Good News for 2025 Babies and MN’s ‘Golden Age’ of Film
Minnesota's new state-sponsored parental leave program goes into effect on Jan 1, 2026, and some parents who already took parental leave for their 2025 babies will have the opportunity to take another round of leave in 2026. Host Sean McPherson is joined by Minnesota Reformer Reporter Michelle Griffith and Racket Co-Founder Em Cassel to break down everything you need to know about parental leave in Minnesota, as well as to chat about Minnesota's 'Golden Era' of film in the 90s, and whether or not we might see a resurgence of cinema shot in our state. After those stories, Executive Producer Anna Weggel hops on the mic to share some listener submissions from the #mailbag and to talk about some exciting upcoming Christmas tree lighting ceremonies brought to you by our sponsors at Xcel Energy.
Read more about the stories discussed in today's episode:
- Minnesota’s paid leave program will launch with 0.88% payroll tax, state agency says (Minnesota Reformer)
- New Minnesota paid family leave law could allow some new parents to "double dip" in 2026, due to timing quirk (CBS News)
- MN’s Movie Boom: Inside the 1990s ‘Golden Age’ of North Star State Cinema (Racket)
Learn more about the sponsors of this November 13th episode:
Xcel Energy - Subscribe to learn about upcoming programs and volunteer opportunities.
Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at twincities@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637.
For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities.
Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Stay connected to City Cast Twin Cities and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
Will MPD Chief Get Another Term? Plus, Rondo Resilience
The long-vacant Sears near the state Capitol has a new owner, and hopefully soon, a new life. The Rondo Community Land Trust is promising...

'Minnesota's Batman,' HCMC In Trouble, and New Music from jeremy messersmith
A masked vigilante in Minneapolis who goes by the name of "NoMark" has amassed over half a million followers on social media for his crim...

Falling Loons, Food Deserts, and What New ICE Footage Actually Shows
What should you do if you see a loon falling from the sky? You’ll know after listening to this episode, and we’ll explain why Minnesota's...

Remembering an Iconic MPLS ‘Guncle.’ Plus, George Floyd Square Construction
If you don’t know Roy Blakey, you should. Blakey traveled the world as a theatrical ice skater and later became the forefather of male nu...

The ‘Dirtbag’ Lawyer Helping Immigrants. Plus, St. Paul Art Crawl
Dan Suitor is one of many lawyers in the Twin Cities who have pivoted to helping free immigrants from ICE custody by filing habeas petiti...

'Your City Could Be Better': Denver’s Bet on a Women’s Soccer Stadium — Presented By City Cast Twin Cities
If you are a fan of the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx, you already know how incredible women's sports are! While more and more people are embraci...

The State of Sex Work in the TC. Plus, Best Breakfast Spots
The Twin Cities punches above its weight when it comes to breakfast. In fact, host Sean McPherson will argue any day that we do breakfast...

“Surveillance Pricing” on Groceries? Plus, Your April Guide
In the future, grocery stores could use data they’ve collected on you to change the price of your bananas (or other food of choice). Thou...

Bob Dylan's (Possibly AI) Patreon. Plus, How Well Do You Know Local Headlines?
Bob Dylan recently launched a Patreon promising “a living archive of lectures from the grave, letters never sent, and original short stor...

“Free the Nukes”? Plus, An Open Letter to Kristi Noem
Have you seen those billboards off the highway proclaiming “Free the Nukes”? We get into what that’s all about (spoiler alert: it’s prett...
