I contribute to the site Power Line (powerlineblog.com). I helped Dan Rather take early retirement from CBS News.
Articles by Scott Johnson
In which I mix it up with Keith Ellison
As I do almost every morning, I was off to visit a friend at a nursing home in south Minneapolis yesterday. A few minutes from my arrival, my friend texted a message to advise me that Keith Ellison would be there to speak at 9:00 a.m. in case I wanted to mix it up with him. I had no time to prepare, but I showed up with the residents to hear Ellison out and ask a question or two. I snapped the photo of Ellison below from my seat in the first row.
Crazy day in curious case
The curious case of Ilhan Omar has become a big national story. I’ve been working on it for ten years and I’m not quitting now. Yesterday was a crazy day in the case. I’ve been saying that Omar isn’t her name and that she married her brother in 2009 — one Ahmed Nur Said Elmi. I think Omar’s real name is Ilhan Nur Said Elmi. I may have made mistakes, but I’ve done the best I could based on the facts available, especially including the work of Preya Samsundar and David Steinberg.
Quote of the day
Wall Street Journal columnist Barton Swaim is my favorite in the Journal’s impressive lineup on the opinion side of the paper. He came to town this week to report on the Senate race between the fetching Michele Tafoya and far-out “light-skinned Native woman” Peggy Flanagan, Tim Walz’s lieutenant governor for the past eight years. Barton met with Michele and staunch state representative Kristin Robbins before we got together on Tuesday to discuss mutual interests over dinner in Edina.
Quote of the day
Today the Wall Street Journal publishes the editorial “Flying the socialist skies at United.” It gives me one more reason to hate the airline. This is classic. The Journal editors write: * * * * * Readers know that flying these days is as enjoyable as a tooth extraction. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby wants to show customers in seat 34B he feels their pain by—get this—endorsing a national wealth tax. Such virtue-signaling is cheaper than complimentary pretzels.
Dear President Trump
You told Newsmax last week that you are may make one or two campaign stops in Minnesota. Republicans haven’t won a statewide race here in 20 years. You have never carried Minnesota and you are less popular here now than ever. We have a strong slate of statewide candidates running for office this year, certainly the best in a long time. I haven’t heard any of these candidates yearning for your presence to lend them a hand.
After Metro Surge
Operation Metro Surge is gone with the wind. Saint Paul and Minneapolis are sanctuary cities. The activist left effectively impeded it. The local authorities supported the activist left. The Star Tribune ran stories every day in search of the operation’s dire consequences.
Piker’s pooped | Power Line
In the adjacent post, I judge the statements issued by Minnesota’s Jewish Community Relations Council and gubernatorial candidate Amy Klobuchar inadequate. However, I have to add that Klobuchar at least has made Piker unhappy. He pronounces himself tired. Suck it up, hater! Hasan Piker on Amy Klobuchar and Angie Craig condemning and trying to cancel his planned event with Ilhan Omar and Omar Fateh: "I have a lot of fans in Minneapolis.
Piker’s prospect
Hasan Piker is scheduled to come to Minneapolis on October 26 for a podcast with the ideologically fetid Omar Fateh and Rep. Ilhan Omar, of husbro fame. What a crew. We look forward to the public appearance of Omar and a few comments on the company she keeps — something beyond a descrption of Piker as “the left-wing political commentator,” which is how the farcically lame Star Tribune described him last week.
On the Omar case
I wish my sources were as forthcoming with me as Josh Christenson’s are with him. Christenson reports in the New York Post that “Feds have DNA evidence that could prove Ilhan Omar wed her brother, committed immigration fraud.” That suggests to me that Omar’s marriage to her brother may factor in the current investigation of her. The same applies to Peter D’Abrosca’s sources.
Quote of the day
Among several other books, Douglas Murray is the author of The Strange Death of Europe: Immigration, Identity, Islam. Who better to take up the French riots, as he does in his current Free Press column “France Stares Down the Abyss of History.” He writes: * * * * * Whenever France burns, people look for precedents, the best comparison to the riots du jour. People throw around dates such as 1968, or sometimes 2005. Those with longer memories cite 1848 or 1789.
Quote of the day
It seems like an apt time to recall famous private remarks of Charles de Gaulle regarding Muslim immigration, in private conversations recorded by his aide Alain Peyrefitte in March 1959. Peyerfitte recalled the conversation in C’était de Gaulle (volume 1, 1994). De Gaulle expressed deep skepticism regaring the intengation of a large Muslim into mainland France.
Standing with us
Over the past 20 years I have attended each of the quadrennial meetings of our small Minnesota chapter of the Republican Jewish Coalition at which every one of our statewide candidates appears to speak. The event is off-the-record and closed to the press. This year’s event took place last night. The event’s ground rules didn’t prevent the leak of a recording of then-gubernatorial candidate Scott Jensen’s remarks to the Star Tribune four years ago.
Thinking it over
In the matter of Ilhan Omar, whatever it is, President Obama has entered the fray with what seems to be a massive case of projection. “Think about that,” Obama instructs in the text of the X post below. “The full weight of the federal government is being brought down on a law-abiding elected official because she has dared to criticize the president.” Sounds bad.
Omens | Power Line
In a story dated October 16 with a triple byline, the New York Times reports: Federal investigators have been reviewing family text messages as they aim to build a case implicating Representative Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat, of conspiring to commit immigration fraud, three people familiar with the matter said this week.
Sunday morning coming down
I’ve known Steven Greenberg since we attended the same grade school and have been in touch with him intermittently over the years since then. I ran into him yesterday as I was leaving and he was arriving to visit a mutual friend in Minneapolis. We both grew up in the Highland Park neighborhood of Saint Paul. My high school classmate Chuck Berde played bass in Stevie’s early band The Storm Center. Stevie wrote, created, and produced the No. 1 hit “Funkytown” under the name Lipps, Inc. in 1980.
Bill Shipley: Speaking of the rule of law
Bill Shipley is the attorney who holds down the fort at Shipwreckedcrew’s Port-O-Call. I recommend his site for readers looking for trustworthy legal commentary on the issues of the day. He spent 22 years prosecuting cases as a former Assistant United States Attorney. He moved on to open his own defense practice. Bill represented 91 defendants charged in connection with the January 6 riot on Capitol Hill, with 12 of those chosing to take their cases to trial.
Speaking of genocide
The video below was posted by Hillel Fuld on X earlier this week. Looking around online, I see Ben must have been speaking on October 7 for Turning Point USA’s University of Texas at Austin chapter. The Daily Texan reported on Ben’s appearance in “‘Save America and the West’: Ben Shapiro talks Israel-Hamas war, midterm elections.” He fielded the obligatory “genocide” question from a goofy student.
Clues | Power Line
Steve Hayward’s friend David Deeble turned President Trump into Columbo and me into a clue in the curious case of Ilhan Omar. Ms. Omar, just one more thing…. "One more thing… If Ilhan Omar didn’t marry her own brother then why doesn’t she sue Scot Johnson for libel?" https://t.co/4yqJ49mqU7 — David Deeble (@DavidDeeble) October 15, 2026 Omar’s fraudulent marriage to her brother frames the story.
Inside orientation
Simon Riley takes us inside Princeton’s freshman orientation in his witty column “P-O-L-A-R-I-Z-A-T-I-O-N: Toward a more nuanced orientation.” Simon is a freshman. He has just survived orientation. This is how it went: “T-R-U-M-P.” Neuroscientist Maryanne Wolf was answering a student’s question when she nearly used the word “trump” as a regular English verb, meaning “override” or “overcome” — but she couldn’t bring herself to finish her sentence.
The El-Sayed deception
The Washington Free Beacon dug up social media posts by El-Sayed’s sister — Eman Abdelhadi — in which she said her family has “long been” in the Muslim Brotherhood. Abdelhadi said her relatives in Egypt had been “jailed” over their ties to the group, according to the posts, which were first reported by the Washington Free Beacon. She also said that her and El-Sayed’s mother, Fatten Elkomy, was active in the Brotherhood as a college student in Egypt in the 1970s.
Omar 101 | Power Line
Sir Walter Scott’s famous couplet is an eternal verity. It could be the theme of many stories in the news, but it especially fits the case of Ilhan Omar: Oh, what a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive! Omar has not lived a life that anticipated the scrutiny that accompanies a high-flying career in American politics. A brazen quality infuses her deceptions.
Today in advanced Omar studies
I have added a paragraph to my roundup on today’s Omar studies. I want to highlight the story I address im that paragraph here separately.
Today in Omar studies
On Monday news of the search of Ilhan Omar’s Washington home broke. Since then, we have seen more than 100,000 visitors to David Steinberg’s 2019 Power Line post “Tying up loose threads in the curious case.” If you didn’t read it then, I recommend it to your attention now. David reconstructed what I believe to be the true story of the “Omar” family’s emigration to the United States. It is at least an approximation to the facts of the case.
Quote of the day
Our friend Wilfred McClay holds the Victor Davis Hanson Chair in Classical History and Western Civilization at Hillsdale College. He is the author of Land of Hope An Invitation to the Great American Story (Second Edition) and editor (with Stuart Halpern) of Jewish Roots of American Liberty: The Impact of Hebraic Ideas on the American Story. Yesterday Bill’s column “Western civilization runs through Jerusalem, too” was published on the Wall Street Journal’s accessible Free Expression Substack.
My story | Power Line
Someone on X reminded me yesterday that I had appeared on Joe Soucheray’s Garage Logic to talk about my work on the case of Ilhan Omar in February 2020. I think Joe was triggered to interview me as a result of President Trump’s crediting of my work in the course of his October 2019 rally at Target Center in Minneapolis. Listening to the Garage Logic podcast this morning, I was reminded what a good interviewer Joe is. I was better than usual in the interview. I actually enjoyed listening to it.
After last night
I observed the tenth anniversary of my work on “The curious case of Ilhan Omar” in August. When I asked Omar in August 2016 about the guy she was legally married to — Ahmed Nur Said Elmi — I received this reponse from criminal attorney Jean Brandl: Dear Mr. Johnson: I have been contacted by the Ilhan Omar campaign.
This just in: Omar raided
Following up on my discussion of the ongoing investigation Minnesota Fifth District Rep. Ilhan Omar earlier this morning, I want to note this startling development: “Immigration enforcement officials search Ilhan Omar’s home in pre-dawn raid.” Fox News reports: The home of Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn, was raided early Monday morning by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a source familiar with the matter told Fox News Digital.
Quote of the day
Historian Dominic Green is a contributor to the Wall Street Journal’s Free Expression site. Free Expression has just posted his column “Anarcho-tyranny in the UK.” (I will link to the column in accessible form at the Free Expression Substack as soon as it is posted later today.) In additon to his other attainments, Dr. Green is a jazz musician. The headline of his column put me in mind of the Sex Pistols and he did not disappoint — he explained.
In a family way, MB style
The Washington Free Beacon’s Chuck Ross reports: “Abdul El-Sayed’s Family Has ‘Long Been’ in Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, Senate Candidate’s Sister Said in Unearthed Social Media Posts” (“El-Sayed said on ‘Meet the Press’ that neither he nor any of his family members have ties to the Islamist group”).
Speaking of genocide
Today the New York Post has published Victor Davis Hanson’s column “Genocide hypocrites,” as it was titled when it was first published on October 1. Ilhan Omar figures prominently in Victor’s historical review: Representative Ilhan Omar, a first-generation immigrant from Somalia, also brays loudly about supposed Israeli war crimes. Omar spouts “genocide” and “apartheid” in her frequently antisemitic rants. She has also labeled her adopted nation as “one of the worst countries” in the world.
Truth and consequences
Nutjob leftists disrupted our state Republican Party’s annual Lincoln Reagan dinner this past Friday twice. They did it the first time when Michele Tafoya took the stage to speak. Then they did it a second time by rushing the stage when Lisa Demuth took the stage to speak. The men involved had the apperance of thugs. They were meaty hoodlums. Lisa is a petite woman. Lisa immediately exited the stage and let security agents do their thing, but she had to fear for her own safety.
Sunday morning coming down
It was the anniversary of John Lennon’s birth this past Friday. He was my favorite member of my favorite band. I loved his singing, playing, songwriting. I loved his persona in A Hard Day’s Night. Is it possible to add anything to what everybody knows or thinks about him and them and these songs? Probably not, but we can continue to enjoy them. Rashly assuming there might be such a thing as lesser-known Beatles tracks, I want to serve up a few of my favorites featuring John’s work.
In the land of 10,000 Walz
We attended the annual Lincoln Reagan Dinner held by the Minnesota Republican Party yesterday evening as the guests of Doug Seaton, president of the Upper Midwest Law Center, and his lovely wife, the good Hilory. We were greeted by “protesters” on our way in to the Omni Viking Lakes Hotel. The event speakers were interrupted by “protesters” inside the event. “Thugs” would be more like it. Security intervened to remove them before I could act on the rising gorge in my soul.
Mike Rogers landed killshots
The Washington Sun summary of the El-Sayed/Mike Rogers debate that I posted earlier this morning did not do justice to Rogers’s energetic and biting performance. In the clip below, he lands what should — emphasis on “should” — be scored as two killshots in the space of 20 seconds. Rogers is apparently to be shamed by his ownership of a home in Florida. Rogers responds that El-Sayed owns one in the UAE. Everyone has a plan til they get punched in the face.
Close up with Abdul El-Sayed
I am preoccupied by the prospect of Abdul El-Sayed taking a seat in the United States Senate. I have Abdul on the brain.
Debate this | Power Line
Formerly known as NOTUS or News of the United States, The Washington Sun is an outlet founded by Politico co-founder Robert Allbritton in 2023. I’m not sure how I ended up on its mailing list, but I receive its morning email summarizing stories just in time for the morning shift. Included in this morning’s summary is a story covering last night’s debates between the Democrat and Republican Senate candidates in Michigan, Georgia, and Maine.
Quote of the day
I’m not sure how the Norwegian Nobel Committee overlooked the Students for Justice in Palestine this year. It’s time is probably coming. In the meantime, let us pause over Tal Fortgang’s City Journal column “Why Students for Justice in Palestine is Celebrating October 7.” Fortgang writes: * * * * * Across the country, Students for Justice in Palestine chapters are today commemorating the massacres of October 7, 2023.
“The Killing Roads”
As we awake to the news that the Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded this year’s Nobel Peace Prize to one Navi Pillay, it may not be amiss to look back on the events of October 7, 2023. This year’s award supports the genocidaires of Hamas and the Hamas line. As it happens, the 2024 documentary The Killing Roads has just been reposted online by the Canadian-Israeli director Igal Hecht.
Pillaried by Pillay
Today comes the news that the Nobel Peace Prize has been awarde to one Navi Pillay. The New York Times reports: The 2026 Nobel Peace Prize winner is Navi Pillay, a South African human rights lawyer who was recognized for “for her efforts to promote peace and international law,” the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced on Friday.
Quote of the day
The new issue of the Spectator carries Lionel Shriver’s column “The Islamification of Texas” (behind the Spectator paywall). Shriver is the author, most recently, of the novel A Better Life. The first part of her current Spectator column focuses on Texas, its Senate race, and Republican candidate Ken Paxton.
Marco’s apology | Power Line
The State Department advises that Secretary Rubio has been on a trip this week to meet with Icelandic officials in Reykjavík to discuss economic and security collaboration. In Greece, Secretary Rubio led the United States delegation for the Sixth U.S.-Greece Strategic Dialogue, deepening our partnership on priorities including defense cooperation and regional and energy security. Yesterday he delivered remarks from the historic Pnyx hill overlooking the Acropolis.
Somethin’ shakin’ on Sheikhdoon Street
United States Attorney Daniel Rosen announced the filing of a one-coumt complaint alleging a terrorism charge against 18-year-old Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud –make that “Minnesota man” Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud. He allegedly planned obrained an AK-47 and sufficent ammuniton to kill 30-60 “kuffar” at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota on October 24. He planned an imminent mass murder of innocent Minnesotans. Why the Mall?
Quote of the day
The Washington Free Beacon’s morning newsletter carries this concise snippet: * * * * * Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez laid out the stakes of the Michigan Senate race in clear terms when she spoke at a Monday fundraiser for Abdul El-Sayed. “What we do is that we break open the entire political calculus in America—period,” she said, according to an audio recording obtained by the New York Times. “Because if you can win, if Abdul can win in Michigan, anybody can win anywhere.
It’s still October 7
Here are a few posts on the occasion of third anniversary of the Hamas massacres of 2023. Please click on the posts that are cut off. Among other things, you would miss the account of Libi Cohen-Meguri’s moving message below as she lay dying. It’s still October 7 – three years on! Powerful @Jerusalem_Post front page carries a single message.
NAZA — The Real Story
Three Israelis have produced a documentary response to the celebrated defamatory film NAZA. The documentary response is titled NAZA — The Real Story (hereinafter NTRS). Running 49 minutes, NTRS is shorter than the documentary to which it responds, although NTRS mimics its form. I have embedded the dubbed English-language version posted on YouTube below. The NTRS site can be found here.
Looking back on 10/7
In December 2023 my friend Steve Hunegs of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas invited me to attend a showing of the atrocity video compiled by the IDF in the aftermath of the October 7 massacres and atrocities perpetrated by Hamas in the 2023 invasion.
Quote of the day
Brendan O’Neill is a columnist for Spiked who has become one of my favorites. “The Green Party is now an openly anti-Jewish party” (“The Greens’ adoption of the ‘Zionism is Racism’ policy confirms they are a party of bourgeois bigots”)– that’s his current column. The quote below comes from this post his Instagram feed.
No hymn to Her
Chrissie Hynde’s friend Meg Keene wrote the song “Hymn to Her” that the Pretenders recorded for the album Get Close (1986). The song testifies to womanhood, but the lyrics can serve to provide an ironic commentary on Saint Paul Mayor Kaolhy Her: “And she will always carry on/Something is lost/But something is found.” Axel Henry is the Saint Paul Chief of Police. He has filed a highly credible if unusual complaint of sexual harassment against his boss.
Rees-Mogged by reality
Tucker Carlson invited the British conservative Jacob Rees-Mogg to appear on Carlson’s show to rehearse themes to which we have become accustomed. At some point Vice President Vance will have to conduct an intervention for his friend who won’t quit selling the ideological Kool-Aid, or he will have to renounce his views, but the damage will have been done. The entire Carlson/Rees-Mogg episode is posted on YouTube here. Warning: It will kill brain cells that you may not want to spare.
Reflections of the day
Today Israel observes the third anniversary of the 10/7 massacre. Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke on Mount Herzl at a national ceremony commemorating the event this morning. The Times of Israel reports here. The massacre recalls the most horrendous events in Jewish history, if not human history. At the same time, Israel continues to digest the disaster averted by the attempted hijacking of the flydubai flight. Asaf Rejuwan is one of the Israeli heroes who helped retake control of the flight.
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