Minnesota, once celebrated for its pristine cities and thriving communities, is now at the center of a contentious political storm. In a recent interview on Brannon Howse’s program, journalist Liz Collin of Alpha News shed light on the state’s escalating debates over girls’ sports, transgender policies, and fiscal woes—issues that are driving a wedge between traditional values and progressive agendas.

The Fight for Girls’ Sports

At the heart of the discussion is a bill aimed at protecting female sports in Minnesota, which has met fierce resistance from Democrats. Collin explained that the legislation, framed by its opponents as a “trans ban,” seeks to ensure that girls can compete on teams without the risk of injury or loss of opportunity due to biological males participating. “It’s really nothing of the sort as far as we’ve heard here from many girls who’ve been injured,” Collin said, citing testimony from young women who have faced physical harm—like a soccer player who broke her wrist—and the erosion of scholarship prospects.

Despite widespread public pushback, all Democrats in the Minnesota legislature voted against the bill, leaving it without the support needed to pass. A revised version has been introduced, but with Governor Tim Walz—a staunch progressive—at the helm, Collin doubts it will become law. “I can’t see him signing something like this,” she remarked.

The debate reached a fever pitch with testimony from Representative Alicia Kozlowski, who labeled the bill “state-sponsored genocide.” Collin called the statement “ridiculous,” noting that it dismisses the real concerns of female athletes. “What are you saying to these young women who came to the Capitol to testify?” she asked, highlighting the disconnect between lawmakers and constituents.

A State in Decline?

Beyond the sports controversy, Minnesota faces broader challenges. Collin pointed to a projected $6 billion budget deficit reported on March 6, 2025, attributing it to lavish spending on nonprofits and public assistance programs. High taxes, once offset by a safe and clean environment, no longer deliver the same value. Howse, a former Minnesotan, recalled a time when Minneapolis was a model city—clean, safe, and vibrant. “People would come to town and say, ‘Your downtown is so clean, no graffiti,’” he said. Now, he added, “You can’t do a lot of those things anymore.”

Collin agreed, tracing the decline to 2020’s riots and subsequent leadership decisions. “Things dramatically changed really in 2020 after the riots and the leadership that was put in place,” she said. Minneapolis, governed by a city council with self-proclaimed socialists, has seen an exodus of tens of thousands of residents, particularly high-income families. “You’re losing the high-income families from Minnesota. That’s been very clear,” Collin noted.

The state’s reputation as a business-friendly hub has also crumbled. Once topping lists for entrepreneurship, Minnesota now ranks among the worst states for startups, a fall Collin ties to Governor Walz’s tenure.

A Shift in Sentiment

Despite its blue-state label, Minnesota isn’t uniformly liberal. Howse emphasized that outside Minneapolis-St. Paul, much of the state remains conservative, with “several million people” holding traditional Judeo-Christian values. Collin echoed this, pointing to four counties flipping from blue to red in the last election and President Trump’s strong showing. “I would definitely not call this a blue state by any means,” she said.

Alpha News, where Collin reports, has emerged as a counterweight to mainstream media, often outpacing larger outlets in readership. “We’re a pretty small news organization… but often we are the most read, most viewed website in Minnesota news,” she said. By focusing on unfiltered truth—covering issues like the girls’ sports bill, prison policies allowing male inmates women’s accommodations, and the Derek Chauvin case—Alpha News has tapped into a growing demand for honest journalism.

The Chauvin Question

The interview closed with a nod to Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted in George Floyd’s death. With Elon Musk and Ben Shapiro advocating for a pardon, Collin acknowledged the complexity: Chauvin faces both federal and state sentences, meaning a federal pardon wouldn’t erase his state charges. “Minnesota’s going to be the real problem,” she said, suggesting that without a leadership shift, relief for Chauvin remains unlikely.

A Fight for Common Sense

Collin framed Minnesota’s struggles as “a fight for common sense.” From sports fields to prisons to budget sheets, the state’s policies are alienating many of its residents. Yet, she and Howse see hope in the rise of alternative voices like Alpha News and a growing public appetite for truth. “People have never been more hungry for the truth,” Collin said. “As long as you tell that, I think you’re going to have a future.”