This episode, recorded on Thursday, October 2nd, covers the ongoing government shutdown, rising political battles over gun control in Minnesota, and a host of economic and social headlines, including a controversial new initiative from the White House regarding prescription drugs.
Key Moments:
- Government Shutdown Continues: The U.S. government shutdown is likely to last at least three days, as the Senate is out of session today for Yom Kippur. Prediction markets are betting it could drag on for nearly two weeks. Treasury Secretary Scott Besson warned that the shutdown could hurt U.S. economic growth, including GDP and growth to working America. Stocks, however, closed at new record highs today, suggesting investors are not panicked.
- Minnesota Gun Ban Controversy (Top 5 at 5): Minnesota DFL Senator Rob Kupec of Moorhead is uncertain if he will support an assault weapons ban, semi-automatic rifle ban, and high-capacity magazine ban during the special legislative session next week, stating he needs to see the specific bill language. The Senate DFL holds 33 seats, needing 34 votes to pass any bill, leading to uncertainty over the outcome. Listeners, including Moorhead's Craig, expressed deep concern over being forced to surrender legally owned firearms and high-capacity magazines.
- "Trump Rx" Pharmacy Portal: President Trump has announced a deal with Pfizer to sell its drugs directly to consumers at discounted prices (averaging 50% lower) through a federal government-operated website, trumprx.gov, expected to launch in 2026. The host expresses concern that this puts the federal government in competition with the private retail pharmacy sector. (4:37)
- Mark Knudson's Legacy & Fargo Mini Marathon: James Botten, founder of Run Day Events, is reviving the Fargo Mini Marathon, last held in 2019, to keep the memory and legacy of the late Mark Knudson alive. The Fargo Mini Marathon is scheduled for October 17th and 18th. Knudson's non-profit, Shoes for Kids, will benefit from the race. (5:35)
- The "Name Caller" Charlie Kirk: An analysis of over 100 Charlie Kirk speeches and public forums showed that while he was insulted 59 times, he only used 11 insults in response, and never returned "evil for evil." He frequently thanked opponents for their courage in engaging publicly. (5:29)
- Netflix Controversy: Elon Musk has urged followers to cancel their Netflix subscriptions, stating they are promoting a "transgender woke agenda." The controversy is centered around the animated show
Dead End Paranormal Park, which features a transgender character. (5:48)
- Minnesota Science Test Scores Decline (Top 5 at 5): Only 26% of Minnesota students met or exceeded new science standards, a sharp drop from nearly 40% proficiency in 2024. The new standards shift focus from memorization to applying scientific methods. (4:20)
- Real Estate & Mortgage Updates (Top 5 at 5): Mortgage rates have edged up, with the 30-year fixed rate at 6.34% this week, slightly higher than last week's 6.3%. Additionally, nearly one in five U.S. homes listed for sale saw a price cut in September, shifting power to buyers. The steepest markdowns (21.6%) were on homes between $350k and $500k, while luxury homes over $1 million saw the fewest reductions (13.3%).