Greg Belfrage Podcasts

October 28, 2026 - Belf's News Gallery

A Washington, D.C. group has poured nearly $2 million into defeating Amendment L, while the South Dakota side supporting it has raised about $93,000.Amendment L would raise the bar for changing our state constitution from a simple majority to 60 percent. The Fairness Project, started with money from a California labor union, is the main funder of the No campaign. This is the same group that has spent millions putting abortion rights and Medicaid expansion into state constitutions, including ours in 2022.

A Washington, D.C. group has poured nearly $2 million into defeating Amendment L, while the South Dakota side supporting it has raised about $93,000.Amendment L would raise the bar for changing our state constitution from a simple majority to 60 percent. The Fairness Project, started with money from a California labor union, is the main funder of the No campaign. This is the same group that has spent millions putting abortion rights and Medicaid expansion into state constitutions, including ours in 2022.

October 28, 2026 - Are You Comfortable with Out-of-State Progressive Groups Spending Millions to Rewrite the State Constitution?

In the Top of the News Stack, A Washington, D.C. group has poured nearly $2 million into defeating Amendment L, while the South Dakota side supporting it has raised about $93,000. Amendment L would raise the bar for changing our state constitution from a simple majority to 60 percent. The Fairness Project, started with money from a California labor union, is the main funder of the No campaign. This is the same group that has spent millions putting abortion rights and Medicaid expansion into state constitutions, including ours in 2022.

The United Nations is set to vote Wednesday on a resolution condemning the decades-long U.S. economic embargo on Cuba as the Trump administration intensifies its campaign to undermine Cuba's socialist government, including by threatening military intervention. The annual exercise aimed at calling out the U.S. government's "maximum pressure policy" has been put before the U.N. General Assembly for the past 34 years, and each time the resolution has received overwhelming support from the 193 member states. Last year, the vote was 165-7, with 12 abstentions. And while it is still expected to pass by a large margin this year, it is unclear if the Trump administration's overt campaign to influence the vote will result in more opposition or abstentions from key countries — including Western allies — than it has in previous years. While such resolutions are not legally binding, they reflect world opinion. The vote before the world body comes as Cuba is weathering deepening financial crises while the U.S. increases its already punishing economic campaign. On top of this, President Donald Trump last week once again raised the specter of U.S. military intervention, saying U.S. warships could stop over in Cuba on their way back from the Iran war. The tensions between Washington and Havana have spilled over into public forums at the United Nations.

FBI agents searched the Beverly Hills mansion of billionaire businessman Stephen Cloobeck on Tuesday in connection with the ongoing criminal investigation into former California Congressman Eric Swalwell, ABC News has learned. "Early this morning, the FBI conducted an operation in the Los Angeles region related to an ongoing criminal investigation. We have no further comment," an FBI spokesperson said.Cloobeck, a former California gubernatorial candidate, was once a close political ally of Swalwell. He dropped his own bid for governor and spent more than $1 million supporting Swalwell's campaign before cutting ties with the former congressman after sexual assault allegations surfaced in April."I am no longer associated with a man that takes advantage of women," Cloobeck told The New York Post in April. "I support women's rights." Sources tell ABC News that Eric Swalwell, a former Bay Area congressman from east of San Francisco (D-Castro VAlley), is also believed to have stayed at Cloobeck's home for a period of time. Cloobeck was a former supporter of Swalwell. In a statement to ABC7 Eyewitness News in San Francisco, Cloobeck's attorneys said he was not home when the search took place. "Mr. Cloobeck was not home when the search warrant was executed and continues to have faith in the judicial process of this country," the attorneys said.

In the Top of the News Stack, A Washington, D.C. group has poured nearly $2 million into defeating Amendment L, while the South Dakota side supporting it has raised about $93,000. Amendment L would raise the bar for changing our state constitution from a simple majority to 60 percent. The Fairness Project, started with money from a California labor union, is the main funder of the No campaign. This is the same group that has spent millions putting abortion rights and Medicaid expansion into state constitutions, including ours in 2022.
The United Nations is set to vote Wednesday on a resolution condemning the decades-long U.S. economic embargo on Cuba as the Trump administration intensifies its campaign to undermine Cuba's socialist government, including by threatening military intervention.&nbsp;The annual exercise aimed at calling out the U.S. government's "maximum pressure policy" has been put before the U.N. General Assembly for the past 34 years, and each time the resolution has received overwhelming support from the 193 member states. Last year, the vote was 165-7, with 12 abstentions.&nbsp;And while it is still expected to pass by a large margin this year, it is unclear if the Trump administration's overt campaign to influence the vote will result in more opposition or abstentions from key countries &mdash; including Western allies &mdash; than it has in previous years. While such resolutions are not legally binding, they reflect world opinion.&nbsp;The vote before the world body comes as Cuba is weathering deepening financial crises while the U.S. increases its already punishing economic campaign. On top of this, President Donald Trump last week once again raised the specter of U.S. military intervention, saying U.S. warships could stop over in Cuba on their way back from the Iran war.&nbsp;The tensions between Washington and Havana have spilled over into public forums at the United Nations.
FBI agents searched the Beverly Hills mansion of billionaire businessman Stephen Cloobeck on Tuesday in connection with the ongoing criminal investigation into former California Congressman Eric Swalwell, ABC News has learned.&nbsp;"Early this morning, the FBI conducted an operation in the Los Angeles region related to an ongoing criminal investigation. We have no further comment," an FBI spokesperson said.Cloobeck, a former California gubernatorial candidate, was once a close political ally of Swalwell. He dropped his own bid for governor and spent more than $1 million supporting Swalwell's campaign before cutting ties with the former congressman after sexual assault allegations surfaced in April."I am no longer associated with a man that takes advantage of women," Cloobeck told The New York Post in April. "I support women's rights."&nbsp;Sources tell ABC News that Eric Swalwell, a former Bay Area congressman from east of San Francisco (D-Castro VAlley), is also believed to have stayed at Cloobeck's home for a period of time.&nbsp;Cloobeck was a former supporter of Swalwell.&nbsp;In a statement to ABC7 Eyewitness News in San Francisco, Cloobeck's attorneys said he was not home when the search took place.&nbsp;"Mr. Cloobeck was not home when the search warrant was executed and continues to have faith in the judicial process of this country," the attorneys said.

October 28, 2026 - Top of the News Stack

The Last Word.... 

President Donald Trump campaigned in Mississippi on Monday as part of a final stretch of midterm appearances that has taken him to several Republican-leaning states.

The rally was held for Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, who faces a challenge from Democrat Scott Colom in a state that has long favored Republicans. The election could help determine control of Congress and state governments. "I’m here because Cindy’s doing great, but I just got to make sure. I can’t take a chance," Trump told the crowd, his voice audibly hoarse, as he urged support for Hyde-Smith. Colom was also at the rally site. Trump later attacked him from the stage, calling him a "Marxist radical" and a "fake" and "shameless phony who pretends to be a moderate." Before the president arrived, Colom said he had planned to listen to Trump’s supporters. "They actually deserve a senator that will listen to them, that actually cares about what they think, actually cares about what they’re going through," Colom said. 

 

Amendment L is one of four ballot questions voters are considering in the state’s general election. The ballot question deals with state constitutional amendments, which only voters can approve. Lawmakers can place amendments on the ballot, and so can citizens if they collect enough signatures from registered South Dakota voters. Ballot questions need a simple majority from voters to pass, but Amendment L would change the threshold for future amendments to 60%. In recent years, voters have approved constitutional amendments expanding Medicaid eligibility and legalizing recreational marijuana (although the marijuana amendment was subjected to a lawsuit and invalidated by judges), among others. Policies should not be part of the constitution, said state Rep. John Hughes, R-Sioux Falls, who sponsored the 2025 resolution that lawmakers passed to put Amendment L on this year’s ballot. He said policies should be proposed and debated as regular laws, and the constitution should only contain foundational provisions like the structure and powers of government. “Amendment L is a recognition that, through proper voter education, we will see the wisdom of reserving our state constitution as a permanent structure that, by and large, should stay the same and not be changed,” Hughes said. In the Legislature, Hughes’ resolution to put Amendment L on the ballot received support from entities including the Foundation for Government Accountability, a Florida-based think tank whose website says it supports work requirements for the beneficiaries of social welfare programs, annual recertification for unions and the securing or elimination of ballot drop boxes to protect what it calls election integrity, among other issues. It also opposes what it describes as “far-left” efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion. Similar attempts to raise the threshold for voter approval of ballot questions have been rejected by voters in past elections. In 2018, voters defeated Constitutional Amendment X, which would have raised the approval requirement for constitutional amendments to 55%. Constitutional Amendment C failed in 2022. That measure would have required 60% voter support for ballot questions that increase taxes or fees or require the state to spend $10 million or more in a measure’s first five years of implementation. Chase Jensen, a senior organizer with the nonprofit Dakota Rural Action, opposes Amendment L. He said Republican lawmakers want to prevent voters from approving amendments — like the one requiring Medicaid expansion, which passed four years ago — that the lawmakers don’t like. Citizens petitioned the Medicaid expansion amendment onto the ballot after Republican lawmakers refused to adopt the expansion.

The Last Word....&nbsp;
President Donald Trump campaigned in Mississippi on Monday as part of a final stretch of midterm appearances that has taken him to several Republican-leaning states.
The rally was held for Republican <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/topic/senator">Senator</a> Cindy Hyde-Smith, who faces a challenge from Democrat Scott Colom in a state that has long favored Republicans. The election could help determine control of Congress and state governments. "I&rsquo;m here because Cindy&rsquo;s doing great, but I just got to make sure. I can&rsquo;t take a chance," Trump told the crowd, his voice audibly hoarse, as he urged support for Hyde-Smith. Colom was also at the rally site. Trump later attacked him from the stage, calling him a "Marxist radical" and a "fake" and "shameless phony who pretends to be a moderate." Before the president arrived, Colom said he had planned to listen to Trump&rsquo;s supporters.&nbsp;"They actually deserve a senator that will listen to them, that actually cares about what they think, actually cares about what they&rsquo;re going through," Colom said.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Amendment L is one of four ballot questions voters are considering in the state&rsquo;s general election. The ballot question deals with state constitutional amendments, which only voters can approve. Lawmakers can place amendments on the ballot, and so can citizens if they collect enough signatures from registered South Dakota voters.&nbsp;Ballot questions need a simple majority from voters to pass, but Amendment L would change the threshold for future amendments to 60%.&nbsp;In recent years, voters have approved constitutional amendments expanding Medicaid eligibility and legalizing recreational marijuana (although the marijuana amendment was subjected to a lawsuit and invalidated by judges), among others. Policies should not be part of the constitution, said state Rep. John Hughes, R-Sioux Falls, who sponsored the 2025 resolution that lawmakers passed to put Amendment L on this year&rsquo;s ballot.&nbsp;He said policies should be proposed and debated as regular laws, and the constitution should only contain foundational provisions like the structure and powers of government.&nbsp;&ldquo;Amendment L is a recognition that, through proper voter education, we will see the wisdom of reserving our state constitution as a permanent structure that, by and large, should stay the same and not be changed,&rdquo; Hughes said.&nbsp;In the Legislature, Hughes&rsquo; resolution to put Amendment L on the ballot received support from entities including the Foundation for Government Accountability, a Florida-based think tank whose website says it supports work requirements for the beneficiaries of social welfare programs, annual recertification for unions and the securing or elimination of ballot drop boxes to protect what it calls election integrity, among other issues. It also opposes what it describes as &ldquo;far-left&rdquo; efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion.&nbsp;Similar attempts to raise the threshold for voter approval of ballot questions have been rejected by voters in past elections. In 2018, voters defeated Constitutional Amendment X, which would have raised the approval requirement for constitutional amendments to 55%. Constitutional Amendment C failed in 2022. That measure would have required 60% voter support for ballot questions that increase taxes or fees or require the state to spend $10 million or more in a measure&rsquo;s first five years of implementation.&nbsp;Chase Jensen, a senior organizer with the nonprofit Dakota Rural Action, opposes Amendment L. He said Republican lawmakers want to prevent voters from approving amendments &mdash; like the one requiring Medicaid expansion, which passed four years ago &mdash; that the lawmakers don&rsquo;t like. Citizens petitioned the Medicaid expansion amendment onto the ballot after Republican lawmakers refused to adopt the expansion.

October 28, 2026 - Belf's News Gallery

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