The latest episode of the podcast Dakota Town Hall covered everything from campaign strategy and South Dakota’s governor race to Medicare Advantage and an extended running joke involving Pablo Escobar’s hippos.

Hosts Murdoc and Jake Shoenbeck opened the show discussing the realities of campaign season as candidates across South Dakota begin door knocking and attending forums ahead of the June primary. Murdoc joked that “there’s going to be some pale candidates that forgot their SPF 50.”

Among the guests was South Dakota Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen, who discussed balancing official duties with campaigning alongside Gov. Larry Rhoden. Venhuizen said most of his time remains focused on state responsibilities, including infrastructure and corrections task forces. He also spoke about public speaking events around the state and upcoming commencement appearances.

Sioux Falls District 10 House candidate John Pohlman also joined the program, detailing his aggressive campaign strategy. Pohlman said he has already completed one full round of door knocking throughout his district and recently began a second pass through high turnout neighborhoods.

“I am like hyper super crazy competitive,” Pullman said. “I spend three hours a day beating on doors and eight hours a day on the weekends.”

Pohlman, who has worked on numerous Republican campaigns in South Dakota, said affordability, crime and property taxes are the issues he hears about most often from voters.

The show also featured Darren Grubb of Medicare Advantage Majority, who discussed concerns over proposed federal reimbursement rates for Medicare Advantage plans. Grubb said a proposed 0.09% increase was eventually revised upward to 2.48% after advocacy efforts from seniors and healthcare groups nationwide.

State Sen. Michael Rohl questioned Grubb about criticism of Medicare Advantage plans and reimbursement incentives, leading to one of the show’s more substantive policy exchanges.

The episode later shifted into rapid-fire political commentary on gubernatorial campaign ads, attorney general rumors and Sioux Falls’ mayoral race before ending with Murdoc reviving the podcast’s long-running “Task Force Hippo” joke centered around bringing Pablo Escobar’s descendants to the Black Hills. Venhuizen jokingly accepted the title of “Task Force Hippo” chairman.