North Star Policy Action
@northstarpolicy.org
We're an independent research and communications institute that advances bold ideas that improve the lives of everyday Minnesotans.
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The Cost of Operation Metro Surge | North Star Policy Action
northstarpolicy.org
New Report: The Cost of Operation “Metro Surge” finds that federal enforcement in Minnesota is costing taxpayers at least $18 million per week — a conservative estimate of personnel, lodging, detention, and police overtime costs. Read the full report: northstarpolicy.org/metro-surge-...
The @prospect.org just released new reporting citing our analysis on Operation Metro Surge.
Toplines:
• $18M/week in taxpayer costs
• $80M/week in lost economic activity
• Long-term damage to schools, healthcare, and housing
•MN corporations need to be held accountable
prospect.org/2026/01/28/m...
Toplines:
• $18M/week in taxpayer costs
• $80M/week in lost economic activity
• Long-term damage to schools, healthcare, and housing
•MN corporations need to be held accountable
prospect.org/2026/01/28/m...
Minnesota CEOs Cry Crocodile Tears Over ICE - The American Prospect
Executives who lobbied for Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which enabled the immigration terror in their state, now want everyone to believe they are on the people’s side.
prospect.org
January 28, 2026 at 6:09 PM
The @prospect.org just released new reporting citing our analysis on Operation Metro Surge.
Toplines:
• $18M/week in taxpayer costs
• $80M/week in lost economic activity
• Long-term damage to schools, healthcare, and housing
•MN corporations need to be held accountable
prospect.org/2026/01/28/m...
Toplines:
• $18M/week in taxpayer costs
• $80M/week in lost economic activity
• Long-term damage to schools, healthcare, and housing
•MN corporations need to be held accountable
prospect.org/2026/01/28/m...
Reposted by North Star Policy Action
Yes, one underreported part of this is the economic loss for cities as the result of federal occupation. Talked to some great folks at North Star Policy Action about that, who said, "It’s an economic and social dead zone. It’s worse than the pandemic." prospect.org/2026/01/28/m...
January 28, 2026 at 2:56 PM
Yes, one underreported part of this is the economic loss for cities as the result of federal occupation. Talked to some great folks at North Star Policy Action about that, who said, "It’s an economic and social dead zone. It’s worse than the pandemic." prospect.org/2026/01/28/m...
Things we could do in MN with the $18 million a week it costs taxpayers to fund Operation Metro Surge:
- Provide Medicaid coverage for 5,000 Minnesota children
- Fund a full week of SNAP benefits for every eligible Minnesotan
- Cover the annual salaries of 225 school mental health professionals
- Provide Medicaid coverage for 5,000 Minnesota children
- Fund a full week of SNAP benefits for every eligible Minnesotan
- Cover the annual salaries of 225 school mental health professionals
January 27, 2026 at 6:32 PM
Things we could do in MN with the $18 million a week it costs taxpayers to fund Operation Metro Surge:
- Provide Medicaid coverage for 5,000 Minnesota children
- Fund a full week of SNAP benefits for every eligible Minnesotan
- Cover the annual salaries of 225 school mental health professionals
- Provide Medicaid coverage for 5,000 Minnesota children
- Fund a full week of SNAP benefits for every eligible Minnesotan
- Cover the annual salaries of 225 school mental health professionals
New Report: The Cost of Operation “Metro Surge” finds that federal enforcement in Minnesota is costing taxpayers at least $18 million per week — a conservative estimate of personnel, lodging, detention, and police overtime costs. Read the full report: northstarpolicy.org/metro-surge-...
The Cost of Operation Metro Surge | North Star Policy Action
northstarpolicy.org
January 22, 2026 at 5:05 PM
New Report: The Cost of Operation “Metro Surge” finds that federal enforcement in Minnesota is costing taxpayers at least $18 million per week — a conservative estimate of personnel, lodging, detention, and police overtime costs. Read the full report: northstarpolicy.org/metro-surge-...
“Corporate and political leaders are seriously underestimating how mad Minnesotans are about these ongoing federal attacks.” — North Star Policy Action
Nothing to say? Big Minnesota companies keep quiet as Trump’s immigration crackdown squeezes the state minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/16/b...
Big Minnesota companies keep quiet as Trump's immigration crackdown squeezes the state • Minnesota Reformer
More than 100 Twin Cities clergy gathered at the skyway entrance to Target’s downtown Minneapolis headquarters Thursday to sing, pray and demand the retailer take a stronger stand against federal law ...
minnesotareformer.com
January 16, 2026 at 6:58 PM
“Corporate and political leaders are seriously underestimating how mad Minnesotans are about these ongoing federal attacks.” — North Star Policy Action
As ICE enforcement disrupts Minnesota’s workforce and economy, major corporations have refused to speak up.
Our ED @jakeschwitzer.bsky.social breaks down what that silence is costing the state in @minnesotareformer.com ⬇️
minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/16/b...
Our ED @jakeschwitzer.bsky.social breaks down what that silence is costing the state in @minnesotareformer.com ⬇️
minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/16/b...
Big Minnesota companies keep quiet as Trump's immigration crackdown squeezes the state • Minnesota Reformer
More than 100 Twin Cities clergy gathered at the skyway entrance to Target’s downtown Minneapolis headquarters Thursday to sing, pray and demand the retailer take a stronger stand against federal law ...
minnesotareformer.com
January 16, 2026 at 6:56 PM
As ICE enforcement disrupts Minnesota’s workforce and economy, major corporations have refused to speak up.
Our ED @jakeschwitzer.bsky.social breaks down what that silence is costing the state in @minnesotareformer.com ⬇️
minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/16/b...
Our ED @jakeschwitzer.bsky.social breaks down what that silence is costing the state in @minnesotareformer.com ⬇️
minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/16/b...
NEW FACT SHEET: ICE enforcement is actively disrupting Minnesota’s economy.
Read the full fact sheet here: northstarpolicy.org/business-imp...
Read the full fact sheet here: northstarpolicy.org/business-imp...
FACT SHEET: ICE Enforcement is Disrupting Minnesota’s Economy | North Star Policy Action
northstarpolicy.org
January 14, 2026 at 9:28 PM
NEW FACT SHEET: ICE enforcement is actively disrupting Minnesota’s economy.
Read the full fact sheet here: northstarpolicy.org/business-imp...
Read the full fact sheet here: northstarpolicy.org/business-imp...
We’re continuing to update our fact sheet as new evidence and developments emerge in the killing of Renee Nicole Good and the federal ICE surge in Minnesota. You can read the fact sheet here: northstarpolicy.org/ice-in-minne...
Facts: Here’s What We Know About ICE in Minnesota | North Star Policy Action
northstarpolicy.org
January 13, 2026 at 5:11 PM
We’re continuing to update our fact sheet as new evidence and developments emerge in the killing of Renee Nicole Good and the federal ICE surge in Minnesota. You can read the fact sheet here: northstarpolicy.org/ice-in-minne...
FACTS: Here's what we know about ICE in Minnesota and the tragic killing of Renee Nicole Good
Read the full fact sheet: northstarpolicy.org/ice-in-minne...
Read the full fact sheet: northstarpolicy.org/ice-in-minne...
January 9, 2026 at 4:07 PM
FACTS: Here's what we know about ICE in Minnesota and the tragic killing of Renee Nicole Good
Read the full fact sheet: northstarpolicy.org/ice-in-minne...
Read the full fact sheet: northstarpolicy.org/ice-in-minne...
Today we released a new fact sheet documenting the misinformation campaign that preceded and followed the tragic killing of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis: northstarpolicy.org/ice-in-minne...
Facts: Here’s What We Know About ICE in Minnesota | North Star Policy Action
northstarpolicy.org
January 9, 2026 at 3:54 PM
Today we released a new fact sheet documenting the misinformation campaign that preceded and followed the tragic killing of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis: northstarpolicy.org/ice-in-minne...
Yesterday, North Star Policy Action Executive Director Jake Schwitzer testified before the Minnesota Senate on how tariffs, anti-immigrant policies, health care cuts, and worker protection rollbacks are creating uncertainty across Minnesota’s economy.
Full clip: www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZ1A...
Full clip: www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZ1A...
How are President Trump's Federal Actions Impacting the Minnesota Economy?
YouTube video by North Star Policy Action
www.youtube.com
December 19, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Yesterday, North Star Policy Action Executive Director Jake Schwitzer testified before the Minnesota Senate on how tariffs, anti-immigrant policies, health care cuts, and worker protection rollbacks are creating uncertainty across Minnesota’s economy.
Full clip: www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZ1A...
Full clip: www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZ1A...
The Trump administration is failing to agree on whether to extend key ACA subsidies, subsidies that 22 million Americans rely on, including tens of thousands of Minnesotans. Without action, health insurance premiums will spike as early as next week. Here’s how it this would impact Minnesota:
December 3, 2025 at 3:45 PM
The Trump administration is failing to agree on whether to extend key ACA subsidies, subsidies that 22 million Americans rely on, including tens of thousands of Minnesotans. Without action, health insurance premiums will spike as early as next week. Here’s how it this would impact Minnesota:
The Minnesota Chamber’s new 2026 Business Benchmarks report offers a snapshot of the Minnesota economy but leaves out some major forces shaping what employers + workers are actually experiencing.
November 20, 2025 at 8:25 PM
The Minnesota Chamber’s new 2026 Business Benchmarks report offers a snapshot of the Minnesota economy but leaves out some major forces shaping what employers + workers are actually experiencing.
Last night, we were honored to receive the CTUL Ally Leadership Award from our partners at El Centro de los Trabajadores Unidos en la Lucha (CTUL). The award recognizes our shared work to end worker exploitation and wage theft in Minneapolis’s construction industry.
November 14, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Last night, we were honored to receive the CTUL Ally Leadership Award from our partners at El Centro de los Trabajadores Unidos en la Lucha (CTUL). The award recognizes our shared work to end worker exploitation and wage theft in Minneapolis’s construction industry.
NEW REPORT: Minnesota has committed to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040, but we’re not on track to get there.
Our new report, Expanding Possibilities, shows how lifting Minnesota’s ban on new nuclear construction could change that.
READ: northstarpolicy.org/expanding/
Our new report, Expanding Possibilities, shows how lifting Minnesota’s ban on new nuclear construction could change that.
READ: northstarpolicy.org/expanding/
Expanding Possibilities: The Role of Nuclear Energy in Minnesota’s Carbon-Free Future | North Star Policy Action
northstarpolicy.org
October 29, 2025 at 3:45 PM
NEW REPORT: Minnesota has committed to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040, but we’re not on track to get there.
Our new report, Expanding Possibilities, shows how lifting Minnesota’s ban on new nuclear construction could change that.
READ: northstarpolicy.org/expanding/
Our new report, Expanding Possibilities, shows how lifting Minnesota’s ban on new nuclear construction could change that.
READ: northstarpolicy.org/expanding/
Yesterday we stood with labor allies and released our new report, A Roadmap to Compliance: Strengthening Worker Protections in Minneapolis Construction.
We called on the city to take bold steps to eliminate wage theft, retaliation, sexual assault, and labor trafficking.
We called on the city to take bold steps to eliminate wage theft, retaliation, sexual assault, and labor trafficking.
Labor groups are calling for Minneapolis to more proactively enforce the city’s regulations against worker wage theft and on-site harassment.
“The message is clear: For workers, the risks of reporting are greater than the rewards, while bad actors see the opposite,” said researcher Aaron Rosenthal.
“The message is clear: For workers, the risks of reporting are greater than the rewards, while bad actors see the opposite,” said researcher Aaron Rosenthal.
Advocates want the City of Minneapolis to do more to end wage theft, worker harassment
A report released by a progressive think tank recommends that the city use its permitting authority and independent audits to ensure that existing labor regulations are properly enforced.
www.mprnews.org
October 16, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Yesterday we stood with labor allies and released our new report, A Roadmap to Compliance: Strengthening Worker Protections in Minneapolis Construction.
We called on the city to take bold steps to eliminate wage theft, retaliation, sexual assault, and labor trafficking.
We called on the city to take bold steps to eliminate wage theft, retaliation, sexual assault, and labor trafficking.
We love to brag when Minnesota is the best. This isn’t a list we want to be high on.
Minnesota has the fourth largest teacher pay penalty in the country. Our teachers make 33% less than other workers with a college degree.
Nationwide, the gap is the largest it’s ever been and growing.
Minnesota has the fourth largest teacher pay penalty in the country. Our teachers make 33% less than other workers with a college degree.
Nationwide, the gap is the largest it’s ever been and growing.
In 2024, teachers earned 73 cents for every dollar their similarly educated peers made, on average—a record low.
In 1996, the gap was much smaller: teachers earned 94 cents for every dollar.
We need to pay teachers more! How? By investing in public education.
www.epi.org/publication/...
In 1996, the gap was much smaller: teachers earned 94 cents for every dollar.
We need to pay teachers more! How? By investing in public education.
www.epi.org/publication/...
The teacher pay penalty reached a record high in 2024: Three decades of leaving public school teachers behind
Over the past three decades, stagnant weekly wages of public school teachers have fallen further and further behind those of college graduates who chose other careers, resulting in an ever increasing ...
www.epi.org
September 24, 2025 at 4:24 PM
We love to brag when Minnesota is the best. This isn’t a list we want to be high on.
Minnesota has the fourth largest teacher pay penalty in the country. Our teachers make 33% less than other workers with a college degree.
Nationwide, the gap is the largest it’s ever been and growing.
Minnesota has the fourth largest teacher pay penalty in the country. Our teachers make 33% less than other workers with a college degree.
Nationwide, the gap is the largest it’s ever been and growing.
Minnesota's Republican Members of Congress voting to hurt tens of thousands of their constituents, so they can send even more money to their billionaire supporters. This is the real class warfare, and Minnesotans are losing.
September 8, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Minnesota's Republican Members of Congress voting to hurt tens of thousands of their constituents, so they can send even more money to their billionaire supporters. This is the real class warfare, and Minnesotans are losing.
Reposted by North Star Policy Action
This is solidarity! ✊ THANK YOU to everyone in our pro-labor community who showed up and spoke up yesterday to protect prevailing wage for Bloomington workers. 🗣️ Together, we did it. 👉 We’ll keep showing up when pro-worker policies are up for debate. #WhenWeFightWeWin #BloomingtonMN #prevailingwage
August 5, 2025 at 3:14 PM
This is solidarity! ✊ THANK YOU to everyone in our pro-labor community who showed up and spoke up yesterday to protect prevailing wage for Bloomington workers. 🗣️ Together, we did it. 👉 We’ll keep showing up when pro-worker policies are up for debate. #WhenWeFightWeWin #BloomingtonMN #prevailingwage
Just wait until people find out their health care and food costs are skyrocketing, and their kids' childcare is closing all so that we could spend $170 billion more doing this unpopular stuff.
New Quinnipiac poll:
Trump approval cratering on immigration: 40-55
On deportations it's even worse: 38-59
Seems like something the opposition party might be able to exploit to its advantage!
Trump approval cratering on immigration: 40-55
On deportations it's even worse: 38-59
Seems like something the opposition party might be able to exploit to its advantage!
July 16, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Just wait until people find out their health care and food costs are skyrocketing, and their kids' childcare is closing all so that we could spend $170 billion more doing this unpopular stuff.
The Giant Nightmare bill moving through the Senate is bad. Really bad. Our @aaronrosenthal.bsky.social wrote about the growing threat to workers and consumers from AI, and why we needed Minnesota's members of Congress to strike this moratorium on regulations.
www.startribune.com/big-beautifu...
www.startribune.com/big-beautifu...
Opinion: Big Beautiful Bill’s AI regulation moratorium would imperil Minnesota workers and consumers
"Minnesota workers deserve an economy where AI innovation and worker welfare go together," writes Aaron Rosenthal, research director at North Star Policy Action.
www.startribune.com
July 1, 2025 at 2:14 PM
The Giant Nightmare bill moving through the Senate is bad. Really bad. Our @aaronrosenthal.bsky.social wrote about the growing threat to workers and consumers from AI, and why we needed Minnesota's members of Congress to strike this moratorium on regulations.
www.startribune.com/big-beautifu...
www.startribune.com/big-beautifu...
Reposted by North Star Policy Action
📉Our State of Working Minnesota report finds a major shift: fewer Minnesotans are earning poverty wages. In 2024, the share of workers earning below poverty wages dropped by more than 12%. Recent gains have been particularly strong in communities of color.
🔗 northstarpolicy.org/sowmn-2025/
🔗 northstarpolicy.org/sowmn-2025/
June 5, 2025 at 7:29 PM
📉Our State of Working Minnesota report finds a major shift: fewer Minnesotans are earning poverty wages. In 2024, the share of workers earning below poverty wages dropped by more than 12%. Recent gains have been particularly strong in communities of color.
🔗 northstarpolicy.org/sowmn-2025/
🔗 northstarpolicy.org/sowmn-2025/
Health insurers are reporting 14-26% increase in health care costs in MN next year, driven by Trump and Congressional Republicans cutting people's health insurance.
🚨NO ONE IS SAFE FROM THIS DISASTROUS BILL. Even if you get to keep your insurance, your premiums are about to skyrocket!
🚨NO ONE IS SAFE FROM THIS DISASTROUS BILL. Even if you get to keep your insurance, your premiums are about to skyrocket!
Health insurance could be getting a lot more expensive in Minnesota next year.
Health insurers propose hiking Minnesota prices at least 14% next year
All major individual market insurers are seeking double-digit rate increases for 2026 in market that’s often a bellwether for general premium trends.
bit.ly
June 17, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Health insurers are reporting 14-26% increase in health care costs in MN next year, driven by Trump and Congressional Republicans cutting people's health insurance.
🚨NO ONE IS SAFE FROM THIS DISASTROUS BILL. Even if you get to keep your insurance, your premiums are about to skyrocket!
🚨NO ONE IS SAFE FROM THIS DISASTROUS BILL. Even if you get to keep your insurance, your premiums are about to skyrocket!
Great rundown of labor legislation from @maxnesterak.bsky.social and @minnesotareformer.com. Lots of great pro-worker defense! Also happy to see our worker misclassification numbers cited and even happier to see that MN will be carrying out its own analysis thanks to @emmagreenman.bsky.social
Here is a look at changes in labor laws in the 2025 legislative session, in which DFL lawmakers defended their gains from 2023's session. minnesotareformer.com/2025/06/16/w...
Which labor bills passed — and which didn’t — in Minnesota in 2025 • Minnesota Reformer
Having lost control of the Legislature and confronting a looming budget deficit, Democrats were forced to abandon plans to advance pro-worker legislation and instead defend their gains from the histor...
minnesotareformer.com
June 17, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Great rundown of labor legislation from @maxnesterak.bsky.social and @minnesotareformer.com. Lots of great pro-worker defense! Also happy to see our worker misclassification numbers cited and even happier to see that MN will be carrying out its own analysis thanks to @emmagreenman.bsky.social
As @mprnews.org points out, MN passed almost no new AI laws even as the federal gov't seeks to ban state AI regulation for 10 years. We found that 500,000 MN workers are at high risk of AI impact and highlighted ways to align AI innovation with worker welfare. The time for action is now!
This year's Legislative session saw dozens of AI-related bills proposed, and while none passed on their own, others will be reevaluated. Here's a look at the AI conversations Minnesota legislators had and what it could mean for the technology moving forward.
Artificial intelligence and legislation: The latest in Minnesota
The use of artificial intelligence has become a hot topic in classrooms, around dinner tables and, increasingly in recent years, in state legislatures. What AI conversations did Minnesota legislators have this session? And what could it mean for the technology moving forward?
www.mprnews.org
June 17, 2025 at 6:37 PM
As @mprnews.org points out, MN passed almost no new AI laws even as the federal gov't seeks to ban state AI regulation for 10 years. We found that 500,000 MN workers are at high risk of AI impact and highlighted ways to align AI innovation with worker welfare. The time for action is now!