Just had a friend send this over to me for the $25 Dusty Johnson fundraiser this evening in Rapid City:
There are past, present (and future) legislators on the list of hosts, as well as a number of other Rapid City dignitaries, including Sheriff Brian Mueller. Maybe even a podcast host of questionable repute (just kidding Murdoc).
Tonight at 5pm at the Firehouse Skybox in Rapid City, or there’s a QR code you can use.
Johnson Announces “Real Food, Real Freedom”
Sioux Falls, S.D. – Today, gubernatorial candidate and Congressman Dusty Johnson announced “Real Food, Real Freedom,” an innovative plan designed to ensure nutritious food is available to all South Dakotans. The initiative focuses on personal responsibility, local agriculture, and smart state policy to strengthen families and communities.
“We should be making it easier for South Dakota families to make healthy choices,” said Johnson. “As Governor, I’ll work to ensure taxpayer dollars are used to purchase healthier, whole foods, rather than processed sugar. We can also do more to make sure South Dakota’s producers, both large and small, can more easily enter the market to sell their products, and make sure South Dakota’s schools are incentivized to buy meat locally. It’s time to let South Dakota feed South Dakota.”
“Real Food, Real Freedom” consists of three pillars:
Removal of pop and candy from SNAP-eligible purchases: Under the plan, pop and candy would be eliminated from the list of items that can be purchased through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in South Dakota. South Dakota would request a federal waiver to redirect benefits toward milk, protein, fruits, vegetables, grains, and other wholesome foods. Johnson supports legislative efforts, including a plan soon-to-be announced by Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt (R-Sioux Falls) and Sen. Sydney Davis (R-Burbank) to establish the framework for pursuing the waiver.
Eases the government burden on selling farm-fresh food: The plan would cut red tape on local producers, from small-scale vegetable growers to ranchers selling meat directly to families. Johnson pledges to enable expanded local-producer sales to grocery stores, simplify licensing and labeling rules for small processors and direct-to-consumer sales, and modernize inspection laws to make it easier to sell vegetables and locally processed meat while maintaining food safety.
Expand access to local meat in South Dakota schools: “Real Food, Real Freedom” will encourage and incentivize schools to serve local beef, pork, chicken, and other locally grown meat in school lunches, building off Johnson’s congressional work in this space. The initiative will bring education, agriculture, meat processing, and nutrition leaders together to ensure flexibility for local school districts and connect producers directly to food-service buyers.
“By letting common sense and safety guide our decisions, rather than burdensome bureaucracy, we’ll give South Dakota producers and families the chance to thrive,” Johnson continued. “South Dakotans shouldn’t need a stack of government forms to sell a quarter beef, and they shouldn’t be subsidizing junk food. ‘Real Food, Real Freedom’ gets all of us on the right path.”
To learn more about “Real Food, Real Freedom,” please click here.
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Well of course you could pick who is advocating for this in three guesses or less:
Seriously, facebook. I don’t ask for the crazy to be pushed into my feed. So why do you pump all the off-the-wall stuff into my algorithm? But yes, District 3 State Representative Brandei Schaefbauer wants people to be able to take medicine for horses and sheep over the counter… just because.
Another item to research that might be useful in light of Brandei’s proposal?
There are currently no established standards for treating ivermectin poisoning, and there is no specific antidote for overdose. While many drugs have been utilized to address ivermectin toxicity, further research is needed in this area.
I’m guessing that research might just be accomplished sooner than we think.
Update…
This next session is going to be interesting, to say the least.
Gov. Rhoden Announces Approval of Disaster Relief Plan for North Sioux City
PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Larry Rhoden announced the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved South Dakota’s Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR) Action Plan for North Sioux City, marking an important step forward in the community’s long-term recovery efforts.
“When South Dakota works together, we build communities that stay strong, safe, and free. This approval is a major victory for North Sioux City, and it brings the city one step closer to the resources it needs to rebuild stronger than before,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “I am grateful for GOED, my team in the Governor’s Office, and Senator Thune for getting us to this important milestone and making sure it remained a priority in Washington.”
Governor Rhoden discussed this issue with Senator Thune and his team in October, and the Senator’s assistance was an important part of getting the action plan approved in a timely manner.
With the Action Plan approved, GOED will work with federal and local partners to complete the remaining steps so funding can be awarded. This approval provides positive momentum, keeping North Sioux City on track for meaningful recovery and future resilience.
“Securing HUD’s approval is a major step forward, and we are deeply grateful to Governor Rhoden, Senator Thune, and both their teams for championing this effort and keeping this process moving,” said GOED Commissioner Bill Even. “I’m incredibly proud of the GOED team and grateful for their hard work serving our communities. We’ll continue working closely with our federal partners and local leaders as the next phases advance for North Sioux City.”
For more information on CDBG-DR efforts, visit sdgoed.com.
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If you have read the story about the last Board of Elections meeting, a proposal was offered to allow for a filing fee in lieu of petitions signatures in running for office.
Of course.. people weren’t thrilled by it, and it became a news story:
“I’ll be honest, I’m a hard ‘no’ on this one,” said board member Austin Hoffman, who’s also a Republican candidate for state attorney general.
The proposal came from the office of Republican Secretary of State Monae Johnson. Deputy Secretary of State Thomas Deadrick walked the board through a slate of 17 “concepts” for legislation that could be introduced during the annual legislative session that starts in January.
Deadrick said some other states, including Kansas, already allow people to pay to get on a ballot. A spokesperson with the Kansas Secretary of State’s Office confirmed to South Dakota Searchlight that while independents in that state collect petition signatures to earn a ballot spot, members of a political party can pay a filing fee to get on the ballot.
The South Dakota proposal would give all candidates two options for qualifying: collecting the required number of petition signatures from registered voters, as they do now, or paying a fee to have their name printed on the ballot. Under the draft, any fees collected would go into the state’s general fund. Deadrick did not specify how much candidates would be required to pay.
Despite some people being opposed to the concept being offered in SD recently, it’s actually more common than you might think, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures:
Filing fees were originally intended to deter candidates perceived as frivolous, and to help pay for the administration of elections. These fees could be exceptionally large. Some from the 1960s and 1970s were close to $40,000 once adjusted for inflation. Bullock v. Carter and Lubin v. Panish, two landmark U.S. Supreme Court decisions in the early 1970s, held that filing fees were only constitutional when most candidates could afford them, and they should not be the only means available for filing as a candidate.
And..
In 33 states, major party candidates are either allowed or required to pay a filing fee. The remaining 17 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands do not require major party candidates to pay a filing fee. States that do not require a filing fee generally require interested candidates to qualify through a petition process instead. State filing fees vary dramatically. Filing for a state house candidate in New Hampshire costs $2, while a Republican candidate for state senate in Alabama paid $1,079.12 to appear on the ballot in 2022, and a Democratic candidate paid $1,034.68 (in Alabama, the parties control the amount of the filing fee).
Twenty-six states impose fees on independent or unaffiliated candidates for state legislative seats. Of these, nine give the independent or unaffiliated candidate the option to file as indigent, removing the fee and using a signature requirement instead. For the 17 states that require a fee from individual candidates, the fee ranges from $15 in Montana to $250 in Hawaii and Mississippi.
Read the entire article (and see a chart) here.
33 states.. That’s 2/3, and it actually puts us in the minority of states for rejecting that as an option and going with petition signatures only.
In South Dakota, 50 signatures for state legislative candidates is not a heavy lift. But then again for most legislative candidate a fee of $250 would not be a heavy lift either.
So, why not offer either option?
Just had someone close to me send me this clip from the Governor’s recent town hall in Sioux Falls (which you can watch on Facebook, courtesy of KOTA territory news.)
“I’ve said to many people that .. many times that the people of South Dakota are special. I’m not talking about Special Olympics, or something like that. But we truly are a different breed.” – Governor Larry Rhoden, Sioux Falls Town Hall
Ugh. Governor Rhoden, there’s nothing wrong with the people who participate in Special Olympics; and the fact that they take part in that organization’s activities shouldn’t earn them being the target of your humor as you campaign to remain in the state’s highest office.
I mean, I would have expected this coming from others – but not coming from the Governor who is in charge of entire state offices serving South Dakotans with disabilities at the first town hall after he announces for office.
I have a daughter with autism and developmental disabilities who takes part in Special Olympics, and it is literally one of the only group activities she can participate in without stares or judgement or somehow being set aside. So, yes, this is not just unnecessary, but kind of offensive.
Governor, as you hit the campaign trail please reconsider rewriting your talking points to remove this. Special Olympics participants and their family members deserve a little better.
Update:
Governor Rhoden did apologize for the comment. Thank you Governor.
I’m not always the most polished, but I’m willing to admit my mistakes, and this was a stupid thing to say. Sandy and I support the Special Olympics, and we admire those athletes so much that it’s part of her First Lady’s initiative. I’m sorry if I came across otherwise. https://t.co/wt2KUkXWYq
— Larry Rhoden (@LarryRhodenSD) November 23, 2025
Thankful for Opportunities
By: Gov. Larry Rhoden
November 21, 2025
Thanksgiving is a special time for family, traditions, and good food – but it is also a time for reflection. When the Pilgrims first celebrated Thanksgiving in 1621, they had a lot to reflect on. They celebrated surviving their first year in Plymouth, the freedom of religion, and the relationships they made with the Wampanoag people.
But with all the festive traditions, we often forget that the Pilgrims’ first year in Plymouth was far from sunshine and rainbows – it was a year marked by hardship, loss, and uncertainty. Despite that, they still chose to remember the year with gratitude and thanksgiving. They chose to see God’s provision, rather than their lack, and they gave thanks for the blessings all around them.
Having a thankful heart doesn’t mean that every day is easy. It doesn’t mean that you never face hardship. In fact, some of the hardest things in life are actually the greatest blessings. I’ve said it many times, but challenges in life are often opportunities not yet realized – all it takes is a shift in perspective.
The Pilgrims focused on their opportunities, rather than their challenges, when they celebrated the first Thanksgiving. In the same way, all of us today should seek to find the good in every situation and thank our Creator for the blessings He’s given us. When you do, you will realize that there are open opportunities all around you!
I recently read this quote, and I was struck by its truth: “What a privilege to be tired from work you once prayed for; what a privilege to feel overwhelmed by growth you used to dream about; what a privilege to be challenged by a life you created on purpose; what a privilege to outgrow things you used to settle for.”
Being Governor of this great state is certainly not a cakewalk – there are days that I’d much rather be on my ranch, working with my hands. But I am grateful the good Lord has led me here, and I thank Him every day for the opportunity to serve as your Governor. It is the greatest honor of my life, and I will never take it for granted.
Here in South Dakota, we have so much to be grateful for! We have the lowest unemployment rate, the highest birth rate, a AAA credit rating, and a fully funded pension. We are the most Second Amendment-friendly state, the most pro-life state, and we have less regulations than almost any other state in the nation!
As you spend time with loved ones this Thanksgiving, I encourage you to take stock of all the blessings in your life. But I also encourage you to reflect on the hardships you might be facing –because even the tiring, overwhelming, and challenging moments may be opportunities you once prayed for.
Take a moment to demonstrate the heart of gratitude the Pilgrims modeled – to recognize God’s hand in every season, and to offer thanks for both the joys and trials that shape us. Happy Thanksgiving, and may God bless you all!
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Congress Dusty Johnson’s Weekly Update
The Big Three: Affordable and Reliable Energy
BIG News
Jeffrey Epstein committed heinous, evil crimes. I voted to release the Epstein files, which is something I’ve supported for a while. We all want transparency and for any person found guilty to face the full force of justice. My heart goes out to the victims, and I hope proper action is taken to protect their identities.
The House Oversight Committee’s investigation has already released more than 65,000 documents to the public. The House committee and the Justice Department will continue to release additional information and documents and those involved will be held responsible.
BIG Update
In the first six months of this year, Customs and Border Patrol seized around $60.3 million worth of illegal vapes imported from China. Many of these devices are designed to appeal to kids and include video games in the device. These illegal products are fueling the youth vaping epidemic.
I’m supporting the END Illicit Chinese Tobacco Act which allows the United States to destroy these devices imported into our country and stop these harmful products from reaching our communities. It’s important to protect our kids from these unknown and unregulated products.
Click here or the image above to read more
BIG Idea
Rising energy prices and energy reliability are becoming a growing concern for many. This week, I voted to pass a number of bills to keep energy bills affordable and ensure the lights stay on in our communities. These bills roll back unnecessary regulations and prioritize domestic energy production. House Republicans are taking an all-of-the-above approach to meet America’s energy needs.
I’ve voted to refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, secure the power grid, open markets for liquified natural gas, increase refining capacity, and more. These efforts all play a role in decreasing energy prices and bolstering American energy production.
Sim South Dakota: Race Lab Preview
Northern Plains News will debut a new election-analysis project this weekend that uses modeled simulations to track how South Dakota’s major 2026 races shift under different turnout and support conditions.
The project, called the NPN Race Lab, applies thousands of simulated elections to the governor’s race, the U.S. House and U.S. Senate contests, and key statewide ballot measures. Each run tests how the field changes as turnout rises or falls in different parts of the state.
NPN will publish the full launch article on Sunday, including a detailed breakdown of how the model works and what readers can expect as Election Day approaches.
Air Travel Improvements You’ll Be Thankful For
By Sen. John Thune
We are entering one of the busiest travel seasons of the year. More than 80 million Americans are traveling for Thanksgiving this week. While most of them are packing up their cars and hitting the road, 6 million Americans will be boarding a plane in order to spend Thanksgiving with their loved ones.
I know a lot of people don’t particularly look forward to flying, and I get it. With our state’s unpredictable bouts of severe weather, South Dakotans are no strangers to flight disruptions. And our aging air traffic control system can cause disruptions as well. I know air traffic controllers are working hard every day to keep planes moving quickly and safely, but I also recognize they have to rely on technology that’s often decades old. Not to mention, we’re facing a shortage of controllers, which means controllers at a number of airports need to work longer hours and extra shifts to keep everything running smoothly.
These challenges were exacerbated during the recent government shutdown. Air travel was snarled from the beginning of Democrats’ shutdown, and by the time the shutdown entered its second month the Federal Aviation Administration had to order cutbacks in air traffic as a matter of safety. Fortunately, regional air service was preserved, so states like ours could continue to access air travel. I’m grateful to the controllers who were on duty and working without pay during the shutdown, and I’m glad that air traffic is back at normal levels today. Now we must return our focus to modernizing America’s air traffic control system for the long term.
This is something that has been a priority for the Trump administration and for Congress. Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill made a significant investment in technology improvements for the air traffic system, which will support the deployment of state-of-the-art technology to towers across America. The Trump administration is also working to hire and train new controllers to get the controller force back to full strength. And for our part, Congress remains committed to providing funding in order to hire 2,500 new controllers next year.
Upgrading outdated technology and bringing on additional controllers will make a big difference for the traveling public and for supply chains that rely on air cargo. It means maximizing efficiency without compromising safety. And hopefully it means less time on tarmacs and in terminals and more time spent with loved ones.
Like many families, one of our Thanksgiving traditions is going around the table to say what we’re thankful for. For me, being with my family is at the top of that list. I know how important it is to make sure that all Americans are able to spend the holidays with their families and not stuck at an airport.
We won’t fix the system overnight, but thanks to the Trump administration and our continued efforts in Congress, we are making progress toward a state-of-the-art air traffic control system for America. I’m glad that the system is back at full strength after the shutdown, and we’re working to make it stronger every day.
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