Box Score of the Week

Chicago Cubs at Philadelphia Phillies - August 25, 2017. 

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The NARN Closer's playlist - 4/19/2026

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Strange but not a stranger, I'm an ordinary guy.......

Another Sunday, yet another edition of my radio show The Closer. The 2-hour broadcast will get started at 1:00 PM Central Time. 

In the first hour, I'll discuss all things Minnesota politics, specifically the 2026 campaigns for state and Federal races. 

Then in the second hour, I'll weigh in on the spectacular crashing and burning of Eric Swalwell's political career. 

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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Oh well, Swalwell

It was 2018 when I first became aware of the name Eric Swalwell. While he was merely 1 of 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, he made a name for himself by suggesting the government could use nukes against law abiding gun owners. 

So when my wife and I visited Washington, D.C. four months later, I decided to troll him outside his Congressional office. 

I am, by nature, *not* a violent person. However, if anyone ever posed a hypothetical of which member of Congress I would most likely punch in the face if ever encountered, Swalwell would easily be in the top five. 

Given he represented a D+19 Congressional district in California, Swalwell was often used as the attack dog by his Democrat colleagues. Specifically, he could give Dems in swing districts political cover by advocating for some of the most insane leftist policy. As such, his vulnerable colleagues could have plausible deniability if there were attempts to bring such lunacy to the mainstream. In that vain, I often viewed Swalwell as a west coast Anthony Weiner. That is, he appeared to be little more than an egomaniacal, power hungry leftist who was using his time in Congress as a stepping stone to something greater. For Weiner, it was Mayor of New York City. And for Swalwell it was Governor of California (only after his 2020 presidential run predictably crashed and burned). How ironic that, much like Weiner, Swalwell allowed his base urges to ruin his aspirations. Not only did this result in Swalwell suspending his gubernatorial campaign, but also forced him to resign his Congressional seat. And the warp speed at which he went from being anointed the next gov of Cali to a unemployed loser needs to be studied for the history books. 

As I write this, there are multiple women who have come forward to allege that Swalwell sexually assaulted/harassed them. And as much as I am tempted to pig pile upon that smug jackass, I can't help but think of what his wife and three young children are having to endure. While Mrs. Swalwell likely understood that the spouse of a high profile politician will be under at least a modicum of scrutiny, I'm guessing she wasn't prepared for her husband to abuse his power and morph into a complete dirt bag. 

While we can rejoice that an elected official like Swalwell has slinked away from public life, our celebration should be tempered by the fact his ilk are like cockroaches: you can stomp out one, but such action only serves to attract more. 

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Quick Hits: volume CDVII

 - I'm not saying the open U.S. Senate seat in Minnesota is in play for Republicans this cycle, but......

Since launching this campaign in January, I’ve been humbled and grateful for the support across our state! Our momentum is strong, and we’re ready to go head-to-head against the Democratic nominee.

Minnesotans are fed up with the failed leadership that has pushed our state to… pic.twitter.com/uM38qmRt7R

— Michele Tafoya (@Michele_Tafoya) April 13, 2026

That's more money than the other four (five? six?) GOP hopefuls have raised combined. Given that fundraising prowess in addition to significantly high name recognition, Tafoya is in a strong position for the nomination. But do we dare to dream that she can snap the party's 20-year losing streak in Minnesota statewide elections? To say it's *not* hopeless is actually a step in the right direction. 

I'll say this: making Minnesota competitive enough to where the Democrats have to divert financial resources to a reliably blue state would go a long way to keeping the U.S. Senate under Republican control. 

- File this under the category of "A confirmation, not a revelation." 

The Biden administration worked alongside pro-abortion activists to track the activities of pro-lifers, some of whom the Department of Justice later prosecuted for their peaceful protest actions thanks to dossiers from pro-abortion groups, according to a new report from the Trump administration.

The Justice Department’s Weaponization Working Group on Tuesday published a nearly 900-page report documenting the Biden administration’s weaponization of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act.

Investigators who analyzed more than 700,000 internal records found that pro-abortion groups including the National Abortion Federation, Planned Parenthood, and Feminist Majority Foundation used their close relationship with the Biden DOJ to gain internal information and push targets for enforcement.

The weaponization was carried out in large part by the National Task Force on Violence Against Reproductive Health Care Providers, which operated out of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division under the direction of Sanjay Patel.

The report reveals Patel was on “texting terms” with the National Abortion Federation Security Team and that he also “regularly communicated” with the other two groups.

In messages from November 2021, Patel introduced an unidentified FBI agent to Michelle Davidson, the security director for the National Abortion Federation, calling her a “wonderful contact for me as it relates to FACE Act investigations.”

“She has been an MVP bringing incidents to my attention, often in real-time, which usually result in investigation/prosecution,” Patel said.

For a collective that likes to shriek "NO KINGS" or proclaim they oppose fascism, they sure are conspicuously silent on this one. 

- I can't even pretend to understand what Sen. John Hoffman (DFL-Champlin) has been through in the aftermath of the assassination attempt on he and his family 10 months ago. But it's clear he's still enduring significant PTSD over the incident given his outburst during a recent Senate committee hearing. 

WATCH: Minnesota Senator John Hoffman (D) loses it when Senator Glenn Gruenhagen (R) refers to illegal aliens as “illegals.”

Well, maybe they shouldn’t have migrated to America illegally. Then they would be legal. pic.twitter.com/vglHUYWOJq

— Dustin Grage (@GrageDustin) April 14, 2026

To suggest he was shot due to people using "dehumanizing language" is a stretch if you read any of the gunman's manifesto. To me, this just appeared to be Sen. Hoffman's attempt to enact the typical leftist strategy of attempting to prevail in a debate by eliciting emotion over facts. But hey, if Sen. Hoffman is going to begin a crusade to tamp down "dehumanizing language," a good place to start are the replies to any social media post put forth by the likes of Reps. Mary Franson and Walter Hudson. 

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Box Score of the Week

Baltimore Orioles at Detroit Tigers - June 4, 1989.

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The O's completed a four-game sweep over the Tigers with this win. The series also featured four different relief pitchers recording a save, which marked the first time since the save became a statistic (1969) that such a feat occurred. 

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The NARN Closer's playlist - 4/12/2026

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Regimental in my way, detrimental at the end of the day.........

Look, I get it. Today in the Twin Cities is likely to be the first 80 degree day of 2026. So be sure to bring along your radio/laptop/smartphone while engaging in your favorite outdoor activities to ensure you don't miss a minute of my radio show The Closer. The 2-hour blitz begins at 1:00 PM Central Time. 

In the first hour, I'll discuss Minnesota's bleak economic outlook, specifically how it impacts the hospitality industry. Also, out-of-control state government spending is going to result in some difficult choices over the next few years. 

At 1:30, Minnesota Family Council CEO Jeff Evans will join the broadcast to promote the organization's annual dinner as well as share details about their advocacy at the MN Legislature. 

At 2:00, geopolitical wonk Amanda Peterson will stop by to talk about the latest in the U.S. war with Iran. 

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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A bright light amid a dark diagnosis

It's been nearly 100 days since former Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. While he's never shied away from his disease being a death sentence, Sasse has been steadfast in his desire to be a bright spiritual light despite the unfathomable physical pain he endures on a daily basis. 

Here are a couple of excerpts from a recent interview he granted NY Times columnist Ross Douthat. 

Former Sen. Ben Sasse, who is facing terminal illness, opens up about how his faith in Jesus Christ is sustaining him during this difficult time:

“I believe in the Resurrection, and I believe in a restoration of this world, and so I did not feel great fear about my death.” pic.twitter.com/MhZrV5ULra

— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) April 10, 2026

“You got me at the end” @BenSasse with @DouthatNYT pic.twitter.com/6TA7cYUUiq

— Caleb Wait (@calebwait) April 9, 2026

When we humans think of our mortality, I would suspect the vast majority of us would, if given the choice, desire to pass away while sleeping as opposed to perpetual physical pain until our day of death approaches. But Sasse wasn't given that choice, yet he approaches the end of his time on Earth with joy, peace and humor. What a legacy. 

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