5/5 Republican candidate for Peggy Bennett joins us in studio

Summary

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Garage Logic Podcast – Episode Summary

Date: May 5, 2026
Title: Republican candidate Peggy Bennett joins us in studio
Host: Joe Soucheray ("The Mayor") with Chris Reavers, John Hines, John Height, and Kenny Olson
Guest: Peggy Bennett, Republican MN House Rep. & Candidate for Governor

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Episode Overview

This episode features a wide-ranging interview with Peggy Bennett, a longtime Republican State Representative from Southern Minnesota who has announced her candidacy for Governor. The conversation dives into her motivations for running, criticism of state government dysfunction, especially around fraud and agency oversight, her political philosophy, and the state’s ongoing fraud scandals. The hosts also discuss the legacy and symbolism of Minnesota’s new state flag and the culture of political gridlock.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Peggy Bennett’s Candidacy and Motivation

Timestamp: [02:55] – [04:42]

• Background: Bennett is in her 12th year as a State Rep (Albert Lea area); was a teacher for 33 years before entering politics.
• Reason for running: Frustration with the lack of progress—campaigning on the same issues for 12 years: schools underperforming, nursing homes struggling, persistent crime, and government inefficiency.
• Quote:
  "I realized I am campaigning on the same issues I campaigned on 12 years ago. Schools not working well, nursing homes struggling, crime... We're getting nothing done." — Peggy Bennett [03:35]

2. Critique of Legislative Processes: Omnibus Bills

Timestamp: [04:44] – [06:18]

• Problem with omnibus bills: Large, multifaceted bills at session’s end force legislators into all-or-nothing votes, burying bad measures alongside good ones.
• Bennett advocates for single-issue bills to allow clearer accountability.
• Quote:
  "So what happens? … You have to vote yes or no and you have to sit and wait, okay, this is bad, this is good. What do I do?" — Peggy Bennett [05:07]

3. Proposals for Agency Reform

Timestamp: [06:18] – [07:23]

• Calls for a “cleanout” of agency managers and a culture shift from punitive oversight to educational support for businesses and farmers.
• Says agencies need to support and educate, not intimidate or perpetuate fraud.

4. Addressing State Government Fraud

Timestamp: [07:23] – [11:58]

• Fraud-facilitating design: Directs criticism at programs like Medicaid, noting lack of basic fraud prevention (e.g., no requirement for SSNs or addresses).
• Culture of fear: Suggests agency whistleblowers are intimidated into silence.
• Leadership & audits: Would bring in outside business leaders for impartial auditing.
• Quote:
  "We have programs that have been designed for fraud. For example, Medicaid in Minnesota. We don't ask for Social Security numbers and we don't ask for addresses. That's a problem." — Peggy Bennett [10:35]

5. Independence and Political Philosophy

Timestamp: [08:27] – [10:27]

• Never deeply integrated into "the system"; self-identifies as an outsider who questions the “spinning” and lack of results.
• Supports term limits in practice; not making politics a career.

6. Election Success: Message & Trust

Timestamp: [12:32] – [13:39]

• Repeated election wins attributed to personal honesty, transparency, and presence in the community—even among Democrats and independents.
• Quote:
  "They trust me and I'll tell them the truth and I'll be real with them. And that's what they want." — Peggy Bennett [12:58]

7. Government Spending and Results

Timestamp: [13:46] – [15:28]

• Strong critique of spending the $18 billion surplus with little to show. Focuses on outputs/results, not inputs/spending.
• Criticized her own successful bill (requiring program outcome reporting) for not being implemented.

8. Political Division & Endorsements

Timestamp: [12:01] – [12:27], [17:17] – [19:02]

• Says she's not seeking any specific endorsement but will accept any, including Trump.
• Acknowledges polarization and laments both parties’ flawed candidate selection, especially the narrowness of the endorsement/delegate system.
• Advocates for reaching younger voters and a broader base.

9. The State Flag Controversy

Timestamp: [23:09] – [24:35]

• Bennett opposes the new Minnesota state flag, calling it a symbol of failed, “rammed through” policies and disunity.
• Quote:
  "It's a symbol of the failed leadership of this state that has solutions that are wrecking our state... It's a symbol of failure and a symbol of disunity." — Peggy Bennett [23:47]

10. Personal Background

Timestamp: [20:04] – [21:38]

• Born in White Bear Lake, moved to Albert Lea to teach. No children of her own, considers hundreds of former students her "kids" and values her freedom to serve.
• Relates to listeners’ everyday experiences, mentioning her own garage improvements, meeting the “Garage Logic” ethos.

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Notable Quotes

• "I'm not seeking any endorsement. I will accept endorsements… I'm running for the people of Minnesota, for everybody." — Peggy Bennett [12:01]
• "As a teacher, I did that all the time. You measure the output." — Peggy Bennett [14:05]
• "We are being taken for a ride by Minnesota State Government, and we are close. We need the names. We need the names." — Joe Soucheray [43:53]
• "That just divides and it turns people off. People do not want screaming about politics. They want to get things done." — Peggy Bennett [24:15]

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Fraud Scandal & State Agency Critique

Whistleblowers Remain Silent

Timestamp: [30:56] – [44:54]

• The hosts recap ongoing fraud scandals involving Minnesota’s Department of Human Services.
• Whistleblowers Jay Swanson and Fay Bernstein are credited for speaking out but criticized for not naming names, which the hosts feel is the missing piece to expose top-level corruption.
• Leadership shakeups (Shereen Gandhi, Jodi Harpstead) are reviewed, with skepticism that these changes are genuine reforms.
• Commentary points to a culture that suppresses accountability and transparency.

Political Implications and Auditor/Election Issues

Timestamp: [45:29] – [46:32]

• Amy Klobuchar’s involvements and campaign narrative are critiqued—especially her claim to have been too busy as a senator to know about the fraud—while Bennett is commended for her willingness to bring in outside auditors.

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Minnesota Political Parties: Analysis & Tone

• Hosts and guest lament both parties’ tendency to produce alienating or unelectable candidates, with reference to party endorsement conventions being dominated by a narrow slice of the base.
• Strong “common sense” and anti-establishment rhetoric consistent with Garage Logic’s ethos.
• Observes the leftward drift of the DFL (Democratic-Farmer-Labor party) and the departure of moderates from the party.

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Memorable Moments

• Garage logic as ethos: Both Bennett and Soucheray repeatedly evoke the “garage logic” spirit as synonymous with common sense and practical, neighborly problem-solving.
• Flag wars: Ongoing citizen movement to keep or return to the “true” Minnesota flag; numerous local governments refusing to fly the new flag.
• Personal story from Bennett: “I believe this [political office] is not to be a career… so I'm limiting myself right now.” [09:29]
• Joe’s rant: Passionate takedown of government’s inability to root out fraud (“We’re almost there, people… We need the names.”) [43:53]

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Timeline/Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |--------------------------|--------------------| | Peggy Bennett joins | 02:55 | | Motivation for running | 03:14 – 04:44 | | No to omnibus bills | 04:44 – 06:18 | | Fraud/culture of fear | 07:23 – 11:26 | | Auditing/joining for audit | 11:26 – 11:58 | | On Trump endorsement | 12:01 – 12:27 | | Election successes | 12:32 – 13:39 | | $18B surplus critique | 13:46 – 15:28 | | Agency reform specifics | 06:18 – 07:23 | | Party division/candidate issue | 17:17 – 19:02 | | State flag position | 23:09 – 24:35 | | Personal background | 20:04 – 21:38 | | Fraud scandal recap | 30:56 – 44:54 |

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Language & Tone

• Down-to-earth, neighborly, sometimes sardonic
• Repeated use of “common sense” vocabulary
• Frustration with bureaucracy and platitudes from politicians
• Informal, direct, often humorous exchanges among co-hosts

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Conclusion

Peggy Bennett’s in-studio appearance provided an unvarnished look at Minnesota government’s persistent challenges, why she’s running for governor, and why she believes “common sense” (and not career politics) should guide Minnesota’s future. The hosts amplify her outsider status and reform message while tying ongoing fraud scandals to the largest themes of accountability, transparency, and public trust. Listeners come away with a sense of the deep political and cultural divides in Minnesota, and the increasing demand—from both this podcast’s hosts and many local governments—to return to old-fashioned, direct, and honest leadership.

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Prepared for listeners who want the real “Garage Logic” story without sitting through ads, banter, and non-content segments.

Transcript

[Joe Soucheray]

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[Joe Soucheray]

Hey garagelogic fans. I do a podcast on the garagelogic network that comes out every Wednesday and Friday. Now twice a week. But here's an important caveat. There is zero logic available in my show. In the formal definition of logic, of course, life is a yin and yang kind of thing. There's the logic side and then there's the what the hell? Side, which needs to get its exercise. So come for the what the hell? And stay for the. You've got to be kidding me. Mishki. Now. Wednesdays and Fridays, twice a week.

[Peggy Bennett]

Everybody talked about it since I first moved to Oregon. The big one. The earthquake that trashed the whole West Coast. Total destruction.

[John Height]

Officially calling it the largest natural disaster in American history.

[Peggy Bennett]

I just didn't know what would help me next. So I took it all. Even the gun. It was time.

[John Height]

Cello American Afterlife, presented by Pair of Thieves. The number one fiction and drama podcast in America.

[Joe Soucheray]

Listen wherever you get your favorite podcasts available now. Rolling. Josh Arnold, Investment. Oh, is my thing on?

[Josh Arnold]

Sure.

[Joe Soucheray]

Oh, yeah. Josh Arnold, investment consultant, brings you Garagelogic podcast number 1,772. May 5, 2026. 89 degrees. The record high on this day. That was in 2000. 27 degrees on this day in 1989. And this is much to the relief of everyone here, the last report of ice hounds.

[Josh Arnold]

Oh, no. Wow.

[John Hines]

I'm really sad to hear that.

[Joe Soucheray]

Yeah, Minnetonka went out twice on this day, May 5, 1857 and 2018. Isn't that funny how that works? You'd think if we were destroying the Earth, those numbers would be closer together. 1857 in 2018. Call Josh Arnold at 952-925-5608 for a free 48 minute consultation.

[Chris Reavers]

Hail the Flashlight King.

[Joe Soucheray]

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, Joe Susher. We're joined in the studio by Peg Peggy Bennett, who was in. Peggy.

[Chris Reavers]

What?

[Joe Soucheray]

Your 12th year as a Minnesota House of Representative member. A Republican from the Faribault area, Albert Lee. Albert Lee, a little more south. And last week I noticed in an Alpha news story that you have chosen to. You are not going to seek reelection to the House. You're going to run for governor.

[Peggy Bennett]

Correct.

[Joe Soucheray]

And what motivated you, what singular event made you decide to take this step?

[Peggy Bennett]

Well, first I'll tell you, to take the step to become a state representative was bizarre for me. I was happily teaching school, didn't even know what a caucus was. I knew what a primary election was.

[Joe Soucheray]

Right.

[Peggy Bennett]

I've always voted conservative, but I won't go to the story of how I got involved. But here I am. And I've not been part of the political system prior to this, but very passionate about my state, about my country, about voting. And I've now done this for 12 years as a state representative and it's been a real honor. I love serving people. I don't like the political game playing. I don't like name calling because to me that shuts down conversation and we need that desperately. But as I've Observed this for 12 years, I realized I am campaigning on the same issues I campaigned on 12 years ago. Schools not working well, nursing homes, struggling, crime, all these things are the same. We're getting nothing done. And that really frustrates me as somebody who's come from the regular world and in teaching even. And we work on getting things done, getting problems solved and we're not doing that. And I see that government is broken. Our process and everything, the agencies, it's broken. And that's my main reason for running.

[Joe Soucheray]

Why is it.

[Peggy Bennett]

Well, we have. I could talk about the legislative process. One of the biggest issues are omnibus bills.

[Joe Soucheray]

Explain those to us.

[Peggy Bennett]

Those are the huge bills we come up with at the end of session that have a lot of smaller bills in them.

[Joe Soucheray]

Stuff gets just thrown in.

[Peggy Bennett]

Exactly. You know, we had a huge garbage one a couple years ago that was everything. But normally they are somewhat subject related. Like you've got your education omnibus bill, you have your Health and Human Services omnibus bill, but there's good and there's bad in there. I'm more that we should have single issue bills so we can vote them up or down. So what happens? They throw all these bills in. It's all these backroom deals too that push those bills in there and then we have to vote yes or no and you have to sit and wait, okay, this is bad, this is good. What do I do? So you vote for the maybe more good in there, but you get a bunch of Bad too, and it shouldn't be that way. So I've been trying for years. I've had legislation to reform it at the committee level and both sides say no, you can't do it. Because I'll tell you what, when people are in the majority, they like omnibus bills because it makes it easier.

[Joe Soucheray]

You said that you almost think that we should start over. I've said that and I've accused myself of being naive. Is it even possible to start over? The government is so massive and so redundant and so multi layered and right now so full of questionable actions. What would it take to start over?

[Peggy Bennett]

First of all, I'll tell you, I'm of the mind that nothing's impossible and so you can choose to start in certain areas and go from there. So I would start. Well, omnibus bills is one thing. On the legislative side that would be huge. We wouldn't have these big end of session blockages that we have constantly, every time. But agency wise, I would like to see our agencies reformed and I have plans, I have a webpage, peggybennettforgovernor.com has my solutions. One of them is we turn our agencies into more educational related so when they go to a business or a farmer, they're to come alongside and help educate on best practices, things like that. Instead of coming in with a big bat and a magnifying glass saying okay, let's see what you're doing wrong. Bam, bam. You know, you get a fine. We also need, our agencies need a huge cleanout in who's the managers, all these people that are letting the fraud go through and not doing their jobs.

[Joe Soucheray]

Regarding the fraud. What occurs to you when you read that these people who have been blowing a whistle won't name any names above them?

[Peggy Bennett]

I think there's been a culture of fear and intimidation for years in the place.

[Joe Soucheray]

What are they afraid of? Are they afraid of losing their. Do they have death threats?

[Peggy Bennett]

I would say losing their job, losing their, you know, I think there is a very, I call it liberal progressive mindset there. So if they snitch on their own side that they think that's a bad thing? I don't really know because quite honestly as legislators we didn't hear from those whistleblowers. They were squelched by the administration, who knows the governor on down, I would say and now they're more freed to say something. But it's in anything. Even as a teacher and I taught for 33 years, it was hard to kind of snitch on your own. But we need to do that, and we need to have the freedom to talk.

[Joe Soucheray]

And when you first sat down just moments ago, you said you felt like you were not part of the political process.

[Peggy Bennett]

Correct.

[Joe Soucheray]

What does that mean? Well, have you been a quiet presence?

[Peggy Bennett]

I would say I've been a quiet presence my entire year. I grew up a small business dad, a mom that worked part time here and there. I've always been conservative. Wrote letters to the editor now and then, but I had no idea what a caucus was. You know, those February caucuses when you have delegates? My first caucus I attended was when I was speaking to run for this office. So I haven't been part of that. And even when I'm in it, I've been in it, but not of it. I just observe it and I see, why do we do it this way? This is ridiculous. You know, and so I get very frustrated with spin. Both sides do it. I called that lying. I always taught my first graders, if you're not telling the whole truth, you're

[Joe Soucheray]

lying when you point out that it's ridiculous. What kind of treatment do you get?

[Peggy Bennett]

You know, I think I've gained respect because in the beginning I was pretty quiet and I just listened and I watched and I, you know, I did the process because that's what I was taught. You know, how you get a bill through and that kind of thing. But the further I've been in this, the more frustrated I've been because again, we get little done, almost nothing. And 12 years, nothing. That's ridiculous. And so it just needs to be changed. And you asked me why, why this step of, you know, retiring from this position, which I'm doing that because of term limits. I'm not going to continue because I believe this is not to be a career. And I've been doing this 12 years, so I'm limiting myself right now. But I see that we need that higher position to actually start the process of bringing common sense, ethical practices, and everything that goes with that top down. You have to start at the top.

[Joe Soucheray]

How would you begin to get to the bottom of fraud in the Department of Human Services?

[Peggy Bennett]

Well, we have, as far as I observed, we have a couple things going on. Number one, we have programs that have been designed for fraud. For example, Medicaid in Minnesota. We don't ask for Social Security numbers and we don't ask for addresses. That's a problem. We have dead people getting Medicaid. We have people who live out of state getting Medicaid. So we have to start looking at the programs and fraud proof the design, first of all. Secondly, we have an employee agency problem, and not everybody. I have talked to employees who are working for the agencies that are good and they see the problems and they want to fix them. We have to start gaining a culture of being able, open, open to talk and open to change and open to making sense.

[Joe Soucheray]

Would you audit them?

[Peggy Bennett]

Oh, absolutely.

[Joe Soucheray]

And who would you use to audit them?

[Peggy Bennett]

I would get a bunch of successful business leaders in our state, outsiders to come in because we need a new view and they need to start acting with common sense. I love that you talked about common sense at the beginning here. That's what we need. Your whole garage logic idea here is like the common sense that we sit and talk about in our garages when we're talking with neighbors. That has to permeate government.

[Joe Soucheray]

Do you seek a Trump endorsement?

[Peggy Bennett]

I'm not seeking any endorsement. I will accept endorsements.

[Joe Soucheray]

Would you accept one from him?

[Peggy Bennett]

If he gave it to me, I would, but I'm looking for the people's endorsement. I'm running for the people of Minnesota, for everybody. I've talked to inner city people. They want change, too. Not all of them are sitting with their hand open, wanting a handout. They want a reason to vote conservative.

[Joe Soucheray]

You know, you must be doing something right if you've been elected, what, six times?

[Peggy Bennett]

Correct.

[Joe Soucheray]

Six times. What have you brought to the world of Albert Lee that the people keep re electing you?

[Peggy Bennett]

Yeah. First of all, I'll tell you, one of my favorite presidents is Ronald Reagan.

[Joe Soucheray]

Right.

[Peggy Bennett]

And I like how he was able to attract not just and get the support of not just Republicans, but also independents and leaning Democrats. We now call them Reagan Democrats. And I started out when I was first running run against an incumbent Democrat. Everybody told me it couldn't be done because I'm in a very mixed district, believe it or not, in Southern Minnesota. And I ended up winning with 53% of the vote. Everybody else on that ticket went Democrat. From there. I was actually able to grow it, where Now I'm almost 68%. And the people are have told me why they vote for me. And it's not. It's independence. It's leaning Democrats. They said, peggy, we trust you to tell us the truth. We trust you to listen, and we trust you to do the right thing. They tell me I don't always agree with what you. How you vote, because they don't. But they trust me and I'll tell them the truth and I'll be real with them. And that's what they want.

[John Hines]

It's not even close with her election results. She doubles up on the DFL endorsed candidates in her district.

[Joe Soucheray]

What did you think of the decision to spend the $18 billion surplus?

[Peggy Bennett]

It blew my mind. But, you know, I've watched government and it's like a candy store in the legislature. Everybody wants to spend, spend, spend. And, you know, even Republicans do to an extent. I mean, there are. It's a mixed bag there. But the. I'm sorry, my. The opposite side of the aisle. And I try to. I want to treat them respectfully because I keep open doors. I listen, I don't attack. I listen. They just think spending is the answer. You listen to the governor, state of the state, it was all about, we did this, we spent money on this, we gave free lunches, and we put this into this. But I want to say, what are your results, Governor? Because you don't measure the input, you measure the output. As a teacher, I did that all the time. You measure the output.

[Joe Soucheray]

I haven't seen no results. The people supposed to be getting help by all the money we're spending are not getting help. The money's been getting stolen.

[Peggy Bennett]

It's getting stolen, it's being spent and not working. I actually had a bill that got passed, only now I found out it's not even being applied, which really irks me. But my bill would say that in education grant funding that they would have to bring back their goal. And then the measuring, measuring the results of. Did they meet it? Were they there to raise attendance? Were they there to increase reading scores? Okay, show us your results. That's not happening. Even though my bill passed about four years ago or so, I don't think

[Joe Soucheray]

it's happening in any aspect of the government.

[Peggy Bennett]

And that's why we have to start at the top and stop the political game playing and the battles. We can passionately disagree. I mean, I do and I love to debate people, but I'll do it respectfully because I always want to keep the door open and listen because I can learn from anybody. But that has to start at the top. And I got to say, no nonsense. For example, with omnibus bills, I'm just going to say, you know what? You bring me an omnibus bill, if you bring one, no matter which side that has bad bills in it, it's a bunch of bills that I'll just veto it. I'm going to send it back, like try your homework again, bring it back, and that'll be hard, but that's what you have to do.

[Joe Soucheray]

What is the opposition to getting rid of omnibus bills.

[Peggy Bennett]

They just say it can't be done because we have to do it in order to get things done. And that's not true.

[Joe Soucheray]

Is it a way to just spend more money?

[Peggy Bennett]

Yeah, and it's a way to get your legislation passed and force people to vote for your bills. And I'll give you an example. Right now I have a bill that's an anti grooming bill for schools. It would protect kids from grooming. Passed unanimously in the House. We did a single issue bill, sent it to the Senate. Now I hear the Senate wants to put it in their education omnibus bill with all their good and their bad and it's blackmail because they'll send it back. Well, if you want that, you're gonna have to vote for this and this. That's wrong. And that happens all the time. So they're trying to force governors to sign legislation that they wouldn't normally sign by packaging it with the good and the bad. And they force legislators to vote in ways they wouldn't vote. It's also a way to cover up your vote, by the way, so people don't know what you really stand for.

[Joe Soucheray]

Do you have friends who are Democrats?

[Peggy Bennett]

I do. They're not close friends. I found there is a greater divide and there's great distrust. But I do have people that I respect and I'll go talk to on the Democrat side. And they respect me too. And matter of fact, one guy came to me in the retiring room last evening while we were on the floor for about eight hours, I think, and Democrat and he came up to me, said, peggy, I wish you the best in your governor's race. He said, well, I don't want you to win. He goes, but I wish you the best, you know, so they respect me and I respect them. I don't respect all their ideas.

[Joe Soucheray]

But have you noticed a change in the DFL party?

[Peggy Bennett]

Yes.

[Joe Soucheray]

Have you noticed a change in the

[Peggy Bennett]

Republican party over the years with Republicans? I don't notice a big change. I do think there's a lot of frustration which drives kind of some things that maybe don't make sense. But with the Democrats, I've noticed more of a. I call it the amoeba. They all stick together and vote together. No matter. I could talk to a one on one. And they go, that does not make sense. We shouldn't support that. But they're getting their arms twisted and voting for things and the ones that are more moderate are leaving.

[Joe Soucheray]

Well, there seems to be a rift in the party because there's a tremendous Movement left by what I would call the radical DFLers or the Democratic Socialists of America who are going so far left. But there are remaining moderate DFLers, correct?

[Peggy Bennett]

Oh, there are. And there's a lot that aren't in the legislature too. Yeah.

[Joe Soucheray]

I wonder what they're going to do about this. They got to have a come to Jesus meeting at some point about their own party.

[Peggy Bennett]

Right. I think part of the problem, honestly, even with both parties, is our. The whole endorsement process, the delegate system, which I greatly respect. Our delegates. But when we have just a very few people from a party choosing candidates on both sides of the aisle, we tend to get skewed results, kind of. And at least as Republicans, we're picking people that can't win. And every time we do it and every time we lose and we still keep doing it. And I believe we have to reach out to the broader base. We have younger generations that are not involved in the process. That's one thing I notice is the whole caucus system is really. It's all retired people who I respect greatly. There's a lot of wisdom there. But we have got to engage the younger generations. And they're not gonna come and sit for a whole day and debate about rules and all that stuff. They wanna know about the candidates and then vote.

[Joe Soucheray]

You grew up in the White Bear Lake area. How'd you end up in Albert Lee area?

[Peggy Bennett]

I got my first teaching job in Albert Lee. And you know, that was back in 81, long time ago. I did not want to go there. I didn't want to be that far away from my family. But it ended up. At that time it was really tough getting a teaching job, so I ended up being there. But I love it. I love the rural communities, the farms, and it's just a breath of fresh air when I go back home from St. Paul every week. So I've been there since 81. I taught for 33 years.

[John Hines]

What grade?

[Peggy Bennett]

Mostly first grade. Special education, too. I love first grade. Yeah. And. But they're fun and you learn human nature when you work with kids.

[Joe Soucheray]

He loves first grade because that's as far as he went.

[John Hines]

That's my level of test out.

[Joe Soucheray]

That's my test out level.

[Peggy Bennett]

Well, I tell you what, though, when I sit and look at you all, I like to picture people when they were in first grade. So I can kind of see what you all maybe were.

[Chris Reavers]

We were in the principal's office most of the time.

[John Hines]

The greatest compliment I ever got is we had Mrs. Tilsner on. She was my kindergarten teacher in 1975. And she remembered.

[Joe Soucheray]

Is this a long story?

[John Hines]

Remember Mrs. Tilsner? Remember? He was a little blonde haired boy that lived on Juneau.

[Joe Soucheray]

Did I meet her?

[John Hines]

No. We had her on the air. We called her.

[John Height]

Oh.

[John Hines]

It was very memorable for some.

[Joe Soucheray]

If you have kids, do you have kids that now are adults?

[Peggy Bennett]

I mean, like, oh, my kids. I have over 750 kids.

[Joe Soucheray]

Do you have kids that you taught who see you and remember?

[Peggy Bennett]

Absolutely. They're part of my family.

[Joe Soucheray]

Yeah.

[Peggy Bennett]

And I'm connected with them on Facebook.

[Joe Soucheray]

You have kids of your own?

[Peggy Bennett]

I do not. I. I'm single still. I just never ended up getting married. Wasn't against it, but I, I love my life. I've got pets and I like to serve people. And so this has freed me up to be able to go serve people. And I think that's why the political process really bothers me because I'm not going to sit and spin and lie to people. That's not serving them. And so I just want to be there for people and make the state better.

[Joe Soucheray]

Do you have a team put together to help you begin your running for governor?

[Peggy Bennett]

I do. We're a small core team right now. And it's. I don't have outside people, I don't have D.C. people or any outside fundraisers. It's local people who've been with me all along and I trust them and they're good and I'm going to just expand from there. But I will not take on kind of that D.C. mentality. I don't want outside money from, say, another state because they don't, they don't have any business telling us who our governor should be. And I also, the same with, I'm not going to be that politically calculated campaign that it's just not me. And so I'm going to be real. I'm going to show people who I am. I do. What I do at home is I get out and around and I listen. And people always tell me, peggy, you're out everywhere. And we like that because we can talk to you. That's what I do right now.

[Joe Soucheray]

You know, lately, Peggy, on this show, we've been celebrating the idea that many cities in the state, many companies, many homeowners, they're flying the old Minnesota flag, which you see behind me. Where do you stand on the, on the old flag versus the new flag?

[Peggy Bennett]

First, I love our old flag. When I would go into classrooms, I would teach them what all those symbols mean. And I look at the new flag as two things. One, it's a symbol of what happened during the trifecta when everything was rammed down our throats, including a flag.

[Joe Soucheray]

Yes, it was.

[Peggy Bennett]

Yeah. And number two, it's a symbol of the failed leadership of this state that has solutions that are wrecking our state. They're policies and we need to fight based on that, not the name calling on the people. That just divides and it turns people off. People do not want screaming about politics. They want to get things done. Doesn't mean caving. I'm not saying that you don't cave on your principles, but you work with people and you start with what you can agree with. And that's what Trump does. That's what Reagan did. Start with where you can agree, work up from there. So with the flag. Yeah. It's a symbol of failure and a symbol of disunity. And we need to get back to unity.

[Joe Soucheray]

Peggy, thank you for coming in.

[Peggy Bennett]

Yeah, thanks for having me.

[Joe Soucheray]

That's fantastic. I wish you the best of luck.

[Peggy Bennett]

Thank you.

[Joe Soucheray]

I love the honest approach.

[Peggy Bennett]

Well, that's.

[Joe Soucheray]

Now that I met you, I don't doubt that that's the way it'll go for you.

[Peggy Bennett]

Thank you. I will go forward as long and as far as I can because I'm passionate about this state.

[Joe Soucheray]

What will you do if you lose the governor's race? You're going to be done with the legislature. What does your future hold in that event?

[Peggy Bennett]

That's up to the Lord. That's how I look at it. I'm here because I believe, you know, in this current position, you know, God led me into this and, and I will continue on. I feel led to run for governor. I feel led to lead the state in a very different way and I'm passionate about it. If not, then there's different ideas. Who knows what that will.

[John Hines]

There's always consultant work, right? There's always consultant.

[Peggy Bennett]

You know, I can tell you one thing, I won't be a lobbyist. And I don't know that it would be politics because again, you know, I don't know, politics is just. I love serving people and the political games are what turned me off. And so this is who I am.

[Joe Soucheray]

Do you have a garage?

[Peggy Bennett]

I do have a garage.

[Joe Soucheray]

Is it a two car?

[Peggy Bennett]

It's a two car garage. And I got the floral redone about a year ago and I kind of put some really cheap but paneling on the walls so it looks.

[Joe Soucheray]

So you're kind of a garage logician, I would say. Do you like the way your garage door is performing?

[Chris Reavers]

Getting personal?

[John Hines]

She's thinking, where's he going with all this? He's about to do a nice endorsement.

[Peggy Bennett]

I had my garage doors replaced about two years ago.

[Joe Soucheray]

I think, well, maybe, maybe you use Precision Door, maybe you didn't. But Precision Garage Door Peggy if you ever have trouble with your door, they offer a $79 safe and sound package. They throw the diagnostics at it and they'll tell you how your current door is faring. If you need a new garage door, get ahold of Precision Garage Door. They have models of for every budget. I just want to mention I got a great email from Todd Cordes who writes for years I've had an on again off again relationship with various garage door guys. Last year when I needed a new opener, I followed your advice and contacted Precision Door because after all, who doesn't respect the mayor's wisdom? I was extremely pleased. I contacted them again last week to come out and do a tune up on the door. It's now running as smooth as an elderly MG without the oil spots. Precision Door is now permanent Guy. Thank you. It's Precision Door whether you need a new door and right now gl ers get $400 off a new door Whether you need a new door. You want your current door looked at. Book online at precision door mn1word precision doormn.com or call Precision Door at 612-263-6985 to schedule your free on site new door estimate or book a Precision Door safe and sound pac. The best lawn on the block is merely a click [e-mail] now. Don't let the Weeds and the Dandelions win this year. Pro Turf has been reinvigorating lawns around the twin cities since 1982. Don't send that. Don't send that renewal contract back to the company that's done a lousy job for you at your place. Go with the company that has the best the best long term lawn care techs in the business. We're talking about men and women that have been treating lawns for 20 years or more. Here's what you're going to do. Go to professionalturf.com schedule a free in person lawn care estimate. That's where one of these pro turf techs they're going to come out, walk your lawn, probably have a clipboard, huh? Make a few notes and jot things down and then set up a custom slow release fertilizer and weed killer program that's made for your lawn environmentally safe and guaranteed for superior results. A beautiful lawn lush Free of dandelions, crabgrass and broadleaf weeds. It's just a click away. Professional turf dot com. Flashlight, check.

[John Hines]

Tool belt, check. Attitude, check.

[Joe Soucheray]

He's going in.

[Chris Reavers]

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[Joe Soucheray]

Yes.

[Chris Reavers]

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[Joe Soucheray]

Peggy Benner is a sweet, kind woman

[Chris Reavers]

who doesn't seem like a politician.

[Peggy Bennett]

She.

[Chris Reavers]

You know what I mean?

[Joe Soucheray]

I mean, what, she's got to get into a boxing ring.

[John Hines]

Yeah.

[Chris Reavers]

And she mentioned something interesting. The part where she mentioned that we need to produce better candidates. I thought that was interesting because she's right. And I think that came off. At least I interpreted that as saying, well, even if I don't win, we have to start producing better candidates that are actually looking out for the people that are electing them.

[Joe Soucheray]

Let's get right to it. I feel that we should be

[Peggy Bennett]

or

[Joe Soucheray]

are very close to, to uncovering the fraud in this state. I got a new wrinkle on this. We're very close. Today we learn that, what a day before she was to be made the permanent Director of Health and Human Services, Shereen Gandhi is now out.

[John Hines]

Yes.

[Chris Reavers]

Heck of a run.

[Joe Soucheray]

Harpstead was out. Yep. To replaced. To be replaced by Gandhi. The Deputy Commissioner, John Connolly, will now serve. Connolly asked Gandhi to stay with the department. All right, why is Gandhi leaving. Why did Harpstead leave? Why did a fellow named Jay Swanson, who testified last week before the fraud committee. He told lawmakers a child care fraud unit was undermined before it was shut down. He said he has no doubt that oversight could have prevented some of today's fraud concerns. Jay Swanson is a criminal investigator. He was a former state trooper, he said. They said this last week support from upper management dropped off a cliff, and it seemed that at that point their only goal was to destroy the unit and drive our people out of there, Swanson said. Representative Pam Altendorf, Republican Red Wing, asked Swanson during that meeting last week if these issues could have prevented if officials had taken their unit seriously. There is no doubt, Swanson said. Swanson said the unit was harassed and bullied starting in 2017 and lost authority over which cases came to prioritize. He also said that in 2018, he was advised to delegate paragraphs from a memo in response to the Minnesota Legislative Auditor's Office, which he believed would be illegal, and he refused. Swanson did not identify who was involved. Here's the problem. Who did Kenny have on the Krabby Coffee Shop? Fay Bernstein. Fay Bernstein to this day keeps complaining of or keeps attempting to be a whistleblower. But she won't name names. Jay Swanson didn't name names. We're right there, people. We're right there. If you're being told from above to quiet down about that, nothing to see here. Don't. Don't do that. Don't send anything out. You're being told that by your superiors. Who are they? Why aren't you naming them? I mean, I don't want to get ridiculous here, but Jay Swanson, for example, does he fear for his life? Staff? Anyone? Anyone? Doesn't that seem unlikely? Doesn't that seem unlikely?

[Chris Reavers]

But what other conclusion are you to draw?

[Joe Soucheray]

Because he doesn't work for them. So it's not as though he would lose his job if he said if he. Who are these people? We could end this today. Fay Bernstein, you've already established yourself as doing the Lord's work here. Name the names. Boom. Why aren't you. Now you're saying, well, that's easy for you to say. Why is it easy for me to say?

[John Hines]

Because it's fact.

[Joe Soucheray]

Well, what do you have to lose by naming the names?

[John Height]

And plus, you've already said, I felt this pressure from someone. So you've already released it, made it public, so can I. What do you got to lose?

[Joe Soucheray]

Yes.

[Chris Reavers]

I'm not linking the two but with what happened, what was it, a year ago now with Hortman and the others, is that maybe a fear? Just any type of.

[Joe Soucheray]

I don't think so.

[Chris Reavers]

You don't think that that's entered into the minds of some of those people

[Joe Soucheray]

prior to you seeing it just now? That hadn't occurred to me. I don't think so.

[Chris Reavers]

Either you're welcome or I'm sorry.

[Joe Soucheray]

Well, whatever. Whatever works.

[John Hines]

Okay.

[Joe Soucheray]

Swanson did not identify who was involved. He said the shift to support followed departure of previous. He said the shift in support followed the departure of the previous DHS Inspector General and Deputy Inspector General. And he resigned in 2019, the same year the unit was disbanded. I can't tell you how shocked we were. This is from last week. To come into the Department of Human Services and learn after a few years that not only was the untold theft of millions of dollars tolerated, but those who tried to stop it could be subjected to the wrath of high ranking department officials. Swanson said this is not complicated. We're almost there, people. We need to upend this whole operation. Swanson, you could do it. Fay Bernstein, you could do it. You're already saying anything. What you're saying. If you're going to be in trouble, you're already in trouble.

[John Hines]

Let's go here. It's all water under the bridge now. Let's pay for it.

[Chris Reavers]

What type of support would they need, though? Wouldn't they.

[Joe Soucheray]

They'd have ours, I guess.

[Chris Reavers]

From the inside.

[Joe Soucheray]

I don't know. I put these stories in order today. Let's back up, okay? In January of 2025, Walls announced that Jody Harpstead, the Commissioner of Health and Human Services, was stepping down. She'd served five years. He painted her tenure in glowing terms. But the fraud was rampant during her tenure. I'm not indicting Jodi Harpstead, about whom we have heard not a peep.

[John Hines]

But still, she was at the helm. So Buck stops here.

[Joe Soucheray]

Following her stepping down, she received a letter from James Comer, Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Actually, before she stepped down, she received. No, just this past December. She left in January of 2025. Okay. On December 22, 2025. Dear Ms. Hempstead, the committee on Oversight and Government Reform is investigating reports of widespread fraud in Minnesota's social services program. As the former Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Services, you have information that will assist the committee's investigation. Accordingly, we request your testimony at an in person transcribed interview on February 6, 2026, two months ago. If you do not Voluntarily. John, will you begin to look this up please? Did Jody Harpstead ever appear before James Comer's committee? If you do not voluntarily appear for the interview, we will be forced to evalu the use of the compulsory process. The Commission on Oversight and Government Reform is the principal oversight committee of the U.S. house of Representatives and has broad authority to investigate any matter at any time under House Rule 10. To discuss the transcribed interview or to ask any related follow up questions, please contact the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform majority staff. He provides a phone number. Thank you. Sincerely, James Comer, Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Did she, did she go?

[John Height]

She received the letter in late 2025 December and after that there is no mention of her appearing before the committee or even answering the committee. Although you think she would have.

[Joe Soucheray]

Okay, so we don't know where she stands. Shereen Gandhi then comes in. She's been useless in forming. She's been a sparkling purveyor of boilerplate language but has never said anything meaningful.

[John Hines]

But isn't there a money amount or a law that if something is missing or fraudulently given out that you would be required by law to say, I

[Joe Soucheray]

don't know why she account for this, Matt. I don't know why she didn't show up.

[John Hines]

Well, just because you quit doesn't mean you're done.

[Joe Soucheray]

But now, yesterday walls removed Shereen Gandhi.

[John Hines]

What is she in charge of now? Medicaid. State Medicaid. So I don't know if it's a lateral move.

[Joe Soucheray]

Come on, people of Minnesota, we're almost there.

[John Height]

May I interrupt for one moment?

[Joe Soucheray]

Yes.

[John Height]

Harpstead did provide a transcribed interview in February 2026, so I'm assuming that just means she answered written questions correct?

[Joe Soucheray]

Okay. Yeah, exactly.

[John Hines]

Do we know what those questions were or what our answers were?

[John Height]

Yeah, nothing's come from that that I know of.

[Joe Soucheray]

Now we know that this guest that Jay and Kenny had, Fay Bernstein, is speaking up again. A longtime employee of the Minnesota's Department of Human Services who blew the whistle on the DHS oversight of taxpayer money is renewing those concerns. Allegations of widespread fraud in multiple state Medicaid programs are driving state and federal investigations as well as proposed reforms at the legislature. I would just love to say I told you so, said Fay Bernstein in a rare on camera interview with Channel 5 Investigates. This too was last week.

[John Hines]

Yeah, she said she got in that

[Joe Soucheray]

interview, she said she got pressure seven years ago. Bernstein said she identified risky practices in how DHS's Behavioral Health Division handled handled grant contracts for mental health and substance Abuse disorder treatment. I was not aware at that time of any actual fraud, but I was concerned about their risk. She said it was the kind of practices that we wouldn't want to be doing because it would allow fraud. Bernstein said she took her concerns up the chain of command. Speaking with multiple people about the issue she was seeing, she said nothing improved. What really struck me was the attitude of leadership when I would bring it up. Bernstein said there always seemed to be a reason why it was better to just look the other way. This must end. This is being orchestrated. The fraud in Minnesota. I think we can deduce from both Jay Swanson and Fay Bernstein, the fraud is being orchestrated by highly placed people. Whether that's the Governor or whether that's the Attorney General or way that. Or if it's the congresswoman from the 5th Congressional District or if it's Amy Klobuchar in the U.S. senate, I do not know. But this is ridiculous that we got. We're this close, and these people. I don't know.

[John Hines]

You're right, but for what reason? What is the. Not necessarily a payoff, but monetarily, but there's some type of reason that they would let this slide.

[Joe Soucheray]

I would like to think Jay Swanson would. Would confess to the idea. Look, I was paid 500 grand to keep my mouth shut. I didn't take the money. And I'll tell you who it is. Well, he must fear doing that. Fay Bernstein, you've come so far. You're to be applauded for your candid outlook here. Why are you. And you'll note she's still employed. It's almost as though they're afraid to fire her, fearing that that would allow her to say something. No, we are close, people. We are being taken for a ride by Minnesota State Government, and we are close. We need the names. We need the names.

[John Hines]

You don't think they have a non disclosure clause of some sort when they sign their clause?

[Joe Soucheray]

Non disclosure clause? No. No, they don't.

[John Height]

Okay.

[Joe Soucheray]

No. If they did, what would that have to do with crime?

[John Height]

I did find what Jodi Harpstead told the committee.

[Joe Soucheray]

Yeah.

[John Height]

Why she left? She said she realized at the time when the fraud started being known and the governor talked to her about a fraud package, that she was, quote, not a lawyer and that it's not her. Fraud is, quote, not her forte, and that's why she decided to leave.

[Joe Soucheray]

For God's sake, don't people know right and wrong?

[John Hines]

Yeah, I knew something was wrong. That's why I wanted to get out of it.

[Joe Soucheray]

Now, there's something wrong, but I'm not. I'm not qualified to say it's wrong.

[Chris Reavers]

Rook. You know what the answer was? That ain't my business.

[John Hines]

Ain't none of my business.

[Chris Reavers]

I feel you.

[John Hines]

The stunt country shrugged.

[Joe Soucheray]

What a bunch of. We are so poorly served. And I'll include you, Harpstead. I've cut you slack from day one. But if that's your answer, that's preposterous.

[John Height]

What she told the committee. I know right now.

[Joe Soucheray]

Heather Mueller going back to the food through the education system, conveniently enough. Left. Come on, we're almost there. Who is running this? This is a game that continues. You realize we got 67 million. This is today. $67 million have been paid to just nine daycare centers raided by federal agents.

[Chris Reavers]

Well, you only bring that up because you have Islamophobia.

[John Hines]

Judith never made that kind of money when she had a daycare center.

[Chris Reavers]

You're never going to convince me that.

[Joe Soucheray]

Well, Klobuchar is going to be constantly favored and presented well by the Star Tribune. I can live with that. That's fine. She's on the front page today. Klobuchar unveils her anti fraud plan. We must have Amy as a guest.

[John Hines]

You have to pull it off. I will follow through, she said. Not this week, she told me, because

[Joe Soucheray]

here's what I would ask her. She said, klobuchar, first of all. She said, well, I was too busy as a senator. I had nothing to do with it. I didn't know anything. Well, I don't forgive her for that. She pitched herself as a force of change as she works to counter Republicans on the campaign trail, arguing she represents an extension of the Walz administration. Well, today, Amy, a vote for you would be a terrible risk. That that's exactly what you represent, a terrible risk.

[John Hines]

She's gonna have to sell that.

[Joe Soucheray]

Klobuchar said she would have done some things differently than walls and that her experience prosecuting crime as Hennepin county attorney would help in addressing fraud. Amy, you've been playing that Hennepin county attorney card for a long time. We've got new problems here. I don't like the status quo. I wouldn't be running for governor if I wanted to have things remain the same. This is boilerplate. It's not helpful. She would be a tremendous risk. She said. Walz has acknowledged he wished he caught the widespread fraud issues earlier. I don't believe that. I'm sorry. I just don't believe it. The minute I would have heard about this fraud I was. If I was there and had access to the information, I would have looked to where are the programs when we're starting to see ballooning budgets? She said she'd audit this. One thing I would ask her is, well, who are you going to hire to do the audit? Peggy Bennett at least said, I'm getting outside people. Who are you going to add it? Who are you going to use? Amy, who are you going to use for the audit? She said, plain and simple. Four terms of Democrat control of the executive branch have doubled our state budget, raised taxes by billions. This is Republican talking, I think. And enabled a culture of fraud that has stolen billions more. This is Lisa Daymuth in a written statement. Amy Klobuchar wants to triple down on the walls era. I'm running for governor to fix the mess walls left in his wake and return our state to common sense that's been missing for far too long. Amy. Amy, you have a right to counter Demuth. What are you going to do? And I want you in here so you and I can have a real talk. Because right now, Amy, all you are is a risk. And I know that you're counting on Minnesotans who are just going to automatically pull the lever for you, but maybe not this time, because we're tired of being ripped off by the worst governor and the worst administration in the history of the state. And we have people who know, and they're not naming names. We're almost there. Why aren't they naming names?

[John Hines]

As a prosecutor, Amy should be able to tell those people when I prosecute. We had to have a name. You can't just say, ah, we want names, damn it.

[Joe Soucheray]

I wish. Kenny's got an electrical problem at home, and he has no means to join us today. When I. I'll have to call him later. I want him to call Faye Bernstein again and ask her directly, why are you not naming names? What do you fear, Jay Swanson? Come on, man. What do you fear? There's got to be an answer. This is. We're almost there. You, Jay Swanson, you don't owe anybody in that administration anything. Faye Bernstein, you don't owe them anything. But you. You would be doing such a service for the state of Minnesota to tell us who the bad people are. And now Shereen Gandhi's gone. Will Shereen Gandhi turn out to be one of the people? Or will she give a Jody Harpstead answer? Well, fraud's not really my forte. I. I really don't know much about it.

[John Hines]

Don't worry.

[Joe Soucheray]

She's. I Know what fraud is. And it's not my forte either. I know what it is. It's wrong.

[John Height]

Did you see Sherene's email to her employees?

[Joe Soucheray]

No. Please help me.

[John Height]

Well, she said Gandhi told DHS employees in an email obtained by 5 Eyewitness News. She notified Governor Walzer Monday, saying she was stepping down as commissioner. Is she really? Or is she being told to step down?

[John Hines]

Why is she in charge of state Medicaid now? Is what I saw that she's going to be.

[Joe Soucheray]

She'll be a deputy commissioner under Conley.

[John Height]

Yep, exactly.

[Chris Reavers]

It's a good club to be in.

[John Hines]

Yeah.

[Joe Soucheray]

Hayes.

[John Hines]

Well, we're laughing at fart jokes at minimum wage.

[Joe Soucheray]

No, we're not. We're closer than anybody's come. Oh, we're close. But we need the help of at least Faye Bernstein and Jay Swanson. We need the help of others. You're invited on this show. Come on in.

[John Hines]

Sit down.

[Joe Soucheray]

Tell us who these people are. Let's clean this up. Let's get rid of the people who've been thwarting your investigations. Let's get rid of the people. Arrest them. Put them in jail. Hold them accountable. Do whatever we have to do. If they've ignored your whistleblowing. Okay. Guys who drive trucks need to get to Rosedale Chevrolet. They're a commercial and business elite dealer for 75 years.

[John Hines]

It was dinner yesterday. Then they're a diener. You want me to type that out for you?

[Joe Soucheray]

You know, italics and underneath. No, I think I got it. I think I got it. They're a business and elite diener.

[John Hines]

I love Deener.

[Chris Reavers]

Hey, Mark, get out in here.

[John Hines]

Hey, Deener, let's go.

[Joe Soucheray]

You want a truck, Go to Rosedale Chevrolet. Because they have the largest selection of work ready inventory right now. 1500-2005-00. 3500s. A large selection of versatile low cab forward medium duties with box uplifts from 12ft to 20ft. Guys who need that for work know exactly what that means. Express cutaway and express cargo vans in stock. Dedicated commercial truck sales at Rosedale Chevrolet. Those truck sales. And that truck sales department has 75 years of experience. Rosedale Chevrolet's. You can't miss it. 35W and County Road C in Roseville, immediately west of the freeway. It's right there. And find more at rosedalechev.com. Fraud in Minnesota.

[Peggy Bennett]

It's costing us all. And that's why 5 Eyewitness News is shining a light on fraud. I'm Lindsey Brown and at 5 Eyewitness News, we're digging through records, following the money and exposing who is taking advantage of taxpayers. We don't take easy answers and we won't let fraud go unchecked when tax dollars are misused. You deserve to know because this is your money and we're working hard to protect it.

[Joe Soucheray]

Watch and see the difference.

[Peggy Bennett]

Only on 5 Eyewitness News.

[Joe Soucheray]

This guy wears many hats, just not indoors. Joe Sucere.

[Chris Reavers]

Hey, how are ya? We are not and we are nutsmn.com you know we were talking about gas prices yesterday on the show. Gas prices are so high.

[Joe Soucheray]

How high are they?

[Chris Reavers]

They're nuts. So stock up on we are Nuts at Kwik trip right now available at. Honestly, I frequent two different quick trips.

[Joe Soucheray]

You get gas and nuts.

[John Hines]

I got one right on Concord, the

[Chris Reavers]

new preg one and the one in Elko.

[Joe Soucheray]

I love QuikTrip. They're crazy not to advertise with us.

[Chris Reavers]

I couldn't agree more. And the elk spokesman location. No, I'm the one that introduced the cheeseburgers.

[John Hines]

I can out quick trip, you guys.

[Joe Soucheray]

I think I can if you got one in your neighborhood.

[John Height]

Yeah, I'm getting in on this too.

[Joe Soucheray]

John's got one.

[John Height]

Yeah, right next to me.

[Chris Reavers]

Oh, and you know what? I probably buy a tank of gas

[John Hines]

every other day right now. Yeah.

[Chris Reavers]

With all the baseball one up. But this is for we are Nuts and we are nutsmn.com for all of you Quick rewards members, which I happen to be one. You're gonna save 5 cents per gallon of gas on a future fuel purchase when you buy a jar of the We r Nuts brand. That's right. $0.05 off per gallon when you purchase any we are Nuts product at participating Quick trip locations. Man, I gotta tell you right now, that's gonna save you some dough. And why not stock up on the best quality small batch fresh roasted snacks right here in the great state of Minnesota. And it's a family owned operation. You're stopping for gas already.

[John Hines]

A gallon of nuts. $0.05 off per gallon of nuts.

[Chris Reavers]

No, per gallon of gas.

[John Hines]

Got it.

[Joe Soucheray]

Per gallon of gas.

[Chris Reavers]

So if you also want to check them out at Fratelloni's, Luns and Barley's, they're available anywhere. Also go to wearenutsmn.com here's John Height.

[John Height]

Well, thank you, Joe. This news is brought to you by North American Banking Company. And I wish to tell you I told you a little bit off the air. I'm looking at a house review thing about fraud allegations from March of 2019.

[Joe Soucheray]

All right?

[John Hines]

Right.

[John Height]

And it breaks down all of the emails that Mr. Swanson sent to his superiors.

[Joe Soucheray]

Jay Swanson.

[John Height]

Jay Swanson. And many of those, you know, he had things that were confirmed that he thought were problems with the fraud program. And they all resulted in basically him either being ignored or his request being denied to.

[Joe Soucheray]

Okay. Walls was governor at that point.

[John Hines]

Are the names of blacked out or can you see?

[John Height]

No. Basically you get the impression he sends them to certain companies. Not companies, departments. And they're denied by the department. So I don't know if that means.

[Peggy Bennett]

Wow.

[John Height]

I don't know if that's true.

[John Hines]

That's holy.

[Joe Soucheray]

We are. Well, Reavers is a silver hat guy. Tinfoil hat guy. But sometimes he's right. And it's your contention that. And I'm starting to get that here. They're all in on it.

[Chris Reavers]

I've said that.

[Joe Soucheray]

They're all in on.

[Chris Reavers]

And I was mocked for it though.

[Joe Soucheray]

What payoff is you're getting paid? Money. Money. Follow the money.

[Chris Reavers]

By the way, the request to Representative Ilhan Omar. She is ignoring it so far because today is her deadline.

[Joe Soucheray]

For what?

[Chris Reavers]

To turn over texts and information between her and the food fraudsters.

[Joe Soucheray]

Oh, she's.

[John Hines]

She's higher than that. She's. She can't be bogged down by this.

[Chris Reavers]

But if you've got nothing to hide, then why aren't you turning over to the information.

[Joe Soucheray]

This is being run by either Walls, Ilhan Ellison or D. All the above. No, not Biden. Go Johnny. Go Johnny. Go.

[John Hines]

Chasing the ice cream truck.

[Chris Reavers]

Let's glad to see you're on the team. By the way, the tinfoil hatch.

[John Hines]

Your jersey and uniform will be three point or.

[John Height]

I want the news now in news. But first, let's do sports. The Timberwolves win game one of their playoff series against the spurs in San Antonio. 104 to 102. And yes, Anthony Edwards played, scored 18 points. Says his injured knee felt great. He made some very silly plays at the end of the game.

[Chris Reavers]

I was. Yeah, I was very mad.

[Joe Soucheray]

You don't hear that. Go interrupting again. I have an urgent basketball question.

[John Hines]

How do they.

[Joe Soucheray]

One of the reasons I don't really like basketball is that in the final two minutes of a close game, it can take 10 minutes. I hate that because of the timeouts. Why last night were there none?

[Chris Reavers]

I was wondering that what in the

[Joe Soucheray]

world was going on. They just. Bing bang boom, they played it.

[Chris Reavers]

Neither coach.

[Joe Soucheray]

It was a two point game.

[Chris Reavers]

Neither coach seemed like they wanted to stop the flow of the game. I don't know why that.

[John Hines]

That was Also because it was so close. They didn't need to. Neither team needed to foul. If you're up by six or seven, you're going to foul. It takes 25 minutes.

[John Height]

You missed Joe's point. The timeouts rook you would take because it's a close game to make plays, et cetera.

[Joe Soucheray]

And there weren't any draw.

[Chris Reavers]

No, I was thinking the same thing watching the end of the game.

[Joe Soucheray]

That game had a flow. That is, I watched that and they

[Chris Reavers]

came within an eyelash of blowing it.

[John Height]

I thought for sure. San Antonio on that last possession. I mean. I mean, I just assumed.

[Joe Soucheray]

Me too.

[John Height]

It's going in.

[Chris Reavers]

Or that that shot was going against Wemby's.

[Joe Soucheray]

A tall drink of water.

[John Hines]

Yeah, but my favorite part of the game. Jokic is not on the court.

[Chris Reavers]

You know what?

[Joe Soucheray]

We get an early Wild game tonight, too. 78 7pm start. It's 7 7pm start.

[John Height]

Game two of their series against the Avalanche. The Wild trail the best of seven one games to none. In news.

[Joe Soucheray]

He said he went clam.

[John Height]

One games to none.

[John Hines]

Ice is h crisis hockey.

[John Height]

In news. You talked about this story a bitcho. A day before the Minnesota Senate was expected to confirm the permanent leader of the state's Department of Human Services, Governor Walls has announced a shakeup moves demote Shereen Gandy.

[Joe Soucheray]

This is part of the scam. There's something going on here.

[John Hines]

Shake up.

[Joe Soucheray]

Yep.

[John Height]

He appointed as DHS's temporary commissioner last year and selected to lead the agency permanently just 10 weeks ago and promote John Connolly as the new commissioner. In an email obtained from five five investigators.

[Joe Soucheray]

Thank God for five Eyewitness News investigative team.

[John Height]

Gandhi told DHS employees she notified Walls on Monday morning, saying she was stepping down as commissioner.

[Joe Soucheray]

Oh, I wonder who got to you. Sheree can't make me. Who got to you?

[John Height]

Gotti has worked in DHS since 2017, spent the last 15 months leading the state's largest agency. As Minnesota's fraud issue has come under more intense scrutiny, some have questioned in stopping fraud. Even though she's only led DHS for a little over a year, mostly in a temporary manner. Prior to that, she was a compliance director.

[Joe Soucheray]

Well, she failed miserably at that. Still Walls nobody complied.

[John Height]

Still, walls had publicly touted her efforts to stop fraud. Now she's being bumped back down to a deputy commissioner tasked with overseeing Minnesota's Medicaid programming. That's the role that Connolly, who's replacing her, currently has. Connally, like Gotti, will still need to be officially confirmed by the Minnesota Senate. Legislature has only 14 days left in the current session. Additionally, DHS General Counsel Andrew Johnson is being appointed as a deputy commissioner while maintaining his current role. Two weeks before the end of the session, the Senate has voted to approve a ban of assault style guns and high capacity magazines. The vote was along party lines. 3433 the omnibus bill, which also includes funding for school safety and mental health programs, still would have to be approved by the Minnesota House before it can head to governor Walz's desk in a split chamber. The future there a lot murkier. Republicans said the bill has extreme gun control policies and accused Democrats of putting their agenda over student safety. Former police chief of Metro Transit is now permanently barred from serving as a police officer in Minnesota. The Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training ordered Ernest Morales III to surrender his peace officer license. The order follows allegations of workplace sexual harassment and failure to report misconduct. The document says. Morales became a peace officer 1991 with the new York City Police Department, where he held leadership positions. In March 2023, he was appointed as the Metro Transit chief law enforcement officer. According to the document, Morales was placed on administrative leave in August of 2024 after an investigation began on complaints from several women who reported that Mor engaged in sexual harassment and discriminatory conduct. An outside law firm was hired to conduct an internal investigation. Morales resigned in September before being interviewed, and he has not responded to any requests for comments.

[Joe Soucheray]

You know what the cause of all this office sexual harassment stuff is? AI People are not busy enough.

[John Hines]

You gotta have a place to go.

[Joe Soucheray]

Well, they have a place to go, but when they get there, they're not busy enough doing their stuff. Stuff. Yeah.

[Chris Reavers]

Well, you can also extend that down to the youth. There's too many kids with too much time on their hands. That's why they get into so much trouble.

[Joe Soucheray]

Thank you. You are correct.

[John Hines]

Walking like a true parent too much.

[Chris Reavers]

Seriously though, that's a big part of the problem.

[Joe Soucheray]

I mean, cops shouldn't have enough time to be doing that. If in fact you got to do forms.

[John Hines]

You know what he's going to have to go on? What does the meter do?

[Joe Soucheray]

No, he's. He can't be a cop. Administer.

[John Hines]

Oh, that's right. He had to surrender his.

[John Height]

He's retired.

[John Hines]

Got it.

[John Height]

Minnesota State Fair Concert Announced I think this is the last one, isn't it? I think I could be wrong.

[John Hines]

I doubt it. I doubt it's the last one.

[John Height]

This One is for August 29, which is the first Saturday of the fair. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis will host a one Time only concert called Homecoming, a celebration of the Minneapolis sound that'll feature an all star cast from the Twin Cities and around the US among the fellow Twin Cities music vets scheduled to take the stage that night with the multi platinum producers are their former bandmates in the Time, Morris Day and Jerome Benton plus Stokely thank you. Of Mint Condition and Nesby and Sounds Blackness and cast of other performers including Grammy winning gospel Queen Yolanda Williams, 90s R B hitmakers Johnny Gill and Ralph Tresvant, Jordan Knight of New Kids on the Block, Shanice Wilson and American Idol second season winner Reuben Stutter. Tickets for Jam and Lewis jets tickets for Ram and Lewis's Megabash go on sale this Friday at 10 in the morning via E Ticks. They will range in price from 64 to 99.

[Joe Soucheray]

The kid from New Kids in the Block.

[Chris Reavers]

I was about to ask the same thing.

[Joe Soucheray]

Is he from Minneapolis?

[John Height]

No. That whole last batch of performance I

[John Hines]

named were not from Minneapolis and around the U.S. right.

[John Height]

The ones from Minneapolis. Thank you for listening, Rook. And plenty of.

[John Hines]

I teased, but were the jets part of that Minneapolis sound or were they?

[John Height]

They were. Yeah. Okay.

[John Hines]

They're from Mini. They're Minnetonka Kids, I think.

[John Height]

Yeah.

[Joe Soucheray]

Boy. I'm admiring our crawl with all the people flying the true flag.

[John Hines]

I did that two minutes ago. I was. I was mesmerized by.

[Joe Soucheray]

Thank you.

[John Height]

And one other sad newspaper story, if I may. And this one has a personal touch to it. Some changes for the paper I grew up reading and that my brother started as a reporter in the 70s before he entered the world of television reporting and being a television general manager. The Bismarck Tribune this week is moving to a three days a week print schedule. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. And until this past Saturday they were printed in their own building in Bismarck, North Dakota.

[Joe Soucheray]

Now it's Iowa.

[John Height]

Starting today they are printed in Rapid City, South Dakota.

[Joe Soucheray]

So that means when there's a snowstorm, you ain't getting your Tuesday paper.

[Peggy Bennett]

Paper?

[John Height]

Yeah, even the. The online printed version I saw today, every story was a day and a half old.

[John Hines]

Well, what an odd day selection. Wouldn't you think it would be Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday? Because people want.

[Joe Soucheray]

Yes, I would think.

[John Hines]

Sunday paper.

[Joe Soucheray]

Yes, I would think that.

[Chris Reavers]

How far of a drive is Rapid City to Bismarck, Johnny?

[Joe Soucheray]

It's a long time.

[John Height]

Seven, eight hours.

[Chris Reavers]

So it's comparable to what long time. Absolute idea what the Star Tribune is doing with.

[Joe Soucheray]

With Des Moines and the Pioneer Press.

[Josh Arnold]

Gosh.

[John Height]

Oh yeah.

[Chris Reavers]

They still got a building though.

[John Hines]

You gotta.

[Joe Soucheray]

Yeah, they got A building you gotta deliver. Star Tribune does not have a building. They have a floor in a building.

[John Hines]

I was talking about your.

[Joe Soucheray]

We don't have a building.

[John Height]

I know the Bismarck Tribune does. Yeah, well they did. Maybe it's gone.

[Joe Soucheray]

Was it right downtown?

[John Height]

It was downtown, yeah. Right off of.

[Joe Soucheray]

Right off Main Street.

[John Height]

No, a little up, about three blocks up from Maine. Why don't we.

[John Hines]

I'm on 5th.

[John Height]

Why don't we take a break here and. And fear. Let's not fear our friend Mr. Mikulski. Let's hear from our fear.

[Joe Soucheray]

It'll take too long.

[John Hines]

Much salutations, many salutations. If you do own a newspaper and you have a building, well, that roof better be well cared for. Yes, Walker Roofing does commercial and residential roofing.

[Joe Soucheray]

Tell me how long they've been around.

[John Hines]

88 years.

[Joe Soucheray]

Well, that's who you go with.

[John Hines]

Three generations. Now again, as Joe pointed out to me, you're not always going to need a roofing company every day. But when it comes to roofing, remember this website, walkerroofing.com. i'll give you their phone number in about two minutes right before I finish the ad. They have a strong reputation of honesty and integrity and that's why the Better Business Bureau awarded them the 50 year milestone. Man, that's business bureau. The BBB doesn't screw around. They are credible. And that's why Walker Roofing should be your residential, commercial or siding business located in Minneapolis St. Paul. The Greater Twin Cities here they got 24, 7 emergency service. Check them out at walkerroofing.com. tell them the rookie sent you from GarageLogic at 651-251-0910. They are complete garage logicians. Use them when you need them. Remember the name and the website, walkerroofing.com.

[John Height]

thanks, rookie. You know, you guys are gonna think I'm nuts, but I watched that video. I don't usually watch the whole thing because I'm getting news ready. Yeah, they got a cool little lever.

[Joe Soucheray]

They do.

[John Height]

Ladder.

[Joe Soucheray]

They got a neat deal on their ladders. They send the shingles up. They got the latest technology like on an elevator.

[John Hines]

Endorse them. I don't just endorse anybody.

[Chris Reavers]

You know what I would do if I was an employee there? I'd say who, who could we put on here and send them up?

[John Hines]

Oh yeah, right.

[Chris Reavers]

You gotta find the smallest guy for

[John Hines]

the Christmas video that you replay at the Christmas party.

[Chris Reavers]

Mr. Newsman, will you confirm that you received my text?

[John Height]

I did, sir. I gave you a thumbs up. I Didn't know if you saw me.

[Chris Reavers]

Gotcha.

[John Height]

In fact, I gave you a double.

[Chris Reavers]

Nice.

[Peggy Bennett]

Hurry up.

[Joe Soucheray]

We gotta do a map update.

[John Hines]

What?

[John Height]

Yes, sir. Let's do some other news, shall we? The US reportedly sank six Iranian military speedboats yesterday, while its ally, the United Arab Emirates accused Iran of a drone attack.

[Joe Soucheray]

Attack.

[John Height]

Putting the four week cease fire between the US and Iran under strain. Meanwhile this morning, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied the exchange of fire with Iran had broken the ongoing ceasefire, framing the clash as, in his words, a separate and distinct project. When a reporter questioned him about it this morning. A driver who smashed his Volkswagen SUV into pedestrians in the German city of Leipzig, killing two and injuring more than 20, is thought to be a boxing coach who had just been released from a psychiatric institute. The suspect, a German citizen identified as a 33 year old man, was arrested moments after he drove his car into the pedestrian zone near the city's Opera House while he was driving at about 50 miles an hour. It's being held in a secure hospital after a psychiatrist ruled he was not in a suitable mental state for police custody. Investigators have ruled out any political motive. According to local police, Jeffrey K. Is a married father of one who recently checked himself into a Leipzig psychiatric hospital. He was allegedly discharged against his will on Sunday, a day before the attack. The cruise ship at the center of a deadly outbreak of Hantavirus has been refused permission to Dock with nearly 150 people still on board, two of them seriously ill. I've seen. Have you seen all the pictures? It's very sad.

[John Hines]

Yeah, but what I learned from this is. It's from someone that flew into. It wasn't on the cruise news. Somebody flew in that was sick from another location.

[John Height]

Yeah. Person to person, which. And usually when we think of antivirus, it comes from mice, that kind of thing. But this comes from. This comes from people. They think. But if you've seen the pictures, it's kind of sad because you just see this ship floating miles off the coast. There must be half a dozen pictures. They can't come in. Nobody will let them in.

[Joe Soucheray]

Nobody wants to.

[Peggy Bennett]

Him.

[John Height]

Yeah.

[John Hines]

So you're seeing the same entertainment show every night?

[Chris Reavers]

Sure. Most people aren't even leaving their room.

[John Height]

Very true.

[John Hines]

Hey, Clark, you know what's full?

[Joe Soucheray]

I'd have trouble.

[John Height]

Yeah, me too.

[Joe Soucheray]

I'd have a little trouble swimming to shore. I swim to shore.

[John Height]

Unlike.

[Chris Reavers]

Unless you're booking with Teresa and Maria to skate with us Vacations. There is zero percent chance I'm getting on a cruise ship.

[Joe Soucheray]

What do you mean?

[John Hines]

Complete pass.

[John Height]

Sure. Little extra weight around the midsection is.

[Joe Soucheray]

Apparently this guy wears many hats, just not indoors. Joe Sushire.

[John Hines]

Well, if I wouldn't have had you. Make you be quiet. Stop.

[Joe Soucheray]

What?

[John Height]

A little extra weight around the mid. Come on. Around the midsection is apparently more than a cosmetic concern. Researchers suggest a specific type of fat buried deep in the abdomen may be quietly speeding up brain shrinkage.

[Joe Soucheray]

Oh, that's great.

[John Height]

And mental decline everywhere. But if you can get rid of it, you can slow the damage for years, maybe even decades. A large long running follow up study tracked more than 500 adults of more than 16 years. People who lost and kept off visceral fat. The deep belly fat packed around internal organs showed slower brain shrinkage and better scores on thinking and memory tests well into their early 60s. General weight loss as measured by body mass index or bmi didn't show the same brain protective pattern. It was specifically the deep abdominal fat that mattered. That distinction could reshape how doctors and public health officials think about obesity and dementia risk. While the link between being overweight and mental decline has been studied for years, this research singles out one particular fat deposit as uniquely harmful.

[Joe Soucheray]

John, thank you so much.

[John Hines]

I'm not trying to rush you, jockey.

[John Height]

I know.

[Joe Soucheray]

Well, if you didn't interrupt so often, we'd be done by now. Take a break. Let's go here.

[John Height]

Let's not take a break yet.

[Joe Soucheray]

Okay.

[John Height]

I want to tell you about aura frames.

[Joe Soucheray]

All right.

[John Height]

Or frames. It's a really good Mom's day gift for a lot of reasons that.

[Joe Soucheray]

Come on.

[John Height]

You can think of the good reasons for this. This. It can help your family remember moments that mom helped you get through and moments. So with just mom herself, the aura frame, it's. You can put in as many pictures and videos you want. I've got over a thousand in the one we have in our kitchen as a Mother's day gift. It's perfect. You can add pictures to it before you get it. That's right. You order it, you grab the. You take your phone, you. You get their app. You can add all the pictures of life. It adds memories to this from this weekend that you can do after everything happens. So in other words, you can put anything in it you want. Or frames named number one by wire cutter. You can save on the gifts Mom Love loves by visiting auraframes.com for a limited time. Listeners get 25 bucks off their best selling Carver mat frame with code GL. That's a U R a frames.com code GL support the show by mentioning us at checkout. Terms and conditions apply.

[Joe Soucheray]

Here's a man who spends hours in hardware stores sifting through the nuts and bolts of life. Joe Sucere, True Flag Update Kelly Wing, who created a website to follow the True Flag and he's down in the the Carolinas got an email that said on April 7th the city of Jackson, Minnesota passed a resolution to fly the True flag. So you can add that to the list. Nathan Peterson, Jackson City Council Award 2 Barb Hoffmeister writes just thought you might want to know that the fake flag flies on the Avenue of Flags at Mount Rushmore. I was very disappointed when I saw what are we going to do? We can't do much about that. Joe, I know you have a hard time with the word Potomac from my last email, so in the true GL spirit, I'm not changing anything about how I write to make things easier for you. It's no surprise that feelings about the new state flag seem to come down to party affiliation. Created in a time of democratic avarice where tax revenues were plentiful and the trifecta approved every bad idea they dreamed up. The effort to create an unnecessary new state flag is a symbol of that liberal hubris. It's shoving a completely unnecessary and unwanted flag down the citizens throats and now threatening them with real budgetary punishment if they have the audacity to not comply with such a mundane thing as flying a state flag that nobody asked for, nobody wanted to pay for, and nobody with any honesty likes now substitute the flag with any other knowledge with any other new now permanent program created in that 2am drunken Amazon spending spree that we call the trifecta. And it's the same sentiment. We didn't ask for it and we don't like it, yet we have to pay for it. So the flag has turned out to be more than a state flag. It's a symbol of DFL hive minded that refuses to cut spending, refuses to compromise and refuses to admit when their policies have been proved wrong. That's true of all politicians, unfortunately. But in Minnesota that market is cornered by the dfl. Good luck, John thank you.

[John Height]

I love love the word avarice. I don't know why.

[Joe Soucheray]

Excellent, Excellent. Good morning. Heard your podcast for May 1, 2026 concerning the city of Spicer and the new flag. At our second council meeting in 2024, resolution 2024-08 opposition to the new state flag and seal was passed by our City Council. At our city Council office site, we have only ever flown our national flag and as stated in your podcast, we fly the true state flag at our parks. If you look at the website you discussed, www.thetrueflag.com, you will know that Spicer is listed. Robin de Catalino Spicer, Mayor. All right, Spicer, here's from Kelly Wing in. Is he from the Carolinas or Virginia? Virginia, yeah. In the last 24 hours, there were 248 new viewers of the www.therealflag.com, representing a 60.5% increase in viewers, a total which now number 6, 5, 6. Also, the number of states from which these views has increased. 33 states, as well as Washington, D.C. and now viewed the page, an increase of 13%. Lastly, by my count, there are now 89 cities and counties flying the true flag. Well, there are only 87 counties in the state. 18 more than 24 hours ago. Also, at the behest of several gl ers, I have created a map, albeit a pedestrian, one of the Minnesota cities flying the true flag. Gumption county, appears in the center of the map. Ever loyal to the mayor and Gumption county residents, Kelly. P.S. i'll give this one to Reivers. He'll share the map with you. Okay, I think we should put it up. Let's see. Tom. Under all rights, we hope never to be a government entity, but here at world headquarters, the true flag flies at Minnesota Roadways Company.

[John Hines]

Hear, hear.

[Joe Soucheray]

And he sent the flag. The true flag is flying. So congratulations to all of the people who in. And that the. The previous emailer was correct. If you're honest with yourself, you know that the new flag is ridiculous. If. But if you're true to your tribalism, then I suppose. I suppose it wouldn't be. Let me tell you where the Lymans are. They're getting closer, northeastward in the Pacific Ocean. They're out there in the middle. They're not at port. And it's only because they come to us all the way from a boat in the middle of the Pacific. From the traveling Lymans. It's on this day, Joe.

[Chris Reavers]

Today is Cinco de Mayo in 1820.

[Joe Soucheray]

On this day, May 5th, after a terrible winter in which 40 of his 100 men died, probably from scurvy, Colonel Henry Leavenworth moved his soldiers to Camp Coldwater, about a mile northwest of the proposed site of Fort St. Anthony, later renamed Fort Snelling, which the troops would soon construct. Local Dakota people already called the site Coldwater Spring, but they had their own name for it, which I cannot pronounce on this day, Georgia day is May 5th. In 1880, lightning struck the Faribault Gas Works, destroying 1,000 gallons of naphtha used to power the city's gas lights. I remember that happening on this day last year.

[John Hines]

You do?

[Joe Soucheray]

On this day, May 5th in 1884, Charles Albert Chief Bender was born in Brainerd. The Ojibwe pitcher would be the first Minnesotan inducted into the Baseball hall of Fame. He pitched in five World Series for the Philadelphia Athletics and his career record was 212 wins and 127 losses. Chief Bender, on this day, May 5th. Well, on this day in 1973, Father Frank F. Percovich celebrated Minnesota's first polka mass at Resurrection Catholic Church in Avalon. Drawing on his Slovenian and Croatian roots, Perkovic had arranged traditional folk music and adapted hymns in English, bringing the polka mass to the Iron Range and later celebrating it in venues around the world. On this day, Joe, today is May 5th in 1974, in the heart of the Beast, Puppet Theater presented its first Minneapolis May Day parade. Part peaceful protest, part carnival, the parade was a south Minneapolis tradition occurring every year on the first Sunday in May. I believe it was just concluded two days ago on this day in Minnesota, sports disappointment history.

[Chris Reavers]

Who'd we lose to on May 5th?

[Joe Soucheray]

Well, on this day in 1998, North Carolina citizens voted down Don Beaver's plans for a stadium, killing his plans to move the Twins there. So we're thankful to the citizens of North Carolina so that we may still have our rough and ready ball club. Thank you. G allers, question mark. Thank you.

[Chris Reavers]

Do us a favor. If you have not done so already, hit the subscribe button on the Garage Logic YouTube channel. Yes, that is correct. Yes, sir. We have a YouTube channel and you can watch the show EJ and every single day starting right around noon. You can also see full segments, video shorts, behind the scenes footage. Just search Garage Logic 2 Words on YouTube and join the over 20,000 subscribers.

[John Hines]

Did you. Oh, you finished on this day in history. Because on this day, May 5, 1985, 41 years ago, I had my first date with my future bride at Twins Gate. Twins lost. And I wore a rainbow sweater. That was almost a deal breaker. We don't do happy anniversaries or happy birthdays to Maria.

[Josh Arnold]

But anyway.

[Chris Reavers]

And nearly 41 years later, you were tasked with babysitting so that they could go to Devil Wears Prada.

[John Hines]

Yeah, I got good reports on the babysitter and the movie

[Chris Reavers]

time once again that we check in with our guy, Mr. Money Talk. Josh Arnold is with us once again right here in garagelogic. And now is the time time for you to do the same. So do not delay, do exactly what I didn't pick up that phone and dial 952-925-5608. That number once again is 952-925-5608. When you call that number you're going to get Josh and he is there for you for that. Free, Yes, I use the word free. 48 minute financial consultation 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 saw a headline today. Is GameStop seriously gonna buy ebay?

[Josh Arnold]

Well, I don't know whether it's seriously going to happen but there was a unsolicited bid by GameStop which came out late last week that they were going to bid the equivalent of $125 a share for ebay. So that's like a company one quarter the size of ebay based on market capitalization wants to buy a company that's that much bigger, we'll say four times bigger bigger than GameStop paying up for it and wants to is making a stock and cash bid. Well GameStop does not have that kind of cash sitting on on the books and their stock well up does not have the market capitalization to take over eBay. So GameStop will have to go to the marketplace either to issue new stock to raise the cash which would dilate, dilute current shareholders and go to the debt market to borrow enough money to make the purchase offer is a non binding offer and definitely unsolicited on the on the part of unsolicited from GameStop to eBay. I don't think that this deal will go through but it is very interesting that it was happening at all. The CEO GameStop, Ryan Cohen has accumulated a lot of shares years in his own company and is definitely not going to say turned it around but it made it a viable business to buy game to buy ebay. And he brings up some definite reasons to look at ebay citing you know, how the merger of the two would definitely help both of them given that ebay could be looked at as an auction house and they auction off with a items that have have nostalgic value. Well GameStop products definitely have nostalgic value of some sort. And he does claim that ebay lacks a lot of operating efficiency indeed eBay which many years ago I thought would be a huge winner E commerce business and would definitely compete with Amazon is now trailing Amazon business business significantly. At one time ebay had the ability to really grow but they will say divested of some of their growth assets and I'm not going to say ebay is floundering by any stretch of the imagination but it is very much undervalued on both a price to earnings and a price to sales based ebay stock is moved up Ryan Cohen's bid and maybe his bid brings out several other companies bids on the cut on on ebay now ebay I'm not going to say competitor because I'm not I don't think they compete in many levels but favorite Amazon second largest holding of my my own and my client has been on a tear recently that started not even a month ago with CEO Andy Jassy's letter to shareholders talking about spending that Amazon is doing the reason for the spend to take advantage of a huge opportunity and the fact that Amazon is already getting a return on the investments that they've made particularly data centers and in other other areas related to artificial intelligence. When Amazon reported this their earnings last week it was a big beat and raise plus increasing margin. And while some analysts did not like Amazon Web Services growth rate at only 28% overall of that indicates that Amazon Web Services is at least $160 billion a year or revenue company which is at at this point more than twice what Google's cloud is doing and at least a third more than what Amazon is doing or not what Microsoft is doing with their Azure cloud. Amazon definitely will say firing off all cylinders and is even showing some additional strength in their logistics business and that could be another growth driver for them in the in the future similar to what AWS was starting back in 2006 and 2007. These are some companies definitely to look at. Meantime in another area of growth and in this marketplace companies that are getting some extra extra love still revolve around AI and the data set build out. You've got companies in the memory space whether it's Micron, Sandisk, Seagate or Western Digital who seen their stock doom heavy demand for their product from data center. And there's also a shortage around AI and the data centers for CPUs which is definitely health intel and intel has shown that with their a few weeks ago intel stock this year has also doubled and took another jump today on a Bloomberg report that intel to me Apple is talking about intel and Samsung about using Intel's foundry to develop some more chip. Somebody might say oh Apple is going behind Taiwan Semiconductors back to look for more more manufacturing capacity. Taiwan Semiconductors is more than filled with waters dating out I think another two and a half years. But intel took a nice move on that and the President was taking a little victory lap for the U.S. government Investment Investment in Intel's in Intel's we'll say boundaries, so very interesting stuff going around in we'll say the tech and tech retail space and I don't think we'll see the end of that for quite some time.

[Chris Reavers]

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

[Josh Arnold]

Look forward to it. Thanks.

[Joe Soucheray]

CHR Services offered by Josh Arnold Investment Consultant, llc. A security investment Advisor. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All investments involve risk.

[Chris Reavers]

All comments and opinions are Josh Arnold's

[Joe Soucheray]

and do not constitute investment advice. Chris Reavers is a paid, endorsed.