Box Score of the Week

Texas Rangers at New York Rangers - May 14, 1998.

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The NARN Closer's playlist - 6/22/2025

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I was blind, now I can see; You made a believer out of me.....

I feel like I say this almost every other week, but I'll say it again: I could use a third hour on today's edition of my radio show The Closer. Alas, a mere two hours will have to suffice. I'll get started right at 1:00 PM Central Time. 

In the first hour, I'll talk about the aftermath of the assassinations and attempted assassinations of MN state legislators last weekend. Now that the alleged murderer is in custody, we've learned more about what transpired that awful Saturday morning. 

Then in the 2:00 hour I'll weigh in on the U.S. missile strikes in Iran. Should President Trump have sought Congressional approval? Will this lead to WWIII?

Finally at 2:30, newly crowned Miss Minnesota Emma Vrieze will stop by to discuss her new title, her journey to Miss America, etc. 

So please call (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics we plan on addressing.

 

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 or, if you're near downtown Minneapolis/West Metro area, 107.5 FM on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link, or check us out via iheart radio as well as Amazon Alexa (just say "Alexa, play The Patriot Minneapolis"). If you're unable to tune in live, please check out my podcast page for the latest show post.

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #NARNShow or "Like" our Facebook page, where we also conduct a "Live Stream" of the broadcast.

Until then.....

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Quick Hits: Volume CCCLXXVI

It shouldn't be controversial for states to pass laws that require young people to be at an age of consent (typically adulthood, which legally begins at 18) to make literal life altering decisions. 

Thankfully the highest court in the land concurred. 

The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that states have the constitutional right to pass laws protecting children from irreversible transgender medical interventions.

In a 6-3 ruling the court upheld a Tennessee law prohibiting minors from attempting to medically change their sex.

Chief Justice John Roberts delivered the opinion of the court, in which Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett joined. Justice Samuel Alito, a George W. Bush appointee, agreed with large parts of the opinion. The court’s three liberal justices—Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson—dissented.

The court held that Tennessee’s law “satisfies rational basis review,” rejecting plaintiffs’ claims that the law discriminates against people on the basis of gender identity.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, signed SB1—a bill banning puberty blockers, hormone replacement regimens, and transgender surgeries for children—into law on March 22, 2023.

In her dissenting opinion, Sotomayor sounded more like a demagogic leftwing legislator than a member of the judiciary branch. 

"The majority subjects a law that plainly discriminates on the basis of sex to mere rational-basis review," Sotomayor wrote. "By retreating from meaningful judicial review exactly where it matters most, the Court abandons transgender children and their families to political whims. In sadness, I dissent."

In the concurring opinion, Justice Barrett indicates transgenderism is not a "suspect class." 

I guess we're getting a sneak preview of perhaps the next major legal battle.  

- Let's be clear: Iran is the largest, most prolific state sponsor of Islamic terror in the world. For the leaders of that country to develop nuclear capabilities would be apocalyptic. So the Israeli military conducting multiple precise missile strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities does not equate to America "entering a new war." 

And for those beating the drum that "aMeRiCaNs ArE tIrEd Of FoReVeR wArS iN tHe MiDdLe EaSt," I would concur. Except most Americans realize that's not what's happening. Nor is it on the brink of occurring.  

As I said yesterday on @AmericaRpts, the so called split on the right over Iran having a nuke is completely overblown pic.twitter.com/GlNuVmpl21

— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) June 18, 2025

Oof. Tucker Carlson's isolationist grift efforts are the hardest hit.  

- A lotta leftists (and non-Trump Republicans) got in a twist over the President's blunt answer to the question of whether he'd reach out to Gov. Tim Walz in the aftermath of the murders and attempted murders of Minnesota legislators and their spouses. 

COLLINS: Have you called Tim Walz yet?

TRUMP: I don't really call him. He appointed this guy to a position. I think the governor of Minnesota is so whacked out. I'm not calling him ... he's a mess. pic.twitter.com/81o4oSqyR7

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 17, 2025

One of the more visceral reactions came from current Democratic National Committee chair (and former MN DFL chair) Ken Martin.  

Guess what, @realDonaldTrump, you're a small, petty, insecure man and no one cares if you call them or not. Your words ring hollow and no one believes anything you say - so you're right why waste the Governors time calling him, the last thing he needs is your fake sympathy.… https://t.co/LrJtGgGnR9

— Ken Martin (@kenmartin73) June 17, 2025

Kenny could get away with this brand of unhinged lunacy at the state level due to Minnesota not having a competent oppositional party. But now that he's at the helm of a national party hemorrhaging support (and money) while showing no desire to moderate even a little shows this clown is in way over his head. 

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They got him (UPDATE: could have been *a lot* worse).

At close to 10 PM Sunday evening, alleged assassin Vance Boelter was apprehended near his Green Isle, MN estate. 

So many people were understandably devastated and horrified by the murders of Rep. Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) and husband Mark as well as the serious gunshot wounds suffered by Sen. John Hoffmann (DFL-Champlin) and wife Yvette. However, those emotions were made even more painful due to the fact the alleged killer was at large for nearly 48 hours after the incidents. Thankfully the victims' loved ones can now focus solely on life going forward, which will be difficult enough. 

The one undeniable silver lining from this tragedy is that Boelter didn't have an opportunity to claim additional victims which were part of a personal "hit list." Since the Hoffmans were shot first (with John being quickly identified as a state legislator), law enforcement had the presence of mind to perform a "wellness check" on the nearby Hortman residence due to the possibility someone was targeting elected officials. As it turned out, that intuition was spot on, thus saving countless other lives. 

As is custom in any violent incident which has political undertones, the "hot takes" and reckless speculation was quite insufferable. People on the right in particular glommed on to the fact that Boelter was named to voluntary committees/councils in both the Gov. Mark Dayton and Gov. Tim Walz administrations. Also, many "No Kings" fliers were found in the vehicle he fled after law enforcement engaged him at the Hortman residence. In the minds of some, this was all the proof they needed that Boelter was radicalized by the left. There were also a good number of folks on social media who believed Hortman and Hoffman were targeted due to voting to remove healthcare coverage for adult illegal aliens in Minnesota, a vote which angered radical leftists. And while it's true that Hortman was the deciding vote in the House on that provision, Hoffman was not one of the four MN Senators who voted in favor. 

As more information becomes available, Boelter's primary motivation for wanting to conduct a killing spree was his staunch opposition to abortion. Specifically, elected officials who support/voted for radical abortion policy (like what we have in Minnesota) as well as churches which he felt became too moderate on the issue. That certainly would fly in the face of those who assumed he was on the radical left. 

In the end, my sentiments echo those of conservative commentator Guy Benson. 

Lots of missing information & conflicting details still — but IF this evil killer shot politicians over their abortion stance, I fully reject him, as virtually all pro-lifers should & will. I want nothing to do with him. Political violence is despicable.

And I don’t vote for… https://t.co/AOH4d6XEVm

— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 16, 2025

Whenever violence is perpetrated by a leftist (e.g. Two assassination attempts of Donald Trump, the murder of a United Healthcare CEO, a Jewish couple being gunned down in Washington, D.C., a plot to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a Bernie Bro shooting at Congressional Republicans, etc.), progs often give conditional condemnations ("Sure this was wrong, BUT....") of such actions with their media lapdogs providing adequate cover. But in this case, progs and their media accomplices will use Boelter's actions as a cudgel to shill for gun control as well as demagogue that the fight for "reproductive rights" can never cease, even in the face of death. 

This much is certain: the vast majority of right-of-center politicos won't place a single condition on their condemnations of Boelter's actions. 

UPDATE: Boelter visited a total of four homes of legislators that evening before fleeing police. 

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Box Score of the Week

Texas Rangers at San Diego Padres - August 20, 2020. 

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This was the fourth consecutive game in which the Padres as a team hit a grand slam home run, a record which still stands today. 

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Sunday NARN

I'm out for today's broadcast of my radio show, but there will still be live programming 1-3 PM Central Time on 1280 The Patriot. 

Andrew Richter, co-founder of Community Solutions Minnesota, will take the reins of today's show. I'm certain he'll be keeping listeners abreast of any breaking news regarding the violence aimed towards MN legislators, incidents which resulted in the deaths of Rep. Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) and her husband Mark as well as serious injuries to Sen. John Hoffman (DFL-Champlin) and wife Yvette. 

You can listen in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 or, if you're near downtown Minneapolis/West Metro area, 107.5 FM on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link, or check us out via iheart radio as well as Amazon Alexa (just say "Alexa, play The Patriot Minneapolis"). If you're unable to tune in live, please check out my podcast page for the latest show post.

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #NARNShow or "Like" our Facebook page.

Until then.....

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Nothing left to say

It goes without saying that I am horrified, shocked and saddened by the violence aimed at elected Minnesota legislators and their families. 

State Representative Melissa Hortman (D) and her husband Mark were shot and killed in their home Saturday morning. State Senator John Hoffman (D) and his wife, Yvette, who were also targeted by the assassin and each shot multiple times, survived a similar attack in their home on Saturday morning.

The man suspected of attacking Hortman and Hoffman is 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter, who was appointed by Walz in 2019 to serve a four-year term on the Governor’s Workforce Development Board. The alleged suspect is the head of Praetorian Guard Security Services, a Minnesota-based firm that offers clients uniformed security patrol, event security services, and licensed armed patrols in residential areas, according to its website.

Authorities are “cautiously optimistic” that the Hoffman family will survive.

Officials say that the suspect had a “manifesto” with a target list of “many other lawmakers and officials” in his vehicle, including Hortman and Hoffman. The list also included the names of Walz, U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar (D), Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, and other state Democrats, along with abortion providers, ABC reported. Police are looking for a “white male, brown hair, wearing black body armor over blue shirt and blue pants.”

As information continues to flow out about Boelter and his background, the more questions I have. But, as my NARN colleague Mitch Berg's 18th Law declares, pretty much take everything with a grain of salt within the first 48 hours after such an incident. 

Since I am taking a break from tomorrow's radio show, I agreed to appear on Mitch's program today from 1-3 and then guest co-hosted the Jack Tomczak Show 3-5. As such, I really don't have much more to say until there's any additional breaking news. 

With that, here's the video to all four hours of today's programming on the Northern Alliance Radio Network. 

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Brief hiatus

A lotta family stuff pressing this weekend, which means blogging may be lighter than normal. Also, I won't be hosting my weekly radio show this Sunday, so I may unplug altogether. 

Talk to ya soon. 

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