Olson’s Cheers and Jeers: Live from St. Paul, it’s Saturday Night

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The St. Paul native is joining the cast of Saturday Night Live (SNL). The stand-up comedian does a lot of jokes about growing up in a family of eight kids, including six sisters. SNL is a dream gig for many young comics so congrats to Brennan for landing a coveted spot. No pressure, but wouldn’t it be great if he was a breakout star of the season with a Minnesota-specific bit? Every person he’s ever met is probably already contacting him to try for tickets. (My DMs are open, sir.) And on a serious note, one can only wonder if he has an interest in politics. The last Minnesotan to break big on SNL also won a U.S. Senate seat.

What is he thinking? One would think being paid $109,000 to represent your North Side ward at City Hall would be a serious and full-time job. Ellison, however, is spending the final months of his council term on a residential Loeb Fellowship at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., where he will receive free lodging and a $57,500 stipend. Does Ellison thinks North Siders are best served from a lecture hall in another time zone? He declined substantive comment to the Star Tribune and told KSTP-TV, “I will continue my workload as normal, virtually. I will be present for most full City Council meetings. Overall, nothing remarkable happening. No interview required.” This abominable judgment should poison any future attempt by Ellison at returning to public office.

The former University of Minnesota Center for Biomedical Ethics Director offered a spot-on critique of U.S. health care. On social media, Caplan denounced the U.S. system that necessitates public fund-raising pleas to cover the tremendous costs of life-saving medical treatment after mass shootings, including the recent tragedy at Annunciation Catholic Church. “Congress lets insane people easily get weapons,” he wrote. “Then doesn’t support their victims health care costs? Americans should be ashamed.” Oh, yes, we should be, and many of us are.

The majority whip gratuitously revived a revolting city nickname, “Murderapolis,” for the state’s largest and most significant city. Emmer could have taken a respite from blind obsequiousness to the president and offered his assistance to leaders on the ground in his home state. Instead, he headed over to Fox News and then social media for yet another trashing of Minnesota DFL politicians who were going through a rough couple of weeks. As the No. 3 in the U.S. House, doesn’t Emmer have an interest and even some sway in being part of a solution beyond angry and increasingly tedious TV hits?

The senator became the topic of a fawning social media post by quirky Democratic influencer Jack Schlossberg, the only grandson of former President John F. Kennedy. Schlossberg posted a throwback photo from 2020 in a “Team Amy” blue-and-white winter cap. Tagging the senator, Schlossberg said, “Sen Klobuchar rules” and cheekily explained how he sort of held hands with Klobuchar when he was a page at the U.S. Capitol in 2009. “Like two ships passing — mid-stride, our hands touched for a fleeting moment," he recalled. Schlossberg draws attention for offbeat posts that criticize his uncle, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and President Donald Trump.

The state Department of Transportation paused months of bridge repairs and opened all lanes during the run of the Minnesota State Fair. Ahhh, it’s such a pleasant drive at 55 miles per hour without multiple compression points, lane closures and stop-and-go traffic jams. Alas, the fair’s end brought a return to the grim gridlock we’ve endured for months. Yes, transit remains an option between the cities, but that comes with its own frustrations. These lanes can’t reopen soon enough.

The Itasca County sheriff’s office found venomous reptiles along with illegal drugs and firearms while executing a search warrant at a Deer River property, an hour east of Bemidji. A green mamba was ill and has died. The remainder of the collection included two 12-inch venomous centipedes, three tarantulas and several snakes. Until now, I did not realize centipedes came in a poisonous footlong variation. Please don’t do this. Wildlife deserve better.