By J. Patrick Coolican | Editor-in-chief
Good morning, Reformers,
Hennepin County’s website still shows Mike Lindell’s property taxes are unpaid — nearly $50,000 in total.
I asked readers for key issues thus far unaddressed during this campaign season, and here’s some responses:
A retired nurse wrote in about health care consolidation, and specifically the proposed Allina-Sutter merger. A forum on the merger hosted by the Attorney General Keith Ellison, tonight at 6 p.m. is at capacity already.
A reader wants charter school reform: “I think a next Democratic trifecta should give the state a push to close down failing charter schools. We've allowed a segregated school system and there's not a lot of evidence that it has led to better results, while killing our public schools in the process. Swiftly shut down the charters that are not performing and make it harder to open new ones.” (Read this recent Evan Ramstad column for some background.)
A reader says he’s the rare progressive concerned about the accumulating federal debt. “The longer we wait to deal with it, the worse the solution will be — like an ignored clinical malady…. Discussion of the deficit opens consideration of our inequitable tax system, the bizarre cap on Social Security contributions by income, and how much a universal health care system financed by a single payer would save. Maybe we should means test entrance to the National Parks? (Just kidding. Not.)”
A conservative reader chimes in: “I am terrified of the slippery slope developing in Canada and fear the renewed push for ‘death with dignity’ in Minnesota that, in many other countries, has grotesquely morphed into hastening death for those who have become too costly to care for.”
As Briana Bierschbach notes this morning, the Democratic U.S. Senate primary between U.S. Rep. Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan has been mostly devoid of debate about issues while the candidates accuse each other of taking dirty money. (They do have policy differences, especially on health care. Flanagan wants a single-payer health care system, while Craig doesn’t.)
There’s still time!
To the Reformer:
Local police officers stand guard as Renee Good’s car is towed away after ICE officers shot and killed a woman through her car window Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026 near Portland Avenue and 34th Street. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)
By Madison McVan
The killing of Salgado Araujo marked the 21st shooting by immigration agents since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term. Four people have been shot at in Minnesota, resulting in two deaths.
In many such cases — including the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti — video evidence contradicted the government’s accounts, though the feds so far have rarely investigated officers for their use of force.
And, in the majority of cases, federal agents shot someone who was inside a car.
Policing and use-of-force experts have long advised law enforcement officers not to stand in front of, or shoot at, vehicles.
By Sue Abderholden
Sue is the retired longtime executive director of the National Alliance of Mental Illness Minnesota and has been writing for us this year about our mental health system.
In this dispatch, she writes about the frustrating and heartbreaking situation for families caring for a child with serious mental illness, who are typically run through the child welfare system — and, in many states, forced to relinquish custody — even though there’s no problem with their parenting.
She gives us important context, history and potential solutions.
IN OTHER NEWS
South Carolina US Sen. Lindsey Graham dies after ‘brief and sudden illness’ | Reformer via States Newsroom
The paperboy’s secret | New Yorker
OH BY THE WAY
I also wrote Friday about seeing Craig Finn perform and his reworking of a Hold Steady song to make it about Operation Metro Surge.
A reader now based in Portland says he reads Reformer emails to keep up with his beloved Minnesota.
“I saw a short video of the Craig Finn rewriting of “Constructive Summer” this morning on Instagram — wasn’t planning on having an ugly cry while getting ready to walk into my office this morning, but these things happen. I adore The Hold Steady (and have a tattoo largely inspired by ‘Constructive Summer’), and I wish I could have been there to see this live.”
So your song of the dsay is “Constructive Summer,” and check out the Instagram link to hear Finn’s reworking of the song.
Nothing wrong with an ugly cry now and again. Reminds us we’re still human.
Have a great day all! JPC
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