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Politics Friday

Minnesota Public Radio
Minnesota
Donald Trump
Minnesota Legislature
Tim Walz
Kamala Harris
Minnesota Elections
Republican Party
Housing
Joe Biden
Economy
Election Day
Immigration
Ken Martin
Governor Tim Walz
Democratic Party
Abortion
Steve Simon
Amy Klobuchar
Minnesota Cannabis Market
Bipartisanship

Weekly updates from Brian Bakst and the Minnesota Public Radio newsroom staff covering politics in Minnesota.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes30Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Government

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Artwork for Politics Friday

Latest Episodes

Two hundred and one separate races will determine two very big things: control of the Minnesota House and the Minnesota Senate.

Prior elections produced the tightest margins at the Capitol in recent memory. For a time, both chambers were tied betwe... more

A new senator will emerge from Election Day no matter what because there is no incumbent on the ballot.

The two major party candidates are here for their first — and possibly only — one-on-one debate. Friday at noon, the DFL Party’s nominee, Peggy ... more

Editor’s note: Ahead of a Friday debate between U.S. Senate candidates Michele Tafoya and Peggy Flanagan hosted by MPR News, politics editor Brian Bakst asked each to talk about how their lives helped form their politics.

On this special episode of... more

Minnesota has eight members of the U.S. House and those seats don’t change hands often — but this November, one of them will for sure.

Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District has is no incumbent on the ballot. The seat has been held by U.S. Rep. Ang... more

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Recent Guests

Matt Little
Democratic candidate for Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District
DFL
Episode: An open House seat is up for grabs in Minnesota's 2nd District
Eric Pratt
Republican candidate for Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District
Republican Party
Episode: An open House seat is up for grabs in Minnesota's 2nd District
Keith Ellison
DFL candidate for Minnesota Attorney General
Minnesota Attorney General (incumbent)
Episode: Politics Friday: Keith Ellison, Ron Schutz appear in their first attorney general race debate
Ron Schutz
Civil litigator, former law firm leader, candidate for Minnesota Attorney General
Independent candidate for Minnesota Attorney General
Episode: Politics Friday: Keith Ellison, Ron Schutz appear in their first attorney general race debate
Peter Leatherman
CEO of Morris Leatherman Company, pollster
Morris Leatherman Company
Episode: Politics Friday: How would having a woman as governor change the Capitol issue set?
Todd Rapp
MPR News politics analyst
MPR News
Episode: Politics Friday: How would having a woman as governor change the Capitol issue set?
Mark Dayton
Former governor, author of Perseverance
Former Minnesota politician
Episode: Mark Dayton calls perseverance a 'prerequisite for success' as he reflects
R.T. Rybak
Former Minneapolis Mayor
Minneapolis Foundation (at time of interview)
Episode: How 9/11 changed Minnesota and the nation
Doug Chapin
Democratic candidate for Minnesota's 6th District (at time of interview)
Chapin for Congress
Episode: How 9/11 changed Minnesota and the nation

Host

Brian Bakst
Host of Politics Friday/MPR News coverage; lead moderator and interviewer.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 52 ratings
  • Great source of local political news; balanced and informative. Would recommend.

    Podcast Addict
    cptcanuck15
    4 years ago
  • Great source of local news

    This is a great way of staying knowledgeable about local news

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Goranger22
    United States11 years ago
  • Martin Sabo

    Thank you for including the Martin Sabo interview in Friday's show

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    tripj1972
    United States11 years ago
  • Informative

    It's incredibly informative. And balanced.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    iloveflynn
    United States15 years ago
  • Informative

    All of the news you need to know what is REALLY going on in local and national news. The stuff balinda skims past.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    art_freak1234356
    United States19 years ago

Listeners Say

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

The show is informative and balanced, offering context beyond surface headlines.
Guests and coverage are seen as credible and relevant for Minnesota politics and policy discussions.
Listeners appreciate clear, local political coverage that ties policy to real-world impact.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#63
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#121
South Korea/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

An open House seat is up for grabs in Minnesota's 2nd District
Q: What is your top priority for oversight of the Trump administration?
Little highlighted corruption/self-dealing and accountability for ICE as top priorities, advocating robust oversight and legislation to deter misconduct.
How 9/11 changed Minnesota and the nation
Q: How did 9/11 reshape Minnesota's political landscape in the immediate weeks after the attacks?
The episode notes a surge in unity and a realignment toward security-focused policies, with stronger emphasis on vigilance, airport security, and legislative actions like the Patriot Act, while also acknowledging tensions around civil liberties and post-9/11 Islamophobia.
Craig, Flanagan meet for final debate before primary
Q: What is your stance on the Social Security solvency and potential changes to the retirement system?
Craig supports extending Social Security without raising taxes on existing beneficiaries and endorses measures to preserve the fund while debating solvency.
Craig, Flanagan meet for final debate before primary
Q: Representative Craig, hands on, hands off, which is the right one?
Craig argues for a balanced, active approach to regulating AI to protect workers and the economy.
Politics Friday: Hunt for 2026 ballot spots is on with governor, U.S. Senate as marquee races
Q: What distinguishes you from other candidates in your party for the Senate race?
I've fought for bipartisan solutions and brought about concrete policy wins; I aim to bring a fresh perspective and a broader coalition to address Minnesota's needs.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Politics Friday

What is Politics Friday about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekly political briefing focusing on Minnesota politics, policy, and elections through in-depth conversations with lawmakers, candidates, and reporters. Episodes cover a wide range of statewide issues— from healthcare, fraud prevention, and tax policy to immigration, energy, and budgeting—often including live reporting, roundtables, and interviews with leaders from both major parties. The show tends to emphasize state-level governance, policy trade-offs, and the mechanics of Capitol processes, sometimes featuring high-stakes debates, endorsements, and negotiations that shape Minnesota's political landscape. A notable strength is its combination of newsroom reporting with accessible analysis, helping listeners understand how decisions at ... more

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How many subscribers and views does Politics Friday have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Politics Friday has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Politics Friday?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Politics Friday:

1. Minnesota Today
2. KCRW's Left, Right & Center
3. Political Gabfest
4. The Opinions
5. 1A

How many episodes of Politics Friday are there?

Politics Friday launched 21 years ago and published 30 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Politics Friday?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Politics Friday?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Politics Friday from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Politics Friday?

Recent guests on Politics Friday include:

1. Matt Little
2. Eric Pratt
3. Keith Ellison
4. Ron Schutz
5. Peter Leatherman
6. Todd Rapp
7. Mark Dayton
8. R.T. Rybak

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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