Episode Details

In this high-energy morning edition of Need to Know on "2026.06.17-06.00.00-NTK", Kevin and Alex are cruising through a cooler Wednesday hump day, celebrating music legend Barry Manilow’s 83rd birthday. The guys dive deep into the massive financial ripples from the SpaceX IPO and look ahead to upcoming tech public offerings. Vice President J.D. Vance makes waves on Gutfeld!, prompting a raw discussion about patriotism and why mainstream media is so determined to sell a narrative of misery. Later, Clay County horticulture educator Jill Patry stops by with critical seasonal advice for your backyard crops, and Bridget Riedel checks in fresh off her agricultural media training tour in South Dakota. Plus, Meteorologist Dean "Dino" Wyatte breaks down the exact science behind the buzzed-about "Super El Niño" climate phenomenon. Standout Moments & Timestamps The Ultimate Shiny Object: Kevin and portfolio manager Brian Cronk break down the absolute juggernaut that is the SpaceX IPO. While traditional advisors preach avoiding the "stock of the day," Kevin highlights how SpaceX's 10,000-satellite telecommunications network makes it a premier, high-quality productive asset. J.D. Vance Defies Expectations on The View: The team reviews J.D. Vance's recent media blitz, particularly how he calmly handled hostile questioning on The View and then laughed about it with Greg Gutfeld. "My Favorite Color is Sad": Turning to a recent national poll regarding record-low patriotism among Democrats, the crew highlights a hilarious yet poignant monologue from Tyrus on the modern left's strange addiction to acting "tormented or tragic" to gain virtue points. Agricultural Innovation & "Hot Hay": Bridget Riedel shares fascinating updates on modern baler technology. Far from the old-school square bales, today’s equipment utilizes automated weaving and on-board moisture sensors to prevent the hazardous buildup of "hot hay" that causes barn fires. Saving Your Tomatoes from Drift: Horticulture expert Jill Patry warns local gardeners about the subtle dangers of herbicide drift. She explains how weed killers used nearby can cause tomato leaves to tightly curl and shrink, offering recovery steps like heavy watering without forcing new fertilization. Debunking the Climate Hype: Dean answers a listener's question about the dreaded "Super El Niño," clearing up the clickbait. He explains it's simply a 2 to 3-degree Celsius atmospheric warming of the equatorial Pacific that historically points to a milder-than-normal winter for North Dakota—not the oceans boiling. Keith Urban Goes Yacht Rock: The guys jam out to tracks from Keith Urban's surprising new tribute album,…