🇺🇸 Why is Trump so obsessed with Colorado?

🤖 White House Blocks CO’s New AI Law

An executive order passed by President Trump last week aims to prohibit states from setting their own regulations for artificial intelligence. Colorado’s new AI law is set to go into effect in June. Although three other states would also be impacted by the order, the president’s missive directly called out Colorado. [Denver Business Journal 🔒]

• Speaking of Mr. President: Trump took to Truth Social to apparently pardon disgraced Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters who is currently serving a nine-year sentence in state prison for breaching election security in 2020. However, according to current law, presidential pardons don’t apply to state convictions. Gov. Polis said Peters will stay put until the courts weigh in. [Axios Denver]
• And also: The Department of Justice is suing Secretary of State Jena Griswold for the release of protected voter information, including driver’s license numbers and the last four digits of Social Security numbers. Griswold maintains Trump “does not have a legal right to the information.” She added, “I will continue to protect our elections and democracy, and look forward to winning this case.” [CO Newsline]

🇺🇸 Sen. Gonzales on Trump, Sexism, and the Race Against Hickenlooper

Last week, State Sen. Julie Gonzales jumped into the Democratic primary to challenge U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper for his seat — a race she alleges a party insider told her she was “guaranteed” to lose. Gonzales explains why she’s taking on Hick anyway, her approach to working with the Trump administration, and how she plans to bring her progressive mindset to Congress. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

🥤 Coca-Cola Bottler Sets Its Sights on the Springs

Swire, the Utah-based franchise bottler of the soft drink giant, announced plans to construct a 620-square-foot bottling plant in Colorado Springs after its original deal to build near Denver International Airport fell through last summer. The company says the $475 million investment would bring 170 jobs to the area and replace its current bottling facility in Denver. [BusinessDen 🔒]

• An interesting detail: A Pepsi bottling facility is also moving its Denver-based plant out of the city … to land near DIA. But not where Swire Coca-Cola was set to go.