Loading...

PODCAST

Essential Minnesota

The Minnesota Star Tribune

Every Friday host Melissa Townsend brings her distinct curiosity and humor to these weekly deep-dive conversations with journalists from the Minnesota Star Tribune. Together they dig into interesting and important local stories that matter to Minnesota and beyond. It’s what the Minnesota Star Tribune does best. Available Fridays at 4:30 A.M. Central.

news politics

All Episodes

36:50

Lisa Demuth on why she wants to be Minnesota’s next...

Essential Minnesota ·

2026/10/05

House Speaker Lisa Demuth is in the studio talking about her upbringing and what she thinks will make Minnesota work better.This is part of a special series of conversations with candidates from Minnesota running for statewide office in the midterm elections. We have reached out to the Democratic candidate in the race, Amy Klobuchar, for a similar conversation. Guest Host: Briana Bierschbach, Senior Politics Writer at the Minnesota Star Tribune. More about Briana here:

en

26:14

Karyn Tomlinson is creating a moment for northern...

Essential Minnesota ·

2026/10/02

This James Beard award-winning Twin Cities chef is leading the way on one of the hottest culinary trends right now. She tells Minnesota Star Tribune reporter Joy Summers about embracing the opportunities of the seasons, whole-animal butchery and her famous apple pie. These things were mentioned in the episode: More about Karyn Tomlinson’s restaurant Myriel: ⁠https://www.myrielmn.com/⁠ Relish on Minnesota PBS: https://minnesotapbs.org/relish More about chef Soliel Ramirez :

en

35:35

The story behind the scandal surrounding Kaohly Her

Essential Minnesota ·

2026/09/25

The St Paul mayor has been accused of sexual harassment and battery by the city’s police chief, Axel Henry. Star Tribune reporters Jeff Day and Josie Albertson-Grove discuss their investigation into Mayor Her’s track record of behavior toward colleagues throughout her career and how it links to her leadership style and increased power.

en

37:15

Why Peggy Flanagan wants to represent Minnesota in...

Essential Minnesota ·

2026/09/21

The DFL candidate for U.S. Senate on her upbringing and what she thinks matters most to Minnesotans.This is part of a special series of conversations with candidates from Minnesota running for statewide office in the midterm elections. We have reached out to the GOP candidate in the race, Michele Tafoya, for a similar conversation. Guest Host: Briana Bierschbach, Senior Politics Writer at the Minnesota Star Tribune Guest: Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, Peggy Flanagan For more,

en

25:42

The sextortion pandemic in Minnesota

Essential Minnesota ·

2026/09/18

Over the past few years there has been a 2000% increase in the number of sextortion cases reported to police. These scams havetaken millions of dollars and thelives of countless young people.Journalist Chip Scoggins tells the story of one Minnesota family’s experience.

en

28:03

Minnesota’s new immigrant detention facility

Essential Minnesota ·

2026/09/11

The privately owned prison in Appleton, Minnesota had a troubled past. Now that the U.S Department of Homeland Security has bought it, its future is anything but certain. Journalists Chris Magan and Jeff Hargarten walk us through the history of this prison turned detention facility, and what it means for the town of 1,300 people, whose future is now tied to ever-changing national immigration policy.

en

21:55

How transfer athletes change high school sports

Essential Minnesota ·

2026/09/04

One of the hottest issues in high school sports right now is student athletes who transfer schools to position themselves for college and the pros.Journalist Chip Scoggins digs into the debate over what's fair and what’s breaking the rules. This episode was originally released on May 15, 2026.

en

23:56

Tasting 104 New Fair Foods in One Day

Essential Minnesota ·

2026/08/28

You want to know what's worth trying at the Minnesota State Fair and our food and drink reporters want to deliver. That’s why, on the first day of the fair, our team tries Every. Single. New. Dish. Reporter Sharyn Jackson is the mastermind of the mission and she takes us behind the scenes on the big day – the good, the bad and the brick wall she hits mid-way through.See all the official new foods with a map of where to find them here:

en

38:38

The Annunciation Diaries

Essential Minnesota ·

2026/08/21

On Aug. 27, 2025, a gunman opened fire through the windows of Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis as students gathered for all-school Mass. Over the past year, several families filmed their experiences in video diaries. We hear some of their reflections and come to understand how this community is working to move forward.Video Journalist Amanda Anderson Reporter Reid Forgrave

en

27:27

The ballots are set. What do candidates need to do...

Essential Minnesota ·

2026/08/12

Minnesota voters delivered historic and surprising results in the primary elections. Politics Editor Brooks Johnson looks ahead at the statewide match ups and the impact the winners will have on Minnesotans and our state’s political scene for decades to come.

en

0:34

Summer Break -- we'll be back the week of August 10th

Essential Minnesota ·

2026/08/07

We hope you are enjoying your summer!

en

0:34

Summer Break -- we'll be back the week of August 10th

Essential Minnesota ·

2026/07/31

We hope you are enjoying your summer!

en

29:23

Minnesota elections face new challenges as federal...

Essential Minnesota ·

2026/07/24

Longtime political reporter Briana Bierschbach details how the Trump administration has pulled back key support that has helped Minnesota safeguard elections while pushing changes based on unproven allegations that could make it harder for legitimate voters to cast ballots.

en

24:36

Minnesota’s Wildfires: Smoke, the Boundary Waters &...

Essential Minnesota ·

2026/07/17

This week wildfires forced the closure of the Boundary Waters, sent smoke across the Midwest and pushed air quality to hazardous, record-breaking levels. Minnesota Star Tribune reporter Kristoffer Tigue chronicles the evacuation and fire fighting efforts and what decades of data reveal about the growing connection between our wildfires and climate change.

en

22:37

Lynx’s Cheryl Reeve Breaks One More Record

Essential Minnesota ·

2026/07/10

This week she capped off an historic month becoming the winningest coach in WNBA history. We go behind the scenes with reporter Cassidy Hettesheimer to Reeve’s early days and the secrets to her success.Corrections: In this conversation there are two errors to correct. First, Cheryl Reeve is not head of Business Operations. That was a slip of the tongue. She is actually head of Basketball Operations. Second, Natasha Howard was in the WNBA All-Star game in 2019 and 2022. She was not in the All-Star

en

0:29

Happy July 4th - see you next week

Essential Minnesota ·

2026/07/03

We're taking a holiday break this week but we'll be back July 10!

en

26:44

How Minnesota's new flag became a political flashpoint

Essential Minnesota ·

2026/06/26

Acceptance of the new flag among Minnesotans is divided mainly along party lines. But how much of that comes from partisan fervor fueling the culture wars and how much is from a rushed and imperfect design process? Reporter Briana Bierschbach was there every step of the way and breaks it down.

en

34:53

The investigation into the OALC church and its abusers

Essential Minnesota ·

2026/06/19

After a tip from an attorney, two investigative reporters look into the leaders of the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church. They ask - what did they know about abuse against children in the pews and how did church doctrine put kids at risk.

en

32:14

Mistakes and Mysteries: Inside the manhunt for...

Essential Minnesota ·

2026/06/12

Boelter's escape was full of near misses, enduring mysteries and questionable decisions by law enforcement. Reporter Jeff Day digs into the largest manhunt in state history.

en

10:34

Bonus: Assassin Vance Boelter Pleads Guilty

Essential Minnesota ·

2026/06/11

Reporter Jeff Day takes us inside the courtroom and details what happened when Vance Boelter pleaded guilty to the shootings that killed state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark.

en

44 results

Similar Podcasts

Expres Ráno

Expres FM

WSJ What’s News

The Wall Street Journal

iHeartRadio 24/7 News: The Latest

iHeartPodcasts and TTWN

Sarnia News Today

Blackburn Media

CNN 5 Things

CNN Podcasts