The Minneapolis City Council is in the middle of their annual, charter-mandated tradition: amending the mayor's recommended budget. I ask Budget Committee Chair Aisha Chughtai what a "budget" even means if one department (MPD) can overspend their budget by $20 million. We talk about Mayor Frey calling council members "mean-spirited" for proposing cuts to his office staff. Chughtai says adjusting the size of the mayor's office is about eliminating redundancy under the new government structure that took effect in 2021. Plus, why she thinks it's a good idea to fund a non-fatal shooting task force but not a first responder wellness and training center.

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Wedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontsee

We react to last week's election results in Minneapolis. Taylor Dahlin and Josh Martin join me to talk about Jacob Frey's victory, the prospect of a closely divided city council, downballot success that flipped the Park Board to the progressive side, Mike Norton winning "worst pundit of 2025," and so much more. Plus a conversation with a candidate (and cherished friend) who ran a heroic campaign for Park Board while being hospitalized with serious health issues: Jason Garcia, commissioner-elect in Park District 4.

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Wedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontsee

We're talking about I-94 as a public health emergency that the Minnesota Department of Transportation feels no urgency to do anything about. With guest Mateo Frumholtz, public health researcher and PhD student at the University of Minnesota.

Rally against this public health catastrophe this upcoming Thursday, Nov 6. There will be delivery of a community petition to MnDOT asking that they restore the boulevard replacement option and continue to study removal of I-94. Bike with me to the rally! Details here: https://ourstreetsmn.org/94action

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Wedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontsee