MPR News Reflections and observations on the news

By Bob Collins

bcollins@mpr.org • @newscut

Bob Collins retired from Minnesota Public Radio in 2019 after 12 years of writing NewsCut and pointing out to complainants that posts weren’t news stories. A son of Massachusetts, he was a news editor 1992-1998, created the MPR News regional website in 1999, invented the popular Select A Candidate, started several blogs, and every day lamented that his Minnesota Fantasy Legislature project never caught on.

When the sky is/isn’t falling

Bob Collins November 3, 2010, 5:23 PM Nov 3, 2010

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Hard as it is to believe, the polarization of America, which is in evidence today with various reactions to Tuesday’s election, isn’t that new.

A letter to ‘whiny young Democrats’

Bob Collins November 3, 2010, 4:05 PM Nov 3, 2010

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A San Francisco columnist unloads on Democrats who didn’t vote.

Plenty of questions, no easy answers in Pipestone

Bob Collins November 3, 2010, 3:35 PM Nov 3, 2010

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If tax breaks and a “business friendly” atmosphere is enough to keep businesses in Minnesota, you sure can’t tell by Pipestone, Minnesota.

Live-blogging: What now for Obama?

Bob Collins November 3, 2010, 12:00 PM Nov 3, 2010

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President Obama is holding a news conference to assess the meaning of yesterday’s elections.

Grading the polls

Bob Collins November 3, 2010, 2:54 AM Nov 3, 2010

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Whose polls turned out to be the most accurate?

Michele Bachmann’s muscle

Bob Collins November 3, 2010, 12:14 AM Nov 3, 2010

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Bachmann has shown her ability to get stronger in the district, not weaker

The Twins factor

Bob Collins November 2, 2010, 11:59 PM Nov 2, 2010

From the Department of Useless Information: Democratic Twins fans who are down about possibly losing control of the Minnesota House of Representatives can hang a hat on this one: History favors a winning Twins team when Republicans control the Minnesota House. Since 1971, the Twins average 80 wins and 80 losses in seasons in which Read more →

Meet your judge

Bob Collins November 2, 2010, 10:01 PM Nov 2, 2010

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The argument over whether Minnesota continues to elect judges is only going to get louder.

A riverboat referendum?

Bob Collins November 2, 2010, 8:36 PM Nov 2, 2010

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For people in the metro, Rep. Jim Oberstar’s legacy will likely be two things: the light-rail you see, and the riverboats you don’t.

Add another state to voter ID rules

Bob Collins November 2, 2010, 7:32 PM Nov 2, 2010

Oklahoma becomes the 27th state to adopt the idea.

Scenes from an election night

Bob Collins November 2, 2010, 6:43 PM Nov 2, 2010

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Notes from election night at MPR.

Randy Moss rap

Bob Collins November 2, 2010, 4:45 PM Nov 2, 2010

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We’re going to miss him. Mediocre football players aren’t that interesting.

Secret ballot

Bob Collins November 2, 2010, 2:26 PM Nov 2, 2010

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It’s getting harder to keep voting secret.

Does life imitate politics?

Bob Collins November 2, 2010, 11:31 AM Nov 2, 2010

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What’s the best politics movie ever made?

Bad news from Wyoming

Bob Collins November 2, 2010, 10:11 AM Nov 2, 2010

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The search for a missing family ends.