City Cast Twin Cities

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City Cast Twin Cities episodes

November 11, 2025Teacher Strike Averted, Your House Might Be Racist, and Target's New Forced Smiling Policy
Minneapolis Public School teachers were set to go on strike starting today, but the Minneapolis Federation of Educators Union managed to reach a tentative agreement with Minneapolis Public Schools over the weekend. Host Sean McPherson is joined by Contributor Hans Buetow and Executive Producer Anna Weggel to break down what we know about the tentative agreement and whether or not Minneapolis educators are likely to end up in the same spot again when the new contract expires. The team also talks about how a project at the U of M is working to undo past harms of racial covenants on home deeds in the Twin Cities, and how Target is now mandating all employees to smile at you if you get within 10 feet of them.
Learn more about the stories discussed in today's episode:
Minneapolis teachers, school district leaders tout tentative deal (KSTP)

Minneapolis educators, school district announce tentative contract deal, averting strike (MPR News)

Mapping Prejudice (U of M)

Target Mandates Worker Smiles, Friendliness To Boost Sales (Bloomberg)

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.
Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
34 min
November 10, 2025Sorry Twin Cities, You’re Being Tracked Everywhere You Go
According to crowdsourced data on the website Deflock.me, there are over 300 Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras in the metro area. Most of these are made by a company called Flock Safety, and they allow law enforcement to use photos of license plates to track drivers every time they pass by one of these cameras. The legality of ALPRs continues to be fought over in our courts, so we talked to ACLU Minnesota Attorney Alicia Granse about what these cameras are doing in our cities and how they could be regulated ethically. But before we dig into that story, Racket Co-Founder Em Cassel joins Sean McPherson to let you know about all the can't-miss events happening this week in the Twin Cities.

Check out the events mentioned in this episode:
Today: Songwriter Showcase | Pillar Forum

Thursday: MN Jazz Orchestra | Wabasha Street Caves

Friday-Sunday: Art Attack | Northrop King Building

Saturday: Mni Sota Mystery Box All-Indigenous Cabaret | Amsterdam Bar & Hall

Saturday: Midnight Creatures Market | 56 Brewing

Read more about the stories discussed in this episode:
Deflock.me - See where all the ALPR cameras are in the Twin Cities

You Are Being Tracked (ACLU)

ICE Taps into Nationwide AI-Enabled Camera Network, Data Shows (404 Media)

She Got an Abortion. So A Texas Cop Used 83,000 Cameras to Track Her Down. (EFF)

Kansas police chief used Flock license plate cameras 164 times to track ex-girlfriend (The Wichita Eagle)
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.
Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
29 min
November 07, 2025“Purple Rain” Review, Chi Chi’s 2.0 and Twin Cities Wins
The Twin Cities team watched the “Purple Rain” musical, and the takes may be sacrilegious, but we promise they’re from the bottom of our sequined hearts. Plus, James Norton of ⁠⁠Heavy Table⁠⁠ joins Sean McPherson and contributor Denzel Belin to talk about the return of Chi Chi’s. Is it as good as you remember? Or were you just seven? We also celebrate some good news in the cities.

Read more about the stories discussed in today's episode:
Stay updated with the American Indian Center ⁠⁠here⁠⁠

⁠⁠Review: ‘Purple Rain’ gets our critics delirious, sort of⁠⁠ (Star Tribune)

⁠⁠The Return of Chi-Chi’s and the O’Shaughnessy Spice Bag⁠⁠ (Heavy Table)

⁠⁠Milton’s restaurant was going to close, but its customers had other plans⁠⁠ (Star Tribune)

⁠⁠Herbivorous Butcher set to reopen after spring fire⁠⁠ (Star Tribune)

⁠⁠Minnesota Children’s Museum offers free admission during federal shutdown⁠⁠ (Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder)
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.

Learn more about the sponsors of this November 7th episode:
⁠Xcel Energy⁠ - ⁠Subscribe⁠ to learn about upcoming programs and volunteer opportunities.
Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at⁠⁠ citycast.fm/advertise⁠⁠.
32 min
November 05, 2025Election Results, Doctor Strike and Where To Trip in the Twin Cities
Incumbent Mayor Jacob Frey won a third term in Minneapolis, and State Representative Kaohly Her unseated incumbent Mayor Melvin Carter in St. Paul. Host Sean McPherson is joined by contributor Tane Danger and producer Tiffany Bui to break down the election results, talk about the doctors' strike that happened today, and share tips from the internet on where to trip acid in the Twin Cities.

Read more about the stories discussed in today's episode:
Live Election Results: Key Elections in Minnesota [MPR News]

In a first in Minnesota, hundreds of Allina doctors go on one-day strike [Star Tribune]

Recommendations on where to go for a day trip on acid? [Reddit]

Where could I buy a sword in person? [Reddit]
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.
Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
41 min
November 05, 2025Voting Vibes, Veto-Loving Frey and Big Milk
Shout out to everyone counting votes! We’ll have another episode out later today about results. In the meantime, John O’Sullivan (One Minute Tours) joins contributor Winter Keefer and host Sean McPherson to suss out the vibes of this election. Winter also tells us about the veto-rama at Minneapolis City Hall. Mayor Jacob Frey has used his veto power more than any of his recent predecessors, and council members have hit right back. Can anyone agree? Finally, our grocery store milk is probably coming from the same place (with different pricing).

Read more about the stories mentioned in today's episode:
Looking back at Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s 2024 veto efforts (MinnPost)

Mayor Frey vetoes ordinance requiring notice of commercial property sales (MPR News)

Minneapolis City Council overrides Mayor Frey's veto on plans for George Floyd Square (Sahan Journal)

Early voting in Minneapolis on second-highest pace ever (Star Tribune)

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.
Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
35 min
November 04, 2025How To Vote, Where To Donate Food, and Drones Fighting Forest Fires
If you haven't done so yet, go out and vote! Today's election is set to be one of the most impactful in a decade for the Twin Cities. Minneapolis's mayor and all 13 city council seats are on the ballot, and St. Paul's is voting for mayor and two ballot measures. Host Sean McPherson is joined by Contributor Winter Keefer and Creative Producer Adam Sage to go over how you can make sure your voice is heard. They also talk about Twin Cities food shelves you can support, as SNAP recipients may not be receiving their November disbursements, and how U of M researchers are using AI to detect and track wildfires.

Voting resources:
See what your ballot will look like

Find your polling location

Check out and consider donating to the food shelves mentioned in today's episode:
Second Harvest Heartland: Volunteer or Donate

The Food Group: Volunteer or Donate

Joyce Uptown Food Shelf: Volunteer or Donate

Calvary Food Shelf: Volunteer or Donate

Grace Lutheran Church Northeast: Donate

Pillsbury United Communities: Donate

Keystone Community Services: Volunteer or Donate

Merrick Community Services: Volunteer or Donate

Read more about the stories mentioned in today's episode:
Voter guide: 2025 Minneapolis mayoral election (Bring Me The News)

Federal judges order release of funds that would help Minnesotans losing SNAP (MinnPost)

U of M researchers launch smoke-sensing drones that one day could fight wildfires (Star Tribune)

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.
Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
30 min
November 03, 2025Your Last Minute Election Guide, and More Reasons To Leave the Couch
Tomorrow, St. Paul and Minneapolis residents will vote for new mayors. Like their cities, each race has its own quirks and styles. Contributors Tane Danger and Winter Keefer join the show to break down what’s on Twin Citizens’ ballots and look at some of the more contentious races. Plus, producer Tiffany Bui tells Sean McPherson what’s worth leaving the comfort of your warm homes for this week.
Check out the awesome events we talked about in this episode:
Monday: Equitable Dinners hosted by Mixed Blood Theatre

Thursday: MidWest Murder Podcast at Hook and Ladder

Friday and Saturday: Dessa Returns at the Minnesota Orchestra

Saturday: Twin Cities Book Fest at Union Depot
Read more about what we talked about:
Minneapolis’ election calendar
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.
Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
40 min
October 31, 2025Wave of Layoffs, Where To Trick-or-Treat, and Saying Goodbye to Jack Jackman
It's more than just Target – several major employers have recently announced layoffs in the Twin Cities. Host Sean McPherson is joined by improviser extraordinaire Tane Danger and Trivia Mafia Co-Founder Chuck Terhark to talk about what this means for our cities. The team also gets into Chuck's experience organizing the infamous Zombie Pub Crawl in Minneapolis, where to go Trick-Or-Treating tonight, and the legacy of Jack Jackman, the longtime Co-Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, who recently passed away.
Read more about the stories discussed in this episode:
Cargill laying off 80 more employees at Minnesota headquarters [Star Tribune]

Target cutting 800 jobs across Minneapolis and Brooklyn Park, raising concerns about broader economic slowdown [MPR News]

WCCO staff among those impacted by widespread Paramount cuts [Bring Me The News]

Minnesota preparing to cut as many as 100 state health workers, inspectors amid federal shutdown [Star Tribune]

Whatever happened to Minneapolis’ Zombie Pub Crawl? [Star Tribune]

Twin Cities Halloween Guide [City Cast Twin Cities]

R.I.P. Former Spokesman-Recorder Publisher Wallace ‘Jack’ Jackman [Racket]
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.
Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
27 min
October 30, 2025We Need More Homes, Restaurants Inside Restaurants, and Rattiest City Ranking
How would you feel if you went inside a restaurant, only to find ANOTHER one nestled inside? Em Cassel, co-owner and editor of Racket, did exactly that at French Hen and found great pizza. Em also tells Sean McPherson and producer Tiffany Bui why “just finding a house” isn’t a silver bullet to the homelessness crisis. Plus, we’re side-eyeing a Rattiest City ranking, which puts Minneapolis at number nine.

Em also tells Sean McPherson and producer Tiffany Bui why “just finding a house” isn’t a silver bullet to the homelessness crisis, and we’re side-eyeing a Rattiest City ranking which puts Minneapolis at number nine. Plus, we talk about how our ad partners at Xcel Energy are joining forces with the Minnesota Wild to support and grow youth hockey in the area. Find out more about the Community Power Play program (including how to apply) here!
Learn more about the stories discussed in this episode:
Moonflower Pizza Goes From Cathedral Hill Alley to a Regular Evening Gig at French Hen (Racket)

For the Homeless, Finding a Place to Live Is Only Part of the Problem (Racket)

Minneapolis among 10 "rattiest" cities in U.S., Orkin says (CBS Minnesota)

Pop-up bakery Dahlia finally finds a brick-and-mortar space in Minneapolis (Bring Me The News)

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.
Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
34 min
October 29, 2025Uptown Back From the Dead, ICE Updates, and 'Thirsty' Colleges
It's our FIRST EPISODE! Are you excited for Hennepin Ave to FINALLY reopen in Uptown? Host Sean McPherson is joined by MPR Newsroom Coordinator Denzel Belin and City Cast Twin Cities Executive Producer Anna Weggel to chat about Uptown's revival, ramifications from Kristi Noem's press conference in Minneapolis last week, and how Minnesota high school students are being admitted to colleges they haven't even applied to. The team also dips into the mailbag to share some of the kind words you all have shared in response to our newsletter so far!

Learn more about the stories discussed in this episode:
After 18 months of closures, Hennepin Avenue to reopen in Uptown this week [Bring Me The News [Bring Me The News]

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem assails lack of ICE cooperation during Twin Cities visit [Sahan Journal]

Minneapolis council members taking on update of city’s separation ordinance [MinnPost]

Three Minneapolis mayoral challengers back a stronger separation ordinance. Frey says they go too far. [Star Tribune]

Minnesota high school seniors are getting college acceptance letters, without ever applying [MPR News]

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.
Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
33 min

About City Cast Twin Cities

From the publisher's feed

Join Sean McPherson and the City Cast Twin Cities team every weekday morning as we bring you the day's conversations about life in the Twin Cities. With our cast of journalists, activists, experts and…