Brownstein Podcast Series

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has emerged as a key testing ground for the Trump administration's approach to government reform, including workforce reductions and efficiency initiative policies. Our team will examine how VA has changed since the 2024 election, the major challenges facing the department and what the upcoming midterm elections could mean for VA stakeholders.

The ability to anticipate congressional inquiries is becoming a critical component of effective government relations and risk management strategies. In this episode of Brownstein’s congressional oversight and investigations series, our panel unpacks the political and legal dynamics driving Hill scrutiny. Our team explores how the midterm elections could reshape committee priorities and analyzes th...

Congressional oversight is becoming more aggressive, more public and more reputationally consequential. Industry leaders who understand the risks—and engage experienced legal, government relations and communications advisors early—are better positioned to manage investigations and protect their interests. In our first podcast in a series on congressional oversight and investigations, our team brea...

Policy debates over Colorado's comprehensive AI law have played out like an epic over the last two years—with working groups, competing proposals, volleying amendments, and now, SB 26-189, a much narrower replacement for the first-of-its-kind AI consumer protection passed in 2024. Tune in as Brownstein's Sarah Mercer, Jack Hobaugh, Josh Weiss and Sloane Whelan take a deep dive into the history of...

Agricultural conversion is one of the most critical land use issues in California. Tune in as Brownstein’s Amy Steinfeld and Ginger Andersen dive into the topic, from thoughtful policies to how to protect agricultural lands, and what it means for the state, especially the Central Coast.

Master-planned community development projects are becoming increasingly complex and time-consuming, making early planning even more vital to a successful project. Listen in as Brownstein's Greg Vallin interviews Brian Hart, director of engineering at Redland, on the ins and outs of master-planned community development, the difference in working with developers and landowners and critical due dilig...

As the 2026 Colorado Legislative Session comes to a close, the real estate industry is bracing for a new wave of change. Tune in for a Brownstein panel discussion unpacking the most impactful legislation passed this session and what it means for property owners, developers, investors and operators across Colorado.

Since the Supreme Court struck down the White House’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose unilateral tariffs, the Trump administration has moved quickly to preserve its economic leverage by pivoting to other trade authorities, including temporary duties under Section 122 and broader investigations under Sections 301 and 232. Our team unpacks how this strategy is taking...

Expansive or unstable soils can be a difficult and expensive problem for developers and homebuilders, particularly along the Front Range in Colorado. Listen in as Brownstein’s Greg Vallin sits down with Hubert Farbes, partner at Garnett Powell Maximon Barlow & Farbes, to explain expansive soils, discuss lessons learned from recent litigation experience, and provide best practices for risk mitigati...

The Colorado legislative session—which began Jan. 14 and will adjourn on May 13—is off to a slow start while a structural budget crisis looms over the Capitol. Tune in as Brownstein’s Sarah Mercer, Jia Meeks and Cooper Reveley discuss the state budget and other issues lawmakers are debating like housing supply and local control, AI and data center regulation, and energy policy, among others.

As 2026 kicks off, Congress looks to be on the brink of an impossible task: passing all FY 2026 appropriations legislation and avoiding a shutdown at the end of the month. However, the finish line has not yet been crossed, and policymakers must address potential obstacles in the House and Senate. Our team analyzes the status of funding bills, discusses possible last-minute dealmaking and outlines...

The economic impacts of President Trump’s tariff policy have long overshadowed another possible headwind that faces importers, contractors and those reliant on global supply chains: the legal risk. Our team of trade and legal professionals goes beyond the Supreme Court case to discuss possible refunds if the courts rule against the White House, as well as what to expect from the White House and Co...

The 2026 Colorado legislative session kicks off Jan. 14—with legacy-building, budget battles and big policy debates ahead. Tune in as Brownstein’s Sarah Mercer, Jia Meeks, Cooper Reveley and Sloane Whelan share expectations and answer larger questions about what’s at stake heading into 2026.

Welcome to the Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck podcast series. Please listen in as Brownstein’s Greg Vallin and Amy Diaz bring back Jennifer Blum to discuss the Minerals Notification Act.

With the recent off-year election in the rear view, eyes are now turning to the 2026 cycle. And in Colorado, that means sorting citizen-initiated measures that make the ballot next year. Colorado’s ballot measure process is one of the most direct and impactful tools for shaping state policy—and also one of the most complex. Join Brownstein’s David Meschke and Sarah Mercer as they walk through the...

It’s been a big week on Capitol Hill for congressional appropriators. To reopen the government, the Senate has passed a legislative package that includes multiple appropriations bills and a continuing resolution to fund all other parts of the government. As the bill now heads to the House, our team discusses the content of the legislation and what the government funding process looks like moving f...

As the Republican-controlled Congress ramps up investigations into education, emerging technology, democratic fundraising, foreign influence and regulatory enforcement, new risks have arisen for industry members. Our team of oversight policy professionals dive into what this means for agencies, contractors and other stakeholders, and how things could change approaching the 2026 midterms.

Colorado is rolling up its sleeves to try to solve the home attainability challenge and master-planned communities will be at the forefront. In this episode, Brownstein’s Greg Vallin sits down with well-known real estate brokers Mike Kboudi and John Covert, both from Cushman and Wakefield, to dive into the forces shaping residential development across the Front Range.

Permitting has long been a concern of those in the energy extraction and production sectors. Long review periods drive up the costs and delay profits in both the renewable and fossil fuel industries. Today our team discusses the history of both parties’ efforts to fix this process, options that have been proposed by the current Congress and administration, and what to watch leading up to 2026.

There are important practical considerations for development projects with severed mineral interests. Tune in as Brownstein’s Amy Diaz and Greg Vallin talk to attorney Jennifer Blum, founder of Blum Law and Title, to understand the complex legal history and modern-day headaches of “split estates,” and learn how developers can avoid pitfalls that slow down project timelines and ruin budgets.

Recent reports that the Senate Banking Committee has a new draft of digital asset market structure legislation ahead of a potential markup this month is just the latest sign of Washington’s bipartisan momentum to make the United States the “crypto capital of the world,” as President Trump pledged during the campaign. This progress builds on a wave of landmark executive orders and regulatory policy...

For navigating the Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act and avoiding costly missteps, early legal guidance can make all the difference. In this episode, Brownstein’s Corey Zurbuch and Greg Vallin break down what developers need to know about HOA formation, common pitfalls and smarter alternatives that could save time—and headaches—down the road.

One of the biggest obstacles for Colorado’s master-planned community developers is municipal approvals. The timing, uncertainty and communication issues that arise during the entitlement process can plague a project before it’s ever built. Listen in as Brownstein’s Carolynne White and Greg Vallin discuss the entitlement process and the role of home-rule, how developers can navigate the most common...

In his first year back in office, President Trump committed over $1 trillion to defense spending. With global tensions rising—from Europe to the Middle East to the Indo-Pacific—the U.S. is relying on its defense industry to stay ahead. Brownstein’s Defense Team breaks down the delayed NDAA, the recently concluded reconciliation fight and the kickoff of FY2026 appropriations talks.

Landowners looking to sell have a long list of questions to answer before a deal is final. What is the main motivation to sell? What is the risk tolerance? What market factors might impact the final sale? Tune in as Brownstein’s Greg Vallin, a member of the firm’s Master Planned Communities team, sits down with Pete Thompson of the Thompson Group to discuss answers to these questions and other con...