Advertise on podcast: Brownstein Podcast Series

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has emerged as a key testing ground for the Trump administration's approach to government reform, including workforce reductions and efficiency initiative policies. Our team will examine how VA has changed since the 2024 election, the major challenges facing the department and what the upcoming midterm elections could mean for VA stakeholders.

The ability to anticipate congressional inquiries is becoming a critical component of effective government relations and risk management strategies. In this episode of Brownstein’s congressional oversight and investigations series, our panel unpacks the political and legal dynamics driving Hill scrutiny. Our team explores how the midterm elections could reshape committee priorities and analyzes the compliance considerations influencing Congress's investigative authority.

Congressional oversight is becoming more aggressive, more public and more reputationally consequential. Industry leaders who understand the risks—and engage experienced legal, government relations and communications advisors early—are better positioned to manage investigations and protect their interests. In our first podcast in a series on congressional oversight and investigations, our team breaks down how and when companies should be prepared when the Hill comes knocking.

Policy debates over Colorado's comprehensive AI law have played out like an epic over the last two years—with working groups, competing proposals, volleying amendments, and now, SB 26-189, a much narrower replacement for the first-of-its-kind AI consumer protection passed in 2024. Tune in as Brownstein's Sarah Mercer, Jack Hobaugh, Josh Weiss and Sloane Whelan take a deep dive into the history of the state law and how we got to this point, what the replacement bill actually does, and how companies should engage in the policy process and balance compliance and liability before the bill takes effect in January 2027.

Agricultural conversion is one of the most critical land use issues in California. Tune in as Brownstein’s Amy Steinfeld and Ginger Andersen dive into the topic, from thoughtful policies to how to protect agricultural lands, and what it means for the state, especially the Central Coast.

Master-planned community development projects are becoming increasingly complex and time-consuming, making early planning even more vital to a successful project. Listen in as Brownstein's Greg Vallin interviews Brian Hart, director of engineering at Redland, on the ins and outs of master-planned community development, the difference in working with developers and landowners and critical due diligence steps.

As the 2026 Colorado Legislative Session comes to a close, the real estate industry is bracing for a new wave of change. Tune in for a Brownstein panel discussion unpacking the most impactful legislation passed this session and what it means for property owners, developers, investors and operators across Colorado.

Since the Supreme Court struck down the White House’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose unilateral tariffs, the Trump administration has moved quickly to preserve its economic leverage by pivoting to other trade authorities, including temporary duties under Section 122 and broader investigations under Sections 301 and 232. Our team unpacks how this strategy is taking shape, where the greatest risks now lie and what business leaders can do to protect their interests.

Expansive or unstable soils can be a difficult and expensive problem for developers and homebuilders, particularly along the Front Range in Colorado. Listen in as Brownstein’s Greg Vallin sits down with Hubert Farbes, partner at Garnett Powell Maximon Barlow & Farbes, to explain expansive soils, discuss lessons learned from recent litigation experience, and provide best practices for risk mitigation/litigation avoidance.

The Colorado legislative session—which began Jan. 14 and will adjourn on May 13—is off to a slow start while a structural budget crisis looms over the Capitol. Tune in as Brownstein’s Sarah Mercer, Jia Meeks and Cooper Reveley discuss the state budget and other issues lawmakers are debating like housing supply and local control, AI and data center regulation, and energy policy, among others.

As 2026 kicks off, Congress looks to be on the brink of an impossible task: passing all FY 2026 appropriations legislation and avoiding a shutdown at the end of the month. However, the finish line has not yet been crossed, and policymakers must address potential obstacles in the House and Senate. Our team analyzes the status of funding bills, discusses possible last-minute dealmaking and outlines what to expect as negotiations for FY 2027 approach.

The economic impacts of President Trump’s tariff policy have long overshadowed another possible headwind that faces importers, contractors and those reliant on global supply chains: the legal risk. Our team of trade and legal professionals goes beyond the Supreme Court case to discuss possible refunds if the courts rule against the White House, as well as what to expect from the White House and Congress through 2026 after a decision.

The 2026 Colorado legislative session kicks off Jan. 14—with legacy-building, budget battles and big policy debates ahead. Tune in as Brownstein’s Sarah Mercer, Jia Meeks, Cooper Reveley and Sloane Whelan share expectations and answer larger questions about what’s at stake heading into 2026.

Welcome to the Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck podcast series. Please listen in as Brownstein’s Greg Vallin and Amy Diaz bring back Jennifer Blum to discuss the Minerals Notification Act.

With the recent off-year election in the rear view, eyes are now turning to the 2026 cycle. And in Colorado, that means sorting citizen-initiated measures that make the ballot next year. Colorado’s ballot measure process is one of the most direct and impactful tools for shaping state policy—and also one of the most complex. Join Brownstein’s David Meschke and Sarah Mercer as they walk through the constitutional and statutory framework and timeline governing statewide citizen initiatives and offer insights into recent trends, legal challenges and strategic considerations for drafting, advocating for or opposing ballot questions. They also cover key differences and considerations for county and municipal ballot measures, which play an increasingly important role in local governance.