");vwo_$('head').append(_vwo_sel);return vwo_$('head')[0] && vwo_$('head')[0].lastChild;})("HEAD")}}, C_940895_16_1_2_0:{ fn:function(log,nonce=''){return (function(x) { try{ var _vwo_sel = vwo_$("`); !vwo_$("head").find('#1738257835657').length && vwo_$('head').append(_vwo_sel);}catch(e) {console.error(e)} try{}catch(e) {console.error(e)} try{const DEAR_READER_HEADING_HTML="

Dear reader,

",DEAR_READER_BODY_HTML="\n

Political debates with family or friends can get heated. But what if there was a way to handle them better?

\n

You can learn how to have civil political conversations with our new e-book!

\n

Download our free e-book, Talking Sense: Have Hard Political Conversations, Better, and learn how to talk without the tension.

\n",DEAR_READER_CTA_TEXT="Get your free ebook »",DEAR_READER_CTA_LINK="https://cloud.connect.mpr.org/mprnews-cfw03-01-talking-sense?utm_campaign=cfw_talkingsense&utm_term=dearreader_co";!function(){const e=async function(r,t=100,n=1e4){t=Number.isInteger(t)&&t>0&&t<=100?t:parseInt(t);let a="Array";if("NaN"==t)return console.error("Invalid refresh interval:",t);Array.isArray(r)||"string"!=typeof r||(a="string",r=[r]);let o=e=>document.querySelector(e),i=e=>e.every(e=>!!o(e));return new Promise((l,s)=>{let c=(e,r=null)=>(r&&clearInterval(r),l("Array"==a||e.length>1?e.map(e=>o(e)):o(e[0]))),d=a=>{console.error(`${a.name}: ${a.message}`);return s(a,()=>e(r,t=100,n=1e4))};try{if(i(r))return c(r);let e=setInterval(()=>{if(i(r))return c(r,e)},1e3/t);setTimeout(()=>{try{if(!i(r)){clearInterval(e);let r=Error(`Failed to find matching elements within ${n}ms`);throw r.name="Timed Out",r}}catch(e){return d(e)}},n)}catch(e){return d(e)}})};e("article").then(e=>{e.insertAdjacentHTML("beforeend",`
\n
\n

Dear reader,

\n ${DEAR_READER_BODY_HTML}\n \n \n \n
\n
`)})}();}catch(e) {console.error(e)} return vwo_$('head')[0] && vwo_$('head')[0].lastChild;})("head")}}, R_940895_16_1_2_0:{ fn:function(log,nonce=''){return (function(x) { try{ var ctx=vwo_$(x),el; /*vwo_debug log("Revert","content",""); vwo_debug*/; el=vwo_$('[vwo-element-id="1738257835657"]'); el.revertContentOp().remove(); } catch(e) {console.error(e)} try{ var el,ctx=vwo_$(x); /*vwo_debug log("Revert","addElement","body"); vwo_debug*/(el=vwo_$('[vwo-element-id="1738257835659"]')).remove(); } catch(e) {console.error(e)} return vwo_$('head')[0] && vwo_$('head')[0].lastChild;})("head")}}},rules:[{"triggers":["8639604"],"tags":[{"metricId":951908,"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":16,"g":6}]}},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":48,"g":1}]},"metricId":951908},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":54,"g":5}]},"metricId":951908},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":55,"g":5}]},"metricId":951908},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":62,"g":4}]},"metricId":951908},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":63,"g":1}]},"metricId":951908},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":64,"g":1}]},"metricId":951908},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":61,"g":1}]},"metricId":951908}]},{"triggers":["12454059"],"tags":[{"metricId":0,"id":"metric","data":{"type":"g","campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":6}]}}]},{"triggers":["8536415"],"tags":[{"metricId":959033,"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":16,"g":3}]}},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":48,"g":3}]},"metricId":959033},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":54,"g":3}]},"metricId":959033},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":55,"g":2}]},"metricId":959033},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":62,"g":1}]},"metricId":959033},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":63,"g":2}]},"metricId":959033},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":64,"g":2}]},"metricId":959033},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":61,"g":2}]},"metricId":959033},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":2}]},"metricId":959033}]},{"triggers":["12454053"],"tags":[{"data":"campaigns.39","priority":4,"id":"runCampaign"}]},{"triggers":["12454062"],"tags":[{"metricId":0,"id":"metric","data":{"type":"g","campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":7}]}}]},{"triggers":["8536412"],"tags":[{"metricId":959030,"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":16,"g":4}]}},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":48,"g":4}]},"metricId":959030},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":54,"g":2}]},"metricId":959030},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":55,"g":3}]},"metricId":959030},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":62,"g":2}]},"metricId":959030},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":63,"g":3}]},"metricId":959030},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":64,"g":3}]},"metricId":959030},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":61,"g":3}]},"metricId":959030},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":1}]},"metricId":959030}]},{"triggers":["12454056"],"tags":[{"metricId":0,"id":"metric","data":{"type":"g","campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":5}]}}]},{"triggers":["12639747"],"tags":[{"metricId":0,"id":"metric","data":{"type":"g","campaigns":[{"c":16,"g":5}]}}]},{"triggers":["10589191"],"tags":[{"data":"campaigns.16","priority":4,"id":"runCampaign"},{"priority":4,"id":"runCampaign","data":"campaigns.48"},{"priority":4,"id":"runCampaign","data":"campaigns.54"},{"priority":4,"id":"runCampaign","data":"campaigns.55"},{"priority":4,"id":"runCampaign","data":"campaigns.62"},{"priority":4,"id":"runCampaign","data":"campaigns.63"},{"priority":4,"id":"runCampaign","data":"campaigns.64"},{"priority":4,"id":"runCampaign","data":"campaigns.61"}]},{"triggers":["8536409"],"tags":[{"metricId":959027,"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":16,"g":1}]}},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":48,"g":5}]},"metricId":959027},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":54,"g":4}]},"metricId":959027},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":55,"g":4}]},"metricId":959027},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":62,"g":3}]},"metricId":959027},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":63,"g":4}]},"metricId":959027},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":64,"g":4}]},"metricId":959027},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":61,"g":4}]},"metricId":959027},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":3}]},"metricId":959027}]},{"triggers":["8459768"],"tags":[{"metricId":951905,"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":16,"g":2}]}},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":48,"g":2}]},"metricId":951905},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":54,"g":1}]},"metricId":951905},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":55,"g":1}]},"metricId":951905},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":62,"g":5}]},"metricId":951905},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":63,"g":5}]},"metricId":951905},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":64,"g":5}]},"metricId":951905},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":61,"g":5}]},"metricId":951905},{"id":"metric","data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":4}]},"metricId":951905}]},{"triggers":["5"],"tags":[{"id":"checkEnvironment"}]},{"triggers":["75"],"tags":[{"id":"urlChange"}]},{"triggers":["8"],"tags":[{"priority":3,"id":"prePostMutation"},{"id":"groupCampaigns","priority":2}]},{"triggers":["9"],"tags":[{"priority":2,"id":"visibilityService"}]},{"triggers":["2"],"tags":[{"id":"runTestCampaign"}]}],pages:{"ec":[{"2121531":{"inc":["o",["pg","eq","141375"]]}},{"1625289":{"inc":["o",["url","urlReg","(?i).*"]]}}],"pc":[{"141375":{"inc":["o",["url","urlReg","(?i)^https?\\:\\\/\\\/(w{3}\\.)?mprnews\\.org\\\/story.*"],["url","urlReg","(?i)^https?\\:\\\/\\\/(w{3}\\.)?mprnews\\.org\\\/episode.*"]]}}]},pagesEval:{"ec":[2121531,1625289],"pc":[141375]},stags:{}}})(); ;;var commonWrapper=function(argument){if(!argument){argument={valuesGetter:function(){return{}},valuesSetter:function(){},verifyData:function(){return{}}}}const getVisitorUuid=function(){if(window._vwo_acc_id>=1037725){return window.VWO&&window.VWO.get("visitor.id")}else{return window.VWO._&&window.VWO._.cookies&&window.VWO._.cookies.get("_vwo_uuid")}};var pollInterval=100;var timeout=6e4;return function(){var accountIntegrationSettings={};var _interval=null;function waitForAnalyticsVariables(){try{accountIntegrationSettings=argument.valuesGetter();accountIntegrationSettings.visitorUuid=getVisitorUuid()}catch(error){accountIntegrationSettings=undefined}if(accountIntegrationSettings&&argument.verifyData(accountIntegrationSettings)){argument.valuesSetter(accountIntegrationSettings);return 1}return 0}var currentTime=0;_interval=setInterval((function(){currentTime=currentTime||performance.now();var result=waitForAnalyticsVariables();if(result||performance.now()-currentTime>=timeout){clearInterval(_interval)}}),pollInterval)}}; var pushBasedCommonWrapper=function(argument){var firedCamp={};if(!argument){argument={integrationName:"",getExperimentList:function(){},accountSettings:function(){},pushData:function(){}}}return function(){window.VWO=window.VWO||[];const getVisitorUuid=function(){if(window._vwo_acc_id>=1037725){return window.VWO&&window.VWO.get("visitor.id")}else{return window.VWO._&&window.VWO._.cookies&&window.VWO._.cookies.get("_vwo_uuid")}};var sendDebugLogsOld=function(expId,variationId,errorType,user_type,data){try{var errorPayload={f:argument["integrationName"]||"",a:window._vwo_acc_id,url:window.location.href,exp:expId,v:variationId,vwo_uuid:getVisitorUuid(),user_type:user_type};if(errorType=="initIntegrationCallback"){errorPayload["log_type"]="initIntegrationCallback";errorPayload["data"]=JSON.stringify(data||"")}else if(errorType=="timeout"){errorPayload["timeout"]=true}if(window.VWO._.customError){window.VWO._.customError({msg:"integration debug",url:window.location.href,lineno:"",colno:"",source:JSON.stringify(errorPayload)})}}catch(e){window.VWO._.customError&&window.VWO._.customError({msg:"integration debug failed",url:"",lineno:"",colno:"",source:""})}};var sendDebugLogs=function(expId,variationId,errorType,user_type){var eventName="vwo_debugLogs";var eventPayload={};try{eventPayload={intName:argument["integrationName"]||"",varId:variationId,expId:expId,type:errorType,vwo_uuid:getVisitorUuid(),user_type:user_type};if(window.VWO._.event){window.VWO._.event(eventName,eventPayload,{enableLogs:1})}}catch(e){eventPayload={msg:"integration event log failed",url:window.location.href};window.VWO._.event&&window.VWO._.event(eventName,eventPayload)}};const callbackFn=function(data){if(!data)return;var expId=data[1],variationId=data[2],repeated=data[0],singleCall=0,debug=0;var experimentList=argument.getExperimentList();var integrationName=argument["integrationName"]||"vwo";if(typeof argument.accountSettings==="function"){var accountSettings=argument.accountSettings();if(accountSettings){singleCall=accountSettings["singleCall"];debug=accountSettings["debug"]}}if(debug){sendDebugLogs(expId,variationId,"intCallTriggered",repeated)}if(singleCall&&(repeated==="vS"||repeated==="vSS")||firedCamp[expId]){return}window.expList=window.expList||{};var expList=window.expList[integrationName]=window.expList[integrationName]||[];if(expId&&variationId&&["VISUAL_AB","VISUAL","SPLIT_URL"].indexOf(_vwo_exp[expId].type)>-1){if(experimentList.indexOf(+expId)!==-1){firedCamp[expId]=variationId;var visitorUuid=getVisitorUuid();var pollInterval=100;var currentTime=0;var timeout=6e4;var user_type=_vwo_exp[expId].exec?"vwo-retry":"vwo-new";var interval=setInterval((function(){if(expList.indexOf(expId)!==-1){clearInterval(interval);return}currentTime=currentTime||performance.now();var toClearInterval=argument.pushData(expId,variationId,visitorUuid);if(debug&&toClearInterval){sendDebugLogsOld(expId,variationId,"",user_type);sendDebugLogs(expId,variationId,"intDataPushed",user_type)}var isTimeout=performance.now()-currentTime>=timeout;if(isTimeout&&debug){sendDebugLogsOld(expId,variationId,"timeout",user_type);sendDebugLogs(expId,variationId,"intTimeout",user_type)}if(toClearInterval||isTimeout){clearInterval(interval)}if(toClearInterval){window.expList[integrationName].push(expId)}}),pollInterval||100)}}};window.VWO.push(["onVariationApplied",callbackFn]);window.VWO.push(["onVariationShownSent",callbackFn])}}; var surveyDataCommonWrapper=function(argument){if(!argument){argument={getCampaignList:function(){return[]},surveyStatusChange:function(){},answerSubmitted:function(){}}}return function(){window.VWO=window.VWO||[];function getValuesFromAnswers(answers){var values=[];for(var i=0;i=timeout;if(toClearInterval||isTimeout){clearInterval(interval)}}),pollInterval)}}window.VWO.push(["onSurveyShown",function(data){commonSurveyCallback(data,argument.surveyStatusChange,"surveyShown")}]);window.VWO.push(["onSurveyCompleted",function(data){commonSurveyCallback(data,argument.surveyStatusChange,"surveyCompleted")}]);window.VWO.push(["onSurveyAnswerSubmitted",function(data){commonSurveyCallback(data,argument.answerSubmitted,"surveySubmitted")}])}}; (function(){var VWOOmniTemp={};window.VWOOmni=window.VWOOmni||{};for(var key in VWOOmniTemp)Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(VWOOmniTemp,key)&&(window.VWOOmni[key]=VWOOmniTemp[key]);;})();(function(){window.VWO=window.VWO||[];var pollInterval=100;var _vis_data={};var intervalObj={};var analyticsTimerObj={};var experimentListObj={};window.VWO.push(["onVariationApplied",function(data){if(!data){return}var expId=data[1],variationId=data[2];if(expId&&variationId&&["VISUAL_AB","VISUAL","SPLIT_URL"].indexOf(window._vwo_exp[expId].type)>-1){}}])})();; ;var vD=VWO.data||{};VWO.data={content:{"fns":{"list":{"vn":1,"args":{"1":{}}}}},as:"r5.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com",dacdnUrl:"https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com",accountJSInfo:{"rp":30,"noSS":false,"pc":{"t":0,"a":0},"ts":1743681913}};for(var k in vD){VWO.data[k]=vD[k]};;var gcpfb=function(a,loadFunc,status,err,success){function vwoErr() {_vwo_err({message:"Google_Cdn failing for " + a + ". Trying Fallback..",code:"cloudcdnerr",status:status});} if(a.indexOf("/cdn/")!==-1){loadFunc(a.replace("cdn/",""),err,success); vwoErr(); return true;} else if(a.indexOf("/dcdn/")!==-1&&a.indexOf("evad.js") !== -1){loadFunc(a.replace("dcdn/",""),err,success); vwoErr(); return true;}};window.VWO=window.VWO || [];window.VWO._= window.VWO._ || {};window.VWO._.gcpfb=gcpfb;;var d={cookie:document.cookie,URL:document.URL,referrer:document.referrer};var w={VWO:{_:{}},location:{href:window.location.href,search:window.location.search},_vwoCc:window._vwoCc};;window._vwo_cdn="https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/cdn/";window._vwo_apm_debug_cdn="https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/cdn/";window.VWO._.useCdn=true;window.vwo_eT="br";window._VWO=window._VWO||{};window._VWO.fSeg={};window._VWO.dcdnUrl="/dcdn/settings.js";window.VWO.sTs=1743674164;window._VWO._vis_nc_lib=window._vwo_cdn+"edrv/nc-e76f33e8accfa6859749db0f9a4d4230br.js";var loadWorker=function(url){_vwo_code.load(url, { dSC: true, onloadCb: function(xhr,a){window._vwo_wt_l=true;if(xhr.status===200 ||xhr.status===304){var code="var window="+JSON.stringify(w)+",document="+JSON.stringify(d)+";window.document=document;"+xhr.responseText;var blob=new Blob([code||"throw new Error('code not found!');"],{type:"application/javascript"}),url=URL.createObjectURL(blob);window.mainThread={webWorker:new Worker(url)};window.vwoChannelFW=new MessageChannel();window.vwoChannelToW=new MessageChannel();window.mainThread.webWorker.postMessage({vwoChannelToW:vwoChannelToW.port1,vwoChannelFW:vwoChannelFW.port2},[vwoChannelToW.port1, vwoChannelFW.port2]);if(!window._vwo_mt_f)return window._vwo_wt_f=true;_vwo_code.addScript({text:window._vwo_mt_f});delete window._vwo_mt_f}else{if(gcpfb(a,loadWorker,xhr.status)){return;}_vwo_code.finish("&e=loading_failure:"+a)}}, onerrorCb: function(a){if(gcpfb(a,loadWorker)){return;}window._vwo_wt_l=true;_vwo_code.finish("&e=loading_failure:"+a);}})};loadWorker("https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/cdn/edrv/worker-1135852b6bc11a94eb64017a8d120ad8br.js");;var _vis_opt_file;var _vis_opt_lib;if(window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.previewExtraSettings!=undefined&&window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.previewExtraSettings.isSurveyPreviewMode){var surveyHash=window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.plugins.LIBINFO.SURVEY_DEBUG_EVENTS.HASH;var param1="evad.js?va=";var param2="&d=debugger_new";var param3="&sp=1&a=940895&sh="+surveyHash;_vis_opt_file=vwoCode.use_existing_jquery&&typeof vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()!=="undefined"?vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()?param1+"vanj"+param2:param1+"va_gq"+param2:param1+"edrv/va_gq-a062e7c4223b2b89f5cddb5055816677br.js"+param2;_vis_opt_file=_vis_opt_file+param3;_vis_opt_lib="https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/dcdn/"+_vis_opt_file}else if(window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.mode!=undefined&&window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.mode=="PREVIEW"){ var path1 = 'edrv/pd_'; var path2 = window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.plugins.LIBINFO.EVAD.HASH + ".js"; ;_vis_opt_file=vwoCode.use_existing_jquery&&typeof vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()!=="undefined"?vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()?path1+"vanj"+path2:path1+"va_gq"+path2:path1+"edrv/va_gq-a062e7c4223b2b89f5cddb5055816677br.js"+path2;_vis_opt_lib="https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/cdn/"+_vis_opt_file}else{_vis_opt_file=vwoCode.use_existing_jquery&&typeof vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()!=="undefined"?vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()?"edrv/vanj-55389bda300ad24b514d62f335aa126abr.js":"edrv/va_gq-a062e7c4223b2b89f5cddb5055816677br.js":"edrv/va_gq-a062e7c4223b2b89f5cddb5055816677br.js"}window._vwo_library_timer=setTimeout((function(){vwoCode.removeLoaderAndOverlay&&vwoCode.removeLoaderAndOverlay();vwoCode.finish()}),vwoCode.library_tolerance&&typeof vwoCode.library_tolerance()!=="undefined"?vwoCode.library_tolerance():2500),_vis_opt_lib=typeof _vis_opt_lib=="undefined"?window._vwo_cdn+_vis_opt_file:_vis_opt_lib;var loadLib=function(url){_vwo_code.load(url, { dSC: true, onloadCb:function(xhr,a){window._vwo_mt_l=true;if(xhr.status===200 || xhr.status===304){if(!window._vwo_wt_f)return window._vwo_mt_f=xhr.responseText;_vwo_code.addScript({text:xhr.responseText});delete window._vwo_wt_f;}else{if(gcpfb(a,loadLib,xhr.status)){return;}_vwo_code.finish("&e=loading_failure:"+a);}}, onerrorCb: function(a){if(gcpfb(a,loadLib)){return;}window._vwo_mt_l=true;_vwo_code.finish("&e=loading_failure:"+a);}})};loadLib(_vis_opt_lib);VWO.load_co=function(u,opts){return window._vwo_code.load(u,opts);};;;}}catch(e){_vwo_code.finish();_vwo_code.removeLoaderAndOverlay&&_vwo_code.removeLoaderAndOverlay();_vwo_err(e);window.VWO.caE=1}})();
Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
LGBTQ+
Feven Gerezgiher
Updated:

PWHL draft pick Britta Curl apologizes for social media activity

PWHL Draft Hockey
PWHL Minnesota second round draft pick Britta Curl, center, poses for a photo with Minnesota assistant coach Mira Jalosuo, right, and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter during the PWHL hockey draft earlier this month. (Renée Jones Schneider/Star Tribune via AP)
Renée Jones Schneider/AP

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

Britta Curl — the PWHL Minnesota draft pick facing criticism for her social media activity — has posted an apology to hockey fans. 

The University of Wisconsin graduate was PWHL Minnesota’s choice during the second round of the PWHL draft on Monday. Though she is known as a solid player and a leader on the ice, her selection drew immediate backlash from audiences in person and online. 

This is because of posts Curl has liked on social platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Some seemed to indicate her support for excluding transgender women in sports and other anti-trans messages.

She also appeared to support COVID-19 vaccine conspiracy theories. She “liked” one post sharing of the “not guilty” verdict for Kyle Rittenhouse, who killed two people and injured another during protests of the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, in Wisconsin. 

As of Wednesday, X no longer allows users to view others’ liked posts. 

Hockey journalist Ian Kennedy told MPR News earlier this week that the controversy with Curl — in addition to another recent scandal with PWHL Minnesota — has the potential to cast a major shadow on the league’s future. The PWHL just wrapped its inaugural season. On Friday evening, Curl returned to X to express her regrets. 

“My social media activity has resulted in hurt being felt across communities including LGBTQ+ and BIPOC individuals and I just want to apologize and take ownership of that,” Curl said in a video. “I have family members and extremely close friends who are part of these communities and I love them very much.”

Curl said she is honored to have been drafted and hopes to better demonstrate her character to PWHL fans. 

“I’ve played with countless teammates with different personalities, different religious beliefs, political views, different lifestyles, and we’ve always been able to maintain mutual respect and love. And I believe that my former teammates, coaches and staff would agree that this is how I carry myself in and out of the locker room,” Curl said. 

Curl added the controversy has been “an opportunity to grow in humility and grow in love.” 

Also on Friday evening, the PWHL issued its first statement since the draft controversy. 

“Our commitment remains steadfast: to build an inclusive league that develops, supports, and elevates the best women’s hockey players in the world while fostering a safe and welcoming environment for our growing, diverse and devoted fan base.”

Correction (June 16, 2024): This article incorrectly stated the events surrounding Jacob Blake and Kyle Rittenhouse. The story has been updated.

Dear reader,

Political debates with family or friends can get heated. But what if there was a way to handle them better?

You can learn how to have civil political conversations with our new e-book!

Download our free e-book, Talking Sense: Have Hard Political Conversations, Better, and learn how to talk without the tension.

Volume Button
Volume
Now Listening To Livestream
Cathy Wurzer
On Air
Morning Edition with Cathy Wurzer