Politics Friday

Politics Friday podcast art
Politics Friday
MPR News

On Fridays, MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst discusses Minnesota politics — the latest from the legislature, election news and more. Join us Fridays at noon for interviews with lawmakers, candidates and political experts, including the MPR News politics reporting team.

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Jim Schultz on winning GOP nomination for Attorney General
In the Republican race for Attorney General, private attorney Jim Schultz rode the GOP endorsement to victory over the party’s 2018 nominee, former state Rep. Doug Wardlow. Schultz will take on sitting DFL Attorney General Keith Ellison in November.
Brad Finstad will be Minnesota's newest member of Congress
Republican Brad Finstad will fill out the remaining months of the term of late Congressman Jim Hagedorn in the 1st Congressional District. He’ll also be campaigning for the same seat — in a newly redrawn 1st District — in November.
DFL's Ettinger loses special election, will get another shot in November
Former Hormel Foods CEO Jeff Ettinger failed to win back Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District for the DFL in Tuesday’s special election, but he’ll get another shot at it in November after winning his party’s nomination to represent a newly redrawn 1st District.
Gov. Tim Walz looks ahead to the general election
Governor Tim Walz is seeking reelection after a term dominated by his response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the fallout from the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.
DFL, GOP political analysts weigh in on what gas prices, Jan. 6 hearings mean for MN politics
As the campaign for governor and the Legislature nears the summer solstice, where do things stand? Will the headwinds from $5 per gallon gasoline and broader inflation sweep Republicans into top state offices? Are the Jan. 6 hearings in Washington having any impact on Minnesota voters? And what happens if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade? Two top political analysts weigh in from each side of the political aisle.
GOP candidates for Minnesota attorney general; the high price of gasoline
Republicans believe they have a real chance to unseat DFL Attorney General Keith Ellison this year, but who will be their candidate? We talked to GOP endorsed hopeful Jim Schultz and his primary challenger Doug Wardlow.  And gas prices are an issue in the campaign, why are they so high and how long will prices stay high?
What’s next for the budget surplus — will there be a special session?
It’s been nearly two weeks since the Legislature went home after missing its deadline to pass tax and spending bills. DFL Gov. Tim Walz and Democrats who control the House want a special session to finish the job, but Republicans in charge of the Senate aren’t on board. MPR News host Mike Mulcahy talks with political reporters from MPR News, the Star Tribune and the Pioneer Press about what happens now and how it plays into this year’s political campaign.