Counter Stories

The crew invited back artist and designer Adrienne Benjamin to enlighten us about the Jingle Dress. Including its origin (and how it’s different where you go), its meaning, and how some things are just for the community it’s made for and not to be sold to outsiders (and that’s ok!). 

Guest: Adrienne Benjamin [https://www.yoadrienneb.net/] 

When recreational cannabis became legal to possess and sell (with licenses) on August 1, 2023, the Red Lake Nation was ready. Having already been growing for medicinal use, Red Lake’s legal counsel, Joe Plumer, worked alongside legislators to help pass the new law with a focus on tribal provisions.  Joe joins the crew to shed some light on the new law and how Red Lake and other tribes have been and continue to navigate through it. 

When the cost of child care continues to climb, families, especially low-income families, are often left with few options. When this happens, it affects many other parts of our community, including work force and mental health. This year, in order to give some relief, the legislature passed the Child Care Stabilization Grant Program, meant to help families with young children access child care and programs designed to prepare them to begin school. 

Guest: Rep. Maria Isa Perez-Vega  

Beginning in 2026, Minnesota will be the 12th state in the union to offer paid family and medical leave for all Minnesotans working in the state. This means Minnesotans will be eligible for up to 20 weeks paid leave for a serious medical condition or to care for a loved one or newborn. With 75% of Minnesota’s workforce unable to access paid leave benefits, this new change is welcomed by Minnesota’s working class, but doesn’t come without tribulations. Author of the bill in the Senate, Alice Mann, joins the crew to talk about the benefits and challenges of the law. 

This session, Minnesota joined a growing list of states enacting the CROWN Act (Creating a Respectful & Open World for Natural Hair). This amendment to the Minnesota Human Rights Act protects individuals from discrimination due to their natural hair. This comes as more and more stories emerge of BIPOC, especially Black, athletes having to cut their hair to participate and the long running concept that natural hair is “unprofessional.” For our conversation on this form of forced assimilation, we welcome two guest co-hosts: Katya Zepeda and Stephanie Williams. 

Guest: Rep. Esther Agbaje

One pager on The CROWN Act: https://mn.gov/mdhr/assets/Preventing-Hair-Discrimination-FactSheet_tcm1061-562859.pdf

Several acts passed into law this session focused on reproductive health. The PRO Act established a fundamental right to abortion access and reproductive care, including maternity care, family planning and contraception, among others. The Trans Refuge and Reproductive Freedom Acts makes Minnesota a safe haven for out-of-state people seeking abortions and gender-affirming care for minors, among others. Former House Representative and current CEO of Planned Parenthood, Ruth Richardson, joins the crew to talk through these acts and how they effect communities of color, especially the health disparities when it comes to access, women’s decisions on their bodies and the birthing death disparities seen in the African American and Indigenous communities.

Guest: Ruth Richardson, Planned Parenthood

New public safety and gun control measures have been put in place in Minnesota with the goal of keeping everyone safe. This includes what some call the “red flag” law, allowing people to petition a court to suspend someone’s access to guns if they are a danger to themselves or someone else. Additionally, this move expands background checks to private gun transfers. A gun owner herself, Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn invited the crew to her café, Makwa Coffee, to talk about these changes and the complexities of legislative packages. 

Guest: Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn

Taking a break from our Legislative Wrap Up, the crew gathers to celebrate joys in our latest Grab Bag show. We celebrate the recent accomplishments of many Black athletes, Asian NY Fashion Week, land back, and accessibility to sports for youth.  

In our second installment, the crew discusses the community impact of the new law giving those who have left prison the right to vote. This action brings humanity and civic engagement back to those who had this right taken away from them. Community organizer Jason Sole joins the crew to talk about how felonies can follow a person throughout many aspects of their lives, and how getting their voting right back is a big step toward being an ordinary citizen. Guest: Jason Sole

As many as 55,000 Minnesotans are regaining their right to cast a ballot with the passing of the Restore the Vote bill. The new law means restoring voting rights to Minnesotans who have left prison. Former Ramsey County Commissioner Toni Carter joins the small crew this week to talk about just how important this bill is. Guests: Former Ramsey County Commissioner Toni Carter