THAT STUFF FROM YOU.

♪ >> Eric: FROM THE FEDERAL SHUTDOWN IN D.C.

TO CONTINUED DISAGREEMENT IN ST.

PAUL ABOUT A POTENTIAL SPECIAL SESSION TO CONTENTIOUS MAYORAL RACES IN CONTENTIOUS MAYORAL RACES IN MINNEAPOLIS AND ST.

PAUL, NO SHORTAGE OF TOPICS FOR THIS WEEK'S VERSION OF THE POLITICAL PANEL.

REPUBLICANS UP FIRST TONIGHT, FRITZ KNAAK IS A FORMER STATE SENATOR, NOW AN ATTORNEY.

ANNETTE MEEKS IS A FORMER CONGRESSIONAL STAFFER AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CANDIDATE WHO NOW HEADS THE FREEDOM FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA.

DEMOCRATS ON THE COUCH, ABOU AMARA IS A FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER, NOW ALSO AN ATTORNEY.

AND ALYSEN NESSE IS A DFL LOBBYIST UP AT THE CAPITOL.

I WAS REALLY INTRIGUED BY DANA FERGUSON'S PIECE ON MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO ABOUT THE FEUD, QUOTE UNQUOTE BETWEEN GOVERNOR WALZ AND TOM EMMER.

IT SEEMED TO ME IN THE BEST OF TIMES YOU'D HAVE THE POWERFUL REPUBLICAN IN THE CONGRESS AND D.F.L.

GOVERNOR IN THE STATE WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE BETTERMENT OF MINNESOTA.

WHY CAN'T WE DO THAT?

>> THAT'S LIKE WHY CAN'T WE HAVE WORLD PEACE, ERIC, COME ON.

[ LAUGHTER ] SERIOUSLY, T'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION AND A ERY HONEST QUESTION.

AND IT SHOULD BE, BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY JUST HAVE THIS TEMPTATION THEY BOTH CAN'T RESIST TO KIND OF POKE EACH OTHER AND THEY KNOW HOW TO PROVOKE THE OTHER ONE.

AND SOME OF THE STUFF THAT GOVERNOR WALZ HAS BEEN SAYING ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP I CAN SEE WHERE THAT IS VERY INCENDIARY TO OUR REPUBLICAN DELEGATION.

THEY THINK THEY'RE DOING THE BEST JOB THEY CAN AND TOM EMMER IN PARTICULAR HAVING BEEN A WHIP WORKED FOR THE WHIP WHILE OUT IN WEDNESDAY THAT'S A BRUTAL JOB DURING SHUTDOWN, EVEN WORSE WHEN YOU'RE SPEAKER, IT'S A MISERABLE JOB RIGHT NOW AND THEY'RE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN.

>> Mary: EMMER RAN FOR GOVERNOR AND CAME CLOSE.

>> I WAS THERE.

>> Mary: I THINK THAT CONTEXT IS IMPORTANT, THEY KNOW EACH OTHER'S JOBS, RIGHT?

WALZ WAS IN CONGRESS, EMMER WANTED TO BE GOVERNOR.

IS THERE SOMETHING THERE?

>> TO ME IT REALLY SPEAKS TO THE NATIONALIZATION OF OUR POLITICS, AND SO YOU HAVE TOM EMMER WHO IS NATIONAL FIGURE AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND YOU HAVE TIM WALZ WHO WAS OBVIOUSLY THE FORMER V.P.

CANDIDATE.

BEHIND THE SCENES I BET THEY GET ALONG BETTER THAN FOLKS THINK, THEY HAVE TO PLAY THE ROLE AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL PARTICULARLY WHEN TOM EMMER IS THE MOST VISIBLE REPUBLICAN IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

>> I'M NOT ASSURE THAT'S TRUE THAT THEY GET ALONG ALL THAT WELL.

PART OF IT'S THE CHANGE IN THE CULTURE.

IT'S NOT JUST AT THAT LEVEL, IT'S AT THE STATE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL AND EOPLE ARE USED TO THROWING ROCKS AT EACH OTHER NOW AND IT'S EXPECTED AND THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOU, YOU'RE WEAK IF YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN AND YOU'RE NOT -- ESPECIALLY SOMEBODY WITH A BIG TARGET ON HIS BACK LIKE WALZ, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT GOING BACK AND FORTH.

LIKE IT OR NOT.

>> YEAH, IT'S ABOU SAID IN 2025 IT USED TO BE ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL BUT NOW ALL POLITICS IS NATIONAL AND THESE ARE NATIONAL THEMES, THESE ARE NATIONAL, TWO MINNESOTANS WITH NATIONAL PLATFORMS, AND THEY'RE PLAYING INTO THE FLANNEL TRENDS.

>> Eric: OUT THERE ALL WEEK, WHAT'S IT BEEN LIKE?

>> IT WAS PRETTY QUIET BUT YOU KNOW WHAT WAS FULLY STAFFED AND BUSY, TOM EMMER AND AMY KLOBUCHAR AND ANGIE CRAIG'S OFFICE, FULLY STAFFED AND SERVING MINNESOTA CONSTITUENTS WELL AND I'M HAPPY TO REPORT BACK ON THAT.

>> Mary: WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT KLOBUCHAR, SHE WAS DEPICTED ON "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" DOES THAT MEAN YOU'LL ARRIVED ON THE NATIONAL SCENE WHEN THAT HAPPENS?

>> I THINK SHE'S A FREQUENT TARGET ON SOME OF THOSE.

THE DIRTY LITTLE SECRET OF THE SHUTDOWN IS IT'S ONLY ABOUT 25% OF THE GOVERNMENT.

IT DOES AFFECT PEOPLE, ALTHOUGH THE IRS DID MANAGE TO CASH MY CLERK I WANT TO MAKE NOTE OF THAT.

BUT THE TRUTH IS CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES DON'T GET A BREAK AND YOU SIT THERE DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY WHILE YOUR CONSTITUENTS CALL BECAUSE THEY CAN'T ACCESS SOCIAL SECURITY PERSON TO HELP THEM OR WHATEVER IT IS AND IT'S A BRUTAL TIME FOR THEM.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT THE STATE LEVEL?

WE HAD BUDGET DIRECTOR MINGE ON AND SHE AID WE'RE SEEING MORE IMPACT NOW AND DEFINITELY S.N.A.P.

AND FOOD AND ARE WE GOING TO SEE IMPACT AT FOOD SHELVES, COULD THAT BE ONE OF THE WAYS THIS HURTS OR SETS IN?

>> ABSOLUTELY, THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE AN ABSTRACT FIGHT IN .C.

YOU'RE SEEING FOOD SHELVES POTENTIALLY RUNNING OUT OF MONEY AND S.N.A.P.

AND OTHER THINGS.

THERE'S NO SIGHT IN END.

WE THINK WE KNOW WHERE THE CLIFF IS, WE ACTUALLY DON'T.

IF THIS GOES ON FOR TWO OR THREE MONTHS YOU'RE OW DEALING WITH A PLACE WHERE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS HAVE BEEN TAKEN OUT OF THE MINNESOTA ECONOMY.

>> Mary: WHERE'S THE CLIFF?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION AND I AGREE I DON'T THINK ANYBODY REALLY SEEMS TO KNOW.

AND REPUBLICANS ARE STILL TAKING THE ALTITUDE OVERALL THAT THIS IS A CONSTITUENCY, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HURTING THE MOST, LIKE IT OR NOT, IN A REAL COLD WAY TEND TO BE DEMOCRATS.

>> IS THAT TRUE, THOUGH?

WHAT ABOUT RURAL AMERICA?

>> I'M JUST ELLING YOU ABOUT THE PERCEPTION.

YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU GO TO SOME OTHER PLACES AND THERE WILL BE MORE IMMEDIATE IMPACTS.

>> PERCEPTION IS WRONG BECAUSE THE TRUTH IS THE MAJORITIES OF RURAL AMERICA THAT IT WILL BE MOST IMPACTED BY THE SHUTDOWN OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE MAJORITY OF RURAL AMERICA VOTES RED.

SO IT IS NOT THE PERCEPTION THAT IS BASED IN RES, FRANKLY, -- RACE, FRANKLY, THAT THESE ARE DEMOCRATIC PROGRAMS, NO, THESE ARE PROGRAMS FOR AMERICANS AND THOSE THAT WILL BE MOST HIT HARD ARE REPUBLICAN VOTERS.

>> LET'S BE HONEST HERE THE BIG HOLDUP HERE IS THE SENATE MINORITY LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER WHO REFUSES TO BELIEVE THAT THE REPUBLICANS IN BOTH HOUSE AND SENATE WILL BE HONEST AND NEGOTIATE WITH HIM ABOUT THE BIG STICKING POINT WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE 15 YEARS AGO, THE HONEST DISCUSSION ABOUT THE OBAMACARE TAX CREDITS THAT GO TO INSURANCE COMPANIES NOT TO INDIVIDUALS.

AND IF THEY WOULD JUST SOLVE THAT AND SIT DOWN ALL OF THIS WOULD BE OVER.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT THE CONCEPT, THOUGH, THAT DEMOCRATS ARE FINALLY STANDING UP AND FINALLY SAYING WE'RE GOING TO SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT IF THE HEAD OF THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO WEAPONIZE IT AGAINST US, LET'S TRY AND SHUT IT DOWN, IS THAT A WINNING ARGUMENT >> ABSOLUTELY, IT IS.

LET'S REMEMBER THE REPUBLICANS CONTROL THE WHITE HOUSE, THE REPUBLICANS CONTROL THE SENATE, THE REPUBLICANS CONTROL THE HOUSE.

THIS IS A REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT, IF THEY WANT TO PASS LEGISLATION, THEY KNOW THEY NEED 7 VOTES IN THE SENATE, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COMPROMISE AND UNTIL THEY DO THAT, DEMOCRATS ARE SHOULD STAND FIRM ABOUT THE PRINCIPLES THEY WERE ELECTED ON.

>> Eric: NO KINGS RALLY THIS WEEKEND IS SUPPOSED TO DRAW THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY.

>> AND I'M SURE IT WILL.

AND I'M SURE THAT IT WILL JUST BRING IN TONS OF REPUBLICANS THAT ARE CONCERNED FROM THE RURAL AREAS OF THE STATE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

NOW, I MEAN, THESE ARE THE SHOWS THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING GOING ON.

THEY'RE NOT PERCEIVED OF HAVING ANY KIND OF INFLUENCE AT ALL ON THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OR REPUBLICANS GENERALLY.

GOOD FOR THEM, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, FIRST AMENDMENT IS STILL OUT THERE AND DESPITE WHAT YOU MAY HEAR IT'S STILL VERY LIVELY.

>> AND I HAVE TO SAY I WAS UP IN WALKER LAST WEEK AND NO ONE BRINGS THIS UP TO YOU AT ALL, OH, THE GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN, THE SKY IS FALLING, QUITE THE OPPOSITE.

>> WHAT ABOUT NO KINGS, THOUGH, AND PARTICULARLY SENATE LEADER MURPHY SAYING EMMER'S RHETORIC WAS NOT HELPFUL AFTER WHAT FOLKS HAVE BEEN THROUGH IN THE STATE?

>> OH, MY GOODNESS.

>> IT WASN'T, HE CALLED THEM TERRORISM, HAMAS SUPPORTERS ARE GOING TO BE SHOWING UP.

THAT'S NOT HELPFUL RHETORIC.

IN A TIME WHEN WE NEED TO TONE IT DOWN CALLING AMERICANS WHO ARE GOING TO EXERCISE THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS AS TERRORISTS AND HAMAS SUPPORTERS IS JUST, IT'S AGAIN FANNING THE FLAMES.

>> AGAIN, LESS BLESS THEIR HEARTS IF THEY'RE GOING TO SHOW UP AND EXERCISE THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS I SOLIDLY SUPPORT THAT BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE A HILL'S BEAN'S WORTH OF DIFFERENCE.

TWO SIDES ARE DEEPLY AND EVENLY DIVIDED.

>> HERE'S WHERE IT MATTERS, WHEN YOU'RE A PARTY OUT OF POWER POLITICS IS LIKE THE GYM, YOU WILL EXERCISES THAT MOBILIZE YOUR BASE AND VOTERS GOING INTO THE 2026 ELECTION.

THESE RALLIES ARE ONE EXAMPLE OF THAT.

>> Eric: SHOULD MINNESOTANS BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT AND THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965?

>> I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY ANYBODY WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN FRONT OF THE SUPREME COURT.

I HONESTLY DON'T.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IT WON'T HAVE MUCH OF AN IMPACT HERE.

IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL PATTERNS THAT HAVE BEEN EVOLVING OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES EVEN IN THE SOUTH, YOU'RE JUST NOT GOING TO SEE MUCH OF MEANINGFUL CHANGE.

I THINK THIS IS BEING -- >> THIS IS AN ATTORNEY HERE TOO.

-- YOU TWO.

>> THIS IS MASSIVELY CONCERNING.

IT'S GOING TO RADICALLY WEAPONIZE, I THINK, POLITICAL ORIENTATIONS AROUND DRAWING MAPS, AROUND VOTING RULES AND REGULATIONS, AND REMEMBER, IT WAS ONLY IN PLACES IN LARGE PART -- IN PLACE LARGE PART O MAKE SURE THERE WASN'T DISCRIMINATION IN OUR VOTING SYSTEMS.

WHY IS IT A BAD THING THAT WHERE THERE ARE DISCRIMINATORY POLICIES N PLACE WE CAN PUT A STOP ON THOSE AND SAY, HEY, WAIT A MINUTE, IS THIS REALLY WHAT WE WANT TO DO BEFORE IMPLEMENTING THEM, AND THE SUPREME COURT IS GOING TO GUT THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.

>> Mary: CAN WE PIVOT TO STATE SIDE THE GOVERNOR WANTING TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION AND TOWN HALLS BEING IN THE COMMUNITY, IS THAT GOING TO HELP HIM WITH THE ISSUE?

-- GUN VIOLENCE?

>> >> THERE WAS ON NOT BE A SPECIAL EGGS.

>> PERIOD, NONE.

>> THE GOVERNOR, OKAY, I'M GOING TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION, THEN IT'S INCUMBENT UPON HIM TO SAY WHY AND HERE'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, HE HAS YET TO PRODUCE ANY LEGISLATION OR EVEN CONCRETE IDEAS.

>> YEAH, LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN MEETING, LEADERSHIP AMONGST ALL THE CAUCUSES ON THINGS THAT THEY COULD POTENTIALLY AGREE UPON.

THEY HAVEN'T COME TO THAT AGREEMENT AND THEY WON'T HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION UNTIL THEY DO.

>> OUT IN THE COMMUNITY IS HAT GOING TO HELP?

>> ORGANIZING AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS IS A GOOD THING.

>> LEADERS, I WANT TO GET -- LISA DEMUTH FOR GOVERNOR, IS THIS A TRUE RUMOR SHE'S MARSHALING FORCES BEHIND THE SCENES?

>> IT'S A TRUE RUMOR THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WANT HER TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR, IT'S A WHOLE 'NOTHER QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT SHE'LL WANT TO DO IT, I DO THINK SHE'S DOING A FABULOUS JOB.

>> IS IT WORTH GIVING UP THE SPEAKERSHIP?

THAT IS A FRAGILE COALITION FOR A TIED CHAMBER FOR A REPUBLICAN TO HOLD THE GAVEL.

CAN IT HAPPEN AGAIN?

>> IT CAN, BUT TIM PAWLENTY DID IT.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT WHAT IS THE PAST SUCCESS, SUCCESSFUL PAST -- AS MAJORITY LEADER, BUT STILL, HE WENT UP THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE IN THAT WAY, AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK AS REPUBLICANS ARE SCRAMBLING, YOU KNOW, SITUATION WHERE THE DEMOCRATS REALLY FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD BE VERY VULNERABLE HIS YEAR.

>> Mary: RIGHT, BUT YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO LOSE HER AND HER GAVEL, OULD YOU?

>> I'LL TELL YOU THERE'S A BIGGER BULLY PULPIT AND IT'S CALLED THE GOVERNOR.

WOW, SHE WOULD BE SO FABULOUS.

>> I DO THINK SHE WOULD BE A TOUGH OPPONENT, I REALLY DO.

SHE AND MELISSA HORTMAN NAVIGATED TOGETHER, SHE IS A, SHE'S A VERY REASONABLE LEADER AND FRANKLY THINK THAT SHE MIGHT BE ONE OF THE BEST REPUBLICANS COULD FIELD.

>> SHE'S GOOD, NO QUESTION.

BUT THE AISSUE IS NOT THE CANDIDATE, THE QUESTION IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AS AN INFRASTRUCTURE IS IN SHAMBLES SO SHE'S A GREAT CANDIDATE BUT SHE WOULD IN MANY WAYS BE A SACK OFFICIAL LAMB IF SHE'S RUNNING FOR IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR HER TO WIN.

>> Eric: THAT WOULD BE A TOP TIER GOVERNOR'S RACE.

>> THEY WILL SHOW UP.

>> IT WOULD BE BETTER THAN THE LAST FEW.

>> AND IF SHE RAN, TRUST ME THE NATIONAL FORCES WOULD BE