As the 2026 Super Bowl approaches, the "Need to Know Morning Show" team tackles a different kind of high-stakes game: the ongoing clash between federal ICE agents and local leadership in Minneapolis. Hosts Kevin Flynn and Alex Taylor break down the latest news on Operation Metro Surge, including a 700-agent drawdown and the "unprecedented" cooperation from local jails—despite public rhetoric from local politicians.
The episode also takes a dark turn into national security, investigating the discovery of a secret Chinese bio-lab in Las Vegas—the second of its kind found in recent years. Plus, we check in on "Agronomy on Ice," discuss the mysterious disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s mother, and look forward to a rare 40-degree February warm-up in the Dakotas.
Standout Moments & Timestamps
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[00:03:00] Operation Metro Surge: A look at real progress in Minnesota as 700 federal officers are redeployed elsewhere, though 2,000 ICE agents remain on the ground to handle high-profile criminal cases.
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[00:09:45] The Blockade Reality: Discussion of the "masked radicals" cordoning off parts of Minneapolis, checking license plates, and reportedly committing false imprisonment in the middle of public streets.
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[00:13:30] Tom Homan Drops the Mic: The Border Czar delivers a blistering message to educators and protestors, highlighting the half-million children smuggled during the previous administration and the 145,000 children found by the current team.
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[00:18:45] The Case of the West River Deputy: Meet Isaac Cadet, the latest hire for the North Dakota Stockman's Association, a licensed officer tasked with investigating livestock crime and "cattle wrestling".
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[00:27:30] The Vegas Bio-Lab Discovery: A deep dive into the shocking discovery made by a house cleaner in Las Vegas, where over 1,000 suspected biological agents including TB, HIV, and malaria were found in a residential garage.
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[00:29:15] Students or Spies?: Senator Tom Cotton questions why 600,000 Chinese nationals are in American universities studying quantum computing and AI instead of the Lincoln-Douglas debates.
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[00:32:15] The Weatherman’s Playbook: In honor of National Weatherperson’s Day, Chief Meteorologist Dean Blaise shares his most "buoyant" college pickup lines.
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[00:43:00] The Guthrie Ransom Note: Analysis of the safe-return plea from Savannah Guthrie’s family and why law enforcement believes the ransom note may contain accurate, non-public details.
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[00:48:00] A Local Super Bowl Star: A shout-out to Brian Franzen, a fourth-generation Coal Harbor farmer, who is set to star alongside a Clydesdale and a bald eagle in a Budweiser Super Bowl commercial.