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The watch is in effect for most of southeastern Minnesota and includes the southern Twin Cities

Talking Sense

A graphic reading Talking Sense MPR News

During what promises to be a divisive election year, MPR News and the nonprofit organization Braver Angels are partnering to create Talking Sense, an online and in-person platform to help Minnesotans have hard conversations, better.

Talking Sense will teach Minnesotans how to think through these challenging political conversations in advance, without letting the need to “win” and change minds stand in the way of preserving important relationships.

Tell us your story: Do you identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, or are you a friend or family member of someone who does? With Pride Month coming up, MPR News wants to chat with you about your coming out story. We want to talk to parents and their children, siblings, long-time friends and spouses about how you resolved differences or overcame challenging moments in this process with someone you love.

Two people talk

Researcher who studies rural Americans calls out damaging stereotypes about rural voters

May 21, 2024 4:00 AM

By Catharine Richert

Colby College government professor Nicholas Jacobs argues that rural voters are far more complex than some academics, liberal politicians and journalists give them credit for — and it’s a reason why rural voters increasingly gravitate toward conservative candidates.

Catharine Richert discusses 'Talking Sense

Introducing Talking Sense: Have hard political conversations, better.

February 6, 2024 11:46 AM

By Catharine Richert

This election season MPR News is bringing you Talking Sense, an online and in-person platform to help you have difficult conversations, despite political differences.

A woman in front of a microphone

BBC journalist in Nigeria shares how she navigates election disinformation

May 14, 2024 4:00 AM

By Catharine Richert

BBC journalist Fauziyya Tukur says political disinformation and polarization are rife all over the world, including in Nigeria, where she reports from.

Sheila Kiscaden speaks at a training session

As Olmsted County shifts left, political observers see battle brewing over control of a complicated electorate

May 7, 2024 4:00 AM

By Catharine Richert

Not long ago, Olmsted County was once a reliably Republican regional center. Today, it’s a solidly Democratic outpost, where highly educated voters are consolidating in Rochester and reshaping the county’s electorate.

Broken heart on a string

Is it possible to date someone with different political views? Americans increasingly say ‘no’

May 2, 2024 9:00 AM

By Angela Davis and Gretchen Brown

Eighty-six percent of Americans think it has become harder to date someone from the opposite political party, according to a 2020 poll from market research firm YouGov. MPR News host Angela Davis talked about it with a marriage and family therapist and a writer.

A general view of political bumperstickers

As Goodhue County shifts further right, compromise is harder to find

April 30, 2024 4:00 AM

By Catharine Richert

After years of feeling unheard by local officials, many conservative Republicans welcome the shift. Others say the trend is creating new political tension and polarization in a community where moderate conservatives once prevailed.

A man gestures to a tree

Arbor Day tradition aims to put trees in ground while easing political tensions at Capitol

April 23, 2024 4:00 AM

By Clay Masters

For the past several decades, two Democrats and two Republicans in the Minnesota House have passed out trees on Arbor Day as a brief respite from political tensions at the Capitol.

protest outside

Mood of the Nation: Angry

April 23, 2024 12:01 AM

By Craig Helmstetter and Eric Plutzer

Nine in 10 Americans can name either a recent news event or something about American politics that made them angry, while only half could identify a recent news event or something about American politics that made them proud, according to the McCourtney Institute for Democracy’s latest Mood of the Nation Poll.

a man rests his chin on his hands as he listens

Tensions build as White Earth Nation tries to assert authority over state forest land use

April 16, 2024 4:00 AM

By Dan Gunderson

A bill at the Capitol that would transfer ownership of some state-owned forest lands to the White Earth Band of Ojibwe has sparked outcry from non-Native neighbors, and prompted calls for dialogue to help ease the conflict.

Two young men shake hands, a third stands holding a button

St. Olaf election project drives turnout, primes students for more productive political conversations

April 9, 2024 4:00 AM

By Catharine Richert

St. Olaf College in Northfield has one of the highest voter turnouts in the country. In 2020, nearly 90 percent of eligible Oles cast a ballot. Getting out the vote is a big part of the school’s civic engagement work. But equally important is an effort to train students on better ways to discuss politics with people they disagree with.