August 29, 1996 - U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone talks about his vote against a welfare bill in U.S. Senate that he sees as too harsh. Wellstone details his hope that changes will be made in coming year.
August 30, 1996 - MPR’s Gary Eicthen interviews Winona LaDuke, vice-presidential pick of Ralph Nader in the 1996 election. LaDuke, a Native American of the White Earth Reservation, is an environmentalist and writer.
September 2, 1996 - On this special Midday program, MPR’s Gary Eichten talks with political analysts Bob Meek and Tom Horner at the MPR Fair booth. They discuss politics at the traditional start of the campaign season. Meek and Horner also answer fairgoer questions.
September 18, 1996 - Midday features a Talk of Minnesota program on political debates. Listeners are asked what they want to hear from candidates and which candidates should be invited to participate.
September 19, 1996 - This election season Minnesota Public Radio is analyzing some of the television spots the U-S Senate candidates and their surrogates are using to influence voters. More than a dozen have aired since May...but only a few of those have come from the candidates themselves. Today Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Wareham looks at ads produced by the Boschwitz and Wellstone campaigns: Astute television viewers who read the "paid for" announcements at the end of political ads will notice ads produced by a candidate's own campaign have a softer tone than those coming from the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the Minnesota DFL. Unlike the NRSC ads that call Paul Wellstone an 'ult
September 20, 1996 - Joanne Benson, Minnesota’s lieutenant governor, discusses plans for “Minnesota Clean-up Day” and ongoing efforts in addressing pollution of Minnesota River.
September 20, 1996 - MPR reporter Mary Losure interviews the U.S. Senate candidates on environmental issues and compiled their responses.
September 25, 1996 - As part of a series on immigrant voices regarding immigration and foreign policy, MPR’s John Rabe interviews Tou Ger Xiong, a Hmong comedian and entertainer.
September 27, 1996 - Midday discusses foreign policy issues the U.S. President will face in the next term. Guests are Martin Sampson, political science professor at the University of Minnesota; Roy Grow, international relations instructor at Carleton College; Norma Noonan, political science instructor at Augsburg College; Nick Hayes, history professor at Hamline University; and Barbara Frey, executive director of Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights.
September 30, 1996 - A special Midday re-broadcast of national "Congressional Debate" in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. Debate features Newt Gingrich, speaker of the House; Trent Lott, Senate majority leader; Tom Daschle, Senate minority leader; and Dick Gephardt, House minority leader. Topics include Medicare, Family First, tax credits, terrorism, and environment. Debate was moderated by Jim Lehrer, host of PBS’s NewsHour. After debate, political analysts Tom Horner and Bob Meek provide commentary on debates and report on the congressional elections in Minnesota.