California’s EV Mandate and Colorado’s 2022 Ballot Questions

On September 13, 2022, Kim Monson examines California’s radical plan to ban gas-powered vehicles by 2035 and whether Governor Polis will follow suit. Lauren Fix, the Car Coach, breaks down the grid failures making EV mandates impractical. State House candidate Stephanie Wheeler describes Denver’s crime crisis, Natalie Menten analyzes the 2022 ballot questions, and Kim Ware from Christian Home Educators of Colorado discusses homeschooling resources.

Denver Crime and the 2022 State House Race

Start listening at 15:43 – Hour 1

Stephanie Wheeler, Republican candidate for Colorado House District 2, describes the crime epidemic plaguing Denver’s streets. Wheeler, a single mother and recent University of Denver graduate, explains why she decided to run despite the district’s heavy Democratic lean. District 2 covers the area from Hampden to 6th Avenue, Colorado Boulevard to Broadway, entirely within Denver County including Sheridan and Englewood.

Wheeler reveals that one in 17 Denver residents will become a victim of violent crime, with the city’s violent crime rate running 120 percent above the national average. She recounts her own experience with vehicle theft, where criminals used a signal booster to unlock her car while she was inside a Dairy Queen for less than five minutes. The thieves stole her laptop without breaking any windows or triggering alarms.

The catch-and-release policies implemented during COVID have allowed repeat offenders to cycle through the system without meaningful consequences. Denver’s district attorneys refuse to prosecute vehicle crimes like smash-and-grabs until the fourth or fifth offense, leaving residents afraid to let their children play in their own front yards.

“And right now, one in 17 Denverites will be a victim of violent crime. Our violent crime is 115, or I’m sorry, 120%higher than national average. And that to me is not compassion.”

Stephanie Wheeler, Candidate for Colorado HD-2

California’s EV Mandate and the Grid Reality

Start listening at 26:07 – Hour 1

Lauren Fix, the Car Coach, dismantles California Governor Gavin Newsom’s plan to ban gas-powered vehicle sales by 2035. Fix points out the absurdity of the mandate given that California cannot even keep its lights on during heat waves. Her friends in both Southern and Northern California send her screenshots of emergency notifications warning residents not to plug in appliances, turn on televisions, charge electric vehicles, or set thermostats below 80 degrees.

California relies on a single nuclear power plant after decommissioning others, attempting to power the state with wind and solar that can supply only 11 percent of demand. Currently, just 18 percent of California vehicles are electric, yet the grid already fails during peak demand. Fix warns that forcing 100 percent EV adoption would require an entirely new electrical infrastructure that does not exist and cannot be built in time.

The Biden administration’s push for electrification through John Podesta, the new clean energy czar with documented ties to Chinese Communist Party officials, signals control rather than genuine environmental concern. China continues building coal plants while American families face rising energy costs and shrinking mobility.

“They’re all sending me screenshots of what they’re getting, notifications on their phones and on their computers. Don’t plug in your appliances. Don’t turn on your TV. Don’t plug in your car. Keep your thermostat at 80 degrees or higher, warning brownouts and rolling blackouts.”

Lauren Fix, The Car Coach

Colorado’s 2022 Ballot Questions: The Good, Bad, and Ugly

Start listening at 71:41 – Hour 2

Natalie Menten, ballot issue analyst, guides voters through the 11 statewide measures appearing on November’s ballot. Five measures were referred by the state legislature while six emerged from citizen initiative petitions. Menten has submitted Colorado Open Records Act requests to local governments across the state, cataloging an additional 162 local ballot questions for her voter guide at ballot2022.com.

Proposition 121 stands out as a clear win for taxpayers, reducing the state income tax rate from 4.55 percent to 4.40 percent. This modest cut returns money to working families squeezed by inflation. Proposition 124, expanding alcohol sales, would reduce regulation while another measure eases restrictions on charitable gaming operations like bingo.

Menten warns voters about deceptive language on several measures. Proposition 123, disguised as affordable housing help, actually imposes a gas tax while hiding the cost increases. The measure was crafted to mislead voters about its true impact, with the pain delayed until after the election. TABOR remains under constant assault from progressive ballot language designed to circumvent voter protections.

“They weren’t honest with you at all. Secondly, it’s a tax hike. If you want the tax hike, fine, but you should be aware of it. You certainly should be voting no and sending a message. There should be honesty in these elections.”

Natalie Menten, Ballot Issue Analyst

Homeschooling Resources for Colorado Families

Start listening at 99:50 – Hour 2

Kim Ware from Christian Home Educators of Colorado highlights a compelling essay by Sherry McMinn published on kimmonson.com titled “Is Homeschooling Possible for Your Family?” McMinn’s testimony follows her family’s journey from struggling with an IEP in traditional schools to thriving through homeschooling in the mid-1990s, when the practice was far less common.

The essay demonstrates that homeschooling works for families at all stages and for children with varying educational needs. McMinn’s son, who struggled in conventional classrooms, graduated with honors, earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design and an MBA in Marketing, and now runs a successful business as a family man.

“Sherry gives nuts and bolts about the how-tos of homeschooling within the article in like less than a thousand words. So she’s such a gifted writer.”

Kim Ware, Christian Home Educators of Colorado