Thousands rallied at the Minnesota Capitol in St. Paul and across the state Saturday as part of national protests against President Donald Trump’s policies, which organizers say are an “assault” on freedoms and leading to a “billionaire takeover” of government.

Minnesota “Hands Off!” demonstrators said they’re concerned about Trump’s deportations, trade war against allies, and billionaire presidential adviser Elon Musk’s push to downsize the federal government, which has already resulted in tens of thousands of layoffs and billions in reported cuts to everything from foreign aid to scientific research.

A common theme among those in attendance was a fear of an emerging authoritarianism in the U.S. with what they see as fewer barriers to Trump in his second term as president. “Wake up Americans, this is fascism!” read one sign. Many others carried signs reading “No Kings.”

Recent arrests of foreign university students with ties to Gaza war protests were a big area of concern for Seldon Caswell of White Bear Lake, who said immigration authorities are violating the constitutional right to due process.

“Masked people no wearing no uniform, who refuse to identify themselves, snatching people off the street? That should alarm everybody,” said Caswell, 53. “I am horrified that people I don’t know, students who were registered had a legal visa to be here — suddenly, their visa is gone, and they’re suddenly an illegal immigrant in our country to be disappeared.”

Caswell and many others were first-time protesters. They represented a wide set of groups opposed to Trump’s agenda on a range of issues and carried signs telling the president and Musk to keep their “hands off” funding for education, health and science, or LGBTQ+ rights.

Others were troubled by Trump’s treatment of close U.S. allies, like Canada, whom the president has recently hit with tariffs in an effort to pressure the country to do more to combat what Trump has called unfair limitations on U.S. goods.

“We have a Canadian flag flying in front of our house,” said Ann Walters, 63, of St. Paul. “Those are the best neighbors ever. We just can’t believe that we’re starting a trade war with all these people.”

Walters and others were among what Minnesota State Patrol officers at the rally estimated was a crowd of up to 10,000 people. Officers blocked several nearby streets in order to safely fit the rally, which caused heavy midday traffic in the blocks immediately surrounding the state Capitol.

Activists and state lawmakers, including Rep. María Isa Pérez-Vega, DFL-St. Paul, and Rep. Emma Greenman, DFL-Minneapolis, as well as Minnesota 4th District Congresswoman Betty McCollum, spoke to the crowd, which gathered from around noon to about 2:30 p.m. in front of the Capitol.

“We’re fighting back against Musk and Trump and their illegal and unconstitutional actions,” McCollum said in a brief speech.

The event was just one of more than 1,200 events in all 50 states planned by groups ranging from unions, veterans and LGBTQ+ advocates, the Associated Press reported.

The White House issued a statement in response to questions from the AP about the protests, downplaying concerns about federal cuts.

“President Trump’s position is clear: he will always protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries,” the statement said. “Meanwhile, the Democrats’ stance is giving Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare benefits to illegal aliens, which will bankrupt these programs and crush American seniors.”

Besides the rally at the Minnesota Capitol, protesters gathered in the cities of Duluth and Rochester on Saturday afternoon. The St. Paul rally was backed by the 50501 movement, which led a large anti-Trump protest at the state Capitol in February, as well as Indivisible Twin Cities and Women’s March Minnesota.

The Republican Party of Minnesota said the rally was organized by “radical progressive groups” and showed that the Democratic Party is “rudderless” and “out of ideas.”

“If this is the best the radical Left has to offer — old ideas, more government waste, and endless complaining — then we welcome the contrast,” Minnesota GOP Chairman Alex Plechash said in a statement.

While there have been anti-Trump showings in Minnesota since he took office again in January, Saturday’s rally was by far the largest, and organizers vowed to continue to pressure the administration and other elected officials with protests.

“It’s time to get off the couch, get out and say something, do something,” said Don Pelton, a 71-year-old veteran from Cottage Grove who decided to join the Indivisible group just one week ago. “I don’t think that the legislators, the government, as it stands right now, can’t ignore it.”

Vanessa Plata, 46, of Maple Grove, said she’s always been politically engaged, but that Saturday’s rally was the first time she had attended a protest in person. Plata, who immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico, said she believes institutions meant to place checks and balances against Trump are failing.

“We can’t continue just sit idle and pretend that what would have been what has been done to the country is normal,” she said. “People are waking up … realizing this is not OK, just a power grab, it needs to stop.”

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It’s still difficult to guess who will be the Minnesota Vikings’ backup quarterback to J.J. McCarthy next season. But it’s definitely not going to be Aaron Rodgers and it’s unlikely to be Kirk Cousins.

There’s a 99 percent chance that Rodgers winds up with the Steelers, and for Cousins the most likely choice is the Browns.

That leaves Ryan Tannehill, 36, who made nearly $200 million during an 11-year NFL career and now lives happily in Nashville, Tenn.; Joe Flacco, 40, and Drew Lock, 28, among considerations.

Tannehill, who sat out last season, is 6-feet-4 and has a strong arm, which Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell values.

The Vikings aren’t expected to make their choice for about a month.

>> It’s been obvious the Vikings hope McCarthy, 22, can be their starter. Now it’s a question whether they can find a suitable backup if something happens with McCarthy, who missed last season following two right knee procedures.

>> Trey Lance, the Marshall High (Minn.) grad, There was no chance with the Vikings even though he’s expected to sign a free agent deal with the Chargers. Lance, 24, received a guaranteed $34.1 million contract from the 49ers four years ago.

>> It was 2006. Niko Medved was 32 years old. Gophers men’s basketball coach Dan Monson recalled interviewing him with top assistant Jim Molinari for an assistant job.
“I remember Molinari saying we’ve got to keep him here — he’s a superstar, he’s a loyal Gopher and he loves it here,” Monson told the Pioneer Press. “So we found him a few dollars from some auxiliary money to just be part of the staff. It was a win for him and a win for us.”
Medved, 51, the Roseville Area and Minnesota grad, last week was hired as head Gophers coach with an $18 million, six-year contract.
“In the interview, you could see he was sharp, had a great presence about him  pretty even keeled, didn’t get too high or too low — and he was young,” Monson said.
Medved’s Gophers deal averages $3 million a year, with an annual supplemental payment of $100,000.
“More than they paid me,” Monson said with a laugh.
Monson, 63, is head coach at Eastern Michigan.

>> It was 28 years ago. Tom Lehman was the No. 1-ranked golfer in the world. Last weekend in Palm Desert, Calif., Lehman, 66, was back playing a full schedule on the PGA Champions Tour. He is as competitive as ever.
“My game is the best it’s been in a few years,” the former Gopher from Alexandria told the Pioneer Press while preparing to play in the Galleri Classic. “I‘m hitting it a lot better, a little bit longer, hitting it solid. I just need to find a way to get that ball to go into the hole.”
Lehman remains the only golfer in history to be ranked No. 1 on the PGA Tour, No. 1 on the Champions Tour and No.1 on the Ben Hogan Tour, now the Korn Ferry Tour. Some people feel strongly that the 1996 British Open champion and 2006 USA Ryder Cup captain qualifies for the World Golf Hall of Fame.
How long does Lehman intend to play on tour?
“I really enjoy the preparation that goes into golf, but I don’t like to play poorly,” he said. “My game was lousy the last couple of years, but if it can get better again and start getting better results, I’ll maybe play a little bit longer.”
He’s won 12 times on the Champions Tour. Can he win again?
“I played with Ernie Els and he told me, ‘I think you can still win the way you hit it,’ so that was a nice compliment. He didn’t have to say it.
“It’s all about the putting. If I can start to roll it and get the ball to start dropping, I think I can still be competitive.”
As for his putting, Lehman said he needs to relax.
“The older I get, the more anxious I get on the green,” he said. “If I can find a way to relax and be comfortable, then I putt well. But if I have anxiety, then I don’t. I’ve been thinking about switching it up with a whole different putting style, maybe going with the long putter, doing something totally different.”

>> One entrepreneur has offered private home accommodations for three nights near Augusta, Ga., with badges for four people for Saturday and Sunday at the Masters, which begins on Thursday, for $31,900.

>> Had Gophers golfer Isabella McCauley not missed the cut by one shot in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur tournament after a second-round 69 last week, she would have advanced to the finals at the storied course with a chance to win and earn a spot in four of the five LPGA majors this year.

>> Former NY Rangers GM Glen Sather last week in Palm Desert, Calif., on why he named Cretin-Derham Hall grad Ryan McDonagh his captain at age 25: “He has common sense, leadership and is a great player.” McDonagh, now of the Lightning, was honored last weekend in Tampa for playing in his 1,000th NHL game.
Meanwhile, that was hockey royalty — Sather, who as GM built five Stanley Cup champions with the Oilers, and former North Stars GM Lou Nanne — lunching in Palm Desert last week.

>> Woodbury’s Max Meyer, 26, the former Gophers pitcher back in the major leagues with the Marlins, Is recovered after Tommy John surgery nearly two years ago and has added a “sweeper” breaking pitch to his fastball that touches 98-mph. He’s stuck out 15 in 11 2/3 innings in two starts this season and is playing for $800,000. The Marlins have a major league-low $70 million payroll.

>> Mounds View’s Sam Hentges, 28, the 6-6 left-hander with a 95-mph fastball out for the season with the Cleveland Guardians after shoulder surgery, still gets his $1.4 million salary this year.

>> The Twins will win 83 games, finishing third in their division, and miss the playoffs, per Sports Illustrated.

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>> That was former Twin Frank Viola, wife Kathy and extended family in town the other day to celebrate the 100th birthday of Kathy’s aunt Evelyn, who is from St. Paul. During their stay, the Violas’ took their grandkids to Target Field to learn about their 1987 World Series MVP grandpa.
This season, Viola, 64, who was the American League 1988 Cy Young Award winner, is pitching coach for the High Point (N.C.) Rockers in the Atlantic League.

>> More than 100 well-wishers turned up at Macalester College recently for a celebration of life for the beloved mother of Andy Bischoff, the former Cretin-Derham Hall football assistant who has gone on to be running game coordinator for the LA Chargers.

>> After three years of planning, former Gophers-Vikings linebacker Mark Dusbabek, who is chief rules referee and analyst for CBS-NBC TV’s coverage of the PGA Tour, has completed a video review center and broadcast from it during the Players Championship won by Rory McIlroy.
Dusbabek, 60, is busy working on more technology advances while continuing his on-air work.

>> Two-time world heavyweight boxer George Foreman died the other day at age 76. Late Minnesota boxer Scott LeDoux, who fought a handful of ex-world heavyweight champions, including Foreman, said the hardest puncher, by far, he faced was Foreman.
“Like getting hit with a jackhammer,” LeDoux said.

>> Catholic Athletic Association Hall of Fame electees are Greg Lendway, Ralph Norusis and Emmy Treacy Springer. Inductions are April 30 at Mendakota Country Club.

>> Electees to the Mancini’s St. Paul Sports Hall of Fame are Les Larson for hockey, Matt Vanda for boxing, Paul Weinberg and Tony Stone for baseball, Lou Raiola for football and Casey O’Brien for a special award. Inductions are May 12 at the Char House.

>> That was Dave Lee’s 51st year of broadcasting prep state tournament basketball games, including 12 recently on Ch. 45-TV. “It’s still a kick,” said Lee, the former WCCO-AM icon.

DON’T PRINT THAT

>> It remains uncertain whether the Minnesota Twins, who announced in October they would explore selling the team, will be able to find a suitable buyer.
Asked recently by the Pioneer Press if there’s a chance the Twins won’t be sold this year after all, Twins owner Jim Pohlad said “there’s always a chance.”

>> Before pocketing $1.5 billion for selling the Timberwolves-Lynx, Glen Taylor’s wealth was estimated at $3 billion, per Forbes’ new valuations this month. He could easily afford to buy the Twins.

>> Pssst: Kevin Garnett returning to the Timberwolves’ front office as the face of the team now that Taylor is relinquishing ownership has been done for more than a year, assuming new ownership.

>> Look for ex-Gopher Pharrel Payne to leave Texas A&M for Maryland for a $1.5 million NIL deal.

>> Count on it: After prolonged back and forth negotiating, Wild star Karill Kaprizov this summer will sign an eight-year contract extension for at least $16 million a season.

>> The Gophers’ firing of men’s basketball coach Ben Johnson at midnight on March 13 after a season-ending loss at Northwestern recalls the USC firing of Bloomington Jefferson grad Lane Kiffin as football coach in 2013. Kiffin was fired at 3 a.m. at Los Angeles International Airport after returning home from a loss at Arizona State, and the team bus back to campus took off without him.

>> Just as cold, the Gophers had Eric Musselman scheduled to interview in person with then-athletics director Norwood Teague in Naples, Fla., in 2013 for the head basketball coaching job. But then Richard Pitino was hired, and no one from the Gophers even bothered to inform Musselman, who was next on the list and left waiting in Naples.

>> That was Johnson and Cleveland Cavs head coach B.J. Bickerstaff, the former Gopher, dining at J.D. Hoyt’s in Minneapolis Saturday evening last week.

>> Cam Christie, 19, who left the Gophers to become a second-round draft pick of the LA Clippers and $3.1 million guaranteed contract, is averaging 18.2 points and 4.4 rebounds in the NBA G League.

>> Daniel Freitag, the former Bloomington Jefferson career scoring leader who was used sparingly as a freshman guard at Wisconsin this season, has entered the NCAA transfer portal.

>> The University of St. Thomas’ two leading men’s basketball scorers Miles Barnstable and Kendall Blue are entering the transfer portal.

>> Look for Andrew Rohde, who left the Tommies two years ago for a $150,000 per season NIL deal with Virginia, to transfer to home state Wisconsin.

>> A little birdie said the Gophers men’s basketball name, image and likeness (NIL) budget this season —lowest in the Big Ten — was in the $700,000 range, of which Dawson Garcia got $500,000.

>> Orono’s Yale-bound Nolan Groves, who the last two seasons scored more than 50 points in each of four games, including 57 against St. Louis Park, received no interest from the Gophers although he hoped he would. In an 87-71 state tournament opening victory over DeLaSalle, the 6-5 shooting guard scored 44 points with 11 rebounds.
Groves last week was named the Minnesota Gatorade player of the year.

>> A little birdie says 6-8 Clemson-bound Chase Thompson, who led Alexandria to the 3A state boys basketball championship, has a NIL deal with the Tigers in the $1.5 million range.

>> Tre Holloman, the Cretin-Derham grad, is hearing from multiple schools since leaving Michigan State last week for his senior season, but has received only casual interest from the Gophers.

>> Although she’s just a high school junior, look for Providence Academy’s 5-8 guard Maddyn Greenway to receive a colossal NIL deal for committing to Kentucky.

>> The date for the Vikings at Seahawks game next season, presumably featuring QBs J.J. McCarthy against ex-Viking Sam Darnold, will be released in five weeks.

>> There’s buzz that the Vikings will play a road game in Ireland against the Steelers this year.

>> It will depend on the amount of years, but a new naming rights deal for the Gophers Williams Arena will be worth slightly more than $1million a year, the average cost of a decent starting Division I quarterback.

>> Karl-Anthony Towns, traded to the Knicks in October, now has his Orono home on the market for $5.5 million after buying it for $4.52 million in 2020.

>> No doubt the Vikings, who currently have just four picks for the upcoming NFL draft, will trade down from their No. 24 in the first round to acquire more picks.

>> For $250, Vikings season ticket holders can experience the NFL draft on April 24 at U.S. Bank Stadium with various perks.

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Overheard

>> Gophers athletics director Mark Coyle four years ago on the hiring on men’s basketball coach Ben Johnson: “Ben is a proven coach who is ready to lead his own program. He has earned this opportunity and is a tremendous teacher, recruiter and relationship builder. I am thrilled for him to lead his alma mater, and I am excited for the future of our men’s basketball program.”
Coyle two weeks ago on the hiring of Niko Medved after firing Johnson: “This is an exciting day for our program, our University and our state. Niko is a Minnesota alum with a proven head coaching track record. He has had success everywhere he has been, and we look forward to him leading out men’s basketball program at his alma mater.”

Somewhat lost in the four hits, one walk and two errors of the Twins’ six-run fourth inning on Saturday was the fact that the deciding volley in a 6-1 victory over Houston started and ended with players taking extra bases.

After being hit on the left hand by a pitch from Spencer Arrighetti to start the inning, Byron Buxton stole second and scored on a fielding error by Jose Altuve to tie the game, 1-1.

With two out and the bases empty later in the inning, Christian Vazquez sent a line drive into the left field gap and, determined to take advantage of Altuve’s arm, quickly decided it was a double. He scored on Matt Wallner’s double to make it 6-1.

“I’m fast (and) I know Altuve has not a good arm, and I was trying to go to second base,” explained Vazquez, a former teammate. “I had it.”

Vazquez immediately popped up and declared himself safe, a call upheld by second base umpire John Tumpane.

“Bottom of the order, if we can do that for the big boys at the top of the order, that’s huge for us,” said Vazquez, the veteran catcher who batted ninth. Wallner was the leadoff hitter. “It was fun.”

Buxton’s previous at-bat changed narratives quickly. After being hit on the left hand by a 96.2 mph four-seam fastball, he was quickly followed to first base by Baldelli and head athletic trainer Nick Paparesta. He convinced them he was OK, then quickly stole second, reaching the bag with the same hand.

“We saw that and it was like, ‘OK, let’s go. We’ve gotta get going,’ ” said third baseman Jose Miranda, who cleared the bases later in the inning with a three-run home run off Arrighetti.

Buxton, known as the Buck Truck for being able to carry the team at certain junctures of a game, said he takes pride in making plays that inspire his teammates.

“A lot of pride,” he said. “I wouldn’t say I’m the Energizer Bunny, but when it starts, it kind of comes in bunches. So, I think that goes for whoever would have started that, you know? It’s always fun to be able to start that inning, and I ended the inning too.”

That was a strikeout against Tayler Scott, but by then, the Twins had landed the fatal blow.

Big outs for Alcala

The Twins started the season believing they have one of baseball’s best bullpens, and through eight games that’s been the case.

After five relievers each threw a scoreless on Saturday, the bullpen is 2-1 with a 2.25 earned-run average (sixth in MLB) in 32 innings (seventh). They’re fifth in runs-against (eight) and tied for ninth with 10 walks.

The job, right-hander Louis Varland said, “Is to strikeouts, limit runs, limit walks.”

Varland, Cole Sands, Jorge Alcala, Justin Topa and Jhoan Duran all pitched scoreless innings on Saturday. Alcala, a big right-hander with a power arm, worked out of trouble after loading the bases with one out on double, single and hit by pitch.

After a pair of visits by pitching coach Pete Maki, Alcalde got out of the jam by striking out Yordan Alvarez looking and getting Christian Walker to fly out.

“He bared down and did really well,” Varland said. “Showed some guts out there. You love to see it.”

Briefly

Starter Ober lowered his ERA from 27.00 to 12.50 by giving up one run, a homer by Jose Altuve, in four innings … Right-hander Chris Paddack (0-1, 24.40 ERA) is scheduled to pitch Sunday against Astros starter Ronel Blanco (0-1, 5:40).

First game the walks, then the hits and the runs.

Edouard Julien and Christian Ramirez drew walks in a scoreless third inning off Houston starter Spencer Arrighetti, snapping a two-game run without a base on balls by Minnesota. Then the floodgates opened in the fourth.

Jose Miranda hit a three-run home run, and Matt Wallner added a run-scoring double as the Twins erased a one-run deficit on four hits, another walk and two errors in the fourth inning to beat the Astros, 6-1, on Saturday at Target Field.

Miranda’s home run, his first of the young season, was the centerpiece of a six-run inning that ultimately evened a three-game series that concludes Sunday with a noon first pitch.

Bailey Ober struggled with his control in his second start of the season but limited damage against him to Jose Altuve’s leadoff home run, largely on the strength of five timely strikeouts. He was relieved by Louis Varland after allowing three hits and a pair of walks in four innings.

Varland, Cole Sands (1-1), Jorge Alcala, Justin Topa and Jhoan Duran each threw a scoreless innings for the Twins (3-5).

Arrighetti (1-1) pitched 4⅔ innings, giving up Miranda’s two-out, three-run homer on a 78 mph curveball. That scored the batter plus Edouard Julien, who reached on a fielder’s choice, and Trevor Larnach, who had walked.

Next batter Christian Vazquez hustled out a double, spelling the end for Arrighetti, who was charged with five runs on three hits and three walks. The Twins’ first run came in when Byron Buxton hustled in from second on an outfield error, but Buxton had reached after being hit by Arrighetti.

Buxton, playing center field, stayed in the game and took two more at-bats.

Vazquez later scored on Matt Wallner’s double off right-hander Tayler Scott. Wallner scored on Scott’s error when he tried to throw out Carlos Correa on a dribbler down the third–base line. That made it 6-1.

Altuve, who started the game with a home run off Ober into the shallow seats of the left field bleachers, went 3 for 5 for Houston.

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