Politics Friday

Two of the biggest political stories of this week played out beyond Minnesota’s Capitol.  

The arrest of then-Sen. Justin Eichorn, R-Grand Rapids, in a teen prostitution sting led his resignation and the federal jury’s conviction of major players in the Feeding Our Future fraud scandal.

MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst speaks with two lawmakers about fraud and what the laws the Legislature might strengthen to stop or crack down on those behind schemes to swindle money from government programs.  

Later in the program, a conversation with candidate Melisa López Franzen. She’s vying a run for Minnesota U.S. Senate seat — a 2026 race hasn’t taken full shape just yet.  

Our political reporters will recap the Senate drama that ended with a departure.

Guests:  

• Rep. Emma Greenman, DFL-Minneapolis
• Rep. Jim Nash, R-Waconia
• U.S. Senate candidate Melisa López Franzen

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Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. 

MPR News senior politics editor Brian Bakst talks with two Minnesota lawmakers about the state’s new paid leave program — scheduled to start in January of next year — and the legislation that could possibly delay or change eligibility.

Amid upheaval at the federal level, Minnesota officials released the state’s latest economic forecast.

It’ll set the parameters for the new budget that lawmakers will craft before they gavel out of this year’s session.

The state’s fiscal cushion continues to shrink, and actions from federal government will have a bearing on Minnesota government operations. Now, state finance officials warn there could be disruptions to the state’s economy.  

MPR News senior politics editor Brian Bakst discussed how deeply intertwined the state and federal actions are and the challenges that lay ahead. U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, a Democrat, and state Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, a Republican, joined the conversation. 

Later in the program, a recap of the voices we heard at the Capitol this week.

Guests:

• U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, DFL, District 4
• Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks  

Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.   

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. 

State lawmakers have less than three months to adopt a state budget for this legislative session — it’s a must-do item this year.

Many Capitol veterans know to expect a late-session pileup of decisions, but what do the newcomers think about the inevitable rush to the finish line?

MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst talked with two freshmen representatives about their first legislative session, its delayed start and the time crunch to pass bills in the coming months.

The program also featured the latest from the Office of the Minnesota State Auditor. Two-term State Auditor Julie Blaha joined the conversation to share the ongoings from her office and what she needs from the Legislature this year.

Some say religion and politics don’t mix. But they do in the lives of couple Marcia Zimmerman and Frank Hornstein.

Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman is the senior rabbi at Temple Israel in Minneapolis.   

Frank Hornstein served for 22 years in the Minnesota House of Representatives representing neighborhoods near downtown Minneapolis and Lake of the Isles. He decided not to seek reelection last year.

They have raised three children together and supported each other in their individual callings over 42 years of marriage.

MPR News host Angela Davis continues her Power Pair series with a conversation about faith, politics and the importance of strong relationships — in marriage and community.

Guests:

• Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman is the senior rabbi at Temple Israel in Minneapolis. 




• Frank Hornstein served as a DFL representative from District 61A in the Minnesota House of Representatives for 22 years until deciding in 2024 not to seek reelection.

Listen to all the conversations in our Power Pairs series

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It’s back to business at the Capitol, and several public safety-related bills have been introduced this session. 

But which bills have enough bipartisan support to pass in a divided Legislature?  

MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst talks with two key lawmakers about public safety and the proposals seeking to reshape laws from traffic offenses to felony crime sentencing.  

Later in the hour, two political analysts break down the last month in state and national politics. President Donald Trump has brought his predictably unpredictable style back to the White House and Minnesota’s 2026 election stakes have been raised. We’ll find out what to expect over coming months.

Guests:  

• Sen. Ron Latz, DFL-St. Louis Park 
• Rep. Paul Novotny, R-Elk River 
• Abou Amara is a political analyst and Twin Cities attorney.  
• Preya Samsundar is a political analyst and a GOP strategist.  

Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.   

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.   

President Donald Trump’s makeover of the federal government is going full steam.

But he’s doing it in a way that has gone around Congress — with one executive action after another. But soon, Trump will need congressional votes to pay for his immigration crackdown and to extend a series of tax breaks. 

MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst will speak with Republican U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber, from a northern Minnesota district, about the part he’ll play in Washington.

Later, a check-in with the top tax official in Minnesota as tax filing season approaches its second busiest filing weekend.

Plus, a frank conversation with Democratic U.S. Sen. Tina Smith about her decision to not run for reelection in 2026.

Guests:

• U.S. Sen. Tina Smith
• U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber, MN-8

• Paul Marquart, commissioner at the Minnesota Department of Revenue

  
  

  Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.   

  
  

  Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.   

MPR News host Brian Bakst talks about the blistering change in Washington with U.S. Sen. Tina Smith. And the scuffle in the Minnesota House is over. We discuss how lawmakers struck a deal to gavel in the session.

The Democratic National Committee will elect a new party chair this weekend. Minnesota’s Ken Martin, the current state DFL Party leader, is vying for the job.

MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst and his guests talk about Martin’s run for the national party’s top post at a time where Democrats are regrouping.

And Republicans in the state have a new leader, too. Minnesota Republican Party Chair Alex Plechash was elected to lead Minnesota’s conservative party in December. He joins the conversation to share the state of his party.

Meanwhile, the oddity of the session continues as the chamber in the House fails to reach a quorum and DFLers will take back the Senate after a special election. We’ll get the latest news, and a roundup of voices, from the state Capitol with reporters Clay Masters and Peter Cox.

Guests:  

• Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison 
• Minnesota Republican Party Chair Alex Plechash
• MPR News senior politics reporter Dana Ferguson

Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.   

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.   

The Legislature opened its session on Jan. 14. But the House hasn’t been able to operate at full capacity.  

Democrats are boycotting and Republicans have declined to cut a deal to share power or commit to leaving a DFL win in a contested House election intact.

Now the Minnesota Supreme Court is involved. 

Will a ruling by justices settle things or could the standoff linger deeper into the session? 

MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst talked to the two Minnesota lawmakers with a role in the power struggle.

Later, he spoke with two legal scholars about how the constitutional tug-of-war is playing out.