Box Score of the Week

Cleveland Indians at Minnesota Twins - May 21, 1961.

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Special programming note

I gladly cede the time slot for my weekly radio show today in order for audio of Charlie Kirk's memorial service to air instead. Coverage will begin at 1:00 pm Central Time. 

If you happen to be in the Twin Cities, you can listen on good ol' fashioned AM radio at 1280. Otherwise you can stream it online at AM1280ThePatriot.com or the iHeart radio app.

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The right decision arrived at incorrectly.

 Multiple things can be true: 

• Jimmy Kimmel's late night "entertainment" talk show is little more than an anti Trump bitch fest for despaired leftist voters to go for therapy. Hence, not entertaining. 
• Kimmel was gaslighting his audience earlier this week by suggesting that Charlie Kirk's assassin was affiliated with MAGA. 
• The U.S. government has absolutely zero business meddling into whether or not the company airing Jimmy Kimmel Live! should continue to do so. 

The Federal Communications Commission essentially strong arming Sinclair into removing Kimmel's program indefinitely is on par with the Biden administration coercing social media platforms into flagging user posts containing what Team Biden considered "misinformation" (i.e. only women can get pregnant). Both Sinclair execs and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg could have (and should have) told the respective presidential admins to pound sand. And there would have been zero legal repercussions had they done so.

If the Trump admin was a little more politically savvy, they would have allowed Kimmel's show to drown in the backlash that was occurring due to his gross misstatement regarding Kirk's murderer. 

So if Kimmel was about to go on the air and make things infinitely worse by digging in, I'm actually *not* sure what ABC was supposed to do except yank him. They aren't required to allow him to enrage half of America on their airwaves if they know it's coming in advance. pic.twitter.com/Ue1bwB9v8E

— Jeff Blehar is *BOX OFFICE POISON* (@EsotericCD) September 19, 2025

As you might imagine, the left was engaged in its normal hyperbole regarding this situation. I could post literally scores of tweets conveying such lunacy, but this one from MSNBC's Chris Hayes underscores the left's utter tone deafness.  

This is the most straightforward attack on free speech from state actors I've ever seen in my life and it's not even close. https://t.co/uMjEZkIpat

— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) September 17, 2025

I dunno, Chrissy. I say a private citizen receiving a surprise IRS audit after speaking critically of a sitting President ranks higher. Your mileage may vary though. 

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Quick Hits: Volume CCCLXXXIII

- The long awaited Minnesota political announcement has finally occurred. 

Tim Walz launched a third bid for the governor’s office on Tuesday, putting an end to months of speculation about whether he would seek another four years in the job.

Walz enters the race with more than $1 million in the bank and the power of the incumbency. But the two-term Democrat is also facing headwinds after his support has eroded in greater Minnesota.

Before he was first elected governor in 2018, Walz served six terms in Congress representing southern Minnesota.

If he prevails, Walz would become the first person in Minnesota history to win three four-year terms as governor.

What's fascinating (if not downright stupefying) is that Walz is still above 50% in approval rating, yet the majority of the same people surveyed also believe he should not seek a third term. Obviously he's undeterred by the latter sentiment. 

While Walz is certainly ripe for defeat, the Republican Party of Minnesota is (SURPRISE!) still a gong show. Whomever emerges as the GOP candidate to oppose Walz has to know there won't be a competent party apparatus behind them. So now more than ever is it imperative that the Republican candidate with the best chance to win a general election is elevated as the nominee. Unfortunately, the most formidable general election candidate has rarely been given the nod over the past 20 years. 

- It never ends with this franchise. 

 

ESPN sources: Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy is expected to be sidelined two-to-four weeks with a high ankle sprain.

With McCarthy out, Vikings QB Carson Wentz is now in line to start. pic.twitter.com/iZ1qvackMV

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 15, 2025

So if history is any indication, the Vikings, with a veteran quarterback on whom they took a flier, will gallop ingloriously to the NFC Championship Game (see: 1998 with Randall Cunningham replacing an injured Brad Johnson and the 2017 season with Case Keenum supplanting Sam Bradford)! 

OK, in all seriousness, that's not likely to happen. But it will be interesting how coach Kevin O'Connell navigates the situation if Wentz plays well and the Vikings go 2-1 or 3-0 over their next three games before the bye week. By that point, McCarthy will likely be ready to play. Do they delay his development yet one more season if the team is on an upward swing thanks in large part to Wentz? I'm glad I don't have to make that call.

- So this is the U.S. Attorney General in a Republican presidential administration. 

Attorney General Pam Bondi: "There's free speech and then there's hate speech, and there is no place, especially now, especially after what happened to Charlie, in our society...We will absolutely target you, go after you, if you are targeting anyone with hate speech." pic.twitter.com/Bqj6TQOGwP

— The Bulwark (@BulwarkOnline) September 16, 2025

"Charlie" of course is in reference to the recently assassinated Charlie Kirk.....who would be in vehement disagreement with Bondi here.  

 

Hate speech does not exist legally in America. There's ugly speech. There's gross speech. There's evil speech.

And ALL of it is protected by the First Amendment.

Keep America free.

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) May 3, 2024

Bondi later doubled down.

The Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh calls for the firing of AG Pam Bondi today after she announces the DOJ may prosecute Office Depot for refusing to print posters for a Charlie Kirk vigil in Michigan.

Walsh wrote on 𝕏: “Get rid of her. Today. This is insane. Conservatives have fought… pic.twitter.com/GMWe5B0mTV

— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) September 16, 2025

This is reminiscent of the Biden administration looking to coerce social media companies into flagging posts containing "misinformation," which in this day and age is totally subjective. 

One silver lining: AG Bondi appeared to unify the left and right against her ridiculous (and flat out wrong) notions. 

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Box Score of the Week

Oakland Athletics at Minnesota Twins - May 4, 1984.

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The game where Oakland slugger Dave Kingman hit an infield pop up.......and it never came down. 

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The NARN Closer's playlist - 9/14/2025

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Take another look, take another ride. Can't we make them leave the hate behind?

Obviously my heart is heavy on this Sunday in the aftermath of the tragedy involving Charlie Kirk this past week. I could easily go three hours on that topic alone, but I'll squeeze in what I can in the allotted two hours. Today's airing of my radio show The Closer will begin at 1:00 PM Central Time. 

Right at 1:00, two local college students by the names of Harrison and Alli will join the broadcast to discuss their motivation to continue Charlie's work. Then in the 2:00 hour, I will weigh in on myriad aspects of the Kirk tragedy. 

At 1:30, Israel native Lawrence Badzin will call in from his homeland to promote an exhibit telling the story of Kfar Azza, which was one of the many communities devastated by the 10/7/2023 attacks launched by Hamas. 

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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They got him.

Charlie Kirk's assassin has been arrested.  

The suspect is a 22-year old Utah native who had only recently become "more political," including expressing his disdain for Kirk. How it got to the point where the alleged shooter wanted to murder him hasn't been made clear as yet. By all accounts, the young man grew up in a stable household with both parents being registered Republicans (as an aside, that's all progs needed to hear to convince themselves that the alleged shooter was too a Republican). So how is it that things can go off the rails so quickly and dramatically? 

Adam Carolla hosts a terrific podcast, usually for hilarity's sake. But here, in the immediate aftermath of Kirk's death, he shares pearls of wisdom on how young people can get to such a dark place. 

Charlie Kirk 1993 - 2025

Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/tp12N1Gtf8

— The Adam Carolla Show (@AdamCarollaShow) September 11, 2025

I still recall progs' reaction to the shooting incident in Tucson, AZ back in early 2011, the one which killed multiple people and seriously wounded then Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. Leftists and their media allies worked overtime to blame "right wing rhetoric" for motivating the gunman to do what he did. Unless the political left are willing to be introspective over their hyperbolic proclamations that President Donald Trump and anyone associated with him are "fascists," then odds are close to 100% that additional assassination attempts on prominent right wingers will continue.

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Charlie Kirk: 1993-2025

When I heard news of the assassination of Charlie Kirk on Wednesday afternoon, my mind didn't leap to how America lost a "conservative firebrand" or "a great Patriot." No, my thoughts immediately went to his beautiful wife Erika and their two babies, who now have to press on without their beloved husband and daddy. 

Photo courtesy of Charlie Kirk's Instagram

As I write this, the shooter is still at large. While I feel pretty confident this killing was politically motivated given Kirk was the keynote speaker at a political event on a Utah college campus, I'm going to reserve judgement. And since I host a political talk radio show, there will be plenty of opportunities to pore over this incident from that perspective. 

For as saddened as I am on behalf of Charlie's family and many, many friends, I take heart that he has his great reward. While I often took issue with his political tribalism (i.e. fealty to all things MAGA), I was heartened over his steadfast commitment to his Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ. For all the bluster he put forth in the political arena, Charlie knew what really mattered. 

Jesus defeated death so you can live.

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) September 6, 2025

It's impossible to quantify how many people Charlie impacted in that milieu, but the way he lived his life would suggest that his message about faith was more than just stage talk. 

RIP, Charlie. 

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Prediction

For the record, I have been a fan of Rich Eisen since he began his national broadcasting career on ESPN's Sportscenter in the late 1990s. I continued to follow his work when he moved on to NFL Network in 2003 as well as when he began his daily podcast The Rich Eisen Show around 2014. 

With his podcast, Eisen has more creative freedom to delve into areas outside of sports. As such, I've gleaned he's left of center politically, but it didn't discourage me from indulging in what I believe is an informative and entertaining podcast. Besides, I've made a commitment over the past decade or so to not allow political disagreements to undermine things I genuinely enjoy. 

So when Eisen appeared to take a shot at Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker on Friday night, it was more eyeroll inducing than anything. 

"Harrison Butker... interestingly enough is wide right!" - Rich Eisen 🏈🎙️ #NFL pic.twitter.com/PEfYV26dOB

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 6, 2025

I wouldn't be shocked if Eisen had such a comment in the back of his mind given the controversy over Butker's speech at Benedictine College more than a year ago. Heck, he and his wife Suzy Shuster ripped Butker on an episode of Eisen's podcast shortly thereafter. 

Eisen, if nothing else, is a business man. He knows full well how politically divided we are in America, so I'm certain he knew that comment would be pored over throughout all corners of social media. As I write this, Eisen's daily podcast begins in less than two hours. So my prediction is he will milk at least one segment to address the response to his dig at Butker. Again, it's just business. 

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Box Score of the Week

New York Mets at Cincinnati Reds - June 14, 1965.

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The Mets became the first team in the expansion era (1961) to be held without a base hit for 8-2/3 innings or more, yet win the game. 

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Unexpected hiatus

No live radio show for me today. Nothing serious, but it was determined on Friday that we will re-air last week's broadcast. So tune in 1-3 PM Central Time. 

You can listen 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.

Until then.....

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On the offensive

In the aftermath of the Annunciation Catholic School shooting in Minneapolis, Gov. Tim Walz indicated his desire to call a special session of the Minnesota Legislature to address "gun violence." Upon hearing this, my reaction was he's merely playing political games given he knows full well that Republicans will never acquiesce to banning certain firearms, thus there won't be the votes to get anything through the House. And in Walz's mind, that'll play well politically for the DFL since he likely believes he can use this as a wedge issue in 2026 in order for his party to re-obtain complete control of state government like they had in 2023 and 2024.

I wonder if Walz had any inkling that House Republicans would go on the offensive. 

pic.twitter.com/EYxpoqYpep

— MN House Republicans (@mnhousegop) September 4, 2025

The facts have always been on the side of Second Amendment advocates, specifically when it comes to the debate over "gun control." And the facts are that gun bans are not only unconstitutional but also ineffective. The bottom line is when there are nearly a half billion guns in circulation in the U.S., enforcing an actual ban would be logistically impossible. With that in mind, the most effective deterrent to gun violence is to ensure the wrong people don't gain access to firearms while allowing law abiding gun owners to exercise their rights in areas considered "soft targets" (i.e. schools). The fact the GOP came out and answered Walz's demagoguery with a substantive plan is a welcome change from flat-footed GOP caucuses of the past. 

In the end, it's quite unlikely any DFLer will sign on to these proposals because they don't ban guns which the Dems consider "SKERRRRRRRY!" As such, the GOP can control the messaging by pointing out they were the first to offer comprehensive solutions out of the gate. Sure, the media won't carry their water like they would've for the DFL, but an issue like this in our backyard can't be ignored. 

Your move, Dems. 

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Quick Hits: Volume CCCLXXXII (Gov. Tim Walz unhinged edition)

- "We can be kind and still wish for the death of the MAGA cult leader." Tim Walz, basically. 

Gov. Tim Walz Jokes About "Trump Is Dead" Rumor: "The last few days, you woke up thinking there might be news... Just so you know, there will be news sometime." pic.twitter.com/vH3ilXy9jU

— RCP Video (@rcpvideo) September 2, 2025

Look, I get it. Donald Trump and his supporters don't have a lotta moral authority when it comes to this kind of rhetoric. But for Walz to appear to wish for the death of a man who endured multiple assassination attempts while the governor himself is still mourning the murder of his friend and Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman tells me he has some unresolved issues. 

It's one thing for elected officials to exchange a war of words. But to denigrate supporters of their political adversaries? 

Tim Walz SLAMS conservatives for wearing “MAGA” hats..

“We don’t all wear the same stupid g0ddamn hat”.. 👀 pic.twitter.com/OPkMNgxnMh

— American AF 🇺🇸 (@iAnonPatriot) September 1, 2025

Say what you will about Trump, but he's never actively gone after Dem supporters in such a manner. And for the President to show that kind of restraint is pretty remarkable given his lack of filter combined with progs offering up a target rich environment for ridicule. 

- Say, has Gov. Walz officially launched his reelection campaign and I just missed the announcement? Seriously, a Strib piece I read on the radio show a couple weeks ago indicated he'd make his decision by Labor Day. Well.....were now beyond that deadline. 

Given Walz's multiple unhinged rants of late, it's probably best for he and his family if he calls it a career. Seriously. 

- In the aftermath of the Annunciation Catholic School shooting last week, Walz is subscribing to the leftist mantra of never letting a good crisis go to waste as he's considering calling a special session of the Minnesota Legislature. 

"The thing that makes America unique in terms of shootings is we just have more guns and the wrong types of guns are on the streets. I’m calling through legislators to try and make sure they get there. I can call a special session, but I can’t run a special session," Walz said. "I’m going to need some Republicans to break with the orthodoxy and say we need to do something about guns. Once they do that, we’ll call that and bring them back. If Minnesota lets this moment slide and we determine it’s OK for little ones to not be safe in a school or church environment, then shame on us. So I’m going to call them back and ask them to do that."

You can see where Walz is going with this. He's fulling expecting the House GOP to bind together and not vote for any gun control. He'll then use that as a campaign chanting point for the 2026 midterms in an effort to get back the DFL trifecta which ran roughshod over Minnesota in 2023 and 2024. 

It's almost as if this issue is more valuable to progs if left unresolved. 

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Box Score of the Week

Chicago White Sox at Cleveland Indians - July 29, 2013.

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At 42-years old, Cleveland's Jason Giambi became the oldest player in MLB history to hit a pinch hit walk-off home run. He has 6 such homers in his career, which is also an all-time record. 

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The NARN Closer's playlist - 8/31/2025

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Don't wanna discuss it, think it's time for a change.....

It's Labor Day weekend, bur we're still on live today for my radio show The Closer. The 2-hour broadcast will get started at 1:00 PM Central Time. 

In the first hour I'll obviously spend the lion's share discussing the Annunciation Catholic School shooting and how this incident far transcends being a political issue. 

Then in the second hour, my good friend Mark "Mr. Dilettante" Heuring will make his annual appearance for a preview of the NFC North division. Since Mark is fan of the Green Bay Packers and myself a Minnesota Vikings rube, it's the only division we really care about.  

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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Worth your time

Erick Erickson's monologue on the Annunciation Catholic School shooting is worth checking out. It's just over 15 minutes long, but it lays out how this latest spree killing, more so than others, requires addressing it from a spiritual perspective and not a political one. 

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Evil is real.....but so is God

As much as I comment on spree killings committed with firearms, I'm never desensitized to the carnage and its aftermath. But when such an incident essentially happens in my backyard, I'm equal parts devastated and horrified. 

A shooter dressed in black opened fire on Annunciation Church in south Minneapolis during a weekly morning Mass with students Wednesday.

Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the shooting killed two children, ages 8 and 10 years old, and injured 17 others. The shooter died by suicide, and there is no active threat to the community.

On Tuesday afternoon, law enforcement identified the sole suspect as {ed. - name redacted so as to not give the demented gunman any publicity}.

FBI Director Kash Patel said on social media that the shooting is being investigated as an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime against Catholics.

“These kids were literally praying,” Mayor Jacob Frey said. “It was the first week of school; they were in a church.”

I'm going to resist the urge to hit back at the usual suspects who demagogue gun control, mock those of us who call for thoughts and prayers, etc. No, instead we need to see this for what it is, and that is a level of depravity which no amount political preening or legislation can alleviate. This is a spiritual battle, which is why someone like the Boy Mayor of Minneapolis shows such contempt for those who try to initiate peace and a sense of calm through prayer. He obviously doesn't understand the power of being guided by the Holy Spirit, so I'm willing to extend him some grace for comments he made in the heat of the moment. 

All that said, even as a faith-filled believer in Jesus Christ, I struggle with all the suffering I witness in these atrocities. Not just the suffering endured by those who died but also the anguish of the loved ones they left behind. And while the human side of me cries out "WHY?!?!," I acknowledge and begrudgingly accept I may never receive the answers I seek. Even Jesus said in Matthew 27:46 “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” In an odd way, that gives me comfort when Christ himself felt separated from God, albeit for a short time. 

In a time like this, I think of the words uttered by the late Rev. Tim Keller in an interview he gave a few years before he passed. 

Many non-believers ask rhetorically that if God is real, why does he allow this suffering? But there is an answer, whether or not they wanna hear it. The fact He gave of His only son so that we can have eternal life ensures there will be no more sorrow and no more pain upon our leaving this world. When I look at it that way, I feel genuine sorrow for those who don't know God and thus mock the cries out to Him in times of trial.

Come, Lord Jesus. 

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Quick Hits: Volume CCCLXXXI

 - It's rather disturbing that one of the two major political parties touts as a good thing a flatly unconstitutional executive order.

🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

“If you burn an American flag, you get 1 year in jail.”pic.twitter.com/nozHg7hrmY

— GOP (@GOP) August 25, 2025

To be clear: I would never burn an American flag. In fact, I've said often I find it profoundly silly to burn a symbol of the very country which allows you that freedom via the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. 

Seth Dillon encapsulated this saga perfectly. 

 

If you want to communicate contempt for a country, you can burn their flag. But if they allow you to, then all you're really telling the world is how great and free that country is. It's a self-defeating demonstration.

— Seth Dillon (@SethDillon) August 25, 2025

The hardcore Trumpkins claim that President Trump is baiting progs into wanting to burn American flags, thus creating visuals of prominent Dems engaging in an activity which a vast majority of Americans oppose. But then why does Trump then turn around and declare that such actions will get you "1 year in jail?" And spare me the what-about-ism of stories of people burning LGBTQ+ flags being charged with crimes. In those instances, the jail time was due to actually thieving (and subsequent desecration of) someone else's property. Apples to bowling balls comparison. 

- It's been widely reported that Gov. Tim Walz is wavering on whether to run for a third gubernatorial term. Given his angry rants at Monday's annual meeting of the Democrat National Committee, I'm of the mind he's in desperate need of a mental health break. 

Gov. Tim Walz blames "rhetoric" from Trump's "followers" for Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman's assassination pic.twitter.com/IQEK5FizdA

— Alpha News (@AlphaNewsMN) August 25, 2025

Gov. Tim Walz shouts incoherently about Trump at the DNC's summer meeting in Minneapolis:

"May his fat ankles find something today."

"Petty as hell!" pic.twitter.com/ugWgqlpKhx

— Alpha News (@AlphaNewsMN) August 25, 2025

Tim Walz is a deeply disturbed individual.

Here he is coming unglued over a "stupid frickin' red hat" and suggesting people burn flags with President Trump's photo on them. pic.twitter.com/QwMryOCc1c

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 25, 2025

I'm being serious here. Walz served 12 years in Congress and almost 8 years as Minnesota governor. It's clear that the presence of Trump is causing him to become unhinged in a way that has never happened in his political career. And if you follow any of his daughter Hope's social media, it's having an adverse impact on his family as well. 

- Big news out of Minnesota Senate District 41. 

Republican lawmaker launches state Senate bid in battleground district

Rep. Tom Dippel's entry into the race sets up a potential rematch against Sen. Judy Seeberger, a Democrat who recently endorsed Sen. Omar Fateh for mayor of Minneapolis. pic.twitter.com/8unEW9g6Ir

— Alpha News (@AlphaNewsMN) August 25, 2025

Seeberger won that 2022 election by 321 votes, which was less than 1%.  As such, that race decided the balance of power in the Senate, giving the DFL the trifecta and thus the opportunity to pass a far left prog agenda that rivals anything which has ever come out of California. Heck, Seeberger herself lamented that fact when then DFL chair Ken Martin was in the midst of a proverbial victory lap. 

Given Seeberger was essentially the deciding vote on the overwhelming majority of that far left agenda, she could have leveraged her vote by insisting on moderation. But she chose to walk in lockstep with her party as opposed to any principled stance, so her sentiments appeared to be little more than a lame attempt to appease the half of the constituents who opposed her. 

And lest we're tempted to believe she has moderate chops, the Fateh endorsement should put that notion to bed. That and her maniacal reaction to April's Wisconsin Supreme Court election where the Trump/Elon Musk backed candidate was defeated. 

There's a reason that Alpha News tweet said the 2026 SD41 race was a potential rematch. Specifically, Seeberger has likely run afoul of many of those who voted for her in 2022, so she's definitely vulnerable in her reelection bid. Being armed with that knowledge may cause her to not run again, which I am predicting will indeed be the case. 

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Box Score of the Week

New York Yankees at Chicago White Sox - September 18, 1956.

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Yanks slugger Mickey Mantle hit his 50th home run of the '56 season, making him the first switch hitter in MLB history to reach that total in a season.

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The NARN Closer's playlist - 8/24/2025

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I've got the pedal to the floor, my life is running faster.....

After four hours of radio yesterday, I'm slated for another two hours today on my radio show The Closer. I'll be back in the Patriot bunker where I'll get started at 1:00 PM Central Time. 

A lotta Minnesota related news to cover, including Gov. Tim Walz wavering on whether to seek reelection, a new GOP entrant into the Minnesota's governor's race, a DFL-passed anti-Christian law being struck down in court, etc. 

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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NARN on a stick

After not having done a radio show in nearly three weeks, I'll be drinking from a proverbial firehose this weekend. Yes I'll be on the air for every single solitary NARN minute these next two days. 

With both Mitch Berg and Jack Tomczak away on assignment today, I'll be guest hosting (along with former MN State Sen. Dave Osmek) all four hours of today's Northern Alliance Radio Network. We'll get started at 1:00 PM Central Time LIVE from the great Minnesota get-together, the Minnesota State Fair! Our broadcast center will be located at the Republican Party of Minnesota booth, which is on the south end of Carnes Ave., between Nelson and Underwood streets ( See map here 👉 ((link)) ).

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"). 

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #NARNShow. 

Until then.....

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It's on now!

I am pleasantly surprised by the latest entrant into the Minnesota gubernatorial race. 

Today, I’m officially launching my campaign for Governor of Minnesota. Families are working harder than ever while Tim Walz makes life more difficult.

I’m running to fight fraud, cut taxes, support our police, strengthen schools, and bring back common sense leadership. pic.twitter.com/OQfbRkQlcI

— Kristin Robbins (@KRobbinsMN) August 20, 2025

To use basketball terminology, that's goin' hard in the paint. Dang, that was awesome!

With Gov. Walz continuing to waver as to whether he'll even run for reelection, Republicans have a great opportunity to put forth a quality candidate to oppose either a vulnerable incumbent or different (and likely further left) Democrat candidate altogether. I'm perfectly fine with multiple quality GOP options which, at this point, is up to two with Robbins and Kendall Qualls. I deliberately left off Dr. Scott Jensen because I am adamant about not re-nominating a losing candidate from a cycle which was more favorable for Republicans. For purposes of full disclosure, I believe Phillip Parrish and Brad Kohler are non-entities. 

I recall Robbins' initial campaign for her current House seat, where she's now in the midst of her fourth term. Brad Ganzer was the endorsed GOP candidate for that seat in 2018 but it was later learned that he hid a criminal background from delegates. In an effort to keep this seat in Republican hands in what would be a difficult cycle the party, Robbins stepped up that August to defeat Ganzer in a primary and then win the general less than three months later. Granted the GOP still lost control of the MN House, but for Robbins to cobble together a legit campaign in such short order showed incredible leadership. 

I'm hopeful that whomever emerges between Qualls and Robbins will have the full throated support of the campaign which falls short. However, since I'm a political righty in Minnesota, being hopeful is far different than being optimistic. 

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Quick Hits: Volume CCCLXXX

- Upon returning to Minnesota with his proverbial tail tucked between his legs after being on the losing 2024 presidential ticket, Gov. Tim Walz just didn't seem to have his heart in his job anymore. That's perfectly understandable since it's obviously more exhilarating to bash the Trump administration at town halls full of barking, clapping seals as opposed to answering questions about the near $1 billion of taxpayers funds lost due to waste, fraud and abuse. 

As such, the outside chance Walz may not seek a third gubernatorial term has turned into a realistic possibility. 

Walz was knocked off course by the June 14 assassination of Melissa Hortman, who was his close friend and governing partner in the Minnesota House, according to several people with knowledge of his thought process. His reluctance also comes at a time when he could face headwinds if he runs for re-election, after a failed vice presidential bid that eroded his popularity in parts of the state.

His hesitation has been noticed by party activists and officials, several of whom put the odds of him running in 2026 at 50-50.

A bench of Democrats is eager to run if the seat opens up in a state where Republicans haven’t won the governor’s office in nearly 20 years.

For those tempted to rejoice over the possibility of Walz moving on, I'd ask you to keep in mind Mitch Berg's law entitled Cano’s Corollary to Berg’s 21st Law: 

In Blue city electoral politics, “blue” never gets “lighter” or less “progressive”. There is only one electoral direction – more “progressive”. A symptom of this is when one sees people just barely to the left of a city’s Overton Window referring to the progressive politicians and institutions in power as “Conservatives” or “Republicans”.

Yes, I realize Mitch is citing cities as opposed to an entire state. But given a Minnesota Republican has not won a statewide race of any kind since 2006, it's not beyond the realm of possibility that if Walz does indeed decline a run for a third term that Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan will drop her U.S. Senate bid to vie for the governor's office. And she would likely prevail. 

- Yeah, the name was the problem with the proggiest of prog TV networks. 

MSNBC will change its name to MS Now, for My Source News Opinion World (ed. - more like Myopic Simps No One Watches, amirite?!?!), and unveil a new logo this year as part of the cable news channel’s spinoff from the Comcast-owned media company NBCUniversal.

I've been saying for some time now that if there is a pile of feces to be stepped in, prog will grind it into the ground with their collective heels. 

 

The MSNBC rebrand got multiple sclerosis trending. In case you're wondering how it's going.

— Varad Mehta (@varadmehta) August 18, 2025

 

I just want to meet the absolute bandit who got MSNBC execs to fork over tons of $$$ for this logo and a name that reminds you of multiple sclerosis. I bet he hates them and can’t believe they used it. pic.twitter.com/WACo5A8fdW

— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) August 18, 2025

As if we already didn't have enough compassion for those afflicted with multiple sclerosis. This is just downright cruel. 

- I've been a fan of the Minnesota Vikings for nearly a half century. And while the franchise has made plenty of unflattering news over the years that had nothing to do with play on the field, this latest "controversy" is perhaps the most nonsensical. 

My first reaction was "Wow, I'm glad to see the team brought back Chris Kluwe in some capacity!" Alas, I was mistaken. The mustachioed dude was not Kluwe.

Seriously, do any guys watch NFL games for the cheerleaders? Granted, NFL fans are largely comprised of red-blooded American heterosexual males who are more than fine with gratuitous shots of hot babes gyrating on the sidelines. However, that doesn't even come close to superseding their passion for the game itself. 

Erick Erickson summed it up nicely. 

My hot take is that I watch NFL games for the football, not the cheerleaders, and I find it deeply hilarious to see some very loud Christian social media influencers perfectly fine with the prosti-tot cheerleading outfits as the girls shake their boobs and gyrate, but are outraged at the gay male cheerleaders. Slutting up the ladies for the married men to look at is fine and how dare they bring gay men into this safe space designed to objectify the ladies.

Sorry, but this is overblown to me.

It absolutely is. And to those Vikings fans who vow to boycott the team over this, the vast majority of y'all are liars. But for those who indeed revoke their fandom/season tickets in response to this saga, you won't be missed. 

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Box Score of the Week

Minnesota Twins at Toronto Blue Jays - June 6, 1990.

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John Candelaria was the winning pitcher for the Twins in this victory over Toronto in the Skydome. As such, the Candy Man is the only pitcher in baseball history to notch a win in all four stadiums which were the home fields for Canadian MLB teams. He won in both stadiums which were once home to the Montreal Expos (Jarry Park Stadium and Olympic Stadium) and both stadiums which housed the Blue Jays (Exhibition Stadium and Skydome, which is now Rogers Centre). 

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On assignment.....still

I'm off the air yet again today, but I am thrilled to share that the honorable Rep. Walter Hudson will be taking the reins of this edition of my radio show The Closer! The live broadcast will air 1-3 PM Central Time. 

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.

Until then.....

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No sale

Since finally ending their 20+ year postseason series victory drought in October 2023, the Minnesota Twins (specifically team ownership and executives) committed one public relations blunder after another over the subsequent 12 months. What was perhaps the most electric atmosphere in Target Field history during the '23 playoffs was completely short circuited by ownership when they declared a month after that magical season ended that they would slash payroll by approximately 20% for the 2024 season. 

Even though the '24 campaign was marred by the team not being on TV (including in the midst of a 12-game win streak within the first month of the season) and injury issues, the team was almost a shoo-in for the postseason with a surprisingly good 70-53 record on August 17. But an epic collapse which saw the club drop 27 of its final 39 games caused them to miss the playoffs, leaving fan morale at an all-time low in the Target Field era (15 years at that point).

With the fan base on the verge of being apathetic, there was literally only one move the organization could make (short of signing multiple top tier free agents) which would placate the people. In October 2024, the Pohlad family announced they would explore a sale of the team. 

The Pohlad family’s statement on today’s news: pic.twitter.com/bHyTEAkLsL

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) October 10, 2024

I said at the time that the fan reaction was equivalent to the team signing all-star slugger Aaron Judge to a free agent contract. 

With a once promising 2025 season going off the rails due to injury issues and general ineffectiveness, the Twins engaged in a high profile fire sale at the July 31 trade deadline, jettisoning 10 players from their active roster, including their best relief pitchers. While a good number of fans were angry, many of us consoled ourselves that these moves were done to clear the decks of excess payroll in order to make a sale of the team more palatable. In fact, I even said last month that if all the players whom the Twins received in those deadline deals were busts, I would still be OK with the trades if it expedited the sale process. 

Fast forward to Wednesday of this week, which was ten months after the initial announcement of the Pohlads exploring a sale. 

A letter from the Pohlad family: pic.twitter.com/s6ff66W5DU

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) August 13, 2025

So if we're still using the Judge analogy, this would be on par with the Twins signing him to a free agent contract only to see him tear ligaments in both knees before he even has a chance to step on the field as a Twin. 

Joe Pohlad, who is the third generation of the family to be at the helm, said in Wednesday's letter that he does indeed "see and hear the passion" from Twins fans. If that's true, then he has to know that the fans' only ray of hope was for his family to sell the team. So why exactly is Joe doing the exact opposite of what the majority of fans desire? Right now, that "passion" is utter fury. The only explanations for Joe's expressed sentiments are a) he's completely tone deaf or b) he has created an alternate reality in his mind. 

As we get into the offseason and the Twins make no significant moves to enhance their team's chance of being a contender, that fury will likely turn to apathy. Lemme tell ya, trying to entice an apathetic fan base to return is a heckuva lot more difficult than appealing to a collection who's merely downright pissed. 

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Box Score of the Week

San Francisco Giants at Washington Nationals - June 4, 2009.

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Giants pitcher Randy Johnson notched his 300th career victory, making him the last pitcher to reach that milestone. One has to wonder if he'll be the last to ever to do so. 

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On assignment

 Another trip for my day job, so I won't be in the Patriot bunker today for my radio show. Instead, it'll be The Headliner Mitch Berg taking the reins from 1-3 PM Central Time. 

So please call (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics Mitch is 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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Quick Hits: Volume CCCLXXIX (Deranged Progressives edition)

- It can never be overemphasized how Donald Trump has caused such angst and derangement among political leftists. In this the second term of the Trump presidency, progs are literally acting like spoiled children who are told "no." 

Right on cue, here are scenes from an event occurring this past weekend in St Paul (CAUTION: STRONG LANGUAGE): 

🚨NEW: Welcome to Minnesota, where grown adults spent their Saturday raging against “the machine.”

They screamed, they cried, they said RFK Jr. is going to put them into concentration camps?

This is “Rage Against the Regime” — the latest protest from the 50501 Movement.… pic.twitter.com/bTnQPBySCW

— FRONTLINES (@FrontlinesTPUSA) August 3, 2025

I don't say this to be condescending, but I feel genuine pity for these people. And those in the agenda-driven media who push false narratives to undermine Trump are borderline complicit in the further mental breakdown of people susceptible to false theories (i.e. LGBTQ people being locked up or put in a registry). It's inhumane at this point. 

- The majority Republican legislature in Texas is looking to re-draw the state's Congressional lines, which would result in the GOP likely gaining more U.S. House seats in 2026. Instead of staying behind to debate the merits of this proposed law, Dem legislators opted for what they do best: not showing up for work, thus preventing a quorum. 

And if there's a proverbial pile of feces for the Dems to step in, it's pretty much a given they'll grind it into the ground. 

Was there nobody on the PR side who was like maybe we shouldn’t go to one of the most corrupt gerrymandered states in the country? https://t.co/ahNLnUJGT0

— Andrew Kaczynski (@KFILE) August 4, 2025

new rule: no one is allowed to complain about "Republican gerrymandering" until Texas Republicans - who got a similar % of the House vote in 2024 as did Illinois Democrats - control as many seats in Texas as Democrats do in Illinois proportionately. https://t.co/fILjnfHtfN pic.twitter.com/19GFDHpS96

— Logan Dobson (@LoganDobson) July 29, 2025

For all the prog caterwauling over Republicans being a threat to democracy, it's only been Democrats lately who have refused to engage in the....uh.....democratic process. 

- This is just creepy, dystopian stuff. 

 

A show you don’t want to miss at 4p ET / 1p PT. I’ll be having a one of a kind interview with Joaquin Oliver. He died in the Parkland school shooting in 2018. But his parents have created an AI version of their son to deliver a powerful message on gun violence. Plus Texas State… pic.twitter.com/mbdM2WxwUR

— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) August 4, 2025

For as morally offended as Acosta was over Trump calling his ilk "fake news" he now seems hellbent on living up to that low expectation. 

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Box Score of the Week

Colorado Rockies at San Francisco Giants - May 1, 2009.

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At age 45 years and 8 months, Giants pitcher Randy Johnson becomes the eldest player in MLB history to strike out at least five consecutive batters in a game. 

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The NARN Closer's playlist - 8/3/2025

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Ain't gonna spend the rest of my life quietly fading away......

We're into August already?!?! Dang, that snuck up on me. 

But it's Sunday, so that means another edition of my radio show The Closer. The 2-hour blitz will get started at 1:00 PM Central Time. 

In the first hour I'll discuss the recent 5-year anniversary of the Star Tribune story implicating Umbrella Man as inciting the riots in response to George Floyd's death and how there has still been no arrest. I'll also dip my toe in the sports world as I weigh in on the Minnesota Twins' massive fire sale at the MLB trade deadline. 

At 2:00, Archway Defense founder Peter Johnson will join us via phone to talk about the Midtown Manhattan shooting, specifically why a gunman carrying a large gun in New York didn't arouse suspicion until he opened fire. 

Then at 2:30, technology guru D. Greg Scott will be in studio to chat about the cyberattack in St Paul and Gov. Tim Walz's decision to call in the National Guard. 

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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Get to know 'em

The title of this blog post was the Minnesota Twins slogan back in the early 2000s. It was becoming apparent that the franchise's home grown players like Torii Hunter, Jacque Jones, A.J. Pierzynski, Doug Mientkiewicz, Corey Koskie, etc. were finally blooming into bona fide major leaguers. The fact they broke through with an 85-77 record in 2001 after eight consecutive losing seasons made that ad campaign all the more enjoyable. 

In the aftermath of perhaps the largest trade deadline fire sale in Twins history, "Get to know 'em" is taking on a whole new connotation now that nearly 40% of the active MLB roster will need to be replenished. 

The Twins just traded 10 players from their roster (!) this week and shed up to $26M+ from 2025 payroll:

SS Carlos Correa
RP Jhoan Duran
RP Griffin Jax
RP Louie Varland
SP Chris Paddack
UTL Willi Castro
OF Harrison Bader
RP Brock Stewart
RP Danny Coulombe
1B Ty France

— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) July 31, 2025

There were six pending free agents on the active roster. The Twins jettisoned five of them (Paddack, Castro, Bader, Coulombe and France). Given all were likely to walk at the end of this season, anything the Twins could get return should be considered a bonus.

I can also justify dumping Stewart since he'll be 34 in October and has had a recent history of arm trouble. In fact, the trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday was held up for a bit due to the routine physical being not so routine. 

Correa was the recipient of the largest free agent contract in Twins history when he inked a 6 year/$200 million pact prior to the 2023 season. However, that was signed only after long-term offers from the San Francisco Giants (13 years) and New York Mets (12 years) were withdrawn after both clubs were  scared off by his surgically repaired right ankle, a procedure that was conducted in 2015. But over the almost three full seasons under his Twins contract, Correa has had plantar fasciitis in each foot and this year has performed barely above replacement level. He'll be 31 next month, but his performance this season has him looking more like 41. Sure, the Twins will have to eat approximately $10 million of Correa's salary over each of the next three seasons, but that also means $20+ million will be freed up over each of those three years. Since the Twins merely netted a low level minor league pitcher with an ERA north of 6.00, this was clearly a salary dump.  

Of all the seasons I've been a Twins fan, I don't recall a pitcher with filthier stuff than Duran. However, if the Twins weren't expecting to contend for a playoff berth this season, then a lights out closer with 2 years of team control is a valuable bargaining chip at the trade deadline. And sure enough, the Twins were able to wrest one of the Philadelphia Phillies' top pitching prospects (Mick Abel) and a solid catching prospect (Eduardo Tait). Since the Twins lacked organizational depth in both those areas, this is a good return. 

Since Duran was dealt, I figured the Twins would insert Jax into the closer role. I mean, he's got electric stuff and was still under team control for the 2026 and 2027 seasons. As Thursday's deadline of 5 PM Central was fast approaching, I figured the Twins were done dealing after trading 7 of their players. But just as I was getting acclimated to that idea, news broke that Jax was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays for right handed starting pitcher Taj Bradley. In 67 career starts, Bradley has a 4.70 ERA with nearly 10 strikeouts per 9 IP (though he's only at 7.7 K's this season). Acquiring a 24-year old starter with high octane stuff in exchange for a 30-year old reliever has the potential to end up being a steal for the Twins. 

Finally, we get to Varland. While I can justify moving on from the other nine players, dealing a 27-year old pitcher who has thrived in his first full season as a set up man and has five more years of team control doesn't make a lotta sense on the surface. And since his 2025 salary is less than $1 million, there certainly wasn't any financial benefit to dumping him. However, the Twins were able to extract the Toronto Blue Jays' #5 organizational prospect in Kendry Rojas, a left handed starting pitcher. Again, time will tell on who will ultimately win this trade, but it once again emphasizes how much value contending teams place on high leverage relief pitchers. 

My reaction in the immediate aftermath of Thursday's trade deadline was that it's possible a sale of the team is imminent and thus the Pohlads looked to give a potential new owner a clean slate. While there wasn't much doubt the Twins were looking to trade away players given a playoff berth is (to be charitable) a longshot, getting rid of 10 players felt extreme. But as I've had time to digest the players received in return, the Twins may well be seen as winning the majority of these trades long term. Again, time will tell. But if these moves do nothing else but expedite the Pohlad family's sale of the club, then it'll have been more than worth it. 

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Quick Hits: Volume CCCLXXVIII

- With close to $1 billion lost due to fraud among certain Minnesota state agencies, there are dozens of people who have thus far been prosecuted with more to come. 

When reading an interview with acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson, I am heartened that he's willing to call out more than just the perpetrators. 

As a prosecutor, I’m expected to say the defendants are responsible for their crimes — and they are. But if we pretend that’s the whole story, we’re lying to ourselves. This fraud crisis didn’t come out of nowhere. It’s the result of widespread failure across nearly every level of leadership in Minnesota: Politicians who turned a blind eye. Agencies that failed to act. Prosecutors and law enforcement who didn’t push hard enough. Reporters who ignored the story. Community leaders who stayed silent. And a public that wanted to believe it couldn’t happen here.

This isn’t just a few criminals exploiting the system, this is a system that’s been begging to be exploited. We left the door wide open, and now our state has been ransacked. If we keep ignoring the truth, we’re going to lose something far more important than money. We’re going to lose the Minnesota we know and love.

I would've loved to have known what was going through Attorney General Keith Ellison's mind upon reading that excerpt.  

- With U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) not seeking reelection in 2026, the Democrat party sees this as an opportunity to make a dent in the Republicans' Senate majority. Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is seen as the frontrunner for the Dem nominee, and it would appear that Nebraska Fats Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz would like to jump on the bandwagon. 

Roy Cooper knows how to win tough races. I was proud to serve alongside him as a Governor and I know he’ll make a fantastic Senator for the great state of North Carolina. https://t.co/rEeLSWZ0gq

— Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) July 28, 2025

I can only guess that when the moderate Cooper saw such an endorsement from a far left kook like Walz, he was all like......

via GIPHY

After his embarrassing performance as a VP candidate combined with the rampant fraud in Minnesota under his watch, Walz is pretty much persona non grata among moderate Democrats (to the extent any still exist).

- With the Minnesota Twins on their way to missing the postseason for the fourth time in five seasons, it's no surprise they're willing to be sellers at the trade deadline. 

On Wednesday, a huge chess piece was moved. 

The Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday acquired Jhoan Duran, one of baseball's best relievers, and they paid a high price to the Minnesota Twins to get it done.

Minnesota received catcher Eduardo Tait, regarded as a top 100 prospect, and pitcher Mick Abel, a rookie with six years of team control. They're ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, among the Phillies' minor league prospects, per ESPN.

Duran, 27, is known for two wipeout pitches -- a fastball with an average velocity of 100.2 mph and a curveball he throws in the mid-80s -- and he is among the most dominant closers.

This not only helps the Phils this season, but also two years after that as Duran isn't eligible for free agency until 2028. And the Twins add to their prospect pool in two areas where they lack depth: catcher and starting pitching. Also, this isn't exactly a full rebuild for the Twins as they still have significant talent on their roster in addition to some budding young players who will get a good look when rosters expand on September 1. 

Now if the team can find a buyer to get out from under the Pohland ownership group.......

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Five years later......

This was the headline of a front page Star Tribune story five years ago Monday. 

Minneapolis police say 'Umbrella Man' was a white supremacist trying to incite George Floyd rioting.

A refresher of what was contained in that report. 

A masked man who was seen in a viral video smashing the windows of a south Minneapolis auto parts store during the George Floyd protests, earning him the moniker "Umbrella Man," is suspected of ties with a white supremacist group and sought to incite racial tension, police said.

A Minneapolis police arson investigator said the act of vandalism at the AutoZone on E. Lake Street helped spark a chain reaction that led to days of looting and rioting. The store was among dozens of buildings across the city that burned to the ground in the days that followed.

"This was the first fire that set off a string of fires and looting throughout the precinct and the rest of the city," Sgt. Erika Christensen wrote in a search warrant affidavit filed in court this week. "Until the actions of the person your affiant has been calling 'Umbrella Man,' the protests had been relatively peaceful. The actions of this person created an atmosphere of hostility and tension. Your affiant believes that this individual's sole aim was to incite violence."

Police identified "Umbrella Man" thanks to a tip that came via e-mail last week, Christensen said.

Five years later, no arrests have been made. In fact, a Strib story from two months ago indicated that there are still more questions than answers. 

As I read through that initial story from July 2020, I'm still floored by how that qualified as news. I guarantee that if a tipster e-mailed that the agitator was a member of Black Lives Matter, such a story wouldn't have seen the light of day and likely would have been written off as unsubstantiated gossip. 

I still recall a good number of folks in my social media community sharing that original news story while indignantly telling skeptics to let go of their denial. But as my friend Bill Glahn has said on many occasions, the demand for white supremacy has vastly exceeded the supply, so you'll have to forgive progs for believing they were finally seeing their Sasquatch. So imagine the horror that sanctimonious lot would've felt had you told them that not only would Umbrella Man not be arrested five years later but also that the bane of their existence (the eeeeeevil raaaaacist Donald J. Trump) would emerge as President again. 

In the end, I will be glad to acknowledge I'm wrong if indeed the true identity of Umbrella Man is unearthed and we learn he's truly a white supremacist. And that alone would earn me orders of magnitude more integrity than what passes for journalism today. 

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Box Score of the Week

Detroit Tigers at New York Yankees - September 17, 1977.

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Dave Kingman played for four different teams (Mets, Padres, Angels and Yankees) in the 1977 season, one in each of the four MLB divisions (there are now six). Since divisional play was established in 1969, Kingman is the only player to play for a team in all of the divisions in one season. 

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On assignment

Personal matters beckon once again, so I will be absent from today's edition from my radio show The Closer. Ah, but fear not, as the show will be in the capable hands of NASCAR Kelly Gunderson. The broadcast will air live, 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 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.

Until then.....

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Decades long mystery solved.

My bro Eric and I were big time fans of professional wrestling back in the 1980s, specifically the local American Wresting Association. In fact, the weekly airing of All-Star Wrestling on channel 9 every Sunday morning was appointment TV for us.

It was the early part of the decade when Hulk Hogan joined the AWA. He was already a big name in the sport, so for the AWA to reel him in was quite a coup! Over the next few years we often attended AWA matches at the old St Paul Civic Center and Hulk’s match was the headliner every time.

In early 1983, AWA star Jumpin’ Jim Brunzell opened a gymnasium in his hometown of White Bear Lake. Little did Eric and I know, some family friends planned to surprise us with a visit to the facility’s grand opening. We had absolutely no clue where they were taking us on a Wednesday evening in mid-January, but it provided a nice break in the routine. Within minutes of us entering the gym, in walks the man himself: Hulk Hogan. Sure, he had risen to national stardom for his epic cameo appearance in Rocky III, but we Minnesota wrestling fans claimed him as our own. Despite the fact I was barely 5-feet tall and weighing less than 100 lbs., I bull rushed my way through several kids older than me just to be near Hulkster. I doubt I said anything upon being in his presence, rather I just looked up at him in awe.

About a week or so later, these same family friends called to inform us that I was in a photograph posted in the latest edition of their weekly newspaper the White Bear Press. They promised to bring it along next time we met up. Unfortunately, one member of the family inadvertently discarded the newspaper, thus depriving me an opportunity to see myself pictured next to Hulk. I would often think of that photo-op over the next several decades, particularly as Hulk’s popularity endured. However, I had ceased being a fan of pro wrestling around the late ‘80s, so it’s not like I’ve been obsessed with seeing that photo. But I did think of it whenever Hulk was in the news.

On Thursday, I received a text from my bro telling me that Hulk Hogan had passed away. If anyone knows how much I’ve thought of the time I met Hulk, it’s Eric.  Upon expressing my disbelief that yet another key figure from our childhood had passed away, my thoughts immediately turned to that photo-op from 40+ years earlier. I don’t know what came over me but within a couple of hours I reached out to the White Bear Lake Area Historical Society to share with them all the background I could remember about that evening. Soon thereafter, I scheduled a Friday appointment to meet with the Creative Director of that organization to determine if that old newspaper can be retrieved from the archives.   

Long story short, I was *finally* able to track down that photograph with the invaluable assistance of Dan and Allison at the WBLAHS! And while it appeared our family friends oversold my appearance in the photo since all that can be seen is the top of my head, it felt gratifying to solve a decades-long mystery. My only regret is it took the passing of one of my boyhood icons to motivate me.

RIP, Hulk.

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