Pat Kessler

Pat Kessler will be doing his "Reality Check" segments every week until the election in November.

Pat has made his name as Minnesota's "go-to" political reporter, covering politics and government at WCCO-TV for more than 30 years. He's also a popular radio personality specializing in politics, sports, pop culture, and news.

Pat has won numerous state and national journalism awards for his work, including three regional Emmys for his Reality Check political franchise.

In 2015, he was honored for lifetime achievement in broadcasting and inducted into the Silver Circle Hall of Fame by the Midwest chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Pat studied English and journalism at Macalester College in St. Paul.

Before joining WCCO-TV, Pat was a reporter for Minnesota Public Radio, and a technical assistant for "A Prairie Home Companion" with Garrison Keillor.

VITALS Joined WCCO: 1984 Hometown: Hawley, Minnesota Alma Mater: Macalester College

FAVORITES Music: My playlist right now: Bob Dylan, Keith Richards, Muddy Waters, Tom Waits, Aaron Copeland, Jack White, Black Keys, Blind Boys of Alabama, John Coltrane, Lucinda Williams, Tom Morello, Chrissie Hynde, George Jones, G Love, James Brown, Pink Floyd, Allison Krause, Sharon Jones, Ray Wylie Hubbard Movie: Coen Brothers movies (especially O Brother, Where Art Thou); The Godfather, parts I & II TV Show: Perry Mason; Veep; Fargo Author/Book: William Butler Yeats; TS Eliot; David McCullough; Stephen King; Charles Frazier ; Carl Sandburg, Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years Local Restaurant: The Lexington Hidden MN Gem: Lake Pepin Bluff Country Historical Figure: Teddy Roosevelt; Winston Churchill Famous Minnesotan: Bob Dylan Quote: "Simplify and focus." Holiday: Opening Day in baseball Facebook or Twitter? Twitter Cats or Dogs? Dogs Beatles or Rolling Stones? Both Phone Call or Text Message? Text Mac or PC? Mac Coffee or Tea? Coffee Morning Person or Night Person? Both East Coast or West Coast? East Star Trek or Star Wars? Star Wars