MPR News with Angela Davis

Americans say staying informed is essential to participating in civic life — especially when it comes to voting. But a new Pew Research Center study finds that many people also feel overwhelmed by the news, are distrustful of what they see and are increasingly selective about what they pay attention to. So what does that mean for local journalism? MPR News host Angela Davis talks about how newsroo...

The immigration enforcement surge has taken an economic toll on many Minnesota communities, especially in the Twin Cities. As workers and customers stay home, some restaurants, construction firms and other businesses that employ immigrants are struggling to stay open. Minneapolis officials estimate the city lost more than  $200 million in economic activity in a single month . And, when spending co...

The Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus is one of the oldest and largest gay choruses in the country. For 45 years, it’s built a sense of community among its singers and has spread joy and awareness in the broader community. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with the artistic director and chorus members about the choir’s history and how music can heal and bring people together through hard times. Guests:...

More federal funding for public health is on the chopping block. MPR News host Angela Davis talks about what the cuts could mean for Minnesota and why a federal judge stepped in to temporarily block them. 

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with former St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter about his eight years in City Hall, the lessons he’s learned and what’s next. Guest: Melvin Carter III served as mayor of St. Paul for eight years. Elected in 2017 and reelected in 2021, he was the city’s first African American mayor. Prior to his election as mayor, he served as St. Paul City Council member for Ward 1, repre...

The immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota is ending, said Tom Homan, the border czar for President Donald Trump. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said Thursday he’ll back an aid package to support state businesses, especially immigrant-owned business, hurt by the surge of federal immigration agents in Minnesota over the past two months. Walz told reporters he’ll propose a $10 million emergency fund, s...

The federal immigration enforcement actions have brought a sense of fear and uncertainty to many communities in Minnesota. Many people — especially immigrants and their families — are feeling unrelenting stress. Others are feeling anxious and exhausted as their workplaces, schools and neighborhoods navigate sudden changes and loss. Coming up at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, MPR News host Angela Davis talks...

Names removed from mailboxes. Businesses shuttered. More packages from online retailers. These are just a few of the changes mail carriers say they’ve noticed since President Donald Trump’s administration sent a surge of federal immigration agents to Minnesota in early December. MPR News host Angela Davis hears from mail carriers about how ICE activity is affecting their work and the people they s...

Construction always slows during winter in Minnesota. But this year, federal immigration crackdowns are causing an even bigger slowdown in the industry. Builders and remodelers who rely on immigrant labor say enforcement activity is making it harder to keep crews on the job. Many immigrant workers are staying home out of fear — worried about being detained, questioned and harassed by immigration o...

For many people, the federal immigration activity in Minnesota creates fear and raises urgent questions about safety and belonging. For others, it’s a call to witness, document and respond.  Artists are often among the first to translate historic moments like this — to give shape to emotions that can feel overwhelming or hard to name. Through poetry, visual art, murals, performance, and music, the...

Federal immigration enforcement is fueling a growing rent crisis. Many immigrant workers — even those with legal authorization — fear leaving home due to increased enforcement, while others are losing income as workplaces cut hours or shut down. Without paychecks, rent and other bills go unpaid. Advocates report a surge in calls to tenant hotlines and emergency assistance programs, particularly in...

Federal immigration enforcement has entered a new era. ICE agents are now deploying facial recognition software, social media monitoring, and other digital tools to identify immigrants and surveil protesters. MPR News host Catharine Richert and her guests take a hard look at how these technologies work, where the law draws the line, and what the expansion of digital surveillance means for privacy...

Over the past month, federal immigration enforcement has focused on the city of Minneapolis. Their presence and aggressive tactics have forced city leaders to navigate complex questions about authority, cooperation, and the role of local government.   At the center of that conversation is the city’s community safety commissioner, Todd Barnette. He oversees the Minneapolis Police Department along w...

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with Minnesota school superintendents about how the surge in federal immigration activity is affecting student attendance, learning, and safety — and what it means for families and schools.  Guests: Brenda Lewis is the superintendent of Fridley Public Schools. Christine Tucci Osorio  is the superintendent for School District 622 which includes North St. Paul, Maple...

Businesses across Minnesota are feeling the strain as the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown moves into its seventh week. Immigrant-owned businesses — and companies that rely on immigrant workers — have been hit especially hard. Employers say many workers are staying home, worried about being stopped or detained by immigration officers. At the same time, customers are also staying away,...

Healthcare providers across the state say fear of federal immigration operations are keeping patients from doctors’ offices and emergency rooms. Patients are canceling appointments, delaying treatment and avoiding care altogether — not because they aren’t sick, but because they’re afraid.   That fear has very real consequences. When people delay care, their health suffers, and puts a strain on fam...

As federal immigration enforcement has surged in Minnesota, so has assistance to immigrants. Across Minnesota, people are supporting immigrant neighbors who are too afraid to leave their homes. Volunteers are delivering groceries and giving rides. They’re helping with rent and pitching in with everything from dog walking to legal services. The support is grassroots, organized through local neighbo...

Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident, was killed by Border Patrol agents on Saturday. The shooting has renewed protests after weeks of aggressive federal immigration action.   The federal government’s account of what happened differs starkly from bystander video footage. Civil liberties groups say that’s exactly why independent observation and documentation of law enforcement actions is...

Faith communities across Minnesota are facing a hard question: What happens when federal immigration enforcement collides with religious conviction? A recent protest inside a church has also raised questions about free speech, religious freedom and the role of faith leaders in moments of moral conflict. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert explores how churches and other religious communities are...

Recent federal immigration enforcement actions are creating fear, anger or uncertainty for some Minnesota families. And mental health providers say that anxiety doesn’t stop with adults. Stress in young people might show up as sleeplessness, trouble focusing in school or a deep sense of worry about family safety. MPR News host Angela Davis talks about what children, teenagers and young adults are...

Federal immigration enforcement activity has increased in Minnesota in recent weeks, prompting questions, concern and uncertainty in many communities. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with Minnesotans who have had recent interactions with federal immigration officers. They talk about how enforcement is affecting daily life, public spaces and community trust. Guests: Ahmed Bin Hassan is a rideshare...

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a chance to reflect on King’s life, his words and the work he urged us to continue.  King believed in justice rooted in community, in young people as leaders and in the power of any individual to create the change they want to see.  Coming up at 9 a.m. on Monday, MPR News host Angela Davis talks with high school students across Minnesota who are engaging with King’s m...

Sometimes opposites attract, and then they make each other stronger. That’s the story of our first Power Pair of 2026, Minneapolis married couple Roosevelt and Angela Mansfield. She is a longtime educator who taught in Minneapolis Public Schools and now serves as an assistant commissioner at the Minnesota Department of Education. He’s a youth worker, DJ and photographer, whose art shines a light o...

Getting a cancer diagnosis today can mean something very different than it meant a few decades ago.   Cancer is still deadly. But thanks to advances in detection and treatment, cancer for some people has turned into a manageable condition. A report from the American Cancer Society out this week shows that for the first time that the five-year survival rate for all cancers has reached 70 percent. T...

Have you ever seen a social media post that was so captivating that you just had to share it?   Maybe it was a powerful video, a striking image or a headline that made you stop scrolling.    But was it true? In a world where artificial intelligence can generate photos, videos and even voices, it’s becoming harder to know what’s real and what isn’t. In fact, it’s become so challenging to tell truth...