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

>> CATHY: ON TONIGHT'S SHOW, WE'LL CHECK IN ON THE DEBT CEILING STAREDOWN IN WASHINGTON WITH A COUPLE OF POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSORS.

ATTORNEY GENERAL KEITH ELLISON IS HERE.

SO IS THE NEW HEAD OF THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR.

WE'LL HAVE A COUCH FULL OF POLITICOS.

AND MARY LAHAMMER WILL PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT TO THE JUST-ENDED 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

[ Cheers and applause ] >> Mary: THEY'RE CALLING IT THE SECOND MINNESOTA MIRACLE.

WE'LL HAVE SOME CONTEXT ON THE HISTORIC LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> WE'RE SAYING TODAY WE'RE LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND.

>> I COULDN'T HAVE IMAGINED THIS 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 27 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

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DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

>> CATHY: IN THE NEXT HOUR, WE'LL TALK WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL KEITH ELLISON ABOUT THE BIG SETTLEMENT REACHED LAST WEEK WITH JUUL AND THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.

MINNESOTA'S TEACHER OF THE YEAR IS HERE.

AND WE'LL KICK OFF SUMMERTIME BY MEETING THE NEW HEAD OF THE GREAT MINNESOTA GET-TOGETHER.

>> ERIC: WE START TONIGHT WITH POLITICAL NEWS OUT OF WASHINGTON, D.C. DEBT CEILING NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN PRESIDENT BIDEN AND HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN MCCARTHY CONTINUE WITH REPORTS THAT A DEAL IS CLOSE.

WITH SOME KEY REPUBLICANS STILL CRITICAL OF IT.

THIS AFTERNOON, YELLIN SAYS THE U.S. WILL DEFAULT ON ITS PAYMENTS BY JUNE 5TH.

CAN BIDEN AND MCCARTHY CUT A DEAL THEY CAN SELL TO THE MODERATES IN BOTH OF THEIR PARTIES?

LET'S ASK TWO OF OUR WILY POLITICAL SCIENTISTS.

STEVEN SCHIER IS A PROFESSOR EMERITUS AT CARLETON COLLEGE.

KATHRYN PEARSON INSTRUCTS POLITICAL SCIENCE STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

DIDN'T THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A CHANCE TO DO THIS, LIKE, LAST YEAR?

>> YES, THEY DID, AND I'M SURE MANY ARE WISHING THAT THEY HAD DONE SO IN THE LAME DUCK SESSION SORT OF KNOWING WHAT WAS TO COME BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS GOING TO BE A POLITICAL BATTLE.

IT HARKENS BACK TO 2011.

WHICH WASN'T A DEFAULT.

WE'VE NEVER DEFAULTED.

BUT WE'VE COME CLOSE, BUT THE U.S.'S CREDIT RATING WAS DOWN GRADES.

IN THE CONTEXT OF DIVIDED GOVERNMENT, HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO EXTRACT SOME SERIOUS SPENDING CUTS TO RAISE THE DEBT CEILING.

INSTITUTED IN 1917, HAS EEN RAISED OVER 100 DIMES USUALLY WITHOUT CONFLICT DURING BOTH TIMES OF REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATIONS, BUT DIVIDED GOVERNMENT -- >> Cathy: SO THIS IS NOT UNCHARTED TERRITORY.

>> H, NO, BEEN THERE, DONE THAT.

>> Eric: THERE'S GOING TO BE A DEAL, RIGHT?

>> THERE WILL BE A DEAL, BUT KATHRYN AND I BOTH THINK IT COULD BE QUITE MESSY GETTING FROM HERE TO THERE.

AND WILL WE GET HERE BY JUNE 5TH.

IT'S NOT AT ALL CLEAR.

>> Cathy: WILL HAVE TO COME TOGETHER TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS GOING TO GET DONE, IGHT?

>> THEY WILL, BUT IT'S TOUGH FOR BOTH PARTIES.

AND REMEMBER, SPEAKER MCCARTHY, IT TOOK 15 VOTES TO GET HIM ELECTED, AND SO CLEARLY HE WILL USE SOME OF HIS MEMBERS, MANY OF HIS FREEDOM CAUCUS MEMBERS, BUT IF HE LOSES MORE THAN SAY, A DOZEN MEMBERS, THAT WILL THREATEN HIS LEADERSHIP.

WHEREAS OF COURSE DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING, THE SPENDING CUTS AND SOME OF THE POPULATION PROVISIONS ARE TOO DRACONIAN.

>> AND THIS IS ACTUALLY I THINK ONE OF THE MOST INFORMATIVE VOTES YOU'LL GET IN CONGRESS THIS SESSION.

BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO GET A SENSE OF HOW BIG THE DEMOCRATIC LEFT IS IN THEIR DISSENTS AND HOW BIG THE REPUBLICAN RIGHT IS AND WHETHER THE CENTER CAN HOLD.

WE REALLY HAVEN'T HAD A TEST OF THAT WRET YET AND WE'RE GOING TO GET THE NUMBERS WHEN THIS VOTE IS CAST.

>> Eric: DOES IT THE HASTA RULE NOT APPLY NOW, WHERE YOU HAVE ALL OF YOUR MEMBERS VOTING TO PASS SPLNG -- >> RIGHT, SO THE ASESSER RULE WAS NEVER ACTUALLY A FORMAL RULE.

IT WAS JUST SORT OF AN INFORMAL NORM THAT FOR HOUSE REPUBLICANS, FOR ANYTHING TO PASS, THEY NEEDED A MAJORITY OF THE MAJORITY CAUCUS AND THE FACT THAT SPEAK BOEHNER IN FACT DURING SOME DEBT LIMIT NEGOTIATIONS VIOLATED THAT REALLY WAS PART OF HIS DOWNFALL.

SO SPEAKER MCCARTHY WANTS TO VIED THAT FATE.

>> HE WANTS TO -- HE REALLY NEED TO BECAUSE THE FREEDOM CAUCUS, WHICH TOOK 15 BALLOTS TO FINALLY APPROVE HIM.

THIS COULD EITHER MAKE OR BREAK HIS PEAKERSHIP IN IMPORTANT WAYS.

IF THERE'S NOUGH DISSENTSD WITHIN HIS CAUCUS, HE'S IN IG TROUBLE.

>> Cathy: COULD YOU TEST THE CONSTITUTION ON THIS?

DOESN'T THE PRESIDENT HAVE THE RIGHT TO PAY THE BILLS, IN A SENSE?

>> WELL, THE 14TH AMENDMENT CERTAINLY HAS BEEN MENTIONED BUT I HINK IT'S UNLIKELY IF IT WOULD GO TO THE SUPREME COURT THAT THE SUPREME COURT WOULD RULE IN PRESIDENT BIDEN'S FAVOR AND THE CLOCK IS STILL ICKING HERE.

AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT -- IN 1917, YOU KNOW, CONGRESS -- THIS IS CONGRESS'S JOB.

TO RAISE THE DEBT CEILING.

AND AGAIN, IT'S DONE SO OVER 100 TIMES BUT THIS -- THE FACTIONS WITHIN EACH PARTY ARE WHAT'S MAKING IT SO COMPLICATED.

>> Eric: IMPACT ON THE 2024 ELECTION CYCLE SOME >> WELL, IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE DEAL AND WHO VOTES FOR IT AND WHAT'S IN IT?

POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT.

IT'LL BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT SAY ABOUT THIS DEAL AND IT MAY SEPARATE THEM IN IMPORTANT WAYS.

>> Eric: MCCARTHY DID GET A BILL THROUGH THE HOUSE.

I SUPPOSE HE DESERVES A LITTLE CREDIT FOR THAT.

>> HE DOES, AND THAT CERTAINLY SORT OF BOLSTERED HIM WITHIN HIS OWN CAUCUS, BUT OF COURSE IT'S A BRL THAT BY DINE THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN AND DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE WOULD NEVER SUPPORT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HEARD IS THAT WHERE THEY ARE IN NEGOTIATIONS COULD BE AN INCREASE OF THE $31.4 TRILLION DEBT CEILING FOR TWO YEARS SO BEYOND THE 2024 ELECTIONS.

WHICH WOULD BE HUGE IN TERMS OF THE ELECTION DEBATE.

>> Cathy: DOES THERE SEEM TO BE A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THE SITUATION AMONG SOME MEMBERS OF CONGRESS?

[ Laughter ] >> WELL, IT'S EVER HAPPENED BEFORE.

AND ECONOMISTS HAVE PRETTY DIRE WARNINGS, BOTH ABOUT RECESSIONS IN THE U.S. AND THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL MARKETS.

>> WE COULD FIND OUT, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WANT TO.

[ Laughter ] >> Eric: OW MUCH WOULD BIDEN'S POPULARITY AND MCCARTHY'S CREDIBILITY AND POPULARITY BE ENHANCED IF THEY CAME OUT ON THE DRIVEWAY OF THE WHITE HOUSE AND SAID WE GOT A DEAL?

>> I THINK BIDEN HAS SOME RISK HERE, PARTICULARLY ON HIS LEFT.

THERE IS CONCERN ABOUT HIS AGE AND HIS VIABILITY AS A CANDIDATE.

YOU KNOW, A YEAR FROM NOVEMBER.

AND SO HE DOESN'T WANT TO, I THINK, EMPOWER THE LEFT WING OF HIS PARTY BY OFFENDING THEM.

SO THERE'S THAT RISK.

MCCARTHY HAS A FRACTIOUS CAUCUS AND THE QUESTION IS HOW MUCH TROUBLE THEY'LL GIVE HIM.

>> I DON'T THINK THE AMERICAN PUBLIC IS PAYING VERY CLOSE TO THE DETAILS.

SO I HINK IF THEY EMERGED WITH AN AGREEMENT, THEIR POPULARITY WOULD GO UP, ALL EXCEPT FOR THE EXTREME BASE OF THEIR PARTY AND INDEPENDENTS WOULD SEE CONGRESS AND THE WHITE HOUSE AS BEING MORE PRODUCTIVE.

SOME OF THE LOWEST APPROVAL EVER IS WITH GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWNS.

>> THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT A DEAL THAT WOULD INVOLVE SOME SPENDING CUTS AND RECENT POLLS, I SAW TWO TODAY, HAVE MAJORITY SUPPORT OF THAT OPTION.

SO THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY HELP BOTH THE SPEAKER AND THE PRESIDENT.

>> Cathy: SAY, BEFORE YOU GO, WE GO TWO MINUTES.

CAN I JUST BRING HIS P AND ASK.

RON DESANTIS JUMPED INTO THE RACE.

REPUBLICAN DOUG BIGGER YUM TOO.

>> I THINK DONALD TRUMP IS HAPPY AS A CLAM.

THE MORE, THE MERRIER, AS FAR AS HE'S CONCERNED, BECAUSE THAT MEANS IT'S NOT CLEAR THERE'S NOT ONE DEFINABLE THREATENING RIVAL THAT'S AGAINST TRUMP.

>> I WOULD AGREE, BUT I WOULD ALSO KNOW THE 2024 NOMINATING CONTEST, IT'S STILL A WAYS AWAY.

INCLUDING THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

SO WE'LL STAY TUNED I THINK.

>> Eric: GIVE US A SUMMER TIME LOOK AT POLITICS, WHICH IS GREAT FOR THE SHOW.

THANKS.

>> THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> Cathy: THURSDAY WAS THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF GEORGE FLOYD'S MURDER BY FORMER MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER DEREK CHAUVIN.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL KEITH ELLISON PUBLISHED A BOOK ABOUT LEADING THE PROSECUTION TEAM THAT WON THE MURDER CONVICTION AGAINST CHAUVIN.

LATE LAST WEEK, ELLISON ANNOUNCED THAT JUUL WILL PAY THE STATE OF MINNESOTA $60.5 MILLION IN WHAT OFFICIALS SAY IS THE LARGEST TEEN VAPING SETTLEMENT.

ATTORNEY GENERAL KEITH ELLISON JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT BOTH STORIES.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> AGREED TO BE HIRE.

THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: SO YOU KEPT TRIAL NOTES.

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: AND AS AN ATTORNEY, IS THAT A NORMAL PRACTICE FOR YOU?

>> YEAH, I THINK JUST ABOUT EVERY ATTORNEY IN TRIAL IS GOING TO KEEP NOTES AND, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE THE JUDGES SCRIBBLING AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST SO THAT YOU REMEMBER TO ASK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT CAME UP OR DON'T FORGET THIS QUESTION.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST TUCK THEM AWAY AND THEN AFTER THE TRIAL WAS OVER, I THOUGHT, WE NEED TO KEEP A OCUMENT.

WE NEED TO -- >> Cathy: HISTORICAL RECORD.

>> RIGHT.

>> Eric: YOU SEE IT AS A TEMPLATE FOR OTHER PROSECUTORS?

>> IT COULD.

I COULD TELL YOU THE PROSECUTOR IN MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, IN THE TYREE NICHOLS GAVE ME A CALL.

WE TALKED AND ALSO IN MUNROE, LOUISIANA, ALSO IN COLORADO, ALSO N TEXAS.

SO IT'S NOT EASY.

NOBODY HAS TONS OF THESE CASES THE THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO DO A NUMBER OF THEM IS THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

EVERYBODY ELSE, THEY'RE SOMEWHAT UP SOD EPISODIC.

>> Cathy: I THINK YOU SAID AT THE TIME THAT THE VERDICT WASN'T JUSTICE.

IT WAS ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> RIGHT.

>> Cathy: SO I MEAN, SINCE THE CHAUVIN VERDICT, HOW MANY BLACK MEN HAVE BEEN BRUTALIZED AND KILLED BY POLICE SINCE ANY TIME?

SO I'M WONDERING, WHEN DOES JUSTICE COME?

>> WE DON'T KNOW, BUT WE'RE GOING TO KEEP WORKING FOR IT.

THERE HAVE BEEN ABOUT 363 OFFICER INVOLVED KILLINGS THIS YEAR.

MANY OF THEM WERE LEGAL.

AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR, IT IS NOT ENOUGH FOR THE POLICE TO USE DEADLY FORCE IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVEN'T PASSED THE GEORGE FLOYD JUSTICE AND POLICING ACT.

BUT WE HAVE DONE SOME THINGS LOCALLY THAT I THINK ARE GOOD.

WE'VE RESTRUCTURED THE POLICE OFFICER'SPOLICEOFFICER'S STAT STANDARDS AND TRAINING BOARD.

THAT'S GOOD.

WE BANNED NO-KNOCK WARRANTS.

WE RESTRICTED CHOKEHOLDS AND WE GOT SOME REALLY GOOD POLICE LEADERS IN PLACE WHO I FEEL A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN, CEDRICK UALEXANDER, BRIAN O'HARA, AXEL HENRY, UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF BUILDING TRUST WITH THE COMMUNITY.

AND NOT TO MENTION PEOPLE LIKE CHARLIE ADAMS WHO'S THE HEAD OF THE FOURTH PRECINCT WHO'S ALWAYS BEEN AWESOME.

>> Eric: DO POLICE OFFICERS IN THE WAKE OF HE SARS-Cov2 CASE, DO NECESSARY FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE TURNING ONE OF THEIR OWN IN OR RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT A COLLEAGUE?

>> WELL, I CAN TELL YOU THIS.

WE PASSED A LAW SAYING THAT YOU HAVE A DUTIED AND AN OBLIGATION TO INTERVENE AND TO LYND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE.

AND, YOU KNOW, LOOK, RICHARD ZIMMERMAN, THE LONGEST SERVING MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER TOOK THAT STAND AND SAID THAT IS WRONS.

THE CHIEF DID THE SAME ND CERTAINLY OTHER OFFICERS DID TOO.

SO WE'LL SEE.

I THINK THAT IN THE MEMPHIS CASE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE OFFICERS SAYING WE DON'T TRAIN THAT.

WE DON'T CONDONE THAT.

AND REMEMBER, 14 OFFICERS RIGHT AFTER THE TRAGIC DISINTD, WROTE AN OPEN LETTER IN THE "STAR TRIBUNE" SAYING WE DENOUNCE WHAT DEREK CHAUVIN DID.

>> Eric: I WAS INTERESTED IN THE BOOK WHERE YOU TALK ABOUT WHERE YOU COULD HAVE STARTED YOUR CASE.

IT COULD HAVE BEEN IN CUP FOODS.

IT COULD HAVE BEEN WHEN THE OFFICER PULLED A GUN.

BUT I GUESS IT SHOWS THE HOW ENORMITY OF HOW IMPORTANT THAT TAPE WAS, THE VIDEO?

>> WELL, DARNELLA FRAZIER, YOUNG HERO, 17 YEARS OLD.

BUT YOU HAD TWO OTHER 17 YEARS OLD, AND A NINE-YEAR-OLD.

YOU HAD A 61 YEAR OLD MAN.

YOU HAD A FIREFIGHTER, WHO I THINK SHE WAS 27 YEARS OLD.

THE PEOPLE WHO OBJECTED TO THE TREATMENT OF GEORGE FLOYD WERE MUSCLE RACIAL, INTERGENERATIONAL, BOTH SEXES.

AND THAT WAS WHAT THE PEOPLE WHO WERE PROTESTING IN THE STREET LOOKED LIKE TOO.

AND THAT'S ALSO WHAT CHAUVIN, LANE, TOU AND KING LOOKED LIKE TOO.

THEY WERE A MULTI-RACIAL GROUP TOO.

WHAT DO WE MAKE OF IT ALL?

WE'VE GOT TO HAVE GREATER TRUST IN ORDER TO HAVE MORE EFFECTIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT.

AND I HOPE THIS IS A CONTRIBUTION TO THAT CONVERSATION.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR BRINGING UP THE THAT THE OFFICERS INVOLVED WERE MULTI-RACIAL.

RIGHT?

AND I THINK SOME PEOPLE THINK, WELL, THE MORE YOU HIRE OFFICERS OF COLOR AND WOMEN, IT'S GOING TO MAKE IT ALL BETTER.

BUT THAT'S NOT EXACTLY TRUE.

>> IT HELPS, BUT IT DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

I MEAN, I THINK YOU NEED A FEW THINGS.

ONE IS, IF YOU COMMIT A CRIME, YOU NEED TO FACE ACCOUNTABILITY WHETHER YOU HAVE A BADGE OR NOT.

ALSO, WE NEED ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDIES.

DEREK CHAUVIN HAD 18 PLIER EXCESSIVE FORCE COMPLAINTS AND HE WAS A FIELD TRAINING OFFICER.

WE'VE GOT TO CREATE A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE ONLY THE BEST OFFICERS DOING FIELD TRAINING, AND THAT THERE'S ACCOUNTABILITY.

IF DEREK CHAUVIN WOULD HAVE GOT INTERVENED EARLIER, HE MIGHT STILL BE ON THE FOURS.

HE MIGHT NOT E IN POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT HE PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE IN PRISON.

>> Eric: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF "BREAK THE WHEEL" THE TITLE.

>> FOR 100 YEARS, WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THIS.

WHEN I WAS THREE AND A HALF YEARS OLD, IDENTIFY SAW MILITARY TRUCKS ROLLING BY IN DETROIT WHEN I WAS A LITTLE KID AND, YOU KNOW, THE 1919 RIOT IN CHICAGO, THE 1935 RIOT IN HARLEM, THE 1943 RIOT IN HARLEM, AND THEN THE CURRENT COMMISSION REPORT WHICH I THINK WAS A LANDMARK DOCUMENT THAT LOOKED AT, LIKE, 2,000 URBAN DISTURBANCES ALL SPARKED BY POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS.

AND THEN THE CHRISTOPHER COMMISSION WITH RODNEY KING, AND THEN AFTER FERGUSON, OBAMA SETS UP THE 21ST CENTURY POLICING.

THE SPARK WAS A TRAGIC INCIDENT BETWEEN POLICE AND COMMUNITY THAT SPARKED A CON FLA GRAITION.

WE CAN DO BETTER.

WE HAVE TO DO BETTER.

AND I THINK POLICE AND CIVILIANS WANT TO DO BETTER.

WE JUST HAVE TO HAVE THE WILL THE >> Cathy: THE JUUL SETTLEMENT, SO HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO THE TOBACCO SETTLEMENT?

>> WELL, GREAT QUESTION.

THE STATE LEGISLATURE PASSED A BILL THIS SESSION THAT SAID THE MONEY IS GOING INTO A SPECIAL FUND THAT WILL HAVE TO DO WITH CESSATION OF JUUL USE AND VAPING USE.

YEAH, AND SO THAT IS A GOOD THING, BECAUSE LAST TIME THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

SO THE MONEY WILL GO TO IS CESSATION.

IT WILL GO TO HELPING PEOPLE GET OFF TOBACCO ADDICTION.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE MONEY WILL -- IT'LL GO TO EDUCATION, IT'LL GO TO, YOU KNOW, ALL KINDS OF THINGS TO HELP KIDS, BECAUSE WE HEARD INTEREST FROM A LOT OF KIDS WHO WERE ADDICTED TO VAPING.

ONE JUROR SAID, I HATE MY VAPE AND I LOVE MY VAPE.

AND SHE SAID THIS DURING JURY SELECTION.

SHE MADE IT ONTO THE JURY.

OF COURSE WE DIDN'T GET THE CASE TO THE JURY.

WE ENDED UP SETTLING AT THE 11TH HOUR.

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THESE RESOURCES AND I'M GLAD WE WERE ABLE TO SETTLE THE CASE.

WE ACTUALLY DISGORGED ALL OF THE REVENUE THAT JUUL MADE IN MINNESOTA.

SO THEY GOT ZEROED OUT IN MINNESOTA.

WE GOT THE LARGEST SETTLEMENT IN THE COUNTRY.

WE WENT TO TRIAL.

WE HAD A GREAT TEAM AND I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY INVOLVED.

>> Cathy: SAY, BEFORE YOU GO, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT THIS TOO.

YOU MENTIONED THIS NEW AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

THERE'S ANOTHER LAW THAT BARS HEALTHCARE ENTITIES INGAUGING IN MERGERS THAT WOULD LESSEN COMPETITION.

LOOKS LIKE THAT WOULD BE SANFORD AND FAIR FAIRVIEW.

>> THE LAW WASN'T WRITTEN FOR ANY PARTICULAR PARTIES, BUT IT COULD APPLY TO THEM.

WE ARE CONTINUING.

WE ARE WRAPPING UP OUR INVESTIGATION.

THEY HAVE EXTENDED THEIR DATE TO CLOSE.

WE'VE ASKED THEM TO DO SO.

THEY HAVE DONE SO.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

I MEAN, THE BOTTOM LINE IS, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT HEALTHCARE IS COMPETITIVE, COST EFFECTIVE, THAT WORKERS ARE PROTECTED, THAT MINNESOTANS' RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED, THESE ARE ALL CRITICAL THINGS.

>> Eric: "BREAK THE WHEEL," KEITH ELLISON'S BOOK ABOUT THE DEREK CHAUVIN TRIAL.

AND GEORGE FLOYD.

THANKS FOR COMING BY.

♪♪ >> THIS SQUIGGLY BLOB IS A REPRESENTATION OF MY LIFE.

IT BEGAN WITH A JOGGING APP TO TRACK MY ROUTE.

BUT BECAUSE I FIND JOGGING MOSTLY BORING, I TRANSITIONED TO MAPPING OTHER THINGS.

HERE'S A LAZY SUNDAY AT HOME WITH FREQUENT TRIPS BETWEEN THE KITCHEN AND LIVING ROOM.

HERE'S OUR FAVORITE NEIGHBORHOOD STROLL REPEATED OVER ND AND OVER AND OVER.

AND HERE ARE A COUPLE NATIONAL PARKS WE RECENTLY VISITED.

PUTTING ALL THIS TOGETHER INVOLVED A LOT OF GUESS WORK.

I'M OLD ENOUGH TO HAVE LIVED MOST OF Y LIFE WITHOUT A PHONE.

BUT I DO THINK THIS IS THE GENERAL BALLPARK.

YOU CAN SEE A CLEAR CONCENTRATION CLOSE TO HOME.

SUMMER ROAD TRIPS ACROSS THE U.S. AND ALSO LESS IFFERENT, BUT AMENDMENT RABBLING INTERNATIONAL VACATIONS.

WHAT URPRISED ME IS OW CLOSELY THIS BLOB ALIGNS WITH MY WORLD VIEW.

I TEND TO BE SOMEWHAT AMERICAN IN MY SENSIBILITIES, BUT I'VE ALSO SEEN JUST ENOUGH OF THE WORLD THAT I DON'T PRETEND MY WAY IS THE ONLY WAY TO LIVE.

MY BROTHER TRAVELS INTERNATIONALLY FOR WORK, AND UNSURPRISINGLY, HIS TAKE IS OFTEN MORE NUANCED THAN MY OWN.

I ALSO HAVE A FEW FRIENDS WHO HAVE GONE TRULY BOHEMIAN, WANGDERRING THE EARTH LIKE A GAME OF CANDYLAND AND THEIR PERSPECTIVES ARE ITHER TOO ENLIGHTENED FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND OR ELSE ALL THOSE TIME ZONE CHANGES HAVE MADE THEM WEIRD.

THIS IS WHY I THINK IT WOULD BE FUN TO HAVE PATTERN PARTIES.

WE ALL PRINT OUR MAPS ON T-SHIRTS AND HANG OUT, IMPLY TO SEE WHAT WE DISCOVER.

I'M SURE WE'D NOTICE PLENTY OF UNEXPECTED OVERLAPS AND THAT CAN BE A BONDING EXPERIENCE FOR HUMANS.

OR MAYBE WE'D UST DO WHAT WE USUALLY DO AND CLUSTER WITH THE PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE US.

OVERALL, CREATING THESE IMAGES HELPED ME APPRECIATE OUR MIGRATION PATTERNS ARE YET ANOTHER EXPRESSION OF SELF, LIKE FINGERPRINTS OR MAYBE BRAIN SCANS.

THEY REFLECT WHO WE ARE AND SHAPE WHO WE BECOME.

THEY COULD ALSO MAKE REALLY COOL JOCKING JOGS SHIRTS.

♪♪ >> ERIC: IT'S A BIG MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND AT THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR.

THE THIRD ANNUAL "KICKOFF TO SUMMER" STARTED YESTERDAY.

THE CONTINUATION OF THE COVID-ERA EVENT COMES DURING A BIG WEEK AT THE FAIR.

FORMER GENERAL MANAGER JERRY HAMMER HAS HANDED OVER THE REINS TO HIS LONGTIME DEPUTY, RENEE ALEXANDER.

ALEXANDER IS THE FIRST WOMAN TO HEAD THE GREAT MINNESOTA GET-TOGETHER.

SHE JOINS US IN THE MIDDLE OF HER FIRST OFFICIAL EVENT AS CEO.

YOU WORK FOR THE TBAIR.

FAIR.

YOU LEFT.

YOU CAME BACK.

WHAT'S THE DRAW OF THE FAIR?

>> WHAT IS NOT TO BE THE DRAW?

IT'S, YOU KNOW, I THINK I STARTED AS A SUMMER INTERN AND HAVING TIME, YOU KNOW, RUNNING AROUND COORDINATING A PARADE, AND BEING ON THE GROUNDS AND SEEING THE MAGIC HAPPEN BEHIND THE SCENES, THAT CERTAINLY WAS A HOOK FOR ME.

SO, YEAH, WHEN I WAS, YOU KNOW, THEY APPROACHED ME ABOUT COMING BACK 18 YEARS AGO, I SAID ABSOLUTELY.

>> Eric: OKAY.

>> Cathy: AND YOU'RE THE PERSON, ONE OF THE PEOPLE BOOKING THE GRAND STAND ACTS WHICH HAS GOT TO BE -- THAT'S DIFFICULT.

I MEAN, WHAT'S THE SECRET SAUCE TO GETTING SOME OF THESE ACTS?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I THINK THERE'S -- THE SECRET SAUCE IS -- I MEAN, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE IS THAT WE ARE 12 DAYS, SO WE HAVE TO FILL THAT CALENDAR DURING THAT 12-DAY TIME PERIOD.

FINDING ARTISTST THAT WANT TO PLAY OUTSIDE.

BUT I THINK OUR KEY HAS BEEN REALLY CREATING A GREAT VENUE THAT PROVIDES A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR NOT ONLY THE ARTISTS BUT FOR THE GUESTS AND NOW WE HAVE ARTISTS THAT ASK TO COME BACK.

SO WE'RE IN A GOOD POSITION.

>> Eric: HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE TRADITIONAL STUFF WITH THE NEW STUFF?

>> I LOOK AT IT AS KIND OF A 80-20 RULE.

SO 80% TRADITION AND 20% PEPPERING IN SOME NEW THINGS.

BUT DON'T MESS WITH ANY OF THOSE TRADITIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME STRONG ONES THERE THAT WE REALLY NEVER WANT TO TOUCH.

>> Eric: BECAUSE FAIR-GOERS ARE PRETTY POSSESSIVE OF THE FAIR.

>> JUST A TAD.

AND THAT'S GREAT.

WE REALLY LOOK AT OURSELVES ATZ STEWARDS OF THE FAIR.

WE'RE HERE TO MAKE IT BETTER THAN WHAT IT WAS AND O HAVE IT CONTINUE ON OR SWREN RACES TO COME.

SO THAT'S REALLY THE KEY FOR US.

>> Cathy: SO THE FAIR CLEARLY HAS CHANGED A LOT SINCE URN AN INTERN.

AND IT HAS HAD SOME ISSUES.

SECURITY COMES TO MIND.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT THAT?

BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

>> SURE, AND THAT'S TRUE THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITIES.

YOU KNOW, SAFETY IS AN ISSUE WITH LARGE-SCALE EVENTS, WITHIN OUR SOCIETY EVERYWHERE.

SO IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE GOT OUR OWN, YOU KNOW, OUR POLICE FORCE THAT IS WORKING YEAR ROUND ON RECRUITING ON, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT INITIATIVES.

WE HAVE GREAT PARTNERS WITH MINNESOTA STATE PATROL, AND SEVERAL OTHER, YOU KNOW, STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT EVERYTHING.

WE'RE LOOKING AT OTHER EVENTS, HOW THEY'RE HANDLING THINGS.

AND IF WE'RE GOING TO MAKE ANY CHANGES TO OUR SAFETY, OUR SAFETY PLAN WILL BE RELEASED LATER THIS INTHER.

BUT IT'S TOP PRIORITY ALWAYS.

>> Eric: MORE WELCOMING TO PEOPLE OF COLOR?

>> ALWAYS.

>> Eric: ISN'T THAT AN ISSUE?

>> ALWAYS.

I MEAN, I THINK DIVERSITY S SOMETHING WE'RE ALWAYS WORKING TOWARDS THROUGH OUR PROGRAMMING, THROUGH VENTEDDORS.

IT'S A JOURNEY THAT WE'RE CONTINUING ON AND WANT TO CONTINUE TO MAKE IT WELCOMING TO ALL COMMUNITIES FROM PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA.

>> Eric: WHAT WAS LEARNED DURING THE PANDEMIC IF ANYTHING ABOUT THE FAIR'S OPERATION?

>> OH, GOSH, WHAT WAS LEARNED?

YOU KNOW, WE'RE PRETTY RESILIENT.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE.

I KNOW A LOT OF ARTS ORGANIZATIONS MAYBE HAVE NOT BOUNCED BACK QUITE AS WELL AS WE HAVE.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY TOOK A CLOSE LOOK AT OUR OPERATION, AND MADE PRIORITIES OF, YOU KNOW, TAKING CARE OF OUR STAFF AND, YOU KNOW, WE KEPT OUR ENTIRE STAFF TOGETHER.

SO -- >> Eric: OH, OU DID?

>> YOU DID.

SO WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO COME BACK AFTER THE PANDEMIC, WE WERE ABLE TO HIT THE GROWNTD GROUND RUNNING.

>> Cathy: WHAT MAKES A GENERAL MANAGER SWEAT THE MOST?

>> OH, GOSH.

UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S JUST THE OVERARCHING THING, JUST KEEPING IT ALL ROLLING.

YOU KNOW?

SO -- AND SAFETY IS ALWAYS -- I AM, I THINK THAT MAKES ANYBODY THAT'S IN LIVE -- >> Cathy: BUT WHEN YOU GET UP, AND YOU SEE SNELLING AVENUE TOTALLY JAMMED WITH CARS, DOES IT MAKE YOU HAPPY?

>> IT'S A MIXED BAG.

[ Laughter ] I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE OPEN THOSE GATES ON THURSDAY MORNING AT 7:00 A.M. AND THEY'RE ROLLING IN, IT'S LIKE, OH, LOOK, THEY CAME.

WE MADE THIS GREAT PARTY AND THEY'RE ALL HERE.

SO WE WOULD BE RE-- >> Cathy: WHAT YOUR FAVORITE FAIR FOOD IS.

YOU MENTIONED CHEESE CURDS.

>> I DID, YES.

I DID HAVE A COUPLE CHEESE CURDS BEFORE I CAME OVER.

>> Eric: AND WE'LL BE AT THE FAIR AT LEAST FOR ONE SHOW.

"ALMANAC" WILL BE AT THE FAIR THIS COMING YEAR.

>> OH, GREAT.

WE ALWAYS LOVE HAVING YOU THERE.

>> Cathy: MAYBE WE PASS SOME PRONTO PUPS AROUND.

>> Eric: BUST OF LUCK TO YOU.

>> THANKS SO MUCH.

♪♪ >> MARK: IT'S ALMOST SWIMSUIT SEASON, AND EVERYONE WANTS TO LOSE WEIGHT.

I KNOW; IT'’S NO FUN TO GET BACK ON THE SCALE, BUT A LOT OF THAT WEIGHT IS STUFF YOU REALLY NEED.

YOU HAVE OVER 70 ORGANS IN YOUR BODY.

MOST OF THEM ARE IMPORTANT, AND THEY ALL WEIGH SOMETHING.

THE HEAVIEST ORGAN IN THE BODY IS YOUR SKIN.

IT WEIGHS ABOUT 25 POUNDS, DEPENDING ON WHETHER YOU COUNT THE LAYERS BETWEEN SKIN AND MUSCLES, WHICH ARE GROSS, AND IF YOU CAN COUNT THEM SOMETHING HAS GONE HORRIBLY WRONG.

YOUR BONES WEIGH ABOUT 20 POUNDS.

THE LARGEST IS THE FEMUR, IN THE UPPER LEG.

VERY IMPORTANT FOR REACHING THAT HIGH SHELF IN THE CLOSET.

LIVERS WEIGH 3 TO 4 POUNDS, DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH TIME YOU SPEND AT HAPPY HOUR.

UNLIKE SOME ORGANS, FOR LIVERS, BIGGER IS NOT BETTER.

WE ALL THINK WE HAVE BIG BRAINS, BUT THEY ACTUALLY WEIGH LESS THAN THE LIVER.

AN ADULT MALE BRAIN WEIGHS ABOUT 3 POUNDS.

FEMALE BRAINS WEIGH ABOUT 10% LESS, BUT THEY USE THEM WAY MORE OFTEN, SO IT EVENS OUT.

YOUR LUNGS ARE JUST BIG BAGS OF AIR, RIGHT?

STILL, THEY WEIGH ABOUT 3 POUNDS, WITH THE RIGHT ONE BIGGER THAN THE LEFT, SO IF YOU'RE FEELING WINDED, TRY BREATHING MORE ON THAT SIDE.

HEARTS WEIGH ABOUT A POUND.

WHEN YOU HEAR SOMEONE SAY, "“HE'’S GOT A BIG HEART,"” NO, HE DOESN'’T.

IT'S THE SAME AS EVERYONE.

UNLESS IT'’S AN ENLARGED HEART, AND THAT'’S A MAJOR PROBLEM.

KIDNEYS WEIGH ABOUT A HALF-POUND, WAY MORE THAN KIDNEY BEANS.

THEN THERE'’S A BUNCH OF OTHER STUFF THAT YOU REALLY NEED: SPLEEN, PANCREAS, THYROID, THINGS YOU NEVER SEE BUT ADD UP TO MORE WEIGHT.

THE ONLY WAY TO LOSE THEM IS SURGERY, SO I DON'T RECOMMEND IT.

SO AS YOU MAKE PLANS FOR SUMMER, REMEMBER, THERE IS SOME WEIGHT YOU REALLY NEED.

FOCUS ON THE OTHER STUFF.

YOU KNOW, CAREFUL DIET AND REGULAR EXERCISE, AND I CAN'T STRESS THIS ENOUGH, KEEPING SURGERY TO A BARE MINIMUM.

THOSE SCARS NEVER LOOK GOOD IN A SWIMSUIT.

♪♪ >> CATHY: EARLIER THIS MONTH, ST. PAUL HARDING HIGH SCHOOL MATH TEACHER MICHAEL HOUSTON WAS NAMED MINNESOTA'S TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

HOUSTON HEADS THE MATH DEPARTMENT AT THE EAST SIDE SCHOOL.

DURING HIS 19 YEARS THERE, HE'S ALSO BEEN A FOOTBALL COACH NEARLY THE ENTIRE TIME.

IT HAS BEEN A TUMULTUOUS YEAR AT HARDING WITH UNEXPECTED STUDENT AND STAFF DEATHS, INCLUDING THE FATAL STABBING OF A STUDENT IN A HALLWAY.

MICHAEL HOUSTON JOINS US.

HEY, CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GOOD TO BE HIRE.

>> Cathy: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO BE A PERSON OF COLOR IN AN INNER CITY SCHOOL AND YOU ARE MINNESOTA'S TEACHER OF THE YEAR?

>> IT MEANS A LOT NOT ONLY FOR ME.

IT MEANS A LOT FOR OUR STUDENTS AND THE STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY.

>> Cathy: RIGHT BEFORE WE WENT ON HERE LIVE, I MENTIONED THAT I'M A PROUD GRADUATE OF MINNEAPOLIS SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL.

AND PEOPLE TEND TO LOOK AT INNER CITY SCHOOLS DIFFERENTLY.

HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL?

>> THERE'S A LOT OF NEGATIVE CONNOTATIONS ABOUT BEING AN INNER CITY, BUT FOR ME I FIND THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE MOST THOUGHTFUL, MOST PERSONALLABLE STUDENTS THAT WE HAVE.

ONCE YOU BREAK THROUGH THE BARRIER AND KIND OF BUILD THE TRUST, THEY'RE WILLING TO SHARE A LOT OF THEIR STORIES, PERSONAL EXPERIENCES, THEIR PERSONAL TRIUMPHS AND ALSO THEIR VULNERABILITIES.

>> Eric: HOW HAVE YOU FOUND, KIND THE CLICHE STATEMENT IS, THE STUDENTS DO BETTER IF THERE'S SOMEBODY AT THE HEAD OF THE CLASS WHO LOOKS LIKE THEM.

HAVE YOU FOUND THAT TO BE TRUE.

>> WELL, FOR A WHILE, I'VE BEEN BEEN THE ONLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN TEACHER AT HARDING.

AND RESEARCH SAYS THAT 30% OF OR THERE'S AN INCREASE OF 30% OF STUDENTS IF THEY HAVE ACTUALLY A TEACHER THAT LOOKS LIKE THEM IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> Cathy: YOU ARE A MATH TEACHER.

AND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WATCHING THIS HOW WHO IS A MAYBE HAVE HAD WHEN THEY WERE KILLS MATH ANXIETY.

WHAT'S THE SECRET TO MAKING MATH FUN FOR STUDENTS?

>> I TRY TO MAKE IT RELEASED VANLT.

THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, I WAS REFLECTIVE ON WHAT I WAS BRINGING INTO THE CLASSROOM.

AND WHAT I FOUND IS THAT OUR KIDS WERE REALLY DEFICIENT IN FINANCIAL LITERACY.

AND SO I INCORPORATED A LOT OF PERSONAL FINANCE INTO THE CLASSROOM.

AND OVER THE YEARS, 'VE ALWAYS BEEN REALLY FOCUSED ON BUILDING A COMMUNITY WITHIN MY CLASSROOM.

AND I ALSO ADD IN A LITTLE HUMOR.

SO I THINK ALL THOSE COMBINATIONS HAVE REALLY BUILT ENGAGEMENT OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED THE PANDEMIC.

SO MANY TEACHERS HAVE LEFT THE PROFESSION.

I MEAN, THAT IS A LOT.

THAT'S A LOT TO HAVE JUGGLED DURING THAT PANDEMIC.

I KNOW, FOR SURE.

A LOT OF BURNOUT.

WHAT KEPT YOU GOING?

>> HONESTLY, THE STUDENTS AND THE STAFF.

AGAIN, WE HAVE THE MOST AMAZING STUDENTS.

AS I SAID, AS LONG AS YOU CAN BREAK THROUGH THEIR BARRIERS, THEY'RE SO THOUGHTFUL.

THEY'RE CARING.

YOU JUST LEARN SO MUCH ABOUT THEM AND WE'RE RICHLY DIVERSE, THE SCHOOL, AND THE STAFF IS AMAZING, A LOT OF WHICH I'VE BEEN TEACHING WITH FOR DECADES AND THEY COME TO WORK EVERY DAY DEDICATED TO TEACHING OUR DIVERSE STUDENTS.

>> Eric: WHAT'S THE SECRET TO IMPROVING SAFETY?

>> I THINK FOR ME PERSONALLY, IT'S ADDING MORE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.

BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR KIDS ARE HURTING RIEFTHURTING RIGHT NOW AND ALLING THOSE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO HELP THEM TACKLE WHAT'S GOING ON WILL HELP INCREASE OR WILL HELP TO MAKE OUR SCHOOLS MUCH MORE SAFE.

>> Cathy: HOW HAVE KIDS CHANGED >> I MEAN, THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES, BUT ARE THEY GETTING WORSE?

WHEN YOU STARTED 20 YEARS AGO -- MUST BE VASTLY DIFFERENCE.

>> IT IS, AND OBVIOUSLY DEALING WITH THE PANDEMIC, KIDS WERE COMING IN WITH A LOT MORE TRAUMA YA..

THEY'RE ALSO DEALING WITH ANXIETY, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL ISSUES.

SO WE NOTICED THAT AND WE ALSO WANT TO Z PART OF MY PLATFORM I WANT TO ADDRESS THAT AND BE AN ADVOCATE OF BRINGING MORE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS INTO OUR COMMUNITY.

>> Eric: IN 19 YEARS, I WONDER IF BURN OUT IS AN ISSUE FOR YOU, AND THIS HAS REALLY LIT A FIRE UNDER YOU, HAVING THIS OPPORTUNITY?

>> I MEAN, TEACHING IS TOUGH.

BUT IT'S THE MOST REWARDING CAREER THAT I CAN THINK OF.

THERE ARE TIMES OBVIOUSLY I NEED TO TAKE MIETD DAY.

BUT OVERALL, I KNOW I'M IMPACTING LIVES.

>> Cathy: I WAS GOING TO SAY, HOW DID YOU GET INTO THIS FIELD?

>> ACTUALLY, BY ACCIDENT.

AT CONCORDIA, WE ONLY HAVE, LIKE, THREE MATH MAJORS AT THE TIME, FINANCE, BUSINESS AND EDUCATION, BUT IT WAS MY MATH PROFESSOR, DR. KEYINGER THAT CAME INTO THE CLASSROOM.

HE HAD SO MUCH PASSION AND ENTHUSIASM FOR THE TOPIC, FOR THE SUBJECT HE TAUGHT, AND SO THAT WAS SO INFECTIOUS FOR ME THAT I WANTED TO FOLLOW IN HIS FOOT STEPS.

>> Eric: WE'RE GOING TO WATCH YOU VERY CAREFULLY TO SEE WHAT YOU DO WITH YOUR PLATFORM AND THE GOOD IDEAS YOU BRING FORWARD.

SO CONGRATULATIONS, GLAD YOU CAME BAY.

♪♪ >> ERIC: EVEN WITH THE MUCH TALKED ABOUT D.F.L.

TRIFECTA, THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDED JUST HOURS BEFORE THE DEADLINE, NOT THE DAYS LAWMAKERS ONCE PLANNED.

AND THE BIGGEST NEWS MAY HAVE COME YESTERDAY.

THREE DAYS AFTER LAWMAKERS FINISHED THEIR WORK, GOVERNOR TIM WALZ VETOED THE RIDESHARE BILL.

HIS FIRST VETO IN FIVE SESSIONS.

MARY LAHAMMER HAS MORE ON THIS HISTORIC SESSION.

[ Cheers and applause ] >> Mary: AN ENORMOUS PRODUCTION OF AN OUTDOOR BILL SIGNING ON THE CAPITOL STEPS IS SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T SEEN FOR A SOLID DECADE IN MINNESOTA POLITICS.

>> LOVE IS THE LAW.

[ Cheers and applause ] >> Mary: ALMOST EXACTLY TEN YEARS AGO, IN THE LAST D.F.L.

TRIFECTA, GOVERNOR DAYTON SIGNED MARRIAGE EQUALITY INTO LAW, NOW EQUITY IS FRONT AND CENTER AS GOVERNOR WALZ BROUGHT A HISTORIC BUDGET INTO REALITY.

>> OUR ECONOMY IS DIVERSE BECAUSE OUR PEOPLE ARE DIVERSE.

OUR ECONOMY IS STRONG BECAUSE OUR PEOPLE ARE STRONG.

[ Cheers and applause ] >> Mary: IT'S BEEN A DECADE SINCE WE'D SEEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WHAT DID YOU THINK OF IT?

>> THE D.F.L.

PARTY SENT OUT A CALL FOR ACTIVISTS AND INSIDERS TO COME TO THE BILL SIGNING.

IT WAS A POLITICAL EVENT, WHICH IS FAIR.

THEY HAVE THE POWER.

BUT WHEN THE PARTY SENDS OUT AN ALERT AND SAYS PLEASE COME SUPPORT THIS GREAT THING, IT'S GOING TO FEEL MUCH MORE LIKE THAT AND THAT'S NOT KIND OF AS NATURAL AS I THINK THE MARRIAGE EQUALITY SIGNING WAS.

>> Mary: THE D.F.L.

PARTY ALREADY HAS AN AD UP SAYING THE DFL DELIVERS ON THE MOST TRANSFORMATIONAL SESSION IN HISTORY, HIGHLIGHTING HUGS FROM KILLS WITH SCHOOL LUNCHES FOR ALL.

AND THE GOVERNOR DIDN'T SHY AWAY FROM THE POLITICS OF HE MOMENT WITH THE DFL CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE STANDING BEHIND HIM.

IT'S NOT ABOUT BANKING POLITICAL CAPITAL FOR THE NEXT ELECTION.

IT'S ABOUT BURNING POLITICAL CAPITAL TO IMPROVE LIVES.

THAT'S WHAT THEY DID.

THAT'S WHAT THEY DEFINITE [ Cheers and applause ] EXPWHRA.CHAWZ >> Mary: IT WAS ALMOST EXACTLY A HALF A CENTURY AGO TO THE DAY THAT THEN GOVERNOR WENDY AND R ANDERSON SIGNED INTO THE FIRST MINNESOTA MIRACLE.

>> THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEN AND NOW IS, WE'RE SAYING TODAY, WE'RE LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND.

>> WE MADE MASSIVE INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION OF THE KIND WE HAVE NOT SEEN IN THIS STATE SINCE THE FIRST MINNESOTA MIRACLE.

GLA.

>> Mary: AUGUST 13TH, 1973.

>> ♪ YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE ♪ >> Mary: THE SUNSHINE OF POSITIVE NATIONAL PRESS PUT MINNESOTA ON THE MAP.

>> I DID NOT KNOW THE ARTICLE WOULD BE AS WELL RECEIVED AS IT WAS.

>> Mary: IT CAPITAL PUTTED YOU ONTO A NATIONAL, IF NOT INTERNATIONAL SPOTLIGHT BY HAVING YOUR FACE ON "TIME" MAGAZINE, DID IT NOT?

>> -- PERHAPS.

IT'S -- IT WAS A -- MY TIMING WAS GOOD.

IT HAD A VERY POSITIVE IMPACT.

IT WAS GREAT FUN.

I THINK IT WAS VERY, VERY GOOD FOR THE STATE AND I THINK IT WAS GOOD FOR MAE TOO.

>> Mary: THE ORIGINAL MINNESOTA MIRACLE CREATED GEOGRAPHIC EQUITY IN SCHOOL FUNDING WITH THE STATE TAKING OVER MUCH OF THE BURDEN, BUT EDUCATION DIVIDES PERSIST IN A SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT GAP.

>> I COULDN'T HAVE IMAGINED THIS DAY.

I COULDN'T HAVE IMAGINED ALL OF THESE VICTORIES.

AND WINS.

ESPECIALLY FOR OUR LITTLEST MINNESOTANS.

>> Mary: THE FIRST NATIVE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IN THE COUNTRY CONTINUED THE ADMINISTRATION MESSAGE OF MAKING MINNESOTA A PROGRESSIVE REFUGE FOR THE NATION.

>> TO THOSE FOLKS WHO HAVE LOST HOPE, WHO FEEL ALONE, WHOSE HEARTS ARE BREAKING, LOOK TO THE NORTH.

>> Mary: BUT THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL BILLS SUCH AS ABORTION ACCESS, GUN CONTROL, MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION, PASSES MOSTLY ON PARTY LINES IN THE SENATE WITH A ONE-VOTE MARGIN THAT STAYED STEADY.

>> THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST PARTISAN SESSION.

NOT IN MY MEMORY.

BUT IN THE HISTORYING OF THIS STATE.

>> WE ENDED ON A HIGH NOTE TONIGHT BECAUSE THESE LAST FEW BILLS HAVE BEEN BIPARTISAN BILLS WITH A LOT OF SUPPORT AND IT TOOK A TEAM EFFORT WITH ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER.

>> Mary: THE LARGEST BONDING BILL IN HISTORY AND FUNDING FOR NURSING HOMES IN CRISIS WERE BIPARTISAN ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

DESPITE UBER DRIVERS URGING THE GOVERNOR TO SIGN THEIR BILL, HE ISSUED HIS VIRT VETO.

>> GIG ECONOMY FOR THESE DRIVERS, THE WAREHOUSE WORKERS AND OTHERS SIMPLY DOESN'T WORK.

DOESN'T WORK THE WAY IT SHOULD.

AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE THE BEST FIXES.

>> BECAUSE OF THE POWER AND INFLUENCE OF CORPORATE HEALTHCARE EXECUTIVES.

THAT BILL HAS DIED.

>> Mary: NURSES DIDN'T GET THEIR BILL, AND SPORTS BETTING AND THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT DIDN'T PASS IN THE END EITHER.

>> IT'S THE LAW.

[ Cheers and applause ] >> Mary: BILL SIGNINGS FOR PAID FAMILY LEAVE AND MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION WILL END THE SESSION FULL OF DEMOCRATIC VICTORIES.

>> EVERYBODY'S BEEN SO NAUGHTY.

YOU CAN APPLAUD.

>> SENATE IS NOW ADJOURNED.

[ Gavel banging ] [ Cheers and applause ] >> CATHY: WE'VE GATHERED A COUCH FULL OF FOLKS TO CONTINUE THE POLITICAL CONVERSATION.

REPUBLICANS FIRST THIS WEEK.

AMY KOCH WAS THE FIRST FEMALE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, NOW A LOBBYIST.

LOBBYIST IS A TITLE YOU CAN ATTACH TO BRIAN MCDANIEL, WHO IS ALSO A STAND-UP COMEDIAN AND FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER.

DFLERS WITH US TONIGHT: FORMER STATE SENATE MINORITY LEADER SUSAN KENT AND FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER, NOW ATTORNEY, ABOU AMARA.

SENATOR KOCH, THAT WAS A D.F.L.

VICTIMRY LAP VICTORY LAP ON THE STEPS OF THE STATE CAPITOL EARLIER THIS WEEK AND MINNESOTA'S A PROGRESSIVE REFUGE.

AS A REPUBLICAN, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?

>> IT'S INTERESTING COMING FROM A GOVERNOR WHO REALLY, WHEN HE WAS IN THE FIRST DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN, RAN SORT OF A DIFFERENT -- HAD A DIFFERENT SORT OF VOTING RECORD AND A DIFFERENT SORT OF RHETORIC.

BUT HE'S REPRESENTING THE ENTIRE STATE NOW AND CERTAINLY THIS WAS A PROGRESSIVE SESSION.

THERE'S JUST NO WAY AROUND IT THAT THESE WERE MASSIVE PROGRESSIVE VICTORIES IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION ON A SCALE THAT I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER SEEN BEFORE.

AND SO NO DOUBT BOUT IT.

THIS LEGISLATURE, YOU KNOW, MOVED US DECIDELY LEFT.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> OH, SORRY.

OH, NO, I THINK THAT THE PROGRESSIVE WING OF THE D.F.L.

PARTY, THEY, YOU KNOW, REMEMBER 2013 AND 2014.

WHEN THEY HAD A FRY FECT TRIFECTA AND THEY GOT A LOT OF STUFF DONE, AND THEY DIDN'T GET EVERYTHING.

AND THEY WERE TOLD JUST GET US THROUGH THIS NEXT ELECTION.

I THINK THEY LEARNED, YOU CAN'T WAIT FOR TOMORROW.

AND, YOU KNOW, AS MUCH AS, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE NOT THE PRIORITIES THAT AMY AND I LIKE AND THESE ARE NOT WHAT WE WOULD HOPE THAT VOTERS WOULD HOLD THE DEMOCRATS ACCOUNTABLE FOUR ALL THESE THINGS BUT WHAT THEY DID THEY SAID WE'RE GOING FOR IT ALL AND THEY GOT ALMOST ALL OF IT.

>> Eric: ABOU, I'M TEMPTED TO SAY THIS IS THE MARIJUANA SESSION.

>> IT'S DEEPER DEEPER THAT THAN.

AND TEN YEARS AGO, WHERE WAS A LOT ISSUES.

BUT THERE WERE THINGS THAT WERE LEFT UNDONE.

IT WASN'T JUST A EFT SESSION.

I DON'T THINK T WAS THAT AT ALL.

IT WAS A POPULAR SESSION.

POLL THE ISSUES THAT ACTUALLY WERE PASSED.

DO YOU THINK THAT WE SHOULD EXPAND CHILD CARE TAX CREDITS?

OVERWHELMINGLY MAJORITY OF MINNESOTANS.

DO YOU THINK THAT WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT EVERY MINNESOTAN CAN VOTE AND IS A PART OF THE DEMOCRACY?

SO WHEN YOU LOOK ISSUE BY ISSUE, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE MINNESOTANS.

>> Eric: HOW DOES IT PLAY AMONG THE SUBURBS?

>> REALLY WELL.

AND I WAS THERE, MY VERY FIRST SESSION WAS IN 2013 DURING THAT TRIFECTA, AND I WAS THE VICE CHAIR OF THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE IN THE SENATE WHEN WE PASSED A COMPREHENSIVE TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE THAT DIDN'T GO ANY FURTHER.

AND WE'VE WAITED TEN YEARS AND THE NEEDS HAVE GOTTEN WORSE.

SO INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE, INVESTING IN OUR SCHOOLS, INVESTING IN HEALTHCARE AND HOUSING AND CHILD CARE, AND PAID LEAVE, WHICH POLLS REALLY WELL, I BELIEVE ABOUT 64% ACCORDING TO A RECENT POLL, IS INCREDIBLY POPULAR WITH THE SUBURBS.

>> Eric: REPUBLICAN STRATEGY FOR MESSAGING AND THE COUNTER-ARGUMENT GOING INTO THE '24 CYCLE?

>> WELL, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE GOING TO HIT ON THAT YOU HAD $18 BILLION IN SURPLUS AND YOU RAISED OUR TAXES ANYWAY.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A THING.

I THINK THAT THE REPUBLICANS SHOULD HAVE DONE A STRONGER MESSAGE, A MORE GLOBAL MESSAGE.

THEIR MESSAGE THIS SESSION WAS LARGELY SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES AND NURSING HOMES.

AND THEY GOT WINS IN OTH OF THOSE.

BUT I THINK THEY NEED A BROADER APPEAL.

I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE -- BECAUSE WHAT IS THERE N THAT VICTORY FOR YOUNG FAMILIES?

WHAT IS THERE FOR STUDENTS?

WHAT IS THERE?

AND SO I THINK THAT REPUBLICANS WILL NEED, GOING INTO 2024, I THINK THAT THERE IS A LOOK HOW MUCH MONEY THEY SPENT.

AND I THINK THE ECONOMY'S GOING TO MATTER AND WHAT HAPPENS WITH ALL THESE TAXES AND MANDATES ON BUSINESS.

SO WE'LL SEE, BUT THERE MAY BE MORE FOR THEM TO LEAN ON.

BUT I THINK -- I WOULD HOPE THAT THEY WOULD GO BROADER AND ON THE FISCAL MESSAGE AND IN OTHER AREAS THAN THIS NARROW MESSAGE.

>> I ALSO THINK THAT ONE OF THE REASONS THAT, YOU KNOW, SPEAKER HORTMAN AND CHAIR DZIEDZIC WERE WILLING TO GO SO BOLD WITH NARROW MAJORITIES, BUT ONE OF THE REASONS THEY WERE WILLING TO BE SO BOLD IS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT AFRAID OF THE ELECTATE HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE IN THE NEXT ELECTION BECAUSE THEY'RE KIND OF LOOKING AT, WELL, OKAY, IF TRUMP IS ON THE BALANCE, THAT'S ALL ANYONE'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT SO THEY'RE NOT GOING TO REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED WITH OUR TAXES, WHAT HAPPENED WITH PRO-LIFE ISSUES, WHAT HAPPENED WITH PULL TABS, WHAT HAPPENS WITH WHATEVER.

IT'S ALL GOING TO BE A REFERENDUM ON TRUMP WHICH MEANS REPUBLICANS REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THAT, SAY, HEY, WE HAVE OTHER CHOICES, CHOICES THAT AREN'T GOING TO SANCTION US THE WAY HE WOULD.

AND THEN HOPEFULLY PICK THOSE CHOICES.

>> Eric: IS THERE GOING TO BE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE BILLION DOLLARS GOING TO LOCAL NON-PROFITS?

I MEAN, WE'VE HAD SOME EXPERIENCE THAT SOME OF THAT MONEY HAS BEEN MIS?IEWDZ >> I THINK PARTICULARLY THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS LEARNED I MEAN WITH THE "FEEDING OUR FUTURE" SCANDAL, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUGS, STATE PROSECUTORS, THERE'S NO QUESTION I THINK WE HAVE GOTTEN BETTER IN TERMS OF HOLDING INSTITUTIONS ACCOUNTABLE FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT.

I SUSPECT THAT WILL CARRY ITSELF INTO THIS TYPE OF WORK AS WELL.

>> Eric: DID THE GOVERNOR WANT THE UBER BILL BROUGHT TO HIS DESK?

HE MUST HAVE TOLD SOMEBODY.

SENATOR FATEH, MAYBE SAVE THAT FOR ANOTHER DAY.

>> I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.

I DO KNOW I WAS SPEAKING WITH A LAWYER WHO KNOWS LEGISLATION, AND IS A FRIEND OF WORKERS, AND HE SAID HE HAD REAL CONCERNS JUST THE FRAMEWORK WITH THE BILL.

AND GOVERNOR WALZ MESSAGE THAT WE WANT TO SUPPORT WORKERS, E WANT TO UPPORT THESE DRIVERS, BUT THIS BILL NEEDS WORK, IT SEEMS CONSISTENT TO ME.

>> HERE'S THE ISSUE.

IF THIS WAS A TRADITIONAL LABOR MANAGEMENT SSUE YOU WOULD HAVE COLLECTIVE BARGAIN, BARGAINING, BUT BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE THAT, NOW IT'S BEING BROUGHT INTO THE POLITICAL SPACE AND THAT'S NOT EXACTLY THE BEST TIME WITH A TWO-MONTH SESSION, AND SO THAT'S WHY I THINK IT WAS SMART FOR THE GOVERNOR TO SAY LET'S WORK THROUGH SOME OF THOSE DETAILS.

>> WHAT I THINK IS SURPRISING IS THAT THE ONE TIME IS GOVERNOR THE CHOOSING TO FLEX HIS MUSCLES, IT WAS TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE NURSES NURSES UNION AND UBER DRIVERS, WHO ARE FROM A DEMOGRAPHIC THAT SUPPORT THEM.

YOU COULD HAVE GONE IN ALL THESE DIFFERENT AREAS AREAS AND SAID NO, NO, YES, YES, AND YOU DIDN'T DO THAT.

BUT IN THE LAST HOURS, YOU SAY, NURSES AND UBER DRIVERS, NOTHING FOR YOU, THAT JUST SEEMS VERY STRANGE TO ME?

>> Eric: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE .R.A.?

>> THAT'S ANOTHER ONE THAT I WAS SO GLAD THAT I HAPPENED TO BE THERE AT THE SENATE WHEN THAT PASSED, BUT IN THE HOUSE THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT WANTING TO WORK ON IT SOME MORE.

>> IT HAS TO DO AROUND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS, RIGHT?

SO THEY'RE NERVOUS PUTTING A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON THE BALLOT WITH THE HOUSE, IT'S NOTABLY THE HOUSE, WHO'S UP FOR ELECTION NEXT TIME.

BECAUSE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ON THE BALLOT AN WORK FOR YOU AND THEY CAN WORK AGAINST YOU.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK -- WE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT THIS EARLY ON.

ALMOST THE FIRST DAY OF SESSION.

DID IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE THAT THERE WERE SO MANY WOMEN LEADERS -- >> COMPLETELY.

>> Cathy: TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE.

A LOT WAS DONE WITH VERY LITTLE SNIPING?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THAT HAS SOMETHING TO IT, RIGHT?

FOR OF THE FIRST TIME, THREE OUT OF THE FOUR, FOR THE FIRST TIME, EVER IN MINNESOTA HISTORY, WERE FEMALE LEADERS.

AND I JUST THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU GO IN AND GET YOUR WORK DONE.

IT DOES -- I JUST THINK THAT'S BEEN WHAT WE'VE SEEN.

>> YOU HAVE TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK BEFORE YOU CAN GO PLAY OUTSIDE AND KNOWING SPEAKER HORTMAN AND KNOWING MAJORITY LEADER DZIEDZIC, THESE ARE SMART, FOCUSES DEDICATED LEADERS WHO ARE JUST REALLY COMMITTED.

>> ND THEY HELD THEIR CAUCUSES TOGETHER.

>> YES, THEY DID.

EXPWHRSES THAT WAS A SURPRISE TO YOU YOU AT ALL?

>> IN MANY WAYS WAYS NO.

I'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS, PARTICULARLY ABOUT THE SENATE DFL CAULK CAUCUS AND CHANGES OVER THE YEARS.

PEOPLE ARE REALLY LISTENING TO EACH OTHER AND SPEAKING OPENLY AND HAVING GOOD CONVERSATIONS.

THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, WE ALL REPRESENT DIFFERENT DISTRICTS AND WE HAVE TO RESPECT THAT.

>> Eric: FORS THAT THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT BIG GOVERNMENT, WHAT WOULD IT MEAN SENATOR THE SENATE DEMOCRATS AND THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS IF THEY SAID, WE'RE GOING TO SPEND A WEEK IN SESSION IN 2024?

AND GO HOME.

COULD THEY ACCOMPLISH SO MUCH -- BECAUSE THEY ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH IN '23, WOULDN'T THEY LOOK LIKE HEROES?

>> I DON'T THINK POLITICIANS WIN BY SAYING I'M NOT GOING TO SHOW UP TO WORK.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY, WE'LL DONE A LOT OF THIS SESSION, BUT IT WAS A BUDGET SESSION.

THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT CAN HAPPEN NEXT YEAR.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE '24 AGENDA?

>> FOR EXAMPLE, JUST BECAUSE BONDING BILL PASSED THIS YEERG, DOES NOT MEAN THERE CAN'T BE ADDITIONAL PROJECTS.

WE KNOW MINNESOTA HAS ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT CONTINUED TO INVESTMENT.

A LOT OF THE MONEY IN THE SURPLUS WAS ONE-TIME FEDERAL FUNDS.

THERE'S STILL MONEY THERE TO SPEND.

ON THOSE PROJECTS.

>> MOST OF IT WAS LEFT OVERDOLLARS, STATE MONEY.

THERE'S NOT AARP MONEY IN THAT -- [Overlapping conversations] >> Cathy: ALWAYS, ALWAYS, UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES TO LEGISLATION.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, OF ALL THE STUFF THAT PASSED, WHERE DO YOU THINK THE LAWMAKERS MIGHT HAVE TO COME BACK AND TWEAK?

>> WELL, I THINK CANNABIS FOR SURE.

I MEAN, AND I THINK THAT EVERYONE WHO'S A SUPPORTER OR A DETRACTOR OF IT KNOWS THAT WE'RE OT GOING TO GET IT RIGHT ON THE FIRST TRY.

AND SO I THINK THAT SOME OF THIS IS GOING TO BE TRIAL AND ERROR.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SEE WHAT WORKS, WHAT DOESN'T WORK, AND GO BACK.

AND I THINK THERE IS AN INTEREST N GETTING IT RIGHT.

THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS IT WENT THROUGH 123 COMMITTEES AND WE CAN CRY PROCESS ON A LOT OF THINGS.

I DON'T KNOW THAT ON CANNABIS WE CAN NECESSARILY CRY PROCESS.

I ALSO SAY ON THE PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE AND ON THE EARNED SICK ND SAFE TIME, WHAT EFFECTS THIS HAS ON SMALL EMPLOYERS MAY MAKE THEM HAVE TO COME BACK AND TWEAK IT.

SO IT MIGHT NOT BE QUITE AS ONEROUS.

>> Eric: WALZ IS SAYING MINNESOTA IS NOW A DESTINATION STATE.

AND I WONDER IF THE REPUBLICAN MESSAGE IS, THIS STATE IS TERRIBLE, LEAVE.

AND THAT'S A LOT OF REPUBLICAN SENIOR CITIZENS.

>> I THINK HIS COULD BE SOME OF THE UNINTENDED WEBSES.

ANECDOTALLY, YOU HEAR FOLKS LEAVING, BUSINESSES GOING.

IT REMAINS YET TO BE SEEN.

AND MINNESOTA HAS TYPICALLY BEEN A HIGHER TAX STATE THAT MANAGES TO, BECAUSE OF A SOLID WORKFORCE, MANAGES TO FORGE ON.

BUT I THINK THAT IS ONE THING THAT WILL REMAIN TO BE SEEN IN THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS AND WHERE DOES THIS ECONOMY GO, BASED ON THIS.

I MEAN, THIS WAS A MASSIVE JUMP WHERE WE HAD A $54 BILLION TO A NEARLY $70 BILLION BUDGET IN ONE CYCLE?

THAT'S A MASSIVE JUMP.

WE TALK ABOUT BIG GOVERNMENT.

THAT IS A MASSIVE JUMP IN GOVERNMENT SPENDING.

>> THAT WAS -- [Overlapping conversations] >> MOST MINNESOTANS DON'T ASK THEMSELVES, AT THE KITCHEN TABLE HOW BIG IS THE STATE BUDGET.

TESTER ASKING HOW MUCH CAN I AFFORD FOR MY FAMILIES?

AND THIS BUDGET INVESTS IN OUTCOMES FOR THEM THAT WILL LOWER COSTS AND MAKE THINGS MORE AFFORDABLE FOR THEM.

>> ANYBODY FOUND A AMY KLOBUCHAR OPPONENT ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE?

CAN YOU LEAK US A NAME?

>> TIM WALZ.

[ Laughter ] NO.

T.B.D.

>> Eric: THANKS THANKS PANEL.

WE LEARN A LOT.

EXCEPT WHO THE KLOBUCHAR OPPONENT MIGHT BE.

>> HEY, WE GOT TO KEEP THAT.

>> TALK AMONGST YOURSELVES.

♪♪ >> CATHY: WE'VE NEARLY REACHED THE END OF OUR HOUR, BUT WE DO HAVE TIME THIS WEEK FOR THE HISTORY SECTION OF THE SHOW.

LET'S REFRESH OUR MEMORIES ABOUT THE MOST RECENT QUESTION.

TWO WEEKS IN A ROW WE ASKED YOU ABOUT A NOTEWORTHY EVENT FROM EARLY MARCH IN 1991.

WE TOLD YOU A RESIDENT OF GOLDEN VALLEY -- ABSOLUTELY NOT SEEN HERE -- SET A WORLD RECORD BY DOING SOMETHING NEARLY 7,000 TIMES.

WE THEN TOLD YOU THIS PERSON SMASHED THE OLD WORLD RECORD BY MORE THAN 800.

ARMED WITH THESE NUMBERS, WE WANTED YOU TO TELL US WHAT THE RECORD WAS.

WHAT WORLD RECORD WAS SET BY A GOLDEN VALLEY RESIDENT IN MARCH OF 1991?

WE THEN ADDED HINTS TO SUGGEST THAT THE RIGHT ANSWER HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH ARMS AND HANDS.

THAT HINT BY THE WAY WAS ON TARGET, BUT THESE CALLERS STILL MISSED THE MARK.

>> CATHY: WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, AND WRONG.

THOUGH, STEVE, YOU WERE AT LEAST CORRECT ABOUT THE ACTIVITY INVOLVED.

FOR THE FULL DETAILS, WE TURN TO TONY.

TAKE IT AWAY.

>> CATHY: YES, TONY, YOU ARE CORRECT!

WHICH MEANS WE DON'T HAVE TO ASK THE QUESTION FOR A THIRD WEEK.

THE PRODUCERS THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THE GUINNESS RECORD WE SOUGHT WAS FOR THE NUMBER OF ONE-ARMED PUSHUPS.

HERE'S A NICE WRITE-UP FROM THE "STAR TRIBUNE" THAT DETAILS THE EFFORT.

THE RECORD NEEDED TO BE SET IN A TOTAL OF 5 HOURS AND 25 MINUTES, WITH 25 MINUTES BEING AS MANY BREAKS AS MIHAS WANTED TO TAKE AS LONG AS IT ONLY TOTALLED 25 MINUTES.

AND HE DIDN'T HAVE TO USE THE SAME ARM WHEN RETURNING FROM THE BREAK.

HE DID BEAT THE PREVIOUS RECORD BY 868 ONE-ARM PUSHUPS.

OUCH.

THAT WOULD BE A LOT OF PUSHUPS WITH BOTH ARMS INVOLVED.

JUST ENOUGH TIME LEFT TONIGHT FOR SOME SHOW-CLOSING MUSIC.

IT WAS THIS WEEK BACK IN 2000 THAT GRAMMY AWARD-WINNER KATHY MATTEA PERFORMED HERE IN STUDIO "B."

IT WAS SO MUCH FUN.

I'M A BIG FAN, AND IT WAS GREAT TO MEET HER IN PERSON THAT EVENING.

SHE AND HER BAND EVEN JOINED US AFTER THE SHOW FOR A LITTLE OUTDOOR BARBECUE FUN.

HERE SHE IS SINGING "THE INNOCENT YEARS."

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

♪♪ >> ♪ I NEED TO GO DOWN AND WASH MY FACE ♪ ♪ DEEP IN THE RIVER OF MY OLD HOMEPLACE ♪ ♪ I NEED TO WALK IN THE WATERS THAT ONCE GAVE ME LIFE ♪ ♪ GO OVER AND WALK THE OLD RAILROAD TRACKS ♪ ♪ SEE IF I CAN FOLLOW IT ALL THE WAY BACK ♪ ♪ BACK TO WHERE MY VISION IS CLEAR ♪ ♪ BACK TO THE DAYS OF THE INNOCENT YEARS ♪ ♪ YOU KNOW I'D TRADE IT ALL BACK IN ♪ ♪ FOR JUST ONE DAY LIKE IT WAS BACK THEN ♪ ♪ BACK BEFORE JUST LIVING MY LIFE GOT IN THE WAY ♪ ♪ TO SEE MY FACE AT SIXTEEN AGAIN ♪ ♪ WHEN THE BOY DOWN THE STREET WAS MY BEST FRIEND ♪ ♪ WHEN HIS SMILE TOOK AWAY MY TEARS ♪ ♪ BACK IN THE DAYS OF THE INNOCENT YEARS ♪ ♪ YOU MIGHT GROW WISER EVERY DAY ♪ ♪ BUT THERE'S A PRICE YOU HAVE TO PAY ♪ ♪ THE GIRL I WAS JUST DISAPPEARED ♪ ♪ I LEFT HER BEHIND IN THE INNOCENT YEARS ♪ ♪♪ CAPTIONED BY: VERITEXT/PARADIGM CAPTIONING WWW.VERITEXT.COM >> "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.

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.

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