of the most pivotal decisions any Supreme Court has ever made,” restoring the constitutional separation of powers the Founders intended. He explains that America’s founding documents created a constitutional republic specifically designed to protect individual rights by restricting government power, not a democracy where the majority controls the minority.

When Biden proposed Supreme Court reforms in response to the ruling, Davidson dismissed it as “a performance farce” requiring a constitutional amendment that will never pass, but noted it reveals how desperately the left wants to maintain regulatory control over citizens’ lives.

“The source of malice is the encroaching power of our federal government over every aspect of our lives, from plastic bags at King Soopers to another tax on your consumption.”

Jay Davidson, Founder and CEO, First American State Bank

Start listening at 9:46 – Hour 1

Rich Guggenheim of Protect Kids Colorado reports on the final push to get parental notification and girls’ sports protection initiatives on the November ballot. With petition deadlines the following day, Guggenheim emphasizes that California’s AB 1955 previews what Colorado faces without citizen action.

The initiatives would require schools to notify parents within 48 hours if a child experiences gender incongruence and prohibit boys from competing in girls’ sports. Guggenheim explains that queer theory deliberately targets the family structure by destroying trust between parents and children.

“All of this is designed to destroy our Western culture.”

Rich Guggenheim, Protect Kids Colorado

Start listening at 87:02 – Hour 2

Trent Loos, sixth-generation farmer and rancher, sounds the alarm on John Deere’s transformation from equipment manufacturer to data collection company. Deere is laying off American workers while moving manufacturing offshore to Mexico, but the deeper concern is their aggressive push to eliminate used equipment sales and control repair access.

Loos reveals an underground network of farmers secretly repairing their own combines ahead of harvest because John Deere’s proprietary systems lock them out. Every tractor with a computer collects data, and customers must sign agreements allowing that data to be shared with foreign entities. With Bill Gates as John Deere’s largest individual stockholder at 8.2%, Loos connects the dots between Microsoft’s data ambitions and control over agricultural land data.

Twenty years ago, John Deere forced independent dealers to either acquire multiple dealerships or exit the business, concentrating control in fewer hands. Loos now understands this consolidation prepared the company for its current data-centric business model.

“He who controls the land controls the food. And John Deere, with instruments and every single piece of equipment they have out there, will have a data analysis on every parcel of land.”

Trent Loos, Sixth-Generation Rancher

Start listening at 63:05 – Hour 2

Lorne Levy of Polygon Financial Group reports that while the Fed’s announcement that day is not expected to change rates, September appears likely for the first interest rate cut. Rates have pulled back slightly, creating opportunities for homebuyers to get pre-qualified now and be ready when rates drop further.

Levy notes that lenders are running promotions for FHA and VA loan holders from the past 18 months who may qualify for lower payments. His firm offers free consultations and covers appraisal costs for listeners.

“I’m going to keep the money for you instead of giving it to a bank for interest.”

Lorne Levy, Polygon Financial Group

Start listening at 72:02 – Hour 2

Trent Loos breaks news that the Olympic Committee is flying emergency stocks of steak and eggs to Paris after athletes suffered from the committee’s push to minimize animal products in pursuit of carbon neutrality. The Washington Post reported that Paris also tried limiting meat availability for spectators.

While forcing plant-based diets on elite athletes, the Olympics did nothing to restrict private jets, which account for 70% of airline emissions from just 1% of travelers. The controversy adds to criticism of the opening ceremony’s Last Supper parody, which organizers initially promoted before denying its intent.

Start listening at 100:32 – Hour 2

Paula Sarlls, President of the USMC Memorial Foundation, invites listeners to the August 24th anniversary celebration featuring singer David Bray USA, Medal of Honor recipient Drew Dix, and Iwo Jima veterans Al Jennings and Jim Blaine. The event also celebrates cleanup from recent graffiti vandalism and new security measures funded by donors.

“We’re going to not only be celebrating the anniversary, but also the cleanup of all the graffiti that was left the other day and some security that we’re going to have put in.”

Paula Sarlls, President, USMC Memorial Foundation

On July 30, 2024, Scott Powell, Jason Snead, and Mary Janssen joined the show. Explored George Washington’s documented experiences of divine protection during the French and Indian War and connected these historical precedents to contemporary political events, emphasizing the role of faith and courage in American leadership Exposed the deceptive marketing behind ranked choice voting initiatives, revealing how deep-pocketed special interests are pushing these.

Start listening at 32:21 – Hour 1

Scott Powell, senior fellow at the Discovery Institute and author of Rediscovering America, draws compelling parallels between George Washington’s documented experiences of divine protection and recent events in American politics. Powell recounts the remarkable story of the 22-year-old Washington during the French and Indian War in 1755, when serving under General Braddock in an ambush at the Monongahela Valley. Indian sharpshooters systematically targeted officers on horseback, killing or wounding every British officer except Washington, who had two horses shot from under him and four bullet holes through his coat without a single wound.

Powell emphasizes that Washington acknowledged God’s protection in a letter to his brother, and this experience shaped his extraordinary courage throughout the Revolutionary War. The historian connects this historical precedent to modern political events, suggesting America may be witnessing similar providential intervention. Powell argues that the current turmoil in American politics, including the challenges faced by political leaders and the apparent self-destruction of certain political factions, may reflect a spiritual dynamic at work in the nation.

“And so he had incredible courage that came from the protection of God that he knew deep in his heart. And so this enabled him to have great courage. And, you know, courage is one thing that is infectious. When people see courage, they gain courage.”

Scott Powell, Senior Fellow, Discovery Institute

Start listening at 70:07 – Hour 2

Jason Snead, executive director of the Honest Elections Project and co-author of The Case Against Ranked Choice Voting, exposes the deceptive marketing behind the push for ranked choice voting in Colorado and across the nation. Snead reveals that deep-pocketed special interests are financing ballot measures in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado, all aimed at fundamentally reshaping how Americans vote.

Snead systematically dismantles the claim that ranked choice voting produces moderate candidates or reduces political polarization. He points to the Boulder, Colorado mayoral election, where a moderate city council member who won a strong plurality in the first round lost to the liberal incumbent after ranked choice redistribution, directly contradicting the system’s supposed benefits. The Honest Elections Project director explains that ranked choice voting actually favors wealthy donors who can fill the power vacuum created when party structures are weakened.

The complexity of ranking up to 85 candidates across 17 races in a typical ballot creates voter exhaustion, Snead warns, effectively doubling voting time and leading many voters to randomly fill bubbles or leave races blank. He notes that Alaska voters are so dissatisfied after just one election cycle that they have placed a repeal measure on November’s ballot.

“Ranked choice voting is simply an idea that has been tried. It has been tested and it has failed to live up to any of its ambitions, any of its promises. Really, all that it has done is make it harder to vote at a time when we want to make it easier to vote.”

Jason Snead, Executive Director, Honest Elections Project

Start listening at 21:10 – Hour 1

Mary Janssen, Colorado Union of Taxpayers board member, former Lakewood city councilor, and co-owner of Janssen Photography, sounds the alarm about Jefferson County’s use of $340,000 in taxpayer money to hire a firm to convince voters to eliminate TABOR protections. Janssen reveals that the consulting contract went to the husband of Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen, calling the arrangement “super cozy.”

The longtime patriot explains that Colorado’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights protects citizens in three critical ways: requiring voter approval for tax increases, requiring approval for debt, and mandating refunds when revenue exceeds a generous formula of population plus inflation. Janssen emphasizes that Jefferson County is one of the few counties that still maintains these protections, and the current ballot measure would eliminate the refund requirement entirely.

“And people need to realize that Tabor is more than just refunds. It’s a protection for us, we the people.”

Mary Janssen, Colorado Union of Taxpayers Board Member

On July 29, 2024, Matt Lohmeier, Holly Kasun, and Roger Mangan joined the show. Discussed how diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives are destroying military unity and combat effectiveness, warning that forced ideological conformity crushes innovative thinking needed for national security Recounted her two-year legal battle against the NAACP, League of Women Voters, and Mi Familia Vota, ultimately winning a federal court ruling that affirmed.

Start listening at 27:13 – Hour 1

Matt Lohmeier, a former F-15 pilot and Space Force commander who was relieved of command after publishing his book on Marxist ideology in the military, explains why DEI programs pose a national security risk. The retired lieutenant colonel founded STARRS (Stand Together Against Racism and Radicalism in the Services) alongside General Joe Arbuckle to combat divisive ideology infiltrating the armed forces.

Lohmeier argues that the military’s traditional strength lies in unity, not diversity quotas. Service members are being taught to view the founders as racists and the Constitution as a white supremacist document, he says, replacing patriotism with animosity toward American history. This ideological training mirrors Soviet communist propaganda tactics designed to divorce people from their historical identity.

The recruitment and retention crisis plaguing the all-volunteer force stems directly from this politicization. Young people who once aspired to military service now view it as a hyper-politicized workplace, while experienced personnel refuse to reenlist. Lohmeier warns that hypersonic weapons and emerging threats require innovative thinking, but forced conformity crushes the creative spirit needed to solve pressing national security problems.

“The slogan that diversity is our strength is appealing to people because naturally in a free society, we value the diversity of thought that we bring to the table.”

Matt Lohmeier, Executive Director, STARRS

Start listening at 67:45 – Hour 2

Holly Kasun, co-founder of the U.S. Election Integrity Project (USEIP), describes her two-year legal battle against the NAACP, League of Women Voters, and Mi Familia Vota. These organizations sued her, Sean Smith, and Ashley Epp under the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the KKK Act of 1871, alleging voter intimidation from door-to-door canvassing operations.

The accusations were fabricated, Kasun explains. Plaintiffs claimed canvassers went door to door armed and threatened voters to suppress minority turnout. In reality, USEIP volunteers simply verified publicly available voter roll data by asking residents to confirm their registration information. The canvassing effort across El Paso, Weld, Pueblo, and Douglas counties revealed an 8 to 11 percent anomaly rate in Colorado’s voter records.

Kasun initially represented herself pro se after losing confidence in her original attorneys, eventually finding representation from Michael Wynn, who had successfully defended True the Vote in a similar Georgia case. After three days of trial, the Biden-appointed judge ruled completely in favor of the defendants, awarding costs. Kasun praises the judge for calling balls and strikes fairly despite her initial concerns.

“We cannot let this stand because it would set a horrible precedent for Americans.”

Holly Kasun, Co-founder, U.S. Election Integrity Project

Start listening at 06:01 – Hour 1

Kim Monson opens with commentary on the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, which featured a controversial scene widely interpreted as mocking the Last Supper with drag performers. Bishop Robert Barron called the committee’s apology patronizing, noting that organizers claimed to celebrate tolerance while offending 2.6 billion Christians.

Monson then addresses Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s call for $78 trillion in global financing through 2050 to achieve net-zero carbon emissions. Speaking in Brazil, Yellen called climate action the single greatest economic opportunity of the 21st century while promoting the Inflation Reduction Act as historic climate legislation. Monson counters that this agenda will bankrupt America and the West, transferring wealth from hardworking Americans to politicians, bureaucrats, and interested parties.

On July 26, 2024, Dennis Haynes, Paula Sarlls, Marshall Dawson, Ross Klopf, Bennett Rutledge, Mizo Mirzoya, Marla Fernandez, Terri Goon, Dave Walden, Jim May, Karen Levine, and Lorne Levy joined the show. Dennis Haynes, president of Liberty Toastmasters North and Marine veteran, moderates the consent of the governed discussion and shares his journey overcoming public speaking fear after taking a management position Paula Sarlls reports on the spray-painting of ‘Free Hamas’ on the Marine Memorial in Golden, discusses cleanup efforts and the.

Start listening at 01:23 – Hour 1

Dennis Haynes, president of Liberty Toastmasters North and Marine veteran, leads a spirited discussion on consent of the governed. The conversation brings together multiple Toastmasters members who examine this foundational principle from different angles. Marshall Dawson, running for Congress, emphasizes that consent is collective rather than individual, reminding listeners that the Declaration of Independence remains the basis for all laws that follow. Ross Klopf advocates for a federal TABOR to restore consent on fiscal matters, while Bennett Rutledge explains how citizens can invoke Title 18 Section 242 to challenge civil asset forfeiture abuses.

Mizo Mirzoya, who immigrated from Tajikistan, traces the concept back to John Locke’s Two Treatises of Government and its influence on Thomas Jefferson. Marla Fernandez, a first-generation American from Cuba, notes that citizens consent to the Constitution through their states, not directly. Terri Goon warns about the Corporate Transparency Act’s burdensome requirements on small businesses, while Dave Walden connects consent to property rights, arguing that consent distinguishes visitation from trespass, commerce from theft.

“Consent of the government means that government should perpetually consider itself on notice that we, the people, are watching. They should consider that the people can also withdraw that consent if the government goes too far out of bounds.”

Marshall Dawson, Congressional Candidate

Start listening at 17:13 – Hour 1

Paula Sarlls, president of the USMC Memorial Foundation, Gold Star wife, and Marine veteran, reports that vandals spray-painted “Free Hamas” on the Marine Memorial in Golden. The defacement extends to county property nearby. Sarlls expresses heartbreak over the disrespect shown to the memorial and the Marines who built and maintained it over the years. A police report has been filed with Jefferson County and Golden, and cameras on the CDOT building across the street may have captured the perpetrators. The foundation lacks surveillance cameras on its property and welcomes donations for security equipment. Contributors of $50 or more receive tickets to an August 24th event featuring David Bray USA, World War II Iwo Jima veterans Al Jennings and Jim Blaine, and Medal of Honor recipient Drew Dix.

“It just breaks my heart. Some of the guys that were involved in building the memorial to begin with are gone now, but there’s still a lot of them hanging on. It just breaks my heart.”

Paula Sarlls, President, USMC Memorial Foundation

Start listening at 64:12 – Hour 2

Jim May, third-generation cattleman from Lavaca Meat Company, delivers a freshly written cowboy poem titled “Woke is a Joke.” The poem addresses the political landscape following President Biden’s resignation announcement and the selection of Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate without primary votes. May critiques DEI policies, the Bud Light controversy, and the mainstream media’s role in political messaging. His satirical verses underscore concerns about bypassing democratic processes and the broader cultural shifts in American society.

“She’s been chosen because of DEI, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Her race and gender catch your eye. That’s all that matters. The rest is an illusion.”

Jim May, Lavaca Meat Company

Start listening at 59:01 – Hour 2

Karen Levine, award-winning RE/MAX realtor with 35 years of experience, explains the implications of the National Association of Realtors settlement. Two class-action lawsuits in Missouri and Illinois alleged price-fixing in real estate commissions. The settlement prohibits advertising cooperative commissions in the MLS, requiring additional labor from agents to determine compensation. Contrary to mainstream media claims that fees will decrease, Levine warns costs may increase due to added complexity. Colorado realtors have practiced buyer representation with full disclosure since 1991, making the transition smoother than in other states. Levine emphasizes that commissions have always been negotiable and embedded in the purchase price.

“The mainstream media has indicated to the consumer that fees will go down. Well, if it’s going to take me more time and more resources, my fees are potentially going to have to go up over time.”

Karen Levine, RE/MAX Alliance Realtor

Start listening at 59:33 – Hour 2

Lorne Levy of Polygon Financial Group discusses the mortgage landscape as interest rates show signs of easing. Recent inflation data suggests the Federal Reserve may cut rates before December, potentially as early as August or September. Levy highlights creative products emerging from lenders competing for business, including streamlined VA and FHA refinances requiring no income documentation. He introduces reverse mortgage second liens, a new product allowing homeowners 62 and older to access $50,000 or more while keeping their existing first mortgage and escrow accounts intact. These products help stretched homeowners access equity without monthly payments.

“There’s a lender that’s offering really good incentives and rates on FHA and VA refinances. Anybody who has purchased a home in the last two years with a VA or FHA loan, I would suggest giving a call.”

Lorne Levy, Polygon Financial Group

Start listening at 105:04 – Hour 2

Kim Monson and her guests discuss the growing threat to parental rights from trans-activist policies. California became the first state to bar school districts from requiring parental notification of gender identification changes. Colorado allows 12-year-olds to make medical treatment decisions without parental knowledge. Lorne Levy reports seeing “furries” in Douglas County Schools, where students dress as animals and exhibit disruptive behaviors without consequence. Karen Levine connects these developments to declining academic performance and the erosion of traditional learning environments. The Protect Kids Colorado initiatives aim to restore parental rights and transparency in schools.

“Dogs and cats with ears and licking their hands like they were paws. Things that would be an extreme distraction when we were younger. And now you can’t do anything to them.”

Lorne Levy, on classroom disruptions