Podcast appearances and mentions of Star Tribune

Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune joins for two excellent segments on the Vikings, Gopher women's hoops, the Wolves and Wild before Chad reacts to a survey showing a surprisingly high number of people believe the end of the world is right around the corner.

Rochelle Olson of the Star Tribune makes her regular Friday stop with Chad to talk about some of the biggest stories in Minnesota politics and what she's focused on in this week's Cheers & Jeers column.

On "The Lead" - the latest on a military mistake in Iran... Metro Transit ridership numbers are down and a State Fair auction. Then Jason goes "In Depth" with Star Tribune reporter Dee DePass about how some MN companies are lining up for a tariff refund

Wednesday 5pm Hour: On the DeRush-Hour Jason goes "In Depth" with Star Tribune business reporter Dee DePass about how some MN companies are lining up trying to get tariff refunds. Then - what's grinding your gears this week? Find out on ENOUGH!!!

Thursday on Drivetime with DeRusha... 3pm: activists from outside of MN say the Target boycott is over - are you going back? Then Tracy Perlman joins the show - is it weirder to not have a ruler, or a flyswatter? Plus, should wives "obey" their husbands? 4pm: Jason talks with Nekima Levy Armstrong & Jaylani Hussein who started the Target boycott, which they say is definitely NOT over. Plus, how long is too long to spend in a public bathroom? 5pm: On the DeRush-Hour, Jason goes "In Depth" with Star Tribune reporter Dee DePass about MN companies who want refunds from tariffs. And what's grinding people's gears this week? Find out on ENOUGH!!!

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look at Minnesota sports. They start with NFL free agency and the Vikings, with a lot of news expected Monday. Plus thoughts on the state high school hockey tournament, the Wild, Wolves, Gophers, St. Thomas and more.

Monday 4pm Hour: Jason's joined by Kate Raddatz for her monthly visit - what percentage of Gen Z'ers think wives should "obey" their husbands?! Then he talks with listeners about the Star Tribune's "Top 25 MN Celebrities" list - biggest takeaway? We have very few actual celebrities in Minnesota. (Photo by Express Newspapers/Getty Images)

On Monday's Drivetime with DeRusha.... 3pm: Jason talks about our boss' heart attack - how have near-death experiences affected you? Then he talks with David Slotnick from ThePointsGuy.com - will travel prices rise with oil prices? 4pm: Kate Raddatz joins for The Radd Report - how many Gen Z'ers think wives should "obey" their husbands?! Then, a Star Tribune list shows MN is starving for celebrities. 5pm: On the DeRush-Hour Jason talks with Olympic gold medalist Kelly Pannek about her experience in Milan and partnering with Fulton on a new beer. Then Dave Schwartz talks about the boys hockey tournament and Vikings free agency

The Star Tribune came out with a "Top 25" list of Minnesota celebrities and Jason thinks all they proved is we have very few actual celebrities here.

Jon looks at recently announced "Trump Accounts" for newborns, questionable maps, and Jon has strong opinions on the MN Paid Family Leave. Sam records himself calling the Star Tribune. Jon has questions about a new proposal for obtaining a MN Driver's License.

Jon looks at recently announced "Trump Accounts" for newborns, questionable maps, and Jon has strong opinions on the MN Paid Family Leave. Sam records himself calling the Star Tribune. Jon has questions about a new proposal for obtaining a MN Driver's License.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune joins for two segments on sports talking about the boys state hockey tournament, Vikings moves and more before Chad bounces between several topics during Rapid Fire Radio.

Star Tribune sports columnist Chip Scoggins joins to rave about another fabulous boys state hockey tournament and share some reaction to Vikings news from today.

It was one of the most memorable state high school hockey tournaments ever and we recap the highlights after the championship games. Jim Paulson from the Star Tribune talks about the biggest moments.

It was one of the most memorable state high school hockey tournaments ever and we recap the highlights after the championship games. Jim Paulson from the Star Tribune talks about the biggest moments.

A whole lot of gopher hockey talk at the beginning of the show followed by a great segment with Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins

Star Tribune columnist Rochelle Olson joins us with excellent stuff on many political topics and the fun of Puppy Day at the Capitol yesterday.

The 2026 Boys State Hockey Tournament semifinals are getting underway and there is a lot to catch up on. Jim Paulson from the Star Tribune has all the updates.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look at the weekend in Minnesota sports. On tap: Gophers basketball, Timberwolves, Wild, Twins and Loons. Noticeably absent: Any Vikings talk.

From a DQ tradition to Iran going to war with America to speed cameras proving effective - we break down all the big stories of the day with The Lead and go In Depth with Evan Ramstad of Star Tribune regarding rich neighbors moving out of Minnesota and his findings in his recent Star Tribune piece!

An heiress from Duluth.A trail of fires stretching from Minnesota to the Mexican border.And a quiet little mining town in Arizona… that never saw her coming.Marjorie Congdon Caldwell Hagen carried wealth, suspicion, and misery wherever she went.Her tale is part true crime… and part ghost story that still haunts this desert town.For this special episode, we're going local, and recording live from ground zero — Ajo, AZ, AND we're teaming up with Z89.3 KZAO's own Bo Johnson to tell the story of Marjorie Hagen — the “Black Widow of Ajo.”Source Material:MN Historical Society (MNopedia)Glensheen (UMD) official blog: “Women of Glensheen” Duluth News Tribune (feature): “Glensheen murders still intrigue”MPR News (feature, with photos/audio): “40 years later, Glensheen murders still grip Duluth”Minnesota Supreme Court (primary): State v. Caldwell (1982) Duluth News Tribune (feature)Brainerd Dispatch (AP report): DNA on key envelope (2003) MPR Archive (2003)Los Angeles Times (obituary/recap): Roger Caldwell's suicide Duluth News Tribune (30-year look-back)Washington Post (1992)UPI archive (1992)Los Angeles Times (1992 feature)Duluth News Tribune (retrospective)Star Tribune (2007)MinnPost (2009)Duluth News Tribune (2007 news)Music Credit:1. IMPERVIOUSMusic from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/dorian-pinto/imperviousLicense code: LUZNNGUQNGYSFZI8 Connect with us: killerhearttohearts@gmail.comFollow us on: Tik TokFollow us on: InstagramLike us on: FacebookFollow us on: Twitter

Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins Chad to share about the heartbreaking and tragic story of Carter Bremseth and how being terrorized by sextortion led to his suicide.

Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune joins for a little sports talk but more on his heartbreaking story of the terror of sextortion that led to tragic suicide of teenager Carter Bremseth. Later, Chad jumps back into Operation Epic Fury in Iran and why the public isn't sold yet on the attacks on Iran.

Star Tribune reporter Jeffrey Meitrodt joins Adam to talk about more drama at the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The brackets for the Minnesota Boys State Hockey Tournament will be decided soon and there is sure to be some good match ups when it gets started. Olivia Hicks from the Star Tribune highlights the teams to watch this year.

Matthew Coller is joined from the NFL Combine by Star Tribune's Ben Goessling and Ted Nguyen from The Athletic to talk about the Vikings' QB future and what Ben took away from Kevin O'Connell's talk with the media about JJ McCarthy. The Purple Insider podcast is brought to you by FanDuel. Also, check out our sponsor HIMS at https://hims.com/purpleinsider Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with comments from Vikings officials Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine that give us even more clarity about their QB plan in 2026. Plus a good Wolves win and a good Gophers ... loss? 14:00: The Star Tribune's Sarah McLellan joins for a look at the gold medal-winning Team USA men's hockey team, the Wild's impact at the Olympics and the stretch run of the NHL season. 33:00: Former Minnesota United manager Eric Ramsay is out already at West Brom.

Americans say staying informed is essential to participating in civic life — especially when it comes to voting. But a new Pew Research Center study finds that many people also feel overwhelmed by the news, are distrustful of what they see and are increasingly selective about what they pay attention to.So what does that mean for local journalism?MPR News host Angela Davis talks about how newsrooms are trying to adapt to changes in news consumption with the editor of the Minnesota Star Tribune.Guest: Kathleen Hennessey is the editor and senior vice president of the Minnesota Star Tribune. Prior to her current role, she was deputy politics editor for the New York Times. Before that, she led the regional politics team for the Associated Press. She covered the White House during President Barack Obama's second term for the LA Times and the Associated Press and was the White House editor and deputy bureau chief for the Associated Press during President Donald Trump's first term.Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. They started with the U.S. men's hockey team and its surprising (but not miraculous) victory over Canada in the Olympic gold medal game Sunday. Wild players dominated throughout the tournament. Plus thoughts on the Timberwolves, Gophers and more.

Star Tribune sports columnist Chip Scoggins joins for two excellent reacting to the USA men's hockey team beating Canada for the Olympic gold medal.

La Velle E Neal III joins Henry to remember the legacy of the late Twin Cities sports writer Rod Simons. Jeff Maday tells us about a contest that will help you learn how to be on horse racing. Plus, a few nuggets of knowledge from this date in sports history.

It's a sad anniversary in the world of Twin Cities sports journalism. Star Tribune writer La Velle E. Neal III joins Lake to remember the life, career, and everlasting impact of the late sports reporter Rod Simons.

Chad chats up Star Tribune Columnist Rochelle Olson about her trip to New Zealand, why she calls it mind blowingly beautiful, going bungee jumping, traveling solo, frustration with the Governor's state legislature involvement, and more.

The Girls State Hockey tournament is happening in St. Paul and champion will be decided tomorrow Cassidy Hettesheimer from the Star Tribune recaps the games that have already been played and the match ups to look forward to.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with Pablo Lopez leaving a spring training throwing session with elbow pain. It's too early to be too concerned, but it is worth remember that it was a Lopez injury that sent the Twins' season off the rails in 2025. Plus a big night for the Heise family. 8:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins Rand to talk about the Gophers women's basketball team's surge. They've won eight in a row and just cracked the AP top 25. 28:00: The best time of the year for high school hockey.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. In focus: Byron Buxton's comments from spring training, an Olympic curling controversy, the excellent Gophers women's basketball team and the fate of the Wolves.

Star Tribune sports columnist Chip Scoggins joins us to talk about some of the topics from the opening of spring training for the Twins, Anthony Edwards' big night taking MVP at the NBA all-star game, Gopher women's hoops and Olympic hockey!

Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune joins Chad to two segments on the Twins, Anthony Edwards and more from the weekend of sports before a look back at the career of actor Robert Duvall after his passing today at the age of 95.

Dave Chappelle is doing several shows in Minnesota and gave short notice to secure some tickets. Neal Justin from the Star Tribune talks about his comedic style and the demand to see him perform.

Judd and Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune go through some of the reasons fans should still be optimistic about the Minnesota Vikings despite the down year, talking about personnel, untapped potential, and more!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From Amy:My friend Jillian Rae has done this thing twice while we've posed for a photo, once at her album launch, once at my book launch: Jillian points to me and makes a face as if she can't believe her luck to have encountered me personally. And yet, Jillian is a bonafide rockstar.I use that term rockstar broadly, because Jillian refuses to fit into a clear genre. She plays at venues all over town, in many roles, with a wide range of musicians, and she's kinda famous in China.So then who am I in this picture? I am Jillian's former student who dabbled with violin lessons when my kids were young. Here I thought I was learning an instrument I admired, as a mom who needed creative escape from my real life. Jillian wasn't a rockstar YET when I met her. I remember clearly when she texted that she was appearing onstage at Prince's beloved First Avenue in Minneapolis, and we should get our butts over there. That first performance, Jillian played backup fiddle for a headliner whose name I no longer remember. I have no idea how often she's played at First Avenue since. I don't even know how many of Jillians shows I've attended or how often I've heard her on The Current, our local MPR music station.To me, Jillian Rae is the person who first convinced me to drive in to Minneapolis regularly on weekdays. When my kids and I were taking violin lessons from her in one of those suburbs, Jillian co-founded the Music Lab in a walk-up near Lake Nokomis. Suffice it to say, I wouldn't have chosen that neighborhood for my kids' music lessons, forty-five minutes from home in rush hour. But Jillian has vision like nobody's business.During our lessons, we talked about Jillian's work and her career... and my aspirations to be a real writer and whatever the dream was that I'm living now. I've honestly translated so much of what Jillian taught me into my business, because every time I showed up in her private studio (never having practiced, because that was part of my deal with her, though I did learn some fiddle tunes decently well, and even Pachelbel's canon) I got to be the feral Gen X child I once was, learning from my friend Jillian to see my creative gifts through the eyes of a Millennial. I have long understood that were it not for Jillian, I would never have understood what being a real-life creative looks like for me. When I think about this podcast (this episode and more broadly), I understand that not everyone can meet my friend Jillian personally, or other real-life creatives like her that I encounter ongoing. And that did start for me in Minneapolis. Since then, I've made a practice of talking and writing about Minneapolis, so much so that many people think I live there. I do not. Or shall I say, that's not where my house is. And yet.All my lineage travels directly through Minneapolis, on all sides. So you weren't entirely wrong if you thought I was from there.Indeed I was born in a Minneapolis hospital building that is currently occupied by the federal government, so I hear from reliable sources. Throughout my childhood, I visited the city with family for special occasions.But I know the city best as a grown-up.If you don't know a city that well, and have no reason to go there, it's easy to believe horror stories that the media serves you and forget the everyday people who live there. In the years since Ronald Reagan eliminated the fairness doctrine (that said you can't publish lies) media corporations have made it their business to further exacerbate bias, divide us with scary demographics, and consolidate profits. That's the false narrative that Minneapolis is actively refusing, and many of us in the Twin Cities Metro and Greater Minnesota recognize, though some white Minnesotans believe they aren't safe in the city. Which didn't happen by accident. Deliberate semantics games misrepresent one big idea: THESE PEOPLE ARE OUR NEIGHBORS.And as I see it nowadays, my neighbors. That's a pretty good thing.I love to drive the long way home from Minneapolis, one neighborhood into the next, one suburb into the next, awash in memories, never using a freeway until the bridge across the river. That's how well I know the city these days. I know all the places you've heard about in the news.But when I want to talk about what life's been like in Minneapolis I defer to people who inhabit these neighborhoods.That's why I invited Jillian Rae to speak to her own, lived experiences.It's going to take a long time to heal from the willful damage inflicted by ICE and this administration. You need to know that it's still going on. Furthermore, I don't see how a "kinder, gentler" (more stealthy for optics) invasion is going to stop all the harm being done. Intentionally.Jillian's graciously allowing me to share her new single, "Fuck ICE," at the end of this episode. You can purchase the salty or the sanitized version to support Twin Cities people. Pretty sure that song title clarifies where she stands. Jillian's one of my heroes AND a dear friend.At the beginning of the episode, we reference Jillian's single "Silence," a precursor to "Fuck Ice" in many ways. Watch the video here.Which makes me realize one more connection: If I didn't know so many beloved people and places in Minneapolis personally, I don't know what I'd be thinking right now. Maybe I'd think these people were heroes, but their struggles aren't mine. That they are somehow separate from me. Instead, I am finding plenty of ways to fight the good fight where I am. I'm asking you to think about how you can address evil, in solidarity, where you are too. Because make no mistake, this does affect you. Even if the connections are being obscured. You need to see them.Please listen. And then take one simple step you can take to speak up. And the next. And the next. Travel safely, dear friends.Love, Amy About Jillian Rae:Lauded as a “triple threat on vocals, fiddle, and composition” (Star Tribune), Jillian Rae is a fiercely unique spirit who cares more about making authentic music than about conforming to expectations. The Minneapolis-based, classically trained violinist has made a name for herself as a top-notch fiddler and a singer with a powerful stage presence. Heading up her own critically acclaimed band, she performs an original mix of Americana, rock, and pop. She also performs regularly with her traditional folk band Corpse Reviver and has toured extensively, backing up Grammy-winning acts like The Okee Dokee Brothers. Jillian is an in-demand producer and session player, known for her soaring string orchestrations, arrangements, and fiddle parts. Along with her partner/co-producer Eric Martin, she operates The Clubhouse Recording Studio, where they produce Jillian's music as well. As a music educator, she has kept a studio of private students for more than two decades.Jillian is available for live performance, virtual streams, recording, and production work. All inquiries can be made at booking@jillianraemusic.com.Get Jillian's single and support Twin Cities mutual aid organizations at https://jillianraemusic.bandcamp.com/album/fuck-ice. Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats. Get Amy's Books and Audiobooks

In "The Bells Still Ring," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss a recent poll on Americans' trust in vaccine information from the CDC, the measles outbreaks in immigration detention centers, and explain the controversy over a US-funded hepatitis B vaccine trial in Africa. Dr. Osterholm will also bring you some good news on US funding for global health and answer an ID Query about Nipah virus.Interactive vaccine map for US schools (Washington Post)  Large share of older US adults haven't had a recent flu or COVID vaccine, poll finds (CIDRAP News)Two cases of tuberculosis detected at El Paso ICE facility (The Texas Tribune)  Detained Immigrants Detail Physical Abuse and Inhumane Conditions at Largest Immigration Detention Center in the U.S. (ACLU)  ‘No Humanity': Detainees describe conditions inside Whipple Federal Building (The Star Tribune)     Resources for vaccine and public health advocacy: Voices for Vaccines Families Fighting Flu Vaccinate Your Family Shot@Life Medical Reserve Corps Learn more about the Vaccine Integrity Project MORE EPISODES       SUPPORT THIS PODCAST   Music: "Beauty Flow" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. The Super Bowl was dull just like the NFL season, but Sam Darnold has a ring. Lindsey Vonn made one more try down the hill. And the Wolves are a mess. Will it cost Chris Finch? Plus all sorts of Gophers sports.

There is an article in the Star Tribune discussing the struggle currently with hiring and also how AI is disrupting the hiring process so we talked to Ryan Evers who serves as the Robert Half Consulting and Hiring Expert about the problems with hiring!

Friday 5pm Hour: On the DeRush-Hour, Jason goes "In Depth" with Edina Mayor Jim Hovland about what he's telling mayors around the country about the ICE surge in Minnesota and how his community is affected. Then Jason talks with Chris Hine from the Star Tribune about how people around the Timberwolves are reacting to the trade deadline.

On Friday's "Drivetime with DeRusha"... 3pm: the President sent and then deleted a racist post with a video depicting the Obama's as apes. Ludicrous, but are we getting numb to the nonsense? Then Giselle Ugarte joins the show - how can we maintain our mental health without becoming fully detached from the news? 4pm: Jason hosts another exciting edition of Card DeSharks as contestants battle for a $50 gift card to Jester Concepts restaurants. Then Billy Nord tells us why he's running in the DFL primary for US Senate as a "member of the working class". 5pm: On the DeRush-Hour, Jason goes "In Depth" with Edina Mayor Jim Hovland about what he's telling mayors around the country about how his city is being affected by the ICE surge. And Chris Hine from the Star Tribune joins the show - how should we feel after Wolves DIDN'T trade for Giannis?

The Timberwolves DID make some moves at the deadline, but it wasn't the blockbuster some were hoping for. Chris Hine from the Star Tribune joins Jason to talk about why the Giannis move didn't happen and where the Wolves go from here. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Wolves trade of Mike Conley. Is this just a salary dump of a once-useful player, or is it a precursor to a blockbuster move for Giannis Antetokounmpo before Thursday's NBA trade deadline? Rand gets into that as well as an ode to Conley. 8:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins on a number of subjects, including Derek Falvey's departure from the Twins as well as the Vikings' path forward. 34:00: A listener wants more attention paid to one local team, and he's not wrong.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. At the top of the list is the fallout from Friday's big news, with Derek Falvey and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah both out of jobs. Plus the Wolves, Gophers and a Reusse pickleball rant.

Capitalism as an economic system has been around in various forms for over a thousand years and according to our featured guest this week, it keeps evolving. Join us for a lively and challenging discussion between Ralph and Harvard history professor, Sven Beckert, as they discuss his book “Capitalism: A Global History.”Sven Beckert is the Laird Bell Professor of History at Harvard University. He has written widely on the economic, social, and political history of capitalism. His book Empire of Cotton won the Bancroft Prize and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. His latest book is Capitalism: A Global History.Capitalism has existed within a whole range of political systems of organizing political power. And this includes authoritarian regimes; this includes fascist regimes; and this includes also liberal democratic regimes such as Great Britain and the United States. And you see this kind of tension emerging today within the United States in which there is a kind of concern, I think, among some capital-owning elites about liberal democracy. They see that as being limiting to some of their business interests.Sven BeckertIn a way, the book tries to not make us to be just powerless cogs in a machine and not powerless cogs in the unfolding of history. But the book very much emphasizes that the particular shape that capitalism has taken at any particular moment in time has a lot to do also with questions of the state. It has a lot to do with questions of political power. It has a lot to do with questions of social contestation. And sometimes capitalism has been reshaped drastically by the actions of people with very little power. And I show that in particular when I look at the end of the slave-based plantation economy in the Americas, which is very much driven by the collective mobilization of some of the poorest and most exploited people on planet Earth—namely the enslaved workers who grow all that sugar and all that cotton or that tobacco in the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.Sven BeckertI think markets and market activities have existed in all human societies. That is not particular to capitalism. And the few efforts in world history in which people have tried to get rid of the market in its entirety have been pretty much economic disasters. So there is a place for the market. There has been a place for the market in all human societies. But in capitalism, the market takes on an importance that it didn't take on in other forms of economic life… I think it is so important to think about this, because, as I said earlier, capitalism is not natural. It's not the only form of economic life on planet Earth. Indeed, it's the opposite. It's a revolutionary departure from older forms of the organization of economic life.Sven BeckertTrump seems really concerned about impeachment because it's beyond his control. And he sees if (with inflation) the economy starts going down more, unemployment up, prices up, all these campaign promises bogus, polls going down—he fears impeachment. And I've yet to hear him say if he was impeached and removed from office, he wouldn't leave the White House—while he's defied all other federal laws, constitutional provisions, and foreign treaties.Ralph NaderNews 1/30/26* Following the murders of U.S. citizens Alex Pretti and Renée Good by ICE agents in Minneapolis – along with the shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis, the abduction of 5-year-old Liam Ramos along with his father, and the arrest of an estimated 3,000 people – the Minnesota AFL-CIO called a General Strike for workers to demand ICE leave the state. This one-day general strike, staged during temperatures of -20°F, drew as many as 100,000 workers into the streets, according to Labor Notes. Participating unions included the SEIU, AFT, and the CWA, along with UNITE HERE Local 17, OPEIU Local 12, IATSE Local 13, and AFSCME Council 5, among many others. Minneapolis has been the site of major labor actions before, perhaps most famously the 1934 General Strike, and it remains a relatively union-dense hub today. It was also the locus of the 2020 George Floyd protests, which many see as a reason why the Trump administration has been so hostile towards the locals.* With the spiraling situation in Minnesota, the Trump administration has finally moved to deescalate somewhat. Per POLITICO, “DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, has…been sidelined,” and border czar Tom Homan has been dispatched to the state to take over operations there. Moreover, the Atlantic reports “Gregory Bovino has been removed from his role as Border Patrol ‘commander at large' and will return to his former job in El Centro, California, where he is expected to retire soon.” While hardly an adequate response to the crisis, these moves do show that Trump sees how badly his lieutenants have bungled their mission. It remains to be seen whether this will mark the end of the high-lawlessness period of ICE activity or if the agency will simply shift its primary theater of operation.* For Minnesota Republicans meanwhile, the situation is nothing short of catastrophic. While the party's fortunes had looked promising just weeks ago, some, like Republican attorney Chris Madel, now say “National Republicans have made it nearly impossible for a Republican to win a statewide election in Minnesota.” Madel had been a candidate for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, but dropped out abruptly this week, citing national Republicans' “stated retribution on the citizens of our state,” per the Star Tribune. While the election is still 10 months away – “a lifetime in politics,” as one person quoted in the story puts it – it is hard to imagine Minnesotans forgetting about the murders of Renée Good and Alex Pretti and delivering a statewide victory for Republicans for the first time since 2006.* Speaking of dropping out, the New York Times reports Eleanor Holmes Norton, the 18-term incumbent delegate representing Washington, D.C. in Congress, has filed a termination notice for her re-election campaign. Norton, a civil rights activist and law professor, was elected D.C. delegate in 1991 and earned a reputation as D.C.'s “warrior on the Hill.” Today, she is the oldest person serving in the House at 88 years old. Norton has shown signs of cognitive decline but insisted she would seek reelection and even after her campaign filed this termination paperwork Norton did not make a public statement for days, raising questions about how aware she even was of this decision – a disgraceful end to a towering career. If any silver lining is to be found, one hopes this will serve as a cautionary tale for other members of Congress not to cling to their seats to the bitter end.* In more congressional news, Axios reports, “Nearly half of the Democrats on the House Oversight Committee broke with their party's leadership in stunning fashion…by voting to hold former President Bill Clinton in contempt of Congress,” for his refusal to testify in the committee's probe related to Jeffrey Epstein. While House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries whipped votes against the motion, Ranking Member Robert Garcia gave committee members permission to “vote their conscience.” With the defections, the vote to hold former President Clinton in contempt was a lopsided 34-8. Nine Democrats voted yes, eight no, and two present. On a separate vote to hold Hillary Clinton in contempt, far fewer Democrats broke ranks. In that vote, Democrats Rashida Tlaib, Summer Lee and Melanie Stansbury voted yes, Dave Min voted present, and the rest voted no. The contempt measure will now move to the House floor and Jeffries must decide whether or not to formally whip votes against the measure there. If it passes a full house vote, the Clintons could be held in jail on contempt charges until they agree to testify, as Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro were during the January 6th investigation.* In more news out of D.C., legendary modern classical composer Philip Glass has pulled the world premiere of his Lincoln Symphony from the Kennedy Center in protest of the venue's takeover by Trump and his cronies. In a statement, Glass wrote “After thoughtful consideration , I have decided to withdraw my Symphony No. 15” because the symphony is “a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, and the values of the Kennedy Center [and its current leadership] today are in direct conflict with the message of the Symphony.” Just days after this embarrassing fiasco, Kevin Couch, the Center's new head of artistic programming, abruptly resigned without explanation, per the Hill.* Meanwhile, in Alaska, the Anchorage Daily News reports the Alaskan Independence Party – the state's third largest political party founded in the 1970s to push for Alaskan independence from the United States – has voted to dissolve itself. Ballot Access News reports that the party leaders felt that there is “little support” for Alaskan independence today and “the public doesn't even understand the party's original purpose.” Still, the party stands as one of the most successful minor parties of the twentieth century, electing Walter Hickel Governor in 1999 and electing a state legislator in 1992. It almost elected another candidate Tyler Ivanoff, in 2022; he won 48.73% of the vote. The state of Alaska will now give the roughly 19,000 members of the AIP the chance to re-register with another party, per Alaska Public Media.* In more positive independent political news, the Chicago Tribune reports Southwest Side Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez has launched an independent bid for Illinois' 4th Congressional District seat. Sigcho-Lopez, a DSA member and progressive firebrand in Chicago, is campaigning to “end tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy and dramatically expand social services in housing and health care,” in Congress and is “aligned with working-class labor unions and street protesters pushing back against Trump.” This seat is currently held by stalwart progressive Jesús “Chuy” García, but he pulled an unsavory bait and switch, announcing he would “not seek reelection just hours before the party primary filing deadline, leaving no time for other hopefuls to get in the race for the suddenly vacant seat as his chief of staff, Patty Garcia, became the only candidate in the Democratic primary.” This has forced other candidates like Sigcho-Lopez to launch independent campaigns. To get on the ballot, he must collect at least 10,816 petition signatures between February 25th and May 26th.* In more state and local news, NPR reports that as the federal government withdraws from international institutions like the World Health Organizations, states are stepping into the breach. California, for example, has joined the WHO's Global Outbreak Alert & Response Network, or GOARN, and other states like Illinois are poised to follow suit. States like California and Illinois, being sub-national entities, can not join the WHO as a full member, but are eligible to participate in WHO subgroups like GOARN. In a statement, California Governor Gavin Newsom said “The Trump administration's withdrawal from WHO is a reckless decision that will hurt all Californians and Americans…California will not bear witness to the chaos this decision will bring.”* Finally, Axios is out with a major story on the Catholic Church emerging as a “bulwark of resistance,” to Trump's authoritarianism. This piece cites Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, condemning the ICE killings as “examples of the violence that represent failures in our society to respect the dignity of every human life.” This piece adds that “the three highest-ranking heads of U.S. archdioceses also recently issued a plea for ‘moral foreign policy'” in response to the lawless American military action abroad, namely in Venezuela, Cuba and Iran. Most strikingly, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, the Catholic archbishop for the military's archdiocese, is quoted saying it would be “morally acceptable” for troops to disobey orders that violate their conscience. A related question of troops disobeying illegal orders has been much discussed lately, with Trump suggesting members of Congress who reminded troops of their obligation to do so should be hanged for treason. Notably, Pew data suggests 43% of Catholics in the U.S. were born outside the country or had at least one parent born outside the U.S. Reverend Tom Reese, a Jesuit priest and analyst, said the people being targeted by Trump's immigration crackdown are “the people in the pews.”This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe