AI Surveillance in Wildfire Policy, Single-Party Rule in Colorado, and Arizona Legislative Gridlock

On Tuesday, July 29, 2025, Kim Monson explores the expanding surveillance state through wildfire legislation with citizen watchdog Mike Rawluk, examines Colorado’s deteriorating political landscape with State Senator Mark Baisley, and gets a ground-level report on Arizona’s legislative gridlock from sponsor Susan Harris.

AI Surveillance Disguised as Wildfire Prevention

Start listening at 16:46 – Hour 1

Mike Rawluk sounds the alarm on the surveillance components embedded in the Fix Our Forest Act and a recent Trump administration executive order on wildfires. The June 12, 2025 order calls for consolidating wildland fire programs into a unified agency while deploying artificial intelligence, data sharing, and predictive technology throughout America’s forests. Rawluk draws parallels to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, warning that combining government agencies with AI surveillance creates troubling precedents for liberty.

The citizen watchdog also highlights Arvada’s pending land use amendments and the strange practice of alkaline hydrolysis, where deceased individuals are dissolved and the liquid remains disposed into the sewer system. Colorado legalized this water cremation practice in 2011, raising questions about reclaimed water use in snow-making for ski slopes.

“Yeah, it seems to be a difficult balance when you want your phone personal safety versus the safety of your rights and freedoms as well, right? So, you know, it becomes a balancing point, and I think it’s tipping way too far in the other direction, and people are just accepting surveillance just to be safe.”

Mike Rawluk, Citizen Watchdog

Colorado’s Single-Party Rule Crisis

Start listening at 32:19 – Hour 1

Mark Baisley, Colorado State Senator representing District 4 and candidate for governor, diagnoses Colorado’s political ailments. Democrats control the House, Senate, Governor’s office, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer, and both U.S. Senate seats. Baisley argues this single-party dominance produces legislators who manage people rather than government, citing the record 705 bills passed last year and an unhealthy obsession with sexuality-focused legislation.

The aerospace engineer turned legislator explains his five-question framework for evaluating bills: constitutional compliance, founding principles alignment, necessity as law, wisdom in rights conflicts, and constituent preferences. He champions economic development through the CHIPS Act, quantum computing designation, and Sundance Festival relocation while proposing to decouple property values from property tax calculations to provide relief for homeowners.

“The folks that come in in the unhealthy way, which is what we have most of the time now, is people that come in to manage the people rather than manage the government. And they do so with the power that they have.”

Mark Baisley, Colorado State Senator

Arizona’s Election Reform Battles

Start listening at 101:36 – Hour 2

Susan Harris reports from Arizona on the state’s legislative gridlock between Republican majorities in both chambers and Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs. Of 1,854 bills introduced in the session, only about 450 passed the legislature, with Hobbs vetoing numerous Republican-sponsored election integrity measures. Harris expresses gratitude for the gridlock, arguing it prevents excessive legislation from reaching citizens.

Harris praises President Trump’s trade deals, including the EU agreement that secured tariffs protecting American markets. She notes the media’s attempts to spin victories negatively, citing the New York Times focusing on European impacts rather than American gains. On accountability for Russiagate participants, Harris remains skeptical that Clapper, Brennan, Comey, and others will face consequences, observing that powerful figures on both sides resist transparency.

“To get back any credibility at all with the government, not to mention the media, but most importantly, our government, to have any credibility at all, if we never see accountability, then I guess I feel like that ship has sailed and it’s just not going to happen.”

Susan Harris, Show Sponsor