J. Patrick Coolican
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Editor in chief, @MNReformer. Contact me if you wanna write for us. DMs open. Formerly @StarTribune, @LasVegasSun, @UMWallaceHouse. Go Irish.
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Articles by J. Patrick Coolican
We need more long-shot candidacies Original
Doug Chapin says he had an epiphany on the first day of President Donald Trump’s second term. “He pardoned the Jan. 6 rioters, and I thought, ‘You know, I need to do something about this,’” Chapin told me recently. The D.C.-based firm where he did research for the U.S. Election Assistance Commission was hit hard by DOGE cuts, so he was suddenly ready to take on something new.
Klobuchar’s knowledge of college sports comes in handy during hearing
Minnesota News By J. Patrick Coolican September 30, 2026 2 min read U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor nominee for governor, leaned on her knowledge of Big Ten sports to embarrass a Republican colleague Tuesday over the otherwise weighty matter of President Donald Trump's failed attempt to overturn the 2020 election. Sen.
Klobuchar’s knowledge of Midwest college sports comes in handy during hearing Original
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor nominee for governor, leaned on her knowledge of Big Ten sports to embarrass a Republican colleague Tuesday over the otherwise weighty matter of President Donald Trump’s failed attempt to overturn the 2020 election. Sen.
Attorney general race: Why would we enlist a Trump ally in our fight against Trump? Original
The most pressing issue for the next Minnesota attorney general will be the ongoing fight to force the Trump administration to govern by the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution. When Trump’s minions were withholding evidence from state and local law enforcement in the federal killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, Attorney General Keith Ellison and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty sued the feds. Last month, they announced that the feds had turned over key evidence, like Good’s car.
Walz moves to protect Boundary Waters from mining
Gov. Tim Walz signed an executive order Tuesday banning nonferrous mining near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in what may prove to be one of the most significant conservation acts in generations.
Gov. Tim Walz signs executive order banning nonferrous mining near Boundary Waters Original
Gov. Tim Walz signed an executive order Tuesday banning nonferrous mining in the Rainy River Watershed, which is the site of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness — handing environmentalists a significant victory they’ve sought for years. Walz will give a mid-morning address Tuesday to discuss his climate and environmental record at a state park. Walz is instructing the Department of Natural Resources not to grant permits to mine in the watershed.
The government is spying on its own citizens — again
By J. Patrick Coolican That the federal government secretly recorded conversations, infiltrated Signal chats and obtained financial records of labor unions and progressive groups in Minnesota as part of a surveillance effort during Operation Metro Surge should be repugnant to all Americans.
The government is spying on its own citizens — again
That the federal government secretly recorded conversations, infiltrated Signal chats and obtained financial records of labor unions and progressive groups in Minnesota as part of a surveillance effort during Operation Metro Surge should be repugnant to all Americans.
The government is spying on its own citizens — again
That the federal government secretly recorded conversations, infiltrated Signal chats and obtained financial records of labor unions and progressive groups in Minnesota as part of a surveillance effort during Operation Metro Surge should be repugnant to all Americans.
The government is spying on its own citizens — again
That the federal government secretly recorded conversations, infiltrated Signal chats and obtained financial records of labor unions and progressive groups in Minnesota as part of a surveillance effort during Operation Metro Surge should be repugnant to all Americans.
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon addresses DOJ monitoring of polling sites Original
The U.S. Department of Justice announced Tuesday that its Civil Rights Division is monitoring polling sites in in Hennepin and Ramsey counties for the state’s primary election “to ensure transparency, ballot security and compliance with federal law,” according to a press release. The two counties declined to allow the DOJ inside polling precincts, as is their right by law, according to Secretary of State Steve Simon, whose office oversees election administration.
What to watch for on primary night
Ripped from Daily Reformer. Sign up for a free subscription here. Turnout. The 2018 DFL primary turnout — about 583,000 in the contested governor’s race; a bit more than 23% of registered voters turned out that year — was the most robust in many years, but the DFL-endorsed progressive candidate still lost. One thought would be that Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan needs a big turnout against Rep. Angie Craig, especially of younger, more progressive voters.
What Minnesota 2026 primary voters are saying at the polls Original
This article will be updated throughout the day with additional voter interviews. A record number of Minnesotans — more than 240,00, by early Tuesday, according to the secretary of state — have already voted, which could propel Minnesota to a turnout record in a non-presidential year.
What to watch for on primary night
Follow What to watch for on primary night Tue, August 11, 2026 at 2:20 PM EDT Voters cast their ballots at Webster Town Hall in Webster, Minnesota during the primary election Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer) More Key takeawaysPowered by Yahoo Scout. Yahoo is using AI to generate key points from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.
What to watch for on primary night
Ripped from Daily Reformer. Sign up for a free subscription here. Turnout. The 2018 DFL primary turnout — about 583,000 in the contested governor’s race; a bit more than 23% of registered voters turned out that year — was the most robust in many years, but the DFL-endorsed progressive candidate still lost. One thought would be that Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan needs a big turnout against Rep. Angie Craig, especially of younger, more progressive voters.
What Minnesota 2026 primary voters are saying at the polls
This article will be updated throughout the day with additional voter interviews. A record number of Minnesotans — more than 240,000, by early Tuesday, according to the secretary of state — have already voted, which could propel Minnesota to a turnout record in a nonpresidential year.
Lindell releases plan to eliminate income tax with massive cuts to education, healthcare spending Original
Pillow mogul and 2020 election conspiracy buff Mike Lindell, whose campaign for governor was recently endorsed by President Donald Trump, released a 72-page plan Thursday to eliminate the state income tax, which would necessitate cutting the state general fund budget in half. Lindell is running in the Republican primary against Army veteran and retired healthcare executive Kendall Qualls, who was endorsed at the state Republican convention, and House Speaker Lisa Demuth. The primary is Aug.
Todd Blanche still thinks he’s Trump’s lawyer, which means he can’t be our lawyer
15:56 Commentary Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general and nominee to be attorney general of the United States, slipped up during his Senate confirmation hearings when asked about his relationship with President Donald Trump. “I’m his lawyer. Was his lawyer.” Oopsies. The attorney general is the lawyer for the United States government — we the people — and his obligation is to the law and the U.S. Constitution, not his former client’s lawless whims.
Judge halts Minnesota ban on prediction markets
A federal judge halted a new Minnesota law aimed at stopping the massive expansion of gambling via prediction markets on sites like Kalshi and Polymarket. The two companies and the Trump administration sued Minnesota to invalidate the new law, and federal Judge Katherine Menendez granted a preliminary injunction to stop the law from taking effect during the ongoing litigation.
Judge halts Minnesota ban on prediction markets Original
A federal judge halted a new Minnesota law aimed at stopping the massive expansion of gambling via prediction markets on sites like Kalshi and Polymarket. The two companies and the Trump administration sued Minnesota to invalidate the new law, and federal Judge Katherine Menendez granted a preliminary injunction to stop the law from taking effect during the ongoing litigation.
The blueprint for fighting Trump’s attempt to sabotage the election, drawn up in Minnesota
The feckless response of American elites to President Donald Trump’s authoritarian attempt the past decade has often been a failure of imagination: Oh, surely he’ll leave office after he loses. Oh, his immigration officers surely won’t roam our streets racially profiling people and killing our neighbors.
CNN report: Federal immigration agents lied to prosecutors during Operation Metro Surge Original
A CNN report this week sheds new light on the brutal tactics and alleged deceptions of immigration agents during Operation Metro Surge, when some 3,000 feds were sent to Minnesota in what the Department of Homeland Security called its biggest enforcement operation ever.
CNN report: Federal immigration agents lied to prosecutors during Operation Metro Surge
A CNN report this week sheds new light on the brutal tactics and alleged deceptions of immigration agents during Operation Metro Surge, when some 3,000 feds were sent to Minnesota in what the Department of Homeland Security called its biggest enforcement operation ever.
The blueprint for fighting Trump’s attempt to sabotage the election
The feckless response of American elites to President Donald Trump’s authoritarian attempt the past decade has often been a failure of imagination: Oh, surely he’ll leave office after he loses. Oh, his immigration officers surely won’t roam our streets racially profiling people and killing our neighbors.
The blueprint for fighting Trump’s attempt to sabotage the election, drawn up in Minnesota
The feckless response of American elites to President Donald Trump’s authoritarian attempt the past decade has often been a failure of imagination: Oh, surely he’ll leave office after he loses. Oh, his immigration officers surely won’t roam our streets racially profiling people and killing our neighbors.
The blueprint for fighting Trump’s attempt to sabotage the election, drawn up in Minnesota Original
8:34 Commentary The feckless response of American elites to President Donald Trump’s authoritarian attempt the past decade has often been a failure of imagination: Oh, surely he’ll leave office after he loses. Oh, his immigration officers surely won’t roam our streets racially profiling people and killing our neighbors.
A federal judge refuses to bend the knee Original
A recent judicial ruling nullifying U.S. Department of Justice subpoenas served on the offices of Gov. Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and other state and city officials during the heat of Operation Metro Surge isn’t your typical dry recitation of legal argument. Instead, a federal judge gave the president’s men a public shaming.
Reformer reporter Madison McVan named ‘Young Journalist of the Year’ Original
by J. Patrick Coolican, Minnesota Reformer June 17, 2026 The Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists named Reformer reporter Madison McVan the state’s “Young Journalist of the Year” Tuesday for her work during 2025, when she covered a wide array of high-impact stories, from abuses by homeowners associations to the murder of Melissa Hortman, from profiles of U.S. Senate candidates to the gathering storm of the immigration crackdown.
Man pleads guilty to murder of former Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and husband
VANCE Boelter pleaded guilty Thursday to the murder of former state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman, and the shootings of state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette Hoffman. The plea agreement calls for two consecutive life terms plus 40 years in federal prison. U.S. District Court Judge John Tunheim said he will set a date for sentencing within 10 days, with a hearing before the end of July.
Vance Boelter pleads guilty to Hortman killings, Hoffman shootings
Vance Boelter pleaded guilty on Thursday to the murders of former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman, one of Minnesota’s most consequential legislative leaders, and her husband, Mark, as well as the shooting of state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife. The shocking acts of violence nearly a year ago to the day scarred the state and injected a new level of fear into politics.
I spoke with Melissa Hortman 36 hours before she was killed. Here’s some of what she said. Original
by J. Patrick Coolican, Minnesota Reformer June 12, 2026 Melissa Hortman often told me things she probably shouldn’t have. One time when I was a Capitol reporter with the Star Tribune, she expressed displeasure with a profile I’d written about a Republican operative. “The journalistic equivalent of a bl*wjob,” she told me with that grin of hers, which shone through her eyes.
Vance Boelter admits to murdering former Minnesota House Speaker
Max Nesterak & J. Patrick Coolican Minnesota Reformer June 11, 2026, 5:56 p.m. CT Vance Boelter pleaded guilty on Thursday to the murders of former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman, one of Minnesota’s most consequential legislative leaders, and her husband, Mark, as well as the shooting of state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. The shocking acts of violence nearly a year ago to the day scarred the state and injected a new level of fear into politics.
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