top of page

News Features, Commentary, and Appearances
This page is being redeveloped so it might not be completely up to date. 

Jan 20, 2026

Opinion | Leadership means showing up when it’s hard

Sandy Layman Chair of the Board of Directors for Majority in the Middle

Grand Rapids Herald Tribune

Jan 20, 2026

The Al Travis Show

Weekly segment with Majority in the Middle

The Al Travis Show

Jan 15, 2026

Podcast | We Made This Political

Shannon Watson on Minnesota, Self-Governance, and Relationship-Building

We Made This Political

Jan 13, 2026

The Al Travis Show

Weekly segment with Majority in the Middle

The Al Travis Show

Jan 13, 2026

Commentary | Should MN Businesses Take a Stand on ICE Operations?

If companies ban ICE, it puts frontline employees in precarious enforcement situations.

Twin Cities Business

Jan 12, 2026

Opinion | Lack of leadership fueling public mistrust

Leadership is modeling behavior we want to see: clarity when rights are at stake, humility when the facts are still emerging, and courage when others rush to judgment.

Duluth News Tribune

Jan 6, 2026

The Al Travis Show

Weekly segment with Majority in the Middle

The Al Travis Show

Dec 30, 2025

The Al Travis Show

Weekly segment with Majority in the Middle

The Al Travis Show

Dec 23, 2025

The Al Travis Show

Weekly segment with Majority in the Middle

The Al Travis Show

Dec 16, 2025

The Al Travis Show

Weekly segment with Majority in the Middle

The Al Travis Show

Dec 14, 2025

Opinion | Civic responsibility isn’t a social media contest

Sen. Jim Abeler’s response to Trump’s anti-Somali remarks resonated precisely because it wasn’t crafted to feed outrage culture.

Star Tribune

Nov 14, 2025

Podcast | Your Morning Boost

Relationships Are the Work: Sustaining Civil Engagement in Schools

Your Morning Boost

Nov 14, 2025

'We need to bring the temperature down': Local leaders sign civility pledge

Current and former state legislators, city councilors and business and other community leaders signed the Civic Pledge for a Stronger Minnesota in Grand Rapids.

KAXE

Nov 13, 2025

Podcast | Your Morning Boost

Inoculating Schools Against Polarization: Practical Steps for Transparency

Your Morning Boost

Nov 12, 2025

Podcast | Your Morning Boost

De‑Escalate the Room: Leading Calm in Polarized School Meetings

Your Morning Boost

Nov 11, 2025

Podcast | Your Morning Boost

De‑Escalating Staff Polarization: Mission First Leadership

Your Morning Boost

Nov 10, 2025

Podcast | Your Morning Boost

Lead with Civility: Shannon Watson on Nonpartisan School Leadership

Your Morning Boost

Nov 1, 2025

Opinion | Candidates should stay in their lanes

They should stick to the issues they actually would control if elected. And voters should hold them accountable for that.

Star Tribune

Oct 29, 2025

Podcast | Meyerside Chats with Evan Meyer

Bipartisanship, Structural Partisanship, Activists vs Jurors & Comfort w/ Ambiguity

Meyerside Chats

Oct 23, 2025

Is the political middle a lost cause? A group visited Rochester seeking to cultivate it

The nonprofit, Majority in the Middle, was in Rochester to get people to sign a civility pledge.

Rochester Post Bulletin

Oct 21, 2025

Podcast | Politics with Paul

How can this political middle overcome the toxic political division of today?

Politics With Paul

Oct 17, 2025

Local lawmakers sign civility pledge, but one decides against it

The “Civic Pledge for a Stronger Minnesota” initiative was launched after the killing of Rep. Melissa Hortman.

Star Tribune

Oct 6, 2025

Podcast | How an Introvert Learned to Lead, Build Coalitions, and Make Politics More Human

Shannon Watson Lesson learnt from a career in politics : Building relationships is the work !

The Trailblazers Experience Podcast

Oct 2, 2025

Majority in the Middle report says Minnesota Bipartisanship is Rising

Shannon Watson the Executive Director of the nonpartisan, nonprofit organization says the report provides new insights into how shared power and political polarization are shaping lawmaking in the state.

WDIO

Sep 29, 2025

Almanac North

Shannon Watson joins us to talk about Majority in the Middle, a political activist group with a special message.

PBS North

Sep 23, 2025

The Al Travis Show

Weekly segment with Majority in the Middle

The Al Travis Show

Sep 17, 2025

Lawmakers sign pledge to lower the tone ahead of gun control debate

An annual report by the group promoting the pledge showed an uptick in bipartisanship at the Capitol in 2025.

MinnPost

Sep 16, 2025

Podcast | Local Matters

Why We are so Divided and What Can we do About It? With Shannon Watson

Local Matters Podcast of Georgia

Sep 12, 2025

Majority in the Middle aims to temper political violence with pledge signing

“(It's) an opportunity for people to come together … and publicly commit to denouncing political violence and to working on finding common

Mankato Free Press

Aug 26, 2025

Pocan-Van Orden feud escalates as others call for an end to bitter political attacks

The escalating conflict comes as both lawmakers have faced credible death threats this summer, in the wake of political violence in Minnesota

Wisconsin Public Radio

Aug 15, 2025

Opinion | We need to disagree more, not less — seriously

Disagreement over the small things creates texture in our relationships — and might help us learn to disagree about the big stuff.

MinnPost

Aug 13, 2025

Opinion | Do we really need year-plus campaigns? A case for shorter campaign cycles.

Some candidates may not have announced they’re running for office until the filing period that closed Tuesday. That shouldn’t be seen as a weakness.

Star Tribune

Aug 11, 2025

After attacks on Minnesota lawmakers, some commit to cooler rhetoric. Can it last?

MPR

Aug 6, 2025

Podcast | Boardsi Leadership Talks

Discover how Shannon Watson's approach to leadership and connection is transforming the way executives and boards create impact

Boardsi

Jul 15, 2025

The Al Travis Show

Weekly segment with Majority in the Middle

The Al Travis Show

Jul 7, 2025

Podcast | Getting Beyond Politics

Shannon shares her journey and insights into why America has grown increasingly divided politically, and more importantly, what we can do about it.

The Unfolding Thought Podcast

Jun 27, 2025

Opinion | Responsible and free speech — and fixing things when they go sideways

Accountability matters. But we must also keep the door open for transformation.

Star Tribune

Jun 20, 2025

Almanac

Shannon Watson reflects on current political rhetoric and a return to civility.

TPT Almanac

Jun 18, 2025

Opinion | How we react to political violence matters for Minnesota’s future

Moments like this shape the future. Let’s make sure we’re building the kind of future we actually want to live in.

MinnPost

Jun 10, 2025

The Al Travis Show

Weekly segment with Majority in the Middle

The Al Travis Show

Jun 4, 2025

Podcast | Compassiviste Dialogues

The Truth About Political Division You’ve Never Heard

Compassiviste

Jun 3, 2025

Opinion | State lawmakers modeled a healthier approach to governance this session

What might have appeared as dysfunction at the state Capitol was actually representative democracy in action.

MinnPost

Jun 2, 2025

Podcast | We Made This Political

Reimagining Political Engagement with Insights from Majority in the Middle

We Made This Political

May 30, 2025

Opinion | In defense of lobbyists at the Minnesota Legislature

While often portrayed as villains, lobbyists actually play an important role. It’s time to give them their due.

Star Tribune

May 27, 2025

The Al Travis Show

Weekly segment with Majority in the Middle

The Al Travis Show

Apr 22, 2025

Opinion | Could Walz still follow through on ‘One Minnesota’?

Is he moderate or progressive? Perhaps it’s more useful to view Coach (Gov.) Walz through the lens of being a good teammate.

Star Tribune

Apr 2, 2025

Almanac at the Capitol

Majority in the Middle’s Shannon Watson gives an update on working across the aisle

Almanac at the Capitol

Mar 18, 2025

All Things Considered

Politics expert says evenly divided government would be good for Minnesota

MPR All Things Considered

Mar 18, 2025

All Things Considered

Politics expert says evenly divided government would be good for Minnesota

MPR

Mar 10, 2025

Opinion | Businesses Need to Get in the Game to Reduce Political Polarization

CEOs and other business leaders should step forward to improve the civic dialogue on Minnesota issues.

Twin Cities Business

Feb 5, 2025

Almanac at the Capitol

Majority in the Middle’s Shannon Watson on reaching across the aisle.

Almanac at the Capitol

Nov 8, 2024

Almanac

Shannon Watson on political compromise and governing together.

Almanac

Nov 8, 2024

MPR Politics Friday

Politics Friday: The voters have spoken, but sent a muddled message for Minnesota’s Legislature

MPR

Nov 5, 2024

Opinion | Don’t believe that your vote doesn’t count

Living in a politically ‘outnumbered’ district doesn’t mean you’re powerless — so get to the polls if you haven’t already.

MinnPost

Oct 28, 2024

Opinion Minnesota can lead the way on bipartisanship

Here’s how to smooth the way at the Legislature.

Star Tribune

Aug 22, 2024

Majority in the Middle aims to highlight the ways Minnesota’s state legislators work together

The nonprofit organization aims to rebuild civic and political culture.

MinnPost

Jun 21, 2024

Almanac

Majority in the Middle founder Shannon Watson on this year's report on bipartisanship

Twin Cities PBS

May 8, 2024

Opinion | Counterpoint: No reason to rue caucuses, as long as you exercise your rights

The rest of us aren’t helpless. We can vote. Promote candidacies. Or even run ourselves. It’s not even too late for this year.

Star Tribune

Mar 8, 2024

Podcast | How Do We Fix It?

Majority in the Middle

How Do We Fix It

Mar 4, 2024

Podcast | Authenticity, Belonging, Community

Majority in the Middle

Authenticity, Belonging, Community

Nov 21, 2023

Opinion | Local elections turn coarse

But don't pin it on party polarization. Rather it's about governing style, of which there are two primary types (that actually are complementary).

Star Tribune

Mar 16, 2023

Opinion | Strong relationships, not loud actions are most effective in moving policymakers

But here’s what activists don’t seem to understand when they try to intimidate, rather than persuade: real power isn’t about force, it’s about influence.

MinnPost

Feb 4, 2022

Podcast | Flyover Logic

A Conversation with Shannon Watson, Founder of 'Majority in the Middle'

Flyover Logic

Podcast | Flyover Logic Podcast

Read More
Flyover Logic

Podcast | Breakdown with Brodkorb and Becky

Read More
Breakdown with Brodkorb and Becky
bottom of page