Staff column: the Wide World of Politics, in Brighton – Brighton Standard-Blade

Im not old enough to have watched ABCs Wide World of Sports myself, but Ive heard tell. Apparently, there were all sorts of events televised on the program, from log rolling to arm wrestling to demolition derbies.

The Blades news headlines werent so different this past week. On Tuesday, Brighton City Council unanimously voted to opt out of Tri-County Health Departments mask mandate, joining other cities that could be on the more conservative end of the political spectrum. Eventually, that vote was nullified by Gov. Jared Polis statewide mandate.

However, city councils vote, its leadup and its aftermath were fascinating to observe. Some people see mask wearing as a simple act that helps ensure public health and safety. Others cite different scientific claims arguing the opposite. Then theres a whole other cohort that opposes the mandate because they dont like orders from Tri-Countys board, who Mayor Greg Mills called unelected bureaucrats. After council cast its vote, residents didnt hesitate to share those differing opinions with fierce passion.

The night thereafter, I saw another side of politics I hadnt previously: First Amendment auditing. At a city council finalist meet-and-greet, three YouTubers showed up to pose a series of questions to finalist Jane Shang. All the while, they live streamed the confrontation on YouTube. After the confrontation happened, I pulled these figures aside to ask them questions, which they also proceeded to live stream.

The next day, I learned a little more about their shtick. First Amendment auditors is a term loosely used to describe a community of YouTubers that tests the First Amendments limits. A person in that camp who I spoke with described another auditor as a constitutionalist, or in this instance, someone who acts out of an inerrant, superseding belief in rights granted by the U.S. Constitution.

These auditors live stream themselves in public, confronting police officers or public officials who they allege are corrupt. They keep at it until, many times, authorities see no other choice but to arrest them. When that YouTuber is arrested, though, their supporters might see them as a martyr, only fueling the movement.

No arrests happened at the meet-and-greet, but the YouTubers certainly made a scene. Eric Brandt, one of the auditors in attendance, told me that instead of getting Shang to admit to wrongdoing, I was there to get that womans reaction. In other words, he was trolling Shang out of deeply held political beliefs, and he did it all through a specific social media platform.

The politics I observed this past week, with both the mask debate and First Amendment auditing, were completely new to me. I saw libertarianism and constitutionalism in ways I wasnt previously exposed to. By the way, Im not commenting on the merit of those ideologies or whether I think theyre right or wrong. Thats not my place as a reporter. My whole point is that Im fascinated by it all. You cant make it up.

Im not surprised that new forms of political eclecticism are coming out of the woodwork in Brighton. To the south of the city is relatively liberal Denver and to the north is relatively conservative Weld County. Brighton is smack dab in the middle. What surprises me is how eclectic that eclecticism is. So, Brighton, thanks for keeping it spicy.

Cheers,

Liam

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Staff column: the Wide World of Politics, in Brighton - Brighton Standard-Blade