03-28-25 - North Dakota State Senator Has Sullied The Holmberg Name After Arrest

Summary

Summary of "Holmberg's Morning Sickness - Arizona" Podcast Episode
Episode Title: North Dakota State Senator Has Sullied The Holmberg Name After Arrest
Release Date: March 28, 2025
Host: John Holmberg
Co-Hosts: Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, Dick Toledo

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Introduction

In the March 28, 2025 episode of "Holmberg's Morning Sickness" on Arizona's #1 Morning Radio Show, host John Holmberg addresses a troubling news story that has inadvertently affected his personal reputation and that of others sharing his rare surname. The episode delves into the fallout from the arrest of North Dakota State Senator Ray Holmberg, exploring the unintended consequences for listeners and individuals who share the same last name but are entirely unrelated to the incident.

Main Topic: The Arrest of Senator Ray Holmberg

Overview of the Case

John Holmberg begins by discussing a disturbing headline: "Holmberg sexually exploits others." This immediately raises alarms for listeners with the Holmberg surname, leading to confusion and concern.

John Holmberg [05:02]: "If your last name's Holmberg and you get caught doing what that guy did, all the other Manchakas suffer."

The host clarifies that the Senator in question is Ray Holmberg, an 81-year-old former North Dakota lawmaker who was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. Prosecutors allege that Ray Holmberg traveled to Prague and the Czech Republic 14 times between 2011 and 2021 to pay for sex with young boys.

Impact on the Holmberg Name

Given the rarity of the surname Holmberg, John expresses deep concern over the negative publicity and the unwarranted association with such heinous crimes.

John Holmberg [06:32]: "You got a name like Holmberg, don't go dicking around with it, banging kids and stuff. You ruin it for the very rare name."

He shares personal frustrations about being mistakenly linked to the scandal, highlighting the challenges faced when sharing a unique name with someone involved in criminal activities.

John Holmberg [04:03]: "How did I not know that there was a representative from Dakota named Holmberg? Like Senator Holmberg or representative? I've never heard that."

Legal Proceedings and Defense

The podcast delves into the legal aspects of the case, mentioning that U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland characterized Holmberg's conduct as "egregious and despicable." Despite this, the judge felt that the guideline sentencing of three years was inadequate, resulting in a significantly longer sentence.

The defense, led by Mark Freeze, argued that there was no presented evidence that the underage boys were evolved or that Holmberg had assaulted a minor. They emphasized Holmberg's lack of prior criminal history and advocated for alternative sentencing, such as home confinement, citing his age and failing health.

John Holmberg [05:24]: "Homeburg used to like to tie his gigantic penis in a knot and show it to the boys. Oh, well, then there you go. Oh, well, that's pulling a Holmberg."

Public and Personal Reactions

John Holmberg and his co-hosts engage in a candid and often humorous discussion about the repercussions of sharing a surname with a disgraced politician. They explore the societal tendency to associate rare names with singular negative events, leading to lasting stigma.

John Holmberg [06:37]: "Mr. Ray Holmberg, I beg you, please, kill yourself and get this over with. Do something right now. Get rid of this."

The conversation touches on the broader implications for others named Holmberg, expressing fears that the name may become synonymous with scandal and prompting a desire to distance oneself from the negative association.

Notable Quotes

• John Holmberg on Name Prevalence:

  "They're tedious onto me. The former North Dakota lawmaker sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct." [04:05]

• On Family Impact:

  "If you screw up, then I'm synonymous with that name. And if you screw up, then I'm synonymous with that name." [06:32]

• Humorous Banter on Name Confusion:

  "I can't have that. I'm not Smith. I'm not Jefferson. A Smith and a Jefferson can read something about a Smith and a Jefferson screwing up and not worry that that name is tainted forever." [06:32]

Conclusion

The episode concludes with John Holmberg reiterating his disassociation from Senator Ray Holmberg and expressing hope that the situation will be swiftly resolved to prevent further tarnishing of the Holmberg name. He emphasizes the rarity of the surname and the personal challenges faced when unintentionally linked to such negative news.

John Holmberg [09:55]: "No, that's not me. Except for the part about tying his dick and knots. That's very possibly a Holmberg tradition that we always do that."

As the show transitions back to regular programming, listeners are left with a heightened awareness of the personal impact that public scandals can have on unrelated individuals sharing the same name.

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Note: This summary excludes advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content sections as per the guidelines, focusing solely on the substantive discussions and insights presented during the episode.

Transcript

[John Holmberg]

You're listening to the HMS Podcast, brought to you by MMP Guns.com, your most trusted online marketplace for firearms, ammunition and accessories.

[John Holberg]

All right, HMS Podcast, time again to let you know where to go for some great comedy in the Valley this week. Get out to the Tempe Improv on the east side to see Paul Verze on Thursday and Beth Stelling Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Desert Ridge Improv up North features Sarah Weinshank this Thursday and Joe DeRosa on Friday and Saturday. And downtown at Stand Up Live, check out the very funny Lil Rel performing Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Complete lineups and for tickets, go to standuplive.com desertridgeimprov.com and tempeimprov.com it's John Holberg.

[John Holmberg]

Here for the amazing people at the Core Institute, life can throw you a curveball now and again. One day you're trucking along, feeling great. Next day your dog smashes into your head and knocks you cold. Or like a KUPD listener told me this week, his dog did a sprint across the backyard directly into the side of his wife's leg and blew her knee up. She needed that knee to get fixed and fixed, right? Two years later, she's running like she used to again. And it's all thanks to the Core Institute. I went through it, too, and you can get rid of your pain and start, start saying yes, I can to all the things you want to do. And all you have to do is trust the Experts at the Core Institute. Head there right now. The Core Institute.com matter of time. Matter of time. Puddle of mud right there. And Wes is just dancing around it all the time, almost in trouble, almost out in trouble. Lead singer of that band, keep skirting it. That dude has got nine lives and then some. I don't know what's going on, but there's puddle of mud, drift and die. Still holding on 24 years later. Got two or three emails in a row from people who are like, is this a relation to you? Is this guy related to you? It says, I don't know why it's just popping up now. The headline says, Holmberg sexually exploits others. I go, no, they've. They're onto me. The former North Dakota lawmaker sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. So you see the headline Holmberg and then that's the first line. You're like, oh, no. And then it finally good, says Ray Holmberg, 81. No relation. But Then they never say the name Ray again. From there on, it's just my last name all the way through. The story says a Grand Fork State center for 45 years received a sentence longer than federal sentencing guidelines. U.S. district Judge Daniel Hovland characterized Holmberg's conduct as egregious and despicable. Not the only Homer who's been described as. That said he didn't think that the guideline sentence of three years was adequate. And then it says Homeberg, who appeared in court wearing shackles and a bright orange jail uniform, will have to register as a sex offender. Prosecutors allege Holmberg Ray traveled to Prague and the Czech Republic 14 times between 2011 and 2021 to pay for sex with young boys. How did I not know that there was a representative from Dakota named Homer? Like Senator Holmberg or representative? I've never heard that. And evidently that was. He was there says nope, not part of the charges against Holmberg. Two men who said they met him in North Dakota and were victimized by him gave him emotional testimony. One said Holmberg gave him money to film sex acts in the 90s. The other man who spoke at the hearing was cooperating witness who said that Holmberg used his political power to groom them. How dare you, sir. I'd like to make a request that every time a name as rare as mine is in a story, because that's the only time I ever see my name in. Like, that's why when David Holmberg pitched for the Diamondbacks, I'm like, don't go screwing this up, because then there's only two of us. And if you screw up, then I'm synonymous with that name. And, you know, I can't have that. I'm not Smith. I'm not Jefferson. A Smith and a Jefferson can read something about a Smith and a Jefferson screwing up and not worry that that name is tainted forever. It's the Paul Manchaka syndrome. If your last name's Manchaka and you get caught doing what that guy did, all the other Manchakas suffer.

[Unknown]

Aren't you a yacht captain, too, or some captain?

[John Holmberg]

Oh, yeah, but that guy's good. Yeah, that's. Seek him out. Nobody makes the news named Holmberg unless it's terrible.

[Unknown]

I hope this turns into the term Holmberg.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah, it's a pulling Holmberg. That's what I worry about. Brady defense attorney Mark Freeze argued prosecutors not presented evidence of the underage boys were evolved or that Holmberg ever assaulted a minor. He emphasized that homework had no criminal history. Homeburg used to like to tie his gigantic penis in a knot and show it to the boys. Oh, well, then there you go. Oh, well, that's pulling a Holmberg. Maybe is related. It says they advocated for no prison time, arguing the sentence of time had already served. Home confinement were more than appropriate given the fact that Holmberg is old and failing health. Yeah, pulling a Holmberg, that's a fear when you've got a rare last name. A Vesli is not common. No. You see a vessel. Is there any famous vestees or baseball or football or anything like that?

[Unknown]

You've never seen one because it's a made up name.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah, I think maybe because, yeah, the government gave it to him. That's the only one. But I see Holmberg in the news. I see a headline, you know, former North Dakota lawmaker, Holmberg pleads guilty for sex with children. Come on. Holmberg sexually exploits others. Yeah, but what am I supposed to do about it?

[Unknown]

Yeah, that dude Holmberg.

[John Holmberg]

Some kids you pull in a Holmberg. And now Winston's already asked him, was Holmberg a Republican? Hey, hey, let's not politicize this thing, Winston. And besides, let's always remember, Ray, the good thing about having a dumb last name is that it's very rarely in the news. But the bad side is when it is, it's rarely good. I got excited when Elin Nordiggren, the one that tried to kill Tiger woods, that was married to him, her mother was Barbaro Holmberg. She was like second in command of Sweden for a little while. I'm like, there you go. But in Sweden, Holmberg's like, Smith. We're all over the kid that plays for Toronto. Was it Pious Holmberg or something like that? He, he's great. He's doing good things for the name, this dude. You got a name like Holmberg, don't go dicking around with it, banging kids and stuff. You ruin it for the very rare name. And then I tell you know, I'll go out, sons game, rah, rah, room go, hey, how you doing? It's like, oh, you're the guy from the radio. Holmberg and somebody go, holmberg, are you related to the senator that rapes children?

[Unknown]

That's my father.

[John Holmberg]

No, I'm not.

[John Holberg]

That's my dad.

[John Holmberg]

You look like him. Cause we're Swedish. We all look exactly, exactly the same. Ask a black guy if you can tell one Swede from another. Can't happen stereotype. That's true. We're all the same. Big nose, square jaw. It's the same thing. So, Mr. Ray Holmberg, I beg you, please, kill yourself and get this over with. Do something right now. Get rid of this. The story doesn't linger. I go talk to People's Holberg. Where have I seen that name before? Oh, here we go. Don't ask, just reading something. Were you in the news recently? No.

[Unknown]

Why don't you get your yacht guy over there to take him out? Dude's not a very boat and, you know, fishing trip accident.

[John Holmberg]

Me. Well, because John Holmberg of the Virgin Islands doesn't a. Doesn't want anything to do with John Holmberg of radio. I don't think John Holmberg's going to be too arms wide open to Ray at this point.

[Unknown]

That's why take him out on them.

[John Holmberg]

Maybe I could talk to John Holmberg, yacht captain of the Virgin Islands, and say, look, we gotta get rid of this other home bird. I contacted you a few years ago as being the only two people that.

[Unknown]

Come out to bring you together.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah, or maybe I contact that homburg up there playing hockey and say, hey, dude, we got a problem with the name. You've done a great job with it on your end. Getting a little Canadian national stuff, some hockey fans in. I've done a nice job here in Phoenix and making sure that, you know, I haven't raped kids, for God's sakes. Maybe you don't like the show, but that's as far as that goes. We need to get rid of this other guy.

[Unknown]

Baseball, Homeburger. He's not doing anything, David. Yeah, maybe throw some cheddar at him maybe.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah, we chuck a couple baseballs. He's not doing anything. Right. Well, bad thing about that is I watched David pitch. I got a better chance of knocking this guy out with a fastball than I think. I'm throwing about equal as David. Anyway, so no thank you to all the emailers who have found this. I don't know how it came up. Must have popped up on some national news feed here recently, but no, that's not me. Except for the part about tying his dick and knots. That's. That's very possibly a home bird tradition that we always do that. The homework second person. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Up in Mount Jew at Pennsylvania. The. The Swedish Festival and the Homeburg family reunion is like, all right, let's see how many knots you can get in your. Do we have kids climbing it? The knot. The dick not tying contest was common in the homebrew family to be able to do that and you get your balls involved and stuff it's like tree, but yeah. Ray rapes kids, and now my name is tied to that. So hopefully this trial goes real fast and nobody. It doesn't catch wind. But thanks for everybody bringing that up. No, not related to Senator Ray Holmberg or Congressman Holmberg. And he did a great job being a Holmberg. He was in Congress, and I never knew he was there. I mean, you didn't screw up and you didn't overachieve. You're not synonymous with anything. You were in and out like a good home bird. You're in, you're out. Nobody even noticed. Now, the kid thing, you had to travel to Czechoslovakia to do it. Taking my name to Europe and making crime. Gotta kill him myself. We got an entertainment drill coming up in just moments. Not related to Ray Holmberg. It's 98 KUPD. It's out of control.

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