CO2 Benefits Humanity While Strong Families Build Strong Nations

On January 4, 2024, Gregory Wrightstone, Karen Levine, and Mike Morrell joined the show. Gregory Wrightstone explained how increased CO2 and modest warming benefit humanity through record crop yields, expanding forests, and longer growing seasons, while pushing back against climate crisis narratives Karen Levine discussed the softening of interest rates and its impact on the 2024 Colorado housing market, while addressing construction defects legislation.

The Benefits of Carbon Dioxide and Modest Warming

Start listening at 31:09 – Hour 1

Gregory Wrightstone, executive director of the CO2 Coalition and author of A Very Convenient Warming, pushes back against climate crisis narratives with data showing that increased CO2 levels and modest warming are actually benefiting humanity. Wrightstone points to record crop yields, expanding forests, and shrinking deserts as evidence that life on Earth is thriving.

The conversation addressed government overreach in the name of climate policy, from Department of Energy regulations on showerheads and dishwashers to efforts to eliminate incandescent light bulbs. Wrightstone described how nighttime low temperatures, not daytime highs, are driving modest warming trends, which means longer growing seasons and fewer late-spring killing frosts for farmers.

Wrightstone also discussed his work with state legislators and members of Congress, noting that the CO2 Coalition is producing state-by-state reports on climate data. He emphasized that agricultural productivity is outpacing population growth globally, thanks to the combination of modest warming, increased CO2 fertilization, and fossil fuel-derived nitrogen fertilizers.

“So we should embrace and celebrate warming and more CO2.”

Gregory Wrightstone, Executive Director, CO2 Coalition

Real Estate Outlook for 2024

Start listening at 63:33 – Hour 2

Karen Levine, REMAX Alliance Realtor, shared her perspective on the Colorado Front Range housing market heading into 2024. After a challenging 2023 marked by doubled interest rates and affordability concerns, Levine sees promising signs as rates begin to soften.

Levine noted that limited inventory continues to drive appreciation potential, making early 2024 an opportune time for buyers to act before competition heats up. She also addressed the ongoing impact of construction defects legislation that has stifled condominium and townhouse development, contrasting it with the apartment construction boom that keeps potential homeowners as renters.

The Colorado Association of Realtors is pushing for state-level reforms to what Levine calls “construction litigation legislation” that has harmed entry-level and affordable housing options for years.

“But what’s exciting about 2024 is we’ve already seen a softening, a lowering of the interest rate, which is going to improve affordability.”

Karen Levine, REMAX Alliance Realtor

Restoring the American Family

Start listening at 74:10 – Hour 2

Mike Morrell, former California State Senator, discussed his book The Road to Restoring the Family and the biblical principle that fathers should leave an inheritance to their children’s children. Morrell served in the California State Senate from 2010 to 2021, witnessing firsthand the erosion of traditional values in public policy.

Morrell warned that modern education is laced with Marxist ideology designed to separate children from parents and make them wards of the state. He pointed to encouraging signs in the parental rights movement, with mothers and fathers showing up at school board meetings to push back against indoctrination and demand academic excellence.

The conversation touched on the intersection of religion and politics, with Morrell citing George Washington’s observation that America’s success came from the intersection of Jerusalem (religion) and Athens (politics). He emphasized that the Constitution limits government power and puts authority back in the hands of the people, but citizens must engage and hold elected officials accountable.

“The duty of a father is to leave an inheritance to his children’s children. And inheritance goes beyond just the financial aspect, but it’s about spirituality, marriage, financial, educationally, even politically, defending freedom, leadership, purpose, destiny, education.”

Mike Morrell, Former California State Senator