Bob CollinsDo people think the economy is on the rails to ruin because the economy is horrible or because presidential candidates need us to believe it’s running off the rails? Read more →
MPR News Reflections and observations on the news
Politics
The paper on the other side of the river is pushing for meters on Grand Ave., in St. Paul, over the objections of businesses on the street. Read more →
Minnesota U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen is getting some online love nationwide today for his joke on Instagram. But his idea seems like the most workable plan at the moment. Read more →
Wisconsin is getting some national shaming today for its refusal to make drunk driving a crime when it’s someone’s first offense. Read more →
This video from Duluth that’s been circulating for a few days ought to play right into the debate over the privacy concerns of police body camera video, but for some reason it’s not.
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The City Council in Red Wing has passed a resolution calling for a change in federal law that would include hurting a police officer as a hate crime, WCCO reports.
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The court made its declaration in the case of a man who was not allowed to possess a firearm because of an earlier felony conviction for possession of a controlled substance. Read more →
It’s not every day there’s a coup in the U.S. government, but that’s what happened today with the bombshell announcement that John Boehner is fleeing his speakership and Congress.
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A couple of north country newspapers are duking it out on the editorial page over an upcoming special election and the proposed copper mine on the Iron Range.
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What happened after presidential candidate Ben Carson said on NBC last week that a Muslim should not be president carried an important lesson on the state of politics and the nation: There’s good money in anti-Muslim comments. Read more →
Gil ‘ran’ for Senate in Kentucky two years ago in a viral campaign for Represent.us, an advocacy group campaigning for anti-corruption laws to “prohibit purchasing political influence” by restraining campaign donations.
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Last night’s Stephen Colbert interview with Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz made clear that he’s the true successor to Daily Show host Jon Stewart when it comes to asking tough questions of guests, and when’s the last time that’s happened on late-night network TV? Read more →
When a man at a Donald Trump rally in New Hampshire last night declared that President Obama is a Muslim, it brought back memories of Lakeville, Minn., 2008. Read more →
Diane Rehm, the NPR talk show host, lived every talk-show host’s dream this week when she called out a guest — former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, a presidential candidate — for being late to her studio and calling in on the telephone instead. Read more →
Along with Lawrence O’Brien, Kenneth O’Donnell and Ralph Dungan, Donahue played a key role in Kennedy’s Senate and presidential campaigns.
His specialty was working the anti-Catholic states for Kennedy. Read more →