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

>> Cathy: WE HAVE QUITE A SHOW COMING UP ON "ALMANAC."

LARRY FITZGERALD IS HERE WITH THE BIG TWINS AND LYNX NEWS.

WE'LL HEAR ABOUT HOW THE DEVASTATING HURRICANES IN THE ATLANTIC HAVE HIT MINNESOTA IN AN UNEXPECTED WAY.

MPR'S CHRIS FARRELL WILL SCHOOL US ON INFLATION AND JOBS.

AND MARY LAHAMMER CONTINUES HER LOOK AT KEY LEGISLATIVE SEATS.

>> Matt: OUR RACE TO WCH TAKES US TO THE SHAKOPEE AREA.

>> WE ENDED UP BEING THE FIRST DEMOCRAT TO WIN IN SHAKOPEE IN MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

>> Matt: DO YOU THINK IT'S CLOSE?

>> I DO.

BASED UPON MY RESPONSES THAT I'M GETTING AT THE DOOR.

>> Matt: 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.

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

LOTS OF POLITICS AS THE ELECTION NEARS AND CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT ARE CRISS-CROSSING THE COUNTRY.

TANE DANGER HAS A SPOOKY ESSAY FOR US.

KAOMI LEE TRAVELED NORTH TO INTERNATIONAL FALLS TO FIND OUT THE POLITICAL IMPACT OF FEWER SMALL TOWN NEWSPAPERS.

AND WE'LL HEAR HOW HURRICANES HAVE IMPACTED MINNESOTA HOSPITALS.

>> ERIC: WE START TONIGHT WITH BIG SPORTS NEWS.

WHEN WE BOOKED LARRY FITZGERALD FOR TONIGHT'S SHOW, WE THOUGHT THE LYNX RETURNING TO THE WNBA FINALS AND THE WILD SEASON OPENER WOULD BE OUR BIG TOPICS.

THEN THE POHLADS ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY THAT THEY ARE PUTTING THE MINNESOTA TWINS UP FOR SALE.

SO MUCH SPORTS NEWS, WE MIGHT NOT HAVE TIME TO TALK ABOUT THE WILD WINNING THEIR OPENING GAME LAST NIGHT OR THE VIKINGS HEADING INTO THEIR BYE WEEK 5-0.

WHEN LARRY FITZGERALD ISN'T VISITING US HERE IN STUDIO "B," HE DOES RADIO WORK FOR THE NATIONAL PROGRAMMING NETWORK.

>> THE LYNX OVERTIME WIN, IT'S GOT TO BE ONE OF THE BEST BASKETBALL GAMES REGARDLESS OF GENDER IN RECENT MEMORY.

>> NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

THE COUNTRY IS JUST ECSTATIC ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU DON'T EXPECT A TEAM THAT GETS BEHIND BY 18 AT THE BEGINNING, I MEAN, THEY WERE GETTING CLOBBERED IN ALL AREAS.

AND THAT WAS ONE OF CHERYL'S BIG CONCERNS.

SHE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR HEIGHT.

AND THEY'RE BIGGER, BUT THEY BEAT THEM BEFORE THE IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT AND THEY BEAT THEM AGAIN LAST NIGHT.

AND BOY, WHAT AN INCREDIBLE COMMITMENT TO DETAILS.

THEY SHOT 50%.

THEY DON'T TAKE BAD SHOTS.

THEY ONLY HAD 10 TURNOVERS AND THEY BLOCKED SHOTS, SIX OF THEM ABOUT NAPHEESA COLLIER.

SHE REALLY GOT AFTER BRIANA STEWART LAST NIGHT.

BUT SHE KNOWS HER EVERY MOVE AND BOY, DID SHE MAKE HER PAY LAST NIGHT.

>> Cathy: IT WAS A HECK OF A COMEBACK, BUT HOW DID HE LYNX BIG THEMSELVES INTO SUCH A HOLE TO BEGIN WITH?

AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WATCH OUT FOR AGAIN ON SUNDAY FOR GAME 2?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THEY WERE IN THE FINALS LAST YEAR, LOST TO VEGAS.

WHO THEY REVENGED THAT LOSS BY BEATING THEM IN THE SEMIS.

SO THEY'RE ON THE DOOR STEP OF WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS A CHAMPIONSHIP AND REVEFNL OF LAST SEASON.

BUT THEY CAN'T WIN GAME ONE.

I THINK THEY'VE LOST SIX STRAIGHT GAME ONES IN THE NBA FINALS AND THAT'S NOT GOOD, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU HAVE A HOME COURT ADVANTAGE AND IT'S A SHORT SEIZE, THREE OUT OF TWO.

SO THE YNX ARE RIDING HIGH.

NOW THEY CAN EALLY GET GREEDY AND SAY, HEY, LET'S GO GET GAME NUMBER TWO.

BUT NEW YORK WAS ABLE TO GET THE BALL INSIDE EARLY.

AND GOT THE LYNX IN A LITTLE FOUL TROUBLE.

AND THE LYNX DON'T HAVE A DEEP BENCH, UT THEY WERE ABLE TO MASSAGE IT BECAUSE CHERYL IS JUST A WITNESSED YARD.

THAT'S A RARE DOUBLE-DOUBLE.

BUT SHE IS AN AMAZING ERSON.

AND JUST WATCHING HER WORK HER MAGIC WAS JUST AMAZING.

>> Eric: WE BETTER TALK ABOUT THE TWINS A LITTLE BIT.

WAS THE $30 MILLION PAY CUT OVER THE WINTER, WAS THAT IN RETROSPECT THAT SOMETHING WAS UP?

>> YOU'RE A WISE MAN.

THAT TO ME WAS THE SIGN THAT SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT.

YOU MADE THE PLAYOFFS LAST YEAR.

YOU ENDED THAT 19, 20-YEAR STREAK OF LOSING IN THE PLAYOFFS, THAT TYPE OF THING.

AND THEN YOU GO INTO THIS SEASON AND YOU PEND 35 MILLION LESS?

I SAY WHAT ARE THESE GUYS DOING.

IT KILLED THEM DOWN HE STRETCH BECAUSE THEY HAD ALL THOSE INJURIES AND MAX KEPLER OUT.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY WHO HAD BEEN THERE.

AND SO THEY DIDN'T GET IT DONE.

AND THE OWNERSHIP HAD APPARENTLY HAD BEEN LOOKING AT THIS OVER A PERIOD OF A YEAR THAT THEY'VE STADIUM DECIDED THAT THEY'VE HAD THE TEAM LONG ENOUGH.

THEY'VE DONE ENOUGH WITH IT.

AND THEY'RE ONE OF THE ICHEST OWNERSHIPS IN BASEBALL, BUT THEY APPARENTLY WANT TO GET OUT.

>> Cathy: BUT IT'S A FOREGONE CONCLUSION?

WHEN'S THE LAST TIME A MAJOR BASEBALL TEAM WAS PUT UP FOR SALE?

>> IT DOESN'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN, PARTICULARLY IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL BECAUSE THE FAMILIES THAT ET AHOLD OF BASEBALL FRANCHISES, THEY'RE INTO IT FOR MORE THAN JUST THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE A TEAM.

IT'S THE PRESTIGE OF HAVING A MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM.

ALL THOSE ATERS, 162 GAMES, YOU GOT A TREMENDOUS REINHARDT STREAM.

I MEAN, LUKE AT THE PADRES, THEY HAD 3,314,000 FANS THIS YEAR.

OR MILLION.

AND THEN THE DODGERS F COURSE THEY HAVE MORE THAN ANYBODY AND YOU GOT THE YANKEES AND THE METS.

SO ORGANIZATIONS MAKE A LOT OF MONEY IN BASEBALL AND YOU RARELY SEE THEM TRY AND SELL OUT.

>> Eric: I'VE GOT THE SOLUTION.

A-ROD'S GROUP FORGETS THE LEGAL ACTION WITH TAYLOR AND THEY GO AND BUY THE TWINS.

A-ROD'S GROUP.

>> THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD ANALYSIS, ECAUSE OBVIOUSLY A-ROD WANTS OWNERSHIP OF A PROFESSIONAL SPORTS -- >> HE'S A BASEBALL PLAYER.

>> AND HE'S A BASEBALL GUY.

SOMEBODY SAID HE HAD 696 HOME RUNS AND WHY HE DIDN'T STAY AROUND TO GET TO 700, I DON'T KNOW.

BUT THAT COULD BE THE CASE.

HE COULD -- HE AND HIS PARTICIPATE COULD BE WORKING ON TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO GET THEMSELVES A MEETING WITH THE POHLADS.

>> Eric: HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE FOR THIS TO COME TOGETHER.

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT COULD HAPPEN BEFORE THE NEXT SEASON?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THAT WITH THE URGENCY THAT THE POHLADS SEEM TO HAVE IN ANY SITUATION THAT THEY'VE BEEN SITTING ON THIS FOR BETTER THAN A YEAR, THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON IT AND THEY'RE PUTTING THE FEELERS OUT THERE AND THEY GOT PEOPLE THAT ARE REPRESENTING THEM THAT ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE MEETINGS.

>> Eric: YOU NEED A GREEN JACKET WITH THAT SHIRT.

THANKS, MAN.

>> THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> POLIO JACKET, WE THINK WE ARE CLOSE -- AND THAT'S TO KEEP BASEBALL IN MINNESOTA FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS.

AND I WANT TO THANK MR. PUCKETT AND MR. HRBEK AND MR. KELLY FOR COMING AND TAKING TIME TO COME OUT HERE TODAY.

♪♪ >> CATHY: HURRICANE HELENE DEVASTATED HALF A DOZEN STATES ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST, BUT ITS IMPACT IS BEING FELT ACROSS THE COUNTRY DUE TO A NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE OF I.V.

FLUID.

A NORTH CAROLINA FACILITY THAT PRODUCES ALMOST 2/3 OF THE U.S. SUPPLY OF THE CRUCIAL MEDICAL SOLUTION IS NOW INOPERABLE AFTER INTENSE FLOODING DUE TO THE STORM.

NON-EMERGENCY PROCEDURES ARE BEING WIDELY POSTPONED OR CANCELLED DURING THE SHORTAGE.

DR. RAHUL KORANNE HEADS UP THE MINNESOTA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

WELCOME BACK.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: HOW WIDESPREAD ARE THESE CANCELLATIONS IN MINNESOTA?

>> I WOULD SAY THE CONDITION YELLATIONS HAVE NOT BEEN WIDESPREAD.

ONLY A COUPLE OF HOSPITALS HAVE HAD TO CANCEL PROCEDURES AND THAT TOO, THOSE NONEMERGENT, NONURGENT ONES LIKE JOINT SURGERIES.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT BAXTER DID INCREASE ITS PRODUCTIONS AND ARE GETTING SOME MORE I.V.

FLUIDS FROM ACROSS THE OTHER PRODUCTION SITES.

WE DID START GETTING SOME MORE SHIPMENTS FROM BAXTER YESTERDAY.

AND SOME OF THOSE POSTPONED SURGERIES NOW ARE GETTING RESTARTED AND SO THAT'S GOOD NEWS FOR PATIENTS.

HOWEVER, WE ARE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET.

BECAUSE PROPERTY TAX BETTER TOLD US THAT TO GET BACK TO 100% OF PRODUCTION, THAT COULD BE UNTIL THE END OF THIS YEAR.

SO I THINK WE ARE STILL NOT OUT OF THE WOODS.

>> Eric: ADVICE TO PATIENTS?

>> I WOULD SAY, BE PATIENT, PLEASE.

OUR CARE TEAMS ARE WORKING 24/7.

HUNDREDS OF HOSPITAL LEADERS AND STAFF HAVE BEEN CONVENED.

EVERY DAY THIS MORNING THEY WERE ALMOST 200 STAFF ON THE CALL.

SHARING BEST PRACTICES, HOW TO CONSERVE I.V.

FLUIDS.

SO FIRST REQUEST IS PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH YOUR CARE TEAMS AND I JUST DON'T MEAN NURSES, PHYSICIANS, BUT ALSO THE SCHEDULERS THAT CALL YOU.

WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN OVER THE WEEKEND AND IN THE COMING WEEKS TO TRY TO RESCHEDULE YOU, TRY TO GET YOU BACK.

PLEASE BE PATIENT.

NUMBER TWO, GIVEN THAT BAXTER SAYS THIS COULD STILL BE FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS, WE ARE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO CONSERVE FLUIDS.

MAKE YOU DRINK FLUIDS IF YOU ARE SAFE TO DO THAT.

CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS ARE GETTING 100% OF THE SUPPLY SO THAT'S REALLY GOOD NEWS FOR OUR KIDS, THOSE THAT ARE PATIENTS.

BUT RIGHT NOW, PLEASE BE PATIENT.

AND THEN THE OTHER THING, I WOULD BE REMISS TO SAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND ESPECIALLY SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR, SHE JUMPED RIGHT IN LAST WEEKEND, DIRECTLY CALLED H.H.S.

SECRETARY, WALZ-FLANAGAN ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN SUPER IN HELPING US AND A.G.'S OFFICE.

SO REALLY APPRECIATE THE FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES JUMPING IN AS WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED THE CONSERVATION OF FLUIDS, COULD THEY AKE THEIR OWN I.V.

FLUIDS?

>> WELL, WE ARE TRYING TO, THAT'S CALLED COMPOUNDING AND THE F.D.A.

DID OPEN UP SOME OF THEIR RULES AROUND THAT GIVEN THE URGENT SITUATION WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW.

HOWEVER, HOSPITALS ARE CAREGIVERS.

WE ARE SO DEPENDENT UPON OUR MANUFACTURING SUPPLY CHAIN PARTNERS.

AND NOW THAT 60% OF THE PLANT THAT PRODUCED, YOU KNOW, 60% OF THE SUPPLY WAS DOWN.

ANOTHER PLANT WAS IN THE PATH OF HURRICANE MILTON, THAT PRODUCED 23% OF THE COUNTRY'S SUPPLY.

THANK GOODNESS, THAT WAS SPARED.

BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, IDENTIFYING WE NEED TO AFTER THIS IS OVER, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE FRAGILITY OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN OF OUR DRUGS INCLUDING I.V.

FLUIDS.

>> Eric: OVERSEAS, SUPPLIES, CAN THAT BE TAPPED?

>> YES, SO, YOU KNOW, GOOD NEWS.

F.D.A., ASPER, THAT'S ANOTHER FEDERAL AGENCY, AND THE SECRETARY, THEY'RE ALL WORKING ON THAT.

SHIPMENTS ARE COMING IN FROM CANADA, FROM EUROPE.

SO THAT WE CAN GET THE SHAPEMENTS HERE.

HERE LOCALLY IN MINNESOTA, AGAIN, THE HOPE IS BAXTER WILL RAMP UP.

I WAS JUST ON WITH CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER OF ONE OF OUR LARGE ORGANIZATIONS AS I WAS DRIVING UP HERE, THE SUPPLY IS STILL ERRATIC.

SO THAT MEANS, YOU KNOW, WE -- WHEN THOSE PACKAGES GET UNPACKED, THAT DETERMINES HOW MANY PATIENTS CAN GET THE FLUIDS AND SUPPLIES.

AND ALMOST EVERYBODY NEEDS THESE FLUIDS.

I MEAN, I'M AN INTERNISTS.

WE GIVE A LOT OF FLUIDS, NOT JUST BURN PATIENTS AND TRANSPLANT PATIENTS AND SURGERY PATIENTS, BUT EVERYBODY, ALMOST EVERYBODY GETS THESE.

SO THESE ARE CRITICAL, YOU KNOW, SUPPLIED THAT WE NEED FOR OUR PATIENTS.

>> Cathy: AND THEN FINAL QUESTION HERE FOR YOU.

COULD HOSPITALS ALSO SHARE, AS YOU GET TO THE END OF YEAR AND TRY TO -- BAXTER TRYING TO GET BACK FULLY ONLINE?

>> YEAH, THEY ARE.

AGAIN, LAST FRIDAY, WE HAD ALMOST 200 LEADERS CONVENED THAT WERE TALKING, ABOUT HOW TO CONSERVE TOGETHER.

THE OTHER PIECE THAT I'M SO PROUD OF, ALMOST ALL OF THE HOSPITALS IN MINNESOTA ARE NOT-FOR-PROFIT, MISSION DRIVEN HOSPITALS.

SO, YES, THEY'RE SHARING BEST PRACTICES.

THE NEXT THING THEY'RE DOING NOW IS USING TECHNOLOGY TO CUE NURSES AND PHYSICIANS ON HOW TO CONSERVE.

THAT STARTED EARLIER THIS WEEK.

SO WE ARE PULLING ALL THE LEVERS.

>> Eric: APPRECIATE YOU COMING OVER.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> CATHY: WE'RE GOING TO TURN OUR ATTENTION TO POLITICS NOW.

THERE'S JUST 24 DAYS UNTIL ELECTION DAY.

CANDIDATES FROM BOTH MAJOR PARTIES HAVE BEEN CAMPAIGNING IN BATTLEGROUND STATES.

DEMOCRATIC V.P.

CANDIDATE, MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM WALZ, HAS BEEN PART OF A MEDIA BLITZ THIS WEEK.

HERE'S A QUICK LOOK AT SOME OF HIS NATIONAL APPEARANCES.

>> AMERICA'S SWEETHEART, GOVERNOR TIM WALZ.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ >> WEIRD OR NOT WEIRD?

FAMILIES WEARING MATCHING PAJAMAS AT CHRISTMAS TIME.

>> OH, NOT WEIRD.

>> TOFURKEY.

>> H, THAT'S WEIRD.

>> ALL RIGHT.

[ Laughter ] [ Applause ] >> WHAT WOULD A HARRIS-WALZ ADMINISTRATION DO DIFFERENT THAN A BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION WHEN IT COMES TO CONVINCING PEOPLE THAT THE ECONOMY IS GOING TO GET BETTER FOR THEM?

>> WE'VE SEEN IT IN MINNEAPOLIS.

WHEN YOU HAVE MORE HOUSING STOCK, WE'VE SEEN RATES GO DOWN.

HER BORDER POLICY EALTZ ARE THE MOST STRONGEST, THE FAIREST WE'VE SEEN.

>> NOW, GOVERNOR, YOU KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE INCLUDING YOUR OWN PARTY WOULD NOT JOIN THAT STATEMENT.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO THINK, I DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN TRUST THIS GUY.

>> I WILL OWN UP WHEN I MISSPEAK.

LET'S BE VERY CLEAR.

ON THAT DEBATE STAGE THE OTHER NIGHT, I ASKED ONE VERY SIMPLE QUESTION.

AND SENATOR VANCE WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE.

>> ISN'T THAT MORE THAN JUST BEING A KNUCKLEHEAD?

>> I THINK FOLKS KNOW WHO I AM AND I THINK HEY KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EXPRESSING EMOTION, GETTING A DATE RONG, RATHER THAN A PATHOLOGICAL LIAR LIKE DONALD TRUMP.

WE MAY BE TALKING ABOUT WE HAVE A PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE POLICY.

MAKING UP STORIES ABOUT LEGAL, FOLKS LEGALLY HERE, EATING CATS AND DOGS, THEY'RE DEHUMANIZING.

♪♪ >> ERIC: GOVERNOR WALZ’S RUNNING MATE, DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, V.P.

KAMALA HARRIS, HAS BEEN UPPING HER MEDIA APPEARANCES THIS WEEK AS WELL.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE, FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, HAS DECLINED OR BACKED OUT OF MANY NATIONAL INTERVIEWS, PREFERRING TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO HIS VOTERS AT CAMPAIGN RALLIES OR WITH MEDIA OUTLETS HE SEES AS FRIENDLY TO HIS CAMPAIGN.

WHAT IMPACT DOES ANY OF THIS HAVE WHEN VOTERS GO TO THE POLLS?

DAVID SCHULTZ IS HERE.

HE TEACHES POLITICS AT HAMLINE UNIVERSITY AND IS AN ADJUNCT LAW PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS.

WITH ALL THE TENS AND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, WHY ARE THESE CANDIDATES NOW LOOKING FOR FREE MEDIA, WHEN THEY COULD BUY ADS AND DO THAT KIND OF STUFF WITHOUT HAVING TO FACE BILL WHICH THE WAS CONFER AT 60 MINUTES?

>> WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR AT THIS POINT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REACH SOME ADDITIONAL VOTERS AND TO TRY TO SORT OF DEFINE THEIR IMAGE AT THIS POINT.

I THINK WHAT THEY'RE HOPING WITH ALL THIS FREE MEDIA IS TO FIND PEOPLE WHO THEY CANNOT OTHERWISE FIND, AND JUST HOPE THEY FIND SOME STRAY VOTER OUT THERE WHO THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND OTHERWISE.

>> Cathy: SO THAT'S WHY VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS DID THAT REALLY POPULAR PODCAST THAT'S FOCUSED ON YOUNGER WOMEN, AND WASN'T TIM WALZ DOING SOME KIND OF A GAMING THING, ON TWITCH, YEAH.

>> 150,000 TO 200,000 VOTERS AND A ESPECIALLY I'M GOING TO SAY RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR OR WHAT THE CANDIDATES ARE LOOKING FOR ARE VOTERS UNDER THE AGE OF 30, THE AGE OF 35, WHO ARE SO HARD TO FIND.

>> Cathy: OH, WELL, LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT POLLS THEN.

HOW SERIOUSLY SHOULD WE TAKE THEM?

ARE THEY ACCURATELY BENCHMARKING YOUNG VOTERS?

ARE THEY ACCURATELY FINDS THEM?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

BECAUSE THINK ABOUT IT.

TRYING TO FIND A LIKELY VOTER'S HARD AND YOUNGER PEOPLE ARE HARD TO SORT OF GET AHOLD OF.

THINK ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO ACTUALLY TEXT MESSAGE YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER TO HAVE THEM RESPOND TO YOU.

POLLSTERS GOT THE SAME PROBLEM HERE, BUT THEN WHEN THEY ASK THEM, HAVE YOU VOTED IN THE PAST, IF THEY HAVEN'T, BECAUSE THEY JUST TURNED 18 OR 19 OR 20.

THESE ARE HARD.

I THINK THE BIG ISSUE IN THIS CAMPAIGN IS GOING TO BE NOW, ESPECIALLY FOR HARRIS, CAN SHE REACH THOSE YOUNGER VOTERS WHO ARE NOT BEING CAUGHT IN THE POLLS, BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW, IS THAT BY HER ENTERING AFTER BIDEN EXITED, THAT SHIFTED THE DYNAMICS WITH OUNGER VOTERS.

THUS PODCASTS AND THESE ALTERNATIVE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS.

>> Eric: LET'S TALK GENDER GAP FOR A SECOND.

PRESIDENT OBAMA IS SCOLDING MEN.

AND TRUMP IS PLANNING A WOMEN'S ONLY TOWN HALL IN GEORGIA.

THEY'RE ADDRESSING WEAKNESSES GENDER-WISE THERE?

>> THEY ARE, AND I THINK THEY'RE BOTH RECOGNIZING, ESPECIALLY THAT WOMEN ARE REALLY A CRITICAL VOTING BLOC.

WOMEN ARE NOW 54% OF THE ELECTORATE IN THE UNITED STATES.

THEY TURN OUT MORE THAN MEN.

I'VE BEEN DESCRIBING, I'M ACTUALLY DOING THE HANDS FOR SCALES HERE ON PURPOSE.

FOR MANY VOTERS, ESPECIALLY WOMEN, ON THE ONE HAND, IT'S THE ECONOMY.

THEY GO TO THE STORE, THEY SEE THE COST OF DIAPERS, BREAD, MILK, EGGS, ET CETERA.

BUT FOR MANY OF THEM, IT'S REPRODUCTIVE ISSUES.

SO THEY'RE BOTH TRYING TO AIM FOR A GROUP OF VOTERS WHO ARE 54% OF THE ELECTORATE.

THEY NEED TO WORK ON HOW TO IDENTIFY FEMALE VOTERS UNDER ROUGHLY THE AGE 35.

>> Cathy: I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAW PEW.

I THOUGHT THIS WAS INTERESTING.

13% OF VOTERS ARE STILL PERSUADABLE.

THAT SEEMS HIGH TO ME.

>> I'M NOT PERSUADED BY THAT AT THIS POINT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S BEEN TRUE THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS WITH THE EXCEPTION WITH THAT SMALL PERIOD OF TIME AFTER THE BIDEN-TRUMP DEBATE, LET'S GO BACK A YEAR, THE POLLS AND PUBLIC OPINION HAS LARGELY BEEN FROZEN.

A YEAR AGO, IT WAS, WHAT?

TRUMP MAYBE JUST A HAIR AHEAD OF BIDEN.

AND EXCEPT FOR THAT BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME THERE, DESPITE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS, DEBATES, NATIONAL CONVENTIONS, THE POLLS HAVEN'T SCHIFF SHIFTED REALLY.

WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO STATES LIKE PENNSYLVANIA, IT'S ABOUT 2%, 1% UNDECIDED.

THAT'S REALLY WHERE IT IS AT THIS POINT.

AND IT'S NOT ABOUT I THINK AT THIS POINT, ARE THEY GOING TO VOTE TRUMP VERSUS HARRIS.

IT'S ARE THEY GOING TO SHOW UP TO VOTE OR NOT SHOW UP?

>> Eric: AS A PROFESSOR, WHAT'S YOUR GRADE FOR WALZ SO FAR?

>> PROBABLY A "C" AT THIS POINT.

I KNOW MINNESOTA PEOPLE ARE THINKING, WELL, HE'S OUR FAVORITE SON, HE'S DOING REALLY WELL.

WALZ HAS NOT TURNED OUT TO BE THE ASSET THAT MANY PEOPLE WERE HOPING OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

IT'S THE WHOLE IDEA OF SAYING THAT SOMEHOW A GOVERNOR FROM MINNESOTA IS GOING TO APPEAL TO, LET'S SAY, AN UNDECIDED VOTER IN SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

THAT WAS A LONG SHOT TO START WAS AT THIS POINT.

BUT HE'S HAD A LOT OF MISSTATEMENTS AT THIS POINT AND THE SCRIPT, THE FAIR TIIVE IS NOW STARTING TO TURN O, THINK ABOUT THIS PAST WEEK, ALL ABOUT THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN COME OUT AND SAY, NO, THAT IS NOT OUR OFFICIAL POSITION ABOUT GETTING RID OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE.

>> Eric: WELL, COUNTDOWN CONTINUES AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO CALL ON YOU FOR YOUR EXPERTISE.

>> CATHY: THANK YOU, PROFESSOR.

WE'RE GOING TO TURN OUR ATTENTION TO LOCAL NEWS AND POLITICS NOW.

THE "LITCHFIELD INDEPENDENT REVIEW," THE "HUTCHINSON LEADER," AND SIX OTHER TWIN CITIES SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN NEWSPAPERS CLOSED THIS SUMMER.

IT’S PART OF A NATIONWIDE TREND THAT HAS MANY CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT ON COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY IN AN ELECTION YEAR.

INTERNATIONAL FALLS LOST ITS 110-YEAR-OLD NEWSPAPER IN 2021.

REPORTER KAOMI LEE TRAVELED TO KOOCHICHING COUNTY ON THE CANADIAN BORDER TO FIND OUT HOW THAT COMMUNITY IS STAYING INFORMED.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON.

>> JOE MARSHON OWNS A SHOP IN INTERINTERNATIONAL FALLS.

THERE'S ONE THING EVERYONE CAN AGREE ON.

>> EVERYBODY LOVES THE LAKE, RIGHT?

>> Kaomi: HE'S CHAIR OF THE KOOCHICHING FALLS G.O.P.

THE BORDER AND ITS REMOTE VACATION LAND FEEL.

IT'S ALSO BEEN A D.F.L.

STRONG HOLD UNTIL RECENTLY.

>> KOOCHICHING COUNTY IS NOW RED.

WHEN I FIRST STARTED WITH THE PARTY ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, IT WAS ABOUT 60-40, D.F.L.

TO G.O.P.

RURAL AMERICA TENDS TO NOW THESE DAYS BE RED.

AND SO IT'S 60-40 THE OTHER WAY THESE DAYS.

>> Kaomi: SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE LIKE HE BEAUTY HERE.

BUT SOME THINGS ARE CHANGING.

LIKE THE POLITICS HERE.

OVER THE YEARS, INTERNATIONAL FALLS AND KOOCHICHING COUNTY HAS BEEN TURNING RED.

ANOTHER THING CHANGING IS HOW PEOPLE ARE GETTING THEIR NEWS.

>> YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND IT IS LITERALLY 50%, 50%, THE GROUP STAY TO THEMSELVES AND BARB THE OTHER SIDE.

THERE'S MANY ISSUES WE COULD ALL GROW ON IF WE COULD SOLVE RELATIVELY QUICKLY.

>> Kaomi: THE COUNTY'S POPULATION HAS BEEN SHRIVING, MORE THAN 9% SINCE 2010.

LAYOFFS AT THE PAPER MILL HAVE HAD AN IMPACT ON LOCAL JOURNALISM, SAYING LAUREL BEINGER.

SHE WAS THE LAST EDITOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL FALLS JOURNAL, A 110 YEAR OLD DAILY NEWSPAPER.

IT SHUT DOWN IN 2021.

WE WERE LIKE SEEN AS KIND OF AN ICONIC NEWSPAPER.

IT WAS MORE THAN 100 YEARS OLD, AND HAD A LONG FAMILY HISTORY OF OWNERSHIP.

FOR A LONG TIME.

IT WAS SHOCKING.

THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT REACHED OUT ACROSS THE NATION.

POSSIBLY LIKE I SAY BECAUSE OF OUR INTERNATIONAL FALLS NAME IS SO KNOWN.

WE HEARD FROM PEOPLE.

>> Kaomi: SHE'S NOW WORKING FOR THE UPSTART RAINY LAKE GAZETTE.

IT'S OWNED BY A MEDIA AND TECH FIRST OUT OF NEW JERSEY, CHERRY ROAD MEDIA.

THE GAZETTE AS 1,000 SUBSCRIBERS.

CHERED ROAD SAYS IT'S THE HEIGHTEST RATIO.

>> I AM HONEST WITH PEOPLE.

AND TELL THEM I'M THE ONLY PERSON DOING NEWS BECAUSE IN THE PAST, THEY WERE USED TO HAVING A LARGER STAFF SERVE THEIR NEEDS.

AND SO A LOT OF TIMES I HAVE PEOPLE OFFER TO WRITE THEIR OWN STORIES OR GATHER THE INFORMATION AND TAKE THE PHOTOS AND GIVE IT TO ME AND LET ME CRAFT IT INTO A STORY.

YEAH, WE COUNT ON COMMUNITY TO LET US KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND THERE'S A LOT HAT GOES ON IN THIS COMMUNITY.

>> Kaomi: CHERRY ROAD AYS THE MODEL IS WORKING WELL.

IT NOW OWNS 12 MINNESOTA COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS, AND ONE PRINTING PLANT.

BUT IT CONCEDED, ITS SMALL STAFFS CANNOT DO INVESTIGATIVE OR IN EPTH REPORTING.

HOW VITAL ARE NEWSPAPERS DURING AN ELECTION YEAR?

>> ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.

>> REED IS A PAST PRESIDENT OF BOTH THE MINNESOTA AND NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATIONS.

HE SAYS 2500 NEWSPAPERS HAVE ALREADY FOLDED NATIONWIDE AND 76% OF THE REMAINING PAPERS ARE IN COMMUNITIES UNDER 5,000 PEOPLE.

>> HOW ARE PEOPLE GOING TO KNOW WHAT THE ISSUES ARE, WHO THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE FOR?

AND WHAT THEY STAND FOR.

WHAT THEIR CHARACTER IS.

WHO'S GOING TO REVEAL THE LIES AT TIMES THAT SOME OF THE CANDIDATES COME UP WITH?

>> Kaomi: HE SAYS DIGITAL NEWS SITES HAVE NOT LIVES UP TO THE HYPE.

IN FACT, HE SAYS VERY EW NEWSPAPERS MAKE ANY MONEY OFF OF ITS DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS AND ONLINE NEWS STORIES CAN BE EASILY MISSED OR LOST IN SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDS.

>> IF THE SWIFT COUNTY MONITOR NEWS COMES OUT TODAY AND THE HEADLINE SAYS THE CITY OF BENSON S GOING TO RAISE TAXES BY 25%, IN 2025, THAT HEADLINE SITS ON THE COUNTERS, IN THE GROCERY STORES, IN THE LIBRARY, IN THE CAFE, EVERYBODY CAN SEE THAT HEADLINE, READ THAT STORY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSPAPER.

>> Kaomi: AN FANSON SAYS SWIFT COUNTY, THE BIRTH PLACE OF THE DFL HAS SHIFTED 65% REPUBLICAN.

HE SAYS THE CURRENT POLITICAL CLIMATE MEANS HE HAS TO BE MUCH MORE THOUGHTFUL WHEN WRITING AN EDITORIAL.

>> PEOPLE ARE EASILY OFFENDED.

THESE DAYS THAT OFFENSE ISN'T A MATTER OF AGREEING TO DISAGREE.

IT'S NOW A MATTER OF PUNISHMENT.

I'M NOT GOING TO SUBSCRIBE TO YOUR NEWSPAPER.

I'M OT GOING TO ADVERTISE WITH YOU.

I'M GOING TO TELL MY FRIENDS NOT TO ADVERTISE WITH YOU OR SUBSCRIBE TO YOUR NEWSPAPER.

>> Kaomi: FOR THAT REASON, SOME NEWSPAPERS HAVE DISCONTINUED EDITORIALS ALTOGETHER.

HE SAYS COMMUNITIES LAST THOUGHTFUL ANALYSIS.

HE AND A GROUP OF OTHER PUBLISHES IN THE STATE ARE PLANNING TO ASK FOR HELP FROM LAWMAKERS THIS SESSION.

>> WE KNOW THAT IN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE LOST THEIR NEWSPAPERS, THAT PEOPLE MORE OFTEN VOTE PARTY LINE RATHER THAN SPLITTING BALLOTS.

PEOPLE BECOME MORE POLARIZED.

>> Kaomi: BACK IN INTERNATIONAL FALLS, THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HELD ONE TELEVISED CANDIDATE ELECTION FORUM LAST MONTH.

STATE AND LOCAL CANDIDATES FIELDED QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC.

CHAMBER ADMINISTRATOR, SHANNON AROUND YORLD SAYS COVID AND THE RISE OF SOCIAL MEDIA MOVED THE TOWN SQUARE ONLINE.

>> HOW WE CAN BETTER THAT SITUATION.

>> SOCIAL MEDIA HAS KIND OF WRECKED SOME OF OUR SOCIAL SENSITIVITIES BECAUSE IT'S JUST WAY TOO EASY TO BE MORE BOLD AND BRAZEN AND NOT HAVE AS MUCH CONCERN FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR WHEN YOU'RE DOING IT DIGITALLY VERSUS WHEN YOU'RE JUST TALKING TO THEM HAVING CONVERSATION OVER THE FENCE.

>> Kaomi: SHE HOPES TO HOLD MORE FORUMS FACE TO FACE IN THE FUTURE.

>> IT'S LITERALLY ONE NIGHT TO GET ALL YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

>> MAYOR HARLEY IS RUNNING TO UNSEAT ROGER SKRABA IN HOUSE DISTRICT 3A.

IT'S ONE OF THE RACES THAT COULD FLIP CONTROL OF THE CHAMBER.

HE SAYS VOTERS ARE AVING A HARD IME FINDING OUT INFORMATION.

>> ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WAS ASKED WAS, BEYOND STATE FUNDING, HOW WOULD YOU FIX YOUR AMBULANCE SERVICE?

>> WELL, WE'VE HAD TWO NEWSPAPER ARTICLES IN THE PAST EIGHT MONTHS ABOUT THE FUNDING PROBLEMS HAT WE'RE HAVING WITH THE AMBULANCE.

PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW COMPLEX THE ISSUE IS.

>> Kaomi: THE RAINY LAKE GAZETTE INVITED CANDIDATES TO ANSWER THE SAME SET OF QUESTIONS BUT REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT SKRABA MISSED THE DEADLINE.

HE FLIPPED THE SEAT RED TWO YEARS AGO WITH JUST 15 VOTES.

NOW THE ELY BUSINESS MAN SAYS HE'S TAKE OUT AN ADD TO PROVIDE HIS ANSWERS.

HE SAYS A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE STOPPED READING THE NEWSPAPERS ALTOGETHER.

>> IF PAPERS WOULD WRITE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY AND NOT PUT THE BIAS IN, BUT WHEN YOU WORK FOR A CORPORATION, A CORPORATION SAYS THIS IS WHAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO WRITE ABOUT IT THAT WAY.

IT'S GOING TO BE WRITTEN THIS WAY.

THE NEWS IS LOCAL, BUT THE WAY IT'S REPORTED MAY NOT BE EXACTLY.

AND I THINK SOME OF THE PEOPLE ARE JUST LIKE, WELL, THAT'S A REPUBLICAN PAPER.

OR THAT'S A DEMOCRATIC PAPER.

♪♪ >> TANE: IT’S THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN PEOPLE’S MINDS TURN TO SCARY SURPRISES AND THE DEFINITION OF MONSTER.

NO, THIS ISN’T ANOTHER ELECTION ESSAY.

I’M TALKING HALLOWEEN.

TO HELP US GET READY, I BROUGHT HONEST TO GOODNESS, SERCERTIFIED MONSTER EXPERT, THE REVEREND DR. MATTHEW KESSEN.

ROUND OF APPLAUSE, EVERYBODY.

[ Applause ] >> MATT: THANK YOU, TANE.

I HAVE THREE MONSTERS TO SHARE TODAY TO INSPIRE COSTUMES, DECORATIONS, OR JUST TERROR.

MADE ALL THE MORE BONE-CHILLING BY THE FACT THAT THEY’RE ALL MINNESOTA MONSTERS.

>> TANE: SO THEY ALL TERRORIZE US BY TAKING AN HOUR TO SAY GOOD-BYE?

>> MATT: MUCH WORSE.

LET’S START WITH A SNAKE.

IN 1904, IT WAS REPORTED THAT A 12-FOOT SNAKE WAS TAKEN ON BOARD A BARGE ON THE MINNESOTA RIVER, NEAR EDEN PRAIRIE.

>> Tane: OOH, I BROUGHT A SNAKE TO THIS STUDIO ONCE.

>> MATT: NOT JUST ONE.

WHEN IT OPENED ITS MOUTH, A DOZEN SMALLER SNAKES CAME OUT.

>> Tane: UGH.

SO IN 1904, IT WAS A BARGE TO EDEN PRAIRIE FILLED WITH SNAKES.

SOMEDAY SOON, IT’LL BE A LIGHT RAIL TO EDEN PRAIRIE >> BOTH: FILLED WITH SNAKES.

>> MATT: YES.

NEXT, THE MINNESOTA ICEMAN.

IN THE 1960s, THE MINNESOTA ICEMAN WAS PRESENTED AS A POTENTIAL MISSING LINK BETWEEN APES AND MAN.

IT WAS EXHIBITED AT CARNIVALS ACROSS THE STATE.

TWO CRYPTO-ZOOLOGISTS CAME TO SEE IT IN ROLLING STONE AND PRONOUNCED IT A GENUINE UNKNOWN ANIMAL.

BUT ULTIMATELY, THE SMITHSONIAN INVESTIGATED AND DETERMINED IT WAS SIMPLY A, OF LATEX RUBBER AND HAIR.

"ADE- IN 2013, THE MINNESOTA ICEMAN WAS SOLD ON EBAY AND IS NOW ON DISPLAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

>> Tane: OH, SO LIKE MANY OLDER MINNESOTANS, SICK OF THE ICE, HE IS A ?OA SNOW BIRD NOW.

>> MATT: FINALLY, COME BACK WITH ME TO OCTOBER 23RD, 1965.

A YOUNG MAN NAMED JERRY TOWNSEND WAS DRIVING OUTSIDE OF LONG PRAIRIE.

SUDDENLY, HIS CAR WENT DEAD.

HE LOOKED UP.

THERE IN FRONT OF HIS VEHICLE, A LARGE ROCKET-SHAPED OBJECT, STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.

THEN HE SAW THEM.

THREE METAL OBJECTS COMING TOWARD HIM!

>> TANE: LIKE GIANT ALIEN ROBOTS?

>> MATT: SORT OF.

THEY WERE NINE INCHES TALL.

WAD ALING ON BASES WITH FINS ON THEM DOWN THE ROAD.

IMAGINE TOWNSEND’S TERROR AS HE CAME FACE-TO-FACE WITH EXTRATERRESTRIAL BEER CANS!

>> TANE: ARE YOU SUGGESTING PEOPLE DRESS UP AS ALIEN BEER CANS?

FOR HALLOWEEN?

>> MATT: SURE.

OR JUST ATTACH SOME FINS TO YOUR BEVERAGE AS YOU FOLLOW YOUR KIDS TRICK-OR-TREATING.

YOU CAN SAY IT’S MINNESOTA HISTORY.

>> TANE: THAT YOU SAW ON TPT!

>> TANE AND MATT: HAPPY SPOOKY SEASON, MINNESOTA!

[ Applause ] ♪♪ >> ERIC: SEPTEMBER INFLATION DATA WAS RELEASED THURSDAY AND TICKED SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN ECONOMISTS FORECASTED.

THIS FOLLOWS AN INTEREST RATE CUT FROM THE FEDERAL RESERVE IN SEPTEMBER.

DESPITE THAT, WE COULD STILL SEE ANOTHER SMALLER RATE CUT IN NOVEMBER, BUT THE IMPACT AND RIPPLE EFFECTS OF HURRICANE HELENE AND MILTON ARE STILL BEING ASSESSED.

ADD IN THAT THE ECONOMY IS A TOP ISSUE FOR LIKELY VOTERS, AS PER A KSTP POLL, AND THERE'S A LOT TO TALK ABOUT WITH OUR NEXT GUEST.

CHRIS FARRELL COVERS ECONOMICS FOR AMERICAN PUBLIC MEDIA.

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, MODERATING, NOT AS MUCH AS EXPECTED, AND IB FLAITION IS STUBBORN.

IS THAT KIND OF WHERE WE'RE AT?

>> THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE'RE AT.

BUT THE OVERALL INFLATION RATE IS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

WE'RE GETTING DOWN TOWARD THE FEDS TARGET RANGE OF 2%.

THE HEMMINGSEN-JAEGER NUMBER WAS A GOOD NUMBER.

BUT WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE CORE INFLATION, WHICH IS THE NUMBER THAT SOMETIMES CAN DRIVE PEOPLE CRAZY BECAUSE YOU TAKE OUT ENERGY AND FOOD, WHICH IS, LIKE, WHAT ELSE IS THERE?

BUT THE CORE INFLATION GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT'S HAPPENING TO PRICES IN THE SERVICE SECTOR, WHEN -- IT JUST KIND OF GIVES YOU A BETTER SENSE.

AND CORE INFLATION, YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T AS GOOD AS EXPECTED.

SO WARY?

ODDS ARE THAT THE FED MAY NOT CUT AT ITS NEXT MEETING.

IT'S RIGHT NOW I SAY THE OPINION'S HALF-HALF DIVIDED.

>> Cathy: THIS MIGHT SEEM LIKE A QUESTION YOU MIGHT NOT WANT TO WEIGH INTO -- >> IF YOU ASK IT, I WILL WEIGH IN.

>> Cathy: I SHOULD KNOW THAT.

I'M NOTICING CAMPAIGN SIGNS, LAWN SIGNS, IT'S ABOUT GAS AND GROCERIES, YOU KNOW, VARIOUS CANDIDATES MAKING THE ARGUMENT THAT IF YOU ELECT THEM THEY WILL LOWER THOSE PRIZES.

I MEAN, REALLY?

>> RIGHT, THAT'S THE RIGHT -- THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

REALLY?

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE DOING MUCH.

I MEAN, THE STORY OF THIS ECONOMY RIGHT NOW IS THAT THIS IS A REALLY GOOD ECONOMY.

BY SO MANY MEASURES.

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, 4.1%.

STRONG JOB GROWTH.

WE'RE STILL GROWING.

PRODUCTIVITY, DOING MORE WITH LESS.

KIND OF FUNDAMENTAL BUILDING BLOCK OF LIVING STANDARDS, THAT'S RUNNING AT A MUCH HIGHER RATE THAN IT WAS SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

NEW BUSINESS FORMATION, I MEAN, REALLY STRONG.

SO YOU LOOK AT A LOT OF THOSE THINGS AND YOU GO THIS IS A REALLY GOOD ECONOMY, ONE OF THE BEST ECONOMIES SINCE THE LATE 1990s.

THE PROBLEM IS, YOU'RE THEN LOOK AT YOUR HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE.

YOU LOOK AT THE PRICE OF HOUSING.

YOU GO TO THE GROCERY STORE.

AND NOW, YOU KNOW, EGG PRICES HAVE COME DOWN, AND BOUNCED UP A LITTLE BIT RECENTLY, BUT OVERALL, YOU'RE JUST AWARE OF HOW EXPENSIVE THINGS ARE.

YOU GO TO A RESTAURANT AND IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE.

AND SO THESE PRICE INCREASES, YES, THE OVERALL RATE OF INFLATION IS COMING DOWN, IT'S GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, WE'RE STARTING TO SEE DISCOUNTS IN THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY.

RESTAURANT CHAINS ARE STARTING TO OFFER DISCOUNTS BUT THIS TAKES TIME TO UNFOLD.

>> Eric: ARE YOU SEEING INSURANCE RATES JUST GENERALLY GOING ONE THE TWO HURRICANES AND OTHER KINDS OF OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS THAT HAVE HAPPENED?

>> WHAT'S BEEN GOING LIKE WITH FLORIDA AND CALIFORNIA THAT YOU WOULD HIGHLIGHT WITH A LOT OF THE MAJOR INSURANCE COMPANIES JUST PULLING OUT -- >> Eric: BUT THE RISK GETS SPREAD OUT.

>> THE SAFE FORECAST IS, YOUR HOMEOWNERS' INSURANCE RATES ARE GOING TO GO UP.

THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND THAT'S PART OF THE EFFECT.

AND YOU HAD MENTIONED BY THE WAY, IT IS GOING TO BE HARD TO KNOW WHAT EXACTLY IS GOING ON WITH THIS ECONOMY.

I MEAN, WITH FLORIDA AND NORTH CAROLINA, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, WE SAW A BIG JUMP IN INITIAL UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS, PROBABLY COMING FROM THE EFFECT THERE.

SO HOW STRONG IS THE ECONOMY REALLY?

IT'S GOING TO BE -- THE FEDS GOING TO BE HAVING TO MAKE SOME REAL JUDGMENT CALLS HERE WITH DATA THAT IS VERY, VERY MIXED.

>> Cathy: I'M WONDERING THEN BEFORE YOU GO, WHAT WILL YOU BE LOOKING FOR HERE AS WE HEAD INTO THE ELECTION WHEN IT COMOZ TO THE ECONOMY?

>> SO WHEN IT COMES TO THE ECONOMY, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO SEE MORE DISCOUNTING GOING ON.

MORE OBVIOUS SIGNS OF DISCOUNTING.

YOU WANT -- AND ALSO WHAT I REALLY WANT TO SEE IS WHAT HAPPENS TO THE JOB MARKET WITH ALL THE CHANGES THAT ARE GOING ON.

AND ALL THE UNCERTAINTY THAT'S OUT THERE.

AND, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN A STRONG JOB MARKET, CONTINUES TO BE A STRONG JOB MARKET.

AND SO I THINK COMING -- MOST PEOPLE'S VISION OR THE WAY THEY LOOK AT THE ECONOMY, IT'S PROBABLY BAKED, SO HE ONLY THING WOULD BE, IF WE END UP WITH SOME BAD JOB NUMBERS, THAT AY CHANGE SOME PERCEPTIONS.

>> Eric: ALWAYS GREAT TO HAVE YOU, CHRIS.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

>> ERIC: CONTROL OF THE MINNESOTA HOUSE IS EXPECTED TO BE CLOSE THIS ELECTION.

COMMUNITIES LIKE SHAKOPEE ARE CHANGING AND GROWING.

SO TOO ARE THE POLITICS THERE.

THAT’S WHERE WE FIND MARY LAHAMMER IN THIS WEEK’S "RACE TO WATCH."

>> OH, MY GOODNESS.

>> WHAT'S THE NAME >> >> GIZMO.

>> Mary: THE INCUMBENT IN SHAKOPEE, DISTRICT 54A IS DEMOCRAT BRAD TABKE WHO JUST HAPPENED TO FIND PLENTY OF PUPPIES AND BABIES WHILE CAMPAIGNING IN HIS CHANGING DISTRICT.

>> WELL, THANK YOU.

SHAKOPEE IS GROWING BECAUSE IT'S A WONDERFUL PLACE TO BE.

IT'S A GREAT PLACE.

WE'VE GOT GREAT SCHOOLS, GREAT PARKS, GREAT PUPPIES RUNNING AROUND DOWNTOWN.

SO I'M REALLY PROUD OF WHERE WE'RE AT AND SHAKOPEE IS ALSO EXTREMELY DIVERSE.

PEOPLE DON'T TALK ABOUT THIS VERY MUCH.

>> MY NAME'S AARON PAUL, I'M RUNNING FOR MINNESOTA HOUSE.

>> Mary: THE REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER IS A LONG-TIME RESIDENT.

>> WHAT KIND OF ISSUES DO YOU THINK ARE IMPORTANT?

>> TRANSPARENCY AND HONESTY.

>> THEY SAID YOU THINK SOUL YOU SHOULD RUN AGAINST BRAD TAB YEAR.

I SAID THAT SOUNDS LIKE A TERRIBLE IDEA.

I HAD NO IDEA I'D E THE CANDIDATE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS DO POLITICAL SIGNS OR NOT.

WOULD I BE ABLE TO PUT ONE UP HERE ON THE CORNER FOR YOU.

>> Mary: PUBLIC SAFETY, IN TRANSPORTATION AND IN OUR CITIES.

>> IT WAS A BIG, TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE PROBLEM IT.

WAS SOMETHING THAT NO ONE SEEMED TO BE GRASPING ONTO.

>> Mary: TABKE AS A LAWMAKER HELD HEARINGS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS.

>> TRANSPORTATION IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ME.

THIS GOES BACK TO MY TIME AS MAYOR AND SHAKOPEE WAS VERY ISOLATED, LIKE, WE HEAR -- THIS BRIDGE THAT WE HAVE BEHIND WASN'T UILT AND SHAKOPEE WAS CUT OFF FROM THE METRO EVERY YEAR FOR MONTHS BECAUSE OF THE RIVER FLOODING.

THANK YOU.

THAT WAS A WONDERFUL SOUND BY.

I APPRECIATE ALL OF THAT.

>> SKIPPING THIS HOUSE.

IT'S NOT ON OUR LIST.

SO GO TO THE NEXT ONE.

>> Mary: SOUNDS LIKE ONE OF THE ISSUE WAS THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER CONTROVERSY, WHICH WAS A BIPARTISAN SOLUTION IN THE END.

IT WORKED OUT.

BUT IT STILL UPSET YOU.

>> IN THE END, THOUGH.

WE DIDN'T NEED TO GET TO THE END AND I THINK WHAT HAPPENED THERE WAS THEY DIDN'T LISTEN TO TEACHERS, THEY DIDN'T TO STUDENTS, THEY CERTAINLY DIDN'T LISTEN TO COPS, SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS.

IF I WASN'T A COP, I WOULD HAVE PROBABLY BEEN A TEACHER.

>> Mary: THE REMOVAL OF MANY SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS WAS THE ISSUE THAT GOT PAUL TO RUN.

WHAT SKILL SET DO YOU THINK BEING AN OFFICER COULD ELP YOU THROUGH BEING A LAWMAKER?

>> SO I THINK THE BIGGEST THING IS LISTENING AND I THINK YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO BOTH SIDES.

WHEN I'VE BEEN AT THE DOORS AND I'VE HEARD CONVERSATIONS WITH HARD DEMOCRATS, JUST BECAUSE I SEE PARTICULAR SIGNS IN THE YARD DOESN'T MEAN THAT I SKIP THOSE YARDS.

I GO UP JUST TO HAVE A CONVERSATION, BECAUSE IN THE END, REGARDLESS OF WHAT POLITICAL AISLE, SIDE YOU'RE ON, WE'RE STILL BOTH HUMAN BEINGS.

YOU WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS OR ARE YOU GOOD?

>> I'M OF I'M GOOD.

>> Mary: LAST TIME AROUND, THE DEMOCRAT WON BY ALMOST TEN PERCENTAGE POINTS.

THIS TIME THERE'S A NEW REPUBLICAN RUNNING AND EVERYONE INVOLVED EXPECTS TO BE CLOSE.

>> WE ENDED UP BEING THE FIRST DEMOCRAT TO RUN IN SHAKOPEE IN 20 YEARS.

>> Mary: THE YEAR YOU LOST -- WAS SUPER CLOSE.

>> IT WAS ROUGH.

AND IT WAS REALLY, REALLY HARD LOSING IN 2020 BECAUSE IT WAS MATTER IN THE MIDDLE OF COVID.

WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD AT THAT TIME.

WE HAD A LEGAL MARIJUANA CANDIDATE IN 2022 AND WE CRUSHED IT.

THE G.O.P.

REALLY, REALLY WANTS THIS SEAT BACK AND WE CAN'T GO BACK.

>> Mary: WILL IT BE CLOSE AGAIN?

>> I THINK SO.

>> I VOWED WHEN I GOT INTO THIS THING THAT I WOULD RUN A POSITIVE CAMPAIGN AND THAT I WOULD STAY POSITIVE ON EVERYTHING.

THAT I WOULD BE OPEN AND HONEST WITH ANYONE.

>> Mary: DO YOU THINK IT'S CLOSE?

>> I DO.

BASED UPON MY RESPONSES THAT I'M GETTING AT THE DOOR, BASED UPON, LIKE, THE CONSTANT EMAILS I'M GETTING, TEXT MESSAGES, PHONE CALLS, REPRESENTATIVE MORTENSON WAS A FIGHTER, HE BELIEVED HE WAS FIGHTING FOR THE FOLKS IN THE DISTRICT.

HE JUST HAS A DIFFERENT WAY THAN I HAVE.

>> YOU GUYS LIVE IN SHAKOPEE?

>> YEAH, I JUST RECENTLY MOVED UP HERE.

>> AWESOME.

WE DOOR KNOCKED AND TALK TO FOLKS THAT ARE WAY, WAY, WAY INTO THE REPUBLICAN UNIVERSE BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT WHAT EVERYBODY HAS TO SAY, EVEN IF WE DON'T AGREE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHERE PEOPLE ARE AT ND UNDERSTANDING HOW PEOPLE ARE FUNCTIONING, WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE THE FUTURE OF MINNESOTA AND SHAKOPEE OOK LIKE.

I'M DEMOCRAT IN THE RACE HERE AND IT'S A HUGE, HUGE THING, WORKING ON HEALTHCARE AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO THE CARE THAT THEY NEED.

>> ARE YOU VOTING FOR ME?

>> YES, SIR.

>> I APPRECIATE THAT.

WHAT ISSUES CONCERN YOU RIGHT NOW?

>> THE ECONOMY.

BIGGEST ISSUES THAT I'M HEARING FINANCIAL, HIGH TAXES, FOLKS ARE UPSET.

GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS BETTER WITH DIVIDED GOVERNMENT.

AND SO WHEN YOU HAVE THIS TRIFECTA, WE'VE SEEN THIS MASSIVE TAX IMPACT ON CITIZENS AND FOLKS ARE REALLY STRUGGLING WITH TRYING TO PAY FOR LITTLE THINGS, I MEAN, $100 WORTH OF GROCERIES, YOU KNOW, FIVE OR SIX BAGS AT CUB ARE NOW TWO AND A HALF BAGS.

PEOPLE NEED TO BE -- FEEL SAFE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THEY NEED TO BE ABLE FEEL SAFE IN THE PARK THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW.

I HOPE TO EARN OUR VOTE.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M GOING TO BE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

THAT WAS A GREAT INTERACTION.

I LIKE THAT.

♪♪ >> CATHY: THERE'S LESS THAN A MONTH BEFORE ELECTION DAY WHEN VOTERS ACROSS MINNESOTA WILL DECIDE CONTROL OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND JOIN VOTERS NATIONWIDE IN CHOOSING THE NEXT U.S. PRESIDENT AS WELL AS CONTROL OF CONGRESS.

IT'S A BUSY TIME FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HEAD UP THE MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES IN MINNESOTA, BUT WE'VE MANAGED TO NAB ONE OF THEIR FRIDAY NIGHTS.

DAVID HANN IS A FORMER MINNESOTA SENATE MINORITY LEADER, NOW CHAIR OF THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

HERE TOO, KEN MARTIN, WHO HAS CHAIRED THE STATE D.F.L.

PARTY SINCE 2011, LONGER THAN ANY OF HIS PREDECESSORS.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

LET'S COME OFF THAT SHAKOPEE STORY HERE.

LOOKS LIKE CHAIR, WE NEED TO -- YOU NEED TO GET FOUR SEATS IN ORDER TO NAB CONTROL OF THE STATE HOUSE.

FOUR EATS.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

DISPLSES ARE >> Cathy: ARE YOU PRETTY PERFECT?

>> YES, WE ARE AND I'VE BEEN MEETING REGULARLY WITH OUR ORGANIZATION, THERE ARE I THINK EIGHT OR NINE SEATS THAT WERE WON BY VERY NARROW MARGINS BY DEMOCRATS TWO YEARS AGO, AND THEY'RE ALL IN PLAY.

AND SO THEY NEED TO WIN FOUR OF THOSE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE MENTAL ILLNESS HOUSE.

SO YES, WE'RE VERY BULLISH ON OUR PROSPECTS.

>> Cathy: AND WHERE ARE THE SEATS THAT YOU'RE MOST CONFIDENT IN?

LOCATE IN TERMS OF GEOGRAPHIC.

>> THERE'S A NUMBER.

CERTAINLY THE ONE THAT YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT IS ONE THAT WE'RE OBVIOUSLY LOOKING AT.

THERE'S A SEAT IN -- UP BY ST.

CLOUD, SO THERE'S A NUMBER.

MOST OF THEM ARE KIND OF IN EX-URB EVERYONE AREAS.

>> Eric: 25 DAYS OUT, WHAT IS THE MECHANISM INSIDE THE PARTY TO GET OUT THE VOTE?

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> WE'RE RUNNING THE LARGEST COORDINATED CAMPAIGN WE'VE EVER RUN, RIGHT?

OVER 30 OFFICES AROUND THE STATE RIGHT NOW.

HUNDREDS F STAFF ON THE GROUND, ORGANIZING, THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH VOTERS AT THE DOORS EVERY SINGLE DAY.

ONE OF THE REASONS I'M BUOYED BY OUR CHANCES IS BECAUSE WE HAVE OFFICES IN EACH OF THOSE DISTRICTS.

WE'RE ACTUALLY ENGAGED IN CONVERSATIONS EVERY SINGLE DAY AND IN THE END, IN CLOSE RACES, WHAT'S GOING TO MATTER IS THE PEOPLE WHO CAN GET THEIR VOTERS TO THE POLLS.

AND CLEARLY RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST NOT SEEING ANY PRESENCE BY THE REPUBLICANS LIKE WE ARE SEEING FROM THE DEMOCRATIC MACHINE OUT THERE.

THAT DOESN'T GUARANTEE VICTORY OF COURSE AS YOU'VE EARD ME SAY PLENTY OF TIMES BEFORE.

WE RUN LIKE WE'RE 20 POINTS BEHIND.

BUT I JUST DON'T SEE THE MATH RIGHT NOW FOR THE REPUBLICANS TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE MAJORITY HERE.

>> Eric: D.F.L.

DOES HAVE QUITE A FINANCIAL LEAD ON YOU.

AND I WONDER HOW YOU COUNTER THAT.

>> WELL, WE -- YES, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A FINANCIAL DISADVANTAGE THAT WE HAVE.

BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS.

WE'VE GOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE THAT ARE WORKING AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING AT CONTACTING VOTERS THAT WE MISSED THE LAST ELECTION THAT JUST FOR WHATEVER REASON DECIDED NOT TO VOTE.

SO WE'VE PUT A REAL EFFORT FOR THE LAST YEAR OR SO TO RY TO CONTACT VOTERS WE CALL THEM DISENGAGED VOTERS TO MAKE SURE THEY GET THE MESSAGE AND GO OUT AND A VOTE.

A PUSH ON GETTING EARLY VOTING DONE TOO, WHICH IS SOMETHING REPUBLICANS TRADITIONALLY HAVE NOT DONE AS WELL.

>> Cathy: I'M SURE YOU DO LOOK AT SOCIAL MEDIA NOW AND AGAIN.

BASICALLY THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE HASN'T CHANGED IN SIX WEEKS.

I MEAN, IT'S STILL REALLY, REALLY TIGHT.

SO MANY PEOPLE ARE ASKING HOW CAN THIS BE SO TIGHT YET, HOW CAN THEY BE SO CLOSE?

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING ON OUT THERE?

>> FIRST OF ALL, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF FRUSTRATION.

THEY'RE FED UP WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND THE STATE LEVEL AND THERE'S A LOT OF FRUSTRATION.

AND YOU'RE SEEING THAT IN SOME OF THE RECENT POLLING AND INDEPENDENT VOTERS I THINK ARE REALLY BREAKING HEAVILY TOWARD REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE TRACE OUT THERE.

AND THAT'S HELPING TO GENERATE ENTHUSIASM FOR OUR SIDE.

>> WE'VE SAID FROM THE BEGINNING THIS WAS GOING TO BE A CLOSE RACE.

IT'S A DEEPLY DIVIDED THE COUNTRY.

THE ELECTORATE IS VERY POLARIZED.

IT HAS BEEN FOR SOME TIME.

THERE'S A LOT OF CONTRADICTING FANNERS TO THAT FOR SURE.

AND THERE'S DISTRUST WITH BOTH THE "CAPITOL REPORTS" FRANKLY AT THE TOP, AS ONE, THEY'RE STARTING TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE FAMILIAR WITH IN KAMALA HARRIS.

THE ONE THING I SAY TO MY STAFF ALL THE TIME IS TO IGNORE THE THREE Ps.

KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE WHICH IS NOVEMBER 5TH.

AND I THINK ALSO I SAY THIS THE SERENITY PRAYER EVERY DAY.

I CAN'T CONTROL WHAT HAPPENS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

MY JOB IS TO WIN MINNESOTA.

ONE THING THAT HASN'T CHANGED CATHY IS THE FACT THAT WHETHER IT WAS JOE BIDEN OR KAMALA HARRIS, NEITHER OF THEM HAVE EVER BEEN DOWN IN AN INTERNAL POLL OR A PUBLIC POLL IN THIS STATE.

>> Cathy: MIGHT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP COME HERE?

>> WELL, HE'S BEEN HERE ONCE.

THEY'RE STILL INTERESTED.

I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF TALK THAT THEY'VE GIVEN UP ON MINNESOTA.

THAT'S NOT TRUE.

THEY'VE MADE A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT FINANCIALLY IN MINNESOTA.

WE'VE GOT A TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE REALLY WORKING HARD AND WE EXPECT THAT WE MAY SEE TRUMP OR VANCE COME BACK.

>> Eric: WHAT'S YOUR VIEW ON THE LEVEL OF SCRUTINY THAT TIM WALZ GOT AS GOVERNOR THAN HE'S GETTING ON THE TRAIL.

>> AFTER HE WAS ANNOUNCED AS THE CANDIDATE, AND I GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO A LOT OF INTERVIEWS WITH PEOPLE ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL, AND A LOT OF NEWS CAME OUT, AND I GOT CALLS FROM PEOPLE HERE IN MINNESOTA THAT WERE TELLING ME, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT ABOUT GOVERNOR WALZ.

THEY WERE LEARNING THINGS ABOUT GOVERNOR WALZ THAT THEY HAD NOT HEARD.

SO I THINK THERE'S BEEN SOME FRUSTRATION THAT MAYBE THE LOCAL MEDIA DIDN'T DO AS MUCH AS THEY SHOULD HAVE, AND THE AGENDA HE ADOPTED AS GOVERNOR.

>> Eric: WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT HIM TOPPING THE TICKET?

>> I THINK IT'S FANTASTIC.

SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR, THE MOST POPULAR POLITICIAN IN OUR STATE, FOLLOWED BY GOVERNOR WALZ WHO'S A TWICE ELECTED GOVERNOR, VERY POPULAR.

THE POLICIES HE CHAMPIONED ALONG WITH SPEAKER HORTMAN AND LEADER DZIEDZIC AT THE IME ARE WILDLY POPULAR IN THIS STATE.

AND I WELCOME THE CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT OUR RECORD OF SUCCESS HERE AND WITH AMY KLOBUCHAR AND TIM WALZ LEADING THE WAY, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I'M NOT GOING TO BE OVERLY OPTIMISTIC.

I TEND TO BE PESSIMISTIC ABOUT ELECTIONS, BUT I LIKE OUR CHANCES.

>> Cathy: SO IT'S BEEN KIND OF A CHAOTIC ELECTION SEASON AND THAT'S ESSENTIALLY AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

ARE YOU BOTH EXPECTING AIDEOUTIC POST-ELECTION WHEN IT COMES TO COURT CASES AND MAYBE -- >> I CERTAINLY HOPE NOT.

I -- I THINK, YOU KNOW, DAVID AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS.

I REALLY HOPE WE GET BACK TO SOME NORMALCY IN POLITICS AND THAT PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME RESPECT THE RESULT.

AND THAT WE HAVE A PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER.

IF EEDED.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, THAT PEOPLE RESPECT THE ELECTION PROCESS.

WHAT WE SAW IN 2020 WAS TERRIBLE AND WE CAN'T HAVE THAT HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> Eric: LITIGATION?

>> WELL, WE'RE NOT EXPECTING OF COURSE, AND I THINK CHAIRMAN IS RIGHT THAT WE ALL HOPE THAT THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE A CONTINUATION OF THE -- WHATEVER THE LAWFARE I GUESS YOU CALL IT.

BUT WE WANT TO SEE THE ELECTION GET RESOLVED CLEARLY AND LET'S MOVE ON AND GO AHEAD WITH WE BELIEVE THE NEW ADMINISTRATION.

>> Eric: WHAT'S YOUR SENSE OF TURNOUT?

IF YOU ROUNDED UP, IT WAS 80% LAST TIME.

IS IT A 2016 TURNOUT OR A 2020 TURNOUT?

>> MY BET, AGAIN, BEING A PUNDIT HERE FOR A SECOND WOULD BE IT WOULD BE SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN THERE.

I THINK WE'LL GET PRETTY CLOSE TO RECORD TURNOUT.

BUT I'M NOT SURE WE'LL ECLIPSE THAT.

THERE'S FRANKLY A LOT OF PEOPLE IN BOTH PARTIES WHO ARE TALKING ABOUT STAYING HOME AND NOT PARTICIPATING.

AND IN SOME WAYS OUR COMPETITION ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE IS THE COUNTY, IT'S APATHY AND SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE PARTICIPATE.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE STRONG TURNOUT.

>> Eric: IN THE SWING SEATS?

>> YES, I BELIEVE WE WILL.

AND I THINK TOO THE INDEPENDENT VOTE SEEMS TO BE INTERESTED IN REPUBLICAN POLICIES, REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES.

AND WE THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE DECISIVE.

>> Cathy: I'M CURIOUS ABOUT WHERE YOU THINK THIS APATHY IS COMING FROM?

>> WELL, LOOK, I THINK IN BOTH PARTIES YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST CHECKING OUT FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.

WE'VE SEEN, BY THE WAY, ON THE D.F.L.

SIDE, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY NATIONALLY, RECORD ENTHUSIASM, RECORD EXCITEMENT, RECORD VOLUNTEERISM, CRICKS SINCE KAMALA HARRIS JOINED THE TICKET AND WE'RE SEEING THAT INCREASE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE -- >> Eric: WE'RE GETTING THE HOOK.

>> Cathy: OH, SHOOT.

SORRY.

THANKS.

♪♪ >> TONIGHT, INSPIRED BY LAST WREAK'S PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE WE'RE ROSTERING OUT A NEW INNOVATION, OUR SPLIT SCREEN MONOLOGUE REACTION SHOT.

SOME SCLUB IS IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA TRYING TO BE FUNNY.

MAYBE THEY'RE NOT EVEN PAYING ATTENTION OR WORSE, MAYBE THEY ARE PAYING ATTENTION AND THEY'RE SHAKING THEIR HEADSES OR ROLLING THEIR EYES HOLDING THEIR HELDS IN THEIR HANDS.

WHO KNOWS.

MAYBE THEY'RE GETTING MAD AND YELLING THINGS LIKE SHUT UP ALREADY, SO WE CAN GET OFF THE AIR!

HEY, CUT IT OUT!

♪♪ >> CATHY: AW, WE MISS J.G.

HERE IN THE STUDIO.

ALL RIGHT, KIDS.

TIME FOR THE ISTORY QUESTION, FOR YOUR HISTORY BUFFS AT HOME TO PERK UP FOR THIS WEEK'S INDEX FILE SECTION.

ESPECIALLY THOSE OF YOU WHO LIVE IN BECKER COUNTY.

OUR QUESTION THIS WEEK IS ABOUT A MYSTERY PLACE, NOT A MYSTERY PERSON.

LET'S TRAVEL BACK IN TIME TO THE 1930s.

A STRUCTURE IN DETROIT LAKES CLAIMS TO BE THE SMALLEST BUILDING OF ITS TYPE IN THE WORLD.

COMMON AT THE TIME, THIS TYPE OF STRUCTURE REMAINS POPULAR TODAY.

YOUR TASK IS QUITE SIMPLE.

TELL US WHAT THIS STRUCTURE IS AND WHERE IT IS TODAY.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU ARE CALLING FROM BUNGALOW BAY, CABIN CREEK, OR HUNTING SHACK LAKE.

651-229-1430 IS THE HANDY NUMBER TO CALL.

YOU CAN ALSO HOP ONLINE AND DROP US A NOTE.

ALMANAC@TPT.ORG IS THE EMAIL ADDRESS TO USE.

WHILE YOU'RE ON THE INTERNET, POP OVER TO OUR WEBSITE, TPT.ORG/ALMANAC.

YOU CAN REWATCH TONIGHT'S SHOW, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF SPECIAL EVENTS COMING UP THAT YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR.

"ALMANAC" IS TURNING 40 YEARS OLD THIS YEAR.

40 YEARS OLD.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.

WOW!

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT WE'VE BEEN AROUND THAT LONG.

SO -- BUT YOU PROBABLY SAW THE FUN MINI SET PIECES EARLIER IN THE SHOW.

THAT WAS FOUR DECADES AGO.

BEFORE OUR BIG CELEBRATION IN DECEMBER, WE ARE HOSTING A COUPLE OF TRIVIA MAFIA NIGHTS TO CELEBRATE BECOMING MIDDLE-AGED.

ONE IN ROCHESTER AND ONE JUST ACROSS THE RIVER IN MINNEAPOLIS.

MORE DETAILS AND A LINK TO SIGN UP ARE ON THE WEBSITE AT TPT.ORG/ALMANAC.

MAKE SURE YOU CLICK CAREFULLY ON THE LINK FOR THE CITY YOU WANT TO DRIVE TO.

JUST ENOUGH TIME LEFT FOR SOME SHOW-ENDING MUSIC.

THIS WEEK BACK IN 1997, LUCY KAPLANSKY PAID US A VISIT HERE IN STUDIO "B."

TAKE A LISTEN, AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

♪♪ >> ♪ IN NIGHT ♪ ♪ INSIDE ♪ ♪ AT NIGHT ♪ ♪ NO WHISPERS ♪ ♪ NO WORRIES ♪ ♪ NO WORDS ♪ ♪ JUST LIGHT ♪ ♪ FILLS THE CORNER ♪ ♪ OF YOUR EYE ♪ ♪ TAKE ME IN ♪ ♪ TAKE ME IN ♪ ♪ COLD SKY ♪ ♪ DARK MONTANA ♪ ♪ LONG ROAD ♪ ♪ RUNNING FENCE ♪ ♪ RADIO ♪ ♪ TRUCKS BLOW BY ♪ ♪ UP HIGH ♪ ♪ NO AIR ♪ ♪ BIG DREAMS ♪ >> "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.