Monday, September 14, 2026

Sunday, September 13, 2026

The NARN Closer's playlist - 9/13/2026



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Talkin' 'bout your troubles and you never learn.................

Happy first Sunday of the NFL season! Since the Vikings game doesn't start until 3:25, I'll be locked in on today's edition of my radio show The Closer. The 2-hour blitz begins at 1:00 PM Central Time. 


Right at 1:00, MN State Sen. Jim Abeler (R-Anoka) will join us to discuss his reelection campaign in Senate District 35 (Anoka, most of Coon Rapids, southern Andover). 


At 2:30, National Taxpayers Union President Pete Sepp will join the broadcast to weigh in on President Trump's proposed $5,000 "dividend payment." 


In the non-guest segments, I will discuss two somber anniversaries from this past week. 



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, September 11, 2026

Telling young people about 9/11

It's hard to fathom that it's been a literal quarter century since four hijacked planes killed nearly 3,000 people on American soil


The American young people comprised of Gen Z (as well as a good number of Millennials) don't remember a world without prolific metal detectors at airports, stadiums and arenas, nor can they comprehend something occurring in America which actually unites the citizenry. 


For my money, National Review writer Jim Geraghty's piece on 9/11 is worth your time. He essentially shares his perspective with a mythical kid on how they couldn't possibly understand the apocalyptic vibe surrounding that second Tuesday in September 2001. 


You kids born later, you’ve seen some troubles. The Great Recession. Covid. Way too many mass shootings. But thankfully, you’ve never experienced anything like autumn of 2001, where you turned on the television news and wondered what terrible thing had happened since you last tuned in. “Doomscrolling” hadn’t been invented yet, but we had the dread of the CNN “Breaking News” chyron and sound. If they were interrupting regular coverage, it meant something unexpected had happened, almost certainly bad news.

Still, looking back on that day 25 years ago, there was that silver lining of just about everybody putting their American flags out. That was the “united” part of that time. For all we knew, we were all the next target, together. Al-Qaeda didn’t give a damn about what color your skin was, or what nationality you were, or, when it came down to it, even what religion you were. We weren’t like them, so they wanted to kill us. It made all our differences look small.

I’m not so sure we’d react the same way today, if, God forbid, someone hit us like that again.


Unfortunately, Jim, I am sure we would not react that same way today. Alas. 


Come, Lord Jesus.


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Thursday, September 10, 2026

Charlie Kirk: one year later

On the one-year anniversary of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, I wish I could say that I'm shocked how cold, callous and flat out evil some people have behaved in reacting to his death and legacy. Unfortunately, I'm almost numb to the derangement which permeates our political and social discourse. 

Charlie's good friend Frank Turek, in a recent chat with Jeremy Boreing, talked a little bit about that fateful day and what he's witnessed since. 




The "Candace" they're referring to in this clip is Candace Owens, who has made it her personal mission in life to vilify Charlie's widow Erika for reasons I can't comprehend. I can't say I've gained intimate knowledge regarding Candace's belief on who or what killed Charlie, but somehow his wife and/or Israel were involved, I guess. 





Indeed, there was a powerful movement of the Holy Spirit in the aftermath of Charlie's death on 9/10/2025, particularly the outpouring witnessed at his celebration of life service a week-and-a-half later. Obviously the enemy Satan, whose sole purpose is to steal, kill and destroy, is at work in the lives of others who look to co-opt Charlie's legacy. 




While I was a frequent critic of Charlie's, specifically his fealty to anything Donald Trump, I always gave him his props for giving young people an opportunity to be exposed to different ideas. But what really brought out my respect was his being unabashed about his faith in Jesus Christ. 





Charlie's bold proclamation of faith inspires me to resist the urge to lash out at those who literally celebrate his death, knowing that they, like me, have fallen short of God's glory. We all need deliverance and grace. 


Charlie is no longer physically here, but we can not allow his legacy to be tarnished by those who have succumbed to evil. 


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Wednesday, September 09, 2026

Quick Hits: CDXXI

- Since the George W. Bush administration, the Republican party has been drifting further and further away from fiscal conservatism. This latest proposal gives the impression they're trying to challenge the left on expansion of government. 

NYT: Trump Officials Draft Plan to Pay At-Home Parents, Using Funds for Working Ones

The Trump administration is moving to allow married couples with a stay-at-home spouse to collect child care subsidies, a policy championed by Vice President JD Vance, using funds from a federal program intended to assist working parents, according to people familiar with the discussions.


If this somehow were to get through under Republican governance, it would be the ultimate permission structure for Democrats to escalate once they regain power. Erick Erickson painted a sobering portrait.


My biggest concern with this plan for families from the GOP is that you can never outbid the Left. So the GOP offers up a welfare benefit for a stay at home parent. The Dems will come back with the government covering the cost of pregnancy, child healthcare, etc. etc. etc. The GOP offers this benefit; the Democrats offer a multitude more.


The U.S. recently surpassed $40 trillion in its National Debt. All talk of expanding government programs at this juncture is utterly reckless and irresponsible. 



- My Minnesota Vikings traded up to the #10 pick in the 2024 NFL draft to select what they thought was their franchise quarterback in J.J. McCarthy. Less than 2-1/2 years later, he's relegated to being the third string QB on the depth chart for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season. 





Perhaps the most humiliating aspect for a young man who last year self-promoted his intense alter ego "Nine?" The official demotion occurred on Wednesday.......on the date 9/9.



- Late night talk shows on network TV are passe. Add to that the fact they've become little more than therapy sessions for those constantly triggered by a Donald Trump presidency, it should be no surprise that Stephen Colbert's CBS show finally assumed room temperature earlier this year. Well, it was slightly surprising in that the deranged Jimmy Kimmel didn't go first. 


But alas, it appears Jimbo's number has finally been called


Next season of ABC’s late-night show “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” will be the last, Page Six is told.

“His contract is not getting extended,” a source familiar with the situation explained.

The season begins Tuesday and would wrap up, after 24 years on the air, in May 2027.


A spokesperson for ABC Entertainment has denied this report, so I guess we'll see. 


Bottom line is these shows have been unsustainable business models for quite some time. Why these networks have been addicted to hemorrhaging money is beyond me. 


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Monday, September 07, 2026

Box Score of the Week

Pittsburgh Pirates at St Louis Cardinals - June 27. 2021.

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Pirates' starting pitcher Max Kranick pitched five perfect innings in his MLB debut. That is the longest outing for a pitcher who allowed no baserunners in his first major league appearance. 

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Sunday, September 06, 2026

The NARN Closer's playlist - 9/6/2026



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It's the same old theme, since 1916................

Happy Labor Day weekend! A lot to get to on today's edition of my radio show The Closer. The 2-hour festivities begin at 1:00 PM Central Time. 


In the first hour, I'll discuss the horrific shooting incident at a downtown Minneapolis apartment building, one which resulted in multiple deaths. 


At 1:30, GOP candidate for Minnesota House Sebastian Stoss will stop by to discuss his candidacy in MN House District 36A (Lino Lakes, North Oaks, Centerville, Circle Pines, northern part of White Bear Township). 


In the second hour, I'll weigh in on the prog follies at the MN State Fair as well as the latest news in the midterm Congressional races. 



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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