Trump Targets Somali Minnesotans, and the Neo-Nazi AI Cartoon About a Local Lawyer
Trump’s new push for mass deportations is already sending fear through Minnesota’s Somali community, and we break down some of the more offensive comments he threw at Minnesota and its residents this week. Today, host Sean McPherson is joined by contributor Em Cassel of Racket and City Cast producer Tiffany Bui to break down what we know, what we don’t, and how people on the ground are navigating the uncertainty. Then, the bizarre rise of a right-wing AI cartoon that pulled an unsuspecting Twin Cities policy researcher into its orbit, and a long-awaited sandwich shop is ready to make its Minneapolis debut.
Learn more about the stories discussed in this episode:
- Monarca Rapid Response Line
- Trump says he doesn't want Somalis in the US, urges them to go back to their homeland and fix it (Star Tribune)
- Minneapolis, St. Paul leaders respond to reports of ICE operations targeting Somalis (MPR News)
- Trump administration to withhold some SNAP funding until Minnesota turns over data (Star Triune)
- The Racist, AI-Generated Future of Entertainment (Atlantic)
- Social media AI bot targets Minneapolis attorney and liberal political commentator (MPR News)
- Long-awaited weed-themed sandwich shop opens in Minneapolis next week (Bring Me The News)
- Handroll Sushi, Labubu Macarons, and the Opening of Multiple Bird-Named Restaurants (Racket)
Learn more about the sponsors of this December 5th episode:
Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST
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
These Suburbs are More Diverse than the TC. Plus, MN's First-Ever Black Book Fair and Reuniting Pets with Deported Owners
This weekend, Minneapolis becomes home to the very first Midwest Black Book Fair. Dr. Terresa Hardaway shares how she built it (and how t...

Why All Elections Should Get the MN Treatment. Plus, Pop-Ups Worth the Line
Good pop-ups are restaurant quality. We’ll talk about the ones worth waiting down the block for. Election Day is closer than you think, a...

Duluth's Best Kept Secrets. Plus, Gaelynn Lea On Her Debut Memoir
Today we are revisiting a conversation about what makes Duluth punch so far above its weight in music and arts. We’ll head north with Kri...

ShotSpotter's False Positives, the Whiskey Scheme that Built St. Paul, and Korean-Inspired Live Guitar
Today, we dig into Minneapolis's long-running and expensive ShotSpotter gunshot detection program with Ella Stern of the Minnesota Spokes...

State Fair's 'Biggest Battle,' a $32M Budget Hole, and Bauhaus Brewery's Dramatic Comeback
With the State Fair just around the corner, Minnesota and Ramsey County are taking an unusual legal step – suing two local gangs to stop...

All-Women Governor’s Race. Plus, Nudity at Fringe Fest and Radish Farm Stop
Have you ever watched a primary election this closely? From the voter turnout to the candidates, Tuesday’s election was historic. We run...

A Lifeline For Weed Drinks, St. Paul Can't Stop Right to Repair, and What's After Primaries?
Minnesota's thriving THC beverage industry is under threat of a looming federal ban that is set to go into effect on November 12. Indeed...

Cultural Cafes as Third Spaces. Plus, Peggy Flanagan on ‘Medicare For All’ and Kendall Qualls on ‘What All Minnesotans Want’
Late-night hangs don’t have to center alcohol. Writer Ali Elabbady tells us about how Yemeni, Egyptian, and Somali coffee shops are bring...

Angie Craig on the Laken Riley Act and Cedrick Frazier on Equity in the Legal System. Plus, MN's Office of Restorative Practices
Minnesota's Office of Restorative Practices funds and coordinates restorative approaches across pretrial diversion, juvenile justice, sch...

‘Your City Could Be Better’: Naked Neighbors, Unwelcome Pets, and Other City Life Dilemmas — Presented By City Cast Twin Cities
As much as you love the Twin Cities, city living inherently means sharing space and resources with your neighbors, and y’all certainly ha...
