November 15, 2012 - Pt.1: BBC reports: Gaza conflict and China leader change. Pt.2: Supreme Court wrestles with affirmative action, college admissions. Guests: Emily Bazelon, Richard Sander. Pt.3: Louise Erdrich wins national book prize and listener email and feedback.
November 15, 2012 - Minnesota author Louise Erdrich won a big literary prize last night. She was given the National Book Award for fiction for her newest novel, "Roundhouse." In an interview excerpt, Erdrich talks about the need for solitude as she develops her characters. Segment also includes hosts discussing listener email and feedback about various news items.
September 21, 2012 - Roundtable: Amid Middle East protests, a look at free expression. Guests: Syl Jones, Andrew Karre, Mohannad Ghawanmeh.
September 4, 2008 - Behind party lines: what it means to be a Republican. Jeff Horwich, Stephanie Curtis, andMichael Caputo interviewed Republicans at MPR headquarters, September 3, 2008. St. Paul, Minn. ? Delegates joined in St. Paul to mingle, to party and to hear from Republican luminaries. And, of course, they nominated a GOP ticket for the White House. Many paid their own way to be a Republican delegate. Why? What motivates them to not only be active in politics, but to ally themselves with a political party. Who are these people that would take time out of their lives, time away from work and, often, their families to rally around the Republican Party banner? Minnesota Public Radio news, along with with partner public broadcasting stations in Oregon and North Carolina, assembled a dozen Republican delegates and volunteers from around the nation and asked them to get beyond the canned answers and speeches to tell us why they hold their political allegiances. Delegates from places like Oregon, Florida, New Jersey, Texas, Alabama, Louisiana and Minnesota talked, in a personal way about what shaped their beliefs.
August 28, 2008 - Behind party lines: what it means to be a Democrat by Jeff Horwich, Minnesota Public Radio,Michael Caputo, Minnesota Public Radio, Stephanie Curtis, Minnesota Public Radio.August 28, 2008. For four days the pundits and the politicians have owned the airwaves during the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Minnesota Public Radio decided it was time for the rest of the Democrats to have their say. Denver, Colo. ? Minnesota Public Radio used the Public Insight Network to tap the expertise and experience of those not normally questioned by the press. About 20 rank-and-file Democrats were assembled at Colorado Public Radio to discuss what lead them to be a Democrat. It was an attempt to discuss the personal motivations of those who decided not only to become politically active, but to join a political party. Aired 2:00 pm. Billboard, then program.
September 7, 2007 - Kevin Kling
October 10, 2005 - It's a busy week for Neil Gaiman. He has a new bestselling book, Anansi Boys, and this Friday a film that he wrote opens. It's called Mirrormask. He's not just a novelist and screenwriter...he's also the author of the comic book series The Sandman. Gaiman is a local boy of sorts. Although he's English, he found himself settled outside the Twin Cities about a decade ago.
April 8, 2005 - Nobel and Pulitzer prize wining novelist Saul Bellow died this week. Bellow lived and worked in Minnesota for a few years in the late forties and mid-fifties. He spent a lot of time with the poet John Berryman, who was his colleague at the University of Minnesota. This is Bellow writing about that time.
December 10, 2004 - A commentary from American poet Mark Nowak, who is creating a country-wide buzz by applying hip-hop sensibilities to politics and breaking news. His book of poems "Shut Up Shut Down," published by Coffeehouse Press, is drawing national attention and praise.
November 27, 2004 - There's a big party going on right now at River Centre in St. Paul. It's the Hmong New Year...and for the Hmong a New Year's Eve party means traditional costumes, dancing, singing and most importantly family. Dao Bay of the Lao Family Community of Minnesota is one of the organizers of celebration and speaks with MPR’s Stephine Curtis on how they determined when it is the new year.