Welcome back to another incisive episode of the Get More Smarter Podcast! In this episode, we dive deep into the results of the 2023 election, analyze the latest Republican Presidential Undercard Debate with special guest, Professor Seth Masket, and bring you the latest developments on our 8th favorite member of congress from Colorado.
Election Recap: HH Obliterated, Dems and Abortion Rights Win, Again:
The 2023 elections brought significant victories for Democrats across the country. We start with a national outlook:
Ohio voters supported enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution and legalized marijuana.
Democrats in Virginia held onto control of the State Senate and gained control of the House of Delegates.
Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear was re-elected in Kentucky, a traditionally red state.
Turning our focus to Colorado:
Proposition HH, addressing rising property taxes, got absolutely torched.
Proposition II, allowing Colorado to keep excess tobacco tax revenue, on the other hand passed with flying colors.
Mayoral races in Lakewood and Arvada bring victories for Democrats.
Douglas County sees Democrats winning all three school board seats, signaling voter discontent with the right-wing board's direction.
Mike Coffman Continues to get reelected in Aurora because somehow everyone forgot he’s a Republican, it would have been smart to remind them.
Proposition HH: Next Steps:
Governor Jared Polis called a special legislative session to tackle potential rising property taxes after the failure of Propo HH. The goal is, apparently, to approve a plan this coming weekend in a 3-day special session to ensure accurate tax bills for the next year. We discuss the importance of ensuring that flattening TABOR rebates is part of the deal and what this means for Colorado families.
The Boebert Report:
It looks like our 8th Favorite Member of Congress's support appears to be evaporating, even among conservative outlets. The Washington Examiner, owned by right-wing Colorado billionaire Phil Anschutz, seems to be testing out some distancing from Boebert. The Colorado Springs Gazette, another Anschutz-owned paper, was the only one to endorse her in 2022, yet barely covers her district, we ask the question nobody else is brave enough to ask, will Wayne Laugusen be the last one to jump off the Boebert Boat?.
Oh, also, in a hilarious turn of maximum hypocrisy, Boebert's campaign has not only stopped decrying so-called “ballot harvesting,” they’re wholeheartedly embracing the tactic after her narrow victory in 2022.
Former US House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer called out Boebert for her use of the House Floor to prove how little she knows about, well, everything. If you haven’t seen this clip, it’s worth a watch:
Special Guest: Seth Masket Watched the GOP Debate So We Didn’t Have To:
Seth Masket, Director of the University of Denver's Center on American Politics, joined us to analyze the recent Republican Presidential Undercard Debate. We discuss the desperation in the debate, the absence of Trump, and rate the performances of the five candidates:
Ron DeSantis: Still underwhelming, weird, and hopped up on goofballs.
Nikki Haley: The most coherent among the candidates, which is a low bar.
Tim Scott: A focus on anti-trans rhetoric and a call for a 15-week abortion ban.
Chris Christie: What would you say it is you do here?
Vivek Ramaswamy: Impossible to take seriously, and annoying as hell to boot.
AAAAaaaaaaaand that's a wrap for another episode of the Get More Smarter Podcast! Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform. If you enjoy the show, please rate and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts—it makes a big difference! Visit GetMoreSmarter.com for bonus content and send your rants, angry or not, to angryrants@getmoresmarter.com. Remember to wear your seatbelt and get your booster—it's like a seatbelt for your immune system. Thanks for tuning in!
Episode 173: The 2023 Election Recap (Feat. Seth Masket)