Politics Friday

Sen. Tina Smith and her Republican challenger Jason Lewis sparred over the coronavirus response, public safety, climate change and immigration Friday during a debate on MPR News.

The presidential race isn't the only one on the November ballot. Every voter in Minnesota will get to make a choice for state representative and state senator.

On Politics Friday, the leaders of the Minnesota House and Senate join MPR News political editor Mike Mulcahy to lay out their positions on the issues and make the case for why they should control the agenda at the State Capitol in 2021.

Six months after Gov. Tim Walz first declared the peacetime emergency, where is Minnesota in the response to the pandemic and what will the next few months bring? On this week’s Politics Friday, MPR News host Mike Mulcahy talked with Walz, discussing some of the pressing issues in Minnesota and taking listener questions from around the state. 

In this special edition of Politics Friday, MPR News political editor Mike Mulcahy previews Tuesday’s primary election in Minnesota.

There are a few competitive primaries for seats in Congress — including the 5th District DFL race and the 7th District Republican contest. There are also some interesting legislative primaries in which sitting lawmakers face challenges from within their own parties.

But it’s not politics as usual in Minnesota, as early voting numbers have spiked due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mulcahy talks with Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon about the early voting process and what it will mean for counting ballots on primary night.

Mulcahy also talks with North News editor Harry Colbert Jr. about what 5th District residents are hearing from the DFL candidates. Political analysts Todd Rapp and Maureen Shaver run down all the interesting races and look ahead to November.

Guests:

On today’s edition: Minneapolis city council members want to defund the police department; new agenda items for special legislative session

On today’s edition: Results from the latest Minnesota Poll

On today’s edition: Walz takes heat from those saying he’s moving too slowly on reopening businesses and churches

On today’s edition: Nurses say they need more protective equipment; Asian owned businesses have been especially hard hit

On today’s edition: What the Legislature wants to do when it returns; more businesses cautiously reopen

On today’s edition: The legislative session ends, but a special session is coming; Ellison goes to court to try to stop bar owner from reopening