Shows
Red County, Blue State22. What is Zebulon? Part 2The planned Zebulon mega sports complex is not a rec center with a pool and treadmills—it’s a huge project with facilities for basketball, baseball/softball, volleyball, football, soccer and hockey. The area will eventually be built out to include commercial development such as hotels, restaurants, and shopping. Kim Turnage and Barrett Rothe of the Douglas County Lantern return for Part 2 of our discussion on the Zebulon mega sports complex slated to break ground in Sterling Ranch in the fall. In this episode we talk about the potential impact on Douglas County School District (spoiler alert, it’s comple...2025-07-2920 min
Red County, Blue State21. What is Zebulon? Part 1Kim Turnage and Barrett Rothe of the Douglas County Lantern join me to discuss the Zebulon mega sports complex slated to break ground in Sterling Ranch in the fall. Why does it matter? Douglas County taxpayers will join private developers in funding this 500 acre project. Our commissioners have justified this outlay of public money by claiming “this is what you asked for” and “it’ll pay for itself” without much evidence. It’s a little too close to home rule for comfort. We’re digging in to let you know what we do and don’t know so you can form your ow...2025-07-2818 min
Red County, Blue State20. Cowboy Cosplay: the first commission meeting after home rule defeatThe commissioners persist in the dangerous and racist lie about a local doctor and blame everyone but themselves for the crushing home rule loss. When you gaslight folks, they’re going to respond.Edited 7/10/25 to add: Kyle Clark and 9News coverage of this meeting after this episode was published.Types of meetings that the commissioners have.Commissioner calendarInterested in giving the invocation or opening prayer at a commission meeting? Find out more here. Write a letter to the editor. Next commission meeting is July 22 at 1:30pm in...2025-07-1017 min
Red County, Blue StateLight on the news, heavy on the solidarityThe Democrats are marching in the Highlands Ranch 4th of July parade tomorrow (short notice from me! I know!). Meet at the Kaiser Permanente in HR, 9285 Hepburn St, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 at 8am.County Commissioners meeting—their first business meeting since their home rule defeat. July 8 at 1:30pm, 100 Third Street. If you can’t make it in person, stream here.Abe Laydon’ Pride post. A Bit Fruity podcast by Matt Bernstein on Instagram: @mattxivWatch: Somebody SomewhereEat: Yu’s Noodles in Lone TreeEmail me: emil...2025-07-0408 min
The Daily WhateverThe Daily Whatever, June 27: Fucked-Up Friday with Füsun Aydin & Frederic Poag AND Dirty Talk with Füsun and Lawrence!!!Thank you Jason Dyer, Alexandra Porter, Anthony Burke, April K Wilson , Becky Martinek , Beth Cruz , Beth Plank , BiffBiff BJ Roberts , bluePNWcats , Brandon Ellrich , Mariellen , Carissa Rogers , Carol Duffy , Cat , CatherineC , Celice Carlough , OldHenCharlie , Cheryl , Christine Balint , Charles , Craig Nixon , Craig Pulliam , Dale Scaringi , Dana DuBois , dani clark , Dan Thornton , Dar Gfree , David Long , Deb17☘️☘️ , Deanna Surber , Denise Cronin , Julie D , Draft of a woman , dra_ma_r , Elli , Emily Suyat , Elaine the Mean Old Feminist , Adrian , saint francie , Füsun Aydın , Gary Whaley , 2025-06-271h 58
Red County, Blue State18. A Big Win in Douglas CountyWe did it! Over 70% of voters voted no on home rule under these commissioners and Stop the Power Grab candidates dominated the at-large and district races. Community organizer Angela Thomas was the one to educate us on this issue, and she’s the one who’s going to break down the election with me—and answer some pressing questions. Commissioner Teal’s comments about putting home rule on the ballot again (this is just one example from the Denver Post, gift article). Watch this: Kyle Clark’s coverage of Commissioner Teal making bigoted and false claims abo...2025-06-2617 min
Red County, Blue State17. Convo with D1 “Vote No” CandidatesThis is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit esuyat.substack.com2025-06-1928 min
Red County, Blue State16. Kyle Clark and Marshall Zelinger weigh in on home ruleElection Day is June 24! Get your ballot in and if you already have, keep talking to your neighbors and posting on social media. Go team! Kyle Clark and Marshall Zelinger of 9NEWS weighed in on home rule and came to the same conclusion that the Vote No side has been saying all along: “those claims [about opting out of certain state laws] by Republican county commissioners don't check out.”The commissioners held a virtual “town hall” on June 17. Commissioners Laydon and Teal spoke in a virtual setting that allowed for zero pushback or followup...2025-06-1811 min
Red County, Blue State15. “Trust in Douglas County government is in decline"Today my guest is Kim Turnage, Ph.D. A 16-year DougCo resident and unaffiliated voter, Kim Turnage spent 20 years advising business and nonprofit leaders on how to get better results through people and data and currently freelances as an organizational strategist and executive coach.This episode is a deeper dive into the citizen survey results and it begs the question: why did Douglas County commissioners spend $500k on an election for a home rule status that a majority of us didn’t ask for and don’t want?It’s time to vote! Get those ballot...2025-06-1123 min
Red County, Blue State14. Follow the MoneyWhat would a good faith effort at home rule look like? What would a bad faith effort look like, and why does it look like Douglas County? Who (or what) is behind the Yes on Local Control efforts? I would say this is my closing argument but you know there is going to be more news. You can reach me at emilysuyat@gmail.comFilling out your ballot? The home rule ballot explainedDon’t know what home rule is? Start here: Home rule series part 1 of 3Home Rule series part 2 of...2025-06-0514 min
Red County, Blue State13. “This is like 1776 and putting those wigs on"Here’s a review and fact check of the one hour town hall on home rule in Douglas County. One whole hour! With some casual electioneering from the dais. Cool cool. Link to recording of town hall: Proposed Douglas County timeline above. ABOUT THE CHARTER TIMELINE: I recorded this late late at night and I misspoke in the podcast, I said August 8 is when the public meetings end but it’s August 12. I had assumed the first public meeting would take place July 23, but nope, it would need to be to be somewhere July 8-10 (with...2025-05-3015 min
Red County, Blue State12. MythologiesUpdate on the county commissioner’s citizen survey on home rule and how I shifted from being a Republican to a Democrat in Douglas County. It’s all connected. Douglas County Citizen 2023 Survey Results:https://www.douglas.co.us/documents/2023-citizen-survey-results.pdf/Douglas County Citizen 2025 Survey as reported on DougCo website: https://www.douglas.co.us/view-full-results-of-the-douglas-county-2025-citizen-survey-online/ Dawn Caldwell letter to the editor in Colorado Community Media: https://coloradocommunitymedia.com/2025/05/22/letter-home-rule-survey-doesnt-say/Learn more about grassroots powerhouse gun safety org Moms Demand Action. You don’t have to be a mom. V...2025-05-2714 min
Red County, Blue State11. The Home Rule Ballot ExplainedLet’s talk about the ballot for the June 24 special election in Douglas County! Questions? Email me at emilysuyat@gmail.comDon’t know what commissioner district you live in? Type in your address here: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=b9005d68095345eb8a59c90e020edbf6 then click county commissioners. If it's Abe Laydon, you're District 1, if it's George Teal, you're District 2 and if it's Kevin Van Winkle, you are District 3.The June 24 sample ballot:https://www.douglas.co.us/documents/june-2025-douglas-county-special-election-sample-ballot.pdf/The county commissioner’s March...2025-05-1914 min
Red County, Blue State10: The Test Case in Sterling Ranch: Home Rule and the Charter Application of John Adams AcademyA deeper dive today! This one is about the application of yet another charter school in Douglas County. John Adams Academy is pulling every lever and political favor trying to get its foot in the door in Sterling Ranch. I interview Lori Wright, a parent in Sterling Ranch, who connects the dots for us. Further reading on John Adams Academy’s push to open a school in Sterling Ranch:https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/liberty-based-charter-school-seeks-state-approval-colorado/https://coloradotimesrecorder.com/2025/03/servant-leaders-a-closer-look-at-john-adams-academy-a-proposed-dougco-charter-school-championed-by-conservatives/67935/https://www.dougcocollective.com/dougcocollective/sywn3gorzazazk7jttkvijcmgijvppTake action: * Charter School Institute (CSI) st...2025-05-1032 min
Red County, Blue State9. The Lawsuit against the County Commissioners: a conversation with Bob Marshall, Part 2 of 2Thanks again to Rep Marshall for the interview. Learn more about Douglas County’s rush to home rule in the Home Rule Series of this podcast.View the complaint against the commissioners and exhibits (scroll down til you see them): https://www.stopdougcopowergrab.com/post/lora-thomas-s-spotlight-25-11The gofundme to support the lawsuit.Scorcher of an article on our commissioners by Paula Noonan: Persistent pursuit of policies without public review irreparably corruptWatch Commissioner Teal’s comments at the last county commission meeting where no public comment was allowed: Thanks for listening! Please shar...2025-05-0416 min
Red County, Blue State8. The Lawsuit against the County Commissioners: a conversation with Bob Marshall, Part 1 of 2Thanks again to Rep Marshall for the interview. Learn more about Douglas County’s rush to home rule in the Home Rule Series of this podcast, episodes 4-6.View the complaint against the commissioners and exhibits (scroll down til you see them): https://www.stopdougcopowergrab.com/post/lora-thomas-s-spotlight-25-11Watch George Teal’s comments at the last commissioner meeting where no public comment was allowed at the end of the meeting: Thanks for listening! Please share if you find this content useful. This is a public episode. If you would like...2025-05-0419 min
Red County, Blue State7. Group Hug and a PlanHere’s how we Get Sh*t Done (GSD) and show up this week:1. Hands Off! DougCo Takes Action Protest on the Lone Tree Bridge, April 19 at 11:45am-2pm. Details here: actionnetwork.org/event…2. Douglas County Commissioner meeting, April 22 at 1:30pm in Castle Rock, 100 Third Street. So many questions we can ask and comments we can make! We can also just sit and observe. 3. Empty Chair Town Hall for Lauren Boebert, April 26, 1:30pm in Lone Tree. Space is limited, sign up here: secure.everyaction.com/…In Loveland: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/776590/4...2025-04-1806 min
Red County, Blue State6. The Home Rule Series Part 3 of 3: the expensive and rushed plan being formulated behind closed doorsThis is part 3 of the 3 part series on Home Rule in Douglas County. In this episode, Angela Thomas, community organizer, talks about how candidates for the charter commission get on the ballot, and George Teal’s explicit (and likely expensive) plans to ignore state law. Follow Angela Thomas on Facebook and/or sign up here to receive updates (this is the QR code link that she mentioned). Angela can be reached via email at angthomas2025@gmail.com.Former county commissioner Lora Thomas, a Republican, is putting out a BANGER of a newsletter on current commission’s misrepresentation of w...2025-04-1015 min
Red County, Blue State5. The Home Rule Series Part 2 of 3: what home rule is and what we’ll be voting for on June 24This is part 2 of the 3 part series on Home Rule in Douglas County. In this episode, Angela Thomas, community organizer, talks about what home rule is, how it can (and can’t) be used, and what exactly we will be voting for on June 24. Follow Angela Thomas on Facebook or sign up here to receive updates. Angela can be reached via email at angthomas2025@gmail.com.To receive updates from Republican former commissioner Lora Thomas, email her at lora@lorathomas.org and ask to receive her newsletter. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Find me o...2025-04-0915 min
Red County, Blue State4: The Home Rule Series Part 1 of 3This is the first part of a three part series on the Douglas County Commission’s push for Douglas County to move to Home Rule status. This episode lays the foundation for our discussion on Home Rule by providing a general understanding of how government works in Douglas County (including facts that aren’t obvious or on a website) and taking a look at the commissioners who think we should be exempt from state laws that they don’t like. It’s a short podcast so we’re hitting the high points! A few sources: Demographi...2025-04-0513 min
Red County, Blue State3: The Tr*mpian Bargain of Douglas CountyIt’s time for moral courage. Watch Rep Bob Marshall’s town hall here.Ways to GSD (Get Stuff Done) this week:* If you can, attend the Hands Off! National Day of Action on April 5. More info https://handsoff2025.com. If there’s not a Day of Action near you, send your good thoughts to those protesting!* If you live in Highlands Ranch CO, you have upcoming local elections that really matter. Your ballots won’t automatically be sent, you must request an absentee ballot or vote in person on May 6. More info here. 2025-04-0108 min
Red County, Blue State2: Boebert, Bernie, and BuffooneryRead more about Douglas County’s resolution to use (or more accurately, misuse) Home Rule Authority: Denver Post gift article. WAYS TO MEET PEOPLE, HAVE FUN, GSD (get stuff done):* Tesla Takedown this Saturday in Littleton, 11am-1pm. It’s a peaceful protest, bring your signs! Click here for more info.* Rep Bob Marshall’s Town Hall. Rep Marshall represents HD43 (mostly Highlands Ranch) at the Colorado Capitol. His town hall is March 30, 10:30am (I said 10am in the podcast, it’s 10:30am!) at the Highlands Ranch library, 9292 S Ridgeline Blvd, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129...2025-03-2711 min
Red County, Blue State1: "Did you order the Code Red?"If you live in Parker or Castle Rock CO, your state lawmakers held a town hall in February and one yesterday. The February one was a typical town hall, the second one…was not. Listen for more. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit esuyat.substack.com2025-03-2310 min