The Sunday Take: Recent Episodes
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Blois welcomes in guests and contributors to talk about the week’s most pivotal and impactful current events…along with the political scene and all things relevant + newsworthy affecting our listeners’ lives.
We are 48 hours away from Tuesday’s Primary Voting and Blois takes a deeper look into the races to watch for and the numbers going into this week’s voting from the top down he previews each race and the highs and lows of each candidate in each race!
This week marks another year of Farm Fest, Blois previews this as well as recapping the nice and not so nice interactions among campaigning this past week amid some turmoil in the Angie Craig and Peggy Flanagan race! Then we hear from Republican candidate for Senate Adam Schwarze who shares his non-establishment run in the GOP, what he is seeing and hearing amid his campaign travels, what he brings to the table when it comes to the economy, Iran War and overall representation in Washington and much more!
As we inch closer to primaries there seems to be somewhat of a disconnect between Minnesotans and around the country with candidates and races in politics - Blois addresses why he believes people have tuned out. Then we have an extended conversation with Representative Angie Craig (DFL) who is running against Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan for Senate and right out of the gate we dive into her vision for Minnesota and this country, the War in Iran under the current administration, the state of the LGBTQ+ community currently, Agriculture and much more! Then finally Blois shares his brief thoughts on both the controversy surrounding Senator John Hoffman and Rep Craig and also the current need for change with the algorithm when it comes to campaigning!
This week Blois Olson hosts the Congressional District 2 DFL Debate featuring Matt Klein, Matt Little and Kaela Berg LIVE in studio!
We are edging closer to primaries and we have a few spots to fill both in DC and here in Minnesota so Blois previews next week's Sunday Take in studio debate featuring the three condidates for Congressional District 2 and what we can expect as we edge closer to primaries and then Blois sits down with Secretary of State Steve Simon about the Oversight Committee, ID when it comes to voting, voter integrity and what the Federal changes mean when it comes to reporting voting at the state level and beyond - that and much more with Sec. of State Steve Simon on Sunday Take!
This weekend marks 250 years as a country. Blois shares his thoughts on the historic Independence Day marker, previewing the primaries and Farm Fest coming up and then he sits down for an extended conversation with Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan discusses why she chose to run for U.S. Senate, her race against Angie Craig for the DFL seat, her reflection on how Operation Metro Surge was handled by Governor Walz and others a few months back, the education system in Minnesota, fiscal management with the state and much more and then Blois shares this week’s take!
As we slowly approach primaries in just over a month, there is a lot to keep track of as we look ahead. From the Tim Walz factor in these elections and DFL support, also where does rural Minnesota and even surrounding states stand when it comes to the GOP? That, the Senate race and much more as Blois shares and breaks down the five key things to keep an eye on as we are five weeks out and of course, Blois shares his take for this week as we approach the 250th birthday of America!
We begin today's show with Blois recapping the week that was as we had a lot of data flood in with fundraising numbers, also, Blois lays the ground for the conversation today on the 'party over principle' in today's politics and the state of being an independent candidate! We continue to highlight the third party candidacy with Chip Tangen, Libertarian candidate for Sec. of State as well asJay Reeves, Forward Independence candidate for State Auditor in Minnesota! Finally, Blois shares this week's take!
It was one year ago today that many started their morning amid chaos when Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark and their dog Gilbert were gunned down in their home in the early Saturday morning hours in Brooklyn Park - along with Senator John Hoffman and wife Yvette being shot in their home as well and what could have been more political leaders. Blois reflects on the past year, what do we know now - especially following this past week’s guilty plea of Vance Boelter, and what we can take away and learn from this tragedy. Then Blois chats with Rep. Kelly Moller and Rep. Mike Howard as they remind us of the life and legacy of Melissa Hortman and the work she did for Minnesota and its people!
It has been an interesting week on both sides of the aisle, Klobuchar from the left and on the right we have seen some divisiveness and the non-endorsed candidates seem to have the backing financially - Blois begins by recapping that and much more from this week. Then we sit down with Congressional candidate Jake Johnson of the DFL CD1 and he shares his plans and thoughts when it comes to agriculture, deep dive into his plans for education, rising costs and much more! Then Blois shares his thoughts with this week’s take!
We had an upset in the GOP endorsement in yesterday’s convention up in Duluth where Kendall Qualls came away with the Republican nomination for the upcoming gubernatorial race - we talked to Kendall about this win, we chat with Adam Schwarze who received the Senate nomination and got Mike Lindell’s thoughts on coming up short in the GOP and then Blois shares this week’s take!
WCCO Political Analyst looks at races, trends and the issues going into state conventions in another crucial midterm year.
It is going to be a long final stretch into Monday for the members of the legislative session at the State Capitol to finish out this session leading up to the midnight deadline and Blois shares what needs to be done, if and how can Minnesota leaders reach an agreement on gun legislation, who has been the stronger side throughout the session, the latest development with HCMC and Rahul Koranne, President and CEO with Minnesota Hospital Association on the latest with this session, take some of your calls and texts and more!
We begin the show paying tribute to all of the moms out there, then we sit down with Michele Tafoya who is currently running for a Senate seat in Minnesota but also dive deeper into the War in Iran, caucuses, what Republicans need to do to turn the tide in Minnesota, and much more!
This Sunday Take we tried a different spin on the show - given the success of Minnesota sports on Thursday night where the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Wild both advanced to the next round with wins and while we are still riding the wave of winning - Blois chats with Dan Whenesota, Minnesota sports historian and Howard Sinker, sports editor for the Minnesota Star Tribune about the legacy of heartbreak in Minnesota sports and why the feeling is different this time around as we check in on the (sports) mood in Minnesota!
Right out of the gate Blois discusses a variety of topics from the week, including the incident last night in Washington D.C. with the Correspondents Dinner. Then we talked to Senator Ann Rest (DFL) about the current session and how effective a tax bill could be for Minnesota. Then we pivot to chat bonding bill and more with Representative Mary Franson (R), and finally Blois shares this week’s take including more reaction to the incident at the Correspondents Dinner, the new Walz book, State of the State this Tuesday and more!
We are nearing the end of the line for the session for 2026, with that said - legislative leaders Sen. Nick Frentz (DFL) Sen. Mark Johnson (GOP), Rep. Jamie Long (DFL) and Rep. Harry Niska (GOP) discusses the biggest session topics with 4 weeks left including any regrets from the past 3 years at the TwinWest Legislative Breakfast. Then Blois shares this week’s take!
Legislators returned this week to resume the session after the Easter/Passover break and now we look ahead to what is next. From Lisa Demuth running for Governor to some of the key debates coming up - Blois breaks it all down and then we dive into a very key part of this session and that is the schools in Minnesota from education to school safety and even an upcoming statewide ballot amendment slated potentially for Fall 2026 - Blois sits down with Representative Ben Bakeberg and Senator Mary Kunesh to sift through the importance of schools in this session, the future of education for our children and much more! Then Blois shares this week’s take which yes, is regarding schools!
It is the Easter and Passover break for those in the Minnesota Legislature so we talked to both Republican Leader Harry Niska and then DFL Rep. Matt Norris on things they have heard while on break, doorknocking in their districts and through various conversations and what can be expected to get done this session! Then Blois shares this week’s take!
To begin today’s show - Blois reflects on the events of 2026 and even some of the key events of 2025 and we reflect on the ‘No Kings’ rallies in Minnesota this weekend. We open up the texts and calls to your concerns and current mood of Minnesota from taxes, agriculture, budget spending concerns, even nationally when it comes to the Trump Administration, and much more. Also what does the outlook of the Election year look like for mid terms as right now it seems as if a “blue wave” is coming, Klobuchar’s role in Minnesota and much more - we leave it open to you for where we are in Minnesota currently! Finally, Blois shares this week’s take and it pertains to communication with legislators outside of the office and breaking the bubble of differences we all face!
It was a busy Saturday in certain parts of Minnesota with two conventions being held - one went as planned, the other not so much - Blois reacts to the latest happenings with that, a panel he moderated this past week and the latest with the current session and that leads us to today’s topic - Transportation and Blois chats with Rep. Jon Koznick R-Lakeville and Sen. Scott Dibble DFL – Minneapolis about transportation in Minnesota whether it is transit, Waymo and much more! Finally, Blois shares this week’s take!
This week Blois provides a check in from the Capitol amid the few times he had the chance to sit in on the current session over in Saint Paul then Blois sits down with Senator Ron Latz to discuss gun legislation at the Capitol as well following hearings this past week being held on gun control! Then Blois shares this week's take!
This week Blois recaps the Minnesota Chamber Workforce Summit beginning with Sean O’Neil, Senior Director of Economic Development and Research – Minnesota Chamber. Then we hear from a panel of guests including Chancellor Scott Olson, Minnesota State, President Rob Vischer, University of St. Thomas, Dr. Rebecca Cunningham, President, University of Minnesota, Doug Loon, President and CEO, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, then finally we get this week’s take from Blois on the workforce!
It was a tumultuous Saturday in the country and the world as the United States and Israel has officially taken military action against Iran and vice versa - Blois gets into a little of that. Also it is the first week of the State Tournament for Boy’s Hockey over at Grand Casino Arena and we wanted to dive into the topic of mining and the Iron Range of Minnesota with Rep. Spencer Igo, Sen. Grant Hauschild and Mining Minnesota CEO Julie Lucas as it is a key topic of discussion in this new legislative session!
Well we got through the first week officially of the legislative session and as promised Blois dives into some of the key issues in Minnesota and with this session - this week it is housing! He sits down with both the CEO of First Housing James Vagle and Representative Esther Agbaje (D) to break down the needs of the housing situation in Minnesota, why so many times housing has never really reached a solution on the floor and what to expect this session when it comes to the housing market in Minnesota! Finally, Blois shares a story related to housing and ties in the challenges and economic policy involved with housing!
It has been a year of news in just the first five weeks in Minnesota - so we try to pivot into focusing on the upcoming session! First, Blois sits down with Richard Syverson, a farmer in Western Minnesota and a member of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association - we discuss the use of E-15 in our fuels and its importance to Minnesota corn growers! Then Blois sits down with Rep Michelle Fischbach on ICE and Homeland Security in Minnesota and what she hopes to see Congress get done early on here in 2026. Then Blois shares this week’s take!
We begin today’s show recapping the caucus week including a strong showing from Rep. Lisa Demuth in the Governor’s race and also begin to try to shift the focus on some of the pressing issues of the state and the upcoming session beginning with severe cuts from HCMC and the financial struggles Hennepin Healthcare (and other medical care facilities) are facing currently - Blois sits down with Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Lunde as well as HCMC co-CEO J. Kevin Crosston to break down the financial hurdles they face! Finally, Blois shares this week’s take!
It is finally February which means we made it through January - now Blois previews a busy first week as caucuses get underway this week and another month in politics begins! Then Blois sits down with Rep. Paul Torkelson on his service and why he’s retiring from the legislature, and what has changed after 9 terms and finally, Blois shares this week’s take!
We begin the show obviously on a somber note where Blois recaps another tragedy in Minneapolis on Saturday involving Operation Metro Surge where ICE shot and killed another U.S. citizen and what comes next for this state! Also, this week Blois sits down with Representative Dave Baker of Willmar on ICE activity in Greater MN! Then Blois shares this week’s take!
The presence of ICE in Minnesota has become one of the more dominant news stories in 2026 and Blois discusses how this could impact the 2026 election, then he sits down with Majority Whip of the House of Representatives Tom Emmer to talk more about this, ICE and current state of Congress as we head into a new legislative session and for this week’s take, Blois calls out to leadership in Minnesota when it comes to 2026 and the future of Minnesota as we head closer to the Election!
Well it has been quite the week in Minnesota and once again this state is in the national spotlight - Blois begins recapping some of the key points of this week. Then he chats with Judy Randall, Minnesota’s Legislative Auditor discussing backdated documents, multiple findings in the latest audit of Behavioral Health Services, this week's hearings and the ongoing fraud problem in Minnesota and then Blois shares this week’s take!
On the first show of 2026, Blois talks to DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek about the newest - and perhaps most controversial - laws in the state, Paid Family Medical Leave.
This week we reflect on the biggest pieces of 2025 in news, specifically the political assassination of Melissa and Mark Hortman, the Annunciation shooting and what Tom Emmer and others in Minnesota politics look to accomplish in 2026. Blois also shares his take on what we should look at when it comes to the gubernatorial
We are only days away from the year 2026 which means a new session is right around the corner so Blois sits down with Representative Kelly Morrison to talk about her first year in Congress, capitalism, healthcare and the kindness caucus! Also Blois shares this week’s take which ties in to the year that was and how we can end it right with one simple word - kindness!
It might be cold but these straw poll results are red hot - Blois recaps the results, discusses more on the recent KSTP when it comes to current Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and then Blois discusses the Hennepin County Attorney vacancy beginning this week with a conversation with Anders Folk discussing the scope of the position he is vying for, what changes he could bring to the table and what the future holds for Hennepin County when it comes to prosecutions and legal issues going forward and then Blois caps the show off with this week’s take!
Today’s topic was all about civility and what lies ahead with the current situation with immigration in Minnesota. This week Blois sits down with the Republican candidate for Attorney General Ron Schutz who hopes to defeat Keith Ellison - but what separates him from the rest? What does he bring to the table for Minnesota - we get to know more about that. Also, it has been such a chaotic week, as per usual in Minnesota politics , ICE agents were in flux around the Twin Cities metro this past week again, Blois shares thoughts on that with this week’s take!
Blois Olson recaps the week of Thanksgiving and previews some of the things to look for into the holiday season and into the new year and we replay the recent interview he had with the new Saint Paul Mayor - elect Kaohly Her! Then Blois shares this week's take!
This week Blois Olson sits down with Congressman Brad Finstad to talk about what Congress needs to get done, how to find balance between immigration and agriculture, what was truly accomplished with the government shutdown and much more! Then Blois shares this week’s take as we head into Thanksgiving week!
Over this past week there has been quite a stir with the GOP slipping in a provision banning THC and hemp federally over the next year amid the government shutdown ending. Blois chats with Glenn McElfresh, Co-Founder and COO of Plift, a THC infused soda brand about his business, the effect this ban will have on the $200 million hemp industry, what the ban means for the future of this industry and how could compromises be made and the many ways in which hemp derived products benefit the economy. Then we pivot to some of the uncertainties that many may face in an unstable economy and government as Blois dices up some of the concerns circulating around currently!
Election season is behind us and we now look ahead to what is next for Saint Paul, Minneapolis and Minnesota as a whole! This week Blois Olson sits down with the new Saint Paul Mayor - elect Koahly Her, who defeated Mayor Melvin Carter and now looks ahead to what the future holds for Saint Paul, she goes more in depth on who she is, how she ran for mayor, her relationship with former Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, and much more! Then Blois shares this week’s take which is appropriate in the current era of politics - and that is being straightforward and honest.
Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth is announcing she will be running for Governor in 2026. Breaking down the rise of socialist candidates in American elections. The Minneapolis mayoral race is this Tuesday and the results could dramatically shift the path of the city in the future. Blois shares some key scenarios to stay aware of as voters head to the polls. Kyrstin Schuette of the Schoolboard Integrity Project joins the show to share her opinions on the current state of education in Minnesota.
It has been a very heavy week when it comes to people making their voices heard in Minnesota, specifically Minneapolis - we had Kristi Noem, United States Secretary of Homeland Security speak on ICE and immigration policy in the Twin Cities! So we thought having someone for Sunday Take would be perfect so Blois chats with Montana Hirsch, member of MIRAC - Minnesota Immigration Rights Action Committee to talk more about immigration activism and the construct behind these protests against ICE, government and the overall system and Blois shares an in depth Sunday Take for this week!
There has been plenty of ups and downs in Minneapolis, more so leaning towards the downs - so Blois sits down with a property owner Jim Rubin, who was featured in the ‘Precarious State’ documentary as well as Eric Roper, columnist with the Minnesota Star Tribune who put out a piece this week talking about the flip side that is not talked about enough with this city - the good side - he joins to talk more about where Minneapolis is today as a whole, the transitions of Minneapolis in recent years, and much more!
We are about 13 months out from a huge election on all levels here in Minnesota and there are a lot of factors at play with the economy, the population here in Minnesota, many headwinds and tailwinds at play and we get into some of the ups and downs of the economy, immigration, population and much more with State Demographer Susan Brower as we break down all of the numbers and factors of the current situation in Minnesota and what that means for the future of this state. We also look at some of the key political points of the weeks ahead and Blois shares his ‘Sunday Take’!
This week Blois sits down with Myles Shaver, he is Associate Dean of Faculty and Research at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management and we discuss the current state of the headquarters economy in Minnesota!
This past week Blois Olson and Mary Lahammer moderated the mayoral debate and discussion between Dewayne Davis, current Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Omar Fateh, Jazz Hampton and Brenda Short covering the current state of Minneapolis when it comes to crime, safety, and the future of Minneapolis and the ongoing struggle with homeless encampments!
This past week Senator Ann Rest, after 40 plus years in the legislature she will be retiring from the legislature and she joins us for a lengthy conversation to recap and reflect on her time in office, tax policy and the shift from policymakers to activists serving in office.
We are in troubling, volatile times and Blois shares his thoughts on that with the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk this past week, the ripple effect it has in politics as well as the effect it could have on whether we truly do get another campaign from Governor Tim Walz in Minnesota - then Blois sits down with Senator Judy Seeberger (D) and Representative Danny Nadeau (R) on how to move forward with a special session from the perspective of two legislators in purple districts in today’s Sunday Take!
It has been almost two weeks since the tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic school in Minneapolis and so many questions left to be answered going forward as to how we can find common ground and make significant changes no matter which side of the aisle to better the safety of our schools and our children - this week Blois sits down with Representative Jeff Witte (R) who is also a former police officer and Senator Steve Cwodzinski , a former teacher and hear what they have to say when it comes to policy and solution to help move forward in unity!
Minnesota Gubernatorial Candidates Kendall Qualls and Representative Kristin Robbins live from the State Fair. The two are running as Republicans and are hoping to be elected as governor in the 2026 election. They explain why they decided to run and what they would do put into office.
Hear from kids who got away, a father who ran in alongside first responders, and Minnesota's top political leaders as we grapple with something all-too familiar: a school shooting. Get the latest on the perpetrator, and insight into what -- if anything -- may finally change.
The Sunday Take from The Minnesota State Fair! Republican State Rep. Keith Allen and DFL Sen. Doran Clark grew up together and are friends but have different political ideologies. and represent vastly different districts in the state. They talk about how they work together and find the commonality in each other as political divisions become a growing issue in Minnesota as well as across the country.
The city of St. Paul is seeing its share of struggles. There are new voices who hope to address these concerns and say they want to make improvements to the community. City Council Member-Elect Molly Coleman joins the show and talks about her recent win in a special election and her vision for the future. Blois also interviews mayoral candidate Rep. Kaoly Her who is challenging Mayor Melvin Carter in the upcoming election. She shares her reasons why she decided to run.
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are meeting today in Alaska to talk about the possibility of peace in Russia's war against Ukraine. One analyst says the word 'no' is Trump's most powerful weapon ... But will he use it? Also, CBS' Major Garrett has tips on what to watch for in the meeting.
Here are the facts, darn facts and opinions about President Donald Trump ordering the National Guard into Washington D.C., a move some believe underscores his totalitarian tendencies and others believe is a much-needed security measure for a key place in America.
This past week Blois Olson took on his annual visit to Farm Fest where the important issues of Agriculture, Trade and even Higher Education were taken on first talking Ag with Congresswoman Rep. Angie Craig and Brad Finstad. We then talk trade with Luke Lindberg, USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agriculture, Randy Spronk, Immediate Past Chair of the U.S. Meat Export Federation, Chad Willis, Past Chair, U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council, Darin Johnson, President, MN Soybean Growers Assn. - then we wrap up the Farm Fest topics and tackle some of the important issues and inquiries regarding higher education in Minnesota!
One of the constant revolving doors in Minnesota right now that does not seem to have a lot of clarity is the current situation with cannabis in the state of Minnesota - Blois sits down with Interim Office of Cannabis Management Director Eric Taubel at a forum earlier this week discussing where we sit, what is working or not working - or to use the metaphor “blooming and not blooming”, what is the state of the hemp market as well as we move forward and people begin to open up shop! Then Blois shares this week’s take on candidate quality in reference to those who put policy over politics.
A couple big stories from this past week in Minnesota politics were the announcement of Senator Eric Pratt seeking sitting Congresswoman Angie Craig’s seat and also the addition of security for Minnesota lawmakers following the horrific murder of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, as well as the attempted murder of Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette - plus late Saturday news broke a naked man was found lying within the Minnesota state capital building and brings about the question - how secure is the capital? We discuss this and chat with Senator Pratt on his decision to run for Congress in the Second Congressional District and Blois shares this week’s take!
It was a busy week as usual in Minnesota politics and nationally, including the verdict on Senator Nicole Mitchell who was found guilty on both counts and what that looks like from the state’s outlook and we are now left once again in a tie! Then Blois chats with Scott Jensen, who this week announced he would be running it back in a rematch with Governor Tim Walz - what has driven him back to this point in running again, how will this campaign be different and what changes will come with potentially being elected governor in Minnesota - that and much more with Scott Jensen and then Blois shares this week’s take!
This past Friday, for the first time in history, the NYSE bell was rung here in Minnesota at the Medtronic headquarters. We had the chance to hear from Corie Barry, CEO of Best Buy as well as Geoff Martha, CEO with Medtronic! So today we place the focus on Minnesota’s businesses and give ourselves a chance to refresh and a chance to move forward in this current economic environment and really look at the balance of good and bad of Minnesota!
There is still a ton to unpack with the “Big Beautiful Bill”, Blois lays out just a few pieces of this bill of which we do know with plenty still to come as it overall is a 900 page bill - Representative Tom Emmer joins Blois to discuss some of the specifics of the bill such as the effect it has on Medicaid and the short term effects on the deficit going forward as Tom has been in the center of this debate and overall process since the start!
In the aftermath of Saturday’s funeral for the former Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and Mark Hortman, we reflect on the path forward as we heal but also remember the contributions of Melissa to this state and the groundwork she laid. Then we chatted with Sen. Scott Dibble on the 10 year anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling for legalization of Same-Sex Marriage, the current culture of how members of the LGBTQ+ community are treated today and more! Afterwards, we open the lines for any feedback, concerns, questions, anything regarding Minnesota, this country - anything! Then Blois shares his take for this Sunday morning and that is simply - take time to wind down and relax!
As we in Minnesota are still reeling from the events of last weekend we look ahead to what is next for the Minnesota legislature. Today, Blois chats with Representative Dave Baker and Minnesota state auditor Julie Blaha about the path ahead, things to look ahead to with the special session behind us, some of the humanity that people do not see between the many colleagues around him and more! and where we go from here as we try to move forward.
A detailed 20-page complaint filed by federal prosecutors reveals chilling details about the actions by Vance Boelter, the suspect in targeted, political shootings that left former Minnesota Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark dead, and State Senator John Hoffman and his wife seriously injured. Here's reaction from local hosts on WCCO in Minneapolis, plus commentary on our overly hot political climate in the US, and how we can prevent this from happening again.
Yesterday was the darkest day in Minnesota history where we lost Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark and reflecting on Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette as they recover from an assassination attempt. Blois shares his thoughts as we replay last Sunday’s conversation with Speaker Hortman as they discuss being cordial with each other amid the tensions in the special session. Then we talked to Fmr Representative John Lesch who knew Hortman well and we reflect on not just the Speaker but the human being Melissa was and reflected on her legacy and we did the same with Representative Jeff Witte about the security going forward of many of the public figures especially those listed on a manifesto and reflected on some of his memorable moments of Melissa Hortman on a dark weekend where we recover from the events of Saturday involving the Hortman family as well as Senator Hoffman and his wife and how this has changed the politics going forward.
Now that we are hours away from meeting, Blois brought on the four leaders to join in on discussion for today’s Sunday Take ahead of Monday’s special session. We begin with Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and Rep. Lisa Demuth and then transition to Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson and Majority Leader Erin Murphy to discuss several topics including the process that brought them to this point, immigration healthcare bill, relationship with Governor Walz with this elongated process, what to expect Monday morning and much more as we set the table for what should be an interesting Monday with a special session!
Another Sunday, another week closer to the final deadline to a deal in the legislature on the budget and the clock is ticking - Blois breaks down some of the uncertainty amid this chaos at the Capitol. Fatima Moore of SotaCann joins Blois to talk about the state government putting a surprise tax on cannabis before business overall is up and running due to the disarray of the implementation of the cannabis business so she discusses the effect of taxing cannabis for places even open up for shop! Also, Kendall Qualls (R) discusses another run for Minnesota governor and why he thinks Minnesota will flip over to have a Republican governor in 2026 and what he brings to the table that can make the difference. Finally Blois shares this week’s take which is circulated around the future of this state when it comes to economic growth!
This Sunday marks five years since the events involving George Floyd had taken place and so much has changed while much has also stayed the same. Blois sits down with Nekima Levy Armstrong, Activist and Attorney and Andy Mannix with the Minnesota Star Tribune to discuss and reflect on social justice, where Minneapolis is at today, the state of the Minneapolis Police Department and what should or needs to change in the aftermath five years later!
It indeed is the final countdown or so we hope for the oh-so eventful Minnesota legislative session where there hopes to be a resolution on the budget as Monday is the “deadline” of May 19th but we will need more time - we chatted with Mary Lahammer political analyst with TPT Almanac. Then Blois gives us his take on the importance and impact of open meetings and transparency in politics - and all facets in between!
Time is winding down towards the deadline about a week and change left until the May 19th deadline! Blois invited Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson (R) on today to talk about the current session, his experience being on the boat with Governor Walz for the fishing opening weekend and also Senator Judy Seeberger (D) joins as we try to engage on what some of the main points of what needs to be done in Minnesota, how do both think this session is going to end and what you the listeners want to see as the deadline approaches!
We are winding down on the legislative session and this week, Blois chatted with Kirk Schneidewind, MN Assoc. of School Boards and Scott Croonquist, Association of Metropolitan School Districts on what school districts need statewide from the legislature this session and the overall need of students from this legislature as we are just a couple weeks away from the deadline for the budget and this week Blois centers his take on the level of complication lawmakers have reached when it comes to school funding!
Today we reflect on fifteen years of The Morning Take and Blois invites on Tom Hauser of 5 Eyewitness News and occasionally WCCO Radio to talk about their time since 2010 in working with the confines of covering politics in media and the ever changing landscape during this stretch. We also dive into this past week’s State of the State and other Tim Walz discussion and much more! Finally, this week’s take correlates to the toughness of Minnesota!
After the legislature has taken the week off for Passover and Easter - we look ahead to a few of the bullet points including the deadline approaching on May 19th (in reality June 30th). Then Blois sits down with DFL Chair Richard Carlbom chatting about his beginnings, getting Minnesota to a more balanced state politically, conflict and trust within the DFL and whether Governor Tim Walz will run for the open Senate seat and today’s take is all about who to trust and how to build trust.
This week the state legislature has the Easter-Passover week break so we discuss some of the things you would want to know or need answers on from the state as the legislative deadline approaches ultimately on June 30th - outside of the budget, what are the other key topics that need to be taken care of this session? We discuss this and much more with Senator Nick Frentz (DFL) and Representative Dave Baker (R) and Blois shares his thoughts on the need for government transparency for this week’s take!
It was a busy week nationally with the tariffs creating global economic chaos and the locally Minnesota legislature so far seems to be getting along. Then, Blois chatted with Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan on what she hopes to bring to the Minnesota Senate, some issues commonly heard around the state of Minnesota, building trust with people of Minnesota, the permitting system in Minnesota, rural economics and much more. Then Blois shares his thoughts on the future of the Republican Party when it comes to a 2026 Senate seat and the emergence of legitimate candidates in this week’s take!
We can expect a lot to roll out over the next week and Blois gives the latest on a student at the University of Minnesota who was detained by ICE officials and an upcoming special election in Senate District 6. Then, it was announced this past week that former DFL leader Melisa Lopez Franzen will vie for the soon to be vacated seat come 2026 that Sen. Tina Smith currently holds. She joins Blois to talk about her quest for the seat, the political landscape in Minnesota including her area of Edina, her plans if elected, Social Security, channeling fear and reality in politics and much more! Also we discuss the current landscape of the Republican Party in the United States.
Another very busy week in politics as per usual - Blois discussed the latest developments in the Sen. Justin Eichorn case and Minnesota's struggles with senatorial seats. We had the chance to talk to John McCormick of the Wall Street Journal, asked him about the resurgent Minnesota Governor Tim Walz amid his townhall tour of the midwest, how Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made a lot of buzz and huge crowds in Colorado but why this didn't translate for Harris and Walz, and who could come forward for the Democratic side down the line and that is also featured in this week’s take!
Today, Blois offers up your input as far as reflecting on what we learned from the pandemic five years later. We briefly discussed the Tim Walz townhall tours and also chatted with Peter Callaghan who announced Friday after serving the Minnesota political media market as a state government reporter for 10+ years and he joins us to reflect on Minnesota, his time at MinnPost, the future of media,what he learned about his time at the Capital, and transparency in media and politics. .
It has been a busy week in politics as always from the Feeding our Future case continuing on, to the continuation of tariffs being on, off and on again, etc. Blois touches on that, discusses tariffs, Agriculture, Department of Education and more with Representative Brad Finstad and he gives his take on the federal chaos and disruptions taking place!
This morning we chatted with Sen. Jordan Rasmusson about forecasting the state budget forecast set to be released Thursday, federal funding and the HHS spending. Also, Blois gives his take for this Sunday including some of the specifics of this upcoming release and addresses some of the “finger pointing” in Minnesota politics. That and much more with the Sunday Take.
There is still a ripple effect being felt in the Senate since Tina Smith announced she would not be seeking re-election and we talked about that, the current session (compared to previous ones) , the needs of the state from health, public safety, Ag and farmer needs and much more with Sen. Judy Seeberger as well as the push back against DFLers, Then Blois gives us his take!
We are almost a week in from the big news of the week that Senator Tina Smith was not seeking re-election and a new seat would be filled in 2026 so Blois reflects on the legacy Sen. Smith is leaving and what could lie ahead for Minnesota and we also talked to one of the senatorial candidates in Adam Schwarze on what he brings to the table for the needs and future of Minnesota. Finally, Blois shares his take for this Sunday morning!
Today, Blois weighs in briefly on the power sharing agreement reached this past week. Also - this coming November, there will be an election for council seats and of course mayor in Minneapolis and one of those running for that mayoral seat is Dr. Dewayne Davis, a pastor a man led by faith talks about the various aspects of the needs of Minneapolis - from public safety, affordable housing, among other policies he plans to tackle if elected as Mayor of Minneapolis as well as what he plans to accomplish alongside legislation in this state!
News broke late in the week that there are security concerns at the capitol building in Minnesota that have not yet been addressed so we talked to Mary Lahammer who is a political analyst for PBS Twin Cities and she discusses more on this story she published, we also dive into DFL leader Ken Martin being elected as the next Democratic Committee Chair! That and Blois brings us this week’s take!
It was a busy back end of the week in the House that led to a Minnesota Supreme Court ruling in which no quorum was found and thus the Minnesota political world moves on to the question will there be a power-sharing agreement? Will both sides find a compromising way to resume operations - so we chatted with both Rep. Melissa Hortman and Kristin Robbins about what lies ahead amid a standoff.
For today’s Sunday Take we recap the chaotic week that it has been in the House, we also discussed goals for the next session with Sen. Erin Murphy and Sen. Mark Johnson as 2026 is in fact an election year and there is a lot to break down, as well as what may lie ahead for Sen Mitchell and look ahead to inauguration week with Monday ushering in the new presidency of the 47th President elect Donald Trump.
For today's Sunday Take , Blois sits down with Republican House Leader Lisa Demuth and DFL Leader Melissa Hortman discussing the opening days of the legislative session!
Tackled a variety of topics in today’s Sunday Take with Blois Olson as he chatted with the new GOP chair for Minnesota Alex Plechash about the 2020 Election, BPOU’s, January 6th four years later and much more! Also for today’s take - what do YOU the listeners want to see or hear in 2025 ?
Final episode of what has been a chaotic and busy year in politics - we reflect on some of the biggest happenings of this year including the latest story of the tragic passing of Former Minnesota DFLer Kari Dziedzic in her battle with cancer. Also Peter Callaghan, of MinnPost joins Blois to talk about the tragic passing, the situation with the Minnesota House and Senate, what he would like to see in 2025 and Blois gives his final take of 2024.
This week Blois sits down with Senator Mark Koran - R and Senator Heather Gustafson - DFL, to cover fraud in Minnesota voting, the upcoming legislative session and protecting taxpayer dollars and putting it to use towards changes in Minnesota with the budget.
Representing Minnesota’s Congressional District, fresh off a big win in November, U.S. Representative Angie Craig has found a new voice and it could lead to more as we close in on 2026 - Blois Olson chatted with Representative Angie Craig about this, rural areas, getting a farm bill done and much more in today’s Sunday Take!
This week Blois sat down with the somewhat new President on campus at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Rebecca Cunningham about her role in the first six months and what her plans are when it comes to developing relationships when it comes to the University, the state and its communities as we near a budget year in 2026 as well as the importance of presenting infrastructure needs, tuition and more to legislation.
News broke recently that long time political expert over at KARE 11, John Croman was calling it a career and he joined Blois on the Sunday Take to recap his career in television covering politics and what is his next chapter! Also what are some of the interesting political conversations you had at the Thanksgiving table this past week and Blois shares today's take!
We are a few weeks clear of Election Day and we are slowly learning who President elect Donald Trump will have in his corner in this coming term. We talked to Congressman Tom Emmer, Majority Whip for the Minnesota House of Representatives on a variety of topics from border patrol and immigration methods, looking ahead to the 2026 Governors race, CBS polls and more.
We are one and a half weeks from Election Day and there is still some cleanup as far as voter integrity, especially in Minnesota from Hubbard County and elsewhere - we talked to former State Representative for Minnesota Pat Garofalo about the errors made, the 67-67 tie and even snuck in a Vikings prediction! And then we talked about voting integrity and security and potential upcoming changes in the next legislative session with Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon and finally Blois shares today’s take!
As the country continues to digest the election, Blois breaks down the key factors on the decisions made at both the state and national levels. To further drill down on the Minnesota impacts, he speaks with State Representatives Melissa Hortman and Lisa Demuth about how the State House will govern with a true dead-even split.
We are now less than 48 hours away from Election Day so we take your calls and texts regarding what you have concerns with for the Election and also we ask the important voting and election questions you may have to Secretary of State Steve Simon who joins us on Sunday Take only two days until Election Day!
For today’s special edition of ‘Minnesota Votes’ Sunday Take we have Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar and her challenger Republican candidate Royce White where Blois Olson welcomes both candidates to his weekly show for a vigorous discussion of the biggest issues as the campaigns sprint toward election day.
With 16 days remaining until Election Day - we tackled one of the more controversial pieces to elections in the modern world of politics - polling - so we invited Joe Goode, President of American Strategies, a national opinion research and political advisory firm which specializes in many issues. Throughout the show we discuss pollsters, some of the previous polling issues America has experienced, how the sampling works when it comes to collecting data, various voter strategies and how to understand margin of error and understand poll numbers in today’s Sunday Take with Blois Olson!.
Blois has called Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District the "most competitive district in the state" for a while now. That will all come to a head three weeks from Tuesday. Before election day, you get another chance to hear from the candidates. Our host speaks with incumbent Congresswoman Angie Craig and challenger Joe Teirab ahead of the counting of the ballots on November 5th.
Today we chatted about different policies tied to the election and where many Minnesotans sit based on recent polling - we talked to Evan Ramstad, columnist for the Minnesota Star Tribune about these results and also how it reflects in other states from immigration to reproductive rights, many are making their voices heard. We also talked about the economy as well as the labor force. Then, we try to lighten the mood with a recap of SNL and hope it inspires you to be more neighborly this election season with 30 days left!
Last night the world watched as Jim Gaffigan debuted as Minnesota Governor and Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz on NBC’s Saturday Night Live! Blois touched on that briefly, and we talked to Mary Lahammer, political anchor, host and producer for TPT Twin Cities about a variety of topics including Walz representation and perception in the media, such as SNL, and also discussed recent conversations with leaders in Saint Cloud.
In this episode, Blois digs further into the latest Presidential polling from MinnPost. Reporter Peter Callaghan takes us through the numbers and whether they truly mean what they used to when it comes to deciding an election. Plus, it's another big week for Minnesota Governor and Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz.
Last week, we heard from the DFL candidate for the MN State Senate District 45 race. This week, Blois speaks with GOP nominee Kathleen Fowke about the issues and why she believes she can the election. Plus, our host offers his thoughts on the latest MinnPost poll.
While many races have gained more attention during this election cycle, perhaps the most important one to Minnesota is the campaign for the vacated seat in District 45 of the State Senate. Blois talks DFL nominee (and former State Senator) Ann Johnson Stewart about her stances on the issues.
On the State Fair Porch, Blois looks at the past and gazes into the near future. Along with his take on Gov. Walz visiting the Fair, he welcomes the following guests:
- TPT's "Almanac" co-host and former WCCO-AM news anchor Eric Eskola give his thoughts on the Presidential election.
- Cook County High School science teacher Chad Benesh discusses changes in the education system as school gets back in session.
Susie Jones is in this week for Blois, and she welcomes several political figures to our Fair booth porch to chat on a warm Sunday morning. The guests include:
- MN State Senator Mary Kunesh-Podein
- MN House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth
- Republican strategist Amy Koch
- Democratic strategist Ryan Winkler
Today we started things off with John McCormick, he is a national political reporter for the Wall Street Journal who lives in Chicago. He joins to talk Tim Walz becoming nationally known, Israel-Hamas ceasefire, Kamala Harris and much more as this next week approaches! Then we jump to the Star Tribune -there are changes coming to the Star Tribune and it brings a more local, personal touch to the Star Tribune now being renamed the ‘Minnesota Star Tribune’ - Steve Grove joined us to talk about some of the new looks and new additions to the newspaper and more digital evolutions as well and bringing the more enjoyable pieces to the media! Finally we chat briefly with Susie Jones before she heads to Chicago for the DNC!
On this special edition of the program, Blois moderates a debate between GOP Senatorial candidates Royce White and Joe Fraser. It will be one of the final opportunities to hear from the two men who hope to win Tuesday's primary and potentially unseat Sen. Amy Klobuchar in November.
This week, Blois looks into several topics that concern this year's election cycle. He digs into the rapid stature rise of MN Gov. Tim Walz, along with the Primary races to watch out for on August 13th. MN Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen joins the show to preview the annual Farmfest event set to take place this coming week.
As the Presidential race continues to shift, new Democratic favorite Kamala Harris has a big decision to make. Could her choice for Vice President include one of Minnesota's own? Blois talks with Bloomberg reporter Patricia Lopez and MinnPost reporter Peter Callaghan about the prospects of Governor Tim Walz being the VP selection.
What role will Minnesota play in the 2024 Presidential election? Blois tells us his thoughts on that. Plus, he welcomes MN native and Washington Post columnist James Hohmann on the show to discuss the craziness seen over the last few weeks of this election cycle.
Most eyes will turn to the GOP next week, with the Republican National Convention taking place in Milwaukee. Blois dedicates this week's edition to the upcoming event, welcoming Wisconsin lobbyist William McCoshen and Minnesota delegate Kip Christianson in on the discussion.
In the aftermath of the late-June Presidential Debate, Blois takes time to ask if President Biden should continue to seek a second term. Wall Street Journal reporter John McCormick digs into the topic, especially considering Congresswoman Angie Craig lending her thoughts over the weekend. Plus, our host takes your calls and texts.
Blois provides an update on the aid being provided to many who have been affected by flooding around Minnesota,
Cynthia Rugeley, PhD for the University of Minnesota-Duluth joined Blois to discuss 2024 candidate qualities on this week's Sunday Take!
It has been a very wet week across much of Minnesota. During this week's edition of the show, Blois shifts focus to how the state is handling flooding in several areas of the state. Kristi Rollwagen, Director of the state's Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, provides details of the work being done to help those affected by the rising waters. And will this result in a Special Session over at the State Capitol?
Kristi Rollwagen, director of the Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, talks with Blois on The Take
The race for the seat of MN's senior senator promises to be intriguing over the next few months. After talking to one GOP challenger last week, Blois chats with the other name in the Republican Primary. He talks with Joe Fraser about the Primary and why the candidate can ultimately defeat incumbent Amy Klobuchar.
Susie Jones fills in once again as Blois enjoys some time off. During this week's edition, she addresses the topic of social isolation, loneliness, and care for our elderly residents. Her guest is Dr. Steven Hoover, the Healthy Aging Coordinator with the Central Minnesota Council on Aging.
Susie Jones fills in for Blois this week. She takes the hour to discuss how the 2024 legislative session effected education around the state. She welcomes Association of Metropolitan School Districts executive director Scott Croonquist on the show to talk about the bills that were and weren't at the State Capitol.
Last weekend, the State's GOP Convention named their choice to contest Amy Klobuchar's Senate seat. During this edition of the program, Royce White sits in to discuss his stunning candidacy endorsement, his plan to take on the incumbent, and the issues he wants to highlight during his campaign.
The 2024 session in St. Paul is slated to end at Midnight on Sunday evening. With hours to go, Blois reaches out to get us a sense of the mood inside the Capitol building. State Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson and Star Tribune political reporter Rochelle Olson help us out with that. Plus, our host offers his thoughts on the GOP's choice for an Amy Klobuchar Senate opponent coming out of their convention.
On this week's edition, Blois takes some time to discuss where the State Legislature stands as it heads into the final week of the 2024 session. Then, he welcomes Minneapolis Ward 4 councilwoman LaTrisha Vetaw on the program to talk about the current trend of the city's council.
In the spotlight of the 2024 election cycle, Minnesota's 2nd Congressional district is a race many around the country are watching. This week, Blois tunes in to the effort Angie Craig is using to keep her seat. Our host speaks with two of the men striving to be the Congresswoman's Republican opponents. We hear from Tayler Rahm and Joe Teirab about their plans for the primary.
An arrest in northwestern Minnesota could have huge ripple effects across the Legislature. Blois welcomes TPT political reporter Mary Lahammer back on the show to discuss the impact of State Senator Nicole Mitchell's arrest with 3 weeks left in the 2024 session. Then, our host looks into some of the state's key House of Representatives races coming up this Fall.
During this episode of the program, Blois looks into the current conflict in the Middle East.
- Steve Hunegs, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas, explains how this war is effecting Jewish people locally.
- Former State Senator Paul Anderson tells us about his recent trip to Israel as the country's war against Hamas continues on (including being there during the Iranian attack that took place last weekend).
As the State Legislature heads toward the home stretch of their 2024 session, Blois takes a peek into the future. KSTP-TV political reporter and WCCO guest host Tom Hauser dives in to discuss the poll numbers in the national elections and the issues that lawmakers will consider.
On this week's edtion of the program, Blois looks at how transportation is being handled across the state. Representatives Brad Tabke and Jon Koznick join the show to discuss a few topics, including the balance of Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota projects, MNDOT's priorities, transit safety, and more.
On this holiday edition of the program, Blois expands his reach to more of a worldwide theme. He takes some time to dig into the state's strength of economic competitiveness domestically and globally.
Peter Carter, Executive VP of External Affairs at Delta Airlines, discusses the impact that the latest Department of Transportation warning will have on travel to Mexico.
This week, Blois revisits the ever-evolving Cannabis law. Stinson LLP Director of Government Relations Will Blauvelt and Nathan Young, cannabis policy lead for the MN Black Chamber of Commerce are his guests as the legislature continues to fine tune the law.
It's Deadline Week at the State Capitol, and that has Blois' attention for this week's show. He dives into the policies both the House and Senate are looking to push through by the end of the workweek.
- Rep. Zach Stephenson, Chair of the MN House Commerce Committee, explains the process (and pressure) this particular group faces prior to Friday.
- Sen. Julia Coleman discusses some of the higher priorities for the Conservative side of the state legislative isle.
Coming off of this week's State of the Union address, Blois offers his thoughts on how politics in Washington have become so divisive (and look to get more bitter during this Presidential election cycle). Congressman Tom Emmer joins the show with his two cents. Plus, our host has an opinion on Dean Phillips' Presidential campaign.
This week, Blois takes some time to dig into the budget forecast that was released during the week. After that, TPT political reporter Mary Lahammer gives us her thoughts on the first few weeks of the legislative session over in St. Paul.
One week after the tragic killing of first responders in Burnsville, the debate over gun control is top of mind for Blois. He devotes this episode to the conversation.
- Rob Doar, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, argues against it.
- Maggiy Emery, Executive Director of Protect Minnesota, argues in favor of it.
As the State Legislature gets underway for another session, the biggest headline going in concerned last year's law on School Resource Officers. Blois digs into the conversations going on at the Capitol with MN Senator Zach Duckworth and Rep. Cedrick Frazier.
On the eve of the 2024 MN State Legislature opening, Blois talks to both side of the State Senate. He gets a forecast of the looming session from Minority Leader Mark Johnson and new Majority Leader Erin Murphy.
Blois takes this Sunday to discuss a very emotional and difficult topic. Will the State Legislature look at passing a bill making it lawful for terminal patients to seek their own end-of-life decision? We hear takes from both sides of this issue.
- Dr. Rebecca Thoman, manager of the Doctor for Dignity campaign for the Compassion & Choices organization, explains the argument for.
- Michelle Benson, former State Senator and current outreach coordinator for the MN Alliance for Ethical Healthcare, describes the argument against.
This week, Blois sets aside the hour for his annual discussion with the Mayors of each of Minnesota's two largest cities. Mayor Jacob Frey (Minneapolis) and Mayor Melvin Carter (St. Paul) talk about how each city is faring and plans for their respective metropolises.
The delegate-gathering season is underway, and Blois Olson is moving with the times. He catches up with the following guests as the nation tunes in on the Northeast:
- MN 3rd District congressman Dean Phillips offers an update on his Presidential campaign ahead of this Tuesday's New Hampshire Primary.
- Wall Street Journal reporter John McCormick gives us "on the street" updates from the "Live Free or Die" state a couple of days prior to its Primary.
This week, Blois takes a little time away from the day-to-day political scene to pull in a couple of guests with reflection on their minds:
- TPT political reporter Mary Lahammer tells us about a new film she's involved with on the surprising governorship of Jesse Ventura.
- MN Supreme Court Associate Justice G. Barry Anderson describes his time on the state's highest bench with an impending retirement coming in May of this year.
On the first Take of 2024, Blois sits down with the following guests:
- Mike Gamache discusses his plans and goals as the new chair of the Anoka County Board of Commissioners.
- Star Tribune publisher Steve Grove explains what's coming for the Minneapolis newspaper during the next year.
As the New Year is set to start in hours, what better time to look ahead to the political headlines of the 2024 calendar? Blois welcomes a couple guests on to focus forward:
- Axios Twin Cities reporter Kyle Stokes discusses what might make news when it comes to the Minneapolis City Council.
- Stinson LLP Government Solutions Director Paul Cassidy explains what issues lobbyists will target in the upcoming session at the State Capitol.
This week, Susie Jones fills in for Blois. She welcomes the following guests on the program:
- Minnesota Ambulance Association president-elect Mike Juntunen explains the importance of lawmakers securing the funding for this crucial medical service.
- Former Gov. Arne Carlson previews a forum he will host this week concerning clean water access across the state.
On this week's edition of the show, Blois turns his focus to the recent budget forecast over the next 4 years. He dives into the numbers, and their impact, with State Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson and State Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman.
As we approach the end of 2023, Blois Olson is starting to look ahead to what promises to be a vibrant and tense election year. He focuses this week's edition on issues to headline 2024, and digs into them with MinnPost reporter Peter Callaghan and Kirk Schneidawind, executive director of the Minnesota School Boards Association.
It's a "Best of" edition during this holiday weekend. We look back on some of the recent interviews Blois has conducted with media and political guests alike.
- Wall Street Journal political reporter John McCormick gives us a better vision of the Presidential race, including what he expects to see from MN Congressman Dean Phillips.
- Author and former CNN media critic Brian Stelter tells us about his new book ("Network of Lies") and explains a Minnesota connection to it.
- MN Congresswoman Angie Craig talks about President Biden's recent visit to the state, the debate over the Mexican border, and the problems with the USPS.
- MN Congressman Pete Stauber describes his reasoning on his votes during the search for the current Speaker of the House.
Ahead of the holiday week, Blois Olson looks into media analysis on the state of our politics. The following guests join in on the show:
- Former WI Congressman Scott Klug describes how his new podcast hopes to provide a voice to people who hold moderate political views.
- Author and former CNN media critic Brian Stelter tells us about his new book ("Network of Lies") and explains a Minnesota connection to it.
This week, Blois talks with a couple of candidates that have announced that they will challenge incumbent Congressfolks for their seats. He chats with:
- Former Minneapolis City Council and School Board member Don Samuels, who will once again vie for Ilhan Omar's 5th district seat.
- MN State Senator Kelly Morrison, who is challenging Dean Phillips for the 3rd district seat.
With election day fast approaching, Blois digs into some of the more intriguing races for seats and issues during this non-Presidential cycle. Plus, MN Congresswoman Angie Craig talks about President Biden's recent visit to the state, the debate over the Mexican border, and the problems with the USPS.
This week, Blois dives into the media coverage of upcoming political races. The following guests provide the insight:
- Pioneer Press government and St. Paul City Hall reporter Frederick Melo goes in-depth on the local races in the capital, including what could be quite a bit of turnover on the city council.
- Wall Street Journal political reporter John McCormick gives us a better vision of the Presidential race, including what he expects to see from MN Congressman Dean Phillips.
Blois Olson takes us through another chaotic week of politics. That includes news on Rep. Dean Phillips' political future and Rep. Pete Stauber's reasoning on his votes for a new Speaker of the House.
Blois takes on both sides of the political isle this week, as he looks ahead to 2024 with the following guests:
- DNC Executive Committee member Ron Harris explains why he's deciding to challenge Dean Phillips for Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District seat.
- MN Republican Party Chairman David Hann gives his views on potential candidates for the 2024 elections and what's happening inside their political conference.
Blois takes the show to the Northland this week and talks to Duluth Mayoral Candidate Roger Reinert and Duluth Mayor Emily Larson, along with his weekly "take".
Well, the government shutdown has been averted...at least for 45 days. Blois chats with Rep. Betty McCollum to discuss the deal plus Punchbowl News' Mica Soellner about the state of the government.
During this week's edition of the show, Blois heads back to the classroom to bring up the role of parents in the world of local education. Minnesota Parents Alliance executive director Christine Trooien and School Board Integrity Project founder Kyrstin Schuette present their perspectives on this issue.
On this week's episode, Blois digs into an industry he's quite familiar with. Our host looks at local and national media cover politics and political leaders. He invites TPT reporter Mary Lahammer and former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer to join in on the discussion.
On this week's episode, Blois dives into the growing controversy over the new state law restricting School Resource Officers (or any other school employee) from using prone restraints against students.
Our host looks at both sides of the argument with guests Josh Crosson from EdAllies (in favor of the law) and Dave Titus from the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (not in favor of the language of the new law).
WCCO TV political reporter Caroline Cummings joins Blois to talk about the state of media coverage of politics in the state.
Our State Fair broadcast has Blois talking with Fergus Fall State Senator Jordan Rassmusson and Maple Grove State Representitive Kristen Robbins on the state of the Republican Party in Minnesota.
On this edition of the program, Blois discusses his goal for this year's State Fair. He also invites the following guests on the show:
- Former WCCO news reporter and anchor Eric Eskola gives remembrance and perspective of the life of former Gov. and Rep. Al Quie, who died Friday at the age 99.
- In the wake of the tragic wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui, we hear from Kristi Rolllwagen (Director of the MN Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management) about how the state prepares for disastrous situations.
On this edition of the program, Blois lets us know his thoughts on Gov. Walz's recent stumps in Iowa for the President's re-election. He also conducts a sit-down interview with Rep. Dean Phillips. The Congressman addresses the rumors he will run for President and whether either of the current frontrunners are the best candidates for the job.
Live from Farmfest, WCCO political analyst Blois Olson hosts a discussion the priorities and policy concerns from Minnesota’s political leaders.
Panelists:
- Thom Peterson, MN Commissioner of Agriculture
- Sarah Strommen, MN Dept. of Natural Resources Commissioner
- Nancy Daubenburger, MN Dept. of Transportation Commissioner
- Peter Tester, MN Pollution Control Agency Deputy Commissioner
- Rep. Samantha Vang, Chair of the MN House Ag Committee
- Sen. Aric Putnam, Chair of the MN Senate Ag Committee
- Rep. Paul Anderson, MN House Ag Committee
- Sen. Torrey Westrom, MN Senate Ag Committee
This week, Blois dedicates the entire show on the 2023 Farm Bill and a recap of this year's FarmFest event. He brings on the following guests to discuss the importance of the focus on agriculture:
- U.S. Rep. Brad Finstad
- Syverson Family Farms agronomy manager Richard Syverson
- U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer
- Second Harvest Heartland CEO Allison O'Toole
During this week's edition of the show, Blois' weekly take focuses on Gov. Walz, he takes some time to offer thoughts on healthcare access, and he talks with State Rep. Peggy Scott about taking a pause on the implementation of the new Recreational Marijuana law.
This week, Blois turns his focus from issue-based to a specific location. He takes the hour to hone in on proposals and efforts to make Downtown St. Paul a destination for home and business. He digs into the discussion with St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce VP of Government Affairs Amanda Duerr and St. Paul Downtown Alliance president Joe Spencer.
Blois gives us his take on some of the headlines of the week. Plus, he welcomes the following guest on this edition of the program:
- MN Sen. Julia Coleman tells us about the issues that mothers that work in the Capitol chambers and how it informs their lawmaking decisions.
- Rep. Betty McCollum explains why she did not approve of the version of the National Defense Authorization Act that passed the U.S. House on Friday.
Blois tells us about his week unplugging from the political world. But he's back to work and chatting with the following guests:
- State Rep. Harry Niska discusses this year's legislative session and if litigation has become much more of a political player than in decades past.
- University of Minnesota Center for Forest Ecology director Lee Frelich talks about the Canadian wildfires, whether those are abnormal, and if Minnesota is in for a similar fate.
With the Supreme Court closing their 2023 docket this past week, Blois Olson uses this edition of the program to dive into the decisions made in Washington, D.C. He sits down with Dennis Olson (Commissioner of the MN Office of Higher Education) and Jill Hasday (U of M Distinguished McKnight law professor) to discuss the major rulings the Court made on Thursday and Friday.
This week, Blois Olson takes us through a couple stories making headlines across the Twin Cities. The following guests chime in as well:
- State Rep. Paul Novotny discusses the criminal charges brought against Derrick Thompson and whether stiffer punishments need to be considered for vehicular homicide cases.
- State Sen. Scott Dibble talks about the evolution of the recognition of Pride (and everything it represents) throughout his political career.
On this edition of the program, Blois gives his thoughts on the money issues with the Minneapolis Public Schools district, as well as the impact of the Department of Justice's investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department. We also hear from Minneapolis Star Tribune new CEO and Publisher Steve Grove about the paper's future.
On this week's edition, Blois takes a futuristic turn, looking into technology's effects on politics and government. He welcomes State Rep. Jim Nash and current State Commissioner of Information Technology Tarek Tomes on the program to really dive into the impacts of this issue.
For this week's edition of the show, Blois digs in to the larger of the Twin Cities. The Minneapolis-focused episode brings in the following guests:
- Kip Hedges, co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America's Twin Cities chapter, explains his organization's platform and key causes. How much will they play a role in this year's elections in the city of Minneapolis?
- Dave Orrick, Minneapolis City Hall reporter with the Star Tribune, chats about a host of citywide issues that will show up on this year's ballot.
With the State Legislature finishing their regular session for 2023, the focus shifts to Washington D.C. this Memorial Day weekend. Blois catches up with Minnesota Congressmen Dean Phillips and Brad Finstad to chat about topics after labor and the economy, most important being the ongoing Debt Ceiling negotiations.
As the State Legislature remains to end their year on Monday, Blois Olson takes some time to talk about the impact of the 2023 session for all Minnesotans. He welcomes DFL Sen. Nick Frentz and GOP Sen. Minority Leader Mark T. Johnson on the program to hear their opinions on how the session went. Plus, our host gets your input on whether the DFL reached too far with the laws they passed.
On this Mother's Day, Blois looks into this week's big stories effecting the scope of state politics:
- Outdoors sporting and broadcasting legend Ron Schara highlights the politics of fishing during this 2023 Walleye Opener.
- KSTP-TV political reporter Tom Hauser discusses the results of a recent poll the news outlet put together on how unified (or divergent) we are all when it comes to certain political issues.
Blois gives his thoughts on the most pressing story making headlines this first week of May. He also speaks to the following guests:
- United Steelworkers Local 2705 president Chris Johnson tells us about iron ore mineral rights leases being approved for Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. on the Iron Range.
- Twin Cities Public Television political reporter Mary Lahammar previews what to expect during the last couple of weeks of the 2023 legislative session.
During this week's edition, Blois dives back into education and what help the industry is asking for from state lawmakers. He gets help identifying some of the issues from Josh Crosson, executive director of EdAllies, and Kirk Schneidawind, executive director of the Minnesota School Boards Association.
The dreaded annual exercise that is Tax Day has passed for another year. In the spirit of this past Tuesday's standard deadline, Blois undertakes the topic for this week's edition of the show. He chats about it with the following guests:
- Eric Harris Bernstein, Policy Director for We Make Minnesota
- Mark Haveman, Executive Director of the Minnesota Center for Fiscal Excellence
- Paul Marquart, new commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Revenue
On this week's edition, Blois digs in to a conversation of the worsening relationship between elected officials and the media. To help with the discussion, our host chats with Park Street PR CEO Brian McClung and Star Tribune political reporter Rochelle Olson.
On this Easter Sunday, Blois takes some time to chat with a couple of first-time state legislators.
- Longtime political staffer Danny Nadeau explains how different it is to actually be in one of the elected seats over at the State House.
- State Sen. Grant Hauschild discusses his journey from being a city councilman to taking a seat at the Capitol.
Even though the State Legislature has the week off, that doesn't mean any rest for the world of politics. Blois welcomes the following guests on this week's show:
U of M Humprhey School professor Larry Jacobs explains the school's newly-released study on the effectiveness of Ranked Choice voting.
MinnPost reporter Peter Callaghan checks in to discuss several topics, including ongoing revenue, any possible gun legislation, education issues, and more.
On this episode of the Take, Blois once again focuses on the state's budget surplus. This time around, he asks guests from the State House's Ways & Means Committee to guide us down the pathways that each political party hopes to spend the surplus. Committee chair Liz Olson gives the DFL viewpoint, while committee Lead Republican Pat Garofalo offers the GOP plan.
This week, Blois turns his focus to higher education across the state. Roger Moe, chair of the Board of Trustees for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, and longtime State Rep. Gene Pelowski help us dig into where Minnesota stands when it comes to funding higher education and what could be done in the future to improve its needs.
This week, Blois focuses on the state of health care across the state and what its future might look like. He discusses this topic with the following guests:
- Minnesota Council of Health Plans president/CEO Lucas Nesse takes us through the basics of health care, including how it works, how regulations help, and what newer lawmakers need to know about it.
- Joe Schindler, VP of Finance, Policy, & Analytics at the Minnesota Hospital Association, describes the evolution of the state's hospital system and the strides it should take in providing future care.
Blois wonders what the state will ultimately decide to do with the budget surplus. He also invites the following guests on the program:
- Darrick Moe, CEO of the Minnesota Rural Electric Association, discusses how the organization is employing co-ops to providing a different energy source to Outstate areas.
- Lee Blank, CEO of Summit Carbon Solutions, explains what a carbon pipeline is and the reasoning why it would be helpful to creating a cleaner environment.
- Julie Pierce, Vice President of Strategy and Planning for Minnesota Power, tells us how the company tries to balance meeting regulations, reducing costs, and meeting the needs of Northern Minnesota customers.
On this edition, Blois takes a deep dive into what the state's budget could tell us when the latest forecast is released on Monday. Then, former Commissioner of Minnesota Management and Budget Tom Hanson joins our host to give his thoughts on that same forecast.
Along with his weekly take, Blois sits down with the following guests for this week's episode:
- State Rep. Jeff Witte describes how he hopes to use his law enforcement experience to help in legislation around gun safety issues, specifically when it comes to school shootings.
- State Rep. Dave Pinto explains how his career as a criminal prosecutor has molded his views on the best way to approach the gun safety debate.
Blois gives his weekly take over several current topics. He also chats with the following guests:
- State Sen. Rob Farnsworth discusses the business impact of the recent court decision regarding protection of the Boundary Waters, more specifically, Huber Engineered Woods' decision to not build a mill plant in the area.
- MN DFL Chair Ken Martin joins the show to talk about getting elected to a seventh term in the position, the reshuffled Democrat Primary schedule, working across the political aisle, and more.
This week on Sunday Take, WCCO Political Analyst Blois Olson checks in on the state of the Iron Range. He speaks to State Representative Spencer Igo (R-Wabana Township), and Ida Rukavina, commissioner of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation.
Blois tells us about the importance of corn growers across the state. He also sits down with the following guests:
- WCCO Radio host Sheletta Brundidge previews the Black Entrepreneurs Day she will be hosting at the State Capitol (on February 3rd).
- MinnPost reporter Peter Callaghan looks into the early session at the Legislature and how the budget surplus is effecting lawmaking.
- New MN Education Commissioner Willie Jett explains what he hopes to accomplish in during his time in the role.
During this week's edition, Blois wonders about the future of the state's economy and government. He also chats with the following guests:
- COPAL MN campaign manager Ryan Perez discusses the group's effort to allow anyone living in the state, regardless of citizenship or legal resident status, the ability to obtain a state driver's license.
- Stage Ag Commissioner Thom Petersen describes his recent work travels, what the Walz adminstration hopes to do to help farming regions of Outstate MN, and other current issues effecting the industry.
Blois gives his thoughts on the start to the 2023 State Legislature session. After that, he gets more perspective from the following guests:
- State Senators Jim Abeler (R, District 35) and John Hoffman (DFL, District 34) discuss their shared causes that they hope will get more attention by this Legislature (long-tem care, human services, etc.), as well as their friendship on and off the Senate floor.
- Twin Cities Public Television reporter Mary Lahammer gives her impressions of the first couple of weeks of this session. How are both parties handling the DFL's slim majority of both chambers?
This week, Blois' conversations hover over the metro loop. He sits down with Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey and St. Paul mayor Melvin Carter to discuss the challenges each faces in this new year and what they hope to work on for their respective cities.
As the new State Legislature prepares to start the 2023 session, Blois takes a moment to revisit a couple recent interviews regarding what we should expect from the State House. We listen back on the conversations with Majority Leader Melissa Hortman and new Minority Leader Lisa Demuth.
Ahead of the Christmas holiday, Blois continues to work on the political trail. After giving his thoughts on the state budget surplus debate, he chat with the following guests:
- Twin Cities Business Magazine editor Ali Kaplan tries to forecast what the city of Minneapolis may do to revitalize downtown retail shopping.
- We get introduced to new State House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth. The representative from District 13A describes her hopes for the state GOP's agenda as the new session approaches.
This week, Blois turns his focus to the debate on how the state will allocate its large budget surplus. He discusses multiple angles of decisions surrounding a state budget with State Budget Director Ahna Minge and State Senator Carla Nelson.
After breaking down the elections results last week, Blois digs a bit into what initiatives could be brought up in next year's legislative session. Then, our host dives into the issue of mining in Northern Minnesota. He gets reaction to the issue from Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. CEO Lourenco Goncalves and author Jim L. Bowyer.
Blois goes through the impact of the Midterm results, inviting new State Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson and Speaker of the State House Melissa Hortman to give perspectives from their sides of the political aisle.
Blois takes a few moments to break down the anatomy of a "Wave" election. After that, he sits down with the following guests:
Wall Street Journal reporter John McCormick describes the issues and Senate races that are having an impact on this cycle.
Former WCCO news reporter and current TPT Almanac co-host Eric Eskola dives into the statewide races that we need to watch come election night.
This week, Blois takes the show to ask questions of Dr. Scott Jensen, the challenger for MN Governor. They discuss Jensen's campaign, his potential Cabinet, and what he does to wind down.
Blois gives us his five most important items to look out for going in the November 8th election. Then, he welcomes the following guests:
- Sen. Amy Klobuchar gives us the reasoning behind the Electoral Count Act and the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act.
- Twin Cities Public Television reporter Mary Lahammer describes a new reflection regarding the recent controversial comments surrounding diversity on the University of Minnesota-Morris campus.
Blois hones his focus on the Twin Cities suburbs this week. After going through some of the numbers to give some indication of where the midterms could go, he welcomes the following guests to the program:
- Kathleen Fowke discusses her candidacy for the State Senate in District 45, including the issues she believes are top of mind for the voters.
- State Senator Steve Cwodzinski (District 48) talks about some of the hot button topics voters are focusing on this election cycle.
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-large.
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) join the program to discuss where Clean Energy issues sit in this election cycle.
- KARE-TV political reporter John Croman tells us about the stories he's looking into as the Midterm elections draw closer.
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 his expertise on the Met Council, especially when it comes to the growing boondoggle known as the metro's Southwest LRT line.
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 there's too much politicization in the classroom and the ongoing shortage of teachers for the classrooms.
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 language)
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, provides a recap of this week's Governor's debate. And what are folks in Greater Minnesota thinking about the issues that are most prevalent in this election cycle.
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 gearing up for an eventful election cycle for several statewide positions.
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, and looks at how the Midterm Election is shaping up for Republicans with former Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch.
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 sits going into the 2022 elections.
- Attorney Kim Crockett explains why she decided to become a challenger in MN's Secretary of State race. Where does she see flaws in the current voting system?
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-authored the bill. What benefit will this provide?
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 for the state's 3rd District seat.
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 the election.
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 his group's reasoning on the importance of strong gun rights.
- Rashmi Seneviratne, Executive Director of Protect Minnesota, offers her group's thoughts on why gun control is more essential than before.
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 Walz chats about his re-election campaign, how the past two years may have helped or hurt his cause, and what he can offer in a second term.
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 Jim Schultz gives us the reasoning for his candidacy in this year's Attorney General election. What does he want to being to the position?
- Michael Brodkorb, former deputy chair of the MN Republican Party, provides a preview of next week's party convention. Which gubernatorial candidate does he believe will earn the party's endorsement?
As we open the month of May, Blois takes the show on the road. He's in Grands Rapids for this weekend's Leadership Minnesota event from the MN Chamber of Commerce. He sits down with the following guests to discuss how different areas of industry were effected during the COVID-19 pandemic:
- Sugar Lake Lodge owner/president Fred Bobich looks at the effect on the hospitality industry.
- Clow Stamping Company president Lori Davies gives an update of how this has effected the manufacturing industry.
- Gardner Builders CEO/founder Bob Gardner describes the impact to the commercial construction industry.
Blois has some things to say, and he also leaves time to catch up with the following guests:
- The Redemption Project co-founders Tim Owens & Dwight Tostenson explain their organization, which is designed to help incarcerated people re-integrate into society after serving their sentences.
- Andy Luger, who is now returning to the role of U.S. Attorney for Minnesota. It has been five years since he held the same post. What differences issues does he anticipate dealing with during his second stint in the job?
Before the guests arrive, Blois takes some time for his own assessment of where Minnesota is ahead of Sunday's State of the State address.
On this Easter Sunday, Blois welcomes the following guests on for discussions on several topics:
- Minnesota Corn Growers Association director Brian Thalmann explains the impact that the recent announcement regarding Ethanol fuel will have on members of the organization.
- Minneapolis attorney and legal analyst Joe Tamburino looks into some of the recent decisions being made in area court cases.
- Twin Cities Public Television journalist Mary Lahammer describes what is happening in St. Paul as the state legislature heads toward the final month of their 2022 session.
This week, Blois takes the time to sit down with the following guests:
- Jeff Ettinger, the former CEO of Hormel Foods, talks about his decision to run (as a Democrat) for the open 1st Congressional District seat.
- Scientist and entrepreneur Dr. Hugh McTavish has put his name in the Governor's race. The Independent candidate tells us what inspired him to run. And what out-of-the-box idea does he have for the legislature?
- Former Governor Tim Pawlenty takes a bit of a deeper dive into the endorsement process that goes into our statewide elections.
As we (hopefully) head towards Spring, Blois has his eye on the future. This week, he sits down with the following guests:
- Litigator Ryan Wilson tells us why he's deciding to run for State Auditor. What does he believe he can bring to the position?
- Well, if we're getting out of Winter, we know the other state season is about to get going...road construction season. Jake Loesch, MNDOT Senior Director of Communications, lets us know about the big projects taking place in 2022.
- Elizer Darris, Co-Executive Director of MN Freedom Fund, describes when and how this organization began, as well as the progress they've made to this point.
As we close out the month of March, Blois turns the conversation off of the more "in your face" issues and focuses on items that could be more impactful on a family level. This week, he sits down with the following guests:
- MN Rep. Kristin Robbins has introduced a bill that hopes to ban the practice of social media companies targeting their algorithms toward minors. She joins the program to explain why she brought this up for debate.
- MN Rep. John Huot has drafted legislation regarding the behavior of parents at youth sporting events. He gives us some insight into his plan to deal with this issue.
Plus, Blois takes some time to dive into the status of Minnesota politics as we roll through what is already a heated, divisive election cycle.
This week, the political plate is full of news. Blois sits down to chat with the following guests:
- Agricultural law attorney Matt Benda has entered the race for the 1st Congressional seat. The former Chair of the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce lets us know why he decided now was the time to put his name in the ring.
- How that Sunday liquor sales has passed, what other state alcohol laws need to be looked into? MN House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt gives us an update.
- Iron Range writer/jounalist Aaron J. Brown (a.k.a. Minnesota Brown) joins the program to discuss the Senator Tom Bakk's recent announcement that he will leave the state legislature. What does this mean for northern Minnesota politics?
On this mid-March Sunday, Blois sits down with the following guests:
- Former CEO of the Center for Rural Policy Brad Finstad explains why he's jumping into the special election for the vacated 1st District Congressional seat.
- Former Minneapolis city councilman and long-time community activist Don Samuels discusses his reasons for challenging Congresswoman Ilhan Omar for her 5th District seat.
- MN Senator Nick Frentz gives us a deeper look into the the conversation on how to replenish the state's unemployment insurance and who qualifies for frontline worker pay (regarding pandemic relief).
During this edition of the program, Blois chats with the following state decision makers:
- State Rep. Jeremy Munson explains why he is running for the late Jim Hagedorn's seat in Congress, including a layout of the issues his campaign hopes to have an impact on.
- MN Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington discusses how his department is trying to tackle the biggest safety and crime problems across the state.
- MN Rep. Ilhan Omar reflects on this week's State of the Union address. She also looks ahead to what Democrats can do to help themselves garner positive momentum ahead of the 2022 elections.
It's a bit of a "taxing" theme this week, as Blois chats with the following guests:
- MN Chamber of Commerce president Doug Loon looks into discussion at the State Capitol to repay the unemployment insurance trust fund and potentially institute a new tax on businesses.
- State Rep. Dan Wolgamott tells us about the possibility of creating a statewide gas tax holiday between Memorial Day and Labor Day of this year.
- State Sen. Carla Nelson explains the Republican tax reform plan that they introduced in the legislature this week.
On this week's edition of the show, Blois sits down with the following political luminaries:
- Hennepin Sheriff's Office Major Dawanna Witt tells us why she is putting her name into the Sheriff race.
- Former Ramsey County elections director Joe Mansky discusses the impact of the latest redistricting map on the 2022 Midterms.
- Congressman Tom Emmer remembers the life and career of the late 1st District congressman, Jim Hagedorn.
Blois is back at it, opening up conversations with the following guests:
- MN Forward Party leader John Denney will discuss this new political group's decision to plant its first affiliate flag in the Land of 10.000 Lakes.
- Judge Tad Jude of Minnesota's Tenth Judicial District explains why he is jumping into the race for MN Attorney General.
- New Minneapolis Council member LaTrisha Vetaw discusses the needs for the people of Ward 4 and what she plans to put into motion to decrease the recent uptick of violence on the North side of the city.
As we dive into February, Blois wakes us up with interviews from the following:
- State Rep. Cedric Frazier describes the latest attempt at passing a Public Safety initiative over at the Capitol.
- Former State senator Dr. Scott Jensen tells us about his Gubernatorial campaign and what he hopes to bring to the top office in the state.
- Former Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek explains why he put his hat into the Governor's race ring. What does he hope to bring to the office?
This week legislative leadership looks ahead at the budget surplus from the Fluence Forum, Met Council Chair Charlie Zelle talks about the Southwest Light Rail cost overruns and delays, and Republican Candidate for Governor Sen. Michelle Benson.
This week Blois welcomes Brian McClung, Sen. Paul Gazelka, and Rep. Fue Lee to Sunday Take.
Blois talks to Mary Moriarty, candidate for Hennepin County Attorney, Maple Grove Police Chief Eric Werner who just met with Governor Tim Walz, and newly announced Republican candiate forr Governor, Kendall Qualls.
During this week's edition of the show, Blois talks to:
- MN DFL chair Ken Martin about where the party sits going into this latest election cycle.
- Twin Cities Public Television reporter Mary Lahammer to discuss the biggest issues that will guide the 2022 Midterm elections.
- Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach for a recap of a busy and turbulent first year in Washington, D.C.
Blois Olson is ready to take 2022 on. During this first edition of the New Year, he chats with the following guests:
- Bloomington police officer Jai Hanson discusses the impetus behind his campaign for Hennepin County Sheriff.
- Kris Ehresmann, Director of the MN Dept. of Health Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention, and Control Division, updates the fight against COVID-19 as the new year begins.
Blois also chimes in with the issues he believes will have a big impact on the 2022 legislature.
On this day after Christmas, Blois Olsen is back to work. On this week's episode:
- State Sen. Julie Rosen talks about her role as a co-chair on the Governor's new Justice Reinvestment Council and the focus of this group.
- Vineeta Sawkar is welcomed in as the new host of WCCO-AM's Morning News. She tells us about what she hopes to bring to the mic.
- Hennepin County Sheriff Dave Hutchinson describes his recent DWI conviction and how he hopes to regain the trust of the people that elected him to the position.
Ahead of the Christmas holiday, Blois sits down with a couple guests.
- Dr. Neil Shah gives us a more detailed introduction to his Gubernatorial campaign for next year's state race.
- Rep. Dean Phillips explains why he authored a letter to legislative leaders asking to provide tax relief for small businesses.
This week, Blois Olson sits down for a cup of coffee with:
- Public Record Media executive director Matt Ehling to chat on Government transparency and the effort to receive information on Gov. Walz's decision making over the past couple of years (including those on COVID-19).
- MMB (MN Dept. of Management & Budget) Commissioner Jim Schowalter to explain how the state might tackle the recently-announced $7.7 billion surplus and how inflation might play a role.
- Sen. Amy Klobuchar to discuss this week's Congressional hearing with the Instagram CEO, potential updated regulation on social media, and which pertinent issues Congress needs to look into as soon as they can.
This week, host Blois Olson welcomes on the show:
- Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott to discuss his efforts to alter policing culture and habits in the city (on the eve of the Kim Potter trial commencing).
- Former Vikings offensive lineman Matt Birk about how his life philosophies have been tied to the world of politics and his support for Gubernatorial candidate Scott Jensen.
MN State Auditor Julie Blaha joins Blois Olson to discuss her main duties in that role, as well as her bid for re-election.
On this week's edition of the program, Blois Olson sits down with:
- MN State Auditor Julie Blaha to discuss her main duties in that role, as well as her bid for re-election.
- Doug Loon, President/CEO of the MN Chamber of Commerce, to discuss the organization's annual Business Benchmark Report.
- Congressman Pete Stauber to review his latest Town Hall on the current problems in the country's supply chain.
During this week's edition of the program, Blois Olson sits down with:
- Progressive Policy Institute V.P./Chief Economist Michael Mandel to discuss the tech industry's role in today's job market.
- Governor Tim Walz to explain his plan to power the state out of the COVID pandemic, along with why he hopes to win re-election.
This week, host Blois Olson catches up with:
- MN State Sen. Roger Chamberlain to discuss the prospect of legalizing sports betting in the state.
- Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey to tell us what he plans to do now that he has won his re-election bid.
- Congressman Tom Emmer to explain his efforts on cryptocurrency and what the 2021 election results mean for the next few cycles.
This week, Blois welcomes:
- MN Congresswoman Angie Craig to talk about the gridlock in Washington over the two Infrastructure bills.
- MN State House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt and State Representative Zack Stephenson to tell us about the push to change the state's liquor laws.
- Former Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak to discuss the current state of the city he used to lead.
This week, Blois Olsen chat with:
- State Senator Warren Limmer about how the legislature plans to tackle rising crime across the state (especially in the Twin Cities).
- St. Paul mayor Melvin Carter about the issues with crimes and shooting incidents around the city.
- Wall Street Journal reporter John McCormick about the debate surrounding the current Infrastructure bills in Congress.
This week, Blois Olson sits down to chat with:
- Kelly Jahner-Byrne on the reasons for her GOP candidacy for the upcoming MN Secretary of State election (in 2022).
- Sen. Tina Smith about the latest on the current Congressional bills, the efforts for bi-partisanship, and the lack of civility in political discourse.
- MN School Boards Association executive director Kirk Schneidawind explaining the myriad of issues local boards are facing in the continuing pandemic.
On this week's edition, Blois catches up with:
- Janae Bates of Yes 4 Minneapolis regarding the ongoing ballot initiative to change the city's Police Department.
- Former Minneapolis civic leader Peter Hutchinson on the city's ballot initiative to change the power of the mayoral office.
- New MN GOP Chairman David Hann on where the State party stands and his plans for it's future.
Blois talks to John Stanoch, a former Hennepin County District Judge on the huge week in courts and politics. He then chats with journalist Rebecca Brannon who was working on the Lazarro story in February. Finally, Peter Callaghan of MinnPost and Steve Karnowksi of AP join for a media roundtable on the biggest stories of the week.
On this week's Sunday Take with WCCO political analyst Blois Olson, he catches up with AJ Awed who is running for Mayor of Minneapolis. Plus majority leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives Ryan Winkler, and Minnesota Senator Karin Housley both discuss the potential special session on COVID frontline worker relief.
In the first edition of our new show "Sunday Take" hosted by WCCO political analyst Blois Olson, he talks to Ramsey County Attorney John Choi about their new policy on low-level traffic stops, the new head of the Minnesota Senate GOP Jeremy Miller who is replacing gubernatorial candidate Paul Gazelka, plus talks politics with Torey Van Oot from Axios and Ricardo Lopez of the Minnesota Reformer.
This week, WCCO political analyst Blois Olson talks to Steve Simon, Minnesota's Secretary of State who announced he will run for re-election, Steve Hunegs the Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council, and with this week's media roundtable with TPT's Mary LaHammer and Laura McCallum the Star Tribune's Politics and Government Editor.