News from the Crabby Coffee Shop

In this episode of News from the Crabby Coffee Shop, we talk with Kevin Urban, a Minnesotan approved for paid family leave who isn’t receiving the amount indicated or the benefits he’s been approved for. We also cover Weiner Wednesday with Mayor Kaohly Her and the latest from the Saint Paul Police Department squabble. Then Rep. Dave Baker joins the conversation to discuss Minnesota’s paid family leave program and what’s happening in the state legislature.  

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Sheriff Bob Fletcher joins the Crabby Coffee crew for a no-BS conversation you won’t hear anywhere else in Minnesota media. The longtime Ramsey County lawman sits down and lays it out straight: the growing problem of Somali youth gangs fueling violence in the Twin Cities, the hard numbers on the roughly 300 kids driving the chaos, and why pretending it doesn’t exist helps no one, especially the Somali community itself.

Fletcher talks candidly about what it’s like to wear the badge in today’s political climate, where telling the truth gets you labeled and common-sense policing takes a backseat to optics.

But at the heart of it all? A guy who’s spent decades building youth programs, gang intervention, and safe schools because he genuinely wants to do right by the kids and keep families safe. No political agenda, no grandstanding, just a cop who still believes in results over rhetoric. If you’re tired of tip-toeing around real problems, this episode is for you and remember: anything that needs figuring out can still be figured out… even when the politicians don’t want to hear it

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Grab your cup and settle in for a strong pour of straight talk on public safety leadership and big-city fire department politics. In this episode of News from the Crabby Coffee Shop, Kenny and Jay are joined by former Minneapolis City Council President Paul Ostrow, a seasoned voice on local government, budgets, and accountability. They dive deep into the nomination and tenure of Reginald Freeman as Hartford Fire Chief, along with the federal lawsuit tied to his time in the role. Ostrow brings his no-nonsense perspective on what it takes to lead a fire department through scandals, staffing crises, line-of-duty tragedies, and the legal fallout that follows. From hiring decisions and department culture to the real-world pressures facing urban fire services, this conversation cuts through the smoke.

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Minnesota State Representative Kristin Robbins, Chair of the House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee, joins for a no-BS deep dive into the state’s exploding welfare fraud crisis. She breaks down how the same networks kept reappearing, why the system failed to stop it, and what her committee has uncovered through whistleblowers and public records. The conversation also covers Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s role in sponsoring the federal MEALS Act, which relaxed key oversight rules for meal providers and helped create the conditions for the Feeding Our Future scheme to explode. Robbins details the committee’s repeated attempts to get Omar to testify or turn over records of communications with individuals later tied to the fraud (many of which appeared in federal trial exhibits), and why those requests have gone unanswered. Plus: the latest on daycare fraud with over 400 open investigations into publicly funded providers and the long-overdue rollout of electronic attendance tracking. For years, only a tiny fraction (around 10% in the initial phase) of providers were using real-time online records, making it ridiculously easy to bill for kids who were never there.

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In this raw and deeply personal episode of the Crabby Coffee Podcast, Jay opens up about his unexpected battle with Lyme disease. From the first confusing symptoms to the relentless pain that’s upended his daily life, Jay shares the real, unfiltered story of his journey so far — the frustration, the uncertainty, the sleepless nights, and the small victories along the way.

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In this episode, Kenny and Jay are joined by Ryan Callaghan—CEO of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, lifelong Westerner, hunter, and fierce public lands advocate—for a wide-ranging discussion on some of the biggest conservation battles happening right now.

Ryan breaks down the controversial Oregon PEACE Act (Initiative Petition 28), a ballot measure that could criminalize hunting, fishing, trapping, livestock practices, and pest control, potentially devastating rural economies, wildlife management, and generations of outdoor heritage in the state.

He also dives into the fight over Minnesota’s Boundary Waters, where efforts to open lands upstream for sulfide mining threaten one of America’s most iconic wilderness canoe areas, pristine waters, and the recreation economy it supports.

Plus, Ryan shares insights on wilderness in the West, shifting animal patterns and migrations, habitat challenges, public lands policy, and everything in between—from practical conservation wins to the cultural importance of hunting and fishing as tools for wildlife management.

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Former FBI Supervisory Special Agent and Minneapolis Division Chief Division Counsel Kyle Loven. Drawing on decades of experience in counterterrorism, national security, internal investigations, and leading in the FBI’s Minneapolis office covering Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, Kyle Loven breaks down the reality of Antifa-linked extremism in the Twin Cities and its connections nationwide. From organized militant tactics and affinity groups to violent unrest, threats against law enforcement, and the challenges of enforcement in a politically charged environment. Unapologetic analysis of how Antifa networks operate in Minnesota, their role in past riots and ongoing disruptions, federal responses, and what it means for public safety, free speech, and rule of law across the U.S.

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Becka Thompson — Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board Commissioner, data analytics pro, public policy expert, logic teacher and former City Council candidate joins Kenny and Jay.

In this episode, Becka pulls back the curtain on what’s really happening inside Minneapolis city government. From the ongoing struggles of Minneapolis Public Schools and the classroom realities families and teachers face every day, to the wins, headaches, and budget battles at the Minneapolis Park Board, she doesn’t hold back.

She also dives deep into Uptown — the neighborhood’s transformation, its challenges, and what it means for the south side — plus her own hard-earned perspective on running for office in one of the most politically charged cities in America.

If you’re tired of polished soundbites and want the real story from someone who’s been in the trenches of Minneapolis politics, this is your episode. Grab your coffee (or something stronger), pull up a chair, and get ready to get crabby with the facts.

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Greg Hestness — retired Minneapolis Police Department Deputy Chief with 28 years on the force and a 40-year law enforcement career, pulls no punches as he breaks down the deeply concerning state of MPD morale, the challenges facing officers on the street, and how leadership decisions are impacting recruitment and retention. He addresses the controversial practice of promotions happening while officers have open Internal Affairs investigations, raising serious questions about accountability, standards, and public trust. Plus, he shares new information and behind-the-scenes perspective that hasn’t been widely reported.

From the front lines to the command staff, this is a veteran insider’s view of what’s really happening inside one of America’s most scrutinized police departments.

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Pour yourself another one – this one's gonna leave a bad taste. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara gets caught deleting contacts, strong arming for confidential info, and growing his "jacket," all while being probed for sexual misconduct claims. With the city hemorrhaging cops, crime's up, trust is in the toilet, and now the reform savior walks out the door. Retired Minneapolis Police Sargent Ken Tidgwell joins Kenny and Jay to talk about all things MPD and his past personal experiences.

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