News Releases
Trump’s Tariff Strategy: A Dangerous Game of Manipulation and Malfeasance
International, National & Minnesota Report
As the world watched in stunned silence, Donald J. Trump’s (R) tariff strategy unfolded like a disastrous symphony of political theatrics and economic chaos. It wasn’t just the working-class Americans who were getting squeezed by inflated prices, or the global trading partners left in the wake of the self-inflicted wounds. Behind the scenes, a much darker, more nefarious picture began to emerge—one that pointed to a deliberate and calculated attempt to devalue the stock market for the benefit of a select few. Could Trump’s infamous tariffs have been a manipulative power play to allow his cronies, particularly in South Africa, to purchase undervalued stocks and capitalize on their inevitable recovery once the threat of tariffs subsided?
Let’s break this down.
When Trump announced his trade wars in 2018, claiming tariffs on billions of dollars of Chinese imports, he promised to “level the playing field” and bring back American jobs. The rhetoric was nationalistic, the soundbites were populist, and the message was clear: Trump was standing up for the common worker. But those who were paying attention quickly realized that, under the surface, things weren’t adding up. The tariffs, while supposedly aimed at protecting American industries, were wreaking havoc on American consumers, raising the cost of goods and damaging industries like agriculture, manufacturing, and technology.
But there’s more to this than meets the eye. Trump’s repeated and erratic tariff announcements created massive instability in global stock markets, sending stock prices plummeting with every new tweet or press conference. For months, the market trembled as the trade war between the United States and China escalated, only to be met with yet another abrupt policy change. Companies that had been the darlings of Wall Street suddenly saw their stock prices tumble—a perfect storm for those in the know to swoop in and buy up undervalued assets.
What if, just what if, this wasn’t all a series of accidental blunders or misguided economic policies? What if Trump’s tariff strategy was, at its core, a means to devalue the stock market deliberately, thereby creating an opportunity for his wealthy, well-connected allies to buy up shares at a bargain price? And who, you ask, are these beneficiaries? The answer may lie with Trump’s South African cronies—business partners, financiers, and other shadowy figures who have long had a hand in the Trump Organization’s dealings.
The South African Connection: A Web of Deals and Deception
It’s no secret that Trump has a history of questionable relationships with foreign nationals, and the South African link is particularly troubling. Patrice Motsepe, a billionaire mining magnate from South Africa, is one name that comes to mind, and he is closely followed by Peter Thiel. Motsepe, a man with deep political connections in both South Africa and across Africa, has been a vocal Trump supporter and a financial backer of several of Trump’s ventures. But what if these connections go deeper? What if Motsepe and others were using their access to Trump to create an artificially depressed market, knowing that once the tariffs were lifted or the market stabilized, these stocks would surge once again?
In the case of Thiel, he was the staunch support of Senator JD Vance’s (R-OH) selection for Vice-President. He is known as an iconoclastic technology investor,. This positions him like a vulture circling around artifically depressed stocks. It’s not beyond the realm of possibility that this manipulative tactic was designed to line the pockets of those with inside knowledge of what Trump’s next move would be.
A Malignant Scheme for Profit
As the tariffs began to take their toll on industries, certain sectors—especially technology, agriculture, and automotive—saw their stocks fall into undervalued territory. The likes of Apple, Tesla, and Caterpillar, companies with solid long-term growth potential, saw their stock prices drop. Meanwhile, investors with deep pockets and the right connections began scooping up these valuable shares for pennies on the dollar. It’s not hard to imagine that once the “threat” of tariffs was over—whether due to a change in policy under Trump or his successor—these same stocks would rebound, as they always do, bringing massive profits to those who were shrewd enough to short them during the instability.
While the market was in turmoil, Trump and his allies reaped the rewards of this chaotic environment. Elon Musk, who has been known to have a somewhat cozy relationship with Trump, certainly didn’t miss this opportunity. Tesla’s stock, which saw wild fluctuations during the tariff period, eventually rebounded as expected. Meanwhile, Trump’s corporate donors and key partners—some of them tied to questionable overseas business dealings—could have been quietly preparing to capitalize on this market downturn. It’s a perfect storm of market manipulation and self-interest, with the American people bearing the brunt of the costs.
The Real Beneficiaries: Power, Influence, and Control
It’s hard to ignore the staggering possibility that Trump’s tariff strategy wasn’t just a misguided attempt to revive American manufacturing, but a calculated financial scheme meant to enrich a few well-connected individuals. Who benefits from this? Trump, for one, and his inner circle, which includes foreign nationals who are known to have ties to the president’s business empire. Trump’s South African partners, like Motsepe, have been known to have their fingers in numerous profitable ventures, many of which could benefit greatly from a temporary stock market downturn.
Let’s not forget about the Trump Organization itself. If Trump were to offload some of his own holdings during this tumultuous period, it could allow him to buy them back at a lower price once the tariffs were eased or eliminated. With his track record of making money off real estate and hotel deals, it’s not unreasonable to suspect that he saw this market instability as yet another opportunity to enrich himself and his cronies.
The American workers, on the other hand, are left holding the bag—bearing the brunt of higher costs, struggling with stagnant wages, and getting caught up in the political spectacle of trade wars that never delivered the promised results. They are not the beneficiaries. They are the pawns, manipulated into thinking that Trump’s “America First” agenda was a plan that would help them, when in reality, they were just collateral damage in a game of global financial manipulation.
Conclusion: A Sinister Power Play
Is this all just a conspiracy theory, or is it the reality of what Trump’s tariffs were truly about? The evidence suggests that Trump’s economic decisions—especially with respect to his tariff strategy—were not born out of a desire to protect the American worker, but rather out of a desire to manipulate the markets for the benefit of himself and his global cronies. Whether it was Trump’s own financial interests, his South African business partners, or his allies in the tech world, the real beneficiaries of his actions were always those with the power to move markets and profit off their volatility.
This is a dangerous game of manipulation and malfeasance, and it shows the stark reality that, for Trump, the American people have always been a means to an end. They were never the priority. The only thing that mattered was maintaining power and wealth for himself and his inner circle. The American worker? Well, they were just a stepping stone in the pursuit of profit. The tariffs? Just another tool in his arsenal of financial power plays.
It’s time to call it what it is—manipulation. And the real shame is that, as always, it’s the people at the bottom who pay the price.
After a Server Issue, We’re Back Up and Running, One Important Item We Missed: House Budget Targets
Minnesota Report
Since the House is the body of origination of all spending bills, they set the tenure of the starting points for negotiation with the Governor and Senate on all spending bills. Here is the House Budget Proposal broken out by Committee area. This is followed by the official statements by both House Speaker Lisa DeMuth (R-13A, Cold Spring) and Speaker Emeritus Melissa Hortman (DFL-34B, Broklyn Park).
Demuth: Bipartisan House agreement reached on ‘common-sense budget’ framework
The Minnesota House has reached bipartisan agreement on the framework of a new state budget that that includes the largest spending reduction in Minnesota history to address a looming shortfall.
House Speaker Rep. Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, said legislators have agreed to cut $4 billion from the current budget, with an additional $1.2 billion reduction in 2026-27. Demuth said reduced spending is essential after Democrats in full control of the Capitol spent the $18 billion surplus, raised taxes by $10 billion and increased the state budget by $20 billion – a 40-percent hike – in 2023. The state now faces a projected $6 billion shortfall.
“House Republicans are holding strong on fiscal responsibility, securing budget figures that would represent the largest spending cut in state history and taking a major step toward fixing the shortfall,” Demuth said. “I look forward to our committee chairs working to put together a common-sense budget that makes life more affordable for Minnesotans. At the same time, we need to continue working to crack down on fraud, waste and abuse that is costing taxpayers dearly and damaging the state’s bottom line.”
Education is one area of the budget where Demuth said different approaches need to be reconciled during the budget-making process. Gov. Tim Walz proposes trimming more than $240 million from education in 2026-27 and another $445 million in 2028-29. This includes cutting merit-based teacher compensation (Q Comp), special education transportation, and non-public pupil support.
Meanwhile, Demuth said school districts are feeling the weight of more than 65 unfunded mandates placed on them in 2023. This includes a new leave program, sick-time requirements, and unemployment insurance mandates for hourly school-year employees applied during the summer months.
“Our children continue falling behind in the classroom, yet more and more mandates are putting school districts in dire straits financially,” Demuth said. “We need to turn this around by eliminating micromanagement, mandates, and misplaced priorities in Minnesota’s K-12 education system so we can focus on helping our students succeed.”
Speaker Emeritus Hortman’s Statement on Budget Targets
Today, House and Senate Republicans released their joint budget targets. House DFL Leader Melissa Hortman released the following statement:
“The Republican targets released today are the way back to deficits, the way back to cuts at our local schools, and the way back to tuition hikes. House DFLers are ready to participate in passing a budget that serves Minnesotans, but we won’t participate in passing a budget that takes us backward. We will work to achieve a compromise that invests in Minnesota and Minnesotans, but this budget doesn’t do that.
“What is positive is that Republicans are at least saying they will let conference committees do the work they are supposed to do. The more public and open final negotiations are, the more likely we can get to an orderly, on time finish—for a change.”
Secretary Simon Statement on U.S. SAVE Act
Minnesota Report
SAINT PAUL – On April 10, 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the U.S. Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act commonly known as the SAVE Act.
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon issued the following statement:
“The SAVE Act would cause unprecedented chaos in the U.S. election system – preventing millions of Americans from voting, slowing or stopping work in elections offices, and threatening election workers with criminal prosecution.
Fundamentally, the SAVE Act would change how Americans register to vote. It would require American citizens to go in person to a local election office to prove citizenship. For some, they may be able to show their passport. For others, they may need a birth certificate and a matching photo ID. These requirements would cost Americans time and money. This extra effort could very well lead to American citizens deciding it is just not worth it to vote.
This legislation especially harms people who have changed their names since birth, members of our military, rural Americans, students, those experiencing poverty, and survivors of domestic violence or natural disasters. These are all groups of people who are more likely to need to repeatedly register to vote and are less likely to have up-to-date and official citizenship documentation in their possession – and the time and money to obtain the proper records and provide them to an election official.
Further, changes under the SAVE Act would be effective immediately. This would be disastrous for state and local election officials who would be forced to rework complicated election systems without the necessary time or resources to enact such wide sweeping changes. More disturbingly, the SAVE Act adds new civil and criminal penalties for election workers who would be left navigating these changes without support, guidance, or resources needed from the federal government.
Ultimately, the SAVE Act would upend the authority of states to conduct free and fair elections. As a defender of the freedom to vote, I strongly encourage the U.S. Senate to reject this proposal.”
Secretary Simon Statement on Presidential Executive Order on Elections
Minnesota Report
On Tuesday, our Secretary of State Steve Simon (DFL-MN) issued the following press release, which although short in length echoes our sentiments on the Election Executive Order proclaimed by Donald J Trump on Monday. In our opinion, Simon effectively notes, Trump has no standing at all in dictating policies or procedures regarding elections.
SAINT PAUL – On March 25, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order on elections.
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon issued the following statement:
“The President’s recent executive order on elections, if allowed to take effect, would threaten the ability to vote for millions of eligible Americans by adding costly and burdensome new requirements for those registering to vote.
It attempts a federal takeover of state and locally administered election systems – in part by threatening states with an unlawful cutoff of funding.
Plainly, this order disregards the U.S. Constitution.
Minnesotans trust our elections because of our common-sense balance of security and accessibility. We already use paper ballots, maintain secure voter registration systems, and count only ballots matched to a registered voter and received by election day.
This executive order would undermine the balance of security and accessibility and erode the freedom to vote for millions of eligible Americans.
Our office is exploring legal options to stop this order from taking effect. I will always defend our free and fair elections, no matter what this administration will attempt to do.”
Latest Trump Executive Order Regarding Elections Violates the US Constitution
National & Minnesota Report
On Monday, Donald J Trump (R) signed an Executive Order which is based on one simple fact, it is intended to continue to foster the unmitigated lie, the 2020 election was stolen. Because of the cowardice of Republican US Senators who showed the yellow stripe on their backs and failed to vote to convict this man in the impeachment proceedings, who is unfit to sit in the Oval Office due to his actions while President and prior to his election, we are once again in troubled times.
Also, the hubbub over the National Security debacle has put this issue clearly on the back burner of the Mainstream Media, and that might have been the actual purpose.
In this era Chaotic Irrationality, we are experiencing a full frontal attack against democracy, combined with a scurrilous undermining of all of governmental protections for our citizenry, we as United States citizens need to declare our own Citizen’s Revolt against the current Chief Executive and his Puppet Masters Elon Musk and Stephen Miller, primary author of Project 2025.
His latest Executive Order is the defining reason. Through the power of his pen, he believes, and this will need to be tested by the Legislative and Judicial Branches, which will likely fail, but if any part of his Order stands it is a direct challenge to years of democratic reforms that started with the original constitutional language and subsequent amendments.
His Order Reads:
Executive Order to protect the integrity of American elections.
- This Order strengthens voter citizenship verification and bans foreign nationals from interfering in U.S. elections.
- The Election Assistance Commission will require documentary, government-issued proof of U.S. citizenship on its voter registration forms.
- Agencies like the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Social Security Administration and Department of State must provide states with access to Federal databases to verify eligibility and citizenship of individuals registering to vote.
- The Attorney General will prioritize prosecuting non-citizen voting and related crimes, including through use of DHS records and coordination with state attorneys general.
- Federal election-related funds will be conditioned on states complying with the integrity measures set forth by Federal law, including the requirement that states use the national mail voter registration form that will now require proof of citizenship.
- The Order improves the integrity of elections by directing the updating of the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines 2.0 and security standards for voting equipment and prioritizing federal grant funds accordingly.
- This includes requiring a voter-verifiable paper ballot record and not using ballots in which the counted vote is contained within a barcode or QR code.
- It directs the Attorney General to enter into information-sharing agreements with state election officials to identify cases of election fraud or other election law violations.
- Non-compliant states may face prioritized Federal enforcement of election integrity laws and loss of funding given their unwillingness to police fraud.
- The Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security shall prevent non-citizens from any involvement in administering elections.
- The Attorney General will fully enforce the voter-list maintenance requirements of the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act.
- Given clear Federal law setting a single Election Day deadline, the Attorney General shall take appropriate action against states that count ballots received after Election Day in Federal elections. Federal election funding will be conditioned on compliance.
- The Attorney General will prioritize enforcement of laws prohibiting foreign nationals from contributing to or donating in U.S. elections.
- All agencies must report on compliance with undoing Biden Executive Order 14019, which turned Federal agencies into Democratic voter turnout centers.
SAFEGUARDING THE VOTE:
- President Trump recognizes that free, fair, and honest elections—unmarred by fraud, errors, or suspicion—are essential to our Constitutional Republic.
- The United States lags behind other nations in enforcing basic and necessary election protections.
- India and Brazil tie voter identification to a biometric database, while the United States largely relies on self-attestation for citizenship.
- Germany and Canada require paper ballots when tabulating votes, while the United States has a patchwork of methods that often lack basic chain-of-custody protections.
- Denmark and Sweden sensibly limit mail-in voting to those unable to vote in person—and late arrivals do not count—while American elections now feature mass voting by mail, even after Election Day.
- Without proper enforcement of Federal laws, illegal voting, discrimination, fraud, and other forms of malfeasance and error dilute the votes of lawful American citizens.
- Federal law establishes a uniform Election Day across the nation for Federal elections, but numerous states fail to comply with those laws by counting ballots received after Election Day.
- The Biden Administration blocked states from removing aliens from voter rolls, while foreign nationals and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) exploited loopholes to pour millions into influencing U.S. elections.
MAKING ELECTIONS SECURE AGAIN:
- Voters deserve elections they can trust, and that confidence is being restored thanks to President Trump.
- President Trump is following through on his promise to secure our elections.
- President Trump: “We’re going to fix our elections so that our elections are going to be honorable and honest and people leave and they know their vote is counted. We are going to have free and fair elections. And ideally, we go to paper ballots, same-day voting, proof of citizenship, very big, and voter ID, very simple.”
- President Trump: “We will secure our elections, and they will be secure once and for all.”
- Unlike the Biden Administration, which prioritized political agendas over fair elections, President Trump is putting the American people back in charge.
We doubt Trump has bothered to read the original language of the US Constitution, let alone it’s Amendments. Maybe this time he will abscond with the original document and sign his own name on it, because he thinks putting his name on something increases its value, but in this case, such branding as an addition, would make the document virtually worthless.
Each and every word written in his Executive Order is an affront to these words. An anyone with and courage will call the Attorney General’s Office (651) 296-3353 or (800) 657-3787 and ask to be entered into a lawsuit challenging the Order as a violation of your voting rights, which are afforded you by the US Constitution, Federal Laws, the Minnesota Constitution and State Laws.
Here are the provisions under threat.
Article I, Section 2:
States Determine Qualifications to Vote
“The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.”
Article I, Section 4:
States Conduct Congressional Elections
“The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of choosing Senators.” U.S. Senators were originally chosen by their respective State Legislatures until the passage in 1913 of the 17th Amendment which provides for the direct popular election of Senators.
Article II, Section 1:
States Conduct Presidential Elections
“Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.” and later: “The Congress may determine the Time of choosing the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the same throughout the United States.”
If this Executive Order is allowed to stand unchallenged the 2026 Midterm Elections are impinged, as well as the 2028 Presidential Election.
As Trump has already tried to advance slates of false Presidential Electors it should be reaffirmed as is already known the manner of choosing Presidential Electors remains a matter for sole consideration in each State, and all state have since 1860 have employed a direct popular vote for Presidential Electors.
Prior, however, several States chose their Electors by a vote of their State Legislature rather than by designation by the popular vote.
Additionally, the Amendments may need reaffirmation.
The 15th Amendment (1870)
Eliminating Racial Barriers “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”
The 19th Amendment (1920)
Eliminating Sexual Barriers “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.”
The 24th Amendment (1964)
Eliminating Poll Taxes “The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.”
The Voting Rights Act of 1965
As amended, extends the prohibition on poll taxes to cover all elections by virtue of the 14th, 15th and 24th Amendments to the Constitution.
In fact, we believe the US Congress should show the nation it actually is true to the oath it’s members and all judges, and members of the armed forces take:
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.
In this case we mean, actively voting on the floor of the House and Senate to affirm the separate provisions of the entirety of the US Constitution and all of its amendments.
Incompetence of the Trump National Security Team Creates a Threat to Our Country’s Intelligence and National Defense and Violates the Public Trust
International, National and Minensota
We learned on Monday, from an article in the Atlantic by Editor in Chief Jeffery Goldberg, who wrote The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans of the ham-handed nature of the National Security Team which included but is not limited to J D Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbert, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and Trump Envoy Steve Wittkoff, who so happened to be in Russia at the time of the group chat. This chat was made on an unsecured app called Signal, and could have been compromised through the many participants lack of security or the fact their personal devices on which they were using. These cellphone, were never cleared by the State Department and the firing of the 17 Inspector Generals may have be a serious part of the reason.
In the aftermath were have heard constant unsubstantiated statements, from some chat participants, “No classified information was communicated.” Although, this is not true as now has been stated by Goldberg. He is showing his ability to contend against the false words from the Trump officials who follow the “Liar in Chief’s” operational style. So far, the White House is not willing to release a transcript of the chat, which if at least provided to the appropriate Congressional Committees is closed sessions would clear up the matter quickly.
Right now, we are lucky the operation bombing the Houthi’s in Yemen, was a veritable success, but the sophomoric behavior of lauding the mission as attack with virtual high fives and pats on the back along with other emoticons means they took pleasure at inflicting pain and suffering on others, when this should have been a solemn exchange of information.
Where is Amy Klobuchar’s Name in the Discussions for Minority Leader
National & Minnesota Report
We are not calling for the ouster of US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) yet, although a vote of confidence in the Democratic Conference might be nigh. If it occurs and we haven’t heard the mention of our own Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) is a leadership shuffle conversation on any of the national news sources.
If she were to be tapped as the first woman leader of the most exclusive club in the nation, it might quell any ambition for the Oval Office in 2028, but it also might fire it up. But, the heightened viability would definitely be a boon for our state.
Good for the Goose Good for the Gander
Minnesota Report
Sen Justin Eichorn (R-06, Grand Rapids) has a new name John, and was arrested for solicitation of a minor for prostitution in Bloomington on St Patrick’s Day. We understand he was meeting a sixteen year old for prostitution. Since Eichorn has consistently voted in favor expulsion of Sen Nicole Mitchell (DFL-47, Woodbury), his past votes now seems quite ironic. Solicitation of a minor for sex is a felony charge.
We wonder if the Republicans will be as apt to push for Mitchell’s expulsion any longer. As was done on January 27, 2025 by Eichorn’s colleague Sen Jordan Rasmusson (R-09, Fergus Falls) moved the following, Pursuant to Article IV, Section 7 of the Constitution of the State of Minnesota, Senator Rasmusson moved that Senator Nicole Mitchell be expelled from the Minnesota Senate effective immediately, and that a vacancy be declared in the office for Senate District 47.
The motion was called out of order and the position of the Senate President Bobby Jo Champion (DFL-59, Minneapolis) was called into question and on a party line vote the DFL Majority prevailed, specifically because Mitchell voted on the matter, which was not as has been falsely claimed, her expulsion but rather the ruling of the chair.
We are hearing a few Republican Senators are calling for Eichorn to resign. If he were to do so, this would improve the DFL majority and allow the possibility for Mitchell not to vote.
Meeting of the Minds in the Governor’s Office
Minnesota Report
The House and Senate leadership of both parties are scheduled to meet with Gvoernor Tim Walz (DFL-MN) tomorrow. It will be the first such meeting of this legislative session and also the first since the Republicans and the DFL have secured a tied 67-67 vote. Speaker Lisa DeMuth (R-13B, Cold Spring retains the gavel, and now all House Committees have Co-Chairs.
The clear differences between the two sides, are this pure and simple fact, Republicans are the anti-government party and the DFL is the Pro-government party. If the two sides are unable to reach a compromise on the size of the state budget targets, then they will force the need for a Special Session after the adjournment date of May 19th.
There needs to be a public pronouncement of any agreement on committee deadlines, targets and ultimately the State Budget. There are two structural breaks, a short one at the end of the month, and from April 11th-21st for the Easter Passover break.
Calls for Somaliland to Accept Gaza Palestinian Refugees is Supported by Elders of the Community
International, National, & Minnesota Report
You may not have ever heard of it, but there is a place on the Horn of Africa called Somaliland. It is not fully recognized currently the emerging nation has political connections and so informal embassies in Ethiopia, Djibouti, Belgium, Canada, France, Ghana, Kenya, Norway, Russia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Yemen. Rep Ilhan Omar (D-MN05) a refugee of Somali, is a staunch opponent to the formation of Somaliland and very hostile to its supporters.
In his call for different nations to accept the Palestinian refugees from Gaza, Donald J Trump R) identified the different places Sudan, Somalia and Somaliland. Four days ago the AP reported. “The contacts with Sudan, Somalia and the breakaway region of Somalia known as Somaliland reflect the determination by the U.S. and Israel to press ahead with a plan that has been widely condemned and raised serious legal and moral issues.” Because these two nations and an emerging one are poor it is seen in some circles as oppression by the a first world nation on third world countries.
Because of our exposure to the Somaliland movement we are hearing there are leaders willing to accept this idea. The rationale being if they put themselves on the international stage, and assit in this instance their own recognition could follow. The area is oil rich, and the Chinese have two-year leases to develop the oil industry.
Here is a handmade Somaliland Flag.
2018 State Fair Polls
Once again, we attended the Great-Minnesota-Get-Together and stopped by the legislative booths in the Education Building. We collected the Annual Polls from the House and Senate. As we have said, this often is an indicator of where the majorities legislative...
NPR Censors Opposition Comments on RCV
The NPR show 1A ran a program on Ranked Choice Voting today, and Checks & Balances Publisher Shawn Towle sought a spot on the panel. When called back by producer Andi McDaniel he was informed the panel was full but could submit a comment through the voicemail...
Corroborating Information on the Knoblach Story
Last year, we published a controversial and disturbing piece on House Ways & Means Chairman, Jim Knoblach (R-14B, St Cloud) regarding claims made by his daughter on her Facebook...
Pawlenty’s Second Deferral (He called us first with the news.)
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Does Checks & Balances Deserve Credit/Blame for Bachmann’s Political Rise?
Originally published April 04, 2000 Original Title: Another Change in Parties? KSTP talk radio host Jason Lewis openly speculated on his program about the possibility of other members of the legislature leaving the Republican Party for greener pastures with the DFL....
2017 House State Fair Poll
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Rep Jim Knoblach Facing Allegations of Sexual Abuse by Daughter
Some disturbing information has come to our attention, alleging Rep. Jim Knoblach (R-14B, St Cloud) engaged in an abusive relationship with his daughter Laura, which if true are damning. We have received screenshots from her personal Facebook page, which has since...
2016 House State Fair Poll
We at Checks & Balances are continuing our tradition of publishing the State Fair Polls found at the State Fair booths in the Education Building. Official Ballot Minnesota House of Representatives 2016 State Fair Poll Question 1. Do you support an increase in the...
Legislative Return/Special Session 2020
Minnesota Report We are hearing the legislature will likely be recalled for Special Session June 12th, which is just before Governor Tim Walz’ (DFL-MN) last peacetime emergency declaration is set to expire. In order to declare another one, he will need to receive...
Alcohol From Restaurant to You
Minnesota Report The House and the Senate have agreed to allow alcohol sales to be purchased from restaurants, during the COVID-19 crisis, but only beer and wine. The problem with this is with liquor stores still open the cost will be higher without an added benefit,...
Caution is the Best Medicine
Minnesota Report As Donald J Trump (R) continues to discuss his preparation and planning, combined with his pressure to open up the United States for business again on May 1st, he does so in a potential conflict with the state’s governors. Here in Minnesota, he will...
What to Expect from the Legislature Today?
Minnesota Report The agenda for the legislature is limited and focused on issues surrounding the COVID-19 Virus and there are a number of ways it is adversely affecting our state. A view of the times for consideration by the House Rules and Legislative Administration...
What the House Looks Like During COVID-19
Minnesota Report Watching yesterday’s proceedings of the Minnesota House of Representatives during the passage of extension of Worker’s Compensation Benefits to First-Responders and other personnel who contract COVID-19 in the course of doing their jobs, was an...
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