Gov. Tim Walz has divided attention these days as his political past, present and future all collide.

A new book offers details of the vice presidential run that turned him into a national figure. Ongoing issues with fraud in government programs and efforts to combat gun violence have him at loggerheads with legislative Republicans. And he’s in the early days of a run for an unprecedented third, four-year term.

Walz talked with MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst about all of it.

Later, a conversation about the state of speech in current times as political leaders, companies and everyday Americans assess the way we communicate.

Guests:

• Tim Walz is a second-term Minnesota governor and 2024 Democratic vice presidential candidate.
• Jane L. Sumner is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Minnesota. She is the author of “The Cost of Doing Politics: How Partisanship and Public Opinion Shape Corporate Influence.”
• Thomas C. Berg is the James L. Oberstar professor of law and public policy at the University of St. Thomas School of Law.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.

As the midterm campaign approaches, the political winds are starting to kick up around Minnesota.

Places that used to send Democrats to St. Paul or Washington no longer do — or at least not as much. Meanwhile, Republicans are working to head off the historical trend of the president’s party losing ground.

On this special broadcast of Politics Friday, MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst heads to Moorhead, Minn., where he and his guests talk about the shift toward Republicans in the northwestern part of the state. Plus, we learn how the parties are trying to connect with voters in these tense political times.

Then, a conversation about the relationship between local, state and federal government and how it’s also undergoing a makeover. What does that mean for how the public gets served? A county commissioner offers her take.

Later, we’ll meet the newest MPR News reporter based in Moorhead, followed by a politics panel with Dan Gunderson and Dana Ferguson.

Guests:

• Sen. Robert Kupec is a Democrat representing District 4 — the Moorhead-Detroit Lakes area of the state. He is a former TV meteorologist for KVRR in the Red River Valley.
• Paul Harris is the DFL chair for Clay County.
• Rodney Johnson is the Republican chair for Clay County.
• Jenny Mongeau is the District 3 Commissioner for Clay County. Her current term expires in January 2027. Mongeau has served on the Board of Commissioners since 2015.
• Dana Ferguson is a senior politics reporter for MPR News covering Minnesota politics and state government for Forum News Service. She has also reported on state legislatures in South Dakota for the Argus Leader and in Wisconsin for The Associated Press and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
• Tadeo Ruiz Sandoval is a reporter for MPR News based in Moorhead focusing on agriculture.
• Dan Gunderson is a correspondent based in Moorhead. He covers general news for a wide swath of western Minnesota and eastern North Dakota with a focus on the environment, agriculture and Indian Country. He has been reporting for MPR News since 1987.  

This discussion was recorded at the Trollwood Performing Arts School in Moorhead, Minn. on Sept. 17.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.

Minnesota’s House of Representatives has been tested in the last year by a political tie, a lawmaker’s assassination and now consideration of a special session to respond to high-profile acts of violence.

In their first joint interview, MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst speaks with Republican Speaker Lisa Demuth and new DFL Leader Zack Stephenson about their hopes and expectations for a special session. Gov. Tim Walz might call one even if lawmakers lack a prior agreement on what gets considered and possibly brought to votes.

Their conversation also explores how the two will work together in 2026, an election year where nothing is required of lawmakers in their February-to-May session.

Later, author Lori Sturdevant talks about her new book on Martin Sabo, a former Minnesota House speaker and venerable congressman whose career spanned almost five full decades.

Guests:

• Republican Speaker of the Minnesota House Lisa Demuth
• DFL Caucus Leader Rep. Zack Stephenson
• Lori Sturdevant, author of “Martin Sabo: The Making of the Modern Legislature”

Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.

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

With just a little over a year until the 2026 midterms, office-seeking Minnesotans are building their campaigns for the state’s top political positions.

On the Republican side, several candidates are vying for a GOP nomination to replace Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, although Walz has yet to state if he’ll try for an unusual third term.

Some prominent DFLers are campaigning hard for an open U.S. Senate seat as Sen. Tina Smith prepares to retire at the end of her term.

MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst introduces us to two candidates: Republican candidate for governor Kendall Qualls and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Angie Craig, a member of the U.S. House currently representing the state’s 2nd District.

Also, how likely is a special session for state lawmakers? Walz has hinted at a potential emergency legislative session to address gun possession, mental health care access and school safety issues. MPR News reporters Clay Masters and Dana Ferguson break down the latest from the state Capitol.

Guests:

• Democratic U.S. Rep. Angie Craig is pursuing a Senate seat in 2026. Rep. Craig represents Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District and handily won her fourth term in 2024.
• Kendall Qualls is an Army veteran and a Republican candidate running for Minnesota’s 2026 governor’s race. Qualls is a former business executive who has led conservative advocacy groups in recent years and ran for the post in 2022.

The discussion with Rep. Craig was recorded at the Minnesota State Fair on Aug. 28 and was lighted edited for the broadcast. The full conversation can be heard on the Politics Friday podcast. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.

Minnesota was rocked over the weekend by the politically targeted shootings of two state lawmakers.

State Rep. Melissa Hortman, a former DFL House Speaker, was fatally shot along with her husband, Mark. DFL State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, are still recovering after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds. Political leaders and many Minnesotans are still trying to make sense of it all.

In the hours after the suspect in those shootings was arrested, MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst, Minnesota Now host Nina Moini and politics reporter Clay Masters spoke with three of the state’s top political leaders.

Guests:

• Gov. Tim Walz is a former Democratic vice presidential candidate and second-term DFL governor of Minnesota.
• House speaker Lisa Demuth is a Republican from Cold Spring.
• Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan is a DFLer, a former state representative and a candidate for the U.S. senate.

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

Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.

Minnesota lawmakers are breathing a bit easier now that they’ve finally adopted a new budget — roughly $66 billion over the next two years.

The Legislature met earlier this week for a special session to get the work done. There were protests, long debates, stories of immigration, but lawmakers managed to pass 15 bills in less than one day.

On this special podcast edition of Politics Friday, MPR politics editor Brian Bakst and reporter Ellie Roth take us through the action.

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

Politics Friday won’t be coming to you every Friday this summer but will appear here and there in this podcast feed as events warrant. Rest assured, we’ll be back to a more-regular cadence this fall.

Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.

It’s been about three weeks since the the Legislature adjourned from the 2025 session without completing a state budget.

Since then, teams of negotiators have met, mostly in private, to try to chart a path to the end and craft remaining budget bills. Lawmakers will have to complete this task to avoid a partial government shutdown that would interrupt services in state parks, key health programs, driver’s licensing exams and more.

A one-day special session has been called for 10 a.m. Monday. Will there be enough votes to approve a final compromise?

MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst talks with two House leaders about a state budget and what could happen if the budget deal isn’t met.

Later in the program, a look at the return-to-office for many state employees and a roundtable with Capitol journalists on everything happening in this not-so-quiet start to summer.

Guests:

• GOP Floor Leader of the House Harry Niska, Ramsey
• DFL Floor Leader of the House Jamie Long, Minneapolis
• Former Commissioner of Minnesota Management and Budget Jim Schowalter

Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.

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

The Minnesota Legislature is hanging around a bit longer.

The yearly work was supposed to end Monday, May 19 but lawmakers adjourned with unfinished business. Now, they’re gearing up for a special session.

Most of the budget is unresolved and the final points of agreement are still not in hand. So when might this be done and is a government shutdown a possibility?

MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst speaks with Gov. Tim Walz about the legislative session and his role in settling the budget dispute. He is urging lawmakers to avoid the worst-case scenario, which would be entering July without a budget.

Later in the program, political analysts unpack the political landscape amid the action and inaction in Minnesota and Washington.

Guests:

• Tim Walz is a former Democratic vice presidential candidate and second-term DFL governor of Minnesota.
• Abou Amara is a Democratic political analyst and Twin Cities attorney.
• Preya Samsundar is a political analyst and a GOP strategist.

Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.

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