January 8, 2026 • 46 mins
Bumper to Bumper with Dan Barreiro!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Man, Dan, can you compare a contrast the Landragan shooting
(00:20):
in this one. I remember a number of people saying
it was justified when this one isn't. And I'm not
sure where the differentiation lies. That's a good question. I
will tell you on the basis of what we think
we know now or what I've tried to pay attention to.
(00:42):
I believe the Laundragan case was more clear cut that
the officer should never have been charged with what he
ultimately was charged with. I think there's more I have
at this point again in the story, I have more
concern in this case, even if even with what we
talked about regarding the possibility of the threat that you know,
(01:06):
the officer may have reasonably felt. I feel because in
the Laundrigan case, we had a situation where we had
one officer half in the car, as I recall so
and and so, more of a potential dragging situation. To me,
that's uh that felt from early as we learned stuff
(01:29):
about that case, a lot more certain than I feel
about the officer's behavior in this case. Do you think
this just ended a chance for Minnesota Republican to win
the governor's race? Similar what happened with Biden after Trump's
assassin the assassination attempt on Trump. I'm on record, and
the rightys you know, don't like when I say this,
(01:50):
but I think the chance for a Minnesota Republican to
win the governor's race ended or will end regardless, for
regardless of this tragedy, if Amy Klobshar becomes the Democratic
nominee for governor, simple as that. Now if she doesn't,
if ultimately she shocks people and doesn't, then is it
(02:13):
If you're yes, I know she's also a Democrat, but
I don't think she you will successfully paint her with
the same brush that Governor Walls will be regarding the
land of ten thousand fraud cases and a couple of
other things as well. Now, I will be curious to
watch how willing she will be to criticize the Democrats
(02:39):
in charge. And most people think it's not going to
be enough because it's a tribal system, right, that's what
sharks and jets, but and the Democrats would probably think
it'd be too much. Absolutely, that's exactly right. So, but
I think that will go a lot further. Now, I
(03:00):
may be understating the ramifications of this story as it
plays out, but I think for me that was a
kind of a bigger, bigger issue. Brashawn Bryant KFN text
line is open at six four six, eight six. I
do want to mention one other Toy Department story because
(03:24):
I think we've had another National Football League head coaching dismissal.
My guy Dolphin's Guy Dolphin's Guy Ping Pong guy, what's
his name? Mike Daniel, Mike McDaniel has been dismissed.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
And that.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Is that eight or nine? Now, how many openings do
we have? This is the eighth, This is eighth, Yeah,
Harbaugh was the seventh.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
I think.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
Is that the average number of openings we have? Maybe
it is it feels like it's more than usual, maybe
by one or two.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
That's a lot.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
How many teams in the National Football League is a
thirty thirty two thirty two thirty two, So that's a
quarter of them. As you say, maybe it happens every year,
and I just haven't been paying attention. And maybe it's
because it's coming out. You know, we had the onslaught
and now they're coming out in drips and drafts. Right,
is anybody left that still might be under the microscope. Man,
I don't think so well Tomlin. People wonder what's going
(04:18):
to happen there? Well, but I think them making the
postseason has to end, that, doesn't it.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
I don't think so, because he's done that a lot. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Yeah, I think I'm not saying right, you're not saying
he should be Yeah, and you know me, I mean,
I love Tomlin. I think he should be able to
coach as long as he wants, wherever he wants. But
if they get trucked by Houston at home on Monday
night and they don't win a playoff game again, people
are going to say. People are going to wonder, is
this the best that they is? This is a reboot
(04:48):
necessary in Pittsburgh's you know, one organization that doesn't really
care about the noise. Have had three head coaches, right,
Noland h that's true, Cowell, Yeah, Bill Kawer and then Tomlin.
So they're pretty patient, but they are to coaching what
the Packers are to quarterbacks. It seems like it's like
one a generation Y is enough for us pretty much,
(05:08):
I think about that. So I don't think anybody else
is even up for debate. But I'm not sure I'd
have to go through the list again. I guess, yeah,
it's now we're assuming that when it comes to Brian Flores,
Miami is unlikely to be an option. That'd be a
good story, to be a hell of a story. It
sounds like the Ravens have already asked for permission. I
(05:30):
don't know if you're going to get to that. Yeah,
but I wonder, Like I said, I will be shocked
if the Ravens do not hire an offensive the great
quarterback whisperer. I'm not saying that's the only way they
should go, but I just have a feeling that that
is the direction they might go. But that's the first
sign and I is that the only team we know
(05:52):
that has asked permission to chat with Brian Flores to
our knowledge, Yet that's the only one I saw today.
I don't know if any others have been reported. Yeah,
but I did see that today with my own eyes.
And we still don't have well, obviously it's it's it's
self evident.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
We still so.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
The fact that we still don't have the Vikings announcing
a contract extension as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach
for Bflow means what that B Flows people are saying, well,
now we got to slow it down a little bit.
We saw a role because we're going to play it out.
We got to explore the head coaching deal. Or is
(06:32):
it because I'm not again saying there's a schism, but
that there's more likelihood than we think that he's just
not going to hang here, which would really surprise me.
Maybe maybe it's he's tired of us. I mean, he
says he loves it here. He says his family loves
it here.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
They do.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
He's well compensated, I'm sure, and that's only going up
gets to do his own thing on defense, good vibe
with the head coach. I would be really surprised if
he left for anything other than a head coaching job.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Has Gerschmidth commented on this.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
The rumor percolating on Harbaugh is that the Bills and
the Packers are the teams to watch. Is Packer guy
in trouble? I believe his contract is up at the end.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Of the season. Oh okay, maybe that's what it is.
I think.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
Don't quote me for sure, but I'm pretty sure, which
is interesting. More year, Blakemore says. Blakemore says he's got
Walmar one more.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
That's it though that's not much. What's that? That's well?
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Gurby's going to join tomorrow. Why Blake Moore's had just
popped up? Man, he heard Packer ty you want John Harbaugh?
You okay with your current head coach? He says he's
okay with the current head game. He coach may feel
differently after Saturday night, by the way, snow Globe game.
Really the rumor is a snow a soldier field Bears
Packers the way it ought to be.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
But I don't mean guess whether people you never know
what to believe.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
We'll find out. Yeah, sooner or later we'll who jumped
up quicker in the score? Blake Moore when we were
talking about Matt Leffleur's contract situation, or Zach Halverson when
we wondered aloud if Sex World was still open downtown
now he's ever moved since the high school Hockey report,
and he had to sprint across the Al Shaver press box.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
He wanted to confirm. He wanted to let you know
it was still open. He is nothing if not an
intrepid reporter.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
I don't think it's open anymore. But at the time
Holvey confirmed to you that it was open. He popped
up and gave me which place was it? Sex World?
Sex World, not not the Voo. No, there's no question
the vo's still open. In fact, Gregor sent me a
picture from the Voo on one of his Minneapolis watts.
He did that to me too, because we were talking
about it. Yeah, fucked by at nine inh at the time?
Speaker 2 (08:40):
What opens at nine, isn't it? Or is it twenty
four hours that? I don't know. We could ask Max
he used to work there. I don't know if he
still does. That's a good point. Yeah, the VU do
they have a brunch? I don't know, Brett, he says
it is not sure. Not sure. Okay, he's pretending to
not for sure. Split that way.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
All right, let's get a pause in and let's go
international with the guy. He's from Minnesota, so he may
have an opinion or two, or just maybe you want
to express some emotion on the basis of what took
place yesterday in the city. We will chat with one
of our favorites, long time counter terror big knocker this
(09:19):
show geopolitical big Knocker for this program. Michael Hurley is next.
If you have questions six four six eight six.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
That's next.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Let's go international for a minute or two questions for
one of our favorites. Michael Hurley, former career CIA officer,
served well for many many years now works with I
think fair to say, doing a lot of very effective consulting,
and he's been great for us. We've consulted with him
(10:01):
on any number of international crises with American implications or
what those implications.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
Might be for the US.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
And mister Hurley, Michael Hurley, he Dinah's own is kind
enough to join us via the Kinetico Water Systems hotline.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
How are you, sir?
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Are you enjoying are you having like a little bit
of rest and relaxation right now?
Speaker 3 (10:24):
I am dan great to be with you, and I'm
actually in Big Sky, Montana.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Nice.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
I've been here for the last week or so and
just kind of enjoying the beauty of this part of
the country. Peaceful, very peaceful, especially where I am and
you see a lot of cross country skiers go by.
We had some good snow in the main ski resort
which is nearby last night, seven or eight inches. But wow,
(10:52):
Actually think Montana, especially this part of the Rockies, is
doing better with snow than Colorado this season so far.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
Anyway, is it one would assume that a spot like
that sounds like a spot from which you can in
certain ways isolate yourself from the rest of the world.
And yet, given what we have going on in the world,
not to mention Minneapolis, and given your own connections with
so many of these stories, is it hard for you
(11:20):
to ever shut off or get away from it, especially
with what we have going on internationally.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
Well, I guess I stay plugged in from here on
my computer and talking to friends and sort of my network.
But it is very, very peaceful here, and I don't
myself so much, but I try to stay up on
the news while I'm out here as well too. But
it's it's just really, really a lovely place to be.
(11:51):
Sounds like I mean, it reminds me of Minnesota a lot,
except for the mountains, of course, which is the big
different spot. This is a great place Dan even of
course for the skiing it's world class at Big Sky Resort.
But in the spring and in the summer and in
the fall there's some of the best fly fishing in
(12:12):
the country. There's kayaking, horseback riding, tennis, golf, everything you
can imagine. So it's it's really really a lovely part
of the country to spend some time in.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Here's where I like to begin today, regarding Venezuela and
the capture of the Venezuelan President Maduro.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
I want to read a couple of sentences.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
This is a piece out of the Hill dot com
and it's centered on some commentary from Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
Reads like this.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
John Fetterman faulted fellow Democrats early Monday for their relentless
criticism of the president's mission to capture Maduro, calling the operation.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
A good thing.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
This was, I think, in an interview on Fox and Friends,
and he noted that Democrats have wanted to oust Maduro
from power as much as Republicans did, but now that
the Venezuelan strong man he is in US custody, that
Democrats are surprisingly lashing out at the administration. Here's his quote.
I don't know why we can't just acknowledge it's been
a good thing. What's happened. I've seen the speeches from
(13:18):
whether it's Schumer or kinds of past tweets from the
President Biden. We all wanted this man gone. Now he
is gone. I think we should really appreciate exactly what
happened here. So what would you say to the Federman
analysis there? What do you make of what he has
to say? Because it is true. I think there's several
administrations were very critical of Maduro in power. So are
(13:46):
people who are mad at this?
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Are they mad because Trump did it?
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Or are they mad because they think the act itself
raises larger questions that go beyond what we have done before.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
I think it's some of both. First, where in the
sad situation now where the parties, the two parties are
constantly ripping into each other no matter what actions are taken.
It is true what Senator Fetterman says that both parties,
leaders in both parties have for years, I wanted to
(14:21):
see Maduro gone and Huro Java is even before him.
And the situation in Venezuela is very bad. I think
something like eight million people eight million Venezuelan's have emigrated
from that country to Europe, to other countries in South America.
Colombia has taken in a lot, We've probably taken in
(14:45):
hundreds of thousands in the last many years, and so
it really I think was a terrible regime that was
robbing its own citizens, robbing its own its own national wealth.
It wasn't all that long ago, dan Is. You know
that Venezuela was one of the economic spark plugs in
(15:08):
South America. It has these tremendous oil resources, and now
it's really an impoverished country. I don't think there's been
any hope for young people there for a long time,
which is why they've all mamigrated. But I think, to
get back to Fetterman's point, I think it's good to
(15:29):
happen Aduro gone. I think it's also legitimate to say, Okay,
what happens tomorrow, what are the longer term, mid and
longer term consequences that the United States is going to
be dealing with. I was reminded a little bit the
reaction remember during the Iraq War, when what was it
(15:53):
about a month into it, it was declared that mission
was accomplished there. Well, mission wasn't accomplished. It lasted for
another eight nine years and is still kind of ongoing now.
And well, I think it's great for Maduro to be
to be gone, and it appears that our special forces
(16:13):
performed very well that I still think there are grounds
one of the things that did not take place, from
my understanding, and it's it's really been followed by both parties,
is that before any action like this that the Trump
administration took, there's only the briefing for what's called the
Gang of eight. That's kind of inside baseball in Washington.
(16:37):
But the Gang of eight are the two leaders of
the Speaker of the House and the minority leader in
the House of Representatives, and the chairman and ranking member
of the House Intelligence Committee. And similarly the Senate Majority
Leader and the Senate Minority Leader and the chairman and
(17:01):
and ranking member on the Senate Intelegencibitties. They always get briefed,
and none of that took place. And I think that
that's that's that's a real break with tradition, and I
think there's so there is some grounds for grousing there.
And I also think that you know, like people can
(17:25):
look at this and say, we're international laws violated here,
and you know, if it's a matter of urgent, urgent
national security, countries will always act in their self interest.
But there's so many issues surrounding this as well. Dan two,
(17:46):
the attacks and the missile strikes on the boats, and
the Caribbean and all the issues that those have raved.
I think it's all kind of wrapped up in that.
But so I think there's something to what Fetterman is saying,
but I don't I don't see it personally as an
unqualified success, because we really don't know what's going to
happen in the weeks and months ahead.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
You know.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
The larger issue to me that this represents, and you
kind of alluded to it a little bit already, is
that you do get the feeling that each time the
approach from this administration on a story like this is
to say, we're screwing convention.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
We don't care what tradition has suggested.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
Or even what might be a fair representation of, you know,
showing proper respect to the legislative side of this thing
in the various branches of government, that it becomes easier
to say screw it the next time. And if you
do it often enough, and you basically thumb your nose
at convention over and over again, then I think it
(18:55):
becomes very easy to say, well, who's going to stop us?
Speaker 2 (18:57):
What are you gonna do about it? Right?
Speaker 1 (18:59):
And I do have concern about the ramifications of that
and I I would say that even Trump supporters should
wonder about that a little bit. And there's even been
some Republicans, not a lot, but there have been some
Republicans who occasionally murmur uh in areas like that.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Can you speak to that a little bit?
Speaker 3 (19:20):
Yeah, I think there's I think there's there. There's there's
much to that, the just the whole question of you
know what, what what do we what do we do
going forward? And I also think that the more you
break it's not just tradition, it's it's kind of the
unwritten you know, it's kind of the unwritten like customary
(19:42):
way that these things have been approached. As I said,
I think often Dan presidents need to act quickly and
make decisions quickly when there's vital national interests at stake.
It may be the case here. I just I just
don't know. And I think that country is a very
large country, and I think governing it now, we haven't
(20:07):
getting rid of one guy and his wife the leader.
There's still a lot of bad people, a lot of
thugs that still exert a lot of power Invituila, and
I just don't know what's going to happen ahead, which
I think raises a lot of issues. And I sort
of also think that when there's no consulting done, the
(20:27):
entire Congress doesn't need to be briefed, but just that
group of eight. There's reasons to do that because no
one person, Republican or Democrat, has monopoly on wisdom, and
it's always useful to get advice, and even to get
advice from the opposition, I think, And so I just
(20:49):
don't think that was done here. I want to share
an anecdote Dan that I was thinking of. I'm to
go back to the Vietnam conflict. There's this really excellent
book called The Best and the Brightest by David Halberston.
I'm familiar with yep very much. He was and when
John Kennedy began his presidency in nineteen sixty one, he
(21:11):
was presented with his action in Cuba. Well, the US
was going to invade using a ragtag group of people,
about one hundred and fifty people or so, with really
no air power, to overthrow the Castro regime. And Kennedy
was the new president. He was presented with this plan,
and Halberston writes about this in the book. He was
(21:32):
a new president and young president, and he listened to
these advisors and the CIA, which had concocted this plan.
They were using these Cuban exiles to do this, And
in the decision making, there were a couple of people
that were not president in the cabinet meeting. It should
have been there, and one was Victor Koulock was his name.
(21:56):
He was a four star Marine general. He wasn't there,
but they should have had him there because he he
had been part of the assault team in ewo Jima
during World War Two and he knew the costs and
the number of people that were required to successfully take
(22:17):
an island. But he wasn't there, so he wasn't able
to weigh in on whether the US should go ahead
with that action. The other thing I remember, and it
just tized directly to Minnesota, is that the secret of
Agriculture at the time was Orville Freeman, kind of a
famous Minnesotan. And you'd asked yourself the question, well, why
(22:38):
would you want the sectard of agriculture on a national
security decision? Well, only because Freeman had also stormed a
Japanese island in World War two and knew something about that.
But when Kulak in the Key cabinet meeting on this
question of invading a country and removing its leadership. He
rolled out on a on a map of the United
(23:01):
States be overlayd with the map of Cuba, and Cuba
stretched from Long Island to Wait past Chicago, right, And
the people making the decisions had no idea of the
size of that of that of that island. And I'm
remembering this now just because you know, you can get
into these things and take these actions, and they seem
(23:24):
pretty good at first, but they can lead to a
lot of problems down the road. I hope they don't.
I hope this turns out to be successful, but time
will tell them.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
I want to jump around a little bit because I
don't want to lose the opportunity here. Although we can
revisit some of these stories if they don't go away.
The average roube who has become somewhat aware, but maybe
isn't you know, following politics geopolitics every day, Suddenly here's
again the name Greenland. And it's about more than the
(23:58):
sequel to a motion pick. Sure, it's about these notions
that it's too valuable geopolitically for us to not get
more involved in it, or to take it over, or
to do whatever the President has threatened that he might
need to do or say that he needs to do.
To that person who has been following this story closely explain,
(24:22):
give our listeners an idea of what Greenland represents and
what you think the president might ultimately be up to.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
Here well, in some ways is a strategic location because
it's up in the Arctic Circle. There's often Russian activity,
there's subactivity around it, submarine activity. It's a gateway, i guess,
to North America. The Chinese are interested in it now.
(24:52):
It's at the top of the world and for that reason,
it's a place that has drawn attention. And also my
understanding is there's these rare earth metals and minerals that
are valuable, and they are valuable to the security of
the United States and the West, but for the average
(25:15):
person may not know. But Greenland is actually part it's
connected to Denmark, and Denmark has this political relationship with Greenland.
And it's important to understand that Denmark is in the
North Atlantic Tree Organization NATO, which is in my mind,
(25:36):
the most successful defensive organization alliance in the history of
the world. The United States is the main player in it,
and Denmark is an ally of ours. I personally would
like to see in this so I can understand some
of the importance of Greenland to the United States, although
I think and I wish the administration wouldn't overstate some
(26:00):
of the points that it's made because it's it's President
Trump has said that the Russians are all over the
place in Greenland, and the Chinese are as well. That's
not true. They have an interest in it, and there
are assets, surface vessels and so on, but they're not
They're not ready to invade Greenland. That's just not the case.
(26:23):
So I and I would like to see personally just
working with Denmark and with Greenland if we want to
be beef up our defense right there and our air
defenses and radars and so on, to prevent or to
give us heads up on possibly missile attacks and they're coming,
(26:44):
the blistic missile attacks coming from over the polar Ice cap.
I think that can be done by strengthening that alliance
and working very closely. I'm just not a big fan
of bullying our allies.
Speaker 1 (26:58):
We are chatting with the four CIA officer Michael Hurley
has joined us for years to talk largely about international
geopolitics and counter terror, et cetera, et cetera. If you
have questions for him, Restaurant Bryant a cafe and text
line is open at six four six eight six. By
the way, to go back to Maduro and the question
(27:20):
of who should have been in on it on the
front end, in terms of in the government on the
legislative side, the comeback has been, as I'm sure you've heard,
is well, this was not a military action, This was
a This was basically a law enforcement operation involving one
particular individual who several administrations has said should not even
(27:44):
be in a position of power and is a threat
as well. What do you say to that that comeback?
Speaker 3 (27:51):
Well, first, Maduro gives a threat, and he's a terrible
leader and a ruthless leader, and I'm glad he's not
in power. By we use our military, and we use
our elite forces in the military. So it's a military action,
and I just think we're stronger when we have when
(28:13):
we have our the various players taking part in that
decision making. It's not even the decision making, because it
is present from's decision, but it's just weighing in with advice,
and sometimes it's important to hear the advice of the
people in the senior positions. So no, in my view,
(28:34):
with a military action, we use the military. They can
call it law enforcement, but but no, we used our
key military assets.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
I have heard some folks call out the I don't
even know what we call it, mainstream media, traditional media,
if there's such a thing as traditional media in twenty
twenty six.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
The accusation in this case.
Speaker 1 (28:59):
Michael, is that they are not giving proper attention in
their reporting and in their I guess presentation of what
is happening or what seems to be percolating on the
ground in Iran. I'm curious to get your view on that.
There have been a number of demonstrations for a number
(29:20):
of days. There's a belief in the part of some
that this might lead to some real up arising. On
the other hand, there have been a few of these
I think ripples before not leading anywhere. So do you
think this has been a story, is enough happening based
on what you've seen and what you know the people
you talk to, that this story is being underplayed or
(29:42):
what do you think?
Speaker 2 (29:43):
I think it may be.
Speaker 3 (29:45):
I think it may be somewhat underplayed. Dan. It's also
probably probably very difficult for even the strongest of newspapers,
for example, and journalists that kind of coverage to really
penetrate to find out what's going on in that closed society.
(30:05):
So that's kind of that's kind of difficult. I do
think it's it's extremely important to follow the drama there
and what's taking place, because you know, they're still reeling
from the attacks of Israel and of the United States
last spring. I think the Mollahs that are running the
country in the Ayahtola probably are shifting where they're sleeping
(30:29):
every night, so their locations can't be pinpointed by Israeli
missiles or some of the other techniques that the Israeli's used.
There are protests taking place there. I would like to
know more about them. It would be great if there
were better and deeper coverage. There's so much happening in
the world now in terms of international security that maybe
(30:53):
these outlets are just making choices and covering Ukraine and
now Venezuela and some of these other hotspots. But one
of the things that that I got very interested in
the last year was that they have and they have
had in Tehran a very serious water water crisis and
(31:15):
water shortage, and that if it continues, is going to
lead to a lot of social turmoil. For sure, you
start running out of water and and you know it's
it's people are going to protest that very seriously. So yeah,
I think I think it's probably legitimate to say that
(31:36):
there should be more and better coverage of what's happening
in the Ronde. I'd certainly like to see that.
Speaker 1 (31:40):
We've got a lot of good texts coming in. I'm
gonna try to see if we can cover these in
our remaining minutes with with Michael Hurley. Has Trump made
a deal with China to keep China from invading Taiwan.
Speaker 2 (31:57):
I don't.
Speaker 3 (31:58):
I doubt that he. I doubt that he has. Trump
seems to be mostly interested in cutting economic and trade
deals with China. I doubt that the Taiwan issue is
an issue of vital importance to Shijinping, the rule of China,
(32:19):
and the Chinese government. I doubt that they've reached agreement
on it. If anything, I think the US actions in
Venezuela may be read by the Chinese leadership as the
United States is doing what it wants to do, and
it's part of the world. It's sphere of interest that
(32:41):
gives us the green light to do whatever we want.
With Taiwan, they may just be biting their time until
they're ready to make a move on Taiwan.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
But my guess is.
Speaker 3 (32:54):
I don't know for sure, but I think it's pretty
safe to say that President Trump hasn't reached any agreement
on the Chinese thing out of Taiwan.
Speaker 1 (33:04):
Mike Michael, you're also being asked to link if you
think there is a link between what we've done in
Venezuela and potentially where we might be headed as it
pertains to the island of Cuba.
Speaker 2 (33:21):
Are we going anywhere there?
Speaker 3 (33:24):
I don't know what's going to happen with that. The
President has threatened the Cuban government, also the Mexican government
and the Colombian government, and we've already talked about Greenland
and Denmark. You know, sometimes it's hard to read how
serious he is. But the Cuban government is going to
(33:46):
be in real trouble Dan because it's been propped up
in part by oil coming in from Venezuela. That's going
to be cut way way back, and that's going to
cause a real problem with with with funds coming into
the Cuban government. So my guess is, and I know
(34:07):
this is something that's very important to the Secretary of
State Marco Rubio UH and others who have who have
wanted a change in government in Cuba, and so many
have I think across Republican and democratic administrations, I think
the Cuban government is in real trouble now.
Speaker 2 (34:24):
UH.
Speaker 3 (34:24):
And I don't know if there are any actions planned
at all. I have no insights into that, but I'm
sure the US is going to be more than a
an impartial observer as to what's happening, and we'll be
putting on the Trump administration, I would be willing to
bet will be putting on as much pressure on the
economic pressure and otherwise on the Cuban government UH to
(34:48):
see a collapse there, if if, if, if that's possible.
Speaker 2 (34:52):
I think the oil of oil is part of that.
Speaker 1 (34:55):
Texture's point and let's let's go a little further with it.
This is three oh three, Guy, Dan, you're missing the
point on Venezuela Maduro.
Speaker 2 (35:04):
Madua was a horrible person.
Speaker 1 (35:05):
I'm glad he's gone, But the US invaded a foreign
country to occupy it and steal its resources. The President
has admitted that we're there for the oil. How is
stealing in other countries resources okay.
Speaker 3 (35:19):
Well, I don't think it's okay. And uh and and
I guess it. We we should we shouldn't steal resources.
We haven't done that in the past, and we shouldn't
do it in Venezuela. I'm not sure that that's exactly
what President Trump is talking about. He's talking about the
US participating in managing those resources. And because that whole
(35:42):
industry has collapsed in Venezuela, and he's talked about then
the income from that oil being used to you know,
by by by leaders in Venezuela that will put it
to good effect to help the people of Venezuela. And
so I don't you know, sometimes it's very hard to
(36:05):
read President Trump's mind. I don't think he sees it
as stealing from them. And I think if that were
to happen, that even this Congress has been very supportive
of Presidents Trump, wouldn't want the United States to go
down that road. So, you know, maybe it would be
more like just managing those resources and using the wealth
(36:27):
that comes from it. To assist the people of Venezuela,
I hope. So anyway, let's.
Speaker 1 (36:33):
Finish today with a local story. You know, you're a
Minneapolis guy and you feel strongly about your roots, and
your hometown is back in the news for all of
the wrong reasons, based on what took place last night
or yesterday, i should say, during an ice operation in
which a Minneapolis resident named Renee Nicole Good was killed
(36:56):
thirty seven years old from afar. What was your gut
reaction to the story that broke out yesterday, Well, my.
Speaker 3 (37:07):
Heart breaks over it. It's a it's a terrible tragedy.
I you know, it's it's always hard to give opinions
on things until you know all the facts. Based on
what I've read and and I've tried to dive into
this a little bit a bit because it was such
a terrible event. It doesn't seem to me that that
(37:32):
her actions merited, you know, the kind of use of
lethal force against her that that ended up killing her.
You know, we have the right to protest. You don't
have the right to interfere bodily with federal officers, but
you certainly can protest. From what I've seen of the
(37:53):
of the video, at least that I saw, it didn't
look like much of a threat was being to the
federal officers.
Speaker 1 (38:02):
And so.
Speaker 3 (38:04):
I think we're also in a situation, Dan where so
many people have been brought into ice that you wonder
how good their training is and whether people are coming.
Speaker 1 (38:15):
In that.
Speaker 3 (38:17):
Don't have the kind of training they need for the
actions that they're being asked to carry out. And I
suspect that as we delve into more of the facts
of exactly what happened, that may be the case with
the person the shooter in this case. And to me,
that's a real shame, and you know, just hope that
(38:41):
this doesn't happen again. This is a thirty seven year
old woman and whatever she was doing, she didn't deserve
to be to be killed, that's for sure. And I
hope that Congress gets involved and ensures that there's a
deep dive into the investigation and that nothing is covered
(39:02):
up about what happened, and then the changes are imposed
to ensure that it doesn't happen again. But it's just
sort of seems like some of these operations are overly
aggressive to me, and you know, that's that's that's just
my opinion. I know there are those that you know,
(39:24):
argue strongly and I and I think we need to
have and I realized that the victim here was not
an immigrant, But it's all tied up in the question
of enforcing the immigration rules. And you know, we need
a system where we can control our borders and to
(39:44):
deal I think fairly and appropriately with those that have
come here illegally. But but boy, it breaks my heart
when this kind of force is used and the life
is snuffed out at that, and I do hope that
there's accountability for it.
Speaker 2 (40:02):
Thanks for the time. It's always good to catch up
with you.
Speaker 1 (40:04):
Enjoy whatever remaining time we have out out west, I
should say, and we'll chat again soon.
Speaker 2 (40:09):
Thanks very much, Mike Dan.
Speaker 3 (40:10):
And we didn't. We didn't even talk about the Viking.
Speaker 1 (40:13):
Well, you tell me, are you are you locked into
JJ or you do you want to see a buffer
or do you want to see some kind of a
you know, insurance policy that includes an experienced veteran in
case he's either not good enough or in case he
just can't stay on the field.
Speaker 3 (40:31):
Yeah, I'm not locked into him. He does seem to
be injury prone. I also recognize that he's very very young,
you know, to to carry the starting quarterback burden on
his shoulders. I'd like to see them bring in an
experienced pro uh donald type, but someone who's been performing
(40:54):
the play in the playoffs as well as he does
in the in the in the season. And I haven't,
I haven't. I haven't decided, Dan, it's not I mean,
I'm not saying that McCarthy can't be a you know,
a really good quarterback down the road, But I just
I worry about the next couple of years. Yeah, you know,
(41:17):
put him into some games when we're ahead, but have
somebody else at the helm. Bring in somebody that can
get the job done, because you know, there's I just
remember during during a summer training camp, there were really
high hopes for this team this year, and it was
(41:38):
kind of sad watching a lot of the games.
Speaker 2 (41:40):
There's no question about that. As a long way from
fourteen to three.
Speaker 1 (41:42):
Thanks for the extended time, my friend, will let chat
soon be well.
Speaker 2 (41:46):
Thanks very much, Dan, appreciate you.
Speaker 1 (41:48):
Michael Hurley kind enough to join us a break short
segment and then we will prepare Your guy, Brett Blakemore
is now in that share because guards he had to
move on to some beaches. Is off the hook on
Top five at five right, because Russo has scheduled for
the top three hour, we'll come back with a short
segment and then prepare for a little hockey talk.
Speaker 2 (42:08):
Stay tuned.
Speaker 1 (42:19):
We'll probably be able to explore this question in greater
depth on what now will be an endless array of
two hour editions of Sunday sermons. Right because Vikings ain't
playing Sunday, they ain't playing all weekend at all, so
it'll be nine to eleven on Sunday morning. It's that
(42:40):
I've asked it many times before whether Vikings fans will
continue to stay plugged in or connected to a postseason
in which their team is not a part, and I
have a hunch they will, even if they don't want to.
When one of the matchups is a battle between two
(43:01):
other NFC North teams, that's the Saturday night game, your
Green Bay Packers in Chicago for the rematch to take
on the Monsters of the Midway. The early weather forecasts
are for a snow globe game at Soldier Field on
Saturday night. That in my mind means it probably won't
(43:23):
snow a lick, But I hope that it ends up
being true. It'd be a nice nighttime deal, right. I
mean you could say that's sort of the way it
should be in the National Football Conference North. And the
added impetus, even for Vikings fans who still might be
depressed at their club's not in it to pay attention,
(43:45):
has to be the possibility of chippiness because apparently your guy,
one of your guys, maybe several, have said they have
taken they took offence to the hit that knocked your
guy Jordan Love out of the game. Cushion. He missed
the rest of that game. Did he miss one or
two after that?
Speaker 4 (44:06):
Well, he missed one because of protocol. He missed the
other here at Minneapolis because the invision play. That's exactly it.
But the quote was from Josh Jacob's quote. I know
a lot of guys took that hit on Love a
little personal. So I'm not saying we're gonna go out
there and play dirty or nothing like that. WHOA, but
we definitely want to defend our brother.
Speaker 2 (44:28):
You know who doesn't mind that quote? National Football League?
Speaker 1 (44:31):
They love that because it's just enhances the storyline. It's
juice here, and you know what, I know every Green
Bay Packer says they want to play the Bears again.
You could I make the argument the Bears might say
the same thing, because I think I'd rather play the
(44:52):
Packers than at this point the Eagles or the Rams
if I'm the Bears, or even forty nine Ers.
Speaker 2 (44:58):
I don't know what to think of the forty nine
Ers this point, but.
Speaker 3 (45:02):
We don't.
Speaker 1 (45:03):
You know, it's not unprecedent to have playoff games involving
two teams in the same division, but when it happens,
I think it gets it.
Speaker 2 (45:10):
It certainly enhances things to a large degree.
Speaker 1 (45:14):
So that's something we will be able to review on
Sunday sermons because the game will be a Saturday night
and by then, also, I think my Hoosiers play Friday
night next round of the College Football Tournament against the
Oregon Ducks, So there might well be some Hoosier hotline
and some Bears wine line after the Bears knock off
(45:36):
your club again. What's the latest spread? Are you still favored?
A week ago you were favored. Is that changed at.
Speaker 2 (45:41):
All as we get closer to game time.
Speaker 4 (45:43):
I wanted to say that it moved. No, Green Bay
is still favored. I've got it as a point and
a half. Interesting. That's very interesting.
Speaker 1 (45:51):
Well, I think that says something to skepticism about the pedigree.
Still cute club, good season, breakthrough season for the Bears,
but no real postseason equity to draw from as well.
And the notion that the last time the Bears had
to do everything to end up winning a game that
in which your quarterback did not play. For when did
he get hurt in that game? I was like the
(46:12):
second it was the second quarterback. That sounds right, all right,
Let's break not for the top five at five, but
for our weekly visit with Michael Russo. Let's talk some
Olympics with Russo Radio as we get closer to it,
and obviously obviously talk plenty of a Minnesota Wild as well.
If you have questions for Russo, the Brat Shawn Brian
kfe In text line number is six four six eight
(46:33):
six
Man, Dan, can you compare a contrast the Landragan shooting
(00:20):
in this one. I remember a number of people saying
it was justified when this one isn't. And I'm not
sure where the differentiation lies. That's a good question. I
will tell you on the basis of what we think
we know now or what I've tried to pay attention to.
(00:42):
I believe the Laundragan case was more clear cut that
the officer should never have been charged with what he
ultimately was charged with. I think there's more I have
at this point again in the story, I have more
concern in this case, even if even with what we
talked about regarding the possibility of the threat that you know,
(01:06):
the officer may have reasonably felt. I feel because in
the Laundrigan case, we had a situation where we had
one officer half in the car, as I recall so
and and so, more of a potential dragging situation. To me,
that's uh that felt from early as we learned stuff
(01:29):
about that case, a lot more certain than I feel
about the officer's behavior in this case. Do you think
this just ended a chance for Minnesota Republican to win
the governor's race? Similar what happened with Biden after Trump's
assassin the assassination attempt on Trump. I'm on record, and
the rightys you know, don't like when I say this,
(01:50):
but I think the chance for a Minnesota Republican to
win the governor's race ended or will end regardless, for
regardless of this tragedy, if Amy Klobshar becomes the Democratic
nominee for governor, simple as that. Now if she doesn't,
if ultimately she shocks people and doesn't, then is it
(02:13):
If you're yes, I know she's also a Democrat, but
I don't think she you will successfully paint her with
the same brush that Governor Walls will be regarding the
land of ten thousand fraud cases and a couple of
other things as well. Now, I will be curious to
watch how willing she will be to criticize the Democrats
(02:39):
in charge. And most people think it's not going to
be enough because it's a tribal system, right, that's what
sharks and jets, but and the Democrats would probably think
it'd be too much. Absolutely, that's exactly right. So, but
I think that will go a lot further. Now, I
(03:00):
may be understating the ramifications of this story as it
plays out, but I think for me that was a
kind of a bigger, bigger issue. Brashawn Bryant KFN text
line is open at six four six, eight six. I
do want to mention one other Toy Department story because
(03:24):
I think we've had another National Football League head coaching dismissal.
My guy Dolphin's Guy Dolphin's Guy Ping Pong guy, what's
his name? Mike Daniel, Mike McDaniel has been dismissed.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
And that.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Is that eight or nine? Now, how many openings do
we have? This is the eighth, This is eighth, Yeah,
Harbaugh was the seventh.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
I think.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
Is that the average number of openings we have? Maybe
it is it feels like it's more than usual, maybe
by one or two.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
That's a lot.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
How many teams in the National Football League is a
thirty thirty two thirty two thirty two, So that's a
quarter of them. As you say, maybe it happens every year,
and I just haven't been paying attention. And maybe it's
because it's coming out. You know, we had the onslaught
and now they're coming out in drips and drafts. Right,
is anybody left that still might be under the microscope. Man,
I don't think so well Tomlin. People wonder what's going
(04:18):
to happen there? Well, but I think them making the
postseason has to end, that, doesn't it.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
I don't think so, because he's done that a lot. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Yeah, I think I'm not saying right, you're not saying
he should be Yeah, and you know me, I mean,
I love Tomlin. I think he should be able to
coach as long as he wants, wherever he wants. But
if they get trucked by Houston at home on Monday
night and they don't win a playoff game again, people
are going to say. People are going to wonder, is
this the best that they is? This is a reboot
(04:48):
necessary in Pittsburgh's you know, one organization that doesn't really
care about the noise. Have had three head coaches, right,
Noland h that's true, Cowell, Yeah, Bill Kawer and then Tomlin.
So they're pretty patient, but they are to coaching what
the Packers are to quarterbacks. It seems like it's like
one a generation Y is enough for us pretty much,
(05:08):
I think about that. So I don't think anybody else
is even up for debate. But I'm not sure I'd
have to go through the list again. I guess, yeah,
it's now we're assuming that when it comes to Brian Flores,
Miami is unlikely to be an option. That'd be a
good story, to be a hell of a story. It
sounds like the Ravens have already asked for permission. I
(05:30):
don't know if you're going to get to that. Yeah,
but I wonder, Like I said, I will be shocked
if the Ravens do not hire an offensive the great
quarterback whisperer. I'm not saying that's the only way they
should go, but I just have a feeling that that
is the direction they might go. But that's the first
sign and I is that the only team we know
(05:52):
that has asked permission to chat with Brian Flores to
our knowledge, Yet that's the only one I saw today.
I don't know if any others have been reported. Yeah,
but I did see that today with my own eyes.
And we still don't have well, obviously it's it's it's
self evident.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
We still so.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
The fact that we still don't have the Vikings announcing
a contract extension as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach
for Bflow means what that B Flows people are saying, well,
now we got to slow it down a little bit.
We saw a role because we're going to play it out.
We got to explore the head coaching deal. Or is
(06:32):
it because I'm not again saying there's a schism, but
that there's more likelihood than we think that he's just
not going to hang here, which would really surprise me.
Maybe maybe it's he's tired of us. I mean, he
says he loves it here. He says his family loves
it here.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
They do.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
He's well compensated, I'm sure, and that's only going up
gets to do his own thing on defense, good vibe
with the head coach. I would be really surprised if
he left for anything other than a head coaching job.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Has Gerschmidth commented on this.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
The rumor percolating on Harbaugh is that the Bills and
the Packers are the teams to watch. Is Packer guy
in trouble? I believe his contract is up at the end.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Of the season. Oh okay, maybe that's what it is.
I think.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
Don't quote me for sure, but I'm pretty sure, which
is interesting. More year, Blakemore says. Blakemore says he's got
Walmar one more.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
That's it though that's not much. What's that? That's well?
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Gurby's going to join tomorrow. Why Blake Moore's had just
popped up? Man, he heard Packer ty you want John Harbaugh?
You okay with your current head coach? He says he's
okay with the current head game. He coach may feel
differently after Saturday night, by the way, snow Globe game.
Really the rumor is a snow a soldier field Bears
Packers the way it ought to be.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
But I don't mean guess whether people you never know
what to believe.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
We'll find out. Yeah, sooner or later we'll who jumped
up quicker in the score? Blake Moore when we were
talking about Matt Leffleur's contract situation, or Zach Halverson when
we wondered aloud if Sex World was still open downtown
now he's ever moved since the high school Hockey report,
and he had to sprint across the Al Shaver press box.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
He wanted to confirm. He wanted to let you know
it was still open. He is nothing if not an
intrepid reporter.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
I don't think it's open anymore. But at the time
Holvey confirmed to you that it was open. He popped
up and gave me which place was it? Sex World?
Sex World, not not the Voo. No, there's no question
the vo's still open. In fact, Gregor sent me a
picture from the Voo on one of his Minneapolis watts.
He did that to me too, because we were talking
about it. Yeah, fucked by at nine inh at the time?
Speaker 2 (08:40):
What opens at nine, isn't it? Or is it twenty
four hours that? I don't know. We could ask Max
he used to work there. I don't know if he
still does. That's a good point. Yeah, the VU do
they have a brunch? I don't know, Brett, he says
it is not sure. Not sure. Okay, he's pretending to
not for sure. Split that way.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
All right, let's get a pause in and let's go
international with the guy. He's from Minnesota, so he may
have an opinion or two, or just maybe you want
to express some emotion on the basis of what took
place yesterday in the city. We will chat with one
of our favorites, long time counter terror big knocker this
(09:19):
show geopolitical big Knocker for this program. Michael Hurley is next.
If you have questions six four six eight six.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
That's next.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Let's go international for a minute or two questions for
one of our favorites. Michael Hurley, former career CIA officer,
served well for many many years now works with I
think fair to say, doing a lot of very effective consulting,
and he's been great for us. We've consulted with him
(10:01):
on any number of international crises with American implications or
what those implications.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
Might be for the US.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
And mister Hurley, Michael Hurley, he Dinah's own is kind
enough to join us via the Kinetico Water Systems hotline.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
How are you, sir?
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Are you enjoying are you having like a little bit
of rest and relaxation right now?
Speaker 3 (10:24):
I am dan great to be with you, and I'm
actually in Big Sky, Montana.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Nice.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
I've been here for the last week or so and
just kind of enjoying the beauty of this part of
the country. Peaceful, very peaceful, especially where I am and
you see a lot of cross country skiers go by.
We had some good snow in the main ski resort
which is nearby last night, seven or eight inches. But wow,
(10:52):
Actually think Montana, especially this part of the Rockies, is
doing better with snow than Colorado this season so far.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
Anyway, is it one would assume that a spot like
that sounds like a spot from which you can in
certain ways isolate yourself from the rest of the world.
And yet, given what we have going on in the world,
not to mention Minneapolis, and given your own connections with
so many of these stories, is it hard for you
(11:20):
to ever shut off or get away from it, especially
with what we have going on internationally.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
Well, I guess I stay plugged in from here on
my computer and talking to friends and sort of my network.
But it is very, very peaceful here, and I don't
myself so much, but I try to stay up on
the news while I'm out here as well too. But
it's it's just really, really a lovely place to be.
(11:51):
Sounds like I mean, it reminds me of Minnesota a lot,
except for the mountains, of course, which is the big
different spot. This is a great place Dan even of
course for the skiing it's world class at Big Sky Resort.
But in the spring and in the summer and in
the fall there's some of the best fly fishing in
(12:12):
the country. There's kayaking, horseback riding, tennis, golf, everything you
can imagine. So it's it's really really a lovely part
of the country to spend some time in.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Here's where I like to begin today, regarding Venezuela and
the capture of the Venezuelan President Maduro.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
I want to read a couple of sentences.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
This is a piece out of the Hill dot com
and it's centered on some commentary from Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
Reads like this.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
John Fetterman faulted fellow Democrats early Monday for their relentless
criticism of the president's mission to capture Maduro, calling the operation.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
A good thing.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
This was, I think, in an interview on Fox and Friends,
and he noted that Democrats have wanted to oust Maduro
from power as much as Republicans did, but now that
the Venezuelan strong man he is in US custody, that
Democrats are surprisingly lashing out at the administration. Here's his quote.
I don't know why we can't just acknowledge it's been
a good thing. What's happened. I've seen the speeches from
(13:18):
whether it's Schumer or kinds of past tweets from the
President Biden. We all wanted this man gone. Now he
is gone. I think we should really appreciate exactly what
happened here. So what would you say to the Federman
analysis there? What do you make of what he has
to say? Because it is true. I think there's several
administrations were very critical of Maduro in power. So are
(13:46):
people who are mad at this?
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Are they mad because Trump did it?
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Or are they mad because they think the act itself
raises larger questions that go beyond what we have done before.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
I think it's some of both. First, where in the
sad situation now where the parties, the two parties are
constantly ripping into each other no matter what actions are taken.
It is true what Senator Fetterman says that both parties,
leaders in both parties have for years, I wanted to
(14:21):
see Maduro gone and Huro Java is even before him.
And the situation in Venezuela is very bad. I think
something like eight million people eight million Venezuelan's have emigrated
from that country to Europe, to other countries in South America.
Colombia has taken in a lot, We've probably taken in
(14:45):
hundreds of thousands in the last many years, and so
it really I think was a terrible regime that was
robbing its own citizens, robbing its own its own national wealth.
It wasn't all that long ago, dan Is. You know
that Venezuela was one of the economic spark plugs in
(15:08):
South America. It has these tremendous oil resources, and now
it's really an impoverished country. I don't think there's been
any hope for young people there for a long time,
which is why they've all mamigrated. But I think, to
get back to Fetterman's point, I think it's good to
(15:29):
happen Aduro gone. I think it's also legitimate to say, Okay,
what happens tomorrow, what are the longer term, mid and
longer term consequences that the United States is going to
be dealing with. I was reminded a little bit the
reaction remember during the Iraq War, when what was it
(15:53):
about a month into it, it was declared that mission
was accomplished there. Well, mission wasn't accomplished. It lasted for
another eight nine years and is still kind of ongoing now.
And well, I think it's great for Maduro to be
to be gone, and it appears that our special forces
(16:13):
performed very well that I still think there are grounds
one of the things that did not take place, from
my understanding, and it's it's really been followed by both parties,
is that before any action like this that the Trump
administration took, there's only the briefing for what's called the
Gang of eight. That's kind of inside baseball in Washington.
(16:37):
But the Gang of eight are the two leaders of
the Speaker of the House and the minority leader in
the House of Representatives, and the chairman and ranking member
of the House Intelligence Committee. And similarly the Senate Majority
Leader and the Senate Minority Leader and the chairman and
(17:01):
and ranking member on the Senate Intelegencibitties. They always get briefed,
and none of that took place. And I think that
that's that's that's a real break with tradition, and I
think there's so there is some grounds for grousing there.
And I also think that you know, like people can
(17:25):
look at this and say, we're international laws violated here,
and you know, if it's a matter of urgent, urgent
national security, countries will always act in their self interest.
But there's so many issues surrounding this as well. Dan two,
(17:46):
the attacks and the missile strikes on the boats, and
the Caribbean and all the issues that those have raved.
I think it's all kind of wrapped up in that.
But so I think there's something to what Fetterman is saying,
but I don't I don't see it personally as an
unqualified success, because we really don't know what's going to
happen in the weeks and months ahead.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
You know.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
The larger issue to me that this represents, and you
kind of alluded to it a little bit already, is
that you do get the feeling that each time the
approach from this administration on a story like this is
to say, we're screwing convention.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
We don't care what tradition has suggested.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
Or even what might be a fair representation of, you know,
showing proper respect to the legislative side of this thing
in the various branches of government, that it becomes easier
to say screw it the next time. And if you
do it often enough, and you basically thumb your nose
at convention over and over again, then I think it
(18:55):
becomes very easy to say, well, who's going to stop us?
Speaker 2 (18:57):
What are you gonna do about it? Right?
Speaker 1 (18:59):
And I do have concern about the ramifications of that
and I I would say that even Trump supporters should
wonder about that a little bit. And there's even been
some Republicans, not a lot, but there have been some
Republicans who occasionally murmur uh in areas like that.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Can you speak to that a little bit?
Speaker 3 (19:20):
Yeah, I think there's I think there's there. There's there's
much to that, the just the whole question of you
know what, what what do we what do we do
going forward? And I also think that the more you
break it's not just tradition, it's it's kind of the
unwritten you know, it's kind of the unwritten like customary
(19:42):
way that these things have been approached. As I said,
I think often Dan presidents need to act quickly and
make decisions quickly when there's vital national interests at stake.
It may be the case here. I just I just
don't know. And I think that country is a very
large country, and I think governing it now, we haven't
(20:07):
getting rid of one guy and his wife the leader.
There's still a lot of bad people, a lot of
thugs that still exert a lot of power Invituila, and
I just don't know what's going to happen ahead, which
I think raises a lot of issues. And I sort
of also think that when there's no consulting done, the
(20:27):
entire Congress doesn't need to be briefed, but just that
group of eight. There's reasons to do that because no
one person, Republican or Democrat, has monopoly on wisdom, and
it's always useful to get advice, and even to get
advice from the opposition, I think, And so I just
(20:49):
don't think that was done here. I want to share
an anecdote Dan that I was thinking of. I'm to
go back to the Vietnam conflict. There's this really excellent
book called The Best and the Brightest by David Halberston.
I'm familiar with yep very much. He was and when
John Kennedy began his presidency in nineteen sixty one, he
(21:11):
was presented with his action in Cuba. Well, the US
was going to invade using a ragtag group of people,
about one hundred and fifty people or so, with really
no air power, to overthrow the Castro regime. And Kennedy
was the new president. He was presented with this plan,
and Halberston writes about this in the book. He was
(21:32):
a new president and young president, and he listened to
these advisors and the CIA, which had concocted this plan.
They were using these Cuban exiles to do this, And
in the decision making, there were a couple of people
that were not president in the cabinet meeting. It should
have been there, and one was Victor Koulock was his name.
(21:56):
He was a four star Marine general. He wasn't there,
but they should have had him there because he he
had been part of the assault team in ewo Jima
during World War Two and he knew the costs and
the number of people that were required to successfully take
(22:17):
an island. But he wasn't there, so he wasn't able
to weigh in on whether the US should go ahead
with that action. The other thing I remember, and it
just tized directly to Minnesota, is that the secret of
Agriculture at the time was Orville Freeman, kind of a
famous Minnesotan. And you'd asked yourself the question, well, why
(22:38):
would you want the sectard of agriculture on a national
security decision? Well, only because Freeman had also stormed a
Japanese island in World War two and knew something about that.
But when Kulak in the Key cabinet meeting on this
question of invading a country and removing its leadership. He
rolled out on a on a map of the United
(23:01):
States be overlayd with the map of Cuba, and Cuba
stretched from Long Island to Wait past Chicago, right, And
the people making the decisions had no idea of the
size of that of that of that island. And I'm
remembering this now just because you know, you can get
into these things and take these actions, and they seem
(23:24):
pretty good at first, but they can lead to a
lot of problems down the road. I hope they don't.
I hope this turns out to be successful, but time
will tell them.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
I want to jump around a little bit because I
don't want to lose the opportunity here. Although we can
revisit some of these stories if they don't go away.
The average roube who has become somewhat aware, but maybe
isn't you know, following politics geopolitics every day, Suddenly here's
again the name Greenland. And it's about more than the
(23:58):
sequel to a motion pick. Sure, it's about these notions
that it's too valuable geopolitically for us to not get
more involved in it, or to take it over, or
to do whatever the President has threatened that he might
need to do or say that he needs to do.
To that person who has been following this story closely explain,
(24:22):
give our listeners an idea of what Greenland represents and
what you think the president might ultimately be up to.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
Here well, in some ways is a strategic location because
it's up in the Arctic Circle. There's often Russian activity,
there's subactivity around it, submarine activity. It's a gateway, i guess,
to North America. The Chinese are interested in it now.
(24:52):
It's at the top of the world and for that reason,
it's a place that has drawn attention. And also my
understanding is there's these rare earth metals and minerals that
are valuable, and they are valuable to the security of
the United States and the West, but for the average
(25:15):
person may not know. But Greenland is actually part it's
connected to Denmark, and Denmark has this political relationship with Greenland.
And it's important to understand that Denmark is in the
North Atlantic Tree Organization NATO, which is in my mind,
(25:36):
the most successful defensive organization alliance in the history of
the world. The United States is the main player in it,
and Denmark is an ally of ours. I personally would
like to see in this so I can understand some
of the importance of Greenland to the United States, although
I think and I wish the administration wouldn't overstate some
(26:00):
of the points that it's made because it's it's President
Trump has said that the Russians are all over the
place in Greenland, and the Chinese are as well. That's
not true. They have an interest in it, and there
are assets, surface vessels and so on, but they're not
They're not ready to invade Greenland. That's just not the case.
(26:23):
So I and I would like to see personally just
working with Denmark and with Greenland if we want to
be beef up our defense right there and our air
defenses and radars and so on, to prevent or to
give us heads up on possibly missile attacks and they're coming,
(26:44):
the blistic missile attacks coming from over the polar Ice cap.
I think that can be done by strengthening that alliance
and working very closely. I'm just not a big fan
of bullying our allies.
Speaker 1 (26:58):
We are chatting with the four CIA officer Michael Hurley
has joined us for years to talk largely about international
geopolitics and counter terror, et cetera, et cetera. If you
have questions for him, Restaurant Bryant a cafe and text
line is open at six four six eight six. By
the way, to go back to Maduro and the question
(27:20):
of who should have been in on it on the
front end, in terms of in the government on the
legislative side, the comeback has been, as I'm sure you've heard,
is well, this was not a military action, This was
a This was basically a law enforcement operation involving one
particular individual who several administrations has said should not even
(27:44):
be in a position of power and is a threat
as well. What do you say to that that comeback?
Speaker 3 (27:51):
Well, first, Maduro gives a threat, and he's a terrible
leader and a ruthless leader, and I'm glad he's not
in power. By we use our military, and we use
our elite forces in the military. So it's a military action,
and I just think we're stronger when we have when
(28:13):
we have our the various players taking part in that
decision making. It's not even the decision making, because it
is present from's decision, but it's just weighing in with advice,
and sometimes it's important to hear the advice of the
people in the senior positions. So no, in my view,
(28:34):
with a military action, we use the military. They can
call it law enforcement, but but no, we used our
key military assets.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
I have heard some folks call out the I don't
even know what we call it, mainstream media, traditional media,
if there's such a thing as traditional media in twenty
twenty six.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
The accusation in this case.
Speaker 1 (28:59):
Michael, is that they are not giving proper attention in
their reporting and in their I guess presentation of what
is happening or what seems to be percolating on the
ground in Iran. I'm curious to get your view on that.
There have been a number of demonstrations for a number
(29:20):
of days. There's a belief in the part of some
that this might lead to some real up arising. On
the other hand, there have been a few of these
I think ripples before not leading anywhere. So do you
think this has been a story, is enough happening based
on what you've seen and what you know the people
you talk to, that this story is being underplayed or
(29:42):
what do you think?
Speaker 2 (29:43):
I think it may be.
Speaker 3 (29:45):
I think it may be somewhat underplayed. Dan. It's also
probably probably very difficult for even the strongest of newspapers,
for example, and journalists that kind of coverage to really
penetrate to find out what's going on in that closed society.
(30:05):
So that's kind of that's kind of difficult. I do
think it's it's extremely important to follow the drama there
and what's taking place, because you know, they're still reeling
from the attacks of Israel and of the United States
last spring. I think the Mollahs that are running the
country in the Ayahtola probably are shifting where they're sleeping
(30:29):
every night, so their locations can't be pinpointed by Israeli
missiles or some of the other techniques that the Israeli's used.
There are protests taking place there. I would like to
know more about them. It would be great if there
were better and deeper coverage. There's so much happening in
the world now in terms of international security that maybe
(30:53):
these outlets are just making choices and covering Ukraine and
now Venezuela and some of these other hotspots. But one
of the things that that I got very interested in
the last year was that they have and they have
had in Tehran a very serious water water crisis and
(31:15):
water shortage, and that if it continues, is going to
lead to a lot of social turmoil. For sure, you
start running out of water and and you know it's
it's people are going to protest that very seriously. So yeah,
I think I think it's probably legitimate to say that
(31:36):
there should be more and better coverage of what's happening
in the Ronde. I'd certainly like to see that.
Speaker 1 (31:40):
We've got a lot of good texts coming in. I'm
gonna try to see if we can cover these in
our remaining minutes with with Michael Hurley. Has Trump made
a deal with China to keep China from invading Taiwan.
Speaker 2 (31:57):
I don't.
Speaker 3 (31:58):
I doubt that he. I doubt that he has. Trump
seems to be mostly interested in cutting economic and trade
deals with China. I doubt that the Taiwan issue is
an issue of vital importance to Shijinping, the rule of China,
(32:19):
and the Chinese government. I doubt that they've reached agreement
on it. If anything, I think the US actions in
Venezuela may be read by the Chinese leadership as the
United States is doing what it wants to do, and
it's part of the world. It's sphere of interest that
(32:41):
gives us the green light to do whatever we want.
With Taiwan, they may just be biting their time until
they're ready to make a move on Taiwan.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
But my guess is.
Speaker 3 (32:54):
I don't know for sure, but I think it's pretty
safe to say that President Trump hasn't reached any agreement
on the Chinese thing out of Taiwan.
Speaker 1 (33:04):
Mike Michael, you're also being asked to link if you
think there is a link between what we've done in
Venezuela and potentially where we might be headed as it
pertains to the island of Cuba.
Speaker 2 (33:21):
Are we going anywhere there?
Speaker 3 (33:24):
I don't know what's going to happen with that. The
President has threatened the Cuban government, also the Mexican government
and the Colombian government, and we've already talked about Greenland
and Denmark. You know, sometimes it's hard to read how
serious he is. But the Cuban government is going to
(33:46):
be in real trouble Dan because it's been propped up
in part by oil coming in from Venezuela. That's going
to be cut way way back, and that's going to
cause a real problem with with with funds coming into
the Cuban government. So my guess is, and I know
(34:07):
this is something that's very important to the Secretary of
State Marco Rubio UH and others who have who have
wanted a change in government in Cuba, and so many
have I think across Republican and democratic administrations, I think
the Cuban government is in real trouble now.
Speaker 2 (34:24):
UH.
Speaker 3 (34:24):
And I don't know if there are any actions planned
at all. I have no insights into that, but I'm
sure the US is going to be more than a
an impartial observer as to what's happening, and we'll be
putting on the Trump administration, I would be willing to
bet will be putting on as much pressure on the
economic pressure and otherwise on the Cuban government UH to
(34:48):
see a collapse there, if if, if, if that's possible.
Speaker 2 (34:52):
I think the oil of oil is part of that.
Speaker 1 (34:55):
Texture's point and let's let's go a little further with it.
This is three oh three, Guy, Dan, you're missing the
point on Venezuela Maduro.
Speaker 2 (35:04):
Madua was a horrible person.
Speaker 1 (35:05):
I'm glad he's gone, But the US invaded a foreign
country to occupy it and steal its resources. The President
has admitted that we're there for the oil. How is
stealing in other countries resources okay.
Speaker 3 (35:19):
Well, I don't think it's okay. And uh and and
I guess it. We we should we shouldn't steal resources.
We haven't done that in the past, and we shouldn't
do it in Venezuela. I'm not sure that that's exactly
what President Trump is talking about. He's talking about the
US participating in managing those resources. And because that whole
(35:42):
industry has collapsed in Venezuela, and he's talked about then
the income from that oil being used to you know,
by by by leaders in Venezuela that will put it
to good effect to help the people of Venezuela. And
so I don't you know, sometimes it's very hard to
(36:05):
read President Trump's mind. I don't think he sees it
as stealing from them. And I think if that were
to happen, that even this Congress has been very supportive
of Presidents Trump, wouldn't want the United States to go
down that road. So, you know, maybe it would be
more like just managing those resources and using the wealth
(36:27):
that comes from it. To assist the people of Venezuela,
I hope. So anyway, let's.
Speaker 1 (36:33):
Finish today with a local story. You know, you're a
Minneapolis guy and you feel strongly about your roots, and
your hometown is back in the news for all of
the wrong reasons, based on what took place last night
or yesterday, i should say, during an ice operation in
which a Minneapolis resident named Renee Nicole Good was killed
(36:56):
thirty seven years old from afar. What was your gut
reaction to the story that broke out yesterday, Well, my.
Speaker 3 (37:07):
Heart breaks over it. It's a it's a terrible tragedy.
I you know, it's it's always hard to give opinions
on things until you know all the facts. Based on
what I've read and and I've tried to dive into
this a little bit a bit because it was such
a terrible event. It doesn't seem to me that that
(37:32):
her actions merited, you know, the kind of use of
lethal force against her that that ended up killing her.
You know, we have the right to protest. You don't
have the right to interfere bodily with federal officers, but
you certainly can protest. From what I've seen of the
(37:53):
of the video, at least that I saw, it didn't
look like much of a threat was being to the
federal officers.
Speaker 1 (38:02):
And so.
Speaker 3 (38:04):
I think we're also in a situation, Dan where so
many people have been brought into ice that you wonder
how good their training is and whether people are coming.
Speaker 1 (38:15):
In that.
Speaker 3 (38:17):
Don't have the kind of training they need for the
actions that they're being asked to carry out. And I
suspect that as we delve into more of the facts
of exactly what happened, that may be the case with
the person the shooter in this case. And to me,
that's a real shame, and you know, just hope that
(38:41):
this doesn't happen again. This is a thirty seven year
old woman and whatever she was doing, she didn't deserve
to be to be killed, that's for sure. And I
hope that Congress gets involved and ensures that there's a
deep dive into the investigation and that nothing is covered
(39:02):
up about what happened, and then the changes are imposed
to ensure that it doesn't happen again. But it's just
sort of seems like some of these operations are overly
aggressive to me, and you know, that's that's that's just
my opinion. I know there are those that you know,
(39:24):
argue strongly and I and I think we need to
have and I realized that the victim here was not
an immigrant, But it's all tied up in the question
of enforcing the immigration rules. And you know, we need
a system where we can control our borders and to
(39:44):
deal I think fairly and appropriately with those that have
come here illegally. But but boy, it breaks my heart
when this kind of force is used and the life
is snuffed out at that, and I do hope that
there's accountability for it.
Speaker 2 (40:02):
Thanks for the time. It's always good to catch up
with you.
Speaker 1 (40:04):
Enjoy whatever remaining time we have out out west, I
should say, and we'll chat again soon.
Speaker 2 (40:09):
Thanks very much, Mike Dan.
Speaker 3 (40:10):
And we didn't. We didn't even talk about the Viking.
Speaker 1 (40:13):
Well, you tell me, are you are you locked into
JJ or you do you want to see a buffer
or do you want to see some kind of a
you know, insurance policy that includes an experienced veteran in
case he's either not good enough or in case he
just can't stay on the field.
Speaker 3 (40:31):
Yeah, I'm not locked into him. He does seem to
be injury prone. I also recognize that he's very very young,
you know, to to carry the starting quarterback burden on
his shoulders. I'd like to see them bring in an
experienced pro uh donald type, but someone who's been performing
(40:54):
the play in the playoffs as well as he does
in the in the in the season. And I haven't,
I haven't. I haven't decided, Dan, it's not I mean,
I'm not saying that McCarthy can't be a you know,
a really good quarterback down the road, But I just
I worry about the next couple of years. Yeah, you know,
(41:17):
put him into some games when we're ahead, but have
somebody else at the helm. Bring in somebody that can
get the job done, because you know, there's I just
remember during during a summer training camp, there were really
high hopes for this team this year, and it was
(41:38):
kind of sad watching a lot of the games.
Speaker 2 (41:40):
There's no question about that. As a long way from
fourteen to three.
Speaker 1 (41:42):
Thanks for the extended time, my friend, will let chat
soon be well.
Speaker 2 (41:46):
Thanks very much, Dan, appreciate you.
Speaker 1 (41:48):
Michael Hurley kind enough to join us a break short
segment and then we will prepare Your guy, Brett Blakemore
is now in that share because guards he had to
move on to some beaches. Is off the hook on
Top five at five right, because Russo has scheduled for
the top three hour, we'll come back with a short
segment and then prepare for a little hockey talk.
Speaker 2 (42:08):
Stay tuned.
Speaker 1 (42:19):
We'll probably be able to explore this question in greater
depth on what now will be an endless array of
two hour editions of Sunday sermons. Right because Vikings ain't
playing Sunday, they ain't playing all weekend at all, so
it'll be nine to eleven on Sunday morning. It's that
(42:40):
I've asked it many times before whether Vikings fans will
continue to stay plugged in or connected to a postseason
in which their team is not a part, and I
have a hunch they will, even if they don't want to.
When one of the matchups is a battle between two
(43:01):
other NFC North teams, that's the Saturday night game, your
Green Bay Packers in Chicago for the rematch to take
on the Monsters of the Midway. The early weather forecasts
are for a snow globe game at Soldier Field on
Saturday night. That in my mind means it probably won't
(43:23):
snow a lick, But I hope that it ends up
being true. It'd be a nice nighttime deal, right. I
mean you could say that's sort of the way it
should be in the National Football Conference North. And the
added impetus, even for Vikings fans who still might be
depressed at their club's not in it to pay attention,
(43:45):
has to be the possibility of chippiness because apparently your guy,
one of your guys, maybe several, have said they have
taken they took offence to the hit that knocked your
guy Jordan Love out of the game. Cushion. He missed
the rest of that game. Did he miss one or
two after that?
Speaker 4 (44:06):
Well, he missed one because of protocol. He missed the
other here at Minneapolis because the invision play. That's exactly it.
But the quote was from Josh Jacob's quote. I know
a lot of guys took that hit on Love a
little personal. So I'm not saying we're gonna go out
there and play dirty or nothing like that. WHOA, but
we definitely want to defend our brother.
Speaker 2 (44:28):
You know who doesn't mind that quote? National Football League?
Speaker 1 (44:31):
They love that because it's just enhances the storyline. It's
juice here, and you know what, I know every Green
Bay Packer says they want to play the Bears again.
You could I make the argument the Bears might say
the same thing, because I think I'd rather play the
(44:52):
Packers than at this point the Eagles or the Rams
if I'm the Bears, or even forty nine Ers.
Speaker 2 (44:58):
I don't know what to think of the forty nine
Ers this point, but.
Speaker 3 (45:02):
We don't.
Speaker 1 (45:03):
You know, it's not unprecedent to have playoff games involving
two teams in the same division, but when it happens,
I think it gets it.
Speaker 2 (45:10):
It certainly enhances things to a large degree.
Speaker 1 (45:14):
So that's something we will be able to review on
Sunday sermons because the game will be a Saturday night
and by then, also, I think my Hoosiers play Friday
night next round of the College Football Tournament against the
Oregon Ducks, So there might well be some Hoosier hotline
and some Bears wine line after the Bears knock off
(45:36):
your club again. What's the latest spread? Are you still favored?
A week ago you were favored. Is that changed at.
Speaker 2 (45:41):
All as we get closer to game time.
Speaker 4 (45:43):
I wanted to say that it moved. No, Green Bay
is still favored. I've got it as a point and
a half. Interesting. That's very interesting.
Speaker 1 (45:51):
Well, I think that says something to skepticism about the pedigree.
Still cute club, good season, breakthrough season for the Bears,
but no real postseason equity to draw from as well.
And the notion that the last time the Bears had
to do everything to end up winning a game that
in which your quarterback did not play. For when did
he get hurt in that game? I was like the
(46:12):
second it was the second quarterback. That sounds right, all right,
Let's break not for the top five at five, but
for our weekly visit with Michael Russo. Let's talk some
Olympics with Russo Radio as we get closer to it,
and obviously obviously talk plenty of a Minnesota Wild as well.
If you have questions for Russo, the Brat Shawn Brian
kfe In text line number is six four six eight
(46:33):
six
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