Best Bakst Podcasts (2025)

1
Politics Friday: Walz weighs in as state lawmakers head into overtime 1:00:01

10d ago1:00:01

1:00:01

The Minnesota Legislature is hanging around a bit longer. The yearly work was supposed to end Monday, May 19 but lawmakers adjourned with unfinished business. Now, they’re gearing up for a special session. Most of the budget is unresolved and the final points of agreement are still not in hand. So when might this be done and is a government shutdow…

1
Fifteen Minutes of Feminism: Dead, Pregnant and Imprisoned in Georgia—The Adrianna Smith Case 26:13

16d ago26:13

26:13

In this emergency episode, we're ringing the alarm bells: We just learned that in the state of Georgia, a woman named Adriana Smith who was declared brain-dead in February, is being forcibly kept on a ventilator due to the state’s strict abortion ban, against her family's wishes. It's been over 90 days. Her mother, April Newkirk has said, “It’s tor…

1
Politics Friday: Is the Legislature on the doorstep of a special session? 39:17

17d ago39:17

39:17

The end of the Minnesota Legislature’s session was supposed to be right around the corner — Monday, May 19 — but just like the choppy start of this year’s session, the ending is proving to be difficult. Back in January, a politically tied House got off to a delayed start. Now, the possibility of a special session looms over the Capitol. MPR News po…

1
No Law, Just (Bad) Vibes: at the Supreme Court with Leah Litman 30:50

19d ago30:50

30:50

Over the past few years, many of us have noticed some (bad) vibes coming from the Supreme Court: sketchy decisions on a number of fronts, from presidential immunity to abortion, agency authority, and more. Today, we take a look at those vibes with one of our favorite guests: Professor Leah Litman, who is the author of the new book Lawless: How the …

1
The Power Hour | A Better Way to Achieve Electric Grid Reliability with Glen Lyons 53:50

23d ago53:50

53:50

The Power Hour is a weekly podcast that discusses the most interesting energy and environmental policy issues of the day with top national experts. Jack is joined this week by Glen Lyons, one of the nation’s leading and most innovative thinkers on electricity markets. Glen has worked in the gas and oil industry and served as a member of ERCOT, the …

1
Politics Friday: Incomplete grade as lawmakers hammer out school aid deal 50:07

24d ago50:07

50:07

Almost 40 percent of the state budget goes to preschool through high school education – around $25 billion over two years. For school districts, state dollars make up most of what gets spent on classroom costs, from teacher salaries to specialists to materials. So it’s no surprise that the education budget bill is always one of the last to come tog…

1
Black Women in Power: Firsts, Onlys and Always Watched 54:44

25d ago54:44

54:44

Despite persistent obstacles—from intergenerational pay inequity and earning just 63.7 cents for every dollar made by a white guy for the same work, to constant surveillance and doubt—Black women consistently excel in their chosen fields and rise to leadership positions. In this episode, we’re joined by powerful Black women in leadership to discuss…

1
Events | Harnessing Medical Innovation to Make America Healthy Again 57:41

26d ago57:41

57:41

Join The Heritage Foundation and leading medical scientists for a discussion of cutting edge medical technology and its wider implementation to make Americans healthier. Photobiomodulation (PBM) and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) are two proven treatments that stimulate cell growth in patients suffering from a vast array of conditions. Managing p…

1
The Power Hour | A Local Perspective on the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project with Joanne Frederick 51:45

28d ago51:45

51:45

The Power Hour is a weekly podcast that discusses the most interesting energy and environmental policy issues of the day with top national experts. Jack is joined this week by Joanne Frederick, the President of the Board of Directors for Stop MPRP, Inc. This one is complex, folks and has Jack way out of his comfort zone. MRPR is an electricity tran…

1
Politics Friday: Slow so far, a big phase of Minnesota's marijuana market launch nears 55:02

1M ago55:02

55:02

This month marks two years since Minnesota lawmakers passed the bill to legalize marijuana use and possession for adults 21 and older. Commercial sales have taken a bit of time to get going. Outside of Minnesota tribal communities and the medical cannabis program, the retail space is still taking shape. The initial licenses around cultivation, tran…

1
The Magazine: Who Will Antiabortion Extremists Target Next? 20:10

1M ago20:10

20:10

Welcome to The Magazine, our mini-pod, which gives a peek into Ms. magazine's forthcoming and current issues. In this episode, take a glimpse inside our Spring 2025 issue—which delves into the story behind anti-abortion extremists’ successful attempt to shut down a Beverly Hills clinic. Get the Spring issue here! Featuring: Kathy Spillar is the Exe…

1
The Power Hour | How the States are Fighting to Keep the Lights On with Mario Loyola and Austin Gae 55:01

1M ago55:01

55:01

The Power Hour is a weekly podcast that discusses the most interesting energy and environmental policy issues of the day with top national experts. Jack is joined this week by his Heritage Foundation colleagues Mario Loyola and Austin Gae to discuss how states are taking matters into their own hands to ensure that their electricity grids remain rob…

1
Politics Friday: Washington is top of mind for a pair of Minnesota's top leaders 57:38

1M ago57:38

57:38

Gov. Tim Walz had his chance this week to assess the condition of Minnesota in a speech where he spent a lot of time focused on what the president is up to. Had November’s election ended differently, Peggy Flanagan would have been the one delivering the State of the State address at the Minnesota Capitol. Instead, the DFL lieutenant governor was se…

1
Narratives of Resistance: Women of Color and the Fight for Democracy (With Yamani Yansá Hernandez) 21:52

1M ago21:52

21:52

This week, we’re joined by Yamani Hernandez, the chief executive officer of the Groundswell Fund, to discuss the importance of grassroots organizing and reproductive justice in this moment. Ms. has joined forces with Groundswell Fund and Groundswell Action Fund to create a special Gender & Democracy site dedicated to the work of Groundswell partner…

1
Politics Friday Special: Digging into Minnesota‘s political history 52:02

2M ago52:02

52:02

The Minnesota House and Senate chambers and all the committee rooms have been quiet this week while the Legislature is on recess. The Capitol will be a busy place though as the dash-to-the-finish begins next week. That phase can be filled with strategy, hijinks and downright trickery. In one respect, it’s how the Capitol wound up in St. Paul in the…

1
The Power Hour | What Nuclear Energy Policy Reform Looks Like with Rod Adams 55:53

2M ago55:53

55:53

The Power Hour is a weekly podcast that discusses the most interesting energy and environmental policy issues of the day with top national experts. Join Jack for this fascinating episode where he discusses nuclear energy policy reforms with on of the nations most innovative thinkers on the subject, Rod Adams. Rod is a long time player in nuclear en…

1
Affordable housing is a bipartisan focus, but what can lawmakers get done? 50:21

2M ago50:21

50:21

The Legislature’s spring recess is approaching and with about six weeks left in the session, many issues still unresolved. Housing is top of mind for many Minnesotans and lawmakers at the Capitol — whether to rewrite zoning standards statewide to encourage construction of more low-to-moderate cost housing. The issue has created some cross-party all…

1
The Power Hour | How to Reform the Environmental Protection Agency with Daren Bakst 53:53

2M ago53:53

53:53

The Power Hour is a weekly podcast that discusses the most interesting energy and environmental policy issues of the day with top national experts. Jack invites Power Hour veteran Daren Bakst, Director, Center for Energy and Environment at the Competitive Energy Institute, to discuss CEI’s new book Modernizing the EPA: A Blueprint for Congress. Jac…

1
Politics Friday: Budget begins to take shape as leaders huddle 50:00

2M ago50:00

50:00

MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst gets the lowdown on the negotiations that have begun over the new state budget. Erin Campbell, commissioner of Minnesota Management and Budget, discusses why Gov. Tim Walz shaped his proposal as he did. And we’ll talk about the high-level negotiations that have commenced to reach a deal prior to the May 19 adjou…

1
James Sinka - We Can Save Ourselves 44:00

2M ago44:00

44:00

Join Adam Draper, founder of Boost VC and host of the "Can’t Be Done" Podcast, as he chats with James Sinka, Chief Scientific Officer at BIO Protocol. They dive into sci-fi novels, leadership, and the challenges Sinka faced on his journey. Beyond personal insights, they explore DeSci, the crucial role of scientists, and how researchers can secure f…

1
The Legislature gears up for the big budget push. How will it go? 50:28

2M ago50:28

50:28

After an unusual start, the 2025 legislative session has passed the halfway mark and the budget grind is quickly closing in. The Senate is narrowly in DFL control by one seat and the House is at a 67-67 tie. How will leaders navigate the tightest party divide in recent history? MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst talks with Speaker of the Minnesot…

1
The Power Hour | An Elegant Approach to Nuclear Energy with Liz Muller 40:20

2M ago40:20

40:20

The Power Hour is a weekly podcast that discusses the most interesting energy and environmental policy issues of the day with top national experts. Leonardo Da Vinci said that “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Could that also be the case with nuclear energy? Jack invites Deep Fission CEO Liz Muller to the Power Hour this week to discuss …

1
Andrew Bakst - "Cure hair loss, obviously" 41:37

2M ago41:37

41:37

Adam Draper, Founder of Boost VC and host of the "Can’t Be Done" Podcast, sits down with Andrew Bakst, Co-Founder of HairDAO, to explore how decentralized research is transforming hair loss treatments. They discuss HairDAO’s mission as an open-source R&D network, the role of crypto in reshaping technology, and why DAOs are redefining scientific fun…

1
Politics Friday: What will Minnesota lawmakers do to fight fraud? 50:16

2M ago50:16

50:16

Two of the biggest political stories of this week played out beyond Minnesota’s Capitol. The arrest of then-Sen. Justin Eichorn, R-Grand Rapids, in a teen prostitution sting led his resignation and the federal jury’s conviction of major players in the Feeding Our Future fraud scandal. MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst speaks with two lawmakers a…

1
Patrick Joyce - "Nullius in verba" 42:37

3M ago42:37

42:37

Join Adam Draper, Founder of Boost VC and host of the "Can’t Be Done" Podcast, as he chats with Patrick Joyce, Co-Founder of ResearchHub. They dive into the challenges of modern science, the DeSci movement, and how ResearchHub is transforming funding for researchers. Joyce shares insights on “shorting academia” and reimagining the scientific proces…

1
The Fight for Pregnant Workers' Rights Isn't Over (with Dina Bakst) 32:48

3M ago32:48

32:48

As we reckon with an administration hostile to equal rights, feminists will continue to fight. To help keep hope, we must remember and celebrate recent wins. One of those wins is the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which took effect on June 27, 2023. This is a landmark piece of legislation that prohibits discrimination and ensures workplace accommod…

1
The Power Hour | How Corrupt Government Science Ruins Everything with Dr. John Dunn 1:07:25

3M ago1:07:25

1:07:25

The Power Hour is a weekly podcast that discusses the most interesting energy and environmental policy issues of the day with top national experts. Jack invites Dr. John Dunn to the Power Hour this episode for an absolutely fascinating conversation about how government science is corrupted to support the agendas of politicians and bureaucrats. Dr. …

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