Common Sense Unfiltered

Discover how Common Sense Institute Iowa is shaping the future of public policy in the Midwest

This episode of Common Sense Unfiltered features experts discussing the trajectory of CSI Iowa, the economic impact of restricting interchange fees in Iowa, and analyzing Iowa HSB 324, as well as exploring the broader implications for small businesses, consumers, and the economy. Resources: CSI Iowa Report: The Economic Impact of Restricting Interchange Fees in Iowa - https://csinstituteia.org/research/impact-of-restricting-interchange-fees [https://csinstituteia.org/research/impact-of-restricting-interchange-fees] Common Sense Institute Iowa - https://csinstituteia.org [https://csinstituteia.org]

Common Sense Unfiltered: River and Stream Access in Colorado

CSI CEO Cinamon Watson discusses new CSI report findings with experts Mike King, Greg Walcher, and Cole Anderson.  Read the latest report by CSI Fellows Mike King and Greg Walcher unravelling the complexities of river and stream access in Colorado: https://www.commonsenseinstituteus.org/colorado/research/energy-and-our-environment/public-access-and-private-property-the-economics-of-colorado-river-access Chapters 00:00 Introduction to River Access Controversy 01:57 Current Legal Framework and Historical Context 03:01 Scope of the Issue: River Miles and Ownership 05:23 Economic Value of Private Stream Access 08:57 Case Study: Terryall Creek and Property Value Impact 12:12 Potential Costs of Changing Access Laws 14:55 Legal Precedents and Historical Resistance 17:42 Comparative Analysis with Other States 19:55 Current Legislative Landscape and Future Outlook 21:18 Key Takeaways for Property Owners

Homelessness in America— Rethinking Homelessness Policy

CSI's Cinamon Watson, Katie Ratlief, and Kelly Caufield invite Dustin Zvonek onto Common Sense Unfiltered to discuss CSI's latest homelessness research.

Executive Action & Extraction: Economic Impacts of the Mineral E.O. in the West

On April 15, 2025, the White House issued an executive order (E.O.) 14241 “Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production” aimed at strengthening the United States’ supply of critical minerals and addressing associated national security concerns. This executive action mandates the development of a comprehensive report to identify vulnerabilities within critical mineral supply chains and to provide strategic recommendations for enhancing sustainable domestic production. In this episode of Colorado Clarity, we discuss the economic impacts of mineral mining and alternative energy production in Arizona, Colorado, and Wyoming, driven by the implementation of Executive Order 14241. The order, aimed at securing a stable domestic supply of critical minerals and accelerating the transition to clean energy, has catalyzed renewed interest in resource-rich regions of the American West. These three states, endowed with vast mineral reserves and renewable energy potential, stand at the forefront of this shift. We dig into the data, discuss what could come next, and more. Thank you for listening to Colorado Clarity. Please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. The study: "Executive Action & Extraction: Economic Impacts of the Mineral E.O. in the West" can be found here [https://www.commonsenseinstituteus.org/colorado/research/energy-and-our-environment/executive-action--extraction-economic-impacts-of-the-mineral-eo-in-the-west]. Our research can be found here [https://www.commonsenseinstituteus.org/colorado/research]. All of our podcasts can be found here [https://www.commonsenseinstituteus.org/oregon/newsroom/podcasts].

Arizona’s Urban Desert Miracle featuring Glenn Farley

Rapid economic and population growth in Arizona’s dry central valley has created tremendous wealth and opportunity. Rapid development also has caused many state and national leaders and several members of the media to declare the region “out of water” and to demand an end to growth as the solution. Like other southwestern states, it is clear the valley is in need of more water than the Colorado River alone can reliably support. There are other water supplies available, however, given the means to use them. Development and growth do not need to be curtailed. Given the relatively small water needs for most non-agricultural purposes and for residential development in the water-efficient urban core of our state, Arizona could solve the valley’s water problems with infrastructure — even if that water ends up being relatively expensive and if rural agriculture continues demanding the lion’s share of the supply. Current law treats water as a common public good; there have been only limited experiments so far with privatization and exchange. While these markets have not yet been tested, they show promise. On this episode of Common Sense Digest, Glenn Farley joins Chairman and Host Earl Wright to discuss our research report "Arizona's Urban Desert Miracle" [https://commonsensedigest.podbean.com/] and unpack the issues surrounding water in the desert, the creativity required to address those issues, and how Arizona can move forward with a growth mindset while ensuring enough water for all.  Thank you for listening to Common Sense Digest. Please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. All of our podcasts can be found here [https://commonsenseinstituteaz.org/news/podcast/].