Politics Friday

Minnesota lawmakers have headed home for the year. The Legislature adjourned earlier this week after enacting some priorities and setting others to the side.

Some bills still await action by Gov. Tim Walz. Barring a special session, these will be the last bills that Walz confronts after two terms in office.

MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst speaks with Walz about the highs and the lows over his eight years in office.

Then, a recap of this year’s session. There were somber moments, tense exchanges and lots of debate over the past few months. We’ll take a look back with our political reporters.

Guests:

Gov. Tim Walz is a second-term Minnesota governor.
Dana Ferguson is a political correspondent for MPR News.
Peter Cox is a politics reporter for MPR News.

Minnesota lawmakers are filling in the details of a legislative budget agreement struck this week and will have to hustle to pass the bills needed to enact it.

If they do, Minnesotans will see reductions in their vehicle registration, help with rising property taxes, continuation of a lead pipe replacement push and more. A key hospital in Minneapolis would get a lifeline and counties would get money to replace old technology that makes running programs difficult and fraud more of a risk.

The Legislature was tasked with a compact agenda and it looks like that is what will result. Items that were seen as politically problematic were kept to the side in favor of proposals that could get bipartisan buy-in.

MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst talks with the Minnesota’s four caucus leaders about how a session-ending agreement came together — two DFLers and two Republicans.

Then, a check-in with our state Capitol team, and what they’re picking up on, as the Legislature inches closer to its conclusion.

Guests:

Rep. Lisa Demuth, of Cold Spring, is a Republican and the speaker of the Minnesota House.
Rep. Zack Stephenson, of Coon Rapids, is the DFL caucus leader for the Minnesota House.
Sen. Erin Murphy, of St. Paul, is the DFL Senate majority leader.
Sen. Mark Johnson, of East Grand Forks, is the Republican Senate minority leader.
Dana Ferguson is a political correspondent for MPR News.
Peter Cox is a politics reporter for MPR News.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation or subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.

The Legislature will end its session this month.

Lawmakers don’t have a choice; the Minnesota Constitution requires them to wrap it up.

The political parties both hold late-May endorsing conventions. DFLers meet in Rochester while Republicans assemble in Duluth. There are choices in the major races — governor and U.S. Senate — but the gatherings of activists can be unpredictable.

MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst and Capitol correspondent Dana Ferguson map out the session so far and where it could head next.

And several immigrants in Minnesota are asking the state to pardon criminal convictions that could result in their deportation, an MPR News producer explains the situation.

Then two politics reporters come by to discuss what they are seeing and hearing about the top-of-the-ballot races in Minnesota.

Guests:

Dana Ferguson is a political correspondent for MPR News.
Alanna Elder is a producer for “Minnesota Now” on MPR News.
J. Patrick Coolican is a editor-in-chief of the Minnesota Reformer.
Walker Orenstein is a political reporter for the Minnesota Star Tribune.

The Legislature will end its session this month.

Lawmakers don’t have a choice; the Minnesota Constitution requires them to wrap it up.

The political parties both hold late-May endorsing conventions. DFLers meet in Rochester while Republicans assemble in Duluth. There are choices in the major races — governor and U.S. Senate — but the gatherings of activists can be unpredictable.

MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst and Capitol correspondent Dana Ferguson map out the session so far and where it could head next.

And several immigrants in Minnesota are asking the state to pardon criminal convictions that could result in their deportation, an MPR News producer explains the situation.

Then two politics reporters come by to discuss what they are seeing and hearing about the top-of-the-ballot races in Minnesota.

Guests:

Dana Ferguson is a political correspondent for MPR News.
Alanna Elder is a producer for “Minnesota Now” on MPR News.
J. Patrick Coolican is a editor-in-chief of the Minnesota Reformer.
Walker Orenstein is a political reporter for the Minnesota Star Tribune.

There’s an open seat in the U.S. Senate, and Republicans are trying to do something they haven’t since 2006: Win a statewide election.

Both parties are working to figure out their nominees for November.

Veteran sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya is taking the political plunge, and if she succeeds she might be one of the more recognizable U.S. senators.

Can Tafoya overcome what’s shaping up as a tough environment for Republicans? If she does, what would Tafoya do in Washington?

MPR politics editor Brian Bakst speaks with Tafoya about what led her to run and what it will take to win in November.

Then, the view from some political strategists on how they see the legislative session wrapping up and the fall campaign shaping up.

Guests:

Michele Tafoya is a former sport broadcaster and Republican running for Minnesota’s open U.S. Senate seat.
Abou Amara is a DFL political analyst and Twin Cities attorney.
Preya Samsundar is a GOP political analyst and a campaign consultant.
Dana Ferguson is a political correspondent for MPR News.
Torey Van Oot is reporter for Axios Twin Cities covering Minnesota politics.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation or subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.