Wedge LIVE!

We continue the Pedal-Pod series, recorded on location at Open Streets  on Lyndale Avenue -- everyone's favorite summer street festival in  Minneapolis. John boots failed Ward 13 candidate Mike Norton out of the  pod-mobile so he can pick up a winner: Aisha Chughtai, who represents  Ward 10 on the City Council. We talk about bike earrings, Aisha's status  as "the bus lady,...

The first installment of a many part series recorded during the Lyndale Avenue edition of Open Streets Minneapolis on June 5, 2022. We haven't Open Streets on Lyndale in June since 2019. To mark the occasion, John has borrowed a four-wheeled recumbent bicycle with side-by-side seating, and transformed it into what he's calling "the world's first pedal-powered podcast." Our first two guests are Ash...

John is joined by Melody Hoffman (@MelodySWV) for the first in a series of monthly appearances called "Monthly with Melody" (note: the monthly nature of Melody's appearances is currently probationary). Melody gets John up to speed on all the news he missed while away. John spent last week visiting Chicago, enjoying their transit system and sampling the original Uptown. John explains why commemorat...

A conversation about the struggle for reproductive justice in Minnesota with Shayla Walker, executive director of Our Justice, an organization providing support and resources to people seeking access to abortion. With the US Supreme Court indicating their intention to overturn the right to an abortion, Shayla says the demand for those services in Minnesota is going to increase several times over....

John is joined by Melody Hoffmann (@MelodySWV) for an episode recorded smack in the middle of four lanes of traffic on Lyndale Avenue (27th Street intersection) in south Minneapolis. Did we capture any usable audio? Listen to find out. This episode is best experienced on YouTube. Special thanks to Conrad Zbikowski (@ConradZbikowski) for his behind the camera work. This episode would not have been...

John is joined by Peter Wagenius, legislative director for the Sierra Club Northstar Chapter, for a conversation about the history of dedicated transit space on Minneapolis streets and similarities with today's debate over bus lanes on Hennepin Avenue. We talk about what makes our transportation planning decisions so key to combating climate change. Peter recalls his experience, while policy direc...

John has a conversation with reproductive health researcher Asha Hassan, MPH, about the public health and equity impacts of eliminating the constitutional right to an abortion, as a draft opinion has signaled is the intention of the US Supreme Court. What is Minnesota's role in restricting or expanding access? Does this open the floodgates to further attacks on bodily autonomy? With the potential...

John is joined by Jason Garcia for the first ever Ask Us Anything episode. We take calls from Melody ( https://SouthwestVoices.news ) regarding Lyndale Avenue safety improvements, and Christin regarding the US Supreme Court's intention to overturn abortion rights. John puts his foot down after superfan Conrad Z makes repeated calls into the show. We talk about the results of the state's investigat...

On this episode, John is joined by his dear friends Ryan Brown, Elissa Schufman, and PeggySue Imihy Bean to explore the importance of friendship. We explore questions such as how to go about trying to make friends as an adult?; is it possible for an outsider to make friends in Minneapolis?; how has your outlook on friendship been transformed during the pandemic?; can you maintain a friendship with...

John has a conversation with Kathleen Cole, an organizer with People Over Prosecution, whose mission is "transforming prosecution in Hennepin County" by electing a prosecutor "whose practices deliver justice, not just punishment." Kathleen explains what's wrong with longtime Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman. We delve into questions like: Why are prosecutors, and this office, so important? Wha...

John is joined by Elliott Payne, Minneapolis City Council member in Ward 1. We talk about his plans for a new public safety charter amendment, which he is careful to say isn't a rehash of last year's election; the police killing of Amir Locke, and whether Mayor Frey can start getting MPD policies right after some big failures during his four-plus years on the job; and after hearing big promises fo...

John is joined by PeggySue and Chris Meyer for a conversation about attempts to resolve longstanding environmental issues at a south Minneapolis public golf course, its historical significance to Black golfers, the flooding and trash that plague the adjacent lake and its neighbors, and a longshot plan to replace the course with a sex forest. See the Hiawatha Golf Course master plan, which Chris re...

After 60 episodes the Wedge LIVE podcast is taking it to the next level, and we're extending an opportunity to bring your product or service along for the ride. Whether you're a realtor, a local bar/restaurant, or a cat owner looking to have your cat's birthday announced on the air -- we're here to meet your advertising needs. Contact newsroom@wedgelive.com.

John is joined by Jason Garcia (@jasoncomix) and Josh Martin (@JoshMartinMpls) for a conversation about the recent history of the Minneapolis Charter Commission, why this volunteer body is important, and our opportunity to fill 11 of the 15 seats with new appointments in 2022 -- APPLY TODAY! Apply for an open seat on the Minneapolis Charter Commission:  https://www.minneapolismn.gov/governmen...

John and co-host PeggySue Imihy have a conversation with Alex Burns and José Antonio Zayas Cabán -- both from Our Streets Minneapolis -- about their new endeavor to replace a 7-mile stretch of I-94 between Minneapolis and St. Paul with a Twin Cities Boulevard. We go over the environmental and economic harms of an interstate, and the opportunity to heal them. We talk about strategies to overcome th...

John's guests are Melissa Whitler and Sara Spafford Freeman (and Sara's large dog). We talk about the Minneapolis Public Schools, racism and segregation, unfunded mandates for special education and English learners, white parents who don't send their kids to the neighborhood school, why you should "defund your PTA," and how to fill an oncoming budget hole once the federal covid relief money dries...

With Minneapolis teachers and support staff set to strike if an agreement isn't reached with the school district by March 8, John has a conversation with Shaun Laden, the president of the Educational Support Professionals chapter of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers. We talk about the state of Minneapolis schools, what the union is asking for, and what Shaun sees as an existential threat to t...

John has a conversation with Paul Ostrow, candidate for Hennepin County Attorney. Paul is a former Minneapolis City Council member and currently works as an Assistant Anoka County Attorney. Paul Ostrow's campaign website: https://ostrowforhennepin.com Watch this episode and view other clips: youtube.com/wedgelive Join the conversation: twitter.com/wedgelive Support the show: patreon.com/wedgelive...

John and Jason start by reviewing Mayor Jacob Frey's job performance in the wake of Minneapolis police killing Amir Locke in a no-knock raid. Then they move on to a conversation about the state of MPD, the latest on the Hennepin Avenue reconstruction, John's appearance in the faith-based animal magazine All Creatures, and more. Watch this episode and view other clips: youtube.com/wedgelive Join th...

John is joined by co-host Jason Garcia for a conversation about Amir Locke and police accountability with Minneapolis City Council member Aisha Chughtai. Watch this episode and view other clips: youtube.com/wedgelive Join the conversation: twitter.com/wedgelive Support the show: patreon.com/wedgelive Wedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontsee

John has a conversation with Adam Wysopal, a man with zoning concerns about a Burger King drive thru in his backyard (NBKIMBY). If you'd like to join Adam's zoning fight against Burger King, he's written an explainer document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W5u2vnvxVrsXOeGL4eoIbON-umwsDOlyxfLdjSU02nw Thumbnail photo credit: Andrew Hazzard. You can read his 2020 coverage of the drive-thru saga...

John has a conversation with Ryan Winkler, MN House Majority Leader and a candidate for Hennepin County Attorney. Ryan Winkler's campaign website: ryanwinkler.com Registration for the February 1 caucus is happening right now. For information on how to participate -- and to access contactless/non-attendee forms -- Hennepin County residents should visit caucus.dfl.org and Minneapolis residents shoul...

John has a conversation with Simon Trautmann, a member of the Richfield City Council and a candidate for Hennepin County Attorney. Simon Trautmann's campaign website: simonforcountyattorney.com Registration for the February 1 caucus is happening right now. For information on how to participate -- and to access contactless/non-attendee forms -- Hennepin County residents should visit caucus.dfl.org...

John is joined by Senate District 61 Vice Chair Deborah Copperud and Minneapolis DFL digital maestro Conrad Zbikowski for a conversation about the upcoming DFL caucuses (register today!). There's a number of local and state races on the ballot this year: Hennepin County's top prosecutor, sheriff, county commissioner, school board, state house and senate. This year, like last year, is easier than a...

John has a conversation with Mary Moriarty, former Chief Public Defender in Hennepin County, who is currently running for County Attorney. Mary Moriarty's campaign website: www.maryforhennepin.com Registration for the February 1 caucus is happening right now. For information on how to participate -- and to access contactless/non-attendee forms -- Hennepin County residents should visit caucus.dfl.o...