From dorky to deranged

While campaigning for Vice President of the United States in 2024, Gov. Tim Walz came off as a giant doofus. Basically, the rest of the country got to see what we in Minnesota have been enduring since he was elected our state's top executive in 2018. The most hilarious part of that campaign was he and running mate Kamala Harris trying to pawn it off as being "joyful."

Since that election loss last November, Harris has at least had the dignity to slink off into exile. However, Walz doesn't have that luxury given he has two years remaining in his gubernatorial term. But instead of staying in Minnesota where he might have to be reminded of the nearly $1 billion in government waste, fraud and abuse which has occurred under his watch, Walz has decided to take his goofy schtick on the road. And in a recent townhall gathering, he's apparently eschewed the dorkiness to portray himself as the very type of person he accuses President Donald Trump of being. 

Tim Walz says the one thing that brings him joy during the day is watching Tesla stock go down.

The Democrat VP candidate is openly rooting for the destruction of a top 10 American company while his supporters destroy its cars.

Whatever you thought life would look like with… pic.twitter.com/V4BDzjFCle

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 19, 2025

A few thoughts: 

- How tone deaf is Nebraska Fats Walz when he openly roots for a stock to tank, not to mention one which is part of many Americans' retirement portfolios? Democrats were basically drummed out of office this past election cycle due in large part to working class folks feeling as though government didn't much care about their struggles. This was borne out when leftist politicians would basically tell us not to believe our lying eyes when pointing out the unaffordability of daily life. 

- You would think an immigrant to this country who started multiple successful ventures (including an environmentally friendly automobile line), which resulted in the creation of thousands of private sector jobs, would be someone the left would edify to the hilt. But since his name is Elon Musk and he's associated with Trump, it's axiomatic that he will be the target of progs' vile rhetoric and behavior. 

- Finally, how utterly irresponsible of Walz to give tips on how to remove the Tesla logo from vehicles. Said cars have been the target of excess vandalism lately, yet you have the most recent Democrat VP candidate (and a sitting governor) essentially sanctioning the destruction of private property. Yeah, I get that he was telling Tesla owners how to do that to their own cars, but how much ya wanna bet this kind of destruction will soon be happening to unwilling participants? 

The first two months of President Trump's second term has been (to be charitable) uneven. But I'll take the general chaos over orchestrated lunacy six days a week and twice on Sunday. 

------------------------------------------------------------

Gross

Just reading this story gives me the creeps. 

Minnesota Republican Sen. Justin Eichorn has been arrested on suspicion of soliciting a minor for prostitution, according to Bloomington police.

Bloomington police said in a press release that detectives communicated with Eichorn, who thought he was talking to a 16-year-old female, and arranged to meet him at a location near the 8300 block of Normandale Avenue in Bloomington Monday.

According to police, Eichorn was observed arriving in the area in a pickup truck and was arrested without incident outside of his vehicle by uniformed officers.

Police said he was booked into the Bloomington Police Department’s jail and will be transported to the Hennepin County Adult Detention Center. Felony charges of soliciting a minor for prostitution are pending from the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, the press release said.

“As a 40-year-old man, if you come to the Orange Jumpsuit District looking to have sex with someone’s child, you can expect we are going to lock you up,” Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges said. “I have always advocated for stiffer penalties for these types of offenses. The recent case involving Michael Gillis who was arrested in Bloomington is a prime example of why we need stronger penalties. We need our state legislature to take this case and this type of conduct more seriously.”

Literally within minutes after this story broke, the MN Senate Republicans called on Eichorn to resign.  

I'd like to think that GOP activists would universally agree that Eichorn needs to move on in order to focus on his legal troubles, so I'm hoping I don't hear of any of 'em invoking the Dems' lack of principle regarding Sen. Nicole Mitchell's legal woes. If you believe that the DFL woefully lacks strong moral character by not having their caucus call on Mitchell to resign, then we ought not be playing the same game with Eichorn's situation.

Politics aside, my heart breaks most for Eichorn's wife and four children. Just an awful situation for them all around. 

----------------------------------------------

Are the Dems trying to tank the 2026 cycle?

Recent public polling shows the Democrat party is experiencing record low approval ratings. On top of that, their prospects for regaining a majority in the U.S. Senate is in peril with incumbents not seeking reelection in swing states like Michigan and New Hampshire. Also, reliably red state Georgia is definitely ripe for a GOP flip with Democrat Sen. Jon Ossoff facing a tough reelection battle. 

I guess this would explain why Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer chose to appear with the shrill hags on The View and proceed to mock regular Americans (many of whom are still struggling with an increased cost of living) for wanting to be more financially secure. 

Dem Senate leader Chuck Schumer mocks Americans who want to keep their hard-earned income and praises the government as a "barrier" to them:
"You know what their attitude is, 'I made my money all by myself. How dare your government take my money from me?' ... They hate… pic.twitter.com/vb4oDxPQ3V

— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) March 18, 2025

Again, the only rationale for doing this is Schumer believes a Senate majority is out of reach for Dems in addition to members of his own party turning on him for his CR stunt. Might as well burn it all down. 

It's impossible to overstate how much Donald Trump has broken these people. 

------------------------------------------------

The NARN Closer's playlist - 3/16/2025

-------------------------------------

Kids want a savior, they don't need a fake.......

A lot to get to on today's edition of my radio show The Closer. My 2-hour stint in the Patriot bunker begins at 1:00 PM Central Time. 

I'll discuss the latest happenings in Minnesota politics in the 1:00 hour, including another Democrat entrant into the 2026 U.S. Senate race. Also, elected DFLers are still ghoulish. 

Then in the second hour I'll weigh on President Trump getting a win on avoiding a government shutdown but taking some L's on the economy. 

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.....

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Again.....sadly predictable

The next time Dems use the labels "extreme" and "weird" to describe Republicans, just remember this. 

(On Thursday) the Minnesota House of Representatives failed, on a party-line 67-66 vote, to pass a bill to require medically appropriate lifesaving care for infants who survive abortion (68 votes were needed for passage). The House also voted down, 67-65, a measure to provide grants to organizations that assist new mothers, babies, and families.

When elected Minnesota progs passed the most radical abortion legislation in the U.S. (and arguably the entire world) back in 2023, they had shot down every single solitary amendment the GOP offered, including a measure requiring basic medical care for a newborn surviving an abortion. Their rationale for voting down a seemingly common sense proposal was that such an instance is so very rare that a solution such as lifesaving techniques for an actual human being is irrelevant. Funny, but these same people use the philosophy of "if it saves just one life" whenever they put forth draconian gun control proposals, but can't be bothered to bring that same energy to preserving the life of an innocent baby. 

But I digress. 

Just you watch: during the 2026 election cycle, House DFLers will use the occurrence of this particular vote in campaign ads by essentially saying "Welp.....Republicans once again tried to ban abortion." Book it. 

------------------------------------------

Sadly predictable

Welp.....the GOP majority in the MN House was fun while it lasted. 

As expected, DFL candidate David Gottfried ran away with a victory in Tuesday’s special election for District 40B, securing shared power for his party in the Minnesota House.

Gottfried won 70% of the vote against Republican challenger Paul Wikstrom and will represent the Roseville-Shoreview area. The victory will lock the two parties into a 67-67 tie in the House.

“It feels great,” Gottfried said of the results. “This has been a really, really hard-fought election. We knocked on doors every day. It feels good that we can get back to the substantive work.”

The election comes four months after DFLer Curtis Johnson won the same seat against the same opponent with 65% of the vote. But a judge later found Johnson ineligible to serve because he failed to meet state residency requirements, which ultimately prompted Tuesday’s special election.

It was probably only a decade ago where a district such as this was a "toss up," maybe even leaned GOP. But now? Well, this is who represents that area as of Tuesday evening (pardon the language). 

 

DFL 40B candidate David Gottfried compares getting stiffed as a waiter to being enslaved in antebellum America:

“Ironically enough it is me suffering from the last vestiges of slavery in America, which I suppose is appropriate in America, being that I am a white guy.” pic.twitter.com/ZlDZY8XXyt

— MN Up North Lake Guy (@MNUpNorthLakeG1) March 10, 2025

No word on whether or not the first bill he drafts is to a proposal to award menial servants like himself reparations. 

-------------------------------- 

Quick Hits: Volume CCCLXVIII

 - I've been reading the writings of Twin Cities sports scribe Patrick Reusse for 40+ years, whether it was his time with the St Paul Pioneer Press, the Minneapolis Minnesota Star Tribune or his tenure on Twitter. In all that time I've viewed him as a top notch, Grade-A agitator who dings overzealous Minnesota sports fans as well as his political opposites on the right. 

But when I heard of a blowup over the weekend accusing him of being a racist, my first inclination was to summarily dismiss it. The following tweet is what got the ball rollin': 

As it turns out, the Beastie Boys tune Brass Monkey was what Reusse was referring to, specifically the lyric "Brass Monkey, that funky Monkey." Given the nearly 80-year old Reusse is not the target demographic for such a tune, it's not at all implausible he heard "f****** monkey." Upon the severe backlash he received (in addition to the Strib Sports Editor reacting), Reusse put out a statement on a friend's Twitter account, essentially saying he was leaving the platform. 

In the end, I believe the invective towards Reusse was completely misguided and I'm sorry to see he deactivated his account. However, he now has some keen insight as to the oversensitivity (and faux outrage) his allies on the political left put forth on a regular basis. 

- At that end of the 2024 Minnesota Legislative session, I pointed out how former DFL Senator Melisa Lopez Franzen appeared to be a voice of reason when her party ran roughshod over procedure in order to pass a massive spending bill (without anybody having a chance to read it) before the clock struck Midnight. 

But then I realized that even though she didn't hold political office at the time, the ol' "once a politician, always a politician" mantra was likely in play. Is there an ulterior motive to this sudden reasonableness? 

Yep. 

Former Democratic state Sen. Melisa López Franzen announced on X early Monday morning that she will be running for U.S. Senate.

“I’m running for the United States Senate to protect our Minnesota values, restore sanity and bring decency and common sense back to Washington,” she said in a video announcement.

The U.S. Senate bid comes after her Feb. 21 announcement to step down as executive director of Government and Community Relations at the University of Minnesota. López Franzen formerly served in the Minnesota Senate for District 49 from 2012 to 2022, representing parts of the Twin Cities metropolitan area, as well as parts of Edina, Eden Prairie, Bloomington and Minnetonka.

I'd been hearing for nearly two years that Sen. Tina Smith was unlikely to seek reelection in 2026, so I'd be willing to bet López Franzen was hearing the same rumor. Hence her kumbaya sentiments at the end of the '24 session was a preemptive strike ahead of a possible Senate bid. 

Cynicism in politics makes for a great b.s. detector. 

- Ever since the end of the 2024 NFL season, I've had several back and forths with fellow Minnesota Vikings fans over the fate of QB Sam Darnold. Despite Darnold being in MVP conversation as late as Week 17, I felt it was a fait accompli that he was moving on after his unexpectedly stellar year. When I expressed that sentiment, I got a lotta pushback from many fans incredulous over the possibility the team would let a "proven commodity" walk away and then pivot to a guy (JJ McCarthy) with zero NFL game reps. It never did much good to have a nuanced discussion since most never appeared interested in that. 

Regardless, I was proven correct. 

 

The Seattle Seahawks have found their replacement for Geno Smith, agreeing to a three-year, $100.5 million deal with former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The deal includes $55 million guaranteed, sources told Schefter.

Given his new deal is a $33.5 million average annual value, it now makes sense why the Vikings opted not to place the franchise tag on Darnold and then attempt to trade him. A franchise tag would have carried a $41 million cost, which Darnold's representation would have set as the floor for AAV in a mutli-year pact. It's obvious now that this year's QB market isn't as robust as the past few seasons when the likes of Tua Tagovailoa, Jordan Love, Jalen Hurts, Trevor Lawrence and Dak Prescott got north of $50 million per season. As it turned out, QB needy teams this offseason weren't even going to approach $40M AAV for Darnold, much less throw in a 2025 draft pick on top of that.

With that......bring on the JJ McCarthy era! 

----------------------------------------------------------

The NARN Closer's playlist - 3/9/2025

---------------------------------------

Remember the time we realized "Thriller" was our favorite song?

 Has spring finally sprung? Regardless, I'll be in the Patriot bunker for today's edition of my radio show The Closer. The 2-hour festivities get started at 1:00 PM Central Time. 

In the first hour, I'll weigh in on the disgraceful performance by Democrat members of Congress during last week's address given by President Donald Trump. It was so pathetic that many fellow Dems were abhorred. 

At 1:30, Vice President of Legal Affairs at Landmark Legal Foundation Michael O'Neill will join the broadcast to discuss how legal challenges to President Trump's executive orders can be overcome. 

Then in the second hour I will weigh in on Minnesota political news, specifically the upcoming budget forecasts being worse than initially thought. Also, Minnesota Dems (like their national counterparts) continue to show how out of touch they are with regular folks. 

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.....

------------------------------------------------------------------------

He's running

Let's face it. Gov. Greaseball Gavin Newsom (D-CA) is gearing up for the 2028 presidential race. Heck, had Joe Biden declared in 2022 or 2023 that he was not seeking reelection, Newsom likely would've thrown his hat in the ring for 2024. But since Biden waited until about 100 days before election day to bow out, the Dems were saddled with VP Kamala Harris. 

Anyhow, Newsom knows full well his far left Cali progressivism is a loser in a national race, so he figures he needs to moderate his positions a bit. He began his quest earlier this week on the debut of his podcast This is Gavin Newsom, where he had a discussion with Turning Point USA founder (and uber MAGA loyalist) Charlie Kirk. 

...Newsom, a pioneer for LGBTQ+ rights who decades ago upset leaders in his own party when he defied state law and issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples, suggested Democrats were in the wrong in allowing transgender athletes to participate in female college and youth sports.

“I think it’s an issue of fairness, I completely agree with you on that. It is an issue of fairness — it’s deeply unfair,” Newsom said in his debut podcast episode of “This is Gavin Newsom.” “I am not wrestling with the fairness issue. I totally agree with you.”

This isn't the first time he tried to appear less insane than his fellow progs on the trans issue. Back in the fall of 2023, the California Legislature overwhelmingly passed legislation to allow judges to consider a child's gender identity when litigating a custody dispute. Basically, a judge could have used a parent's refusal to acquiesce to their kid's desire to transition as a black mark against them. Newsom shocked many by vetoing the bill, though it was a clear signal that he was looking to exercise political expedience in the event of a presidential run. 

Expect Newsom to officially announce his aspirations about 5 milliseconds after the 2026 midterms. 

--------------------------------------------------

I'll see your incoherence and raise you utter derangement

I don't recall the exact quote from Sean Davis of The Federalist, so I'll paraphrase: "President Trump's greatest asset continues to be the idiocy of his most fervent detractors."

Never was that more apparent than during (and after) Trump's speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night. 

The thing is, there was plenty to critique about Trump's rhetoric, specifically his dubious comments about the economy. But the increasingly deranged and out-of-touch Democrats (as well as their media lapdogs) continue to show their stunning disdain for regular Americans. 

First off, their intention to hold up protest signs when Trump said something they felt was objectionable. 

Now, the staffers for these Dem members of Congress are likely of the Millennial and Gen Z generations, right? So why didn't said staffers alert their bosses that these are some of the most humiliating, meme-able optics on the internet? Well, maybe these Dems were given a heads up but because they're so blinded by their anti-Trump rage they simply didn't care. That stunt was such an exploding cigar in the face that even an MSNBC panel called it out. 

Symone Sanders and Michael Steele HATED the Democrats' "bingo signs."

SANDERS: "This is an indictment, in my opinion, on the Democratic leadership... The visuals are not taking back the House in 2026."

STEELE: "I don't know who thought up the bingo signs, but they should be… pic.twitter.com/oi89ZQBg4V

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) March 5, 2025

How clouded is the progs' vision due to anti-Trump hysteria? They couldn't even stand and applaud for a young man being surprised with an announcement of his acceptance into West Point......

This is Jason. His dad, grandfather and great grandfather were veterans. Jason lost his dad when he was young. His dream is to go to West Point. And guess what, it’s where he’s going.

Watch till the end. Your heart will melt. pic.twitter.com/HUUxSOLuF5

— Mish 🎗️ (@Mish_K_) March 5, 2025

......or honoring a 13-year old kid battling cancer. 

❤️ This touched my heart.

President Trump honored a 13 year old boy who was diagnosed with Brain Cancer 6 years ago!

He was given 5 months to live and survived

He dreamed of becoming a Police Officer

Trump & the Secret Service Director made him an official Agent of the… pic.twitter.com/kYRrUo3zt5

— Terrence K. Williams (@w_terrence) March 5, 2025

Not to be outdone, MSNBC gal Nicole Wallace with a rather deranged take on DJ's career aspirations. 

 

JUST IN: MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace politicizes young DJ’s moment at Trump’s speech, says she hopes he doesn’t k*ll himself because of something like Jan 6.

Holy sh*t

“I hope he has a long life as a law enforcement officer, but I hope he never has to defend the United States… pic.twitter.com/2wHSzECggL

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 5, 2025

I don't know that it was Trump's intention to show how firmly entrenched in a bubble these Democrats seem to be. If indeed that wasn't his motivation, I'm not sure an actual concerted effort could have achieved a better outcome. 

----------------------------------

Quick Hits: Volume CCCLXVII

 - One of the issues which catapulted Donald Trump to being reelected President this past November was the economy. Given the Biden administration was busy gaslighting the public on how the economy was actually sound despite prices of everyday goods spiraling out of control, voters began to realize that for all of Trump's flaws when he was POTUS, trips to the grocery store weren't a stomach churning endeavor. 

Unfortunately, Trump's obsession with tariffs is undermining the trust voters placed in him. 

As JP Morgan's David Kelly observes -  “The trouble with tariffs, to be succinct, is that they raise prices, slow economic growth, cut profits, increase unemployment, worsen inequality, diminish productivity and increase global tensions. Other than that, they’re fine.”

I'm the furthest thing from an expert on any political advantage tariffs may garner, but it doesn't take a King Banaian to ascertain that there's no upside for the American consumer. 

- One undeniable advantage President Trump has over his political opposites? The Dems continue to show how woefully out of step they are with regular Americans. 

At the state level here in Minnesota as well as both chambers of U.S. Congress, every single solitary Democrat voted against legislation barring biological males from participating in female sports. This in spite of the fact that recent polling shows 79% of Americans supported Trump's executive order banning trans women from women's sports (including a majority of Democrat voters). 

It never ceases to amaze how progs sell their political souls on these niche issues. 

- After a shockingly great season that had him in legit MVP discussion late, Vikings QB Sam Darnold will likely be moving on to another team this season. I was holding out hope that the Vikes would place the franchise tag on Darnold and then trade him to the highest bidder. However, that meant they would have to find another team willing to not only pay him market value (likely $40-$50 million AAV) but also surrender a draft pick or two. My guess is the Vikings' brass had back channel discussions with quarterback needy teams at the NFL Combine last week but found no takers. 

NFL insider Adam Schefter pretty much confirmed that Tuesday afternoon as the tag deadline approached. 

Vikings officially will not be tagging QB Sam Darnold, per sources.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 4, 2025

There are still national reports circulating that the Vikings would like to retain Darnold on a short term deal, like 2-3 years maximum. As a Vikings fan, I am ready to usher in the McCarthy era, so I will be extremely disappointed if they bring back Darnold. However, that frustration will be tempered by the fact I have the utmost confidence in the decision making of head coach Kevin O'Connell. Given he coached up several QBs in his three seasons at the helm, I will trust that he can elevate Darnold to the next level, which would be him not pissing down his leg in, say, a game that determines the top overall seed in the NFC or in an actual postseason contest. 

By this time next week we'll know how this has all shaken out!

---------------------------------------------

The NARN Closer's playlist - 3/2/2025

-----------------------------------------------

Look ahead as we pass, try and focus on it..........

It's March! 

So much to get to today on this week's edition of my radio show The Closer. The 2-hour extravaganza begins at 1:00 PM Central Time. 

Right at 1:00, Senior Legal Fellow at The Heritage Foundation Sarah Parhsall Perry will join the broadcast to discuss a federal court ruling that schools can hide kids' gender identity from parents. Ms. Perry has also been on the frontlines regarding the issue of biological men being allowed to participate in women's sports. 

In the non-guest segments I will react to some of the support (yes, support) that the accused murderer of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson is receiving, where some loons are outright justifying the act. 

In Minnesota news, Gov. Tim Walz will not run for U.S. Senate in 2026. Also, the Northstar commuter rail which runs from the northwest suburbs to downtown Minneapolis may be going away. 

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.....

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mercy killing?

Even at the height of its ridership (pretty much throughout the 2010s), the Northstar commuter rail was a financial boondoggle. But when the COVID-19 pandemic occurred in 2020 it was the first domino to fall in what resulted in the train being an irreversible money pit. 

The powers that be who oversee public transportation in this state can no longer bury their collective heads in the sand. 

The long-struggling Northstar Commuter Rail line between Minneapolis and Big Lake may be shut down and replaced with bus service, according to a joint announcement Monday from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and the Metropolitan Council.

“As the world and consumer demand changes, we must be willing to be flexible and innovative to offer better service while saving dollars,” the two bodies said in a statement.

A firm timeline for a possible closure has not been determined.

The news comes after a MnDOT report released Monday found that transitioning to bus service between Minneapolis and St. Cloud would cost millions less than the status quo. It costs about $12 million annually to operate Northstar, a budget that would shrink to $2 million if buses were used.

When I worked in downtown Minneapolis from 2012 thru 2014, I rode the Northstar rail on a daily basis. Even though it was quite busy during commuting hours it, the per rider subsidy was still sky high. I would often ask local politicians why we just didn't cut our losses and shut the thing down completely. I was told that turning it off would be even more of a financial calamity than continuing with the subsidies. The fact shuttering the Northstar is even being considered now gives us the clearest indication of it being in dire straits.  

Another issue the Northstar faced was the unrealistic expectations (or perhaps delusions of grandeur) of planners and elected officials. Many of those folks expressed a belief that young people would occupy luxury apartments built near the train's multiple platforms, thus making it easy to hop aboard the train to downtown Minneapolis and indulge in a night on the town. Problem was there was no service to downtown after about 7 PM and the only service out of downtown in the evening was 30 minutes after the final pitch of a Minnesota Twins baseball game. So unless you wanted to party in downtown Mpls on the night of a Twins game (and plan do be done carousing by about 10:30 PM), you were outta luck. 

In order for a commuter rail to be even remotely successful, major employers would have to be located near the rail lines. Given the largest Twin Cities companies' headquarters are predominately located in suburban areas meant there wasn't nearly the demand for such a mode of transportation (short of it being force fed to us like the various light rail lines). 

In the end, the pandemic didn't kill the Northstar line as much as it just put out its misery. 

--------------------------------------

Quick Hits: Volume CCCLXVI

 - With Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan announcing her intention to run for U.S. Senate next year, there was significant intrigue over whether her boss would also enter the fray. 

Turns out, he will not. 

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz won’t seek Minnesota’s open U.S. Senate seat next year and is instead considering a run for a third term as governor, the Democrat’s spokesman announced Wednesday.

“He loves his job as governor,” Walz’s spokesman Teddy Tschann said in a written statement.

The former vice presidential candidate announced his decision nearly two weeks after U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, a Democrat, announced she would not seek reelection in 2026. Walz was among a flurry of those from both major political parties who then began testing the waters for the state’s first open Senate race since 2006.

Within literally hours after Smith made her announcement, those close to Walz indicated he was seriously considering his candidacy for that Senate seat. But a mere 13 minutes later, Flanagan announced her intention to run, thus stealing her boss's thunder and giving further validation to a report the two are on the outs. 

Walz not vying for U.S. Senate keeps the rift with Flanagan from playing out in public. But if he runs for a third gubernatorial term, he's now going to have to answer for referring to the opposite political party as "fascists and nazis." 

- I don't believe I have felt more "seen" in my entire life: 

The very last bit about being jealous of the neighbors re-doing their roof? Yep, it played a small part in us getting our roof replaced 2-1/2 years ago. 

- As the (alleged) murderer of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson stands trial, he has a contingent of "fans" showing up outside the courthouse. 

Part II, protestors explain why/how much they support Luigi and are asked insightful questions like:

"Who is hotter, Luigi or George Floyd"

and

"Is Luigi up there with Nelson Mandela?"

I love @Nocapongod_ so much 😂 pic.twitter.com/4mUBLQ8JU3

— Brad Polumbo 🇺🇸⚽️ (@brad_polumbo) February 26, 2025

Notice those loons aren't proclaiming Luigi Mangione as innocent. No, they're warped worldview has them believing that his actions were justifiable. 

Absolute ghouls, all of 'em.

---------------------------------------------------

The NARN Closer's playlist - 2/23/2025

-------------------------------------------

Would someone please let me know how we have spun out of control?

So much to talk about from this news intensive week that I'm tempted to broadcast a third hour on the Northern Alliance Radio Network Facebook page. Alas, the normal 2 hours of my radio show The Closer will have to suffice. I'll get started right at 1:00 PM Central Time. 

I'll discuss Minnesota stuff the first hour, specifically the rumor mill surrounding the open U.S. Senate seat now that Sen. Tina Smith is not seeking reelection. Also, the Star Tribune seems awfully concerned about Minnesota-based Federal government employees losing their jobs but never show the same concern over private sector layoffs. 

In the second hour, I'll weigh in on President Donald Trump's moral incoherence on Ukraine. Also, is Israel prepared to turn Gaza into a parking lot? 

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.....

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quick Hits: Volume CCCLXV

 - Of the many criticisms I've had of President Donald Trump over his time in and out of the White House, I never joined the collective who've suggested he's a puppet of Russian leader Vladimir Putin. But if indeed Trump does not have Putin's mythical hand up his back, how would his justification for ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict be any different were he a Putin stooge?

When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky decided not to join in on the negotiations in Saudi Arabia this week, Trump's response was shockingly ignorant. 

“Today I heard, ‘Oh, well, we weren’t invited.’ Well, you’ve been there for three years. You should have ended it—three years. You should have never been there. You should have never started it. You should have made a deal.”

Hot Air's Ed Morrissey, as intellectually honest a conservative writer out there, was incredulous over such bilge.

Been where? In their own country? And what deal did Putin offer them, except subjugation to Moscow?

Now, we can have a long debate over whether Ukraine has some political fault in its dealings with its ethnic-Russian population, and whether pursuing closer economic and military ties to Europe was a bad idea. However, none of those issues negates the fact that Russia conducted a full-on, unprovoked military invasion with the intent to conquer all of Ukraine three years ago, and have conducted themselves like a barbarian horde during the entire "special operation."

Look, I get it. It was a pretty safe assumption that Ukraine was never going to prevail in this war, so there was never going to be a clean break. And I understand that had Trump told the truth about Putin's decision to engage in this hostile takeover, that would further complicate a porous Russia-America relationship (yes, despite what Tucker Carlson claims, Russia is not a peaceful country). But this is yet another disturbing Trump tendency in that he may have a solid idea (i.e. ending the destructive Russia-Ukraine conflict) but goes about executing it in an incoherent and destructive fashion. My concern is the fallout will be felt for years to come. 

- This from the Strib's X account earlier this week. 

If you are a federal employee in Minnesota and recently lost your job, we'd like to talk to you. Please contact JMooreStrib.60 on the encrypted messaging app Signal. You can also email us at whistleblower@startribune.com. We strongly encourage you to use a personal device.

— The Minnesota Star Tribune (@StarTribune) February 17, 2025

This was reminiscent of the government shutdown which occurred in the state of Minnesota back in 2011. With so many state workers potentially being laid off (albeit temporarily), the local media conducted interviews with some of those affected, and of course took aim at the all-GOP Legislature. The media also spoke with owners of eating establishments in downtown St Paul who were likely to feel the pinch of government employees not being around. But when prominent private sector businesses have layoffs, those same issues are prevalent but not nearly as amplified by media outlets. Why? 

- When then Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced last year he was stepping down as caucus leader, that set off strong signals that he would not be seeking reelection for his Senate seat in 2026.

On Thursday it became official. 

“Seven times, my fellow Kentuckians have sent me to the Senate,” McConnell said in prepared remarks on the Senate floor. “Every day in between I’ve been humbled by the trust they’ve placed in me to do their business here. Representing our commonwealth has been the honor of a lifetime. I will not seek this honor an eighth time. My current term in the Senate will be my last.”

The Kentucky Republican has experienced several medical episodes in recent years, most recently including two falls inside the Senate chamber earlier this month that have left him using a wheelchair to get around the Capitol. He has also frozen at least twice during press events, sparking concerns about his deteriorating health.

McConnell has had polio since he was a youngster, a disease which has hampered the upper portion of his left leg. As one stricken with polio becomes older, frailty sets in and falling becomes an issue. The multiple falls McConnell has endured over the past few years have taken a significant toll. But while his physical health has worsened, McConnell still appears to have solid mental faculties. Laugh if you want, but I challenge you watch his appearance at Erick Erickson's The Gathering event last summer. There aren't a lotta 80-somethings who can share such wisdom and insights. 

I'm certain there are a significant number of Trumpkins who reacted to this news with "gOoD rIdDaNcE, cOcAiNe MiTcH" or "bYe, TuRtLe." But if these same people had any ounce of intellectual consistency, they would at least concede that were it not for McConnell denying to replace Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia with then President Barack Obama's nominee Merrick Garland in early 2016, Trump may not have even been elected that November. McConnell was also key in keeping together a unified Senate majority in 2017 when perhaps Trump's signature piece of legislation, the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act, was able to get passed. Trump himself even lauded McConnell's efforts. 

Godspeed, Senator. 

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I can vouch for this

A terrific nugget from mental health expert John Delony. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dr. John Delony (@johndelony)

My maternal grandmother, who helped my mom raise my brother and me, was an avid reader. Always had her nose in a book. I recall vividly that whenever I would speak to her she'd immediately place her hand on the portion of the page she was reading, look me in the eye and give me her undivided attention. As a younger kid, I would talk about such earth shattering topics as Star Wars, sports, baseball cards, my friends from the neighborhood, etc. She may or may not have been interested in what I was saying, but that didn't matter to me in the least. The fact I was her sole focus in those moments resonated with me more than any words she could have ever conveyed. 

I was almost 35 years old when my grandmother passed away in early 2004. At her funeral, each of her four grandchildren were asked to share a memorable anecdote about her. Those moments where she engaged me in conversation were what immediately came to my mind. 

My thanks to Dr. Delony for triggering one of my favorite memories from my childhood. 

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The NARN Closer's playlist - 2/16/2025

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Voices in your body coming through on the radio............

Today seems like the perfect day to stay inside, throw a few logs on the fire and tune into my radio show The Closer. The 2-hour blitz will get started at 1:00 PM Central Time. 

In the first hour, I'll weigh in on the latest prog chanting points which basically accuses a duly elected President of the United States of a "coup."

Then in the second hour there will be much to discuss on the state of Minnesota politics, specifically the ripple effect of Sen. Tina Smith not seeking reelection in 2026. 

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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Election 2026 in MN: The first domino (UPDATE: friend of the NARN)

I had been hearing rumors of Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) not seeking reelection in 2026. On Thursday morning, she made it official. 

I’ve decided not to run for re-election to the Senate in 2026.

This job has been the honor of a lifetime. For the rest of my term, I’ll work as hard as I can for Minnesotans and our country.

Thank you so much, Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/3sWVib8nKJ

— Senator Tina Smith (@SenTinaSmith) February 13, 2025

Given the GOP has a 53-47 advantage in the U.S. Senate, Dems need a net gain of four seats to attain a majority. But given they'll be on defense in Georgia (Jon Ossoff, incumbent D in a red state) and Michigan (Gary Peters, who's also not running in '26), this announcement certainly doesn't bolster their prospects. While I'm not suggesting that Smith's seat is suddenly in play for Republicans, it does mean that Democrats have to devote more resources to playing defense here as opposed to relying on the power of incumbency in a blue state.  

So now the question shifts to who might vie for this seat from both parties. Well, the current Lt. Gov. didn't waste any time in conveying her plans. 

I love Minnesota and my intention is to run for U.S. Senate and continue to serve the people of this state. I’ll make a formal announcement later this month. In the meantime, I’m talking with community and family and friends. I will have more to say soon.

— Peggy Flanagan (@peggyflanagan) February 13, 2025

This comes on the heals of speculation that Flanagan's boss was considering a run. 

The fact Flanagan made her official announcement while her boss was mulling it over is not only hilarious but also doesn't squash speculation that the two have been at odds since last summer when Walz was running for Veep. Since I believed that Flanagan would challenge Walz in the Dem primary for governor in 2026, who's to say the two won't go head-to-head in this Senate race. Dang, there ain't enough popcorn in the world for that spectacle. 

On the Republican side, I have little hope that a viable candidate will emerge. Royce White, who was soundly defeated by Sen. Amy Klobuchar in their 2024 matchup, signaled within the aftermath of his loss that he would be heard from again. If the GOP is serious about flipping this seat, that is an absolute non-starter. Another name that has emerged is Adam Schwarze, whose cousin happens to be my next door neighbor. 

 

Senator Smith’s announcement that she is not seeking another term sets the stage for a new way forward in Minnesota. We need a stronger America. A stronger Minnesota. I’m excited for our future, I look forward to sharing some big news soon. @mnleg @nrsc

— Adam Schwarze (@AdamSchwarze) February 13, 2025

Schwarze's only foray into electoral politics was in 2022 when he failed in his bid to be the GOP candidate in Minnesota's Third Congressional District. The woeful lack of name recognition would be his undoing in a statewide race. 

So if the Minnesota gubernatorial race is suddenly wide open, who does the GOP put forth? Well, given the party's recent history in candidate selection, they're on a course to make the same mistake they did in the 2018 cycle when they put forth the guy (Jeff Johnson) who lost in the previous gov race.

Former GOP gubernatorial nominee Scott Jensen told the Minnesota Star Tribune this week he is “strongly considering” running again next year. Jensen, a Chaska physician and former state senator, rose to prominence in the state Republican Party during the COVID-19 pandemic as an outspoken skeptic of death counts, vaccines and mask mandates.

Jensen lost to Walz by nearly 8 percentage points in 2022. Despite being at the top of the ticket, Jensen garnered fewer votes than the GOP’s candidates for attorney general, secretary of state and state auditor.

Again, that's gotta be a non-starter. 

Kendall Qualls, who seriously pushed Jensen for the state party endorsement in 2022, is also considering a run. Between his '22 gov campaign and his opposition to CD3 Congressman Dean Phillips in 2020, Qualls has some significant name recognition. His founding of the organization Take Charge has also raised his profile. This would be a solid pick. 

And then there's an out-of-the-box consideration......and I definitely don't hate it. 

Attorney Chris Madel has been rumored to be contemplating a run for the governor’s mansion. Madel was the attorney for state trooper Ryan Londregan, who faced criminal charges in the shooting death of Ricky Cobb II that were later dismissed. He is representing Alpha News and its star reporter, Liz Collin, who are being sued for defamation by a high-ranking Minneapolis police officer over claims made in the film, “The Fall of Minneapolis.”

Political observers noted that several “Chris Madel for governor” web domains were registered in mid-January. Madel would not confirm or deny his interest in the race when asked by a Star Tribune reporter late last month.

“As a policy, I admit nothing, and I deny nothing,” Madel said.

In January, Madel wrote an op-ed in Alpha News urging state House Republicans to fight back against the DFL’s boycott of the legislative session. He slammed Walz’s leadership at the beginning of the op-ed while also noting he once supported the governor.

If we've learned anything in the Trump era, it's that a high profile figure from outside the political realm can definitely make some hay, particularly for a constituency (i.e. MN Republicans) who have grown tired of losing (18 years and counting, statewide). I absolutely wanna hear more. 

We're barely more than a month removed from those who won elected office in 2024 being sworn into their new positions. This is proof positive that there is no offseason for campaigning. As a citizen, I occasionally grow quite weary. But as a radio talk show host? More, please!


🚨🚨🚨🚨UPDATE: Friend of the Northern Alliance Radio Network (and current Minnesota State Senator) Julia Coleman is considering running for a different office in 2026! 🚨🚨🚨🚨

More candidate watch news:

State Sen. Julia Coleman, R-Waconia, confirms that she is also considering a bid for this seat once held by her father-in-law Norm Coleman #mnleg #mnsen https://t.co/Ckjbyi98FZ

— Caroline Cummings (@CaroRCummings) February 13, 2025

 

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Quick Hits: Volume CCCLXIV

 - The latest media and prog (PTR) chanting point has gone out: President Donald Trump's actions has us on the verge of a "Constitutional Crisis." 

This is the same collective who turned a blind eye to President Joe Biden openly admitting to defying a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court  as well as indulged the walking cadaver's fantasy that he alone can amend the United States Constitution. 

For all the leftist media's shrieking over Trump's words leading to violence, they themselves have no issue peddling disinformation in order to stoke anger among their fellow progs. Erick Erickson points out that inconvenient truth. 

In all seriousness, and I do mean I am serious and not trying to be hyperbolic when I say this, the press’s willingness to claim a “constitutional crisis” is going to get someone shot. The left is mentally fragile right now. They are experiencing sensory overload and despair from an election they were convinced they would win. And the press that has lectured Republicans about their shrill and dangerous rhetoric potentially provoking violence is now aiding and abetting the left’s assassination fantasies with this hysterical rhetoric that amounts to a well-coordinated talking point from the Slack channels of the left.

But hey! Assassination attempts make for great ratings and sell papers.

And the prog media will go all "abusive spouse" by proclaiming the Trump's actions will be the reason for any assassination attempt.....like they rationalized after the previous two. 

- Upon being shown on the Jumbotron at the Super Bowl on Sunday evening, Taylor Swift was soundly booed.  

President Trump, who was the first ever sitting POTUS to attend a Super Bowl, reacted on Truth Social. 

Eh. I think it's more attributable to the fact the majority of those in attendance were fans of the Philadelphia Eagles. Given Tay Tay's allegiance to her boyfriend's team (and Philly's opponent), it was for that reason alone she was the target of much of the crowd's invective. Remember, this is the same fanbase who infamously booed Santa Claus. 

- The Minnesota Legislature's favorite felony burglar (allegedly) is having another charge brought against her over an incident last spring. 

Prosecutors filed an amended criminal complaint Monday charging Minnesota Sen. Nicole Mitchell with a second felony.

Mitchell, a first-term Democrat from Woodbury, was initially charged with first-degree burglary last April after she allegedly broke into her stepmother’s Detroit Lakes home before dawn.

Now, prosecutors have added a second felony charge of possessing burglary or theft tools. The amended complaint says police officers discovered a crowbar in the window well where Mitchell allegedly broke in. Mitchell was dressed in all black and in possession of a flashlight with a black sock covering the light, according to the complaint.

The amended complaint also provides new details on comments Mitchell reportedly made during the incident.

“My God my military retirement. Shoot,” she said after being placed under arrest, according to the complaint.

“I have never done anything like this. You are going to find out I am a military commander for God’s sake,” she added, the complaint says.

Mitchell reportedly told police that she was attempting to retrieve some of her late father’s belongings and that her stepmother wasn’t talking to her.

After being read her rights, Mitchell reportedly responded: “I’m just hoping, um, this mistake won’t completely f– up my life.”

Now, compare Mitchell's statements upon her arrest to her depiction of events in her first public response on the incident in question. 

Had there been an honest and impartial ethics hearing last year, Mitchell's conflicting accounts alone should have been enough to expel her from the Senate, regardless of the outcome of her criminal trial. And if Minnesota DFL chair Ken Martin wasn't such a gutless wonder, he would've have called for Mitchell's resignation immediately as opposed to waiting until the conclusion of the 2024 legislative session. But that would've shown integrity over perpetuating a power grab, which would have disqualified Kenny in his ultimately successful run for DNC chair. 

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The NARN Closer's playlist - 2/9/2025

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Wanna know the rest? Hey, buy the rights.............

I typically forgo hosting my weekly radio show on Super Bowl Sunday, but there's a lot to get to after this chaotic past week. As such, The Closer will air 1-3 PM Central Time. 

In the first hour I'll spend a lot of time on the situation at the Minnesota House where the elected DFL reps ended their 3-week long boycott. At 1;15, Rep. Cal Warwas (R-Eveleth) will join us via phone to give his perspective. 

Then in the second hour I'll discuss President Donald Trump's efforts to trim the fat in Washington, D.C. and how it has Democrats shrieking like stuck pigs. 

And finally.....my thoughts on the Super Bowl.

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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Super Bowl LIX: The Q&A

It absolutely boggles my mind that this is the twentieth installment of this Super Bowl prognostication bit. Had you told me when I did the first one that I'd continue this segment for another two decades, I would have thought it was as likely as Sam Darnold leading my Vikings club to 14 wins in 2024. Yet here we are. 

Anyhow, in the event there is anyone new here (which seems about as likely as someone looking to purchase a rotary phone), my acquaintance dubbed the Super Bowl Inquisitor tosses out some inquiries and I offer up the nonsensical retorts. 

As always, this pick against the point spread is not recommended as the basis for a cash wager. 

Super Bowl Inquisitor: So, uh, we've done 20 of these, huh? Dang, you're old.

Brad Carlson: I never really felt it was noticeable until I visited a Wendy's recently and was offered the 55+ discount. 

SBI: It also means this is twenty seasons where your Vikings haven't been a part of this bit. 

BC: Not sure if it's that or the Wendy's cashier calling out my age that makes me feel worse. 

SBI: OK, onto the big game itself. We have a rematch of two years ago with the Philadelphia Eagles taking on the Kansas City Chiefs. Outside of the two fan bases, there doesn't seem to be a lot of enthusiasm for either team. 

BC: Personally, I've adopted the same philosophy Henry Kissinger conveyed about the Iran-Iraq war in that it's a shame both can't lose. 

SBI: Two years ago, these teams were both top 3 in scoring offense. This season, they were both top 5 in scoring *defense.* Quite a change in philosophy, eh?  

BC: I haven't seen that dramatic a transformation in such a short period since Tom Hanks went from Sleepless in Seattle to Philadelphia. 

SBI: For the first time in 12 years, the Super Bowl is back in New Orleans. Any insight as to why the long gap between the Big Easy being the host city? 

BC: Well, the last Super Bowl there had a minutes long delay midgame due to a power outage in the stadium. I guess it was a bad look for the commissioner of a billion dollar league running to a hardware store to buy a power generator. 

SBI: Jon Batiste will be singing the National Anthem. Your thoughts?

BC: Batiste? As in the dry shampoo?

SBI: Uhhhh..no. As in the multi Grammy award winning singer/songwriter .

BC: And he allows the dry shampoo folks to use his name?

SBI: I don't know why I bother to discuss with you any musical acts whose success occurred after 1990.

With that in mind, do you even know who Kendrick Lamar is? He'll be the headliner at halftime. 

BC: He may have finished runner up in NFL MVP, but he still figured out how to be part of the Super Bowl, eh? 

SBI: Moving on. 

President Donald Trump will be attending the Super Bowl, making him the first sitting POTUS to do so. Does that do anything for ya?

BC: Nah. Although it'll be kinda awkward if he and Tay Tay cross paths at the concession stand. 

SBI: Speaking of Taylor, she is part of one of the more ridiculous prop bets in that the Over/Under of the number of times she's shown live throughout the game is 5.5. 

Can you think of a weirder bet? 

BC: Probably the over/under on the number of food crumbs that can be spotted in Chiefs coach Andy Reid's mustache. Good luck to whomever has to quantify that. 

SBI: What's on the menu for the big game?

BC: Hors d'oeuvres, shmor derves. We're keepin' it simple with sloppy joes, ubiquitous meatballs and various soft drinks. Oh, and prolly some cupcakes with each of the team's colors (before RFK, Jr. has a chance to ban the food dyes of course). 

SBI: And finally, the Chiefs are a 1-point favorite to become the first three-peat champion in the Super Bowl era. Who ya got? 

BC: As I said two weeks ago, my standard of never going against Belichick and Brady during the Patriots dynasty of the 2010s was a philosophy I've since assigned to the Chiefs tandem of coach Andy Reid and QB Patrick Mahomes. And if you recall the 2016 thru 2018 seasons, the Pats had an opportunity to go back to back to back were it not for......the Philadelphia Eagles, who knocked them off in the middle of that run. 

I say RB Saquon Barkley will put forth another epic performance for Philly, in addition to the Eagles' top ranked defense coming up big against Mahomes & Co. 

I'm going 27-24, Eagles. 

Enjoy the game!

My 2024 postseason record:

Against the spread: 6-6

Straight up: 7-5

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You and me goin' fishing in the NARN................

Since the Northern Alliance Radio Network no longer broadcasts from the Minnesota State Fair, the Saturday of Super Bowl weekend is our favorite day of the broadcast year. Yes, Mitch Berg and I will be on the air live 1-3 PM Central Time from Medicine Lake in Plymouth, the site of 14th (15th?) annual Holes For Heroes ice fishing tournament. This yearly extravaganza is put on by the fine folks at Fishing for Life. Also, a big shoutout to Mudek Trucking and J & J Recycling as well as Snelling Heating & Cooling for sponsoring today's broadcast. 

As usual, Mitch and I will be winging it, whether it's discussing the big news items from this past week or chatting with some of the tourney officials about all the goings on. 

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 Mitch's 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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