Today's Question Blog

December 17, 2013 1:09 AM

Are vitamins worth the money?

(Bradley Simke/Flickr) “One in two adults takes a daily vitamin pill, and Americans spend tens of billions of dollars each year on supplements. Now, a small coterie of physicians writing in a leading medical journal has offered this blunt advice: ‘Stop wasting money,’” writes Roni Caryn Rabin in the New York Times. In an unusually Read more →

by Michael Olson

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December 16, 2013 1:04 AM

Would you support a ban on plastic bags?

Grand Rapids became the first Minnesota locality to take a stand against plastic shopping bags, when the City Council unanimously passed a resolution urging citizens to “work toward decreasing their consumption of plastic bags” by instead shopping with reusable bags,” writes Dan Kraker for MPR News. Today’s Question: Would you support a ban on plastic Read more →

by Michael Olson

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December 13, 2013 1:03 AM

Is the Right to Bear Arms a freedom that’s gone too far?

“Saturday marks the anniversary of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School, which left 20 children and six educators dead. And a year later, questions still remain about gunman Adam Lanza, who committed suicide that day and worked hard to obscure his motives,” writes NPR’s Jeff Cohen. “At least 194 children have been shot to Read more →

by Michael Olson

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December 12, 2013 1:53 AM

What is the best Minnesota restaurant for 2013?

“Minnesota Monthly” magazine recently named Isaac Becker its “Restaurateur of the Year,” based on his launch of 2013′s hottest eatery, Burch Steakhouse and Pizza Bar. “Minnesota Monthly” magazine editor Rachel Hutton, a regular contributor on MPR News’ Appetites, spoke with Tom Crann of All Things Considered about Becker’s imprint on the Twin Cities dining scene. Read more →

by Michael Olson

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December 11, 2013 1:31 AM

Who inspired you this year?

Time has named Pope Francis as Person of the Year. “He took the name of a humble saint and then called for a church of healing. The septuagenarian superstar is poised to transform a place that measures change by the century,” write Howard Chua-Eoan and Elizabeth Dias. As Pope, he was suddenly the sovereign of Read more →

by Michael Olson

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December 10, 2013 1:11 AM

Was the GM bailout worth it?

“Critics of the federal auto bailout will no longer be able to refer derisively to GM as ‘Government Motors’ — on Monday, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew announced the U.S. government has sold its remaining shares in the carmaker,” writes NPR’s Scott Neuman. “With the final sale of GM stock, this important chapter in our nation’s Read more →

by Michael Olson

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December 6, 2013 2:01 AM

What is your reaction to the death of Nelson Mandela?

“Nelson Mandela, who was born in a country that viewed him as a second-class citizen, died Thursday as one of the most respected statesmen in the world. He was 95,” writes NPR’s Jason Beaubien. In April 1994, the world watched as millions of South Africans — most of them jubilant, but many wary — cast Read more →

by Michael Olson

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December 3, 2013 1:08 AM

Do you trust most of the people you encounter?

Trust fall by klndonnelley via Flickr “Americans don’t trust each other anymore,” writes Connie Cass of the Associated Press. We’re not talking about the loss of faith in big institutions such as the government, the church or Wall Street, which fluctuates with events. For four decades, a gut-level ingredient of democracy — trust in the Read more →

by Michael Olson

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December 2, 2013 1:03 AM

Is copper-nickel mining worth the environmental risk?

“Deep below the Superior National Forest floor, traces of copper locked into the rock are stirring up both dreams and dread,” write MPR News reporters Dan Kraker and Elizabeth Dunbar. PolyMet Mining is working to persuade state officials that it can unlock those deposits safely, without causing significant harm to a corner of Minnesota known Read more →

by Michael Olson

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November 28, 2013 1:00 AM

What are you thankful for?

We typically talk about policy challenges and social problems in this space. Let’s take this holiday to reflect on what matters most to us. Today’s Question: What are you thankful for?

by Michael Olson

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