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

>> Cathy: IT IS A JAM-PACKED SHOW.

COMING UP ON ALMANAC, PROFESSOR DAVID SCHULTZ IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT RESCISSION AND MORE.

PAUL DOUGLAS ON OUR SMOKY, WET, HOT AND COLD SUMMER.

NUR-D IS BACK TO PERFORM IVE, MARY LAHAMMER CAUGHT UP WITH A PAIR OF LAWMAKERS EARLIER THIS WEEK.

>> WE'LL TALK TO A BIPARTISAN PAIR OF LAWMAKERS ABOUT HOW THEIR SENSE OF SECURITY HAS CHANGED SINCE THE SHOOTINGS.

>> WHEN PEOPLE TELL YOU YOU WERE ON THIS LIST, IT'S -- THERE'S NO WORDS.

>> MY FIVE-YEAR-OLD ASKED ME TO GET OUT F OFFICE.

>> 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.

>> Cathy: IT'S ANOTHER FULL SUMMER TIME SHOW FOR YOU TONIGHT.

LATER IN THE HOUR WE'LL HAVE A LIVE PERFORMANCE BY NUR-D. PAUL DOUGLAS IS HERE FOR HIS WEATHER VISIT.

DOMINIC PAPATOLA HAS THOUGHTS ABOUT THE GREAT MINNESOTA GET TOGETHER AND OF COURSE WE'LL VOLUNTEER HAVE A POLITICAL PANEL TO END THE HOUR.

>> Eric: POLITICAL NEWS OUT OF D.C. IS WHERE WE START.

THE RESCISSION BILL THAT WILL CLAW BACK PREVIOUSLY APPROPRIATED MONEY FOR FOREIGN AID AND PUBLIC MEDIA FUNDING HAS PASSED BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

HOW UNUSUAL IS IT FOR CONGRESS TO GIVE A PRESIDENT SUCH AUTHORITY OVER SPENDING?

HADN'T HAPPENED IN THIS MANNER FOR MORE THAN A QUARTER CENTURY.

DAVID SCHULTZ IS BACK.

HE TEACHES POLITICAL SCIENCE AT HAMLINE UNIVERSITY AND IS ALSO AN ADJUNCT LAW PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS.

HAS TRUMP BASICALLY RESHAPED THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENCY?

>> WELL, HE HAS AT THIS POINT.

AND IT'S WITHOUT GETTING ANY KIND OF FORMAL AUTHORITY TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS.

I MEAN, AS WE KNOW, OR PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, APPROPRIATIONS POWER IN THE CONSTITUTION IS TEXTUALLY COMMITTED TO CONGRESS.

BUT WHAT CONGRESS HAS DONE NOW IS SIGNIFICANTLY GIVEN THE PRESIDENT EFFECTIVELY ALL KINDS OF BUDGETARY POWER BY RESCISSION, BUT ALSO BY REALLY NOT SECOND-GUESSING IM AS WE'VE SEEN FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS IN TERMS OF LAYOFFS, REFUSING TO SPEND MONEY AND SO FORTH LIKE THAT.

SO IT'S PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.

AND THE REASON WHY THIS IS ALSO KIND OF INTERESTING, IF WE THINK ABOUT HISTORIANS WOULD TELL US AND WHAT POLITICAL SCIENTISTS WOULD TELL US IS THAT OUR CONSTITUTION WAS BUILT ON THE PREMISE OF FEAR.

FEAR THAT ONE PERSON, ONE PARTY, ONE DEPARTMENT, ONE AGENCY'S GOING TO HAVE TOO MUCH POWER.

WE ALL KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS.

SEPARATION OF POWER, CHECKS AND BALANCES.

IT'S JUST NOT WORKING VERY WELL RIGHT NOW, AND THE REASON WHY IS THAT OUR FRAMERS WERE HOPING THAT SOMETHING CALLED POLITICAL PARTIES AND PARTISANSHIP WOULDN'T EMERGE AND THAT'S REALLY SORT OF CAUSING THE PROBLEMS RIGHT NOW.

>> Cathy: YEAH, THREATENED MEMBERS OF HIS OWN PARTY IF THEY DIDN'T GO ALONG WITH THE RESCISSION.

AND I'M WONDERING, WHAT DOES THIS FOREBODE FOR 26 '28, OTHER BUDGET ESSIONS PERHAPS?

>> WELL, CLEARLY TRUMP HAS ALREADY SAID AT THIS POINT HE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MORE RESCISSIONS RIGHT NOW BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEW FISCAL YEAR.

BUT WHAT IT'S GOING TO POSSIBLY MEAN AT THIS POINT IS THAT HE REALLY GETS TO DICTATE THE BUDGETARY PROCESS.

WHAT'S INTERESTING, ROUGHLY 1976 THE PRESIDENT'S BEEN REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A BUDGET TO CONGRESS AND IT'S ALMOST ALWAYS DOA, DEAD ON ARRIVAL.

TO A LARGE EXTENT NOW I THINK TRUMP IS GOING TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE BUDGET PROCESS AND BASICALLY DICTATE SPENDING, AT LEAST FOR NOW.

AT LEAST FOR NOW.

NOW, CLEARLY WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AFTER THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS BUT SO LONG AS SHE'S GOT THE HOUSE AND SENATES I THINK HE HAS FREE REIGN TO DO WHAT HE WANTS.

>> IS CONGRESS WILLINGLY DOING THIS OR REPUBLICAN SIDE KIND OF A POLITICAL FEAR OF TRUMP'S ABILITY TO DICTATE ELECTIONS?

AND IS IT A SITUATION WHERE IF IT WASN'T TRUMP AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE VOTES THEY WOULDN'T BE DOING THIS STUFF, RIGHT?

>> I THINK SO.

I THINK A LOT OF IT REALLY IS CULT OF PERSONALITY, T'S REALLY THE GRIP THAT TRUMP HAS ON HIS BASE AND ON THE PARTY.

INCLUDING INSTILLING THIS FEAR INTO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

AND WHAT'S REALLY KIND OF INTERESTING, THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE VOTES THAT HAVE HAPPENED RECENTLY IS THAT IN MANY SITUATIONS THESE ARE VOTES THAT REPUBLICANS ARE TAKING THAT ARE GOING TO HURT THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND YOU WILLED THINK THE THEORY OF REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY WOULD SAY, GOSH, GOT TO REPRESENT MY CONSTITUENTS FIRST BUT WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IS THAT PARTISANSHIP AND LOYALTY TO THE PRESIDENT IS REALLY IN SOME SENSE OVERPOWERING THE BASIC CONCEPT OF REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY AND ACCOUNTABILITY BACK TO YOUR OWN DISTRICT.

>> Cathy: I WONDER WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE MIDTERMS AND I ASK THAT BECAUSE HAKEEM JEFFRIES SENT OUT AN E-MAIL TODAY AS A MATTER OF FACT THROUGH THE DCCC SAYING DEMOCRATS LEAD IN TERMS BY A PERCENTAGE POINT IN SOME RECENT POLL THAT SHOWS PEOPLE ARE JUST NOT HAPPY WITH WHAT'S GOING ON.

IT'S NOT -- LEADING BY NOT BY MUCH, THOUGH.

YEAH.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

A COUPLE THINGS HERE FIRST IS THAT THE DEMOCRATS STILL NEED TO HAVE AN LTERNATIVE MESSAGE.

AS I ALWAYS SAY THAT YOU CAN'T TAKE VOTERS FOR GRANTED AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE, WHAT, A CANDIDATE MESSAGE AND STRATEGY.

SECOND IS THAT THERE'S NOT THAT MANY SEATS IN PLAY IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

TRADITIONALLY IT USED TO BE 26 SEATS WOULD SHIFT, NOWHERE WE'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT NO MORE THAN A DOZEN SEATS THAT ARE IN PLAY.

>> Eric: SUPREME COURT'S ROLE IN THIS, I SEE THEY DID OKAY THE ABOLISHMENT OF DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ALTHOUGH A BILLION DOLLARS OR SO HAS BEEN RESTORED FOR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS.

>> YEAH, THE SUPREME COURT AT THIS POINT UNFORTUNATELY IS COMING DOWN 6-3 IN A VERY PARTISAN WAY AND EVEN BEYOND HOW IT MIGHT BE PLAYING OUT IN TERMS OF PRESIDENT VERSUS CONGRESS, INCREASINGLY IT'S LOOKING LIKE AS I SAY TO MY STUDENTS A BUNCH OF POLITICIANS WEARING ROBES AND THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE LEGITIMACY OF THE COURT.

BUT REALLY THE COURT IS ON THE SIDE OF DONALD TRUMP RIGHT NOW.

>> Cathy: THE JEFFREY EPSTEIN SITUATION IS INTERESTING.

THE PRESIDENT IS CALLING IT A HOAX.

HOW MUCH OF A QUAGMIRE IS THIS FOR TRUMP?

>> DURING THE SUMMER WHEN THERE'S NOT MUCH GOING ON IN THE NEWS CYCLE IT'S A BIG ISSUE AT THIS POINT.

IN SOME SENSE HESE ARE CONSPIRACY THEORIES CREATED BY DONALD TRUMP AND OTHERS AND NOW THEY'RE COMING TO CONSUME HIM AT LEAST FOR PART OF HIS BASTE.

IT KIND OF REMINDS ME OF THE PIZZA GATE STORY MANY MANY YEARS AGO, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT ONE BASICALLY CONSUMED EVERYBODY FOR A WHILE.

HERE DONALD TRUMP WILL PROBABLY ESCAPE THIS IN THE WAY THAT HE'S ESCAPED A LOT OF OTHER CONTROVERSIES BUT HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF LOSING SOME POLITICAL CAPITAL WITH PART OF HIS BASE.

>> Cathy: MIGHT THIS BE THE FIRST BIG CRACK, THOUGH >> IT IS A FIRST CRACK AT THIS POINT.

HOW MUCH OF THIS IS TEMPORARY VERSUS MORE LONG LASTING, I DON'T KNOW.

BUT CERTAINLY HE'S GOT TO GOAL WITH SOME PROBLEMS HERE AND PAM BONDI, HIS ATTORNEY GENERAL, IS REALLY IN A FIX AT THIS POINT.

>> Eric: WE GOT YOU ON SPEED DIAL.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> SURE, NO PROBLEM.

MY PLEASURE.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YA.

TAKE CARE.

>> OF COURSE.

♪ >> Cathy: WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT IT YET BUT FEDERAL MONEY IS PART OF THE MONEY BEING CLAWED BACK.

WE ARE GOING TO SPEND THE NEXT SEVERAL MINUTES TALKING ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS FOR LOCAL PUBLIC MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS WITH THE HEAD OF TWIN CITIES PBS.

A QUICK NOTE BEFORE WE DIVE INTO OUR CONVERSATION.

ALMANAC IS A PART OF THE NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS WORK THAT IS DONE HERE AT TWIN CITIES PUBLIC TELEVISION.

THE DECISIONS AND COVERAGE BY THE TEAM THAT CREATES THIS PROGRAMMING ARE INDEPENDEN FROM EXECUTIVES HERE IN HE STATION.

QUESTIONS WERE NOT SHARED AHEAD OF TIME OR PLANNED WITH ANYONE OTHER THAN THE SHOW'S PRODUCERS.

AND HOSTS.

SYLVIA STROBEL IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF TWIN CITIES PBS I WISH IT WAS UNDER BETTER CIRCUMSTANCES THAT YOU'RE HERE.

>> ME TOO.

>> Cathy: SO I'M WONDERING.

WE MARSHALED OUR FORCES.

PEOPLE RESPONDED TO CALLS TO SUPPORT PUBLIC MEDIA, YET THE ARGUMENT FAILED TO SUPPORT PUBLIC MEDIAL.

WHY DID THAT HAPPEN?

>> WELL, FIRST, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE, OUR VIEWERS AND THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WHO STEPPED FORWARD TO ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC MEDIA IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WE KNOW THERE WERE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF PHONE CALLS AND E-MAILS AND OUTREACH TO ELECTED OFFICIALS AND WE KNOW HERE LOCALLY WE'VE HAD INCREDIBLE SUPPORT AS WELL AS A LOT OF FOLKS STEPPING UP TO HELP US FINANCIALLY AND THAT MEANS A LOT.

I THINK WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT MY FIRST TIME AT THIS RODEO, I WISH IT WAS.

I'VE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS AWHILE, I'VE SEEN A LOT OF THREATS TO PUBLIC MEDIA.

BUT WE KNEW SOMETIME AGO THAT THIS WAS A VERY DIFFERENT THREAT.

THIS WAS NOT LIKE ANYTHING WE'D EVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE.

I THINK WE MARSHALED OUR FORCES, WE'VE LOST THIS BATTLE BUT WE HAVEN'T LOST THE WAR.

WE STILL HAVE A FIGHT AHEAD OF US YET.

>> Cathy: WHAT DID NOT LAND, THOUGH, WITH LAWMAKERS?

WHY DID THE ARGUMENTS NOT LAND WITH THEM?

>> YOU KNOW, WE KNOW FROM TALKING WITH OUR MINNESOTA DELEGATION THAT THEY GREATLY RESPECT AND APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT WE DO HERE IN MINNESOTA.

THEY RESPECT THE LOCAL STATIONS.

I THINK WE ARE PART OF A BIGGER POLITICAL BATTLE THAT'S GOING ON WITH RESPECT TO PERCEIVED BIAS IN THE MEDIA, RIGHT OR WRONG, RATHER THAN HAVING AN ACTUAL FRANK CONVERSATION, A DIALOGUE, WE'RE JUST PART OF A POLITICAL BATTLE RIGHT NOW.

>> Eric: HOW ABOUT POPULAR SHOWS THAT OLKS WATCH ON TPT, ANTIQUES ROADSHOW, MASTER PIECE THEATER, NOVA, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THOSE, FOR INSTANCE?

>> WELL, WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS NATIONALLY TO IDENTIFY HOW WE'RE GOING TO FUND SOME OF THESE NATIONAL SHOWS, MANY OF WHICH ARE FUNDED BY DUES THAT WE AS STATIONS PAY TO PBS AND THOSE DUES ARE OFTEN HELP COVERED BY CPB'S FUNDS.

YOU KNOW, LOCALLY WE RECEIVE A FAIR AMOUNT OF MONEY FROM THE LEGACY FUND.

WE'RE VERY, VERY GRATEFUL TO STATE LEGISLATORS FOR GIVING THAT TO US.

SO THAT'S GOING TO HELP US CONTINUE TO PRODUCE OUR LOCAL PROGRAMS.

>> Eric: THE CLICHÉ IS DON'T WASTE A GOOD CRISIS AND I WONDER IF THIS STIRS UP ENTREPRENEURIAL IDEAS, MORE STREAMING, MORE WEBSITE STUFF, DESTINATION TV IS KIND OF ON THE WAY OUT IN GENERAL.

HOW ABOUT THAT ASPECT OF IT?

>> I THINK YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH PEERS AROUND THE STATE AND AROUND THE COUNTRY ON NEW WAYS THAT WE CAN SERVE OUR AUDIENCES, DIFFERENT STREAMING SERVICES, DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES, WAYS WE CAN WORK TOGETHER EVEN WITH OUR FRIENDS OVER AT MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO ON NEW POTENTIAL COPRODUCTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR BETTER SERVING THE STATE KNOWING WE'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE FEWER RESOURCES MOVING FORWARD.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED OUR- FR Cathy: YOU MENTIONED OUR- FRIEathy: YOU MENTIONED OUR- FRIENDhy: YOU MENTIONED OUR- FRIENDS : YOU MENTIONED OUR- FRIENDS INYOU MENTIONED OUR- FRIENDS IN GU MENTIONED OUR- FRIENDS IN GREMENTIONED OUR- FRIENDS IN GREATNTIONED OUR- FRIENDS IN GREATERIONED OUR- FRIENDS IN GREATER MNED OUR- FRIENDS IN GREATER MIND OUR- FRIENDS IN GREATER MINNEOUR- FRIENDS IN GREATER MINNESOR- FRIENDS IN GREATER MINNESOTA.

THERE ARE SIX STATIONS IN THE MPTV ASSOCIATION GROUP.

EACH IS PRETTY INDEPENDENT AS YOU KNOW.

>> >> YES, THEY ARE.

>> Cathy: WHICH IS GOOD.

MIGHT THERE BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO POOL RESOURCES?

SAY BACK-OFFICE TYPE RESOURCES?

>> WE ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS, EVERYTHING'S ON THE TABLE.

AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN SUPPORT OUR COLLEAGUES IN GREATER MINNESOTA WHO MAY NOT HAVE AS MANY RESOURCES TO PULL FROM AS WE DO.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE ALL MINNESOTANS CONTINUE TO HAVE ACCESS TO PUBLIC TELEVISION.

>> Cathy: DO YOU SEE CONSOLIDATION OR CLOSURES IN THE OFFING?

>> I DO NOT SEE THAT AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME.

I THINK WE CAN JUST BE SMARTER AND WORK TOGETHER MORE.

>> Eric: THERE IS A BUDGET PROCESS THAT HAPPENS LATER IN THE YEAR NOW FOR THE 2026 FEDERAL UDGET AND I WONDER, LOBBYIST OR ANYBODY SAYING SOME OF THIS MIGHT BE RESTORED IN THAT BUDGET PROCESS?

>> WE HAVE HEARD THAT THERE WERE SOME DEALS BEING TALKED ABOUT BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE CAPITOL DURING THIS RESCISSION PROCESS.

AND WE KNOW FROM OUR LEADERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C., OUR ADVOCATES IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THAT THAT IS A VERY REAL PROSPECT FOR US.

>> Cathy: I THINK THAT YOU ARE FACING -- CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, SILVIA, ARE YOU LOOKING AT A 10% BUDGET CUT FROM ALL OF THIS?

>> 10% FROM THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING, YES.

WE ALSO HAD OUR U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ED GRANT FOR OUR KIDS SHOW TERMINATED IN MAY.

>> Cathy: RIGHT, LAYOFFS THERE, POINT-BLANK, EVERYONE, WE'RE LOOKING AT MPR TOO IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING.

DO YOU FORESEE ANY STAFFING CHANGES?

>> WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST PLAN THAT WE'VE HAD IN PROCESS FOR SOME TIME AS WE LOOK AT EVERYTHING WE CAN POSSIBLY DO TO CONTINUE TO PRESERVE OUR LOCAL PROGRAMMING, PRESERVE OUR LOCAL SERVICE.

EVERYTHING HAS TO BE ON THE TABLE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE STILL HERE AND WE'RE STILL DOING GOOD WORK TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.

>> Cathy: DO YOU THINK THAT IN THE FUTURE, AND ERIC KIND OF BROUGHT THIS UP IN TERMS OF NEVER WASTING A GOOD CRISIS, MIGHT THIS BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY EXPAND LOCAL-REGIONAL CONTENT?

>> I HINK THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO LOOK AT IT.

AND THOSE ARE THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE ARE HAVING.

WE KNOW IT RESONATES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE DO A LOT OF GREAT WORK IN MINNESOTA IN THAT REGARD TOO, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY DO MORE.

>> Cathy: BEFORE YOU GO, I KNOW THERE ARE SOME EOPLE OUT THERE THINKING, OKAY, WELL, CAN I STILL DO SOMETHING TO HELP?

>> YES.

CONTINUE CONTACTING YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

YOU CAN'T CONTACT THEM TOO MUCH, TELL THEM HOW IMPORTANT PUBLIC MEDIA IS TO YOU AND TO MINNESOTA.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Eric: YOU BET.

♪ >> MY OLD PAL JOE WEIDT — MAY HIS MEMORY BE A BLESSING — ALWAYS USED TO SAY THAT NO ORGANIZATION GOT MORE FREE PUBLICITY THAN THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR.

WITH 34 DAYS 'TIL OPENING DAY, MY OLD BUDDY’S WISDOM ENDURES OF COURSE.

THERE’S THE CONSUMER REPORTING: THIS WOULD INCLUDE THE ANNUAL GLUTTONOUS COVERAGE OF NEW FOODS AT THE FAIR.

CHICKEN-FRIED BACON FRIES, ANYONE?

IT ALSO INCLUDES THE CUSTOMARY BEVY OF STORIES ABOUT WHICH MEDICARE-ELIGIBLE MUSICIANS WILL BE SHUFFLING OUT ONTO THE GRANDSTAND STAGE TO WHEEZE OUT A CONCERT.

BUT HOW MANY ORGANIZATIONS DO YOU KNOW THAT GET A DOZEN EYE-GRABBING, FEATURE-LENGTH HELP-WANTED PLACEMENTS?

THERE WERE A FISTFUL OF STORIES THIS WEEK ABOUT THE UPCOMING STATE FAIR JOB FAIR.

DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN GET PAID $11.50 AN HOUR FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF SHOVELING ALPACA DUNG?

AND IT’S NOT JUST THE QUANTITY OF STORIES.

IT’S THIS WHOLE BREATHLESS, BACKSIDE-SMOOCHING GESTALT.

OUR SPORTS TEAMS GET PLENTY OF WHAT THE DATA WONKS CALL “EARNED MEDIA” TOO.

BUT THEY PAY FOR IT BY BEING THE OBJECT OF ANALYSIS AND CRITICISM.

BY THE FAIR’S OWN ESTIMATES, THEY GET MORE THAN $100 MILLION WORTH OF FREE INK, AIR, AND MEGA-BYTES EVERY YEAR.

I DID MY OWN ANALYSIS AND CALCULATED THAT THE DOLLAR VALUE OF THAT COVERAGE THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED EVEN REMOTELY NEGATIVE IS... $3.27.

OH, WE TRY: THE MINNESOTA STAR TRIBUNE OFFERED A QUALIFIED “MEH” ON THIS YEAR’S CONCERT LINEUP AT THE GRANDSTAND.

BUT WE CAN’T HELP OURSELVES: ON THE VERY SAME DAY, THE STRIB ISSUED A REQUEST FOR LETTERS FROM READERS EXPLAINING WHY THEY LOVE THE FAIR SO MUCH MUAH!

DON’T GET ME WRONG: I LOVE THE FAIR AS MUCH AS THE NEXT GUY, MAYBE MORE THAN THE NEXT GUY.

BUT FOR MINNESOTANS — AND BY EXTENSION FOR MINNESOTA MEDIA — TO ENGAGE IN CRITICISM OF THE FAIR IS LIKE PLAYING DUCK-DUCK GOOSE.

IT SIMPLY IS NOT DONE.

♪ >> Eric: IT'S MID-JULY AND SO FAR MINNESOTA SUMMER HAS BROUGHT US A SKY FULL OF SMOKE, HEAVY RAINS, HOT STEAMY WEATHER AND NOW SOME RECORD-TYING TEMPERATURES.

PAUL DOUGLAS, YOU'VE GOT SOME EXPLAINING TO DO.

WHEN PAUL ISN’T ON OUR AIRWAVES, YOU CAN CATCH HIS PREDICTIONS IN THE "STAR TRIBUNE."

IN HIS SPARE TIME HE RUNS HIS OWN WEATHER COMPANY, PREDICT-IX.

I KNOW YOU'VE HAD SMOKE GET IN YOUR EYES.

>> IT HAS!

WAY TOO.

>> Eric: WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> WELL, IT'S BEEN A YEAR COMPARABLE TO 2023 AND A LOT OF PEOPLE RIGHTFULLY COMPLAINING ABOUT WILDFIRE SMOKE, WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT HIS?

YOU HAVE THAT IMAGE OF A PERFECT MINNESOTA SUMMER AND IT'S MARRED BY THICK SMOKE.

>> Eric: I LEARN BEST WITH PICTURES AND CHARTS.

>> OKAY.

CUE THE PICTURES.

ALL RIGHT.

YES, ANOTHER SMOKY MINNESOTA SUMMER, COMING IN WAVES.

AND, YES, WILDFIRE SMOKE FROM CANADA.

SO HERE WE GO.

ALL THOSE RED CIRCLES ARE FIRES BURNING OUT OF ONTROL.

300-PLUS FIRES, 81 OF THEM BURNING OUT OF CONTROL.

AN AREA THE SIZE OF NEW YORK STATE HAS BEEN SCORCHED ACROSS CANADA THIS YEAR.

AND THE SUMMER'S HALF OVER, AND ALL THAT SMOKE, MOST OF IT HEADING DOWNWIND, WE ARE DOWNWIND.

A LOT OF FACTORS, A WARMER, DRYER CANADA, HEATWAVES EARLIER IN THE SPRING, THUNDERSTORMS WITH LIGHTNING IGNITING MOST OF THESE FIRES, AND, YES, FOREST MANAGEMENT IS PART OF THE DEAL, RAKING THE FORESTS.

BUT AGAIN, CHATGPT 4.0 TOLD ME THERE ARE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 300 AND 500 BE BILLION, WITH A "B," BILLION TREES.

HOW DO YOU RAKE HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF TREES?

SO IT'S A QUANDARY.

IT'S A PROBLEM.

AND HERE ARE THE TRENDS.

THIS IS WILDFIRE SMOKE NATIONWIDE IN THE U.S. YOU CAN SEE THE AVERAGE, THE GRAY LINE AT THE FAR BOTTOM, THAT'S THE AVERAGE.

2023 WAS SO FAR A RECORD IN TERMS OF WILDFIRE SMOKE REACHING THE U.S., AND ACCORDING TO THE MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY, WE ARE ON TRACK FOR ANOTHER RECORD YEAR.

THIS IS THE DATA SHOWING THE NUMBER OF AIR QUALITY ALERTS GOING OUT FROM THE MPCA SINCE 2008.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT UPWARD TREND, THE DARK RED, THOSE ARE -- THAT'S WILDFIRE SMOKE.

AND AGAIN, ACCORDING TO DAVE BROWN, IT'S EQUIVALENT TO SMOKING 8 TO 10 CIGARETTES.

WHEN YOU HAVE A DAY WITH AN AQI OF 200 OR GREATER, YEAH.

THE GOOD NEWS, AND THERE IS GOOD NEWS, PAUL, THE DROUGHT HAS EASED.

IT HAS FIZZLED.

GOOD RIDDANCE.

SUFFICIENT RAINS, HOPEFULLY A BUMPER HARVEST FOR FARMERS THIS YEAR.

STILL SOME POCKETS OF DROUGHT UP NEAR ROSEAU AND HALLOCK.

AND IF YOU LIKE IT WARM I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN LUCK.

I DON'T SEE ANY SIZZLING HEATWAVES DAY AFTER DAY IN THE 90S BUT ALL THE MODELS INCLUDING NOAA'S MODELS KEEP US WARMER THAN AVERAGE RIGHT THROUGH OCTOBER, AND, YES, FALLS ARE TRENDING WARMER.

WE GET 70s, EVEN SOME 80s INTO EARLY OCTOBER.

THE OTHER THING THAT'S ON MY MIND, THE HORRIFIC FLOODING.

WE'VE HAD OVER 3,000 FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS NATIONWIDE.

THE RECORDS GO BACK TO 1986, OVER 3,000.

I'M STILL RUMINATING OVER WHAT HAPPENED IN TEXAS WITH THAT INCREDIBLE FLASH FLOOD.

THEY LITERALLY GOT 6 TO 12 MONTHS WORTH OF RAIN IN THE SPAN OF A DAY OR TWO.

A STORM STALLED, WE HAD A TROPICAL REMNANT, TROPICAL STORM THAT HIT MEXICO, STALLED OVER THE HILL COUNTRY OF TEXAS.

A 500 TO 1,000-YEAR FLOOD.

AND THE WORST OF THE FLOODING CAME WHEN PEOPLE WERE SLEEPING.

WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING ON THE FOURTH OF JULY.

AND SO WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> Eric: YOU HAVE A LIFESAVING DEVICE RIGHT HERE.

>> REMEMBER IN THE OLD DAYS YOU'D TURN ON YOUR RADIO.

AND MANY RADIO STATIONS AS WE KNOW ARE AUTOMATED AT NIGHT OR DON'T HAVE A LIVE HUMAN BEING THERE.

SO THEN WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> YOUR PHONE IS A GOOD SOURCE.

MAKE SURE YOU GO TO NOTIFICATIONS AND SETTINGS AND MAKE SURE YOU CAN GET THE EMERGENCY WEATHER ALERT THAT'S GO OUT FROM NOAA.

YOUR PHONE WILL SQUEAL, BUT I WOULDN'T RELY ON THAT.

THE KEY IS REALLY TO HAVE A BIG BASKET OF DIFFERENT SOURCES OF DATA.

TV, RADIO, INTERNET, AND HIS!

[ WEATHER RADIO PLAYING ] >> NOAA WEATHER RADIO.

AND THEY COST 30, 40 BUCKS FOR A HIGH END ONE.

THIS ONE HAS S.A.M.E.

TECHNOLOGY AND I THINK ALL OF THEM DO.

>> Eric: THIS IS THE WON WHEN I BEAT CATHY IN THE WEATHER QUIZ.

>> Cathy: HE GAVE IT TO ME SO IT'S MINE.

>> YOU CAN PLUG IT IN FOR JUST YOUR COUNTY SO IT'S NOT GOING OFF AT ALL HOURS.

EVERY BUSINESS, NURSING HOME.

>> Eric: HOW MUCH DID YOU SAY IT IS?

>> 30, 40 BUCKS.

>> OH, JEEZ, BARGAIN.

I'M GOING TO TAKE THAT ONE HOME.

>> I WALK AROUND WITH THIS, IS THAT UNUSUAL?

>> Cathy: A LITTLE WEIRD.

>> Eric: PAUL DOUGLAS, EVERYBODY!

PAUL DOUGLAS!

♪ >> WE HAD SO MUCH FUN WITH LOCAL RAPPER NUR-D ON THE SHOW LAST SPRING THAT WE KNEW WE HAD TO HAVE HIM BACK, AND A ALBUM RELEASE PARTY NEXT FRIDAY IS AN EXCELLENT EXCUSE.

THE ALBUM, CALLED "CHUNKADELIC," WILL BE HIS TENTH FULL-LENGTH PROJECT.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US!

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME!

I'M SO EXCITED TO BE BACK, IT'S DOPE.

>> EXCITED TO HAVE YOU HERE.

I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING LONG FOR A COUPLE YEARS NOW SO I'M A FAN.

>> THANK YOU!

>> AND EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO YOU TODAY.

>> I'M HAPPY, I'M EXCITED, ESPECIALLY WITH CHUNKADELIC COMING OUT, SO MUCH FUN.

>> YEAH.

THIS IS YOUR TENTH ALBUM.

>> TENTH FULL-LENGTH PROJECT.

>> IN SEVEN YEARS.

>> YEP, WE STARTED IN 2018 AND HAVE JUST BEEN BOW, BOW, BOW EVER SINCE.

>> WHERE DOES THAT DRIVE COME FROM?

>> IT'S A MIX OF TWO THINGS.

NUMBER ONE I HAVE A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON IN HERE.

IT'S MOSTLY HAIR AND WEIRD THOUGHTS.

[ LAUGHTER ] AND IT'S EASY TO GET THOSE OUT IN A MUSIC IS A GREAT WAY TO EXPRESS YOURSELF.

AND ALSO IT'S BEING ABLE TO HAVE MY OWN STUDIO AND WORK OUT OF FAIRPLAY ENTERTAINMENT IN ST. PAUL HAS BEEN A GREAT WAY FOR ME TO JUMP IN AND GET MY MUSIC OUT.

>> SO YOU'VE BEEN COLLABORATING WITH A BUNCH OF FOLKS I HEARD.

ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE IS HERE TODAY.

THAT'S AWESOME.

>> DJ HAYES RIGHT HERE, YEAH.

SO WE'VE BEEN ORKING WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

ME SPECIFICALLY AND DJ HAYES BUILDING THIS RECORD HAS BEEN WHAT WE CALL LIKE A FAMILY AFFAIR.

A LOT OF MUSICIANS FROM HERE, DJ HAYES PRODUCED HALF THE RECORD.

IT IS A LOT OF US BRINGING MINNESOTA, THE HEART, THE FUNK, THE SOUL OF THAT TO THIS RECORD.

>> YEAH, AND IT IS FUNKY.

>> IT IS A LITTLE FUNKY.

TRYING TO BE A LITTLE FUNKY.

>> I GOT TO LISTEN TO A LITTLE BIT AND IT'S FUN KIND OF MAKES YOUR BOTTOM MOVE A LITTLE BIT.

>> TRY TO GET THE BOTTOMS MOVING, THAT IS WHAT WE SAY.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> I READ THIS ALBUM IS REALLY AN EXPRESSION OF RADICAL JOY.

>> YES.

>> IN THE FACE OF EVERYTHING.

>> YEAH, I MEAN LIKE RIGHT NOW ESPECIALLY IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY THERE'S SO MUCH NEGATIVE.

AND THERE'S SO MUCH OF THIS SORT OF PRESSURE TO CONFORM, PRESSURE TO JUMP IN AND FIT INTO THE COG OF THE MACHINE AND SOMETIMES I THINK CREATIVITY, LIKE RADICAL JOY AND SELF-EXPRESSION IS THE BEST WAY OF LIKE REBELLING AGAINST THAT.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT THIS ALBUM IS.

WE STARTED OFF BEING LIKE REAL KIND OF SAD LIKE OH, THE STATE OF THE WORLD AND THEN WE WERE LIKE YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE'RE GONNA PARTY AND WE'RE GONNA MAKE SOMETHING OF IT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

NO FUN, WHY DO IT IF IT'S NOT FUN.

>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GREAT TIME, THAT'S THE GOAL, THAT'S THE VIBE.

>> EXCELLENT.

SO THE ALBUM RELEASE PARTY IS NEXT FRIDAY.

>> NEXT FRIDAY AT HE FILLMORE.

SO, Y'ALL, THE DOORS OPEN AT 6:30.

GET TICKETS ANYWHERE, AT NURDROCKS.COM OR ON SOCIAL, CLICK THE LINK IN THE BIO, YOU KNOW HOW IT IS.

DJ HAYES IS GOING TO BE THERE, DAKOTA FAYE FROM SOUTH DAKOTA, ILLISM IS AN AMAZING BAND IN THE TWIN CITIES.

VOICES OF CANDY AND YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN.

IT IS A BLAST!

THE MOST FUN YOU WILL EVER HAVE IN THE HISTORY OF FUN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO WHAT DO YOU GOING TO DO FOR US TONIGHT?

>> WE'RE GOING TO PERFORM "PURPLE IN THE SKY" BECAUSE WE THOUGHT WE WOULD BE ROCKING WITH THE PURPLE TODAY.

ALL RIGHT.

>> AWESOME.

NUR-D, EVERYONE.

>> WHAT'S UP, TPT.

WE GONNA DO IT, EY!

DJ HAYES ON THE ONES AND TWOS, LET'S GET IT.

♪ ♪ FROM THE LAND WHERE DOVES CRY, IT RAINS DOWN IN PURPLE LIVES SEEP INTO MY SKIN AND FUNK A REALIZE MN FLOW, NO, I'M ONE OF THE NICES.

TOOK A BITE OF THE GANG FANG, WESLEY SNIPES.

QUICK AS LIGHTNING, BOLTS I MAKE THE FUNK TO MAKE YOU JUMP AROUND.

DOES THAT SOUND GOOD TO YOU?

IF YOUR BODY TELL ME WHAT YOU GOT TO LOSE AIN'T NO PROMISE SAYING THAT YOU GOT TOMORROW SO BABY GO AND GET YOUR BACK UP OFF THE WALL.

SHAKE THAT THING, MAKE THE MOST OF THE MOMENT AND OWN IT, THERE AIN'T NOTHING LEFT.

RIGHT NOW WE CAN ROLL AND LET THE RECORD MELT PURPLE IN THE SKY GOT ME FEELIN' RIGHT LET'S GO OUT TONIGHT GOLDEN IN MY LIFE PURPLE IN THE SKY GOT E FEELIN' RIGHT LET'S GO OUT TONIGHT.

♪ ♪ THIS IS NOT YOUR GRANDMA'S FUNK THIS THAT NEWER STUFF THIS IS NOT YOUR DADDY'S GROOVE THIS IS DANGEROUS THIS IS NOT A COPY-PASTE, THIS IS TAILOR-MADE.

THIS THAT SCRUNCHING UP YOUR FACE MAKE YOUR MAMA SAY ... TELL THEM THAT I'M READY TO SKOL, HORNS UP AND READY TO SHOW, I BE THE COLDEST, I GOTTA KNOW THIS, THE COAST AND 'M KIND OF COASTING THEM I WON'T HOLD 'EM.

AND JUST A LITTLE BIT OF THE TWIN CITIES FOR Y'ALL LET THE SNOW FALL, GET YOUR FREAK ON AND ON AND ON PURPLE IN THE SKY GOT ME FEELIN' RIGHT LET'S GO OUT TONIGHT GOLDEN IN MY LIFE PURPLE IN THE SKY GOT ME FEELIN' RIGHT LET'S GO OUT TONIGHT GOLDEN IN MY LIFE PURPLE IN THE SKY GOT ME FEELIN' RIGHT LET'S GO OUT TONIGHT LET'S GO!

GOLDEN IN MY LIFE PURPLE IN THE SKY GOT ME FEELIN' RIGHT LET'S GO OUT TONIGHT ♪ [ ORGAN PLAYING "CHARGE" ] >> ALL THIS TROUBLE YOU GOT, HOW'S THAT?

>> VERY GOOD.

>> LET'S MOVE BECAUSE, UH, I THINK YOU SHOULD OVE THIS STUFF.

I THINK YOU SHOULD TAKE, UH ... >> YOU'RE REDESIGNING GOVERNMENT RIGHT HERE.

>> WELL, I MEAN, YOU GOTTA -- WHAT IS IT REALLY?

♪ >> Cathy: "REWIND: LESSONS FROM FIFTY YEARS OF ACTIVISM" FROM T. WILLIAMS WITH DAVID LAWRENCE GRANT IS A MEMOIR FROM THE MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

THE BOOK REFLECTS ON WILLIAMS' UPBRINGING IN MISSISSIPPI AND HIS DECADES OF ACTIVISM IN MINNEAPOLIS.

AS THE TITLE SUGGESTS, THE RELEASE AIMS TO APPLY LESSONS LEARNED THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER TO MODERN DAY ACTIVISM.

JOINING US NOW, AUTHORS OF "REWIND" T. WILLIAMS AND DAVID LAWRENCE GRANT.

SO HONORED TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

THANK YOU O VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: WELL, Mr. WILLIAMS, YOU WERE AT HE FOREFRONT OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT HERE IN MINNESOTA.

CURIOUS, HOW STRONG WAS IT BACK IN THE DAY?

WAS THERE A CERTAIN BRAND OF MINNESOTA-TYPE ACTIVISM?

VERSUS OTHER STATES?

>> WELL, IT WAS, HAD ITS OWN STRENGTH, AND IT WAS SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WAS GOING ON ELSEWHERE, BUT IT WAS COGNIZANT OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING ELSEWHERE.

AND I THINK THAT WHAT IS REFLECTED IN THE BOOK IS WHAT WAS HAPPENING HERE IN THE MID-1960s THROUGH THE EARLY '70s AND MAYBE EVEN INTO THE '80s.

AND IT WAS HOW THIS COMMUNITY RESPONDED TO CRISES, CONFLICT IN THE STREET AND CONFLICT IN ITS INSTITUTIONS.

>> Cathy: WELL, GIVEN, I REMEMBER BACK, HAT YEAR WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN -- PLYMOUTH AVENUE, WHEN IT WENT UP IN FLAMES.

I MEAN THAT WAS KIND OF A -- THAT WAS A DIFFICULT MOMENT.

>> TWICE.

'66 AND '67.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU FOR THAT.

WHAT WAS THAT LIKE TO LIVE THROUGH THAT?

>> WELL, T. >> WELL, MY FAMILY AND I HAD BEEN IN MINNESOTA FOR JUST OVER A YEAR IN 1966, AND TWO YEARS IN '67, AND IT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN HERE, AT LEAST THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED HERE DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD HAPPEN HERE.

I WAS NOT SURPRISED THAT IT HAPPENED HERE.

BUT WHAT WAS SURPRISING AND IN IS THAT THIS COMMUNITY REALLY RESPONDED DIFFERENTLY THAN WHAT WAS HAPPENING ACROSS HE COUNTRY.

IT WAS MORE ENGAGED AND IT WAS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY, AND THE DIVERSITY OF PARTICIPANTS IN THAT PROCESS.

>> Eric: WHAT DROVE YOU, DREW YOU TO THE PROJECT?

>> I'VE BEEN A HISTORY NERD MY WHOLE LIFE.

>> Eric: OKAY.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> AND MY PARENTS KNEW T QUITE WELL, ESPECIALLY MY ATHER.

I WAS ONE OF THE KIDS WHO WHEN THE OLD FOLKS HELD FORTH ABOUT WHAT THEY REMEMBERED FROM THE OLD DAYS, YOU KNOW, MOST OF MY PEERS WOULD SHAKE HANDS AND HANG OUT JUST LONG ENOUGH AND THEN SKEDADDLE UT OF THE ROOM.

I WAS THE KID WHO WANTED TO STICK AROUND AND HEAR THE STORIES.

WHEN T TOLD ME THAT HE HAD A BIG BOX FULL OF NOTES AND INTERVIEWS AND MANUSCRIPTS AND HE NEEDED TO MAKE SOME KIND OF SENSE OUT OF IT AND TURN IT INTO A BOOK I WAS THRILLED WHEN HE CAME TO ME AND SAID, HEY, WILL YOU HELP WITH THIS.

>> Eric: YOU WERE A DRIVING FORCE FOR THE URBAN COALITION.

IT STRUCK ME READING THE BOOK THAT YOU HAD THE SOUL PATROL AND RED PATROL, WERE THEY KIND OF THE ORIGINAL VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS?

>> WELL, WHAT HAPPENED WHEN DR.N 1968, EVERYONE EXPECTED THINGS TO BLOW UP HERE BECAUSE THEY WERE BLOWING UP ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND THE URBAN COALITION HAD RECENTLY BEEN FORMED, AND PEOPLE WERE REALLY FRIGHTENED ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND THERE WAS A GROUP THAT WAS ALREADY ORGANIZED IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS AND IN SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS, AND WHEN THE NIGHT AFTER THE ASSASSINATION, THERE WAS A GATHERING OF URBAN COALITION IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS AT THE CITIZENS AID BUILDING, TALKING ABOUT WHAT CAN BE DONE.

AND THAT WAS WHEN WE, THEY PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR WHAT WE CALL THE SOUL PATROL AND THE RED PATROL.

IN SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS, THE RED PATROL AND NATIVE AMERICANS, AND THE SOUL PATROL IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS AND SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS AROUND SABATHANI COMMUNITY CENTER.

AND WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT THEY WERE, WHAT THEY NEEDED MOST WAS THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE.

WELL, WE DIDN'T HAVE CELL PHONES THEN.

WHAT WE HAD WERE WALKIE-TALKIES.

SO THEY WERE EQUIPPED WITH WALKIE-TALKIES AND PUT IN THE STREETS AND MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE PART OF THAT PROCESS KNEW WHO SOME OF THE PLAYERS, MANY OF THE PLAYERS OUT THERE, AND THEY COULD GO AND BECOME DISRUPTORS.

AND THEY WERE NOT TO TRY TO PLAY POLICE, WHAT THEY WERE WAS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION, STOP RUMORS, AND GET GOOD INFORMATION TO THE PEOPLE WHO COULD ACT ON IT.

>> Cathy: Mr. GRANT, DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE A KID WHEN YOU WOULD LISTEN TO THE ELDERS, WHAT DID YOU THINK?

LISTENING TO SOME OF THESE STORIES?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STUCK WITH ME WAS HOW RESILIENT OUR ANCESTORS WERE.

AND HOW FULL OF OPTIMISM THEIR STORIES WERE, EVEN THOUGH, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT THEY HAD TO LIVE WITH AND THINGS THAT HAD HAPPENED TO THEM WERE TOUGH.

AND DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE, THAT SPIRIT OF OPTIMISM THAT SHONE THROUGH ANYTHING WAS THE MOST POWERFUL THING AND IT WAS EMPOWERING FOR ME PERSONALLY, RIGHT?

I MEAN, I FELT LIKE THERE'S NOTHING THAT CAN BE THROWN AT ME THAT IS GOING TO COMPLETELY THROW ME BECAUSE I KNOW THEIR EXAMPLE, AND I BELIEVE IN THEM AND I BELIEVE IN THEIR -- AND THEY BELIEVE IN US, OUR GENERATION AS WE WERE COMING UP, SO.

I THINK THAT'S THE OVERRIDING THING.

>> Cathy: WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO WORK WITH YOUR FRIENDS?

CLEARLY YOU'RE FRIENDS.

>> YEAH.

IT WAS FABULOUS EXPERIENCE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WE TRUSTED EACH OTHER TO FIND OUR WAY TO THE HEART OF WHAT NEEDED TO BE SAID.

AND BIT BY BIT WE GOT THERE, SO, YEAH, IT WAS A WONDERFUL PROCESS OF GIVE PROCESS OF GI GIVE AND TAKE THAT GOT US TO THE BOOK THAT I'M HOLDING IN MY LAP NOW.

>> Cathy: WELL DONE.

>> Eric: ANY SIGNINGS OR APPEARANCES THAT WE CAN PLUG?

>> WE ARE RECENTLY COMPLETED ONE.

THE NEXT APPEARANCE IS GOING TO BE AT GRAND MARAIS AT THE DRURY LANE BOOK STORE.

>> Cathy: THEY'RE GREAT.

>> YEAH, WE'LL BE GOING THERE.

WE WERE AT THE QUINN MAGERS BOOK STORE A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO AND WE STARTED AT THE BRUNCH LIBRARY IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS, SUMNER BRANCH.

>> Cathy: WE ARE GRACED BY YOUR PRESENCE AND THE FACT THAT THE BOOK, THE STORIES -- I'M GLAD YOU WROTE THEM DOWN.

>> Eric: INDISPENSABLE HISTORY, REALLY TREMENDOUS.

ALL THE BEST.

>> THANKS.

I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT THAT.

♪ >> Eric: THEY GOT ALONG SHARING A GAVEL WHEN THE SENATE WAS TIED, NOW SENATOR JULIA COLEMAN AND SENATOR STEVE CWODZINSKI SHARE HOW THEY'RE FOREVER CHANGED BY THE SHOOTINGS OF THEIR COLLEAGUES BY SETTING A BIPARTISAN EXAMPLE AT THE CAPITOL OF CIVILITY.

>> LAWMAKERS ARE BACK AT THE CAPITOL, WORKING OFF-SESSION AND ASSESSING HOW THEIR JOBS HAVE CHANGED SINCE THE SHOOTINGS OF THEIR COLLEAGUES.

>> YOU WERE ON THE HIT LIST, SENATOR.

>> YEAH.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY OTHER THAN WHAT I JUST DID.

I'M SPEECHLESS.

I JUST, WHEN PEOPLE TELL YOU YOU WERE ON THIS LIST, IT'S, THERE'S NO WORDS.

>> THINGS ARE STARTING TO GO BACK TO NORMAL, BUT NORMAL WILL NOT EVER BE DEFINED THE SAME WAY.

>> YOU ARE A HIGH-PROFILE MOM.

HOW DID THIS HIT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY?

>> MY FIVE-YEAR-OLD ASKED ME TO GET OUT OF OFFICE BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT POLICE OFFICERS OUTSIDE THE HOUSE EVER AGAIN.

AND SO THAT WAS REALLY TEMPTING BECAUSE AS I'M SURE YOU KNOW A PARENT WHEN YOUR CHILD SAYS SOMETHING LIKE THAT YOU WANT TO, OKAY, I'M DONE, I'M RESIGNING IMMEDIATELY, WHATEVER YOU NEED.

BUT THEN I THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE AM I SENDING?

I WAS RAISED Y A DEPUTY SHERIFF.

I REMEMBER WATCHING MY DAD PUT ON A BULLET PROOF VEST EVERY SINGLE DAY JUST TO GO DO HIS JOB OF KEEPING THE PUBLIC SAFE.

>> YOUR FATHER IS STILL IN THIS JURISDICTION, RAMSEY COUNTY.

HOW DOES THAT AFFECT HOW YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THIS?

>> MORE GRATEFUL THAN EVER TO HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND TO, YOU KNOW, 6:00 IN THE MORNING WHEN THEY'RE SHOWING UP TO YOUR HOUSE YOU ACTUALLY KNOW THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING BECAUSE YOU HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM.

UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN OUTSIDE YOUR HOUSE EFORE FOR OTHER ACCIDENTS RELATED TO POLITICAL THREATS.

>> I'VE BEEN HARD-PRESSED TO THINK OF AN EXAMPLE WHERE THE SPOUSE OR SIGNIFICANT OTHER WAS ALSO TARGETED, SO FOR OUR FAMILIES, YOU KNOW, IT JUST REALLY IT'S A DIFFERENT NORMAL.

>> WHAT DID YOUR WIFE THINK?

WHAT WAS HER RESPONSE?

>> UM, LET'S GET OUT OF TOWN.

>> MY OWN SENSE OF CIVIC DUTY WAS INSTILLED IN ME BY MY IMMIGRANT GRANDPARENTS.

>> WHEN I WAS STILL TEACHING I'D GIVE EXAMPLES OF MUD-SLINGING AND NAME-CALLING AND NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING AND THE KIDS WOULD GET SO TURNED OFF BY IT AND THEY JUST WOULD HATE IT AND IF WE COULD BE MORE CIVIL TO EACH OTHER.

>> STATE CAPITOL SECURITY ADDED STAFF AND VEHICLES A MONTH AFTER THE POLITICAL ASSASSINATION.

SOURCES SAY THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR INTENDS TO CALL A SECURITY MEETING IN AUGUST AND MORE.

>> THE CAPITOL ADVISORY COMMISSION HAS NOT MET AND THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO MEET.

WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN ON CAPITOL SECURITY?

>> YEAH, I HOPE THAT THEY DO MEET.

I DON'T KNOW THE BACKGROUND WHY, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO MEET I THINK FOUR TIMES A YEAR AND THEY HAVEN'T MET SINCE APRIL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, ONLY TIME THEY'VE MET THIS YEAR.

SO I HOPE THEY MAYBE START MEETING A LITTLE BIT MORE OFTEN BECAUSE WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE PLAN IS.

BUT FOR ME, YOU KNOW, I JUST LOVE THIS BUILDING BEHIND US AND THE OPENNESS OF IT.

>> WITHOUT GETTING INTO SPECIFICS, THERE'S AREAS THAT I HAVE FELT UNCOMFORTABLE AS A LAWMAKER, PARTICULARLY AS A YOUNG WOMAN THAT WALKS AROUND ALONE SOMETIMES AT 2, 3, 4:00 IN THE MORNING.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME IMPROVEMENTS, WHILE TO SENATOR CWODZINSKI'S POINT, MAINTAINING ACCESSIBILITY.

>> HAVE YOU CHANGED DRAMATICALLY HOW YOU APPROACH?

>> I MAKE A BETTER MARTINI THAN I DID PRIOR TO JUNE 13TH.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> THAT'S A PERFECT ANSWER.

>> YOU TWO ARE NOT DOING PUBLIC EVENTS, YOU TWO TOGETHER.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> GO AHEAD.

>> YEAH, I WAS AT THE JULY 4TH PARADE.

>> ARE YOU DOING PUBLIC EVENTS STILL?

>> I DID, WE HAD A JULY 4TH EVENT IN EDEN PRAIRIE THAT WAS VERY WELL ATTENDED.

>> WHEN THE SENATE WAS TIED THIS SESSION THIS PAIR SHARED A GAVEL CHAIRING AN EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND THEY WERE UNABASHED ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER ACROSS THE AISLE.

>> SENATOR COLEMAN AND I, I THINK WE'VE WORKED WELL TOGETHER AND JUST TODAY WE COAUTHORED A BILL ON, COMPREHENSIVE MINNESOTA.

>> GETTING THE ACP.

>> MCA.

>> ASSESSMENT.

>> YOU'RE FINISHING EACH OTHER'S SENTENCES.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> WE AGREED WE WERE GOING TO BE HORRIBLE TV FOR OU BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY GET ALONG REALLY WELL.

>> YEAH, WE DO.

>> NOT FOR THE SAKE OF BIPARTISANSHIP BUT BECAUSE WE SHARE A BORDER AND WE'D HATE TO SEE A WALL GO UP BETWEEN EDEN PRAIRIE AND CHAN HASSAN.

>> SENATOR COLEMAN, YOU'VE BEEN TALKED ABOUT A LOT FOR HIGHER OFFICE FOR GOVERNOR, FOR U.S. SENATE.

SOUNDS LIKE FOR NOW YOU'RE A NO, IS THAT PART OF IT?

>> PARTIALLY, THERE'S A PART OF YOU THAT JUST CAN'T GO AND PANDER TO A CERTAIN FACTION IN ORDER TO GET ON HE BALLOT.

I HAD FELT THAT BREWING INSIDE ME FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

AND THEN THAT JUNE 14TH ABSOLUTELY SOLIDIFIED ON THAT FOR ME AND ALSO SOLIDIFIED FOR ME THAT I NEED TO BE RIGHT HERE WITH MY KIDS.

>> I KNOW I'M SPEND ING LOT MORE TIME IN NATURE THIS SUMMER TO HAVE THIS KIND OF FEELING THAN MAYBE 'VE ONE IN THE PAST.

JUST, YOU KNOW, IN WILDERNESS, YOU CAN FIND PEACE SO TO SPEAK.

>> AND IT'S KIND OF A LIFE'S SHORT THING SO I'M FINALLY GETTING MY MOTOR CYCLE LICENSE THIS SUMMER SO THAT'S EXCITING.

>> IS IT MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO STAND UP TOGETHER IN A BIPARTISAN FASHION?

>> I THINK O.

AND WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT WANTING TO DO SOME SORT OF BACK TO SCHOOL BIPARTISAN TOWN HALL TO KIND OF GET OUR IDEAS IN ORDER FOR NEXT YEAR.

>> YOU HAD TO SHARE A GAVEL FOR A WHILE.

>> YEAH.

>> THAT WAS REALLY FUN.

>> IT WORKED OUT GREAT.

IT REALLY AS AND I THINK THERE'S A MUTUAL RESPECT BETWEEN US AND WE HAVE FUN TOGETHER.

>> BUT SHOULD YOU BE STANDING UP AS THE EXAMPLE NOW MORE THAN EVER?

>> I NEVER THOUGHT OF THAT 'TIL WHAT SHE JUST SAID, BUT, YES, I'D BE HONORED TO HAVE THAT ...

HONOR, BESTOWED UPON US.

AS THE WAY THINGS COULD BE.

>> THE FIRST TIME WE WERE EVER ULALL ON A BUS GOING SOMEWHERE TOGETHER WAS TO MELISSA HORTMAN'S FUNERAL SPEECH THOUGH IT WAS A HORRIFIC EVENT AND REASON TO BE THERE, WE WERE ALL TALKING ABOUT EACH OTHER'S FAMILIES AND JOKING AROUND ON THE BUS AND I THOUGHT THIS SHOULD NOT BE THE FIRST TIME OR THE LAST TIME THAT WE FIND A WAY TO GET TOGETHER THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE SOMETHING CONTENTIOUS LIKE DEBATE.

♪ >> Eric: PLENTY OF BIG TOPICS TONIGHT WITH OUR POLITICAL PANEL.

INCLUDING THE FRIDAY AFTERNOON GUILTY VERDICTS IN SENATOR MITCHELL'S BURGLARY TRIAL.

GUILTY OF FIRST DEGREE BURGLARY AND BURGLARY TOOLS.

DEMOCRATS UP FIRST TONIGHT.

JEFF HAYDEN IS A FORMER STATE SENATOR NOW LOBBYIST.

FORMER STATE SENATOR IS ALSO ONE OF THE MANY LABELS YOU CAN ATTACH TO EMBER REICHGOTT JUNGE.

REPUBLICANS ON THE COUCH TONIGHT.

AMY KOCH IS A FORMER SENATE MINORITY LEADER TURNED LOBBYIST.

AND PREYA SAMSUNDAR IS A GOP STRATEGIST, FORMER COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR THE RNC AND THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN.

WELL, SENATOR MITCHELL SEEMS TO HAVE LANDED ON SOMETHING HAS UNITED THE SENATE: RESIGN.

>> YES, IT'S TIME FOR HER TO GO.

WE'VE BEEN ARGUING ABOUT DUE PROCESS AND SHE GOT IT.

AND SHE HAD A JURY OF HER PEERS AND THEY FOUND HER GUILTY AND SENATOR MITCHELL SHOULD RESIGN.

>> WELL, SHE SHOULD HAVE RESIGNED A YEAR AND A HALF AGO AND THE DEMOCRATS SHOULD HAVE EXPELLED HER OR AID THEY WERE GOING TO EXPEL HER IF SHE DIDN'T.

SENATOR JUSTIN EICHORN IN MARCH WAS NOT -- WAS FOUND TO HAVE TRAFFICKED, SEX TRAFFICKED AN UNDERAGED WOMAN, GIRL AND THE REPUBLICANS CAME OUT AND SAID YOU RESIGN TODAY OR WE WILL EXPEL YOU.

THERE ARE JUST SOME ACTIONS ALL OF THIS INFORMATION THAT CAME OUT THIS WEEK N THE TRIAL NONE OF IT WAS A SURPRISE.

WE HEARD IT ALL, WE HEARD THE 911 CALL, WE HAD THE POLICE REPORT WE KNEW EVERYTHING THAT WE KNEW ALREADY AND YET FOR A YEAR AND A HALF SHE'S BEEN IN THE SENATE BEING THE DECIDING VOTE.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S KIND OF ICKY ABOUT THIS IS ABOUT THIS I IT FEELS VERY POLITICAL THAT SHE WAS KEPT AND JUSTIN EICHORN WAS GONE.

NOW, HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN GONE, GOOD, GET OUT.

THERE ARE THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD NOT REPRESENT YOUR DISTRICT, YOU SHOULD LEAVE.

SHE SHOULD HAVE LEFT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.

>> Cathy: WELL, I THINK THE ARGUMENT WAS THERE'S A LEGAL PROCESS TO GO THROUGH.

>> RIGHT, AS A FORMER CHAIR OF THE SENATE ETHICS COMMITTEE AND HAVING LED EIGHT INVESTIGATIONS WHERE WE ALWAYS CAME TOGETHER AS A FOURSOME, LET ME JUST SAY THERE'S A PROCESS THAT WORKS REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE DIVISION OF POLITICS IS IN THE MINNESOTA SENATE.

WHETHER IT'S ONE VOTE OR TEN.

AND THAT PROCESS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT WHEN THERE IS DUE PROCESS NECESSARY IN A CRIMINAL TRIAL WE ALLOW THAT TO OCCUR.

THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED.

SHE HAS BEEN CONVICTED BY HER PEERS.

SHE HAS HAD THE CHANCE TO TELL HER STORY, THAT WAS IMPORTANT AND NOW SHE SHOULD RESIGN.

>> THERE'S NO QUESTION.

>> EMBER, THERE'S A LEGAL PROCESS THEN THERE'S JUST WHAT'S RIGHT.

AND WHAT'S RIGHT IS, AND BY THE WAY THERE'S NO WAY TO EXPEL HER, IF SHE DECIDES NOT TO GO THEY DO NOT MEET UNTIL NEXT FEBRUARY.

SHE COULD ACTUALLY CONTINUE TO GET PAYCHECK, BE PAID STATE SENATOR, OST TAXPAYERS MONEY AS SHE ALREADY HAS FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.

>> YOU COULD CALL SPECIAL SESSION.

>> O THAT'S GOING TO OST THE TAXPAYERS MONEY.

>> YEAH, BUT YOU SAID THERE'S NO OTHER WAY, THERE IS A WAY.

>> SESSION AND A HALF TO EXPEL HER.

IF WE CALL A SPECIAL SESSION AND COST TAXPAYERS MORE MONEY TO EXPEL HER, SHAME.

>> ONLY IF THERE WAS A SPECIAL SESSION CALLED ANYWAYS AFTER THE ILL IN WASHINGTON, SO THEY CAN CALL A SPECIAL SESSION.

>> I THINK THE REALITY IS AT THE END OF THE DAY IS THAT THIS WAS A VERY CARTOONISH CRIME COMMITTED BY SENATOR MITCHELL.

SHE WAS COVERED IN ALL BLACK, WENT TO HER STEP MOTHER'S HOUSE THREE AND A HALF HOURS AWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, CRAWLED IN THROUGH HER BASEMENT WINDOW AND WAS CAUGHT BY THE POLICE.

IF THIS WAS ANYBODY ELSE WE WOULD BE LIKE THROWING UP THEY NEED TO RESIGN, THEY NEED TO BE FIRED, THEY NEED TO BE THIS OR THAT.

BUT THE REALITY IS IS THAT SHE WAS A DECIDING VOTE IN A YEAR WHERE DEMOCRATS ABSOLUTELY NEEDED HER TO GET THEIR AGENDA THROUGH.

WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT LIKE THIS WAS A VERY POLITICAL MOVE AND WE AS POLITICAL FOLKS WHETHER WE'RE ON THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT, WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN IT COMES TO OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS THERE IS A HIGHER STANDARD THAT WE HOLD THEM TO AND WE NEED TO CALL THEM TO, AND O EVEN IF THERE IS DUE PROCESS LIKE WE DID WITH JUSTIN EICHORN, SOMETIMES WE JUST HAVE TO SAY THE FACT THAT YOU FOUND YOURSELF AS A GROWN WOMAN, A GROWN ADULT IN THIS SITUATION, YOU GOTTA GO.

>> PREYA, MANY MANY DEMOCRATS CALLED UPON HER TO RESIGN EARLY ON.

THEY DID.

SHE DID NOT CHOOSE TO.

>> INCLUDING THE GOVERNOR.

>> INCLUDING THE GOVERNOR.

>> AND THAT'S WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED THE STEP.

>> BUT SHE DID NOT DO THAT SO THERE'S SOME RESPONSIBILITIES HERE WITHIN THE SENATOR HERSELF.

SHE MADE THAT DECISION BUT WE COULDN'T FORCE IT WITHOUT OING THROUGH THE PROCESS >> YOU COULD FORCE IT.

YOU HAD MULTIPLE PPORTUNITIES TO EXPEL HER OFF THE SENATE FLOOR.

>> Cathy: IF SHE DECIDES -- WELL, SHE'S GOING TO LEAVE SOMEHOW, RIGHT?

RESIGN OR YOU ARE EXPELLED.

SO THAT LEAVES THEN HE SENATE TIED.

SO NOW WHAT?

>> SO IT WILL BE OUR FIFTH SPECIAL ELECTION THIS YEAR.

AND SO NOW WE'LL HAVE TO GO AND THERE'S ONE ALREADY ON THEIR WAY UNFORTUNATELY FOR SPEAKER EMERITA HORTMAN, ONE FOR SENATOR DZIEDZIC, ONE FOR HE CURTIS JOHNSON MAPLEWOOD SEAT, JUSTIN EICHORN, AND NOW THERE WILL BE ANOTHER ONE IN WOODBURY THAT I THINK PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PREPARING FOR, SO I IMAGINE THAT HE GOVERNOR WILL WANT TO GET THAT -- WELL, GO THROUGH THE PROCESS IF SHE DOES ACTUALLY RESIGN OR THEY HAVE TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION TO EXPEL REMEMBER, HOWEVER IT WORKS, THEN THERE WILL BE ANOTHER SPECIAL ELECTION.

>> Eric: DR. SCOTT JENSEN 2.0 RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

>> RIGHT.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE KENDALL KWAULZ RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR AS WELL AS SCOTT JENSEN, A REDO REALLY OF 2020 -- OR 2022, SORRY.

2022.

YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO SEE WHO ELSE IS GETTING IN THE RACE.

KIND OF WAITING, I FEEL LIKE I ALWAYS THINK OMETIMES IT TAKES YOU A COUPLE RUNS BUT IT WASN'T A GREAT RACE IN 2022 THAT DR. JENSEN RAN AND I DON'T, I WORRY THAT HE CAN NOT BE THE PERSON TO BEAT TIM WALZ.

>> EXACTLY.

AND I THINK TOO LIKE WE ALL HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT IN POLITICS, EVERYTHING WE DO IN THE PAST STILL LIVES ON, AND ALL OF THAT FROM THAT CAMPAIGN IN 2022 IS GOING TO FOLLOW HIM INTO 2026, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF COMPARISONS ABOUT, WELL, DID YOU BELIEVE THAT THEN OR DO YOU BELIEVE THAT NOW.

AND THAT'S REALLY GOING TO FOLLOW HIM AND DOG HIM THROUGHOUT THIS CAMPAIGN.

>> Eric: I WANT TO ASK ABOUT THE FRAUD DE JURE, WHICH NOW IS A HOUSING PROGRAM STABILIZATION PROGRAM IN DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, AUTISM APPARENTLY -- -- ACCUMULATING TO THE DEMOCRATS' DETRIMENT HERE?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL TO THIS AND THEN I'LL GET TO THAT.

AND THAT IS THAT RIGHT NOW I THINK THE BIGGEST THING GOING IN THE MINNESOTA DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR'S FAVOR, WHOEVER IT IS, IS THAT THERE HAS TO BE A STOP-GAP BETWEEN WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE EXECUTIVE CONTROL AND RETRIBUTION THAT'S GOING ON IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO WE ARE THE STOPGAP, SO THAT'S WHY I THINK NO MATTER WHAT THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE IS, THAT E'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A DEMOCRATIC PERSON ELECTED.

NOW, TO YOUR POINT, THE FRAUD ISSUE DOES NOT HELP THE CURRENT GOVERNOR.

THAT IS TRUE.

BUT HERE'S THE ISSUE N THE FRAUD SIDE OF THAT.

WE SHOULD HAVE PASSED THE INSPECTOR GENERAL LEGISLATION, AND I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT STOPPED.

SURE IT COSTS MONEY BUT THAT N MY VIEW WAS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT LOST OPPORTUNITIES IN THIS SESSION.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?

>> YEAH, WELL, THE PROBLEM IS THIS SESSION IS 2025, AND THIS FRAUD HAS BEEN GOING ON WE NOW KNOW THIS IS FIVE YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN JUST HEARING CONSTANT, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS, CLOSE TO A COUPLE BILLION DOLLARS N FRAUD IN THIS STATE THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR FIVE OR SIX YEARS.

I MEAN, THIS S TRULY HORRENDOUS ON SO MANY LEVELS, IT'S THE COST TO THE TAXPAYERS, IT'S THE DAMAGE IT DOES O THESE PROGRAMS, IT'S THE LOSS, IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S MONEY THAT SHOULD BE USED TO HOUSE PEOPLE THAT'S BEING DEFRAUDED AND USED IN A CRIMINAL, YOU KNOW, BY CRIMINALS.

>> Eric: HOW DOES IT PLAY AS A POLITICAL ISSUE?

>> IT'S VERY GOOD FOR REPUBLICANS, THERE'S NO WAY TO DICE IT.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, AMY AND I ARE LOCKED IN ON THIS IN THE SAME WAY.

AND IN LARGE PART BECAUSE WE REPRESENT A LOT OF NON-PROFITS THAT ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING AND SERVING REALLY GOOD PEOPLE THAT ARE GETTING CAUGHT, -- VERY VULNERABLE PEOPLE GETTING CAUGHT IN THIS PROCESS.

THIS IS NOT ONLY A PROBLEM IN TERMS OF THE PEOPLE WHO SHOULD BE SERVED, THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR THE STATE BUDGET, AND THIS IS A POLITICAL PROBLEM FOR THE DEMOCRATS.

SO I'LL DO A PAT GAROFALO AND LOOK INTO THE CAMERA AND SAY, DEMOCRATS, GET THIS TOGETHER.

THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR THE COMMUNITY AND IT IS A POLITICAL PROBLEM.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND I'M WONDERING, PREYA, THE RESCISSION, IS THIS THE RIGHT WAY TO DEAL WITH BUDGET CUTS?

>> I THINK THE REALITY IS NO MATTER WHICH WAY YOU SLICE ARE IT OR DICE IT, SORRY FOR THE PUN THERE, THE REALITY IS IS THAT WE ARE $35 TRILLION IN DEBT, OUR DEBT IS CONTINUING TO GROW AND BOTH PARTIES FOR YEARS HAVE SAID WE'RE GOING TO CUT THE BUDGET, WE ARE GOING TO FIND WAYS TO SAVE MONEY FOR TAXPAYERS.

THE REALITY IS IS THIS HAS KIND OF COME AT A CRUX, T A TIME WHERE COSTS ARE UNIMAGINABLY HIGH FOR A LOT OF AMERICANS ON DIFFERENT LEVELS, WHETHER IT'S HOUSING, GROCERIES, HEALTH CARE, WHATEVER IT IS.

DONALD TRUMP CAMPAIGNED ON A PROMISE TO LOOK AT CUTTING WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

HE'S OING IT.

IS THIS PROBABLY THE WAY TO GO ABOUT IT?

HE'S PROBABLY JUST LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO CUT WHAT ISN'T ABSOLUTELY NEEDED.

AND DOESN'T HURT SOME FOLKS -- DOES IT HURT SOME FOLKS, ABSOLUTELY.

DO WE NEED TO BE FUNDING SESAME STREET IN IRAQ?

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

>> SENATOR.

>> LET ME JUST SAY THIS.

NUMBER ONE, THE PRESIDENT IS GROWING THE DEFICIT, RIGHT?

SO THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT HE'S CUTTING THE DEFICIT, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT.

SECONDLY, WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH MINNESOTANS AND THEY TALK TO, AND THEY STOP ME ALL THE TIME ND THIS IS THE KIND OF THING THAT WE MAY CUT, SO I THINK THAT IT IS IRONIC THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT CUTTING NPR AND BS AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY IS HAVING A GOOD CONVERSATION, WELL BALANCED CONVERSATION ABOUT MINNESOTA POLITICS.

>> THE RESCISSION BILL HAS NOT HAPPENED FOR 33 YEARS IN CONGRESS.

OKAY, THEY'RE TAKING AWAY MONEY.

THE PROBLEM WITH THIS IS ON THREE LEVELS.

FIRST OF ALL, NOT JUST THE RURAL COMMUNITIES THAT WON'T GET THEIR -- >> Eric: 20 SECONDS.

>> -- DISASTER RELIEF.

BUT ALSO THEY'RE TAKING CONGRESS POWER AWAY, THE SPENDING POWER, AND ONCE AGAIN, THEY'RE GIVING THE EXECUTIVE ALL OF THIS POWER.

AND I THINK THAT IS THE WORST PART OF IT.

AND CONTROL OF THE MEDIA, HE'S ATTACKING ALL THREE NETWORKS.

>> Cathy: A LOT TO TALK ABOUT HERE OBVIOUSLY.

Y'ALL DID A GREAT JOB.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

SAY, PROBABLY FIGURED THIS OUT, WE'VE RUN A LITTLE LONG TONIGHT SO WE'RE GOING SO WE'RE GOI GOING TO HAVE A HISTORY QUESTION NEXT WEEK.

A REMINDER THAT UNTIL THEN YOU CAN ALWAYS VISIT US ON THE WEB, YOU'LL FIND TONIGHT'S SHOW AND DECADES OF PAST EPISODES ALL AT TPT.ORG/ALMANAC.

WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH TIME, THOUGH, FOR ANOTHER SONG FROM NUR-D. TAKE A LISTEN.

MAYBE GET UP AND DANCE IN YOUR LIVING ROOM.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

NUR-D, TAKE IT AWAY!

♪ ♪ >> YEAH, OKAY I'D RATHER HAVE SESAME STREET THAN A WEIRD PARADE, BUT THAT'S JUST ME >> YEAH ♪ ♪ >> I USED TO HAVE BLACK AND WHITE DREAMS I USED TO WANT MONO CHROME THINGS I THOUGHT LOVE WAS SOMETHING I COULD NEVER SEE BUT THEN I MET YOU AND ALL THAT YOU DO YOU'RE BRINGING DIFFERENT HUES INTO MY LIFE TECH ANY COLOR DAYS AND KALEIDOSCOPE NIGHTS I JUST OPE I GET IT RIGHT THIS TIME.

I DON'T EVER WANNA LEAVE OUR SIDE.

LET ME GET ON YOUR LEVEL.

I KNOW ROSES BE RED I KNOW VIOLETS BE DIFFERENT BUT GOD WILL BRING YOU THEM BOTH IF WE COULD VIBE FOR A MINUTE.

JUST LET ME GIVE YOU A RIDE TO ANYWHERE THAT YOU NEED MAYBE THEN YOU WILL SEE WHAT I THINK YEAH, YEAH!

♪ ♪ I WANNA KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO BE ... YEAH, WHAT YOU DO TO ME OH, I WOULD DIE FOR A TASTE OF YOU, BABY YEAH, I JUST WANNA MAKE YOU HAPPY OH, I'LL TAKE YOU ANY WAY YOU'LL HAVE ME OH, I YEAH, WE'LL BE RIDING WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN TECH ANY COLOR, ANY COLOR, WE CAN PAINT THIS TOWN ALL I, YEAH YOU KNOW THAT I'M A DOG AIN'T NEVER BE A COOL CAT BUT YOU WERE SO INVOLVED I GUESS YOU KIND OF KNEW THAT, I KNOW I GOT MY FLAWS BUT MY HEART IS TRUE, I KNEW THAT.

THEY SAY I DON'T DESERVE YOU AND I'M LIKE TRUE DAT MY FINGERS IN YOUR HAIR WITH MY HAND UP ON YOUR BACK GIVE IT A PAT, GIVE YOU WHAT YOU NEED LET YOU SLEEP, GET A HEATING PAD.

I'M GOING TO LISTEN WHEN YOU SPEAK WITH MY HEART THROUGH MY ACTIONS, I'LL MAKE YOU FEEL UNIQUE YOU'LL NEVER FEEL ALONE SAY THE WORD AND WE CAN ROLL WHAT, WHATEVER YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURSUE THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL WORLD THAT'S FULL OF BEAUTIFUL VIEWS, I WANNA SHOW THEM TO YOU IF THAT'S COOL ... >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE TELEVISION STATION.

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