Politics Friday

Politics Friday: Lawmakers push for proposals to tackle fraud, receive new economic forecast

Coming up Friday at noon

The capitol
The Minnesota State Capitol is pictured on Tuesday, Feb. 17, in St. Paul.
Ben Hovland | MPR News

There’s been a strong focus on an issue of ongoing concern in the state: Fraud, and what to do about it. 

Lots of fraud-fighting ideas are floating around the Capitol. Several have bipartisan support, but that doesn’t mean their travels through the Legislature will be smooth. 

MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst talks with a pair of lawmakers with a similar goal but competing visions for a proposed investigatory unit. 

Two people pose for a photgraph.
State Rep. Matt Norris, DFL-Blaine, and Patti Anderson, GOP-Dellwood, at the Kling Public Media Center in St. Paul on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026.
Cait Kelley | MPR News

Later in the hour, MPR News’ senior economics contributor Chris Farrell breaks down the state’s new budget and economic forecast.  

Guests:

  • DFL state Rep. Matt Norris, of Blaine.  

  • Republican state Rep. Patti Anderson, of Dellwood.  

  • Chris Farrell is a senior economics contributor for MPR News and Marketplace.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation or subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple PodcastsSpotify, or RSS.