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Wedge LIVE!
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The Minneapolis City Council is in the middle of their annual, charter-mandated tradition: amending the mayor's recommended budget. I ask Budget Committee Chair Aisha Chughtai what a "budget" even means if one department (MPD) can overspend their budget by $20 million. We talk about Mayor Frey calling council members "mean-spirited" for proposing cuts to his office staff. Chughtai says adjusting the size of the mayor's office is about eliminating redundancy under the new government structure that took effect in 2021. Plus, why she thinks it's a good idea to fund a non-fatal shooting task force but not a first responder wellness and training center.Watch: https://youtube.com/wedgeliveJoin the conversation: https://bsky.app/profile/wedge.liveSupport the show: https://patreon.com/wedgeliveWedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontsee
We react to last week's election results in Minneapolis. Taylor Dahlin and Josh Martin join me to talk about Jacob Frey's victory, the prospect of a closely divided city council, downballot success that flipped the Park Board to the progressive side, Mike Norton winning "worst pundit of 2025," and so much more. Plus a conversation with a candidate (and cherished friend) who ran a heroic campaign for Park Board while being hospitalized with serious health issues: Jason Garcia, commissioner-elect in Park District 4.Watch: https://youtube.com/wedgeliveJoin the conversation: https://bsky.app/profile/wedge.liveSupport the show: https://patreon.com/wedgeliveWedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontsee
We're talking about I-94 as a public health emergency that the Minnesota Department of Transportation feels no urgency to do anything about. With guest Mateo Frumholtz, public health researcher and PhD student at the University of Minnesota.Rally against this public health catastrophe this upcoming Thursday, Nov 6. There will be delivery of a community petition to MnDOT asking that they restore the boulevard replacement option and continue to study removal of I-94. Bike with me to the rally! Details here: https://ourstreetsmn.org/94action Watch: https://youtube.com/wedgeliveJoin the conversation: https://bsky.app/profile/wedge.liveSupport the show: https://patreon.com/wedgeliveWedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontsee
We're breaking down the race for Minneapolis City Council in Ward 8 between Soren Stevenson and Josh Bassais. Joining me for analysis are a couple of Ward 8 icons: Andrea Riehl and Dan Suitor, lawyer to the stars.Watch: https://youtube.com/wedgeliveJoin the conversation: https://bsky.app/profile/wedge.liveSupport the show: https://patreon.com/wedgeliveWedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontsee
A conversation with Amber Frederick, candidate for one of three at-large seats on the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board.Watch: https://youtube.com/wedgeliveJoin the conversation: https://bsky.app/profile/wedge.liveSupport the show: https://patreon.com/wedgeliveWedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontsee
A conversation with Adam Schneider, candidate for one of three at-large seats on the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board.Watch: https://youtube.com/wedgeliveJoin the conversation: https://bsky.app/profile/wedge.liveSupport the show: https://patreon.com/wedgeliveWedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontsee
We're breaking down the race for Minneapolis City Council in Ward 10 between Council Member Aisha Chughtai and challenger Lydia Millard. Joining me for analysis is Natasha Dockter (not a real doctor).Watch: https://youtube.com/wedgeliveJoin the conversation: https://bsky.app/profile/wedge.liveSupport the show: https://patreon.com/wedgeliveWedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontsee
A conversation with Adam Dullinger, who argues he's more than just a single-issue candidate for mayor of St Paul.Watch: https://youtube.com/wedgeliveJoin the conversation: https://bsky.app/profile/wedge.liveSupport the show: https://patreon.com/wedgeliveWedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontsee
For years, a small but vociferous online community of ranked choice voting truthers have held firm to the belief that there's a way to game the system. Some say if we rank our ballots, not according to our preference, but in a way that communicates the correct password to the ancient aliens who run our elections, we can gain an advantage for our desired candidates. On today's episode I challenge my guests, Todd Schuman and Josh Martin, to reveal the secrets of RCV. Unfortunately, Todd and Josh are gatekeepers who never stop insisting those secrets don't exist. They say we should rank our ballots in a straightforward way, according to our candidate preference.Watch: https://youtube.com/wedgeliveJoin the conversation: https://bsky.app/profile/wedge.liveSupport the show: https://patreon.com/wedgeliveWedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontsee
A bike ride conversation with Elliott Payne, President of the Minneapolis City Council. We talk about issues at stake in the 2025 city election as he leads me through the heart of Northeast, across the river, into downtown, and finishing at City Hall.Watch: https://youtube.com/wedgeliveJoin the conversation: https://bsky.app/profile/wedge.liveSupport the show: https://patreon.com/wedgeliveWedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontsee
A conversation with Mariam Demello, candidate for Minneapolis City Council in Ward 11.Watch: https://youtube.com/wedgeliveJoin the conversation: https://bsky.app/profile/wedge.liveSupport the show: https://patreon.com/wedgeliveWedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontsee
We're talking about St. Paul's fight to implement something that most of the civilized world has already adopted to enforce society's rules and regulations. City question #1, on the ballot in 2025, attempts to convert St. Paul's system of government from "Mad Max Style Libertarian Free For All" to one that allows for administrative citations. Matt Privratsky joins me to talk about that and other pressing election issues facing St. Paul. Watch: https://youtube.com/wedgeliveJoin the conversation: https://bsky.app/profile/wedge.liveSupport the show: https://patreon.com/wedgeliveWedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontsee
Aisha Chughtai, VP of the Minneapolis City Council, sits in the cargo container as we navigate Open Streets on Hennepin Avenue and talk about the issues at stake in the 2025 city election.Cargo bike provided by the Minneapolis Cargo Bike Library: https://mplscargobikelibrary.com/Watch: https://youtube.com/wedgeliveJoin the conversation: https://bsky.app/profile/wedge.liveSupport the show: https://patreon.com/wedgeliveWedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontsee
We're breaking down the pivotal race for Minneapolis City Council in Ward 7 between Council Member Katie Cashman and challenger Elizabeth Shaffer. Joining me for the analysis are Heather Silsbee and Taylor Dahlin.Watch: https://youtube.com/wedgeliveJoin the conversation: https://bsky.app/profile/wedge.liveSupport the show: https://patreon.com/wedgeliveWedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontsee
A bike ride conversation with Omar Fateh, candidate for Mayor of Minneapolis.Support our sponsor: betterthan94.org/open-letterWatch: https://youtube.com/wedgeliveJoin the conversation: https://bsky.app/profile/wedge.liveSupport the show: https://patreon.com/wedgeliveWedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontse
A conversation with Jamison Whiting, candidate for Minneapolis City Council in Ward 11. In the first ever competition-based episode of Wedge LIVE, only one can emerge victorious. And it was your host, John Edwards.Support our sponsor: betterthan94.org/open-letterListen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wedgeliveJoin the conversation: https://bsky.app/profile/wedge.liveSupport the show: https://patreon.com/wedgeliveWedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontsee
My bike ride conversation with Rep. Kaohly Her, who is running for mayor of Saint Paul.Support our sponsor: betterthan94.org/open-letterListen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wedgeliveJoin the conversation: https://bsky.app/profile/wedge.liveSupport the show: https://patreon.com/wedgeliveWedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontsee
My bike ride conversation with Eric Harris Bernstein, candidate for Minneapolis Board of Estimate & Taxation.Support our sponsor: betterthan94.org/open-letterWatch: https://youtube.com/wedgeliveJoin the conversation: https://bsky.app/profile/wedge.liveSupport the show: https://patreon.com/wedgeliveWedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontse
A bike ride conversation with DeWayne Davis, candidate for Mayor of Minneapolis.Support our sponsor: betterthan94.org/open-letterWatch: https://youtube.com/wedgeliveJoin the conversation: https://bsky.app/profile/wedge.liveSupport the show: https://patreon.com/wedgeliveWedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontse
John is joined by Taylor Dahlin and Josh Martin for a rundown and reaction to the state party overturning the Minneapolis DFL convention's endorsement of Omar Fateh for mayor.Support our sponsor: betterthan94.org/open-letterWatch: https://youtube.com/wedgeliveJoin the conversation: https://bsky.app/profile/wedge.liveSupport the show: https://patreon.com/wedgeliveWedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontse























