2/5 The amount stolen in fraud in Minnesota could approximate half the amount taken in in income tax annually

Summary

Garage Logic Podcast Summary

Episode Title: The amount stolen in fraud in Minnesota could approximate half the amount taken in income tax annually
Air Date: February 5, 2026
Host: Joe Soucheray ("The Mayor")
Cast: Chris Reuvers, Kenny Olson, John Hite, “Rookie” (Matthew), additional cast members
Produced by: Gamut Podcast Network

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Overview

This Garage Logic episode, hosted by Joe Soucheray, presents a candid, wide-ranging discussion about the changing character of Minnesota, with a particular focus on the shocking scale of government program fraud — estimates suggest it’s close to half the state’s annual income tax intake. The hosts reminisce about Minnesota’s cultural past, critique current political dynamics and city governance, then deep dive into the details and implications of recent fraud scandals, mass migration from the state, and the future of Minnesota politics.

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Main Themes

• Transformation of Minnesota's Culture and Values
• Staggering Fraud in State Programs
• Erosion of Trust in Government and Competence
• Political Inertia and Partisan Struggles
• Debate Over Solutions and Leadership

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Garage Logic: Then and Now

[01:10–10:00]

• Soucheray reflects on the garage logic ethos: "this show never started with the population of Minnesota swamped by fraud and progressive politics... we're a completely different place."
• The crew notes the show was born in a different, more collegial Minnesota. Current conditions—marked by pervasive fraud, perceived government incompetence, and ideological divisiveness—would make a show like Garage Logic tough to launch today.
• Nostalgia for practical, “figure it out in the garage” Minnesotans is tinged with frustration over regulatory creep ("Minnesota: the state where nothing is allowed," a phrase the show coined after popcorn was banned at Mayo Clinic because of its smell [08:47]).

Notable Quote:

“Garage Logic could not be invented today if you were starting out in this business, not in this state.” — Joe Soucheray [01:36]

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2. Minneapolis City Politics and Commerce

[04:13–13:02]

• The team discusses the Minneapolis City Council's decision to delay liquor license renewals for hotels housing ICE agents.
• Soucheray rails against what he views as anti-business, anti-commerce policies, and the virtue signaling of city officials.
• The danger of overreach is highlighted — that city governance is moving towards “punishment” and “exerting their will over the public” rather than enabling prosperity.

Notable Quote:

“We’ve elected people who serve nothing in the interest of making this city a place of successful commerce… they don’t understand how business operates... they bring nothing to the city that benefits the successful commerce of a city, which is the grease that keeps the whole thing going.”
— Joe Soucheray [06:16]

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3. When Did Minnesota Change?

[07:50–10:06]

• The hosts debate when the cultural and governmental shift began, referencing minor regulations (like the Mayo popcorn ban) as initially humorous but foreboding ("Minnesota: the state where absolutely nothing is allowed").
• They lament that what started as light-hearted commentary has become a deeper critique of lost freedoms and over-regulation.

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4. Fraud in Minnesota: Scale and Scandal Revealed

[14:09–31:49]

• The episode pivots to the central topic: an explosion of fraud in Minnesota’s government aid programs.
• They cover ex-prosecutor Joe Thompson’s speech in Florida, where he estimated $9 billion lost to fraud (particularly “Feeding Our Future” and similar schemes).
• Fraud goes beyond food aid: autism programs, Medicaid-funded housing and medical transportation, daycares, and more are implicated, with the systemic failure traced to a combination of "Minnesota nice" generosity and lack of enforcement resources.
• Another commentator, David Hoque, suggests the real fraud number could be $30–$80 billion, but the panel is skeptical, noting a lack of substantiating evidence and that Minnesota doesn't even raise that much money in a single year.

Notable Quotes:

“Half your tax money has gone to fraudsters. Half your income tax money has gone to fraudsters.”
— Joe Soucheray [27:23]

“The facts are bad enough. I’m getting my tax figures from the Minnesota Department of Revenue. In 2024, Minnesota generated $35 billion in tax revenue ... Income taxes contributed the largest share ... at $19.1 billion.”
— Joe Soucheray [29:02]

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5. Systemic Failures: Why Has This Happened?

[22:01–25:56]

• Describes the fraud "playbook": forming LLCs, registering as aid providers, laundering money through shell companies, and making use of cultural claims or allegations of racism to evade scrutiny.
• Investigators cite a cultural clash between some immigrant communities and American norms—the hosts are careful not to generalize but consistent in their call for tougher oversight.

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6. Political Response and Leadership Vacuum

[31:49–37:18]

• The panel discusses the lack of robust opposition to the DFL (Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party) and the seeming inability of the Republican leadership to galvanize voters ("If a Minnesotan thinks you are a pro-Trumper, you will not be voted for" [35:11]).
• Strong critique of Tim Pawlenty (former governor), who is described as too "milquetoast," and a sense that no one is powerfully confronting or proposing solutions to the fraud and political stagnation.

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7. What Would It Take to Fix MN?

[36:31–38:06]

• Formulas for political success are debated: uniting moderate Republicans, so-called “Rhinos” (Republicans in Name Only), and pragmatic Democrats ("DFLers who are not yet insane") to forge reforms and restore the state’s reputation.

Notable Quote:

“Didn’t you used to love this state? Didn’t you used to trust this state? Didn’t you used to think that we had it made here, man? ... We need to have that state back. And the only way we’re gonna do that is restore honesty and credibility to Minnesota government.”
— Joe Soucheray [36:39]

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8. Broader Community, Immigration, and Remittances

[75:13–80:50]

• Examination of the role of the Somali community in Minnesota—the economic impact, remittances sent home, and political support from figures like Amy Klobuchar.
• The hosts question whether Klobuchar and others, who have supported the community and facilitated remittance channels, will address fraud tied to these networks if they run for governor.

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9. Listener Questions, Lighter Segments & Local Color

[42:07–74:48, intermittently]

• Includes lighter topics: putting syrup in coffee at local shops, eagles and wildlife stories, nuts and grilling, and local music.
• Occasional asides on Minneapolis real estate collapse (including shocking auction price drops), recent layoffs and the economic climate, and cryptocurrency market woes.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It’s a communal bloviation.” — Joe Soucheray [38:47]

• “You are paying for fraud. You’re not paying for the improvement in your own life…You are contributing money to a very bad group that runs the state and has allowed a very bad group to steal our tax money.” — Joe Soucheray [31:08]

• “If the presence of ICE in Minnesota does not tell you how Minnesotans regard Trump, you cannot read the room.” — Joe Soucheray [34:42]

• “If Lisa...her platform speech is just begging to be issued, which is ‘Didn’t you used to love this state?...Don’t you want that again?’” — Joe Soucheray [36:31]

• “Income taxes contributed the largest share of this revenue at $19.1 billion...So if we wanted to engage in your hyperbole...we generated just about enough money to cover all the fraud in Minnesota.” — Joe Soucheray [29:02]

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Key Timestamps

• 00:01–01:06 — Show opening, weather facts
• 01:10–03:08 — GL origin story: culture shift
• 03:38–06:16 — City vs. commerce: anti-business policies
• 14:09–18:52 — Fraud hearings, Joe Thompson’s $9B estimate, "Feeding Our Future"
• 22:01–25:58 — Mechanisms of fraud, challenges in oversight, cultural complications
• 27:12–29:35 — State income tax vs. fraud comparison
• 31:08–33:01 — Why young families might (or should) leave MN
• 35:11–37:18 — Republican strategy & challenges
• 75:13–80:51 — Somali remittances, Amy Klobuchar, and politics
• Throughout — Community mail, wildlife stories, local business shout-outs, lighter GL-style humor

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Tone and Style

Garage Logic’s tone remains colloquial, cynical-yet-nostalgic, and focused on "common sense" and personal responsibility. The hosts are unafraid of strong opinions, employ deadpan humor, and persistently reference Minnesota's “gumption county” archetype. Local color and references abound, leavening serious topics with banter, regional in-jokes, and ribbing among the cast.

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Summary Takeaway

This episode is a passionate, detailed snapshot of the anxieties and frustrations gripping many Minnesotans in 2026 — from the erosion of trust in government to the exodus of talent, the panel sees fraud not just as an accounting failure, but evidence of a cultural unraveling. The call is for stronger, more honest leadership to restore Minnesota’s character, rekindle common sense, and clean out the system — with plenty of local flavor, humor, and skepticism along the way.

Transcript

[A]

Join me, John Randall at the North American Banking Company Minnesota Golf Show, February 13th through the 15th. It's your chance to try out the newest clubs and equipment from the biggest names in golf. Improve your game with free lessons and clinics from PGA Pros, and when you're done, relax at the 19th Hole Lounge with your favorite post round beverage. The $100,000 putt is presented by MSP Plumbing Heating Air, committed to your comfort since 1918. I don't know. Josh Arnold, investment Consultant, brings you Garagelogic podcast number 1710. February 5, 2026 for the second day of. The record was established on this day in 2005, 51 degrees. And as Chile is 27 below on this day in 1979. Call Josh Arnold at 952-925-5608 for a free 48 minute consultation.

[B]

Hail the Flashlight King.

[A]

And now, from the mayor's office above the boathouse on the east shore of Spoon Lake, it's Garage Logic with Chris Reavers manning technology corner, Kenny Olson from the Krabby coffee shop, John Hight in the newsroom, and of course the RO Here is your Flashlight King, fireworks commissioner. Almost missed. And the keeper of common sense, your mayor, Joe Susher. I had a deep thought today. Garage Logic could not be invented today if you were starting out in this business, not in this state. I got to thinking about the origins.

[C]

Okay, how so?

[A]

Well, the origins are strictly Minnesotan in nature. This show never started with the population of Minnesota swamped by fraud and progressive politics and Marxism, socialism and a governor who was completely incompetent. It started in a time when the luxury of garage logic was well afforded, that people got along, they figured things out in their garages. We had cylinder indexes and it was this fun, fun place. And today it seems anachronistic because we're not that state anymore. We're not that place. We're a completely different place. This state is a completely different place than it was when we started in 93. Completely different.

[C]

However, the base.

[A]

So you would never start this kind of show today. It wouldn't work.

[C]

But the base of Garage logic was in 93. Yes, it started to slip away. And that's what brought people to what.

[A]

Started to slip away.

[C]

Morgan Kiwi Wolf, slide with the wind. No recess. Cause of high wind.

[A]

But it took 10, 15 years before we were picking up on it.

[B]

So what would Garage Logic if we started it again?

[A]

You wouldn't even come up with that title.

[B]

You would say, what say ye.

[D]

Well, you would.

[A]

You would have on what's what's on the air now?

[C]

Top 20 Super bowl ads, How to.

[B]

Keep your pet warm in February.

[A]

No, you'd have just right wing talk radio or everything else, which pretty much is left wing radio.

[D]

This show didn't used to be right wing talk radio. It's never been right wing talk radio. No, but the change that this show has undergone since we went to podcast is we're almost solely concentrating on politics where when you were on the radio, it was not as much politics as.

[A]

We'Re doing because it wasn't there to be focused on.

[E]

Correct.

[A]

Our lives were being led and we trusted in things and we had competency in government and there wasn't fraud.

[C]

You'd have a Democrat, you'd have a Republican.

[A]

City councils did things that made sense. For example? For example, par example, it's when this show started. No city council would have delayed granting liquor licenses to hotels because they housed ice agents. That's not what city councils are supposed to do.

[C]

Right.

[A]

Are you aware of this?

[C]

Yes.

[A]

Minneapolis city council committee delayed action on liquor license renewal request by two downtown hotels because they're housing ice agents. It was the council's committee of the whole WH O L E. Okay. Which includes the entire council approved more than 100 liquor licenses on Tuesday night, but pushed action on two, those belonging to the Canopy by Hilton, Minneapolis Mill District and the Depot. Minneapolis until its next meeting on February 17th. Well, isn't that tantamount to the city council then setting itself up to tell any business what. What it. How it will behave?

[F]

Yes.

[D]

To me. They're sabotaging Minneapolis.

[A]

The decision was made on an 8.5vote. After 30 minutes of discussion, the council members, Rainville Vetah, Pearl Warren, Elizabeth Schaefer and Linnea Palmisano voted against the delay. The Marxists voted for the delay. You can't tell a hot what. What if they discovered that ice agents like chicken salad take it off the mail, it would have been the same thing. They would have said you couldn't. You cannot serve chicken salad in your hotels. These. These people have nothing to do. I've said this before and I'm going to say it again calmly. We've elected people who serve nothing in the interests of making this city a place of successful commerce. That is an anathema to them. They don't have a care about commerce. They don't have a care about capitalism. They don't have a care about business. They don't know how business operates. They don't know how property owners operate. They don't understand the whole Rental business. They bring nothing to the city that benefits the successful commerce of a city, which is the grease that keeps the whole thing going.

[D]

They've been doing this for years and it just gets worse and worse.

[A]

Not at the start. Not at the start of Garage Logic. They didn't.

[D]

Right.

[A]

I'm still clinging that original point. Garagelogic could not be. If you came on the air today and said, we have a show called garagelogic, it wouldn't work because there is no such thing anymore.

[D]

So pinpoint for me when it started going bad, because I'm thinking back to when they started legislating and not allowing stores to sell flavored tobacco and raising the prices of tobacco products within the city limits.

[A]

I can remember. Rookie, you might not remember this, but you're pretty good at remembering stuff. I can remember. And it had to be in the 90s still, but the very late 90s that the Mayo Clinic in Rochester banned popcorn because the smell was disturbing patients. Now, I happen to have agreed with that.

[C]

Microwave popcorn.

[A]

I happen to agree with that, by the way. But I said to myself, holy. That's when that freaking. We began a phrase.

[B]

I was gonna ask if you authored the bill.

[A]

No, we began a phrase, but it was lighthearted at the beginning. The phrase was Minnesota, the state where absolutely nothing is allowed. Remember that?

[C]

Yes.

[A]

And we were just riffing. We were having fun with the idea that, oh, look at that, they banned popcorn. We didn't know where that was going. So we just. We came up with this phrase. Minnesota is the state where absolutely nothing is allowed. Those are classic T shirts.

[C]

Those are great T shirts. Yes.

[A]

And then it just exploded to the point where you have city councils that won't allow a law abiding hotel to renew its liquor license because they want to demonstrate first to you their own personal virtue rather than what's important to the city. Now live from St. Paul, the capital.

[B]

City of the state where nothing is allowed. I don't think it's the Joe Sushire show.

[A]

How old is that?

[D]

Joe, Virtue is not the right word.

[A]

What is it?

[D]

You know, this isn't virtue that they're. This is.

[A]

It's punishment.

[D]

It's strong arming.

[A]

Yeah, it's. It's. It's. It's strong arming. It's the. It's exerting their will over the will of the public.

[D]

They think they're hurting just the hotel. They're hurting themselves. They're hurting all the residents of Minneapolis.

[C]

You can't afford not to have booze down there on a.

[A]

They don't care because that's not what they're interested in. They're mysterious. They don't care if the city economically flourishes. That's why they're the wrong people to have gotten elected. And unfortunately, I don't see it turning around.

[C]

Your liner, incidentally, was Ben Patrick Johnson, state where nothing was allowed. Highland park grad. So that's probably 93. 94.

[A]

Oh, no.

[C]

He was our void.

[A]

I know, but the popcorn thing wasn't right off the bat.

[C]

No, the popcorn thing was in 88.

[A]

88 popcorn. We weren't on in 88, but I.

[C]

Think that's part of what.

[A]

No, no, get this 88 out of your mind. You're wrong, okay? You're wrong.

[C]

I'll factually take it off the Internet.

[E]

When I look for it.

[A]

Hello? Was that in 1988? June.

[C]

6-9-88. The famed medical clinic has banned popcorn because the smell was too tantalizing.

[A]

Well, we didn't get around to it until about 10 years later.

[C]

Okay, that was just a mixture in your tour.

[D]

Like a couple of old women arguing at the elderly home. Both of you shut up.

[E]

Yeah, I want her back.

[A]

At the time in the town.

[C]

So that was an ingredient in your.

[A]

Matthew.

[D]

Matthew.

[A]

You're right. It's an ingredient in the cold.

[C]

It's just another spice.

[A]

That's.

[D]

Joe.

[A]

Block that metaphor.

[D]

Don't react. Joe.

[A]

So anyway, they.

[D]

You two.

[A]

They don't. They don't like ice agents staying in hotels. They particularly don't want ice agents to stay in downtown hotels. And as an example of wielding their power, they would deprive the hotel of a liquor license. If you want to be governed that way. Minneapolis. Okay, but think of the. You're only thinking of it short term. Think of the long term ramifications. You run a hardware store and we could reach the point where shovels are considered dangerous weapons. So you're not allowed to buy a spade there. It's just. It's going to be endless. They don't have any interest whatsoever in commerce. None.

[D]

Joe, tell me, if you were on the board of one of these major hotel chains, would you consider this just the cost of doing business in Minneapolis or would you pull the plug?

[A]

I pulled the plug. And I wouldn't stay here because there's no future here. This. If I don't want to think this way, and I'm getting nowhere with the kids I used to have, I'm getting nowhere. So I'm just meaning what, how many. I would not live in this state. It's too Late for me. I'm fine. But if I was a young person raising a young family, I would not stay in this state.

[D]

How many other ruined, how many other businesses have pulled the plug and left Minneapolis before the ICE and the illegal immigration even came into play? Well, I mean, it's just, it piles up day after day. There's more reasons to leave.

[A]

What was the name of Capchella's piece?

[B]

A Precarious State.

[A]

Well, we, we had a great talk with a property owner who said, that's it. I'm done. Yes.

[B]

When you utter the phrase, I'm not getting anywhere with the people around you, who are you getting anywhere with in that same circle?

[A]

No, I'm not going to take your bait. What I mean is, damn it, these people, there's various reasons why they won't move, and they're all very legitimate.

[B]

They're ingrained. Yes, I get it.

[A]

But I think if you have the means to leave and you don't have deep family connections here and you can do what you do for a living elsewhere, I really don't know why you'd stay here. Now, I think I can strengthen that by telling you about some numbers that might shock you.

[D]

Are you talking Minnesota or just the Twin Cities?

[A]

Minnesota.

[B]

But I think the people that even have strengthening ties to this area are also making the decision that this just isn't worth it anymore. Well, that's what Garofalo's entire point was, the mass migration.

[A]

Let's look at it from a different way, and this might be surprising. Kristen Robbins. No, that's not the piece I want. It's right here.

[F]

It's Christopher.

[A]

Oh, sorry. No, it's not. Kristen Robbins is a female. We've had her in the studio on a guest and. Why don't you just shut up?

[C]

She's running for governor.

[F]

Jeez.

[A]

She appeared yesterday before a Senate Judiciary Committee taking aim at fraud in Minnesota. The hearings turned feisty at times. This is from five Eyewitness News. The hearings turned feisty at times as Republicans blamed Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison. And Democrats responded by highlighting what they call fraud within the Donald Trump administration. I get it. You dislike Trump, Senator Ted Cruz said during an exchange with Robert Weissman, co president of the Progressive Public Citizen group. Would you agree the fraud of Minnesota was staggering and shocking? I agree there is fraud in Minnesota, Weissman said. I don't believe these estimates are grounded in any evidence I've seen. He was referring to estimates of fraud amounts for Minnesota Republicans based on a figure from former Assistant U.S. attorney Joe Thompson, who put the number at 9 billion during a news conference in December. Okay, let me. Let me stop right there. Lead you through this. Through this idea that Thompson came up with 9 billion. I'm going to keep this all on track. Many Minnesotans who can afford to live in southwest Florida during the winter and in Naples, they have a. I think it's a weekly meeting. Maybe it's monthly.

[C]

I just saw two guys that went down there today.

[A]

They have a weekly meeting of the Minnesota Club. Thompson was their most recent speaker. So they flew Thompson down and the room gets packed. There's 400 people there. And I have. There's a piece in the Minneapolis Times. Marshall Tanik wrote it. Perhaps he attended the meeting. So there's Joe Thompson. He shows up in Naples, Florida, mid January, and he's the guest that week of the Minnesota Club. He spoke in mid January to an overflow crowd of about 400 Minnesota expatriates, snowbirds and their guests at a breakfast session of the Minnesota Meeting in Naples. It's a weekly program held during the winter. Thompson weighed in on his experience prosecuting mass, massive, high profile fraud cases in Minnesota less than a week after he departed from his position as chief of the Fraud and Corruption section of the Minnesota branch of the Minnesota Justice Department in Minnesota earlier in the month, Thompson had previously served as acting U.S. attorney here and five of his colleagues resigned. Earlier in the week, Thompson, who had previously served as acting U.S. attorney here and five of his colleagues resigned reportedly due to dissatisfaction with a directive from the Justice Department to launch an investigation into the wife of Renee Good. That's the gal who. Well, you all know that story. Shortly after their departure, their boss, Attorney General Pam Bondi, lashed out at them and claimed she fired them all. Well, she didn't, since they wanted to go on vacation because they did not want to support law enforcement. Thompson did not comment on his departure or the events leading up to it. Rather, he focused a half hour. Half hour, unscripted. What does this sentence.

[D]

I think that's a misprint, Joe. Just keep going.

[A]

The initial fraud in a series of scams began with feeding our future, who drained some $200 million from a federal program used to fund school lunches. And that 200 million was always the polite figure. That's the one we used for the longest time. Yeah.

[D]

Playing it safe, right.

[A]

The system, Thompson explained, was set up by individuals forming limited liability corporations that registered with the Secretary of State and then qualified to receive funding for the program, which was laundered through shell companies and used for personal expenses. We've known all that. The commercial buildings, the luxurious homes, the cars. The program was overseen by a white woman, Amy B. Largely of Somalians operating dozens and dozens of sites. We know all that. The questionable practices were first uncovered by a federal auditor in the summer of 21 involving hundreds of millions of dollars over about an 18 month period. During the COVID an ending investigation led to criminal charges against 98 individuals, 60 of them convicted in a pair of long trials, which included a bribery charge to pay off juror. Charges remain pending against others. But here's where his talk must have got interesting. He said fraud is more than feeding our future. A large number of individuals, primarily Somalians, followed almost the exact same pattern in setting up other entities to participate in health care companies, child autism programs, day care centers, home health care, transporting individuals for medical appointments. As with feeding our future, very little if any actual services were provided, but some 220 million in Medicaid claims alone were paid out, including about 125 million through a housing stabilization program using Medicaid funds as a means of supposedly improving health conditions for the homeless. We covered that too. We were very aware of that. These frauds, which are still being investigated and prosecuted by Thompson and his team when they left, were striking at the very core of our state, he said. He lamented, now you got all these fortunate people sitting there thinking, God bless it, I'm glad I'm sitting down here in Florida, right? He lamented that the fraud took advantage of the Minnesota model of relatively high taxes and high services, but the services provided were minimal or non existent, what Thompson termed the systemic problems that led the and that led to the fraud schemes. The Minnesota inclination to provide assistance to the needy coupled with an insufficient resource to investigate fraud which eclipse available resources. Thompson stated that their perpetrators benefited from weaponization of claims of racism, pushing back against the charges by claiming that they were victims of racism and ethnicity, since about 90% of them were Somalians. He also pointed to the clash of cultures existing between the Somali community and American principles. What Ayaan Hirsi Ali has written about in the American Thinker that clash of cultures everybody needs to do better about taking fraud more seriously, thompson told these people. He demurred regarding his future other than stating time will tell, but that he hopes to continue to be involved in the fraud work, he said there is a need to have completely different mindset in order to call in order to Boy, was this a poorly written piece in the Minneapolis I think I was stumbling through it. I don't know they. Were they typing a transcript?

[D]

I think something. Yeah. Got mixed up because I've noticed a bunch of errors.

[A]

Okay, now back to. So that was just a little.

[D]

But mention that again. It's in. Just so everybody knows. It's in the Minneapolis Times. It was released yesterday.

[F]

Right.

[A]

And the headline is departed Prosecutor Thompson, Systemic Failures and Fraud Schemes. That was his speech down in Florida. Now back to yesterday. Also yesterday when we had this meeting in Washington, D.C. do you need those? Yes. Where are we? Okay. Weissman. I don't know who he is. He was referring to estimates of fraud amounts by Republicans based on a figure from Joe Thompson, who put the number at 9 billion in December. Thompson acknowledged it was based on red flags he'd seen during fraud investigations, not on actual evidence. Based on the way Thompson behaved himself here, I think he's a careful enough individual that he wouldn't have said 9 billion if he wasn't pretty damn confident about it.

[C]

He had a ballpark figure.

[A]

Correct. Minnesota Representative Kristen Robbins, the chair of the House Fraud and State Agency Oversight Committee. This is yesterday, testified about that figure. The former first U.S. attorney who led these prosecutions for years stated that the estimated fraud is 9 billion. And that doesn't count the fraud of SNAP or child care, she said. David Hoque, who describes himself as an independent journalist, also testified. How broad do you believe the evidence shows the fraud in Minnesota was? Cruz asked this Hulk fellow. It's easily in excess of 30 billion. I'll repeat that. It's easily in excess of 30 billion when you take everything into account. Hoak responded. He later told senators it could be as high as 80 billion. Oh, my God. Okay, I have trouble with that figure and I'll tell you why in a moment.

[C]

We don't have that much money.

[A]

We don't. Well, that's why I have trouble with it. We don't have that kind of money. Wiseman of public citizens said there's no evidence to support those claims. It is unhelpful to make claims in Minnesota or anywhere else based on exaggerated numbers, he told lawmakers. So this progressive, this admitted progressive, is campaigning mightily to get people to believe. No, it's not that bad because progressives would soon see this money redistributed. So it's not that bad. Cruz also made another claim that had been discredited about fraud money for Minnesota going directly to a Somali terrorist organization. As one confidential source told the Manhattan Institute, the largest founder of Al Shabaab. I'm sorry, the largest funder of Al Shabaab an Islamic terror organization in Somalia, is the Minnesota taxpayer. Okay. We have not demonstrated that yet. That wouldn't surprise me.

[F]

Thompson also disputed that.

[A]

Remember, however, at the same news conference in December When Joe Thompson estimated 9 billion in fraud, he also addressed the speculation about a large amount of money going to terrorists in Somalia. And that's when he said there's no indication that the defendants were sending money to terrorist organizations. And I believe Thompson would have told us if there was. Right. Walls and Ellison were also invited to testify at the hearing Wednesday, but declined.

[B]

Stunner.

[A]

Okay, here's what I would say about this. I accept the 9 billion figure. I don't know who this Hulk fellow is.

[F]

He's the guy who was holding the.

[A]

Camera for Nick Shirley during all those children then. I don't. Yeah, I. I don't know who he is.

[B]

But didn't he hold.

[A]

I think he once ran for governor in Minnesota.

[F]

He ran for something. I don't remember what I think might.

[A]

Have been Attorney General, actually, but 9 billion. We can work with 9 billion because 9 billion is bad enough. Do you know what this state took in in income taxes in 2024?

[C]

I don't think I want to know.

[A]

You want to know what this state took in in income taxes in 2024?

[B]

What?

[A]

19 billion. Okay, so half your tax money has gone to fraudsters. Half your income tax money has gone to fraudsters.

[B]

But when you say you dispute. Did you say you dispute the 30, or did you say dispute?

[A]

30. Well, HOC provides me no credential or information for coming up with 30.

[B]

But the figure that was alluded to in that particular piece isn't based upon one single calendar year. I think it's based upon a number of years.

[A]

Well, then Hoek has to make that clear to me and provide me evidence.

[D]

And is it all state money or is there federal funds included in that figure?

[A]

Well, the money stolen came from the United States Department of Agriculture. But it's still your money.

[D]

Right, but it's worth, you know, it's worth differentiating.

[B]

So we went from an $18 billion surplus to a $6 billion deficit.

[A]

Right.

[B]

And in one calendar or one spending bill. So a two year sequence. And you don't believe that that. Is that what you're saying?

[A]

You know what? I don't need to believe anything outrageous when what I have and can demonstrate to believe in has already been established. And what's been established is bad enough without me saying it's 30 billion.

[D]

We don't need hyperbole.

[A]

That's what I'M saying I don't need hyperbole. The facts are bad enough. And I'm getting my tax figures from the Minnesota Department of revenue. In 2024, Minnesota generated 35 billion in tax revenue. So if we wanted to engage in your hyperbole or hoax hyperbole, we generated just about enough money to cover all the fraud in Minnesota.

[D]

Let me just amend. I'm willing to believe it if you can prove it.

[A]

Yeah. You know, the state is so destroyed by walls that I. That's. It won't surprise me. It won't surprise me, but right now it's silly to go there because we have no evidence. Yeah. Income taxes contributed the largest share of this revenue at 19.1 billion, followed by sales and gross receipts taxes totaling 13.6 billion. The state government tax collection survey tracks five major tax categories in up to 30. I'm sorry, 25 subcategories, gathering data from all 50 state governments and their dependent agencies. So in Minnesota, property taxes took in 732 million. Sales and gross tax receipts took in 13 and a half billion. License. I'm rounding these figures off. License taxes in took in 1.6 billion. Income taxes, 19 billion. Other taxes, 587 million. General sales and gross receipts taxes 8.488 and a half billion. Selective sales and gross receipts taxes, 5 billion. I could keep going. It's silly. We have alcohol taxes and motor vehicle taxes and sports betting taxes, wheelage taxes. We got documentary and stock transfer tax. We got. We got a lot of taxes.

[C]

Filing fraud.

[A]

The point is getting back to why, if I was a young person and I could swing it, I would leave here. Because you are paying for fraud. You're not paying for the improvement in your own life. You're not paying for better street lights. You're not paying for better streets. You're not paying for an improvement in quality of life. You are contributing money to a very bad group that runs the state and has allowed a very bad group to steal our tax money.

[D]

Okay, so you're gonna leave?

[A]

I can't. I'm not going to, no.

[D]

Where would you go?

[A]

And.

[D]

Your argument for leaving. Do you not see a Turnaround next year? 5 years, 10 years down the road? You don't think it'll get better here?

[C]

That was gonna be my question, Kenny. Where does the buck stop? Because it's out there now.

[A]

No, I don't. In the short term, and I'll tell you why. I don't see the opposition taking a strong stand against this.

[C]

For example, who's the opposition?

[A]

Well, Republicans, okay. Tim Pawlenty, for example, had an editorial in yesterday's Star Tribune that was virtually meaningless. It was absolutely meaningless. It was milquetoast, watered down nothingness. He doesn't name names. He comes up with bromides. Oh, we've all got to work together to stop. He could not have disappointed me more with such a pathetic attempt at being what I would call the opposition to what's happening in this state.

[B]

But we'd love to have you on Tim.

[A]

No, I don't. Tim was. I love Tim. I know him. But that was. That was ridiculous.

[D]

He needs to be. It should be more aggressive.

[A]

He was weak. It was nothing. If that's your opposition, Tim. Arnie Carlson is very aggressive, but he's 400 years old and lives in Florida.

[C]

I mean, he got the memo, too.

[A]

God bless you, Arnie. I know you're not 400. You know what I'm doing. My point is, I don't see any opposition to this. And if Lisa Damith, the frontrunner, doesn't get aggressively vocal about. What should be gotten aggressively vocal about is not Trump. What should be gotten aggressively vocal about is the ruination of this state and how she can fix it.

[D]

Well, Lisa's got two problems. The first one is she needs to bring the Republican Party together. And you keep saying that does not include Trump. You have to distance yourself from Trump.

[A]

That's my contention.

[D]

I think that she's got to group the Trump supporters, the people that love Trump, in with. And I hate using this term, but I will. The rhinos, which we've all been accused of being Rhinos. We need to bring these two groups together and fight as one and take care of this. And then she's got to, like you said, turn the state around. The ruination. You know, she's got a presence, but, Joe, I don't see her doing that without bringing all Republicans together.

[A]

If the presence of ICE in Minnesota does not tell you how Minnesotans regard Trump, you cannot read the room.

[D]

I read the. Are you addressing that to me?

[A]

I'm addressing it to the public. Okay.

[D]

Because I know I've told you over and over again, but I just think that the party has to be really united and strong in order to fight the Democrats.

[A]

If a Minnesotan thinks you are a pro Trumper, you will not be voted for.

[D]

Okay, so, so then how does Lisa do that? How does she keep Trump supporters? How does she not alienate them?

[A]

I wouldn't even worry about alienating them. I would worry about laying down a plan to rest the competency, the honesty and the ethic and morality underpinnings of what this state used to be. I wouldn't worry about Trump. Minnesota's Minnesota's problem. And she's got to address what's happened here.

[D]

Okay, you're Lisa. And every single reporter for every news outlet in this state is going to ask her the Trump question. How do you ignore that?

[A]

And every time she's asked that question, she has an opportunity to remind people what the real problems are in Minnesota.

[D]

Boom. Bingo. Good answer.

[C]

Which in turn is going to. What she needs to do is grab that lifelong union guy, that gal that lives on the east side that doesn't want this fraud, that has a good heart and has voted Democrat, maybe doesn't like Trump.

[A]

But yeah, if her.

[D]

She's in a tricky spot.

[A]

Who.

[B]

If her.

[A]

Her platform speech is just begging to be issued, which is. Didn't you used to love this state? Didn't you used to trust this state? Didn't you used to think that we had it made here, man? We had the great life here in Minnesota. We just loved it.

[C]

You're gonna be.

[A]

Don't you want that again?

[D]

That magazine cover you keep talking about.

[A]

Wendy Anderson, summer of 1973, holding up the northern. Don't you want that state again, ladies and gentlemen of Minnesota? That state's been taken from us, and we want it back. We need to have that state back. And the only way we're gonna do that, the only way we're gonna do that is restore honesty and credibility to Minnesota government.

[D]

She's got an uphill struggle, Joe.

[A]

Now, anybody running as a Republican has an uphill struggle in this state, given who's taken over this state.

[D]

You've got to get the Trumpers, you've got to get the Rhinos, and you've got to get the people Matthew mentioned the, The Democrats.

[A]

You've got to get the people on the demo on the DFL side who are not yet insane.

[F]

Yeah. You have to get moderates.

[A]

Yes.

[F]

If you can get moderates, I'm more with moderates. Can't even. Because the Trumpers and the Rhinos, it's never going to be.

[A]

Never going to.

[D]

I don't get that, though. Well, I don't get how they can be so split.

[A]

Don't.

[D]

Don't they see what's going on and how this fracture is killing the state? I mean, both sides needed for. Shut up.

[A]

Yeah. 2400 people who voted for pillow man in the caucus. The way to save this state is to talk about what's happened to this state.

[C]

Well, you're writing opening statements for.

[A]

I'm not writing anything. I'm doing a podcast today. Shush.

[C]

That's what she should start with, though.

[A]

Where this state needs to be saved. I bet you want something for me.

[B]

I bet about 20 minutes ago.

[A]

Look at this.

[C]

Are you kidding me?

[A]

Holy moly.

[B]

Well, if any of you would shut your effing mouth.

[D]

Were we all bloviating there?

[A]

Yes, sure. No, it was a communal bloviation.

[B]

No, my mind was off the entire.

[A]

It was a communal bloviation. Say, don't get in a car accident, but if you are, you got two calls to make. I suppose you gotta call your insurance guy right off the bat, but also call Bradshaw and Bryant personal injury attorneys. Well, hopefully you wouldn't even be hurt. But if, God forbid, you're injured, call your insurance agent and then call Bradshaw and Bryant personal injury attorneys because you're going to need help dealing with the insurance company. They can be tough to deal with. So you need a team and Mike Bryant from Bradshaw and Bryant and his team are there to explain your rights, represent you and help you through a tough time. I hope you're never in an accident, but if you are, call Bradshaw and Bryant at 800-770-7008 or go to MinnesotaPersonal Injury.com for a free case evaluation. And please don't be part of the problem. I see this all the time. Don't text and drive or drive distracted. That's just common sense from Bradshaw and Bryant.

[F]

Football's biggest game is coming up and you can get in on all the action with Underdog. And if you're not on Underdog yet, you're in luck because new customers score $75 in fantasy bonus entries. When you make your first $5 fantasy entry, playing underdog is easy. You just go to the app make picks on if a player will go higher or lower on stats like touchdowns, rushing yards, receptions and more, you get them right, you could win yourself up to 5,000 times your cash. I think this week on Underdog, I'm going to look for Sam Darnold to go higher on yards thrown for it. Maybe even go higher on touchdown passes, too. What are you waiting for? Download the app today and use Promo Code garage to score $75 in fantasy bonus entries. When you play your first $5 on fantasy, that's Promo Code Garage. Underdog make picks win money must be.

[A]

18 plus, 19 plus in Alabama, Nebraska, 19 plus in Colorado for some games, 21 plus in Arizona, Massachusetts and Virginia and present In a state where underdog fantasy operates, terms apply. See assets.underdogfantasy.com forward/web forward/playand getterms._dfs_html for details. Offer not valid in Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Concern with your play, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit ncpgambling.org In New York, call the 24.7Hope Line at 1-877-8-HOPENY or text Hopeny 467-369. This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance.

[D]

Do you ever find yourself playing the budgeting game? Well, with a name your price tool from progressive, you can find options that.

[A]

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[D]

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[A]

Not available in all states.

[D]

Positive Thursday brought to us by Schoonover Body Works and autocare. Located in Shoreview, 1060 County Road E. Mike Schoonover is here like he is every Thursday. Mike, I'm gonna blindside you here. I love blindsiding you. I like to put you on edge, get you off your game. And I'm gonna throw an email at you, by the way.

[F]

Hello?

[D]

Are you there?

[E]

Hello?

[G]

Happy positive Thursday, and I am ready to be blindsided.

[D]

Here we go. It's from Lloyd, and he's going on about something in this email. I'm not too sure what it is, but his last paragraph caught me off guard. Sitting here waiting for my car to be done in Scooneys in the waiting area having coffee they made just for me. I see a bottle of syrup by the coffee pot, and of course it's master's maple. It's going in my next cup. Just wanted to say how I like the garage. How the garage legions support each other. You know, I've always considered you a little weird, Mike. You put syrup in your coffee.

[G]

We do, Kenny. I just. My wife went to. She was visiting with somebody who's very health conscious and. And she was told that syrup is a great thing to put in your coffee.

[A]

Wow.

[G]

And we just so happen to enjoy Masters Maples, and we have many bottles around, so we figured we share it with our customers and our employees and everybody loves it.

[D]

One thing I've really gotten to know about you and I really appreciate is you support the gl marketing partners like no other. And I think that's really admirable. And I, I don't know if I' you this, and I don't want to get all gushy here But I really appreciate that, Mike. Thank you.

[A]

You bet.

[G]

Well, GL is full of really good people and really good companies and, and, and really good products, so. And Masters Maples is. It's a really good product.

[D]

So.

[G]

So, yeah, we're. That's good that Lloyd enjoyed it. And, and, you know, we just want to make sure that our waiting room is comfortable and inviting and people enjoy themselves.

[D]

Oh, my goodness.

[G]

Hang out in the garage.

[D]

Your waiting room. You guys wrote the book on waiting rooms. It is so cool in there. I love it so much. The only thing missing is a little. Just a tiny little room with a bed and an alarm clock. So I could go take a nap while you work on my truck.

[G]

We can make that happen, Kenny.

[D]

Oh, that'd be fun. So next time I order from customroasting.net I'll also get a hold of Masters maple and throw in a shot of maple syrup in my coffee. You know, I put it in ice cream and I get a weird look from the roommate, but it's really good. Just a couple of drops on your ice cream. It's fantastic.

[G]

I'm going to try that tonight. That sounds fantastic.

[D]

Anything else on your mind? How's business been lately?

[G]

It's going well. It's, it, it's a, it's a quote unquote regular winter. So we're, you know, we don't want to. We don't want to have people have any misfortune or, you know, wish people get into accidents and stuff. But this time of year, accidents happen a lot.

[A]

And it's.

[G]

The roads are slippery and batteries go bad and all kinds of stuff happen to cars. So we are just happy that we can take care of our, our customers, especially our gl's.

[D]

G. Ellers, you'll really love going to Schoonover Body Works and Autocare and Shoreview. It's such a wonderful experience from Nikki at the front desk to all the technicians and all the customer service guys. Even the owner, he's not too bad himself. They've been around since 1938, and there are many, many reasons why they are the official shop of garagelogic. You should try them for yourself. You'll figure it out for yourself. One of the top shops in the Metro. Intro the website schoonoverbodyworks.com. thank you, Mike.

[G]

You're welcome, Kenny. Thank you. And G. Ellers, have a great positive Thursday.

[A]

Here's a man who spends hours in hardware stores sifting through the nuts and bolts of life. Joe Sushir. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Oh, listen to this.

[D]

This needs to play out. I feel the tension leaving my shoulders.

[E]

And my neck in the back of.

[F]

Love that lick.

[C]

Ah, I wish I could play.

[D]

It's like getting a massage from my girl.

[A]

Boom, boom, boom.

[C]

One step, one step too far.

[F]

I'm not gonna share that with Dylan. I thought. Okay.

[B]

Speaking of great music, did you guys hear that Ozzy tribute on Sunday? I mean, Hoffman Water and Kinetico are here to help you upgrade the quality of your water inside of your home. They have done that for me. They will do that with you. I started out as a customer of Hoffman Water and Connecticut and it's made an amazing difference in the quality of my water. And you know what? Now is absolutely the perfect time to get on that schedule and have them come out for that free water analysis. You do that one of two ways. You can call them directly at 612-895-2440 or book your appointment online today at hoffermanwater.com and as long as you're on that website, you can see every single different water treatment system that they have to offer, whether it's a brand new water softener, maybe it's an IR rust and odor filtration system, or a brand new drinking water system. Or you know what?

[E]

What?

[B]

Treat yourself.

[F]

Yeah.

[B]

To get all three and have the best quality water. Your laundry gets better. Your cooking is better. White socks, your showers are better.

[A]

Okay. Okay, let's go here.

[B]

Do you like laundry?

[A]

I do.

[C]

Do you like nice hot showers?

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Do you like to take a cold shower? Like, do you like to take a hot shower?

[A]

I can't take it anyway.

[B]

Hoffermanwater.com has been proudly the state of Minnesota for over 50 years. Please do me a favor and mention that you heard about him here on the Garage Logic podcast.

[A]

Johnny High, take over.

[F]

Thank you, Joe.

[C]

This news is two minutes. John.

[F]

This news. Chris, check your phone is brought to you by. Let's start over. The news brought to you by North American banking company.

[B]

I know them.

[F]

Three weeks after almost 2,000 healthcare workers at Health Partners voted to authorize a strike because of an ongoing contract dispute, the two sides have reached a tentative deal. Local SEIU Healthcare, the union that represents the employees, announced the agreement this morning, touting it as a deal that in their words, defends industry leading health benefits and wins wage increases and more. Full details are still being shared with union members. Some of the highlights though, include a 4% wage increase in the first year, 3% increases in the next two years, increased bonus payments for workers who Pick up extra weekend shifts, stronger anti discrimination language to protect LGBTQ members, and the creation of a new committee to focus on the impact AI is having on health care. The deal still needs official approval from unionized employees and a vote is expected in the coming days. The bargaining unit covers employees in more than 80 different jobs and at over at least two dozen clinics across the Twin Cities. In a new interview, President Trump expressing displeasure with the shootings by federal immigration officers in Minnesota that killed Renee Good and Alex Preddy. Trump, in an interview with NBC News, expressed support for ICE agents and their work, but said he wasn't pleased with the killings. He said, quote, I'm not happy with the two incidents, both of them, not one or the other. He was not an angel and she was not an angel. You know, you look at some tape, but still I'm not happy with what happened there. Nobody can be happy. And ICE wasn't happy either. But I'm going to always be with our great people of law enforcement, ice, we have to back them. If we don't back them, we don't have a country. Asked if he believes agents were justified in shooting good and pret, the president responded, no, it should not have happened. This happened a couple days ago. Slipped under my radar. Perhaps yours, too. I don't know. Senator Warren Limmer, the longest serving Republican in the Legislature, says he's not running again. Limmer is the 20th state legislator overall to announce a retirement ahead of this year's election, with 16 others pursuing offices other than the one they held now. Hold now. Excuse me. Limmer has represented the Maple grove area since 1989, first in the house, but the last 30 years in the Senate. In a news release announcing his retirement, he said he's honored that the people of his district allowed him to be their voice in St. Paul. He said he would continue engaging in political activity after his term comes to a close next year. DFLers currently hold a 3433 Senate Advantage heading into the next session, which begins the 17th of this month. Six men arrested in Stillwater after a targeted operation to prevent the sexual exploitation of minors. And according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office, officials said that between January 28th and 30th, undercover agents posed online as a 16 year old girl and multiple suspects allegedly arranged meetings to pay for sexual acts. When the men got at the locations, they were taken into custody. Six men charged, according to the Washington County's Attorney's office, as part of that Human Trafficking Awareness Month operation. The Eagle Cam pair featured on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Live stream could be close to laying their first eggs.

[A]

Where that at?

[D]

They don't say, but it's right next to the Mississippi. If you look closely at the camera.

[A]

Gotta be the river.

[D]

It's somewhere by a lock and dam.

[B]

Dog collars, A lot of dog.

[C]

There's a huge, huge. A giant eagle's nest right by Hidden Falls.

[A]

Did you ever hear about the kid near? Kid?

[C]

The Nuremberger baby, The Lindberger.

[A]

Yeah. That's a well known. Yeah.

[D]

There's one by the temple too.

[A]

Yeah.

[D]

Yep.

[F]

Yes, according to the dnr, the bald eagles have been seen spent spending.

[A]

Yeah, the Temple has one.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Well, it's a house next to the temple.

[C]

It's more residential.

[A]

Yeah.

[D]

Thank you.

[F]

Yes, according to the dnr, the bald eagles have been spending more time at their nest adding grasses and new sticks.

[A]

These things are as common as squirrels.

[F]

Those are signs that they're preparing for egg laying.

[C]

Did you bring home the sticks?

[D]

What I'm looking at? I'm looking at it now. I think they're both at the Legion. There's nobody home.

[F]

The eagles are known to typically lay their eggs in mid February, typically laying one to three eggs over the course of multiple days. Eagle cam watchers can expect to see more courtship displays at the nest and will know when an egg has been laid once one of the parents remains on the nest and doesn't leave.

[A]

You know, I've seen the white head show up by the. One by the temple. Yeah, they put up a menorah there the whole day.

[C]

Hopefully they got enough oil for the eight days.

[A]

That's right.

[F]

Eagle eggs usually hatch after 34 to 39 days of incubation. So if this eagle cam season follows years past, a chick can be expected as early as mid March. Last year, remember, we did this story when it happened. It was a disappointing year for eagle cam viewers. They installed a new camera, aimed it at a nest, and then the pair of eagles decided to build an alternative.

[C]

Gave it the old talon. Middle finger.

[B]

No, I believe this was chronicled by the Mikulski family at that time.

[C]

Oh, down in Wabasha.

[B]

Right where you had raised them up.

[C]

Yes, on eagle's wings.

[D]

So yesterday on Crabby Jay and I talked to a gal named Linda Sears, who still holds a record for the youngest person, a teenager, and she was 16 years old. Shot the largest black bear in Wisconsin and it somehow got into the Guinness World Book of Records. So we had a wonderful conversation with her. But the end of the show, things.

[A]

Kind of took a sad Left turn.

[D]

And we started talking about eagles snatching little puppies, little dogs. And Jay related a story about how a little dog was snatched up. And when the eagle grabbed it, it grabbed it so hard with its talons that its head popped off.

[A]

Boy, that's quite a grip.

[D]

And this. Unfortunately, the two very immature hosts, sure, we devolved into laughter and giggling and crying, and it was really. It was a fun show, but it kind of ended on a sad, disturbing note.

[B]

The. The fill in producer of that show did not laugh. So I just want to. That.

[D]

Yeah, I just want to make. And then, of course, I had my own story, which didn't help matters. And I. I don't know. Maybe I should just issue an apology right now. I. I truly love dogs of all sizes.

[A]

Okay.

[C]

Oh, noted.

[F]

I saw. What are the other birds that pick up animals?

[A]

We call those falcons or owls.

[D]

Hawks.

[F]

This. It was a hawk.

[A]

Raptors pick up animals.

[F]

Pterodactyl. I told you guys this story. Watched a hawk pick up a squirrel. It was one of the most amazing things I've ever seen.

[A]

Oh, we had. The squirrel didn't like that.

[F]

The squirrel hated it. Away with it.

[D]

A couple of years ago, we had a raccoon, a dead raccoon hanging from a power wire half mile from my house. And we all decided that some sort of raptor had picked it up and then lost its grip. And this raccoon hung on this power wire for about a month and a half. People were coming, coming from out of town and stopping and taking pictures and getting selfies with it. It was hilarious.

[B]

There was also an incident, I think it was a little over 10 years ago up on Gull Lake where an eagle had flown overhead. And myself and the newsman were convinced the eagle was trying to steal our cooler as we were walking to the pontoon, and we both damn near fell over because of the elements.

[A]

I wonder if John has any more news.

[F]

I do, but. But we have to take a break before we do the rest of the news. I think I'm gonna hear from you, the mayor, who's gonna tell me all about the golf show, which we're.

[B]

It's a week from Friday, week from.

[A]

Tomorrow, February 13 through the 15.

[B]

Put those on straight.

[A]

Yep. At the. At the Minneapolis Convention Center.

[C]

Looking good there.

[A]

The 2026 North American Banking Company, Minnesota Golf Show. You got the long putt contest. You can win 100 grand.

[B]

Are you a good putter?

[A]

Not too bad. Okay, try the latest. Well, you know what? No, I'm not. I'm not Any good? You're better. Try the you try the latest equipment. Get great deals on golf apparel. Get some lessons. The pebble beach tournament is that weekend. It'll be out on the 19th Hole Lounge. We'll be there on Friday the 13th. But here's the best part. Each ticket purchased at the Golf show comes with access to free. I'm sorry to 15 free greens fee passes.

[B]

Yes sir.

[A]

That take care of a summer of golf.

[B]

For a moderate player, that's a really great deal.

[C]

Seriously.

[A]

That's three times five. That's five rounds a month in June, July and August. I did that math in my head. John Randall will be there. He's got a good swing. By the way, former Viking pro Hall of Famer.

[B]

He's an athlete. Athlete.

[A]

To purchase tickets, visit Min Golf show one word. MN Golf show mingolfshow.com I am hoping.

[F]

Legendary shirts is there. I've bought shirts from them the last two years.

[B]

It's a great brand, Johnny. Right.

[F]

Locally owned by veterans and they make wonderful golf shirts that are, you know, one color like all you old guys wear. Oh yeah, I love that.

[C]

That till I get those grease stains on it.

[F]

National and international news, economic news and it it's not very good. Layoff plans hit their highest January total since the global financial crisis almost 20 years ago, while hiring intentions reached their lowest since the same period that according to outplacement firm Challenger gray and Christmas, US employers announced 108,435 layoffs for the month, up 118% from the same period a year ago and 205% from December of 2025. The total marked the highest for any January since 2009. That's when the economy was in the final moments of its steepest downturn since the Depression. At the same time, companies announced just 5,300 new hires, also the lowest January since 2009, which is when Challenger began trending. Tracking that data on Wall Street. The sell off in the cryptocurrency market continues to gain steam. Bitcoin this morning sank below 67,000 as investors confidence continued to falter in the asset once hailed as digital gold. Digital assets, including bitcoin, have fallen deeper into the red as investors reassess the practical utility of a to token that has been championed not only as a hedge against inflation and macroeconomic uncertainties, but as an alternative to fiat currencies and a traditional safe haven like gold. That hasn't panned out lately. Since bitcoin peaked just north of 126,000 in early October and now has been cut almost in half today. Bitcoin down to 67,675 about an hour ago, its lowest since November of 2024.

[A]

So bitcoin will cost you 67 grand and.

[D]

Huh, don't, don't even try.

[A]

All right, Don't.

[C]

Let's close that.

[D]

Let it go.

[C]

Let's reseal that can.

[A]

All right. I'm sorry.

[D]

Yeah.

[F]

Representatives from the US And Iran will meet overnight in Muscat, Oman for a rare face to face talk. White House envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner are expected to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragichi among others. U S Iran tensions have escalated in recent weeks amid Iran's crackdown on protest last week. Last month, senior Iranian officials estimate the death toll at 30,000 people within 48 hours. The US has sought to negotiate with Iran on two tracks. Multilateral talks over Iran's human rights violations, their missile program and support for militant groups, as well as bilateral nuclear negotiations. The delegations were scheduled to meet in Istanbul. However, Iran recently pushed to relocate talks to Oman and limit the scope of the nuclear talks. The meeting comes days after alleged Iranian attempts to target a US flagged ship and aircraft carrier with a drone.

[C]

I will, I won't break it down, but I'll let you know that on October 7, 2025, Bitcoin shares were worth 124,000 and now they're selling at 66.

[A]

John just had that in his news. That's exactly what he said. Said.

[C]

That's what I'm saying. So it's a good time for you to invest in bitcoin.

[A]

Go ahead, John.

[F]

Thanks for affirming what I read.

[C]

Yeah, investing is easy.

[A]

Now's the time to invest now. Time now for Joe and Pat's piping hot stock.

[C]

Take mo money and Fiat stock. Let's see where that is.

[A]

I stopped looking years ago.

[C]

Oh, you did? Yeah. Fiat Stock is at 34.78.

[D]

Did you dump those? Do you still have them?

[A]

I don't know.

[B]

I kind of like the idea of rookie affirming a John Height news story.

[C]

Yeah, I think Joe was promoting that when it was at about $193 a share and now she's riding at 34.

[F]

So the Supreme Court allowed California to use a new voter approved congressional map that's favorable to Democrats in this year's elections, rejecting a last ditch plea from state Republicans in the Trump administration. No. Justice is dissented from the brief order denying the appeal without explanation. The justices previously allowed Texas Republican friendly map to be used in 2026 despite a lower court ruling that it likely discriminates on the basis of race. Conservative Justice Samuel Alito wrote in December. It appeared both states adopted new maps for political advantage, which the high court had previously ruled cannot be a basis for a federal lawsuit. The justice's order keeps in place districts that are designed to flip up to five seats held by Republicans, part of a tit for tat nationwide redistricting battle spurred by President Trump with of Congress on the line during the midterm elections. Speaking of elections, the president has denied calling for Republicans to nationalize elections.

[A]

No, he shouldn't deny it. I heard him say it.

[F]

Well, I should say, despite just days saying exactly that, President Trump said the Republicans should say, we want to take over. We should take over the voting for at least 15 places. He said that on Dan Bongino's podcast on Monday. He continued, the Republicans ought to nationalize the voting. But as he sat down with NBC News's Tom Lamas on Wednesday, Trump denied calling for elections to be nationalized. He said, quote, I didn't say nationalize. We can't allow cheating on elections. Now, if we need to put in federal controls as opposed to state control, remember this, they're really an agent accumulating the votes for who wins the election.

[A]

He throws a lot of stuff up in the air and see what sticks. He might just see what happens, you know.

[B]

We have a reaction from the sounder of Joe and Pat's piping hot stock take from Hans. Yeah, Loyal GL town council member, Right. No wonder they're both still working.

[A]

That's right. There it is.

[F]

That was somewhat hurtful.

[A]

I don't care. You don't care.

[B]

But you. When did the light bulb go off for the Fiat stock?

[A]

What do you mean? I mean, was it.

[B]

Was it just as you saw the.

[A]

Pope, The Deuce was in the country.

[B]

Here we go.

[A]

Pope John Paul ii, wasn't it?

[C]

No, that was Francis.

[A]

No, Francis was not the. Francis was the guy who just died.

[C]

We lost the Deuce.

[A]

The Deuce was the guy who got. Well, who, who was between Francis and the Deuce, Not Benedict. No, it was. It was the Deuce.

[D]

Unbelievable.

[A]

And he drove around in Fiats. I said, let's buy Fiats. Go ahead, John.

[D]

Get a shot. Shawl for your legs, boys.

[A]

You cold?

[D]

They get you anything? The nurse says drink more milk.

[E]

Yeah, a lot of.

[A]

I get the time in the town today. Well, you asked the question.

[B]

Simple answer.

[A]

It was a simple answer. We just lost sight of who the pope was about that.

[D]

The only thing I'm curious about that is who called who and what was that phone call like?

[B]

You called Patrick?

[A]

I called Pat. I said, I gotta. I got a must.

[D]

Did you sneak out to the garage and kind of go back in the corner and keep your voice out slow?

[A]

He said, I'll put a grand in. How much you doing? I said, a grand. He let's put a grand in. I bet this will work.

[C]

I'm gonna need all that.

[D]

We'll be retired by this time next year.

[A]

We lost that grand in about a month.

[F]

Today, anchor Savannah Guthrie pleaded for her 84 year old mother's safe return yesterday. She and her siblings responded by video to reports of alleged ransom notes urging possible captors to provide proof that their mother is still alive, saying, we are ready.

[A]

Later.

[F]

Listen. Investigators think Nancy Guthrie was taken from her home against her will, but there are no suspects yet, according to the sheriff's department. The Pima County Sheriff's department is expected to hold a news conference, actually this hour. I believe the search for Guthrie has entered a fifth day, further raising fears for safety. Savannah Guthrie said her mom lives in constant pain and needs her prescription medications to survive.

[A]

At some point, I'll be forced to pay attention to this story.

[F]

Yeah. I finally read a story today, actually, an unfortunate result from this story. But this is certainly one of the most bizarre suicides ever.

[A]

I think in Olive Einstein or Epstein.

[F]

No, no, in Olive Garden.

[C]

Yes, we have a new file.

[A]

Have you gone home already, Joe?

[F]

An Olive Garden employee died from burn injuries he suffered after thrusting his head into a deep fryer in what police have categorized as a suicide attempt.

[D]

That sounds like something I'd do.

[A]

Wow.

[F]

The whole thing occurred last Friday at the Williamsport, Pennsylvania restaurant where he worked as a cook.

[A]

Oh.

[F]

In a brief phone conversation, a manager at the Olive Garden, which closed for a couple of days after the incident set, said, we're not able to disclose anything due to our privacy laws. Police and emergency workers arrived at the restaurant around 4 in the afternoon in response to 911 calls about an employee removing his clothes and trying to harm himself. In audio from the Lycoming county fire and EMS service, a dispatcher is heard saying, I don't have a lot of details, but a lot of people are screaming. Some kind of burn victim. In a subsequent dispatch, the operator added that the male victim went head first into the fryer. After the initial ambulance crew arrived, a second unit sent to the restaurant to treat a female worker who suffered minor burns. Trying to help the man, woman was injured as workers and at least one patron struggled with the male cook in an attempt to stop him from suffering additional self inflicted burns. The Olive Garden worker was rushed to a local hospital, but it was too late. He later died from the injuries.

[A]

I've only learned one thing from that story.

[F]

What's that?

[A]

I could never now eat at an Olive Garden.

[C]

Well, I think they close for a thorough cleaning.

[A]

No, if you have a vat that big, you're I don't want you eat whatever you're making. You know, wonder if they serve the guy deep fry.

[C]

Yeah, what do they deep fry?

[F]

What do you deep fry?

[B]

Thanks, I guess.

[D]

Fries, French fries, Olive onion rings.

[F]

Who would eat those on a right.

[C]

Pasta that's cooked in water, Lots of sheep.

[A]

Shame to go out that way.

[C]

Really is. That's a tough deal.

[A]

It really is.

[C]

We closed.

[A]

No fryer.

[B]

We out of grease on fryer. Wow.

[C]

Poor guy. Why was he so troubled?

[A]

We don't know.

[B]

Matt, who's worked in a kitchen before, because I have. I have right here. So. Okay, I didn't ask for that. My question is, we've all seen the deep fryer. It's not very wide.

[A]

We have said if you got one that big, I don't want to eat.

[B]

No, but we have one downstairs. So do you have to, you know, hoist yourself and almost do a headstand down?

[C]

How do you stand that?

[B]

Because I don't know, they're not very wide.

[A]

That would hurt, wouldn't it?

[C]

Yeah, you instinct would make you want to pull out of there immediately. Even if you're trying to do self harm.

[A]

Yeah, you know. Well, on that note, I made tacos.

[C]

At the club bar. Deep fried tacos on Thursday nights.

[B]

He managed to turn a suicide attempt.

[C]

I lasted about three weeks and left shaking vigorously after every Thursday night shift. I don't think I ever got paid either.

[A]

John, that was wonderful.

[F]

Okay, thanks.

[A]

Thank you.

[B]

Reavers. Here once again for my guy, Mr. Money Talk. Josh Arnold. Does thinking about retirement make you uncomfortable? Well, sometimes the anxiety from wondering if you've saved enough can be overwhelming. But what if I told you that you could ease those tensions in just 48 minutes? Well, Mr. MoneyTalk is going to be able to sit down with you and get you on the right track for your financial future. Josh has navigated it all when it comes to uncertain market and economic conditions. And he'll always provide straight talk, never sugarcoated advice on how to reach the finish line with your retirement goals. Don't let your financial worries give you an ulcer or keep you from calling Josh right now. His 48 minute, no obligation consultation could be just what you need to feel better about your future. Call Josh today at 959-25-5608 and set up your free. Yes, free 48 minute, no obligation consultation. That's 952-925-5608.

[A]

Investment services offered by Josh Arnold Investment Consultant, LLC. A security investment advisor. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

[B]

All investments involve risk. All comments and opinions are Josh Arnold's.

[A]

And do not constitute investment advice. Chris Reavers is a paid endorser. The EARTH is not your mother.

[B]

The Joe Suare show. Let's talk.

[A]

Wait, wait. I haven't heard this one. You're holding out on us, I hear.

[B]

Well, let's see. You've taken two breaks today, so.

[A]

Just a minute.

[B]

You know what's coming up on Sunday? The big game. So stock up on the best handcrafted snacks right here.

[C]

Let me interrupt you. Part of my dad's Christmas present was I went to we are Nuts on Vandalia. Yep. And I got. Those are delicious peanuts. But I got here milk chocolate almonds. And when he opened that up, you would have thought I gave him a bar of gold. He stopped, he looked at me and he said, these won't make it until Sunday.

[A]

Did he eat the whole jar?

[C]

I'm sure he did the night, but he was so excited. The nuts are great, but the candies are absolutely. They wind you right up.

[B]

Joe's signaling that he wants to hear more about this.

[C]

I think he's a windmill.

[B]

But you know what, the snacks get the silos, either the jumbo cashews for those of you watching on YouTube right now. Now the cherry mix.

[C]

Yeah. Berries, nuts and chocolate.

[B]

I gotta tell you, that's very good. This might be my new favorite.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And I love me some cashews.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

And those are the tall boys.

[B]

Yeah. Get the tall boys the mixed nuts. As Matthew mentioned, the milk chocolate almonds.

[A]

Can you get them in other states?

[B]

Well, yeah, you order [e-mail] it doesn't matter where you live. You can stock up for the big game, but you can get them at Fratelloni's hardware and garden stores, Mac's Hardware. You can also get them at Lunds and Barley's, Kowalski's Market, Cub Foods, Coburn's County Market, and also at 700 different quick trip locations. They are the best. It's a wonderful family owned operation and we can't thank them enough for Their sponsorship here on the Garage Logic podcast.

[A]

You know, I did some research on cashews that.

[C]

Big day. Okay, Keith Vogel, tell me about them.

[A]

No, they. They're poisonous.

[B]

In the wild, the shell is.

[A]

Yeah. So it's the old game I play. I wonder who the first guy was to eat a cashew because he would have just keeled over.

[B]

No, you're right. The shell of the cashew is in fact, poisonous.

[C]

Honest to God. Today I learned that they were in a shell. I thought they were just regular.

[A]

They grow on trees, don't they?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Yeah. And they need a little work before you get them from. We are nuts. You know, they clean them up.

[B]

That's right. Can you imagine how big the shell is for those jumbo cashews you get, man?

[A]

I wonder where they grow.

[C]

Your thoughts?

[A]

I'm.

[D]

Could you tell us more about charcoal also while we're in this part of the.

[B]

Remember when he brought that up and he thought he was doing an advert?

[D]

20 minutes on charcoal. We all thought he was. This a new client? I was not that.

[A]

Sales. Yeah. What was that? What?

[D]

It's something to do with Henry Ford.

[A]

Oh, yeah. Henry Ford, I think, invented charcoal.

[D]

Well, no, he didn't. Well, you can make charcoal at home.

[A]

Well, I think he really. He did that.

[D]

He used it. Charcoal's really easy to make.

[F]

Yeah.

[C]

Didn't he.

[A]

I don't know.

[D]

He had something to do with Kingsford.

[A]

I. I think Henry Ford might have been the founder of Kingsford.

[D]

He straightened.

[C]

I didn't even think about that. Yeah. Get the Kingsford.

[B]

Do you like a gas grill or do you like charcoal?

[A]

I like charcoal.

[B]

I do, too.

[C]

Gas for the east. Gas for the ease.

[A]

Gas for the ease.

[F]

Charcoal for the taste.

[A]

Yep.

[F]

I. You know what, though? I just looked up cashews because now you guys fascinated. Yeah.

[C]

What did you find?

[F]

They grow in a piece of fruit that looks like an apple. Kind of.

[A]

Yeah.

[F]

And they're on the bottom in a shell.

[B]

Yeah.

[F]

They have to be pulled away from the fruit and they have to be shelled.

[A]

Right.

[D]

I wonder if that was the fruit in the garden of the eaten.

[A]

Oh, it could have been, Kenny. It could have been.

[C]

Well, they had to clean them up before they ate them.

[F]

Yeah. Because if they died, we wouldn't be here.

[B]

As we said, the shell from the cashew is poisonous.

[D]

Think what life was would be like if that hussy didn't make her husband eat that apple.

[C]

Well, as you well know, it was the.

[A]

The fault of the serpent. Yeah, the serpent. He doesn't Call it. He doesn't like serpents.

[B]

I don't like serpents.

[A]

Who the hell calls. You know what? That's. That's probably in his head from being a kid. Yes, of course it is. Yeah.

[C]

The serpent was in the garden.

[A]

Yeah. More Somalis live in Minnesota than any other state in the nation. Somalis first came to Minnesota in the 90s as refugees from the Somali civil war. Somalia has remained a war torn, terror filled disaster ever since. At a minimum, the Somali community in Minnesota is comprised of tens of thousands of individuals. Although the exact number is not known, news outlets have reported that most Somalis in Minnesota are American citizens. As the Somali community has grown in number, so has their political influence and impact on the state. During her Boyasaroisi, like.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Gazetted. During her time in the US Senate, Senator Amy Klobuchar has often courted the Somali community. Now, I think what I'm sensing here is we're trying to stir up something that might not be germane to her run for governor.

[D]

Yeah, let's do it anyway. Let's do it anyway.

[F]

All right.

[A]

On a routine basis, Somalis living abroad send money to their relatives in Somalia. These transfers, called remittances, make up significant portion of the country's gdp. Somalis living in Minnesota. Minnesota have sent unknown millions to Somalia via the remittance process. During her time as senator, Klobuchar has tried to ensure that the Somali community in Minnesota can send money. In 2012, Keith Ellison reported that Klobuchar was part of a meeting with a U.S. treasury official to ensure Somali remittance kept flowing. Well, there's nothing wrong with that, is there? No. All right. In 2014, Klobuchar supported legislation designed to streamline remittance. Remittances. Remittances. And free up federal regulators to look for terrorist activity within the money transferring industry. That legislation was eventually signed into law by Barack Obama. Klobuchar also lobbied the Obama administration to establish a sustainable long term way for remittances to be transferred via secure and transparent channels. Okay, this was an alpha story. I think what we're being asked to. To consider here is Klobuchar's long relationship with Somali population. Well, she's a professional politician. That's a huge voting bloc. I'm not surprised. She has a long relationship with the Somali pop. She has a Somali guy. She got a Somalia. You know, she's got a guy to go to for info. So, you know, am I supposed to be upset at this? I guess I'm not. I don't I don't know. No, of course I'm not. What's there to be worried about? Concerns have long existed that remittances fund terrorists. Well, it sounds to me like Amy was taking some issue with that and decided to make sure that that wasn't the case. Right. Every scrap of economic activity in the Twin Cities, in America, throughout Western Europe, anywhere Somalis are concentrated, every cent that is sent back to Somalia benefits Al Shabaab in some way, said a City Journal source who worked with federal Joint Terrorism Task Force in Minneapolis. For every dollar that is transferred from the Twin Cities back to Somalia, Al Shabaab is taking a cut, the City Journal source added. All right. During her time in the Senate, Klobuchar has reported the continued extension of temporary protected status for Somalia. In 2018, Klobuchar Co authored a letter to the Trump administration which urged for another extension of temporary protected status for Somalia. All right. Under the Biden administration, TPS for Somalia was extended again. Klobuchar celebrated that development. I welcome this redesignation of Somalia for tps, which will allow Somali people in Minnesota and across the US to continue living, working and succeeding in our country. Country, she said. As an early supporter of the legislation to provide these immigrants with a pathway to citizenship, I will continue to fight for reform for our immigration system. Well, again, I'm not seeing a big problem here, but Amy needs to be asked about the fraud.

[D]

Yeah, you just said what I was about to say.

[A]

If Amy's going to be a gubernatorial candidate and she really won't have to let lift a finger, she's so popular that somebody better start grilling her heavily. I'd love to have Amy in here. She might come on with us. She's not waltz. She might come on with us. I've known her for a long time. She'll come on with us. Why doesn't somebody book her?

[C]

Okay, you're looking at me. I'll see what I can do.

[A]

In recent months.

[D]

I mean, if it's ill gotten games, we need to have a talk.

[A]

Klobuchar is running for governor and pledging to bring an end to the fraud that has occurred in government programs. Doing so, however, will require her to police a community that she has long supported. And I don't think that's impossible for her to do.

[D]

Oh, I do.

[A]

You do?

[F]

Yeah.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Well, maybe I'm guilty of cutting Amy too much slack right off the bat. I don't think she's a crook.

[D]

You've been back and forth with Amy since she was first elected. It's been interesting following you.

[A]

Well, I'm falling on this. I'm erring on this side of the. Of the question. She's anything. A stove parked in your front yard waiting to be hauled away to the junkyard is a better governor than walls. Okay, cast iron, pot belly, whatever. Amy's far superior to a stove. So she's better than walls.

[D]

So we have an airport expert here. And I'm learning that there's no amount. There's no ceiling on the amount of money you can carry on an airplane or have in your luggage.

[A]

Is that true?

[D]

Yeah. But you must declare amounts of 10,000 or more. Is that being done?

[C]

Yes.

[D]

Or do you not know?

[C]

Yes, it is being done. I don't speak for the airport.

[A]

You better not.

[C]

But I know that. I know that there.

[A]

You don't know anything that are transferred. You don't know anything.

[C]

I do know this as fact that.

[A]

If you have I save your sorry.

[C]

Ass and you cannot account for it, then it will be confiscated.

[D]

Okay, so that you brought up something that when you look this up, when you ask that question to Google, you immediately get the AI answer, right?

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

There is no upper. And this is one of the bullet points, domestic flights, there's no upper limit on cash. But TSA agents may ask you to explain large sums.

[A]

And then what are they going to.

[D]

Do with that information? What if they decide they don't like me bringing $20,000 to my friend in Dallas?

[C]

I will say this because what are.

[D]

They going to do? Arrest me?

[C]

Well, this is fact, because when I did work for Sun Country Airlines, if someone was going to take 25 to $30,000 and you could not account for was confiscated until you could say, are you kidding me? Here's my bank receipts. I took $30,000 out. And then you will get it back if you can account for it. However, if you can't, they're going to take it.

[D]

So when Joe Sucere, who never uses.

[C]

A credit card, he only carries 50.

[D]

Grand when he goes on vacation. I'm guessing he's got a big giant wad hidden somewhere.

[A]

Somewhere on his person. You'd be correct. But not 50 grand, for God's sake.

[C]

No, it's more like 45.

[D]

Where do you squirrel that away at? Suchi boy?

[A]

I always wear a coat when I travel, so I need pockets.

[C]

You see Midnight Express.

[A]

On this day. This, this. It only comes to us that. Only because they come to us.

[D]

Yeah, there go you. There you go.

[A]

All the way from Kaiwaka, New Zealand, from The traveling lineman's. It was on this day, Fab 5. It was a bad day, man. 1924, 41 iron ore miners drowned or were fatally buried in mud, and seven more escaped by climbing a ladder during the Milford Mine disaster, which occurred north of Crosby on the Kaiuna Range, when a nearby lake suddenly emptied into an underground mine. A county inspector who had visited the mine the week before later stated that every precaution had been taken and the flooding was unavoidable.

[C]

Was it, sir?

[A]

41 of those fellows didn't make it home for dinner, did they?

[C]

No.

[A]

On this day, Feb.5 in 2002, the Shakopee Mettawankton Sioux purchased the Lone Pine Golf Course, allowing it to host the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association's annual golf tournament. The course was later renamed the Meadows at Mystic Lake. On this day in sports disappointment history.

[B]

Who'D we lose to on February 5th?

[A]

Well, on this day in 2002, contraction day. After the Minnesota Supreme Court refused To hear the ML appeal, Bud Seely called contraction off for 2002, but said it was still a possibility in the future. Boy, Minnesota doesn't know how close it came to not having a baseball team.

[B]

Oh, that was a bad day.

[A]

Right. On this day, Fab 5. In 2019, Maya Moore announced she will not be returning to the team via the Players Tribune. The players had their own newspaper. Apparently, they still do. I didn't know that. Yes. So where did she go, I wonder?

[B]

She retired.

[A]

Oh.

[B]

In fact, she married a gentleman who she helped get out of prison.

[A]

Oh, good.

[C]

Right.

[B]

Johnny, Wasn't that the story?

[F]

I think so, yeah.

[E]

Good for her.

[A]

Thank you. G. Ellers, nice to see you.

[F]

Hey, I got.

[C]

Hey, one more break.

[A]

Let me do it twice.

[B]

Two more breaks.

[D]

Why is it. Got another one.

[C]

We're gonna make up for it. Third time's a charm. Hat trick.

[A]

No, you pressed the wrong one. Twice. No, I, I, I. Yeah, you did.

[B]

Okay, fine. I'll take the blame. That's fine. Go ahead and email me and rip me like everybody else does.

[C]

Hey.

[A]

How are you? I'm so poor, me.

[C]

You get used to it.

[B]

Actually, you're right. So what grocery store?

[C]

Was it Jones's? No, Jones's was down the street across from Saints.

[B]

Do us a favor and subscribe to the Garage Logic YouTube channel where you can watch the show even each and every single day, starting right around noon. And you can also.

[A]

Hey, wait, wait. John, are you still there?

[F]

Yeah.

[A]

Tonight at the Midway Saloon, Pat Donahue with Stephen C. Jillian Anderson, Jack Cassidy and Diane Tremaine.

[F]

That was last night. Pat Dottie, who's at the midway every Wednesday, remember with friends.

[C]

Is it Thursday?

[D]

Oh we already talked about this Thursday.

[C]

What next Wednesday.

[B]

Good thing I already went to break.

[A]

I read that email a day late.

[B]

It is time once again that we check in with our guy, Mr. Money Talk. Josh Arnold is with us once again right here in garagelogic. And now is the time for you to do the same. So do not delay, do exactly what I did and pick up that phone and dial 952-925-5608. That number once again is 952-925-5608. When you call that number you're going to get Josh and he is there for you for that Free, yes, I use the word free 48 minute financial consultation again with zero obligation. And he will always give you the straight talk, he will never give you the sugar coated advice. And he is on the line with us once again right here in garagelogic. And boy, Josh, you know what a question for the person out there saying boy selling is difficult right now but what about the real estate market right now? Wowzers.

[E]

Well we're going to be specific about the real of one particular real estate market and that's just the local downtown Minneapolis real estate market and seeing the values of properties continue to decline. And I'm not going to say these are the cherry properties, but some very interesting old buildings and I'm sure that there's many, many issues related to some of the old, older, older buildings in downtown Minneapolis. They're difficult to maintain. They're not as, as privy. They have 8 foot ceilings instead of 12 foot ceilings. They might not be on the, I'll say on the light rail place they might be, you know, there might be parking issues. They might just be difficult to rent because they don't have some of the amenities of some of the newer buildings yet. It is significant that some premier places have had a lot of trouble over the last several years filling the space, filling spaces and getting, getting redone. I could start with the entire block that used to house or used to house daisies that I think seven or eight story building is, is still very much empty as developers haven't yet figured out what to do with that property. And yes, it occupies a prime space in downtown Minneapolis. But again, no parking older building. And who is coming down downtown? An older one, one tenant building that was built for I believe about $30 million recently went for under $6 million and is being converted to possibly residential. But that's going to take A lot of, of money. This morning I found a property that was owned by, I'll say formerly owned by one of my clients and good friends. He had sold it, I'm guessing about seven years ago for $24 million. Is up for auction today with a minimum bid of $150,000. This building is old, does have some history, but is on the light rail and has some very interesting features in it. But in seven years to go from 24 million to 150,000 bid at a low off at an auction. Wow. Wow, that says something. Actually says a few things but most of the things that it says are not, not we'll say complementary about the governance, we'll say of, of the city and definitely says a lot about changing, we'll say the changing demographic and changing work patterns to move out of the down downtown core. Speaking of moving out, a lot of investors have been moving out very quickly out of different classes of assets. I think some of the selling has to do with the amount of leverage, borrowed money as it were, putting positions on margin and the belief we can magnify the returns at least on the upside. Well, the reverse is also true. When things go down and you're on margin, you have to sell a lot more to meet the margin requirements. And that selling has tended to beget more selling. We can start with some of the selling that started a few months ago with what was considered by some liquid gold, that being bitcoin. Bitcoin has gone from $124,000 per coin just a few months ago to currently $67,000. That, that is just about a 50% hit in Bitcoin and the selling has continued to accelerate. Bitcoins money that had come out of bitcoin had found its way into gold or silver. Gold is down and Silver was down 30% last Friday and another 14% today. That is a significant, significant move in the metals. And I'm sure that there are many people thought that they were getting in on something that was going to go to the moon. And if you're buying silver, you've got some other issues including is it going to be classified as a numismatic and the cost to buy, sell and store the actual metal. If on the other hand you can buy it through an exchange traded fund on the market. And I'm not going to say the worst selling has been going on in artificial intelligence related software names as questions have come very quickly about the ability of the software names to either compete or stay in business. As the AI tools which many software companies use could mean the end of several software companies. I think that's a, you know, a bit of a stretch but that right now is is happening in the marketplace. Positives well I just look at some of the positives coming from companies that have recently reported whether it is been advanced microdevices, whether it has been Google last night which to me had a beat and raised quarter but they did say they're going to continue spending money to add and build out their artificial intelligence. Alan here earlier this week as seen its stock slam despite being a leader in the utilization of artificial intelligence and another tremendous, tremendous quarter. I think that's six in a row and even upping their guidance not only for the next quarter but for the for the year. Admittedly Palantir still considered expensive on both the price to sales and price to earnings basis, but they do have the AI tools and the ability to increase their business. So we are in a little bit of a difficult time. The asset allocation mix which I have suggested is keeping up to 30% in cash and the balance invested for growth still holds. And right now you can utilize some of that cash to pick at some very good names that have gone on sale.

[B]

Excellent advice as always, Mr. MoneyTalk. You heard him G ers. Now is the time for you to pick up the phone and make the call for that free 48 minute financial consultation again with zero obligation. And you do that just like I did by dialing 952-925-5608 where you always get straight talk and never ever sugarcoated advice. Josh, once again, thank you so much for the time and the chat. Enjoy the rest of your day. We'll talk to you again tomorrow.

[E]

Look forward to it.

[A]

Investment Services Offered by Josh Arnold Investment Consultant, LLC. A Security Investment Advisor Pat Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

[B]

All investments involve risk. All comments and opinions are Josh Arnold's.

[A]

And do not constitute investment advice. Chris Reivers is a paid endorser.