Politics Friday
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Politics Friday
Weekly updates from Brian Bakst and the Minnesota Public Radio newsroom staff covering politics in Minnesota.
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36 টি এপিসোড
Republican Jensen makes another try for Minnesota governor
Former state Sen. Scott Jensen maneuvered his way through a crowded governor’s race field to gain the Republican Party’s backing in 2022. Now, he’s ho...
A Minnesota lawmaker with focus on fraud tries to weave through GOP governor field
Minnesota Republicans feel good about their chances in 2026.
They’ve got lots of opportunities to break through on the statewide map — with sev...
Politics Friday: Walz sounds off on new book, 3rd term bid and a rift with Republicans
Gov. Tim Walz has divided attention these days as his political past, present and future all collide.
A new book offers details of the vice pres...
Politics Friday Special: Exploring the political shift in northwestern Minnesota
As the midterm campaign approaches, the political winds are starting to kick up around Minnesota.
Places that used to send Democrats to St. Paul...
Will a special session work without prior deal? House leaders assess possibility
Minnesota’s House of Representatives has been tested in the last year by a political tie, a lawmaker’s assassination and now consideration of a specia...
Politics Friday: Hunt for 2026 ballot spots is on with governor, U.S. Senate as marquee races
With just a little over a year until the 2026 midterms, office-seeking Minnesotans are building their campaigns for the state’s top political position...
Politics Friday special: Walz, Demuth, Flanagan remember Rep. Melissa Hortman
Minnesota was rocked over the weekend by the politically targeted shootings of two state lawmakers.
State Rep. Melissa Hortman, a former DFL Ho...
Politics Friday: Digging into the one-day special session
Minnesota lawmakers are breathing a bit easier now that they’ve finally adopted a new budget — roughly $66 billion over the next two years.
The...
Politics Friday: Lawmakers slog toward budget conclusion as special session is set
It’s been about three weeks since the the Legislature adjourned from the 2025 session without completing a state budget.
Since then, teams of ne...
Politics Friday: Walz weighs in as state lawmakers head into overtime
The Minnesota Legislature is hanging around a bit longer.
The yearly work was supposed to end Monday, May 19 but lawmakers adjourned with unfin...
Politics Friday: Is the Legislature on the doorstep of a special session?
The end of the Minnesota Legislature’s session was supposed to be right around the corner — Monday, May 19 — but just like the choppy start of this ye...
Politics Friday: Incomplete grade as lawmakers hammer out school aid deal
Almost 40 percent of the state budget goes to preschool through high school education – around $25 billion over two years.
For school districts...
Politics Friday: Slow so far, a big phase of Minnesota's marijuana market launch nears
This month marks two years since Minnesota lawmakers passed the bill to legalize marijuana use and possession for adults 21 and older.
Commerci...
Politics Friday: Washington is top of mind for a pair of Minnesota's top leaders
Gov. Tim Walz had his chance this week to assess the condition of Minnesota in a speech where he spent a lot of time focused on what the president is...
Politics Friday Special: Digging into Minnesota‘s political history
The Minnesota House and Senate chambers and all the committee rooms have been quiet this week while the Legislature is on recess.
The Capitol wi...
Affordable housing is a bipartisan focus, but what can lawmakers get done?
The Legislature’s spring recess is approaching and with about six weeks left in the session, many issues still unresolved.
Housing is top of min...
Politics Friday: Budget begins to take shape as leaders huddle
MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst gets the lowdown on the negotiations that have begun over the new state budget.
Erin Campbell, commissioner...
The Legislature gears up for the big budget push. How will it go?
After an unusual start, the 2025 legislative session has passed the halfway mark and the budget grind is quickly closing in.
The Senate is nar...
Politics Friday: What will Minnesota lawmakers do to fight fraud?
Two of the biggest political stories of this week played out beyond Minnesota’s Capitol.
The arrest of then-Sen. Justin Eichorn, R-Grand Rapid...
Politics Friday: Minnesota’s paid leave law remains a flashpoint as launch nears
MPR News senior politics editor Brian Bakst talks with two Minnesota lawmakers about the state’s new paid leave program — scheduled to start in Januar...
Politics Friday: Moves in Washington hover over state budget outlook
Amid upheaval at the federal level, Minnesota officials released the state’s latest economic forecast.
It’ll set the parameters for the new budg...
Politics Friday: Newly elected lawmakers reflect on their first legislative session
State lawmakers have less than three months to adopt a state budget for this legislative session — it’s a must-do item this year.
Many Capitol v...
Politics Friday: Crime, public safety measures drive debates at the Capitol
It’s back to business at the Capitol, and several public safety-related bills have been introduced this session.
But which bills have enough bi...
Politics Friday: As a Minnesota senator bows out, a GOP lawmaker leans into party agenda
President Donald Trump’s makeover of the federal government is going full steam.
But he’s doing it in a way that has gone around Congress — wit...
Politics Friday: Blur of action in Washington, back to action in St. Paul
MPR News host Brian Bakst talks about the blistering change in Washington with U.S. Sen. Tina Smith. And the scuffle in the Minnesota House is over. W...
Politics Friday: Democrats seek a new leader with Minnesota’s DFL party chair
The Democratic National Committee will elect a new party chair this weekend. Minnesota’s Ken Martin, the current state DFL Party leader, is vying for...
Politics Friday: As state high court pulled into Minnesota House dispute, what’s on the line?
The Legislature opened its session on Jan. 14. But the House hasn’t been able to operate at full capacity.
Democrats are boycotting and Republ...
Politics Friday: The 2025 Legislature is off to a bumpy start
The tied Minnesota Senate got under way in amicable fashion with senators notching a power-sharing deal to avoid problems.
The House is another...
As Legislature prepares for new session, rifts between parties show a partisan divide
The Minnesota Legislature will gavel-in a new session on Jan. 14 at noon, and MPR’s politics team is at the Capitol to cover it all. MPR News politics...
Gov. Tim Walz reflects on Democrats’ shortcomings, return to Minnesota as political ground shifts
MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst speaks with senior politics reporter Dana Ferguson about her interview with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz for a special...
Politics Friday: Trump’s path to the White House began at the Iowa Caucuses
MPR News senior politics reporter Clay Masters looks back on the 2024 election campaign for the Iowa Caucus to election events leading up to this week...
Politics Friday: The voters have spoken, but sent a muddled message for Minnesota’s Legislature
MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst and his guests talk about the Minnesota Legislature and how the state will govern in 2025 with both chambers spli...
Politics Friday: Minnesota campaigns, parties gear up for Election Day
It’s now November and Election Day is almost here.
MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst talks with Minnesota’s Secretary of State about what’s...
Politics Friday: The race to lead the Minnesota Legislature
Presidential election years can make for unpredictable outcomes down the ballot.
For Minnesota, the party that turns out its base — and connect...
Politics Friday: The 2024 election will determine who presides in Minnesota courtrooms, remember there are judges on your ballot
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...
Battle to shore up bases remains as Election Day nears
Earlier this week marked one year since Hamas attacked Israel. Hamas militants invaded Israel, killed about 1,200 people and kidnapped another 250 peo...