You know, I’m not a fan of Taffy Howard with her general awfulness as a legislator such as skipping 14% of all floor votes, skipping impeachment, etc. But this meme from the South Dakota College Democrats goes way, way too far:

If you’re missing the reference, it’s from the burn book scene in the Mean Girls movie.  But even if it originated in a movie, it’s completely and absolutely over the top inappropriate to call a legislator, much less a female one a “skank bitch,” or a “fugly slut” in the course of political debate.

State Democrats have a huge problem if they believe that represents them, even via their college level auxiliary.  If this is how they want to represent themselves to South Dakotans, at the very least, it’s far from enlightened. Would they stand next to the Senate Minority Leader Liz Larson and use this as their catcall at Republicans? I kind of doubt it.

Very inappropriate. And they need to do something about it.

I had never really formalized it, but every once in a while, people have reached out to me about connecting available campaign and public affairs jobs with job seekers.  Today, I had a nice note asking about it again, and it dawned on me that we’re starting to gear up for one of the biggest campaign seasons in a generation, so I’m creating a new page to connect South Dakota campaign and public affairs jobs with those looking for one.

You can find this listing, and very soon others on our SDWC “Job Posting Page” which you can find here.

Dakota Credit Union Association
Position Title: Director of Political Strategy & Engagement
Location: South Dakota
Department: Advocacy – Government Affairs 
Posted 7/30/25

Download Full Job Description here:
Dir Political Strategy & Engagement_2025

Check it out!

A reader pointed this out to me.  Remember my earlier post where I noted where the Hansen Lemmings were raising money up to 10k at a time… except it was legal because they appeared to be running things through a PAC:

That’s $4000. As Arch Beal would say – Whoa Whoa Whoa!  Where are they getting the $5,000 and $10,000 from that they’re soliciting for. Well, you have to go to the bottom of the web page. And you get the explanation:

This is not a state gubernatorial campaign committee that they’re slapping their names on and using to run for office. They’re running as Hansen/Lems for Governor, but donations are being routed directly to a Political Action Committee.  They’re entirely skipping over a regular campaign committee that you or I would use, and the mechanism they are using to raise funds for their gubernatorial campaign right out of the gate is a PAC who can take far bigger checks.

Read that here.

Well something has apparently changed on their website. Except, maybe not enough has changed. Because they changed what was actually legal under South Dakota law… and now they made it appear to be not legal.  The Hansen Lemmings campaign donation page as it is now is not a donation page for a Political Action Committee. It is now branded with the disclaimer for Hansen for Governor, a campaign committee:

Yet, now that it says it’s under his campaign committee, they are still asking for 10k, and proclaiming that’s the maximum donation, according to the screenshot I just took:

But if you look at state law, and particularly the Secretary of State’s website:

These two things do not match, and it makes for a sloppy campaign. Because if they’re taking 5k or 10k, that’s over the contribution limits. (Not that anyone is ponying up a 10k tip at pizza ranch).

If they are going to go to the trouble to change the donation page from rolling into a PAC, why wouldn’t they fix the glaring error with what they can accept from the committee?  It looks like these lawmakers are trying to be lawbreakers.

Stay tuned for a later update.

Thune: The One Big Beautiful Bill Makes Life Better for Hardworking Americans

“Communicating about this bill should be a priority – when we’re in Washington, but especially when we’re in cities and towns across America.” 

Click here to watch the video:

 WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor.

Rounds Delivers Opening Remarks at Securities, Insurance and Investments Subcommittee Hearing

Rounds was named chairman of the Subcommittee for the 119th Congress

 WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investments, today delivered opening remarks at a hearing titled “Guardrails and Growth: AI’s Role in Capital and Insurance Markets.”

This is the first Subcommittee hearing of the 119th Congress and the first hearing with Rounds serving as chairman. The hearing examined how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming financial services and Congress’ role in fostering innovation while promoting transparency and accountability. The witnesses included Kevin Kalinich, Intangible Assets Global Leader at Aon; Tal Cohen, President of NASDAQ; and Dr. David Cox, Vice President for AI Models at IBM Research.

“We need regulatory frameworks that both support innovation and protect consumers,” said Rounds. “As AI continues to evolve, regulators also have an opportunity to modernize their own operations. AI can help agencies conduct smarter supervision, reduce unnecessary burdens on smaller institutions, and focus resources where they’re most needed. There’s a real opportunity for public-private collaboration in this space, and I hope today’s hearing helps us think more clearly about how to make that happen.”

Read Rounds’ full remarks as prepared for delivery below. Watch a clip of Rounds’ opening statement HERE.

Toby Doeden’s Education and Business Plan: Details Later?
by Katherine Mickelson

As one of South Dakota’s most successful self-made business owners, Toby Doeden seems to be taking stances to prevent others from achieving similar success. He has repeatedly made anti-business statements in his campaign messaging that are not built on solid pro-business policy, but populist anger.

On July 28th, Doeden’s campaign posted a clip from his state tour campaign in which he criticized residents of Deuel County for thinking AI tech companies will hire rural South Dakotans to work in their “super sophisticated data centers,” claiming that they will instead hire liberals from California, New York City, and Oregon. He said “they ain’t hiring Toby Doeden to run an AI software company, I promise you that.” The speech claimed to be open for business but contradicts itself in its narrow view of developing industries. With a condescending tone that South Dakotans, and specifically rural residents, aren’t bright enough to compete with outside competitors in the developing tech industry. Erin Tobin weighed in on Facebook, saying, “That’s a pretty insulting thing to say to the bright young minds at Dakota State University.” Many of the comments online criticized Doeden, but he has no formal response or indication that South Dakota is able to support and staff data centers.

The comments from Doeden aren’t surprising, as they continue sentiments against institutions of higher education. Episode 8 of “Toby Doeden Unfiltered” describes his personal experience of enrolling at Minot State University and seeing it as a complete waste of time. He talked about the need to re-educate parents, guidance counselors, and administrators on pushing students to go to college. While some individuals are vastly successful without college degrees, this isn’t the norm. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated that the average college graduate with a bachelor’s degree makes 68 percent more per year than someone with a high school diploma. And those with bachelor’s degrees experience half the rate of unemployment.

Promoting trade and alternative tracks are important, but shouldn’t be prioritized over the success of four-year institutions. Especially in a time when rural healthcare needs grow and shortages continue. The projected shortage of registered nurses in 2030 is 14.0% and the demand for nurse practitioners is projected to grow more than 50% by 2032. Doeden has no plan to meet these shortages or incentivize systems to support rural healthcare. He has avoided all healthcare workforce specifics. This continues a trend of vague statements that fail to introduce a formal plan for new business recruitment, workforce retention, or educational improvements.

His education policy on his policy issues page consists only of preventing schools from using indoctrination tactics for gender and critical race theory, advocating for reading, writing, math, and critical thinking, but not having a single stance or plan to achieve these goals. His campaign lacks details with no substantive proposals to rebuild or fund education, instead offering slogans that are hollow and contradictory. He stated in his announcement speech: “I will work with President Trump and our Legislature… to develop and implement an education system that prepares our children for a future of winning.” Clearly, he doesn’t think a future of winning is possible for DSU students despite its 99% placement rate for graduates of the Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences.

He highlights his entrepreneurial success as a qualification to improve state governance, but if he isn’t qualified to run a software company, why should voters trust him with the power to run the state?

—

Sioux Falls resident Katherine Mickelson is a Junior at Baylor University, where she studies Political Science and is a student media fellow with the Network of Enlightened Women. 

(Editor’s note – Katherine’s grandfather & great-grandfather were trusted with the power to run the state. Both of them twice! – pp) 

Rounds Reintroduces Legislation Supporting AI Innovation in Financial Services

Legislation supports provision in Trump administration’s AI Action Plan

 WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Andy Kim (D-N.J.) and U.S. Representatives French Hill (R-Ark.), Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) and Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) today reintroduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to promote artificial intelligence (AI) innovation in the financial services industry. The Unleashing AI Innovation in Financial Services Act would direct financial regulatory agencies to create Innovation Labs for regulated entities to test AI projects, allowing them to experiment with cutting-edge technologies in a safe way.

The Trump administration’s AI Action Plan, released earlier this month, calls for the establishment of regulatory AI Centers of Excellence to test AI tools while also sharing results and challenges with relevant partners, specifically mentioning the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a potential participant. The Unleashing AI Innovation in Financial Services Act would create these labs in the financial regulatory agencies, including at the SEC. This legislation is supported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

“The financial services industry has been using AI for decades, but companies must have the opportunity to innovate as major advancements continue to develop,” said Rounds. “The Unleashing AI Innovation in Financial Services Act is designed to foster innovation and economic growth by providing a controlled environment where new financial products and services that use AI can be tested. I’m pleased that the Trump administration shares this vision, as outlined in their recent AI Action Plan. By creating these innovation labs, we aim to strike a balance between encouraging innovation and maintaining consumer protection, ultimately strengthening our financial system and keeping our country at the forefront of global financial technology.”

“To unlock AI’s full potential and ensure it is deployed responsibly, we need regulatory guardrails that are informed by real-life use cases,” said Heinrich. “Our Unleashing AI Innovation in Financial Services Act does exactly this by enabling the private sector and government agencies to work together and encourage innovation that protects consumers.”

“Artificial intelligence is transforming the financial sector, and it is critically important that U.S. firms can innovate at the pace necessary for America to maintain its role as the center of the global economy,” said Tillis. “This bipartisan bill provides a commonsense framework that encourages domestic cutting-edge development while still ensuring the necessary regulatory oversight is in place.”

“Without the necessary safeguards in place to look after consumers, we will not be able to see the full promise of AI or reap the benefits of AI innovation long-term,” said Kim. “This bill puts critical parameters in place to look after the public interest that will allow us to push forward with secure and stable innovation across the financial sector.”

“As AI continues to evolve, we must understand its full impact because it will touch every part of our lives,” said Hill. “The Unleashing AI Innovation in Financial Services Act ensures that federal financial agencies allow the companies they oversee to experiment with AI through regulatory sandboxes. Our Committee looks forward to exploring AI and its uses in the financial services industry. We are committed to fostering innovation and collaboration between the public and private sectors. I’m grateful to my bipartisan House colleagues and to Senator Mike Rounds for leading this effort in the Senate. Advancing this bill is key to keeping the U.S. at the forefront of AI innovation in financial services.”

“In the face of rapid AI advancement, Congress has a responsibility to ensure responsible innovation that protects consumers, strengthens our economy, and maintains American leadership,” said Torres. “I’m proud to co-lead this bipartisan, bicameral effort alongside Congressman French Hill to create AI Innovation Labs, giving regulators a safe and structured way to engage with cutting-edge technologies. This bill ensures that innovation and oversight go hand in hand.”

“The United States must lead in artificial intelligence while responsibly addressing the risks that come with emerging technologies,” said Steil. “Our Unleashing AI Innovation in Financial Services Act will ensure that we are able to develop this technology responsibly and safely, protecting consumers, and allowing the U.S. to win the tech race.”

“When it comes to artificial intelligence, we need smart safeguards in place to protect consumers, prevent abuse, and ensure our families and financial systems are safe. We also must ensure that the United States continues to lead the world in innovation,” said Gottheimer. “That’s why I’m proud to help lead the bipartisan, bicameral Unleashing AI Innovation in Financial Services Act, which will bring together the government, private sector, and innovators to explore the use of new AI technology in financial services. This commonsense bill will allow for experimentation while putting guardrails in place to strengthen consumer protections and help ensure that American technology stays ahead of the curve.”

The Unleashing AI Innovation in Financial Services Act establishes regulatory innovation labs for AI test projects at the Federal Reserve, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). Regulated entities would apply through their primary regulator and must be able to demonstrate the project will serve the public interest (including consumer projection), enhance efficiency or increase competitiveness and not present a systemic risk to the financial system.

Click HERE to read full bill text.

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Dusty Johnson Safeguards U.S. Infrastructure from Chinese Spy Technology

 Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, re-introduced his legislation to prohibit the Department of Transportation from using foreign adversary digital 3-D mapping technology, LiDAR. Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology creates 3-D maps with millimeter-level data of surrounding environments.

“LiDAR technology creates incredibly detailed maps of its surroundings. Allowing our adversaries like China to have access to these maps of critical infrastructure like ports, railways, airports, roads, and bridges could allow them to disrupt our supply chains and cause a national security crisis,” said Johnson. “My bill ensures our nation’s critical infrastructure is protected from the malign interests of the Chinese Communist Party.”

“Taxpayer dollars should never be used to fund technology from our adversaries,” said Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI). “This bill makes America’s critical infrastructure more secure from foreign surveillance and influence by ensuring the Department of Transportation is not supporting the growing market share of Chinese-made LiDAR equipment. It’s a common-sense step to put American security first.”

“LiDAR is essential to modern infrastructure, but when it’s controlled by companies linked to the Chinese Communist Party, it becomes a security risk,” said Select Committee on China Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL). “We can’t allow adversaries to gather sensitive data or disrupt our systems. This bill takes a necessary step to keep our infrastructure secure and our technology supply chains trusted.”

“While LiDAR technology is widely employed in our nation’s transit infrastructure, including in airports, autonomous vehicles, and traffic control systems, it is increasingly being produced by Chinese companies that are required to hand over any data collected by their equipment to the Chinese government upon request,” said Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA). “This raises serious concerns that China could not only access sensitive data mapping U.S. infrastructure, but also use it to disrupt the systems that rely on their technology. That is why I am joining Rep. Johnson to introduce legislation prohibiting the Department of Transportation from using LiDAR technology sourced from foreign adversaries. Now more than ever, we must remain vigilant and proactive in safeguarding the infrastructure that Americans depend on every day.”

“Trucks reach every corner of the country and routinely access some of our nation’s most sensitive sites—such as ports, border crossings, and military installations.  That is why supply chain and infrastructure security are very important to our industry. The American Trucking Associations commends Reps. Johnson, Brownley, Moolenaar, and Krishnamoorthi for taking this issue seriously by working to block potential national security threats from foreign-owned LiDAR technology,” said Henry Hanscom, Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs at the American Trucking Associations.

“This legislation marks an important step forward in strengthening the security of America’s transportation systems and critical infrastructure. As LiDAR technology becomes increasingly central to the future of transportation, including autonomous systems, it’s essential that the technology used to build and operate our national infrastructure is safe, secure, and protected against adversarial interference,” said Michael Robbins, President and CEO of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International.

The Securing Infrastructure from Adversaries Act is cosponsored by Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), and Representative Julia Brownley (D-CA).

Click here for bill text.

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Brian Jorde, an attorney who has represented landowners in South Dakota against Summit Carbon Solutions was recently sanctioned by the Iowa Supreme Court for filing “misleading or deceptive” information during utility commission reviews of permit applications.

According to South Dakota Searchlight:

The Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Board ruled last month that Brian Jorde, an attorney who has represented hundreds of property owners in lawsuits against pipelines in multiple states — including South Dakota and Iowa — submitted “misleading or deceptive” information during both states’ utilities commission proceedings regarding permit applications for the carbon sequestration project.

and..

Jorde’s filings on behalf of Dugan, however, included introductory written testimony, which Dugan later said, in an email to Jorde obtained by the advisory board, were “not statements I would choose to submit.”

The reprimand said Dugan did not approve these written statements. The statement submitted in South Dakota had an electronic signature at the bottom, but the IUC document had not been signed by Dugan.

and..

The board concluded the actions in South Dakota were “deceptive” and wrote it was “deeply concerning” that Jorde and his staff did not mention to Dugan the extra pages filed in addition to the research she had consented to filing.

Read the entire story here.

Does no one at the SDGOP own a calendar?

I noticed this morning the SDGOP has scheduled their next big fundraiser today, after what must have been a *wildly successful* event with “God’s comic” in Mitchell. (that was sarcasm).

A fundraising pheasant hunt which starts on 9/11 appears to be at a preserve, since the normal season runs resident-only from October 11 to October 13, and the traditional season from October 18, 2025, to January 31, 2026.

But what threw me a little was that it runs through and includes Saturday, September 13.

Um… aren’t there some other things going on in early September in South Dakota that tend to attract people?  Such as in Aberdeen, where the NSU Wolves are playing Wayne State at the Dacotah Bank Stadium. Or in Vermillion, where the University of South Dakota Coyotes are playing the Northern Colorado Bears at the Dakota Dome.

And then there’s the big one – where the South Dakota State University Jackrabbits are playing the Drake Bulldogs at the Dana Dykhouse Stadium at a little game they like to refer to as the SDSU Beef Bowl?  According to Google AI..

The South Dakota State University (SDSU) Beef Bowl typically sees large attendance numbers, often the second highest for home single-game attendance outside of Hobo Day.  In 2023, the Beef Bowl game against Montana State drew a sold-out crowd of 19,332, according to Dakota News Now. The Beef Bowl is an annual event recognizing the beef industry in South Dakota, including a pre-game barbecue and a live steer auction.

Only 3% of those tickets are left, meaning there’s in the neighborhood of just under 19,000 people who have already committed to being there, with several thousand people who will be tailgating all afternoon. Maybe it’s just me, but I’m guessing many of the candidates and attendees are going to be where tens of thousands of people are.

Back when it was being ran by people who know what they were doing, there’s a reason why the SDGOP would usually schedule their pheasant hunt fundraiser on the Sunday after the Governor’s hunt, and they would do quite well.

This one? Well.. we’ll just see when the fund-raising totals are filed.