3/18 It is truly unbelievable that the state's DHS claims that it could not investigate kickbacks as a form of fraud

Summary

Garage Logic – Episode Summary

Podcast: Garage Logic
Host: Gamut Podcast Network
Date: March 18, 2026
Episode: 3/18 – "It is truly unbelievable that the state's DHS claims that it could not investigate kickbacks as a form of fraud"
Main Theme:
This episode focuses on the shocking shortcomings of Minnesota's Department of Human Services (DHS) regarding their oversight of Medicaid-related fraud and kickbacks, along with wide-ranging conversations about local government accountability, media narratives, and Minnesota news.

---

Episode Overview

The Garage Logic crew, led by Joe Soucheray ("The Mayor"), dives into recent revelations that the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) failed to investigate or even acknowledge criminal kickback schemes in taxpayer-funded autism care programs. The discussion expands to skepticism of government competence, media hysteria, and the consequences of bureaucratic bloat in Minnesota, all delivered with the show's trademark blend of humor, incredulity, and pointed common sense.

---

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. DHS Fraud & Kickback Scandal (27:52–44:18)

• Joe highlights news that DHS did nothing with evidence of Medicaid service providers paying kickbacks in autism programs.
  • "Wouldn't you solve the whole thing by just demanding that if you're to receive taxpayer money, you should be a licensed provider of autism care?" (27:55, Joe Soucheray)
• Legislative Auditor found DHS closed cases without further investigation, even after whistleblower presentations and clear evidence.
  • "In the three cases that we identified in this review, they did not refer to any of the cases to law enforcement..." (30:37, quoting Katherine Thiessen from the Legislative Auditor's Office)
• DHS excuses itself by saying it only recently realized it had the authority to investigate kickbacks.
  • "Thiessen said DHS told her team they didn't believe until last year that they had the authority to investigate kickbacks..." (31:24)
• The department head, Shereen Ghandi, is called out for playing semantics on what constitutes “evidence of fraud.”
  • "Kickback is evidence of fraud. But she says, well, if kickback is the only evidence of fraud, apparently she's going to try to sell you on the idea that we have no purview to examine that." (32:43, Joe Soucheray)
• Former Commissioner Jodi Harpstead’s departure is debated—was she complicit or just incompetent?
  • "If Shereen Gandhi is this dumb or playing this dumb. How dumb was [Harpstead]? Harpstead was onto it and said, see, I think I should retire before I'm in Sing Sing." (33:16, Kenny & Chris)
• The hosts express frustration that government size and complexity enable such fraud and inertia.
  • "The government's too big. The Department of Human Services is too big. It shouldn't be so complex that you can't manage it." (39:38, Joe Soucheray)
• Calls for voter accountability and smaller government round out the segment.
  • "The only solution is voting in a group of people who would not tolerate this and streamline everything." (41:47, Joe Soucheray)

2. Minnesota’s Budget, Taxes & Policy Headaches (44:19–54:38)

• Governor Walz’s new “supplemental budget” is discussed, with skepticism about its promised benefits for the middle class.
  • "Sales tax 6.5% now. All the way down to 6.425%. ... Boy, we're slashing into that." (50:36, Joe Soucheray, sarcastically)
• Proposed taxes on new services (financial advisors, legal, bankers) and social media companies elicit confusion and ridicule.
  • "A proposed Minnesota social media tax is an excise tax on large social media companies based on the volume of data they collect from state users..." (53:54, Joe Soucheray reading research)
• The team notes that tech-unfriendly policies encourage businesses to leave Minnesota.
  • "Giving those large companies just that much more reason to leave." (54:28, Joe Soucheray)
• General frustration about government’s “solutions” not addressing underlying issues.
  • "They cleverly tell you that, well, our technology has not been able to keep pace with the complexity of the problems. Well, your problem is that you didn’t need to make the problem so complex." (40:54, Chris Reavers)

3. Media Critique: Fear, Narratives, & Records (13:24–16:43, 47:14–48:24)

• Joe exposes media hysteria around weather reporting by comparing historical LA temperature records, noting records all occurred decades ago.
  • "There is nothing new about what's happening." (15:14, Joe Soucheray)
• Discussion on how narratives override facts in public discourse.
  • "Don't let the truth get in the way of a good narrative." (15:33, John Haidt)
• The nostalgia for robust print newspapers is underscored by the LA Times 1963 example.
  • "95 pages on the Friday morning LA Times... 18 pages, full classified ads. 35 pages, full page ads..." (47:33, Gabe)

4. Local Color, Humor & Banter (01:56–07:32, 71:53–74:39)

• Opening banter features small-town Minnesota stories, personal asides about car repairs, and “Pork Nentle's” memorable legacy.
  • "Pork wore shorts year round. He had a red beard and a gold front tooth. He began the tradition of the 4th of July run to the dump..." (03:23, reading letter from Bill Stein)
• Recurring self-aware jokes about their own grumpiness and technophobia.
• Running gags about audiobooks, snowblowers, and robots.
  • "Robots can go crazy. ... Mutiny in a robot is a strong [possibility]." (80:04, Kenny Olson)
  • "I'm never eating in a restaurant. If I walk in and see a robot, I'm not staying there." (80:38, Chris Reavers)

5. Minnesota News Roundup & Culture (47:14–70:47)

• School threats lead to e-learning, which the hosts see as "a euphemism for a day off." (49:28)
• Acquisition of Allina by Sutter Health, bridge repair projects, local crime, and more are covered with skepticism about government transparency and effectiveness.
• Discussions about the rise of vinyl, streaming, and audiobooks reflect on how technology and consumer habits have changed.
  • "We're no longer buying compact discs. We're buying record albums in a sleeve that are actual records." (64:04, Chris Reavers)
• Running jokes about generational media, with good-natured ribbing about Spotify, Kindle, and the death of physical media.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On DHS incompetence:
  "Kickback is evidence of fraud. But she says, well, if kickback is the only evidence of fraud, apparently she's going to try to sell you on the idea that we have no purview to examine that." – Joe Soucheray (32:43)
• On government excuses:
  "My hat's off to Sherene Gandhi for ironing these things out. B as in B S as in S." – Joe Soucheray (39:38)
• On voting for reform:
  "The only solution is voting in a group of people who would not tolerate this and streamline everything. ... I don't hold out great hope for that." – Joe Soucheray (41:47)
• On tax proposals:
  "Sales tax 6.5% now. All the way down to 6.425%. ... Boy, we're slashing into that." – Joe Soucheray (50:36)
• On narratives vs. facts:
  "Don't let the truth get in the way of a good narrative. Come on, man." – John Haidt (15:33)

---

Key Timestamps

• 01:56 – Hail the Flashlight King; intro banter, small-town stories
• 13:24 – Media coverage of weather: comparing historic LA temperature records
• 27:52 – The DHS Medicaid autism program kickbacks/fraud scandal discussed in depth
• 31:22 – Exposing DHS’s refusal/incompetence regarding fraud investigations
• 39:38 – Problems with government size and complexity
• 44:19 – Minnesota's new budget: sales tax “cuts”, new taxes, skepticism
• 47:14 – State/local news review, school threats, nostalgia for newspapers
• 64:02 – Rise of vinyl, end of CDs, streaming, audiobooks
• 80:04 – Robots, AI, and the “end of the world as we know it” paranoia/humor
• 88:32 – Mr. Money Talk segment

---

Tone, Style, & Attitude

The episode is classic Garage Logic: irreverent, gruffly common-sense, and full of inside jokes and Minnesota color. The hosts blend humor and anger as they dissect bureaucratic absurdity and public policy, always circling back to a central message of skepticism toward government bloat and media groupthink.

---

Takeaway

This Garage Logic episode is an entertaining but serious takedown of government dysfunction, using the DHS autism kickback scandal as a focal point for broader concerns about bureaucratic size, lack of oversight, and lack of common sense in policy making. Blending real news, humor, and local flavor, it’s a must-listen for Minnesotans frustrated by state government inertia—or anyone skeptical of modern bureaucracy.

---

For full details, listen to:

• [27:52–44:18] – Main DHS fraud/kickbacks discussion
• [44:19–54:38] – Minnesota budget/tax critique
• [13:24–16:43], [47:14–48:24] – Media narratives and local news analysis
• [71:53+] – Light-hearted banter, audiobooks, robots, and generational shifts in media consumption

Transcript

[Joe Sucere]

How is your garage floor looking dirty, damaged or new? Garage Floor Geeks is ready to restore or protect it in just one day with concrete floor coatings guaranteed to last a lifetime. Garage Floor Geeks is locally owned and operated and the Twin Cities choice for concrete floor coatings. Mention Garagelogic and get free moving and storage or 600 off. Schedule your free estimate today by going online or calling simple 763-265-GEEK. That's 763265GEEK to schedule your free concrete floor coding estimate now.

[Progressive Insurance Announcer]

This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever find yourself playing the budgeting game? Well, with the name your price tool from Progressive, you can find options that fit your budget and potentially lower your bills. Try [e-mail] Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates Price and coverage match limited by state law. Not available in all states.

[Chris Reavers]

Ten rounds of golf for $99. Yep, the Minnesota golf passport is back and available now. Play at each of these great area courses. Elk River Golf Club, Bullrush, Chamonix, Purple Hawk, Golden Eagle, Legacy Golf, Birchwood Golf Course, Gopher Hills, Lake Pepin golf course and Mount Frontenac.

[Joe Sucere]

Go to garagelogic.com keyword passport for your 2026 Minnesota Gol.

[Chris Reavers]

Josh Arnold, investment consultant, brings you Garagelogic podcast number 1739 March 18, 2026. 79 degrees on that glorious autumn of autumn, spring of 2012 and 8 below on this day in 1923. Call Josh Arnold at 952-925-5608 for a free 48 minute consultation.

[Joe Sucere]

Hail the Flashlight King.

[Chris Reavers]

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 Crabby coffee shop, John Height in the newsroom, and of course the rookie here is your Flashlight King fireworks commissioner and the keeper of common sense, your mayor, Jo Sushi. I want to get this on the table right away because it speaks. And let's not foghorn it on this occasion, although we should, I suppose. It speaks to the great community of Garage Logic. Are you going to foghorn it? I guess we have rules, don't we? The other day we had that note from Steve Wilson who ran into a gal down in Florida with the Anguilla T shirt and he began to grill her about gl. Her name was Ann Nentle.

[Kenny Olson]

He was an optimist at this point.

[Chris Reavers]

Yeah, and he wanted to know if she was aware that our show existed number one. And number two, that we were number one in Anguilla. And she had no idea and never heard of us. And he included a picture of her. Smiling gal, very tan, apparently well known in the Aiken area.

[Kenny Olson]

Okay.

[Chris Reavers]

And that Steve Wilson's in from Aiken, right? Yes, and so is our friend Bill Stein. And I mentioned to you I got a note from Bill Stein regarding this matter. It reads as follows. You read a piece from Stevie Wilson. Stevie. He must know Steve pretty well. Yeah, that's what they call him. You read a piece from Stevie Wilson about meeting Anntle, the former Achanite who frequents Anguilla. Now, I want to. This is gonna check your memory, Rick. Okay. Several years ago, at my behest, you and Patrick honored Ann's big brother, Kevin Pork Nentle as your sportsperson of the week. Pork was a great all around athlete for both Aiken and on the Bemidji State Beavers football team. Pork was built like a refrigerator to 300 pounds of solid muscle. Who ran his company, KG Dental Sanitation. Yes, he was Akin's garbage man. I still proudly have my KG Nantal Sanitation softball jersey with its Porky the Pig logo. We were champs one year. Pork wore shorts year round. He had a red beard and a gold front tooth. He began the tradition of the 4th of July run to the dump. The runners following Pork in his garbage truck from downtown to the local landfill. The race still takes place even though Pork and the dump are both long gone. Pork was sadly found dead or unalived behind the wheel of his garbage truck on New Year's Eve 2000. Sorry, Pork. His funeral mass filled the old St. James Church top and bottom floors. In the gymnasium of the high school across the street. We shall not see his like again. Rest in peace. Por.

[Kenny Olson]

I know St. James Church well. Yes, well.

[Chris Reavers]

But the point is, what a small world that Stevie Wilson runs into. A woman in Florida doesn't know a thing about it. Anything. But. She's from Aiken. Her name's Ann Nentle. And turns out her brother was once sportsperson of the week.

[Kenny Olson]

Pork Nentle, who was also. He wasn't a garbage man. He was the energy resource recycling agent.

[Chris Reavers]

Field representative.

[Kenny Olson]

Thank you.

[Chris Reavers]

That's what my man Frank Domaris was. Energy resource recycling agent, field representative.

[Kenny Olson]

I also believe aiken only has one stoplight. Or they did in the mid-80s.

[John Haidt]

It's not a big corner of 169 and 210.

[Chris Reavers]

It's not a big place.

[Kenny Olson]

When we went to go to the man's cabin, that's where we went to church on Sunday.

[John Haidt]

Got a couple tractor dealers there. The discount tool place, a McDonald's.

[Kenny Olson]

I got a couple of bars too,

[Chris Reavers]

at Billy Stein's suggestion. That's where I got my truck fixed after I hit a deer on the way up there. Oh, in Akin and the guys, the guy's name in the, in the, in the dealership there was Minnow.

[Kenny Olson]

Of course it is because it wasn't like John or Frederick. It was a pork or minnow.

[Chris Reavers]

But I learned something. I learned something. One, if you hit a deer or a bear or a wolf, well. Or. Well, you need a not. This is no slight against Mike Schooner. You're sliding but you want a rural body guy because they have. If they have fixed one. They have fixed 15 vehicles that have hit a deer.

[John Haidt]

That's the most ridiculous thing you have ever said in your life.

[Kenny Olson]

I knew it was going to be met with.

[John Haidt]

How did you think you were going to get away with saying that in front of me?

[Gabe]

Right.

[Kenny Olson]

I could tell right away.

[Chris Reavers]

No, I wouldn't. I mean if I hit it, I

[John Haidt]

will put Mike Schoonover and his team up against any team in the United. No, you cannot finish in the United States of America.

[Kenny Olson]

It's just like you hit an audio deer right there.

[John Haidt]

You're gonna trigger me like that and then not let me break.

[Chris Reavers]

If I hit a deer in the Metro, I'm driving.

[John Haidt]

If I hit my driveway. Listen, if I hit a deer in my driveway, I'm driving my truck to scoon over, right.

[Gabe]

Or he's gonna put it on a

[Kenny Olson]

flatbed and get it over to spoon over.

[John Haidt]

I've got a flatbed.

[Joe Sucere]

May I ask you a question? Because I kind of want to be in support of you. What if you're not? But Kenny, what if you're not able to continue to drive the vehicle?

[Kenny Olson]

You get it there, you drag it.

[John Haidt]

Toe strap that thing.

[Kenny Olson]

Yep, all the way down.

[Joe Sucere]

Can I ask another question?

[Chris Reavers]

Another follow up question.

[Kenny Olson]

What's a toe strap?

[Joe Sucere]

Much in the same vein of. I'm sorry, Joe, the milk truck conversation we had years ago.

[Chris Reavers]

I don't recall that one where he was the chocolate milk when rookie thought the milk just spilled out. Could have been chocolate.

[Joe Sucere]

What kind of milk was it that fell out of the milk truck?

[Kenny Olson]

Skin is thinner.

[Joe Sucere]

If you collide with a bear is bear collision department.

[John Haidt]

Guys, let's give the control back to the mayor. Joe, I apologize to you.

[Kenny Olson]

Joe, if you're offended.

[John Haidt]

Going off on a tangent.

[Chris Reavers]

I got a note from Downing who writes Paul Ehrlich on the Tonight show was like will Steger appearing on Garage Logic. You know, I wasn't hard enough on Paul Ehrlich yesterday. He basically didn't like people is what it amounted to.

[Kenny Olson]

Why did he have such followers?

[Chris Reavers]

He wanted half the population to disappear. So he must have been an original mysterian because they don't like people.

[Kenny Olson]

Right?

[Chris Reavers]

He didn't think we should have fed third world countries. And then Downing also notes regarding the new divisive state flag. Recently I watched our local PBS station during pledge time. When is it not pledge time? That's what I'd like to know.

[Kenny Olson]

Again, when I was watching that Beatles show, it was a pledge drive.

[Chris Reavers]

They were lamenting that they had lost their federal funding.

[Kenny Olson]

No, they have. They lost some.

[Chris Reavers]

That's too bad. The reason they lost their federal funding, as we know, is that despite years of being told they should serve all of America, not just Democrats, they refuse to do so. Well, either they just don't get it or they simply don't want to serve anyone other than left wingers. Because prominently displayed in the background during their lengthy pledge breaks was the new state flag. But his point is, I'm sure they never had the old state flag displayed in the past. Clearly a statement of division, not unity. By TPT Twin Cities People's Television for the People's Republic of Menadishu. Viva la revolution.

[Kenny Olson]

Viva la revolution.

[Chris Reavers]

So Downing was a little fired up there, but I think he's right. I never. Well, I can honestly tell you I. When they have a pledge commercial, if I happen to be watching what they're featuring, I don't stay for that. I click out of it.

[Kenny Olson]

Right.

[Chris Reavers]

So I don't know because I already pay taxes. They get some of that. I'm not. Why should I pay more?

[John Haidt]

It's the only place you can see Dick Prenicke, though.

[Kenny Olson]

Yeah, that's true.

[Chris Reavers]

Well, I've said if you owned, you know, Bill's Tire Shop on University Avenue and three blocks away was the Minnesota State Tire Shop getting taxpayer funding. Why in the hell. Well, how can you compete if you're Mike's Tire Shop? Do what?

[Kenny Olson]

Bills did.

[Chris Reavers]

I say Bill.

[John Haidt]

Mike is the body shop guy.

[Chris Reavers]

That's Mike Scootle.

[Joe Sucere]

Just don't take your vehicle there if you hit a bear.

[Chris Reavers]

Chris, Don't I start.

[Kenny Olson]

Don't reopen the sores.

[Chris Reavers]

We learned. And John Haidt will begin to read to us some corroborating information in a moment. I got an email from Dale, who said Jason Chavez, the Marxist Minneapolis City Councilman, is speaking at south by Southwest in Austin. Texas. And I spent more time than I should trying to verify that and I could not. And I was going to let it go. We were chatting before the show and it turns out that's true. And John Haidt has some information on that.

[Gabe]

On his Instagram account he put. I'm excited to speak at the south by Southwest conference tomorrow, meaning today. Today in Austin, Texas. The session will be called Defending Democracy. How Cities Rise Up When Feds Push down. And then it shows. There are four people involved in this conversation, he being one of them.

[Chris Reavers]

I'll be damned.

[Gabe]

10 this morning, Central time. So he's already done, probably. He's done. Yeah.

[Chris Reavers]

I hope if there's a God in heaven we didn't pay for his plane ticket. You would think south by Southwest would had to foot the bill for that, wouldn't you? The organizing of people.

[John Haidt]

Be fun to see the demo of who's going to south by Southwest these days.

[Chris Reavers]

Well, apparently, and I'm having my eyes opened, it's become much more than a music festival. Yeah, it's multimedia, all that stuff.

[John Haidt]

Yeah, it's multimedia political. I guess now it's politics too.

[Chris Reavers]

So he was there to teach them how to bankrupt a city.

[Joe Sucere]

What was, what were his talks?

[Chris Reavers]

No, I'm sure he was there to talk about the ice incursion.

[Gabe]

Yeah, that's what it looks like.

[Kenny Olson]

If it's the banker of a city. He spoke with authority.

[Chris Reavers]

He did. He's an expert.

[Kenny Olson]

Yes.

[Chris Reavers]

When you watch, if you watch the nightly news, I know it's a dying habit among Americans, but I still cling to it as a habit. 5 will get you 10 that tonight in the. At the very top. It's either there's a thunderstorm somewhere or they'll be highly touting the high temperatures that are now being enjoyed on the West Coast. Very warm.

[Kenny Olson]

Such a threat from nature in some shape or form.

[Chris Reavers]

And that'll be portrayed to you as hysteria and obviously climate change. Well, who's your guy?

[Kenny Olson]

Suchi boy? I mean, you're all.

[Chris Reavers]

I did. The sense wins. Well, so here's the highest I got the highest temperatures in Los Angeles history. You know, I figured somebody has to do it.

[Kenny Olson]

LA has probably had some heated days, I would imagine, huh?

[Chris Reavers]

Some warm ones. The hottest it's ever been in la. And of course that's meaningless too, because the temperatures, the records only go back to about what, 1870 or whatever.

[Kenny Olson]

Cowboy days.

[Chris Reavers]

The highest temperature ever in LA was 110 degrees. That was on September 26, 1963. They had 108 in 1955, they had 108 in 1913, 107 in 1939. And it goes all the way down to. They even included the 100.

[Kenny Olson]

That's cooler than I thought.

[Chris Reavers]

The 1- hundreds at LA enjoyed. The hundreds began in. Well, they had 103 in 1943, 103 in 1939, 103 in 1939, 103 in 1909, and 103 in 1907 on July 4th. Now, many of these, admittedly, are in September, so the hysteria on this occasion will be, boy, this is early for us to set these records. But I have more that belie that. My point is, if you do your homework and you look at these temperatures and put them into context, there is nothing new about what's happening.

[Kenny Olson]

Got it.

[Chris Reavers]

But I'm just warning you, maybe you could write some of these temperatures down, and then when you go to the next neighborhood gathering and the euphorians are ganging up on you and telling you that climate change is real, look what's happening in Los Angeles. You could pull your little cheat sheet out and said, joe, Joe, Joe, don't

[John Haidt]

let the truth get in the way of a good narrative. Come on, man.

[Chris Reavers]

Yeah, geez.

[John Haidt]

The truth doesn't matter in this case.

[Kenny Olson]

Pull that out of your back pocket. In your face.

[Chris Reavers]

I mean, I got Long beach if you want. I got Palmdale.

[John Haidt]

Nobody wants facts and stats. We want Fear and Loathing statistics and.

[Chris Reavers]

Damn, what's that saying? Whatever.

[John Haidt]

Yeah, that one.

[Chris Reavers]

Well, I got them all here for you. They're from the Almanac in Los Angeles and from the. What is this one? Los Angeles County. Los Angeles county weather. So you'll. You'll be hearing tonight and all through the weekend. All this is terrible. Well, if they'll have to get to 110 before they set a record. And that was 1963, which is 63 years ago. 63, is that right? Yeah, 60.

[John Haidt]

Close enough.

[Chris Reavers]

63. Yeah.

[John Haidt]

Are we still doing the show?

[Kenny Olson]

It's in that Price Is Right Blue Window range.

[Chris Reavers]

The wild one in Chicago last night in overtime. And I only bring that up because I was told with a graphic on my television screen, that due to contractual obligations, I was not allowed to watch the game.

[Joe Sucere]

Really?

[Chris Reavers]

I wonder if it was just me.

[Kenny Olson]

No, I was a little furious. On TNT.

[Chris Reavers]

I get TNT.

[Kenny Olson]

I had 85 channels on Comcast and I couldn't get TNT.

[Chris Reavers]

Did not understand.

[Kenny Olson]

ESPN. Go ahead.

[John Haidt]

I'm sorry, you didn't. Because. Because the announcers, the first two And a half minutes of the second period, the announcers did not acknowledge what was happening on the ice once.

[Chris Reavers]

What were they talking about?

[John Haidt]

They're just telling stories about the good old days and this, you know. And then I told that coach he can go stay. You know, that kind of nonsense. Meanwhile, the pucks going back and forth. We're fighting for our lives.

[Chris Reavers]

Can you do me a favor? Look up the last time. Not the last time. They won a cup. And they won two cups recently. What. What was the cup? The Blackhawk one in the 60s. What year? I will tell you a little story.

[John Haidt]

That was 1968.

[Chris Reavers]

No, they did not win a cup in 68.

[John Haidt]

Well, then why did you ask?

[Chris Reavers]

Well, it was. Because I know it was either 62 or 63, something like that. Help me quick.

[Kenny Olson]

So I'm gonna go with 61 six times. 34, 38, 61. It was 61, 10, 13 and 15.

[Chris Reavers]

All right. In 61, Bill Wirz was so cheap.

[Joe Sucere]

How cheap was he?

[Chris Reavers]

You couldn't get that game on your home television set.

[Kenny Olson]

No way.

[Chris Reavers]

In 1960, local blackout. Yeah. You had to go to a movie theater and like a closed circuit fight,

[Joe Sucere]

10 bucks or whatever to go to

[Chris Reavers]

a movie theater and watch the home games. Isn't that something?

[Kenny Olson]

That's really bad.

[Joe Sucere]

Sounds like Norm Green.

[Chris Reavers]

Yeah. And then obviously they've entered the modern era because they won cups recently and joined the modern era. But in 1961, you had to go to a hotel. What do you call it? A theater.

[Joe Sucere]

Movie theater.

[Chris Reavers]

You might have gone to a hotel. Who knows, you know, Depends on what

[Joe Sucere]

kind of day it was. So you didn't get the game? I'm sorry, I apologize.

[Chris Reavers]

I did not say if you're ever in an actual.

[Joe Sucere]

John and I were watching baseball.

[Chris Reavers]

Yeah, well, I watched that too. Well, in fact, I. I couldn't watch the hockey, so I watched.

[Joe Sucere]

So you watched the baseball?

[John Haidt]

I. I have a technical question, and I shouldn't ask you this. Putting a stick in your spokes. How do you watch a TV show in a movie theater in 1963?

[Chris Reavers]

Well, instead of being broadcast to your home, I guess it was broadcast to the theater.

[John Haidt]

And how did they play it?

[Chris Reavers]

What do you mean?

[Kenny Olson]

A satellite.

[Chris Reavers]

How do you. If you go and watch a heavyweight fight in a movie theater, how do you think you're getting it?

[John Haidt]

Well, it's different now in 20, 26 than it was in 63.

[Chris Reavers]

I'm just telling you what they did. I don't know how they did it.

[Joe Sucere]

Marionettes? Can. They reenacted the Scene.

[John Haidt]

Somebody must understand what I'm saying though, right?

[Joe Sucere]

You're talking about the projection of.

[Kenny Olson]

Yeah.

[John Haidt]

How did that go down?

[Chris Reavers]

I don't know, but when you go watch a fight, it's a live event.

[John Haidt]

Well, do me a favor and look it up. We're not going any further until you look it up.

[Joe Sucere]

But that's what John's doing right now.

[Gabe]

In 1963, live hockey games were watched in theaters, primarily through closed circuit television broadcasts.

[Chris Reavers]

It was 1961.

[Kenny Olson]

It's like a boxing match.

[Gabe]

63.

[John Haidt]

Close enough so you're watching like a TV that's sitting up on stage.

[Gabe]

It's a video. Say. No, it was. It's on the big screen.

[Chris Reavers]

I'm surprised you know, you're not that. That. Well, you are that stupid, apparently. I just don't understand why you don't understand this.

[John Haidt]

How did you not know I was this stupid?

[Chris Reavers]

I didn't.

[John Haidt]

You've known me for years.

[Chris Reavers]

This is amazing to discover this now.

[John Haidt]

I bring it, Joe. I bring it.

[Chris Reavers]

They just shot her right to the theater, Right? All right.

[Gabe]

Standard. Standard magic television broadcast the video signal sent via private lines directly to specific

[Chris Reavers]

theater location I'm talking about.

[John Haidt]

Doesn't answer my question, but I'll shut up now.

[Kenny Olson]

I thought you were a little more worldly than that.

[Chris Reavers]

While we were talking about body repair, the driving is still very interesting. Some streets are just gonna have to melt though, because they're not seeing any plows. If you get no offender bender, God forbid you're injured. But if you are called Bradshaw and Bryant, personal injury attorneys, insurance companies and adjusters can be difficult to deal with. So having someone on your side is important. Mike Bryant from Bradshaw and Bryant and his team are there to explain your rights, represent you and help you through a tough time. Mike is one of the finest personal injury lawyers in Minnesota, voted so by Minnesota law and politics. They hope you're never in an accident, but if you are, call them Bradshaw and Bryant at 800-770-7008. Or go to MinnesotaPersonalJury.com for a free case evaluation. And please don't be part of the problem. Don't text and drive or drive distracted, especially on these streets. That's just common sense. From Bradshaw and Bryant.

[Progressive Insurance Announcer]

This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever find yourself playing the budgeting game? Well, with the name your price tool from Progressive, you can find options that fit your budget and potentially lower your bills. Try [e-mail], progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Price and coverage Match limited by state law. Not available in all states. This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever find yourself playing the budgeting game? Well, with a name your price tool from Progressive, you can find options that fit your budget and potentially lower your bills. Try [e-mail], progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Price and coverage match limited by state law. Not available in all states.

[Chris Reavers]

Score big savings this week at Grocery Outlet. Your Extreme Value Headquarters dinner just got easier with 1 pound of 93% lean grass fed ground beef for just $4.99. Plan A nacho night with all the toppings or serve up a big pot of warm chili. The meal possibilities are endless when you can stock up without breaking the Buc budget. This deal is only available until March 24th while supplies last. Hurry to your local grocery outlet today.

[Joe Sucere]

Grocery Outlet Bargain Market 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 952-925-5608 and set up your free, yes, free 48 minute, no obligation consultation. That's 952-925-5608. Investment services offered by Josh Arnold Investment Consultant, LLC. A security investment advisor. Past no guarantee of future results. All investments involve risk. All comments and opinions are Josh Arnold's and do not constitute investment advice.

[Chris Reavers]

Chris Reavers is a paid endorser wherever you go, whatever they get into, from chill time to everyday adventures, protect your dog from parasites with Cridellio Quattro. For full safety information, side effects and warnings, visit cordelioquatrolabel.com consult your vet or call 1-888-545-5973.

[John Haidt]

Ask your vet for Cordelio Cuatro and

[Chris Reavers]

visit quattrodog.com what's your Mount Rushmore podcast

[Joe Sucere]

this episode Our favorite cocktails.

[Chris Reavers]

It would have Never occurred to me

[Joe Sucere]

prior to the Big Lebowski to say, can I get a White Russian?

[Kenny Olson]

After watching that movie, I think I

[Joe Sucere]

even said to Susan, I'm like, I want to have a White Russian now. So out of context to turn to your wife and say that once you know what? I want a White Russian. Yes. What did I do? Mail order bride.

[Kenny Olson]

Get on the Internet and find one.

[Chris Reavers]

What's your Mount Rushmore?

[Kenny Olson]

I don't know.

[Chris Reavers]

Listen wherever you get podcasts.

[MacKenzie]

My name's MacKenzie and I started a GoFundMe for the adoptive mother of a non verbal autistic child. The mother had lost her job because she wasn't able to find adequate care for this autistic child. So she really needed some help with living expenses, paying some back bills. So I launched a GoFundMe to help support them during this crisis. And we raised about $10,000 within just a couple of months. I think that the surprising thing was by telling a clear story and just like really being very clear about what we needed, we had some really generous donations from people who were really moved by the situation that this family was struggling.

[Chris Reavers]

GoFundMe is the world's number one fundraising

[John Haidt]

platform, trusted by over 200 million people.

[Kenny Olson]

Start your GoFundMe today at gofundme.com that's gofundme.com gofundme.com this podcast is supported by GoFundMe.

[Chris Reavers]

Who's doing something?

[Josh Arnold]

Me.

[Chris Reavers]

It's the end of the world as we know it and he feels fine.

[Joe Sucere]

Joe Sucere, North American Banking company. The official bank here in garagelogic. And you know what? They have been investing into your success since 1998. And back back then they made a promise to deliver a better banking experience for you, for your family and also all you business owners. Listen up for your business. That's right. It's personalized service with six wonderful, convenient Twin Cities locations to serve you. 50th in France. And Roseville, that's the home of yours truly, which gotta make a stop later today.

[Chris Reavers]

By the way.

[Joe Sucere]

The payment is due.

[Chris Reavers]

Seems like you always have to make a stop.

[Joe Sucere]

Well, once a month I gotta go in there, make my payment. Yeah. You know what I'm saying, Joe?

[Kenny Olson]

Try to get it on time next month for March or April.

[Joe Sucere]

Hastings would Liberry, Shoreview and Maple Grove. You know what? You might think that a community bank would have outdated online and mobile banking tools. That is not the case with North American Banking company The same tools as all of those other big national banks. The key Difference is you're going to get the unparalleled service of a community bank. But see it for yourself. Check them out online. Today it's nabankco.com to learn more. Once again, it's banking done differently. North American Banking Company member FDIC is an equal housing lender.

[Chris Reavers]

I continue to be amazed by the Department of Human Services not understanding the nature of kickbacks. The Department of Human Services is investigating alleged kickbacks in the Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention Program. That's autism. The autism Medicaid program where the state pays unlicensed providers. Let me stop right there. This is a short what did you find there? Bill Gwan piece in today's American Experiment. Wait a minute. Wouldn't you solve the whole thing by just demanding that if you're to receive taxpayer money, you should be a licensed provider of autism care? So this gets worse. We pay unlicensed providers. Some defendants accused of defrauding the program are also accused of paying kickbacks to parents of patients involved in the scheme. Hey, let me enroll your kid. I'll slip you 20. I'll allow, Bill writes. I'll allow Local media to characterize the Office of Legislator Office of Legislative auditor report findings Fox 9 Minnesota DHS failed to Investigate Kickback Complaints in Autism Program KSTP audit reveals flaw in How Minnesota DHS handled some Autism Fraud kickback Claims Really? And then this is a very short. That's as short as I. That's it. That's all they had for the update today. And then you go to both both five Eyewitness, five Eyewitness News and Carol Levin had pieces today on it. The Department of Human Services closed cases without investigation upon receiving allegations of Medicaid service providers paying kickbacks to recruit CL When Abdinejib Yusuf and Asha Hassan started building up their fraudulent autism centers, they admitted to recruiting and paying kickbacks to families willing to enroll their kids to increase the amount of taxpayer money they could steal. Wow. Kickbacks have been proven to play a key role in defrauding welfare systems. When criminal providers need real clients or patients, kickbacks are illegal. Really? Said deputy legislative author Auditor Katherine Thiessen. Which is what makes the latest revelation by the Office of the Legislative Auditor such a head scratcher. In the three cases that we identified in this review, they did not refer to any of the cases to law enforcement or any other investigation agency, thiessen said, adding that DHS didn't even flag those cases or further review. In other words, the Legislative Auditor went to DHS and said, here's three Cases where you're getting defrauded. DHS did nothing with it. The audit found that one of the providers continues receiving taxpayer money to this day.

[Kenny Olson]

Nice.

[Chris Reavers]

Thiessen said DHS told her team they didn't believe until last year that they had the authority to investigate kickbacks. Allegations of kickbacks.

[Kenny Olson]

Now, we. We don't have the authority. We can't check that. You know who they need?

[Chris Reavers]

I need chives.

[Kenny Olson]

They need shives. You couldn't squeeze a nickel through a. A knot hole without shives not knowing.

[John Haidt]

Do you believe this, Joe? Yeah, this sounds like BS to me. It sounds like they're using.

[Chris Reavers]

They're.

[John Haidt]

They're creating an excuse.

[Chris Reavers]

Oh, that part. Of course I don't believe it. Yeah, yeah, of course I don't believe. And it's not just within the Autism Services program. The Legislative Auditor report shows that DHS would not have investigated kickbacks across any of its programs. That's correct. The laws we are referring to, they apply to all Medicaid providers that are authorized by dhs. Thiessen said it's actually a very narrow situation where there is only a kickback and no other evidence of fraud. Well, this. Listen to this quote. This is this Sherene Gandhi, who I don't trust as far as I can throw up.

[John Haidt]

No, we learned that last week on Crabby.

[Chris Reavers]

It's actually a very narrow situation where there is only a kickback and no other evidence of fraud. DHS Commissioner Sherene Gandhi said. Wait a minute, Shereen, break it down. Kickback is evidence of fraud. But she says, well, if kickback is the only evidence of fraud, apparently she's going to try to sell you on the idea that we have no purview to examine that. This lady hasn't been helpful.

[Kenny Olson]

No.

[Chris Reavers]

So imagine how bad the one who got let go was her name. Look it up, Janice.

[John Haidt]

Jody Harpstead.

[Chris Reavers]

Jody Harpstead. If Jody Harpstead conveniently enough was allowed to leave. How, I wonder. Just. I'm musing here. I'm just musing. I wonder how deeply tied she would have been to the fraud. If Shereen Gandhi is this dumb or playing this dumb. How dumb was playing dumb?

[Kenny Olson]

Harpstead was onto it and said, see,

[Chris Reavers]

I think I should retire before I'm in Sing Sing. It's actually a very narrow situation where there is only a kickback and no other evidence of fraud. Shereen Gandhi said, referring to DHS's past interpretation of what type of allegation they can investigate. So is there a. Must be a big. I'm seeing a three Ring binder in giant clown letters that say you may not investigate allegations of kickbacks because we like those. These are the rules. Oh, I'm trying so hard to be calm. Gandhi admits disagreeing with the legislative auditor's legal analysis. Well, Gandhi, the legislative auditor has provided a legal analysis. What do you have to offer? But she did say they are on the same page now and proposed some word changes to the law. So now they get the three ring binder out and those giant clown letters will now have to say, you can investigate allegations of kickbacks.

[Kenny Olson]

Kickbacks now bad.

[Chris Reavers]

Now we can do it.

[Kenny Olson]

Kickbacks now bad.

[Chris Reavers]

Now we can do it. Before we couldn't. We didn't think we could do it. It's wrong to provide kickbacks. We put it in our legislative package so we are acting on it right away. Gandhi said, What's this one report say? This is from Hauser.

[Kenny Olson]

What next?

[Chris Reavers]

Oh, this is. Here it is. I got it.

[Kenny Olson]

This day in history. No.

[Chris Reavers]

You know, G. Ellers, somebody's got to do it.

[John Haidt]

Before you move on, I'm looking up Harpstead information and it was less than a year ago that she stepped down. February, the beginning of February.

[Chris Reavers]

Then Gandhi was interrupted and now she's no longer interim, she's the chief.

[John Haidt]

Gandhi was working within the halls of the department and then became interim.

[Josh Arnold]

Right.

[John Haidt]

And now as chief. But Harp said stepped down amid all these allegations. Right. She stepped down in shame. The governor, his statement about this, I don't think I had ever read this. It's despicable. I just want to read you some of this. I want to extend. Go ahead.

[Chris Reavers]

No, I remember the statement. He was flowery and he loved her and. Yeah, go ahead, read it, Read it.

[John Haidt]

I want to extend my deepest thanks to Commissioner Harpstead for answering the call of public service five and a half years ago. I'm proud of her work running the most complex and wide ranging agency in state government. I am especially proud of how Commissioner Harpstead supported the enterprise wide work to separate DHS into three separate agencies which will make the three of them more effective, more accountable and easier to manage.

[Chris Reavers]

Oh, it's getting too hard to keep track of the fraud as one agency. If you divide it into three, you can minimize the fraud complications and keep track of it better.

[John Haidt]

Doesn't it show you how disingenuous government is? You know that she stepped down from

[Chris Reavers]

pressure from him just like Heather Mueller stepped down from the Department of Education when the food fraud scandal hit the fan.

[John Haidt]

But then when Jody backs down and steps down, he gives her Nothing but praise when that's the last thing she deserves.

[Kenny Olson]

But why do you think we're so stupid?

[Chris Reavers]

Well, exactly. Let's say this about Jodi Harpstead, who I do not know. It's unlikely she was feathering her own nest, but she was so dramatically incompetent that this just all took place. That's where you have to place her.

[Kenny Olson]

If she saw fraud, why couldn't she just even say, hey, we got a lot of.

[John Haidt]

Oh, no. Listen, guys, Harpstead knew about the fraud. They all knew about the fraud. We had the. No, we had the whistleblower on last week on Crabby. They all knew about it. They all chose to ignore it, and then they disciplined the whistleblower.

[Chris Reavers]

Yeah.

[John Haidt]

No, Harpstead knew, Shereen knew. They all knew.

[Joe Sucere]

It's because they're all on the take.

[Chris Reavers]

One of the problems.

[John Haidt]

I didn't say that, Chris. There's something going on there.

[Chris Reavers]

One of the problems is. Remember when I did the. I hit the dropdown button on the Department of Human Services website just to look at housing, various housing programs, and there were 21. Well, you do the same thing for Medicaid. I don't have it in front of me, but you could do the same thing. And there's probably another 20 programs. The problem is the government has gotten away with this with no one issuing any common sense. Both sides of the aisle could have put a stop to this a long time ago if they saw it coming. The government's too big. The Department of Human Services is too big. It shouldn't be so complex that you can't manage it. And that's the excuse they're giving you. While this is a complex organization, and my hat's off to Sherene Gandhi for ironing these things out. B as in B S as in S. You've got. So you have provided too many situations and programs where fraud can be done easily. It's just too big.

[Kenny Olson]

And they haven't brought anything to the table by saying, here's where the fraud is. This is who took the money, this is who got paid.

[Chris Reavers]

If you were of a mind to do it. Apparently I'm not already, and some people are. You could move to Minnesota and never work a day in your life. You could come up with a variety of sources of income from the taxpayers that would perfectly cover your existence that

[John Haidt]

many have for years.

[Chris Reavers]

It would cover your food, your housing, your medical. It would cover everything. And that's if you could navigate the complexity of the programs.

[John Haidt]

Not just from Somalia either. I mean, from around the Country.

[Chris Reavers]

You said you could move here anywhere and do this. Chicago, have any skin color you want.

[John Haidt]

Texas, they're all coming to Minnesota.

[Chris Reavers]

This is a destroyed state. Financially. It's a very destroyed state.

[Joe Sucere]

What do you mean? Walls just announced his new budget.

[Kenny Olson]

Yeah, he's gonna take care of that fraud?

[Joe Sucere]

Well, he's got new IT update software systems.

[Kenny Olson]

We're gonna get them now, we're gonna get them in the future.

[Joe Sucere]

Now we mean business.

[Chris Reavers]

And then they, they, they, they cleverly tell you that, well, our technology has not been able to keep pace with the complexity of the problems. Well, your problem is that you didn't need to make the problem so complex. You have allowed the government to become too large and too all encompassing for everyone's needs. No one has to work if they don't want to, until you're going to run out of the taxpayer's money and then I don't know what you're going to do. But this Shereen Gandhi, I'm not sure she's uttered an honest word in her life. In her role as the head of the Department of Human Services. We didn't know we couldn't look at kickbacks. Well, doesn't it strike you, Sherene, that kickbacks are wrong?

[Joe Sucere]

Define wrong.

[Chris Reavers]

Maybe they're just inappropriate.

[Joe Sucere]

Oh, see, now you're really talking my language.

[Chris Reavers]

Maybe they're just inappropriate. I don't know where to take you people. The only solution is voting in a group of people who would not tolerate this and streamline everything. And if you didn't like it, load up your minivan and go find some other state to live off of. Once we get done streamlining this state, I don't hold out great hope for that.

[Kenny Olson]

No, we're number one.

[Chris Reavers]

I just don't sense that the electorate going about their daily business is paying any attention to what a phony Shereen Gandhi is. They don't even know who Shereen Gandhi is. And Sherene, if you think I'm being too harsh, then come on the show because you sound absurdly ridiculous.

[Joe Sucere]

Yes, Shereen, Nikki won with yes.

[John Haidt]

I like how you antagonize potential guests.

[Chris Reavers]

Come on. She's not a potential guest.

[John Haidt]

Listen to you, idiot.

[Chris Reavers]

It.

[John Haidt]

If you want to defend yourself, come on.

[Kenny Olson]

Now.

[Joe Sucere]

That's how you'd get one of us to come on.

[John Haidt]

What did, what did Mad Max fight in? Come on into the Thunderdome.

[Chris Reavers]

Well, for goodness sake. This is just. I don't know what it will take for people to realize that we are being fleeced on a daily basis. And again, I mean, you do your Linda Keller ads and I'm smiling to myself what saps we are. Let's make sure we follow the rules. Let's make sure we get that stuff in on time. It's just amazing. It's just amazing.

[Joe Sucere]

She did get back to me this morning. I heard Joe say, shut up and pay your taxes. And I felt it in my soul. Because isn't that the fine point on everything that we hear from both sides? Until we figure out it's less we the people and more we the payment method?

[Chris Reavers]

The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen. And right now we are tiny. We are just tiny little useful people to ship them money. That's all we are. We've really let this get out of hand. And I don't know that Minnesota can ever solve its dilemma.

[Kenny Olson]

What's our budget gonna be like when we do solve the dilemma and there is no more fraud?

[Joe Sucere]

John, are you bringing up the governor's new budget in your night?

[Gabe]

I do have a story about a

[Joe Sucere]

Christmas that I'll save. What I was gonna say.

[Chris Reavers]

How's that last blast of winter treating your garage door? You know, the people at Precision Garage Door, they'll come out and work in this weather. They don't mind. If you need a new door, get ahold of Precision Garage Door. They have models for every a designer comes out, you hash it out, bing, bang, boom, and G Elders, you're getting a $400 trade in credit on your old garage door. If you like your current door. But you know, you just had your doubts all winter long. Get that sucker checked out with a $79 safe and sound package. They'll throw the diagnostics at it. You know, tensile strength of cable, stuff like that, the diagnostic stuff. Plus they got cans of, you know, deep creep and stuff like that to spray on there and keep her quiet. You gotta take care of this garage door. You don't want to get caught with that baby. Not opening. Book online at Precision Door.mn1word, precisiondoormn.com or call Precision Door at 612-263-6985 to schedule your free on site new door estimate or book a safe and sound package with Precision Door. Here's a man who spends hours in hardware stores sifting through the nuts and bolts of life. Joe Sucere.

[Joe Sucere]

You want me to ease your mind, mayor?

[Chris Reavers]

Boy, I wish somebody could.

[Joe Sucere]

How about quick links golf?

[Chris Reavers]

That would help.

[Joe Sucere]

Are you ready for the golfing season?

[Chris Reavers]

I have room for this. I have to explore this. I have a room Big enough to accommodate this.

[Joe Sucere]

Talk to FRAT alone. He's getting one as well. Yeah, it's really cool. Go to quicklinksgolf.com by the way. It's a local showroom based out of Chaska, Minnesota. They do all different types of designs. And you know what, it doesn't matter what kind of space you're dealing with, whether it's at your home, at your office, by the way you want to treat your employees. They got you taken care of. And on their website you can book your free consultation, but you can also see all sorts of their previous projects that they've been working on. We're seeing a lot of them right now on the YouTube channel. It's really cool. I'm not the world's biggest golf fan. I might even do this. It's very, very cool. But Anyway, go to quicklinksgolf.com again, quicklinksgolf.com and book that free consultation. They work with all different types of price points. Quicklinksgolf.com, book that appointment and let them know you heard about them here on the Garage Logic podcast.

[Chris Reavers]

Here's John Haidt in his newsroom.

[Gabe]

Thank you, Joe. This news is brought to you by North American Banking Company. Before I get to the news, Joe, I wanted to mention this because I hope this doesn't depress you more, although I think it might.

[Kenny Olson]

Oh, boy.

[Gabe]

When you did the story about the, the weather, I of course immediately went to my newspapers dot com.

[Kenny Olson]

Yeah.

[Gabe]

September 27th, 1963, I pulled up the LA Times. That was a Friday morning. 95 pages on the Friday morning LA Times.

[Chris Reavers]

Right.

[Gabe]

18 pages full classified ads.

[Kenny Olson]

Wow.

[Gabe]

35 pages, full page ads by various stores, car companies, etc.

[Chris Reavers]

Wow.

[Gabe]

Yeah, that, that. Boy, newspapers were making some money then, weren't they?

[Chris Reavers]

Oh, they were. And they just didn't see the future.

[Gabe]

Yeah, yeah.

[Chris Reavers]

Oh, who did in 1963.

[Gabe]

The other weird thing I noticed, Peanuts, which was already very popular. 1963, it was all alone on page four.

[Chris Reavers]

Had its own page, own special slot.

[Gabe]

I mean, there was news around it, but it had its own special slot.

[Chris Reavers]

Oh my.

[Joe Sucere]

Just, you know, the nice thing though is, Joe, for you and for Patrick, with a decent snowfall, nobody can even compare what the modern day Star Tribune's gonna be because it isn't getting your front.

[Chris Reavers]

You don't really know.

[Joe Sucere]

In news printed in a different bleeping state.

[Chris Reavers]

In.

[Gabe]

In news, a day of school threats again. A day after those threats closed Schools in the 4th largest school district in Minnesota, another incident led to South St. Paul Public Schools shift to remote learning for today. The school district announced all of its schools closed and classes transitioning to E learning early this morning, citing what they called a safety concern yesterday. As we reported, District 196, which included public schools in Rosemount, Apple Valley and Egan, canceled classes after getting threatening voicemails. Law enforcement later determined the threats were made from outside of Minnesota and the FBI is now leading the investigation. It's still unclear whether there might be any link from that incident to the one impacting South St. Paul schools today.

[Chris Reavers]

Elearning is a euphemism for a day off.

[Josh Arnold]

A day off.

[Gabe]

It's BS as you talked about, Chris. Governor Walls unveiling a supplemental budget proposal today focused on what he called middle class families in Minnesota.

[Joe Sucere]

Everyone ready for a good laugh?

[Chris Reavers]

Here we go.

[Gabe]

That proposal includes expanding dependent care tax credits for families with young children and allocating $100 million to provide emergency aid to first time homeowners and renters. The plan suggests lowering the state sales tax by three quarters of a cent, but expanding it to include services like financial planners, bankers and lawyers. The governor said there's no reason the sales tax can't be expanded to broader numbers so that people who are at the top can pay a little bit on that and the folks at the bottom can see a reduction.

[Chris Reavers]

Tim, at the rate you're going, there is going to be nobody at the top. That's the problem.

[Josh Arnold]

Right?

[Kenny Olson]

You're losing your top.

[Joe Sucere]

Did you guys see Governor Goober standing at the podium the other yesterday?

[Chris Reavers]

Yes, I did.

[Joe Sucere]

And he's touting this.

[Kenny Olson]

You know, we're leading the country.

[Joe Sucere]

Sales tax 6.5% now. All the way down to 6.425%.

[Chris Reavers]

Oh, man.

[Joe Sucere]

Boy, we're slashing into that.

[Chris Reavers]

You know what, you'll notice that.

[Joe Sucere]

Yes, you will.

[Chris Reavers]

Yeah, you'll notice that.

[Joe Sucere]

Yes, you will.

[Gabe]

Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson expressed opposition to any tax increases, saying when we're talking about affordability as Republicans in the Senate and the House and talking about how can we help Minnesotans afford their life. And Democrats are again talking about, hey, how can we tax Minnesotans more? The proposal includes financial assistance for those affected by Operation Metro surge and an increased funding for fraud prevention. A top legislative priority, 33 million in

[Joe Sucere]

housing assistance and 10 million in partially forgivable small business loans.

[John Haidt]

So we're gonna chop the sales tax by three quarters of a percent, right?

[Joe Sucere]

Yes.

[John Haidt]

But then put more tax on in different areas, correct?

[Chris Reavers]

Yeah.

[Kenny Olson]

Putting money away.

[John Haidt]

If you pay a tax when you turn off your alarm in the Morning. And then pay a tax when you drink a cup of coffee.

[Kenny Olson]

What was that movie? Popeye.

[Chris Reavers]

Because you're an oppressor.

[Kenny Olson]

Remember Popeye was. They were taxing everything. Yep.

[Joe Sucere]

I need help understanding this one because I tried to read as much as I could about it.

[Chris Reavers]

Actually, I don't remember the Popeye thing. Yes. Yeah.

[Joe Sucere]

Robin gets you to quit talking. John, here's what I don't understand. The tax on social media companies.

[Chris Reavers]

Uh huh.

[Joe Sucere]

Okay.

[Gabe]

I don't. Yeah, don't ask me.

[Joe Sucere]

None of them are based here. But yet we can tag. I don't understand how that works.

[Chris Reavers]

You know what my advice would be? Don't worry about it. It's fine.

[Joe Sucere]

Well, but what I'm saying is, let's say Facebook Marketplace.

[John Haidt]

You guys, you can't do that. Joe, you're the one that led us down this my taxes suck road, and we resisted you for years, and now we're on board and we're angry, and now you're saying, yeah, it's no big deal.

[Chris Reavers]

No, I meant for Reavers.

[John Haidt]

Oh, you. You just need to rephrase what you said. Chris, shut up.

[Chris Reavers]

I would not worry about the social media tax. I don't even know what that means.

[Joe Sucere]

Well, that's.

[Chris Reavers]

Neither do you.

[Joe Sucere]

What? I was wondering. I. I asked. I don't.

[Chris Reavers]

I don't get it. Go.

[John Haidt]

No, no. Don't let it go. Chris, Be outrage.

[Chris Reavers]

Build it up. Build it up.

[Joe Sucere]

All right, let me.

[Kenny Olson]

I like outraged Chris. That's more.

[Chris Reavers]

Okay, what should.

[Gabe]

Should I continue while Chris is being outraged? Yes.

[Kenny Olson]

He's reviewing his outrageousness.

[Gabe]

A line of health. We didn't get this on yesterday. It happened right at the end of the show. One of the largest health care providers in Minnesota is being acquired by California based Sutter Health Health, the health systems announced yesterday. While Alida would keep its name, board of directors, and regional headquarters in Minneapolis, the nonprofit would fall under the purview of Sutter President and CEO Warner Thomas. In their announcement, Sutter's leadership pledged to invest $2 billion in Lina to focus on improving outpatient care access, adopting AI tools and other technology to streamline processes, and hiring more health care professionals. The two organizations have signed a letter of intent. They're expected to close on the deal by the end of 2026, barring any obstacles as Sutter conducts its due diligence.

[Joe Sucere]

I think I found an answer. A proposed. And this does apply to us. That's why I was asking. A proposed Minnesota social media tax is an excise tax on large social media companies based on the volume of data they collect from state users, aiming to raise roughly 100 million annually. It targets firms with over 100,000 monthly Minnesota users charging 10 to 15 cents per month. Meaning, like Target and those kind of companies are going to be taxing efl,

[Chris Reavers]

dreaming up new ways to tax you. Right.

[Joe Sucere]

And giving those large companies just that much more reason to leave.

[Chris Reavers]

That's right.

[John Haidt]

Wow.

[Joe Sucere]

Good question, Chris. I'm glad you brought it up. You're welcome, Chris.

[Kenny Olson]

Appreciate it, Chris.

[Gabe]

Oka County Sheriff's Offices. Two people were killed early Wednesday morning in an apparent double homicide. 12:52 this morning, police officers and first responders from multiple agencies called to a home along Ryan Place near Woodland Road in Lexington after getting calls about a shooting. When they got there, authorities discovered a deceased woman and a gravely injured young juvenile boy inside the house. The boy was taken to the hospital, where he was later declared dead. The sheriff's office said an adult male suspect was located and apprehended by a canine who was conducting a search of the area. The suspect, who has not yet been identified, was taken to the hospital to receive treatment for injuries he suffered. According to the Anoka County Sheriff's Office, the incident does not appear to have been random. There isn't believed to be any threat to the public, and investigation is continuing.

[Chris Reavers]

So the woman is presumed to be his mom.

[John Haidt]

The.

[Chris Reavers]

Wasn't there two shootings in the house?

[Gabe]

Yeah. The. The boy.

[Chris Reavers]

The boy and a woman? Yeah. Is that presumed to be his mother?

[Gabe]

Well, they're not saying.

[Chris Reavers]

Okay.

[Gabe]

I mean, you. You can presume whatever you want, I guess, but they're not saying. Minnesota and Wisconsin have finally secured more than $1 billion from the federal government to move forward with the Blackbeck Bridge replacement project. The funding was initially approved back in January 2024, but it's been held up up awaiting finalized paperwork from the Department of Transportation. That has now happened, paving the way for the largest public works project in Minnesota history. The Blatnik Bridge, which opened back in 1961, connects Duluth and Superior. The state says roughly 33,000 vehicles cross the bridge every day. However, it's already rated in poor condition, and the Baltimore bridge collapse raised new questions about the bridge's design. Minnesota and Wisconsin are each putting $400 million in state funding toward replacing that bridge. With the federal grant funds now released, the states can move forward with the project, and preliminary construction is expected to start later on this year. Why don't we take a quick break here and hear from our friend, Mr. Olson?

[John Haidt]

Yeah, I want to Talk about Deep Creep here. Thank you, John. We've talked for many years now. About the many ways that we use Seafoam Deep Creep. And use that in our lives. Galers have been experts actually helping out for a long time, giving us tips. And with that in mind, I asked these four mechanical geniuses here that I work with on gl. If Deep Creep will work on DC voltage electrical connections.

[Chris Reavers]

Yes.

[John Haidt]

Like that big connector on my plow truck. Turns out I tried it and it worked. I didn't have to take the faulty advice from these geniuses that I work with. There's no more blinky, flashy, strobing headlights. Now that I've sprayed that connection down with Deep Creep. It cleaned it up nicely. But here's the deal. Now this. You'd think I would take my own advice. I forgot that I always keep a can of Deep Creep in all vehicles. So I had to steal my Deep Creep out of the laundry room. Now I have two cans of Deep Creep. And a half a can of the engine treatment, all in my plow truck. I got to start taking my own advice. And that's what I'm here to tell you. When you go to the Fleet Farm or the NAC hardware store, the auto parts store. To buy a can of Deep Creep. Just go ahead and buy four of them. Because you will need one. Keep them all over, everywhere. Absolutely. A wonderful product. Both of those products, the engine treatment and the Deep Creep. Wonderful products from our friends at Seafoam. John.

[Gabe]

Thanks, Kenny. Iran warning countries around the Persian Gulf that a number of energy assets are now, in their words, legitimate targets. After Israel attacked its giant South Pars gas field, sending shockwaves through oil and gas markets again. Facilities in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are on a list of assets now at risk of missile strikes, according to Iran's semi official Tasnim news agency. Attacks on Iran's energy infrastructure will not go unanswered, the news provider reported. After the warning was issued, gas facilities started evacuating employees around parts. Parts of the Middle east, one other hotspot around the world. At least 400 people killed, more than 250 wounded after an alleged Pakistani strike on a drug rehabilitation center in Afghanistan's capital of Kabul. Pakistan denied hitting the civilian site. If confirmed, it would mark the deadliest incident since war broke out between those two countries last month. Pakistan launched airstrikes in Afghanistan's Kandahar and Kabul February 26 after accusing Afghanistan's Taliban government of supporting militants that carried out attacks on its Soil economic news this morning. Wholesale prices rose sharply in February, providing another sign that inflation continues to percolate, even aside from rising gas costs. The Producer Price Index, a measure of pipeline costs that producers receive for their products, increased A seasonally adjusted 0.7% on the month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been looking for increases of 0.3%.

[Chris Reavers]

I got gas yesterday. 359, is that about right?

[Kenny Olson]

Yep.

[Joe Sucere]

You have pay inside privileges?

[Chris Reavers]

I do okay. Yeah.

[Gabe]

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee yesterday formally subpoenaed Attorney General Pam Bondi to answer questions about the Epstein files. A committee voted earlier this month to subpoena Bondi following a motion from Representative Nancy Miller, who said it was unclear whether the Justice Department had turned over all records related to Jeffrey Epstein that were required under law. The subpoena requests body appear on April 14th for a deposition.

[Joe Sucere]

Joe, if you don't mind me asking, since you mentioned you bought gas yesterday, what was your total purchase price of that gas?

[Chris Reavers]

$49.35.

[Joe Sucere]

Well, under Governor Walz and his new tax cut, you'd only pay. Paid $49.15.

[Chris Reavers]

Really?

[Joe Sucere]

Well, I see he's saving you money.

[Chris Reavers]

I would have noticed that. Yeah.

[Gabe]

Supreme Court.

[Joe Sucere]

I mean, what a joke. Why does he even say that?

[Chris Reavers]

You know what a miracle gas is? I've. I'm a big fan of gasoline. One gallon will run my snowblower all season.

[Joe Sucere]

Really?

[Chris Reavers]

Sure. Because the little tank on the snowblower doesn't require a gallon gallon. So you fill that, you know, a little bit, and then you do the driveway, and then you might not need it again for a month, and you fill it again. The gallon lasts you all year.

[Kenny Olson]

It's one of life's simple pleasures. It really is, truthfully.

[John Haidt]

Now, when you bought that little cute little snow thrower, did it have, like, unicorn stickers and rainbows on it and

[Chris Reavers]

butterflies as fake as ears. As ears on it. Ears. Cute.

[Gabe]

That'd be cute.

[Chris Reavers]

Like a little rabbit going through the snow.

[Joe Sucere]

I don't want to out the guy, but I got a guy that lives down the street and he's got one of those that you plug in.

[Chris Reavers]

They're useless.

[Joe Sucere]

And I was watching him go to work on Sunday, and he'd get about halfway down the driveway, you could see the cord.

[Chris Reavers]

Well, not only that, but they don't.

[Kenny Olson]

Damn it.

[Chris Reavers]

They don't have the power to do it.

[Joe Sucere]

No, he. I think he was at it multiple times throughout the snow cycle.

[Kenny Olson]

Yeah, you got to get a running start for some of those or just chop shovel it in half so you

[Joe Sucere]

can the electric snowblower.

[Chris Reavers]

Why? Well, he cares about the earth. Okay, Chris. Okay. We, we have among us people who are very sensitive about watching that son

[Joe Sucere]

of a come and plug was just joy.

[Gabe]

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts warning yesterday personal criticism of federal judges is dangerous and in his words, got to stop. This comes two days after President Trump called a federal judge who ruled against his administration wacky, nasty, crude, crooked and totally out of control. Roberts did not single out the president or anyone else insisting the attacks on judges are not from just any one political perspective. Criticism of judicial opinions comes with the territory, he said, and it can be healthy. But he says it's different when the criticism moves away from legal analysis. He says personally directed hostility is dangerous and it's got to stop. The U.S. marshals Service, which is responsible for protecting judges. Reporters reported 564 threats in the government fiscal year that ended in September. US recorded music industry reached a record high of 11 and a half billion dollars in revenue in 2025. And according to the Recording Industry association of America's Year end Review report, with premium paid streaming subscription revenues growing 6.8% to 5.88 billion and vinyl sales growing for a 19th straight year, passing $1 billion in sales for the first time since 1983. While vinyl's annual growth has declined from the years of annual double digit increases it saw in the 2010s and early 20s, it's nearing 20 consecutive years of revenue and sale rises. The US sells more than half of the world's. Vital, on a revenue basis remains the world's largest market for paid streaming subscriptions, comprising a third of the world's value in that category. And Vital also continued to lead all physical formats in 2025, adding more than three times the revenue of the sale of compact discs.

[Chris Reavers]

Let me see if I got this straight, Joe.

[Gabe]

Yes.

[Chris Reavers]

We're no longer buying compact discs. We're buying record albums in a sleeve that are actual records.

[Gabe]

That's true. Yes.

[Chris Reavers]

So the turntable business has made a big comeback.

[Joe Sucere]

Oh. Over the last several years.

[Gabe]

Yeah, it's. I mean it's 10 years probably.

[Kenny Olson]

So if I go to. Seriously, if I go. I haven't been in a Best Buy store in a long time.

[Gabe]

They don't.

[Kenny Olson]

Yeah, they don't have. You're not flipping through the CDs anymore.

[Gabe]

They have no CDs.

[John Haidt]

Don't go to Best Buy for.

[Kenny Olson]

Or Cheapo.

[Chris Reavers]

I go to Cheapo.

[Gabe]

Cheapo's got both.

[Kenny Olson]

I'm with you, Ken.

[Chris Reavers]

So when. I don't know, my Morning Jacket releases a new.

[Gabe]

New yes sir album.

[Chris Reavers]

Is it. Did they only release an album and not a cd?

[Gabe]

Bigger bands like that or, you know, established bands would release in both.

[Chris Reavers]

Okay, I need the CDs still.

[Gabe]

See, I. I buy only vinyl now. In fact, I've sold Most of my CDs we're getting up there.

[Chris Reavers]

I wish my car still had a CD player.

[Gabe]

There are bands and singular folks who just. Just. You can't buy any physical product.

[Chris Reavers]

I understand.

[Gabe]

You can only stream. And there are others, like the new Sturgill Simpson. Yeah, he's not streaming. He's only on CD and vinyl.

[Chris Reavers]

Big play on him in today's Wall Street Journal.

[John Haidt]

You should.

[Gabe]

I saw that story. Excellent album. I already heard it.

[Kenny Olson]

As a person in your early 20s, what do you buy?

[Joe Sucere]

Do you.

[Kenny Olson]

Do you not buy vinyl cd?

[Chris Reavers]

I have a record player. I have.

[John Haidt]

I have two record.

[Chris Reavers]

One of those little Roy Rogers ones where you. Yeah, it lifts up. Yeah, lifts up the top.

[Kenny Olson]

You don't buy CDs or anything like that?

[Chris Reavers]

No, because I pay for Spotify, just a lot easier. Okay.

[John Haidt]

That is a godless and without any soul at all. And Gabe, that's. I've now found something that I really, really hate about you.

[Gabe]

That's amazing.

[John Haidt]

And you're gonna have to change your ways, Gabe.

[Joe Sucere]

And we'd like to thank Spotify their. For their partnership on the Garage Logic.

[Gabe]

That's that whole generation.

[Chris Reavers]

Wait a minute. My kids the same way we're on Spotify.

[John Haidt]

Yes, sir.

[Chris Reavers]

Well, they're not business then. They're. They're important.

[John Haidt]

Spotify.

[Chris Reavers]

I love Spotify.

[Joe Sucere]

You guys are talking about.

[Kenny Olson]

Good job, Gabe.

[John Haidt]

They're absolutely. Gabe, you're the smartest guy I know. Don't change a thing. Joe, what drives me crazy is now books where you cannot get. Get a hard copy of a book to hold in your hand. You can either get the. What's it called when you have a Reader?

[Joe Sucere]

Kindle.

[John Haidt]

You can get a Kindle or you can get an audio book, but you cannot get a book that you can hold in your hand.

[Chris Reavers]

Well, I disagree.

[John Haidt]

Makes me.

[Chris Reavers]

You're wrong. You're just totally wrong. You're wrong. Yeah, you can go on Amazon, order a hardcover book. You can go to Burns and Burn book. Yeah. You're wrong.

[John Haidt]

No, I'm not.

[Kenny Olson]

Maybe it's because he's rude.

[John Haidt]

Steve Ranella, Meat Eater Podcast, has released a number of books that are only available as audiobooks.

[Chris Reavers]

Well, I can't help you there?

[Gabe]

Does he produce them himself?

[John Haidt]

Kenny?

[Chris Reavers]

Yeah.

[Gabe]

Yeah, yeah.

[Chris Reavers]

Well, there you are. He's self published, which means he's selling 12 books a year.

[Gabe]

Kenny.

[Joe Sucere]

I think you're wrong, by the way, because the audiobooks are really making. Really making hay these days.

[Kenny Olson]

As Mitch walked to the department door of the terrorist, he could see there was a wire. Everything in the building fell silent except for his stomach. It was growling. He'd forgotten to eat lunch. He wondered what his next meal would be. As he disconnected the wire, he went into the Terrace apartment and found some leftover pizza. He ate it and waited for the terrorist that he would get.

[Joe Sucere]

That was rookie auditioning to Flynn.

[Chris Reavers]

He wanted to be Vince Flynn's audio guy. That. Did you play that for Vince?

[Josh Arnold]

Yeah.

[Joe Sucere]

Oh, God, yes.

[Kenny Olson]

And I also told him that the

[John Haidt]

pizza stuff that you threw.

[Chris Reavers]

Yeah, Vince said, that's not bad.

[Kenny Olson]

He said, for my next book. And unfortunately he never. He never finished it. So I was going to be the next audio guy.

[Chris Reavers]

Oh, God.

[Kenny Olson]

Mitch Rap. The short order cook that worked at Plums that hated the Middle east, but

[John Haidt]

you have to do it in that voice.

[Kenny Olson]

Oh, there was some production. There was some background back up, thick pipe stuff going.

[Chris Reavers]

I've never heard an audiobook.

[Joe Sucere]

Really?

[Chris Reavers]

No.

[Joe Sucere]

They're kind of fun for a road trip.

[Chris Reavers]

Yeah, but how would you play it? Because that's a CD player. Oh, your phone.

[Kenny Olson]

Yeah.

[Gabe]

One more entertainment story, just like you

[Joe Sucere]

would for our podcast, Joe.

[Chris Reavers]

Yeah, do that. Yeah.

[Gabe]

How would you do that?

[Kenny Olson]

You can get to Chicago on a book or two. Yeah, yeah.

[Joe Sucere]

Are you a fast audiobook reader, Rook?

[John Haidt]

I love how I tell him something and he. He just says, no, you're wrong. It's like, well, wait a minute, Joe.

[Chris Reavers]

I get hardcover.

[John Haidt]

Sun Comes up in the East. It really does.

[Chris Reavers]

No, no, you're wrong.

[John Haidt]

You're wrong.

[Kenny Olson]

Never seen it.

[Gabe]

I agree with both you guys on that one.

[Chris Reavers]

Okay.

[Gabe]

One other entertainment note for the day. The Oscars drew 17.9 million viewers, a 9% decline from last year's telecast. That's the first time in five years they actually went down in ratings. Follows declines also for this year's Grammy Awards and Golden Globe Awards. It's the first time in several years that viewership fell for all three major award shows. Reviews for the Oscars telecast, as well as for Conan o' Brien's return as host, were mostly positive. Oscar organizers pushed the ceremony to a later date this year to avoid a conflict with the Winter Olympics. However, they had some unwanted competition with the World Baseball Classic. That game actually became drew 7.4 million views.

[Chris Reavers]

Wow.

[John Haidt]

Not bad.

[Gabe]

Yeah, that was the.

[Kenny Olson]

Who in the hell watch that?

[Joe Sucere]

How are you?

[Chris Reavers]

Dominican.

[Joe Sucere]

Us.

[Chris Reavers]

Right?

[Gabe]

Like in us? Yeah, I actually. That is what I watch.

[Chris Reavers]

Boy, those Venezuelans were happy. And I texted some people last night and I said, you watch? Trump will take credit for this. And sure enough, today he did. He said, I think Venezuela should be our 51st state.

[John Haidt]

Be sure.

[Kenny Olson]

Did you.

[Joe Sucere]

You could tell it meant a ton to the Venezuela.

[John Haidt]

We're not going to call it Venezuela, though, right?

[Chris Reavers]

Venezuela.

[John Haidt]

No, I mean, can't we rename it Trump something?

[Joe Sucere]

That would be better.

[Gabe]

The TV broadcast of the Oscars will be ending after 2028, remember?

[Chris Reavers]

I'll miss it. John.

[Gabe]

They signed an exclusive contract with YouTube.

[Chris Reavers]

Oh.

[Gabe]

Who will then be streaming them every.

[Joe Sucere]

Sure.

[Gabe]

So that'll happen.

[Chris Reavers]

Well, John, thank you for that.

[Joe Sucere]

Wait, you got to indulge me for another 60 seconds.

[Chris Reavers]

Okay.

[Kenny Olson]

Why did the terrorists have made that?

[Chris Reavers]

No, we have Vince Flynn with us. Hi, Vince.

[Gabe]

Hello, Joe.

[John Haidt]

How are you?

[Chris Reavers]

I wouldn't apologize. I won't apologize for Rook. You go back a long way with Rook now. We were sent.

[John Haidt]

Rook.

[Chris Reavers]

We were sent an audio clip from the.

[Kenny Olson]

Yes.

[Chris Reavers]

From the. For the new book, the Last Man. Yes.

[Kenny Olson]

From the publisher. So I don't even think.

[Chris Reavers]

I was not aware of this.

[Kenny Olson]

Right. David Brown, the. He's your guy out in New York.

[John Haidt]

Yes.

[Kenny Olson]

I requested something from the audio and this is what he sent me. And now from Author's Corner, here's an audio excerpt from Vince Flynn's new book, the Last Man. I've been burned by you before.

[Joe Sucere]

Ramp.

[Kenny Olson]

Turn them over. Turn them over.

[Chris Reavers]

Now. I say.

[Kenny Olson]

What the.

[Joe Sucere]

The plans.

[Chris Reavers]

My eggs.

[Kenny Olson]

I said I wanted them over easy, you bastard. That was an audio excerpt from the Last man by Vince Flynn. We hope you enjoy the book that comes along the lines of Mitch Rap was a short order cook working at Plums on Snelling.

[Chris Reavers]

As long as he's been trying to

[Kenny Olson]

sell you, you're going to admit it someday.

[John Haidt]

But is. Is it an East Indian cook that was a customer and Mitch Rap was the cook.

[Kenny Olson]

And then he goes crazy. I want you to tune my eggs over. Now he wants to kill terrorists. That's you. You know, I'm glad you. You're riding on my coat.

[John Haidt]

Which ethnic. Which ethnic group were you trying to offend by this?

[Kenny Olson]

Tony Lee and I had a long meeting, but we just decided on that voice.

[Chris Reavers]

What?

[Joe Sucere]

Vince said you were doing somebody. We just didn't know who.

[Gabe]

Pretty much.

[John Haidt]

That's a lot of production, Matthew.

[Kenny Olson]

Let's give the accolades to Tony, please.

[Gabe]

Tony was working.

[Kenny Olson]

Okay.

[Gabe]

Is there in. In. I've never listened to an audiobook.

[Chris Reavers]

Neither have I.

[Gabe]

Is there music or. Seriously? I don't know.

[Joe Sucere]

Sometimes.

[Gabe]

Yes, they have.

[Kenny Olson]

Yep.

[Chris Reavers]

Well, that would not be right, because you. When you're reading a book, there's no music.

[Joe Sucere]

Well, it's all.

[Chris Reavers]

All.

[Kenny Olson]

It.

[Joe Sucere]

It just depends. It's all. From what I've heard, Johnny, it's just. It's generic. It's like a generic bed that you would hear for an ad or something like that.

[John Haidt]

The only one I've ever had was Hunter Thompson. I think it was one of his later books called Songs of the Doomed. And it was that for three hours. It was.

[Chris Reavers]

Well, you know who would make a bad audiobook voice would be Mr. Vogel.

[Joe Sucere]

The book about the grocery store.

[Kenny Olson]

We can't just shoot people because I need some celery today. I saw a guy here, he was Middle Eastern. He wanted celery. You know, that's a clue.

[Chris Reavers]

Thank you.

[Kenny Olson]

There are no.

[Joe Sucere]

Jimmy. Did you ever see Vince Flynn wander into the grocery store?

[Kenny Olson]

No, but I saw him at Plums one night. He serv me a sarsaparilla on a Sunday night at about 12:30, and he said, we close in 15 minutes. You'll finish it fast, you jackass. I never liked the guy. Arrogant.

[John Haidt]

Who, Vince?

[Kenny Olson]

Yes.

[John Haidt]

Vince was not.

[Gabe]

No, he was.

[Chris Reavers]

He was not arrogant, Jimmy.

[Kenny Olson]

Oh, he was real smart. No, no, he was smart. He went to St. Thomas Academy ust served craft foods, you know, and he. He just wasn't nice to me. I saw him at Vogel's when he lived on Wordsworth. He lived on Wordsworth just off of Edgecombe Road, right by Holmcroft, which is now a Chinese school. Tsae sei. I mean, thank you.

[Chris Reavers]

Is Holmcroft a Chinese school?

[Kenny Olson]

Yeah, Chinese immersion.

[Chris Reavers]

Is it really. It really is.

[Kenny Olson]

That's really sad. I mean, not sad, but just sad that Holmcroft can't.

[Chris Reavers]

You know, I live in a neighborhood where a couple of the little kids speak fluent Chinese.

[Kenny Olson]

They'll probably go to the immersion.

[John Haidt]

Are we in a break or.

[Chris Reavers]

No, no, I'm going to tell you about.

[Kenny Olson]

I'll just tell you that in the. There are no sound effects in any of the Dr. Seuss series books. I verified that. The audiobooks.

[Chris Reavers]

Hey, Gl ers, it's going to be riding season. It might be riding season. As soon as Saturday with that great weather forecast, get out to EcoFun in Forest Lake immediately west of the Interstate on Highway 97. 400 electric bikes in stock 130 motorcycles in stock. Electric bikes on sale starting at 899. The Queen of electric bikes, Kaelyn Blum, Tim's daughter. She knows everything about them. You don't leave there without the perfect fit, the perfect equipment, the right size tires, everything. You'll have a great, great summer of riding those electric bikes starting at 899. The Moto Guzzi V7 motorcycles on pre season Sal starting at 71.99. Get a free trailer with all jet skis and Waverunners purchased during the preseason sale through the end of this month. 25 different models in stock to get you ready for life on the water this summer. Youth, recreational equipment, you name it. You will never be in a more fun store than EcoFun in Forest Lake, Columbus, right west of the interstate on Highway 97 and down in Burnsville on the service road of Check it all out at ecofunmotorsports.com. Oh, here.

[John Haidt]

I couldn't tell you, man. You cannot stop him.

[Joe Sucere]

He'll just make Top gun Maverick about 17 different times. Hofferman Water and Kinetico are here for you. Guess what? Spring is right around the corner. In fact, are we, aren't we less than a week away from spring? We are. Isn't it the 22nd?

[Kenny Olson]

Whatever it is, you can almost say the a word.

[Joe Sucere]

Spring is definitely on the horizon. And now is the perfect time to get on the schedule and have Hofferman Water come out for that free water analysis. Here's the deal, ladies and gentlemen. You've heard me talk about Hofferman Water and Connecticut for years. So you know the drill. Get on the schedule, have them come out for that free water analysis. You do that one of two ways. Call them directly at 618-952440 or just book your appointment [e-mail] 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, a drinking water system, an odor filtration system, they've got you taken care of. And you know what? They work with all different price points. So go online, check out all of their inventory and you know what? You get that amazing upgrade in the quality of your water courtesy of Hoffman Water and Kinetico. And that's they have been proudly serving the state of Minnesota for over 50 years. Do me a favor and mention that you heard about them here on the Garage Logic podcast.

[Chris Reavers]

Joe, I have seen the future or I have a Story of the future here, and it's not inspiring. A humanoid robot working at a hot pot restaurant in San Jose, California, went nuts and had to be restrained. Trained by the humans that were working here.

[Kenny Olson]

My worst fear is a mutant cyborg.

[Chris Reavers]

This is what happened. The robot went crazy. A dancing robot. And he was knocking over tableware, smashing plates, sending the chopsticks flying. An orange apron the robot was wearing reads I'm good in big letters across the front. Staffers at the restaurant were forced to try to tackle this thing and take it to the ground. One employee can be seen holding the robot by the scruff of its neck while navigating her phone, presumably searching for the bot's app for controls. It took three workers to bring this thing to the ground.

[Kenny Olson]

This is serious.

[Chris Reavers]

I'm not making this up. This is not good. A lot of people pointed out it was the funniest thing they've ever seen. I don't think of it that way. I don't think it's funny. More importantly, one user argued. Or a social user, why isn't there a big red power off button on its back? Meaning a clown button. They need a clown button on those.

[Kenny Olson]

Yeah, but if you're a mutant cyborg, you're gonna go override. You're gonna override the off button.

[Chris Reavers]

The incident appears to have been part of a promotional event for Disney's Zootopia 2 at a Hydillo franchise in Southern California, California. I saw the film of this. This is not good.

[John Haidt]

He's a little guy, Joe.

[Chris Reavers]

A little teeny robot. But it went nuts.

[Kenny Olson]

Why does somebody grab the neck of a robot? Because you can't really strangle a robot. They're not taking.

[Chris Reavers]

But that would be your temptation, wouldn't it? I mean, that would be.

[Kenny Olson]

Kick it in the nuts.

[John Haidt]

Yeah, the temptation would be to take a chair to it and just flog

[Chris Reavers]

it, shoot it, do some damn thing.

[Kenny Olson]

Then you make it mad at you. And all it does is just. You got a target, you got. Sights it on a new. It's coming.

[Chris Reavers]

This is eerie. This thing went nuts in the restaurant.

[Kenny Olson]

I'm not joking. Robots can go crazy. I've said that.

[Chris Reavers]

You know, you've long held that belief

[Kenny Olson]

mutiny in a robot is a strong.

[Chris Reavers]

Well, it just. It happened right here.

[Kenny Olson]

That's what I'm telling you guys all mocked me. San Jose, California who's the smart one on the show now?

[John Haidt]

I'm writing this down. Matthew Rose, Robots can go crazy.

[Joe Sucere]

Gabe, I believe you now have your quote tweet for the garagelogic podcast, Twitter account, March 18th.

[Kenny Olson]

You bet they can.

[Chris Reavers]

How did the Terminator begin? Didn't it begin like with a robot going nuts?

[Kenny Olson]

Well, he.

[Chris Reavers]

I don't remember the movie Terminator.

[Kenny Olson]

He went kind. He started to target people.

[Chris Reavers]

Well, anyway, this, Let this be a lesson for you. I'm never eating in a restaurant. If I walk in and see a robot, I'm not staying there.

[Kenny Olson]

You haven't been to Miami recently, have you?

[Chris Reavers]

I'm not recently, no.

[Kenny Olson]

Because in Miami, did you see one? There are robots on every corner delivering food. They stop and have to wait for cars to go by.

[Chris Reavers]

How do they know?

[Kenny Olson]

I, I don't know. I didn't see any go crazy. But I'm honest to God, there were 14 of them where we were sitting and having a drink as they're going through. They're delivering food, they're delivering food. And you know by the time you get the food.

[Chris Reavers]

How cold.

[Kenny Olson]

I mean, I mean, it's not warm anymore. Who would have a robot bring their food?

[Chris Reavers]

Oh, this is terrible.

[Kenny Olson]

It's, it's. It's an end of the world.

[Chris Reavers]

It is.

[John Haidt]

Can you abuse these things either physically or bully them? Just verbally abuse them.

[Kenny Olson]

I went through a couple of dark alleys.

[Chris Reavers]

You mean cause them shame.

[John Haidt]

Have you, Joe? I also, although I never bring it up, I have one of these remotes that you can speak into. TV remote.

[Chris Reavers]

I have it too.

[John Haidt]

And I've said some really, really mean things. Into the remote.

[Chris Reavers]

Yeah.

[John Haidt]

And the TV does not like it. She responds like she's hurt.

[Chris Reavers]

I, I have not encountered that.

[Kenny Olson]

I thought maybe go home. All the naughty channels.

[John Haidt]

Go home and just start giving it the business the way you treat us and see what she says.

[Chris Reavers]

So when I talk into my remote microphone, there's never an answer. It just does what I tell it to on the screen.

[John Haidt]

Oh, really? Yeah. Oh, mine talks back.

[Chris Reavers]

Oh, mine does not.

[Kenny Olson]

Doesn't it appear like no words appear on. On the screen?

[Chris Reavers]

Yeah, and I say, you know the thing and then like, mama likes it hot. Yeah.

[John Haidt]

Listen, you crack huffing so and so.

[Chris Reavers]

So I would not get a response

[John Haidt]

out of your mouth and try to, you know. Yeah, I'll say something really, really mean and she gets offended.

[Chris Reavers]

I would think if you say call it a crack huffing so and so I, I think there should be a response.

[Kenny Olson]

Kenny, I'll change your channels anytime.

[John Haidt]

That's what I want.

[Chris Reavers]

Only because they come to us all the way from Penguin Tasmania, Australia, the traveling lymans@worldwide waftage.com. it was on this day, March 18th. In 1858 in St. Peter, Minnesota, Methodist minister Edward Eggleston married Lizzie Snyder. Eggleston was best remembered for his novel the Hoosier Schoolmaster, set in Indiana. But a less popular novel, the Mystery of Metropolisville, dealt with land speculation in Minnesota in the 1850s. Never heard of either book, even though for years I've been doing this. On this day in history, there's an audiobook. Yeah. On this day, March 18, also in 1850, Otter Tail, Becker and Breckenridge counties are formed. The first was named for the lake and river. It is an English translation from the original Ojibwe name, probably for an otter tail shaped sandbar in the lake. Becker county honored George L. Becker, one of three representatives in the new Minnesota. In the new state of Minnesota had planned to send to Congress when it was discovered that the state was permitted only two representatives. Representative lots were drawn and Becker lost. Breckinridge county honors Vice President John C. Breckinridge. But when he later became a Confederate in the Civil War, the residents of the county voted to change the name to Clay county, honoring Unionist Henry Clay instead. Boy, I'm glad that cleared up because I sure didn't have Breckenridge in my B counties.

[Gabe]

Right?

[Chris Reavers]

Same. Same Benton.

[Kenny Olson]

I don't get too deep like you do. Aer Becker, Beltrami Benton, Big Stone, Blue, Earth Brown. And then it goes to Carlton, Carlton,

[Chris Reavers]

Carver Cast, Chippewashes, Saga Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood and crow wing.

[Kenny Olson]

Exactly.

[Chris Reavers]

1891. On this day, March 18th. Oh, in 1891.

[Joe Sucere]

Yeah.

[Chris Reavers]

Margaret Culkin Banning was born in Buffalo. She lived in dulce duluth for 20 years. Or many years. That's it.

[Joe Sucere]

And her great grandson, Macaulay.

[Chris Reavers]

No, that's not it. Authorizing him authoring more than 30 books, including Mesabi and Country Club People. And again after reading this for years, on this day in history. I don't know these books, but I remember them. For this day in history. On this day in Minnesota, sports disappointment.

[Joe Sucere]

Who'd we lose to on March 18th, Joe?

[Chris Reavers]

Well, in the year 2002, the Gophers Kerwin Fleming attempted a layup and missed. Down by three with eight seconds left.

[John Haidt]

Oh, bro.

[Kenny Olson]

Should have double pumped it. I don't recall.

[Chris Reavers]

Kevin Kerwin Fleming. You?

[Joe Sucere]

I don't remember that.

[Chris Reavers]

Well, apparently they lost the game.

[Josh Arnold]

Rook.

[Joe Sucere]

Did you say something about Kenny and changing the channel?

[Kenny Olson]

Yeah. You know what's going to happen tonight, Joe? When Kenny speaks, I can hear radio

[Joe Sucere]

dials changing channels all over the Twin Cities.

[Kenny Olson]

Sorry, What's Going to happen tonight at about 9:30 is I'm going to get a call from Judith saying why do you have to go to Kenny's house to change his television channels?

[John Haidt]

I'm so glad my mom.

[Chris Reavers]

Is that what she heard?

[Kenny Olson]

It's a daily occurrence. Yeah, she'll. She gets stuff wrong a little bit and we'll call me later in the the day. Why is Gabe listen to the Bernstein rules or that was the other day Bernstein books or something like that. I don't remember Bernstein bears. It wasn't it. It was something else had to do

[Joe Sucere]

with Faye Bernstein was a guest on Krabby Coffee last week.

[John Haidt]

That was good.

[Kenny Olson]

That was it. She was listening. My mom was listening.

[Chris Reavers]

Is there a crabby today?

[John Haidt]

Yes sir, there is.

[Joe Sucere]

So that's right. We got to get.

[Chris Reavers]

Who is the guest cat George. Judith booming George Newman booming George Booman.

[John Haidt]

He talks to animals.

[Chris Reavers]

Oh, that's right.

[John Haidt]

Yeah, it's gonna be good. I'm really excited about this one, so.

[Chris Reavers]

I do too. Okay.

[Kenny Olson]

I talk to the animals. Come on, Finley, get your ass outside.

[Joe Sucere]

Hey, speaking of that, the Krabby Coffee Shop episode along with the weekly scramble Monday night sports talk, they're all available along with Tommy Mishke's show. Just [e-mail] where you can see all of the shows falling under the Garage Logic umbrella and find us on YouTube where you can watch the show every single day starting at noon and follow us on social, Facebook, Instagram and X. Just search for garage logic. That's two words, by the way. Garage logic and garagelogic.com. Time once again to check in with our guy, Mr. Money Talk. Josh Arnold is with us once again right here in Garage Logic. 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 yes, I use the word free 48 minute financial consultation with absolutely 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, I know you got a lot to get to today because boy, some days it feels like the world is ending. It's not going to. Oil is up, the market is down and boy, it's a big day from the Fed. Today isn't it?

[Josh Arnold]

It's all of those things, Chris, But I would say that David Ortiz was a lot more prescient about last night's game and his prediction that Venezuela would be the Team USA by a score of 4 to 2. They won 3 to 2 over USA last night in their WBC title match. Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter called for the US to win and they said the US Hitters would wake up and hit. Well, unfortunately the US Hitters did not wake up and hit and they did not have a runner past second until, I'll say, for several innings until Brian Harper homered to tie the score in the in the eighth inning. But it was a very exciting game nonetheless and it was a very exciting tournament and it's something that I'll look forward to seeing again in a few years. Meantime, baseball season will get under way in just a few weeks and we could have some surprises on that. Meantime, the market is not having as many surprises we'll say currently as oil has moved up. For the most part the stock market has gone down and that's just the indices more than any individual stocks because there are individual stocks that have been positive throughout the move up in oil and it is surprising some of the stocks that have been overall up with the move up in oil including travel sites, Expedia and Airbnb, not to mention the airline doing a lot a lot better even with higher oil prices. We do have some nice, you know, some positive moves from the likes of we'll say DraftKings. DraftKings has been down down for quite some time and we've seen a rebound in glass works on Corning as need for their fiber optic products continues apace and their deal with Apple provide glass for Apple's products continues to expand the company even with the price of oil going up. Oil stock has not necessarily been following suit and I know in copy times of threat people have been heading to say alternatives and commodity style assets such as gold and silver. But over the last few weeks both gold and silver have moved down. Gold down 10% silver down 13.5% over over that period of time the commodity oil has moved up. But there are an awful lot of short positions being established in the oil trust for future delivery going out to June, July, August, September etc. Nonetheless, I'll say to me place to be even during say these rough patches we're still in in stocks and looking for stocks that have the longer term potential for growth growth over time. Today yes, oil oil is up. The market is down down the Producer Price Index in the month of February was up 7.10of 1%, which was about twice what was estimated. So that means product cost or input could be going up as as well. And that could also give, you know, a hint that the likelihood of the Fed cutting interest rates absent the economy slowing down significantly, may be off the off the table, at least for now. The Fed does meet completes their meeting today and somewhere around one o' clock Jay Powell, Fed Chair, will make his normal market moving comment. So just stay tuned, stay tuned to that time Disney gets a new CEO and Disney stock I'll say since Bob iger turned as CEO over the last two years has only up, you know, 10% not counting any dividends that paid out and it and many analysts are hoping the new CEO Josh Demero to shake things up either through purchases of another another company such as Roadblock changing the makeup a little bit of the of the company. One of the one of the interesting you know, tidbits at least in my my my view is that with Netflix Netflix success in streaming and Netflix is still the largest streamer. Netflix by the way has bounced off the bottom after they got out of the bidding war for I'll say for Warner Brothers Discovery and left that to Paramount Skydance Netflix's stock has bounced off the bottom but Netflix has been the leader in streaming. It still is the leader in streaming very productive company. But with Netflix success I'll say the major production companies, the major networks whether it's Disney, Warner Brothers, Paramount or Fox started moving to streaming model and away from the model that gave them a lot of success and we'll say and differentiation from niche Netflix and in their bid to outfit out out Netflix Netflix my estimation, you know they have lost a lot of share a good bit of their cachet. I've seen that also in other venues where companies see a model that might be working such as we'll say Amazon's and say well let's move away from our stores or our additional or our useful channels of distribution and just do everything online. Well how'd that work out for several retailers or for companies including old favorite the Knife? Not so well. Best method, stick to your knitting. You can always add that other component.

[Joe Sucere]

Excellent advice as always, Mr. Money Talk. You heard him G ers. Now is the time for you to pick up the phone and make the call for that first 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, as always, thank you so much for the time and the chat. Enjoy the rest of your day and we'll talk to you again tomorrow.

[Josh Arnold]

Look forward to it.

[Joe Sucere]

Investment services offered by Josh Arnold Investment Consultant llc. A security investment advisor. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All investments involve risk. All comments and opinions are Josh Arnold do not constitute investment advice.

[Chris Reavers]

Chris Reivers is a paid endorser.

[Joe Sucere]

Hey, it's Howie Mandel and I am inviting you to witness history as me and my How We do it gaming team take on Gilly The King Wallow 267's million dollars gaming in an epic Global Gaming League video game showdown. Four rounds, multiple games, one winner plus a halftime performance by multi platinum artist Travy McCoy. Watch all the action and see who wins and advances to the championship match against Neo right now at globalgamingleague.

[Josh Arnold]

Com.

[Joe Sucere]

That's globalgamingleague. Com everybody.

[Chris Reavers]

Games.