Politics and Government News

Gov. Walz reflects on session, looks towards November
The stage is set for a full matchup between incumbent Governor Tim Walz and GOP challenger, former state senator and physician Scott Jensen. Candidate filings closed yesterday. Walz joins Cathy Wurzer for a brief conversation.
Biden to meet with baby formula makers on easing shortage
President Joe Biden is set to meet with infant formula manufacturers as his administration works to ease nationwide shortages. The administration's strategy calls for importing foreign supplies and using the Defense Production Act to speed domestic production. 
Supreme Court blocks Texas social media law from taking effect
In a 5-to-4 vote, the court granted a request from Big Tech industry trade groups, which argued the law would unleash a flood of racist, hateful and other extremist content on social media platforms.
Progressives take a leaf out of the conservative playbook to target school boards
There has been a groundswell of conservative enthusiasm around school politics in the last few years. Progressives are hoping to have their own source of organization to counter that enthusiasm.
Biden sees chance of ‘rational’ Republican approach on guns
President Joe Biden said Monday that the “Second Amendment was never absolute” and that, after the Texas elementary school shooting, there may be some bipartisan support to tighten restrictions on the kind of high-powered weapons used by the gunman.
The race in Minnesota’s first Congressional District and what's next at the Capitol
Republican Brad Finstad and Democrat Jeff Ettinger will face off in the August special election to fill the remainder of the term of the late U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn. Each won their party primary this week. MPR News host Mike Mulcahy talks with them both and also about what’s next after the Legislature ended its session without passing tax cut and spending bills. 
Former Washington County judge Tad Jude, a Republican, joins former judge Martha Holton Dimick, former Minnesota Bar Association president Jarvis Jones, former Hennepin County Chief Public Defender Mary Moriarty, former Minneapolis City Council Member Paul Ostrow, assistant Ramsey County Attorney Saraswati Singh and Minnesota House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler.