");vwo_$('head').append(_vwo_sel);return vwo_$('head')[0] && vwo_$('head')[0].lastChild;})("HEAD")}}, R_940895_48_1_2_0:{ fn:function(log,nonce=''){return (function(x) { if(!vwo_$.fn.vwoRevertHtml){ return; }; var ctx=vwo_$(x),el; /*vwo_debug log("Revert","content",""); vwo_debug*/; el=vwo_$('[vwo-element-id="1742919897117"]'); el.revertContentOp().remove();})("HEAD")}}, C_940895_48_1_2_1:{ fn:function(log,nonce=''){return (function(x) {var el,ctx=vwo_$(x); /*vwo_debug log("editElement",".stylingblock-content-margin-cell > table:nth-of-type(1) > tbody:nth-of-type(1) > tr:nth-of-type(1) > td:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > h2:nth-of-type(1) > span:nth-of-type(1)"); vwo_debug*/(el=vwo_$(".stylingblock-content-margin-cell > table:nth-of-type(1) > tbody:nth-of-type(1) > tr:nth-of-type(1) > td:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > h2:nth-of-type(1) > span:nth-of-type(1)")).html("Hello! David Brancaccio here. Do you want instant access to the free online course - “Economics 101” - to understand basic economic concepts?");})(".stylingblock-content-margin-cell > table:nth-of-type(1) > tbody:nth-of-type(1) > tr:nth-of-type(1) > td:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > h2:nth-of-type(1) > span:nth-of-type(1)")}}, R_940895_48_1_2_1:{ fn:function(log,nonce=''){return (function(x) { if(!vwo_$.fn.vwoRevertHtml){ return; }; var el,ctx=vwo_$(x); /*vwo_debug log("Revert","editElement",".stylingblock-content-margin-cell > table:nth-of-type(1) > tbody:nth-of-type(1) > tr:nth-of-type(1) > td:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > h2:nth-of-type(1) > span:nth-of-type(1)"); vwo_debug*/(el=vwo_$(".stylingblock-content-margin-cell > table:nth-of-type(1) > tbody:nth-of-type(1) > tr:nth-of-type(1) > td:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > h2:nth-of-type(1) > span:nth-of-type(1)")).vwoRevertHtml();})(".stylingblock-content-margin-cell > table:nth-of-type(1) > tbody:nth-of-type(1) > tr:nth-of-type(1) > td:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > div:nth-of-type(1) > h2:nth-of-type(1) > span:nth-of-type(1)")}}, C_940895_48_1_2_2:{ fn:function(log,nonce=''){return (function(x) {var el,ctx=vwo_$(x); /*vwo_debug log("content","[vwo-element-id='1742482566780']"); vwo_debug*/(el=vwo_$("[vwo-element-id='1742482566780']")).replaceWith2("You'll gain real-world insights into how economics impacts your daily life with this easy-to-follow online course. This crash course is based on the acclaimed textbook Economy, Society, and Public Policy by CORE Econ, tailored to help you grasp key concepts without feeling overwhelmed.

Whether you're new to economics or just want to deepen your understanding, this course covers the basics and connects them to today’s pressing issues—from inequality to public policy decisions.

Each week, you'll receive a reading guide that distills core principles, offers actionable takeaways, and explains how they affect the current world. While the full ebook enriches the experience, the guides alone provide a comprehensive understanding of fundamental economic ideas.

You’ll find this course especially useful and unique because…"),el=vwo_$("[vwo-element-id='1742482566780']");})("[vwo-element-id='1742482566780']")}}},rules:[{"triggers":["12454059"],"tags":[{"data":{"type":"g","campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":6}]},"id":"metric","metricId":0}]},{"triggers":["8639604"],"tags":[{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":48,"g":1}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951908},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":61,"g":1}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951908},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":62,"g":4}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951908},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":63,"g":1}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951908},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":16,"g":6}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951908},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":55,"g":5}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951908},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":64,"g":1}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951908},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":54,"g":5}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951908}]},{"triggers":["12454053"],"tags":[{"data":"campaigns.39","priority":4,"id":"runCampaign"}]},{"triggers":["12454062"],"tags":[{"data":{"type":"g","campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":7}]},"id":"metric","metricId":0}]},{"triggers":["8459768"],"tags":[{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":48,"g":2}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951905},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":61,"g":5}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951905},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":62,"g":5}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951905},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":63,"g":5}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951905},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":16,"g":2}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951905},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":55,"g":1}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951905},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":64,"g":5}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951905},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":54,"g":1}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951905},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":4}]},"id":"metric","metricId":951905}]},{"triggers":["12639747"],"tags":[{"data":{"type":"g","campaigns":[{"c":16,"g":5}]},"id":"metric","metricId":0}]},{"triggers":["8536415"],"tags":[{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":48,"g":3}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959033},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":61,"g":2}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959033},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":62,"g":1}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959033},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":63,"g":2}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959033},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":16,"g":3}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959033},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":55,"g":2}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959033},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":64,"g":2}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959033},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":54,"g":3}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959033},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":2}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959033}]},{"triggers":["10589191"],"tags":[{"data":"campaigns.48","priority":4,"id":"runCampaign"},{"data":"campaigns.61","priority":4,"id":"runCampaign"},{"data":"campaigns.62","priority":4,"id":"runCampaign"},{"data":"campaigns.63","priority":4,"id":"runCampaign"},{"data":"campaigns.16","priority":4,"id":"runCampaign"},{"data":"campaigns.55","priority":4,"id":"runCampaign"},{"data":"campaigns.64","priority":4,"id":"runCampaign"},{"data":"campaigns.54","priority":4,"id":"runCampaign"}]},{"triggers":["12454056"],"tags":[{"data":{"type":"g","campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":5}]},"id":"metric","metricId":0}]},{"triggers":["8536412"],"tags":[{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":48,"g":4}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959030},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":61,"g":3}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959030},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":62,"g":2}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959030},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":63,"g":3}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959030},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":16,"g":4}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959030},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":55,"g":3}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959030},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":64,"g":3}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959030},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":54,"g":2}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959030},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":1}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959030}]},{"triggers":["8536409"],"tags":[{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":48,"g":5}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959027},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":61,"g":4}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959027},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":62,"g":3}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959027},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":63,"g":4}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959027},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":16,"g":1}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959027},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":55,"g":4}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959027},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":64,"g":4}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959027},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":54,"g":4}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959027},{"data":{"type":"m","campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":3}]},"id":"metric","metricId":959027}]},{"triggers":["5"],"tags":[{"id":"checkEnvironment"}]},{"triggers":["8"],"tags":[{"priority":2,"id":"groupCampaigns"},{"priority":3,"id":"prePostMutation"}]},{"triggers":["9"],"tags":[{"priority":2,"id":"visibilityService"}]},{"triggers":["2"],"tags":[{"id":"runTestCampaign"}]},{"triggers":["75"],"tags":[{"id":"urlChange"}]}],pages:{"ec":[{"1625289":{"inc":["o",["url","urlReg","(?i).*"]]}},{"2121531":{"inc":["o",["pg","eq","141375"]]}}],"pc":[{"141375":{"inc":["o",["url","urlReg","(?i)^https?\\:\\\/\\\/(w{3}\\.)?mprnews\\.org\\\/story.*"],["url","urlReg","(?i)^https?\\:\\\/\\\/(w{3}\\.)?mprnews\\.org\\\/episode.*"]]}}]},pagesEval:{"ec":[1625289,2121531],"pc":[141375]},stags:{}}})(); ;;var commonWrapper=function(argument){if(!argument){argument={valuesGetter:function(){return{}},valuesSetter:function(){},verifyData:function(){return{}}}}const getVisitorUuid=function(){if(window._vwo_acc_id>=1037725){return window.VWO&&window.VWO.get("visitor.id")}else{return window.VWO._&&window.VWO._.cookies&&window.VWO._.cookies.get("_vwo_uuid")}};var pollInterval=100;var timeout=6e4;return function(){var accountIntegrationSettings={};var _interval=null;function waitForAnalyticsVariables(){try{accountIntegrationSettings=argument.valuesGetter();accountIntegrationSettings.visitorUuid=getVisitorUuid()}catch(error){accountIntegrationSettings=undefined}if(accountIntegrationSettings&&argument.verifyData(accountIntegrationSettings)){argument.valuesSetter(accountIntegrationSettings);return 1}return 0}var currentTime=0;_interval=setInterval((function(){currentTime=currentTime||performance.now();var result=waitForAnalyticsVariables();if(result||performance.now()-currentTime>=timeout){clearInterval(_interval)}}),pollInterval)}}; var pushBasedCommonWrapper=function(argument){var firedCamp={};if(!argument){argument={integrationName:"",getExperimentList:function(){},accountSettings:function(){},pushData:function(){}}}return function(){window.VWO=window.VWO||[];const getVisitorUuid=function(){if(window._vwo_acc_id>=1037725){return window.VWO&&window.VWO.get("visitor.id")}else{return window.VWO._&&window.VWO._.cookies&&window.VWO._.cookies.get("_vwo_uuid")}};var sendDebugLogsOld=function(expId,variationId,errorType,user_type,data){try{var errorPayload={f:argument["integrationName"]||"",a:window._vwo_acc_id,url:window.location.href,exp:expId,v:variationId,vwo_uuid:getVisitorUuid(),user_type:user_type};if(errorType=="initIntegrationCallback"){errorPayload["log_type"]="initIntegrationCallback";errorPayload["data"]=JSON.stringify(data||"")}else if(errorType=="timeout"){errorPayload["timeout"]=true}if(window.VWO._.customError){window.VWO._.customError({msg:"integration debug",url:window.location.href,lineno:"",colno:"",source:JSON.stringify(errorPayload)})}}catch(e){window.VWO._.customError&&window.VWO._.customError({msg:"integration debug failed",url:"",lineno:"",colno:"",source:""})}};var sendDebugLogs=function(expId,variationId,errorType,user_type){var eventName="vwo_debugLogs";var eventPayload={};try{eventPayload={intName:argument["integrationName"]||"",varId:variationId,expId:expId,type:errorType,vwo_uuid:getVisitorUuid(),user_type:user_type};if(window.VWO._.event){window.VWO._.event(eventName,eventPayload,{enableLogs:1})}}catch(e){eventPayload={msg:"integration event log failed",url:window.location.href};window.VWO._.event&&window.VWO._.event(eventName,eventPayload)}};const callbackFn=function(data){if(!data)return;var expId=data[1],variationId=data[2],repeated=data[0],singleCall=0,debug=0;var experimentList=argument.getExperimentList();var integrationName=argument["integrationName"]||"vwo";if(typeof argument.accountSettings==="function"){var accountSettings=argument.accountSettings();if(accountSettings){singleCall=accountSettings["singleCall"];debug=accountSettings["debug"]}}if(debug){sendDebugLogs(expId,variationId,"intCallTriggered",repeated)}if(singleCall&&(repeated==="vS"||repeated==="vSS")||firedCamp[expId]){return}window.expList=window.expList||{};var expList=window.expList[integrationName]=window.expList[integrationName]||[];if(expId&&variationId&&["VISUAL_AB","VISUAL","SPLIT_URL"].indexOf(_vwo_exp[expId].type)>-1){if(experimentList.indexOf(+expId)!==-1){firedCamp[expId]=variationId;var visitorUuid=getVisitorUuid();var pollInterval=100;var currentTime=0;var timeout=6e4;var user_type=_vwo_exp[expId].exec?"vwo-retry":"vwo-new";var interval=setInterval((function(){if(expList.indexOf(expId)!==-1){clearInterval(interval);return}currentTime=currentTime||performance.now();var toClearInterval=argument.pushData(expId,variationId,visitorUuid);if(debug&&toClearInterval){sendDebugLogsOld(expId,variationId,"",user_type);sendDebugLogs(expId,variationId,"intDataPushed",user_type)}var isTimeout=performance.now()-currentTime>=timeout;if(isTimeout&&debug){sendDebugLogsOld(expId,variationId,"timeout",user_type);sendDebugLogs(expId,variationId,"intTimeout",user_type)}if(toClearInterval||isTimeout){clearInterval(interval)}if(toClearInterval){window.expList[integrationName].push(expId)}}),pollInterval||100)}}};window.VWO.push(["onVariationApplied",callbackFn]);window.VWO.push(["onVariationShownSent",callbackFn])}}; var surveyDataCommonWrapper=function(argument){if(!argument){argument={getCampaignList:function(){return[]},surveyStatusChange:function(){},answerSubmitted:function(){}}}return function(){window.VWO=window.VWO||[];function getValuesFromAnswers(answers){var values=[];for(var i=0;i=timeout;if(toClearInterval||isTimeout){clearInterval(interval)}}),pollInterval)}}window.VWO.push(["onSurveyShown",function(data){commonSurveyCallback(data,argument.surveyStatusChange,"surveyShown")}]);window.VWO.push(["onSurveyCompleted",function(data){commonSurveyCallback(data,argument.surveyStatusChange,"surveyCompleted")}]);window.VWO.push(["onSurveyAnswerSubmitted",function(data){commonSurveyCallback(data,argument.answerSubmitted,"surveySubmitted")}])}}; (function(){var VWOOmniTemp={};window.VWOOmni=window.VWOOmni||{};for(var key in VWOOmniTemp)Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(VWOOmniTemp,key)&&(window.VWOOmni[key]=VWOOmniTemp[key]);;})();(function(){window.VWO=window.VWO||[];var pollInterval=100;var _vis_data={};var intervalObj={};var analyticsTimerObj={};var experimentListObj={};window.VWO.push(["onVariationApplied",function(data){if(!data){return}var expId=data[1],variationId=data[2];if(expId&&variationId&&["VISUAL_AB","VISUAL","SPLIT_URL"].indexOf(window._vwo_exp[expId].type)>-1){}}])})();; ;var vD=VWO.data||{};VWO.data={content:{"fns":{"list":{"args":{"1":{}},"vn":1}}},as:"r6.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com",dacdnUrl:"https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com",accountJSInfo:{"ts":1743524869,"noSS":false,"pc":{"a":0,"t":0},"rp":30}};for(var k in vD){VWO.data[k]=vD[k]};;var gcpfb=function(a,loadFunc,status,err,success){function vwoErr() {_vwo_err({message:"Google_Cdn failing for " + a + ". Trying Fallback..",code:"cloudcdnerr",status:status});} if(a.indexOf("/cdn/")!==-1){loadFunc(a.replace("cdn/",""),err,success); vwoErr(); return true;} else if(a.indexOf("/dcdn/")!==-1&&a.indexOf("evad.js") !== -1){loadFunc(a.replace("dcdn/",""),err,success); vwoErr(); return true;}};window.VWO=window.VWO || [];window.VWO._= window.VWO._ || {};window.VWO._.gcpfb=gcpfb;;var d={cookie:document.cookie,URL:document.URL,referrer:document.referrer};var w={VWO:{_:{}},location:{href:window.location.href,search:window.location.search},_vwoCc:window._vwoCc};;window._vwo_cdn="https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/cdn/";window._vwo_apm_debug_cdn="https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/cdn/";window.VWO._.useCdn=true;window.vwo_eT="br";window._VWO=window._VWO||{};window._VWO.fSeg={};window._VWO.dcdnUrl="/dcdn/settings.js";window.VWO.sTs=1743522714;window._VWO._vis_nc_lib=window._vwo_cdn+"edrv/nc-027330777ece73059cc92c6141e45cb3br.js";var loadWorker=function(url){_vwo_code.load(url, { dSC: true, onloadCb: function(xhr,a){window._vwo_wt_l=true;if(xhr.status===200 ||xhr.status===304){var code="var window="+JSON.stringify(w)+",document="+JSON.stringify(d)+";window.document=document;"+xhr.responseText;var blob=new Blob([code||"throw new Error('code not found!');"],{type:"application/javascript"}),url=URL.createObjectURL(blob);window.mainThread={webWorker:new Worker(url)};window.vwoChannelFW=new MessageChannel();window.vwoChannelToW=new MessageChannel();window.mainThread.webWorker.postMessage({vwoChannelToW:vwoChannelToW.port1,vwoChannelFW:vwoChannelFW.port2},[vwoChannelToW.port1, vwoChannelFW.port2]);if(!window._vwo_mt_f)return window._vwo_wt_f=true;_vwo_code.addScript({text:window._vwo_mt_f});delete window._vwo_mt_f}else{if(gcpfb(a,loadWorker,xhr.status)){return;}_vwo_code.finish("&e=loading_failure:"+a)}}, onerrorCb: function(a){if(gcpfb(a,loadWorker)){return;}window._vwo_wt_l=true;_vwo_code.finish("&e=loading_failure:"+a);}})};loadWorker("https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/cdn/edrv/worker-1135852b6bc11a94eb64017a8d120ad8br.js");;var _vis_opt_file;var _vis_opt_lib;if(window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.previewExtraSettings!=undefined&&window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.previewExtraSettings.isSurveyPreviewMode){var surveyHash=window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.plugins.LIBINFO.SURVEY_DEBUG_EVENTS.HASH;var param1="evad.js?va=";var param2="&d=debugger_new";var param3="&sp=1&a=940895&sh="+surveyHash;_vis_opt_file=vwoCode.use_existing_jquery&&typeof vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()!=="undefined"?vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()?param1+"vanj"+param2:param1+"va_gq"+param2:param1+"edrv/va_gq-3adf809ea7b0629d1cfde6b0f4969635br.js"+param2;_vis_opt_file=_vis_opt_file+param3;_vis_opt_lib="https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/dcdn/"+_vis_opt_file}else if(window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.mode!=undefined&&window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.mode=="PREVIEW"){ var path1 = 'edrv/pd_'; var path2 = window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.plugins.LIBINFO.EVAD.HASH + ".js"; ;_vis_opt_file=vwoCode.use_existing_jquery&&typeof vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()!=="undefined"?vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()?path1+"vanj"+path2:path1+"va_gq"+path2:path1+"edrv/va_gq-3adf809ea7b0629d1cfde6b0f4969635br.js"+path2;_vis_opt_lib="https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/cdn/"+_vis_opt_file}else{_vis_opt_file=vwoCode.use_existing_jquery&&typeof vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()!=="undefined"?vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()?"edrv/vanj-7340efabe014aa7ac36a54293558de41br.js":"edrv/va_gq-3adf809ea7b0629d1cfde6b0f4969635br.js":"edrv/va_gq-3adf809ea7b0629d1cfde6b0f4969635br.js"}window._vwo_library_timer=setTimeout((function(){vwoCode.removeLoaderAndOverlay&&vwoCode.removeLoaderAndOverlay();vwoCode.finish()}),vwoCode.library_tolerance&&typeof vwoCode.library_tolerance()!=="undefined"?vwoCode.library_tolerance():2500),_vis_opt_lib=typeof _vis_opt_lib=="undefined"?window._vwo_cdn+_vis_opt_file:_vis_opt_lib;var loadLib=function(url){_vwo_code.load(url, { dSC: true, onloadCb:function(xhr,a){window._vwo_mt_l=true;if(xhr.status===200 || xhr.status===304){if(!window._vwo_wt_f)return window._vwo_mt_f=xhr.responseText;_vwo_code.addScript({text:xhr.responseText});delete window._vwo_wt_f;}else{if(gcpfb(a,loadLib,xhr.status)){return;}_vwo_code.finish("&e=loading_failure:"+a);}}, onerrorCb: function(a){if(gcpfb(a,loadLib)){return;}window._vwo_mt_l=true;_vwo_code.finish("&e=loading_failure:"+a);}})};loadLib(_vis_opt_lib);VWO.load_co=function(u,opts){return window._vwo_code.load(u,opts);};;;}}catch(e){_vwo_code.finish();_vwo_code.removeLoaderAndOverlay&&_vwo_code.removeLoaderAndOverlay();_vwo_err(e);window.VWO.caE=1}})();

Skip to Main Content
Skip to audio player to listen live

Create a Free MPR

news profile

for you

Sign up

Already have an account?

By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.

Welcome back

to news for you

Sign in to your profile

New to MPR News?

Welcome back

to news

for you

Reset Password

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?

Welcome back

to news

for you

Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?

Crime, Law and Justice

March 19, 2022 1:14 PM

MN public defenders reach tentative deal to avert strike

Veterans' legal issues are heard — Hennepin County public defender Kellie Charles represents Air Force veteran William Bean during a court hearing in St. Paul, Minn. in 2010. Minnesota public defenders threatened to strike March 22, 2022 over pay and caseloads. A tentative deal was reportedly reached after long bargaining Friday.
MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log in Create a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Minnesota public defenders said they have reached a deal with the Minnesota Board of Public Defense, averting a walkout that could have brought the state's court system to a standstill.

The union was set to go on strike as early as Tuesday.

They said they were fed up with high caseloads and lower pay than other legal sectors. In a statement, the Teamsters Local 320, which represents Minnesota’s public defenders, said the tentative agreement “includes cost of living adjustments through 2023, significant overhead costs for part-time public defenders and salary reopen language.”

Gus Froemke, spokesperson for Teamsters Local 320, said more needed to be done to address long-term systemic issues, including "how we start to resolve the unequal and inequitable caseloads and caseload management.

Turn Up Your Support

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.

“But the biggest thing going forward is securing additional money from the state of Minnesota for public defense," Froemke said.

Both sides have agreed to push the Minnesota Legislature to provide more funding for public defenders and reopen negotiations if that funding is approved.

In a statement in response to the agreement, the Minnesota Board of Public Defense said it was pleased a tentative agreement had been reached. It also agreed with the union that public defenders are underpaid and that the board is understaffed.

“The Board is also committed to continuing to pursue the resources necessary to compensate attorneys and staff in a similar manner as other public sector employees,” the statement read.

Public defenders represent those accused of crimes but who generally are unable to afford legal representation. The statement said African Americans especially are disproportionately more likely to need public defenders than the state’s population would suggest.

The union represents 470 public defenders and 200 support staffers. A vote on the contract will happen within two weeks. The union said agreement was reached on the first day of mediation following the vote authorizing a strike and a long bargaining session Friday.

Dear reader,

Political debates with family or friends can get heated. But what if there was a way to handle them better?

You can learn how to have civil political conversations with our new e-book!

Download our free e-book, Talking Sense: Have Hard Political Conversations, Better, and learn how to talk without the tension.