Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Quick Hits: Volume CDI (Minnesota stuff)

 - Progs in state legislatures across the country attempting to enact draconian gun control is nothing new. But here in Minnesota, DFLers loved to have their ego stroked by the national press corps for enacting some of the most "progressive" legislation back in 2023 and 2024. And they're looking to feel those feels again.


(T)he most chilling (gun control) legislation may be in Minnesota, where state Sen. Matt Klein has introduced SF 4290. The law not only bans semiautomatic rifles and magazines with more than ten bullets, but also allows citizens to keep prior purchased weapons only if they agree to allow the police to enter their homes to inspect storage and safety conditions.


What's ironic is the loudest supporters of this legislation are those who decried Federal agents' heavy-handed tactics in removing illegal aliens from this state earlier this year. But now, an American citizen who owns a common use firearm with a 15-round mag (i.e. a standard Glock) could potentially be turned into a felon once such legislation is enacted. 


Given that one of the largest growing demographics of gun owners are left-of-center voters in the Twin Cities metro area, do they have any idea how much their newly respected civil liberties would be restricted by the DFL legislators for whom they routinely cast votes? Time to get the word out I guess. 



- When people criticize an activity or decision while having a differing or non-existent opinion at the outset, it's called a "second guess."


But if something from the beginning is rightly seen as a horrendous decision and it's disastrous consequences come to fruition, that would adequately be described as a "first guess." Things that would fit in to such a category include: 


  • Chevy Chase hosting a TV talk show.
  • New Coke.
  • Joe Biden's decision to run for a second presidential term.

Minnesota's Paid Family & Medical Leave Act is on par with the above list. 

From Bill Glahn 3+ years ago:  




And from a Fox 9 story on Tuesday:


Minnesota businesses are facing significant hurdles with the state's new Paid Family and Medical Leave Act, just two months after its implementation.

The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce shared that 80% of its 6,300 members already offered some form of paid leave before the state mandate. Business owners are now experiencing increased costs and frustration due to the new requirements.

The Chamber highlighted several concerns, including the program's complexity, slow execution, and disruption for small or seasonal businesses. There are also worries about potential misuse and long-term financial sustainability.

"Beyond just anti-fraud sentiments, employers are reporting a few concerning trends, a few examples. Providers are being pressured by patients for the full 12 weeks of leave, even if their condition does not require it. A number of respondents have shared that their employees are making more on paid leave than the wage replacement thresholds in law," said Lauryn Schothorst of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. "Employees are going on vacation or to music festivals while supposedly on leave. These anecdotes don't necessarily reveal fraud or a lack of oversight by the department. They highlight concerns with the broad eligibility and limited employer recourse elements of the law. To employers, overuse is abuse," said Lauryn Schothorst with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.


As Mr. Glahn has often been known to point out regularly when discussing leftist policy - "Decline is a choice."  



- Minnesota progs really get up in arms when they're told there's a mass exodus from the state due to overbearing and insufferable leftist policy. So naturally, they jump around like poo flinging monkeys when one piece of data validates their worldview of Minnesota being a desirous place to live. 





This is a positive one-year development to be sure. However, it doesn't change the fact that the next census (slated for 2030) will determine that Minnesota may well lose one of it's eight U.S. House seats (it came down to us and New York after the 2020 count). 


That said, we ought not be measuring the quantity but rather quality of the net positive migration. John Phelan of American Experiment broke it down in late January


The data is seldom kind to Minnesota, so this should be welcomed. As I have written before, if we are to improve our relatively poor performance in per capita GDP growth, we need the people moving here to be more likely to be employed and/or more skilled than those people already resident here. Let us hope for further good news on this front.


This should also be a warning to big spending politicians who look to hike fees and taxes that the well is still pretty dry. Perhaps legislation incentivizing businesses to not only move here but implementing policies causing successful MN companies to desire to stay? Dare to dream. 


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Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Quick Hits: Volume CD

 - James Talarico was officially chosen last week as the Democrat candidate for U.S. Senate out of Texas. And a hoax perpetrated by soon-to-be ex Late Show host Stephen Colbert played no small role in Talarico's victory over Jasmine Crockett. 





This is hardly becoming of people who call themselves "progressives" by using such underhandedness to deny a black woman such a prestigious nomination. 



- Speaking of Talarico, his general election prospects are going to be touted as formidable by the prog media and "Never Trump" conservative simps. "Conservative" commentator David French falls into the latter category. 


It's one thing to tout a political candidates bona fides on policy. It's quite another to be a mouthpiece for a person's blasphemy. 


Here are a couple of excerpts from French's Sunday piece in the New York Times entitled "James Talarico is a X-Ray Christian.


...Talarico is one of the few openly Christian politicians in the United States who acts like a Christian, and by acting like a Christian he reveals a profound contrast with so many members of the MAGA Christian movement that’s dominated American political life for 10 years.

This miserable political moment won’t end when the left takes back the government from the right or if the right continues to beat the left. It will end when our politicians — especially Christian politicians — forsake cruelty for compassion and realize that we shall know Christians in politics not by their stridency and ideology, but by their integrity and love, including their love for, as Talarico put it, “all of our neighbors.”

That’s the significance of the Talarico moment — not the old news that a Christian can be progressive, but rather that Christian politicians can actually act like Christians. Kindness still has a place in the public square, even if it doesn’t always seem that way.


Talarico is an unapologetic supporter of abortion, pumping kids with puberty blockers in the name of transgenderism and pillaging your hard earned money to fund pet progressive causes. But because he's viewed as "kind," that somehow makes him more Christ-like than Christians who support Trump? 


To be clear: I acknowledge that there are hardcore MAGA types who will distort the Word of God to fit their political worldview. But Talarico's perversion of the gospel of Jesus Christ in addition to his deceptive rhetoric in the antithesis of "kindness." 



- Uhhhh...... WOW!!!!





I remember vividly Kobe's 81-point performance and thinking how that would stay firmly embedded at # 2. Kudos to Bam on his epic night!


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Sunday, March 08, 2026

The NARN Closer's playlist - 3/8/2026




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Sometimes, I get the feeling that I'm stranded in the wrong time........

Given it's "spring forward," I may be operating on one less hour of sleep, but today's edition of my radio show The Closer will still be in its usual 1-3 PM Central Time slot. 

In the first hour, we'll discuss the latest in the conflict in Iran, and how progs are miserable when it appears America is having success. Here in Minnesota, Dems try desperately to turn attention away from the rampant fraud. 

At 2:00, political wonk (and adviser for Sen. John Cornyn's reelection campaign) Matt Mackowiak will join the broadcast to discuss Texas politics, the latest regarding the 2026 midterms, etc. 


So please call (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics we plan on addressing.
 
You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 or, if you're near downtown Minneapolis/West Metro area, 107.5 FM on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link, or check us out via iheart radio as well as Amazon Alexa (just say "Alexa, play The Patriot Minneapolis")If you're unable to tune in live, please check out my podcast page for the latest show post.

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

Until then.....


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Friday, March 06, 2026

Quick Hits: Volume CCCXCIX

 - It was long past due, but this is the correct move


Most people had seen enough, and now President Trump has, too.

On Thursday, Trump announced that he had decided to oust Kristi Noem as secretary of homeland security and was nominating Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma to replace her. Hours earlier, our own Audrey Fahlberg was the first to report Trump was contemplating this change.

The former South Dakota governor was never well suited to the job, and neither was her partner in running the department, the loose-cannon former Trump consultant Corey Lewandowski. But Trump picked her and, as a practical matter, the two of them anyway.


Perhaps the most unforgivable aspect of Noem's tenure? Turning a popular issue (i.e. deportation of illegal immigrants) into a deeply loathed one. Border czar Tom Homan had the more politically prudent approach of deporting the "worst of the worst" whereas Noem, Lewandowski et al were willing to raid car washes and Home Depot parking lots. But the final straw was Noem's dismal showing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. In that testimony, Noem insisted the President was aware of a $200+ million DHS ad campaign, an allegation that left Trump furious


While Noem's dismissal is something progs have been calling for, I'm certain there is some level of disappointment among them that they can no longer use her presence as a "bloody shirt." 



- If you wanna know why there's a perception that Minnesota Dems don't seem overly concerned about the billions of dollars of fraud in the state, perhaps this might be a clue. 





I'm sure the small business owners in this state who are constantly being gouged by destructive prog policies appreciate that their businesses being further pillaged may be of "benefit" to the pillagers. 



- Yes, President Trump's approval rating barely more than a year into his second term is quite low. And if you hear the prog media spin it, he's the most unpopular second term POTUS perhaps in the history of the republic. 


But the numbers don't quite bear that, specifically when looking at the most recent two terms presidents. 


 



To be clear, this isn't something Trump fans should be taking a victory lap over. Both Bush and Obama were repudiated in the midterm elections within their respective second terms as the opposing political party garnered a net gain of double digits House seats in both cycles (+31 for Dems in 2006, +13 for Republicans in 2014). Given the GOP has a razor thin majority in House currently, attaining a majority doesn't appear to be too high a bar for Dems to clear in November. 


The one saving grace for Trump? His party has a better chance to retain its Senate majority, unlike his predecessors. 


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Tuesday, March 03, 2026

You've heard of schadenfreude.....

As some of you may know, I stan for conservative commentator Erick Erickson. And my admiration of him only grew this week when he coined a brand new term: Trumpenfreude. 





It's going to only get worse for the likes of Bill Kristol, Max Boot and Jen Rubin if indeed the administration's objectives are accomplished within their stated one month goal. That is because it is overwhelmingly popular with Americans. 




All involved will be in my fervent prayers.


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Sunday, March 01, 2026

The NARN Closer's playlist - 3/1/2026



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Show me what it's like to be the last one standing......

Welp....I had my show all planned out by Thursday evening, only to have to alter it upon a certain epic event occurring Saturday. Regardless, I'll be able to adapt as my radio show The Closer will air today, 1-3 PM Central Time. 

Right at 1:00, geopolitical wonk Amanda Peterson will join the broadcast to discuss Operation Epic Fury in Iran. With the strike having killed the Ayatollah Khamenei, what will be the fallout going forward? 

Then at 2:00, Sue Liebel of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America will join us via phone to weigh in on the dangers of the "abortion pill" mifepristone and how the FDA is not releasing a study showing its ill effects. 

In non-guest segments, I'll definitely want to talk about prog media looking to undermine the U.S. Men's Olympic hockey team's accomplishments simply because they accepted President Trump's invitation to the White House. 


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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Saturday, February 28, 2026

Answered prayers

I'll have a lot more to say about the U.S./Israeli military operations in Iran, one which eliminated Ayatollah Khamenei. 


For my money, this video footage from three weeks ago is what's on my mind at this moment. 





This was in the aftermath of thousands of protesting Iranian citizens having been slaughtered by the regime. It would appear God heard the pleas of their fellow countrymen.


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