Middle Ground: Dalia al-Aqidi on Fixing Minneapolis vs Ilhan Omar
Middle Ground: Dalia al-Aqidi on Fixing Minneapolis vs Ilhan Omar  
Podcast: The Middle Ground Mic
Published On: Fri Jan 30 2026
Description: Send us Fan MailMinneapolis 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 One simple way to protect your documents — this fireproof bag: https://amzn.to/4lQwWto🎙️ Gear used on the show Camera• DJI Osmo Pocket 3 (For outdoor vlogging & Episodes)https://amzn.to/4rkviS0Microphone• Shure MV6 USB Microphonehttps://amzn.to/4rXhPjUHeadphones • Shure Professional Studio Headphones   https://amzn.to/3OP9UXw🚨🚨Want to support The Middle Ground Mic and keep investigations going?🚨🚨BuyMeACoffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/tmgm(These affiliate links help support the show at no extra cost.)