Weekly Email 5/4/26

Telluride Ski Resort, CO

Dear Restore the Balance Community,

Remember this guy? 

This week, we shine a light on another of the underwriters for our Spring Gathering and one of the pillars of the Mesa County community, the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. We'll also look at David French's journalistic career and his views on the First Amendment.

P.S. May the Fourth be with you. 

Topic of the Week: The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel & David French, Journalist

The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel

At a time when local journalism is under threat, the Sentinel, with its recent acquisitions of the Montrose Daily Press and the Delta County Independent, aims to expand local, family-owned coverage across Western Colorado and foster deeper, regional news coverage. We are grateful for their journalism and for their support in bringing David French to Grand Junction.

Why does the Sentinel support this event?

"RTB's advocacy for important institutions like a free press and the rule of law squares with the mission of newspapers like The Daily Sentinel. We appreciate that RTB is not about political outcomes, but rather process, transparency, and a return to the norms that have made this country strong and resilient." — Jay Seaton

Start your subscription to The Daily Sentinel today.

David French, Journalist

Prior to joining the New York Times in 2023, French was a Contributing Writer at The Atlantic and Senior Writer at National Review. He also helped found The Dispatch, a reader-supported, independent conservative media outlet, precisely because he believed in the value of independent journalism outside of legacy institutional structures.

David French on the First Amendment

In a reply to a post on X following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, David French stated that: "Free speech isn't an issue of left vs. right. It's an American value, and it's indispensable to the American experiment."

Last March, in an interview on PBS Frontline, French reflected on his career as a First Amendment lawyer: "Often, when you're trying to prove that the government has retaliated against you for your political expression, it becomes difficult, because the government will never admit, 'We're doing this because of politics.' They always find a pretext to justify it, and the challenge of a lawyer is to shatter the pretext."

Watch the full interview here. 

Further reading.

Please forward this email to friends, family, and neighbors who may not be RTB members but who may be interested in attending the Spring Gathering and hearing from David French.

Upcoming Events

Tonight, May 4 — 6:30 p.m., Stand for the Constitution hosts Bobbie Gross, candidate for Mesa County Clerk and Recorder. Appleton Christian Church, 2510 I-70 Frontage Rd., Grand Junction.

May 7 — Courageous Colorado Lunch & Learn | 12:00–1:00 p.m. MT (virtual on Zoom) KenDrell Collins from the Voting Rights Lab will walk you through their Election Policy Tracker and share a helpful overview of what is unfolding in election policy across the country. Open to all. RSVP here.

May 16 — RTB & Mesa County Public Libraries Book Discussion | 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Join us for a discussion of David French's Divided We Fall: America's Secession Threat and How to Restore Our Nation at Mesa County Central Library, 443 N. 6th Street, Grand Junction. French will deliver the keynote address at RTB's Annual Spring Gathering on May 21. More info and registration. 

May Social Hour — Cancelled. Join us instead at our Spring Gathering on May 21!

May 21 — RTB Annual Spring Gathering | 6:30–9:00 p.m. Keynote speaker: NYT columnist David French — "U.S. Elections in 2026: A Year of Decision at a Time of Division."

🎟️ Grand Junction — May 21 | 6:30 | CMU Ballroom.

🎟️ RTB La Plata Watch Party — May 21 | 6:30 | Fort Lewis College. 

🎟️ Delta Watch Party — Free & open to the public, no tickets required. Delta County Library, 124 6th St, Delta, CO 81416 (Meeker St. Entrance) | Doors open: 6:00 PM

Space is limited in Grand Junction and Durango. Reserve your spot early!

Member Recommendations: 

• Sarah Isgur and David French discuss the Supreme Court decision on the Voting Rights Act, weird indictments, and whether Israel is guilty of genocide. Listen here.

On the Radar: Local Government Meetings

• Board of County Commissioners: Tuesdays @ 9am

• Grand Junction City Council: 1st & 3rd Wednesdays @ 5:30pm

• Town of Palisade Board of Trustees Meeting: 2nd & 4th Tuesdays @ 6pm

• Fruita City Council: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays @ 7pm

• D51 School Board: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays @ 5pm (public comments accepted on 3rd Tuesdays only)

• Mesa County Library Board: Last Thursdays @ 5:30pm

• Public Health Board: Monthly Tuesdays @ 3pm

Thank you to all who have submitted photos, podcasts, and video recommendations. We will publish a recommendation in each category every week. Please keep them coming!

Want to Contribute to Our Weekly Newsletter?

Our best recommendations come from you! Have you read a thought-provoking book? Listened to an insightful podcast? Found an article worth sharing? Captured a beautiful photo of Western Colorado? We want to feature your discoveries and perspectives in our Monday Update.

You can share resources, suggest topics you'd like RTB to address, or submit photos from around our community. All submissions can be anonymous or attributed to you; it's your choice.

Submit your recommendations here

Let's learn from each other and build a more informed community together.

Don't forget to vote in 2026: June primaries, November general.