Épisodes

  • Minnesota Mourns Again, the Symbolism of Whistles, and Culture in a Time of Crisis

    Minnesota Mourns Again, the Symbolism of Whistles, and Culture in a Time of Crisis
    Jan 26 2026
    The Twin Cities are reeling after federal agents killed two residents in less than three weeks. Sean McPherson talks with Creative Producers Tiffany Bui and Adam Sage about the latest events of the weekend before we start the original episode we had planned, where poet and activist Kyle Tran Myhre discusses what artists can do in a time of crisis – from convening audiences to turning poetry, zines, and whistles into tools for community care and resistance. Plus, City Cast Contributor and MPR Newsroom Coordinator Denzel Belin joins us for a look ahead at Twin Cities events worth showing up for this week, because joy, culture, and connection still matter. And find out what event prompts producer Tiffany Bui to utter the phrase, “ as a bisexual Aquarius, I feel seen, called out, respected and feared.” Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode: How Can Artists Show Up For Minneapolis (Racket) Kyle "Guante" Tran Myhre (website) guantesolo (Instagram) Ice Carvings for Kids (Winter Carnival) New Band Night (Green Room) The Sorcerer's Apprentice (Minnesota Orchestra) Reject’s Cohorts (Mixed Blood Theatre) Improv Zodiac! (Bryant Lake Bowl) Diego Figueiredo (Crooners) Learn more about the sponsors of this January 26th episode: Minnesota Opera Ordway Center for the Performing Arts Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at twincities@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637. For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities. Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
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    52 min
  • A Day of Strike and Protest in the Twin Cities

    A Day of Strike and Protest in the Twin Cities
    Jan 24 2026
    A lot of folks are wondering right now what it’s like to be in the Twin Cities, where a massive and aggressive deportation operation is taking place. Today, in -20° weather, local activists organized a general strike. The idea was to protest ICE presence with no work, no school, and no shopping. Over 600 businesses closed their doors, and thousands of protesters gathered in downtown Minneapolis. Our City Cast Twin Cities team was out there documenting it all day, and brought back this dispatch, which we think you’ll want to hear. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at twincities@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637. For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities. Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
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    13 min
  • “ICE Out” Day, Church Protesters Arrested, and Be Nice to Snowplows

    “ICE Out” Day, Church Protesters Arrested, and Be Nice to Snowplows
    Jan 23 2026
    Today, across the Twin Cities, businesses are closed, workers are staying home, and people are marching in the street for a “Day of Truth and Freedom” protesting ICE. We talk to union historian Amy Livingston at the University of Minnesota about why unions aren’t calling it a “strike” and the power of past movements like this one. We’re also joined by Anne Meyer at the state Department of Transportation about why everyone seems to have forgotten how to drive in the winter. Plus, Sean and contributor PaviElle French discuss the arrest of several key leaders in the Cities Church protest. Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode: FBI and Homeland Security arrest two protesters who disrupted Minneapolis church service (NBC News) Paradox: Echoes of Reform & the Minneapolis Police (PBS) Learn more about the sponsors of this January 23rd episode: Minnesota Opera Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at twincities@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637. For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities. Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
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    34 min
  • Ethics of Protesting in a Church, and Independent Journalists Worth Following

    Ethics of Protesting in a Church, and Independent Journalists Worth Following
    Jan 22 2026
    Last week, activists interrupted a worship service at the Cities Church in St. Paul to protest pastor David Easterwood, who serves as the acting director of ICE's St. Paul field office. Amid charges being filed against protestors by the DOJ and complicated reactions from the community, Reverend Dr. DeWayne Davis joins host Sean McPherson and journalist Winter Keefer to discuss the moral and legal implications of protesting inside a place of worship. Later, Pitch-a-Friend organizer Jackie Carper joins the conversation to highlight a fun event happening next Thursday, and Sean and Winter highlight some of their favorite independent journalists in the Twin Cities. Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode: St. Paul Church Considers Legal Action Against anti-ICE activists who disrupted service (Star Tribune) DHS Sec. Kristi Noem: Arrests coming in St. Paul church protest (FOX9) Pitch-a-Friend Follow these great independent journalists Georgia Fort Unicorn Riot On Site Public Media - Toussaint Morrison Taylor Dahlin Listen Media - King Demetrius Pendleton Learn more about the sponsors of this January 22nd episode: Minnesota Opera Xcel Energy Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at twincities@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637. For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities. Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
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    40 min
  • White House Turns ICE Arrests Into Content and St. Paul Pauses Towing

    White House Turns ICE Arrests Into Content and St. Paul Pauses Towing
    Jan 21 2026
    The White House and other federal agencies are “doing it for the ‘Gram,” and it has real-life consequences. Contributor and host of Never Post, Hans Buetow, talks about how the Trump administration is turning ICE arrests into content in order to further their immigration agenda. Minneapolis and St. Paul are temporarily changing their towing policies to accommodate cars abandoned due to ICE detentions. Finally, we open up that mailbag to mixed reviews. Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode: Life Under a Clicktatorship - by Don Moynihan Everything Reacting to Everything, All at Once (The Atlantic) The Trump-Flavored Content Administration | by Cooper Lund The rise of the troll state (Washington Post) Inside ICE’s social media machine creating viral arrest videos (Washington Post) Trump's immigration erosion worries his team (Axios) Videos add new detail to 2nd Minneapolis ICE shooting in a week (Minnesota Reformer) Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: If you enjoyed today's interview with Reading Partners Executive Director, Brooke Rivers, learn more here. Learn more about the sponsors of this January 21st episode: Minnesota Opera Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at twincities@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637. For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities. Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
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    42 min
  • Ride-Along With ICE Observers, General Strike Friday, Music as Resistance

    Ride-Along With ICE Observers, General Strike Friday, Music as Resistance
    Jan 20 2026
    Every neighborhood in the Twin Cities has folks who are coordinating with each other to track the location of ICE vehicles and make sure people are at the scene to observe and document when ICE agents detain people. Minnesota Reformer's Madison McVan joins host Sean McPherson and producer Tiffany Bui to talk about her experience riding along on patrol with some of these community members, less than a week after the killing of Renee Macklin Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross. Later, Sean talks with vocalist, songwriter, activist, and Queen of Rondo PaviElle French about the upcoming general strike, ways to help your neighbors, and how PaviElle channels activism through music. Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode: In the car with the Minneapolis community patrols working to disrupt ICE operations (Minnesota Reformer) Twin Cities Mutual Aid Project (tcmap.org) Minnesota faith, union, community leaders call for economic blackout on Jan. 23 (CBS News) PaviElle French - Sovereign Suite Learn more about the sponsors of this January 20th episode: Minnesota Opera Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at twincities@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637. For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities. Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
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    39 min
  • What the Insurrection Act Could Mean for Minnesota

    What the Insurrection Act Could Mean for Minnesota
    Jan 16 2026
    A week after an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Macklin Good, a federal officer shot a man in the leg in north Minneapolis. The man suffered non-life-threatening injuries, but the city is once again reeling from the display of force. City Cast producer Adam Sage reports back from the aftermath, where law enforcement set off chemical irritants and flash bangs against protesters. Plus, contributor and reporter Winter Keefer explains what it means for President Trump to threaten the use of the Insurrection Act. Finally, we celebrate some much-needed Twin Cities wins. Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode: Second person in a week shot by federal immigration agent in Minneapolis (Minnesota Reformer) Live: Trump threatens to send troops to Minnesota after federal agent shoots man over alleged attack (Star Tribune) Lawmakers Respond to ICE Activity in Minnesota Hospitals (DFL press release) Brass Solidarity McDonald’s security guard stands up to ICE ‘10 toes down’ (North News) Art Sled Rally! MPR’s Angela Davis announces she is cancer-free (Star Tribune) Learn more about the sponsors of this January 16th episode: Ordway Center for the Performing Arts The Ascent by Christopher Walker Reading Partners Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at twincities@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637. For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities. Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
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    35 min
  • Leaked ICE Documents, U.S. Attorney Resignations, and Minnesota's 'Black, Bold & Brilliant'

    Leaked ICE Documents, U.S. Attorney Resignations, and Minnesota's 'Black, Bold & Brilliant'
    Jan 15 2026
    Martin Luther King Jr. Day is on Monday, Jan. 19, and it's more than a day off work. Multidisciplinary artist Namir Fearce is directing this year's Black, Bold, and Brilliant Youth Talent Show, taking place from 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. on Jan. 19 at the Capri Theater, and he joined host Sean McPherson to chat about the show and how his organization partners with and serves Black families in the community. Racket co-founder Em Cassel and producer Adam Sage also join the conversation to run down the biggest stories related to the ongoing ICE surge in the Twin Cities, and Em talks about how she's seen local restaurants responding to the surge. Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode: Black, Bold & Brilliant Get in touch with Black, Bold & Brilliant: bbbwefree@gmail.com After vowing 'retribution,' Trump says federal funding to Minnesota will end Feb. 1 (Bring Me The News) 92% of ICE Detention Growth in FY 2026 Driven by Immigrants with No Criminal Convictions (Austin Kocher) Mass resignation at Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s Office stems from Renee Good shooting, investigation (Star Tribune) Joe Thompson, Minnesota's top federal fraud prosecutor, quits over ICE shooting probe (MPR) Immigration Agents Terrified of ICE Backlash After Shooting (Ken Klippenstein) Federal judge considers arguments in Twin Cities residents’ lawsuit alleging mistreatment by ICE (Star Tribune) 'Frustrated' federal judge confronts DOJ lawyers 'struggling to articulate' evidence (AlterNet) With the Twin Cities Under Siege, Restaurants Become Hubs of Solidarity (Racket) Learn more about the sponsors of this January 15th episode: Xcel Energy Ordway Center for the Performing Arts The Ascent by Christopher Walker Reading Partners Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at twincities@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637. For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities. Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
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    40 min