BONUS EPISODE: How is the Minnesota Historical Society responding to OPERATION METRO SURGE?

Feliks Banel's guest on this BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY is Cecily Marcus, Director of Collections for the Minnesota Historical Society in St. Paul, Minnesota. For the past few months, Minneapolis and St. Paul have been the target of the Trump Administration’s Department of Homeland Security and what the federal government calls “Operation Metro Surge.” Two American citizens - Renee Good and Alex Pretti - were shot to death by federal agents in Minneapolis in January 2026. Demonstrations have been largely peaceful, but chaotic scenes of raids and riot suppression have been a fixture in the media for those who don’t live there. CASCADE OF HISTORY reached out to the Minnesota Historical Society to get a sense of what it’s been like to cope with the reality on the streets and in the communities of Minnesota, and to learn how they are responding – from an artifact and collections perspective – during this, to put it mildly, historically significant time. CASCADE OF HISTORY spoke with Cecily Marcus on Friday, February 13, 2026. Minnesota Historical Society website: https://www.mnhs.org/ CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via flagship station SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station broadcasts from studios at historic Magnuson Park – located in the former Master-at-Arms’ quarters in the old Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle. Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms and never miss regular weekly episodes of Sunday night broadcasts as well as frequent bonus episodes. "LIKE" the Cascade of History Facebook page and get updates and other stories throughout the week, and advance notice of live remote broadcasts taking place in your part of the Old Oregon Country.