City Cast Twin Cities

The Department of Justice is suing Minneapolis Public Schools for a policy that protects teachers from underrepresented groups from being laid off. Host Sean McPherson is joined by contributor Hans Buetow and producer Adam Sage to break down what the DOJ's goals are in this lawsuit. The team also gets into possible snowplow names for MnDOT's 2026 Snowplow naming contest, and some good news in Minn...

Have you ever wondered why St. Anthony Falls is just pure concrete? The Dakota-led group Owámniyomni Okhódayapi is redesigning and restoring the falls to its pre-colonial lushness. President Shelley Buck tells us what the project is doing differently. Plus, if you’re wondering how to stay chic during harsh Minnesota winters, local fashion designer Samantha Rei has some tips. Pooping in downtown Mi...

The President of Augsburg University is condemning ICE after agents took a student from campus without a warrant over the weekend. Meanwhile, advocates in St. Paul are calling on the city council to take action regarding SPPD's violent conduct during a Nov. 25 ICE raid.  Host Sean McPherson is joined by MPR Newsroom Coordinator and Contributor Denzel Belin and Executive Producer Anna Weggel to fil...

Let’s revisit a few conversations from earlier this year including the best theaters in the Twin Cities – criteria include popcorn, comfy seats, and a good urinal — and a chat about the places techies should visit when they come to the Twin Cities. Plus, we discuss a project at the U of M that is working to undo past harms of racial covenants on home deeds in the Twin Cities. Host Sean McPherson i...

We follow the right-wing pipeline that led to Donald Trump’s attacks on Somali Minnesotans, including trying to revoke protected status for some residents. Minnesota Reformer’s Editor-in-Chief Patrick Coolican joins the show to debunk the City Journal article “Minnesota Welfare Fraud: Some Funds Went to Al-Shabaab.” What should we expect from our political leaders, and what can we as Twin Citizens...

St. Paul managed to pass their 2026 city budget with unanimous 7-0 approval from the city council – meanwhile, the Minneapolis city council and mayor's office are gearing up for what will likely be a long, drawn-out debate over the Minneapolis budget. Host Sean McPherson is joined by contributor Tane Danger and producer Adam Sage to break down what St. Paul residents are getting out of the 2026 bu...

Trump’s new push for mass deportations is already sending fear through Minnesota’s Somali community, and we break down some of the more offensive comments he threw at Minnesota and its residents this week. Today, host Sean McPherson is joined by contributor Em Cassel of Racket and City Cast producer Tiffany Bui to break down what we know, what we don’t, and how people on the ground are navigating...

The Whittier Alliance neighborhood organization is partnering with the City of Minneapolis to provide free snow shoveling for residents of the Whittier neighborhood, and 25/hr part-time work for anyone who wants to shovel. Today, host Sean McPherson is joined by independent journalist Katie Thornton and MPR Newsroom Coordinator Denzel Belin to talk shoveling and to learn more about some invasive f...

We’re hardcore into the holiday season, so City Cast producer Tiffany ranks her top three holiday markets you have to visit. We’re joined by Dean Holt, who’s been part of the Children’s Theatre Company’s production of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” since 1994. Dean reflects on the enduring legacy (and now sellability) of the big green guy. Plus, longtime radio producer and contributor Sam Choo t...

It’s the busiest time of the year, but we’ve got your guide to enjoying December to the fullest. John Munson of The New Standards joins us to talk about returning to the State Theatre for their annual holiday show. After recovering from a stroke, John says he has even more to be grateful for this season.  Read more about what we talked about: Jesus Christ Superstar at the Ordway Music Theater  Sar...

Join City Cast Twin Cities host Sean McPherson alongside fellow hosts from Austin, Chicago, DC, Denver, Las Vegas, Madison, Nashville, Philly, Pittsburgh, Portland, Salt Lake, and Seattle for a special episode that’ll help you knock out your holiday shopping early and support small businesses around the country. From a handlebar mount (and app!) that’ll turn your phone into a bike cam, to a mustar...

For many people, Thanksgiving is a time to relax and enjoy time with folks you love. But for many others, it can cause financial stress, anxiety over hosting, and fear that your relatives are going to say something that makes you feel unwelcome. Today on City Cast Twin Cities, Host Sean McPherson is joined by Dr. Katie Loth of the University of Minnesota Medical School and Contributor Tane Danger...

Host Sean McPherson is definitely taking breaks during the Turkey Trot on Thursday, and that’s totally fine. Contributor PaviElle French tells us other ways you can pre and post-game your Thanksgiving meal. Plus, another radio legend, Mary Lucia, sits down with Sean to talk about her new memoir, “What Doesn’t Kill Me Makes Me Weirder and Harder to Relate To.” After living through a traumatic stalk...

Waymo started testing its autonomous cars on the streets of Minneapolis yesterday, and could be offering autonomous taxi services in 2026. Would you ride in one? Host Sean McPherson is joined by Contributor Hans Buetow and Producer Tiffany Bui to unpack Waymo's Minneapolis rollout. The team also gets into recent drama between the University of Minnesota Physicians and the Board of Regents, this we...

Federal raids in Minnesota are causing chaos and confusion in the streets. Protestors confronted federal agents at a St. Paul manufacturing plant on Tuesday, and we still don’t know who was detained. Amy Lange and Madeline Lohman from The Advocates for Human Rights help us digest this news. Plus, they explain why judges are dismissing immigrants’ cases, only to be captured by ICE agents waiting ri...

Unionized food service workers at MSP have been in negotiations with their employer for over 11 months since their contract expired last December. With the busiest travel time of the year coming up next week, the UNITE HERE Local 17 union set a deadline of Monday for their employer HMSHost to meet their demands, or else they will go on strike. Host Sean McPherson is joined by MPR Newsroom Coordina...

It’s peak movie season, so City Cast decides the best theaters in the Twin Cities. Criteria include popcorn and comfy seats, bonus points for a good urinal. Plus, a group of neighbors dreamed of an urban farm in East Phillips. But they’re $5.7 million short – what happens next? And journalist Amy Nelson joins the show and tells us where techies should visit when they come to the Twin Cities.  Read...

We've had multiple documentaries come out regarding the challenges Minneapolis faces and what the path forward should look like for our cities. Coming out of this month's elections where Twin Cities residents voted for new leaders and what the path forward should look like, we thought it was a good time to take a look at the documentaries "A Precarious State," "The Fall of Minneapolis," and "Parad...

The federal government is reopened, but in exchange, the weed drink industry might go under. Drew Hurst, CEO of Bauhaus Brew Labs, says re-criminalizing the hemp-derived THC is an existential threat to breweries like his. Plus, St. Paul is banning assault-style weapons even though Minnesota law won’t let them. Contributor Winter Keefer breaks that down for us. Finally, Roseanne Pereira of Heavy Ta...

Minnesota's new state-sponsored parental leave program goes into effect on Jan 1, 2026, and some parents who already took parental leave for their 2025 babies will have the opportunity to take another round of leave in 2026. Host Sean McPherson is joined by Minnesota Reformer Reporter Michelle Griffith and Racket Co-Founder Em Cassel to break down everything you need to know about parental leave i...

The longest federal government shutdown might be coming to an end. Between SNAP benefits and Thanksgiving travel, we talk about what that might mean for Minnesota. Plus, John O’Sullivan of One Minute Tours tells us about what Big Beef doesn’t want you to know. Finally, contributor and MPR Newsroom Coordinator Denzel Belin reviews “Primary Trust” at Guthrie Theater. Find out why it got a rare Denze...

Minneapolis Public School teachers were set to go on strike starting today, but the Minneapolis Federation of Educators Union managed to reach a tentative agreement with Minneapolis Public Schools over the weekend. Host Sean McPherson is joined by Contributor Hans Buetow and Executive Producer Anna Weggel to break down what we know about the tentative agreement and whether or not Minneapolis educa...

According to crowdsourced data on the website Deflock.me, there are over 300 Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras in the metro area. Most of these are made by a company called Flock Safety, and they allow law enforcement to use photos of license plates to track drivers every time they pass by one of these cameras. The legality of ALPRs continues to be fought over in our courts, so we talk...

The Twin Cities team watched the “Purple Rain” musical, and the takes may be sacrilegious, but we promise they’re from the bottom of our sequined hearts. Plus, James Norton of ⁠⁠Heavy Table⁠⁠ joins Sean McPherson and contributor Denzel Belin to talk about the return of Chi Chi’s. Is it as good as you remember? Or were you just seven? We also celebrate some good news in the cities.  Read more about...

Incumbent Mayor Jacob Frey won a third term in Minneapolis, and State Representative Kaohly Her unseated incumbent Mayor Melvin Carter in St. Paul. Host Sean McPherson is joined by contributor Tane Danger and producer Tiffany Bui to break down the election results, talk about the doctors' strike that happened today, and share tips from the internet on where to trip acid in the Twin Cities. Read mo...