D'oh! Running late ...

3, 2, 1, Republicans suddenly remember the national debt today. Also the NYTimes and WashPost. Expect increasing introspection as we approach January. Much of Herr Trump's signature Big Beautiful Bill is going to hit any day now, real soon. Expect the Republicans who voted for the bill to blame Democrats for the results.

How Trump and Republicans lost the 2026 midterm elections, according to The AP Voter Poll
The voter poll cited the president’s failures to tame inflation and concerns about his own fortune over their needs.
by Associated Press
https://www.minnpost.com/elections/2026/11/how-trump-and-republicans-lost-the-2026-midterm-elections-according-to-the-ap-voter-poll/ ( Read more... )

It’s election week, and the Department of Justice plans to send 1,000 monitors to all 50 states, including Minnesota, to oversee the process. This is standard operating procedure for elections, and voters should know “Department of Justice monitors will not be allowed to observe from inside polling places. The counties said monitors will be subject to the same polling place access and distance requirements as other members of the public.” Via MinnPost
https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/department-of-justice-to-send-election-monitors-to-minnesota/

Rep. Lisa Demuth, the GOP candidate for governor, has done her best while campaigning to avoid policy specifics, instead focusing on broad statements about combatting fraud. But during an appearance on The Jay Thomas Show on WDAY in Fargo, Demuth said that as governor she would end the universal school meals program passed under the Walz administration. Via MinnPost
https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/gop-candidate-lisa-demuth-says-she-would-end-minnesotas-universal-school-meals-program ( Read more... )

Happy Halloween! I gotta bunch of Amazon specials: animal crackers, a collection of small chips, mixed Nestle candies, and a boatload of baby Snicker bars ifn we gets youngins tonight. I know ittsa El Niño, but we don't need two feet o' snow tonight. (Last Halloween onna Saturday was 2020; Next Halloween onna Saturday ain't until 2037.) I handed in my ballot yesterday at EH. There was a long line snaking outside the building for early voting, and a large setup for curbside voting. (I woulda curbside voted rather than wait in the line -- they looked bored anyway.) My handicapped parking permit dies today.

Somali Museum turns 13 as zombies and a Day of the Dead festival take over the Twin Cities
Spend your weekend with Somali artists in Hopkins, a kung fu zombie play in St. Paul and a Day of the Dead block party in Minneapolis.
by Myah Goff
https://sahanjournal.com/arts-culture/twin-cities-things-to-do-somali-museum-theater-mu-festival-calaveras/ ( Read more... )

Tally up two more cases of voter fraud in Minnesota, this time by conservative provocateur James O’Keefe and his associate Cameron Higby. The two filmed themselves dressed up in burkas and speaking with fake accents in an attempt to vote in the state’s primary in August. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty took the incident seriously enough to slap felony charges on them, and they’re due in court on Nov. 16.
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/10/28/james-okeefe-and-cam-higby-charged-with-unlawful-voting-for-youtube-videos

Art Hounds: Girl Scouts battle zombies, and ‘1776’ gets a new cast
Emily Bright
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/10/29/twin-cities-theater-art-hounds-picks-theater-mu-three-houses-1776 ( Read more... )

The 2026 midterms will also decide who runs elections in 29 states
A guide to secretary of state offices (and one lieutenant governorship) that could change hands.
By Nathaniel Rakich, Votebeat
https://www.minnpost.com/elections/2026/10/the-2026-midterms-will-also-decide-who-runs-elections-in-29-states-secretary-of-state/

Housing is a massive issue all across Minnesota, and St. Peter is trying something new to alleviate the housing crunch: factory-built houses that will make up a novel manufactured home community collectively owned and managed by residents. The homes could sell for as little as $115,000. Via MinnPost
https://www.startribune.com/manufactured-home-cooperative-st-peter-rural-minnesota-housing-shortage-rural/601884751?utm_source=gift ( Read more... )

U of M fellowship aims to boost rural obstetrics training and keep labor and delivery units open
Molly Castle Work
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/10/25/rural-labor-and-delivery-get-boost-from-university-of-minnesota-medical-school-fellowship

Trump administration has pushed off 13% of Americans enrolled in food stamps
Stakeholders concerned more people at risk of food insecurity after One Big Beautiful Act took effect
Eric Berger
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/25/trump-food-stamp-cuts ( Read more... )

D.C. Memo: As midterm election nears, corruption tops voter concerns, beating out inflation, healthcare
From deepfake ads to a waterfall of polls, campaign season is getting wild. Plus: Voters put government corruption top of mind; feds to pay farmers for high diesel prices; Omar moving from D.C. home after raid, and more.
by Ana Radelat
https://www.minnpost.com/dc-memo/2026/10/d-c-memo-as-midterm-election-nears-corruption-tops-voter-concerns-beating-out-inflation-healthcare/

How Operation Metro Surge changed the Minnesota media landscape for good
From safety trainings once reserved for conflict zones to a sense of camaraderie over competition, local newsrooms adapted and evolved.
By Lily Kopp
https://www.minnpost.com/metro/2026/10/how-operation-metro-surge-changed-the-minnesota-media-landscape-for-good/ ( Read more... )

Minneapolis’ Nicollet Mall doesn’t have to stay stuck at second-rate
Shifting Nicollet Mall’s bus routes is a good idea. Then we can turn our attention where it belongs – to its street life.
by Bill Lindeke
https://www.minnpost.com/cityscape/2026/10/minneapolis-nicollet-mall-doesnt-have-to-stay-stuck-at-second-rate/

Seitu K. Jones explores soil, culture and African American history in solo show
The fourth-generation Minnesotan uses his powerful art — including images of collard greens — to connect African American culinary traditions to Africa.
by Sheila Regan
https://www.minnpost.com/artscape/2026/10/seitu-k-jones-explores-soil-culture-and-african-american-history-in-solo-show/ ( Read more... )

3M PFAS pollution has made drinking water a campaign issue in this east metro legislative district
Both candidates have taken swings at addressing the east metro’s water pollution concerns, but their influence may be limited.
by Claire Carlson
https://www.minnpost.com/drinking-water/2026/10/3m-pfas-pollution-has-made-drinking-water-a-campaign-issue-in-this-east-metro-legislative-district/

Johnson tops Finstad in campaign cash as Flanagan and Tafoya run neck-and-neck in fundraising
The latest FEC filings also show modest fundraising in the race for Angie Craig’s seat while Tom Emmer has donated $22 million to other Republicans and his party.
by Ana Radelat
https://www.minnpost.com/elections/2026/10/johnson-tops-finstad-in-campaign-cash-as-flanagan-and-tafoya-run-neck-and-neck-in-fundraising/ ( Read more... )

Twin Cities Horror Fest brings South Asian mythology and Mexican ghost stories to Minneapolis
Plus, explore St. Paul’s Solidarity Street Gallery and see Titus Kaphar’s paintings and film about Black generational trauma at the Minneapolis Institute of Art
by Myah Goff
https://sahanjournal.com/arts-culture/twin-cities-horror-fest-soildarity-street-gallery-mia/

Amid ACLU lawsuit, Detroit Lakes school board committee tables new rules for what teachers can display
Harshawn Ratanpal
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/10/17/detroit-lakes-rainbow-ban-on-pause-amid-aclu-lawsuit ( Read more... )