Essential Minnesota

Minnesota Star Tribune Reporter Emma Nelson listened to dozens of middle class Minnesotans share their experiences of living through the current affordability crisis. Their candid conversations reveal that their biggest worries aren’t always about what they can afford.

Find Emma Nelson's series on the middle class here: https://www.startribune.com/author/emma-nelson/6134699

Voters elected another Democratic trifecta full of moderate to progressive lawmakers. Star Tribune politics editor Brooks Johnson and data journalist  C.J. Sinner unpack the results, and sketch a picture of what comes next.

See all the Midterm Election coverage from the Minnesota Star Tribune here:

https://www.startribune.com/live-minnesota-election-results-2026-midterm-governor-senate-house-legislature/601884984

More about Brooks Johnson here: https://www.startribune.com/author/brooks-johnson/6134711\

More about C.J. Sinner here: https://www.startribune.com/author/cj-sinner/6370420

Flock cameras have been criticized, vandalized and removed from streets across the state. Reporters Allison Kite and Sarah Ritter investigate the data breaches that Flock Safety allowed during Operation Metro Surge, and they detail the push among some to bring their cameras back to a street near you.

More about journalist Sarah Ritter here: https://www.startribune.com/author/sarah-ritter/601166266

More about journalist Allison Kite here: https://www.startribune.com/author/allison-kite/601231911

More on Sarah and Allison's investigation here: https://www.startribune.com/police-search-immigration-twin-cities-flock-license-plate-cameras-ice-dhs-metro-surge/601807825?utm_source=gift

More on Sheriffs' plans to add Flock cameras here: https://www.startribune.com/twin-cities-suburbs-flock-cameras-sheriff/601903589?utm_source=gift

Two reporters head into the north woods to track the family of cougars first sited last spring and to answer big questions about what the potential return of these big cats means for all Minnesotans – human and otherwise.

Reporter Greg Stanley: https://www.startribune.com/author/greg-stanley/6370510

Photojournalist Anthony Soufflé: https://www.startribune.com/author/anthony-souffle/600335199

More on Tom Gable and the Voyagers Wolf Project: https://www.voyageurswolfproject.org

More on cougars in Minnesota here: https://www.startribune.com/photos-meet-the-wildlife-science-centers-cute-new-residents/601901754

And here: https://www.startribune.com/cougar-kittens-caught-on-camera-in-northern-minnesota/601827627

And here: https://www.startribune.com/mn-wildlife-conservation-midwest-mountain-lion-sightings/601849133

Many of us see political dialogue becoming more vicious and data shows there's an increase in violent threats against elected officials. But that data is cobbled together and incomplete. Three reporters try to create a system that gives a full picture of what public officials in Minnesota are facing.

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar is in the studio talking about her life and what she wants to do if she becomes the state’s next Governor.

This is part of a special series of conversations with candidates from Minnesota running for statewide office in the midterm elections. We also talked to the Republican candidate in the race, Lis Demuth. You can find that episode in our feed.

Guest Host: Briana Bierschbach, Senior Politics Writer at the Minnesota Star Tribune. More about Briana here: https://www.startribune.com/author/briana-bierschbach/6370434

Guest: Democratic candidate for Minnesota Governor and current U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar

For more, subscribe to the Hot Dish newsletter from the Minnesota Star Tribune. It brings the latest political news to your inbox on Mondays and Thursdays.  Subscribe here: https://www.startribune.com/newsletters

House Speaker Lisa Demuth is in the studio talking about her upbringing and what she thinks will make Minnesota work better.

This is part of a special series of conversations with candidates from Minnesota running for statewide office in the midterm elections. We have reached out to the Democratic candidate in the race, Amy Klobuchar, for a similar conversation. 

Guest Host: Briana Bierschbach, Senior Politics Writer at the Minnesota Star Tribune. More about Briana here: https://www.startribune.com/author/briana-bierschbach/6370434

Guest: Republican candidate for Minnesota Governor and current Speaker of the House, Lisa Demuth 

For more, subscribe to the Hot Dish newsletter from the Minnesota Star Tribune. It brings the latest political news to your inbox on Mondays and Thursdays.  Subscribe here: https://www.startribune.com/newsletters

The DFL candidate for U.S. Senate speaks about her upbringing and what she thinks matters most to Minnesotans.

This is part of a special series of conversations with candidates from Minnesota running for statewide office in the midterm elections. We have reached out to the GOP candidate in the race, Michele Tafoya, for a similar conversation.

Guest Host: Briana Bierschbach, Senior Politics Writer at the Minnesota Star Tribune

Guest: Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, Peggy Flanagan

For more, subscribe to the Hot Dish newsletter from the Minnesota Star Tribune. It brings the latest political news to your inbox on Mondays and Thursdays.

This James Beard award-winning Twin Cities chef is leading the way on one of the hottest culinary trends right now. She tells Minnesota Star Tribune reporter Joy Summers about embracing the opportunities of the seasons, whole-animal butchery and her famous apple pie.

These things were mentioned in the episode:

More about Karyn Tomlinson’s restaurant Myriel: ⁠https://www.myrielmn.com/⁠ 

Relish on Minnesota PBS: https://minnesotapbs.org/relish 

More about chef Soliel Ramirez : https://www.crasquirestaurant.com/team-member/about-soleil-ramirez/ 

More about cook book author Amy Thielen: https://www.amythielen.com/ 

More about the Cochon555 Contest: https://www.youtube.com/@COCHON555tv 

Karyn Tomlinson’s win at Cochon555 Contest in 2018: ttps://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-chef-crowned-queen-of-pork-at-prestigious-cochon555-contest/495210191 

This conversation was recorded live at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis as part of the North Star Summit.

For more food and drink stories, plus a whole lot more, subscribe to the Minnesota Star Tribune.

The St Paul mayor has been accused of sexual harassment and battery by the city’s police chief, Axel Henry. Star Tribune reporters Jeff Day and Josie Albertson-Grove discuss their investigation into Mayor Her’s track record of behavior toward colleagues throughout her career and how it links to her leadership style and increased power.