Essential Minnesota en Every Friday some of the best reporters in Minnesota dig into one important local story. Host Melissa Townsend brings her distinct curiosity and humor to these weekly deep-dive conversations with journalists from the Minnesota Star Tribune where they break down the facts, the players and the impact. No spin, pretense or A.I. – just great local stories that matter to Minnesota and beyond. It’s what we do best. Available Fridays at 4:30 A.M. Central. https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/bc053764-f646-11f0-af37-4358c03a09a8/image/e978c9ce6b10da51398ae11d72bee4d8.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress Essential Minnesota no episodic Minnesota Star Tribune Every Friday some of the best reporters in Minnesota dig into one important local story. Host Melissa Townsend brings her distinct curiosity and humor to these weekly deep-dive conversations with journalists from the Minnesota Star Tribune where they break down the facts, the players and the impact. No spin, pretense or A.I. – just great local stories that matter to Minnesota and beyond. It’s what we do best. Available Fridays at 4:30 A.M. Central. Every Friday some of the best reporters in Minnesota dig into one important local story. Host Melissa Townsend brings her distinct curiosity and humor to these weekly deep-dive conversations with journalists from the Minnesota Star Tribune where they break down the facts, the players and the impact. No spin, pretense or A.I. – just great local stories that matter to Minnesota and beyond. It’s what we do best. Available Fridays at 4:30 A.M. Central.

]]> The Minnesota Star Tribune multimedia@startribune.com Stories from the critic who knew the Purple One best Minnesota Star Tribune music critic Jon Bream knew Prince before the world did -- before the first record, before he became an icon. Their decades-long relationship had its share of highs and lows (including a ban from Prince's club after a bad review). Jon reflects on the artist he knew and what’s become of Prince's unreleased work 10 years after his death. Fri, 17 Apr 2026 09:30:00 -0000 full Minnesota Star Tribune Minnesota Star Tribune music critic Jon Bream knew Prince before his first record was even released. Jon reflects on the artist he knew so well and what’s become of Prince’s unreleased work 10 years after his death.  Minnesota Star Tribune music critic Jon Bream knew Prince before the world did -- before the first record, before he became an icon. Their decades-long relationship had its share of highs and lows (including a ban from Prince's club after a bad review). Jon reflects on the artist he knew and what’s become of Prince's unreleased work 10 years after his death. Minnesota Star Tribune music critic Jon Bream knew Prince before the world did -- before the first record, before he became an icon. Their decades-long relationship had its share of highs and lows (including a ban from Prince's club after a bad review). Jon reflects on the artist he knew and what’s become of Prince's unreleased work 10 years after his death.



]]> 2341 no The Minnesota Legislature’s plan to tackle fraud this session - part 3 Rage bait videos and stories online catch a lot of attention. But the real solutions to dealing with fraud in Minnesota are less sensational and more practical. Our reporters run down the real problems that open the door to Medicaid fraud and the solutions state lawmakers are proposing that will close it.  Guests: Jessie Van Berkel, reporter Ryan Faircloth, reporter Fri, 03 Apr 2026 09:30:00 -0000 The Minnesota Legislature’s plan to tackle fraud this session full Minnesota Star Tribune Our reporters run down the real problems that open the door to Medicaid fraud and the solutions state lawmakers are proposing that will close it.  Rage bait videos and stories online catch a lot of attention. But the real solutions to dealing with fraud in Minnesota are less sensational and more practical. Our reporters run down the real problems that open the door to Medicaid fraud and the solutions state lawmakers are proposing that will close it.  Guests: Jessie Van Berkel, reporter Ryan Faircloth, reporter Rage bait videos and stories online catch a lot of attention. But the real solutions to dealing with fraud in Minnesota are less sensational and more practical. Our reporters run down the real problems that open the door to Medicaid fraud and the solutions state lawmakers are proposing that will close it. 

Guests:

Jessie Van Berkel, reporter

Ryan Faircloth, reporter

]]> 1360 no Did Operation Metro Surge root out Medicaid fraud in Minn? part 2 We ended 2025 with a set of very serious fraud charges involving millions of dollars that were supposed to go to services that are a lifeline for some Minnesotans.  And then Operation Metro surge happened.  The deployment was supposed to root out this fraud, but our reporters describe what really happened.  This is part 2 of a 3 part series where our reporters separate reality from rage bait about fraud in Minnesota.   Guests:  Jessie Van Berkel, reporter  Deena Winter, reporter  Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:30:00 -0000 Did Operation Metro Surge root out Medicaid fraud? part 2 full Minnesota Star Tribune We ended 2025 with a set of very serious fraud charges involving millions of dollars that were supposed to go to services that are a lifeline for some Minnesotans.  And then Operation Metro surge happened.  The deployment was supposed to root out this fraud, but our reporters describe what really happened.  This is part 2 of a 3 part series where our reporters separate reality from rage bait about fraud in Minnesota.   Guests:  Jessie Van Berkel, reporter  Deena Winter, reporter  We ended 2025 with a set of very serious fraud charges involving millions of dollars that were supposed to go to services that are a lifeline for some Minnesotans.  And then Operation Metro surge happened.  The deployment was supposed to root out this fraud, but our reporters describe what really happened.  This is part 2 of a 3 part series where our reporters separate reality from rage bait about fraud in Minnesota.  

Guests: 

Jessie Van Berkel, reporter 

Deena Winter, reporter 

]]> 1766 no Fact v. Fiction: What’s the real story with fraud in Minn. part 1 Real fraud, allegations of fraud and political rage bait are creating tons of headlines and lots of chaos but not much sense. To parse it out and get to what’s really going on – we go back to 2018 when the first big fraud scandals in the state set the playbook for what we are seeing today. Guest: Reporter, Deena Winter Fri, 20 Mar 2026 09:30:00 -0000 full Minnesota Star Tribune Real fraud, allegations of fraud and political rage bait are creating tons of headlines and lots of chaos but not much sense. To parse it out and get to what’s really going on – we go back to 2018 when the first big fraud scandal in the state set the playbook for what we are seeing today. Real fraud, allegations of fraud and political rage bait are creating tons of headlines and lots of chaos but not much sense. To parse it out and get to what’s really going on – we go back to 2018 when the first big fraud scandals in the state set the playbook for what we are seeing today. Guest: Reporter, Deena Winter Real fraud, allegations of fraud and political rage bait are creating tons of headlines and lots of chaos but not much sense. To parse it out and get to what’s really going on – we go back to 2018 when the first big fraud scandals in the state set the playbook for what we are seeing today.

Guest: Reporter, Deena Winter



]]> 1499 We’re cooking up something big - back next week We don’t have a new episode for you this week because we are working on a deep dive mini-series unraveling the fraud scandals in Minnesota.  We’ll tell the full story going back a decade and parse out what’s real, what’s rage bait and what people are doing to get us out of this mess. Come on back next week for that!  Fri, 13 Mar 2026 09:30:00 -0000 full Minnesota Star Tribune We don’t have a new episode for you this week because we are working on a deep dive mini-series unraveling the fraud scandals in Minnesota.  We’ll tell the full story going back a decade and parse out what’s real, what’s rage bait and what people are doing to get us out of this mess. Come on back next week for that!  We don’t have a new episode for you this week because we are working on a deep dive mini-series unraveling the fraud scandals in Minnesota.  We’ll tell the full story going back a decade and parse out what’s real, what’s rage bait and what people are doing to get us out of this mess. Come on back next week for that! 

]]> 55 no The Sextortion "Pandemic" That’s Hitting Minnesota It starts as an online flirtation, escalates in intensity and ends in tragedy. The story of one family's experience and the local investigator determined to bring them justice. Fri, 06 Mar 2026 10:30:00 -0000 full Minnesota Star Tribune It starts as an online flirtation, escalates in intensity and ends in tragedy. The story of one family's experience and the local investigator determined to bring them justice. It starts as an online flirtation, escalates in intensity and ends in tragedy. The story of one family's experience and the local investigator determined to bring them justice.

]]> 1442 How a “meltdown” is impacting Minnesota Half of the lawyers at the U.S. Attorney’s office in Minnesota have left in the past year. We find out why and what that means for people involved in immigration, fraud and violent crime cases – including the case against an alleged assassin. Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:30:00 -0000 full Minnesota Star Tribune Half of the lawyers at the U.S. Attorney’s office in Minnesota have left in the past year. We find out why and what that means for people involved in immigration, fraud and violent crime cases – including the case against an alleged assassin. Half of the lawyers at the U.S. Attorney’s office in Minnesota have left in the past year. We find out why and what that means for people involved in immigration, fraud and violent crime cases – including the case against an alleged assassin.

]]> 1608 no Three shootings, two deaths, zero cooperation As Operation Metro Surge ends in Minnesota, massive legal questions remain. Our reporters explain how state leaders are faced with finding a way around the federal government to hold the immigration agents who killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti accountable. Fri, 20 Feb 2026 10:30:00 -0000 full Minnesota Star Tribune As Operation Metro Surge ends in Minnesota, massive legal questions remain. Our reporters explain how state leaders are faced with finding a way around the federal government to hold the immigration agents who killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti accountable. As Operation Metro Surge ends in Minnesota, massive legal questions remain. Our reporters explain how state leaders are faced with finding a way around the federal government to hold the immigration agents who killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti accountable.

]]> 1440 no Minnesotans in Hiding Even with the announcement that Operation Metro Surge is coming to an end, many Minnesotans are still in hiding.  Our reporters visit with one family who has been wondering when it will be safe to come out again.   Thu, 12 Feb 2026 21:10:00 -0000 full Minnesota Star Tribune Even with the announcement that Operation Metro Surge is coming to an end, many Minnesotans are still in hiding.  Our reporters visit with one family who has been wondering when it will be safe to come out again.   Even with the announcement that Operation Metro Surge is coming to an end, many Minnesotans are still in hiding.  Our reporters visit with one family who has been wondering when it will be safe to come out again.  

]]> 1218 no Comparing Notes: Lessons from the ICE surge in Chicago Before Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis, there was Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago. Chicago Tribune reporter Greg Pratt describes how it started, the similarities between Minneapolis and Chicago, and finally, how it ended. Mon, 09 Feb 2026 20:00:00 -0000 full Minnesota Star Tribune Before Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis, there was Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago. Chicago Tribune reporter Greg Pratt describes how it started, the similarities between Minneapolis and Chicago, and finally, how it ended. Before Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis, there was Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago. Chicago Tribune reporter Greg Pratt describes how it started, the similarities between Minneapolis and Chicago, and finally, how it ended.

]]> 1146 no Tackled, shackled and then what? We find out what is happening inside the ICE detainment facility in Minneapolis and what people have to do to be set free. Fri, 06 Feb 2026 01:44:00 -0000 full Minnesota Star Tribune We find out what is happening inside the ICE detainment facility in Minneapolis and what people have to do to be set free. We find out what is happening inside the ICE detainment facility in Minneapolis and what people have to do to be set free.

]]> 1495 Is Minnesota a sanctuary state and can its jails be opened to ICE? Reporters in Minneapolis fact check federal officials' claims that violence across the metro is caused by state and local officials who have declared Minnesota a sanctuary state and won’t open its jails to ICE. What does the law say? Thu, 29 Jan 2026 20:37:00 -0000 full Minnesota Star Tribune Reporters in Minneapolis fact check federal officials' claims that violence across the metro is caused by state and local officials who have declared Minnesota a sanctuary state and won’t open its jails to ICE. What does the law say? Reporters in Minneapolis fact check federal officials' claims that violence across the metro is caused by state and local officials who have declared Minnesota a sanctuary state and won’t open its jails to ICE. What does the law say?

]]> 1215 no The escalation of Operation Metro Surge and the shooting of Renee Good In three stories that happened over three months, reporters in Minneapolis track the escalation of the ICE and Border Patrol surge from November 2025 to January 2026, when ICE agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot Renee Good. Thu, 29 Jan 2026 20:34:00 -0000 full Minnesota Star Tribune In three stories that happened over three months, reporters in Minneapolis track the escalation of the ICE and Border Patrol surge from November 2025 to January 2026, when ICE agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot Renee Good. In three stories that happened over three months, reporters in Minneapolis track the escalation of the ICE and Border Patrol surge from November 2025 to January 2026, when ICE agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot Renee Good.

]]> 2155 no The Minnesota gun law that’s working Amid the ongoing debate over gun control laws, our investigative reporter digs into the stories of "what could have been" if the state's red flag gun law wasn't in place. Thu, 29 Jan 2026 20:27:00 -0000 full Minnesota Star Tribune Amid the ongoing debate over gun control laws, our investigative reporter digs into the stories of "what could have been" if the state's red flag gun law wasn't in place. Amid the ongoing debate over gun control laws, our investigative reporter digs into the stories of "what could have been" if the state's red flag gun law wasn't in place.

]]> 1060 no The man leading Annunciation School after a mass shooting At the first all-school assembly after a mass shooting in August 2025, our reporter sees firsthand how Principal Matt DeBoer is creating a space for hundreds of children to move forward with humor, compassion and stuffies. Thu, 29 Jan 2026 20:20:00 -0000 full Minnesota Star Tribune At the first all-school assembly after a mass shooting in August 2025, our reporter sees firsthand how Principal Matt DeBoer is creating a space for hundreds of children to move forward with humor, compassion and stuffies. At the first all-school assembly after a mass shooting in August 2025, our reporter sees firsthand how Principal Matt DeBoer is creating a space for hundreds of children to move forward with humor, compassion and stuffies.

]]> 1245 no The religious background of alleged assassin Vance Boelter After a statewide manhunt in June 2025 Vance Boelter was arrested for the murder of state rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the shooting of state rep. John Hoffman and his wife. Could Boelter’s religious beliefs have something to do with it? Two investigative reporters uncover his past to find out. Thu, 29 Jan 2026 20:17:00 -0000 full Minnesota Star Tribune After a statewide manhunt in June 2025 Vance Boelter was arrested for the murder of state rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the shooting of state rep. John Hoffman and his wife. Could Boelter’s religious beliefs have something to do with it? Two investigative reporters uncover his past to find out. After a statewide manhunt in June 2025 Vance Boelter was arrested for the murder of state rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the shooting of state rep. John Hoffman and his wife. Could Boelter’s religious beliefs have something to do with it? Two investigative reporters uncover his past to find out.

]]> 1584 no Introducing Essential Minnesota Host Melissa Townsend introduces this new, smart and funny weekly news show from the Minnesota Star Tribune where local journalist dig deep into the stories that matter to the midwest U.S. and beyond. Thu, 29 Jan 2026 15:25:00 -0000 trailer Minnesota Star Tribune Host Melissa Townsend introduces this new, smart and funny weekly news show from the Minnesota Star Tribune where local journalist dig deep into the stories that matter to the midwest U.S. and beyond. Host Melissa Townsend introduces this new, smart and funny weekly news show from the Minnesota Star Tribune where local journalist dig deep into the stories that matter to the midwest U.S. and beyond.

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