Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Quick Hits: Volume CCCXCI

 - So we're back to this bullsh*t, huh. 




Let's deal with incontrovertible facts: Hortman's assassin visited four homes of Democrat legislators that June evening. Two of them voted against healthcare for illegals (Hortman and Sen. Ann Rest) while two voted in favor (Sen. John Hoffman and Rep. Kristin Bahner). Also, Benny makes it sound as though the gunman and his wife each had some sort of prominent role in the Tim Walz administration, which is utterly false. Walz had no known personal contact with either individual. 

Trafficking in this nonsense as if it relates to the rampant fraud plaguing Minnesota is at best a distraction from said fraud and at worse utterly reckless. As I've said before, there are enough mentally fragile people out there who may well take the rhetoric of politicians/influencers to heart and thus seek their own form of justice. 

For now, the Hortmans' assassin is behind bars and, thankfully, unable to inflict harm against any other individuals on his "hit list." While I am hopeful we'll one day ascertain his true motive, I will absolutely not indulge kook theories put forth by people who very clearly need to get outdoors and touch some grass. 


- Speaking of Sen. Hoffman.......




I'll admit that I'm surprised he's running again given the traumatic incident he and his family endured last June. However, I admire his tenacity, as if he's extending a symbolic middle finger to the looney gunman. 

While it is my desire that the GOP gain control of the Minnesota Senate and thus I do not not support Hoffman's reelection, I will definitely give him all his due props if he prevails. 


- I've been a fan of the Minnesota Vikings for nearly a half century. As such, the week leading up to their game against their archrival Green Bay Packers is often met with intense anticipation (not to mention a lotta smack talk between the two fan bases). 

So the when the 2025 schedule was announced last spring and it showed the Vikes hosting the Pack in the regular season finale, many anticipated how this game could well be the Week 18 marquee matchup with perhaps the NFC North division being at stake. 

The reality? Win or lose, the Packers will be the #7 seed in the NFC, so they're likely to rest most of their starters, including top two QBs Jordan Love and Malik Willis. And given the Vikings were officially eliminated from postseason contention a few weeks ago, they're only incentives are to finish the season above .500 as well as help stud WR Justin Jefferson reach 1,000 yards receiving (he needs 53 to get there).

So how much of a popcorn fart is this game? The QB matchup is projected to be Clayton Tune (with Desmond Ridder possibly seeing some time) vs. Max Brosmer (or perhaps John Wolford). 

My condolences to whomever paid admission to see The Godfather but are instead getting Savage Messiah


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Sunday, December 28, 2025

The NARN Closer's playlist - 12/28/2025



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We gotta do better, it's time to begin..........

It's the final live NARN broadcast of 2025, so I hope to finish the year strong. Today's edition of my 2-hour radio show The Closer will get started at 1:00 PM Central Time. 


In the first hour I will discuss the perpetual gong show that is the Gov. Tim Walz administration, specifically his pathetic efforts to distract from rampant fraud. Then at 1:30, I will welcome to the Patriot bunker Nate George, who is seeking to be the GOP nominee for MN Auditor in 2026. 


In the second hour, I'll discuss some national topics, including the conservative infighting over Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, et al. 


And finally, did new CBS exec Bari Weiss spike a 60 Minutes story or did she actually hold them to the standard of (GASP!) ethical journalism????



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, December 26, 2025

Incitement

In an attempt to distract from the billions of dollars of taxpayer funds being lost to fraud, Nebraska Fats MN Gov. Tim Walz pulls out his go-to diversion tactic of falsely accusing his political opposites of "fascism."


As the Christmas holiday approached, Walz put forth the most irresponsible and reprehensible fear-mongering that I've ever heard from a Minnesota governor. 





Not to be outdone, the boy mayor of Minneapolis took it to another level.


 



The fact of the matter is there are enough mentally fragile (bordering on deranged) people on the political left who internalize these words. So if Federal law enforcement attempting to do their jobs is labeled as "fascist" or "cruel" by prog leaders, the left's faithful followers will take that as a suggestion to thwart ICE operations by any means necessary. So when Mayor Jacob Frey suggests that somebody is "gonna get injured or killed," it's almost as if he's willing that into existence. In addition, he's giving himself cover in the event his inciteful rhetoric leads to citizen deaths should they make an attempt to obstruct justice. 


Sure enough, Christmas came and went without any of these incidents occurring as Walz et al speculated. And if there were an honest an impartial media, these officials would justifiably be called out for such demagoguery. 


One more thing: this "rally" was held at Shiloh Temple in Minneapolis, so it's clear faith leaders within that institution are picking a political side. I'm gonna go out on a limb and suggest that if a different place of worship were to host elected conservatives who, say, decried barbaric abortion procedures or were critical of injecting kids with puberty blockers, the media wouldn't be so deferential regarding faith leaders teaming up with elected officials. 


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Monday, December 22, 2025

Standards ≠ Cancelation

This past weekend's AmFest, an annual conservative gathering put on by the late Charlie Kirk's Turning Point USA, wrapped up on Sunday. 


One of the final speakers of the weekend was Vice President JD Vance. And one excerpt of his talk really made the rounds afterwards.





This is likely in reference to a speech given by Ben Shapiro, who challenged AmFest attendees to call out folks who believe a "big tent" should include hateful bigots and those who borderline appease them. So with all due respect to the VP, Ben was exemplary in honoring Charlie in that they both wanted nothing to do with those who were not only openly antisemitic but also those would stand idly by while such behavior festered. 


Also, VP Vance's assertion that people like Shapiro look to "de-platform" others with whom they disagree is a strawman. Shapiro's deeply held belief is that no speech should be squelched, but rather torn apart rhetorically with fact-filled dissent. And it's something he's built his career on and has done so wildly successfully. 


It was also pretty revealing that the likes of Candace Owens and Steve Bannon went right to ad hominem attacks on Shapiro as opposed to substantively refuting anything he said. 


In the end, I love what Allie Beth Stuckey had to say regarding calls for "unity." 





It's rather telling that those who are presented with inconvenient truths are the ones who are making the loudest calls for "unity" as opposed to substantive discourse. Perhaps it's because they're incapable of the latter, which makes the former unsustainable. 


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Sunday, December 21, 2025

The NARN Closer's playlist - 12/21/2025



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There'll be parties for hosting, marshmallows for toasting.......

After a couple weeks away, I'm back on the air today for 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 some Minnesota stories, including more shocking allegations of rampant fraud involving taxpayer dollars. Also, the Minnesota Twins ownership group actually (finally!) showed a bit of self-awareness. 

Then in the second hour, I'll weigh in on spree killing in Australia where Jewish people were targeted during a Hanukkah celebration. 

At 2:30, I'll be joined by Chris Briggs, who will discuss his testimony before a U.S. Senate subcommittee regarding his family's awful experience with the Affordable Care Act. 


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, December 19, 2025

A step forward?

I've documented on this site over the past two years how the Minnesota Twins have taught a master class in how to whizz away fan enthusiasm not seen since 2010, which was their debut season in Target Field.


The main target of Twins fans' disdain has been Joe Pohlad, the third generation of the family who has owned the Twins since 1984. In November 2023, literally one month after the Twins won their first postseason game in 19 years and first playoff series win in 21 seasons, Pohlad, who supplanted uncle Jim as the chief principal of the club, announced an approximate 20% slashing of payroll for 2024. Then in the midst of a12-game win streak in May of 2024, the Twins were no longer available on local television due to a dispute with its regional carrier. In July of that year, the Twins' postseason odds were north of 90%, yet the only move they made at the trade deadline was for a mediocre relief pitcher whom they would release before season's end. The team would lose 27 of its final 39 games, missing the playoffs altogether. When Pohlad made himself available to print media the final weekend of that season, he dismissed the notion that "right-sizing" his family's business had anything to do with the team's demise. 


The buffoonery continued into 2025. Despite the Twins playing solid baseball in the first half of the season (including a 13-game winning streak in May), the team began to flounder in June and July, so much so that where they were in the position to be sellers at the July 31st trade deadline. However, not even the most cynical Twins can could have foreseen the club trading 40% of the players on their active roster. Sure, fans were not pleased with the decimation of the roster, but they could at least cling to the hope that a sale of the team was imminent, which the Pohlads indicated ten months prior that they were exploring. But that applecart was upset when it was announced the family would remain the principal owners while bringing in minority investors to help alleviate their enormous debt load. 


With more than 98% of fans surveyed grading the Pohlad ownership group at a D or F, the family had to do something, anything to throw fans a bone. When gathering to identify the minority investors, the Pohlad family kinda buried that lede upon announcing a leadership shakeup. 


Fourteen months after the Pohlad family announced it was exploring a sale of the Minnesota Twins, and four months after it instead decided to maintain control of the team and take on limited partners, the transaction is finally complete.

Glick Family Investments, which is based in New York, and Värde Partners co-founder and co-executive chair George G. Hicks, alongside other Minnesota business leaders, have joined on as principal investors, while Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold will also be a limited partner.

The reveal comes alongside even bigger news: Tom Pohlad, who has been leading the sale process on behalf of the family for the past 14 months, will succeed his brother, Joe, as the team’s executive chair. With Major League Baseball approval — expected to come early next year — Tom Pohlad will also take over as the organization’s control person, a role currently being filled by his uncle, Jim Pohlad.

“As a family, this time has caused us to do a lot of self-reflection about what’s been working and what needs to improve in the organization,” Tom Pohlad said. “When we took a hard look at things, it’s undeniable that we haven’t won enough baseball games, the financial health of the club has been put in jeopardy and we’ve got a fanbase that has lost trust in us as owners and, as a result, the organization and the direction it’s headed.”


And when asked about "right-sizing" the business at the expense of augmenting a roster that finally had some postseason success, Tom appeared to throw lil bro Joe under the bus


"We made what we thought at the time was a responsible financial decision, and we obviously failed to consider the long-term impact of that decision, and the short-term impact of that decision, frankly," he said. "We sucked the air right out of our fan base, and it did significant damage to our brand and to our family from a confidence standpoint. Plain and simple, we got it wrong."


While that's more a confirmation than a revelation, it's refreshing to actually hear those words spoken by a Pohlad family member. So does this mean they're going to be big spenders in the offseason? That's highly unlikely. But it would appear they're (for now) going to hang on to high profile players like starting pitchers Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez as well as outfielder Byron Buxton. But if the team once again has a losing record at the July 31 trade deadline, look for one if not all those players to be dealt. 


I'm not terribly optimistic for a successful 2026 season but, on paper, this Twins team as currently constructed aren't exactly the 2024 Chicago White Sox. Here's hoping this latest restructuring of  leadership is a step in the right direction.


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Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Quick Hits: Volume CCCXC

- If I had to compile a Top 50 list of movies I consider "remote drops," they would include Stand By Me, Misery, A Few Good Men, The American President and my all-time favorite When Harry Met Sally. What those films have in common, of course, is all were directed (and produced, except for Stand By Me) by Rob Reiner. 

Naturally I was shocked and horrified to hear that he and wife Michele were murdered in their home by (allegedly) their son Nick. As such, my heart goes out to Rob and Michele's loved ones enduring the shock and devastation over this tremendous loss. 

I wish we could leave it at that and not have to give the obligatory disclaimer of "I may not have agreed with Reiner politically...." but, sadly, that's the state of our country today. Yes, Reiner was a frothing kook leftist, even admitting he considered receiving mental health treatment over his maniacal reactions to all things Republicans and Donald J. Trump.


Hey, speaking of the narcissist-in chief, ya just knew he had to pile on. 




Indefensible. And no amount of what-about-ism can justify that statement. 


What's ironic is no one seems more obsessed with Trump than Trump himself. 



- With Minnesota Lt Gov Peggy Flanagan opting to run for U.S. Senate in 2026, Nebraska Fats Gov. Tim Walz is seeking a new running mate for his re-election campaign. 


One prominent figure has indicated she would not be interested were she offered the opportunity. 





Did you catch the last part of Morrison's quote???? If he is the Democrat running? 


Given that 2026 is, for now, shaping up to be a very good election cycle for Democrats, Walz may be immune to that good fortune given a majority of Minnesotans surveyed earlier this year believed he should not seek a third term. And that was before it was widely known that Minnesota taxpayers have been defrauded to the tune of billions of dollars. 


I've said for a while now that DFL power brokers are likely to approach the vulnerable Walz about stepping aside, if they haven't done so already. Does Rep. Morrison perhaps know something we don't know? 



- A lot of darkness around the world this past weekend with the shooting at Brown University (a Jewish professor's classroom was targeted; 2 people killed, many others wounded) in Rhode Island and at a Hanukkah celebration in Australia where at least 15 Jews were killed. 


The suspect in the Brown shooting was alleged to have shouted "Allahu Akbar." The gunmen in the Australia shooting were an Islamist father and son. 


With anti-Semitism running rampant worldwide, particularly violence at the hands of Muslims, you can imagine how high profile leftists are framing their reactions. 


 



Yep. They're literally emulating the Norm MacDonald parody tweet from nine years ago. 





The man was ahead of his time.  


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Sunday, December 14, 2025

On assignment....again (or still)

I will once again be away from today's edition of my radio show The Closer. And once again the broadcast is in good hands as the honorable Rep. Walter Hudson (R-Albertville) will be filling in for me, 1-3 PM Central Time. 



So please call (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics Walter 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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Friday, December 12, 2025

Just.....no

While I remain skeptical that the MN GOP in 2026 can end its near two decade losing streak in statewide elections, there is a slight opening. Reason being is that Gov. Tim Walz and AG Keith Ellison, both of whom are seeking third terms, are vulnerable due to incompetence and/or corruption. 


So it would only be fitting if this guy wins the Republican nomination. 





Look, I am heartened by Lindell's personal testimony. He talks openly about being delivered from a crack addiction when he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. And while his once wildly successful business MyPillow hasn't performed as well as it did a decade ago, it hasn't dampened Lindell's passion to start up and maintain faith-based recovery centers. 


With all that said, if Lindell were to be the GOP candidate for Governor, he would not only lose but he would adversely affect down ballot races, meaning there's a real possibility the DFL could re-obtain a "trifecta." Given the radical leftist policies that passed in the 2023 and 2024 legislative session have crippled this state, two more years of total prog control would effectively finish off Minny. Any candidate with an "R" next to their name is extremely vulnerable in '26, even if it's one who hasn't necessarily walked in lockstep with President Donald Trump. But Lindell's nuttiest of nutty election denialism combined with his performative leg humping of Trump will be impossible for him to work around. Heck, he'd likely embrace every accusation thrown at him. 


I can guarantee if Lindell decides to go to the GOP primary, there will be DFLers crossing over in an attempt to make him the general election candidate. Heck, they'll probably even fill his campaign coffers. 


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Thursday, December 11, 2025

Tucker Qatarlson

I'm hard pressed to recall a conservative personality who has morphed so dramatically from an insightful (and occasionally boisterous) commentator to shameless grifter quite like Tucker Carlson. 

When Carlson had his own show on Fox News, I tuned in occasionally. If there was a show for conservatives looking for red meat, Tuck definitely filled that need. But in my estimation, his credibility began to fade in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election. Specifically he, like a good number of righties, questioned the legitimacy of Joe Biden's defeat of President Donald Trump. But in retrospect, it appeared to be a grift when it was revealed that he actually blasted Trump's delusion over the 2020 results. But that's what grifters do. They fill an in-demand role (which is oftentimes lucrative) regardless if it aligns with their principles. As such, Tuck was more than willing to pour gasoline on the fire of election denialism in order to be enriched. 

Carlson also seized on what he perceived as conservative disdain for American support of Ukraine's proxy war against Russia, despite the fact the former was attacked by the latter in early 2022. His softball interview in Moscow with Russian president Vladimir Putin and then hyping the country's grocery stores and subway systems had a very "Mussolini made the trains run on time" vibe to it. 

But perhaps his most stupefying behavior has been his constant bashing of America's ally Israel and then decrying a possible American strike against Iran's nuclear capability. Tuck seemed to ignore the Iranians constant threats to annihilate our ally (and even America). He then attempted to fortify his case with a softball interview of the Iranian president while aggressively going after Sen. Ted Cruz for (**checks notes**) not knowing the population of  "the country you seek to topple." Uh, memo to Tuck: it was about destroying Iran's nuclear prowess, not regime change. 

And finally, we get to Tucker's latest odd obsession: that tropical paradise known as.....Qatar? And don't you dare try to tell him otherwise. 




In addition to multiple grifts, Tuck has apparently taken up strawman construction as a new hobby. When he shares how much he likes it in Qatar, he seems to get overly defensive when he says "By the way, I'm an American. I can go wherever I want and speak to anyone I want to because I'm a free man. That's the promise of my country." Uhhh, OK? I mean, I agree with all of that, which means people like myself can freely accuse you of being a propagandist. So what's the issue here? He then followed up that declaration with an accusation by stating "And some are seeking to change that and to put our population into mental bondage." Change what? Your ability to speak to anyone you want? Who's seeking to change that? Name names, Tuck. 


The truth of the matter is Tuck's most fervent opponents on the right believe passionately that the best way to defeat objectionable speech (like the pap Tucker spews) is with fact-filled dissension. If anything, his most outspoken conservative critics like Ben Shapiro and Erick Erickson want Tuck to continue saying what he's saying so as to be able bring the discourse to the public at large. And then let the people decide. Isn't that also a promise of your country, Tuck?


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Sunday, December 07, 2025

Today's edition of the The Closer, sans Closer.....

As I mentioned this past week, I am gone from my weekly radio show the next two Sundays. However, the show is in very capable hands as the inimitable Walter Hudson will be taking the reins for each of those broadcasts. 



So please call (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics Walter 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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Friday, December 05, 2025

Housekeeping item

December is a busy travel month for my day job, so I'll be away from my Sunday radio show December 7 and 14. As such, blogging will be (at best) sporadic over the next two weeks. 


The good news is I'll be done with my work travel before the Christmas holiday! There have been some years where I scrambled to get home before the New Year rang in. 


Anyhow, we'll talk again soon. 


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Thursday, December 04, 2025

Quick Hits: Volume CCCLXXXIX

Happy MN Forecast Day to those (read: political nerds) who celebrate! 


Minnesota budget analysts project the state will have a surplus of nearly $2.5 billion in the current budget and a deficit of just under $3 billion in the next, a significant shift compared to a more bleak outlook of the state’s fiscal health earlier this year.

Officials released topline figures early Thursday morning and were expected to detail the results at noon. The topline results show more money in the state’s current fiscal biennium and a looming deficit of half the size previously projected.


Essentially we've bought ourselves some time since this significant budget deficit isn't projected to occur until the following budget. But this underscores once again how blowing through an $18 billion surplus 2+ years ago left Minnesota in a more fiscally vulnerable position. And the temptation for progs to shriek their favorite slogan of "tAx ThE rIcH" will be an exercise in futility given the mass exodus of well-to-do individuals over the past five years. 


These facts in addition to how there's finally national reporting on the rampant fraud which has occurred under the Tim Walz administration, Minnesota Republicans have a winning message for the 2026 midterms. 


But, again, this is contingent upon MN Republicans not reverting to their factory settings of utter dysfunction. 



- Hey, speaking of potentially pouring gasoline on what is (for now) a contained dumpster fire. 





If Lindell committed to go all the way to a GOP primary, he'd likely lose. If he, by some minor miracle, made it to a general election, he would absolutely lose. But if he actively sought the endorsement of MNGOP delegates? The fact that gives me pause on whether or not he'd be endorsed tells you the party may still be at its default setting. 



- Tim Walz logic: Calling your political opposites "fascists" is perfectly appropriate. But Walz himself being labeled as retarded? 

 



I'm not a GOP elected official, but I'll say unequivocally that President Donald Trump should not have labeled Walz as retarded. It's neither helpful nor productive. 


That said, I'm not certain that Nebraska Fats Walz has any kind of moral authority to be appalled by childish rhetoric. 





I'm seriously wondering if MN DFL power brokers are going to approach Walz in an attempt to dissuade him from seeking a third term. The Democrats are in a solid position to dominate the 2026 midterms, so the fact there's even a question that a two-term incumbent governor from Minnesota can emerge victorious is a bad sign for Walz and down ballot DFLers.


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