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)

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.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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.

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.

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).

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)

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|

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.