Dec. 11, 2025: Colorado ranchers’ beef with trade policy, what happens to your recycling, holiday book picks

Colorado cattle ranchers are frustrated by a new White House trade policy they say threatens their bottom line. Then, we follow the path of your cans and bottles to see where Colorado’s recycling actually ends up. Learn what’s being done to improve the system. Plus, we’ve got Colorado book recommendations for the holidays. Email us at coloradotoday@cpr.org . Colorado Today is supported by CPR’s members — with a big thanks to those who gave during the recent Colorado Gives Day campaign: you raised nearly $800,000 for Colorado Public Radio. Read more on the stories in today’s show: From KUNC, Lucas Brady Woods on how trade policy is affecting Colorado ranchers Denverite’s Kevin Beaty reports on if recycling actually gets recycled . Find more information about the state’s expanded recycling program here. CPR’s Andrea Dukakis shares holiday book recommendations from Narrow Gauge Book Cooperative in Alamosa. This episode of Colorado Today is hosted by Arlo Pérez Esquivel. It’s edited and produced by Mateo Schimpf, Sandy Battulga, Megan Verlee, Bazi Kanani and Tyler Bender. The executive producer is Megan Verlee. Theme music by Pedro Lumbraño.