Water cooler talk

In case you missed it…and what to watch for.

The Minnesota Angle

More than 1,000 people watched Fox News’s LAURA INGRAHAM urge conservatives to keep fighting the radical left at American Experiment’s Annual Dinner. Ingraham, host of The Ingraham Angle, gave an impassioned speech about how important it is for Minnesota — a state she insists is still winnable for conservatives — to defeat the liberal agenda. More than 400 people showed up to the Eagan event, while thousands more watched online. This includes the 50 or so Minnesotans who attended a watch party hosted by American Experiment’s Owatonna chapter.

“State of the State”

American Experiment continues to build statewide support. We opened new regional chapters in Duluth and Owatonna this past spring, which were added to the Rochester chapter we created two years ago.

On top of that, we hit the road for other events featuring President JOHN HINDERAKER and Economist MARTHA NJOLOMOLE.

An event in St. Cloud was at capacity, with nearly 80 people; an event in Bemidji later that day generated a crowd of almost 100 — about double our initial expectations. At both events, Hinderaker spoke about leftist attacks on our Constitution, and Njolomole talked about the importance of a free market system.

Economist JOHN PHELAN took his expertise to Greater Minnesota as well, presenting our latest economy report in Red Wing, emphasizing the way state government is strangling business and commerce.

Riding the radio waves

Education Policy Fellow CATRIN WIGFALL was invited on the nationally syndicated radio program Washington Watch with TONY PERKINS to discuss Minnesota’s proposed social studies standards revisions and their new emphasis on “whiteness,” equity and gender.

It was one of a handful of appearances Wigfall has made on state and national media outlets as American Experiment’s Raise Our Standards campaign has gained significant momentum throughout Minnesota and beyond for opposing Critical Race Theory and revisionist history.

Young summer

The Young Leaders Council (YLC) — a branch of American Experiment that empowers young conservatives by connecting them with business leaders, policy experts and political voices at the local, state and national levels — hosted more than 60 guests and members this spring at an Edina networking event. Both John Hinderaker and Catrin Wigfall spoke briefly about the importance of young people getting and staying involved in the conservative movement as the Left becomes more and more radical. Stay tuned for more YLC events this summer.

The Minnesota-Florida connection Minnesotans who make the Sunshine State their part-time or new fulltime home learned about American Experiment’s mission from John Hinderaker, who talked about the staff and experts behind our conservative campaigning and messaging. Among the hosts were former Minnesota Sen. NORM COLEMAN as well as TED and JENNIFER RISDALL.

From Malawi to Minnesota

Policy Fellow Martha Njolomole also made multiple appearances this spring, including the LACY JOHNSON Podcast, where she talked about growing up in Malawi, a poor, small country in Southeast Africa, and her journey to America, supporting free enterprise. She admitted that at one time she believed government was the solution to poverty, but she changed her mind after studying economics at Troy University and continuing her research into topics such as taxes, regulation and innovation.

Energy merit badge

Policy Fellow ISAAC ORR continues to trigger renewable energy advocates, drawing a shot in a Duluth News Tribune op-ed by ERIC ENBERG, a doctor who leads the Citizens’ Climate Lobby. “Unfortunately, Isaac Orr of the conservative Center of the American Experiment once again is straining to hold back the electric vehicle.”

In his March 13 column in the News Tribune, “Walz can pump the brakes, too, on electric vehicles,” Orr argued that electric vehicles are too expensive, have poor range, and are a poor fit for rural Minnesotans.

Expect Orr to double down on these points as part of American Experiment’s “Say No to CA Cars” campaign.

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