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 28, 2012 - MPR presents a debate for Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District between DFL Congressman Tim Walz and his Republican challenger former State Representative Allen Quist. The debate, held Thursday September 26, 2012 at Somerby Golf Club near Rochester, focused on jobs and the economy.
October 10, 2012 - MPR presents a debate for Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District between DFL Congressman Tim Walz and his Republican challenger former State Representative Allen Quist. The debate was a "Debate Minnesota" event, held on October 9th, 2012, at Minnesota State University in Mankato. Topics include small business, economy, budget, and Medicare.
October 25, 2012 - Minnesotans are involved in a passionate debate about marriage during 2012 election season. The two sides began squaring off more than 40 years ago. This project draws from MPR's extensive audio archive to explore the origins of this election day showdown over same-sex marriage.
November 28, 2012 - With the fiscal negotiations in Washington D.C. and other issues facing Congress in this lame duck term, MPR’s Tom Crann speaks with Congressman Tim Walz. The DFL-er represents Minnesota's 1st Congressional District, and was re-elected to his 4th term on November 6th, 2012.
December 10, 2012 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports on healthcare controversy surrounding Steve Gottwalt, a Republican state representative; and David Hann, a Republican state senator. Gottwalt, who steered legislation through the House to drop people from the state-run MinnesotaCare program, is an independent contractor for an insurance brokerage firm that lobbied for the change.
December 20, 2012 - On this Daily Circuit segment, MPR’s Mark Zdechlik interviews U.S. Representative Tim Walz, who says he thinks Congress could act relatively soon on legislation aimed at preventing gun violence following the horrific school shooting in Connecticut. Walz, a gun owner, hopes there will be an attempt to solve gun issue and find balance between personal liberties and safety.
January 8, 2013 - MPR’s Sasha Aslanian reports that with the defeat of the marriage amendment and the Republican majorities that sponsored it, DFLers who favor marriage rights for same-sex couples see their opening in new legislative session. But opponents say the defeat of the amendment defining marriage as one man and one woman does not necessarily add up to support for same sex marriage.
April 1, 2013 - MPR’s Jess Mador reports that Minnesota lawmakers Tim Walz and Amy Klobuchar are pushing legislation they say will help thousands of military veterans who were wrongly denied Veterans Administration benefits. They say thousands of veterans who may have had post-traumatic stress disorder were wrongly diagnosed.
May 1, 2013 - The Minnesota Congressional delegation is in state due to congressional recess. The Daily Circuit checks in with Congressman Walz about current budget activity, The Stock Act, background checks on guns, and other federal legislation affecting the state or region. Walz also answers listener questions.
May 9, 2013 - MPR’s Tim Pugmire reports that six months after Minnesotans rejected a constitutional amendment that would have banned gay marriage, the Minnesota House made an historic turn, voting to legalize same-sex marriage in Minnesota.