John's conversation with Jonathon Stalls, author of "Walk: Slow Down, Wake Up, and Connect at 1-3 Miles Per Hour." It's a book about the power of walking: for physical, mental, and community health; to forge human connection; as a force for creativity; as a way to stay connected to nature; and as a human right that needs to be defended politically.

John's conversation with Council Member Aisha Chughtai, who's running for re-election to the Minneapolis City Council in Ward 10.

John is joined by Melody Hoffmann from Southwest Voices for a conversation about the city's last minute changes to the Bryant Ave South reconstruction project. Other topics: a shortage of farmers markets, money in local politics, the latest outrages affecting the people of the lakes area, a dramatic reading of comments from the Bryant Avenue reconstruction meeting, and Melody's vegetable characters (possibly related to Christian fundamentalism).

You can find Melody's work at https://southwestvoices.news

Watch: https://youtube.com/wedgelive

John's conversation with Council Member Jeremiah Ellison, who's running for re-election to the Minneapolis City Council in Ward 5.

In an episode inspired by Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges, John is joined by Andi Snow of SWOP Mpls (Sex Workers Outreach Project) for a conversation about sex work, the distinction between sex work and "trafficking," and the policy agenda her group is advocating for here in Minneapolis and across the state of Minnesota.

John is joined by Jason Garcia and Taylor Dahlin for a fond look back at more than 100 episodes of the Wedge LIVE podcast - and a look forward at some of the challenges facing Minneapolis in this year's city council election.

John's conversation with Katie Cashman, who's running for Minneapolis City Council in Ward 7.

John's conversation with Kate Mortenson, who's running for Minneapolis City Council in Ward 13. Incumbent Ward 13 Council Member Linea Palmisano has been invited on the podcast and is welcome anytime.

You don't have to wait until November to have an impact. Minneapolis DFL precinct caucuses are happening citywide on March 14. Get out there and become the only kind of person these candidates care about right now - a delegate to a DFL ward convention:  https://minneapolisdfl.org/

Watch: https://youtube.com/wedgelive

Today's episode features John's conversation with Soren Stevenson, who's running for Minneapolis City Council in Ward 8. In the coming weeks, we hope to schedule a conversation with City Council President Andrea Jenkins, who is running for reelection in Ward 8.

You don't have to wait until November to have an impact. Minneapolis DFL precinct caucuses are happening citywide on March 14. Get out there and become the only kind of person these candidates care about right now - a delegate to a DFL ward convention:  https://minneapolisdfl.org/

Watch: https://youtube.com/wedgelive

John spends significant portions of this episode unsuccessfully goading Conrad Zbikowski, Ward 3 candidate for Minneapolis City Council, into attacking his opponent, incumbent Michael Rainville. We talk about public safety failures, Conrad's unapologetically pro-housing agenda, rent control, homeless encampment response, zoning for complete neighborhoods where everyone has a grocery store, Conrad's campaign strategy (bring in new people or focus on reliable caucus-goers?), and much more.

Most importantly, here are John's preferred lines of attack on Michael Rainville:

Michael Rainville spent the 1990s building his credentials as a  neighborhood leader by tossing the possessions of homeless people into  the Mississippi River (as reported in the Star Tribune). After a  particularly chaotic and violent July 4 in 2022, Council Member  Rainville told a white audience he was going to a Mosque to scold Somali  elders about the behavior of their children, without regard for the  fact he had no idea whether any of their children were actually  involved. He bragged to the same audience about his February vote  against funding the Office of Violence Prevention. While emphasizing the  need to hold OVP accountable, Rainville has repeatedly cast doubt on  the findings of the Minnesota Department of Human rights regarding MPD's  racist and abusive policing practices. While serving as the City  Council representative to the Minneapolis Planning Commission in 2022,  Rainville delayed approval of a Hennepin County affordable housing  project and raised crime as a reason to oppose it. Rainville has been  described by David Brauer as a "sentient Minneapolis Police Federation  door decal." (barely sentient?)

Watch: https://youtube.com/wedgelive