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

>> ERIC: LAWMAKERS AGAIN HAD A SHORT AND TURBULENT SPECIAL SESSION TODAY.

WE'LL TALK LIVE WITH GOVERNOR WALZ AND WITH SENATE MAJORITY LEADER GAZELKA.

ALSO IN THE LINEUP, MINNESOTA'S EDUCATION COMMISSIONER TALKING ABOUT THE START OF SCHOOL.

THEN MARY LAHAMMER EXPLORES WHY THIS ELECTION NIGHT MIGHT BE FACED.

>> Mary: WITH AN UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT OF MAIL-IN VOTING IN OUR BACKGROUND STATE, WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT ON ELECTION NIGHT AND IN THE MONTHS TO COME?

WE'LL TALK TO AN EXPERT.

>> WE WERE A BATTLEGROUNDS STATE IN 2004 BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS ANYTHING LIKE WHAT'S GOING ON NOW.

>> 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 ELECTRICITY AND RELATED SERVICES TO 28 CO-OPS IN MINNESOTA.

A TOUCHSTONE ENERGY COOPERATIVE.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: MAKING DENTAL CARE POSSIBLE FOR MINNESOTANS IN NEED.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION THAT CARES ABOUT COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINE3.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

>> CATHY: GOOD EVENING.

WE HAVE A PACKED LINEUP FOR YOU AND WE'RE GOING TO JUMP RIGHT IN BY EXPLORING WHAT HAPPENED TODAY IN ST.

PAUL WHEN LAWMAKERS CAME TO THE CAPITOL.

>> ERIC: IN A FEW MINUTES, WE'LL HEAR FROM SENATE MAJORITY LEADER PAUL GAZELKA BUT, FIRST, JOINING US FROM THE TPT MEZZANINE ONE FLOOR BELOW OUR STUDIOS, GOVERNOR TIM WALZ.

GOVERNOR, THANKS FOR JOININGS.

GOOD EVENING.

>> HI.

SORRY I CAN'T BE WITH YOU UP THERE.

>> Eric: WELL, THIS IS CLOSE ENOUGH.

>> IT'S CLOSE.

>> Eric: THE G.O.P.

SENATE TURNED THUMB OWES DOWN ON ONE OF YOUR COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSIONER STEVE KELLEY AND THAT'S THE SENATE'S ROLE TO WEIGH IN ON YOUR CABINET PICKS.

WHY NOT STRIKE A DEAL WITH THE SENATE TO MODIFY YOUR EXECUTIVE POWERS IN EXCHANGE FOR THE REPUBLICAN SENATE LIVING YOUR COMMISSIONERS ALONE?

>> YEAH, TODAY WAS NOT A REAL PRODUCTIVE DAY FOR MINNESOTA AND WE'RE NOT ANY BETTER FOR IT.

BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THERE IS A DEAL TO BE STRUCK BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY DON'T BELIEVE COVID-19 IS AN EMERGENCY.

THEY SIMPLY DON'T SPEAK ABOUT THE 28 NEIGHBORS WE LOST IN THE LAST 48 HOURS.

THEY DON'T TALK ABOUT CDC GUIDANCE AND THEY DON'T MENTION THAT FOLKS LIKE THE MINNESOTA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION OVERWEEPINGLY IN A RECENT SURVEY SHOWED THIS IS THE RIGHT APPROACH TO KEEPING HEALTH.

WE'RE DOING ALL OF THAT WHILE STILL KEEPING BUSINESSES OPEN AT A RATE THAT'S GREATER THAN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

SO I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE MINNESOTANS ARE SAFE AND WE GET THIS RIGHT.

I'M FIGHTING COVID-19 AND THEY'RE COMING BACK TO FIGHT WITH ME AND I THINK THAT'S JUST UNFORTUNATE AND THESE COMMISSIONERS ARE CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT.

>> SENATOR GAZELKA WAS HINTING TODAY, GOVERNOR, THAT THERE MAY BE OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT MAY BE IN DANGER.

WHAT IS THIS WHOLE THING DO TO YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SENATOR?

>> WELL, IT CERTAINLY MAKES IT HARD.

I'M -- YOU KNOW, I VALUE THE RELATIONSHIPS, I VALUE BIPARTISANSHIP, I WAS STILL PROUD THAT I'VE NEVER ISSUED A VETO.

I DIDN'T GET EVERYTHING I WANTED LAST TIME BUT I THINK IT WAS GOOD FOR MINNESOTA.

AND ARBITRARILY PICKING OFF FOLKS WHO ARE NOT BEING -- JUST TO BE CLEAR, IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THESE FOLKS ARE DOING THEIR JOBS BUT NOBODY IN THE INDUSTRIES, THE STEFF KELLEY'S JOB AS COMMERCE COMMISSIONER IS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE'S INSURANCE PAYS FOR THEM.

HE'S THE ONE WHO MADE SURE THAT YOU CAN GET COVID-TREATMENT WITH NO CO-PAYS OR DEDUCTSIBLES, MAKE SURE SENIORS DON'T GET ON FRAUD.

SO WHEN THEY THREATEN AND THEY'VE SAID JAN MALCOLM, A HIGHLY RESPECTED PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIAL WHO'S DOING THE BEST THEY CAN TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AND THEY THREATENED TO TAKE HER JOB.

IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T HELP THE RELATIONSHIP BUT, MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT MAKES IT HARDER FOR US TO FIGHT COVID-19.

WE'RE A TEAM AND DOING THIS TOGETHER, THESE ARE FOLKS WORKING 80 HOURS A WEEK FOR THIS SO ITS AIDS TRULY UNFORTUNATE.

AND IT JUST STEMS FROM THE FACT THEY JUST FUNDAMENTALLY DO NOT BELIEVE THAT YOU NEED TO DO ANYTHING TO STOP THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 AND I DISAGREE WITH THAT.

>> Cathy: LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT COVID-19.

THE NUMBERS ARE RELATIVELY STABLE AT THIS POINT.

WHY DO YOU NEED EMERGENCY POWERS AT THIS POINT?

>> WELL, WHAT IT DOES, AND I WANT TO LET ALL YOUR LISTENERS KNOW, EVERY OTHER GOVERNOR IS DOING THIS AND OUR EMERGENCY POWERS ARE IN PLACE EXACTLY AS LONG AS THE PRESIDENT WHO STILL HOLDS THOSE.

WHAT IT ALLOWS US TO DO IS CREATE THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT BUILT THE TEST CRINGE, IT ALLOWS ME TO USE THE NATIONAL GUARDS TO TEST.

IT ALLOWS SOME OF THE RULES FOR LICENSING TO GET BUSINESSES OPEN THAT WE'RE ABLE TO MOVE THOSE THINGS QUICKLY.

WITHOUT THOSE, AS YOU'VE SEEN, THERE'S NO ONE BELIEVES THE LEGISLATURE CAN MOVE.

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW DOING A BONDING BILL THAT I PRESENTED TO THEM TEN MONTHS AGO.

WHAT IT DOES IS IT ALLOWS QUICK MOVEMENT BUT I ALSO REMIND PEOPLE, THE LEGISLATURE IS INVOLVED IN THIS ALL THE WAY.

EVERY EXPENDITURE HAS TO BE VOTED ON AND APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE, SO WHAT THIS DOES IS THEY SIMPLY DO NOT WANT A MASK MANDATE, THEY DON'T WANT ANY RESTRICTIONS ON HOW CLOSE PEOPLE CAN GET TOGETHER AND THEY HAVE SHOWN, CAUSE THEY AND STOOD UP, THIS HE DON'T WANT ME TO TEST BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT SIMPLY SHOWS THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE POSITIVE.

SO THE SCIENCE IS NOT THERE WITH THEM AND THE SAD PART ABOUT THIS IS, HAD WE FOLLOWED THEIR ADVICE, NOT ONLY WOULD WE HAVE MORE CASUALTIES AND MORE AVOIDABLE DEATHS, WE WOULD HAVE MORE BUSINESSES CLOSED, SO I WOULD CERTAINLY ASK THEM TO TAKE SOME OF THE RESPONSIBILITY.

STEP UP, BUT LET'S BE VERY CLEAR NOW, IT'S MUCH EASIER FOR THEM TO COMPLAIN THAT I HAVE THESE AND TO MAKE POLITICS OUT OF IT THAN IT IS TO ACTUALLY WORK WITH ME.

I'M JUST BEGGING THEM, HELP ME WORK WITH THIS.

HELP US DO THIS RIGHT.

FOLLOW ALONG WITH WHAT THE DATA SHOWS US AND LET'S GETS THIS RIGHT FOR MINNESOTA.

>> Eric: ANOTHER TOPIC, JOHN THOMPSON IS RUNNING AS A LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATE IN THE DFL ENDORSEMENT, EAST SIDE OF St.

PAUL, HE MADE SOME VERY INCENDIARY COMMENTS OUTSIDE OF BOB KROLL'S HOUSE IN HUGO.

POLICE OFFICERS HAVE WITHDRAWN THEIR ENDORSEMENTS OF A COUPLE OF DEMOCRAT HOUSE MEMBERS.

YOU ENDORSED THOMPSON, WHERE ARE YOU WITH THAT TODAY?

>> I DID BUT I'LL BE HONEST, THERE ARE NO PLACE IN OUR DEBATES FOR THIS TYPE OF LANGUAGE.

I'M NOT PLAGUES BOWL SIDES DO IT, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT'S TRUE.

WE CAN DO THIS.

I'M HOPEFUL IN THINKING THIS THROUGH, I HOPE THERE IS A ESSENTIAL OF REDEMPTION, A HOPE THERE IS A LEARNING THAT GOES IN THERE BUT I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR, NO MATTER HOW MUCH I DISAGREE WITH SOMEONE, TAKING THIS TO THEIR HOME AND TAKING IT TO THEIR FAMILY, THERE'S NO PLACE IN OUR RHETORIC FOR THAT.

I'M STRUGGLING WITH THIS, TALKING ABOUT IT AND THINKING IT THROUGH AND I HOPE ALL OF US ARE LEARNING IN THIS BECAUSE ITS AIDS A HIGHLY CHARGED ENVIRONMENT, ESPECIALLY THE RACIAL ISSUES, AND THOSE ARE PLAYING INTO THIS.

SO WE NEED TO FIGURE THIS OUT BUT I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR, THERE'S NO PLACE FOR THAT TYPE OF RHETORIC IN OUR POLITICS OR IN OUR SOCIETY.

>> Eric: SPEAKING OF THAT SUBJECT MATTER, "STAR TRIBUNE" HAD A VERY INTERESTING STORY ABOUT AN ALLEGED RACIST CULTURE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES WHERE I THINK 35% OF THE CLIENTS ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR, INDIGENOUS.

DEMOCRATS HAVE HAD THE SECONDTIVELY BRANCH IN THE STATE FOR TEN YEARS, WHY IS THIS GOING ON?

>> WELL, IT'S UNACCEPTABLE, WHENEVER IT SHOWS UP.

WE SIMPLY AND I HAVE MADE WITH LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR EQUITY AND INCLUSION TO BE A PART OF THIS, THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO, I THINK -- WE SEE THIS IN SOCIETY ALWAYS.

EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US HAS TO BE REFLECTIVE OF OUR OWN BIASES, OUR OWN INHERENT BIASES, MANY OF THOSE ARE HARD TO SEE AND I THINK CONTINUING FOR US TO HOLD FOLKS ACCOUNTABLE, WE WILL CONTINUE TO ASK THAT.

WE'VE GOT A COMMISSIONER OVER THERE NOW THAT HAS ABOUT A YEAR UNDER HER BELT WITH COMMISSIONER HARPSTEAD, WE DO NEED TO GET RESULTS.

I WILL TAKE ABSOLUTE OWNERSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT.

AND THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE CULTURES IN A LOT OF BUSINESSES AND IN GOVERNMENT.

IT'S UNACCEPTABLE, SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO A BETTER JOB AND INCLUDE THE FOLKS THAT CAN HELP US MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE FEELS WELCOME AND I WANT STATE GOVERNMENT TO BE AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE FOR EVERYONE IN MINNESOTA.

>> Cathy: IF THIS IS HAPPENING AT DHS, GOVERNOR, DO YOU THINK IT'S HAPPENING IN OTHER AGENCIES AND WHAT DO YOU PLAN TO DO ABOUT IT?

>> YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY THIS, THAT I THINK IT'S PROBABLE, THEN, YOU SHOULD START IS TO SEE THESE THINGS MANIFEST THEMSELVES BUT CULTURES AT EACH AGENCY IS DIFFERENT.

CHRIS TAYLOR, WE HAVE HIRED WHEN WE GOT IN AND ONE OF THE THINGS WAS THE CHIEF INCLUSION OFFICER WAS VERY OUTWARD LOOKING IN PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS.

WE CHANGED THAT AROUND AND ASKED THEM TO BE MORE INWARD LOOKING AND SO, YES, I THINK THERE'S EVERY REAL POSSIBILITY, I THINK ANY BUSINESS THAT'S OUT THERE, IF THEY'RE BEING HONEST KNOWS THAT SOME OF THIS HAPPENS.

I THINK IT COULD BE MORE PREVALENT IN SOME THAN OTHERS.

AND I HAVE ASKED ABOUT CULTURE CHANGE.

I HAVE TO SET THAT IN MY OFFICE HOW WE DO THINGS.

AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO ASK FOR, NOT JUST THE TRAINING BUT WE HAVE TO CREATE A CULTURE WHERE PEOPLE FEEL EMPOWERED TO STAND UP AND CHANGE THAT, TO SPEAK OUT, AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S BEEN ANY LACK OF CLARITY BETWEEN LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FLANAGAN AND MYSELF TALKING ABOUT EQUITY, INCLUSION, BEING THE LENS THAT WE NEED TO FILTER THINGS THROUGH.

AND SO WE KNOW WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO.

>> Cathy: I WANT TO KIND OF CIRCLE BACK TO WHERE WE BEGAN WITH COVID-19.

YOU'RE ON MPR NEWS EARLIER TODAY, POLITICS FRIDAY, AND YOU WERE ASKED THE QUESTION, WHEN DOES THE CRISIS END?

AND YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, IF MAYO CLINIC SIGNS OFF AND GIVES THE HIGH SIGN THAT IT'S OKAY.

CAN YOU KIND OF EXPAND ON THAT?

>> I'M USING THEM AS AN EXAMPLE.

WHEN THE SCIENCE IS THERE, WHEN THE VIRUS IS CONTROLLABLE.

I THINK WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS WE HAVE EXAMPLES OF COUNTRIES AND NOW STATES WHERE TRANSMISSION RATES HAVE GONE DOWN LOW ENOUGH WHERE THEY ARE NOT THAT ONE-TO-ONE FACTOR ASK GOOD ENOUGH THAT WE CAN TRACK THOSE THINGS DOWN, WE CAN ISOLATE PEOPLE.

WE DON'T HAVE UNCONTROLLED SPREAD.

WE HAVE METRICS OUT THERE ON TEST POTTIVITY RATES, VOLUME OF TESTING, HOSPITALIZATIONS, COMMUNITY SPREAD, THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF MEASURES THAT WE'RE AT.

I THINK YOU'LL SEE THIS AND YOU START TO SEE IT IN STATES THAT RE-OPEN UP, STARTS TO MOVE TOWARDS MORE NORMALCY IS WHEN YOU CAN SAY WITH PRETTY GOOD CERTAINTY THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO TEST PEOPLE, FIND OUT IF THEY HAVE IT, ISOLATE THEM BEFORE IT SPREADS TO THE BROADER POPULATION AND AS WE'VE MOVED DOWN THIS LINE, WE'VE GOTTEN BETTER AT TREATING PEOPLE AND, AGAIN, MINNESOTA'S IS ONE OF FIVE STATES, I WAS ON WITH SECRETARY AZARS TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO BE THE FIRST STATE THAT'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THE VACCINE ONCE IT'S READY AND WE'RE DOING THAT PREPARATION, LAYING THE GROUNDWORK.

>> Eric: DO YOU SENSE YOU'RE LOSING POLITICAL POPULARITY IN GREATER MINNESOTA?

>> WELL, I THINK WHEN YOU'RE IN THIS JOCK, YOU GAIN WATER NO MATTER WHAT.

I THINK THIS IDEA OF TRYING TO DIVIDE US IS THERE.

I THINK ITS AIDS IRONIC OF FOLKS WHO DON'T HAVE GREATER MINNESOTA EXPERIENCE AS THEN MUCH AS MOVE OF LIVING ON A FARM, COACHING FOOTBALL AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS, I THINK PEOPLE KNOW WHO I'M AT.

I'VE DELIVERED FOR GREATER MINNESOTA BUT THEY CONTINUE TO MAKE THAT CASE WE'RE SOMEHOW DIFFER.

I'M NOT GOING TO BUY IT.

WE HAVE #ONEMINNESOTA.

I'M ALSO PROWLED OF OUR CITIES AND THE THINGS THEY DO.

THIS DOES NOT HAVE TO BE THIS WAY, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE MORE UNITED THAN DIVIDED.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR THE TIME, GOVERNOR.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS, EVERYBODY.

>> >> Cathy: WELL, HERE WITH THIS TASTE ON THE LEGISLATIVE ACTION IS MAJORITY LEADER PAUL GAZELKA WHO MADE IT FROM St.

PAUL BACK HOME TO NISSWA.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU, SENATOR.

>> I JUST DROPPED INTO AN OFFICE SO I COULD FIND SOME LIGHT.

I DIDN'T QUITE MAKE IT HOME.

>> Cathy: THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HEARD MUCH OF WHAT THE GOVERNOR WAS TALKING ABOUT THERE BUT LET'S BEGIN FIRST, HE'S ASKING REPUBLICANS TO SHARE IN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STATE'S COVID RESPONSE.

IF HIS EXECUTIVE POWERS GO AWAY, WHAT'S THE REPUBLICANS' PLAN TO DEAL WITH COVID-19?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR BEING ABLE TO SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A WHILE, THAT HE IS WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR EMERGENCY POWERS TO END SO THAT WE CAN WORK WITH THE GOVERNOR.

THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF THE EMERGENCY, IT WAS AN EMERGENCY.

WE DIDN'T KNOW -- WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT, WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH BEDS RELATED IN CASE PEOPLE NEEDED THEM, AND WE MOVED HEAVEN AND EARTH TO MAKE SURE THAT THE GOVERNOR WAS SUCCESSFUL THERE.

WE GAVE HIM ABOUT A HALF A BILLION DOLLARS WITH VIRTUALLY UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FROM THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

SO THAT'S WORKING TOGETHER.

BUT SINCE THEN, I'VE BEEN SAYING THAT IT'S STILL A PANDEMIC, IT'S SERIOUS, IT'S A VIRUS WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO BUT IT'S NOT THE EMERGENCY IN THE SENSE THAT THE GOVERNOR NEEDS TO DO IT ALL BY HIMSELF.

AND SO, FOR EXAMPLE, PUTTING METRICS OUT THERE THAT BASICALLY FORCED A BUNCH OF SCHOOLS TO HAVE DISTANCE LEARNING, THEY HAD NO OTHER WAY TO DO IT.

WHEN I THINK THAT KIDS SHOULD BE IN THE SCHOOLS.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO TOGETHER, GET THE KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL.

THE MASK MANDATE, I THINK MASKS ARE IMPORTANT, I THINK WASHING YOUR HANDS, COVERING YOUR COUGH, IF YOU'RE SICK, STAY HOME, ALL OF THOSE ARE GUIDELINES THAT I THINK ARE VERY IMPORTANT BUT MANDATING THEM AND THEN GOING AFTER PEOPLE AND CLOSING DOWN THEIR BUSINESSES IF THEY DON'T DO IT, I THINK IS TOO FAR.

SO HOW DO WE WORK TOGETHER ON THESE THINGS, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

HE CLOSED THE ZHAO, I THINK THE ZHAO SHOULD HAVE BEEN OPEN.

IT'S OUTDOORS, I MEAN, THERE'S SO MANY ISSUES THAT I THINK IF WE HAD BEEN WORKING TOGETHER, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT RESULT AND I THINK A LOT MORE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY WHILE WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC.

>> Eric: NOT CONFIRM THE GOVERNOR'S CABINET MEMBERS IS A PRETTY BLUNT INSTRUMENT, WOULDN'T YOU AGREE?

>>S, AND JUST SO EVERYBODY KNOWS, IT WAS LAST FEBRUARY BEFORE COVID THAT MYSELF AND THREE OTHER SENATORS WENT TO THE GOVERNOR PRIVATELY AND SAID, GOVERNOR, LET -- COMMISSIONER LEPPINK AND COMMISSIONER KELLEY OF COMMERCE ARE NOT WORKING OUT AND PLEASE FIND ANOTHER PLACE FOR THEM BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO USE THIS TOOL TO REMOVE THEM.

WE DID AGREE TO HAVE ANOTHER MEETING WITH COMMISSIONER KELLEY IN MARCH WITH SOME INDUSTRIES TO SEE IF WE COULD HELP HIM IMPROVE.

THAT DIDN'T HELP BUT THE FINAL NAIL WAS A WEEK BEFORE THE COMMISSIONER KELLEY MADE THE DECISION TO SUE THE GOVERNOR, BASICALLY, P.U.C., TO DELAY LINE 3 PIPELINE AGAIN UP NORTH, A WEEK BEFORE THAT, I HAD PEOPLE TELL HIM, PLEASE DON'T SUE THIS AGAIN.

OTHER PEOPLE ARE SUING IT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT AND SURE ENOUGH, THEY WENT AHEAD AND DID IT ANYWAY AND IT WAS SO OFFENSIVE TO MANY OF US IN THE NORTHLAND THAT YOU HAD EVEN SENATORS BAKK AND TOMASSONI, DEMOCRATS IN THE NORTH, SAYING HE'S GONE TOO FAR.

AND SO THAT WAS BIPARTISANSHIP EFFORT WHERE THIS COMMISSIONER WAS NOT CONFIRMED.

>> Eric: WHO'S NEXT?

>> WE DON'T HAVE ANY PLANS TO REMOVE OTHER COMMISSIONERS.

I HAVE TALKED TO A NUMBER OF THE COMMISSIONERS THAT HAVE CALLED ME SINCE WE TOOK OUT COMMISSIONER LEPPINK AND LAID OUT SOME CONCERNS THAT I HAD FOR DIFFERENT ONES OF THEM AND SAID, WE NEED TO BE BETTER, YOU NEED TO BE BETTER, AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT AND THAT'S WHY THE SENATE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO REMOVE A COMMISSIONER.

SO ADD TO THAT THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS UNILATERAL POWERS TO DO ALMOST EVERYTHING HE WANTS, AND THEN COMMISSIONERS THAT CARRY THAT OUT WITHOUT THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH MADE IT EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, FRANKLY, THAT WE'RE HAVING DIALOGUES WITH HIS COMMISSIONERS.

AND I NOW AM, AND THAT'S REALLY GOOD NEWS.

>> Cathy: SO WHEN THERE IS ANOTHER SPECIAL SESSION, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GO AFTER ANOTHER COMMISSIONER?

>> I WON'T SAY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO OTHER THAN MY HOPE IS FROM HERE FORWARD, THAT THERE'S BETTER CONVERSATIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR.

I WOULD SAY THE LAST ONE THAT WELD WAS PRODUCTIVE, EVEN THERE, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS COMMISSIONER AND I DID NOT SAY THAT I WAS GOING TO APPROVE HIM.

I DO THINK WE NEED TO GET A BONDING BILL DONE, I'VE ALWAYS SAID WE NEED TO, IT'S PROBLEMS WITH THE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS AGREEING IN THE HOUSE BUT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN FAVORABLE AND I THINK WE CAN DO THAT AND THAT WOULD BE SEPTEMBER 21st, I BELIEVE, SO OCTOBER IS A LONG WAYS AWAY.

I WILL TELL YOU, IT'S MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE SESSIONS WHEN WE'RE RIGHT UP AGAINST AN ELECTION, IT'S A LOT OF TENSION BUT I'M COMMITTED ON MY PART TO FOCUS ON THE THINGS THAT WE CAN GET DONE FOR MINNESOTA THAT WOULD BE A BONDING BILL.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AND THAT WE JUST NEED TO GET THROUGH TO THE ELECTION.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, WILLIE LET THE RESULTS BE WHAT THEY ARE.

THE OTHER THING I TOLD THE GOVERNOR THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE FIND THE AREAS THAT WE CAN AGREE ON COMING INTO NEXT SESSION BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS SHORT AND WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THAT.

I HAD HOPED, SINCE APRIL, THAT HE WOULD HAVE CUT EACH AGENCY 5% LIKE OTHER STATES HAVE DONE, THAT WOULD HAVE SAVED US $100 MILLION A MONTH OR OVER A BILLION DOLLARS THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED NEXT YEAR BUT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN SO, YOU KNOW, WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO DO THE RIGHT BY MINNESOTA.

>> Eric: HOW DOES BIG 10 FOOTBALL FACTOR INTO THE HE EQUATION?

>> I THINK IT'S A MISTAKE THAT WE HAVE KEPT KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL, I THINK IT'S ESSENTIAL AND PART OF THAT IS THAT THEY DO THE FALL SPORTS, WHETHER IT'S HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL OR COLLEGE FOOTBALL, I JUST THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING, THAT THEY WANT TO DO, THAT'S GOOD FOR US.

THERE IS A RISK, THERE IS A RISK WITH LIVING LIFE BUT, FRANKLY, IT'S A LOW-LEVEL RISK IN MY OPINION TO JUST CLOSE IT AM DONE FOR COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN NOT LETTING KIDS IN SCHOOL IS A BIG, BIG MISTAKE.

KIDS OF COLOR FALL FARTHER BEHIND WHEN IT'S DISTANCE LEARNING.

WE'VE GOT TO ACCEPT SOME OF THE RISK OF THE SERIOUS VIRUS.

IT IS SERIOUS, I'VE NEVER SAID IT'S NOT.

I ALWAYS SAID I THOUGHT WE SHOULD BE PRACTICING THE CDC GUIDELINES BUT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO LIVE OUR LIFE THROUGH IT AND THAT'S WHERE THE GOVERNOR AND I HAVE DISAGREED PRETTY STRONGLY ON A NUMBER OF DECISIONS HE'S MADE.

>> Cathy: AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW HERE, SENATOR, THERE IS A REPRESENTATIVE, REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE TODAY WHO MISTAKENLY CENTER A MESSAGE TO DFLERS SAYING IF YOU'RE ON THE FLOOR, STRESS PUBLIC SAFETY, BECAUSE COVID ISSUES ARE NOT A WINNING MESSAGE.

SO I'M KIND OF CURIOUS, IS COVID A LOSING ISSUE FOR YOU ALL?

>> IT'S A LOSING ISSUE BUT I'VE PUBLICLY SAID THAT THE LAWLESSNESS AND THE FACT THAT TOO MANY DEMOCRATS WANTS TO DE-FUNDS THE POLICE IS OUR ISSUE, TURNS OUT THAT THAT'S A NATIONAL ISSUE, AS WELL, BUT YOU HAVE -- WE HAVE THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS 100% OF THEM SAYING WE SHOULD DEFOUND THE POLICE, THAT IS OFFENSIVE TO MANY PEOPLE BECAUSE WE THINK THE POLICE ARE DOING A GOOD JOB, THE BEST JOB THEY CAN.

WE DID PASS A POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BILL BUT IT HAD THE SUPPORT OF ALL THE POLICE ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT ISSUE.

I WAS VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT SPEAKER HORTMAN AND I HELPED TO PUT TOGETHER IN THE TWO CHAIRS THAT WORKED ON IT, SO I THINK THAT IS THE ISSUE BUT I'VE NEVER SAID IT'S NOT.

I'VE ALWAYS PUBLICLY SAID IT SO NOW YOU KNOW.

>> Cathy: SENATOR GAZELKA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Eric: THANKS.

♪♪♪ >> ERIC: SCHOOL STARTED IN EARNEST THIS WEEK FOR MOST MINNESOTA STUDENTS.

HERE WITH AN EARLY PROGRESS REPORT, MINNESOTA EDUCATION COMMISSIONER MARY CATHRYN RICKER.

COMMISSIONER, WITH ALL THE CHALLENGES EDUCATION ESTABLISHMENT IS FACING, ARE MINNESOTA KIDS GETTING A REAL EDUCATION THIS YEAR?

>> WELL, I APPRECIATE YOU ASKING BECAUSE THAT HOPE AND THAT ENTHUSIASM AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR IS ACTUALLY ABSOLUTELY DRIVEN TO EXACTLY ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

AND THAT IS THAT OUR SCHOOL LEADERS, OUR PRINCIPALS, OUR EDUCATORS HAVE BEEN WORKING ALL SUMMER AT DETERMINING HOW WE BEST MEET THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS IN THIS SITUATION, KEEPING OUR FOCUS, BEING RADICALLY STUDENT-CENTERED AS I LIKE TO SAY AROUND MAKING SURE WE MEET THE ACADEMIC NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS AND THE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS IN THIS SITUATION.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO WE KNOW AT THIS POINT ABOUT PARENTS WHO MIGHT HAVE DECIDED TO SEND THEIR KIDS TO PRIVATE SCHOOL OR CHARTER SCHOOL OR JUST DECIDED TO KEEP THEM HOME?

>> WE ARE COLLECTING A LOT OF ANECDOTAL INFORMATION RIGHT NOW AS OUR SCHOOLS HAVE STARTED, YOU KNOW, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM HAVE STARTED NOW.

WE HAVE A FEW THAT WILL BE STARTING NEXT WEEK.

THEY WILL BE TAKING OFFICIAL ATTENDANCE AND THOSE NUMBERS WILL COME IN.

WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT THAT OCTOBER 1st COUNT FOR BEING OUR OFFICIAL ATTENDANCE COUNT FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, SO WE HAVE A FEW WEEKS AS THINGS SETTLE IN TO FIGURE OUT WHAT OUR ATTENDANCE NUMBERS WILL LOOK LIKE.

>> Eric: IS THERE A CENTRALIZED SYSTEM TO KEEP TRACK ACCURATELY OF THE COVID CASES AMONG STAFF, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS?

>> WELL, WE'RE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, OBVIOUSLY STATEWIDE AS WELL AS THOSE LOCALIZED NUMBERS, THOSE COUNTY-BASED NUMBERS, SO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS MAKING SURE TO KEEP TRACK OF WHERE THOSE CASES ARE COMING IN.

AND THEN OF COURSE WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM, AS WELL, TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE ARE PROVIDING ALL THOSE MITIGATION MEASURES THEY NEED TO AND WHATEVER OTHER SUPPORT WE CAN OFFER THEM, THROUGH REGIONAL SUPPORT TEAMS, AS WELL.

>> Cathy: I KNOW SOME SCHOOLS ARE KEEPING THE WINDOWS OPEN AND KIDS ARE SPENDING MORE SOMETIME OUTSIDE.

THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE, OBVIOUSLY, IT PROBABLY CHANGED THIS WEEK WITH SOME OF THOSE TEMPERATURES IN THE 20s ACROSS NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

WHAT'S THE PLAN B HEADING INTO THE WINTER?

>> OUR SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN PREPARING FOR ALL OF THESE SCENARIOS, AND WE KNOW, ACTUALLY, OUR SCHOOLS CONTINUE TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME OUTSIDE EVEN WHEN IT GETS COLDER BECAUSE IN MINNESOTA, WE HAVE A LOT OF OUR SCHOOL YEAR DURING COLD WEATHER.

HOWEVER, INSIDE OUR SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN REALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO THOSE MITIGATION MEASURES, THOSE VENTILATION SYSTEMS WHICH WE KNOW ARE REALLY IMPORTANT, AS WELL AS PRACTICING NOW WHAT PHYSICAL DISTANCING, WHAT MASK-WEARING IS, WILL BE LIKE ALL DAY, WHAT FREQUENT HAND-WASHING WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THEM, NOW IS THE TIME TO ESTABLISH THOSE ROUTINES IN A SCHOOL DAY SO THAT BY THE TIME IT STARTS GETTING EVEN COLDER THAN THIS WEEK, STUDENTS FEEL LIKE IT IS JUST PART OF THEIR DAY, IT IS PART OF THE ROUTINE, JUST LIKE A LOT OF THOSE OTHER SAFETY MEASURES, WHETHER IT BE BUS SAFETY OR GETTING IN LINE FOR LUNCH, ALL OF THOSE PRACTICES THAT HAVE BECOME JUST PART OF THE RITUALS OF A SCHOOL DAY.

>> Eric: HOW ARE LOW-INCOME FAMILIES FARING AND I'M THINKING ESPECIALLY OF THE NUTRITION PROGRAMS FOR THE FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH KIDS?

>> WE ACTUALLY GOT SURPRISE NEWS LAST WEEK FROM THE USDA, THEY EXTENDED THE SUMMER MEALS PROGRAM INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR.

NOW, IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE BECAUSE WHAT THAT MEANS IS OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES CAN PROVIDE MEALS TO OUR STUDENTS FOR FREE WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH NUMBERS.

OUR SCHOOLS ARE STILL ASKING FAMILIES TO TURN IN THOSE FORMS AND THINGS BUT THE SCHOOL MEALS PROGRAM, CARRYING OVER THAT SUMMER MEALS PROGRAM INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR IS REALLY HELPFUL THAT JUST-IN-TIME, THAT REALTIME OPPORTUNITY TO FEED STUDENTS, PROVIDE THEM MEALS IN ANY OF OUR MODELS, IN-PERSON, HYBRID OR IN DISTANCE LEARNING.

>> Cathy: WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, HOW FAR BEHIND DO YOU THINK SOME KIDS WILL REALLY BE?

>> THAT IS SOMETHING OUR TEACHERS AND OUR PRINCIPALS, OUR PARAPROMISE ARE GOING TO BE MESS SURGEON A REGULAR BASIS.

PROBABLY SOME OF THE FIRST THINGS THEY ARE DOING AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR IS THEY ARE LOOKING FOR ALL OF THOSE FORMATIVE EVALUATIONS, THEY WOULD DO AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR ANYWAY.

THEY MAY BE DOING THEM CREATIVELY IF THEY'RE IN A HYBRID OR A DISTANCE LEARNING SITUATION BUT THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO MEASURE WHERE STUDENTS ARE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO TELL OUR EDUCATORS WHAT THE REST OF THE YEAR LOOKS LIKE.

AND THEN THOSE INTERIM ASSESSMENTS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO, RIGHT, PERIODICALLY, WHETHER THEY'RE VERY INFORMAL, SORT OFENED OF CLASS ASSESSMENTS OR MAYBE MORE FORMAL ENED OF UNIT ASSESSMENTS.

THE INTERIM ASSESSMENTS WILL BE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE SCHOOL YEAR, AS WELL.

FINALLY, I WOULD SAY ONE OF THE THINGS EVERY EDUCATOR IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA KNOWS IS THAT SHARING THE OUTCOME OF THOSE ASSESSMENTS WITH STUDENTS SO STUDENTS THEMSELVES KNOW WHERE THEY ARE, AND THEN MEANINGFULLY SHARING THEM WITH THE FAMILIES, SO FAMILIES KNOW WHERE STUDENTS ARE IS AN INCREDIBLE PART OF THAT ASSESSMENT PROCESS.

SO THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THE SORT OF PROGRESS THAT'S BEEN MADE AND WHERE WE EXPECT OUR STUDENTS TO GO NEXT WITH THEIR LEARNING.

>> Cathy: BEFORE YOU GO, TWO OF THE GOVERNOR'S COMMISSIONERS HAVE BEEN FIRED.

ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT YOUR JOB?

>> YOU KNOW, I HOLD AN ALL-STAFF MEETING EVERY FRIDAY MORNING WITH MY STAFF AT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND A FEW WEEKS AGO, THIS QUESTION ACTUALLY CAME UP, AND I WILL TELL YOU WHAT I TOLD MY STAFF THAT FRIDAY MORNING, AND I AM MINNESOTA'S COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION UNTIL I'M NOT, AND I AM ALWAYS COMMITTED TO MEETING THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS WHETHER THAT IS 30 STUDENTS AT A TIME, 150 STUDENTS AT A TIME OR RIGHT NOW, ABOUT 900,000 STUDENTS AT A TIME.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.

COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Eric: THANKS, COMMISSIONER.

>> THANK YOU.

THANKS.

♪♪♪ >> CATHY: TWIN CITIES PBS TEAMED UP WITH THE U OF M MEDICAL SCHOOL'S CENTER FOR THE ART OF MEDICINE TO BRING TO LIFE A TELEVISED VERSION OF HIPPOCRATES CAFE, A LIVE EVENT SERIES THAT DR.

JON HALLBERG HAS BEEN CURATING FOR OVER A DECADE NOW THAT EXAMINES HEALTH CARE TOPICS THROUGH THE ARTS.

THE TELEVISION SPECIAL FEATURES PERFORMANCES BY ARTISTS WHO EXPLORE THE IMPACT OF COVID THROUGH ART AND MUSIC, STORY AND DANCE.

"HIPPOCRATES CAFE: REFLECTIONS ON THE PANDEMIC" AIRS THIS SUNDAY EVENING AT 7:00 ON THE STATEWIDE MINNESOTA CHANNEL.

IN THIS EXCERPT, WE HEAR A GROUP OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS READING A POEM ABOUT TREATING PEOPLE WITH COVID.

THE POEM IS CALLED "BOUQUET," WRITTEN BY DR.

JOHN PATRICK MURRAY.

[SOUNDS OF A BREATHING MACHINE] ♪♪♪ >> BOUQUET BY Dr.

JOHN PATRICK MURRAY.

LATE AT NIGHT AS THE VENT LATER ALARMS SLEEK, LIKE BIRDS OF PREY.

>> AND THE HEART TRACING -- >> WITH DELIRIOUS [INDISCERNIBLE].

>> I CRUSH A BOUQUET OF CHRYSANTHEMUMS.

>> ASTERS, BLUE BELLS, MORNING GLORIES.

>> THROUGH YOUR I.V., AND WHISPER, COME BACK TO ME.

>> COME BACK TO ME.

>> COME BACK TO ME.

>> ERIC: THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA IS FAMOUS FOR ITS LAND GRANT MISSION AND WORK WITH ITS FARMERS IN RURAL MINNESOTA.

BUT IN RECENT YEARS, THE "U" HAS INVESTED IN A VERY DIFFERENT LAND GRANT EFFORT IN THE URBAN CORE.

THE PROGRAM IS CALLED UROC.

HERE'S MORE.

A NEW RESEARCH EFFORT TO THE CHALLENGES OF NORTH MINNEAPOLIS IS SPONSORED BY THE ROBERT J. JONES URBAN RESEARCH AND OUTREACH ENGAGEMENT CENTER, A PROJECT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

MECADA GILLESPIE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

LOOKING AT YOUR RESUMÉ, YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THESE ISSUES FOR YEARS AND I'M WONDERING ISN'T THE RESEARCH ALREADY KIND OF -- UNAMBIGUOUS.

WHY IS MORE RESEARCH NEEDED?

>> THE CENTER DOES RESEARCH IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

OUR RESEARCHERS PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY ENTITIES TO DECIDE WHAT THE RESEARCH QUESTION IS, TO CODE THE INFORMATION AND TO DECIDE HOW TO DISSEMINATE THAT INFORMATION BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY.

WE ALSO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TURNING THAT RESEARCH INTO ACTION.

THERE IS A LOT OF RESEARCH OUT THERE THERE'S NOT A LOT OF RESEARCH THAT'S CONNECTED WITH THE COMMUNITY'S DECISIONS AT THE FOREFRONT.

>> Eric: I WAS STRUCK LOOKING AT THE SYLLABUS SUMMARY OF THE PROGRAM, THE EMPHASIS ON SPIRITUALITY AND FAITH, AND, OF COURSE, BLACK CLERGY WERE VITAL DURING THE '60s, '50s AND '60s WITH THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

IS THAT LEADERSHIP MISSING TODAY?

>> NO.

THAT LEADERSHIP IS STILL HERE AND WHAT HAS HELPED UROC TO BE SUCCESSFUL FROM THE BEGINNING, WE'VE HAD CLERGY WHO FOUGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CENTER WOULD EXIST AND THOSE HAVE BEEN OUR LEADING PARTNERS AS WE HAVE DONE MAJOR RESEARCH LIKE THE TRAUMA RECOVERY PROJECT, PASTOR GALWAY OF LIBERTY CHURCH HAS BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART BUT I WANT TO THANK FAITH LEADERS BECAUSE WE ALSO HAVE THE CULTURAL WELLNESS CENTER THAT HAS BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN A LOT OF THE WORK THAT WE DO SO IT'S FAITH-BASED, SO MANY FAITHS HELP US TO MOVE OUR AGENDA FORWARD.

>> Eric: IS THERE A HEARTS AND MINDS ISSUE THAT YOU HAVE TO CHANGE OR IS THERE LEGISLATION OR A COMBINATION, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?

>> YEAH, IT'S A HEARTS AND MINDS ISSUE AND I WOULD SAY THAT AS OF RECENT, WE'VE HAD A CHANCE TO SEE OUR HEARTS AND OUR MINDS WORKING TOGETHER UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE'RE SEEING, AND SPEAKING TO THE HUMANITY OF US ALL.

I HAVE BEEN HEARTENED BY THAT SO THE MIND PIECE, THE RESEARCH AGENDA TALKS ABOUT COMMUNITY HEALTH AND HEALING AND WHOLENESS, IT TALKS ABOUT FINANCIAL WELL-BEING FOR INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.

IT ALSO TALKS ABOUT SYSTEMS AND SYSTEMIC RACISM, SO WE'VE HAD RESEARCH OUT THERE THAT HAS TALKED TO US ABOUT THE POLLUTANTS THAT HAVE BEEN OFTEN PUT INTO NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE NORTH MINNEAPOLIS, BUT THAT RESEARCH HASN'T BEEN DONE WITH COMMUNITIES SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE EFFORT OF PEOPLE TRYING TO CHANGE THE TRAJECTEDRY OF POLLUTION, OF ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE, IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS, YOU FIND THAT WHEN YOU HAVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, RESIDENTS INVOLVED, WE MAKE A BETTER HEADWAY, AND SUSTAINABLE CHANGE.

>> Eric: AND WHAT WILL BE DONE WITH THE WORK PRODUCT WHEN IT'S FINISHED?

>> WELL, A NUMBER OF THINGS.

SO PART OF THE WORK PRODUCT WILL INCLUDE GENERAL WRITINGS FOR THE FACULTY MEMBERS, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT [INDISCERNIBLE] FOR THEM TO GET AT THE TIME INFORMATION OUT INTO THE LARGER ACADEMIC COMMUNITY.

AND THEN DECIDING WHAT COMMUNITY ACTION AND DISEASE SEMINATION EFFORTS AND SO WE HAVE BEEN VERY CREATIVE IN MAKING SURE THE INFORMATION MAKES ITS WAY BACK TO COMMUNITY SO SOMETIMES THAT'S IN THE FORM OF REPORTS, SOMETIMES THAT'S IN THE FORM OF A GATHERING, SOMETIMES THAT'S IN ARTISTIC EXPRESSION AND SO I'M NOT SURE IF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO COME TO VISIT ABOUT OUR CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS BUT WE HAD ONE ON HOMELESS AND HOUSING AND HAD AN INCREDIBLE ARTISTIC RENDERING FROM ONE OF THE LOCAL ARTISTS SHOWING WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE WHEN YOU WERE HOMELESS, HAD PICTURES OF HENNEPIN COUNTY AND CHILDREN WAITING OUTSIDE AS THEIR PARENTS WERE IN COURT.

IT HAD DOORS ON SOME OF THE PROPERTIES THAT MAY HAVE LANDLORDS WHO ARE NOT AS RESPONSIBLE AS OTHERS, SO THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE DISSEMINATE THE INFORMATION THAT WORKS FOR COMMUNITY.

>> Eric: GOOD LUCK WITH THE PROJECT.

WE'LL ANXIOUSLY AWAIT THE ENDS PRODUCT AND THANKS FOR THE TIME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, ERIC.

♪♪♪ >> BY THE TIME YOU ALL SEE THIS, I WILL ACTUALLY BE IN THE BOUNDARY WATERS.

I WILL BE TOTALLY DISCONNECTED FROM THE INTERNET AND WITH HOW FAST THE NEWS SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING, I'VE BEEN WONDERING WHAT IS IT GOING TO BE LIKE TO COME BACK TO CIVILIZATION AFTER JUST FIVE DAYS AWAY?

♪ DREAMY MUSIC ♪♪♪ >> WHOO THERE, CAMPER.

>> I HAVE TO DO A HEALTH CHECK >> >> LIKE A COVID SCREENING.

>> NOT COVID, I HAVE TO CHECK TO SEE IF YOU'RE CARRYING THE WEREWOLF DISEASE.

>> OH, YEAH, THAT'S ON FRIDAYS.

SOME INTERNET NEWS SITE PUBLISHED UNCONFIRMED REPORTS OF PEOPLE TURNING INTO WEREWOLVES, BUSTING OUT OF THEIR CLOTHES AND TRYING TO EAT THEIR NEIGHBORS.

SO THERE WERE UNCONFIRMED INTERNET REPORTS SO THEY GOT DNR AGENTS TO START DOING SCREENINGS?

>> OH, I'M NOT FROM THE DNR, I'M FROM THE POSTAL SERVICE.

THEY'VE REASSIGNED THE ENTIRE U.S.

POSTAL SERVES TO WORK ON WEREWOLF PATROL.

>> SO THE POSTAL SERVICE IS SUPPOSED TO SAVE US FROM AN UNCONFIRMED POTENTIAL WEREWOLFF APOCALYPSE.

>> NOT JUST THAT, THE GOVERNMENT ISSUED EVERYBODY A REVOLVER AND A CASE OF SILVER BULLETS TO HELP QUELL THE WEREWOLF THREATS.

>> THEY GAVE EVERYBODY A GUN AND SAID THERE IS A BUNCH OF SECRET WERE WOLVES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD?

SEEMS LIKE A RECIPE FOR DISASTER.

>> NOW YOU SOUNDS LIKE THE DEMOCRATS.

JOE BIDEN SAID WE'LL INSTITUTE A SILVER BULLET BUYBACK PROGRAM AND THINK ABOUT APPOINTING A WEREWOLF TO HIS CABINET.

>> WE MIGHT EVEN GET OUR FIRST WERE-JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT.

THIS IS THIS IS TOO MUCH.

I'M GOING TO GO BACK IN THE WOODS UNTIL THE NEXT NEWS CYCLE.

>> OKAY, WELL, SUIT YOURSELF.

FULL MOON IS COMING.

>> CATHY: NEXT FRIDAY, PRESIDENT TRUMP AND JOE BIDEN ARE BOTH SCHEDULED TO BE IN MINNESOTA, PROOF OF MINNESOTA'S IMPORTANT BATTLE GROUND STATUS.

IT WILL BE AN UNPRECEDENTED ELECTION WITH HISTORICAL LEVELS OF MAIL-IN BALLOTS EXPECTED, AS WELL.

MARY LAHAMMER TALKED WITH AN ELECTION EXPERT WHO HAS SEEN IT ALL.

>> Mary: ALL RIGHT, EXCITED TO BE TALKING TO JOE MANSKY, SOMEONE THAT MY MENTOR AND FATHER CALLED THE PREEMINENT ELECTIONS EXPERT.

JOE, HOW YOU DOING?

>> VERY GOOD.

AND I AM NOT ONE TO ARGUE WITH YOUR FATHER.

>> Mary: THAT'S A GOOD PLAN.

AND YOU ARE NOW RETIRED, CORRECT, FROM THE ELECTIONS BUSINESS?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

I CALL MYSELF A PROFESSIONAL MATHLETE NOW, I'M NOT VERY GOOD AND I DON'T MAKE ANY MONEY AT IT.

>> Mary: BUT IN YOUR PAST, YOU HAVE WORKED WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, RAMSEY COUNTY ELECTIONS DIRECTOR, YOU'VE HELD IMPORTANT POSITIONS IN DIFFERENT PLACES.

>> YES.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK ABOUT FIRST AND FOREMOST THE ATTENTION THAT MINNESOTA IS UNDER.

YOU'VE BEEN WATCHING ELECTIONS FOR DECADES AND DECADES, HAVE WE HAVE SEEN THIS MUCH ATTENTION NATIONALLY FOR COMPETITIVE PRESIDENTIAL RACE HERE?

>> PRIOR TO THE ELECTION, THIS PROBABLY IS UNPRECEDENTED IN RECENT MEMORY.

YOU KNOW, WE WERE A BATTLEGROUND STATE IN 2004 AND -- BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS ANYTHING LIKE WHAT'S GOING ON NOW, ALTHOUGH IT WILL GO ON OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS.

>> WE ABSOLUTELY CAN WIN MINNESOTA.

>> I HEAR A RUMOR THAT WE ARE TURNING MINNESOTA RED THIS YEAR.

>> Mary: YEAH, I THINK JUST THE COUNTY OF PRESIDENT VISITS, SURROGATE VISITS, I HAVEN'T SEEN THIS AND I'VE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS FOR A QUARTER OF A CENTURY NOW.

>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S GOOD, BETTER THAN BEING IGNORED, YOU KNOW.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, LET'S SETS UP THE ATTENTION MINNESOTA IS GOING TO GET ELECTION NIGHT, NOT ONLY ARE WE ONE OF THE HANDFUL OF REAL BATTLEGROUND TARGETED STATES IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE, BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE VOTING IN AN ELECTION LIKE MAYBE WE'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

IS THERE ANY PRECEDENT FOR THIS?

>> YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO ADD MAIL VOTING, WE'RE ONE OF THE FIRST STATES THAT ACTUALLY AUTHORIZED MAIL VOTING AND SO WE'VE BEEN DOING MAIL VOTING FOR THE LAST 33 YEARS SO THAT PART OF IT IS NOT NEW TO US.

WE'VE ALSO HAD THE ABSENTEE VOTING WITHOUT HAVING A REASON.

>> Mary: SO PREPARE US FOR WHAT ELECTION NIGHT COULD LOOK LIKE.

SHOULD WE BE EXPECTING ACCURATE RETURNS THE NIGHT OF?

SOME STATES COME OUT AHEAD OF TIME, SOME CAN'T COUNT AHEAD OF TIME.

WHAT MIGHT IT LOOK LIKE?

>> FORTUNATELY, MINNESOTA IS ONE OF THE STATES THAT IS ABLE TO PROCESS AND COUNT BALLOTS PRIOR TO ELECTION DAY, AND, AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE LEGISLATURE DID ELECTION OFFICIALS A REAL FAVOR EARLIER IN THE YEAR BY AUTHORING, YOU KNOW, FOR THIS YEAR ONLY BECAUSE OF THE PAN DID HE MEAN, OUR ELECTION OFFICIALS CAN NOW COUNT FOR TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO ELECTION DAY, WHICH THEY'LL NEED GIVEN THE NUMBER OF BALLOTS.

SO THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF BALLOTS WILL BE COUNTED BY THE TIME THAT WE GET TO 8:00 p.m.

ON ELECTION NIGHT.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT EXIT POLLS.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN A FAN OF THEM?

ARE THEY GOING TO BE MORE OR LESS RELIABLE AS A SOURCE?

>> I THINK THE POLLING HAS SOME VALUE BUT THIS YEAR, BECAUSE SO FEW PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE GOING TO THE POLLING PLACE, I'M NOT SURE HOW ACCURATE THE EXIT POLLS ARE GOING TO BE.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT DOUBT ALREADY BEING CAST ON THE VALUE AND SAFETY OF MAIL-IN VOTING.

ARE WE GOING TO BE QUESTIONING THE RESULTS BECAUSE OF MAIL-IN VOTING, PARTICULARLY THE DOUBT, PARTICULARLY THE PRESIDENT IS CALLING IT INTO QUESTION.

>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK SO.

AND AGAIN, THE REASON I SAY THAT IS AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD MAIL VOTING AUTHORIZED BY LAW IN MINNESOTA SINCE 1987, SO WE HAVE A LONG TRACK RECORD OF PEOPLE VOTING BY MAIL AND, YOU KNOW, THE SECOND THING IS, THAT THE PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO RETURN THEIR MAILED BALLOTS TO THE ELECTION OFFICIALS BY MAIL.

THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DROP THEM OFF IN PERSON AND, AS A MATTER OF FACT, THAT MIGHT BE THE BEST THING TO DO, BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY IS WHEN THEY GET THEIR BALLOT AND THEY WANT TO RETURN IT, JUST AS THEY RETURN -- THEY CAN RETURN IT IN PERSON.

>> Mary: WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR ELECTION NIGHT?

>> ELECTION NIGHT I THINK WILL BE MORE LIKE IN THE PAST THAN PEOPLE EXPECT.

AGAIN, MY EXPECTATION IS THAT THE BALLOTS THAT HAVE BEEN RECEIVED PRIOR TO ELECTION DAY, YOU KNOW, WILL BE COUNTED AND BE A PART OF THE TOTALS.

NOW, WHAT WE WON'T KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, IS THE BALLOTS THAT COME IN AFTER ELECTION DAY, WE DON'T KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, HOW MANY THERE WILL BE, AND WE ALSO DON'T KNOW HOW CLOSE TO ELECTION DAY THEY'RE GOING TO COME.

ARE THEY GOING TO TAIL OFF VERY RAPIDLY?

>> Mary: YOU'VE BEEN KIND OF AT THE NEVER CENTER OF MANY AN ELECTION NIGHT.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO BE?

ARE YOU MAIL-IN VOTING, DO YOU WANT TO GO IN?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING THIS CYCLE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, MARY, AS A FORMER ELECTION OFFICIALS AND I HOPE THIS GIVES COMFORT TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING US, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN VOTING BY MAIL FOR 22 YEARS.

I HAVE NOT CAST A BALLOT IN PERSON IN A STATE GENERAL ELECTION SINCE THE PREVIOUS MILLENNIUM, SO I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE MAIL ELECTION SYSTEM, AS A MATTER OF FACT, BUT THE GOOD THING ABOUT NOT HAVING TO WORK ON ELECTION NIGHT IS THIS WILL BE THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION THAT I HAVE NOT WORKED SINCE 1984 AND, AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE WHAT'S TIME I SAW -- THE LAST TIME I SAW THE ELECTION RESULTS FOR A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION COME IN ON TV, I WAS A GRADUATE STUDENT AND I WATCHED THEM IN A BAR.

[Laughter] >> Mary: THAT'S A GREAT STORY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INSIGHT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> CATHY: TODAY'S SPECIAL SESSION NEWS, AND A PRESIDENT AGAIN GRAPPLING WITH THE FALLOUT OF A BOOK BY BOB WOODWARD.

LET'S TALK ABOUT BOTH STORIES WITH THIS WEEK'S POLITICAL ANALYST DUO.

KENZA HADJ-MOUSSA IS A DEMOCRAT.

SHE'S WITH THE GROUP "TAKE ACTION MINNESOTA."

GREGG PEPPIN IS A REPUBLICAN AND POLITICAL STRATEGIST.

GREG, SINCE WE ARE ON YOU RIGHT NOW, LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THE EMAIL THAT REPRESENTATIVE KOZNICK SENT OUT TO FOLKS TODAY.

IT WAS DIRECTED AT THE G.O.P.

BUT ENDED UP GETTING IN DFL HANDS.

STRESSING THAT WHEN YOU GET ON THE FLOOR, TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, COVID ISSUES, QUOTING NOW, COVID ISSUES ARE NOT OUR WINNING MESSAGE.

WHY IS COVID A LOSING MESSAGE FOR THE G.O.P.?

>> WELL, I DON'T THINK THAT IT IS A LOSING MESSAGE.

>> Cathy: REPRESENTATIVE KOZNICK EVIDENTLY THINKS IT IS.

>> WELL, HE'S WRONG, FRANKLY.

YOU SAW THAT WITH SENATOR GAZELKA TONIGHT, I THINK HAVING A ROBUST DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW THE STATE DEALINGS WITH COVID, WHAT THE PROTOCOLS ARE, WHETHER SOME OF THE DECISION-MAKING SHOULD BE DELEGATED TO COUNTIES AND WHAT THE ROLE OF THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD BE, I THINK THAT'S A VERY RELEVANT CONVERSATION AND I THINK IT'S ONE THAT A LOT OF MINNESOTANS CARE ABOUT AND WANT TO KNOW ABOUT.

AND AS SENATOR GAZELKA SAID, I MEAN, REPUBLICANS AREN'T DOWNPLAYING COVID.

THAT'S NEVER BEEN THE CASE.

THE DEMOCRATS WOULD MAKE THAT -- THAT'S THEIR MANTRA BUT I DON'T SEE IT BEING ANY LESS OF A CONCERN FOR REPUBLICANS AS IT IS FOR DEMOCRATS.

>> Eric: KENZA?

>> YEAH, I WOULD SAY THAT THE G.O.P.

HAS DEFINITELY CHANGED ITS TUNE ON COVID ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS BUT WE KNEW THIS VIRUS WAS COMING AND THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF OBVIOUSLY ON THE WOODWARD INTERVIEW SAID THAT HIS PLAN WAS TO DOWNPLAY COVID, WE SAW THAT FROM THE MINORITY LEADER IN THE HOUSE, AS WELL.

I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL EXPECTED FROM THE G.O.P.

IN TERMS OF THEIR TALKING POINTS AND I THINK THAT MINNESOTANS ARE GOING TO BE VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT SO MANY ESSENTIAL WORKERS AND FOLKS ON THE FRONT LINE AND STATE EMPLOYEES ARE WORKING TO -- WITH GOVERNOR WALZ TO BEAT THE VIRUS, THAT THE G.O.P.

HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON PUSHING BACK ON GOVERNOR WALZ AND THE EMERGENCY ORDERS TO BE IN PLACE.

MINNESOTANS HAVE A LOT OF POWER IN HOW THEY WANT TO RECENT WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTION DAY.

>> Eric: GREGG, DEMOCRATS HAVE USED -- DEMOCRATS WHAT THEY'VE CONTROLLED THE SENATE HAVE USED THE POWER TO UNCONFIRM A COMMISSIONER, THAT'S NOTHING NEW BUT I WONDER HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THE REPUBLICANS AND HOW THEY'RE USING THAT INSTRUMENT.

>> WELL, THEY'RE EXERCISING THEIR RIGHT TO CONFIRM OR NOT CONFIRM THE COMMISSIONERS, AND AS THE SENATOR SAID, SENATOR GAZELKA SAID, AGAIN, THAT HE HAD HAD PRETTY WELL ESTABLISHED TIMELINE THAT HE HAD LAID OUT WITH REGARD TO THE CONVERSATIONS THAT HE HAD WITH THE GOVERNOR AND SOME OF THE COMMISSIONERS.

IS IT A LITTLE BIT MORE HEAVY HANDED, PERHAPS?

YEAH, IT PROBABLY IS.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE'S SOME DECISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE, CERTAINLY COMMISSIONER KELLEY'S DECISION TO INTERCEDE AFTER THE P.U.C.

HAD WEIGHED IN ON THAT, WAS RATHER UNPRECEDENTED, SO I THINK THE FACT THAT YOU SAW A BIPARTISAN VOTE IN -- TO REMOVE HIM AS COMMISSIONER SHOWS THAT THERE WAS CONCERN NOT ONLY FROM REPUBLICANS BUT CERTAINLY FROM SOME DEMOCRATS AS IT RELATED TO THE PIPELINE ISSUE AND AS IT RELATES TO EMERGENCY POWERS, THAT THE GOVERNOR CONTINUES TO EXERT.

>> Cathy: GREGG, DO YOU THINK THERE WILL BE OTHER COMMISSIONERS TO BE SHOWN THE DOOR?

>> I -- I -- I DON'T KNOW, CATHY.

I THINK THAT THEY'LL TAKE THAT ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.

I THINK THAT THESE -- THAT THE TWO COMMISSIONER THAT HAVE BEEN RELIEVED OF THEIR DUTIES WERE -- I THINK THEY WERE PROBABLY OUTLIERS AS RELATES TO THE ENTIRE CABINET.

>> Eric: KENZA, I WANTED TO RUN THIS BY YOU AND GREGG BOTH.

THE CNBC POLL -- MOST VOTERS IN SIX SWING STATES CONSIDERED PRESIDENT TRUMP AND JOE BIDEN MENTALLY UNFIT TO BE PRESIDENT, BOTH OF THEM.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM THERE?

>> I'M HAPPY TO HOP IN.

>> Eric: YEAH, PLEASE.

>> WE HAVE HAD FOUR YEARS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP AND WE KNOW EXACTLY HIS STYLE OF LEADERSHIP AND THE ACTIONS THAT HE'S TAKEN AS PRESIDENT.

WE'VE ALSO SEEN BY VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND HIS LEADERSHIP AND WHO HE KEEPS AROUND HIM AND WITH STAFFING, WHO'S IN HIS CAMPAIGN, WE'VE GOT TRUMP FOLKS WHO ARE IN JAIL FOR THEIR CORRUPTION SO REGARDLESS OF WHAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THOSE TWO, ABOUT BIDEN AND TRUMP IS CERTAINLY A LOT OF EVIDENCE TO LOOK AT FOR BOTH CANDIDATES AND HOW THEIR ADMINISTRATIONS WILL BE RUN.

>> Eric: GROG, HOW DO YOU INTERPRET THAT KIND OF A READING FROM SIX SWING STATES?

>> YEAH, I WOULD SAY THAT THAT'S MORE OF A REFLECTION OF THE DIVIDED ELECTORATE AND I THINK THAT PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES, BOTH PARTIES HAVE STRONG VIEWPOINTS ON THESE CANDIDATES.

THEY HAVE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

THE STAGE HAS BEEN SET FOR QUITE SOME TIME THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A SHOWDOWN BETWEEN Mr.

BIDEN AND PRESIDENT TRUMP AND SO I -- IT'S NOT SURPRISING, GIVEN KIND OF WHERE WE'RE AT AND I SUSPECT THAT AS WE GO THROUGH THE ELECTION, THAT BOTH SIDES WILL GET HARDENED EVEN MORE, AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE ELECTION, THE SIDES WILL GET HARDENED EVEN MORE AND ULTIMATELY ON NOVEMBER 30 OR MAYBE SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE VOTERS WILL DECIDE.

>> Cathy: SAY, KENZA, AT THIS TIME, NEXT WEEK, NEXT FRIDAY, THE PRESIDENT WOULD HAVE VISITED MINNESOTA, SO WILL HAVE JOE BIDEN, AND I'M CURIOUS, I HAVE HEARD FROM SOME PROGRESSIVES SAYING THEIR SUPPORT FOR JOE BIDEN IS KIND OF LUKEWARM.

ARE YOU FEELING IS THAT?

>> THERE IS SO MUCH ENERGY TO DEFEAT DONALD TRUMP THAT EVEN IF THERE IS LUKEWARM ENERGY, IT IS WARMING UP VERY QUICKLY.

I THINK THAT WE ARE VERY EXCITED THAT JOE BIDEN WILL BE IN THE STATE A WEEK FROM TODAY TO ALSO LIFT UP THE FACT THAT VOTING STARTS ON SEPTEMBER 18th, SO THIS IS A CHANCE FOR MINNESOTANS TO GET THEIR MAIL-IN BALLOTS IN RIGHT AWAY AND TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ELECTION.

>> Eric: GREGG, IS THE MAIL-IN VOTING GOING TO BE A FACTOR?

WE JUST HEARD FROM JOE MANSKY WHO KNOWS A LOT ABOUT IT.

DOES THAT FAVOR ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER OR... >> I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT DOES.

I KNOW THERE IS SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE -- WHAT IS EXPECTED TO BE A SURGE IN MAIL-IN VOTING AND WHETHER THE POSTAL SERVICE CAN HANDLE IT, WHETHER THE ELECTION OFFICIALS CAN HANDLE IT.

WHETHER THOSE BALLOTS GET DELIVERED ON TIME.

SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THOSE CONCERNS ARE LEGITIMATE.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT THE PROCESS ITSELF WORKS.

BUT I -- I -- I GENERALLY CONCUR WITH JOE, WE'VE GOT A GOOD SYSTEM, THE COUNTY FOLKS DO A GOOD JOB.

I THINK THERE PROBABLY WILL BE SOME ELECTIONS WHETHER THEY'RE STATE REPRESENTATIVES, STATE SENATOR, LEGISLATIVE TYPES OF THINGS THAT WILL BE DECIDED, YOU KNOW, THREE, FOUR, FIVE DAYS AFTER AND I THINK THAT THAT COULD CAUSE A LITTLE BIT OF CONSTERNATION, BUT THE FACT THAT JOE MANSKY SAID WE CAN COUNT THE BALLOTS PRIOR TO NOVEMBER 3rd, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO EXPEDITE THINGS.

BUT IT'S UNPRECEDENTED SO THERE'S GOING TO BE -- THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME ROT -- ROLLER COASTER ACTIONS HERE AROUND THE ELECTIONS BUT I THINK ULTIMATELY EVERYTHING WILL WORK OUT AND WE'LL GETS THROUGH IT.

>> Eric: I WANT TO ASK YOU BOTH ABOUT THE NUMBER OF UNDECIDEDs.

SEEMS TO ME THE ELECTION COULD BE HELD TODAY AND IT WOULDN'T BE TOO DIFFERENT FROM TWO MONTHS FROM NOW.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S TRUE, KENNEDY, OR DO YOU THINK THERE'S PERSUADESSABLE VOTERS?

>> ABSOLUTELY, I DO NOT THINK THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT MARGIN OF PERSUADABLE VOTERS AND IT WILL REALLY COME DOWN TO TURNOUT AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE VOTE, THEY CAN VOTE EARLY AND DO IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> Eric: AND GREGG, THE TRUMP FOLKS IN THE STATE ARE FIRED UP, THE PRESIDENT IS LAVISHING A LOT OF ATTENTION ON MINNESOTA SO I ASSUME THE CORE GROUP OF TRUMP FOLKS ARE WHIPPED UP.

>> THEY ARE VERY EXCITED.

I WILL TELL YOU, 2004 WAS A BIG YEAR WHEN GEORGE W. BUSH CAME TO MINNESOTA.

I THINK ONCE OR TWICE.

THE FACT THAT THE PRESIDENT'S BEEN HERE OH, THE VICE PRESIDENT'S BEEN HERE, LARA TRUMP HAS BEEN HERE, DONALD TRUMP, JR., HAS BEEN HERE, I HAVE NEVER SEEN THE LEVEL OF COOPERATION BETWEEN A PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, THE STATE PARTY AND ALL OF THE AFILLATE GROUPS AS I HAVE THIS YEAR.

IT IS UNPRECEDENTED, AND VERY, VERY IMPRESSIVE, THE LEVEL OF EXCITEMENT AND ENTHUSIASM, AND I THINK THAT THE PRESIDENT DOES HAVE A GOOD CHANCE TO WIN MINNESOTA.

IN FACT, HE HAS TO BECAUSE JOE BIDEN WOULDN'T BE COMING HERE OR JOE BIDEN -- Mrs.

BIDEN WOULDN'T BE COMING HERE IF THEY DIDN'T THINK THE STATE WAS IN PLAY.

I THINK WE'RE IN THE FIRST PLACE TO TURN MINNESOTA RED FOR THE FIRST TIME.

>> Eric: GOOD STUFF, FOLKS.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THERE IS SOME RECORDS THAT SAY -- SOME ACCOUNTS THAT WILLIAM HAD MENTIONED THAT HE'D BEEN TO EVERY MAJOR FIRE DURING HIS TENURE IN THE DEPARTMENT AND THEN THERE'S ALSO SOME MORE INFORMATION THAT THEY HAD GOT -- THEY WOULD USUALLY GO TO ALL THE FIRES THAT THE REST OF THE CITY DIDN'T WANT TO GO TO, LIKE THE BOG FIRES OR DUMP FIRES THEY WOULD HAVE BACK IN THE DAY WHICH SOMETIMES WOULD BURN FOR DAYS.

>> ERIC: WE'VE ASKED HISTORY QUESTIONS AT THE END OF "ALMANAC" FOR NEARLY FOUR DECADES.

WHY STOP NOW?

HERE'S A MYSTERY PERSON QUESTION WE ASKED YOU LAST WEEK.

WE TOLD YOU IT CONCERNED A MYSTERY MINNESOTAN, NOT SEEN HERE.

HE WAS NOT BORN HERE, AND DIDN'T DIE HERE, BUT LIVED IN OUR STATE FOR MANY DECADES.

HE GAINED INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION BY DOING SOMETHING IN THE 1920S THAT WAS FEATURED IN NEWSREELS AND FILM.

ACTIVE IN POLITICS... WE ADDED THAT HE ATTENDED THE 1952 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION, AND WAS RUMORED FOR YEARS TO BE A CANDIDATE FOR THE U.S.

SENATE FROM MINNESOTA.

ONE MORE HINT, OUR MYSTERY PERSON WAS FOND OF BIRDS, ESPECIALLY THOSE FROM SOUTH OF THE EQUATOR.

WHO WAS THIS MYSTERY MINNESOTAN?

AS USUAL, WE START WITH A LITANY OF WRONG ANSWERS.

LISTEN UP.

>> ERIC: GOOD GUESSES ALL.

LUCKY LINDY WAS BY FAR THE MOST COMMON GUESS WE RECEIVED.

BUT HE WASN'T THE PERSON WE SOUGHT.

WHO WAS?

ONLY ONE OF YOU CONTACTED US WITH THE CORRECT ANSWER.

TAKE IT AWAY, CARLETON GRAD BOB.

>> ERIC: THANKS, BOB.

YES, LARRY GOULD, ANTARCTIC EXPLORER IN THE 1920S, WAS SECOND IN COMMAND ON THE FAMED ADMIRAL BYRD EXPEDITIONS, LATER WAS A PROFESSOR AND PRESIDENT OF CARLETON COLLEGE.

DISPLAYED IN HIS HOME WAS A STUFFED PENGUIN FROM HIS ANTARCTIC EXPLORING DAYS.

DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE AN INDEX FILE QUESTION WE MAY NOT HAVE ASKED?

GIVE US A TRY.

651-229-1430.

OR SEND US AN EMAIL WITH YOUR SUGGESTION AT ALMANAC@TPT.ORG.

FOR SHOW-CLOSING MUSIC, HERE'S ANOTHER EXCERPT FROM THE PROGRAM HIPPOCRATES CAFE THAT WILL AIR STATEWIDE SUNDAY ON PBS ON THE MINNESOTA CHANNEL.

CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS FOR HOW TO FIND IT OVER THE AIR.

AS PART OF THE SPECIAL, A VIRTUAL QUARTET WAS CREATED WITH MEMBERS FROM THE SAINT PAUL CHAMBER, THE MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA, AND THE MINNESOTA OPERA ORCHESTRA.

HERE'S THEIR VIRTUAL PERFORMANCE OF A WORK BY DVORAK.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK.

AND BE CAREFUL.

♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ Captioned by: Paradigm Reporting/Captioning www.paradigmreporting.com >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING ELECTRICITY AND RELATED SERVICES TO 28 CO-OPS IN MINNESOTA.

A TOUCHSTONE ENERGY COOPERATIVE.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: INVESTING $25 MILLION TO IMPROVE DENTAL CARE FOR MINNESOTANS IN NEED.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION THAT CARES ABOUT COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINE3.

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.