Crux Politica

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.

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!

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. 

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 t...

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...

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 le...

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!

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.

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 publi...

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 bus...

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...

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.   

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 Hic...

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 em...

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.

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 poli...

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 Colo...