City Cast Twin Cities

Every movement needs some music. The Twin Cities United Performers put out a call for protest music and got an overwhelming response. Organizers Nadi of Gully Boys and Dante of  Space Monkey Mafia and Runaway Ricochet talk about how musicians are meeting the moment. Plus, we’ve heard your complaints about St. Paul’s plowing. We bring on Sean Kershaw, director of Public Works for the city, who says it’s not an engineering problem, but a money problem. Finally, ICE caused an international incident in northeast Minneapolis, and Rep. Ilhan Omar stands up for herself. 

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Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

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Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino has been sent back to California, where he is expected to return to his previous job and retire soon. In the meantime, President Trump has sent in border czar Tom Homan to head up ICE's ongoing operations in the Twin Cities. Host Sean McPherson and contributor Tane Danger break down what this means for the Twin Cities, and unpack an ongoing court case that could spell the end of Operation Metro Surge. Later, acclaimed journalist and co-host of Pivot, Kara Swisher, joins the conversation to discuss the deafening silence from Twin Cities corporations over the past several weeks, and the "less than bland" open letter released by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce over the weekend.

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Have you ever wondered which Twin Cities restaurant has the best toilet paper? Amber runs Twin Cities Toilet Paper Reviews and talks about how TP helped her find community. Em Cassel, contributor and co-owner of Racket, shares a story about how Copper Hen on Eat Street opened its doors to protesters over the weekend. We also get fancy-shmancy and predict which Minnesota restaurants and chefs will win a James Beard Award. 

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Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

Xcel Energy

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The Twin Cities are reeling after federal agents killed two residents in less than three weeks. Sean McPherson talks with Creative Producers Tiffany Bui and Adam Sage about the latest events of the weekend before we start the original episode we had planned, where poet and activist Kyle Tran Myhre discusses what artists can do in a time of crisis – from convening audiences to turning poetry, zines, and whistles into tools for community care and resistance. Plus, City Cast Contributor and MPR Newsroom Coordinator Denzel Belin joins us for a look ahead at Twin Cities events worth showing up for this week, because joy, culture, and connection still matter. And find out what event prompts producer Tiffany Bui to utter the phrase, “ as a bisexual Aquarius, I feel seen, called out, respected and feared.”

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Minnesota Opera

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

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A lot of folks are wondering right now what it’s like to be in the Twin Cities, where a massive and aggressive deportation operation is taking place. Today, in -20° weather, local activists organized a general strike. The idea was to protest ICE presence with no work, no school, and no shopping. Over 600 businesses closed their doors, and thousands of protesters gathered in downtown Minneapolis. Our City Cast Twin Cities team was out there documenting it all day, and brought back this dispatch, which we think you’ll want to hear. 

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Today, across the Twin Cities, businesses are closed, workers are staying home, and people are marching in the street for a “Day of Truth and Freedom” protesting ICE. We talk to union historian Amy Livingston at the University of Minnesota about why unions aren’t calling it a “strike” and the power of past movements like this one. We’re also joined by Anne Meyer at the state Department of Transportation about why everyone seems to have forgotten how to drive in the winter. Plus, Sean and contributor PaviElle French discuss the arrest of several key leaders in the Cities Church protest. 

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Minnesota Opera

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Last week, activists interrupted a worship service at the Cities Church in St. Paul to protest pastor David Easterwood, who serves as the acting director of ICE's St. Paul field office. Amid charges being filed against protestors by the DOJ and complicated reactions from the community, Reverend Dr. DeWayne Davis joins host Sean McPherson and journalist Winter Keefer to discuss the moral and legal implications of protesting inside a place of worship. Later, Pitch-a-Friend organizer Jackie Carper joins the conversation to highlight a fun event happening next Thursday, and Sean and Winter highlight some of their favorite independent journalists in the Twin Cities. 

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Follow these great independent journalists

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The White House and other federal agencies are “doing it for the ‘Gram,” and it has real-life consequences. Contributor and host of Never Post, Hans Buetow, talks about how the Trump administration is turning ICE arrests into content in order to further their immigration agenda. Minneapolis and St. Paul are temporarily changing their towing policies to accommodate cars abandoned due to ICE detentions. Finally, we open up that mailbag to mixed reviews. 

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If you enjoyed today's interview with Reading Partners Executive Director, Brooke Rivers, learn more here.

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Minnesota Opera

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Every neighborhood in the Twin Cities has folks who are coordinating with each other to track the location of ICE vehicles and make sure people are at the scene to observe and document when ICE agents detain people. Minnesota Reformer's Madison McVan joins host Sean McPherson and producer Tiffany Bui to talk about her experience riding along on patrol with some of these community members, less than a week after the killing of Renee Macklin Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross. Later, Sean talks with vocalist, songwriter, activist, and Queen of Rondo PaviElle French about the upcoming general strike, ways to help your neighbors, and how PaviElle channels activism through music.

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A week after an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Macklin Good, a federal officer shot a man in the leg in north Minneapolis. The man suffered non-life-threatening injuries, but the city is once again reeling from the display of force. City Cast producer Adam Sage reports back from the aftermath, where law enforcement set off chemical irritants and flash bangs against protesters. Plus, contributor and reporter Winter Keefer explains what it means for President Trump to threaten the use of the Insurrection Act. Finally, we celebrate some much-needed Twin Cities wins. 

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Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

The Ascent by Christopher Walker

Reading Partners

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