Politics Friday

Earlier this week marked one year since Hamas attacked Israel. Hamas militants invaded Israel, killed about 1,200 people and kidnapped another 250 people, making it the deadliest attack in Israel’s history. About 100 hostages have not been returned. Israel’s retaliation in Gaza has killed more than 41,000 people and wounded more than 96,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, and resulted in mass displacement and a humanitarian crisis.As the war in the Middle East continues with no immediate cease-fire deal in sight, the situation will pose difficulties for the next U.S. president. Jon Alterman, author of the piece “Middle East Challenges Will Vex Not Only the First 100 Days but the First 1,000,” sums up the complex challenges that await. It’s part of a new report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies on the global impact of the 2024 election, where Alterman serves as the senior vice president. He also directs the Middle East Program.  MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst talks with Alterman about the dynamics in the Middle East and where the leading presidential candidates line up. Later, a peer-led, follow-up conversation with two Generation Z voters about their feelings toward the election after a summer of unprecedented political events.

Minnesota’s most competitive race for Congress is expected to be in the 2nd Congressional District, which includes suburban, exurban and rural areas south of the Twin Cities. It’s one of the few districts in America where voters favored Republican Donald Trump in 2016 and then Democrat Joe Biden in 2020.Three-term Democratic Rep. Angie Craig is trying to retain the seat. She’ll face former federal prosecutor and Republican nominee Joe Teirab on November’s ballot. Read our Voter Guides U.S. House: District 2 MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst moderated a debate between Craig and Teirab held live at MPR’s St. Paul studios.Video of the debate is available on MPR’s YouTube and Facebook page.Guests:  Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.), incumbent congresswoman in Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District. She was elected in 2018. Joe Teirab, Republican challenger in Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District. Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.  Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. 

With new candidates on the Democratic ticket and former president Donald Trump atop the Republican ticket for a third time, a new Minnesota poll shows Kamala Harris with an edge. Coming up Friday at noon, MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst talks with Minnesota journalists about the poll results.

There are 46 days until Election Day, and that means the start of early voting in Minnesota – one of the first states where votes can get cast.  MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst talks with Secretary of State Steve Simon about the early voting process and the safeguards being taken to make sure the 2024 election runs smoothly and fairly across the state. Later in the hour, plugged-in members of the Minnesota’s DFL and Republican parties share their perspectives on how they see this election shaking out from the presidential race on down the ticket. Guests:  Steve Simon is Minnesota’s Secretary of State.   Ak Kamara is the Republican National Committeeman for Minnesota. Ryan Winkler is a former DFL majority leader in the Minnesota House.  Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.   Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. 

The newest member of Minnesota’s congressional delegation, Republican Rep. Brad Finstad, is asking voters for a second term in district one. Democrat Rachel Bohman is asking those same southern Minnesota voters to give her the job instead. Bohman, a lawyer and former local board official who has a background in election administration, is looking to flip a seat that has been held by Republicans since 2019. What does she stand for and why should voters go in a new direction? MPR News politics editor and host Brian Bakst talks with Bohman about her campaign. Finstad declined an invitation to appear. Later, we’ll discuss campaign ads with associate professor Dan Myers of the University of Minnesota’s Department of Political Science. Hundreds of millions of dollars will be spent nationally between now and Election Day on television and digital commercials, although Minnesota has had a light dose so far. Guests:  Rachel Bohman is the DFL candidate for the Congressional District 1Dan Myers is an associate professor at the University of Minnesota. Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.   Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. 

The Minnesota State Fair has ended. The 12-day event brought out long lines for fried food, a butter sculpting competition and U.S. Senate candidates looking to represent the state in the nation’s Capital.There have been 44 people in Minnesota who have held the title of U.S. senator since statehood, but only seven have been elected to three or more terms. Minnesota has a U.S. Senate election now just a couple of months away, and Democrat Amy Klobuchar is after a fourth term.  MPR News host Brian Bakst talks with Sen. Klobuchar at the State Fair. She shares what she’s been up to in Washington and what she would do if given another six years. Later, we’ll hear from Republican nominee Royce White, who is running on the slogan “the people are coming.” White talks about his path to politics after time spent in professional basketball — in the U.S. and abroad — and his conservative ideology.Guests:  DFL U.S. Sen. Amy KlobucharU.S. Senate Republican nominee Royce White Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.   Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. 

We break down the primary results and what they mean for November. Three U.S. House races were closely watched. We hear from Congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Michelle Fischbach who both fended off primary challenges. The match up is set in Minnesota’s most competitive U.S. House district. We talk to Republican Joe Teirab who will be facing Democratic Congresswoman Angie Craig.Plus, we hear from party leaders at the state capitol about their priorities and break down one key race in the state senate that could decide party control. The politics don’t stop with primary night. In fact, the Democratic National Convention is in just a few days. We share a preview of what to expect from Gov. Tim Walz.

Tim Walz, the second-term Minnesota governor with a folksy demeanor and a swath of experience both in and out of government, gained a spot on the Democratic ticket as Kamala Harris’ vice presidential choice.Supporters of Gov. Walz say the ex-Army National Guard leader, former teacher and past congressman could help Harris in the Midwest. But he also comes with baggage from nearly two decades in political office.Listen to special coverage live from MPR News with host Cathy Wurzer and political editor Brian Bakst.Clifford Bentley served as technical director for this special coverage.Find more coverage on the MPR News website.Kamala Harris taps Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as Democratic running mateGov. Tim Walz is Kamala Harris’ running mate. What happens now in Minnesota politics?

It has been an extraordinary month in our nation’s politics. There’s been development after riveting development, with each eclipsing the last. And yet, with still 100 days to go till Election Day, this could be just a taste of what’s ahead.MPR News host Brian Bakst talks with MPR political reporters Mark Zdechlik and Clay Masters about the last four weeks in politics and breaks down what the country has experienced. Gallery Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.    

Democrat Joe Biden, the current president, and Republican Donald Trump, the former president, meet Thursday, June 27, for the first debate either candidate has been in since 2020. The presumed presidential rematch has been set for months — with both candidates earning the necessary primary wins to gain their party nominations, which they’ll formally accept at conventions later this summer. MPR News host Brian Bakst talks with presidential scholars and a former presidential candidate about the work it takes to prepare for a presidential debate and how Thursday’s debate could impact both campaigns over the next few months. Politics Friday will return to the airwaves later this fall for our weekly coverage of the 2024 Election. Until then, we’re coming straight to your podcast feeds — occasionally — throughout the summer.Guests:  Tim Pawlenty is the former governor of Minnesota. He served from 2003 to 2011 and sought the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. Tammy Vigil is the senior associate dean and associate professor of media science at Boston University. Previously, she has done work for the Commission on Presidential Debates. Timothy Naftali is a presidential historian and former director of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum. He’s a senior research scholar at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.  Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.