
Purplish
Purplish is CPR News' weekly podcast about state politics, state government, Colorado policy, and political identity. This season the show is hosted by public affairs reporters Bente Birkeland and Andrew Kenney. Each week while the legislature is in session, they'll break down the latest developments, look ahead to what's next, and dive into the bigger picture of what it all means.
Latest episodes

Feb 19, 2021 • 16min
The State of the State is…
How would YOU finish that sentence, after the year we've all had?

Feb 12, 2021 • 22min
On With The Show
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.

Jan 15, 2021 • 23min
Two Capitols, One Wild Week
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.

Dec 4, 2020 • 18min
BONUS BONUS EPISODE: An Extraordinary Session
Yes, that's actually what it's called.

Nov 13, 2020 • 21min
BONUS EPISODE: Digesting Colorado’s Election Outcomes With Two Colorado Politics Insiders
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.

Nov 6, 2020 • 25min
What The Heck Just Happened?
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.

Oct 30, 2020 • 22min
What We’re Watching For
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!

Oct 23, 2020 • 20min
On Voter Turnout, And Attempted Voter Turn-Offs
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.

Oct 16, 2020 • 24min
Election Grab Bag
You know we’re getting close — the whole Purplish team is finally together in the studio for the first time.

Oct 9, 2020 • 29min
So Many Ballot Measures. Like, SO MANY
Eleven, to be precise. Do we manage to talk about all of them in a half hour? Heck no. But our team does dive deep on a few, while also talking about the larger dynamics at play on the ballot.