Aaron J. Brown
@minnesotabrown.bsky.social
Minnesota author, MN Star Tribune columnist & historian from the Mesabi Iron Range. Read and subscribe for free at http://www.minnesotabrown.com
Legal gambling might be entertainment, but when a culture of gambling takes over a society, it becomes something else entirely. As Super Bowl Sunday approaches, is the bet we should be making?
Brown: When betting is everywhere, we gamble with our future
"There’s a difference between legal gambling and ubiquitous gambling. When everything is a potential bet, we commodify our existence," writes columnist Aaron Brown.
www.startribune.com
February 5, 2026 at 2:13 PM
Legal gambling might be entertainment, but when a culture of gambling takes over a society, it becomes something else entirely. As Super Bowl Sunday approaches, is the bet we should be making?
"Biinjweba’ige! Score! No other word lights up a hockey game the same way, whether players skate at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul or on a pond somewhere up north. But it takes more than words to describe a hockey game in Ojibwe." My latest column:
Brown: Ojibwe-language hockey announcers bring new cultural life to the sport
It takes more than words to describe a hockey game in Ojibwe. To hear the game in Anishinaabemowin, “the language of the people,” is an immersive experience, columnist Aaron Brown writes.
www.startribune.com
February 3, 2026 at 2:55 PM
"Biinjweba’ige! Score! No other word lights up a hockey game the same way, whether players skate at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul or on a pond somewhere up north. But it takes more than words to describe a hockey game in Ojibwe." My latest column:
"The arrest of journalists for covering news events in public places is another red line that must not be crossed." My latest column:
Brown: Arrest of journalists escalates the constitutional crisis in Minnesota
This is a red line that must not be crossed, writes columnist Aaron Brown.
www.startribune.com
January 31, 2026 at 12:47 AM
"The arrest of journalists for covering news events in public places is another red line that must not be crossed." My latest column:
The Russian opposition is watching Minnesota with concern, because they've seen this before, and hope, because they envy our constitution and admire the resolve of Minnesotans. Our state is setting an example in the defense of freedom around the globe.
Brown: As freedom is tested in Minnesota, the world watches
Igor Yakovlev is a communication officer for a pro-democracy political party in Russia. Since an ICE agent shot Renee Good Jan. 7, his colleagues have been paying close attention to Minnesota.
www.startribune.com
January 27, 2026 at 2:16 PM
The Russian opposition is watching Minnesota with concern, because they've seen this before, and hope, because they envy our constitution and admire the resolve of Minnesotans. Our state is setting an example in the defense of freedom around the globe.
Under gleaming lights, a story of social dynamics and technology is unfolding at your local Walmart. Shopping there is emblematic of the American experience, which is why we must pay attention to what's happening in the aisles.
Brown: Under the bright lights of Walmart, an economic story unfolds
"What I’ve seen change in these aisles over the past few years tells a story about our demographic, economic and cultural future," Aaron Brown writes.
www.startribune.com
January 19, 2026 at 5:57 PM
Under gleaming lights, a story of social dynamics and technology is unfolding at your local Walmart. Shopping there is emblematic of the American experience, which is why we must pay attention to what's happening in the aisles.
Reposted by Aaron J. Brown
"Fear is no match for common purpose." --Aaron J. Brown
Oppression, violence, death and competing narratives are not new to Minnesota. It's happened before - up north - and the past can show us a way forward.
Brown: Our weary state must find shared reality amid chaos and fear
As Minnesotans from metro to meadow spar over immigration enforcement, we can look to history for a lesson: A 1916 miners’ strike showed the depths of division a community can sink to — and yet recove...
www.startribune.com
January 18, 2026 at 8:44 PM
"Fear is no match for common purpose." --Aaron J. Brown
Oppression, violence, death and competing narratives are not new to Minnesota. It's happened before - up north - and the past can show us a way forward.
Brown: Our weary state must find shared reality amid chaos and fear
As Minnesotans from metro to meadow spar over immigration enforcement, we can look to history for a lesson: A 1916 miners’ strike showed the depths of division a community can sink to — and yet recove...
www.startribune.com
January 18, 2026 at 4:32 PM
Oppression, violence, death and competing narratives are not new to Minnesota. It's happened before - up north - and the past can show us a way forward.
Funding freezes to federal programs like childcare assistance are being used to punish political opponents, rather than to address problems like fraud or the economic crisis of inadequate childcare options. www.startribune.com/day-care-fra...
Brown: Trump’s child care funding freeze harms working people. Is anyone surprised?
"Today, child care facilities in Minnesota wonder whether they can stay open if a Dec. 31 freeze to federal child care assistance continues," columnist Aaron Brown writes.
www.startribune.com
January 12, 2026 at 2:40 PM
Funding freezes to federal programs like childcare assistance are being used to punish political opponents, rather than to address problems like fraud or the economic crisis of inadequate childcare options. www.startribune.com/day-care-fra...
Reposted by Aaron J. Brown
A really nice column by @startribune.com's
@minnesotabrown.bsky.social: Despite arguments and heartbreak, a bipartisan friendship shows the way | After 40 years, what they had left was not disagreement but devotion.
@minnesotabrown.bsky.social: Despite arguments and heartbreak, a bipartisan friendship shows the way | After 40 years, what they had left was not disagreement but devotion.
Brown: Despite arguments and heartbreak, a bipartisan friendship shows the way
From columnist Aaron Brown: Karl Oberstar Jr., 74, is a Democrat. Matt Matasich, 65, was a Republican. They didn’t disagree about everything, just most things.
www.startribune.com
January 5, 2026 at 5:46 PM
A really nice column by @startribune.com's
@minnesotabrown.bsky.social: Despite arguments and heartbreak, a bipartisan friendship shows the way | After 40 years, what they had left was not disagreement but devotion.
@minnesotabrown.bsky.social: Despite arguments and heartbreak, a bipartisan friendship shows the way | After 40 years, what they had left was not disagreement but devotion.
The public library is a place for everyone, free to use, open to all. In a world of subscriptions, higher prices & limited access, fight for libraries. To paraphrase George Bailey, "if only to have some place to go without crawling to Jeff Bezos."
Brown: High costs? Budget cuts? Even more reason to protect public libraries.
"For me and legions of library patrons from all walks of life, what’s happening these days feels personal," Aaron Brown writes.
www.startribune.com
January 5, 2026 at 1:55 PM
The public library is a place for everyone, free to use, open to all. In a world of subscriptions, higher prices & limited access, fight for libraries. To paraphrase George Bailey, "if only to have some place to go without crawling to Jeff Bezos."
For the loyal hangers-on at my honest-to-god-I-still-call-it-a-blog, I have a year-end post devoid of lists. How does an Iron Ranger navigate working at the state's largest newspaper? What's coming in 2026? All that and more.
Looking backwards and forwards at MinnesotaBrown - Minnesota Brown
Iron Range author and Minnesota Star Tribune columnist Aaron Brown looks back at 2025 and forward to 2026 at his blog.
minnesotabrown.com
January 4, 2026 at 7:35 PM
For the loyal hangers-on at my honest-to-god-I-still-call-it-a-blog, I have a year-end post devoid of lists. How does an Iron Ranger navigate working at the state's largest newspaper? What's coming in 2026? All that and more.
A tragic death on Christmas reminds of the critical challenge to keep patients and staff safe during a dangerous crisis.
Brown: Tragic death highlights security challenges at Minnesota hospitals
"Each day, hospital staff seek to help people on the worst day of their lives, knowing that the situation can sometimes become worse," Aaron Brown writes.
www.startribune.com
December 30, 2025 at 3:54 PM
A tragic death on Christmas reminds of the critical challenge to keep patients and staff safe during a dangerous crisis.
Reposted by Aaron J. Brown
Another must-read from Aaron Brown
Two local Iron Range politicians maintained a bipartisan friendship over 40 years, even in the age of Trump. Here's how they did it. www.startribune.com/us-political...
Brown: Despite arguments and heartbreak, a bipartisan friendship shows the way
From columnist Aaron Brown: Karl Oberstar Jr., 74, is a Democrat. Matt Matasich, 65, was a Republican. They didn’t disagree about everything, just most things.
www.startribune.com
December 25, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Another must-read from Aaron Brown
Two local Iron Range politicians maintained a bipartisan friendship over 40 years, even in the age of Trump. Here's how they did it. www.startribune.com/us-political...
Brown: Despite arguments and heartbreak, a bipartisan friendship shows the way
From columnist Aaron Brown: Karl Oberstar Jr., 74, is a Democrat. Matt Matasich, 65, was a Republican. They didn’t disagree about everything, just most things.
www.startribune.com
December 24, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Two local Iron Range politicians maintained a bipartisan friendship over 40 years, even in the age of Trump. Here's how they did it. www.startribune.com/us-political...
Despite recent political theater, communication between mining interests, regulators and environmental groups is good, already happens and should happen more. www.startribune.com/pete-stauber...
Brown: We need more communication about mining and the environment, not less
"The insinuation that only granola-crunching nonprofit organizations try to influence the federal government is laughable. International mining corporations lobby public officials all the time," Aaron...
www.startribune.com
December 20, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Despite recent political theater, communication between mining interests, regulators and environmental groups is good, already happens and should happen more. www.startribune.com/pete-stauber...
I can't believe I missed this very apt comparison. No hoods, though, because we're hard core.
The Minnesota (for now) Star Tribune uses this photo (credited to @libraryoflorie.bsky.social at KAXE) to accompany an editorial column today by @minnesotabrown.bsky.social, and it reminded me of this scene from the movie Fargo
December 19, 2025 at 1:11 AM
I can't believe I missed this very apt comparison. No hoods, though, because we're hard core.
When you're ready, and only if you're ready, I present a free and easy opportunity to enter the world of birding in today's Minnesota Star Tribune. Be careful, this escalates quickly.
Brown: It’s Christmastime, which means it’s time to count birds
"As millennials enter midlife, many face one of the most insidious hazards of aging: Sudden Onset Birding, or SOB," columnist Aaron Brown writes.
www.startribune.com
December 18, 2025 at 2:35 PM
When you're ready, and only if you're ready, I present a free and easy opportunity to enter the world of birding in today's Minnesota Star Tribune. Be careful, this escalates quickly.
Northern Minnesota is carving a unique niche in the film industry. TV and film carry cultural and economic power, so our state should encourage a home-grown media industry. After a week off, my latest column:
Brown: Resurgent film industry can elevate Minnesota to the A-list
"Our state is a blank canvas for filmmakers, especially up North, where the gorgeous vistas we often take for granted have yet to appear in movies," Aaron Brown writes.
www.startribune.com
December 15, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Northern Minnesota is carving a unique niche in the film industry. TV and film carry cultural and economic power, so our state should encourage a home-grown media industry. After a week off, my latest column:
Minnesota is embroiled in an important debate about autonomous ride share services in Minneapolis. You may be surprised to learn that driverless vehicles have safely operated in a small northern Minnesota town for three years.
Brown: Self-driving cars in Minneapolis? A small Minnesota town did it first.
Free, self-driving cars came to Grand Rapids in 2022 — years ahead of the Twin Cities, Aaron Brown writes.
www.startribune.com
December 2, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Minnesota is embroiled in an important debate about autonomous ride share services in Minneapolis. You may be surprised to learn that driverless vehicles have safely operated in a small northern Minnesota town for three years.
As you prepare to celebrate the holiday, here's my story of grumpy old men brought back to life by kindness from long ago. Happy Thanksgiving, friends.
Brown: Bitterness dies, but gratitude lasts generations
Columnist Aaron Brown recounts stories from the life of his grandfather — a man whose gruffness couldn't erase his moments of kindness.
www.startribune.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:45 PM
As you prepare to celebrate the holiday, here's my story of grumpy old men brought back to life by kindness from long ago. Happy Thanksgiving, friends.
Minnesota's first new taconite mine in 50 years is a modern marvel that reveals the challenges and opportunities coming to the Iron Range, where change is afoot. www.startribune.com/mn-iron-rang...
www.startribune.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Minnesota's first new taconite mine in 50 years is a modern marvel that reveals the challenges and opportunities coming to the Iron Range, where change is afoot. www.startribune.com/mn-iron-rang...
What if addressing the climate crisis also solved economic problems we've battled for generations? One Florida climate strategist brings ideas to his Duluth hometown. www.startribune.com/mn-climate-p...
www.startribune.com
November 23, 2025 at 4:34 PM
What if addressing the climate crisis also solved economic problems we've battled for generations? One Florida climate strategist brings ideas to his Duluth hometown. www.startribune.com/mn-climate-p...
The federal government might be open, but it's not necessarily in business yet. Delays and uncertainty for those most in need, including those whose homes have no heat, highlight our mixed-up priorities.
www.startribune.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:40 PM
The federal government might be open, but it's not necessarily in business yet. Delays and uncertainty for those most in need, including those whose homes have no heat, highlight our mixed-up priorities.
"Minnesota’s official state tree might be the red pine, but you should really meet its older sibling, the white pine. The white pine is much taller with cool wavy hair." It's also the cornerstone of a healthier Minnesota forest, something we can all help restore.
Brown: Why the white pine matters in Minnesota
Diversity is key to restoring the state’s biggest trees and creating a resilient forest, Aaron Brown writes.
www.startribune.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:32 PM
"Minnesota’s official state tree might be the red pine, but you should really meet its older sibling, the white pine. The white pine is much taller with cool wavy hair." It's also the cornerstone of a healthier Minnesota forest, something we can all help restore.
The Monday after Minnesota's deer hunting opener can be grim. Social media feeds became macabre, while rigor mortis bucks bounce in the back of someone's truck. But that's not the deeper story. Here's why you should rethink deer hunting, and maybe even give it a try.
Brown: Go on, try deer hunting this year
"One of the biggest barriers to hunting is the idea of killing an animal, especially one as beautiful as the whitetail deer," Aaron Brown writes. "But there is an important role for hunting in balanci...
www.startribune.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:21 PM
The Monday after Minnesota's deer hunting opener can be grim. Social media feeds became macabre, while rigor mortis bucks bounce in the back of someone's truck. But that's not the deeper story. Here's why you should rethink deer hunting, and maybe even give it a try.