Brandon Ferdig

📣 NEW FEATURE - "A Healthcare Revolution Under Big Sky Country" You know how more and more Americans are flying out of the country to get healthcare they can't get at home? Or how some patients are stuck waiting for drugs to be approved—even though they're willing to take on the risk? Lawmakers in Montana saw these concerns, and the state is now opening special clinics for patients willing to try experimental treatments. I spoke to a clinic director, authors of the legislation, and the lawmaker at the head of this movement taking place under Big Sky country. Read it here: open.substack.com/pub/theper… Thank you: @RighttoTryGuy @NiklasAnzinger @infinita_co

NEW VIDEO: I talked to Minnesota mayors about the disorder in our state At the recent @CultXConverge conference, I moderated a discussion about how local leaders are feeling the affects of the conflict across the state—and nation. The biggest takeaway for me: With all the tension and community infighting, it’s not easy being a mayor these days. So I took a moment in the middle this conversation to thank these four for stepping up. Enjoy their testimonies in this video, a look behind-the-scenes at city halls large and small affected by the challenges across our state. Watch Here: youtu.be/cTVflqH35hc @LocalTiesMedia

LOL tweet of the day

While tensions in Minnesota regarding the Somali are high, my state is a major hub for another refugee community that has integrated famously well: the Hmong. Avid hunters and fishermen, huge fans of Minnesota sports, and they even painted a Hmong/American mural in the storied small town, Walnut Grove, made famous by Laura Ingalls Wilder. (pictured is my article about this for the Star Tribune from 10 years back) This all didn't come about with conflict (technological, culture, even legal), but the Hmong in Minnesota is a positive example to remember these days. Read more at this week's post: open.substack.com/pub/theper… And to read my story about the Hmong in Minnesota, click here: startribune.com/little-marve…

Hey, @GeminiApp, can you activate and respond to requests like Grok can within this platform? Just curious.

At this event, I'm moderating a panel with Minnesota lawmakers called "Cultural Reset: An Opportunity for Minnesota in the Weeks and Months Ahead." The main premise and question: Minnesota has experienced much unrest, controversy, and division the past 5-10 years. How can we turn things around? 1. We'll talk about the problem: -How we've all experienced this issue -How it has affected these lawmakers' ability to do their work 2. We'll talk about the solution: -What might be done to correct our path? What work, if any, are these lawmakers doing? -Finally, how do we see our state (or just our communities) coming out of this for the better? There'll be plenty of discussion from these questions—including any attendees might like to offer—at this event featuring other panel discussion, food, and entertainment. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS & QUESTIONS here, and I'll pass them along to the panelists. Better yet, get your tickets to this event in Wayzata HERE: culture-convergence.com/tick…

This is another fascinating blend of institutions/ideas thanks to modernity blurring the lines--in this case blurring capitalism and communism (as they are often understood). Capitalism = wealth and companies in a few private hands Communism = wealth distributed and companies owned by the people 401K retirement accounts started this "best of both worlds" blend. Musk's move is furthering this trend. By seeing their blend today, we can also better understand the roots of these philosophies as well.

Think about what this technology eventually means for law enforcement (car chases). And this will be happening in a society already struggling to keep the peace due to rising protests and more general unrest since about 2000. And let's add to it the fragmentation in industry, art, education, etc. At a fundamental level, things need to be reorganized and reassessed when shaping a society for the 21st century. #roadster

THURSDAY NIGHT, Oct. 22, at Baja Haus in Wayzata I'm moderating the panel "Cultural Reset: An Opportunity for Minnesota," where I'll be on stage with policymakers & candidates discussing how this election can help turn things around in our state. Audience questions are welcome. This is a great opportunity for anyone concerned about the direction of Minnesota and wanting a solution. It's also an opportunity to enjoy other panels discussing technology and society. ✅ Get your tickets to @CultXConverge HERE: culture-convergence.com/tick…

I noticed the rise of women on TikTok blaming men, as a whole, for violence and sexual assault. Then a question hit me: Since we all agree men do commit the vast majority of sexual assaults (with women the victims), why do so many women strongly support letting crowds of unvetted young men into their country? This contradiction revealed to me that the problem isn't just about one sex or the other. It’s a society-wide breakdown. ▶ My new video: youtu.be/LS1MO6myrgU

I first thought it meant "synthetic intelligence" and thought that made sense. But "super intelligence" doesn't seem appropriate. Too vague.

The NFL should go to 18 games and give all teams the same bye after week 9. Then we can say the Front 9 and Back 9 and enjoy that sport lingo crossover. Oh, and given the game is all about "enemy territory" and "trenches" and "bombs" and such, just rename it already to warball while we're at it.

Creators are more empowered than ever, but many musicians struggle to build an independent career. @violettazironi solved this by using NFTs and selling her music directly to fans. ▶️ Watch Here: youtu.be/D6fzheKDHrY The acoustic singer-songwriter from Italy now has a strong following keeping her on tour, on livestreams, and in the studio: violettazironi.com/

Anyone in the Twin Cities interested in cryptocurrency or finance tech should come check out this talk on stablecoins.

What's so odd is this guy's father, William, co-authored of The Sovereign Individual, the manifesto about how nation-states will see their power dwindle due to technology. His father predicted nations (including Britain) would inevitably weaken and cease to exist as they do now, and now his son here is lamenting young British men not wanting to die for thiers. There's also the obvious disconnect and injustice of asking young people to fight a fraudulent war in the wake of their country's destruction by the same lawmakers asking them to die for it. But the father-son connection here is also notable.

We Minnesotans are tired of being in the news for all the wrong reasons. Maybe this election is just the thing we need. From my 8/25 interview with MN House candidate and Corcoran mayor, @VoteForTomMcKee

I felt a tinge of hope for my beleaguered Minnesota when talking to this candidate for MN House. It wasn't his positions, or even just him. It was that he laid out how this year's election offers an unusual amount of turnover in state offices.

NEW VIDEO: Tired of the drama, struggle, and negative attention on my state, I felt some encouragement when talking to @VoteForTomMcKee, candidate for Minnesota House. This year's election may offer some hope because there's an unusually high amount of turnover. Scores of new Minnesota House and Senate members will be joined by a new Governor, potentially a new Attorney General, and some big federal offices as well. When Tom laid it out like that, I realized this could be just be the opportunity our state needs—and he's hoping to be a part of that. So, we talk about his campaign, his role as mayor of Corcoran, and this unique opportunity for Minnesota to start a new chapter. Enjoy this episode of The Periphery Podcast: youtu.be/DUVbRfRiJCw