- I wrote about "Tarantula Lady" 21 months ago, specifically her assaulting a tenant in her home with a spider. In fact, her overall life seemed to be a raging garbage fire.
Unfortunately for her, a jury of her peers just added more fuel.
Marisa Simonetti, a political candidate who gained international recognition when she dumped a tarantula from a container at the top of her Edina staircase during a fight with her basement tenant, lost her criminal case Friday, March 13, in Hennepin County District Court.
A six-member jury found the 32-year-old guilty of misdemeanor assault, harassment and disorderly conduct after a three-day trial. Judge Jennifer Olson ordered Simonetti to maintain no contact with the victim. Her sentencing hearing is May 1.
The odd criminal case stemmed from an argument between Simonetti and a woman who rented out her basement through Airbnb in 2024. A feud between them escalated over the course of a day, bringing police officers to the home three times.
Even her renting out space in the home was done under false pretenses since a) the city of Edina doesn't allow Airbnb and b) the owner of the home said Simonetti had no authority to engage in any kind of commerce in the first place.
As if the whole situation couldn't have been more bizarre, Simonetti ended up representing herself due to her lawyer backing out of the case. Attorney John T. Daly cited "an irretrievable breakdown in the attorney-client relationship." Yikes!
In the end, I hope Simonetti can somehow change her life for the better, if for no other reason then to provide stability for her 8-year old son.
- Congressional Democrats' continued refusal to fund the Dept. of Homeland Security is starting to cause real pain for Americans, just as the Federal government shutdown did last year. This latest saga resulted in one House member becoming a little too forthright.
"It's not forcing any change," said Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.). "In the meantime, we're making people hurt. The long lines, that can't make us more popular."
That's for dang sure.
Update on how the Democrats are polling. Harry take it away, Democrats in the minds of the American public: pic.twitter.com/6w48Xw732U
— Woke Virus Destroyer (@wokeviruscure) March 19, 2026
Ouch, babe.
- I unequivocally love this idea.
A St. Paul restaurant is offering a free meal for any pair of Minnesota lawmakers who are willing to dine with colleagues from the opposing party.
Sweeney's Saloon owner, Will Rolf, said he made the offer a personal to all Minnesota lawmakers through a personal email invitation.
"I think people are sick of the fighting," Rolf said. "They'd like to see people get along and get things done."
I've been saying for years that political opposites have spent way too much time talking past each other rather than to one another. Discourse among elected officials is often played out on social media rather than in person. Quite simply, the negativity spouted to someone on Twitter, Facebook, etc. would unlikely be conveyed over a meal.
I hope more legislators seriously consider Mr. Rolf's offer.
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