Sunday, February 08, 2026

On assignment

I will not be broadcasting my Sunday radio show today, but fear as the show is in good hands. Your O.G. NARN personality Mitch Berg will be taking the reins, 1-3 PM Central Time. 


So please call (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics Mitch 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 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 07, 2026

Super Bowl LX: The Q&A

Well, it was 20 years ago this week that I started this little venture where I decided to spruce up my Super Bowl prediction. An acquaintance whom I dubbed the Super Bowl Inquisitor (aka SBI) agreed to be a part of this bit initially, but never under the pretense that this would be an annual thing for two decades. 


Anyhow, there's a sense of deja vu with this one as we have a rematch from 11 years ago when the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots squared off. As always, SBI brings the inquiries (or throws shade) and I put forth often ill fated attempts at levity. 


Here we go!



Super Bowl Inquisitor: Wow, hard to believe this has been going on for two decades. A lotta things have changed , but there's been one constant: the Minnesota Vikings have not even made it to the big game, much less won it. 

Brad Carlson: Just hang with me for another 20 years. It's gonna happen eventually. I think. I hope.


SBI: Well then right outta the chute I'll make this my first question. Your Vikings let Sam Darnold walk to Seattle after the 2024 season. They also attempted to move heaven and earth in '24 to acquire the Patriots’ #3 draft pick in order to select quarterback Drake Maye, but were rebuffed. Your reaction?

BC: Imagine you're a lovestruck teenaged guy and you're reminded of the love you lost and the love you couldn't score because she was way out of your league. 


SBI: I have a feeling I know how this is gonna go, but I feel obligated to get your reactions. Yes, it's the musical talent. 

First up, the opening ceremony - Green Day.

BC: Don't care. Just hope they have the time of their lives. 


SBI: National Anthem will be performed by Charlie Puth. 

BC: Sounds like an Arrested Development character. 


SBI: Brandi Carlile gets the nod for American the Beautiful. 

BC: Loved her as the lead singer of the Go-Go's. 


SBI: The Black National Anthem will be sung by Coco Jones. 

BC: OK, now I'm impressed. Not only was she a U.S. Olympian, but she can sing, too????


SBI: And finally, the halftime show's featured entertainer will be Bad Bunny. 

BC: It could be Bugs Bunny, Bugsy Malone or Post Malone. It still wouldn't do a lot for me. 


SBI: Which version of the Seahawks-Pats matchup do you prefer - Super Bowl 60 or 49.

BC: Easily the original version, which is SB 49. Pats-Hawks without Tom Brady and Marshawn Lynch is the equivalent of a Hawaii Five-O remake without McGarrett and Chin Ho. 


SBI: In this day and age there are opportunities to make money via unusual prop bets, including betting on the color of Gatorade dumped on the winning head coach. Is there anything in particular you'd consider a sure thing?

BC: Hammer the over on the number of times NBC announcer guy Cris Collinsworth says "Here's a guy..." That, and Collinsworth somehow invoking Patrick Mahomes' name despite his not even playing in this year's Super Bowl. 


SBI: For the third time ever, the two Super Bowl coaches have the same first name. Fascinating fact our useless trivia? 

BC: Ah, that's right. I keep forgettin' the name of the Seahawks coach. 


SBI: Ugh. Clearly you're getting bored at this point. Moving on.

What's on the menu for this year's gathering? 

BC: I'm re-upping a motto from Super Bowls past: If it's green, it's trouble; if it's fried, make it double.


SBI: Now to the official prediction. The Seahawks have been holding steady as a 4-1/2 point favorite. How do ya see this one? 

BC: Seattle is the better, more talented team. But I just have an inkling that Pats coach Mike Vrabel will push the right buttons to get his team over the top. Not only do the Patriots cover the spread but they win outright. 

I say 21-20, New England. 


With that, thanks for hangin' in these past 20 years!




My 2025 postseason record:

Against the spread: 6-6

Straight up: 7-5


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NARN on a lake

It's the day before a certain big time NFL game, so that means the annual Holes for Heroes ice fishing tournament will be taking place!




I will be joining Mitch Berg for his regular Northern Alliance Radio Network broadcast time today, 1-3 PM Central Time. We'll be on the air live from the ice fishing tourney on Medicine Lake in Plymouth. 

As always, we just kinda wing it as far as content given we like to have on many of the Fishing for Life officials and volunteers to share their perspectives. 


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 Mitch's podcast page for the latest show post.

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #NARNShow or "Like" our Facebook page.

Until then.....


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Friday, February 06, 2026

Beyond unacceptable

Yeah, I'm so over this crap. Apparently President Donald Trump posted a video to his Truth Social account which depicted Barack and Michelle Obama as apes (If you wanna see a screen shot, click here → (link)). 


I'm not at all interested in "context" nor am I desirous to hear any excuses. The idea that just because other politicos were skewered in that video doesn't at all justify that awful visual of the Obamas. 


I've been noticing lately how unhinged and erratic Trump appears these days, more so than to what we're accustomed (Jim Geraghty broke it down earlier this week). He's still re-litigating the 2020 presidential election that he claims was stolen from him, even though he ultimately re-attained the Oval Office when he was elected in 2024. And though the Republicans are facing an uphill battle to maintain Congressional majorities, Trump's incoherent policy initiatives are making it that much more difficult. As I write this, there are 29 GOP House members who are choosing to not even seek reelection given the tumultuous environment. Sorry Mr. President, but imploring GOP House members to hang on to their majority so as to shield you from a third impeachment is not a message they can bring to constituents who are struggling with affordability in their everyday lives. On top of that, pretty much every Republican running for any office will now be made to answer for Trump's most recent vile (and I would argue, most despicable) behavior. 


Trump will be 80 years old this summer. I don't want to come off as ageist here, but he's starting to show that he's no longer up to the task of being POTUS. I would absolutely not hold it against him were he to humbly go before the American people and declare the country being better off under the leadership of his Vice President JD Vance. 


The President displaying even the tiniest morsel of humility may be the only bargaining chip he has in order to garner even a scintilla of goodwill with the public. 


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Tuesday, February 03, 2026

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. 





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." 





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. 


 



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.  





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



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


 



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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Sunday, February 01, 2026

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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Friday, January 30, 2026

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. 





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. 





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. 





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





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. 


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Wednesday, January 28, 2026

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: 




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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