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Left In The Attic

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Rating
★★★★☆
4.3
from
34 reviews
Categories
This podcast has
32 episodes
Language
English
Explicit
No
Date created
2025/11/14
Latest episode
2026/10/23
Average duration
58 min.
Release period
12 days

Description

Left in the Attic is a Colorado born podcast where two friends, Ana and Deep, discuss politics, power, community, and big life transitions while filming in an actual attic in Denver. Expect local and national headline debriefs, organizing stories, the chaos of life transitions (Ana in a career pivot & dating in Denver, Deep having a newborn), and guests who are doing the work in communities. If you are politically heartbroken but still hungry for hope, this podcast is for you. 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 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. According to Deep, Ana has a dating life that could probably be its own podcast segment. 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: [email protected] Voicemail: (303) 416-2846

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LITA 32: The Closest Thing On The Ballot, Jack Teter on Props 134, 135, and How Colorado Became the Battle Ground for the Anti-Trans Movement
2026/10/23
Ana and Deep welcome Jack Teter, Vice President of Government Affairs at Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains and a leader of the Families Not Politics coalition, to break down the two anti-trans measures on your ballot, Propositions 134 and 135. First, who’s behind them: Protect Kids Colorado, with a former state senator who once tried to make abortion punishable by death on its board and an anti-abortion group as its biggest funder. Then what they do. Prop 134 bans trans kids from school sports starting in kindergarten, defines sex by egg and sperm production in children who produce neither, and leaves 179 school districts with no instructions on who checks a kid’s gender or how. The proponents’ answer is a $1,000 cheek swab, and the real effect is that any girl who’s too tall or too strong can be accused. Prop 135 bans surgeries that Children’s Hospital and Denver Health already don’t perform on minors, while its vague exceptions leave out congenital conditions like hypospadias, so the kids most likely to lose care aren’t trans at all. Jack explains why the voters who matter are pro-choice Democrats who signed the petition at the grocery store, why it’s okay to have questions, and why these are polling neck and neck in a state that could be the only one in the country to beat them. Help Defeat Props 134 and 135:Families Not Politics: mobilize.us/familiesnotpolitics  Canvass with Denver DSA: mobilize.us/voteno134135  Colorado Springs canvass, Sat Oct 24: mobilize.us/familiesnotpolitics/event/1069232  Denver canvass with PWN and ACLU, Sun Oct 25: mobilize.us/familiesnotpolitics/event/1015974  Aurora canvass, Sat Oct 31: mobilize.us/familiesnotpolitics/event/1067169  Boulder canvass, Sun Nov 1: mobilize.us/familiesnotpolitics/event/1067170  Check our our new Substack: leftintheattic.substack.com/  The LITA November 2026 Ballot Guide: leftintheattic.com/voterguide  Chapters 00:00 No One Has Ever Beaten One Of These 03:10 Meet Jack Teter 05:50 What Planned Parenthood Of The Rocky Mountains Does 09:30 Who Is Protect Kids Colorado? 09:50 Astroturf, Explained 11:00 Focus On The Family And The Evangelical Vatican 16:40 What Prop 134 Actually Does 18:00 “They Don’t Understand Basic Biology” 19:30 The $1,000 Cheek Swab 21:10 “You Are Not A Bigot If You Have Questions” 23:30 Who Gets Accused 28:20 What Prop 135 Actually Does 31:20 Hernias, Hypospadias, And Kids Who Aren’t Trans 33:50 Hospitals Already Don’t Do These Surgeries 39:40 Who We Actually Need To Talk To 44:00 “You Should Be Really Suspicious” 44:20 A Ballot Built For Solidarity 50:50 How To Help 54:10 Polling Neck And Neck 55:00 Wrap 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) 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 the founder of Lamp Strategies, a public affairs firm, with more than a decade of experience shaping campaigns and policy in Colorado. A former public school math teacher, Colorado Supreme Court clerk, Colorado House Democrats staff, and Capitol lobbyist for Denver Public Schools, he now works across campaigns, ballot initiatives, and legislative fights, and turns up on TV and radio to argue about all of it. He's the son of Punjabi immigrants, a Colorado Springs kid, 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 from food and sports to politics.  Links: Website: www.LeftInTheAttic.com Instagram: @leftintheatticpod TikTok: @leftintheattic  Email: [email protected] Voicemail: (303) 416-2846
LITA 31: Governor Jared Polis on Education, Housing, Socialism, Tina Peters, and Amendment 87
2026/10/10
Ana and Deep welcome Governor Jared Polis to the attic for a conversation about eight years in office and where he and the left part ways. Polis walks through the education record and the gaps that remain, then defends a supply-side approach to housing where he and the hosts agree right up until rent stabilization. Ana asks the question the episode turns on: if the referee is paid by one team, is the referee impartial? Polis says no, backs publicly financed elections, and says he never took PAC money. Then the disagreements: the surveillance pricing veto, whether the billionaires who own the venues get to decide who speaks (Melat Kiros’s canceled rally), why Europe’s universal healthcare proves capitalism works, why Donald Trump is a socialist, and why he commuted Tina Peters’s sentence instead of letting a judge resentence her. In the ballot lightning round, Polis calls Amendment 87 “the worst one on the ballot,” backs Prop NN, calls Amendment 83 “awful,” and says the anti-trans measures are “nasty and mean.” In Tea Time, Ana and Deep debrief an interview that went friendlier than they expected, disclose their paid work on 84, 85, 7A, and 132, and walk through the LITA ballot guide: yes on 85, 87, NN, and 7A, no on everything else. The LITA Substack Is Live: Subscribe to get the next one here: leftintheattic.substack.com/  The LITA November 2026 Ballot Guide: [insert link]The LITA endorsements grid: leftintheattic.com/voterguide#grid Make your own ballot guide and see what 85 would change:  https://www.courageouscoloradoaction.org/no-84-yes-85#create-your-guide  Disclosures: Deep is contracted for communications and strategy work on the No on 84 and Yes on 85 campaigns through Courageous Colorado Action. Ana did paid content for the Colorado Connector (7A),  previously did paid content for the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, which opposes Prop 132, and is contracted for communications work on 84 and 85. We held every one of these positions before any contract existed and would do so freely! Chapters 00:00 The Worst One On The Ballot 00:33 Sparkling Water And South Park 02:51 Meet Governor Jared Polis 06:03 The Education Governor’s Ledger 18:50 Supply Side vs. Tenant Protections 24:32 Is The Referee Impartial? “No.” 30:58 The Surveillance Pricing Veto 36:42 Who Gets A Microphone: Melat’s Canceled Rally with Hasan Piker 41:53 Healthcare, Capitalism, And Socialist Trump? 48:03 Tina Peters: Why Not Let The Judge Do It? 52:10 Lightning Round: 87 Is “Devastating” 01:04:53 A Message For The Left: 55 Percent 01:06:50 Tea Time: The Debrief 01:13:20 The LITA Ballot Guide 01:20:28 Why We’re A Yes On 85 01:31:48 The Rest Of The Ballot 01:42:43 Wrap And Behind The Scenes  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) 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: @leftintheattic  Email: [email protected] Voicemail: (303) 416-2846
LITA 30: Why 97% of Coloradans Could Pay Lower Taxes Under Amendment 87 with Caroline Nutter
2026/10/02
Ana and Deep sit down with Caroline Nutter, policy manager at the Colorado Fiscal Institute, to break down Amendment 87, the graduated income tax on your November ballot and the biggest structural change to Colorado’s tax code since TABOR passed in 1992. Caroline walks through what TABOR actually does and what 87 changes: it strikes one line of the constitution, replaces the flat 4.4 percent with brackets from 3.7 to 8.4 percent, and only raises rates above $500,000. The result is a tax cut for 97 percent of Coloradans and about $2.7 billion a year for healthcare, K-12, and childcare, held in a separate fund with annual audits. Then the myth-busting. Michael Fields claims 87 raises taxes on seniors and veterans. It doesn’t. Pension and Social Security deductions are untouched, and 97 to 98 percent of seniors and veterans get a cut. They also cover what happens if 87 and Prop 136 both pass, why 95 percent of small businesses pay less, and the 1,000 volunteers who gathered 75 percent of the signatures from Creede to Moffat to Durango. In Tea Time: why there are two different progressive coalitions fixing TABOR this year, Lauren Boebert’s $200,000 ethics complaint, the Tamale Act, and next week’s guest, Governor Jared Polis. The LITA Substack Is Live Check out our first issue: They Will Call the Graduated Income Tax Socialism. It's a Moderate Compromise. Harshy Kaur Badhesha's debut Harsh Take breaks down Colorado's three November tax measures (vote yes on NN, yes on Amendment 87, no on Prop 136) and makes the case that treating TABOR as untouchable is moderate cowardice. Subscribe to get the next one here: leftintheattic.substack.com/  Yes on 87: protectcoloradosfuture.com (phone banks twice a week, donate) Colorado Fiscal Institute: coloradofiscal.org  The Taxman, Colorado Public Radio (the Douglas Bruce story): https://www.cpr.org/podcast/the-taxman/  City Cast Denver: Lauren Boebert Can’t Lose: https://denver.citycast.fm/lauren-boebert-cant-lose-podcast  Chapters 00:00 97% Get a Tax Cut 00:32 Today We’re Talking Taxes 00:51 No TV, Just Friends On YouTube 03:18 Meet Caroline Nutter 05:44 “What’s TABOR?” Said The State Rep 07:04 Doug Bruce Was A Landlord 11:04 What Amendment 87 Actually Does 13:26 Marginal Rates And The Buckets 15:17 Michael Fields’ $7.2 Billion Claim 18:47 Seniors And Veterans Get A Cut 24:29 What If 87 And 136 Both Pass? 26:53 95% Of Small Businesses Pay Less 28:32 Where The $2.7 Billion Goes 31:19 CCAP Is Frozen Everywhere 31:50 The Moment Of Courage 32:57 1,000 Volunteers, 75% Of Signatures 36:48 Text Your Group Chat 38:47 Tea Time: Why Two Coalitions? 45:39 Lauren Boebert’s $200K Hush Money 51:23 Next Week: Governor Jared Polis 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) 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: @leftintheattic  Email: [email protected] Voicemail: (303) 416-2846
LITA 29: Only 2% of Elected Officials Are Latino with Uriel Espinoza on Closing the Registration Gap, Plus Macklemore's Cancellation and the Denver Mayor Interviews
2026/09/23
Ana and Deep welcome Uriel Espinoza, co-founder of Momento Presents and senior advisor for public engagement at Courageous Colorado, for Hispanic Heritage Month. Uriel breaks down Colorado's Latino registration gap (56% of registered Latinos statewide are unaffiliated, and 250,000 eligible Latinos in Colorado aren't registered at all), why candidates keep treating Latino outreach as an afterthought, and why leading with culture instead of policy forums is the fix. He previews Momento's October 2nd voter registration concert at Levitt Pavilion, featuring DJ Bolo, following their 2024 event that registered nearly 4,000 new voters. He also doesn't hold back on Manny Rutinel, calling out the CD-8 candidate's authenticity. Then in T-Time: Macklemore gets dropped from Ed Sheeran's tour after a pro-Palestine statement, and Ana and Deep connect it directly to Melat Kiros's canceled Denver venues earlier this year. They close by reacting to the Kyle Clark interviews with Mike Johnston, Lisa Calderón, and Shontel Lewis on their relationships to Democratic socialism, including Lisa's contradiction (a dues-paying DSA member who won't call herself one). Plus: the first issue of the LITA Substack is live. The LITA Substack Is Live Our first issue dropped this week: They Will Call the Graduated Income Tax Socialism. It's a Moderate Compromise. Harshy Kaur Badhesha's debut Harsh Take breaks down Colorado's three November tax measures (vote yes on NN, yes on Amendment 87, no on Prop 136) and makes the case that treating TABOR as untouchable is moderate cowardice. Plus more! leftintheattic.substack.com/  Momento Presents: @momentopresents on Instagram October 2nd Voter Registration Concert (DJ Bolo, Levitt Pavilion): RSVP here https://tickets.venuepilot.com/e/bolo-2026-10-02-levitt-pavilion-denver-denver-fde919?  Chapters 00:00 Why Latino Turnout Lags 00:22 Hispanic Heritage Kickoff 01:02 Cinco de Mayo Mythbusting 02:38 The Tejana Hats 04:18 Meet Uriel Espinoza 06:26 Watching His Mom Become A Citizen 08:13 250,000 Unregistered Eligible Latinos 11:07 Candidates With No Latino Turnout Strategy 14:27 What Actually Moves Latino Voters 18:49 Flipping Burgers To Flipping Sides 22:20 2% Of Elected Officials Are Latino 25:18 Culture First, Policy Second 27:16 The World Cup Watch Party 30:43 Bowling Alone And The Civic Vacuum 33:33 Blue Zones And The Power Of Belonging 34:24 The October 2nd Concert 38:17 How To RSVP And Register 39:00 Ballots Drop October 2nd 40:31 Macklemore's Free Palestine Backlash 47:05 The DSA Question, Three Mayors 47:31 "I'm Not A Card-Carrying Member" 52:27 Lisa Calderón's DSA Contradiction 56:38 Shontel Lewis Defines Democratic Socialism 58:44 The Budget Fumble, Revisited 01:05:06 The LITA Substack Is Live 01:06:01 Mile High Tea: The Twitter Beef 01:07:55 Wrap 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) 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: @leftintheattic  Email: [email protected] Voicemail: (303) 416-2846
LITA 28: Trump's Attack on Mail Ballots and How Voter Suppression Wins Elections with Ethics Watchdog Aly Belknap from Common Cause
2026/09/13
Ana and Deep sit down with Colorado Common Cause executive director Aly Belknap to break down the biggest threats facing Colorado’s 2026 election from federal pressure on mail voting and voter data to ICE at polling places and proposed ID changes. Aly explains why voter suppression, not voter fraud, is the bigger concern, how Common Cause is preparing through the Just Vote Colorado election protection coalition, and what voters should know about poll monitoring, community defense, and the 866-OUR-VOTE hotline. They also touch on Common Cause’s recent ethics and voting-rights work before closing with Tea Time on Mike Johnston, Shontel Lewis, and the crowded race for Sarah Parady’s seat. Introducing the LITA Newsletter on Substack: We're expanding. Deep and Ana are launching a Left in the Attic Substack with newsletters, hot takes we can't fit in the show, ballot guides, and a new column from Harshy Kaur Badhesha called "Harsh Takes." Subscribe to be the first to know at leftintheattic.substack.com/  LinksColorado Common Cause: commoncause.org/coloradoElection Protection Hotline: 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)Just Vote Colorado Coalition: https://www.justvotecolorado.org/ Democracy Defense Fundraiser Ace Eat Serve, Denver, September 23: https://www.commoncause.org/colorado/events/democracy-defense-fundraiser-for-colorado-common-cause/ Drag Out The Vote at Hamburger Mary's — October 8Save the date: Ballot Guide Event — September 30 Chapters 00:00 Voter Suppression Wins Elections 00:29 Show Intro And Housekeeping 01:48 Pumpkin Spice Debate 03:36 Meet Aly Belknap 04:08 From Twitter To Voter Engagement 07:11 What Common Cause Does 08:48 The Opportunity Caucus Complaint 17:21 Colorado's Secure Election System 21:07 Suing Colorado Springs 25:26 Trump's Attack On Mail Ballots 31:07 The Chaos Coming To Colorado 37:21 ICE At Polling Places 45:23 The Just Vote Colorado Coalition 49:30 How Community Defense Wins 50:34 866-OUR-VOTE Hotline 52:43 How To Sign Up As A Poll Monitor 54:19 Watch Out For Prop 362 57:28 Save The Date: Fundraisers 59:23 T-Time Begins 59:53 Introducing Harsh Takes 01:02:00 The 2027 Mayor Race Kicks Off 01:07:49 Mike Johnston's Launch Video 01:14:21 Shontel's Word Cloud Disaster 01:19:22 Ten Candidates For The Vacancy 01:21:28 Wrap 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) 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: @leftintheattic  Email: [email protected] Voicemail: (303) 416-2846
LITA 27: The Colorado Education Paradox, Education Funding, Three Ballot Measures, and Why Disagreement Isn't Dysfunction with Monica Hunter
2026/09/07
Ana and Deep welcome Monica Hunter, Vice President of the Denver Public Schools Board and former DPS teacher, for a conversation about what's actually happening in Colorado public schools, what's on the November ballot, and why school board disagreement is a feature, not a bug. Monica walks through her arc from first grade teacher in Montbello to strike captain during the 2019 DPS teachers' strike to founder of the DCTA Black Educators Caucus to her current role at the Colorado Education Association and DPS Board. They dig into Colorado's education paradox (ranked #1 in the country for educational attainment, 49th or 50th in teacher pay), the CMAS results showing 44% of students meeting literacy expectations and only 20% of Black students meeting math expectations, and how Brown v. Board pushed Black teachers out of the profession. Then they turn to the three education funding fights on the November ballot: the DPS Mill Levy ($6/month per median homeowner, $44M for the district), Prop NN (retaining tax revenue for K-12 without raising taxes), and Initiative 195 (the graduated income tax). They also cover the fight to unionize Education Support Professionals (workers of color who currently have no protection), the most expensive school board race in Colorado history (funded by Reed Hastings, Anschutz, and the Waltons), and why Monica refuses to "go along to get along" on the Board. Democracy is messy. That's the whole point. Denver Public Schools Mill Levy: https://bond.dpsk12.org/page/2026-mill-levy-override  Prop NN Campaign Support: https://secure.ngpvan.com/HwAyZavU9kaKH5-EYOPXpQ2  Amendment 87/Initiative 195 (Graduated Income Tax): protectcoloradosfuture.com Contact the DPS Board about ESP unionization: https://www.dpsk12.org/page/about-the-board  00:44 Back To School Memories From Three DPS Teachers 04:17 Meet Monica Hunter 05:21 From Church Volunteer To Montbello Teacher 06:59 The Innovation Schools Fight 08:27 Why Teacher Diversity Matters 08:52 How Brown v. Board Pushed Black Teachers Out 13:18 The Colorado Paradox 14:26 CMAS Scores And The Racial Gap 16:32 TABOR And The Colorado Funding Crisis 19:02 Meet The BS Factor 22:43 Three Ballot Measures Preview 23:23 Ballot Measure 1: The DPS Mill Levy 25:53 $6 A Month For $44 Million 28:06 Why Charter Schools Get A Share 28:59 Charters, Equity, And Denver's Model 29:44 Ballot Measure 2: Prop NN 31:16 How TABOR Refunds Actually Work 34:10 Ballot Measure 3: Initiative 195 34:22 Ballot Letters vs. Numbers, Explained 37:42 Why Funding Is Still The Whole Fight 38:57 Unionizing Education Support Professionals 44:22 Who Actually Recognizes A Union 46:10 What The Headlines Get Wrong About The Board 49:43 The Most Expensive School Board Race In Colorado History 52:04 Democracy Is Messy (Sirota Callback) 54:03 The Exit Ticket 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) 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: @leftintheattic  Email: [email protected] Voicemail: (303) 416-2846
LITA 26: Rayna Kingston on DAWG, Gatekeeping, and Why She Walked Away From A Winning Campaign
2026/08/22
Ana and Deep welcome Rayna Kingston, Denver community organizer, content creator, and founder of Denver Activist Women's Group (DAWG), for a conversation about building political power outside electoral politics. Rayna walks through her arc: from a Christian conservative kid in Littleton, to a food-tour content creator during COVID, to a first-time candidate for Colorado House District 5, to the decision to step away from a race she was probably going to win. She founded DAWG after the 2024 election with a single Instagram Story that reached 500 women instead of the 30 she expected, and the group has now grown to a reach of 11,000+. Then she gets into what she learned running for office and the moment she realized she'd have to lie to voters about how much a junior state rep can actually change.  Denver Activist Women's Group (DAWG): denveractivistwomensgroup.com  DAWG on Instagram: @denveractivistwomensgroup Rayna Kingston on Instagram: @raynakingdenver  00:00 Cold Open Banter 00:17 Show Intro And Guest 00:43 Matcha, Celsius, And Almost Dying 02:08 Coffee And The Celsius Scare 04:00 Meet Rayna Kingston 04:51 From Federal Boulevard To Full-Time Influencer 07:45 From Content Creator To DAWG Founder 11:02 500 Women Showed Up 14:02 What DAWG Actually Does 15:56 Why Run For Office 19:30 Running Without Permission 19:54 "Who Are You?" Democratic Gatekeeping 22:49 The "Delete It" Story 25:39 The Launch Party And The Momentum 26:28 Why She Walked Away From Winning 29:44 The Democratic Party Is 20 People 34:09 How To Hold Electeds Accountable 38:30 The Revolution Is Low-Hanging Fruit 40:24 Fall Ballot Preview And Wrap 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) 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: @leftintheattic  Email: [email protected] Voicemail: (303) 416-2846
LITA 25: The Private Prison Money Grab, Kyle Giddings on Prop 132
2026/08/14
Ana and Deep welcome Kyle Giddings, Deputy Director of the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition (CCJRC), for a conversation on what's happening inside Colorado's prisons and what's about to happen if voters pass Prop 132 this November. Kyle walks through his own journey from Republican aide, to jail, to being one of the loudest voices for reform in the state. He names the paradox at the heart of Colorado's justice system: crime is at a five-year low, but prison populations are growing. Then they turn to Prop 132, the fentanyl ballot initiative funded by Advance Colorado. Kyle calls it a private prison money grab that would felonize all fentanyl possession, lump sharing drugs with dealing at 8-32 year mandatory minimums, and increase overdose deaths by 41%. If it passes, 25 years of Colorado criminal justice reform gets undone in a single election. Vote NO on Prop 132. Vote NO on Prop 132: noon132.com CCJRC (Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition): ccjrc.org CCJRC on Instagram: @ccjrc How Advance Colorado gets people to sign ballot initiatives: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Da3R9DIxZNj/  Who is Advance Colorado: https://www.whoisadvancecolorado.org/  00:00 The Kid At A Party 00:26 Show Intro And Topics 00:45 Nintendo Lore Icebreaker 03:32 Meet Kyle Giddings 04:35 From Republican Aide To Recovery 06:24 "Wait, I Can Vote?" 08:34 Quitting A Six-Figure Job For CCJRC 14:29 The School-To-Prison Pipeline 17:28 Crime Is Down, Prisons Are Growing 22:46 Do Prisons Actually Make Us Safer? 24:57 Community Reinvestment Actually Works 26:44 Designing Neighborhoods For Safety 27:47 What Public Safety Really Means 28:13 The "Lock 'Em Up" Culture 29:05 Jim Crow And The Origins Of Mass Incarceration 31:05 $68,000 Per Prisoner, $18,000 Per Student 33:00 Black Coloradans, 4% Of The State, 17% Of Prisons 37:53 Enter Advance Colorado 38:52 What Prop 132 Actually Does 42:47 Hidden Harms And The $433M Price Tag 49:19 What Actually Works 53:28 Vote NO On Prop 132 55:39 Wrap And Share 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) 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: @leftintheattic  Email: [email protected] Voicemail: (303) 416-2846
LITA 24: Legalized Corruption and Making Sure 2028 Isn't Obama 2.0 with David Sirota
2026/07/30
Ana and Deep sit down with David Sirota, founder of The Lever, creator of Master Plan and Meltdown, former Bernie Sanders speechwriter, and one of the sharpest voices in independent political journalism. Sirota walks listeners through the through-line from Obama's supermajority-era failures to Trump's rise, connects it to his 50-year investigation of how the right legalized corruption in America, and offers a warning to the new wave of progressives (Melat Kiros, Zohran Mamdani, Phil Weiser, Abdul El-Sayed) about what happens if they win power and don't use it. Sirota lays out public financing of elections and how Zohran Mamdani couldn't have won New York without it. Denver also has a version of it and it's the single lever that could break the corporate stronghold on Democratic primaries. This is a wisdom-from-an-elder conversation for the movement leaders about to inherit a broken system. We cannot build another cult of personality but instead must build pressure to keep whoever wins accountable. The Lever: levernews.com  Master Plan (podcast): search "Master Plan" wherever you get your podcasts: https://the.levernews.com/master-plan/  Meltdown (podcast): available on Audible: https://www.levernews.com/meltdown/ 00:00 The Supreme Court Just Legalized Bribery 00:40 Show Intro And Sirota Hype 01:15 Rentell Sponsor Read 02:15 Meet David Sirota 03:00 From Sixers Fan To Sports Writer 04:30 Northwestern And A Very Young J.B. Pritzker 06:00 Working For Bernie In The 90s 08:30 Cross-Party Coalitions Against The Corporate Middle 10:30 The Matrix Moment 11:45 Zooming Back To 2008 13:00 Obama Promised Populism, Governed Moderate 15:00 Ten Million Foreclosures And A Bank Bailout 17:00 Obama Raised More Wall Street Money Than Anyone 18:30 Corruption vs. Capture 19:45 What The Master Plan Actually Is 21:00 Watergate Was A Dark Money Scandal 22:00 Lewis Powell's Memo And The Court That Followed 23:00 From Bribes To Gratuities 24:00 Organized People Beat Organized Money 25:00 The Uprising: Then vs. Now 27:00 Democrats Are Finally Angry At Their Own Party 28:30 How Not To Be Obama 2.0 29:15 Cults Of Personality Have To Go 30:00 Michigan Is The Next Test 31:15 Rip Power Out 32:00 Democracy Is Messy (And That's The Point) 33:00 AIPAC And Bending The Knee 34:00 Public Financing Of Elections 35:30 How Zohran Won New York 36:00 Denver's Model Works 37:00 Wrap 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) 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: @leftintheattic  Email: [email protected] Voicemail: (303) 416-2846
LITA 23: How Colorado is Failing Survivors of Sexual Assault with Kelsey Harbert
2026/07/23
When Graham Platner dropped out of the Maine Senate race and Eric Swalwell exited California’s Governor’s race over sexual assault allegations, the coverage focused on the campaigns. Ana and Deep sit down with Tracing the Steps founder Kelsey Harbert to ask what the political conversation keeps missing: what about the survivor? Kelsey walks through what actually happens when a survivor comes forward in Colorado. She breaks down Colorado's evidence kit backlog, the Missy Woods scandal where a 29-year senior CBI analyst admitted to deleting DNA, and what has to change under incoming Governor Weiser and AG Griswold. We end with a call to action to support her GoFundMe that’s already raised over $100,000 to process backlog kits. This is what accountability looks like from outside the system.  We're hiring: Left in the Attic is looking for two part-time contract social media roles. Details and application form: https://forms.gle/okrxKoBXzwCvHLv4A  Kelsey's GoFundMe: Tell Jared Polis to Fund Colorado's Rape Kit Backlog: https://www.gofundme.com/f/wy53b7  Resources for survivors: National SA Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). Blue Bench Denver: 303-322-7273. Colorado Coalition Against SA (CCASA): ccasa.org Watch out for Advance Colorado and West Group signature collectors: read before you sign! 00:00 But What About The Survivor? 00:48 Rentell Sponsor Read 01:37 Meet Kelsey Harbert 02:41 From Wiley To Manhattan 04:36 Building Tracing The Steps 07:25 Fired For Testifying 10:29 Platner, Swalwell, And The Vetting Problem 12:43 Two And A Half Hours To A SANE Nurse 14:58 Why CODIS Matters 17:59 The Survivor Gets The Bill 19:27 Colorado's Kit Backlog Exposed 23:54 When Delayed Evidence Goes Stale 26:28 Polis Is The Only Boss 27:58 1,400 Kits Waiting 29:37 Meet Missy Woods 30:58 29 Years Of Deleted Evidence 32:34 The State Won't Retest Her Work 35:54 What Weiser And Griswold Have To Do 40:13 The Report Sitting On A Shelf 44:43 How Campaigns Should Vet Candidates 49:53 $100,000 From Strangers On The Internet 53:10 Wrap 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) 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: @leftintheattic  Email: [email protected] Voicemail: (303) 416-2846
LITA 22: Return of the Jedi: Colorado's Primary Recap, Progressive Wins, and What Comes Next
2026/07/16
Ana and Deep break down Colorado's June 30 primary from the winners to the bummers to what's next. Phil Weiser walloped Michael Bennet despite Bloomberg's millions. Melat Kiros ended a 30-year DeGette era in CD-1 with 6,000 volunteers, 116,000 doors knocked, and 500,000 phone calls. Julie Gonzales came within 5 points of Hickenlooper, and Jena Griswold won AG in a fractured four-way field that ranked-choice voting would have fixed. Down-ballot, progressives ran the table: Chela Garcia Irlando, Iris Halpern, Gabriel Cervantes, and Kenny Van Nguyen all beat six-figure dark money attacks. One Main Street may be officially extinct. Then Ana and Deep look ahead to November: CD-3, CD-5, CD-8, the Sarah Parady vacancy for Denver’s City Council, and the fent@nyl, ICE, and graduated income tax ballot measures. Plus Hunter Biden on why "conviction beats caution." We're hiring: Left in the Attic is looking for two part-time contract social media roles. Details and application form: https://forms.gle/okrxKoBXzwCvHLv4A  Graduated Income Tax, please sign: https://protectcoloradosfuture.com/where-to-sign/ Ana asks Michael Bennet about his Trump cabinet votes:   https://www.instagram.com/reel/DY7udTYxpeN/ Deep’s X: https://x.com/DeepNotShallow/status/1806105148667621661 Ana’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anafiredfed/  Join DSA Link: https://act.dsausa.org/donate/membership/  Watch out for Advance Colorado and West Group signature collectors: read before you sign! 00:00 Return Of The Jedi 00:32 Rentell Sponsor Read 01:35 Ana's First Primary Season 05:02 Turnout: Denver Up, State Up 07:56 Throw Out The Bums 09:07 Phil Beats Bennet 17:09 Melat Kiros Ended 30 Year Incumbent Career  19:14 Organized People Beat Organized Money 23:09 Community Built On Every Doorstep 23:39 Now For The Bummers 23:53 Julie Gonzales Came Within 5 Points 25:20 What Julie Left On The Table 26:12 The DSA Support That Never Came 28:05 The Case For A 2028 Rematch 28:57 The AG Race 30:27 Ranked Choice Voting Would Have Fixed It 32:04 Chela, Iris, Gabriel, Kenny: The Down-Ballot Sweep 35:55 November Preview: CD-3, CD-5, CD-8 37:51 The Sarah Parady Vacancy 39:16 Watch The Signature Collectors 41:21 Hunter Biden And The Death Of The Middle 43:11 Call To Action 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) 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: @leftintheattic  Email: [email protected] Voicemail: (303) 416-2846
LITA 21: Western Colorado Held Ransom: Alex Kelloff on CD-3, Public Lands, Healthcare and Affordability.
2026/06/23
Ana and Deep head "west and south" to break down Colorado's 3rd Congressional District, the largest and most overlooked race on the June 30 ballot. They're joined by Democratic candidate Alex Kelloff, whose family roots in the district go back 130 years. The episode walks through CD-3's wild political saga and what Kelloff is actually hearing at the doors after 13 months of grassroots campaigning. They name the Tina Peters water hostage deal, FEMA's no-show in Meeker, rural hospital closures from the Big Ugly Bill, data centers straining Western Slope water, the 5-1 Garfield County vote against an ICE detention facility, and the Hope Scheppelman bribe that proves Trump will invent fake government jobs to bend a primary his way. Ballots due 7pm June 30. (This episode was taped on June 5th) Alex Kelloff’s website: https://alexkelloff.com/  Colorado Where to Vote: 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. 00:00 Western Colorado Held Ransom 00:23 Road Trip Playlists And Big Head Todd 01:35 Campaign Life On The Road 02:38 Rentell Sponsor Read 03:26 Meet Alex Kelloff 04:16 130 Years In The District 06:39 The CD-3 Saga: Boebert, Frisch, And Hurd 12:17 53,000 Square Miles And 51% Unaffiliated 14:28 What Voters Are Saying At The Doors 16:31 Project 2025 Comes For Public Lands 18:06 The Tina Peters Water Hostage Deal 19:32 The Polis Commutation Question 20:43 Punishing Colorado From Washington 21:02 Meeker Burned. FEMA Never Came. 21:47 Gas Prices And The Iran War 23:01 Colorado Water Law, Explained 25:31 Data Centers Are A Water Problem 27:03 Rural Hospitals After The Big Ugly Bill 29:14 The Case For Universal Healthcare 30:48 Tariffs, Iran, And What Congress Can Fix Now 33:58 The 5-1 Garfield County Vote 35:43 Immigrant Communities And The Latino Vote 37:23 13 Months In, A Last-Minute Opponent 40:13 The Hope Scheppelman Bribe 43:04 Vote By June 30 45:22 Outro 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) 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: [email protected] Voicemail: (303) 416-2846
LITA 20: Melat Kiros Returns! June 30th Primary Updates & the new wave of politics
2026/06/15
Ana and Deep are joined for the first time by a repeat guest: Melat Kiros, 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, 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 Colorado Where to Vote: 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 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) 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: [email protected] Voicemail: (303) 416-2846
LITA 19: Organizing Against ICE in Colorado with Tim Hernandez
2026/05/21
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 Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC): https://coloradoimmigrant.org and https://www.instagram.com/co_immigrant/  Casa de Paz: https://casadepazcolorado.org and https://www.instagram.com/casadepazco/  COLOR Latina: 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  Melat Kiros on Hasan Piker Interview: 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) 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: [email protected] Voicemail: (303) 416-2846
LITA 18: How Eviction Defense Actually Works in Colorado with Zach Neumann
2026/05/13
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/  Community Economic Defense Project: https://cedproject.org Email Zach directly: [email protected] Javier Mabrey on LITA 2 (housing crisis, eviction defense): https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/MAzbZsEg62b  David Seligman on LITA 11 (towards Justice, surveillance pricing): 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) 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: [email protected] Voicemail: (303) 416-2846

Podcast reviews

Read Left In The Attic podcast reviews


4.3 out of 5
34 reviews
★☆☆☆☆
Mdogge 2026/08/24
Another podcast spreading half truths for clout
It’s honestly a bit concerning that the hosts of the podcast have such an extensive education and have every right to inform and educate others, howev...
★★★★★
chuhhkeedee 2026/05/04
Happy this exists
Trenchant observations, love that this is a show
★★★★★
ashb909 2026/04/30
Great local politics pod
Great pod to stay up to date on local CO politics!
★★★★★
texacaligirl 2026/02/28
Love hanging in the attic!
I enjoy following Colorado politics, and I’ve learned so much from these episodes. And it’s plenty accessible for those who don’t follow things as clo...
★★★★★
bhwilkoff 2026/02/21
Phenomenally informative and entertaining!
I just found out about this podcast from one of the hosts who just happened to be at Friday Night Writes (a writing event hosted by The Process in Den...
★★★★★
Todd in CO 2026/02/21
Great local insight
This podcast exemplifies the saying, "All politics is local." Ana and Deep provide great insights into Colorado civics, including concrete steps for b...
★★★★★
winzal 2026/01/17
Great podcast with great interviewers
This is a great podcast with a local Denver progressive perspective that weaves Denver into the national political scene. Listen to this to get infor...
★★★★★
Ana Temu Otting 2025/12/30
My new favorite podcast!!
Love everything on the podcast, especially the Ana dating corner!
★★★★★
Savvy singhh 2025/12/19
Great podcast!
Informative and really great to listen to!
check all reviews on apple podcasts

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