Media Censorship and the Colorado LEAP Initiative

On August 2, 2021, Kim Monson examines the erosion of journalistic integrity and government overreach in education with author Julie Kaewert reviewing Sharyl Attkisson’s book on media manipulation, and researcher Patti Kurgan exposing the troubling details behind Colorado’s LEAP Initiative 25.

When News Became Narrative

Start listening at 31:07 – Hour 1

Julie Kaewert, mystery author and book reviewer, breaks down veteran journalist Sharyl Attkisson’s exposé on how American news media abandoned truth-seeking for narrative-pushing. Kaewert details Attkisson’s 30-year career at CNN, PBS, and CBS, where she witnessed firsthand the transformation of journalism from fact-based reporting to agenda-driven storytelling.

The book review reveals shocking examples of story suppression, including Attkisson’s investigation into Boeing’s Dreamliner battery explosions. Despite having video evidence from a whistleblower, CBS killed the story at the highest levels due to Boeing’s powerful lobbyist connections. Years later, fatal crashes vindicated Attkisson’s original reporting.

Kaewert traces this institutional rot to 2013, when major outlets began coordinating narratives rather than competing for truth. The New York Times’ leaked editorial meeting exposed their decision to frame every story through the lens of racism, regardless of the actual subject matter. This coordinated approach, Kaewert argues, transformed news organizations into propaganda outlets.

“She saw that her stories were being killed at the top level if they did not fit the narrative or if they damaged someone.”

Julie Kaewert, Author

Colorado’s LEAP Initiative Exposed

Start listening at 17:32 – Hour 1

Patti Kurgan, KMS researcher, continues her investigative series on Colorado Initiative 25, the Learning, Enrichment, and Academic Progress Program. Her latest op-ed connects the dots between the nonprofit Reschool organization and the ballot measure, revealing that Reschool already operates within public schools and stands to receive taxpayer funding through LEAP.

Kurgan exposes fundamental problems with how the initiative has been marketed. Proponents sold LEAP as a step toward school vouchers, but the money never touches families. Instead, an unelected, unaccountable board chosen by the governor controls all vendor selections and spending decisions. Parents can only choose from pre-approved options, limiting genuine educational freedom.

The initiative also undermines Colorado’s TABOR protections by de-Brucing the marijuana tax revenue it captures. Kurgan notes that Reschool has received millions from private foundations, raising questions about why taxpayers must now fund their program. For those who signed the petition, today marks the deadline to request signature removal through the Secretary of State’s office.

“The truth is so important. And that’s exactly what we’re trying to find here is the truth. How did this ballot initiative come about? Who’s behind it?”

Patti Kurgan, KMS Researcher