Is Rupert Murdoch Responsible for Sowing Seeds of Division in America?

National and Minnesota Report America was not as divided of a nation before the inception of Fox News, and as it was said by Bill Murray in Stripes in 1982, “That’s a fact, Jack.” Comments by President Joe Biden (D) recently revealed his description of Rupert Murdoch...

What Will the Capitol Discussions Be Like After the Holiday Break?

Minnesota Report Legislators will take an extended break after this week and return to their respective districts across the state, away from the Capitol. Historically, this is a common time that results in a level of course correction, or reality check. When this...

US House Passes the Best Election Bill, Decriminalization of Cannabis

Federal and Minnesota Report On Friday, the US House of Representatives passed a bill for cannabis decriminalization on a mostly party line vote 228-164. We argue this is probably the most impactful vote of the entire legislative session, politically. This removes...

Session Forecast: 4/4/2022

Minnesota Report We spoke with a seasoned veteran lobbyist Bill Amberg who has a law firm and runs his own shop, about how he sees the legislative session playing out. He is often a political source with a good read of the tea leaves. Amberg said, he envisions a...

Surprise, Not, Enbridge is Hurting the Environment

Minnesota Report The announcement last week that Enbridge pipeline Number 3 pierced the watershed, three different times, comes as no surprise to us. The fact it occurred and was actually report, well reported well after the occurrence, isn’t a surprise either. The...

Gas Tax Holiday

Minnesota Report The idea of a Gas Tax Holiday this summer is a worthwhile concept. If a short-term fix to soaring gas prices is what Republicans want, then extract a large amount in response Governor Tim Walz (D-MN). In exchange demand the largest Bonding Bill in...

Shawn Towle Exposes His Past

Minnesota Report On Saturday, at a small gathering of friends and supporters, Checks & Balances Publisher Shawn Towle, got humble and discussed his recent history of living three years on a friends couch and another six months in another friend eldest son’s...

Jennifer Schultz for 8th Congressional District

Minnesota Report On Monday, 4th term Rep Jennifer Schultz (DFL-7A, Duluth) will announce her desire to retain the title Representative, but this time it will be at the federal level in Virginia. She announced she would not be seeking reelection earlier in the...

What a Bakk Bid for Governor, Could Mean?

Minnesota Report We recently had a conversation with former DFL Minority/Majority now Independent Sen Tom Bakk (I-MN) about the possibilities of a run for governor. He said, he had an email from someone who would write a check for the first $1000 just that day. He...

Voting Against ALS Funding, Really?

Minnesota Report While watching the tally board on SF3372, a bill inspired by Sen David Tomassoni (I-06, Chisholm), to fund ALS research, commonly known as Lou Gherig Disease, and economic support for families yesterday on the House Floor, we were perplexed when we...