Spirit of America
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
September 11, 2026

BIG Update

The process of becoming a United States citizen takes time, dedication, and a fair amount of willpower. This week, I welcomed 138 individuals from 48 countries as America’s newest citizens. Naturalization ceremonies are a special reminder of what makes our country unique. These individuals bring different backgrounds, experiences, and stories, but share a common commitment to becoming Americans. This makes our country stronger. I spoke about the promise of America and the importance of being engaged. Being an American citizen is more than a legal status; it carries a responsibility to participate in the American experiment and contribute to our communities. Hearing their stories, excitement, and reasons for wanting to become citizens was inspiring. Congratulations to our newest Americans!

BIG Idea

I joined the East River Electric Power Cooperative annual meeting to talk about the importance of American energy dominance. Reliable and affordable energy is the foundation of a strong economy, and South Dakota’s communities and businesses need dependable power to grow. Producing more American energy is only part of the equation. We also need the generation and transmission infrastructure to get that power to the people and businesses that need it. An all-of-the-above approach, combined with smart investments in our electric grid, will strengthen our energy security, support economic growth, and ensure South Dakota is prepared to meet the demand.

BIG News

Twenty-five years ago, our nation changed forever. On September 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 Americans lost their lives. We remember them, their families, and the first responders who put themselves in harm’s way to save others. True evil sought to divide our country that day, but Americans came together in the face of tragedy. We must continue to remember those we lost, honor the heroes of that day, and remain grateful to those who continue to protect Americans from harm.

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Patriots and Unity
By: Gov. Larry Rhoden
September 11, 2026

25 years ago, the United States of America experienced one of our most horrific tragedies. Our nation was attacked by terrorists – enemies who hate us because of what we stand for. America is the only nation founded on the principle of freedom, and those terrorists despised that fact.

In their hatred, they sought to tear us apart. They failed. In fact, their attempt backfired.

If you remember 9/11, you also remember what came next. There was a profound unity that came over our country. In the days and weeks after, the United States of America was more united than it has ever been in my lifetime.

Our nation was devastated. We were shaken to our core. But in that moment of grief and loss, we didn’t turn on each other – which was what the terrorists hoped would happen. Instead, we turned to each other. We united.

2,977 innocent lives were lost that day. Most of them didn’t sign up to give their lives for their nation; nonetheless, their deaths were not in vain. They will forever be patriots. Though it’s a small solace to their loved ones who lost friends and family in an instant, their sacrifice brought our nation closer together.

In those days, it didn’t matter if you were a Republican, Democrat, Independent, or something else entirely. We were all Americans first and foremost. And that’s how it should be!

It’s a shame that it took such a tragedy to unify our nation. And it’s equally a shame that our nation’s unity has since diminished.

Our nation’s very name is a statement of unity. We are the United States of America. Our Founding Fathers pulled together a group of people from very different geographical and cultural backgrounds and united them, not on heritage or history, but on values – namely, on freedom.

In the years since, 9/11 has been given a new name: Patriot Day. A patriot is someone who loves their country. For Americans, that doesn’t mean loving any one culture or heritage. It means loving the foundational values that our nation was built on.

As we commemorate 25 years since the horrific 9/11 attacks, we must remember those values. We must remember our freedoms. And we must look inside ourselves and see how we can be better examples of American patriotism.

I will leave you all with this challenge: resolve to focus on what unites us, not what divides us. Focus on interacting with your friends, neighbors, acquaintances, and even strangers on the street with civility and respect.

And don’t do it for yourself – or because I asked you to.

Do it for the 2,977 patriots who perished 25 years ago. Do it for the brave first responders who charged into those towers and afterwards into the rubble. Do it for the men and women who gave their lives in the War on Terror.

Let’s unite around the principles of civility and freedom so that we can pass those values down to our kids and our grandkids. If we do that, then we will surely keep South Dakota – and our entire nation – strong, safe, and free.

God bless America.

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South Dakota Conversations
By Sen. John Thune

Who do you turn to for advice? For me, the answer is easy: South Dakotans. The people of our state are my top advisers, and your feedback is invaluable to me when I’m in Washington working for you. During the last few weeks, I’ve had the chance to spend a lot of time traveling our state far and wide to hear directly from South Dakotans.

I met with ranchers in Bison, and I visited small businesses in Flandreau, Sturgis, Sisseton, and Sioux Falls. In Lemmon, I stopped by the grain elevator and met with volunteer firefighters who serve their community. And I had a chance to catch up with local leaders in Meade County and local sheriffs at a meeting in Moody County, and I got to visit the Belle Fourche Irrigation District Field Site in Newell with the ranchers it serves.

Summer is also fair season in South Dakota, and it’s one of my favorite times of year. Like any fairgoer, I have my favorite foods, but fair season is also a chance for me to have some important conversations. I connected with folks at the Butte & Lawrence County Fair, the Turner County Fair, and the State Fair. The Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce hosts a terrific agribusiness meeting at the Brown County Fair, and the Dakotafest congressional forum always provides me with a lot of valuable feedback from South Dakota farmers and ranchers. In fact, a lot of my priorities that make their way into the farm bill come from conversations like these with producers in our state.

I’ve also had the chance to spend some time visiting schools across our state and meeting with students and educators. I had great conversations with students at Black Hills State and at Spearfish High School. In Spearfish, I was able to tour the high school’s Career and Technical Education Center and see firsthand the opportunities available for students to pursue a variety of career paths. On the other side of the state, I was pleased to be on hand for the groundbreaking of the James Abdnor Center for Advanced Manufacturing at Southeast Tech. This new center will help countless young South Dakotans find success, and it’s a fitting tribute to Jim Abdnor who was so committed to helping young people.

I’ve traveled a lot of miles these past few weeks, and whether I’m talking to a high school student about their future or a farmer about their harvest, I rely on these conversations to guide my work on behalf of our state when I’m back in Washington.

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If you were looking for an area where Republican Mike Rounds was worlds apart from his opponent, Indy/Democrat/Liberal Brian Bengs, the National Rifle Association just put it in an easy reference for you:

You have to work hard in defending the Second Amendment to get an “A+.” Equally, you have to be against everything that South Dakota stands for on gun rights to get an “F”.

SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE REUNITED IN SOUTH DAKOTA STATE CAPITOL

(Pierre, S.D.) – Secretary of State Monae L. Johnson announces that the South Dakota Secretary of State’s Office is now fully reunited in one office in the State Capitol Building. Effective immediately, the Secretary of State’s Office, including the Divisions of Business Services, General Services, and Elections is located at:

South Dakota State Capitol
500 East Capitol Avenue, Suite 112
Pierre, SD 57501

The Secretary of State’s Office has operated from separate locations in Pierre, with Elections and General Services located in the State Capitol and Business Services operating from a separate office on East Prospect Avenue. Business Services and General Services began their move earlier this summer. With the completion of the move to Suite 112, all divisions of the Secretary of State’s Office are located together.

“We are excited to have our entire team together in one location,” said Secretary Johnson. “Bringing our divisions together in the State Capitol will make it easier for our staff to work together and, most importantly, provide a more convenient experience for the people we serve.”

The move provides South Dakotans with one central location for election services, business filings, UCC filings, notary services, apostilles, concealed pistol permit services, lobbyist filings, and other services provided by the Secretary of State’s Office. Office hours remain 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday.

For additional information, please visit the Secretary of State’s website at sdsos.gov

I can’t decide whether that’s self-awareness, or a lack thereof which is just a little too close to the target?

Flags at Half-Staff Statewide in Honor of Patriot Day

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Larry Rhoden ordered that flags be flown at half-staff statewide from sunrise until sunset on Friday, September 11, 2026, as a mark of respect for Patriot Day, which recognizes the 2,977 innocent souls who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

“The horrific 9/11 attack shook our nation to the core. And in that moment of darkness, Americans came together and stood with one another,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “As we honor the 2,997 innocent souls who lost their lives, it is my hope that we once again come together as a nation, united by the things that matter most. Please join me in praying for all the families who still carry loss today.”

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South Dakotans just came off of a tremendous wave of elections.

We had the June Primary Elections. A number of municipal elections, including a historic election in Sioux Falls where Christine Erickson was the first woman elected to the office of Mayor of our State’s largest city (despite Liz May’s opposition to women being acknowledged in the South Dakota Constitution). This was quickly followed by the Democrat and Republican State Conventions, where constitutional office candidates were chosen.

And finally we had hard-fought July 28 Republican Primary runoff election for Governor – another first in South Dakota state history.  Even this week, we had a sort-of National Republican convention, which was more of a campaign rally than an actual convention where people voted.

Since then, one thing I’ve noticed with a number of candidates – at least on my side of the aisle – is that for many there is a  bit of disengagement at the moment. Even though early voting is only a week away.  Seriously. We start voting on September 18th.

Oh, don’t get me wrong. A number of them are fired up and organized and ready to rock. But at the same time, I think some people are weary of politics. There does not seem to be the same sense of motivation that we’ve seen when candidates had 2 ½ months off with their families to recharge their batteries.

What do you think? Are people suffering campaign fatigue and disengagement from politics?

Or are they ready to press forward because they just want to get it all over with?

From x.com/Twitter:

Good to see Nathan and Brooke with the South Dakota Retailers Association in Pierre and honored to receive their 2026 Hero of Main Street Award. 98.9 percent of businesses in South Dakota are considered small businesses, and I’ll continue to support their operations at the… pic.twitter.com/iskiOinhlo

— Senator Mike Rounds (@SenatorRounds) September 9, 2026

If you haven’t read this hilarity, it might be worth the trip to the South Dakota Freedumb Caucus’ website. This week, they take stock of the fact that only one of them will be returning to the legislature this next session. And of course, they have to blame someone.

As opposed to putting the harsh glare of the spotlight on themselves for being the worst of the worst and embarrassing themselves because of their legislation and conduct, they blame the House Majority Leader Scott Odenbach:

The conservative movement in South Dakota recently experienced a significant impact on its conservative voting bloc in the legislature. These are the conservative lawmakers who fight for the values itemized in the South Dakota Republican Platform, including limited government, lower taxes, individual responsibility, and election integrity. Unfortunately, due to massive anti-conservative PAC spending and a failure by the Republican House Majority Leader to unite conservatives during the session and ahead of the election, the Establishment wing of the South Dakota GOP has taken control of the legislature and the Governor’s office.

and..

Republican House Majority Leader Scott Odenbach recently gave a self-serving podcast interview to one of the state’s most liberal media organizations, the South Dakota Searchlight on August 14, 2026. In this interview, Rep. Odenbach misdiagnosed the state and path of South Dakota politics, demonstrating either deliberate or blind ignorance of the facts surrounding his attempt to run a “conservative term.”

and..

Rep. Odenbach ignores the fact that he was the Majority Leader in this liberal Searchlight interview. He was the person 100% responsible for unity in the House Republican caucus. Numerous times throughout the legislative term, Rep. Odenbach lectured conservatives, spoke to the media about them, and attempted to tear them down rather than finding common ground among the three voting blocs. To establish unity, there must be baseline guiding principles to unite around. In this case, we have the Republican platform that must be followed. As the Republican Leader, Rep. Odenbach should regularly point to these guiding principles, not just half the time, but all the time. Doing so would have helped him be an effective leader.

Read the entire bag of silliness here.

I notice no one is taking any pride of authorship. The only free-dumber left standing is Phil Jensen, otherwise Jordan Mason has been the groups’ errand boy over the years, and neither one of them is putting their name to it.

Not that Scott Odenbach should get off scot-free. The Republican House has not exactly been a unified body over the past 2 years. In fact, it has been a disaster of divisiveness, where leadership under Odenbach and Jon Hansen did literally nothing to seek consensus or middle ground.   The group you might term a ‘Republican caucus of normalcy’ regularly stomped all over some of the most egregious legislation coming through the House in year 1. And by year 2, their alliances were even stronger.  Leadership didn’t lead. They were just an obstacle that serious legislators went around.

But for Phil Jensen, the remaining member of the Freedom caucus to try to cast blame that his group lost epically because everyone else is a bunch of RINO’s and liberals who ganged up on his group is more than laughable.  For more than a decade, Phil has been a national embarrassment to the Republican Party.  They haven’t been the “pure Republicans.”  Just puerile ones.

God forbid we have an election cycle where the voters finally catch on.