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 12, 2006 - Interim police Chief Tim Dolan is Mayor R.T. Rybak's choice to lead the Minneapolis Police department. Dolan is a Minneapolis native and 23-year veteran of the force. Rybak says Dolan's experience with the city and with the department makes him the best choice to be the city's next top cop. MPR’s Brandt Williams report includes comments from both Rybak and Dolan.
September 13, 2006 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports that State Representative Keith Ellison has won the DFL nomination for Minnesota's Fifth Congressional seat. Ellison won a hard-fought primary contest against six other DFL candidates, including a former state senator and a former DFL Party chair. Ellison's victory makes him a heavy favorite to replace Congressman Martin Sabo, who is retiring from the seat. But Ellison's Republican opponent says he will continue to question Ellison's character, a campaign tactic that Ellison's DFL opponents used with little success.
September 15, 2006 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports on the three major party candidates running for Congress in Minnesota's 5th Congressional District. DFL candidate Keith Ellison, Republican Alan Fine, and Independence Party member Tammy Lee met in their first debate since Tuesday's primary. Fine continued his criticism of Ellison for his past relationship with the Nation of Islam during the debate on Minnesota Public Radio News. Ellison said he's surprised by Fine's continued criticism and would prefer to focus on the issues. Lee stated the back and forth between the two candidates is an example of why the voters should send an independent to Washington.
September 18, 2006 - MPR’s Stephen Smith moderates a civil rights panel discussion with an author, an activist, a teacher and a former vice president of the United States at the Children's Theatre Company of Minneapolis.
September 20, 2006 - MPR's Tom Scheck reports on debate of top candidates in U.S. Senate race. The hour-long forum was hosted by AARP, WCCO Radio and Twin Cities Public Television. Republican Mark Kennedy and DFLer Amy Klobuchar spent a large part of the time disagreeing on their positions and dispelling each other’s attacks, while Independence Party Member Robert Fitzgerald stated he was the alternative to the two other candidates.
September 21, 2006 - Amy Klobuchar's U.S. Senate campaign is looking for a new communications director after firing chief spokeswoman Tara McGuinness earlier this week. The DFLer's campaign issued a statement yesterday saying McGuinness was let go after she viewed an unreleased TV ad for Republican candidate Mark Kennedy that she may have accessed illegally. Kennedy's campaign has responded with questions, but not accusations. MPR’s Tom Scheck reports on situation, interviews blogger, and gets commentary from members of tech industry.
September 22, 2006 - The three candidates for congress in Minnesota's 6th district are offering distinctly different views on health care, taxes and the war in Iraq. Republican Michele Bachmann, Democrat Patty Wetterling and John Binkowski of the Independence Party covered a wide range of issues last night during a debate held in Woodbury. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
October 2, 2006 - Governor Pawlenty was in Duluth today (Monday) campaigning with Eighth District Congressional candidate Rod Grams. Grams is challenging Jim Oberstar, who has represented northeastern Minnesota for more than thirty years. Pawlenty acknowledged that Republicans face an uphill battle. But he asked voters to consider whether the region's perennial economic problems should be blamed on Democrats.
October 4, 2006 - MPR’s Sea Stachura reports on the race in Minnesota's 1st Congressional District. The contest features two very different candidates…incumbent Republican Gil Gutknecht faces DFL challenger Tim Walz. Renewable energy, Iraq war, taxes, budget spending, and healthcare are topics of debate between the two candidates.
October 6, 2006 - Health care is emerging as one of the big issues in this year's campaign for U.S. Senate. Democrat Amy Klobuchar, Republican Mark Kennedy and Independence Party candidate Robert Fitzgerald have all proposed ways to provide more health insurance coverage by controlling the cost of health care. As part of our look at the issues in this year's campaign, MPR's Tom Scheck looks at what the candidates are saying about health care and whether their promises add up.