Minnesota Public Radio chose 25 people from several hundred applicants and invited them to participate in year-long study and discussion project. The plan is to tackle some of the biggest issues confronting the new president, examine the arguments for and against reforms and meet in MPR's UBS forum for recorded discussions with Midmorning host Kerri Miller.

Our news fellows come to us from many different kinds of life experiences. They're executives, educators, students and even an Episcopal priest. We have émigrés from Kenya, Somalia, South Africa, Canada, as well as some native Minnesotans.

Discussions

First discussion: Obama's health care plan -

Books:

• "Critical: What We Can Do About the Health Care Crisis," by Tom Daschle
• "Healthcare, Guaranteed: A Simple, Secure Solution for America," by Ezekiel Emanuel

Upcoming discussions:

• "Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation," by Drew Westen

Meet the News Fellows

(Mouse over each portrait to learn more about each news fellow)