Podcast appearances and mentions of Tina Smith

Over the next 12 days, Minnesotans will walk through the state fair gates to encounter animals, art and decadent food. Politicians will have a chance to meet voters face-to-face, which could be especially important in a competitive midterm election year like 2026. Democratic U.S. Sen. Tina Smith kicked off one of the year's the most significant statewide races when she announced in 2025 she would not seek reelection. DFL Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and Republican sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya are running for the seat. Smith now has a few months left in her term, with major budget and farming legislation before Congress. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini on the MPR stage.

Minnesota Now live from opening day of the Minnesota State Fair!The State Fair has historically become a stumping ground for politicians. As we gear up for the midterms, we heard from outgoing U.S. Sen. Tina Smith.Plus, the fair is built on agriculture. Farmers from across the state bring their livestock. We met two baby animals being shown at this year's fair.And crop art has become a main attraction. We learned about the craft and how it's grown.We also talked to local musician Sophie Hiroko and heard some of her music.

Ralph speaks to Baroness Beeban Kidron, a member of the UK House of Lords and a leading voice on children's rights in the digital environment, whose book is “Users: How Big Tech Took Control and How to Fight Back.” Then we welcome back whistleblower Becky McClain a biotech scientist injured in an unsafe lab and author of “Exposed: A Pfizer Scientist Battles Corruption, Lies, and Betrayal, and Becomes a Biohazard Whistleblower.”Baroness Beeban Kidron is a member of the UK's House of Lords and a former film director. She is a leading voice on children's rights in the digital environment and a global authority on digital regulation. She has played a central role in establishing standards for online safety and privacy across the world. She is the author of Users: How Big Tech Took Control and How to Fight Back.The things that children experience online are deliberately designed to distract them. Now, they are there to distract them because those companies want the attention so they can advertise. They want their data so that they can perfect their commercial terms,their product. And they even want their attention to compete against the other people who are competing for their attention. So here we have an absolute arms race for a child's attention.Baroness Beeban KidronI do want to say very clearly to anyone listening: This is a battle you shouldn't be fighting on your own. And there is a responsibility for politicians—for both local politicians and federal politicians (national in our case, here in the UK) —to actually put these companies under the same sort of strictures that all other corporate companies do… One of the things I'm looking at is whether we can recategorize apps as products. And then they'll have all the product liability, the product safety, consumer rights—all the things that we expect of everything else in our life from our food to our cars to our toys. That they would actually have to think before they roll them out: Are they safe? And when they've proven unsafe, we would have a very clear set of legal approaches to address that.Baroness Beeban KidronBecky McClain is a retired biotech worker and research scientist. She is known as the first successful biotech whistleblower who spoke and reported on biolab safety issues of public concern. On April 1, 2010, Ms. McClain won a federal court whistleblower trial against Pfizer, Inc., which centered on free speech rights concerning biosafety and public health. She is the author of Exposed: A Pfizer Scientist Battles Corruption, Lies, and Betrayal, and Becomes a Biohazard Whistleblower.The public wants transparency to ensure that biolabs are run ethically, safely, responsibly, and with accountability. Transparency into these matters builds public trust with science and with government. But without free-speech protections for scientists and also medical physicians, transparency fails, accountability is dismissed, and the public trust hits rock bottom.Becky McClainNews 8/14/26* This week, a new round of primaries was held in the upper midwest and New England. The biggest shock of the night was the defeat of Francesca Hong in the Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial primary. Hong, a Wisconsin State Assemblywoman and member of Madison DSA, went into election night leading in the polls and while she won an astonishing 311,000 votes, her opponent – Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, with the endorsement of sitting Democratic Governor Tony Evers – maintained a lead of approximately one-half of one percentage point throughout the night. As the final margin will be under 1 percent, Hong is entitled to request a recount, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, but WKOW reports she has conceded the race. Hong was seen as the best chance for the insurgent, DSA-aligned left to capture a gubernatorial nomination this cycle, particularly in a crucial swing state, but her campaign was dogged by electability concerns and unpopular past statements made by the candidate. Crowley will face Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany, who cruised to an easy victory in the GOP gubernatorial primary, in November.* The Minnesota primaries delivered more encouraging results for the left. In the high-profile Senate primary to replace retiring Senator Tina Smith, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan emerged victorious over her opponent, Congresswoman Angie Craig. Flanagan was backed by a broad, progressive coalition – including Senators Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey, and outgoing Senator Tina Smith herself – while Craig was backed by more centrist Democrats like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and ultrazionist Democratic Congressman Josh Gottheimer. If elected, Flanagan, a citizen of the White Earth Nation, would be the first Native American woman to serve in the U.S. Senate, per the Minnesota Reformer. Flanagan has also gone on record saying that Chuck Schumer, who would be poised to lead the Senate Democrats as Majority Leader if the party retakes that chamber, needs to be replaced with a “progressive champion” though she has not gone as far as Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan who explicitly called for Schumer to be replaced by Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, as reported by Semafor.* In more Minnesota news, Congresswoman Craig's decision to vacate her old seat in the state's second congressional district “created a crowded primary for her seat,” according to the Minnesota Star Tribune. On Tuesday, progressive candidate Matt Little triumphed. Little is a strong proponent of Medicare for All and does not blanch at describing Israel's campaign in Gaza as a genocide. Little overwhelmingly won the endorsement of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and of congressional progressives like Reps. Pramila Jayapal and Greg Casar, as well as the Progressive Caucus PAC. If Little wins in what the Star Tribune describes as a swing district historically, it will send a strong signal that progressives can win even in tough districts.* In New England, the results tell a somewhat different story. Specifically, in Connecticut's first congressional district, 14-term incumbent Congressman John Larson lost his primary to former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, over 30 years Larson's junior, by over 20 points. However, Bronin is far from a progressive challenger. Whereas Larson enjoyed the backing of the Working Families Party and Congressman Jamie Raskin – though he also had the backing of AIPAC – Bronin's only major national endorsement was from former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. In short, this would best be described as a non-ideological, but rather age-based primary challenge. This will surely set off major alarm bells for another aged incumbent in New England facing a much younger primary challenger: Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts. Additionally, as Ryan Grim notes, “John Larson was/is the champion of the bill to expand Social Security, which was up to…200+ cosponsors but [former Speaker Nancy] Pelosi would never allow it to get to the floor. There's now an extremely popular bill that could actually pass that needs a lead sponsor.”* Another recent primary loss is worth examining: that of Kshama Sawant in Seattle. Sawant, a former Seattle City Councilmember aligned with the Trotskyist Socialist Alternative party, resigned her council seat and sought to unseat her local Democratic Congressman Adam Smith, running as an independent in Washington's ninth congressional district. The state of Washington has a top two primary system, so Sawant would have only had to get the second most votes to secure a head-to-head matchup against Smith in November. Yet, instead Sawant finished a distant third behind Smith and the Republican candidate Doug Basler. Perhaps that doesn't seem surprising – independent and third party candidates are often outspent by huge margins. Yet, the facts belie that explanation. In fact, a new piece on the Joe Wrote substack finds that “Sawant's campaign wasn't the rag-tag, bootstrapped operation that we typically see from insurgent socialists. Sawant reported $607,493 in campaign spending, meaning she outspent Republican Doug Basler by over six-to-one and still lost to him.” Wrote goes on to state that “The Sawant campaign spent $25.33 per vote, the highest for any candidate in the race…The only registered PAC that spent on the race was Sawant's Revolutionary Change PAC, which raised $5,600 through ActBlue and spent it on billboards.” If nothing else, this test case demonstrates that money is not enough for the left to break through the two-party duopoly. A candidate also needs institutional, organizational support – like that of DSA – and, perhaps most importantly, broadbase solidarity with the other component parts of the movement. Going it alone simply will not get the job done.* In more independent and third party news, we have an update to a previous story about the race for Congress in Pennsylvania's seventh congressional district. Last week, we discussed Andrew Tupone, a candidate running in this race on the Green Party ballot line, despite the GP of Pennsylvania distancing themselves from him – and spokesman Chris Robinson even calling him a “a nice Republican.” According to Lehigh Valley Public Media, the Green Party is now going a step further, formally requesting the Pennsylvania courts “either kick Tupone off the ballot or require him to identify himself as a member of another party.” In their petition to the court, the Green Party argues that “Candidate Tupone and his agents or affiliates who circulated his nomination papers misled voters into signing the nomination papers on the mistaken belief that they were helping to place a candidate supported by the Green Party onto the ballot.” This piece also notes that three Lehigh Valley residents are challenging the petitions Tupone presented to get on the ballot, arguing that technical errors would disqualify thousands of these signatures. For his part, Tupone “has denied having any ulterior motive to enter the race or accepting financial assistance from any outside groups.”* At the same time, in Nebraska, it seems there are two, dueling faux third parties seeking to siphon off votes from the other side. The Nebraska Examiner reports that both the “Nebraska Democratic Party and the national Working Families Party have sued Nebraska's Working People Party to block it from the fall ballot.” The Democrats and WFP are seeking to block Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen from officially recognizing the party, and to “declare that the party's name is breaking state law because it is meant to confuse voters.” Apparently, Nebraska election law includes a provision allowing the secretary of state to “reject a candidate's filing if…that someone is not a ‘good-faith candidate' or is trying to cause confusion for voters,” and that “objections to party names can be considered.” The kicker is that last week, the Nebraska Republican Party filed a lawsuit alleging that the “America First Party” is a similarly bad-faith attempt to confuse and deceive voters and thereby undercut the fortunes of Nebraska Republicans. A Nebraska judge has issued an emergency injunction stopping certification of both the Nebraska Working People Party and America First Party through August 20th.* Turning to local news, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass appears to be moving against Councilmember Nithya Raman, her Democratic rival for the mayoralty in the general election. LAist reports that while Raman has chaired the Council's powerful Housing and Homeless Committee since 2023, Bass' close ally, Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson is “planning to announce…that the city will split the committee into two parts — one on housing, the other on homelessness — neither of which will be led by Raman.” In a campaign video, Raman alleged that the move constituted political retaliation, saying “I called for an audit of our homelessness programs…and now I've been removed…I might be getting punished for running against Mayor Bass, but Angelenos are the ones paying the price for these political games.” Mayor Bass and Councilmember Raman finished first and second respectively in the June primary, meaning they will face off in November with no Republican on the ballot.* In New York, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced this week that he will throw his weight behind a new bill in the city council seeking to curb Amazon's practice of utilizing subcontractors instead of directly employing delivery workers. The Wall Street Journal explains that although these subcontractors “aren't direct employees of…Amazon [or other companies], they often wear branded uniforms or vests and drive corporate-branded vans or trucks,” but are not entitled to the same workplace protections and are excluded from collective bargaining. In a statement, Mamdani highlighted how “Corporations like Amazon build billion-dollar business models by insulating themselves from accountability through a system of exploitative subcontracting.” The Journal reports the bill would also “require warehouse operators to obtain licenses from the city,” and in order to get a license, ”operators would have to adhere to new safety, training and employment requirements, including hiring thousands of the city's contract couriers.” In response, Amazon is, as usual, threatening to move its business out of the city, but also deploying its secret, New York-specific weapon: their chief lobbyist, Jessica Schumer, daughter of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, according to the American Prospect. This sets up a major clash between an array of titanic forces in New York politics and whether or not Mayor Mamdani emerges triumphant will be a huge test of his political clout.* Finally, AP reports the parliament of Lebanon voted this week to abolish the death penalty, making it the first nation in the Arab world to do so. This piece notes that the country has maintained an unofficial moratorium on capital punishment for over 20 years; while death sentences have been issued since then, they have all been suspended or commuted. The official sentence of capital punishment will be replaced with “life imprisonment with aggravated hard labor,” a somewhat vague legal concept that will have to be defined and refined as time goes on. AP adds that this vote comes amidst the Lebanese parliamentary debate over a proposed general amnesty law, that could “reduce sentences or even release convicted militants,” from the country's various civil wars, as well as others convicted of drug-related crimes. The parliamentary bloc of Hezbollah voted against the law. Lebanon banning capital punishment stands in stark contrast to the Israeli Knesset, which voted in May to adopt a new death penalty statute described by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights as perpetuating “racial discrimination against Palestinians” and amounting to “a grave erosion of human rights.”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

08/10/26: Senator Tina Smith became Minnesota’s 48th Lieutenant Governor in 2015, was appointed to the U.S. Senate in 2017 and won in 2020 for her full 6-year term. She announced in February that she will not run for reelection. Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and Congresswoman Angie Craig are both hoping to win the August 11th primary for the November election. Senator Smith talks about the Minnesota primary, President Donald Trump, and other Washington, D.C. news with Joel Heitkamp. (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Polling has Peggy Flanagan and Angie Craig at a near dead heat heading into Tuesday. And it's to the fill the seat of Tina Smith, who succeeded Al Franken, who succeeded Norm Coleman, who lost to Franken in a long recount in 2008. Following me? Norm Coleman's attorney in that process was Fritz Knaak....and he joined Vineeta for a great conversation on Thursday on The WCCO Morning News.

Polling has Peggy Flanagan and Angie Craig at a near dead heat heading into Tuesday. And it's to the fill the seat of Tina Smith, who succeeded Al Franken, who succeeded Norm Coleman, who lost to Franken in a long recount in 2008. Following me? Norm Coleman's attorney in that process was Fritz Knaak....and he joined Vineeta for a great conversation on Thursday on The WCCO Morning News.

Ageism is everywhere—from everyday birthday cards and healthcare visits to workplace dynamics and the subtle ways we talk to ourselves. Yet, despite being one of the most pervasive forms of discrimination, it remains one of the least discussed. In this episode of Caregiver S.O.S. On Air, hosts Ron Aaron and Carol Zernial sit down with Tina Smith, Director of Caregiving Programs at the WellMed Charitable Foundation, to dissect how deeply ingrained age bias impacts both family caregivers and older adults.

Here is a detailed episode description tailored for your show notes and podcast platforms: Episode Title: Reframing Aging: Overcoming Ageism in Caregiving & Daily LifeEpisode Summary Ageism is everywhere—from everyday birthday cards and healthcare visits to workplace dynamics and the subtle ways we talk to ourselves. Yet, despite being one of the most pervasive forms of discrimination, it remains one of the least discussed. In this episode of Caregiver S.O.S. On Air, hosts Ron Aaron and Carol Zernial sit down with Tina Smith, Director of Caregiving Programs at the WellMed Charitable Foundation, to dissect how deeply ingrained age bias impacts both family caregivers and older adults. Together, they explore the concept of "therapeutic nihilism" in medicine, the dangerous myth that aging equals decline, and how language like "you look great for your age" unintentionally reinforces stereotypes. Drawing from research by the Frameworks Institute and the National Center to Reframe Aging, Tina shares practical insights on how to shift our internal dialogues, build intergenerational connections, and challenge ageist assumptions in daily life. Key Takeaways & Highlights What Is Ageism? How stereotyping and prejudice based on age begin as early as childhood through media, advertisements, and culture. The Caregiver Connection: How ageism can skew a caregiver’s view of their care recipient—and how society’s perception of aging adds extra burden to caregivers. Ageism in Healthcare: Understanding "therapeutic nihilism," where medical providers dismiss real health issues as "just getting old," and why self-advocacy is vital. Language Matters: The power of reframing everyday terms—such as shifting from "senior citizen" to "older adult"—and avoiding subtle backhanded compliments. Bridging the Generational Gap: Why ageism cuts both ways, affecting younger generations as well, and how initiatives like Generations Over Dinner foster empathy across age groups. Changing Your Internal Narrative: Practical steps to catch yourself when internalizing ageist beliefs and why adding life to our years means rejecting self-imposed limitations. About Tina Tina Smith, Director of Caregiver Programs at the WellMed Charitable Foundation, is a dedicated leader in social gerontology and senior support. Based in the San Antonio area, she oversees operations for the foundation's Caregiver SOS programs, which provide education, resources, and support to family caregivers. Which podcast platforms or social media outlets are you planning to share this on? I can tailor promotional posts or short-form teasers to match! Hosts Ron Aaron and Carol Zernial, and their guests talk about Caregiving and how to best cope with the stresses associated with it. Learn about "Caregiver SOS" and the "Teleconnection Hotline" programs. Caregiver SOS On Air is a presentation of the WellMed Charitable Foundation. For more resources, tips, and past episodes, visit caregiversos.org or email your questions to radio@wellmed.net.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MPR News hosted a debate in one of the most closely watched primary races in Minnesota, the U.S. Senate Democratic primary. U.S. Rep. Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan are the front runners vying for the seat that will be vacated by U.S. Sen. Tina Smith's retirement. University of Minnesota political scientist Larry Jacobs joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini in the studio after listening to the debate and provided analysis.

In this episode of the award-winning Caregiver S.O.S. On Air, hosts Ron Aaron and Carol Zernial sit down with Tina Smith, Director of Caregiving Programs at the WellMed Charitable Foundation. Together, they dive deep into the concept of ageism, exploring both its overt and covert forms, and how it actively limits the expectations we place on older adults and family caregivers.

Ageism is everywhere—built into our greeting cards, embedded in media advertisements, and quietly influencing how we talk to ourselves and our loved ones. But how do the words we choose actually impact our quality of life and the way we care for others? In this episode of the award-winning Caregiver S.O.S. On Air, hosts Ron Aaron and Carol Zernial sit down with Tina Smith, Director of Caregiving Programs at the WellMed Charitable Foundation. Together, they dive deep into the concept of ageism, exploring both its overt and covert forms, and how it actively limits the expectations we place on older adults and family caregivers. From navigating "therapeutic nihilism" in healthcare to shifting away from outdated terms like "senior citizen," this conversation highlights the national movement to reframe aging. Tune in to discover how changing your internal voice and being mindful of daily language can completely transform the aging process, foster deeper connections across generations, and help us all live longer, healthier lives without self-imposed limits. Key Takeaways The Power of Reframing Language: The words we use matter. Shifting from loaded phrases like "senior citizen" to more neutral terms like "older adult" can drastically reduce negative connotations and combat implicit bias. Even common phrases like "she looks great for her age" subconsciously reinforce ageist stereotypes. Ageism Cuts Both Ways in Caregiving: Ageism heavily impacts family caregivers. It can skew a caregiver’s perception of their care recipient's actual capabilities, leading them to unnecessarily limit an older adult's independence. Confronting Ageism in Healthcare: Older adults frequently face "therapeutic nihilism"—a form of medical stereotyping where providers dismiss treatable ailments with a simple, "You're just getting older, what do you expect?" The episode emphasizes the vital importance of self-advocacy and speaking up in medical settings. Changing the Internal Voice: Society's obsession with anti-aging often causes individuals to internalize negative stereotypes long before they reach old age. The first step to healthier aging is self-reflection and silencing the internal voice that says, "I'm too old to do this." Bridging the Generational Divide: Ageism isn't exclusive to older generations; younger adults also struggle to feel heard in today's economy. Initiatives like San Antonio's "Generations Over Dinner" demonstrate how sitting down and listening across at least three generations can break down mutual stereotypes and lift everyone up. About Tina Tina Smith, Director of Caregiver Programs at the WellMed Charitable Foundation, is a dedicated leader in social gerontology and senior support. Based in the San Antonio area, she oversees operations for the foundation's Caregiver SOS programs, which provide education, resources, and support to family caregivers. Hosts Ron Aaron and Carol Zernial, and their guests talk about Caregiving and how to best cope with the stresses associated with it. Learn about "Caregiver SOS" and the "Teleconnection Hotline" programs. Caregiver SOS On Air is a presentation of the WellMed Charitable Foundation. For more resources, tips, and past episodes, visit caregiversos.org or email your questions to radio@wellmed.net.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

06/16/26: Minnesota Lieutenant Governor and Democrat endorsed candidate for U.S. Senate Peggy Flanagan says the state needs to move up it’s primary election. The primary election is August 11th, Flanagan says the turnaround to the November election can be difficult for candidates. Flanagan is running against Congresswoman Angie Craig for the U.S. Senate seat of Tina Smith, who is retiring. Craig made the decision to skip the party endorsement process and take the race straight to the primary election. (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crush plants provide a new local market. U.S. Sen. Tina Smith is optimistic about a new farm bill. How donated land helps expand precision livestock education. Why North Dakota land prices are flat.

In a program devoted to the topic of AI, Ralph welcomes first, Tyson Slocum, director of the energy group at Public Citizen, who tells us about the local backlash against the construction of data centers. Then New York Times climate writer, David Wallace-Wells, explains how the Big Tech CEOs did not count on human beings possibly rising up against them and their machines.Tyson Slocum is director of Public Citizen's Energy Program, covering the regulation of petroleum, natural gas and power markets. He serves on the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission's “Energy & Environmental Markets Advisory Committee,” and frequently intervenes before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) representing the interests of household consumers.The basic question is they (Big Tech companies) are developing essentially governmental powers— governmental powers— not market powers or corporate powers. They've reached a level now where they are our government, the corporate government. And we have to escalate our urgencies to that level. It's more than just the hour is late. The hour is over. So we have to go back and respond with a completely unprecedented level of public interest, standards, etc., including whether this technology (AI) should be allowed at all.Ralph NaderI definitely see that we are in a speculative bubble. That bubble will burst. And folks within the AI industry, like Sam Altman, have been very clear where they have publicly said, when the bubble breaks, we expect to get a financial bailout because our AI applications are so important to the national interest.Tyson SlocumAnd the backlash to data centers isn't just about, oh, I'm concerned about my power rates going up or I'm concerned about the noise or the water usage. It's also a civil rights and human rights issue where people are saying, I don't like this vision that Big Tech is laying out for us that is going to be produced in this building down the street from our community.Tyson SlocumDavid Wallace-Wells is a columnist and staff writer at the New York Times, where he writes a weekly newsletter on climate change, technology, and the future of the planet. He is the author of the book, The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming. His recent feature in the New York Times Magazine is “AI Populism is Here. And No One is Ready.”Just over the last six months, there's been a huge surge in anti-AI and in particular anti-data center organizing and activism in the U.S. And you can see that on the ground where you see huge crowds coming to town halls to protest new data centers that are being proposed. You see some towns that have approved those data centers literally having their entire city council voted out of office as a result. And you see it in these surveys where within the span of just a few months. Huge sentiment flips among the American public from being basically agnostic about AI with some misgivings and some optimism to pretty striking majority opposition to the technology and the infrastructure build out that it requires.David Wallace-WellsThis (AI) is a technological revolution that has been designed and is being built by an extremely small number of people with very particular idiosyncratic, in certain ways, I think, somewhat sociopathic worldviews.David Wallace-WellsNews 6/5/26* Our top story this week comes from Congress, where the House has, at long last, successfully pushed through a War Powers Resolution on Iran. As NPR notes “The resolution had originally been set for a vote two weeks ago, but Republican leaders sent House members home early for a May recess when it appeared the largely Democratic-backed measure had enough Republican votes for passage.” However, this did not substantially erode Republican support and the resolution passed by a margin of 215 to 208, with four Republicans, led by Thomas Massie, voting for a cessation of hostilities. The measure now heads to the Senate, where Democrats have been pressing the matter as well but face an uphill battle, and even if it passes through the upper chamber, President Trump is likely to veto the measure if it arrives on his desk. Moreover, House progressives are now pushing a new War Powers Resolution, this one focusing on Lebanon. POLITICO reports Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib forced a vote this Thursday on a resolution calling for the removal of U.S. troops from Lebanon in seven days, despite opposition from the leadership of her own party. The resolution failed by a wide margin, but still garnered a respectable 92 votes, including support from Congressman Massie. Symbolic though they may be, these votes show a growing backlash to Trump's military adventurism abroad, particularly in the Middle East. With oil prices continuing to rise, this discontent shows no sign of abating.* The main news this week however were the primaires. Tuesday saw a wave of major Democratic primaries across the country. Faiz Shakir, longtime advisor to Bernie Sanders and Executive Director of More Perfect Union, reports that election night was a “clean sweep for Bernie's endorsements” with five out of five of these candidates set to win the Democratic nomination in their respective races. One race Shakir highlighted was Sam Forstag's bid for Congress in Montana's 1st congressional district. Forstag, a firefighter – technically a “smokejumper,” who parachutes into remote areas to extinguish wildfires – earned the endorsements of AOC, Jamie Raskin, Pramila Jayapal and others, as well as many unions, in addition to that of Senator Sanders. Meanwhile in the Montana Senate race, Alani Bankhead has triumphed in the Democratic primary. According to Semafor, “Republicans suspect Bankhead will essentially cede the race to [independent candidate Seth] Bodnar (despite her denials), which would make the general election more competitive.” Bodnar is the former president of the University of Montana and his campaign is backed by former Democratic Senator Jon Tester. One recent poll of a head-to-head match up of Bodnar against Republican nominee Kurt Alme shows the candidates in a dead heat.* In New Jersey, two more Sanders-endorsed candidates have emerged victorious: Analilia Mejia and Dr. Adam Hamawy. Mejia won the special election to replace now-Governor Mikie Sherill in April, beating out former Congressman Tom Malinowksi, the heavy favorite in that race. Mejia is very likely to win this seat again in November, as she already defeated the Republican nominee, Joe Hathaway, in the special election. This from MorristownGreen. Perhaps more surprisingly is the victory of Dr. Adam Hamawy. Now a plastic surgeon, he has distinguished himself for his heroism: saving the life of now-Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth when her Blackhawk helicopter was shot down in Iraq, serving as a first responder to the 9/11 attacks, and most recently, for his work in Gaza. As the Intercept puts it, “In 2024, [Hamawy]...went to Gaza to provide medical aid to Palestinians wounded by Israeli forces and was temporarily trapped there after Israel closed the Rafah border crossing. When the crossing was reopened, Hamawy was among a small group who refused to leave on demands that more medical workers be let in.” Hamawy's progressive policy platform includes support for Medicare for All, abolishing ICE, and opposing military aid to Israel. He is almost guaranteed to win this D+13 seat, succeeding Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman.* The candidates Bernie endorsed in California also prevailed, with Randy Villegas poised to win his primary in the state's 22nd congressional district and Jane Kim winning her race for California Insurance Commissioner, but the results from the state overall are more mixed. As of now, Republican Gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton leads in the count, with centrist Democrat and former Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra in a close second and progressive billionaire Tom Steyer in third. However, as the count continues, Steyer's margin continues to improve while Hilton's ebbs away – meaning the runoff could end up being Becerra vs. Steyer, though it is still too early to say. A similar dynamic is unfolding in Los Angeles, where incumbent Mayor Karen Bass is ensured a slot in the general election while her opponents – Councilwoman Nithya Raman to her left and former reality TV star Spencer Pratt to her right – continue to duke it out for the second slot. With California's notoriously glacial counting pace and the LA Times reporting that millions of ballots remain to be counted, all we can do is watch and wait.* However, up in Minnesota, another Bernie-backed candidate is on the road to victory. On Tuesday, Peggy Flanagan, the Lieutenant Governor seeking the Senate seat being vacated by Amy Klobuchar, overwhelmingly won the endorsement of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. Her closest rival, Congresswoman Angie Craig, did not even bother to attend the party convention. While Craig decried the supposed anti-democratic nature of a party convention endorsement, Flanagan posted a video telling Craig “If you can't show up and face your own party, then you're not ready to face Republicans,” per the Nation. Flanagan can boast the endorsement of many high-profile progressives in addition to Sanders, such as Senators Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey, and Minnesota's own Tina Smith, among many others. If elected, she would be the first ever Native American woman to serve as Governor of an American state.* More much-publicized endorsements came this week from AOC and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who both endorsed DSA-aligned legislative candidates, but as City and State NY notes, not the same ones. Mamdani gave his blessing to Darializa Avila Chevalier, a DSA-backed candidate running to unseat powerful Rep. Adriano Espaillat who is seeking his sixth term in Congress. Polling shows Avila Chevalier runs ahead of Espaillat when voters learn about her platform, but lags behind due to low name recognition – something the Zohran endorsement is sure to help remedy. Meanwhile AOC issued her endorsement of four DSA candidates for the state legislature. This all suggests that the two titans of the New York City Democratic Socialist movement are coordinating – with Zohran seeking to boost DSA's prospects without alienating the New York state establishment and vice versa for AOC – but that is nothing more than a hunch.* Looking southward, lame duck Republican Senator John Cornyn this week posted an article on his official Twitter page titled “Libertarian Ted Brown courts disaffected conservative voters in Texas' U.S. Senate race,” from Houston Public Media. Senator Cornyn's comment – “Ruh roh” – set off a firestorm of speculation that this was a subtle endorsement of the Libertarian's campaign and intended to undermine the campaign of his erstwhile opponent and victor of the Republican Senate primary, Ken Paxton. While Cornyn has furiously denied that this is in any way an endorsement of Brown, calling even the “characterization” that he is “promoting” this candidate “fake news,” there is little doubt that posting about Brown from his official account constitutes a promotion of the campaign, albeit not an endorsement. It will be interesting to see whether Cornyn takes other subtle, or not so subtle, digs at Paxton over the course of the campaign, given that he seems to hold a substantial degree of antipathy towards the Texas Attorney General.* Our next two stories come to us from Florida. First, in Florida's 24th congressional district, the National Journal reports longtime Congresswoman Frederica Wilson will not seek reelection. We recently discussed Congresswoman Wilson on this segment when it was revealed that she had been MIA from the House for weeks following an undisclosed eye surgery. Wilson is 82 years old. The National Journal couches this story in the context of aged members of Congress accepting, or more often refusing, to pass the torch. In its gerontocracy tracker, it highlights members like Doris Matsui, John Garamendi, Jim Clyburn and Maxine Waters, all of whom are 80 years old or older, who are actively seeking reelection this cycle.* Meanwhile, in Florida's 20th district, the Sunshine State's redistricting initiative has put the historically Black district in jeopardy. Under the newly drawn lines, the frontrunner in this seat is Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and though she claims the Congressional Black Caucus and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told her that “they know I know our community” the CBC has not endorsed her and Rep. Yvette Clarke, the CBC's chairwoman, said the caucus did not encourage Wasserman Schultz to run in the district. However, there are currently four Black candidates vying for the seat previously held by Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, including Cherfilus-McCormick herself as well as progressive challenger Elijah Manley, former Mayor of Broward County Dale Holness and Luther Campbell the former rapper more famously known as Uncle Luke. Now, according to the Miami Herald, all four of these candidates are meeting to “discuss coalescing behind one candidate.” Manley is quoted in this piece saying that while they have not reached an agreement, they “did agree that we needed to consolidate,” and he said the “conversations are going on. They have been very constructive and fruitful.” It is encouraging that in the wake of Callais decision we are beginning to see a more strategic approach to Black political representation, which has been too long monopolized by powerful longtime incumbents intent on nothing so much as preserving their own fiefdoms.* Finally, in a story shocking to exactly no one, Axios is out with a new report showing that the National Guard occupation of Washington D.C. has done little to reduce crime in the District. Per a new study by the centrist Niskansen Center, while the security theater of the deployment seems to have deterred “opportunistic” property crime, violent crime remained on the same downward trajectory it had been on since before the deployment. Moreover, the promised co-benefit – that the presence of the Guard would free up the Metropolitan Police Department to focus on high-crime areas – did not materialize at all. Despite these lackluster results, President Trump plans to double the National Guard presence in Washington – which already costs $1.5 million a day – ahead of the 250th anniversary events this summer. This is an outrageous waste of taxpayer money especially now that we know for sure how little impact this hostile occupation is actually having on driving down violent crime.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

This hour Scott Korzenowski (in for Chad Hartman) talks about Tina Smith speaks out on Metro Surge, we get an update on Trump's ballroom, he discusses the state cutting Medicaid funding, and FIFA needs to own their pricing mistake.

Despite a disadvantage in the fundraising game, she is favored to pick up the DFL Nomination over Angie Craig this weekend at the DFL Convention. What sets her campaign apart from others? Will fraud allegations hurt her campaign? Find out on the WCCO Morning News with Vineeta Sawkar! Photo from Flanagan Campaign.

Karee White joins host Ron Aaron and guest co-host Tina Smith to talk about her caregiving story on this edition of Caregiver SOS.

Dr. Paul Bendheim joins host Ron Aaron and guest co-host Tina Smith to talk about providing care using a simple, evidence-based lifestyle on this edition of Caregiver SOS.

Part 3 brings it all together: activation, integration, and responsibility. This is where prophecy becomes sustainable. We now step into what it actually looks like to steward both well. because the goal isn't just awareness, it's transformation. This conversation equips you with the tools to build a prophetic life that is not only powerful but stable, grounded, and trustworthy. What You'll Learn in Part 3: How to regulate your emotions while carrying prophetic revelation Practical ways to steward your mental and spiritual health together How to build sustainable rhythms as a prophetic voice The role of accountability, leadership, and community in prophetic growth A Word from Tina Smith "Maturity in the prophetic is not just what you hear, it's how you carry it." About Tina Smith Tina J. Smith is a Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist. She is the founder of Tina J. Smith & Associates Counselling & Psychotherapy. The founder and executive director of the not-for-profit charity Selah Treatment Centre. Tina specializes in trauma and attachment treatment for children, youth, and adults. 

Part 3 brings it all together: activation, integration, and responsibility. This is where prophecy becomes sustainable. We now step into what it actually looks like to steward both well. because the goal isn't just awareness, it's transformation. This conversation equips you with the tools to build a prophetic life that is not only powerful but stable, grounded, and trustworthy. What You'll Learn in Part 3: How to regulate your emotions while carrying prophetic revelation Practical ways to steward your mental and spiritual health together How to build sustainable rhythms as a prophetic voice The role of accountability, leadership, and community in prophetic growth A Word from Tina Smith "Maturity in the prophetic is not just what you hear, it's how you carry it." About Tina Smith Tina J. Smith is a Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist. She is the founder of Tina J. Smith & Associates Counselling & Psychotherapy. The founder and executive director of the not-for-profit charity Selah Treatment Centre. Tina specializes in trauma and attachment treatment for children, youth, and adults. 

In Part 2, we go deeper, beyond awareness and into responsibility. This conversation confronts the hidden reality that many prophets avoid: how unhealed wounds, identity gaps, and emotional triggers can distort what you believe you're discerning. This is where maturity begins. What You'll Learn in Part 2: How emotional triggers can masquerade as spiritual discernment Why self-awareness is essential for prophetic integrity The difference between projection vs. true revelation How identity and insecurity can influence what you release prophetically A Word from Tina Smith "Not everything you feel is revelation; sometimes it's activation." This episode will challenge you, sharpen you, and expose the areas where growth is no longer optional. Because the weight of the prophetic requires more than gifting—it requires inner alignment. About Tina Smith Tina J. Smith is a Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist. She is the founder of Tina J. Smith & Associates Counselling & Psychotherapy. The founder and executive director of the not-for-profit charity Selah Treatment Centre. Tina specializes in trauma and attachment treatment for children, youth, and adults. 

In Part 2, we go deeper, beyond awareness and into responsibility. This conversation confronts the hidden reality that many prophets avoid: how unhealed wounds, identity gaps, and emotional triggers can distort what you believe you're discerning. This is where maturity begins. What You'll Learn in Part 2: How emotional triggers can masquerade as spiritual discernment Why self-awareness is essential for prophetic integrity The difference between projection vs. true revelation How identity and insecurity can influence what you release prophetically A Word from Tina Smith "Not everything you feel is revelation; sometimes it's activation." This episode will challenge you, sharpen you, and expose the areas where growth is no longer optional. Because the weight of the prophetic requires more than gifting—it requires inner alignment. About Tina Smith Tina J. Smith is a Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist. She is the founder of Tina J. Smith & Associates Counselling & Psychotherapy. The founder and executive director of the not-for-profit charity Selah Treatment Centre. Tina specializes in trauma and attachment treatment for children, youth, and adults. 

In this powerful conversation, we begin unpacking why prophecy and psychology were never meant to compete. Instead, they reveal how God designed the prophetic gift to function through a healthy, aware, and regulated human vessel. When prophets ignore their internal world, revelation can become filtered through fear, trauma, or survival responses. But when prophets understand their psychology, discernment becomes clearer and prophetic accuracy increases. This episode opens the door to a critical truth: God designed your mind and your prophetic gift to work together.  What You'll Learn in Part 1: How prophetic revelation travels through your nervous system, emotions, and thought patterns. Why prophecy and psychology are not enemies—but partners. The difference between spiritual discernment and emotional activation. How unprocessed trauma can influence prophetic interpretation. A Word from Tina Smith "Revelation doesn't bypass your humanity—it flows through it!" About Tina Smith Tina J. Smith is a Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist. She is the founder of Tina J. Smith & Associates Counselling & Psychotherapy. The founder and executive director of the not-for-profit charity Selah Treatment Centre. Tina specializes in trauma and attachment treatment for children, youth, and adults. 

In this powerful conversation, we begin unpacking why prophecy and psychology were never meant to compete. Instead, they reveal how God designed the prophetic gift to function through a healthy, aware, and regulated human vessel. When prophets ignore their internal world, revelation can become filtered through fear, trauma, or survival responses. But when prophets understand their psychology, discernment becomes clearer and prophetic accuracy increases. This episode opens the door to a critical truth: God designed your mind and your prophetic gift to work together.  What You'll Learn in Part 1: How prophetic revelation travels through your nervous system, emotions, and thought patterns. Why prophecy and psychology are not enemies—but partners. The difference between spiritual discernment and emotional activation. How unprocessed trauma can influence prophetic interpretation. A Word from Tina Smith "Revelation doesn't bypass your humanity—it flows through it!" About Tina Smith Tina J. Smith is a Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist. She is the founder of Tina J. Smith & Associates Counselling & Psychotherapy. The founder and executive director of the not-for-profit charity Selah Treatment Centre. Tina specializes in trauma and attachment treatment for children, youth, and adults. 

The U.S. Senate voted 50-49 Thursday morning to overturn a 20-year ban on mining near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Republican Rep. Pete Stauber, who represents northeastern Minnesota, introduced the legislation. Both of Minnesota's U.S. senators, Democrats Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, urged their colleagues to vote it down. President Donald Trump is expected to sign the measure into law. Its passage is a win for the company Twin Metals, a subsidiary of the Chilean mining firm Antofagasta, which aims to open an underground copper-nickel mine just south of the boundary waters.Julie Lucas represents Twin Metals and other companies as executive director of the industry group, MiningMinnesota. She joined MPR News host Kelly Gordon with reaction to the Senate's vote.

The BWCA was the topic that lit a fire under Minnesota's Junior Senator. Reaction from Blois Olson on The WCCO Morning News with Vineeta Sawkar.

EF High School Exchange Year is bringing the world to local classrooms, giving students a firsthand look at life in another country. Host parent Desiree Warlick is joined by exchange students Sille Adler of Denmark, who attends Spotsylvania High School, and Alessia Tammaro of Italy, a student at Louisa High School, along with regional coordinator Tina Smith to break down what the experience is really like—from adjusting to a new culture to opening your home. For more information, visit efexchangeyear.org.

The former WCCO Radio host and longtime sports reporter is running for the seat being vacated by Senator Tina Smith. Her reaction to the ceasefire in Iran, and why she is running for office in a very interesting interview on the WCCO Morning News, featuring fill in host, Tom Hauser. Photo-courtesy of Michele Tafoya campaign

It's been about a month since White House Official Tom Homan announced a drawdown of federal immigration officers in Minnesota, but the news from a fearful public and growing concern for those impacted remains. Lawmakers at the state Capitol are responding to the fallout from “Operation Metro Surge” through a variety of bills. They're also holding press conferences and speaking on the floor of the House and Senate about what happened during the surge, from federal agents using unmarked vehicles and wearing masks, to whether the state should provide rental assistance for those afraid to leave their homes.  MPR News host Catharine Richert talks with two lawmakers about the immigration legislation at the state Capitol, and what may or may not get done with a tied House.  Later, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith has been outspoken on Capitol Hill. In the year from her announcement to not run for reelection, Smith has been quick to criticize the White House from the ICE surge to the war in Iran. Smith details those events and how she plans to close out her term with MPR News political correspondent Dana Ferguson.Guests:DFL Sen. Zaynab Mohamed of Minneapolis Republican Rep. Max Rymer of North Branch Democratic U.S. Sen. Tina SmithDana Ferguson, political correspondent for MPR NewsPeter Cox, correspondent for MPR NewsUse the audio player above to listen to the full conversation or subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.

Minnesota U.S. Sen. Tina Smith says President Donald Trump's firing of Kristi Noem as Homeland Security secretary is welcome news -- but she is skeptical about his pick to replace her. Trump says he'll nominate one of Smith's Senate colleagues, GOP Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin. Flags were at half-staff across Minnesota Friday in honor of Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor of White Bear Lake, who was killed in an airstrike in Kuwait.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Elena See. Music by Gary Meister.Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.

The White House official overseeing the federal immigration operation in Minnesota said today that about 2,000 federal agents have left the state.And Minnesota Democratic U.S. Senator Tina Smith says negotiations with Republicans over funding for the Department of Homeland Security don't appear to be making much progress.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

The junior senator from Minnesota joined Tim on Wednesday for the first show of a two-night Bulwark run at the historic Pantages Theatre in Minneapolis—the city that caught ICE off-guard with its "radical empathy" and kick-ass organizing skills. It was the "secret sauce" of Minnesotans that looks to have federal agents winding down their operation there. Plus, Democrats need to continue to hold the line on DHS funding, the incompetent clown atop the DoD and other loser Republicans, the Senate is fundamentally broken, and the beauty of retiring to make way for a new generation of leaders.Sen. Tina Smith joins Tim Miller.show notesTickets are now on sale for our LIVE shows in Dallas on March 18 and in Austin on March 19: TheBulwark.com/Events.

The National Congress of American Indians hosts the State of Indian Nations on February 9, 2026. Speakers Larry Wright, Executive Director, NCAI Jonas Kanuhsa, Co-President, NCAI Youth Commission Angelina Serna, Co-President, NCAI Youth Commission Mark Macarro, President, NCAI Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minnesota) The State of Indian Nations kicked of NCAI's executive council winter session. The event is taking place in Washington, D.C. More from NCAI: https://www.ncai.org/event/2026-soin

The National Congress of American Indians hosts the State of Indian Nations on February 9, 2026. Speakers Larry Wright, Executive Director, NCAI Jonas Kanuhsa, Co-President, NCAI Youth Commission Angelina Serna, Co-President, NCAI Youth Commission Mark Macarro, President, NCAI Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minnesota) The State of Indian Nations kicked of NCAI's executive council winter session. The event is taking place in Washington, D.C. More from NCAI: https://www.ncai.org/event/2026-soin

02/03/26: Joel Heitkamp is joined by United States Senator Tina Smith to talk about ICE in Minnesota and her recent endorsement of U.S. Senate candidate, Peggy Flanagan. (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matt at the Pretti memorial; Man with severe head injuries likely caused ny agents; Texas special election sees heavily favored Republican lose; new Epstein files releases with more allegations against Trump; quid pro quo with Trump and UAE sheikh; Oscar nominations; Trump responds to Trevor Noah’s Epstein Island joke; Tina Smith endorses Flanagan as her…

Chef Sean Sherman from Owamni joins Jason after a trip to Washington to share a petition with Senator Tina Smith involving immigration and the need for reform.

Friday 4pm Hour: Jason hosts another exciting edition of his game-show - Card DeSharks! Then he's joined by Sean Sherman from Owamni joins Jason after a trip to Washington to meet with Sen. Tina Smith with a petition for immigration reform.

Discover the lighter side of parenting, marriage, and family life with Tina and Britt in this episode. Join two real moms as they share hilarious stories, relatable struggles, and honest conversations about raising kids, navigating relationships, and finding joy in everyday chaos. Whether you're dealing with mom brain, bedtime routines, or the unpredictability of family adventures, this episode will leave you laughing and inspired to embrace imperfection. Perfect for parents, couples, and anyone who loves authentic, funny, and heartwarming podcasts about family and personal growth.Keywords: parenting podcast, mom humor, marriage advice, family stories, real moms, laughter, embracing imperfection, funny parenting, relationships, personal growthFor Women Only by Shaunti Feldhan https://www.amazon.com/Women-Only-Revised-Updated-about-ebook/dp/B001E2NXBQ?crid=E4JGDJLD75O2&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.__9diSCBjGwQu948jFa2vfzH39P7yb2MaezDcYwRk6ZASei3nImtdQWP0CP2qq_KzWrfIQV_lOMYTk2fL-nL10MI52eMqioJ-nQ69UoQn8kEUrkZw3tAciE0-TYIfUfQijMgrIakCWakjWY-0L_iFmKogzthm44S7y3xfVfQCfUEO5DpdIRX3ajhKxI_PSbtnqiVOSwsNnZioHvfxIQ7n3KjrjLtJyjx6jBIRvtIrBA.7OFkCz_cwYDsSTXVLIXPibCdMyuxsfiLt8uj5Z2m7Lc&dib_tag=se&keywords=for+women+only&qid=1769733831&sprefix=for+wmen+only%2Caps%2C207&sr=8-1Listen to the Raising Kids on Your Knees Podcast with Tina Smith https://RaisingKidsOnYourKnees.org/podcastFlying Arrow Productions

For a closer look at the concerns in Minnesota and the killings of U.S. citizens there, Amna Nawaz spoke with Sen. Tina Smith. She's a Democrat and one of many who say they won't vote for any further funding for ICE and the Department of Homeland Security. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

For a closer look at the concerns in Minnesota and the killings of U.S. citizens there, Amna Nawaz spoke with Sen. Tina Smith. She's a Democrat and one of many who say they won't vote for any further funding for ICE and the Department of Homeland Security. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

1. Portrayal of ICE Operations ICE arrests in Minnesota (Minneapolis/St. Paul) are presented as targeting violent criminal offenders, including: Registered sex offenders Individuals accused of rape Individuals with histories of domestic violence, DUI, and sexual assault These individuals were previously free due to local non‑cooperation with ICE. ICE is described as fulfilling its intended mission of removing dangerous criminals from communities. 2. Criticism of Democratic Leadership Minnesota Democratic officials (mayors, city council members, state leaders) National Democratic figures (Chuck Schumer, Chris Van Hollen, Tina Smith, Stacey Abrams, Jon Ossoff) Key accusations include: Shielding criminal undocumented immigrants Encouraging or excusing obstruction of ICE operations Falsely portraying ICE as abusive or authoritarian Refusing to condemn protests that allegedly crossed legal or ethical lines (e.g., disrupting church services) 3. Depiction of Internal Democratic Conflict There is a “civil war” within the Democratic Party: One faction allegedly wants to abolish ICE outright Another faction purportedly wants to soften rhetoric while effectively achieving the same outcome Democrats are accused of strategically “humanizing criminals” and “dehumanizing ICE agents” to influence public perception. 4. Framing of Protests and Activism Protesters opposing ICE are described as: “Far‑left,” “radical,” or “deranged” Protecting criminals rather than communities Protests at or inside churches are portrayed as violations of social and religious norms. Democratic officials are criticized for characterizing these protests as mostly peaceful and justified. 5. Media and Narrative Control Mainstream and local media underreport crimes committed by arrested undocumented immigrants Media figures fail to challenge false or extreme claims made about ICE ICE agents are framed as unfairly maligned while operating under hostile political conditions. 6. Broader Ideological Framing The Democratic Party is portrayed as influenced by: Marxism, socialism, and communism Anti‑police and anti‑law‑enforcement ideology References to Hitler, Hugo Chávez, and authoritarianism are used to argue that left‑wing populism is dangerous and historically problematic. 7. Pro‑Trump and Law‑and‑Order Message Donald Trump is: A defender of law enforcement A counterweight to radical left activism Voter support for Trump is driven by a desire for public safety, border enforcement, and accountability. Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast and Verdict with Ted Cruz Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening X: https://x.com/benfergusonshowYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a textToday's episode is an invitation to listen closely—to grief, to courage, and to the hard work of hope. My guest is Darcy McKenzie, a social and political activist in Minneapolis, and our conversation begins where so many lives were altered: George Floyd. Where were you when it happened? What was your response? How did it change you? Darcy answers those questions with honesty shaped by experience—growing up in rural, agricultural America; living with a tenuous relationship to the Church; and carrying the layered truths of atrocities we too often rush past, including the tragic shooting death of Renee Nicole Good.We talk about Minneapolis in the shadow of ICE, about video evidence without a hearing, about the politics of spectacle—cowboy hats and bounty promises—and about what it means to be a military mom when the state feels like a regime. Along the way, Darcy names political heroes and builders—people like Tim Walz, Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith, Brian O'Hare, and Paul Cumings—and asks what real leadership looks like now.Most of all, we ask what we're hoping for in 2026, and why optimism—clear-eyed, grounded optimism—still makes sense. SHOW NOTESSupport the showBecome a Patron - Click on the link to learn how you can become a Patron of the show. Thank you! Ken's Substack Page The Podcast Official Site: TheBeachedWhiteMale.com

KSTP-TV political reporter Tom Hauser joins Chad with great information to share from his event with the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul and analysis of what Michele Tayofa's impact will be on the race for the Senate to be vacated by Tina Smith.

With the American republic hanging in the balance, Ralph calls on Democrats to pressure Republicans in the House and Senate to impeach Trump before the midterms or suffer the consequences. Then, we welcome Dino Grandoni, co-author of a Washington Post report on the surprising ways various species of animals and plants help advance our own health and longevity.Dino Grandoni is a reporter who covers life sciences for the Washington Post. He was part of a reporting team that was a finalist for the 2025 Pulitzer Prize in National Reporting for coverage of Hurricane Helene. He previously covered the Environmental Protection Agency and wrote a daily tipsheet on energy and environmental policy. He is co-author (with Hailey Haymond and Katty Huertas) of the feature “50 Species That Save Us.”The Democrats—while there are people like constitutional law expert Jamie Raskin (who has said a shadow hearing to publicly educate the American people on impeachment “is a good idea”) he's been muzzled by Hakeem Jeffries and Charlie Schumer, who basically don't want the Democrats to use the word impeachment. So who's using the word impeachment the most? Donald Trump—not only wants to impeach judges who decide against him, but he's talking about the Democrats impeaching him, and he uses the word all the time. So we have an upside-down situation here where the opposition party is not in the opposition on the most critical factor, which is that we have the most impeachable President in American history, getting worse by the day.Ralph NaderIf the founding fathers came back to life today, would any of them oppose the impeachment, conviction, and removal of office of Donald J. Trump, who talks about being a monarch? That's what they fought King George over. Of course, they would all support it.Ralph NaderWhat we have in these cards and in our stories at the Washington Post here are examples of the ways we know, the ways that scientists have uncovered how plants and animals help us. But we don't know what we don't know. There are likely numerous other ways that plants and animals are protecting human well-being that we don't know and we may very well never know if some of these species go extinct.Dino GrandoniI'm always eager to find these connections between human well-being and the well-being of nature and try to describe them in ways that are compelling to readers that get them to care about protecting nature. And also finding those instances (because I want to be objective here) of when human well-being and the well-being of nature might be in conflict, and that might involve some tough decisions that we as a society or policymakers have to make.Dino GrandoniNews 1/16/25* Our top two stories this week concern corporate wrongdoing. First, Business Insider reports that the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection has released a new report which estimates Uber Eats and DoorDash, by altering their tipping processes in the city – moving tipping prompts to less prominent locations after checkout so upfront delivery costs would appear lower – have deprived gig delivery workers of $550 million since December 2023. As this piece notes, that was the month that New York City's minimum pay law for delivery workers took effect. As a result, “The average tip for delivery workers on the apps dropped 75%...from $3.66 to $0.93, one week after the apps made the changes…The figure has since declined to $0.76 per delivery.” This report presages a new city law that “requires the apps to offer customers the option to tip before or during checkout. Both Uber and DoorDash have sued the City over the law, which is set to take effect on January 26.” Whether the administration will stick to their guns on this issue, in the face of corporate pressure, will be a major early test for Mayor Zohran Mamdani.* Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reports UnitedHealth Group “deployed aggressive tactics to collect payment-boosting diagnoses for its Medicare Advantage members.” As the Journal explains, “In Medicare Advantage, the federal government pays insurers a lump sum to oversee medical benefits for seniors and disabled people. The government pays extra for patients with certain costly medical conditions, a process called risk adjustment.” A new report from the Senate Judiciary Committee found that UnitedHealth had “turned risk adjustment into a business,” thereby exploiting Medicare Advantage and systematically and fraudulently overbilling the federal government. Due to its structure, advocates like Ralph Nader have long warned that Medicare Advantage is ripe for waste fraud and abuse, in addition to being an inferior program for seniors compared to traditional Medicare. This report supports the accuracy of these warnings. Yet, Dr. Mehmet Oz Trump's appointee to head the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, is a longtime proselytizer for Medicare Advantage and this setback is unlikely to make him reverse course, no matter the cost to patients or taxpayers.* Yet, even as these instances of corporate criminal lawlessness pile up, the Trump administration is all but abolishing the police on the corporate crime beat. In a new report, Rick Claypool, corporate crime research director at Public Citizen, documents how the administration has “canceled or halted a total of 159 enforcement actions against 166 corporations.” This amounts to corporations avoiding payments totaling $3.1 billion in penalties for misconduct. This report further documents how these corporations have ingratiated themselves with Trump, via donations to his inauguration or ballroom project, or more typical revolving door or lobbying arrangements. As Claypool himself puts it, “The ‘law enforcement' claims the White House uses as a pretext for authoritarian anti-immigrant crackdowns, city occupations, and imperial resource seizures abroad lose all credibility when cast against the lawlessness Trump allows for the pursuit of corporate profits.”* In another instance of a Trump administration giveaway to corporations, the New York Times reports the Environmental Protection Agency will “Stop Considering Lives Saved When Setting Rules on Air Pollution.” Under the new regulatory regime, the EPA will “estimate only the costs to businesses of complying with the rules.” The Times explains that different administrations have balanced these competing interests differently, always faced with the morbid dilemma of how much, in a dollar amount, to value human life; but “until now, no administration has counted it as zero.”* Moving to Congress, the big news from the Legislative Branch this week has to do with Bill and Hillary Clinton. NPR reports Congressman James Comer, Chair of the House Oversight Committee, issued subpoenas to the former president and former Secretary of State to testify in a committee hearing related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In a letter published earlier this week, the Clintons formally rejected the subpoenas, calling them “legally invalid.” The Clintons' refusal to appear tees up an opportunity for Congress to exercise its contempt power and force the couple to testify. Democrats on the Oversight Committee, who agreed to issue the subpoenas as part of a larger list, have noted that “most of the other people have not been forced to testify,” indicating that this is a political stunt rather than an earnest effort. That said, there is little doubt that, at least, former President Clinton knows more about the Epstein affair than he has stated publicly thus far and there is a good chance Congress will vote through a contempt resolution and force him to testify.* In the Senate, Elizabeth Warren, Chris Murphy and other liberal Senators are “urging their Democratic colleagues to pivot to economic populism by ‘confronting' corporate power and billionaires, warning that just talking about affordability alone won't move swing voters who backed President Trump in 2024,” per the Hill. Senators Adam Schiff of California and Tina Smith of Minnesota also signed this memo. The Senators cited a recent poll that found Americans “increasingly cannot afford basic goods such as medical care and groceries,” but they also warned that “Bland policy proposals — without a narrative explaining who is getting screwed and who is doing the screwing – will not work.” Hopefully this forceful urging by fellow Senators will move the needle within the Democratic caucus in the upper house. Nothing else seems to have driven the point home.* One candidate who seems to understand this message is Graham Platner of Maine. Platner, who is endorsed by Bernie Sanders, has a controversial past that includes a career in the Marines and a stint working for the private military contractor Blackwater. However, he is running as a staunch economic populist and New Deal style progressive Democrat – and the message appears to be working. According to Zeteo, a poll conducted in mid-December found Platner up by 15 points in the primary over his opponent, current Governor Janet Mills. More concerning is the fact that this same poll shows both Platner and Mills in a dead heat with incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins, indicating this could be a brutal, protracted and expensive campaign.* On the other end of the spectrum, Axios reported this week that former Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney, who once led the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and then served as President Biden's ambassador to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, has accepted a role as CEO and president of the Coalition for Prediction Markets. The coalition is essentially a trade association for betting websites; members include Kalshi, Crypto.com Robinhood and Coinbase, among others. The coalition will leverage Maloney's influence with Democrats, along with former Republican Congressman Patrick McHenry's influence across the aisle, to lobby for favorable regulation for their industry.* Turning to foreign affairs, prosecutors in South Korea have announced that they are seeking the death penalty for former President Yoon Suk-Yeol on “charges of masterminding an insurrection over his brief imposition of martial law in December 2024,” per Reuters. In a stunning courtroom revelation, a prosecutor said during closing arguments that “investigators confirmed the existence of a scheme allegedly directed by Yoon and his former defence minister, Kim Yong-hyun, dating back to October 2023 designed to keep Yoon in power.” The prosecutor added that “The defendant has not sincerely regretted the crime... or apologised properly to the people.” As this piece notes, South Korea has not carried out a death sentence in nearly three decades. Even still, it is remarkable to see how this case has unfolded compared to the reaction of the American judicial system to Donald Trump's attempted self-coup on January 6th, 2021.* Finally, turning to Latin America, many expected the fall of Nicolás Maduro to mean a redoubled energy crisis for the long-embargoed island nation of Cuba. Yet, the Financial Times reports that in fact, “Mexico overtook Venezuela to become Cuba's top oil supplier in 2025…helping the island weather a sharp drop in Venezuelan crude shipments.” CBS adds that “Despite President Trump's social media pronouncement…that ‘there will be no more oil or money going to Cuba — zero,' the current U.S. policy is to allow Mexico to continue to provide oil to the island, according to Energy Secretary Chris Wright.” For the time being, the administration seems open to maintaining this status quo – including maintaining cordial relations with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum – though this appears more strained than ever. Sheinbaum harshly criticized the kidnapping of Maduro, stating “unilateral action and invasion cannot be the basis for international relations in the 21st century,” while Republican Congressman Carlos Gimenez has threatened that there could be “serious consequences for trade between our countries” if Sheinbaum “continues to undermine US policy by sending oil to the murderous dictatorship in Cuba.”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

In "The Lead" Jason talks about the latest news over ICE's operations in MN... St. Paul Schools have cancelled some classes... and the DNR is considering cutting the walleye limit. Then he goes "In Depth" with some clips with Vineeta's interview with Sen. Tina Smith and Chad's interview with Rep. Lisa Demuth

ABC's Martha Raddatz speaks with Minnesota's Senator Tina Smith in the aftermath of the fatal ICE shooting of a Minneapolis woman earlier this week; As President Trump focuses on Venezuela and Greenland, Senator Rand Paul joins Martha Raddatz to discuss the Senate's latest effort to rein in the president's ability to deploy U.S. troops in Venezuela. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

My name is Tina Smith. I am 51 years old & have been married to my husband, Billy, for 30 years. We have two sons (ages 27 & 16) and two daughters (ages 23 & 14). Our older son gotmarried in October 2024 & our older daughter will marry in February 2026, so we are a growing family. We live in central Georgia...about 1 hour south of the busy Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. My husband and I planted Christ Chapel Community Church in Zebulon, Georgia, in 2003, and we began with only the 2 of us, our youngest two children, & 5 couples. Today, we have 8 church campuses (7 in Central Georgia and 1 in Honduras) and an average of 4,400 people in weekend services. My husband is the Senior Pastor. I am a homeschool mom to our youngest two children. I am enjoying this season of life, and with adult kids and teens, there seems to be more flexibility and time for me to focus on staying healthy and ensuring I don't only have a LONG LIFE SPAN, but a HEALTHY LIFE SPAN. Graemes Links  Come and Join Our Patreon Community At the Link Belowwww.patreon.com/thefastinghighway.Come for a month or stay for a year, check it out, and get all the content. Your first step to excellent support and accountability is right here. Make 2026 your year. To Book a Zoom Call With Graeme One-on-One, Go Here www.thefastinghighway.com Get help, get coaching.To Read My Book The Fasting Highway Amazon or all good book sellers.To Listen to My Audio Book Apple Books or many Audio Book Platforms Free on Joining The Patreon Community To be a guest on the show, please go to www.thefastinghighway.com, click on listen to the podcast, " and follow the how to be a guest prompt.Disclaimer - All views are those of the host and guest and should not be taken as medical advice. Please consult your doctor before starting any health plan.

Inside the text exchange of Tyler Robinson with his roommate/lover. ABC News reporter sounds really into the texts from Charlie Kirk's alleged assassin. Death penalty on the way for Robinson? Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt (R) sounds off on the violent rhetoric of the radical Left. FBI director vs. Democrat senators. American consumers are saying "no" to electric vehicles. Sir Elton John has gold-plated kneecaps! Kash Patel has really changed his tune on the Jeffrey Epstein case and so much more since he became the FBI director. Dearborn, Michigan, mayor says he'll celebrate when a resident moves away. President Trump vs. ABC reporter Jonathan Karl. Publishers Clearing House declares bankruptcy, and its winners are out in the cold. Adam Johnson stops by to discuss his new book, "Taking a Stand." Rowdy Introvert updated his song "107 Days to Lose an Election." No more Fani Willis?? Reminder: Climate alarmists are always wrong. 00:00 Pat Gray UNLEASHED! 00:34 Tina Smith is Angry at President Trump 02:09 Utah County District Attorney Gives Details on Charlie Kirk's Killer 03:22 Texts between Charlie Kirk Killer & his Boyfriend 08:49 ABC Reporter Describes Killer's Texts as "Touching" 11:07 Charlie Kirk Killer has his Charges Read to Him 14:42 Eric Schmitt on The Left Leading Violence in America 23:26 Kash Patel VS. Cory Booker 25:38 Kash Patel VS. Adam Schiff 28:01 Kash Patel VS. Mazie Hirono 30:52 Chewing the Fat 48:21 Kash Patel Says Epstein Didn't Traffick to ANYONE?! 50:40 FLASHBACK: Kash Patel with Glenn Beck in December 2023 54:28 Dearborn City Mayor Abdullah Hammoud Calls Resident an Islamophobe 57:06 President Trump VS. Jonathan Karl 1:03:46 ABC Reporter Honors Charlie Kirk 1:09:34 Publishers Clearing House Files goes Bankrupt 1:12:07 Guest: Author Adam Johnson (AKA Via Getty) 1:24:25 Updated Kamala Harris Song from Rowdy Introvert 1:28:22 Georgia Supreme Court Declines Fani Willis' Appeal 1:29:01 New York Post Calls-Out Fearmongering Climate Change Predictions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices