Minnesota is suing — and has been sued — a lot.

There are cases over health care funding, immigration, clean energy policy, election laws, tariffs, diversity policies and much more.

Playing point for much of it: Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. He’s teamed up with Democratic attorneys general in other states for some of the litigation and has gone solo in other cases.

Closer to home, he’s in negotiations with the Legislature over ways to beef up fraud investigations and prosecutions.

MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst speaks with Keith Ellison.

Later in broadcast, a breakdown on the debate over data centers. We’ll get a look at the projects across the state to build more of the information warehouses are getting pushback.

Guests:

• Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison
• Dan Kraker, correspondent for MPR News based in Duluth
• Kirsti Marohn​, correspondent for MPR News based in Collegeville
• Dana Ferguson, political correspondent for MPR News
• Peter Cox, correspondent for MPR News

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation or subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.

The pace will crank up at the Minnesota Capitol next week.

With fewer than six weeks before the required legislative adjournment, packages of policy and spending measures will set the tone for the end-of-session negotiations that aren’t all that far off.

What’s still in play and what has taken a back seat? How prickly will those floor debates get?

MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst speaks with two leaders of the Minnesota House of Representatives to talk about session priorities.

Later in the program, we continue our conversations with candidates running for Congress in Minnesota’s 2nd District. Republican Eric Pratt will discuss his bid in that congressional district.

Guests:

• DFL Rep. Jamie Long of Minneapolis.
• Republican Rep. Harry Niska of Ramsey.
• Eric Pratt is a Republican senator for Prior Lake and a candidate for 2nd Congressional District.
• Dana Ferguson, political correspondent for MPR News
• Peter Cox, correspondent for MPR News

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation or subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.

Minnesota’s eight U.S. House seats don’t change hands all that often, but after November’s midterm election one seat certainly will.

The state’s 2nd Congressional District will have a new representative come January 2027. Democratic incumbent, Rep. Angie Craig, is running for the open U.S. Senate and will leave the House after four terms.

MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst speaks with candidates about why they’re the best Democrat to serve the district that runs from the suburbs down into southern Minnesota farm towns.