MPR News Presents

Speeches, documentaries and debates.

Robert Redford speaks at JFK Library about his career
Actor and director Robert Redford talks about his movies, climate change, politics and the media, at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston. Maureen Dowd of the New York Times is the moderator.
Hear the first gubernatorial debate of the campaign
Incumbent DFL Governor Mark Dayton and his challengers Jeff Johnson of the GOP and Hannah Nicollet of the Independence Party debate the issues in Rochester on Oct. 1, 2014 at 7 p.m.
Hear the US Senate debate from Duluth
DFL U.S. Sen. Al Franken and his GOP challenger Mike McFadden debate the major issues before an audience in Duluth.
Rev. Al Sharpton at St. Olaf on race relations in America
The Reverend Al Sharpton spoke at St. Olaf College September 22, 2014 about race relations in America. He says we've made good progress politically and culturally, but there has been little racial progress in the criminal justice system and there are still big gaps in education and economic opportunity.
Hear the speech: Garrison Keillor says all history is local
Radio broadcaster, humorist and author Garrison Keillor gives the keynote address at the national meeting of the American Association for State and Local History, held in St. Paul September 18, 2014.
Westminster Forum: 'Religious Extremists  and Terrorism: How Should We Respond?'
Afsheen John Radsan, professor at William Mitchell College of Law, former federal prosecutor and assistant general counsel at the CIA speaks at the Westminster Town Hall Forum September 23, 2014 on the topic, "Religious Extremists and Terrorism: How Should We Respond?" Radsan is founder of the National Security Forum.
What's behind the generation gap in attitudes about digital privacy
Amanda Lenhart of the Pew Research Center takes a look at the generation gap in privacy in her 2014 Chautauqua Lecture titled, "What Americans Think About Privacy, and Why Their Kids Think Differently."
The economy: Are America's best days behind us?
Douglas Holtz-Eakin, former director of the Congressional Budget Office, tells former Minnesota Congressman Vin Weber that America's best days are NOT behind us, and he has five ideas to ensure prosperity for all: