The Matt McNeil Show

Before becoming the host of our upcoming podcast, I was a reporter with ProPublica’s Midwest team covering Minnesota, my home state. I wrote about issues affecting vulnerable populations with a special interest in child welfare, criminal justice and housing. My reporting has changed state housing laws and touched off enforcement actions by the Minnesota attorney general.

Before coming to ProPublica, I was a senior staff writer for BBC North America and a fellow at the radio program “This American Life.” I hosted a BBC podcast called “Bad Cops,” based on my reporting about a rogue plainclothes police unit in Baltimore. My early career took place at a string of alternative newsweeklies, including City Pages in Minneapolis and the Riverfront Times in St. Louis. One of my proudest accomplishments from this time was a story that ultimately freed a Missouri man from prison. Other previous work won an Asian American Journalists Association Excellence Award and a National Native Media Award.

We need to admit Trump is not well; Jeff Stein returns for his Wednesday conversation; grandmother arrested after children found unresponsive; state trooper accused of groping; Matt talks soybeans; Minnesota property taxes expected to rise across the board; Target partners with OpenAI amid struggles.

Jeff Stein of KXEL/Waterloo and the Iowa Politics Report joins Matt every Wednesday at 3:30.

Just how evil is Trump?; decline of water quality; court blocks Texas redistricting; Patrick Coolican makes his Tuesday visit; confrontation between ICE agents and community in St. Paul; underage sex sting nets an ICE agent; Metro Transit will pay out settlement.

It’s our weekly conversation with the editor-in-chief of the Minnesota Reformer, Patrick Coolican. Today’s topics include DFLers making a big bet on paid family leave and Lisa Demuth announcing she will abide by the Republican endorsement. Find more about the paid family leave article at:

https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/11/18/minnesota-democrats-make-a-big-bet-on-paid-leave/

Tom Cruise will get lifetime achievement award; Matt talks radio and AI; economic bubble; Trump’s about-face on the Epstein documents release; Matt sees A Christmas Carol; 10 years since the police killing of Jamar Clark; Appleton prison debate; UCare will go out of business; state legislative retirements.

Woman scammed in California; more Epstein documents released; best cities for Gen Z includes Minneapolis; St. Paul’s new gun ordinance; new mining proposal submitted; Michael Brodkorb previews this Sunday’s game.

Michael Brodkorb joins weekly during football season to preview and review this week’s Vikings games.

On today’s show:

— Insanely high grocery bills

— MAGA will always excuse Trump no matter what

— A look at skyrocketing healthcare costs.

— Lies from the Trump regime about economic information.

— Inexpensive holiday gift ideas.

— Katseye comes to Minnesota!

— Krispy Kreme returns!

— Why Matt sometimes loses patience with rural America

— A closer look at the supposed $50 Billion Rural Health Fund.

— Rural healthcare suffers under Trump

More Epstein documents released that look bad for Trump; Jeff Stein joins to continue the discussion around the Epstein files vote; northern lights; underage drunk driver crashed with care home passengers; in Duluth; Hennepin County Attorney’s Office shortcomings; Maren Ward pf zAmya Theater speaks with Matt.