Aaron Brown
Verified- Columnist and Editorial Board Member, The Minnesota Star Tribune
- Podcast Co-Host, Worth It (Podcast)
Hibbing
North Woods author / @StarTribune columnist. Writes about Mesabi Iron Range history & Minnesota news.
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Articles by Aaron Brown
Tested: 2027 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Provides Entry-Level Luxury
The C-class is arguably the most important car Mercedes-Benz makes. The model line is the mass-volume driver for the automaker and a common entry point for Benz newbies all around the world. That means the company can’t mess it up. Changes and upgrades are important but must be handled delicately. For 2027, the C-class formula is unchanged; it’s an approachable baby version of what Mercedes does best.
Aaron Brown: What's wrong with political polls these days?
I haven't seen a news story about a political poll in recent years that wasn't heckled for its sample size, crosstabs or bias. The identity of the hecklers depends largely on whose candidate comes out looking worse. That's how it goes when everyone's a pundit. It's about time we act like voters instead. As we barrel toward another consequential election on Nov. 3, we should reconsider the role of polling in our political discourse.
Opinion | The case for Peggy Flanagan
Opinion | The case for Peggy Flanagan The DFL lieutenant governor understands the struggles of working Minnesotans and offers an ambitious agenda to make their lives more affordable. October 26, 2026 at 5:00AM U.S. Senate candidate Peggy Flanagan is licked by a dog as neighbors and friends rally for her in St. Louis Park on Aug 11. (Alex Kormann/The Minnesota Star Tribune) Comment Gift Share Opinion editor’s note: Voters have heard plenty about what’s wrong with the candidates.
John Oliver Warned Against Cherry-Picked Studies. Then He Cherry-Picked His Own.
In 2016, the HBO comedian and political commentator John Oliver produced a terrific segment on how TV pundits routinely cite garbage science.
John Oliver warned against cherry-picked studies. Then he cherry-picked his own.
Medicare Advantage choices just shrank for millions ahead of the Dec. 7 deadline. John Oliver and Suze Orman say ditch it — but are they right? Medicare open enrollment is here once again, and millions of older Americans are weighing the changes coming to their plans — and whether their …
Brown: What’s wrong with political polls these days?
Brown: What’s wrong with political polls these days? As the midterms near, let’s reconsider the role of polling in our political discourse. October 22, 2026 at 5:00AM People vote at Beaver Lake Education Center in Maplewood on Nov. 4, 2025. (Renée Jones Schneider/The Minnesota Star Tribune) Comment Gift Share Opinion editor’s note: Strib Voices publishes a mix of commentary online and in print each day. To contribute, click here.
Declaratory Relief OK’d in Face of Two Conflicting Judgments
By Don R. Sampen, published, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, October 20, 2026 Reversing the trial court, the 1st District Appellate Court recently held that conflicting judgments regarding insurance coverage gave rise to an actual controversy between an insurer and claimant, appropriate for resolution via a declaratory judgment action. The case is Sandbox Mutual Insurance Co. v. CE Design, Ltd., 2026 IL App (1st) 250379.
Brown: In Minnesota’s largest House district, rural populism is tested by fire
Brown: In Minnesota’s largest House district, rural populism is tested by fire The Nov. 3 election will say much about rural Minnesotans’ tolerance for deteriorating economic conditions ― and who they hold responsible. October 20, 2026 at 5:00AM Smoke billows up from the Bear Trap Fire in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Aug. 2, near Ely, Minn.
Switching to this popular Freely set-top box just got more expensive
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Mercedes-Benz Execs Hint at Plans for Next-Gen G-Class, More V-8 AMG Models. Here’s What to Know.
Mercedes is already looking at what comes next for the full-size G-Class. The brief, according to the man overseeing the model, is to bring it into the future while keeping it recognizably a G. That sounds straightforward enough, and the brand is learning from its recent C63 experiences to determine what customers view as essential.
Brown: What are Minnesota’s human designers to do in this wave of AI slop?
Brown: What are Minnesota’s human designers to do in this wave of AI slop? AI posters and advertisements are everywhere, with a distinctive look that’s hard to describe. So, I talked to some professionals. October 15, 2026 at 5:00AM Artist Marlys Mandaville live paints a portrait in the Northrup King Building during northeast Minneapolis' Art-A-Whirl weekend on May 19, 2018.
Apple will not release its latest gadget in Europe over clash with EU lawmakers
Brussels red tape has forced Apple to pause the launch of its latest product across Europe. Dubbed Apple HomeView , this all-new gadget competes with the likes of Amazon Echo Show and Google Nest Hub. With a speaker and high-resolution display, it lets you manage calendar appointments and reminders, control smart lightbulbs and video doorbells, answer general knowledge queries, send text messages, and much more.
Brown: If you love wildlife, leave raking off your autumn to-do list
Brown: If you love wildlife, leave raking off your autumn to-do list Don’t do it because it’s lazy. That’s just a side benefit. October 12, 2026 at 5:00AM Fallen autumn leaves on Minnesota's North Shore. (Brian Peterson/The Minnesota Star Tribune) Comment Gift Share Opinion editor’s note: Strib Voices publishes a mix of commentary online and in print each day. To contribute, click here. I love fall.
The NIH Plan To Strengthen 'Replication and Reproducibility' Will Not Check Anything
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will spend $174 million over five years on "R3PEATS," a new initiative aimed at "strengthening replication and reproducibility" of NIH-funded research. The program, which NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya announced in a Science editorial and a press briefing in September, is the agency's answer to the 20-year-old observation that most published research findings are false.
Brown: A historic first for Minnesota mines and the environment
Brown: A historic first for Minnesota mines and the environment U.S. Steel and the MPCA have found a path forward on a vexing pollution issue, but the road ahead is long. October 7, 2026 at 5:00AM An aerial view of the land around Mountain Iron, consumed by Minntac and its waste material. (Aaron Brown/The Minnesota Star Tribune) Comment Gift Share Opinion editor’s note: Strib Voices publishes a mix of commentary online and in print each day. To contribute, click here.
Declaratory Judgment Action Tolls Time Limit for Seeking Arbitration
By Don R. Sampen, published, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, October 6, 2026 The 1st District Appellate Court recently held that an insured’s renewed arbitration demand seeking uninsured motorist coverage, coming some nine years after the accident occurred, was not untimely due to the insurer’s declaratory judgment action that was litigated in the meantime. The case is Direct Auto Insurance Co. v. Macon-Hamblet, 2026 IL App (1st) 242530.
Brown: Massive budget cuts a gut-check moment for Minnesota colleges
Brown: Massive budget cuts a gut-check moment for Minnesota colleges Austerity, retrenchment and decline demand more than a shrug. October 4, 2026 at 5:00AM Students work during a human anatomy class at Minnesota State Mankato on Jan. 29, 2024. (Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune) Comment Gift Share Opinion editor’s note: Strib Voices publishes a mix of commentary online and in print each day. To contribute, click here.
Brown: Trump’s $15 billion Iowa surprise roils Minnesota politics, but merits skepticism
Brown: Trump’s $15 billion Iowa surprise roils Minnesota politics, but merits skepticism Has the DFL driven away the biggest steel project of a generation? Or has a desperate administration co-opted a financially strapped mining company for election-season theatrics? October 1, 2026 at 3:47PM President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office of the White House on Sept. 28.
Brown: Minnesota iron industry forges new future while chasing billions in financing
Brown: Minnesota iron industry forges new future while chasing billions in financing Offloading risks onto taxpayers is one way. Advancing bankable knowledge is a better way. September 28, 2026 at 5:00AM John Jovanovich (left), chair of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, speaks to reporters with Joe Broking (right), CEO of Mesabi Metallics, before a production mine blast at the new iron ore mining facility near Nashwauk, Minn., Sept. 17.
Dyson offers 'spa day' to restore your vacuum to full power, and it's coming to Britain before anywhere else
Lifestyle 1 day ago Amazon’s No. 1 Cordless Vacuum Has the Same ‘Suction Power’ of a $400+ Dyson — but It’s Under $140 for Prime Members People - Sian Babish • 1d I don’t mind vacuuming, but when it’s time for deep cleaning, there’s one thing I dread — moving low-lying furniture to scoop up the dust bunnies I’ve been ignoring. Luckily, there’s a clever way to clean these hard-to-reach areas.
Brown: Facing $6 diesel, Minnesota’s timber industry needs new markets
Brown: Facing $6 diesel, Minnesota’s timber industry needs new markets High fuel costs are squeezing loggers, while stronger markets could help keep working forests forested and Minnesota’s timber industry viable. September 23, 2026 at 5:00AM A delimber operates at a Marty Johnson Logging operation on Jan. 12, 2023, in Haugen Township, Minn. (David Joles/The Minnesota Star Tribune) Comment Gift Share Opinion editor’s note: Strib Voices publishes a mix of commentary online and in print each day.
Imagining data centers for people who hate data centers
Most people are at least skeptical of data centers, if not outright opposed. And yet, if you follow tech news, data centers are presented as inevitable. If we allow them, we risk consequences. We’re told the same goes if we don’t allow them. This coming collision between public opinion and economic drive threatens to shake our society in a way that demands preparation and creative thinking.
Subscription model might cure broken health care system | Aaron Brown
What if, for $100 a month you could go to the doctor anytime you feel sick? kAm*@F 86E 2? 2??F2= A9JD:42= E92E E2<6D 2D =@?8 2D J@F ?665[ H96C6 J@F 42? 2D< 2?J >65:42= BF6DE:@? H:E9@FE H@CCJ:?8 23@FE 2? 6IEC2 3:==] *@F 2?5 J@FC 5@4E@C 86E E@ <?@H 6249 @E96C] *@FC >65:42= C6=2E:@?D9:A 6G6? DE2?5D 2 8@@5 492?46 @7 =2DE:?8 =@?86C E92?
Subscription model might cure broken health care system | Aaron Brown
What if, for $100 a month you could go to the doctor anytime you feel sick? kAm*@F 86E 2? 2??F2= A9JD:42= E92E E2<6D 2D =@?8 2D J@F ?665[ H96C6 J@F 42? 2D< 2?J >65:42= BF6DE:@? H:E9@FE H@CCJ:?8 23@FE 2? 6IEC2 3:==] *@F 2?5 J@FC 5@4E@C 86E E@ <?@H 6249 @E96C] *@FC >65:42= C6=2E:@?D9:A 6G6? DE2?5D 2 8@@5 492?46 @7 =2DE:?8 =@?86C E92?
Subscription model might cure broken health care system | Aaron Brown
What if, for $100 a month you could go to the doctor anytime you feel sick? kAm*@F 86E 2? 2??F2= A9JD:42= E92E E2<6D 2D =@?8 2D J@F ?665[ H96C6 J@F 42? 2D< 2?J >65:42= BF6DE:@? H:E9@FE H@CCJ:?8 23@FE 2? 6IEC2 3:==] *@F 2?5 J@FC 5@4E@C 86E E@ <?@H 6249 @E96C] *@FC >65:42= C6=2E:@?D9:A 6G6? DE2?5D 2 8@@5 492?46 @7 =2DE:?8 =@?86C E92?
Subscription model might cure broken health care system | Aaron Brown
What if, for $100 a month you could go to the doctor anytime you feel sick? You get an annual physical that takes as long as you need, where you can ask any medical question without worrying about an extra bill. You and your doctor get to know each other. Your medical relationship even stands a good chance of lasting longer than your hips or hair. Sounds pretty good, right? I’m describing direct primary care, and it’s hardly a new idea.
Subscription model might cure broken health care system | Aaron Brown
Twenty women have undergone unnecessary mastectomies, while others suffered significant harm while under the care of an NHS trust. A review of cases so far has found hundreds of patients have come to harm during treatment in the breast unit at the County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trus…
Subscription model might cure broken health care system | Aaron Brown
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With so much concern about AI, should you trust Siri to access everything stored on your iPhone?
There has been no shortage of doomsday warnings about Artificial Intelligence (AI) lately. King Charles III warned of the "existential dangers" of AI systems falling into the wrong hands and asked the bosses of Nvidia, Anthropic, Google DeepMind, and OpenAI to ensure "our humanity remains sacred" while developing this technology. The existential dangers of AI were highlighted a few days earlier when a young researcher at Anthropic resigned from the San Francisco firm behind Claude.
Subscription model might cure broken health care system | Aaron Brown
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Could a subscription model for health care cure our broken system
What if, for $100 a month - less than many of us pay for cell service - you could go to the doctor anytime you feel sick? You get an annual physical that takes as long as you need, where you can ask any medical question without worrying about an extra bill. You and your doctor get to know each other. In fact, your medical relationship stands a good chance of lasting longer than your hips or hair. Sounds pretty good, right? I'm describing direct primary care, and it's hardly a new idea.
Aaron Brown: Could a subscription model for health care cure our broken system?
What if, for $100 a month - less than many of us pay for cell service - you could go to the doctor anytime you feel sick? You get an annual physical that takes as long as you need, where you can ask any medical question without worrying about an extra bill. You and your doctor get to know each other. In fact, your medical relationship stands a good chance of lasting longer than your hips or hair. Sounds pretty good, right? I'm describing direct primary care, and it's hardly a new idea.
Brown: Could a subscription model for health care cure our broken system?
Brown: Could a subscription model for health care cure our broken system? Direct primary care is one potential patch, but it can’t fix everything. September 16, 2026 at 5:00AM A doctor speaks with a patient in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Aug. 11: The benefits of direct care include a closer relationship with your doctor and ample time to see them when you’re sick or have questions, Aaron Brown writes.
Brown: Reviving communities with burritos you need ‘two hands to hold’
Brown: Reviving communities with burritos you need ‘two hands to hold’ This Iron Range food-truck festival helps entrepreneurs test their business concepts. September 14, 2026 at 5:00AM The owners of Scramblin' Egg, which offers fast breakfast foods, pose in front of their food truck. (Provided by city of Bloomington) Comment Gift Share Opinion editor’s note: Strib Voices publishes a mix of commentary online and in print each day. To contribute, click here.
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