It is a heavy-hitting Thursday on What’s On Your Mind as the news cycle moves at a breakneck pace between the Twin Cities and the Big Apple. Guest host Steve Hallstrom steps in for Scott Hennen, who is on a special assignment in Minneapolis to interview U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The episode centers on the tragic and volatile fallout of a fatal ICE officer-involved shooting in Minneapolis, an event that has ignited a firestorm of political rhetoric and public unrest.
The show features a raw, real-time look at a press conference from New York City with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Noem delivers a defiant defense of law enforcement, clashing with New York's socialist leadership and addressing what she calls the "train wreck" of corruption and fraud in Minnesota. From the "Don-Roe Doctrine" on the world stage to the "radicalization" of local protesters, this episode explores the deep cultural divide between those calling for "warm collectivism" and those demanding a return to law and order.
Standout Moments & Timestamps
[00:03:15] – The "Chaos" Narrative Steve Hallstrom breaks down the immediate media and political reaction to the Minneapolis shooting, arguing that the left "wants disorder" to raise money and recruit followers, while the silent majority is desperate for a return to civil order.
[00:10:45] – Kristi Noem’s "New York Minute" Live from a NYC press conference, Secretary Noem fires back at Mayor Zoran Mamdani and other Democratic leaders, accusing them of "doing the devil's work" by siding with illegal residents over tax-paying American citizens.
[00:13:20] – The "Train Wreck" of Minnesota Noem pulls no punches regarding the state of Minnesota, calling it "corrupt" and highlighting the multi-billion dollar fraud scandals that she claims were allowed to flourish under the leadership of Governor Tim Walz.
[00:27:15] – Vehicles as Weapons A deep dive into the specifics of the Minneapolis incident. Noem confirms that the vehicle in question was used to ram an officer and that the administration will no longer tolerate the "siege" on federal agents, citing a 1,150% increase in assaults on ICE.
[00:33:45] – The "Legal Observer" Rebrand Steve discusses the "hijacking" of language by activists, debating how the term "legal observer" is being used as a shield for those inciting violence during deportation proceedings.
[00:46:15] – Scott Bessent’s "Eyes on the Ground" An update on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s visit to the Twin Cities to witness the economic and institutional "rot" firsthand, as the federal government prepares to audit Minnesota's handling of federal funds.
[00:54:30] – Radicalized in Minneapolis? The show closes with a sobering look at the "pincer move" tactics allegedly used by protesters to block federal vehicles, questioning how a "young mother" could be radicalized to the point of putting her life at risk against federal law enforcement.