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

>> CATHY: COMING UP ON "ALMANAC," HENNEPIN COUNTY ATTORNEY MARY MORIARTY ON CHARGING A FEDERAL AGENT, PAUL DOUGLAS AND MARK SEELEY ON EARTH DAY AND SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS MONTH, A POLITICAL PANEL FILLS THE COUCH.

AND MARY LAHAMMER IS TRACKING THE FINAL WEEKS OF SESSION.

>> Mary: A MONTH TO GO IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND NEGOTIATIONS TOWARDS THE END HAVE BEGUN.

WE'LL PUT THAT IN CONTEXT.

>> I THINK THAT'S A GOOD PLACE TO START.

>> THIS IS A VERY LIMITED, NONBUDGET YEAR.

>> A FAIR AMOUNT OF POTENTIAL ALIGNMENT.

>> 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.

>> CATHY: WE HAVE A VERY FULL SHOW FOR YOU TONIGHT.

WE'LL PREVIEW AN UPCOMING TWIN CITIES PBS DOCUMENTARY ON THE WEST BANK MUSIC SCENE, TALK WITH STAR TRIBUNE REPORTER DEENA WINTER ABOUT MINNEAPOLIS CITY POLITICS, AND A COUCH FULL OF POLITICOS WILL TALK POLITICS NEAR AND FAR.

>> ERIC: WE START TONIGHT WITH ONE OF THE BIGGEST NEWS STORIES OF THE WEEK.

YESTERDAY AN I.C.E.

AGENT WAS CHARGED IN HENNEPIN COUNTY FOR ALLEGEDLY POINTING A GUN AT MOTORISTS IN FEBRUARY.

THE TWO FELONY COUNTS ARE THE FIRST CRIMINAL CHARGES FILED AGAINST A FEDERAL AGENT FOR -- RELATED TO OPERATION METRO SURGE.

HENNEPIN COUNTY ATTORNEY MARY MORIARTY JOINS US.

WELCOME BACK.

SEEMS TO ME YOU HAD PROMISED TO PURSUE CHARGES REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU'RE IN THE EVIDENCE LOOP OR NOT.

IS THAT THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS FULFILLING THAT VOW?

>> WELL, THIS CASE WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, BECAUSE IT CAME TO US THE WAY CASES USUALLY COME TO US.

IN OTHER WORDS, THE PEOPLE IN THE CAR CALLED 911 RIGHT AWAY WHEN THEY HAD THE GUN POINTED AT THEM.

A STATE TROOPER ARRIVED.

GOT THE VIDEO FROM THE VICTIMS.

THEY WERE TAPING THE AFTERMATH OF IT.

>> Eric: VERY IMPORTANT.

>> VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE GOT THE LICENSE PLATE, THE CAR, AND THEN THE TROOPER WENT TO WHIP AND HE WILL WAS ABLE TO INTERVIEW THE TWO I.C.E.

AGENTS WHO WERE IN THE CAR, WHO DID ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CONDUCT, BY THE WAY.

SO IT WAS DIFFERENT.

THEY THEN SUBMITTED THE CASE TO US.

SO WE DIDN'T HAVE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TRYING TO GET US -- TRYING TO BLOCK US FROM GETTING EVIDENCE.

>> Cathy: HAS THE FEDERAL AGENT BEEN ARRESTED YET?

>> HE HAS NOT AND WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM HIM OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

>> athy: I'M WONDERING, HOW COULD THIS BE THE TEST CASE FOR OTHER STATES, WHO HAVE BEEN DEALING, MUCH LIKE MINNESOTA, WITH THE PRESIDENT'S MASS HE DEPORTATION EFFORT?

DO YOU SEE IT IT AS A POTENTIAL CASE?

>> I KNOW IT IS, I'M PART OF THE FEDERAL OVERREACH, THAT'S ME AND EIGHT OTHER DAs FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY.

AND WE GET TOGETHER, WE'RE EXPANDING.

THE IDEA IS TO ALL WORK TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO BE PREPARED FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

WHAT FEDERAL LAW DO YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND, HOW YOU NEED TO WORK WITH YOUR LOCAL POLICE BEFORE IT HAPPENS, SO THEY UNDERSTAND THEY DO HAVE JURISDICTION AND HOPEFULLY WILL COLLECT EVIDENCE FOR YOU.

>> Eric: I THINK THERE'S MAYBE SOME CONFUSION AS TO WHETHER THESE FEDERAL AGENTS HAVE IMMUNITY FROM STATE PROSECUTION.

>> THERE IS.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE ADMINISTRATION KEEPS SAYING OVER AND OVER, THEY HAVE ABSOLUTE IMMUNITY.

THEY DO NOT.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS ABSOLUTE IMMUNITY.

FEDERAL AGENTS WHO COME HERE AND VIOLATE STATE LAW CAN BE PROSECUTED.

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS, THOUGH.

SO WE CAN CHARGE.

THERE'S NOTHING PREVENTING US FROM CHARGING, IF WE FEEL THAT WE HAVE APPROPRIATE CHARGES.

WHAT WOULD THEN HAPPEN IS THE FEDERAL AGENT WOULD ASK THE CASE TO BE REMOVED FROM FEDERAL COURT.

IT'S A LOW BAR SO THAT THAT'S LIKELY TO HAPPEN.

HOWEVER, WE DON'T NEED U.S.

ATTORNEYS OR FEDERAL PROSECUTORS TO PROSECUTE IT.

ODDLY, WE STAY ON THE CASE.

BUT WE'RE IN FEDERAL COURT.

STATE LAW APPLIES.

SO IF THERE'S A CONVICTION, THE PRESIDENT CANNOT PARDON THE PERSON.

SO, THE NEXT STEP IS THAT THEY CAN MAKE A MOTION TO DISMISS FOR SUPREMACY CLAUSE IMMUNITY.

THAT'S NOT ABSOLUTE.

AND THE BURDEN IS ON THE ACCUSED TO PROVE THAT THEY ARE DESERVING OF SUPREMACY CLAUSE IMMUNITY.

ULTIMATELY THE JUDGE HAS TO DECIDE.

IF THE JUDGE DECIDES THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE IT, THEN WE CARRY ON THE WAY WE DID IN A NORMAL PROSECUTION.

AND SUPREMACY CLAUSE IMMUNITY IS REALLY WHERE THEY -- WERE THEY CTING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THEIR DUTIES?

DID THEY GO ABOVE AND BEYOND?

DID THEY ONLY DO WHAT WAS NECESSARY AND PROPER?

SO I THINK YOU CAN KIND OF GET AN INKLING HERE, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THESE CASES THAT WE HAVE, THIS CASE, IN PARTICULAR, THAT WE HAVE GOOD ARGUMENTS THAT THEY WERE NOT ACTING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THEIR AUTHORITY.

>> Cathy: HOW ARE YOU DOING ON THE CASES INVOLVING RENEE GOOD AND ALEX PRETTY ?I >> SO, AS YOU KNOW, WE FILED A FEDERAL LAWSUIT IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

WE FILED THAT LAWSUIT BECAUSE WE ASKED THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO GIVE US THE EVIDENCE.

ALEX PRETTI.

AND NOT ONLY DID THEY NOT GIVE IT TO US, THEY DIDN'T EVEN RESPOND TO OUR EQUEST, WHICH THEY ACTUALLY ARE REQUIRED TO DO.

SO WE FILED A LAWSUIT IN FEDERAL COURT, ASKING A JUDGE TO MAKE THEM GIVE US THE EVIDENCE THAT WE'VE ASKED FOR.

THEY HAVE ABOUT 60 DAYS TO RESPOND TO THE LAWSUIT, SO THAT DATE IS COMING UP IN MAY.

SO WE'RE WAITING KIND OF TO SEE HOW THEY ARE GOING TO RESPOND.

>> Eric: HOW ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DOJ, U.S.

ATTORNEYS HERE IN TOWN?

>> I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH U.S.

ATTORNEY ROSEN TODAY.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW IS THAT THE LOCAL EOPLE, THE LINE PROSECUTORS, THE FBI AGENTS, WE'VE ALL WORKED OGETHER BEFORE.

WE ALL GET ALONG.

WE WORK TOGETHER.

WE WORK TOGETHER ON THE BOELTER CASE.

WE WORKED TOGETHER.

THEY HAVE CHARGES, E HAVE CHARGES.

THE PROBLEM REALLY IS THE ADMINISTRATION IN D.C.

IF THEY WERE NOT GIVING DIRECTIVES HERE, WE WOULD ALL WORK TOGETHER, WE WOULD FIGURE IT OUT, WE WOULD NOT HAVE THE PROBLEMS WE'RE HAVING, BUT IT IS WASHINGTON, D.C., THAT KEEPS SENDING DIRECTIVES TO TRY TO BLOCK US FROM HAVING THE EVIDENCE THAT WE WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED, I HAVE TO ASK ABOUT VANCE BELTER, BECAUSE THE ALLEGED SASS SAN OF -- SASS ANYONE OF SPEAKER HORTMAN AND HER HUSBAND.

HE WAS IN COURT TODAY.

BUT IT'S A SLOW-MOVING CASE.

IT'S BEEN TEN MONTHS ALL RIGHT.

SINCE YOU WERE WORKING WITH THE FEDS, IS THERE SOME WAY YOU COULD TAKE OVER THE CASE?

>> SO, AS YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A JOINT INVESTIGATION BETWEEN THE FBI AND THE BCA.

THAT INVESTIGATION, WE ALL HAVE THE EVIDENCE THAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAD.

AND THEN OUR OFFICE CHARGED AND THEN THE U.S.

ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CHARGE.

NOW WE DID ASK TO GO FIRST.

AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES HAVE THE OPTION.

THEY CAN SAY, NO, WE WANT TO GO FIRST.

BUT I DID HAVE A CONVERSATION TODAY WITH U.S.

ATTORNEY ROSEN TO SAY, HEY, WE CAN GO, WE'RE READY TO GO RIGHT NOW, AND I KNOW YOU HAVE PROCESSES TO GO THROUGH, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN THERE.

THAT'S YOUR BUSINESS.

BUT HERE'S THE DEAL.

WE ARE READY TO GO FORWARD TO BRING JUSTICE TO THE VICTIMS AND THE FAMILIES AND, FRANKLY, THE COMMUNITY AND THE CHARGES WE INDICTED HIM ON ARE LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE.

>> Eric: WE AN TALK ABOUT THIS AT A FUTURE DATE, I HOPE.

THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

>> CATHY: A FORMER MINNESOTA HEALTH COMMISSIONER WAS -- IS BACK ON THE SCENE IN A FAMILIAR ROLE AS A TROUBLESHOOTER.

THIS COMES AT A TIME WHEN HCMC AND RURAL HOSPITALS ACROSS THE STATE ARE FACING A FINANCIAL CRISIS.

OUR NEXT GUEST WAS UP AT THE CAPITOL TUESDAY TESTIFYING TO LAWMAKERS AND JOINS US NOW.

JAN MALCOLM OF MINNESOTA HOSPITAL AND HEALTH SYSTEMS.

, WHO IS A TOP-LEVEL ADVISOR TO THE GOVERNOR ON THESE ISSUES.

IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> Cathy: COMING OUT OF RETIREMENT TO TACKLE WHAT IS A THORNY ISSUE.

WE'VE DONE SOME REPORTING ON THE SITUATION WITH HCMC.

THEY'RE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY.

THEY COULD CLOSE.

THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY HOSPITAL HAVING TROUBLE, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD THE PHRASE OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AS THE CANARY IN THE COAL MINE, THAT'S HOW THEY'VE BEEN REFERRED TO.

THE ISSUES AT HENNEPIN HAVE BEEN BUILDING FOR A LONG TIME, THEY'RE IMILAR TO WHAT OTHER HOSPITALS FACE, BUT TO A MUCH GREATER DEGREE AT HENNEPIN.

THEY'RE REALLY SEEING -- THEY'RE KIND OF THE SHARP END OF THE SPEAR, AS THEY SAY.

CONFRONTING SOME CHANGES AND TRENDS IN THE INDUSTRY THAT JUST, I HINK, A LOT OF THE HOSPITALS ARE SAYING ARE FUNDAMENTALLY UNSUSTAINABLE.

>> Eric: AREN'T THERE TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS FLOATING AROUND IN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM?

AND OW ON EARTH COULD ANYBODY BE SHORT CHANGED WITH ALL THIS MONEY THAT'S RELATED TO THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY?

>> IT'S A GREAT POINT, ERIC.

AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I'M REALLY HEARTENED BY IN ALL OF THIS, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION GOING ON, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EDUCATED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF HENNEPIN, BUT THE HEALTH SYSTEM LEADERS THEMSELVES, AND I'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF THEM IN THESE LAST FEW WEEKS, THEY ALL SAY, THE HEALTHCARE FINANCING SYSTEM REALLY IS FUNDAMENTALLY BROKEN.

THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY IN THE SYSTEM.

THEY THEMSELVES SAY HEALTHCARE COSTS TOO MUCH.

BUT THE RESOURCES ARE NOT VERY WELL DISTRIBUTED.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO THE PLACES WHERE THE PATIENT NEEDS ARE THE MOST ACUTE, NOT GOING TO THE PLACES WHERE THE ACTUAL CARE IS BEING DELIVERED TO THE FRONT LINE.

>> Eric: SO WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> WELL, I THINK, FIRST, WE NEED TO SEE SOME FUNDING THIS SESSION TO STABLIZE THE SITUATION AT ENNEPIN AND PERHAPS SOME OF THE RURAL HOSPITALS THAT ARE CLOSE TO THE EDGE.

>> Eric: LOOKS LIKE THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> I AM HEARTENED THAT LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR HENNEPIN, SUPPORT FOR HENNEPIN FROM THE OTHER HEALTH SYSTEMS THAT ALL UNDERSTAND, THEY REALLY ARE IN IT TOGETHER.

THERE'S SUCH INTERDEPENDENCY IN OUR SYSTEM.

BUT NOT ONLY DO WE NEED THE SHORT-TERM FINANCING STABILITY, WE NEED A BIG FUNDAMENTAL CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW TO CHANGE THE WAY WE PAY, SOME THINGS ABOUT HOW WE AYBE DELIVER CARE IN A MORE COORDINATED WAY ACROSS SOME OF THESE SYSTEMS.

AND THE LEADERS THEMSELVES ARE STARTING TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> Cathy: BUT WHAT'S THE FEDERAL ROLE?

THE FEDS PLAY A HUGE ROLE IN THIS, AND THEY DON'T SEEM LIKE THEY REALLY WANT TO PLAY BALL.

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: WHAT'S THE LONG-TERM FIX LOOK LIKE, I GUESS?

>> WELL, THAT'S RIGHT.

WE ARE HARD PRESSED, AS STATES, TO PICK UP EVERYTHING THAT THE FEDS ARE NOW SAYING THEY WANT TO SHIFT TO US.

SO I VERY MUCH HOPE THAT THE FEDERAL DEBATE WILL REVERSE AT SOME POINT AND WE CAN GET BACK TO TALKING ABOUT HOW TO BUILD A HEALTH SYSTEM THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY RATHER THAN TAKING IT APART PIECE BY PIECE.

>> Eric: HOW ARE RURAL HOSPITALS FARING?

>> SOME OF THEM ARE QUITE CLOSE TO THE EDGE.

LIKE HENNEPIN, MORE AND MORE OF THEIR PATIENTS ARE COMING THROUGH MEDICARE AND MEDICAID.

WITH THE AGING POPULATION AND THE INCREASES IN LOWER-INCOME POPULATIONS.

AND, SO, THEY, TOO, LIKE HENNEPIN, ARE SEEING COSTS GO UP AND REVENUES GO DOWN.

AND THAT IS CERTAINLY UNSUSTAINABLE.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS, MINNESOTA DID GET A GRANT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HELP RURAL HOSPITALS KIND OF FIGURE OUT HOW TO EVOLVE IN THE FUTURE AND MAYBE SOME NEW MODELS FOR CARE DELIVERY.

IN THE RURAL AREAS.

WE ACTUALLY LEARNED SOME GOOD LESSONS OUT OF THE PANDEMIC ABOUT HOW TO APPROACH THIS AS SORT OF A COORDINATED SYSTEM.

SO I'M CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC THAT WE'VE GOT SOME THINGS TO BUILD ON HERE AND WE'VE JUST -- WE'RE ALL GETTING A GOOD WAKE-UP CALL TO HOW FUNDAMENTALLY IMPORTANT OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IS AND HOW FRAGILE.

>> Cathy: ERIC ND I WERE TALKING OFF AIR ABOUT, YOU ARE A SPECIAL BREED OF INDIVIDUAL IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

YOU COULD HAVE STAYED IN RETIREMENT AND ENJOYED YOURSELF, BUT YOU'RE KIND OF BACK IN THE FRAY.

NAMES LIKE CATHERINE ROBERTS, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HER AND SHARLENE BRINER.

>> Eric: MIKE BECKVICH.

KATHLEEN BLATZ.

>> Cathy: EXACTLY.

YOU'RE IN A RAREFIED ATMOSPHERE, WHAT BROUGHT YOU BACK.

WHY EVEN BOTHER?

>> WELL, FIRST, I'M FLATTERED TO BE CONSIDERED IN SUCH COMPANY.

I SPENT MY WHOLE CAREER IN HEALTH POLICY AND PUBLIC HEALTH.

AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP JUST EXTEND THE GOOD WORK THAT PEOPLE ARE ALREADY DOING ON THESE ISSUES, IT'S A LOT BETTER TO BE TRYING TO HELP THAN TO BE SITTING ON THE SIDELINES HOWLING AT THE MOON.

>> Eric: APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE TO OUR STATE.

>> Cathy: YEAH.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

>> Eric: THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANKS.

♪ >> YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN.

YOU'VE GOT MUCH TOUGHER TERRAIN.

YOU'VE GOT A TOUGHER ENEMY, I BELIEVE, MUCH MORE WILLING TO ENGAGE IN THAT KIND OF DIRECT FIRE FIGHTING.

AND RIGHT NOW YOU'VE GOT A SAFE HAVEN IN THOSE FEDERALLY ADMINISTERED TRIBAL AREAS, AND THAT'S THE REASON THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA CAME OUT AND ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS NOT ONLY GOING TO SEND 21,000 MORE U.S.

FORCES OVER THERE, BUT HE WAS REACHING OUT FOR MORE REGIONAL APPROACH, INCLUDING PAKISTAN IN OUR APPROACH TO AFGHANISTAN.

THAT'S WHY WE VISITED AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN ON THIS TRIP.

>> Cathy: CONGRESSMAN ELLISON, WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE DONE IN AFGHANISTAN?

>> WELL, LET ME TELL YOU, I LIKE THE IDEA THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A CIVILIAN SURGE, S WELL AS ANY SORT A-MILITARY COMPLEMENT.

I THINK YOU'VE GOT A COUNTRY WITH 20% OF THE COUNTRY ARE LITERATE, THAT MEANS THEY NEED WELLS, THEY NEED ROADS, THEY NEED EDUCATION AND THEY NEED TO BE PARTICIPATORY IN THEIR OWN DEVELOPMENT AS WELL.

♪ ♪ >> ERIC: NEXT WEDNESDAY IS THE 56TH ANNIVERSARY OF EARTH DAY.

AND APRIL IS SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS MONTH.

THAT'S NOT ONE BUT TWO GREAT REASONS TO TALK WITH OUR NEXT TWO GUESTS.

PAUL DOUGLAS.

WHEN HE'S NOT TALKING WEATHER WITH US, YOU CAN CATCH HIS PREDICTIONS IN THE STAR TRIBUNE.

HE ALSO RUNS HIS OWN WEATHER COMPANY, PREDICT-IX.

AND NOW HAS WEATHER LOON.

>> YES.

>> Eric: YOU'RE BUSY.

MARK SEELEY BACK WITH US TONIGHT.

HE IS THE AUTHOR OF "MINNESOTA WEATHER ALMANAC" AND A PROFESSOR EMERITUS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

PROFESSOR, WHAT'S THE LINK BETWEEN WEATHER AND CLIMATE AND EARTH DAY?

>> OH, MY GOODNESS, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH WE LIVE, EARTH DAY WAS FOUNDED IN 1970 ABOUT ALL THE CONCERNS FOR AIR AND WATER, ERIC.

AND AIR AND WATER ARE ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS OF OUR CLIMATE SYSTEM.

AND OUR WEATHER SYSTEMS.

AND WE'RE RICH IN THOSE RESOURCES HERE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

WE HAVE A LOT TO PROTECT AND A LOT TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT.

>> Cathy: DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE A YOUNG WHIPPER SNAPPER, PAUL DOUGLAS, AND YOU WERE PROBABLY, WHAT, 10 OR SOMETHING DURING EARTH DAY, FIRST ONE, I DON'T KNOW, I HAVE NO IDEA, BUT DO YOU REMEMBER -- IT MAKE AN IMPACT ON YOU AS A YOUNG LAD?

>> I WAS 12 YEARS OLD, GROWING UP IN LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA, I REMEMBER TAKING A BUSINESS TRIP WITH Y FATHER TO PITTSBURGH AND WEARING A T-SHIRT, A WHITE T-SHIRT, COME BACK FROM PITTSBURGH MY WHITE T-SHIRT WAS ORANGE.

I MEAN, THAT'S HOW BAD THE AIR POLLUTION WAS.

I GREW UP ON THE EAST COAST, NOT ONCE DID I EVER HEAR THE EXPRESSION "QUALITY OF LIFE."

UNTIL I MOVED TO MINNESOTA IN 1983.

AND IT DAWNED ON ME, GRADUALLY OVER TIME, WE LIVE IN A RESORT.

SURROUNDED BY A CONSTELLATION OF 11,862 LAKES.

WHO'S COUNTING?

A WATERY BUFFET.

WHICH LAKE DO YOU WANT TO HANG OUT ON TODAY?

AND I'M STILL GOB SMACKED BY THAT.

BUT MINNESOTA WASN'T ALWAYS LIKE THAT.

IN THE 1800s, MUCH OF THAT CENTURY, WE WERE AN EXTRACTION STATE, RIGHT?

CLEAR CUTTING OF MASSIVE PINE FORESTS, THE LUMBER INDUSTRY WAS KING.

UNTIL LATE IN THE 1800s, A CRITICAL MASS OF MINNESOTANS SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT?

A PLUNDERED STATE IS AN UNLIVABLE STATE.

SO THEY PUT UP GUARDRAILS.

THE ITASCA STATE PARK, 1891, WE LIVE IN A RESORT TODAY BECAUSE OUR GREAT GRANDPARENTS HAD THE FORESIGHT TO REALIZE THAT PROTECTING THE HEADWATERS OF THE MISSISSIPPI, WAY MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANOTHER LUMBER SHIPMENT.

WE ARE BENEFICIARIES OF THEIR STEWARDSHIP.

AND I HOPE WE CAN PASS THAT ON TO OUR GRANDKIDS' GRANDKIDS.

SAY THE SAME THING ABOUT US.

>> Cathy: AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP STEWARDSHIP BECAUSE THE OPJORDAN FAMILY.

>> OH, GOSH.

>> Cathy: THEY'RE MINNESOTANS WHO TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, PERSONAL STEWARDSHIP, AS PAUL WAS TAKING ABOUT.

FOR FOLKS WHO DON'T KNOW, THEY'RE IN MYELIN.

>> CHIPPEWA COUNTY IN WESTERN MINNESOTA.

WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL.

WE LOST MARTHA AND LUTHER EARLIER THIS YEAR.

THEY BOTH PASSED AWAY.

FOUR GENERATIONS F OPJORDANS, HAVE KEPT 133 YEARS OF CLIMATE RECORDS.

>> Eric: HOW MANY?

>> 133 YEARS OF CLIMATE RECORDS.

>> Eric: WOW.

>> THEY'VE ALREADY HARDLY MISSED ANY OBSERVATIONS, ERIC.

>> Eric: WOW.

>> AND THAT THEIR STATION IN CHIPPEWA COUNTY HAS BECOME PART OF THE NATIONAL HISTORICAL CLIMATE NETWORK, WHICH IS USED TO SUBSTANTIATE ALL THE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE ABOUT THE PACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND WHAT IT'S DOING.

AND THEY WERE STEWARDS OF THAT FOR THEIR COMMUNITY AND THEY WERE RECOGNIZED WHEN THEY BOTH PASSED AWAY EARLIER THIS EAR, THEY WERE RECOGNIZED FOR THAT CONTRIBUTION.

WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL.

WE HAVE MANY CITIZENS IN MINNESOTA THAT ARE SO, THANKFULLY, SO DILIGENT ABOUT KEEPING TRACK OF THE ENVIRONMENT FOR US AND CONTRIBUTING TO ALL THE RICH DATA THAT PAUL AND I USE TO TALK ABOUT THE WEATHER AND CLIMATE.

WITHOUT THEM WE'D BE LOST, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Cathy: WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARTH DAY.

BUT I'VE GOT TO BRING THIS UP TODAY.

WE HAD ANOTHER OUTBREAK OF SEVERE WEATHER.

STEWARTVILLE, MINNESOTA, EVIDENTLY, MIGHT HAVE BEEN HIT BY A TORNADO, WOULD THAT BE RIGHT, DID I HEAR THAT RIGHT?

>> THERE WERE TORNADOES TODAY JUST SOUTH OF ROCHESTER THAT WERE SHOWING UP ON MnDOT'S TRAFFIC CAMERAS.

WHICH I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

BUT QUITE AN OUTBREAK.

IT'S BEEN A BUSY YEAR FOR SOUTHERN MINNESOTA, A BUSY APRIL.

NOT THAT UNUSUAL TO HAVE THEM IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE THIS TIME OF YEAR.

BUT IT DOES MAKE ME WONDER IF IT'S AN OMEN FOR A BUSIER SEVERE WEATHER SEASON.

WE'RE HEADING INTO A SUPER EL NINO.

MOST OF THE EXPERTS BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL NOT BE A GARDEN VARIETY EL NINO, WARM PHASE AT THE PACIFIC.

BUT A SUPER EL NINO, POSSIBLY THE STRONGEST EVER RECORDED.

AND THAT CORRELATES STRONGLY WITH MILDER WINTERS HERE.

I WOULD BET A HALF-EATEN STATE FAIR CORN DOG THAT NEXT WINTER WILL BE RELATIVELY MILD WITH CONSIDERABLY LESS SNOW AND MORE RAIN.

BUT HOW IT AFFECTS THE DROUGHT, IS THIS GOING TO BE A FLOOD YEAR, A DROUGHT YEAR?

I DON'T PRETEND TO KNOW.

>> YEAH.

THE MODELS, IT'S A LITTLE DISCONCERTING RIGHT NOW TO LOOK AT THE NORTH AMERICAN ENSEMBLE OF MODELS BECAUSE MOST OF THEM ARE HEDGING TOWARDS A DRY SUMMER FOR MINNESOTA.

AND WE ALL KNOW THAT WE HAVE SOME CARRYOVER DROUGHT YET, YOU KNOW, FROM LAST YEAR.

>> I JUST SAW THE LATEST DATA.

APPARENTLY NATIONWIDE THE DROUGHT IS WORSE THAN IT'S BEEN SINCE THE 1930s, SINCE THE DUST BOWL DAYS.

AND WE HAVE POCKETS OF DROUGHT RIGHT NOW IN MINNESOTA.

>> RIGHT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WORRIES ME, ALL THAT HEAT THEY HAD IN MARCH IN THE WEST, IT AS DRIED OUT THE WESTERN U.S.

AND I WORRY ABOUT, IS THIS GOING TO BE ANOTHER WILDFIRE SMOKE SUMMER.

I HOPE NOT.

WE ALL FANTASIZE ABOUT WHAT THE SUMMERS, OUR AMAZING SUMMERS WILL BE LIKE.

SMOKE CAN OBVIOUSLY PUT A DAMPER ON THAT.

>> Cathy: RIGHT.

>> BUT WE'LL HOPE FOR THE BEST.

>> Cathy: I'M GOING TO SEE YOU SOON.

>> APRIL 29.

>> athy: I KNOW.

>> LANDMARK CENTER.

WE'RE DOING A PROGRAM.

I HOPE PEOPLE COME TO THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT 26 YEARS OF MORNING EDITION AND THEN ALL THESE YEARS WE'VE BEEN DOING THE STATE FAIR WEATHER QUIZ.

>> Cathy: I KNOW.

>> Eric: THIS SOUNDS LIKE A SHAMELESS PLUG.

[ Laughter ] >> Cathy: 26 YEARS!

COME ON!

>> ELL DONE.

>> Eric: THANKS, WEATHER SUPER STARS.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND SWITCH OUT GUESTS RIGHT NOW.

RIGHT NOW WHILE DOMINIC PAPATOLA SHARES SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT LANGUAGE.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

♪ ♪ >> DOMINIC: BY PROFESSION AND AVOCATION, I AM A WRITER.

AND SO OVER THE YEARS, I’VE BECOME PRETTY GOOD AT MAKING WORDS DO MY BIDDING: FUNNY, THOUGHTFUL, POIGNANT, ETC.

IT’S A GIFT I CHERISH• EXCEPT WHEN I’M IN A PLACE WHERE ENGLISH ISN’T SPOKEN.

IN A FOREIGN ENVIRONMENT, IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE I’M NAVIGATING THE WORLD WITHOUT ONE OF MY SENSES.

I TRIED TO FORESTALL THAT FEELING WHEN WE WENT TO ITALY A FEW WEEKS AGO.

I SPENT A COUPLE HOURS A DAY FOR A COUPLE MONTHS, TRYING TO CRAM A WORKABLE AMOUNT OF ITALIAN INTO MY BRAIN.

AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW HOW IT TURNED OUT: UNLESS I WAS ASKING HOW MUCH SOMETHING COST OR WHERE THE BATHROOM WAS, I WAS PRETTY MUCH LOST.

BUT A FUNNY THING HAPPENED AROUND THE EASTER TABLE WITH A FAMILY OF CALABRIAN PAPATOLAS•ONLY ONE OF WHOM — EDOUARDO — SPOKE ENGLISH.

I’D LOVE TO SAY THAT I HAD A PROFOUND CULTURAL REVELATION, BUT THAT DIDN’T REALLY HAPPEN.

WHAT DID HAPPEN WAS THAT, IN MEETING EDUARDO’S PARENTS, I GOT A LITTLE VISITATION FROM MY OWN FOLKS, WHO HAVE BEEN GONE FOR SOME YEARS NOW.

MEETING HIS DAUGHTERS, I DISCOVERED THAT TEENAGE GIRLS ARE TEENAGE GIRLS, AND THAT EYE-ROLLING AND PHONE SCROLLING ARE A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE.

AND I LEARNED ANEW THAT WHEN YOU CAN’T SPEAK, YOU CAN COMPENSATE QUITE A BIT BY WATCHING AND LISTENING• FOR TONE, FOR BODY LANGUAGE.

AND COMPANIONABLE SILENCE IS NOT THE WORST THING IN THE WORLD.

EDUARDO AND I ALSO BONDED OVER SOCCER, AND HE GAVE ME THIS SCARF FROM HIS HOME CLUB OO-NEE-OHN-AY SPORTIVA CATANZARO.

IT SAYS “NOI SIAMO CATANZARO” “WE ARE CATANZARO.” AND•INDEED WE ARE.

>> CATHY: HERE AT TWIN CITIES PBS WE LOVE PRESERVING THE STORIES OF OUR STATE AND ITS PEOPLE, AND THE NEWEST HISTORY DOCUMENTARY FROM MINNESOTA EXPERIENCE SERVES UP A SLICE OF A HISTORIC MUSIC SCENE.

'THE WILD WEST BANK SOUND,' PREMIERING THIS WEEKEND AT THE MSP INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AND ON OUR OWN AIRWAVES NEXT TUESDAY, DIVES INTO THE MUSIC THAT CAME OUT OF MINNEAPOLIS' STORIED CEDAR-RIVERSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD.

HERE'S A SNEAK PEEK.

>> IT WAS A VERY EXCITING TIME.

SO MUCH MUSIC EVERY NIGHT.

THERE WAS A HUGE FOLK SCENE GOING ON.

>> THERE WAS A SORT F SECOND ITERATION OF THE SCHOLAR ON THE WEST BANK, TOO.

>> I LOVE LEO COTKEY, HE WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE GUITAR PLAYERS.

KOTTKE PLAYED AT THE SECOND SCHOLAR.

>> UP NEAR SEVEN CORNERS.

♪ ♪ >> BILL AND JUDY WERE PRETTY AMAZING O ME.

THEY WERE OUTRAGEOUSLY INTELLIGENT, CREATIVE, HUMOROUS, HAD SO MUCH HISTORY IN MUSIC.

>> OH, R JUDY IS THE CONSUMMATE STORYTELLER AND BILL WAS QUIET, EXTREMELY INTELLIGENT.

THEY WERE AROUND THE WEST BANK FOREVER.

>> HE JOINED THE STORY MOTHERS BAND THAT I WAS IN.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, HIJINX ENSUED AFTER THAT.

>> SHE HAD A VOICE LIKE OLD BLUES.

♪ I THROUGH THE BOTTOM AND I NEVER COME UP ♪ ♪ TELL ME HOW LONG ♪ ♪ HOW LONG ♪ ♪ OH, CAN I GET YOU NOW ♪ ♪ YOU CERTAINLY CAN ♪ >> JUDY LARSON WAS THE ROOM AND THE ROOM WAS JUDY LARSON.

FUNNY, GRITTY, IT SHOWED ME A LOT THAT WE AS FEMALE PERFORMERS GET TO BE ALL OF THESE THINGS TOO.

>> JUST A CLASSIC COUPLE IN THE FOLK WORLD.

♪ ♪ >> Cathy: TERRIFIC.

HERE WITH MORE ON THE "WILD WEST BANK SOUND," TWIN CITIES PBS EXTRAORDINAIRE KEVIN DRAGSETH.

JOINING HIM TONIGHT, MARY DUSHANE, ONE OF THE MANY INCREDIBLE WOMEN FEATURED IN THE FILM EXCERPT YOU JUST SAW I'M SO EXCITED TO TALK WITH YOU BOTH ABOUT THIS.

MARY, I WAS TALKING TO ERIC ABOUT THIS OFF AIR, IT WAS MORE THAN FOLK ON THE WEST BANK, THERE WAS BLUES AND REGGAE, LIKE THIS MELTING POT OF MUSIC.

WHAT DID THE WEST BANK MEAN TO YOU MUSICIANS?

>> WELL, IT WAS A GREAT MOMENT IN THE HISTORY OF OUR GENERATION.

AND IT WAS A PRIVILEGE TO BE THERE AND BE PART OF THE SCENE.

YOU KNOW, THERE WAS THE RIVERSIDE CAFÉ WHERE WE PLAYED MOST OF THE FOLKY STUFF WAS, AND RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE 400 BAR, THEN THERE WAS THE VIKING BAR, AND THE TRIANGLE, AND THAT'S WHERE MOST OF THE BLUES GUYS WERE.

BUT WE ALL INTERMINGLED AND WENT TO THOSE AFTER-HOURS PARTIES AND PLAYED TOGETHER.

AND WE NEVER HOUGHT, AS DAVE USED TO SAY, HE JUST WANTED TO PLAY HIS GUITAR.

WE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS SPECIAL AT THE TIME.

IT WAS JUST THE WAY LIFE WAS.

SATURATED IN MUSIC AND FUN.

>> Eric: HOW DID THE SCENE DEVELOP?

>> IT SEEMED TO DEVELOP KIND OF ACCIDENTALLY.

SOME STUDENTS WHO WERE USED TO DRINKING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER HAD TROUBLE WITH ONE OF THEIR BLACK FRIENDS NOT BEING WELCOMED INTO A BAR.

AND, SO, THEY CAME ACROSS THE RIVER AND JUST WERE LIKE, HEY, LOOK AT THIS AMAZING PLACE FULL OF SCANDINAVIANS, LARGELY, AND FOUND ALL THESE BARS AND JUST KIND OF TOOK IT OVER OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW YEARS IN THE EARLY '60s.

>> Eric: WOMEN, YOU KNOW, BACK THEN I THINK YOU WOULD SAY THAT MUSIC MAY HAVE BEEN MORE OF A MALE-DOMINATED THING.

>> OH, YES.

>> Eric: WERE WOMEN TREATED EQUALLY OR WELL?

>> WELL, I NEVER HAD TROUBLE MYSELF BECAUSE I HAD THE TALENT.

TO KEEP UP WITH THE GUYS.

BUT I WAS THE ONLY FIDDLE PLAYER, FEMALE FIDDLE PLAYER AROUND, YOU KNOW.

NOW THERE ARE MANY OF THEM.

>> Eric: SURE.

>> IT'S A WONDERFUL NEW -- THIS NEW GENERATION IS CARRYING ON FOR US.

IN A WONDERFUL WAY.

>> Cathy: THERE'S ALWAYS A SPARK BEHIND EVERY DOCUMENTARY THAT PUSHES THE PRODUCER TO KEEP GOING.

SO, WHAT WAS THE SPARK HERE, MY FRIEND?

>> I MEAN, I AM A MUSICIAN OF SORTS, AND, SO, I WENT TO A LOT OF THOSE BARS AND SAW SOME OF MY STILL FAVORITE LOCAL BANDS IN THOSE PLACES.

A LITTLE BIT AFTER THIS ERA.

BUT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE TURNED INTO THE NEXT BAND THAT I WOULD SEE.

SO IT KIND OF JUST -- I MEAN, FOR ME IT WAS A NATURAL FIT, BUT IT WAS SO MUCH OF IT I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.

AND SO THANKS TO MARY AND ALL THESE OTHER AMAZING PEOPLE WE TALKED TO, 25 PEOPLE, I THINK WE SPOKE TO, WHO WERE EITHER MUSICIANS ON THE SCENE OR SCENE SUSPECT STERES WHO WERE ALIVE AND ENJOYING THE SEEN, PARTICIPATING IN IT, PHOTOGRAPHS, ARTIST, ALL KINDS OF STUFF, SO REALLY RICH.

>> AND SO MANY OF OUR COMPATRIOTS AND PEERS ARE GONE, YOU KNOW.

I WAS BORN THE SAME YEAR S DAVE RAY AND WILLIE MURPHY.

BUT, AS THEY SAY, THEY'RE THOUGHT REALLY GONE, THEY WALK BESIDE US.

THEY SHOW UP IN DREAMS.

YEAH.

>> Eric: WAS THERE A HIPPIE FLAVOR TO IT, PEACE, LOVE, ALL THAT STUFF?

>> OH, YEAH.

[ Laughter ] YOU BET.

>> Eric: WAS THERE A POLITICAL ANGLE TO IT.

>> OH, -- >> Eric: PROTEST SONGS.

>> WELL, YEAH, THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF THAT, ESPECIALLY THOSE LATE-NIGHT PARTIES, WE'D GO THE SINGER SONGWRITERS, WE'D ALL SIT AROUND AND PLAY.

I DIDN'T RITE SONGS, I JUST WOULD PLAY ALONG, YOU KNOW.

BUT, YEAH, JUST WHAT YOU'D EXPECT, LIBERAL POLITICS.

>> I THINK IF I CAN JUMP IN, THE THREAT OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHAT CEDAR WEST -- CEDAR SQUARE WEST, THEY BUILT ONE, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TEN, THAT GALVANIZED THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO SAY, WE ARE WORKING-CLASS NEIGHBORHOODS, WE DON'T WANT THE GIANT APARTMENT COMPLEX, THAT CREATED THE HYPERACTIVEIVISM, NOT JUST ANTI-VIETNAM WAR TYPE STUFF BUT DON'T TEAR APART OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> Cathy: I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WAS ON THE DOCKET.

>> IT CAME OUT OF THE NEW RIVERSIDE CAFÉ WAS KIND OF THE PLACE WHERE A LOT OF THAT HAPPENED.

HAND IN HAND WITH THE MUSIC.

IT WAS VERY ORGANIC.

>> THAT WAS PRETTY RADICAL IN THOSE DAYS, YEAH.

>> Cathy: SO, I MEAN, THIS WAS VIBRANT MUSIC SCENE, OBVIOUSLY.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU UNCOVERED AS A PRODUCER THAT MARY HELPED SHED LIGHT ON FOR YOU?

>> YEAH.

WELL, I MEAN, ONE OF THE SURPRISES FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, I GREW UP HEARING THEM, SHAN GUY I CAN'T, THESE CARIBBEAN BANDS HO MOST PEOPLE KIND OF GO, WAIT, WHAT, WHY DID MINNEAPOLIS BECOME THE HUB OF CARIBBEAN MUSIC, AND IT JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE OF THESE -- IT'S AN IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORHOOD, IT WAS JUST THE NEXT GROUP OF FOLKS WHO ARRIVED AND BROUGHT THIS KIND OF AFRICAN DIASPORA MUSIC THAT MINNESOTANS LOVED AND IT BECAME FOR SEVERAL DECADES OF KIND OF HOT BED OF CARIBBEAN MUSIC.

>> GOOD POINT, KEVIN, YEAH.

>> IT FIT WITH THE FOLK, THEY DIDN'T COMPETE, THEY JUST FILLED DIFFERENT POCKETS.

>> Eric: DID YOU HAVE A FAVORITE GIG OR A FAVORITE GROUP OF MUSICIANS TO PLAY WITH?

>> WELL, I'M GOING TO GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO 1972, I'M LD, YES, I KNOW.

BUT I PLAYED WITH EVERYBODY IN THOSE DAYS.

THE JUG BAND SCENE, I WAS PART OF THE ORIGINAL JUG BAND SCENE FROM 1970 ON.

AND THE FOLKY STUFF AND, YEAH, ALL KINDS OF -- THE SINGER SONGWRITERS, THE STRING BAND MUSIC, IT WAS ALL.

>> Eric: DID THE PUNK ROCKERS KIND OF INVADE THE SCENE?

>> THEY CAME LATER.

SO WE DON'T REALLY INCLUDE THEM.

BUT THERE'S KIND OF INDIE BAND IN THE '80s, JAYHAWKS, THE GOLD SMOG, SOME KIND OF STUFF THAT PEOPLE WERE STILL PLAYING AND ACTIVE.

MARY HAD A GREAT INE IN THE FILM WHERE SHE SAID, IN 1972, SHE PLAYED MORE THAN ANYBODY AT THE NEW RIVERSIDE CAFÉ BECAUSE SHE PLAYED WITH EVERYBODY, JUST A TOTAL COLLABORATOR.

SO HER NAME IS IN ALL THE CONCERT POSTERS THAT WE HAVE.

>> Eric: WHEN AND WHERE CAN WE SEE THIS THING?

>> IT'S PREMIERING AT MINNESOTA -- MINNEAPOLIS St.

PAUL INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ON SUNDAY.

>> Cathy: THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

>> Eric: A SELLOUT.

>> IT WILL AIR ON TWIN CITIES PBS ON THURSDAY.

>> Cathy: AND STREAM ONLINE.

>> Eric: LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING IT.

>> YOU ARE A LEGEND.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> OH, MY GOODNESS, NOT SO MUCH FOR YOU.

I HEAR YOUR VOICE FIRST THING EVERY MORNING.

>> Eric: ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.

THANKS.

>> Cathy: APPRECIATE YOU BOTH.

>> MEMBERS, JUST WANT TO THANK YOU.

THIS IS MY LAST GAVEL.

IT'S BEEN AN HONOR.

THANK YOU FOR THE TIME AND WHAT YOU'VE GIVEN TO ME.

WITH THAT, THIS CONCLUDES OUR BUSINESS FOR TODAY.

OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE THURSDAY, APRIL 16th, 2026.

THIS COMMITTEE IS ADJOURNED.

AND THIS IS A CHALLENGE I PUT OUT TO ALL THE MEMBERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE BACK AND COME BACK.

PLEASE TAKE THE BIPARTISAN SPIRIT THAT HAS COME OUT OF EDUCATION FINANCE, IT'S OKAY TO HAVE DUSTUPS, IT'S OKAY TO HAVE OUR OLICIES, BUT TAKE THAT AND KEEP THAT AS THE STANDARD.

WE NEED THAT.

I'VE BEEN THROUGH MANY OTHER COMMITTEES, AND I SEE THINGS WHERE THAT GETS DROPPED.

THERE'S MORE AGREEMENT HERE AND AMONGST OUR SCHOOLS AND HOW WE EDUCATE THAN THERE IS DISAGREEMENT.

>> ERIC: EARLIER THIS WEEK, MINNEAPOLIS MAYOR JACOB FREY MADE TIME MAGAZINE'S ANNUAL LIST OF THE 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE.

THE MAYOR'S NATIONAL PROFILE CONTINUES TO RISE IN THE WAKE OF OPERATION METRO SURGE.- BU OPERATION METRO SURGE.- BUT PERATION METRO SURGE.- BUT FRRATION METRO SURGE.- BUT FREYTION METRO SURGE.- BUT FREY'SON METRO SURGE.- BUT FREY'S B METRO SURGE.- BUT FREY'S BATETRO SURGE.- BUT FREY'S BATTLRO SURGE.- BUT FREY'S BATTLES SURGE.- BUT FREY'S BATTLES WURGE.- BUT FREY'S BATTLES WITGE.- BUT FREY'S BATTLES WITH .- BUT FREY'S BATTLES WITH THE CITY COUNCIL ALSO CONTINUE.

THE STAR TRIBUNE'S CITY HALL REPORTER DEENA WINTER HAS BEEN FOLLOWING IT ALL.

THE LATEST FLASHPOINT, I SUPPOSE, WAS THE CITY'S PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSIONER AND HE WAS REJECTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

WHAT'S BEHIND ALL THAT?

>> YEAH.

IT'S HISTORY MAKING.

I GUESS, AS FAR AS THE CITY CLERK KNOWS, IT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT'S EVER HAPPENED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD EJECT A NOMINEE OF THE MAYOR.

AND, SO, THEY SAID THAT THEY DON'T -- THEY'RE UNHAPPY ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW, HE OVERSEES THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT, 911, SOME OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS, AND THEY'RE UNHAPPY THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WENT OVERBUDGET Y NEARLY $20 MILLION LAST YEAR, AND HE OVERSAW THEM BUT DIDN'T SEEM TO KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT IT.

LIKE MANY PEOPLE AT CITY HALL, UNTIL WE REPORTED IT LATE LAST YEAR.

AND -- SO THEY'RE UNHAPPY ABOUT THAT.

THEY'RE NHAPPY ABOUT SOME OF THE WAYS SOME DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES HAVE BEEN HANDLED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

IT WAS A 7-6 VOTE, CLOSE.

>> Cathy: BUT FREY SAID IT WAS MATERIAL POLITICS, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> WELL, HE DID ALLEGE THAT THERE'S VOTE TRADING GOING ON, AND POLITICAL GAMESMANSHIP AND SO ON.

THEY WILL BE VOTING THIS COMING THURSDAY TO OVERRIDE.

WE'LL SEE IF THEY CAN OVERRIDE THE VETO OR NOT.

>> Cathy: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE MAYOR FREY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY COUNCIL?

>> WELL, THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, ARE FURTHER TO THE LEFT THAN -- OF HIM.

AND THERE'S DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS, THERE'S SEVERAL DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS ON THE COUNCIL NOW.

SO IT BECOMES A BIT OF A ARGUMENT BETWEEN THE LEFT AND THE FARTHER LEFT.

AND IT CAN GET PRETTY HEATED.

SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT STRAINED, I WOULD SAY.

>> Eric: MINNEAPOLIS IS AN 85 DEMOCRATIC, 5 REPUBLICAN.

WHY ARE THE DEMOCRATS FUSSIN' AND FIGHTIN' WITH EACH OTHER, AS YOU SAY, THE LIBERAL AND THE MORE LIBERAL?

>> I MEAN, I WISH -- I'M STILL TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

I'VE COVERED CITY COUNCILS IN SEVERAL OTHER STATES.

IN NORTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, THE SUBURBS OF MINNEAPOLIS EVEN.

AND THEY WERE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ON THOSE CITY COUNCILS.

THESE ARE ALL DEMOCRATS AND DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS.

BUT I'VE NEVER EEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.

LIKE NEVER SEEN SUCH VITRIOL, SO I'M STILL SORT OF TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT MYSELF.

LIKE, WHY CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?

BUT PEOPLE FEEL VERY PRECIPITATIONLY -- PASSION LIT ABOUT THESE ISSUES.

YOU SEE IT ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL, THE LEFT, AND HE FARTHER LEFT, DSA.

>> Cathy: GETTING BACK TO PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSIONER TODD BARNETT, IF HE OVERSEES THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH HE DOES, AND I'M CURIOUS AS TO WHY MAYOR FREY HASN'T BROUGHT UP CHIEF O'HARA'S RENOMINATION AT THIS POINT.

DOES HE NOT HAVE THE VOTES?

>> SAID, FIRST HE WANTED TO NOMINATE HIS CABINET, WHICH WAS CITY ATTORNEY AND BARNETT AND THE CITY OPERATIONS OFFICER.

AND THEN HE SAYS IN THE COMING WEEKS HE WILL NOMINATE SOME OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS, INCLUDING, PRESUMABLY, O'HARA.

BUT, YEAH, SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KIND OF WONDERING THE SAME THING, LIKE WHAT'S TAKING SO LONG TO GET O'HARA NOMINATED.

THAT'S A BIG ONE.

>> Eric: THE GAY BATH HOUSES WERE OUTLAWED IN MINNEAPOLIS, I THINK, IN 1989.

AND THEY'RE BACK FOR OMMITTEE CONSIDERATION OR STAFF CONSIDERATION.

IT ISN'T LIKE THEY'VE BEEN DELAYED OR BEEN DROPPED.

IT'S STILL PART OF THE INTRODUCTION PROCESS FOR AN ORDINANCE, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

THEY JUST VOTED LAST WEEK TO SEND IT TO STAFF AND HAVE THEM, LIKE, WORK OUT THE DETAILS OF SEVERAL ORDINANCE CHANGES.

>> Eric: THAT'S TYPICAL, I THINK.

>> IF THEY VOTE YES.

I MEAN, THEY DID DO A VOTE, THOUGH, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF DEBATE, BUT THEN THEY, YOU KNOW, ABOUT IS THIS WHAT WE SHOULD BE SPENDING OUR TIME ON RIGHT NOW, BUT THEN IT GOT HEATED, AND SOME ALLEGATIONS OF HOMOPHOBIA WERE MADE AND SO ON.

IN HE END THEY VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO SEND IT TO STAFF TO START WORKING ON THESE ORDINANCES, THAT THEY WILL THEN PRESUMABLY COME BACK AND VOTE ON.

>> Eric: HERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST IN MINNEAPOLIS CITY GOVERNMENT THESE DAYS, MORE THAN WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, FOR SURE.

HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT?

>> WELL, IT'S CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHY I TOOK THE JOB, BECAUSE IT'S SO INTERESTING TO COVER.

>> Eric: YEAH.

YOU DO GREAT.

THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

>> Cathy: THANKS.

>> THANKS.

>> ERIC: AT THE STATE CAPITOL, THERE'S ONE MONTH LEFT IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND PRIORITIES SUCH AS SCHOOL SAFETY, FRAUD REFORM, AND AN I.C.E.

RESPONSE HAVE NOT PASSED YET.

POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER GIVES US CONTEXT ON THE TOP ISSUES AND LEADERSHIP NEGOTIATIONS.

>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.

>> Mary: IT'S THAT TIME OF SESSION WHEN TALKS GO BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

>> DOWN TO ABOUT A MONTH LEFT OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

REALLY GRATEFUL, I THINK THERE'S SOME GOOD WORK GOING ON UP THERE.

>> THERE WAS ALIGNMENT ON SEVERAL KEY PRIORITIES, INCLUDING DOING SOMETHING TO SAVE HCMC, TAKING ACTION TO ADDRESS FRAUD AND GETTING A BONDING BILL.

>> EVERYTHING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN THAT ROOM AND AS WE MENTIONED, OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOT NEW THINGS COMING UP WITH ALL OF YOU.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT THIS YEAR, THEY'VE BEEN TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THOSE EVEN LAST YEAR.

AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD PLACE TO START.

>> THERE IS A FAIR AMOUNT OF POTENTIAL ALIGNMENT AROUND THE THINGS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO GET DONE THIS SESSION.

>> Mary: WE FOUND OUT THAT THE SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER WAS NOT INVITED TO TALKS WITH THE GOVERNOR AND HIS CAUCUS' VOTE WILL BE NEEDED TO BUILD A SUPER MAJORITY FOR A BONDING BILL, WHICH LEADERS SAY THEY WANT TO PASS IN THIS NONBUDGET YEAR.

>> TODAY IS A TAX DAY AND MINNESOTANS ACROSS THE STATE ARE REALIZING EXACTLY WHAT THE IMPACT IS TO THEIR POCKETBOOK OF MINNESOTA AND FEDERAL TAXES.

>> I GOT STOPPED 13 TIMES, 13 TIMES TO TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY.

>> Mary: NEARLY HALF OF THE EXPENSES IN HE DFL SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET ARE IN RESPONSE TO THE PRESIDENT'S CUTS.

>> WE HAVE 124 SEPARATE WHAT I WOULD SAY RETRIBUTION ACTIONS AGAINST MINNESOTA.

THE PRESIDENT PROMISED.

>> WE'RE STILL REELING FROM THE INCIDENTS OF METRO SURGE AND SILENCE IS NOT AN OPTION.

>> Mary: DEMOCRATS VOW TO ADDRESS THE EFFECTS OF FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ACTION.

>> I.C.E.

IS STILL HERE.

THE EFFECT THAT THEY'VE HAD THROUGH OPERATION METRO SURGE, WE'RE STILL FEELING THOSE EFFECTS.

>> Mary: ONE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER SPOKE UP.

>> I AM NOT HAPPY WITH WHAT HAPPENED WITH METRO SURGE.

I AM NOT GONNA SIT HERE AND SAY THIS WASN'T POORLY EXECUTED.

THERE WAS A LOT OF EMOTIONS.

THERE WAS A LOT OF LEADERS THAT SAID A LOT OF THINGS THAT I WISH HADN'T BEEN SAID.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE HAVE THIS NOW IN FRONT OF US.

MINNESOTA DOES NEED RELIEF, MINNESOTA BUSINESSES NEED RELIEF.

>> Mary: LAWMAKERS HEARD FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO AGAIN TALKED OF OFF-DUTY OFFICERS BEING RACIALLY PROFILED, AS RAMSEY COUNTY ANNOUNCED AN INVESTIGATION OF FEDERAL IMMIGRATION OFFICERS FOR KIDNAPPING.

>> Mr.

THAO IS AND HAS BEEN AN AMERICAN CITIZEN.

THERE'S NOT A DISPUTE OVER THAT.

THERE'S NO DISPUTE THAT HE WAS FORCIBLY TAKEN OUT OF HIS HOME.

AND YOU CAN ASK YOURSELF, AS YOU LOOK AT THOSE PICTURES, IS THAT GOOD LAW ENFORCEMENT?

HAD >> WE ARE GOING TO BE DOGGED IN OUR PURSUIT OF THE TRUTH.

>> NOW WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT WHETHER THAT WAS A KIDNAPPING CHARGE BY THESE FEDERAL OFFICIALS.

LOOK, ACCOUNTABILITY IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL.

WE WILL NEVER GET TIRED OF ASKING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND JUSTICE ON THIS.

>> Mary: THEN HENNEPIN COUNTY FILED THE FIRST CRIMINAL CHARGES FOR AN I.C.E.

AGENT'S ON-DUTY ACTIONS.

>> I WAS REALLY PROUD TO SEE RAMSEY COUNTY ATTORNEY JOHN CHOI PURSUE CHARGES, I'M GLAD TO KNOW IT'S HAPPENING IN HENNEPIN COUNTY AS WELL.

>> Mary: CONVICTED FRAUDSTERS WOULD FACE A TAX PENALTY IN A BIPARTISAN BILL.

>> HIS IS SERIOUS BILL, THIS IS NOT A MESSAGING BILL.

>> I THOUGHT IT AS A REALLY CLEVER IDEA.

>> THE RESOLUTION ON IMPEACHMENT INVESTIGATIONS IS DUMB.

>> THE MOST HAIR-BRAINED THING I THINK I HAVE EVER SEEN.

>> Mary: HOUSE REPUBLICANS HEARD A RESOLUTION OVER THE IMPEACH.

OF GOVERNOR WALZ FOR CORRUPT CONDUCT BE OF FRAUD.

>> WE HAVE ONE MONTH LEFT OF SESSION.

INSTEAD OF ASKING US WHAT MINNESOTANS ASKED US TO DO, THE REPUBLICANS ARE PROPOSING THAT WE SPEND THE REMAINING TIME IN PARTISAN ATTACKS.

>> WHAT MINNESOTANS ARE ASKING FOR IS ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE $9 BILLION RAUD IN OUR STATE.

>> IF WE WERE TO FINALLY CLOSE OUT THE SESSION IN MAY, MY HEAD WERE TO HIT THE BILL PILLOW THAT NIGHT, WE DIDN'T GET A SCHOOL SAFETY PACKAGE DONE, THAT WOULD BE A GREAT SENSE OF SADNESS.

>> WE ARE SO CLOSE TO DOING SOMETHING THIS CAREER ON THIS.

MY HOPE IS THAT WE STOP JUST LOBBING THINGS AT EACH OTHER AND ACTUALLY SIT DOWN AND TALK.

>> WE CAN WORK HARD OVER THE NEXT MONTH, THAT WE CAN HAVE A PRODUCTIVE SESSION AND A GOOD END OF SESSION.

>> I HEARD COMMITMENT IN THAT ROOM TO ET THE WORK FOR PEOPLE DONE.

BEFORE WE'RE DONE.

AND THAT GIVES ME SOME HOPE AND MAYBE A LITTLE EASE AT NIGHT WHEN IT IT'S TIME TO TRY AND SLEEP.

>> WITH A TIED HOUSE YOU SAW THAT WE FOCUSED HEAVILY ON WHAT COULD BE AGREED UPON, THAT'S HOW WE GOT THE BUDGET AND ALL OF THE WORK DONE AST YEAR, I WOULD THINK THAT YOU COULD EXPECT THE SAME THIS YEAR, TOO.

>> CATHY: ANOTHER BUSY POLITICAL WEEK HERE IN MINNESOTA AND IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

PLENTY OF FODDER FOR THIS WEEK'S POLITICAL PANEL.

REPUBLICANS UP FIRST TONIGHT.

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

EMILY NOVOTNY CHANCE IS A FORMER WHITE HOUSE INTERN AND LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT IN THE STATE SENATE.

CURRENTLY THE YOUNGEST NATIONAL REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE-WOMAN IN THE COUNTRY.

DEMOCRATS HERE TONIGHT.

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

AND SARA LOPEZ IS A PARTY ACTIVIST AND POLICY DIRECTOR AT UNIDOS MINNESOTA.

EMILY, SENATOR JOHNSON EVIDENTLY WAS NOT IN THAT LEADERSHIP MEETING WITH THE GOVERNOR.

THAT SEEMED A LITTLE UNUSUAL TO ME.

>> I THINK THE CONVERSATIONS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.

THAT'S NOT THE ONLY CONVERSATION THAT WILL HAPPEN.

THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP.

WE STILL HAVE OVER A MONTH LEFT.

>> Cathy: OKAY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK SOME OF THE -- WHICH OF THE REPUBLICAN PLANKS, AS IT WERE, IF THAT'S THE RIGHT WORD TO USE, OR ISSUES MIGHT MAKE IT INTO FINAL BILLS?

>> I REALLY HOPE SCHOOL SAFETY GETS PASSED.

ON THURSDAY, THEY JUST TRIED TO PASS THAT OFF THE FLOOR AGAIN.

IT WAS HELD UP BY EDUCATION MINNESOTA AND THE DEMOCRATS WANTING TO HOLD T HOSTAGE FOR ALL STUDENTS IN MINNESOTA TO BE SAFE.

BUT I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING- THT I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING- THATI THINK THAT'S SOMETHING- THAT MTHINK THAT'S SOMETHING- THAT MININK THAT'S SOMETHING- THAT MINNEK THAT'S SOMETHING- THAT MINNESOTHAT'S SOMETHING- THAT MINNESOTAAT'S SOMETHING- THAT MINNESOTANS'S SOMETHING- THAT MINNESOTANS - SOMETHING- THAT MINNESOTANS -- OMETHING- THAT MINNESOTANS -- MIETHING- THAT MINNESOTANS -- MINNHING- THAT MINNESOTANS -- MINNESNG- THAT MINNESOTANS -- MINNESOT- THAT MINNESOTANS -- MINNESOTA THAT MINNESOTANS -- MINNESOTA REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PUSH.

>> Cathy: OKAY.

I WONDER, HERE, SENATOR HAYDEN, IF WE LOOK AT THE ISSUES IN BUCKETS, WHAT'S THE EASY BUCKET, AND WHAT'S THE HARD BUCKET?

>> YEAH, WELL, I MEAN, WELL, LET ME JUST SAY, I THINK IT'S -- I THINK IT'S A LITTLE MUCH TO SAY THAT DEMOCRATS AND EDUCATION MINNESOTA DON'T WANT SCHOOL SAFETY.

I THINK THEY REALLY DO.

BUT I THINK THAT THEY WANT A PACKAGE THAT INCLUDES ASSAULT RIFLES AND HIGH-CAPACITY MAGAZINES, WEAPONS OF WAR AND I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING WORTH HOLDING OUT FOR.

SO I THINK THAT THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WILL GET DONE, BUT THAT'S HARD NO FOR REPUBLICANS.

AND THAT'S A PROBLEM.

SO, IF YOU LOOK AT THE BUCKETS, I ACTUALLY THINK SOMETHING HOPEFULLY GETS DONE THERE.

I THINK THE HOSPITAL, THE HCMC, THAT INCLUDES NORTH MEMORIAL, REALLY WILL GET DONE.

BOTH THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE HAVE INTRODUCED PACKAGES THAT KIND OF GO FROM THE TWINS TAX AND THEN YOU'VE GOT TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

I ALSO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE, I THINK THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT SOME PROPERTY TAX RELIEF OR SOME RELIEF TO THE TAXPAYERS.

THAT'S PROBABLY HAVE TO BE IN PART OF THE MIX.

>> Eric: SENATOR?

>> OH, WELL, I JUST FIND IT INTERESTING THAT HOLDING UP THE EDUCATION SAFETY BILL WITH GUNS, THERE'S AN IRONIC SYMBOLISM THERE.

THAT'S A NO GO FROM HE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

I DO THINK THERE IS A POSITIVE AMOUNT OF MOMENTUM THAT APPEARS TO BE HAPPENING FROM THE OUTSIDE, AT LEAST, ON THE ISSUE OF SCHOOL SAFETY.

THAT FINALLY SOMETHING LIKE THAT'S GOING TO BE DONE.

THAT'S GOING TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE OF ALL STUDENTS IN MINNESOTA.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE IN A BIT OF A HOLDING PATTERN, KIND OF WAITING UNTIL THE END FOR NEGOTIATIONS.

AND THEN THERE'S A HARD, RIGHT, THE RESPONSE TO THE FEDERAL OCCUPATION, SOME BUSINESS RELIEF, SOME RELIEF, LIKE SAFE SPACES, AND THEN HOW THE STATE IS GOING TO ESPOND TO THE NEW FORMS IN WHICH MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IS GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED.

SO THERE IS LIKE -- I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE FROM IN A HOLDING PATTERN UNTIL KIND OF LIKE MAY, ONCE WE ENTER THE SPRING, AND THE NEGOTIATIONS TRULY BEGIN.

I DO HOPE THAT WE CAN GET SOMETHING DONE ON THE RESPONSE TO THE FEDERAL OCCUPATION.

>> Cathy: EMILY.

>> I DO HAVE IT ON GOOD AUTHORITY, TOO, THAT WE'LL HAVE SOME PUBLIC SAFETY FUNDING THAT WILL PASS, AS WELL AS SOME CAPITOL SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS.

>> Cathy: I WONDER WHAT HAPPENED TO THE FFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, IS THAT OUT THERE SOMEWHERE?

>> I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO MOVE THIS SESSION.

>> I THINK THAT IT'S OUT THERE AND IT SEEMED LIKE THEY HAD GOTTEN CLOSE UNTIL THEY HADN'T.

SO I FEEL LIKE THAT MIGHT BE PART OF THE BIGGER NEGOTIATIONS.

THERE'S BEEN SOME CHATTER LATELY, DO YOU REALLY NEED IT OR DON'T YOU.

BUT IT APPEARS TO ME THAT BOTH GROUPS, BOTH HOUSES AND IN BOTH CAUCUSES HAVE PASSED BILLS THAT HAVE TO GO TO SOME SORT OF CONFERENCE COMMITTEE TO IRON OUT BUT I THINK THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

>> Eric: WHY DON'T WE CHEW ON THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS.

MICHELLE LATOY -- LAFOY I CAN'T.

2.2 MILLION SHE RAISED.

>> CAME OUT REALLY SWINGING, LEADING THE CREW.

I THINK THE NEXT CANDIDATE HAD AROUND A MILLION.

SO GOOD NUMBERS COMING OUT ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

TAFOYA.

>> Eric: WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH ANGIE CRAIG.

>> SHE'S RAISING MORE MONEY BECAUSE SHE'S GETTING MONEY FROM THE BIG PAC, AND THEN WE HAVE THE FLANAGAN TEAM, GRASSROOTS, SINGLE PEOPLE DONATIONS.

YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY INTERESTING PARKER IN TERMS OF WHAT MINNESOTANS ARE ALL ABOUT.

AND I DO THINK THAT BECAUSE OF -- WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THE FEDERAL OCCUPATION, TEAM FLANAGAN MIGHT HAVE A REALLY GOOD SHOT IN THE METRO.

>> I DO THINK THAT TAFOYA, THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MADE HER AN ATTRACTIVE CANDIDATE RIGHT FROM THE GET-GO, EVERYBODY KNEW THAT SHE WOULD BE ABLE TO RAISE MONEY AND SHE WILL.

SHE MAY END UP BEING THE ONE, ONE CAN ONLY HOPE, MAY END UP BEING A HIGH SPENDER IN THAT SENATE CAMPAIGN.

>> THE QUESTION IS, DO PEOPLE KNOW MICHELLE -- DO MINNESOTANS KNOW HER?

LIKE SHE CLEARLY IS A NATIONAL PRESENCE.

VERY ARTICULATE, ALL OF HER GREAT WORK IN SPORTS.

BUT DOES SHE KNOW -- DO MINNESOTANS KNOW HER?

AND WHEN IT GETS DOWN TO TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT MINNESOTANS CARE ABOUT, THAT'S WHEN THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD.

>> I'M NOT A SPORTS PERSON, I DIDN'T KNOW HER.

OH, MY GOD, OH, HELLO, YES.

>> $10 MILLION CAN BUY A LOT OF INTRODUCTIONS.

>> Eric: HOW DO YOU COUNTER ACT, IS IT 5 MILLION THAT KLOBUCHAR HAS COME UP WITH HER GOVERNOR'S RUN?

>> SHE'S OUR .S.

SENATOR, SO SHE ALREADY HAS THAT STATEWIDE NAME ID BUILT 'IN, THAT'S DEFINITELY AN ADVANTAGE GOING INTO THE ELECTION, I DON'T THINK THAT ANYONE'S GOING TO PRETEND THAT THAT'S THE CASE.

BUT REPUBLICANS ARE REPEATEDLY OUTSPENT TEN TO ONE IN MINNESOTA AND WE STILL HAVE A TIE IN THE MINNESOTA HOUSE AND THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A ONE-SEAT MAJORITY IN THE SENATE.

SO I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT GOING INTO NOVEMBER THAT DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE WILL GET OUTSPENT, OUR MESSAGE IS BETTER.

>> I THINK THAT -- [ OVERLAPPING CONVERSATION ] [ Laughter ] >> I DO THINK THAT IT'S EXPECTED THAT SHE WILL PROBABLY OUTSPEND WHOEVER HER OPPONENT IS, PROBABLY AT LEAST FIVE TO ONE.

>> YUP.

>> AND SHE'S GOING TO NEED EVERY PENNY OF THAT.

SHE'S NEVER REALLY RUN A TOUGH RACE IN MINNESOTA.

WE'VE GOTTEN USED TO HAVING HER ON THE BALLOT.

AND SHE'S A BIT EVASIVE.

I MEAN, WHERE WAS SHE THIS WEEK WHEN THERE WAS THIS BIG DEBATE ON THE BOUNDARY WATERS?

HERE WAS A -- YOU KNOW, SHE'S A PROMINENT SENATOR, WHO'S RESPECTED ON BOTH IDES OF THE AISLE.

AND YOU DIDN'T HEAR A PEEP FROM HER.

INSTEAD, WHAT YOU HAD WAS, YOU KNOW, SMITH, OUR OTHER SENATOR, WHO ISN'T REALLY KNOWN AS BEING PARTICULARLY EFFECTIVE, BUT STANDING UP AND MAKING THE CASE.

AMY KLOBUCHAR WAS NOWHERE TO BE SEEN.

AND THAT'S A PATTERN, BY THE WAY, SHE'S A VERY GOOD POLITICIAN.

SHE'S BUSY DOING SOMETHING ELSE FOR US IN MINNESOTA.

[ OVERLAPPING CONVERSATION ] AND SHE GETS OUT OF THE PUBLIC LIMELIGHT.

>> I DON'T KNOW.

MAYBE FRITZ WAS THERE AND WATCHING EVERY SINGLE SPEECH, WHATEVER.

I THINK IT WAS SENATOR SMITH'S TIME TO REALLY KIND OF MAKE THE CASE ON THE WAY OUT THE DOOR.

I ALSO THINK THAT AMY RUNS REALLY REALLY GOOD RACES.

>> YES.

>> UNLIKE MICHELLE, EVERYBODY DOES KNOW AMY, AND I THINK SHE DOES KNOW THAT THESE ISSUES AND SHE'S HERE A LOT.

SO I DON'T THINK -- I MEAN, AMY VOTED THE RIGHT WAY.

SHE UNDERSTOOD WHAT SHE NEEDED TO DO, BUT SHE ELECTED TO, AND I THINK THAT -- AND THEY ET ALONG VERY ELL, TO LET SENATOR SMITH REALLY MAKE THE CASE ON THE BOUNDARY WATERS.

>> SHE'S A MACHINE.

SHE KNOWS HOW TO RUN STATEWIDE.

AND I THINK THAT SHE KNOWS THE STATE INCREDIBLY WELL.

SO, SHE'S FORMIDABLE.

SHE'S NEVER LOST A RACE EITHER.

SO, I WILL BE KIND OF CONCERNED IF I WAS THE OTHER SIDE.

>> IF KLOBUCHAR TAKING THE RIGHT VOTE MEANS VOTING AGAINST GOOD UNION-PAYING JOBS IN MINNESOTA, AND VOTING AGAINST DOING THINGS IN MINNESOTA WHERE WE CAN HOLD THE HIGHEST QUALITY AND STANDARD WHEN IT COMES TO THE ENVIRONMENT, SAFETY, THEN, GOSH, I WOULD HATE TO SEE WHAT THE WRONG VOTE IS BECAUSE SHE VOTED AGAINST MINNESOTANS.

>> I THINK THE WRONG VOTE MIGHT BE POLLUTING THE PRISTINE BOUNDARY WATERS, WHICH IS IND OF OUR GRAND CANYON, THERE WAS A REASON WHY THAT THEY DIDN'T GIVE -- THAT THEY DIDN'T GIVE THEM THE LICENSES.

IF YOU GO TO OTHER COUNTRIES, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS ON THE RANGE, AND I HAVE A LOT OF LABOR FRIENDS, BUT WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, THERE WAS A REASON WHY WE PUT THAT THERE.

AND IF THE RIGHT 30 VOTE IS TO PRESERVE WHAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT IN THE SEGMENT BEFORE, OUR FATHERS, GREAT GRANDFATHERS AND MOTHERS UNDERSTOOD HOW PRISTINE AND HOW TO PRESERVE NORTHERN MINNESOTA, I THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT VOTE.

>> LET'S AGREE ON THIS, THOUGH.

BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN AGREE ON HERE.

>> Cathy: QUICKLY.

>> AMY KLOBUCHAR IS PROBABLY THE MOST TALENTED POLITICIAN IN THE WHOLE GROUP THAT WE'VE GOT IN MINNESOTA.

HUMPHREY WAS THAT WAY, VERY SKILLED.

RUDY BOSCHWITZ ON OUR IDE WAS ANOTHER ONE THAT I WOULD PUT IN THAT CATEGORY.

THERE REALLY ISN'T ANYBODY THAT IS MORE SKILLFUL AT IT THAN SHE IS, WHICH MAKES HER INCREDIBLY IRRITATING FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW OF RUNNING.

>> Cathy: I WANT TO ASK YOU, FRITZ KNAAK, WHY IS THE PRESIDENT TAKING ON THE POPE?

[ Laughter ] >> OH, WHOA!

>> HE HAS NO ONE LEFT TO TROLL.

I MEAN, HE'S BEEN DOING IT FOR EVERYBODY.

I DON'T THINK HE HELPED HIMSELF.

CATHOLIC, I WAS A LITTLE ANGRY ABOUT IT.

HE GETS AWAY WITH IT.

I THINK IT'S HIM TROLLING AND DOING WHAT HE DOES.

I DON'T TAKE THAT PART OF HIM VERY SERIOUSLY ANYMORE.

I'VE KIND OF GOTTEN USED TO THE NOISE.

>> Eric: THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ IS OPEN.

THERE'S A CEASE-FIRE WITH ISRAEL AND LEBANON.

DOES THIS LOOK LIKE A POLICY AND POLITICAL WIN FOR THE PRESIDENT?

>> I THINK SO.

IT THINK IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE.

PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS TEAM AND HIS ADMINISTRATION ARE DOING A GREAT JOB INTERNATIONALLY AT BROKERING PEACE LL ACROSS THE WORLD.

>> BUT, I MEAN, NOT WHEN YOU GO GET GAS, THOUGH.

I MEAN, WE'RE FEELING IT, YOU KNOW.

YOU CAN HAVE ALL THE POLITICAL GAIN YOU CAN HAVE, BUT ONCE IN YOUR POCKET, LIKE, HOW IT AFFECTS US, LIKE, -- >> TAKING OUT HE LARGEST STATE SPONSOR OF TERROR IS WORTH SPENDING A LITTLE BIT EXTRA AT THE PUMP.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I'M NOT SURE.

I APPRECIATE HE TALKING POINTS.

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT ANYBODY FEELS THAT WAY.

>> NO.

>> NOT IN THEIR POCKETBOOKS, NOT IN THE WAY THAT HE TALKS TO PEOPLE, NOT IN THAT THE WAY THAT HE HUMILIATES RELIGIOUS LEADERS.

NOT IN THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE DIED IN THE REGION FOR ABSOLUTELY NO REASON.

THE VICE PRESIDENT TRIED TO TALK HIM OUT OF IT.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT'S WHAT HE AND OTHERS THINK THAT HE'S DONE, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT -- BUT AMERICA'S GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

[ OVERLAPPING CONVERSATION ] >> Eric: HOW ABOUT A TIP OF THE CAP TO TYLER KISSER IN -- KISTNER, LEAVING THE SECOND DISTRICT CAMPAIGN TO BE ACTIVATED WITH THE RESERVES IN THE MARINES.

>> YEAH, I HOPE HE STAYS SAFE.

THIS WON'T BE HIS FIRST TOUR ABROAD.

SO SENDING HIM AND HIS FAMILY, BEST WISHES.

>> YEAH.

>> Eric: WELL, PANEL, VERY GOOD.

NOTHING TO TALK ABOUT THIS WEEK.

[ Laughter ] YOU PATTED THE TIME VERY -- YOU PADDED THE TIME VERY WELL.

>> SCHOOL TRUST LANDS, IT APPEARS THAT THAT BILL IS MOVING FORWARD AND THEY'VE SOLIDIFIED THAT AND THAT'S GOOD FOR KIDS.

>> Cathy: IF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE SCHOOL TRUST LAND.

>> IT'S A VICTORY FOR THE PEOPLE, RIGHT.

[ Laughter ] >> OKAY.

>> Cathy: I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO SCHOOL TRUST LANDS RIGHT THIS SECOND.

I'VE GOT TEN SECONDS LEFT.

>> Eric: THANKS, PANEL.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> Cathy: OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE RUN LONG TONIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE LONG-ANTICIPATED INDEX FILE ANSWER FOR YOU NEXT FRIDAY.

QUICK REMINDER FOR YOU BEFORE WE GO, TWO WEEKS FROM TONIGHT WE WILL BE LIVE FROM ST.

CLOUD.

YOU CAN CHECK OUT DETAILS AND GRAB YOUR FREE SPOT IN THE AUDIENCE BY HEADING TO TPT.ORG/EVENTS.

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

FOR SHOW-ENDING MUSIC TONIGHT, TODAY BACK IN 2009 JEARLYN STEELE STOPPED BY STUDIO B WITH YOUNGER BROTHER BILLY TO PROMOTE HER NEW CD.

TAKE A LISTEN WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK.

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