PODCAST

Better Minneapolis Podcast

Terry White

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

news news commentary

All Episodes

9:59

Minneapolis and the Dual State

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2026/02/01

Staying Put Despite ICEA friend texted me last week to say he could see Mark Zuckerberg’s 387-foot yacht, Launchpad, from his hotel room in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Part of me wished I were there, too, far away from the arbitrary searches and the violence that have become familiar sights on the streets of Minneapolis.But he was writing to ask what was happening here in Minneapolis. And that question made something clear to me: there’s nowhere else I’d rather be right now. It has been inspiring to

9:58

Cracks in Republican Ranks Over ICE

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2026/01/28

Trump Reacts to Unflattering PollsDespite the recent departure of Commander Bovino, Minnesota continues to contend with an oversized contingent of ICE agents moving through our streets and confronting residents. Community watch groups and mutual aid efforts have not slowed, and it remains unclear how long Minnesotans will be forced to live in this state of heightened vigilance.Democrats must ensure that this moment carries political consequences in the midterm elections this November and in the

58:35

Minneapolis Stories of Operation Metro Surge

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2026/01/25

Optimism Is Hard to Come ByJanuary 25, 2026 · 4:36 p.m.It feels important to note the exact day and time of this writing. Life in Minneapolis has been a whirlwind.As recently as Friday, many of us were feeling hopeful. The day began with more than 100 clergy members from across the country being arrested at the airport. They had gathered to protest deportation flights and the detention of airport employees by immigration agents. The temperature was –21 degrees. The clergy knelt in a line, singing

41:43

Interview: Cedric Frazier, Candidate for Hennepin...

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2026/01/25

IntroductionThe first question Cedric asked when we met was, “How are you doing with everything that’s going on?” I told him I felt scattered, and, like many people, I was having difficulty concentrating. Neither of us knew when we recorded this interview that, two days later, 37-year-old Alex Pretti would be shot and killed by ICE agents just a block from the Speak MPLS studio where we were sitting.The final question I asked Cedric was this: “What in your background prepares you to manage a crisis

12:09

Internal DFL Divisions Have National Implications

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2026/01/21

Democrats, both nationally and here in Minnesota, have a long-standing tendency to divide and conquer themselves. That dynamic is once again on display in the debate over immigration enforcement, where slogans like “Abolish ICE” are embraced by some and viewed by others as politically damaging, especially with midterms approaching.This tension surfaced locally on Tuesday, when Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley led a press conference calling on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to halt

10:33

Observer, Protester, or Instigator: Who Defines Them?

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2026/01/18

Some online commentators have mocked Gov. Tim Walz for calling Minnesota an “island of decency” and urging people to “protect each other.” Many on the left believe Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey should be doing more to confront the federal government, arguing that strong statements and aggressive tweets are not enough. Social media has been filled with videos demanding that Frey and Walz “grow a spine” and take action. Critics scoff at Frey’s refusal to support abolishing ICE. They voice

58:14

Interview: Hao Nguyen, Candidate for Hennepin County...

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2026/01/14

IntroductionAs we were preparing this interview, several U.S. attorneys in Minnesota’s federal prosecutor’s office unexpectedly resigned, including First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson, the lead prosecutor in the high-profile human services fraud cases. Their departures came amid internal disputes over how the office should handle the federal investigation into the killing of Minneapolis resident Renee Good. Reports say a directive from newly appointed U.S. Attorney Dan Rosen, instructing

53:34

Interview with Francis Shen, Candidate for Hennepin...

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2026/01/11

Francis Shen Interview SummaryIn this wide-ranging interview, Francis Shen introduces himself as a nontraditional candidate for Hennepin County Attorney, grounded less in courtroom litigation and more in systems thinking, neuroscience, and innovation. Raised in a Catholic family with roots in both Chinese and Irish heritage, Shen traces his path from Jesuit education to the University of Chicago and Harvard, where he completed both a JD and a PhD. His career ultimately led him to the University of

8:13

Reflections on the Unrest in Minneapolis

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2026/01/11

The Revolution Will Be Live StreamedMinneapolis became the epicenter of national attention this week after Renee Good was shot and killed by an ICE officer. The killing sparked immediate outrage, intensified by the federal government’s self-serving interpretation of what occurred and by the rapid arrival of media figures and online personalities from around the country. What began as a local tragedy quickly spiraled into a national spectacle.Renee Good’s death on January 8 sent a shockwave outward

8:44

A Volatile Year Ahead for Minnesota Politics

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2026/01/07

Just hours before Minneapolis’ newly elected City Council convened for its first meeting, Governor Tim Walz announced he would not seek a third term. The decision immediately reshaped the state’s political landscape and underscored how volatile the moment has become.That volatility was also evident inside City Hall. What might have been a routine organizational meeting instead revealed deep mistrust between council members. Tensions flared over committee assignments and the creation of new

12:13

Rage Bait Comes to Minnesota

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2026/01/04

Are you ready for the new year?Saturday morning, the U. S. invaded Venezuela and removed its leader. The federal government is withholding money intended for childcare and small businesses in Minnesota. Locally, Mayor Frey and the newly elected City Council will be sworn in on Monday, followed by the council’s first meeting on Tuesday. We expect the council to elect Jamal Osman as Vice President despite his well-documented connections to fraud.The DFL Doesn't Get ItIf you were fortunate enough to

7:30

Medicaid-Reimbursable Recuperative Care

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2025/12/23

2025 — A Preview of 2026When First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson talks about being understaffed, given the level of fraud his office is uncovering, we believe him. As we write this, it’s being reported that Rep. James Comer, the Republican chair of the U.S. House Oversight Committee, is expanding his investigation into Minnesota’s social services programs.For most people outside the legislative process, which is to say, most of us, it’s tough to understand how bills are formed, passed, and

49:35

Uptown Roundtable

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2025/12/21

Brief OverviewAs Uptown turns a corner after years of construction and disruption, community leaders and business owners say the neighborhood is showing real signs of life, with new transit, events, and openings drawing people back. But the roundtable made clear that lasting revival will depend on tackling public safety concerns and building stronger, locally driven systems to support businesses and public spaces.ICE OutSaturday, December 20, 2025. Thousands of people braved bitter cold and high

6:54

Behind Closed Doors at City Hall

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2025/12/17

Brief SummaryOn December 16, Mayor Jacob Frey and City Council Vice President Aisha Chughtai reached a late-breaking agreement that allowed the mayor to sign Minneapolis’s budget. The deal, which requires a series of budget amendments after the council formally adjourns, was publicly framed as a win for collaboration.Not everyone saw it that way.Council Member Robin Wonsley sharply criticized the process, objecting to what she described as closed-door negotiations between the mayor and council

43:47

Interview: Mike Newcome, Candidate for Governor

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2025/12/14

Brief Introduction:Mike Newcome is running for Minnesota governor as an independent with the Forward Independence Party, motivated by a belief that partisan politics and special interests have left state government disconnected from everyday Minnesotans.Interview Summary:Mike Newcome is running for Minnesota governor as a candidate of the Forward Independence Party, driven by a sense that the state’s politics have drifted away from the people it’s meant to serve. A lifelong Minnesotan from White

34:30

Interview: Anders Folk, Candidate for Hennepin County...

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2025/12/10

Hi,If you’re not a paid subscriber yet, now is a good time. Help support the interviews and political commentary you’ve come to appreciate. We’re able to do this work because of supporters like you!Interview SummaryAnders Folk, a lifelong Minnesotan and former federal prosecutor, is running for Hennepin County Attorney with a focus on restoring public safety and rebuilding the office’s reputation. Drawing on experience from the Marine Corps, the Department of Justice, and earlier work in the

8:51

The DFL Doesn’t Get It

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2025/12/07

Brief Summary:In today’s newsletter, we examine how Minnesota’s nonprofit fraud scandals have evolved from local oversight failures into a national political vulnerability for the DFL. With leaders slow to confront the scale of the problem, Republicans have stepped in with investigations, audits, and messaging that could shape the 2026 elections. A Party Unwilling to Police Its OwnIn October 2022, the Minnesota Reformer reported that a nonprofit connected to Ward 6 Council Member Jamal Osman’s

28:30

Interview: Rep. Angie Craig, Candidate for U. S. Senate

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2025/12/03

INTRODUCTIONToday on Better Minneapolis, we’re bringing you a conversation with Congresswoman Angie Craig as she launches her run for the U.S. Senate. We talked about the experiences that shaped her—growing up in a mobile home park without reliable healthcare—and how that fuels her push to lower costs, improve community safety, and reform Washington.We cover healthcare affordability, the $35 insulin cap, housing shortages, childcare costs, and what it will take for families to get ahead in every

7:48

Public Restrooms Downtown Are a Practical Test of...

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2025/11/30

BriefAs Minneapolis leaders debate whether to add eight public restrooms downtown, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports that the City Council is considering a $700,000 budget amendment to build them. It’s a welcome recognition of a real need; private businesses shouldn’t be expected to function as the city’s bathroom system, but the proposed amount is far from the full cost.What Practical Governance Looks LikeGood governance means budgeting for the entire lifecycle of a project, not just the

6:39

Mpls Budget Increases by $140 million

Better Minneapolis Podcast ·

2025/11/26

The Bear BonesLet’s start with a disclaimer: we haven’t spent the dozens of hours it would take to fully dissect Minneapolis’s proposed 2026 budget. At nearly 500 pages, it’s a beast. But one thing is immediately clear: if the City Council approves the plan in December, Minneapolis will spend about $140 million more in 2026 than it did in 2025.To cover that increase, residents are being asked to pay higher property taxes. The impact isn’t uniform. Our own bill is set to rise by about 10%, while

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