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 Chopping Block 04.06.2021 12:23
Several mysteries unfold at the Capitol as the final days of the legislative session approach.
Into The Whirlwind 28.05.2021 18:34
We're down to the last two weeks of session and that means two things: rush, rush rush, and stall, stall, stall.
The Big Money Episode 21.05.2021 21:37
Through new fees and tweaks to the tax code, Democrats are moving forward with policies that could bring in a lot of new money to state coffers, all without having to ask voters' permission.
Race, Politics and Racial Politics 14.05.2021 22:43
Issues of race and systemic racism have boiled over repeatedly during this legislative session, in policy discussions and public comments, exposing deep divisions in lawmakers' views, and their lived experiences.
Where Are They Now? 07.05.2021 27:08
Transportation. Guns. The public option. Climate change. We check back in on how four of the biggest policy areas of the session are shaping up.
Justice Reform, A Year After George Floyd 30.04.2021 24:28
Some state lawmakers want to make even more changes to how police do their jobs, but their ideas face stiff opposition amid rising crime and changing politics.
Hot At The Legislature: Housing And Immigration 23.04.2021 18:16
Renters and undocumented immigrants are two groups that could see their situations change significantly, under a slate of progressive policies at the statehouse.
What The Heck Is The Public Option? 16.04.2021 15:47
Look, we know it's complicated. It could also be the biggest thing the state does on health care since the Affordable Care Act.
Maps, Data And Drama, Drama, Drama 09.04.2021 21:32
Congressional redistricting is a one-in-a-decade political dogfight like no other, and this go-round in Colorado is starting off with some extra challenges.
Big Changes, Little Attention 02.04.2021 23:50
You've heard a lot about health care, guns and transportation. But lawmakers are working on a ton of other ideas that will affect your life in ways you might not expect.
Gun Laws After Boulder 26.03.2021 22:11
The mass shooting at a Boulder grocery store has Colorado Democrats rethinking how far they might be willing to push for more restrictive gun laws.
BONUS: Meet The Jared Polis And Anthony Fauci Of 1918 23.03.2021 13:52
How did the Jared Polis of 1918 handle *his* deadly pandemic? After a year of living through COVID we decided it would be interesting to look back and tell the tale of Colorado politics during the Spanish flu. One big difference? A lot more moustaches.
Capitol Warming 19.03.2021 20:46
Statehouse Democrats want to go big on climate change this year. Is Gov. Jared Polis ready to go along with them?
1.9 Trillion Is An Awfully Big Number 12.03.2021 20:07
Congress signed off on spending an out-of-this-world number of Benjamins this week. The Purplish crew looks at what all that money means for Colorado.
Polis’s Pandemic Year 05.03.2021 21:32
This episode of Purplish is brought to you by the letter P: For Polis, pandemic, policies, persuasion, piñata, and proposal.
Everything You Need To Know About Transportation Reform 26.02.2021 19:37
It could be THE big issue at the state legislature this year, and we have all the details.
The State of the State is… 19.02.2021 15:48
How would YOU finish that sentence, after the year we've all had?
On With The Show 12.02.2021 22:07
This week, two Coloradans took center stage at the second impeachment trial of former president Trump, while back at the state capitol, state lawmakers are warming up for the restart of the legislative session, with plenty of big policies and political drama waiting in the wings.
Two Capitols, One Wild Week 15.01.2021 22:37
Caitlyn Kim gives us the scene from DC, recording from the same room she had to hide from rioters in just over a week ago. Bente Birkeland has been back in the Colorado Capitol for the start of a legislative session unlike any other. And Andy Kenney, stuck at home with a baby, has a lot of questions for both of them.
BONUS BONUS EPISODE: An Extraordinary Session 04.12.2020 18:28
Yes, that's actually what it's called.
BONUS EPISODE: Digesting Colorado’s Election Outcomes With Two Colorado Politics Insiders 13.11.2020 20:49
Every election is a time of reckoning -- a chance for the state to look at its choices and divisions and consider where things go from here. To begin that conversation, this final episode of the season turns to two guests with a deep understanding of the state's politics and voters.
What The Heck Just Happened? 06.11.2020 24:58
You know Colorado voted for Joe Biden, and chose John Hickenlooper over Cory Gardner. But what about all those ballot measures voters said yes to -- what will that mean for your life here? And hey, spare a thought for your state legislature; the balance of power came out basically static, and that's actually rather interesting. Intrigued? Good.
What We’re Watching For 30.10.2020 21:45
Obviously the big headlines on election night will be who wins and who loses, which ballot measures pass and which fail. But elections also tell a story -- about where the state is now, and where it might be headed. And that's what our Purplish team looks ahead to in this, our last episode before the election!
On Voter Turnout, And Attempted Voter Turn-Offs 23.10.2020 20:12
More than a million people have already cast ballots in Colorado. The Purplish team digs into who they are and what's motivating them to get it done so early. At the same time that lots of people are voting, there are also a lot of rumors flying about alleged attempts to prevent that from happening. A special guest joins to help separate fact from fiction.
Election Grab Bag 16.10.2020 23:48
You know we’re getting close — the whole Purplish team is finally together in the studio for the first time.
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