For years, the social media account DoBetterDNVR has been a thorn in Mayor Mike Johnston’s side, attracting 150,000 followers with harsh personal attacks, policy critiques, and crowd-sourced photos and videos of people experiencing homelessness in crisis. Then on Monday night, the anonymous admin mysteriously deactivated the accounts on Instagram and X. Our politics and green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval joins host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to talk about why DoBetterDNVR stepped away now. Plus, a new report on how local politicians are navigating “toxic” social media, a preview the Denver season of Love is Blind that’s set to premiere next Wednesday, and all our wins and fails of the week. 

UPDATE: Hours after we recorded this episode, DoBetterDNVR returned! The newly reactivated account posted a surprising message acknowledging mistakes, committing to more accurate posts, and apologizing to Mayor Johnston and his wife Courtney. We are working to verify this new post and learn more. 

Bree talked about Pete’s University Park Cafe closing and Glenwood Springs. Paul discussed weed lounges, Palantir’s new merch, Rich Spirit Bagels, and our recent episode on how weird Gov. Polis is online. Justine talked about recycling plastic bottles and the new play from Jeff Campbell, Jedidiah Blackstone. 

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• Downtown Denver Partnership


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