Aaron Rosenthal
@aaronrosenthal.bsky.social
Research Director at North Star Policy Action. Author of The State You See. Lover of MN sports = often sad. Views own.
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
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.
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
November 13, 2025 at 11:33 AM
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Great story from @mprnews.org on our recent report release and efforts to end wage theft for non-unionized construction workers in Minneapolis. It's time to move from whack-a-mole reactive enforcement to across-the-board proactive compliance.
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 2:39 PM
Great story from @mprnews.org on our recent report release and efforts to end wage theft for non-unionized construction workers in Minneapolis. It's time to move from whack-a-mole reactive enforcement to across-the-board proactive compliance.
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
Gov'ts should evolve from reactive whack-a-mole enforcement, where benefits of unlawful exploitation outweigh risk-adjusted costs of getting caught, with proactive pre-qualification that elevated and selects for good actors, demonstrated by measurable investments in workers (health care, training).
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 1:21 PM
Gov'ts should evolve from reactive whack-a-mole enforcement, where benefits of unlawful exploitation outweigh risk-adjusted costs of getting caught, with proactive pre-qualification that elevated and selects for good actors, demonstrated by measurable investments in workers (health care, training).
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
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.
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
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 Aaron Rosenthal
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.
#CoolJobAlert Come work with me! This is an incredible opportunity to design a communications strategy aimed at helping working Minnesotans thrive! Feel free to reach out with any questions!
northstarpolicy.org/hiring/
northstarpolicy.org/hiring/
We’re Hiring! North Star Policy Action seeks a Communications Director | North Star Policy Action
northstarpolicy.org
July 8, 2025 at 7:08 PM
#CoolJobAlert Come work with me! This is an incredible opportunity to design a communications strategy aimed at helping working Minnesotans thrive! Feel free to reach out with any questions!
northstarpolicy.org/hiring/
northstarpolicy.org/hiring/
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
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...
My commentary in the @startribune.com highlights a lower profile piece of the Big Horrible Bill: a 10-year moratorium on state AI regulation. With AI capacity advancing rapidly, we need policies that align worker welfare with AI innovation, NOT a full ban on state reform.
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 12:57 PM
My commentary in the @startribune.com highlights a lower profile piece of the Big Horrible Bill: a 10-year moratorium on state AI regulation. With AI capacity advancing rapidly, we need policies that align worker welfare with AI innovation, NOT a full ban on state reform.
Not a fan of the headline here. Trump's approval ratings in MN may be near "first-term highs" as the headline points out, but so are his disapproval ratings! At 54%, more Minnesotans disapprove of Trump today than in September of 2020, mid-pandemic and 2 months before he lost an election!
Minnesota Poll: Donald Trump’s approval rating at 45%, similar to first-term highs
The poll found strong support in the suburbs and in greater Minnesota for the president’s decision to deploy National Guard troops to quell immigration protests in L.A.
www.startribune.com
June 24, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Not a fan of the headline here. Trump's approval ratings in MN may be near "first-term highs" as the headline points out, but so are his disapproval ratings! At 54%, more Minnesotans disapprove of Trump today than in September of 2020, mid-pandemic and 2 months before he lost an election!
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
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
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
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!
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
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!
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
📉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/
Lots to celebrate for working Minnesotans. Unfortunately, that also means a lot to worry about, with pending federal cuts threatening so much of the progress made in the North Star State.
📈Minnesota just hit 3 million jobs for the first time in state history, as reported in our new State of Working Minnesota report. The biggest gains? Construction, education, and health care—sectors that fuel our economy and strengthen our communities. Read more: minnesotareformer.com/2025/06/05/m...
Minnesota’s workers are gaining. Trump and his henchmen could take it all away. • Minnesota Reformer
I’ve been a Minnesota sports fan my whole life, so I know false hope. Every year, at least one of our teams shows signs of championship form, only to see that promise wiped out in some new, heartbreak...
minnesotareformer.com
June 5, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Lots to celebrate for working Minnesotans. Unfortunately, that also means a lot to worry about, with pending federal cuts threatening so much of the progress made in the North Star State.
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
"We don’t have to choose between abundant housing and fair pay. In fact, the best way to build more homes quickly and sustainably is to restore the natural alliance between pro-housing advocates and the people who build housing." Our @aaronrosenthal.bsky.social together with @moreneighbors.org
"Let’s build more homes for our neighbors, AND make sure the people building those homes are paid fairly and treated with dignity. That’s how we solve our housing crisis and build the kind of communities we all deserve."
moreneighbors.org/2025/05/30/w...
moreneighbors.org/2025/05/30/w...
June 3, 2025 at 5:28 PM
"We don’t have to choose between abundant housing and fair pay. In fact, the best way to build more homes quickly and sustainably is to restore the natural alliance between pro-housing advocates and the people who build housing." Our @aaronrosenthal.bsky.social together with @moreneighbors.org
People who build homes 🤝 Abundant housing advocates.
These are natural allies, so it's been concerning to see them pitted against each other. I wrote this post for @moreneighbors.org to call for a pro-housing, pro-labor coalition to come together to build more and build right.
These are natural allies, so it's been concerning to see them pitted against each other. I wrote this post for @moreneighbors.org to call for a pro-housing, pro-labor coalition to come together to build more and build right.
Read some key take-aways from our most recent Member Social with CTUL where workers organize, educate and empower each other to fight for a voice in their workplaces and in their communities.
June 2, 2025 at 9:29 PM
People who build homes 🤝 Abundant housing advocates.
These are natural allies, so it's been concerning to see them pitted against each other. I wrote this post for @moreneighbors.org to call for a pro-housing, pro-labor coalition to come together to build more and build right.
These are natural allies, so it's been concerning to see them pitted against each other. I wrote this post for @moreneighbors.org to call for a pro-housing, pro-labor coalition to come together to build more and build right.
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
Rep. Stauber likes to say he's "fighting for our way of life." Casting the deciding vote for the GOP budget shows he's fighting for Wall Street execs in NYC and tech billionaires in San Fran, not working families in MN's 8th Congressional District.
www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/colu...
www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/colu...
Local View: Stauber could have killed bill that will hurt his constituents
From the column: "Whose way of life (is he fighting for)? The Wall Street executive in New York City? The tech billionaire in San Francisco? Or the working family on the Iron Range?"
www.duluthnewstribune.com
May 23, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Rep. Stauber likes to say he's "fighting for our way of life." Casting the deciding vote for the GOP budget shows he's fighting for Wall Street execs in NYC and tech billionaires in San Fran, not working families in MN's 8th Congressional District.
www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/colu...
www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/colu...
I would love to hear someone (and particularly MN's Republican Congressional delegation) explain how this proposal isn't a loss for everyone.
Fewer jobs. ✅
Less clean energy. ✅
More expensive electricity. ✅
Trillions of dollars in lost private investment. ✅
👏MAKE👏IT👏MAKE👏SENSE
Fewer jobs. ✅
Less clean energy. ✅
More expensive electricity. ✅
Trillions of dollars in lost private investment. ✅
👏MAKE👏IT👏MAKE👏SENSE
Oh look, another way Trump's budget bill hurts the working class. Stealing jobs from working people and increasing energy costs to funnel even more money to the rich.
www.cnn.com/2025/05/21/c...
www.cnn.com/2025/05/21/c...
The jobs and tax credits that could disappear if the ‘big, beautiful’ House GOP bill passes | CNN
House Republicans are proposing to gut energy savings and clean energy tax credits in President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful” tax bill — money that is creating thousands of jobs in GOP states.
www.cnn.com
May 21, 2025 at 5:27 PM
I would love to hear someone (and particularly MN's Republican Congressional delegation) explain how this proposal isn't a loss for everyone.
Fewer jobs. ✅
Less clean energy. ✅
More expensive electricity. ✅
Trillions of dollars in lost private investment. ✅
👏MAKE👏IT👏MAKE👏SENSE
Fewer jobs. ✅
Less clean energy. ✅
More expensive electricity. ✅
Trillions of dollars in lost private investment. ✅
👏MAKE👏IT👏MAKE👏SENSE
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
The GOP Congress is planning a massive bill that will give huge tax cuts to the rich while taking health care and food from the poor. And it has lots of other bad ideas, like prohibiting states from regulating AI. Our research shows why this is such a bad idea.
northstarpolicy.org/progress-and...
northstarpolicy.org/progress-and...
Progress and Protection: Aligning AI Innovation with Worker Welfare | North Star Policy Action
northstarpolicy.org
May 14, 2025 at 3:55 PM
The GOP Congress is planning a massive bill that will give huge tax cuts to the rich while taking health care and food from the poor. And it has lots of other bad ideas, like prohibiting states from regulating AI. Our research shows why this is such a bad idea.
northstarpolicy.org/progress-and...
northstarpolicy.org/progress-and...
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
I love paying taxes and knowing they’re helping people get medical care, food, and help with housing. Do we think “Make taxes great again” could be a thing?
This left graph showing tax breaks in terms of dollar amounts vs percentages illustrates how expensive it is to cut taxes for the wealthy. Meanwhile, the small breaks given to the poorest 40% are dwarfed by cuts to social programs.
April 24, 2025 at 4:59 PM
I love paying taxes and knowing they’re helping people get medical care, food, and help with housing. Do we think “Make taxes great again” could be a thing?
Reposted by Aaron Rosenthal
This left graph showing tax breaks in terms of dollar amounts vs percentages illustrates how expensive it is to cut taxes for the wealthy. Meanwhile, the small breaks given to the poorest 40% are dwarfed by cuts to social programs.
April 24, 2025 at 3:37 PM
This left graph showing tax breaks in terms of dollar amounts vs percentages illustrates how expensive it is to cut taxes for the wealthy. Meanwhile, the small breaks given to the poorest 40% are dwarfed by cuts to social programs.
The Trump administration wants to take health care away from working people to cut taxes for the rich.
Minnesota then has a choice: play into Trump's hands and cut Medical Assistance. Or (and I know this may sound silly) KEEP TAXES ON THE RICH IN THE SAME PLACE SO PEOPLE STILL HAVE HEALTH CARE.
Minnesota then has a choice: play into Trump's hands and cut Medical Assistance. Or (and I know this may sound silly) KEEP TAXES ON THE RICH IN THE SAME PLACE SO PEOPLE STILL HAVE HEALTH CARE.
The Trump Administration and Republicans in Congress are planning a Reverse Robin Hood: stealing health care from the working class to give tax cuts to the rich. Our policy brief shows what’s at risk, and how Minnesota should respond. northstarpolicy.org/medical-assi...
Medical Assistance or Millionaire Tax Cuts: Minnesota Has a Choice | North Star Policy Action
northstarpolicy.org
April 23, 2025 at 8:23 PM
The Trump administration wants to take health care away from working people to cut taxes for the rich.
Minnesota then has a choice: play into Trump's hands and cut Medical Assistance. Or (and I know this may sound silly) KEEP TAXES ON THE RICH IN THE SAME PLACE SO PEOPLE STILL HAVE HEALTH CARE.
Minnesota then has a choice: play into Trump's hands and cut Medical Assistance. Or (and I know this may sound silly) KEEP TAXES ON THE RICH IN THE SAME PLACE SO PEOPLE STILL HAVE HEALTH CARE.
Post in which I reimagine pitching the DOGE cuts as a bad movie. If only that were true....
April 16, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Post in which I reimagine pitching the DOGE cuts as a bad movie. If only that were true....