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

>> ERIC: COMING UP ON "ALMANAC," MORE FEDERAL CHARGES ANNOUNCED ON THURSDAY RELATING TO FRAUD IN STATE PROGRAMS, PAUL DOUGLAS IS HERE WITH A YEAR-END FORECAST, MARK DEPAOLIS HAS A HOLIDAY ESSAY FOR US.

PLENTY OF POLITICS NEAR AND FAR.

MARY LAHAMMER BACK UP AT THE CAPITOL THIS WEEK.

>> Mary: AFTER FAILING TO BUILD A BIPARTISAN COALITION NECESSARY TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION TO ADDRESS GUN VIOLENCE, GOVERNOR WALZ TOOK MATTERS INTO HIS OWN HANDS WITH EXECUTIVE ORDERS.

WE'LL EXPLAIN WHAT IT MEANS... >> THERE'S TOO DAMN MANY GUNS THE WRONG TYPES OF GUNS ON THE STREET.

>> KNOW WHO IS ONE OF THE MOST PRO SECOND AMENDMENT GROUPS IS THE SUPREME COURT.

>> Mary: THAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC."

♪ ♪ ♪ >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH ITS MEMBER-OWNER COOPERATIVES AND CUSTOMERS.

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

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG. '

' >> ERIC: IT'S OUR FINAL SHOW OF 2025, AND WE HAVE A FULL HOUR AHEAD.

PAUL DOUGLAS IS HERE WITH A HOLIDAY SEASON FORECAST.

LARRY JACOBS WILL BREAK DOWN PRESIDENT TRUMP'S NATIONAL ADDRESS.

WE'LL TALK WITH AN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY ABOUT ONGOING I.C.E.

RAIDS IN MINNESOTA.

D.E.E.D.

COMMISSIONER STOPS BY TO EXPLAIN THE NEW FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE POLICY STARTING JANUARY 1.

>> CATHY: WE START TONIGHT WITH MORE ARRESTS IN THE ONGOING FRAUD INVESTIGATION INTO THE MINNESOTA HUMAN SERVICES HOUSING STABILIZATION PROGRAM.

ON THURSDAY, U.S.

ATTORNEY JOE THOMPSON ANNOUNCED CHARGES RELATING TO MEDICAID CLAIMS DATING BACK TO 2018.

THOMPSON SAID "THE FRAUD IS STAGGERING."

AND ESTIMATED MORE THAN HALF OF $18 BILLION PAID OUT TO 14 PROGRAMS COULD BE TIED TO FRAUD.

A.J.

LAGOE IS A REPORTER FOR KARE-11 AND PART OF THE INVESTIGATIVE TEAM THAT HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE STORY FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

WELCOME BACK.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: WHAT IS IT, 393 MILLION OR A BILLION IN FRAUD, SEEMS LIKE IT'S A MOVING TARGET.

>> I HAVEN'T WORRIED ABOUT AN EXACT NUMBER.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THIS JUST IN NUMBERS, YOU'RE LOOKING AT THIS WRONG.

THE MONEY IS MASSIVE, NO MATTER WHAT IT IS, WHETHER IT'S HALF A BILLION, 3 BILLION, OR 9 BILLION, AT THAT LEVEL, HE OPPORTUNITIES THE STATE HAS MISSED TO HELP PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED IT, WHILE, INSTEAD, JUST LINING THE POCKETS OF FRAUDSTERS, THE OPPORTUNITY COST IS JUST MASSIVE.

>> Cathy: HELP US OUT HERE, TOO, AJ, IT SEEMS THAT OTHER STATES DON'T HAVE THE MAGNITUDE OF THE FRAUD THAT WE HAVE.

SO WHAT'S WRONG WITH OUR SYSTEM THAT IT SEEMS TO BE SO EASY TO GAME?

>> IT SEEMS LIKE THERE WAS NO FACT CHECKING, THERE WAS NO OVERSIGHT ON THESE NEW PROGRAMS.

IN MINNESOTA, WE'RE A GENEROUS STATE.

WE WANT TO HELP PEOPLE IN THE DAWN OF LIFE, IN THE DUSK OF LIFE, AND THE SHADOWS OF LIFE, RIGHT?

AND A LOT OF MONEY WAS PUT INTO NEW PROGRAMS THAT WERE PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE, LAUNCHED QUICKLY, AND THEY PUSHED MONEY OUT THE DOOR.

AND IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE ANYONE WAS FACT BE CHECKING TO MAKE SURE THAT MONEY WAS GOING WHERE IT WASES SUPPOSED TO BE GOING.

>> Eric: LABELS ARE ALWAYS TOUGH, BUT IS THIS SOME SORT OF ORGANIZED CRIME?

>> IT IS CERTAINLY ORGANIZED IN THAT YOU SEE GROUPS WORKING TOGETHER, BUSINESSES WITH DIFFERENT NAMES, OORDINATED AND ONE IS DOING PART OF THE FRAUD AND, YOU KNOW, FORGING A RECORD THAT ALLOWS ANOTHER COMPANY TO BILL MASSIVE AMOUNTS.

AND, SO, TO SAY IT'S ORGANIZED IS CERTAINLY FAIR.

AND ONE THING THAT'S BEEN TELLING JUST THIS WEEK AS AN EXAMPLE, I STARTED LOOKING AT ONE COMPANY THAT PROVIDES INTEGRATED COMMUNITY SUPPORTS.

AND AS WE STARTED LOOKING AT THEM, WE STARTED REALIZING THE OWNERS OF THIS ICS COMPANY ALSO HAVE AN ARMS COMPANY, ADULT REHA BILL ACTIVE HEALTH SERVICES, AND THEY HAVE AN AUTISM CENTER AND THEY HAVE A TRANSPORT COMPANY AND THEY HAD A HOUSING STABILIZATION COMPANY AND YOU START TO SEE WHY YOU HAVE ALL THESE DIFFERENT WAYS OF BILLING MEDICAID.

IT RAISES MAJOR RED FLAGS WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT IT.

AND I THINK THAT WHAT Mr.

THOMPSON WAS SAYING WHEN HE STARTS SAYING, THERE'S SO MANY THREADS AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE POTENTIAL FOR THIS TO GO INTO THE BILLIONS.

>> Cathy: SO, BY THE WAY, YOUR MIC WE DON'T THINK IS WORKING VERY WELL SO WE'RE GOING TO PUT A MIC ON YOU THAT ACTUALLY WORKS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> Cathy: AND WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT ATTORNEY THOMPSON SAID YESTERDAY, THURSDAY, SO THEN IS IT CLEAR THAT THERE ARE OTHER SHOES THAT WILL BE DROPPING, OTHER PROGRAMS THAT COULD BE INVOLVED IN THIS?

>> IT'S VERY CLEAR THERE'S GOING TO BE OTHER SHOES DROPPING.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A NUMBER OF MORE INDICTMENTS AND ARRESTS.

THEY'VE DESCRIBED IT AS COMING IN WAVES.

AND JUST -- THEY'VE NOW CHARGED ABOUT 13 PEOPLE JUST IN THE HOUSING STABILIZATION.

MANY OF THEM HAVE ALREADY BEEN PROFILED IN OUR KARE-11 INVESTIGATIONS, AND THEY'RE STILL JUST THE TIP OF THE ICE BERKS THERE'S SO MANY MORE THAT WE'VE SEEN THROUGH OUR REPORTING, WE KNOW THERE'S LIKELY CHARGES COMING.

AND THAT'S WHAT, YOU KNOW, THE U.S.

ATTORNEY SAID THE OTHER DAY.

>> Eric: FRAUD TOURISM INDUSTRY.

>> YEAH, RIGHT, DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT THE TOURISM BOARD WAS LOOKING TO SELL -- >> Eric: WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT?

>> Cathy: I THINK PEOPLE WERE SURPRISED BY THAT.

>> YEAH, WHAT YOU'RE SEEING THERE, PEOPLE IN OTHER STATES, IN THIS CASE, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, FLEW IN, REGISTERED A COMPANY, FLEW HOME, STARTED BILLING.

AND AS THE U.S.

ATTORNEY SAID, EASY MONEY.

THEY JUST TOOK MONEY OUT OF MINNESOTA'S COFFERS WHILE ALLEGEDLY, IN THIS CASE, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN CONVICTED, DOING NO WORK.

>> Cathy: SO THERE'S NOW A NEW FRAUD CZAR, FOR WANT OF A BETTER TERM.

AND I'M WONDERING, DO YOU THINK THE STATE -- DOES IT LOOK TO YOU AS IF THE STATE IS STARTING TO CLEAN UP THIS MESS?

>> I THINK THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THE STATE IN THIS MOMENT AND NOW IS TAKING THIS VERY SERIOUSLY.

THE NEW INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR DHS SEEMS TO BE TAKING IT SERIOUSLY.

THE ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR DHS SEEMS TO BE TAKING THIS VERY SERIOUSLY.

YOU KNOW, YOU AND I WERE IN A PRESS CONFERENCE THE OTHER DAY WHERE WE WERE PUSHING GOVERNOR WALZ ON, LOOK, THE FORMER COMMISSIONER SAT AT THE CAPITOL AND THIS YEAR, LAST JANUARY, TOLD SENATORS, THERE'S MORE RUMORS OF FRAUD THAN THERE IS ACTUAL FRAUD.

AND WHEN WE PUSHED THE GOVERNOR ON THAT, HE SAID, WELL, THAT COMMISSIONER IS NO LONGER HERE AND YOU CAN READ INTO THE ACCOUNTABILITY ASPECT ON THAT.

>> Eric: WELL, THE PLOT THICKENS.

>> IT CERTAINLY DOES.

>> Eric: GLAD YOU CAME OVER.

CONGRATULATIONS ON GREAT STUFF.

>> WELL, THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: REALLY GOOD WORK.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> ERIC: WHILE GOVERNOR WALZ'S TRACK RECORD ON FRAUD BROUGHT INCREASED FEDERAL ATTENTION TO MINNESOTA, OUT IN WASHINGTON D.C., THIS WEEK PRESIDENT TRUMP DEFENDED HIS OWN TRACK RECORD ON THE ECONOMY.

IN A TELEVISED ADDRESS WEDNESDAY EVENING, TRUMP ATTEMPTED TO DOWNPLAY AFFORDABILITY CONCERNS AND PORTRAY THE ECONOMY IN WAYS THAT DON'T LINE UP WITH MUCH OF HIS ADMINISTRATION'S OWN DATA.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT ALL THIS AND MORE IS LARRY JACOBS, HEAD OF THE HUMPHREY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

BUT IT WAS REALLY TRUMP IN RAPID FIRE FASHION, SALESMAN TRUMP, SELLIN' HIS PRODUCT.

>> YEAH.

THIS WAS THE SPEECH HE USUALLY GIVES TO HIS BASE OF THE PARTY.

THIS IS THE MAGA SPEECH.

THIS WASN'T THE USUAL SORT OF PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH, WHICH, YOU KNOW, YOU SING TO THE HIGHER ANGELS OF OUR COUNTRY.

IT WAS REALLY A PARTISAN SPEECH, DRIVING HOME THE POINTS, CHALLENGING IN A VERY PARTISAN WAY DEMOCRATS.

AND THEN MAKING A SERIES OF, YOU KNOW, STATEMENTS ABOUT THE ECONOMY THAT REALLY DON'T BEAR UP.

>> Cathy: LOOKS LIKE HE'S IN NORTH CAROLINA, I BELIEVE IT IS TONIGHT, WITH A RALLY TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABILITY.

SO I DON'T KNOW, DID A TAFFER BEND HIS EAR TO SAY, REALLY, YOU SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON THIS >> WELL, LET'S SEE HOW MUCH HE SPENDS ON ACTUALLY AFFORDABILITY.

HE'S FAMOUS FOR HAVING BEING PITCHED TO GIVE A SPEECH ON A TOPIC THAT HIS POLLSTERS AND HIS POLITICAL ADVISORS SAY, YOU HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THIS, AND THEN HE'LL GO OFF TOPIC.

I THINK DONALD TRUMP IS IN A BIND.

HE'S IN A BIND BECAUSE HE IS FACING STEADY, LOCKED-IN DISAPPROVAL.

FOX, ABOUT A WEEK AGO, SHOWED 61% HIS DISAPPROVAL AMONG INDEPENDENTS IS EVEN, YOU KNOW, HIGHER THAN THAT.

HISPANICS, WHICH HAD EEMED TO BE A POSITIVE FOR TRUMP IN 2024, THEY'RE VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH DONALD TRUMP ON INFLATION AND THE ECONOMY AND EVEN IMMIGRATION.

SO WHAT DOES DONALD TRUMP HAVE TO DO?

HE HAS TO FIND A WAY TO BROADEN HIS APPEAL.

THERE WAS A VERY INTERESTING INTERVIEW WITH SUSIE WEILS, WHO'S PRESIDENT TRUMP'S CHIEF OF STAFF, PROBABLY ILL ADVISED, AND IN THIS INTERVIEW SHE DESCRIBED THE PRESIDENT'S PERSONALITY AS THAT OF AN ALCOHOLIC, WHICH MEANS SOMEONE WHO HAS TO CONTROL, WHO'S VERY DEFENSIVE, DOESN'T LIKE CRITICISM.

WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO POLITICALLY, WHICH IS, REACH OUT TO THOSE PARTS OF THE ELECTORATE WHO ARE DISENCHANTED, HE CAN'T DO T. HE CAN'T DO IT.

>> Eric: OF COURSE HE'S A NONDRINKER, WE KNOW FROM HIS HISTORY.

>> YES, OF COURSE.

>> Eric: HEALTHCARE IS AN EMERGING ISSUE, HOW DOES THAT PLAY IN THE NEW YEAR?

>> HEALTHCARE, OF COURSE, THIS WAS THE FOCAL POINT OF THE SHUTDOWN FOR WEEKS AND WEEKS AND THE DEMOCRATS INSISTED ON A VOTE, WHICH IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN A SHORT WHILE.

WE'RE LIKELY TO HAVE ANOTHER GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IS AND THE DEMOCRATS WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH ON THE AFFORDABILITY ISSUE RELATED TO THE FACT THAT THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, UNDER JOE BIDEN, EXPANDED THE SUBSIDIES TO BUY INSURANCE ON THE PRIVATE EXCHANGE.

NOW THOSE SUBSIDIES, THE ENHANCED SUBSIDIES, ARE EXPIRING THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

WE'RE LOOKING AT OVER 20 PEOPLE LOOKING AT PREMIUMS THAT ARE GOING TO DOUBLE, TRIPLE, OR MAYBE EVEN INCREASE MORE THAN THAT.

AND THE REPUBLICANS DON'T REALLY WANT TO CUT A DEAL ON THIS.

AND DONALD TRUMP HAS SAID, NO, I'M NOT GOING TO BACK DOWN.

AGAIN, GETTING BACK TO SUSIE WILES' COMMENT, IT'S A REAL PROBLEM.

THIS IS GOING TO LOCK IN THE BEST ISSUE DEMOCRATS HAVE, WHICH IS AFFORDABILITY.

AND IT'S REALLY GOING TO PUT THE HURT TO A LOT OF AMERICANS.

>> Cathy: SO THIS MIGHT BE A REALLY SHORT ANSWER ON YOUR PART, BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE WORK PRODUCT OF CONGRESS THIS YEAR?

>> WHICH PRODUCT WOULD THAT BE?

I MEAN, IF YOU LISTEN TO MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THEY'RE REALLY, YOU KNOW, KIND OF ANGER, ANGRY AT THE SPEAKER BECAUSE HE SENT THEM OME FOR WEEKS AND WEEKS BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH VARIOUS R ISSUES.

THERE'S BEEN A LOCKDOWN IN THE SENATE BECAUSE OF PARTISAN DIFFERENCES, THE HOUSE, THE SPEAKER'S A VERY SMALL MARGIN, SO HE'S NOT WANTED TO MOVE MUCH.

JUST THIS PAST WEEK, HE SAW FOUR OF HIS MEMBERS DEFECT TO DEMOCRATS TO FORCE THE ISSUE OF THE SUBSIDIES, AFFORDABLE CARE ACT TO COME UP WITH A VOTE, WHICH HE THEN DODGED.

SO, NO, I DON'T THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE MUCH.

THERE HASN'T BEEN MUCH.

OTHER THAN THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL EARLIER IN THE YEAR, AND THAT WAS CERTAINLY A MAJOR LEGISLATIVE, YOU KNOW, PIECE OF WORK.

>> Eric: GOOD STUFF AS ALWAYS.

THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

>> Cathy: HAPPY NEW YEAR, BY THE WAY, HAPPY HOLIDAYS, HAPPY NEW YEAR.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> Eric: THANKS, SIR.

♪ >> IT'S A NEW DEAL.

I MEAN, THERE'S EVER BEEN A MUSLIM IN CONGRESS BEFORE.

PEOPLE JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT THAT'S LIKE.

AND I DON'T THINK IT'S ANYTHING FOR PEOPLE TO GET OO EXCITED ABOUT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, I'M THERE TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF THE FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

AND THIS WILL ALL WEAR OFF, IT WILL BE AN INTERESTING STORY WE TALK ABOUT NEXT YEAR AS WE DO A YEAR-END REVIEW.

>> Cathy: AND WE WILL DO, AS A MATTER OF FACT.

♪ ♪ >> CATHY: I.C.E.

OPERATIONS CONTINUE IN THE TWIN CITIES AS THE LOCALS CLASHED HIS PAST WEEK WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AGENTS.

I.C.E.

ACTION HAS BEEN CRITICIZED BY SOME FOR THE WAY THEY'VE HANDLED ARRESTS, INCLUDING COLLATERAL DAMAGE TO JOURNALISTS COVERING OPERATION METRO SURGE AND RESIDENTS LOOKING TO DOCUMENT ACTIVITY.

HERE WITH MORE CONTEXT, JULIA DECKER IS AN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY AND POLICY DIRECTOR FROM THE IMMIGRANT LAW CENTER OF MINNESOTA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

WE THINK, WE THINK MORE THAN 400 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED IN THESE IMMIGRATION SWEEPS.

BUT WE REALLY DON'T KNOW.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE LEVEL OF SECRECY THAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH AS AN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY?

>> YEAH, I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE REALLY DIFFICULT THINGS THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH, PARTICULARLY WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION.

OF COURSE, THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM.

BUT THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY IS REALLY A HALLMARK OF THIS ADMINISTRATION.

AS PEOPLE ARE TAKEN AWAY, NOT KNOWING WHERE THEY ARE, NOT KNOWING WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THEM, NOT KNOWING HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE BEING ARRESTED AS THESE I.C.E.

ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS HAPPEN.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED, WERE ALL ACTIONS PRIOR TO THIS, THIS SITUATION, SECRETIVE IN THE PAST IN OTHER ADMINISTRATIONS?

OR IS THERE SOMETHING ABOUT THIS THAT IS SO DIFFERENT?

>> I THINK THERE HAVE CERTAINLY BEEN TIMES WHERE THERE HAS BEEN AN ASPECT OF SECRETIVENESS TO PRIOR ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS.

HOWEVER, THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS MADE -- HAS AMPLIFIED THAT IN A MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE FASHION.

SO NOW IT IS VERY VERY DIFFICULT, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE, EVEN FOR LAWYERS, JOURNALISTS, THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO GET EVEN THE GENERAL NUMBERS, FOR INSTANCE.

WHAT WE ONLY HAVE TO RELY ON IS THE GOVERNMENT'S OWN STATED NUMBERS AND NOTHING ELSE AND NO WAY TO VERIFY THOSE NUMBERS OUTSIDE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S OWN STATEMENTS.

>> Eric: WHAT'S THE EXTENT EXTENT OF THE TRAINING YOU MAY PROVIDE TO NOT ONLY BYSTANDERS BUT DEDAINEES THEMSELVES AS FAR AS HOW TO HANDLE THEMSELVES?

>> THERE'S A LOT OF MATERIALS OUT THERE FROM THE IMMIGRANT LAW ENTER, ACLU, AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION, AND OTHERS, NATIONAL IMMIGRATION ADVOCATE ORGANIZATIONS, AROUND KNOWING YOUR IGHTS, CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, CONSTITUTIONAL, YOU KNOW, CIVIL LIBERTIES.

ONE OF THE DIFFICULTIES, OF COURSE, AS WE HAVE SEEN WITH THIS CURRENT ADMINISTRATION IS THE WILLINGNESS TO VIOLATE THOSE RIGHTS, EVEN WHEN PEOPLE DO EXERCISE THOSE RIGHTS.

SO THAT IS A AIRLY SERIOUS CONCERN.

>> Cathy: AM THE OBSERVERS, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN TRAINING OBSERVERS, AND SHE SAID WHAT'S OT VERY HELPFUL IS WHEN PEOPLE ARE ELLING AT THE AGENTS, WHERE'S YOUR WARRANT?

WHERE YOU SHOULD BE ASKING, YELLING, AND TRYING TO GET INFORMATION FROM THE PERSON BEING DETAINED.

IS THAT RIGHT?

>> I THINK THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, RESPONSES THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE IN THE FACE OF AN EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE AND MILITARIZED, HEAVILY MILITARIZED FEDERAL FORCE.

>> Cathy: RIGHT.

>> QUITE FRANKLY.

AND OF, SO, I THINK THERE IS A LEVEL OF GRACE THAT WE HAVE TO EXTEND TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE SEEING THEIR NUMBERS BEING DRAGGED OUT OF THEIR HOUSES AND OUT OF THEIR CARS.

>> Cathy: IS IT ELPFUL TO KNOW WHO HESE PEOPLE ARE THAT ARE BEING DETAINED, THOUGH?

>> ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S ALWAYS HELPFUL TO TRY AND GET AS UCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE, WHILE ALSO UNDERSTANDING, OF COURSE, WE ARE FACING AN INCREDIBLY, QUITE FRANKLY, DANGEROUS SITUATION.

AND I THINK FOR MANY PEOPLE, COMMUNITIES, AN UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION.

>> Cathy: GO AHEAD.

>> Eric: HOW DO YOU JUDGE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT'S PARTICIPATION IN THIS STUFF?

>> THIS IS A VERY LAWYERLY ANSWER, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT IN ADVANCE, BUT IT REALLY DEPENDS.

BECAUSE DIFFERENT STATE AND LOCAL ENTITIES ARE GOING TO HAVE VERY DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES.

SOME HAVE VERY VERY COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIPS.

OTHERS HAVE SORT OF A FIREWALL BETWEEN THEIR INFORMATION SHARING OR EVEN HOW THEY OPERATE WITH THEM.

SO SOME OF THEM HAVE, YOU KNOW, IT JUST REALLY DEPENDS, UNFORTUNATELY.

>> Cathy: I WANTED TO KIND OF GO BACK TO THOSE WHO ARE BEING DETAINED.

WE'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THESE ARE THE WORST OF THE WORST.

BUT WE DON'T -- WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?

>> RIGHT.

AND, AGAIN, THIS GOES BACK TO THE TRANSPARENCY ISSUE BECAUSE WE HAVE NO -- WE KNOW FROM PREVIOUS STATISTICS, UP UNTIL THEY SORT OF STOPPED PUBLISHING THEM, THERE WAS ACTUALLY A MAJORITY OF FOLKS WHO WERE BEING DETAINED HAD VERY LOW-LEVEL OR EVEN NO CRIMINAL RECORDS.

THE FOLKS WHO WERE BEING DETAINED BY I.C.E.

SO, WHILE THERE ARE R CERTAINLY SOME FOLKS IN THE DETENTION FACILITY WHO IS WERE OR DID HAVE CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS, WE KNOW -- AT LEAST AT ONE POINT IN TIME, THERE WERE MANY MANY PEOPLE WHO ALSO HAD VERY LOW-LEVEL OR NO CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS AT ALL.

>> Eric: ONE OF THE HOMELAND FOLKS, SPOKESMAN SAID, QUOTE, MINNESOTA IS SAFER WITH THESE THUGS OFF THE STREET.

THE INFORMATION DOESN'T BEAR THAT OUT THAT THERE ARE THUGS ON THE STREET?

>> WELL, I THINK, YOU KNOW, SO I THINK THIS IS ALSO A HALLMARK OF THE ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN THE USE OF INCREDIBLY DEHUMANIZING AND SORT OF DEROGATORY RHETORIC WHEN TALKING ABOUT IMMIGRANTS, REFUGEES, NONCITIZENS.

AND, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS WANT TO -- I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND CONSIDER THAT ANY TIME WE TALK ABOUT ANY GROUP OF PEOPLE, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE PEOPLE WHO ARE BAD ACTORS.

AND ANY GROUP OF PEOPLE, WHETHER IT'S CITIZENS OR NONCITIZENS.

BUT TO SINGLE OUT, PARTICULARLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS CURRENT ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN MINNESOTA, IT WAS PARTICULARLY TARGETED INITIALLY AT THE SOMALI COMMUNITY, IN A WAY THAT WE DID NOT SEE IN PREVIOUS RHETORIC OR ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS.

AND THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS USED WAS PARTICULARLY DEROGATORY, PARTICULARLY HARSH AND DANGEROUS.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE WANT TO BE AWARE OF THE WAY THAT THE LANGUAGE IS BEING ARGETED OFTEN AT RACIAL MINORITIES AND THAT, YOU KNOW, ANY GROUP OF PEOPLE CERTAINLY IS GOING TO HAVE BAD ACTORS, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THAT SHOULD BE THEN IMPLICATE ALL PEOPLE IN THAT GROUP.

>> Cathy: RIGHT.

>> Eric: APPRECIATE YOU COMING OVER.

GIVING YOU THE BENEFIT OF YOUR EXPERTISE.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

♪ >> ERIC: WARMER WEATHER AND RAIN IN THE TWIN CITIES HAS TURNED THE BEAUTIFUL WHITE SNOW TO ICE.

MANY PLACES OUTSIDE THE METRO STILL HAVE PLENTY OF THE WHITE FLUFFY STUFF ON THE GROUND.

HERE WITH AN ASSESSMENT OF THE BEST PLACE TO FIND A WHITE CHRISTMAS IN MINNESOTA, PAUL DOUGLAS.

WHEN HE'S NOT TALKING SNOW TOTALS WITH US, YOU CAN CATCH HIS PREDICTIONS IN THE STAR TRIBUNE.

HE ALSO RUNS HIS OWN WEATHER COMPANY, PREDICT-IX.

>> ELI.

>> Cathy: REALLY?

>> ARROWHEAD.

>> 100% PROBABILITY OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS.

EVERY YEAR.

>> Eric: THERE YOU GO.

>> IF YOU ABSOLUTELY WANT A WHITE CHRISTMAS.

>> Eric: ALL RIGHT.

>> DULUTH, PRETTY GOOD.

ARROWHEAD BETTER.

>> Cathy: OKAY.

AND THERE'S SNOW ON THE GROUND THERE, WE KNOW THAT.

>> THERE'S PLENTY OF SNOW.

THE REST OF THE STATE, IT'S GOING TO BE RIGHT DOWN TO THE WIRE IN TERMS OF WHITE CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR.

BUFF, MAN BEING WE GOT OFF TO A GREAT SNOW AND -- GREAT START, AND SNOW LOVERS WERE BEING, LIKE, HERE WE GO, A REAL WINTER, COLD, SNOW.

>> Eric: ON TO THE VISUALS.

>> EAH.

THIS IS MY WIFE.

>> Cathy: OH, COME ON!

YOU COULDN'T EVEN GET OUT THERE AND SNOW BLOW YOURSELF?

>> SHE LOVES THAT SNOWBLOWER.

SHE LOVES IT.

IT'S ELECTRIC.

>> Eric: YOU BROKE A LEG THE LAST TIME YOU DID SNOW BLOWING.

>> THAT WAS THE WALKING THE DOG, SLIPPING ON ICE.

YEAH, WE GOT OFF TO A GREAT START.

I WAS KIND OF EXCITED.

I LIKE SNOW, ESPECIALLY WHEN I'M NOT DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR.

WE TAKE TURNS, BY THE WAY.

BUT I LOVE THAT PHOTOGRAPH.

YEAH.

WE GOT OFF TO A GOOD START.

AND EVERYTHING IN BLUE, ABOVE AVERAGE SNOWFALL TO DATE.

AND YOU CAN SEE THE SNOWFALL AMOUNTS.

16.7 SO FAR IN THE TWIN CITIES.

THERE'S ONLY ABOUT FOUR ON THE GROUND NOW.

BUT LAST YEAR WE HAD TWO AND A HALF.

DULUTH HAS SEEN 22.

LAST YEAR, 11 INCHES.

SO, AGAIN, GOOD START.

WHERE'S IT GOING FROM HERE?

WEATHER WHIPLASH.

WE GOT OFF TO A VERY COLD START.

20 CONTINUOUS DAYS BELOW FREEZING, LATE NOVEMBER, EARLY DECEMBER.

AND THAT'S THE COLDEST IT'S BEEN SO EARLY IN THE SEASON SINCE 1985.

IT OT DOWN TO 11 BELOW IN THE TWIN CITIES LAST SUNDAY.

COLDEST START TO DECEMBER SINCE 2000.

SO YOU THINK, ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO!

BUT THE DATA SHOWS THERE'S NO CORRELATION BETWEEN EARLY COLD WAVES AND THE OVERALL WINTER TO COME.

>> Cathy: OH.

>> AND, SO, YEAH, DON'T MAKE ANY ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT THE ENTIRE WINTER.

>> Eric: HUH.

>> THERE'S NO EVIDENCE YET THAT POLAR AIR IS GOING TO BE LOCKED IN.

AT LEAST THROUGH JANUARY.

TO REALLY GET A BRUTAL PIONEER WINTER LIKE WE HAD 2013-2014, YOU NEED A NEGATIVE PHASE OF THE ARCTIC OSCILLATION, THE EASTERN PACIFIC OSCILLATION, AND THE NORTH AMERICAN OSCILLATION.

NORTH ATLANTIC OSCILLATION.

WHAT THAT MEANS, ALL THAT GOBBLEDYGOOK, IS THAT YOU HAVE HIGH PRESSURE STALLED OVER GREENLAND AND ALASKA.

AND IF YOU HAVE THAT KIND OF A PATTERN, BITTER AIR, A WHIRLPOOL OF POLAR AIR GETS TRAPPED OVER CANADA AND MUCH OF THE NATION EAST OF THE ROCKIES, IT'S JUST A FREEWAY OF SIBERIAN AIR, LITERALLY AIR THAT ORIGINATED IN SIBERIA.

I DON'T SEE THAT SETUP LOOKING OUT THE NEXT MONTH.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH, WHO KNOWS.

ALL I KNOW IS THAT CHRISTMAS IS GOING TO BE WARM.

15, MAYBE 20° ABOVE AVERAGE HERE.

>> Cathy: OH.

>> 40s FOR CHRISTMAS DAY!

JUST TO THE SOUTH WHERE THERE'S NO SNOW ON WANT GROUND, PARTS OF IOWA, MISSOURI, 60s, MAYBE 70s.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE THE CASE FOR MUCH OF THE NATION.

AND HERE IS THE EUROPEAN MODEL, WHICH SHOWS 40s, A COUPLE OF 40s, RIGHT ROUND CHRISTMAS, MAYBE ANOTHER RUN OF 40s RIGHT AROUND NEW YEAR'S.

SO HERE WE GO.

COLD START, BUT A MILD FINISH.

YOU THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE A TOUGH WINTER.

OLD MAN WINTER IS SAYING, HERE, HOLD MY BEER.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

BUT IF YOU'RE DREAMING OF A SLOPPY CHRISTMAS, YOU MAY BE IN LUCK.

>> Cathy: GREAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT TO MENTION.

HEL NINO -- >> Cathy: NO.

>> -- INDICATIONS ARE IT'S COMING BACK NEXT YEAR.

AND, SO, WE'LL EE.

EL NINO WINTERS, IF IT HANGS ON THROUGH NEXT WINTER, STRONG CORRELATION WITH MILDER, DRIER WEATHER.

TIME WILL TELL.

QUICK REVIEW OF 025, YES, STATEWIDE IT WAS WARMER THAN AVERAGE, WINDIER THAN AVERAGE, THAT SEEMS TO BE A TREND.

THE DROUGHT DID EASE SLIGHTLY.

BUT THERE'S STILL POCKETS OF SEVERE DROUGHT UP NEAR DULUTH.

AND WILDFIRE SMOKE, THOUGHT TO BE THE THIRD WORST ON RECORD BEHIND 2023 AND 2021.

>> Cathy: SAY, BEFORE YOU GO, I'VE GOT TO ASK YOU, TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO DISMANTLE THE NATION'S PREMIER CLIMATE AND WEATHER RESEARCH CENTER IN COLORADO.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?

>> AS A METEOROLOGIST, I THINK IT'S ILL ADVISED TO TRY TO DISMANTLE THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH, THEY'RE THE GOLD STANDARD FOR WEATHER AND CLIMATE RESEARCH.

AND I KNOW THE CLIMATE PART MAKES SOME PEOPLE, PERHAPS, A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT YOU CAN'T SEPARATE OUT THE TWO.

YOU WARM UP THE CLIMATE, IT'S GOING TO MEAN MORE EXTREME HURRICANES, IT HAS AN IMPACT ON TORNADOES AND FLOODING.

>> Eric: TO BE CONTINUED.

>> SO KEEP AN EYE ON THAT.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

>> Eric: HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU.

>> MERRY, MERRY.

>> Eric: UP NEXT, A HOLIDAY FAVORITE.

LONGTIME VIEWERS MAY REMEMBER J.G.

PRESTON SINGING "BLUE CHRISTMAS" ON A REALLY COLD NIGHT BACK IN 1989 AMONG A LARGE CHRISTMAS DISPLAY.

AND WE CAN'T RESIST SHARING PART OF THAT ON A REGULAR BASIS THIS TIME OF YEAR.

♪ ♪ I'LL HAVE A BLUE CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOU ♪ YEAH ♪ ♪ I'LL AVE A BLUE CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOU ♪ ♪ YOU'LL BE DOIN' ALL RIGHT ♪ ♪ WITH YOUR CHRISTMAS OF WHITE ♪ BUT I'LL HAVE A BLUE, BLUE, BLUE, BLUE, BLUE CHRISTMAS ♪ >> MARK: THIS IS SUCH A BUSY TIME OF YEAR, WITH EVERYONE MAKING HOLIDAY PLANS, PUTTING UP DECORATIONS, MAILING CARDS, AND THE NUMBER ONE QUESTION ON EVERYONE’S LIST - WHAT TO GIVE YOUR DOCTOR FOR CHRISTMAS?

IT'S NOT EASY.

WHAT DO YOU GET FOR THE PERSON WHO CAN DIAGNOSE ANYTHING?

PLUS, WITH HEALTH SYSTEMS AND CLINICS BEING TAKEN OVER, SOME PEOPLE AREN’T EVEN SURE WHO THEIR DOCTOR IS ANY MORE.

PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY YET ANOTHER KRUMKAKE FOR WHATEVER STRANGE NEW DOCTOR IS FILLING IN AT THE CLINIC THAT DAY.

MAYBE IT'S FOR THE BEST.

GIFTS LIKE HOLIDAY COOKIES AND CAKES ARE REALLY UNNECESSARY, UNHEALTHY, AND SUPER DELICIOUS.

I MEAN, I HEAR THEY ARE.

DOCTORS NEVER EAT STUFF LIKE THAT ANYWAY, AS FAR AS YOU KNOW.

WE OWE IT TO OUR PATIENTS TO STAY IN TIPTOP PHYSICAL CONDITION.

YOU CAN’T ALWAYS TELL BECAUSE WE’RE WEARING BAGGY SCRUB CLOTHES.

BUT, REALLY, YOU DON'T NEED TO GIVE YOUR DOCTOR ANYTHING.

LIKE WHAT, A TIE?

PEOPLE CAN ONLY SEE THE LITTLE TRIANGLE ABOVE THE WHITE COAT.

ANY TIE COULD BE A 6-INCH CLIP-ON.

YOU COULD GET THEM ONE OF THOSE CUTE LITTLE ANIMALS TO HANG ON THEIR STETHOSCOPE, BUT THEY WOULD HAVE TO FIND IT AND PUT IT BACK ON EVERY YEAR WHEN YOU COME FOR A CHECK-UP.

ONE PATIENT GAVE ME AN OLD-TIMEY HEAD MIRROR LIKE THE DOCTORS IN CARTOONS ALWAYS WEAR.

WE HAVEN’T NEEDED THEM SINCE THE INVENTION OF THE FLASHLIGHT, BUT I STILL WEAR MINE.

EVERY HALLOWEEN.

REALLY, YOU DON’T HAVE TO BUY YOUR DOCTOR A PRESENT.

JUST TAKE YOUR MEDICINE.

TAKE A WALK EVERY DAY.

GO EASY ON THE HOLIDAY EGGNOG.

MAKE THEIR JOB EASIER.

THAT’S REALLY THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR DOCTOR.

YOU MIGHT EVEN GET A NICE HANDWRITTEN THANK YOU NOTE, ALTHOUGH YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO READ IT.

BUT YOU DON’T HAVE TO BUY THEM A PRESENT.

JUST STAYING HEALTHY WOULD BE PRESENT ENOUGH.

WELL, THAT, AND MAYBE, A KRUMKAKE.

♪ >> CATHY: THE STATE'S NEW PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE PROGRAM IS SET TO LAUNCH ON THE 1ST OF JANUARY.

THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WILL OVERSEE THE PROGRAM AND RECENTLY KICKED OFF AN AWARENESS CAMPAIGN FOR UPCOMING CHANGES AFFECTING EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS.

JOINING US WITH MORE IS D.E.E.D.

COMMISSIONER MATT VARILEK.

WELCOME BACK.

>> THANK YOU.

GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> Cathy: I UNDERSTAND THAT 35,000 PEOPLE OR SO HAVE ALREADY APPLIED?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE ARE TAKING AN INCREMENTAL APPROACH TO STANDING UP AND LAUNCHING THE PROGRAM.

JANUARY 1st IS HEN EVERYONE KNOWS IT OFFICIALLY BEGINS, WHEN YOU CAN ACTUALLY START TAKING LEAVE AND START GETTING PAYMENTS.

THE LAW ALSO ALLOWS THAT ANY PARENTS WHO HAD A BABY IN 2025 CAN APPLY NOW, AND THEY HAVE TO USE LEAVE WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE BABY'S BIRTHDAY.

SO WE CAN BE RECEIVING THOSE APPLICATIONS ALREADY, WHICH WE ARE, AS YOU MENTIONED, SO WE'VE HAD OVER 5,000 PEOPLE MAKING APPLICATIONS, WHICH IS GREAT FOR THEM FOR PLANNING, AND ALSO GREAT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO TEST OUR SYSTEMS EXAMINE MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS WORKING PROPERLY SO WE CAN HAVE THIS BE A VERY SMOOTH ROLLOUT.

>> Eric: THERE'S A PAYROLL TAX, I GUESS YOU CALL IT, EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE.

IS THAT GOING TO HAVE TO FLUCTUATE UP AS THE PROGRAM GETS ORE POPULAR?

IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S OFF TO A PRETTY IMPRESSIVE START.

>> YEAH, IT'S AT 0.88%, AND WE RELY ON AN ACTUARY THAT HAS TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES TO MAKE THESE PROJECTIONS.

AND, SO, THAT'S HOW THE NUMBER GETS SET.

IT CAN ADJUST ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

THERE'S A CAP IN THE LAW.

BUT WE WILL BE REPORTING ON THE ACTUAL FIGURES AND TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AS WE GO FORWARD.

>> Cathy: SO, JANUARY 1st, BUT I'M WONDERING, IF YOU HAVE A FAMILY EMERGENCY, A FAMILY MEMBER HAS EMERGENCY SURGERY, THEY NEED HELP, HOW QUICKLY CAN SOMEONE GET APPROVED FOR LEAVE?

>> WE HAVE A TWO-WEEK TURNAROUND AS OUR TARGET AND WE AIM TO BE EVEN ASTER THAN THAT AND WE HAVE, IN FACT, BEEN FASTER THAN THAT.

BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE AIMING FOR ON THE HIGH SIDE.

AND I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT IF FOLKS HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THIS, NUMBER ONE, I WANT TO STEER FOLKS TO THE WEBSITE, PAIDLEAVE.MN.GOV.

WE ALSO HAVE A CALL CENTER THAT'S BEEN TAKING CALLS FROM EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES SINCE JULY, AND OUR ANSWER TIMES ARE 30 SECONDS OR LESS.

>> Cathy: OKAY.

AND THEN BY THE WAY, IF YOU'RE ON LEAVE, HOW LONG DO YOU GET FOR LEAVE, 20 WEEKS?

>> IT IS A MAXIMUM OF UP TO 12 WEEKS IN THE CASE OF MEDICAL OR A MAXIMUM OF 12 IN THE CASE OF FAMILY.

AND IF YOU ARE IN ONE OF THE RARE ASES WHERE YOU WOULD QUALIFY FOR BOTH, IT'S A MAXIMUM OF 20, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO SAY, IN ALL CASES, BONDING LEAVE YOU CAN TAKE UP TO THAT 12 WEEKS IF YOU SO CHOOSE.

AND YOU CAN VERIFY THAT YOU'VE WELCOMED A BABY, BUT ON THE MEDICAL SIDE, IT HAS TO BE VALIDATED THAT YOU HAVE THAT NEED BY A MEDICAL PROVIDER, SO YOU CAN'T TAKE 12 WEEKS JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING HAPPENED.

IT NEEDS TO BE THAT A MEDICAL PROVIDER SAID YOU NEED TO TAKE SIX WEEKS OR EIGHT WEEKS OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE.

>> Eric: FRAUD PREVENTION.

>> VERY IMPORTANT, YES.

AND WE'RE FORTUNATE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO BUILD THIS IN FROM THE BEGINNING SO THAT WE PREVENT FRAUD.

WE'RE PROUD TO BE THE DEPARTMENT THAT RUNS MINNESOTA'S UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM, WHERE WE HAVE A VERY STRONG TRACK RECORD, WE'RE AMONG THE BEST IN THE NATION AT MINIMIZING IMPROPER PAYMENTS.

IN THE CASE OF PAID LEAVE, WE HAVE BUILT THIS ITH MODERN ARCHITECTURE, SO YOU HAVE TO VERIFY YOUR IDENTITY.

WE CROSS-CHECK AGAINST THOSE LEAVE -- RATHER -- THE WAGE RECORDS THAT WE GET IN UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, ET CETERA.

AND HAVE RECEIVED HIGH MARKS ALREADY FOR FOLKS THAT HAVE LOOKED AT THE PROGRAM FOR ALL THE MEASURES THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO WASTE A PENNY ON WHAT SHOULD GO TOWARDS BENEFITS.

>> Cathy: SO YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A FRAUD RISK AND AUDIT ADVISE SUPERVISOR, BY THE WAY.

MY PRODUCER AND I HAVE A QUESTION, IF YOUR EMPLOYER ALREADY HAS A LEAVE PROGRAM, HOW DOES THAT WORK WITH THAT?

>> SO IT'S ROUGHLY A QUARTER OF MINNESOTANS WHO HAVE BEEN AT AN EMPLOYER THAT OFFER THAT BENEFIT.

SO THREE-QUARTERS HAVEN'T HAD IT, WHICH IS WHY THE PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT, WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO ALL THE ADVOCATES WHO HELPED MAKE IT HAPPEN, ALONG WITH THE GOVERNOR LEADING ON IT.

SO THERE IS AN OPTION IF A COMPANY WANTS TO GO WITH A PRIVATE PROVIDER, THEY CAN DO SO.

BUT IT NEEDS TO BE ON A PLAN THAT HAS BEEN REVIEWED, I BELIEVE IT'S BY OUR DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, OUR PARTNERS THERE, AND IT NEEDS TO BE AT LEAST AS GENEROUS AS THE STATE PLAN.

AND, SO, IT'S GOOD THAT THERE'S PRIVATE CHOICE, BUT IT CAN'T BE A LESSER BENEFIT SO THAT ALL MINNESOTANS NOW HAVE ACCESS.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.

>> Eric: GOOD LUCK WITH THE ROLLOUT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

PROUD TO SAY IT'S GOING VERY SMOOTHLY AND THAT'S HOW WE AIM TO KEEP IT.

>> Cathy: WE'LL HAVE YOU BACK.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

>> CATHY: GOVERNOR WALZ RESORTED TO EXECUTIVE ACTION FOR ISSUES THAT HE COULDN'T GET TRACTION ON IN THE DIVIDED LEGISLATURE.

POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER TAKES AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE DIFFICULT ONGOING ISSUES OF FRAUD AND GUN CONTROL AT THE CAPITOL.

>> Mary: AS THE MEMORIAL FOR FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER MELISSA HORTMAN REMAINS AT THE CAPITOL AND WILL STAY DURING SESSION, THE ISSUE OF THE GUN VIOLENCE THAT TOOK HER LIFE CONTINUES TO VEX POLICYMAKERS.

>> WE'RE ALL VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE NOW IN MINNESOTA.

AND THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN SAYING IT, THEY'VE BEEN SAYING IT SINCE JUNE 14th, THEY'VE BEEN SAYING IT SINCE THAT HORRIFIC DAY AT ANNUNCIATION, THEY CONTINUE TO SAY IT.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

>> Mary: GOVERNOR WALZ COULD NOT GET A OALITION TO ADDRESS GUN CONTROL OR BAN ASSAULT RIFLES IN A SPECIAL SESSION.

SO HE TURNED TO EXECUTIVE ORDERS, ESTABLISHING A STATEWIDE SAFETY COUNCIL TO PROVIDE MORE DATA ON GUN VIOLENCE AND IMPROVE EDUCATION ON SAFE STORAGE OF WEAPONS.

>> THERE'S TOO DAMN MANY GUNS AND THE WRONG TYPES OF GUNS ON THE STREET AND I DON'T WANT TO HEAR, HOW DO YOU DEFINE A ASSAULT WEM, I DAMN WELL CAN DESCRIBE WHAT A ASSAULT WEAPON IS.

>> Mary: ALREADY PUT OUT A STATEMENT IT'S A CLEAR COMMISSION OF EAKNESS.

JUST WEEKS AGO, HE PROMISED A SPECIAL SESSION AND A VOTE ON AN SUPREME, PARTISAN GUN BAN.

EFFORT COLLAPSED BECAUSE HE COULDN'T GET VOTES FROM HIS OWN PARTY.

>> YOU'RE SURPRISED BY THAT, MARY.

WHAT A WEAK, HORRIBLE THING.

COME AND SAY IT IN FRONT OF THE PARENTS.

MARY, CAN YOU STATE FOR THE RECORD, CAN YOU SAY THE NAME OF THE -- >> THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIR.

>> WHAT'S HIS NAME?

>> Mary: THE REPUBLICAN PARTY R CHAIR.

>> THAT WAS HIS FIRST THOUGHT IN THE MIDST OF THIS WITH PARENTS AND MINNESOTANS ASKING US, OKAY.

MAKE SURE YOU SPELL HIS NAME RIGHT.

>> WHAT HAPPENED TO US ON AUGUST 27th IS OT SOMETHING WE WILL EVER BE OVER.

THE AFTERMATH IS STILL INCREDIBLY RAW.

WHAT WE LEARNED AND WHAT TOO MANY COMMUNITIES LEARN IS THAT GUN VIOLENCE DOES NOT RESPECT GEOGRAPHY, FAITH, OR POLITICS.

>> Mary: LAWMAKERS FROM THE ANNUNCIATION SCHOOL SHOOTING DISTRICT SAID THIS WAS PERSONAL.

>> AFTER THE ANNUNCIATION SHOOTING, PARENTS AND STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE SAID THAT WE NEED TO ACT ON GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND THE TIME IS NOW.

SINCE THEN, ONE SIDE OF THIS DEBATE HAS STALLED.

CHANGED THE SUBJECT OR STAYED SILENT.

>> TO THE ANNUNCIATION FAMILIES IN MY COMMUNITY, TO THE PARENTS AND THE KIDS AND THE STAFF, WHO IN YOUR GRIEF HAVE FOUND DETERMINATION AND COURAGE, I AM SO INSPIRED AND PROUD OF YOU.

>> MY COLLEAGUES BROUGHT FORWARD A NUMBER OF PROPOSALS, THE REPUBLICANS BROUGHT ZERO PROPOSALS TO THOSE HEARINGS.

>> THE HOUSE IS TIED 67-67.

THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP HAS MADE VERY CLEAR THAT THERE ISN'T ONE VOTE IN THEIR CAUCUS FOR GETTING WEAPONS OF WAR OFF THE STREET.

>> THE GOVERNOR'S TALK OF A SPECIAL SESSION HAS BEEN A PARTISAN POLITICAL STUNT FROM THE BEGINNING.

UNFORTUNATELY, HE HAS NOT BEEN INTERESTED OR HAS NOT ACTED AS IF HE'S INTERESTED IN FINDING BIPARTISAN SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM OF SCHOOL SAFETY, THE PROBLEM OF PUBLIC SAFETY, THE PROBLEM OF MENTAL HEALTH.

>> Mary: REPUBLICANS HAVE FELT STRONGLY IN THEIR BELIEF OF A U.S.

SUPREME COURT PROTECTING GUN RIGHTS.

>> YOU KNOW WHO'S ONE OF THE MOST PRO SECOND AMENDMENT GROUPS IS THE SUPREME COURT.

THEY'VE RULED A NUMBER OF TIMES, IT'S AN INDIVIDUAL RIGHT, IT CANNOT BE DEPRIVED THROUGH STATUTE.

>> WE ARE THE MURDER GUN CAPITAL OF THE PLANET BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE MADE THE DECISION TO PROTECT GUN MANUFACTURERS.

>> WE'RE SELLING GLOCK RIGHT NOW, WE'RE TURNING A BLIND EYE AND ALLOWING -- [ SCATTERED APPLAUSE ] >> WE ARE TAKING A STEP, A STEP TOWARDS SAFETY AND A STEP TOWARDS COMMON SENSE.

>> Mary: THE GOVERNOR SAYS GUN CONTROL WORKS, INCLUDING EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ORDERS THAT DEMOCRATS PASSED.

>> IT'S TIME TO START REPORTING THAT THAT IS ALL BULL [ BLEEP ] IT DOES DO SOMETHING.

IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> Mary: THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAIR ALSO SAYS WITH THE DFL GOVERNOR SLIPPING POLL NUMBERS, FOLLOWING FRAUD SCANDALS THAT WALZ IS RESORTING TO EXECUTIVE ORDERS WHICH CREATE MORE GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACY.

>> THIS FRAUD HAS BEEN PERPETUATED ON YOUR WATCH AND THE WHISTLEBLOWERS WHO REACH OUT TO US WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT ARE TERRIFIED.

AND THEY FEEL THAT THEY'VE BEEN RETALIATED AGAINST ALREADY.

>> WE ARE AGGRESIVELY SUSPENDING PAYMENTS WHENEVER OUR INVESTIGATORS SEE EVIDENCE OF FRAUD.

>> NO ONE HAS ANY TOLERANCE FOR FRAUD.

>> Mary: THE GOVERNOR CREATED A NEW POSITION TO ADDRESS FRAUD AND THE STATE EXTENDED A LICENSING PAUSE TO ADULT DAY CARE SETTINGS.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES IS THE LATEST IN SERIES OF MEASURES THE AGENCY SAYS IT'S TAKING TO TIGHTEN OVERSIGHT AND PREVENT AND STOP FRAUD.

>> DHS FACED A LOT OF PRESSURE FROM LEGISLATORS AND THE PUBLIC ON NOT GOING FAST ENOUGH AND NOT GETTING ENOUGH PROVIDERS LICENSED OR APPROVED OR ENROLLED.

>> Mary: MEANWHILE, THE HOUSE FRAUD COMMITTEE CONTINUES TO QUESTION.

>> IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT SEEMS CONCERNING, WE LIFT IT UP AND WE PASS IT OVER TO OUR PARTNERS WHO DO INVESTIGATE ANY SORT OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

>> IT IS TIME FOR US TO SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

I'M DONE!

AND IT MAKES ME SAD TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING TO OUR STATE.

>> ERIC: BETWEEN THE FRAUD INDICTMENTS, I.C.E.

RAIDS, AND EXECUTIVE ORDERS WE'VE COVERED ON TONIGHT'S SHOW, YOU'D BE FORGIVEN FOR MISSING ALL THE ELECTION NEWS THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK, WITH DEVELOPMENTS IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, U.S.

SENATE RACE, AND LEGISLATIVE SPECIAL ELECTIONS.

LUCKILY NOTHING GETS PAST OUR POLITICAL PANEL.

REPUBLICANS UP FIRST TONIGHT, BRIAN MCCLUNG IS A FORMER GOVERNOR PAWLENTY SPOKESPERSON AND A LONGTIME CAPITOL OBSERVER.

ANNETTE MEEKS, FORMER CONGRESSIONAL STAFFER AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CANDIDATE WHO NOW HEADS UP THE FREEDOM FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA.

DEMOCRATS HERE TONIGHT, SUSAN KENT IS A FORMER STATE SENATE MINORITY LEADER AND PARTY LOYALIST.

AND, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE VERY DECORATIVE JAVIER MORILLO IS A LONGTIME UNION AND PARTY ACTIVIST AND A FORMER NATIONAL COMMITTEEMAN FOR THE DNC.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

SENATOR KENT, KSTP POLL, GOVERNOR WALZ 48% APPROVAL, 48% DISAPPROVAL.

GOOD, BAD, INDIFFERENT?

>> WELL, WE GOT ALMOST A YEAR TO GO AND A LOT OF CONVERSATION TO HAVE.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT WILL BE INTERESTING.

IT'S BEEN A HARD YEAR FOR A LOT OF REASONS.

AND OBVIOUSLY HE ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS GOING TO RUN AGAIN A LITTLE LATE -- LATER THAN HE HAD ANTICIPATED.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'LL GET THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS AND NEW YEAR KICKOFF AND I HAVE A FEELING HE'LL DO A STRONG JOB.

>> Eric: RIPE OPPORTUNITY FOR REPUBLICANS?

>> IF YOU'RE AN INCUMBENT, YOU DON'T WANT TO START OFF THE ELECTION YEAR UNDER 50% APPROVAL, RIGHT?

THAT'S A BASELINE KIND F THING.

AND OBVIOUSLY THIS FRAUD SCANDAL IN MINNESOTA, WHICH IS UNPRECEDENTED, WHICH IS UNLIKE ANYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED IN ANY OTHER STATE, WE LEARNED THIS WEEK IT COULD BE $9 BILLION WORTH OF FRAUD IN OUR STATE, THIS IS ALL WEIGHING ON GOVERNOR WALZ.

AND THE THING IS, THEY'RE TRYING TO GET THEIR ARMS AROUND IT, BUT THE TOOTHPASTE IS OUT OF THE TUBE.

RIGHT?

YOU CAN'T JAM IT BACK IN.

SO THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING O HEAR ABOUT, TALK ABOUT, EVEN HAD DEMOCRATS THIS WEEK STARTING TO SAY, SHOULD WE TRY TO FIND SOMEBODY ELSE TO RUN?

THAT'S NOT THE KIND OF FOOTING YOU WANT TO START THE YEAR ON.

>> ERIC: WHAT ABOUT SOMEONE ELSE TO RUN?

ANY CHANCE?

>> WELL, I THINK, FIRST, LET ME JUST SAY, WITH REGARDS TO FRAUD, I THINK TWO THINGS CAN BE TRUE.

ONE, THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, ABSOLUTELY.

AND THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS TAKING STEPS.

I THINK, HONESTLY, SHOULD HAVE TAKEN STEPS -- TAKEN STRONGER STEPS EARLIER.

BUT IT'S ALSO TRUE THAT REPUBLICANS ARE EITHER DOING NOTHING, IN THE CASE OF REPRESENTATIVE ROBBINS, WHO LEADS A COMMITTEE THAT -- THE ONLY COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE THAT HAS A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY.

AND THEY'VE DONE LITERALLY NOTHING.

AND THEN THE U.S.

ATTORNEY WHO THREW OUT THAT NUMBER AND THERE'S A "STAR TRIBUNE" STORY THAT JUST POSTED JUST BEFORE WE WERE STARTING HERE WITH TOM HEFFELFINGER, WHO'S THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, THE FORMER U.S.

ATTORNEY, SAYING THAT THOSE ARE WILD NUMBERS, THAT HE DID NOT BACK UP.

LIKE THAT'S, FRANKLY, A LIE, IT'S JUST A TRUMPAN PRESS CONFERENCE, IS WHAT HE GAVE, BECAUSE HE'S REPRESENTED AN ADMINISTRATION THAT HAS ITS GUNS TRAINED ON MINNESOTA, AS WE SEE BY EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE SOMALI COMMUNITY.

>> FIRST OF ALL, THE U.S.

ATTORNEY, ACTING U.S.

ATTORNEY, JOE THOMPSON, WAS NOT THE TRUMPIAN APPOINTMENT.

HE WAS THERE BEFORE PRESIDENT TRUMP.

>> I DIDN'T SAY HE BEING TRUMPIAN.

>> PERHAPS.

THE FACT IS, WE'RE A BILLION DOLLARS, THAT'S WE CAN DOCUMENT, THAT'S DOCUMENTED LOSS.

THAT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY NUMBER.

>> THAT NUMBER IS ALSO NOT DOCUMENTED.

>> OH, IT MOST CERTAINLY IT.

YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED?

FOUR YEARS AGO TODAY, JOE TORCH SAID, WE ISSUED OUR FIRST INDICTMENTS IN FEEDING OUR FUTURE, FOUR YEARS, GOVERNOR WALZ HAS DENIED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM, AND THAT'S WHY IT'S FESTERING SO BAD TODAY.

>> THAT IS SO NOT TRUE.

HE HAS NOT DENIED -- HE HAS NOT DENIED IT'S A PROBLEM.

AND HE HAS BEEN WORKING ON THE PROBLEM.

YOU KNOW, AND I DO THINK WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT -- SINCE WE STARTED THIS OFF WITH A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE ELECTION, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT VOTERS, THEY'RE OOKING AT A LOT OF ISSUES THAT ARE AFFECTING THEIR LIVES.

AND IN THIS WEEK, WHEN A LOT OF US HAVE BEEN REMEMBERING ROB REINER AND HIS GOOD WORK, I KEEP THINKING ABOUT THE LINE FROM THE "AMERICAN PRESIDENT -- FROM THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT, WE HAVE A LOT OF SERIOUS PROBLEMS TO SOLVE AND WE NEED SERIOUS PEOPLE TO SOLVE THEM.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE THINGS THAT ARE BEING VISITED ON MINNESOTANS, THANKS TO DONALD TRUMP AND CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS, HEALTHCARE PREMIUMS ESCALATING, GROCERY PRICES, ENERGY COSTS, LET'S LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO LIHEAP HERE IN MINNESOTA.

THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND ON.

WE AVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS.

YES, FRAUD IS A PROBLEM.

I BELIEVE GOVERNOR WALZ IS TAKING GOOD STEPS TO FIX IT.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE THINKING ABOUT WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS.

>> WELL, IT'S A NATIONAL EMBARRASSMENT RIGHT NOW.

PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE HAD GUYS FROM PHILADELPHIA COME HERE AS FRAUD TOURISTS TO SET UP BUSINESSES AND THEN GO BACK AND BILL THE STATE FRAUDULENTLY.

I MEAN, THE FACT THAT THAT EVEN WOULD OCCUR, THAT YOU HAVE PEOPLE COMING TO OUR STATE TO COMMIT FRAUD, THIS IS HAPPENING HERE AND IT'S NOT HAPPENING IN OTHER STATES.

>> WHEN I OPENED THE "STAR TRIBUNE" PAGE TODAY, THE TOP STORY WAS ABOUT ALL THE FRAUD HAPPENING IN e-COMMERCE, AMAZON, TARGET, BEST BUY.

>> BUT WE CAN EXCUSE THAT THEN?

I MEAN, IF THAT HAPPENS, IT'S OKAY?

>> IF WE'RE NOT SURE IT'S HAPPENING IN OTHER STATES, IT'S A BIGGER PROBLEM IN ARIZONA AND CALIFORNIA.

AND, LISTEN, JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE ACCEPTABLE AMOUNT OF FRAUD IS ZERO.

>> RIGHT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> HOW DID IT GO ON FOR SEVEN YEARS?

>> AND IT'S BEEN GOING ON AND IT'S BEEN -- THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON -- THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE ISSUE, BUT WHAT WE HAVE IS REPUBLICANS GRANDSTANDING, LITERALLY MAKING UP NUMBERS, FALSE NUMBERS, AND IN THE CASE OF REPRESENTATIVE ROBBINS, DOING LITERALLY NOTHING.

>> Cathy: AS YOU SAY, THE GOVERNOR'S WORKING ON THIS, BUT HE'S SO DAMAGED AT THIS POINT.

DO YOU REALLY THINK HE'S GOING TO RUN?

MIGHT SOMEONE TRY TO PRIMARY HIM?

>> I REALLY BELIEVE HE IS VULNERABLE FOR A PRIMARY.

AND I THINK HE'S REALLY VULNERABLE FOR DRAGGING DOWN THE REST OF THE TICKET AND THAT SHOULD BE WHAT HE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON RIGHT NOW, E HAVE A .S.

SENATE RACE, WE HAVE ALL THE CONGRESSATE RACES, ALL THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES AND 201 LEGISLATOR, THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO GO DOWN WITH A GUY WHO WASN'T MINDING THE STORE, AND THAT'S WHAT IT AMOUNTS TO.

>> BUT WHEN -- >> GOVERNOR WALZ WASN'T MINDING THE STORE, HE'S LIKE A DEAD MAN WALKING, POLITICALLY DEAD MAN WALKING AND HE DOESN'T REALIZE IT.

>> WHEN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS TARGETING MINNESOTA, WHICH IS WELL DOCUMENTED ACROSS SO MANY DIFFERENT AREAS OF OUR STATE'S LIFE AND NEEDS, WHEN YOU HAVE A PERSON WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND IS A STEADY LEADER LIKE TIM WALZ, I THINK PEOPLE, AS THEY FOCUS MORE ON THAT RACE, ARE GOING TO RECOGNIZE HOW VALUABLE HE IS TO THIS STATE.

>> Eric: NONBINDING STRAW POLL FROM THE REPUBLICAN STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE, BAD RECORD OF PICKING THE EVENTUAL WINNER, BUT KENDALL QUAALS FIRST, NARROW SECOND IS SPEAKER DEMUTH, MIKE LINDELL, A PRETTY CREDIBLE THIRD.

>> LIKE YOU SAID, I THINK IT'S PICKED, EVENTUAL NO, PICKED, EVENTUAL NO NOMINEES ZEO TIMES IN THE LAST YEARS.

KENDALL QUALLS HAS BEEN WORKING THIS CROWD REALLY HARD.

GIVE HIM CREDIT.

HE KNOWS THAT'S WHERE THE PARTY ENDORSEMENT PROCESS WORKS, I GET THAT, UNDERSTAND IT.

SPEAKER DEMUTH, IN THE RACE A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, DID VERY WELL IN THAT SAMPLE.

MIKE LINDELL HAS SOME FANS THERE, OBVIOUSLY.

BUT THIS IS A VERY SMALL SAMPLE OF THE REPUBLICAN ELECTORATE AND BASE.

AND I THINK MANY OF THE CANDIDATES ARE SAYING THAT THEY'RE PLANNING TO RUN IN A PRIMARY.

SO THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN WE'VE HAD IN SOME OF THE REPUBLICAN CASES IN THE PAST.

>> MORE IMPORTANTLY, IF YOU TAKE ALL THE CANDIDATES BELOW KENDALL QUALLS AND SPEAKER DEMUTH, THEY AMOUNT TO THE AMOUNT OF VOTES THAT THEY GOT.

REPUBLICANS WANT TO WIN, THEY UNDERSTAND WE HAVE A VERY DAMAGED GOVERNOR WHO IS INCAPABLE OF LEADING OUR STATE AT THIS POINT, AND IT'S TIME TO ELECT SOMEBODY -- OR NOMINATE SOMEBODY WHO CAN WIN.

>> AND SPEAKER DEMUTH IS BEGGING DONALD TRUMP FOR ENDORSEMENT, WHICH JUST SPEAKS TO WHAT THE PROBLEM IS FOR REPUBLICANS.

THAT, LIKE, YES, IT HAS NOT BEEN PREDICTIVE IN THE PAST BECAUSE THE BASE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS SIGNIFICANTLY GONE FURTHER RIGHT THAN MINNESOTANS ARE.

AND SPEAKER DEMUTH, WHO HAS A DIFFERENT -- WHO HAS A PROFILE THAT DOES NOT SCREAM TRUMP, BY THE END OF THIS -- BY THE END OF THE CYCLE WILL BE 100% TRUMPIAN.

>> THAT WILL HAPPEN -- >> IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO BE A REPUBLICAN NOW.

>> THAT'S GOING TO TAG WHOEVER THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE IS WITH DONALD TRUMP.

[ OVERLAPPING CONVERSATION ] >> THEY'RE GOING TAG THEMSELVES.

>> YOU HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO THREAD THAT NEEDLE.

>> WE DON'T HAVE TO.

>> Eric: ONE AT A TIME.

>> IT'S ALL THAT THEY HAVE.

THAT'S THE ONLY THING -- >> IT'S A BIG THING.

HE'S THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WHO HAS -- WHO IS ATTACKING OUR STATE AND HAS DESTROYED THE ECONOMY.

IT'S A BIG DEAL.

>> DID DONALD TRUMP, WAS HE PRESIDENT FOUR YEARS AGO?

NO, HE WAS NOT.

WHEN THIS FRAUD STARTED, DONALD TRUMP WAS A PRIVATE CITIZEN.

THE FACT REMAINS -- >> HE HAS BEEN PRESIDENT THE LAST YEAR.

>> OPPORTUNITY TO RIP OFF THE TAXPAYERS -- >> Cathy: WHAT IF WE TALK ABOUT THE U.S.

SENATE RACE FOR JUST A SECOND.

SO, POSSIBLY TWO CANDIDATES, TWO NEW CANDIDATES ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, I MEAN, DAVID HANN JUMPING IN, FORMER STATE PARTY CHAIR, FORMER STATE LAWMAKER, BUT ALSO POSSIBLY MICHELLE THAT FOY 0 I CAN'T, FORMER NFL SIDELINE REPORTER.

>> FIRST OF LL, SENATOR HANN IS A GOOD, SOLID, CREDIBLE CANDIDATE, GOOD SIGN MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.

AND EVERYBODY'S HEARING THAT MICHELLE THAT FOY I CAN'T IS SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING AND LIKELY TO GET IN THE RACE.

SHE IS A VERY INTERESTING CANDIDATE WITHOUT THE AGGAGE OF HAVING SERVED IN OFFICE WITH A BIG PLATFORM WHO KNOWS HOW TO GARNER AN AUDIENCE AND TALK TO PEOPLE.

LA -- TAFOYA.

SHE CAN RAISE MONEY NATIONALLY.

SHE WILL BE A FORMIDABLE CANDIDATE.

HE SAID PEGGY FLANAGAN HAS A PRETTY RELEASE OUT THIS AFTERNOON SAYING MICHELLE IS GOING TO GET IN, I NEED MORE MONEY TO BEAT HER, SHE'S GOT A NATIONAL PLATFORM.

FLANAGAN IS ALREADY PLANNING A FLANAGAN TAFOYA MATCH-UP.

>> THAT'S HOW PRIMARY MATCHESUP ORK.

FLANAGAN WILL RUN HER CAMPAIGN, CRAIG WILL RUN HER CAMPAIGN AS WELL, THAT'S NOT A SURPRISE AT ALL.

MY FORMER COLLEAGUE, SENATOR HANN, YOU KNOW, HE -- GOING BACK TO THE STRAW POLL, I THINK IT REFLECTS HOW FRAGMENTED THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS RIGHT NOW.

AND GETTING A COALITION BEHIND HI OF THESE -- BEHIND ANY OF THESE CANDIDATES IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE.

SENATOR HANN, HE HAD A CHALLENGE EVEN IN THE PARTY CHAIR POSITION.

AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK >> Mary: TAFOYA IS GOING TO E ANOTHER PERSON WHO IS JUST DOING DONALD TRUMP'S BIDDING, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT FOR ANY REPUBLICAN THIS YEAR.

>> I THINK THIS SHOWS WHAT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY REPUBLICANS SEE NATIONWIDE FOR A PICKUP YEAR.

AND THAT'S WHY THE NATIONAL SENATORIAL COMMITTEE IS GETTING INVOLVED, BOTH SENATOR HANN, WHO'S AN HONORABLE, REALLY GOOD GUY, AND A GOOD CANDIDATE, OR MICHELLE TAFOYA EITHER ONE, I'D BE PROUD TO HAVE THEM AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET.

>> Cathy: YOU ALL DID A GREAT JOB.

VERY FESTIVE, BY THE WAY, XAVIER, THANK YOU.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

>> ALWAYS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

>> I'M URE HE'LL WE'LL HAVE SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT IN THE NEW YEAR.

>> Cathy: I'M SURE WE WILL.

THANKS.

>> Eric: THANKS, GUYS.

>> NOBODY OVES THE EIGHTH DISTRICT MORE THAN THE PEOPLE OF THE EIGHTH.

AND THEY WILL FIGHT HARD TO MAINTAIN THE PRISTINE NATURE OF THE EIGHTH DISTRICT.

DO THEY WANT JOBS?

YES, BUT NOT AT THE COST OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

SO, THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, BEST THING TO DO IS TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE OF THE EIGHTH DISTRICT, WE CAN WORK TOGETHER IN HARVESTING THESE RESOURCES, AND, AT THE SAME TIME, MAINTAINING THE CONSERVATION OF THE AREA.

>> ERIC: CHIP CRAVAACK, YOU MAY REMEMBER, SERVED JUST ONE TERM IN CONGRESS AFTER UPSETTING 18-TERM INCUMBENT JIM OBERSTAR.

THE END OF THE HOUR, AND THE END OF THE YEAR, IS NEAR.

WE HAVE ONE LAST HISTORY QUESTION AND ANSWER FOR 2025.

LAST WEEK OUR QUERY CAME FROM THE WORLD OF NATIONAL ELECTIONS.

IT CONCERNED THE TOP TICKET IN THE COUNTRY.

WHERE MANY CANDIDATES WITH TIES TO MINNESOTA HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES THROUGHOUT THE DECADES.

OUR TASK FOR YOU WAS ACTUALLY QUITE STRAIGHTFORWARD.

NAME THE NATIVE-BORN MINNESOTANS WHO HAVE RUN AND LOST AS CANDIDATES FOR VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

TRUE CONFESSIONS, THIS ONE WAS A LOT TOUGHER THAN MANY OF YOU IMAGINED.

WRONG ANSWERS UP FIRST AS ALWAYS.

>> ERIC: WE ALSO RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM VIEWER THERESA WHO CLAIMED IT WAS A TRICK AND THERE ISN'T A RIGHT ANSWER.

SHE'S RIGHT THAT IT WAS A TRICK QUESTION.

BUT THERE IS A RIGHT ANSWER.

THERE'S A LOT WRONG AND A LITTLE BIT RIGHT WITH MOST OF THE ANSWERS YOU JUST HEARD.

FOR THE MOSTLY-RIGHT ANSWER WE TURN TO STEVE OUT OF CRYSTAL.

>> ERIC: OKAY, WE ADMIT THAT THIS ONE WAS A BIT COMPLICATED.

THE DUO OF NATIVE-BORN MINNESOTANS WHO LOST AS V.P.

CANDIDATES ARE TIM KAINE, WHO RAN WITH HILLARY CLINTON IN 2016, AND WALTER MONDALE, WHO WON AS V.P.

CANDIDATE IN 1976 BUT LOST AS V.P.

CANDIDATE IN 1980 WHEN HE AND PRESIDENT CARTER LOST TO RONALD REAGAN.

WHEW!

THAT IS A LOT OF VEEP HISTORY RIGHT THERE.

SPECIAL THANKS TO BRENDAN HENEHAN FOR THAT QUESTION.

WE HAVE SEVERAL HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS BEFORE WE GO.

THIS IS OUR LAST SHOW OF 2025.

NO SHOW NEXT WEEK, BUT YOU CAN TUNE IN ON JANUARY 2ND FOR A SPECIAL EDITION OF "ALMANAC."

THE SHOW STAFF PICKED THEIR FAVORITE SEGMENTS TO SHARE WITH YOU AGAIN.

WE'LL BE BACK WITH OUR FIRST LIVE PROGRAM OF 2026 THREE WEEKS FROM TONIGHT ON JANUARY 9TH.

LOOKING AHEAD TO JANUARY, WE'RE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE ARE HOSTING AN "ALMANAC" TRIVIA NIGHT ON JANUARY 21ST.

CATHY AND I WILL BE THERE, ALONG WITH MARY LAHAMMER AND SOME SPECIAL GUESTS.

HEAD TO TPT.ORG/EVENTS FOR ALL THE DETAILS TO SECURE YOUR FREE TICKET TO "ALMANAC AFTER HOURS" AND COMPETE TO BE THE "ALMANAC" TRIVIA CHAMP.

FOR SHOW-ENDING MUSIC TONIGHT, WE HAVE A SPECIAL TREAT FOR YOU.

A PREVIEW OF A NEW CHRISTMAS CONCERT - A ST THOMAS CHRISTMAS: LOVE DIVINE.

THE SHOW PREMIERES ON TPT DECEMBER 23RD AT 7:00 P.M.

YOU CAN CATCH REPEATS ON DECEMBER 24TH AND 25TH.

GREATER MINNESOTA VIEWERS, CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS.

YOU CAN ALWAYS CHECK IT OUT ANY TIME ON TPT.ORG AND THE PBS APP.

HERE'S THE CHOIR SINGING ONE OF THE BIG SONGS FROM THE SHOW.

ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAYS, BE CAREFUL.

JUBILATE DEO, OMNIS TERRA; ♪ JUBILATE DEO.

JUBILATE DEO.

OMNIS TERRA; OMNIS TERRA; OMNIS TERRA; JUBILATE DEO.

OMNIS TERRA; ♪ JUBILATE JUBILATE DEO OMNIS TERRA; OMNIS TERRA; OMNIS TERRA; SERVITE DOMINO IN LAETITIA.

CAPTIONED BY: VERITEXT/PARADIGM CAPTIONING WWW.VERITEXT.COM ♪ >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 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.

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