Category: Uncategorized

House Bill 1181, a bill to ban weather modification activities was withdrawn yesterday by the sponsors of the legislation.

If you recall, I had noted earlier that legislators seem to have broken their pledge to shoot down planes, and just ended up asking for more government. Such pledges like these below…

Those look pretty definitive on how they were going to “stay strong without dilution or compromise.”

If you look at the new legislation that was just dropped in the hopper, House Bill 1271 “Act to prohibit weather and climate modification activities and provide a penalty therefor,”   all I have to say is that dilution and compromise, you have found a home, because the fierce opponents against chemtrails who promised military action are – as before – going to administer those planes.

They are going to administer and promulgate against those made-up villains and evil-doers for things they read about on the Internet, and they are going to establish criteria.

That’s those legislators just showing them how when they pledge military action, …they will do the exact opposite and run away.

January 26 – February 1, 2026

Welcome back to another Weekly Round[s] Up. It was a cold and icy week here in DC but that didn’t stop us from getting right back to work. For context, it snowed about 6 inches on Sunday, January 25 and DC city government simply doesn’t have the snow removal tools to properly clean the streets. Schools are finally open without delay on Tuesday, February 3. In South Dakota, we would have dealt with that in a matter of hours!

On Friday, the Senate passed a package of five appropriation bills for Fiscal Year 2026. The legislation is now heading to President Trump’s desk for him to sign. I am pleased to have secured $145.7 million in funding for projects in South Dakota to improve in our rural health care facilities, expand our regional airports and invest in affordable housing. You can read more about the bill and our wins here. In addition, this legislation included a continuing resolution for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations through February 13.  After getting out of DC late Friday night after votes, I was able to attend the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo on Saturday. It’s always a good time getting to meet with folks from around the state. Click here to watch my recap on the weekend. More on this in the rest of my week in the Weekly Round[s] Up:

South Dakota groups I visited with: Ismael Collazo with the National Federation of the Blind of South Dakota; South Dakota Head Start Programs; South Dakota Wheat Growers Association; José-Marie Griffiths, President of Dakota State University; and Mike McKelvey, CEO and Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Dakota State University Foundation.

Met with South Dakotans from: Brookings, Madison, Pierre and Webster.

Other meetings: Steve Ryan, CEO of Trinity Cyber; Vice Admiral Robert Gaucher, Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Submarines; Brandon Williams, Administrator at National Nuclear Security Administration; LTG Christopher Eubank, and Philip Alcorn, Director of Army Cyber Technology and Innovation Center (ArCTIC).

Hearings: I attended a hearing this week for the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. It was a nomination hearing for Lieutenant General Joshua M. Rudd, USA, to be Director of the National Security Agency (NSA). You can watch me question him here. Additionally, I chaired a Cybersecurity Subcommittee hearing, to hear receive testimony on the Department’s cyber force generation plan.

Briefings: I attended one closed Senate Select Committee on Intelligence briefing.

Senate Prayer Breakfast: On Wednesday I joined my colleagues for Senate Prayer Breakfast. Senator Katie Britt from Alabama was this week’s speaker.

Votes taken: 10  – As stated above, the Senate passed five appropriation bills for Defense; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS); Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies (T-HUD); Financial Services and General Government (FSGG); and National Security, Department of State and Related Programs. This legislation also includes a continuing resolution for the DHS appropriations through February 13. The House of Representatives passed the legislation and it is on its way to President Trump to be signed into law.

In addition to the votes related to the appropriation bills, I also voted Yea on the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act.

Steps taken: 61,827 steps or 28.33 miles.

Video of the Week: On Friday, I joined Fox and Friends First to discuss Iran and the government shutdown. Click here to watch.

I’m sure District 4 must be proud. Of course, you read it here first, but their State Representative has the top story on the KELOland website:

“Republican Rep. Dylan Jordan had a point-of-order for decorum made against him after he said “I think this is a pretty simple bill. I didn’t realize I was in Minnesota’s Education Committee, so I’d just like to say I’m disappointed.”

and..

“Of course the employee would be employed by the school, which would make them not liable, but I’m a realist,” Greenfield said. “I’m here to tell you that somebody’s going to be liable, especially if a child is inadvertently killed in a school. They’re not gonna just say, well, that’s too bad, we’re not liable.”

The bill was sent to the 41st day in a 12 to 3 vote.

Read the entire story here at KELOland.com

In the 2024 elections, House Majority Leader Scott Odenbach participated heavily in supporting the people he wanted, and defeating the ones he did not want in the Republican House caucus the following year.  According to the campaign finance report his committee filed recently, it appears that he’s similarly building up cash to do so again in the 2026 elections:

Liberty Tree Pac 2025 SDCF Disclosure by Pat Powers

Odenbach’s report notes over $13k in income over the course of 2025, including a whopping $10,000 from former State Representative John Mills, among other donations, including a donation for $500 from former Dakota Scout reporter Austin Goss.  (Just wondering.. do all the Dakota Scout reporters donate to GOP Leadership?)

Also interesting in this report. Odenbach’s PAC participated in opposing the Liberty Land project, and notes that it was was a big $1000 donor to Taffy Howard’s No Free Rides group, kicking in $1000 to stop the development project in Rapid City.

I’m sure the report is just the start to Odenbach’s fundraising for 2026.

Stay Tuned.

 

 

Morning Consult has released it’s latest rankings of America’s governors on the basis of their popularity. While he’s not in the top ten, Governor Larry Rhoden is definitely in upper rankings on a positive note, with a popularity ranking of +28 points.

According to Morning Consult:

As of the end of 2025, Governor Rhoden is sitting at an approval of 54%, and a disapproval rating of 27%.  His high approval came in the 2nd quarter of 2025 at 59%, and his lowest disapproval was at the start of his term at 17%.

You can read all about the rolling survey here at Morning Consult.

The Safe, Strong and Free PAC pre-dates Governor Rhoden’s gubernatorial announcement, but that didn’t stop the group from getting the show on the road to start raising money for the Governor’s effort to retain the office he is currently sitting in.

How much did they raise and from who?  You can read for yourself below:

Strong Safe and Free PAC by Pat Powers

There are a number of big donors on this list including the Gov’s sister in-law Trish Murphy ($8,000), Wilson Persinger of Dakota Dunes ($5,000), Former State GOP Chair Craig Lawrence ($5000), Scott Doll of Waubay ($5000), Barry Burgess of Rapid City ($6,500), Henry Carlson ($10,000), Mike Derby ($10,000), Hani Schafai ($5000), Matt McCaulley ($5,000). Arch Beal ($4000), and Harry Christianson ($10,000), among others.

Donors raised a total of $155,753.61, but then shifted $141,500 directly to the Rhoden for Governor campaign for inclusion in their total for 2025.

After other expenses, that leaves a little over $2700 to continue the effort in 2026.

Well, this is kind of a weird report.  What is it telling us? Toby Doeden likes to spend money.

Do Eden Report by Pat Powers

Toby Doeden’s campaign finance report is in.. albeit a little late, as it’s dated for 5:23pm.. and really, it’s about like Jon Hansen’s somewhat weak campaign finance report.  In fact, he couldn’t even raise as much as Jon Hansen. Except for that loan.

Doeden raised $982.16 in unitemized donations, and $100,633 in itemized from a cast of characters. He grabbed another $1600 from others. For a gubernatorial race? Meh.  There is NO grassroots support in this campaign. It’s Toby getting out his checkbook and playing pretend.

Over $20k of the $100k came from those whose last name is Doeden.  Why do I think there are others on the list who are related, or have a business relationship with him?  (Update: I’m told there are another $16k from family members to add to that total).    Although, I do see $4k from self-annointed “world class drinker” and “man’s man,” Luke Blindert.

Toby loaned his campaign $2,015,744.30. And then he spent money like a drunken sailor. That 2 million dollar loan? He spent that and most of what he raised, leaving him $41,091.80. But don’t take my word for it. Read the report yourself.

If that’s indicative of how Toby Doeden would run state government, we’re all in big trouble if we even think a Doeden option is viable.

On the heels of the Freedom caucus whining about Phil Jensen’s expulsion from the House Republican Caucus, I’ve been hearing about many rumors regarding the defection of others from the private group meeting before session to discuss strategy on legislation.

And maybe nowadays, it’s less about strategy and more about trying to keep the troops in line as the largely Toby Doeden aligned – freedom caucus members are bristling at being told what to do by Jon Hansen, who seems mainly concerned with not having his rule disintegrate into chaos that shows itself on the House floor.

Because too much rebellion – and in a case of the enemy of my enemy is my friend – opposed factions could easily join forces and boot Hansen from being Speaker right in the middle of his campaign for Governor. (And Hansen would have to have that speaker title clipped off of the little embroidered “Hansen for Governor” jacket he wears around.)

So what am I hearing out there from legislators in and out of the GOP Caucus?  Cautioning this is a lot of rumor and conjecture..

• RUMOR 1: There is talk that the Democrats will sign a complaint against Phil Jensen, which will start a legal process where committees will be formed & hearings will be held. I’m told It only takes five signatures and there’s five Democrats.  Sending the house into 2 or 3 days of public hearing over what a complete dick that Phil Jensen is could be kind of fun to watch. Especially with his wife serving as vice-chair of the SDGOP, and Phil’s control as chair of the freedom caucus. This could ruffle a lot of feathers.
• RUMOR 2: Hearing more about Dylan Jordan getting in trouble over his whiny “Minnesota Education Committee” comment over legislation yesterday. I don’t think this is over, and Dylan’s defiance isn’t helping him.
• RUMOR 3: During the discussion over disciplining Phil Jensen yesterday, I’m told several legislators walked out of caucus. I’ve heard Tina, Ismay, Manhart, Jordan, Aylward.. My correspondents didn’t know if it was purely protest, as there are also people sitting out because of the Capitol Crud going around.

Again, and I would caution you – this is a lot of gossip at the moment, and some tales may be growing as they travel farther down the line.  But it all seems to point back to the GOP House Caucus seeming like more zoo-like than anything.

Not really the image that caucus leaders probably want when one of them is trying to keep his bid for Governor afloat.

The South Dakota Freedom (aka Free-dumb) Caucus chaired by State Representative Phil Jensen sent out a press release today claiming that Phil himself was kicked out of the House Republican Caucus today:

Today, the South Dakota House Republican Caucus removed one of its own members, Representative Phil Jensen, following a complaint raised by Democrats during House floor debate on Senate Concurrent Resolution 604 (SCR 604).

and..

According to reports from numerous members, Representative Jensen was asked not to attend today’s caucus meeting and was formally removed from the House Republican Caucus due to his comments.

(I’m not going to post the rest of their silliness)

This comes after Phil’s removal from the House Education Committee several days ago, and his removal as vice-chair from the same committee last year after his attacks on the Huron School District.

Of course, Phil Jensen’s list of his instances of being a jackass is many, many-years long. Because, after dodging the draft, and asking that some doctors are able to be legally killed, talking about how you can tell someone’s race by the shape of their skulls, among other things, it’s just shocking that it took them this this long to do so.

This comes just a couple of years after Julie Frye-Mueller was notably absent from the Senate GOP Caucus over that whole breastfeeding harassment thing, and the Free-dumb caucusers complaining shortly thereafter about Tom Pischke being booted from the Senate GOP Caucus for demanding that his fellow Republican Senators be arrested.

Stay tuned. I’m sure there will be more whining that he’s out of the Republican caucus. Although, Phil still has his own caucus to hang out in.

Sioux Falls Mayoral Candidates have their campaign finance reports in, with the exception of Greg Jamison who announced after January 1.

And if we’re not counting a candidate who is largely self-finding to date, we have a clear winner in the contest for popular support in what she’s been able to raise. Yes, she. The one who isn’t a middle-aged guy.  Because Christine Erickson is managing to pull together the most financial support in the run-up to the June 2 election, and arguably the broadest base of voters.

Candidate	Raised	Spent	Cash on Hand	Notes
Jamie Smith	$53,713.39	$37,292.53	$51,855.82	X-ferred $44,667.50 from previous accounts
Marshall Selberg	$15,754.10	$11,402.52	$4351.58
Joe Batcheller	$70,660.00*	$4,943.09	$65,716.91	*Includes $33,230 from PAC w/20k from  Batcheller family
David Zokaites	$805	0	$805
Christine Erickson	$103,070.55	$22,864.01	$80,206.54
Greg Jamison				No Report Due Began campaign in 2026

 Democrat-default candidate Jamie Smith in search of his next job started with $35,434.96 in his campaign account from his prior report. But his previous report is where you’ll find that he pulled $44,667.50 from all the people who wanted him to be the Democrat nominee for Governor, etc, with a good chunk of that carried over. The newest report has him burning through 70% of what he raised during the latest period, and his cash on hand represents what’s left over from this report and the last one.

Marshall Selberg moves forward with $4300.. only slightly better than David Zokaites’ $805.  When that’s the space you’re occupying in the race, I’m not sure that this is a comparison a serious candidate wants.

Joe Batcheller has the second highest amount on hand, but we’re not seeing a lot of breadth in his support. If you get past the Batcheller’s and the Kirby’s.. it’s not a terribly long list for a city of 300,000 people. On the main report, Batcheller clan is in for $9050. Kirby’s are in for $2500.

1_30_2026_ Committee to Elect Joe Batcheller Campaign Finance Disclosure Report Joe Batcheller by Pat Powers

But if you get to the PAC they’re using to blast the big bucks in (or at least make them tougher to find), Dan Kirby is in for another $10k, and people with the last name of Batcheller add another $20k to the kitty.

SiouxperPAC sdcfdisclosure by Pat Powers

If you’ve raised $70k for your campaign, and your family has put in 40% of it, and a buddy and their family has put in close to another 20%.. That’s 2 families putting in 2/3 of the cash. That’s not a wide river.

Christine Erickson’s report has what you want to see that some of the other reports are lacking – lots of individual donors, and many are not putting in eye-popping amounts. Just what you would raise from a lot of average joe’s getting up and writing a check.  There’s as many $125 and $250 donors as there are $1000 donors. It’s a broad base of support, and that’s what it takes to win an election. (Especially an election that is at the level of many state races, due to Sioux Falls’ population):

1_30_2026_ Christine for Sioux Falls Campaign Finance Disclosure Report Christine Erickson by Pat Powers

A check for the campaign does not just mean a vote for you – it means they’re a committed vote. And they’ll go to work.

There’s lots of campaign to go in the Sioux Falls Mayoral race, and Mayoral hopeful Greg Jamison has yet to show his cards in the race (you can find his legislative filing for 2025 here, with $11k on hand).

Stay tuned for more in the contest!