Over the decades, MPR has presented the many different perspectives of Minnesota politics and politicians. This collection is home to a multitude speeches, interviews and debates on the issues of the day. Important topics of civil rights, environment, crime, budget, legislation, and campaigns are addressed.
Click on link to these well-known figures to see audio segments directly related to them: Michele Bachmann Arne Carlson Keith Ellison Hubert Humphrey Amy Klobuchar Eugene McCarthy Walter Mondale Tim Pawlenty R.T. Rybak Jesse Ventura Paul Wellstone
October 30, 1997 - As part of a collection of profile reports on candidates for Minneapolis mayor, MPR’s Dan Olson looks at incumbent Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton and her political tenure in the city.
November 5, 1997 - Midday discusses 1998 election results with political analysts Bob Meek, a Democrat; and Nancy Longley, a Republican, to get their perspectives. Topics include Twin Cities mayoral races. Listeners call in with questions.
November 12, 1997 - Midday’s Gary Eichten speaks with U.S. Senator Rod Grams about the situation in Iraq and the involvement of the United Nations. Senator Grams chairs the International Operations Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Listeners call in with questions.
November 14, 1997 - MPR’s Martin Kaste reports that in the aftermath of the Minnesota lawmakers' vote to defeat the Twins stadium bill (voting 84 to 47 against the package), Governor Arne Carlson has offered a eulogy of sorts, seeing it as the "last, best hope" to keep the baseball team in Minnesota.
November 21, 1997 - Minnesota’s U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone joins Midday to talk about his completed "Poverty Tour" and his possible campaign for president. Wellstone also answer listener questions about issues before the U.S. Congress.
January 2, 1998 - Midday presents the January edition of MPR’s Voices of Minnesota series, featuring interviews with three outgoing Minneapolis City Council members, who have nearly 70 years of experience between them: Alice Rainville, Walt Dziedzic, and Dennis Schulstad.
January 2, 1998 -
January 3, 1998 - A Minnesota lawmaker is flying to North Carolina on Sunday to take a closer look at what may be the future home of the Minnesota Twins. A North Carolina businessman is negotiating to buy the team... but State Representative Kevin Knight of Bloomington says he thinks the deal is a ploy to force the Minnesota Legislature to pay for a new baseball stadium. Knight told Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste that the trip to North Carolina will help him prepare for the NEXT stadium fight, when the Minnesota Legislature meets later this month.
January 6, 1998 - Twin Cities officials are doing their best to mix business with politics! It's their attempt to propose hosting the Democratic National Convention in the year two-thousand. As Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports, Twin Cities officials face a January 16th deadline and find themselves up against some stiff competition. A number of OTHER U.S. cities are making similar bids.
January 6, 1998 - A report released by the Governor shows crime is down in Minnesota and the state is a safer place to live.