March 10, 2026 • 45 mins
Jon tunes into the Pentagon's press conference where Sec. Hegseth gives updates on Operation Epic Fury. Jon turns his attention to Minnesota and testimony from a DHS whistleblower.
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Speaker 1 (00:08):
All right, we're waiting the start of the latest Pentagon
press briefing. They've been pretty consistent to starting on time,
and they've been doing these every Tuesday.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
I assume that we'll be hearing from.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to get us updated, So
we'll bring you a portion of that live here on
Twinesday's News Talk.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
As we kick off hour two on the show.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Last week, lawmakers in the House State Government Committee heard
a bill HF thirty three to ninety five. This GOP
bill dubbed the Fraud Isn't Free Act, authored by House
Republican leadership. The bill is a staple of the GOP's
legislative agenda and anti fraud efforts. We're waiting to see
(00:52):
whether or not this is actually going to come to fruition.
The committee tried to send the bill to another House
committee after one committe shot it down, so they're still
working on moving this forward. There's a stalemate going on
within the House Republicans moving forward on these fraud issues.
Democrats are stalling at every step of the way, and
vice versa. The Fraud Is In Free Act would require
(01:16):
a Minnesota government agencies to fire state employees who intentionally
or negligently allow fraud to occur in state programs. The
bill would also reduce the state agencies administrative budget and
a commissioner pay of fraud occurs.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
But you know Democrats can't have any of that.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
So as we wait the start of the Pentagon Press briefing,
let me get you up to speed courtesy of gubernatorial
candidate and Representative Christin Robbins. Yesterday with the fraud hearing
that took place in the fact that essentially the Walls
Administration ghosted the hearing. Here is again Representative and gubernatorial
(01:52):
candidate Kristin Robbins laying out what happened yesterday.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Hi there, State Representative Christian Robbins. I'm heair of the
Fraud Committee, and we just go out of our.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Hearing for the week.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
This one was about the O'Malley report that is providing
a roadmap of things we can do to prevent.
Speaker 5 (02:09):
Fraud in the future.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
And we also did a separate section on the statutory
requirement for a Department of Human Services to provide periodic
data matching on eligibility for Medicaid and Medicare in Minnesota.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
I'm going to pause this here, we'll bring you more
of what she had to say and how the Walls
and administration and those that were supposed to show up
to the hearing didn't bother to show up, but did
show up for the hearing that followed. Right now, let's
go ahead and bring you in the Pentagon giving a
live update on the US strikes in Iran. This is
the Secretary of War in front of the show, Pete
Hegseth here on Twin Cities News Talk.
Speaker 6 (02:42):
Are brothers in arms, my guys, your guys, our guys.
Through their terrorist proxies and cowardly attacks. Now they race
toward a nuclear bomb to hold the world hostage. The
Iranians targeted and killed thousands of my American brothers that race.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
To a nuclear bomb.
Speaker 6 (03:07):
President Trump will never allow it, not now, not ever,
not on our watch. The Mullahs are desperate and scrambling,
like the terrorist cowards they are. They fire missiles from
schools and hospitals, deliberately targeting innocence because they know their
(03:30):
military is being systematically degraded and annihilated. Iran's neighbors and
in some cases, former allies in the Gulf, they've abandoned
them and their proxies, Hezbolah, the Huthis and Hamas either broken, ineffective,
or on the sidelines. Iran stands alone, and they are
(03:54):
badly losing. On day ten of Operation Epic Fury, we
are winning with an overwhelming and unrelenting focus on our objectives,
which are the same as the day I gave my
first briefing here on Operation Epic Fury. They're straightforward, and
we are executing them with ruthless precision. One destroy their
(04:19):
missile stockpiles, their missile launchers and their defense industrial base
missiles and their ability to make them. Two destroy their navy,
and three permanently deny Iran.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
Nuclear weapons forever.
Speaker 6 (04:38):
It's a laser focused, maximum authority mission delivered with overwhelming
and unrelenting precision, no hesitation, no half measures. As President
Trump declared yesterday, we're crushing the enemy in an overwhelming
display of technical skill and military force. We will not
(04:59):
relent until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated. But
we do so we do so on our timeline and
at our choosing. For example, today will be yet again
our most intense day of strikes inside Iran. The most fighters,
the most bombers, the most strikes, intelligence, more refined, and
(05:24):
better than ever.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
So that's on one hand.
Speaker 6 (05:27):
On the other hand, the last twenty four hours have
seen Iran fire the lowest number of missiles they've been
capable of firing yet, just the bifurcation, just the trend
lines that we talked about on our first briefing. You see,
this is not two thousand and three. This is not
endless nation building under those types of quagmires we saw
(05:51):
under Bush or Obama. It's not even close. Our generation
of soldier will not let that happen again, and nor
will they President, who very clearly ran against those kinds
of never ending, nebulously scoped missions.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
Those days are dead.
Speaker 6 (06:10):
Instead, we're winning decisively with brutal efficiency, total air dominance,
and an unbreakable will to accomplish the President's objectives on
our timeline. We stay locked down the target because here
at the Department of War, that's our job.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
Now.
Speaker 6 (06:29):
The Chairman and I, having just returned from Dover last night,
our troops and their families and the enormous sacrifice that
they make is certainly heavy on my mind. So I'll
close with scripture drawing strength from Psalm one four Blessed
be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for
(06:51):
war and my fingers for battle.
Speaker 4 (06:53):
He is my loving God, and my.
Speaker 6 (06:55):
Fortress, my stronghold, and my deliverer.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
In whom I take refuge.
Speaker 6 (07:05):
May the Lord grant unyielding strength and refuge to our warriors,
unbreakable protection to them in our homeland, and total victory
over those who seek.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
To harm them.
Speaker 6 (07:18):
An Amen, God, bless our troops and this mission that.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Was a Secretary of War Pete Hegseth giving an update
on the US strikes on Iran. I dare say you
are not going to hear a Democrat administration or Secretary
of War close out an update like Pete Hegseth just did. Personally,
(07:45):
I'm just incredibly proud of this administration and thankful that
I can call Pete a friend. That was really appropriate
and unexpected the way that he closed that out with scripture.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Wish more of that.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
All right, Let's get back to legislative session talking fraud. Yesterday,
As I mentioned, Kristin Robbins laid out how Tim Walls
and the THHS ghosted the Fraud Prevention Committee hearing yesterday morning.
Let me go back to the comments that she posted
online laying out what transpired, and then we have audio
of a whistleblower from DHS talking about the retaliation that
(08:25):
she had to deal with while attempting to expose the
ramp and fraud inside of the Walls administration.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
Hi there, State Representative Kristin Robbins. I'm chair of the
Fraud Committee, and we just got out of our hearing
for the week. This one was about the O'Malley report
that is providing a roadmap of things we can do
to prevent fraud in the future. And we also did
a separate section on the statutory requirement for a Department
of Human Services to provide periodic data matching on eligibility
(08:55):
for Medicaid and Medicare in Minnesota.
Speaker 5 (08:58):
They have not been.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
Doing this and it's required by statute. Since the end
of the COVID emergency, they have now missed two reports
required in law, the twenty four report and the twenty
five reports. So we wanted to find out why they've
not been doing that work and providing those reports to
the legislature. Unfortunately, DHS didn't show up, and I'm incredibly
frustrated because as I was walking out the door, they.
Speaker 5 (09:20):
Walked into the next hearing in the.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
Exact same room, and I asked them, why didn't you
show up at our hearing and they said, oh, they
were busy. I said, did you have a different committee
you were testifying before. No, they just ghosted us because
they didn't want to have to face the whistleblower accusations
and proven out of retaliation and have to answer for
that in front of the whistleblower. And they didn't have
(09:43):
to stand up and defend why they are violating the
law by failing to provide these periodic data matching reports.
Speaker 5 (09:51):
So I'm incredibly.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
Frustrated that they ghosted us, and that they showed up
in the exact same room two minutes after we gabbled out.
Speaker 5 (09:58):
So I will be following up.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
With them in a letter this afternoon.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
They just don't care. They do not care. Governor Tim
Walls is phoning it in as governor, which typically I
would be fine with. I think the less that Governor
Tim Walls does, the less that his administration does, the better. However,
(10:23):
we do have issues that need to be addressed, and
the fact that you're going to ghost the hearing that
you're supposed to show up for and then show up
for the next one.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
I am a pault Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 7 (10:36):
All right.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Next Minnesota DHS whistleblower Fay Bernstein going public detailing the
retaliation that she faced. We'll share with you those audio
clips a little bit later on. We'll also get into
Minnesota Senate Republicans seeking to undo the twenty twenty three
license tab of fee increase, while some dfllers want to
increase it even further, which could cost you over three
(10:59):
thousand dollars a year to get your vehicle tabs on
a card that's like fifty thousand dollars. We'll get you
all the details coming up on Twinsday's news Talk AM
eleven thirty and one oh three five FM, and of
course your comments from the iHeartRadio app as well.
Speaker 5 (11:16):
You know, what I really appreciate about this administration is
that they are not afraid to talk about God in
quote scripture, hell hell yearing, Pete.
Speaker 8 (11:25):
Hegg Seth quote, psalms, just moving me to my car,
Thank you Jesus.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
They are working through the Q and A right now
with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth regarding Operation Epic Theory.
We might bring that back to you live here in
just a moment during his initial opening statement before handing
the microphone over to General Raising Caine to give us
more of an operational look. Pete Hegseth, that closed out
(12:00):
his opening statement by quoting scripture. How many of you
were moved by that based off of the talkbacks that
we've received here on Twin City's News talking the iHeartRadio app.
Let's go back to a few of those and then
we'll listen to some of the QNA going on with
his press conference currently.
Speaker 4 (12:17):
How hard are foes of the show screeching and punching
air right now?
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Well, it's funny that you would go and say that I.
Speaker 9 (12:25):
Do not support heg Seth quoting scripture at the end
of his press conference. You do not get blanket immunity
in the eyes of God for murdering and creating war
and murdering women, children, and citizens by quoting scripture at
the end of your press conference. This war is wrong
(12:46):
and never.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
Should have happened.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
So I didn't get the sense that he was looking
to get blanket immunity. Pete Hegseth was just expressing his
First Amendment privilege, just like you did with your comments
entitled to his as well. Now on the show, I
get to decide whether or not your comments actually make
it on the air, but it was appropriate to go
and share in light of the.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Previous talk back.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
And either way, Joe, I appreciate you leaving the comment
on the iHeartRadio app. Let's go and listen to a
bit of the question and answer from the Pentagon press
briefing regarding Operation Epic Theory weeks.
Speaker 10 (13:22):
Can you give us your assessment on where we are now?
And mister chairman, and any conflict the enemy or the
adversary adapts to the tactics it faces. Can you talk
about the most challenging adaptation the Iranian military has made
to the US military? What challenges are you facing most
right now? Thank you, I appreciate the question.
Speaker 6 (13:41):
Where we are is in a very strong place giving
the President of the United States maximum options and from
the beginning, from this point, we haven't stated how long
it will take.
Speaker 4 (13:51):
Our will is endless.
Speaker 6 (13:52):
Ultimately the President gets to determine the end state of
those objectives.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
Right well, what he's said, continue it.
Speaker 6 (14:00):
I want the American people to understand is this is
not endless, It's not protracted.
Speaker 4 (14:05):
We're not allowing mission creep.
Speaker 6 (14:07):
The President has set a very specific mission to accomplish,
and our job is to unrelentingly deliver that. Now he
gets to control the throttle. He's the one deciding. He's
the one elected on behalf of the American people when
we're achieving those particular objectives, and so it's not for
me to posit whether it's the beginning, the middle, or
the end. That's his, and he'll continue to communicate that.
(14:28):
What we serve him as is give him updates on
a daily basis of exactly where we are so he
can make that determination on the throttle.
Speaker 4 (14:36):
It's true.
Speaker 11 (14:37):
Thank you for the question on adaptation, as you're right,
no plan survives first contact with the enemy or Murphy.
They're adapting, as are we. Of course, we have very
entrepreneurial war fighters out there. I'd rather not, for operational
security reasons, tell him what's working. So I'm not a
not answer that question based on that. But we are
watching what they're doing, and we are adapting faster than
(15:00):
they are.
Speaker 10 (15:01):
Are they more formidable than you anticipate?
Speaker 12 (15:03):
General?
Speaker 11 (15:04):
I mean, I think they're fighting, and I respect that,
but I don't think they're more formidable.
Speaker 4 (15:09):
Than what we thought.
Speaker 13 (15:10):
Sure, Sir Eric Sat, thank you. Jordan Conrad's gateway pundit
Axios reported, citing US.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
And Israeli sources, that the US.
Speaker 13 (15:18):
Is not happy with strikes on thirty fuel depots in Iran.
While this is anonymous sourcing, you know, it seems kind
of congruent with what President Trump said yesterday that there's
certain spots they don't want to want to hit relating
to the energy of structure that would take a long
time to rebuild. And you know, whether this reporting is
(15:40):
true or not, what's your message to Americans, those who
supported the president and those who aren't really in favor
of this sward who worry that Israel might be taking
advantage of the US's backing. And then for mister Chairman,
for you, I wanted to ask, when you say that
we're moving inlet, what capabilities does Iran have to shoot
(16:02):
down jets over their land And would that triggers some
kind of rescue operation that I could risk a bigger
ground operation.
Speaker 6 (16:11):
Well, I would just state by saying Israel has been
a really strong partner in this effort. Where they have
different objectives, they've pursued them. Ultimately we've stayed focused on ours,
but Iran has felt is the power of the world's
two most powerful air forces. In that particular case, that
wasn't those weren't our strikes or that objective, or that
(16:33):
wasn't our necessarily our objective. But the President has made
it clear to those concerns that we're not getting pulled
in any direction.
Speaker 4 (16:41):
We're leading.
Speaker 6 (16:41):
The President is leading, He's determining where we want to go,
what the outcome will be, what the end state is,
with a very keen eye. And I understand those concerns
because I've heard from a lot of people who went
through I went through twenty years of those wars, myself,
worried about getting dragged in, worried about Mission creep, worried
about nation building or democracy expansion. That's never the perspective
(17:05):
the President has pursued on this. Just because previous presidents
and previous secretaries have decided to just pour more resources
and more people in towards some unguided end state, doesn't
mean that's the way the world needs to look today.
Speaker 4 (17:19):
In fact, the American people voted for a different approach.
Speaker 6 (17:22):
But the President also stated from the beginning was that
Ron can't have a nuclear weapon.
Speaker 4 (17:27):
And it's one thing to say it. It's easy to say.
Anybody can say that. I mean, Barack Obama said that.
Speaker 6 (17:34):
But to do something about it takes courage and resolve.
Speaker 4 (17:37):
But in that courage and in that resolve.
Speaker 6 (17:40):
You can also be very scoped in what you're trying
to execute to ensure that the sacrifice of Americans, American treasure,
American lives, all of those properly meet the objective that
you're trying to accomplish. And certainly, as someone I talked
out front about what the rantings have done to our generation,
yes we're.
Speaker 4 (17:58):
Clear eyed about it.
Speaker 6 (17:59):
But my job is to keep it scoped given the
director of the President to accomplish the mission.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
You've been listening to the Pentagon taking questions on these
strikes regarding Operation Epic Fury. You're hearing from both Secretary
of War Pete Hegseth and also on General Dan Kaine
in General Raisin Kane, and there was some you know,
there was some conflict, you know, conflict between the presidents
saying we could wrap this up relatively quickly. And then
(18:26):
what you're actually hearing in this press conference, and keep
in mind, you know, the way that President Donald Trump
operates and Pete Hegseth was alluding to this just just
a moment ago, right, They give him the information and
he ultimately decides how much further they want to go
or if they want to go and pull back, and strategically,
it certainly would be strategic for the President to step
up and say, hey, you know, we.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
Could be done soon.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
We're going to wrap this up even though the operations
are ongoing, perhaps keeping Iran from continuing at the level
that they can in pushing back against the against the efforts.
My guess is this is probably still going to go
on for the next step for the next couple of weeks,
even though the operations will eventually go and wind down.
All right, let's get back to fraud played the audio
(19:11):
a moment ago. We'll get you back up to speed.
If you're just joining us here on Twin Cities News Talk.
There was a fraud hearing that was well. It took
place yesterday during the legislative session. Unfortunately, the Walls Administration
ghosted the hearing even though they showed up for the
hearing that took place right afterwards. I'll share with you
(19:32):
audio from Minnesota DHS whistleblower Faye Bernstein going public detailing
the reality retaliation that she had faced while just trying
to expose the fraud, and will continue to hear from
you in the iHeartRadio app this morning.
Speaker 14 (19:46):
Good morning guys. Call about that audio you just played
from the DHS hearing. Gimmude the statement they're going to
follow up with a letter, Really a letter, we're getting,
sick contender, just letters and talk.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
We'll need something a little more stirring than a letter.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
Well, and I think the reality is you have to
follow the protocol, and the protocol would be that's the
next step when you're faced with the circumstance of in
this case, individuals that are supposed to show up for
this hearing. I don't know what, if even there is
any further repercussions that you could bring about for skipping
(20:30):
out on a hearing like this. And I understand your frustration,
and I echo it because you hear that a lot.
We're sending a letter, But most of this just comes
down to again protocol. If you've got to complaint, that's
the next step that you need to take. And I
certainly echo the desire to have more done, but at
(20:51):
the same time, there is you know and are limitations
on what you can and can't do in terms of
holding somebody accountable. So we'll get into this audio coming
up of this DHS whistleblower. Also dfllers seeking to undo
the twenty twenty three license tab fee increase. Excuse me,
(21:11):
Minnesota Republicans seeking to undo that while Democrats are seeking
to increase it.
Speaker 2 (21:16):
I know a lot of you have comments on that.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
We've already received several talkbacks from the iHeartRadio apples are
brought to you by Lyndahl Realty.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
We will get to all.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
Of it coming up next here on twins Today's News
Talk AM eleven thirty and one oh three five FM.
The Pentagon Gistra wrapped up their press conference statements on
Operation Epic Series, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth saying today
will be our most intense day of strikes, also taking
(21:48):
questions from the press corps and during that briefing, Pete
Hegseth and his opening statement wrapped up by quoting scripture.
This has prompted many of you to comment. Let's get
to a few of your thoughts and then we will
dive back into this DHS whistleblower and audio that she
shared bombshell testimony during a fraud hearing, wherein the Walls
(22:09):
administration ghosted that particular hearing, only to show up to
the hearing afterwards. Let's go back to the iHeartRadio app
first though, on Twin City's news Talk Am eleven thirty
and one on three five FM.
Speaker 15 (22:20):
Hey Tim from Rush City. I don't understand how anyone
could be against reading scripture unless they're not a Christian.
It says in Ephesians six eleven that we are to
stand against evil, and that's exactly what we're doing, and
he's praying for our troops. So Pete Hegseth is great.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
Well, not everybody feels the way that you do or
the way that I did hearing Pete Hegseth close out
his commentary with scripture or those.
Speaker 4 (22:53):
There for Brainerd.
Speaker 16 (22:54):
If you listen to Pete Hegseth, then you feel patriotic
or love what he's saying.
Speaker 4 (22:58):
You're seriously regarded ussion for.
Speaker 16 (23:00):
MAGA, do you believe that this holy war with Iran
is going to cause the end times? And twinkled eyed
Jesus back into the world, just asking because you guys
aren't really answering that, but Pete does.
Speaker 1 (23:12):
Let me stop here really quick again. This is such
a typical tactic for those on the left. I'm going
to present for you a question that's not being asked
as a baseline premise, he started off. Eric started off, fine,
do you believe that this holy war with Iran is
going to, in his words, cause the end times and
(23:33):
twinkle light to Jesus back into the world. No, I
don't have that expectation. But then he says, just asking,
because you guys aren't really answering that. Well, that's the
first time I've heard that question to ask. So let
me continue with Eric from Raiders comments realia is also
we're at war, but we're not at war. But we
(23:54):
are at war where we're not at war. It's gonna
be over tomorrow. It's gonna be over in a week.
You guys can't make up your minds anymore. Have a
great day. It seems as if you really can't make
up your mind on the point that you want to
land on with your talkback. We are at war, and
the administration has been fairly consistent. Yes, there has been,
and I've been pointing it out on the show this morning.
Some inconsistency between what President Donald Trump has said regarding
(24:17):
how much longer the war will go on and what
is actually taking place. But Trump also knows what the
operation is. And here's exactly what he had said yesterday
during that press conference in adral Florida, regarding the length
of time this has been going on and how soon
it could be over.
Speaker 4 (24:37):
We're ahead of.
Speaker 7 (24:38):
Our initial timeline by a lot. I would say that
we probably would not have thought after a month we'd
be here. In addition to the fact that we've taken
out the leadership.
Speaker 4 (24:50):
Twice and maybe three.
Speaker 7 (24:51):
Times, and we, as you know, we want to be involved.
We don't want another president that maybe wouldn't be willing
to do I'm willing to do for the good of
the world, for the good of our nation, to be
stuck with the situation in five years or ten years
from now. So we think they should put a president
in or the head of the country in this country.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
So again what he said was we're ahead of schedule,
but he never gave an end date on that. So
even from the way that I had framed it this morning,
I probably took that too far in saying that it
would be over soon. He was just saying we're ahead
of schedule, but things can change, and both General Cain
and Pete Hegseth said as much during the press conference
(25:36):
that we shared here live on Twin City's News Talk
All Right, getting back to the fraud talk back from
the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 8 (25:44):
I'm not sure what the protocol is, but it would
be great for the Republicans to get out there now
to share with the local and national media how the
DHS is actually responding to that. They should be on
Fox News, they should be on every news channel and
just tell the people what hell they are just spitting
on off the people of Minnesota. They don't really care.
(26:07):
They're a bunch of fraud serves all day long.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
Well, while I agree, I also want to look at
this from a practical standpoint. I would like to see
further coverage on this as well. But at the same time,
that's not how any of the stuff works. You have
to be invited to go on these news shows. You
can offer yourself up as much as you want, but
ultimately it's the Fox News and the local channels that
(26:32):
end up deciding who's going to end up going on
the shows and who's not that's not on the Republican leadership.
And to further sort of bolster that point, the audio
that was shared with you a moment ago from Representative
Kristen Robbins, who is you know, the chair of the
Fraud Committee. She put out in detail her own video
(26:54):
that I shared with you, the audio laying out exactly
what had taken place putting this out on social media.
So I guess all this to say is Republicans are
actually doing what you are requesting. They're putting the information
out there. It's the news outlet's choice and decision whether
or not they want to go and put them on
their networks. You don't really have much control over that.
(27:16):
Trust me as somebody who knows and has been on
national news. Minnesota DHS whistleblower Fabernstein going public detailing the
retaliation that she faced, barred from DHS, investigated over accusations
of racism after attempting to address fraud seven years ago.
It was lengthy testimony. We've broken this up into a
couple of pieces we'll spike in your iHeartRadio app talkbacks
(27:39):
brought to you by Lyndahl Realty. As we hear from
this DHS whistleblower.
Speaker 5 (27:44):
Honey, thank you Chair Robinson. Members. My name is Fabernstein
b E R N S T E I N.
Speaker 17 (27:52):
I first want to just make a comment on the
report and say the word that I think no one
from DHS wants to hear again. But that's retaliation, the
our word. I am a twenty year employee, I'm a
current employee of DHS, and I am one of the
(28:13):
very very few DHS employees who can publicly speak about
what the environment is there. We have a very large group.
You probably have heard about the large group of employees
who anonymously tweet and anonymously work with law enforcement in
the OLA, et cetera. I have chosen to be public.
(28:37):
I think in the it has certainly harmed me professionally personally.
It has harmed me in many ways to.
Speaker 5 (28:46):
Be public, but I feel like we have to just.
Speaker 17 (28:49):
Openly speak about the conditions at the Department of Human Services.
The retaliation that I experienced was about years ago. I,
in the course of doing my job, came across some
contract irregularities that I would consider in the scope of
(29:11):
what we talked about today to be quite minor.
Speaker 5 (29:14):
But as minor as they were.
Speaker 17 (29:16):
It was not something that DHS leadership could hear.
Speaker 5 (29:22):
They just couldn't hear it. And as a result.
Speaker 17 (29:25):
Of me speaking about it, I was walked out of
the building. I was banned from all DHS owned and
licensed property. So if you can imagine, the rest of
the public can go to the Anderson Building and can
apply for SNAP.
Speaker 5 (29:42):
And I could not. I could not use the ATM,
I could not use the cafeteria. I was not allowed
in the building.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
Now, as we moved through more of this Minnesota DHS
whistleblower fae Bernstein's bombshell testimony, let me share with you
from Alpha News. In the House block legislation that would
clean state Medicaid roles, remove Medicaid eligibility for non citizens,
(30:09):
and conify Medicaid work requirements. That legislation would have brought
Minnesota into conformity with federal law, but of course that's
a bridge too far for Democrats in Minnesota. On Wednesday,
Minnesota House lawmakers in the House Health Committee considered two
bills that would ensure the state law conforms with the
(30:31):
Medicaid provisions of the One Big Beautiful Act bill. Both
of those bills are being authored by GOP Representative Danny Nadu.
The first bill, HF thirty four to thirty nine would
adopt would adapt state law to keep non citizens from
receiving Medicaid and conify the quarterly examination of the death
Master File.
Speaker 4 (30:51):
That sounds ominous Death Master File.
Speaker 1 (30:56):
Democrats objected to HF three four to three nine and
saying it was being rushed by committee and needed proper consideration.
That's just an excuse that Republicans proposed this, and we're
not going to get behind it. I have more on
this in just a second. Let's get back to testimony
yesterday Minnesota DHS whistle blower fay Enstein.
Speaker 5 (31:16):
I was investigated that went on for months and months.
I can only imagine the cost to the state of
that investigation. And I've never spoken out about the results
of the investigation, but I guess this would be as
good a time as any. The results of months and.
Speaker 17 (31:36):
Months of investigation and asking my co workers for examples
of when I was racist, when I was threatening to
do harm to leadership.
Speaker 5 (31:54):
The result of all of that was that I was
found to.
Speaker 17 (32:01):
Have questioned the competency and the decision making of the
leadership and the behavioral health division, and I was found
to have held up contracts that had compliance problems.
Speaker 5 (32:20):
So let me just say I plead guilty to both
of those things.
Speaker 17 (32:24):
I absolutely did both of those things, and I'm doing
both of those things today.
Speaker 5 (32:29):
I am very.
Speaker 17 (32:30):
Much questioning the competency of the leadership of the Department
of Human Services. And I hate to do that because
these are people I know very well. I think I
know Commissioner Gandhi very well. I've had a lot of
contact with her, a lot of time with her. But
(32:53):
the actions, the mindset I heard you use the term
fraud prevention mindset that is not present. That is not
present at the Department of Human Services. I don't know
if I would dare to use the word compassion, because
compassion sounds.
Speaker 5 (33:11):
As if it is the right thing to do. Compassion
when huge amounts of money are stolen is not the
right thing to do.
Speaker 17 (33:25):
There has been just tremendous mistakes, and yes, I.
Speaker 5 (33:28):
Have been affected.
Speaker 17 (33:29):
I certainly did not appreciate being humiliated and being accused
of of a race crime.
Speaker 5 (33:40):
I certainly did not appreciate that.
Speaker 17 (33:42):
But more importantly, when we think about people this winter
had fingers and toes frozen off, because the Department of
Human Services had to shut down a program, so people
without homes had real consequences, much more serious consequences than
I had.
Speaker 1 (33:59):
And again it's a real good example of just how
the Democrats do not stand behind that which they push.
They're willing to go and cost pain to anybody, including
their own base of voters, in order to achieve their agenda.
I have one more clip to share of this DHS
whistleblower Faye Bernstein yesterday, but to get you back up
(34:22):
to speed, and we'll get back to the Democrats blocking
this legislation to clean the motor the medicaid roles, trying
to bring this in line with the one big beautiful bill.
But let me remind you yesterday there was supposed to
be members of the Walls Administration in that hearing to
hear that very testimony and to respond to all of this,
(34:43):
and they didn't bother to show up. To the comment
that we had from the front of the show about
Republicans getting out there and letting this be known. Here
is more audio from representatives laying out in detail said
online about what actually transpired during the legislative session in
(35:04):
this fraud hearing.
Speaker 2 (35:05):
Yesterday. Oh this reps out of Ben Bakberg.
Speaker 18 (35:07):
Want to just quickly give you an update from all
of the activity here at the Capital, specifically around fraud.
Speaker 2 (35:15):
That's the biggest issue we need to address this year.
Speaker 18 (35:19):
Today we had a DHS whistleblower testify about the culture
of retaliation and how this whistleblower was chased out and
retaliated against. DHS was invited to come and testify and
they refused to show up to testify to answer to
these allegations of whistleblower retaliation.
Speaker 3 (35:41):
Before we begin, is there anyone in the Department of
Human Services in the audience? I don't see anyone, So
I just want to note for the record that DHS
was invited to be available in the audience to answer
questions today after Judge O'Malley's presentation, and they have apparently
declined to come, which is very frustrating. This is the
(36:06):
second hearing DHS has failed to appear at, and to.
Speaker 18 (36:09):
Make it even worse, they showed up to that same
committee hearing room at the next committee hearing and Representive
Robbins asked them why they weren't there, and they were
just simply too busy to show up and address this
unacceptable behavior. Unacceptable that an agency is not taking things seriously.
(36:32):
We have got to address fraud here in Minnesota.
Speaker 2 (36:35):
The OIG bill is one.
Speaker 5 (36:36):
Place to do that, and we need to get.
Speaker 2 (36:39):
That bill passed. Thank you. My name is Ben Bakberg.
Speaker 4 (36:42):
It's a pleasure to serve you.
Speaker 5 (36:46):
Hi.
Speaker 4 (36:46):
It's Mark from New Brighton.
Speaker 12 (36:48):
I mean, it's difficult to get on the airwaves in
the Twin Cities because basically all the local news channels
have their list, their role index of conventional wisdom experts
that you hear from on any political issue. David Schultz,
Katherine Karson, Larry Jacobs lately on care, this lazy rhin,
O'Brien mcclun. All you get is conventional wisdom. Getting a
(37:11):
message across is top.
Speaker 1 (37:12):
Yeah, there's a really gross attempts on our local media
in terms of bipartisanship to get these or you to
hear both sides of the story, but it rarely do
you get a really good idea on either side. There's
very little progress when it comes to the discussion because
they all take this very mamby pamby sort of middle
(37:35):
of the road stance, which is not representative of where
the actual beliefs and ideologies are of either party. All
this is hysterical, especially when you bring into light the
comments that Governor Tim Walls has made recently regarding fraud,
how much he cares about fraud, what he's planning on
doing about it when it comes to tackling fraud.
Speaker 6 (37:56):
Expect for the next eleven months for me to ride
you like you've never.
Speaker 1 (38:01):
Been ridden, unless I need to have DHS show up
at a fraud committee hearing, in which case we're just
going to blow that off.
Speaker 4 (38:07):
You can trust me on this. The person who's angriest
about this fraud is me.
Speaker 2 (38:11):
Apparently apparently not all right. Here's one more.
Speaker 1 (38:16):
The conclusion of again DHS whistleblower Faye Bernstein's comments during
this fraud hearing yesterday, I.
Speaker 5 (38:26):
Do not see how we can come through this.
Speaker 17 (38:30):
And actually quit this year after year, decade after decade problem.
I do not see how we can come through this
without a massive change at the Department of Human Services
in our leadership. They're just really simply has to be firings.
Speaker 5 (38:49):
And I hate to say that, I hate to see people.
Speaker 17 (38:51):
Fired, but there is no other way to turn this around.
Speaker 5 (38:57):
There really is no other way.
Speaker 17 (38:59):
It is so entrenched that the need to retaliate against
people who speak up as I initially did in the
most benign ways. The need to retaliate against people like.
Speaker 5 (39:15):
Me is so ingrained. It is through every step of
the process.
Speaker 17 (39:23):
Every person that I spoke to about this as I
was working up the chain of command to try to
get the contract problem resolved, every person I encountered. I
look back now and I realize I didn't get a
satisfactory response from anyone, anyone, even our internal auditors.
Speaker 5 (39:45):
I thought at the time. I thought at the time
I was being heard, and I now realize that I
wasn't at all. We have an OLA report, that is it.
I guess I could have written it.
Speaker 17 (39:57):
It's exactly what I was saying seven years ago. So
thank you for letting me speak to this. It's very
important to me.
Speaker 5 (40:08):
I think it's important to all of you, and I
hope you really hear what I'm saying about. We need
a dramastic, a dramatic change at the Department of Human Services.
Speaker 4 (40:18):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (40:18):
Now, I haven't seen.
Speaker 1 (40:22):
A single report countering the claims that she has put forward.
Are really any of the claims of the whistleblowers inside
of DHS, and again, you would have had the opportunity
from other DHS employees under Governor Tim Walls, had they
bothered to show up for the hearing, because I would
(40:45):
very much like to know what are their thoughts on
these whistleblower claims, but we don't know because the Walls
administration just decided to go and go to the hearing.
Speaker 2 (40:54):
Altogether.
Speaker 8 (40:55):
I applied this whistleblower for bringing attention to the cost
of this investigation and this is.
Speaker 5 (41:02):
Coming out of our pockets.
Speaker 8 (41:04):
The amount of waste and fraud in this state is
so infuriating.
Speaker 18 (41:11):
It just means that DHS doesn't want to show up
and answer questions.
Speaker 2 (41:15):
That means they're guilty of what they're doing because they
can't defend themselves.
Speaker 1 (41:20):
Democrats continue to block legislation to clean up the Medicaid
voter roles to bring us into compliance with the federal
government via the One Big Beautiful Bill, two bills that
were considered ensuring the state conforms with the Medicaid provisions
of the ob three. Both of those bills authored by
GOP Representative Danny Nadu. Speaking about the need for federal conformity,
(41:42):
Republican representative Jeff Backer said that when the parents of
the federal government gives you money, they set guardrails. I
think it's a huge irresponsibility if we don't conform with
the one Big Beautiful bill. Back Er warned that nonconformity
would harm Minnesota's healthcare system to the tune of anywhere
from three to three and a half billion dollars in
(42:04):
more now. Eventually, the committee tried to send this bill
to another House committee for consideration.
Speaker 2 (42:09):
However, that vote failed.
Speaker 1 (42:10):
Eleven to eleven Republicans voted to advance the bill, dfllers
voted against it. Afterwards, the Health Committee considered the other bill,
HF thirty seven to sixty three, that would ensure Minnesota
law conforms with the new Medicaid work requirements. In short,
a Medicaid recipient either needs to work twenty hours a
week or receive an exemption to that requirement. Veterans, the disabled,
(42:35):
participants and drug and alcohol recovery programs, and parents of
young children are among those who can receive that exception
to the work requirement. Like the previous bill, the vote
to send HF thirty seven to sixty three to another
House committee failed eleven to eleven, and along party lines,
(42:57):
Republicans voted for the advancement voted against it. As such,
HF thirty seven sixty three will also stay in the
Health Committee. And I find this also amusing because Aaron Kolgel,
a dfller, had posted overnight complaining about a transportation hearing
and her assertion that the GOP doesn't want to address
(43:20):
any issues that they bring up.
Speaker 2 (43:23):
Well, now you know what it feels like.
Speaker 1 (43:28):
Except the difference is the GOP is actually trying to
do something in this case to tackle fraud medicaid spending,
wherein all the Democrats want to do is avoid that,
not answer questions about fraud, and then take more money
from you. To that point, many Minnesotans have expressed frustration
about the stubbornly high license tab fees on their vehicles
(43:51):
that result the results of the changes made during the
twenty twenty three DFL Trifecta legislative session. The tax rate
went up and the rate of depreciation of vehicles will
slowed dramatically. Now I'll bring you details on this, but
let me share with you this clip before we take
a quick break and dive into our three here on
(44:11):
twin Cities News Talk. This is Representative luber Nikolai, a
Democrat out of Saint Paul, talking about offering up an
amendment to increase the rates of the registration fees so
that we can fund other projects. Let me give you
(44:31):
the baseline of what this would do, and then I'll
play the clip for you. We'll take a quick break.
What she's proposing here would equal a three six hundred
and fifty dollars payment on a two year old, fifty
thousand dollars vehicle in Hennepin County. Every year, you would
have to pay close to four thousand dollars a year
(44:52):
to register your vehicle under this ludicrous proposal. We'll get
to your thoughts coming up next here on Twin City's
News Talk.
Speaker 19 (45:00):
Us all to agree on the importance of raising revenue,
and so at some point may offer an amendment to
quintuple the rates of these registration fees so that we
may fund other projects in the state that everybody deems worthy.
Speaker 4 (45:15):
I try harder not to suck
All right, we're waiting the start of the latest Pentagon
press briefing. They've been pretty consistent to starting on time,
and they've been doing these every Tuesday.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
I assume that we'll be hearing from.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to get us updated, So
we'll bring you a portion of that live here on
Twinesday's News Talk.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
As we kick off hour two on the show.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Last week, lawmakers in the House State Government Committee heard
a bill HF thirty three to ninety five. This GOP
bill dubbed the Fraud Isn't Free Act, authored by House
Republican leadership. The bill is a staple of the GOP's
legislative agenda and anti fraud efforts. We're waiting to see
(00:52):
whether or not this is actually going to come to fruition.
The committee tried to send the bill to another House
committee after one committe shot it down, so they're still
working on moving this forward. There's a stalemate going on
within the House Republicans moving forward on these fraud issues.
Democrats are stalling at every step of the way, and
vice versa. The Fraud Is In Free Act would require
(01:16):
a Minnesota government agencies to fire state employees who intentionally
or negligently allow fraud to occur in state programs. The
bill would also reduce the state agencies administrative budget and
a commissioner pay of fraud occurs.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
But you know Democrats can't have any of that.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
So as we wait the start of the Pentagon Press briefing,
let me get you up to speed courtesy of gubernatorial
candidate and Representative Christin Robbins. Yesterday with the fraud hearing
that took place in the fact that essentially the Walls
Administration ghosted the hearing. Here is again Representative and gubernatorial
(01:52):
candidate Kristin Robbins laying out what happened yesterday.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Hi there, State Representative Christian Robbins. I'm heair of the
Fraud Committee, and we just go out of our.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Hearing for the week.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
This one was about the O'Malley report that is providing
a roadmap of things we can do to prevent.
Speaker 5 (02:09):
Fraud in the future.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
And we also did a separate section on the statutory
requirement for a Department of Human Services to provide periodic
data matching on eligibility for Medicaid and Medicare in Minnesota.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
I'm going to pause this here, we'll bring you more
of what she had to say and how the Walls
and administration and those that were supposed to show up
to the hearing didn't bother to show up, but did
show up for the hearing that followed. Right now, let's
go ahead and bring you in the Pentagon giving a
live update on the US strikes in Iran. This is
the Secretary of War in front of the show, Pete
Hegseth here on Twin Cities News Talk.
Speaker 6 (02:42):
Are brothers in arms, my guys, your guys, our guys.
Through their terrorist proxies and cowardly attacks. Now they race
toward a nuclear bomb to hold the world hostage. The
Iranians targeted and killed thousands of my American brothers that race.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
To a nuclear bomb.
Speaker 6 (03:07):
President Trump will never allow it, not now, not ever,
not on our watch. The Mullahs are desperate and scrambling,
like the terrorist cowards they are. They fire missiles from
schools and hospitals, deliberately targeting innocence because they know their
(03:30):
military is being systematically degraded and annihilated. Iran's neighbors and
in some cases, former allies in the Gulf, they've abandoned
them and their proxies, Hezbolah, the Huthis and Hamas either broken, ineffective,
or on the sidelines. Iran stands alone, and they are
(03:54):
badly losing. On day ten of Operation Epic Fury, we
are winning with an overwhelming and unrelenting focus on our objectives,
which are the same as the day I gave my
first briefing here on Operation Epic Fury. They're straightforward, and
we are executing them with ruthless precision. One destroy their
(04:19):
missile stockpiles, their missile launchers and their defense industrial base
missiles and their ability to make them. Two destroy their navy,
and three permanently deny Iran.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
Nuclear weapons forever.
Speaker 6 (04:38):
It's a laser focused, maximum authority mission delivered with overwhelming
and unrelenting precision, no hesitation, no half measures. As President
Trump declared yesterday, we're crushing the enemy in an overwhelming
display of technical skill and military force. We will not
(04:59):
relent until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated. But
we do so we do so on our timeline and
at our choosing. For example, today will be yet again
our most intense day of strikes inside Iran. The most fighters,
the most bombers, the most strikes, intelligence, more refined, and
(05:24):
better than ever.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
So that's on one hand.
Speaker 6 (05:27):
On the other hand, the last twenty four hours have
seen Iran fire the lowest number of missiles they've been
capable of firing yet, just the bifurcation, just the trend
lines that we talked about on our first briefing. You see,
this is not two thousand and three. This is not
endless nation building under those types of quagmires we saw
(05:51):
under Bush or Obama. It's not even close. Our generation
of soldier will not let that happen again, and nor
will they President, who very clearly ran against those kinds
of never ending, nebulously scoped missions.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
Those days are dead.
Speaker 6 (06:10):
Instead, we're winning decisively with brutal efficiency, total air dominance,
and an unbreakable will to accomplish the President's objectives on
our timeline. We stay locked down the target because here
at the Department of War, that's our job.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
Now.
Speaker 6 (06:29):
The Chairman and I, having just returned from Dover last night,
our troops and their families and the enormous sacrifice that
they make is certainly heavy on my mind. So I'll
close with scripture drawing strength from Psalm one four Blessed
be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for
(06:51):
war and my fingers for battle.
Speaker 4 (06:53):
He is my loving God, and my.
Speaker 6 (06:55):
Fortress, my stronghold, and my deliverer.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
In whom I take refuge.
Speaker 6 (07:05):
May the Lord grant unyielding strength and refuge to our warriors,
unbreakable protection to them in our homeland, and total victory
over those who seek.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
To harm them.
Speaker 6 (07:18):
An Amen, God, bless our troops and this mission that.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Was a Secretary of War Pete Hegseth giving an update
on the US strikes on Iran. I dare say you
are not going to hear a Democrat administration or Secretary
of War close out an update like Pete Hegseth just did. Personally,
(07:45):
I'm just incredibly proud of this administration and thankful that
I can call Pete a friend. That was really appropriate
and unexpected the way that he closed that out with scripture.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Wish more of that.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
All right, Let's get back to legislative session talking fraud. Yesterday,
As I mentioned, Kristin Robbins laid out how Tim Walls
and the THHS ghosted the Fraud Prevention Committee hearing yesterday morning.
Let me go back to the comments that she posted
online laying out what transpired, and then we have audio
of a whistleblower from DHS talking about the retaliation that
(08:25):
she had to deal with while attempting to expose the
ramp and fraud inside of the Walls administration.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
Hi there, State Representative Kristin Robbins. I'm chair of the
Fraud Committee, and we just got out of our hearing
for the week. This one was about the O'Malley report
that is providing a roadmap of things we can do
to prevent fraud in the future. And we also did
a separate section on the statutory requirement for a Department
of Human Services to provide periodic data matching on eligibility
(08:55):
for Medicaid and Medicare in Minnesota.
Speaker 5 (08:58):
They have not been.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
Doing this and it's required by statute. Since the end
of the COVID emergency, they have now missed two reports
required in law, the twenty four report and the twenty
five reports. So we wanted to find out why they've
not been doing that work and providing those reports to
the legislature. Unfortunately, DHS didn't show up, and I'm incredibly
frustrated because as I was walking out the door, they.
Speaker 5 (09:20):
Walked into the next hearing in the.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
Exact same room, and I asked them, why didn't you
show up at our hearing and they said, oh, they
were busy. I said, did you have a different committee
you were testifying before. No, they just ghosted us because
they didn't want to have to face the whistleblower accusations
and proven out of retaliation and have to answer for
that in front of the whistleblower. And they didn't have
(09:43):
to stand up and defend why they are violating the
law by failing to provide these periodic data matching reports.
Speaker 5 (09:51):
So I'm incredibly.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
Frustrated that they ghosted us, and that they showed up
in the exact same room two minutes after we gabbled out.
Speaker 5 (09:58):
So I will be following up.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
With them in a letter this afternoon.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
They just don't care. They do not care. Governor Tim
Walls is phoning it in as governor, which typically I
would be fine with. I think the less that Governor
Tim Walls does, the less that his administration does, the better. However,
(10:23):
we do have issues that need to be addressed, and
the fact that you're going to ghost the hearing that
you're supposed to show up for and then show up
for the next one.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
I am a pault Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 7 (10:36):
All right.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Next Minnesota DHS whistleblower Fay Bernstein going public detailing the
retaliation that she faced. We'll share with you those audio
clips a little bit later on. We'll also get into
Minnesota Senate Republicans seeking to undo the twenty twenty three
license tab of fee increase, while some dfllers want to
increase it even further, which could cost you over three
(10:59):
thousand dollars a year to get your vehicle tabs on
a card that's like fifty thousand dollars. We'll get you
all the details coming up on Twinsday's news Talk AM
eleven thirty and one oh three five FM, and of
course your comments from the iHeartRadio app as well.
Speaker 5 (11:16):
You know, what I really appreciate about this administration is
that they are not afraid to talk about God in
quote scripture, hell hell yearing, Pete.
Speaker 8 (11:25):
Hegg Seth quote, psalms, just moving me to my car,
Thank you Jesus.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
They are working through the Q and A right now
with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth regarding Operation Epic Theory.
We might bring that back to you live here in
just a moment during his initial opening statement before handing
the microphone over to General Raising Caine to give us
more of an operational look. Pete Hegseth, that closed out
(12:00):
his opening statement by quoting scripture. How many of you
were moved by that based off of the talkbacks that
we've received here on Twin City's News talking the iHeartRadio app.
Let's go back to a few of those and then
we'll listen to some of the QNA going on with
his press conference currently.
Speaker 4 (12:17):
How hard are foes of the show screeching and punching
air right now?
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Well, it's funny that you would go and say that I.
Speaker 9 (12:25):
Do not support heg Seth quoting scripture at the end
of his press conference. You do not get blanket immunity
in the eyes of God for murdering and creating war
and murdering women, children, and citizens by quoting scripture at
the end of your press conference. This war is wrong
(12:46):
and never.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
Should have happened.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
So I didn't get the sense that he was looking
to get blanket immunity. Pete Hegseth was just expressing his
First Amendment privilege, just like you did with your comments
entitled to his as well. Now on the show, I
get to decide whether or not your comments actually make
it on the air, but it was appropriate to go
and share in light of the.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Previous talk back.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
And either way, Joe, I appreciate you leaving the comment
on the iHeartRadio app. Let's go and listen to a
bit of the question and answer from the Pentagon press
briefing regarding Operation Epic Theory weeks.
Speaker 10 (13:22):
Can you give us your assessment on where we are now?
And mister chairman, and any conflict the enemy or the
adversary adapts to the tactics it faces. Can you talk
about the most challenging adaptation the Iranian military has made
to the US military? What challenges are you facing most
right now? Thank you, I appreciate the question.
Speaker 6 (13:41):
Where we are is in a very strong place giving
the President of the United States maximum options and from
the beginning, from this point, we haven't stated how long
it will take.
Speaker 4 (13:51):
Our will is endless.
Speaker 6 (13:52):
Ultimately the President gets to determine the end state of
those objectives.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
Right well, what he's said, continue it.
Speaker 6 (14:00):
I want the American people to understand is this is
not endless, It's not protracted.
Speaker 4 (14:05):
We're not allowing mission creep.
Speaker 6 (14:07):
The President has set a very specific mission to accomplish,
and our job is to unrelentingly deliver that. Now he
gets to control the throttle. He's the one deciding. He's
the one elected on behalf of the American people when
we're achieving those particular objectives, and so it's not for
me to posit whether it's the beginning, the middle, or
the end. That's his, and he'll continue to communicate that.
(14:28):
What we serve him as is give him updates on
a daily basis of exactly where we are so he
can make that determination on the throttle.
Speaker 4 (14:36):
It's true.
Speaker 11 (14:37):
Thank you for the question on adaptation, as you're right,
no plan survives first contact with the enemy or Murphy.
They're adapting, as are we. Of course, we have very
entrepreneurial war fighters out there. I'd rather not, for operational
security reasons, tell him what's working. So I'm not a
not answer that question based on that. But we are
watching what they're doing, and we are adapting faster than
(15:00):
they are.
Speaker 10 (15:01):
Are they more formidable than you anticipate?
Speaker 12 (15:03):
General?
Speaker 11 (15:04):
I mean, I think they're fighting, and I respect that,
but I don't think they're more formidable.
Speaker 4 (15:09):
Than what we thought.
Speaker 13 (15:10):
Sure, Sir Eric Sat, thank you. Jordan Conrad's gateway pundit
Axios reported, citing US.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
And Israeli sources, that the US.
Speaker 13 (15:18):
Is not happy with strikes on thirty fuel depots in Iran.
While this is anonymous sourcing, you know, it seems kind
of congruent with what President Trump said yesterday that there's
certain spots they don't want to want to hit relating
to the energy of structure that would take a long
time to rebuild. And you know, whether this reporting is
(15:40):
true or not, what's your message to Americans, those who
supported the president and those who aren't really in favor
of this sward who worry that Israel might be taking
advantage of the US's backing. And then for mister Chairman,
for you, I wanted to ask, when you say that
we're moving inlet, what capabilities does Iran have to shoot
(16:02):
down jets over their land And would that triggers some
kind of rescue operation that I could risk a bigger
ground operation.
Speaker 6 (16:11):
Well, I would just state by saying Israel has been
a really strong partner in this effort. Where they have
different objectives, they've pursued them. Ultimately we've stayed focused on ours,
but Iran has felt is the power of the world's
two most powerful air forces. In that particular case, that
wasn't those weren't our strikes or that objective, or that
(16:33):
wasn't our necessarily our objective. But the President has made
it clear to those concerns that we're not getting pulled
in any direction.
Speaker 4 (16:41):
We're leading.
Speaker 6 (16:41):
The President is leading, He's determining where we want to go,
what the outcome will be, what the end state is,
with a very keen eye. And I understand those concerns
because I've heard from a lot of people who went
through I went through twenty years of those wars, myself,
worried about getting dragged in, worried about Mission creep, worried
about nation building or democracy expansion. That's never the perspective
(17:05):
the President has pursued on this. Just because previous presidents
and previous secretaries have decided to just pour more resources
and more people in towards some unguided end state, doesn't
mean that's the way the world needs to look today.
Speaker 4 (17:19):
In fact, the American people voted for a different approach.
Speaker 6 (17:22):
But the President also stated from the beginning was that
Ron can't have a nuclear weapon.
Speaker 4 (17:27):
And it's one thing to say it. It's easy to say.
Anybody can say that. I mean, Barack Obama said that.
Speaker 6 (17:34):
But to do something about it takes courage and resolve.
Speaker 4 (17:37):
But in that courage and in that resolve.
Speaker 6 (17:40):
You can also be very scoped in what you're trying
to execute to ensure that the sacrifice of Americans, American treasure,
American lives, all of those properly meet the objective that
you're trying to accomplish. And certainly, as someone I talked
out front about what the rantings have done to our generation,
yes we're.
Speaker 4 (17:58):
Clear eyed about it.
Speaker 6 (17:59):
But my job is to keep it scoped given the
director of the President to accomplish the mission.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
You've been listening to the Pentagon taking questions on these
strikes regarding Operation Epic Fury. You're hearing from both Secretary
of War Pete Hegseth and also on General Dan Kaine
in General Raisin Kane, and there was some you know,
there was some conflict, you know, conflict between the presidents
saying we could wrap this up relatively quickly. And then
(18:26):
what you're actually hearing in this press conference, and keep
in mind, you know, the way that President Donald Trump
operates and Pete Hegseth was alluding to this just just
a moment ago, right, They give him the information and
he ultimately decides how much further they want to go
or if they want to go and pull back, and strategically,
it certainly would be strategic for the President to step
up and say, hey, you know, we.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
Could be done soon.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
We're going to wrap this up even though the operations
are ongoing, perhaps keeping Iran from continuing at the level
that they can in pushing back against the against the efforts.
My guess is this is probably still going to go
on for the next step for the next couple of weeks,
even though the operations will eventually go and wind down.
All right, let's get back to fraud played the audio
(19:11):
a moment ago. We'll get you back up to speed.
If you're just joining us here on Twin Cities News Talk.
There was a fraud hearing that was well. It took
place yesterday during the legislative session. Unfortunately, the Walls Administration
ghosted the hearing even though they showed up for the
hearing that took place right afterwards. I'll share with you
(19:32):
audio from Minnesota DHS whistleblower Faye Bernstein going public detailing
the reality retaliation that she had faced while just trying
to expose the fraud, and will continue to hear from
you in the iHeartRadio app this morning.
Speaker 14 (19:46):
Good morning guys. Call about that audio you just played
from the DHS hearing. Gimmude the statement they're going to
follow up with a letter, Really a letter, we're getting,
sick contender, just letters and talk.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
We'll need something a little more stirring than a letter.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
Well, and I think the reality is you have to
follow the protocol, and the protocol would be that's the
next step when you're faced with the circumstance of in
this case, individuals that are supposed to show up for
this hearing. I don't know what, if even there is
any further repercussions that you could bring about for skipping
(20:30):
out on a hearing like this. And I understand your frustration,
and I echo it because you hear that a lot.
We're sending a letter, But most of this just comes
down to again protocol. If you've got to complaint, that's
the next step that you need to take. And I
certainly echo the desire to have more done, but at
(20:51):
the same time, there is you know and are limitations
on what you can and can't do in terms of
holding somebody accountable. So we'll get into this audio coming
up of this DHS whistleblower. Also dfllers seeking to undo
the twenty twenty three license tab fee increase. Excuse me,
(21:11):
Minnesota Republicans seeking to undo that while Democrats are seeking
to increase it.
Speaker 2 (21:16):
I know a lot of you have comments on that.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
We've already received several talkbacks from the iHeartRadio apples are
brought to you by Lyndahl Realty.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
We will get to all.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
Of it coming up next here on twins Today's News
Talk AM eleven thirty and one oh three five FM.
The Pentagon Gistra wrapped up their press conference statements on
Operation Epic Series, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth saying today
will be our most intense day of strikes, also taking
(21:48):
questions from the press corps and during that briefing, Pete
Hegseth and his opening statement wrapped up by quoting scripture.
This has prompted many of you to comment. Let's get
to a few of your thoughts and then we will
dive back into this DHS whistleblower and audio that she
shared bombshell testimony during a fraud hearing, wherein the Walls
(22:09):
administration ghosted that particular hearing, only to show up to
the hearing afterwards. Let's go back to the iHeartRadio app
first though, on Twin City's news Talk Am eleven thirty
and one on three five FM.
Speaker 15 (22:20):
Hey Tim from Rush City. I don't understand how anyone
could be against reading scripture unless they're not a Christian.
It says in Ephesians six eleven that we are to
stand against evil, and that's exactly what we're doing, and
he's praying for our troops. So Pete Hegseth is great.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
Well, not everybody feels the way that you do or
the way that I did hearing Pete Hegseth close out
his commentary with scripture or those.
Speaker 4 (22:53):
There for Brainerd.
Speaker 16 (22:54):
If you listen to Pete Hegseth, then you feel patriotic
or love what he's saying.
Speaker 4 (22:58):
You're seriously regarded ussion for.
Speaker 16 (23:00):
MAGA, do you believe that this holy war with Iran
is going to cause the end times? And twinkled eyed
Jesus back into the world, just asking because you guys
aren't really answering that, but Pete does.
Speaker 1 (23:12):
Let me stop here really quick again. This is such
a typical tactic for those on the left. I'm going
to present for you a question that's not being asked
as a baseline premise, he started off. Eric started off, fine,
do you believe that this holy war with Iran is
going to, in his words, cause the end times and
(23:33):
twinkle light to Jesus back into the world. No, I
don't have that expectation. But then he says, just asking,
because you guys aren't really answering that. Well, that's the
first time I've heard that question to ask. So let
me continue with Eric from Raiders comments realia is also
we're at war, but we're not at war. But we
(23:54):
are at war where we're not at war. It's gonna
be over tomorrow. It's gonna be over in a week.
You guys can't make up your minds anymore. Have a
great day. It seems as if you really can't make
up your mind on the point that you want to
land on with your talkback. We are at war, and
the administration has been fairly consistent. Yes, there has been,
and I've been pointing it out on the show this morning.
Some inconsistency between what President Donald Trump has said regarding
(24:17):
how much longer the war will go on and what
is actually taking place. But Trump also knows what the
operation is. And here's exactly what he had said yesterday
during that press conference in adral Florida, regarding the length
of time this has been going on and how soon
it could be over.
Speaker 4 (24:37):
We're ahead of.
Speaker 7 (24:38):
Our initial timeline by a lot. I would say that
we probably would not have thought after a month we'd
be here. In addition to the fact that we've taken
out the leadership.
Speaker 4 (24:50):
Twice and maybe three.
Speaker 7 (24:51):
Times, and we, as you know, we want to be involved.
We don't want another president that maybe wouldn't be willing
to do I'm willing to do for the good of
the world, for the good of our nation, to be
stuck with the situation in five years or ten years
from now. So we think they should put a president
in or the head of the country in this country.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
So again what he said was we're ahead of schedule,
but he never gave an end date on that. So
even from the way that I had framed it this morning,
I probably took that too far in saying that it
would be over soon. He was just saying we're ahead
of schedule, but things can change, and both General Cain
and Pete Hegseth said as much during the press conference
(25:36):
that we shared here live on Twin City's News Talk
All Right, getting back to the fraud talk back from
the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 8 (25:44):
I'm not sure what the protocol is, but it would
be great for the Republicans to get out there now
to share with the local and national media how the
DHS is actually responding to that. They should be on
Fox News, they should be on every news channel and
just tell the people what hell they are just spitting
on off the people of Minnesota. They don't really care.
(26:07):
They're a bunch of fraud serves all day long.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
Well, while I agree, I also want to look at
this from a practical standpoint. I would like to see
further coverage on this as well. But at the same time,
that's not how any of the stuff works. You have
to be invited to go on these news shows. You
can offer yourself up as much as you want, but
ultimately it's the Fox News and the local channels that
(26:32):
end up deciding who's going to end up going on
the shows and who's not that's not on the Republican leadership.
And to further sort of bolster that point, the audio
that was shared with you a moment ago from Representative
Kristen Robbins, who is you know, the chair of the
Fraud Committee. She put out in detail her own video
(26:54):
that I shared with you, the audio laying out exactly
what had taken place putting this out on social media.
So I guess all this to say is Republicans are
actually doing what you are requesting. They're putting the information
out there. It's the news outlet's choice and decision whether
or not they want to go and put them on
their networks. You don't really have much control over that.
(27:16):
Trust me as somebody who knows and has been on
national news. Minnesota DHS whistleblower Fabernstein going public detailing the
retaliation that she faced, barred from DHS, investigated over accusations
of racism after attempting to address fraud seven years ago.
It was lengthy testimony. We've broken this up into a
couple of pieces we'll spike in your iHeartRadio app talkbacks
(27:39):
brought to you by Lyndahl Realty. As we hear from
this DHS whistleblower.
Speaker 5 (27:44):
Honey, thank you Chair Robinson. Members. My name is Fabernstein
b E R N S T E I N.
Speaker 17 (27:52):
I first want to just make a comment on the
report and say the word that I think no one
from DHS wants to hear again. But that's retaliation, the
our word. I am a twenty year employee, I'm a
current employee of DHS, and I am one of the
(28:13):
very very few DHS employees who can publicly speak about
what the environment is there. We have a very large group.
You probably have heard about the large group of employees
who anonymously tweet and anonymously work with law enforcement in
the OLA, et cetera. I have chosen to be public.
(28:37):
I think in the it has certainly harmed me professionally personally.
It has harmed me in many ways to.
Speaker 5 (28:46):
Be public, but I feel like we have to just.
Speaker 17 (28:49):
Openly speak about the conditions at the Department of Human Services.
The retaliation that I experienced was about years ago. I,
in the course of doing my job, came across some
contract irregularities that I would consider in the scope of
(29:11):
what we talked about today to be quite minor.
Speaker 5 (29:14):
But as minor as they were.
Speaker 17 (29:16):
It was not something that DHS leadership could hear.
Speaker 5 (29:22):
They just couldn't hear it. And as a result.
Speaker 17 (29:25):
Of me speaking about it, I was walked out of
the building. I was banned from all DHS owned and
licensed property. So if you can imagine, the rest of
the public can go to the Anderson Building and can
apply for SNAP.
Speaker 5 (29:42):
And I could not. I could not use the ATM,
I could not use the cafeteria. I was not allowed
in the building.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
Now, as we moved through more of this Minnesota DHS
whistleblower fae Bernstein's bombshell testimony, let me share with you
from Alpha News. In the House block legislation that would
clean state Medicaid roles, remove Medicaid eligibility for non citizens,
(30:09):
and conify Medicaid work requirements. That legislation would have brought
Minnesota into conformity with federal law, but of course that's
a bridge too far for Democrats in Minnesota. On Wednesday,
Minnesota House lawmakers in the House Health Committee considered two
bills that would ensure the state law conforms with the
(30:31):
Medicaid provisions of the One Big Beautiful Act bill. Both
of those bills are being authored by GOP Representative Danny Nadu.
The first bill, HF thirty four to thirty nine would
adopt would adapt state law to keep non citizens from
receiving Medicaid and conify the quarterly examination of the death
Master File.
Speaker 4 (30:51):
That sounds ominous Death Master File.
Speaker 1 (30:56):
Democrats objected to HF three four to three nine and
saying it was being rushed by committee and needed proper consideration.
That's just an excuse that Republicans proposed this, and we're
not going to get behind it. I have more on
this in just a second. Let's get back to testimony
yesterday Minnesota DHS whistle blower fay Enstein.
Speaker 5 (31:16):
I was investigated that went on for months and months.
I can only imagine the cost to the state of
that investigation. And I've never spoken out about the results
of the investigation, but I guess this would be as
good a time as any. The results of months and.
Speaker 17 (31:36):
Months of investigation and asking my co workers for examples
of when I was racist, when I was threatening to
do harm to leadership.
Speaker 5 (31:54):
The result of all of that was that I was
found to.
Speaker 17 (32:01):
Have questioned the competency and the decision making of the
leadership and the behavioral health division, and I was found
to have held up contracts that had compliance problems.
Speaker 5 (32:20):
So let me just say I plead guilty to both
of those things.
Speaker 17 (32:24):
I absolutely did both of those things, and I'm doing
both of those things today.
Speaker 5 (32:29):
I am very.
Speaker 17 (32:30):
Much questioning the competency of the leadership of the Department
of Human Services. And I hate to do that because
these are people I know very well. I think I
know Commissioner Gandhi very well. I've had a lot of
contact with her, a lot of time with her. But
(32:53):
the actions, the mindset I heard you use the term
fraud prevention mindset that is not present. That is not
present at the Department of Human Services. I don't know
if I would dare to use the word compassion, because
compassion sounds.
Speaker 5 (33:11):
As if it is the right thing to do. Compassion
when huge amounts of money are stolen is not the
right thing to do.
Speaker 17 (33:25):
There has been just tremendous mistakes, and yes, I.
Speaker 5 (33:28):
Have been affected.
Speaker 17 (33:29):
I certainly did not appreciate being humiliated and being accused
of of a race crime.
Speaker 5 (33:40):
I certainly did not appreciate that.
Speaker 17 (33:42):
But more importantly, when we think about people this winter
had fingers and toes frozen off, because the Department of
Human Services had to shut down a program, so people
without homes had real consequences, much more serious consequences than
I had.
Speaker 1 (33:59):
And again it's a real good example of just how
the Democrats do not stand behind that which they push.
They're willing to go and cost pain to anybody, including
their own base of voters, in order to achieve their agenda.
I have one more clip to share of this DHS
whistleblower Faye Bernstein yesterday, but to get you back up
(34:22):
to speed, and we'll get back to the Democrats blocking
this legislation to clean the motor the medicaid roles, trying
to bring this in line with the one big beautiful bill.
But let me remind you yesterday there was supposed to
be members of the Walls Administration in that hearing to
hear that very testimony and to respond to all of this,
(34:43):
and they didn't bother to show up. To the comment
that we had from the front of the show about
Republicans getting out there and letting this be known. Here
is more audio from representatives laying out in detail said
online about what actually transpired during the legislative session in
(35:04):
this fraud hearing.
Speaker 2 (35:05):
Yesterday. Oh this reps out of Ben Bakberg.
Speaker 18 (35:07):
Want to just quickly give you an update from all
of the activity here at the Capital, specifically around fraud.
Speaker 2 (35:15):
That's the biggest issue we need to address this year.
Speaker 18 (35:19):
Today we had a DHS whistleblower testify about the culture
of retaliation and how this whistleblower was chased out and
retaliated against. DHS was invited to come and testify and
they refused to show up to testify to answer to
these allegations of whistleblower retaliation.
Speaker 3 (35:41):
Before we begin, is there anyone in the Department of
Human Services in the audience? I don't see anyone, So
I just want to note for the record that DHS
was invited to be available in the audience to answer
questions today after Judge O'Malley's presentation, and they have apparently
declined to come, which is very frustrating. This is the
(36:06):
second hearing DHS has failed to appear at, and to.
Speaker 18 (36:09):
Make it even worse, they showed up to that same
committee hearing room at the next committee hearing and Representive
Robbins asked them why they weren't there, and they were
just simply too busy to show up and address this
unacceptable behavior. Unacceptable that an agency is not taking things seriously.
(36:32):
We have got to address fraud here in Minnesota.
Speaker 2 (36:35):
The OIG bill is one.
Speaker 5 (36:36):
Place to do that, and we need to get.
Speaker 2 (36:39):
That bill passed. Thank you. My name is Ben Bakberg.
Speaker 4 (36:42):
It's a pleasure to serve you.
Speaker 5 (36:46):
Hi.
Speaker 4 (36:46):
It's Mark from New Brighton.
Speaker 12 (36:48):
I mean, it's difficult to get on the airwaves in
the Twin Cities because basically all the local news channels
have their list, their role index of conventional wisdom experts
that you hear from on any political issue. David Schultz,
Katherine Karson, Larry Jacobs lately on care, this lazy rhin,
O'Brien mcclun. All you get is conventional wisdom. Getting a
(37:11):
message across is top.
Speaker 1 (37:12):
Yeah, there's a really gross attempts on our local media
in terms of bipartisanship to get these or you to
hear both sides of the story, but it rarely do
you get a really good idea on either side. There's
very little progress when it comes to the discussion because
they all take this very mamby pamby sort of middle
(37:35):
of the road stance, which is not representative of where
the actual beliefs and ideologies are of either party. All
this is hysterical, especially when you bring into light the
comments that Governor Tim Walls has made recently regarding fraud,
how much he cares about fraud, what he's planning on
doing about it when it comes to tackling fraud.
Speaker 6 (37:56):
Expect for the next eleven months for me to ride
you like you've never.
Speaker 1 (38:01):
Been ridden, unless I need to have DHS show up
at a fraud committee hearing, in which case we're just
going to blow that off.
Speaker 4 (38:07):
You can trust me on this. The person who's angriest
about this fraud is me.
Speaker 2 (38:11):
Apparently apparently not all right. Here's one more.
Speaker 1 (38:16):
The conclusion of again DHS whistleblower Faye Bernstein's comments during
this fraud hearing yesterday, I.
Speaker 5 (38:26):
Do not see how we can come through this.
Speaker 17 (38:30):
And actually quit this year after year, decade after decade problem.
I do not see how we can come through this
without a massive change at the Department of Human Services
in our leadership. They're just really simply has to be firings.
Speaker 5 (38:49):
And I hate to say that, I hate to see people.
Speaker 17 (38:51):
Fired, but there is no other way to turn this around.
Speaker 5 (38:57):
There really is no other way.
Speaker 17 (38:59):
It is so entrenched that the need to retaliate against
people who speak up as I initially did in the
most benign ways. The need to retaliate against people like.
Speaker 5 (39:15):
Me is so ingrained. It is through every step of
the process.
Speaker 17 (39:23):
Every person that I spoke to about this as I
was working up the chain of command to try to
get the contract problem resolved, every person I encountered. I
look back now and I realize I didn't get a
satisfactory response from anyone, anyone, even our internal auditors.
Speaker 5 (39:45):
I thought at the time. I thought at the time
I was being heard, and I now realize that I
wasn't at all. We have an OLA report, that is it.
I guess I could have written it.
Speaker 17 (39:57):
It's exactly what I was saying seven years ago. So
thank you for letting me speak to this. It's very
important to me.
Speaker 5 (40:08):
I think it's important to all of you, and I
hope you really hear what I'm saying about. We need
a dramastic, a dramatic change at the Department of Human Services.
Speaker 4 (40:18):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (40:18):
Now, I haven't seen.
Speaker 1 (40:22):
A single report countering the claims that she has put forward.
Are really any of the claims of the whistleblowers inside
of DHS, and again, you would have had the opportunity
from other DHS employees under Governor Tim Walls, had they
bothered to show up for the hearing, because I would
(40:45):
very much like to know what are their thoughts on
these whistleblower claims, but we don't know because the Walls
administration just decided to go and go to the hearing.
Speaker 2 (40:54):
Altogether.
Speaker 8 (40:55):
I applied this whistleblower for bringing attention to the cost
of this investigation and this is.
Speaker 5 (41:02):
Coming out of our pockets.
Speaker 8 (41:04):
The amount of waste and fraud in this state is
so infuriating.
Speaker 18 (41:11):
It just means that DHS doesn't want to show up
and answer questions.
Speaker 2 (41:15):
That means they're guilty of what they're doing because they
can't defend themselves.
Speaker 1 (41:20):
Democrats continue to block legislation to clean up the Medicaid
voter roles to bring us into compliance with the federal
government via the One Big Beautiful Bill, two bills that
were considered ensuring the state conforms with the Medicaid provisions
of the ob three. Both of those bills authored by
GOP Representative Danny Nadu. Speaking about the need for federal conformity,
(41:42):
Republican representative Jeff Backer said that when the parents of
the federal government gives you money, they set guardrails. I
think it's a huge irresponsibility if we don't conform with
the one Big Beautiful bill. Back Er warned that nonconformity
would harm Minnesota's healthcare system to the tune of anywhere
from three to three and a half billion dollars in
(42:04):
more now. Eventually, the committee tried to send this bill
to another House committee for consideration.
Speaker 2 (42:09):
However, that vote failed.
Speaker 1 (42:10):
Eleven to eleven Republicans voted to advance the bill, dfllers
voted against it. Afterwards, the Health Committee considered the other bill,
HF thirty seven to sixty three, that would ensure Minnesota
law conforms with the new Medicaid work requirements. In short,
a Medicaid recipient either needs to work twenty hours a
week or receive an exemption to that requirement. Veterans, the disabled,
(42:35):
participants and drug and alcohol recovery programs, and parents of
young children are among those who can receive that exception
to the work requirement. Like the previous bill, the vote
to send HF thirty seven to sixty three to another
House committee failed eleven to eleven, and along party lines,
(42:57):
Republicans voted for the advancement voted against it. As such,
HF thirty seven sixty three will also stay in the
Health Committee. And I find this also amusing because Aaron Kolgel,
a dfller, had posted overnight complaining about a transportation hearing
and her assertion that the GOP doesn't want to address
(43:20):
any issues that they bring up.
Speaker 2 (43:23):
Well, now you know what it feels like.
Speaker 1 (43:28):
Except the difference is the GOP is actually trying to
do something in this case to tackle fraud medicaid spending,
wherein all the Democrats want to do is avoid that,
not answer questions about fraud, and then take more money
from you. To that point, many Minnesotans have expressed frustration
about the stubbornly high license tab fees on their vehicles
(43:51):
that result the results of the changes made during the
twenty twenty three DFL Trifecta legislative session. The tax rate
went up and the rate of depreciation of vehicles will
slowed dramatically. Now I'll bring you details on this, but
let me share with you this clip before we take
a quick break and dive into our three here on
(44:11):
twin Cities News Talk. This is Representative luber Nikolai, a
Democrat out of Saint Paul, talking about offering up an
amendment to increase the rates of the registration fees so
that we can fund other projects. Let me give you
(44:31):
the baseline of what this would do, and then I'll
play the clip for you. We'll take a quick break.
What she's proposing here would equal a three six hundred
and fifty dollars payment on a two year old, fifty
thousand dollars vehicle in Hennepin County. Every year, you would
have to pay close to four thousand dollars a year
(44:52):
to register your vehicle under this ludicrous proposal. We'll get
to your thoughts coming up next here on Twin City's
News Talk.
Speaker 19 (45:00):
Us all to agree on the importance of raising revenue,
and so at some point may offer an amendment to
quintuple the rates of these registration fees so that we
may fund other projects in the state that everybody deems worthy.
Speaker 4 (45:15):
I try harder not to suck
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