Access To Democracy

In this episode, Eagan High School principal, Dr. Polly Reikowski, joins host Steve Francisco to discuss how one of the best high schools in Minnesota prepares its students for the future.

With a current enrollment of 2211 students and a dedicated faculty, Eagan High School provides comprehensive basic courses in English, math, and science, and also offers advanced learning options for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) such as its award-winning robotics team, television production in the school’s in-house state-of-the-art TV studio, theater, music, sports, and multiple foreign languages.

Dr. Reikowski expresses her appreciation for the voters of Independent School District 196 who have approved referenda and bond issues that keep Eagan High School at the top in various rankings.

Jon Pratt, Co-Chair of the Philanthropy Project, shares with host Steve Francisco his concerns about the current state of philanthropy in America and why he believes that some reforms are urgently needed. U.S. foundations, public and private, have accumulated $1.5 trillion in assets, an eye-popping figure. Much of this money, however, sits in banks and investments and is not being used to finance and advance the public good which, is the stated goal of philanthropy, after all.

Jon explains how banks and money managers rake in large (and growing) fees for managing the unspent funds and how federal tax deductions are being granted for unspent charitable donations.

The Philanthropy Project is making the case for greater awareness of these issues as well as the need for tax reform and greater transparency in how foundations do their work.

Former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Paul Anderson, returns to “Access to Democracy” with host Steve Francisco and explains why he believes that we are currently living through an unprecedented constitutional crisis.

Justice Anderson observes that America’s founders created a unique system of checks and balances between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government but laments the attacks of the Trump administration’s attacks upon due process of law, on individual judges, civil liberties, and infringing on the prerogatives of Congress in attempting to unilaterally abolish entire federal departments and agencies.

Justice Anderson also critiques the US Supreme Court for its decision last year giving Trump and future president’s absolute immunity for official acts.

The major supplier of gasoline and diesel fuel to the Midwest, jet fuel to MSP, and asphalt to the U.S. is Flint Hills Resources with its refinery in Rosemount, MN.

Guest Geoff Glasrud joins host Bill Raker to share details and insight into a number of the attributes of Flint Hills that make it one of the state’s most interesting enterprises, as well as an environmentally responsible and engaged corporate citizen in our community.

This is a behind-the-scenes look at what goes in as Canadian crude oil and comes out as numerous products essential to our economy and modern life.

AARP has some 670,000 members in MN. It is a non-political, non-partisan organization that advocates for the financial, health, and social well-being of all consumers. The top 2025 policy issues for AARP are the focus of this interview with guest Thomas Elness, the Associate Director for Advocacy at AARP MN.

Host Bill Raker guides the discussion about legislation progressing through the Minnesota state legislature, as well as the “hot topics” (Protecting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid) at the national level.