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

>> ERIC: COMING UP ON "ALMANAC," THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF GEORGE FLOYD'S MURDER, CANTUS IS HERE LIVE, AND THE LEGISLATURE HAS ADJOURNED BUT THEIR WORK IS NOT DONE.

MARY LAHAMMER HAS BEEN TRACKING THAT ACTION FOR US.

>> Mary: THE SPECIAL SESSION IS AHEAD IN A CLOSELY DIVIDED CAPITOL.

HEAR FROM LAWMAKERS.

>> THIS WILL ABSOLUTELY AFFECT LIVES IN MY DISTRICT.

>> THIS IS ENDLESS WORK.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT WORK.

>> Mary: TUESDAY IS PROBABLY THE SOONEST.

>> I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY WHY.

>> 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 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH ITS MEMBER-OWNER COOPERATIVES AND CUSTOMERS.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH AND HELPING COMMUNITIES THRIVE.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

>> ERIC: IN THE NEXT HOUR, WE ARE GOING TO SPEND MOST OF OUR TIME LOOKING AT TWO OF THE BIGGEST STORIES IN MINNESOTA THIS WEEK.

THE LEGISLATURE ADJOURNED ON MONDAY WITHOUT PASSING A COMPLETE STATE BUDGET.

THAT WORK WILL NEED TO BE DONE IN SPECIAL SESSION BEFORE THE END OF JUNE TO AVOID A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

WE'LL HAVE SOME LIVE MUSIC FOR YOU.

AND WE WILL SPEND ABOUT HALF OF OUR SHOW TONIGHT ON SUNDAY'S FIVE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF GEORGE FLOYD'S MURDER.

>> CATHY: AND THAT IS WHERE WE START TONIGHT.

ON WEDNESDAY, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION BEGAN STEPS TO UNDO THE FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE IMPOSED UPON THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ASKED A FEDERAL JUDGE TO VACATE THE DECREE.

WE CAUGHT UP WITH MAYOR FREY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

>> WE ARE COMMITTED TO POLICE REFORM, EVEN IF THE WHITE HOUSE IS NOT.

WE'VE MADE COMMITMENTS AND PROMISES TO THE RESIDENTS OF OUR CITY, PEOPLE HAVE PROTESTED, THEY'VE ADVOCATED, THEY'VE INSISTED ON NECESSARY CHANGE, AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS, WE'RE GOING TO DELIVER IT, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE WHITE HOUSE IS ON BOARD.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO COMPLY WITH EVERY SENTENCE OF EVERY PARAGRAPH OF THE 169-PAGE CONSENT DECREE.

WE'RE GOING TO WORK THROUGH THE PROCESS FOR THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND THE CONSENT DECREE, AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO DOING THE WORK.

THE OFFICERS THAT HAVE DECIDED TO STAY ARE VERY MUCH ON BOARD WITH BEING THE CHANGE IN THIS DEPARTMENT.

THERE WAS NO SECRET THAT WE ARE MOVING TOWARDS A CULTURE SHIFT IN THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND TO THE EXTENT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ON BOARD, THEY COULD LEAVE.

NOT TO MENTION THE OFFICERS THAT ARE COMING ON BOARD NOW, THE NEW RECRUITS, THE LATERALS, THE NEW CSOs, THE COMMUNITY SAFETY OFFICERS, THEY WANT TO BE THE CHANGE.

THE REASON THAT HEY'RE COMING TO MINNEAPOLIS RIGHT NOW IS BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE THAT SOMETHING SPECIAL IS HAPPENING.

WE ARE MAKING THE CHANGE.

WE ARE GOING TO BE THE EXAMPLE FOR SO MANY OTHERS TO FOLLOW.

>> CATHY: JOINING US NOW IN STUDIO, MINNEAPOLIS POLICE CHIEF BRIAN O'HARA.

THANKS FOR JOINING US AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: SO WE HEARD FROM THE MAYOR THAT YOU ALL ARE COMMITTED TO CONTINUING REFORM EFFORTS, EVEN THOUGH THE FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE IS PRETTY UCH HISTORY.

WE HAVE THE STATE DECREE.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE MAYOR SAYS THAT MARKS ARE BEING HIT FOR THAT STATE CONSENT DECREE, BUT THERE ARE ACTIVISTS, THOUGH, CHIEF WHO SAY IT'S NOT BEING FELT ON THE STREETS.

WHY DO YOU THINK THEY WOULD SAY THAT?

>> WELL, FIRST OFF, THE FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE IS NOT HISTORY.

THE REFORMS THAT ARE IN THERE, MANY OF THEM HAVE ALREADY BEEN INADOPTED INTO THE POLICIES THAT HAVE EEN REVISED THAT ARE COVERED UNDER THAT MONITOR'S REPORT.

YOU KNOW, I KNOW THERE ISN'T GOING TO BE ONE MONOLITHIC OPINION OF THE COMMUNITY, BUT I KNOW EVERY DAY I'M GETTING STOPPED ON THE STREET, I'M GETTING HANDWRITTEN CARDS AND LETTERS FROM HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS WHO HAVE TOLD ME OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS THEY DO SEE A DIFFERENCE IN HOW THE POLICE ARE ACTING ON THE STREET AND HOW ENGAGED -- HOW MUCH MORE ENGAGED THEY HAVE BEEN.

AND, SO, I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S CLEAR, WE ARE NOT THERE, AND THE WORK IS NOT DONE.

BUT I THINK CERTAINLY IT'S INDISPUTABLE THAT THERE HAS BEEN PROGRESS MADE, THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME LEVEL OF HEALING, WHICH IS A GOOD THING.

>> Eric: DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE FOLKS THAT USE HATRED OF POLICE AS KIND OF A POLITICAL LAUNCHING PAD, IS THAT GROUP IN THE MINORITY IN THE CITY OR DO YOU SEE THAT AS -- >> FOR SURE.

YEAH, THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT'S IN THE MINORITY.

I THINK THE REALITY HAS BEEN OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, THERE HAS BEEN A WHOLE LOT OF CRIME AND VIOLENCE AND IT HAS NOT BEEN EVENLY DISTRIBUTED IN COMMUNITIES AROUND THE CITY.

SOME OF OUR HARDEST-HIT COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN HIT THAT MUCH HARDER.

BUT I THINK FOR THE MOST PART, PEOPLE HAVE COME TO REALIZE THE URGENCY OF THE ISSUES OUR CITY IS ACING AROUND CRIME AND SAFETY, IT'S A VERY VERY BASIC HUMAN NEED.

AND I THINK, BY AND LARGE, THE MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS HERE WANT THE CITY TO ACT URGENTLY TO ADDRESS ALL OF THESE THINGS, BOTH ADDRESSING CRIME AND SAFETY AND EBUILDING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN A WAY THAT BUILDS TRUST WHILE WE'RE DOING IT.

>> Cathy: THE REBUILDING OF THE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE YOU LOST A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> YUP.

>> Cathy: THE MAYOR TALKED ABOUT THE CULTURE SHIFT WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

CAN YOU FEEL THAT?

WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE?

>> I CAN TELL YOU, MY EXPERIENCE, WHAT I'VE SEEN, WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE, THESE OFFICERS WERE OBVIOUSLY VERY VERY HURT.

I'D GO TO ROLL CALLS, IT WAS DEPRESSING.

THEY WEREN'T SPEAKING TO EACH OTHER.

THEY WERE PHYSICALLY DOWN, YOU COULD JUST SEE IT.

AND THEY WERE NOT PROACTIVE.

I MEAN, IT WAS ALMOST LIKE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

THEY WERE STAYING IN THE STATION A LOT.

TODAY I'VE GONE TO -- I WENT TO ROLL CALL FOR THE THIRD PRECINCT ON THE MIDNIGHT TOUR, FIRST OFF, THERE WERE MORE OFFICERS THERE THAN WHAT I EVER SAW ON THE MIDNIGHT TOUR.

THE MAJORITY OF THEM WERE OFFICERS OF COLOR, AND IT WAS PERFECTLY NORMAL, IT WAS HEALTHY.

THEY WERE LAUGHING.

THEY WERE JOKING.

THEY WERE TALKING TO EACH OTHER.

THEY WANTED O TALK TO ME AFTERWARDS.

THE SUPERVISOR WAS VERY PROFESSIONAL.

IT'S VERY VERY POSITIVE.

>> Eric: DESPITE THE DEFUND THE POLICE RHETORIC, THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL HAS RAISED I THINK IT'S $50 MILLION SINCE YOU SHOWED UP FOR THE BUDGET, 22% RAISED FOR OFFICERS, $18,000 RETENTION BONUS.

THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A DEFUND THE POLICE CITY COUNCIL TO ME.

>> WELL, THE COST OF POLICING HAS GROWN EXPONENTIALLY, THAT'S FOR SURE.

AND CERTAINLY IT'S NOT GOING TO GET ANY CHEAPER TO POLICE THE CITY IF THE RHETORIC, YOU KNOW, CONTINUES IN A NEGATIVE LIGHT.

PEOPLE ON THE OUTSIDE, IF ALL THEY EAR IS -- ARE THINGS THAT ARE NOT SUPPORTIVE OR IF PEOPLE ON THE OUTSIDE, EVEN WHEN ABOUT A YEAR AGO, JAMAL MITCHELL WAS KILLED, IF PEOPLE ON THE OUTSIDE DO NOT SEE A LEVEL OF SUPPORT AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF EVEN HOW HEROIC HE WAS, I THINK HE NATURAL THING IS GOING TO BE, IT IS GOING TO BE MORE EXPENSIVE TO HAVE POLICING, THAT'S JUST THE REALITY.

THE OTHER THING THAT'S ADDED INTO IT THAT COMPLICATES ALL OF THIS STUFF IS WHILE THE FORCE HAS GOTTEN SMALLER, THE VOLUME OF CRIME AND INVESTIGATIONS HAS INCREASED VERY VERY DRAMATICALLY AND THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF NEW WORK THAT ALSO HAS TO BE DONE BECAUSE OF ALL THESE REFORMS, BOTH UNDER THE STATE CONSENT DECREE AND THE ADDITIONAL WORK NOW WITH THOSE PROPOSED BY DOJ.

>> Cathy: YOU'VE HAD SOME INTERVIEWS OF LATE THAT HAVE BEEN A LITTLE CONTROVERSIAL.

YOU SEEM TO HAVE SOME EXPIRATION WITH CITY POLITICS.

AND I'M CURIOUS, WHAT WERE YOU EXPECTING WHEN YOU ARRIVED IN MINNEAPOLIS?

>> I JUST WAS REFLECTING ON THE REALITY OF MY LIFE IN NEWARK BEFORE I CAME HERE.

AND I WORKED OR MAYOR WHO WAS VERY VERY MUCH WELL KNOWN AS A PROGRESSIVE MAYOR, AS IS THE COUNCIL THERE.

BUT THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS THERE THAT ARE NOT QUESTIONABLE.

AND THAT IS, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE -- IT'S A SMALLER CITY, THEY HAVE TWICE AS MANY POLICE OFFICERS AS WE DO TODAY IN MINNEAPOLIS.

THEY WOULD NOT QUESTION SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN QUESTIONABLE HERE.

YOU KNOW, FOR MONTHS WE WERE EVEN HAVING DISCUSSIONS ON WHETHER OR NOT SHOTS SPOTTER WAS NECESSARY.

AND, TO ME, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THIS ARE SIMPLY NOT QUESTIONABLE BECAUSE THE URGENCY IS SO GREAT.

THE SUFFERING OF OUR RESIDENTS HAS BEEN SO GREAT.

AND WHILE THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF WORK WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO DO TO REFORM, WE HAVE TO ALSO ENSURE THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE AROUND, TO ADDRESS CRIME AND VIOLENCE, AND THAT INCLUDES, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> Cathy: YOU'RE UP FOR, I THINK, REAPPOINTMENT IN JANUARY.

>> UM-HUM.

>> Cathy: RIGHT?

AND I'M WONDERING, YOUR WIFE'S A NEWARK OFFICER, YOUR KIDS ARE STILL IN NEWARK.

ARE YOU STILL HAPPY TO BE HERE?

>> I LOVE MY JOB.

THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE BEING THE POLICE CHIEF.

I FEEL HONORED AND HUMBLED TO HAVE THIS POSITION, TO BE WITH THESE MEN AND WOMEN.

BUT IT CERTAINLY HAS NOT BEEN EASY, I'LL TELL YOU THAT MUCH.

>> Eric: JUST REAL QUICK.

FOR THOSE THAT SAY THAT GEORGE FLOYD DIED OF AN OVERDOSE, THAT THE OFFICERS WERE WRONGLY CONVICTED, WHAT'S YOUR ANSWER TO THAT?

>> WE ALL SAW THAT VIDEO EXAMINE WE ALL KNEW -- AND WE ALL KNEW IT WAS WRONG.

THERE IS NO QUESTION WHAT HAPPENED.

WE ALL KNEW WHAT WE SAW BACK THEN.

AND ANYONE SAYING ANYTHING OTHERWISE IS TELLING YOU YOUR EYES WERE LYING TO YOU FIVE YEARS AGO.

IT'S RIDICULOUS.

>> Cathy: WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

>> Eric: THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: ON THURSDAY NEWS HIT THAT FORMER FIRST LADY LOLA PERPICH DIED EARLIER THIS MONTH AT THE AGE OF 94.

HER POLITICAL PARTNERSHIP WITH HUSBAND AND FORMER MINNESOTA GOVERNOR RUDY PERPICH HAS BEEN CALLED ONE OF THE MOST ENDURING IN STATE HISTORY.

GOVERNOR PERPICH SAW THEM SO FIRMLY AS A TEAM THAT HE SOUGHT TO HAVE HIS OFFICIAL STATE PORTRAIT INCLUDE LOLA.

IT WAS SOMETHING HIS FAMILY FOUGHT FOR LONG AFTER HE DIED.

THE PORTRAIT OF THE COUPLE WAS APPROVED AND UNVEILED NEARLY 25 YEARS AGO.

MARY LAHAMMER CAUGHT UP WITH LOLA AT THE JUNE 2000 UNVEILING.

TAKE A LOOK AT PART OF THAT CONVERSATION WHILE WE HEAD OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STUDIO.

>> IT GIVES US A WARM FEELING TO KNOW THAT WE CARRIED OUT ONE OF HIS PROBABLY DEAREST WISHES.

AND I'M HAPPY FOR HIM BECAUSE WE DID IT FOR HIM.

I WASN'T PUSHING THE THOUGHT OF ME BEING IN THE PORTRAIT.

ALTHOUGH I WASN'T, YOU KNOW, SAYING NO, I DON'T WANT TO, BUT IT WAS MORE FOR RUDY THAT WE REALLY WORKED SO HARD.

>> Mary: BUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO BE THE FIRST FIRST LADY IN STATE HISTORY TO BE PICTURED HERE AT THE [ CAPTIONS WILL RESUME SHORTLY ] TOLL?

>> WELL, I THINK -- TO BE PICTURED HERE AT THE CAPITOL?

>> I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL FEELING.

I NEVER GAVE IT A THOUGHT BEFORE RUDY SAID THAT'S WHAT HE WANTED.

I THINK THERE ARE SO MANY FIRSTS THAT HE ACCOMPLISHED FOR THE STATE THAT I JUST LOOK AT THIS AS ANOTHER FIRST IN HIS ADMINISTRATION.

JUST BREAKING BARRIERS, WHICH I THINK HE DID IN MANY RESPECTS.

SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT WERE MENTIONED TODAY.

CHOICE.

WOMEN'S ISSUE.

ROSALIE WALL WAS THE FIRST SUPREME COURT JUDGE.

MARLENE JOHNSON WAS THE FIRST LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

SO I THINK HE BROKE TRADITION IN MANY AREAS, AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER AREA THAT I FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT.

>> ERIC: IN THE FIVE YEARS SINCE GEORGE FLOYD WAS KILLED BY FORMER MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER DEREK CHAUVIN, THERE HAVE BEEN CALLS FOR POLICE REFORM AND JUSTICE AROUND THE WORLD.

OUR NEXT TWO GUESTS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THOSE EFFORTS IN MINNEAPOLIS.

MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREA JENKINS HAS REPRESENTED THE 8TH WARD SINCE 2018.

FLOYD WAS MURDERED ACROSS THE STREET FROM HER WARD.

HERE TOO IS CYNTHIA ASSAM, AN ATTORNEY WHO WORKED AS A LAW CLERK AT THE MINNEAPOLIS DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL RIGHTS.

ASSAM IS PRESIDENT OF WIN BACK, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT IS PART OF FRIDAY'S "A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE."

WELL, WHAT'S THE STATUS OF POLICE RELATIONS WITH THE CITY COUNCIL?

>> WELL, THE STATUS OF POLICE RELATIONS WITH THE CITY COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, I WOULD CHARACTERIZE IT AS FORMULATING STILL.

YOU KNOW, THE COUNCIL AND MANY FOLKS IN OUR CITY HAVE BEEN SKEPTICAL AND TRAUMATIZED AROUND MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT I THINK THIS NEW REALITY OF PUBLIC SAFETY THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CREATE, THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH INCLUDES THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, 911, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, AS WELL AS OUR BEHAVIORAL CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM, AND THEN ALSO OUR VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS IN THE OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY.

SO THERE'S MORE COMMUNICATION, MORE COLLABORATION, AND I THINK THAT'S HELPING TO BUILD A BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNCIL.

>> Eric: COPS IN THE COMMUNITY, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY, BROADLY?

>> Cathy: I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK YOU, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT HAT IN TERMS OF WHAT THE CHIEF HAD TO SAY?

>> I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION.

I HAVE A QUESTION THAT I FEEL IS A BIT MORE INTERESTING, TO ME, COMING OFF OF THE HEELS OF TODAY'S DAY OF REMEMBRANCE AND, OF COURSE, WE APPRECIATE, I ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS THAT THE CHIEF HAD TO SHARE ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S COMMITMENT, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE ROLLBACK OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED.

BUT THINKING ABOUT HAT WE DID TODAY, WIN BACK, WE HAD OUR DAY OF REMEMBRANCE, OUR SECOND ANNUAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE, HONORING GEORGE FLOYD.

AS YOU BOTH KNOW, ON THE 25th, THAT WILL MARK THE FIFTH-YEAR ANGERSARY SINCE HIS KILLING.

WHAT WE DID TODAY WAS A BEAUTIFUL OCCASION.

I ESPECIALLY FELT SO HONORED TO BE THERE WHEN WE WERE IN GEORGE FLOYD SQUARE.

SO, WHEREAS, OF COURSE, WE'RE THINKING ABOUT POLICE REFORM AND WE APPRECIATE THE COMMITMENT, THE RECOMMITMENT TO BRINGING HEALING INTO THE COMMUNITY, I'M JUST O PROUD OF OUR COMMUNITY FOR THE HEALING THAT WE ARE BRINGING AND CHAMPIONING FOR OURSELVES.

>> Cathy: DOES THE COMMUNITY FEEL PROTECTED?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO SAY.

I CAN'T SPEAK ON THE COMMUNITY'S BEHALF, OF COURSE.

>> Cathy: YES.

>> BUT I FEEL AS THOUGH, OU KNOW, IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH, AFTER GEORGE FLOYD'S KILLING, I THINK THAT WE SAW A HUGE SENSE OF URGENCY.

WE SAW A HUGE ENSE OF, OKAY, THERE'S NO MORE GOING TO BE POLICE VERSUS COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER.

BECAUSE WHAT HAS HAPPENED TODAY CANNOT HAPPEN AGAIN.

AND, UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE TO SAY, AND, OF COURSE, THIS IS TAKING NOTHING AWAY, ESPECIALLY FROM OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE, ANDREA, IT'S NOT TO TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM THE LEGISLATION, THE REGULATIONS, AND A LOT OF PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE, BUT, AGAIN, THINKING OF THE ROLLBACK THAT THE DOJ HAS ANNOUNCED, SOMETHING SWITCHED, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE HAS BEEN A BIT OF A RENEGE TO THE COMMITMENT THAT WAS MADE.

>> Eric: THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED AT 38th AND CHICAGO, SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS.

FIVE YEARS HAVE PASSED, REALLY, NOT MUCH IS DONE AS FAR AS A REDEVELOPMENT OF THE SITE.

IS THAT HEADING TO MORE DELAY AND STUDY OR SOMETHING GOING TO HAPPEN?

WHERE ARE WE THERE?

>> WELL, THERE CERTAINLY A STUDY THAT'S GOING ON.

AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BE COMPLETED IN DECEMBER.

AND WE'LL GET SOME ANSWERS.

THE STUDY IS TO REALLY LOOK AT, WILL THERE BE A PEDESTRIAN MALL AT THE SITE, AT 38th AND CHICAGO, KNOWN AS GEORGE FLOYD SQUARE?

THE BUSINESSES, WHICH THE LEGISLATURE SAYS WE HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST 75% OF THE BUSINESSES TO APPROVE AND 100% THEY SAY THEY DON'T PPROVE.

SO THE STUDY IS HAPPENING.

BUT THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE CURRENTLY THERE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN HAVING A PEDESTRIAN MALL.

SO, THERE'S STILL THIS BACK AND FORTH.

>> Eric: IT SOUNDS LIKE IT.

>> THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO COME TO CONSENSUS ABOUT.

>> Cathy: SAY, I WANT TO ASK YOU BOTH PERSONALLY SOMETHING.

NOW WE HAD THE DAY OF REMEMBRANCE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF EMOTIONS AROUND ANY ANNIVERSARY, BUT ESPECIALLY AROUND A FIVE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY, HOW ARE YOU OTH FEELING PERSONALLY RIGHT NOW?

>> WOW.

I'VE BEEN FEELING RETRAUMATIZED IN MANY WAYS.

I'VE BEEN TALKING TO A NUMBER OF MEDIA OUTLETS AND JUST RELIVING AND RECOUNTING THE EVENTS OF MAY 25th THROUGH NOW, UP UNTIL NOW.

YOU KNOW, I LIVE TWO BLOCKS FROM WHERE GEORGE FLOYD WAS MURDERED.

SO THERE WAS A CONSTANT HUM OF HELICOPTERS, CONSTANT STREAMS OF PROTESTS AND PEOPLE COMING THROUGH THE COMMUNITY AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY, GUNSHOTS, ET CETERA.

AND, SO, THAT HAS CALMED DOWN.

BUT TO RELIVE THOSE MOMENTS, IT'S BEEN REALLY TRAUMATIZING.

I FIND MYSELF -- I WAS DOING A MEDIA INTERVIEW WITH INSIGHT NEWS YESTERDAY, AND TEARING UP FROM HEARING FROM SOME OF THE TESTIMONIES THAT PEOPLE WERE SHARING.

IT'S REALLY STILL -- AND I KNOW, IF I'M EMOTIONAL, CERTAINLY LARGE PORTION OF OUR COMMUNITY IS STILL FEELING TRAUMATIZED AS WELL.

>> Cathy: CYNTHIA, HOW DO YOU FEEL?

>> I FEEL THE GAMUT OF EMOTIONS.

YOU KNOW, TODAY WE STARTED THE DAY OF REMEMBRANCE WITH A BRUNCH.

DURING THE BRUNCH, WE WERE ABLE TO HONOR GEORGE FLOYD'S FAMILY, SO HIS FAMILY MEMBERS WERE THERE.

ESPECIALLY AS WE WERE HANDING OUT AND OFFERING SCHOLARSHIPS TO DIFFERENT STUDENTS WHO ARE IN THE COMMUNITY IN ORDER O SUPPORT THEIR EDUCATION.

AND IN HONORING THOSE STUDENTS, EACH OF THE FELLOWSHIPS THAT THEY RECEIVED WERE NAMED AFTER ELDERS IN THE COMMUNITY.

I FELT SUCH IMMENSE PRIDE IN SEEING OUR ANCESTORS BEING HONORED BY HE NEXT GENERATION, BUT TO COUNCIL WOMAN'S ENKINS' POINT OF FEELING THAT ETRAUMATIZATION, WE HAD PHILANDO CASTILE'S MOTHER THERE, OF COURSE WE HAD GEORGE FLOYD'S FAMILY THERE, AND SO IT'S NOT IN VAIN, WE TOTALLY RECOGNIZE BY ASKING THEM TO COME AND STAND FOR US FOR THIS DAY OF REMEMBRANCE, IT'S RETRAUMATIZING FOR THEM, IT'S ETRAUMATIZING FOR US AS WELL.

WE HAD A MOMENT OF SILENCE AT THE GEORGE FLOYD SQUARE TODAY, WHERE HE ALSO HAD HIS AUNTS AND SOME OF HIS COUSINS THAT WERE THERE, AND I DID A GOOD JOB OF MAKEUP TODAY, I FEEL, I WAS TRYING TO HARD DURING THAT PERFORMANCE AND DURING THEIR SINGING TO NOT CRY.

I WAS JUST SWELLED AND OVERWHELMED WITH EMOTION.

AND THE THING THAT JUST KEPT RINGING BACK IN MY HEAD IS, THIS HAPPENED SO MANY TIMES BEFORE, AND DESPITE THE PROMISE OF NEVER AGAIN, IT DID HAPPEN AGAIN AND AGAIN.

>> Eric: YOU'RE NOT RUNNING AGAIN.

>> I AM NOT SEEKING RE-ELECTION, IT'S TRUE.

>> Eric: AND HOW MUCH WILL POLICING BE A PART OF THE 2025 CAMPAIGN WITH THE CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR UP?

IS IT A KEY ISSUE STILL?

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY KEY ISSUE.

PUBLIC SAFETY IS VERY MUCH ON THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THE CITIZENS OF MINNEAPOLIS.

>> Eric: SURE.

>> AND THEY ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CITY COUNCIL.

>> Cathy: SINCE YOU'RE NOT RUNNING AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

>> Eric: FOR SURE, ABSOLUTELY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Eric: THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU.

>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

>> Eric: E'RE GOING TO HEAD BACK OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STUDIO OW TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE CONSENT DECREE AND HISTORY OF POLICING IN MINNEAPOLIS.

AND WHILE E DO THAT, HERE'S SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FOR YOU.

SHELETTA BRUNDIDGE HAS BEEN BRUSHING UP ON HER HOOPS SKILLS.

>> NOW, LISTEN, EVERYBODY AROUND TOWN KNOWS THAT I'M A DARN GOOD BROADCASTER.

AND I'VE GOT TWO EMMY AWARDS TO PROVE IT.

BUT WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW IS I'VE BEEN WORKIN' ON MY... BASKETBALL SKILLS.

AND UST IN THE NICK OF TIME, TOO, BECAUSE OUR MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES, Y'ALL, THEY NEED ME RIGHT NOW.

THEY'RE DOWN 2-0 IN THE NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS.

AGAINST THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER.

AND I COULD BE JUST THE LIGHTNING ROD THAT KEEPS THE WOLVES FROM GETTING SWEPT.

SO, I WENT DOWN TO TARGET CENTER TO PRACTICE WITH THE SQUAD, YOU KNOW, BUILD CAMARADERIE WITH MY NEW TEAMMATES AND LET'S JUST SAY, SEVERAL OF THE REPORTERS COVERING WOLVES BASKETBALL, INCLUDING MY FRIEND REGGIE WILSON, KARE-11 SPORTS DIRECTOR, WERE ENCOURAGING, BUT SKEPTICAL.

OF MY BALL HANDLING SKILLS.

>> REGGIE, I REALLY THINK THE TEAM NEEDS ME.

I THINK I CAN GO IN, I THINK I CAN MAKE A CONTRIBUTION.

>> GUARD SKILLS?

>> NO, NO, NO BALL HANDLING SKILLS.

[ Indiscernible ] >> CELEBRATION.

>> OKAY, SO YOU CAN RUN FAST?

>> YEAH, I CAN RUN FAST.

I CAN YELL OUT PLAYS.

>> YEAH.

>> I CAN YELL OUT A LOT OF PLAYS TO THE PEOPLE LIKE, BLOCK!

HURRY UP, SHOOT!

PASS!

>> WHAT IF YOU'RE OPEN, AN YOU TAKE THE SHOT?

>> TAKE IT WHERE?

TAKE IT TO THE STUMP.

>> SHOOT THE HOT.

>> OH, SHOOT THE SHOT?

>> UH-HUH.

>> I PROBABLY COULD, BUT I DON'T -- I DON'T THINK I CAN -- >> 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

>> BUT I THINK I'M NEEDED.

>> FOR THE OTHER STUFF.

>> FOR THE OTHER STUFF.

YEAH.

>> OKAY.

SURE.

>> OKAY.

YEAH.

>> WHOO!

YEAH!

MY TEAM NEEDS ME!

I'M HERE!

LET'S GO!

>> THERE YOU HAVE IT.

PUT ME IN, COACH FINCH.

I'M READY TO PLAY!

TODAY!

♪ >> CATHY: AS NOTED MULTIPLE TIMES TONIGHT, ONE OF THE BIG PIECES OF NEWS THIS WEEK RELATING TO THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD WAS THE REQUEST FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO VACATE THE FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE IMPOSED UPON THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE MPD CONSENT DECREE STORY AND HISTORY OF POLICING WITH YOHURU WILLIAMS, A HISTORIAN WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS AND DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOOL'S RACIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE.

>> THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING STORY.

WHEN LAST WE TALKED, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE.

>> WE WERE.

>> Cathy: YOU'RE NOT SURPRISED THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED.

>> NO, UNFORTUNATELY, WE ANTICIPATED THAT THIS WOULD BE THE OUTCOME.

AND, OF COURSE, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CHOOSING THE FIFTH-YEAR ANNIVERSARY, SUCH CLOSE PROXIMITY TO ACTUALLY MOVE FOR THE DISMISSAL, I THINK WAS TROUBLING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE BUT NOT SURPRISING.

>> Eric: YOU DON'T THINK THE TIMING IS A COINCIDENCE?

>> NOT AT ALL.

NOT AT ALL.

IT WAS DEFINITELY INTENDED TO, I THINK, INFLICT PAIN ON THIS COMMUNITY IN A WAY THAT, AGAIN, YOU WOULD ASSUME THAT SINCE WE ALL EXPERIENCED THIS TOGETHER AND THIS WAS BOTH A NATIONAL AND A LOCAL CONCERN, THE IMPULSE TO SEE THIS WORK CONTINUE, BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, THE ADMINISTRATION'S NOT INTERESTED IN THAT.

>> Cathy: IT LOOKS LIKE THE DOJ SAID THAT THE DECREE WAS ANTI-POLICE.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THAT?

>> AGAIN, VERY PROBLEMATIC, AND I THINK CONSISTENT WITH THE POLITICAL LEANINGS OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IN THIS REGARD.

BUT DIVORCED FROM THE REALITY OF THE HISTORY OF THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE AND A LARGER QUESTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH CONSTITUTIONAL POLICING WHICH SHOULD BE THE FOUNDATION FOR ALL DEPARTMENTS NATIONALLY.

>> Eric: YOU'RE BIG ON THE HISTORY OF THIS STUFF.

AND I WONDER IF YOU COULD COMPARE AND CONTRAST, LIKE THE CIVIL RIGHTS STRUGGLES OF THE '60s TO KIND OF THE POLICING ISSUES OF TODAY.

IS THERE ANY KIND OF PARALLEL AT ALL?

>> PARALLELS IN THE SENSE THAT DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS ERA, ONE OF THE BIG CONCERNS WAS THE LACK OF RESTRAINT ON SOUTHERN POLICE DEPARTMENTS, PARTICULARLY COMMISSIONS OF PUBLIC SAFETY, LIKE PEOPLE LIKE EUGENE BULLKOTTER, WHO ROUTINELY ENGAGED IN ACTS OF BRUTALITY GAINST COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

THE CHALLENGE IN THAT MOMENT, THOUGH, PEOPLE LARGELY SAW THAT AS A SOUTHERN PHENOMONA, IT WAS A NATIONAL PHENOMONA, SO YOU HAD POLICE BRUTALITY IN NORTHERN CITIES AS WELL.

IN OUR MOMENT, AS WE THINK ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THIS CHALLENGE TODAY, THE FOCUS IS ON MINNEAPOLIS, BUT THE REALITY IS, THIS IS A NATIONAL PROBLEM, WE NEEDED A JUSTICE -- GEORGE FLOYD JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT, WHICH WE DIDN'T GET, AND THE FEAR IS THAT WE'RE JUST, YOU KNOW, DAYS AWAY FROM ANOTHER INCIDENT THAT WILL BRING US ALL RIGHT BACK TO THE SITUATION.

MINNEAPOLIS WAS GROUND ZERO THIS TIME.

BUT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER COMMUNITIES, FERGUSON, MISSOURI, NEW YORK CITY.

>> Eric: LOUISVILLE.

>> EXACTLY.

WHO HAVE BEEN AT THE EPICENTER OF THESE TYPES OF QUESTIONS.

>> Cathy: A LITTLE ORE HISTORY HERE.

THERE HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTS MADE IN THE PAST TO REFORM THAT POLICE DEPARTMENT.

YOU AND I TALKED ON MPR ABOUT THIS.

HUBERT HUMPHREY ATTEMPTED, DID HE NOT?

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: SO DID THE FORMER MAYOR OF MINNEAPOLIS.

>> AND THIS MOMENT TO ME FEELS LIKE 1975 WHERE YOU HAD A GREAT COMBINATION OF AL HOFFSTAD AND JENSEN, AND AS POLICE CHIEF AND MAYOR.

>> Cathy: YES.

>> THE CHALLENGE IN THAT MOMENT WAS, THEY WERE ACTUALLY MAKING SOME HEADWAY WITH REGARDS TO REFORM, AND IT WAS REGIME CHANGE THAT ULTIMATELY UPENDED THAT REFORM.

I HEARD YESTERDAY MAYOR FREY MAKE THIS FULL-THROATED PLEDGE TO CONTINUE THE WORK OF IMPLEMENTING THE FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE WITHOUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVOLVED, BUT HE REALITY IS, THE REASON WE NEED THE OVERSIGHT IN THE FIRST PLACE IS, THE DEPARTMENT HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT.

AND BOTH MAYOR FREY AND CHIEF O'HARA ARE UP FOR THE END OF THEIR TERM.

SO THEY CAN MAKE THOSE PLEDGES, BUT IF A NEW ADMINISTRATION COMES IN, NEW CHIEF COMES IN, WOULD THAT WORK CONTINUE?

>> Eric: IS MOMENTUM HARD TO MAINTAIN?

AND I WONDER IF IT'S -- IT'S FIVE YEARS, AND THERE WILL BE A SPURT OF ACTIVITY THIS WEEKEND.

BUT IS THE MOMENTUM STILL A PLUS POSSIBLE?

>> I THINK IT'S STILL POSSIBLE.

I THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO LOSE HOPE.

I THINK PRIMARILY BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN SOME HIGH-PROFILE CASES, AND CHIEF SPOKE TO THIS, THERE ARE DEFINITELY POCKETS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY WHO REMAIN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF CHIEF O'HARA AND SUPPORTIVE OF THE REFORMS, AND THERE ARE OTHER CASES THAT STOKE THE WOUNDS, THE MEMORY.

I THINK THE MATURI CASE IS ONE OF THOSE INSTANCES THE CASE OF ALLISON E SEWER, THE INDIGENOUS WOMAN WHO PASSED AWAY, THE MEDICAL EXAMINER SAID IT WAS ONE SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES, THE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS A DRUG OVERDOSE.

PARTICULARLY BLAX AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE HAVE SUFFERED IN THIS COMMUNITY, REALLY THE WAY THEY THINK ABOUT THIS CONTEMPORARY MOMENT AND HOW THEY'RE RESPONDING AND THE LONG-TERM HOPE IN CHANGES IN THE MPD.

>> Cathy: I WONDER HOW ANY CHALLENGES IN LABOR, MANAGEMENT RELATIONS IN THE DEPARTMENT MAY ALSO AFFECT REFORM MOVING FORWARD.

>> IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

PART OF THE CHALLENGE IS PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THE POLICE UNION.

THAT WAS A BIG IMPEDIMENT IN 2020, THAT WAS A BIG PART OF THE CONVERSATION.

THE POLICE UNION, OBVIOUSLY SOME ARE SPECULATING MAY NOT BE UNHAPPY ABOUT THE RECENT DECISION NOT TO GO FORWARD WITH THE CONSTITUTIONAL POLICING.

AND, SO, THE BIG QUESTION IS, ARE THEY WAITING OUT ON THIS REGIME CHANGE THAT'S INEVITABLE, AND WILL WE GO BACK TO THE CULTURE THAT, YOU KNOW, O'HARA HAS WORKED SO HARD TO DEAL WITH IT, COUNCIL PERSON JENKINS TALKED ABOUT, IT'S REALLY THAT CULTURE CHANGE THAT WILL BE IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY.

>> Eric: AL SHARP NONE HIS EULOGY SAID, YOU CHANGED THE WORLD, GEORGE, TAKE YOUR REST.

DID HE?

>> UNFORTUNATELY, NO.

PART OF THE CHALLENGE IN THIS MOMENT, PEOPLE ARE STILL REALLY HOPING FOR THE TRAGEDY WITH A HAPPY ENDING.

WE DON'T HAVE A HAPPY ENDING HERE.

WE HAVE THE WORK THAT REMAINS TO BE DONE.

WE CONTINUE TO WRITE THAT STORY.

AGAIN, I HOPE COMMUNITY WILL CONTINUE TO STAY IN THAT WORK, FOLLOW THE WORK OF PEOPLE LIKE COMMUNITIES UNITED COMMUNITIES UCOMMUNITIES UNITEDT POLICE BRUTALITY, THE MINNESOTA JUSTICE RESEARCH CENTER, ACTIVISTS LIKE NEKIMA LEVY ARMSTRONG, WE NEED TO STAY IN THIS WORK AND VIGILANT AND TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE POLICE AND DEALING WITH THESE ISSUES.

>> Cathy: ALWAYS A PLEASURE, THANKS OR THE INSIGHTS.

APPRECIATE IT.

WELL, WE'RE GOING TO SWITCH GEARS AND TAKE A BREAK FROM THE NEWS RIGHT NOW.

WE WILL HAVE A LIVE PERFORM FRANCE THE CHORAL GROUP CANTUS.

OF COURSE, YOU ALL KNOW THEY'RE AMAZING.

I'M GOING TO HEAD OVER TO TALK WITH THEM.

IN THE MEANTIME, TAKE A LOOK AT THE FUN OLD CLIP FROM THE "ALMANAC" ARCHIVES.

>> WELL, LET'S TAKE A LOOK, SHOW THE FOLKS THE BEHIND THE SCENES.

>> ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.

WHAT THEY NEVER SEE WHEN WE'RE ON THE AIR.

>> MY FAVORITE.

DELORIS BROWN.

PEOPLE THINK WE'RE AD LIBBING THE COPY, SHE ROLLS IT UP ON THE SCREEN, THAT'S HOW WE SOUND SO GOOD.

>> ERIC, BE CAREFUL, BE CAREFUL.

TAKE A LOOK HERE.

THAT'S WHAT THE CREW DID AFTER ONE OF YOUR SINGING NUMBERS.

>> WELL, NORBERG CROWNED ME WITH IT, THAT WAS THE BEST SOUND IT MADE ALL NIGHT.

>> CATHY: DID YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN HERE IN THE 'NEW' STUDIOS FOR MORE THAN 35 YEARS NOW?

WOW.

I'M WITH ONE OF MY FAVORITE GROUPS.

THE CHORAL GROUP CANTUS.

WE'RE ALWAYS HAPPY TO HAVE THEM HERE IN STUDIO B.

WE OF COURSE LOVE YOUR SINGING, YOU'RE ALL AMAZING.

PAUL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Cathy: A COUPLE OF NEW PROJECTS.

>> WE DO, THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Cathy: THE FIST ONE, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE COVERS CONCERT.

>> YES.

WE DO A COVER SHOW EVERY YEAR WHERE WE WORK WITH A BAND.

SO USUALLY IT'S JUST US SINGING.

>> Cathy: WHAT A BAND?

>> A BAND.

SO WE'VE GOT DRUMS, KEYS, GUITAR.

WE HAVE A HORN SECTION.

SO THIS YEAR IS FUNK MUSIC.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO WANT TO MISS IT.

IT'S SO MUCH FUN.

>> Cathy: A FUNKY CANTUS, HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> THERE WILL BE DANCING, IT'S GOING TO BE SO, SO GREAT.

>> Cathy: THERE'S GOING TO BE DANCING.

WOW, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

THIS IS MY MIND BEING BLOWN HERE.

>> LUMINARY ARTS CENTER, IN THE NORTH LOOP, REALLY COOL VENUE, MAY 31st TO JUNE 8th, ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE SUMMER.

>> Cathy: HOW HARD IS IT FOR YOU TO WORK WITH A BAND WHEN YOU'RE USED TO SINGING A CAPPELLA?

>> IT'S LIKE KARAOKE ON STEROIDS.

[ Laughter ] IT'S A LITTLE SCARY AT FIRST, BUT AFTER A WHILE, YOU KIND OF MISS IT WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE IT.

SO IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

>> Cathy: OKAY.

SO THAT'S THE -- THAT'S THE COVER ONCERT.

IN JULY, YOU HAVE THE CHAMBER SERIES.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, YEAH.

SO EVERY YEAR WE DO THE CHAMBER SERIES, WE KIND OF SHIFT MORE TOWARDS ARTS SONG, SO WE GET TO TAKE SOME SOLO ROLES WITH PIANO, REALLY FUN, AND THIS YEAR WE'RE FEATURING THE MUSIC OF FRANK SINATRA, TAKE TURNS CROONING HIS ALBUM "IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS."

>> Cathy: WOW.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WORKING THROUGH THE SINATRA KIND OF CATALOG, THE CROONER CATALOG.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, IT COULD NOT BE MORE DIFFERENT FROM COVERS.

IT'S A LOT F FUN TO GET TO KIND OF SWITCH GEARS.

BUT, YEAH, A LITTLE LOUNGE MUSIC.

HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, THE VENUES ARE REALLY FUN SO, WE'RE AT THE MUSEUM OF RUSSIAN ART, SO AT THE AMERICAN SWEDISH INSTITUTE, SOME REALLY COOL DIFFERENT VENUES FOR US.

REALLY KIND OF A BESPOKE EXPERIENCE.

YEAH.

IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

WE GET TO CHOOSE OUR OWN KEYS.

SO, FORTUNATELY, THE BASSES GET TO STAY LOW, TENORS GET TO STAY HIGH.

>> Cathy: GLAD TO HEAR THAT.

IF SOMEONE WANTS TO GET TICKETS WHERE DO THEY GO?

>> CANTUSSINGS.ORG.

TWO Ss IN THE MIDDLE, ONE AT THE END.

PLEASE COME CHECK US OUT.

>> Cathy: WE HAVE TO, OF COURSE, HAVE SOME MUSIC.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SING?

>> IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS OF THE MORNING, FEATURING OUR OWN BASS, OLANDER GREEN.

>> Cathy: NICE.

CANTUS.

♪ VOCALIZING ♪ ♪ IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS OF THE MORNING ♪ ♪ WHILE THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD IS FAST ASLEEP ♪ ♪ YOU LIE AWAKE AND THINK ABOUT THE GIRL AND NEVER EVER THINK OF COUNTING SHEEP ♪ ♪ OOH OOH ♪ ♪ AND WHEN YOUR LONELY HEART HAS LEARNED ITS LESSON ♪ ♪ YOU'D E HURT IF ONLY SHE WOULD CALL ♪ ♪ IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS OF THE MORNING ♪ ♪ THAT'S THE TIME YOU MISS HER MOST ♪ ♪ OOH, OOH, OOH, OOH, OOH ♪ ♪ YOU'D BE HERS IF ONLY SHE WOULD CALL ♪ ♪ FOR IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS OF HE MORNING ♪ ♪ THAT'S THE TIME YOU MISS HER MOST ♪ ♪ OOH, OOH, OOH ♪ ♪ OH OH OH AH AH AYES H OOH OOH ♪ [ Applause ] ♪ >> ERIC: LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND THE GOVERNOR ALL SAY THEY'RE GETTING CLOSE TO COMPLETING BUDGET BILLS FOR A SPECIAL SESSION POSSIBLY NEXT WEEK.

POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER BRINGS US CONTEXT TALKING TO KEY LAWMAKERS AND THE GOVERNOR ABOUT THIS UNPRECEDENTED AND HISTORIC LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> THE SENATE IS NOW ADJOURNED.

>> THE HOUSE STANDS ADJOURNED.

>> Mary: IN THE END, SESSION CONCLUDED THE WAY IT BEGAN.

WITH CLOSE MARGINS IN BOTH CHAMBERS, CREATING BLAME ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE.

>> WE HAVE TO FINISH THIS.

WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.

>> IT'S A LITTLE BIT DISAPPOINTING THAT THE SESSION ENDS AS IT BEGAN, WITH SOME- REDS AS IT BEGAN, WITH SOME- REAL AS IT BEGAN, WITH SOME- REALLYS IT BEGAN, WITH SOME- REALLY PIT BEGAN, WITH SOME- REALLY PAR BEGAN, WITH SOME- REALLY PARTIEGAN, WITH SOME- REALLY PARTISAAN, WITH SOME- REALLY PARTISAN , WITH SOME- REALLY PARTISAN ANWITH SOME- REALLY PARTISAN ANTITH SOME- REALLY PARTISAN ANTICS SOME- REALLY PARTISAN ANTICS OOME- REALLY PARTISAN ANTICS ON E- REALLY PARTISAN ANTICS ON THE FLOOR.

>> Mary: WHAT DISOUNK THE SOONEST, I WAS JUST TALKING TO SOME LAWMAKERS, THEY WERE THINKING TUESDAY IS PROBABLY THE SOONEST YOU COULD CALL THEM ACK.

>> MAINLY BECAUSE IT'S MEMORIAL DAY.

>> IT IS HARD.

THIS IS ALWAYS A DIFFICULT TIME OF THE YEAR.

WE HAVE TO MAKE HARD CHOICES.

>> IT'S UNFORTUNATE WE'RE COMING TO THIS POINT WHERE WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE BILLS ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING LIKE.

THE DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE TOOK 23 DAYS AFTER IN THE BEGINNING OF SESSION.

>> Mary: DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE BOYCOTTED ALMOST A MONTH OF THE START OF SESSION.

OVER REPUBLICAN THREATS NOT TO SEAT A REPRESENTATIVE IN A RACE WITH RECOUNTS ND COURT CASES HE WON.

>> THEY'RE HOLDING OUT FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO REPRESENT THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, BEING ABLE TO PROTECT PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE, BEEN ABLE TO PROTECT CLIMATE, 100% CLEAN ENERGY, THE THINGS THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO US, THAT MATTER IN MY COMMUNITY.

>> Mary: DEMOCRATS ARE REALLY TORN IN THIS STATE.

HOW DIFFICULT HAS IT BEEN TO BE A PART OF THAT?

>> IT'S AWFUL.

IT IS CRUELTY.

IT IS NOT GOOD FOR MINNESOTA.

IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE OF MY DISTRICT.

WE HAVE WIDE RANGE OF DIVERSITY OF FOLKS, AND THIS WILL ABSOLUTELY AFFECT LIVES IN MY DISTRICT.

TAX-PAYING FOLKS THAT HAVE FAMILIES, THAT HAVE LIVED HERE FOR A LONG TIME.

[ KNOCKING ] >> Mary: DEMOCRATS DIVIDED BITTERLY OVER A BUDGET DEAL TO END HEALTHCARE FOR UNDOCUMENTED ADULT IMMIGRANTS, BREAKS FOR BIG-TECH BUSINESSES AND TAX INCREASES ON MARIJUANA.

>> YOU'RE KILLING OUR COMMUNITIES!

>> Mary: DO YOU RISK ALIENATING THAT PART, THE REALLY PROGRESSIVE PART OF YOUR PARTY?

>> SURE.

>> Mary: IF YOU'RE RUNNING AGAIN, IF YOU WANT A FUTURE, YOU NEED THEM, RIGHT?

>> OH, THAT'S THE LEAST OF MY WORRIES.

THIS IS TO GET IT DONE.

THIS ABOUT COMPROMISE AND PRAGMATIC.

>> Mary: A BIG FUND-RAISER, $1,000 A PLATE TO $4,000 A PLATE.

THAT SOUNDS LIKE SOMEBODY MIGHT BE RUNNING.

>> WELL, HELPING THE PARTY.

PUT YOURSELF IN A POSITION WHERE YOU CAN DO THIS.

>> Mary: ORIGINALLY YOU SAID AFTER SESSION, I'M WONDERING IF IT'S AFTER SPECIAL SESSION, EVERYTHING TO BE WRAPPED BEFORE MAKING IT PUBLIC.

>> I THINK IT'S BEST TO WRAP IT UP, SEE WHERE WE'RE AT.

>> Mary: SPECIAL SESSION IS NECESSARY O FINISH PASSING BUDGET BILLS TO AVOID A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

AND IT WAS THE STATE GOVERNMENT BILL THAT WAS THE LAST ONE PASSED IN THE REGULAR SESSION.

>> SO YOU HEARD US SAY WHEN WE WERE INTRODUCING BILLS, THIS IS NOT THE BILL THAT I WOULD HAVE WRITTEN, BOTH CHAIRS HAVE SAID THAT, AND I'LL USE CHAIR KLEVORN AND MYSELF, WHO WERE ON YOUR SHOW, "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL," NEITHER OF US WOULD HAVE WRITTEN THE BILL THIS WAY, BUT BOTH OF US HAVE WORKED VERY WELL TOGETHER.

>> Mary: DO YOU THINK IN THE END, THE HOUSE BEING TIED AND HAVING TO BE BIPARTISAN ON EVERYTHING ENDS UP BEING KIND OF A SUPER POWER AGAINST THE SENATE AND THE GOVERNOR, IN SOME WAY?

>> I DO.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE LEARNED IN THIS AST YEAR OF TIME IS, YOU LEARN TO BOTH GET THE STUFF THAT YOUR SIDE NEEDS WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING SOME OF THE STUFF THAT YOU KNOW THE OTHER SIDE NEEDS AS LONG AS IT'S NOT CRAZY.

IT'S BASICALLY WHAT'S FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER THAT WE'VE BEEN PASSING.

>> Mary: FOR A FRESHMAN WHO FLIPPED A SEAT FOR HE FIRST TIME IN ALMOST A CENTURY, SESSION WAS AN EDUCATION.

>> THE LAST DAY IS KIND OF SURREAL THAT IT'S FINALLY HERE.

I RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S JUST A LOT OF CLINGS HAPPENING IN THE BACKGROUND.

WE'VE GOT SOME REALLY GREAT LEADERSHIP IN OUR TEAM.

I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE HOW LUCKY WE GOT WITH ISA AS SPEAKER.

I COULDN'T BE MORE IMPRESSED WITH HER, HONESTLY.

>> Mary: THERE'S STRIFE IN THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS, STRIFE IN THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS, IT ISN'T EASY AND HUNKY-DORY, IS IT?

>> IT'S NOT EASY.

I LOVE IT WHEN WE HAVE A UNIFIED FRONT, TOO.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE IN CAUCUS AND YOU HEAR ALL THE INTERNAL STRUGGLES, WHAT YOU CAN RECOGNIZE IS HOW UNIQUE ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS ARE.

THIS IS A 24/7 PART-TIME JOB.

[ Laughter ] THAT REQUIRES A LOT OF THOUGHT AND A LOT OF COMMITMENT.

AND I'M STILL HERE FOR IT, BUT THIS IS -- THIS IS ENDLESS WORK.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT WORK.

>> Mary: FOR A GOVERNOR COMING OFF A LIFE-CHANGING CAMPAIGN FOR VICE PRESIDENT, THIS SESSION WAS A UNIQUE CHALLENGE, WHILE MAINTAINING A NATIONAL PROFILE.

HOW MUCH MORE TRAVELING, HAS IT BEEN A DISTRACTION, HAVE YOU BEEN HERE ENOUGH?

>> I THINK IT WAS FIVE DAYS.

YEAH, A COUPLE WEEKENDS OFF, WE DO THAT.

CERTAINLY HERE A LOT.

WE HAVE A PLATFORM, AND I KEEP SAYING THIS, I THINK THE REASON I WAS ON THAT TICKET IS THAT MINNESOTA, A LOT OF THINGS WORK, WHETHER T'S FROM HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, WE'RE TACKLING THINGS, VERY PROUD THAT WE'RE SEEING SOME SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS, DECADES LOWS IN CRIME AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

AND I THINK THAT'S A MESSAGE WE CAN TAKE OUT THERE.

>> CATHY: LAWMAKERS HAVE MISSED ALL OF THEIR DEADLINES THIS WEEK.

WILL THEY MANAGE TO HAVE A DEAL IN PLACE IN TIME FOR GOVERNOR WALZ TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION NEXT WEEK?

OR WILL THINGS DRAG OUT CLOSER TO THE JUNE 30TH BUDGET DEADLINE?

THIS WEEK'S PANEL IS FULL OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN CLOSE TO END-OF-SESSION DEALS THAT MAKE IT AND THE DEALS THAT DON'T.

DEMOCRATS UP FIRST TONIGHT.

EMBER REICHGOTT JUNGE IS A FORMER ASSISTANT SENATE MAJORITY LEADER.

ABOU AMARA IS A FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER WHO WORKED FOR A HOUSE SPEAKER, NOW AN ATTORNEY.

REPUBLICANS WITH US TONIGHT, AMY KOCH IS A FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, NOW LOBBISYT.

AND FRITZ KNAAK IS A FORMER STATE SENATOR NOW A PRACTICING ATTORNEY.

THERE ARE A LOT OF SENATORS ON THIS PANEL.

I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT.

>> I'M NOT ONE OF THEM.

>> Cathy: YOU AREN'T.

THIS IS CORRECT.

BUT YOU'RE FROM THE HOUSE, THAT'S GOOD.

SENATOR KOCH, WHY IS IT SO RIDICULOUSLY HARD TO GET A DEAL?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST -- FIRST OF ALL, THE HOUSES ARE ALMOST EVENLY DIVIDED, 34-33 IN THE SENATE, 67-67 IN THE HOUSE.

AND IT'S JUST -- YOU KNOW WHAT?

I WOULD SAY FOR LEADERS IS, YOU HAVE TO BRING ALONG YOUR CAUCUSES.

THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO GET A DEAL.

YOU CANNOT -- THERE'S NO WAY FOR -- YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR HAS THE ADVANTAGE, HE'S ONE GUY, HE MAKES THE DECISION, HE GETS TO MAKE THE DECISION.

BUT THE LEADERS DON'T GET TO.

THEY HAVE TO GO BACK TO THEIR CAUCUS AND EXPLAIN THE DIGS -- EXPLAIN THE DECISION.

AND SOMETIMES WE'VE SEEN, IT COMES BACK WITH A BIG FAT NO.

AND THAT HAPPENED WITH THE EDUCATION FINANCE, WE WERE TOLD IT'S A DEAL, IT'S A WRAP, IT WENT TO WAYS AND MEANS IN THE HOUSE, AND GUESS WHAT?

DEMOCRATS SAID, NO GO.

NOT A DEAL.

>> Eric: THE DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN SO ON THE DEFENSIVE THIS YEAR, KIND OF PROTECTING WHAT THEY DID IN '23-24 CYCLE.

BUT IT ISN'T TWO YEARS AGO AFTER THE '24 ELECTION, AND I WONDER IF THE DEMOCRATS HAVEN'T PICKED THAT UP QUITE YET.

IT'S A DIFFERENT TIME.

>> WELL, IT IS A DIFFERENT TIME.

AND IT'S PARTIALLY DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES AND THEY'RE TRYING TO PROTECT THAT.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT I ALSO THINK THAT IT'S DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF THE POLITICS AROUND IT.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE BROADER PICTURE, PUBLIC DISCOURSE IS REALLY DIFFERENT RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S JUST NOT A LOT OF RESPECT FOR THE TRUTH, OKAY.

YOU LOOK AT THE FACT THAT COMPROMISE IS ALMOST A DIRTY WORD.

YOU DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT IN PUBLIC.

AND, SO, IT JUST MAKES IT HARDER, I THINK, OVERALL.

>> I WOULD AGREE, WITH EMBER, THAT COMPROMISE IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, EACH LEGISLATURE'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THE LAST, IT DEPENDS ON WHO THE PLAYERS ARE.

BUT THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE IT'S SO IDEALOGICALLY DRIVEN.

SO THAT DOES NOT LEND ITSELF -- THAT'S A TOXIC THING TO HAVE ANYWAY LEGISLATIVE ENVIRONMENT.

AND IT DOESN'T LEND ITSELF AT ALL WELL TO ANY SORT OF A COMPROMISE.

>> THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS IN TWO PLACES AT ONCE.

RIGHT NOW AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, THE ENERGY IS FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT AGAINST DONALD TRUMP AND A REPUBLICAN CONGRESS.

AT THE SAME TIME, AT HOME, WE'RE A SPLIT LEGISLATURE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COMPROMISE COMPROMISE COMPROMISE COMPROMISE.

AND, SO, THAT PUTS DEMOCRATS IN A VERY DIFFICULT SPOT.

WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT.

BUT THAT'S KIND OF EMOTIONALLY WHERE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS.

>> Cathy: SAY, CAN SOMEONE HELP ME OUT HERE?

WHAT IS UP WITH THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY THIS SESSION?

I MEAN -- YES, THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEES.

OBVIOUSLY LEADERSHIP MET FOR WHAT, TWO WEEKS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

THAT'S HAPPENED BEFORE.

BUT THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEES HAVE NOT BEEN VERY PUBLIC AT ALL.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

SO, SPEAKER EMERITA HORTMAN WAS VERY CLEAR, SOMETIMES THERE ARE SENSITIVE THINGS THAT ARE SPOKEN ABOUT, THAT REALLY CAN'T HAPPEN IN PUBLIC.

TRUE.

ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

BUT THERE'S A BIG DITCHES BETWEEN SOME OF THOSE SENSITIVE ISSUES THAT NEED TO GET RESOLVED BEHIND THE CLOSED DOORS, IT DOES HAPPEN AND A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE THAT NEEDS TO MEET PUBLICLY.

WHAT HAPPENED, WE SAW IT IN 2023, WE SAW A DEGRADATION SINCE COVID, 2020, 2021, 2023, ALL THESE THINGS HAPPEN IN SILENCE, WITHOUT INPUT, AND MISTAKES GET PAID -- GET MADE IN A VERY BIG WAY, AND MULTIPLE EXAMPLES, I PROMISE YOU, PEOPLE IN '25, ALLOWING EXPERTS, ALLOWING -- WHEN IT COMES TO ED FINANCE, WHY ARE THE SUPERINTENDENTS, THE SCHOOL BOARDS, THE TEACHERS NOT IN A ROOM WEIGHING IN ON THESE BIG BILLS?

IT MAKES MISTAKES.

>> Cathy: DO YOU REMEMBER SENATOR POGEMILLER'S CONFERENCE COMMITTEES?

I MEAN, THEY WOULD CONFEREE OUT EVERY LITTLE THING IN THAT BILL.

>> OIFS THAN THIS EM.

>> RIGHT, EXACTLY.

>> AND IT WOULD BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

YES, FRITZ AND I, WE WOULD BE THERE, AND IT WAS VERY MUCH OPEN.

BUT IT'S BECAUSE OF THESE ISSUES THAT I TALKED ABOUT THAT, IT'S NOT HAPPENING.

IF YOU COMPROMISE IN PUBLIC, YOUR BASE GOES NUTS.

AND, SO, THEY'RE WANTING FINGER POINTING.

SO IT'S REALLY HARD TO DO THAT.

AND I REALLY DO UNDERSTAND, IF YOU WANT TO GET TO, YES, YOU'VE GOT TO DO SOME OF IT BEHIND THE DOORS.

>> WELL, BEFORE WE START THINKING WE WERE ALL SO PURE IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS -- [ Laughter ] I STILL REMEMBER OUR JUDICIAL REFORM BILL THAT WE HAD, TORT REFORM BILL, WHICH WAS DONE IN THE SENATE -- IN THE SENATE RETIRING ROOM, WHERE PRESS WAS NOT ALLOWED, NOT ENCOURAGED, ON A SUNDAY.

>> Eric: YOU CAN'T EVEN LOOK IN THERE, LET ALONE GO IN THERE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND, SO, THAT DEAL WAS DONE, PRECISELY BECAUSE THERE WAS NOBODY WATCHING, THERE WERE NO LOBBYISTS THERE.

PEOPLE WANTING TO PUT IN THAT EVER SO NECESSARY INPUT.

THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, YOU KNOW, LEFT TO THEIR OWN DEVICES, THERE ISN'T, NEVER HAS BEEN A LEGISLATOR THAT HASN'T PREFERRED TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS HAPPEN IN PRIVATE.

>> Eric: AS A LAWYER, DO YOU WANT INSPECTOR GENERAL?

APPARENTLY THAT'S DEAD FOR THE SESSION.

ON THE FRAUD BUSINESS.

>> WELL, LOOK, I THINK THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN INSPECTOR GENERAL AND THE FUNCTIONS THAT NEED TO BE PROVIDED TO ENSURE WE'RE INVESTIGATING IMPROPER CONTACT -- CONDUCT, MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S ACTUAL TEETH, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, OR THE LEGISLATURE CAN LOOK INTO.

I'M NOT WEDDED TO THE TITLE, I'M -- >> Eric: THAT'S AN ISSUE RIGHT FOR REPUBLICANS.

>> OH, VERY RIPE.

THE QUESTION THAT DID HAVE POWER, PEOPLE LIKE EITH ELLISON AND POWERS THAT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE BUILT TO -- AND THE BILITY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, DIDN'T AND LEFT US IN A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE THE LARGEST SINGLE SCANDAL IN THAT COVID PERIOD FOR THOSE FUNDS.

AND IT ISN'T REALLY GETTING BETTER.

RIGHT NOW, I THINK THE IDEA, IDEAS THAT ARE BEING ADVANCED ARE SOMETHING OF A RED HERRING.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING MORE THAN JUST WORDS THAT ARE GOING TO PUT SOME TEETH BEHIND WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN.

>> Cathy: IT WAS APPEARING THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING WAS GOING TO PASS, THOUGH, THIS SESSION.

IT WAS KIND OF LOOKING BIPARTISAN.

BUT IT DERAILED.

>> THERE WAS A WONDERFUL BIPARTISAN BILL N THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.

I THINK THAT IS A GOOD PATHWAY FORWARD.

AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY OPPOSITE WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, WHERE THEY'RE TAKING OUT INSPECTORS GENERAL.

SO, WHY THAT ISN'T GOING, I'M NOT SURE.

>> I THINK IT COMES DOWN TO MONEY.

>> YEAH.

[ OVERLAPPING CONVERSATION ] >> $18 MILLION, IGHT?

I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE DISAGREEMENT CAME.

THERE'S BIPARTISAN CONSENSUS, WE'VE GOT TO GET RID OF THE WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE.

HOW MUCH ARE WE GOING TO SPEND?

BE DUBIOUS AND ADD DIFFERENT AGENCIES WHEN WE CAN REALLY FOCUS THOSE EFFORTS.

>> THE PROBLEM IS, THIS HAS BEEN YEARS THAT THE FRAUD HAS BEEN GOING ON, AND THERE'S AN AN ABILITY AND AN OPPORTUNITY, AND, FRANKLY, $18 BILLION IN 2023 THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DIRECTED TOWARDS SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND IT WAS.

>> Eric: THE COMPLETE DISSENTENCE, THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION WILL BE KNOWN FOR -- COMPLETE THIS SENTENCE, THIS LEGISLATIVE WILL BE KNOWN FOR -- >> FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE.

>> Eric: SENATOR JUNGE?

>> FOR LOOKING TOWARD COMPROMISE.

>> OH, THAT'S SO NICE.

[ Laughter ] I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE DEADLOCKED.

IT'S GOING TO BE KNOWN FOR DEADLOCK.

>> YEAH, IT'S KNOWN FOR -- IT'S A LIGHT-ON LEGISLATURE.

>> Eric: CAN WE TALK TO POLITICS JUST A LITTLE BIT.

GOVERNOR WALZ TOLD MARY ON WEDNESDAY THAT HE'S INCLINED -- NO, I GUESS HE TOLD BRIAN THIS NOON.

BRIAN BAKST.

HE'S INCLINED TO RUN AGAIN.

>> OH, PLEASE.

>> Eric: I THINK I THINK I HAVE THE -- I THINK I HAVE THE TICKET.

>> TIM WALZ AND MELISSA LÓPEZ FRANZEN.

>> MELISSA FRANZEN, FORMER STATE SENATOR, DROPPED OUT, SHE WAS U.S. SENATE RACE FOR A HOT MINUTE.

AND RECENTLY JUST DROPPED OUT TO EVERYONE'S SURPRISE THAT.

LEFT A HIGH-PROFILE JOB AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

AND I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING AFOOT AS WELL, ERIC.

>> Cathy: HE'S INCLINED TO RUN.

>> I MEAN, THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, HE'S SITTING ON MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

HE HAS A NATIONAL PLATFORM, HE RAN FOR VICE PRESIDENT, HE'S WON MULTIPLE TIMES IN THIS STATE.

I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER HAD A MORE POPULAR, IN TERMS OF KNOWN, KNOWN, IN TERMS OF POPULARITY, KNOWN GOVERN IN OUR -- GOVERNOR IN OUR STATE'S HISTORY.

>> HE'S CERTAINLY KNOWN.

BUT I DON'T THINK HE'S POPULAR.

MY OWN INCLINATION S, PLEASE GOD GIVE US TIM WALZ IF THEY HAD A DEMOCRATIC TICKET.

IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE AN INSTANT ANSWER.

WE'VE GOT OUR OWN PROBLEMS.

GOD KNOWS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF HAVING A CANDIDATE OR A TARGET FOR A REPUBLICANS TO LOOK AT, IT'S GOT TO BE WALZ.

>> BUT THAT'S PRECISELY WHY SOMEONE LIKE MELISSA LÓPEZ FRANZEN HELPS THE TICKET.

>> I AGREE WITH THAT.

>> BACK IN 2018, GOVERNOR WALZ, WHEN HE RAN, HE NEEDED TO GET THE BASE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BEHIND HIM, PEGGY FLANAGAN HELPED HIM DO THAT.

MELISSA LÓPEZ FRANZEN CAN HELP THE ELECTORATE IN THE SUBURBS.

>> I THINK YOU SHOULD RUN HER.

>> I THINK MELISSA LÓPEZ FRANZEN WOULD BE A VERY POWERFUL LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, SHE WOULD BE EXCELLENT IN GIVING HIM GUIDANCE WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND BALANCING HIS VIEWS.

>> HE SHOULD RETIRE AND LET HER RUN.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A TRADITION, THERE'S NO CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENT, BUT THERE'S A BEEN A LONGSTANDING TRADITION OF JUST TWO TERMS FOR A GOVERNOR.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WILL NOT SIT WELL.

AS WELL AS THE GOVERNOR, ON THE NATIONAL STAGE, IN A VERY BIG WAY, AS MORE DETRACTORS NOW.

>> YES.

>> BUT THAT SAID, HE'S ALSO GOT A LOT OF MONEY IN THE BANK AND A LOT OF NAME ID.

AND MAYBE SWITCHING UP SOME IN THE ADMINISTRATION WITH THE NEW L.G.

>> I THINK HE DOES HAVE SOME WORK TO DO IN THE RURAL AREAS OF OUR STATE.

SO I DO THINK THAT HE AS TO BUILD HIS COALITION AGAIN.

>> Eric: GIVE US A REPUBLICAN NAME FOR GOVERNOR?

KENDALL QUALLS IS OUT THERE.

>> KRISTIN ROBBINS.

>> THERE'S ANOTHER ONE.

>> STATE REP KRISTIN ROBBINS.

>> athy: OMEONE MENTIONED SPEAKER DEMUTH.

>> YEAH, WELL, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SPEAKER DEMUTH.

AND I BELIEVE SHE IS GOING TO BE RUNNING FOR SOMETHING ELSE SOMEDAY, BUT I LOVE HAVING HER AS SPEAKER DAY NORTH A WHILE, TOO.

I LOVE HAVING HER IN THE HOUSE.

>> SHE'S DOING VERY WELL WHERE SHE IS.

>> Eric: I'M BURSTING WITH PRIDE THAT I CALM WITH SOME USABLE NUGGET HERE.

[ Laughter ] >> Cathy: GOOD FOR YOU.

>> Eric: MADE MY WHOLE WEEKEND, IT'S ONLY FRIDAY NIGHT.

THANKS, GUYS.

>> Cathy: SEE YOU LATER.

>> THE STATE SPENT, AS MANY OF YOU HEARD ME SAY, IN FROM 1960 UNTIL I BECAME OVERNOR, INCREASES IN SPENDING 21% EVERY TWO YEARS.

WE NOW HAVE THAT DOWN TO, ON AVERAGE, OVER MY TIME AS GOVERNOR, ABOUT 2% PER YEAR.

>> ERIC: THAT WAS FORMER GOVERNOR TIM PAWLENTY 15 YEARS AGO.

WE'VE MADE IT TO THE END OF ANOTHER HOUR TOGETHER.

BUT WE'RE NOT QUITE DONE WITH YOU YET.

EARLIER THIS MONTH, WE ASKED YOU ABOUT A MYSTERY MINNESOTAN WHO HAS STUCK TO A HABIT EVERY DAY FOR NEARLY 54 YEARS.

BUT POINTED OUT THAT HE OR SHE STILL TRAILS THE LEADER IN THIS INTERNATIONAL CONTEST.

YOUR TASK WAS TWO-FOLD.

NAME THIS MINNESOTAN AND THE 'CONTEST' HE OR SHE CLAIMS SECOND PLACE IN.

WE'LL START WITH OUR LONE WRONG ANSWER.

>> ERIC: WELL, NO.

FRITZ MONDALE IS NOT THE SECOND PLACE MINNESOTAN WE SOUGHT.

FOR THE RIGHT ANSWER, TAKE IT AWAY, DAN.

>> ERIC: YES!

DAN, YOU GET ALL THE POINTS FOR ALL THE DETAILS.

STEVE DEBOER, WHO ESTIMATES HE RUNS AT LEAST 3,000 MILES A YEAR.

THAT'S UNBELIEVABLE.

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