Politics Friday

Politics Friday: The 2025 Legislature is off to a bumpy start

A man stands at a dias and swings a gavel
Secretary of State Steve Simon gavels in the Minnesota House of Representatives during the first day of the 2025 session at the State Capitol in St. Paul on Tuesday.
Ben Hovland | MPR News

The tied Minnesota Senate got under way in amicable fashion with senators notching a power-sharing deal to avoid problems.

The House is another story. Democrats boycotted and republicans went full steam ahead — despite legal questions about their ability to do so. It’s a bit messy.

MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst and his guests talk about the first week of the 2025 legislative session from a panel discussion he recorded with a pair of lawmakers at the Minnesota’s Chamber of Commerce annual session issues forum earlier in the week.

Plus, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who just put out his budget plan, joined the conversation.

Guests:

  • Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz

  • Sen. Judy Seeberger, DFL-Afton

  • Rep. Andrew Myers, R-Tonka Bay

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