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/
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/
UNSEEN Immersive Photography Exhibit (open till May 17, 2026)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/
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) 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.
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