News from the Crabby Coffee Shop

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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A full show with Bob Kroll former president of the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis.

Kenny and Jay talk to Bob about a number of topics.

A lack of interest in quality candidates willing to pursue law enforcement as a career.

How the city and state handled crisis situations.

lawsuits and persecution demanded by politicians.

Also, the best place to buy and repair a motorcycle in the Twin Cities.

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Join us as we sit down with Kirsten Swanson, a 5 Eyewitness News investigative reporter. Kirsten walks through the newly obtained data showing DHS paid bonuses to program staff and eligibility specialists in the Housing Stabilization Services program and beyond, amid exploding Medicaid spending and ongoing fraud concerns.

Also joining the conversation is DHS whistleblower Faye Bernstein, a 20-year veteran of the agency who has faced retaliation for sounding the alarm on fraud risks years ago. Faye shares her unfiltered take on the recent revelations of DHS handing out bonuses to staff overseeing fraud-riddled programs — even as massive waste, improper payments, and red flags piled up. She explains why she believes some of these bonuses went to people who shouldn't have received them and what it says about priorities at the agency.

From whistleblower retaliation to taxpayer dollars vanishing into questionable awards, this episode pulls back the curtain on how Minnesota's largest agency has handled (or mishandled) oversight during a time of record fraud losses.

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In this no-holds episode, we’re joined by Minneapolis City Council Member Michael Rainville (Ward 3). One of the straight-shooting voices on the Council. Over hot coffee and zero fluff, Michael rips open the latest City Council drama and tells it like it is. We’re talking police overtime and standby pay, affordable housing, political battles, the projects moving forward, and the ridiculous roadblocks still getting in the way of actually getting the city rebuilt.

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While most of us were just trying to pay our taxes and keep the lights on, fraudsters sitting in refugee camps in Kenya were casually chatting about how they were going to rip off Minnesota taxpayers. That’s right—thousands of miles away, in Kenyan refugee camps, these operators were openly discussing and plotting fraud schemes targeting our state.

If you want the straight story on how your tax dollars were being schemed away before they even left the state, this is the episode. Grab your coffee (or something stronger), settle in, and hear Jay Swanson, Jay Kolls, and Kenny Olson, drop the truth that some of the Minnesota political class would rather you didn’t hear.

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Grab your cup and settle in because David Shultz, distinguished professor of political science at Hamline University, takes a step inside the Shop. He helps break down Representative Ilhan Omar's controversies that keep her top of the headlines in fraud, net worth, and immigration. Honest discussion, real insights, and a little speculation are everything you expect in an earful of the Crabby Coffee Shop. 

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In this raw and eye-opening conversation in The Crabby Coffee Shop, Shannon Lausten — owner of Hub 71, the beloved restaurant and convenience store in Sebeka, Minnesota — sits down to share the harsh reality facing small businesses in rural America. What starts as a local tax issue quickly becomes a conversation about survival, community decline, and the real-world impact of government spending on everyday entrepreneurs who are just trying to keep the lights on and people employed in their small towns.

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Curious about how government benefits really work? Rob Undersander breaks down exactly what he found, how the system is designed, why millionaires can qualify for food assistance, and what it says about broader issues with government benefits.

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Minneapolis City Council Member Latrisha Vetaw (Ward 4) joins Jay and Kenny at the Crabby Coffee Shop for an in-depth conversation on the current state of Minneapolis politics.

She opens up about the deep divisions within the City Council — particularly the split with the Democratic Socialists — and shares her perspective on how a city should actually be run. From public safety and housing to economic development and quality of life, Vetaw discusses what’s working, what’s broken, and the practical steps needed to create a safer, stronger, and more thriving Minneapolis for everyone.

Raw, honest, and insightful — this episode pulls back the curtain on local governance in one of America’s most watched cities.

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