September 4, 2008 - Day 4 of the Republican National Convention, held in St. Paul, Minneosta. John McCain gives republican presedential nomination acceptance speech at the RNC. In speech, McCain presents Sarah Palin, the first woman vice president on a Republican presidential ticket.
September 8, 2008 - Former Republican Govs. Al Quie and Arne Carlson and retiring U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad, R-Minnesota., recently shared the stage at the St. Paul College Club for a symposium titled "Minnesota's Progressive Republican Tradition: A History of Investing for Real Prosperity" sponsored by Growth & Justice, a progressive economic think tank.
November 7, 2008 - Hector Tobar, the son of Guatemalan immigrants, author of "Translation Nation" and Los Angeles Times Mexico City bureau chief, spoke recently during a Westminster Town Hall Forum.
November 17, 2008 - Author and humorist Garrison Keillor talked about poetry, writing and his own relationship with the library at this month's "Talk of the Stacks" series at the Hennepin County Library in downtown Minneapolis.
November 18, 2008 - Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin examines the presidencies of Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and identifies attributes that distinguish truly great presidents. Goodwin's latest book is "Team of Rivals: the Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln." She spoke in Minneapolis at the annual Planned Parenthood fundraising dinner in October.
December 1, 2008 - "Say It Plain: A Century of Great African American Speeches". An American RadioWorks documentary. Featuring speeches from: Booker T. Washington: A former slave and the most influential African American at the turn of the 20th century
January 1, 2009 - At the start of the new year, Midday presents some of 2008's most entertaining speeches. Author and humorist Garrison Keillor talked about poetry, writing and his own relationship with the library at the "Talk of the Stacks" series in November at the Hennepin County Library in downtown Minneapolis.
January 19, 2009 - Former Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell gives the keynote address at Martin Luther King Day breakfast in Minneapolis. He reflects on how the struggle for civil rights changed his own life, and is still transforming the country.
February 26, 2009 - MPR’s Marianne Combs presents a profile of acclaimed Minnesota poet and essayist Bill Holm, who passed away at the age of 65. Segment includes excerpts of Bill Holm speaking, and remembrances from those who knew him.
March 5, 2009 - Barbara Brown Taylor is an Episcopal priest, teacher, and author. She is widely recognized as one of America's most eloquent preachers. Ordained an Episcopal priest in 1984, she holds the Harry R. Butman Chair in Religion and Philosophy at Piedmont College in Georgia and is adjunct professor of Christian spirituality at Columbia Theological Seminary. She is the author of twelve books on faith and spirituality, including "Leaving Church" and "An Altar in the World." She lectures on preaching at Yale, Princeton, and Duke Universities and is a regular columnist for The Christian Century. She spoke before an audience at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Her speech was titled, "Downtime: The Sacred Art of Stopping".