City leaders in more than 30 suburban municipalities have joined forces to demand an immediate de-escalation of ICE's presence and financial support to help cover the economic impacts of Operation Metro Surge. Host Sean McPherson is joined by editor of the Northeaster newspaper Michael McKinney, vocalist and City Cast contributor PaviElle French, and producer Adam Sage to break down this story. Later, the team shares some of the small things to love about living in the Twin Cities and discusses a new top 25 celebrities from Minnesota list from the Star Tribune. 

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Emily Fairfax – a scientist from the University of Minnesota studying beavers – somehow ended up advising a Pixar movie, and she joins Sean to talk about it today. Then, City Cast contributor Tane Danger will help us wade through a delightful set of political ice breakers, and we’ve got your Twin Cities event picks for the week including a live score of a silent film, the hottest open mic in town, and a big concert tribute to The Last Waltz.

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Homelessness is one of the major issues that places like the Twin Cities are trying to solve. The state of Utah is planning to build a 16-acre homeless campus on the outskirts of Salt Lake City, where unhoused people with mental illnesses or addiction issues could be sheltered and in some cases involuntarily committed. This controversial idea is the brainchild of conservative think tanks, and it’s one that’s very much being embraced by the Trump administration and the Utah legislature. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Salt Lake podcast host Ali Vallarta about how this plan is meant to work, the concerns about forced institutionalization, and why the state is pushing for this even though it goes against the recommendations of local experts and service providers.

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Why is the legal weed rollout in Minnesota moving so slowly? Sean McPherson talks with contributor Sam Choo and cannabis entrepreneur Yoni Reinharz about where things actually stand in terms of dispensaries, tribal operations, THC drinks, and whether Minnesotans are still buying weed the old-fashioned way. Then, Pivot podcast co-host Scott Galloway joins Sean and City Cast contributor Tane Danger ahead of his Minneapolis appearance to talk about his “Resist and Unsubscribe” campaign, why he’s bringing the message to the Twin Cities, and what it will take for consumers to force big companies to change. And City Cast Creative Producer Adam Sage joins for some feel-good stories about the cities we love.

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Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

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Between “Heated Rivalry” and the loon’s rise as a symbol of resistance, loon fever is sweeping the nation. So when local jeweler Larissa Loden realized there was no National Loon Day, she decided to create one herself. On today's episode, Larissa joins host Sean McPherson, contributor Em Cassel, and City Cast audience development manager James Napoli to talk about the celebrations planned for the first-ever National Loon Day on March 13. Later, artist and poet See More Perspective joins the conversation to talk about an upcoming virtual benefit concert they are putting together to raise money for the Twin Cities ICE Relief Fund. The team also cracks open the mailbag, and Executive Producer Anna Weggel makes an appearance to discuss an organization that's helping women get access to professional clothing and job-readiness help in the Twin Cities.

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St. Paul and the Minnesota Wild want $200 million from the state to renovate the Grand Casino Arena and Roy Wilkins Auditorium. Is it worth it? Journalist and author Joe Friedrichs explains the pending legislation that would lift a 20-year ban on mining near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Plus, podcaster Chris Stedman is documenting real-time stories of mutual aid through the We Help Us Hotline. 

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Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

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As the largest level I trauma center and the largest safety net hospital in Minnesota, Hennepin County Health Center is an extremely expensive hospital to run. Now, they're in danger of closing if the state legislature can't help. Host Sean McPherson is joined by contributor and MPR newsroom coordinator Denzel Belin to discuss what it will take to save HCMC. Later, Pioneer Press food editor Jess Fleming joins the conversation to chat about her list of the best fish fries in the Twin Cities, and to argue with Sean and Denzel over what the top 5 grocery stores in the Twin Cities should be.

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Obi Original is the live performer we all need right now. Obiora Obikwelu is an artist, producer, and musical visionary. He joins the show to talk about his residency “Afrodisia” at Icehouse. His focus on the highlife genre of music, with roots in Ghana and popular in Nigeria, is rooted in preservation. Not only does he want to be onstage, he needs it, and we welcome his talent and musical authority. Plus, your weekly events round-up features free theater, smutty book bedazzling, and a chilly run. 

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Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

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A lot of cities, including the Twin Cities, are trying to figure out how best to revitalize downtown. It's an issue that's especially top of mind for Pittsburgh, who is hosting the NFL Draft in April. To solve the problem of vacant properties and empty storefronts, the city is trying out a new rent abatement program. So, City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Pittsburgh podcast host Megan Harris about why their downtown emptied out, whether this program will bring new businesses downtown for the long-term, and other revitalization plans that are in the works.

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It's been almost a year since the St. Paul downtown Lunds & Byerlys closed, and Aldi just filed plans to open a store in the same space. Host Sean McPherson is joined by contributor and acclaimed vocalist PaviElle French and Adam Sage to celebrate the end of the downtown food desert and fight over whether or not Aldi is a good grocery store. The team also breaks down a recent announcement from Vice President JD Vance and Dr. Oz that the federal government will be withholding $259 million of Medicaid funding from Minnesota. Later, Racket owner-editor Jay Boller joins the conversation to chat about the results of the 2026 MnDOT Snowplow Naming Contest, and why the Twin Cities were once again deprived of a plow named "Abolish ICE".

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