DJ Summers is Common Sense Institute’s Director of Communications & Research Operations. He oversees CSI fellows and research staff, coordinates with partners, iterates and analyzes projects, and breaks down findings for the public, legislators, and commercial leaders. 

Prior to CSI, DJ attended the University of Utah and Syracuse University. He worked as a journalist, investigator, and political researcher across the U.S. from Washington, D.C. to Alaska. DJ has a drive to understand complex truths and make them clear and accessible to the public and its leaders alike.

DJ lives in Denver and is a classically trained pianist. He devotes his spare time to practicing and studying music. When not at the piano bench, he has a regimen of strength training, combat sports, and enjoying good Colorado beer.

Research

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Housing & Our Community
Colorado’s Waning Popularity: Census Figures Show Domestic Outflow
Colorado’s Waning Popularity: Census Figures Show Domestic Outflow Introduction Colorado’s former status as a popular destination for movers from other…

April 20, 2026


DJ Summers
State Budget
Colorado Budget: How Did We Get Here?
Colorado Budget: How Did We Get Here? Introduction Colorado’s Joint Budget Committee is proposing an FY2026-27 budget that incorporates half…

April 7, 2026


DJ Summers
Free Enterprise Report
2026 Free Enterprise Report
The Free Enterprise Report is a marquis report that provides an objective, non-partisan, fact-based analysis of the Arizona economic landscape…
Jobs & Our Economy
The Economic Impacts of Palantir’s Departure from Denver
The Economic Impacts of Palantir’s Departure from Denver INTRODUCTION On the 17th of February, Palantir, a multi-billion dollar surveillance company…

February 24, 2026


Erik Gamm , DJ Summers

Podcasts

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Executive Action & Extraction: Economic Impacts of the Mineral E.O. in the West
In March, the White House issued an executive order (E.O.) 14241 “Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production” aimed at strengthening the…

May 27, 2025


DJ Summers
Homelessness: What Is the Best Approach to Tackling It?
There are two broad approaches to homelessness. Housing first prioritizes providing stable, permanent housing to individuals experiencing homelessness without preconditions…

April 21, 2025


DJ Summers
Could Federal Workers Returning to the Office Boost Downtown Denver?
On January 20, 2025, the new presidential administration indicated a desire to have all federal employees return to in-person work.…

March 10, 2025


DJ Summers
The Full Cost of Colorado’s Ambitious Energy Goals
Everybody wants cleaner energy – but not everybody is going to be happy about how much clean energy is going…

February 10, 2025


DJ Summers

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