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Essential Minnesota

Essential Minnesota

Written by: Minnesota Star Tribune
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About this listen

 Every Friday some of the best reporters in Minnesota dig into one important local story. Host Melissa Townsend brings her distinct curiosity and humor to these weekly deep-dive conversations with journalists from the Minnesota Star Tribune where they break down the facts, the players and the impact. No spin, pretense or A.I. – just great local stories that matter to Minnesota and beyond. It’s what we do best. Available Fridays at 4:30 A.M. Central. Political Science Politics & Government Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Stories from the critic who knew the Purple One best

    Stories from the critic who knew the Purple One best
    Apr 17 2026
    Minnesota Star Tribune music critic Jon Bream knew Prince before the world did -- before the first record, before he became an icon. Their decades-long relationship had its share of highs and lows (including a ban from Prince's club after a bad review). Jon reflects on the artist he knew and what’s become of Prince's unreleased work 10 years after his death.
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    39 mins
  • The Minnesota Legislature’s plan to tackle fraud this session - part 3

    The Minnesota Legislature’s plan to tackle fraud this session - part 3
    Apr 3 2026
    Rage bait videos and stories online catch a lot of attention. But the real solutions to dealing with fraud in Minnesota are less sensational and more practical. Our reporters run down the real problems that open the door to Medicaid fraud and the solutions state lawmakers are proposing that will close it. Guests: Jessie Van Berkel, reporter Ryan Faircloth, reporter
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    23 mins
  • Did Operation Metro Surge root out Medicaid fraud in Minn? part 2

    Did Operation Metro Surge root out Medicaid fraud in Minn? part 2
    Mar 27 2026
    We ended 2025 with a set of very serious fraud charges involving millions of dollars that were supposed to go to services that are a lifeline for some Minnesotans. And then Operation Metro surge happened. The deployment was supposed to root out this fraud, but our reporters describe what really happened. This is part 2 of a 3 part series where our reporters separate reality from rage bait about fraud in Minnesota. Guests: Jessie Van Berkel, reporter Deena Winter, reporter
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    29 mins
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