Seth Bodnar, independent Montana U.S. Senate candidate, Green Beret veteran and former University of Montana president, joins The Politics Chicks to explain why he believes Washington’s two-party system is failing working families—and why he does not intend to caucus with either party.

Bodnar traces a life shaped by public-school teachers, West Point, military service, business and eight years leading the University of Montana. He makes the case for mission-first leadership and describes an independent campaign built around affordability, American competitiveness and reforming what he calls a broken political system.

Christy, Monica and Seth discuss Montana’s teacher shortage, rural hospital closures, Medicaid cuts, medical debt, comprehensive immigration reform, congressional checks and balances, war powers, term limits, stock trading by public officials and the importance of rebuilding American alliances.

Can an independent coalition move Congress beyond partisan gridlock? Listen to Episode 47 and hear Seth’s argument for country over party—and the questions he believes every senator should be willing to answer.

As always, if you find value in what we do, please RATE, REVIEW and SUBSCRIBE so we can grow the show, open the dialogue and inspire change moving forward. Please share this episode with someone who needs to hear this conversation.

GUEST AND RESOURCES

Guest: Seth Bodnar — independent candidate for U.S. Senate in Montana; Green Beret veteran and former University of Montana president

Campaign website:
https://www.sethformontana.com/

Montana Free Press 2026 candidate guide:
https://projects.montanafreepress.org/election-guide-2026/candidates/seth-bodnar/

University of Montana leadership record:
https://www.umt.edu/news/2026/01/012126seth.php

FOLLOW THE POLITICS CHICKS

Website:
https://www.thepoliticschicks.com/

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💙 xoxo — Christy & Monica

Seth Bodnar, Montana Senate race, independent candidate, two-party system, rural healthcare, public education, immigration reform, congressional reform

What happens inside immigration court when dozens of frightened people are pushed through life-altering hearings at once?

Immigration-court observer Erin Moncure joins Christy Branham and Monica Healy to share what she has witnessed at the Santa Ana Immigration Court, ICE check-ins and the Adelanto ICE Processing Center. She describes confusing “mega master” hearings, people facing the system without attorneys, families terrified of detention and the volunteers helping them understand what happens next.

Erin also takes listeners inside the human side of immigration enforcement—from paying immigration bonds and visiting people in detention to building lasting friendships with those she first met during some of the most traumatic moments of their lives. Her experiences reveal what gets lost when immigrants are reduced to statistics, labels or political talking points.

This conversation is also a reminder that meaningful action does not require special training or extraordinary skills. Erin explains how ordinary people can observe court proceedings, connect families with resources, support bond funds and find a sustainable way to serve their communities.

As always, if you find value in what we do, please RATE, REVIEW and SUBSCRIBE so we can grow the show, open the dialogue and inspire change moving forward. Please share this episode with someone who needs to hear this conversation.

GUEST AND RESOURCES

Guest: Erin Moncure

Immigration-court observer and immigrant-justice volunteer

CLUE Justice — Justice for Immigrant Workers and Families:
https://www.cluejustice.org/working-for-justice/justice-for-immigrant-workers-and-families/

Los Angeles Times — Chaos and Long Lines Overwhelm Immigration Courts:
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-07-01/chaos-long-lines-confusion-overwhelm-l-a-immigration-courtrooms

Santa Ana Immigration Court — Court Information and Observation Guidance:
https://www.justice.gov/eoir/santa-ana-immigration-court

FOLLOW THE POLITICS CHICKS

https://www.thepoliticschicks.com/

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What if one of the most consequential ideas in American law began with a sentence the Supreme Court never actually ruled?

Thom Hartmann joins The Politics Chicks to uncover the disputed 1886 Supreme Court headnote that helped lay the foundation for corporate personhood, Citizens United and the destruction of America’s one-income middle class.

Drawing from his new book, Who Killed the American Dream? The Greatest Political Crime Ever Told, Hartmann traces the story from railroad barons and the Boston Tea Party through the Powell memo, Reaganomics and unlimited corporate political spending. He explains how corporate power reshaped wages, trade, taxes and American democracy—and why racism, misogyny and other forms of division can distract voters from that economic story.

The conversation also explores practical paths forward, including congressional action, state corporate-charter laws and a constitutional amendment declaring that money is not speech and corporations are not people.

As always, if you find value in what we do, please RATE, REVIEW and SUBSCRIBE so we can grow the show, open the dialogue and inspire change moving forward. Please share this episode with someone who needs to hear this conversation.

GUEST AND RESOURCES

Thom Hartmann:
https://www.thomhartmann.com/

Who Killed the American Dream? The Greatest Political Crime Ever Told:
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/835380/who-killed-the-american-dream-by-thom-hartmann/

Move to Amend:
https://www.movetoamend.org/

Public Citizen — Democracy Is for People:
https://www.citizen.org/article/democracy-is-for-people/

FOLLOW THE POLITICS CHICKS

https://www.thepoliticschicks.com/

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🌟 Welcome to Episode #44 of The Politics Chicks Podcast! 🌟

Today we’re pulling up a chair on Mamaw’s Porch with Lisa J. Parker—a veteran, former police officer, political organizer, treatment-court advocate, businesswoman, and the gloriously salty voice behind Mamaw’s Porch and Politics.

🎙️ Lisa shares how her Appalachian roots and a lifetime of service shaped her voice; how conservative organizers built political power through media, local offices, and the courts; and why Democrats must reach people where they are online. We also discuss older women finding their voices, humor as protest, the WTAF-8647 “butthurt money” form, civic-action tools, unions, military families, responsible gun ownership, independent candidates, and the younger generation giving her hope.

🐓 IN THIS EPISODE

🧂 Stay Salty, Not Silent

Lisa explains why democracy works only when ordinary people participate—and why nobody should wait for permission to speak up. Her message is simple: Stay salty, not silent.

🏡 How Mamaw’s Porch Was Born

After years of organizing in a deeply Republican part of rural Ohio, Lisa reached her breaking point during a local Democratic Party meeting. Her husband, Calvin, told her to take her frustration to the porch. She did—and Mamaw’s Porch and Politics was born.

📣 Why Plain Talk Matters

Lisa discusses why political experts and party officials often lose rural audiences by talking over them. She believes complicated issues can be explained clearly without insulting people or treating a lack of formal education as a lack of intelligence.

🏛️ The Long Conservative Strategy

Lisa traces how conservative leaders invested in media, the Federalist Society, judicial appointments, school boards, state offices, and gerrymandering. She argues that Democrats must honestly assess how that strategy succeeded and build durable political power of their own.

📱 Politics in the Social-Media Era

Traditional polling and legacy-media advertising can miss the online communities where voters now gather. Lisa, Christy, and Monica discuss why independent creators are essential for reaching people with accessible, relatable political information.

🤝 Creators Working Together

Pro-democracy creators are building a collaborative movement rather than guarding their individual platforms. As Lisa puts it, there is no right-handed or left-handed oar—you just need to know how to row the boat.

👵 OWLs, Boomers & Women Who Are Done Asking Permission

Older women are often expected to become quiet or invisible. Lisa rejects that idea. She celebrates boomers, Gen X organizers, young activists, and the women who consistently show up to vote, protest, work the polls, and defend their communities.

😂 Humor as Political Protest

The WTAF-8647 “butthurt money” form helped connect Mamaw’s Porch and The Politics Chicks. Christy explains why satire, ridicule, and small creative acts of resistance can be effective against authoritarian leaders—especially those who cannot laugh at themselves.

📞 From Laughter to Civic Action

Lisa recommends using the Five Calls app to contact elected officials. Even when callers reach voicemail, offices must log constituent contacts. The conversation also covers the Digital Democracy Project and new tools designed to help voters follow legislation and hold lawmakers accountable.

🗣️ Appalachian Language & Identity

Lisa explains the many meanings of “bless your heart,” the difference between Southern and Appalachian accents, and why she reclaimed the accent she once worked to lose. She celebrates the strength and culture shared across southeastern Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia.

⛏️ Blair Mountain & the Power of Unions

Lisa highlights the Battle of Blair Mountain and the Appalachian coal miners who fought for unionization. The conversation connects their struggle to the eight-hour workday, weekends, workplace-safety rules, health benefits, and the bargaining power workers have today.

🎖️ Military Service & Military Families

Drawing on her own service and a long family military tradition, Lisa discusses the financial pressure on military households, frequent moves, voting obstacles, and the responsibility national leaders have when placing service members in harm’s way.

🔫 Responsible Gun Ownership

Lisa talks about her rifle-team experience and pushes back on the idea that Democrats do not own guns. She argues that responsible gun ownership and common-sense gun laws can—and should—coexist.

🗳️ Independents & the 2026 Elections

Lisa shares why she believes independent candidates could play an important coalition-building role in the next Senate. For her, the Constitution, country, and duty to fellow Americans must come before political party loyalty.

🌱 What Is Giving Lisa Hope?

Young people. Lisa is encouraged by how politically aware younger Americans are, how seriously they take the environment and their economic future, and how clearly they understand the work their generation must do.

👇 LEARN MORE

📱 Follow Lisa J. Parker:

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/Mamawsporchnpolitics

Substack:

https://substack.com/@mamawsporchnpolitics1

Listen on Podbean, iHeart, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

🛍️ Shop Mamaw’s Merch

Merchandise:

https://artsieaubreys.myshopify.com/collections/mamaws-porch-n-politics

Trump acupuncture and chiropractic “practice doll”:

email directly to order: [email protected]

📲 Civic-Action Resources

Five Calls:

Follow/Support The Politics Chicks

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🧡 xoxo — Christy & Monica

Lisa J. Parker, Mamaw’s Porch and Politics, Appalachian politics, Appalachian culture, Appalachian history, rural America, rural Ohio, Ohio politics, rural Democrats, political organizing, political strategy, conservative media, Federalist Society, social media organizing, independent political creators, political humor, political satire, humor as protest, civic engagement, Five Calls, Digital Democracy Project, defending democracy, authoritarianism, fascism, MAGA movement, Donald Trump, women activists, older women in politics, intergenerational activism, labor movement, labor unions, union rights, Battle of Blair Mountain, coal miners, workplace protections, military families, veterans, responsible gun ownership, independent candidates, 2026 midterm elections, The Politics Chicks Podcast, Christy Branham, Monica Healy

🌟 Welcome to Episode #43 of The Politics Chicks Podcast! 🌟

Today we’re joined by Nat Smith, the DFL candidate for Minnesota Senate District 33. Nat is an attorney who fights fraud nationwide and represents whistleblowers, with a focus on protecting patient care. During Minnesota’s 2026 legislative session, he worked with Sen. Ron Latz on proposed changes to strengthen the Minnesota False Claims Act.

🎙️ Nat explains how suspected, charged, and proven fraud differ; why whistleblowers need protection; and how earlier reporting can help recover public money. We also discuss his campaign, affordability, housing and healthcare consolidation, bipartisan problem-solving, PFAS, and drinking water.

🐓 IN THIS EPISODE

⚖️ Suspected, Charged & Proven Fraud

Nat distinguishes a report that warrants investigation from a case supported by enough evidence to bring charges—and from fraud established through a verdict or guilty plea. He explains why mistakes and negligence must be separated from knowing misconduct and why every allegation must move through a fact-based legal process.

🔎 Minnesota Fraud Without the Political Spin

Fraud is real, taxpayers deserve accountability, and oversight failures must be addressed. Nat argues that sweeping estimates, partisan blame, and conflating separate programs can obscure the evidence. His focus: find the facts, close exploitable loopholes, recover public money, and hold wrongdoers accountable.

📜 The False Claims Act & “Lincoln’s Law”

Enacted during the Civil War after contractors defrauded the Union Army, the federal False Claims Act created a public-private partnership between whistleblowers and government. Modern cases can involve healthcare, defense contracting, customs, and other public programs.

🗣️ Why Whistleblowers Need Protection

Employees often discover fraud from inside an organization—and may face firing or other retaliation after reporting it. Nat explains why legal guidance matters and how stronger protections could prevent companies from silencing insiders who are trying to protect patients and taxpayers.

💰 Measuring Whether Reform Works

What would success look like? Nat says Minnesota should see more fraud reported, misconduct reported earlier, and larger taxpayer recoveries before money or assets disappear.

🏛️ Strengthening Minnesota’s False Claims Act

Nat discusses proposed 2026 amendments developed with Sen. Ron Latz. The legislation would expand the conduct covered by the law, strengthen anti-retaliation protections, prevent interference with reporting, and address certain unemployment-insurance and tax-fraud schemes.

🗳️ Why Nat Smith Is Running

Nat says becoming a father strengthened his decision to move from advocacy into public service. He is running to challenge political gridlock, put people over politics, and bring his experience interpreting complex statutes, solving problems, and working across competing interests to the Minnesota Senate.

🏠 Affordability, Housing & Healthcare

District 33 includes Stillwater, hospitality businesses, and agricultural communities in Washington County. Nat discusses property taxes, housing, groceries, gas, healthcare, zoning, and private interests buying homes and senior-care facilities.

🤝 Common Ground Over Gridlock

Conversations at the doors have convinced Nat that voters share more priorities than partisan narratives suggest. He pledges to work across the aisle on practical results for working families.

👇 LEARN MORE

🌐 Nat Smith for Minnesota Senate District 33:
https://www.natsmithformn.com/

📱 Follow Nat Smith:

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/natsmithformn/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581620278495

📜 Minnesota False Claims Act — Minnesota Attorney General:
https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Consumer/Publications/MNFalseClaimsAct.asp

🏛️ SF 4786 — 2026 False Claims Act Legislation:
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/94/2026/0/SF/4786/versions/latest/

🗳️ VOTER RESOURCES

View Your Sample Ballot:
https://www.sos.mn.gov/elections-voting/whats-on-my-ballot/

Register to Vote:
https://www.sos.mn.gov/elections-voting/register-to-vote/

FOLLOW/SUPPORT

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@ThePoliticsChicks

🧡 xoxo — Christy & Monica

Nat Smith, Nat Smith Minnesota, Minnesota Senate District 33, Senate District 33, Minnesota Senate election 2026, Karin Housley, Washington County, Stillwater Minnesota, Minnesota politics, Minnesota DFL, fraud attorney, Minnesota fraud, fraud prevention, government accountability, taxpayer dollars, whistleblowers, whistleblower retaliation, whistleblower protections, Minnesota False Claims Act, False Claims Act, Lincoln’s Law, healthcare fraud, Medicare fraud, Medicaid fraud, public-private partnership, affordability, property taxes, housing affordability, healthcare costs, private equity, hedge funds, PFAS, drinking water, bipartisan leadership, political gridlock, The Politics Chicks Podcast

🌟 Welcome to Episode #42 of The Politics Chicks Podcast! 🌟

Today we’re joined by Todd Achilles, an independent candidate for the United States Senate in Idaho, former U.S. Army tank commander and armor officer, former Idaho state representative, longtime technology and business executive, and public-policy educator.

🎙️ Todd joins us to explain why he believes Idaho—and the country—need an independent voice in Washington. We discuss the lessons he carried from the family farm, the military, the business world, the classroom, and the Idaho Legislature; the rising cost of housing and healthcare; corporate power and economic inequality; the future of rural hospitals; congressional dysfunction; artificial intelligence and data centers; and his campaign to unseat longtime incumbent Senator Jim Risch.

🐓 IN THIS EPISODE

🪖 Leadership, Service & Putting People First
Todd reflects on growing up on a family farm and serving as an Army tank commander and armor officer. He explains how military service taught him teamwork, accountability, and the principle that leaders take care of the people they serve before taking care of themselves—and why he believes Washington has lost too much of that spirit.

🏠 Idaho’s Growth, Affordability & an Economy That Feels Rigged
An influx of new residents has helped transform Idaho from what Todd describes as a medium-wage, low-cost state into a low-wage, high-cost one. We discuss the pressure on younger workers and families who cannot afford housing, childcare, or health insurance—and why voters across the political spectrum keep raising the same kitchen-table concerns.

🏥 Healthcare, Medicaid & the Fight to Save Rural Hospitals
Todd calls the American healthcare system deeply broken and argues for a stronger public option alongside greater accountability for large employers whose workers rely on taxpayer-funded coverage. He also explains why Idaho’s small critical-access hospitals are essential to rural communities—and how even modest Medicaid cuts could threaten facilities already operating on razor-thin margins.

💰 Corporate Power, Fair Wages & Algorithmic Price Fixing
Drawing on his experience at Hewlett-Packard, T-Mobile, and in the Idaho Legislature, Todd makes the case for an economy built on fair competition rather than concentrated corporate power. We discuss Idaho’s minimum wage, restrictive noncompete agreements, taxpayer subsidies for low-wage employers, and allegations that rent-setting algorithms are driving housing costs higher.

🤝 Bipartisanship, Independents & Breaking the Two-Party Grip
Todd explains how serving as one of only a handful of Democrats in the Idaho House required finding common ground with colleagues across the political spectrum. Now running as an independent, he argues that both major parties avoid hard choices, reward fundraising over expertise, and deepen division—and says independent senators could become a powerful fulcrum in a closely divided Senate.

🗳️ The Idaho Senate Race—and a Demand for Debate
With the Democratic candidate out of the race, Todd describes a contest that now puts his independent campaign directly against longtime Republican incumbent Jim Risch. He challenges the idea that any elected office belongs to an incumbent, calls for public debates, and argues that voters deserve accountability on the national debt, congressional war powers, foreign policy, and Risch’s record in office.

🏛️ Fixing Congress, Restoring Accountability & Bringing in New Leadership
Todd outlines his first priority in Washington: making Congress function again. His reform agenda includes term and age limits, overturning Citizens United, curbing dark money, addressing gerrymandering, ending congressional stock trading, and replacing sprawling omnibus packages with one issue and one vote at a time—before tackling the economy, healthcare, housing, and the national debt.

🤖 Artificial Intelligence, Data Centers & Idaho’s Water
As a former technology executive and current public-policy instructor, Todd discusses the need for leaders who understand how to regulate artificial intelligence without sacrificing innovation. He also addresses local opposition to data centers, their enormous water and power demands, and why technology companies must be pushed to build more efficient systems—especially in a state where water is precious.

🌄 Finding Hope in Idaho—and Common Ground Across America
After 14 months of traveling the state, Todd says conversations with Idahoans are giving him hope. Whether speaking with lifelong Republicans, Democrats, or independents, he hears a shared desire for change, a Congress people can respect, and leaders willing to put mission and community ahead of political tribalism.

👇 Learn More:

🌐 Todd Achilles for Idaho:
https://www.achillesforidaho.com/

📅 Campaign Events:
https://www.achillesforidaho.com/events

📋 Todd’s Priorities:
https://www.achillesforidaho.com/policies

📱 Follow Todd Achilles for Idaho:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/achilles4idaho
X: https://x.com/Achilles4Idaho

FOLLOW/SUPPORT
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🧡 xoxo — Christy & Monica

Todd Achilles, Achilles for Idaho, Idaho U.S. Senate race, Idaho Senate election 2026, independent candidate, Jim Risch, Idaho politics, independent voters, two-party system, congressional reform, term limits, age limits, Citizens United, dark money, congressional stock trading, national debt, bipartisan leadership, rural hospitals, Medicaid expansion, healthcare reform, public option, housing affordability, algorithmic price fixing, noncompete agreements, minimum wage, corporate power, economic inequality, artificial intelligence regulation, AI data centers, Idaho water, public education, military leadership, Army tank commander, Hewlett-Packard, T-Mobile, Boise State University, The Politics Chicks, political podcast, women in politics, women’s political podcast

🌟 Welcome to Episode #41 of The Politics Chicks Podcast! 🌟 

Today we’re joined by Darci Smith, the DFL-endorsed candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives in District 37A. Darci is a realtor, longtime sales trainer and executive educator whose commitment to advocacy was shaped by her blue-collar union family and a simple lesson she learned as a child: good neighbors stand up for one another.

🎙️ Darci joins us to explain why she believes government should work for everyday people—and why real-life experience matters in the Minnesota Legislature. We discuss the growing barriers to homeownership, corporate ownership of single-family homes, fraud prevention, affordable childcare, education, gun safety, critical infrastructure, and the importance of electing representatives who listen to the people they serve.

🐓 IN THIS EPISODE

🏡 Minnesota’s Housing Affordability Crisis

As a working realtor, Darci sees firsthand how high prices, interest rates, limited inventory, and rising closing costs are locking younger Minnesotans out of homeownership. She explains why the average first-time buyer is approaching 40—and why delaying homeownership threatens family stability and generational wealth.

💰 Down-Payment Assistance & Community Land Trusts

Minnesota already has programs that can help qualified buyers with down payments and reduce the cost of purchasing a home. Darci discusses expanding awareness and investment in these programs, including community land trusts that allow buyers to purchase a house without purchasing the land beneath it.

🏘️ Corporate Ownership of Minnesota Homes

What happens when investment companies buy hundreds of single-family homes and turn them into permanent rentals? Darci distinguishes between an ordinary family using one property as a retirement investment and corporations hoarding housing inventory, driving up costs, and preventing families from building equity.

🗣️ Representation That Starts With Listening

Darci argues that the word “representative” has lost some of its meaning. Having faced the same bills, financial pressures, and difficult choices as other working Minnesotans, she believes elected officials must listen before assuming they understand what their constituents need.

🤝 Finding Common Ground at the Doors

Door-knocking has strengthened Darci’s faith in democracy. She shares how face-to-face conversations allow candidates and voters to move beyond partisan talking points, build trust, and discover how much they have in common—even when they begin with different political views.

🔎 Minnesota Fraud & Fixing the System

Fraud is one of the concerns Darci hears most often from voters. She compares an effective fraud investigation to an aviation investigation: establish the facts, identify the root cause, close the systemic gaps, and hold responsible parties accountable instead of using the crisis to score political points.

🚰 Cybersecurity, Water Systems & National Security

After Maple Plain issued a boil-water notice amid reports that municipal water systems were being targeted, the conversation turns to cybersecurity and the vulnerability of critical infrastructure. Darci discusses why threats to local water systems demand serious investigation, strong federal-state cooperation, and leadership that protects every community.

🏛️ What High-Functioning Government Looks Like

Darci explains why winning a Minnesota House majority matters: it determines which bills receive hearings, advance through committees, and reach the floor for a vote. Her priorities include affordable childcare and healthcare, better fraud safeguards, strong public education, and passage of Minnesota’s Equal Rights Amendment.

🧒 Affordable Childcare & Early Education

The earliest years of a child’s life offer an extraordinary opportunity for learning and development. Darci shares how her older brother’s investment in her education changed her life—and why public investment in childcare and education produces long-term benefits for families, public safety, innovation, and Minnesota’s economy.

🔒 Gun Ownership & Common-Sense Gun Safety

A gun owner who grew up around hunting and sport shooting, Darci rejects the idea that supporting the Second Amendment is incompatible with responsible gun legislation. She discusses safe-storage requirements, accountability, high-capacity magazines, and keeping firearms away from people likely to cause harm.

🗳️ Why Minnesota House District 37A Matters

District 37A stretches from suburban Maple Grove into the rural and exurban communities surrounding Maple Plain. With no incumbent seeking reelection, the race represents a significant opportunity to flip a competitive seat and shape control of the Minnesota House.

🌱 Local Organizing, Public Service & Hope

What gives Darci hope? The residents, volunteers, activists, and first-time organizers working together despite their differences. She explains why local campaigns offer voters an opportunity to make a major impact—and why a relatively modest investment in a State House or school-board race can change who holds power.

👇 LEARN MORE

🌐 Darci Smith for Minnesota House District 37A:
https://smithformnhouse.com/

📱 Follow Darci Smith:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smithformnhouse/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61585427545048

🗳️ RESEARCH YOUR BALLOT AND VOTING OPTIONS

Minnesota Secretary of State — What’s on My Ballot?
https://www.sos.mn.gov/elections-voting/whats-on-my-ballot/

Register to Vote or Update Your Registration:
https://www.sos.mn.gov/elections-voting/register-to-vote/

Minnesota Candidate Filings:
https://candidates.sos.mn.gov/CandidateFilingResults.aspx

FOLLOW/SUPPORT

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@ThePoliticsChicks

🧡 xoxo — Christy & Monica

Darci Smith, Darci Smith Minnesota, Minnesota House District 37A, MN House 37A, Minnesota House election 2026, Minnesota politics, Minnesota elections, Maple Grove politics, Maple Plain politics, housing affordability, Minnesota housing crisis, first-time homebuyers, down-payment assistance, community land trusts, corporate homeownership, affordable childcare, public education, Minnesota fraud, government accountability, gun safety, safe firearm storage, Equal Rights Amendment, Minnesota DFL, local elections, women in politics, The Politics Chicks, political podcast

🌟 Welcome to Episode #40 of The Politics Chicks Podcast! 🌟

Today we’re joined by Emily Roose and Megan Wind of Ely Community Response, the volunteer network that sprang into action when wildfires threatened Ely, the Boundary Waters, and surrounding northern Minnesota communities.

🎙️ Emily, an Ely City Council member and mayoral candidate, and Megan, creative content manager for Save the Boundary Waters, take us inside Ely’s wildfire response. They explain how neighbors organized volunteers, masks, air purifiers, housing, logistics, and firefighter support almost overnight. We also discuss wildfire preparedness, economic recovery, rural community, and why Ely remains open for business.

🐓 IN THIS EPISODE

🔥 When Lightning Strikes Became a Crisis
Megan describes how early-July lightning, extreme heat, wind, drought, and heavy smoke transformed scattered fires into an urgent threat that prompted evacuations and hazardous air conditions.

🤝 Building Ely Community Response Overnight
Emily explains how a few text messages became a response hub within hours. At Ely’s Historic State Theater, the group matched needs with offers of housing, N95 masks, air purifiers, transportation, and other help.

🚒 Supporting Firefighters With Local Knowledge
The guests explain why contracted crews and local departments sometimes needed help federal teams could not accept or provide. Ely Community Response solved housing, transportation, and logistics problems and helped raise $20,000 for the Morse-Fall Lake Fire Department in 12 hours.

🏘️ Neighboring Beyond Politics
Ely may be politically diverse, but the crisis brought residents, nonprofits, businesses, and competing outfitters together. Emily and Megan explain why effective disaster response must channel goodwill toward verified needs.

🛡️ Preparing Ely for the Next Wildfire
Emily outlines priorities including Firewise prevention, coordination with neighboring townships, clearer evacuation communication, public emergency planning, and year-round preparedness.

💵 Wildfire Recovery & Northern Minnesota’s Economy
With tourism businesses facing significant losses, the guests urge Minnesotans to support economic relief, contact legislators, visit Ely, shop locally, and make plans for the fall and off-season.

🎭 Ely Is More Than a Gateway to the Wilderness
From theater and folk arts to museums, restaurants, trails, northern lights, and a close-knit year-round community, Emily and Megan share why Ely is worth visiting beyond peak canoe season.

🌱 What’s Giving Them Hope
Both guests return to one answer: community. They are inspired by neighbors who acquired new skills, became leaders, solved problems, and showed up for one another.

👇 Learn More:

🔥 Ely Community Response
Substack: https://elycommunityresponse.substack.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elycommunityresponse
Email: [email protected]
Resource Request & Support Form: https://elycommunityresponse.substack.com/about
Support Ely Businesses and Organizations: https://elycommunityresponse.substack.com/p/looking-for-places-to-donate-to-support

👥 What’s Up Ely, MN? Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/115144388951357/

🌲 Save the Boundary Waters
https://www.savetheboundarywaters.org/
Meet Megan Wind: https://www.savetheboundarywaters.org/our-team

🚨 Wildfire Preparedness & Updates
Watch Duty: https://www.watchduty.org/
Minnesota Firewise: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/firewise/
Ely Emergency Information: https://www.ely.mn.us/emergency

🧭 Plan a Visit to Ely
Official Ely Tourism: https://www.ely.org/
Ely’s Historic State Theater: https://elystatetheater.org/
Northern Lakes Arts Association: https://www.northernlakesarts.org/
Ely Folk School: https://www.elyfolkschool.org/
Lake Vermilion–Soudan Mine tours: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/tours/lake_vermilion_soudan.html
Ely-Winton History Museum: https://www.elywintonhistory.org/
Ely’s Historic Pioneer Mine: https://www.pioneermine.org/
Dorothy Molter Museum: https://www.rootbeerlady.com/
Trezona Trail: https://www.ely.org/things-to-do/outdoors/hiking/
Semer’s Park: https://www.ely.mn.us/semerspark
Mesabi Trail: https://mesabitrail.com/

🍽️ Ely Food & Drink Mentioned
Boundary Waters Kitchen & Market: https://www.boundarywaterskitchen.com/
Insula Restaurant: https://www.insularestaurant.com/
Burntside Lodge Dining: https://www.burntside.com/dining
Boathouse Brewpub: https://www.boathousebrewpub.com/
Northern Grounds: https://www.northerngroundscoffeeandtea.com/
Brainstorm Bakery: https://www.brainstormbakery.com/
Sheridan Street Delicatessen: https://www.sheridanstreetdeli.com/

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🌟 Welcome to Episode #39 of The Politics Chicks Podcast! 🌟

Today we’re joined by Minnesota State Representative Cedrick Frazier, a former Hennepin County public defender, New Hope City Council member, labor attorney, and the DFL and labor-endorsed candidate for Hennepin County Attorney.

🎙️ Cedrick joins us to explain the county attorney race’s unusual nonpartisan, top-two primary—and why voters need to flip over their ballots and research the candidates before voting. We discuss how his childhood on Chicago’s South Side shaped his understanding of gun violence, drug trafficking, public safety, and the criminal justice system. Cedrick also lays out his approach to accountability for federal agents, rebuilding public trust, reducing racial disparities, addressing fentanyl addiction, investing in young people, and leading one of Minnesota’s most consequential public law offices.

🐓 IN THIS EPISODE

🗳️ The Top-Two Primary—and Why You Must Flip Your Ballot

The Hennepin County Attorney race is nonpartisan, which means party endorsements do not appear beside candidates’ names. Cedrick explains how the two candidates receiving the most votes advance to the general election regardless of party—and why voters must flip over their ballots, research the candidates, and avoid leaving this consequential race blank.

⚖️ Public Safety Starts With Public Trust

Drawing on his experience as a public defender, city council member, legislator, and attorney, Cedrick explains why accountability must include prevention, intervention, rehabilitation, and listening to victims. He discusses diversion, restitution, conviction integrity, and why every case file represents real people, families, and communities.

🚨 Gun Violence, Prevention & Legislative Action

Cedrick discusses losing loved ones to gun violence, Minnesota’s stalled gun-safety legislation, and the need to prevent violence before police and prosecutors are called. He also explains how a county attorney can use crime data, community partnerships, civil litigation, and relationships with state lawmakers to advocate for safer communities.

🛡️ Operation Metro Surge & Accountability for Federal Agents

Cedrick addresses the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, the harm caused during Operation Metro Surge, and the community’s demand for accountability. He explains how state criminal investigations involving federal agents work, why federal officers do not have blanket immunity from state law, and why the next county attorney will play a pivotal role in determining whether those cases continue.

✊ George Floyd, Racial Disparities & Moving Minnesota Forward

The conversation examines Minnesota’s unfinished reckoning following the murder of George Floyd. Cedrick discusses racial disparities in policing, charging, and sentencing—and why he believes the justice system must treat every person with humanity, decency, and fairness while continuing to hold people accountable.

💊 Addiction Is a Public-Health Issue

Cedrick explains why he does not believe people choose addiction. He outlines an approach that distinguishes people who need treatment from large-scale traffickers bringing fentanyl into Minnesota communities. We also discuss drug courts, diversion, rehabilitation, and the lifelong collateral damage that a criminal conviction can create—particularly for young people.

🏛️ Leadership, Experience & the County Attorney’s Office

The Hennepin County Attorney does much more than oversee criminal prosecutions. The office also handles child-protection matters, civil litigation, victim services, and legal representation for county departments and institutions. Cedrick makes the case that his lived, legal, legislative, and elected experience gives him the breadth required to lead the office.

🌱 Workplace Culture, Community Engagement & Hope

Cedrick describes what he would want to accomplish during his first year, including improving workplace culture, supporting staff, continuing the pursuit of accountability for Operation Metro Surge, and making the office more accessible and transparent. He also shares why increased voter engagement—and conversations at the doors—are giving him hope.

👇 Learn More:

🌐 Cedrick Frazier Campaign:
https://www.cedrickfrazier.org/

📱 Follow Cedrick:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CedrickFrazier

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cedrickfrazier/

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cedrickfrazier.bsky.social

🏛️ Minnesota House Profile:
https://www.house.mn.gov/members/profile/15548

🗳️ Research Your Ballot and Voting Options:

View Your Sample Ballot — Minnesota Secretary of State:
https://www.sos.minnesota.gov/elections-voting/whats-on-my-ballot/

Register to Vote or Update Your Registration:
https://www.sos.mn.gov/elections-voting/register-to-vote/

Hennepin County Early and Absentee Voting:
https://www.hennepincounty.gov/services/elections/absentee-early-voting

Hennepin County Offices on the Ballot:
https://www.hennepincounty.gov/services/elections/offices-on-the-ballot

League of Women Voters’ VOTE411 Voter Guide:
https://www.vote411.org/

🔎 Additional Resources Discussed:

Minnesota Attorney General’s Glock Litigation:
https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2025/08/21_Glock.asp

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Cedrick Frazier, Representative Cedrick Frazier, Hennepin County Attorney, Hennepin County Attorney election, Hennepin County Attorney primary, Minnesota primary 2026, Minnesota elections, Minnesota politics, nonpartisan primary, top-two primary, jungle primary, flip your ballot, public safety, public trust, criminal justice reform, public defender, gun violence prevention, Minnesota gun laws, Operation Metro Surge, ICE accountability, federal agents, Renee Good, Alex Pretti, George Floyd, police accountability, racial disparities, fentanyl crisis, opioid addiction, addiction treatment, drug court, diversion programs, juvenile justice...

🌟 Welcome to Episode #38 of The Politics Chicks Podcast! 🌟

Today we’re joined by Minnesota State Representative Andy Smith, a Rochester small-business owner and DFL legislator representing District 25B who has earned a following by making state government accessible through humor, social media, and plainspoken policy explanations.

🎙️ Andy joins us to discuss life inside an evenly divided Minnesota House, the fight for gun-safety legislation following the Annunciation School shooting, the fear driving today’s Republican Party, and why Democrats must focus on building broad coalitions instead of ideological labels. We also discuss Andy’s evolution from a conservative evangelical and Republican voter to a DFL lawmaker, the importance of empathy in politics, and why joy and laughter are essential when doing serious work.

🐓 IN THIS EPISODE

🏛️ Inside Minnesota’s Divided Legislature
What serving in a 67–67 Minnesota House looks like, why politics is a team sport, and how the balance of power determines whether lawmakers can deliver for their constituents.

🚨 Gun Safety & Republican Obstruction
The gun-safety package passed by the Minnesota Senate, Speaker Lisa Demuth’s decision to prevent a House hearing or vote, and the nearly 50-hour sit-in staged by DFL lawmakers demanding action.

🤝 Empathy, Evolution & Building Coalitions
How travel, art, relationships, and personal experience changed Andy’s political beliefs—and why Democrats must build coalitions around voters’ lives instead of sorting everyone into centrist and progressive boxes.

📱 Social Media & Accessible Government
Why Andy uses humor and short-form videos to explain complicated policy, how online communication can make government more accessible, and the challenge of governing in an increasingly performative political culture.

✨ Finding Common Ground—and Joy
From door-knocking and conversations with voters to fantasy books, State Fair food, coffee, and a proposed Minnesota version of Hot Ones, Andy explains why human connection and laughter help sustain the work of creating change.

👇 Learn More:

🌐 Andy Smith Campaign:

https://www.andysmithmn.com/

💙 Donate on ActBlue:

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/andy-smith-for-house

📱 Follow Andy:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndySmithMN

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andysmithmn/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andysmithmn

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/andysmithmn.bsky.social

🏛️ Minnesota House Profile:

https://www.house.mn.gov/members/profile/15606

FOLLOW/SUPPORT

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🧡 xoxo — Christy & Monica

Andy Smith, MN Rep. Andy Smith, Minnesota politics, Minnesota House of Representatives, District 25B, Rochester, Minnesota DFL, gun-safety legislation, gun violence prevention, Annunciation School shooting, Lisa Demuth, divided government, political coalitions, progressive politics, social media, state government, empathy in politics, door-knocking, political communication, Minnesota elections, The Politics Chicks, political podcast, women in politics, womens political podcast