Almanac Producer's Blog

Almanac Highlights October 31, 2008

The Fight For the State House
Often lost in the mix of a busy election cycle is the battle for 134 seats in the Minnesota House of Representatives.  DFL Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher mixes it up with Republican House Minority Leader Marty Seifert. 

Sixth District Congressional Debate
Minnesota's Sixth District is one of the congressional races we are focusing on this year.  We invited to join us tonight the three candidates in the race.  Democrat El Tinklenberg and IP standard bearer Bob Anderson accepted our invitation.  We also invited Congresswoman Michele Bachmann to join us but her office declined citing her busy schedule.

The Senate Race Comes Down To The Wire
Almanac's Mary Lahammer took a trip around the state this week in pursuit of the three major candidates for U.S. Senate.  We present you Norm Coleman, Al Franken and Dean Barkley in their own words as they stumped the state... with a little help from some political friends. 

Our Political Scientist Panel
We've had fun with them this year as we pick apart politics locally and nationally.  So we've assembled them one last time before the election.  This week's group includes Steve Schier from Carleton College, Kathryn Pearson from the U of M, David Schultz from Hamline and Dan Hofrenning from St. Olaf.  Guy Charles joins us by phone from Durham, North Carolina where he is teaching this quarter. 

The Wrapup
We dispense with politics for the final few minutes of the program as we reveal some Index File wisdom, play some comments about last week's Senate Debate and leave you with show-ending music courtesy of Cliff Eberhardt.   

Almanac Highlights October 24, 2008

Senate Debate Special
Norm Coleman, Al Franken and Dean Barkley sit down with Cathy Wurzer and Eric Eskola live in the tpt studios for the final televised Senate Debate of the campaign season. There are no stop watches or podiums and we have encouraged the candidates to talk directly to each other for what we hope will be an engaging hour of conversation.      

Almanac Highlights October 17, 2008

The Monologue
Jim Ragsdale stops by with a bike helmet on his head to explain his personal energy policy.

Governor's Trade Mission to Israel
Governor Pawlenty announced this morning that he will lead a trade mission to Israel in early December. Tony Lorusso, head of the Minnesota Trade Office, stops by to fill us in on the details. 

1st District Debate Live!
It's Debate night on Almanac! We start with the 1st District. There are three candidates running to represent Southern Minnesota's congressional district. Republican Brian Davis and Independence Party candidate Greg Mikkelson join us live to debate the issues. Incumbent Democratic House member Tim Walz declined the invitation to appear with his opponents.

Sports of the Week
Larry Fitzgerald Sr. is back for his monthly sports chat. Wild are off to a great 3-0 start, Gopher football team has a 6-1 record and the Vikings are mighty envious of both.

6th District Debate
Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-6th District and Democratic candidate Elwyn Tinklenberg squared off in a St. Cloud debate earlier this week. We have some lively highlights for you.

2nd District Debate Live!
In our final debate of the night, Rep. John Kline, R-2nd District and Democratic candidate Steve Sarvi face off on the issues.

It's a Wrap!
Who appeared on Time Magazine's cover on 1927? Who landed a one line part in a 1996 movie? And an old musical performance by Moore by Four.

Almanac Highlights October 10, 2008

The Monologue
Cartoonist David Gillette continues with his series of reports on the Presidential Race. 

Economic Update
The State of Minnesota released its quarterly economic update Friday and revenues were actually up a bit.  State Economist Tom Stinson and Finance Commissioner Tom Hanson are our guests.

Al Franken's Big Three
Mary Lahammer continues her election-year profile of U.S. Senate candidates.  This week we meet Al Franken and his family.

First District Debate
On Thursday the leading candidates for Minnesota's First Congressional District held their first debate.  We bring you highlights as Tim Walz squares off with challenger Brian Davis.

Weather with Doug
Paul Douglas is back for his monthly weather chat.  Fall is on the agenda.

Third District Debate Live!
Almanac brings you a live debate with three people who want to replace Jim Ramstad in Congress.  Republican Erik Paulsen, Democrat Ashwin Madia and Independence Party member David Dillon answer questions posed by Eric and Mary.

The Wrapup
What was the unusual TV event back in 1974?  And who was on the cover of TIME in 1927?  After we deal with that we bring you a rare 1982 musical performance by Canadian folk singer Stan Rogers.       

Almanac Highlights October 3, 2008

The Monologue
The economy has caught up to Sheletta Brundidge. 

Mental Health Parity Bill
Friday's massive Wall Street Aid bill included the Mental Health Parity Act that requires most businesses to provide equal coverage for mental and physical illnesses.  Sue Abderholden with NAMI is our guest.

Senate Campaign Managers
Representatives of each of the three major Minnesota candidates for U.S. Senate join us live.  Cullen Sheehan (Coleman Campaign), Andy Barr (Franken Campaign) and Chris Truscott (Barkley Campaign).

Norm Coleman's Big Three
Mary Lahammer continues with excerpts from her election-year "Big Three" project.  Last week she had a revealing interview with Dean Barkley.  This week Norm Coleman talks about the the Big Three moments in his life. 

TV Ratings
We chat up ratings of the Vice Presidential Debate... the new fall schedule... and the Neilsen's new "people meters."

The Return of the Timber Wolf
Minnesota's gray wolf returns to the Endangered Species List.  Dan Stark with the DNR tells us what this change means.

Political Panel
What a great week for lovers of politics.  Debates.  Polls.  Rallies.  Republicans Fritz Knaak and Andy Brehm match wits with Democrats Mike Hatch and Ember Reichgott Junge. 

The Wrapup
What was that Minneapolis Miller answer?  And what happened at Channel 2 in 1974?  All that an a show-ending tune from the archives by Big John Dickerson.