CRABBY: Liz Collin talks Alpha News with Kenny and Jay.

Summary

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Garage Logic – CRABBY: Liz Collin Talks Alpha News with Kenny and Jay

Date: March 25, 2026
Host: Gamut Podcast Network
Guests: Liz Collin (Alpha News)

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Episode Overview

This lively episode of “News from the Krabby Coffee Shop,” part of the Garage Logic family, features renowned local journalist Liz Collin from Alpha News joining hosts Kenny and Jay for a frank, wide-ranging discussion on the state of Minnesota journalism, government fraud, independent media, and personal experiences during recent state controversies. The tone is candid and off-the-cuff, mixing industry insights, personal anecdotes, and dark humor. Notably, Liz shares her journey post-mainstream media, her work at Alpha News, and raw stories from the George Floyd era and its aftermath.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

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1. Behind-the-Scenes: Show Preparation & Local Community Stories

Timestamps: 01:32–14:55

• Loose Show Structure: Kenny and Jay amuse themselves (and listeners) with their unstructured approach to show prep, reflecting a seasoned, effortless broadcast style.
• Listener Mailbag: They revisit highlights and feedback from previous episodes, including a memorable story about a crow named “Hector.”
• Minnesota Tax Angst:
  • Property taxes in rural Minnesota (e.g., Sabika case) have soared. Kenny outlines a potential future episode on shocking property tax hikes affecting rural small businesses, highlighting a 62.7% increase ($46,000 bill for a local café owner) (09:00).
  • Jay emphasizes hidden tax increases due to assessment stacking (city, school, county, etc.), warning these can easily multiply advertised increases (09:20).
  • Kenny exposes the burden of Minnesota’s pull-tab charitable gambling taxes (town pays $20,000/month, initially justified for Viking Stadium, now quietly syphoned by the state’s general fund).
• Exodus from Minnesota:
  • Discussion about residents and businesses leaving Minnesota due to increasing taxes, catalyzing scrutiny on new forms of taxation (classic car plates, etc.).

“It’s crazy when you think about double digit percentage increases over the last three years. ...That $240 could easily be more like $1,000 or $2,000” – Jay (09:20)

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2. Fraud, Welfare, And Policy Loopholes in Minnesota

Timestamps: 15:08–21:37

• Welfare Program Flaws: Jay describes cases where asset-rich, income-poor retirees qualify for SNAP and MNCare benefits (free healthcare, food stamps), due to the system assessing income but ignoring assets, leading to “millionaires” getting state aid.
• Government Accountability: Both hosts express frustration over the lack of governmental will to address or discuss multi-year fraud and policy failures.

“He’s a millionaire...He was able to get SNAP benefits and buy lobster and steak dinners because he’s retired—income zero, assets millions. Tell me that makes any sense.” – Jay (17:10)

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3. Liz Collin Joins: The State of Journalism & Alpha News

Timestamps: 21:58–36:44

• On Bob Kroll: Liz shares that Bob (her husband, former Minneapolis police union president) is working security; he retired young but returned to law enforcement work out of passion (23:04).
• Cross-pollination among investigative journalists: Friendly accusations of “sharing” guests between podcasts underscore the insular, rapidly evolving landscape of fraud reporting in Minnesota.
• Alpha News Explained:
  • Liz details the Alpha News model—a small, local, independent team focused on stories “not told by the mainstream media.”
  • She emphasizes the exodus from old-school TV news, the declining influence of appointment television, and how younger audiences get news via social media (TikTok, YouTube, etc.) (33:26–34:33).
  • Alpha News now has six core staffers (with journalistic backgrounds), keeping a “small but mighty” feel and focusing on in-depth reporting ignored by mainstream outlets (34:51).

“We live in a day and age where you can have a podcast and social media and whatever. That’s where a lot of people just get their news now. …People want information, right?” – Liz Collin (33:26)

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4. Media, Generational Change, and the Political Tilt of Newsrooms

Timestamps: 36:44–42:02

• Younger Journalists & Agenda Setting: Discussion of how newsrooms now hire right out of college, resulting in less experienced, more activist staff, shifting newsroom culture.
• Desire for ‘the Truth’ vs. ‘Your Truth’: Liz bemoans the trend of “there’s your truth and there’s my truth,” replacing fact-based journalism.
• Shift in Demographics: Jay notes the demographic contrast in old newsrooms (average age 38+) to today (mostly under 35).

“There’s the truth. I don’t care about your feelings. We are about facts. I don’t know how that became like a thing, but ...everybody’s a victim.” – Liz Collin (39:47)

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5. Personal Trials: The Aftermath of George Floyd, Protests, and Pushback

Timestamps: 42:02–54:38

• Residential Protests:
  • Liz describes the harrowing experience of targeted, intense protests at her and Bob’s home post-George Floyd—complete with piñatas and highly personal attacks.
  • The lack of state protection or mainstream media condemnation, and local leaders getting a pass compared to others (e.g., Freeman, Fry).
  • Rep. John Thompson’s incendiary behavior during protests is called out as emblematic of political double standards.
• Workplace Fallout:
  • Liz reveals her difficult period at WCCO: pulled off the anchor desk, never reinstated, reassigned to “soft” stories (bunnies and snowstorms) after being identified primarily as “Bob Kroll’s wife” in coverage.
  • Jay compares his own experience during the “Pointergate” saga—death threats, lack of colleague support, but strong backing from management (Hubbard Broadcasting).

“That was the very first time… I actually was [afraid]. ...They were monitoring social media, keeping track of all the threats. But there is an active threat essentially out for you, for your house, so you guys need to leave.” – Liz Collin (50:09)

“All of a sudden, it started appearing like, Liz Collin is married to Bob Kroll, on basically every story I did ...No one else in this market do we know who they’re married to. It’s absolutely wild.” – Liz Collin (56:28)

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6. The Media’s Narrative: George Floyd, The Fall of Minneapolis, and Accountability

Timestamps: 46:41–62:11

• Documentary Impact: Kenny praises Liz’s documentary, “The Fall of Minneapolis,” highlighting unknown facts (e.g., police sent to wrong address during Floyd’s death, withheld bodycam footage, medical narratives obscured from public).
• Media Bias:
  • Critique of how mainstream media eschewed key facts/narratives, focusing instead on pre-determined storylines.
  • Frustration over lack of prosecution for fraud (Jay asks whether Keith Ellison’s AG office has successfully prosecuted any major cases).
  • Star Tribune is openly mocked for current leadership and headlines.
• Political Leadership Failures:
  • Kenny asks whether Governor Walz’s lack of presence during George Floyd unrest was “by design.”
  • Jay gives a nuanced answer, noting the crisis and need for back-room decision-making, while Liz is openly critical: “We have a track record of lies. …Walls withheld the National Guard… Plenty of evidence to support [his radicalism].” (60:52)
  • The group agrees that decisions (like surrendering the 3rd Precinct) were strategic, and that overall trust in institutions has plummeted.

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7. Activism, Newsroom Partisanship, and “Clown World” Minnesota Politics

Timestamps: 62:11–66:13

• Activists in Power:
  • Discussing local council member trips to Cuba with Code Pink, hosts note that activism has thoroughly penetrated Minnesota politics and newsrooms alike.
  • “Journalists really became activists over… protests and riots. …It’s like two people can look at the exact same thing and see something completely different.” – Liz (64:32)
• Coverage Bias:
  • Jay demonstrates how protests are covered in the US vs. abroad, using recent examples from Iran and criticizing one-sided editorial choices.

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8. Lighter Moments: Motorcycles, Retirement, and Heart Attacks

Timestamps: 66:42–74:09

• Motorcycle Showdown:
  • Kenny and Liz compare riding stories, with Liz sharing Bob’s Harley loyalty but revealing her secret wish for an Indian motorcycle (“They have tassels ...they’re sexy”).
• Retirement (Sort Of):
  • Jay and Kenny banter about post-newsroom life, battling health scares (both heart attack survivors), and finding joy in work outside the grind (with much ribbing over weight, habits, and doctor’s advice).

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Modern Production Values:
  “We’ve always talked about nothing. Anyhow.” – Jay (03:04)
• On Minnesota Taxes:
  “My tiny little town pays 20 grand a bleeping month to the state—and the state just shoves it right in their pocket.” – Kenny (13:15)
• On Alpha News:
  “There's a lot of people who just want information ... They’re not locked in at 6 and 10 o’clock. They don’t really care.” – Liz Collin (33:26)
• On Newsroom Demographics:
  “Now, as I retired back in October, I would easily tell you now, the vast majority are under 35 ... There was only a handful of us over 50, let alone over 40.” – Jay (39:30)
• On the Fallout from George Floyd:
  “I just saw for myself ... there was just a disregard for actually getting at the truth where I was working.” – Liz Collin (33:33)
• On Personal Danger:
  “There is an active threat essentially out for you, for your house, so you guys need to leave.” – Liz Collin (50:18)
• On Media Coverage:
  “I still think to this day the worst mayor in the history of Minneapolis.” – Jay, re: Betsy Hodges (52:18)
• On Reporting and Bias:
  “I don’t care about your feelings. We are about facts.” – Liz Collin (39:47)
• On New Media:
  “Don’t steal him from me. I want to do at least two Crabbies a week.” – Kenny to Liz, regarding Jay (66:13)

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Summary Table of Important Timestamps

| Topic | Timestamp | |-------------------------------------- |------------| | Show opener & banter, prep style | 01:32–04:22| | Crow story, listener feedback | 05:01–05:33| | Minnesota property and gambling taxes | 07:37–14:55| | Welfare asset loopholes | 15:08–21:37| | Liz Collin joins, Alpha News origins | 21:58–34:51| | Newsroom demographics, bias | 36:44–42:02| | Protest at homes, Floyd aftermath | 42:02–54:38| | Political leadership, Walz critique | 57:29–62:11| | News as activism | 62:11–66:08| | Motorcycles, health, retirement | 66:42–74:09|

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Conclusion

This episode is a revealing, insider’s tour through the realities of Minnesota journalism in the 2020s—with sharp perspectives on fraud, government accountability, the transformation of newsrooms, the rise of alternative media, and personal resilience in the face of public backlash. Jay and Kenny’s classic chemistry combines with Liz Collin’s unvarnished candor to offer both entertainment and insight—essential listening for anyone interested in the turbulent state of local news and public policy.

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Transcript

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[Jay]

You know,

[Kenny]

minimum effort, maximum glory. Yeah, maybe minimum glory, too. There's no better feeling.

[Jay]

Yeah.

[Kenny]

How long we've had Liz and Bob. Bob Kroll, Liz Collin. Yeah, for about a month and a half. Maybe two months.

[Jay]

At least a month and a half. Yep. And big show having Liz and Bob.

[Kenny]

By the way, there's no better feeling knowing a week out that you've got next week's show covered. You don't have to do jack.

[Jay]

No. Well, actually, I started working a little bit toward next week. I took advantage of it and did a little, but I felt no pressure.

[Kenny]

You're screwing up my narrative.

[Jay]

I was just saying I felt the

[Kenny]

narrative is we're not working very hard. So you get a hold of me at some point in the last five days, I don't know, and say, bob is scared to work with you, Kenny. He doesn't. Can't face you because you're, you know, you're a badass.

[Jay]

He thought you're gonna kick.

[Kenny]

What should we do? Should we reschedule them or should we just have Liz on? You know, and I'm laying there watching TV and I've got the phone going and the laptop and I'm going, eh, you know, let's just have Liz on.

[Jay]

Yeah, that was the exact response. You went, yeah, let's Just stay with it.

[Kenny]

Okay, so we're gonna have Liz on here in a few minutes, but beforehand I thought we'd, I, I don't know, talk about something. You seem to be worried about what we're gonna talk about and you don't like the fact that I have no idea what we're gonna talk about.

[Jay]

I said this to Gabe.

[Kenny]

We're professionals. We've been talking our whole lives so we can talk about something.

[Jay]

And we've always talked about nothing. Anyhow, so I was telling Gabe before and I go, I gotta said one of the things I love about working with Kenny, such a breath of fresh air for me. Because when you come from TV news, ain't no way you're five minutes to go into air with anything.

[Kenny]

A lot of pressure down there.

[Jay]

A lot of pressure there can be to not know what you're gonna talk about. And I'm always like, yeah, Kenny's all right, we'll figure something out and it'll be fine.

[Kenny]

It happened early, early in my career, jay, in the 80s and I was up at Maplewood at a.m. 1500 and had to be the board operator for, I think we called it Sports Talk came on at 6 o', clock, 6pm and a guy named Mark Boyle, who went on to great fame as a play by play guy, he's in there and the open music for Sports Talk is playing and Mark presses the button to talk to me through back and he goes, I have no idea what I'm going to talk about. And then he turns his microphone on and did an hour. Just, just did an hour. And that's been my inspiration ever since.

[Jay]

Those guys always piss me off, by the way, because I could never do that.

[Kenny]

But they have, they always have a built in topic.

[Jay]

Yeah, they do.

[Kenny]

And there's always a bunch of games they can talk about.

[Jay]

Well, they're just quick too.

[Kenny]

They're smart and quick and actually I am kind of pulling your leg a little bit. There's a couple of emails that I did want to read to you. One from Gary regarding our show last week with George Bowman. Boomin.

[Jay]

I was no Bowman. No, it was.

[Kenny]

Sounds like human booming.

[Jay]

Booming. Yes. Yeah.

[Kenny]

Which was. That was really fun for me.

[Jay]

I enjoyed the shit.

[Kenny]

Yeah, that's okay. Again podcast. Don't worry, you're not on the.

[Jay]

I think that's the first time I've ever done that. I enjoyed it too. I thought it was great. I loved him, man. I could have talked to him longer.

[Kenny]

Easy.

[Jay]

Yeah.

[Kenny]

So Gary writes, my grandparents lived in painesville in the town, when we would go out to play catch or wiffle ball, a crow would swing by and start yelling, hector, Hector. I wonder how that would sound if we. Too bad George isn't here.

[Jay]

George would nail it.

[Kenny]

Hector.

[Jay]

Hector.

[Kenny]

When we went inside, he would leave. We named him Hector. My grandma said he'd only come over when. When kids or people were outside or someone was mowing or raking the lawn. That's pretty cool.

[Jay]

Yeah, and I believe it.

[Kenny]

I've long wanted to make a crow, my friend. I probably told you that last week. Another one. On a more serious note, this one from Tom Kenny. Faye. What's Faye's last name? Or what's.

[Jay]

Bernstein? Fay. Bernstein.

[Kenny]

Fay mentioned in your interview a mistake that DHS made with the tribes. Is this the incident I recall from maybe 10 years ago when the state overcompensated the tribes for millions in medical care? If I recall, supposedly the tribes were supposed to pay back the money, which was the end of the story. I wish there would have been more discussion about that and that mistake and what the outcome of that incident was. I think I remember that. The tribes did pay the state back, man.

[Jay]

I think so, too, but I don't. I can't remember for sure. Kenny. I'd have to go.

[Kenny]

Look, my dad as a real estate broker, he's retired now, but he has sold a bunch of property to a couple of the tribes. And they are the best people in the whole wide world to deal with. With. With the real estate, they just come in with a checkbook and they pay it off right then and there.

[Jay]

It's usually cash.

[Kenny]

So knowing that, I would assume that the tribes, unless there was some legalities involved, that the tribes would have just written a check and taken care of that.

[Jay]

Yeah, I mean, they would. They would. If they thought they were getting screwed over, they would stand up and get their good attorneys, right?

[Kenny]

Without a doubt. Without a doubt.

[Jay]

But you're right.

[Kenny]

If.

[Jay]

If they thought it was fair up and up.

[Kenny]

Yeah.

[Jay]

They would just write the check and be done.

[Kenny]

Yeah.

[Jay]

Pretty simple. Yeah.

[Kenny]

And then another thing you and I have been working on, you know, for GL, I. I do 80% of the show prep. I do for GL nothing happens with it. And it's just all this knowledge that I gained that I wish I wouldn't have. And now I know this stuff, and now I'm burdened by what I know. You ever feel like you know too much? I know way too much. And I blame the Internet.

[Jay]

Yes.

[Kenny]

Part of that is taxes yeah. Why does the 60 year old Kenny give an S about taxes?

[Jay]

Because they could tax you out of

[Kenny]

your home at some point along that. Along those lines. We are working on and I think we plan on doing a taxes show and it's kind of a taxes show from the point of living and existing and working in small towns. I was turned on to a post@gal fr from Sabika made on Facebook at the beginning of December. If you don't know where Sabika is, it's between Wada and Park Rapids. Small town, less than a thousand and a lady there. Shannon Loston made a post early December saying that her parcels, one of her parcels a commercial. I think it's a restaurant or a cafe. Yeah, it's a. Yeah, it jumped up 62.7%. She has a $46,000 property tax bill and she made a really long post. And what I like about it is you can't tell from the post. I mean, if you dive deep into her, into her Facebook page, you'll figure out what side of the fence she's on. But, but the post itself is not the right wing or the right yelling at the left or the left, vice versa, you know what I mean? It's just something that should concern all of us and I thought it was really interesting. So I'm really hoping we can get a hold of Shannon and find out what happened. And if you in fact have to pay that, et cetera, et cetera, we

[Jay]

will because we talked about it and I wanted to do it and we got all caught up with a lot of the fraud stuff because it was happening right away and Operation Metro Surge and all that. And I'm glad you reminded me of her because I did want to do a property tax story because if for rural as well as not, you know, the big cities, it's. It's crazy when you think about double digit percentage increases over the last three years. Right? Double digit increases over three years. And it's funny how, I mean, I really want to do this show because you'll do an individual story, for example, Kenny, about. Oh, I'll just throw any city out there. St. Paul says they're gonna raise it by 9%. Right. 8%, whatever it is, that's just the city's portion. And then you see the news story, you read it in the paper, you see it on Channel 5 and it'll say, oh, but that's just $250 for the year over for an average home. But they haven't factored in property taxes. Are made up of the city portion, the school district, and the county. And if you're in Minneapolis, you throw in the Minneapolis park board. So that 240 could easily be more like 1,000 or $2,000, right? Yeah.

[Kenny]

And if you're in escrow or if you pay your taxes with the escrow.

[Jay]

Escrow, yeah.

[Kenny]

I don't mean taxes. Mortgage. You know what I'm saying?

[Jay]

It's. You pay your mortgage and you escrow your taxes so you don't end up short. Right?

[Kenny]

Yeah.

[Jay]

Well, that's going up now. Your mortgage is going up.

[Kenny]

Exactly. So, yeah. You used to pay 1,500 DOL a month or whatever, and now it's 2,500.

[Jay]

Yeah. And I don't know, Kenny, I joked with you and said where I moved. A part of the reason I moved to where I moved anticipating retirement was my property taxes. Where I live. 800 bucks. Yeah. And if I was in St. Paul or Minneapolis or in the surrounding Metro, it'd be 4, 5, 6, $7,000 easily. So.

[Kenny]

And my taxes here are way less than what they were in Minneapolis. And I have two properties up here,

[Jay]

and it's almost laughable.

[Kenny]

And then I want to combine on that show. On that same show, I want to. I discovered something from friends of mine that live in town. They do charitable gambling in town with pull tabs, and it benefits the fire department, and then they. Well, it benefits everybody that's a nonprofit. You can divvy up these funds and pay out the fire department or kids going to camp or scholarships, etc. Etc.

[Liz Collin]

Or.

[Kenny]

And what's outrageous about this is the fact that my town pays $20,000 a month on taxes on their pull tabs. It's a progressive tax that starts reasonable, but the more money the pull tabs rake in, the more money you have to pay to the city, paid to the state, to the state taxes on the pull tabs, the profits you make from the pull tax.

[Jay]

I got a perfect guest for this.

[Kenny]

Okay, hold on. Okay. This was doubled when they built the Vikings stadium.

[Jay]

Yes, I remember that.

[Kenny]

We're going to pay. It's going to take 100 years to pay off the Viking stadium. We're going to double this charitable tax. So it went from a mythical 10,000 to a true 20,000. And then they tell you how you can spend it. You can't use that. That money cannot go into the general fund.

[Jay]

Correct.

[Kenny]

For the city. Can't fix the water pipes. Can't do anything like that. But now that the stadium has been paid off, in record time. Guess where the state is putting those profits.

[Jay]

Where's it going?

[Kenny]

Into the general fund. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So good. And I know I just glossed over this, but I would really love to really dive in deep with this.

[Jay]

I got a great guess.

[Kenny]

Numbers at you. And it's really outrage. It's just, I can't believe that my tiny little town pays 20 grand a bleeping month to the state and the state just shoves it right in their pocket.

[Jay]

Yeah, yeah. And all mom and pop joints most likely too, right? The 20 grand. Most likely.

[Kenny]

Yeah. So the town can't use it for the roads or the sewer or anything.

[Jay]

Nope, just a money grab for the

[Kenny]

state, which is great. You know what, it's great for the fire department, Right. We got the best. You know, and I would assume all these other small towns in the area that have these awesome fire departments, I'm assuming without knowing for sure that they're doing the same thing.

[Jay]

Yeah, probably are. Yeah. I love that. We'll get. I will. Let's try to do that next. I'll try to get. Because that's a great topic and it's so timely because all the assessments are going out right now. So.

[Kenny]

Yeah. And the reason I'm bringing this up is we've had a record number of people leaving Minnesota and businesses and we've lost that tax income. So now the legislators are snooping around looking for more things that they can tax. And the recent, one of the most recent ones, we talked about it earlier in the week on GL was the classic car license plates. And they're getting into those because they found out that the people who have these classic cars are using them as daily drivers. And once you pay that, it's a one time.

[Jay]

Right? Right. Yeah.

[Kenny]

And they don't like that.

[Jay]

So they're.

[Kenny]

So they're trying to figure out a way to either stop us from driving our 72 Chevelle on a Wednesday night or taxing us more.

[Jay]

And in addition to on your quote unquote, regular car.

[Kenny]

Yeah, those have gone.

[Jay]

They're going up considerably and not letting you depreciate for the first three years, even though when you drive it off the lot, it's worth it.

[Kenny]

Meanwhile, Jay, Minnesota. Oh my God. We're living in God's country. Best place in the state and union to live.

[Jay]

It's. It's the quality of life. That's what we're told. Quality of life, Kenny. It's like, wow. Yeah, I bet San Diego really sucks. The schools must stink in San Diego.

[Kenny]

So I would, I'd like to.

[Jay]

That's a great.

[Kenny]

No, I'd like to talk about states, Jay, that don't have sales tax. Are their property taxes outrageous? Like say, Tennessee?

[Jay]

Good question. I don't know because, you know, you look at places, I often think the same thing. When you look at Florida and Texas with no income tax or so it's

[Kenny]

like, okay, yeah, so say they don't have income tax, does that mean the sales tax is higher?

[Jay]

I've often wondered how that works. Yeah, I don't know because obviously we don't live there. So who pays that close attention to find out? But I don't know. I'd love that story because the assessments are going out right now and people are seeing double digit increases, not only in rural or greater Minnesota, however you want to say it, as well as here in the metro. And for someone like me, Kenny, it's part of the reason why I moved out, so I didn't have to pay outrageous property taxes in my retirement. And I'm perfectly fine with that. Another one I want to talk about. I told you I was doing a little work on Monday. I saw this guy testify before the, he was the fraud committee. He was talking about. And this is something I had done a while ago with Min Care. These things that people don't realize in Minnesota to qualify, say for SNAP benefits. You know that supplemental nutrition program, it's food, so it's. Yeah. You're only judged on your assets, not your income. Only on your income, not your assets. I did a MNsure story and I'm gonna go find this guy. He came to me and said, I have a, I have a 401k with $800,000 sitting in it. And MN Care won't consider that. They're going to put me on MNsure is going to put me on mncare because my income is zero, even though I just retired. So I just retired. So technically my income is zero. But I kept telling MNsure I don't need MN care because I have $800,000 in assets. And they said, we can't go by your assets, we can only go by your income. This guy testified before the committee on the SNAP benefits with the same issue. And I said, we need to revisit this. He is a millionaire, I think he said a multimillionaire. And he put this to the test. And he was able to get SNAP benefits and buy lobster and steak dinners because he's retired. His income was zero even though his assets were in the millions. He Got the SNAP benefits. It's just like the guy I interviewed. His name was Steve something. A few years ago, same thing. He had almost a million dollars. And they said, nope, we're going to put you on min care, which is basically free health care because your income is zero. Tell me that makes any sense. So we'll get into that too.

[Kenny]

Wait a minute, wait a minute. I've been under the impression that if you in your later years need to go to a nursing home and you don't have money but you do have

[Jay]

assets, they take them.

[Kenny]

That they'll take them.

[Jay]

Yeah, but when you're dealing with SNAP benefits and I'm sure others and mnsure min care. And this guy was great. He went on camera and he said, hey, I'm worth $800,000 and I'm getting free medical care. He goes, jay, when I go to the emergency room, it's $3. When I get a prescription it's free. And I have almost a million dollars in the bank. But because I have no income as a new retiree, I don't. He was given free healthcare in Minnesota and it still exists. I'll try to find that guy. And we should find the guy who testified Monday because to me Kenny, that's incredibly stupid. And you're right. If you have assets, which I hate

[Kenny]

this, the fact that they'll take your assets.

[Jay]

Me too, 100%. But they will take your assets. But the government won't consider your assets for your ability to pay for healthcare or SNAP benefits makes no sense, Kenny.

[Kenny]

None.

[Jay]

So you're looking at a multimillionaire who got SNAP benefits who just testified Monday. My guy that I did in an interview four, five, six years ago or more now, who was $800,000 in his 401k and we were paying for his free healthcare even though he said he didn't want it. He tried telling the state, I don't want, I don't need men care. I'm good. And they still said no. The law says no income.

[Kenny]

Hold on, I need to turn my microphone off and curse.

[Liz Collin]

Okay.

[Kenny]

Okay, thank you.

[Jay]

I could read your lips. It was pretty good.

[Kenny]

Do you think Liz is here yet?

[Jay]

She could be. It's 3:30. Yeah, she's. Yeah, I bet. Well, let me see. Do I get a notice here that she's here? We're talking about Liz Collin, folks. She's going to join us from Alpha News. Yeah, yeah, they just called so I'm going to go up.

[Kenny]

Okay, I'll go. You go get her. I'm Going to talk about Mike Schoonover and Schoonover Body Works and Auto Care. Keep it positive. That's the credo of Schoonover Body Works and Auto Care. They are very positive. Their whole staff is. And that's what makes them a cut above all others. Whatever your vehicle may need, you'll find it at Schoonovers in Shoreview. I'm talking bodywork, engine work, tires, glass, maintenance, detailing. And if you do go to Schoonovers for body repair after a crash, that Schoonover team will act as your advocate with your insurance company and will make sure that they don't try to shortchange you with the quality of the replacement parts or even labor time. And they'll always keep you in the loop as the repairs are being done on your vehicle and as that progresses. Oh, and by the way, those body repairs are guaranteed for as long as you own the vehicle. That's an amazing pledge, and that's schoon over Body Works and Auto Care. I'm. I'm absolutely positive that your experience there will be very positive. If you need anything for that vehicle, stop in and meet the team there at 1060 County Road, Ian Shoreview. And on the web@schoonover bodyworks.com we'll be right back with Liz Collins.

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[Kenny]

So why is Bob scared of me, Liz? But why isn't Bob here?

[Liz Collin]

Kenny's gonna ask hard questions. I can't face it.

[Kenny]

I was gonna come at him with motor cycle stuff.

[Jay]

Oh, that would have been good.

[Liz Collin]

Well, I gave you guys the option. I said, that's what I said. I said, I think they actually want to talk to you more than me.

[Jay]

I sent him a text with your text saying, hey, Liz just said this. You want to reschedule? And he wrote back, nah, let's just go with it. I was like, okay.

[Kenny]

Oh, I did. Yeah.

[Jay]

Yeah, you did. Yeah. You were just too lazy.

[Kenny]

I can't help it that Bob is so scared of me. Whatever.

[Jay]

Well, everybody's afraid of you.

[Liz Collin]

I know.

[Jay]

Ever since you grew out, that's beard of yours.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah. He had hoped to be here. Serial killer passes along as well wishes.

[Jay]

So, yeah, I really wanted to see him Again, because I. It's been a while, probably been a long time. And I did a lot with him in news.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah.

[Jay]

And now I was looking forward to a chance where I could have chatted with him outside of that realm.

[Liz Collin]

Yes. But believe it or not, he's still. He's still working. So it was a security gig. That is the reason he's not.

[Jay]

And I wanted to ask him after you just told me in the hallway when he retired at 55 and went back to work, I'm like, why?

[Liz Collin]

Why?

[Jay]

Was he bored? Bored with you? What?

[Liz Collin]

Well, I mean, I don't really want to get into our personal.

[Jay]

No, this is what it's all about. We want to know about Bob and Liz. That's why you're supposed to.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah, I think that he did. You know, that is a young age, I think, to retire.

[Jay]

It is.

[Liz Collin]

So I think he kind of laid low for like a month from what I've gathered. But they need law enforcement in Minnesota, so there's some good gigs out there, I've heard. But, yeah, from what I'm sure you've heard, and his heart's always been in that. So that's what he's still kind of plugging away doing.

[Jay]

So that's what he's doing today.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah. I can't tell you more. I'd have to kill you.

[Jay]

Kill me.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah. I understand.

[Kenny]

So we were gonna.

[Jay]

Well, thanks for joining us, by the way. Yeah.

[Kenny]

Before you got here, we were gonna put up a dry erase board in the studio there with Liz and Alpha and then a dividing line and Kenny and Jay just to see who has done more podcasts on fraud. Oh, I think we might be tied.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah. You guys have been doing some good work. Well, I am gonna say I think you ripped a couple people off from my show. You know what, Kenny? Okay. Okay.

[Jay]

Well, fine walks was mutual.

[Liz Collin]

Oh, yes, he's. Well, here's the thing. I mean, it's great, right? I'm glad that people are talking about it and it's out there. So we're all in this together to try to figure this out and solve it. This was the gift I brought you guys, though. Oh, wait. I'm not really bad with this camera.

[Jay]

That's okay.

[Liz Collin]

We have Alpha news.

[Jay]

That's fantastic.

[Kenny]

Perfect.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah, so that's. I said I was gonna leave it there in the KSTP waiting room, but

[Jay]

you know what? You can do whatever you want one time. You can do whatever you want at least once, Liz. Yeah.

[Liz Collin]

Or it's where your beer pong. The garagelogic Beer pong.

[Jay]

I like that.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah. Game coming up.

[Jay]

You know, the funny thing is about the guests is tells me Kenny and I are on the right track because clearly you're seeing a lot of the same people we're seeing, too, on some of these committee hearings.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah. And isn't it frustrating, too? A lot of these people have been, I mean, literally telling their stories for years, dating back 10. 10 years even, plus former HSI investigators, TSA agents. It's really frustrating. And then that's what we get, I'm sure, the same feedback that you do, like, where are the arrests? Who's going to be held accountable? And I wish I had good answers.

[Jay]

Right.

[Kenny]

Name names. That's right.

[Jay]

Kenny's mantra is name names.

[Kenny]

And we did have our whistleblower guest, Jade, tell me her name again.

[Jay]

Faye Bernstein.

[Kenny]

She did mention that Sherene Gandhi knew about this fraud before she became the big shot in charge.

[Jay]

Oh, yeah.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah. It sounds like there's actually. There's plenty of evidence to point just to that, actually. Recent conversation. I just. We released our podcast last night with a former special agent with the Fraud Bureau under Commerce and. Right. So the BCA took their agents over about a year ago. That was something that Walz did. But, yeah, he reached out, retired, and he spoke very candidly about a lot of the things that are almost baked into policy. And I know David Feinwalks talked about that, too. Just the lack of guardrails, and it's right there in black and white. It's not. It's really out in the open.

[Jay]

And here's what's nuts about David and I go back to 2010. He and I started working on fraud, Medicaid fraud. We did a series of stories over a course of two years that led to congressional hearings in April of 2012, 2013. Right in there. Not identical issues, but very similar. Right.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah.

[Jay]

And here we are 14 years later. And a lot of that, Liz, is the same stuff we were hearing back then, which is nuts to me, when it could go on for more than a decade.

[Liz Collin]

Right. And I know you were out at the empty businesses.

[Jay]

Oh, the CCAP stuff.

[Liz Collin]

But there's even. I mean, and that's just it. Those are still out there, too. It's not like, hey, everybody's closed up shop and gone home. Not the case at all.

[Jay]

My question would be to you, and there's probably no way you can answer it, but you've done a lot more work on this than I have recently. Does anybody have any idea? Do you have any idea from the people you talk to that legitimately believe it can end. And if so, how. And what would that look like?

[Liz Collin]

Well, I mean, they've taken the steps. These programs, these 14 programs that have been put under the microscope, some have ended altogether, and this is where they're getting that $9 billion. So I think there is going to be. And you're already seeing. Right. With the autism program, they basically have said the whole thing is essentially fraud. Very few have even reapplied.

[Jay]

Right.

[Liz Collin]

So that seems to, I think, like six. Yeah. That seems to be sending some kind of message. But it is the, you know, we still hear about the daycares. We've seen the autism centers ourselves. And again, just recently, we try to focus and do a couple, like, new fraud stories a week over at Alpha News. That's kind of what we work to do. But it really does have to change, it seems like at the state capitol.

[Jay]

But what's crazy is, you know, and even Kenny and I have talked about once there's one, the next week there's another one, and then there's another angle and then there's. Oh, now it's the transportation guys. You see what I mean?

[Liz Collin]

And they have cracked down on, you know, the money going overseas. I mean, I think that that's been. That's been helpful. Yeah. With the treasury secretary, but sure. As frustrating as Minnesotans. Right.

[Kenny]

To watch fraud. I'm convinced there's fraud happening right now, today that we haven't uncovered yet.

[Liz Collin]

Oh, I completely agree. Yeah.

[Jay]

And, you know, how long will that take to ferret out? And how much of it would you ever get back? Will there be any prosecution? One thing I want to ask you, Kenny and I have talked about this, and I don't have an answer to it. Has the attorney general. Has Keith Ellison prosecuted one of these cases? I know he did something connected with. Was it Jamal Osman's wife, the city council member? Right.

[Liz Collin]

Well, he has done some. With the transportation, kind of the crackdown on medical transportation, if you remember, they were kind of hot on that. I want to say it was maybe like 20 or 30 people that were charged and then that sort of mysteriously stopped. And that's what.

[Jay]

See, nothing ever came. I'm sorry to interrupt you, but nothing really to my memory.

[Liz Collin]

I mean, charges were filed.

[Jay]

And then what?

[Liz Collin]

And we were basically being told that this is just the beginning, this is the tip of the iceberg. A lot of those press releases, and then it just stopped altogether.

[Jay]

Isn't that kind of weird?

[Liz Collin]

Yeah, but that seems to be happening again. And again, on so many subjects. Right, Jay?

[Jay]

Yeah. And how is it that there can only be a handful from his office or any AG's office? Just take Ellison out of the mix. This is going on before Ellison.

[Liz Collin]

Well, but you would think that this is the top law enforcement officer of Minnesota. Right. It's this. Out of their job.

[Jay]

The U.S. attorney's done way more than the AG. Correct.

[Liz Collin]

Well, and that's what we were talking about with my guest on the podcast. These are the positions that you expect them to be. This is what they should be doing. But instead we have the focus on. I don't know if you guys have heard, but there was a Operation Metro surge, so we're still focused on. That's the number one story. Anyway, I tend to bash the Star Tribune a little bit. Maybe too much, but it's therapeutic for me. But that seems to be the focus, you know, on a lot of.

[Kenny]

Oh, it's a diversionary tactic.

[Liz Collin]

Oh, absolutely right.

[Kenny]

It has nothing to do with reality. It's all diversionary.

[Liz Collin]

See, Kenny, you get it. I know. Yeah.

[Jay]

Well, and the Star Tribune lately has been even more so. It feels more so.

[Kenny]

Well, J A Walls guy is running the joint, correct?

[Liz Collin]

Yes. Yeah, exactly.

[Jay]

He's the publisher.

[Liz Collin]

I'm actually going to read you this. This was a headline, a real headline today, Minnesota Democrats report being followed harassed by ICE agents during immigration search.

[Kenny]

Yeah, I read that.

[Liz Collin]

I mean, could this. I mean, I said it's like clown world. So we did a story. Democrat Brad Tapke helps lead local ICE watch group that teaches people how to follow federal agents. That was a story we did a month prior. But honestly, it's like Opposite World, Right?

[Kenny]

Bizarro world.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah. I consider myself normal. I mean, maybe that's a problem. No, Kenny, don't comment. Okay. No, ye.

[Jay]

Normal's relative. But I get what you're saying. I mean, you know, I'm curious. You know, a lot of people wouldn't know. I think it's. I want to always ask you this, explain how Alpha News works. By that, I mean. Yeah, you know how TV news station works. There's anchors, reporters, and I want to ask you a couple questions about that before you get out of here.

[Liz Collin]

I do. Yeah.

[Jay]

But for the. For the viewers. Because people have asked me, how does that work? Are they here? Do they have reporters? Do they have producers? Yeah, I know it feels like you're everywhere every now and again. So I am curious to explain to people exactly what it is and how it works.

[Liz Collin]

So just backing up, obviously. I knew you in your time at kstp, we were competitors. I always beat you.

[Jay]

Why do you think I tried to

[Liz Collin]

get you hired here?

[Jay]

I wanted you hired here so that I wouldn't get beat anymore.

[Liz Collin]

I'm kind of thankful that didn't work out, but.

[Jay]

Yeah, well, I tried really hard, by the way.

[Liz Collin]

That's why I'm doing this. Jay, I was happy you retired. There is life after news. I've learned that as well. But I just saw for myself and I think you can relate to this. In local news, it's such a grind and you feel like you only get part of the story and there's a lot of people involved. And frankly, I saw it seemed that there was just a disregard for actually getting at the truth where I was working. So I was just like, what am I gonna do? I really liked independent media. I found myself. That's what I started to follow. I mean, we live in a day and age where you can have a podcast and social media and whatever. That's where a lot of people just get their news now. They're not locked in at 6 and 10 o'. Clock. They don't really care. It doesn't really fit into the lifestyle anymore. And I also see how kids were watching news and I'm like, holy crap, we're not gonna have jobs probably pretty soon. But people want information, right?

[Jay]

We were just talking about that before we went on the air.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah.

[Kenny]

I can't tell you how many text messages I get from friends that start out I saw on TikTok.

[Liz Collin]

Exactly.

[Jay]

I was telling Gabe, it used to be when we were coming up, 25 to 54 was your desired audience, right?

[Liz Collin]

Yeah.

[Jay]

And there was the appointment viewing because that's the only time and place you could get it. And now if you think about it, I gotta Believe Liz, that 2554 demo is now 5575, right?

[Liz Collin]

Oh, yeah.

[Jay]

Anybody under the age of 50 isn't sitting down at 6 and 10 anymore.

[Liz Collin]

No. Or if they're seeing local news stories, in most cases there are little clips online or on some sort of social media platform. Actually, it's funny, my son, who's 13 now, he was finding out about the Nick Shirley story before me even, because just the way his YouTube reel algorithm works. And I thought, God, that is so interesting to me just the way that news has changed so radically, Drastically. Yes. And I went to Alpha News, I guess it's been four years or so. There was one and a half people that were working there at the time.

[Jay]

So they're here.

[Liz Collin]

Oh, yes.

[Jay]

In the cities, because some people don't even know that.

[Liz Collin]

Oh, yes, we're very mysterious.

[Jay]

They suspect you're coming out of Washington. Trust me. That's what sometimes you will hear.

[Liz Collin]

Oh, we've heard it all. It's okay.

[Jay]

And then I go, no, they're actually here.

[Liz Collin]

Yes, we're a local organization. Have a great team. So, anyway, we've grown now quite a bit. I think there are six of us, so we're still a small but mighty team, but really work with a great group of talented people. They're journalists. I mean, perhaps didn't fit in that well with looking for jobs at the Star Tribune and whatnot. So we've all kind of come together and we kind of have a little niche over there.

[Jay]

Are you the only one on the air right now?

[Liz Collin]

My colleague, Jenna Globe is her name. I actually worked with her at wcco, but she was in a producer capacity back then, so she's done a couple things with me on air. But, yeah, I perhaps am the face, if you will, the one with the biggest mouth.

[Jay]

Are you? Five days a week, then? Five days, every single day, churning it out with six people.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah, we do live streams. We do a lot of work at the Capitol. We have a great Capitol reporter. Luke Sprinkle is his name. Anthony Gokowski is our editor. He's phenomenal. I have a producer who works with me on my podcast, Dr. J.C. shea. He helped me with the fall of Minneapolis and our second documentary, Minnesota versus We the People. And, yeah, we have some freelance reporters that pop in from time to time and do stories they're kind of interested in. But that's kind of our niche is the stories that are not told by the mainstream media. There's a lot of them.

[Jay]

Oh, yeah. Well, and here's the other thing where I would get a lot of pushback when I would defend what you were doing and what other independent journalists.

[Liz Collin]

Oh, it's better just to throw me under the bus, Jay. It's a lot easier.

[Jay]

I tried getting you hired here. It would be awfully disingenuous for me to turn around and then throw you under the bus. How do I phrase this?

[Kenny]

Just say it.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah, I know.

[Jay]

It's the old reporter in me.

[Liz Collin]

You know, I was born with thick skin. Don't worry.

[Jay]

No, but you know how you as a reporter, you always go back to that. Him trying to be fair to everybody involved. Right. You do provide, it's fair to say. We often hear the same sound bites from the same people on the same issues and very rarely do we get that other side with the same amount of time?

[Liz Collin]

You better be careful. They're gonna be calling you a right wing propagandist. Listen to this. Kenny, look.

[Kenny]

Yeah, he's trying to be careful. It's really. It's really cute, Jay.

[Jay]

It is, but I'm trying to be fair. Right. No, I look, honest assessment.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah, I mean, and I honestly started in News. I was 19 years old when I had my first anchor job in Sioux Falls. So I lived the corporate media world for about 20 years before I jumped ship. But it is. It's the same story told the same way in the same order. And hey, here's weather.

[Jay]

But we're the same people.

[Liz Collin]

Yes. And I found at wcco and again, thankful for my time there. Obviously, I was there for about 15 years, but I found that as I was getting older and maybe you found this as well. You know, your world view changes a little bit. And so we start hiring people that are right out of college. And that was sort of new. Usually you had to, you know, do this thing for five, six years before they'd even look at your tape back then.

[Kenny]

Yeah.

[Jay]

If you wanted to get to this market, you had to be almost 30 years old.

[Liz Collin]

And now you're right out of college. Yeah, yeah, exactly.

[Jay]

I mean, I can tell you 92. I got here in 92 to KSTP.

[Liz Collin]

Holy cow, you're so much older than me.

[Jay]

Oh, lots older. Lots older.

[Kenny]

You had a background, right?

[Liz Collin]

I did.

[Kenny]

Not only did you do radio news, you did TV news.

[Jay]

I started out in radio news, Winona to Milwaukee, then TV news in Salt Lake City, and then Salt Lake City to here. But I was 30, almost 32 before I could get here. And whenever I was trying to get to Denver, whenever I was trying to get to Seattle, I wanted to stay on the west, out west. I like the mountains. And then I end up in the Twin Cities, of course.

[Liz Collin]

Well, we're known for mountains.

[Jay]

Yeah.

[Liz Collin]

Wow.

[Jay]

I wanted to stay out west so bad, but they would say, you know, get ahold of us in about five or six years, seven years, eight years.

[Liz Collin]

Exactly.

[Jay]

When you're around 30, they wanted more experience. And when I got here, I could easily tell you the majority of the newsroom was 38 years old and up.

[Liz Collin]

Oh, sure.

[Jay]

And I was at 31, one of the younger ones. And I don't recall anybody being in their 20s, Liz. Oh, gosh, not in 1992. In our newsroom, maybe there was one or two, but not on the for sure. Now, as I retired back in October, I would easily tell you now, the vast majority are under 35.

[Liz Collin]

Yes.

[Jay]

And me, Hauser, Rich, Reeve were the three. There was only a handful of us over 50, let alone over 40.

[Kenny]

Those kids behind your back, or maybe right to your face, call you boomers.

[Jay]

They're so annoyed with me as a boomer.

[Liz Collin]

But I will say just the way that trickles down. And I think you know this too, Jay, to your audience. So you would get. As a reporter, you get a press release or you have your sources. I was able to because again, I'd been a reporter for a long time. You can figure out both sides or I have this source or there's this person to call. Well, I found as this all was starting to change, there was sort of this training of there's your truth and then there's your truth, and that's our job to reflect. And I'm like, no, there's the truth, there's the truth. I don't care about your feelings. We are about facts. I don't know how became like a thing, but that. And I think that's part of the younger. Sorry. And those are some younger people here. But some of this stuff is sort of ingrained in the younger generation and everybody's a victim. And I'm like, oh, my God. So I just was not fitting in. Can you tell?

[Jay]

Yes, well. And you're onto something because what I think is I always love the old Churchill quote. I probably bash. It's probably not accurate, but it's close. Churchill always said, if you're younger and not liberal, you don't have a heart. If you're older, you're not conservative, you're not smart, you don't have a brain. I do think with the younger influx into a major market like this, they're a little more idealistic. Right. Altruistic.

[Liz Collin]

Yes.

[Jay]

And a little more agenda on their mind. We're going to write these wrongs rather than what is the truth. And it takes a little while to learn that and understand the truth isn't your agenda.

[Liz Collin]

See, And I think when I was there. Yeah, exactly. I never really attached it to a political. I was not a political person.

[Kenny]

No.

[Liz Collin]

I was a journalist. Like, I really reported on it.

[Jay]

A lot of times the politicians annoyed me.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah. When I was younger, I really don't like politics. I mean, I really don't. It's funny, but people. That's how it's now kind of, you know, turned into this political fight. I really cared about facts and information and still do. And I was thinking That I just kind of saw that the news wasn't giving that. And I obviously really saw it on full display, you know, personally and professionally with the George Floyd thing. And that was sort of my writing on the wall. Like, I gotta figure out the next.

[Jay]

I couldn't believe how you were treated.

[Liz Collin]

Oh, it's. It's okay. I. Like I said, I'm thankful.

[Jay]

Did you talk about that or not?

[Liz Collin]

Yes, I think I've talked about it. With Kenny's pride.

[Kenny]

Yeah. With Joe.

[Jay]

Happy with Joe. Okay. I didn't know.

[Kenny]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Liz Collin]

And Joe. I mean, Joe's a therapist. Let me tell you, he cares deeply about my feelings. Just.

[Jay]

Yeah.

[Kenny]

He really is a wonderful way of. He's got a great way of feeling.

[Liz Collin]

You don't care.

[Kenny]

We don't matter to him.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah. It's really an incredible snack.

[Jay]

He's really touchy feely. Well, I didn't know you'd already. I didn't know.

[Liz Collin]

Oh, no.

[Kenny]

What happened during that with the protesting on your lawn? I. I couldn't.

[Jay]

That was incredible seeing.

[Kenny]

And not to bring up old, you know, bad memories, but something just happened and I guess it's still happening right now. And let me read to you from AI. Unfortunately, I just. I. I wasn't smart enough to be.

[Liz Collin]

Kenny's reading from AI. What is going on?

[Kenny]

I wasn't smart enough. I didn't remember to bring this. I didn't do the proper research. But it says Minnesota Republicans have posed a 2026 bill, it's House File 2809, to criminalize residential protesting outside of private homes, making it a misdemeanor. A gross misdemeanor. Democrats in the ACLU are opposing this measure.

[Jay]

We call it the Bob and Liz.

[Kenny]

The Bob and Liz Law.

[Jay]

The Bob and Liz law.

[Kenny]

Any thoughts on that?

[Liz Collin]

Well, it's interesting because after what took place at our house, and honestly, we were not the only house that summer. The Summer of love and all the peaceful protesting. There were many homes that were targeted. I think ours was on the larger scale. And others. Yeah, you know, ours was perhaps, you know, had the best language of all of them. And we had pinatas, so there was that. But

[Jay]

sorry for the snort. Yours was more festive.

[Liz Collin]

Ours was much more festive. I mean, there were lollipops in the pinatas. I mean, Bob was in tighty whities. So we just won overall in like, best protest.

[Jay]

I didn't want to see crawl on his way either.

[Liz Collin]

Well, I thought it was a diaper, but I guess it's tiny. This would be better if he were.

[Jay]

If he were here. I'm so mad that he's not.

[Kenny]

Huh? I mean, you've seen Bob, right?

[Jay]

Oh, yeah.

[Liz Collin]

Hopefully not in Tiny. Wh.

[Jay]

I don't know.

[Liz Collin]

They even had the. Even had the gap in his teeth and everything down on the. On the pinatas. Really quite something. But after.

[Jay]

Damn it.

[Liz Collin]

They did. They did pass some ordinances in some cities that basically said, all right, if you're gonna protest people's homes, you're gonna have to apply for a permit. You know, at least then saying, all right, then we can arrest you, because we're not gonna give people permits to protest residential areas. But I think it's a good idea. I'm all for protest, freedom of speech, but I don't think you should really be allowed to have homes.

[Jay]

I did a story where we included you and Bob in the story. They'd hit Freeman's house. They'd hit Lisa Bender's house. They'd hit. Well, how about the protesters climbing up Fry's fire escape with a baby inside and his wife coming out trying to. I mean, that was. All of that. All of it was ridiculous and over the top.

[Kenny]

What I couldn't believe was when Representative John Thompson was in Liz's front yard. What the hell is going on in this state when we have politicians talking like that?

[Liz Collin]

He was still. The DFL kept their endorsement even after Walls kept backing him. Remember, it was after that he was elected, and then they were like, we can't control this guy. We're gonna have to distance ourselves. But it took a long time thinking, hey, that's a pretty big red flag. This protest seems to be a bit of a red flag that this is a problem.

[Jay]

He was not elected yet.

[Liz Collin]

No problem.

[Jay]

And he still got elected.

[Liz Collin]

And they didn't pull their endorsement of him or anything.

[Jay]

And if they had paid any attention to his outburst at the Capitol when he was an. He was notorious for interrupting meetings and threatening, and nobody was paying attention, obviously.

[Liz Collin]

But just back to that time, too. What was interesting is, you even see. So like I said, just blanket. I don't think you should be going to people's homes to protest. But our picture of our house appeared 37 times in the Star Tribune. Every time they would do a story about a protest, but they never really condemned it. It was more like, okay, once you go to Mayor Fry's house, that's too far. Years later. But listen, Bob, who cares? Here's a picture of their house, and here's their address on there. And so I actually finally had to call because my news director at the time would not. At wcco, they didn't want to get involved. Of course. I had to call the legal department at the Start Tribune to say, hey, we actually live here. Can you not put a picture of our house in the paper every single time you do a story about. Anyway.

[Jay]

And how'd that go over? I'm curious.

[Liz Collin]

They actually said we won't, and then they did it again. Five years since Floyd, for some reason, our house had to be in the paper again. Bizarre.

[Jay]

It's not right.

[Liz Collin]

That's okay.

[Jay]

Not right.

[Liz Collin]

Maybe the Star Tribune will be out of business soon.

[Kenny]

So the fall of Minneapolis.

[Jay]

It's not even published here anymore.

[Kenny]

So the fall of Minneapolis that you did, Liz, pretty amazing things came out of that. One of the things that I talk about, I get asked about this a lot. Do you know, Liz, have you seen. Have you seen the fallen? Yeah, I've seen it about 18 bleeping times.

[Liz Collin]

Okay, 18 times.

[Kenny]

Well, maybe 20. Maybe it's 20.

[Jay]

He gets lonely on the farm.

[Kenny]

The one. The one. One thing that stunned me that we didn't know at the time was that the. The fire department went to the wrong location.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah.

[Kenny]

And if they would have been to the right location and they were just a few blocks off, they might have saved that guy's life.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah. That's what I think was so astounding to me. You were still working at the time, so. And you were covering it. See, I wasn't allowed to cover it, obviously, with Bob in the position that he was in. But I was passing along all this information at the time. It just seemed like there was nobody was interested in the actual truth of what even took place that day. It was like this narrative got completely out of control when the facts never. Maybe you probably have to be more careful. You're working here.

[Kenny]

The body cam video was not shown in court.

[Liz Collin]

Well, you had the body camera video, pieces of it shown. But the real point was that the body camera footage was not released to the public as if body camera footage should be. This is the whole point of, you know, we also have to pay for these body cameras.

[Jay]

That's why we have them.

[Liz Collin]

Right. But for some reason, it's.

[Kenny]

Oh, so it was shown in court.

[Liz Collin]

Right. But almost by that time, it's too late. Cause they have this exhibit that's just, you know, posted over and over again of Derek Chauvin, you know, using this maneuver on George Floyd. And that's what's, you know, sort of in the brains of the jury because they use it over and over again during his trial. But what's interesting is we didn't know, right, that George Floyd had this exact same incident, essentially a year earlier, where he nearly died of a drug overdose and used the exact same language he did in this police call. But the fact that the paramedics essentially went to the wrong address, not a part of the initial narrative, the fact that they're talking about mrt, the maximal restraint technique on the body camera footage, that's not something we're allowed to. To know. The fact that George Floyd is talking about how he can't breathe long before Derek Chauvin even arrives on scene in

[Jay]

the backseat of the squad.

[Liz Collin]

Right. So it's just all of these things that we couldn't know. And there was a reason for that. In my opinion.

[Kenny]

That was the biggest case of railroading I think I've ever seen. The minds were made up before the first gavel hit. Still stunned by that.

[Jay]

How was that for you and Bob, in all seriousness, it had to be, at times frightening. Right? Am I overstating it, or were you never really afraid?

[Liz Collin]

Yeah, actually, it's the first time in my life I actually was. I'll be honest. I mean, I grew up in small town Minnesota. Worthington. Moved to Florida by myself.

[Kenny]

That's the capital of the world.

[Liz Collin]

Exactly. I know Worthington worked my way up and lived in big and small cities along the way, but that was the very first time. And it was actually. I'll probably never forget this, but it was a call that we got. It was a couple days later, and they basically said, you guys need to. We're getting tipped off. You guys need to leave your home. Your address is online. And we also have kind of some. They're monitoring social media and whatever, keeping track of all the threats. But there is an active threat essentially out for you, for your house, so you guys need to leave. Yeah. And at the time, my son was seven. So, you know, it was just a really. And I kind of thought at first, like, this is gonna. This will blow over. But that's what was so upsetting as a journalist that I really felt like the media. Sorry, Jay. Could have done a better job just to inform the public as to what this really was, especially this influx of money that came from outside of Minnesota. And I just saw so many people again and again that I really. I thought that they would do more. But this fear just really permeated the air. It was like.

[Jay]

I can only imagine. Well, I can imagine because you were around when Black Lives Matter literally wanted me dead.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah, yeah.

[Jay]

Over the whole pointer gate.

[Liz Collin]

That was probably two years before, but there's been a lot of these precursors.

[Jay]

Yeah, mine was coming right on the heels of Ferguson and Black Lives Matter. Just.

[Liz Collin]

Yep.

[Jay]

And there was nothing factually wrong with my story.

[Liz Collin]

In fact, there usually never is. That's how it works.

[Jay]

It was Delmonico and the union who had a problem with Hodges. I don't need to get into the whole thing.

[Liz Collin]

But it was factually, completely normal. Sorry. Listen, I still keep track of her

[Kenny]

every once in a while.

[Jay]

Yeah, I can tell you this. I will tell you this. I still think to this day the worst history in the worst mayor in the history of Minneapolis.

[Liz Collin]

Really? That's saying something.

[Jay]

Yeah. I believe when you're a one term dfler in Minneapolis.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah, you're right.

[Jay]

You failed miserably.

[Liz Collin]

That's a good point.

[Jay]

And. And. And now she, you know. Well, I don't know if she still is. She's out at Harvard with some endowment.

[Liz Collin]

Oh.

[Jay]

Yeah.

[Liz Collin]

So you should look her up online.

[Jay]

I don't need to, cuz she's an idiot. But

[Liz Collin]

you're rubbing off on the newest reporter, Adel News. Here, start a cup.

[Kenny]

Yeah, give him a cup.

[Jay]

They're gonna say, oh, he's drinking the Kool Aid.

[Liz Collin]

Drinking the Kool A.

[Jay]

There you go. You put the right koolaid it in there, girl, and I'll drink it.

[Kenny]

So.

[Jay]

Yeah, the reason I bring it up is I cannot relate entirely because I think yours was more intense. And I'm going to say why it was still intense for me though, because this was just at the beginning of Black Lives Matter. And I do believe I said this to Kenny. If it wasn't for the Hubbard supporting me, because Mr. Hubbard, the son of the founder, got involved and said, well, if there's nothing inaccurate, nothing unethical, we're not gonna fire Jay. Because they were calling for me to be fired. He stood his ground and said, until you. In fact, he got mad at spj. SPJ welcomed this goofy nut job and they gave him a standing ovation, this Neville Gordon and condemned me and called for an apology and a retraction. And Mr. Hubbard's like, survivors. Yeah. Mr. Hubbard was like, what are we gonna apologize for? In other words, we didn't do anything unethical or inaccurate. So we don't. We're not gonna do that. We're not gonna go there. But I did receive death threats and my family received death threats.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah. And you had kids, right?

[Jay]

I had kids.

[Kenny]

And the security team, wonderful kids, by the way. Yeah.

[Jay]

I don't know how that happened, but thank God they are.

[Kenny]

It's not your fault.

[Jay]

Not my fault? No. I give it all credit to Rebecca on that one. So what was interesting was there is a security detail here. They did pull me aside and say, do you need some. Would you like some protection? Because I guess they look at the specificity of threats. How specific are they to see if they might carry them out. And they said there were two that really worried them. And that was the first time ever in my career, Liz, where I paused and looked at him and said, so you're telling me you think there are at least two people who are maybe serious about killing me and my entire family? And they said, yes, that's why we're going to offer you protection if you would like.

[Liz Collin]

And you're like, yeah, I'd like some.

[Jay]

I said, no, like an idiot.

[Kenny]

Yeah, you probably should have.

[Jay]

Well, I had a 30 odd six.

[Liz Collin]

Well, that's the thing I always say. I live with Bob, so I feel pretty good about it.

[Jay]

Well, and I didn't want. And I wanted to come into work every day and show people that I didn't do anything wrong. Even though many in the newsroom probably thought I did something wrong because I'd heard that some colleagues kind of badmouthed me in the field, apologizing for my reporting. And I was like, what are you apologizing for? There was nothing. There was nothing to apologize for. The guy's a dirtbag and she's an idiot. And I just couldn't believe. I couldn't believe I was in a position where I thought, man, there could be somebody that wants to kill me. That's why I wanted to ask you without trying to sound like, well, obviously, Jay. Yeah, we were afraid, but I would assume you would, but maybe not. But it's that weird feeling, isn't it, where you're like, hmm. There are authorities telling me.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah. And I. Right.

[Jay]

That I could be the target of something really, really bad.

[Liz Collin]

Well, and you're lucky. I mean, you had the backing of your station, which you did not.

[Jay]

And I told Kenny that I said if it was CBS in New York, I probably would have been fired. 100% fired.

[Liz Collin]

I mean, remember I was taken off the anchor desk. I was off the air for a couple months and then I was never put back on the anchor desk again. I. I finished out my contract. I stayed for almost two years after. But that's what really Bothered me. I mean, these are people that worked with me. They know who I am. And then all of a sudden, it started appearing like, Liz Collins is married to Bob Kroll. On basically every story I did. It was like, nothing. I. And still to this day, that's how I'm. If people report on me, they always put who I'm married to. I mean, no one else in this market do we know who they're married to. It's absolutely wild.

[Kenny]

Were you assigned, like, water skiing, Squirrel?

[Liz Collin]

Oh, yes. No, actually, Kenny, for that. This was the low point of my career. And I'm not. This wasn't a bad. I just am a hard news reporter. That's kind of my background. But I was assigned something about bunnies. It was like something about. Yeah, like, I mean, very nice people. And I was like, I'm gonna need to look for another job. I can't pull off the animal stories. Like, some people can do it. Like, it's not in my DNA. I can't.

[Kenny]

I mean.

[Jay]

Yeah, that's kind of right.

[Liz Collin]

And I was, like, holding the bunny in the tease, going like, oh, God. Or. And then I had to do every snowstorm, and I'm like, Jesus, like, I'm from Minnesota. It's still snowing here in the winter. Back to you. Like, this is not what I want to be doing.

[Kenny]

Go stand on 394 in Louisiana. I have a fairly serious question about. For both of you. And, Jay, I expect the truth from you, too. Here.

[Liz Collin]

Finally. Yeah.

[Kenny]

Do you think.

[Jay]

You know, even the media. I lie for a living.

[Kenny]

The lack of leadership from the governor during the protests, the George Floyd protest. Do you think that was by design? Why did I remember Julie Nelson and maybe Amelia and somebody else yelling at the TV camera, where are you, Governor? Along those lines. Do you think he was hiding on purpose?

[Liz Collin]

Jay, I'm letting you go first.

[Jay]

I knew you would. I felt you. I felt you stare. I felt you staring at me. I was feeling all kinds of pressure. I'm like, this is going to make me go first.

[Kenny]

Hold on, Colts. The reason I ask is I thought it at the time, but then it came out in the last few years that Gwen was at home with the windows open because she loved this.

[Liz Collin]

That was Jay's interview.

[Jay]

Yeah, that was my interview. Yeah.

[Liz Collin]

Nice work. That was strong work.

[Kenny]

That's lived on you, Coles.

[Jay]

Yes. Well, what I wanted to do.

[Liz Collin]

Way to put that in your story, too.

[Kenny]

I'm like, that was astounding. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

[Jay]

Well, here's how that came about.

[Liz Collin]

I was like, oh, he's gonna be fired. After I saw this.

[Jay]

No, here's how that all came about. And you can relate to this. So we launched this thing called Nightcast. They were trying the 10 o' clock numbers were not good. They were trying something new. And they just said, we're gonna do long form. Two and a half, three minute pieces every night. Which, you know, my head almost exploded, to be honest. That's a lot. Two to three minutes every night. That's a lot. Right beyond two to three minutes.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah.

[Jay]

Well, you're probably doing more now. Is that what you're looking at me like? Stop whining.

[Liz Collin]

A lot of whining over here.

[Kenny]

Yeah.

[Jay]

Cause a normal piece would be two to three minutes.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah, it was about five or six minutes, a minute, 20 or something.

[Jay]

It was long form stuff that required. So I said, why don't we talk to the first lady about what it was like to be in the mansion while this was going on?

[Liz Collin]

And you did?

[Jay]

I did. And then the famous quote came out. Oh, the famous quote came out.

[Kenny]

We also heard that his. His daughter was sending cryptic text messages or, I don't know, posts on some sort of social platform. Yeah, yeah.

[Liz Collin]

She was basically saying, the National Guard isn't coming out yet.

[Jay]

She was announcing the news before the governor was announcing the news.

[Kenny]

But, Jay, when I saw that piece with Gwen, I knew for certain that the reason we didn't hear from the governor was on purpose. He wanted this, in my mind, my opinion, he wanted this to get worse.

[Jay]

I think some of it. I don't know if he would have wanted it to get worse. I would say, yeah, there was a delay in getting him out in front. I mean, it was a chaotic, hectic time. And you talk about political minefield. I'm pretty sure some of it was back in back rooms trying to figure out what they were gonna say and do next.

[Kenny]

It's the most cowardly thing I've ever seen. It was just pure, straight up cowardly.

[Jay]

Fair question, fair point. Do you think I'm wrong about that? I do think they're trying to be fair too. And it's. Christ, this is a big crisis going on. I don't matter who was governor, I'm

[Liz Collin]

not fair anymore to Governor Walz. I know too much, keeps me up at night.

[Jay]

But do you think what I'm saying is in many instances they are sitting somewhere, they're trying to figure out what the hell do we say next when we go on camera? What are we gonna Do. What are we gonna say? And it may look like they're hiding, but I don't know if they are.

[Liz Collin]

I just think at this point, we have a track record of lies. I mean, with walls. And this was sort of his revolution, I think. And I think there's plenty of evidence to support that he is a Maoist. There's a reason he took 30 trips to China and has this fawning admiration of communism. I mean, these are people that I've spoken with that have been on the trips with him. And I think if you look at his time as governor of Minnesota, we've never seen a more radical governor. With so many changes that have been made, I would say many of us feel like not for the better, but anyway, we were kind of alone at Alpha News, really reporting the truth about Governor Walz years ago. A lot of our work was picked up then when he was selected as the vp. And a lot of that is in the fall of Minneapolis as well. But I have a really hard time because I did have a front row seat to all of it. Walls withheld, the National Guard, I mean, that was. Bob was on the phone. I mean, I talk about this in the book. They're Lying, The Media, the Left, and the Death of George Floyd. Jay, I hope you've read it because I told you two years ago.

[Jay]

Yes, you did.

[Liz Collin]

I was like, there's an audio version if you can't read. Jay.

[Kenny]

There are a lot of pictures. He likes pictures.

[Jay]

Yeah. I love how you look at it. You know, how you look after me is so endearing.

[Liz Collin]

I put pictures in the book for you.

[Jay]

Jay, do we need to sound some

[Kenny]

words out for you?

[Jay]

Jay, Anything helps me. You know me. Anything helps. But, yeah, I've been walking around in the dark forever.

[Liz Collin]

I think Jay is being very, very nice. But, Kenny, what are your thoughts?

[Jay]

Well, I mean, I will say this in addition. Yeah. It was clear he was not calling out the Guard. That was so obvious. Right. And there were fights between him and Fry and Rondo over the

[Liz Collin]

precinct. Yeah.

[Jay]

In the big command center, fighting over it, whether they're bringing the Guard and so on and so forth. So I don't doubt that for a minute.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah. And they were planning to. Yeah. Give the precinct away. That was sort of by design, like they were. And remember, I mean, you covered Jamar Clark. Right. And how they're. That police precinct was. Was that more than a month or. It was a long time where people were. There was an encampment there.

[Jay]

Oh, I would say close to two months.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah, I remember. Yeah. So it was sort of door. Yeah.

[Jay]

The parking lot, I should say. Right. Isn't that when they came through the gates or the cops had to rush through the gates?

[Liz Collin]

That was the fall basically of the third Precinct.

[Jay]

But what. Didn't that also. What also happened out at the 4th Precinct, though? I think there was something happened in that back parking lot.

[Liz Collin]

But they really do. They encourage. And again, there have been riots and protests. Riots, we'll call them in Minneapolis before what you do is you arrest people. This is not, you know, I know I'm married to Bob Kroll. Like, okay, just disclaimer. But I've been. I was a cop reporter a long time. You know, this is what you do. But in Minneapolis, you really encourage the behavior. And this is, you know, what we have now. And we saw it again with the whole ICE deal.

[Jay]

Have you seen the latest photo of council member Chuck Taylor?

[Kenny]

Photo?

[Liz Collin]

No, no.

[Kenny]

What are you talking about?

[Jay]

The one where she's on with. On the airplane with Code Pink.

[Liz Collin]

Is this the Cuba trip?

[Jay]

Going to Cuba?

[Liz Collin]

Yeah.

[Jay]

Unless that's what I mean, unless that's AI.

[Liz Collin]

No, no, I think that's. I think you read about it in Alpha News, probably. You're welcome.

[Jay]

I mean, think about.

[Liz Collin]

Thank you, Liz.

[Jay]

I mean, think about that for a minute. She's actually going down there to sympathize with the communists.

[Kenny]

These aren't grown ups. These are activists. They've been activists their whole life. And like you said, Jay, these are the people that are also working in newsrooms now.

[Jay]

Correct. There's a fair amount of them. I mean, that's undeniable.

[Liz Collin]

That's what I saw. Journalists really became activists over. I would have conversations over the protests and the riots, and I was like, I just can't believe it's like two people can look at the exact same thing and see something completely different.

[Jay]

Yes.

[Liz Collin]

And that is. That's kind of scary to me.

[Jay]

And you take a look at, like just in recent days with the bombing of Iran, I was watching a lot of the local channels to see how we were gonna cover it and how others were covering it. And one thing I noticed that jumped out at me right away was a lot of video protests here locally against the war, Right? Yeah, fine. They can do that. Sure. We should give it some coverage because it's part of the story. Right. But in that same newscast, not one video from the tens of thousands, if not millions of Iranians around the world celebrating. Celebrating it.

[Liz Collin]

Yep.

[Jay]

I mean, it's just a small example of what we're talking about.

[Kenny]

You know why though, Jay? But you know why? It's Trump. It's Trump's war.

[Jay]

100%.

[Kenny]

If it would have been anybody else in that office, you wouldn't have seen those protests.

[Jay]

But I sit there and think to myself, where, where are the news directors? Or where are the people that would sit there and say, okay, if we're going to show the video, the protesters here.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah, here.

[Jay]

Which is fine. We also then need to. And it has gone on day after day. I keep waiting for the video of those who are in celebration. I've yet to see it now. I could have missed it. I haven't seen every single newscast. But isn't it funny as a news guy who watches probably more news than the average person? I have not seen it. I have not seen it, Liz.

[Liz Collin]

But you're gonna fit in so well, Adolphina. It's gonna be great.

[Jay]

So eventually we'll get to work together. I tried to get you to channel five and I failed.

[Liz Collin]

Is tired.

[Jay]

You're gonna hire me.

[Kenny]

Okay, great.

[Jay]

Just don't expect 50 hour weeks out of me.

[Kenny]

Don't steal him from me. I want to do at least two crabbies a week and it's hard to get him to do one.

[Liz Collin]

I.

[Jay]

Well, no, I just told her coming down the hallway that you guys were talking about a second one. And I didn't say I was opposed to it. As long as it's not a full time job.

[Liz Collin]

I'm really fitting in perfectly under the crabby thing too. I'm like, we're just complaining. You know, this is, this is news

[Jay]

from the crabby coffee shop. And you wonder why you're in the chair.

[Kenny]

I gotta throw down against Kroll. I want to know first of all, what kind of motorcycle is he riding? What brand?

[Liz Collin]

Just Harley.

[Kenny]

Harley.

[Liz Collin]

When did he start glide or something?

[Kenny]

When did I think it's Bob?

[Jay]

Don't know.

[Liz Collin]

Before I was born. Kenny. I'm the guy. The guy's older than me.

[Kenny]

Okay, this is what I'm gonna throw down. I want you to look at, see if I can get this on.

[Jay]

I can't back it up a little bit.

[Liz Collin]

Is this you on a.

[Jay]

Is that you, Kenny?

[Kenny]

This is Kenny.

[Jay]

Nice.

[Kenny]

About seven years old, adorable on an Indian motorcycle.

[Jay]

Oh, is that it?

[Liz Collin]

Wait a minute.

[Jay]

Put that look like a mini bike.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah.

[Kenny]

What it is.

[Jay]

Oh, it's a mini bike. Okay. Yeah, you said motorcycle.

[Liz Collin]

Cool.

[Jay]

Yeah. See this is what I'm telling.

[Liz Collin]

So do you, do you have an Indian?

[Kenny]

No, but I still ride and I've spent most of my life on a dirt bike. The few times that I've owned street bikes, I've had to sell them because I cannot control myself. There was a point when I live. When I lived in south Minneapolis, I lived in south Minneapolis. I worked in the industrial area of northeast Minneapolis. And I would get on the freeway maybe 2 miles and hit over 120 miles an hour on that bike.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah. It's a good thing you sold.

[Kenny]

And I get to work and I. Genius. And then I realized, you know what? Maybe I shouldn't be riding on the street. I think I'm a danger to everybody around.

[Jay]

Right.

[Kenny]

And myself.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah. Glad you had that epiphany.

[Kenny]

So if Kroll does ever come on with us, all we're going to talk about is motorcycles.

[Liz Collin]

Well, actually, that's great. I think he's in the market eventually for another one, but I'm like, here's the thing. I feel very safe on the back of the. The bike and everything, but you can really see for yourself how bad people are as drivers. I mean, that's what really worries me. They really do not look out for motorcycle.

[Jay]

Do you just ride on the back or do you. Do you drive ever?

[Liz Collin]

No, I don't. Yeah, I don't. I mean, I'm on. On the back and. And I shouldn't say a lot. I mean, it's a couple times a year. Yeah. But, yeah, he's in a bike club and they actually do some great charity work. Bunch of cops riding motorcycles. But you know what I would like, though? Kenny is him to get an Indian next. Because I really like those bikes. They have tassels. Yeah, they're sexy, you know? They are. They're cool. Yeah, they're cool. They're cool. And I think made in, like, Iowa, so.

[Kenny]

Correct.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah.

[Jay]

But Harleys are made in Wisconsin, so.

[Kenny]

Bob.

[Liz Collin]

Bob, He's a Harley person.

[Kenny]

Polaris just sold off Indian to somebody else, so.

[Liz Collin]

Oh, that's right.

[Kenny]

And they're looking to build a headquarters in town, I believe.

[Liz Collin]

Oh, really?

[Kenny]

In the state? Yeah. Yeah.

[Jay]

Whenever I think about an Indian motorcycle, why do I think of, like, powder blue? Have I seen a powder blue Indian motorcycle?

[Liz Collin]

I don't. I don't know. Maybe that was just. Maybe that was just canning on the highway. Just. It's just a big.

[Jay]

I think I've seen it.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah.

[Kenny]

I've seen the powder blue 120 and

[Jay]

I'm like, wow, powder blue.

[Kenny]

I've tried to behave. I. I've tried. And then I bought a motorcycle that I decided I'm only going to ride this on the parkway way and, you know, then I'd end up on shepherd road doing about 90.

[Liz Collin]

Kenny, it seems like there are some bigger issues at play here.

[Kenny]

Oh, I mean, huge issues.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah.

[Kenny]

Yeah.

[Jay]

This is big problems. Yeah, but you know, we don't, we don't use therapists around here, so this is actually good.

[Kenny]

I throttle therapy for me.

[Jay]

Yeah, got it. And all the other toys you got up there.

[Kenny]

Well, do you have any more embarrassing questions for Liz Jay?

[Jay]

Nothing.

[Kenny]

Do you have any embarrassing questions?

[Liz Collin]

I'm just wondering how retirement is. You're still watching the news, which I'm like, bro, what's that about?

[Jay]

Well, you gotta know what's going on, Liz.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah, it's true.

[Jay]

And you should watch things that you don't always agree with.

[Liz Collin]

That's basically a lot of the stuff that.

[Jay]

I just teed that up for you, didn't I? How is it? It's nice. Every day's a Saturday. Except when I got to work with Kenny.

[Kenny]

How awesome.

[Jay]

Then it becomes a Monday.

[Kenny]

Liz, how awesome is it? I'm just going to ignore that. Coles, when one of your sources, unnamed sources, calls you and plants that in your head and gives you a huge, huge story. I've. I've been able to see it a few times with Kohl's, where somebody at the Capitol or some insider will call him and sneak him a little information. And then the next thing you know, we've got a wonderful show on our hands.

[Jay]

It's fun.

[Liz Collin]

Do you have that same situation? I love news. I mean, I like doing new things every day, talking to new people, getting to the bottom of things. I mean, it's something I wanted to do since I was.

[Jay]

And when you get that tip that, that pans out. Yeah, it is kind of fun. Cause you're trying to find stuff that they don't want you to find out. Right. They being government or whomever.

[Liz Collin]

Yeah. And it's hard. I mean, I'm sure you probably felt the same way too. It's like, golly, there are so many stories, you want it. And that's really what we struggle with at Alpha News. I'm like, we could hire 20 more people and still I feel like barely scratch the surface of why haven't you? Well, I mean, you're going to be the next one, so hopefully you're cheap. This is non profit news.

[Jay]

Super cheap. As long as it's not 50 hours a week.

[Liz Collin]

We have plastic cups.

[Jay]

Yes, you do.

[Liz Collin]

Okay.

[Jay]

I could do. I could be Your. I could be your big behind the scenes guy and just find stuff.

[Liz Collin]

Okay. Okay.

[Kenny]

That means he's sitting on the deck in his cabin in his pants.

[Liz Collin]

He's trying to get out of this 50 hour work week, isn't he?

[Jay]

I don't want any part of that anymore. Plus, I had a heart attack two years ago.

[Liz Collin]

Well, there's that.

[Jay]

Yes, Kenny and I are both survivors

[Liz Collin]

of heart attacks doing well.

[Kenny]

Well, I'm still lying. I lie to my cardiologist.

[Liz Collin]

Okay.

[Jay]

I just got yelled at by mine yesterday.

[Kenny]

Yeah, yeah.

[Jay]

He's not happy with me.

[Liz Collin]

So how often you have to go in after?

[Kenny]

Well, once a year.

[Jay]

Once a year. But he has me come in every six months now.

[Liz Collin]

Oh.

[Jay]

I have to go back in in August. He's not happy.

[Kenny]

When he asks you about smoking, what do you say?

[Jay]

I say yes.

[Kenny]

Oh, see, I lied for years.

[Jay]

I don't lie to him.

[Kenny]

And then one day he goes, well, why have you gained so much weight?

[Jay]

Yeah, well, okay.

[Liz Collin]

Thank you.

[Jay]

Because he goes, why are you so fat, Tim? And I said, well, I said. Because I said, I'm not working anymore. So the tendency is. I don't know about you, but I wander around. If I get a little bit bored, I go eat something. And I told him, I go, doc, pick one. You're gonna ask me, you want me to stop eating like I eat and drink? Like I like to drink and smoke? One of the three, because I can't do all three at once. And he's like, well, in your case, you need to probably do all three at once. And we'll see. You will see. It was just yesterday, I was up in Duluth. And he goes, we'll see you in August. Normally it's once a year, so I'm.

[Kenny]

You've got one foot in the grave. I'm gonna hammer on you at your funeral. Seriously, I'm gonna have a field day with you at your funeral.

[Jay]

Yeah, Black Lives Matter couldn't kill me, but those damn cigarettes will, so. All right.

[Kenny]

Well, Liz, it's been a pleasure.

[Jay]

Oh, it's been so much fun. Thanks for doing it.

[Kenny]

Say hi to Bob for us.

[Liz Collin]

Thank you. I definitely, definitely will. And sorry he wasn't able to be here, but, Jay, good to see you again. Glad you guys are doing well and we're having fun.

[Kenny]

Such says hi too, by the way.

[Liz Collin]

Oh, tell him. Tell him hello.

[Jay]

Yeah, thanks for doing this. We'll do it again because that's too much fun. And I do. I really want to be able to talk to Bob outside of our relationship back in the day when he was. Can I say it was.

[Liz Collin]

You had a relationship back in the day? I actually would love to hear these stories too.

[Kenny]

Was there kissing involved?

[Liz Collin]

Yeah, this seems a little racy, but whatever.

[Jay]

Just not Bob's type. I could tell I wasn't his type.

[Kenny]

All right, Gabe, run that music up. And thanks to everybody for listening to news from the Krabby Coffee Shop. And I'm guessing we'll have another good show next week.

[Jay]

I'm hoping.

[Kenny]

Yep. Thank you.

[Jay]

See ya.

[Podcast Host (American Experiment Co-host)]

Hey garage logicians, stick around for a preview of this week's American Experiment podcast. We're covering the DFL's proposal to create a new tax on ICE aging, the continuing debate over earmarks for nonprofits, or as I like to call it, corruption, and then a firestorm of top hits from the Capitol that you won't want to miss. On the back half, we're talking to Bill Walsh about our brand new polling on Minnesotans views towards immigration since Operation Metro Surge. We got everything you need to know in here, starting with the DFL proposing to tax ICE agents. They have a whole bunch of bills that they've proposed aiming at ICE agents in particular, things that have to do with trying to rein in the federal government. Things that are clearly not legal or irrelevant now that this is kind of over.

[Podcast Host (American Experiment)]

Yeah, but really good pr.

[Podcast Host (American Experiment Co-host)]

Yes, but really good pr. So on Wednesday, a bill in the House Taxes Committee would require those agents who weren't Minnesota residents but made more than $15,000 in wages while working here to file a Minnesota tax return. They think they could bring in $600,000 this way. Democrats argue that the whole operation cost a lot in state and local resources, so these agents should pay their fair share. Minnesotans will effectively subsidize a federal enforcement operation that they did not request and that they do not support, said Representative Athena Hollins. Moreover, enforcing this requirement sends an important message. Minnesota will not allow its tax base to be eroded by temporary federal deployments that shift costs costs on our communities. Well, Minnesota taxes non resident income already and that applies to federal government employees. Currently, a person needs to earn about 15,000 from Minnesota Sources to be required to file and remit as a non resident. That would apply to any ICE officer who's here long enough to meet that threshold too. However, the bill creates separate treatment for the ICE officers, subjecting them to tax on the first dollar of their income. So while Minnesotans tax authorities can make federal law enforcement abide by the same rules they impose on everyone else, obviously legally they cannot discriminate against them, and yet they propose this bill anyway.

[Podcast Host (American Experiment)]

They have to treat ICE officers the same as professional athletes, basically, is what this says. Because we talk about this a lot, I think. Actually our economist, John Phelan, does a lot of work on professional sports and incomes. And when a professional athlete comes to town and works in our town, plays a basketball game or a hockey game or a football game or whatever, they certainly make more than 15,000. Many of them do, even if you split their income, millions of dollars over the course of a game. So they. All these guys, these guys that play professional sports have accountants that have to split up their state income tax around the country.

[Podcast Host (American Experiment Co-host)]

So it just impacts all kinds of people. Lawyers, pilots, like. Pilots don't like flying to California because they have to separate that out at a higher level.

[Podcast Host (American Experiment)]

So of course we're gonna single out ICE activity because it's worse than all those other things. I just disagree with the premise, of course, her premise that ICE came and came and then all these costs were borne by state and local governments because ICE came to town. If ICE comes to town and does their job and there are no protests, no one knows ICE is here, they'd make their arrests. There's no strain on state and local government. All, I would say 90% of the strain on state and local government is from the protests that occurred, trying to stop and impede and protest what ICE was doing.

[Podcast Host (American Experiment Co-host)]

That was a preview of the American Experiment podcast. Tune in every Tuesday afternoon, wherever you get your podcasts.

[Progressive Insurance Announcer]

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[Jay]

With VRBoCare, help is always ready before, during and after your stay. We've planned for the plot twists, so support is always available because a great trip starts with peace of mind.