September 23, 1998 - Paul Wellstone, Minnesota U.S. senator, talks about current issues facing congress, including a possible presidential impeachment proceeding, campaign finance reform, government appropriations and tax bills, farm legislation, and more. Wellstone shares his concern that congress has lost focus, and answers listener questions.
September 25, 1998 - Jim Ramstad, 3rd district Republican congressman and member of the House Ways and Means Committee, discusses issues facing Congress in the next two or three weeks before the election recess. Topics include taxes, impeachment, and outstanding bills in Congress. Ramstad also answers listener questions.
September 28, 1998 - Tim Penny, former Minnesota congressman, discusses his book, "The 15 Biggest Lies in Politics." Penny states that some of the things we think of as basics in American government are really lies, such as tax cuts, balanced budgets, the influence of money in elections, and more. Penny also answers listener questions.
September 30, 1998 - Robert Olson, Minneapolis police chief, talks with MPR’s Gary Eichten about the decrease in crime in Minneapolis, and the elements of effective police work. Topics include downtown nightlife and higher arrest rates. Olson also answers listener questions.
September 30, 1998 - "The World Turned Upside Down," an American RadioWorks documentary about deflation, with MPR's Steven Smith and Chris Farrell. Contains various interviews and commentary.
October 1, 1998 - Tom Emmert, Gustavus Adolphus history professor and Balkan scholar, discusses the background and update on the developments in Kosovo. Emmert also answers listener questions. Emmert is writing a book about the history of Serbia, for a forthcoming Stanford University series.
October 1, 1998 - Midday presents the first general election gubernatorial debate, sponsored by the League of Women Voters, and broadcast from Brainerd Community College. Norm Coleman, Republican candidate; Skip Humphrey, DFL candidate; and Jesse Ventura, Reform candidate, participated in debate. Topics include state surplus, taxes, healthcare, agriculture, education, and stadium funding.
October 1, 1998 - Another Health care company is pulling out of the Medicare market. Today Blue Cross Blue Shield announced it's dropping its Blue Plus Preferred Seniors Plan in the metro area. Two days ago, another Health Care giant, Medica, announced it was dropping its medicare HMO's in four counties. The Health care companies say the can't afford to provide the plans because federal reimbursement rates for Medicare patients are so low. Former Minnesota senator David Durenberger is now serving on a federal commission charged with solving the Medicare problem. He says Minnesota seniors who had these plans will still be able to see their regular doctor and go to their usual clinics and hospitals: | D-CART ITEM: 3183 | TIME: 3:03 | OUTCUE: "...to the rest of America."
October 2, 1998 - Father Robert Drinan, former Massachusetts Congressman, and Elizabeth Holtzman, former New York Congresswoman, share insights into the presidential impeachment process. Both were members of the House Judiciary Committee which investigated President Nixon. Drinan and Holtzman also answer listener questions.
October 6, 1998 - Rod Grams, Minnesota Republican U.S. Senator, discusses his plan for phasing out social security with IRA style personal retirement accounts and welfare style federal safety net. The proposed bill is called “The Personal Security and Wealth and Retirement Act.” Grams also answers listener questions. Toward end of program, Virginia Reno, Director of Research for National Academy of Social Insurance, shares details on subject of Social Security reform.