TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.

>> CATHY: IN THE NEXT HOUR, WE'LL LOOK AT INFLATION AND TELECOMMUTING.

WE'LL HEAR FROM AN AUTHOR FROM GRAND MARAIS, AND WE'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO SOMEONE WHO'S OUT TO CHANGE THE MEDIA LANDSCAPE.

AND THEN MARY LAHAMMER LOOKS AT AN IMPORTANT MINNESOTA COURT RULING.

>> Mary: THE LANDSCAPE OF THE ABORTION ISSUE SHIFTS YET - AGAIN, THIS TIME IT'S A MINNESOTA COURT'S DECISION THAT CHANGES THINGS.

WE'LL EXPLAIN.

>> IT'S DISAPPOINTING.

I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT I EXPECTED THIS COMING.

>> THIS IS AN EXTREMELY EXCITING MOMENTOUS DAY.

>> Mary: 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 28 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

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

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THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.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.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY THE BLANDIN FOUNDATION, WORKING TO STRENGHTEN RURAL MINNESOTA.

>> CATHY: IN A FEW MINUTES, WE'LL LOOK AT THIS WEEK'S RULING THAT ELIMINATED MINNESOTA'S 24-HOUR WAITING PERIOD FOR ABORTIONS, AND WE'LL EXPLORE HOW OUR WORKPLACES HAVE CHANGED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

BUT FIRST UP IN THE HOUR, INFLATION KEEPS GETTING WORSE HERE AND ELSEWHERE.

>> ERIC: THE MONTHLY NATIONAL CONSUMER PRICE INDEX NUMBERS WERE RELEASED THIS WEEK AND THEY CONTINUE TO GO UP AT LEVELS NOT SEEN IN FOUR DECADES.

PRICES HAVE RISEN 9% FROM ONE YEAR AGO.

AND FOR THE NEXT FEW MINUTES, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS TO MINNESOTA'S STATE BUDGET FORECASTS.

HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, MINNESOTA'S MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET COMMISSIONER JIM SCHOWALTER.

WELCOME BACK TO THE PROGRAM.

THE LEGISLATURE LAST TIME HAD A HUMONGOUS SURPLUS TO DEAL WITH, MUCH OF IT ENDED UP ON THE BOTTOM LINE BECAUSE A LOT OF THE WORK THAT THEY WANTED TO DO DIDN'T GET DONE.

WHAT DOES 9% INFLATION DUE TO WHAT MIGHT BE IN THE NOVEMBER FORECAST.

>> GOING TO TURN EVERYTHING UPSIDE DOWN.

WHEN WE DID THE LAST FORECAST, THE WAR IN UKRAINE HADN'T STARTED, NERGY PRICES HADN'T GONE UP.

INFLATION IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING WE HAVE TO REALLY INVESTIGATE BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T DONE THIS FOR A LONG TIME.

WE HAVEN'T DEALT WITH INFLATION FOR MANY YEARS.

>> Cathy: BUT ALSO, IF 'M NOT -- HELP US OUT HERE, INFLATION IS NOT INCLUDED, RIGHT, ONLY IN HALF OF THE BUDGET MODELS.

ISN'T IT 9% NOW, SO OW DO YOU NOT -- IT'S NOT EVEN FACTORED INTO HALF THE BUDGET, RIGHT?

>> YOU'RE RIGHT, ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, CATHY, BECAUSE THE STATE BUDGET IS RULED BY APPROPRIATIONS AND SO THE LEGISLATURE GETS TO SAY HOW MUCH MONEY IS GOING TO BE SPENT.

INFLATION CHIPS AWAY AT WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH IT, THOUGH, SO THE BUDGET'S BEEN SET, THE MONEY'S GOING TO GO OUT BUT WE MAY NOT MABEL TO DO AS MUCH CHILD CARE BECAUSE COSTS GO UP, WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO DO AS MANY TROOPERS ON THE ROAD BECAUSE GAS PRICES ARE HIGHER.

THOSE KIND OF THINGS HAVE TO BE MANAGED AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NEXT BUDGET, YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE LOOKING REALLY HARD AT THE FORECAST, ANTICIPATING WHETHER IT'S COMING DOWN, WHETHER THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK CAN TAME INFLATION AND ALL THOSE THINGS THAT WE'RE ALL ASKING.

>> Eric: WHAT ABOUT WHAT THE FED DOES, IF YOU UT THE BRAKES ON THE ECONOMY TO LOWER INTEREST RATES, DO YOU RISK A RECESSION AND THEN-OF COURSE THAT FIGURES INTO STATE REVENUES, OBVIOUSLY.

>> IT SURE DOES.

IT'S A GREAT POINT.

YOU KNOW, SLOWING INFLATION IS A DIFFICULT THING AND THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT GO INTO INFLATION RIGHT NOW.

THINK ABOUT THE ENERGY PRICES, THE -- WHAT'S HAPPENING IN EUROPE WITH THEIR ABILITY TO GET GASOLINE AND FUEL, CHINA'S ECONOMY IS SLOWING DOWN, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE INTERRELATED AND THEY'RE OUTSIDE OF UR MONETARY POLICY.

SO WHEN WE PUT IT TOGETHER, WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT.

THE GREAT NEWS, THOUGH, IS MINNESOTA'S ECONOMY IS IN A GREAT PLACE.

OUR UNEMPLOYMENT IS VERY LOW AND OUR BUDGET IS DOING VERY, VERY WELL.

>> Cathy: WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MODELS, WHAT ARE THEY SAYING IN TERMS OF RECESSION?

MOST AMERICANS THINK WE'RE ALREADY IN A RECESSION, THE ECONOMISTS SAY, NO, NOT AT THIS POINT.

WHAT DO THE FORECAST MODELS INDICATE AT THISSING TUR?

>> AT THISSING TUR, THERE IS NOT A RECESSION BEING ANTICIPATED.

BUT THE CHANCES OF ONE KEEP GOING UP.

OUR NATIONAL FORECASTERS ARE THE ONES WE RELY ON FOR THAT KIND OF INFORMATION AND THEY TELL US ALMOST EVERY MONTH, MEH, THE RISKS GO UP BECAUSE, OF COURSE, EVERYONE IS TRYING TO SLOW DOWN RISING PRICES, ARE TRYING TO DEAL WITH RISING GAS PRICES AND ALL THAT'S JUST DIFFICULT TO DO.

>> Cathy: IS THIS CAUTIONARY TALE FOR THE 2023 LEGISLATURE?

>> THE THINGS THAT MINNESOTA HAS DONE YEAR AFTER YEAR IS DEAL WITH UNCERTAINTY.

NOW, WHEN I CAME IN TWO YEARS AGO, WE DIDN'T KNOW IF WE HAD ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY THE BILLS FOR THE YEAR.

MINNESOTA IS STABLE, IT IS REALLY GOOD AT EALING WITH RISKS AND DEALING WITH THEM AND TAKING THAT NEXT STEP.

ALL THE WHILE HELPING PEOPLE GET JOBS, HELPING TRAINING, EDUCATING, THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT MINNESOTA'S DONE AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE IN A GOOD PLACE.

SO IS IT CAUTIONARY TALE FOR THE LEGISLATURE?

SURE.

DEAL WITH UNCERTAINTY, MAKE SMART DECISIONS, MOVE FORWARD.

>> Eric: 2% UNEMPLOYMENT IN MINNESOTA.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR STATE REVENUES?

>> IT IS OBVIOUSLY GOOD NEWS FOR MINNESOTANS, FIRST AND FOREMOST.

YOU KNOW, FOR STATE REVENUES, WE ANTICIPATED A RETURN TO -- A LOT MORE JOBS GROWING IN MINNESOTA BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, AS OUR REVENUES LOOK STRONG, THEY WERE AT A PLACE RIGHT NOW WHERE WE'RE COLLECTING MORE THAN WE ANTICIPATED IN THE FORECAST, AND WE KNOW THAT THERE'S STORM CLOUDS STILL AHEAD.

>> Eric: CAN IT GO IN AN INSTANT OR ARE WE IN GOOD SHAPE FOR THE RELATIVELY LONG TERM OR HOW CHANGEABLE CAN IT BE FORECAST TO FORECAST?

>> AS YOU WELL KNOW, LOOKING AT THE LAST COUPLE OF FORECASTS, IT CAN CHANGE A LOT.

A FEW CHANGES IN THE NATIONAL ECONOMY, A FEW CHANGES IN ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT EMPLOYMENT, INFLATION GROWING, CAN HAVE REALLY BIG IMPACTS ON WHERE OUR BUDGET LANDS.

AT THE SAME TIME, MINNESOTA'S GOT RECORD AMOUNTS IN THE BANK.

MINNESOTA'S GOT A STRUCTURAL BALANCE GOING FORWARD AND SO WHILE THERE'S WORRIES, THERE'S RISKS, THERE'S THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP GOVERNING SMART AND DO SMART THINGS, WE'RE IN MUCH BETTER POSITION THAN WE'VE BEEN IN FOR YEARS.

>> Eric: SOME GOOD NEWS.

IN THESE TROUBLED TIMES.

>> IT IS.

>> Eric: THANKS, COMMISSIONER.

>> Cathy: THANKS.

>> ERIC: THE LANDSCAPE OF THE ABORTION ISSUE AGAIN SHIFTED IN THE STATE THIS WEEK.

A RAMSEY COUNTY DISTRICT JUDGE STRUCK DOWN SEVERAL RESTRICTIONS OF MINNESOTA'S ABORTION LAW, INCLUDING A 24-HOUR WAITING PERIOD AND TWO-PARENT NOTIFICATION FOR MINORS.

REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER DISCOVERED THAT REACTION TO THE COURT RULING WAS DEEPLY PERSONAL AND IS ROOTED IN DECADES OF HISTORY.

>> Mary: BACK IN 2000, THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE FIRST PASSED A 24-HOUR WAITING FEARED FOR AN ABORTION.

>> IF THIS WOMEN ARE STUPID BILL SHOULD BE ENACTED, I BELIEVE THE WELL-ORGANIZED EXTREMISTS WHO ARE OPPONENTS OF ABORTION WILL HAVE A FIELD DAY.

>> YOU KNOW, WE'RE CALLING THIS, WHICH I THINK IS RATHER INFLAMMATORY, YOU KNOW, WOMEN ARE STUPID BILL.

I WOULD ARGUE THAT WITHOUT THIS BILL, WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP OUR WOMEN STUPID.

BY NOT TELLING THEM.

>> Mary: THE DFL-CONTROLLED SENATE WAS PRO LIFE, SENDING THE BILL TO AN INDEPENDENT GOVERNOR THAT WOULD GO ON TO VETO IT WITH THE SAME HEALTH COMMISSIONER WHO SERVES GOVERNOR WALZ TODAY.

>> INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE TO WOMEN IN A VARIETY OF TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE ERE TO PROHIBIT ACCESS.

>> AND THEN GOVERNOR PAWLENTY GOT THE BILL AND HE SIGNED IT.

>> Mary: YOUR REACTION TO THIS HERE IN MINNESOTA.

>> IT'S DISAPPOINT, I HAVE TO ADMIT I EXPECTED THIS COMING.

FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THIS COURT CASE IS ABOUT THREE YEARS OLD NOW.

I WAS THERE AT THE ORIGINAL HEARING, KEPT UP TO DATE.

>> Mary: BUT THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE CASE, ENDING ABORTION RESTRICTIONS IN THE STATE HAVE A DIFFERENT REACTION.

>> THIS S AN EXTREMELY EXCITING, MOMENTOUS DAY AND WE'RE THRILLED TO BE HERE AFTER THREE AND A HALF YEARS OF WORK.

>> Mary: I'VE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THIS CAME THROUGH THE D.F.L.-CONTROLLED SENATE, THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE FOR A 24-HOUR WAITING PERIOD.

I DON'T THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE REALIZE THAT, THAT THE DEMOCRAT-CONTROLLED SENATE WAS PRO-LIFE WHEN IT CAME THROUGH, CORRECT?

>> FOR THE LONGEST TIME, IT WAS REALLY A NONPARTISAN ORR BIPARTISAN ISSUE.

IT'S REMI ONLY BEEN FOR SURE THE LAST TEN YEARS AND IT'S KIND OF ACCELERATED, WHERE MORE AND MORE IT'S BECOME SOMEWHAT PARTISAN HERE IN GREATER MINNESOTA WHERE I LIVE, IT'S DECIDEDLY PRO HIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> Mary: PROMISE SHOW THE MAJORITY OF MINNESOTANS SUPPORT ABORTION ACCESS AND DEMOCRATS ARE BETTING SUBURBAN WOMEN WILL VOTE IN THEIR FAVOR.

>> THE STATE LEGISLATURE KEPT PASSING LAWS AND RESTRICTING OUR BASIC RIGHTS TO ABORTION CARE.

THE LAWS THAT THE COURT STRUCK DOWN TODAY NOT ONLY VIOLATED THAT RIGHT, THEY ALSO DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BLACK PEOPLE, PEOPLE OF COLOR, INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, POOR PEOPLE, QUEER PEOPLE, TRANS PEOPLE, DISABLED PEOPLE.

THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO REACH OUT TO OUR JUSTICE FOR ABORTION FUNDING.

>> Mary: PEOPLE SAY THAT REPEAL OF RHO V. WADE AFFECTS PEOPLE OF COLOR DISPROPORTIONATELY.

DOES THAT OTHER YOU AT ALL ON THE EQUITY ISSUE?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT BOTHERS ME ON THE EQUITY ISSUE IS WHERE ARE ALL THE ABORTION CLINICS IN MINNESOTA?

THEY'RE IN POOR AND BLACK COMMUNITIES.

WHAT ARE WE DOING TO BUILD UP THAT FAMILY STRUCK IN YOUR IN THE POOR COMMUNITY?

WHAT THEY'RE IMPLICITLY SAYING IS THAT BLACK CHILD DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE THEY'RE POOR, BECAUSE THEY'RE BLACK.

>> Mary: WITH THE STATE SURROUNDING OURS, EITHER BANNING ABORTION OR BANNING ACCESS EXISTING IN LIMBO, MINNESOTA HAS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN PROVIDING SAFE ABORTION CARE IN POST-ROWE AMERICA.

HOWEVER, WE'VE HAD NUMEROUS LAWS THAT RESTRICTED ACCESS TO ABORTION CARE AND TODAY'S RULING IS A HUGE STEP FORWARD TO REMOVING THOSE BARRIERS AND ENSURING MINNESOTA AS A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE CAN GET THE CARE THEY NEED WOULD YOU TELL US GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE.

>> RAPE, INCEST, AGE, LIFE OF A MOTHER, THOSE ARE ALL -- >> PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, MY WIFE, THROUGH HER STEPDAD GOT PREGNANT AT AGE 13.

NOW, IT WASN'T A CHOICE TO KEEP THE HILD, LONG STORY SHORT, SHE KIND OF BEFUDDLED THE MEDICAL WORLD, SHE GAVE BIRTH TO ER DAUGHTER AND IT'S A REAL IMPORTANT THING TO UNDERSTAND IN HER STORY IN THAT SHE GAVE HER DAUGHTER UP FOR ADOPTION 11 YEARS AGO.

THEY WERE REUNITED AND HEIDI IS MARRIED AND HAS WO KIDS.

WHAT ABOUT THE LONGER TERM STORY.

MY GRANDKIDS ARE AN ABSOLUTE BLESSING IN OUR LIFE.

HEIDI AND HER HUSBAND, AARON, ARE ABSOLUTE BLESSINGS IN MY LIFE AND I THINK WE SHORT-CHANGE THE STORY WHEN WE CONSOLIDATE AROUND SOME -- WHAT HAPPENS IF SORT OF THING.

>> Mary: THIS ISSUE SEEMS PRETTY PERSONAL FOR ME.

>> YEAH, IT'S ABSOLUTELY PERSONAL TO ME.

>> Mary: BUT THE ISSUE IS ALSO PERSONAL FOR THE WOMEN FROM GENDER JUSTICE AND THE FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE WHO'S A NEW MOTHER NOW RUNNING FOR THE SENATE.

>> MINNESOTA KIND OF STANDS OUT IN THAT WE WERE IN THE CENTER OF THE COUNTRY AND A LOT OF THE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE WERE EXPANDING ACCESS TO ABORTION CARE ARE ON THE COASTS, EAST AND WEST OR ILLINOIS, IN THE EGION, WE STAND OUT, RIGHT, LEGALITY AND EXPANDING ACCESS TO ABORTION CARE NOW.

WE WERE THE ONLY STATE IN THE NATION THAT HAD TWO-PARENT NOTIFICATION.

>> MINNESOTA IS TARGETED AS AN ABORTION HUB, THAT SHOULD BE TROUBLESOME TO PEOPLE THAT WE'RE SET UP AS A STATE THAT IS GOING TO BE AN ABORTION DESTINATION.

WE'RE GOING TO BE KNOWN FOR PEOPLE TO COME HERE.

>> CATHY: FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, MINNESOTANS HAVE BEEN TAKING PART IN A GRAND EXPERIMENT INVOLVING WORK AND HOME.

BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, TELECOMMUTING WAS SOMETHING RARE AND A BIT EXOTIC.

NOW, IN MANY WORKPLACES, IT IS THE NORM.

THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA'S CENTER FOR TRANSPORTATION STUDIES CONDUCTED A BIG SURVEY OF STATE WORKERS LAST YEAR.

AND THE RESULTS ARE NOW OUT.

HERE TO BOIL DOWN SOME OF THE FINDINGS AND HOW THEY MAY HELP STATE GOVERNMENT DEAL WITH THE IMPACT OF TELECOMMUNTING IS XINYI QIAN.

SHE LED THE TEAM THAT GATHERED AND ANALYZED THE SURVEY DATA.

SHE'S DIRECTOR OF THE U OF M TOURISM CENTER.

WELCOME TO "ALMANAC."

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME THIS EVENING.

>> Cathy: I UNDERSTAND MnDOT FUNDED THE SURVEY.

WHAT WERE THEY TRYING TO FIND, WHAT WAS THE GOAL?

>> I WOULD SAY IT CAN BOIL DOWN TO ONE WORD, PLANNING, BOTH INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY.

INTERNALLY FOR THEIR TALENT AND THE MANAGEMENT AND EXTERNALLY FOR OUR INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING, BUILDING AND MAINTENANCE.

>> Eric: SOME OF THIS REALLY DEFIES WHAT I WOULD THINK WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

YOUNGER WORKERS TELECOMMUTE LESS THAN OLDER WORKERS?

>> YES.

>> Eric: HOW CAN THAT BE?

>> I KNOW, RIGHT?

SO WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT THE BEGIN DIAGNOSE WORKERS COMPARED WITH ALL THE OLDER GENERAL GRACIOUSES TELECOMMUTED LESS DURING THE PANDEMIC AND WHEN WE ASKED ABOUT POST-PANDEMIC POTENTIAL TO TELECOMMUTE, THEY'RE WILLING THE MOST LIKELY TO TELECOMMUTE NO MORE THAN ONE DAY A WEEK.

AND WE ALSO FOUND THAT BABY BOOMERS AND OLDER, SO BASICALLY THE OLDEST GENERATIONS WOULD BE ABLE TO TELECOMMUTE FOUR TO FIVE DAYS A WEEK, THIEF THE HIGHEST LIKE HEE HOOD AND FURTHERMORE, WE ALSO FOUND THAT THOSE WITHOUT CHILDREN LIVING AT HOME WOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO TELECOMMUTE FOUR TO FIVE DAYS A WEEK WITH THE GREATEST LIKELIHOOD.

BUT IF YOU COME TO THINK OF IT, BABY BOOMERS ARE ALSO THE MOST LIKELY, COMPARED WITH THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS, TO NO LONGER HAVE KIDS LIVING AT HOME.

AND SO THOSE TWO FINDINGS SORT OF EXPLAIN EACH OTHER.

>> Cathy: DO YOU THINK IT'S BECAUSE OLDER WORKERS ARE TELECOMMUTING MORE THAN YOUNGER WORKERS BECAUSE OF JUST DIFFERENT JOBS, JUST WHAT THEY'RE DOING DIFFERENTLY?

SAY YOUNGER WORKERS ARE MAYBE IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY, PERHAPS.

IS THAT MAYBE ONE OF THE FACTORS HERE?

>> WE DIDN'T LOOK INTO THAT BUT IT'S CERTAINLY COULD BE ONE OF THE EXPLANATIONS.

BUT ALSO IN A TYPICAL WORKPLACE, A HISTORY OR THE TRAJECTORY, THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS NEED TO BREAK IN, NEED TO ESTABLISH THEMSELVES, AND SO PERHAPS THEY MAY NOT HAVE AS MUCH AUTONOMY IN TERMS OF DECIDING THEIR OWN SCHEDULE AND FLEXIBILITY, HILE AT THE SAME TIME THEY NEED A MENTORING, THEY NEED A NETWORKING, WHICH, TO A GREAT EXTENT, STILL IN-PERSON EVENTS HOLD THAT APPEAL.

>> Eric: DISABLED FOLKS NOT TELECOMMUTING AS MUCH?

>> YES.

>> Eric: SEEMS COUNTERINTUITIVE.

>> I AGREE AND INDEED, WHAT WE FOUND IS FOLKS USING REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS DUE TO DISABILITIES TELECOMMUTED LESS DURING THE PANDEMIC AND ALSO LESS LIKELY TO BE ABLE TO TELECOMMUTE FREQUENTLY AFTER THE PANDEMIC.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, SO FAR, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO COME UP WITH A VIABLE EXPLANATIONS FOR THESE RATHER SURPRISING FINDINGS.

>> Cathy: I'M GOING TO ASSUME THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN WHO'S TELECOMMUTING VERSUS GREATER MINNESOTA AND THE TWIN CITIES.

>> WELL, YES, THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENCES BUT THEY ARE REALLY RATHER NUANCED.

WHAT WE FOUND IS DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE AVERAGE WEEKLY TELECOMMUTING HOURS IN GREATER MINNESOTA AMONG GREATER MINNESOTA RESPONDENTS TO THE SURVEY WAS ABOUT 26 HOURS.

TWIN CITIES, ABOUT 23 HOURS, SO IT'S NOT A HUGE DIFFERENCE AND YET, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A DIRECTION THAT WE EXPECTED.

AND ALSO, THEY HOLD ALMOST IDENTICAL LIKELIHOOD TO BE ABLE TO TELECOMMUTE FOUR TO FIVE DAYS A WEEK AFTER THE PANDEMIC.

>> Eric: DO THE BOSSES AND WORKERS HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWS OF TELECOMMUTING?

>> WELL, YOU GET IT.

WHAT WE FOUND IS, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT POST-PANDEMIC TELECOMMUTING POTENTIAL, WORKERS WERE A LOT MORE LIKELY TO SAY, I WOULD BE ABLE TO TELECOMMUTE AT LEAST ONE DAY A WEEK AND POSSIBLY MORE.

BUT THE EMPLOYERS WERE A LOT MORE LIKELY TO SAY, WELL, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO TELECOMMUTE ONLY INFREQUENTLY.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT'S -- DID YOU EXPAND ON THAT, MAYBE PRODUCTIVITY, PERHAPS, IS AN ISSUE HERE OR A CONCERN OF MANAGERS?

>> PRODUCTIVITY, THAT REALLY BRINGS TO AN EXTREME FINDING.

WE ASKED IDENTICAL QUESTION IN BOTH WORKER AND EMPLOYER SURVEYS.

WHAT WE FOUND IS THEY RAN IN COMPLETE OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS IN TERMS OF PERCEIVED WORKER PRODUCTIVITY.

WORKERS TENDED TO SAY, PRODUCTIVITY INCREASED TO DIFFERENT EXTENTS WHILE EMPLOYERS WERE A LOT MORE LIKELY TO SAY PRODUCTIVITY EITHER STAYED LARGELY THE SAME OR WENT DOWN.

>> Eric: INTERESTING.

>> Cathy: INTERESTING.

ALL IGHT.

SO MnDOT IS GOING TO USE THIS TO DECIDE PLANNING FOR LIGHT AIL, MAYBE HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION, JUST TRANSPORTATION NEEDS GOING FORWARD.

>> I WOULD IMAGINE SO.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.

>> Eric: GOOD STUFF.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Eric: YOU BET.

♪♪ >> ERIC: IT'S A SIGN OF HOW - TOUGH IT IS TO BE A TEACHER IN THESE TIMES.

QORSHO HASSAN, MINNESOTA'S 2020 TEACHER OF THE YEAR, IS LEAVING THE PROFESSION.

WE LEARNED ABOUT THIS THROUGH THE REPORTING OF BECKY DERNBACH AT THE SAHAN JOURNAL, A DIGITAL NEWS SITE DEDICATED TO REPORTING FOR IMMIGRANTS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.

DERNBACH IS THE EDUCATION REPORTER AT SAHAN AND HAS BEEN FOLLOWING HASSAN'S STORY FOR YEARS.

WELCOME BACK TO THE PROGRAM.

WERE YOU SURPRISED THAT A RECENT TEACHER OF THE YEAR WOULD BE LEAVING THE PROFESSION?

>> YES AND NO.

I KNOW HOW PASSIONATE QORSHO IS ABOUT TEACHING AND ABOUT HER STUDENTS AND TO THAT EXTENT, I WAS SURPRISED THAT SHE WOULD STEP AWAY FROM IT BUT I HAD ALSO SEEN -- SHE HAD BEEN TELLING ME ALMOST SINCE I MET HER ABOUT FEELING BURNT OUT AND FEELING READY TO THINK ABOUT TAKING A BREAK.

>> Cathy: SO SHE WAS THE FIRST SOMALI AMERICAN TO BE AWARDED THIS HONOR IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND SHE DID ALL KIND OF MEDIA INTERVIEWS AND PEOPLE WERE CELEBRATING HER.

PEOPLE LOVE HER.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: I MEAN PARENTS AND STUDENTS AND STAFF.

WHY IS SHE SO WELL THOUGHT OF?

>> I THINK THAT SHE'S REALLY SEEN AS A ROLE MODEL AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD EXPERIENCE WITH HAVING THEIR KID IN HER CLASS, BUT ALSO PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEEN HER IN SCHOOL AND SEE THIS -- SEE THIS -- SHE'S -- HER CLASSROOM IS A SPACE WHERE SHE REALLY CULTIVATES STUDENTS' IDENTITIES AND HELPS THEM REALLY BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES AND REALLY DEVELOP A LOT OF CONFIDENCE, AND STUDENTS REALLY FEEL SEEN IN HER CLASSROOM.

>> Eric: I WANT TO DRILL DOWN IN SOME OF YOUR REPORTING, I'M VERY INTERESTED IN THIS PHRASE INVISIBLE TAX.

>> YEP.

>> Eric: WHERE I GUESS TEACHERS OF COLOR ARE COUNTED ON TO BE KIND OF THE SPOKESPEOPLE FOR TEACHING AND RACE ISSUES WHEN THEY COME UP?

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT LITTLE BIT?

>> YEAH, THAT'S A PHRASE SOME RESEARCHERS HAVE COINED TO CALL FOR THE EXTRA TOLL THAT TEACHERS OF COLOR ARE TAKING ON.

THEY'RE SORT OF SEEN AS SPOKESPEOPLE, AS IF A WHITE TEACHER HAS A QUESTION, THEY MIGHT COME TO A TEACHER OF COLOR WITH A QUESTION BUT ALSO A LOT OF TEACHERS OF COLOR FEEL LIKE IT'S THEIR JOB TO PUSH FORWARD RACIAL EQUITY INITIATIVES AND TO PUSH THEIR SCHOOL TO DO BETTER.

AND THEY DON'T GET PAID EXTRA FOR THAT WORK AND IN QORSHO'S CASE, AND I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY TRUE FOR A LOT OF TEACHERS, NOT ONLY IF SHE UNDER?

TAKING HAT BUT SHE'S ALSO AS A TEACHER OF COLOR FACING EXTRA SCRUTINY, SO SHE'S TAKING ON THE EXTRA WORK, HELPING TO MAKE HER SCHOOL MORE EQUITABLE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, FOR EXAMPLE, SHE WAS SING A PICTURE BOOK IN HER CLASSROOM TO HELP CHILDREN PROCESS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A YOUNG BLACK MAN IS SHOT BY POLICE IN YOUR COMMUNITY ND, YOU KNOW, AS WE ALL UNFORTUNATELY KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS VERY RELEVANT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THAT BECAME A SOCIAL MEDIA FIRESTORM, SOME PEOPLE CRITIQUED IT AND SHE GOT A LOT OF NEGATIVE ATTENTION FOR THAT.

SO SHE'S BOTH PUSHING THE EQUITY WORK, DOING THE EXTRA, WOULD, WHITE TEACHERS ARE COMING TO HER WITH QUESTIONS AND THEN AT THE SAME TIME SHE'S UNDER A MICROSCOPE AND GETTING A LOT OF SCRUTINY FOR IT.

>> Cathy: AND OF COURSE THERE'S THE PANDEMIC.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: THE EFFECTS OF THAT.

THE HYBRID LEARNING, THAT'S NOT HELPING, EITHER, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE HER SCHOOL IS SHORT-STAFFED AND SHE'S PROBABLY DOING MORE WORK THAN SHE WAS PRIOR.

>> RIGHT, YEAH, SO WE'RE SEEING STAFF LEVELS N PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACROSS MINNESOTA DECLINE AND THAT'S EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS, BUS DRIVERS, TEACHERS, AND THEN THAT'S STAFFING LEVELS, RIGHT?

THAT'S PEOPLE WHO ARE NO LONGER WORKING THERE, AND WE'RE ALSO SEEING COVID ABSENCES DURING DIFFERENT SURGES AND SO TEACHERS ARE REALLY STRETCHED THIN, AND AT THE SAME TIME STUDENTS HAVE MORE NEEDS THAN EVER ACADEMICALLY, SOCIALLY, MENTAL HEALTH WISE SO TEACHERS FEEL LIKE THEY'RE HAVING TO DO MORE WITH LESS, AND FEEL LIKE THINGS ARE UST NOT GETTING BETTER AND ACTUALLY GETTING WORSE.

>> Cathy: DID QORSHO THINK THAT SHE -- SHE CLEARLY DIDN'T THINK SHE WAS SUPPORTED OR SHE WOULD HAVE STAYED, IGHT?

WHAT WERE THE SUPPORTS AVAILABLE TO HER?

>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN, WHAT KIND -- >> Cathy: I MEAN IN TERMS OF IF SHE FEEL SUPPORTED BY HER SUPERVISORS, DID SHE FEEL SUPPORTED BY, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER TEACHERS?

SHE -- IF SHE QUIT, SHE MUST NOT HAVE FELT THAT -- >> YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK THAT -- AND WE TALKED WITH HER ON MPR THE OTHER DAY AND I THINK THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN HER SCHOOL THAT SHE FELT -- OTHER TEACHERS SHE FELT WERE SUPPORTIVE, HER PRINCIPAL SHE SAID WAS UNDERSTANDING.

I THINK THAT THE LOWER STAFFING LEVELS AND HAVING TO DO MORE WITH LESS IS REALLY BEEN -- AND THE NEEDS JUST BEING SO HIGH.

YOU KNOW, SHE FELT LIKE SHE WANTED TO SUPPORT HESE KIDS AND REALLY GIVE THEM WHAT THEY NEEDED AND SHE COULDN'T DO THAT THEN OH EAR HAD OWN.

>> Eric: WHAT'S NEXT FOR HER?

>> WELL, FIRST SHE'S GOING TO REST, SHE'S GOING TO TAKE A BREAK AND SHE'S SPENDING SOME TIME TAKING CARE OF HER NEPHEW WHO SHE -- THEY'RE VERY FOND OF EACH OTHER.

HE'S ALMOST TWO AND SHE'S HOPING TO DO SOME TRAVELING AND SHE'S STILL MENTORING OTHER TEACHERS OF COLOR AND WORKING ON SOME PROJECTS AND KEEPING PRETTY BUSY -- >> Eric: IN THE CURRENT CLIMATE, HER JOB POSSIBILITIES ARE PROBABLY ENDLESS.

>> MAYBE, BUT SHE WANT TO TAKE A BREAK AND FIGURE OUT WHAT SHE WANTS TO DO.

>> Cathy: BEFORE WE GO, WHAT WERE THE TAKE-AWAYS FOR YOU AS THE REPORTER ON THIS STORY, BECAUSE YOU FOLLOWED HER FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

>> YEAH, I MET QORSHO SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN SHE WAS NAMED TEACHER OF THE YEAR AND HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING HER SINCE.

I THINK THAT -- I MEAN, SHE'S SUCH A UNIQUE TEACHER BUT HER STORY, I THINK, HAS REALLY BEEN RESONATING WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE AND THE CHALLENGES THAT SHE'S BEEN FACING ARE NOT UNCOMMON AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN RESONATING WITH THEM, AND I THINK THAT IT IS REALLY AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT A LOOT OF TEACHERS ARE GOING THROUGH AND SORT OF A WARNING ABOUT -- ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING.

>> Eric: YOUR GOOD REPORTING IS ON SAHAN JOURNAL.ORG.

>> .COM.

>> SAHANJOURNAL.COM.

LOOK FOR IT.

>> Cathy: GOOD JOB.

>> THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> I HAVE BEEN TO THE MUSIC MAN MUSEUM IN MASON CITY, IOWA.

THE VERY TOWN WHERE MUSIC MAN COMPOSER MEREDITH WILSON WAS BORN.

THE MUSEUM INCLUDES A LARGE MEETING ROOM WHERE THE CEILING IS DECORATED WITH... 76 TROMBONES.

I COUNTED THEM.

THERE'S A DISPLAY WHERE I SAW AN ACTUAL DOUBLE-BELLED EUPHONIUM.

AN INSPIRED INVENTION.

THE PLAYER HOLDS IT LIKE THIS, AND ONE BELL FACES FORWARD AND ONE FACES BACKWARD.

ALL THE PLAYERS, IN FRONT AND BEHIND, CAN ALL HEAR THE TUNE.

A DOUBLE-BELLED EUPHONIUM.

THE MUSEUM INCLUDES A MODEL OF MAIN STREET, INCLUDING THE FAMOUS BILLIARD PARLOR WITH THE DREADED NEW POOL TABLE.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, POCKETS IN THE TABLE, POCKETS THAT SPELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GENTLEMAN AND A BUM... OH, WE'VE GOT TROUBLE.

AND I'VE BEEN TO THE MASON CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY, WHERE WE'VE ALL MET MARIAN, THE LIBRARIAN.

IT'S A LOVELY LIBRARY.

THE STORY OF MARIAN AGREEING TO MEET PROFESSOR HILL AT THE FOOTBRIDGE IS JUST PRICELESS.

YES, I'VE WALKED OVER THAT FOOTBRIDGE, TOO.

AND DID YOU EVER NOTICE THAT "76 TROMBONES" AND "GOOD NIGHT MY SOMEONE" ARE THE SAME MELODY?

ONE'S JUST A MARCH.

IF YOU VISIT MASON CITY, I SUGGEST A QUICK SIDE TRIP TO CLEAR LAKE, IOWA, AND THE FAMOUS SURF BALLROOM.

THAT'S WHERE...

BUT THAT'S A STORY FOR ANOTHER TIME.

[Applause] ♪ 76 TROPICAL STORM BONES LED THE BIG PARADE WITH 110 CORONETS CLOSE AT HAND ♪ ♪ THEY WERE FOLLOWED BY ROWS AND ROWS OF THE FINEST VIRT YOU ♪♪ >> CATHY: THERE'S A POWERFUL NEW VOICE IN THE MEDIA LANDSCAPE HERE IN THE TWIN CITIES.

INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST GEORGIA FORT HAS BEEN TRYING TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE ABOUT BLACK AND BROWN FOLKS IN NEWS REPORTING, AND HER AUDIENCE IS GROWING.

REPORTER KAOMI LEE HAS MORE.

>> Reporter: IT WASN'T GEORGIA FORT'S INTENTION TO BECOME AN INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST.

>> I LOVE TELLING STORIES.

IT'S MY PASSION, IT'S MY PURPOSE AND AS A BLACK WOMAN, AS A BIRACIAL WOMAN, IT WAS REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO DO THAT IN AN AUTHENTIC AND IMPACTFUL WAY, WORKING FOR MAINSTREAM MEDIA.

>> Reporter: AFTER A DECADE WORKING IN VARIOUS NEWS ROOMS, INCLUDING AS A NEWS ANCHOR IN DULUTH, SHE SAYS SHE HIT A WALL TRYING TO GET A JOB IN THE TWIN CITIES MARKET, WHERE TIME AFTER TIME, SHE SAYS SHE WAS PASSED OVER FOR WHITE MEN WITH LESS EXPERIENCE.

AND NEWS MANAGERS WERE NOT INTERESTED IN HER IDEAS.

>> THERE WAS ALSO HIGH TENSIONS AROUND STORIES THAT CENTERED RACE WHEN IT CAME TO EDITORIAL MEETINGS AND I JUST STARTED TO REALIZE, THESE ARE THINGS I CAN'T AFFORD TO COMPROMISE ON.

>> Reporter: SOME OF HER FRUSTRATIONS STEM FROM THE WAY SHE SEES MAINSTREAM MEDIA COVERING PEOPLE OF COLOR, LIKE AFTER A MINNEAPOLIS POLICE SWAT TEAM OFFICER SHOT AMIR LOCK WHO WAS BLACK AFTER ENTERING AN APARTMENT WITH A NO-KNOCK WARRANT.

>> IN ANY OTHER STORY, YOU HAVE TO TELL BOTH SIDES.

THAT IS A FOUNDING PRINCIPLE OF JOURNALISM.

SO WHY, WHEN THE POLICE PUBLISH A PRESS RELEASE THAT CALLED HIM A SUSPECT AND SHARED PHOTOGRAPHS OF HIS GUN, WHY DO WE NOT HEAR FROM HIS FAMILY?

>> Reporter: FORT SPOKE OUT IN INTERVIEWS AND APPEARANCES.

THE MINNEAPOLIS P.D., OFFICIAL STATEMENTS AND THE PLEASE WERE HER TARGETS.

>> MAINSTREAM MEDIA PUBLISHED THOSE WITHOUT THE CONTEXT THAT HE IS A LICENSED GUN CARRIER.

THEY SAID HE WAS KILLED DURING A RAID BUT FAILED TO SHARE THE FACT THAT HIS NAME WAS NOT LISTED ON THAT WARRANT.

>> Reporter: FORT ALSO WENT AFTER MAINSTREAM RESS AFTER A U.S.

MARSHAL SHOT AND KILLED A BLACK MAN NAMED WINSTON SMITH IN MINNEAPOLIS.

>> HE WAS WRONGLY IDENTIFIED AS A MURDER SUSPECT.

I DID AN INTERVIEW WITH THEM, APPARENTLY THERE WAS SOMETHING ON THE SCANNER THAT HAD SAID THAT HE WAS A MURDER SUSPECT AND THAT WASN'T CONFIRMED AND IT WASN'T TRUE.

IN MY WORK AS AN INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST, YOU KNOW, I HAVE THE PROMISE THAT I MAKE TO PEOPLE IS THAT I'M HERE TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE AND THAT WAS A DIRECT TIME WHERE I HAD TO USE MY PLATFORM TO DO THAT.

>> Reporter: FORT WENT INDIA FEW MONTHS AFTER THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.

SHE STARTED A MEDIA COMPANY CALLED BLACK PRESS.

SHE REALIZED HER PROFESSION AS A JOURNALIST WAS ALSO PERSONAL.

>> I DON'T APPROACH MY WORK IN THE TRADITIONAL SENSE, WHERE THERE'S THIS IMAGINARY LINE OF BEING A JOURNALIST.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE ALL HUMAN BEINGS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY AS A BLACK WOMAN WITH A BLACK HUSBAND AND BLACK CHILDREN, I AM AFFECTED BY THE ISSUES THAT I'M COVERING.

>> Reporter: HAVING CLOSE CONNECTIONS WITH SOURCES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS YOU'RE REPORTING ON IS DISCOURAGED IN MAINSTREAM NEWS ROOMS.

FORT ARGUES THAT'S WHAT MAKES HER REPORTING MORE AUTHENTIC.

AND HER AUDIENCE DEGREES.

Facebook IS HER PRIMARY PLATFORM, HER FOLLOWERS HAVE GROWN FROM 13,000 TO 100,000 IN JUST TWO YEARS.

>> THIS NOTION THAT WE RE SUPPOSED TO BE UNBIASED, NEUTRAL REPORTERS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN IN THE WATER FOR THE PAST 40, 50 YEARS.

>> Reporter: FORMER LONG-TIME REPORTER MARIANNE COMBS RECENTLY JOINED FORT AS NEWS DIRECTOR.

SHE IS ALSO A FORMER COLLEAGUE OF MINE AT MPR.

SHE MET 40 ON A PROJECT CALLED RACIAL RECKONING.

>> I REALLY TOOK OBJECTION TO THE NOTION OF -- THE ONLY TIME YOU HEAR IT SED IS WITH REPORTERS OF COLOR, PRIMARILY.

IT'S LIKE, OH, THEY'RE REPORTING ON THEIR OWN COMMUNITY, THEY MUST BE ADVOCATES DOING ADVOCACY GEORGEISM WORK.

THE CON -- THE RECKONING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS THAT MAINSTREAMOUT OUT LETS HAVE IMPLICIT BIASES.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS BLACK PRESS IS FILLING A VOID LEFT BY MAINSTREAM NEWS OUTLETS THAT HAVE CAUSED HARM AND DISTRESS IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

>> THERE IS A REAL NEED FOR TRULY DIVERSE VOICES ACROSS THE MEDIA ECOSYSTEM AND TRULY DIVERSE STORIES, AND I THINK THAT TRAINING A NEW GENERATION OF REPORTERS IN A CULTURE THAT SUPPORTS THEIR VISION AND HELPS AMPLIFY THEIR VISION SUPPORTS THAT.

>> WHAT YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT AND WHO YOU WANT TO TALK WITH, AND I'M HAPPY TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT THAT.

>> Reporter: THIS WEEK, BLACK PRESS RECEIVED FIVE GRANTS TO MENTOR SEVERAL REPORTERS.

THIS REPORTER SAYS SHE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE JOYFUL STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE HER.

>> THERE'S SO MANY COOL POSITIVE -- THEY'RE INTRICATE STORIES TO HER, THAT BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE AND QUEER PEOPLE AND I REALLY WANT TO HELP GET THE STORIES OUT THERE.

>> Reporter: THE YOUNG REPORTERS ARE FREE TO REPORT ON WHAT INTERESTS THEM AND THEY'RE PAID FOR THEIR STORY.

THEY SAY IT'S HELPFUL THAT PEOPLE ARE ALREADY KNOWN AND RESPECT FOR IT.

>> ONCE YOU SAY GEORGE'S NAME, YOU CAN SEE THE -- THE CALM THAT COMES OVER THEM, OH, OKAY, I'LL TALK TO YOU BECAUSE GEORGIA HAS CREATED THAT KIND OF REPORT IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> CATHY: FOR THE NEXT FEW MINUTES, WE ARE GOING TO TALK, IN A PERSONAL WAY, ABOUT THE COMPLEX WORLD OF IMMIGRATION AND INDIGENOUS CULTURE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

OUR GUIDE IS STACI LOLA DROUILLARD.

STACI HAS WRITTEN A NEW BOOK, PART MEMOIR AND PART HISTORY.

"SEVEN AUNTS" CELEBRATES THE RESILIENCE OF HER SEVEN AUNTIES.

THE BOOK WAS PUBLISHED BY THE U OF M PRESS.

STACI LOLA DROUILLARD IS A DESCENDANT OF THE GRAND PORTAGE BAND OF LAKE SUPERIOR ANISHINAABE.

SHE LIVES AND WORKS IN GRAND MARAIS.

AMEND MADE THE TRIP DOWN HERE.

I AM SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> IT'S SO GREAT TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: I KNOW ABOUT YOUR SEVEN AUNTS BECAUSE I KNOW YOUR HISTORY SO I'M CURIOUS, THOUGH, WHY FOCUS ON YOUR AUNTIES.

>> BECAUSE THEY SHAPED WHO I AM AS A PERSON AND THEY HELD OUR EXTENDED FAMILIES TOGETHER THROUGH THICK AND THIN.

AGAINST ALL ODDS, REALLY.

>> Eric: WAS IT AWKWARD WRITING ABOUT FOLKS IN OUR FAMILY?

I THINK -- AUNT BETTY GAVE YOU PERMISSION I THINK YOU SAID IN -- ARMED WITH THAT PERMISSION, HOW DID YOU HANDLE IT?

>> BUT ONLY IF I DIDN'T USE BIG WORDS.

[Laughter] IT AS FULL OF TEARS AND JOY AND A LOT OF LOVE IS IN THAT BOOK.

I APPROACHED IT WITH A SENSE OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, WHICH IS WHAT A NUMBER OF MY AUNTS MODELED FOR ME SO I HOPE I LIVED UP TO THAT.

>> Cathy: YOU ALSO MODELED RESILIENCE.

YOU WROTE THIS BOOK IS ABOUT THE HIDDEN LIVES OF WOMEN, THOSE WHO RARELY SPEAK OUT OF TURN AND THOSE WHO SHOUT THEIR TRUTH TO THE SKI SKY EVEN NO NO ONE IS PAYING ATTENTION, THE WOMEN WHO WILL NEVER GRACE THE COVER OF A MAGAZINE BECAUSE OF THE SCAR THEY'VE CARRIED WITH THEM SINCE HEY WERE A BABY.

THESE ARE THE WOMEN WHO WILL NEVER HAVE A STREET OR ROAD NAMED AFTER THEM LIKE I WISH EACH OF MY AUNTIES HAD.

THESE ARE STRONG WOMEN.

>> UM, TRONG, TESTED, HARD WORKERS.

THEY HELD THE -- EVERYTHING TOGETHER LIKE A CAKE THAT HAS PLENTY OF EGGS IN IT, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT THEM, I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO OUR FAMILY.

>> Eric: HOW DO YOU ASCRIBE HOW MEN, THE MALE PART OF THE FAMILY COME ACROSS IN THE BOOK?

>> WELL, THE MEN ARE DEFINITELY THERE.

I DIDN'T ANTICIPATE WRITING ABOUT THE PATRIARCHS OF THE FAMILY AS MUCH AS I DID IN THE BOOK BUT WHEN I WAS EXPLORING THE LIVES OF MY AUNTS AND SOME OF THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS, AND TRAUMAS, REALLY, THAT THEY EXPERIENCED AS GIRLS AND WOMEN, I KIND OF HAD TO TAKE ON THE PATRIARCHS A BIT AND DELVE INTO THAT HISTORY AND I TRIED TO DO THAT WITH LOVE, AS WELL.

>> Cathy: WHAT DOES YOUR LIFE STORY TELL US ABOUT THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN INDIGENOUS CULTURES?

>> HUM... >> Cathy: THROUGH YOUR AUNTS' EXPERIENCE?

>> WELL, SO MY MOTHER'S SIDE OF THE FAMILY IS GERMAN.

MY DAD'S SIDE OF THE FAMILY ARE FRENCH AND OJIBWE, FROM THE NORTH SHORE.

THE THREE AUNTS ON THAT SIDE CAME OUT OF THE WOODS, THEY EXPERIENCED LIFE AT A TIME WHEN CULTURE WAS CHANGING, TIME WAS CHANGING THE WAY THAT WOMEN'S ROLES WERE PERCEIVED TO IT WAS A VERY INTERESTING TIME, I THINK, FOR ANISHINAABE FAMILIES AROUND IT'S QUITE COMPLICATED AND THERE IS A NUMBER OF THREADS AND THINGS THAT GET PULLED THROUGH TO HELP TELL THAT STORY.

>> Eric: ONE OF THE QUOTES IN THE BOOK IS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT THE PAST.

WAS THAT THERAPEUTIC OR WAS IT WRITING OR WAS IT UNANIMOUS AMONG THE FAMILY?

>> OH, GOSH, WELL, IT IS SCARY TO TELL THE TRUTH SOMETIMES AND I DID IT WITH THE HELP OF A NUMBER OF RELATIVES.

I'M MOSTLY TRAINED AS AN ACADEMIC WRITER SO WHEN I WAS APPROACHING THE CHAPTERS AND THE STORIES, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I DID MY DUE DILIGENCE AND MY COUSINS, A NUMBER OF THEM HELPED ME FACT CHECK AND FILL IN SOME THINGS ABOUT THEIR MOTHERS AND, YEAH, SO I DID TAKE ON THE TRUTH WITH PERMISSION.

>> Cathy: SAY, WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF?

I BET YOU LEARNED SOMETHING.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT ISN'T A STRAIGHT MEMOIR, CATHY, IT'S MORE LIKE A SHADOW MEMOIR WHERE MY AUNTS ARE SORT OF AT CENTER STAGE AND THEN IF THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING IN THE STORY THAT HAS AFFECTED ME PERSONALLY, OR HAS -- I FEEL IS UNIVERSAL, THEN KIND OF STEP IN AND BRING MYSELF INTO IT.

AND WHAT I'VE LEARNED, AND REALLY AM STILL LEARNING, IS THE DEEP IMPACT THAT THESE WOMEN HAD ON ME IN WAYS THAT I HAD NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT, I HADN'T REALLY INVESTIGATED OR DISCOVERED AND I JUST CARRY THEM WITH ME EVERYWHERE.

>> Eric: THIS HAS A THREATFLICKS MINI-SERIES WRITTEN ALL OVER IT.

IT'S A SWEEPING STORY, I MEAN, WITH MANY LAYERS AND SUBPLOTS.

>> Cathy: AND THE PERSONALITIES -- >> Eric: YOU PROBABLY SHOULD CALL SOMEBODY AT HOLLYWOOD.

>> MAYBE YOU SHOULD CALL SOMEBODY.

>> Eric: I DON'T HAVE ANY BETTER.

>> Cathy: AUNT BETTY IS GRATE, AUNT LILA, INTERESTING WOMEN.

>> Eric: YOU HAVE A CHILDREN'S BOOK IN THE WORKS?

>> I DO, YES, YOU GOT THE NEWS.

THERE IS A CHILDREN'S BOOK CALLED "A FAMILY TREE," IT'S THE STORY OF A LITTLE SPRUCE TREE AND IT'S ABOUT HOW CHANGE IS HARD ON TREES AND ON PEOPLE, TOO.

>> Eric: COME BACK AND SEE US WHEN YOU WANT TO PROMOTE THAT ONE, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO HELP YOU MOVE SOME ITEMS.

>> I'LL COME BACK NY TIME.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> NICE TO SEE YOU, TOO.

THANK YOU.

MIIGWETCH.

♪♪ ♪ JOHNNY'S IN THE BASE HIM, MIXING UP THE MEDICINE, I'M ON THE PAVEMENT, THINKING ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT ♪ ♪ A MAN IN A TRENCH COAT, SAYS HE'S GOT A FAT CAR, WANTS TO GET IT PAID OFF ♪ ♪ LOOK OUT, KIDS, IT'S SOMETHING YOU DID, GOD KNOWS WHEN BUT YOU DID IT AGAIN ♪ >> ERIC: A BIG ABORTION RULING IN MINNESOTA THAT TOSSED OUT THE 24-HOUR WAITING PERIOD, MORE BAD INFLATION NEWS, AND ANOTHER JANUARY 6 COMMITTEE MEETING IN D.C.

PLENTY TO KEEP A DUO OF POLITICAL ANALYSTS BUSY.

BRIAN MCDANIEL IS A REPUBLICAN, AND A LEGISLATIVE LOBBYIST.

JAVIER MORILLO IS A DEMOCRAT, AND A POLITICAL STRATEGIST AND ACTIVIST.

TRADITION WOULD TELL US THAT THE PARTY IN POWER IS NOT GOING TO DO WELL IN THE MIDTERM BUT THERE RE SO MANY BALLS IN THE AIR, SO MANY CROSS-CURRENTS, IS THAT CONVENTIONAL WISDOM OUT THE DOOR OR -- >> I THINK IF WE LOOK AT THE LAST SERIES OF ELECTIONS IN THE U.S., THEY'VE BEEN CHARACTERIZED I THINK BY CHAOS, REALLY.

I DON'T THINK THAT HISTORICAL NORMS OR TRENDS ARE NECESSARILY THE WAY TO LOOK AT ELECTIONS IN THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.

JUST MOSTLY BECAUSE OF POLITICAL POLARIZATION AND BECAUSE WE HAD SORT OF AN EXTRAORDINARY WILD RIDE FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS WITH -- THAT IS STILL GOING ON WITH THE JANUARY 6th HEARINGS AND EVERYTHING ELSE SO I THINK RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN SOME POLLING ABOUT CONGRESSIONAL BALLOT, THE CONGRESSIONAL BALLOT IS THAT A LOT OF DEMOCRATS ARE WAKING UP AND THE ISSUES THAT ARE OUT THERE ARE FAVOR TO DEMOCRATS.

>> Eric: THERE'S 9% INFLATION, THE REPUBLICANS ON THE FUNDAMENTALS, THE REPUBLICANS LOOK PRETTY STRONG.

>> IF THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO BE EXCITED TO BE TALKING ABOUT GAS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WITH INFLATION, WITH PUBLIC SAFETY ON THE MORE LOCAL LEVEL.

CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON ITH ABORTION I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS A MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR DEMOCRATIC VOTERS AND I THINK WE'VE SEEN SOME OF THAT IN THE NARROWING OF THE CONGRESSIONAL -- BLANK CONGRESSIONAL BALLOT THAT JAVIER WAS TALKING ABOUT.

THE ISSUE REALLY IS, THOUGH, IT DOESN'T MATTER NECESSARILY, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN C.D.

5 IN St. PAUL, C.D.

4 IN MINNEAPOLIS, C.D.

3 OR -- >> Eric: ANY WAY AROUND.

>> YEAH AND THEN NOT SO MUCH EVEN IN C.D.

1 OR 8, IT'S GOING TO BE THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WHERE I LIVE, WHICH IS GOING TO BE THE REAL BATTLEGROUND, AND, YOU KNOW, BIDEN'S AT 41% WITH A 58% DISAPPROVAL ATING.

THAT IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT, SO IT'S NOT SO MUCH WHAT THE FLAVOR IS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IT'S GOING O BE WHERE IS IT AND IN PARTICULAR POCKETS AND I THINK MOST OF THOSE T'S TRENDING TOWARDS THE REPUBLICANS.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED ABORTION, THERE'S THE ABORTION RIGHTS RALLY THIS WEEKEND IN St. PAUL.

DO YOU HINK VOTERS WILL REMAIN -- DEMOCRATIC VOTERS WILL REMAIN FIRED UP FROM NOW UNTIL THE FALL WITH ALL THIS OTHER NOISE?

>> OH, I THINK -- I REALLY DO BELIEVING SO.

I THINK THAT THE DIFFERENCE THAT WE HAVE NOW IN A POST-RHO WORLD THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN THE WORLD BEFORE ROWE, WHEN ABORTION WAS ILLEGAL, IS COMMUNICATIO IS THAT IMMEDIATELY THIS STORY OF THIS HORRIFIC STORY, THIS 10-YEAR-OLD CHILD WHO WAS RAPED AND HAD TO TRAVEL TO ANOTHER STATE AND NOW THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THAT STATE IS INVESTIGATING THE DOCTOR WHO PROVIDED THE HEALTH CARE SERVICES THAT THAT CHILD, A VICTIM OF RAPE NEEDED.

WE ARE GOING TO BE HEARING STORIES LIKE THIS, ON THE REGULAR BECAUSE THERE ARE, JUST LIKE SCOTT JENSEN IN MINNESOTA WANTS O BAN ABORTION IN ALL CASES, AS MANY REPUBLICANS DO, WE HAVE MANY STATES WITH THINGS ON THE BOOK WITH ABSOLUTELY NO EXCEPTIONS SO THIS IS GOING TO BE A CONSTANT DRUM BEAT.

>> Eric: SCOTT JENSEN SAID HE WOULD OPPOSE A BAN PROHIBITING ABORTION.

>> YEAH, HE'S ALKED SOME OF THAT BACK BUT HE GOVERNOR OF EITHER PARTY, REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNOR WALZ OR Dr. JENSEN, THEY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO VETO A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT NO MATTER WHAT THE TOPIC IS SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHERE EVERYONE IS ON THESE TOPICS BUT THEY WOULDN'T REALLY BE ABLE TO STOP SOMETHING GOOD, BAN OR IN THE MIDDLE.

>> REMEMBER BACK IN 2010 WHEN REPUBLICANS PUT ON THE BALLOT BOTH SAME SEX MARRIAGE AND VOTER I.D.

AND GOVERNOR DAYTON WAS A VOCAL OPPONENT OF BOTH AMENDMENTS AND TO HAVE A GOVERNOR WHO, YOU KNOW, YES, HE IS NOW CHANGING HIS TUNE BECAUSE NOW HE HAS TO MODERATE BUT HE HAS A LONG RECORD OF VERY EXTREME POSITIONS ON ABORTION, AS DOES HIS RUNNING MADE WHO SEEMS TO BE RUNNING A CAMPAIGN ALL ON HIS OWN.

>> Eric: I KNOW IT'S THE DEAD F SUMMER AND YOU WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AYING ATTENTION BUT SHOULD THE GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES BE UP ON TV NOW OR IS IT TOO EARLY?

>> I THINK TRADITIONALLY YOU WOULD SAY IT'S TOO EARLY.

I THINK THAT GOVERNOR WALZ HAS A LOT OF MONEY AND HE'S GOING TO USE THAT MONEY TO DEFINE Dr. JENSEN AND PROBABLY NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT BECAUSE THE POLLING NUMBERS THAT WE ALL HEAR AND SEE ABOUT HAVE THEM A LOT CLOSER THAN MAYBE YOU WOULD THINK.

HOWEVER, IT IS SUMMER, IT IS NICE OUT, USUALLY YOU WAIT UNTIL AFTER HE PRIMARIES FOR SURE, WHICH IS AUGUST 9th.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT RIGHT NOW THE WALZ-FLANAGAN CAMPAIGN ARE DOING BASE BUILDING WORK, THEY'RE DOING A LOT OF THE -- BUILDING THE OPERATION FOR THE FALL WHEN PEOPLE REALLY DO TUBE IN.

I THINK IN MINNESOTA, YOU KNOW, WE TRADITIONALLY SAY THE STATE FAIR IS THE BEGINNING AND THAT IS WHEN FOLKS REALLY BEGIN TO PAY ATTENTION.

BUT THIS TIME PERIOD RIGHT NOW IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR SETTING THE STAGE OR WHAT THE ISSUES WILL BE AND THAT'S WHY THESE THESE STREAMS ISSUES WHETHER IT'S GUNS OR ABORTION OR DEFENDING OUR DEMOCRACY, HESE ARE THINGS THAT DEMOCRATS CARE ABOUT AND ARE HEARING IN THE NEWS ON A DAILY BASIS.

>> Eric: I KNOW REDISTRICTING PLAYS A PART ON THE PRIMARIES ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, FOR INSTANCE, BUT AREN'T QUITE A FEW -- WELL, MAYBE HALF A DOZEN REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS GETTING PRIMARIED FROM REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES ON THEIR RIGHT?

WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?

>> I MEAN, SORT OF ON THE RIGHT.

I THINK THE ACTION FOR LIBERTY CANDIDATES ARE MORE ALMOST POLITICAL ANY LISTS, THAN REPUBLICANS.

IF YOU CAN'T CAUSE CHANGE, CAUSE TROUBLE, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO.

IN FACT, THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE BOARD FOUND THAT THERE WAS PROBABLE CAUSE TO FIND THAT ACTION FOR LIBERTY ACTUALLY VIOLATED A LAW AT A FELONY LEVEL.

WE'LL SEE WHERE THAT GOES BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, THERE IS SOME GOOD ORGANIZING ON THE RIGHT THAT IS CERTAINLY AFFECTING PRIMARIES.

BUT WE'LL SEE, YOU KNOW, IF THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, GETTING PEOPLE AT THE LOCAL EVEL TO DO AN ENDORSEMENT, THIS WILL BE SOMETHING THAT TAKES ORGANIZATION AND MONEY, WE'LL SEE WHAT HIMSELF HA.

SOME OF THOSE CANDIDATES ARE WORKING REALLY HARD AND SOME OF THEM NOT AS MUCH.

>> Eric: FIRST DEBATE WILL BE FARM FEST, AUGUST 4, I THINK.

JENSEN AND WALZ, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT THE TWO OF THEM TO STAKE OUT GROUND EARLY?

ARE THE PARAMETERS OF THE BATTLE TAKING FORM OR -- >> I MEAN, I THINK WE'RE ALREADY SEEING SCOTT JENSEN IS ON A QUEST O MODERATE HIS VERY EXTREME POSITIONS, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'LL TRY TO SEE IS HIM BEGIN IS TO TRY TO GET FOLKS TO FORGET THAT, UNFORTUNATELY FOR HIM, WE'RE LIVING IN AN AGE WHERE IT'S ALL ON VIDEO SO, YEAH -- >> Eric: WHAT ABOUT THE GOVERNOR?

>> AND THE GOVERNOR WILL BE TALKING ABOUT AND NEEDS TO BE TALKING ABOUT BOTH HIS RECORD AND WHAT IT WILL MEAN FOR MINNESOTANS TO ELECT SOMEONE WITH SUCH EXTREME POSITIONS.

CODES BRIAN, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> THE WORD OF THE DAY IS EXTREME.

AND -- >> IT'S YOUR PARTY.

>> WELL, WHAT I WOULD SAY IS ONE OF THE WAYS THE DEMOCRATS HAVE REALLY KIND OF FUMBLED REAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY HAVE IS THEY JUST ASSUME THAT EVERYBODY BELIEVES LIKE A MINNEAPOLIS PROGRESSIVE DOES AND THAT'S NOT TRUE.

TAKE WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE ABORTION RULING THIS WEEK.

I THINK PEOPLE WHO ARE PRO CHOICE, BEAM WHO ARE REASONABLE WOULD SAY, HAVING A DOCTOR PERFORM AN ABORTION IN THE SECOND AND THIRD TRIMESTER IN A HOSPITAL, THAT'S NOT AN EXTREME POSITION.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE.

SO WHEN THE COURT SAID THAT THERE'S NO COMPELLING STATE INTEREST, BECAUSE HE SAID IT DIDN'T SURVIVE STRICT SCRUTINY, WELL, THE COMPELLING STATE INTEREST IS HAVING PEOPLE DO THESE POSITIONS IN -- THESE PROCEDURES IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.

WHEN THEY SAY SAFE, LEGAL AND RARE, THIS IS NOT SAFE.

>> I KNOW BRIAN DOES NOT LIKE FOR HIS PARTY TO BE CALLED EXTREME BUT THE REALITY IS YOU HAVE MEMBERS OF YOUR PARTY RIGHT NOW SAYING THAT A 10-YEAR-OLD SHOULD HAVE HAD TO GIVE BIRTH TO A CHIMED.

THAT IS -- WE ARE SEEING THAT ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THAT IS THE POSITION, HAS BEEN THE POSITION OF REPUBLICANS HERE IN MINNESOTA.

SO IT IS -- THAT IS WAY OUT OF WHACK WITH THE MAINSTREAM -- WITH AINEXTREME OPINION ON THIS ISSUE, AS WELL AS ISSUES OF DEMOCRACY AS WE'RE SEEING IN THE JANUARY 6th HEARINGS SHOW US OW INCREDIBLY PERILOUS A WORLD WE ARE LIVING IN RIGHT NOW, WITH ONE PARTY THAT ONLY BELIEVES IN ELECTIONS IF THEY WIN THEM.

>> Cathy: I WANT TO TALK ABOUT EDIBLES FOR JUST A MOMENT IF I COULD.

I'M KIND OF CURIOUS, MINNESOTA HAS A HIGHLY REGULATED MEDICAL CANNABIS INDUSTRY, RIGHT, BUT NOW ANYONE CAN GO OUT AND GET GUMMY BEARS.

SO WHAT HAPPENED WITH THIS LAW?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE IT'S A LITTLE BIT -- IT'S POX ON BOTH THEIR HOUSES, BOTH THE HOUSE D.F.L.

AND THE SENATE REPUBLICANS, I THINK THE SENATE REPUBLICANS DIDN'T FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE LANGUAGE, WHAT THE AMENDMENT DID AND I THINK THAT THE HOUSE D.F.L.

KIND OF, YOU KNOW, KNEW THAT THE REPUBLICANS DIDN'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS.

THERE WERE ONLY THREE HEARINGS ON IT IN THE HOUSE.

IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WITH THESE GINORMOUS BILLS, THINGS GET STUCK IN PLACES AND THAT'S A THING THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE SMALL RETAILERS NOW THAT DO NOT HAVE ANY REGULATORY GUIDANCE AS FAR AS WHO CAN SELL WHAT, HOW IS IT TAXED, WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM IF THEY GUESS WRONG AND IF YOU TALK TO CERTAIN PEOPLE IN THE ADMINISTRATION, THEY EVER NO IDEA AND THEY SAY MAYBE WE'LL HAVE SOME GUIDANCE FOR YOU IN SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER.

THAT'S WAY TOO LATE.

SO WHILE YOU CAN CERTAINLY SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, LEGALIZING THE GUMMIES WAS GOOD, BAD, IN THE MIDDLE, WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON THAT, I THINK THAT WHAT THE PRODUCT WAS FROM BOTH SIDES IS INSUFFICIENT AS FAR AS HOW WE REGULATE A HIGHLY -- A PRODUCT HAT NEEDS TO BE REGULATED.

>> I THINK REPRESENTATIVE EDELSON HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR, LIKE THIS WAS -- IT WAS HEARD IN COMMITTEE THREE TIMES, FOLKS IN THE SENATE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE RED THE BILLS THAT THEY'RE VOTING ON BUT THE REALITY IS THAT MINNESOTANS SUPPORT LEGALIZED CANNABIS.

WE ARE BECOMING AN ISLAND IN A SEE AROUND OTHER STATES THAT HAVE LEGALIZED CANNABIS SO, YES, IT SHOULD BE REGULATED AND TAXED AND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE A STEP IN THAT DIRECTION.

>> Eric: SOMEBODY BROUGHT THIS UP TO ME THIS WEEK AND I DIDN'T HAVE AN ANSWER BUT AFTER THE 4th OF JULY IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS, WHAT DOES THIS DO TO THE DEBATE ABOUT LEGALIZING FIREWORKS?

>> I THINK THAT IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT IS GOING THEN OH, THE LEGALIZATION OF FIREWORKS IS PROBABLY NOT THAT IMPORTANT OF A TOPIC.

>> Eric: IT'S KIND OF A REPUBLICAN THING, ISN'T IT?

>> YEAH, I REMEMBER CHARLIE WEAVER COMING INTO Y COMMITTEE WHEN I WAS STAFF AND HE WAS COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND SAT DOWN AND SAID, I SUPPORT THIS, YOU KNOW, LEGALIZING FIREWORKS.

I THINK THAT WHAT'S HAPPENING IS OT A FIREWORKS ISSUE, IT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.

IT IS A -- IT IS A -- IT'S JUST FURTHER EVIDENCE OF -- THAT PEOPLE ARE RUNNING AMUCK IN CERTAIN AREAS AND NOT JUST THE CITIES, IT'S HAPPENING IN THE SUBURBS, TOO.

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS BIZARRE THAT THAT SAME WEEKEND WHEN WE SAW THOSE IMAGES THAT REPUBLICANS WERE AYING, WELL, YOU KNOW, NEXT YEAR IF WE'RE IN CHARGE, WE'RE GOING TO LEGALIZE FIREWORKS.

IT JUST -- I THINK IT'S JUST ANOTHER SIGN OF WEIRD PRIORITIES.

>> Eric: AND TURNOUT, VOTERS TURNED OFF, TURNED IN, FIRED UP, WHERE ARE WE?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT DEMOCRATS ARE VERY TURNED OFF, THOUGH CERTAINLY WHAT'S HOPE WITH ROE IS CHANGING THAT FOR SOME.

IT'S A BIG ISSUE FOR 20% AND THAT'S A BIG NUMBER BUT THAT'S NOT EVERYBODY.

>> I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF ISSUES, INCLUDING BOTH THE SUPREME COURT, JANUARY 6th, AND GUN VIOLENCE THAT -- AND GUN MASS SHOOTINGS AND GUN CONTROL THAT ARE REALLY MOTIVATING DEMOCRATS -- >> AS IS INFLATION AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> Eric: THANKS, FELLAS.

WISH WE HAD MORE TIME.

WE DON'T.

>> Cathy: THANKS.

♪♪ >> CATHY: TODAY IN 1985, PRINCE'S TUNE "RASPBERRY BERET" WAS RELEASED AS A SINGLE IN GREAT BRITAIN.

IT WAS ALSO JESSE VENTURA'S 34TH BIRTHDAY ON THAT DATE.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GOVERNOR VENTURA.

WHEN WE START UTTERING SENTENCES LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW IT MUST BE INDEX FILE TIME.

HERE'S OUR QUESTION FOR THIS WEEK.

WE AGAIN TAP INTO THE ARCHIVES OF THE "MINNEAPOLIS TRIBUNE."

SPECIFICALLY, WE WANT TO QUIZ YOU ABOUT A "MINNESOTA POLL" THAT THE NEWSPAPER CONDUCTED BACK IN APRIL OF 1945.

MANY ITEMS WERE RATIONED DURING WORLD WAR II, AND STATE POLLSTERS WANTED TO KNOW WHICH RATIONED ITEM WAS THE MOST MISSED BY MINNESOTANS.

IT TURNS OUT THAT THERE WAS A RUNAWAY WINNER.

FULLY 45% OF MINNESOTA SURVEY RESPONDENTS PUT THIS ITEM ON THE TOP OF THEIR LIST.

HERE'S A BIG HINT: MORE WOMEN MISSED THIS RATIONED ITEM THAN MEN DID.

HERE'S OUR QUESTION.

WHAT WAS THE MOST MISSED RATIONED ITEM IN MINNESOTA IN 1945?

THINK YOU GOT THE ANSWER?

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU ARE CALLING IN FROM STEAM LAKE, BOILING SPRINGS, BURNT CREEK, OR HOT FOOT LAKE.

ALL ACTUAL BODIES OF WATER HERE IN MINNESOTA.

651-229-1430.

THAT'S OUR VOICEMAIL.

OR GIVE A EMAIL A TRY.

ALMANAC@TPT.ORG.

TO CLOSE OUT THE SHOW, WE HAVE A TUNE FROM THE TPT ARCHIVES.

IT WAS SIX YEARS AGO TODAY THAT LISA WENGER CAME TO THE STUDIOS TO SING FOR US.

SHE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY TIM WICK.

THEY WERE ON THE SHOW TO PROMOTE THE LOWERTOWN BLUES FESTIVAL.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK.

♪ BABY, I THINK YOU'RE UP BELIEVABLE I THINK YOU'RE INCREDIBLE ♪ YOU'RE IMAGINE CALL ♪ I KNOW WE'LL MEET AGAIN SOME DAY AND YOU'LL BEING VERY FAR AWAY ♪ ♪ AND I -- AND I'LL KNOW YOU AND YOU'LL KNOW ME ♪ AND WE CAN BOTH BREATHE THEN ♪ ♪ WE BELONG TOGETHER, WE BELONG TOGETHER, ♪ WE BELONG TOGETHER ♪ s ♪ WE BELONG TOGETHER WE BELONG TOGETHER WE BELONG "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

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