Tues Blogcast: DIA woes; VA Ed benefits; Who talks like that?; Rapping dog

Today's Guests

Joshua Jacobs is Undersecretary for Benefits at the Veterans Administration. We'll discuss new educational benefits available to some veterans: Some vets get 12 extra months of college benefits under new VA rules

More info here: Impact of Rudisill Supreme Court Decision on Veterans’ Education Benefits - Education and Training

If you want to make a (political) difference in your local community, a great way to start is with the Citizen Involvement Project class (on Zoom) offered by the Independence Institute. The next class is Jan 14. The project's director, Kathleen Chandler, joins us for a few minutes to give some information.

Citizen Involvement Project - Independence Institute

Two guests on the same topic:

Corey Palmeiro is a founding member of Save Old Littleton and opposes proposed changes to Littleton's residential zoning regulations.

Later in the show, Kyle Schlachter, mayor of Littleton, will explain what he thinks my guests and I have gotten wrong about the proposal and even if he won't take an overtly in-favor position, he'll at least be able to argue that side of the case.

It's important to me to make sure listeners have as complete information as possible with a vote scheduled for tonight though I wouldn't be shocked if it were delayed.

Other Stuff

I wish I were surprised: Denver airport's lax oversight jeopardizes Great Hall project, city auditor finds - Axios Denver

The auditor's FOLLOW-UP REPORT

First, I'm surprised that the amount was so small given that there was physical contact. Second, who talks like that? United Airlines settles racial discrimination lawsuit in case of ex-Denver employee - The Colorado Sun

Both interesting and scary how much information Tesla had about the vehicle that the suicidal veteran blew up in front of Trump Las Vegas: Tesla data helped police after truck explosion; experts have privacy concerns

This will be some very interesting politics but my gut instinct is two bills rather than one, and try to do the border bill without using reconciliation (which might not be available for an immigration bill anyway): Trump meeting with Senate Republicans on mega-MAGA moonshot

The immigration bill could get Dem support. (Just a little.) Congress launches early immigration crackdown ahead of Trump inauguration

At the moment, because a few Republican House members are going to work in the Trump administration, the GOP has a 217-215 majority. Since a tie is the same as a no/fail in legislative voting, that means the GOP can lose only one member on what is otherwise a party-line vote. Over a few months as those vacancies are filled, the GOP majority will increase, probably to 5, but that's still a very tight margin when you have hardcore conservatives and moderates in the same party and need to get them to agree. A look at the right-wing lawmakers that could constrain pro-Israel legislation in the new Congress

In all this talk about the winners, one group -- the most important group -- is always forgotten: consumers. Trump tariffs would crown two massive winners

This brave new world is going to have lots of upside and lots of risk: OpenAI's video-making tool Sora takes photorealistic but fake video mainstream

A sad tale of a once-great newspaper: Axios - WashPost Adrift

An excellent read: Why Brianna Wu left the activist left

Better late than never: Meta to Replace Fact Checks with 'Community Notes' System as Zuckerberg Vows Return to Free Speech | National Review

On one hand, I want every terrorist dead or imprisoned. On the other hand, how can the US keep someone in prison for 20 years without charging him with anything? US transfers 11 Guantanamo detainees to Yemen | AP News I'm struggling with this one...and it doesn't help that it's safe to assume that any foreign-policy decision of the Biden administration will be the wrong one.

Another one bites the dust: McDonald’s is ending some of its diversity practices | AP News

To be clear, I'm all for "inclusion" and even "diversity" but the "equity" piece of DEI turned into a perversion of justice and fairness and into an excuse for racism and division.

McDonalds' statement: Our Commitment to Inclusion at McDonald’s

Tennessee's law theoretically blocks access to "objectionable" text, not just images or video. Judge largely blocks Tennessee's porn site age verification law as other states enforce theirs | AP News

I like this letter: Letter: Reflections on America and the once thriving rural family farm economy - Rocky Mountain Voice