>> All right, go to South Carolina.
What is the marshy coastal region of South Carolina?
>> The outer banks. >> That is North Carolina. >> Dang it. >> I would go there. >> I would go there.
>> Group going there, I knew I'd be that one. Man, I get this. It's called the low country. It sounds bad, but everybody calls it that. In fact, I've been to a low country shrimp boil,
which is delicious. >> South Carolina's got good food. >> Yeah, we're at cities, Charleston's a wonderful city. >> Yeah, I highly recommend everybody going to Charleston. >> It's just beautiful.
>> All right, which major North American River has its headwaters at Lake, Atasca in Minnesota? >> Mighty Mississippi.
“>> What are the mansions in Newport, Rhode Island, famous for?”
>> Being very old. >> Pretty sure they were somewhere-- >> Swift has a mansion there. >> Really? >> Americans are capable of achieving extraordinary things
when they have the freedom and opportunity to do so. This is American Potential. >> Hey everyone, welcome to the American Potential Podcast. I'm your host, David From. Today, we're going to test your state trivia knowledge
because this episode is another in our 50 stars, 50 story series. If you don't know what the series is, what we do is ask questions about states that join the union that month. And for May, there are four states. One is well known for the start of a war.
One has a well known industry that relies on hops, partly in yeast. One is 400 miles of coastline and the last is known for its lakes. So, do you know what states? We will be asking questions about today? Well, you're about to find out.
So, let's bring on our two guests.
The first is Megan Novak, who is the state director
for Americans from Prosperity, Wisconsin. And the second is Jake Coleman, who is the state director for Americans from Prosperity, Minnesota. Two of the states we'll be talking about today. Jake, Megan, welcome.
Thanks for joining. >> Thanks for having us on, David. >> Well, I'm very excited for our continuation of our series. I've been doing throughout this whole year, celebrating where it's soon to 50th birthday, celebrating,
getting into some trivia about all the different states. Based on when they joined, which one they joined the union. So, there are two other states, other than Wisconsin and Minnesota, your states. There are other states that joined in May.
“Do either of you know which states they are by chance?”
I'll give you a hint, one was May 4th, 1776. So, it was an early adopter. >> Rhode Island. >> Yes, nice one. Rhode Island.
We've started out strong, Megan. >> Whoo. >> The other one was involved in the beginning of the Civil War. Can you guess that one?
>> Southern State, Tennessee. >> Nope.
>> It's where the first shots were fired.
>> I got nothing. >> It has a northern relative of a similar name. >> South Carolina. >> West Virginia. >> South Carolina.
>> Two or two. >> I'm quitting, I'm quitting. >> There you go. There was constant, there was constant education systems, look, you could. But, okay, Jake, this one's for you.
What do you know when Minnesota joined the union? >> I want to say May 11th, 1858. >> Wow, you got May 11th, even, that was great. That was pretty solid, yeah, 1858. So, Megan, how about Wisconsin?
>> Well, I know the year for sure, because it's printed very boldly
“on our state flag, 1848, and I believe it was May 29th.”
>> Well, we have it's May 2nd. >> Oh, my need of fact. >> There's close, but I mean, yeah, I can be true. I think just knowing the year is pretty good. >> It's on the flag, it's really kind of cheating, to be honest.
>> Well, you know, we all need to be observant and take the resources provided for us. So, so, you know, we mentioned one of the states was Rhode Island. Do you guys, is Rhode Island actually an island? >> I'm going to go, no.
>> I don't think so, but I honestly don't go. >> It's not, no, no, no, no, no, but the original name was called "Aquidit-Nec" island, which is kind of crazy. Then the Red Island, in 1733, the name "Colony of a Rhone Island" and Providence Plantations was adopted in a royal charter granted
by King Charles I. >> So, so does understand why I still understand why it was called an island, but, you know, that's fine, that's up to them. Hopefully, people aren't buying property believing they're on an island. >> All right, Jake, what is Minnesota's nickname?
>> Ah, the North Star State. >> Is it? >> Nice.
>> That used to be on our flag before it changed there.
That two-day Nord. >> Oh, nice. Well, what is it sometimes called the land of 10,000 lakes? It is technically called the land of 10,000 lakes. We have a lot more than 10,000.
>> Yeah, well, we're almost 12,000. It's kind of amazing.
Yeah, I always love it if you have a five-minute soda,
which I know you've done it 10 times. It's always like, "Oh my gosh, go on this lakes." Megan, what is the nickname for Wisconsin? >> The Badger State? >> Yes.
>> But did it, it is, yes, did you know where it comes from? >> I do. I actually do, because there are no animal badgers in Wisconsin except for Zoo.
“It's for minors, that's what they used to call the minors who,”
especially in Southwest Wisconsin, when they were mining for whatever minerals they call them badgers. >> Yeah, during the winter, when they didn't have shelter, they went and lived in the tunnels like badgers. >> Yeah.
>> That's crazy. Somebody should tell numerous Wisconsin that their mascots all off. They didn't have like a minor. >> We shall, that would be cool, actually.
>> Yeah, we sense like a capability-building petition for the Wisconsin Chapter. It's a great part of our energy abundance initiative as well. >> [LAUGH]
>> So, why is Wisconsin known as the dairy state? >> Not only do we have the happiest cows in the country. I'm looking at you California. We, he also make alternatives and we eat a ton of cheese. It's like an obscene amount of cheese.
>> That's true. As someone who lives in the neighborhood to the south, I can test that, but we drive up there.
“We stop, there's entire stores just dedicated to cheese”
in this glorious. >> Do you stop at the cheese castle on your way? >> I have stuff there, yes. The Mars cheese castle is pretty fantastic, yeah. I've also stopped at the massive flea market.
That's on the way up 94, too.
>> That Wisconsin little in fact has over 1.2 million dairy cows.
It's pretty impressive. >> Not enough. >> No more. >> [LAUGH] >> I'm on board.
So, Jake, in 1803, there's a land deal that brought most of Minnesota under US control, but it's kind of counterintuitive because of its name. What land deal was that? >> Louisiana purchase? >> Yeah, no idea when up that far.
>> It's incredible. >> Yeah, it's basically like a third of the United States, just that stripe right up in the middle. >> Sort of myself historian. Okay, go into South Carolina.
“That was the first state to do what in December of 1860.”
>> The seed from the union? >> Yes. >> Wow, okay.
I've never been in South Carolina.
>> Well, it's been really exciting for me. >> I feel bad we're going to bash South Carolina. A lot of people in the Civil War, but it's a beautiful state. Yeah, it's actually a really wonderful state. And they're doing a lot of great stuff there.
So, you know, let's not have too much. But they came back to the union in 1868. So, that was a good set for it. So Rhode Island was the first college to do what on May 4th, 1776. >> Ah.
>> I mean, not-- >> Not any states for start of the Revolutionary War. >> Yeah. Is it declare their independence from Britain? >> Yeah.
>> I've renounced allegiance to King George III. Yeah, let me go. All right, Megan, which city was constant as known as the birthplace of the Republican Party? >> Ripon, Wisconsin, and the Old White School House.
>> Nice, exactly. I have gone and seen that. >> They moved it, did you know that? >> No, I did not. >> Yeah, yeah, they were going to tear it down.
And they were able to save the building and move it to a new location for the people who still go visit. >> Nice, well, I mean, I know that Minnesota's the land of 10,000 likes. But Wisconsin has a lot of beautiful spots, beautiful lakes. And we used to go up to Green Lake, which was near by Ripon,
and we were able to go and see the birthplace of the Republican Party. But I have to say, Wisconsin has a ton of beautiful places. It's been special, especially in the summertime. >> I'm pretty sure I would bet a lot of money that we actually have more lakes than Minnesota.
Note that I want to start a big agreement. But I am pretty sure we have more lakes. And we count real lakes on the little ponds and puddles that Minnesota won't. >> I think it's actually opposite.
We're the only one that counts the real lakes. You guys count those major issues that you circle around on the highway. >> No, no, no, no. >> The sense could do me. We'll have to, maybe do a whole episode with some fact-finding.
I hope to get some chat to you, be team-volved. >> All right, where are you going?
>> We're really hammering on this now.
Where were the first shots of the American Civil War fired? >> We'll go with South Carolina since we got four options here. >> Yeah, I mean, in Fort Summary. Yep. And there's only one casualty, by the way.
I'm just going to be with you since here. What fictional tall-tail lumberjack from Minnesota had a blue ox? >> That's Paul Barnean and baby's blue ox. >> Nice.
So, in front of him in a soda, you're really required to love Paul Barnean. >> I don't know about required, but it's a great piece of lore that we have here. >> Yeah, I mean, in Jake, you're pretty tall, so, I mean, you probably haven't affinity.
>> You know, I've always looked off to Paul Barnean, but apparently he was much bigger than I was.
>> Yeah, you don't look up to many guys, so. >> All right, there are 10 cities that claim Paul Barnean has their hometown, and is it Baniji, Minnesota? Has it Baniji out? >> Baniji out.
>> Yeah. >> Statue of Paul and babe. So, there you go. >> Yep. >> All right, now we get to some important stuff.
“What is the nickname for fans of the Green Bay Packers?”
>> Cheeseheads. >> You don't want me to answer that on my podcast. >> Exactly. >> You can say stuff on podcast. We're not in the radio.
>> Also see winners, loyal fans. >> Okay, we'll see what she said. You know, that was originally an insult from Illinoisans, from Illinois fans, but packers fans embraced it. Although I have you notice, I've kind of loved that like Barne, Chicago Barne fans, stuff
has started wearing cheese graters as hats, that's kind of funny. >> I've seen that. We're just missing Tim for the whole NSC North here, by the way. >> Yeah, getting out of our, all right. What massive shopping complex in Bloomington, Minnesota, opened in 1992, in Mall of America?
Yep. We're just Mall of America. >> No.
>> We're always building a new one, but we're about to double its size by adding a water
part to it. >> Really? >> Yeah. >> That's great. Everything can be improved by any water parks.
>> Yeah, I totally agree in some of my kids. They're very excited. >> What is the use of a shark now? I used to be camp snoopy. Last time I was there, it was--
>> Yeah, usually camp snoopy at Illinois, how it started.
“I think it's-- they know what to camp, make a loading for a while.”
I think it may still be that, but I'm not sure. It's been a few years since I've been to that. >> So Jake, when they have the water park, and they have like a big title pool, or something, will you guys count that as a lake? >> [LAUGH] >> That is not technically a lake.
>> For Minnesota Standards, it's probably as two lakes. >> [LAUGH] >> It's just checking, you know. All right, what island chain was constant on Lake Superior is a national lake shore? >> The Apostle Islands.
>> I was not aware of them. >> I-- it's one of my bucket lists to go up. It's only every six years they managed to open it in the winter when the lake freezes enough, and it has to be like the perfect conditions to go see their quality ice caves up there.
And I've never been able to make it, because it's like, okay, perfect conditions tomorrow,
we're open for two days, and that's the only time you can go there, but it's on my bucket list. >> Wow, that's cool, I didn't know that. All right, go to South Carolina. What is the marshy coastal region of South Carolina called? >> The outer banks.
>> That is North Carolina. >> Dang it. >> That was-- I would go there. >> North Carolina. >> North Carolina. I knew that one. >> I know it. >> It's called the low country.
>> Which sounds bad, but everybody calls it that. In fact, I've been to a low country shrimp boil, which is delicious. That's what I call it. >> South Carolina's got good food. >> Yeah, great cities, Charleston's a wonderful city.
>> Yeah. >> I highly recommend everybody going to Charleston. It's just beautiful, beautiful.
“>> All right, which major North American river has its head waters at Lake Titaska in Minnesota?”
>> The mighty Mississippi. >> What are the mansions in Newport, Rhode Island, famous for? >> Being very old. >> Yeah, yeah. >> Pretty sure they were-- >> Pretty sure they were left as a mansion there.
>> But I don't know if that's-- >> But really? >> Or I think so. I'm not a Swiftie, but I'm pretty sure that she does. >> At this point, again, that might be more important than anything else. >> Yeah, apparently they were summer cottages for gilded age, elites like the Vanderbilt's.
And you can actually go and visit the Breaker's Cottage that was built and owned by the Vanderbilt's. >> Yeah, I think they lost. >> We actually have a little bit of an Illinois outside of the Chicago area. >> I'm glad I don't come-- >> Get up to the moon. >> Yes, David Blake Geneva, Lake Geneva has some of that.
>> That's just all Illinois. >> The lumber barren and the mining barrens have used to have huge houses up in Duluth. >> Mm, those were their summer cottages. >> Yeah, well, all right.
So, John and Nicolae was the first European to explore Wisconsin.
Where did he land? >> Uh, Green Bay.
>> Yes, I was going to say they commemorated it with by building a football city in there.
>> Something like that. >> That's not true. >> Something close to that.
“There's a bottled water brand, I think, named after him, it's Nicolae Water.”
>> So, football stadium and bottled water, it's a great legacy. >> That's it again, just covering a statement. All right, what for to South Carolina produce more of than Georgia despite Georgia's nickname? Probably Peach is based on that. >> Yeah, and both are behind California and Peach production.
That's really insulting for Georgia, like, man, if you're going to choose something, you might as well really lead the country in it. >> Time to get your game up to get up there. >> All right, what is the name of the popular annual event? Nicname the Great Minnesota get together.
The state fair, I think it's the largest in the country considering it's time for him.
I think Texas ends up being a little bit larger overall, but it goes on first from this to the longer time.
>> All right, turn it a little to politics. Who was the famous Wisconsin Senator known for the red scare in the 1950s? >> McCarty. >> That's just some McCarty. Which made a so-ton served as vice president and ran for president in 1984.
Walter Mondale, nice. My little known fact, my grandmother, who was from Norway, my family or Norwegian. She voted for Walter Mondale solely because he was Norwegian, and when my uncle found out about this, who was a diehard Reaganite, he threw a fit and went and waited in the car. >> The difference in the day. It didn't make much of a difference.
He ended up going one in 49s and was only met as out as hell. >> Yep, yep, that was a great, yeah, that was a great snacking.
“>> All right, which 1980 Olympic competition known as the Miracle On Ice featured a coach and several players from Minnesota?”
>> Oh, the 1980 USA Gold hockey team. >> Yeah, well technically it wasn't gold, it was actually a semi-final game before the metal rounds. >> And then they did win the gold though, they did win the gold though, yep. Which famous architect was born in Richland Center, Wisconsin as well known for his organic architecture. >> Rank, Lloyd Wright.
>> Yes, yes, I know ideas close, Wisconsin. >> Yes, yeah, you can go see Taliesin, which is the home that he lived in and also home to a horrible tragedy. The Twixie end of his life, there's fire and some murders, it sounds like it's straight from a like mystery now. But it's real, you know, afternoon research project. >> Wow, yeah, I'm Pete my interest, all right, which going to South Carolina,
which resort island is famous for his golf courses in Lighthouse. >> Popular vacation destination, KPC saw grass, no, well, I don't, I'm not sure what town that's in. >> Oh, Hilton had. >> Yeah, oh, yeah, is that named after the Hilton's like the hotel Hilton's? >> I don't believe so.
>> But I don't know, I'm just a podcast. >> But I'm just kidding for me, yeah, I don't know, you know what I'm going to like that. It sounds good, let's go with it. >> It's all of it should be at least.
“>> Yeah, I think it's just named after Paris Hilton, but this is, that's, I think that's his granddaughter.”
So it still works. >> There you go. >> Counter-intelligence granddaughter, I've met counter-intelligence actually once little in fact. >> What's cool? Milwaukee is historically famous for witch industry.
Beer? >> I was going to guess beer, too. >> Buries, things like yellow, Miller, Lake from Burie, Spracker, Burie, I'm probably missing a few. >> Just a few dozen, I'm sure.
>> Yep. >> Bear cool, if you, if you come and go on the Miller to go see where they brew Miller, they still have you in two or the caves that they used originally back in the 1800s or whatever. On that they used natural cooling to keep the beer cold, you can go see the caves. And you can rent him out and do like dinners in the old beer caves, it's really cool.
>> Wow, that's awesome. >> Yeah. >> That's very cool. What is brought worst and which Wisconsin City claims to be its world capital? >> Brought worst is the most delicious German sausage you can possibly have.
Perfection is when you boil it here first with onion and then you grill them.
And obviously the home of the brought worst is Shaboygan, Wisconsin. >> Also call. >> All correct. >> The Malibu of the Midwest. His it's other Nick, I'm not even kidding, it is tough.
People go surfing on Lake Michigan in the winter in Shaboygan, which is why they call it the Malibu of the Midwest. >> That's awesome, I know I do. >> Yes. >> I've been the Malibu and Shaboygan, it just didn't, I think I can confirm that Megan is correct.
That is the only way to cook brought worst properly.
I do add a little bit of garlic with the onion when I do the beer boil, but there is no other way to get a little exotic for me, Jake.
>> Wow, seriously. >> You like to live on the edge here. >> Okay, we're probably skin and avian neighbors are the proof of that. >> Can we dedicate the rest of the trivia just to food and beer facts? Because I think I would, you've really wallet that.
>> Well, we're not keeping score, so but I understand that you would win, which does make you a great woman.
“>> Life is a competition meant to be one, it's how my father raised me, so if we should be keeping score.”
>> Great. Well, which world famous motorcycle companies had recorded in Milwaukee? >> Softball question, Harley Davidson. >> Yeah, it's an easy one. >> Yeah, that's something you proud of too. >> Yeah, it's a great time.
>> Yeah, well, as a Midwestern resident, I very much enjoy talking about other Midwestern states.
Because there's a lot of cool stuff about place like Minnesota and Wisconsin that people don't often recognize throughout the world.
Or throughout the nation. What's one thing that you want people to know about your state that's really cool that they may not know? >> That they may not already know? >> Mm-hm. >> Or it's a little known.
>> I think one of the coolest things about Minnesota and it has been true for a while, but I will say due to some of our current leadership. We're starting to lose it. We do have the highest rate of Fortune 500, Fortune 500 companies per capita in the United States. But we've had some turbulent political leadership here in Minnesota that are driving those businesses away. >> Thanks. >> So I don't know how much longer we'll hold that title or if we will.
>> Unless, you know, Americans were prosperity or can't turn things around. >> Yeah. >> What about you, Megan, what do you think? >> Just like to point out, I don't know if everyone can see my sign right there. That's all Minnesota are Wisconsin to go off from Jake's point that Minnesota is struggling right now.
And we definitely don't want our state to turn into that. So I'm sure everyone can see this great sign. >> Yeah, you guys are kind of fighting a two-front war with us here in Illinois coming from the south. >> And we got Michigan too with what should rightfully be ours, the UP on top. I will check and start a whole fight on that.
I'm about how that's right. >> I was going to say it. >> I think. >> Back that you surrendered that. >> Of course.
>> Or that takes away a lot of Wisconsin. >> Before my time. I think the one thing that people might not know about Wisconsin is that all of the stereotypes are really true. >> Yeah. >> You want to know the way to any Wisconsin I taught by I'm a brat by I'm a beer.
Go sit by the lake, go fishing, go tubing, whatever you want to do on the lake.
“And that's how you're going to win us over.”
It's all 100% true and we can't help it. We are watching. I think we're proud of it. >> All right. As we wrap up that's so true.
I can't believe much of it. And I mean, it is true also that per capita, the number one, the most, the number one drinking state in the nation is Wisconsin. >> Correct. >> Unsurprisingly. >> Correct.
>> Yeah. I can actually say long time ago, back in Northern College, we were on a spring break trip. And they wouldn't let people from Wisconsin participate in one of the drinking competitions. >> Really? >> That's awesome.
>> I got a story about Wisconsin. I was on spring break and there was a snowstorm in Georgia. We got stuck. We're sleeping on the calamity. People sleeping on the floor of the hotels.
And I was with some kind of stud-like guys. And they were pretty cool.
“And these girls came up like, hey, do you guys need a place to take a shower and rest because we're in the floor of a lobby?”
And like, yeah, we walk into their hotel room. And there's these bags piled up in the corner. And it's a universe with Wisconsin cheerleading team. It's like God bless America.
>> A couple years ago, the Badgers football team played BYU for the first time.
They literally drank every bar near the stadium for BYU out of alcohol. By Saturday morning, before the game, there was no alcohol left near the BYU campus because of the balance. >> When I say the stereotype is true, it is really, really true. But we're hardworking to have fun and we like to eat cheese. And what could be better than that?
>> Nice. I agree with that. As you wrap up, Megan, what are you guys working on with AFP Wisconsin? >> We work on a lot of different things, besides not letting Minnesota and Illinois bring their horrible policies. But we're in process of making sure we can defend school choice in Wisconsin, so every kid can have education opportunities.
We're fighting back against literally a 400 year property tax hike that was i...
Things like that that really impact families and their ability to thrive in our state.
“We don't want young families, senior citizens, anyone else leaving because we don't have the opportunities and we have two high of taxes.”
So that's where our focus is right now. >> It's great.
Yeah, one of our chapters for AFP that's always been dynamic and impactful.
I mean, I don't know that there's a state where AFP is more consequential and influential in kind of shaping. None of the narrative, but actual policy. So you've continued to create some great leadership there, Megan. >> Thank you.
“>> Jake, what do you guys, I know, have you guys wrapped up your session and, you know, what do you guys doing?”
>> We are, we are in the last week of our session, it ends week from today.
We are, you know, we are fighting strongly for healthcare freedom. I think we're actually going to make some gains in the right direction there. We are protecting education to the best of our ability and starting to make some gains there. And then the big part what we're trying to do is really open up the climate here so that people can start the businesses that have turned into those. These Fortune 500 companies that made Minnesota so great by fighting back against the regulatory issues that we have with our current administration.
Looking forward to a new opportunity as the governor says goodbye.
And hopefully we can strike a, a leap in the right direction as we go forward this year. >> Yeah, best of luck. I mean, I know having formerly been a state director in Illinois and still living here, I know it's like to fight. Sometimes, seemingly like it, seemingly long odds and you guys have made a lot of progress. And it's, it's a good fight because there's a lot of good freedom of loving people who just want to go out and earn a living and try to be successful.
And unfortunately the government likes to get in the way sometimes. You guys are fighting, fighting the good fight there. So well, thanks, Jake and Megan, thank you so much for joining us. Hopefully it's kind of fun. I really appreciate you guys jumping on and letting us learn more about your states. >> Thank you for thanks for having us on.
>> Yeah. >> So folks, if you like this episode and like to stay connected with the podcast, be sure to like our channel as well as following us on Facebook and Instagram and YouTube.
“And always remember liberty and freedom are easily taken granted.”
Don't take it for granted. Go out there and defend freedom of liberty. Thanks for joining us and we'll see you on the next episode. >> Thanks. >> Thank you for listening to American Potential.
You may listen to more stories from Americans working every day to expand freedom and opportunity in their communities by visiting AmericanPotential.com.
