Politics Friday (Minnesota Public Radio)

The Legislature has gaveled in, and the Capitol is quiet no more.  

Minnesota Democrats had their way in passing an expansive agenda, from abortion protections to recreational cannabis to restored voting rights for people with felony pasts. DFLers also increased spending across state government, from universal school meals to modest tax rebates. This year, lawmakers will find it more difficult to power substantial legislation through. 

Leaders and lawmakers have stressed there’s less money to go around and more tamping down of expectations, not to mention it’s an election year.  

MPR News host Brian Bakst talks to the Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, and House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, about what’s in store for the 2024 legislative session.  

Guests:  

• House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park  




• House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring 

Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS. 

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. 

It’s the second year for the DFL trifecta at the State Capitol — but the party only has a one seat majority in the Senate and is led by a new face this year.

Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy stepped into the role right as this year’s session began. Her predecessor, Kari Dziedzic gave up the position down after learning her cancer had returned.

MPR News host Brian Bakst sat down with Murphy to discuss how she plans to keep the DFL caucus on the same page and what style she brings to the negotiating table.

Murphy talked about a variety of bills that have been introduced at the Legislature. She is skeptical an immigration-oriented proposal, which backers call the North Star Act, could garner the votes to pass this year. The bill would enhance legal protections for immigrants and limit situations where local and state authorities could work with federal immigration authorities.

She also said an end-of-life options bill, known to many as an assisted suicide proposal, will also take more time to work through and could spill into a future session. While Murphy said she understands the importance of both bills, she said it’s important that the DFL not get ahead of what Minnesotans are prepared for.  

“This is an issue that is tender for the people of Minnesota, and it can be easily misunderstood,” Murphy said of the bill giving terminally ill Minnesotans more avenues to end their lives with medication. “That’s why I think beginning the hearing process and making sure that the legislation is clear for people so they understand what it would do and what it wouldn’t do is really critical to a successful passage.” 

However, she believes a hearing on the language of the amended school resource officer oversight bill could come as soon as next week. And a sports betting bill is not off the table in the Senate. 

Bakst also had an interview with a Republican who could take on three-term U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar this November. Retired Navy Commander Joe Fraser is a newcomer to the political scene. His entrance into the race makes five Republicans who have taken campaign steps to challenge Klobuchar.

Fraser discussed his support for Ukraine assistance, his stance on immigration matters and his view of the U.S. economy and federal budget.

After being hesitant to endorse former President Donald Trump when he entered the race in January, Fraser has now endorsed Trump as his pick for the Republican presidential nominee.

“I can’t answer for his behavior or the way he carries himself as the President of the United States, but he is who he is,” Fraser said.

And to his seeming lack of enthusiasm of sharing a ticket with Trump, “It just happens to be. I think there are a lot of Democrats out there who aren’t really thrilled to share the ticket with Joe Biden.” 

About the assault on the U.S. Capitol building when members of Congress were certifying the 2020 results, Fraser said he can’t condone that behavior.

“As somebody who swore an oath of support to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic and bear faith and allegiances to the same, I have a hard time with anybody who can justify what they did on January 6,” he said.

Editor’s note: Senate candidate Joe Fraser’s interview was shortened for the noon broadcast. We’ve included the full interview in the podcast.

Guests:  

• State Sen. Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-Saint Paul 




• U.S. Republican Senate candidate Joe Fraser 




• MPR News Capitol reporter Clay Masters and Axios Twin Cities reporter Torey Van Oot

Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.   

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.  

Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden are closing in on their nominations. Coming up Friday at noon, MPR News host Brian Bakst talks to DFL Party Chair Ken Martin and Republican Party Chair David Hann about their party’s likely presidential nominees, and what that matchup may mean in Minnesota.

Later, MPR News correspondent Catharine Richert reflects on the first Talking Sense live event in Woodbury. Talking Sense is an initiative, in collaboration with Braver Angels, that aims to help people have difficult political conversations better. It’s made up of online toolkits, stories that examine our political differences and live in-person events where folks can see the techniques in action.

Guests:  

• Ken Martin is the Minnesota DFL Party Chair.




• David Hann is the Republican Party of Minnesota Chair.




• Catharine Richert is a correspondent for MPR News.

Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.   

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.    

MPR News host Brian Bakst is joined by Senate Capital Investment Committee Chair Sandra Pappas and Rep. Dean Urdahl, R-Grove City, the top Republican on the House Capital investment Committee.

They’ll have big roles in shaping this year’s construction projects package known as the bonding bill. Minnesota lawmakers are sorting through billions of dollars in requests this year for publicly financed construction projects, but only a small fraction will make the cut.

The package requires bipartisan cooperation between DFLers and Republicans.  

It was a big political week with Super Tuesday, where results from 17 states and territories all but set up the fall race between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.

They won in Minnesota, but there was a significant turnout for the “uncommitted” vote, a campaign where Democrats voted uncommitted to show their dissatisfaction with the Biden administration’s handling of the conflict in the Middle East.

Republican Nikki Haley and Democratic U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota left the presidential race.

And later, we talk with University of Minnesota political science professor Michael Minta about his takeaways and the grueling campaign to come.

This week, MPR News host Brian Bakst sits down with DFL Rep. Zack Stephenson and DFL Sen. Erin Maye Quade to talk about a sports betting bill that’s garnered a lot of buzz at the Capitol. The bill would establish regulations for on-site and mobile betting venues and who can operate them.

Minnesota is in the minority of states where sports betting isn’t a sanctioned business enterprise. Stephenson is a leading voice in the push to change that, but Maye Quade is among those with concerns about the bill.  

Then, a conversation with Rep. Dean Phillips and Rep. Ilhan Omar about a bill that would ban TikTok in the U.S. that passed in the House this week. While six of the eight House members in Minnesota voted to ban the app if it doesn’t change ownership, Phillips and Omar voted against it.

The app is used daily by millions of Americans. But TikTok has a Chinese parent company, which has fueled concerns about user data privacy and possible foreign influence over the type of content that winds up in front of people. Omar and Phillips, who were among only 65 to oppose the bill, shared their reasons why.

Guests:  

• Rep. Zack Stephenson, DFL-Coon Rapids   




• Sen. Erin Maye Quade, DFL-Apple Valley 




• U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips (D) 




• U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D)  




• Briana Bierschbach, politics and government reporter for the Star Tribune 

Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

There are two months to go in the Minnesota Legislature’s 2024 session, meaning high-level negotiations aren’t that far off.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz released a package of budget revisions this week and continues to make the case for other items on his agenda.

MPR News host Brian Bakst sits down with Walz to talk about how he’s juggling priorities for the legislative session with demands from outside of the Capitol.

Later, Minnesota Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks, joins the show to talk about the GOP agenda for the remainder of the session.

Guests:  

• Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz   




• Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson  

Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.   

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.    

A space shuttle could be touching down — metaphorically — in St. Cloud. 

Gov. Tim Walz last week said a donor had inquired about placing a space shuttle in central Minnesota. Walz told MPR News’ Politics Friday about the offer but gave few details about the project.

“Someone wants to give us a space shuttle — the space shuttle, a real space shuttle — to move to Minnesota,” he said.

State Sen. Aric Putnam, DFL-St. Cloud, on social media, said the shuttle could be showcased next to a new children’s museum in downtown St. Cloud. The proposed site is currently a parking lot.

In an interview with MPR News, Putnam said Felicity-John Pederson, a graduate of St. Cloud’s Apollo High School and founder of a technology company called LVX System, owns the shuttle and is interested in bringing it to St. Cloud.

The full-scale mockup of a shuttle orbiter, known as Inspiration, is currently housed near the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, but needs to be moved.

“It was primarily for training,” Putnam said. “It’s the real thing. The toilets even flush. It just never went to space.”

Pederson said the shuttle was at the end of its life cycle and scheduled to be destroyed when his company acquired it for research it was doing with NASA. NASA wanted the shuttle donated for education, he said, possibly to St. Cloud, near the Mall of America in Bloomington or another location.

“The most likely seems to be St. Cloud, but that decision is not made,” Pederson said.

Cassie Miles, executive director of the Great River Children’s Museum, said Pederson is a strong supporter of the museum and efforts to boost the economy and quality of life in St. Cloud.

“We both believe that growth is ripe right now. We’re ready to make some big changes,” she said. “Why not have the effort to bring it here?”

But the logistics of moving a space shuttle are daunting. It would need to be disassembled, transported by truck or barge and reassembled using cranes, Miles said. Finding partners willing to help will be key, she said.

Putnam said he’s had conversations with people in several industries who might be able to help make it happen, including a local trucking company.

Miles said she’s had some preliminary conversations with St. Cloud city officials about the idea. But for the most part, she and others have intentionally kept quiet about the prospect, knowing it’s likely to be met with incredulity.

“It’s really hard to bring up something as grand as an orbiter being parked in St. Cloud, Minnesota, without people going, ‘What?’” she said. “It’s hard to wrap your head around.”

Miles and Putnam were both surprised that Gov. Walz mentioned the shuttle during Friday’s interview, but Putnam said he hopes the attention helps the effort.

“Maybe this is something that helps us make it real,” he said.

Updated: 2:40 p.m.

Anti-trust cases, consumer protection actions, defense of newly passed state laws and ramped-up criminal prosecutions — it’s all on the plate of Minnesota’s attorney general.

MPR News host Brian Bakst talks with Attorney General Keith Ellison about proposed changes to Minnesota’s gun laws, an upcoming hearing on voting rights, online scams and more.

Later, we’ll meet a Republican vying for his party’s nomination in Minnesota’s most closely watched congressional race. Joe Teirab makes his case for why he should represent Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District.

Guests:  

• Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison

• Joe Teirab is a Republican candidate for Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District seat

  
  What should Minnesota lawmakers' top priorities be in 2024?
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U.S. Representative Angie Craig won Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District seat in 2018, but she’s won two reelection races by single-digit percentage margins. She’s in for another costly and competitive race.

MPR News host Brian Bakst talks with Rep. Craig about her work in Congress and her upcoming campaign.

Later, rural EMS providers are banking on state lawmakers to help keep them afloat. Sen. Jordan Rasmusson, R-Fergus Falls, joins the conversation to talk about what lawmakers could do to assist emergency services under financial strain.

Guests:  

• Minnesota U.S. Representative Angie Craig   




• Minnesota State Sen. Jordan Rasmusson, R-Fergus Falls 

Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.   

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.    

State lawmakers have budgeted to provide more than $23 billion to schools in the current budget — a 10 percent bump over the prior budget. 

But many districts say they’re still feeling a strain. How come? What is being done to improve literacy, student nutrition, school safety and cultural competency?

MPR News host Brian Bakst talked with two leading senators on education issues: DFL Sen. Mary Kunesh, chair of the Senate Education Finance Committee, and Republican Sen. Zach Duckworth.

Later, there could be movement around streamlining the permitting process for business expansion projects and clean energy developments. Minnesota Chamber of Commerce president Doug Loon talks about permitting changes under discussion and why he wants them to happen. 

Guests:  

• Sen. Mary Kunesh, DFL-New Brighton, is the Chair of the Education Finance Committee.




• Sen. Zach Duckworth, R-Lakeville.




• Doug Loon is president and CEO of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.

Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.   

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.    

By this time next year, Minnesota might have quite a few new stores where people can buy marijuana in various forms. The goal is for an early 2025 rollout of licensed retail locations. 

But will there be enough supply to meet demand — and keep prices from rising too high? And what’s going on with the effort to clear records of people who had past marijuana convictions?

MPR News host Brian Bakst talked with a couple of experts about keeping tabs on expungement of certain prior cannabis-related records and the growing business of cannabis sales.

Then, a peer-led conversation with a three Generation Z voters about how they’re approaching the coming election.  

Later, a taste of sounds and voices from the Capitol and some insight from members of our MPR News politics team. 

Guests:  

Bryant Jones is a plant scientist and a subject matter expert in cannabis cultivation for Minnesota’s Cannabis Advisory Council.  

Jim Rowader is the executive director for the Cannabis Expungement Board Minnesota Department of Corrections and a board member of the Minnesota Justice Research Center.

Samia Abdulle is a student at the University of Minnesota.

Jack McGregor is a student at the University of Minnesota.

Thomas Knutson is a student at the University of Minnesota.

After nearly 20 years on Minnesota’s Supreme Court, Justice G. Barry Anderson is retiring.

Anderson is the longest-tenured current justice and the last to have gained his seat through the appointment of a Republican governor.

MPR News host Brian Bakst talks with Anderson about his time in the Minnesota Supreme Court, his career in the courtroom and his view on political pressures on the judiciary.

Later, a look at how the nation’s finances will factor into the 2024 election campaign with MPR News senior economics contributor Chris Farrell.

We also heard some sounds and voices from the Capitol this week, and some insight from members of our MPR News politics team.

Guests:  

Justice G. Barry Anderson is a member of the Minnesota Supreme Court. His term will end on May 10.  

Chris Farrell is senior economics contributor at Marketplace, American Public Media’s nationally syndicated public radio business and economic programs. He’s also senior economics contributor at Minnesota Public Radio.

Ethan Struby is an assistant professor in the Department of Economics at Carleton College.  

Chris Towner is the policy director for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget in Washington D.C.

The two weeks that remain in the Minnesota Legislature’s 2024 session will result in a flurry of votes, negotiations and certainly twists.

One key piece of unfinished business is the bonding bill — the slate of publicly financed construction projects that need state signoff to move ahead.  

MPR News host Brian Bakst talks with the chair of the House Capital Investment Committee about the construction financing plan as it comes together.  

Also, what might an upcoming Senate Ethics Committee hearing look like? The conduct of two members in the closely divided chamber is under review. 

Plus, the latest in MPR News’ peer-led conversations with Gen. Z voters about how they’re approaching the coming election.

Later, a check-in with a pair of Capitol reporters as the legislative session reaches its home stretch. MPR’s Dana Ferguson and Peter Callaghan from the MinnPost join the conversation.

Guests:

• Rep. Fue Lee is the Chair of the House Capital Investment Committee.  




• Ember Reichgott Junge is a former senator, DFL-Robbinsdale, and served as the committee chair for the Rules and Administration - Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct Committee in the Minnesota Senate.  




• Marko Mirkovic is a student at the University of Minnesota.  




• Jack Christensen is a student at the University of Minnesota.  




• Charlie Eggers is a student at the University of Minnesota.  

Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.   

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

Minnesota lawmakers have only one more full week to finish up the legislative session’s work.  

MPR News host Brian Bakst spoke with two leaders of the Minnesota House about the authorization of construction projects, a touch-up of the state budget, updates to Minnesota’s new cannabis law and a possible plan to set minimum pay and protections for rideshare drivers — all still up in the air. 

And May 11 not only marks Minnesota Statehood Day, but a new state flag goes up the pole and a new state seal will replace the old. We got a look at the redesign process that spurred thousands of submissions — and months of debate — and what transition means for Minnesota.

Plus, two members of MPR Capitol reporting team, Dana Ferguson and Clay Masters, huddled up for a weekly check-in on Minnesota politics. 

The Minnesota Republican Party convention gets underway at the St. Paul RiverCentre, with the selection of national delegates and endorsement of a U.S. Senate candidate on the to-do list. Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak at the party’s annual Lincoln-Reagan fundraising dinner which will be held in association with the convention.  

Coming up Friday at noon, a special edition of Politics Friday from the 2024 State Convention for Minnesota Republicans. MPR News host Brian Bakst and the MPR politics team conduct interviews and a look at the scenes at the convention.

Later, a recap of the session-ending sprint at the state Capitol with MPR News senior politics reporters Dana Ferguson and Clay Masters.

The DFL is in its second year of control of the House, Senate and governor’s office. 

Over the last four months, the DFL passed a rideshare ordinance, a bill on gun restrictions with a tougher penalty for “straw purchasers” and various cannabis resolutions. But there’s also a list of bills that didn’t pass from an equal rights amendment to sports betting bill and a construction projects plan.

MPR News host Brian Bakst talked to Gov. Tim Walz about his take on the 2024 legislative Session. Later, the Republican perspective on this year’s session with Sen. Julia Coleman of Waconia and the assistant minority leader in the Minnesota Senate.  

Plus, MPR Capitol reporters Dana Ferguson and Clay Masters told us more about what got done at the Capitol this year, what got left behind and what it means for the campaign already under way.  

The 2024 DFL State Convention will be held at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center in Duluth beginning Friday afternoon.

Coming up Friday at noon, a special edition of Politics Friday with a preview of the DFL convention. MPR News host Brian Bakst will talk with DFL Chairman Ken Martin and state Sen. Kelly Morrison, the endorsed candidate for Congress in Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District.

Later, a roundtable conversation with DFL delegates as they get ready to gather for their party’s convention.

This week MPR News and other media partners released the first Minnesota Poll results of the year. The poll, in partnership with MPR News, KARE 11 and the Star Tribune, revealed a close race for president. 

The Minnesota Poll also offered a glimpse at top issues for voters and showed the unease many have about Biden and Trump.  

In this Politics Friday podcast, MPR News host and politics editor Brian Bakst and his guests talk about the poll results and what they suggest about where this election year is headed. 

Politics Friday will return to the airwaves later this fall for our weekly coverage of the 2024 Election. Until then, we’re coming straight to your podcast feeds — occasionally — throughout the summer. 

Guests:  

• Craig Helmstetter is the managing partner of the APM Research Lab at Minnesota Public Radio.  




• Briana Bierschbach is a politics and government reporter with the Star Tribune.  




• John Croman is a politics reporter for KARE 11. 

Democrat Joe Biden, the current president, and Republican Donald Trump, the former president, meet Thursday, June 27, for the first debate either candidate has been in since 2020. 

The presumed presidential rematch has been set for months — with both candidates earning the necessary primary wins to gain their party nominations, which they’ll formally accept at conventions later this summer. 

MPR News host Brian Bakst talks with presidential scholars and a former presidential candidate about the work it takes to prepare for a presidential debate and how Thursday’s debate could impact both campaigns over the next few months. 

Politics Friday will return to the airwaves later this fall for our weekly coverage of the 2024 Election. Until then, we’re coming straight to your podcast feeds — occasionally — throughout the summer.

Guests:  

• Tim Pawlenty is the former governor of Minnesota. He served from 2003 to 2011 and sought the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. 




• Tammy Vigil is the senior associate dean and associate professor of media science at Boston University. Previously, she has done work for the Commission on Presidential Debates. 




• Timothy Naftali is a presidential historian and former director of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum. He’s a senior research scholar at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.

Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.  

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.    

It has been an extraordinary month in our nation’s politics. 

There’s been development after riveting development, with each eclipsing the last. And yet, with still 100 days to go till Election Day, this could be just a taste of what’s ahead.

MPR News host Brian Bakst talks with MPR political reporters Mark Zdechlik and Clay Masters about the last four weeks in politics and breaks down what the country has experienced.

Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.    

Tim Walz, the second-term Minnesota governor with a folksy demeanor and a swath of experience both in and out of government, gained a spot on the Democratic ticket as Kamala Harris’ vice presidential choice.

Supporters of Gov. Walz say the ex-Army National Guard leader, former teacher and past congressman could help Harris in the Midwest. But he also comes with baggage from nearly two decades in political office.

Listen to special coverage live from MPR News with host Cathy Wurzer and political editor Brian Bakst.

Clifford Bentley served as technical director for this special coverage.

Find more coverage on the MPR News website.

Kamala Harris taps Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as Democratic running mate

Gov. Tim Walz is Kamala Harris’ running mate. What happens now in Minnesota politics?

We break down the primary results and what they mean for November. Three U.S. House races were closely watched.

We hear from Congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Michelle Fischbach who both fended off primary challenges.

The match up is set in Minnesota’s most competitive U.S. House district. We talk to Republican Joe Teirab who will be facing Democratic Congresswoman Angie Craig.

Plus, we hear from party leaders at the state capitol about their priorities and break down one key race in the state senate that could decide party control.

The politics don’t stop with primary night. In fact, the Democratic National Convention is in just a few days. We share a preview of what to expect from Gov. Tim Walz.

The Minnesota State Fair has ended. The 12-day event brought out long lines for fried food, a butter sculpting competition and U.S. Senate candidates looking to represent the state in the nation’s Capital.

There have been 44 people in Minnesota who have held the title of U.S. senator since statehood, but only seven have been elected to three or more terms. Minnesota has a U.S. Senate election now just a couple of months away, and Democrat Amy Klobuchar is after a fourth term.  

MPR News host Brian Bakst talks with Sen. Klobuchar at the State Fair. She shares what she’s been up to in Washington and what she would do if given another six years. 

Later, we’ll hear from Republican nominee Royce White, who is running on the slogan “the people are coming.” White talks about his path to politics after time spent in professional basketball — in the U.S. and abroad — and his conservative ideology.

Guests:  

• DFL U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar




• U.S. Senate Republican nominee Royce White 

Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.   

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. 

The newest member of Minnesota’s congressional delegation, Republican Rep. Brad Finstad, is asking voters for a second term in district one. Democrat Rachel Bohman is asking those same southern Minnesota voters to give her the job instead. 

Bohman, a lawyer and former local board official who has a background in election administration, is looking to flip a seat that has been held by Republicans since 2019. 

What does she stand for and why should voters go in a new direction? MPR News politics editor and host Brian Bakst talks with Bohman about her campaign. Finstad declined an invitation to appear. 

Later, we’ll discuss campaign ads with associate professor Dan Myers of the University of Minnesota’s Department of Political Science.

Hundreds of millions of dollars will be spent nationally between now and Election Day on television and digital commercials, although Minnesota has had a light dose so far. 

Guests:  

• Rachel Bohman is the DFL candidate for the Congressional District 1




• Dan Myers is an associate professor at the University of Minnesota.

Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.   

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. 

There are 46 days until Election Day, and that means the start of early voting in Minnesota – one of the first states where votes can get cast.  

MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst talks with Secretary of State Steve Simon about the early voting process and the safeguards being taken to make sure the 2024 election runs smoothly and fairly across the state. 

Later in the hour, plugged-in members of the Minnesota’s DFL and Republican parties share their perspectives on how they see this election shaking out from the presidential race on down the ticket. 

Guests:  

• Steve Simon is Minnesota’s Secretary of State.   




• Ak Kamara is the Republican National Committeeman for Minnesota. 




• Ryan Winkler is a former DFL majority leader in the Minnesota House.  

Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.   

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. 

With new candidates on the Democratic ticket and former president Donald Trump atop the Republican ticket for a third time, a new Minnesota poll shows Kamala Harris with an edge. Coming up Friday at noon, MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst talks with Minnesota journalists about the poll results.

Minnesota’s most competitive race for Congress is expected to be in the 2nd Congressional District, which includes suburban, exurban and rural areas south of the Twin Cities. It’s one of the few districts in America where voters favored Republican Donald Trump in 2016 and then Democrat Joe Biden in 2020.

Three-term Democratic Rep. Angie Craig is trying to retain the seat. She’ll face former federal prosecutor and Republican nominee Joe Teirab on November’s ballot.

MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst moderated a debate between Craig and Teirab held live at MPR’s St. Paul studios.

Video of the debate is available on MPR’s YouTube and Facebook page.

Guests:  

• Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.), incumbent congresswoman in Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District. She was elected in 2018. 

• Joe Teirab, Republican challenger in Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District. 

Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.  

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. 

Earlier this week marked one year since Hamas attacked Israel. Hamas militants invaded Israel, killed about 1,200 people and kidnapped another 250 people, making it the deadliest attack in Israel’s history. About 100 hostages have not been returned. Israel’s retaliation in Gaza has killed more than 41,000 people and wounded more than 96,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, and resulted in mass displacement and a humanitarian crisis.

As the war in the Middle East continues with no immediate cease-fire deal in sight, the situation will pose difficulties for the next U.S. president. Jon Alterman, author of the piece “Middle East Challenges Will Vex Not Only the First 100 Days but the First 1,000,” sums up the complex challenges that await. It’s part of a new report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies on the global impact of the 2024 election, where Alterman serves as the senior vice president. He also directs the Middle East Program.  

MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst talks with Alterman about the dynamics in the Middle East and where the leading presidential candidates line up. Later, a peer-led, follow-up conversation with two Generation Z voters about their feelings toward the election after a summer of unprecedented political events.

With fewer than three weeks left until Election Day, campaign ads for the presidency down to the Legislature have flooded the airwaves from your TV to your phone.  

But judges are on the election ballot, too. Judicial candidates are running for judgeships in local District Courts, the Court of Appeals and even the Minnesota Supreme Court. There are 100 races, although fewer than a tenth of them have multiple candidates to choose from. 

Most judges in Minnesota tend to be appointed by the governor, so why are those races on your ballot?  

Friday at noon, MPR News politics editor and his guests discuss judicial elections, and why incumbent judges rarely face serious challenges.  

Later, is the approaching election and partisan politics raising anxiety or straining your relationships? The creator of MPR’s Talking Sense initiative shares tips on how to weather the remaining weeks and the aftermath. Then, a sneak peek at the Walk a Mile in My News project.  

Guests:  

• Samuel Edmunds is the president of the Minnesota State Bar Association and a partner at Sieben Edmunds Miller, focusing on criminal defense and injury law. 




• Douglas Keith is a senior counsel in the Brennan Center’s Judiciary Program and the founding editor of State Court Report, a publication focused on state courts and state constitutional law.   




• Catharine Richert is an MPR News reporter and Talking Sense lead correspondent.  

Presidential election years can make for unpredictable outcomes down the ballot. 

For Minnesota, the party turns out its base — and connects with independents best — has the inside track to gain the gavels at the state’s Capitol. 

The Senate majority will be decided by a single, winner-take-all race in the western suburbs. As for the House, key races in northern Minnesota and some in the south could determine if the DFL trifecta will live on into 2025.  

MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst talks with House speaker Melissa Hortman, a Democrat and House minority leader Lisa Demuth, a Republican, about their party’s prospects in next month’s election.  

Later, a look at a northern Minnesota congressional race that features a rematch from two years ago.    

Guests:  

• House speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park   




• House minority leader Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring 




• Jennifer Schultz, a DFL candidate for Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District seat. 

Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcast.  

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.