Quick Hits: Volume CCCLXXVIII

- With close to $1 billion lost due to fraud among certain Minnesota state agencies, there are dozens of people who have thus far been prosecuted with more to come. 

When reading an interview with acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson, I am heartened that he's willing to call out more than just the perpetrators. 

As a prosecutor, I’m expected to say the defendants are responsible for their crimes — and they are. But if we pretend that’s the whole story, we’re lying to ourselves. This fraud crisis didn’t come out of nowhere. It’s the result of widespread failure across nearly every level of leadership in Minnesota: Politicians who turned a blind eye. Agencies that failed to act. Prosecutors and law enforcement who didn’t push hard enough. Reporters who ignored the story. Community leaders who stayed silent. And a public that wanted to believe it couldn’t happen here.

This isn’t just a few criminals exploiting the system, this is a system that’s been begging to be exploited. We left the door wide open, and now our state has been ransacked. If we keep ignoring the truth, we’re going to lose something far more important than money. We’re going to lose the Minnesota we know and love.

I would've loved to have known what was going through Attorney General Keith Ellison's mind upon reading that excerpt.  

- With U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) not seeking reelection in 2026, the Democrat party sees this as an opportunity to make a dent in the Republicans' Senate majority. Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is seen as the frontrunner for the Dem nominee, and it would appear that Nebraska Fats Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz would like to jump on the bandwagon. 

Roy Cooper knows how to win tough races. I was proud to serve alongside him as a Governor and I know he’ll make a fantastic Senator for the great state of North Carolina. https://t.co/rEeLSWZ0gq

— Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) July 28, 2025

I can only guess that when the moderate Cooper saw such an endorsement from a far left kook like Walz, he was all like......

via GIPHY

After his embarrassing performance as a VP candidate combined with the rampant fraud in Minnesota under his watch, Walz is pretty much persona non grata among moderate Democrats (to the extent any still exist).

- With the Minnesota Twins on their way to missing the postseason for the fourth time in five seasons, it's no surprise they're willing to be sellers at the trade deadline. 

On Wednesday, a huge chess piece was moved. 

The Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday acquired Jhoan Duran, one of baseball's best relievers, and they paid a high price to the Minnesota Twins to get it done.

Minnesota received catcher Eduardo Tait, regarded as a top 100 prospect, and pitcher Mick Abel, a rookie with six years of team control. They're ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, among the Phillies' minor league prospects, per ESPN.

Duran, 27, is known for two wipeout pitches -- a fastball with an average velocity of 100.2 mph and a curveball he throws in the mid-80s -- and he is among the most dominant closers.

This not only helps the Phils this season, but also two years after that as Duran isn't eligible for free agency until 2028. And the Twins add to their prospect pool in two areas where they lack depth: catcher and starting pitching. Also, this isn't exactly a full rebuild for the Twins as they still have significant talent on their roster in addition to some budding young players who will get a good look when rosters expand on September 1. 

Now if the team can find a buyer to get out from under the Pohland ownership group.......

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