City Cast Twin Cities

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is on Monday, Jan. 19, and it's more than a day off work. Multidisciplinary artist Namir Fearce is directing this year's Black, Bold, and Brilliant Youth Talent Show, taking place from 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. on Jan. 19 at the Capri Theater, and he joined host Sean McPherson to chat about the show and how his organization partners with and serves Black families in the community. Racket co-founder Em Cassel and producer Adam Sage also join the conversation to run down the biggest stories related to the ongoing ICE surge in the Twin Cities, and Em talks about how she's seen local restaurants responding to the surge.

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Minnesota and the Twin Cities are suing the federal government to stop Operation Metro Surge, as another 1,000 agents are expected to be deployed in the state. In more trash news, MinnPost reporter Trevor Mitchell talks about the trash-burning machine you may have seen (or smelled) near North Loop. Local officials have been working on plans to shut down the HERC, but it’s not soon enough for activists who are threatening a hunger strike. Plus, we share our favorite places to decompress and be with the community during this difficult time. 

Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode:

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

Learn more about the sponsors of this January 14th episode:

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

The Ascent by Christopher Walker

Reading Partners

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637.

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The immigration enforcement surge in the Twin Cities is showing no signs of slowing down, with around 1,000 more federal agents coming our way. The Trump administration is freezing funding for SNAP again, the Minnesota Attorney General and Hennepin County Attorney's Offices are conducting their own investigation into the killing of Renee Macklin Good after the FBI shut out local investigators, and elected leaders in D.C. are starting to have conversations about funding for DHS and possibly impeaching Kristi Noem. Host Sean McPherson is joined by producers Adam Sage and Tiffany Bui to discuss these stories and to chat with Alsa Bruno of the Brass Solidarity about how to be a good neighbor during trying times.

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Learn more about the ways to get involved that were mentioned in today's episode

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Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637.

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Following the killing of Renee Nicole Macklin Good in South Minneapolis, the Border Patrol operation at Roosevelt High School, and increased federal immigration enforcement activities around the Twin Cities, we all have a lot of lingering questions about what's going on here. Host Sean McPherson is joined by celebrated journalist and contributor Winter Keefer and producer Tiffany Bui to talk through some of their concerns. Later, producer Adam Sage and local organizer and owner of Recovery Bike Shop Seth Stattmiller join the conversation to talk about a proposed project to revitalize Central Ave. when MnDOT conducts a reconstruction project in 2028.

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Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637.

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Gov. Tim Walz described the state as being “at war” against the federal government. Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey called for ICE to “get the f*ck out.” But legally, can the state make federal agents do just that? Spoiler alert: not really. But Emmanuel Mauleón, an associate professor of law at the University of Minnesota, and Alicia Granse of ACLU-MN explain that lawmakers and investigators can make it easier to hold federal agents accountable. So we called up Sen. Doron Clark, part of the Minneapolis caucus to the state Senate, to hear what can be done. 

Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode:

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637.

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Late Wednesday morning, a federal immigration agent shot and killed a woman in the Central neighborhood of South Minneapolis. The scene afterward became a swarm of protestors and federal agents. Producer Adam Sage, just off the scene, walks host Sean McPherson and contributor Tane Danger through what witnesses saw and the community response. Plus, NA expert Kirstie Kimball gives advice on doing Dry January or observing sobriety year-round. She talks about the best local drinks, sober-approved restaurants, and why Minnesota is ahead of the NA wine game. 

Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode:

Live: ICE agent shoots, kills woman in Minneapolis (Star Tribune)

LIVE UPDATES: ICE agent shoots, kills woman in south Minneapolis (Bring Me The News)

ICE officer fatally shoots woman in Minneapolis; Gov. Walz demands investigation (CBS News)

LIVE: DHS says ICE agent shot and killed woman in Minneapolis | Updates near Powderhorn Park (Kare 11)

12 days 12 Dry January pieces from your Dry January Queen! (Beyond Beurre Blanc)

Learn more about the sponsors of this January 8th episode:

Xcel Energy

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637.

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John O’Sullivan of One Hour Detours is back on the show to talk to us about his interview with Hope Walz, the governor’s daughter and a social media force in her own right. She gave John a glimpse into when and why Walz decided to drop out of the race, and her own experiences with online harassment. Later in the show, Sean does some hard-hitting journalism on chicken wings; get a napkin ready because there will be drool. Plus, listen to St. Paul artist Emmy Woods’s new album. 

Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode:

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637.

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Yesterday morning, Governor Tim Walz announced that he will no longer be running for a third term so he can spend the rest of his term addressing issues of fraud and serving Minnesotans to the best of his ability. Host Sean McPherson is joined by local host, performer, and business owner Tane Danger to break down what this means for the governor's race, statewide politics, and local politics this year. Later, Sean hears from five other City Cast Twin Cities contributors and executive producer Anna Weggel on what they think the biggest news stories will be in the Twin Cities this year.

Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode:

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637.

For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities.

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Nobody understands a city’s pulse quite like a City Cast host — and that makes them the best predictors for 2026’s biggest local stories. City Cast Twin Cities host Sean McPherson joins CEO David Plotz and the other 12 hosts from across the network to talk about the big changes coming to our cities, from political shifts to data centers.

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on ⁠Instagram⁠, or email us at ⁠[email protected]⁠. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637.

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Happy New Year, Twin Cities! It may be cold outside, but there's still a ton to do around town. Host Sean McPherson is joined by jazz singer and contributor PaviElle French to break down the best ways to stay entertained and make the most of this month in the Twin Cities. PaviElle and Sean also reflect on a scene and an era of the Twin Cities they were both involved in: the late '90s to early 2000s spoken word and poetry scene. Later, Sean is joined by Martin Froger Silva, who is currently living on a remote research base in Antarctica as a digital content coordinator with the University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership. 

Check out the things to do around town this month:

Follow Martin Froger Silva to keep up with his work in Antarctica: https://www.instagram.com/martinfroger/ 

Learn more about the sponsors of this January 2nd episode:

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637.

For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities.

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