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

>> ERIC: COMING UP ON "ALMANAC," HAMLINE UNIVERSITY'S DAVID SCHULTZ JOINS US TO BREAK DOWN THIS WEEK IN POLITICS.

OUR STATE'S FIRST WOMAN LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IS HERE WITH HER NEW MEMOIR.

SHELETTA BRUNDIDGE HAS AN ESSAY FOR US.

AND MARY LAHAMMER HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE ONLY STATE SENATE SEAT UP FOR GRABS IN A SPECIAL ELECTION.

>> Mary: THERE'S JUST ONE STATE SENATE RACE ON THE BALLOT AND IT'S A BIG ONE THAT WILL DECIDE CONTROL OF A CHAMBER THAT'S CURRENTLY TIED.

>> THE FACT THAT IT'S THE ONLY SENATE RACE, THERE'S A LITTLE PRESSURE THERE.

>> NO PRESSURE, RIGHT?

NO PRESSURE AT ALL.

>> Mary: MEET THE CANDIDATES.

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 PAINT CARE, HELPING MINNESOTANS RECYCLE LEFTOVER PAINT.

MORE AT PAINTCARE.ORG.

"ONE GREATER MINNESOTA" REPORTING ON "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE OTTO BREMER TRUST, WHOSE MISSION IS INVESTING IN PEOPLE, PLACES, AND OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR REGION.

>> ERIC: IN THE NEXT HOUR, WE'LL DISCUSS MINNEAPOLIS POLICE REFORM AND PLANS FROM THE DEPARTMENT'S INDEPENDENT MONITOR, TALK PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS WITH PROFESSOR SCHULTZ, AND TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT ELECTIONS IN OLMSTED COUNTY WITH KAOMI LEE.

>> CATHY: BUT FIRST, LOTS OF ECONOMIC NEWS THIS WEEK.

MINNESOTA ADDED NEARLY 14,500 JOBS LAST MONTH, THE LARGEST INCREASE IN MORE THAN TWO YEARS.

BUT THAT NEWS IS ECLIPSED A BIT BY THE BIG FEDERAL RESERVE MOVE EARLIER THIS WEEK.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOUR YEARS, THE FED HAS CUT INTEREST RATES.

THE HALF-POINT REDUCTION COMES IN RESPONSE TO FALLING INFLATION RATES AND NATIONAL JOB NUMBERS THAT REMAIN GENERALLY STABLE BUT ARE THREATENING A SLOWDOWN IN THE LABOR MARKET.

JOINING US TO MAKE SENSE OF ALL OF THIS IS ECONOMIST LOUIS JOHNSTON.

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

IN THE COLLEGEVILLE ARE.

THANKS FOR COMING DOWN 94.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

SAY, I WANT TO -- THE QUOTE WAS FROM THE FED HAIRMAN.

WE'RE NOT SAYING MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

>> NO.

>> Cathy: NO.

IT'S BEEN, HE SAYS, INFLATION'S NOT BEEN COMPLETELY WRESTLED TO THE GROUND AND IT REALLY HASN'T BEEN COMPLETELY VANQUISHED, IS THAT A PROBLEM?

>> YEAH, IT IS A PROBLEM AND THAT'S WHY I WAS SURPRISED THAT THEY CUT RAT RATES HALF A PERCENT BECAUSE THE FED WANTS TO GET INFLATION DOWN TO ITS TARGET RATE OF 2% AND RIGHT NOW IT'S 2.5.

AND THAT MIGHT BE TOO, DEPENDING ON THE MEASUREMENT AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS AND I THOUGHT THEY MIGHT ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION.

BUT LAST TWO MONTHS UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, MADE THEM GO AHEAD FOR THIS I THINK, BECAUSE UNEMPLOYMENT STARTED TO RISE.

THE LABOR MARKET LOOKS A LITTLE BIT WEAKER.

AND SO THEY WANTED TO TAKE OUT SOME INSURANCE.

>> Eric: THE NEXT MEETING IS THE DAY AFTER THE LECTION I THINK.

>> YES.

>> Eric: ARE THEY GOING TO DO SOME MORE CUTTING?

>> WE DON'T KNOW YET.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO DEPEND ON THE UNEMPLOYMENT ABOUT ERRS THAT COME IN, THE INFLATION NUMBERS THAT COME IN OVER THE NEXT SIX WEEKS.

AND THEN THEY ALSO HAVE SOMETHING CALLED THE BEIGE BOOK.

THEY GO OUT AND THEY SURVEY PEOPLE.

THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE ALL OF THAT INFORMATION AND ASK, WHERE ARE WE T. >> Cathy: SAY, DO WE KNOW, WHAT DOES RESEARCH SHOW ABOUT THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS IF A DEMOCRAT WINS THE WHITE HOUSE VERSUS A REPUBLICAN?

>> THEY'RE OVERRATED, BASICALLY.

IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER WHO'S IN THE WHITE HOUSE IN TERMS OF PRESIDENT.

WHAT MATTERS IS MORE WHAT HAPPENS 20 YEARS LATER, OR 10 YEARS LATER.

THOSE EFFECTS OF A PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION DON'T TEND TO SHOW UP UNTIL, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE LONG GONE, FOR EXAMPLE, OBAMACARE, ITS EFFECTS AREN'T SHOWING UP REALLY DEEPLY UNTIL NOW.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE TAX REFORM THAT PRESIDENT REAGAN AND CONGRESS DID IN THE MID-'08S.

THAT DIDN'T SHOW UP UNTIL THE 1990s.

>> Cathy: SO NOTHING SHORT TERM.

>> NO.

>> Cathy: THE TRUMP ERA TAX CUTS ARE GOING TO EXPIRE NEXT YEAR.

>> THAT IS THE ISSUE ON THE TABLE, I THINK.

FOR CONGRESS AND FOR WHOEVER BECOMES THE PRESIDENT, BECAUSE IF THOSE EXPIRE, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TAX RATES GO UP.

AND THAT'S GOING TO MESS PEOPLE'S PLANNING UP.

ON THE OTHER HAND, IF YOU KEEP THEM, YOU'RE GOING TO BE RUNNING HUGE BUDGET DEFICITS FOR AS LONG AS THEY STAY IN.

SO YOU'VE GOT A DILEMMA ON YOUR HANDS.

WHICH WAY ARE YOU GOING TO GO?

AND WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT IS WHERE IS THE WILLINGNESS TO COMPROMISE?

WHERE'S THE WILLINGNESS TO THINK ABOUT, ALL RIGHT, HOW DO WE SPLIT THIS DIFFERENCE?

I DON'T SEE IT YET.

>> Eric: WELL, BOTH OF THE PRESIDENTIAL CONSISTENTS ECONOMIC PLANS, BOTH INCREASE DEBT AND DEFICIT PRETTY REMARKABLY, RIGHT?

>> YES, AND IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING.

THEY BOTH DO THAT AND THEY DON'T TAKE THAT BORROWING AND USE IT FOR SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE.

IN A SENSE, THEY'RE BASICALLY BORE WROAMPING TO PAY FOR TRANSFER PAYMENTS, LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY AND THINGS LIKE THAT OR DEFENSE SPENDING OR INTEREST ON THE DEBT.

THOSE ARE THE THREE BIGGEST CATEGORIES NOW.

WELL, YOU DON'T GET MUCH FOR THAT UNLESS YOU REALLY THINK A WAR IS IMMINENT, THEN INVESTING IN DEFENSE MAKES SENSE.

>> Eric: GOING BACK O THE RATE CUT, IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON HOME MORTGAGE LOANS?

>> YOU SHOULD START SEEING IT.

CREDIT CARDS, DEPENDS ON WHAT YOUR CREDIT IS.

>> Cathy: THOSE MINNESOTA NUMBERS, THEY DON'T LOOK BAD.

>> NO, THEY'RE QUITE GOOD.

WE HAVE THE HIGHEST LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE IN THE NATION.

SO WHOEVER IS EITHER GOT A JOB OR IS LOOKING FOR A JOB, THAT IS THE BIGGEST PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION OF ANY STATE.

THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE ISN'T THE LOWEST IN THE NATION, BUT IT'S PRETTY DARN LOW.

>> Eric: 3.3?

>> I'D TAKE IT OVER ALMOST ANYBODY ELSE.

THAT 14,000 JOB NUMBER, IT'S JUST ODD.

EVEN THOUGH WE SEASONALLY ADJUST, I JUST START TO THINK IS THAT SOMETHING TO DO WITH SUMMER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

BUT I LOOK AT THE OVERALL TREND.

THE MONTH TO MONTH ISN'T THAT IMPORTANT.

OVERALL, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A JOB MARKET HAT'S EXPANDING.

WE HAVE A LABOR MARKET WHERE WAGES ARE GROWING STRONGLY.

>> Cathy: WHY ARE SOME PEOPLE WORRIED ABOUT A RECESSION?

>> I DON'T KNOW, TO BE BLUNT.

I DON'T HINK YOU SHOULD BE.

I JUST DON'T SEE THAT ON THE HORIZON RIGHT NOW.

THERE JUST -- THERE ARE JUST NOT THAT THOSE KINDS OF STORM CLOUDS ON THE HORIZON.

>> Eric: WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOU COMING OVER AD SHARING YOUR EXPERTISE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

♪♪♪ >> ERIC: IT'S BEEN ANOTHER ACTION-PACKED WEEK IN POLITICS AS WE INCH CLOSER TO THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

EARLY VOTING BEGAN TODAY IN MINNESOTA, AND BOTH PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS HAVE BEEN MAKING THE ROUNDS IN BATTLEGROUND STATES.

JOINING US NOW TO DISSECT IT ALL IS DAVID SCHULTZ.

HE SHAPES YOUNG MINDS OVER AT HAMLINE UNIVERSITY AND IS AN ADJUNCT LAW PROFESSOR AT ST. THOMAS.

THE POST-DEBATE, THE NEEDLE HASN'T MOVED MUCH, HAS IT?

>> IT HASN'T MOVED VERY MUCH.

PEOPLE WERE EXPECTING FOR SOME KIND OF A BUMP, IT DIDN'T OCCUR.

PEOPLE ARE SO FIXED IN THOSE VIEWS AT THIS POINT BECAUSE THE POLARIZATION.

AND SECOND, GOING INTO THE DEBATE, WE HAD, ESPECIALLY IN THE CRITICAL SWING STATES NO MORE THAN 2 TO 2.5% OF THE POPULATION IS SAYING THEY'RE UNDECIDED.

SO THERE'S NOT A LOT OF NEEDLE TO REALLY MOVE.

AND ON TOP OF WHICH, I WOULD SAY THAT BECAUSE BOTH OF CAMPAIGNS ARE PITCHING TO THEIR BASES, THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDECIDED, IF THEY EALLY ARE UNDECIDED.

THEY'RE SENT RISKS, THEY DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING THEY WANTED TO HEAR.

>> Cathy: WE ACTUALLY TALKED TO A PERSON WHO'S IN THE UNDECIDED MOVEMENT IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

AND SHE'S GOING TO BE ON THE SHOW LATER ON.

THE UNDECIDES ARE NOT GOING TO ENDORSE HARRIS -- THE HARRIS-WALZ TICKETED.

COULD THAT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE AT ALL?

I THINK THERE WAS, WHAT, 46,000 PEOPLE IN MINNESOTA WHO VOTED UNDECIDED?

>> PROBABLY NOT IN MINNESOTA.

THE PLACE WHERE I THINK IT'S REALLY CRITICAL IT IS IN MICHIGAN.

WE HAD ABOUT 20%, I THINK IT'S WHAT THE NUMBER WAS, IN MICHIGAN PRIMARY, THAT OPTED NOT TO SUPPORT JOE BIDEN.

AND THAT'S A STATE THAT HAS A VERY HIGH PERCENTAGE, PROBABLY THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF ARAB-AMERICANS IN THE COUNTRY.

THE ISSUE OF GAZA, OF THE ISRAELI WAR IS IMPORTANT.

MINNESOTA PROBABLY LESS SO AT THIS POINT BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THE POLLS ARE STILL SUGGESTING THAT HARRIS HAS A REASONABLY COMFORTABLE EAD AND EVEN THOUGH TRUMP IS SAYING I'M GOING TO COMPETE HERE, THERE'S NO AD GUY BUYS, THERE'S NO INDICATION.

>> Cathy: AND I MISSPOKE.

IT'S THE UNCOMMITTED.

MY I IS APOLOGIES.

>> Eric: IS THERE ANY THOUGHT ON BEHALF OF THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN TO MAYBE EXPAND THE MAP.

I'M THINKING TEXAS WHERE CUS IS IN A DOG FIGHT.

FLORIDA, IOWA.

>> POSSIBLY.

YOU SORT OF THINK ABOUT THE CORE SWING STATES ARE MICHIGAN, PENNSYLVANIA, WISCONSIN, MAYBE YOUR SECOND TIER IS ARIZONA AND GEORGIA.

THEN YOU GET INTO SORT OF NORTH CAROLINA.

NAIL YOUR BASE DOWN FIRST.

NAIL THOSE STATES DOWN FIRST.

ONE OF HILLARY CLINTON'S STATES BACK IN 2016 WAS THINKING I'VE GOT THE MIDWESTERN STATES NAILED DOWN.

SHE GOES OFF TO ARIZONA ND TEXAS.

SO I WOULD SAY THAT IF YOU ARE PRETTY COMFORTABLE WHILE STILL PUTTING YOUR RESOURCES INTO THOSE CORES, BUT YOU NOW WANT TO PUT TRUMP ON THE DEFENSIVE, FIRST CONSIDER NORTH CAROLINA, MAYBE IOWA, PERHAPS, TEXAS STILL I SAY LONG SHOT.

LONG SHOT IN THE SENSE THAT YOU'RE AT A POINT WHERE MAYBE IN FOUR MORE YEARS.

SOME PEOPLE MIGHT REMEMBER OR KNOW THIS.

I USED TO TEACH IN TEXAS A LONG TIME AGO.

I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT 2028, MORE COMPETITIVE.

BUT IF YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE AND YOU GOT THE EXTRA RESOURCES, YEAH, MAYBE A TRIP DOWN THERE, MAYBE TO HELP CUS, BUT NOT A PRESIDENTIAL FLIP.

>> Cathy: DO DOES IT MATTER ABOUT THE REPEATED CANDIDATE VISITS?

SO HARRIS IS IN WISCONSIN TODAY.

THE CANDIDATES ARE FOLLOWING EACH OTHER.

DO VOTERS LOOK AT THIS AND SAY, EH, OR DOES IT FIRE 'EM UP OR IS IT JUST TOO MUCH SOMETIMES?

>> AT SOME POINT, THERE'S EVIDENCE THAT IT'S OVERKILL AT THIS POINT.

IT'S LIKE THINKING ABOUT ADVERTISERS BLASTING ADVERTISING THAT IT'S KIND OF IN ONE EAR AND OUT THE EAR.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE'S A VERY FAMOUS PHRASE BY TIP O'NEILL THAT SAYS, NEVER TAKE A VOTE FOR GRANTED.

AND THIS IS AN ELECTION WHERE AS YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY BEFORE, IT'S 150,000 TO 200,000 VOTERS ACROSS FIVE OR SIX SWING STATES.

IF YOU CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY OF REACHING PEOPLE TO GET THEM TO SHOW UP TO VOTE, YES.

BUT AT THIS POINT, I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO CHANGE MANY NAMES.

MAYBE YOU CAN SORT OF MOTIVATE A FEW MORE PEOPLE, BUT AT SOME POINT, IT'S A COLD WAR ANALOGY.

IF I DIDN'T SHOW UP TO CAMPAIGN, IS THE OTHER SIDE?

SO AT THIS POINT, THEY'RE STUCK.

THE TWO CANDIDATES ARE STUCK IN THESE FEW NUMBER OF AREAS, CARPET BOMBING WITH ADVERTISING AT THIS POINT.

I DON'T KNOW HETHER WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL OR NOT GRATEFUL IN MINNESOTA THAT WE'RE PROBABLY NOT A SWING STATE, BECAUSE IF WE WERE A SWING STATE, IT WOULD BE WALL TO WALL ADVERTISING BETWEEN NOW AROUND NOVEMBER.

>> Eric: THE HAITIANS EATING DOGS AND CATS, WHAT'S -- >> Cathy: WELL, I MEAN, AND J.D.VANCE SAID THEY'RE CREATING STORIES TO GET THE MEDIA ATTENTION ON AN ISSUE LIKE THIS.

>> YEAH, IN PART, I THINK, WHAT'S THAT OLD ADAGE?

BETTER BAD POINT OF VIEW BLIBTY THAN NONE WHATSOEVER.

SO ONE THEY'RE STAYING IN THE NEWS, BUT I THINK WITH VANCE AND TRUMP ON THIS ISSUE, THEY'RE ON THE DEFENSIVE.

WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TO BE IS TAKE SSUES THAT PUT THE OTHER SIDE ON THE DEFENSIVE.

REMEMBER, IT'S DEFINE OR BE DEFINED.

AND RIGHT NORTHERN THE TALK IS ABOUT THEM, WHAT, FABRICATING A STORY.

I ALSO WONDER T THIS POINT, YOU KNOW, THE TRUMP BASE HAS ALWAYS BEEN -- I MEAN THIS IN A GOOD SENSE, HOT AND BOTHERED IN TERMS OF EXCITED TO SHOW UP TO VOTE.

THE PROBLEM WAS WITH BIDEN VERSUS TRUMP, DEMOCRATS WEREN'T EXCITED.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MORE TRUMP HAS TO EXCITE PEOPLE.

WHAT HE NEEDS TO THINK ABOUT AT THIS POINT IS CAN HE EXPAND HIS BASE, NOT JUST RELY UPON HIS BASE.

>> Eric: VERY GOOD.

THANKS FOR COMING OVER AND WE LEARNED A LOT TONIGHT.

THANKS.

>> ERIC: STATE SENATE CONTROL IS ALSO AT STAKE THIS ELECTION THANKS TO JUST ONE SPECIAL ELECTION ON THE BALLOT.

MARY LAHAMMER CONTINUES HER SERIES OF RACES TO WATCH WITH THE ONE AND ONLY BUT IMPORTANT SENATE CONTEST IN THE WEST METRO.

>> I'M ANN JOHNSON STEWART.

I'M A CIVIL ENGINEER, A FORMER STATE SENATOR, A FORMIER BUSINESS OWNER AND I TEACH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

>> Mary: THE DEMOCRAT IN THE RACE IN SENATE DISTRICT 45 IN THE WEST METRO IS SEEKING A RETURN TRIP TO THE CAPITOL AFTER REDISTRICTING.

>> WHAT I LEARNED IN MY TERM AS A STATE SENATOR WAS HOW MUCH OF OUR DAILY LIVES ARE CONTROLLED IN ST. PAUL.

>> Mary: YOU MUST HAVE LIKED IT ENOUGH TO WANT TO DO IT AGAIN TOO.

>> THE OTHER THING I LEARNED IS THAT EVERYONE WHO IS A LEGISLATOR, MOST PEOPLE, ARE REALLY GOOD PEOPLE.

AND REALLY SMART.

AND REALLY PASSIONATE.

>> Mary: CONTROL AT THE CAPITOL WILL BE DECIDED IN THIS SPECIAL ELECTION WITH THE SENATE CURRENTLY STANDING AT A 33-33 TIE.

>> I AM A PROUD MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER, AND BUSINESS OWNER.

>> Mary: THE REPUBLICAN IS MAKING ANOTHER RUN AFTER SENATOR KELLY MORRISON LAUNCHED A BID O REPLACE CONGRESSMAN DEAN PHILLIPS CREATING THIS OPEN SEAT.

>> I LOVE THE STATE, AND I BELIEVE YOU NEED TO FIGHT FOR WHAT YOU LOVE AND I'M NOT JUST WRET.IVE UP ON MINNESOTA- THIS IS HOME.

AND DO ALL THAT E CAN TO BRING BALANCE BACK TO ST. PAUL.

IT'S DEFINITE LEAFLT DAUNTING, BUT I BELIEVE THAT IF, LIKE I SAID, IF YOU REALLY CARE BOUT THE PEOPLE, AND YOU ARE CARE ABOUT THE ISSUES, YOU JUST NEED TO PUT YOURSELF FORWARD.

>> Mary: THEY'VE BOTH RUN BEFORE, BUT UNDERSTAND THIS SPECIAL ELECTION IS DIFFERENT.

TO BE THE ONE AND ONLY SENATE RACE, HOW DOES THAT FEEL DIFFERENT?

>> WELL, IT IS ONE AND ONLY SENATE RACE.

GETTING THROUGH THE PRIMARY, GETTING THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW WHO I AM AND WHAT I CARE ABOUT, IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT METHOD THAN IT WAS BEFORE, BUT THE FACT THAT IT'S THE ONLY SENATE RACE, THERE'S A LITTLE PRESSURE THERE.

>> NO PRESSURE, RIGHT?

NO PRESSURE AT ALL.

IT'S ABOUT LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE, MAKING SURE THAT THE PEOPLE'S PRIORITIES ARE FIRST AND NOT THOSE THAT ARE RUNNING.

IT'S NOT MACHINE RACE.

IT'S ALL OF OUR RACE.

IT'S MORE OF THE ONE-SIDED GOVERNMENT.

IT'S ONE SIDE PHILOSOPHY.

AND I THINK THAT IF WE REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT A GOOD GOVERNMENT BRINGING ALANCE BACK TO THE GOVERNMENT, WE NEED TO LOOK "AT ISSUES" ON ALL SIDES.

>> Mary: LAST TIME THE SENATE RACE HERE IN THE WEST METRO WASN'T PARTICULARLY A LARGE MARGE YINL WITH A 12 PERCENTAGE VICTORY OR THE DEMOCRAT.

BUT WITH ONE SENATE RACE ON THE BALLOT THAT WILL SETTLE A TIE, THE STAKES ARE HIGH.

>> THAT IS TRUE.

IT DOES DECIDE WHO WILL BE IN THE MAJORITY.

AND I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT I HAVE THE D.F.L.

ENDORSEMENT.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT THE D.F.L.

MAINTAIN CONTROL, BOTH AS A CANDIDATE BUT ALSO AS SOMEBODY WHO'S LIVED HERE FOR 40 YEARS.

>> Mary: DO YOU THINK THAT MEANS YOU COULD HAVE A CLOSER RACE, BECAUSE IT WASN'T THAT CLOSE LAST TIME?

>> I THINK IT COULD BE A CLOSER RACE THIS TIME AROUND.

THOSE THINGS MATTER TO BOTH SIDES.

AND I REALLY BELIEVE THE BEST GOVERNMENT IS A BALANCED GOVERNMENT.

AND THAT MEANS ELECTING ME.

I THINK AN ALL REPUBLICAN SITUATION WOULDN'T BE GREAT EITHER.

>> Mary: THE TOP ISSUES HERE VARY DEPENDING WHO YOU TALK TO.

>> I CARE VERY MUCH ESPECIALLY AROUND THINGS LIKE ABORTION RIGHTS, FUNDING PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND FOR ME AS AN ENGINEER, FUNDING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, ALL THOSE THINGS ARE IN JEP JEOPARDY IF THE D.F.L.

DOESN'T STAY IN CONTROL.

>> VERY SIMILAR TO LAST TIME AROUND.

ECONOMY, OF COURSE, OUR HIGH TAXES.

OUR WASTE AND ABUSE THAT WAS CAUSED BY NO OVERSIGHT.

OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM IS REALLY FAILING OUR KIDS.

AND IT'S REALLY TOO BAD.

AND WE CAN DO BETTER.

WE DON'T HAVE TO JUST THROW MONEY ON IT.

CRIME OF COURSE IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT.

AND THEN OF COURSE WHAT'S HAPPENING TO MENTAL HEALTH AND OUR SENIORS LIVING FACILITIES, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING THEM.

>> MAKING SURE THAT IN NURSING HOMES WE HAVE DEQUATE PAY.

>> Mary: ELDER ISSUES WERE THE FOCUS OF THIS FUHRMAN.

WHAT ABOUT ELDER ISSUES TODAY?

>> SO MY MAJORITY USED TO LIVE RIGHT THERE.

MY MOTHER IN LAW USED TO LIVE RIGHT THERE.

WAS TO REACH OUT TO EVERY OVER 55 AND SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY.

>> A MILLION PEOPLE THAT RE GOING TO NEED CARE AND NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDE THEM THE BEST CARE.

>> Mary: THE CANDIDATE FUHRMAN ALSO REFLECTS THE COMPETITIVE HOUSE STREET SEATS HERE THAT SPLIT, D.F.L.

AND G.O.P.

>> I REALLY HOPE WE CAN STOP THE DIVISIVENESS AND STOP WITH THIS MESSINESS.

THIS DISTRICT TO ME IS VERY REFLECTIVE OF OUR COUNTRY.

WE AVE THE A-SIDE AND WE HAVE THE B-SIDES.

WE HAVE MORE LEANING RED AND MORE LEANING BLUE.

WE NEED TO PUT OUR OLICIES AND OUR POLITICS BEHIND AND DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE PEOPLE.

>> Mary: BOTH WOMEN HAVE HAD LONG AND VARIED CAREERS AS EXPERIENCE.

>> I'M LOOKING AT THE SIDEWALK AS WE SPEAK.

>> Mary: AND WHAT'S YOUR ASSESSMENT?

>> THE SIDEWALK'S IN GOOD CONDITION, SO LET'S MOVE ON.

>> Mary: HOW UNIQUE DID THAT MAKE YOU TO HAVE THAT ENGINEERING BACKGROUND?

YOU CARE ABOUT PAVEMENT.

>> I CARE A LOT ABOUT PAVEMENT.

I HAVE A MASTER'S DEGREE IN PAVEMENT ENGINEERING.

I WAS THE FIRST CIVIL ENGINEER TO EVER SERF IN THE SENATE.

>> Mary: ALL THESE DIFFERENT CAREER PATHS, SMALL BUSINESSES, EDUCATION, HOW DOES THAT AFFECT HOW YOU THINK ABOUT POLITICS THEN?

>> I THINK WHAT IT DOES IS IT GIVES YOU A VIEW FROM THE HUMAN SIDE.

THE HARDWORKING PERSON THAT'S OUT JUST TRYING TO MAKE A BUCK.

I HINK IT BRINGS A NEW AND FRESH OUTLOOK.

♪♪♪ >> SHELETTA: I HAVE EXCITING NEWS!

I WON A SMALL BUSINESS ADVOCATE AWARD FROM NORTH AMERICAN BANKING.

THE PRIZE PUT MY COMPANY’S NAME IN THE RING OF HONOR AT HUNTINGTON BANK STADIUM THIS SEASON FOR UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOOTBALL GAMES.

SHELETTAMAKESMELAUGH.COM, UP THERE WITH THE "OTHER" BIG-TIME CORPORATIONS LIKE CHICK-FIL-A AND COCA-COLA.

THAT’S A BIG DEAL.

SO MUCH SO THAT MY FRIEND AND "ALMANAC" POLITICAL ANALYST BRIAN MCDANIEL TOOK THIS SELFIE.

I WASN’T GONNA LET HIM HAVE ALL THE FUN, SO I BOUGHT TICKETS FOR THE NEXT HOME GAME.

I WANTED TO GET MY PHOTO WITHOUT BRIAN’S BIG OLD HEAD IN THE WAY.

BUT AT THE STADIUM, THE FIRST THING I SPOTTED WASN’T MY SIGN, IT WAS THE CHEERLEADERS.

TOOK ME BACK TO THE DAYS WHEN I WAS ON THE SQUAD.

HONEY, THEY SAW ME STARING AT THEM AND INVITED ME OVER.

I DECIDED THIS WAS MY OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THESE YOUNG WHIPPERSNAPPERS THAT I CAN STILL DO A SPLIT.

OH, DON'T START LAUGHING.

I USED TO BE FAMOUS FOR MY SPLITS.

BUT THEN I GOT TO THINKING.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME I DID SPLIT?

I THINK IT MUST HAVE BEEN 1990.

WHEN GEORGE BUSH WAS PRESIDENT, BIG DADDY BUSH, THE ORIGINAL, O.G., AND YOU COULDN'T TOUCH M.C.

HAMMER, AND BY THE WAY, MORGAN FREEMAN WAS DRIVING MISS DAISY.

THAT'S NOT TOO LONG AGO, RIGHT?

IT’S NOT LIKE I HAVE A DIFFERENT BODY.

IF I COULD DO IT THEN, I SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO IT NOW.

I MEAN, HONESTLY, WHAT COULD GO WRONG?

[ Cheers and applause ] YEAH.

I DID THAT.

IN PUBLIC.

IN FRONT OF A CROWD!

LORD, I HOPE THEY DON'T ASK ME TO GIVE MY AWARD BACK AFTER ALL THIS.

TURNS OUT I’M NOT "JUST" A GOLDEN GOPHER.

I’M A GOLDEN OLDIE.

WHOO!

♪♪♪ >> Cathy: I LOVE SHELETTA.

LAST WEEK, THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT'S INDEPENDENT MONITOR PRESENTED ITS MULTI-YEAR PLAN FOR POLICE REFORM.

AMONG THE 87-PAGE DOCUMENT ARE PLANS FOR BODY CAMERA AUDITS, RETRAINING, AND OFFICER WELLNESS.

ALSO THIS THURSDAY, THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL APPROVED AN EXTENSION ON SHOTSPOTTER, TECHNOLOGY THAT HAS BEEN UNDER SCRUTINY FOR ITS EFFECTIVENESS AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT IT OCCUPIES.

YOHURU WILLIAMS IS BACK HERE WITH US.

HE'S A UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS HISTORIAN, DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOOL'S RACIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE.

IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

WHAT JUMPED OUT AT YOU WITH THIS REPORT HERE FROM THE INDEPENDENT MONITORS?

THE PLAN?

>> COUPLE OF THINGS.

FOUR YEARS, THREE PHASES, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT.

SO IN THE BEGINNING, THEY OUTLINE THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE CLEAR, FEASIBLE, SUSTAINABLE, AND COMMUNICATE THIS TO THE PUBLIC AND TO THE DEPARTMENT IN TERMS OF WHAT METRICS ARE EXPECTED AND SOMEWHAT OF A TIMELINE, ALTHOUGH THAT'S A LITTLE MISLEADING BECAUSE THIS COULD GO WELL BEYOND FOUR YEARS.

BUT THEY'RE GIVING PEOPLE SOME IDEA ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT AS THEY IMPLEMENT THIS PROCESS.

>> Eric: WHAT IS A CULTURE OF ACCOUNTABILITY?

>> VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION, AND YOU SEE THAT IN THAT FOUNDATIONS, THAT FIRST STAGE.

SO HOW DO YOU CREATE A CULTURE WITHIN THE THE DEPARTMENT THAT'S ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE?

PART OF THAT IS, FOR EXAMPLE, CLEARING THIS BACKLOG IN OLD COMPLAINTS ABOUT POLICE BRUTALITY AND OTHER ISSUES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

TRAINING, USE OF FORCE GUIDELINES, BODYCAM POLICIES, SO THAT YOU CAN INSTILL A SENSE OF CONFIDENCE IN THE PROCESS, BUT ALSO GIVE OFFICERS A CLEAR IDEA ABOUT WHAT THE NEW STANDARDS ARE AND THAT'S GOING TO ALSO INCLUDE UPDATING SUPERVISORS ON THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AND COMMUNICATING THAT CULTURE OF ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> Cathy: IS IT CLEAR TO YOU THAT THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES IF BENCHMARKS AREN'T MET?

>> ELL, YOU WOULD HOPE SO AND I THINK SO GIVEN THE EXPERIENCE IN OTHER CITIES.

WHAT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING HERE IS HOW THIS PLAYS OUT, PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE CLIMATE RIGHT NOW IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS AND SOME OF THE HIGH PROFILE SHOOTINGS WE'VE HAD RECENTLY, WHETHER THE PUBLIC HAS THE STOMACH FOR THE REFORM.

>> Eric: THERE WAS ONE THOUGHT THAT THERE SHOULD BE INCENTIVES TO OFFICERS WHO DEESCALATE SITUATIONS.

WOULD THAT BE A NEW APPROACH?

>> NEW FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AND IMPORTANT.

AND THE IDEA WOULD BE TO KIND OF ESTABLISH IN PRINCIPLE THIS IDEA THAT WE'RE GOING TO HIGHLIGHT AS MERITORIOUS, OFFICERS WHO ARE ENGAGED IN DE-ESCALATION PRACTICES.

THAT'S A FAR CRY FROM WHAT WE HAD IN THE PAST WHERE WHAT REALLY GOT YOU RECOGNITION IS IF YOU WERE A THUMPER.

WHICH WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE THIS WEEK, KE KIM POTTER WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THAT INFAMOUS KILLING OF DAUNT YE WRIGHT.

THREE WAS A TRAINING SCHEDULED BUT HEY CANCELED THAT BECAUSE SHE WAS GOING TO BE INCLUDED.

IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, OFFICERS SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR OTHERS WAYS TO DEALS WITH HESE KIND OF ENCOUNTERS INSTEAD F RESORTING THEIR FIREARMS.

>> Cathy: SO DO YOU OPE TO HEAR FROM HER SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE?

THEY CANCELED THAT ONE IN SEATTLE.

AND I'M BETHING THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO DO SOME OF THESE WORKSHOPS ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.

>> AGAIN, TWO MINDS HERE.

THE FAMILY HAS MADE THE ACE THAT THEY THINK SHE SHOULDN'T BE INVOLVED WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AT ALL.

I ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT GIVEN THE HISTORY OF BRINGING BEFORE YOUNG OFFICERS AND VETERAN OFFICERS ALIKE, USE OF FORCE EXPERTS WHO ARE OLD SCHOOL IN THEIR APPROACH, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THIS PERSPECTIVE FROM KIM POTTER, WHO, YOU KNOW, ACHIEVED INFAMY FOR THIS HORRIBLE MISTAKE.

BUT THE REALITY IS, I THINK HER VOICE IS NECESSARY IN THAT CONVERSATION.

SHE SHOULD BE INCLUDED.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED YOUNG AND MORE VEASH OFFICERS AND I'M WONDERING, UNDER THE TERMS OF THE PLAN, I WONDER HOW THAT'S GOING TO WORK OUT IN THE CULTURE CHANGE, YOU KNOW?

I WONDER HOW THE MAYBE MORE VETERAN OFFICERS WILL ACCEPT THIS.

>> IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE DEPENDENT ON THE SUPERVISORS AND THAT'S WHY THERE'S SO MUCH IN THAT FIRST PHASE, THAT FIRST TWO YEARS AROUND REALLY GETTING THE SUPERVISORS TO APPRECIATE THEIR NEW ROLE IN ESTABLISHING THAT CULTURE OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND ALSO MAKING SURE THAT THERE ARE SANCTIONS FOR OFFICERS WHO VIOLATE USE OF FORCE POLICY, WHO VIOLATE THE ENGAGEMENT OF BODYCAMS AND OTHER THINGS THAT CREATE THAT ACCOUNTABILITY IN TERMS F MET RIBLGS.

>> Eric: LOOKING AT THIS WORK PRODUCT SO FAR, WHAT'S YOUR LEVEL OF OPTIMISM?

>> GUARDEDLY OPTIMISTIC.

I SHARE THE CONCERNS OF ACTIVISTS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO SAY WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE.

BUT I'M ALSO OPTIMISTIC BECAUSE I LIKE WHAT I'VE SEEN COMING OUT OF THE DEPARTMENT TO THIS POINT IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE PREWORK THAT'S BEEN DONE.

>> Eric: IS THE CURRENT CHIEF THE GUY TO BRING IT HOME?

>> I STILL HAVE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF CONFIDENCE IN CHIEF O'HARA.

AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK MINNEAPOLIS CITIZENS SHOULD READ THIS REPORT.

IT'S 88 PAGES.

I THINK AS A COMMUNITY, WE OWE IT ON TO OUR COMMUNITY TO E DEEPLY ENGAGED IN THIS PROCESS.

>> Cathy: THERE'S A TIME FRAME FOR THIS OBVIOUSLY.

CAN IT GO BEYOND THE FOUR YEARS?

>> ABSOLUTELY, AND I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF THE CONCERNS WHEN SAW THE FOUR YEARS, THEY SAID, WELL, WAIT A MINUTE, IS THIS THE TIMELINE?

IT CAN GO BEYOND THE FOUR YEARS.

THEY HAVE O EACH 95% COMPLIANCE.

THAT FOURTH YEAR IS WHEN THEY BEGIN THAT PROCESS OF DETERMINING WHETHER THE DEPARTMENT IS COMPLIANT.

THAT COULD GO BEYOND FOUR YEARS AND THEY REEVALUATE THESE EFFORTS IN MARCH OF 2026.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERTISE AGAIN TONIGHT.

♪♪♪ >> GO AHEAD AND TASTE THAT FOR ME.

>> THIS IS LIKE A FUN GAME FOR YOU, HUH?

ACTUALLY, YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO EAT THAT.

>> THEN YOU WANT TO DO TWO TAPS.

KIND OF LIKE A HEARTBEAT.

BOOM-BOOM.

WHEN YOU START TO KNOW THESE PLANTS AS RELATIVES, YOU WALK ON THE LAND DIFFERENTLY.

>> M. PARENTS WANTED ME TO BE A LAWYER.

>> YEAH.

>> I SAID, I DON'T REALLY WANT TO DO THAT.

AND I CAN'T DO THAT.

AND SO FOR ME, LIKE, WHEN MY HANDS ARE ACHY AND MY KNEES HURT, LIKE, I FEEL CONNECTED TO MY FATHER.

>> I'M NOT FROM HERE, BUT I FEEL LIKE IF I WENT BACK TO GUAM, SOME PEOPLE WOULD BE LIKE, OH, YOU'RE NOT FROM HERE EITHER.

>> AUTHENTICITY IS SPACE ON YOUR MEMORIES.

IT'S NOT RATHER HOW YOUR LOOK AND WHAT YOU SPEAK.

>> JUST BY SHARING FOOD, TALKING ABOUT OUR EXPERIENCES, WE FINAL HOW MUCH WE'RE NOT DIFFERENT.

>> SO MANY THINGS CAN BE SOLVED OVER A MEAL.

>> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE TOUCHED LUTEFISK, BY THE WAY.

>> WELL, CONGRATULATIONS.

>> INTRO [ SPEAKING SPANISH ] >> SI.

>> THAT THEE MEANS "TO YOUR HEALTH."

>> I THINK WE CAN SAY THIS IS A GOOD EMPANADA.

>> "RELISH" IS BACK!

[ Laughter ] ♪♪♪ >> ERIC: "RISE TO THE CHALLENGE" IS THE LATEST MEMOIR FROM MINNESOTA'S FIRST FEMALE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

CHRONICLING HER EARLY PROFESSIONAL CAREER TO HER ASCENSION TO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF OUR STATE AND ALL THE WAY TO A LIFE-CHANGING EVENT FROM HER CLOSEST SUPPORTER.

FORMER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MARLENE JOHNSON JOINS US NOW.

WELCOME, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

I WANT TO ASK ABOUT OUR JOURNALING.

>> YES.

>> Eric: WAS THAT -- HOW EXTENSIVE IT, AND HOW MUCH DID THAT HELP WITH MEMORY TO WRITE THE BOOK?

>> I'VE BEEN KEEPING A JOURNAL, I KEPT A JOURNAL STARTING IN '72.

SO I WAS ALREADY KEEPING A JOURNAL EVERY DAY FOR, YOU KNOW, THOSE TEN YEARS BEFORE I WAS CAMPAIGNING.

AND THEN WHEN WE WERE ELECTED, I HAD A STRONG SENSE OF JOURNALING, AND THEN WHEN I WAS ELECTED, I HAD A STRONG SENSE OF DOING SOMETHING HISTORIC.

YOU KNOW, I WAS THE FIRST WOMAN LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, SO I UNDERSTOOD THAT AND I HAD ALREADY HAD CONTACT WITH THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY ABOUT MY -- THE ARCHIVES OF MY BUSINESS.

SO -- AND RUDY GAVE ME SUCH -- SUCH ACTIVE ACCESS TO HIS MEETINGS AND A ROLE IN THE ADMINISTRATION, SO I KEPT A SEPARATE JOURNAL, A WORKING JOURNAL DURING ALL THOSE YEARS.

THOSE GEORGES ARE AT THE HISTORICAL ARCHIVES NOW.

AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST ALWAYS HAD A SENSE OF JOURNALING BECAUSE OF THAT PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.

>> Cathy: HOW DID YOU MEET RUDY PERPICH?

[ Laughter ] >> WELL, I THINK BRUCE QUAKENBUSH WOULD SAY I'M THE FIRST PERSON WHO OFFERED TO DO A FUNDRAISER FOR HIM AND DID ALL THE WORK.

AND I DID THAT BECAUSE OF HIS APPOINTMENT OF ROES YA LEE WALL TO THE SUPREME COURT IN HIS FIRST TERM OF TWO YEARS.

AND I WAS SO EXCITED AND IMPRESSED BY THAT.

AND I FELT THAT WOMEN NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT BREAKTHROUGH REALITY IN MINNESOTA'S POLITICS AND IN MINNESOTA LIFE.

BECAUSE AT THAT POINT, THERE WERE ONLY A HANDFUL OF WOMEN ON THE SUPREME COURT OF ANY STATE IN THE COUNTRY.

IT WAS ROSE BURG IN CALIFORNIA AND I THINK ONE OR TWO OTHERS.

I DON'T REALLY REMEMBER ANYMORE.

BUT IT WAS VERY SMALL CLUB.

>> Eric: YOU -- THIS WAS AN EXERCISE IN NETWORKING, SEEMS TO ME.

>> EXACTLY.

>> Eric: YOU REALLY BUILT LAYER UPON LAYER TO -- YOU GET BEFORE HIM AND GET HIS NOTICING YOU, AND GET A RAM RAD REE AND A CHEMISTRY.

>> I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD WORD.

I HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT IT THAT WAY, BUT, YES.

AND I INTRODUCED MYSELF TO HIM WHEN I BROUGHT A GROUP OF INTERNATIONAL SWROWRNL GISTS TO MEET WITH HIM.

THE STAFF DIDN'T WANT TO MAKE TIME FOR IT BECAUSE IT WAS A CAMPAIGN AND THEY WERE ALL FOREIGNERS AND THEY WEREN'T GOING TO GET ANY VOTES BUT I CONVINCED HIM.

SO WE BROUGHT THEM DOWN FOR A MEETING AND OF COURSE I KNEW RUDY WOULD LOVE IT.

AND HE JUST -- HE LOVED IT.

YOU KNOW, THEY WERE A TERRIFIC GROUP AND IT WAS A GREAT CONVERSATION.

AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MEETING, HE STOOD UP AND SAID TO ME AND HE SAID, COME WITH ME TO MY OFFICE.

I HAVE TO GET ON A SMALL PLANE TO FLY TO WADENA.

I WILL TAKE THREE OF THEM IF YOU GO ALONG TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT ANY RESPONDENT FOR EXTRA PEOPLE.

RUDY SAID, OKAY, HREE OF YOU CAN GO WITH ME TO THIS POLITICAL RALLY TONIGHT.

LAYLIE YEEN WILL GO LL.

THEY WERE FRIENDS BY THEN.

SO THREE OF THEM AND WENT DOWN TO THE ST. PAUL AIRPORT AND GOT ON THE LITTLE AIRPLANE WITH RUDY AND WENT TO WADENA FOR POLKA AND BEER AND BRATS.

>> Cathy: THAT WAS ALWAYS FUN CAMPAIGNING THAT WAY TOO.

DID YOU GET ANY PUSHBACK WHEN YOU WERE ON THE TICKET BECAUSE OF YOUR GENDER?

>> YES, A LITTLE.

>> Cathy: THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.

>> A LITTLE.

YES.

BUT, YOU KNOW, AT THAT TIME, BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES HAD REJECTED WOMEN ON THE TICKETS, AS YOU RECALL.

NANCY BRADDIS WAS REJECTED BY THE REPUBLICANS AND THERE WAS NO ONE BETTER QUALIFIED THAN HER.

NO, AND MANY PEOPLE TRIED TO GET HIM TO PEKKA JOAN GROWE.

WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN A FABULOUS PERSON.

>> Eric: BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF TIME, I WANT TO ASK ABOUT YOUR CARE GIVING YEARS.

AND I HEARD YOUR INTERVIEW WITH LORI AND YOU SAID THE WORK YOU DID ON BEHALF OF YOUR HUSBAND, PETER, WAS KIND OF HELPED THE WHOLE NURSING HOME OPERATION.

>> IT DID.

I REALIZED VERY SOON THAT I NEEDED TO BE ON THEIR TEAM.

THEY TREATED ME WELL, AND I NEEDED TO REAT THEM REALLY WELL AND I NEEDED TO PROVIDE IDEAS SO HAT THEY COULD BE MORE SUCCESSFUL TOO, BECAUSE PETER WAS AN UNUSUAL KIND OF RESIDENT THERE.

WHEN HE ARRIVED, HE WAS THE YOUNGEST ERSON, AND WHEN HE DIED, HE WAS STILL THE YOUNGEST PERSON HERE.

AND YET HE WAS THE PERSON WHO COULD NOT SPEAK FOR HIMSELF.

EVERYBODY ELSE THERE COULD.

THEY COULD AT EAST YELL SOMEBODY'S NAME AND THEY COULD, YOU KNOW, AND SO I LEARNED A LOT BY THAT BECAUSE I HELPED HEM, AND THEY HELPED ME, AND MOSTLY -- MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY REALLY DEVELOPED NEW WAYS OF WORKING WITH PETER, WHICH I THINK WERE VERY IMPORTANT TO HIM AND TO THEM.

>> Cathy: SAY, BEFORE YOU GO, WE HAVE TO ASK THIS QUESTION.

OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, WITH GOVERNOR WALZ ON THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET, IF THE HAIRS-WALZ TICKET WINS, THAT MEANS PEGGY FLANAGAN WILL BE THE NEXT GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

WE ASKED HER, AND SHE SAID MY PURPOSE IS TO BE READY.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT AND I WROTE ABOUT IT IN THE BOOK.

THE FIRST CONVERSATION I EVER HAD WITH MARTHA WHO WAS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF MICHIGAN, BUT SHE HAD BEEN IN CONGRESS FOR 20 YEARS.

AND SHE SAID THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS IS THAT YOU'RE PREPARED EVERY DAY.

AND SO WHEN SHE KNEW I WAS ALREADY KEEPING A JOURNAL, SHE SAID, ADD NOTES TO THIS ABOUT, IF YOU WOULD O THAT MEETING DIFFERENTLY THAN THE GOVERNOR DID IT, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

SO I DIDN'T NEED TO DISAGREE WITH THE GOVERNOR.

BUT I STILL NEEDED TO REALIZE THAT I WAS A DIFFERENT PERSON AND SO I WOULD APPROACH THINGS SOMETIMES THE SAME AND SOMETIMES DIFFERENTLY.

>> Eric: THE BOOK IS CALLED "RISE TO THE CHALLENGE."

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MARLENE JOHNSON.

THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

♪♪♪ >> CATHY: TODAY MARKED THE START OF ABSENTEE VOTING IN MINNESOTA.

KAOMI LEE WENT TO OLMSTED COUNTY TO FIND OUT HOW OFFICIALS THERE ARE PREPARING FOR THIS YEAR’S ELECTION.

>> SO THIS IS THE MATERIAL THAT WE'VE PREPPED SO FAR.

THE -- ALL THE MATERIAL IN THE BASKETS IS APPROXIMATELY 7,000.

SO THIS, WE EXPECT ALL OF THIS TO GO OUT.

>> Kaomi: LUKE TURNER OVERSEES ELECTIONS FOR OLMSTED COUNTY.

THAT'S ABOUT 6% OF THE COUNTY'S REGISTERED VOTERS AND LESS THAN HALF OF THE TOTAL ESTIMATE FOR ABSENTEE BALLOTS.

>> IT'S SURPRISING.

WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED A LOT OF ABSENTEE BALLOT REQUESTS FROM CAMPAIGNS.

IT'S JUST NOT -- THE MARKETING THAT WE EXPECTED TO HAPPEN FROM CANDIDATES AND CAMPAIGNS IS NOT WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IN THE OFFICE QUITE YET.

WHICH IS VERY SURPRISING.

>> Kaomi: OLMSTED COUNTY IS BUSY PREPPING FOR THE ELECTION.

THIS YEAR, ABSENTEE VOTING, BY MAIL OR ON SITE, STARTS SEPTEMBER 20TH.

AND THE CLOCK IS TICKING TO BE ABLE TO FIND ENOUGH POLL WORKERS.

>> ONE OF THE MAIN CONCERNS IS STAFFING.

SO WE ONLY HAVE FOUR FULL-TIME ELECTIONS STAFF.

HOWEVER, IN EVEN YEARS, THAT RAMPS UP TO 30 TO 40 DEPENDING ON HOW BUSY WE ANTICIPATE.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF RECRUITING, A LOT OF INTERVIEWING, A LOT OF HIRING.

>> Kaomi: ELECTION ORKERS SHORT SHORTAGES ARE BEING REPORTED AROUND THE STATE.

TURNER SAYS THEIR WORK IS NOW GOING BEYOND JUST RUNNING ELECTIONS.

>> EVER SINCE 2020, INFORMING THE PUBLIC AND REALLY PRESENTING WHAT WE DO HAS BECOME A LARGER AND LARGER PORTION OF OUR WORK LOAD.

>> VOTING MACHINES USED IN OLMSTED COUNTY DO NOT HAVE DIRECT INTERNET ACCESS.

>> Kaomi: VIDEOS LIKE THIS ONE ON THE SECURITY OF THE VOTING PROCESS IS ONE OF THE NEW WAYS THE COUNTY IS DOING OUTREACH.

THE NONPARTISAN LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS SAYS A TAX ON OUR ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN STEADY ON THE RISE.

>> WHAT IS UNPRECEDENTED IS INFORMATION, WHERE WE GET IT, HOW WE GET IT, AND ALL THE SOURCES THAT ARE GOOD AND ALL THE SOURCES THAT AREN'T SO GOOD.

SO I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST KIND OF STRUGGLE WE FACE IN VOTING IS HOW O GET GOOD INFORMATION TO, YOU KNOW, PUSH OUT THE MIS AND DISINFORMATION.

>> Kaomi: WITTE SAYS GROUPS HAVE PROLIFERATED SINCE THE LAST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

THE GROUPS HAVE FLOODED SOME COUNTIES WITH FLYERS, GOVERNMENT DATA REQUESTS AND EVEN LAWSUITS.

>> WHAT'S HAPPENED IS GROUPS TRY TO PLAY ON PEOPLE'S FEARS, RIGHT?

AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY TWO DIFFERENT GROUPS.

SO THERE'S THE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WEARY OF THE TABULATORS, YOU KNOW, THAT OUR TABULATORS ARE COMPUTERS AND COMPUTERS CAN BE HACKED AND YOUR INFORMATION'S BEING HACKED.

BUT THAT CAN'T HAPPEN.

OUR TABULATORS ARE NOT CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET UNTIL THE VERY LAST NIGHT, ACTUALLY AFTER ALL THE ELECTION RESULTS HAVE BEEN GATHERED FROM THAT ELECTION DAY.

>> Kaomi: SECRETARY OF STATE SEEISTEVE SIMON SAYS RUSSIAN HACKERS TRIED TO INTERFERE WITH THE STATE ELECTION IN 2020.

THIS PAST JULY, MINNESOTA AND EIGHT OTHER STATES TOOK ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM "X" TO CORRECT MISINFORMATION IT SPREAD ABOUT STATE ELECTION LAW.

>> WE HAVE TO SPEAK UP ABOUT THIS STUFF WHEN WE SEE IT, WHEN WE SEE MIS AND DISINFORMATION, EVEN IF IT'S A COMPANY AS BIG AS "X" WITH A GLOBAL REACH AND A VERY FAMOUS OWNER, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO REACH OUT, SAY WHAT WE BELIEVE IS WRONG, SUGGEST CONSTRUCTIVE SOLUTIONS AND WE DID THAT, A NUMBER OF US AS SECRETARIES OF STATE, AND WE GOT THE OUTCOME WE WANTED.

BUT WE GOT TO KEEP DOING THAT.

>> Kaomi: THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS SAYING ATTENDING IN-PERSON CANDIDATE FUHRMANS CAN HELP CUT OUT THE NOISE.

IN ROCHESTER, IT'S HOSTING TEN FUHRMANS THIS MONTH FOR STATE SHOWS, CITY, AND CHOOL BOARD RACES.

MARFUL JONES IS A DEMOCRAT AND AN ELECTION JUDGE IN ROCHESTER TOWNSHIP.

>> HOW I FEEL ABOUT THE MISINFORMATION IS, YEAH, I THINK THERE'S MORE OF IT.

THAN THERE WAS, SAY, 15 YEARS AGO.

BUT I DO FEEL THAT IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH OF US TO LOOK UP, DO FACT CHECKING.

>> Kaomi: AT ROCHESTER COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE, OLMSTED COUNTY ELECTION WORKERS TALK TO STUDENTS ABOUT VOTING.

20-YEAR-OLD MOHAMED SALI BECAME A CITIZEN THIS YEAR.

HE'S XIETED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO VOTE BUT SEES A LOT OF INACCURATE INFORMATION ONLINE.

>> TIKTOK AND FACEBOOK, DEFINITELY FACEBOOK, THAT'S NUMBER ONE PLACE WHERE MISINFORMATION COMES FROM.

TRUMP IN THE DEBATE SAID THAT HAITIANS WERE EATING DOGS AND CATS, AND THAT WAS DEBUNKED CONSPIRACY THEORY THAT CAME OUT OF FACEBOOK AND NOW IT'S SPREAD ALL OVER AND NOW PEOPLE ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT, WHICH IS A LITTLE CONCERNING.

♪♪♪ >> CATHY: SECRETARY SIMON WILL BE JOINING US HERE IN STUDIO IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE UPCOMING ELECTION AND VOTING CONCERNS FROM ALL SIDES.

IT’S ALSO A TOPIC WE’LL COVER WITH TONIGHT’S VERSION OF THE POLITICAL PANEL.

SO LET'S JUMP RIGHT IN.

REPUBLICANS UP FIRST TONIGHT.

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

FRITZ KNAAK IS A FORMER STATE SENATOR, NOW ATTORNEY, ALWAYS A REPUBLICAN LOYALIST.

DEMOCRATS WITH US TONIGHT: JAVIER MORILLO IS A LONGTIME UNION AND PARTY ACTIVIST AND FORMER NATIONAL COMMITTEE MAN.

AND WE WELCOME ASMA MOHAMMED TO THE COUCH, LONGTIME ACTIVIST AND ONE OF MINNESOTA'S UNCOMMITED DELEGATES AT THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION LAST MONTH.

GOOD TO TALK WITH ALL OF YOU.

GLAD YOU'RE HERE.

SENATOR KNAAK, THAT PIECE WAS IN OLMSTED COUNTY, THAT KAOMI LEE HAD, AND THERE IS A LOT OF CONCERN ON BOTH SIDES ABOUT THE MIS AND DISINFORMATION OUT THERE.

FOR THIS ELECTION CYCLE.

WHAT ARE EPUBLICANS THINKING ABOUT IT?

>> WELL -- [ Laughter ] THEY'RE AS WORRIED AS EVERYBODY ELSE.

I MEAN, I THINK EVERYBODY THAT'S INVOLVED IN POLITICS RIGHT NOW IS DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE KIND OF INFORMATION THAT'S BEING PUT OUT THERE, DELIBERATELY, BY MISTAKE, BY -- THROUGH IGNORANCE OR WORSE.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE BUSINESS ABOUT RUSSIAN MOLES AND ALL THE REST OF IT, I THINK EVERYBODY'S KIND OF ON ALERT.

AND I'D LIKE TO THINK I AM AND I THINK MOST CONSUMERS ARE.

I THINK WE'RE A LOT MORE SOPHISTICATED.

WHEN WE SEE STRANGE STORIES NOW SURFACING THAT THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT TRUE.

SO I THINK WE'RE DEVELOPING COLLECTIVE ALL OF US A SKEPTICISM ABOUT THE INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVE, BUT IT'S A WORRY, YEAH.

>> Eric: ASMA, HOW HAVE YOU HANDLED DOING YOUR POLITICAL IN THIS CURRENT CLIMATE?

>> I THINK THAT THE SAME WAY THE OTHER FOLKS HAVE, WITH SKEPTICISM AND ALSO MAKING SURE I'M CONNECTING WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND SKING VOTERS WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR NOT JUST FROM CANDIDATES BUT ALSO MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE LEARNING FROM THE CANDIDATES.

SO SOMETHING THAT I WAS JUST RECENTLY TELLING YOU ABOUT WAS THAT WE DEVELOPED A CANDIDATE GUIDE FOR EVERY SINGLE MINNESOTA HOUSE CANDIDATE, FOR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, FOR SENATE CANDIDATES.

WHICH IS HARD TO DO WHEN YOU'RE DOING IT AS SOMEONE WHO'S DOING IT NONPARTISAN BUT, LIKE, PERSONALLY FEEL SOME WAFFLE.

SO WE'VE DONE THAT, NONPARTISAN, FOCUSING ON REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND POLICING, AND ON ARMS EMBARGOES AND SO PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT THESE THINGS AND SAYING, HOW CAN I VOTE MY VALUE AND FOCUS ON WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME WHEN THERE'S SO MUCH NOISE HAPPENING?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK -- SO WE'VE SEEN, YOU KNOW, POWDER BEING SENT TO ELECTIONS OFFICIALS OFFICES.

WE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION AND DISINFORMATION, I THINK, AND THEN WE HAVE A CAMPAIGN LIKE -- I MEAN, WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE LAST WEEK, IN SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, IS JUST HORRIFIC.

IT IS -- AND IT IS PURPOSEFUL.

AND, LIKE, YOU KNOW, J.D.

VANCE GOES ON TV AND SAYS WE'RE MAKING UP STORIES TO KEEP PEOPLE FOCUSED ON IMMIGRATION.

BUT PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE AT STAKE, AND I THINK IT UPS THE TEMPERATURE IN A WAY HAT IS NOT JUST UNHELPFUL, BUT I THINK CONTRIBUTED TOWARD SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS WHICH IS JUST A DISSOLUTION OF CIVIL SOCIETY AND A REAL FEAR THAT WE'RE GOING TO END UP IN MORE POLITICAL VIOLENCE.

>> WELL, I HOPE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AND I THINK I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE, TRUST, BUT VERIFY.

I JUST SAW THE REAGAN MOVIE THIS WEEK, AND IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, ESPECIALLY ON TWITTER OR ANY OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA, VERIFY IT, BEFORE YOU GO AND SPREAD IT AND HIT THAT, YOU KNOW, RESEND.

JUST MAKE SURE YOU'RE LOOKING AT A RELIABLE SOURCE.

AND THAT YOU'RE NOT JUST SPREADING MISINFORMATION.

>> Eric: YOU WERE AN UNCOMMITTED DELEGATE TO THE D.N.C.

ARE YOU COMMITTED NOW TO HARRIS OR YOU STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?

>> I WOULD BE COMMITTED TO A CANDIDATE THAT SUPPORTED AN ARMS EMBARGO.

AND IT'S SOMETHING YOU WERE SAYING, IT'S HARD TO MAINTAIN THAT IDEA THAT, LIKE, WHEN YOU HEAR IT ON TWITTER, YOU HAVE TO VERIFY IT.

WELL, WHAT IF A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IS SAYING?

HOW DO YOU VERIFY THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

WHEN A VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SAYS MARIBETH EVERYONES ARE EATING CATS AND DOGS, THAT'S HURTING ACTUAL COMMUNITIES AND THAT'S COMING FROM SOMEONE THAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO TRUST AND WE ARE ASKING TO PUT TRUST IN.

AND AS AN UNCOMMITTED DELEGATE, YOU KNOW, I'M ASKING QUESTIONS.

I'M ASKING TOUGH QUESTIONS OF MY OWN PARTY.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE US WIN.

AND I WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN IN A WAY THAT REALLY ASKS QUESTIONS THAT VOTERS THAT I'M REPRESENTING, 46,000 VOTERS FROM MINNESOTA, ASK THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE SAYING, HOW ARE WE SAVING LIVES IN THIS VERY MOMENT CTS RIGHT?

>> Eric: WHAT'S THE STATE OF THE RACE IN MINNESOTA RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL, IN MINNESOTA, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS GENERAL UPHILL FIGHT FOR THOSE ARE OUR SIDE OF THE EQUATION, ESPECIALLY WITH WALZ ON THE TICKET.

BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE CLOSER THAN PEOPLE REALIZE.

I THINK COLLECTIVELY, YOU'RE SEEING THE NATIONAL RACE, THE TRUMP RACE, STARTING TO SHOW SOME CONFIDENCE.

AND BY THAT, I MEAN, THEY SHOW UP, NOT JUST IN THE KEY STATES ANYMORE, BUT THEY'RE DOING -- THEY'RE DOING WORK LIKE THEY JUST DID IN NEW YORK, HE HAD A WONDERFUL EVENT IN LONG ISLAND, TO KIND OF GIN UP THE ELECTRIC, THE TRUMP SUPPORTERS FOR OTHER DOWN BALLOT CANDIDATES.

AND THAT APPARENTLY WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL.

>> Eric: WHAT'S YOUR ANSWER TO UNCOMMITTED DELEGATES STILL?

UNCOMMITTED DEMOCRATS STILL?

>> OH, THIS IS OUR PARTY IS HAVING A CONVERSATION.

A VERY NECESSARY CONVERSATION.

WHEN WE DISAGREE WITH HOW THINGS HAPPEN, WE DO THAT THROUGH DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

WE DON'T ATTACK THE CAPITOL.

IT'S A GOOD THING.

IT'S A POSITIVE THING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND I THINK THAT THIS IS A CRITICAL QUESTION THAT, YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH ASMA, AND ALSO, LIKE, IT'S NOT JUST DEMOCRATS WHO ARE WRONG ON THIS.

LIKE, AND SO, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE ISSUES THAT ILL GO INTO NEXT YEAR AND -- >> Cathy: BUT WHEN IT COMES TO ENDORSEMENTS, SO THE UNCOMMITTEDS ARE NOT GOING TO ENDORSE, THEY'VE DECIDED NOT TO ENDORSE HARRIS AND TIM WALZ.

THE TEAMSTERS ARE ALSO REMAINING NEUTRAL TOO.

>> THE TEAMSTERS IN SWING STATES LIKE MICHIGAN AND WISCONSIN AND PENNSYLVANIA HAVE ALL ENDORSED HARRIS.

THE NATIONAL UNION MADE THAT DECISION, BUT I USED TO LEAD A LOCAL UNION.

AND I GOT TO DECIDE AND MY BOARD GOT TO DECIDE WHAT COMMUNICATIONS GO TO OUR MEMBERS, SO THOSE STATE ENTITIES WILL BE COMMUNICATING WITH THEIR MEMBERS ENDORSING KAMALA HARRIS.

>> THE TEAMSTERS KNEW IF THEY WERE ENDORSE, 2/3 OF THEIR MEMBERS DID NOT SUPPORT HARRIS AND THE TICKET.

THEY KNEW THEY'D GET IN TROUBLE AND SO IT WAS EASIER JUST TO SAY WE'RE NOT GOING TO ENDORSE AND BYPASS THE WHOLE DECISION ALTOGETHER.

IN TERMS OF TRUMP HERE IN MINNESOTA, THE ONE THING THAT I'VE SEEN THAT I THINK IS SO ACTUALLY EMARKABLE IS THAT THERE WAS AN INITIAL BUMP WHEN GOVERNOR WALZ WAS PUT ON THE TICKET.

THAT'S ALL DISSIPATED.

ALL OF THAT ENTHUSIASM FROM THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION IS GONE.

AND THE NUMBERS ARE ALMOST EXACTLY WHERE THEY WERE, ESPECIALLY IN THE SUBURBS WHEN PEOPLE ARE STILL OUT THERE BUYING BACK TO SCHOOL STUFF, GROCERIES, THEY'RE STILL WORRIED ABOUT THE ECONOMY AND THEY'RE GIVING IT A SECOND LOOK.

>> Cathy: ASMA.

>> EVEN THOUGH UNCOMMITTED VOTERS DIDN'T ENDORSE VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS, THEY ALSO DID NOT ENDORSE A THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATE.

BECAUSE WE DO NOT WANT TRUMP TO WIN.

THERE ARE UNCOMMITTED VOTERS WHO ARE GOING OUT AND THEY WILL VOTE FOR VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS, BECAUSE THEY WANT TO AVERT A TRUMP PRESIDENT DISEAFNL, BECAUSE THEY ARE REALIZING THAT THERE ARE LIVES AT STAKE.

WELL, WHAT IS TRUMP GOING TO DO IN THE FUTURE TO HURT PALESTINIANS, TO HURT ISRAELIS, TO HURT AMERICANS, RIGHT?

AND HOW CAN WE AVERT THAT.

SO THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING REALLY TOUGH DECISIONS RIGHT NOW.

I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

>> Eric: LOOKING AT THE MINNESOTA HOUSE RACES, REPUBLICANS WERE OUT WITH A COUPLE OF NEWS RELEASES ALREADY THIS EVENING.

THERE'S NEW MEDICAID FRAUD ALLEGATIONS.

THERE'S AUTISM, APPARENTLY SOME FRAUD WITH AUTISM MONEY, "FEEDING OUR FUTURE."

IS THAT GOING TO HAVE A TRACTION?

>> WELL, THERE'S A REAL SENSE, I MEAN, OF DECAY GOING ON.

EVEN CORRUPTION'S THE WORD THAT ARNE CARLSON USED.

I DON'T AGREE WITH HIM LOT THESE DAYS BUT I CERTAINLY AGREE WITH HIM ON THAT.

AND WHENEVER YOU GET THIS MUCH MONEY BEING ALLOCATED THROUGH BASICALLY A SINGLE PARTY, YOU'RE GOING TO GET THIS KIND OF LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

WE'RE WATCHING THE VAUNTED MINNESOTA PROPER GOOD GOVERNMENT KIND OF TRADITION DISAPPEAR AND IT'S BECAUSE THERE'S ALL THIS MONEY FLOWING GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW.

>> GENE PELOWSKI SAID WE SHOULD HAVE DISWIEDED DIVIDED GOVERNMENT.

>> I THINK AS WE SAID EARLIER, OUR PARTY IS LOOKING INWARD AND ACTUALLY INCREDIBLY EXCITED, AND CONTRARY TO WHAT ANNETTE HAS SAID, AND, LIKE, FIELD OFFICES ARE FILLED WITH VOLUNTEERS.

THERE'S INCREDIBLE EXCITEMENT FOR THEIR TICKET.

AND I THINK THAT THAT'S GOING TO PLAY OUT IN HOUSE RACES IN AN ELECTION THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY ATIONALIZED.

AND WHERE, LIKE, AND WHERE MINNESOTANS, LIKE, VOTED STRONGLY FOR JOE BIDEN FOUR YEARS AGO, AND THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE EVEN MORE STRONGLY WITH TIM WALZ ON THE TICKET.

>> I THINK WHAT'S SO INTERESTING IN LOOKING AT THE POLLING STATEWIDE WHEN YOU DELVE INTO THE LEGISLATIVE RACES AND YOU LOOK AT INDEPENDENT VOTERS WHICH IS WHO -- THEY WILL DECIDE WHO CONTROLS THE STATE HOUSE AND PROBABLY THE STATE SENATE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE INDEPENDENT VOTERS, NUMBER ONE CONCERN, IT IS WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE IN STATE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE OF THE HORRIBLE MISMANAGEMENT THAT HAS OCCURRED UNDER THE ALZ ADMINISTRATION WHERE NOBODY SEEMS TO BE MINDING THE STORE, WHILE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS DISAPPEARED AND WERE USED IN HORRIBLE WAYS INSTEAD OF FEEDING CHILDREN THAT NEEDED THE FOOD AND THE RESOURCES THAT WERE ALLOCATED.

AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION.

THEY EVEN HAVE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO THE BUILDING, THE REMODELING, IF YOU WILL, OF THE STATE OFFICE BUILDING.

IF YOU WOULD HAVE ASKED ME SIX MONTHS AGO IF ANYBODY CARED ABOUT THAT, I WOULD HAVE SAID HECK NO, BUT P SHOWS UP IN THE POLLING.

PEOPLE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO THE WASTE AND ESPECIALLY THE FRAUD.

>> Eric: AND WHO'S GOING TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE IN 2026?

>> Cathy: YOU'RE ALREADY THINKING OF 2026?

>> Eric: I AM.

>> I'M THINKING SCHULTZ RIGHT NOW.

>> Eric: THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CANDIDATE?

>> I'M THINKING WE'RE ALREADY HAVE GOTTEN RID OF THE PRECINCT CAUCUS CANDIDATE.

>> THEIR CANDIDATE WILL BE WALTER HUDSON.

>> OH, GOD.

>> I HOPE NOT.

>> Eric: THIS IS GETTING CONTROVERSIAL AND I GOTTA GO!

SORRY!

♪♪♪ >> HEY, LOOK, THERE IT IS.

>> HEY, GOOD JOB.

>> ONE FOR ONE.

>> I'M GOING TO SPEED UP THE ACTION A LITTLE BIT NOW.

THE HAND IS FASTER THAN THE EYE.

>> THAT'S WHAT YOU THINK.

>> OKAY, NOW I GOT YOU.

>> MAYBE.

>> YOU'RE SURE?

>> OH, YEAH, I WATCHED VERY CAREFULLY.

>> IF I HELD THIS OVER YOUR HEAD, WATER WOULD GO ON IT?

>> HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

>> WHAT HAPPENED?

WHAT'S THIS STUFF?

SOME SORT OF GOO?

>> WELL, ACTUALLY IT'S CALLED POLY-ACRYLATE.

>> ERIC: OUR HOUR TOGETHER IS NEARING THE END, BUT WE DO HAVE ENOUGH TIME LEFT FOR ME TO TRY TO STUMP YOU WITH A MINNESOTA HISTORY QUESTION.

SO HERE GOES.

LET'S TRAVEL BACK TO 1923.

IT'S SPRINGTIME IN THE CITY OF ST. PAUL.

THERE'S A NICE MAP OF THE TWIN CITIES FROM THAT ERA.

A BIG CEREMONY TAKES PLACE AT AN INTERSECTION NEAR THE OLD FEDERAL COURTHOUSE BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN ST. PAUL.

AN IMPORTANT ST. PAUL FIGURE DOES SOMETHING FOR THE FIRST TIME ON A NEWLY INSTALLED TALL STRUCTURE THAT WILL BECOME UBIQUITOUS AS TIME MARCHES ON.

OUR QUESTION IS SIMPLE THIS WEEK.

WHO PERFORMED THIS HISTORIC FIRST IN 1923 IN DOWNTOWN ST. PAUL ?

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU ARE CALLING FROM SPRINGVALE, SPRING PARK, OR SPRING GROVE, A CITY IN HOUSTON COUNTY THAT BILLS ITSELF AS THE FIRST NORWEGIAN SETTLEMENT IN MINNESOTA.

651-229-1430 IS THE NUMBER TO CALL WITH ALL OF YOUR CLEVER ANSWERS.

EXTRA CREDIT AS USUAL IF YOU GIVE DETAILS ON THE HISTORIC EVENT AS WELL.

AND REMEMBER YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE RIGHT TO GET YOUR ANSWER ON THE AIR.

CLEVER WRONG ANSWERS ALWAYS CAPTURE THE ATTENTION OF OUR DEDICATED PRODUCTION ASSISTANT WHO LISTENS TO EACH AND EVERY CALL.

651-229-1430 IS THAT NUMBER ONCE AGAIN.

YOU CAN ALWAYS DROP US A LINE IF YOU'D RATHER TYPE THAN TALK.

YOU'LL FIND OUR ELECTRONIC INBOX AT ALMANAC@TPT.ORG.

WHILE YOU'RE ONLINE, HOP ON OVER TO OUR WEBSITE.

YOU CAN REWATCH ANY PORTION OF TONIGHT'S SHOW YOU MIGHT'VE MISSED OR DIG INTO THE ARCHIVES FOR AN OLD FAVORITE.

THAT'S ALL AT TPT.ORG/ALMANAC.

JUST ENOUGH TIME LEFT FOR SOME MUSIC FROM THE VAST TPT ARCHIVES.

THIS WEEK BACK IN 1991, PAUL CEBAR AND THE MILWAUKEEANS APPEARED ON THE FIRST SEASON OF "SHOWCASE," A TWIN CITIES PBS MUSIC SHOW FROM DAYS GONE BY.

TAKE A LISTEN.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

BE CAREFUL.

>> ♪ BILL'S GOT THE WORLD UNDER HIS KNEE ♪ ♪ SHE'S GOT THE ALLEY EYE ♪ ♪ YOU MAKE ME FEEL SO ♪ ♪ YOU MAKE ME FEEL SO ♪ ♪ BUT, YOU, BABY, YOU MAKE ME FEEL SO ♪ ♪ YOU MAKE ME FEEL SO ♪ ♪ I DON'T KNOW WHEN NEXT DOOR ♪ ♪ WELL, THERE AIN'T NO CALM IN SIGHT ♪ ♪ NOTHING BUT LIES NEXT TIME ♪ ♪ YOU MAKE ME FEEL SO ♪ ♪ YOU MAKE ME FEEL SO ♪ ♪ YOU MAKE ME FEEL SO ♪ ♪ WE THROW IT ALL DOWN, IX IT ALL UP ♪ ♪ LIVING OUR BREATH BREATHING DOWN ... ♪ >> "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 PAINT CARE, HELPING MINNESOTA PAINT SMARTER TO PREVENT WASTE.

MORE AT PAINTCARE.ORG.

"ONE GREATER MINNESOTA" REPORTING ON "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE OTTO BREMER TRUST, WHOSE MISSION IS INVESTING IN PEOPLE, PLACES, AND OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR REGION.

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