MINNESOTA DEMOCRAT XP LEE WINS MELISSA HORTMAN’S SEAT In a special election held on Tuesday, Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) candidate Xp Lee emerged victorious over Republican candidate and real estate agent Ruth Bittner. Full story here: https://bit.ly/46fyoiY

REP. GARCIA (D): "Today, it's Latinos and other immigrants under attack. Tomorrow, it will be others. Once institutions are built to target and control, they don't surrender. They expand. Like many military industrial complexes, they find new enemies ... That's why we will not look away."

REP. GARCIA (D-IL): "DHS insists they target criminal immigrants. Yet in Elgin, in the dead of night, staged a reckless raid ... Secretary Noem showed up for five seconds of fame and rushed to declare mission accomplished. Really? Two U.S. citizens were detained. Not criminals. Not even immigrants."

U.S. Rep. Chuy Garcia (D-IL) calls out ICE & DHS after the murder of Silvio Gonzalez by their agents in Franklin Park: "First, they said he drove at officers. Videos show otherwise. Then, they said he dragged an officer. We've yet to see evidence ... DHS's story doesn't add up."

VANCE TOUTS TARIFFS AT FACTORY OF COMPANY THAT MANUFACTURES IN CHINA & MEXICO On Wednesday, VP J.D. Vance spoke at Hatch Stamping Company, a factory in Chelsea, Mich. that supports many policies that Vance claims to vehemently disagree with, including outsourcing jobs and addressing climate change.

REP. GROTHMAN (R): Are we doing something to address that problem?" GREG JACKSON JR.: "That $812 million that was terminated by the Trump administration cut community violence intervention programs, many of them do precisely that ..." GROTHMAN: "Um, I'm not sure that's true..."

On "Chew's Views," Retired Army Maj. Gen. Manner says he was "absolutely inspired" by Gov. Pritzker for giving hope to Chicagoans against Donald Trump's threats. "If you live in Chicago or you live in Illinois, you should be proud of those leaders that you've elected to stand up for what is right."

Vice President J.D. Vance: "Gretchen [Whitmer], we are happy to send the National Guard to Detroit, Michigan."

MISSOURI GERRYMANDERING PLAN FACES SEVERAL LEGAL AND LOGISTICAL ROADBLOCKS Missouri Republicans passed a new gerrymandered map in both chambers of the state legislature last week, prompting lawsuits and a petition process that could derail the plan. Full story here: https://bit.ly/4mkuA4q

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will seek a third term in 2026 https://heartlandsignal.com/2025/09/16/minnesota-gov-tim-walz-will-seek-a-third-term-in-2026/

INDIANA GOV. BRAUN SUGGESTS A REDISTRICTING SPECIAL SESSION FOR NOVEMBER Amidst Republican-controlled states gerrymandering their congressional districts, Gov. Braun (R) suggests that he too could call a special session in November to give Republicans an additional seat. https://bit.ly/4nDAcIo

J.B. Pritzker (D) on Trump flip-flopping on sending the National Guard to Chicago: "You can't take anything he says seriously from one day to the next ... I think he might be suffering from some dementia. The next day, he'll wake up on the other side of the bed and stop talking about Chicago."

U.S. Sen. Jasmine Crockett (D) on Republicans having a hearing on fringe weather manipulation technology while denying the basics of climate science: "Climate change is real, and that we have real work to do, and it is within the science realm instead of the conspiracy realm."

J.B. Pritzker (D) on the Charlie Kirk killing: "We can choose to stay silent & live in fear of more political violence, or we can choose to be loud for peace, for compassion & for an America where people settle political differences through free speech & at the ballot box. Let's be those people."

ZACH NUNN FALSELY SAYS ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL REMOVES TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS According to multiple fact checks, the claim that 90% of Social Security beneficiaries no longer pay federal taxes on their benefits in not accurate. Full story here: https://bit.ly/48fiaaH

Wisconsin Democrat state Sen. Kelda Roys to run for governor https://heartlandsignal.com/2025/09/15/wisconsin-democrat-state-sen-kelda-roys-to-run-for-governor/

Minnesota State Sen. Lucero (R) during a gun violence protection hearing: "Keeping in mind that evil is real. Shortly after the Garden of Eden, the first person to be murdered was Able by his brother Cain & it wasn't with a firearm; it was with the stone. And evil is what we need to focus on here"

U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D) talks to about the school shootings and how no one is talking about the one that took place in Colorado on the same day Charlie Kirk was killed. "On that same day, we had kids that were shot again at another school, and there's been no conversation around those kids."

U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) has attached himself to a new bill that will extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) advanced premium tax credits, even though he avoided voting on a similar amendment in May. https://bit.ly/4pDQqmC

Sen. Tammy Duckworth talks Trump's threats on Chicago with WCPT's Joan Esposito and Chris Bury https://heartlandsignal.com/2025/09/11/sen-tammy-duckworth-talks-trumps-threats-on-chicago-with-wcpts-joan-esposito-and-chris-bury/

Derrick Van Orden invites violence after saying there is no place for political violence in America https://heartlandsignal.com/2025/09/11/derrick-van-orden-invites-violence-after-saying-there-is-no-place-for-political-violence-in-america/

Wisconsin Rep. Chuck Wichgers (R-Muskego) says the Pride flag shouldn't be flown at the state Capitol because he doesn't know what the chevron in Progress Pride flags means. "We're endorsing, sanctioning something that is being flown above our flag that is probably divisive."

U.S. Rep. Bob Onder (R-MO): "There is no longer any middle ground. Some on the American Left are undoubtedly well-meaning people, but their ideology is pure evil. They hate the good, the truth and the beautiful, and embrace the evil, the false and the ugly."

Wisconsin Rep. Jerry O'Connor (R-Fond du Lac), author of a bill to ban LGBTQ+ Pride flags from being displayed at the state Capitol, says flying the Pride flag will lead to extreme division that caused the 9/11 attacks and the Charlie Kirk shooting.

While introducing a bill to fund schools and avoid a property tax increase, Wisconsin State Sen. Kelda Roys (D-Madison) rails GOP for slashing education funds across 15 years. "They have slashed funds to public schools and forced local property taxpayers to foot the bill."

U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) says Charlie Kirk "didn't say anything hateful" and "didn't belittle anybody."

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) on the shooting of Charlie Kirk: "Political violence, unfortunately, has ramped up in this country ... I think there are people who are fomenting it in this country. I think the president's rhetoric often foments it."

KANSAS ATTORNEY GENERAL KOBACH SUES GOV. KELLY OVER SENSITIVE DATA RELEASE On Monday, Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach (R) filed a lawsuit against Gov. Laura Kelly (D) to force the release of sensitive data for thousands of Kansas residents to the Trump administration. https://bit.ly/46xWwNG

BREAKING: Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) on the shooting of Charlie Kirk ⬇️

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) on the shooting of Charlie Kirk: "Political violence, unfortunately, has ramped up in this country ... I think there are people who are fomenting it in this country. I think the president's rhetoric often foments it."

U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) gets angry and shouts at Rep. Sara Jacobs' (D-CA) after the Democrat called "boob jobs" and Botox gender-affirming care.

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) appears to blame Dr. Jake Scott, who treated hundreds of COVID-19 patients in the height of the pandemic, for over 100 deaths because he didn't treat patients with hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin (both proven to be ineffective against COVID-19).

MIKE ROGERS JUSTIFIES TRUMP’S TARIFFS WITH RETURN OF MANUFACTURING JOBS, WHICH ARE DECREASING “And when the Democrats start getting at us, oh my gosh, coffee went up. You know, horror,” Rogers mocked. Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/3VGL9g2

Richard Chew talks how Illinois officials prevented Trump’s Justice Department from accessing sensitive voter data: "I don't want the DOJ fumbling around with anybody's information, blue or red. Just like I don't want the National Guard going into states blue or red over this supposed crime issue."

ZACK STEPHENSON ELECTED NEW MINNESOTA DFL HOUSE LEADER, REPLACING LATE MELISSA HORTMAN On Monday, members of the Minnesota (DFL) elected Rep. Zack Stephenson (DFL) to serve as the Democratic floor leader in the state’s lower chamber. Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/4npWHQR

U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) bizarrely implies that COVID-19 death numbers could be false because he couldn't get the exact data of who tested positive and who tested negative.

Missouri State Rep. Tony Harbison (R-Arcadia) states why he voted against his party's Illegal gerrymandering efforts: "Our plate is full of things that we need to be doing for the people of this state. And this ain't one of them." He receives applause from House Democrats.

U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) on if it's President Donald Trump's real signature on the Jeffrey Epstein birthday card: "I have yet to meet a single person on Capitol Hill who privately says that that was not Donald Trump's signature."

J.B. Pritzker (D) on why he just doesn't call Donald Trump: "If I pick up the phone and call Donald Trump, that will become part of a case in court that I was somehow was calling him for help. And therefore, it will become predicate to him sending military troops into the state of Illinois."

Missouri State Rep Mark Boyko (D-St. Louis) on the illegal gerrymandering order from Donald Trump: "They think it's a battle fought for the President of the United States' benefit. And he [Trump] believes, like all battles, it's fought by an army of suckers and losers."

Missouri State Rep. Bryant Wolfin (R-Ste. Genevieve) says his party's illegal gerrymandering attempt is fine because the Capitol is political anyway. "Power is all that matters in this building."

5 BIZARRE STATEMENTS FROM LAST WEEK’S NATIONAL CONSERVATISM CONFERENCE National Conservatism held the National Conservatism Conference (Nat Con) in Washington D.C. last week, and it was marked by a slew of bizarre and inflammatory statements. https://bit.ly/4mYNb7w

U.S. Rep. Eric Burlison (D-MO) shows a video of an alleged UFO tanking a heat seeking missile: "I'm not gonna speculate what it is, but that the question is, you know, why are we being blocked from this information?"

Kansas State Rep. Sean Tarwater (R-Stilwell) doubled down on his attempt to hold the state's Board of Nursing's funding hostage until they change leadership. "My intent is to withhold funds until there's meaningful change & a shake up including the board and director..."

Saturday on "The Big Picture," Edwin Eisendrath was joined by Congressman Jesús "Chuy" García (D-IL), who believes the Trump administration is ramping up its immigration enforcement efforts to disrupt this month's Mexican Independence Day celebrations. Listen here: https://bit.ly/4n3sA20

On "Chew's Views," Richard Chew was joined by Iowa State Sen.-elect Catelin Drey, who made national news last month for winning a special election by an 11-percent margin in a district that favored Donald Trump by 11 points last November. Listen to the interview: https://bit.ly/4gi3xFB

Haley Robson, Jeffrey Epstein survivor and former Trump voter, on her message to Republicans: "For somebody who rode the coattail of the whole campaign being based on, we are going to resolve this by formally releasing all of the documentation ... You know, my party didn't show up for me."

U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) bucks President Donald Trump's claim that the Jeffrey Epstein scandal is a "Democratic hoax." MAJOR GARRETT: "On the Epstein matter, Sen. Marshall, do you regard it as a Democratic hoax?" MARSHALL: "No, not at all."

Missouri State Rep. Marla Smith (D-St. Louis) notes no person of color signed off on GOP's illegal gerrymandering bill: "My ancestors marched, died, struggled so that they would have representation ... And when you create a map that disenfranchises them, you eliminate their voice."

ILLINOIS OFFICIALS PREVENT TRUMP’S DOJ FROM ACCESSING SENSITIVE VOTER DATA On Tuesday, the Illinois State Board of Elections (ISBE) denied a request from the Department of Justice (DoJ) which asked for sensitive voter information. Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/4p8EE3l