It's been a few weeks since I've been in the Patriot bunker, so I'm looking forward to getting back into the routine. However, it won't be completely the same as my NARN colleague Mitch Berg and I will be switching broadcasts this weekend. As such, I will be on the air today, 1-3 PM Central Time.
In the first hour, I'll be discussing a lot of Minnesota politics as both the GOP and DFL will be holding their state conventions this weekend. In fact, we're tentatively scheduled to be joined by former Minnesota State Sen. Dave Osmek and former Salem-Twin Cities Operations Manager Lee Michaels, who will provide live updates from the MNGOP convention in Duluth.
At 2:30, I will be joined by Independent Institute Senior Fellow Ivan Eland regarding the U.S. conflict in Iran. Mr. Eland is of the mindset that the U.S. should cut its losses altogether and begin to implement an exit strategy.
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 radioas 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.
Let's take a stroll down memory lane to the summer of 2024 where the only presidential debate of that cycle featured then President Joe Biden and challenger Donald Trump.
Despite Biden's mental decline having been obvious since the 2020 campaign, millions of TV viewers finally realized how much Biden staffers, many elected Democrats and the press corps gaslit them by providing assurances he was sharp as a tack.
Even though Biden had the predictably dreadful debate, Mrs. Biden insisted we not believe our lying eyes.
Jill Biden was SO concerned her husband had a stroke during the debate she started a “4 more years” chant right after. What a power hungry sociopath. pic.twitter.com/kwpmnjVO3v
Fast forward to this past week where Mrs. Biden now felt the need to come clean on what she really thought of her husband's performance on the debate stage.
Jill Biden to CBS on the 2024 debate: “I was frightened because I had never seen Joe like that... I thought he was having a stroke."
Jill Biden immediately after the debate in 2024: "Joe, you did such a great job. You answered every question. You knew all the facts!" pic.twitter.com/9wVu1s3q6E
Given the Dems' coordinated coverup of Biden's degradation was a colossal failure in 2024, they'd just as soon act like they never participated in such a coup. However, Mrs. Biden bringing that saga back to the forefront isn't sitting well with the party.
Leading Democrats say it’s an unnecessary distraction as they push to keep their party focused on a critical midterm — and what voters truly care about.
“We don’t need to be distracted by what the DNC says about the autopsy. I don’t need to be distracted about anyone’s book,” New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, told reporters on the sidelines of a Democratic National Committee meeting in Washington on Thursday. “What I need to do is to focus on making a difference in the lives of people. And that’s what I think they’re getting really frustrated about, is all this nonsense. I don’t think the average Democratic voter, honestly, particularly in New Mexico, gives a damn about that book or the debate anymore.”
Other prominent Dems aren't so sure that this is a complete nothingburger however.
Meghan Hays, a former special assistant to Joe Biden in the White House who left before the 2024 reelection bid, cautioned that the timing and context of the former first lady’s memoir risks dealing Democrats a setback at a time when they’re on an electoral hot streak.
“I think that they need to sell books, and I think that Dr. Biden wants her story out there,” she said on C-SPAN’s “Ceasefire,” hosted by POLITICO’s Dasha Burns.
“It is not welcome from Democrats,” Hays said. “We have a lot of momentum in our favor … and when we get pulled back into conversations about age and the election in ‘24, it’s never gonna be a good place for Democrats. I think it’s a tough place to be.”
Hays wasn’t the only former Biden official who expressed frustration.
“My reaction was basically: ‘Welcome to the club.’ Every person across America and in your administration wondered the same thing, and instead of acknowledging that, we were told for days to ignore it — that it was just a bad night, just an anomaly,” said another former Biden White House staffer, granted anonymity to speak candidly.
In the end, I don't believe this will have a significant impact on the 2026 election cycle since 5+ months in a campaign season is a veritable eternity. Lots can (and likely will) happen before November.
Regardless, it's always a good exercise to remind the American people how little progs and their media allies think of them.
Rep. Angie Craig said she will forgo the DFL State Convention in her run for Minnesota's U.S. Senate seat.
Her opponent, Lt. Governor Peggy Flaganagan (sic), claims this comes as Rep. Craig faces an "insurmountable lead" with DFL delegates.
Rep. Craig pointed to "hardworking DFLers who don’t have the financial resources or time to participate outside of the August primary" as part of her announcement to forgo the party's endorsement process.
She also shared the following remarks:
"I’m a proud DFLer. Every letter has meaning to me … But the DFL endorsement process just doesn’t reflect the full scope of the party that we are. And the purple state that we have become. This is no ordinary moment. Donald Trump and Republicans are attacking Democracy itself, gutting the voting rights act, gerrymandering and threatening to interfere with elections… But the truth is the only way to stop them is by winning elections. The only way we save democracy is through democracy — where every voice is heard, not just a few."
How important is the DFL endorsement? Why, just ask Gov. Erin Murphy and Attorney General Matt Pelikan.
Oh wait.
Yes, the fact of the matter is the DFL endorsement has hardly been a crowning moment for candidates whenever there have been open statewide races. In 2010, Margaret Anderson Kelliher was the endorsed candidate for governor, only to be bested by Mark Dayton in a primary. Then in 2018, endorsees Murphy and Pelikan fell short in their primary battles against Tim Walz and Keith Ellison, respectively.
I don't really have a good feel how Craig will fare against Flanagan in this cycle's primary election, but the result will give us a good indication if Minnesota Democrat voters are indeed lurching more left than in previous years.
- New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart appeared at a rally for GOP Congressman Mike Lawler. His appearance culminated with introducing the keynote speaker for the evening - President Donald J. Trump.
Upon learning of this interaction, Dart's teammate Abdul Carter expressed incredulity over Twitter.
Naturally, Carter was roasted on Twitter for this take.
The fact of the matter is NFL players who have been the most outspoken against Trump during his time in the White House have been given huge platforms within mainstream media. But even tacit support of Trump triggers some of the more visceral and unhinged reactions.
Carter's response to the backlash over his tweet was stunning in its lack of self awareness.
Uhhh....*our* narratives???? This would have been little more than a footnote were it not for Carter himself reacting to it in the manner he did. Clearly he was not pleased with his teammate associating with Trump, so I'm not really sure why he seems taken aback to the reactions.
Realizing he was out of his depth, Carter ultimately deleted both tweets.
Offseason workouts for the Giants are slated to resume on Wednesday. No doubt that new coach John Harbaugh will answer all the inevitable inquiries about this flap and then look to move on ASAP.
The candidate himself seemed proud of this particular excerpt of the story.
He is largely unknown to the general public. A February poll of Minnesota Republican primary voters released by the campaign arm of Senate Republicans found nearly 60% had never heard of him.
Yet he’s now a front-runner to win the Republican endorsement this weekend at the party’s convention in Duluth, a remarkable development for a candidate facing two rivals with wider name recognition.
Hmmm. This feels like an implementation of Mitch Berg's Eleventh Law of Inverse Viability, which states "The conservative progressives “respect” for their “conservative principles” will the the one that has the least chance of ever getting elected."
The fact of the matter is the leading GOP candidate, Michele Tafoya, is a legit moderate who may have trouble locking in staunch right wingers but appeal to moderate Dems and Independents in a way no Minnesota Republican has since Gov. Tim Pawlenty. And who was the last GOP candidate to win a statewide race in Minnesota???? Why, that would be Pawlenty.
As a staunch conservative myself, I would guess my ideological bent more closely aligns with Schwarze over Tafoya. But I would give far better odds to Tafoya to win a statewide race. And the Strib legitimately fears that as well, which is the answer to the question of why they would seemingly prop up a "Trump conservative" like Schwarze.
- Another incumbent GOP Senator loses his primary battle. Just over a week ago it was Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. On Tuesday, it was the senior Senator from Texas.
BREAKING: Trump ally Ken Paxton defeats Sen. John Cornyn in Texas’ bitter Republican primary war.
Trump targeted Cornyn as "VERY disloyal" as he backed Paxton, a MAGA firebrand, in the final days of the runoff campaign.
The victory for Paxton may be red meat for MAGA-ites, but it puts the GOP Senate majority in more jeopardy than if Cornyn remained the candidate. The reason being is a significant number of MAGA members are low propensity voters, essentially only showing up when Trump is on the ballot. So while I believe Paxton likely prevails over the kooky Talarico, it's going to take a lot more financial resources for Republicans to defend this seat. And that means less cash to unseat incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) as well as make a play for open Dem seats in Minnesota and Michigan. Also, Republicans are playing defense in Maine (incumbent Susan Collins is in a tight race) and North Carolina (Democrat Roy Cooper, who was very popular two-term governor, is prime to flip this open seat), but, again, they may not be prioritized as a result.
So for all you MAGA-ites celebrating these victories, I would advise you to keep that same energy through the general election. These primary election wins aren't a culmination but rather the very beginning.
The Twins completed a three-game sweep of the BoSox this series. It would be the last time they'd sweep a series in Fenway Park until literally this past weekend.
Once again I will be off the air today for radio show The Closer. However, the show is in good hands as NASCAR Kelly Gunderson will be taking the reins of today's broadcast, 1-3 PM Central Time.
So please call (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics Kelly plans 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 radioas 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.
At the age of 39 years and 161 days, Nationals pitcher Alex McColl became the oldest pitcher to have tossed his first career complete game, a record which still stands today.
