">>> HI, EVERYONE."

"WELCOME TO APRIL 15TH, 2022," "EDITION OF ""COLORADO INSIDE" "OUT."""

I'M YOUR HOST DOMINIC DEZZUTTI.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THIS WAS A FUN ONE LAST WEEKEND.

LAST WEEKEND THE GOP ASEMIBY WAS DOMINATED BY THE ELECTION "CONSPIRACIES, CREATING A TWO-WAY" RACE FOR THE GOP U.S. SENATE BETWEEN STATE REPRESENTATIVE RON HANKS AND BUSINESSMAN JOE O'DEA.

"MEANWHILE, TINA PETERS WAS" OFFICIALLY NOMINATED TO A THREE-PERSON SLATE FOR SECRETARY "OF STATE, RECEIVING OVER 60% OF" THE VOTES.

JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT WE COULDN'T GET AN EVEN BETTER OCCASION TO TALK ABOUT IT AT THIS TABLE.

HERE COMES A STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN WITH THIS ONE.

YOU LET ME WHAT WE SAW ON SATURDAY.

>> WE NEED TO PUT ALL OUR OPINIONS ON PAPER AS THEY DEMANDED AT THE COLORADO REPUBLICAN PARTY.

THEY DIDN'T TRUST POOR CHRISTIE BURTON BROWN.

THEY ONLY HAD THE ROOM UNTIL MIDNIGHT.

"UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WEREN'T AS" MANY SURPRISES AS WE HOPED THERE WOULD BE.

DEFINITELY THE CRAZIES RULED THE DAY.

IT WILL BE FASCINATING.

THAT HEIDI GOT -- ONCE A DEMOCRAT AND NOW A REPUBLICAN.

HAS AN INTERESTING POLICE RECORD.

TINA PETERS ALWAYS FUN TO TALK ABOUT.

"SHE IS DEFINITELY, I DON'T KNOW" SOME PAM ANDERSON PETITIONED HER WAY OUT.

THAT WILL BE A WILD PRIMARY.

IT IS AMAZING THEY WENT TO EVERYONE WHO IS POLAR OPPOSITE.

RON HANKS WILL BE POLARIZING.

IT WAS JUST CRAZY.

I WASN'T THERE AND I COULD FEEL THE VIBE.

">> DAVID KOPEL, ALWAYS BRING OUT" THE FURTHER PART OF THE WINGS OF THE PARTY.

THEY ARE NOT THE VOICE OF THE WHOLE PARTY BUT THE ESTABLISHMENT SEEMED TO BE NOT ONLY TO TAMP DOWN THE MESSAGE BUT BE MOCKED AND DERIDED FOR IT.

THE KIND OF ENERGY COMING FROM "THAT, I WONDER THE ENERGY CAN" BE.

WHAT DID YOU TAKE FROM SATURDAY'S ASSEMBLY?

>> IT IS NOT A MATTER OF RIGHT WING IN THE SENSE WHAT ARE YOUR SUES ON TAXES OR SPENDING OR ANY OTHER ISSUE.

LOOK AT THE 2016 STATE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION.

THEY ARE THE PARTY SEND 35 DELEGATES.

EVERYONE ONE PLEDGED TO TED CRUZ WHO WAS THE LAST OPPONENT STANDING AGAINST TRUMP.

THE DELEGATES REALIZED THAT THE TRUMP IS A -- NOW THE PARTY HAS CHANGED.

PROBABLY HALF THE DELEGATES WERE FIRST TIMERS.

TRUMP HAS BROUGHT A LOT OF PEOPLE INTO THE PARTY WHICH IS OVERALL USUALLY GOOD FOR A PARTY.

BUT SO MANY OF THEM ARE SUCH WILLINGLY GULLIBLE OF HIS LIES ABOUT THE STOLEN 2020 ELECTION.

THEY ARE INSISTING THEY WANT TO NOMINATE CANDIDATES IN THE GENERAL ELECTION WHO WANT TO RUN ON BELIEVING THIS HOAX.

YOU MIGHT AS WELL PUT A SIGN I'M "A MORON, I BELIEVE ANYTHING."

ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE I WOULD "BET AMONG THE DELEGATES THERE," THERE IS PROBABLY AN EQUAL PERCENTAGE THAT BELIEVE THE SIMILAR LIES OF STACEY ABRAMS AND HILLARY CLINTON ABOUT THEIR STOLEN ELECTION.

THEY ARE PUTTING STACEY ABRAMS ON THE BALLOT.

ALL THESE CONSPIRACY THEORYS WHICH PROVAYED BOTH PARTIES.

THEY DID IT ALL ONLINE WHICH MAKES IT VERY LOW ENERGY.

BUT ALSO MAKES IT EASIER FOR THEM TO CONTROL THE PUBLIC OUTPUT OF WHAT PEOPLE SEE.

>> ERIC SONDERMANN IN COLORADO POLITICS.

I'M OF THE OPINION THAT MICHAEL BENNET IS THE LUCKEST ELECTED LEADER OF MY GENERATION.

"I THOUGHT OF THAT MOVE ""THE" "GREAT RACE."""

HERE COMES TONY CURTIS.

THAT IS MICHAEL BENNET'S CAREER.

EVEN IF HE GETS JOE O'DEA OUT OF THIS CAMPAIGN HE WILL SPEND THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS RUNNING ON THE 2020 LIE CONCEPT.

YOU WERE THERE.

"I'M VERY, VERY INTERESTED TO GET" YOUR INPUT WHAT YOU SAW ON YOUR TAKE.

">> YES, I WAS THERE."

AS A FRIEND TOLD ME THE DAY BEFORE WHEN I TOLD THEM I WAS GOING DOWN WHY DON'T YOU STICK A SHARP FORK IN YOUR EYE.

I'M TRYING TO THINK WHAT WORD TO USE TO CAPTURE THE DAY.

I THINK I WILL GO WITH CLUSTER TO DESCRIBE WHAT I WITNESSED THERE ON A MEDIA PATH THAT DAY.

IT STARTED.

THE CRAZINESS STARTED THE DAY BEFORE.

CAN BUCK FORMER PARTY CHAIR CONGRESSMAN AND NO ONE ACCUSED "KEN OF BEING A TRUE BLUE, TRUE" RED CONSERVATIVE.

"SOMEBODY GETS OFF THE FLOOR," DOES A NOMINATION.

GIVE A SPEECH GOING AFTER BUCK TO FOLLOW THE INSTITUTION AND CERTIFY JOE BIDEN AS THE PRESIDENT.

THIS GUY BOB GETS 62% OF THE VOTE.

HAS ENOUGH TO GET ON THE BALLOT.

THAT'S JUST CARRIES ON TO THE NEXT DAY.

PATTY USED THE WORD DISTRUST.

WHEN THEY ARE DISTRUSTED AS SUFFICIENTLY CONSERVATIVE OR HONORABLE OR ETHICAL TO RUN AN ELECTION YOU KNOW WE ENTERED THE CRAZY ZONE.

THERE WERE THREE NAMES RON "HANKS, TINA PETERS AND SOME BUY" NAME BRAD.

I DON'T THINK THESE PEOPLE WILL BE SUCCESSFUL.

I WOULD THINK PAM ANDERSON WILL DEFEAT TINA PETERS.

I THINK JOE O'DEA WILL BEAT RON HANKS FOR THAT NOMINATION.

THE TRACK RECORD ACTUALLY PICKING WINNERS IS NOT A GREAT TRACK RECORD.

WHY DO WE HAVE THIS PROCESS.

NOW IT IS NO LONGER ANTIQUATED.

IT IS SELF-DEFEATING FOR REPUBLICANS.

THEY ARE NOT WITHIN SEVERAL TIME ZONES OF BEING ELECTABLE.

BUT THAT'S WHO SPEAKS TO THIS PARTY AT THE MOMENT.

THAT IS WHO HAS THEIR HEART.

"AT LEAST THOSE 5,000-6,000" PEOPLE WHO ARE THE MOST HARD CORE OF THE HARD CORE.

>> KRISTA WITH US.

IT IS WONDERFUL TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THE ASSEMBLY DOES NOT SPEAK FOR THE WHOLE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

THERE ARE A LOT OF INDEPENDENT VOTERS WHO WILL NOT NOTHING TO VOTE.

SO THE MAINSTREAM ACCOMPLISHMENT CANDIDATES HAVE A FAIR SHOT.

ANSWERING QUESTIONS ABOUT SOMETHING THAT ISN'T CRIME "INFLATION, COST OF LIVING."

ALL THE THINGS THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT.

ASKING WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT WHAT AN ELECTION HAPPENED TWO YEARS AGO.

DOES THIS ASSEMBLY WILL IT HAVE LASTING EFFECTS ON THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES MOVING FORWARD.

>> MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS DUMPSTER FIRE.

WHAT IS GOOD ABOUT A DUMPSTER FIRE?

IT IS CONTAINED.

"YOU TAKE THE MOST CONSERVATIVE," MOST ACTIVE REPUBLICANS IN THE STATE AND BRING THEM IN ONE PLACE.

RON HANKS TOTAL NUT JOB.

OUT OF ALL THE MOST CONSERVATIVE AND MOST ACTIVE 39% ARE STUPID ENOUGH TO VOTE.

IT SAYS THAT 60% ARE OKAY.

THINK ABOUT THE PAPER BALLOT VOTE.

WE HAVE TO BE OUT HERE ALL NIGHT.

IT GOT SHUT DOWN.

THERE WERE SENSIBLE SMART PEOPLE SAYING WE ARE NOT DOING PAPER BALLOT.

SOME OF THE NUT JOBS DID END UP ON THE OFFICIAL BALLOTS ON THE PRIMARY.

THEY WERE NOT SUPPORTED BY A PURE MAJORITY.

YOU LOOK AT THE REPUBLICAN TOTALITY.

REPUBLICANS LIKE MYSELF THAT I GOT BETTER THINGS TO DO THAN GO ONE OF THOSE CRAZY CRACK POT ASSEMBLIES.

TOGETHER WITH A A MUCH BIGGER PARTY.

AT THE END OF THE DAY THE O'DEAS ARE GOING TO WIN.

RON HANKS IS GOING BACK TO THE ROCKS HE SLEEPS UNDER.

HE REPRESENTS HIS CRAZY DISTRICT THAT ARE STILL READING CONSPIRACY THEORYS.

FOR ALL OF YOU OUT THERE THAT BELIEVE IN THE STOLEN ELECTION CONSPIRACY THEORY YOU GOT TO SPICE IT UP.

AFTER TWO YEARS IT IS IMPORTANT.

>> THAT WOULD BRING INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR TO IT.

I LIKE THAT A LOT.

INTERNATIONAL CONSPIRACY.

TO BELIEVE THEM YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE YOU ARE WORTHY TO BE CONSPIRED AGAINST.

THAT TAKES AN AWFUL LOT OF EGO.

>>> CONVERSATIONS AROUND HOW TO BEST ADDRESS THE FENTANYL CRISIS CONTINUE.

THIS WEEK THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE VOTED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A MOTION THAT WOULD CLASSIFY POSSESSION OF OVER ONE GRAM OF FENTANYL AS A FELONY.

PEOPLE POSSESSING LESS THAN A GRAM WOULD FACE MISDEMEANOR CHARGES AND PENALTIES THAT INCREASE WITH EACH OFFENSE.

"DAVID, I KNOW WE ARE STILL FAR" AWAY FROM THE FINAL BILL BEING APPROVED.

"WHAT WE HAVE SEEN SO FAR, WHAT" DO YOU THINK AT LEAST THE EVOLUTION OF THE CONVERSATION?

>> IT IS A WASTE OF TIME CONVERSATION.

"YOU KNOW, WE ARE GETTING THE" LATEST THINGS A TO CHANGE THE FELONY LEVEL FROM ONE GRAM TO FOUR GRAMS.

SOMEBODY WHO IS RUNNING -- IMPORTING FENTANYL FROM CHINA ACTUALLY HAS FOUR GRAMS OF FENTANYL.

THEY DON'T WANT THE FENTANYL.

SO THE WAY THE THING GOES.

IF YOU HAVE A MOLECULE OF FENTANYL ON THREE GRAMS OF SOMETHING ELSE THEY WANT TO MAKE THAT A FELONY.

IF YOU KNEW THERE WAS FENTANYL THERE.

HOW DO YOU REASONABLY SHOULD KNOW OTHER THAN YOU HAVE A LAB AND TEST THE PILLS.

THEY ARE MAKING SURE THE PEOPLE GET IMPRISONED FOR THIS FELONY WILL BE ABLE TO VOTE.

I DON'T THINK THOSE PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS THAT SHOULD BE VOTING.

AND THE LINE WE ARE GOING TO GET THIS POISON OFF OUR STREETS.

WE ARE BEEN GOING THROUGH THIS FOR OVER A CENTURY.

THEY CRACK DOWN ON OPIOIDS AND BEFORE THAT WE HAD ALCOHOL.

WE HAD ALCOHOL PROBATION AND IT FAILED.

THEN MARIJUANA PROBATION.

THAT GETS REPLACED BY HEROIN.

HEROIN GETS REPLACED BY FENTANYL.

THERE IS OTHER STUFF AROUND THE CORNER FOR MEDICAL USES AS PAINKILLERS IN CHINESE LABS AMONG ELSEWHERE.

AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WE ARE CRACKING DOWN ILLEGAL EXPORTS.

THE WHOLE DRUG WAR IS A CENTURY OF FAILURE.

UNTIL THE PEOPLE ACKNOWLEDGE "THAT, DOING THE SAME STUFF OVER" AND OVER IS A WASTE OF EVERYONE'S TIME.

>> ERIC WHEN I GET INTO THIS.

IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS BECOMING A POLITICAL TEST.

THAT IF YOU CONSERVATIVE -- IF YOU ARE PROGRESS THERE IS A LITTLE WIGGLE ROOM THERE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW IT IS TURNING OUT OR KIND OF WHAT THE PRESS IS RIGHT NOW.

WHAT ARE YOU TAKING AWAY FROM THE POLITICAL DISCUSSION AROUND THIS ISSUE?

>> WHAT I'M TAKING AWAY FROM THE POLITICAL DISCUSSION IS THAT IT IS ONE MORE ISSUE THAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF.

DAVID'S POINT NOT WITHSTANDING THE WAR ON DRUGS FROM A CONCEPTUAL POINT OF VIEW.

CRIME IS INCREASING THESE DAYS.

WE ARE ALL LIVING WITH IT.

I WITNESSED IT UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL.

THE PUBLIC FRUSTRATION.

ONE OF MY ALL TV "SERIES ""BREAKING BAD"" THAT LOOK" TAMED.

OUR JAIL ARE FULL OF PEOPLE ONLY FOR MINOR LEVELS OF POSSESSION.

MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY DOING HARD TIME ARE THERE FOR DEALING.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE DISPUTES THEY OUGHT TO BE FOR DEALING.

THE REAL KEY TO FELONIZING THIS IS NOT THROW MORE PEOPLE IN JAIL BUT GET PROSECUTORS LEVERAGE TO GET THEM INTO TREATMENT PROGRAMS.

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE FELONY "CHARGE, PROSECUTORS LOSE A LOT" OF LEVERAGE.

"IF YOU ARE LOOKING NINE MONTHS," "A YEAR, THREE YEARS IN JAIL."

A TREATMENT PROGRAM LOOKS PRETTY GOOD.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT A MISDEMEANOR CHARGE.

YOU WILL SAY I'LL TAKE THE MISDEMEANOR AND I'M BACK ON THE STREETS ANYWAY.

THE LEVERAGE ISSUE IS WHAT IS BEING LOST IN THIS DISCUSSION.

">> KRISTA, WHAT DO YOU THINK?"

DRUGS ARE LIKE A HOMELESS PROBLEM.

THIS BRINGS UP CONVERSATIONS WE CAN DO.

>> I THINK IT IS A LITTLE MORE PRODUCTIVE.

I'M NOT SIM THEUTIC VIEW.

WHY PUT PEOPLE IN JAIL?

I'M SYMPATHIC ON THE ARGUMENT.

"WE SHOULDN'T PUT PEOPLE IN JAIL," WE SHOULD PUT THEM IN TREATMENT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY WE LOWER THE OFFENSES FOR FENTANYL POSSESSION AND DEATH WENT UP.

WHEN SOMETHING IS ILLEGAL.

PEOPLE ARE LESS LIKELY TO DO IT.

LESS LIKELY TO DEAL WITH IT.

IT GIVES THE OFFICERS AND PROSECUTORS A BETTER CHANCE TO GET TO THESE DEALERS.

I THINK ABOUT THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT REGULAR USERS WHO TOOK THE WRONG PILL.

35 YEARS AGO THAT COULD HAVE BEEN ME.

SOMEBODY WHO SMOKED A LITTLE POT.

THIS IS JUST LIKE WHAT YOU TOOK WHEN YOU GOT YOUR TEETH OUT.

I WOULD HAVE DIED.

THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING.

PEOPLE HAVE IT THEY GIVE IT.

PEOPLE DIE.

IT HAS TO BE ILLEGAL.

THERE HAS TO BE PENALTIES.

THERE ISN'T A SITUATION I THINK I HAVE A PROBLEM.

WE LOOK AT OREGON'S WITH DECRIMINALIZATION.

PEOPLE ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET HELP.

1% HAVE SOUGHT HELP UNDER THAT LAW.

THERE IS A PLACE -- A POINT WE HAVE TO LOCK PEOPLE UP.

THIS SUBSTANCE KILLS.

WITH A LOW OFFENSE IT WILL KILL MORE PEOPLE.

">> PATTY, THE FOCUS ON THIS IS" ONLY GOING TO INCREASE.

THE CITY OFFICIALS ARE LOOKING TO THE STATE TO CHANGE "SOMETHING, TO MAKE IT EASIER."

WHAT DO YOU THINK MOVING FORWARD?

>> WE WILL SEE A BIG FIGHT IN THE LEGISLATURE.

THEY AGREE TREATMENT IS BEST IF YOU CAN GET PEOPLE INTO TREATMENT.

DRUG DEALERS SHOULD BE IN JAIL.

THAT LEAVES A WHOLE LOT OF ROOM THEY CAN FIGHT OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

REDUCED THE LEVEL.

WE ARE GOING TO SEE IT USED IN CAMPAIGN.

IF LESLIE RUNS FOR MAYOR.

PEOPLE ARE MAD THAT THAT LOWERED THE LEVEL FOR FENTANYL.

WE ARE GOING TO SEE IT UP ON PETTERSSON CASE.

PEOPLE ARE MAD ON THESE DEATHS.

WE ARE NOT DONE TALKING ABOUT IT.

>>> THIS WEEK THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO NAMED FORMER LAWMAKER AND RECENT TODD SALIMAN THE SOLE CANDIDATE FOR UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT.

SALIMAN HAS BEEN SERVING AS INTERIM PRIOR TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT.

"THE DECISION IS SPARKING DEBATE," AS SOME ARE CLAIMING THE DECISION PROCESS WAS RIGGED AND LACKED TRANSPARENCY.

"ERIC, I'M GIVEN A VAGUE RECK" COLLATION WE HAVE BEEN HERE TODAY.

THE LARGEST EDUCATION SYSTEM IN THE STATE WAS IT THE RIGHT MOVE?

>> I THINK SOME PEOPLE NEVER LEARN.

YOU NOW HAVE BOARD OF REGIONS CONTROLLED BY DEMOCRATS.

IN TERMS OF THE PROCESS THEY EMPLOYEE IT LOOKED SIMILAR.

THERE IS A COMMON THEME ON THIS SHOW.

IT IS DISTRUST.

IT IS DISTRUST OF ANY ELECTION.

IT IS DISTRUST OF ANY COUNTY DEVICE CLICKER WHATEVER.

IT SHOWS THERE IS LIFE AFTER THE LEGISLATURE.

HIS CHALLENGE WILL BE TO STEP UP.

I THINK HE HAS DONE IT IN AN INTERIM CAPACITY.

BEING A NUMBER'S GUY TO BEING A SYSTEM LEADER AND ADVOCATE FOR CU.

HE IS SOMEWHAT STEPPED UP TO THAT CHALLENGE AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FULLY DO SO.

I CANNOT BE A FAN OF THESE SINGLE FINALIST WHICH IS THE NORM NOW WHETHER YOU ARE A UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT OR THE CANDIDATE FOR SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.

"DOUGLAS COUNTY TO THEIR CREDIT," THEY MESSED A LOT UP IN THEIR PROCESS.

AT LEAST THEY WENT PUBLIC WITH TWO FINALIST.

THE NORM NOW IS TO HAVE ONE FINALIST.

IT JUST BREEDS DISTRUST.

>> I GET THE PROCESS.

I UNDERSTAND YOU SHOULDN'T DO IT THIS WAY.

IF YOU OUT IN THE OPEN IT LOOKS LIKE YOU TRUST THE PEOPLE TO WEIGH IN.

IT GIVES YOUR OPPONENTS CHANCE TO PICK AT EVERYTHING LITTLE THING OF YOUR CANDIDATES.

AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU HATE EVERYONE.

YOU ARE GOING TO END UP WITH AN UNPOPULAR CHOICE.

WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU WANT THAT JOB?

LOOK AT WHAT THEY DID TO KENNEDY.

SO HE DID A GREAT JOB.

YOU HAVE A FAR LESS CONTENTION THAT WILL BASICALLY KILL YOUR CANDIDATE OVERTIME BY A THOUSAND CUTS.

MAYBE A DOCTOR'S VISIT.

>> PATTY YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE PROCESS AND THE FINALIST AND IF MR. SONDERMANN NEEDS OUR CONDOLENCES.

>> HE CAME IN WITH PLENTY OF BAGGAGE INCLUDING FAVORITISM WITH SOME OF HIS EMPLOYEES AND PREVIOUS.

I AGREE WITH SOME OF THE LATINO ACTIVIST.

A REALLY GOOD EDUCATORS COULD BE AN INTERESTING LEADER.

THEY SEEM TO GET SHORT TRIP.

BUT THIS IS ANOTHER THING WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT BAGGAGE.

HEIDI WHO IS A REPUBLICAN MIGHT MORE TO ANSWER FOR IF SHE DOES END UP BEING THE CANDIDATE.

>> WRAP IT UP FOR US.

>> SERVED FOUR YEARS ON THE JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE.

YOUR COLLEAGUES THINK YOU WERE "SMART, DILIGENT, AND GOOD AT" MATH.

HE SERVED AS HEAD OF GOVERNOR'S BUDGET OFFICE.

AT CU WAS THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.

HE HAS BEEN ACTIVE INTERIM PRESIDENT SINCE 2021.

WE NEVER FIND ANYTHING OFFENSIVE ABOUT HIM BECAUSE HE OPINIONS ARE SUCH SMOOTH MIDDLE OF THE ROAD DEMOCRATIC ONES IT WOULD BE LIKE TRYING TO CUT YOUR TONGUE ON THE SMOOTH EDGE OF THE SPOON.

A LOT OF THE FACULTY AND STUDENTS ARE TERRIFIED OF INTELLECTUAL ADVERSITY.