Will a special session work without prior deal? House leaders assess possibility
Minnesota’s House of Representatives has been tested in the last year by a political tie, a lawmaker’s assassination and now consideration of a special session to respond to high-profile acts of violence.In their first joint interview, MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst speaks with Republican Speaker Lisa Demuth and new DFL Leader Zack Stephenson about their hopes and expectations for a special session. Gov. Tim Walz might call one even if lawmakers lack a prior agreement on what gets considered and possibly brought to votes.Their conversation also explores how the two will work together in 2026, an election year where nothing is required of lawmakers in their February-to-May session.Later, author Lori Sturdevant talks about her new book on Martin Sabo, a former Minnesota House speaker and venerable congressman whose career spanned almost five full decades.Guests: Republican Speaker of the Minnesota House Lisa DemuthDFL Caucus Leader Rep. Zack Stephenson Lori Sturdevant, author of “Martin Sabo: The Making of the Modern Legislature”Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.
--------
49:51
--------
49:51
Politics Friday: Hunt for 2026 ballot spots is on with governor, U.S. Senate as marquee races
With just a little over a year until the 2026 midterms, office-seeking Minnesotans are building their campaigns for the state’s top political positions.On the Republican side, several candidates are vying for a GOP nomination to replace Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, although Walz has yet to state if he’ll try for an unusual third term.Some prominent DFLers are campaigning hard for an open U.S. Senate seat as Sen. Tina Smith prepares to retire at the end of her term.MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst introduces us to two candidates: Republican candidate for governor Kendall Qualls and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Angie Craig, a member of the U.S. House currently representing the state’s 2nd District.Also, how likely is a special session for state lawmakers? Walz has hinted at a potential emergency legislative session to address gun possession, mental health care access and school safety issues. MPR News reporters Clay Masters and Dana Ferguson break down the latest from the state Capitol.Guests: Democratic U.S. Rep. Angie Craig is pursuing a Senate seat in 2026. Rep. Craig represents Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District and handily won her fourth term in 2024.Kendall Qualls is an Army veteran and a Republican candidate running for Minnesota’s 2026 governor’s race. Qualls is a former business executive who has led conservative advocacy groups in recent years and ran for the post in 2022. The discussion with Rep. Craig was recorded at the Minnesota State Fair on Aug. 28 and was lighted edited for the broadcast. The full conversation can be heard on the Politics Friday podcast. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.
Minnesota was rocked over the weekend by the politically targeted shootings of two state lawmakers. State Rep. Melissa Hortman, a former DFL House Speaker, was fatally shot along with her husband, Mark. DFL State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, are still recovering after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds. Political leaders and many Minnesotans are still trying to make sense of it all. In the hours after the suspect in those shootings was arrested, MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst, Minnesota Now host Nina Moini and politics reporter Clay Masters spoke with three of the state’s top political leaders. Guests: Gov. Tim Walz is a former Democratic vice presidential candidate and second-term DFL governor of Minnesota.House speaker Lisa Demuth is a Republican from Cold Spring.Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan is a DFLer, a former state representative and a candidate for the U.S. senate.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.
--------
29:53
--------
29:53
Politics Friday: Digging into the one-day special session
Minnesota lawmakers are breathing a bit easier now that they’ve finally adopted a new budget — roughly $66 billion over the next two years. The Legislature met earlier this week for a special session to get the work done. There were protests, long debates, stories of immigration, but lawmakers managed to pass 15 bills in less than one day. On this special podcast edition of Politics Friday, MPR politics editor Brian Bakst and reporter Ellie Roth take us through the action.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. Politics Friday won’t be coming to you every Friday this summer but will appear here and there in this podcast feed as events warrant. Rest assured, we’ll be back to a more-regular cadence this fall. Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.
--------
19:56
--------
19:56
Politics Friday: Lawmakers slog toward budget conclusion as special session is set
It’s been about three weeks since the the Legislature adjourned from the 2025 session without completing a state budget.Since then, teams of negotiators have met, mostly in private, to try to chart a path to the end and craft remaining budget bills. Lawmakers will have to complete this task to avoid a partial government shutdown that would interrupt services in state parks, key health programs, driver’s licensing exams and more. A one-day special session has been called for 10 a.m. Monday. Will there be enough votes to approve a final compromise? MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst talks with two House leaders about a state budget and what could happen if the budget deal isn’t met. Later in the program, a look at the return-to-office for many state employees and a roundtable with Capitol journalists on everything happening in this not-so-quiet start to summer. Guests: GOP Floor Leader of the House Harry Niska, Ramsey DFL Floor Leader of the House Jamie Long, Minneapolis Former Commissioner of Minnesota Management and Budget Jim SchowalterSubscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.
USA