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Artwork for Essential Minnesota

Essential Minnesota

The Minnesota Star Tribune
Minnesota
Minnesota Star Tribune
Operation Metro Surge
ICE
Gun Violence
Vance Boelter
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Border Patrol
Immigration Enforcement
Mental Health
Sextortion
Minnesota Politics
Minneapolis
Trauma
Mass Shooting
Trump Administration
Renee Good
Feeding Our Future
Minnesota Red Flag Law
Bishop Henry Whipple Building

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes47Founded9 months ago
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Artwork for Essential Minnesota

Latest Episodes

Two reporters head into the north woods to track the family of cougars first sited last spring and to answer big questions about what the potential return of these big cats means for all Minnesotans – human and otherwise.

Reporter Greg Stanley: http... more

YouTube

Many of us see political dialogue becoming more vicious and data shows there's an increase in violent threats against elected officials. But that data is cobbled together and incomplete. Three reporters try to create a system that gives a full pictur... more

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar is in the studio talking about her life and what she wants to do if she becomes the state’s next Governor.

This is part of a special series of conversations with candidates from Minnesota running for statewide office in th... more

YouTube

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... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Amy Klobuchar
DFL nominee for governor and U.S. Senator
U.S. Senate, Minnesota Governor race
Episode: Amy Klobuchar on why she wants to be Minnesota’s next governor
Lisa Demuth
House Speaker (then Republican nominee for governor)
Minnesota House of Representatives
Episode: Lisa Demuth on why she wants to be Minnesota’s next governor
Peggy Flanagan
Lieutenant Governor, Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate (Minnesota)
Democratic Party, Minnesota
Episode: Peggy Flanagan on why she wants to represent Minnesota in the U.S. Senate
Jeff Day
Journalist with Minnesota Star Tribune
Minnesota Star Tribune
Episode: The story behind the scandal surrounding Kaohly Her
Josie Alberston-Grove
Journalist with Minnesota Star Tribune
Minnesota Star Tribune
Episode: The story behind the scandal surrounding Kaohly Her
Chip Scoggins
Sports columnist for Minnesota Star Tribune
Minnesota Star Tribune
Episode: The sextortion pandemic in Minnesota
Chris Magan
Journalist, Minnesota Star Tribune reporter
Minnesota Star Tribune
Episode: Minnesota’s new immigrant detention facility
Jeff Hargarten
Journalist, Minnesota Star Tribune reporter
Minnesota Star Tribune
Episode: Minnesota’s new immigrant detention facility
Sharyn Jackson
Food and drink reporter at the Minnesota Star Tribune
Minnesota Star Tribune
Episode: Tasting 104 New Fair Foods in One Day

Host

Melissa Townsend
Host of Essential Minnesota, with strong ties to the Star Tribune and Minnesota public discourse.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 29 ratings
  • Great Minnesota coverage

    As a Minnesotan living in the Twin Cities, this podcast is a good addition to my podcast rotation.

    Quality reporting by the Star Tribune with a wide range of topics and conversations.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jeffrey Leonard
    United States6 months ago
  • Satisfying!

    I live in Minnesota and I love hearing the exceptional reporting about what’s happening right here. Great work Strib!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    News Lover in MN
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The reporting quality and staying close to Star Tribune standards comes through in conversations.
Listeners appreciate the depth and local focus, especially for Minnesota-specific issues.
People value the no-spin, careful elaboration on complex topics, making it a go-to for staying informed about state affairs.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Amy Klobuchar on why she wants to be Minnesota’s next governor
Q: Why leave the Senate to run for governor?
Because I believe I can translate my national experience into practical, state-level reforms that match the drive and ambition of Minnesotans, fix fraud, cut red tape, and lower costs for families.
Minnesota’s new immigrant detention facility
Q: What worries do locals have about conditions and access to detainees in this facility?
Residents fear poor medical care, limited access to legal representation due to remoteness, and the challenge of monitoring detainee welfare, particularly if the facility reaches capacity and becomes a major employer.
Minnesota’s new immigrant detention facility
Q: What is the potential impact on Appleton's finances and services with a federal facility operating there?
If the building becomes federally owned, property tax revenues would drop, prompting negotiations for a monthly stipend from CoreCivic or compensation agreements to cover city services, though the long-term financial picture depends on detention occupancy and policy decisions.
Minnesota’s new immigrant detention facility
Q: Why did the federal government buy the building instead of contracting with CoreCivic to run it?
Officials cited existing funding and resources, signaling a desire to expand detention capacity directly, while analysts noted that government ownership could simplify scaling and avoid private contracts, albeit shifting financial risk to the public sector.
The story behind the scandal surrounding Kaohly Her
Q: Tell me a little about Kali Herr before she became St. Paul's Mayor.
Herr's background includes being born in Laos, arriving in the U.S. as a refugee, building wealth through finance and banking, and transitioning to public service where she worked on the St. Paul School Board and later served as policy director for former Mayor Melvin Carter, earning a reputation for preparedness and relationship-building as she moved into higher offices.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Essential Minnesota

What is Essential Minnesota about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Explores deeply reported Minnesota stories with a focus on political, civic, and investigative topics, anchored by a veteran Star Tribune journalist. Episodes spotlight state politics, elections, public safety, and major local issues, often featuring reporters and editors from the Star Tribune who provide data-driven context, on-the-ground reporting, and nuanced analysis. Noteworthy is the regular collaboration with multiple Star Tribune journalists, creating a steady stream of informed, no-nuff-spin conversations that connect local events to broader trends. This show is likely to appeal to Minnesota residents and professionals who want thorough insight into how local stories unfold, with a strong emphasis on accountability, governance, and... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Essential Minnesota?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Essential Minnesota:

1. Curious Minnesota
2. Minnesota Today
3. The Ezra Klein Show
4. Pod Save America
5. The Daily

How many episodes of Essential Minnesota are there?

Essential Minnesota launched 9 months ago and published 47 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Essential Minnesota?

Recent guests on Essential Minnesota include:

1. Amy Klobuchar
2. Lisa Demuth
3. Peggy Flanagan
4. Jeff Day
5. Josie Alberston-Grove
6. Chip Scoggins
7. Chris Magan
8. Jeff Hargarten

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