Sometimes opposites attract, and then they make each other stronger.

That’s the story of our first Power Pair of 2026, Minneapolis married couple Roosevelt and Angela Mansfield.

She is a longtime educator who taught in Minneapolis Public Schools and now serves as an assistant commissioner at the Minnesota Department of Education.

He’s a youth worker, DJ and photographer, whose art shines a light on the people and history of Black communities in the Twin Cities.

They met through their shared love of hip-hop.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with the Mansfields about their work, their relationship and their commitment to supporting young people in stressful times.

Guests:

• Angela Mansfield is an assistant commissioner in the Minnesota Department of Education in the Office of Educational Opportunity. She started nearly eight years ago at the state agency as a teacher training specialist. She also founded and ran a charter school and taught in Minneapolis Public Schools.
• Roosevelt Mansfield is a photographer and DJ who has worked as a behavioral specialist and in other roles in public schools. He’s also the founder of The Purpose, an organization that supports young people of color through cultural education, photography and entrepreneurial skills.

Getting a cancer diagnosis today can mean something very different than it meant a few decades ago.

Cancer is still deadly. But thanks to advances in detection and treatment, cancer for some people has turned into a manageable condition.

A report from the American Cancer Society out this week shows that for the first time that the five-year survival rate for all cancers has reached 70 percent.

Tumors are being found at earlier stages, when treatment can be more effective. Surgery and radiation have gotten more precise. Researchers have refined their understanding of different types of cancers and developed new drugs that zero in on the unique biology of specific tumors.

Maybe most importantly, researchers are figuring out how to use the body’s own immune system to fight cancer in ways that doctors couldn’t have imagined 20 years ago.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with her guests about how cancer treatments are improving.

Guests:

• Dr. Emil Lou is a medical oncologist and professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School who sees patients at M Health Fairview Masonic Cancer Clinic. He specializes in gastrointestinal cancers, such as colorectal and pancreas cancers, and is also involved in cancer research.
• Dr. Rachel L McCaffrey is a breast surgical oncologist at Allina Health who specializes in treating breast cancer.

Have you ever seen a social media post that was so captivating that you just had to share it?

Maybe it was a powerful video, a striking image or a headline that made you stop scrolling.

But was it true? In a world where artificial intelligence can generate photos, videos and even voices, it’s becoming harder to know what’s real and what isn’t.

In fact, it’s become so challenging to tell truth from fiction that many colleges are offering classes in how to spot misinformation and digital manipulation.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two professors about how technology is being used to mislead and how to avoid being fooled by fake images, videos and stories.

Guests:

• Bob Groven is a professor and Co-Chair of the Department of Communication Studies, Film and New Media at Augsburg University. He teaches the class “Defense Against the Dark Arts,” which aims to help students recognize and protect themselves from misinformation and disinformation. He is also a strategic communication consultant with over 15 years of experience in leading political campaigns.

• Lana Medina is a journalist, researcher and educator. She teaches media literacy at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. Her work explores how social media algorithms, AI and newsroom pressures shape local journalism and civic discourse.

Increased immigration enforcement and Wednesday’s fatal shooting of a Minneapolis woman by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent have left some Minnesotans feeling frightened, angry or overwhelmed.

MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about how to manage fear, anxiety and emotional overload during stressful times.

Guests:

• Corey Yeager is a licensed marriage and family therapist who has a doctorate in family social science. He has worked for Minneapolis Public Schools and with the Minneapolis Police Department. He was a psychotherapist for the Detroit Pistons and he is the author of “How Am I Doing? 40 Conversations to Have with Yourself.”
• Chris Farrell is senior economics contributor for MPR News and Marketplace.

On Wednesday morning, a woman was shot and killed during what ICE describes as a targeted enforcement operation in south Minneapolis.

In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security said one of its officers fired his weapon in an act of self-defense as the woman “weaponized her vehicle.” However, elected officials and local law enforcement leaders are challenging that account, saying they see no evidence that the shooting was an act of self-defense.

MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with her guests about what’s known about the fatal shooting, what remains unclear and the legal questions it raises about federal authority, use of force and civil liberties.

Guests:

• Sarah Thamer is the senior reporter for the MPR News Race, Class and Communities team.
• Emmanuel Mauleón is an associate professor of law at the University of Minnesota who researches policing, surveillance and racial justice.
• Jenn Budd is a former senior patrol agent with the US border patrol and author of “Against the Wall: My Journey from Border Patrol Agent to Immigrant Rights Activist.”
• Liliana Zaragoza is an associate professor of clinical law and director of the Racial Justice Law Clinic at the University of Minnesota Law School.

Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.    

Health insurance is about to become more expensive for tens of thousands of Minnesotans.

Some of the tax credits that helped lower the cost of insurance for people who buy their own plans through the Affordable Care Act expired at the beginning of January after Congress failed to reach a compromise.

Those federal subsidies were at the center of last year’s political standoff that shut down the federal government. With premiums rising, the cost of healthcare coverage is expected to be a top political issue heading into the 2026 midterm elections.

MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks about why premiums are rising and what this means for Minnesotans struggling to afford coverage.

President Donald Trump’s administration says it’s freezing $185 million in child care funds nationwide this year amid allegations of potential fraud in Minnesota.

State officials say they are continuing to investigate the allegations but have not substantiated them so far.

MPR News guest host Catharine Richert will examine what the funding freeze could mean for children, families, child care providers and Minnesota politics.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced this morning that he is ending his campaign for a third term. He said he made the decision after consulting with family and friends over the holidays.

Walz’s departure from the race comes as reports of fraud in state-run social service programs in Minnesota escalated in recent weeks.

MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with two political scientists about Walz’s announcement and the race to replace him.

Guests:

• Kathryn Pearson is a professor of political science at the University of Minnesota. She is also an associate dean of undergraduate education and the director of the University Honors Program.
• Cindy Rugeley is an associate professor of political science and chair of the department at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.