Just be honest

The image you shared appears to be a meme or social media post making several claims about Keith Ellison, the current Minnesota Attorney General (as of January 2026). It accuses him of physically abusing his girlfriend (implying domestic violence that caused visible injuries like a black eye), labels him a "woman beater," states he is also the Deputy Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), and suggests Democrats are suppressing discussion of the issue. I'll break this down factually based on available information, including the 2018 allegations against him, official investigations, and clarifications about the photo and his roles.

### The Allegations of Abuse

- In August 2018, during Ellison's campaign for Minnesota Attorney General, his ex-girlfriend Karen Monahan publicly accused him of emotional and physical abuse during their relationship, which ended in 2017.

### The Photo in the Image

- The photo of the woman with a black eye shown in the meme is **not** Karen Monahan, and it has no connection to Ellison's case. Fact-checking sites like PolitiFact, Snopes, and Politico have debunked similar viral images as hoaxes or misleading composites, often using stock photos or unrelated images to sensationalize the story.<Monahan's allegations did not involve punching or causing a black eye; they centered on the dragging incident and verbal/emotional abuse. No photos of injuries from her claims have been publicly released or verified as linked to Ellison.

### His Role as DNC Deputy Chair

- Ellison served as DNC Deputy Chair from 2017 to 2018 but resigned after winning the Minnesota AG election in November 2018.The meme's reference to him as the current Deputy Chair is inaccurate and likely based on outdated information from the 2018 allegations period.

### Claims of a Democratic Cover-Up

- The allegations received significant media coverage in 2018 from outlets across the spectrum (e.g., NYT, NPR, BBC, CBS, Vox, Politico), including Democratic-leaning ones.

Overall, the meme is misleading. Serious allegations were made and investigated but not substantiated. Ellison denies them, and key elements (the photo, his DNC role) are false or outdated. No new developments have emerged since 2018 to change this. If you're referring to something specific beyond "True" (e.g., a different aspect of the image), feel free to clarify!

Henry McClure  
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Loser

### Deep Dive into Top Tank: Topeka's Entrepreneurship Initiative

Top Tank was a one-time entrepreneurship competition launched in Topeka, Kansas, in 2017, designed to spark business growth and revitalization in the downtown area. Modeled after the popular TV show *Shark Tank*, it aimed to attract innovative business ideas by offering substantial financial backing in exchange for equity stakes. The project was spearheaded by a group of prominent local business leaders who sought to highlight Topeka's potential as an affordable, accessible hub for entrepreneurs, countering perceptions of economic stagnation. Below, I'll break down its origins, structure, key events, outcomes for participants, and why it ultimately concluded without repetition, along with any relevant updates through 2026.

#### Origins and Goals

The idea for Top Tank emerged from informal discussions among six Topeka businessmen who wanted to showcase positive developments in the city, such as downtown improvements, public-private partnerships, and educational investments like the East Topeka Learning Center. They emphasized Topeka's advantages: low cost of living, minimal traffic, proximity to larger markets (e.g., Kansas City), and support from organizations like GO Topeka and 712 Innovations. The focus was on filling downtown storefronts with retail, food, or service-based businesses to enhance quality of life and draw regional attention.<grok:render card_id="3b4818" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation">

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The organizers were:

- **Brent Boles**: Managing partner of Schendel Lawn & Landscape (also co-owner of SPIN! Pizza).

- **John Dicus**: Chairman, president, and CEO of Capitol Federal Savings Bank.

- **Cody Foster**: Co-founder of Advisors Excel.

- **Jim Klausman**: President and CEO of Midwest Health Inc.

- **Mark Ruelle**: President and CEO of Westar Energy.

- **Greg Schwerdt**: President of Schwerdt Design Group.

Five of them (Boles, Dicus, Foster, Klausman, and Ruelle) pooled personal funds to create a $100,000 prize pot, while Schwerdt contributed pro bono design services to help finalists refine their proposals.<grok:render card_id="c36043" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation">

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</grok:render> The group partnered with *The Topeka Capital-Journal* for promotion, viewing it as a way to celebrate local talent and encourage business ownership.<grok:render card_id="4af99f" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation">

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The initiative officially launched on June 18, 2017, with a dedicated website (toptanktopeka.com, now defunct) for submissions. Entries were due by August 31, 2017, and organizers hoped to draw applicants from beyond Topeka, including nearby cities like Wichita, Omaha, and Des Moines.<grok:render card_id="96fd90" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation">

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#### Competition Structure and Timeline

- **Applications**: 59 proposals were submitted, exceeding organizers' expectations. Ideas spanned restaurants, museums, retail, and more.<grok:render card_id="97f07c" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation">

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- **Narrowing Process**: A selection committee reduced entries to 20 semi-finalists by early November 2017. These applicants visited Topeka for in-person discussions and tours to learn about local opportunities.<grok:render card_id="4e3760" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation">

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</grok:render> By December 2017, it was further narrowed to 10 finalists.<grok:render card_id="950a98" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation">

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- **Final Preparations**: The 10 finalists received donated design support from local firms (coordinated by Schwerdt) to polish their pitches.<grok:render card_id="5498d8" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation">

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</grok:render> The competition culminated in a public symposium on February 17, 2018, at the Topeka Performing Arts Center, featuring a keynote speaker and community involvement.<grok:render card_id="ee15d3" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation">

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The finalists and their concepts were:

- 2 Scoops Saloon (ice cream parlor) – Allyson Shove-Chard.

- A La Carrot (health food store/restaurant).

- aDRONEaline Racing (indoor drone racing facility).

- Chatterhouse Coffee Shop.

- Confectionary Disasters (likely dessert-focused).

- G's Cheesecake and More (cheesecake bakery with breakfast and sandwiches) – George Kearse.

- Local Fox Clothing Store.

- Restaurant Collective (restaurant incubator).

- Solitaire Spa and Barbery (spa and barber services).

- The Brew Bank (self-serve craft beer taproom) – Ryan Cavanaugh, Dusty Snethen, and Melissa Snethen.<grok:render card_id="5ffca5" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation">

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#### Winners and Immediate Outcomes

In a surprise twist at the finale, the investors awarded two prizes instead of one, citing the high quality of all pitches.<grok:render card_id="e223ae" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation">

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- **First Place: The Brew Bank** ($100,000) – A innovative taproom with 20 digital self-pour taps (10 for Kansas microbrews, 10 national, plus wine), emphasizing community gatherings in large shared spaces. The founders (who already ran video production companies) highlighted beer's role in fostering connections.<grok:render card_id="207cd2" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation">

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- **Second Place: G's Cheesecake and More** ($50,000) – A bakery specializing in fresh cheesecakes, with additional breakfast items and open-face sandwiches. Kearse aimed to make it a destination spot, inspired by iconic eateries in other cities.<grok:render card_id="42d155" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation">

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The event was hailed as a success for generating buzz, with organizers noting it taught lessons about entrepreneurship barriers in Kansas.<grok:render card_id="db6207" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation">

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#### Long-Term Outcomes and Participant Updates

By November 2019, five of the 10 finalists had successfully opened businesses, demonstrating some lasting impact despite the challenges of starting retail ventures.<grok:render card_id="c40957" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation">

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</grok:render> However, not all thrived long-term, reflecting broader economic pressures like the COVID-19 pandemic and downtown foot traffic issues.

- **The Brew Bank**: Opened at 822 S. Kansas Ave. in a historic building. The win provided credibility for additional loans.<grok:render card_id="10a172" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation">

<argument name="citation_id">18</argument>

</grok:render> It became a popular craft beer spot, praised in 2023 for its innovative self-serve model and community focus.<grok:render card_id="7d2e35" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation">

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</grok:render> Unfortunately, it closed in November 2024 due to lingering post-pandemic financial strains, including reduced patronage and rising costs. Owners held a "bar-age sale" to liquidate merchandise.<grok:render card_id="3c80d8" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation">

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</grok:render> As of 2026, the space remains vacant, per local restaurant roundups.<grok:render card_id="97cee3" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation">

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- **G's Cheesecake and More**: Opened at 821 SW 21st St. (near downtown). It offered seasonal cheesecakes, custom orders, and catering.<grok:render card_id="e70909" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation">

<argument name="citation_id">71</argument>

</grok:render> Hit hard by the pandemic, it announced a temporary closure in May 2022 but reopened after resolving a property seizure by the Kansas Department of Revenue (likely tax-related).<grok:render card_id="a09d78" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation">

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</grok:render> However, it appears to have closed permanently sometime after, with Yelp and Tripadvisor listing it as closed by early 2026, and no recent activity on its social media.<grok:render card_id="28e958" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation">

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- **Other Notable Finalists**:

  - **2 Scoops Saloon**: The Chards pivoted to open Fire And Ice Distillery, which was celebrated in a 2018 Top Tank Facebook post.<grok:render card_id="cbf298" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation">

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</grok:render> Limited updates available, but it may still operate as a distillery.

  - Information on the remaining finalists (e.g., A La Carrot, aDRONEaline) is sparse; some likely opened briefly but aren't prominently active in 2026 searches, aligning with the post's note on struggling establishments.

Overall, while Top Tank injected energy and funding, many ventures faced sustainability issues, echoing the X post's skepticism about long-term benefits amid a landscape of business closures.

#### The End of Top Tank and Legacy

Top Tank was conceived as a standalone event and did not repeat.<grok:render card_id="78069e" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation">

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</grok:render> Organizers expressed openness to similar initiatives but shifted focus elsewhere. Its Facebook page went dormant after 2018, with no posts since.<grok:render card_id="18b529" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation">

<argument name="citation_id">29</argument>

</grok:render> No scandals or corruption were uncovered in research—despite the X post's title implying exposure; it seems more a critique of unfulfilled visions than wrongdoing. Searches for "Top Tank Topeka corruption" yielded only general Topeka allegations unrelated to the project.<grok:render card_id="df1005" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation">

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Who ultimately benefited? The organizers achieved their goal of promoting Topeka's entrepreneurial spirit and downtown potential, potentially boosting their own community profiles.<grok:render card_id="667434" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation">

<argument name="citation_id">40</argument>

</grok:render> Participants gained exposure and funding, leading to at least temporary business launches. However, with winners like Brew Bank and G's closing, the long-term economic impact appears limited, prompting the post's inquiry into sustained success.

A spiritual successor emerged in 2025: "The Lion's Den," a Shark Tank-style pitch competition held October 23, 2025, in Topeka. It offered training, exposure, and two $10,000 prizes for young entrepreneurs and innovative ventures, organized during Global Entrepreneurship Week.<grok:render card_id="7cf06b" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation">

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</grok:render> This suggests ongoing interest in similar efforts, but under new branding. As of January 2026, no outcomes from Lion's Den are detailed in available sources.

Henry McClure  
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Big mistake

Yes, the information in the post is accurate. On January 22, 2026, the Trump administration announced the completion of the U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO).<grok:render card_id="f4460a" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation">

<argument name="citation_id">12</argument>

</grok:render> The following day, January 23, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom's office announced that California would join the WHO's Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), making it the first U.S. state to do so.<grok:render card_id="0dcb20" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation">

<argument name="citation_id">0</argument>

</grok:render> This move was positioned as a direct response to the federal withdrawal, with California stepping in to maintain involvement in global public health efforts.<grok:render card_id="d43ced" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation">

<argument name="citation_id">5</argument>

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Henry McClure  
785.383.9994
sent from mobile 📱
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Truth

The Instagram Reel at that link (https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSA7mTuFfoT/) is posted by the account **@libsoftiktokofficial** (Libs of TikTok Official).

It makes the following claim in the caption:

> "1,700 criminal illegals were RELEASED from prison in Illinois under JB Pritzker  

> M*rderers, p*dophiles, r*pes, and violent offenders are back in YOUR communities because Democrats want to protect them from ICE.  

> They are putting American lives at risk."

This appears to be a short video or static post (typical of Libs of TikTok content) designed to highlight and criticize Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's policies on immigration enforcement and criminal releases.

The core factual assertion — that **1,700 "criminal illegals" were released from prison in Illinois under Pritzker** — refers to a real policy/event from late 2024/early 2025. Illinois (under its TRUST Act and related policies) does not allow state/local law enforcement to honor most ICE detainers for immigration enforcement purposes unless there's a judicial warrant and specific violent felony criteria. As a result, when certain incarcerated individuals completed their state sentences, they were released rather than transferred to federal immigration custody if ICE issued only an administrative detainer.

Reports from around that period (including statements from ICE and conservative outlets) indicated that hundreds to low-thousands of individuals with criminal convictions (including some serious offenses) were released into communities instead of being taken into ICE custody directly after state incarceration. The "1,700" figure aligns with numbers cited in several ICE-related announcements and Republican critiques of sanctuary-style policies in Illinois during Pritzker's administration.

However, the reel's framing is heavily editorialized:

- Not all were necessarily "murderers, pedophiles, rapists" — the offenses varied widely (from lower-level crimes to violent felonies).

- Releases happened because of state law limiting cooperation with ICE, not a deliberate "Democrats want to protect them" action targeted at those specific offenders.

- Many such individuals were later arrested by ICE or faced deportation proceedings anyway.

In short: **The 1,700 figure is grounded in reality** (stemming from documented non-cooperation with ICE detainers in Illinois), but the reel dramatically amplifies it with charged language to argue Democrats are endangering the public by prioritizing immigrant protections over enforcement. It's partisan commentary rather than neutral reporting.

Henry McClure  
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Mace

The post you're sharing is from **U.S. Representative Nancy Mace** (@RepNancyMace), a Republican congresswoman from South Carolina. She posted this on January 23, 2026 (late evening GMT, which aligns with today given the current date/time).

This appears to be her own firsthand account of a recent legal victory in a civil case originating in South Carolina state court.

### Key Details from the Post and Context

- **The Win**: Rep. Mace represented herself pro se (without a lawyer present for this specific hearing) and successfully had the case **removed/Transferred** from a South Carolina state court to **federal court**. This was based on federal jurisdiction questions, including constitutional protections under the **First Amendment**, the **Speech or Debate Clause** (Article I, Section 6 of the U.S. Constitution, which protects members of Congress from certain state-level interference related to their legislative duties), and **federal supremacy**.

- **Background on the Gag Order**: In December 2025, a South Carolina judge imposed a **gag order** on Mace and other parties in related civil lawsuits. These suits reportedly stem from allegations Mace made against individuals (including entrepreneur Patrick Bryant and businessman Eric Bowman) involving claims of abuse or related matters. The gag order restricted public discussion of the ongoing cases.

- **Her Argument**: Mace views the state court's actions (including the gag order and suggestions from opposing counsel that she could face jail for her social media posts about "injustice") as unconstitutional attempts to silence her as a sitting Member of Congress for performing her duties and speaking out. She frames this as "lawfare" — using the legal system for political or harassing purposes.

- **Outcome**: By moving the case to federal court, she effectively challenged the enforceability of the state-level gag order in a venue she believes is more appropriate for federal constitutional issues. She describes this as a defeat of efforts to intimidate or silence her.

Her official press release and website confirm the removal to federal court as a "significant legal victory" vindicating her First Amendment rights and constitutional protections.

This case ties into broader tensions involving Mace, including past sanctions fights, lawyer-related disputes (e.g., accusations of fabricated citations in filings), and her ongoing political activities (she's been active in congressional oversight and is seen as a potential contender in South Carolina politics, like a gubernatorial bid).

Congratulations to her on the procedural win — standing up pro se against that kind of pressure takes resolve, and it's a reminder of how core constitutional safeguards (like federal jurisdiction and Speech or Debate protections) can check state-level overreach in cases involving federal officials.

If you'd like more details on the underlying lawsuits, the specific judge/court involved, or reactions to this post, let me know! 🇺🇸

Henry McClure  
785.383.9994
sent from mobile 📱
time kills deals