We wallow through late June, the long days alternating between prickling rain and sodden heat, news of the world outside obscured by the muggy haze of long weekends, summer vacations and evenings spent streaming “Widow’s Bay” (it’s excellent).
I enjoy the days, at least for now, because they offer the briefest respite before another wrenching political season.
Call it the calm before the storm, 2026 edition.
We’re in for some crazy times. Our state’s politics may well shift hard to the right, with consequences playing out for decades to come.
As the preternaturally youthful indie band Sparks put it a quarter-century ago:
“It’s the calm before the storm
Something big is coming soon
Something that will change your tune
It’s the calm before the storm
False sense of security
Shown to be a forgery”
Here are the stories to watch for as the summer devolves into electoral trench warfare.
A new triple play
It could play out like this.
U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall resigns for a Trump administration post.
A legislative committee recommends three Republicans for appointment from Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. She selects former Gov. Jeff Colyer over two manifestly unqualified options.
