LITA 20: Melat Kiros Returns! June 30th Primary Updates & the new wave of politics

LITA 20: Melat Kiros Returns! June 30th Primary Updates & the new wave of politics

Ana and Deep are joined for the first time by a repeat guest: Melat Kiros [https://www.kirosforco.com/], the 29-year-old progressive organizer running against 30-year incumbent Diana DeGette in Colorado's 1st Congressional District. The conversation comes 18 days before the June 30 primary, which in safe-blue Denver is functionally the general election. Melat lays out the issues hitting hardest at the doors (ICE, data centers and privacy, anti-corruption), explains how her grassroots campaign moved from "no chance" to neck-and-neck in the betting markets [https://kalshi.com/markets/kxcoprimary/colorado-primary-winners/kxcoprimary-01d26], and walks through the Montana Plan, a ballot measure that could end corporate personhood and crack Citizens United open at the state level. Ana and Deep also cover the basics every Colorado voter needs to know before June 30: unaffiliated voters get both ballots but can only return one, and same-day registration is allowed. The episode ends with a hard call to action: vote, tell five friends, and get out canvassing. NOTE: This episode was taped in early June before the events of the Hasan Piker rally so that’s why it’s not mentioned.  Denver Where to Vote: https://www.denvergov.org/Maps/map/electionservices [https://www.denvergov.org/Maps/map/electionservices] Colorado Where to Vote: https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/VIP.html [https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/VIP.html] Timeline: * Monday, June 8 - Last day for voters to change party affiliation; ballots mailed out and 24-hour drop boxes open * Monday, June 15 - Voter Service and Polling Centers open * Monday, June 22 - Last day to mail your ballot back and ensure it arrives on time; last day to request a replacement ballot be mailed to you * Tuesday, June 30 - Election Day; ballots must be in possession of the Clerk & Recorder by 7 p.m. Phil Weiser & Javier Mabrey on bringing the Montana Plan to Colorado to overturn Citizen’s United: https://www.denverpost.com/2025/12/10/citizens-united-colorado-solution-big-money-out-politics [https://www.denverpost.com/2025/12/10/citizens-united-colorado-solution-big-money-out-politics/] 00:00 Medicare For All Or Bust 00:34 21 Days To The Primary 01:19 Rentell Sponsor Read 02:24 Welcome Back, Melat 03:45 Colorado Voting 101 06:10 Turnout And Same-Day Registration 07:46 Taking On The DeGette Machine 10:18 Lessons From An Underestimated Campaign 13:52 What Voters Bring Up At The Doors 16:16 Citizens United, Explained 21:03 The Montana Plan 22:56 Ending Corporate Personhood 23:33 The National Progressive Wave 24:58 Justice Democrats And The Strategy 27:06 Why Denver Has To Lead 28:28 Bipartisanship Is Strangled By Money 31:11 The Doorstep Wake-Up Call 33:39 Progressive Policy Is The Pragmatic Choice 35:43 Bridging The Generational Divide 40:26 Class War And The Stakes Ahead 44:44 Vote. Tell Five Friends. 45:32 Door-Knocking As Community Power 47:23 Outro And Manifestation Meet Your Hosts Ana Mitchell, Ph.D., is a former CDC scientist who was swept up in federal cuts and is now reinventing herself as a civic coach and creator. After a decade reducing disparities in health and education, she’s building Civically Fit (see civicallyfit.org [http://civicallyfit.org]) to make civic engagement accessible, authentic, and sustainable. A proud Latina and Colorado native, Ana is focused on helping people build community and power through everyday civic action.  Deep Singh Badhesha is an attorney, political strategist, and government affairs professional with over a decade of experience shaping political campaigns and policy in Colorado. A former public school math teacher, Colorado Supreme Court clerk, and senior policy analyst, he now works across campaigns, ballot initiatives, and legislative fights. He’s South Asian, a new dad, and a longtime organizer who believes community—not saviors—will rebuild the Left. He also has way too many hot takes on everything stemming from food and sports to politics.   Links: Website: www.LeftInTheAttic.com Instagram: @leftintheatticpod TikTok: @left.in.the.attic Email: LeftInTheAtticPod@gmail.com Voicemail: (303) 416-2846

LITA 19: Organizing Against ICE in Colorado with Tim Hernandez

Deep and Ana welcome former state representative, Chicano Studies professor, and longtime Chicano organizer Tim Hernandez into the attic for one of LITA's most direct conversations yet about working class politics, immigrant rights, and what actually keeps people safe when ICE shows up. Tim walks through his political awakening, his vacancy committee election as the youngest Colorado state representative in 180 years, the October 7 confrontation that went viral, and the dark money campaign that took his seat. They go deep on Colorado's Rapid Response Network, why ICE is already here every day (not coming someday), how to become a confirmer, and the case Tim makes for abolishing both ICE and citizenship itself. They break down Advance Colorado's Initiative 95, the ballot measure that would force local agencies to hand people over to ICE and roll back twenty years of immigrant protections, and unpack the petition canvasser conversation Ana had outside the rec center that captured exactly how the right is selling this.  Mentioned in this episode:  Colorado Rapid Response Network (call 1-844-864-8341 to report ICE activity, register for confirmer trainings): https://coloradorapidresponsenetwork.com [https://coloradorapidresponsenetwork.com] Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC): https://coloradoimmigrant.org [https://coloradoimmigrant.org] and https://www.instagram.com/co_immigrant/ [https://www.instagram.com/co_immigrant/]  Casa de Paz: https://casadepazcolorado.org [https://casadepazcolorado.org] and https://www.instagram.com/casadepazco/ [https://www.instagram.com/casadepazco/]  COLOR Latina: https://www.colorlatina.org [https://www.colorlatina.org] and https://www.instagram.com/color_latina/ Melat Kiros for Congress (LITA 6): https://open.spotify.com/episode/6LKCEtMGQ9YtYzH6qQgU53?si=Z0YVhCuJQyWz061YdEAJEQ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6LKCEtMGQ9YtYzH6qQgU53?si=Z0YVhCuJQyWz061YdEAJEQ]  Melat Kiros on Hasan Piker Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCS63veWFHg [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCS63veWFHg]  00:24 Show Intro and Guest 00:57 California Rally Recap 01:58 Who Is Hasan Piker 05:30 Digital Organizing Power 06:15 Puerto Rico 10:12 Rentell Sponsor Break 11:15 Meet Tim Hernandez 12:14 Tim Origin Story 14:41 From DACA Protest to DC 17:55 DPS Walkouts and Electoral Leap 21:21 Ceasefire Fallout and Wins 25:43 Dark Money Primary Defeat 28:32 Life After the Legislature 29:38 Politics Shaped by Struggle 30:21 Why Representation Matters 31:21 Democracy for Sale 32:35 Identity vs Class Politics 35:41 Organizer Not Activist 36:10 ICE in Colorado Daily 39:40 Rapid Response Hotline 42:15 How Confirmers Work 45:05 Organize Your Neighborhood 45:55 Initiative 95 Threat 49:41 Abolish ICE Argument 54:34 Vote No and Spread Word 57:40 Wrap Up and Outro Meet Your Hosts Ana Mitchell, Ph.D., is a former CDC scientist who was swept up in federal cuts and is now reinventing herself as a civic coach and creator. After a decade reducing disparities in health and education, she’s building Civically Fit (see civicallyfit.org [http://civicallyfit.org]) to make civic engagement accessible, authentic, and sustainable. A proud Latina and Colorado native, Ana is focused on helping people build community and power through everyday civic action.  Deep Singh Badhesha is an attorney, political strategist, and government affairs professional with over a decade of experience shaping political campaigns and policy in Colorado. A former public school math teacher, Colorado Supreme Court clerk, and senior policy analyst, he now works across campaigns, ballot initiatives, and legislative fights. He’s South Asian, a new dad, and a longtime organizer who believes community—not saviors—will rebuild the Left. He also has way too many hot takes on everything stemming from food and sports to politics.   Links: Website: www.LeftInTheAttic.com Instagram: @leftintheatticpod TikTok: @left.in.the.attic Email: LeftInTheAtticPod@gmail.com Voicemail: (303) 416-2846

LITA 18: How Eviction Defense Actually Works in Colorado with Zach Neumann

Ana and Deep sit down with Zach Neumann, co-founder and CEO of the Community Economic Defense Project, to break down Colorado’s housing crisis, eviction defense, and why renter protections keep failing at the Capitol. Zach shares how a single pandemic Facebook post grew into one of the state’s largest tenant-defense operations, helping tens of thousands of Coloradans access legal aid and emergency assistance. They discuss eviction as a debt collection tool, surveillance pricing, predatory car “kill switches,” and Colorado’s Portable Tenant Screening Report law. They end with sharing a new partnership with Rentell aimed at making housing applications easier and more affordable for renters. Mentioned in this episode: Rentell (Portable Tenant Screening Reports): https://www.rentell.com/ [https://www.rentell.com/]  Community Economic Defense Project: https://cedproject.org [https://cedproject.org] Email Zach directly: zach@cedproject.org Javier Mabrey on LITA 2 (housing crisis, eviction defense): https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/MAzbZsEg62b [https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/MAzbZsEg62b]  David Seligman on LITA 11 (towards Justice, surveillance pricing): https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/4IWAhGnFK2b [https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/4IWAhGnFK2b]  00:00 Cold Open Kill Switches 00:30 Podcast Sizzle Intro 00:48 Nuggets Game Six Heartbreak 03:00 Meet Zach Neumann 03:45 The Pandemic Post That Started It All 06:30 How CEDP Pays Off Eviction Debt Fast 09:30 Running For Office and Losing 12:30 His Grandmother's Story 15:30 How To Actually Get Help 16:30 Why Federal Money Disappeared 17:15 Stop Using Eviction As Debt Collection 20:30 The ROI On Stopping Homelessness 21:45 Seven Years On Your Credit Report 23:00 Two Big Policy Asks 24:30 The Colorado Supreme Court Jury Trial Saga 26:30 Worst Session For Progressives In Years 28:30 The Kill Switch Bill That Died 30:15 Cars Shutting Off On The Freeway 31:00 Subscription Capitalism Spiral 34:30 The Surveillance Pricing Bill 36:30 How Inequality Actually Compounds 37:30 Matthew Desmond's Eviction Books 38:00 Colorado's PTSR Law Explained 41:30 Why Rentell Exists 45:00 Sticking It To The Landlords 46:30 Wrap Up And Reviews Meet Your Hosts Ana Mitchell, Ph.D., is a former CDC scientist who was swept up in federal cuts and is now reinventing herself as a civic coach and creator. After a decade reducing disparities in health and education, she’s building Civically Fit (see civicallyfit.org [http://civicallyfit.org]) to make civic engagement accessible, authentic, and sustainable. A proud Latina and Colorado native, Ana is focused on helping people build community and power through everyday civic action.  Deep Singh Badhesha is an attorney, political strategist, and government affairs professional with over a decade of experience shaping political campaigns and policy in Colorado. A former public school math teacher, Colorado Supreme Court clerk, and senior policy analyst, he now works across campaigns, ballot initiatives, and legislative fights. He’s South Asian, a new dad, and a longtime organizer who believes community—not saviors—will rebuild the Left. He also has way too many hot takes on everything stemming from food and sports to politics.   Links: Website: www.LeftInTheAttic.com Instagram: @leftintheatticpod TikTok: @left.in.the.attic Email: LeftInTheAtticPod@gmail.com Voicemail: (303) 416-2846

LITA 17: Colorado Muslim Vote, Civil Rights, and Michael Bennet's No-Show with Azra Taslimi

Deep and Ana sit down with civil rights and employment attorney Azra Taslimi for one of LITA’s most direct conversations on Colorado politics, accountability, and the Muslim American experience in 2026. Azra shares her path from public defender in New York to civil rights litigator in Denver, representing clients facing police misconduct, discrimination, and censorship, while reflecting on growing up Muslim in post-9/11 America and the legacy of Sikh and Muslim solidarity. The conversation centers on Colorado Muslim Vote, the organizing effort she helped build to unify roughly 100,000 Muslim voters after elected officials failed to engage with calls for a ceasefire, including a 2024 protest vote and ongoing pressure on state leaders. They also discuss tensions within Colorado’s Democratic establishment, including a 2026 gubernatorial forum where Gaza-related questions became a flashpoint and Senator Michael Bennet no-showed. They close with a call to visit Denver’s Unseen exhibit of Palestinian family photos. The Denver Post: https://www.denverpost.com/2026/04/08/michael-bennet-forum-muslim-gaza-colorado-governor/ [https://www.denverpost.com/2026/04/08/michael-bennet-forum-muslim-gaza-colorado-governor/]  Editorial: Board Bennet backing out of forum hosted by Muslim community is shortsighted given his message on Gaza. Bennet said he would take hard questions about Gaza and Israel, and he did, but the message was clear to votershttps://www.denverpost.com/2026/04/11/bennet-backed-out-forum-muslim-community/ [https://www.denverpost.com/2026/04/11/bennet-backed-out-forum-muslim-community/] UNSEEN Immersive Photography Exhibit (open till May 17, 2026)https://www.redlineart.org/unseen [https://www.redlineart.org/unseen]  Featuring photographs of Colorado Palestinian families taken by local artists, UNSEEN invites viewers on a journey of what it means to be Palestinian today. Guest curated by Sumud Artist Collective. https://coloradomuslimvote.com/ [https://coloradomuslimvote.com/] 00:00 Cold Open Calls 00:15 Podcast Sizzle Intro 00:48 Nuggets Choke Talk 02:20 Meet Azra Taslimi 03:12 Librarians Fight Censorship 06:13 From Public Defender To Civil Rights 07:40 Post 9/11 Identity 09:52 Sikh Muslim Solidarity 12:00 Fear And Visibility 13:37 Colorado Muslim Vote 14:30 Gaza After October 7 18:05 Electeds Ignore Grief 20:09 Building Voting Power 21:07 Origin Story Meetings 23:04 Ceasefire Pressure Campaign 24:36 District 8 Protest Vote 26:35 Colorado 2024 Strategy 30:30 Building A Muslim Voting Bloc 32:22 Forum Negotiations Begin 35:10 Security Smears And Demands 38:13 No Gaza Questions Ultimatum 41:55 Weiser Shows Up, Bennet No Shows 44:16 Call To Action Unseen Exhibit 45:09 Wrap Up And Recording Chaos Meet Your Hosts Ana Mitchell, Ph.D., is a former CDC scientist who was swept up in federal cuts and is now reinventing herself as a civic coach and creator. After a decade reducing disparities in health and education, she’s building Civically Fit (see civicallyfit.org [http://civicallyfit.org]) to make civic engagement accessible, authentic, and sustainable. A proud Latina and Colorado native, Ana is focused on helping people build community and power through everyday civic action.  Deep Singh Badhesha is an attorney, political strategist, and government affairs professional with over a decade of experience shaping political campaigns and policy in Colorado. A former public school math teacher, Colorado Supreme Court clerk, and senior policy analyst, he now works across campaigns, ballot initiatives, and legislative fights. He’s South Asian, a new dad, and a longtime organizer who believes community—not saviors—will rebuild the Left. He also has way too many hot takes on everything stemming from food and sports to politics.   Links: Website: www.LeftInTheAttic.com Instagram: @leftintheatticpod TikTok: @left.in.the.attic Email: LeftInTheAtticPod@gmail.com Voicemail: (303) 416-2846

LITA 16: Colorado Primaries Heat Up with City Cast Denver's Paul Karolyi

Ana and Deep welcome Paul Karolyi, senior executive producer at City Cast Denver, into the attic for a wide-ranging conversation about Colorado's 2026 primary landscape, and end up disagreeing with each other more than once. Paul shares how studying the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a protest march in Nazareth pulled him toward journalism instead of activism. They recap the YIMBY and Greater Denver Transit gubernatorial forum with Phil Weiser and Michael Bennet, where Weiser came with specifics and Bennet came with goals. From there, the trio dig into the Bennet and Hickenlooper political history and both senators' votes for Trump cabinet nominees. They close on the high-stakes CD8 race: the hypocrisy of Gabe Evans's grandfather story and the case against Shannon Bird as a general-election liability. (Episode was filmed in 2/25/26) City Cast Denver's list of businesses that joined the anti-ICE protests: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUHOfodgWZu/?img_index=3&igsh=MTJoMXhvamR6dWc0Ng%3D%3D [https://www.instagram.com/p/DUHOfodgWZu/?img_index=3&igsh=MTJoMXhvamR6dWc0Ng%3D%3D]  Westword: Wanna Give ICE a Middle Finger From Denver? Here's How: . https://www.westword.com/news/denver-protests-strikes-business-responses-against-ice-40836696/ [https://www.westword.com/news/denver-protests-strikes-business-responses-against-ice-40836696/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026130_Newsletter_Denver&utm_term=Denver] Paul Karolyi’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-karolyi-391a8051 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-karolyi-391a8051]  00:00 Spicy Cold Open 00:23 Meet Paul Karolyi  01:18 Arabic Language Proficiency  03:30 Language Backgrounds 05:22 Paul Origin Story 08:16 Observer Not Activist 09:56 Governor Forum Setup 11:51 Forum Moderation Critique 14:09 Booing and Paddles 17:45 Spin Room Reactions 20:27 Bennett Strategy Debate 21:58 Bennett Vote Backlash 23:16 Strategy Or Transparency 24:01 Hickenlooper Reelection Setup 25:45 Bennett Hickenlooper Origin 29:37 Ego Theory Vs Reality 32:45 Challengers And Polling 34:51 CD8 Stakes And Map 36:57 Gabe Evans Immigration Hypocrisy 39:30 Democratic Field Breakdown 41:07 Shannon Bird Liability Debate 45:18 Community Call To Action 46:32 Wrap Up And Subscribe Meet Your Hosts Ana Mitchell, Ph.D., is a former CDC scientist who was swept up in federal cuts and is now reinventing herself as a civic coach and creator. After a decade reducing disparities in health and education, she’s building Civically Fit (see civicallyfit.org [http://civicallyfit.org]) to make civic engagement accessible, authentic, and sustainable. A proud Latina and Colorado native, Ana is focused on helping people build community and power through everyday civic action.  Deep Singh Badhesha is an attorney, political strategist, and government affairs professional with over a decade of experience shaping political campaigns and policy in Colorado. A former public school math teacher, Colorado Supreme Court clerk, and senior policy analyst, he now works across campaigns, ballot initiatives, and legislative fights. He’s South Asian, a new dad, and a longtime organizer who believes community—not saviors—will rebuild the Left. He also has way too many hot takes on everything stemming from food and sports to politics.   Links: Website: www.LeftInTheAttic.com Instagram: @leftintheatticpod TikTok: @left.in.the.attic Email: LeftInTheAtticPod@gmail.com Voicemail: (303) 416-2846