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
June 14, 2006 - Minnesota's jobless rate hit a five-a year low in May, providing ammunition for some early salvos in this year's campaign for governor. Governor Pawlenty and the Republican Party are touting the unemployment numbers in the hope of convincing voters that Minnesota is headed in the right direction. DFLers, led by its list of endorsed candidates, criticized the governor's policies during a statewide fly-around today . Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
June 29, 2006 - St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman has selected five community organizations to share a $20-thousand dollar crime prevention grant. The East YMCA, Hmong American Partnership, Save Our Sons and the District 6 and 7 Planning Councils will use the money to develop or expand programs city officials hope will reduce crime. Mayor Coleman says kids who want are looking for something to do this summer should have programs to participate in.
June 30, 2006 - The Reverend Jesse Jackson will be in North Minneapolis today to hold a rally for Keith Ellison, the DFL endorsed candidate in Minnesota's 5th Congressional District. If elected, Ellison would be the first African American Congressman from Minnesota and the first Muslim Congressman in the nation's history. But Ellison's past, in particular his relationship with the group, Nation of Islam, is causing some Jewish activists and others to question whether he's the best candidate.
July 5, 2006 - Governor Tim Pawlenty says he's sending 200 Minnesota National Guard troops to New Mexico to help patrol the U.S.-Mexico border. Pawlenty says he's activating the troops because the U.S. Departments of Defense and Homeland Security issued a request for help. President Bush said in May that he wanted 2,500 National Guard troops in the southwest by June to prevent people from crossing the border illegally, less than half the desired number of troops were in place along the border on June thirtieth. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
July 7, 2006 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports on upcoming DFL battle for congressional seat. Ellison is the DFL-endorsed candidate for Congress in the Fifth Congressional District. Yesterday the former chair of the state DFL Party, Mike Erlandson, filed for the same seat. Erlandson is ignoring his party's endorsement and trying to beat Ellison in the September primary. Erlandson is getting help from his former boss, Congressman Martin Sabo, who is retiring at the end of the year.
July 11, 2006 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports that Ford Bell has dropped out of the race for U.S. Senate. Bell intended to challenge Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar in a September primary. But he says difficulty raising money led to his withdrawal. Bell's announcement now clears the way for Klobuchar, the DFL endorsed candidate for Senate, to face Republican Congressman Mark Kennedy.
July 24, 2006 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports on the four DFLers seeking to replace retiring fifth district Congressman Martin Sabo. Keith Ellison, State Representative; Ember Reichgott Junge, former state senator; Mike Erlandson, former DFL Party chair; and Paul Ostrow, Minneapolis City Council member, appeared at an event hosted by KFAI Radio and Insight News. With less than two months before the September primary, the four DFLers agreed on several major national issues but tried to differentiate themselves based on their experience. The debate included topics of the war in Iraq, health care and poverty issues.
July 25, 2006 - MPR's Tom Scheck reports on the television ads of two candidates running for Minnesota's open U.S. Senate seat. Republican Congressman Mark Kennedy hit the airwaves today with a minute-long ad touting his background. His DFL opponent, Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar, focuses her ads more on her experience as a prosecutor.
August 1, 2006 - Hennepin County Sheriff Pat McGowan, a Republican, is endorsing former DFL Party Chair Mike Erlandson for Congress. Erlandson is one of seven DFLers running in Minnesota's Fifth District, which includes Minneapolis and several suburbs. McGowan says he's backing Erlandson because he's the best candidate on public safety issues. He says he's not endorsing Republican Alan Fine because he doesn't think anyone but a Democrat can win in the heavily DFL district. McGowan also criticized Keith Ellison, the DFL endorsed candidate, for not doing enough on public safety during his time in the state Legislature.
August 1, 2006 - Comments from Keith Ellison, the DFL endorsed candidate, regarding Hennepin County Sheriff Pat McGowan’s endorsement of Ellison’s congressional candidate opponent, Mike Erlandson.