We talked with Minnesota State Economist, Laura Kalambokidis, about what she does everyday and what happens when the Legislature writes a check that bounces.
A World's Fair in Minnesota?
Does Minnesota need a World's Fair? Mark Ritchie thinks so and he's working with Expo 2023 to make it happen.
US Congressman Keith Ellison
We talked with US Congressman Keith Ellison about the issues that are most important to him. He spoke about minimum wage laws, the #BlackLivesMatter protest at the Mall of America, the 50th Anniversary of the March on Selma, right to work laws, and immigration reform.
Commissioner of MNDOT
We talked with Charlie Zelle, Commissioner of the Minesota Department of Transportation about what it means to be the Poseidon of roads, tracks, and waterways in the state of Minnesota. Before you ask, Amazon drones are not under his purview.
Energy Debate
Energy policy is one of those issues that we can all agree on, right? Wrong! We had three guests, Ben Gerber (Manager of Energy Policy and Labor/Management Policy at the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce), Michael Nobel (CEO of Fresh Energy) and Peter Nelson (Director of Public Policy at the center of the American Experiment. The room was electric and the crowd was feisty. Who won the debate? That's for you to decide.
Bush Foundation President
Philanthropy is changing, both on an individual level as well as an institutional level. Jennifer Ford Reedy took the helm at the St. Paul-based Bush Foundation at the tailend of the Great Recession. We’ll talk about being at the helm of one of the region’s largest foundations, and if it gets annoying to receive President Bush’s fan mail.
Former Supreme Justice Paul Anderson
The honorable Paul Anderson served as Associate Justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court from 1994 to 2013. During that time he heard seminal cases on everything from the independence of medical examiners, to bail laws, to a much-discussed recount in Minnesota’s 2008 U.S. senate race.
Secretary of State Forum
Minnesotans will elect a new secretary of state this fall. The Theater of Public Policy has invited the three major-party candidates to join us on stage for a conversation, but only Robert Helland (IP Candidate) showed up
Read MoreSchool Board Forum
We know the truth. The real excitement in this fall's election is the contest for Minneapolis School Board. Specifically, the two at-large seats for which the entire city votes.
Read MoreDesigning the Perfect Fruit
Did you know that 80% of the apples grown in Minnesota are creations of the University of Minnesota breeding program? We will talk to one of the people behind the University’s apple program, scientist David Bedford about how you create new apple varieties, how our ways of producing food are changing through science, and if anything will ever be as great as the Honeycrisp.
Explain Trains and Automobiles
Think coming up with your own five-year plan is a challenge? Try coming up with a 20-year plan for the entire Twin Cities region. That’s just part of the charge for our guest, Susan Haigh, chair of the Metropolitan Council. We asked her all about what visions they've heard from Minnesotans for the future of the Twin Cities.
Out of School Time - Not Just for TV Anymore
Sprockets, St. Paul’s out-of-school time programs network, has a new director and she joined us on the show. Eyenga Bokamba talked to us about why students need to keep learning even after the school day ends. In addition to her work leading this diverse coalition of programs, Bokamba is a visual artist in her own right, and a Harvard graduate. Consider us intimidated.
Can We Pay Teachers in Apples?
Our guest, Denise Specht, is the president of Minnesota’s largest teacher’s union, Education Minnesota. She’ll answer your questions about teachers, students, class size, and snow days. Bringing her an apple is optional.
A Show with Two Views
Two voices from two political perspectives will prove it’s still possible to have respectful, civil, yet lively conversations in public. Republican State Representative Nick Zerwas and Take Action Minnesota Executive Director Dan McGrath take our stage together to talk about the big issues facing Minnesota.
A Council Member Walks Into an Improv Show
City of Minneapolis Council Member for Ward 10, Lisa Bender joins us on stage. She’ll talk about the big issues at City Hall, what efforts she hopes the city will address in the coming months, and how it feels to have the god-like powers of a city council member.
Democracy of Data
Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, City of Minneapolis Chief Information Officer Otto Doll, and Open Twin Cities’ Bill Bushey will tell us about making government data more readily available to citizens. All three have been working to make government more transparent and efficient through data. We’ll ask why anyone would want all the city’s records on cats getting stuck in trees, and why the moniker “hacker” is considered a dirty word.
Transit Revolution or a Streetcar to Heck?
The University of Minnesota’s resident civil engineering guru is known around the world as The Transportationist. Professor David Levinson will join us to talk about the Twin Cities, traffic, streetcars, and why we don’t yet have hover bikes?
A Mayoral Forum for the Rest of Us
In the fall of 2013, the Minneapolis Mayoral race was in full swing with over 35 candidates vying for office. How interesting that one of the more serious aspects ended up being an improv comedy forum.
Read MoreFord Plant School
Will the site of the St. Paul Ford Plant work better as a school that puts children to work?
Is College Worth It?
We were joined on stage by award-winning journalist and public radio economics editor Chris Farrell and Gustavus professor of philosophy Lisa Heldke. The guests talked about the economic, social, community, and individual costs and benefits of higher learning.
