LITA 20: Melat Kiros Returns! June 30th Primary Updates & the new wave of politics
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:
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Email: LeftInTheAtticPod@gmail.com
Voicemail: (303) 416-2846
