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

>> Eric: COMING UP ON "ALMANAC" WE'LL TALK WITH EXPERTS AND ANALYSTS ABOUT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS AND MINNESOTA'S CHANGING POLITICAL LANDSCAPE AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

MARY LAHAMMER FOLLOWED THE ACTION THIS WEEK.

>> WE'LL TAKE YOU TO ELECTION HEADQUARTERS FOR DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ON ELECTION NIGHT AS WE ASSESS THE IMPACT FOR MINNESOTA.

>> THINGS ARE LOOKING VERY POSITIVE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA FOR THE HOUSE FLIPPING TO REPUBLICAN CONTROL.

>> NOW THAT THIS ELECTION IS BEHIND US I'M GOING TO TRY EVEN HARDER TO KEEP AN OPEN MIND, OPEN HEART AND REALLY LISTEN TO FOLKS.

>> 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 27 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH WHILE ADVANCING SOCIAL EQUITIES.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

AND PAINTCARE.

HELPING MINNESOTANS RECYCLE LEFTOVER PAINT.

MORE AT PAINTCARE.ORG.

>> Eric: FULL HOUR OF POLITICS AND ANALYSIS FOR YOU TONIGHT ON THE HEELS OF TUESDAY'S ELECTION.

WE'LL TALK WITH TWO FORMER HOUSE SPEAKERS ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A TIE IN THE STATE HOUSE AND LOOK AT THE END OF HE D TRIFECTA AT MINNES MINNESOTA'S STATE CAPITOL.

DOMINIC PAPATOLA HAS AN ELECTION WEEK ESSAY FOR US.

AND WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT A SECOND TRUMP PRESIDENCY COULD MEAN FOR THE ECONOMY.

>> Cathy: AND THE SECOND TRUMP PRESIDENCY IS WHERE WE START TONIGHT.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S RE-SOUNDING ICTORY ON TUESDAY NIGHT PUTS HIM IN RARE COMPANY.

HE JOINS GROVER CLEVELAND AS JUST THE SECOND .S.

PRESIDENT TO BE ELECTED TO NONCONSECUTIVE TERMS.

TRUMP ALSO BECAME THE FIRST REPUBLICAN TO WIN THE POPULAR VOTE SINCE FORMER PRESIDENT BUSH DEFEATED JOHN KERRY 20 YEARS AGO.

JOINING US TO SORT THROUGH A LANDSLIDE WIN THAT POLLS SAID WAS GOING TO BE PRETTY MUCH A TIE, A DUO OF POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSORS, LARRY JACOBS HEADS UP THE CENTER FOR POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE AT THE HUMPHREY SCHOOL.

STEVE SCHEER IS PROFESSOR EMERITUS AT CARLETON COLLEGE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH.

WHERE SHOULD WE START?

[ LAUGHTER ] LET'S LOOK AT IT I GUESS HISTORICALLY SPEAKING AS I MENTIONED IN THE LEAD ERE, PROFESSOR SCHEER, THIS WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY PERFORMANCE BY DONALD TRUMP.

HOW DO YOU PUT THIS INTO SOME SORT OF HISTORICAL CONTEXT?

>> OFTEN THEY SAY THERE ARE NO SECOND LIVES IN POLITICS BUT THAT'S WRONG.

TRUMP BASICALLY THE ANALYSIS OF THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN PROVED OUT TO BE ACCURATE ON ELECTION DAY.

THEY CLAIMED TO BE AHEAD IN ALL THE KEY STATES AND THEY CLAIMED THEY WERE GOING TO WIN THE POPULAR VOTE, GUESS WHAT?

THEIR ANALYSIS AND THEIR RESEARCH PROVED TO BE CORRECT.

>> Cathy: I WONDER, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ELEMENTS THAT WENT INTO THIS TRUMP WIN?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> WELL, IN SOME WAYS IT WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY ELECTION.

YOU HAD BIDEN PULLING OUT AND HARRIS STEPPING IN, HAVEN'T HAD THAT BEFORE.

YOU HAD A CONVICTED CANDIDATE WHO JUST SIX MONTHS AGO WE SAID WAS OUT OF IT, WHO WON.

IN A LOT OF WAYS IT WAS PLAIN VANILLA.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, PRESIDENT INCUMBENT BIDEN VERY UNPOPULAR 6 OUT OF 10 VOTERS, 81% OF THOSE PEOPLE THEN VOTED FOR TRUMP.

AND THEN THE ECONOMIC FORCES WERE JUST HUGE.

IF YOU THOUGHT THE ECONOMY WAS POOR OR JUST GOOD, WHICH WAS TWO-THIRDS THEN YOU WERE OVERWHELMINGLY GOING TO BE VOTING FOR TRUMP.

AND THAT'S JUST KIND OF A USUAL REFERENDUM KIND OF ELECTION THAT WE'VE SEEN A BUNCH OF TIMES.

WHAT MADE THIS EXTRAORDINARY I THINK WAS DONALD TRUMP.

>> YEAH.

>> Eric: COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WOMEN IN THE ELECTORATE.

>> YES.

>> Eric: FIRST OF ALL WHAT ABORTION OVERSOLD AS A DEFINING ISSUE.

>> I THINK TO EXTENT IT WAS, IF YOU ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE GENDER GAP IT WAS SMALLER THIS YEAR THAN IT WAS IN 2020, ACCORDING A.P.

'S VOTE CAST SURVEY.

WHICH DOES SUGGEST THAT WHAT WAS BEING SUGGESTED BY THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN THERE WAS GOING TO BE THIS SWEEPING GROUP OF WOMEN THAT WERE GOING TO PULL HER INTO OFFICE DIDN'T OCCUR.

>> Eric: IF ONLY WOMEN WERE COUNTED, IF ONLY WOMEN HAD VOTED SHE GETS OVER 400 ELECTORAL VOTES.

>> YEAH, AND THE WAY IT WORKS IS THAT MEN AND WOMEN GET TO VOTE.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> Eric: FORGOT THAT PART.

>> BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, IT'S KIND OF DEVASTATING.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THE FOLKS WHO ARE VOTING WHO DON'T HAVE COLLEGE EDUCATIONS, PARTICULARLY THE MEN, HISPANIC MEN, I MEAN, THEY JUST MOVED DECIDEDLY TOWARDS DONALD TRUMP.

IN FACT, I THINK IT REALLY RAISES SOME VERY PROFOUND QUESTIONS ABOUT DEMOCRATIC PARTY THAT IS SO FAR FROM WORKING MEN AND WOMEN THAT THEY ARE NOW TURNING TO DONALD TRUMP, WHOSE POLICIES ARE NOT FOR THEM.

I MEAN, HIS POLICIES ARE REALLY, YOU KNOW, GEARED TO TAX CUTS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE MONEY AND SO THIS IS THE BIG PUZZLE.

WHAT ARE THE DRATS GOING TO DO?

>> Cathy: WHAT DIDN'T VOTERS REMEMBER ABOUT -- I'VE HAD PEOPLE ASK ME THIS WEEK.

WHAT DIDN'T VOTERS REMEMBER ABOUT THE CHAOS OF THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY, THE FIRST PRESIDENCY, THE COVID MESS?

I MEAN, WHAT WERE THEY REMEMBERING?

>> THEY WERE REMEMBERING A BETTER ECONOMY AND RELATIVELY SECURE BORDER.

AND THOSE WERE THE TOP TWO ISSUES IN HE ELECTION, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE EXIT POLLS AND OTHER SURVEYS.

AND THAT'S VANILLA, AS LARRY WAS SAYING.

THAT WOULD DRIVE A LOT OF VOTERS TO THE POLLS.

THIS WAS A CLASS-BASED ELECTION WITH, WE'RE IGNORING THIS IN A LOT OF OUR COMMENTARY.

IF YOU MADE UNDER $100,000 A YEAR, YOU OTED FOR TRUMP.

IF YOU MADE OVER $100,000 A YEAR, A MAJORITY VOTED FOR HARRIS.

AS LARRY IS SUGGESTING, THAT CAN BE A PROBLEM FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

THERE ARE A LOT MORE PEOPLE WHO MAKE LESS THAN 100,000 THAN MAKE OVER.

>> I THINK YOUR QUESTION IS A FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY WHO ARE QUESTIONING DEMOCRACY.

IS IT WORKING?

AND I WOULD SAY NOT REALLY.

AND I WOULD START WITH THE POLITICAL PARTIES.

>> YEAH.

>> THE POLITICAL PARTY AND REPUBLICAN PARTY SHOULD NEVER HAVE NOMINATED DONALD TRUMP.

IF YOU LOOK IN EUROPE, UNITED KINGDOM JUST HAD AN ELECTION THIS SUMMER.

THEY DID NOT NOMINATE THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER CORBIN BUZZ SHE WAS A TROT SKI-ITE AND ANTI-SEMITE.

AND THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY REFUSED TO NOMINATE RIGHT WINGERS.

AND WE DON'T HAVE A PARTY THAT DOES IT.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF VERY CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS WHO COULD HAVE RUN BUT IT'S DONALD TRUMP, AND THE REASON HE WON IS BECAUSE HE MOBILIZED THE PRIMARY VOTER WHO WERE LOYAL TO HIM, IT'S A SMALL NUMBER, THEY'RE NOT REPRESENTATIVE.

YOU GET TIE GENERAL ELECTION AND IT'S LIKE CIRCLE THE WAGONS AMONG REPUBLICANS.

895% OF WHOM VOTED FOR HIM DESPITE LIZ CHENEY'S PLEAS.

>> YEAH.

>> IS THERE GOING TO BE PRESSURE ON JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR TO STEP DOWN BEFORE BIDEN'S OUT OF OFFICE TO GET A YOUNGER DEMOCRAT IN THERE FOR SUPREME COURT?

>> YES,S BUT THOSE CAMPAIGNS ARE NOTORIOUSLY UNSUCCESSFUL.

AND IT REALLY DEPENDS ON HER HEALTH.

IF HER HEALTH DRIVES HER OUT OF OFFICE THEN SHE WILL LEAVE.

BUT OTHER THAN THAT I THINK IT'S UNLIKELY.

>> Cathy: SAY, CAN I ASK YOU BOTH, I'M GOING TO STEP IN THIS MAYBE, BUT COULD YOU RATE THE MEDIA'S ERFORMANCE IN TERMS OF HOW WE COVERED THIS CAMPAIGN?

>> WELL, THE MEDIA WORLD IS CHANGING DRAMATICALLY.

MAJOR NETWORKS COVERAGE ON ELECTION NIGHT RECEIVED 25% LOWER AUDIENCE.

WE'RE IN A NEW MEDIA WORLD WITH PODCASTERS AND SOCIAL MEDIA AND A VARIETY OF VOICES THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE, AND WALTER CRONKITE HAS LEFT THE BUILDING.

>> Eric: HOW MUCH POLITICAL SCIENCE DO YOU HAVE TO DIG THROUGH NOW AND NEW PARADIGM FROM THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM OF THE 20TH CENTURY?

>> WELL, AS I SAID, IN SOME WAYS, AND THIS SEEMS OFF, BUT IT'S TRUE, IT'S A PLAIN VANILLA ELECTION.

AND SO THE CORE POLITICAL SCIENCE MODELS THAT LOOK AT ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE, WHAT'S KNOWN AS RETROSPECTIVE JUDGMENT BY VOTERS, I THINK THAT HOLDS MOSTLY.

>> YEAH.

>> THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS THAT PLAYED INTO IT AND I KNOW SMART PEOPLE WILL BE SAYING WHAT ABOUT ... AND THEY'LL HAVE SOME TRUTH TO THAT.

SO I THINK IT HOLDS, AND UNFORTUNATELY WE WERE UNABLE TO KIND OF PROVIDE AN ANALYSIS FOR WHY DONALD TRUMP WAS NOMINATED.

THAT'S THE QUESTION.

>> Eric: AND THE CELEBRITY ELECTION, HOW DID KID ROCK AND HULK BE HOGAN BEAT OUT BEYONCE AND LADY GAGA?

>> WELL, THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN DID COURT MEN IN A VARIETY OF WAYS CFSS WAYS.

JOE ROGAN'S AN EXAMPLE AND THAT WAS SUCCESSFUL AND DROVE SOME TURNOUT.

PARTICULARLY THEY DID PARTICULARLY WELL, THEY CARRIED YOUNG MEN UNDER 30 WHICH IS THE THEIR IN DECADES FOR A REPUBLICAN.

>> Eric: GETTING A HOOK HERE.

CLASS DISMISSED.

THANKS OF VERY MUCH.

>> Cathy: APPRECIATE IT.

♪♪ >> WE'VE GOT BIG ENERGY COMPONENT, WE WE'VE GOT A HUGE AGRICULTURAL COMPONENT.

LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT THE SIXTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IS MORE THAN 50% AGRICULTURE.

WE ALSO HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION ISSUE.

SO THERE'S A WIDE VARIETY OF THINGS.

AND AS AN INCOMING REPRESENTATIVE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TOTEM POLE, THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO, WHICH I STARTED MONTHS AGO, IS START TALKING TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE, INCLUDING ON THE MINNESOTA DELEGATION, ABOUT THIS IS WHAT THE SIXTH DISTRICT NEEDS.

THIS IS WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO SERVE, AND THEN THEY'LL FIGURE IT OUT.

♪♪ >> Eric: THE "WALL STREET JOURNAL" DECLARED EARLIER THIS WEEK, "WALL STREET HAS RARELY BEEN MORE EXCITED BY AN ELECTION."

AND INDEED THE MARKETS SOARED AFTER TUESDAY'S DECISIVE WIN BY PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP.

ON THURSDAY THE FEDERAL RESERVE CUT INTEREST RATES BY A QUARTER POINT ON THEIR PATH TO CURB INFLATION.

BUT SOME ECONOMIC EXPERTS SAY A SECOND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION COULD BE A MIXED BAG FOR THE U.S. ECONOMY WITH PROPOSED TARIFFS AND IMMIGRATION CHANGES ON THE HORIZON.

HERE WITH MORE ON HOW ALL OF THIS COULD IMPACT MINNESOTA'S ECONOMY, LOUIS JOHNSTON.

HE TEACHES ECONOMICS AT THE COLLEGE OF ST. BEN'S AND ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY.

PROFESSOR, DO THESE TARIFFS HAVE ANY PARTICULAR IMPACT ON THE IRON RANGE, FOR INSTANCE, WHEN STEEL DUMPING HAS BEEN AN ISSUE AND THAT SORT OF STUFF?

IS >> YEAH, TARIFFS ARE GOING TO HAVE A REALLY IMPORTANT IMPACT ON MINNESOTA.

THEY'RE PERHAPS GOING TO PROTECT THE IRON ORE, IRON INDUSTRY AND MINING AND THINGS, BUT I THINK THE PLACE THAT'S REALLY GOING TO COME BE BACK TO HIT MINNESOTA IS AGRICULTURE.

BECAUSE A LOT OF THE PLACES WHERE WE'RE GOING TO PUT TARIFFS ON MANUFACTURED GOODS ARE GOING TO RETALIATE BY SAYING, ALL RIGHT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BUY YOUR SOYBEANS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BUY YOUR CORN, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BUY ANY OF YOUR LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS.

AND SO THAT'S GOING TO END UP REVERBERATING WITHIN GREATER MINNESOTA.

>> Cathy: I WONDER HOW IMMIGRATION AND THE THREAT OF MASS DEPORTATION WOULD AFFECT SMALL TOWNS IN MINNESOTA.

THINKING ABOUT THE MEATPACKING PLANT TOWNS.

>> I'M WORRIED ABOUT THAT A LOT BECAUSE THE ONE THING THAT WE REALLY NEED IN MINNESOTA IS WORKERS.

WE NEED LABOR FORCE GROWTH.

AND THE PRIME ENGINE OF THAT HAS BEEN MIGRATION AND IMMIGRATION.

AND IS IF WE SHUT THAT OFF THAT'S GOING TO HURT A LOT OF SMALL TOWNS, IT'S GOING TO HURT A LOT OF INDUSTRIES THAT ARE, WE THINK OF AS RURAL LIKE DAIRIES, FOR EXAMPLE.

IT'S GOING TO MAKE IT REALLY DIFFICULT TO RUN THOSE OPERATIONS.

>> Eric: NEITHER PARTY HAS A STELLAR RECORD ON THE DEBT.

>> NO.

>> Eric: BUT I WONDER HOW MUCH, DOES THIS IMPACT THE NATIONAL DEBT AT ALL?

>> DEFINITELY, IF YOU'RE GOING TO -- FORMER PRESIDENT AND SOON TO BE PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS PROMISED TO CONTINUE THE TAX CUTS THAT WAS ENACTED IN 2017.

THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE HAS MADE IT VERY CLEAR IF YOU CONTINUE TO DO HAT, THEN THE DEBT IS GOING TO PILE UP FASTER THAN IT WOULD HAVE, FOR EXAMPLE, UNDER THE BIDEN/HARRIS ADMINISTRATION.

I THINK, OH, SOMEWHERE TO THE TUNE OF $7 TRILLION, SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE.

SO YOU'D GO FROM AROUND 100% OF GDP FOR THE DEBT GDP RATIO TO MAYBE 110.

>> Eric: HOW DOES THAT TRICKLE DOWN TO THE TYPICAL CONSUMER?

>> WHAT IT DOES IS IT MAKES T MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SPEND MONEY ON THINGS THAT MAYBE WE WANT THEM TO DO.

>> Cathy: LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY?

>> YEAH, AND THEY HAVE TO PAY INTEREST.

THAT'S WHERE THAT MONEY HAS TO GO.

>> Cathy: I WONDER WHAT HAPPENS TO SOCIAL SECURITY AND SOME OF THOSE OTHER PROGRAMS.

>> WELL, THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS THAT NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT WE PUT IN PLACE IN 1983 THAT SET IT UP SO THAT WE CAN PAY FOR THE BABY BOOMERS, BUT NOW IN THE MID-2030s, THE TRUST FUND THAT WE SET UP IS GOING TO RUN OUT AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TAKE THE REVENUE THAT WE GET FROM YOURS AND OURS PAYROLL TAXES AND USE THAT TO.

PAY THE BENEFITS AND RIGHT NOW THAT'S ONLY ABOUT 70% OF WHAT WE NEED TO PAY THOSE BENEFITS.

>> Eric: THAT IS THAT GOING TO PROMOTE A SOFT LANDING, WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?

>> IT'S TO KEEP OF THE SOFT LANDING GOING.

WE GOT INFLATION DOWN AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS KIND OF SPREAD SOME FOAM ON THE RUNWAY TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE A CRASH.

>> Cathy: HEY, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE FED CHAIR STAYING NOT GOING TO STEP DOWN -- STAYING RIGHT THERE.

>> NO, THAT WAS ONE WORD.

I THINK THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO DRAW A LINE AND SAY YOU'RE NOT PUSHING ME OUT, DON'T EVEN TRY TO START HINTING AT IT.

I AM HERE 'TIL MAY OF 2026.

>> Eric: ELON MUSK, YOU KNOW, SOLAR ENERGY AND ELECTRONIC VEHICLES AND HE BELIEVES IN CLIMATE CHANGE.

WHAT KIND OF ECONOMIC IMPACT MIGHT HE HAVE?

>> IT DEPENDS ON WHERE THEY PUT HIM.

MY GUESS IS HE'LL BE SOMEONE WITHOUT A PORTFOLIO OR SOMETHING IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

BUT I'M DISTURBED ABOUT THAT FOR A PROFOUND REASON.

ECONOMIES THAT ALLOW MORE PEOPLE IN A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN IN A SENSE DIP IN, I WON'T GO SO FAR AS CLOPTOCRATS OR KLEPTOCRACY, THAT SLOWS ECONOMIC GROWTH, THAT URTS AN ECONOMY.

I'M AFRAID OF SOMEONE WHO HAS SUCH TIES TO SPACE, DEFENSE CONTRACTS, ALL THESE KINDS OF THINGS IN A POSITION WHERE HE'S ALSO IN POWER IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

THAT STARTS TO GET VERY SCARY TO ME.

THAT'S THE STUFF THE NOBEL PRIZE WAS AWARDED FOR THIS YEAR FOR THE ECONOMISTS WHO WON IT, THEY TALKED ABOUT HOW YOU NEED TO HAVE THESE POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS THAT HAVE GUARDRAILS ON THINGS LIKE STEALING ROM THE PUBLIC PURSE, PROMOTING COMPETENCY.

PEOPLE LIKE ELON MUSK, HATE TO SAY IT, BUT PEOPLE LIKE ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR, THEY VIOLATE THAT IN MY VIEW.

>> Eric: IS THERE A CHANCE THAT THIS MIGHT WORK?

>> THERE'S ALWAYS A CHANCE.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> Eric: WHAT DO YOU PUT THE ODDS AT?

>> ONE IN FOUR.

>> Eric: OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S A GOOD PLACE TO END.

>> OKAY.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YA.

THANKS.

♪♪ >> I USED TO THINK I ENJOYED A CERTAIN STATURE AROUND HERE.

MAYBE A LITTLE RESPECT FROM THE FOLKS WHO PUT THIS SHOW TOGETHER.

BUT, AFTER 2016 AND 2020, THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I’VE BEEN TASKED TO DO THE MONOLOGUE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

SO I’M STARTING TO WONDER.

NO PRESSURE, THEY SAID.

JUST CRAFT A MESSAGE FOR THE 50% OF THE POPULATION WHO ARE JUBILANT TODAY THAT WILL ALSO RESONATE WITH THE 50% OF THE POPULATION WHO ARE DEVASTATED.

IN TWO MINUTES.

BY WAY OF RISING TO THE OCCASION, LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION.

YEAH, YOU.

WHETHER YOUR CANDIDATES WON OR LOST.

WHAT DOES THE OTHER HALF OF THE COUNTRY — THE HALF WITH WHOM YOU SO VIGOROUSLY DISAGREE — WHAT DO THEY KNOW THAT YOU DON’T KNOW?

I’M SERIOUS HERE.

I MYSELF AM NOT WILLING TO WRITE OFF HALF THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY AS DELUDED OR RADICAL OR BRAINWASHED OR SELFISH OR WHATEVER.

THEY MAKE DECISIONS FOR REASONS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM, THE SAME WAY I DO.

REDUCING THEM TO A LABEL ISN’T USEFUL.

TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THAT ISN’T WISHY-WASHY.

NOR DOES IT REQUIRE YOU TO BEND YOUR CONVICTIONS.

IT DOES REQUIRE SOME HUMILITY AND THE WILLINGNESS TO MAKE YOURSELF A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE.

DISCOMFORT BEGETS CHANGE.

AND CHANGE IS WHAT WE NEED.

NOW, WE CAN STAND, ARMS CROSSED, AND GLARE AT EACH OTHER ACROSS THE DIVIDE, WHICH PRETTY MUCH GUARANTEES THE TEETER-TOTTER OF POWER AND POLITICS WE’VE SEEN SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS CENTURY.

OR WE CAN ENGAGE OUR INTELLECT AND OUR IMAGINATION TO FIGURE OUT HOW THAT OTHER 50% GOT TO WHERE THEY ARE.

FORGET COMPROMISE FOR A MINUTE.

WE ARE LIGHT-YEARS AWAY FROM THAT: THERE ARE TACTICAL REASONS FOR UNDERSTANDING THE MOTIVATIONS OF THE “OTHER SIDE.” AND THERE ARE HUMAN ONES, TOO.

EMOTIONS ARE PROBABLY STILL TOO RAW ON BOTH SIDES OF THE DIVIDE TO START THINKING ABOUT THIS JUST YET.

BUT I HOPE WE GET THERE.

‘CAUSE I THINK WE HAVE TO.

♪♪ >> Cathy: WE'RE GOING TO TURN OUR ATTENTION NOW TO WHAT EXPERTS SAY A SECOND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MIGHT MEAN FOR HEALTH CARE AND PUBLIC HEALTH HERE IN MINNESOTA.

AMONG BIG CHANGES THAT COULD BE COMING, THE END OF ALL OR PART OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AND A SHIFT IN CURRENT PUBLIC HEALTH POLICIES SUCH AS VACCINATIONS FOR SCHOOL KIDS.

JEREMY OLSON COVERS HEALTH CARE FOR THE MINNESOTA STAR TRIBUNE AND IS PART OF A TEAM OF REPORTERS COVERING THESE ISSUES.

WELCOME BACK.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH.

>> Cathy: YEAH, THANKS.

LET'S FOCUS ON WHAT PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP SAID HE'S GOING TO DO, AND I'M WONDERING ABOUT SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGING OR REPEALING THE A.C.A.

IS THAT POSSIBLE AND IF THAT HAPPENS, WHAT WOULD THAT DO HERE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA?

>> WELL, YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAID AND DIDN'T SAY.

WHEN HE SAYS HE'S GOING TO PROTECT MEDICARE, WHEN HE SAYS HE'S GOING TO PROTECT THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT AND SOCIAL SECURITY, MISSING FROM THAT LIST IS MEDICAID, MISSING FROM THAT LIST ARE CERTAIN PROVISIONS EXTENDING MEDICAID UNDER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

SO THE ABSENCE OF THOSE THINGS SUGGEST SOME CONCERN THERE, THAT SOME OF THOSE THINGS COULD BE ROLLED BACK.

AND THAT'S PARTICULARLY CONCERNING FOR MINNESOTA BECAUSE WE EXPANDED MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY, THERE'S THOUSANDS MORE MINNESOTANS WHO ARE RECEIVING MEDICAID THROUGH THOSE EXPANDED POLICIES, IF THOSE GO AWAY IT CHANGES THE DYNAMIC FOR MINNESOTA WHEN IT COMES TO ITS UNINSURED IN HEALTH COVERAGE.

>> Cathy: WE HAVE MNSURE, THE EXCHANGE, WE'VE HAD HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS IN THE PAST, MINNESOTACARE COMES TO MIND AS AN EXAMPLE.

I MEAN, COULD THAT AYBE HELP FOLKS?

>> WELL, MNSURE IS AN INDIVIDUAL MARKET THAT WOULD THEN BECOME AN OPTION FOR THOSE PEOPLE IF THEY WERE BOOTED OFF MEDICAL ASSISTANCE.

NO DOUBT MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IS A BETTER DEAL, LOWER COPAYS, LOWER OSTS, A PLAN ON MNSURE IS STILL SUBJECT TO SAME COPAYS AND THERE ARE STILL SUBSIDIES AND THE LOWER YOUR INCOME THE LOWER YOUR COPAYS, BUT ESPECIALLY THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE CHRONIC ILLNESS.

>> Eric: ROBERT KENNEDY JR'S IMPORTANCE TO DEBATE IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

>> WELL, WHEN PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP SAYS WILD THINGS.

YOU KNOW HE'S A DEAL MAKER, YOU KNOW SOMETIMES HE SAYS THINGS TO POSITION HIMSELF TO MAKE A DEAL TO GET THINGS IN EXCHANGE.

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR DOESN'T REALLY OPERATE THAT WAY.

IF HE GETS TO GO WILD ON THE FEDERAL AGENCY AS PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP PROMISED YOU CAN BET HE'S PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE THOSE TO HEART AND PURSUE THEM.

I ACTUALLY SAT WITH HIM FOR AN HOUR A FEW YEARS AGO ABOUT OF HE TESTED AT THE TATE LEGISLATURE ABOUT REMOVING EXEMPTIONS TO VACCINES IN THE STATE.

AND HE'S SERIOUS ABOUT THING THINGS LIKE ELEVATING CONCERN OF VACCINE INJURIES EVEN IN THE FACE OF SOME SCIENCE THAT SAYS VACCINES ARE SAFE COMPARED TO THE SMALL RATE OF INJURIES THAT OCCUR.

YOU TAKE RFK JUNIOR SERIOUSLY WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT THOSE.

WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT REMOVING FLUORIDE FROM WATER SYSTEMS, HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE, EVEN THOSE THERE'S RESEARCH NOT SAYING THAT, HE'S GOING TO PURSUE THOSE AGGRESSIVELY IF HE'S PUT IN CHARGE.

>> Cathy: I ONDER HOW TARIFFS COULD AFFECT THE HEALTH INDUSTRY.

>> TARIFFS COULD BE PART OF THE ART OF THE DEAL AND THAT COULD BE PART OF GIVE AND TAKE.

I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF DIVE MAKERS IN TOWN.

AND EVERYTHING'S BEEN KIND OF READING TEA LEAVES RIGHT NOW, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT TARIFFS, POLICIES, NO ONE'S SURE, BUT WHAT THE DEVICE MAKERS IN TOWN OUR MEDTRONICS OF THE WORLD KNOW IS THAT THEIR INCOME IS BASED ON INSURANCE COVERAGE AND THE MORE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BENEFITS THE MORE LIKELY THEY ARE TO GET COVERED AND TO QUALIFY FOR THESE THINGS SO IN TERMS OF OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, WHAT THEY'RE MOSTLY CONCERNED ABOUT IS IS INSURANCE COVERAGE AND WHETHER PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE DEVICES THAT THEY SELL.

>> Eric: CAN A TIGHT HOUSE AT THE STATE LEVEL AND ONE-SEAT MARGIN IN THE SENATE CAN THEY AGREE AGREE LIKE REINSURANCE TO TAMP DOWN PREMIUMS?

>> EASSURANCE IS SET TO EXPIRE.

>> Eric: THAT'S WHY I ASKED, YEAH.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, IT'S FUNCTIONED WITH OBVIOUSLY DIFFERENT LEVELS OF BELIEF OF HOW EFFECTIVE IT'S BEEN SO I EXPECT THAT'D GOING TO BE A BATTLE.

I WOULD SAY THE PUBLIC OPTION THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED THAT WE WERE STUDYING, YEAH, EVERYONE'S PUT PESSIMISTIC THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PUBLIC OPTION TO TRY AND COMPETE WITH PRIVATE PLANS AND DRIVE DOWN COSTS, THAT'S A NO-NO.

>> Eric: IS THE FATE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM IN DANGER OR NATIONWIDE PUBLIC HEALTH ASPECT OF HEALTH CARE?

>> Cathy: WHAT ARE, BY THE WAY, YEAH, O AHEAD, ANSWER THAT QUESTION, CURIOUS.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, THE CONCERN, WE ALREADY HAD THE SECOND HIGHEST MEASLES OUTBREAK IN THE COUNTRY HERE IN MINNESOTA DIRECTLY DUE TO A DECLINE IN MEASLES VACCINATIONS AND THAT WAS DUE TO DECLINE IN CONFIDENCE ALREADY.

IF THERE'S FURTHER MESSAGING ABOUT INJURIES BEING MORE OF A CONCERN THAT'S GOING TO WEAKEN CONFIDENCE FURTHER, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE -- THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF HOW PUBLIC HEALTH COBWEBBINGENNED, MORE MEASLES CASES AND MORE UPON THAT.

>> Cathy: THE FOLLOW-UP OF THAT WOULD BE BECAUSE OF AN INCOMING ADMINISTRATION AND THE THREAT OF DISMANTLING CERTAIN ELEMENTS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, I WONDER ABOUT DISMANTLING THE CDC.

>> THERE'S BEEN TALK ABOUT LEADING THE CDC AS A LEADER ON DECISION MAKING, THAT THE CDC WOULD STILL TRACK DISEASES, REPORT THAT INFORMATION BUT IT WOULD BE KIND OF FARMED OUT TO STATES.

AS DID HAPPEN DURING THE PANDEMIC.

REMEMBER, PRESIDENT TRUMP AT THE TIME HELD STATES KIND OF ON THEIR OWN TO BUY THEIR OWN STUFF AND HANDLE THEIR OWN PLANS AND THAT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN AT A BROADER SCALE.

>> Eric: YOU'LL BE BUSY.

YEAH, IT'S JOB SECURITY FOR REPORTERS.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, THANK YOU.

WE'RE GOING TO TURN OUR ATTENTION RIGHT NOW TO STATE LEGISLATIVE RESULTS.

MINNESOTA VOTERS APPEAR TO HAVE RETURNED DIVIDED GOVERNMENT TO THE CAPITOL.

THERE'S LIKELY A COUPLE OF RECOUNTS BUT POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER AND PHOTOGRAPHER SCOTT TROTMAN FOLLOW FALLOUT WITH THE TIE EXPECTED IN THE HOUSE THANKS TO NEW LAWMAKERS IN SWING SEATS.

>> PRESIDENT TRUMP IS GETTING VERY, VERY VERY, VERY CLOSE.

>> REPUBLICANS COULD CELEBRATE ELECTION NIGHT IN MINNESOTA.

>> OUR JOB IS TO RESTORE THAT BALANCE.

>> WITH THE REPUBLICANS CAPTURE THE MAJORITY AS WE BELIEVE THEY WILL THEY'LL BE IN A POSITION TO BRING SOME BALANCE TO STATE GOVERNMENT WHICH IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR.

THERE'S BEEN A HIGH DEGREE OF CONFIDENCE ALL ALONG IN THIS CAMPAIGN FOR THE HOUSE, WE JUST FELT THAT PEOPLE ARE KIND OF TIRED OF THE WAY DEMOCRATS HAVE GOVERNED AND THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A CHANGE AND A LOT OF INDEPENDENT VOTERS ARE VOTING FOR REPUBLICANS.

>> BUT HE STATED HOUSE APPEARS TO BE IN A TIE AND GOVERNING THROUGH THAT MAY NOT BE EASY.

>> WE ARE AT A 67-67 TIE IN THE MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

>> WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT BALANCE WE WANTED A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT, I WILL BE FULLY HONEST WITH YOU.

BUT WHAT WE KNOW RIGHT NOW IS THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO WORK TOGETHER WITH OUR COLLEAGUES, THE DEMOCRATS ACROSS THE AISLE AND FIND WAYS TO BEST SERVE MINNESOTANS.

>> A TIE IS SOMETHING THAT HASN'T HAPPENED HERE FOR ALMOST HALF A ENTURY.

>> NOT SOMETHING WE REALLY WERE ANXIOUS TO PARTICIPATE IN, BUT HERE WE ARE.

WE HAVE THE NSTITUTIONAL INTEGRITY TO PROTECT, I FEEL THAT WAS DAMAGED SOMEWHAT LAST YEAR.

>> DEMOCRATS CURRENTLY IN CONTROL ARE PLANNING A POWER-SHARING AGREEMENT WITH REPUBLICANS.

>> THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SHOW MINNESOTANS SOME GOOD BIPARTISAN WORKING TOGETHER AND GETTING THINGS DONE.

MINNESOTANS CERTAINLY SENT US A TIED MINNESOTA HOUSE, SO WHAT THEY ARE ASKING US TO DO IS TO WORK TOGETHER AND BE PRODUCTIVE.

>> WHEN DONALD TRUMP IS ON THE BALLOT WE'VE SEEN THE TURNOUT IN RURAL COMMUNITIES INCREASE AND WE'VE SEEN CHALLENGES FOR OUR CANDIDATES IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.

>> IN OUR RACE TO WATCH SERIES THERE ARE RECOUNTS, FLIPPED SEATS, AND NEW REPUBLICANS HELD ON.

>> I JUST ROLL WITH IT AND I COME N AND SAY WHAT IS NEEDED FOR ME, O AS I SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND I'M READY TO HANDLE ANYTHING THAT COMES UP.

>> YOU RAN AS A MODERATE, THERE WEREN'T A TON OF REPUBLICANS OR LAWMAKERS WHO DID THAT.

>> I WORK WITH BOTH SIDES.

I'M A BUSINESSMAN AND I REALIZE WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER TO WORK TOGETHER AND THAT'S HOW WE REALLY GET THINGS DONE.

YOU GET A LOT MORE DONE THAN JUST SAYING, NO, I'M ONLY GOING TO TALK TO PEOPLE I AGREE WITH.

>> ARE YOU REPUBLICAN ENOUGH?

ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT BEING CALLED A R.I. N. O.

OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?

>> I DON'T LIKE THAT NAME, R.I. N. O.

IS SOMEBODY YOU DON'T AGREE WITH.

>> ELECTION PARTIES FEATURED MIXED EMOTIONS.

>> WITH THE ELECTION OF ANN JOHNSON STEWART WE HAVE MAINTAINED OUR MAJORITY IN THE STATE SENATE!

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> DEMOCRATS DID PREVAIL IN A SPECIAL ELECTION TO RETAIN CONTROL OF THE STATE SENATE.

>> I AM THE PROUD MAJORITY LEADER OF THE MINNESOTA SENATE.

I WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING ANN JOHNSON STEWART.

I WANT TO WELCOME HER TO THE MINNESOTA SENATE AS SENATOR-ELECT.

JOB WELL DONE!

>> THE U.S. SENATE SEAT ALSO REMAINS IN DEMOCRATIC HANDS.

>> WE ARE SO EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO ANNOUNCE THAT OUR FANTASTIC U.S.

SENATOR HAS BEEN ELECTED TO A HISTORIC FOURTH TERM!

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> THEY HAD DEMOCRATS LOST CONTROL OF THE U.S. SENATE, A LEADING VOICE IS LOOKING LONG-TERM.

>> THE REASON OUR DEMOCRACY WENT ON AND ENDURED IS BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OF THIS NATION, DESPITE OUR DIFFERENCES, STILL BELIEVE IN AMERICA.

WE STILL BELIEVE THAT WE MUST FIND LIGHT IN THE NEVER-ENDING SHADE.

>> AND A NEW WOMAN WILL HEAD TO CONGRESS FROM MINNESOTA, ALSO A D.F.L.ER.

>> WE HAVE ELECTED THE FIRST AND ONLY PRO-CHOICE OBGYN TO UNITED STATES CONGRESS!

>> ULTIMATELY HARRIS AND WALZ FAILING TO PREVAIL SETS UP A VERY DIFFERENT HOMECOMING.

>> BUCKLE UP AND REMEMBER EVERYTHING WE HAVE FOUGHT FOR.

>> I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE NEXT FOUR YEARS AND WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

I'M ONE OF THEM.

ABOUT ONE AND A HALF MILLION OF OUR FELLOW MINNESOTANS VOTED FOR THE OTHER SIDE IN THIS ELECTION.

AND NOW THAT THIS ELECTION IS BEHIND US I'M GOING TO TRY EVEN HARDER TO KEEP AN OPEN MIND, OPEN HEART, AND REALLY LISTEN TO FOLKS WHO DON'T SUPPORT ME OR MY POLICIES.

TO WORK WITH EVERYONE IN THE LEGISLATURE TO SEEK COMPROMISE AND COMMON GROUND.

>> E NEED TO HOLD GOVERNOR WALZ WHEN HE COMES BACK TO RETURN AS GOVERNOR, WE NEED TO HOLD A LITTLE BIT MORE ACCOUNTABILITY WHERE THERE HAS BEEN NONE.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE FULLY ANTICIPATE DOING.

♪♪ >> Eric: WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF A TIE IN THE MINNESOTA HOUSE, AND A CERTAINTY THAT THE D.F.L.

TRIFECTA IS GONE IN ST. PAUL, WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN TO CHECK IN WITH TWO FORMER HOUSE SPEAKERS ABOUT WHAT SHARED LEADERSHIP COULD LOOK LIKE IF THE HOUSE REMAINS IN A TIE AFTER RECOUNTS ARE COMPLETE.

MARGARET ANDERSON KELLIHER SERVED AS THE D.F.L.

HOUSE SPEAKER FOR TWO LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS, FROM JANUARY 2007 TO JANUARY 2011.

ALSO SERVING TWO SESSIONS AS HOUSE SPEAKER, REPUBLICAN KURT DAUDT HELD THAT POSITION FROM JANUARY 2015 TO JANUARY OF 2019.

MADAM SPEAKER, DO YOU HAVE SOME EXPECT CFSS EXPECTATIONS OR SPECULATION ON HOW THIS MIGHT END UP?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT COOPERATION IS ALWAYS GOOD.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A FAN OF RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER, AND REALLY WORKING THROUGH THE PROBLEM-SOLVING THAT MINNESOTANS NEED THE LEGISLATURE TO WORK THROUGH.

SO I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT.

THE CLOSENESS OF IT, IT WILL REALLY LEAD TO THAT.

>> Eric: THE IMPORTANCE OF RELATIONSHIPS GOING FORWARD.

>> IT IS.

POLITICS IS A RELATIONSHIP BUSINESS, AND I THINK IF THEY CAN BOTH, BOTH SIDES REMEMBER THAT NEITHER ONE OF THEM WON THE MAJORITY, WHICH GETS YOU THE SPOILS AND THEY APPROACH IT FROM HOW CAN WE WORK TOGETHER, I THINK THAT WILL HELP THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM STRONGLY TO REALLY LOOK AT A POWER-SHARING AGREEMENT, RATHER THAN WHAT HAPPENED BACK IN 1979 WHICH WAS I'LL TRADE YOU THIS IF YOU GIVE ME THAT.

BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS IT BECOMES ADVERSARIAL AND IT INCENTIVIZES YOU TO WORK AGAINST EACH OTHER, BUT IF YOU HAD A POWER-SHARING AGREEMENT I THINK IT WOULD INCENTIVIZE YOU TO WORK TOGETHER.

>> Cathy: ALTHOUGH THAT AGREEMENT WORKED UNTIL IT DIDN'T.

>> WELL, THAT'S ALWAYS THE CASE, RIGHT?

>> Cathy: EXACTLY.

AND YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT COOPERATION WHICH IS GREAT.

BUT YOU BOTH LED CAUCUSES THAT CAN BE A LITTLE FRACTIOUS, RIGHT?

IT'S HARD TO KEEP YOUR CAUCUS TOGETHER, AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY HARD THEN, IT'S HARD TO KEEP YOUR CAUCUS TOGETHER MUCH LESS SHARE POWER, RIGHT?

THINK ABOUT THAT.

>> YEAH, IT IS.

I ACTUALLY THINK IF YOU HAD A POWER SHARING AGREEMENT WHERE YOU HAD SORT OF TWO SPEAKERS I GUESS, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE A SPEAKER AT ALL BUT YOU'D HAVE TWO PEOPLE THAT WOULD SHARE THAT JOB AND SHARE THE DUTIES OF THAT JOB, AND I THINK IF THEY, IF THEY THINK ABOUT THEIR JOB AS, YOU KNOW, IT TAKES 68 VOTES ACCORDING TO THE CONSTITUTION TO PASS A BILL INTO LAW AND BOTH CAUCUSES ONLY HAVE 67 SO IF THEY THINK ABOUT IT AS, WELL, HOW DO WE TRY TO GET THE 34 FROM THIS SIDE AND THE 34 FROM THAT SIDE PLUS OR MINUS TO PASS A BILL, INSTEAD OF HOW DO WE GET OUR 67 AND IS ONE OF THEIRS, I THINK IF THEY APPROACH IT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE I THINK THAT WILL HELP.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK SO.

I ALSO PUT A LOT OF FAITH IN SPEAKER HORTMAN AND IN LEADER DEMUTH.

I THINK THEY BOTH ARE COMING AT THIS FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF HIS IS NOT 1978, THIS IS NOT THE '70S, THIS IS A VERY DIFFERENT LEGISLATURE, AND I THINK THAT THEY AS LEADERS ARE VERY COMMITTED TO THAT WORK OF BEING ABLE TO LEGISLATE FOR MINNESOTANS.

>> Eric: I WONDER HOW THE TEMPORARY RULES AND THE PERMANENT RULES OF THE HOUSE COULD BE CHANGED, LIMITING SPEAKING TIME ON THE FLOOR, FEWER AMENDMENTS.

SOME OF THAT, OR IS THAT TOO MUCH.

>> THOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN DEBATED OVER THE YEARS CERTAINLY.

, IS THERE A CHANCE OR TOO MUCH TO TAKE ON?

>> I THINK IT'S TOO MUCH TO TAKE ON.

I THINK THEY HAVE TO WORK ON HOW ARE WE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER OR SET UP THIS POWER-SHARING AGREEMENT, IF YOU GET -- THOSE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN EBATED OVER THE YEARS AND I'M ACTUALLY PRETTY PROUD, THE 13 YEARS THAT I WAS IN THE HOUSE OR 13, LITTLE MORE THAN 13 YEARS WE NEVER CALLED THE QUESTION IN THE HOUSE.

RIGHT?

I WOULD PUSH THAT RIGHT UP -- >> Eric: ENDING DEBATE.

>> ENDING DEBATE AND I WOULD PUSH IT RIGHT UP TO THE LINE BUT WHEN I THOUGHT THE OTHER SIDE WAS GETTING READY TO CALL THE QUESTION AND END DEBATE WHICH WAS ALWAYS KIND OF THE NUCLEAR OPTION.

I'D SAY HEY, WHY DIDN'T WE JUST TALK ABOUT THIS.

>> I HAD TO DO IT ONE YEAR, THAT WAS THE TRUTH.

GOVERNOR PAWLENTY WANTED THE TAX BILL, THE MINORITY WAS DOING WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO WHICH WAS TO THROW THE SAND IN THE GEARS AND GET US TO STOP AND THE GOVERNOR'S ON THE PHONE SAYING I WANT THE TAX BILL.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE DID.

AND I THINK IT'S A TOOL.

EVERYTHING'S A TOOL.

NOW, LET ME SAY ABOUT RULES, THOUGH, I THINK THERE WILL BE A LOT OF SELF-GOVERNING OF THINGS LIKE DEBATE AND AMENDMENTS BECAUSE OF THE CLOSENESS.

A LOT OF THINGS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO COME OUT OF COMMITTEE AND REALLY BE ALMOST PRENEGOTIATED.

>> Eric: SO MORE WORK IN COMMITTEE THAN ON THE FLOOR.

>> I THINK SO.

>> Eric: THAT WOULD LIMIT AMENDMENTS PROBABLY.

>> AND MORE TRANSPARENT WORK.

I ACTUALLY THINK TOO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THIS 67-67, IT'S A LOT BETTER, I THINK, THAN 68-66, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD THAT IN THE PAST, AND THAT MEANS ANY ONE MEMBER CAN HOLD THEIR CAUCUS HOSTAGE AND IT CAN SOMEBODY ON THE FAR EXTREME SIDE OR IT CAN BE SOMEBODY ON THE MIDDLE SIDE OF THE CAUCUS THAT SAYS I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR THAT BILL UNLESS I GET THAT.

AND I THINK IN THIS SCENARIO YOU COULD ACTUALLY END UP WITH A SITUATION WHERE IF YOU'VE GOT BROAD SWATHS OF BOTH CAUCUSES VOTING FOR THE BILLS AND YOU'VE AGREED TO THEM TOGETHER, I THINK THIS, YOU END UP WITH A VERY BASE BUDGET, NOT A LOT OF POLICY, BUT WE STICK TO THE THINGS THAT NEED TO GET DONE.

>> AND YOU CAN DO A LOT OF OVERSIGHT, SO LET ME JUST SAY THAT THIS HAS BEEN A VERY PRODUCTIVE TIME PREVIOUSLY IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND THIS IS AN IDEAL TIME TO GO BACK IN AND SAY BOTH TAKE THOSE LEGISLATIVE AUDIT REPORTS AND LET'S TAKE A LOOK, LET'S SEE HOW THINGS ARE GOING.

YOU KNOW, I WOULD A COMMISSIONER AS WELL, WE SED THOSE LEGISLATIVE AUDIT REPORTS TO IMPROVE THINGS.

OVERSIGHT IS A KEY PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AND SHOULD BE EMBRACED MORE, AND THIS IS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

>> Cathy: I'M WONDERING, BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW HOUSE LEADERSHIP, WHERE DOES THE GOVERNOR FIT INTO THIS?

HE'S COMING BACK IN, RIGHT, AND HE'S BEEN A LITTLE BLOODIED BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED ON THE NATIONAL STAGE.

HOW DOES HE FIT INTO THIS IN TERMS OF THE POWER AND HIS ROLE AND I'M CURIOUS TO SEE WHETHER YOU THINK HE'S A LITTLE WOUNDED PERHAPS?

WHAT HAPPENS?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE YOU STILL BECAUSE THE SENATE IS DEMOCRATIC BY ONE VOTE AND IS LEADER MURPHY, SHE'S AN EXCELLENT LEADER, SHE'S BEEN THROUGH A LOT OVER THE YEARS, THE TWO VERSUS ONE IN SOME WAYS, IT'S STILL GOING TO HAVE THAT ELEMENT TO IT, THE GOVERNOR'S GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF STRENGTH IN THIS.

GOVERNORS DO GET A LOT OF WHAT THEY WANT, WHETHER LEGISLATORS WANT O ADMIT IT OR NOT.

>> THAT'S TRUE, YEAH.

>> AND THE GOVERNOR WILL BE IN A POWERFUL OSITION, I THINK HE'S PROBABLY GOING TO TRAVEL THE STATE AND BE ABLE TO TALK TO A LOT OF MINNESOTANS AT THIS POINT AND I THINK HE'S ACTUALLY IN GOOD SHAPE IN MINNESOTA TO REBUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.

>> I THINK AN INTERESTING DYNAMIC THAT I'VE PICKED UP ON TODAY IN HIS WORDS COMING BACK FROM TRAVELING AROUND THE COUNTRY TALKING TO PEOPLE AND HIM BELIEVING THAT FOLKS AROUND THE COUNTRY REALLY THOUGHT THAT WHAT WE DID IN MINNESOTA WAS GOOD OR BETTER THAN WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, AND I THINK REPUBLICANS HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE BELIEVE THAT TRUMP WON THE ELECTION PARTLY BECAUSE OF THAT KIND OF AGENDA AND THAT IT WAS VERREACH.

SO I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE DISCONNECT BETWEEN WHAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING RIGHT NOW.

>> Eric: I'M GETTING A HOOK.

>> I THINK THE BIGGEST THING WAS THE ECONOMY, SO.

>> Eric: COME BACK AND SEE US.

>> EE IF WE'RE RIGHT OR WRONG, RIGHT?

>> Eric: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SPEAKERS, WE'RE GOING TO HEAD BACK OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STUDIO AND CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATION ABOUT DIVIDED GOVERNMENT.

BE RIGHT BACK.

♪♪ >> Cathy: ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE KNOWN FOR DISAGREEING ABOUT NEARLY EVERYTHING THESE DAYS.

BUT AS WE JUST DISCUSSED, WHEN MINNESOTA'S NEXT LEGISLATURE CONVENES IN JANUARY, ELECTED OFFICIALS WILL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER OR FACE NEAR-CERTAIN GRIDLOCK.

JOINING US TO TALK MORE ABOUT WHAT POLITICAL COMPROMISE CAN LOOK LIKE, THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MAJORITY IN THE MIDDLE, A NON-PROFIT THAT ENCOURAGES WORKING TOGETHER.

SHANNON WATSON.

WELCOME BACK.

>> THANK YOU, GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS.

>> Cathy: IS THIS ALMOST LIKE THE COOLEST THING YOU COULD THINK OF IN TERMS OF YOUR GROUP?

67-67, IT'S ALMOST TAILOR MADE FOR YOUR GROUP.

>> I'M HAVING A GOOD WEEK, LET ME JUST SAY I WAS I'M HAVING A GOOD WEEK.

I WAS ON A PANEL WITH AMY KOCH AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE SENATE AND MAJORITY BEING THAT SENATE RACE AND HE SAID THE HOUSE THERE'S ALWAYS POSSIBILITY OF 67-67 SPLIT AND PEOPLE WERE LIKE REALLY?

AND I'M LIKE, YEAH, I'M THE ONLY PERSON IN THE STATE VOTING TO THAT.

THE FACT THAT IT HAPPENED I THINK WE MAY HAVE BEETLEJUICEED IT INTO EXISTENCE.

>> Eric: YOU WERE ON BOTH NEWS CONFERENCES THIS WEEK.

WHAT DID YOU SAY THAT CAUGHT YOUR EYE?

>> I STOOD IN THE BACK AND SMILED LIKE AN IDIOT THE ENTIRE TIME.

THAT WAS THE BEST PRESS CONFERENCE I'VE EVER SEEN.

BECAUSE THOSE TWO IN PARTICULAR SEEM TO BE EMBRACING THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY WITH, AS DIVIDED AS THE COUNTRY IS, THIS IS AN ENORMOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR MINNESOTA TO BE LEADERS AND SHOW HOW YOU CAN COME ACROSS, WORK TOGETHER, CROSS THE AISLE, SHARE THAT POWER, AND THEN HOPEFULLY REPLICATE THAT OTHER PLACES.

>> Cathy: I WONDER IF THAT WOULD BE THE SAME CASE IF THERE WERE TWO MEN WHO WOULD BE IN LEADERSHIP.

I KNOW MAYBE THAT'S NOT A QUESTION TO ASK.

>> WELL, IT DEPENDS WHO IT IS.

THERE WERE MEN FOR MANY YEARS, JIM RAM STAD, DAVE DURENBERGER, THOSE GUYS KNEW HOW TO GET ALONG AND THEY HAD THE RELATIONSHIPS BUT I WILL SAY THERE IS A THING ABOUT WOMEN, GENERALLY A LITTLE MORE COLLABORATIVE AND THE FACT THAT THOSE TWO HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME BUILDING THEIR RELATIONSHIP.

>> Cathy: THEY HAVE.

>> AND LEARNING TO TRUST EACH OTHER.

>> Cathy: SO HOW, WHAT MIGHT BE THE FIRST STEPS TO TAKE TO GOVERN FROM THE MIDDLE?

>> SO WHEN THE SESSION STARTS, THE SPEAKER -- I'M SORRY, THE SECRETARY OF STATE OFFICIALLY GAVELS IN THE HOUSE.

AND THEN THE FIRST THING THAT HAPPENS IS EVERYBODY GETS SWORN IN AND THEN THE FIRST SORT OF PROCEDURAL THING IS THEY ELECT A SPEAKER.

AND THIS IS WHAT'S SO INTERESTING ABOUT THE STRUCTURE AND ABOUT HOW WHY WE PAY SO MUCH ATTENTION TO WHO'S IN THE MAJORITIES, BECAUSE WHOEVER'S IN THE MAJORITY RUNS THE TABLE, THEY CONTROL EVERYTHING, THEY CONTROL THE STAFF, THEY CONTROL, YOU KNOW, THE COMMITTEE CHAIRS, AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

SO EVEN BEFORE EVERYBODY'S SWORN IN AND THEY FIGURE OUT WHO'S GOING TO HOLD THAT SPEAKER GAVEL, THEY HAVE TO FIGURE OUT THIS POWER-SHARING ARRANGEMENT.

I HEARD GOOD THINGS FROM MELISSA HORTMAN TODAY ABOUT WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE, THEY'RE LOOKING AT WHAT OTHER STATES DO.

BUT WE'LL SEE, WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE NEGOTIATIONS.

>> Eric: YOUR REPORT HAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS SOME SUBTERRANEAN BIPARTISANSHIP GOING ON.

>> ABSOLUTELY, YEAH.

AND THE HIDDEN BIPARTISANSHIP, THE INDIVIDUAL RANK AND FILE MEMBERS WORKING WITH EACH OTHER ON LEGISLATION, I THINK THAT ACTUALLY THERE'S SOME CONCERN THAT, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF THE TWO LEADERS GET ALONG WILL THE REST OF THE AUCUSES GO ALONG WITH THAT, AND I WILL SAY LIKE IF THEY HAVE ALREADY HAD THAT EXPERIENCE WORKING ACROSS THE AISLE ON BILLS, THIS JUST GIVES THEM MORE INCENTIVE TO DO SO.

AND THEN OF COURSE THE REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE IN THE MINORITY, THEY HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN WHAT THE HOUSE IS DOING AND SO I'M HOPING THAT WITH THE HOUSE BEING A LITTLE MORE COLLABORATIVE THE SENATE WILL GO AHEAD AND DO THAT AS WELL.

>> Cathy: OKAY.

BECAUSE YOU WERE AT THE NEWS CONFERENCES SMILING BROADLY IN THE BACKGROUND.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: I WONDER WHAT ROLE COULD YOUR GROUP POSSIBLY PLAY IN ALL OF THIS?

>> OH, WE -- THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.

WE WANT TO E SORT OF AN OUTSIDE FORCE TO ENDORSE THE IDEAS THAT WE THINK ARE GOOD.

WE VERY SPECIFICALLY DON'T WALK AROUND THE CAPITOL TELLING PEOPLE DON'T BE SO PARTISAN, NUMBER ONE, IT'S NOT FUN, AND TO TWO, IT'S NOT FUN TO TELL PEOPLE THEY'RE WRONG.

THIS IS GOING TO BE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US.

IF THOSE COMMITTEES WIND UP COCHAIRED COMMITTEES, THEN I'M GOING TO BE TELL A STORY OF EVERY COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE, THE WHOLE SESSION LONG.

>> Eric: ONE MINNESOTA HAS COME TO THE HOUSE.

>> ONE MINNESOTA HAS COME TO THE HOUSE.

>> Eric: THANKS, SHANNON.

>> Cathy: WELL, THE POTENTIAL TIE GAVE OUR PRODUCERS A REALLY GOOD EXCUSE TO DIVE INTO THE ARCHIVES.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, 20 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK, UNEXPECTED ELECTION RESULTS LED TO A LEGISLATIVE SHAKEUP, AND A NEAR-TIE IN THE MINNESOTA HOUSE.

HERE'S A LOOK BACK AT WHAT HOUSE LEADERS STEVE SVIGGUM AND MATT ENTENZA HAD O SAY AT THE TIME.

>> IT IS TIME TO GET THE JOB DONE.

AND THERE IS A MANDATE FOR MODERATION IN MINNESOTA.

>> THAT MESSAGE COMES FROM DEMOCRATS TAKING 13 SEATS AWAY FROM REPUBLICANS, INCLUDING FIVE COMMITTEE CHAIRS LIKE BILL QUESLEY, BAUD RUE AND BILL HAAS.

REMARKABLY SVIGGUM MAINTAINED A SUNNY DEMEANOR DESPITE LOSING THE MAJORITY.

>> YOU'VE GOT TO WORK ON ISSUES THAT HOLD YOU TOGETHER, COMMONALITIES.

♪♪ >> Eric: HAVE WE MENTIONED THERE WAS A BIG ELECTION EARLIER THIS WEEK?

ONCE OR TWICE IN THE LAST 40 MINUTES.

WE CAN'T COMPLETE THE HOUR WITH A COUCH OF POLITICAL ANALYSTS.

REPUBLICANS UP FIRST TONIGHT, FRITZ KNAAK IS A FORMER STATE SENATOR NOW ATTORNEY IN PRIVATE PRACTICE.

BRIAN MCDANIEL IS A FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER NOW LOBBYIST AND STAND-UP COMEDIAN.

DEMOCRATS WITH US TONIGHT, JEFF HAYDEN, ALSO A FORMER STATE SENATOR, NOW LOBBYIST.

HERE TOO IS WINTANA MELEKIN, A PARTY ACTIVIST AND RECENT VETERAN OF REPRESENTATIVE ILHAN OMAR'S SUCCESSFUL REELECTION CAMPAIGN.

LET ME START WITH YOU, SENATOR HAYDEN.

I WANT TO QUOTE SOME OF GOVERNOR WALZ'S SPEECH TODAY AT EAGAN HIGH SCHOOL.

SOUNDING VERY MUCH LIKE A CANDIDATE FOR A THIRD THEY REMEMBER.

I'LL BE STANDING HERE EADY TO FIGHT THE FIGHT WITH YOU.

I'M INSPIRED.

I'M MOTIVATED, I'M FIRED UP.

I LOVE THIS JOB AND I'M NOT DONE FIGHTING FOR MINNESOTA.

NOT BY A LONGSHOT.

NOW, WAS THAT TO SAY HE'S NOT A LAME DUCK OR WAS IT THE BEGINNING OF A CAMPAIGN FOR A THIRD TERM?

>> I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LITTLE RESIDUAL FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN AND I THINK HE'S STILL EXCITED AND HE DIDN'T WANT TO NECESSARILY GO, YOU KNOW, TO KIND OF SAY THAT HE WASN'T GOING TO DO IT.

I THINK HE WILL FIGURE THAT OUT AFTER THIS SESSION I BELIEVE WALZ WILL -- >> Eric: YOU'RE NOT LEADING, LOOKING AT MUCH INTO IT EXCEPT IT WAS A SPEECH FROM -- >> NO, I THINK IT WAS A SPEECH AND I THINK HE WANTED TO INSPIRE PEOPLE BUT I THINK IT WAS A CARRYOVER FROM THE CAMPAIGN.

>> Cathy: I ASKED THE SPEAKERS WHETHER THEY THOUGHT HE WAS POLITICALLY WOUNDED?

>> NO QUESTION IN MY MIND.

WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS CAMPAIGN IS THAT SOME THINGS CAME UT IN A MUCH LESS SYMPATHETIC NATIONAL PRESS THAT HAD BEEN SPOKEN OF BUT NOT REALLY COVERED MUCH IN MINNESOTA.

HE'S GOTTEN, HE'S HAD A PRETTY SOFT APPROACH IF I DO SAY SO MYSELF, MILD CRITICISM, BUT AS A PRACTICAL MATTER.

SO A LOT OF THAT CAME OUT AND HE WAS DAMAGED BY THATAND I THINK PART OF REASON WHY HE'S TAKING THE POSTURE E IS IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER HAPPENED AND WHATEVER THAT'S ABOUT, I'M STILL HERE, I'M STILL GOVERNOR, STILL GOING TO DO ALL THIS.

AND HE AS TO TAKE SOME EFFORT TO TRY TO UNDO SOME OF THIS POLITICAL DAMAGE.

>> Eric: CONGRESSWOMAN OMAR GOT 75% SO IT WASN'T A PROBLEM IN HER CAMPAIGN BUT WHY DID THE DEMOCRATS COME UP SHORT DO YOU THINK?

>> YEAH, I THINK NO ONE EXPECTED THIS RESULT.

I THINK IT WAS UNKNOWN THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN BUT I THINK CONGRESSWOMAN OMAR RAN A REALLY STRONG CAMPAIGN, I'M VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED AND I THINK WE WERE IN EVERY SINGLE CORNER OF THE STATE AND WHAT WE HAD IS HARRIS JUST HAD A MUCH SHORTER TIMELINE, SHE DIDN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO RUN THE FULL PROGRAM SHE PROBABLY WANTED TO AND I THINK WITH ALL THE CONFLICT OVERSEAS, CONVERSATION AROUND THE ECONOMY, I THINK ALL OF THAT KIND OF CAME TOGETHER.

BUT I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT DEMOCRATS WILL BE ABLE TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO SECURE THINGS AGAIN IN TWO YEARS.

AND THE LAST THING I WANT TO ADD IS THAT MINNESOTA IS SAFE, MINNESOTA WAS VERY CLEAR WHERE WE ARE STOOD, MINNESOTA WAS ABLE TO STOP THE REPUBLICANS FROM TAKING CONTROL AND I FEEL VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED HERE.

>> BRIAN.

>> REPUBLICANS, WE'RE FEELIN' FINE IN MINNESOTA.

WE BROKE UP THE TRIFECTA, WE'RE FEELING GOOD.

BUT I MEAN LET'S LOOK AT THE REAL NUMBERS, IT'S MATH.

TRUMP GOT 2 MILLION VOTES LESS THAN HE DID IN 2020.

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS GOT 12 MILLION LESS THAN BIDEN.

SO THE TWITTER TOUGH GUYS ARE TALKING ABOUT RACISM AND SEXISM, WELL, REPUBLICANS, IT'S NOT REPUBLICANS' JOB TO VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS.

IF THOSE THINGS EXIST AND WE KNOW THAT THEY DO, IT IS ON THE DEMOCRAT SIDE, AND I THINK THAT THE REPUBLICANS WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT WE DID RIGHT, YAY FOR US BUT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW DID THEY LOSE SO MANY PEOPLE IN THESE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND HOW DID THEY LOSE THE WORKING CLASS AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE TAYLOR SWIFT GETTING YOU A VICTORY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

>> Cathy: I MEAN, WHY DID DEMOCRATS BLEED SUPPORT ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY?

>> YEAH, I ACTUALLY THINK THAT DEMOCRATS HAVEN'T DONE GOOD JOB AND IT WAS KIND OF GOING THAT WAY AND ACTUALLY LISTENING TO PEOPLE, ACTUALLY LISTENING TO WORKING CLASS PEOPLE, ACTUALLY KIND OF FOCUSING ON THOSE BREAD AND BUTTER ISSUES I THINK SOME OF THE HIGHER PLATEAU THINGS THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT GOT IN THE WAY.

I KNOW LIKE I TALKED TO BLACK MEN ALL THE TIME BECAUSE I'M ONE, AND I KNOW THAT LIKE THERE WAS THIS KIND OF CONVERSATION EVEN WITH THE PRESIDENT AS I MIGHT SAY, THAT'S KIND OF JUST POINTED THEIR FINGER AND SAID THIS IS WHAT YOU SHALL DO AS OPPOSED TO SAYING WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU NEED.

AND I HEARD THAT AN AWFUL LOT.

>> Cathy: GO AHEAD, BRIAN.

>> I TALK TO BLACK MEN ALL THE TIME TOO, IT'S JEFF.

[ LAUGHTER ] BUT I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IN 2016, THERE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN A TRUMP IF THE REPUBLICANS WERE LISTENING TO THE RANK AND FILE.

THERE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN A BERNIE SANDERS IF THE DEMOCRATS WERE LISTENING TO THE RANK AND FILE AND IT'S UNFATHOMABLE TO ME THAT WHAT HAPPENED IN 2016 HAPPENED AGAIN, AND I WOULDN'T HAVE THOUGHT WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT IF DEMOCRATS STAY HOME, TRUMP WINS, THAT THEY COULD HAVE ALLOWED THAT TO HAPPEN AGAIN, AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN.

AND I MUST BE JUST BAD AT MY JOB BECAUSE I THOUGHT DEMOCRATS WOULDN'T ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.

>> Cathy: IS THERE A POLITICAL REALIGNMENT HAPPENING IN MINNESOTA?

>> WELL, IT'S, YEAH, THERE'S BEEN A FUNDAMENTAL SHIFT GOING ON AND IT STARTED BEFORE 2016 AND IT'S CERTAINLY GOING ON NOW AND CONTINUING TO GO ON NOW.

TRUMP GOT AT THE HEAD OF THIS, AND IT'S POPULIST AND PEOPLE, LIKE ONCE UPON A TIME PEOPLE SAID, OH, HE'S A POPULIST AS IF THAT WAS SOME KIND OF POSITIVE THING.

PEOPLE FORGET WHEN YOU LOOK AT HISTORY THAT POPULISM HAS A VERY UGLY HISTORY AND VERY UGLY SIDE TO IT.

AND THIS CERTAINLY WAS ALL OF THAT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE AND THAT PROGRESSIVISM ACTUALLY CAME UP AS A RESPONSE TO POPULISM, TRYING TO COME UP WITH A BETTER THING.

SO, YES, IT WAS, THERE'S A MAJOR REALIGNMENT GOING ON, WHAT'S APPENED HAS TAKEN MANY YEARS TO HAPPEN SO IT WON'T JUST BE UNDONE BY A SINGLE CANDIDATE.

BERNIE SANDERS COULDN'T COME ONN THE SCENE AND WHITE HORSE, TAKE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WHERE IT USED TO BE, IT'S ALL CHANGED.

>> Eric: WHAT ABOUT VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS CAMPAIGNING WITH THE CHENEYS?

>> I THINK LAST TIME I WAS N HERE, I THINK I CALLED HIM A SUPERVILLAIN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

YEAH, IT WAS A MISTAKE.

IT WASN'T THE RIGHT DECISION, I THINK THERE WERE SO MANY LOCAL LEADERS AND OTHER CHAMPIONS WE COULD HAVE BEEN USING, ADVOCATES FOR THE WORKING CLASS.

I THINK, AND HONESTLY THE TALKING POINT THAT I'VE BEEN SAYING TO FOLKS IS THAT WE SPEND BILLIONS OF TAX DOLLARS SENDING BOMBS ACROSS THE GLOBE WHILE AMERICANS WERE LITERALLY ASKING FOR HEALTH CARE, AND A LIVING WAGE.

AND I THINK IT'S A SIGN FOR OUR PARTY THAT WE NEED TO REASSESS AND GO BACK TO FOCUSING ON THE WORKING CLASS FOLKS OF THIS COUNTRY AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY STAY WITH OUR PARTY.

AND I THINK WE HAVE A CLEAR OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY DO THAT AND A DIRECTIVE FROM VOTERS TO DO THAT.

>> WHEN THE REPUBLICANS STARTED TO ONLY FOCUS ON SOCIAL ISSUES, THEY STARTED TO LOSE.

AND YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE THAT WITH THE DEMOCRATS WHERE THE SOCIAL ISSUES ARE BECOMING WHAT YOU HEAR FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD FROM THE ACTIVIST CLASS, AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER THAT WHAT PEOPLE CARE ABOUT IS THE RENT, COST OF GROCERIES, THINGS LIKE THAT, AND YOU WERE TOLD YOU'RE BEING SELFISH IF THAT HAPPENED AND THAT'S THE WRONG MESSAGE.

>> YOU KNOW, I HEARD THE SAME THING.

I MEAN, WHEN I STARTED IN THE SENATE THERE WERE A BIG RURAL CAUCUSES, TOM BAKK AND DAN SPARKS AND ALL OF THESE OTHER -- ROD SKOWE, I CAN REMEMBER TALKING TO THEM.

AND THERE'S REALLY, THOSE FOLKS AREN'T THERE ANYMORE, RIGHT, AND I CAN REMEMBER SITTING IN THOSE ROOMS SAYING THAT THIS IS, SITTING NEXT TO DAVID TOMASSONI, GOD BLESS HIS SOUL, SAYING, SENATOR, WE'RE GONNA LOSE AT AT SOME POINT WE'RE GOING TO LOSE AND WE'RE GETTING VERY CLOSE TO THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE OT BEEN LISTENING TO THE REST OF MINNESOTA.

WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GO AND SIT DOWN AND HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH A FARMER THAT'S MAKING $40,000 A YEAR AND WE JUST SPEND $18 BILLION AND THEY DIDN'T GET ENOUGH IT.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED THE LEGISLATURE, 67-67 TIE, WERE YOU HERE IN '79?

>> NO.

>> Cathy: I WASN'T SURE.

>> JUST MISSED IT.

>> Cathy: JUST MISSED IT, OKAY.

HOW DOES THIS WORK OUT, DO YOU SUPPOSE?

IS >> I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE.

AND LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE LEGISLATURE IT'S GOING TO DEPEND ON THE PLAYERS.

AND IF YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE THAT CAN WORK TOGETHER, THAT DON'T HATE EACH OTHER, THAT HAVE OTHER KINDS OF AGENDAS, IT COULD WORK OUT FAIRLY WELL.

THE REPUBLICANS REALLY ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE THE LEAST TO WORRY ABOUT BECAUSE ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS SAY NO.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT TRYING TO SUPPORT A BUDGET, THEY'RE NOT TRYING TO DO ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS BUT KNOWING THAT AND HAVING SPENT TWO YEARS SAYING HOW TERRIBLE IT IS THEY DON'T HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE, ONCE THEY GET THE SEAT AT THE TABLE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO OWN SOME OF WHAT COMES OUT OF IT.

>> Eric: THE HOUSE HAS GOTTEN THE PUBLICITY, BUT THE SENATE IS 34-334, NICOLE MITCHELL THE SENATOR IS FACING A TRIAL IN NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA.

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT OUT OF THE SENATE?

>> WELL, IT WILL BE INTERESTING.

34-33, NICOLE MITCHELL HAS TO GO TO TRIAL.

THEY HAVE ALSO SOME LITTLE BIT OF HARD FEELINGS LAST YEAR THE WAY THAT THE SESSION ENDED LAST YEAR.

YOU ALSO HAVE, I TALKED ABOUT RURAL DEMOCRATS, YOU GOT A FEW OF THEM STILL LEFT IN THE SENATE AND I KNOW I WANT TO CALL -- THEM BY NAME BECAUSE IT'S EASIER TO FIGURE OUT, I KNOW THEY'RE ON THE CLOCK AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE WATCHING EVERY SINGLE ISSUE.

I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE THEY MIGHT NOT GO WITH THE REPUBLICAN COUNTERPARTS IF IT'S GOOD FOR THEIR DISTRICTS, SO I THINK IT'S INTRIGUING.

>> WELL, AND I GOT TO SAY, MY OTHER SIDE OF THE FAMILY IS FROM UP ON THE RANGE AND AIF YOU HAD TOLD ME 20 YEARS AGO THERE WAS GOING TO BE A REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING HIBBING IN THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE I WOULD HAVE SAID THAT'S IT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE SIGN.

APOCALYPSE, IT'S ALL OVER.

THINGS HAVE TOTALLY CHANGED OUTSTATE.

>> Eric: SPENDING IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE LESSENED, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO NEGOTIATE.

I FEEL CONFIDENT ABOUT HORTMAN'S ABILITY TO DO THAT WITH A SPLIT LEGISLATURE.

BUT, YEAH, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS TO NEGOTIATE A GOOD DEAL.

>> Cathy: IT WILL BE INTERESTING.

>> Eric: WE'LL HAVE TIME TO TALK ABOUT IT GOING FORWARD.

YOU GUYS WERE GREAT DURING THE CAMPAIGN.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU SO UCH.

GET SOME SLEEP.

♪♪ >> DO YOU FIND YOURSELF BEING SECOND GUESSED A LOT WITH THIS DECISION?

>> WELL BE HINDSIGHT IS 2020, SECOND GUESS.

BUT AT THE TIME I DIDN'T HAVE THAT INS, I'M GLAD EVERYONE'S SAFE AND ALIVE, INCLUDING MY STAFF, THEY WERE MY RESPONSIBLE, BUT I HAD NO REGRETS ABOUT THE DECISION I MADE.

>> Cathy: THAT WAS U S. SENATOR MARK DAYTON, BEFORE HE RETURNED HOME TO MINNESOTA AND WAS ELECTED GOVERNOR TWICE.

LET'S TURN OUR ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE WORLD OF POLITICS AND ENTER THE WORLD OF MINNESOTA HISTORY.

IT'S LATE OCTOBER.

1987.

THE BIG STOCK MARKET CRASH KNOWN AS BLACK TUESDAY HAS CAST A SENSE OF FINANCIAL GLOOM OVER MUCH OF THE COUNTRY.

BUT HERE IN MINNESOTA, AS THE END OF THE MONTH DRAWS NEAR, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF MINNEAPOLIS DOES SOMETHING WITH MONEY THAT BRINGS JOY TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MINNESOTANS THE TASK HERE IS SIMPLE.

WHAT DID THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF MINNEAPOLIS DO IN LATE OCTOBER 1987 TO BRING JOY TO MINNESOTANS?

HERE'S A HINT FOR YOU.

PART OF THIS ACTIVITY HAPPENED OUTSIDE.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU ARE CALLING FROM CASH LAKE, MONEY CREEK, OR DOLLAR LAKE.

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

IF YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE TALKING TO A VOICE MAIL SYSTEM, YOU CAN ALWAYS SEND A NOTE TO OUR ELECTRONIC INBOX ALMANAC@TPT.ORG.

WHILE YOU'RE ONLINE, HEAD ON OVER TO OUR WEBSITE TPT.ORG/ALMANAC.

YOU CAN LOOK BACK AT SOME OF OUR ELECTION COVERAGE FROM THIS FALL, INCLUDING MARY LAHAMMER'S SERIES OF LEGISLATIVE RACES TO WATCH WHICH INCLUDES A HOUSE SEAT HEADING FOR RECOUNT.

THAT'S ALL AT TPT.ORG/ALMANAC JUST ENOUGH TIME FOR SOME SHOW-ENDING MUSIC.

THIS WEEK BACK IN 2012 BEN KYLE OF ROMANTICA PLAYED FOR US IN STUDIO B.

TAKE A LISTEN.

AND WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT WEEK.

IN THE MEANTIME, BE CAREFUL.

♪♪ >> SINGING: INTO THE HEAT OF THE ST. PAUL STREET SUMMER IN THE CITY BELOW WITH THE BROADWAY LIGHTS TREAT ME RIGHT WATCH ME WHEN I'M GOIN' HOME ONE MORE KISS BEFORE WE DO THIS TAKE IT ON DOWN TO THE SHOW EVERYBODY'S AT THE TURF CLUB OVER IN ST. PAUL DANCIN' UNDERNEATH THE BAR LIGHTS TO THE SOUND OF ROCK N ROLL ♪♪ A LOCAL BAND IS PLAYING COUNTRY SONGS EVERYBODY WANTS TO SING ALONG ♪♪ OH-OH, OH-OH OH, OH, OH-OH ♪♪ ONE MORE DRINK ... >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY ... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 27 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH WHILE ADVANCING SOCIAL EQUITIES.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

AND PAINTCARE, HELPING MINNESOTA PAINT SMARTER TO PREVENT WASTE.

MORE AT PAINTCARE.ORG.

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