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Minnesota Now

Minnesota Public Radio

Live, down to earth, unscripted interviews that aim to connect, inform and entertain. Real people share real stories with MPR News host Nina Moini. It’s journalism that doesn’t take itself too seriously and puts people first.

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  • 289 episodes
  • Avg 19 min
  • English

Episodes 289

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  • Thursday · 53 min

    Minnesota Now: Nov. 12, 2026

    Minneapolis may soon have a new police chief. The city council is deciding Thursday whether to appoint department veteran Bill Peterson. And Todd County, Minnesota is the epicenter of a large measles outbreak. We talked to a doctor on the frontlines. A pilot program is training YMCA after-school staff to support children’s mental health. We heard more about the challenges the program hopes to address. DFL lawmakers want to ask voters to seal state protections for race, sex and gender identities among others. A law professor spoke more about what they’ll need to pass the Equal Rights Amendment. Plus, remember the days of bubbling volcanoes and electric potatoes at the science fair? One group is bringing that back … for adults! The Minnesota Music Minute was a cover of The Pretenders’ “2,000 Miles” performed by The New Standards. The Song of the Day was "Regret" by the band New Order.

  • Thursday · 9 min

    Doctor on frontlines of Todd County measles outbreak says it could ‘overwhelm’ health system 

    A measles outbreak has sent cases soaring in central Minnesota this fall, particularly in Todd County, which has 85 percent of the cases in the state. As of new data out Thursday, that number has climbed to 136 cases in the county since mid-September. It's the biggest measles outbreak the state has seen since 1990. Lakewood Health System in Staples has been on the frontlines of the outbreak. Dr. Christine Albrecht is the health system's chief medical officer and she spoke with MPR News host Nina Moini about the health system’s response.

  • Thursday · 9 min

    Event gives adults the chance to relive the nostalgia of science fairs

    Some grown-ups will have a chance for science fair nostalgia Thursday evening in St. Paul. Dual Citizen Brewing Company is hosting an adult science fair. The event is also a fundraiser for Starbase Minnesota, a program that educates 5th graders in the Twin Cities and Duluth about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. It’s the brainchild of Dual Citizen events manager Caitlin Searls, who spoke with MPR News host Nina Moini about why she wanted to organize it along with Melanie Peters, executive director of Starbase Minnesota.

  • Thursday · 8 min

    Law professor breaks down what would change if MN passes the Equal Rights Amendment

    Minnesota DFL lawmakers plan to bring back the Equal Rights Amendment, or ERA, during the next legislative session, which starts in January. The bill would ask voters to amend the state constitution to seal protections for race, sex and gender identity among others. Democrats have introduced the ERA dozens of times at the state legislature. It came close to passing in 2024 when the party held a slim majority. But the DFL has a wider majority after the 2026 midterms. Jill Hasday, a constitutional law professor at the University of Minnesota, joined Minnesota Now to explain what it would mean for the state to pass the Equal Rights Amendment.

  • Thursday · 9 min

    Training looks to expand mental health support in after-school YMCA programs

    When the school day ends, some students go to after-school programs. But if a student has a hard day, after-school staff aren’t always equipped with the tools to respond. To help address that, the University of Minnesota School of Public Health is partnering with the YMCA of the North to pilot a program that trains non-clinical, after-school educators in mental health support. Minnesota Now host Nina Moini spoke with two guests about the program: Katie Hendel, associate professor at the School of Public Health at the U of M, and Jenny Collins, vice president of educational impact with YMCA of the North.

  • Wednesday · 54 min

    Minnesota Now: Nov. 11, 2026

    An ICE detention facility three hours west of the Twin Cities is open. MPR News went to Appleton, where the new center is located, and heard from an immigration lawyer about they are preparing to represent clients. On Veteran's Day, we learned about a unique program that helps military medics attend medical school at the University of Minnesota. Plus, a new fellowship will help Dakota youth preserve their Native history for generations to come. When is winter coming? MPR meteorologist Mandy Thalhuber shared the forecast. A new documentary looks at how basketball became a symbol of resilience for Native communities at the University of Minnesota Morris. The Minnesota Music Minute was “Don’t Give Up Yet” by Semisonic and “Red Flowers” by Sarah Holdyn was the Song of the Day.

  • Wednesday · 8 min

    Winona-area group to train Dakota youth fellows in research, oral history and interpretation

    A new fellowship set to begin next year will provide six Dakota youth ages 18-24 with the opportunity to research and tell stories of their communities' history in the Winona area. The program comes from the Winona County History Center in partnership with Prairie Island Indian Community and Lower Sioux Indian Community. The goal for the fellows is to answer the questions: What do I want Winona to know about my community? And what do I want my community to know and honor? Stephen Curley, director of partnership initiatives at the Winona County History Center, joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk more about the five-month program, which will take applications through Nov. 30.

  • Wednesday · 9 min

    Minnesota program aims to strengthen the pipeline from military medic to medical doctor

    Growing up in New Prague, Lauren Kitner was interested in science. After high school, she joined the Minnesota National Guard as a medic. “It seemed really interesting to be able to learn how to take care of patients in more resource-limited environments,” she said, adding that working alongside physicians as a medic “solidified” her interest in a medical degree. Now in her first year of medical school, Kitner is in the second cohort of a University of Minnesota program designed to help military medics become doctors. Her goal is to specialize in emergency medicine. The program’s director of education and training, Chris vanBrenk, joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the path from military service to an M.D.

  • Wednesday · 10 min

    Minnesota immigration lawyers 'ramping up' capacity as Appleton ICE detention center opens

    The first detainees have arrived at a new western Minnesota immigration detention center. Observers and lawyers say the center in Appleton, Minnesota opened earlier this week. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement has not added the facility to its public list of detention centers or responded to requests for comment. MPR News immigration reporter Estelle Timar-Wilcox went to Appleton Tuesday and joined Minnesota Now to share what she learned. Then, MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota legal director Tracy Roy for her perspective on the facility.

  • Tuesday · 54 min

    Minnesota Now: Nov. 10, 2026

    A Minneapolis woman is suing the federal government for alleged assault, battery and false imprisonment, nearly 10 months after ICE agents dragged her from her car. Reporter Jon Collins joined the program with details on the lawsuit filed Tuesday morning. Jobs like police officer, paramedic and firefighter come with a higher risk of mental health crises. A Minnesota group is working to respond when first responders need help. What do daycares and bridges have in common? We talked to a business consultant who says cities should treat childcare as infrastructure. Grab your accordion or your dancing shoes! We'll trace the history of polka music from Europe to the Midwest. Our Minnesota Music Minute was "Clarity" by Good Morning Midnight and our Song of the Day was “Goodlight” by TAE & The Neighborly.

  • Tuesday · 5 min

    Minneapolis woman dragged from car by ICE agents sues federal government

    A woman who was dragged out of her car and detained by federal agents in January has filed a lawsuit against the federal government for violating her constitutional rights. In the lawsuit, Aliya Rahman is alleging assault, battery, false arrest and imprisonment. MPR News reporter Jon Collins shared the story with MPR News host Nina Moini.

  • Tuesday · 9 min

    MN has a rich polka history. Families and communities are finding ways to keep it alive

    New Ulm in southern Minnesota is known as the polka capital of the nation. The history of polka in Minnesota stretches back more than a century to the Polish, Czech and German immigrants who brought with them the music and dance they loved. Generations later, the tradition is still alive but there are concerns it could fade away. Pete Mrozinski is a board member of the Midwest Polka Association and a polka musician. Alexandra DeYoe wrote about the history of polka in Minnesota for Mpls.St.Paul Magazine. They both joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about polka's rich history and what its future might look like.

  • Tuesday · 9 min

    What if cities invested in childcare like they do roads? Here's how it's going in Mapleton

    In the southern Minnesota town of Mapleton, childcare provider Brooke Garvey is nearly a year into a new job. She runs a daycare out of a house purchased by the local government. Garvey had wanted to open an in-home daycare, but her old farmhouse outside of town didn't meet the requirements. She couldn't afford to make the necessary upgrades, so the city-owned house gave her another option. She was able to customize the space to meet the needs of her daycare business. Garvey now cares for 10 children, including her own two, at Tiny Roots. It's the first example of a new model championed by Jeff Andrews, CEO of Business of Child Care, a firm that advises cities to invest in childcare the way they do roads and utilities. Andrews helped develop the model in Mapleton and hopes to expand it to other Minnesota cities. He joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about it.

  • Tuesday · 15 min

    String of first responder suicides highlights growing need for mental health support

    First responders and veterans are at a significantly higher risk for suicide, due to the trauma they face on the job. And in the last two weeks, a local mental health organization shared that three current or former first responders have died by suicide in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. The Invisible Wounds Project works to support those on the front lines and intervene in crisis. Founder and executive director Russ Hanes joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about their work. If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. Call or text 988 to get connected with trained counselors who can help. The 988 suicide and crisis lifeline is available 24/7.

  • Monday · 9 min

    Monday night Vikings game could be a turning point, Wolves continue winning streak

    U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis will light up Monday night with the Vikings playing the Buffalo Bills. This could be a turning point for Minnesota: either they return to their early-season winning pattern or lose their second game in a row. Starting quarterback Kyler Murray is out with an injury. The Timberwolves are on a winning streak, winning four in a row. And they now are playing eights games in a row at home court, the longest home stretch in franchise history. Joining Minnesota Now to talk about all things Minnesota sports are our weekly sports contributors, Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. We attempt to make transcripts for Minnesota Now available the next business day after a broadcast. When ready they will appear here.

  • Monday · 54 min

    Minnesota Now: Nov. 9, 2026

    Stephen Miller has taken the helm as President Donald Trump's chief of staff. We'll hear more from a reporter about his role shaping the administration's aggressive immigration agenda and his push against supposed fraud among Somali Minnesotans. From Stephen Miller to midterm candidates, we'll dig deeper into how anti-Somali rhetoric is animating politics and showed up in campaigns leading up to last week's election. Plus, Democrats won big last week, but just how big? We'll ask an expert about how things have played out in the past and what the midterm results signal for what's ahead. And we'll hear about the reopening of a stretch of Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis and why it's taken 50 years. Plus, it’s Monday night football for the Vikings, without their starting quarterback. Our Minnesota Music Minute was “drip dry” by bugsy and our Song of the Day was “Devil You Know” by Winterstate.

  • Monday · 10 min

    The midterm election blue wave was historic. Have we seen one like it before?

    Democrats scored major victories across the country in Tuesday's midterm elections, flipping seats that had been held by Republicans for decades. They won control of both the U.S. House and Senate, picked up governorships and made significant gains in state legislatures. So how big was this wave, and what might history tell us about what comes next after a wave like this? Andrew Karch is a professor of political science at the University of Minnesota. He joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to put the election into historical perspective.

  • Monday · 10 min

    As Stephen Miller gets promoted to chief of staff, a look at how he targeted Somali Minnesotans

    Monday is Stephen Miller's first day as the White House chief of staff. He was tapped for the role by President Trump shortly after Democrats swept the midterm election. He's been one of Trump's closest advisers for years, and a driving force behind the administration's hard-line anti-immigration policies. A new report from The Washington Sun shows how Miller pushed federal officials to focus specifically on alleged fraud among Somali Minnesotans, and how that effort became intertwined with Operation Metro Surge last winter. Natalie Alms reported the story and joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about Miller’s tenure during the second Trump administration.

  • Monday · 10 min

    Political scientist: Attacks on Somali Minnesotans in midterms was part of longstanding playbook

    Republicans in Minnesota and beyond echoed President Donald Trump in fixating on Somali Minnesotans ahead of the midterms. Governor candidate Lisa Demuth and U.S. Senate candidate Michelle Tafoya made "Somali gangs" a key campaign issue. Ads supporting Tafoya also denounced quote "Somali fraudsters" and attacked Democrat and Gov.-elect Amy Klobuchar for speaking a few words in Somali to a crowd. Voters, meanwhile, elected Democrats to statewide seats and majorities in the Minnesota legislature – including several Somali candidates. Joining Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about how anti-Somali campaign rhetoric played out is University of Minnesota political scientist Michael Minta.

Showing 1–20 of 289 episodes