# Purplish A podcast by Colorado Public Radio. 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 Radio and other news organizations across the state. Funding for the Alliance is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Feed: https://pod.cpr.org/purplish/ ## Latest episodes - [Amid America’s most expensive election cycle, where’s the Colorado campaign cash flowing?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/3bf17b20ceab) (2026-10-30, 22 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/646f4783-54b3-488b-9563-e2c0eab3b54f/Purplish_S16E28_-_Campaign_Finance_COLD_OPEN_and_INTRO_FIN.mp3 - [Israel-Gaza violence rattles Colorado Democratic politics, will protests and primary wins prompt policy change?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/212a641105f9) (2026-10-26, 68 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/6807eb93-9cb9-4447-92bf-84df72219b2b/Purplish_S16E26_-_Dems_and_Israel_Cold_Open_and_Intro_FIN.mp3 - [From exorcisms to campaign finance violations, unpacking Colorado’s 2026 race for Governor](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/415c4ab511fd) (2026-10-16, 33 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/ec420b4d-c6d9-4cea-b526-df818bbc0681/Purplish_S16E27_-_Governor_s_Race_Cold_Open_and_Intro_FIN.mp3 - [‘The Great Colorado Ballot-O-Rama’: Part II](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/645b796efc1b) (2026-10-02, 30 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/113525ef-825f-405d-9c27-aacd786495db/Purplish_S16E26__The_Great_Colorado_Ballot-O-Rama_II_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [‘The Great Colorado Ballot-O-Rama’: Part I](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/092cd831a266) (2026-09-25, 30 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/2687938c-e44e-40ff-b211-1e05f36b8fb7/Purplish_S16E25__The_Great_Colorado_Ballot-O-Rama_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [The Great Colorado Road Trip: voters share how they view the midterms](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/5c8665d52e78) (2026-09-15, 36 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/404c090d-42f8-4bca-b6a3-6d95c2b98579/Purplish_S16E23_-_Election_Road_Trip_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [What the ‘Buc’? Buc-ee’s back in Colorado headlines](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/925fbd840eb1) (2026-09-04, 40 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/763c0e92-8de3-414f-a3e1-dca345f7308f/Purplish_S16E22_-_Buc-ees_2_Electric_Boogaloo_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [Rideshare safety in the spotlight and now on the books in Colorado](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/b718a0b50d46) (2026-08-14, 35 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/0bb6fc28-c4f4-4a9a-97a8-d23d56d83322/Purplish_S16E21_-_Rideshares_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [Colorado turns 150 and it’s always been a little bit ‘purple-ish’](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/53a336a8865f) (2026-07-28, 33 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/5fdb9406-2533-4052-baa5-ac042eb1a44b/Purplish_S16E20_-_CO150_-_State_Political_History_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [Did Colorado get hit with an anti-incumbent wave on primary night?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/930302effde7) (2026-07-03, 37 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/119347bb-7559-4de4-9394-ca22a3c33ccb/Purplish_S16E19_-_Primary_Election_Results_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [Colorado’s Capitol is a trove of histories, curiosities and controversies](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/6bac8b68e9af) (2026-06-26, 35 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/e13a1115-c604-4f9f-adf1-3d5e2fbe4a9d/Purplish_S16E18_Lets_Revisit_the_Capitol_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [The Republicans and Democrats who want to represent you in Congress](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/62105a0783f0) (2026-06-12, 41 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/1390bfca-a8d3-418b-b622-22483a89a113/Purplish_S16E17_-_Congressional_Primary_Races_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [Tina Peters is free, but the story is likely far from over](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/8bd85a44cdbc) (2026-06-05, 29 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/d74dc81f-4f03-4a2c-84d9-d218df3bd620/Purplish_S16E16_-_Tina_Peters_Fallout_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [The Democrats and Republicans who want to be Colorado’s next governor](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/b248ae69a940) (2026-05-29, 38 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/f31424fb-a12d-414d-a345-902784d8e841/Purplish_S16E15_-_Gubernatorial_Primaries_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [Wrapping up the session: the policies, the politics... and the poetry](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/acb5b903984c) (2026-05-16, 29 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/f02ccc45-565a-4244-b0c2-4e4cee226378/Purplish_S16E14_-_Sine_Die_Sweepin_The_Clouds_Away_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [ICE tactics have some Colorado Dems itching to respond. That’s easier said than done](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/21ee4b111b59) (2026-05-01, 33 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/c58424de-366f-4a9e-90b8-c4eae1755ae0/Purplish_S16E13_-_ICE_Legislation_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [Should Colorado lawmakers get a raise? It’s a politically thorny topic](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/b22c80bf6d78) (2026-04-24, 27 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/e7e7ae86-4e76-40f7-ac02-2cb38e7a6adb/Purplish_S16_EP12_Lawmaker_Pay_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [Who’s on the primary ballot and what did it take for them to get there](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/f17114b815b0) (2026-04-17, 27 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/9d2320b4-fc33-4026-b834-71532d4ea361/Purplish_S16E11_-_State_Assemblies_-_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [11 questions lawmakers hope could help prevent domestic violence killings](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/4a7594305eac) (2026-04-10, 27 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/e2993bd9-2103-470f-a2a6-cbfa9bde51f0/Purplish_S16E10_-_Domestic_Violence_Legislation_FIN.mp3 - [Who should have the power to pump up the volume at Colorado’s venues](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/0d37cfbcb28a) (2026-04-03, 32 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/7f0ce802-3523-4769-bbee-10691a9bdced/Purplish_S16E09_-_Noise_Ordinance_Bill_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [Colorado’s budget woes and the ballooning costs of Medicaid](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/520b116367cf) (2026-03-27, 34 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/fd86df75-4dbe-4753-ae6e-118f24a8ba33/Purplish_S16E08_-_How_Medicaid_Broke_The_Budget_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [Colorado’s prisons have a crowding problem](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/228e38a5ceaa) (2026-03-20, 30 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/d801c5d0-b1ed-453d-a83e-b33433563d80/Purplish_S16E07_-_Overcrowded_Prisons_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [What the ‘Flock’ are you looking at? License plate readers and mass surveillance](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/0989bc002f14) (2026-03-13, 37 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/1d950076-aa01-4156-ae24-56b724ecccf7/Purplish_S16E06_-_Flock_Cameras_-_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [A prescription for pesticides? Why lawmakers considered a novel approach to neonics](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/eee561e764fd) (2026-03-06, 28 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/96151097-ae1c-4f76-90c3-6ef13e0afe7e/Purplish_S16E05_-_Neonics_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [Will Colorado give data centers a warm embrace, or a cool reception?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/bb0427cb5edc) (2026-02-20, 27 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/3e3045da-19c4-45d2-b04e-2afdde61681f/Purplish_S16E04_-_Dueling_Data_Center_Bills_ACT_1_REV_3_WITH_CORRECTION_Mixdown_1.mp3 - [Colorado in Trump’s crosshairs](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/1fa2ac6dab61) (2026-02-06, 31 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/8bb73128-7c0a-4078-b5f8-22085bfa4c6c/Purplish_S16E03_-_Trump_Punishing_CO_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [Gov. Polis is a lame duck. What does that mean for Colorado policy and politics?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/0840e4ad83bf) (2026-01-23, 29 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/e9753c1a-80ac-445e-ad0e-3308010eb5ba/Purplish_S16E02_-_Final_Year_of_Polis_ACT_1_FIN_CORRECTED_AUDIO.mp3 - [Get ready for a new legislative session under Colorado’s Gold Dome](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/1acb72c480df) (2026-01-09, 27 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/af683446-f203-488b-bde4-b6297e776dfe/Purplish_S16E01_-_Session_Preview_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [Colorado’s homeowner’s insurance on shaky ground](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/81ca9577d5df) (2025-12-12, 31 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/2d43fbf7-4040-4bee-a636-23b44c56e704/Purplish_S15E34_-_Wildfire_and_Homeowners_Insurance_-_ACT_1_REV_3.mp3 - [Will Colorado join the redistricting war?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/73608d43fd11) (2025-11-21, 34 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/dcddb711-7202-4bbc-8507-bf144dadf2fe/Purplish_S15E33_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [Veterans Day Special: The battle of Iwo Jima, through the eyes of a Coloradan who lived it](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/8245246b8760) (2025-11-10, 15 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/781ebeb6-3766-4782-bc60-49b58de86057/Purplish_S15E32_-_BONUS_Iwo_Jima_-_FIN.mp3 - [Yes, yes, we just had an election, but It's never too soon to talk about the midterms](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/d86274066acb) (2025-11-07, 39 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/5b5d94b9-9b73-4827-b81e-d48c7ce5d51e/Purplish_S15E31_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [Portrait scandals and secret tunnels: Purplish tours the Colorado Capitol](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/86513f1042a0) (2025-10-24, 33 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/985f30ec-5a4d-4e62-a278-c5fee872fcfc/Purplish_S15E26_ACT_1_-_FIN_from_Slack.mp3 - [Colorado’s ‘Healthy School Meals for All’ is at a crossroads. Voters will decide where it goes](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/cf95bcf2251c) (2025-10-17, 30 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/976911bb-ff9f-49d7-8547-d47fe7585a71/Purplish_S15E29_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [Colorado banned conversion therapy for minors. A U.S. Supreme Court case could upend that](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/b156cfa491e6) (2025-10-03, 27 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/5474204b-abb6-4d27-8060-41b709ab5d59/Purplish_S15E28_ACT_1_REV_3.mp3 - [How a possible Buc-ee’s travel plaza has divided one Colorado town](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/be9862a9497b) (2025-09-19, 36 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/4e7eae3c-465a-44ba-87d2-104fcaacf662/Purplish_S15E27_Buc-ees_and_Palmer_Lake_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [Budget balanced (for now), AI decisions punted, relationships ruptured: What went down during special session](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/50a1b3600889) (2025-08-29, 27 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/170ffcd0-3eb9-4d20-87ea-0d0aff8de0db/Purplish_S15E26_-_Today_On_a_Very_Special_Purplish_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [Crude Signal chats, social media attacks, mistreated aides: lawmaker conduct is back in the headlines](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/459971a0f52e) (2025-08-15, 35 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/30c25fd1-4823-4d2b-8c3d-22c3c0ffed6c/Purplish_S15E24_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [Why lawmakers have been eyeing Colorado's $2B in ‘unclaimed property’](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/38bdc32f0c44) (2025-08-01, 28 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/93b7f1c3-d27e-4273-9f4b-1261870cf9a3/Purplish_S15E23_Unclaimed_Property_ACT_1_REV_1.mp3 - [What Republicans' ‘One Big Beautiful Bill' means for Colorado](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/2e594ede1fc8) (2025-07-18, 39 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/865c333a-9b80-4fdf-ade4-c9a4dcbca985/Purplish_S15E22_OBBB_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [Why is Douglas County so worked up about home rule?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/a7b5e7173a7a) (2025-06-20, 31 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/acd6cf20-a88b-4c8f-9170-f1367cb0bbf5/Purplish_S15E21_-_Home_Rule_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [When Colorado rewrote the rules for policing](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/4e9ef24c3d5e) (2025-06-06, 29 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/976f83ad-10b3-4858-a91f-e9bf1e607b4c/Purplish_S15E20_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [Medicaid cuts, AI regs, special session chances: Colorado’s governor and legislative leadership weigh in](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/c3c82b24a1de) (2025-05-23, 40 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/753651ef-2098-4bde-8f95-eafcb665898b/Purplish_S15E19_Sun_Fest_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [That’s a wrap, for now. Here’s how the 2025 session ended up](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/975f688f4a4c) (2025-05-09, 30 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/4e791d16-5d27-4aa7-862d-35972428db3f/Purplish_S15E18_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [A rare veto showdown at the State Capitol](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/2703af0b911e) (2025-05-02, 31 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/220831a9-0e70-4c0d-9037-7e980b79dabf/Purplish_S15E17_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [100 days of Trump, in the eyes of two Colorado lawmakers from two different capitols](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/081adc539d48) (2025-04-25, 46 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/d9622289-7859-44b4-94b1-c2fa3c5fcddf/Purplish_S15E16_The_Live_Show_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [Colorado answers Trump's immigration crackdown with expanded protections](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/d266d394ee92) (2025-04-18, 30 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/882a426e-245b-490e-a1cf-8cf8393904e2/Purplish_S15E15_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [As the White House restricts trans rights, Colorado is poised to fortify them](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/fd10b46f739b) (2025-04-11, 25 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/f67a6765-ad53-4f73-a054-6284e0875b49/Purplish_1514_Trans_Protections_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [Colorado's political parties navigate a changed political landscape](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/026831e659d7) (2025-04-04, 28 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/79034049-f9d6-458a-9697-9b4952c248db/Purplish_S15E13_-_In_Colorado_Party_Finds_You_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 - [Colorado's budget hits crunch time with ‘painful’ cuts](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1434628462/07855c6e71d9) (2025-03-28, 29 min): audio https://dovetail.prxu.org/8046/096a7a1f-223b-4705-b0a5-dc01cab7d2f4/Purplish_S15E12_The_Budget_ACT_1_FIN.mp3 Shows are listed from Apple Podcasts' charts and directory, and Podcast Index where it is used. Every show and episode belongs to its publisher and plays from the publisher's own feed; this site hosts none of them.