>> "ALMANAC" IS A PRODUCTION OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.

>> Eric: COMING UP ON "ALMANAC," IT IS THE FINAL FRIDAY, AND ALL FOUR LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ARE IN THE HOUSE.

PLUS A PREVIEW OF ART-A-WHIRL AND A LOOK AT SPRING FLOODING, DROUGHT, AND STORMS.

PLENTY OF POLITICS THROUGHOUT THE HOUR.

MARY LAHAMMER'S TRACKING STUFF AT THE CAPITOL.

>> Mary: MOMS AND DADS AND STUDENTS DEMANDING ACTION SHOWED UP IN THE FINAL DAYS OF SESSION, URGING ON A GUN CONTROL BILL THAT WAS LEFT OUT OF A GLOBAL DEAL.

[ BANGING GAVEL ] >> HOLD THE VOTE!

>> CHOOSE OUR KIDS AND NOT GUNS.

>> Mary: THAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC."

>> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH ITS MEMBER-OWNER COOPERATIVES AND CUSTOMERS.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH AND HELPING COMMUNITIES THRIVE.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

EDUCATION MINNESOTA: THE VOICE FOR PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

AND VANESSA DAYTON, THROUGH THE HEALTHCARE FOR ALL MINNESOTANS FUND, SUPPORTING ACCESSIBLE HEALTHCARE STATEWIDE.

>> ERIC: WELCOME TO "ALMANAC," WE HAVE A FULL HOUR AHEAD FOR YOU.

WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT SPRINGTIME WEATHER, PREVIEW A SPECIAL EVENT AT THIS WEEKEND'S ART-A-WHIRL, AND, OF COURSE, PLENTY OF POLITICS.

THE LEGISLATURE HAS JUST UNDER 53 HOURS LEFT TO PASS BILLS.

>> Cathy: YOU ARE RIGHT.

AND WE'RE GOING TO START RIGHT THERE TONIGHT.

MARY LAHAMMER HAS BEEN TRACKING THE ACTION ALL WEEK.

INCLUDING HEATED EXCHANGES AND A SIT-IN ON THE HOUSE FLOOR OVER GUNS.

HERE'S WHERE THINGS STAND HEADING INTO THE FINAL WEEKEND.

>> HOLD THE VOTE!

>> HOLD... >> THE VOTE!

[ CHANTING AND CLAPPING ] HOLD THE VOTE!

>> Mary: HOLD THE VOTE ON THE SENATE GUN CONTROL BILL IS WHAT CITIZENS DEMANDED OF THE HOUSE.

>> WE ARE GONNA USE ALL THE POWER WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT WE TAKE ACTION ON COMPREHENSIVE GUN VIOLENCE.

>> KEEP YOUR WORD!

>> Mary: THEY SAY SPEAKER DEMUTH MUST KEEP HER WORD TO THE ANNUNCIATION SCHOOL PARENTS THAT SHE OULD NOT BLOCK A BILL.

>> WHAT HAPPENED AT ANNUNCIATION WAS A TRAGIC, AND IF THAT DIDN'T CATCH OUR ATTENTION, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE WILL.

HOW MANY MORE LIVES DO WE HAVE TO BURY UNTIL WE REALIZE, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

[ Cheers ] >> Mary: WILL SHE RECEIVE IT?

IS THE HOUSE GOING TO DEAL WITH THAT BILL?

>> WELL, WHAT I SAID BEFORE, WE NEED BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD ON THINGS.

>> THE GUN BILLS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP IN COMMITTEE, THEY DID FAIL ON A PARTY-LINE VOTE IN THE COMMITTEE.

BUT THERE HAVE BEEN DEMOCRAT PRIORITIES, THAT WERE BROUGHT FORWARD IN BOTH COMMITTEE AND AS AN URGENCY ON THE FLOOR, SO THOSE VOTES HAVE ALREADY TAKEN PLACE.

>> SIX MONTHS FROM NOW, ALL OF MINNESOTA WILL HAVE A VOICE, THE ENTIRE LEGISLATURE IS ON THE BALLOT, AND WE WILL REMEMBER WHO STOOD UP FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND WHO RAN AND HID.

[ Cheers and applause ] >> Mary: THE ROUPS PUSHING FOR A VIOLENCE PREVENTION VOTE DELIVERED 8,000 PETITIONS ON TO THE HOUSE FLOOR AND UP TO THE SPEAKER'S DESK.

>> THIS IS THE ISSUE THAT IS GOING TO RULE THE END OF SESSION.

>> Mary: WE SAW SUPPORTERS BY THE DOZENS STREAM INTO THE GOVERNOR'S RECEPTION OOM WHERE THE GOVERNOR'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE EXTENDED HIS SUPPORT IN HIS LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> IT MAKES ME WONDER, WHY DON'T YOU WANT TO VOTE ON THIS?

AND I THINK WE ALL KNOW, IF THIS BILL COMES TO THE HOUSE FLOOR, IT WILL PASS.

>> OUR MINNEAPOLIS COMMUNITY IS GRIEVING.

HOUR MINNESOTA COMMUNITY IS GRIEVING.

AND THEY WILL NOT ACCEPT THE ANSWER THAT THIS IS NORMAL.

THAT THIS IS INEVITABLE.

IT IS NOT!

>> THIS IS THE ONLY TIME I'M AWARE OF THAT SOMEONE THREATENING A PROTEST, THREATENING A SIT-IN TO GET A VOTE, FILLIBUSTERS THEIR OWN BILL.

>> UNTIL WE HOLD THE VOTE, WE WILL SIT.

[ BANGING GAVEL ] >> HOLD THE VOTE!

HOLD THE VOTE!

>> Mary: MEMBERS.

>> HOLD HE VOTE!

HOLD THE OTE!

HOLD THE VOTE!

>> I RECOGNIZE THE MEMBER FROM ANOKA, REPRESENTATIVE NISKA.

>> I MOVE THE HOUSE DO NOW ADJOURN.

>> REPRESENTATIVE NISKA MOVES THAT THE HOUSE O NOW ADJOURN.

THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY.

THE MOTION PREVAILS AND THE HOUSE STANDS ADJOURNED UNTIL 12:00 NOON, SATURDAY, MAY 16th, 2026.

>> HOLD THE VOTE!

>> Mary: THE HOUSE VOTE FAILED TO BRING UP THE BILL SO A SIT-IN BEGAN.

[ SINGING ] LYRICS: I JUST MIGHT HAVE A PROBLEM THAT YOU UNDERSTAND.

WE ALL NEED SOMEBODY TO LEAN ON.

♪ ♪ >> Mary: THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME PROTESTS AND A SIT-IN HAVE HAPPENED AT THE CAPITOL ON THIS ISSUE.

THEN STATE REPRESENTATIVE ERIN MAYE QUADE, NOW A SENATOR, STAGED A SIT-IN FOR INACTION ON GUN CONTROL.

DFL REPRESENTATIVE ERIN MAYE QUADE BROUGHT A LOT OF ATTENTION TO THE ISSUE BY STAGING A 24-HOUR SIT-IN ON THE HOUSE FLOOR PROTESTING THE LACK OF ACTION ON GUN CONTROL BILLS IN THE HOUSE.

ONE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER JOINED HER, BUT HE CROWD THINNED WHEN THE CAMERAS EFT.

>> TODAY I HAD FOUR DEMOCRAT LEGISLATORS, SOME EXISTING NOW, AND SOME PREVIOUS THAT THANKED ME.

>> Mary: THE GLOBAL DEAL CUTS LICENSE TAB FEES WHICH SENATE REPUBLICANS WANTED.

INCLUDES MORE THAN A BILLION-DOLLAR BONDING BILL AND A RESCUE PLAN FOR THE STATE'S SAFETY NET HOSPITAL, HCMC.

>> THIS IS A BIG DAY FOR HCMC AND MAKING SURE THAT THE HOSPITAL IS AROUND FOR YEARS TO COME.

>> Mary: THE AGREEMENT ALSO FUNDS I.T.

MODERNIZATION AND MEMORIALS FOR SLAIN SPEAKER MELISSA HORTMAN.

>> THIS WAS A VERY IMPORTANT THING FOR OUR CAUCUS, SPEAKER HORTMAN WAS THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL SPEAKER IN MINNESOTA'S HISTORY.

>> Mary: AND THE GOVERNOR SIGNED A BIPARTISAN BILL TO CREATE AN OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL TO STOP FRAUD IN THE STATE.

>> THE IDEA OF GETTING A EAL AND GETTING A DEAL ON IME AND GETTING A DEAL THAT ALL SIDES ARE PROUD OF AND THAT MINNESOTANS ARE GOING TO SEE BENEFIT FROM, MINNESOTA WORKING BACK TOWARDS THE STATE THAT WORKS MOTTO.

>> CATHY: IT IS A TRADITION THAT DATES BACK DECADES.

THE FINAL FRIDAY OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, ALL FOUR LEGISLATIVE LEADERS LEAVE THE STATE CAPITOL AND TRAVEL TO THE "ALMANAC" STUDIOS HERE IN ST.

PAUL'S LOWERTOWN.

LET'S GET AN UPDATE ON HOW THE DETAILS OF THE DEAL ARE SHAPING UP.

REPUBLICAN HOUSE SPEAKER LISA DEMUTH HAILS FROM COLD SPRING.

HOUSE DFL LEADER ZACK STEPHENSON, IN HIS FIRST YEAR OF LEADERSHIP, IS FROM COON RAPIDS.

DFL SENATE MAJORITY LEADER ERIN MURPHY CALLS ST.

PAUL HOME.

AND REPUBLICAN SENATE MINORITY LEADER MARK JOHNSON FROM EAST GRAND FORKS ROUNDS OUT THE GROUP.

WE'RE HONORED THAT ALL OF YOU ARE HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPENDING FRIDAY WITH US.

>> IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: MADAM SPEAKER, MARY LAHAMMER ALLUDED TO THIS IN THE STORY THAT WE JUST SAW, DID YOU MAKE A PROMISE TO THE ANNUNCIATION PARENTS THAT THIS BILL WOULD COME UP FOR A VOTE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR?

>> I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE ANNUNCIATION FAMILIES, BOTH A FAMILY THAT LOST A CHILD AND OTHER FAMILIES.

WHAT I'VE SAID FROM THE VERY BEGINNING IS THERE'S A PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH.

BILLS ARE INTRODUCED, THEY WILL BE REFERRED TO COMMITTEE, HEARD IN COMMITTEE, AND AS THEY PASS, THEY WILL MOVE THROUGH.

IF THEY DON'T PASS THAT COMMITTEE, THEY STALL OUT BECAUSE OF THE TIE, AND I HAVE HELD TIGHT TO MY WORD ON THAT.

YOU'VE ALSO SEEN IN MARCH, DEMOCRATS HAD BILLS THAT FAILED IN COMMITTEE, THEY WERE BROUGHT FORWARD AND FAILED, AND URGENCIES DECLARED ON THE FLOOR, BOTH IN MARCH AND THEN AGAIN YESTERDAY FOR THESE LARGE GUN BILLS.

NOW, THE SENATE SENT OVER OMNIBUS BILLS, INCLUDING GUN PROVISIONS ND OTHER PROVISIONS.

>> Cathy: COULD YOU VOTE ON THE SENATE FILE?

>> WE ARE NOT VOTING ON LARGE OMNIBUS BILLS.

WE'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR.

INDIVIDUAL THINGS ARE MOVING THROUGH, AND THOSE VOTES HAVE ALREADY BEEN TAKEN MULTIPLE TIMES IN COMMITTEE AND ON THE FLOOR.

>> Cathy: SO IT SOUNDS LIKE NO PROMISE WAS MADE?

>> NO PROMISE TO ACTUALLY GET THINGS ALL THE WAY.

THAT THINGS WOULD MOVE THROUGH THE PROCESS, ABSOLUTELY.

AND I'VE KEPT THAT PROMISE.

>> Eric: YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS?

>> WELL, THE SPEAKER SPEAKER MENTIONED IT'S A PROCESS, PART OF THE PROCESS IS WHEN THE SENATE SENDS US A BILL, THE SPEAKER REFERS IT TO A COMMITTEE, AND THE BILL HAS BEEN IN THE POSSESSION OF THE HOUSE FOR NINE DAYS, OR TEN DAYS, THE SPEAKER'S HAD IT AND HAS NOT SENT IT TO COMMITTEE.

THAT'S NOT PART OF THE PROCESS.

SPEAKER'S HANGING ON TO THAT BILL.

BUT FUNDAMENTALLY, MINNESOTANS DON'T WANT PROCESS.

THEY WANT A VOTE AND, MORE THAN THAT, THEY WANT AN END TO THIS GUN VIOLENCE.

WE CAN DO SOMETHING THIS YEAR, WE ARE ONE VOTE AWAY FROM SENDING THIS BILL TO THE GOVERNOR AND MAKING MEANINGFUL ACTION ON GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION, TAKING THESE WEAPONS OF WAR OFF THE STREET, ALL WE NEED IS THAT ONE VOTE.

>> Eric: IF IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR FOR A VOTE, WOULD IT BE 67-67, A TIE AND DEFEATED.

>> HE URGENCY TAKES 90 VOTES AND THAT'S WHAT YOU SAW LAST NIGHT WITH THE BILL THAT WAS DEBATED OVER SEVEN HOURS.

WE SAW THAT VOTE, 67-67.

IN ORDER TO BRING THAT BILL FORWARD, IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN 90 VOTES AND THOSE VOTES WERE NOT HERE.

>> Eric: YOU GOT A BILL THROUGH THE SENATE.

>> WE DID.

IT WAS COMPREHENSIVE.

IT MEETS THE MOMENT.

TALKING ABOUT SCHOOL SAFETY, MENTAL HEALTH CARE, AND WEAPONS OF WAR.

IT IS TIME FOR US TO SHOW MINNESOTANS THAT WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT TAKING CTION.

TOO OFTEN AFTER A SHOOTING LIKE ANNUNCIATION, WE MAKE COMMITMENTS AND THEN WE WALK AWAY FROM THEM.

WE WERE NOT GOING TO DO THAT IN THE MINNESOTA SENATE.

>> Eric: COULD THIS SCUTTLE THE WHOLE DEAL, SENATOR JOHNSON?

>> WELL, I DON'T THINK THIS WILL SCUTTLE THE WHOLE DEAL.

THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT MOVING PARTS OUT THERE.

I WILL SAY, THERE ARE SOME ISSUES THAT ARE ARISING PRESENTLY.

WE HAD A NEGOTIATED DEAL ON THE BONDING SIDE OF THINGS, THAT DID A NUMBER OF THINGS, WITH TAB FEES, A NICE BONDING PROPOSAL ITSELF.

AND THEN ALSO SOME ANTI-FRAUD LANGUAGE IN THERE.

HOWEVER, THE HOUSE IS THROWING SOME SAND IN THE GEARS THERE AND WE MAY NOT SEE THE BONDING BILL AT THE END OF THE DAY.

>> Eric: REALLY?

THAT WOULD BE A BIG X MARK ON THE SESSION.

>> I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS WORK WILL GET ONE.

ALL OF US SITTING HERE, WE'VE SIGNED A DEAL, ALONG WITH THE GOVERNOR, AND WE WILL GET OUR WORK DONE.

THE ISSUE IN THE BONDING RIGHT NOW IS TO DEAL WITH THE CAR TAB FEES AND WHEN THOSE WILL COME FORWARD.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY AGREED UPON THAT THOSE WILL BE STARTING JANUARY 1st.

NOW THERE'S PUSHBACK BY ACTUALLY THE DEMOCRAT THAT'S ON THAT BONDING COMMITTEE TO NOT SIGN OFF WHERE EVERYONE ELSE HAS ALREADY SIGNED OFF ON THAT.

AND SO THAT WILL STILL BE WORKED OUT.

WE HAVE THREE DOLLARS LEFT.

WE HAVE TWO DAYS IN SESSION.

OUR CONFERENCE COMMITTEES ARE STILL WORKING.

I BELIEVE THE WORK WILL BE DONE.

>> Cathy: I'M CURIOUS, I WANT TO HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION ON THIS BEFORE WE CIRCLE BACK.

WE'LL GO FOR BONDING.

BUT I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT THIS.

I CAN HEAR SOME VIEWERS SAYING, MADAM SPEAKER, YOU PASSED A BILL TO INCREASE SAFETY FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS BUT NOT SCHOOL KIDS.

HOW DO YOU SQUARE THAT?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE.

IN THAT AGREEMENT IS ALSO FUNDING, $21 MILLION OF FUNDING FOR SCHOOL KIDS.

AND THAT WILL BE ANONYMOUS REPORTING SYSTEM, IT WILL BE MOBILE CRISIS TEAMS, AND SCHOOL-LINKED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.

OUTSIDE OF THOSE ISSUES, WE'VE ALREADY PASSED SOME SOCIAL MEDIA PROTECTIONS TOO.

THESE ARE GOOD THINGS FOR SCHOOL SAFETY.

WE PASSED THIS LARGER BILL FOR LEGISLATOR SAFETY AT THE CAPITOL.

>> Cathy: RIGHT.

>> GUNS NEVER CAME UP IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

SO HERE YOU HAVE HALF OF THE LEGISLATORS SAYING, WE'LL ONLY DO SCHOOL SAFETY IF WE TALK ABOUT GUNS.

BUT, YET, FOR OURSELVES WE WON'T EVEN BRING THAT CONTROVERSY UP.

>> Eric: YOU WERE GOING TO SAY SOMETHING BEFORE WE MOVED ON.

>> Cathy: I'M SORRY.

>> OH, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

ON TAB FEES, WE JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE WOULD WAIT.

THE AGENCY HAS MADE CLEAR THAT THE TAB FREE BREAK CAN START ON OCTOBER 1st.

IF MINNESOTANS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS AFFORDABILITY CRISIS BECAUSE GAS PRICES ARE THROUGH THE ROOF, BECAUSE OF THE WAR IN IRAQ, THE COST OF CARS ARE THROUGH THE ROOF BECAUSE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TARIFFS, AND WE CAN HAVE THE TAB FEES START ON OCTOBER 1st, WHY WOULDN'T WE DO THAT?

WHY WOULD WE WAIT UNTIL JANUARY 1st?

>> Eric: WHAT'S THE SENATE'S POSITION ON THIS?

>> FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, WE'VE NEGOTIATED ON THIS, IT WOULD BE JANUARY 1st, BECAUSE POLL POLICYWISE IT MAKES GOOD SENSE ON THAT.

I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SEEING FROM LEADER STEPHENSON IS RUNNING AWAY FROM POLITICS OF HAVING THE HIGHEST TAB FEES IN THE NATION, I THINK THAT'S A PROBLEM THEY'RE TRYING TO RUN AWAY WITH, SO ON OCTOBER 1, THEY CAN GO TO THE DOORS AND SAY, LOOK WHAT WE DID, HOWEVER, THEY'RE THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY FOR RAISING TAB FEES.

>> THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION AS WE REACHED THIS CONCLUSION, AND AN OPEN QUESTION ABOUT WHEN IT SHOULD START, WE WANTED TO KNOW WHEN THE AGENCY BELIEVED THE TAB FEE HOLIDAY COULD BEGIN.

WE'VE LEARNED IT CAN BEGIN IN OCTOBER.

AND I THINK IF WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT PROVIDING PEOPLE BELIEF FOR AFFORDABILITY MEASURES, WE SHOULD TART AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> Eric: THERE'S 254 MILLION THAT WE'D HAVE TO BACKFILL FROM THE GENERAL FUND BECAUSE THERE'S A HOLE THEN IN THE TAB FEE COLLECTION.

>> YEAH, THERE IS, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE, AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR SENATE REPUBLICANS REALLY FIGHTING FOR THIS, FOR MINNESOTANS, BECAUSE WITHOUT SENATE REPUBLICANS, THIS NEVER WOULD HAVE COME TO THE TABLE.

WITHOUT SENATE REPUBLICANS I THINK DEMOCRATS OULD HAVE BEEN FINE WITH ALLOWING THE TAB FEES TO BE SKY HIGH LIKE WE'VE SEEN THEM NOW.

IT WAS THE FIGHTING OF SENATE REPUBLICANS THAT GOT THIS DONE FOR MINNESOTA.

JANUARY 1st IS WHAT MAKES SENSE AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE LAST PERSON TO SIGN OFF ON THAT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT SO WE CAN WRAP THINGS UP.

>> Cathy: HENNEPIN COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER HAS A CASH INFUSION.

>> IT DOES.

>> Cathy: TO KEEP THE DOORS OPEN.

AND SOME RURAL HOSPITALS WILL BE GETTING SOME HELP AS WELL.

BUT IT'S A SHORT-TERM FIX.

AND I'M WONDERING, WHILE T'S A GOOD THING THAT MANY PEOPLE SAY THIS IS GOOD, BUT IT'S STILL A SHORT-TERM FIX.

WHAT ABOUT THE LONG TERM?

>> YOU KNOW, HCMC, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IS THE CANARY IN A COAL MINE, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH THE FEDERAL BUDGET BILL PASSED ON JULY 4th, SIGNED BY DONALD TRUMP, IT IS DESTABLIZING OUR EALTHCARE SYSTEM ACROSS THE STATE.

AND WE'VE GOT TO ADDRESS THAT AND FIX THAT.

HCMC IS THE LEADER OF THE DESTABILIZATION, WE NEED TO STABLIZE THEM, THE UNCOMPENSATED CARE POOL THAT IS AVAILABLE WILL ALSO HELP.

WE'RE STILL FIGHTING FOR 340B, WHICH WOULD BE A MAJOR INFUSION IF PUT INTO LAW AND ENFORCED, WOULD BE MORE MONEY FOR OUR HOSPITALS.

BUT THE WORK AHEAD FOR US IS TO FIGURE OUT NOW THAT THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESS AND DONALD TRUMP TOOK AWAY TOOLS THAT WE USE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FUNDING OUR HOSPITALS, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE HEALTHCARE ACROSS THE STATE.

THAT IS NOT A SHORT TERM, THAT IS A LONG-TERM PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE TO SOLVE.

>> Eric: ON THE FRAUD ISSUE, THERE'S ALL KINDS OF ACRIMONY DURING THE SESSION, FINGER POINTING AND BLAME.

SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE COME UP WITH QUITE A FEW APPROACHES TO REDUCE FRAUD OR END IT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO PASS REALLY PRODUCTIVE ANTI-FRAUD MEASURES THIS YEAR, AND I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE THAT BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR OF FRAUD IS UNACCEPTABLE.

EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR OF FRAUD IS A DOLLAR THAT SHOULD BE GOING TO A KID WITH AUTISM OR A HOMELESS PERSON OR A SENIOR WITH DISABILITIES, AND WHO STEALS FROM KIDS WITH AUTISM?

THE PEOPLE WHO DO THAT NEED TO BE IN JAIL AND THE PROGRAMS NEED TO BE MADE SECURE SO HIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

AND WE ARE ON THE CUSP OF TAKING A BIG STEP TO ASSURE BOTH THINGS HAPPEN.

>> THE SENATE DID A REALLY GREAT JOB OF ADVANCING AN INDEPENDENT OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL, AND WE'RE GLAD THAT GOT SIGNED INTO LAW.

BUT WE'RE ALSO WORKING IN COMMITTEES RIGHT NOW TO ADVANCE PROGRAM INTEGRITY TO PREVENT FRAUD AND TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAMS ARE STRONG.

>> AND PAYMENT WITHHOLDING IS SOMETHING THAT THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR THAT FROM THE SENATE.

THAT'S PART OF THAT FINAL DEAL.

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK BEING DONE ON THE FRAUD THAT'S BEEN ALLOWED TO GO ON FOR YEARS UNCHECKED HERE IN THE STATE.

GOING BACK TO-MARK, I WANT TO -- TO HCMC, I WANT TO ADD ONE THING TO THAT, IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALIZE, WE WERE ABLE TO INFUSE $205 MILLION INTO HCMC WITHOUT RAISING TAXES.

THAT HENNEPIN COUNTY BALLPARK TAX IS GOING TO SUNSET AS EXPECTED.

THERE WERE PROPOSALS OUT THERE THAT WANTED TO INCREASE IT.

WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO INCREASE TAXES ON HENNEPIN COUNTY OR ANY PLACE ELSE.

THE OTHER IMPORTANT PIECE OF THIS IS THERE'S A REQUIREMENT OF BETTER GOVERNANCE FOR HOW THAT OSPITAL IS BEING RUN.

YOU DON'T WALK INTO THE LEGISLATURE, EXPECT A HANDOUT WITHOUT CHANGING POLICY AND MAKING SOME EFINITE CHANGES IN THE WAY THINGS HAVE BEEN HANDLED.

>> ONE THING THAT YOU DID REALLY WELL, TOO, IN THAT IS BRINGING UP THE CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITALS AS WELL TOORGS.

>> YES.

>> AND THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS DID A REALLY NICE JOB OF FIGHTING FOR THOSE CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITALS ACROSS MINNESOTA THAT ARE STRUGGLING AS WELL.

AND NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE OF HR 1 BUT BECAUSE OF A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN BUILDING UP OVER THE YEARS AND ESPECIALLY COMPOUNDED WITH THINGS LIKE THE PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE THAT THEY'RE SEEING, ESST THAT HAS MADE MANAGE MANAGE THEIR WORK STAFF VERY VERY DIFFICULT, HE HOSPITALS.

>> I WANT TO I GIVE A BIG SHOUT-OUT TO SENATOR MELISSA WIKLUND WHO PUT TOGETHER A COMPREHENSIVE PROPOSAL THAT IS THE FOUNDATION FOR THIS WORK.

>> Cathy: I NOTICE THAT THERE IS NO MONEY, NO METRO SURGE AID MONEY FOR BUSINESSES IN MINNEAPOLIS, St.

PAUL, OR GREATER MINNESOTA.

WHAT WAS THE ROADBLOCK?

>> THE ROADBLOCK IS THAT ALL SORTS OF MINNESOTA BUSINESSES ARE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW.

AND, SO, THE SENATE DID PASS A PACKAGE BY BOBBY JOE CHAMPION BUT IT WAS A VERY NARROW PACKAGE THAT LOOKED AT MINNEAPOLIS AND St.

PAUL.

BUT THERE IS -- >> IT WAS A STATEWIDE PACKAGE.

>> BUT THERE ARE ISSUES, MOST OF IT WENT TO MINNEAPOLIS AND St.

PAUL, I THINK WE HAVE ISSUES ACROSS THE STATE N MINNESOTA THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS, IT WAS TOO TARGETED, TOO NARROW, BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL MINNESOTA BUSINESSES CAN GROW AND PROSPER IN THIS STATE AND WE JUST DIDN'T SEE THAT IN THIS PACKAGE.

>> BUT THAT'S ONE THE FRUSTRATIONS OF THIS SESSION, THERE WASN'T AN ADEQUATE RESPONSE TO OPERATION METRO SURGE, EVEN ON ISSUES THERE'S BROAD AGREEMENT AMONG MINNESOTANS, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO, FOR EXAMPLE, TO BAN I.C.E.

FROM OPERATING IN SCHOOLS, I THINK IT'S BARBARIC FOR I.C.E.

TO USE CHILDREN AS A WAY TO GET TO THEIR PARENTS AND WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PASS SOMETHING TO DEAL WITH THAT, WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PASS SOMETHING TO ALLOW CITIZENS TO VINDICATE THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS WHEN AGENT WERE BANGING DOWN THEIR DOORS AND GOING IN WITHOUT A WARRANT OR DOING OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING AND VERY FRUSTRATING THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GET THINGS DONE ON THOSE BASIC IDEAS.

>> Eric: CAN'T EAT RAFFLERS CATCH A BREAK FROM YOU GUYS?

[ Laughter ] >> AREN'T WE MISSING A MEAT RAFFLE RIGHT NOW?

>> WE JUST WANT TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT -- THE VALUE OF THE MEAT RAFFLE SINCE MEAT IS SO EXPENSIVE RIGHT NOW, APPARENTLY THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A STUMBLING BLOCK.

>> Eric: UP TO $200?

WHAT ON EARTH -- WHY IS THIS AN ISSUE?

>> WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT UP TOMORROW.

>> Eric: YOU ARE?

>> YEAH, WE ARE.

>> Eric: STANDALONE OR PART OF AN OMNIBUS BILL?

>> STANDALONE.

>> SEE THAT'S WHAT WE LIKE COMING INTO THE HOUSE, SINGLE-SUBJECT BILLS MAKING THEIR WAY OVER.

>> Eric: ARE YOU GUYS PROUD OF THE TRANSPARENCY LEVEL OR COULD IT BE BETTER?

>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M REALLY PROUD OF THIS YEAR, WE DID PASS A LOT OF STANDALONE BILLS IN THE HOUSE, I THINK THAT WAS A GOOD THING, WE WERE ABLE TO DO A LOT OF GOOD BIPARTISAN WORK.

>> Eric: I HEAR GRUMBLING FROM LOBBYISTS THAT TRANSPARENCY COULD BE BETTER.

>> OH, IT COULD BE.

WE HAVE SLOWLY MOVED TO TOO MUCH OF THE WORK HAPPENING AT THE END OF SESSION BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AND WE HAVE TO CHANGE THAT.

AND I HOPE WITH THE NEXT ELECTION WE COME IN WITH NEW MEMBERS, A NEW ADMINISTRATION, AND WE DECIDE TOGETHER THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT THE WORK BACK IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE IN CONFERENCE COMMITTEES WHERE IT BELONGS.

>> DOES THIS MEAN WE CAN'T DO OUR WEDNESDAY MORNING WALKS, THOUGH?

>> WE HAVE A WEDNESDAY MORNING R WEDNESDAY MORNING WALK.

AT AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION.

>> Eric: MADAM SPEAKER, YOU'RE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

>> I AM.

>> Eric: IS THERE ANY WAY YOU WILL STEP BACK AND RUN AGAIN FOR COLD SPRING?

>> I WILL NOT.

I WILL RUN FOR MINNESOTA.

>> Eric: ALL RIGHT.

AND ANYBODY -- THE REST OF YOU ARE COMING BACK?

>> I HOPE SO.

>> WELL, WE'VE GOT AN ELECTION.

>> Cathy: THE RETIREMENT SPEECHES ARE ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THOSE THINGS AT THE END -- >> Eric: WHO WOULD VOTE OUT A LEADER.

YOU GUYS GOT TO BE SAFE.

>> YOU SEE IT ALL OVER THE NATION.

>> KNOCK ON SOME WOOD NOW.

JINX US.

>> Eric: BEST OF LUCK.

>> Cathy: GOOD LUCK.

>> Eric: IN THE CLOSE HERE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> 52 HOURS.

>> MR.

SPEAKER!

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ] MR.

SPEAKER!

[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ] >> MOTION PREVAILS.

>> AS IF THAT WASN'T ENOUGH ACTIVITY FOR ONE DAY, HOUSE SPEAKER DAVE JENNINGS ELD A PRESS CONFERENCE WHERE HE ANNOUNCED THAT HE WASN'T A CANDIDATE, NOT FOR GOVERNOR, NOT EVEN FOR HIS OWN SEAT IN THE HOUSE.

THE STUNNED MEDIA CALLED IT A BOMBSHELL AND BOMBER DAVE JENNINGS IS WITH US TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT IT.

DAVE JENNINGS, HOW COME YOU ADJOURNED THE HOUSE T 5:00 A.M.

TUESDAY MORNING?

>> WELL, BECAUSE WE HAD COMPLETED ALL OF THE BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE BUDGET-BALANCING BILLS, THE TWO BUDGET-BALANCING BILLS, AND WE WERE NOWHERE NEAR AGREEMENT ON THOSE BILLS.

AND I COULDN'T SEE HAVING THE ENTIRE LEGISLATURE SITTING AROUND WAITING FOR THOSE TEN CONFEREES TO REACH AGREEMENT.

I BELIEVE THAT THE BEST WAY TO BRING PRESSURE TO BEAR ON THEM TO SETTLE UP SO THAT WE COULD GET IT OVER WITH WAS TO ADJOURN AND SEND THE REST OF THE LEGISLATURE HOME SO THE FOCUS OF ALL YOU FOLKS WOULD BE ON THEM.

>> ERIC: AS THE U.S.

WAR WITH IRAN APPROACHES ITS THIRD MONTH, RE-OPENING THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ AND KEEPING MORE THAN A TENOUS CEASEFIRE SEEM OUT OF REACH.

PRESIDENT TRUMP WENT TO CHINA THIS WEEK AND THE IRAN WAR WAS ON THE AGENDA.

BACK HERE IN THE U.S.

GAS PRICES CONTINUE TO RISE, AND THE WAR IS INCREASINGLY UNPOPULAR WITH AMERICANS IN BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES.

UNIVERSITY OF ST.

THOMAS PROFESSOR SHAHERZAD AHMADI IS BACK.

SHE SPECIALIZES IN RECENT POLITICAL HISTORIES OF IRAN AND IRAQ.

WHERE DO WE STAND TONIGHT?

ABOUT THE SAME AS WHEN YOU WERE HERE LAST, A FEW EEKS AGO?

>> THE VISIT THAT TRUMP JUST MADE TO CHINA DID A MADE TO CHINA DID ELUCIDATE SOME ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON.

I MEAN, THE FIRST THING THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THAT THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ IS STILL CLOSED.

AND ONE VERY INTERESTING THING THAT HAPPENED ON WEDNESDAY WAS THAT CHINESE TANKERS ARE NOW BEING ALLOWED TO GO THROUGH WITH IRANIAN MANAGEMENT PROTOCOLS, ACCORDING TO IRAN.

SO, ALTHOUGH TRUMP IS SAYING THAT CHINA'S ON BOARD WITH HIS PLAN AND THAT THEY AGREE THAT IRAN SHOULD NOT BE A NUCLEAR THREAT, CHINA SEEMS TO BE REMAINING QUITE VAGUE.

AND IN THEIR READ-OUT OF WHAT THE MEETING WAS ABOUT, THEY ACTUALLY DID NOT REALLY MENTION IRAN.

THEY JUST SAID THAT THEY TALKED ABOUT THE MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT.

>> Cathy: SO EVIDENTLY, THE PRESIDENT REJECTED WHATEVER OFFER WAS MADE, AND WE HAVE REALLY NOT AN IDEA OF WHAT THAT WAS.

SO I'M WONDERING, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS -- WHAT DOES HISTORY SHOW US ABOUT LARGER COUNTRIES ATTACKING SMALLER ONES AND THE LENGTH OF TIME OF THE CONFLICT?

>> ONE THING TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT IRAN IS DOING ITS OWN INTERNATIONAL PLAY.

SO WHEN TRUMP WAS MEETING WITH THE CHINESE DIPLOMATS IN CHINA, BRINGING ALONG A LOT OF VERY IMPORTANT TECH CEOs, IRAN WAS IN INDIA MEETING WITH A LOT OF THE BRICKS COUNTRIES.

AND SO THEIR FOCUS WAS, A, THAT AMERICA WAS NOT A GOOD PARTNER IN PEACE, B, THAT PAKISTAN'S MEDIATION WAS QUITE FRAGILE, AND, C, THAT CHINA WAS NOT TURNING ITS BACK ON IRAN.

SO KEEPING IN MIND THAT IRAN IN A WAY IS DOING A VICTORY LAP.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THAT ALTHOUGH WE ARE GETTING ONE VERSION OF THE NARRATIVE FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, WE DON'T HAVE THE FULL TORY, AND ONE IMPORTANT THING AS A HISTORIAN TO CONSIDER IS THAT WE DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW THIS IS GOING TO PLAY OUT UNTIL THE DUST SETTLES AND IT CERTAINLY HASN'T SETTLED YET.

>> Eric: THE WINNERS WRITE THE HISTORY IS THE OLD CLICHÉ.

>> TOTALLY.

>> Eric: I'M WONDERING ABOUT THE RIPPLE TO OTHER COUNTRIES.

ISRAEL DID AN AIR STRIKE IN THE GAZA STRIP TODAY, TO GET A HAMAS LEADER.

>> YEAH.

>> Eric: IS THAT ANY WAY CONNECTED OR TOTALLY SEPARATE?

>> SO THE LAST TIME THAT I WAS HERE, WE TALKED ABOUT LEBANON.

AND, SO, ONE THING THAT IRAN IS COMPLETELY COMMITTED TO IS SEEING SOME ALLEVIATION OF THE FIGHTING IN LEBANON.

THEIR WHOLE CONCEPT RIGHT NOW IS UNLESS THE FIGHTING STOPS ELSEWHERE, THE FIGHTING WILL CONTINUE IN IRAN.

IN OTHER WORDS, IF THEY REMAIN WEAK IN THEIR PROXIES, THEN IRAN IS VULNERABLE.

AND, SO, ISRAEL IS DOING ITS PART TO ENSURE THAT IRAN FEELS VULNERABLE.

PROBABLY THE CALCULUS IS THAT WITH VULNERABILITY COMES STRENGTH AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE, BUT IF IRAN DOESN'T THINK THAT IT HAS A PARTNER AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE MUCH MOVEMENT.

>> Cathy: BY THE WAY, YOU HAVE FAMILY IN IRAN.

I'M WONDERING, WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO GLEAN FROM YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN TERMS OF HOW ARE THEY HOLDING UP, WHAT'S THE ECONOMY LIKE, WHAT'S LIFE LIKE?

>> THE ECONOMY IS TOTALLY N SHAMBLES.

INFLATION RATE HAS RUN AWAY.

ONE VERY NTERESTING THING TO NOTE, MARKO RUBIO, DURING THIS VISIT TO CHINA, WAS ADAMANT THAT THE CHINESE DID NOT NECESSARILY HAVE TO INTERVENE, BUT HE CONCEDED THAT MERICA WAS GETTING AFFECTED BY INFLATION, AMERICA WAS GETTING AFFECTED BY RISING OIL PRICES.

THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

IRAN IS CERTAINLY HURT IN THIS AND IT WILL TAKE THEM MANY MANY YEARS TO RECOUP.

BUT THEY ARE LEANING ON THE MONEY THEY MAKE FROM THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ TO RECOUP THAT.

>> Eric: IS THERE A WAY TO DOCUMENT HOW MUCH -- WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THEIR DEFENSE CAPABILITY IS AVAILABLE TO THEM STILL?

>> THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.

SO, ONE AREA WHERE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS CORRECT IS THAT THEIR ARMY HAS BEEN BADLY HURT.

I MEAN, THEIR NAVY IS REALLY BADLY HURT.

THEIR ARMY IS BADLY HURT.

BUT THEY STILL CAN EXERT A LOT OF INFLUENCE OVER ESPECIALLY THE ARAB COUNTRIES, THE ARAB GULF COUNTRIES, BY THESE CHEAP DRONES AND THE MINES THAT THEY'VE PUT IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ.

SO THEY STILL EXERT A LOT OF POWER, DESPITE THE FACT THAT, NO, MILITARILY THEY COULDN'T POSSIBLY STAND UP TO THE UNITED STATES.

>> Cathy: I ASKED ABOUT THE LENGTH OF TIME FOR CONFLICT.

THE LONGER THIS GOES ON, THE HARDER IT IS, ISN'T IT?

>> SO EVEN IF EVERYTHING NORMALIZED TOMORROW, E WOULD STILL BE EXPERIENCING THE EFFECTS IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT WE WILL SEE A RISE IN COSTS OF FERTILIZER, OF FOOD, F FUEL, EVERYTHING.

SO THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

>> Eric: APPRECIATE THE UPDATE.

THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

>> Cathy: ALWAYS GOOD SEEING YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.

>> CATHY: MINNESOTA WEATHER IS A TALE OF TWO EXTREMES RIGHT NOW AS WE TRANSITION FROM SPRING TO SUMMER.

MORE THAN HALF OF THE STATE'S COUNTIES CURRENTLY FACE RED FLAG WARNINGS FOR EXTREME FIRE RISK, INCLUDING MANY IN THE NORTHEAST WHICH SAW FLOOD WARNINGS JUST LAST WEEKEND.

AND LOOMING ON THE HORIZON IS A POTENTIAL "SUPER" EL NINO THIS SUMMER.

WE'RE GOING TO ASK WHAT THAT IS.

KENNY BLUMENFELD JOINS US FROM THE STATE CLIMATOLOGY OFFICE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

AS WE SPEAK ON FRIDAY NIGHT, THERE ARE EIGHT FIRES BURNING IN St.

LOUIS COUNTY, THEY'VE ACTIVATED THE EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER, THERE'S A PRETTY BIG FIRE JUST NORTH OF TWO HARBORS.

54 OF MINNESOTA'S 87 COUNTIES ARE NDER EXTREME FIRE DANGER.

HOW VOLATILE IS THE SITUATION?

>> WELL, TODAY IS KIND OF THE BIG DAY.

SO IT'S BEEN HOT, WINDY, AND DRY.

AND LOW HUMIDITY.

AND THOSE ARE THE INGREDIENTS.

IF YOU REMOVE ONE OF THEM, THE FIRE RISK REALLY GOES DOWN.

AND, SO, TODAY WAS KIND OF THE TINDER BOX THAT EVERYONE HAD BEEN FEARING FOR A WHILE AND THERE HAVE BEEN FIRES, ESPECIALLY IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE FIRE AND SMOKE MAPS, THERE'S BEEN SOME PRESCRIBED BURNS, SO THE INTENTIONAL ONES THAT ARE MANAGED, BUT THEN THESE WILDFIRES BREAKING OUT.

AND I SHOULD STRESS, AS OF RIGHT BEFORE WE WENT ON, THEY'RE STILL RELATIVELY SMALL, BUT UNCONTAINED.

>> Cathy: RIGHT.

>> SO, YEAH, THE HOT, DRY, WINDY CONDITIONS.

>> Cathy: THERE'S A METEOROLOGIST IN DULUTH I FOLLOW, AND HE WAS TALKING ABOUT -- OF COURSE, EVERYONE'S FOCUSED ON THE NORTH SHOW, HIGHWAY 611 CLOSED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, NORTH OF TWO HARBORS, BETTY'S PIE, LEGENDARY, HAS BEEN EVACUATED, HOMES EVACUATED AS WELL.

HE WAS TALKING ABOUT DRY THUNDERSTORM POSSIBILITIES TONIGHT.

WHAT THE HECK IS THAT AND DOES THAT KIND OF MAYBE REALLY COLOR THE SITUATION?

>> YEAH, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF THOSE.

SO, IN THE MOUNTAINOUS AREAS, YOU GET THESE THUNDERSTORMS, SO THERE'S LIGHTENING AND THERE'S RAIN BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE IT TO THE GROUND.

[ HIGHWAY 61 ] .

HERE IN MINNESOTA WE DON'T GET THAT SO MUCH, BUT WE DO GET THE SMALL ISOLATED STORMS WITH VERY SMALL AMOUNTS OF PRECIPITATION, KIND OF A SMALL PRECIPITATION AREA AND SOMETIMES THE LIGHTNING STRIKES OUTSIDE OF WHERE IT'S RAINING, IT'S ONE OF THE TRICKS OF THUNDERSTORMS.

SO, THAT'S ABOUT AS CLOSE TO A DRY THUNDERSTORM AS WE CAN GET.

>> Eric: 80 TO 90% CHANCE OF SUPER EL NINO THROUGH NEXT FEBRUARY.

>> Cathy: WHAT IS THAT?

>> Eric: IS THAT A THREAT OR A MENACE, WHAT IS THAT?

>> SO THERE ARE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT AGENCIES AT PLAY HERE.

SO IN THE EUROPEAN FORECASTING COMMUNITY HAS THIS MODEL THAT EVERYONE LIKES, THEY CALL IT THE EURO, AND THAT ONE, LOOKING FORWARD, SEEING A VERY HIGH LIKELIHOOD OF EITHER A STRONG EL NINO OR A SUPER EL NINO.

THE UNITED STATES AGENCY, 65% LIKELIHOOD OF A STRONG OR VERY STRONG EL NINO.

NOW, WE OULDN'T NECESSARILY SEE THE RESULTS OF THAT HERE.

IT'S HARD TO KNOW.

BUT THAT PEAK WOULD BE IN THE FALL AND EARLY WINTER.

THAT'S USUALLY WHEN EL NINOS REALLY GET GOING.

BUT WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THE RAMP-UP.

AND SO IT HAS EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION.

WE'VE NEVER SEEN PROBABILITIES THIS HIGH AND SORTED OF THE RANGE OF STRENGTH THIS HIGH FOR AN EL NINO FORECAST.

SOME OF THAT'S BECAUSE FORECASTING CAPABILITIES HAVE IMPROVED BUT THEY'RE SEEING SOMETHING BIG AND IT'S EITHER GOING TO BE A HUGE BUST OR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A WHOPPER OF AN EL NINO THIS WINTER.

>> Cathy: OKAY.

SO GETTING BACK TO THE SUMMER NOW, LATE SPRING, EARLY SUMMER.

SO WE HAVE THESE DRY CONDITIONS, DROUGHT CONDITIONS, RIGHT?

>> UM-HUM.

>> Cathy: YET, AS I SAID IN MY INTRODUCTION, LAST WEEKEND, AREAS OF NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA HAD FLOOD WARNINGS, WHICH IS KIND OF INTERESTING.

I'M WONDERING, HOW DOES THE SEVERE STORM SEASON LOOK, GIVEN THAT -- I KNOW IT'S KIND OF HARD TO PINPOINT, BUT WE'VE GOT SOME STORMS COMING P SUNDAY AND MONDAY.

>> SO, SO FAR THE SEVERE WEATHER SEASON HAS BEEN IGHT ON TIME.

WE HAD TORNADOES IN APRIL IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA.

THERE ARE, AS WE SPEAK, THUNDERSTORMS THAT ARE JUST ON THE BORDER OF BEING SEVERE AROUND I-90, IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA RIGHT NOW.

AND THE RISK IS REALLY BALLOONS ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY FOR SEVERE WEATHER AND ALSO FOR HEAVY RAINFALL.

SO, THIS IS THE THING THAT'S INTERESTING.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN THEIR FORECAST DISCUSSION TODAY, THIS WAS THE CHANHASSEN OFFICE, THEY SAID, WE'RE DEALING WITH A CRITICAL, KIND OF EXTREME FIRE RISK, IT MIGHT BE THE LAST OF THE SEASON.

I EAN, THAT MIGHT BE OPTIMISTIC, BUT THOSE ARE PROFESSIONAL METEOROLOGISTS.

AND WE KNOW THEY HAVE -- WHAT WE KNOW THEY HAVE RIGHT, A REAL LIMITING FACTOR FOR IRE IS GREENING UP OF THE LANDSCAPE.

ONCE YOU GET PLANTS TURNING GREEN, NOW YOU HAVE MOISTURE IN THE VEGETATION AND THAT CAN REDUCE THE ABILITY TO BURN AND IT KIND OF SLOWS THINGS DOWN FOR BURNING.

SO THERE'S SORT OF A RACE BETWEEN HOW LONG WE'RE HOT AND DRY AND WINDY VERSUS WHEN THE GREEN-UP OCCURS.

WE'RE RIGHT AT KIND OF THE STARTING POINT, FINISH LINE AREA RIGHT NOW.

SO WE'LL SEE.

BUT IT LOOKS LIKE, AT LEAST ACCORDING TO FORECASTS, THIS IS A STORMY WEEKEND COMING UP, AND THE SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL LOOKS PRETTY GOOD FOR SUNDAY AND MONDAY.

>> Cathy: OKAY.

THAT SOUNDS INTERESTING.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR COMING DOWN.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> Cathy: IT WAS GREAT TO SEE YOU.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

>> PEOPLE WHO WERE GROWN-UPS WHEN I WAS A KID, I HAVE A BONE TO PICK WITH YOU.

AS AN ADULT, I CAN APPRECIATE THAT YOU SHIELDED ME FROM THE WORST OF THE WORLD.

BUT YOU ALL LIED.

Y'ALL, I'M TIRED.

LIKE, “JUST WANT TO SIT ON THE COUCH AND PLOW THROUGH A WHOLESALE-SIZED BOX OF GRANOLA BARS WITH NO ONE ASKING ME FOR- ANRS WITH NO ONE ASKING ME FOR- ANYT WITH NO ONE ASKING ME FOR- ANYTHIITH NO ONE ASKING ME FOR- ANYTHINGH NO ONE ASKING ME FOR- ANYTHING" NO ONE ASKING ME FOR- ANYTHING” NO ONE ASKING ME FOR- ANYTHING” TO ONE ASKING ME FOR- ANYTHING” TIRONE ASKING ME FOR- ANYTHING” TIREDE ASKING ME FOR- ANYTHING” TIRED.

ASKING ME FOR- ANYTHING” TIRED.

ASKING ME FOR- FIGHTING.

FOR.

MY LIFE.

WHEN I WAS LITTLE, I LOOKED FORWARD TO BEING AN ADULT SO I COULD DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH MY TIME AND MONEY, AND NOW I’M A GROWNUP AND I STILL DON’T GET TO DO THAT.

YOU LIED BY OMISSION.

THOSE THINGS YOU HID FROM ME—YOU KNOW, GEOPOLITICAL INSTABILITY, HAVING TO THINK FOR THREE OR MORE PEOPLE, MAKING SURE MY CHILDREN AREN’T RUNNING FERAL AND HUNGRY THROUGH THE WOODS-THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES MAKE IT HARD TO DO ALL THE FUN STUFF I THOUGHT I WOULD BE DOING.

THE UNFINISHED HOUSE PROJECTS ALONE CLUTTER MY MIND LIKE THE SKYSCRAPER-SIZED TRASH PILES IN THE MOVIE “WALL-E”.

ULTIMATELY, I KNOW YOU WANTED ME TO HAVE A CHILDHOOD FREE FROM HEAVY WORRIES, SO, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR LOVING ME.

AND ADULTHOOD’S NOT ALL BAD, I GUESS.

I ORGANIZED A LILAC SYRUP-MAKING PARTY THIS WEEK WITH ADULTS AND KIDS AND IT WAS A BLAST.

I JUST NEED TO REMEMBER THAT THIS SEASON WILL PASS.

BUT IF YOU WANT TO TELL ME THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT’S NEXT, PLEASE: JUST LIE.

>> ERIC: THE BIGGEST ART STUDIO CRAWL IN THE COUNTRY KICKED OFF TODAY.

THE MINNEAPOLIS-BASED ART FESTIVAL, ART-A-WHIRL, HAS A WHOLE WEEKEND OF ACTIVITIES TO SAMPLE.

THE RECENTLY LAUNCHED MINNESOTA MUSIC ARCHIVE WILL BE AT TWIN IGNITION STUDIO RIGHT NEXT TO DUSTY'S BAR IN NORTHEAST.

MITCH THOMPSON IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DIVERSE EMERGING MUSIC ORGANIZATION, OR DEMO, THAT OVERSEES THE BUDDING ARCHIVE.

WELL, WHAT IS THE NEW MUSIC ARCHIVE ALL ABOUT?

TELL US ABOUT IT.

>> SURE.

SO A SIGNATURE INITIATIVE OF DEMO IS TO ARCHIVE ALL RELEASED MINNESOTA MUSIC BY MINNESOTA ARTISTS.

SO THIS IS EVERY GENRE, EVERY ERA, ALL CULTURAL HERITAGE, AND IT'S THE ENTIRE GEOGRAPHY OF MINNESOTA.

SO AS LONG AS IT QUALIFIES AS A RELEASE IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY HAS A DEFINITION OF A RELEASE, WE'RE ARCHIVING IT.

AND, SO, WE ARCHIVE IT AND NOW WE'VE JUST DEBUTED THIS SEARCH ENGINE, SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO TO THE WEBSITE, SEARCH THE ARTIST, YOU GET INFORMATION ABOUT THAT RELEASE.

AND, SO, -- >> Eric: WHAT DID YOU BRING?

>> WELL, THIS IS JUST RANDOM.

I GRABBED THIS.

THIS IS ONE OF UR BOARD MEMBERS, ACTUALLY, IS A HUGE HUGHESKER DO FAN SO, HE GAVE US THE ENTIRE CATALOG OF HUGHESKER DO TO GET INTO THE ARCHIVE.

ANDREA SWENSON, WHO'S WITH THE CURRENT, AND WRITTEN BOOKS ABOUT THE MINNEAPOLIS OUND R ABOUT THE MINNEAPOLIS OUND , ABOUT THE MINNEAPOLIS OUND , THIS IS FROM HER COLLECTION, SHE DONATED PART OF IT, AND SHE LET US USE PART OF IT, TO DIGITIZE INTO THE ARCHIVE.

HUSKER DU.

>> THESE ARE FUN.

YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO THEM FROM BEGINNING TO END, AS YOU DIGITIZE THEM, YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE ENTIRE RECORD.

>> Eric: I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT.

>> AND THAT'S TRUE OF SASSETTE TAPES AS WELL.

>> Cathy: LOOK AT THAT.

>> CASSETTE TAPES AND ALBUMS, IN PARTICULAR, ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE MOST AT RISK, BECAUSE ONCE THEY'VE BANISHED, THEY'RE GONE.

>> Cathy: WELL, THEY'RE REALLY DELICATE.

>> YEAH.

AND SOME OF THESE RELEASES PROBABLY DIDN'T HAVE LARGE QUANTITIES OF THEM.

SO WE'RE OUT THERE, TRYING TO FIND THIS MATERIAL TO MAKE SURE IT GETS ARCHIVED.

>> Cathy: DO YOU HAVE ANY EIGHT TRACKS?

>> WE HAVE NOT ENCOUNTERED THAT.

WE'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON WHAT WE MIGHT DO IF WE ENCOUNTER THAT.

IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE.

>> Eric: HOW ARE SELECTIONS MADE AS TO WHAT TO INCLUDE?

>> SO AS LONG AS AS THEY QUALIFY AS A MINNESOTA ARTIST, AND I THINK THE QUESTION IS, WHAT IS THE LINE ON THAT, AND OUR LINE IS PRETTY SOFT AT THIS POINT.

AS LONG AS THERE'S AN OBVIOUS CONNECTION TO MINNESOTA, WE'RE ARCHIVING THEM.

I THINK AT SOME POINT WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE TO HAVE A COMMITTEE THAT WILL MAYBE LOOK AT SOME THINGS.

I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE, I THINK THE GREATEST THING THAT WOULD HAPPEN IS IF PEOPLE ACTUALLY CARE ENOUGH THAT THEY'RE NOT IN THE ARCHIVE THAT THEY'RE PETITIONING US TO BE IN THE ARCHIVE.

>> Eric: OH, I THINK THAT WILL HAPPEN.

>> AND I THINK THAT WILL BE GREAT.

WE'LL KIND OF COME ACROSS THAT.

MOST THINGS, HONESTLY, I'M NOTICING, THE LINE IS PRETTY CLEAR, THE BAND CONSIDERS THEMSELVES FROM MINNESOTA, YOU KNOW, OR THEY MOVED HERE AND DID A LOT OF THEIR WORK HERE AND, SO, SO FAR THAT'S BEEN -- WE'VE ERRED ON THE SIDE OF LET'S JUST INCLUDE PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, JUDY GARLAND'S A GREAT EXAMPLE.

YOU KNOW?

>> Cathy: I CAN SEE A LISTENER SAYING, MITCH, DOESN'T THE MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY DO THIS WORK?

NOT REALLY, RIGHT?

>> THEY DON'T, REALLY, NO.

THEY ACTUALLY GOT US THE GRANT, THEY WERE PART OF THE GRANT THAT WE GOT TO CREATE THE PUBLIC-FACING WEBSITE AND CREATE THE APPLICATION THAT WE USE.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, THEY GET HIT WITH A LOT.

I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE THINK THEY SHOULD BE DOING.

AND I HINK THEY -- CONVERSATIONS I HAVE, THEY APPRECIATE PEOPLE CREATING A WEB OF WAYS THAT THE WORK GETS DONE.

SO WE ACTUALLY SEE THEM AS -- US AS BEING PART OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

>> Cathy: SO ART-A-WHIRL, ARE YOU ASKING FOLKS FOR ANALOG MATERIALS?

>> PRIMARILY.

YOU CAN DONATE DIGITALLY THROUGH THE WEBSITE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT AT FIRST ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE ANALOG BECAUSE THEY'RE MOST AT RISK.

AND, SO, AT ART-A-WHIRL WHEN PEOPLE COME AND DONATE, THEY CAN GET A FREE BEVERAGE FROM FULTON, THEY'RE SPONSORING, AND ALSO PEOPLE WILL BE IN FOR A DRAWING FROM FIRST AVENUE FOR A MEMBERSHIP.

SO IF YOU BRING MUSIC THAT YOU CAN DONATE TO THE ARCHIVE ON SATURDAY, WE WILL PUT YOU IN THAT DRAWING AND YOU CAN GET A FREE BEVERAGE.

BUT ALSO, I'LL JUST TELL YOU, MORE COMPLEXLY, DIGITAL IS ALSO VERY AT RISK.

PEOPLE THINK OF THE DIGITAL AS VERY, LIKE, STABLE AND IT'S OUT THERE ON THE INTERNET.

BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY FINDING THAT THAT MATERIAL CAN -- SERVICES CAN JUST DISAPPEAR OVERNIGHT SO A BAN COULD BE ON A SERVICE AND IT HAD ALL -- A BAND COULD BE ON A SERVICE, THEY HAD ALL THEIR MUSIC THERE AND ONE DAY IT CAN GO OUT OF BUSINESS.

SO THE DIGITAL PRESERVATION OF STUFF RELEASED THAT WAY IS ALSO GOING TO BE AS IMPORTANT FOR US IN THE SHORT TERM.

ANALOG STUFF, BECAUSE T DEGRADES AND IT GOES AWAY, WE ALREADY KNOW WE'VE LOST THINGS THAT WE'RE NEVER GOING TO GET, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET AS MUCH OF IT AS WE CAN.

>> Eric: IS THERE A WEBSITE OR SOMETHING?

>> MINNESOTAMUSICARCHIVE.ORG.

>> Eric: THIS SEEMS A REAL PASSION FOR YOU.

>> Cathy: YOUR FACE IS LIT UP.

>> I LOVE TALKING ABOUT.

THIS IT'S REALLY EXCITING.

YEAH, IT IS A PASSION.

>> Eric: I'VE CAUGHT THE MOOD.

THANKS, MAN.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Eric: WE'RE GOING TO MORE TO A POLITICAL DISCUSSION ACROSS THE STUDIO.

WE'RE GOING TO GO MORE INTO A POLITICAL DISCUSSION WITH OUR PANEL ACROSS THE STUDIO.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> CATHY: LEGISLATIVE LEADERS HAVE LEFT THE COUCH.

AND NOW IT IS FILLED WITH THIS WEEK'S POLITICAL PANEL.

EVERYONE IN THIS GROUP HAS FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN AT THE END OF SESSION.

DEMOCRATS UP FIRST TONIGHT.

JEFF HAYDEN IS A FORMER DEPUTY MAJORITY LEADER IN THE STATE SENATE, NOW A LOBBYIST.

TARA ERICKSON IS A LONGTIME LOBBYIST UP AT THE CAPITOL WHO NOW WORKS AS A CONSULTANT.

REPUBLICANS TONIGHT... AMY FREDERIKSEN IS A FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER NOW A LOBBYIST.

FRITZ KNAAK, ALSO A FORMER STATE SENATOR, NOW AN ATTORNEY IN PRIVATE PRACTICE.

SENATOR FREDERIKSEN, DO YOU THINK THE SPEAKER WOULD HAVE ALLOWED A VOTE ON THAT GUN BILL HAD SHE NOT BEEN RUNNING -- IF SHE WAS NOT RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR?

>> I THINK WHAT HAD TO HAPPEN ON THE GUN BILL, I ACTUALLY DON'T THINK IT HAD TO DO WITH THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, I THINK IT HAD TO DO WITH, I THINK THERE WAS SOME COMPROMISE O BE FOUND, I'VE SAID THAT FROM THE BEGINNING, SPEAKER DEMUTH WAS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD AT ROCORI, HER KIDS WENT TO THAT SCHOOL AND THERE WAS A TERRIBLE SHOOTING IN THAT SCHOOL.

I THINK THERE WAS SOMETHING TO BE FOUND.

BUT I THINK THAT BOTH SIDES NEEDED TO COME TO HE TABLE WITH, LIKE, IN REAL EARNEST TO FIND THAT.

AND THEN I THINK, I THINK THERE WAS A WAY TO GET THAT BILL TO THE FLOOR THIS YEAR, IN OME FORM.

IN SOME FORM AROUND -- I THINK WE'RE OUT OF TIME NOW, I REALLY DO.

>> WELL, I THINK THAT, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK THAT SHE SHOULD HAVE HEARD THE BILL.

AND I THINK THAT SHE KIND OF DE FACTO DID HEAR THE BILL TWICE AND NOW WE GOT ALL OF THE HUBBUB, BECAUSE THE RULES TO SUSPEND THE BODY TO HEAR THE BILL, TO MAKE IT AN EMERGENCY, TO HEAR THE BILL, TURNED INTO A SEVEN-HOUR DEBATE ABOUT THE BILL.

AND THEN PEOPLE VOTED NO.

SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO SAY THEY VOTED NO.

SO I THINK THAT SHE SHOULD HAVE HEARD T, VOTED IT DOWN OR UP, ANY WAY THAT THEY WANT TO.

NOW, I DON'T THINK THAT THE BILL WILL GET HEARD, IN LARGE PART, BECAUSE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME.

>> Cathy: DOES SHE HAVE THE VOTES?

IS THE CAUCUS, MAYBE SOME SUBURBAN MEMBERS SOFTENING?

>> THE RUMORS ARE THAT THERE ARE A FEW REPUBLICANS IN SUBURBS WHO ARE POTENTIALLY WILLING TO VOTE FOR THAT BILL.

SO I THINK THAT THERE IS A VERY GOOD REASON FOR THEM WHY THEY'RE NOT BRINGING IT UP.

>> WISHFUL THINKING, I THINK.

THIS WAS A LOT OF POLITICAL THEATER.

AND I THINK THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE, MAYBE EARLIER IN THE SESSION, TO COME UP WITH SOME MIDDLE GROUND, GENUINE MIDDLE GROUND ON ANY OF A NUMBER OF THESE ISSUES.

IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

SO NOW EVERYBODY'S STAKED OUT THEIR, FRANKLY, EXTREME POSITION, AND I WOULD SAY MORE EXTREME ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE THAN THE REPUBLICAN IN MY VIEW, BUT THERE'S NO WAY THAT THIS IS GOING TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> WHAT WOULD EVER BE -- SORRY -- WHAT WOULD EVER BE A GUN SAFETY ANYTHING FOR REPUBLICANS WOULD BE COMFORTABLE WITH?

>> WELL, THAT'S A FAIR QUESTION.

I THINK THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD DEAL MORE TALK ABOUT SCHOOL SAFETY.

TWICE NOW TIM WALZ AND THE TEACHER UNIONS TURNED DOWN EFFORTS TO FUND NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THIS WAS GREAT UNLESS YOU'RE A MINNESOTA CATHOLIC KID AND YOU DIDN'T GET THE BENEFIT OF THAT.

AND THAT WAS WHERE YOU WERE HEARING REPUBLICANS COMING FROM.

LET'S TALK ABOUT GENUINE SCHOOL SAFETY, THINGS THAT WILL MATTER.

SO THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE START.

>> SO THE PROBLEM WITH THAT ARGUMENT, IT'S LWAYS, WHY DON'T WE GO TO WHERE WE AGREE AND THEN WHERE WE DON'T AGREE, RIGHT, THEN WE WON'T DO T. BUT THAT'S USUALLY THE THINGS THAT I WANT THE MOST, RIGHT?

THEY ALWAYS SAY, WELL, PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE.

WELL, HIGH-CAPACITY FIREARMS KILL KIDS.

THE PARENTS HAD TO BURY THEIR CHILDREN TWICE.

THAT'S NOT GRANDSTANDING, THAT'S NOT EXTREMISM, THAT'S PEOPLE WHO HAD TO BURY THEIR CHILDREN TWICE AT ANNUNCIATION.

>> Eric: GRADING THE SESSION, TAX RELIEF, A BONDING BILL, HOUSING ONDS, HCMC, AND ANTI-FRAUD, TAB CUTS, LAWMAKERS' SAFETY, SCHOOL MONEY FROM A TRUST FUND, COUNTY I.T., HORTMAN MEMORIALS.

THIS IS A PRETTY PRODUCTIVE SESSION FOR NOT HAVING TO DO ANYTHING.

>> ADD IN $10 MILLION FOR FOOD BANKS AND FOOD SHELVES IN A TIME WHEN SKY-ROCKETING GROCERY PRICES.

>> YOU HEARD THE LEADERS EARLIER, SOME OF THOSE THINGS MIGHT NOT HAPPEN.

AND I'M VERY THANKFUL, I MEAN, I LOBBIED FOR HENNEPIN COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER FOR TEN YEARS, BUT THAT IS BASICALLY AN ACCOUNTING SHIFT IS HOW THEY'RE DOING THAT.

AND THEY'RE USING THOSE DOLLARS THAT ARE PREPAYMENT REVIEW DOLLARS THAT DHS HAS SAVED FROM ACTUALLY NOT PAYING DISABILITY SERVICE PROVIDERS.

SO THAT'S WHERE THOSE MONEYS ARE COMING FROM.

>> Eric: COULD ANYTHING GO WRONG BETWEEN OW AND SUNDAY NIGHT?

>> WELL ACRES WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS.

>> A LOT.

>> I'M HEARING THAT, THOUGH THERE IS A DEAL IN THEORY, I'M ALSO HEARING THAT THE METRO SURGE, WHICH WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT, RIGHT, I THINK IS GOING TO BE A DECIDING FACTOR IN THE ELECTION THIS FALL, THOSE BUSINESSES DIDN'T GET ANY RELIEF, AND THAT'S A REALLY BIG DEAL AND THERE ARE A LOT OF MEMBERS WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT THAT.

SO, THERE ARE ALSO ISSUES, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES, THERE'S ALWAYS A BIG FIGHT, MINNEAPOLIS, THOUGH, MONEY THAT'S GOING TO GO TO ROY WILKINS, IT DOESN'T SEEM THE KIND OF MONEY THAT THEY NEED TO DO SOME WORK IN MINNEAPOLIS.

SO THERE IS SOME CONSTERNATION.

>> RIGHT.

SO WE HAVE A DEAL.

WE DON'T HAVE THE BILLS.

AND THAT'S, I THINK, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

WE HAVE A FRAME OF THE PUZZLE, WE DON'T HAVE INSIDE.

HOWEVER, NOW THERE'S SOMETHING FOR OLKS TO LOSE BECAUSE WE HAVE A DEAL.

WE KNOW WHAT'S AT STAKE IF PEOPLE DON'T COME TOGETHER AND DECIDE ON ALL THOSE ITTLE MIDDLE PIECES AND ALL THE SORT OF HOW EVERYTHING CONNECTS.

THERE'S THE BIG PICTURE OF WHAT CAN BE LOST AND THAT'S HCMC AND THAT'S TABS AND THAT'S ALL THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE WANT ARE NOW ON THE TABLE, THEY CAN SEE IT, AND I THINK HERE WILL BE A DEAL.

>> I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.

>> AND WITH -- YEAH.

WITH THE TRANSPARENCY QUESTION THAT YOU GUYS HAD EARLIER, EVERYTHING IS BEING DONE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

>> Cathy: DOES THAT SURPRISE YOU, THOUGH?

>> IT'S JUST GETTING WORSE EVERY YEAR.

>> IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY.

>> NO SURPRISE.

>> NO IT WAS NOT.

WE HAD A LOT OF CONFERENCE COMMITTEES WHERE THEY WERE PASSING THROUGH THINGS, WHERE THERE WERE LOBBYISTS AT THE CAPITOL UNTIL 6:00 A.M.

IN THE MORNING.

PEOPLE WERE GETTING AMENDMENTS DRAFTED.

AND NONE OF THAT HAPPENS ANYMORE.

AND IT HASN'T BEEN FOR LIKE A DECADE.

>> YEAH.

>> BEFORE THAT, I WOULD SAY.

YOU KNOW, BUT I AGREE.

I MEAN, THERE'S SO MUCH ON THE TABLE AND SO MUCH PRESSURE TO REALLY GET A DEAL DONE THAT YOU CAN EXPECT IT TO HAPPEN.

BUT I HAVE NEVER SEEN A LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE IT'S GOING DOWN TO THE WIRE.

>> Cathy: RIGHT.

>> ALWAYS.

>> Cathy: ALWAYS.

>> ALWAYS.

SO THIS IS NO DIFFERENT.

BUT IT IS DIFFERENT IN THE SENSE THAT I DO GET THE SENSE THAT SOME OF THESE BIG ISSUES ARE THINGS THAT WILL BE AGREED ON.

AND, SO, -- >> I ALSO THINK THAT PART OF IT IS, ALMOST LIKE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS CAN RUN ON THIS.

YOU CAN RUN ON LICENSE TABS, YOU CAN RUN ON PROPERTY TAX.

>> RIGHT.

>> YOU CAN RUN ON THE SAFETY NET HOSPITAL.

YOU CAN RUN ON A PRETTY HIGHLY INFRASTRUCTURE BILL, RIGHT?

SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING, LIKE WHAT ARE GOING TO BE THE THINGS THAW RUN ON.

BUT EVERYBODY CAN KIND OF RUN ON GETTING THOSE THINGS DONE.

>> Cathy: YOU CAN RUN ON THAT.

YOU JUST MENTIONED HCMC, PROPERTY TAXES, THE TAB CUTS.

BUT THOSE ARE SHORT TERM.

>> THEY ARE.

>> Cathy: THEY'RE JUST A YEAR, RIGHT?

SO LAWMAKERS ARE REALLY KICKING THE ACTUAL PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT IS BEING KICKED DOWN THE -- ABSOLUTELY.

>> URPRISE, SURPRISE.

>> Cathy: SHOULD I BE SURPRISED, I KNOW.

>> SURPRISE, SURPRISE, IT'S ALWAYS THAT WAY.

YOU'VE GOT AN ELECTION COMING UP.

>> THERE DOES SEEM TO BE MONEY FOR CERTAIN THINGS.

LIKE I'M NOT OPPOSED TO ROY WILKINS OR ANY OF THIS TYPE OF STUFF GETTING DONE.

THE ARENA.

BUT CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, LIKE I WORK N A LOT OF DIFFERENT DISABILITY STUFF, WE ARE HEARING THAT THERE ARE MAJOR CUTS THAT ARE BEING TALKED ABOUT RIGHT NOW AGAIN IN DISABILITY SERVICES.

THIS YEAR.

>> Eric: WELL, HUMAN SERVICES WOULD BE A BILL WHERE THERE COULD BE SOME ISSUES.

>> THERE WERE 300 MILLION PROPOSED IN CUTS AND WE ARE HEARING THAT THERE COULD BE MORE BECAUSE NOW DHS MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY DO ALL OF THIS PREPAYMENT REVIEW WHERE THEY WERE TRYING TO GET THE MONEY FROM.

>> WELL, PART OF THE ISSUE THERE, THOUGH, I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO BE HONEST, AND ASK YOU'VE WORKED, AND I'VE WORKED A LONG TIME, THERE IS A LACK OF TRUST INSIDE OF DHS.

AND, SO, I'M NOT SAYING THAT THOSE CUTS ARE REAL OR NOT REAL, BUT BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE AROUND FRAUD, WHICH WILL BE THE OTHER CONVERSATION THERE, I THINK THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF SAVINGS THAT COULD BE REALIZED IF YOU DON'T GIVE ALL OF THAT MONEY OUT THE DOOR AND THERE'S A LOT OF KIND OF THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO INSIDE THAT BUDGET.

I DO THINK THAT THOSE CUTS ARE REAL, BUT I THINK THAT THERE IS A LACK OF -- I CAN'T FIND THE WORD -- [ OVERLAPPING CONVERSATION ] >> ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> FRAUD.

>> GOOD THINGS I WANTED TO SAY.

>> Eric: IMPACT OF THE ANTI-FRAUD COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE, 84-PAGE REPORT, PRETTY COMPREHENSIVE.

>> QUITE COMPREHENSIVE.

LET ME TELL YOU, THE FRAUD PREVENTION MEASURES, MITIGATION MEASURES, ARE ALSO SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO RUN ON.

SO YOU HEARD, REALLY, UNANIMOUS AMONGST LEADERS, TOUTING THE FRAUD BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHY?

THEY KNOW THEY NEED THAT GOING TO THE DOORS IN MINNESOTA.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THEY NEED TO HAVE SAID, WE DID SOMETHING.

>> AND THEY DID.

>> THE GOVERNOR SIGNED THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL TODAY.

>> Eric: DOESN'T THAT INSPECTOR GENERAL HAVE A LOT OF POWER WHEN HE OR SHE ASSUMES POLICE POWERS IN 28?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE IS POLICING POWER AND THEY ARE OUTSIDE OF THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE.

>> THE ONE THING I WILL SAY, THOUGH, WITH THAT, WE CAN TRY TO TIE THE NEXT LEGISLATURE TO WHAT THEY DID NOW.

THINGS COULD CHANGE BY 2028.

>> Cathy: NOT THAT IT MATTERS, BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR'S A LAME DUCK, BUT HOW WOULD YOU RATE HIS ROLE IN THIS SESSION?

DO WE HAVE ANY INKLING AS TO HOW MUCH OF A BROKER, POWER BROKER HE WAS?

OR PEACEMAKER OR NEGOTIATOR.

>> MY SENSE THE GOVERNOR CAME IN LATE.

>> YEAH.

>> WITH KIND OF A LIST THAT HE WANTED.

AND THAT'S NOT UNUSUAL.

USUALLY THEY START EARLY AND TALK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT THEY WANT.

AND HE AME IN LATE WITH A FEW DEMANDS.

IT LOOKS LIKE HE HAD BEEN IN OTHER PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

>> I WOULD SAY IT'S TYPICAL AND PASSIVE.

HE'S NEVER REALLY -- MOST OF THE TIME HE'S BEEN GOVERNOR, MOST OF THE LEADERSHIP HAS COME OUT OF THE LEGISLATURE AND MOST OF THE IDEAS HAVE COME OUT OF THE LEGISLATURE AND THIS WAS NO DIFFERENT.

>> THIS WAS KUDOS TO THE LEADERS THAT WERE ON THIS COUCH, REALLY AND RULY.

THE SENATE HELD THEMSELVES TOGETHER AND PASSED TRADITIONAL BILLS.

THE HOUSE DID THEIR BEST WITH 67-67.

EVEN WITH SPEAKER DEMUTH RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR AND HAVING A REALLY BUSY SCHEDULE, AND, FRANKLY, REPRESENTATIVE STEPHENSON STEPPING IN IN A REALLY DIFFICULT SITUATION WITH A GRIEVING CAUCUS, YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT TO ALL THOSE FOUR LEADERS, I THINK.

>> Eric: WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITHOUT A LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

>> Cathy: I THINK WE'LL BE FINE.

[ Laughter ] [ OVERLAPPING CONVERSATION ] >> Eric: THANKS, PANEL.

>> THE INTERESTING THING THAT I REMEMBER WAS THAT THE REGENTS ALL SEEMED TO CARE DEEPLY ABOUT HE UNIVERSITY.

I THINK THERE WAS LESS POLITICS AMONG REGENT MEMBERS.

IT WAS THE UNIVERSITY THAT WE WERE SUPPORTING.

>> Eric: CONGRATULATIONS.

WE'RE DELIGHTED YOU CAME DOWN.

>> WELL, HANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR THE STATE.

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME.

I HAD FORGOTTEN THAT IT HAD BEEN 40 YEARS SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> Eric: JOSIE JOHNSON, AMAZING WOMAN.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ERIC: WE HAD A VERY FULL SHOW TONIGHT, BUT WE DO HAVE JUST ENOUGH TIME LEFT FOR OUR HISTORY SECTION.

WE DIDN'T GET ANY RIGHT ANSWERS TO OUR QUERY LAST WEEK SO WE'RE ASKING IT AGAIN.

THE YEAR IS 2024.

A "MINNESOTAN" IS HONORED AS PART OF A YEARLY SERIES.

IN A WRITE-UP ABOUT THE MINNESOTA HONOREE, THERE ARE MENTIONS OF GOING FOR GOLD, HORSEBACK RIDING, AND THE MALL OF AMERICA.

THAT WASN'T QUITE ENOUGH INFORMATION FOR YOU.

SO HERE'S A QUOTE FROM THAT "STAR TRIBUNE" WRITE-UP THAT SHOULD HELP.

"HAVING LILA HAIL FROM THE MIDWEST HELPS SOFTEN THE BLOW FOR LOCAL FANS STILL MOURNING THE LOSS OF AMERICAN GIRL'S MALL OF AMERICA STORE, WHICH CLOSED IN 2019."

WHO IS THIS 2024 MINNESOTA HONOREE?

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU ARE CALLING FROM BETSY ROSS POINT, AMERICAN NARROWS, OR INDEPENDENCE, MINNESOTA.

651-229-1430 IS THE NUMBER TO CALL WITH ALL OF YOUR GUESSES, RIGHT OR WRONG.

YOU CAN ALWAYS DROP US A NOTE TOO.

[email protected] IS THE HANDY EMAIL ADDRESS TO USE.

IT'S TIME FOR THE ANNUAL "ALMANAC" VIEWER SURVEY.

EACH SPRING WE ASK YOU TO SPEND A FEW MINUTES TO LET US KNOW HOW WE'RE DOING.

IT'S A GREAT HELP AS WE PLAN UPCOMING SHOWS.

YOU CAN FILL OUT THE SURVEY BY SCANNING THE QR CODE YOU SEE RIGHT NOW ON YOUR SCREEN OR HOP ONLINE AND HEAD TO TPT.ORG/ALMANACSURVEY.

QUICK TUNE-IN REMINDER FOR YOU.

"ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" AIRS EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

NEXT WEEK IS THE LAST EPISODE OF THE YEAR.

TUNE IN LIVE AT 7:00 P.M.

ON THE STATEWIDE MINNESOTA CHANNEL TO CATCH MARY LAHAMMER'S WRAPUP OF THE 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH TIME LEFT FOR SOME SHOW-ENDING MUSIC.

IT WAS THIS WEEK BACK IN 2009 THAT TRUMPETER CHUCK LAZARUS AND FRIENDS PERFORMED HERE IN STUDIO B. TAKE A LISTEN AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

BE CAREFUL.

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