Elk Grove News Podcast

Today, the United States of America celebrates its 250th birthday.

Through our historic and ongoing American experiment in democracy, we have traveled through many peaks and valleys.

We have been inspired by great men and women who display for all the world to see our decency and humanity.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wants the execution of convicted Fort Hood mass murderer Nidal Hasan livestreamed for the world to watch. Is this justice or a return to public executions as entertainment? In this sarcastic Elk Grove News Minute commentary, we travel from America's frontier hangings to the Roman Empire and ask: Why stop at a firing squad? Why not crucifixion?

A pointed look at capital punishment, political spectacle and the meaning of civilization.

Make America great again, backward one century at a time. Now' that's MAGA!

More commentary at ElkGroveNews.net.

With just over three weeks until voting ends, the race for California’s 7th Congressional District is heating up. 

The race features two Democratic Party candidates; incumbent Rep. Doris Matsui and Sacramento City Councilmember Mai Vang.

In this edition of Elk Grove News Podcasts, Dan Gougherty meets with Ms. Vang. Aside from going over campaign rhetoric. listeners learn more about her.

Representative Matsui was invited for an interview on September 23, but as of October 8th, has not responded. 

The invitation remains open

By Dan Schmitt |

The homes in north-central Wisconsin where I grew up had basements. Ours was dark and dank. Two dim lightbulbs hanging from the basement rafters were all the illumination available at night when no sun entered the small rectangular windows perched atop the brick basement walls.

As a child, I was deathly afraid to go alone down into our basement at night. Because of its darkness, I was sure some dangerous boogeyman lurked, waiting to do me harm.

This describes California's Proposition 39

The race between Doris Matsui and Mai Vang is nasty, but through all the mudslinging, one issue has gone unaddressed.

That issue is the impending implosion of Social Security.

This week, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed significant legislation sponsored by State Senator Angelique Ashby.

Senate Bill 802 requires Sacramento County and its municipalities to form a joint powers authority to address homelessness as a regional issue. This landmark legislation carries risks and rewards, especially for Senator Ashby.

Something smells in the Sacramento suburb of Lincoln Grove.

And no, it’s not coming from somebody’s garbage can.

Well … not exactly.

A woman named Helga has been sniffing around town, and she’s picked up the unmistakable aroma of something rotten.

I was planning on writing a podcast on my vegetable garden today, and a very plentiful vegetable garden it is too, but STUFF just keeps happening. By STUFF I mean the unbelievable flow of nonsense spewing from the unhinged guy currently occupying OUR White House and pretending to be president.

 “What now?” you ask. 

If there is one thing every elected official wants, it is a favorable legacy. As we have often seen, however, that legacy is not what they hoped for.

Labor Day traditionally marks the end of summer—and the beginning of election season.

Midterm elections often cost the president’s party seats in Congress. But this election has an extraordinary dimension that will test American Democracy.