The OpEdge — The Gazette Opinion Podcast

Lori Gimelshteyn — board member of Protect Kids Colorado and executive director of the Colorado Parent Advocacy Network — joins The OpEdge to discuss three measures headed to Colorado voters this November. Gimelshteyn tells host Jimmy Sengenberger why the coalition is seeking tougher penalties for child sex trafficking, protections for female sports and a prohibition on gender-reassignment surgeries for minors — and why she sees the campaign as a grassroots response to government overreach.

Dan Haley, executive director of Coloradans for Responsible Energy Development, joins The OpEdge to discuss the role of oil and natural gas in Colorado's energy future amid the state's aggressive push toward "net zero." Haley tells host and investigative columnist Jimmy Sengenberger how Colorado can produce energy cleaner and safer while supporting grid reliability and affordability — and why an "all-of-the-above" approach should guide the state's energy policy.

Parents Challenge co-founder and longtime school choice advocate Steve Schuck joins The OpEdge to discuss expanding educational opportunities and ensuring parents are in charge of their kids' education. Schuck tells investigative columnist and host Jimmy Sengenberger why he believes Colorado should fund students rather than systems, how Parents Challenge helps families find the right fit and why a new federal education tax credit could be a "game changer" for school choice.

Miguel Chino, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's Rocky Mountain Field Division, joins The OpEdge to paint the picture of Colorado's "fentanyl pill superhighways." Chino updates Gazette and Colorado Politics Deputy Opinion Editor Antonio Olivero on the latest in the DEA's fight in the Rocky Mountain region against the deadly drug, the cartels that push them, and the criminal elements who traffic it into the Centennial State — and what it all means for everyday Coloradans.

Cedric Pride, CEO of the nonprofit Pride Initiative in Denver, joins The OpEdge with a blueprint for workforce development, skilled trades, and economic opportunity. Pride tells host and investigative columnist Jimmy Sengenberger why he believes the trades offer a path to the American Dream through meaningful work, behavioral health support, and second chances for people seeking to build better lives.

Step Denver and Step Springs CEO Meghan Shay joins The OpEdge to explore addiction recovery, homelessness, and the role of accountability in lasting change. Shay tells host and investigative columnist Jimmy Sengenberger why she believes recovery is built on personal responsibility, peer support, and meaningful work, explaining how "real compassion" often means helping people confront hard truths rather than shielding them from consequences.

Amy Oliver Cooke, Independence Institute senior fellow and Always On Energy Research co-founder, joins The OpEdge to dissect Colorado's energy transition, grid reliability, and the state's net-zero goals. Cook warns host Jimmy Sengenberger that current state policies threaten affordability and reliability — and explains why she sees nuclear energy as one key to a more dependable electric future.

Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman joins The OpEdge to explore why he's spent every Friday night since February sleeping at a homeless shelter. Coffman tells host and investigative columnist Jimmy Sengenberger what the experience is teaching him about homelessness, why he believes Aurora's incentive-based model is the superior alternative to "Housing First," and how the city is working to move people toward self-sufficiency.