Guest host Steve Hallstrom fills in for Scott Hennen, co-piloting with Kevin Flynn, covering the absurdity of the federal government shutdown as it stretches into its third week. The hosts play audio of House Speaker Mike Johnson and Citizens United President Dave Bossie, who blast Democrats for prioritizing wasteful foreign aid and special-interest spending over funding the military and border security. The hosts reveal a hidden facet of the trade war with China: a potential tariff on "used cooking oil" (gutter oil), which hurts U.S. soybean farmers. Steve then interviews Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Kendall Qualls, an Army veteran and successful businessman, who presents a common-sense, three-part plan to defeat Tim Walz and restore "normal" to Minnesota by cutting taxes, fighting crime, and fixing education.
Political Hypocrisy and the Shutdown
- Democrat Sabotage: The hosts and guests condemn Democrats for engaging in "performative stunts" and holding out on a clean funding bill for "pure politics". They point out that Schumer’s stated goal is to "fix the health care crisis looming over the American people" , which the hosts believe is a fight solely to fund health care for illegal immigrants.
- Exposing Wasteful Spending: Mike Johnson and Dave Bossie list examples of the Democrats' "reckless" spending that Republicans are trying to cut, including:
- $24.6 million to "climate resilience in Honduras"
- $13.4 million for "civic engagement in Zimbabwe"
- $3.9 million for "LGBTQI democracy grants in the Balkans"
- Consequences for Americans: Farmers are unable to cash hundreds of thousands of dollars in checks because the FSA (Federal Crop Lending) offices are closed. Mike Johnson warns that the Democrats' choice is causing "real personal and economic strain" for troops, TSA, and air traffic controllers.
- Fetterman's Common Sense: Senator John Fetterman is praised as a reasonable Democrat for publicly stating that conservative Trump supporters are "not fascists" or trying to destroy the Constitution.
Trade, Agriculture, and China
- The Gutter Oil Threat: President Trump threatened to place a 100% tariff on goods, specifically "used cooking oil," coming from China.
- Hurting U.S. Farmers: This used cooking oil is often called "gutter oil" in China. While it is not imported for direct food use, it's used as a cheap ingredient (one-third the price of soybean oil) in biofuel production. The hosts and callers argue that banning this oil would boost demand and prices for U.S. soybeans.
- Bison Rankings: The NDSU Bison football team is ranked number 38 in the objective Sagarin ratings, placing them ahead of FBS teams like Arkansas, Cincinnati, Iowa State, and the Minnesota Gophers, based on strength of schedule.
Saving Minnesota's Soul
Steve Hallstrom interviews gubernatorial candidate Kendall Qualls, an Army officer and businessman from a modest background, who believes he is the "only guy that can crack the Metro" and defeat Tim Walz.
- Three-Part Plan: Qualls plans to restore Minnesota to "normal" by focusing on three basic principles:
- Revitalizing the Private Sector: Lowering the "huge weight of taxes and regulations" on businesses.
- Fixing the Crime Problem: Deploying state police officers into the Twin Cities, regardless of the city council's opposition.
- Public School Education: Addressing the fact that half of Minnesota's students are not reading, doing math, or science at grade level.
- Minneapolis "War Zone": Qualls laments that the once "crown jewel" of Minneapolis has been turned into a "war zone," feeling eerie and empty, which is a reflection of the entire state's political direction.
Weather, Sports, and Finance
- Thursday Forecast: The day is starting with showers in the north, but should clear up and warm to the upper 60s/low 70s. Sunday looks like the pick day of the weekend with sunny skies and temperatures in the 60s.
- Vikings Quarterback: Coach Kevin O'Connell is not tipping his hand, but it appears Carson Wentz will start again over an injured JJ McCarthy.
- Markets: The Dow is up 87, and the Nasdaq is up 135, driven by solid earnings from tech companies. The host notes Bitcoin is on a "train that is leaving the station" and should drop under $100k before climbing to $200–$250k in 18 months. Gold is up $77 to $4,000 an ounce.