Box Score of the Week

Boston Braves at Pittsburgh Pirates - July 18, 1948.

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The NARN Closer's playlist - 7/6/2025

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If it was time to put in work, would you be down to ride?

Hard to believe we're officially more than halfway through 2025. As usual, there's a lot to get to on today's edition of my radio show The Closer. The 2-hour broadcast gets started at 1:00 PM Central Time. 

I'll talk some Minnesota stuff in the first hour, specifically elected officials striking a conciliatory tone in the aftermath of laying former colleague Melissa Hortman to rest. Also, is Gov. Tim Walz seriously considering not seeking a third term?

Then in the second hour I will weigh in on the passage of President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Wait, signing legislation passed by duly elected members of Congress??? Huh. I thought Kings did everything unilaterally. 

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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Happy 249th, America!

It's been well documented on this site as well as on my weekly radio show the issues I have with Donald Trump. And given the potential destruction this country could face due to questionable provisions in the recently signed into law One Big Beautiful Bill Act, I will certainly not be shy in sharing my genuine concerns. 

All that said, America really dodged the proverbial bullet by not electing Kamala Harris to be President of the United States. There are myriad reasons we should express relief in Trump prevailing over Harris this past November, if for no other reason that next year's Sesquitennial will not be blatant display of crapping all over the country. 

Erick Erickson ponders what might have been. And it is frightening.

Were Ms. Harris the President next year and progressives in charge, we would be forced to hear sob stories of the founding white slave owners while being forced to celebrate the transgender amputee midget people of color whose sacrifices made victory possible. Instead of praise for Jefferson, Washington Madison, Hamilton, Adams, and Franklin we’d all have to sit through insufferable lectures about the non-Jewish people of color and lesbians who built this country and how white people ruined it all.

Every one of you knows this is true.

Look, I'm not suggesting that we should ignore the undeniable blemishes of America's history. However, if you listen to prog elected officials and their supporters, they would have you believe that we're no better off than life in the Jim Crow era. Deep down I'm not convinced they really believe that, rather it's a chanting point they put forward in hopes that their fellow Americans are, at best, woefully ignorant or at worst flat out stupid. 

Anyhow, I was 7 years old when the Bicentennial occurred in 1976. I certainly didn't have a deep appreciation for the true meaning of Independence Day then, but I certainly do now. 

Man, what a party it's gonna be next year!

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Tim's up?

We're a mere 16 months from Election Day for the 2026 cycle, yet Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has yet to make an official announcement on whether he'll seek a third term. 

Given the DFL overreach in the 2023 and 2024 legislative sessions combined with Walz's (to be charitable) uneven performance as the Veep candidate last year, it's no surprise that more Minnesotans than not don't even want him to run again. 

This has been a recurring theme on the Northern Alliance Radio Network the past few months, specifically with guest co-hosts Kelly Gunderson and Andrew Richter both predicting Walz will indeed not run in '26. But this past Sunday, Andrew took it a step further by saying that former MN Congressman Dean Phillips will ultimately be the DFL candidate for governor despite the likelihood he won't be endorsed by the party's delegates at their convention next year. 

So if Walz declines to seek a third gubernatorial term, then what? Despite obtaining national notoriety over the past couple of years, he's barely registering a percentage point among 2028 Democrat hopefuls for President. 

Regardless of who is the DFL candidate for guv next year, I'm not terribly optimistic that the Republicans can capitalize on what should be a golden opportunity. 

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Box Score of the Week

Florida Marlins at San Francisco Giants - May 1, 2004.

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In the 70 years which intentional walks have been officially tracked, six players in MLB history have been walked intentionally four times in a single game. Barry Bonds is the only player to have 4 IBB's in multiple games. This game marked the second time in the '04 season which Bonds accomplished that feat. He ended up receiving four intentional walks in four different games that year.

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On assignment.......again

I've been on vacation all week, so I didn't have the opportunity to put together a show for today. As such, Community Solutions MN co-founder Andrew Richter will be filling in on the today's broadcast, 1-3 PM Central Time. Andrew will also be joined by John Augustine of the Legislative Evaluation Assembly of Minnesota. 

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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Out of the Office

On vacation this week, no radio show on Sunday. As such, little to no blogging until next week. 

Talk to ya then. 

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Box Score of the Week

Texas Rangers at New York Yankees - May 14, 1998.

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The Yanks had a dream 1998 season, winning 114 regular season games en route to another World Series championship. In the '98 campaign, the Yanks led 103 regular season games after 8 innings, winning 102 of them. This was the only game which they lost. 

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The NARN Closer's playlist - 6/22/2025

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I was blind, now I can see; You made a believer out of me.....

I feel like I say this almost every other week, but I'll say it again: I could use a third hour on today's edition of my radio show The Closer. Alas, a mere two hours will have to suffice. I'll get started right at 1:00 PM Central Time. 

In the first hour, I'll talk about the aftermath of the assassinations and attempted assassinations of MN state legislators last weekend. Now that the alleged murderer is in custody, we've learned more about what transpired that awful Saturday morning. 

Then in the 2:00 hour I'll weigh in on the U.S. missile strikes in Iran. Should President Trump have sought Congressional approval? Will this lead to WWIII?

Finally at 2:30, newly crowned Miss Minnesota Emma Vrieze will stop by to discuss her new title, her journey to Miss America, 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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Quick Hits: Volume CCCLXXVI

It shouldn't be controversial for states to pass laws that require young people to be at an age of consent (typically adulthood, which legally begins at 18) to make literal life altering decisions. 

Thankfully the highest court in the land concurred. 

The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that states have the constitutional right to pass laws protecting children from irreversible transgender medical interventions.

In a 6-3 ruling the court upheld a Tennessee law prohibiting minors from attempting to medically change their sex.

Chief Justice John Roberts delivered the opinion of the court, in which Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett joined. Justice Samuel Alito, a George W. Bush appointee, agreed with large parts of the opinion. The court’s three liberal justices—Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson—dissented.

The court held that Tennessee’s law “satisfies rational basis review,” rejecting plaintiffs’ claims that the law discriminates against people on the basis of gender identity.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, signed SB1—a bill banning puberty blockers, hormone replacement regimens, and transgender surgeries for children—into law on March 22, 2023.

In her dissenting opinion, Sotomayor sounded more like a demagogic leftwing legislator than a member of the judiciary branch. 

"The majority subjects a law that plainly discriminates on the basis of sex to mere rational-basis review," Sotomayor wrote. "By retreating from meaningful judicial review exactly where it matters most, the Court abandons transgender children and their families to political whims. In sadness, I dissent."

In the concurring opinion, Justice Barrett indicates transgenderism is not a "suspect class." 

I guess we're getting a sneak preview of perhaps the next major legal battle.  

- Let's be clear: Iran is the largest, most prolific state sponsor of Islamic terror in the world. For the leaders of that country to develop nuclear capabilities would be apocalyptic. So the Israeli military conducting multiple precise missile strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities does not equate to America "entering a new war." 

And for those beating the drum that "aMeRiCaNs ArE tIrEd Of FoReVeR wArS iN tHe MiDdLe EaSt," I would concur. Except most Americans realize that's not what's happening. Nor is it on the brink of occurring.  

As I said yesterday on @AmericaRpts, the so called split on the right over Iran having a nuke is completely overblown pic.twitter.com/GlNuVmpl21

— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) June 18, 2025

Oof. Tucker Carlson's isolationist grift efforts are the hardest hit.  

- A lotta leftists (and non-Trump Republicans) got in a twist over the President's blunt answer to the question of whether he'd reach out to Gov. Tim Walz in the aftermath of the murders and attempted murders of Minnesota legislators and their spouses. 

COLLINS: Have you called Tim Walz yet?

TRUMP: I don't really call him. He appointed this guy to a position. I think the governor of Minnesota is so whacked out. I'm not calling him ... he's a mess. pic.twitter.com/81o4oSqyR7

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 17, 2025

One of the more visceral reactions came from current Democratic National Committee chair (and former MN DFL chair) Ken Martin.  

Guess what, @realDonaldTrump, you're a small, petty, insecure man and no one cares if you call them or not. Your words ring hollow and no one believes anything you say - so you're right why waste the Governors time calling him, the last thing he needs is your fake sympathy.… https://t.co/LrJtGgGnR9

— Ken Martin (@kenmartin73) June 17, 2025

Kenny could get away with this brand of unhinged lunacy at the state level due to Minnesota not having a competent oppositional party. But now that he's at the helm of a national party hemorrhaging support (and money) while showing no desire to moderate even a little shows this clown is in way over his head. 

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They got him (UPDATE: could have been *a lot* worse).

At close to 10 PM Sunday evening, alleged assassin Vance Boelter was apprehended near his Green Isle, MN estate. 

So many people were understandably devastated and horrified by the murders of Rep. Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) and husband Mark as well as the serious gunshot wounds suffered by Sen. John Hoffmann (DFL-Champlin) and wife Yvette. However, those emotions were made even more painful due to the fact the alleged killer was at large for nearly 48 hours after the incidents. Thankfully the victims' loved ones can now focus solely on life going forward, which will be difficult enough. 

The one undeniable silver lining from this tragedy is that Boelter didn't have an opportunity to claim additional victims which were part of a personal "hit list." Since the Hoffmans were shot first (with John being quickly identified as a state legislator), law enforcement had the presence of mind to perform a "wellness check" on the nearby Hortman residence due to the possibility someone was targeting elected officials. As it turned out, that intuition was spot on, thus saving countless other lives. 

As is custom in any violent incident which has political undertones, the "hot takes" and reckless speculation was quite insufferable. People on the right in particular glommed on to the fact that Boelter was named to voluntary committees/councils in both the Gov. Mark Dayton and Gov. Tim Walz administrations. Also, many "No Kings" fliers were found in the vehicle he fled after law enforcement engaged him at the Hortman residence. In the minds of some, this was all the proof they needed that Boelter was radicalized by the left. There were also a good number of folks on social media who believed Hortman and Hoffman were targeted due to voting to remove healthcare coverage for adult illegal aliens in Minnesota, a vote which angered radical leftists. And while it's true that Hortman was the deciding vote in the House on that provision, Hoffman was not one of the four MN Senators who voted in favor. 

As more information becomes available, Boelter's primary motivation for wanting to conduct a killing spree was his staunch opposition to abortion. Specifically, elected officials who support/voted for radical abortion policy (like what we have in Minnesota) as well as churches which he felt became too moderate on the issue. That certainly would fly in the face of those who assumed he was on the radical left. 

In the end, my sentiments echo those of conservative commentator Guy Benson. 

Lots of missing information & conflicting details still — but IF this evil killer shot politicians over their abortion stance, I fully reject him, as virtually all pro-lifers should & will. I want nothing to do with him. Political violence is despicable.

And I don’t vote for… https://t.co/AOH4d6XEVm

— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 16, 2025

Whenever violence is perpetrated by a leftist (e.g. Two assassination attempts of Donald Trump, the murder of a United Healthcare CEO, a Jewish couple being gunned down in Washington, D.C., a plot to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a Bernie Bro shooting at Congressional Republicans, etc.), progs often give conditional condemnations ("Sure this was wrong, BUT....") of such actions with their media lapdogs providing adequate cover. But in this case, progs and their media accomplices will use Boelter's actions as a cudgel to shill for gun control as well as demagogue that the fight for "reproductive rights" can never cease, even in the face of death. 

This much is certain: the vast majority of right-of-center politicos won't place a single condition on their condemnations of Boelter's actions. 

UPDATE: Boelter visited a total of four homes of legislators that evening before fleeing police. 

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Box Score of the Week

Texas Rangers at San Diego Padres - August 20, 2020. 

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This was the fourth consecutive game in which the Padres as a team hit a grand slam home run, a record which still stands today. 

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Sunday NARN

I'm out for today's broadcast of my radio show, but there will still be live programming 1-3 PM Central Time on 1280 The Patriot. 

Andrew Richter, co-founder of Community Solutions Minnesota, will take the reins of today's show. I'm certain he'll be keeping listeners abreast of any breaking news regarding the violence aimed towards MN legislators, incidents which resulted in the deaths of Rep. Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) and her husband Mark as well as serious injuries to Sen. John Hoffman (DFL-Champlin) and wife Yvette. 

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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Nothing left to say

It goes without saying that I am horrified, shocked and saddened by the violence aimed at elected Minnesota legislators and their families. 

State Representative Melissa Hortman (D) and her husband Mark were shot and killed in their home Saturday morning. State Senator John Hoffman (D) and his wife, Yvette, who were also targeted by the assassin and each shot multiple times, survived a similar attack in their home on Saturday morning.

The man suspected of attacking Hortman and Hoffman is 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter, who was appointed by Walz in 2019 to serve a four-year term on the Governor’s Workforce Development Board. The alleged suspect is the head of Praetorian Guard Security Services, a Minnesota-based firm that offers clients uniformed security patrol, event security services, and licensed armed patrols in residential areas, according to its website.

Authorities are “cautiously optimistic” that the Hoffman family will survive.

Officials say that the suspect had a “manifesto” with a target list of “many other lawmakers and officials” in his vehicle, including Hortman and Hoffman. The list also included the names of Walz, U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar (D), Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, and other state Democrats, along with abortion providers, ABC reported. Police are looking for a “white male, brown hair, wearing black body armor over blue shirt and blue pants.”

As information continues to flow out about Boelter and his background, the more questions I have. But, as my NARN colleague Mitch Berg's 18th Law declares, pretty much take everything with a grain of salt within the first 48 hours after such an incident. 

Since I am taking a break from tomorrow's radio show, I agreed to appear on Mitch's program today from 1-3 and then guest co-hosted the Jack Tomczak Show 3-5. As such, I really don't have much more to say until there's any additional breaking news. 

With that, here's the video to all four hours of today's programming on the Northern Alliance Radio Network. 

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Brief hiatus

A lotta family stuff pressing this weekend, which means blogging may be lighter than normal. Also, I won't be hosting my weekly radio show this Sunday, so I may unplug altogether. 

Talk to ya soon. 

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Quick Hits: Volume CCCLXXV

 - I've said it many times before, and I'll say it again (and will likely convey it repeatedly in the future): the media thinks you're stupid. As such, they request you don't believe your lying eyes 

Reporting on the riots (and yes, "riots" is an appropriate term here) in Los Angeles in response to the Feds enforcing...uh...Federal law is the latest example. 

SUPERCUT!

Corporate media: These murderous riots are actually mostly peaceful pic.twitter.com/9Aig54BoH2

— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) June 9, 2025

Call it Fiery, But Mostly Peaceful: Part Deux. 

Eh. It's all in good fun though. For real. The KABC news guy tells us so. 

WATCH: ABC News wants you to know what is happening in California isn’t a violent riot.

It’s “just a bunch of people having fun watching cars burn.” — ABC 7’s Marc Brown. pic.twitter.com/xjiQZJyuDq

— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) June 9, 2025

The Dems were given a gift last week with Republican infighting over the state of America's fiscal health. This week these same progs are savaging the Trump administration for engaging in a process (i.e. mass deportations of illegal immigrants) which the majority of Americans support. 

Apparently leftists can't stand prosperity. 

- A special session of the 2025 Minnesota legislature concluded early Tuesday morning with the required state budget being passed. 

Given Republicans were merely tied in the House while being in the minority in the Senate and having to endure a DFL governor, they were able to extract some significant concessions while avoiding a government shutdown. But hey, don't take my word for it. Here's an excerpt from the staunchly non-conservative Minnesota Reformer. 

The Minnesota Reformer newsletter gets this one right.

Proud of the work of our whole @mnhousegop team under the leadership of Speaker @LisaDemuthMN! pic.twitter.com/sS9Eu2LLzH

— Rep. Harry Niska (@HarryNiska) June 10, 2025

Oof. The right wing grift operation Action 4 Jake Duesenberg's wallet Liberty was hardest hit. 

- Upon confirmation that the national media was derelict in its duty when failing to engage in basic journalism regarding then President Joe Biden's obvious decline, I'd like to think they'll be more diligent in holding themselves to higher standards. 

Is this a start? 

 

ABC News is parting ways with embattled journalist Terry Moran after he posted a tirade against senior Trump adviser Stephen Miller over the weekend as anti-ICE riots unfolded in Los Angeles.

“We are at the end of our agreement with Terry Moran and based on his recent post – which was a clear violation of ABC News policies – we have made the decision to not renew,” an ABC News spokesperson told NR.

“At ABC News, we hold all of our reporters to the highest standards of objectivity, fairness and professionalism, and we remain committed to delivering straightforward, trusted journalism.”

Moran, formerly a senior national correspondent, was suspended Sunday, hours after posting the tirade, for violating the network’s objectivity standards. His conduct drew strong condemnation from Miller and other Trump administration officials.

FWIW, here was the tweet (eventually deleted) which got Moran fired: 

This goes deeper than violating journalistic standards. This is the kind of screed that would indicate someone is unwell. As a news guy, Moran will inevitably have to report on difficult subjects, some which can really mess with a person's head. If Moran doesn't have the impulse control to not blast his feelings out to the masses, then ABC did him a favor by gassing him since he clearly couldn't handle the pressure of his job. 

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Box Score of the Week

Atlanta Braves at Chicago Cubs - June 5, 1985.

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This was the Cubs game featured in the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off. 

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The NARN Closer's playlist - 6/8/2025

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We're talkin' 'bout the dollar bill and that old man that's over the hill....

I'm back in the Patriot bunker today for this week's edition of my radio show The Closer. The 2-hour festivities begin at 1:00 PM Central Time. 

Obviously I'll weigh in on the President Donald Trump-Elon Musk feud, but it's a distraction from a far greater issue. I will also discuss the latest violent incident targeting Jews and why the media doesn't give it more high profile coverage. 

At 2:00 CT, former Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman and Pro Football Hall of Fame member Ron Yary will join the broadcast to share his remembrances of his long time teammate Jim Marshall, who passed away on Tuesday. 

 

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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Neutral corners, gentlemen

This tweet from Tuesday is what essentially started a high profile spat between one of the wealthiest men on planet Earth and the leader of the free world. 

I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore.

This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination.

Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 3, 2025

The war of words really ramped up on Thursday with Musk flat out saying that Donald Trump's name is in the Jeffrey Epstein files, which is why his administration isn't making them public as they claimed they would. 

I'm not really interested in recapping the utter petulance on display because, as an American who has been gravely concerned over the nation's fiscal health for 3 decades, my disgust with Washington's dereliction of duty supersedes this my embarrassment with this nonsense.   

Multiple things can be true here. First, Elon Musk is correct in that the "Big Beautiful Bill" is an abomination and thus completely undermines the work put for by the DOGE folks. It would also add north of $2 trillion to an already incomprehensible $37 trillion national debt. On the other hand, Musk should have kept his powder dry. The fact is the Senate still has to vote on the measure, and it's been very clear that a few GOP Senators are not on board with this legislation in its current form. I get Musk's frustration with the process, but he's getting a firsthand look at how the sausage is made in the legislative process. It's just flat out messy. That and the fact Republicans have a scant 3-seat majority in the House means it's inevitable not all 220 GOP members would be on board with the massive cuts recommended by DOGE. Since there will be zero Democrat support for the BBB, there's very little wiggle room for Republicans. 

But even if the BBB passes in some similar form as to what the House OK'd, there is still a workaround to implementing cuts outside that legislation. Erick Erickson explains. 

Congress can draft legislation that rescinds spending found by DOGE. But doing so would go through the normal legislative process and risk a filibuster in the Senate.

Under the actual law governing rescission, the President can transmit a letter to Congress outlining spending he thinks should be rescinded. Congress can, within forty-five days, approve or reject the spending and the filibuster cannot be deployed.

As Elon Musk depart(ed) the White House with a presidential press conference (last week), the President’s team (sent) a rescission package to Congress. They might do it in batches, instead of one bill. My friend Wade Miller at the Center for Renewing America makes the the case for a pocket rescission.

Essentially, if the President transmits the rescission to Congress toward the end of the fiscal year with less than forty-five days for consideration before September 30th, the President can effectively rescind the spending on his own.

If indeed this is the way forward, you would think this would be palatable to Musk. As such, the war of words between he and Trump seems counterproductive. I get a sense Musk just doesn't understand there are parliamentary protocols in place. If indeed that's the crux of the matter, it sure woulda been nice for someone from the administration to convey that explanation as opposed to two egomaniacal men engaging in a Mean Girls reenactment. 

Anyhow, the clock's ticking here. 

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They still don't get it

We're approximately seven months removed from the 2024 presidential election and Democrats are still engaging in post mortems. And front and center is the Dem VP candidate  Nebraska Fats Tim Walz, who continues to show he is utterly clueless as to what caused he and Kamala Harris to lose the POTUS race. 

As podcast host and former Montana Sen. Jon Tester argued that the campaign didn't use Walz effectively, Walz said his argument spoke to a broader point about the Democratic Party not entering "every media environment," including podcasts and local media. He said, "My God, they're not watching ‘Meet the Press,’ they're listening to you guys, as they're going somewhere, listening."

The former Democratic vice presidential candidate spoke to Tester and journalist Maritsa Georgiou, hosts of the "Grounded" podcast, on Thursday about the 2024 campaign and the Democratic Party's next steps.

Though Harris did speak to some podcast hosts, she also visited traditional media outlets such as CNN and CBS' "60 Minutes," and waited weeks after her campaign launch to do media at all.

"I think you got to flood the zone," Walz said. "And I would argue we didn't see, you know, the vice president when she got in front of people, and I watch her talking to young people, she was magnetic with them. She was optimistic. She was hopeful. But in today's world, you got to have a lot of that, or it gets lost in the noise. And if you think you're just going to do a, you know, a '60 Minutes' interview, and that's going to get across, boy, that's not it."

The problem for Harris is people already knew who she was. She had the reputation of being painfully ill-informed on many policy issues, often answering questions as if she were giving an oral book report without having thoroughly read the book. And the fact she indicated on perhaps the most leftist friendly environment that is The View that she wouldn't change a thing from what the failed Biden administration had done its first 3-1/2 years was a critical (if not fatal) wound. Not sure how "flooding the zone" with a lackadaisical message would have made their electoral prospects any better. 

Also, as my former Northern Alliance Radio Network alum (and Hot Air chief) Ed Morrissey points out, Walz as the Veep pick was a catastrophic blunder. 

For one thing, he was clearly the He's Not a Jew choice by Harris, who was widely expected to pick Josh Shapiro to bolster her strength in Pennsylvania, but that isn't Walz' fault. Instead, Walz tried to make a campaign slogan out of calling Republicans "weird" while strutting across stages like Freddie Mercury on a coke binge. Walz also talked a lot about "freedom" and "Mind Your Own Damn Business" from a governor who established a literal snitch line for Minnesotans to rat out family and friends for supposed pandemic sins -- a Stasi-esque operation that ran for more than two years in Minnesota. Harris supposedly picked Walz as a masculine role model to attract younger male voters, which speaks largely to Harris' lack of intellectual capacity.

CNN host Jake Tapper's anecdote about leftists' reactions to his football-playing, aspiring cop son encapsulates the Dems' issues with male voters (caution: strong language).  

 

"This is why you fuckers are losing elections."

CNN's Jake Tapper says left-wing podcast hosts assumed his teen son is racist because he wants to be a police officer.

"That's how the democratic party talks to men." pic.twitter.com/1Dj0drIYsO

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) May 28, 2025

I don't see this as something that gets fixed over one or two election cycles. 

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Left wing terror

Leftists would have you believe that violent incidents like the 2017 "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, VA and the 1/6/2021 riots at the U.S. Capitol occur on a regular basis. Why they push such a narrative is rather simple: the people who instigated those events were supporters of Donald J. Trump. As such, progs and their media allies use them as a cudgel to perpetuate their "oRaNgE mAn BaD" worldview. 

Heck, even when Trump wasn't President of the United States, you had President Joe Biden in 2023 declare that white supremacy is the #1 domestic terror threat we Americans face. It's clear that the Biden administration thought the best way to advance an anti-Trump narrative was to completely fabricate a crisis since the demand for white supremacist terror vastly outweighed the supply. 

But when violent incidents occur where a case can be made that they were inspired by prog rhetoric or misinformation peddled by a agenda-driven media, we get the ol' reactionary chanting point of "We just don't know what the perpetrator's motivation could be" despite said perpetrators shouting "ALLAHU AKBAR" or "FREE PALESTINE." 

Erick Erickson breaks it down. 

A progressive techie gunned down an insurance company executive in New York. Many on the left cheered him on.

One progressive activist attempted to burn down the Governor’s Mansion in Pennsylvania with the Governor and his family inside.

Another just murdered two Israeli Embassy employees in Washington, D.C.

A Muslim man in Michigan has been arrested for a plot to attack a military base on behalf of ISIS.

A Defense Intelligence Agency employee has been arrested for attempting to sell secrets to another nation because the employee is upset Donald Trump won the election.

(On Sunday) in Boulder, CO, an Egyptian man attempted to set on fire a number of Jews. A Holocaust survivor is a victim. The man chanted about Palestine as he Molotov Cocktailed the Jews.

The attack (Sunday) came after American media outlets amplified a story about Israelis killing Palestinians in Gaza that turned out not to be true.

Along those lines, the Washington Post announced they were deleting a post containing such disinformation. 

Correction: We’ve deleted the post below because it and early versions of the article didn’t meet Post fairness standards.

The background: Early versions of the article on Sunday stated that Israeli troops had killed more than 30 people near a U.S. aid site in Gaza, with the… pic.twitter.com/KseRXgJn6A

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) June 3, 2025

Remember it was the WaPo that declared "Democracy dies in darkness" when the first Trump term began in 2017. I wonder what they believe happens to democracy when reporters engage in "narrative journalism" as opposed to, y'know, REPORTING FACTS?!?!?!

And while leftists reject "lone wolf" arguments for when a mentally unstable person commits a spree killing with a firearm, they'd have us believe that the myriad incidents Erick laid out in his post are merely one-offs. 

Just a string of "lone wolf" attacks aimed at the same group using the same rhetoric based on the same ideology. https://t.co/fqSJuXz5zD

— David Harsanyi (@davidharsanyi) June 3, 2025

Tragically, democracy is not the only thing dying in darkness. 

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Box Score of the Week

Let's go with a game from this past weekend: Minnesota Twins at Seattle Mariners - May 31, 2025.

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

After this past Saturday's game, Mariners' backstop Cal Raleigh had 22 home runs on the season. That is a MLB record for most home runs hit by a catcher before the month of June. In fact, no catcher had even hit 20 within the first two months of a season. 

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

On assignment

Given we're on the brink of summer, I will be absent from a good number of Sunday radio shows over the next few months, starting today. 

Community Solutions MN co-founder Andrew Richter will be filling in on the today's broadcast, 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.....

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

Happy June 1

Just a friendly reminder as we enter the month of June. 

Pride is a devastating sin and is complex. Most sins turn us away from God, but pride directly attacks God. It lifts us above and against God, seeking to dethrone Him by enthroning ourselves.
- Joel Beeke

— Brandon Scalf (@brandonmscalf) December 22, 2024

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Box Score of the Week

Colorado Rockies at Chicago Cubs - August 7, 2001.

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

This game was more noteworthy for what happened during the 7th inning stretch. 

In honor of the late Chicago Bears legend Steve McMichael, who passed away last month, here's a flashback to when he was the guest performer of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." The best part is just before he sang, he ripped umpire Angel Hernandez for being....well.....Angel Hernandez. 

As for the game itself, it ended in with utter chaos.

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The NARN Closer's playlist - 5/25/2025

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You think that something's happening, and it's bigger than your life...............

It's Memorial Day weekend, but today's edition of my radio show The Closer will indeed have original programming. The 2-hour blitz will get started at 1:00 PM Central Time. 

It's a guest-a-palooza on today's broadcast: 

1:00 - MN State Representative Harry Niska (R-Ramsey) will weigh in on the end of the legislative session and what we can expect in a resolution for the state budget. 

1:30 - Miss Morris Area 2025 and mental health advocate Natalie Demos will discuss her work, especially given that May being Mental Health Awareness Month. 

2:00 - Col. Peter Metzger, USMC (ret.) will tout his organization Charities for Vets. 

2:30 - Andrew Crapuchettes, who founded the organization RedBalloon, a job board and talent connector which looks to match freedom lovers with companies who aren't hostile to their beliefs. 

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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Dim-witted hypocrite says what....

Just gonna leave this here. 

 

Walz in 2022 vs Walz in 2025....
Take your own advice, Governor pic.twitter.com/g9wQhTLj1t

— American Experiment (@MNThinkTank) May 23, 2025

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Does Democracy still die in darkness, or nah?

Yes, then President Joe Biden's aides as well as members of his Cabinet deserve significant criticism for the coordinated coverup of his diminished capacity. However, a tough (but honest & fair) media would have executed healthy skepticism over Team Biden's claims, especially since everyday Americans could ascertain all was not well. 

As co-author of the book "Original Sin," which documents the lengths to which Team Biden attempted to shield the President's infirmities, Alex Thompson shared an anecdote which characterized how the media went beyond even those measures. 

Just remarkable from @AlexThomp to @LelandVittert tonight on @NewsNation -- even top Biden Advisors were amazed at how much the media was willing to participate in the Biden cover-up. And the press is still doing it now with the cancer news. pic.twitter.com/xZ3e2Nvsge

— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) May 21, 2025

When Donald Trump was inaugurated as President for the first time back in 2017, many media outlets lectured how journalism was more crucial than at any point in U.S. history given how a dangerous figure like Trump can rise to the White House. And it was the Washington Post who coined perhaps the most sanctimonious catchphrase of all - Democracy Dies in Darkness. 

We've once again seen it play out in real time that a corrupt, bias media is more dangerous to our democracy than a Trump presidency. 

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

Box Score of the Week

Pittsburgh Pirates at Washington Nationals - June 8, 2010.

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

Washington starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg struck out 14 batters while walking 0 in his first major league start. That is a MLB record for most K's with no BB's in a debut. 

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The NARN Closer's playlist - 5/18/2025

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There's a place where mornings are an endless blue......

I could really use a third hour for today's edition of my radio show The Closer. Alas, I'll have to soldier on with the regular 2 hours, starting at 1:00 PM Central Time. 

In the 1:00 hour, I'll broach myriad topics on the Minnesota political landscape, including the perpetual trash fire that is the Republican Party of Minnesota. Also, the Friday night news dump included a tidbit about the race to replace Sen. Tina Smith. 

Then in the second hour I will weigh in on a new book on the coordinated coverup of then President Joe Biden's mental and physical decline. 

Finally at 2:30, RedBalloon CEO Andrew Crapuchettes will join the broadcast to discuss the left's war on cops and how America can rebuild America's law enforcement ranks. 

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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Short run

Dang, I've had sneezes which lasted longer. 

In a surprise move, former state Sen. Melisa Lopez Franzen dropped out of Minnesota’s U.S. Senate race. Congresswoman Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan are the two front runners for DFL endorsement for the seat now held by Tina Smith, who is not running for reelection. pic.twitter.com/9BHRDdxaEJ

— Tom Hauser (@thauserkstp) May 17, 2025

I respectfully disagree with Tom's sentiment that this was a "surprise move." Lopez Franzen was one of three Democrat candidates vying for this seat. Of the other two, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan will likely be endorsed by the DFL grassroots given the majority of delegates will be on the far left. And then you have Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02) with her national profile and significant war chest. No doubt she will take this to the Dem primary where she will prevail over Flanagan. As such, there just wasn't a realistic path for Lopez Franzen. 

Because Democrats will have a built in advantage in the 2026 midterms (opposite party of the current President) combined with the MNGOP being a perpetual gong show, get used to saying Senator Angie Craig. 

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

Monday's Minneapolis forecast: chance of unrest

This past Monday, a friend of a friend (who is well connected to law enforcement agencies in Minnesota) sent me a copy of a text message he received. 

Heads up, MN Dept of Public Safety (DPS) has put out an alert to all MN law enforcement agencies that Derek Chauvin will likely get a commuted sentence or partial pardon on May 19th. I've no(w) confirmed this with 4 separate agencies, so I'm confident they got the notice.  Don't know if the pardon is real, I assume it is.

I hesitated to share this on the blog earlier simply because I had heard nothing from any local news outlets. Certainly someone within Twin Cities media would have heard from a source regarding this, right?

Then on Wednesday, a story relating to this very saga came out in the Minnesota Star Tribune. 

State political and law enforcement leaders are preparing for the possibility that President Donald Trump could pardon former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin’s federal conviction in connection with the murder of George Floyd.

Responding to questions from reporters this week, Gov. Tim Walz said the White House has given him no indication that a federal pardon for Chauvin is imminent. Nonetheless, he’s bracing for the possibility, reminding people that even if Chauvin’s sentence is commuted on the federal level, he would be transferred to Minnesota to serve out the remainder of his lengthy state prison term.

So if that's the case, why would there be concern that unrest will happen if indeed a Chauvin pardon occurs? Given his State and Federal sentences run concurrently, Chauvin would be released from prison at the end of 2035 if indeed Trump pardons him. But that would only be two years sooner than if his Federal sentence remains intact. Are people really going to (again) burn down the city of Minneapolis over a lengthy sentence essentially being cut short by a measly two years?

Then again, that's implying that people destroyed the city five years ago due to legitimate feelings of aggrievement as opposed to, say, using it as an excuse for general thuggery. 

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Quick Hits: Volume CCCLXXIV

- I'm genuinely befuddled by a few things which regularly occur in the political arena, but one question which I've never asked myself is "Gee, I wonder why Minnesota Republicans can't ever break through and win a statewide race?" 

In case any of y'all want an answer, the latest circular firing squad is a perpetuation of nearly two decades of dysfunction. 

Hundreds of conservatives across Minnesota gathered in Bloomington on Monday evening for one of the state Republican Party’s biggest fundraising events of the year.

But none of the state‘s highest-ranking Republicans attended the event amid disagreements with the direction the party is going under the leadership of its new chair Alex Plechash and executive director Jennifer DeJournett, who they believe are associating too closely with conservative grassroots factions of the party, several Republican sources told the Minnesota Star Tribune.

It’s a stark contrast from last year, when President Donald Trump headlined the fundraiser and the state‘s highest-ranking GOP Rep. Tom Emmer, the No. 3 Republican in the U.S. House, pledged to donate $100,000 to the party.

“I think the congressional folks want to see a strong party and want to see a party that they can work with,” said former Minnesota GOP Chair David Hann, who lost the leadership position to Plechash in December. “It seems that they’re not finding that in the current administration.”

Plechash denied that there‘s friction between the state party and congressional delegation, calling it “simply false.”

The target of the elected MN Republicans' ire is a group called Action 4 Larceny Liberty. This organization is little more than a grift operation which cares more about undermining elected Republicans (in their minds, anyone who has won an election is part of the "establishment") as opposed to actually working towards a GOP majority. That said, if A4L chair Jake Douchebag Duesenberg is to be believed, his group doesn't have a whole lotta love for the MNGOP these days. 

Jakey is probably still pissed that Plechash discouraged GOP candidates from using the tedious term "RINO" since it alienates some potential Republican voters from participating in the process. Given there aren't enough committed Republicans in the state of Minnesota, it's probably not a great idea to turn away someone who agrees with you "only" 90% of time, thus allowing a Democrat to prevail in elections. So while Plechash may not have received a full-throated A4L endorsement to be party chair, he was warmly received by the grift group simply because he was not David Hann. 

If I can offer Jake any advice I would say let people who have actually helped win elections do the heavy lifting, thus allowing him more time to update his organization's filings with the IRS. 

Oof. Might wanna get on that posthaste. 

- It took 'em a while, but mainstream media outlets are finally looking into a problem which has been plaguing Americans since about 2021.

NBC News is tracking changes in the prices of eggs, bread, ground beef, chicken and other grocery items to monitor the impact on consumers’ food bills. https://t.co/pb7PMJZYXv

— NBC News (@NBCNews) May 12, 2025

As NBC et al know by now, this was a salient issue during the presidential campaign, but they were too busy telling Americans not to believe their lying eyes. 

What's even more amusing about NBC's tweet it is was rather ill-timed. 

 

🚨Even CNN couldn't ignore that inflation just hit its LOWEST point since 2021.

"It's an unexpected and very welcome development that's defying economists' expectations..." pic.twitter.com/ywW4WYXGME

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 13, 2025 

Egg prices down 12.7%, biggest drop since March 1984, second biggest drop on record pic.twitter.com/AWcuDPb8qh

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) May 13, 2025

They still think you're stupid. 

- After appearing in the NBA's Western Conference Finals just once in their first 34 years of existence, the Minnesota Timberwolves are now one win away from their second consecutive trip to that round. After a 117-110 win over the Golden St. Warriors on Monday, the Wolves now have a commanding 3-1 series lead. 

Perhaps may favorite aspect of the Wolves potentially dispatching the Warriors is the toxic Jimmy Butler being sent packing. If you recall, Butler played 1-1/2 seasons for the Timberwolves, demanding a trade after year one. When his request wasn't granted, Butler verbally assaulted teammates, coaches and executives during a scrimmage at practice. That's been a trend throughout Butler's career in that he makes a favorable initial impression only to wear out his welcome within a year or two. 

SKOR North's Judd Zulgad is also ecstatic to see Butler humbled, but articulated it better than I could have ever dreamed. 

"I love this, this is karma come full circle. There's no better team to put his lights out than the Minnesota Timberwolves" 🙌

- @jzulgad is LOVING watching Jimmy Butler having karma handed to him by the #Timberwolves pic.twitter.com/ab1feEbzYX

— SKOR North - Minnesota Sports (@SKORNorth) May 13, 2025

Just finish the job Wednesday, boys. 

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Box Score of the Week

Houston Astros vs Pittsburgh Pirates - May 8, 1992.

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

Astros pitcher Butch Henry became the first player in MLB history whose first career hit was an inside-the-park home run. 

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The NARN Closer's playlist - 5/11/2025

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I was once out strolling one very hot summer's day.....

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!

I visited with my mom yesterday, so I'm rarin' to go for today's edition of my radio show The Closer. The 2-hour broadcast gets started at 1:00 PM Central Time. 

In the first hour, I'll talk about Minnesota right wing grift groups who claim they want to help Republicans win elections but their actions tell a different story. Also, journalist Liz Collin was vindicated by a judge in regards to her documentary The Fall of Minneapolis.

At 2:00, writer, author and "undisputed king of stuff" Jon Gabriel will join the broadcast to discuss the encouraging trend of more and more Americans flocking to traditional faith.

And finally......Habemus Papam. 

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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Quick Hits: Volume CCCLXXIII

 - America's favorite octogenarian commie is OK with you standing in long lines to wait for commercial flights, but don't you dare ask him to do it. 

WATCH: @BretBaier challenges Bernie Sanders on why he spent $221k using private jets during his ‘fighting oligarchy’ tour pic.twitter.com/lMii8D4HC1

— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) May 7, 2025

I love the bit how Sanders considers it abhorrent that "people on top are doing phenomenally well" as if he hasn't used his position in government to enrich himself, thus catapulting to "the top." 

Back to the excessive private jets usage. This rationale from one of  Bernie's staunch defenders falls flat.

 

Bernie Sanders is 83 and had to be in multiple states in the same day. In that situation you fly private.

— Andrew Yang🧢⬆️🇺🇸 (@AndrewYang) May 8, 2025

Uhhhh...he "had to be?!?!?!" Why, exactly? This demagoguery tour with Tide Pod Evita Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was something he's *chosen* to do, yet the insinuation here is that if he doesn't travel to multiple states in a day, he'll lose out on some sort of livelihood (which, come to think of it, may be partially true; demagoguery can be lucrative).

Ironically, exempting yourself from a group you decry despite having so much in common with them might be something an oligarch would do. 

- I've said it before, and I'll say it again: the only political organization to which I donate money regularly is the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus. 

In a recent statement, they called out the grifter group MN Gun Rights. 

Once again, Minnesota Gun Rights is pushing out a misleading email claiming the “Assault Weapons Ban” (SF 1596 / HF 2449) is heating up and about to pass.

Let’s be clear:

❌ This bill has had zero hearings. 

❌ It has no support from DFL leadership this session. 

❌ We’ve spoken with nearly every GOP legislator, including the so-called “soft” ones — none of them support this bill.

This legislation is not moving. It is not a current threat.

This is yet another example of MGR’s tired playbook: 

➡️ Stir up panic with alarmist rhetoric 

➡️ Target low-information gun owners 

➡️ Fundraise off fear and falsehoods

They’ve done it before. They’re doing it again. And it’s hurting the real fight to defend gun rights in Minnesota.

We’ll continue to oppose this bill, and we’ll keep the pressure on at the Capitol - where we are today (and they are not).

But misleading supporters with lies to line your pockets? That’s not activism. That’s a grift.

It's similar to what PAC Action 4 Liberty does. 

A4L yearns for another Democrat trifecta.

It's their best fundraising environment.

They betray conservatives while pretending to be their champions.

My RTing them will get more engagement than they could get on their own.

But I'm happy to expose their treachery. https://t.co/kTGln1Ks71

— Walter Hudson (@WalterHudson) May 8, 2025

Just a friendly reminder that when an organization makes its biggest fundraising haul when the political side they supposedly support is in peril (real or perceived), these people can not be credibly seen as "allies." 

- Habemus Papam!

Never in the history of the Roman Catholic Church has there been an American pope, until now. Cardinal Robert Prevost is originally from Chicago, and served as the head of the church's Dicastery for Bishops.

He was elected to be the successor to Pope Francis by the College of Cardinals Thursday, May 8, 2025. He has chosen the papal name Pope Leo XIV.

As is custom (particularly in America), people want to look at the papal election through their own political bent. It's somewhat understanding now, given that Leo XIV is the first ever American born pope. But as Matt Walsh of The Daily Wire points out, a papal election is not something that can be (or should be) viewed in that context. 

If you aren't Catholic then you don't believe that this Pope was elected through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, so you'll troll through his Twitter feed and analyze his selection through a modern political lens, as if he was just elected to a seat in the US senate rather than the Chair of Saint Peter.

If you are a believing Catholic then you do (or should) believe that his election is ordained by God. You view it through the lens of 2,000 years of Church history and the eternal will of the Almighty God. From that perspective, playing the gotcha game with old tweets is silly and bizarre.

This is why any conversation about the Pope on this site is destined to be disjointed, confused, and ultimately useless.

My own very early impression (as someone in the second category) is that there are some good signs and bad signs with this new Pope. I want to see what he actually does with his papacy before I pass any kind of judgment. If he does things I don't like, I'll say so. As I did with Pope Francis. In the meantime, I'll pray for him and for the Church.

One final thought: If Saturday Night Live doesn't address this historic event with a sketch about Da Pope (in the motif of Da Bears), then it's a dereliction of duty. 

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

An orange Bernie?

Barack Obama - "I mean, I do think at a certain point you’ve made enough money."

Bernie Sanders -  "You don’t necessarily need a choice of 23 underarm spray deodorants or of 18 different pairs of sneakers when children are hungry in this country."

Donald Trump - "Well, maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, and maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally. But we’re not talking about something that we have to go out of our way. They have ships that are loaded up with stuff, much of which — not all of it — but much of which we don’t need." 

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Box Score of the Week

Chicago Cubs at Brooklyn Dodgers - September 18, 1950. 

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Ron Northey of the Cubs hit his third career pinch hit grand slam home run in this game, which is the most in an MLB career. Since then, three other players have achieved that feat, but Northey was the first. 

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The NARN Closer's playlist - 5/4/2025

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The way the plants are dyin' you'd swear its fall......

Happy Star Wars Day!

While I'm a Star Wars fan, we're not gonna spend any time commemorating this "holiday." No, there's too much to get to on today's edition of my radio show The Closer, which will get started at 1:00 PM Central Time. 

In the 1:00 hour, I'll be joined by NASCAR Kelly Gunderson, who is a regular member of The Jack Tomczak Show. Kel and I will be chatting about myriad topics regarding Minnesota politics, including Congresswoman Angie Craig deciding to run for U.S. Senate, the ripple effect in MN CD2 from Craig's decision, Gov. Tim Walz's latest bizarre statement, etc. 

At 2:00, writer, author and "undisputed king of stuff" Jon Gabriel will join the broadcast to discuss the encouraging trend of more and more Americans flocking to traditional faith. Also, he'll weigh in on President Trump's first 100 days.   Jon forgot about his guest appearance. He'll be on next Sunday.

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.....

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

Exependable

When Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) was running for his current seat in 2022, the main argument against his election was that he was clearly still affected by a severe stroke he suffered just prior to his winning Pennsylvania's Democrat primary election. The one Senate debate he engaged in against his GOP opponent Dr. Mehmet Oz only served to exacerbate those concerns. Heck, you even had an NBC reporter being thrown under the bus when she dared to reveal how behind the scenes Fetterman struggled to process questions being asked of him. 

Of course, Fetterman was ultimately elected to the U.S. Senate, where he took the oath of office in January 2023. Shortly after he assumed his post, Fetterman sought treatment for clinical depression, an occasion which Dems engaged in a full on gaslighting campaign when concerns were once again raised about his overall health (sound familiar?). And those broaching these issues were in many cases dismissed as being "abelists."

Like with President Joe Biden, there are now reports coming out that Fetterman is (SURPRISE!) unfit for his job. With Biden, there was a sense of urgency to discourage his disastrous 2024 reelection campaign since it became glaringly obvious he was going to lose to Donald Trump. So why are the proverbial long knives suddenly coming out for Fetterman? Are there suddenly genuine concerns about his health or is it merely attributable to his (GASP!!) bipartisan streak, specifically his support for Israel or his even considering voting for Pete Hegseth's confirmation as Defense Secretary?

The back-and-forth led to what one person in his office at the time called a full-blown meltdown. According to a contemporaneous text message from this staffer sent to a colleague, Fetterman had become so distraught about the Hegseth vote, as well as chatter in the media that he might switch parties and become a Republican, that he spent part of the day locked in his office, fighting with Gisele and crying while FaceTiming with staff. “He says that they are trying to cancel him again but we don’t know who ‘they’ are,” a staffer said in a text. Fetterman ultimately voted against Hegseth’s nomination. In a statement, Fetterman said, “My no vote on Pete Hegseth speaks for itself. The rest is pure conjecture.” ...

In early November, just weeks after the attack, Gisele arrived at her husband’s Senate office and, according to a staffer present, they got into a heated argument.

"They are bombing refugee camps. How can you support this?” the staffer recalled her saying with tears in her eyes.

“That’s all propaganda,” Fetterman replied.

Later, a still visibly upset Gisele pulled the staffer aside. She asked him if members of Fetterman’s team were pushing him to take these stances for political reasons. The staffer told her that the opposite was true: Many of them were as upset as she was. “If you’re pushing back on this, there’s no hope,” the staffer recalled her saying. “This is horrible news.”

As Jim Geraghty at National Review astutely observes, the timing of these staffer "concerns" are quite telling. 

Let me get this straight: Back when Fetterman could barely speak during the debate, his medical condition was no big deal, and certainly not a reason to keep him out of elected office. But now that he’s speaking more clearly, but taking positions that irritate progressives, *now* his staffers think something’s not right with his brain? From what everyone else can see, Fetterman’s in significantly better shape than he was in 2022 and early 2023. (Last year I interacted with him briefly in the Fox News green room.)

I hope Fetterman’s in the best position possible, and I hope he’s following the instructions from his doctors. But both the staffer concern and New York Magazine’s attention on Fetterman’s health are remarkably conveniently timed.

Fetterman has nearly four years remaining in his current term. Short of his resigning, the Dems are stuck with him for that duration, so his presence in the Senate will only serve as a reminder of how intolerant leftists are of views which defy the prog orthodoxy. Yup, once again Democrats have been hoisted by their own petard. 

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