Category: Uncategorized

From Facebook:

Terribly sad news. I am informed that Mike Diedrich passed away last night, surrounded by his family.  In 2024, Mike stepped down from serving in the Senate due to cancer.

Mike served in the South Dakota Legislature over 13 years during three separate stints; from 1987-1990 in the Senate, 1993-1994 in the Senate, from 2018-2020 in the House, moving to the Senate from 2021-2024.

Mike was in the legislature during my earliest years of working for the party, and he has always been just an absolute gentleman and statesman of the highest caliber.  We are richer for his time with us and his service to the State of South Dakota.

Please keep his family in your prayers.

It’s Time to Defund the Propaganda and Empower South Dakota
By Dan Schneider, Media Research Center (MRC)

For decades, the Media Research Center has been on the front lines, exposing the pervasive and insidious bias that saturates our national media. Among the most biased of news outlets are NPR and PBS. The taxpayer-funded propaganda they produce is a clear and present danger to the common-sense policies that benefit all Americans, and to leaders like Senator Mike Rounds, who champion pro-growth policies for their constituents.

That’s why it is critical for Rounds to vote in favor of H.R. 4, President Donald Trump’s request to rescind the $1.1 billion that Joe Biden secured for NPR and PBS over the next two years.

If you examine Rounds’s priorities, you’ll see how NPR and PBS consistently work against his agenda while simultaneously lining their own pockets with taxes from South Dakotas. To add insult to injury, these broadcasters also attack the jobs of the very people who are forced to subsidize “public broadcasting.”

If your income is connected to production agriculture, transportation, or oil and gas development, or if you hold traditional values or believe in the Second Amendment, why should you be forced to turn over your taxes to those who seek your demise?

Rounds has consistently fought for agriculture and rural economic vitality, the beating heart of South Dakota’s economy.  His support for crucial initiatives such as the USA Beef Act and Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (M-COOL), his efforts to crack down on anti-competitive practices, and his proactive emergency plans for bird flu outbreaks all demonstrate a commitment to the state’s foundational industry. Rounds has also made tribal communities a priority, pushing for better transportation funding and a much-needed tribal law enforcement training center.

Yet NPR churns out stories at odds with these priorities.They obsess over the environmental “sins” of the beef industry with endless talk of carbon and methane and cast the USA Beef Act as some backward, industry-pandering move. PBS NewsHour is no better, often complaining that M-COOL might “ruffle feathers” in global trade deals or “jack up prices” for consumers. They conveniently gloss over the tangible benefits these policies bring to rural and tribal communities, framing these common-sense priorities as mere trifles compared to their globalist, green dogma. It’s a classic media dodge: undermine the heartland to push their progressive pet projects.

 

These left-wing news outlets also strike directly at one of Round’s legislative priorities, ending Federal control over our children’s education. Rounds’ legislation “Returning Education to Our States Act,”  would dismantle the bloated U.S. Department of Education and hand decision-making power back to states via block grants, a concept that, to most South Dakotans, is simply common sense.

But NPR and PBS  trot out union bosses and so-called “experts” to cry about “equity” and “access,” as if states can’t be trusted to run their own schools. NPR’s biased stories invariably focus on how federal cuts might “hurt underserved kids,” conveniently ignoring how federal red tape often stifles genuine innovation. PBS NewsHour plays the same game, framing the proposal as a dangerous gamble that could “undo” decades of progress. Of course, both outlets fail to show that the so-called “progress” is actually ever-declining performance by students across America.

The continued subsidization of NPR and PBS, to the tune of more than half-a-billion dollars annually, is an undeniable anachronism in today’s media environment. Their tired arguments for taxpayer dollars are as hollow as the “news” coverage they provide. They claim farmers need them for weather reports? This is an insult to the ingenuity and technological savvy of South Dakota’s agricultural community, who are already equipped with cell phones, computers, and sophisticated weather apps that provide real-time, localized data far more efficiently.

They perpetuate the myth of unique emergency alert services, despite the undeniable fact that every broadcaster in America is legally mandated to provide the same alerts. Furthermore, with 98% of Americans now owning cell phones, these critical notifications are delivered directly to nearly every pocket, rendering traditional broadcast-dependent systems largely obsolete. Importantly, H.R. 4 does not touch the Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS), which is instead funded by FEMA.

Rounds is laser-focused on keeping America strong by modernizing our military and  integrating AI to our national defense systems. Yet, NPR and PBS wring their hands over the “ethics” of AI in defense, while PBS trots out talking heads who seem to prefer playing nice with China rather than building up our defenses. They paint the push for military readiness as reckless saber-rattling, willfully ignoring the very real threats we face in a complex world. PBS and NPR bias represents a deliberate attempt to kneecap leaders who prioritize strength over feelings.

The evidence is clear: NPR and PBS are not providing a unique, unbiased public service that justifies billions in taxpayer subsidies. Instead, they are actively undermining the very policies that directly benefit the hardworking people of South Dakota. It’s time to cut off the flow of taxpayer dollars to these purveyors of partisan narratives.

Rounds should stand with South Dakota’s farmers, ranchers, and taxpayers and vote to defund NPR and PBS.

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Dan Schneider is Vice President of the  Media Research Center.

Leading on 2^nd Amendment Rights
By: Gov. Larry Rhoden
July 11, 2025

South Dakota is the freest state in America, and that holds extra true for our 2^nd Amendment rights. We have a long history of recognizing the 2^nd Amendment dating all the way back to our early homesteaders – in fact, I just saw a mock shootout in 1880 Town! Early homesteaders used their personal firearms to protect themselves from Wild West outlaws, and South Dakotans deserve the same ability to defend their families today.

South Dakota provides stronger 2^nd Amendment protections than any other state. Several recent changes to both state and federal law have extended new protections for the right to keep and bear arms – and I am honored to have been part of making those changes happen.

On my very first stop on my Open for Opportunity tour, I visited a South Dakota company that is the largest silencer retailer in North America. They told me about federal regulations that were placing an arbitrary seven-day waiting period on their ability to ship products, so I immediately reached out the Trump Administration to fix that issue. Not long after, we received word that the issue had been addressed!

With the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill, the $200 tax stamp on suppressors and certain types of firearms has also been eliminated. By taxing silencers, the federal government was trying to stop law-abiding gun owners from buying them. That’s not the government’s job, and I’m glad that provision went away. The federal government should continue to take steps to deregulate the firearms industry.

We’re taking action here at home, as well. On July 1, several new protections for the 2^nd Amendment became law in South Dakota. I was very proud to sign those into law. These bills advanced on changes that began under the Noem-Rhoden Administration.

The first bill that Former Governor Noem signed into law was Constitutional Carry. At the time, there was some consternation about her decision to sign that bill, but I was confident that we were making the right move. Six years later, that’s proven to be true! So when I signed several pro-2^nd Amendment bills into law this legislative session, I didn’t pay much mind to the critics. After all, our communities are safer when law-abiding gun owners have the right to defend themselves.

I signed SB 100, which provided greater freedom to exercise the 2^nd Amendment on college campuses. I actually carried this bill in the legislature years ago when I served as a state legislator. Our college students are adults, and they should have just as much freedom to keep and bear arms as any other South Dakotan.

I also signed legislation clarifying the rules for guns on school property. If parents come on school property and still have a gun on them, they can lawfully leave it in their car with an enhanced concealed carry permit. And now, city and county employees are free to exercise their 2^nd Amendment rights on the job, as well.

The bad guys don’t follow the law, much less our gun laws. So when the government restricts the right to keep and bear arms, all that does is take away the ability of law-abiding Americans to defend themselves. That’s not how we do things in South Dakota.

Freedom will continue to be our calling card as long as I am governor, and I will continue to do everything in my power to protect our Second Amendment rights. After all, it’s the right that allows us to defend all of our other rights.

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The Doeden campaign isn’t the only campaign for Governor where we’re seeing few, if any hosts on the invite. If you pay attention to this sort of thing, you might have caught that the Hansen Lemmings are having a few events at Pizza Ranches around the state as of late.

You know, nothing against Pizza Ranch, (aside from the co-founder sexually abusing teenage boys) but it seems like they’re running a gubernatorial race with local elected official level events.

When I asked about it, one observer did note that you can usually use the meeting room for free if you’re getting pizza. The operative word being free. And obviously, there’s no room charge if you’re getting friends to come in & pay for themselves to eat pizza, and are taking tips for bussing tables.

Of course, you might be raising money a few hundred at a time. And given the gas that motorhome is going to guzzle, I’m not sure whether they’re breaking even.

But then again, when you’re down at 2%, there’s no way to go but up.

Just a note – part one of the website’s “homesite improvement” project is coming along, as if you hadn’t noticed, the website has been dragging a bit from time to time.

Part of it is from the sheer amount of data we’re serving. Despite my best efforts to shut them out, the site is crawled from time to time by bots seeking to either index content or to grab content, and when they’re doing that to over 15,000 posts, and 160k comments.. well, it doesn’t help the server load.

I’ve just completed off-loading 10,000 posts, and about 100,000 comments, trimming hosted content down to the last 5 years. So we’ll see how much that helps.  Part 2 is a little more complex, as I need to update software, but am on a server which will no longer allow updates. Which means I have to start a new server and migrate all the content. And then make sure things are pointing to the new server.  Not a lot of fun, but I’m going to have to complete that in the very near future.

So, again, sorry about the load times. But, by the time I’m done, it should be tuned up and good to roll for a lot more years.

Former At-Large Sioux Falls City Councilwoman (and former Republican legislator Christine Erickson) has an invitation for a public announcement on July 23rd hitting e-mail boxes this evening regarding her future plans in the city of Sioux Falls.

Christine has long been speculated as getting into the Sioux Falls Mayoral race, and it might be that she’s pulling the trigger on a run in less than 2 weeks.  so if you’re in town on Wednesday the 23rd, you might want to check it out!

Logan Manhart must have plans that night. And I’m guessing Dylan “DJ Jazzy” Jordan has to make his couch, or he’d be a host.  But Toby Doeden has announced his first big fundraiser… and it doesn’t look like there’s many sponsors who will put their name on the line:

State Rep. Brandei Schaefbauer is the highest ranking public official on that public host list. But she has to go, because if she doesn’t, her landlord Toby might raise the rent.  The list then drops off very, very quickly.

A few county commissioners. Former county commissioner Jim Walter from Day County is on the list, hanging on to that title as if it’s current. And the Aberdeen Mayor & spouse.   And don’t just show up on a whim – because the address is only available upon RSVP. Guessing because they don’t want people to know how many people aren’t there.

The others who are running for Governor typically show up with host lists of 50 or more. I would wager many of Dusty’s events are rocking 100 hosts, and he won’t feel the need to make the event secret.   In fact, I would wager that the other guys might actually put on the invite that they’re running for Governor, unlike Toby. Since the invite makes no mention of it.

And the campaign rolls on.

I suppose it had to happen at some point, but it seems far too soon.   Former legislative candidate Joel Koskan, who was arrested for molesting his adopted daughter a week before his election and was sentenced in April of 2023 to 10 years in jail is already out on the streets after just 2 years.

If you need a reminder of what Koskan was convicted of doing:

South Dakota Assistant Attorney General Mandy Miller filed charges of rape, sexual contact with a child under sixteen, and aggravated incest—related child against Koskan on Thursday. 

According to court documents obtained by Native News Online on Thursday, the crimes began in 2014, when the adopted child was placed in the home at 12 years old. The victim was interviewed by law enforcement earlier this year and stated that she was adopted by Joel and Sally Koskan 10 years ago. When she realized what was inappropriate touching while attending a summer youth camp in the Black Hills, she told camp counselors that her adopted father, Joel, had a sexual interest in her and he wanted to be sexually intimate with her.

and..

She told investigators that when she returned home, her parents were upset with her and accused her of trying to break up the family. She said that her father’s touching stopped for a year or two and that her mother, Sally, began watching Joel’s interactions more closely. 

and..

In her statement to the police, she stated that her adoptive father rigorously monitored her actions and what she wore, including whether or not she could wear a bra. In addition, as a teenager, he made her straddle him wearing only a nightgown with no clothing underneath. 

It wasn’t until she was 17 did she indicate that Joel penetrated her vagina with his fingers, which eventually led to sexual intercourse numerous times in the family’s separate homes in Mellette County and Watertown, South Dakota. 

Read that here.

According to the South Dakota sex offender registry, Koskan is currently living in an apartment in Tea, and is currently registered with the Lincoln County Sheriff.

He’s out on the street after serving 1/5 of his sentence. Wow.

It’s little wonder Shad Olson received suspended imposition for what he did to his girlfriend the other day. Because Joel can get a sentence of 10 years for doing what he did to his daughter, and be on the streets 2 years later.

Gov. Rhoden Announces District 22 Senate Appointment

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Larry Rhoden announced the appointment of Brandon R. Wipf to represent District 22 in the South Dakota Senate, effective immediately.

“Brandon Wipf has a keen understanding of our property tax system and reflects South Dakota’s strong values,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “As a dedicated farmer and ag advocate, he is equipped with an understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing our number one industry. I have no doubt that he will serve our state with excellence.”

Brandon Wipf is a proud fourth-generation farmer in southern Spink County, and he has spent the past decade advocating for the needs of farmers at both the state and national level. Wipf currently serves on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Ag Advisory Council and is a Director for the American Soybean Association. He graduated Valedictorian from James Valley Christian School in 2004 and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Dordt College.

“I’m incredibly honored and grateful for the trust the Governor has placed in me. I will work hard to earn that same trust from the people of District 22,” said Brandon Wipf. “I look forward to partnering with Governor Rhoden, his entire team, and my new colleagues in the Legislature as we continue building a prosperous future for our state!”

Brandon Wipf resides at Lake Byron with his wife, Mandy, and his dog, Sarge. You can find a photo of Brandon Wipf here.

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