August 11, 2022 - A milestone victory Tuesday night could send the first transgender person to Minnesota’s Legislature. MPR’s Brian Bakst interviews Leigh Finke, a video production company owner, who prevailed in her DFL primary for an open House seat in the St. Paul area. She’ll be the favorite heading into November’s election.
July 11, 2019 - MPR’s Brian Bakst reports on how taxpayers helped fund 'Tonight Show' Super Bowl broadcast from Minnesota via Snowbate program, which aims at luring productions and fostering local industry talent. Segment includes various interviews.
April 4, 2019 - MPR’s Brian Bakst breaks down Governor Tim Walz’s first State of the State address. Walz aimed to connect everyday Minnesotans with the policies he’s pursuing in his initial year in office. Faced with the nation's only divided party Legislature, Walz implored lawmakers to put common purpose ahead of partisan ideology.
February 7, 2019 - MPR’s Brian Bakst reports on Governor Walz’s efforts to get up to speed on pressing issues and learn more about legislators who will decide the fate of his agenda. Waves of House members and state senators will be invited to mingle with Governor Walz and a few commissioners at the official Summit Avenue residence.
January 31, 2019 - MPR’s Brian Bakst reports that Governor Tim Walz has provided the first details about what will be in a two-year budget package he’ll release. The DFLer told a group of Greater Minnesota mayors to expect a hefty increase in aid from the state. Walz says there is more than that in store for communities beyond the metropolitan area.
January 3, 2019 - All Things Considered’s Host Tom Crann and MPR’s Brain Bakst discuss some of the picks for Gov.-elect Tim Walz's administration, as the DFLer decided who would run the state's agriculture, natural resources, health and human services departments.
December 4, 2018 - MPR’s Brian Bakst reports that Governor-elect Tim Walz finished a statewide tour where he invited people to apply for administration jobs and asked for their advice on where to focus. Along the way, Walz returned often to his “One Minnesota” campaign theme. In some rural communities, Walz found a wary audience.
November 8, 2018 - MPR’s Brian Bakst reports that Governor-elect Tim Walz has begun the process of forming a new administration. When the DFLer takes over in January, he’ll inherit a far better situation than his predecessor Mark Dayton did when he came in eight years ago….but there are some immediate challenges on the horizon. Bakst caught up with Walz during his first stop at the Capitol since his victory.
November 7, 2018 - MPR’s Brian Bakst reports that Tim Walz, a former teacher and sergeant in the National Guard, is Minnesota's governor-elect. Walz joined a DFL sweep of statewide offices in a year when the party also regained control of the state House. Republicans retained the Minnesota Senate.
October 16, 2018 - MPR’s Brian Bakst takes a look at the congressional career of U.S. Representative Tim Walz, who is seen as playing a bi-partisan role by some fellow legislators. Bakst highlights items such as Walz’s efforts on the Stock Act and Suicide Prevention Act.