The Mountain Minute: 8/21/2025

🎧 Mountain Minute – August 21
Colorado’s stuck in a loop: higher costs, political games, and leaders pointing fingers while families foot the bill. Here’s your sharp, unfiltered roundup.

Colorado News:
🔹 Election silence – Out of 64 county clerks asked about major vulnerabilities, only 2 responded. Critics say Colorado’s “gold standard” isn’t golden.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/08/20/when-watchdogs-reached-out-only-two-clerks-answered-colorados-election-crisis-exposed/

🔹 Parent voices – The State Board of Education is opening remote testimony, making it easier for parents to weigh in—though critics warn it could invite outside activists.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/08/20/colorado-state-board-of-ed-opens-remote-testimony-parents-urged-to-speak-up/

🔹 Infrastructure politics – Colorado’s report card shows more about funding fights than potholes, with projects stalled while leaders bicker.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/08/20/colorados-infrastructure-report-reveals-more-about-politics-than-potholes/

🔹 Affordability crisis – Residents say it outright: government’s dysfunctional, and the cost of living is crushing families.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/08/20/colorado-residents-say-government-is-dysfunctional-and-cost-of-living-is-crushing/

🔹 Wolf vs. healthcare – Lawmakers propose pausing wolf releases to funnel money into health insurance subsidies—critics call it horse-trading at its worst.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/08/20/bill-proposes-pause-on-new-wolf-releases-to-fund-health-insurance/

🔹 Bike theft surge – Colorado now has the 3rd-highest rate in the U.S., with Denver leading the pack. Families say it’s about more than bikes—it’s about safety.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/08/20/colorados-bike-theft-crisis-third-highest-rate-in-the-nation/

🔹 Budget dodge – Lawmakers punted the state’s deficit to Governor Polis, leaving him holding the bag.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/08/20/lawmakers-pass-the-buck-on-budget-deficit-leaving-decisions-to-governor-polis/

🔹 Media consolidation – Nexstar expands its grip by buying 9News parent Tegna, sparking worries over fewer independent voices.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/08/20/nexstar-expands-colorado-footprint-with-purchase-of-9news-parent-tegna/

🔹 Denver purge – Mayor Mike Johnston faces backlash after City Hall layoffs, accused of cutting dissent, not just budgets.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/08/20/denver-mayor-accused-of-political-purge-after-city-hall-layoffs/

National News:
🔹 Trump backs Gabbard – A dramatic rebuke to the intelligence community, signaling a direct challenge to entrenched bureaucrats.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/08/20/trump-backs-gabbard-in-sweeping-move-against-intelligence-community/

🔹 Approval surge – After his Alaska summit with Putin, Trump’s approval rating jumped to 54%, with strong gains among independents, Black and Hispanic voters.
Read more: https://rockymountainvoice.com/2025/08/20/trumps-approval-soars-to-54-percent-after-putin-summit-in-alaska/

📲 Full stories at RockyMountainVoice.com
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Stay sharp, stay bold, and stay in the fight.