Shows

Why child care costs so much in Minnesota
Minnesota has the third-highest average cost of infant child care in the country. MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about why child care is so expensive, who's affected most and what ideas for solutions are on the table. 
A window into America’s high schools slams shut
For decades, the federal government has surveyed high school students — and repeatedly followed up with them as adults. The goal was to gather data on their educational choices and careers so researchers could draw connections between them. Trump put an end to that effort as part of his quest to dissolve the Department of Education.
‘No magic fixes’ for Democrats as party confronts internal and fundraising struggles
Ken Martin, the new chair of the Democratic National Committee, says he's bringing a bazooka to the fight against President Donald Trump and his Republican allies. 
Lawsuit saves massive reading experiment
The Trump administration tried to kill the largest reading experiment ever funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s research arm — just months before the yearslong study was complete. The administration agreed to finish the research only after it was sued.
‘Our way of life’: State Fair traditions keep a Minnesota farm family close across generations
Sarah Schmidt hoped her kids would take to the farm life she grew up with and maybe show their animals at the State Fair. Years of early mornings, livestock shows and ribbons prove she didn’t have to worry.
Family ties, loyal crowds keep a Minnesota small-town movie theater thriving
Small town movie theaters have struggled to survive for years in an increasingly on-demand world. In Wadena, the local theater is flourishing thanks to generations of work by one family. Meet the Quincers.
Sen. Tina Smith hits the fairgrounds, reflects on her time in office and offers advice for her party
MPR News host host Clay Masters spoke with Sen. Tina Smith about her remaining time in the U.S. Senate and the political climate in Washington.
Be there pirates? The true story of Capt. Kidd
Was Capt. Kidd a notorious pirate whose ill-gotten treasure is still hunted today? Or was he an experienced sea captain who got caught up in the geopolitics of his day? Parse the true story from the scuttlebutt on this week’s Big Books and Bold Ideas.