Welcome back to CTR’s weekly roundup of articles pertaining to political extremism in Colorado. Aside from protests over the weekend in opposition to the Trump administration’s actions, which you can read our coverage of here, we have multiple stories pertaining to right-wing activism and overreach by the federal government. First up, we have a piece by James O’Rourke on the various far-right donors to a Colorado conservative training program called the Leadership Program of the Rockies (LPR). LPR’s investors range from longstanding conservative think tanks like the Heritage Foundation to extreme Libertarian city-state advocacy groups. Logan Davis has a column examining the link between modern right-wing anti-public education activism and the now 60-year-old John Birch Society. We are also highlighting two pieces by the Colorado Newsline’s Lindsey Toomer, who wrote about Trump’s Energy Secretary dismissing the role of climate change in Colorado wildfires and the now 10 international students at Colorado universities who have had their visas revoked.
News Analysis
Fever Swamp Review Podcast: Six Degrees of Jared Taylor
Heidi reflects on recent reporting trips to cover protests in Grand Junction and Colorado Springs, and discusses connections between white nationalists Jared Taylor and Steve Bannon and various members of the Colorado Republican Party.
Fever Swamp Review Podcast: GOP Grudge Match
Heidi takes you inside the race for Colorado GOP chair. Firebrand anti-trans activist Darcy Schoening is facing former Routt County Treasurer Brita Horn, Weld County Commissioner Lori Saine, and others. During last week’s debate in Sedalia, Schoening describes her approach to public education, immigration, and more, while Saine takes shots at Schoening’s record.
DAVIS: ‘Bleed it Dry, Then Get the Hell Out’ – The Fight for Tax Dollars in Woodland Park Schools
When the Woodland Park City Council convened for a special meeting on Monday morning, no one expected the vote to be unanimous. No one was even quite sure which way the vote would go. By the time the adjourning gavel fell two and a half hours later, though, all seven members of council had converged on the same page, determined to put an end to the latest crisis triggered by the town’s controversial school board.
Extremist Rewind – Mar. 8th, 2025
Welcome one again to the Colorado Times Recorder’s weekly roundup of stories pertaining to political extremism. This week we are highlighting protests spearheaded by some members of the Colorado GOP to free Tina Peters, the former Mesa County official who was found guilty on numerous charges to undermine election safety. We are featuring reporting by Megan Neary who covered the protest itself and an article by Erik Maulbetsch who looks into the United States Department of Justice interceding on Peters’ behalf.
Fever Swamp Review: Inside LPR 2025
New Fever Swamp Review! Heidi takes you inside the Leadership Program of the Rockies’ 2025 retreat. Swag bag unboxing, speaker sessions, and more.
Fever Swamp Review: Eat the Bugs
New Fever Swamp Review! Heidi discusses Colorado Rep. Scott Bottoms’ (R-CO Springs) recent bill to ban the production of insects for human consumption in Colorado. They discuss the conspiracies behind eating bugs, Pat Robertson’s seminal work, “New World Order,” and effective altruism.
DAVIS: The Seven Mountains Mandate is the Biggest Story the Media is Missing
I do not envy the mainstream press at this moment. With multiple unthinkable things happening on a weekly basis, the task of triaging and prioritizing stories which could each dominate multiple news cycles in calmer times cannot be easy. Though I don’t envy them, I will criticize them. They play a vital role in society, keeping us apprised of events which could impact our lives – and they are currently missing a big one.
BRIEF: Colorado Oil & Gas Advocate Nominated to Lead Bureau of Land Management Worked With Boebert on Legislation
"President Trump has made a fantastic selection of Kathleen Sgamma as the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, as she knows our public lands and their untapped resources as well as anyone,” Boebert wrote in a statement.
What the Death of the Department of Education Would Mean for Colorado Kids
Republican presidents as far back as Ronald Reagan have been threatening to shutter the Department of Education (DOE). Lamar Alexander (under former President George W. Bush) took up the chant, as did Betsy DeVos during the first Trump administration and several prominent Colorado Republicans. But in the midst of the current onslaught from Washington, D.C., it looks like it may be more than a threat this time.