Politics and Government News

Politics Friday: Washington is top of mind for a pair of Minnesota's top leaders
MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst interviews U.S. Senate candidate Peggy Flanagan about her bid for higher office. Then a discussion about the way immigration changes are playing out. 
Judge bars Trump from denying federal funds to ‘sanctuary’ cities that limit immigration cooperation
A federal judge is barring the Trump administration from denying or conditioning the use of federal funds to “sanctuary” jurisdictions. U.S. Judge William Orrick said Thursday that a preliminary injunction was appropriate because President Donald Trump's executive orders targeting sanctuary cities were unconstitutional.
Longtime Stearns County commissioner at center of dispute over competency resigns
Leigh Lenzmeier has represented District 4 in the city of St. Cloud for 34 years. He has suffered ongoing health problems. For the past year, he has been in an assisted living facility in Buffalo and attended county meetings virtually.
Walz pushes for Minnesota to be a model, stand against ‘chaos and destruction’ from feds
The governor used a roughly 23-minute State of the State speech to urge lawmakers to work together while highlighting policies passed under DFL control and skewering the Trump administration.
A dozen states sue the Trump administration to stop tariff policy
A dozen states have sued the Trump administration in the U.S. Court of International Trade to stop its tariff policy, challenging Trump’s claim that he could arbitrarily impose tariffs based on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
Sen. Dick Durbin, a top Senate Democrat, says he will not seek reelection
The Illinois Democrat has announced he will retire at the end of his term next year after nearly three decades in the Senate. His departure creates a key opening in Democratic leadership.
Marco Rubio announces overhaul of U.S. State Department
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has unveiled his plan to streamline a department that he says has become too bloated over the years. He’s cutting 132 offices and about 700 jobs at the state department
Gov. Tim Walz delivers State of State as gaze goes beyond Minnesota
In a Wednesday night State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature, Gov. Tim Walz offered a roadmap to crafting a budget that would “bring everyone to the table” and that involves cuts to spending many in his party might flinch at and Republicans would want to take further.