When the world feels heavy, we look for small escapes.

For some, that means tuning out the headlines to binge a new show or watch a must-see film.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with NPR’s TV and media critic and a Twin Cities entertainment writer about what they’re watching — and the hottest shows and movies right now.

Guests:

• Eric Deggans is the TV critic, media analyst and guest host at National Public Radio. He is also the Knight Professor of Journalism and Media Ethics at Washington and Lee University in Virginia.
• Lily Osler is an entertainment writer based in the Twin Cities. Her writing has been published in the New Yorker, Racket and Reactor. She is also the managing editor of Episodes, a newsletter and pop-culture blog.

President Donald Trump took the national stage Tuesday night for his State of the Union address at a pivotal moment for his presidency and for his party.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks about what the president said — and didn’t say — with a historian, a political scientist and our listeners.

Guests:

• Yohuru Williams is a distinguished university chair, professor of history and founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas.
• Whitney Court is a professor of political science and chair of political science at the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University.

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Americans say staying informed is essential to participating in civic life — especially when it comes to voting. But a new Pew Research Center study finds that many people also feel overwhelmed by the news, are distrustful of what they see and are increasingly selective about what they pay attention to.

So what does that mean for local journalism?

MPR News host Angela Davis talks about how newsrooms are trying to adapt to changes in news consumption with the editor of the Minnesota Star Tribune.

Guest:

• Kathleen Hennessey is the editor and senior vice president of the Minnesota Star Tribune. Prior to her current role, she was deputy politics editor for the New York Times. Before that, she led the regional politics team for the Associated Press. She covered the White House during President Barack Obama’s second term for the LA Times and the Associated Press and was the White House editor and deputy bureau chief for the Associated Press during President Donald Trump’s first term.

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Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

The immigration enforcement surge has taken an economic toll on many Minnesota communities, especially in the Twin Cities. As workers and customers stay home, some restaurants, construction firms and other businesses that employ immigrants are struggling to stay open.

Minneapolis officials estimate the city lost more than $200 million in economic activity in a single month. And, when spending contracts this quickly, the impact ripples through industries far beyond those directly touched by immigration enforcement.

MPR News host Angela Davis takes a look at the economic impact of ICE, proposals from local and state governments to support struggling businesses and how to move forward.

Guests:

• Chris Farrell is the senior economics contributor for MPR News and Marketplace.
• Neil Linscheid is a state specialist in entrepreneurship and expert in community economics for University of Minnesota Extension. He works alongside local leaders to develop practical, community-centered strategies that build and drive long-term economic health.

Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.
Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.  

The Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus is one of the oldest and largest gay choruses in the country.

For 45 years, it’s built a sense of community among its singers and has spread joy and awareness in the broader community.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with the artistic director and chorus members about the choir’s history and how music can heal and bring people together through hard times.

Guests:

• Gerald Gurss has been the artistic director of the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus since 2018. He is also a composer and has served as artistic director and founder of choruses in North Carolina.
• Carlos Saldaña sings tenor with the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus. He joined the chorus in 2013 and has also served in several roles, including as a member of the board of directors.
• Mikal Nabors is a tenor with the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus. He joined the chorus in 2011 after singing with the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus.

More federal funding for public health is on the chopping block. MPR News host Angela Davis talks about what the cuts could mean for Minnesota and why a federal judge stepped in to temporarily block them.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with former St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter about his eight years in City Hall, the lessons he’s learned and what’s next.

Guest:

• Melvin Carter III served as mayor of St. Paul for eight years. Elected in 2017 and reelected in 2021, he was the city’s first African American mayor. Prior to his election as mayor, he served as St. Paul City Council member for Ward 1, representing the neighborhood he grew up in. He is the founding board chair of the St. Paul Promise Neighborhood and served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Early Learning. He has roots that go back four generations in St. Paul. His father was a St. Paul police officer and his mother was a teacher and Ramsey County commissioner.

The immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota is ending, said Tom Homan, the border czar for President Donald Trump.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said Thursday he’ll back an aid package to support state businesses, especially immigrant-owned business, hurt by the surge of federal immigration agents in Minnesota over the past two months.

Walz told reporters he’ll propose a $10 million emergency fund, similar to an effort during the COVID-19 pandemic, that would offer forgivable loans targeted at small businesses.

During this special coverage following the announcement from Homan, MPR News host Angela Davis talks with guests about the impact of the immigration surge on the community. Plus we’ll hear live coverage of Gov. Walz’s announcement and comments regarding the federal immigration actions.

Guests:

• Michael Lansing is a professor of history of Augsburg University who has studied the history of policing in Minneapolis.
• Brian Bakst is the MPR News politics editor.
• Dana Ferguson is a politics reporter for MPR News.
• Zachary Aaker is an immigration attorney at Martin Law in Bloomington, Minn.
• Zena Stenvik is the superintendent of Columbia Heights Public School District.
• Brenda Lewis is the superintendent of Fridley Public Schools.