Votes are still being counted, but there was no mistaking the message voters were sending in yesterday's 2026 midterm election. Democrats took seats from Republicans across the nation, claiming majorities in Congress. In Colorado, not only did Democrats claim supermajorities in both legislative chambers, but voters appear to have approved historic fiscal measures that put the state on a new financial path. Scott and Henry offer their hot takes on this and much more.
30 Oct 2026
At the bottom of an exponential curve
Scott and Henry take a brief respite from state politics to chat with the Andrew Freedman, CEO of Fathom. Once Colorado's first marijuana czar, Freedman is now at the helm of an organization working on innovative policy approaches to governing Artificial Intelligence. Join Crux Politica for this conversation about a rapidly evolving technology and its implications on our lives.
11 Oct 2026
Our Guide to the Colorado's 2026 Ballot Issues
Ballots are out, the Blue Book is thicker than ever, and this year Colorado voters are being asked to act as legislators on 14 statewide measures. In this episode, Henry and Scott go through every one of them, tell you how they’re voting and why. No matter where you land, make sure you vote!
2 Oct 2026
Amendment 87: Economy Killer or Fiscal Panacea?
In this episode, Henry and Scott debrief their conversation with Governor Polis in their Season 2 opener, discuss the current economic conditions facing the State and talk with Bell Policy Center President Chris DeGruy Kennedy about Amendment 87, a progressive income tax proposal on this year’s ballot.
14 Sept 2026
A Conversation with Colorado Governor Jared Polis
Season 2 of Crux Politica opens up with Colorado’s Governor Jared Polis. Polis leaves office this January and is reflecting on eight years leading the state through crisis and change. In this episode, we discuss his focus on education, his take on Colorado’s competitiveness, escalating health care costs and his philosophy on taxes and revenue.
Never one to shy away from controversy or positions that contradict those of his own party, Polis dishes up his views ballot measures, the Trump administration and more.
NOTE: At least a few times, Governor Polis alleges that a ballot measure proposing a graduated income tax is a regressive tax on low income veterans and seniors. For a different take on this claim, you can check out the response from the campaign behind that measure here: https://protectcoloradosfuture.com/faq/ (https://protectcoloradosfuture.com/faq/)
5 Aug 2026
Snow globe shaking in August
In the last episode of Season 1, Scott and Henry look back on the episodes they've recorded since starting Crux Politica in January. Against the backdrop of a lively political season of political upsets and reckoning, they look ahead to a proposed graduated income tax campaign handing likely qualifying for Colorado ballot and consider what's at stake nationally in the Michigan's Democratic Primary.
Stay tuned for Season 2 of Crux Politica in a just few weeks!
19 Jul 2026
Are You Listening?
There hasn't been a sing dull moment over the past two week's since Colorado's primary. Scott and Henry connect the big national headlines to Colorado Politics. Graham Platner's implosion in Maine brings up lessons about leadership in Colorado. Recent polling shows more and more Coloradans are at their breaking point with rising costs and everyone, it seems, is worried about whether our elected leaders are up to the task.
2 Jul 2026
A wave to remember: Colorado's 2026 Primary Election
The 2026 Colorado Primary Election was one for the history books. Henry and Scott break down some of the key reflection points after Tuesday's results. We talk about political waves and movements, and what an anti-establishment wave might mean for the establishment and beyond. Don't miss this special episode of Crux Politica. Thank you for listening!
27 Jun 2026
Reporting Beyond Who Hates Trump The Most
Tune in to Crux Politica Episode 10, with veteran Colorado Sun reporter Jesse Aaron Paul. We get into his beat at the State Capitol, what it's like to cover the state budget, the role of "dark money" in Colorado's primary elections and how the issues of the day are manifesting in the Governor's race.
This Episode is dedicated to the great Lynn Bartels. May she Rest In Peace.
12 Jun 2026
Have you been stakeholded lately?
Tune in to Crux Politica Episode 9, “Have you been stakeholded lately”. Got a little behind on releasing this latest episode where we start with some thoughts on the early June Republican gubernatorial debate; a debate so bananas it would later be spotlighted for the entire country by John Oliver. We discuss the latest round of vetoes from Gov. Polis, and reflect on some of the themes around public decision-making that our guest, Berrick Abramson, facilitator for Colorado’s AI Taskforce, shared with us. Berrick’s expertise is facilitating consensus and agreement on complicated issues with disparate participants. In this episode we dig in on how facilitated stakeholder meetings are run, the finer details of AI regulation, the role of agitation, and when it’s time for calmer conversation. Lots to chew on. We hope you enjoy it!
23 May 2026
Tina Peters, American discontent, and an interview with David Seligman
Tune in to Crux Politica Episode 8, where we digest the recent news of Governor Jared Polis' commutation of Tina Peters' sentence. We then chat with guest David Seligman. David is the Executive Director of the legal non-profit Towards Justice and running in the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Colorado. We dig in on economic populism and take the other side of the conversation about business regulation and what needs to be addressed in the economy.
30 Apr 2026
Episode 7: Beef: It's What's On The Ballot
Tune in to Crux Politica Episode 7, with Scott Wasserman and Henry Sobanet. In this episode, we recover from some misadventures in coordinating a guest and talk amongst ourselves. We check in on what will be on the 2026 ballot via citizen initiative and explain how this relatively unknown, but very Colorado process works. If you have ever wondered how or why we have so many things on our ballots in this state, this is the episode for you.
14 Apr 2026
Episode 6: "The Podcast To Be Complicated On"
CEO of Denver Health, Donna Lynne, enters the chat! Donna joins Crux Politica for Episode 6 and gives us some straight talk about what ails the health care system in Colorado and the United States.
27 Mar 2026
People DO Give a Sh*t
Kelly Brough joins Crux Politica for a deeper look at the business climate in Colorado and Denver, and what it might take to recapture some of the pre-COVID19 mojo. Kelly Brough is currently the President and CEO of the Fitzsimons Innovation Community. Prior to that, she was the CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of of Commerce for 12 years and also served as Chief of Staff for Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper.
As the conversation unfolded, the imperative to recapture collaboration from the public, private and non-profit sector became clear, as well as the essentiality of a high-quality and affordable system for grade school through post-secondary education.
16 Mar 2026
Episode "3": Ian Silverii and the Lost Crux Politica
The Dynamics of Colorado Politics: Insights from Ian Silveri
Henry and Scott interview Ian Silverii, a seasoned political strategist, former executive director of Progress Now, and host of the Get More Smarter podcast. In this episode, we cover the evolving dynamics of party affiliation and electoral trends in the state. And in particular, is Colorado a “purple” state anymore? Ian gives his emphatic take on that topic.
Other topics in this episode include the shift in party affiliations, the dominance of the Democratic party in Colorado, the evolving role of independent voters, and the impact of economic and demographic trends on the political debate.
28 Feb 2026
Episode 4: Look what you did, you little jerks
Henry and Scott reflect on Palantir's sudden exit from Colorado, what it means for the "Business Friendliness" debate, and the tensions that exist between attracting corporations and creating a prosperous economy for everyone.
8 Feb 2026
Turns out eating is one of the best ways to stay alive
Crux Politica
Episode 2: Turns out eating is one of the best way to stay alive
Featuring: Mike Beasley
Did we mention we're building this podcast plane while flying it? After some, let’s just call them glitches, our second episode is out. This time, we welcome Mike Beasley, a veteran of Colorado's political scene, a former Cabinet Member for Republican Governor Bill Owens turned lobbyist and political consultant who is a fixture at the State Capitol. In this episode of Crux Politica, you will see why he is sought after for his counsel by people across the political spectrum and hear why he just might owe his life in politics to beer
In this episode, we reflect on the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by DHS agents in Minneapolis as an extraordinary and horrific backdrop for the more ordinary, but yet nonetheless pressing issues facing the State of Colorado, and how these national events impact our political moment right here. We discuss our unique budget challenges, how we might harness the ethos ofRotary Club—yes, the Rotary Club—for better relationships, and what's at stake when we look at cutting Medicaid. We also take a look at how arbitrary rules unique to Colorado make for frustrating and sometimes absurd results.
24 Jan 2026
One podcast will cure that little ill
The title is inspired by Aristotle’s Ta Politiká. Hosts are Scott Wasserman, political and policy consultant and former President of Colorado’s Bell Policy Center, and Henry Sobanet, two-time director of the Colorado Office of State Planning and Budgeting (Republican Bill Owens and Democrat John Hickenlooper), now multi-tasking as an executive coach, economic consultant, and Treasurer for the Colorado State University System.
Our first guest is Terrance Carroll – a brilliant and dapper human, an attorney who was the first and, thus far, only African American Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives, who is also a minister and recently launched, “Faithful Witness for Democracy (https://faithfulwitnesstc.substack.com/p/welcome-to-faithful-witness-with).” He is especially fantastic. I promise if you watch to the end it is worth it.
Speaker Carroll’s message addresses what Crux Politica embraces as an essential and core value: that if we see each other for what we all have in common we can move toward solutions that for the moment seem elusive. (You have to watch to get the whole thing!) I dare say you will be a bit inspired.
Of course, coming together and working toward solutions for the greater good starts with engaged people having civil conversation about the real issues, challenges and opportunities at the heart of the matter.
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