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
September 20, 2001 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports on first public forum of Minneapolis mayoral candidates. Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton and challenger R.T. Rybak faced off on various city issues.
September 21, 2001 - In 1991, Democratic Senator Paul Wellstone spoke out against the U-S involvement in the Gulf War. This time he supports President Bush's war against terrorism, but says we have to proceed very carefully.
September 21, 2001 - Wellstone says he pleased with the change in tone he herad from the President last night. That's Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone. Wellstone says its also important for the American people to educate themselves about terrorism and international politics.
September 26, 2001 - Every ten years the Legislature has to redraw political districts based on population changes reported in the census. By next November, all the legislative, congressional and municipal districts will be different. Lawmakers are already working on plans they hope Governor Ventura will approve, but as DFL'ers, Republicans and, for the first time, an Independence Party governor argue over plans that will maximize their partisan political power, there's already talk a court will end up drawing the final districts. It's sometimes hard for the public to follow the complicated process of redistricting, but it poses important questions for communities around Minnesota. In few places are the issues as clear as they are in St. Cloud. Minnesota Public Radio's Jeff Horwich has this Mainstreet report.
September 27, 2001 - MPR's Laurel Druley reports that Governor Ventura told the citizens of Rochester he supports President Bush's plan to call up National Guard troops to tighten security at airports across the nation. His comments came as the Governor spent the day in Rochester talking with state employees.
September 27, 2001 - President Bush visited Chicago's O'Hare Airport today where he urged Americans to get back in the air. Seeking to soothe a nation left anxious about air travel, the President outlined a broad strategy for tightening aviation security, including temporarily sending National Guard troops to major airports. Governor Jesse Ventura announced he would move quickly to dispatch Minnesota troops to the Minneapolis-St.Paul International Airport. Democratic Senator Mark Dayton sent a letter to Bush earlier this week suggesting the National Guard idea. He says he's not sure if the President took his advice OR if he had already planned on using the troops at airports, but Dayton says he's pleased with Bush's decision.
September 28, 2001 - U.S. Senator Mark Dayton answers listener questions about the terrorist attacks against the United States.
October 2, 2001 - All Things Considered’s Lorna Benson talks with reporter Tom Scheck about Governor Ventura’s visit to New York City to meet with bond officials and pay respects at the World Trade Center site, where Ventura and wife Terry delivered 9,000 cards from Minnesota to the relief workers at the World Trade Center.
October 3, 2001 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports on Governor Ventura’s visit to New York City to show Americans can come to New York after the September 11th attacks. During his visit, Ventura met with a bond rating agency and toured the area of the World Trade Center disaster, where he handed out memorial cards written by Minnesotans to relief workers.
October 3, 2001 - Governor Ventura and his wife Terry appeared on Good Morning America. He went to deliver cards from Minnesotans and to see the World Trade Center site. Rumors that ABC also paid for his trip to have exclusive access to the site is not verified. Because of the accusation, Ventura now will no longer give interviews to the Minnesota press.