The Sunday Take

Blois moderates a debate between Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District candidates Democratic candidate Rep. Dean Phillips and Republican candidate Tom Weiler.

Blois Olson hosts an extended debate between incumbent MN Secretary of State Steve Simon and challenger Kim Crockett.  Topics covered include: election security, voter confidence in the election process, and ways to improve the process.

After Blois offers up his take of the week, he chats with the following guests: MN Congressman and NRCC chair Tom Emmer gives us an update on how he believes the Midterm elections will go in just over 5 weeks from today. American Strategies chief executive officer Joe Goode explains his job as a political pollster and explains whether these types of polls should be trusted by the electorate-at-lar...

Blois takes a few minutes to offer his thoughts on the fraud charges brought against the Feeding Our Future non-profit.  He also seeks the advice of the following guests: Bill Glahn, Adjunct Policy Fellow from the Center for the American Experiment Former WCCO-TV political reporter and analyst Pat Kessler

Blois opens the show describing a recent announcement from State A.G. Keith Ellison.  After that, we hear from the following guests: Judge Martha Holton Dimick explains her campaign to become the new Hennepin County Attorney. Marcus Starr (Campaigns Director for Conservation Minnesota) and Amelia Cerling Hennes (Director of Communications & Public Affairs at Clean Energy Economy Minnesota) joi...

On this anniversary of the September 11th attacks, Blois take a moment to reflect on that day's infamy.  Then, he gets back into the realm of politics: Blois focuses in on one of the more obscure legislative races in this Midterm cycle.  He speaks with MN Rep. Donald Raleigh and opposing candidate Matt Norris as they vie for MN House's District 32B seat. MinnPost reoprter Peter Callaghan provides...

Due to some technical glitches, Blois had to change the show around this week.  He leans on listener questions to guide part of the conversation.  He also shares his thoughts on this year's State Fair foods. MN State Rep. Kaohly Vang Her and MN State Sen. Roger Chamberlain come on the program to discuss the issues their parties are more concerned with as the Midterm elections draw closer.

Blois takes the show out to the Minnesota State Fair as we start the home stretch to the Midterm elections.  This week, he hosts a debate between State Auditor Julie Blaha (D) and challenger Ryan Wilson (R) from the porch of our Fair booth.

This week, Blois is shifting toward topics that effect the Fall season and forward.  He tells us about some items around education.  Plus, he speaks with the following guests: St. Paul mayor Melvin Carter goes over some of the more significant points of the city budget he proposed earlier in the week. State Rep. Ron Kresha discusses some of his concerns with issues plaguing education, including if...

In a rare and wide-ranging interview with WCCO Political Analyst Blois Olson, former MN Rep. John Thompson (D) opened up about his controversies, his view of racial inequities in Minnesota politics, and the lack of resources for people in the diverse neighborhood he represented and where he still lives. Thompson was defeated in Tuesday night's primary by Liz Lee. (Warning: Contains graphic languag...

The first significant vote of the 2022 Midterm cycle is here.  Blois highlights some points ahead of Tuesday's state primaries.  After that, he catches up with the following guests: Former MN DFL Party chair Mike Erlandson digs into the current divide in the Democratic Party and whether it will have an effect at the polls. Dana Ferguson, Capitol reporter for the Forum Communications Group, provide...

This week, Blois turns his focus to the rural communities of the state ahead of next week's Farmfest.  After talking about the importance of this event, our host chats with State Agricultural Commissioner Tom Peterson and CHS Director of Produce Brokerage Kent Beadle about many of the issues concerning areas of Outstate Minnesota.

After Blois previews an upcoming pivot point in the 2022 election cycle, he chats with the following guests: Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor to the Domestic Policy Advisor Stefanie Feldman digs into how the Biden Administration is trying to get a handle on the growing issue of crime across the country. Former State Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch dives into how the MN GOP is g...

This week on Blois Olson's Sunday Take, he looks back on what seemed to be a rough week for the GOP's ticket for Governor, Scott Jensen and Matt Birk, who are under fire for Birk's comments on abortion and women's rights. Can you win or lose a campaign in July? Olson then talks to Stef Feldman, Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor to the Domestic Policy Council about public safety,...

Our host starts this week's show focusing on portions of the South Metro, specifically Dakota County.  He chats with the following guests: Lakeville City Councilman Luke Hellier gives us the reasoning for his run in the city's Mayoral race.  Does he see the county growing more red this election cycle? Dakota County District 3 Commissioner Laurie Halverson brings her perspective on where the county...

This morning, after Blois takes a few moments to give his thoughts, our host sits down with a couple of guests to discuss the new THC edibles law that went into effect last week. Attorney Jessica Roe (of the Roe Law Group) takes a look at what local businesses need to know regarding the new law and how to handle employees that use it to its advantage. State Rep. Heather Edelson explains why she co...

Ahead of Independence Day, Blois take a few moments to discuss the importance of this nation's birthday.  After that, we hear from the following guests: TPT journalist Mary Lahammer provides the latest on the topics and election races that will shape the rest of 2022. MN Rep. Jennifer Schultz explains her decision to run for U.S. Congress in the state's 8th District.

This week, Blois takes a minute to dig into the Supreme Court's announcement of the overturning of Roe vs. Wade.  After that, he invites the following guests on the program: Creighton University economics professor Dr. Ernie Goss describes how the regional economy is reacting to items such as inflation. Former Naval officer Tom Weiler explains his platform in challenging Congressman Dean Phillips...

This week on Sunday Take Blois Olson talks with DFL Maj. Leader Representative Ryan Winkler and GOP Asst. Maj. Senator Leader Karin Housley.

With the Summer travel season underway, there's a lot of talk about gas prices and inflation surrounding our automobiles.  Blois focuses on the discussion this week, sitting down with the following guests to chat about what's going on with the cars in our life: Scott Lambert, President of the MN Auto Dealers Association State Rep. Anne Neu Brindley State Rep. Dan Wolgamott

This week, Blois sits down for a "cup of coffee" with the following guests: State Sen. Erin Murphy discusses why a Special Session is necessary after the end of the 2022 Regular Session.  And is there a way for one party to reach constituents favoring the other? Attorney Doug Wardlow explains why he decided to get back into the race for Attorney General after losing the party endorsement for...

After the recent tragedies in Buffalo, NY and Uvalde, TX, Blois takes time on this Memorial Day weekend to dig into the discussion on gun policies.  After providing his thoughts on the current state of gun laws, he speaks with the following guests representing each side of the main argument: Rob Doar, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, tells us hi...

Following the 2022 MN DFL Convention wrapped up Sunday, Blois gets a sense of how the party's doing.  He sits down with the following guests: MN DFL Party chairman Ken Martin discusses the challenges his candidates face in this year's statewide and national Midterm election races.  Does he feel a sense of a shift in their chances of staying in leadership roles in November? Governor Tim W...

Blois took a trip to Rochester this week to attend the 2022 MN Republican Convention.  He gives his recap of Saturday's votes for this year's statewide elections.  Afterwards, he dives into the weekend with: State Republican Party Chair David Hann Party-endorsed Gubernatorial candidate Dr. Scott Jensen and Lieutenant Gubernatorial candidate Matt Birk.

Blois is back on the political beat this week.  For this episode, he sits down with the following guests: Jill Hasday, Distinguished McKnight University Professor at the University of Minnesota School of Law, discusses the fallout from this week's news at the Supreme Court.  What does the leak of the decision draft regarding Roe v. Wade mean for the future of the institution? Attorney Ji...