
Colorado Matters
Hosted by Ryan Warner and Chandra Thomas Whitfield, CPR News' daily interview show focuses on the state's people, issues and ideas.
Latest episodes

Mar 8, 2024 • 50min
March 8, 2024: New effort to create Aurora police transparency; Doctor works to make childbirth safer in Ethiopia
The Aurora Police Department is releasing weekly data in an effort to create transparency with the public.

Mar 7, 2024 • 51min
March 7, 2024: State of the Union issues hit home in Colorado; ‘Stumbling around the world for NPR’
Tonight is the State of the Union; we’ll talk about what issues will hit home in Colorado.

Mar 6, 2024 • 50min
March 6, 2024: What’s next after Super Tuesday, securing violent suspects, and protecting the pollinators
Trump and Biden take Colorado, and the nation, on Super Tuesday. We'll drill into the results. Plus, with Nikki Haley suspending her campaign, what's next for a self-described Reagan Republican in Colorado who backed her? Then, you might think people suspected of violent crime would be held until they stand trial, but that doesn't always happen. And a push to protect pollinators.

Mar 5, 2024 • 51min
March 5, 2024: How to vote on Super Tuesday; A mother’s ‘remedies for sorrow’
It's Super Tuesday. We'll walk through the voting process and get a little voting history along the way. Plus, the head of Colorado's county clerks talks about what's next now that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled Donald Trump can stay on the ballot. Also, a mother's journey to help her daughter overcome an underdiagnosed virus. And Colorado wonders about its wild weather changes.

Mar 4, 2024 • 51min
March 4, 2024: US Supreme Court sides with Trump in Colorado ballot case
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that votes for Donald Trump in Colorado’s presidential primary will count. Hear analysis from CPR's Washington reporter Caitlyn Kim, plus reaction from a plaintiff in the case and an election official. Then, calls for an independent audit of Aurora’s police intelligence unit. And, state lawmakers want to limit access to public records.

Mar 1, 2024 • 49min
March 1, 2024: Aviation pioneer charts her own course; ‘Germinating’ at City Park
M'Lis Ward trained fighter pilots. But as a woman, she wasn't allowed to be one. Instead, she went onto United, becoming the first Black female captain at a U.S. passenger airline. Now she trains other pilots at United in Denver. Plus, a coming-of-age story set at a family reunion in Denver's city park.

Feb 29, 2024 • 51min
Feb. 29, 2024: Popular trivia event celebrates Colorado’s Black history
As Black History Month comes to an end, Chandra visits a popular trivia event in Denver called, "Black People Know Things," where they elevate and celebrate Colorado's Black history, from the serious to the funny.

Feb 28, 2024 • 30min
Feb. 28, 2024: Plan to reduce summer ozone faces uphill battle; Parenting without shame
State Democrats have a three-pronged plan to reduce ozone pollution in the summer months, but it's facing an uphill battle. Then, no matter what social media might suggest, there's no such thing as the "perfect parent." And, two gene therapies approved by the FDA could give people with sickle cell disease new hope.

Feb 27, 2024 • 28min
Feb. 27, 2024: Homelessness in Grand Junction; Elevating Black history in Colorado
Another park closes in Grand Junction, frequented by people experiencing homelessness. But the closure may be more about perception, as the city votes down a ban on daytime camping in parks. Then, Colorado's Black history is diverse and rich but not widely known. An exhibit at the Museum of Boulder is working to change that by illuminating the stories of Black people across the state.

Feb 26, 2024 • 29min
Feb. 26, 2024: Denver finds itself increasingly isolated as it works to help new immigrants
As Denver works to help thousands of new immigrants who've arrived from the southern U.S. border, the city finds itself increasingly isolated from other communities in Colorado. Today we share the latest episode of Purplish which examines the complexities and considerations.