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The lawyers on the various networks are making a point that the Manhattan venue will not permit a fair trial for former President Donald Trump because of the overwhelming Democratic Party majority in the district. It seems to me they are missing the argument. I suspect most judges will want to steer away from an inquiry into the politics of potential jurors as a matter of policy. There is, nonetheless, a powerful argument to change the venue of this case. The chief prosecuting attorney, Alvin Bragg, ran for office making the promise to voters that, if elected, he would "get Trump." Bragg was elected by a substantial majority. It seems beyond question that former President Trump cannot get a fair trial in a venue populated by a large majority of residents eligible for jury duty who elected their district attorney on his promise to get Trump. The voters — potential jurors — in Manhattan are part of the scheme to use the prosecutorial power to nullify opposing political voices.

On this basis a change of venue is a basic right of Trump's. The second question remaining is whether Bragg's pre-election conduct should disqualify him and his office on ethical grounds from prosecuting the charges against Trump.

Phil Cole, Eden Prairie

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Much was published over the weekend in printed, televised and social media about Trump's indictment. Perhaps most notable were his chances of winning the Republican nomination over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, which had grown to 26 percentage points from 8 points, depending on which poll you prefer to use. However, the same poll showed Biden besting Trump 45% to 43% among registered voters.

On the flip side, can the U.S. take four more years of such an incredibly inept administration as President Joe Biden's? Even my Democrat friends find it difficult to defend his policies on immigration, energy, inflation and the huge debacle in Afghanistan. Add to that his senseless comments about Saudi Arabia and most recently Israel, our closest ally in the Mideast. Is it any wonder OPEC is cutting back on production again? Indeed, a recent poll among Democrat voters indicated about half prefer Biden not to run again.

America has lost so much prestige on the world stage in the last two administrations, I doubt we could take four more years of Trump or Biden again. We are so devoid of good leadership in this country it's truly pathetic. Hopefully Americans will come to this realization well before we choose our candidates for the next election.

Steve Hayden, Eden Prairie

President Joe Biden's Minnesota visit this week focused on "investing in America" ("Biden touts investment in Minn.," April 4). This came after his recent trip to Canada to discuss sourcing the critical minerals we need for clean energy technologies, not here, but from our neighbor to the north.

Sourcing these minerals from allies ignores the vast supply of metals right here in Minnesota. Our environmental standards are among the most stringent in the world, and we're home to thousands of skilled union workers eager to responsibly extract the minerals needed for a clean energy future.

In January, the administration took a massive portion of our country's nickel, cobalt and copper resources off the table by enacting a 20-year mining ban in northeast Minnesota. It's a slap in the face to the region to see this administration go out of their way to throw taxpayer dollars at Canadian mining projects within months of the ban.

If President Biden truly aims for continued investment in our country, his administration should allow proposed mining projects in Minnesota to be fairly evaluated so we can invest in and strengthen our communities through mining within our own borders the same way the Iron Range has already been doing for 140 years.

Ryan Sistad, Duluth

The writer is executive director, Better In Our Back Yard.

Both the Minnesota House and Senate have wisely included the requirement for teaching civics (as well as classes on personal finance) in Minnesota's schools ("Bills address big school funding gaps," front page, March 30). Attendance in the civics classes will be a requirement for graduation. These provisions are contained in the bills delivering a significant amount of new funding for our public schools. As the conference committees resolve the differences in the two bills, three things should be kept in mind.

Tom Berg, Minneapolis

The writer is a former state legislator and U.S. Attorney.

The Star Tribune editorial praising the advancement in women's sports shown by Sunday's NCAA tournament was ironic ("A Madness Milestone," April 4). While acknowledging the increased TV viewership and improved facilities for players, the Editorial Board stepped deep into the poo-poo (thanks, Nancy Pelosi) of racism and misogyny that followed. Angel Reese, a Black athlete, made John Cena's "you can't see me" sign, a taunt the editorial said we could have done without. Caitlin Clark, a white athlete, made the exact same taunt on March 26 during Iowa's romp over Louisville in the Elite Eight, without being tarred as a poor sport.

Which raises the question of why trash talk and, yes, taunting isn't considered appropriate in women's sports. I have yet to see anyone clutch their pearls when men engage in the same.

These women are fierce competitors whose incandescence is not diminished by smack talk, but it is diminished by racism and misogyny.