PODCAST

Better Minneapolis Podcast

Terry White

Newsletter focused on local Minneapolis politics and resident stories. www.betterminneapolis.com

news news commentary

All Episodes

81:05

Interview: Elliott Payne, Mpls City Council President

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2025/10/25

Minneapolis City Council President Elliott Payne joined Better Minneapolis to discuss how his background in engineering and public innovation shapes his approach to governing. From expanding the city’s Behavioral Crisis Response program to strengthening oversight and reform in public safety, Payne outlined his focus on professional management and data-driven accountability. He spoke candidly about housing affordability, sustainable city revenue, and the challenge of balancing market forces with

30:23

Interview: Bob Fine, Candidate for Board of Estimate...

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2025/10/24

In this conversation, longtime civic leader and former Park Board commissioner Bob Fine discusses his bid for the Minneapolis Board of Estimate & Taxation, the small but powerful body that sets the city’s maximum property-tax levy and manages its bonding authority. Drawing on 16 years of prior service on the board and decades of experience in public finance, Fine outlines his vision for restoring independent auditing, finding efficiencies in city operations, and protecting taxpayers from unnecessary

43:33

Interview: Jim Meyer, Ward 11 City Council candidate

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2025/10/23

Jim Meyer was a late entrant in the Ward 11 race, but he hopes to make up for lost time by door-knocking and engaging in community outreach. More about Jim Meyer can be found on his website: https://www.jimmeyerminneapolismn.com/Background and ExperienceJim Meyer, a lifelong Minneapolitan and Ward 11 resident, is a former radio student at KBEM who later became an entertainment reporter, corporate writer, and—after retraining—an LPN in long-term care. His nursing work led to union stewardship and

61:02

Interview: Cathy Abene, Mpls Park & Rec Board...

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2025/10/22

Few institutions define Minneapolis like its parks. From neighborhood playgrounds to the Chain of Lakes, the system shapes daily life and civic identity — and it’s once again in the spotlight as the Park Board heads into election season. In this interview, Park Board President and District 6 Commissioner Cathy Abene talks about the balance between maintaining a world-class park system and keeping it financially and environmentally sustainable. Abene discusses the nuts and bolts of funding, the

93:27

Layers of Minneapolis: An Interview with Star Tribune...

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2025/10/19

Since joining the Minnesota Star Tribune in 2009, Eric has covered the Twin Cities metro area, the city of Minneapolis, the state Legislature and Congress. Prior to becoming a columnist, he oversaw the Star Tribune’s Curious Minnesota project and helped create the narrative podcast “Ghost of a Chance.” He is a graduate of the George Washington University and lives in south Minneapolis. To follow Eric’s work by email, sign up for his newsletter at startribune.com/roperalert.IntroductionCity elections

75:18

Interview: Tom Olsen, At-Large Park Board Candidate

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2025/10/17

A quick note about our interviews: we aim to feature a range of voices on Minneapolis issues. Appearing on the show does not equal an endorsement, nor does it mean we agree with every position a candidate or leader holds. Our goal is to encourage residents to engage with city government—often the place where your participation can most directly shape daily life.In that spirit, we encourage you to learn about the candidates and, if moved, volunteer for those who best reflect your priorities for

54:25

Interview: R. T. Rybak

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2025/10/15

R.T. Rybak—three-term Minneapolis mayor and now CEO of the Minneapolis Foundation—reflects on public life that spans journalism, philanthropy, and city leadership. He recalls the surreal 2001 primary night amid national crisis, then pivots to his current focus: using the Foundation as a lasting civic infrastructure. Through revived “Minnesota Meeting” convenings and partnerships like the Westminster Town Hall Forum, he’s foregrounding a core question for democracy: where Minnesotans get information,

23:48

Interview: Eric Harris Bernstein

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2025/10/12

Eric Bernstein is one of three candidates running for two elected positions on Minneapolis’s Board of Estimate & Taxation (BET). We were both confused about how ranked-choice voting works in this situation. We think the candidate with the fewest first-choice rankings will be dropped, and the remaining two will win, but more research is needed.Bernstein describes himself as a longtime tax and fiscal policy professional motivated by the value of collective public investments—parks, streets, and core

7:28

The Missing Majority

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2025/10/08

At an October 6 Ward 9 forum hosted by the League of Women Voters, Council Member Jason Chavez called it “unfair” that supporters of the Roof Depot urban farm and community center continue to be denied what they want. Two days earlier, the Climate Justice Committee had marched through Mayor Frey’s neighborhood, urging him to give the East Phillips Neighborhood Institute (EPNI) what they consider a fair deal on the long-contested Roof Depot site.A Deal DeferredFor years, the fate of the site has hung

9:04

The Undecided Voter

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2025/10/05

(If you value our local coverage, please consider becoming a paid subscriber.)With the Minneapolis municipal election just 30 days away, 17% of voters remain undecided about their choice for mayor, according to polls published by Minneapolis for the Many.We can’t vouch for the poll’s accuracy—80 percent of responses came via text—but in the absence of other public data, it provides a useful snapshot of who the undecided voters are. Surveys conducted in May and August 2025 showed no change in the

7:35

Thank You, MPD

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2025/10/01

In the 1983 film The Big Chill, a group of friends reunites after one of them dies by suicide. They stay at Harold’s (Kevin Kline) home in South Carolina. When Nick (William Hurt) gets picked up for running a red light and mouthing off, police threaten to press charges—until Harold and Sam (Tom Berenger), a TV star, smooth things over.Nick, jaded and cynical, bristles at Harold’s newfound comfort with the police. Respectability, in Nick’s view, meant compromise.The Break-InTuesday at about 3 a.m.,

50:59

Behavioral Science and Violence Prevention: What Jens...

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2025/09/28

Jens Ludwig is a leading scholar on crime and violence. He directs the University of Chicago’s Crime Lab and co-directs its Education Lab, in addition to his role with the National Bureau of Economic Research. Few outside policy circles know his name. We hadn’t either—until Kurt Nelson, co-host of the Behavioral Grooves podcast, pointed us to Ludwig’s recent book, Unforgiving Places: Origins of American Gun ViolenceWhy We Do What We DoBehavioral science examines why we act the way we do, and how

35:49

Interview: Rebecca Thoman, President, League of Women...

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2025/09/24

Early Voting Sets New MarkEarly voting began Friday, September 19, 2025. On the first day of early voting, 351 ballots were cast at the Early Vote Center, and the city mailed 12,640 absentee ballots—a record number for a Minneapolis municipal election. For comparison, the first day in 2021 saw 3,736 ballots mailed.If you’re not registered, you can register and vote early. If you don’t have proof of residence, a registered voter from your precinct may accompany you and “vouch” for your address. A

43:35

Interview: Pearll Warren, Ward 5 City Council Candidate

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2025/09/21

Who is the Next Target of the Thought Police?“Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.” — George Orwell, 1984Orwell warned that freedom begins with the right to state the obvious. Deny that right, and truth itself collapses. The cancellation of the Jimmy Kimmel show is not just a celebrity headline—it is a signal of how easily commentary can be policed. When public voices are muted, even briefly, it should force us to ask: who is drawing the

61:46

Interview with Miriam DeMello, Ward 11 City Council...

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2025/09/14

Threat Increases on the RiseThe Minnesota Star Tribune reported on several new security measures we can expect if we want to hear high-profile and controversial politicians like Rep. Ilhan Omar speak. Her recent town hall at Elim Lutheran Church in Robbinsdale required bag searches and wanding for weapons before entry. Similar to the heightened security we’ve experienced at airports since 9/11 and the shoe bomber, security has become the new normal.Unfortunately, the trend is moving in the wrong

48:16

Ward 5 Spotlight: Anndrea Young Council Candidate

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2025/09/10

On Tuesday, September 9, candidates for mayor will gather for a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters. With fifteen candidates in the race, the event provides an opportunity to hear from contenders who have so far received little attention. We are especially interested in how the lesser-known candidates describe their priorities for the city and whether they bring solutions to the discussion that the main contenders might incorporate into their platforms.The forum comes at a time when the

9:36

Gun Violence Overshadows City Hall

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2025/09/07

Taming the Torrent of NewsThe torrent of news has been relentless, and much of it discouraging.In our South Minneapolis neighborhood, trees are wrapped in blue and green ribbons to honor the victims of the Annunciation shooting. Our home is about a mile from the church, and several neighbors sent their children to the school. While the rest of the country will move on, this tragedy will remain close to home for a long time.The mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul have announced they want authority to

50:05

Interview: Jamison Whiting, Ward 11 City Council...

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2025/09/03

Your Voice Matters — Send a 2-Minute VideoEarly voting for the municipal election begins September 19. You’ll hear plenty from candidates over the next 13 weeks. We’ll be interviewing as many candidates as possible—but we also want candidates to hear from you.Record a short video (up to 2 minutes) telling candidates what they must pay attention to if elected. If you’re comfortable sharing who you’re supporting and why, include that too. This is your chance to shape the conversation and inform your

66:55

Interview: Mark Andrew, former Hennepin County...

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2025/08/31

Everyone Agrees Encampments Aren’t the SolutionWhen listening to candidates for city office, it’s often hard to tell what—if anything—will change in how Minneapolis addresses homelessness. Nearly everyone agrees that encampments are unsafe for both residents and neighborhoods. The harder question is: what comes next?Most candidates say that more deeply affordable housing is needed. But where should it go? And how will it be paid for? Those details are rarely discussed.That’s why the city needs

44:40

Interview: Ward 10 Candidate, DeShanneon Grimes

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2025/08/20

Stoking Controversy One Porch at a TimeA new entrant has joined the Ward 10 City Council race. She faces an uphill battle: a late start, little name recognition, and limited funding. Still, incumbent Aisha Chughtai may have given her opponents an opening. At Uptown Porch Fest, Chughtai used a performance by Space Monkey Mafia as a platform to attack Mayor Jacob Frey:“We are going to transform this city. F**k Jacob Frey, f**k fascism and f**k Donald Trump.”The remarks, reported by Star Tribune

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