Olson’s Cheers & Jeers: Regan Smith’s stellar swim career merits applause

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Cheers to Lakeville native Regan Smith, who is one of Minnesota’s greatest athletes and the most accomplished Olympic swimmer the state has ever produced. She claimed two silvers at the World Championships in Singapore this week with more likely to come before the meet wraps Sunday. Her first medal came after another showdown with Australian Kaylee McKeown in the 100-meter backstroke, an event in which the two have one of the best rivalries in the pool. McKeown touched first in 57.16. Smith timed 57.35 for second place. The Minnesotan, however, still possesses the world record, 57.13, that she set last year at the Olympic Trials. Smith, who now trains in Austin, Texas, finished second in the 200 butterfly on Thursday. Smith’s also eyeing the 2028 Olympics Games in Los Angeles, which would be her third. She shows no sign of slowing down.

Jeers to the Albert Lea City Council for road-blocking the city’s first cannabis dispensary by denying registration to The Smoking Tree on a 4-3 vote. Mayor Rich Murray said he doesn’t like the way the state “has rammed this down our throats.” As a Republican and former state legislator, Murray should be more welcoming to small business and have a better understanding of how state laws work. What a disappointment for The Smoking Tree owner Jacob Schlichter who received a coveted microbusiness license from the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management on July 17 and was prepared to open on Tuesday. Instead, he must fight a short-sighted City Hall. Someone on that council needs to switch their vote so taxpayers don’t bear the cost of a likely losing court battle with Schlichter.

Cheers to the Minnesota Judicial Branch’s stepped up social media efforts. (Follow them on Instagram @mncourts). Among more serious topics, we learned about a rock band involving multiple Supreme Court and district court jurists. At the microphone for the “Reasonable Doubts” are Isanti County District Judge Amy Brosnahan, who also shakes a tambourine, with Justices Sarah Hennesy and Anne McKeig. Hennepin County Judge Luis Bartolomei plays bass. Rounding out the band are Wright County Judge John Bowen, Mille Lacs County Judge Mark Herzing, Ramsey County Judge Mark Ireland and Duluth-based Senior Judge Dale Harris. Check out their musical chops and seize the opportunity to see them outside their robes and just as normal folks in tie-dye, ripped T-shirts and scruffy blue jeans. Then continue clicking to hear Justices Theodora Gaïtas talk about the transition from being a judge to a justice and hear about Karl Procaccini’s favorite legal movie and where he likes to eat. The social media effort helps demystify a less prominent branch of government.

Jeers to U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, for a head-spinning 24-hour display of duplicity. Grassley, the Senate Judiciary Chairman, blew past credible whistleblower complaints to ensure Emil Bove, President Donald Trump’s former lawyer, won confirmation to a lifetime appointment on the federal bench. Grassley then took to social media to brag about his long-time support of whistleblowers. His office posted a photo of Grassley with founders of the National Whistleblower Center, saying he’d helped many get their jobs back. He thanked others for “shining a light on fraud.” If only Grassley had a smidgen of a whistleblowers’ courage or the ability to stand up to Trump once in a while.

Cheers to Gov. Tim Walz for calling on Minnesota’s Republican members of Congress to engage directly with their voters to talk about the Medicaid cuts they supported. “There’s been no press conference for the people who support this to stand up and tell you why it’s so good,” Walz said, referring to support for Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” that will mean an estimated 140,000 residents lose coverage. Valid point. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Republican U.S. Reps. Tom Emmer, Brad Finstad, Michelle Fischbach and Pete Stauber should press the flesh with voters and allow their constituents to ask questions. Seems like those who voted for the bill should explain how cutting health care is good for anyones’ health.