Who Had the Worst Week?

• Go big or go home, they say. Aurora City Councilman Rob Andrews embraced that philosophy when he tested at more than three times the legal limit for alcohol – a 0.252 – while being arrested for DUI this past weekend. Inexplicably, his sober son was in the car with him when he was arrested, and police turned Andrews’ car over to him while taking his dad to jail. Which begs the question, why was the drunk guy driving?
• Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to join President Donald Trump’s “peace board,” but could not attend the signing ceremony because he’s wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes.
• A tech glitch caused a shelter-in-place warning intended for a two-block radius in Denver to be sent city-wide.
• British troll broadcaster Piers Morgan tripped and fell so hard at a London restaurant that he suffered a broken femur and had to have his hip replaced.
• Denver native Lindsey Halligan was removed from her role as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia after a judge ruled her appointment invalid and called her efforts to remain in the office “a charade.”
• Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot flooded Twitter/X with millions of sexualized images in a period of just nine days, according to a new analysis. Of the more than 4.4 million images, more than 40% were sexualized images of women, many without their consent.
• Two Denver executives – Thomas Sandgaard and Anna Lucsok – with now-bankrupt Zynex, Inc. have been indicted for conspiracy to commit health care fraud, securities fraud and mail fraud. The most illuminating paragraph in the DOJ press release: “When financial reporters raised questions about Zynex’s business practices, … Sandgaard hired an individual to attempt to disrupt the reporters’ personal lives. These efforts included signing reporters up for therapy sessions and (sending) used female underwear to a reporter’s spouse at the reporter’s home with a thank you card addressed to the spouse, detailing the reporter’s alleged ‘illicit behavior’ – all apparently with the intent to convince the spouse that her husband was being unfaithful.”
• Denver Broncos second-year QB Bo Nix helped carry the team to the AFC Championship this past weekend by beating the Buffalo Bills, but the jubilation was short-lived. Approximately 45 minutes after the game ended, head coach Sean Payton announced that Nix had fractured his ankle at the end of the game and would miss the rest of the playoffs.
• Speaking of the Buffalo Bills, if you thought their overtime loss to the Broncos in the playoffs would be their lowest point this year, team owner Terry Pegula managed to top that by firing adequately performing head coach Sean McDermott, promoting underperforming GM Brandon Beane, and holding a train-wreck of a press conference where he – unprovoked – attacked one of his own wide receivers. Anyone thinking about taking the head coach role is probably reconsidering.
• “60 Minutes” correspondents Scott Pelley and Sharyn Alfonsi are reportedly close to being fired for pushing back against CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss‘ attempts to influence their coverage.
• Patagonia had negotiated a truce with drag queen Pattie Gonia that allowed the performer to use her stage name, but Pattie’s recent attempt to trademark and sell merchandise under the “Pattie Gonia” brand was a bridge too far. Patagonia has sued Pattie Gonia, claiming “irreparable harm.” (A hat tip to Eric Anderson for that one.)

Who won the week?

• Linhart PR is celebrating its 30th anniversary.
• Sarah Meirose was promoted to Director of Public Affairs at Copic.
• The Denver Public Library Friends Foundation has added Barefoot PR co-founder Sarah Hogan to its board.
• Ryan Coogler‘s movie “Sinners” earned a record 16 Oscar nominations, including best director and best screenplay, nominations for Coogler and Best Picture. Actor Michael B. Jordan was recognized with his first Oscar nomination for best actor.
• Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife Usha announced they are expecting their fourth child in July.