May 13, 2016 01:58 PM UTC

Get More Smarter on Friday (May 13)

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• by: Colorado Pols

Today is the last Friday the 13th of 2016, so relax. It’s time to Get More Smarter with Colorado Pols! If you think we missed something important, please include the link in the comments below (here’s a good example).

TOP OF MIND TODAY…

► Earlier this week we wrote that the Senate campaign of Republican Jon Keyser is “basically finished.” But after Keyser’s completely disastrous day of “interviews” on Thursday — video of which has since gone national — we think it’s safe to go ahead and remove the word “basically.” Jon Keyser is not going to be Colorado’s next Senator, and even fellow Republicans are abandoning ship.

ICYMI, Keyser’s absolutely epic #FAIL(s) on Thursday are must-watch TV.

► The Colorado Supreme Court will hear a case from the campaign of Republican Senate candidate Ryan Frazier, who is trying to remain on the Senate ballot despite coming up short in the signature-gathering process.

► It’s official: Colorado has a new Lieutenant Governor following Thursday’s swearing-in ceremony for Donna Lynne.

Get even more smarter after the jump…

IN CASE YOU ARE STANDING NEAR A WATER COOLER…

► Perhaps Jon Keyser should have quadruple-checked these petitions. 

► The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing new rules on methane gas.

► Jason Salzman has his picks for the best reporting from Colorado media members during the 2016 legislative session.

► Good thing we figured out how to pay for that Conduit thing.

► Two Colorado experts will be among those offering their opinions on the dangers of concussions during a Congressional hearing today.

► The Pueblo Chieftain and the Colorado Statesman reflect on the 2016 Colorado legislative session that came to a close on Wednesday.

► Officials in Mexico have a nickname for presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump. They call him “The Clown.”

► President Obama’s administration has finalized new rules designed to provide more protections for transgendered Americans. From the Washington Post:

The Obama administration finalized a new rule Friday mandating that health insurers provide transgender patients with coverage for services and access to facilities even if those services were not traditionally covered or required by their expressed gender, as well as separate guidance calling on public schools to let transgender students access the bathrooms and facilities of their choice.

The two moves, both of which have been in the works for more than a year, reflect the Obama administration’s push to affirm transgender rights as a central civil-rights question for the current era. And they sparked an immediate backlash from conservatives on the state and federal level, who described the new measures as government overreach.

While the new Department of Health and Human Services rule does not require insurers to automatically approve all gender transitioning services, it means that they cannot categorically deny coverage as they have in the past. These services can range from vaginal reconstruction to treatment for ovarian cancer when an individual identifies as a man.

As you might guess, conservative Republicans absolutely lost their shit once they heard the news:

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) described the proposal in dire terms Friday, saying, “This will be the end of public education, if this prevails.”

► National demographic changes are likely to be as devastating to the Republican Party in 2016 as their Presidential nominee.

OTHER LINKS YOU SHOULD CLICK

► Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper has not yet decided whether or not he will support a compromise bill dealing with alcohol sales in grocery stores.

► Rain barrels, you are go for launch (well, on August 10, anyway).

ICYMI

► A national holiday for voting? Heck, yeah, we’re on board.

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