>> Cathy: IT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY WEEK IN AMERICAN POLITICS WITH AN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AT THE TOP OF THAT LIST.

THE NEAR-MISS AND INJURY OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP LED TO CALLS ACROSS PARTY LINES TO TONE DOWN VIOLENT RHETORIC IN POLITICAL DISCOURSE ND LEAN INTO CIVILITY.

SO WE'VE GATHERED A GROUP OF CURRENT AND FORMER LAWMAKERS TO EXAMINE THAT THEME WITH US TONIGHT.

UP FIRST THE CURRENT LAWMAKERS.

TWO OF THE COCHAIRS OF THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE'S CIVILITY CAUCUS ARE WITH US.

THIRD TERM REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE KRISTIN ROBBINS HAILS FROM MAPLE GROVE.

D.F.L.

STATE SENATOR GRANT HAUSCHILD IN HIS FIRST TERM CALLED HERMANTOWN HOME.

RETIRED LAWMAKERS JOINING US, FORMER D.F.L.

STATE SENATOR JEFF HAYDEN FROM MINNEAPOLIS, AND ROUNDING OUT THE GROUP MICHELLE BENSON FROM HAM LAKE.

IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE.

REPRESENTATIVE ROBBINS, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE CIVILITY CAUCUS.

I THINK WE SHOULD PROBABLY GET THAT ON THE TABLE FIRST.

THE CIVILITY CAUCUS AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

WELL, I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE, BACK IN THE DAY WHEN ERIC AND I COVERED THE LEGISLATURE WE COULDN'T IMAGINE HAVING A CIVILITY CAUCUS, BUT WHY DO YOU NEED ONE?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS PARTIES AND BODIES.

SO IT'S BIPARTISAN AND BICAMERAL.

AND I THINK THOSE TWO FORUMS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT SO THAT AS WE BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER AS PEOPLE, THEN IT'S EASIER TO DO THE WORK OF NEGOTIATING, HAVING HEARINGS, DOING THOSE END OF SESSION NEGOTIATIONS BECAUSE YOU SEE THE OTHER PERSON AS A PERSON WITH, YOU KNOW, YOUNG KIDS OR AGING ARENTS OR WENT TO THE SAME GRAD SCHOOL.

BUT YOU HAVE COMMONALITIES, OU DON'T, YOU KNOW, DEMONIZE THEM.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT BECAUSE I WANT TO KNOW FROM YOU WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF -- HOW DO YOU EVEN DESCRIBE WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE IN THE PAST WEEK OR SO?

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE RHETORIC THAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING FROM BOTH SIDES.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I'LL JUST SAY AS A MILLENNIAL AND YOUNGER LAWMAKER I WASN'T ALIVE WHEN JOHN F. KENNEDY, RONALD REAGAN, MARTIN LUTHER KING WERE ASSASSINATED OR SHOT AT.

THIS IS REALLY A MOMENT I THINK FOR MY GENERATION TO SAY, WOW, THIS IS WHAT CAN HAPPEN AND THAT'S WHY I JOINED KRISTIN AND OTHERS IN SAYING WE NEED TO TONE DOWN THE RHETORIC, WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT THIS IS REAL.

AND IT WAS REALLY SCARY TO SEE AND AS A LAWMAKER WITH YOUNG KIDS I JUST THINK ABOUT OUR FUTURE AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING WHAT'S RIGHT.

>> Eric: YOU TWO HAVE SAT THROUGH OR GIVEN FAREWELL SPEECHES, RETIREMENT SPEECHES ON THE LAST DAY OF SESSION.

AND INVARIABLY THE FINEST HAPPIEST MOMENTS IN MY TIME AT THE LEGISLATURE WAS WORKING ACROSS THE AISLE AND I MADE SO MANY FRIENDS THAT WERE REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS.

WHERE DOES THAT GOING DURING THE SESSION?

>> I THINK THAT IT, IN THE COMPETING AND THE FIERCENESS OF FIGHTING FOR THE THINGS THAT YOU THINK ARE IMPORTANT I THINK SOMETIMES WE FORGET ABOUT THAT.

WE FORGET ABOUT THIS IDEA THAT WE'RE ALL PARENTS OR WE'RE UNCLES OR WE'RE GRANDPARENTS OR SONS AND DAUGHTERS.

SO I HINK THAT WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT WE OFTEN FORGET ABOUT IT, WE CERTAINLY DID THIS YEAR.

I WASN'T THERE BUT I THINK THAT WE FORGOT ABOUT THAT THIS YEAR IN THE LEGISLATURE AND I THINK WE HAVE TO GET BACK TO THAT.

AND I WOULD SAY MY EXPERIENCE WE DIDN'T FORGET IT, LIKE YOU DO THINGS ON THE FLOOR THAT YOU NEED TO DO TO MAKE YOUR POINT, BUT THEN YOU COULD GO IN THE RETIRING ROOM AND HAVE A CONVERSATION.

I KNEW WHAT JEFF'S KIDS WERE UP TO AFTER I GAVE A VERY RAUCOUS FLOOR SPEECH, I WALKED INTO THE BACK ROOM AND DAVE TOMASSONI STUCK A FORK IN A PIECE OF CAKE AND SAID YOU'RE GOING TO NEED SOMETHING TO EAT AFTER THAT.

AND IT'S NOT TO MAKE LIGHT, I WANT TO BE CLEAR WITH PEOPLE, THAT ARE REALLY PRINCIPLED REASONS FOR STANDING UP AND FIGHTING, BUT WITH SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE VULCANIZATION OF ACTIVISTS I THINK PEOPLE FORGET THAT THE FIGHTS WE HAVE ON THE FLOOR WE TRY TO KEEP THEM NOT PERSONAL, WE DON'T ATTACK THE OTHER PERSON'S CHARACTER, THEIR KIDS, WE DON'T CALL THEM LIARS.

AND SO IF SOME OF THAT MIRRORING OF THESE RE MY PRINCIPLES AND I'M GOING TO FIGHT LIKE HECK TO TELL YOU WHY THEY MATTER BUT IN THE END I SEE YOU AS A PERSON WITH CHILDREN.

I SEE YOU AS SOMEBODY WHO'S GOING TO GO HOME AND HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY FOR MILK JUST LIKE I DO.

WHO'S GOING TO RUN NTO SOMEBODY AT THE GROCERY STORE WHO'S GOING TO TELL YOU YOU DID A REALLY DUMB THING.

WE'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE THAT COMMON EXPERIENCE.

I THINK THE BALKANIZATION PARTICULARLY OF SO SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> Cathy: I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN, REMEMBER WHEN HE WAS SHOT, THE REACTION WAS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS SHOT.

SUCH A DIFFERENT REACTION, I'M WONDERING IS IT BECAUSE SOCIETY IS SO MUCH MORE COARSE THAN IT WAS WHEN PRESIDENT REAGAN WAS WOUNDED?

AND I'M WONDERING THE ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN THAT.

>> I THINK IN BOTH ASES THE IMMEDIATE REACTION ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM WAS SHOCK AND PEOPLE WERE HORRIFIED AND THAT'S HOW I FELT WHEN REAGAN WAS SHOT, I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER IT.

I DO THINK IT WAS SOME SOMEWHAT A UNIFYING MOMENT AND WE AS A COUNTRY SAID THIS IS A BRIDGE TOO FAR.

WE ALL HAVE TO CONDEMN POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND I DID SEE THAT COME IN THOSE IMMEDIATE DAYS.

NOW PEOPLE ARE GOING BACK TO THEIR CORNERS A LITTLE BIT, BUT I REALLY THINK THERE'S AN UNDERLYING COMMITMENT AS A COUNTRY THAT WE REALIZE THAT WE HAVE TO CONDEMN POLITICAL VIOLENCE ACROSS THE SPECTRUM BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE.

WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO WORK TOGETHER.

>> Eric: BUT I'M WONDERING IF WHEN YOU GO TO YOUR ENDORSING CONVENTION AND YOU GET UP AND SAY I WENT ACROSS THE AISLE AND I COMPROMISED, I WONDER IF THE DELEGATES SAY WE DON'T WANT YOU TO GO COMPROMISE, WE WANT YOU TO GO KICK SOME TAIL.

>> I'LL SAY JUST REALLY QUICKLY I'M IN A PURPLE DISTRICT, A RETIGHT DISTRICT AND THAT ACTUALLY IS A STRENGTH I WILL SAY EVEN AMONG DELEGATES AND HARDCORE DEMOCRATS.

WHEN I GO TO THEM AND SAY WE HAVE TO WIN AND IN ORDER TO WIN, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT FOR, THIS IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO REPRESENT THE REGION, THAT MATTERS TO PEOPLE.

THEY AT THE END OF THE DAY AS A PARTISAN WANT TO WIN.

AND IN ORDER TO WIN AND I THINK PRESIDENT BIDEN SHOWED THAT DURING HIS 2020 RACE AS WELL THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY THE MARTY SORT OF CAME TOGETHER -- PARTY SORT OF CAME TOGETHER BEHIND HIM BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO WIN.

>> Eric: DO THE ACTIVISTS GIVE YOU CREDIT?

>> I THINK UP IN GRANT'S DISTRICT, I'M NOT QUITE SO SURE IN THE DISTRICT I REPRESENTED.

WE TEND TO SKEW.

AND IT'S A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY, IT'S A COMMUNITY MY MOTHER GREW UP IN.

BUT I THINK IT WAS THERE WAS A CHARGE, AND MAYBE IT WAS POST-GEORGE FLOYD AND WE TALKED ABOUT DEFUND THE POLICE AND ALL THESE POLE RISING ISSUES.

BUT AT THE TIME I WAS UP FOR REELECTION IT WAS REALLY ABOUT THE IDEAS AND IT WASN'T ABOUT BEING PRAGMATIC.

>> Eric: AND DO THE LEADERS SAY IN CAUCUS AWAY FROM THE MEDIA, AWAY FROM EVERYBODY LET'S GO OUT THERE AND COMPROMISE?

I DOUBT IT.

>> YOU -- SO I'VE ALWAYS BEEN IN THE POSITION OF HAVING TO COMPROMISE BUT YOU NEED TO START WHERE YOUR PRINCIPLES ARE, BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE THAT EFFECTIVELY TO YOUR DELEGATES, TO YOUR VOTERS, THEY NEED TO KNOW YOU UNDERSTAND THEIR LIFE, AND THEN AFTER YOU DO THOSE THINGS, THE COMPROMISE WORKS.

THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS AND WHEN YOU'RE IN CAUCUS YOU HAVE TO DELIVER VOTES SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE TO A SPACE WHERE YOU CAN GET THOSE VOTES.

>> Eric: LEADERSHIP IMPACT ON THE CIVILITY AND THE WORKING TOGETHER AND ACROSS THE AISLE AND ALL THAT STUFF?

>> I THINK ALL THE LEADERS IN ALL FOUR CAUCUSES SUPPORT THE CIVILITY CAUCUS.

THEY'VE SET ASIDE TIME FOR US TO HAVE OUR MEETINGS, THEY ENCOURAGE MEMBERS TO GO, THEY COME THEMSELVES, SO I THINK THEY HAVE SET A TONE THAT WE DO WANT TO WORK TOGETHER BIPARTISANLY AND BICAMERALLY WHEN IT'S POSSIBLE.

AND EVEN IF WE HAVE VERY STARK POLICY DIFFERENCES THAT WE CAN STILL HAVE A LEVEL OF RESPECT THAT KEEPS THE INSTITUTION FUNCTIONING BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT THE INSTITUTION OF THE LEGISLATURE TO GET OUR WORK DONE.

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THAT IS GREAT AND I THINK THAT THE REPRESENTATIVE IS RIGHT IN TERMS OF THE WAY THAT SHE WANTS THINGS TO HAPPEN.

THAT CLEARLY DIDN'T HAPPEN THIS YEAR.

I HATE TO BE THAT GUY AND I WANT TO BE CIVIL ABOUT IT.

BUT CLEARLY I WAS SADDENED AND I THINK ALL OF US HERE THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND THE LEGISLATURE WERE SADDENED.

SO I DO HOPE THAT THE WORK THAT THE CIVILITY CAUCUS REALLY I HOPE THAT THEY'RE WORKING THIS SUMMER TO REALLY CHANGE IT BUT THE TONE OF LAST YEAR'S SESSION DID NOT KIND OF MEET THE EXPECTATIONS OF I THINK THE REPRESENTATIVE -- >> I AGREE.

>> I DON'T -- NOT TO BE TOO CRASS THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN IN A DEFICIT AND NEVER BEEN IN A MINORITY AND THAT CHANGES DYNAMICS.

>> Eric: 70/30, 80/20 DISTRICT AND YOU'VE NEVER HAD TO HOLD A GAVEL AND TELL PEOPLE NO.

IT CHANGES THE WAY YOU'RE GOING TO BEHAVE ON THE FLOOR AND TOWARDS PEOPLE IN OTHER CAUCUSES.

>> AND VICE VERSA AS WELL.

YOU HAVE MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN THERE FOR 30, 40 YEARS AND THAT CREATES SOME REALLY CONCRETE POSITIONS AND BELIEFS AND STRUCTURES OF HOW THEY GO ABOUT THINGS.

AND I THINK BRINGING NEW PERSPECTIVE, BRINGING YOUNGER MEMBERS, WHETHER THEY'RE FROM 80/20 DISTRICTS OR MINE WHERE IT'S 50/50, WE NEED A BROUGHT RANGE OF PERSPECTIVES TO SHOW THAT WE'RE REPRESENTING MINNESOTA AND IF IT MEANS CHANGING RULES IN THE LEGISLATURE IF IT MEANS DOING THINGS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY, WORKING IN THE CIVILITY CAUCUS TO BRING FOLKS TOGETHER I THINK ALL OF THOSE VOICES ARE GOOD.

>> Eric: WE'RE GOING TO CHART YOUR PROGRESS.

HOPE IT WORKS