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.