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

ONCE OR TWICE IN THE LAST 40 MINUTES.

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

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

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

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

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

LET ME START WITH YOU, SENATOR HAYDEN.

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

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

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

I'M INSPIRED.

I'M MOTIVATED, I'M FIRED UP.

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

NOT BY A LONGSHOT.

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

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

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

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

>> NO QUESTION IN MY MIND.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

>> BRIAN.

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

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

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

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

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS GOT 12 MILLION LESS THAN BIDEN.

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

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

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

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

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

AND I HEARD THAT AN AWFUL LOT.

>> Cathy: GO AHEAD, BRIAN.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

YEAH, IT WAS A MISTAKE.

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

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

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

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

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

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

>> YOU KNOW, I HEARD THE SAME THING.

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

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

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

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

>> NO.

>> Cathy: I WASN'T SURE.

>> JUST MISSED IT.

>> Cathy: JUST MISSED IT, OKAY.

HOW DOES THIS WORK OUT, DO YOU SUPPOSE?

IS >> I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE.

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

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

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

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

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

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT OUT OF THE SENATE?

>> WELL, IT WILL BE INTERESTING.

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

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

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

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

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

APOCALYPSE, IT'S ALL OVER.

THINGS HAVE TOTALLY CHANGED OUTSTATE.

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

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

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

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

>> Cathy: IT WILL BE INTERESTING.

>> Eric: WE'LL HAVE TIME TO