Quick Hits: Volume CCCXCVI

 - If the Trump administration is not making an effort to tank their party's prospects in the 2026 midterms, what would they be doing differently if that were their intention? Alienating perhaps the most passionate, substantive and well organized political movements (i.e. the Second Amendment advocates) would be a place to start if you wanted to surrender your electoral prospects. 

In the aftermath of the shooting death of Alex Pretti, it was Trump himself as well as Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel decrying the fact Pretti was even carrying a firearm, despite the fact he had a permit to do so and never brandished it. 

But the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia took it a step further. 

🚨BREAKING🚨⁰⁰@USAttyPirro on @FoxNews:⁰⁰“[If] you bring a gun into the District, you mark my words, you're going to jail. I don't care if you have a license in another district and I don't care if you're a law abiding law owner somewhere else. You bring a gun into this… pic.twitter.com/tHEBru3EKA

— Gun Owners of America (@GunOwners) February 3, 2026

Yikes. I would expect such rhetoric out of the proggiest of prog D.A.'s, but a Republican appointee? 

Pirro later walked back her remarks in an episode of "What I should have said." 

A message to my fellow gun owners…put your safety back on 😉 pic.twitter.com/fkgWD7GsuB

— Jeanine Pirro (@JudgeJeanine) February 3, 2026

In a way, this is heartening. While the vast majority of gunnies likely vote Republican, they aren't going to play good little tribalists if the team leader goes off the reservation. I'm guessing Ms. Pirro found that out the hard way. 

- Meanwhile, if Republicans are genuinely looking for a way to strengthen messaging for the midterms, perhaps they should air on an endless loop this statement by the Minority Leader of the U.S. Senate. 

 

🚨Sen. Schumer calls the SAVE Act "Jim Crow 2.0":

"The SAVE Act is an abomination. It's Jim Crow 2.0 across the country. We are going to do everything we can to stop it." pic.twitter.com/3gB95bm6vt

— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) February 3, 2026

If this is indeed "Jim Crow 2.0," that sentiment hasn't filtered down to the demographics which leftists claim will be most harmed by voter ID.  

pic.twitter.com/uZmoE2cMNy Bottom line: big majorities all around favor photo ID to vote.

— Byron York (@ByronYork) February 3, 2026

Gee, what s surprise. The progs taking the "20" on an 80/20 issue.

- Hey, speaking of an 80/20 issue.......

 

I am a Conservative. And I have some advice for other Conservatives:

Shut the fuck up about trans people.

The obsession with this tiny minority of people is not winning anybody over.

— Mark Slapinski (@mark_slapinski) February 1, 2026

For context, this "conservative" is a journalist out of Toronto, Canada, so that designation isn't quite the same to Canadiens. 

Anyhow, my take is simple. I will be glad to "STFU about trans people" provided they and their allies cease with attempts to make it a "hate crime" to refer to a dude wearing a dress (and possessing an XY chromosome) as a "he." Sorry, but no one should be coerced into denying empirical facts in order to justify one's delusion. Play daily dress up all you want, but basic biology can't be overturned. 

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The NARN Closer's playlist - 2/1/2026

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Drive by my house late at night, you can see from the freeway above.....

Welcome to February! After all the chaos which occurred in January, let's hope this month is a bit more tranquil. 

Today's edition of my radio show The Closer will get started at 1:00 PM Central Time. 

In the first hour, we'll discuss the much needed change in strategy of the Federal government's immigration operations in Minnesota. Also, MNGOP gubernatorial candidate Chris Madel drops his bid for governor, which was unfortunate. 

Then in the second hour, I'll weigh in on journalist Don Lemon's arrest for violation of the FACE Act. 

Finally at 2:30, Independent Institute's Phil Magness will join the broadcast to discuss the latest regarding President Trump's tariffs. 

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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Pretti narratives

Let me say up front that I do not believe there was justification for Customs & Border Patrol officers to shoot and kill Alex Pretti in Minneapolis last Saturday. Of all the footage I've witnessed (specifically meticulous breakdowns on social media), it would appear this was a tragic mistake. The reason I cling to this belief is because after Pretti was shot dead, there was at least one officer asking "where's the gun?" The gun was actually removed by one of the CBP officers who likely declared "gun!", thus triggering the others to believe Pretti was brandishing a weapon. Again, just a tragedy all around, albeit a seemingly avoidable one. But it definitely was not murder. 

Then this week there were videos circulating showing Pretti confronting Feds on the streets of Minneapolis, just a week-and-a-half before he was shot. 

"AssauIt me, Motherf*cker" - Alex Pretti

pic.twitter.com/daO8bGVJ7b

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 29, 2026

How the
left wants
you to see
Alex Pretti Alex Pretti pic.twitter.com/j4BL45VAYi

— Kevin Dalton (@TheKevinDalton) January 28, 2026

And of course, as these videos were released, the official partisan reactions were as predicted. Issac Schorr of Media-ite broke it down. 

For those on the Right determined to justify the events of Jan. 24, when Pretti was shot dead by Border Patrol agents during an altercation in which he appeared much less confrontational — and criminally liable — the footage was beheld as an answer to their prayers.

And for those on the Left who fetishize the disorderly, destructive behavior exemplified by Pretti, it was something to be handwaved away: an irrelevant, even disgusting, smear of a dead man.

Of course it is neither.

Pretti’s inexcusable actions on the 13th — though they could and arguably should have resulted in his arrest — didn’t come anywhere close to warranting the use of lethal force. To cite them as a justification for his death a week-and-a-half later at what appeared to be a much less charged moment (bear in mind that an investigation into the shooting may turn up more relevant information) is an intellectual as well as a moral error. American citizens are entitled to make mistakes, even egregious ones, without paying the price for them with their life. Anyone who disputes as much has breathtakingly low expectations for their government.

I believe it's relevant to share this footage only to combat the fluffed up narratives by the left. In the aftermath of the shooting, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz essentially said Pretti was "shot in the face on the streets coming out of a donut shop" as if he was merely a bystander minding his own business. 

You also have prog media outlets apparently believing Pretti's appearance wouldn't generate the preferred amount of sympathy, but that's nothing that a little airbrushing can't fix. 

It appears MSNBC gave Alex Pretti a tan, a stronger jawline, better teeth, shorter forehead, and a nose job to make him look hotter for the AWFLs. They broadened his shoulders, thickened his neck, and gave him biceps. pic.twitter.com/Kmx2SZ9jzA

— The Redheaded libertarian (@TRHLofficial) January 27, 2026

And lastly you have Fauxcahontas Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) spinning a yarn about someone who, had she not mentioned him by name, you would think won a treasure trove of humanitarian awards. 

Don't let the Trump administration lie to you.

Alex Pretti was an ICU nurse. He was a son. A brother. A friend. A caretaker. pic.twitter.com/B5OIYsdZN2

— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) January 28, 2026

This seems especially disingenuous in light of the video footage from more than two weeks ago.  

The Story of Alex Pretti.

Read by Elizabeth Warren. pic.twitter.com/mxq7BkcEtx

— MAZE (@mazemoore) January 29, 2026

To reiterate: Pretti's behavior, as disruptive as it was, is absolutely not a justification for what happened to him on January 24. But the narratives put forth by elected leftists and their supporters are deliberate attempts to further demonize Federal agents who are already engaging in high stakes and very tense operations. Again, the actions by some agents in Minnesota has been inexcusable and for that there must be firings (DHS head Kristi Noem is a good place to start). But now that there's been a recalibration of operations in the state, let's ensure more deadly encounters do not reoccur. And it starts with allowing state and local law enforcement the ability to assist Feds in ensuring provocateurs like Pretti and Renee Good do not cross the line which clearly divides protesting and obstructing justice. 

------------------------------------------------

The true motivation

If you were to ask leftists why they oppose mass deportations of illegal aliens, you're likely to hear a variation of the following:  

• No human being is illegal. 
• What right does America have to remove people from "stolen land?"
• For many, this is the only home they've ever known. 

I would guess that there is a small percentage of progs who truly believe one if not all of those sentiments, misguided as though they may be. However, it's more likely that a significant number of leftists don't view illegals so much as cherished human beings as they do pawns to prevent Democrats from being the minority party for the foreseeable future. 

Exhibit A: 

🚨2030 Apportionment Forecast🚨
+4: TX
+2: FL
+1: AZ, GA, ID, NC, UT

-4: CA
-1: IL, MN, NY, OR, PA, RI, WI

* Based on the 2025 Census Population Estimates released January 27, 2026. pic.twitter.com/ugZPVCs6zw

— The American Redistricting Project (@AmerRedistrict) January 27, 2026

Yes, while illegals aren't eligible to vote in American elections (though no doubt some are skirting the law to do so), the census isn't based on the number of legal citizens, but rather actual human beings residing in a state at census time. And population growth year over year looks to be declining due in no small part to mass deportations, much of which is occurring in the bluest of blue cities in blue states. 

As such, Dan McLaughlin of National Review paints a rather sobering picture for team blue. 

How bad is this news for Democrats? Let’s break this out by reference to the last few presidential cycles:

• Red states that Donald Trump won by six or more points in 2024, which voted for Trump in 2020 and 2016 and have all-Republican senators and governors: +8 seats.
• Purple-red states that Trump won by two to six points in 2024, all of which have Republican state legislatures: +3 seats. (Of these: Arizona and Georgia voted for Biden in 2020, North Carolina and Arizona have Democratic governors, and Arizona and Georgia each have two Democratic senators.)
• Purple-blue states that Trump won by less than two points in 2024, Biden won in 2020, and that have Democratic governors and one senator from each party: –2 seats.
• A blue state (Minnesota) that Kamala Harris won by less than six points in 2024: –1 seat.
• Deep-blue states that Harris won by six or more points in 2024: –8 seats, with half of the loss in California.

In a future presidential election where the Sun Belt battlegrounds of North Carolina, Georgia, and Arizona go red while the Rust Belt battlegrounds of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan (plus Minnesota) go blue, there would be a net shift of eleven electoral votes in favor of the Republican ticket compared with the current Electoral College. That would turn a 270–268 Democratic map into a 279–259 Republican map. The House of Representatives would see a similar shift toward red states and toward Sun Belt battlegrounds over Rust Belt battlegrounds.

One way Democrats could mitigate this potential electoral disaster is perhaps gravitating a bit more to the center on key issues. While they certainly haven't given any indication lately that they're capable of such a thing, data such as this might scare them straight. 

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Quick Hits: Volume CCCXCV

- After so much chaos and unrest in the Minneapolis area due to the Feds conducting immigration enforcement, it was beyond time for a change in strategy. Combine that with the fact that top officials in the Trump administration poorly handled the aftermath of the shooting death of Alex Pretti, the status quo was no longer tenable. 

Thankfully, the only adult in the room among President Donald Trump's immigration team is getting the call. 

"I am sending Tom Homan to Minnesota" is directionally the opposite of "I am sending the 11th Airborne to Minnesota" and is, at least for the moment, a promising sign they have actually realized for once that they are out way over their skis. pic.twitter.com/k1ODt1pXSV

— Andrew Egger (@EggerDC) January 26, 2026

There have been reports that Homan and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem have been at odds over these operations. Noem et al preferred to engage in sweeping operations (i.e. Home Depot and car washes) while Homan prioritized violent criminals with multiple deportation orders. Thankfully, the latter looks to continue in Minnesota while US Border Patrol head Greg Bovino and many CBP agents will be leaving the state for operations elsewhere. 

I'm guessing the White House being put on the defensive over the Second Amendment as well as hemorrhaging political support on their pet issue motivated Trump to make this move. Better late than never. 

- I remarked last week that while attending a MNGOP gubernatorial candidate forum, I left very impressed with attorney Chris Madel, who was the true political outsider. I even placed him in my top 3 most formidable candidates. 

Less than a week later, this shocking development occurred. 

 

Attorney Chris Madel has ended his campaign for Minnesota governor. In a video published Monday morning, Madel said Minnesota faces serious challenges, but Operation Metro Surge has made running a Republican campaign untenable.

Referring to the federal government’s ongoing immigration enforcement efforts in the state, Madel said, “I cannot support the national Republicans’ stated retribution on the citizens of our state, nor can I count myself a member of a party that would do so.”

This appeared to be a reference to a Jan. 13 statement from President Donald Trump in which Trump said ICE wants to remove dangerous criminals from Minnesota and Democrats “love the unrest” that has occurred because it distracts from fraud.

“FEAR NOT, GREAT PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA, THE DAY OF RECKONING & RETRIBUTION IS COMING!” the president said.

A longtime trial attorney, Madel said he supports Operation Metro Surge’s “originally stated goals” of locating and deporting the “worst of the worst” non-U.S. citizens who have been convicted of sex crimes and violent offenses.

However, Madel said “Operation Metro Surge has expanded far beyond its stated focus on true public safety threats. United States citizens, particularly those of color, live in fear. United States citizens are carrying papers to prove their citizenship; that’s wrong.”

Many progs and non-Trump Republicans posted video footage of the 2-minute excerpt featuring Madel's rationale for leaving the race. What's notable is that Madel's entire diatribe, which lasted nearly 11 minutes, included his crediting the Trump administration for attaining a cease fire in Gaza while simultaneously blasting leftists for their conspicuous silence on what was supposedly a dire issue for them for two years. Also, he didn't spare any harsh words for Gov. Tim Walz or Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey over their lack of cooperation with the Feds in rooting out violent criminals with multiple deportation orders. 

Do yourself a favor and check out the entire speech. 

I am ending my campaign for Minnesota Governor. I describe why in the below video. Please watch until the end. (It is 10 minutes, 52 seconds.)

Thank you,
Chris pic.twitter.com/2nfyAyTzNZ

— Chris Madel (@CWMadel) January 26, 2026

This is also Madel's way of telling Republicans they better get their poop in a group, posthaste. 

- Former Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold is going to the Super Bowl! After a 31-27 win over the Los Angeles Rams in Sunday's NFC Championship Game, Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks are going to the franchise's fourth ever appearance in that ultimate game. 

I've noticed a lot of my fellow Vikings fans lamenting Darnold moving on, almost implying had he remained in Minnesota that it could've been our Vikes on the cusp of the big game. Obviously there's no way to know for sure, but given the Vikings missed the playoffs by literally a half game while enduring (to be charitable) substandard QB play the majority of the 17 regular season games, it's not a stretch to say they would have at least made the playoffs.

For the record, I supported the move to let Darnold walk via free agency after 2024 and thus usher in the JJ McCarthy era. I felt with the high profile moves the Vikings made in free agency combined with stellar coaching from Kevin O'Connell that McCarthy would have a good enough infrastructure to lead this team to 10 or more wins. But McCarthy's lack of durability (only 10 starts in 17 games) to go along with O'Connell's obstinance to design a more balance offensive game plan (i.e. take heat off the young QB by utilizing a good running game) torpedoed the Vikings season. It also didn't help that the highly touted offensive line played less than a third of the snaps together due to injuries. 

At the end of the day, the Vikings had to spend so much money in free agency last year due to GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's first three drafts (2022 thru 2024) not producing enough starters. As such, there wasn't enough money remaining to retain Darnold. 

Let's just say there's a nonzero chance that ownership will clean house next year at this time if the Vikings miss the postseason again in 2026. 

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The NARN Closer's playlist - 1/25/2026

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I just wanna be your friend, is it ever gonna be enough?

Rejoice, as it may get above zero degrees today! However, it's still gonna be quite chilly, so throw another log on the fire and indulge in today's edition of my radio show The Closer. The 2-hour broadcast gets started at 1:00 PM Central Time. 

In the first hour, I will weigh in on anti-ICE protestors storming a St Paul church. Thus far, three people have been arrested. And while Immigrations & Customs Enforcements operations continue in Minnesota, so does blatant misinformation put forth by elected officials. 

Then in the second hour I will talk about the latest in the gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races out of Minnesota. 

And finally, Second Amendment advocates shouldn't given an inch when it comes to gun rights. 

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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2025 NFL Playoffs: Conference Championship games (and blog post number 5,000!!!!)

New England Patriots (-4-1/2) at Denver Broncos: Boy, ya gotta feel for those Pats fans, huh. Their club was in the wilderness for a whole five seasons after a near two-decade dynastic run, but they're back in the AFC Championship Game. And the Patriots are likely in this for the long haul with a terrific coach and QB combo of Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye, both of whom could well be highly decorated (i.e. Coach of the Year and MVP, respectively) when the 2025 season awards are doled out. 

The Broncos and their fans were barely an hour into their celebration of being one step away from a Super Bowl when they received the shocking news that starting quarterback Bo Nix would be out for the remainder of the postseason due to breaking a bone in his right ankle. As such, Jarrett Stidham (a 2019 Patriots draft pick) will be making his first start in two years. Stidham is literally only the second QB in NFL history to make his first start of the season in a conference championship game. The other was Roger Staubach, whose Dallas Cowboys fell to the Washington Redskins 26-3 in the 1972 NFC title game. 

I felt the Broncos were playing with house money even before the Nix injury given the highest salary on their roster is for a guy who was cut after the 2023 season (QB Russell Wilson). But thanks to coach Sean Payton's tutelage, Nix had become a solid QB in only his second season and will likely only get better. So if anyone can elevate the play of a backup quarterback like Stidham for a two game stretch, it's Payton. 

In the end, this will be a defensive struggle given both defenses are in the top 5 in terms of points allowed. New England definitely lucked out with Nix being unable to play, but I'd still be surprised if they win easily. 

New England 20 Denver 19

Los Angeles Rams (+2-1/2) at Seattle Seahawks: These NFC West rivals split their two meetings in the regular season with the home team prevailing by less than a field goal in each contest. 

Around Thanksgiving time, I got the impression that the Rams were the most complete team in the NFL. However, they definitely showed some cracks in their final six games, going 3-3. One of those losses was blowing a 16-point fourth quarter lead in Seattle, eventually losing 38-37 in overtime. 

As of right now, the Seahawks have the healthiest, most talented roster among the remaining four clubs. I could certainly do a deeper dive into some of the numbers but I'll once again refer to my prediction on the Purple Daily podcast a little more than two weeks ago. That is, former Vikings QB Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks will be playing in Super Bowl 60. 

Seattle 24 Los Angeles 17

My 2025 postseason record:

Against the spread: 4-6

Straight up: 5-5

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