Category: Uncategorized

Below is an example of one of many postcards going out this election primary from the group AFP Action. And the emphasis is on “many.”

Reports are coming from candidates across the state that Americans for Prosperity affiliated group AFP Action has apparently been mailing in several races across South Dakota. But, not just a card here, and a card there. Some districts are reporting being pounded by two and three mailers in the last few weeks, raising a question as to “what is AFP is attempting to accomplish?”

Americans for Prosperity in South Dakota has billed itself as a pro-business group and viewed as a largely mainstream organization in it’s latest incarnation in South Dakota over most of the past decade, and had met with success in advocacy among Republicans and among legislators in moving legislation through Pierre.

But starting in the 2022 SDGOP Primary and greatly escalating in the 2024 primary election, the group has fitted itself with much sharper elbows and has engaged more and more aggressively in the Republican primary process, primarily supporting candidates from the very far right.

First in 2022 with Facebook ads, and now with that and an an onslaught of postcards in 2024, their efforts seem more directed at electing their politicians as a political party or movement would, and less about educating the public and legislators as to their issues and why they should be viewed in the mainstream of GOP thought.

I have had one Legislator provide rumor and speculation that South Dakota’s AFP head Don Haggar might have his eye on the Congressional seat in 2026, and this flood of cards could be a prelude of an effort towards those ends, but I’m a bit skeptical on that talk.

Should an opportunity open up for the Congressional seat, I’m sure we’re going to see a number of people talk about it, and the rubber will hit the road on #1) who can build a credible coalition, and #2) who can raise the immediate cash to fund the effort. And we’ll hear who is in that hunt very soon.

Because 2026 is going to be a monster election, and people will start pulling the trigger on exploratory committees by November 6 or so.

And along those lines, a person can direct cards be printed, but I’m not sure that translates into Congress.

Freedom Is Not Free
By Sen. John Thune

The month of May is a special time to honor the brave men and women who serve and who have served our country in uniform. The entire month is observed as Military Appreciation Month. We also celebrate Armed Forces Day and honor the fallen on Memorial Day.

In his first inaugural address, President Eisenhower, himself an accomplished general, said, “We must be ready to dare all for our country. For history does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid.” If you want to see these words in action, just look to the men and women of the United States military.

Many military members join the service at a young age, often right after high school or college. They choose a path different from many of their peers. They subject themselves to a life of regimentation and roll calls. They embrace challenging physical and mental demands. And they choose a life that asks them to forgo comfort for sacrifice, up to and including the sacrifice of their own lives.

Many of us don’t see their sacrifices or the sacrifices that their families make along with them. It can be easy to forget as we go about our daily lives that our lives of freedom are only possible because of the men and women who spend their lives defending our country.

During Military Appreciation Month, my thoughts turn to South Dakotans serving in the armed forces, especially the South Dakota National Guard and the airmen at Ellsworth Air Force Base. They represent the very best of our state, and I am grateful every day for their service and sacrifice. South Dakotans know and value the sacrifices that our military families make, and I am tremendously proud of how the Black Hills Region has worked to support our airmen and National Guard Members, earning national recognition.

Memorial Day in particular is an occasion to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice defending our country. These brave Americans gave their lives for our country and for the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. It’s a debt that we can never fully repay, and we owe it to them to recommit ourselves to living lives worthy of their sacrifice.

“[H]istory does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid.” The men and women of the United States military stand strong – ready to answer the call when their country needs them. We owe them all a great debt for securing our freedoms and defending our country. May God bless and protect the men and women of the United States military, and may He continue to bless America.

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FARM BILL PASSES COMMITTEE
May 24, 2024
by Congressman Dusty Johnson

BIG News

The Farm Bill is an essential piece of legislation for farm and ranch country. It’s renewed every five years, allowing members of Congress to update programs in the bill to better serve rural America.

The final bill is the result of more than 80 listening sessions across 40 states to hear from farmers and ranchers on what their priorities are. I worked on drafting this bill with the House Ag Committee to ensure South Dakota priorities are included. After months of collaboration, the final text is strong and provides valuable updates for rural America. I’m proud the bill contains dozens of my priorities to improve rural broadband, farm safety net programs, increase trade, and more.

BIG NEWS – The Farm Bill advanced out of the House Agriculture Committee after hours of debate and discussion on the text. Agriculture is South Dakota’s number one industry, and this Farm Bill will do well to support it.

BIG Update

It was a big week in Congress and started with my bill to create a digital asset framework passing the House with broad bipartisan support. The Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century (FIT21) Act is a historic piece of legislation and the first of its kind to receive a vote in Congress. This bill is the result of two committees working together for over a year, which is an unprecedented feat.

America is the only G7 country without an established framework for digital asset trading, which has enticed many developers to innovate overseas. This shift in innovation could prevent the U.S. from remaining the global leader in tech and finance.

FIT21 is the solution. It will fill gaps in America’s regulatory market to ensure predictability and certainty for innovators. Rep. French Hill (R-AR) and I published an op-ed in the Washington Times detailing the urgency of the issue.

BIG Idea

In 2022, President Biden signed an executive order that could lead to the creation of a central bank digital currency (CBDC). A CBDC is essentially a digital dollar and would allow the government to track and restrict transactions of private citizens. Governments like the Chinese Communist Party use this technology to surveil their citizens. Canada even went as far to freeze the bank accounts of individuals who participated in trucker protests. This is antithetical to American values.

I voted to pass the CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act to prevent the U.S. from developing a digital currency. We must protect the financial privacy and liberty of Americans.

National Travel and Tourism Week
By: Governor Kristi Noem
May 24, 2024

As the beautiful vibrant colors of spring paint our landscapes and the sweet scent of renewal fills the air, it’s time to celebrate one of the most thrilling aspects of South Dakota: travel and tourism. We are just wrapping up National Travel and Tourism Week.  It’s a perfect time to embark on a journey of appreciation for the countless blessings and opportunities that come with exploring our beautiful state.

Tourism is our second largest industry here in South Dakota, contributing billions of dollars to our state’s economy each year. In 2023, tourism brought a grand total of 14.7 million visitors here. Those visitors spent $4.96 billion, generating $384 million in tax revenue, and supporting 57,835 jobs!

But the impact of travel and tourism extends far beyond economic gains. Travel creates lifelong memories among families, allows us to meet new people, and has the power to unite us at a time when the world often feels divided. Tourism gives us the perfect opportunity to show off our world-renowned South Dakota hospitality.

Travel and tourism are also woven into the fabric of our communities. The tourism industry supports countless small businesses, local artisans, and entrepreneurs who rely on visitors to sustain their livelihoods. From quaint bed and breakfasts to family-owned restaurants serving up hearty Midwestern fare, these establishments are the lifeblood of our towns and cities, infusing them with character and charm that our visitors say they love.

I heard about one family who visited from Australia for Christmas. They said their trip was, “magical…the best Christmas EVER!” And their eight-year-old daughter plans to come back for every Christmas forever. They loved cutting down their own Christmas tree, the 1880 Train, Mammoth Site, sledding, and the prairie dogs – it even snowed for them on Christmas Day!

Whether it’s exploring the iconic Mount Rushmore National Memorial, marveling at the otherworldly landscapes of Badlands National Park, or immersing oneself in the rich history of De Smet and our pioneering history, our state offers so many unique experiences that cater to every taste and interest. As we close out National Travel and Tourism Week, our peak tourism season is still just beginning. So let us continue to embrace exploration and welcome the world to experience the beauty and hospitality of our great nation.

If you or a family you know is interested in visiting beautiful South Dakota, visit TravelSouthDakota.com and start planning your trip today.

Here’s to the spirit of adventure, the joy of discovery, and the endless possibilities that await us on the open road. Happy National Travel and Tourism Week, South Dakota!

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Here’s an instance of where politics are making strange bedfellows.

So, an advertisement has popped up in the newspaper in the District 21 House and Senate Primaries, coming from a group calling itself “The Concerned Citizens of District 21.”  If you’ll notice the disclaimer on this weird, semi-coherent ad appearing in the “Pioneer Advertiser” covering South Central South Dakota:

It’s kind of a multi-font jumbled mess.   So, who is/are the “Concerned Citizens of District 21,” other than someone with word-barf, and too many fonts?

If you look on the Secretary of State’s website, it’s unclear, as there is no current PAC filing listed, but there was a Concerned Citizens for District 21 PAC that was listed as terminated on 12/29/23.  So, did they forget, or change their mind about the whole termination thing? Previously, the Concerned Citizens of District 21 was under the management of Rachelle Norberg, an attorney in Burke:

Why is that important? Well, last I knew, Rachelle was not a big Republican. In fact, she was running Concerned Citizens for District 21 PAC, originally set up with money from Billie Sutton.  And Rachelle herself was noted as a member of the South Dakota Democrat Party’s Executive Board in a 2017 article which seems to have been scrubbed from seemingly retired Democrat blog Dakota Free Press (retrieved via Internet Wayback Machine):

So, either a new group has appropriated the name of a recently retired Democrat PAC and the paperwork is either missing or in progress, or the Democrat-affiliated PAC is back from the dead and is pushing certain Republicans in the District 21 Republican primary elections.

I’m not sure if there are Republicans out there in District 21 who are kind of dumb, and trying to be more like Democrats, or there are Democrats out there with an agenda trying to get behind specific Republicans?

You be the judge.

Seriously. Another one?

I just had someone drop me a note about one of our Sioux Falls Republican House candidates, asking me if I had heard about the protection orders that had been filed against them.

My reply was “Are you referring to Brad Lindwurm?”  My corresponent: “No. Bill Linsenmeyer in District 11. He’s had two restraining orders filed against him for domestic violence. Not pretty stuff.”

Ugh. For crying out loud. We’re supposed to be sending our best and brightest to represent us in Pierre, aren’t we?  The fact that I didn’t get it on the first try is a pretty good indicator that the GOP needs to pay attention to candidate quality. Because when you’re rocking 2-3 protection orders, and running as a candidate, it’s bound to come out.

And while I understand that, at times, yes, sure. There might be two sides to every story. But do you really want to debate that in the public square?  Such as with passages from the 2017 affidavit for a protection order for domestic abuse against Linsenmeyer:

That is an ugly request for a protection order. And the thing is, THIS IS A PUBLIC DOCUMENT.   Do candidates with this kind of history somehow think that it’s not going to come up? Who are we going to run next? Shad Olson?

D11 Republican primary candidate Linsenmeyer is rocking 2 protection orders, one from 2007 (41TPO08000030 for domestic abuse granted until dismissed over 2 months later), and one from 2017 (49TPO17-000034, later dismissed). Add a 2009 Chapter 7 bankruptcy to the mix, and it’s obvious there has been no candidate vetting here.

And that’s the candidate with two protection orders filed against them. Shall we go for three?  Because District 15 GOP House candidate Brad Lindwurm was my first guess.

Yes, I’ve had people ask my why I’m so down on Brad Lindwurm as a candidate. This is reason #1.  Three Protection orders filed against him.  Case #49TPO10000124 in 2010 with an accusation of domestic abuse, with the order granted. Case #49TPO12001076 in 2012 with an accusation of domestic abuse which was dismissed, and case #49TPO19-001188 in 2019 – less than 5 years ago – for stalking.  That one, from a somewhat recognizable person in Sioux Falls, was dismissed a month later because the petitioner did not appear. But the fact they had to go to that extent to get him to buzz off brings up a question of judgement on Lindwurm that voters are going to have to ask themselves if they can get past.

I could go on, but, I shouldn’t need to.

One of the basics steps in running for office is that before you do opposition research on your opponent, you need to do it on yourself. Because you’d better know what’s out there, and be able to respond to it adequately.  If there are responses that can be viewed as adequate. Some things are tough to get past. Like 2 or 3 protection orders.  If someone is sitting there with bad things lurking in their background that were found in less than 5 minutes, such as the above, it might behoove a candidate to think twice about running for office.

In 2022, Republicans were faced with a hard lesson in the matter of Joel Koskan, when we found ourselves with a candidate who had been arrested and charged with incest right before the November election in 2022.

Can we really afford to not do some perfunctory candidate vetting before the fall campaign gets rolling?  Especially in those cases where red flags are popping up?

The GOAT, @TomBrady 🐐 pic.twitter.com/XjX5sAZ7Zy

— Senator John Thune (@SenJohnThune) May 22, 2024

Johnson Votes to Prohibit Central Bank Digital Currency

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) voted to pass legislation to prohibit a central bank digital currency (CBDC). The CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act passed the House and will protect the financial privacy of all Americans.

“The Chinese Communist Party uses a central bank digital currency to track the transactions of their citizens, and in Canada, the Trudeau Administration froze bank accounts of individuals involved in trucker protests,” said Johnson. “This type of surveillance and restriction is wholly un-American. I’m glad the CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act passed the House to protect the financial privacy and liberty of our citizens.”

Unlike decentralized cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, a CBDC is a digital form of sovereign currency that is issued, monitored, and managed by a central bank. In short, a CBDC is government-controlled programmable money that, if designed without the privacy protections of cash, could give the federal government unilateral authority to surveil Americans’ transactions and restrict politically unpopular activity.

In March 2022, the White House issued Executive Order #14067 urging for CBDC research and development. The corresponding report made it clear that the Biden Administration is not only wanting to create a CBDC, but they are willing to trade Americans’ right to financial privacy for a surveillance-style CBDC.

Specifically, the CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act:

• Prohibits the Federal Reserve from issuing a CBDC directly to anyone, ensuring the Fed can’t mobilize itself into a retail bank.
• Prohibits the Federal Reserve from issuing a CBDC indirectly to individuals through financial institutions or other third parties.
• Prohibits the Federal Reserve from using a CBDC as a tool to implement monetary policy and control the economy.
• Requires authorizing legislation from Congress for the issuance of any CBDC.
• Protects innovation that reflects American values.

The CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act is led by House Republican Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN). Johnson cosponsored the bill in February 2024. Read full bill text here.

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Brookings Radio, which has had a robust presence as part of the area’s media forever is apparently rolling up operations locally, and has terminated the employment of their 6 full-time and part-time announcers today, including their news department.

Why do I think this means a lot of satellite/pre-programmed music coming in, with local advertising inserted?