Minnesota Now

Minnesota Now: Feb. 16, 2026

The ACLU of Minnesota shared the stories of 80 Minnesotans in its lawsuit against the federal government over alleged civil rights violations by ICE and Border Patrol agents in the state. We'll talk to a lawyer with the group about its next steps. The Trump Administration said it's pulled at least one thousand federal agents from the state. We'll check in with a neighborhood group in Minneapolis to learn if conditions have improved for small businesses.We'll hear the latest in our series about Minnesotans in hiding due to fears of detention and deportation. And we'll find out how the federal surge has impacted the lead-up to Ramadan, which begins this week. Plus, we'll talk with our sports contributors about the Winter Olympics and more. Our Minnesota Music Minute was “See You See” by Gully Boys and our Song of the Day was “I Don't Care About You” by Jeremy Jewell.

Team USA women’s hockey continues to dominate at Olympics

The U.S. women’s hockey team beat Sweden 5-0 at the Winter Olympics. Team USA is stacked with Minnesotans, while Sweden has multiple current players and alumni of the University of Minnesota-Duluth on its roster. Going into the game, both teams were undefeated. Joining Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about what happened, and other sports news, are sports contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson.

Minneapolis small businesses look towards recovery after ICE surge

As the federal surge winds down, businesses are figuring out what’s next. Minneapolis officials released preliminary estimates last Friday showing in one month alone, restaurants and small businesses across the city saw $81 million in lost revenue as a result of the operation. Businesses on Eat Street in Minneapolis were among the many impacted in recent weeks. The business corridor became a site of confrontations and protests in the wake of the killing of Alex Pretti. The Whittier Alliance has been working to support places on Eat Street and in the wider neighborhood during the surge. Anna Schmitz heads the organization and joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk more about what lies ahead.

‘As if I were in prison’: The voices of Minnesotans in hiding

In a new series, Minnesota Now is airing the voices of people who have been hiding in their homes due to fear of arrest, detention, or deportation during Minnesota's ICE surge. We asked them to send us voice memos for three days in a row, describing how they are spending their days.P is an immigrant from Mexico. MPR News is not using his full name for his safety. He and his wife have barely left their home for weeks. Since the announcement of federal agents leaving Minnesota, P said he and his wife feel slightly calmer, but they are still in hiding until they see evidence of that for themselves.This series will continue on Minnesota Now this week. Listen at noon to hear more voices or check back on our show page.

ICE surge disrupts Ramadan celebrations in Minneapolis

The holy month of Ramadan begins this week. It’s a time of fasting, prayer and reflection for Muslims around the world. And even as federal immigration agents reportedly leave Minnesota, the past two months of heightened ICE activity has impacted preparations for this holy time.Imam Hassan Jama leads Alhikma Islamic Center in south Minneapolis. He joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about what he’s seeing in his community ahead of Ramadan.