x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Wedge LIVE!

A show about Minneapolis politics from the maker of Wedge LIVE, the award winning local news website.

news politics

All Episodes

00:50:12

Pedal Pod: Marion Greene, Hennepin County Commissioner

Wedge LIVE! ·

2022/06/14

"Pedal-Powered Podcast Week" does something we never intended: stretch into a second and final week (we promise). That's what happens when you record six hours of conversations at Open Streets on Lyndale Avenue. Today's guest is Commissioner Marion Green, who represents district 3 (which includes the Wedge, Southwest Minneapolis, Downtown, and St. Louis Park) on the Hennepin County Board. Some of our topics: Lyndale Avenue safety improvements that have been years in the making, the county's recent

en

00:32:47

Pedal Pod: J.D. Duggan replaces Brian Mitchell

Wedge LIVE! ·

2022/06/10

The pedal-pod rolls on. Before we have a chance to really get to know our first guest Brian Mitchell (@BrianMitchL), John decides he's found a better guest in J.D. Duggan (@JDugganMN). J.D. is a journalist with Finance & Commerce who bears a striking resemblance to Bill Lindeke. We talk about the state of local journalism, why it seems that the only jobs remaining are with local business magazines, whether J.D.'s friends think he's gone corporate, Mayor Frey's job performance and where he goes

en

00:44:16

Pedal Pod: Aisha Chughtai, Minneapolis City Council...

Wedge LIVE! ·

2022/06/09

We continue the Pedal-Pod series, recorded on location at Open Streets on Lyndale Avenue -- everyone's favorite summer street festival in Minneapolis. John boots failed Ward 13 candidate Mike Norton out of the pod-mobile so he can pick up a winner: Aisha Chughtai, who represents Ward 10 on the City Council. We talk about bike earrings, Aisha's status as "the bus lady," whether she's able to summon optimism about the future, the debate over Mayor Frey's pick to be city coordinator, frustrations over

en

00:52:02

Pedal Pod: Ash Narayanan and Elissa Schufman

Wedge LIVE! ·

2022/06/07

The first installment of a many part series recorded during the Lyndale Avenue edition of Open Streets Minneapolis on June 5, 2022. We haven't Open Streets on Lyndale in June since 2019. To mark the occasion, John has borrowed a four-wheeled recumbent bicycle with side-by-side seating, and transformed it into what he's calling "the world's first pedal-powered podcast." Our first two guests are Ash Narayanan, executive director of Our Streets Minneapolis, and Elissa Schufman, a transportation

en

00:58:59

Monthly with Melody

Wedge LIVE! ·

2022/06/02

John is joined by Melody Hoffman (@MelodySWV) for the first in a series of monthly appearances called "Monthly with Melody" (note: the monthly nature of Melody's appearances is currently probationary). Melody gets John up to speed on all the news he missed while away. John spent last week visiting Chicago, enjoying their transit system and sampling the original Uptown. John explains why commemorating the second anniversary of George Floyd's murder feels off. We talk about last week's remarkable

en

00:37:11

Reproductive Justice in Minnesota with Shayla Walker

Wedge LIVE! ·

2022/05/18

A conversation about the struggle for reproductive justice in Minnesota with Shayla Walker, executive director of Our Justice, an organization providing support and resources to people seeking access to abortion. With the US Supreme Court indicating their intention to overturn the right to an abortion, Shayla says the demand for those services in Minnesota is going to increase several times over. Shayla talks about the legal effort to overturn restrictive anti-abortion laws in Minnesota through the

en

00:37:16

Lyndale Avenue Median Episode

Wedge LIVE! ·

2022/05/16

John is joined by Melody Hoffmann (@MelodySWV) for an episode recorded smack in the middle of four lanes of traffic on Lyndale Avenue (27th Street intersection) in south Minneapolis. Did we capture any usable audio? Listen to find out. This episode is best experienced on YouTube. Special thanks to Conrad Zbikowski (@ConradZbikowski) for his behind the camera work. This episode would not have been possible without his technical wizardry. Watch: https://youtube.com/wedgelive Join the conversation:

en

01:02:57

Lessons for Hennepin Ave: A History of Dedicated...

Wedge LIVE! ·

2022/05/12

John is joined by Peter Wagenius, legislative director for the Sierra Club Northstar Chapter, for a conversation about the history of dedicated transit space on Minneapolis streets and similarities with today's debate over bus lanes on Hennepin Avenue. We talk about what makes our transportation planning decisions so key to combating climate change. Peter recalls his experience, while policy director under former Mayors Rybak and Hodges, of the planning process for a series of bus lanes (most

en

00:30:53

"Abortion Restrictions Are Functionally Racist"

Wedge LIVE! ·

2022/05/11

John has a conversation with reproductive health researcher Asha Hassan, MPH, about the public health and equity impacts of eliminating the constitutional right to an abortion, as a draft opinion has signaled is the intention of the US Supreme Court. What is Minnesota's role in restricting or expanding access? Does this open the floodgates to further attacks on bodily autonomy? With the potential for abortion rights to become more relevant to local politics, what should we be asking of our elected

en

01:29:57

LIVE Episode!

Wedge LIVE! ·

2022/05/05

John is joined by Jason Garcia for the first ever Ask Us Anything episode. We take calls from Melody (https://SouthwestVoices.news) regarding Lyndale Avenue safety improvements, and Christin regarding the US Supreme Court's intention to overturn abortion rights. John puts his foot down after superfan Conrad Z makes repeated calls into the show. We talk about the results of the state's investigation into MPD misconduct, the all important Hennepin Avenue reconstruction (which we think is coming up for

en

01:18:57

How to Make Friends in Minneapolis, Stop Being...

Wedge LIVE! ·

2022/04/21

On this episode, John is joined by his dear friends Ryan Brown, Elissa Schufman, and PeggySue Imihy Bean to explore the importance of friendship. We explore questions such as how to go about trying to make friends as an adult?; is it possible for an outsider to make friends in Minneapolis?; how has your outlook on friendship been transformed during the pandemic?; can you maintain a friendship with someone across long distances, such as after they move from the Wedge to the Kingfield neighborhood?;

en

01:08:28

Breaking Down the Race for Hennepin County Attorney:...

Wedge LIVE! ·

2022/04/13

John has a conversation with Kathleen Cole, an organizer with People Over Prosecution, whose mission is "transforming prosecution in Hennepin County" by electing a prosecutor "whose practices deliver justice, not just punishment." Kathleen explains what's wrong with longtime Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman. We delve into questions like: Why are prosecutors, and this office, so important? What kind of change is possible? What experience should we expect them to bring to the job? How should they

en

01:01:57

Policing and legislating during a time of transition...

Wedge LIVE! ·

2022/04/07

John is joined by Elliott Payne, Minneapolis City Council member in Ward 1. We talk about his plans for a new public safety charter amendment, which he is careful to say isn't a rehash of last year's election; the police killing of Amir Locke, and whether Mayor Frey can start getting MPD policies right after some big failures during his four-plus years on the job; and after hearing big promises for years about the police contract, what should we think about the argument that the police contract

en

01:24:46

Hiawatha Golf Course: A Sex Forest Episode

Wedge LIVE! ·

2022/03/31

John is joined by PeggySue and Chris Meyer for a conversation about attempts to resolve longstanding environmental issues at a south Minneapolis public golf course, its historical significance to Black golfers, the flooding and trash that plague the adjacent lake and its neighbors, and a longshot plan to replace the course with a sex forest. See the Hiawatha Golf Course master plan, which Chris refers to as the "compromise" plan:

en

00:03:42

Advertise on the Wedge LIVE podcast!

Wedge LIVE! ·

2022/03/23

After 60 episodes the Wedge LIVE podcast is taking it to the next level, and we're extending an opportunity to bring your product or service along for the ride. Whether you're a realtor, a local bar/restaurant, or a cat owner looking to have your cat's birthday announced on the air -- we're here to meet your advertising needs. Contact newsroom@wedgelive.com.

en

01:05:47

The Minneapolis Charter Commission and the Tyranny of...

Wedge LIVE! ·

2022/03/21

John is joined by Jason Garcia (@jasoncomix) and Josh Martin (@JoshMartinMpls) for a conversation about the recent history of the Minneapolis Charter Commission, why this volunteer body is important, and our opportunity to fill 11 of the 15 seats with new appointments in 2022 -- APPLY TODAY! Apply for an open seat on the Minneapolis Charter Commission:https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/boards-and-commissions/current-openings/ If you still have questions, attend an info session this evening,

en

01:19:07

Replacing I-94 with a Twin Cities Boulevard

Wedge LIVE! ·

2022/03/08

John and co-host PeggySue Imihy have a conversation with Alex Burns and José Antonio Zayas Cabán -- both from Our Streets Minneapolis -- about their new endeavor to replace a 7-mile stretch of I-94 between Minneapolis and St. Paul with a Twin Cities Boulevard. We go over the environmental and economic harms of an interstate, and the opportunity to heal them. We talk about strategies to overcome the political challenges facing such an ambitious plan. We also devote nearly eight minutes to an electric

en

01:08:22

Wedge LIVE 4 Kids: A Very Special Minneapolis Public...

Wedge LIVE! ·

2022/03/03

John's guests are Melissa Whitler and Sara Spafford Freeman (and Sara's large dog). We talk about the Minneapolis Public Schools, racism and segregation, unfunded mandates for special education and English learners, white parents who don't send their kids to the neighborhood school, why you should "defund your PTA," and how to fill an oncoming budget hole once the federal covid relief money dries up. Call your state legislators: The most important bill currently before the legislature is from Rep

en

00:55:57

As Minneapolis teacher strike looms, a conversation...

Wedge LIVE! ·

2022/02/28

With Minneapolis teachers and support staff set to strike if an agreement isn't reached with the school district by March 8, John has a conversation with Shaun Laden, the president of the Educational Support Professionals chapter of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers. We talk about the state of Minneapolis schools, what the union is asking for, and what Shaun sees as an existential threat to the school district: "If we don't change how we operate in the schools, how we make decisions, how we

en

01:02:01

Paul Ostrow, candidate for Hennepin County Attorney

Wedge LIVE! ·

2022/02/22

John has a conversation with Paul Ostrow, candidate for Hennepin County Attorney. Paul is a former Minneapolis City Council member and currently works as an Assistant Anoka County Attorney. Paul Ostrow's campaign website: https://ostrowforhennepin.com Watch this episode and view other clips: youtube.com/wedgelive Join the conversation: twitter.com/wedgelive Support the show: patreon.com/wedgelive Wedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontsee

en

276 results

Similar Podcasts

Expres Ráno

Expres FM

PBS News Hour - Full Show

PBS News

CD Voice

China Daily

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report

Noa Levi

Jeffrey Epstein: The Coverup Chronicles

Bobby Capucci