You're listening to Civic Media.
You can tune into any of our live shows on any radio station across the state with the Civic Media app.
Find us in your phone's app store and listen anytime,
We've got today, in the second hour, two rounds.
We're going to play some games.
We're going to give you a chance to win valuable prizes.
That's right.
We have prizes.
We have dug into Jamie's wallet to get prizes.
And so because the prize closet, there were just two moths and an old mop in there.
So we're
phones
Have your phones ready.
You can always call and get involved in the conversation at 855-755-CIVIC.
That's 855-755-248-42.
So yes, there is serious political business to talk about, but we're also going to have a little football type fun.
We're going to talk about the Olympics and all of that.
Yesterday, Jamie, you may remember, I willingly threw Ron Johnson a couple of flowers.
Now, I did not throw the whole bouquet because I knew...
in the back of my noggin that at one point he would disappoint us again.
I thought it might take a little longer, alas.
Ron Johnson, I'm coming over to the office.
I'm taking back the two flowers that I threw you yesterday, and I'm leaving you something a little warmer, a little darker, and it'll be in a paper bag outside your door.
So yes, the Ron Johnson, who you know is the chair of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which could not be a vaguer title for a subcommittee.
We're investigating everything.
Like, where's the beef?
We're looking into that.
All the things.
but he's demanding records from Minnesota Governor Tim Walts and Minnesota Department of Human Services over alleged large-scale fraud in state-run service programs.
We all have been hearing about this and there's
There's some facts I think Ron Johnson has missed, but Jamie, we will point those
We'll get to those.
Yeah, he argues that oversight systems fail to catch obvious red flags, particularly at childcare centers, receiving unusually large payments.
Now, as chair of that weird committee that investigates everything, Johnson is seeking records related to actual or suspected fraud in programs, including childcare assistance, Medicaid, housing stabilization services, and federal
child nutrition funding.
Now, you mentioned that there's some facts involved in this, right?
This has already been investigated.
federal fraud investigations into Minnesota child care nutrition programs actually started in 2022 under
the Biden
the
led this investigation, as a Justice Department should, that actually looked like a Justice Department we might recognize.
And by late 2025, more than 70 people have been charged and many were convicted in this investigation that started under President Biden.
Then in late 2025 and early this year, this administration paused some child care funding to review oversight, building on cases that were already in progress.
So
have to we have to create the problem so we can solve the problem That's that's the MO of this administration and we're we're seeing it again now listen I think anybody who is involved in fraud deserves to be punished.
There's no I this is and I
It's tiresome to have to say that all the time.
Because when you're talking to certain people, they think if you disagree with one thing, you are lenient on everything.
And most reasonable people are not.
But we feel, and I feel, that we always have to justify ourselves.
No.
What are you, insane?
Of course I'm not.
But I'm saying, if we're investigating it, if there have been convictions, if the answers are being found, why do we have to investigate the investigators?
Why do we have to watch the detectives
Well, because this has been a talking point for the administration.
So Ron Johnson is doing what he's always done, especially with Trump in office, and just
basically following suit.
Now specifically, I think this is interesting because he's asking for communications between DHS and the governor's office surrounding Governor Wall's decision last fall to pause 14 Medicaid service categories that were deemed high risk for fraud.
Now remember, Governor Wall's basically stepped out of another run for governor.
because of these childcare cases, right?
I mean, for any administration, it's real.
It's probably a little embarrassing.
It's why Governor Walz is not running again.
It absolutely deserves some oversight.
It deserves some fixes, and it deserves a little accountability.
And taxpayers shouldn't be paying the price because of the warning signs that were missed or ignored.
But to reinvestigate an investigation, I feel like that's just a waste of time, energy, and probably more government funding.
This fealty to one man because you want to hold on to your little piece of power is just insane.
I think it should all be investigated.
Let's get to the bottom of it.
Let's try to make sure it's never going to happen again until the next time because people will always find a way to game the system.
This is how the world works.
It doesn't matter who you vote for.
If you're crooked, you're going to be crooked.
And you're going to try to get the most that you can for the least amount of effort.
That's just how it is.
So we have to be on top of it.
We do have to have people who investigate this.
We
program, it
to
but...
Just investigate the other stuff.
Get the stuff that hasn't been tried.
with the fact, right?
I
We'll just hoist our chainsaw this morning.
Because everybody should do that at least once in their life.
Hoist a chainsaw above their head.
As bad as Doge was, I also understood looking at government oversight and where there's waste and abuse.
We just didn't go about it the way it should have been or in any clarity.
the chainsaw!
Like in the dark spots of ax.
There he is.
No, Ron Johnson did give state officials in Minnesota until February 17th to turn over these records and warned that he could subpoena them if they don't cooperate, saying public confidence depends on understanding how the alleged fraud occurred and how much taxpayer money has been misused.
always caught in there.
Scott is listening in Madison and he texted in at 8-5-5-7-5 Civic.
He remembers when he had a chicken in every two chickens in his pot.
See that was that was he's gaming the system.
Scott was one of those he was only supposed to get one chicken for his pot and he put in I don't have any chickens and they sent him a second chicken and see Scott it all started with you.
You're the you're the issue.
That's right.
If you listen if you want to get called out name checked here you can get involved too.
We're not afraid.
We're not afraid to call out fraud where we see it.
We're not.
I think what's interesting about this is Senator Johnson keeps rolling out this $9 billion number.
And it's been repeated a lot by this administration when it comes to the fraud in Minnesota's services, human services.
But it's lumping together confirmed fraud, allegations, estimates, and cases that are still unresolved.
Obviously, this is a big strong headline because the GOP has been talking about this for weeks.
In fact, in Minnesota, it was actually the GOP who gave the information to this YouTuber to go out and start this investigation, which launched this entire scandal, right?
So it's a strong headline, but there's a line that's being blurred with what's actually been proven and what already hasn't.
And obviously, if there is a little bit more oversight, again, not saying that there shouldn't be more oversight and maybe a rehaul to the system, but it's just...
creating all of this confusion and a little bit of a red meat topic for a base that is always looking for a red meat topic at this
These Somalis are gaming the system and they're committing fraud.
And it's not the Somalis.
We found that out.
But that doesn't matter.
It's like, look over here.
Don't look over here.
I know we'll get into this more next week and definitely as the month goes on.
But let me ask you this.
Are you excited by the fact that the Clintons are basically throwing down the gauntlet and going, OK, here we come.
Yesterday, Hilary tweeted, if you want to play this game, let's play.
We're in.
And I'm like, oh, this is going to be.
And listen.
I'm not a fan of everything either one of the Clintons have done.
I thought Hillary was a really good Secretary
You
You're listening to Civic Media.
Stay up to date on the latest news and information for your local community and Wisconsin by signing up for our free email newsletter.
Visit civicmedia.us slash email to get started.
Don't forget we'll be playing some
Games in the next hour with a chance for you to win prizes.
It's all based on the big football game that's happening on Sunday, legally.
We're not allowed to say the two words that go together today in the game.
We go through this every year.
Every year, I forget what the legalities are.
So I'm just going to say there's a football game.
and the first big name, one of the first big names in this country anyway, has fallen due to the release of last week's millions of pages in the Epstein files.
Brad Karp, who's a name you may not be familiar with, I was not, but he is the chairman of one of the country's most prestigious law firms.
He has resigned his position after the release of emails revealing his exchanges with Jeffrey Epstein.
This is a
according to reporting a high-profile departure in the fallout amongst those with ties to the late convicted sex offender.
So it is, you know, we're all still wondering if anybody's ever going to be charged with anything, but sometimes association is enough and firms want to...
Distance themselves and Brad Karp is the first one to step down
now the firm is saying that it never they're very clear We never represented Epstein and the statement announcing the resignation doesn't directly reference him Karp will actually remain at the firm though He's worked there for four decades But said the recent reporting had become a distraction and that stepping aside was really in the firm's best interest really you don't say Three million documents and you're now a distraction and so the email
to be clear of why this is happening to Carp in particular.
The emails included 2015 exchange in which Carp thanked Epstein for hosting what he called a quote, once in a lifetime evening, he would never forget.
I can see how being an attorney that probably, you know, got a little hair standing up on somebody's back of their
well.
The
and that's these other countries have no reason to protect people who are in there.
So I think the fact that other countries are looking into it and the Clintons are demanding to testify in an open hearing,
because All right, so Let's do it.
Here's some of the things that are happening outside the United States a top official in Slovakia resigned after photos and emails were revealed that he had met with Epstein British Prime Minister Kier Stammer Stammer pardon me issued an apology for appointing an ambassador to Washington who had ties with Epstein France is supposedly investigating.
Yeah
So, there's a lot going
on.
out of the
Yeah, and let's be real We'll be realistic neither Trump nor Clinton have been credibly accused of any wrongdoing in their interactions with with Jeffrey Epstein So we're gonna be clear here and make sure we point that out.
Nobody is officially accused of anything Now when it comes back to the United States Bill Gates is is now facing scrutiny because he was named in those Epstein files and this latest batch especially and then when we talk about overseas
out, you know, Prince Andrew or the former Prince Andrew.
Oh, the
He has.
And now there's even renewed attention on him because there's an email in the dump that confirms a photo that, you know, the relationship he had with the late Virginia Guffrey is actually real.
So there's a, there is a lot of John.
But he doesn't sweat.
No, he doesn't.
He's a very strange man.
John from Oshkosh, listening on WISS says, if this is truly a cabal of elites, the investigations in any accountability will all be smoke and mirrors.
I don't have faith any real accountability will happen, sadly.
I agree on one respect with this.
In the United States, perhaps not.
I don't know if they'll take it as lightly overseas.
If there's true.
I
Now, we haven't heard about this for a couple weeks, but you remember Pete Hegseth has decided he's gonna target
these veterans who made in in november you may remember there was some democratic lawmakers all of who had served in the armed forces they made a video and they told people they told service members that you don't remember you don't have to obey an unlawful order
which is
they
decided they were going to go after the Senator Kelly, Mark Kelly, who was an astronaut and a Navy pilot and very well decorated.
to silence him.
And they were starting to go after everybody.
Their latest target was Senator Alyssa Slotkin of Michigan, who is a Democrat.
Well, what a surprise.
But she is not, just like Markelly, she is not giving in to there and placating them.
She told, through her attorneys, told
the U.S.
Attorney for the District of Columbia, she is not going to voluntarily comply with the investigation into the men and women who were on this video and good for her.
And in a video that Slotkin posted on social media, she said she believes the investigation was triggered directly by the president's public criticism and that she will not legitimize what she calls a politically motivated inquiry.
Now, she argued that the video was fully public, which it was, constitutionally protected by free speech.
which it was, and that the administration's goal is, big surprise here, not about fact-finding at all, but simply about intimidation.
Really?
This administration's stooping to intimidation tactics.
And I say that, of course, sarcastically.
Yes, of course.
And she says this isn't just affecting her, though, but for anyone who might criticize the government.
That is where she says that this intimidation factor is coming in.
And let's be realistic.
Can we say that Slotkin is wrong?
I do have a question about this, though.
Do you think?
Do you think that if any of the GOP had found a backbone, right?
Any of the senators or the congressmen and congresswomen who had served in the military because there are several
over on the
Do you think if any of them had gone and made a video like this against just six GOP senators, congresspeople, do you think
that they would, that this administration would be as up in arms, creating intimidation factors, trying to strip people of ranks after retirement.
Do you think any of that would have happened?
What is your thought on that?
But Trump would have
told them they were going to be primaried.
There would have been intimidation.
It just wouldn't have been as public so that he could say face.
This way, you've got senators who are within their rights.
And Alicia on the coming in on YouTube says that active military members are required to refuse to obey unlawful orders.
that we know, but back to your original question.
There would have been some backlash.
It would not have been this public.
It wouldn't have been Pete Hegseth grandstanding to go after Mark Kelly.
It wouldn't have been...
Alyssa Slotkin having to defend herself in open court and having to give depositions.
Right, because the rules for one party are much different than the rules for the other party, according to this administration.
Now, Slotkin in her video actually said that several lawyers advised her to stay completely quiet, but she...
rejected that approach.
And she said that silence would only reward this pressure campaign that she's getting.
Now, she also said something about physical intimidation in her video, and she didn't actually spell out what that meant.
She did later tell Press, though, that she and her family have received threats, including a bomb threat and a swatting incident at her parents' home following this GOP criticism of the video.
That's disgusting.
It's disgusting because what they did was constitutionally protected and, as Alicia rightfully pointed out, active duty military are required to refuse to obey unlawful orders.
make-believe video game thing but when they when they put out all this disinformation and they stoke the fire stoke the fire There are people whose minds are soft and who can be molded and can be weaponized to do things and those are the people that make these kind of threats and so
The administration acts with little or no regard for how their words land and where their words land and I'm going to correct myself.
I don't believe it's little or no thought I think they know exactly what they're doing I think when you it's it's the equivalent of Minnesota nice Mm-hmm.
You say one thing that that's not really what you mean So it doesn't you know, but you have a meaning behind it your meaning is to tell somebody to pound sand, but you go Oh bless your heart
in that nice.
Well these guys aren't using the Minnesota nice, they're just saying things that they hope you get the message and the people who are listening for those dog whistles hear that message and then they carry it out and it is disgusting and especially in Minnesota where they had politicians killed by admitted right wing activists
It's a dangerous thing.
And I'm surprised that every veteran is in up in arms about this.
That every veteran, no matter
Right.
And I think an interesting twist to this is in the process of Senator Schlacken releasing this video, Representative Chrissy Hulahan of Pennsylvania, who is also
also appeared in that video, also announced she is going to decline an interview request.
Now, Hula hand said that the video was factual, lawful and squarely protected by the First Amendment, basically echoing the same things that, uh, uh, Mark Kelly has echoed, that Elise Sotkin has echoed.
And she says that, uh, she, she's arguing that using federal power to investigate elected officials and veterans for speaking out cross is a very dangerous line.
And it does.
There has to be a separation.
I understand the president is commander in chief.
I understand how our laws work and how our government works.
from the president and our politics, right?
And our military should not feel in any way shape or form that they are being intimidated and cannot speak out when things are not lawful.
that should not ever be the case in this country.
We see other countries where the president directly commands the military.
And how is that going?
Let's look at Russia.
Let's look at China.
Let's look at North Korea.
And I don't want to be that person who is speaking in hyperbolic terms.
But at
the
We know this president has an affinity for these world leaders.
We know that he has an affinity for world leaders
who use the military for their own personal gain, for their own personal army.
And that should really give pause to anybody who is watching this particular case play out simply because is that what he is trying to do?
And my answer would be, this administration likes to cosplay.
So yeah, my true belief is that...
that is where he would like to see things go, whether or not we are able to get there because of our laws.
I don't know, but I feel like that's where he would like it to go.
I'd like to hear from veterans, whether you're more on the right or more on the left, it doesn't matter if you served in the military.
We'd love to hear from you to tell us, what did you think about this video?
Are these senators who are refusing to go in and give more testimony about this right?
When you were in, when you were serving, did you
Did you in fact read this in the Code of Conduct?
Did you know, do you agree with what was said?
85575 Civic, 855724842, that's our number.
And again, if you're a conservative veteran and you don't like this video, you thought they were wrong, then let us know that too.
Alicia, who is a veteran, says our military is designed to have the president at the top of the chain of command.
The U.S.
has civilian leadership for a reason.
Yeah, it's like at the CEO of a company.
Yeah, the president is the commander in chief, but the generals and the admirals and the the actual enlisted or not enlisted the actual officers
And Alicia pointing out over on social media this morning that she's a Navy veteran and that this concept that we're talking about was drilled into her head over and over.
And that would make sense.
I also have family and friends who have served in the military and they've said the same thing.
And let's be realistic.
I have family and friends who are in the military who don't vote the same way I do.
But I don't, I don't doubt their commitment to their job or to the United States in any way, shape or form.
They've given some of them a career, uh, have been in for their entire lives and they are very good at what they do.
And I am in awe of what they do and so appreciative.
Um, but I, I can honestly say that, you know, what I, when I have conversations with them.
The ones who vote for as Republicans are usually a little bit more measured in their responses to this because I'm going to assume that they voted for this administration.
Others who are more democratically minded voters or independent voters are a little bit more vocal.
But at the end of the day, I can honestly say that the people I know who serve or have served would not carry out these unlawful orders.
I don't believe they would.
I just don't believe they would because they
they understand the chain of command and how this is set up.
going to talk a little Olympics on the Civic Media Radio Network.
you
don't know
Resolved in two weeks.
Resolved in two weeks.
Okay, all right, cool.
Before we talk Olympics, we've got a couple of veterans chiming in over on the text line into our last conversation.
And I feel like their comments are important.
Len in Madison says that Vietnam-era Army veteran artillery, the oath that mattered was to the Constitution.
Steve from Mount Horrib listening on WMDX says, I am an Army veteran.
I voted
Republican early on, and it is true not to obey unlawful orders.
It's drilled into your head, especially when you're serving overseas.
When wearing the uniform, everyone is looking at you.
You're a representative of the United States.
So thank you very much, gentlemen, for the tax.
Thank you for your service.
We do appreciate it.
Um, and again, I just, I'm sorry, because I'm very excited about the Olympics too, but I
felt like
because
No.
Let's be honest, I'm not sprinting either.
So that's I don't pole vault.
So the Summer Olympics, I can't dive.
I don't look good in a speedo, depending on who you ask.
So it's a whole thing.
But for those who don't know, you may go, oh, last time the Winter Olympics, remember, everybody got into curling.
That was
a big thing.
We all
Five boys and your husband.
I'd go and have a beer, too.
So the games actually started on Wednesday some of the preliminaries and I have already watched curling, okay?
But the opening ceremony will be televised here tonight.
They are happening it to a number of cities around Italy now This is the first Olympic Games to officially be co-hosted by two cities Milan and Cortina.
on the
She also likes figure skating and she also, my comments are scrolling off my screen.
What is she?
Figure skating and hockey.
Comments are scrolling off my screen this morning from social media.
So thank you for everybody, to everybody chiming in.
Do you have a favorite sport when you watch the Olympics or do you just enjoy all of it?
Civic Media Radio Network.
Civic Media is dedicated to providing quality local and state news coverage across Wisconsin.
With the Civic Media app, you can get notifications about local stories that matter to you and your community.
Find the free Civic Media app in your phone's app store and choose notifications from the menu to tell us what kind of news you want to hear about.