The NARN Closer's playlist - 12/31/2023

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You consider me the young apprentice......

On Sunday, January 1, 2023, I conducted the first live broadcast of the year on AM 1280 The Patriot. With today being December 31, I will conclude the year of live broadcasts on this Salem Media Group-Twin Cities affiliate. Today's edition of The Closer gets started at 1:00 PM Central Time.

In the first hour, I'll discuss joyless "progressives" who seek to undermine the true background of Jesus Christ on Christmas. I will also weigh in on yet another state looking to boot Donald Trump off its 2024 presidential ballot. 

At 2:15, technology guru D. Greg Scott will join the broadcast to discuss the implications of the Xfinity/Comcast hack. 

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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I already hate 2024

Yet another state makes a legally dubious decision regarding the 2024 presidential election. 

Maine’s top election official ejected former President Donald Trump from the state’s ballot on Thursday, declaring him ineligible to serve as president because of his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on Congress.

The ruling by Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, is certain to inflame a roaring national debate over whether the Republican presidential frontrunner should be allowed to hold power again.

The decision makes Maine the second state in two weeks to disqualify Trump’s candidacy due to the constitutional bar on officeholders who supported or “engaged in insurrection or rebellion.” Last week the Colorado Supreme Court barred Trump from the state’s Republican primary ballot under a similar interpretation of the 14th Amendment.

It's one thing for a judiciary (i.e. Colorado Supreme Court) to rule on legal matters since it's, y'know, what they do. But even they still have a check due to higher courts occasionally being asked to scrutinize legal opinions. But for a member of a state's Executive Branch to unilaterally decide legal matters concerning a federal election???? If that's allowed to stand, we are truly entering banana republic territory. 

Lately I find myself wondering on a daily basis what this country will look like twelve months from now. Let's just say that I've yet to conjure up a scenario where America will actually be better off. 

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Quick Hits: Volume CCCXXXV

 - "Progressives" are some of the most joyless, unhinged individuals we have to endure in America. Not even the Christmas holiday can escape their vapid lectures. 

Here are a couple of examples which reflect their overall sentiments: 

Remember when you celebrate Christmas this year that Jesus was Palestinian.

— Karim Wafa Al-Hussaini (@DrKarimWafa) December 17, 2023

Erick Erickson had his fill of not only this demagoguery but also the flat out inaccuracies (i.e. Jesus' birthplace of Bethlehem is NOT in Gaza, but in the West Bank). 

 

A whole lot of people who want to call Jesus a Palestinian and make the case that he was a political refugee in Egypt will use Jesus Christ as their political prop, but they will never ever worship Him as God Almighty.

In fact, the very historical texts that tell us about Jesus, his birth, his life, his death, and his resurrection are very clear that Jesus Christ is the Lord who spoke the universe into being.

If you’re going to use him as a prop to push your political agenda, at least have some decency to be truthful about where he was born, how he and those around him viewed him, and how over two billion people do not see him as a political prop, but as the Messiah.

These same people arguing that Jesus is a Palestinian probably also attempt to paint him as pro abortion. 

- While politicizing our Savior is an exercise in futility, I am all in on the superficial debates over the worldview of aspects of pop culture. 

For instance --- the 1990 Christmas movie Home Alone. Does this film reflect the virtues of conservatism? National Review writer Gregory M. Collins makes the case. 

Here's an excerpt:  

 

....Home Alone demonstrates the importance of faith, and particularly the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity. Near the end of the movie, prior to the battle scene at the McCallisters’ house, the movie shows Kevin attending a choir performance at the local church. He strikes up a conversation with Marley, his neighbor whom he had previously feared, about Marley’s estrangement from his son. Kevin encourages Marley to reconcile with him. Marley suggests Kevin do the same with his family. In the end, they both make amends with their respective relatives. Home Alone teaches that temporary grudges shrink beneath the awesome power of forgiveness.

Definitely check out the entire piece.  

- To those social justice warriors up in arms over one of their own having his Instagram account nuked over objectional content: Welcome to the cause!!

Controversial Black Lives Matter activist Shaun King — who had claimed he aided in the release of two US citizens that were kidnapped by Hamas and has accused Israel of genocide — had his Instagram account blocked Monday.

King, who has 6 million followers on the Meta-owned site, posted a video message through a friend’s Instagram account announcing he was deactivated by the social media platform.

King condemned what he called “genocide” and “war crimes” committed by Israel in its military campaign in the Gaza Strip, which was launched in retaliation after Hamas terrorists killed approximately 1,200 Israelis and abducted about 250 on Oct. 7.

"Misinformation for we, not for ye" might as well be the progs' rallying cry.  

In late October, King was accused of fabricating claims that he played a role in the release of two Americans who were freed from Hamas captivity.

The 44-year-old King appeared to take credit for the release of Natalie Raanan, 17, and her mother, Judith Tai Raanan, who were taken hostage and held captive by Hamas for nearly two weeks.

“First and foremost, we make it clear that he is lying! Our family does not and did not have anything to do with him, neither directly nor indirectly. Not to him and not to anything he claims to represent,” Raanan family members wrote in a statement.

I've said ad nauseum here and on my radio show that since these social media outlets are considered platforms, the companies themselves not liable for the content produced by its users. As such, I'd prefer they let the vast majority of posts stand (yes, even those containing misinformation) so as to allow ample opportunity for retorts and factual refutations. But given these platforms are private enterprises, it is their discretion to compile "terms of service" and penalties for violating them. However, it has appeared that these social media companies only enforce their terms in one ideological direction (i.e. far more conservative content is flagged). The fact King was cited for violating IG's terms was somewhat surprising.

And just like that, a good number of these SJWs are now sounding like bastions of free speech. 

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The NARN Closer's playlist - 12/24/2023

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With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings.........

It's Christmas Eve, but we'll still have original programming on today's edition of my radio show The Closer. The 2-hour broadcast will get started in its usual 1:00 PM Central Time slot. 

In the first hour, I'll discuss the Colorado Supreme Court ruling that Donald Trump will not be on the state's 2024 presidential ballot. While Trump-kins are correct that this is a dubious ruling from a legal standpoint, they conveniently ignored Trump's unconstitutional instincts while he was President. 

At 2:00, former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Francis Rooney will be on to discuss the global implications of the Israel-Hamas war. 

And finally......Jesus is the reason for the season!

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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Rocky Mountain sigh

I have a feeling that Colorado will not be the last state to attempt this. 

The Colorado supreme court on Tuesday ruled that former president Donald Trump is ineligible to appear on the state’s ballot in the 2024 presidential election.

In a 4–3 ruling, the court held that Trump’s presence on the ballot “would be a wrongful act under the Election Code,” arguing that the former president is disqualified from holding the presidency under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution(.)

I've said before that these attempts via judicial fiat to undermine Trump's candidacy for 2024 better be airtight legally since it's a disaster politically for Democrats. 

If the National Review Editors are correct, the likely outcome will be for the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn this ruling. 

While there are a number of subsidiary legal questions under Section 3, the biggest problem is that the Colorado court got it wrong on the merits of the case. While Section 3 was not limited to the Civil War, it was aimed to disqualify active Confederate rebels and political leaders of the Confederacy from returning to government. Those were people who made war on the United States, or materially supported armies in the field to do so. The original public meaning of Section 3, as illustrated by decisions of Congress in the late 1860s on whether to seat Southern members, barred only active participants in an ongoing rebellion, such as those who joined the Confederate military or aided its war effort – not just those who incited secession by speeches before the fact.

The Colorado court ignored the contemporaneous evidence of how Congress construed its own amendment. Even under the standard it cited from the opinions of then–Attorney General Henry Stanbery, however, “the force of the term to engage carries the idea of active rather than passive conduct.” It is a serious stretch to convert Trump’s lassitude and a few tweets during the riot into active participation in the riot. More than some vague tweets ought to be required before depriving tens of millions of Americans of a candidate who may be their choice.

Once SCOTUS tosses this ruling, the reaction from Trumpians and fervent anti-Trumpians are utterly predictable. 

The Trump cultists will of course laud the U.S. Supreme Court decision, essentially declaring it a victory for the rule of law. They will also extoll the virtues of due process and how everyone should be presumed innocent. All I say would say to the Trumpians and their sudden infatuation with due process is that they better have the same energy if their guy is POTUS again and thus repeats his mantra of "due process later."

As for the fervent non-Trumpers, a SCOTUS overturn of this ruling will fortify their maniacal claims that the high court is illegitimate and thus result in louder calls for Justice Clarence Thomas's impeachment (why do progs always have the most invective for the black guy?). They'll also continue the drumbeat for expansion of the Court itself, basically turning into it a shadow legislature. 

For as nuts as the 2016 cycle was, 2020 made it look like beanbag. The 2024 cycle now appears to be requesting that we grasp its brewed and fermented beverage. 

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Quick Hits: Volume CCCXXXIV

- Bigotry by any other name would be just as degrading.

From former NFL running back Rashard Mendenhall: 

Not sure who Rashard believes is the white players' "G.O.A.T.," but there was one specific white dude who got the best of him when his Pittsburgh Steelers took on the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl 45. 

What's frightening is Rashard has expressed more disdain for football commentating white dudes than he did for Osama bin Laden. 

- Clickbait headline: 

BREAKING: Pope says priests can bless same-sex unions, requests should not be subject to moral analysis https://t.co/5NXUuFAj4d

— The Associated Press (@AP) December 18, 2023

Reality: 

 

Media Mudders: No, Pope Francis Did Not OK Blessings for Same-Sex Relationships

What are the most dire words that any Catholic journalist can hear in the mainstream media? “Today, the Vatican/Pope Francis said …”https://t.co/EP3Bk0ovMf

— Ed Morrissey (@EdMorrissey) December 18, 2023

It bears repeating: a corrupt, dishonest media is far more dangerous to democracy than who resides in the White House.  

- For a young man who only turned 30 within the past two months, Charlie Kirk has made quite a name for himself. He's best known for founding the organization Turning Point USA, whose mission it is to share the virtues of conservatism and American greatness with young adults susceptible to leftist indoctrination on college campuses. 

While I have a ton of respect for Charlie taking on such an ambitious endeavor, he's not doing himself, his organization or his followers any favors with his fealty to Donald J. Trump. As such, said idol worship has resulted in absurdly naïve and ill-informed takes as this: 

Free Speech has a cost

Alex Jones: $1 billion

Tucker Carlson and FOX: $787.5 million

Rudy Giuliani: $148 million for wanting to ensure fair elections

Are you next?

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) December 15, 2023

No, I am not next, for the obvious reason that I have no intention of defaming anyone. See, "defamation" is not protected speech. 

Erick Erickson explains. 

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Erick Erickson (@ewerickson)

When it was ascertained that Trump was indeed a formidable candidate for President 7+ years ago, Kirk was an impressionable young man in his early 20s. He soon learned that hitching his wagon to Trump back then could be very lucrative, and his current lifestyle reflects that belief. To state the obvious, Charlie has no core principles outside of Trump-ism, so he'll be continue to be a proud transcriber for Trumpian gaslighting. 

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The NARN Closer's playlist - 12/17/2023

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Lift me up, and move a bit closer.....

Another Sunday, which means another edition of my radio show The Closer. The 2-hour blitz gets started at 1:00 PM Central Time. 

In the first hour, I will discuss how Sen. Amy Klobuchar's national standing has taken another significant blow. 

In the second hour, I'll weigh in on some national news, particularly how the Biden administration continues to hit new lows in its approval numbers. Also, a new scandal for Harvard president Claudine Gay, yet she still gets a seal of approval from the school's administration. 

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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Preemptive derangement

We're still 10-1/2 months away from the 2024 presidential election, yet Donald Trump's most mentally unstable fervent detractors are hellbent on ginning up kooky, unhinged scenarios of what a second Trump term would look like. 

I've said it multiple times, but it bears repeating: Joe Biden is perhaps the most vulnerable Democrat POTUS candidate in a head-to-head matchup against Trump. So if indeed Trump is this grand threat to our Republic, there should be more stringent calls for Biden to not seek reelection. Yeah, I know demanding an incumbent President to step aside is not within the normal realm of our political system. But, again, we're continually told Trump is uniquely dangerous, so shouldn't we obliterate any and all norms here? Eh. I'm guessing it makes for more compelling television to engage in hyperbole with the assumption that the voting public doesn't understand how our representative republic is structured to prevent such scenarios which they breathlessly conveyed.

The uncomfortable truth these talking heads don't want to acknowledge? The lack of a functional and independent media is a far greater threat to democracy than another Trump presidential term. 

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Quick Hits: Volume CCCXXXIII

 - After last week's disgraceful performance in front of the House Committee on Education, Harvard President Claudine Gay has had a new scandal crop up: plagiarism. 

Hard to see her hang on to her job after all that, right? 

“As members of the Harvard Corporation, we today reaffirm our support for President Gay’s continued leadership of Harvard University,” (Harvard's corporate board) wrote in a University-wide statement on Tuesday. “In this tumultuous and difficult time, we unanimously stand in support of President Gay.”

Liz Magill, one of the three university presidents who couldn't unequivocally condemn on-campus Anti-Semitism in her House testimony last week, resigned her post shortly after a wealthy benefactor withdrew a $100 million gift to the school. Is that what it will take for Gay to resign? Who knows, but her remaining president certainly doesn't enhance Harvard's rapidly declining reputation.

On a different note, what kind of punishment will a Harvard student face in the future should they be determined to have engaged in plagiarism? 'Cause that could get awkward.

- Say, did ya miss Monday evening's Green Bay Packers-New York Giants tilt? Prince Akeem provided a solid recap......35 years ago?!?!?!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ESPN (@espn)

The only way that movie scene would have been more prescient to Monday's game is if Joe Pesci had a cameo.  

- Sen. Amy Klobuchar will always have a seat in the U.S. Senate as long as she wants it. But as I wrote nearly 3-1/2 years ago, she's persona non grata nationally (i.e. aspirations for President, VP, U.S. Attorney General, etc.) after there were serious questions raised over the murder conviction of Myon Burrell while Klobee was Hennepin County attorney. After nearly 18 years in jail, Burrell's sentence was commuted in late 2020.

Fast forward to this past Monday: 

Nearly two decades after being convicted of murder, 36-year-old Marvin Haynes was released from the Stillwater prison Monday morning after a Hennepin County judge vacated his conviction.

“Almost twenty years ago, a terrible injustice occurred when the state prosecuted Marvin Haynes. We inflicted harm on Mr. Haynes and his family, and also on Harry Sherer, the victim, his family, and the community,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in a statement. “We cannot undo the trauma experienced by those impacted by this prosecution, but today we have taken a step toward righting this wrong.”

The Great North Innocence Project, which represented Haynes, said in a press release Monday that Moriarty’s office agreed to vacate Haynes’ conviction following a November evidentiary hearing during which attorneys “presented evidence showing that the identification procedures used to convict Mr. Haynes were inconsistent with best practices and unnecessarily suggestive.”

Hennepin County Judge William Koch signed an order Monday vacating the conviction, writing that “absent introduction of the unconstitutional eyewitness identification evidence, it is doubtful there would have been sufficient evidence to sustain a conviction.” In the order, Koch also wrote that “there was no physical evidence linking [Haynes] to the crime scene.”

The Hennepin County attorney at the time? You guessed it: Amy Klobuchar. 

Sure, Klobee is going to win her Senate reelection in a walk next year. But look for Black Lives Matter and similar activist organizations to disrupt any public campaign events she puts on over the next 11 months.

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The NARN Closer's playlist - 12/10/2023

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Hey now, take it back, get off the attack................

I'm back in the Patriot bunker this afternoon for my 2-hour radio show The Closer. We'll get started at 1:00 PM Central Time. 

This past week I was traveling for work, so I had little time to pore over news or schedule guests for today's broadcast. So if nothing else, this show could be entertaining if not somewhat awkward. 

In the first hour I'll discuss the latest budget forecast for the the state of Minnesota as well as the inept DFL's tax rebate legislation resulting in citizens having to pay taxes on that money. Also, there was a meeting of MNGOP State Central delegates yesterday, so convention chair Dave Osmek will join the broadcast to give a recap.

Then in the second hour I'll discuss some national news, specifically the disgusting performance of MIT, Harvard and Penn presidents when asked if calls for genocide of Jews can be called "bullying."

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 CCCXXXII

 - This past Wednesday was "Forecast Day" in Minnesota, where projections are given on how much of a state budget surplus or deficit we can anticipate one the Legislature convenes early next year. 

As expected, we weren't even close to the $18 billion surplus projected last year. 

Minnesota lawmakers are expected to have a $2.4 billion budget surplus for the upcoming legislative session, but spending it could result in a deficit of nearly the same size in the coming years, according to state estimates released Wednesday.

For the ill-informed progs who are tempted to jump around like poo-flinging monkeys by insinuating the DFL trifecta spending last year's surplus as if they were crack whores with a stolen credit card had no real impact? Yeah, that's coming. 

Seems like you missed an important part of the forecast worth reporting to the public……a 30% increase in spending last session is projected to put MN in a deficit forcing either cuts, or if last session is any indication of what to expect, more tax increases on Minnesotans. 🧐 https://t.co/xPSVf0yV77 pic.twitter.com/78LDpz06RB

— 🇺🇸Zach Duckworth🇺🇸 (@ZachDuckworth) December 6, 2023

To be fair, this component was somewhat alluded to in Strib story I linked to.

 

The projected deficit for the next two-year budget cycle is close to the current surplus — $2.3 billion, according to state officials. That projection may change depending on actions in the Legislature and national and global events.

"Policymakers will need to be very thoughtful when making budget decisions this next year," (if it's still the DFL trifecta, we're hosed- ed.) Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Erin Campbell said, adding that saving the surplus instead of spending it could offset the future deficit.

Has anyone asked any of these prog elected officials what the solution would be a potential deficit, particularly in light of many high-taxed residents relocating or at least entertaining the idea? We certainly know leftists have no appetite to actually cut spending. 

- Say, what's gotten in to Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) lately? 

  

Fetterman: "We have a colleague in the Senate that's actually done much more sinister kinds of things. He needs to go. If you are going to expel Santos, how can you allow Menendez to remain in the Senate? Menendez is really a Senator for Egypt, not New Jersey." pic.twitter.com/OdWTznfnmL

— TheBlaze (@theblaze) December 1, 2023

https://t.co/HKDynOJNt4 pic.twitter.com/Q9hULLpnCv

— Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) December 7, 2023

What does it say about today's Democrats when a guy with depression issues while recovering from a stroke comes across as one of the more level-headed members of their caucus? 

- If ever a college student is "mis-gendered" or, say, a university chapter of Black Lives Matter is dubbed a neo-Marxist organization, many school officials would dub such rhetoric as "hate speech." 

But showing support for the genocide of Jews? Eh. It's nuanced.

The entire hearing: https://t.co/CAu9YTNqmM

— Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) December 5, 2023

And as should be the case, the fallout was almost immediate, as Penn is losing out on a $100 million gift from a wealthy benefactor. 

Also, Harvard President Claudine Gay put forth a ham-handed apology. 

 

“I am sorry,” Gay said in an interview with The Crimson on Thursday. “Words matter.”

“When words amplify distress and pain, I don’t know how you could feel anything but regret,” Gay added.

“I got caught up in what had become at that point, an extended, combative exchange about policies and procedures,” Gay said in the interview. “What I should have had the presence of mind to do in that moment was return to my guiding truth, which is that calls for violence against our Jewish community — threats to our Jewish students — have no place at Harvard, and will never go unchallenged.”

“Substantively, I failed to convey what is my truth,” Gay added.

Leave aside the fact the phrase "my truth" makes my skin crawl, but how is there no universal standard which unequivocally condemns calls for wiping out an entire collective of people? "Your truth" I guess depends upon which collective is feeling threatened.

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The NARN Closer's playlist - 12/3/2023

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Well how much more can we take with all of this corruption.......

Happy December!

For 2023, there are only 4 or 5 more broadcasts remaining of my radio show The Closer, so here's to finishing the year strong. Today's 2-hour broadcast gets started at 1:00 PM Central Time. 

A lot to get to this show. First, I'll weigh in on the fracture among Minnesota Democrats over the Israeli-Hamas conflict. I will also give my review of the documentary The Fall of Minneapolis. 

On the national scene, the utterly inept Biden administration was on full buffoonish display this past week. 

At 2:00, Leona Hernandez will join the broadcast via phone. Leona had husband Tony co-authored the book Travel Nurse: Our Pandemic Story. The book discusses travel nurse Leona leaving her family in April 2020 to go to COVID-19 hot spot New York City to assist with treating patients there. 

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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Where's the lie?

Sen. Ron Latz (D-St. Louis Park) has rankled many of his fellow Democrats with this statement. 

Minnesota Democratic Senator Ron Latz is facing criticism from members of his party for stating at a press conference Wednesday: "Palestinian youth dream of the opportunity to achieve glory and even martyrdom by killing as many Jews as possible." pic.twitter.com/oTkyqFCHBt

— Alpha News (@AlphaNewsMN) November 30, 2023

There's only two plausible explanations for the anger being expressed over Latz's statement: 

• a) Latz's detractors hate that he told the truth. 
• b) Said detractors don't realize that what Latz is saying is true because they have swallowed Hamas' propaganda whole. 

As this was happening, far left progs' calls for a "ceasefire" look even more deluded and irresponsible than ever. 

 

Hamas has claimed responsibility for a shooting at a Jerusalem bus stop that left at least three people dead and 16 others injured Thursday morning.

Read more: https://t.co/wxrHuyDMZ3

— ABC News (@ABC) November 30, 2023

Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, the U.S. House member representing Latz's area, has been one of a number of Dems demanding a "ceasefire." Whatever Don Samuels, Omar's 2024 DFL primary opponent, is pulling in for campaign cash merely needs to go to audio/video ads of Omar on an endless loop. 

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Quick Hits: Volume CCCXXXI

 - If you're wondering like I am how the Joe Biden reelection campaign is going spin the dismal results of "Bidenomics," here's your answer: straight up gaslighting. 

BIDEN: "As a share of earnings this Thanksgiving, dinner was the 4th cheapest ever on record. I want y'all to know that." pic.twitter.com/XWJPRMzXNv

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) November 27, 2023

While Biden gaslights, Bloomberg News crunches the numbers.  

After years of inflation, US consumers are shouldering a burden unlike anything seen in decades — even as the pace of price increases has slowed.

It now requires $119.27 to buy the same goods and services a family could afford with $100 before the pandemic. Since early 2020, prices have risen about as much as they had in the full 10 years preceding the health emergency.

It’s hard to find an area of a household budget that’s been spared: Groceries are up 25 percent since January 2020. Same with electricity. Used-car prices have climbed 35 percent, auto insurance 33% and rents roughly 20 percent.

Those figures help explain why Americans continue to register strong dissatisfaction with the economy: Consumers’ daily routines have largely returned to their pre-pandemic normal, but the cost of living has not.

And the government data reports that show easing inflation are cold comfort, because they simply indicate prices are growing at a slower pace, not that they are returning to early 2020 levels.

At the same time, housing affordability is at its worst on record, auto-loan rates have soared, and borrowing with a credit card has never been so expensive.

Many Americans have seen their pay rise rapidly since 2020, but much of those gains have been gobbled up by inflation. Some of the fastest wage increases in decades have left the average American largely no better off than before.

The Biden camp will also rely on willing accomplices in the media (specifically the Washington Post) to suggest that Americans suffering from sticker shock on prices of everyday items are being fed misinformation by conservative media outlets. In essence, these media outlets are basically asking struggling Americans “Who are you going to believe, me, or your lying eyes?”

Heckuva strategy. 

- It appears something was left out of this quote. 

 

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona:

"I think it was President Reagan who said, 'We're from the government. We're here to help!'"

Here's the actual quote:

"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the Government, and I'm here to help." pic.twitter.com/Hgxpt2Xdoh

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) November 27, 2023

Yes, President Reagan technically uttered those words. But context matters. 

 

It goes without saying but the actual quote from Reagan was "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are I'm from the Government and I'm here to help." pic.twitter.com/susfyAmWSJ

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) November 27, 2023

A Secretary of Education mangling context in order to fit a narrative. I'm hard pressed to think of a better metaphor for today's education system. 

- I finally took the time to view The Fall of Minneapolis, a documentary discussing the ripple effects of the Memorial Day 2020 death of George Floyd after being in police custody. 

If you have a couple spare hours, I highly recommend checking it out ( click this link ⇒ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFPi3EigjFA ). 

I won't spoil it for you, so I'll just state this: it was clear the outcome of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin's murder trial decided literally before the first word of testimony was uttered. Also, the media engaged in blatant "sins of omission" when it came to reporting on the entire saga leading up to Chavin's knee being planted on Floyd's back. 

Democracy dies in darkness indeed. 

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RIP Mark from St. Louis Park

In the 12+ years I've been broadcasting my weekly radio show on AM 1280 The Patriot, I've been privileged to meet a lot of fun, kind and intelligent people. Whether it's fellow broadcasters (Saturday host Mitch Berg being at the top of the list), station employees or sponsors, it's been a blessing to have people in my life who I can call "friends" due to this endeavor. But no matter how much radio has evolved over time, there is one key component to broadcasting success which remains constant: the audience. I couldn't tell you from a numbers standpoint how many live listeners we have on a weekly basis or how many podcast downloads occur, but I do know we have one of the more fiercely loyal listener bases in Twin Cities radio. And I can tell you that my favorite shows are where there is active listener engagement. Sure, the advent of social media has increased the interaction with the audience, but not much tops a listener calling in to the live show to chat.

I don't recall when Mark from St. Louis Park first called my program, but he quickly became a regular. And when I'd cue him that he was on air, he would always respond with "Brad, another great show!" Whether or not that was merely a reflexive statement in the motif of "nice to meet you" when being introduced to someone for the first time didn't matter to me. It just made my heart happy every single time. 

The frequency of Mark's calls increased during President Donald Trump's tenure and in the aftermath of Trump's 2020 defeat. Mark was still incensed over Trump not being reelected, as he just couldn't understand how his fellow Americans didn't see what he saw: how transformative a leader Trump was. In fact, Mark, who turned 65 earlier this year, had said many times that Trump was the greatest President of his lifetime. 

I've made no secret that I washed my hands to Trump in early 2021 after his bluster played no small part in the Republicans losing their majority in the U.S. Senate. And while I don't believe he "fomented an insurrection" on 1/6/2021,  his cavalier attitude in reacting to the U.S. Capitol riots showed how little regard he had for our Constitutional Republic. However, Mark often called in with his steadfast support of Trump, particularly when I was critical of the former POTUS. And while I received more than a fair share of nasty social media messages from Trump supporters who took my criticism personally, Mark remained affable. Yes, while the ol' "agree to disagree" mantra seems to be a foreign concept in today's discourse, Mark & I took it to heart. 

As the race for the 2024 GOP nomination began in earnest over the summer, I stayed firmly embedded in my "anybody but Trump" stance. I even ramped up my criticism of Trump in response to his appearing even more unhinged than normal. As the summer turned into fall, I thought of Mark often, particularly since he hadn't called in to my show much throughout 2023. I then started to wonder if Mark had become so weary of my anti-Trump attitude that he decided to not call anymore. While I don't go out of my way to be provocative, I'm not going to shy away from opinions I believe in --- even if it may come at the expense of losing listeners. Still, I missed hearing from Mark.

On October 15, I had on as a guest Yinam Cohen, who is the Consul General of Israel to the Midwest. Mr. Cohen came on to discuss the terror attacks which took place in Israel eight days earlier. Mark, who was proud of his Jewish faith, called in to convey a quick opinion about what was taking place in Israel. Given I had a guest on the line, I couldn't engage with Mark like I usually did, but I was grateful to hear his voice. Had I known that would be the last time Mark would call, I would have gone so far as to tell him to stay on hold for a few minutes so I could talk to him personally during a break.

It was this past Saturday on his NARN broadcast that Mitch had received word that Mark passed away the previous Tuesday. Upon hearing this, I logged on to the Star Tribune website to find Mark's obituary. I admit I shed a tear when I read the first sentence: 

Rice, Mark - Affectionately known as caller "Mark from St Louis Park" on AM 1280, passed away at the age of 65 on November 21, 2023.

I took an entire segment on my show Sunday to share my remembrances of Mark. I conveyed that I hope I didn't alienate him with my constant bashing of Trump and that he was easily in my top 3 of favorite callers. With about two minutes remaining in the segment, Mark's brother-in law Tim called, so I put him on the air immediately. After expressing my condolences to him, Tim took a minute to assure me that Mark not calling in had nothing to do with his feeling alienated. Sadly, Mark had been battling pancreatic cancer and thus just didn't feel up to engaging in a lot of his normal activities. Tim also shared that he and Mark often talked about my show and thoroughly enjoyed it --- with the exception of the Trump bashing. 😆 Given I had trouble keeping my composure throughout that segment, that bit of levity was absolutely welcome. 

Thanks for the memories, Mark. While I am sad I will no longer hear your voice, I rejoice that your physical suffering has come to and end. 

My sincere condolences to Mark's family in this tremendous loss. 

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The NARN Closer's playlist - 11/26/2023

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If your life was bad to you, just think what tomorrow will do.....

I believe I've sufficiently recovered from my tryptophan coma, so this weekend's edition of my radio show The Closer will go on as scheduled. Today's 2-hour broadcast will begin at 1:00 PM Central Time. 

In the first hour, I'll weigh in on President Joe Biden once again calling for unity while his admin put out talking points on how to lecture "MAGA relatives" at Thanksgiving dinner. 

On the local front, Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) is all in on his presidential run as he announced he is NOT seeking reelection for his U.S. House seat. 

At 2:00, Rick Berman of Charities for Vets will join the broadcast to discuss the myriad charitable organizations collecting donations but not spending the money as intended. 

Then at 2:30, technology guru D. Greg Scott will stop by to share some tips on how to avoid fraud, identity theft, etc. during this busy holiday season. 

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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One month until Christmas.....

 .......and I am officially at this point. 

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Bizzaro NFL world

The Detroit Lions will be hosting their annual 11:30 AM Central Time Thanksgiving game. At 8-2, the Lions are off to their best start in....well.....a looooong time. 

How long you may ask?

The last time the Lions were 8-2, black people couldn’t walk into restaurants https://t.co/iG6TG8zaHZ

— Dixie Normous (@MalcHatesYou) November 19, 2023

That would be 1962.

The Lions getting off to a great start is so bizarre that they have me the rapid anti-Packers fan in a position to root for the Green n' Gold to upset them (yes, Green Bay defeating Detroit would be classified as an upset). 

Anyhow, Happy Thanksgiving to you all, and......Go Pack.

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White billionaire lives matter

Not sure a lotta sympathy is gonna get ginned up over this. 

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay said his 2014 arrest for operating a vehicle while intoxicated was a result of police prejudice against him for being "a rich, white billionaire."

Irsay discussed the circumstances of his arrest as part of a wide-ranging interview with HBO Sports. The longtime Colts owner pleaded guilty in September 2014 to one misdemeanor count of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

When asked why he pleaded guilty, Irsay responded: "Just to get it over with."

"I am prejudiced against because I'm a rich, white billionaire," Irsay said during the interview, which aired Tuesday night. "If I'm just the average guy down the block, they're not pulling me in, of course not."

Irsay was asked how he thought his assertion would be received.

"I don't care what it sounds like," Irsay said. "It's the truth. ... I could give a damn what people think how anything sounds or sounds like. The truth is the truth, and I know the truth."

First off, someone of Irsay's stature doesn't drive themselves around, instead opting for private chauffeur service. So the idea that uber rich white guys are profiled in such a manner would seem to lack any evidence simply because they're rarely in such a situation. But when Irsay was pulled over for driving erratically, it was discovered that there were pills in the vehicle which didn't match the accompanying prescription bottles. Also, Irsay failed multiple field sobriety tests. So if indeed Irsay had not been taken in as he asserts he wouldn't have were he an "average guy down the block," many would naturally ascertain it would've been due to his status as a "rich, white billionaire." 

While it is far more socially acceptable these days to be openly critical of a wealthy white guy as opposed to, say, a high profile minority or well-known female, I don't believe any of that is relevant here. Sadly, this smacks of Irsay attempting to downplay his well-documented addiction issues. 

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Quick Hits: Volume CCCXXX

- Happy 10th anniversary to this Tweet: 

Thanks to all of you who encouraged me to consider filibuster reform. It had to be done.

— Senator Harry Reid (@SenatorReid) November 21, 2013

Then Senate Majority Leader Reid was referring to nuking the filibuster for judicial appointments below the U.S. Supreme Court, something Dems contended was tantamount to treason when Senate Republicans even entertained the idea 8-1/2 years earlier. 

Since Reid set the precedent, it wasn't exactly a stretch for the GOP majority in the U.S. Senate to extend it to SCOTUS appointments shortly after Donald Trump was inaugurated President in January 2017.

National Review also commemorated the anniversary of Reid's stepping on the proverbial rake. 

(O)nce Donald Trump entered the White House, Republicans used Reid’s weapon to confirm 54 circuit judges and 174 district judges in four years. With the precedent in tatters, they also discarded its remains to confirm three Supreme Court nominees who would have been enormously difficult to get on the Court with a 60-vote threshold. Those three justices form the backbone of the new conservative majority and provided the decisive votes to overturn Roe v. Wade. Reid, who died in late 2021, lived to see the utter ruination of his plans by his own actions.

Be careful what you wish for.

Indeed.  

- I haven't played Fantasy Football since 1998. I've had many invitations to join leagues over the years, but I've declined them all. 

I'm sure the vast majority of FF participants are fine people who enjoy spirited competition among friends and acquaintances.

And then there are the intense competitors who personally go after NFL players for underperformances or not rehabbing fast enough from injuries. The best WR in the game today, Justin Jefferson, had his fill of those who want him to expedite his healing from a bum hamstring. 

My health is wayyyy more important than you winning your fantasy games. It doesn’t matter how many times y’all flood my dms talking about me selling your team. I DONT CARE😂

— JJETS✈️ (@JJettas2) November 21, 2023

JJ is still on his rookie contract and thus is in line for a monster extension. Since the average NFL career is maybe three years, I don't blame players one bit if they take extra precautions when going through the rehab process. The big payday's only comin' once, if ever.

- Conservative commentator Erick Erickson with an accurate (and downright depressing) assessment of a potential rematch of the 2020 presidential race. 

 

Joe Biden is currently the most unpopular President in modern American history. He makes the Carter Administration look positively popular. If I were a Democrat and saw the President’s polling and saw him statistically tied in a race against a man most Americans loathe and who Democrats believe is an existential threat to democracy itself, I might want to consider pushing the man aside (not down stairs) and letting him retire gracefully a one term President.

Concurrently, Republicans, your front runner is statistically tied to the most unpopular President in modern American history. The GOP leads the Democrats on border security, immigration, national security, crime, spending, fighting inflation, and the economy. The President is less popular than most venereal diseases. And your front runner is only tied with him — in large part because Democrats themselves are tired of their front runner but will rush back to him if Trump is the nominee. And, remarkably, the further you get from Trump as a GOP nominee, the better the Republican candidate does against Biden.

Both parties should be rethinking their front runners.

The most unpopular President in modern history is tied with the most unpopular candidate for President in American history. It’s not the unstoppable force meets the immovable object. It’s the brain eating amoeba versus the brain swelling virus — where Americans are forced to pick which cruel death they prefer — a choose your own adventure where at the end you always wind up in hell.

Seems to me that those complaining loudest about our democracy supposedly being in peril are looking to make decisions which will only enhance those concerns. 

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My weekend

No, I didn't forget to post my weekly promo of my Sunday radio show. That's because I was not broadcasting this past weekend. Yup, I took a rare and well-deserved break (copyright Brian "St Paul" Ward) since I knew I would be out late Saturday evening partaking in the St Paul leg of the Eagles "Long Goodbye" tour. I'm a pretty simple guy, so I'll just say I had an absolute blast partaking in the legendary band's 21-song set list! And that was after their opening act The Doobie Brothers kicked off the evening with a 12-song catalog. For more in-depth reviews, check out Jon Bream's piece at the Star Tribune as well Ross Raihala's recap at the Pioneer Press. 

Given I contracted a nasty head cold in the middle of last week that was still dogging me into this weekend, I would have likely laid low these past few days were it not for having purchased these very expensive concert tickets four months ago. And since the outing was a celebration of a dear friend's 40th birthday, ain't no way I was gonna let him have all the fun. So I got by on pure adrenaline Saturday evening, only to crash hard all day Sunday. 

Anyhow, I'm grateful this is a short work week with the Thanksgiving holiday coming up. Despite all the chaos and rancor in our world today, I believe there is much in which to be thankful. This week will certainly be a welcome reminder of that. 

Talk soon!

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Righting a wrong

Remember back in 2021 when MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred decided to pull that season's All Star Game out of Atlanta due to his objections over Georgia's proposed voting law? 

Manfred's statement then: 

"Major League Baseball fundamentally supports voting rights for all Americans and opposes restrictions to the ballot box. In 2020, MLB became the first professional sports league to join the non-partisan Civic Alliance to help build a future in which everyone participates in shaping the United States. We proudly used our platform to encourage baseball fans and communities throughout our country to perform their civic duty and actively participate in the voting process. Fair access to voting continues to have our game's unwavering support."

Even before ballots were cast under the new legislation, anyone who read the law could tell Manfred was deeply misguided in his assessment. Didn't matter though as the MLB Commish's virtue signaling earned him his sought after ego stroking. 

Well....not only were the alleged concerns (or what I believe was a deliberate misinformation campaign) completely unfounded, the 2022 cycle saw record voter turnout for the Peach State in both the primary and general elections. 

So would this past week's news be an unwitting admission by Manfred that he was indeed full of crap 2+ years ago?

 

The Braves will host the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, commissioner Rob Manfred announced Thursday, two years after the event was moved from Atlanta to Colorado following the passing of voting restrictions in Georgia.

“I’ve said it before: We want to bring an All-Star Game back to Atlanta,” Manfred said at the owners’ meetings in Arlington, Texas. “I made the decision in 2021 to move the event, and I understand — believe me — that people had then, and probably still have, different views as to the merits of that decision. What’s most important is that the Atlanta Braves are a great organization.

“Truist Park and The Battery are gems in terms of the facilities, and Atlanta and Georgia have been a great market, great markets for us for a very, very long time. With their great fan base and rich history, Atlanta deserves an All-Star Game, and we’re really looking forward to being there in 2025.”

Translation: 

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The fallacy of "Queers for Palestine"

First off, STRONG LANGUAGE ALERT!!!

This is perhaps the most blunt and effective takedown I've seen in response to the 2SLGBTQIA+ crowd touting their solidarity with Palestine. 

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