Call of the Senate

Senate Minority Leader Susan Kent and Senator Ann Johnson Stewart join the show to talk about the budget, the recent resignation of Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Commissioner Laura Bishop, and the conclusion of the first special session. Senator Johnson Stewart also talks about her upcoming plans to continue her informative online videos known as the infrastructure series.

Stonewall DFL Leaders Alex Palacios (Chair) and Sam Doten (Political Director) join Senator Scott Dibble to reflect on Pride month, LGBTQIA+ progress, and the road ahead to achieve equal rights and full protections for LGBTQIA+ Minnesotans.

Senator Patricia Torres Ray and Representative Cedrick Frazier talk about the life and legacy of George Floyd, police reform measures passed by the DFL House, and Republican opposition to police accountability in the Senate. Senator Torres Ray and Representative Frazier also discuss how activists can support the push for police reform and ways Minnesotans can get involved in their communities to inspire change.

Senator Chuck Wiger and Senator Steve Cwodzinski join the show to talk about education funding, the differences between the DFL and GOP budget proposals, funding for mental health support in schools, and the importance of doing more to attract people of color to become teachers in Minnesota schools.

Senator Sandy Pappas and Senator Karla Bigham have a conversation about their proposals to update Minnesota's sexual assault laws and the actions that the Senate DFL are taking to reform the criminal justice system as it pertains to sexual crimes. The two Senators also discuss the Equal Rights Amendment and recognize National Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women Day.

Senator Fateh, Senator Torres Ray, and JaNaé Bates discuss police reform and accountability, the refusal of the Senate Majority to hold hearings on police reform bills, and the importance of a dual-track approach that prioritizes both police reform and long-term equity investments for communities of color.

Senator Lindsey Port of Burnsville joins the podcast to discuss a range of topics including her recent election to the Senate, the verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin, public safety & police accountability, housing, the recent changes in the political landscape of suburban Senate districts.

Senator Nick Frentz, Senator John Marty, and Senator Patricia Torres Ray join the show to talk about the Governor's push to reach carbon-free electricity by 2040. Our conversation touches on renewable energy, green jobs, sustainable infrastructure, and the importance of lowering greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors of Minnesota's economy.

Join us for this week's episode with Senator Mary Kunesh (New Brighton, Senator Sandy Pappas (Saint Paul), and Senator Jen McEwen (Duluth). The Senators discuss the history of the Equal Rights Amendment, the struggle for women's rights in America, and the various legislative proposals each Senator has authored to improve equality for all in Minnesota.

Listen to Senate DFL Leader Susan Kent, Senator Kari Dziedzic, and Senator Kent Eken on this week’s episode as we dive into policy to support working families. Our conversation focuses on paid family and medical leave, sick leave, housing, rural broadband, and long-term care.

Senator Ann Johnson Stewart is a civil engineer, business owner, and a teacher at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. A 25-year resident of Minnesota, Johnson Stewart is an avid data collector who loves to knit in her spare time. Listen as she tells Senator Scott Dibble all about her legislative priorities, why she decided to run for office, and how she developed the “Design Institute.”

Senator Omar Fateh was born to immigrant parents from Somalia in Washington D.C. then raised in Virginia. Being the first Somali-American Senator in Minnesota, he brings a unique perspective to the Senate that he hopes will bring diversity and inclusion to all his legislation. Listen as he talks about his hard-working parents, why he decided to run for office, and how he’s learning to fish in the land of 10,000 lakes.

Senator John Marty hosts this episode of Call of the Senate with guests Senator Patricia Torres Ray and Representative Ruth Richardson. As catalytic converter thefts impact increasing numbers of people, Sens. Marty and Torres Ray are re-introducing legislation in the Senate and Rep. Richardson is introducing in the House. This legislation is to prevent scrap metal dealers from buying catalytic converters from anyone other than an automobile repair shop, auto recycling business, or a vehicle owner that demonstrates proof of ownership.

Senator Mary K. Kunesh has stepped into her role as Senator after serving many years as a House Representative for Senate District 41. This former teacher is ready to bring her Native American roots to the Senate. Listen as she talks about her legislative priorities, why she decided to run for office, and the fact that she is one of 13 siblings.

Freshman Senator Jennifer McEwen was born and raised in Duluth, Minnesota, where she currently lives in the house that her great-grandparents built. This lawyer by trade is ready to bring her northern roots to the Senate. Listen as she talks about her legislative priorities, why she decided to run for office, and her best-kept secret.

The Minnesota Senate DFLers' Call of the Senate is back for its third season. This episode features Assistant Senate DFL Leader Nick Frentz hosting Senate DFL Leader Susan Kent and Assistant Senate DFL Leader Melisa Franzen. Listen as they go through the top priorities for the Minnesota Senate DFL’s 2021 Legislative Session, discuss the events that happened in Washington D.C. on January 6th, and much more.

The Minnesota Legislature was called back into a special session for several reasons. When the Senate Republicans adjourned, a lot of the work was left undone such as criminal justice system transformation, a robust bonding bill, and the allocation of federal funding from the CARES Act. Call of the Senate with Senator Jeff Hayden welcomes Senate DFL Leader, Susan Kent, along with Sens. Carolyn Laine and Melisa Lopez Franzen, onto the program to discuss the "not-so" special session.

In the aftermath of the horrific murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the impact it had on Minnesota, Call of the Senate with Senator Jeff Hayden welcomes Senators Scott Dibble and Kari Dziedzic onto the program. Listen as these Senators from Minneapolis have a candid discussion on racism and reform.

Call of the Senate with Senator Jeff Hayden welcomes Senators Jim Carlson and Nick Frentz onto the program to discuss fair and secure elections. Minnesotans deserve fair and secure voting rights, whether we are in the middle of a public health emergency or not. Vote by mail will protect the health and safety of Minnesotans and their right to vote during a public health emergency.

Call of the Senate with Senator Jeff Hayden welcomes Senator Matt Klein, M.D. onto the program to discuss Minnesota's response to COVID-19 and a first-hand perspective from the frontlines of this pandemic.

Call of the Senate with Senator Jeff Hayden welcomes Senator Patricia Torres Ray and Kimberly Colbert, a former teacher at EducationMN onto the podcast. Listen in on the discussion of the Teachers of Color Act, what it means to education in the state of Minnesota, the benefits for students to have people of color as their educators, and what we can do to decrease the achievement gap in this state.

Call of the Senate with Senator Jeff Hayden welcomes Senators Ann Rest and Dick Cohen onto the podcast to discuss the 2020 Minnesota February budgetary forecast. Listen as the two lead DFL Senators on finance and taxes discuss what the numbers forecasted tell us, how we can be fiscally responsible with the budget, and what it all means for the state of Minnesota.

Call of the Senate with Senator Jeff Hayden welcomes Senators Erik Simonson and Nick Frentz onto the podcast to discuss their new roles in the Minnesota State Senate DFL's leadership team. Listen as our rural members go over their top 2020 legislative session priorities from farm safety to insulin.

Call of the Senate with Senator Jeff Hayden - Season 2 debuts with the new Senate DFL Leader, Senator Susan Kent. Listen as they go through the top priorities for the Minnesota Senate DFL’s 2020 Legislative Session from insulin pricing, gun violence prevention to voter ID.

Listen to “Call of the Senate” as Senator Jeff Hayden with special guests Secretary of State Steve Simon and Senator Jim Carlson discuss voting and elections in Minnesota.

Listen to “Call of the Senate” as Senator Jeff Hayden with special guest Senator John Marty, as they discuss a variety of environment-related topics such as clean energy, the climate crisis, and the clean car initiative.

Listen to “Call of the Senate” as Senator Jeff Hayden with special guests Senators Steve Cwodzinski, Susan Kent, and Education Minnesota’s Vice President, Bernie Burnham, as they discuss a variety of education-related topics such as safety in our schools and mental health counseling/services to support students and teachers.

Listen to “Call of the Senate” as Senator Jeff Hayden with special guest Minority Leader, Senator Tom Bakk as they talk about the past, present, and future of the labor movement in Minnesota.

Join Sen. Jeff Hayden with special guests Rep. Rena Moran and Kelis Houston from Village Arms as they discuss the Child Protection and the African American Family Preservation Act.

Join Senator Jeff Hayden with special guests Senator Scott Dibble and Junior Avalos from OutFront Minnesota as they discuss the debunked conversion "therapy" and the push to have it banned in the state of Minnesota.

Join Senator Jeff Hayden, Senator Melissa Wiklund (chief author of the Alec Smith Emergency Insulin Act), Senator Matt Klein, M.D., and Kim Munson (Minnesota Insulin4All) as they discuss the importance of insulin, the rising costs from manufacturers, and what the Legislature could be doing to help those in need.

Tune in to hear Senators Jeff Hayden, Susan Kent, and Carolyn Laine discuss how a session with a lot of potential of passing important legislation such as paid family leave or cutting the cost of insulin was ultimately bogged down with obstruction, leaving a lot of work to be done.

Senator Richard “Dick” Cohen has worked on numerous bills and legislation over the years, including the “spouse abuse” bill, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), and the Legacy Amendment.

Growing up in the heart of the Iron Range, Senator David Tomassoni can attest to the rich history of immigration, iron mining, and labor unions that makes up his 150-mile wide Senate District 6.

Learn more about how family values, volunteerism, and child advocacy have led Senator Patricia Torres Ray to become the first Latina elected to the Minnesota Senate.

Listen to Senator Wiklund talk about her two college degrees in totally different fields (interior design and electric engineering), how a year in Finland brought the love of weaving/knitting into her life, the importance of education, and the issues facing health care in our state today.

Listen to this special edition episode to learn how Lt. Governor Flanagan is tackling the issues of health care, education, and showing the values of community prosperity in the state of Minnesota.

Learn more about this no-tag-wearing Senator and his legislative priorities this session including getting Metro Mobility in his district, reducing the costs of insulin, and continuing his bipartisan politics.

Learn more about Senator Ron Latz's fight for common-sense gun violence reduction, reforming parole, and net neutrality for Minnesotans.

Learn more about Senator Hayden’s important work in health care, gun legislation, and how marriage equality was his proudest moment in passing legislation.

Learn more about Senator Simonson and the work he’s doing for Duluth and the challenges facing Northeastern Minnesota.

Listen to Senator Dibble tell you about the issues he is passionate about: LGBTQ rights, homelessness, community prosperity, transportation (no, he’s not a nerd), marriage equality, and learning to knit.

Tune in to this episode to hear more about how Senator Isaacson is working with his colleagues at the capitol to expand opportunities for all Minnesotans to move forward together.

In one of only two divided legislatures in the United States, bills for statewide progress have been refused public hearings in the Republican-controlled state Senate.

Listen to Senator Newton talk about his first legislation for veterans, special education in our schools, and personal care attendants

Hear more about Senator Karla Bigham's bipartisan work and how she represents people, not parties.

For over 40 years, Senator Greg Clausen was a classroom teacher, coach, assistant principal, high school principal, and district office administrator.

Listen to Senator John Marty talk about the importance of health care, climate change, and the youth of today.

Learn about how Senator Matt Klein uses his health care background to work on reducing health care costs, increasing accessibility, preventing gun violence, and holding pharmaceutical companies accountable.

Growing up in Puerto Rico, where politics is the “national sport”, Senator Melisa Franzen has long been focused on creating a more just society through law.

Roots are a major theme for Senator Kent Eken, who lives on the farm his great-grandparents built in Northwestern Minnesota.