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

>> COMING UP ON ALMANAC, FLOCK CAMERAS AND DATA PRIVACY.

A COUNCIL DOCUMENTING OPERATION METRO SURGE, FORMER LAWMAKERS TALK MIDTERM ELECTIONS ND MARY LAHAMMER IS UP AT THE CAPITOL.

>> WE'LL TELL YOU ABOUT A NEW SERIES THAT WILL BE CELEBRATING THE MINNESOTA STATE CAPITOL WITH VIRAL VIDEO SENSATIONS.

>> IT STRIKES ME AS A VERY NONPARTISAN BUILDING, THIS IS WHERE THE WORK ACTUALLY GETS DONE.

IT'S NOT A POLITICAL SPACE.

>> EVERYBODY IS WELCOME HERE, AND EVERY VOICE IS WELCOME TO BE HEARD HERE.

>> 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.

DELTADENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION, IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH AND HELPING COMMUNITIES THRIVE.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

AND VANESSA DAYTON, THROUGH THE HEALTHCARE FOR ALL MINNESOTANS FUND, SUPPORTING ACCESSIBLE HEALTHCARE STATEWIDE.

>> WELCOME TO "ALMANAC."

WE'VE GOT A GREAT SHOW FOR YOU TONIGHT ON THIS FRIDAY NIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO SIT DOWN WITH A FORMER NATIONAL GUARD MEMBER ON THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEPTEMBER 11TH TERROR ATTACKS.

A DATA PRIVACY EXPERT ON FLOCK CAMERAS AND WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE REPUBLICAN MIDTERM CONVENTION >> Eric: WE START TO BE TONIGHT WITH ALLINA HEALTH.

ALLINA DOCTORS FROM MERCY HOSPITAL IN COON RAPIDS AND UNITY CAMPUS IN FRIDLEY HAVE FILED NOTICE THEY WILL STRIKE ON MONDAY.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE START TONIGHT.

DR.

JOHN WOOSTT III IS AN ALLINA EMPLOYEE AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, BEEN IN TALKS WITH THE UNION, ALONGSIDE HIM IS DR.E PRESIDENT OF MEDICAL AFFAIRS AT MERCY HOSPITAL.

DR.

WOOSTT, WE HEARD THIS WEEK THAT THE DOCTORS WANT A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> Eric: WOULD YOU FLESH THAT OUT FOR US?

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN EXACTLY?

WHAT'S MISSING?

>> THE MAIN THING WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS PHYSICIAN INPUT INTO DECISIONS THAT AFFECT OUR PATIENTS AND AFFECT PATIENT CARE AND WE'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAINTAIN PHYSICIAN AUTONOMY, ESPECIALLY WITH THE A.I.

TOOLS THAT ARE COMING ALONG HAT MAY INFLUENCE HOW WE COMPARE FOR PATIENTS.

>> Cathy: SOME PEOPLE DR.

MACGREGOR WOULD SAY, WAIT A MINUTE, I THOUGHT MY DOCTOR HAD A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND WAS ADVOCATING ON MY BEHALF, THAT'S NOT HAPPENING?

>> AND I WOULD AGREE WITH THOSE PEOPLE THAT SAY DOCTORS, WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE NOW.

JOHN, T'S A PLEASURE TO DO THIS WITH YOU, I LIKE AND RESPECT YOU A GREAT DEAL BUT MOST TUESDAYS AFTER UR CLINICAL WORK OR DURING LUNCH WE HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE TOGETHER IN THE DOCTORS' LOUNGE AND TALK ABOUT ISSUES AND ELP EACH OTHER.

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF THOSE TABLES AT ALIGNA.

THERE'S ALSO DR.

WOOST IS AN OBGYN AND THERE'S A LONG HISTORY, WE HAVE AN OBGYN WHO MADE HER WAY TO BE OUR CEO FOR MANY YEARS, DR.

PENNY WHEELER.

SO I THINK DOCTORS USING A SEAT AT THE TABLE IS A LONG AND PROUD HISTORY.

I DON'T THINK THE PROCESS WE HAVE NOW ADDS TO THAT AND I THINK IF IN MANY WAYS IT MAKES IT HARDER FOR US TO COMMUNICATE.

>> DR.

WOOSTT DID BRING UP THAT THERE'S A.I.

ON THE HORIZON OR ACTUALLY A.I.

IS BEING USED RIGHT NOW IN CLINICAL ROOMS AND ACROSS THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

AND I'M WONDERING, I UNDERSTAND THAT SUTOR HEALTH WHICH WANTS TO ACQUIRE ALLINA WANTS TO USE A.I.

TO REDUCE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN.

I CAN SEE WHY SOME DOCTORS MIGHT BE WORRIED ABOUT THIS.

>> AND I THINK CONCERNS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF A.I.

IS SOMETHING WE ALL SHARE.

I JUST WANT TO PIVOT BACK TO WHAT A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT IS AND WHAT IT'S NOT.

A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT IS A CHANCE TO EFINE THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT BETWEEN TWO PARTIES, THE EMPLOYER AND THE UNION.

THAT'S IT.

WE DON'T GET A AY IN CHATGPT, WE DON'T GET A SAY IN GOOGLE OR ANY OF THE OTHER USES.

SO I THINK THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT WE CAN SHARE AS CONCERNS FOR THE FUTURE OF HEALTH CARE BUT THE CONSTRAINTS OF A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT DON'T ALLOW US TO GO INTO SOME OF THE QUITE HONESTLY THE FOLLY THAT WE HEAR ABOUT WHAT HIS UNION MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO OR NOT DO.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY IN RESPONSE?

>> WITHOUT A UNION ALLINA IS AN AT-WILL EMPLOYER.

WHAT DOCTORS FEAR IF THEY BRING THINGS UP THAT ARE ADVOCATING FOR THEIR OWN ATIENT, THAT THEY MAY BE DISCIPLINED IN SOME WAY OR REPRIMANDED IN SOME WAY, AND WITHOUT UNION PROTECTIONS WE FEEL LIKE WE REALLY CAN'T ADVOCATE OPTIMALLY FOR OUR PATIENTS.

>> AND IF I COULD, MILTON FREEDMAN FELT LIKE THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION WAS THE STRONGEST LABOR UNION IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.

SO DOCTORS, WE HAVE A VERY UNIQUE POSITION GIVING OUR TRAINING, OUR CERTIFICATION, BOARD CERTIFICATION, A LOT OF THE PRIVILEGES THAT DOCTORS COUNCILS DESCRIBING WE ALREADY HAVE GIVEN THERE ARE SO FEW DOCTORS AT SUCH A GREAT NEED GENERATES HIGH INCOMES AND TREMENDOUS DEMAND IN THE MARKETPLACE.

I DO NOT THINK A UNION ADDS TO THAT.

>> Cathy: SPEAKING OF INCOME, AS YOU KNOW, DOCTOR, AALLINA, OTHER HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS ARE FACING FINANCIAL PRESSURES.

HOW OES THAT ISSUE UNDERSCORE SOME OF THESE NEGOTIATIONS?

>> WELL, ONE OF HE THING THAT'S WE'RE FIGHTING FOR IS FOR ALLINA TO HONOR THE MINNESOTA ESST OR EARNED SAFE AND SICK TIME LAW.

WE HAVE PHYSICIANS ON STAFF WHO WHEN THEY'RE SICK DON'T GET PAID.

AND THEY FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION BETWEEN GOING TO WORK SICK OR DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR THEIR PATIENT.

AND IT'S NOT A GOOD DECISION TO HAVE TO MAKE.

>> Eric: WHAT PLANS ARE IN PLACE TO COVER IF THERE IS A STRIKE, COVER THE VARIOUS PARTS OF THE OPERATION?

>> WELL, I'M EXCITED THAT I GET TO BARGAIN WITH PEOPLE LIKE JOHN ON SUNDAY.

AND I'M CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC, WE MAY BELIEVE GET THIS DONE.

IF WE DON'T WE'RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

WE HAVE NO CURTAILMENT IN SERVICES.

WE HAVE MANY PHYSICIANS THROUGHOUT ALLINA HEALTH AT OTHER PARTS OF OUR SYSTEM WHO HAVE EAGERLY VOLUNTEERED TO SUPPORT US.

WE ALSO HAVE A THIRD, ONE-THIRD OF THE BARGAINING UNIT WHO'S CROSSED AND ANOTHER THIRD HO WERE NEVER SCHEDULED TO WORK NEXT WEEK ANYWAY.

WE'RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS, WE WANT TO TAKE CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY BUT WE'D SURE LOVE TO GET THIS DONE AND AVOID STRIKE.

>> Cathy: IT'S A POWERFUL STATEMENT WHEN YOU HAVE A BUNCH OF MEN AND WOMEN IN WHITE COATS WALKING PICKET LINES, IT'S NOT A GOOD LOOK.

>> LOOKS HORRIBLE.

BUT THAT'S LESS THAN 10% OF ACTIVE MEDICAL STAFF IS IN THE UNION, AND EVEN WITH A STRIKE THAT WOULD BE LESS THAN 4% WHO WOULD GO ON STRIKE IN, INSTEAD OF PERFORMING CLINICAL DUTIES.

SO IT'S A MINORITY, AN IMPORTANT MINORITY BUT A SMALL MINORITY.

OUR EADERSHIP TEAM, ALLINA PHYSICIANS FROM OTHER ITES ARE TRUSTED AND VALUED PRIVATE PHYSICIANS, WE HAVE A LOT OF PRIDE IN MERCY CAMPUS AND WE WILL BE AT WORKING TAKING CARE OF PATIENTS.

>> Cathy: DR.

WOOSTT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ALLINA IS A GREAT ORGANIZATION AND BEEN BUILT WITH MANY PHYSICIANS OVER THE YEARS AND I 100% SUPPORT MY ORGANIZATION.

I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF THE PHYSICIANS I WORK WITH THAT HAVE STOOD UP TO THE THREATS ON THE HORIZON TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR PATIENTS AND CONTINUE OUR ONORED TRADITION OF CARING FOR OTHERS.

>> Cathy: CAN I ASK ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF THIS, BUT BECAUSE SUTOR HEALTH AGAIN WANTS TO ACQUIRE ALLINA IS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO GET AN AGREEMENT, LABOR AGREEMENT BEFORE THAT ACQUISITION IS SETTLED?

>> WELL, WE WOULD LIKE SUTOR HEALTH TO SIGN A COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENT WHICH INCLUDES HONORING ALL OUR CURRENT UNION CONTRACTS WITH OUR NURSES AND OTHER WORKERS AT THE HOSPITAL AND PART OF THAT OF COURSE WOULD BE OUR AGREEMENT HOPEFULLY THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO SETTLE WITH OUR PHYSICIANS.

>> Cathy: SUTTER DOES NOT I UNDERSTAND HAVE A SINGLE SYSTEMWIDE DOCTORS SYSTEM.

SOME AFFILIATE GROUPS, THOUGH.

HOW IS SUTTER WHEN IT COMES TO LABOR ISSUES?

IS THIS A POTENTIAL ISSUE?

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE SO EXCITED ABOUT UR PARTNER SUTTER.

SUTTER HEALTH HAS A -- CALIFORNIA HAS A LOT OF THE SAME CULTURALLY STRONG HISTORY OF LABOR UNIONS IN CALIFORNIA SO I THINK THIS IS A PARTNER THAT WILL REALLY UNDERSTAND MINNEAPOLIS AND MINNESOTA AND BE A GREAT PARTNER FOR US.

THE, THERE'S SOME STATE LAWS IN CALIFORNIA THAT DON'T ALLOW PHYSICIANS TO WORK DIRECTLY FOR A HOSPITAL, SO THEY HAVE WHAT ARE CALLED HEALTH GROUPS, AND THE HEALTH GROUPS HAVE THE PHYSICIANS ACTUALLY EMBEDDED AS PARTNERS WITHIN THAT GROUP SO THEY'RE NOT -- IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN MINNESOTA.

THEY'RE NOT ABLE IN CALIFORNIA AS PHYSICIANS TO ORGANIZE OR GO ON STRIKE.

INTERESTINGLY THE ONE EXCEPTION WOULD BE AN ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTERS, AND THEIR FEDERAL FACILITIES LIKE THE V.A.

THE V.A., THE UNION DOES NOT ALLOW DOCTORS TO STRIKE.

>> Cathy: THERE IS A NEGOTIATING SESSION THIS COMING SUNDAY.

AND IF IT DOESN'T WORK YOU'RE GOING TO WALK OUT ON MONDAY?

>> YES.

>> Eric: WOW.

BEST OF LUCK AT THE TABLE.

>> AND WE'RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS, HOWEVER IT GOES.

I KNOW JOHN AND I CAN DO WHAT WE CAN.

THANKS, JOHN.

>> Eric: ALL RIGHT, FELLAS.

THANK YOU.

♪ >> Cathy: 9 CRYSTAL MINNESOTA POLICE DEPARTMENT DECIDED THIS WEEK TO END ITS FLOCK CAMERA AGREEMENT.

CITIES ACROSS MINNESOTA ARE RESPONDING TO PUBLIC OUTCRY REGARDING DATA PRIVACY, BUT LAW ENFORCEMENT ARGUES THAT LICENSE PLATE READERS ARE NECESSARY TOOLS.

CITIES LIKE SHAKOPEE CONTINUE TO DEBATE THE SSUE.

>> VEHICLE DRIVES BY A PLATE READER AND IT'S A STOLEN VEHICLE.

THE ALERT LIVE-TIME WILL GO TO THE OFFICERS DIRECTLY.

NOW, I THINK T'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR EVERYBODY TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE HOW MANY SQUARE MILES, 36, 38 SQUARE MILES.

THERE'S 50,000 PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN.

WE'RE A VERY BUSY POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THESE ARE FIVE SIGNIFICANT FELONY LEVEL CRIMES, ONE OF WHICH AN INDIVIDUAL WAS KILLED, WHERE WE MAY BE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SOLVE THE CRIME WITHOUT THIS TECHNOLOGY.

>> THIS SYSTEM CAN ABSOLUTELY HELP US SOLVE MURDERS.

BUT IF IT'S ABUSED IT AN BE USED TO FACILITATE MURDERS.

>> Cathy: JOINING US RIGHT NOW FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA LAW PROFESSOR WILLIAM MCGEVERAN.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> HI, GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> Cathy: SO FOR FOLKS NOT UNDERSTANDING THE WHOLE FLOCK THING, SO THERE ARE OF COURSE LICENSE PLATE READERS, THAT'S NOT NEW, WHY IS THIS SENATOR KENT AND WHY ARE PEOPLE SO UPSET ABOUT THIS >> FLOCK HAS BEEN CONTROVERSIAL BECAUSE OF TWO DIFFERENCES FROM THE AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS WE'VE HAD FOR A WHILE.

ONE IS THERE'S A LOT OF THEM AND TWO IS THAT THEY'RE NETWORKED TOGETHER.

THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT IN ONE PLACE FOR ONE TIME SEEING ONE LICENSE PLATE, THIS IS ABOUT TRACKING A CAR THROUGH SPACE AND ALLOWS LOCATION TRACKING IN LOTS OF DIFFERENT PLACES.

>> Eric: OW AVAILABLE IS THE DATA TO GROUPS?

>> SO IT DEPENDS ON WHAT DEPARTMENTS SET THEIR OWN RULES AS BUT MANY DEPARTMENTS ROUTINE SHARE THE INFORMATION BACK AND FORTH.

SO YOU'RE FOLLOWING A CAR EVERYWHERE IT GOES, IF YOU HAVE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE COOPERATING.

>> Cathy: I CAN SEE WHY POLICE PROBABLY LIKE THIS TOOL.

>> URE.

I MEAN, IT'S NOT A QUESTION OF NEVER USING IT, IT'S A QUESTION OF MAKING SURE THAT IT'S BEING USED IN APPROPRIATE WAYS BUT THERE'S A LOT OF SITUATIONS WHERE THEY'VE NOT BEEN.

THERE'S DOZENS OF CASES OF OFFICERS USING THE LICENSE PLATE READING DATABASE FOR PERSONAL REASONS LIKE LOOKING AFTER AN EX.

THERE'S LOTS OF SHARING WITH IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES BY JURISDICTIONS IN STATES WHERE THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO THAT INCLUDING THE STAR TRIBUNE REPORTED HERE IN MINNESOTA.

>> Eric: WHAT YPES OF INFORMATION IS GATHERED?

>> SO IF IT'S BEING DONE PROPERLY IT'S SUPPOSED TO TAKE BASICALLY A QUICK PHOTO OF THE BACK OF YOUR CAR.

IT'S READING YOUR LICENSE PLATE AND PUTTING THAT DATA IN, AND THEN IT WILL ALSO NOTICE SORT OF THE MAKE AND MODEL OF THE CAR, SCRATCHES, BUMPER STICKERS.

THERE ARE REPORTS THAT SOME OF THE CAMERAS HAVE WIDER ANGLES AND ARE SEEING MORE THAN THAT BUT THE FOCUS IS ON THE LICENSE PLATE.

>> Cathy: WAS THIS USED IN OPERATION METRO SURGE >> YEAH, SO YOU'RE REMEMBERING THAT STAR TRIBUNE CASE WHERE I.C.E.

DID COOPERATE WITH LOCAL JURISDICTIONS TO IND CARS THAT WERE ASSOCIATED WITH PEOPLE THAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR.

>> Cathy: THAT FEELS LIKE IT'S ILLEGAL.

>> I MEAN, IT'S BEING INVESTIGATED NOW AS WE UNDERSTAND BUT, YEAH, YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE COOPERATING WITH IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT BUT IT'S INTERJURISDICTIONAL, CALL TO A DEPARTMENT, WOULD YOU PLEASE RUN THIS PLATE FOR ME AND THE RULES IN A LOT OF SITUATIONS ARE NOT STRICT ENOUGH ABOUT WHEN THE OFFICERS ARE ALLOWED TO LOOK AND FOR WHY.

THAT'S REALLY THE OBJECTION THAT PEOPLE HAVE.

>> Eric: THE RULES ARE SET UP CITY BY CITY COUNTY BY COUNTY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Eric: IS THERE A STATE COMPONENT TO THIS?

THE STATE HAS RULES ABOUT WHAT JURISDICTIONS ARE SUPPOSED TO DO AND FLOCK HAS GUIDELINES AND BEST PRACTICES BUT THE REAL RULES COME IN EACH INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENT.

>> Cathy: BOY, PEOPLE RE SO UPSET ABOUT THESE FLOCK CAMERAS, WHAT DO YOU THINK'S BEHIND THAT?

>> FLOCK CAMERAS ARE NOT THE MOST SERIOUS PRIVACY CONCERN WHEN IT COMES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

YOU KNOW, LAW ENFORCEMENT'S USING FACIAL RECOGNITION, THEY'RE BUYING INFORMATION FROM DATA BROKERS.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE USING TELEPHONE, CELL PHONE LOCATION TRACKING.

BUT YOU SEE A FLOCK CAMERA, WHEN YOU DRIVE BY IT IT'S THAT VERY DISTINCTIVE LOOK AND, NEAR MY HOUSE IN ST.

PAUL THERE'S SIGNS, PICKET SIGNS AROUND ONE OF THE REMAINING FLOCK CAMERAS WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO BE TAKEN DOWN BUT PEOPLE SEE THEM AND MAKES THEM MAD.

>> Eric: ONE OF THE OLD ARGUMENTS ABOUT THIS WAS THAT YOU COULD HAVE YOUR BROTHER DRIVING YOUR CAR.

>> YES.

, AND YOU HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT AND YET OU GET WHATEVER CONSEQUENCES THERE ARE.

>> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY ANOTHER ISSUE, TRACKING CARS NOT PEOPLE AND MISTAKES HAVE HAPPENED.

>> Cathy: DO YOU THINK STATE LAWMAKERS MAY WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THIS?

I UNDERSTAND LOCAL JURISDICTIONS ARE BAILING OUT BUT I WONDER IF THIS MAY OPEN THE DOOR FOR STATE ACTION.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN LEGISLATORS TALKING ABOUT THIS SAYING THEY WANT TO LOOK AT THIS IN THE COMING SESSION.

THE RULES REALLY NEED TO BE STRICTER AND THEY NEED TO BE ENFORCEABLE BY DEPARTMENTS.

AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT THAT STATE AWMAKERS COULD DO IF THEY DECIDE TODAY ENTER THIS FRAY.

IT'S CERTAINLY BECOME CONTROVERSIAL ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY.

>> Eric: ARE WE PART OF A NATIONWIDE TREND HERE?

>> YES.

>> Eric: WHAT'S THE NATIONAL PICTURE?

>> ABSOLUTELY, YOU'RE SEEING PEOPLE VANDALIZING AND PRETTIESTING AGAINST FLOCK CAMERAS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, CAMERAS BY THE COMPANY IN 49 STATES.

>> Cathy: THEY MUST BE MAKING A LOT OF MONEY OFF THIS.

>> THEY HAVE DOMINATED THIS MARKET.

THEY DIDN'T USED TO BUT THEY HAVE COLLECTED NOT MONOPOLY BUT NEAR DOMINANCE IN THE MARKET.

>> Eric: HOW WAS IT SOLD ORIGINALLY TO SO MANY PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY?

WHAT'S THE SALES PITCH >> SO ONCE YOU STARTED TO HAVE A BUNCH OF PLACES USE IT, A BUNCH OF OTHER PLACES SAID THAT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD BE CONNECTED TO THOSE OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

THEY HAVE AN INTERESTING PAYMENT STRUCTURE WHERE THEY OWN THE THINGS AND THE DEPARTMENTS ARE RENTING THEM.

THOSE WERE VERY APPEALING AND MASSIVE SPENDING ON MARKETING.

THERE WAS EARLY INVESTORS THAT REALLY HELPED THEM MARKET GO TO ALL THE CONVENTIONS, YOU KNOW, REALLY SELL TO THE PEOPLE WHO DO PROCUREMENT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> Cathy: WOW, INTERESTING.

ALL RIGHT.

IT WAS INTERESTING CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

>> Eric: THANKS, PROFESSOR.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Eric: YOU BET.

♪ >> I HAVE EXCITING NEWS!

MY SISTER HAS JUST BEEN ENGAGED AND I'M SO HAPPY!

HER FIANCÉ IS A REALLY NICE GUY, A VERY LOVELY MAN.

HE'S HANDSOME AND TALL, IF YOU'RE INTO THAT SORT OF THING.

I'VE KNOWN HIM FOR YEARS AND THE IDEA THAT HE'S JOINING MY FAMILY IS GENUINELY EXCITING.

THE ONLY PROBLEM IS, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE A NEW PERSON A PART OF MY FAMILY.

IT'S CONFUSING.

YOUR FAMILY IS MADE UP OF PEOPLE YOU'VE KNOWN YOUR ENTIRE LIFE.

I MET MY MOTHER AND SISTER THE DAY I WAS BORN.

THEY ARE MY FAMILY.

THEY ARE SO IMPORTANT TO ME.

BUT NOW THERE'S THIS NEW GUY AND HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY OF THEIR EXPERIENCE BEING RELATED TO ME.

ALL HE HAS IS AN INCREDIBLE REFERENCE FOR MY SISTER.

IMAGINE GOING INTO SURGERY AND YOUR SURGEON SAYS HE HAS NO EXPERIENCE BUT YOUR SISTER REALLY LIKES HIM.

OR MAYBE YOU'RE ON A FLIGHT AND THE PILOT SAYS HE'S NEVER FLOWN BEFORE BUT YOUR SISTER SAYS HE CAN REALLY MAKE HER LAUGH, OR MAYBE YOU GET A CARPER TO BUILD AN ADDITION ONTO YOUR HOUSE SO YOU ASK HIM, HAVE YOU EVER DONE THIS BEFORE?

AND HE SAYS NO BUT HE DID LIVE IN A VERY NICE HOUSE DOWN IN ARKANSAS.

BUT YOUR SISTER SAYS, HE'S SO KIND.

I'VE HAD PEOPLE TELL ME THIS IS NOT A BIG DEAL, MY SISTER GETTING MARRIED WILL NOT CHANGE MY LIFE MUCH.

MOST LIKELY THIS NEW MAN WILL BE VESTIGIAL, AROUND AND NOT IMPORTANT.

WHO WANTS A VESTIGIAL FAMILY MEMBER?

I DON'T WANT A PANCREAS UNCLE OR EAR LOBE COUSIN.

I WANT A KIDNEY BROTHER-IN-LAW AND BY THAT I MEAN I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE DOES BUT I WANT IT TO BE IMPORTANT.

SO FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE I'M GOING TO BE EXPERIMENTING WITH NEW WAYS OF ADDING HIM TO THE FAMILY.

MAYBE I'LL BUY HIM SOMETHING OR GO SOMEPLACE OR WHATEVER IT TAKES.

BECAUSE I CAN'T HAVE HIM BE UNIMPORTANT.

HE'S JOINING MY FAMILY.

WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT?

♪ >> WE WANT TO PUT YOU IN CHARGE OF A 20-FOOT-LONG SPOON WITH A CHERRY AT THE END OF IT.

WELL, ITS NOT EVERY DAY OF COURSE THAT THE HEAD OF THE MINNEAPOLIS PARKS BOARD WOULD HEAR A REQUEST LIKE THAT.

THE WALKER ART CENTER'S CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED SCULPTURE GARDEN WHICH IS COMPLETE WITH FRUIT AND SILVERWARE FORMALLY OPENS THIS WEEKEND.

♪ >> Cathy: EARLIER THIS WEEK TWO WOMEN CHARGED WITH THE DEATH OF A MINNESOTA NATIVE SAM NORDQUIST WERE HANDED DOWN LIFE SENTENCES.

NORDQUIST, A BLACK TRANSGENDER MAN AS HELD HOSTAGE AND TORTURED FOR WEEKS IN THE FINGER LAKES REGION OF UPSTATE NEW YORK.

THE INVESTIGATION HAS NOT FOUND EVIDENCE OF A HATE CRIME.

OUTFRONT MINNESOTA IS AN LGBTQ + ADVOCATE GROUP THAT RUNS AN ANTIVIOLENCE PROGRAM.

CAT ROHN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS BACK WITH US, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, KAT.

CAN YOU TELL US WHO SAM NORDQUIST WAS FOR FOLKS NOT FAMILIAR ITH THE STORY >> YEAH, SAM NORDQUIST WAS A TRANSGENDER MAN HERE FROM MINNESOTA WHO HAD MOVED OUT TO NEW YORK STATE AT THE TIME WHEN HE WAS KILLED.

BUT GREW UP HERE AND GREW UP WITH A FAMILY HERE AND WAS WELL CONNECTD TO MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS, PARTICULARLY IN THE RED WING AREA AND ALSO HERE WITHIN THE TWIN CITIES.

>> Cathy: NOW, THIS IS NOT A HATE CRIME BUT IT'S GOT TO BE BIASED VIOLENCE, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE OFTEN GET KIND OF STUCK IN IS THE IDEA THAT ALL CRIMES THAT IMPACT MARGINALIZED GROUPS ARE HATE CRIME BY DEFINITION AND HATE CRIMES AND BIAS MOTIVATED CRIMES HAVE A VERY SPECIFIC SET OF LEGAL DEFINITIONS AROUND THEM.

IT'S CERTAINLY A HORRIFIC ACT OF VIOLENCE AGAINST SOMEBODY FROM A MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY.

BUT THOSE ARE SOMEWHAT SEPARATE THINGS BETWEEN WHAT IS ACTUALLY CONSTITUTING A REAL HATE CRIME OR IAS CRIME AND WHAT IS SIMPLY AN ACT OF TRAGIC AND AWFUL VIOLENCE.

>> Eric: ONLINE RELATIONSHIP SEEMS TO BE CENTRAL TO THIS AND I WONDER IF THAT'S A BROADER ISSUE IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> YEAH, WELL, I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, INTIMATE PARTNER IOLENCE AND OTHER VIOLENCE LIKE THAT CAN BE VISITED ON JUST ABOUT ANYBODY FROM ANY BACKGROUND.

UNFORTUNATELY LGBTQ PEOPLE ARE SOMETIMES MORE VULNERABLE TO FOLKS WHO MIGHT SEEK TO VICTIMIZE THEM BECAUSE THEY'VE MAYBE BEEN ISOLATED FROM SOME OF THE SOCIAL SUPPORT LETTERS SOME OF THE PROTECTIVE SYSTEMS THAT MIGHT HELP THEM TO NAVIGATE OUT OF A HARMFUL SITUATION, AND SO THAT IS ONE CONCERN THAT OFTEN COMES UP FOR OUR COMMUNITIES IS THAT THE SUPPORTS THAT EXIST FOR OTHER FOLKS MAY NOT EXIST AS STRONGLY FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, AND FOLKS MAY PREY UPON S BECAUSE OF THE VULNERABILITIES WE HAVE AS A MARGINALIZED GROUP.

>> Cathy: IS THERE MORE OF A DANGER BEING PREYED UPON ONLINE NOWADAYS BECAUSE OF THE CHAT ROOMS AND DATING SITES AND ALL OF THAT >> YEAH, I THINK CERTAINLY WHAT WE SEE IS THAT THE MOVE TO ONLINE SPACES AND ANONYMITY THEY PROVIDE DOES PROTECT PREDATORS TO A GREATER DEGREE BUT CERTAINLY THAT'S NOT UNIQUE TO THIS CURRENT ERA AND FOLKS HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITIES FOR MANY YEARS.

>> Cathy: HOW COMMON ARE ACTS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST TRANSGENDER FOLKS?

>> UNFORTUNATELY TRANS FOLKS AS A WHOLE EXPERIENCE VIOLENCE AND OFTEN VIOLENCE MOTIVATED BY BIOAT A FAR HIGHER RATE AND PARTICULARLY TRANS FOLKS WHO ARE BLACK AND INDIGENOUS ARE FACING RATES OF VIOLENCE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER, FOUR OR FIVE TIMES HIGHER THAN THEIR PEERS AND SO THAT IS CERTAINLY A CONCERN FOR US AND CERTAINLY A CONCERN AT A TIME WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND OTHER GROUPS RE STEPPING BACK FROM PROVIDING ADDITIONAL SPECIFIC CULTURAL SUPPORT TO GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS PREVENTING VIOLENCE AND SUPPORTING THOSE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING IT.

>> Eric: TELL US ABOUT YOUR ANTIVIOLENCE PROGRAM THAT YOU HAVE.

>> YEAH, E AVE RUN AN ANTIVIOLENCE PROGRAM AT UPOUTFRONT MINNESOTA FOR MANY DECADES AND WHAT WE DO IS PROVIDE SUPPORT TO VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE AND DISCRIMINATION ACROSS THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

MANY OF THOSE ARE MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY.

AND WE PROVIDE SUPPORT TO FOLKS ALL OVER THE STATE SO NOT JUST HERE IN THE TWIN CITIES BUT, YOU KNOW, UP ON THE IRON RANGE AND SOUTHERN MINNESOTA, ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

AND WHAT WE'VE CERTAINLY SEEN POST-THE 2024 ELECTION ESPECIALLY HAS BEEN A RISE IN ACTS OF VIOLENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES AND WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS FOR FOLKS.

>> Cathy: WHAT WERE THE RIPPLE EFFECTS TO SAM'S UNTIMELY DEATH IN THE COMMUNITY?

CAN YOU GIVE US A SENSE OF THAT?

>> YEAH, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S UNIQUE ALWAYS WHEN WE LOSE A MEMBER OF OUR LGBTQ COMMUNITY IS THAT WE ARE A TIGHT KNIT AND CLOSE COMMUNITY.

THERE ARE A LOT OF LGBTQ FOLKS ACROSS THE STATE, MANY TRANS FOLKS ACROSS THE STATE, THESE DEATHS HAVE A VERY PERSONAL IMPACT FOR THOSE WHO SHARE THOSE IDENTITIES BOTH BECAUSE WE OFTEN SHARE THOSE SOCIAL CIRCLES BUT ALSO BECAUSE IT FEELS MORE PERSONAL BECAUSE OF THAT SHARED SENSE OF IDENTITY.

THIS WAS A REALLY HORRIFIC ACT BUT ALSO WOMAN THAT TOUCHES A NERVE FOR MANY FOLKS IN COMMUNITY FEELING ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE AT THE TIME.

>> Cathy: I'M WONDERING, FINAL QUESTION HERE FOR YOU, WOULD THE COMMUNITY DO ANYTHING TO MEMORIALIZE SAM AT ALL?

ANY PLANS FOR THAT >> THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF MEMORIALS, THERE WAS A VIGIL HELD FOR SAM OUTSIDE THE MINNESOTA CAPITOL SHORTLY FTER HIS DEATH.

THERE WAS A MEMORIAL AND VIGIL IN RED WING IN THAT COMMUNITY.

THERE'S BEEN A MEMORIAL AND VIGIL WITH HIS MOM AND SOME OTHER REMEMBRANCES.

I KNOW THE FAMILY IS EAGER TO HAVE THOSE CONTINUED REMEMBRANCES IN THE COMMUNITY HAS HELD THOSE SPACES BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO HOLD THAT GRIEF COLLECTIVELY.

IT'S NOT JUST THE GRIEF OF ONE FAMILY WHO WE OBVIOUSLY THINK ABOUT AND ARE FOR DEEPLY.

CFSS, UT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.

>> Cathy: KAT, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

>> YEAH.

♪ >> Cathy: NICE TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> Eric: TODAY MARKS THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEPTEMBER 11TH ATTACKS.

FOR YOUNGER GENERATIONS IT'S AN EVENT OF HISTORICAL NOTE.

BUT FOR OLDER FOLKS IT WAS A MOMENT THAT CHANGED THINGS.

EVERYONE HAS A STORY FROM WHERE THEY WERE THAT DAY DISCOUNT WE GET TO HEAR ONE OF THOSE STORIES.

AARON MYERS JOINED THE NATIONAL GUARD IN AUGUST OF 2001 AND WAS RECRUITING DURING 9/11.

REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING OVER.

DID PEOPLE SAY I DON'T WANT ANY PART OF THIS VIOLENCE?

OR DID THEY SAY LET'S GO GET 'EM?

WHAT CHANGE DID THE ATMOSPHERE OF RECRUIT TO THE MILITARY >> OH, MY GOODNESS, WELL, FIRST, THANKS FOR HAVING ME OVER HERE TODAY.

IT WAS, THE DAY ITSELF WAS SURREAL AND I KNOW ANYONE THAT EXPERIENCED THAT WILL SAY THE SAME THING BUT THE FTEREFFECTS OF IT REALLY, IF YOU JUXTAPOSE THE NATIONAL GUARD WHAT IT WAS BEFORE 9/11 AND WHAT IT WAS AFTER YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ENTITIES AND I THINK I CAN SAY THAT FOR MOST BRANCHES OF THE ARMED SERVICES TOO.

PEOPLE KNEW WHAT THEY WERE GETTING INTO.

THEY KNEW THE OPPORTUNITY EXISTED TO BE ABLE TO DEPLOY SO WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE AT FIRST THAT SAID SIGN ME UP.

I ANT TO DO THIS RIGHT NOW.

I MEAN, THEY WERE EXPERIENCING AN ARRAY OF EMOTIONS FROM FEAR, SADNESS, I MEAN, ANGER, AND THEY WANTED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

AND IT REALLY CARRIED FOR ABOUT A YEAR WHEN WE FIRST STARTED RECRUITING IN THAT ENVIRONMENT.

>> Cathy: DO YOU REMEMBER WHERE YOU WERE WHEN THOSE PLANES CRASHED INTO THE WORLD TRADE CENTER AND EVERYTHING ELSE JUST WAS SO CHAOTIC?

YOU WERE WORKING THAT DAY.

>> MM-HMM.

>> Cathy: AND WHAT DID YOU THINK PERSONALLY AS A MEMBER OF THE MILITARY?

>> I REMEMBER EVERY MOMENT OF THAT DAY.

IT'S INCREDIBLE.

I MEAN, I REMEMBER WHAT THE TEMPERATURE WAS LIKE, IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY, I REMEMBER HOW CRISP IT WAS FOR A FALL DAY.

IT WAS GORGEOUS, BUT I WAS DOING A WORKOUT AND WE WERE LISTENING TO GO THE RADIO WHEN THE FIRST TOWER WAS HIT AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS AT THE TIME.

SO KIND OF THINK ABOUT IT AND YOU'RE LIKE, OH, THAT'S ODD, I HOPE EVERYONE'S OKAY, RIGHT?

BUT THEN AS WE'RE GETTING READY TO GO FOR OUR DAY THEN THE SECOND ONE HIT.

AND WITH THAT DAY IN ITSELF WE ACTUALLY HAD PEOPLE FROM OUR OFFICE THAT WERE PROCESSING FOR THE MILITARY THAT DAY.

SO ON SEPTEMBER 10TH WE DROPPED THEM OFF AT THE HOTEL, THEY TOOK AN APTITUDE TEST AND THE NEXT DAY THEY'RE TAKING A PHYSICAL AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, BAM, 9/11 HAPPENS.

SO FOR ME I REMEMBER IT LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY.

AND JUST ALL THE NUANCES THAT HAPPENED WITH IT.

THE PEOPLE, THE EMOTIONS.

IT WAS REALLY SOMETHING ELSE.

>> Cathy: BY THE WAY, I'M SORRY, DID YOU TALK TO THOSE FOLKS WHO WERE BEING PROCESSED?

DID THEY ACTUALLY DECIDE TO O AHEAD AND BECOME MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY THAT DAY?

>> THAT'S A GREAT -- THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

AND ON THAT DAY I REALLY SAW LEADERSHIP.

THEY WERE PROCESSING OUT OF OUR OFFICE IN CAMBRIDGE AND MY OFFICE PARTNER, I WAS PRETTY NEW TO THE JOB, I WAS NLY IN FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS BUT MY- OFR A COUPLE OF MONTHS BUT MY- OFFIA COUPLE OF MONTHS BUT MY- OFFICECOUPLE OF MONTHS BUT MY- OFFICE PUPLE OF MONTHS BUT MY- OFFICE PARLE OF MONTHS BUT MY- OFFICE PARTN OF MONTHS BUT MY- OFFICE PARTNERF MONTHS BUT MY- OFFICE PARTNER HMONTHS BUT MY- OFFICE PARTNER HADNTHS BUT MY- OFFICE PARTNER HAD BHS BUT MY- OFFICE PARTNER HAD BEE BUT MY- OFFICE PARTNER HAD BEEN UT MY- OFFICE PARTNER HAD BEEN IN MY- OFFICE PARTNER HAD BEEN IN FY- OFFICE PARTNER HAD BEEN IN FOR OFFICE PARTNER HAD BEEN IN FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS AND HIS NAME WAS TOM GEAR AND WHAT HAPPENED WAS WE BROUGHT THEM BACK.

I DROVE THEM BACK FROM THE TWIN CITIES TO CAMBRIDGE.

AND WHEN I SAW TOM HE SAT US DOWN AND THE FIRST THING HE ASKED WAS HOW ARE YOU DOING.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS FIRST.

BUT HE MADE A STATEMENT THAT RESONATED WITH ME.

FOR THE REST OF MY CAREER, AND HE AID I DON'T HAVE THE CRYSTAL BALL BUT I'M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW IF YOU DECIDE TO GO BACK AND ENLIST IN THE NATIONAL GUARD YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED TO DEPLOY, TO FIGHT AGAINST WHAT WE JUST WITNESSED TODAY.

AND BOTH OF THOSE YOUNG MEN ENLISTED THE NEXT DAY, THAT THEY REOPENED THE MILITARY CENTER AT THE WHIPPLE BUILDING.

>> Eric: DID YOUR PRESENTATION TO POTENTIAL RECRUITS CHANGE POST-9/11?

DID YOU HAVE TO TAILOR YOUR REMARKS OR MAYBE SAY EVEN LESS?

PEOPLE WERE SO GUNG-HO.

>> OH, IT WAS SO INTERESTING, WHEN I FIRST STARTED RECRUITING IT WAS VERY PREDICTABLE.

RIGHT, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE RIGHT WORD TO SAY BUT IT WAS, IT WAS VERY PREDICTABLE.

MOST PEOPLE WERE ENLISTING FOR COLLEGE BENEFITS AND WE HAD OTHER PEOPLE THAT WERE SERVING BECAUSE THEY HAD A LOYALTY, A BRANCH OF SERVICE IN THEIR FAMILY THAT THEY WANTED TO CARRY ON, EVERYONE HAD THEIR OWN REAL REASON TO DO IT.

BUT WHEN THIS HAPPENED, IT WAS AS, YOU KNOW, MY OFFICE PARTNER TOM TOLD THOSE TWO YOUNG MEN AND TOLD MYSELF, IT WAS SIMPLE.

WE LAID OUT WHAT WAS HANG AND WE TOLD THEM I DON'T KNOW IF I WANT YOU IN THE SERVICE IF YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT YOU COULD DEPLOY SOMEDAY AND WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT IS, WE DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WOULD BE BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S VERY REAL.

SO I WOULD SAY THAT WAS OBVIOUSLY THE BIG THING BECAUSE WE DIDN'T EVEN TALK ABOUT THAT THE FIRST COUPLE MONTHS, THAT WAS AN AFTERTHOUGHT.

>> Cathy: SO 25 YEARS NOW LATER, HOW'S RECRUITING, HOW HAS RECRUITING CHANGED AT THIS POINT?

I MEAN, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE SIGNING UP WHO HAVE, THEY WEREN'T EVEN BORN YET, YOU KNOW.

I MEAN, THERE'S, MEMORIES FADE, THAT KIND OF THING.

ARE YOU STILL PLANTING SERVICE SEEDS?

OR HAS THE HISTORY OF 9/11 PLANTED SERVICE SEEDS NOW 25 YEARS LATER?

>> IT'S INTERESTING YOU ASK THAT.

AND I DON'T RECRUIT ANYMORE, I'M A CIVILIAN, I ETIRED BUT I DO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE RECRUITERS, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A LITTLE GROUP.

>> Cathy: I FIGURED YOU DID, YEAH.

>> THEY ASKED ME THAT QUESTION, I SAID WHAT'S CHANGED, AND THE REQUIREMENTS TO GET IN ARE A LOT MORE DIFFICULT.

THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE PERFECT KIND OF SOLDIER I GUESS IF YOU WANT TO PUT IT THAT WAY.

WHAT IT REALLY MEANS IS THAT WHEN WE FIRST STARTED WE DIDN'T HAVE MANY RESOURCES BEFORE 9/11.

AND WHEN 9/11 HAPPENED THE FLOODGATES OPENED SO WE WERE ABLE TO PRETTY MUCH DO WHATEVER WE WANTED, BUY WHATEVER WE NEEDED, WE HAD SPONSORS, WE HAD -- WE HAD INCENTIVE TRIPS FOR PEOPLE THAT PERFORMED WELL.

AND WE ALSO WERE ALLOWED TO ENLIST A DIFFERENT TYPE OF PERSON.

THE STANDARDS, I WOULDN'T SAY -- SOMETIMES THEY OPENED UP ENLISTMENT DAYS WHERE IF YOU DIDN'T MEET A CERTAIN STANDARD YOU COULD GET IN AND THAT HAPPENED MORE OFTEN THAN NOT BECAUSE OF THE SURGE.

WE HAD TO HAVE A LARGE MILITARY FORCE.

AND TODAY IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN THAT NOW.

>> Eric: DID YOU LEARN ANY LESSONS THAT YOU'VE CARRIED OVER THE 25 YEARS FROM THAT PERIOD?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

THE ONE THING THAT I HAD A HARD TIME WITH AT FIRST WAS, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TELL PEOPLE WE MAY NEED YOU TO DEPLOY, RIGHT?

I HADN'T DEPLOYED AT THE TIME.

AND THAT REALLY, REALLY HIT ME HARD WHEN I WAS TRYING TO ANSWER A PARENT'S QUESTION OF WHAT'S IT LIKE OVER THERE.

I ENDED UP VOLUNTEERING, DEPLOYED TO IRAQ, WE GOT HOME, 2010 EARLY, AND I WORKED AT THE UNITED STATES EMBASSY IN BAGHDAD SO WE WERE WORKING ON REBUILDING THAT COUNTRY AT THAT TIME THROUGH CIVIL CAPACITY.

AND WHAT I EARNED WAS I SAW FIRSTHAND THE PROS AND THE CONS OF, YOU KNOW, THE CONTROVERSY BUT ALONG WITH, YOU KNOW, THE GOOD REASONS WHY WE WERE OVER THERE TO REALLY TRULY HELP WITH PEOPLE UT AT THE SAME TIME THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE TODAY THAT QUESTION THEIR SERVICE, YOU KNOW, QUESTION THEIR SERVICE OVER THERE SAYING WAS IT EVEN WORTH IT.

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I USED TO GIVE PRESENTATIONS TO HIGH SCHOOLS ALL ACROSS MINNESOTA JUST TO TELL THEM THE FACTS ABOUT WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE EMBEDDED INTO THAT ENVIRONMENT, TO WORK WITH PEOPLE THAT WENT TO SCHOOL WHO DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A ROOF ON THEIR SCHOOL, ALL THE WAY TO WORKING WITH THE PROVINCES, THE MINISTRIES, YOU KNOW, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN THERE.

SO IT WAS, THAT'S THE LESSON I LEARNED WAS IF I'M GOING TO TALK THE TALK I SHOULD PROBABLY WALK THE WALK.- >>LK THE WALK.- >> C THE WALK.- >> CatHE WALK.- >> Cathy WALK.- >> Cathy: ALK.- >> Cathy: WEK.- >> Cathy: WE A- >> Cathy: WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE, MASTER SERGEANT MEYERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, I APPRECIATE IT.

♪ >> Cathy: MINNESOTANS KNOW AND LOVE THEIR STATE CAPITOL BUT THE HISTORIC SITE IS GETTING A FRESH PERSPECTIVE FROM SOME SOCIAL MEDIA STARS WHO PAID A VISIT FOR THEIR NEW SHOW.

OUR MARY LAHAMMER SERVED AS TOUR GUIDE FOR THE PAIR.

>> Mary: IT IS MINNESOTA'S MOST IMPORTANT BUILDING.

NOW IT'S GETTING SOME NEW MEDIA ATTENTION.

>> WE'RE DOING AN EPISODE ON ST.

PAUL LANDMARKS AND OBVIOUSLY THE CAPITOL IS THE BIGGEST LANDMARK OF THEM ALL.

>> WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE CAPITOL AND THINK OF IT?

>> I KNOW VERY LITTLE AND EVEN TALKING TO YOU JUST A FEW MINUTES I KNOW EVEN LESS THAN I THOUGHT I DO.

I'M EXCITED TO LEARN FROM OUR AUDIENCE.

>> Mary: CASS GILBERT WAS GETTING SOME HEAT THAT HE WAS IMPORTING TOO MUCH STUFF FROM EUROPE, OUT EAST, SO HE HAD TO BRING IN MINNESOTA MATERIALS.

>> WE'RE THERE EVERY STEP ALONG THE WAY FOR THIS UNPRECEDENTED PROJECT.

>> IF ONLY THERE WAS SOME GIANT LOOMING SYMBOL TO GIVE US SOME SORT OF IDEA.

>> HOW DO WE START?

>> LIKE THIS.

>> WELCOME TO BEING MINNESOTAN, THE POD SHOW FOR PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY LOOK GOOD IN FLANNEL AND THE FRIENDS AND FAMILY TOO POLITE TO TELL THEM THE TRUTH.

>> BEFORE LAUNCHING THE BEING MINNESOTAN VIDEO PODCAST RYAN CLAPPER WAS A VIRAL VIDEO SENSATION WHO GARNERED MILLIONS OF VIEWS WITH HIS GET TO KNOW SERIES.

>> I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON GLOBAL POLITICS OR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT BUT I SELL PLACES FOR A LIVING AND I SAW YOU'RE INTERESTED IN BUYING SOME LAND SOUTH OF YOUR BORDER.

>> IN THE FIRST EPISODE WE ALSO SHOT OUTSIDE THE CAPITOL.

>> WE KEEP COMING BACK.

BRYAN CAME UP WITH THE IDEA, HE'S LIKE I THINK WE'RE MISS SOMETHING IN THIS MARKET.

>> YEAH, THERE'S A GAP IN THE MARKET.

MINNESOTA HAS SO MUCH UNIQUE CONTENT.

>> Mary: IT'S JUST MEASURES, CONFUCIUS.

SOCK RATES.

YES, ALL THE BASIS OF LAWS.

AND ALL OF THIS ART HAD BEEN COMPLETELY SHROUDED UNDER DIRT, VARNISH, AND SMOKE.

>> LAST YEAR, LONG BEFORE THE CURRENT CONTROVERSIES OF THE TRADE WAR TO THE NORTH, CLAPPER PROPOSED CANADA ANNEX MINNESOTA, MAKING NEWS FOR THE SARCASTIC BUT BELOVED MINNESOTAN.

>> MINNEAPOLIS WAS THE ONLY AMERICAN ITY TO ACHIEVE A GOLD RATING IN THE HAPPIEST CITIES IN THE WORLD RANKING THIS YEAR.

WE'RE ALSO OME TO MORE FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES THAN ALL OF CANADA.

HOW IRONIC WOULD IT BE IF THE WORLD'S LARGEST HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY WAS CANADIAN.

THINK ABOUT IT.

PLEASE, PRETTY PLEASE, WITH MAPLE SYRUP ON TOP?

>> THEN THE REAL ESTATE AGENT DEVELOPED A FOLLOWING FOR MANY HISTORIES OF AREA CITIES.

>> ST.

LOUIS PARK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTOR TO POP CULTURE OF THE TWIN CITIES, PRODUCING WAY MORE FAMOUS RESIDENTS THAN CITY HAS ANY RIGHT TO.

AL FRANKEN WOULD GO ON TO HOST A TALK RADIO SHOW.

>> HE, LIKE RUSH LIMBAUGH WAS A BIG FAT IDIOT.

AND PEGGY FLANAGAN, THOMAS FRIEDMAN, MARY LAHAMMER, AND SPORTS ANCHOR MARK ROSEN.

>> TOP TO BOTTOM $300 MILLION RESTORATION OF THE CAPITOL WAS COMPLETED ALMOST A DECADE AGO NOW AND IT WAS THE LARGEST PRESERVATION EFFORT SINCE THE CAPITOL OPENED IN 1905 AND PROBABLY STILL STANDS S THE MOST SIGNIFICANT HISTORIC PROJECT IN STATE HISTORY.

>> ONLY ROME HAS A BETTER DOME.

BUT THE CENTURY-OLD STRUCTURE WAS CRUMBLING.

>> I THINK THE BUILDING REPRESENTS MORE OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE SIDE.

TO ME IT STRIKES ME AS A VERY NONPARTISAN BUILDING, THIS IS WHERE HE WORK ACTUALLY GETS DONE.

IT'S NOT A POLITICAL SPACE, IT IS A PUBLIC SERVICE SPACE >> EVERYBODY IS WELCOME HERE AND EVERY VOICE IS WELCOME TO BE HEARD HERE.

>> CLAPPER APTLY EXPLAINS, WE'RE MINNESOTANS.- WE DE MINNESOTANS.- WE DONMINNESOTANS.- WE DON'TNNESOTANS.- WE DON'T LESOTANS.- WE DON'T LIKOTANS.- WE DON'T LIKE ANS.- WE DON'T LIKE TOS.- WE DON'T LIKE TO T- WE DON'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT OURSELVES BUT WE LOVE IT WHENEVER PEOPLE TALK ABOUT US.

>> WHAT STRIKES YOU WHEN YOU FIRST WALK IN THIS BUILDING?

>> THE EPICNESS OF IT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE WHICH MARBLE STAIRCASE DO I NEED TO GO UP?

IT'S JUST SO STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL, IT FEELS VERY EUROPEAN, YOU DON'T REALIZE THAT YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE.

MIDWEST, IT FEELS LIKE WE ARE TRANSPORTED SOMEWHERE ELSE.

WHAT ABOUT YOU >> VERY GRAND, JUST LIKE SHE SAID, VERY GRAND, EPIC.

EVERY TIME I WALK THROUGH THE DOORS I'M JUST AMAZED BY T AND I'M SURE EVEN AS MANY YEARS AS YOU'VE SPENT HERE YOU PROBABLY FEEL THE SAME WAY.

>> DOES IT FEEL UNMINNESOTAN THAT WAY, HOW GRAND AND OSTENTATIOUS?

>> THAT'S WHY IT'S UNIQUE, IT STANDS OUT FROM EVERYTHING ELSE.

>> IT DOESN'T FEEL HUMBLE BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT'S NOT OSTENTATIOUS, THERE'S NOT OVERABUNDANCE OF GOLDLEAF OR ANYTHING.

>> E'RE GOING INTO THE VAULT, THIS SPACE DID NOT EXIST PRIOR TO THE RESTORATION.

THIS WAS HVAC, FULL OF ELECTRICAL WIRES, ALL JUST -- JUST CHAOS IN HERE.

>> WE DON'T HAVE EARTHQUAKES, WE DON'T HAVE HURRICANES, WE DON'T HAVE ALLIGATORS.

>> HIS COHOST IS A MARKETING AND SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT CREATOR WHO WENT VIRAL DURING COVID QUARANTINE.

>> I CLICK THESE BUTTONS SO MUCH THEY'RE WORN OFF!

MINNESOTA AND NEW MEXICO, YOU'RE NOT GETTING AN ABBREVIATION.

>> AND ALSO LOVES TO TALK ABOUT LIFE IN MINNESOTA.

>> MIDWEST CHECK-IN, MIDWEST CHECK-IN!

OKAY, ISN'T IT MINNESNOWTA?

ISN'T IT ALWAYS COLD IN MINNESOTA?

NO, IT IS NOT.

>> PEOPLE WANT TO EXPERIENCE AND THEY WANT TO SHARE THEIR STORES ALSO AND I BUILD THIS COMMUNITY AND I SHARE ABOUT MY LIFE BUT A HUGE PART OF MY LIFE IS BEING IN THE MIDWEST, BEING HERE IN MINNESOTA AND SO A LOT OF MY CONTENT KIND OF BLEW UP INTO THAT.

AND PEOPLE JUST HAVE REALLY CAUGHT ONTO IT AND WE'VE BUILT A REALLY GREAT COMMUNITY.

>> YEAH, SHE HAS AY MORE FOLLOWERS THAN I DO.

♪ >> HERE IS MY PROMISE.

IF THE REPUBLICANS WIN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE UNITED STATES SENATE, BOTH OF THEM, BECAUSE OF OUR ECONOMIC ... TREMENDOUS ECONOMIC SUCCESS, LIKE, IN HISTORY WE'VE NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE WHAT'S HAPPENING, BUT BECAUSE OF OUR TREMENDOUS STRENGTH AND SUCCESS ECONOMICALLY, I WILL ISSUE A DIVIDEND TO EVERY ADULT CITIZEN IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] FOR $5,000.

VERY MUCH LIKE A SUCCESSFUL COMPANY WILL DO A CASH DISTRIBUTION TO ITS SHAREHOLDERS OR LIKE LAST EAR WHEN I GAVE OUR GREAT MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY 1776, REMEMBER?

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] I GAVE IT TO OUR MILITARY.

$1,776.

IF THE REPUBLICANS WIN, IF YOU WIN, WE MIGHT NOT WIN, THE REASON THE DEMOCRATS CAN'T DO THAT IS BECAUSE THEY DON'T DO TARIFFS, THEY DON'T TAKE IN MONEY.

ALL THEY KNOW IS POVERTY AND HOW TO RUIN OUR COUNTRY.

BUT WE'RE MAKING A FORTUNE.

SO IF THE REPUBLICANS WIN, YOU WIN WITH US AND YOU GET $5,000.

IT WILL BE CALLED THE TRUMP DIVIDEND.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> WE'RE JUST 55 DAYS FROM ELECTION DAY SO LET'S GET RIGHT DOWN TO BUSINESS!

AS YOU'VE HEARD THIS IS AN ELECTION BETWEEN COMMON SENSE AND COMMUNISM!

BETWEEN AMERICA LOVING PATRIOTS AND HATE AMERICA EXTREMISTS!

BETWEEN FREEDOM AND TYRANNY.

THE COMMUNIST PARTY -- EXCUSE ME, THE DEMOCRATS, HAVE NO LEADER AND THEY HAVE NO MESSAGE.

THE ONLY THING THEY CAN AGREE ON IS THEIR DISGUSTING HATRED OF AMERICA AND OUR GREAT PRESIDENT.

THESE PEOPLE ARE SICK!

THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NOTHING DEMOCRATIC ABOUT SOCIALISM!

[ CHEERS ] >> BY THE WAY, THESE PEOPLE AREN'T EVEN SOCIALISTS!

THEY'RE COMMUNISTS AND THEY'RE ANARCHISTS AND THEY HATE OUR COUNTRY.

IN NOVEMBER WE HAVE A CLEAR CHOICE.

YOU CAN CHOOSE THE 12 BY 12 DILAPIDATED, GOVERNMENT OWNED HOUSING AND THE CRUMBS OF FOOD THAT MAMDANI THE COMMY IS OFFERING.

YOU CAN CHOOSE TO GO WITH AMERICA HATERS LIKE ILHAN OMAR.

[ BOOING ] ILHAN OMAR WHO WANTS TO RAISE YOUR TAXES WHILE ALLOWING SOMALI FRAUDSTERS TO RUN FREE.

[ BOOING ] ♪ ♪ >> Eric: AS YOU JUST SAW REPUBLICANS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY THIS WEEK ATTENDED A MIDTERM CONVENTION ITH PRESIDENT TRUMP AIMED TO BOOST FUND-RAISING AND MORALE AHEAD OF THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS AND WHILE REPRESENTATIVE TOM EMMER MADE A NOTABLE APPEARANCE MANY OF HIS MINNESOTA G.O.P.

COLLEAGUES DID NOT.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT, THE CONVENTION BATTLES OVER VOTING, REDISTRICTING AND MORE, A QUARTET.

FORMER LAWMAKERS.

DEMOCRATS UP FIRST TONIGHT RYAN WINKLER, FORMER MAJORITY LEADER FOR THE STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WITH HIM IS JEFF HAYDEN, FORMER DEPUTY MAJORITIES LEADER IN THE STATE SENATE NOW LOBBYIST.

AMY FREDERIKSEN, FORMER STATE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, NOW LOBBYIST AND LASTLY BUT NOT LEASTLY, FRITZ KNAAK, FORMER STATE SENATOR AND ATTORNEY IN PRIVATE PRACTICE.

>> NOT A LOBBYIST.

>> Eric: THE SENATOR IS FIRED UP.

>> HE IS, WELL, TOM IS USUALLY FIRED UP.

THAT'S PRETTY CLASSIC TOM EMMER, THAT'S A BIG STAGE HE'S BEEN ON AND HE'S BEEN ON THAT STAGE NOW FOR A COUPLE YEARS AND PRETTY EXCITING FOR FOLKS IN HIS DISTRICT.

>> Eric: DID YOU BUY THE REASON FOR THE REASON BEHIND THE CONVENTION?

>> YOU EXPECT ME TO SAY NO?

HONESTLY I THINK THE IDEA OF PUMPING UP THE PARTY BASE MIDTERMS AND USING ANY RALLYING YOU AN IS PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA.

NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE, IT'S UNIQUE, IT'S CREATIVE, I'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY GOOD THINGS ABOUT IT.

WE'RE IN SOMETHING OF A BUBBLE HERE IN MINNESOTA, I DON'T THINK YOU SAW ANYTHING ABOUT IT IN THE MEDIA HERE BUT GOT SOME PRETTY INTERESTING COVERAGE SOME POPULATIONS.

>> IT FEELS LIKE A SIGN OF DESPERATION TO ME, LIKE THEY KNOW THEY'RE LOSING AND THE WAVE IS COMING THEIR WAY AND DOING ANYTHING TO RALLY THEIR FOLKS.

THE OTHER THING I MIGHT SAY IS TOM LOOKED LIKE HE WAS REALLY GOOD IN DALLAS AND FIRED UP BUT COULDN'T MAKE FARMFEST HERE IN MINNESOTA.

>> I DON'T KNOW, IT STARTS TO LOOK MORE AND MORE LIKE IDIOCRACY THE REALITY SHOW TO ME, THERE'S NOTHING ABOUT IT THAT'S REAL.

WE'RE DEALING WITH WAR, MASSIVE FEDERAL DEBT, INFLATION AND NONE OF THAT IS BEING DEALT WITH N ANY KIND OF HONEST WAY AND AMERICAN VOTERS KNOW IT'S NOT HAPPENING.

>> Cathy: THE REPRESENTATIVE SAYS HE HAS NO PLANS TO MOVE UP IN HOUSE LEADERSHIP, WANTS TO REMAIN AS WHIP BUT DO YOU BELIEVE THAT?

>> OH, I ACTUALLY DO THINK I BELIEVE THAT.

I THINK THAT TOM -- I MEAN, TOM EVEN FROM HIS TIME IN THE MINNESOTA HOUSE WAS A LEADER.

BUT LWAYS HE ALSO LIKES KIND OF THAT LIKE BULLY PULPIT IF YOU WILL.

IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT SUITS HIM.

SO I THINK AS SPEAKER THAT'S KIND OF A DIFFERENT TYPE OF LEADERSHIP.

I THINK TOM IS RIGHT WHERE HE WANTS TO BE.

>> Cathy: I'M WONDERING HERE, HE DID SAY THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE NO LEADER, NO MESSAGE.

DEMOCRATS DON'T SEEM TO HAVE A CLEAR LEADER, AND WHAT'S THEIR MESSAGE >> I THINK THAT THERE'S A LEADER, I EAN, YOU KNOW, HAKEEM JEFFRIES IS THE LEADER IN THE HOUSE AND HE'S PRETTY CLEAR ON WHAT HE WANTS TO DO.

SCHUMER IS THE LEADER IN THE SENATE AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE ELECTION.

I THINK THEY HAVE A LEADER AND I THINK THE ISSUES ARE -- AND I THINK THE ECONOMY IS THE MESSAGE.

I THINK IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY GOT TO FABRICATE, ALL THEY GOT TO DO IS WAKE UP EVERY DAY AND THE COUNTRY IS IN PERIL BECAUSE OF IT.

>> I THINK CANDIDLY ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THE REPUBLICANS HAVE GOING FOR THEM THIS GO AROUND IS THE FACT THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE MUCH FOCUS OR LEADERSHIP ON THE PART OF THE DEMOCRATS AND THE BRAND NATIONALLY SUFFERED A LOT FROM THE CONTROVERSY AND FIGHTING THAT'S GONE ON INSIDE.

IF THEY WERE MORE UNIFIED THAN THEY ARE RIGHT NOW I THINK REPUBLICANS WOULDN'T EVEN BE THINKING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE SOME DECENT CHANCES IN THIS IDTERM AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY IN TERMS OF HOW THEY CAN CORRECT THAT BECAUSE I THINK THE FIGHT IS PROFOUND AND SYSTEMIC RIGHT NOW INSIDE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

WHAT THEY HAVE GOING FOR THEM OF COURSE IS IT IS THE MIDTERMS AND THE PARTY IN POWER PERCEIVED TO BE THE REPUBLICANS OF COURSE IS GOING TO UFFER AND SO THEY'VE GOT THAT ADVANTAGE, THEY JUST DON'T SEEM TO BE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT ENOUGH.

>> Cathy: REPRESENTATIVE WINKLER.

>> REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP IS SHOWING THEY CARE ABOUT EVERYTHING EXCEPT WHAT VOTERS SAY THEY CARE ABOUT WHICH IS AFFORDABILITY, THEY DON'T LIKE THE WAR, THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT ALL OF THE FOUNDATIONAL ELEMENTS OF THEIR HOMES, EVERYTHING ELSE BEING ERODED BY WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE ECONOMY.

THE SAME THING THAT REPUBLICANS USED AGAINST DEMOCRATS IN 2024 AND THEY'VE DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT, IN FACT THEY'VE MADE IT WORSE AND I THINK THERE IS GOING TO BE A RECKONING.

I DON'T KNOW THAT DEMOCRATS ARE READY TO THROW OUT A WINNING MESSAGE FOR 2028 RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE TO GET THROUGH 2026 BUT I THINK IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE ECONOMY, HOW A POPULIST REVOLT AGAINST BIG TECH COMPANIES, AGAINST SKY ROCKETING HEALTH CARE, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE RIPE AND FERTILE TERRITORY FOR DEMOCRATS.

>> Eric: $68 MILLION THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S PAC SENT TO REPUBLICANS AROUND THE COUNTRY DIDN'T INCLUDE ANY MONEY FOR REPUBLICAN, HOUSE MEMBER IN MINNESOTA OR SENATE CANDIDATE OR THE GOVERNOR CANDIDATE.

WHEN YOU POLITICAL PROFESSORS LOOK AT THAT -- PROFESSIONALS LOOK AT THAT SORT OF SITUATION DOES IT MAKE YOU THINK THEY'RE SAVING IT FOR LATER OR ON'T THINK THEY SHOULD WASTE THE MONEY?

WHAT DOES THAT TELL US IF ANYTHING IS >> ELL, I MEAN I THINK THAT, FOR A LONG TIME IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF HAS ALWAYS HAD AN EYE ON MINNESOTA, VERY EARLY ON, 2016, -- BY THE WAY IF HE SPENT ANY TIME HERE HE WOULD HAVE WON, HE WAS RIGHT ABOUT THAT.

SINCE THAT HE'S HAD AN INTEREST IN THAT AND I'VE WORKED ON POLITICAL SENATE, STATEWIDE PAINS SINCE THEN AND FOLKS AROUND THE PRESIDENT JUST ARE REALLY PRETTY STRONGLY AND STAUNCHLY SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, MINNESOTA IS NOT THE PLACE TO PUT HEIR MONEY.

BUT I THINK IT WOULDING, I THINK IT'S AN INTERESTING EXPERIMENT IF THEY WOULD AND I WOULD ALSO WITH THESE CANDIDATES THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE ON THE BALLOT WHICH IN MY MIND ARE THE STRONGEST CANDIDATES WE HAVE HAD IN TWO DECADES IT IS A MISTAKE THAT THE NATIONAL REPUBLICANS COULD BE MAKING TO NOT SPEND ENOUGH TIME OR MONEY OR ATTENTION HERE IN MINNESOTA.

>> Eric: WHAT'S THE MATH FOR STATEWIDE CANDIDATE OR DEMOCRATS?

A COUPLE OF HUNDRED THOUSAND OR 300,000 VOTE MARGIN OUT OF THE TWIN CITIES AND THE REPUBLICANS CAN'T MAKE HAT UP OUTSTATE?

WHAT'S THE MATH?

>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S THAT.

WE SAW A LITTLE BIT OF IT IN THE PRIMARY AND THE KIND OF TWIN CITIES, FOURTH AND FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

I THINK THE SECOND CAME IN WITH A LOT OF VOTES FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FLANAGAN.

I THINK ROCHESTER AND THAT AREA, PART OF CD1 IS REALLY FRUSTRATED, THERE'S SOME REAL BATTLE IN THE EFFICIENT CONGRESSIONAL ISTRICT.

SO I MEAN I THINK IT'S THE TYPICAL MAP FOR THE STATEWIDE CANDIDATES BUT I THINK LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT WENT TO THE PRIMARY THAT WERE DEMOCRATS, THEY, 200,000 MORE PEOPLE THAN REPUBLICANS.

>> I THINK WHAT'S REALLY GOING TO BE INTERESTING AS USUAL IS WHAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING IN THE SUBURBAN AREAS.

THE SUBURBAN DISTRICTS IN PARTICULAR.

AND HOW THE ECONOMY IS GOING TO PLAY.

HOW THE FRAUD ISSUE IS GOING TO PLAY, THAT'S NOT OING -- GOING AWAY AND THE STATE ISSUES.

HOW THAT ALL IS GOING TO GET MIXED TOGETHER AND HOW THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT THE VOTE.

YOU CAN EXPECT THE CORE CITIES TO DEPENDABLY SHOW UP AND GO BLUE.

THEY -- THE BLUE ZOMBIES WE LIKE TO CALL THEM, THEY'LL SHOW UP.

AND THE OUTSTATE RED AREAS WILL STAY PREDICTABLY RED.

THE PLACE TO WATCH WILL BE IN THE SUBURBS.

>> I THINK THE DEMOCRAT PARTY HAS NOT BEEN DOING THEMSELVES A FAVOR.

THEY HAVE GONE DECIDEDLY FURTHER LEFT IN THE PRIMARIES.

WE HAVE ALL SEEN THAT AND I THINK IT'S AN INTERESTING PLACE FOR BOTH THESE PARTIES, RIGHT?

BOTH PARTIES ARE IN A TRANSITION WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FOR THEIR KIND OF THEIR IDENTITY AND THEIR LEADERSHIP AND REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN AHEAD ON THAT WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP AND MAGA AS SORT OF THIS BIG PERSONALITY BUT THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING THROUGH IT TOO.

AND A LOT OF THAT MESSAGE DOESN'T RESONATE WITH THE AREAS THAT FRITZ IS TALKING ABOUT, THE SUBURBS, KIND OF THOSE MODERATE INDEPENDENT VOTERS, WHEREVER THEY LIVE, ROCHESTER, WINONA, DULUTH, WHEREVER -- >> YOU HAVE TO HAVE A REASON TO VOTE IN THE MIDTERM, RIGHT?

THERE'S A CERTAIN NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO VOTE IN EVERY ELECTION THAT USED TO FAVOR REPUBLICANS AND THAT HAS SHIFTED AND NOW FAVORS DEMOCRATS AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A REASON TO SHOW UP.

REPUBLICANS RIGHT NOW DON'T HAVE A LOT OF REASON TO TURN OUT AND VOTE.

THEIR PARTY IS NOT DOING WELL, PRESIDENT IS NOT DOING WELL, THE ECONOMY'S NOT DOING WELL AND DEMOCRATS ARE ANGRY AND MOTIVATED TO SHOW UP AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> Eric: BUT FRAUD RAUD FRAUD TWO OR THREE TIMES A WEEK STILL THERE'S FRAUD.

>> FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD AND IT MATTERS, I MEAN, THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT'S JUST KIND OF SLOWLY DRIFTING INTO THE BACKGROUND.

PEOPLE ARE STILL VERY ANGRY ABOUT IT AND AS MUCH AS IT GETS DEFLECTED, OH, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT, THAT KIND OF ISSUE, LIKE IT JUST ISN'T GONNA GO AWAY.

>> YEAH, WELL, YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK IT'S THERE BUT THE SYSTEM IS WORKING, THE SYSTEM DIDN'T WORK -- THE FOLKS THAT, THE BAD GUYS WENT AND DID THE FRAUD OF THE SYSTEM NOW WE'RE BEING ADJUDICATED.

THAT'S HOW OUR SYSTEM WORKS, RIGHT?

AND I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS THOSE FOLKS GOING THROUGH THE SYSTEM, THEY WERE CHARGED, THEY'RE BEING SENTENCED, GOING TO JAIL.

I THINK THAT THAT'S HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS.

ON THE FLIP HAND SIDE PEOPLE ARE NOT FORGETTING HOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAME INTO THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND SNATCHED UP THEIR KIDS AND SCARED THE LIVING YOU KNOW WHAT OUT OF PEOPLE.

THAT'S STILL IN PEOPLE'S HEARTS, AND KILLED MINNESOTANS.

>> THEN I HAVE TO ASK IS WHY SENATOR KLOBUCHAR'S VERY FIRST AD WAS TALKING ABOUT FRAUD?

I JUST HAVE TO -- I HAVE TO SAY IF THAT'S -- IF THAT'S TRUE, JEFF, I MEAN, THE VERY FIRST AD THAT CAME OUT FROM SENATOR KLOBUCHAR HERSELF WAS ABOUT FRAUD AND GETTING INTO THE SYSTEM AND DOING AN AUDIT.

WHY?

BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY I THINK ACROSS THE STATE WHAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> I REALLY DO.

>> Cathy: SAY -- >> -- SHE'S RIGHT TO DO THE AD.

>> Cathy: SENATOR KLOBUCHAR STAID TO THE STRIB TODAY IF WE SHE WON FOR GOVERNOR SHE WOULDN'T RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2028.

>> OH, WHAT A RELIEF.

>> WE NEED A GOVERNOR STEPPING UP AND ADDRESSING THE ISSUES, FRAUD IS ONE, STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT HAS NOT BEEN GOING WELL, HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND ECONOMIC ROWTH, AND GOVERNOR KLOBUCHAR WHEN SHE BECOMES SWORN IN HER ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON DELIVERING RESULTS.

RADICAL PRAGMATICISM, MILITANT COMPETENCE, WHATEVER IT IS LIKE THERE IS A NEED TO GET A HANDLE ON STATE GOVERNMENT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN AND SHE WILL BE DOING THAT.

>> RYAN I AGREE COMPLETELY THAT THERE IS ALL THAT NEED AND THOSE THINGS HAVEN'T BEEN MET BUT WE'VE HAD EIGHT YEARS OF A DEMOCRAT AS A GOVERNOR AND THAT'S WHEN ALL THAT HAPPENED.

SO THE REAL QUESTION VOTERS ARE GOING TO ANSWER IS WHETHER OR NOT AMY KLOBUCHAR IS SOMEHOW GOING TO BE DIFFERENT.

I WOULD ARGUE NOT AT ALL.

AND OR WHETHER THEY NEED A CHANGE LIKE LISA.

AND I WOULD THINK THAT LISA WOULD BE THE KIND OF CHANGE THEY WANT.

>> LISA HAS BEEN THE SPEAKER, SHE'S BEEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SAME DIVIDED GOVERNMENT THAT HELPED DELIVER THIS MESS AND SENATOR KLOBUCHAR HAS BEEN IN WASHINGTON GETTING BILLS PASSED.

>> Eric: TICKET SPLITTERS?

SOMEBODY GOES -- >> OH, YEAH.

>> TAFOYA AND KLOBUCHAR AS AN EXAMPLE?

>> WELL, I HOPE NOT.

BUT, YEAH.

I THINK THAT YOU MAY SEE A RETURN OF THAT KIND OF -- CERTAINLY AMONG THE STATEWIDE CAPPEDATS I EXPECT FOR EXAMPLE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL RACE IS A POSSIBILITY WHERE YOU WOULD SEE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE GOING FOR THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE THAT WOULD NOT VOTE OR KEITH ELLISON.

>> YEAH, I'M NOT SURE ON THE STATEWIDE RACES.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE JUST SAID WE KNOW WHAT THE MAP LOOKS LIKE AND WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO.

I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT ON THE STATEWIDE RACES, I DO THINK LEGISLATIVE RACES IN PLAY AND REALLY TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

>> Eric: WE'VE BEEN -- A LITTLE BIT TOO LONG TONIGHT.

TUNE IN NEXT WEEK AS WE CONTINUE COVERING THE LEAD UP TO THE MIDTERMS, JUST ENOUGH TIME FOR SOME SHOW-ENDING MUSIC.

THIS WEEK BACK IN 2014 JOHN VEZNER STOPPED BY THE STUDIO TO PREVIEW THE 13TH ANNUAL GRAND MARAIS UNPLUGGED MUSIC FESTIVAL.

THANKS FOR WATCHIN'.

BE CAREFUL.

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