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 episode of Politics Friday. After a whirlwind bid for vice president, Walz returns to Minnesota and reflects on what went wrong for Democrats in November.Walz also talks about his approach to working across the political aisle and passing a two-year state budget amid a changed political dynamic in St. Paul. Republicans were able to break up the DFL trifecta at the Capitol, tying Democrats for control of the House of Representatives. The Senate maintains a one-vote DFL advantage. And finally, the governor introduces a plan to curb fraud and abuse in state government programs and speaks to the delay in the state’s roll out of the nascent cannabis industry.
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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 when President-elect Trump stepped back into the White House.
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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 split virtually down the middle.
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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 being done to make sure the balloting and the counting goes smoothly, and when might we know who won races up and down the ballot. Later, Minnesota DFL and Republican Party chairs share their closing takes on an unconventional campaign year, and seasoned political pros stop in for an election night preview. We’ll learn what they’re watching for and how the state Capitol might look when the dust settles. Guests: Steve Simon is the Minnesota Secretary of State. Ken Martin is the Minnesota DFL Party chair. David Hann is the chairman of the Republican Party of Minnesota. Chas Anderson is the CEO and senior principal at Park Street Public. Todd Rapp is the CEO and President of Rapp Strategies Inc. 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.
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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 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 Minnesota Speaker of the House 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.
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