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Essential Minnesota

Essential Minnesota

By: Minnesota Star Tribune
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A weekly show from the Minnesota Star Tribune. No AI, no spin, just great local journalists who use their access and connections to dig into unforgettable stories that matter to Minnesota and beyond. It's what the Strib does best. Political Science Politics & Government Social Sciences
Episodes
  • The Minnesota Legislature’s plan to tackle fraud this session

    The Minnesota Legislature’s plan to tackle fraud this session
    Apr 3 2026
    Rage bait videos and stories online catch a lot of attention. But the real solutions to dealing with fraud in Minnesota are less sensational and more practical. Our reporters run down the real problems that open the door to Medicaid fraud and the solutions state lawmakers are proposing that will close it. Guests: Jessie Van Berkel, reporter Ryan Faircloth, reporter
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    23 mins
  • Did Operation Metro Surge root out Medicaid fraud in Minn? part 2

    Did Operation Metro Surge root out Medicaid fraud in Minn? part 2
    Mar 27 2026
    We ended 2025 with a set of very serious fraud charges involving millions of dollars that were supposed to go to services that are a lifeline for some Minnesotans. And then Operation Metro surge happened. The deployment was supposed to root out this fraud, but our reporters describe what really happened. This is part 2 of a 3 part series where our reporters separate reality from rage bait about fraud in Minnesota. Guests: Jessie Van Berkel, reporter Deena Winter, reporter
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    29 mins
  • Fact v. Fiction: What’s the real story with fraud in Minn. part 1

    Fact v. Fiction: What’s the real story with fraud in Minn. part 1
    Mar 20 2026
    Real fraud, allegations of fraud and political rage bait are creating tons of headlines and lots of chaos but not much sense. To parse it out and get to what’s really going on – we go back to 2018 when the first big fraud scandals in the state set the playbook for what we are seeing today. Guest: Reporter, Deena Winter
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    25 mins
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