Podcasts about hennepin county

Today, Hunter was joined by three people, Maggie Bott, Brandon Garcia, and Bob Kolstad, who have lived through the federal occupation of Minneapolis. They join the show to detail what ICE, CBP, and DHS have been doing in the city and how the city has organized and resisted those efforts.   Guest: Brandon Garcia, Policy Aide to City Council President Elliot Page, Minneapolis, Minnesota Maggie Bott, Public Defender, Hennepin County, Minnesota Bob Kolstad, Public Defender, Hennepin County, Minnesota   Resources: Mutual Aid to Minnesota https://www.standwithminnesota.com/ https://defend612.com/     Sign up for the ABA Public Defender Summit https://events.americanbar.org/event/12d07164-1011-4723-9352-e8e3168db945/welcome     Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home  

Sons Of Liberty Radio with Bradlee Dean Restoration of Justice: Constitutional Accountability and the Minnesota Impeachment Movement Introduction This document summarizes the February 23, 2026, broadcast of Sons of Liberty Radio, featuring host Bradley Dean and Minnesota State Representatives Pam Altendorf and Ben Davis. The discussion centers on the constitutional mandate for holding public officials accountable, specifically focusing on allegations of financial fraud, voter roll irregularities, and the formal filing of impeachment articles against high-ranking Minnesota officials. Detailed Summary of Key Themes 1. The Constitutional Framework for Impeachment The broadcast emphasizes that the U.S. Constitution provides specific mechanisms to ensure no public official remains above the law. Citing Article II, Section 4, the host argues that removal from office is mandatory upon conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. The narrative rejects the idea that resignation is a sufficient substitute for prosecution, comparing a politician's resignation to a criminal being allowed to quit their "job" rather than facing trial. Historical precedents, including the impeachments of Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton, are used to illustrate that the House of Representatives holds the "God-given right" to charge misconduct, while the Senate serves as the court for trial. Constitutional Basis for Removal Under Article II, Section 4, the President, Vice President, and all civil officers shall be removed from office on impeachment for and conviction of: Treason Bribery High Crimes 2. Voter Integrity and the Hennepin County Dispute Representative Pam Altendorf details her efforts to verify Minnesota's voter rolls, noting that Secretary of State Steve Simon has allegedly denied access to these rolls to both federal authorities and elected state officials. Despite this, Altendorf obtained the master list for Hennepin County, which represents 20% of the state's population. She reports discovering significant "abnormalities," such as 12 individuals registered at a single one-bedroom apartment. The discussion highlights a perceived lack of transparency, where private companies like ERIC receive data while public officials are blocked from verification. 3. Allegations of Systemic Fraud and Misconduct The broadcast brings forward claims of a $19 billion fraud within the state of Minnesota, which the host asserts is being treated as "make-believe" by Governor Tim Walz. Bradley Dean argues that over 1,000 eyewitnesses have pointed to administrative oversight in this fraud, yet no indictments have followed. The host further suggests that many influential figures in Minnesota's government are "transplants" from other states, contributing to a perceived infiltration of the local political system that runs antithetical to the interests of the 5.9 million residents. Minnesota Impeachment Status Gov. Tim Walz Articles in Hand / 5 Signers AG Keith Ellison 6 Articles Proposed 4. Legislative Action: Articles Against Walz and Ellison Representative Ben Davis provides an update on the formal impeachment process. Articles against Governor Tim Walz have been retrieved from the Revisor's Office with the maximum allowed five signatures for filing. Additionally, Davis announces six articles of impeachment against Attorney General Keith Ellison. These charges stem from an alleged "quid pro quo" involving campaign donors and Ellison's public defense of individuals who disrupted a church service, which Davis characterizes as a failure to uphold his oath to protect constitutional rights. Key Data & Indicators $19 Billion: The estimated amount of alleged fraud cited by the host regarding Minnesota state oversight. 12 People: The number of registered voters found at a single one-bedroom apartment during a roll audit. 20%: The portion of Minnesota's total population residing in Hennepin County. 5 Signatures: The legal limit for initial signers on impeachment articles in the Minnesota House. 81%: The cited percentage of Americans who reportedly do not trust mainstream media. To-Do / Next Steps Contact Representatives: Citizens are encouraged to email or call their state representatives and senators to demand support for the impeachment articles. Community Organization: Residents should organize and show up in large numbers at the state capitol to protest anti-Second Amendment legislation. Voter Roll Verification: Continued pressure must be applied to the Secretary of State to allow public verification of voter rolls. Support Independent Media: Listeners are asked to partner financially with the ministry to keep the broadcast on the air. Conclusion The broadcast serves as a call to action for what is described as the "silent majority" in Minnesota. By leveraging Article II, Section 4 and Article I of the Constitution, Representatives Altendorf and Davis aim to challenge the current administration's handling of state funds and election integrity. The core message remains that "liberty is the right to do what the law permits," and justice must be actively pursued by the people to hold perverted systems accountable.

Many federal immigration officers are reportedly in the process of packing up and leaving the Twin Cities. Border Czar Tom Homan said Sunday that Operation Metro Surge is drawing down. The months-long campaign led to intense protest. Two American citizens were shot and killed by immigration enforcement officers during the operation. Local prosecutors have been trying to investigate those shootings but they say they have been rebuffed by the federal government. Earlier this week, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said it was denied access to evidence by the FBI meanwhile, Hennepin County prosecutors in Minneapolis are crowdsourcing evidence from people who videotaped one of the shootings. Like local officials everywhere, King County is navigating a shifting relationship with the federal government and the possibility that an immigration enforcement surge could happen here. Guests: Leesa Manion, King County Prosecuting Attorney Gary Ernsdorff, Supervising Attorney at the Special Operations Unit Relevant Links: KCPAO: Manion Reaffirms Commitment to Protecting King County from Unlawful Deployment of ICESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chair Latz, Senator Limmer, and members, thank you for inviting me to be here today.I am glad that we are here when, if the federal government is to be believed, Operation Metro Surge will soon be winding down. Tragically, whenever the real end to this surge finally comes, it will come too late for Renee Good and Alex Pretti and all who loved them. We will continue to seek justice for them.The surge will end too late for Liam Conejo Ramos and the other children who will have to live with the trauma of their detention.It will end too late for everyone who was wrongfully and illegally detained.It will end too late for Minnesotans who have endured racial profiling, for businesses that have closed, for children that couldn't go to school, for the people who have fallen behind on their rent because they couldn't safely go to work.The unprecedented, unconstitutional, and unnecessary exercise of force that is Operation Metro Surge leaves much pain in its wake.Despite this pain, when this surge ends, it will be a victory. It will be a victory for the rule of law, for the power of creative, lawful resistance, and for the strength of unity over division. Minnesotans organized themselves. They exercised their legal rights to observe and protest, by the tens of thousands, in sub-zero temperatures. They helped their neighbors who needed help. In the face of a massive display of force and acts of intimidation and violence, they held their — and our — constitutionally protected ground: bravely, creatively, and peacefully.I promised during the surge that I would match Minnesotans' bravery. My office and I did much to hold ICE, DHS, and the Trump Administration accountable under the law and the constitution.* On January 9, just two days after the death of Renee Good, my office joined forces with the Hennepin County Attorney's office to create a portal for witnesses to submit evidence.* This was necessary because almost immediately after ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed Renee, the federal government made the extraordinary announcement that it would not include the state in its investigation or share evidence with state investigators.* It is normal and routine for state and federal law enforcement and investigators to work together: in Minnesota, it happens all the time. The trained investigators of the Minnesota BCA are completely professional and non-political. I cannot stress enough how extraordinary it is for federal law enforcement to refuse to work with state investigators on this case.* On January 12, we filed a lawsuit in federal court to end the surge.* We argued — and continue to argue — that the surge is unconstitutional, violating the First and Tenth Amendments to the constitution and the Equal Sovereignty principle.* On January 15, my office launched a form on our website for Minnesotans to share the impacts of federal government actions, including DHS actions have had on them personally or someone close to them, or that they have personally witnessed.* To date, we have more than 1,500 submissions.* And on January 24, the day that Alex Pretti was killed, my office represented the BCA in filing a lawsuit along with Hennepin County to compel the federal government to preserve evidence.* We won a temporary restraining order just two hours after we filed the lawsuit.* Disappointingly, the FBI has announced that it will not cooperate with the BCA in the Pretti matter, either.Allow me to make clear that although the surge is winding down, the two lawsuits we filed during the surge continue. We will keep challenging the constitutionality of the surge, so that this administration — or any administration — cannot ever again attempt to compel a state to kneel to its policy demands. And we will keep fighting for truth and accountability for the killings of Alex and Renee.Minnesotans had a right to expect that their federal government would have a credible, rational basis for sending more than 3,000 federal agents to our state for the largest immigration-enforcement action in our nation's history. The federal government has never deployed as many immigration agents to one place at one time as it has here.Instead, every rationale the Trump Administration has offered is a pretext.The government has said the purpose of the surge is to fight unauthorized immigration. Yet Minnesota ranks 28th among all states in the percentage of undocumented immigrants: Florida and Texas alone have nearly as many undocumented people as the entire population of Minnesota.The federal government has said the purpose of the surge is to fight fraud in government programs. I abhor fraud, and my office is already in this fight: We have convicted 300 Medicaid fraudsters in the last seven years.But the government did not surge forensic accountants or computer scientists who could actually help us fight fraud. Instead, it sent 3,000 masked, armed men.In fact, the surge has harmed the fight against fraud in Minnesota. Because of it, the federal government's work of fighting fraud in Minnesota has ground to a halt. The surge has triggered a wave of experienced prosecutors resigning from the U.S. Attorney's office in Minnesota, and the remaining staff are drowning under a flood of habeas corpus petitions.The government has also said the purpose of the surge is to fight violent crime and rid our streets of “the worst of the worst.” Yet violent crime rates in Minneapolis were falling before the surge. Furthermore, ICE's own data shows that 67% of those it has detained in Minnesota have no criminal records, and only a very small percentage have a record of committing violent crime.Notoriously, some of those detained have been children. Is five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos the worst of the worst? Or 10-year-old Elizabeth Zuña Caisaguano?The federal government has also said the purpose of the surge is to gain cooperation from state and local officials in immigration enforcement. Other elected officials in Minnesota have echoed those claims, saying that if only Minnesota had “cooperated” with ICE, the surge would not have been necessary and Renee's and Alex's lives would have been spared.So let me be perfectly clear: Minnesota already fully complies with the law when it comes to federal immigration enforcement.The Minnesota Department of Corrections already follows the state law — Section 631.50 — that requires it to notify federal authorities when a non-citizen convicted of a felony nears their release date. The federal government had to back off their false claims to the contrary when DOC presented the facts.Minnesota sheriffs and county attorneys already comply with state law that they may not keep someone incarcerated on an immigration detainer longer than they are otherwise legally allowed to incarcerate them. In February 2025, I issued a legal opinion that restated the law, which is supported by a noted Minnesota case called Esparza vs. Nobles County, as well as cases from other states. When I met in person with Border Czar Tom Homan, he acknowledged that this is the law.So Minnesota already follows the law.After dismissing all the pretexts, it's clear: This surge is about what President Trump said it was about. In a Truth Social post on January 13, he wrote that “retribution and reckoning” was coming to Minnesota. Operation Metro Surge was Trump's retribution for our policies, our values, and how we vote.In the face of Donald Trump's campaign of revenge and retribution against Minnesota, we as a state stood for the rule of law and our constitutional rights, and stood for what we believe in our beloved state: that we are stronger when we stand together, that we all do better when we all do better, and that everyone deserves to live with dignity, safety, and respect — no exceptions. Now, our attention turns to healing and to ensuring that what happened here over the past several weeks can never happen again — not to us, and not to any state, city, or neighborhood in this country. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit affordingyourlife.substack.com

State investigators are taking a new step to get evidence related to the federal law enforcement shootings that took place in Minneapolis during the ICE surge. The Hennepin County Attorney's office announced Wednesday morning that it is filing a formal request for evidence from the federal government in the deadly shooting of Alex Pretti and the shooting in north Minneapolis that injured Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis.Estelle Timar-Wilcox was at the press conference and joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about what this means for the investigations.

Hennepin County attorney Mary Moriarty is filing a request to get evidence from the federal government on a pair of shootings in Minneapolis during the surge of ICE agents.More than a foot of snow has piled on the North Shore with up to 10 more inches on the way as blizzard conditions continue. MPR chief meteorologist Paul Huttner has been keeping an eye on the storm.Plus, tenants advocates were at the state capitol Wednesday morning calling for an eviction moratorium and rent relief funding for those economically affected by the presence of thousands of federal agents. Plus, a new exhibition is showcasing 3,000 years of Chinese artwork that features the horse.

Skiing tragedy in California; Bono releases an anti-ICE protest song; Jeff Stein returns this week; Olympic updates; major winter storm hits the state; arson attack on Good memorial site; state GOP wants to criminalize certain protests; Hennepin County demands access to Pretti investigation; investigation into beating of man ICE claimed “ran into a wall”; restaurant…

Send a textRep. Pam Altendorf, a Republican who represents the Red Wing area and is vice chair of the Minnesota House Elections Committee, spoke with Liz Collin on her podcast about her concerns with election integrity in the state. While three counties provided partial data, Hennepin County provided her with full voter rolls. Having reviewed the data with her team, Rep. Altendorf shared some of their findings and her growing concerns about voter roll data and election integrity in Minnesota.Support the show

For the first time, Hennepin County sheriff Dawanna Witt spoke about her cooperation with ICE. Sheriff Witt said she has had “healthy” conversations with Tom Homan, the White House official in charge of the Minnesota immigration enforcement surge. Homan has said that federal officials could reduce the number of agents if jails, like Hennepin County, would cooperate and hand over inmates.NPR's Meg Anderson spoke with Sheriff Witt about her cooperation and abiding by state law.

Chad shares two segments with Dan Brooks, son of Herb Brooks, about the new Netflix documentary on the 1980 Miracle on Ice team. We also have Susie Jones join with audio from an attorney at the Hennepin County Government Center who shares the story of seeing Sheriff Deputies assisting ICE in getting a woman into ICE custody. Plus, Jason DeRusha joins with the usual mix of fun and serious topics.

Chad opens the hour with Susie Jones and an account of what happened inside the Hennepin County Government Center earlier today as sheriff deputies reportedly aided ICE in the arrest of a woman by dragging her from an elevator in the building. Later, Jim Petersen joins with talk about a win last night for the Wolves and a trade to bring guard Ayo Dosunmu over from Chicago.

This time John's monologue is about The Justice Dept releasing millions more pages related to Jeffrey Epstein, revealing more casual ties to Trump and Trumpworld goons like Howard Lutnick and Elon Musk, who both denied having any involvement with Epstein in the decade before his death. He also talks about Don Lemon and Georgia Fort who were the two journalists arrested for covering an anti-ICE protest at a St. Paul, MN church. Then John welcomes 2 guests:Rep. Aisha Gomez who is an an organizer, an environmentalist, a public servant, and a mom. She represents legislative district 62a in the Minnesota House of Representatives, which includes parts of south Minneapolis in Hennepin County, Minnesota, bisected by Interstate 35W. They discuss the push-back in the communities where ICE agents have focused their terror campaign and where Renee Good and Alex Pretti lost their lives.TV's Frank Conniff is a comedy writer and performer who began his TV career writing for the Peabody Award winning Comedy Central series Mystery Science Theater 3000, where he also played TV's Frank. He then went on to be a writer, producer and actor on the ABC TV series Sabrina the Teenage Witch and he was a writer and producer on The Drew Carey Show on ABC. He's a prolific author and comedian and his books and Mads Are Back shows are available at Dumb Dash Industries Dot Com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

While the Trump administration releases a steady stream of gaslighting statements about ICE arresting "the worst of the worst," Americans are seeing with their own eyes the abuse and cruelty of Trump's anti-immigrant agenda directed at innocent members of close, caring communities. An elderly man, barely clothed, dragged from his house, small children being detained from their parents and used as bait to trap family members. Americans are so thoroughly disgusted and outraged at what Trump and his lackeys are doing that they are braving inhuman cold by the tens of thousands to make their displeasure seen and heard.Mary Moriarty, the county attorney of Hennepin County, Minnesota, talks with Jen Psaki about how distorted the Justice Department has become under Donald Trump and the power the state has to enforce its laws against the abuses of federal agents, including in the case of the shooting of Renee Good. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Trump administration is vowing to continue with what it's calling a major immigration enforcement effort in Minnesota. The Department of Homeland Security said agents have arrested 3,000 people since last month — a claim that MPR News has not been able to verify. Now, the Trump administration is asking state and local governments to hand over records that relate to federal immigration activity in Minnesota. That includes the offices of Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, Hennepin County and Ramsey County. Frey will appear before a U.S. District Court in a hearing on Feb. 3. MPR News host Nina Moini also spoke with Mark Osler, a law professor at the University of St. Thomas, to make sense of it all.

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Adam Carter joins after recording an interview with Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt. We ask about the interview and several other lighter topics during Ask Adam Anything.

More ICE agents on their way to Minneapolis. No, we don't have any idea what will happen next. Johnny with the news Concrete barriers, fence installed as ‘hundreds more' federal agents come to MinnesotaScott Jensen selects Hennepin County sergeant as running mate in race for governorMuhammad Ali will be honored with a commemorative US postage stampSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

2025 has show us the evolution of alternative media into the very thing it was sold not be to be; regurgitated talking points rooted in advertisements, special interests, and personal bias. On this end-year episode of TST radio, we will look to investigate the underlying mechanism behind the claims and narratives that become talking points every day. These are stories that are not new nor unique, yet are presented in a way to essentially obscure the past in the name of truth and exposing corruption. We begin with Nick Shirley: Nick Shirley's 42 minute “I Investigated Minnesota's Billion Dollar Fraud Scandal” video went viral on X after being posted on December 6, 2025. Within hours Elon Musk was posting about the lack of coverage from news outlets like ABC and Fox News, while other well-known names like Alex Jones were calling it the “fraud of the century.” Random accounts with enormous amounts of followers were calling for Nick to be given the Pulitzer Prize, every top-post was pushing memes of Nick with an X logo that said “100 million views,” and other memes were circulating about how Nick did what mainstream news could not. These posts were pushing the idea that X is completely independent and the definition of free speech and journalistic integrity. Some minor digging, however, shows all of this to be nothing but a theatrical production. Several mainstream and local news outlets covered the Minnesota fraud. In fact, ABC 5 KSTP did an investigation on the fraud in October 2025, posting a video similar to Nick's. In 2018, Fox 9 KMSP did an investigation. In 2015, Hennepin County raided multiple day-care centers as part of a fraud investigation; they arrested four people. The biggest report of all came in 2019 when the Office of the Legislative Auditor State of Minnesota did a full investigation on the Child Care Assistance Program. The investigation around hundreds of millions in fraud. Nick's report was therefore not unique, groundbreaking, or new. It also appears that the attempt to paint X as a source of truth and real journalism follows Musk's signing of an agreement with CHEQ, an Israeli company, to regulate content on the platform. As with TikTok's forced selling to Larry Ellison over content deemed dangerous to Israel, X obliterated not only stories about Israel following Nick's viral video, but drove down another Israeli story happening the same week. On December 29, 2025, Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in the United States to meet with Donald Trump. The meeting involved an announcement of pre-war in Venezuela alongside multiple discussions about an upcoming conflict with Iran. Trump also announced that he has been working with the Israel government to get Netanyahu a full pardon for his crimes.  Furthermore, Nick also teamed up with Jake Lang, an Israeli behind provocations in Michigan an Texas, who arrived in Minnesota to openly called for a crusade against Islam. Just prior to Nick's video going viral, he spent some of the spring in Israel/Gaza interviewing IDF Colonel Grishna Yakubovich, former administrator of occupied Palestine. The interview featured atrocity propaganda and commentary on how evil Arabs, Muslims, and the Palestinians are.  In preparation for the upcoming crusade, the Pentagon, which just failed its eighth straight budget, received a 1 trillion dollar budget from Congress.  https://www.military.com/feature/2025/12/24/pentagon-fails-eighth-audit-eyes-2028-turnaround.html https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/07/02/trump-defense-budget-hits-1-trillion-despite-doge/84419890007/https://www.auditor.leg.state.mn.us/sreview/ccap.pdf https://kstp.com/tracking-your-tax-dollars/whistleblower-minnesotas-child-care-assistance-program-has-fraud-cases-dating-back-12-years/ https://www.fox9.com/news/millions-of-dollars-in-suitcases-fly-out-of-msp-but-why.amp https://www.startribune.com/hennepin-county-raids-day-care-centers-as-part-of-fraud-investigation-4-arrested/329988761 https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israeli-co-cheq-to-help-musk-battle-bots-on-x-1001464912 *The is the FREE archive, which includes advertisements. If you want an ad-free experience, you can subscribe below underneath the show description.WEBSITEFREE ARCHIVE (w. ads)SUBSCRIPTION ARCHIVE-X / TWITTERFACEBOOKINSTAGRAMYOUTUBERUMBLE-BUY ME A COFFEECashApp: $rdgable PAYPAL: rdgable1991@gmail.comRyan's Books: https://thesecretteachings.info - EMAIL: rdgable@yahoo.com / rdgable1991@gmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-secret-teachings--5328407/support.

Minnesota's largest school district is staring down a walkout in the new year. The Anoka-Hennepin teacher union says it has filed an intent to strike. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Department of Education is asking Minnesotans for public feedback on its new K-12 health education standards — which go into effect in 2028. Advocates say the currently drafted standards introduce much-needed education on abuse prevention as a part of broader sex education curricula and they do a better job in helping students understand consent, puberty and pregnancy.A Hennepin County judge has sentenced a Minneapolis man to life in prison with no possibility of release for planning the murder of a real estate agent.

 Holiday stress is hard, but you don't have to struggle alone. Sheletta chats with Jihan Ali from Hennepin County who shares information about a vital resource that offers help for you to COPE if you're in crisis mode so you can get back to living your best and healthiest life.

Is there also school bus fraud in Minneapolis? Chunk kicking remains an important issues to GL'ers. 5 years later George Floyd square is still under discussion. Johnny Heidt with guitar news. Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code GARAGELOGIC at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/garagelogicHeard On The Show:ICE in Minnesota: Agents pepper spray crowd in Cedar-RiversideMinneapolis City Council approves 8% tax levy increase with Hennepin County finalizing nextRussia-Ukraine: Trump Gives Zelensky New Deadline On Peace Plan—ReportSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jon discusses the need for... public restrooms? Jon plays clips from a Hennepin County training video and looks at how socialism is spreading into city politics around the country. Jon has thoughts on coffee shop employees choosing to unionize and strike.

Jon discusses the need for... public restrooms? Jon plays clips from a Hennepin County training video and looks at how socialism is spreading into city politics around the country. Jon has thoughts on coffee shop employees choosing to unionize and strike.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ray of Hope: We are dressing deer in outstate schools. Our Governor travels to Austin TX to inform a panel that we once had a racist state flag. Hennepin County training video teaches people how to correctly use pronouns. The dope business in MN might end before it ever opened. Patrick Reusse with his weekly sports report. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. Kasey Keeler wanders with us to discuss her personal experience and her professional research on life in the suburbs as a Native American in Hennepin County. We discuss what it is like growing up as a Native person in the suburbs, how access to nature can be improved, and why suburbs are often overlooked as Native places. 

Before Basset Creek was named Basset Creek it was named by the Dakota and called Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ. Tawnya Stewart, an Ojibwe woman who grew up within a few miles of the creek talks about what it was like growing up in Hennepin County suburbs as a Native person. She explores why the original names of the landscapes are important, why she likes dual naming, and the importance of education when it comes to bringing back something's original name.   

We celebrate the life and the legacy of Marjorie Johnson who passed away at 106 years young. Marjorie Eleanora Johnson (née Holtby; born August 9, 1919-October 29,2025),[1] the "Blue Ribbon Baker", is an American baker from Robbinsdale, Minnesota,[2] born in Hennepin County, Minnesota.[1] First made famous through her guest appearances on KSTP radio's Garage Logic, she has since appeared on numerous talk shows, including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, The View, and The Kelly Clarkson Show in September 2019 at age 100. Johnson has won over 2,500 fair ribbons, including over 1,000 blue ribbons and numerous sweepstakes ribbons.In 2007, she became the newest correspondent for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. She brought her home-made cooking to such events as the MLB All-Star Game, the NBA All-Star Game, the Emmy Awards, and the Grammy Awards. She published the book The Road to Blue Ribbon Baking: With Marjorie in 2007.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Several government assistance programs are under threat due to the federal government shutdown. WIC, a nutrition program for mothers and young children, is funded in Minnesota through mid-November. But SNAP, a wider food benefit program, won't have funds starting Nov. 1. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps Minnesotans heat their homes, is also delayed. All together, these programs help hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans. Tammy Alto, Director of the Energy Assistance Program for Hennepin County, joined MPR News host Nina Moini to share how that energy program has been impacted by the shutdown.

Today, Hunter was joined by three guests from Hennepin County's Adult Representation Services. As has been discussed multiple times on the show, many of the clients that walk into a public defender office have legal needs outside their criminal case. Whether it is in eviction court or family court, our clients often do not have access to counsel in these critical cases. ARS was created to fill the gaps in the access to counsel to ensure people have a fighting chance in their civil legal issues.   Guest: Jeanatte Boerner, Director of Adult Representation Services, Hennepin County, Minnesota Jessica Ryan, Principal Attorney, Hennepin County, Minnesota Terrance Hendriks, Principal Attorney, Hennepin County, Minnesota   Resources: ARS Website https://www.hennepin.us/en/adult-representation-services       Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home  

This Day in Legal History: John Marshall Harlan DiesOn October 14, 1911, Supreme Court Justice John Marshall Harlan I died, closing the chapter on one of the Court's most powerful voices of dissent. Appointed in 1877 by President Rutherford B. Hayes, Harlan served for 34 years and left an indelible mark on constitutional law—not through majority opinions, but through unwavering dissents that often read as moral indictments of the Court's direction.Most famously, Harlan stood alone in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), rejecting the Court's embrace of “separate but equal” and warning that the Constitution is “color-blind.” At a time when the legal system was ratifying segregation, Harlan insisted that racial classifications violated both the spirit and letter of the Fourteenth Amendment. His lone dissent—widely criticized at the time—would later become foundational to the Court's reversal in Brown v. Board of Education more than half a century later.But Harlan's commitment to constitutional principles extended beyond race. He defended civil liberties in United States v. E.C. Knight Co., supported expansive readings of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments, and warned against unchecked corporate power. His approach was rooted in a belief that the Reconstruction Amendments were designed not just to end slavery, but to secure full legal equality.Though his views often put him in the minority, time has proven Harlan prophetic. His jurisprudence helped shift the constitutional center of gravity in the 20th century, as future courts took up the causes he championed alone. Remarkably, his grandson, John Marshall Harlan II, would go on to sit on the Court as well, carving out his own legacy in cases like Katz v. United States and Reynolds v. Sims.Justice Harlan I's death marked the loss of a constitutional conscience—one that held firm against the tide of his era. His dissents remain a blueprint for principled judging, reminding us that sometimes the most enduring legal influence comes not from prevailing, but from refusing to go along.In a massive trial that began this week in London's High Court, over 1.6 million claimants are suing several major carmakers—including Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Nissan, Renault, Peugeot, and Citroën—over allegations that they used illegal “defeat devices” to cheat diesel emissions tests. The lawsuit, one of the largest in UK legal history, follows in the wake of Volkswagen's 2015 “dieselgate” scandal and targets vehicles manufactured between 2012 and 2017.Claimants argue that these manufacturers deliberately programmed cars to meet legal nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions standards only under lab testing, while on-the-road emissions were allegedly up to 12 times higher—harming the environment and misleading consumers. They seek compensation for what they claim was a systemic, industry-wide choice to cheat rather than comply with the law.The defendants deny any wrongdoing, rejecting comparisons to VW and maintaining that emissions systems are legally and justifiably calibrated to function differently under certain conditions for technical and safety reasons. A central point of contention is whether the sample vehicles in the case contain prohibited defeat devices.The trial currently focuses on 20 vehicles, but its outcome will set a precedent for nearly 850,000 claims and influence another 800,000 similar suits against other carmakers, including Vauxhall/Opel and BMW. The court's decision on liability is expected by mid-2026, with damages to be determined separately.Carmakers accused in huge UK lawsuits of cheating diesel emissions tests | ReutersVisa and Mastercard have agreed to a $199.5 million settlement to resolve a class action brought by merchants who alleged the companies colluded to shift fraud-related costs onto businesses. Filed in federal court in Brooklyn, the settlement—still awaiting judicial approval—stems from a lawsuit first initiated in 2016, challenging rule changes that made merchants liable for chargebacks when they hadn't upgraded to chip-enabled point-of-sale systems.The plaintiffs argued this policy shift violated antitrust laws, claiming Visa and Mastercard moved in parallel to implement changes that benefited the networks while leaving merchants exposed to fraud losses without any offsetting fee reductions. According to the proposed agreement, Visa will pay $119.7 million and Mastercard will contribute $79.8 million. Discover and American Express, also named in the litigation, previously agreed to a $32.2 million settlement.While all four companies deny wrongdoing, plaintiffs' lawyers praised the deal, saying it recovers around 13% of the best-case damages scenario and over half of a more conservative estimate. Mastercard stated the settlement supports its broader efforts to increase security through technological upgrades, while Visa and the plaintiffs' counsel did not comment.This case is separate from the larger $5 billion settlement Visa and Mastercard reached in 2019 over allegations of fixing credit and debit card fees.Visa, Mastercard agree to $199.5 million settlement in merchants' class action | ReutersFederal courts in California and Alabama recently fined two attorneys thousands of dollars for submitting legal filings that contained fake case citations generated by AI. These sanctions highlight a persistent problem: despite repeated warnings, some lawyers continue to rely uncritically on generative AI tools that produce fictitious case law, a phenomenon known as “hallucination.” Judges in both cases criticized the attorneys for failing to verify the AI-generated content, calling the misconduct more serious than simple oversight.In Alabama, Judge Terry F. Moorer imposed a $5,000 sanction on James A. Johnson, a court-appointed criminal defense attorney, who filed a motion containing fabricated citations. The judge noted that Johnson used a Microsoft Word plugin called Ghostwriter Legal and submitted the motion during a holiday weekend while caring for a relative, but emphasized that such explanations do not excuse the lack of basic diligence. Johnson must now disclose the sanctions order in all cases he handles for the next year, and his client—visibly upset in court—requested new counsel, delaying the case.In California, Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín fined attorney Edward A. Quesada $1,000 after his civil filing contained at least three false citations. Quesada admitted he had run out of time and may have accidentally copied one fake citation from an AI-generated web summary. He was also ordered to complete a CLE course on responsible AI use, with the judge citing his failure to stay informed about relevant legal technologies as a violation of professional conduct rules.Fake AI Citations Produce Fines for California, Alabama LawyersIn my column for Bloomberg this week, I examine the property rights implications at the heart of Pung v. Isabella County, a case the US Supreme Court has agreed to hear. I argue that when the government seizes and sells property for unpaid taxes, “just compensation” shouldn't be defined by whatever price the property fetches at a government-run auction. That process—entirely designed and controlled by local officials—often prioritizes administrative efficiency over fair market value, turning tax sales into what I describe as “clearance rack” events.The problem is structural. Local treasurers are incentivized to close the books quickly rather than ensure former owners recover equity. That means the government may undersell a home, pay itself the back taxes, and call it a day—leaving the former owner uncompensated for the true value of what they lost. Worse, when courts treat the auction price as constitutionally adequate, they allow the taker to set the value of what it took.I draw a comparison to Tyler v. Hennepin County, where the Court ruled the government can't pocket surplus proceeds from a tax sale. Pung asks the natural follow-up: what rules apply when determining how much surplus exists? If courts accept fire-sale auction prices as “just compensation,” they effectively endorse an end-run around the Fifth Amendment.As a compromise, I propose a clear rule: auction prices should only be presumed fair if they fall within 10% of an appraised value. Outside that range, the burden should shift to the government to prove the sale was legitimate. After all, if local governments want the legitimacy of a market sale, they need to run a sale that looks like one. Otherwise, taxpayers are left holding the bag—punished not for failing to pay taxes, but for the government's indifference to recovering real value from their property. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

Many businesses have brought their workers back to the office, but not Hennepin County. Jason talks with Minneapolis City Councilmember Michael Rainville about what it would mean to get those workers back downtown.

3pm Hour: Jason talks about his upcoming trip to Greece and asks listeners for their favorite trip. Then he talks with Minneapolis City Councilmember Michael Rainville about what it would mean to get county workers back downtown.

Rich Stanek, former Hennepin County Sheriff, joins Chad to share his opinions and experience in our state's immigration fraud problems that he claims go back many years.

The U.S. Department of Justice is suing the state of Minnesota — along with Hennepin County, Minneapolis and St. Paul — over policies limiting local law enforcement agencies' work in immigration operations.And the driver of a pickup truck died this morning after it collided head-on with a school bus in the city of Andover. Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

The Department of Justice is suing Minnesota, the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Hennepin County, the Hennepin County Sheriff and the attorney general over sanctuary policies.These policies, which jurisdictions often call separation ordinances, limit local government and law enforcement's collaboration with ICE. The federal government says the policies interfere with federal immigration enforcement and are illegal. In response to the lawsuit, both mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul say they are committed to the city's ordinances. Ana Pottratz Acotsa, a visiting professor at the University of Minnesota Law School and the Binger Center for New Americans, spoke to MPR News host Nina Moini about what impacts the lawsuit could have in Minnesota.

The United States Department of Justice is suing Minnesota, Hennepin County, and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul over what it calls sanctuary policies, limits on local officials collaborating with ICE. A law professor joins us to talk about the case. A Native American community leader is calling for discussions about encampments and drug overdoses to include the people who've been hit hardest by these issues. We talk to him.Plus, neurodiversity is a concept that embraces differences in how peoples brains work. We learn how companies can include employees with ADHD, autism and other conditions. And we talk about the beloved Red Wing Environmental Learning Center, which turns 55 years old this weekend.The Minnesota Music Minute was “Halfway up the Lawn” by runo plum. The Song of the Day was “She's Everything” by JT & the Gunslingers.

Eric Werner, Maple Grove Police Chief, joins Adam and Jordana.

Homelessness has been top of mind for many leaders in the Twin Cities metro area in recent weeks. On Sept. 15, seven people were injured in a shooting at a homeless encampment in south Minneapolis that was on private property. Since then, one person has died from their injuries. It's raising questions about how to best prevent and respond to homeless encampments.David Hewitt, Hennepin County's Housing Stability Director joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about leadership on homelessness at the county level, the types of services they provide and the work they do surrounding homelessness.

Former State Sen. Nicole Mitchell has been sentenced to six months in jail following her burglary conviction over the summer. MPR News reporter Mathew Holding Eagle III joined Minnesota Now live from Becker County with the latest updates.A shooting at a south Minneapolis homeless encampment last week left many Twin Cities area leaders questioning how to navigate encampment policies. We heard how one leader with Hennepin County's homelessness prevention team is thinking about what types of resources are effective.Native American activist Leonard Peltier is back home after nearly 50 years in prison. Our documentary brings you his reflections on how Indian activism has changed in that time.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Achat Sha'alti” by Paul Schoenfield and Carol Wincenc.

In this episode of Laughing with Letta, Sheletta sits down with Hennepin County's Voter Engagement team to celebrate Minnesota being ranked #1 in the nation for youth voter turnout. They highlight the efforts of League of Women Voters Minnesota, ShelettaMakesMeLaugh.com, and other community partners who are reaching out to young people across the state. The conversation also explores preregistration for 16- and 17-year-olds—helping teens get set to vote the moment they turn 18. With Sheletta's signature humor, this episode is a mix of laughs and learning, showing how outreach and engagement keep Minnesota at the top when it comes to youth voting.

Send us a textDefense attorney Brian Karalus joined Liz Collin on the latest episode of her podcast. Brian spoke about the tragic case of his friend, who was brutally stabbed and slashed in the face and neck and scarred for life—and how Hennepin County prosecutors only charged the suspect, Camron Wayne Draper, with second degree assault and let him out on bail.Support the show

Jason talks with David Hewitt, Director of Housing Stability for Hennepin County, about the progress that has been made in housing the homeless, and the risks involved as federal funding starts to dwindle.

4pm Hour: Jason talks with David Hewitt, Director of Housing Stability for Hennepin County, about their progress reducing homelessness, and the risks of dwindling federal funding. Then on DeRusha Eats, Diane Moua - owner of Diane's Place - talks about being featured in the NY Times!

The White House has described its immigration policies as a “landmark public safety effort” to arrest and deport people who have committed crimes. Data from the Deportation Data Project that was analyzed by NPR shows ICE has also increased arrests of people with no criminal record. And in Hennepin County, officials say deportations and related fears have disrupted criminal cases. That's according to a story published Monday by Sahan Journal criminal justice reporter Katrina Pross. She spoke to Minnesota Now host Nina Moini about her reporting.

Parts of the Minnesota River Valley remain under flood warnings following torrential rain over the weekend. A Waseca County official says an emergency declaration in the region may be necessary. He'll join us to talk about cleanup efforts.Deportation fears are upending prosecutions in Hennepin County. We'll learn how the Trump administration's policies are impacting local cases.Plus, a Marshall Project investigation found many in-custody deaths are reported inaccurately to the federal government, or not reported at all. We'll hear from two reporters behind the story.And the Minnesota Lynx have now defeated the reigning WNBA champs, the New York Liberty, three times this season. We'll get the latest sports news from Wally and Eric.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Bee Sting” by Davina and the Vagabonds. Our Song of the Day was “Ain't Wastin' Time No More” by The Allman Brothers Band.

MPR News is following the story of a nursing mother who is in ICE detention, even though a judge approved her bond. We got the latest on Tuesday's hearing in her case.Hennepin County commissioners voted Tuesday on whether to dissolve the board of the county hospital, which is in financial trouble. Times are tough for Target. The company's sales and stocks are down as it looks for a new CEO. We got the details from a Twin Cities Business reporter. Across the country, items that are important to tribal nations get sold at auction. A St. Paul auction house is working with the Association on American Indian Affairs to return those items to tribes.We talked with the author of a personal finance guide for Muslim women.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “by my side” by SoulFlower and our Song of the Day was “Fabric” by Rogue Valley.

Trees provide health, economic, and many other benefits just by being present. However, some suburbs and urban areas in and around Minneapolis and Hennepin County are tree deserts. Analyah Schlaeger dos Santos, Environmental Justice Youth Director & Global Climate Justice Coordinator, MN Interfaith Power and Light, among many other things,. Joins us to talk about work she has done to increase tree cover in parts of Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs that had none, why that is important, and how it became a community effort.   

Laila Bacon and Makayla Freeman started working with Analyah Schlaeger do Santos when they were 14 years old. Seven years later they are still planting trees in Hennepin County were tree deserts exist, and teaching their community how to plant and care for the trees. Join us as they discuss why this work is important to them, the accomplishments and challenges they have faced over the last seven years, and how they keep hope alive despite the despair they sometimes feel trying to mitigate climate change.