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August 19, 2025

Did Felonizing Fentanyl Possession Work? Plus, City Layoffs Incoming and Some Feisty Listener Voicemails

City Cast Denver

Did Felonizing Fentanyl Possession Work? Plus, City Layoffs Incoming and Some Feisty Listener Voicemails

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President Trump is calling on Democrat-run cities to watch closely as he attempts to take control of Washington, D.C. So we’re talking about one of the policies he’s pushing and some new data on how harsher penalties for fentanyl possession have been impacting overdose deaths in Colorado. Producers Paul Karolyi and Olivia Jewell Love discuss the shifting politics around public safety and addiction. Plus, some hilarious and insightful listener comments about Gov. Jared Polis’ online antics and animal sounds on 16th St., and the best ways to survive a zombie apocalypse in Denver. 

Paul mentioned Denverite’s reporting on the city layoffs happening this week and Dr. Joshua Barocas’s study on the fentanyl felonization bill. Here’s the sound art on 16th St. that a listener told us about.

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.

Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver

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Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm

What do you think about harm reduction and the 2022 fentanyl law? We want to hear from you! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

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