Thoughts and Prayers

I choose to empathized with those who are hurting as a result of men like Charlie Kirk

Hi folks,

Kirk here from the Minocqua Brewing Company. I had a draft already written for today’s post, but I threw it out because I wanted to write about Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Here goes…

Every time a kid got killed over the last 20 years in school shooting, my heart broke a little.

Every time I heard the twisted lie that guns weren’t the problem by every right-wing talking head immediately after a school shooting, my broken heart hardened a little.

When it comes to finding empathy for a guy whose purported mission was to manipulate our kids to embrace hate, along with teaching them to double down on gun-lust after every mass shooting, I simply don’t have it.

My heart is hard for men like Charlie Kirk simply because I spend all my empathetic reserves trying to keep it soft for folks who are hurting because of men like Charlie Kirk.

So Fuck Charlie Kirk. Thoughts and prayers. Fix our guns laws DESPITE the fact that he wanted them broken. He didn’t deserve to die, just like all those kids didn’t deserve to die. Time to move on. His assassination is only worth about 6 sentences of my time.

I choose to spend my energy fighting for an America where men like Charlie Kirk are pushed back into their basements because Christian nationalistic bigotry is no longer socially acceptable.

That’s why I sell progressive beer.

That’s why I created the Minocqua Marketplace, which gives businesses who refuse to support right-wing extremism a platform to thrive, and gives consumers a way to collectively starve fascism.

That’s why I’ve built two taprooms in Wisconsin that encourage progressives with only a little empathy left to give to fill each other’s buckets with hope and art.

That’s why I raise money for my Super PAC--so we can throw sand in the gears of ICE and buy enough time to beat back fascism in the 2026 election.

That’s where I choose to spend my time. And that choice is what keeps my now-compartmentalized heart a little softer.

Here’s what’s going on in the next two week at our Madison Tap Room. Our Minocqua Tap Room is open until Oct. 5th, because we close after the tourism season dies down. Please join us to fill your buckets with hope and art.

9/11 Old Soul Jazz Band 7pm

A newer band, Old Soul Jazz Band has played the Jazz Jam at The North St. Cabaret as well as Harmony Bar with Gaines and Wagoner.

A soulful blend of jazz, roots, and fiddle, Old Soul joins us for what should be a great evening of music!

9/14 Feestet Duo 2pm

Feestet loves to introduce jazz sounds into new spaces. New fans often say: “I don’t like jazz much, but I loved that!" Thus, Feestet dubs their sound “gateway jazz.”

Feetet’s mission is to create jazz music loved by all: jazz lovers and new listeners alike. We take inspiration from funk, folk, bebop, swing, bossa and allllll that jazz.

9/15 Karaoke w/ Tony G 6pm

9/17 The Up North Podcast Live Show Starts at 6 pm

Join our Substack gang—Kirk Bangstad, MBC organizer Amy Thomas, Patti Vasquez, Ben Cominos, AFT President Jon Shelton, and Senator Chris Larsen in the political podcast that has been on hiatus for the last two years.

9/18 Pinhead McFly 7pm

After a great set in July, Pinhead McFly, local musician Tim Budziszewski's alter ego, returns to MBC MAD. Playing a mix of covers and originals, McFly brings acoustic music with a decidedly punk tinge to our taproom.

9/20 Bluegrass Jam w/ Willie Jones 2pm

Willie Jones from Madison-based grass band, Sortin' The Mail, will be hosting a monthly bluegrass jam at our taproom!

This jam will be a little different than your standard. While we will never tell a musician how to do their job, our only request was "fun, uptempo, and different". While we love standards and traditional old-timey, we want our jam sessions to be a little more of a broad array of styles.

Each jam will start with a set of tunes from Willie (and possibly some special guests!) followed by an open jam for anyone who has a tune they wanna share or is just looking to rock out. So come join us for a great afternoon of pickin' and grinnin'!

9/21 Oktoberfest German Lieder w/ Kirk Bangstad 2pm

I’ll be singing Mahler’s Rückert Lieder, along with selections from Wolf, Shuman, and Schubert

Thanks for reading, and thanks for sticking with the Minocqua Brewing Company.

Together, we must keep our hearts soft for the suffering, but put our emotional suit of armor on to defend Democracy.

Kirk Bangstad

Owner, Minocqua Brewing Company

Founder, Minocqua Brewing Company Super PAC