Shows / City Cast Twin Cities
City Cast Twin Cities
Join Sean McPherson and the City Cast Twin Cities team every weekday morning as we bring you the day's conversations about life in the Twin Cities. With our cast of journalists, activists, experts and residents, we celebrate our wins with beaming pride, critique our shortcomings with the attention of a seed art judge and mutter “that’s interesting” for anything in between. Alongside our daily newsletter, we put the spotlight on the news and culture of the Twin Cities from every perspective we…
Episodes
- City Cast Twin Cities
Obi Original Wants You to Dance. Plus, Book Bedazzling and Polar Plunge 5k
Obi Original is the live performer we all need right now. Obiora Obikwelu is an artist, producer, and musical visionary. He joins the show to talk about his…
- City Cast Twin Cities
'Your City Could Be Better': What the Twin Cities Needs To Know About Pittsburgh's Plan To Fix Downtown
A lot of cities, including the Twin Cities, are trying to figure out how best to revitalize downtown. It's an issue that's especially top of mind for…
- City Cast Twin Cities
Downtown St. Paul Gets an Aldi, Feds Target MN Medicaid, and Snowplow Names
It's been almost a year since the St. Paul downtown Lunds & Byerlys closed, and Aldi just filed plans to open a store in the same space. Host Sean McPherson is…
- City Cast Twin Cities
Frey at State of the Swamp, Writers Assemble, and a Special Dinner
Minnesota mentioned!! But in the worst way. We’ll talk about what President Trump said at the State of the Union and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s appearance…
- City Cast Twin Cities
Shelter Forgives Attackers, and Legalizing Foraging
St. Anne’s Place, a shelter for families, was attacked by its very own neighbors across the street in the fall of 2024. But instead of finding justice through…
- City Cast Twin Cities
Biggest Rent Strike in 100 Years? Plus, Mutual Aid and Weekend Getaways
It has been an exhausting few months for everyone in the Twin Cities, and taking a quick weekend trip is a great way to regain some energy and keep going…
- City Cast Twin Cities
Catching Stories, Honoring Black History. Plus, Whipple Open Mic and Skyway 5k
What does it take to create groundbreaking and timely documentaries about Minnesota? We ask acclaimed director Daniel Bergin at Twin Cities PBS, who needs more…
- City Cast Twin Cities
‘Your City Could Be Better’: What the Twin Cities Needs To Know about Madison's Data Centers Fight
Everyone’s talking about AI these days, including residents of the Twin Cities. And now, more data centers are popping up across the country, thanks in part to…
- City Cast Twin Cities
What's Happening at the Capitol? Plus, Fight Over Alex Pretti Evidence, and Twin Cities Wins
Minnesota state Sen. Scott Dibble joins host Sean McPherson and contributor Tane Danger for a look ahead at the 2026 legislative session and to share what it…
- City Cast Twin Cities
What It Takes to Sue ICE. Plus, Cash Mobs!
We’ve seen ICE smash car windows, ram into cars, and get aggressive when making arrests. Who pays for the damages? Chuck Slane, owner and attorney at TSR…
- City Cast Twin Cities
Living Here On Purpose. Plus, Chief Rondo on ICE
We answer a listener from Portland who wants to know if he should move his family to the Twin Cities. Later, we’re joined by former Minneapolis police chief…
- City Cast Twin Cities
Giving Twin Cities restaurants some love
As Twin Cities restaurants face economic strain and ICE enforcement fallout, we’re resharing some of our favorite food conversations. Writer Ali Elabbady walks…
- City Cast Twin Cities
'Your City Could Be Better’: How the Twin Cities Organized. Plus, What Counts As ‘Cold’?
In this inaugural episode of “Your City Could Be Better,” City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Twin Cities podcast host Sean McPherson about the…
- City Cast Twin Cities
The End of Operation Metro Surge? Plus, Best/Worst Twin Cities Dates
Is it really over? Well, not quite yet. White House Border Czar Tom Homan announced Thursday he was ending Operation Metro Surge, and agents are expected to…
- City Cast Twin Cities
A Spicy Legal Meatball and Why Singing Is Anti-Fascist
About 17 assistant U.S. attorneys remain in Minnesota following a wave of departures from the office at the start of the year. Joe Thompson, a former…
- City Cast Twin Cities
Mixtape for Mutual Aid, Indefinite Detentions, and The Power of Gay Bars
The guardrails that protect immigrants’ rights are being bowled over by the Trump administration. A federal court decision handed down last week means more…
- City Cast Twin Cities
Anti-ICE Blockades, Witness Speaks On ICE Shooting, and Bowling for Love on V-Day
"Filter blockades" are popping up at intersections around the Twin Cities as residents are employing a new technique to slow down federal immigration…
- City Cast Twin Cities
A Principal on the Front Lines, Plus S’mores, Snowshoes and Music
Cherise Ayers is the celebrated Principal of Saint Paul Central. Ayers joins host Sean McPherson to explain how she fights chaos with consistency and why she…
- City Cast Twin Cities
The Bargain for ICE Leaving, Schools Sue DHS, Neighbors Save Dog
After Border czar Tom Homan announced that 700 immigration enforcement officers would leave Minnesota, reports emerged that county sheriffs were exploring ways…
- City Cast Twin Cities
Do 700 Less Feds Change Anything? Plus, Young Actors Connect With History
Tom Homan, the White House border czar, announced on Wednesday that 700 federal agents will be drawing back from Minnesota. But the president’s goal of mass…
- City Cast Twin Cities
St. Paul's Kaohly Her Is Not the Quieter Mayor
St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her took office just three days before Renee Macklin Good was killed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross. Today she joins host Sean McPherson and…
- City Cast Twin Cities
ICE in Court, Super Bowl Takeout Picks, and Bruce Visits First Ave
Operation Metro Surge faced another test in federal court this weekend, and while a judge declined to pause the operation for now, her words signaled just how…
- City Cast Twin Cities
Tish Jones Writes for This Moment. Plus, Events to Still Enjoy Living Here
Tish Jones is an award-winning, trailblazing poet and the executive director of TruArtSpeaks. The arts collective, which focuses on nurturing young artists…
- City Cast Twin Cities
Nur-D On 'Brutal' ICE Detention, Tom Homan Isn’t as Nice as His Suits, and a New Opera
With border czar Tom Homan now heading up ICE operations in the Twin Cities, many folks are positioning him as a more moderate voice than the previous…
- City Cast Twin Cities
Potholes and Plowing, Local Protest Songs, and Don't Mess with Rep. Omar
Every movement needs some music. The Twin Cities United Performers put out a call for protest music and got an overwhelming response. Organizers Nadi of Gully…
- City Cast Twin Cities
Bye Bovino, ICE Court Battles, and Corporate Inaction
Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino has been sent back to California, where he is expected to return to his previous job and retire soon. In the meantime…
- City Cast Twin Cities
Restaurant Turned Field Hospital, Toilet Paper Reviews and James Beard Predictions
Have you ever wondered which Twin Cities restaurant has the best toilet paper? Amber runs Twin Cities Toilet Paper Reviews and talks about how TP helped her…
- City Cast Twin Cities
Minnesota Mourns Again, the Symbolism of Whistles, and Culture in a Time of Crisis
The Twin Cities are reeling after federal agents killed two residents in less than three weeks. Sean McPherson talks with Creative Producers Tiffany Bui and…
- City Cast Twin Cities
A Day of Strike and Protest in the Twin Cities
A lot of folks are wondering right now what it’s like to be in the Twin Cities, where a massive and aggressive deportation operation is taking place. Today, in…
- City Cast Twin Cities
“ICE Out” Day, Church Protesters Arrested, and Be Nice to Snowplows
Today, across the Twin Cities, businesses are closed, workers are staying home, and people are marching in the street for a “Day of Truth and Freedom”…
- City Cast Twin Cities
Ethics of Protesting in a Church, and Independent Journalists Worth Following
Last week, activists interrupted a worship service at the Cities Church in St. Paul to protest pastor David Easterwood, who serves as the acting director of…
- City Cast Twin Cities
White House Turns ICE Arrests Into Content and St. Paul Pauses Towing
The White House and other federal agencies are “doing it for the ‘Gram,” and it has real-life consequences. Contributor and host of Never Post, Hans Buetow…
- City Cast Twin Cities
Ride-Along With ICE Observers, General Strike Friday, Music as Resistance
Every neighborhood in the Twin Cities has folks who are coordinating with each other to track the location of ICE vehicles and make sure people are at the…
- City Cast Twin Cities
What the Insurrection Act Could Mean for Minnesota
A week after an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Macklin Good, a federal officer shot a man in the leg in north Minneapolis. The man suffered…
- City Cast Twin Cities
Leaked ICE Documents, U.S. Attorney Resignations, and Minnesota's 'Black, Bold & Brilliant'
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is on Monday, Jan. 19, and it's more than a day off work. Multidisciplinary artist Namir Fearce is directing this year's Black…
- City Cast Twin Cities
Trash Burnin’ Machine, MN Sues to Stop ICE, and Where to Decompress
Minnesota and the Twin Cities are suing the federal government to stop Operation Metro Surge, as another 1,000 agents are expected to be deployed in the state…
- City Cast Twin Cities
MN Investigating ICE Shooting, SNAP at Risk (Again), and How To Be a Good Neighbor
The immigration enforcement surge in the Twin Cities is showing no signs of slowing down, with around 1,000 more federal agents coming our way. The Trump…
- City Cast Twin Cities
Are Kids Safe From ICE at School? Plus, Dreaming Big for Central Ave
Following the killing of Renee Nicole Macklin Good in South Minneapolis, the Border Patrol operation at Roosevelt High School, and increased federal…
- City Cast Twin Cities
What Can MN Do About ICE? (with Sen. Doron Clark)
Gov. Tim Walz described the state as being “at war” against the federal government. Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey called for ICE to “get the f*ck out.” But…
- City Cast Twin Cities
What We Saw at the ICE Shooting in South MPLS
Late Wednesday morning, a federal immigration agent shot and killed a woman in the Central neighborhood of South Minneapolis. The scene afterward became a…
- City Cast Twin Cities
Hope Walz Unleashed, Top 5 Chicken Wings, New Album Alert
John O’Sullivan of One Hour Detours is back on the show to talk to us about his interview with Hope Walz, the governor’s daughter and a social media force in…
- City Cast Twin Cities
Who Will Replace Walz? Plus, Frey Getting a Pet Parrot and Other 2026 Predictions
Yesterday morning, Governor Tim Walz announced that he will no longer be running for a third term so he can spend the rest of his term addressing issues of…
- City Cast Twin Cities
What U.S. Cities Will Be Talking About in 2026 (Including the Twin Cities)
Nobody understands a city’s pulse quite like a City Cast host — and that makes them the best predictors for 2026’s biggest local stories. City Cast Twin Cities…
- City Cast Twin Cities
Your Guide to January in the Twin Cities, and Winter Advice from a Minnesotan in Antarctica
Happy New Year, Twin Cities! It may be cold outside, but there's still a ton to do around town. Host Sean McPherson is joined by jazz singer and contributor…
- City Cast Twin Cities
We Watched Minneapolis Doomsday Documentaries So You Don't Have To
Since we've had multiple documentaries come out regarding the challenges Minneapolis faces and what the path forward should look like for our cities, we're…
- City Cast Twin Cities
Sorry Twin Cities, You're Being Tracked Everywhere You Go
According to crowdsourced data on the website Deflock.me, there are over 300 Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras in the metro area. Most of these are…
- City Cast Twin Cities
Local Gift Guide, Twin Cities Wrapped, and What’s Open on the 25th
If you're looking for something outside the box to do on December 25, Sean has spent 15 years curating a list of what’s open that day. Plus, James Norton of…
- City Cast Twin Cities
Finding Humor in Dark Times with Lizz Winstead
Lizz Winstead is the co-creator of The Daily Show on Comedy Central, the founder of Abortion Access Front, and a comedian who got her start right here in the…
- City Cast Twin Cities
MN’s Pagan Roots, Toe-Tapping Opera, Twin Cities Wins
Minnesota is home to a thriving pagan and witchy community, and the solstice is a great time to get involved. Dr. Chantel Rodriguez, public historian and host…
- City Cast Twin Cities
MN's Top 50 Restaurants, Hating On Holiday Bars, and Helping Hungry Minnesotans
Food critic Kirstie Kimball has been to 600 restaurants across Minnesota in the past two years, and she has distilled her findings into a comprehensive list of…
- City Cast Twin Cities
How Bad is Dating Here? Plus, AI Shopping Chatbots
Minneapolis’s season of Love Is Blind might have been a flop, but how bad is the dating scene in the Twin Cities, actually? Contributor Denzel Belin and…
- City Cast Twin Cities
African Food Across the Twin Cities, In Defense of Como Zoo, and the Future of George Floyd Square
The Twin Cities is home to one of the most vibrant African food scenes in the country, and today we’re digging into where to eat, from Ethiopian classics to…
- City Cast Twin Cities
Top 5 Local Holiday Songs, Plus Weed Cookies, Moose Balls and Pheasant Egg Rolls
We’re rockin’ around the Christmas tree with holiday tunes by Twin Cities musicians. Contributor, musician PaviElle French, and Racket’s co-owner Keith Harris…
- City Cast Twin Cities
Trump Sues MPS, MnDOT Won't Name a Snowplow "Abolish ICE," and The Kids Might Be Alright
The Department of Justice is suing Minneapolis Public Schools for a policy that protects teachers from underrepresented groups from being laid off. Host Sean…
- City Cast Twin Cities
Restoring St. Anthony Falls, Winter Fashion, and Pooping Downtown
Have you ever wondered why St. Anthony Falls is just pure concrete? The Dakota-led group Owámniyomni Okhódayapi is redesigning and restoring the falls to its…
- City Cast Twin Cities
ICE Acting Without Warrants, SPPD Accountability, and How To Help Your Neighbors
The President of Augsburg University is condemning ICE after agents took a student from campus without a warrant over the weekend. Meanwhile, advocates in St…
- City Cast Twin Cities
Top 5 Movie Theaters, Funeral Home Cocktails, Is Your House Racist?
Let’s revisit a few conversations from earlier this year including the best theaters in the Twin Cities – criteria include popcorn, comfy seats, and a good…
- City Cast Twin Cities
How Questionable Claims Led Trump to Attack Somali Minnesotans
We follow the right-wing pipeline that led to Donald Trump’s attacks on Somali Minnesotans, including trying to revoke protected status for some residents…
- City Cast Twin Cities
St. Paul Locks in Budget, 30 Years of Splendid Table, and Honeycrisp Gets a Sequel
St. Paul managed to pass their 2026 city budget with unanimous 7-0 approval from the city council – meanwhile, the Minneapolis city council and mayor's office…
- City Cast Twin Cities
Trump Targets Somali Minnesotans, and the Neo-Nazi AI Cartoon About a Local Lawyer
Trump’s new push for mass deportations is already sending fear through Minnesota’s Somali community, and we break down some of the more offensive comments he…