

Big takeaways from Colorado's 2025 legislative session
15 snips May 15, 2025
Bente Birkeland and Lucas Brady Woods, both hosts of Purplish, delve into Colorado's 2025 legislative session, sharing insights shaped by their journalism careers. They explore the experiences of first-time lawmakers navigating party dynamics and building relationships. Key debates over AI and gun legislation highlight shifting tensions between lawmakers and lobbyists. With a surprisingly calm session, the duo reflects on creative haikus about significant laws like K-Trucks legalization and clean energy initiatives, infused with personal stories from the Capitol.
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Dusty Johnson's Lawmaker Experience
- Representative Dusty Johnson shares how she adapted to city life and the legislative role.
- She highlights the urban-rural dynamic as a key influence beyond party lines.
Urban-Rural Divide Trumps Party
- Relationships at the Capitol are crucial and complex, often crossing party lines.
- The urban-rural divide reshapes typical partisan dynamics in legislative decision-making.
Intraparty Debate and Lobbyist Influence
- Lawmaker Yara Zokai found intraparty debates tougher than interparty ones.
- Funded interest groups exert major influence, complicating representation of everyday voices.