Talking Sense

MPR News and the nonprofit organization Braver Angels have created Talking Sense to help Minnesotans have hard conversations, better.

Talking Sense is a reporting project that explores the roots of polarization in communities, families and homes, and looks at how Minnesotans are navigating these divisive times. It’s also a series of live events and online tools that help Minnesotans have challenging political conversations without letting the need to change minds stand in the way of preserving important relationships. 

Has political polarization affected your family or community? Send us your Talking Sense story at talk@mprnews.org

In Pelican Rapids, teens learn the skill of civil discourse
In a deeply polarized country, a new program in Minnesota is teaching middle and high schoolers how to find common ground in their communities. Program leaders say it’s an effort to inspire young people to become engaged politically and in their towns. 
The Trump administration’s impact on free speech
President Donald Trump says he’s brought back free speech. But has he? MPR News host Catharine Richert talks about the consequences of expressing some ideas under the Trump administration.  
She’s a rabbi. He’s a Palestinian peace activist. They’re trying to start a movement
A fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has ended. But even as peace in the region seems out of reach, a group of Twin Cities Palestinian peace activists and Jewish people have continued to meet and have difficult conversations.
Love is political? ‘Love is Blind’ Minneapolis season centers politics more than ever
Production of season eight took place in early 2024 while primaries were still underway for the presidential election. During the pods, participants had in-depth conversations about the LGBTQ+ community, the murder of George Floyd, religion and more.
In polarized times, these Minnesota legislators want to restore civility at the state Capitol
This year’s legislative session started with a lot of vitriol between DFLers and Republicans. But a bipartisan group of legislators is trying to get both sides to be more collaborative and civil.
An Ely group agrees on the value of the Boundary Waters — but they can’t agree on mining
Whether they’re conservative or liberal, people in Ely seem to agree on one thing: they love the Boundary Waters. What they can’t seem to agree on, though, is whether copper-nickel mining would endanger those beloved lakes.
Rattled by politics? Try some sweet potato pie
Rose McGee, the founder of the Twin Cities nonprofit Sweet Potato Comfort Pie, hopes her comfort food will help people connect and have meaningful conversations around hard topics like race.
Minneapolis police, Black men find common ground in Alabama’s past
MPR News host Angela Davis presents an audio documentary about her experiences traveling to Montgomery, Ala., with a group of Minneapolis police officers and Black community members seeking to build trust.