Dalia al-Aqidi on Minneapolis and Ilhan Omar

Minneapolis is under intense national scrutiny — from public safety concerns to immigration enforcement and declining trust in political leadership.In this episode of The Middle Ground Mic, Joe sits down with Dalia al-Aqidi, an Iraqi-American journalist, legal immigrant, and congressional candidate running against Representative Ilhan Omar in Minnesota’s Fifth District.Rather than leaning into partisan outrage, this conversation takes a middle-ground approach to the issues shaping Minneapolis today. Dalia explains why she believes the city needs a renewed focus on public safety, accountability in law enforcement, community trust, and bipartisan solutions to address economic and social challenges.Topics include the long-term impact of defunding the police, immigration reform from a legal immigrant’s perspective, political leadership during unrest, and what effective representation should look like for Minneapolis residents.🔗 Learn more about Dalia al-Aqidi’s campaign: 👉 https://www.daliaforcongress.orgChapters: 00:00 Introduction to Dalia al-Aqidi 01:01 Dalia’s Background and Immigration Story 02:36 Public Safety and Law Enforcement in Minneapolis 04:56 Political Leadership and Community Trust 07:25 The Impact of Defunding the Police 09:19 Bipartisanship and Political Solutions 10:00 Immigration and Community Dynamics 11:13 Economic Challenges and Public Assistance 12:23 Closing Thoughts and Future Directions 🎙️ The Middle Ground Mic No Left. No Right. Forward.Support the show