Talking Sense

A graphic reading Talking Sense MPR News

During what promises to be a divisive election year, MPR News and the nonprofit organization Braver Angels are partnering to create Talking Sense, an online and in-person platform to help Minnesotans have hard conversations, better.

Talking Sense will teach Minnesotans how to think through these challenging political conversations in advance, without letting the need to “win” and change minds stand in the way of preserving important relationships.

A man gestures to a tree

Arbor Day tradition aims to put trees in ground while easing political tensions at Capitol

April 23, 2024 4:00 AM

By Clay Masters

For the past several decades, two Democrats and two Republicans in the Minnesota House have passed out trees on Arbor Day as a brief respite from political tensions at the Capitol.

protest outside

Mood of the Nation: Angry

April 23, 2024 12:01 AM

By Craig Helmstetter and Eric Plutzer

Nine in 10 Americans can name either a recent news event or something about American politics that made them angry, while only half could identify a recent news event or something about American politics that made them proud, according to the McCourtney Institute for Democracy’s latest Mood of the Nation Poll.

Catharine Richert discusses 'Talking Sense

Introducing Talking Sense: Have hard political conversations, better.

February 6, 2024 11:46 AM

By Catharine Richert

This election season MPR News is bringing you Talking Sense, an online and in-person platform to help you have difficult conversations, despite political differences.

a man rests his chin on his hands as he listens

Tensions build as White Earth Nation tries to assert authority over state forest land use

April 16, 2024 4:00 AM

By Dan Gunderson

A bill at the Capitol that would transfer ownership of some state-owned forest lands to the White Earth Band of Ojibwe has sparked outcry from non-Native neighbors, and prompted calls for dialogue to help ease the conflict.

Two young men shake hands, a third stands holding a button

St. Olaf election project drives turnout, primes students for more productive political conversations

April 9, 2024 4:00 AM

By Catharine Richert

St. Olaf College in Northfield has one of the highest voter turnouts in the country. In 2020, nearly 90 percent of eligible Oles cast a ballot. Getting out the vote is a big part of the school’s civic engagement work. But equally important is an effort to train students on better ways to discuss politics with people they disagree with.

a man and a woman laugh

A Republican and a Democrat make the case for civility in politics

April 8, 2024 12:01 PM

By Cathy Wurzer and Heidi Raschke

Former North Dakota U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, a Democrat, and former North Dakota Gov. Ed Schafer, a Republican, encourage people to break out of a cycle of cultural divisions to work toward bipartisan civil discourse.

Talking Sense: The roots of political polarization

April 4, 2024 2:29 PM

By Angela Davis, Matt Alvarez, and Catharine Richert

Hear the voices from the first Talking Sense event held in Woodbury on Feb. 27.

A woman speaks in a large lecture hall

‘Always truth in their story’: How one author talks across political divides

March 26, 2024 4:00 AM

By Catharine Richert

Author Mónica Guzmán says she’s the proud, liberal daughter of conservative parents. She wrote a book about how she navigates challenging political discussions — and how the rest of us can use the same techniques to preserve important relationships.

People talk in a chamber

Two St. Paul council members reveal how they overcame deep divisions to pass cease-fire resolution

March 12, 2024 4:00 AM

By Catharine Richert

Late last month, the St. Paul City Council was at an impasse over a resolution calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war. But then last week, they passed one unanimously, calling for a quote “immediate and permanent mutual cease-fire.” MPR News correspondent Catharine Richert sat down with council members Cheniqua Johnson and Rebecca Noecker to find out how the council found common ground.

close up of hands and cell phone

5 tips for spotting and debunking disinformation this election year

March 7, 2024 11:57 AM

By Angela Davis, Maja Beckstrom, and Catharine Richert

People who study misinformation say it’s easy to fall for and spread falsehoods. MPR News host Angela Davis talked with experts about what makes us believe things that aren’t true and how to spot and debunk disinformation.