Andrew Richter: Recent Episodes
Andrew Richter
We welcome "The Closer" Brad Carlson from 1130am The Patriot on the podcast. Today, we discuss our hometown, Minnesota Twins. It's baseball season again! Last year the Twinkies were plagued by injuries and played well below the expectations. Last year was also a PR nightmare. Are they looking to sell the team? Are they looking to bide their time in preparation of a lockout next season? Who will the starters be this year? Will they remain healthy? What should be their strategy to make the hardest impact with the players they have? We give you our predictions and break down the reasons why we think they might do better than expected. Brad Carlson | WWTC AM The Patriot - Minneapolis, MN (am1280thepatriot.com)
After a promising season, the Twins squandered every bit of it to give fans a huge disappointment. What went wrong? How did things end up so upside down? Andrew sits down with our old friend, Brad Carlson (The Closer) from 1280am The Patriot (NARN Podcast - Brad Carlson | WWTC AM The Patriot - Minneapolis, MN) to analyze the lows from the recent season. It's good that it's only a season as we look forward to 2026.
After a promising season, the Twins squandered every bit of it to give fans a huge disappointment. What went wrong? How did things end up so upside down? Andrew sits down with our old friend, Brad Carlson (The Closer) from 1280am The Patriot (NARN Podcast - Brad Carlson | WWTC AM The Patriot - Minneapolis, MN) to analyze the lows from the recent season. It's good that it's only a season as we look forward to 2026.
It’s football season again, and we’re here to talk fantasy football with Nick Anaya.
We start talking about America’s 250th birthday and what we’d like to see the nation do to celebrate. We also discuss the death of Hulk Hogan and how it affected us to lose a childhood hero. Will the Vikes be better this year than last year? It will be hard to have a better record, but in the playoffs, things can only look up. They ditched Darnold, beefed up the O-line, and kept their defense solid. We can’t wait to see what happens. We then dig into each position, rating the players as we see them for your fantasy draft. Who’s full of promise? Who’s going to be a bust? Who will build all sorts of crazy stats? We talk strategy and what might land you with the best possible team for the 2025-26 NFL season.
We welcome "The Closer" Brad Carlson from 1130am The Patriot on the podcast. Today, we discuss our hometown, Minnesota Twins. It's baseball season again! Last year the Twinkies were plagued by injuries and played well below the expectations. Last year was also a PR nightmare. They said that they were going to cut payroll in the off season just after winning their first playoff series in a long time. They lost their TV deal in the middle of the season. They were still playing well through all of that until late in the season and collapsed, being cut from post season play at the very end of the season. This year they made no moves in the off season. They seem to be preparing the team for sale to a new owner, so the moves they are making are more good for business than good for baseball. Who will the starters be this year? Will they remain healthy? What should be their strategy to make the hardest impact with the players they have? We give you our predictions and break down the reasons why we think they might do better than expected. Brad Carlson | WWTC AM The Patriot - Minneapolis, MN (am1280thepatriot.com)
A Team Of "If's" The Twins new season is on the doorstep, so of course Brad Carlson, "The Closer" from 1280am The Patriot is back in to break the whole thing down for us. Dick Bremer was let go at the end of last season after 40 years of calling games on tv, so the Twins will start the season with a new voice. Cory Provus isn't a new voice for Twins fans, so it should be a smooth transition. Joe Mauer is getting into the National Baseball Hall of Fame this year, which was expected, but played exceptionally as both a catcher and a first baseman. When we left them last year, they had won their first postseason in forever, ending the longest drought in all of Major League Baseball. They had a decent offseason, but there are still a lot of questions coming into this season. Who is going to make the cut as the Twins come out of spring training? There's a lot of promise, but who knows which players will actually pan out in the majors. We look into each position with detail, as we try to guess what the lineup will look like. There's a couple of catchers to look at with Jeffers and Vazquez. They both are looking good this year. Correa, Julien, Lewis, Santana, Farmer... the infield seems pretty set, and not all of the talented guys will start the season in the majors. Wallner, Kepler, and Buxton should keep things steady in the outfield. There's a lot up for grabs on the mound, although they have Lopez, Ryan, Varland, and Paddack, but they have to settle into something solid so that they keep opponents runs low. The prospective lineup is looking solid, and this team looks like it's the team to beat in the AL Central. Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Let us know! Brad Carlson | WWTC AM The Patriot - Minneapolis, MN (am1280thepatriot.com)
It's almost 2024, and with it comes the most important election of our lifetime. Yeah, I know, people are saying that with every passing election now. The problem is that it's right. We're navigating through some unprecedented times... at least for the USA. We've seen thinse things before in other nations and it never seems to work out. Andrew and Jason will give you and end of the year snapshot and projection for the upcoming year. Hold on tight, because we're in for rough waters.
Finally... the Twins not only won a playoff game, but actually took a post-season series! Since he called it on this show months ago, the one and only Brad Carlson (The Closer on am1280) had to come on and walk through this season with us. We also take a look at the Twins offseason in preparation for next season, including possible trades and free agent pickups. Let us know your opinions!
Brad Carlson | WWTC AM The Patriot - Minneapolis, MN (am1280thepatriot.com)
This week we sit down with our long time friend (and former Crystal Councilmember), Jeff Kolb, for his astute political analysis. We dismantle the 2022 election. What happened? Why? What can we learn from it going into 2024? Is there a correlation between the polling and the confusion we saw in the end results? We also discuss one of the most important intangibles in politics… authenticity. There is so little of it, but yet most people really yearn for it. We wrap up with a hard look at 2024 and whether or not there’s any hope for the future in MN politics, and really, life as we know it.
We welcome Raymond Guimont to the podcast. Raymond is a fantasy football champion. It's that time agan. The crisp autumn air and the sound of Skol ringing in your ears. We review the top picks for this year's fantasy football draft. That's right, who's the top running backs, wide receivers, quarterbacks, kickers, special teams, and defenses? We'll tell you! As a bonus, we'll give you our picks for the actual NFL season. You've gotta tune in before your draft!
We are pleased to welcome Brad Carlson “The Closer” from am 1280 The Patriot. Every time he’s on the show, you are assured of an in depth analysis of some facet of the sports world. This week it’s all Vikings … the Uncle Burnsie years.
Jerry Burns was the colorful head coach of the Vikings from ‘86-91. They started out as a talented team with the likes of Tommy Kramer, Anthony Carter, Chris Doleman, and Joey Browner. There were lots of ups and downs, an NFC championship game (with a dropped winning pass), and the worst trade in all of sports history.
The Vikings are a team that has been unable to manage big expectations throughout their history, but there were definitely some great games… and still so much trouble with the worst Packer teams in the history of their franchise. Randall McDaniel, Chris Doleman, Gary Zimmerman, Cris Carter, and John Randle all went to the Football Hall of Fame… and we’re still waiting for another shot at the Super Bowl.
The Brad Carlson blog (bradley1969.blogspot.com)
Brad Carlson | WWTC AM The Patriot - Minneapolis, MN (am1280thepatriot.com)
Well, well, well... the MN Legislature and Governor Walz have sure been busy since January. Walz keeps referring to this "mandate" Democrats have to get things done. You mean the one vote majority in the senate and six seats in the house? Yeah, while the Democrats are engaging in a scorched earth policy to cram their radical agenda down everybody's throats, they are leaving half of the state disenfranchised. Our government must be held accountable, but they are acting as if they are in control forever. They have passed the trans refuge law (after an unconstitutional executive order) that thumbs the collective nose of the state government at parents and other states. They have outlawed conversion therapy, using shock therapy as a red herring. They have allowed driver's licenses for all, including illegal immigrants. This is meant to complicate our election system. Legal pot is coming. All abortion is legal. They are also coming after leal firearms with universal background checks (background checks are already mandatory) and red flag laws. There are also new taxes coming for the average citizen. Had enough? This is not what the majority of MN wanted, and now we are all paying for it. Join Andrew and JDB III Jr for this come to Jesus meeting.
This week we invite Bill Sankey to the show. Bill has been an electrician for 25 years. We’re told by everyone in the educational system that we have to attend a 4 year university in order to be something in this world. We need to have people in the trades to make the world go, and the schools haven’t been pushing it, despite the great money people in the trades can make. Not to mention, these little to no debt after school! The Baby Boomers are leaving the trades in droves as they reach the retirement age. We need our young people to get into these jobs in a big way. The issue is that there’s no vehicle in the schools to find out what kids are actually interested in. Why can’t they be shown different possible careers to see what they like? Come join the discussion and let us know where you land and what your ideas are regarding 2 and 4 year schools, apprenticeships, and blue versus white collar work.
You know him, you love him, you keep requesting him… “The Closer” Brad Carlson from 1280am The Patriot is back on the show. If you’ve listened for Brad you know his political acumen, but he has even greater knowledge of baseball, so today we talk some Twins. We’ve talked about ‘87 and ‘91, but we’ve never talked about the lost years (‘93-2000). These were rough years for us Twins fans, but it’s worth discussing. Now remember, the Twins won the World Series in ‘91 and almost won the division in ‘92, save for a 10 game slide at the end of the season… but that’s when the bottom fell out of the organization. They started out still having players like Kirby Puckett, Kent Hrbeck, Chuck Knoblauch, David Winfield, Scott Erickson, and Kevin Tapani, but things didn’t go the way fans expected. These years had a strike, restructuring of the divisions, and some horrendous trades. They came close a few times, but just couldn’t get out of their own way. Let’s talk some baseball!
Brad Carlson | WWTC AM The Patriot - Minneapolis, MN (am1280thepatriot.com)
Today’s podcast, we welcome Dan Hanks to the podcast. Dan is an expert on football and basketball. So yeah, we’re talking Vikes and Wolves, but we’re not stopping there. What moves do the Vikings have to make in the off-season to improve their standing for next year? What’s going to happen to Dalvin Cook and Kirk Cousins? Will there ever be any real hope for the Vikings to bring home a title or are their fans forever to be forlorn? This is our first foray into hoops, and we delve into our personal basketball past and our favorite moments in NBA history. Will the Wolves make the playoffs? What do they need to do to become a contender? We discuss Michael Jordan’s dominance and Lebron passing Kareem in all time scoring.
Have you noticed that the war drums seem to be beating louder lately? Russia and China are aligning against the west, and Ukraine seems to be the prize... at least that's what we're being led to believe. Things are shifting so fast and we're not being told the truth. Andew and JDB discuss Russian/Soviet history and how things are lining up again, just the way they did way back when. Maybe we can learn from history so we don't repeat it...
We welcome sports expert Nick Anaya back to the podcast, and we’re talking wrestling! Of course we first need to review the Vikings season. What kind of team were they really? There were certainly some issues that need to be addressed. What kind of off-season moves do they need to make to improve next year? How much longer can we wait it out with Kirk Cousins? How is the coming draft looking for the Vikes? Professional wrestling has perfected the art of the pay-per-view event. Fans have huddled around the television for decades to watch Summerslam. So, we’re going to look at our favorite matches from 1988-1998. It’s all the wrestlers you know and love, Hulk Hogan, The Hart Foundation, The Macho Man, Shawn Michaels, Ted DiBiase… Some of the stories were so good, and some were, well… but it was the golden age of professional wrestling and it captivated us all. Do Andrew and Nick agree on any of these? Do you agree with any of these or do you have your own favorites? Let us know what you think!
Mark Korin, the former mayor of Oak Grove has graced our Community Solutions podcast in the past, but this is his first trip over to the Andrew Richter Podcast. Mark started in an Oak Grove advisory commission and worked his way to mayor. Under his tenure, they cut the tax levy drastically and didn’t raise it. He is a business owner, engineer, and inventor in the aviation industry, and has served his community in many other ways. He is in process of authoring a book called “Thank God I Got COVID”. Mark opens up about his coming down with Covid, how it changed his life, and why he’s thankful his life took this turn. This story is a testament to the power of prayer, love, and faith. We all have a reason that we are here. Let’s make the most of today and do something to change the world.
We welcome author Anne Bauer back to the show. Anne is no stranger to this podcast as a freelance journalist (NYT, WAPO), and former professor. We discuss a whole range of topics from modern medicine to the recent elections, education, certain illnesses starting with “C”, abortion, and more. We’ve talked with Anne extensively about the damage done to kids throughout Walz’s first term. We try to break down why the election results in Minnesota turned out the way that they did, despite the discontent of many parents across the state. The Democrats rallied over fully funding education, and after the election have prioritized everything else. Why is that? Why does no one seem to care? We also discuss the recent changes in social behaviors with kids and adults. We are so divided and are at each others’ throats. Can we save our country from this direction we find ourselves headed in?
You can find Anne @annebauerwriter on Twitter
Today, Andrew sits down with Angela Cooperman, former campaign manager of Dr Scott Jensen, running for MN Governor. Angela had worked with Jason Lewis and the Republican Party of MN previous to that. She grew up in the D.C. area and brings a wealth of political experience with her.
She had to navigate the political system through COVID, riots after George Floyd, and opponents that refused to debate. So why do Minnesota voters keep voting for Democrats, even when these policies are hurting them?
She explains what it was like to run Dr Jensen’s campaign in a crazy political environment in 2022, what factors are determining the issues in Minnesota, and we look into the future of MN elections.
Join us for the 2022 Mid-Term election returns, as Andrew and JDB IV Jr give their expert analysis. We also let you know what we're looking at for the next couple of years.
Today’s guest is Tanya Simons, who is running for re-election in Osseo Public Schools (ISD 279). It is a vast district that covers eight metro cities. She is a lifelong Minnesotan, who was involved in education through coaching and mentoring before running for school board.
Our children are in the care of their school a huge amount of time, and want to make sure that they have their child’s best interests at heart. There have been challenges with online learning, academics, mental health, and many more issues. Parents are concerned across the nation, as education takes center stage.
Because of its sheer size, District 279 comes with additional issues because of immigration, integration, poverty, and other challenges that are part and parcel to being in a suburban district. We discuss these issues, gender identification and affirmation issues, how to better connect with parents, and more.
Take a listen and consider how you can be of help to your local schools to keep the schools on track and creating the leadership of tomorrow that we want to see.
Hugh McTavish is running to be the governor of MN. His career path has led from biochemist to patent lawyer. He has patents for drugs that are going through clinical trials in treating Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and cold sores.
He is running on an idea called “Jury Democracy”, which would put random citizens from across the state on call to sit on a jury to hear about certain legislation that lawmakers are trying to pass. Then based on secret ballot, it gets passed on to the governor to sign… or not. Hugh brings facts and figures to the table that create some interesting ideas on a completely different approach to governing.
He also has some other creative solutions, like a unicameral legislature (one house), a petition process for residents to introduce legislation for consideration, and increasing available untouched wild lands.
He also discusses another idea “Governing For Hapiness”. By tracking depression, loneliness, and happiness, he proposes that we can govern more justly and become a more optimistic society.
This podcast will challenge your preconceptions and really make you think. You can find out more at mctavish4mn.org
Hugh McTavish is running to be the governor of MN. His career path has led from biochemist to patent lawyer. He has patents for drugs that are going through clinical trials in treating Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and cold sores.
He is running on an idea called “Jury Democracy”, which would put random citizens from across the state on call to sit on a jury to hear about certain legislation that lawmakers are trying to pass. Then based on secret ballot, it gets passed on to the governor to sign… or not. Hugh brings facts and figures to the table that create some interesting ideas on a completely different approach to governing.
He also has some other creative solutions, like a unicameral legislature (one house), a petition process for residents to introduce legislation for consideration, and increasing available untouched wild lands.
He also discusses another idea “Governing For Hapiness”. By tracking depression, loneliness, and happiness, he proposes that we can govern more justly and become a more optimistic society.
This podcast will challenge your preconceptions and really make you think. You can find out more at mctavish4mn.org
We welcome our good friend, “The Closer” Brad Carlson from 1280am The Patriot. This week it’s all about the the Minnesota Vikings. They were a dangerous team that were notoriously tough. They had 4 Superbowls under their belt, which was hardly rivaled in the NFL. What happened? It’s been 45 years and not only have they never come back to the big show since, but the rest of the league has pretty much caught up.
This team has made it to six NFC Championship since, been favored in many, and have always managed to screw it up. 2009 was one of those promising years. The Vikes drafted Percy Harvin. They had Adrian Peterson, Greg Lewis, Jerrod Allen, Bernard Berrian, EJ Henderson, and lots more talent. They didn’t have a strong solution at QB, as it looked like Sage Rosenfels was going to be the guy. Then Brett Favre appeared out of nowhere and all bets were off.
They started 6-1, and then Favre walked back into Lambeau Field for the first time and dealt the Packers a huge defeat. Needless to say, they had a great season and set the Vikes up for a strong Super Bowl run. Bountygate made us all scream for justice. We all know what happened in the end, but we give you one heck of a retelling.
Find Brad at: https://am1280thepatriot.com/personality/brad-carlson
We welcome our good friend, “The Closer” Brad Carlson from 1280am The Patriot. This week it’s all about the the Minnesota Vikings. They were a dangerous team that were notoriously tough. They had 4 Superbowls under their belt, which was hardly rivaled in the NFL. What happened? It’s been 45 years and not only have they never come back to the big show since, but the rest of the league has pretty much caught up.
This team has made it to six NFC Championship since, been favored in many, and have always managed to screw it up. 2009 was one of those promising years. The Vikes drafted Percy Harvin. They had Adrian Peterson, Greg Lewis, Jerrod Allen, Bernard Berrian, EJ Henderson, and lots more talent. They didn’t have a strong solution at QB, as it looked like Sage Rosenfels was going to be the guy. Then Brett Favre appeared out of nowhere and all bets were off.
They started 6-1, and then Favre walked back into Lambeau Field for the first time and dealt the Packers a huge defeat. Needless to say, they had a great season and set the Vikes up for a strong Super Bowl run. Bountygate made us all scream for justice. We all know what happened in the end, but we give you one heck of a retelling.
Find Brad at: https://am1280thepatriot.com/personality/brad-carlson
This week we welcome Nick Anaya back to the show to discuss the 2022 NFL season and the upcoming fantasy football season. Fantasy Football is an obsession here in the US, and has come such a long way from newspapers and phones to all the power of the internet.
We take some time to discuss the changes to the Minnesota Vikings, their recent roster moves, and what the new GM and head coach may bring to the team.
Once we fully dissect the hopelessness we live with here in Minnesota sports, we turn our sights on the whole of the NFL. We start with the running backs, and will it be Jonathan Taylor, Christian McCaffery, or Derek Henry at the top?
Wide receivers have a pretty good crew, featuring Cooper Kupp, Justin Jefferson, JaMarr Chase, CeeDee Lamb, and others. Which ones are going to rise to the top.
It’s also a crazy year for QBs, with a lot of shifting of the deck chairs. Russell Wilson is in Denver? Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, and Lamar Jackson are all big names, and there are a lot of good prospects blow them as well.
We even go through Tight Ends, Kickers, defenses, and rookies because that’s just the kinds of guys we are. We’re here to serve. Plus, we make our Super Bowl picks.
The Minnesota Legislature just wrapped up it's 2022 session, and true to form they accomplished nothing. Yep, zip, zero, nada... now, we would normally see that as a good thing, but we know that just means that a speacial session is coming down the pike. Join Andrew and JDB4 Jr as they lay it all out for you.
What are your favorite TV shows of all time? I know what they say, TV is amazing right now. It's like going to the movies. There's something about the tv shows that you grow up with though. Nostalgia is king. Andrew and JDB IV Jr. take a walk down memory lane. What made TV great then, as compared to now? Let us know!
Today we welcome the return of Jeff Kolb (@jpkolb on Twitter) to the podcast. Jeff lends his expert political analysis to all of the craziness happening around us these days.
Jeff brings an adept and entertaining assessment of current events that will make you think. We start out discussing the Minnesota Governor’s race, and if Scott Jensen is the heir apparent to the endorsement. Then we move on to the Attorney General race, the U.S. House races, the MNGOP convention, and more.
You’ve got to tune in for this spirited discussion before you pick a horse in these races.
Andrew and JDB4-2 sit down and discuss memories of important events in history, were they were, and how they felt. What is the first big news story that you remember? It took them a while to remember, but the ensuing discussion prompts so much more. They discuss everything from the space shuttle Challenger explosion to Ronald Reagan, Operation Desert Storm, 9/11, Kurt Cobain, and more. Let us know what memories this sparks in you!
This week we sit down with Jake Beaver of the 4D podcast network (4dpodcastnetwork.com). Jake (aka Stubby J) has spent years as an editor, engineer, host, and producer of multiple podcasts. He has been able to watch the evolution of podcasting, which has come such a long way in such a short length of time. He created a couple of popular podcasts called Three Guys Talking and Ring Generals that he took with him from a previous podcast network to start the 4D Podcast Network. He built the Culture Cast podcast and has helped so many others to find meaning, expressing their passions through podcasting. Come be inspired!
“The Closer” Brad Carlson (https://am1280thepatriot.com/content/members/narnbradcarlson) is back and it’s time to talk the ‘98 Vikings! I know, it sounds akin to sitting down with a bowl of ice cream and an Air Supply album, but it needs to be said.
Denny Green was at the helm of the greatest (and one of the most disappointing) years of Viking football ever. We discuss how this team came together, despite almost losing Denny Green the season before. They grabbed Randy Moss with the 21st pick in the draft to add to Cris Carter and Jake Reed for what was anticipated to be (and became) arguably the best receiver corps ever.
Listen as we tell the tale of the season that almost was, and have a good cry with us.
Today, we bring you Kelly Gunderson, who’s expert political analysis will give us insight into what is happening in the current Minnesota legislative session.
We take a look at the Governor’s race, debate the candidates, their poll numbers, and what we expect out of the election.
We also vent about the inability of the Republicans to stop anything, as they make back room deals and pass omnibus bills with way too much in them.
The legislature is handling some crazy bills for this election season. They are holding on to billions of dollars of our money. They call it a surplus, we call it overtaxing. They may still introduce a bonding bill anyway. H.R. 2705 would require registration of all semi-automatic firearms to local law enforcement. On top on that there are education issues, the pandemic, taxes, and more. Join us for this great discussion!
Nathan M Hansen, attorney, blogger, an irregular to the powers that be, and defending the constitution stops by this week for a chat.
Nathan started his own law practice, and brings a wealth of experience in some very interesting cases. He has been able to follow his passions in defending liberty for the little guy.
He defended a farmer that was being prosecuted for producing raw milk. He unsealed Kieth Ellison’s divorce records on behalf of Alpha News.
We get the behind-the-scenes on the Carson v Simon race (which he represented) that ended up protecting election integrity in MN.
Nathan gives us his take on what we’ve gone through with the pandemic, the control structure, and the suppression that has occurred in the media. We even rope in Tuberculosis and the Rockefellers.
We also talk crime, police, and the strategy for control over you and me. This is a fascinating podcast.
Follow Nathan at www.nathanmhansen.com
www.hansenlawoffice.com
This week, Nick Anaya is back (episode #16 X's and O's) to talk about one of Andrew‘s absolute favorite subjects… wrasslin!
Specifically, we are talking about our favorite Wrestlemania matches. It’s about the matches, the guest referees, and the nostalgia. The matches were big and the personalities were bigger. The show, the glitz, and the glam perfected the modern sports entertainment event.
Will Nick and Andrew agree on their top 10 matches? Who's on the list: Shawn Michaels, Hulk Hogan, The Undertaker, Roddy Piper, Macho Man, The Legion of Doom… The Red Rooster? This is an intriguing discussion about what made wrestling great, and why it is struggling to achieve its former glory.
This week, we welcome author, freelance journalist (NYT, WAPO), and former professor, Ann Bauer, back to the podcast. (https://annbauer.com/)
Anne has a lot to say about the state of what is happening to our kids. We start out with the Rittenhouse trial, and the lessons that we all should learn from it. Why are some cases huge, and others are never heard about? The COVID vaccine has been less effective than hoped, but what about the mandates? What about approving it for our children? Why is there so much that we still don’t know about the truth of all of this? We go deep on the economy, education, Governor Walz, President Biden, and a host of other topics. Can we fix these huge problems, or are we in for long times of trouble?
Michael Brodkorb is the former deputy chair of the MNGOP. He has also served as field staff, communications staff, and research director for MNGOP. He has been involved in campaign work for many state and federal-level candidates (Boschwitz, Coleman, Kennedy, and more). Michael is now working a professional researcher. He also authored a book called The Girls Are Gone, about two girls that went missing in Lakeville, where some of the articles he was writing for the Star Tribune helped in their discovery.
Minnesota Republicans have lost 20 of the last 29 state-wide races. Al Quie (Governor) and David Durenberger (Senate) were the last two Republicans to get over 50% in a Governor or state-wide election.
Can the MNGOP learn from what happened in Virginia? Things aren’t looking good. The party hasn’t even communicated to the public in months.
Why is everything about COVID? They have a huge opportunity to discuss public safety, education, the economy, and others. Yet, these issues are going largely ignored. We'll talk about it, and why the GOP can't seem to capitalize on the best tail winds they've seen in a long time.
Andrew and Jason take a little time on election night to analyze the returns from important races, trends across the nation, and what it means going into 2022. Where is each party standing? Who is messing everything up? DO you agree with our take?
Ron “The Numbers Guy” Stoffel has been a friend of the show for many years. He’s become an expert in how the school systems work. That’s no easy task. He was a big part of the organization that put a stop to one of ISD 281’s referendums in 2007. The district came back a year later to rebrand it and bully the group into the courts to pass the referendum just a year later.
The funding of education is, purposely, so complex. There are local, state, and federal monies. Those monies can be affected by Average Daily Membership, special education, free and reduced lunch, equity… it’s a complete mess.
All of education seems to be a mess, in fact. We look into graduation rates, declining enrollment, Comprehensive Sex Ed, race, gender, fighting, loss of teacher authority… We try to solve the world’s problems (or at least the educational world) in this podcast. Join the discussion!
Hannah Nicollet ran for Governor of MN in 2014 with the Independence Party. She starting running for US Senate, until the gubernatorial candidate dropped out, and she switched races at the convention.
Being a third party candidate is a tough job, when you have two major parties that don’t want you there to begin with. Rules for debate inclusion change. Calls go unreturned. You have to work twice as hard just to get noticed.
As a defender of liberty, she looked to end the drug war in MN, repeal the corporate income tax, and to privately fund TCF Bank Stadium. Third party candidates bring up important issues that the major parties won’t touch. In his farewell address, George Washington warned us to stay away from the two party system. We should have listened.
Baseball guru and friend of the show, Brad Carlson (The Closer on 1280am The Patriot) is back on the show to discuss the 1991 Championship Minnesota Twins, following up on the talk we had on Episode 4 (the '87 Twins). We’ve been waiting longer than any other of the major metropolitan area with all four major sports.
The team was almost completely different from the 87 Twins, which isn’t very common for two championship teams that are close together. They were last in their division in 1990, so no one saw this coming.
The Twins made some good trades to end up with guys like Rick Aguilara, Kevin Tapani, Chili Davis, and Mike Pagliarulo. Add that to players like Puckett, Hrbek, and Gladden (with a little bit of good fortune) and you have a recipe for greatness.
ESPN called this the “greatest World Series of all time” Come relive this amazing year with us!
https://am1280thepatriot.com/content/members/narnbradcarlson
Nick Anaya has had a life-long love of sports. He grew up playing basketball, baseball, and football, and was introduced to fantasy football at age 11. Back in those days, the scoring was done by hand, and you had to look in the newspaper to get all of the stats. You had to call the “League Commissioner” to make roster moves and declare your starting lineup. My, how times have changed.
What is the difference between a snake draft and an auction draft? What is a PPR league versus touchdowns? We look at the options for this year’s draft. Who’s hot, who’s not, and who is a potential sleeper? Are there any big rookies to watch out for?
2022 Predictions:
AFC: Browns vs Chiefs
NFC: Rams vs Bucs
Fantasy football has become a huge pastime, as football is truly an American obsession. If you take part, or just want to learn, this show will get your appetite up.
John Gilmore has written for Alpha news, The Hill, Frank Gaffney, The American Conservative, and has written a book about Michelle Bachmann (Bachmannistan: Behind the Lines).
John has been called a “sad and hateful man” from Rep Ilhan Omar. That makes him a-ok in our book. John not only doesn’t care, but embraces, all of the name calling the left dishes out. He is a staunch defender of the first amendment, and his writings bear that out.
He challenges the status quo of our press and their lack of journalistic integrity. Our politicians are at best hypocritical, and at worst, engaged in deep levels of evil. Controlling people through masks, vaccines scares, stirring up hatred among people, and outright lying to steer the unthinking masses into their globalist plans, they need more people like John to call them out.
Read more at his blog: www.minnesotaconservatives.org
AJ is a former writer for the St Cloud times, congressional candidate, and independent researcher.
She lived in Iran for awhile as a teenager, and brings a unique perspective to the government’s push for refugee resettlement. She discusses how our government has promoted certain groups without addressing the way that Christians, women, and gays, are treated. The Refugee Act of 1980 was designed to handle people who were fleeing Communism for the American way of life. Now we’re bringing in communists and socialists that are not interested in liberty or capitalism.
The NGO’s that work with the UN are stationed in these countries and are hand picking the refugees that are being brought over. Because they are running public private partnerships, there is no accountability of the private organizations.
Rep Ilhan Omar was one of those refugees that has come here to demand that we change our ways in favor of Marxist philosophy. We discuss all this and more with AJ as she makes her case for our government to start showing more transparency and more actions that promote our liberty.
The Civil War is such a defining period in American history, but our schools are teaching it less and less. Lucky for you, Andrew wrote a book on the subject (Blue and Gray Forever- find it on Amazon). How much do you know about the events that led up to and defined the war? We all know that the battle over slavery was a huge part of it, but there's so much that doesn't get discussed. 100% of the casualties were American. It was a sad and bloody time in our history, but unfortunately it was necessary to give freedom to men and women that should never have been enslaved to begin with.
Did you know about these pre-Civil War events:
During the Mexican American War, the United States took Mexico City in 1854, then gained California as part of the settlement of the war.
Henry Clay devised much of the Compromise of 1850. It was passed as six separate measures, instead of one big law. California was added as a free state, but there were also no restrictions on slavery in the south and the Fugitive Slave Law was also passed, where runaway slaves to the north were supposed to be returned to their masters.
In 1856, war broke out in Kansas. The 36/30 line to divide slave and free (from the Missouri Compromise) was repealed in the Kansas Nebraska Act… and this may have been the deciding act that sent the whole country into war.
There were many fierce battles in the war that live on in our memories today. Many Americans died, and we were never so divided. Fort Sumter, Battle of Bull Run, Shilo, Antietum, Gettysburg, Vicksburg, and more created heroes that made future presidents. This was a defining period of American history, of which the shockwaves are still felt today. Tune in for this in-depth talk on something I hope we never see again.
This week we welcome Don Fernstrom to the podcast. Don is a Vietnam Veteran who honorably served our country. We sit down to talk about the Vietnam War and life afterwards.
In 1963, the Prime Minister of South Vietnam was assassinated. President Kennedy authorized a build up of troops to keep the North from taking it over and declaring the whole thing a communist country.
Don started in Germany, making sure that the Soviets didn’t come across the Czech border, when he got reassigned to Vietnam.
The next 13 months would be culture shock to a twenty-something young man. But when he came home, it never left him. He had to fight through people’s perceptions, readjusting to civilian life, and building a life after going through the unimaginable.
Our veterans struggle with PTSD, isolation, and shame. They are nothing short of heroes. Make sure you listen to this podcast and share it far and wide. We need to honor our vets.
Reuniting After War | Making Memories That Last A Lifetime
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. - VFW
This week we host Anne Taylor on the podcast. Anne has been at the forefront of family and educational issues for years. She has worked with groups like MN Advocates and Champions for Children and the MN Child Protection League.
She cut her teeth on the Common Core program that came down from the Federal Government through the Obama administration. Even for the states that didn’t accept it, it was already in the curriculum and states were threatened by having their funding withheld.
Things have only gotten worse over time and sped up in the swing to the left. Everything is racially charged, pro-transgender, and training kids how to be activists around current issues. Meanwhile, math, science, and reading standards have suffered.
Comprehensive Sex Ed is sitting in the MN House, and it’s bad, bad, bad news. It is less of “What’s happening to my body”, and more of a “how-to”, including exploring with whomever you might see fit.
This breakdown of the church and family is rotting our society from the inside out. People have stopped going to church, and because of that, we have forsaken everything that we’ve known in order to chase after empty and destructive pursuits. Abortion, critical theory, gender identity, and promiscuity are encouraged… and they are teaching your kids to be activists to support all of it.
Where do we end up? Are parents finally sick of it all enough to stand up and do something? It’s time to make a stand for what’s right. We need to see a movement toward a repopulation of our churches, a strengthening of our families, and a unified front to stand up against these oppressive beliefs.
This week, Andrew and Jason reflect upon the George Floyd trial and the aftermath of the guilty verdict of Derek Chauvin. There was a lot of trepidation in the atmosphere until the verdict came down. Did the threat of a city in flames again affect the outcome? There was pressure and threats from the likes of Maxine Waters, Keith Ellison… even the sitting president of the United States. You had celebrities and sports stars proclaiming their desired verdict in unison. There was no question that Derek Chauvin was guilty of something… but was the verdict just on all charges?
The chances of an appeal are inevitable. Will the outcome be the same? There are some crazy things happening on the political front that have changed the way we interpret societal events. Everything has some secret meaning, and most of us are on the outside… and those with power are afraid of this vocal minority.
We also discuss how our country is on the brink of changing forever. We’re up against some frightening stuff: open borders, court packing, statehood for D.C. and Puerto Rico, getting rid of the Electoral College, destroying the filibuster, and more. The House is bent on passing this stuff and the Senate has a few in the middle that are holding the line for the moment. To top it off, the first 100 days of President Biden have been one of the strangest and most liberal in the history of our country. Where are we headed? How long will it take to get there? Join the discussion and let us know what you think about these hot topics!
Governor Walz shut down the entire state for COVID in March of 2020. Youth sports were affected, but were treated very differently once things started to reopen. Golf, working out, and professional sports went on and youth sports continued to be held hostage despite the science saying that kids are less susceptible to the spread of the disease.
The government has been meddling and trying to pull strings behind the scenes. The Department of Health instructed the Minnesota High School League that they could not have football and volleyball. They had initially cancelled it until Governor Walz tried to wash his hands of the situation. Then they went back and reversed their decision. The Department of Health has also ignored mask-related injuries, as well as passing out and vomiting.
Why is the High School League so cozy with the Health Department? The executive board should be making these decisions, but it seems like executive director, Eric Martins, has been calling the shots.
There is a trail of emails (8000 pages) that paint a picture of government incompetence and willful ignorance. They honed in on some industries (like bars and restaurants) and ignored others (like retail). They twist and turn the meaning of words (like “outbreak”) into misleading definitions.
We’ve been told that the more unhealthy we are, the greater chance that COVID will be more severe. Yet, we make children sit out and not practice instead.
What are we doing to our children? Why are they acceptable collateral for poor planning or purposeful dishonesty? We need answers and we need to stay vigilant in breaking down the walls between what is fact and what is government slight of hand.
Sam, as the legal counsel for Let Them Play MN, is attempting to get relief from these onerous restrictions, to allow for kids to be able to play sports without masks, that government is not allowed to make false allegations, or to make COVID a political issue. Where’s the press? I guess we’ll just have to do it.
This week we welcome writer, freelance journalist (NYT, WAPO), and former professor, Ann Bauer, to the podcast. (https://annbauer.com/)
Ann Bauer is the author of Wild Ride Up the Cupboards (a novel inspired by raising her son). She also wrote the culinary memoir Damn Good Food with Mitch Omer (owner of Hell’s Kitchen) at the behest of the Minnesota Historical Society. The Forever Marriage is about a friend of hers that was married to a man she didn’t love, but found out that he had an inoperable, fatal, disease, and stuck it out with him. She has also written many essays for the New York Times, Washington Post, Redbook , and others.
She stopped writing after the death of her oldest son, and decided that she wanted to fade out of the public eye. That worked until COVID hit. They shut down society and when they closed the schools, she spoke out on Twitter. That brought down a whole storm of criticism and insults as the cancel crowd came for her.
Anne has been speaking out since, and has found that those she thought were her friends turned on her and those that she thought would have never agreed with her have come to support her.
She has made it her mission to keep the government from using this pandemic to control us, first and foremost, getting the schools back in session to give this lost generation back their shot at success in life.
Rep Erik Mortensen was elected in 2020 to his first term in the Minnesota House, Representing HD55A, which is Shakopee, Louisville Township, and Jackson Township. He used to be apolitical, but after a horrific ordeal after starting a business, he decided to run for office. When he learned that the people we are electing were actually harming the country, he was compelled to stand up and defend liberty.
He has been making waves recently, having introduced articles of impeachment against Governor Walz. This story goes back a year to the early days of COVID. No one seemed to know what to expect, as we all entered into this thing willing to try and stop the spread. It became very apparent super fast that the Governor was willing to take every liberty he could to restrict ours.
Rep Mortensen is convinced that Walz doesn’t ever want to go back to normal... henceforth, the articles of impeachment. It has five charges: 1)Failing to respect the separation of powers, 2)Inventing new penalties not approved by the legislature, 3)Closing churches, 4)Taking private property, and 5) Halting non-emergency medicine.
He also authored the “Never Again Bill”, which would make sure that: 1)The Governor could not unilaterally declare an emergency, 2)The Governor’s orders cannot be treated as law, 3)Punishes the Governor for violating the order he puts forth, and a 4)Citizens Bill of Rights.
He’s having a tough time finding Republicans that have the will to stand up for the rights of the people. In fact, the leadership in the House is actively working to make sure he can’t. He shares his story with us, which you’re going to have to hear to believe.
This week Andrew sits down with Kevin Roche of www.healthy-skeptic.com.
Kevin has worked in the health care industry for over 50 years in everything from nursing assistant to legal counsel. His blog has focused on various issues in the medical industry until COVID-19 hit, and has not veered from it since.
We’ve dealt with plagues for all of human history. Black Plague, Bubonic Plague, Spanish flu, etc... so why is this one different? It’s the response. The media has been completely irresponsible in the hysteria they have created. Social media has put fuel on the fire. Politicians have taken full advantage of that (at worst) and lacked the backbone to do the right thing (at best).
We have been told so many things by politicians, the CDC, the medical field, and every other person with a pulse regarding what causes this disease, how it spreads, and what the trends mean.
Kevin understands the history of corona viruses and how they attack the body. Things don’t add up between what we’ve been told and what the statistics say.
If you look at the curves, masks didn’t work, staying home didn’t work, and didn’t work. Evidence would say that it’s seasonal, based on heat, light, humidity, etc. If that’s the case, then why won’t people say anything?
Let’s go down the rabbit hole and try to look at the data objectively to see if we can get to some semblance of the truth. We need to get back to life, and we need to do it soon.
Rob Doar is visiting from the Minnesota Gun Owner’s Caucus. The caucus exists to defend 2nd Amendment issues, and Minnesota has had their share. Rob works with the MN Legislature to watch over firearms issues that come up in legislation and discussion. COVID has had a negative effect, making it harder to speak to senators and representatives when things come up.
Firearms are such a hot button issue, and the argument gets heated on both sides. When did gun regulation begin? Why? The regulation issue has been a slippery slope ever since. Anti-gun activists have pressed harder and harder to get more legally owned guns out of the hands of law abiding people. Shall not be infringed? That what our Bill of Rights says, but that’s no longer the standard.
Opponents of firearm ownership call for greater background checks. How does that compare with the checks they do now? Politicians and activists cry out every time there is an incident with a firearm (except in Chicago). What has the gun control crowd done to push their narrative? What kinds of new restrictions are coming down the pike? What are red flag laws? Why are the figures not what they want you to think? How can we fight back against the encroachment of our 2nd Amendment rights?
You can check them out and become a member at: https://www.gunowners.mn/
Andrew invites (from am1280 The Patriot) “The Closer”, Brad Carlson to discuss the World Series Champion 1987 Minnesota Twins. This was a magical year to be a Minnesotan. We’ve lost so much over the decades and this year changed everything.
There were some strategic trades like Jeff Reardon and Dan Gladden that set this team up to be successful. Kent Hrbek and Kirby Puckett came into their own. Tom Brunansky, Gary Gaetti, Tim Laudner, Juan Berenguer, Frank Viola, Don Baylor, Greg Gagne, Steve Lombardozzi... the names are still etched in our minds if we were there.
There were so many memorable moments that defined the season. Kirby went 6 for 6 and robbed Robin Yount of a grand slam home run. Joe Niekro got caught with an emory board in his pocket. We got the Berenguer Boogie. They played near perfect baseball against the Tigers in the ALCS.
We discuss the ‘87 season, the ACLS, and that fated World Series game 7 that finally put Minnesota on the map. It is a year that none of us will ever forget.
We also take a look at 270towin.com to discuss the redistricting projections. Which states will gain seats? Which will loose? Let us know what you think!
You’ve heard of Libertarians, but what do they believe? They don’t get much press and both major parties try to make them look crazy.
Third parties need to get 5% of the vote in an election to get ballot access versus needing hundreds of signatures while under 5%.
This week we bring in Chris Holbrook, chair of the MN Libertarian Party. He didn’t start out political, but he found the Libertarian Party through disappointment with both parties. Shortly thereafter, he was running for governor. In fact, he was errantly arrested in Minneapolis for collecting signatures to get on the ballot. It was trial by fire, but it led him to become the Chair of the MN state party.
There are so many challenges to third parties gaining any ground. There’s no money for them, and the main parties get all of it. They struggle to get on the ballot. They have to convince people that they aren’t throwing away their vote.
We discuss Libertarian ideals on education, taxes, governance, drug policy, the Met Council, COVID, George Floyd, censorship... and realize that maybe we’re all really not that far away from each other.
Well, we're back for episode two... I guess that means this is a thing now. Next up on on this eclectic list of interviews is former Crystal City Councilmember, occasional blogger, political commentator, and troublemaker, Jeff Kolb. No subject is safe. No cow is sacred. Is the caucus system or the primary going to prevail? What keeps happening with all of the Republican losses and why we keep celebrating these candidates (and party officials) that can't win? Governor Tim Walz won't give up his death grip on his emergency powers. We discuss his handling of the COVID pandemic, and if freedom is ever going to come back. How do his merry band of henchman hold up? How did the Republicans respond? What is the state of the MNGOP, looking into the future? You want opinions? Well, we've got 'em!
Yes, it's that Andrew Richter... no, not that one, not the sidekick of the talk show host... yeah, the guy from the Community Solutions podcast. No, he's not quitting that podcast (and in fact, Jason is in tow as producer extraordinaire), but he wants to expand your horizons with a number of other subjects that are near and dear to his heart. So, take some time and give it a listen. Pass the word if you think it's worth it.
On the pilot episode, Andrew invites his best friend, Kevin Lien, on to discuss all things gambling. Kevin is a professional poker dealer and has a great deal of knowledge around all sorts of games of strategy and chance. They discuss everything from sports betting, to poker, to scratch offs, to online gambling, and the effects of crypto on the business. There are a ton of great stories and you will leave understanding the line, covering the point spread, live betting, the over/under, and other important terms and strategies. Kevin also talks playing in professional poker tournaments, and the effects of COVID on the industry.
You've got to tune in for this!