Essential Minnesota

Minnesota voters delivered historic and surprising results in the primary elections. Politics Editor Brooks Johnson looks ahead at the statewide match ups and the impact the winners will have on Minnesotans and our state’s political scene for decades to come.

We hope you are enjoying your summer!

We hope you are enjoying your summer!

Longtime political reporter Briana Bierschbach details how the Trump administration has pulled back key support that has helped Minnesota safeguard elections while pushing changes based on unproven allegations that could make it harder for legitimate voters to cast ballots.

This week wildfires forced the closure of the Boundary Waters, sent smoke across the Midwest and pushed air quality to hazardous, record-breaking levels. Minnesota Star Tribune reporter Kristoffer Tigue chronicles the evacuation and fire fighting efforts and what decades of data reveal about the growing connection between our wildfires and climate change.

This week she capped off an historic month becoming the winningest coach in WNBA history. We go behind the scenes with reporter Cassidy Hettesheimer to Reeve’s early days and the secrets to her success.

Corrections: In this conversation there are two errors to correct. First, Cheryl Reeve is not head of Business Operations. That was a slip of the tongue. She is actually head of Basketball Operations. Second, Natasha Howard was in the WNBA All-Star game in 2019 and 2022. She was not in the All-Star game in 2020.

We're taking a holiday break this week but we'll be back July 10!

Acceptance of the new flag among Minnesotans is divided mainly along party lines. But how much of that comes from partisan fervor fueling the culture wars and how much is from a rushed and imperfect design process? Reporter Briana Bierschbach was there every step of the way and breaks it down.

After a tip from an attorney, two investigative reporters look into the leaders of the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church. They ask - what did they know about abuse against children in the pews and how did church doctrine put kids at risk. 

Boelter's escape was full of near misses, enduring mysteries and questionable decisions by law enforcement. Reporter Jeff Day digs into the largest manhunt in state history.