Colorado Public Radio
Purplish
Purplish is a podcast about politics and policy and how they shape Coloradans’ lives, hosted by Colorado Public Radio’s public affairs reporter Bente Birkeland and reporters from the Colorado Capitol News Alliance. They break down the latest developments at the statehouse, in Congress and in local communities, to find the bigger picture behind the political headlines. Purplish is produced by CPR News with support from the Colorado Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community R...
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Colorado Public Radio
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Podcast website
Latest episode
Jul 3, 2026
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Episodes
The legislature returns: what lies ahead? 10.01.2024 17:57
Lawmakers start their annual session Wednesday, after an off-season that contained more than the usual number of bumps and bruises.
Could this Colorado case determine Trump’s political future? 16.11.2023 27:03
We break down the electoral courtroom drama playing out in Denver right now.
What’s up with Prop. II? 20.10.2023 10:59
The state collected more money from new tobacco and nicotine taxes than it expected, and now voters must decide what to do.
What’s up with Prop. HH? 17.10.2023 26:06
Wondering what this Prop. HH measure you see on your ballot is all about? We explain what this proposal would mean for your finances, and the state's.
Colorado Springs’ next mayor is a man few thought would win. What happened? 02.06.2023 29:08
Yes, politics may be shifting in this conservative bulwark, but that's only one part of the story.
Land use, property taxes and party conflicts — how the legislature wrapped up 11.05.2023 28:29
The end of session brought dramatic developments, bruising disagreements and a few goofy moments.
The legislature’s spending dance 04.05.2023 32:21
Here’s a math problem for you: how do you get hundreds of different bills to add up to one balanced budget?
The year that could change how Colorado grows 21.04.2023 31:10
Single-family homes have ruled Colorado development for a century, but Gov. Jared Polis and his allies believe the future needs to look very different.
Colorado’s blockbuster filibuster (and why it matters) 06.04.2023 29:37
As Republican lawmakers adapt to their ‘super-minority’ in the House, they’re grappling with a big question: is it better to negotiate when they can, or dig in on delays?
Xcel’s winter of discontent 24.03.2023 34:06
Sky-high utility bills and record corporate profits have many Coloradans — and lawmakers — asking if it’s time to rethink Xcel’s business model.
Disability rights at center stage 11.03.2023 31:42
Housing, recreation, government -- advocates for people with disabilities say there are a lot of ways Colorado could be doing more to make those things accessible to all.
Rent control in Colorado? 03.03.2023 33:40
The policy has been banned in Colorado for four decades, but that could all change this year.
How Colorado’s gun laws have changed from frontier days to today 10.02.2023 44:10
From the founding of the state to modern mass shootings, we look at the forces that have driven changes to Colorado law over the years, and what it means for this year's brewing debate.
The Polis Agenda 20.01.2023 20:47
In the first State of the State speech of his second term, Gov. Polis picked a big fight with local governments, while saying little on a major priority for many in his party.
The legislature is back: what do they want to do? 13.01.2023 30:01
State lawmakers have returned to session in Denver. We cover a bit of DC-style drama on opening day, and hear from congressional reporter Caitlyn Kim how the actual DC drama went down with the many, many Speaker votes.
Is Colorado a blue state now? 11.11.2022 25:20
Yes, we know what happened Tuesday, but we're still not changing the name of the podcast.
What we’re watching for on Election Day 04.11.2022 30:04
The big day is almost here and our team looks at where the campaigns, the polling and the voters stand, as things come down to the wire.
What keeps our elections safe? 28.10.2022 32:22
Colorado's election system has all sorts of checks built in to prevent fraud and subversion, but much of it happens out of public view. We go through some of the biggest security measures -- and some of the biggest conspiracy theories still circulating.
All your 2022 ballot measures explained (plus a few weird ones from history) 22.10.2022 32:02
There are 11 statewide measures on the ballot this year, and we're here to give you the key points on each of them. Oh, and Andy plays stump-the-hosts with 140 years of initiative history.
Housing on your ballot 14.10.2022 29:30
Coloradans are increasingly naming housing as a top issue, and it's one that will appear on ballots this fall in a couple of ways.
Colorado’s Latino voters and the 2022 races 29.09.2022 22:04
One in six Colorado voters is Latino, a fact the campaigns are very, very aware of. But are candidates and parties forging meaningful connections, or just falling back on transactional habits?
Moderates in the Midterm 15.09.2022 28:00
Senate candidate Joe O'Dea is getting national attention for his views on abortion, Trump and other issues that set him apart from many in his party. But will his positions be enough to win over the moderate voters so crucial to winning Colorado's elections?
What did we learn from the primary? 30.06.2022 23:05
Colorado's Republican establishment is celebrating a night of victories that they believe will give them a leg up on the general election, and could even be a turning point for their party.
Unaffiliated Voters — the big question mark 25.06.2022 22:27
the primary approaches, one big question is what influence an influx of unaffiliated voters might have on the GOP selection contests.
The GOP Divide 17.06.2022 31:35
The party is torn between its grassroots, with their concerns about the 2020 election and their hunger for a more combative tone from lawmakers, and its more traditional voters, who […]
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