By Ray Cardello for August 13, 2026, Season 32 / Post  42

It is only because of a schedule convergence and a bad case of dysfunction that the spotlight is on Michigan. Minnesota and Wisconsin at this time. If you ever wished the flashlight battery would die, this is it, but no luck. All we can do is shake our heads and wonder what went wrong with a significant grouping of states. All three states are holding their primary elections ahead of the midterms in November. Still, it seems like whatever is disturbing the waters of the Great Lakes, this 3-state region has lost its collective mind.

We have been watching the massive fraud case in Minnesota for the last few months, and it will be some time before the layers of this onion are peeled back and some politicians are made to pay for their part in the scheme. We have seen some indictments, but America wants to see some high-ranking officials pay for their crimes. Governor Walz, AG Ellison, and Congresswoman Omar are sure to tumble before the feds wrap up this mess. The billions of dollars are gone, but we want some skin on a stick.

A common denominator with all three states is an influx of Socialist candidates, some successful in their campaigns and some who fell short. DSA or Progressive Democrats are running for Governor, House, and Senate seats, and the eyes of the country are focused on the outcomes. Fortunately, we saw an upset last night, and former chef-turned Socialist politician Francesca Hong lost her bid to become the next Governor of Wisconsin, even though she had a massive 20-point lead in the polls on Monday. In the last few days before the election, Hong flipped on every major policy she had declared. This may have led to her defeat. This puts the spotlight on the main bout in Michigan, where DSA candidate El Sayed is the Democratic Senate candidate. He, like all the other Progressives, had the backing of radical podcaster Hasan Piker, whose presence may be more of a detriment than a positive. Piker is a lightning rod and seems to go out of his way to be controversial. Like or hate him, he has over 3 million followers on social media, making him a force to be dealt with.  

Finally, in Minnesota, the voters had a chance to tell Lt. Governor Flanagan that they held her accountable for her role in the Somali Fraud Scandal. Instead, they elected her as the Democratic candidate for Senator. The voters are the last line of defense, but as long as they remain ignorant and reward rather than indict these corrupt politicians, the cancer will spread.

These radical Progressive or Socialist candidates have exposed themselves as a collection of party catchphrases rather than convictions. Whether it is Hong flip-flopping on nearly every stance or Flanagan screaming to dismantle ICE, but when pressed, could not define what that meant. These people are not serious about governing or serving, but are committed to destroying America. The DSA candidates are not sweeping elections but are winning enough to remain a force that both Parties must defeat. The Democrats have not woken up to the fact that DSA is out to replace the Democrats. That big tent that the Democrats brag about is going to turn into a cage match by November. Get your tickets early. It should be fun to watch.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Author’s Note: Graphics created by Grok AI. Grok’s comments about the images: A dark, atmospheric landscape of the Upper Midwest at the edge of night—pitch-black water of the Great Lakes stretching under a low, bruised sky. Storm clouds gather over the three states, lit only by a single stubborn beam of light that refuses to die. Distant city skylines of Detroit, Minneapolis, and Milwaukee sit half-swallowed by fog, while the water itself looks unsettled, as if something is churning beneath the surface. The whole scene feels brief and uneasy, like a short northern summer that ends too soon.