After an unusual start, the 2025 legislative session has passed the halfway mark and the budget grind is quickly closing in.  

The Senate is narrowly in DFL control by one seat and the House is at a 67-67 tie. How will leaders navigate the tightest party divide in recent history?

MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst talks with Speaker of the Minnesota House Lisa Demuth and House DFL Leader Melissa Hortman in front of a studio audience at the UBS Forum in St. Paul.

Later in the program, two political analysts unpack developments at Minnesota’s Capitol and around the nation. How are recent events landing with voters?

Plus, we’ll hear sounds from the state Capitol and recap the week with politics reporters Dana Ferguson and Clay Masters. 

Each week, the MPR News Politics Team produces an audio postcard of the voices we heard from the State Capitol. Images and audio were produced by Matthew Alvarez, Peter Cox, Dana Ferguson, Clay Masters and Ellie Roth. Photos from MPR photojournalists.

Guests:  

• House Speaker Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring 
• House Leader Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park  
• Chas Anderson, a Republican, is the CEO and senior principal at Park Street Public.
•  Todd Rapp, a DFLer, is the CEO and President of Rapp Strategies Inc.  

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

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