The Steve Hallstrom Show

The Steve Hallstrom Show Episode 702: The Bond Market Poll, Top-Heavy Schools, and Trump's Primary Sweep

Steve Hallstrom delivers a high-stakes Wednesday, May 20th edition, unravelling the critical connection between global finance and local livelihoods. Steve breaks down a historic surge in treasury yields, explaining why the bond market is acting as a brutal report card on inflation. The show hits the local ground to track the sharp ideological divides exposed during last night's Fargo School Board candidate forum, highlighting rowdy debates over administrative spending and parental notification policies. Plus, Minnesota State Senator Mark Johnson joins the program to dissect the thin-margin defeat of a sweeping firearms ban, and a reality check on President Trump’s absolute dominance in recent primary elections. Key Moments The Bond Market Poll: Steve translates complex financial metrics to explain why the 30-year treasury yield just spiked to its highest peak in nearly 19 years . He breaks down how global institutional investors and foreign governments are dumping U.S. debt due to inflation worries sparked by $110 Brent crude . Steve warns that because mortgage costs are fundamentally tethered to these yields, borrowing costs for everyday consumers are rapidly rising right during the peak spring home-buying market . Fargo's Top-Heavy Administration Exposed: In the "Story of the Day," Steve reacts to last night's Fargo School Board candidate forum, spotlighting a startling metric: Fargo's administrative budget has grown 12 times faster than its student enrollment . Incumbent Greg Clark acknowledged that Fargo has become the most top-heavy administrative district per pupil in North Dakota, spending $2,224 per student compared to West Fargo's $1,800 and Moorhead's $990 . The Parental Rights Divide on Transgender Issues: Steve details a stark line drawn between the school board candidates regarding how quickly parents should be notified if a child requests to transition to a different gender . While the majority offered evasive or conditional answers, newcomers Paul Moore and Carissa Geske stated flatly that parents must be looped in immediately, reinforcing the conservative principle that children belong to their parents and not the school system . Senator Mark Johnson on the Firearms Ban Defeat: Minnesota State Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson joins the phone line to celebrate a monumental sigh of relief for gun owners . Johnson breaks down how the razor-thin, one-seat DFL majority successfully pushed a sweeping firearms ban through the Senate, but ultimately lost the legislation when the tied, common-sense House opted not to bring the bill to the floor . Leveraged Wins for…

The Steve Hallstrom Show Episode 701: The Bond Market Poll, Measure 3 Warfare, and the No-Debate Standoff

Steve Hallstrom targets a massive Tuesday, May 19th edition, analyzing the underlying tremors of the U.S. economy and the high-stakes political maneuvers sweeping across North Dakota. Steve breaks down a historic spike in 30-year treasury yields, exposing how the bond market is issuing a brutal "report card" on federal inflation. The show hits the local ground to track the fast-approaching June and November ballot measures, welcoming North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe to decode Measure 1 and the heavily funded "Together for School Meals" initiative. Plus, an exclusive conversation with Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak on her piece-by-piece land swap legislation, her firm refusal to join primary debates, and why she believes the Iran War clock doesn't need a reset. Key Moments The Bond Market Report Card: Steve delivers a crucial reality check on the U.S. economy as the 30-year treasury yield hits its highest peak in nearly 19 years. He explains that global investors are rapidly dumping U.S. debt on fears that inflation is reigniting due to $110 Brent crude oil. Steve warns that the bond market acts as the ultimate poll on government finance, driving up borrowing costs and fixed mortgage rates during the peak spring home-buying season. Measure 3 Hits the November Ballot: Secretary of State Michael Howe joins the program to confirm that the universal free school meals petition successfully cleared 49,000 valid signatures, locking it down as a major constitutional question this November. Steve strongly rebukes the initiative, labeling it a massive, unnecessary waste of public funds that prioritizes wealthy families when lower-income children are already protected up to a $72,000 household threshold. Julie Fedorchak Defends "No-Debate" Standoff: North Dakota's lone Congresswoman, Julie Fedorchak, calls into the studio from Washington, D.C. Ahead of the June 9th primary against challenger Alex Balazs, Fedorchak strongly defends her choice to completely skip all campaign debates. Pointing to a complete endorsement from President Trump and 35 years of local grassroots work, Fedorchak asserts that her direct meetings and regular office hours make her fully accessible without entering a debate arena. The North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act: Congresswoman Fedorchak outlines a major piece of common-sense land management legislation moving to the House floor after passing committee unanimously. The bill establishes a strategic land swap framework, allowing the state to trade out a historical "patchwork" of section 16 and 36 school lands to consolidate tribal ownership for ventures like Standing Rock's…

The Steve Hallstrom Show Episode 700: Faith on the Mall, Friction at City Hall, and the Fight Against Pay-and-Chase Fraud

Steve Hallstrom hosts a dense Monday edition packed with major state legislative wrap-ups, massive federal crackdowns on government waste, and a deep philosophical debate over faith and language in the public square. Steve reacts to a leaked court file targeting a prominent local candidate, analyzes a historic nine-hour Christian rally on the National Mall, and welcomes real estate expert Suzanne Sennie to break down the shifting housing dynamics in Southern California. Plus, an inside look at a massive Medicaid fraud ring operating in Minneapolis and a check on $103 oil heading into Memorial Day. Key Moments Minnesota Session Wraps with a Gun Victory: Steve breaks down the frantic final moments of the 2026 Minnesota legislative session, which wrapped up at midnight. While lawmakers passed a series of infrastructure bills and fraud-related measures, Steve cheers the fact that a controversial firearms ban officially failed to make it through the split chambers before the deadline. The National Rededicate 250 Prayer Rally: Steve reflects on the "Rededicate 250" prayer vigil on the National Mall, calling out liberal media outlets for framing it as a "sinister" gathering of white Christian nationalists. Steve wears the term as a badge of honor, highlighting video messages of encouragement from high-ranking cabinet officials, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Court Files Upend Fargo Commission Race: A major "October Surprise" lands in the Fargo City Commission race after a local media report unearths sensitive court files from candidate Tony Gehrig's private custody dispute. Callers and texters fire back in a heated debate over whether text message vitriol in a private divorce should disqualify a proven fiscal hawk from serving his city. The Death of "Pay-and-Chase" Fraud: Steve highlights a crucial policy shift spearheaded by Vice President J.D. Vance and the newly formed anti-fraud task force. Moving away from the traditional, flawed "pay-and-chase" approach, Vance reports that federal agencies have already uncovered tens of billions in stolen taxpayer money, including a $22 million collection referral and the exposure of luxury car owners receiving food stamps. Suzanne Sennie on the California Housing Exodus: Suzanne Sennie, founder and CEO of Innovate Realty, joins the program from the West Coast. She details how extreme fire insurance barriers and high interest rates are forcing Gen Z buyers to seek creative co-signing arrangements, while a widespread cultural desire for political change is brewing ahead of the Los Angeles mayoral election.…

The Steve Hallstrom Show Episode 699: The Fargo Mayor Financial Disclosures & The Commission Clash

Steve Hallstrom breaks down a massive Friday edition packed with local political bombshells, changing trends in agriculture, and a deep look at the underbelly of the healthcare machine. Steve unpacks the newly released campaign finance reports in the Fargo mayoral race, revealing clear winners and losers in the fundraising game, and analyzes the standout moments from last night's high-stakes Fargo City Commission debate. The show also features Ag Director Bridget Riedel on a creative new credit trend for farmers, a look at a massive $177 million casino project in Moorhead, and a breakdown of why wholesale oil prices are clinging dangerously close to $105 a barrel. Key Moments Mayoral Fundraising Numbers Revealed: Steve dives into the first campaign finance reports for the Fargo mayoral race. Josh Beaucher leads the pack by raising more than all other candidates combined at $128,000, including a $10,000 donation from a D.C.-based political action committee. Michelle Turnberg sits in second at $44,000, fueled by a $25,000 contribution from Senator Kevin Cramer's Badlands PAC. City Commission Debate Fallout: Steve reviews last night's lively Fargo City Commission debate. He identifies Scott Brekke and Chad Peterson as the strongest fiscal hawks of the night, highlighting Brekke’s vow to instantly dismantle the city's needle exchange program. Steve critiques the more moderate and left-leaning candidates for a lack of urgency regarding Fargo's climbing debt and double-digit budget increases. Whole Life Insurance for Farm Expenses: Ag Director Bridget Riedel joins the show to discuss a growing trend out in farm country. She explains how farmers are utilizing properly structured whole life insurance policies to borrow against their own cash value for farm expenses, bypassing traditional banks to maintain total flexibility over their payback schedules. White Earth Nation Casino Impact Report: The White Earth Nation has released a massive financial impact report for its proposed casino and convention center near Moorhead. The $177 million project is projected to draw over a million visitors annually, creating 600 full-time jobs and generating a major economic footprint for Clay County. Healthcare Upcoding Exposed: Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz weigh in on the "dark underbelly" of the $4 trillion U.S. healthcare machine. They target administrative bloat and "upcoding," exposing how hospitals bundle simple data entry and clerical work into physician services, billing patients at world-class specialist rates for tasks a high school graduate could perform. Universal Free Meals Make the Ballot: A petition drive has successfully…

The Steve Hallstrom Show Episode 698: Xi’s Warning, The Fargo Parks Audit, and a COVID Whistleblower

Steve Hallstrom hosts a sun-drenched Thursday, May 14th edition, reporting from what he calls "the nicest day of the spring." Steve breaks down the high-stakes summit between Presidents Trump and Xi in Beijing, where warnings over Taiwan have clouded hopes for a quick Iran peace deal. Closer to home, the show audits the $100 million Fargo Parks Sports Complex nearly two years after its controversial opening and dives into the latest "gross" harassment of a Minneapolis church. Plus, the "best thing I heard all day" features a CIA whistleblower unraveling a COVID origin cover-up. Key Moments Taiwan Conflict Warning: During their Beijing summit, President Xi Jinping issued an unusually harsh admonition to President Trump, warning that the U.S. and China could "clash" over Taiwan if the issue is not handled properly. This tension stands in sharp contrast to Trump’s praise for Xi, even as both leaders publicly agreed that Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon. Fargo Parks Sports Complex Update: Kelly Moore, director of the facility, joins the show to discuss the building’s 15-month full-operation status. Moore reports "skyrocketing" utilization of the free indoor walking track—averaging 280 people per day in 2026—and notes that open play sessions drew over 26,000 participants in 2025. CIA Whistleblower Testifies: In a Senate Homeland Security Committee meeting led by Rand Paul, career operations officer James Erdman testified that Dr. Anthony Fauci intentionally influenced intelligence to downplay the "lab incident" origin of COVID-19. Erdman alleged Fauci leveraged his position to consult with "conflicted" experts to scrub findings before they reached oversight committees. Fargo Tobacco & Vape Ban Stalls: The Fargo City Commission has tabled a proposed ban on flavored tobacco and vape products until after the June election. While Superintendent Corey Steiner warned that even elementary students are bringing vapes to school, retailers argue that 85% of their customers are over age 25. Steiner’s Leadership Example: Steve praises Superintendent Corey Steiner for a "leadership reflection" after Steiner requested a salary freeze for the second year of his new contract and voluntarily surrendered his unlimited PTO, capping it at 35 days to align with regular staff rules. Economic Reality Check: Despite moderately hot CPI data, retail sales jumped 4.9% year-over-year in April. Steve analyzes the "dichotomy" of record-low consumer sentiment paired with increased spending, noting that tax refunds and a surge in credit issuance are keeping the "spending industry" afloat. Church Harassment Escalates: Steve expresses…