Episodi

  • What's Happening at the Capitol? Plus, Fight Over Alex Pretti Evidence, and Twin Cities Wins

    What's Happening at the Capitol? Plus, Fight Over Alex Pretti Evidence, and Twin Cities Wins
    Feb 20 2026
    Minnesota state Sen. Scott Dibble joins host Sean McPherson and contributor Tane Danger for a look ahead at the 2026 legislative session and to share what it has been like returning to the Capitol for the first time since the assassinations of Melissa and Mark Hortman, the Annunciation school shooting, and ICE's surge in Minnesota. Later, producer Adam Sage joins the conversation to discuss Minnesota's continued fight with the federal government over access to evidence in the killing of Alex Pretti and some Twin Cities wins for the week. Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode: After unprecedented string of tragedies, Minnesota legislature will return Tuesday for 2026 session (KARE11) Here are 5 big issues facing lawmakers as they return for the 2026 legislative session (MPR) FBI takes over investigation into fatal shooting of Renee Good (MPR) Despite having warrant, BCA denied access to scene where federal agents shot, killed man in south Minneapolis (KARE11) 2 federal agents who shot Alex Pretti put on leave (MPR) Two CBP Agents Identified in Alex Pretti Shooting (ProPublica) ProPublica reporter: ‘It's been a tradition that we can identify our law enforcement’ (MPR) Minnesota BCA pursuing ‘path forward’ for investigation with FBI into shooting death of Alex Pretti (Star Tribune) FBI formally refuses to share evidence in Alex Pretti shooting with Minnesota BCA (MinnPost) Trump administration formally denies Minnesota access to Alex Pretti evidence (Star Tribune) Minnesota prosecutors demand evidence from federal government in Alex Pretti killing (Minnesota Reformer) Anthony Edwards earns Kobe Bryant Trophy as Kia 2026 NBA All-Star MVP (NBA) A 54-year-old lawyer from Minnesota just became the oldest U.S. Winter Olympian (MPR) Report: Young offenders more likely to stay out of trouble under new Ramsey County initiative (Pioneer Press) From plastic sax to Hall of Fame (Spokesman-Recorder) Learn more about the sponsors of this February 20th episode: Ordway Center for the Performing Arts Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at twincities@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637. For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities. Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
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    39 min
  • What It Takes to Sue ICE. Plus, Cash Mobs!

    What It Takes to Sue ICE. Plus, Cash Mobs!
    Feb 19 2026
    We’ve seen ICE smash car windows, ram into cars, and get aggressive when making arrests. Who pays for the damages? Chuck Slane, owner and attorney at TSR Injury Law, talks about the complicated, time-consuming way to sue ICE, and why he thinks it’s worth it. Racket co-owner and City Cast contributor Em Cassel tells us how cash mobs are sustaining Lake Street businesses. Plus, the coolest club in town is mealpacking at Second Harvest Heartland. According to events manager Anne Laskey, you can even pick the music! Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode: ICE Cost Lake Street Businesses at Least $46M. These Weekly Cash Mobs Help Them Claw Back Profit. (Racket) Those seeking to sue ICE for injuries or damage face an uphill battle (Washington Post) Volunteer with Second Harvest Heartland Become a City Cast Twin Cities Neighbor Learn more about the sponsors of this February 19th episode: Ordway Center for the Performing Arts Xcel Energy Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at twincities@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637. For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities. Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
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    36 min
  • Living Here On Purpose. Plus, Chief Rondo on ICE

    Living Here On Purpose. Plus, Chief Rondo on ICE
    Feb 18 2026
    We answer a listener from Portland who wants to know if he should move his family to the Twin Cities. Later, we’re joined by former Minneapolis police chief Medaria Arradondo, aka Chief Rondo, whose tenure included the murder of George Floyd. Chief Rondo reflects on his past job, what he’d do differently, and how he would respond to ICE if he were still in charge. Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode: Chief Rondo: Securing Justice for the Murder of George Floyd Become a City Cast Twin Cities Neighbor Learn more about the sponsors of this February 18th episode: Ordway Center for the Performing Arts Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at twincities@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637. For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities. Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
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    42 min
  • Giving Twin Cities restaurants some love

    Giving Twin Cities restaurants some love
    Feb 17 2026
    As Twin Cities restaurants face economic strain and ICE enforcement fallout, we’re resharing some of our favorite food conversations. Writer Ali Elabbady walks us through the best African food across the metro, Sean defends his 135% correct ranking of the Top 5 chicken wings in the Twin Cities, and we revisit beyond beurre blanc’s Kirstie Kimball’s ambitious list of the best restaurants across Minnesota, plus send her all the love as she continues her public and powerful fight against breast cancer. The Minnesota food scene needs us. Let’s eat. Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode: Minneapolis-St. Paul's Best Spots for African Food (Explore Minnesota) Top 5 Twin Cities Chicken Wings (City Cast Twin Cities) Minnesota 50: 2025 (beyond beurre blanc) Learn more about the sponsors of this February 18th episode: Ordway Center for the Performing Arts Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at twincities@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637. For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities. Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
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    44 min
  • 'Your City Could Be Better’: How the Twin Cities Organized. Plus, What Counts As ‘Cold’?

    'Your City Could Be Better’: How the Twin Cities Organized. Plus, What Counts As ‘Cold’?
    Feb 14 2026
    In this inaugural episode of “Your City Could Be Better,” City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Twin Cities podcast host Sean McPherson about the local collective action efforts that cropped up throughout Operation Metro Surge. Immigration agents are expected to withdraw from the Twin cities over the next week. Sean shares stories of how his community self-organized, why these networks have been so successful, and what other cities can take away from Minnesotans’ response to Operation Metro Surge. Plus, we have a D.C. vs. Twin Cities face-off on local cultural norms. We also mentioned this episode of City Cast Twin Cities. Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now! We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.
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    32 min
  • The End of Operation Metro Surge? Plus, Best/Worst Twin Cities Dates

    The End of Operation Metro Surge? Plus, Best/Worst Twin Cities Dates
    Feb 13 2026
    Is it really over? Well, not quite yet. White House Border Czar Tom Homan announced Thursday he was ending Operation Metro Surge, and agents are expected to leave within the next two weeks. Why now? We consider three reasons. Plus, we share our best and worst Twin Cities dating stories and chat about a new City Cast podcast that focuses on what our cities are doing right and wrong. Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode: Border Czar Tom Homan announces end to Operation Metro Surge, claiming success (Minnesota Reformer) Your City Could Be Better Things to do for single people on Valentine's day in Twin Cities (City Cast Twin Cities) Learn more about the sponsors of this February 13th episode: Ordway Center for the Performing Arts Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at twincities@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637. For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities. Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
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    34 min
  • A Spicy Legal Meatball and Why Singing Is Anti-Fascist

    A Spicy Legal Meatball and Why Singing Is Anti-Fascist
    Feb 12 2026
    About 17 assistant U.S. attorneys remain in Minnesota following a wave of departures from the office at the start of the year. Joe Thompson, a former prosecutor in the Feeding Our Futures fraud case, resigned last month and has joined Don Lemon’s defense team as the Justice Department seeks to prosecute him. Contributor and celebrated local journalist Winter Keefer joins host Sean McPherson to break down the fallout and all the spicy legal drama. Later, the team chats with vocalist Liz Digitale Anderson to talk about her organizing with Singing Resistance and the role of song in revolutionary and anti-fascist movements. Want to support our work and your community? Join our membership program and become a City Cast Neighbor today. For a limited time, we are donating the first three months of proceeds from all new Neighbors to the Immigrant Law Center. Learn more and sign up at https://membership.citycast.fm/twincities Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode: Former federal prosecutor Joe Thompson joins Don Lemon’s defense team in church protest case (Star Tribune) Six Prosecutors Quit Over Push to Investigate ICE Shooting Victim’s Widow (New York Times) Another wave of departures in Minnesota’s U.S. Attorney’s Office (Star Tribune) Attorneys raise concern over questions about Trump policies on federal prosecutors' job applications (CBS News) What is the FACE Act, an obscure law used to prosecute Don Lemon? (MS NOW) Statement from the Minnesota Star Tribune, Minnesota Public Radio, the Minnesota Reformer, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, Sahan Journal, Center for Broadcast Journalism and Minnesota Newspaper Association (Star Tribune) Singing Resistance: Songs of Defection for ICE Agents (City Cast Twin Cities) Learn more about the sponsors of this February 12th episode: Ordway Center for the Performing Arts Xcel Energy Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at twincities@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637. For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities. Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
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    40 min
  • Mixtape for Mutual Aid, Indefinite Detentions, and The Power of Gay Bars

    Mixtape for Mutual Aid, Indefinite Detentions, and The Power of Gay Bars
    Feb 11 2026
    The guardrails that protect immigrants’ rights are being bowled over by the Trump administration. A federal court decision handed down last week means more people detained in Minnesota will be quickly shipped out to Texas for an indefinite period of time. We’ll talk about what that means for immigrants’ rights. We’re also pressing play on a 30-artist mixtape, which has raised more than $1,600 for community aid so far. Plus, Lush, the gay bar in northeast Minneapolis, is partnering with Absolut Vodka and gay bars around the country to support each other. Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode: Dozens of Minnesota bands come together for mixtape benefitting mutual aid efforts (Bring Me The News) A federal appeals court just greenlit Trump's mass detention policy. Here's what it means for Minnesota. (Sahan Jourmal) A Mixtape for MN Mutual Aid (Bandcamp) Lush Lounge and Theater Learn more about the sponsors of this February 11th episode: Ordway Center for the Performing Arts Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at twincities@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637. For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities. Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
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    38 min