The Sunday Take

Blois gives his weekly take over several current topics.  He also chats with the following guests:

• State Sen. Rob Farnsworth discusses the business impact of the recent court decision regarding protection of the Boundary Waters, more specifically, Huber Engineered Woods' decision to not build a mill plant in the area.
• MN DFL Chair Ken Martin joins the show to talk about getting elected to a seventh term in the position, the reshuffled Democrat Primary schedule, working across the political aisle, and more.

This week on Sunday Take, WCCO Political Analyst Blois Olson checks in on the state of the Iron Range. He speaks to State Representative Spencer Igo (R-Wabana Township), and Ida Rukavina, commissioner of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation. 

Blois tells us about the importance of corn growers across the state.  He also sits down with the following guests:

• WCCO Radio host Sheletta Brundidge previews the Black Entrepreneurs Day she will be hosting at the State Capitol (on February 3rd).
• MinnPost reporter Peter Callaghan looks into the early session at the Legislature and how the budget surplus is effecting lawmaking.
• New MN Education Commissioner Willie Jett explains what he hopes to accomplish in during his time in the role.

During this week's edition, Blois wonders about the future of the state's economy and government.  He also chats with the following guests:

• COPAL MN campaign manager Ryan Perez discusses the group's effort to allow anyone living in the state, regardless of citizenship or legal resident status, the ability to obtain a state driver's license.
• Stage Ag Commissioner Thom Petersen describes his recent work travels, what the Walz adminstration hopes to do to help farming regions of Outstate MN, and other current issues effecting the industry.

Blois gives his thoughts on the start to the 2023 State Legislature session.  After that, he gets more perspective from the following guests:

• State Senators Jim Abeler (R, District 35) and John Hoffman (DFL, District 34) discuss their shared causes that they hope will get more attention by this Legislature (long-tem care, human services, etc.), as well as their friendship on and off the Senate floor.
• Twin Cities Public Television reporter Mary Lahammer gives her impressions of the first couple of weeks of this session.  How are both parties handling the DFL's slim majority of both chambers?

This week, Blois' conversations hover over the metro loop.  He sits down with Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey and St. Paul mayor Melvin Carter to discuss the challenges each faces in this new year and what they hope to work on for their respective cities.

As the new State Legislature prepares to start the 2023 session, Blois takes a moment to revisit a couple recent interviews regarding what we should expect from the State House.  We listen back on the conversations with Majority Leader Melissa Hortman and new Minority Leader Lisa Demuth.

Ahead of the Christmas holiday, Blois continues to work on the political trail.  After giving his thoughts on the state budget surplus debate, he chat with the following guests:

• Twin Cities Business Magazine editor Ali Kaplan tries to forecast what the city of Minneapolis may do to revitalize downtown retail shopping.
• We get introduced to new State House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth.  The representative from District 13A describes her hopes for the state GOP's agenda as the new session approaches.

This week, Blois turns his focus to the debate on how the state will allocate its large budget surplus.  He discusses multiple angles of decisions surrounding a state budget with State Budget Director Ahna Minge and State Senator Carla Nelson.