Where a sheriff buys gas | Election preview | Working across the aisle | Four more years | Data center delirium | Sleeping in the office | Oct. 31, 2026, Dan Ahlers, Marty Jackley, Larry Rhoden, Tony Venhuizen

Every cup from my Keurig started tasting weak, flat, stale — so I unplugged it and stuck it in a closet. Then I learned the dirty secret of grocery store K-Cups: by the time a pod reaches your kitchen, it's usually spent months going from factory to warehouse to truck to shelf. The flavor oils are long gone. Some brands even over-roast to hide it.

The fix wasn't a new machine. It was fresh pods from Angelino's, a family-owned L.A. roastery that roasts, packs, and ships within 3–5 days — straight to your door, from 39¢ a cup. Over 1,000,000 happy customers. 50+ flavors, no subscription required, and 15% off your first order, applied automatically at checkout.

Try 35¢ Pods

In this packed pre-election episode of The Scouting Lounge, Joe and Jonathan talk about the Brookings Sheriff's Office gas purchases. Then they interview Democratic nominee for governor Dan Ahlers, current Gov. Larry Rhoden, Attorney General Marty Jackley and Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen.

Episode highlights:

Dan Ahlers — Democratic gubernatorial candidate

1. 00:38:25 — Ahlers discusses polling in the governor's race, saying several polls show him trailing Rhoden by 3 to 10 percentage points, while one poll conducted after the State Fair debate showed him leading by 3 points. He says he continues campaigning as if he is behind because he is a Democrat running in a Republican-dominated state.

2. 00:44:13 — Ahlers says the growing use of Flock license plate-reading cameras is invading people's privacy. He argues that South Dakota needs state and federal legislation to establish safeguards because the data can cross state lines and be accessed by outside entities.

3. 00:47:27 — Ahlers says a lack of local regulations is allowing mining operations to emerge in people's backyards, particularly in western South Dakota. He argues for common-sense regulations that protect individual rights and livelihoods without creating excessive government oversight.

4. 00:50:56 — Ahlers says his administration would prioritize qualifications when hiring state agency secretaries, regardless of political affiliation. He criticizes previous administrations for putting people in leadership positions without the experience needed to run their departments.

5. 00:55:38 — Ahlers criticizes South Dakota's economic development incentives, arguing that too much money goes to large, out-of-state or foreign-owned companies instead of homegrown businesses. He questions what the state received in return for $69 million in incentives to CJ Schwan's.

6. 00:57:08 — Ahlers highlights a Wakonda farmer's proposed hempcrete manufacturing operation as an example of the type of small-town economic development he believes the state should support. He says the project could have created 10 to 12 jobs paying $22 to $25 an hour but is being built in Iowa because the farmer could not secure South Dakota incentives.

7. 01:03:33 — Ahlers says he would not immediately dismantle initiatives started by previous governors if elected. Instead, he would first talk with the people operating those programs, assess how they work and make changes based on their input.

Attorney General Marty Jackley — congressional candidate

8. 01:17:55 — Jackley describes the joint campaign bus tour with Rhoden and Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen as an opportunity to discuss what they can do for South Dakota. He emphasizes his longstanding relationships with Rhoden and U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds.

9. 01:24:10 — Jackley points to his record as attorney general as preparation for serving in Congress, noting that he introduced 10 bills during the previous legislative session and all 10 passed. He says the measures addressed public safety, election integrity and open-meeting laws, with broad bipartisan support.

10. 01:25:42 — Jackley discusses his ability to work with Democratic attorneys general from other states, saying political differences do not prevent cooperation when the work benefits South Dakota. He says he is willing to work with people who share common goals, even when they disagree on other issues.

11. 01:26:05 — Asked whether U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar broke the law, Jackley declines to comment, saying he has not reviewed her file or the evidence. He says he will not get ahead of himself on legal matters without examining the facts.

12. 01:33:36 — Jackley says Congress needs to pass a new farm bill, noting that the last farm bill was enacted in 2018. He cites food security, certainty for producers, value-added agriculture, ethanol, year-round E15 and biodiesel as important issues for South Dakota.

13. 01:34:09 — Jackley raises concerns about Social Security's financial future, saying inflation and fraud are contributing to the program's problems. He argues that addressing fraud, reviewing benefit eligibility and making changes to the program's calculations could help preserve Social Security without raising taxes.

Gov. Larry Rhoden

14. 01:29:07 — Rhoden describes the previous two legislative sessions as difficult because of deep divisions within the Republican caucus. He says his administration worked with Democrats and Republicans who had split into different factions to pass major legislation involving prison funding, the pipeline and property tax relief.

15. 01:39:26 — Asked about public opposition to data centers and artificial intelligence, Rhoden says people are being influenced by rhetoric and suggests China may be cultivating some of the concerns. He says his administration has tried to address those fears through a data center Bill of Rights and assurances that projects will be treated like other economic development proposals while protecting ratepayers and natural resources.