PODCAST · news
Red County, Blue State
by Emily Suyat
The thrill of living in progressive Colorado, the agony of being represented by Lauren Boebert: life and politics for people who lean left in Douglas County. esuyat.substack.com
Episodes
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82. What does “Yes on 200” mean? 3 to 5 on the ballot explained
If you’re fairly new to Colorado elections or are still a little fuzzy on why we have the Blue Book, TABOR book, and Ballot Question 200, this is your episode. I explain the Blue Book (it’s a big ol thing this year at 127 pages), the TABOR book, and present information on “Yes on 200” so you can...
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81. “Taxpayer money isn’t red, it isn’t blue, taxpayer money is green” - with Dan Smith, candidate for Douglas County Treasurer
Hi! What a sh*t week for news! Let’s vote in some good people, shall we? My guest today is Dan Smith, candidate for Douglas County treasurer. What does a county treasurer do? Why is it important? Dan will explain it all, including why the county waiving $19 million in taxes for a data center...
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80. “I don’t like a bully” — with Irene Bonham, County Commissioner Candidate
Irene Bonham may be running as a Democrat but she joins us in a conversation about values that matter to most of us when it comes to public officials: integrity, accessibility, and transparency. Irene talks about why she wants a seat where she will be outnumbered and likely ostracized (if not...
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79. They Changed the Ballot, Now What? 3 to 5 Fights Back
My guest Angela Thomas, leader of the 3 to 5 effort, tells us about the hearing last Thursday, who actually signed the 3 to 5 petition, and what the plan is to get 3 to 5 to pass November. She’ll also tell us how the 5 districts will be drawn if the voters choose to be represented by district.…
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78. Judge, Jury, and Ballot Writer
The commissioners appointed themselves judge and jury over a ballot fight they started — and then wrote misleading language for their own competing measure. In this episode, I talk about the missing a “at-large” language in the commissioners’ stand-alone ballot measure, the 3-5 committee's…
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77. Three commissioners vs 20,000 voters
Most ballot measures are just…put on the ballot. Not in Douglas County. On Friday, August 28, the three Douglas County commissioners added their own biased language to the citizen-led ballot measure that over 20k residents signed. On top of that, the commissioners plan to add their own separate...
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76. Interview with Christian Schilder, candidate for House District 39
Hi there! Candidate Christian Schilder joins me to talk about what a state legislator does, how infrastructure holds us together, housing, water, and his short stint on the Douglas County planning commission (get ready for some commissioner tea). Thanks for listening/watching! Watch this…
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75. Get to know your ballot: Congressional candidate Rear Admiral Eileen Laubacher
This is one of those interviews where you need to hear the voice behind the candidate. Every time I hear Eileen Laubacher speak, I am struck by her sincerity. In this episode, Rear Admiral Eileen Laubacher, Democratic candidate for Congressional District 4 (CD4) sits down to talk about water, AI,...
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74. Get to know your ballot: Douglas County assessor candidate Kara Garr
It’s 89 days til election day, do you know where your ballot is? Don’t worry, you shouldn’t. Not yet. But in this episode, we’ll start gently approaching our ballots so we can make friends with it. Your ballot is going to be your BFF by November 3rd. Allow yourself to dream: What if we elected...
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73. The Return of Crowsnest 🐦⬛
Guess who’s back, back again…it’s Crowsnest. The proposed development in unincorporated Douglas County has been rejected by Parker and Castle Pines and now the developer is seeking to amend Douglas County’s Comprehensive Master Plan so it can land there. The first step is submitting an…
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72. What just happened? Commissioners make a confusing last minute move on funding the $200k drone program for John Adams Academy
My super-smart friends Julie Ort, Kim Carroll, and Bridget McEowen join me again to follow-up episode 71 about John Adams Academy’s (JAA’s) request for a $200k grant from the county’s school safety fund when Douglas County School District public schools received $80-$90k each. The commissioners...
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71. Over a million taxpayer dollars slated for John Adams Academy and the Douglas County Economic Corporation—and no public input to be found
Today I’m with my super smart friends Bridget McEowen, Julie Ort, and Kim Carroll. We’re catching up on the latest Douglas County news, which is that both John Adams Academy and the Douglas County Economic Development Corporation are set to receive major taxpayer dollars. What do those two orgs...
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70. Learn: What is the Graduated Income Tax proposal in Colorado? An Explainer For Normal People!
This week we are talking about a possible statewide ballot initiative that is about TAXES [insert scary music]. But don’t worry! Chris deGruy Kennedy, president of the Bell Policy Center joins me today to talk to us about Initiative 195: Graduated Income Tax. Tax policy is complicated and…
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69. Convict Coffee: Cause-Driven and Community-Focused
If you’re in Douglas County, you may have heard of Convict Coffee in Parker. People love it. Like, LOVE IT. Everyone wants to meet there despite it being tucked away out of sight in a strip mall off of Parker Road by Natural Grocers (Vitamin Cottage for the old timers). As a customer, I have been...
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68. Freedom Fest or Freedom Jest?
Howdy, partners! Today we’re talking about the Rocky Mountain Voice Freedom Festival, which is being held on June 26-27 on the Douglas County Fairgrounds in Castle Rock. The commissioner claim that it is a nonpartisan event but to anyone with a brain cell, it’s a big MAGA love fest. Also, what is...
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67. Answering your Questions on George Teal’s $17k Ticket
You all asked the best questions! That lead to even more questions! And commissioner hypocrisy! Buckle up. Then vote. If you have a moment, rate and review Red County Blue State on Apple Podcasts. Click on the link and scroll to the bottom to rate and review. Don’t miss the one star review by a…
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66. Champagne Taste on a County Commission Budget, Part 3: the Reimbursement Request
Oh boy there are a lot of dates in here so HANG WITH ME because it comes together in the end. This is Part 3 of 3, where we discuss the county approaching an outside organization to pay for George’s luxury travel. This org, which is a nonprofit, says “great!” without asking any questions. So many...
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65. Champagne Taste on a County Commissioner Budget, Part 2: the Refundable Ticket
As we learned in Part 1 of this series, Douglas County Commissioner George Teal doubled his VIP ticket to Dubai by making it refundable just days before his trip. This is a problem. Did George actually fly the tickets that he booked, or did her get a refund? It’s should be an easy question to...
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64. Champagne Taste on a County Commission Budget, Part 1: The Receipt George Teal Doesn’t Want Us to See
What we suspected has been confirmed, and the price of George Teal’s plane ticket to Dubai is so inflated that feels like a middle finger to taxpayers. In this episode, we’re getting very detailed: we’re talking about the extravagant flight that no normal business would allow, let alone a county...
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63. Your Handy Dandy Guide to the 3 to 5 Effort
The petitions to expand the county commission are out and about! Community organizer Angela Thomas is back to talk about what it means, why it matters, where to find a petition, and how to volunteer. I also tie this to a topic that’s been on everyone’s minds—data centers and their voracious water...
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62. Pride in Douglas County
Brooke Bernstein, president of Douglas County Pride, joins me today to talk about Pridefest on May 17 in Parker’s Salisbury Park. We talk about what Pridefest looks like in Douglas County, why there was no Pridefest in 2025, and how allies can support Douglas County Pride (hint: show up to...
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61. CORA 101: The Transparency Tool for the People
CORA class is in session! The Colorado Open Records Act is a critical law when it comes to ensuring transparent government, and it’s accessible to all of us. In this episode, my guest Jeff Roberts from the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition (CFOIC) explains the basics of CORA to us. What’s…
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60. The Bluffs, the Ballot, and the future of Lone Tree
Ever received a local ballot and wondered what it meant and if it mattered? Tara Meekma, candidate for Lone Tree city council, joins me to talk about the election on May 5. We talk about what city councils do and why voting in these races have an outsized impact on daily life, particularly in...
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59. It’s not just Dubai
Douglas County Commissioner George Teal’s luxury trip to Dubai isn’t the whole story, it’s the starting point. The fact that I can’t get a straight answer on something so specific and standard is a part of a bigger story of the commissioners’ disregard for rules and for the public it serves. It’s...
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58. Part 2 of 2: Zebulon and the $100 million question
Here’s Part 2 of my conversation with Kim Turnage and Barrett Rothe of the Douglas County Lantern. In this episode, we talk about Abe Laydon’s claim that “every city and town has unanimously supported Zebulon by resolution”, environmental concerns, wildfire evacuation plans during road...
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57. Part 1 of 2: Zebulon and the $100 Million Question
Plans for the controversial Zebulon Regional Sports Complex move on after the Douglas County Commissioners tell us that they will take on a $100 million debt by using Certificates of Participation, a financing method that does not require voter approval. Why are they doing this? What is the risk?...
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56. Bring it in! Team meeting!
Hi! Good to see your face! Let’s get ready for No Kings on Saturday, March 28, 2026 and make it the biggest one ever! Go to NoKings.org to find all of the info. I’ll be at the one in Highlands Ranch at St Andrew 10:30am-12:30pm. Don’t forget to reward yourself after. Connect with me, I’d love to...
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55. The Crowsnest Controversy in Castle Pines
The City of Castle Pines is considering the annexation of Crowsnest, an parcel of land that doesn’t border Castle Pines. Yeah, you heard me. How is this possible and what does it mean for Castle Pines, Parker, Castle Rock, and the rest of Douglas County? It’s a rushed process that needs more...
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54. CD4 Democrats in Court and Commissioners Preen in Taxpayer-Funded Magazine
**IMPORTANT CORRECTION** I said in the podcast that Trisha Calvarese sued Eileen Laubacher and the Colorado Democratic Party. The correct info is that Trisha sued only the Colorado Democratic Party, and the requested relief (if granted) would bar Eileen from participating in caucus and assembly....
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53. The Mysterious Case of the Cowboy Commissioner's $17k Flight to Dubai
It don’t add up, partner. George Teal may dress like a cowboy but he flies pretty fancy. In this episode, we walk through the updates regarding the results of a recent CORA request and question why the county reimbursed Teal for $17,091 when he submitted a partial receipt that failed to include...
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52. Breaking the At-Large Lock with Rep Bob Marshall
Get full access to Red County, Blue State at esuyat.substack.com/subscribe
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51. A Douglas County Commissioner's $17k airfare to Dubai
On November 20, 2025 9News reported that Douglas County’s George Teal took a last-minute, pricey trip to the Dubai Air Show (in Dubai!), paid for with taxpayer dollars. In this episode, I talk about Douglas County’s government’s travel policy—what it allows and most importantly, what it…
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Correction about town hall on Feb 12!
Commissioner Kevin Van Winkle’s town hall on Feb 12 at 6pm is at Franktown Elementary School, 1384 N State Highway 83, Franktown, CO 80116. Please confirm details here before you go: https://www.douglas.co.us/event/town-hall-hosted-by-commissioner-van-winkle/ Get full access to Red County, Blue...
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50. Douglas County Commissioners End General Public Comment
The county’s website says “citizen engagement is the heartbeat of effective local government.” Why, then, have the county commissioners eliminated general public comment at their business meetings? Their excuses are many—and wholly unpersuasive. Listen to find out how this happened and what you…
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49. Flying Your Freak Flag in Parker
Last week Shrek the Musical, the show currently running at the PACE Center, had Douglas County facebook pages all stirred up. Cast members flew rainbow flags during the musical number Freak Flag and some ticket holders not happy, including one of the major sponsors of Parker Arts. August Stoten…
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48. Could Douglas County Expand to Five County Commissioners? Part 2 of 2
Hi! Angela Thomas returns to answer common questions around the effort to expand the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners from three members to five. While counties like Adams, Arapahoe, and El Paso have five commissioners, none achieved it through a citizen-led petition. That means…
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47. Could Douglas County Expand to Five County Commissioners? Part 1 of 2
On this Martin Luther King Day, the Minneapolis communities who are showing up for their neighbors peacefully and firmly are inspiring me. If you want to join local resistance movements and find your people, connect with groups such as Democracy Now DougCo (you can also go to Indivisible.org to...
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46. Colorado Caucus and Assembly Explained, with guest Meg Furlow
We can’t not talk about Renee Nicole Good. So we will. If you want to skip it, fast forward about 2 minutes. Peaceful protest and participation are how we fight for accountability. Learn about caucus and assembly, the statutorily mandated process by which the two major political parties organize...
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45. Douglas County Schools, Sterling Ranch, and How Residents Helped Change Amendment 13
It’s the new year! Flex those muscles, local muscles that is. When you learn about an issue and put your voice on the record, it makes a difference. Amendment 13 in its original form would have effectively blocked Douglas County School District from building new schools in Sterling Ranch, and the...
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44. Douglas County’s Proposed Retail Theft Ordinance: All Theater, No Fix
Let’s talk about Douglas County’s proposed retail theft ordinance and why it’s more performative tough-on-crime theater than effective policy. Plus, school board accountability after the election, and a few bright-spot local recommendations Retail theft press conferenceThe proposed retail theft...
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43. Finger-snapping Forbidden, False Statements Fine
In this episode I break down the November 25 public hearing on Amendment 13, the provision that prevents Douglas County School District from building schools in Sterling Ranch. I also address a false statement made about me during this meeting. It’s more commissioner chaos and cronyism in Douglas...
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42. “It Could Cripple Douglas County School District”
Sterling Ranch has been in the news for controversies regarding Zebulon and the conservative state-run charter school John Adams Academy. Lately, the developers of Sterling Ranch have proposed a sketchy change to its planned development agreement. If approved by the county commissioners, this...
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41. Finding Friends and your Political Home: Living Liberally Douglas County (updated name: blue crew social)
My guest today is Chris Coté of Living Liberally Douglas County (UPDATED NAME: Blue Crew Social). Need to socialize with non-maga folks before the holidays? This is your group. Find out all about the Living Liberally Douglas County and their events here. Holiday Boycott Nov 25 - Dec 2. County...
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40. An Unexpected Win at the School Board Meeting
Are you the type of person who has been known to gasp at the drama of a local school board meeting? Me too! I’m condensing this surprising 7 hour school board meeting into 20 minutes. While our national shitshow continues to unfold, take hope at local progress and good representation. Watch the...
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39. Look at you, Douglas County!
Last night, Douglas County voters sent a clear message yet again. Let’s talk about it and revel in it before we get back to work. Also, the masterclass phone call to Boebert’s office. Email me any time: [email protected] Election results The call to Boebert’s office on facebook and on tik tok....
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38. The Real Scoop on Issues Facing our Public Schools with guest Brad Geiger
My guest today is Brad Geiger, one of the seven current members of the school board in Douglas County School District. He’s here to talk about what the pressing concerns are in regard to our schools and wow, cultural issues are nowhere on it. Elections are a week away! Get those ballots in by Nov…
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37. Interview with Kyrzia Parker, candidate for school board
Today my guest Kyrzia Parker talks with us about how to make our schools safer and why people who don’t have kids in the school district play an important role in this election. Plus, some news on Kyrzia’s opponent who is into the politics of dominance. Find out more about Kyrzia Parker here:...
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36. What’s an MLO? A bond? Your school funding questions answered
Who’s ready to be smart? Julie Gooden has years of experience working on public education policy at the local and state level and today she joins us to explain school finance in plain language. Still have questions? Email me anytime and I’ll try to get you an answer: [email protected] Colorado...
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35. Interview with Tony Ryan, candidate for school board
This is my third interview of the candidates running on the Community Choice slate that includes Clark Callahan, Kelly Denzler, Tony Ryan and Kyrzia Parker. Get those ballots in by Nov 4! Tony Ryan and I talk about the non-discrimination policy in Douglas County School District—and why a good...
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34. Interview with Clark Callahan, candidate for school board
Today we’re catching up on Douglas County Zebulon news (not great!) and talking to school board candidate Clark Callahan (if you’d like to skip to that, go to 3:48). This is my second interview of the candidates running on the Community Choice slate that includes Clark Callahan, Kelly Denzler…
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Red County, Blue State have?
Red County, Blue State currently has 82 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Red County, Blue State about?
The thrill of living in progressive Colorado, the agony of being represented by Lauren Boebert: life and politics for people who lean left in Douglas County. esuyat.substack.com
How often does Red County, Blue State release new episodes?
Red County, Blue State has 82 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
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You can listen to Red County, Blue State on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Red County, Blue State?
Red County, Blue State is created and hosted by Emily Suyat.
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