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Larry Rhoden: “Covid was the biggest litmus test we've ever faced as a…”

Featuring: Larry Rhoden, Republican | Governor of South Dakota

The Outlet - Governor Larry Rhoden, South Dakota

Published December 23, 2025 | Video Starts at 10:26

We had some tough years there immediately. And then with COVID Covid was a game changer, I think, in a lot of ways, for our state, for our nation. I've always said that Covid was the biggest litmus test we've ever faced as a state or a nation or a planet. on who. What you're made of, what kind of metal you have in you about your conservative values. Do you believe in limited government? Do you understand where our rights, liberties and freedoms come from? (10:26–10:34)

CLAIM

Asserts that Covid was a significant test of values and governance.

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.

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Larry Rhoden

“I think...it's the highest, best state in the nation for, for energy produced from renewable sources such as wind, hydro, solar, coal…”
The Outlet - Governor Larry Rhoden, South Dakota | Uploaded December 23, 2025 | 05:01-20:59
“That's why I sold the cows was when my job as lieutenant governor got to be full time.”
The Outlet - Governor Larry Rhoden, South Dakota | Uploaded December 23, 2025 | 01:47-01:53
“We had the only governor in the United States that stood alone.”
The Outlet - Governor Larry Rhoden, South Dakota | Uploaded December 23, 2025 | 11:00-11:04
“Since we're not the author of People's Freedoms and Rights, we have no authority to take them away.”
The Outlet - Governor Larry Rhoden, South Dakota | Uploaded December 23, 2025 | 11:08-11:14
“We had a huge class, probably the biggest class of freshmen in the history of the state.”
The Outlet - Governor Larry Rhoden, South Dakota | Uploaded December 23, 2025 | 12:31-12:37
“The prison didn't get across the finish line in session.”
The Outlet - Governor Larry Rhoden, South Dakota | Uploaded December 23, 2025 | 13:22-13:26
“We actually...met with [a] nuclear energy company and spent better part of a day being educated on small module nuclear reactors.”
The Outlet - Governor Larry Rhoden, South Dakota | Uploaded December 23, 2025 | 20:00-20:26
“I had convened a roundtable discussion with some of the energy leaders across the state [of South Dakota].”
The Outlet - Governor Larry Rhoden, South Dakota | Uploaded December 23, 2025 | 21:08-21:16
“We talked about [developing] legislation to provide some incentives to bring data centers [to South Dakota].”
The Outlet - Governor Larry Rhoden, South Dakota | Uploaded December 23, 2025 | 22:54-22:56
“Energy companies are working on legislation [for data centers], and we hope to see something during session.”
The Outlet - Governor Larry Rhoden, South Dakota | Uploaded December 23, 2025 | 23:35-23:43
“We're not as attractive as other states because we don't provide some of those incentives [for data centers].”
The Outlet - Governor Larry Rhoden, South Dakota | Uploaded December 23, 2025 | 26:56-27:11
“The conversation we've heard is about a sales tax rebate on equipment for data centers.”
The Outlet - Governor Larry Rhoden, South Dakota | Uploaded December 23, 2025 | 27:11-27:28
“If you don't offer the incentive, they're not going to come to South Dakota because every surrounding state around you does.”
The Outlet - Governor Larry Rhoden, South Dakota | Uploaded December 23, 2025 | 27:36-27:43
“Consider that alongside the billions, millions and hundreds of millions of dollars in property tax relief and the jobs created by having…”
The Outlet - Governor Larry Rhoden, South Dakota | Uploaded December 23, 2025 | 27:46-28:00
“The Office of Economic Development has focused on helping our [South Dakota's] energy industry grow and innovate.”
The Outlet - Governor Larry Rhoden, South Dakota | Uploaded December 23, 2025 | 29:08-29:16
“South Dakota is prioritized like I've said in all of the above energy approach.”
The Outlet - Governor Larry Rhoden, South Dakota | Uploaded December 23, 2025 | 29:16-29:21
“The energy czar position will help us execute our energy strategy in South Dakota.”
The Outlet - Governor Larry Rhoden, South Dakota | Uploaded December 23, 2025 | 29:22-29:30
“Once hired, the director will work closely with the companies, the citizens, government leaders to promote responsible, efficient and…”
The Outlet - Governor Larry Rhoden, South Dakota | Uploaded December 23, 2025 | 29:49-30:03
“Our first priority is to prioritize South Dakota companies.”
The Outlet - Governor Larry Rhoden, South Dakota | Uploaded December 23, 2025 | 31:26-31:31
“We're not giving them taxpayer dollars to bring them into our state.”
The Outlet - Governor Larry Rhoden, South Dakota | Uploaded December 23, 2025 | 32:33-32:38
“We're providing them incentives and giving them a little bit of the dollars that they've invested back to them in the form of sales tax…”
The Outlet - Governor Larry Rhoden, South Dakota | Uploaded December 23, 2025 | 32:37-32:48
“That's what's making us one of the states with the strongest economies in the nation.”
The Outlet - Governor Larry Rhoden, South Dakota | Uploaded December 23, 2025 | 33:02-33:08
“I want to leave South Dakota when I'm done. I want to leave it a better place than it was when I took the reins as governor.”
The Outlet - Governor Larry Rhoden, South Dakota | Uploaded December 23, 2025 | 34:21-34:29
“We are a diversified state, we took an all of the above approach.”
The Outlet - Governor Larry Rhoden, South Dakota | Uploaded December 23, 2025 | 34:49-34:54
“We've got a balanced, very viable, safe, secure energy system that's providing energy for a cheaper rate and a sustainable system.”
The Outlet - Governor Larry Rhoden, South Dakota | Uploaded December 23, 2025 | 34:53-35:11