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

>> Eric: COMING UP ON "ALMANAC" A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN LIKELY IS AVERTED, YEAR-END ECONOMIC NEWS, THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT IS HERE, AND PLENTY OF HOLIDAY CHEER.

MARY LAHAMMER LOOKING AHEAD TO THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> MARY: A LOT OF NEW LAWMAKERS ARE COMING TO THE CAPITOL TO SERVE IN WHAT LOOKS LIKE A TIED HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WE'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO SOME OF THE FRESHMAN.

>> IN THE CITY IT'S PRETTY DIVIDED, ONCE YOU GET TO THE RURAL, THAT'S WHERE IT BECOMES PRETTY RED.

>> I NEVER APPROACH ANYTHING AS A SAFE SEAT.

IT'S IMPORTANT WE INCLUDE ALL CONSTITUENTS IN CONVERSATIONS.

>> 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 27 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH WHILE ADVANCING SOCIAL EQUITIES.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

AND PAINT CARE, HELPING MINNESOTANS RECYCLE LEFTOVER PAINT.

MORE AT PAINTCARE.ORG.

>> Eric: LAST SHOW OF 2024 AND WE HAVE A FULL HOUR FOR YOU.

MINNEAPOLIS CFSS MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT RADIO IS HERE TO TALK BUDGET AND THE RIFT WITH MAYOR FREY.

CHRIS FARRELL WILL BREAK DOWN THE FED INTEREST RATE CUT AND KEVIN KLING HAS A HOLIDAY ESSAY FOR US.

AND OUR POLITICAL PANEL LOOKS AHEAD AT 2025.

>> Cathy: WE START TONIGHT WITH PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP'S ONGOING TRANSITION AND THE LIKELY AVERTED OVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

EARLIER THIS EVENING THE U.S. HOUSE VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY TO KEEP THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FUNDED.

THAT BILL IS NOW GOING TO THE SENATE AND THEN PRESIDENT BIDEN WITH A MIDNIGHT DEADLINE.

DURING THIS FALL'S ELECTION WE CHECKED IN REGULARLY ITH NATIONAL JOURNALISTS WHO HAVE MINNESOTA TIES.

JOINING US AGAIN VIA ZOOM TONIGHT, ANGELA GREILING KEANE, SHE'S BLOOMBERG GOVERNMENT, FORMER WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT AND MINNESOTA NATIVE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> Cathy: IT APPEARS THERE WILL NOT BE A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

AND I'M WONDERING, ANGELA, WHAT DOES THIS LEGISLATIVE SKIRMISH TELL US ABOUT THE DYNAMICS OF NEXT YEAR.

>> I THINK IT'S AN INDICATION OF US SEEING A LOT OF DYSFUNCTION IN THE COMING CONGRESS.

WE'VE CERTAINLY SEEN REPUBLICANS LEADING THE HOUSE THE PAST COUPLE YEARS BEING UNABLE TO DO THINGS THAT WERE SIMPLE LIKE ELECT A SPEAKER, AND NOW WE'VE SEEN THE FIRST MOVE OF TRUMP NOT EVEN BEING IN THE WHITE HOUSE YET SCUTTLED BY ALSO ELON MUSK WHO AT THE MOMENT APPEARS TO BE DONALD TRUMP'S CLOSEST ADVISOR.

I THINK WHAT WE SAW IN THE PAST WEEK WITH FITS AND STARTS FUNDING THE GOVERNMENT EVEN FOR A SHORT TIME I THINKS THAT'S AN INDICATION WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE OF FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

>> Eric: IS ELON MUSK FREELANCING OR IS HE HAVING THE PRESIDENT'S BLESSING AS HE GOES ABOUT HIS COMMENTARY AND THREATS AND SO FORTH >> IT SURE SEEMS LIKE HE HAS THE PRESIDENT'S BLESSING.

I THINK THE MUSK TWEETS THAT TORPEDOED THE FIRST VERSION OF THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION STOPGAP FUNDING BILL, I THINK THEY CAME AT 3:00 A.M. CENTRAL TIME.

BUT WE'VE SEEN VERY MUCH COORDINATED MESSAGING BETWEEN WHAT DONALD TRUMP AND ELON MUSK ARE PUTTING OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

SO IT APPEARS THEY ARE TALKING CLOSELY, WHO'S ADVISING WHOM, NOT REALLY SURE AT THIS POINT BUT I'M SURE WE'LL FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THAT DYNAMIC GOING FORWARD.

>> Cathy: SAY, I'M CURIOUS YOUR TAKE ON HOW COMFORTABLE THESE 38 HOUSE REPUBLICANS EEL ABOUT THEIR FUTURE FOR DEFYING TRUMP.

>> I THINK THAT THE 38 REPUBLICANS, I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE FULL LIST OF THOSE WHO VOTED NO ON THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION LEGISLATION THIS EVENING, BUT PRESUMING THAT'S THE SAME AS WE'VE SEEN IN RECENT TIMES, I ASSUME THAT MOST OF THE NO VOTES AMONG THE REPUBLICANS WERE VERY CONSERVATIVE HOUSE FREEDOM CAUCUS-TYPE MEMBERS, THAT'S WHAT WE NORMALLY ARE SEEING GOING AGAINST THE EPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP IN THE HOUSE AND POTENTIALLY BEING ILLING TO GO UP AGAINST DONALD TRUMP.

THOSE PEOPLE DO REPRESENT VERY, VERY SAFE SEATS.

A MODERATE DISTRICT, A SWING DISTRICT IS NOT GOING TO ANNOUNCE -- OR NOT GOING TO ELECT SOMEBODY WHO WOULD JOIN THE HOUSE FREEDOM CAUCUS OR BE ONE OF THE MOST CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE.

SO THEY PROBABLY DO FEEL A LITTLE MORE LIBERTY TO VOTE WHAT THEY WANT, EVEN IF THE PRESIDENT-ELECT AND AS WE'VE SEEN THIS WEEK, ELON MUSK THREATEN THEM IN REELECTION FIGHTS.

>> Eric: FORMERP SENATOR NORM COLEMAN IS ACTING AS A SHERPA FOR ANOTHER MINNESOTAN PETE HE GOT SETH AS HE TRIES TO BECOME DEFENSE SECRETARY.

HOW IS THAT TURNING OUT SO FAR?

>> WELL, WE SEE NORM COLEMAN IN THE BACK OF MANY MANY PICTURES BEHIND PETE HE G HEGSETH.

IN TERMS OF HOW THINGS ARE GOING FOR PETE HEGSETH, STILL ROCKY.

HIS NOMINATION, OR WOULD BE NOMINATION IS STILL ALIVE UNLIKE WHAT WE SAW WITH MATT GAETZ WHO IS NO LONGER IN THE RUNNING TO BE A NOMINEE WHEN DONALD TRUMP TAKES OFFICE NEXT MONTH.

BUT THERE ARE LOTS AND LOTS OF QUESTIONS GIVEN ALL THE REPORTING THAT'S BEEN COMING OUT ABOUT PETE HEGSETH AST, WE SAW JUST YESTERDAY THE LATEST WAS A GROUP OF SENATORS FROM THE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE, SO THE COMMITTEE THAT HAS FIRST-LINE RESPONSIBILITY FOR VOTING ON THE NOMINATION ONCE IT'S MADE, THEY ASKED TO SEE AS A GROUP THE FBI BACKGROUND REPORT ON THIS NOMINEE, WHICH IS NOT STANDARD PRACTICE.

NORMALLY ON THE SENATE ARMED SERVICE COMMITTEE, ONLY THE TOP REPUBLICAN AND TOP DEMOCRAT ON THE COMMITTEE SEE THAT REPORT BUT A MUCH LARGER SEGMENT OF THAT COMMITTEE PUBLICLY ASKED YESTERDAY TO SEE THE REPORT.

THEY WANT, THEY SAY THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S N IT, SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE ESPECIALLY CONCERNING OR DISQUALIFYING.

>> Cathy: SAY, FINAL QUESTION.

WHAT ARE THE EXPECTATIONS FOR THE FIRST 100 DAYS OF THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY?

>> FIRST 100 DAYS, I EXPECT THAT WE WILL SEE AT LEAST A LOT OF TALK, POTENTIALLY ACTION, ON A TAX BILL.

THE TRUMP TAX CUTS ARE EXPIRING NEXT YEAR, AND THAT WAS A BIG MOMENT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, SOMETHING THAT WAS A RE-SOUNDING THEME FOR THE PRESIDENT-ELECT AS WELL AS MANY REPUBLICANS HO WANT TO EXTEND THOSE TAX CUTS.

BUT SINCE WE ARE SEEING THAT MOST LIKELY LATER TONIGHT THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT FUNDED ONLY THROUGH MID-MARCH Y NECESSITY, THERE WILL HAVE TO BE FURTHER CONVERSATION PRETTY SOON ABOUT KEEPING THE GOVERNMENT FUNDED.

AND REMEMBER THAT THE DEBT LIMIT WAS ENTERED INTO THAT DISCUSSION THIS WEEK AS WELL WHEN DONALD TRUMP SHIFTED COURSE FROM MOST REPUBLICANS AND SAID THAT HE WANTED THE FEDERAL DEBT LIMIT EITHER RAISED OR RESCINDED ALTOGETHER.

SO ALL OF A SUDDEN THAT MAY BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION TOO IN THE FIRST 00 DAYS.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.

ANGELA, HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

>> TO YOU TOO.

>> Eric: THANKS.

THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> SINGING: CHRISTMASTIME IS HERE HAPPINESS AND CHEER FUN FOR ALL THE CHILDREN CALL THEIR FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR >> Eric: ON WEDNESDAY THE FEDERAL RESERVE CUT INTEREST RATES FOR A THIRD AND FINAL TIME THIS YEAR AND INDICATED THAT THERE WOULD BE FEWER RATE CUTS IN 2025.

THAT NEWS SENT MARKETS INTO A DOWNWARD SPIN, WITH THE DOW FALLING FOR THE TENTH DAY IN A ROW.

... CHRIS FARRELL COVERS FOR THE GROUP AMERICAN PUBLIC MEDIA.

>> IT REMAINS SOMETHING OF A CHALLENGE, CAME OUT TODAY THE FEDS' FAVORITE MEASURE OF INFLATION, IT SHOWED A LITTLE MORE PROGRESS.

SO I THINK THERE'S LARGELY AN OVERREACTION IN THE MARKET AMONG INVESTORS TO THE FED ACTION SAYING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FEWER CUTS NEXT YEAR IN 2025.

BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, REALLY WHAT THE FED WAS SAYING IS HAT WE'RE ALL FEELING.

OKAY, WE'VE MADE PROGRESS AGAINST INFLATION, BUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT YEAR?

JUST THE CONVERSATION THAT YOU WERE JUST HAVING ABOUT THE POLITICS AND THE TARIFFS AND ALL OF THIS.

SO THEY'RE SORT OF HOVERING IN THE BACKGROUND, WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE INFLATION RATE IN 025?

BUT IF YOU JUST LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, IT IS CONTINUING PROGRESS.

>> Cathy: JUST TO HELP PEOPLE OUT HERE.

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: SO THE FED SAID WE'RE GOING TO CUT RATES.

>> RIGHT.

>> Cathy: BUT THEN THE MARKET FREAKED OUT.

>> RIGHT, BECAUSE IT WAS FEWER CUTS THAN WAS EXPECTED AND ALSO THE TONE WAS VERY WE'RE MORE CAUTIOUS, WE'RE A LITTLE MORE CONCERNED, THEY DIDN'T USE THE WORD "PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP" BUT IT JUST GAVE THAT SENSE OF WE'RE A LITTLE BIT WARY, WE'RE A LITTLE MORE CAUTIOUS, AND THE INFLATION RATE HAD KIND OF STALLED OUT, THE PROGRESS THAT WAS BEING MADE AGAINST IT.

BUT THE OTHER THING IS, CATHY, THE STOCK MARKET HAS JUST HAD AN INCREDIBLE RUN.

SO, YOU KNOW, PART OF ME JUST FEELS INVESTORS WERE LOOKING FOR AN EXCUSE TO SELL, TAKE SOME PROFITS, JUST KIND OF -- >> Cathy: KIND OF A CORRECTION AS YOU LIKE TO SAY.

>> YEAH, SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S AN OVERREACTION IN THE MARKET, BUT -- AND THERE IS STILL PROGRESS, BUT THE FED IS TAKING A LITTLE MORE OF A, WELL, LET'S WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> Eric: HOLIDAY GIFT-GIVING SEASON, ARE CONSUMERS DOING THEIR PART?

IS >> CONSUMERS ARE ALWAYS DOING THEIR PART.

THE ECONOMY NUMBERS WERE REVISED UPWARD, ECONOMY IS REALLY STRONG ND WHAT WAS DRIVING IT WAS CONSUMER SPENDING.

WHAT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THIS TIME AROUND WAS A LOT OF IT WAS MORE ON THE GOODS SIDE, CAR PURCHASES HAVE PICKED UP, AND A NUMBER OF OTHER GOODS THAT YOU WOULD -- >> Eric: DURABLE GOODS, IS THAT WHAT THEY CALL IT?

>> THANK YOU, I WAS SEARCHING FOR THAT WORD.

SO THERE WAS KIND OF A PICKUP, BUT THAT'S ALSO A SECTOR OF THE ECONOMY, WITH CARS A LITTLE BIT BUT A LOT OF THE DURABLE GOODS THAT'S WHERE YOU'VE ACTUALLY BEEN SEEING SOME LOWER PRICES.

>> Cathy: SAY, GOING BACK TO MAYBE SOME CAUTION HERE WHEN IT COMES TO THE ECONOMY, TARIFFS, RIGHT?

SO WHO WILL THEY HURT AND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE MINNESOTA ECONOMY?

>> SO WHEN IT COMES O MINNESOTA THE WAY TO THINK ABOUT THE TARIFF IS A TAX ON THE CONSUMER.

THE CONSUMER ENDS UP PAYING IT.

AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT ON ONE LEVEL WE HAVE THESE ICONIC MINNESOTA COMPANIES, 3M, ECOLAB, HORMEL, AND THEY HAVE GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAINS, SO IT'S GOING TO RAISE THEIR COSTS OF DOING BUSINESS.

AND THEN YOU THINK ABOUT YOU WALK ON UNIVERSITY AVENUE, YOU WALK ON LAKE STREET, GO UP TO ST.

CLOUD, BEMIDJI, ALL THE IMMIGRANT BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN STARTED IN RECENT DECADES, AND A LOT OF THEM WERE SORT OF IN THE FOOD BUSINESS, FOOD SUPPLY BUSINESS AND IT'S GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THEM IF IT'S HARDER TO GET AVOCADOS INTO THE U.S. OR THERE'S A TARIFF ON TOP OF THEM.

OR A LOT OF THE RESTAURANT EQUIPMENT IS MADE OVERSEAS, AND, AGAIN, HIGHER COSTS.

SO I THINK WHAT YOU WOULD SAY IS A HIGHER COST FOR THE GOODS AND SERVICES WHERE THERE ARE TARIFFS ON, WHETHER THAT TRANSLATES INTO INFLATION A LOT WILL DEPEND ON WHAT THE DOLLAR DOES AND WHAT THE FED DOES.

>> Eric: HOW IS THE U.S. ECONOMY DOING COMPARED TO WHAT WOULD YOU SAY, PEER COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD?

>> WE ARE DOING GREAT.

WE ARE ACTUALLY, RELATIVE TO OUR PEERS WE'RE DOING VERY WELL.

THINK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN EUROPE RIGHT NOW.

SO IT DOESN'T SEEM TO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY SAY, WELL, I DON'T FEEL THAT GOOD IN MY PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES, I DON'T LIKE THESE HIGHER PRICES WHEN I GO INTO THE GROCERY STORE, BUT WE'RE DOING BETTER THAN OTHER COUNTRIES.

BUT THE REALITY IS WE ARE DOING BETTER THAN OTHER COUNTRIES AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS DRIVING IT IS WE JUST HAVE THIS TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THAT'S GOING ON WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND ALL THE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES, AND THAT REALLY HAS BEEN DRIVING THE STOCK MARKET, IT DRIVES A LOT OF OUR CONOMY, IT DRIVES A LOT OF THE CHURN IN OUR ECONOMY.

>> Cathy: MIGHT IT ULTIMATELY END UP, THOUGH, SEEING JOB CUTS AND JOBS BEING SHED IN OTHER INDUSTRIES BECAUSE OF A.I.?

>> IT'S ALREADY HAPPENING.

IF YOU LOOK AT SINCE 2010 THERE'S BEEN A 25% DECREASE IN RETAIL JOBS, FOR EXAMPLE.

BUT THERE'S ALSO BEEN A VERY LARGE INCREASE IN WHAT'S CALLED, YOU KNOW, THE S.T.E.M., SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING.

SO, YES, YOU'RE SEEING A RESHUFFLING OF THE LABOR FORCE IN THE U.S. >> Eric: ALL RIGHT, WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR EXPERTISE IN 2025.

>> Cathy: WE DO?

HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Eric: THANKS A LOT.

♪♪ >> SINGING: THERE IS JUST ONE THING I NEED ... AND I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE PRESENTS UNDERNEATH THE CHRISTMAS TREE I DON'T NEED TO HANG MY STOCKING ... ♪♪ >> I FEEL LIKE I'M FROM THE WASHINGTON GENERALS HERE, I'M LIKE TRYING TO GET SCHOOLED.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU RACTICE?

>> EVERY DAY.

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU WON'T GO AROUND THE WORLD LIKE WE DO.

[ CHEERING ] [ LAUGHTER ] >> GOTTA PRACTICE.

>> SINGING: LAST CHRISTMAS, I GAVE YOU MY HEART BUT THE VERY NEXT DAY YOU GAVE IT AWAY >> Cathy: THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR JACOB FREY HAD A HISTORIC STANDOFF LAST WEEK OVER THE CITY'S BUDGET.

THE INK HAD BARELY DRIED ON THE COUNCIL'S APPROVED BUDGET WHEN FREY ISSUED THE FIRST KNOWN MAYORAL VETO OF A BUDGET IN THE CITY'S HISTORY, ONLY FOR THE COUNCIL TO IMMEDIATELY OVERRIDE THAT VETO IN TURN.

THIS IS JUST THE LATEST IN A ROCKY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COUNCIL AND MAYOR.

LAST WEEK WE HEARD FROM MAYOR FREY, THIS WEEK WE'RE GOING TO TALK TO THE COUNCIL'S PRESIDENT ELLIOTT PAYNE.

THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME.

HOW DO YOU SEE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR?

>> I HAVE A PERSONALLY GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MAYOR.

AND I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S REALLY CHALLENGING IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A 13-MEMBER BODY AND AN INDIVIDUAL.

I SPEAK FOR MYSELF BUT WE MOVE AS A BODY.

ALL OF OUR POWER EXISTS AS A BODY.

SO WRANGLING ALL 13 MEMBERS TO BE BE IN ALIGNMENT CAN BE A CHALLENGE SOMETIMES BUT I THINK THAT THE OVERRIDE OF A VETO IS A REFLECTION OF HOW DEEPLY IN ALIGNMENT WE ARE.

>> Eric: TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, I THINK IF I HAVE MY NUMBERS RIGHT, THE INCREASE IN POLICE BUDGET WAS ABOUT 6%, AND THERE WAS COMMENT ABOUT REDUCING THE RATE OF INCREASE, IS THAT WHAT THE DEBATE AS ABOUT?

>> YEAH, SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WHAT I WOULD CHARACTERIZE AS DISINFORMATION ABOUT POLICE FUNDING IN MINNEAPOLIS.

WE ARE UP MAYBE 60, 60-PLUS MILLION DOLLARS OF FUNDING SINCE THE YEAR I WAS ELECTED.

THIS CURRENT BUDGET WE PASSED HAS A $12 MILLION INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SO THERE'S BEEN SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ESSENTIAL ESPECIALLY AS WE ARE RESPONDING TO THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND THE IMPENDING DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE CONSENT DECREE.

>> Cathy: I'M WONDERING HERE, BEING AT ODDS WITH THE MAYOR IN TERMS OF VISION WHERE THE CITY IS GOING, WHERE ARE THE BIGGEST RIFTS IF THAT MAKE SENSE?

>> I THINK WE ARE STILL DEFINING THE ROLE OF COUNCIL VERSUS THE -- >> Cathy: UNDER THE STRONG MAYOR SYSTEM.

>> UNDER THE STRONG MAYOR SYSTEM.

THE POWER OF THE PURSE IS SQUARELY IN THE COURT OF THE CITY COUNCIL, BUT OVER THE LAST PREVIOUSLY TWO YEARS IN THE FIRST TERM OF THE, A STRONG MAYOR YSTEM, THE MAYOR HAD A COUNCIL MAJORITY WAS A LOT MORE ALIGNMENT WITH THEM.

HE DIDN'T HAVE TO WRANGLE WITH THIS DIVISION OF POWER IN THE WAY HE HAS TO NOW.

HE NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE ROLE OF CITY COUNCIL AS WE NEED TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE ROLE OF THE MAYOR.

>> Eric: HOW DO YOU EXPECT THE CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR TO HANDLE IF THEY'RE ASKED TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE IMMIGRANT DEPORTATION?

>> THAT WAS ACTUALLY A NUMBER OF OUR INVESTMENTS WERE AROUND SETTING US UP FOR THAT TYPE OF RESPONSE.

>> Eric: WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

>> HAVING MONEY SET ASIDE FOR LEGAL SERVICE FEES, HAVING A WELCOMING CENTER FOR NEW ARRIVALS, EVEN RECOGNIZING THAT WE HAVE FOLKS ON THE STREETS SELLING FOOD WHO ARE NEW TO THE CITY, THEY DON'T HAVE PERHAPS THE RIGHT PERMITS TO WORK, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE DOING IT IN A SAFE WAY.

AND SO WE'RE CREATING SOME PROGRAMMING AROUND THAT SO THAT WE CAN HAVE SOME SAFETY AND REGULATION AROUND SOME OF THOSE ACTIVITIES.

AND SO THERE'S AN ENTIRE SPECTRUM OF INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE MAKING ON CITY COUNCIL TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THIS MOMENT.

>> Cathy: AND THE MAYOR MENTIONED THAT BUT HE ALSO MENTIONED HE WAS NOT PLEASED WHAT HE WAS HERE LAST WEEK ABOUT HE CALLED THEM PET PROJECTS, I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN BACK AND FORTH IN THE MEDIA.

BUT SOME OF THE ROGRAMS PASSED BY THE COUNCIL, HE DIDN'T FEEL THEY WERE VETTED, THAT THEY WERE WORTHY NON-PROFITS, BUT THERE JUST SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN IN EACH COUNCIL MEMBER'S, YOU KNOW, WARD IN A SENSE.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT?

>> I THINK THAT IT'S ENTIRELY DISMISSIVE FRAMING OF THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE MAKING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE'RE DEEPLY CONNECTED TO OUR WARDS, WE'RE DEEPLY CONNECTED TO OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE KNOW THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE DOING GOOD WORK.

WE KNOW THE ONES THAT ARE STRUGGLING.

AND SO AS WE ARE IN TOUCH WITH OUR COMMUNITY, WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE TYPES OF COMMUNITY-FIRST PRIORITIES IN OUR CITY'S BUDGET AND I THINK THAT IT'S ENTIRELY DISMISSIVE TO SAY SAY OTHERWISE.

>> Cathy: I'M SORRY, WERE THEY PROPERLY VETTED?

>> I BELIEVE SO AND I'LL SAY TWO THINGS TO THAT.

I HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN MY COLLEAGUES IN THEIR CONNECTION TO THEIR COMMUNITY AND DOING THEIR DUE DILIGENCE AS THEY PREPARE THEIR AMENDMENTS AND ALSO AS THE CHAIR OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST SYSTEM, WE DON'T TAKE FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE LIGHTLY.

WE INVESTIGATE EVERY SINGLE ALLEGATION OF THAT TYPE OF ACTIVITY, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF CONTROLS IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE NOT GOING TO WASTE.

>> Eric: IMPACT ON PROPERTY TAXES.

>> YEAH, SO A BIG THING THAT WE DID IN OUR BUDGET AMENDMENTS WAS LOWER THE PROPERTY TAX FROM THE MAYOR'S RECOMMENDED 8.1 DOWN TO 6.8 THROUGH WHAT I THINK WAS A DEGREE OF DISCIPLINE THAT IS NECESSARY AS WE'RE LOOKING INTO THE UNCERTAIN FUTURE.

>> Eric: AND YOU'RE ALL OR ELECTION OR REELECTION IN 2025.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> Eric: ALL RIGHTED, WE'LL BE WATCHING.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU SO MUCH, APPRECIATE IT.

♪♪ >> SINGING: COME ON, IT'S LOVELY WEATHER FOR A SLEIGH RIDE TOGETHER WITH YOU OUTSIDE THE SNOW IS FALLING AND FRIENDS ARE CALLING YOO-HOO >> SO THIS WEEK I ATTENDED THE PREMIERE OF TPT'S "REMEMBER THE MAGIC."

EIGHTH FLOOR ANNUAL HOLIDAY SHOW THAT RAN FROM 1963 TO 2016.

THE MEMORIES FLOODED BACK, AS A KID GOING DOWNTOWN, STANDING IN LINE FOR THREE HOURS TO SIT ON SANTA’S LAP AND THEN WALK THROUGH THE MOST INCREDIBLE DISPLAYS OF MOVING FIGURES MUSIC, LIGHTS, STORYBOOKS COME TO LIFE, CINDERELLA, PETER PAN, HARRY POTTER.

I HAD SEEN ANIMATRONS BEFORE, THERE WAS A RESTAURANT CALLED THE JOLLY TROLL, A BUFFET WITH A FAMILY OF ROBOTIC TROLLS WORKING ON A HOUSE, I SWEAR ONE TROLL POUNDED THE SAME NAIL FOR 20 YEARS.

OH, BUT I LOVED HIM.

POUNDING THAT NAIL WAS HIS JOB.

HE WAS HAPPY, JOLLY EVEN.

THESE DAYS IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE SOMETHING SO SIMPLE COULD ENTERTAIN US BUT IT WAS A WINDOW INTO A MAGICAL WORLD, LIKE A SNOW GLOBE, A CHRISTMAS TREE ORNAMENT OR AUNT CHARLENE’S JELLO HOTDISH, AND IT’S STILL WITH ME.

AS AN ADULT, I WENT TO PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN AT DISNEY WORLD WITH MY DAD, A SALESMAN OF HIGH-TECH INDUSTRIAL PAINTS AND PIPES, HE POINTS TO A PARROT ON A PIRATE'S SHOULDER AND SAID "KEV, THAT’S A THREE-PIECE, ENCAPSULATED TRI-CLAMP HYDRAULIC BALL VALVE."

I GO, NO, IT’S NOT, DAD.

IT’S A PARROT DODGING A CANNONBALL.

WE ALSO SAW A ROBOTIC ABRAHAM LINCOLN DELIVERING THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS SURROUNDED BY ALL THE PRESIDENTS.

WELL, REAGAN WASN’T WORKING THAT DAY, SO HE SLEPT IN THE CORNER.

BUT AT ONE POINT ABE LEANED ON THE OAK TABL AND IT SNAPPED N HALF.

WE LEARNED LATER HE’D BEEN REPAIRED AND HIS SETTINGS WEREN’T QUITE RIGHT YET.

BUT I THOUGHT, DON’T MESS WITH ABE LINCOLN.

WHEN MARY TYLER MOORE WAS PROCLAIMED OUR MOST FAMOUS MINNESOTAN, IT SEEMED APPROPRIATE THAT OUR MOST FAMOUS CITIZEN WAS A WORK OF FICTION.

BECAUSE GENERALLY WHAT HAPPENED IN MINNESOTA LEFT MINNESOTA.

BUT DAYTON'S EIGHTH FLOOR, THAT WAS OUR OWN, MADE BY INCREDIBLE LOCAL ARTISTS, AND EVERYONE FROM ALL OVER THE STATE CAME LIKE A CIRCLING OF WHO'S WHO IN WHOVILLE.

IN THE TV SHOW ONE OF THE ARTISTS, CONSTANCE CRAWFORD, SAID THAT EACH DIORAMA CONTAINED TWO DISPLAYS, ONE WAS FOR THE PUBLIC AND THE OTHER WAS ONLY VISIBLE TO PEOPLE THAT WERE UNDER THREE FEET TALL.

A SECRET WORLD THAT COULD ONLY BE AVAILABLE TO CHILDREN.

AS WE WERE SEEING, WE FELT BEING SEEN, A HOLIDAY MESSAGE I CARRY FOR LIFE.

♪♪ >> SINGING: ROCKIN' AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE LET THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT RING LATER WE'LL HAVE SOME PUMPKIN PIE AND WE'LL DO SOME CARROLLING.

>> Eric: MANY MINNESOTANS' DREAMS OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS TURNED TO REALITY ON THURSDAY AS THE FIRST BIG SNOWFALL OF THE WINTER HIT THE TWIN CITIES AND SURROUNDING AREAS.

THE STORM WENT A BIT FARTHER SOUTH AND WEST THAN ORIGINALLY FORECAST WITH SNOWFALL TOTALS RANGING FROM 5 INCHES AT MSP AIRPORT TO MORE THAN 7 INCHES IN WINTHROP AND REPORTS OF MORE THAN 8 INCHES IN SEVERAL COMMUNITIES.

PETE BOULAY IS A U OF CLIMATOLOGIST, WORKS FOR THE STATE OFFICE OF CLIMATOLOGY.

PETE, WELCOME BACK.

IS IT HARD TO TRACK THE PRECISE PATHS OF THESE SNOW STORMS?

>> TELL YOU WHAT, THIS IS ONE OF THE STORMS WE WERE TRACKING FOR DAYS ON END.

LOT OF CONSISTENCY WITH THE MODELS.

LUCKILY FOR US IT HAD A MUCH WIDER SWATH THAN EXPECTED SO MUCH MORE OF THE STATE GOT QUITE A BIT OF SNOW OUT OF IT.

>> Cathy: SO WHAT DID IT DO FOR THE SNOWFALL DEFICIT THAT WE'VE HAD?

>> EVERYBODY'S STILL BEHIND IN THE STATE, EITHER YOU'RE HERE, INTERNATIONAL FALLS, DULUTH, EVERYBODY'S BEHIND FOR THE SEASON'S SNOWFALL, ALTHOUGH THIS AT LEAST MAKES IT LOOK MORE LIKE THERE'S SNOW ON THE GROUND NOW.

SO LOT OF PLACES, COUPLE INCHES SHORT OF NORMAL, YOU KNOW, IN SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA, LITTLE FARTHER THAN THAT BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T SEEN AS MUCH SNOW.

INTERNATIONAL FALLS IS THE CLOSEST WITH JUST A LITTLE BIT BEHIND NORMAL FOR THE SEASON.

>> Cathy: SO I WAS LOOKING AT THE NOAA CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER'S THREE-MONTH OUTLOOK.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: IT LOOKS KIND OF INTERESTING.

>> YES, WE'RE IN A LA NINA PATTERN, IT KIND OF FEELS LIKE ONE ALREADY, THIS WAS THE FIFTH ALBERTA CLIPPER WE'VE SEEN, LAST YEAR WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY SO WE'RE ALREADY EXPERIENCING DIFFERENT WEATHER PATTERNS THAN LAST DECEMBER AND GOING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE, YOU KNOW, THE BETTER CHANCE THE COLD AIR WILL EVENTUALLY RETURN BUT WE'LL TAKE A BREAK FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR AFTER THIS WEEKEND.

>> Eric: THIS WINTER GOING TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY DIFFERENT THAN LAST'S MILD WINTER >> >> IT WOULD BE HARD TO COMPETE WITH LAST WINTER.

CHRISTMAS WE HAD 50-DEGREE TEMPERATURES, GREEN GRASS, POURING RAIN ACROSS MUCH OF THE STATE.

NOT A WHITE CHRISTMAS AT ALL.

AT LEAST THIS CHRISTMAS WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE A WHITE CHRISTMAS, IT WILL TAKE AWHILE FOR THIS SNOW TO MELT.

>> Cathy: IT WAS SO DEPRESSING LAST YEAR.

I DO NOTE THERE'S A LOT OF SNOW IN NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA INLAND.

WHICH IS NORMAL FOR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR?

IS >> YEAH.

YES, ABSOLUTELY.

>> Cathy: VERSUS LAST YEAR.

>> YEAH, WE'RE AHEAD OF LAST YEAR, THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS SO THERE'S ABOUT A FOOT OF SNOW ON THE AWAY FROM THE LAKE, MAYBE 19 INCHES IF YOU GO TO COOK COUNTY.

EXCITED UP THERE, YOU CAN START TO SKI, NOT QUITE SNOWMOBILE YET, CONDITIONS AREN'T GREAT YET, YOU NEED AILOT MORE SNOW FOR THAT.

AT LEAST IT'S COLD ENOUGH TO STAY WITH WHAT THEY'VE GOT.

AND THERE'S ANOTHER WEAK LITTLE STORM THAT WILL MOVES ACROSS SUNDAY INTO MONDAY, MIGHT GIVE THEM A BOOST UP THERE, IT WILL BE NICE.

, WHERE DO OUR SNOWSTORMS USUALLY COME FROM?

FRONTS IN COLORADO?

>> YES.

YEP, SO THE BEST STORMS YOU CAN GET ARE THE ITH ONES THAT KIND OF HOOK UP FROM THE SOUTHWEST FROM THE PANHANDLE AREA THROUGH COLORADO LOW.

THE BEST TRACK FOR US TO SEE A LOT OF SNOW WOULD BE LACROSSE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE THE HEAVIEST FALLS SOUTHWEST OF THE LOW.

>> Eric: WHY SHA?

>> IT'S CLOSER TO THE COLD AIR SYSTEM AND YOU WANT TO BE CLOSE WHERE THERE'S A GOOD SUPPLY OF MOISTURE FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO.

SO THERE COULD BE TORNADOES IN MISSOURI, ILLINOIS, AT THE SAME TIME WE COULD HAVE HEAVY SNOW HERE.

>> Cathy: THAT'S RIGHT.

SINCE WE'RE IN LA NINA PATTERN DOES THAT MEAN WE'LL SEE MORE MOISTURE?

>> THERE IS AT LEAST A CHANCE OF IT, YES.

IT'S NOT A FOR SURE THING BUT FOR THE THREE-MONTH OUTLOOK, THAT'S LIKE JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH, TENDENCY OF SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES, ESPECIALLY WESTERN MINNESOTA AND THE NORTHWEST FLOW, MAYBE MORE ALBERTA CLIPPERS SO MAYBE WHAT WE SAW ON THURSDAY MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> Cathy: BY THE WAY, YOU WERE THE INVENTOR OF THE BOULAY BOARD, FOR FOLKS, THIS IS HOW WE MEASURE SNOW IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA WITH THESE BOARDS.

ARE YOU STILL LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO BE SNOWFALL OBSERVERS >> YOU CAN ALWAYS JOIN UP, COC AR OZ IS ALWAYS GOING YEAR-ROUND, WE HAVE A D.N.R.

NETWORK WITH A THOUSAND OBSERVERS, 2,000 PEOPLE ARE MEASURING THE SNOW IN MINNESOTA ALMOST EVERY DAY.

>> Cathy: WITH HE BOULAY BOARD.

I LOVE THAT.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

THANKS, PETE.

>> Eric: NEXT UP, HOLIDAY FAVORITE FOR SOME OF YOU.

LONG-TIME VIEWERS MAY REMEMBER THAT J.G.

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

TAKE A LISTEN WHILE WE GET OUR NEXT GUEST SETTLED IN.

>> SINGING: I'LL HAVE A BLUE CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOU, YEAH I'LL HAVE 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 ... MMM.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYBODY.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

♪♪ BLUE CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOU HEY, WE'VE OT AN AUDIENCE HERE, WE'VE GOT AN AUDIENCE!

>> SINGING: I'LL HAVE A BLUE CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOU OH, THEY COME FROM ALL OVER YOU'LL BE DOIN' ALL RIGHT WITH YOUR CHRISTMAS OF WHITE BUT I'LL ... OH, WAIT A MINUTE, I DON'T KNOW THIS VERSE.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> Cathy: OH, J.G., I'M TELLIN' YA.

WELL, AFTER A DECADE OF SERVICE THE LEADER OF THE NON-PROFIT PROJECT FOR PRIDE IN LIVING IS STEPPING DOWN.

UNDER HIS TENURE, P.P.L.

EXPANDED ITS AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS, INCREASED THEIR BUDGET, AND MOST RECENTLY WELCOMED A NEW SUCCESSOR.

BUT THE WORK ISN'T DONE FOR THE DEPARTING CEO AS HE HEADS INTO RETIREMENT NEXT MONTH.

JOINING US NOW, P.P.L.

HEAD AND FORMER ST. PAUL DEPUTY MAYOR, PAUL WILLIAMS.

THAT, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: ON THIS NEW CHAPTER YOU'RE HEADING INTO.

BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE, I HATE TO SAY THAT, BUT YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE PROBLEMS ARE EVEN HARDER NOW THAN THEY WERE WHEN YOU FIRST GOT INTO THIS.

AM I RIGHT ABOUT THAT >> I THINK THEY ARE AND I THINK THEY'VE CHANGED AS WELL.

WHEN WE LOOK AT ISSUES AROUND HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONTINUES TO BE A CHALLENGE, NUMBER ONE DRIVER OF INFLATION, RIGHT, WHICH EVERYONE HAS BEEN SO CONCERNED ABOUT FOR SO MANY YEARS HERE NOW.

HOMELESSNESS, CONTINUED CHALLENGE.

JOBS AND, YOU KNOW, WORKFORCE SHORTAGES.

SOME OF THOSE THINGS ABSOLUTELY HAVE GOTTEN WORSE AND WE'VE SEEN THEM COMING FOR A WHILE.

SO I ALSO, THOUGH, SEE OPPORTUNITY.

AND I THINK THIS IS A TIME OF OPPORTUNITY AND A TIME OF GROWTH.

SO IT'S KIND OF A BOTH/AND.

BOTH THINGS HAVE GOTTEN HARDER AND I THINK WE'VE SEEN SOME AREAS WHERE I THINK WE CAN GROW AND PROSPER.

>> Cathy: NOW, FOLKS MIGHT NOT KNOW WHAT P.P.L.

DOES SO HOW HAS P.P.L.

POSITIONED ITSELF TO TRY TO BATTLE SOME OF THIS?

>> WELL, P.P.L.

'S BEEN AROUND FOR 50-PLUS YEARS, FOUNDED BY A WONDERFUL SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR AND SOCIAL ACT JOE VAGGIIO WHO RECENTLY PASSED AWAY THIS YEAR ACTUALLY.

SO FOR US HOUSING AND JOB TRAINING ARE KIND OF TWO ELEMENTS OF STABILITY FOR ANY HOUSEHOLD AND THAT'S BEEN OUR BELIEF FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

WE ALSO DO A LOT OF WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND SO BUILDING AND MAINTAINING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, GIVING PEOPLE A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD BUT ALSO WORKING WITH THEM TO KIND OF BUILD THEIR SKILLS AND THEN ACCESS TO JOB TRAINING WHICH WE SO DESPERATELY NEED FOLKS IN THIS ECONOMY.

WE NEED EVERY WORKER WE CAN GET.

AND SO THAT'S BEEN P.P.L.

'S MODEL FOR DECADES, ACTUALLY.

>> Eric: ARE THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES LOOKING AT HOUSING AND THE NON-PROFITS THAT ARE LOOKING AT HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING, ARE THEY ALL ON THE AME PAGE?

ARE THEY PUSHING IN THE SAME DIRECTION, OR ARE THERE CROSS-PURPOSES GOING ON?

>> WELL, I THINK WE'RE PUSHING IN THE SAME DIRECTION.

WE'VE HAD A WONDERFUL TRADITION HERE IN MINNESOTA ESPECIALLY OF A COMMITMENT TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

ACTUALLY UNIQUE IN THE NATION.

>> Eric: HOW ARE WE DOING IN COMPARISON TO OTHER CITIES AROUND -- OR OTHER STATES?

>> WELL, IT VARIES BUT IN TERMS OF WHEN YOU LOOK AT KIND OF THE TRACK RECORD OF THE LEGISLATURE AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, COUNTY GOVERNMENTS, CITIES, VERY INVOLVED IN HOUSING.

WE'VE BEEN VERY COMMITTED TO THAT AND I THINK GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN A CRUCIAL PARTNER AS WELL AS THE PRIVATE SECTOR HERE.

AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE GROWTH IN THE POPULATION AND THE NEED FOR HOUSING, FOR EXAMPLE, CONTINUES TO GROW AND ACTUALLY HAS EVEN OUTPACED THOSE INCREDIBLE EFFORTS.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, THIS LAST FIVE YEARS COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, THE INCREASE IN COSTS OF MAINTAINING AND BUILDING THAT HOUSING HAS OUTPACED, RIGHT, THE WONDERFUL RESOURCES THAT STATE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE.

AND SO WE'RE FIGHTING AN UPHILL BATTLE THAT CONTINUES TO GET KIND OF STEEPER AS WE'RE DOING IT, BUT MINNESOTA HAS A RICH HISTORY AND I THINK, AND SOME SUCCESS IN A TIME, THOUGH, WHEN IT'S GETTING EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO MAKE IT PENCIL OUT.

>> Cathy: WHAT ARE YOU SEEING IN TERMS OF INNOVATIONS, HERE, PAUL, MOVING FORWARD TO ATTACK THE PROBLEMS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND OF JOB TRAINING?

I MEAN, WHAT, IN YOUR SPHERE HERE OF INFLUENCE, ARE YOU SEEING INNOVATION THAT EXCITES YOU?

>> I SEE A LOT OF IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING.

THE CONVERSATIONS AROUND LAND USE AND ZONING, THESE ARE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS.

HOW WE REGULATE LAND HAS A REAL IMPACT ON THE ABILITY TO CREATE MORE HOUSING, FOR EXAMPLE.

PRIVATE SECTOR HERE, THE PRIVATE DEVELOPERS ACTUALLY ARE QUITE INVOLVED IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THEY'D LOVE TO DO MORE BUT, AGAIN, THIS ISSUE OF CAN YOU MAKE IT PENCIL OUT IS PART OF THE CHALLENGE.

SO I THINK THOSE ARE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, COMBINING SERVICES WITH THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING WORKFORCE HOUSING AND BUILDING IT ALONG TRANSIT LINES.

THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE ACTUALLY FAIRLY WELL, BUT, AGAIN, THE CHALLENGE IS HOW DO WE KIND OF TAKE IT TO SCALE AND HOW DO WE ALSO KIND OF MOVE IN SOME DIFFERENT WAYS THAT GETS GOVERNMENT MORE ALIGNED, GET THE PRIVATE SECTOR MORE ALIGNED WITH THAT WORK.

, WHAT'S YOUR SERVICE PATTERN GOING TO LOOK LIKE AS YOU RETIRE?

YOU'VE GOT STUFF PLANNED AND READY TO GO?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY, YEAH.

I'M GOING TO CONTINUE WORKING, I'M ON A NUMBER OF BOARDS, ON THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD AND HEALTHPARTNERS BOARD, DOING SOME WORK DOWN IN ROCHESTER WITH THE GROWTH OF MAYO AND THOSE ARE ALL IMPORTANT AREAS THAT I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT.

AND MY COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT ARE STILL -- >> Eric: DOESN'T REALLY SOUND LIKE RETIREMENT.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> NO, WELL, WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYING IS I DON'T WANT TO GET UP FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AND GET MY BODY ARMOR ON AND GO TO BATTLE.

SO THAT'S THE KEY.

>> Eric: ABSOLUTELY.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> SINGING: SNOWING AND BLOWING BUSHELS OF FUN NOW THE JINGLE HOP HAS BEGUN JINGLE BELL ... >> Eric: THE LIKELY TIE IN THE MINNESOTA HOUSE IS IN DOUBT AS A DISTRICT COURT JUDGE RULED A D.F.L.

CANDIDATE WHO WON BY A LARGE MARGIN DIDN'T LIVE IN HIS DISTRICT AND CANNOT TAKE OFFICE.

THE DECISION IS ALREADY BEING APPEALED TO THE STATE SUPREME COURT BUT IT COULD GIVE REPUBLICANS THE VOTES TO ELECT A SPEAKER.

AND IT ALL BRINGS EVEN MORE ATTENTION TO THE LAWMAKERS COMING TO THE CAPITOL, AND MARY LAHAMMER AGAIN IS INTRODUCING US TO A ROBUST GROUP OF FRESHMAN STARTING WITH A REPUBLICAN FROM GREATER MINNESOTA AND A DEMOCRAT FROM THE SUBURBS.

>> WE HAVE SOME VERY, VERY VERY GOOD OFFICERS OUT THERE THAT WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO GET OUT THERE AND KEEP DOING THE GOOD WORK THAT WE HAVE AND SUPPORT THOSE GUYS.

>> O YOU HAD TO DEAL WITH SOME HEADLINES AND BACKLASH FOR BEING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT TOO, THERE WAS TOUGH STUFF.

THE HEADLINE AS A JUDGE SAYING THAT YOU DIDN'T TELL THE TRUTH IN COURT.

>> THE TRUTH IS I NEVER LIED, I HAD LEGAL GUIDANCE THAT WHOLE.

I GOT A LETTER BACK FROM THE JUDICIARY BOARD BECAUSE I FILED A COMPLAINT ON THAT PARTICULAR JUDGE SO I GOT A RULING BACK THAT WAS IN MY FAVOR SHOWING THAT THEY FOUND MISCONDUCT IN HIS BEHAVIOR.

ON MY CAMPAIGN IT REALLY BOTHERED ME A LOT BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE JUDGING ME BY THAT.

WE AS LEGISLATORS NEED TO COME OUT ND UPPORT OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE NEED TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE VOCAL THAN WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW AND WE HAVE OME VERY GOOD LEGISLATORS RIGHT NOW THAT HAVE BEEN VERY VOCAL BUT WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AS A WHOLE.

BECAUSE WITHOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT WE DON'T HAVE STABILITY IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> AND WHAT ABOUT THE POLITICAL COMPETITIVENESS?

BECAUSE THIS WASN'T COMPLETELY AN EASY CAKE WALK FOR YOU, WAS IT?

HOW CLOSE WAS YOUR RACE?

>> IT WAS RELATIVELY CLOSE, YOU KNOW, I ONLY WON BY I THINK 850 VOTES, SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE.

IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A TIGHT RACE AND IT WAS ONLY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE THAT JUDGE'S RULING HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THAT, KIND OF PUTS A BAD TASTE IN YOUR MOUTH.

>> WHAT ABOUT OUR PERCEPTION THAT RURAL AREAS ARE GETTING MORE REPUBLICAN?

DO YOU FEEL THAT AND SEE THAT IN YOUR COMMUNITY?

>> YES AND NO, IT'S LITTLE POCKETS.

YOU KNOW, SO WE HAVE A UNIVERSITY INSIDE OUR SEAT THERE TOO AND THE LANGUAGE, CONCORDIA LANGUAGE VILLAGE, BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY IS ALSO DAILY WHICH HAPPENS TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE LIBERAL THAN CONSERVATIVE.

IN THE CITY IT'S PRETTY DIVIDED, ONCE YOU GET TO THE RURAL, THAT'S WHERE IT BECOMES PRETTY RED.

>> WHAT ABOUT ISSUES?

WHAT CAME THROUGH THEN IN THAT KIND OF DIVIDED DISTRICT AS KEY ISSUES FROM BOTH SIDE?

>> PUBLIC SAFETY, EDUCATION, THOSE WERE HUGE.

AND OBVIOUSLY TAXES WAS NUMBER ONE FOR EVERYBODY.

EVERYBODY'S FEELING IT, EVERYBODY WAS WONDERING WHAT COULD WE DO TO BE ABLE TO BRING THOSE DOWN AND CHANGE THAT AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY MAKE SOME CHANGES IN LEGISLATION TO BE ABLE TO HELP -- >> MIDDLE GROUND IS SOMETHING THE HOUSE IS GOING TO HAVE TO FIND.

[ LAUGHTER ] BECAUSE I DOUBT WHEN YOU WERE RUNNING YOU REALLY THOUGHT I'M GOING TO BE IN A TIE.

DID YOU THINK THAT COULD HAPPEN?

>> I NEVER THOUGHT IT.

TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

I CAME IN HOPING THAT WE WERE GOING TO GET THE AJORITY.

NOW IT'S GOING TO FORCE US TO ACTUALLY WORK TOGETHER.

YOU KNOW, SO THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ONE SIDE OF THE AISLE THAT'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO RAM EVERYTHING THROUGH.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK EDINA AND FIRST-STRING SUBURBS LIKE THAT HAVE GOTTEN LESS COMPETITIVE AND BLUER OVER TIME?

>> FISCALLY THE SUBURBS ARE MORE CONSERVATIVE BUT I THINK THAT A LOT OF THE SOCIAL ISSUES AND UNFORTUNATELY THEY SEEM TO BE DRIVING A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION, I THINK A LOT OF THE SUBURBS AND THE METRO INCLUDING THE EDINA COMMUNITY ARE TAKING A STAND WITH THEIR VALUES, WE'RE GOING TO TREAT PEOPLE AND LET PEOPLE LOVE WHAT THEY WANT TO LOVE AND LIVE HOW THEY WANT TO LIVE.

AND ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY AND NOTHING IT HELD AGAINST THEM.

>> WE HAVE TO BE HONEST THAT NOT EVERYBODY ROOTS FOR EDINA.

[ LAUGHTER ] CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT?

KIND OF THE CITY EVERYBODY LOVES TO HATE IN MINNESOTA.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, YES, I'VE LEARNED THAT.

AND I THINK NE OF THE THINGS I'VE LEARNED, I'VE STAYED THERE, WE MOVED TO MINNESOTA NOT KNOWING ISSUE IN, WE CHOSE EDINA, BUT I WILL TELL YOU EDINA IS A PASSIONATE ENGAGED COMMUNITY AND WE GET A LOT OF STUFF DONE AND WE'RE ALSO PROGRESSIVE THINKING.

AND SOMETIMES WHEN THAT HAPPENS YOU LAND ON TOP.

I MEAN, WE HAVE OVER, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE T 209 OR 208 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS FROM OUR HIGH SCHOOL.

BUT I THINK EDINA, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BECOME A LOT MORE I THINK INCLUSIVE, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY GOOD WORK GOING ON IN OUR SCHOOLS, I HAVE MET SOME OF THE SMARTEST PEOPLE I HAVE EVER MET IN MY LIFE IN MY COMMUNITY.

>> THAT WERE THE THEMES OR MESSAGES THAT YOU HEARD THIS TIME?

>> THIS WAS A VERY INTERESTING ELECTION CYCLE.

YOU COULD HAVE DONE A WHOLE A.P.

CLASS ON DOORKNOCKING AND THE EVOLUTION OF DOORSPOCKING FROM JUNE UNTIL NOVEMBER.

THAT SAID, SOME OF THE THEMES THAT CONTINUED TO OCCUR, PUBLIC EDUCATION, ARE WE TAKING CARE OF OUR SCHOOLS, ARE WE MAKING SURE WE ARE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE, THE OTHER THING I HEARD WAS THE NATIONAL ELECTION.

>> WHAT OPINIONS AND ATTITUDES SEEMED TO CHANGE OVER THE CYCLE?

>> THERE WAS A BIT OF APATHY.

I THINK WHEN THERE WAS THE FLIP IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WITH VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS JUMPING IN, THAT CHANGED THINGS AND I THINK THERE WAS A BOOST OF ENERGY AND ENGAGEMENT, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR YOUNGER VOTERS.

>> DID IT MAKE DEMOCRATS OVERCONFIDENT, THOUGH, THAT THERE WAS THIS NEW ENTHUSIASM THAT HARRIS WAS GOING TO GET THE YOUTH VOTE WHEN TRUMP DID PRETTY WELL?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF OVERCONFIDENT WAS THE RIGHT WORD BUT THE DEMOCRATS NEED TO CONTINUE LISTENING AND REALLY MAKING SURE WE'RE BRINGING COMMUNITIES ALONG WITH ALL OF THE DECISIONS.

♪♪ >> SINGING: HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS >> Eric: AS MENTIONED EARLIER IN THE HOUR THIS IS OUR LAST SHOW OF 2024 AND POLITICS HAS BEEN THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING THIS CALENDAR YEAR.

SHORTLY BEFORE WE WENT ON THE AIR FRIDAY NIGHT THE U.S. HOUSE VOTED TO KEEP THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FUNDED.

EARLIER TODAY ONE OF TWO ONGOING COURT CASES HERE IN MINNESOTA HAS BEEN RULED UPON, AND THAT RULING COULD IMPACT BALANCE OF POWER IN THE STATE HOUSE.

PLUS NEWS OF A RIFT BETWEEN GOVERNOR WALZ AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FLANAGAN IS MAKING THE MEDIA ROUNDS THIS WEEK.

PLENTY TO TALK ABOUT.

REPUBLICANS UP FIRST, ANDY BREHM IS A LAWYER WHO SERVED AS A U.S.

SENATOR NORM COLEMAN'S PRESS SECRETARY.

AMY KOCH IS FORMER STATE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, NOW A LOBBYIST.

DEMOCRATS WITH US TONIGHT, JEFF HAYDEN, FORMER SENATOR NOW LOBBYIST.

ROUNDING OUT THE GROUP TONIGHT, ABOU AMARA, FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER TURNED ATTORNEY.

ABOU, YOU READ THE OPINION THAT SAID REPRESENTATIVE-ELECT JOHNSON IN THE ROSEVILLE AREA WAS NOT A RESIDENT IN TIME TO QUALIFY TO BE A CANDIDATE, CAN'T BE SEATED.

WHERE ARE WE?

>> LOOK, I THINK FACTUALLY THERE WAS A LOT IN THAT RECORD SO I THINK HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO STRUGGLE WITH THAT ON APPEAL.

I WILL SAY THIS, THOUGH, IF YOU READ THE SUPREME COURT'S DISCRETIONARY REVIEW DENIAL, IN OTHER WORDS SAYING WE'RE NOT GOING TO HEAR IT RIGHT NOW, THERE WERE TWO WORDS REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND THOSE WORDS WERE TO BASICALLY SAYING THAT THE COURT IS NOT GOING TO -- WITHOUT PREJUDICE, SORRY, OOK ME A LITTLE WHILE.

WITHOUT PREJUDICE, THOSE WORDS ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT MEANS IT'S NOT OVER YET.

THEY COULD HAVE RULED AND SAID WITH PREJUDICE MEANING THEY'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE UP THE DECISION.

THIS IS NOT THE LAST OF THIS ISSUE.

>> Eric: 67-67, CO-DESIGNATED SPEAKERS AND SPEAKER DEMUTH ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE GOT PRESS RELEASES SAYING I'M THE SPEAKER AND WILL BE FOR TWO YEARS.

>> WELL, BECAUSE THE VOTE WILL NOW BE AS ORDERED BY THE COURT, HE'S NOT ALLOWED TO BE SEATED, THE ELECTED CURTIS JOHNSON, SO THE COUNT WILL BE AT THIS POINT 67-66 WHICH MEANS REPUBLICANS WILL HAVE THE MAJORITY AND A SIMPLE MAJORITY ELECTS A SPEAKER AND THAT IS A VERY EXCITING LISA DEMUTH.

>> Eric: I DON'T VET CANDIDATES FOR A LIVING.

>> EITHER DO I -- ACTUALLY, I DO, BUT.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> Eric: IT SEEMS TO ME THAT AT LEAST THE SECTION QUESTION WOULD BE DO YOU LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.

>> WELL, YEAH, I MEAN I THINK IT WAS CLEAR THAT Mr. JOHNSON DIDN'T LIVE IN THE DISTRICT AND WAS MOVING TO THE DISTRICT.

HE SAID HE WAS LOOKING FOR HIS FOREVER HOUSE.

COULDN'T FIND IT YET SO HE WAS GETTING AN APARTMENT IN THE DISTRICT, AND WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS THAT HE ACTUALLY DIDN'T RESIDE THERE, HE ACTUALLY DIDN'T LIVE THERE IS WHAT THEY'VE SAID.

BUT I DO WANT TO GO TO THE 67-66 KIND OF DEAL.

IF IT STANDS, LEADER DEMUTH COULD BE THE SPEAKER.

BUT SHE'S STILL GOT TO GET 68 VOTES TO PASS BILLS.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW THAT NO MATTER HOW IT WORKS, THEY STILL WON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY PASS BILLS.

>> Eric: ONE OF THE TWITTER PEOPLE SAID IT'S -- IT'S A MAJORITY BUT NOT THE MAJORITY.

>> RIGHT.

>> CORRECT.

>> YEAH, THERE'S A LOT OF TECHNICALITIES HERE AND ABOU MAY HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE IN ELECTION LAW THAN I DO, I'M JUST A SIMPLE COUNTRY ATTORNEY.

[ LAUGHTER ] BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT TO -- >> Eric: FOR SIX MONTHS.

>> TO REPRESENT.

AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE UTILITIES TURNED ON WHICH THE CANDIDATE DIDN'T, YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.

DEMOCRATS ARE GETTING SLOPPY.

THEY'VE RUN THE HOW FOR A LONG TIME, THIS, YOU KNOW, I CALL IT A MISTAKE AND DO BETTER NEXT TIME.

TRYING TO GET OUT OF THIS IS JUST RIDICULOUS.

>> Cathy: SO WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

IS THERE IN TERMS OF IS THERE A SPECIAL ELECTION CALLED?

>> THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL ELECTION CALLED BUT IT TAKES AT LEAST SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS TO GET THAT ELECTION DONE.

AND SO THE LEGISLATURE CONVENES ON THE 14TH OF JANUARY AND THEY WILL CONVENE WITH A 67-66 AND THAT IS WHEN YOU VOTE FOR SPEAKER AND IT IS NOT A 68 VOTE TO GET TO SPEAKER, IT IS A SIMPLE MAJORITY TO GET TO SPEAKER BY THE RULES AS THEY HAVE EXISTED FOR AS LONG AS -- >> Cathy: AND CAN THE BODY CHANGE THOSE?

>> YES, BUT YOU NEED 68 VOTES TO CHANGE THE RULES.

>> Cathy: OKAY.

>> AND SO THEY CANNOT CHANGE THE RULES.

AND THEN, SO LET'S SAY PRESUMABLY BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY SAFE DEMOCRAT SEAT, IT'S GOING TO BE A D.F.L.AR THAT WINS THE SPECIAL.

>> IN ROSEVILLE, YEAH.

>> THEN THEY GO BACK TO 67-67 BUT YOU NEED 8 TO ELECT A NEW SPEAKER, THAT IS MY DEMUTH IS SAYING I WILL BE SPEAKER FOR TWO YEARS.

>> THIS IS WHY THE LAWSUIT MATTERS SO MUCH.

THERE'S A LEGAL QUESTION THAT CAN RESOLVE THIS.

IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THIS LOWER COURT DECISION GETS OVERTURNED.

IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME IN LITIGATION.

POINT NUMBER ONE.

POINT NUMBER TWO, DEMOCRATS STILL HAVE THE MAJORITY NOW, SOME ARE SAYING, AND I'M NOT SAYING WE HAVE CONSENSUS ON THIS, SOME ARE SAYING THERE SHOULD BE A SPECIAL SESSION THAT SAYS IF YOU'RE A SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE YOU SHOULD HAVE MAJORITY OF THE BODY OF THE HOUSE IF YOU WANT TO SERVE IN THAT ROLE, AND I THINK THAT'S A REASONABLE ARGUMENT I THINK MOST MINNESOTANS UNDERSTAND.

>> THAT HASN'T BEEN THE RULE AND HASN'T BEEN THE RULE FOR A VERY LONG TIME, IF THEY GO IN ONE WEEK AHEAD AND CHANGE THE RULES, YOU CAN DO THAT BUT I THINK IT'S A BAD LOOK.

>> IT IS GOING TO BE REALLY HARD AND IT WAS ALREADY GOING TO BE KIND OF GRIDLOCK AND THEY WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO COMANAGE.

I THINK THAT THE DEMOCRATS IF THEY WERE TO DO WHAT ABOU SUGGESTED THEY DO, IT WOULD LOOK REALLY BAD.

I THINK IF REPUBLICANS KIND OF OVERREACH IN THE SPEAKER, AND SPEAKER DEMUTH DOESN'T KIND OF ABIDE BY THE CO-GOVERNANCE MODEL EVEN IF SHE HAPPENS TO GET ONE VOTE FOR THE SPEAKER WHEN THEY COME BACK, I THINK SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TROUBLE.

I THINK BOTH GROUPS NEED TO BE REALLY, REALLY CAREFUL ABOUT THE WAY THAT THEY MOVE FORWARD.

IT'S REALLY TENUOUS OVER THERE.

>> WELL, I THINK, I MEAN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, THE JOB OF REPUBLICANS IS ULTIMATELY TO BE DOING SOME BLOCKING HERE.

I MEAN, THAT'S -- AND THANK GOODNESS THAT THEY CAN.

>> Eric: THE SENATE IS 34-33 DEMOCRAT.

AND THERE'S A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> RIGHT.

SO WHETHER THERE'S A TIE OR THEY HAVE A MAJORITY ULTIMATELY THEY'LL HAVE THE SAME ROLE WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT ONE WHICH IS TO STOP THE DISASTER OF DEMOCRATS DRIVING THE AGENDA FOR SO LONG.

I MEAN, WE'RE LOOKING AT A MAJOR BUDGET DEFICIT THAT HAS TO E ADDRESSED.

AND MUST BE ADDRESSED THROUGH SPENDING CUTS AND REPUBLICANS WILL FINALLY HAVE A VOICE AT THE TABLE TO DO THAT.

>> Eric: WHAT ABOUT THE FRAUD DE JURE THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT WE'RE GETTING?

I THINK REPUBLICANS HAVE FOUND A RESONATING ISSUE THERE.

>> LOOK, IF YOU LOOK T WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN THE COURTS, I THINK THAT'S CLEAR.

YOU REALLY GET TO THE BARE BONES ISSUES, THINGS THAT YOU HAVE LARGE AGREEMENT ON, THIS COULD BE ONE OF THOSE ISSUES.

YOU COULD HAVE BIPARTISAN CONSUCCESSOUS AROUND REFORMS AND HOW MONEY GETS THROWN OUT THE DOOR SO ULTIMATELY WE CAN REDUCE OR ELIMINATE FRAUD IN MINNESOTA.

>> Cathy: SAY, THIS IS GOING TO BE A REALLY INTERESTING SESSION ALREADY.

I'M WONDERING ABOUT THIS REPORTED RIFT BETWEEN LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FLANAGAN AND GOVERNOR WALZ.

AND I'M WONDERING HOW, AND I KNOW THE GOVERNOR KIND OF BRUSHED OFF VAN OOTA SACHAR SAYING IT'S PALACE INTRIGUE, BUT DON'T YOU NEED -- THEY BOTH TOUTED THEMSELVES AS PARTNERS IN GOVERNING, DON'T YOU NEED THESE WO TO BE BUDS HERE GOING INTO THE SESSION?

>> WELL, AND TRADITIONALLY A GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HAVE NOT NECESSARILY BEEN BUDS.

THIS HAS BEEN A VERY CLOSE RELATIONSHIP THAT I THINK WAS MARKED BECAUSE SUDDENLY POST THE PRESIDENTIAL RUN FOR GOVERNOR WALZ, THEY WERE NOT SEEN TOGETHER ANYMORE AND FUNDRAISERS RE BEING ELD THAT ARE FOR JUST GOVERNOR WALZ.

AND SO I THINK THAT RAISED QUESTIONS, WHICH LED TO A REPORTED MEETING THAT TOOK PLACE VERY SHORTLY AFTER THE ELECTION, AND SORT OF INSIDERS TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF BAD -- BAD CONVERSATIONS AND BAD BLOOD.

I THINK IT'S NOT A GOOD LOOK AND -- BUT, YOU KNOW, THE IDEA THAT A GOVERNOR OR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ARE BEST FRIENDS, THAT'S HIGHLY UNUSUAL AND REALLY NOT USUALLY THE CASE.

>> YEAH, I THINK, I MEAN ULTIMATELY PEOPLE DON'T REALLY CARE AND AS AMY SAID IT'S PRETTY COMMON FOR THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TO GET ALONG.

GOVERNOR WALZ IS IN A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE SPOT RIGHT NOW.

IT'S PRETTY MUCH WELL REGARDED THAT HIS PERFORMANCE AS SECOND IN COMMAND ON THE TICKET WASN'T VERY GOOD.

A POLL CAME OUT TODAY FROM THE CENTER FOR THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT SHOWING THAT HE PROBABLY HURT THE TICKET EVEN HERE, MOST MINNESOTANS DIDN'T CARE, 25% OF MINNESOTANS FOUND HIM BEING ON THE TICKET O BE A NEGATIVE AND ONLY 24% FOUND IT POSITIVE.

>> IT'S THE CENTER FOR MERICAN EXPERIMENT -- >> WELL, THEY HAD A POLLSTER DO IT.

I THINK IT'S PRETTY WELL REGARDED HE'S -- >> I THINK THAT MIGHT BE JUST A LITTLE HYPERBOLE.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR HAS TO COME BACK AND ESTABLISH HIMSELF AS THE GOVERNOR.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF LEADERSHIP GOING TO BE NEEDED IN THE LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNORS USUALLY HELP WITH THAT.

I THINK IN ADDITION TO THAT THE FRAUD ISSUE IS SOMETHING THAT HE HAS TO, THERE ARE THINGS THAT HE NEEDS TO DO, NEEDS TO TALK TO HIS COMMISSIONERS.

>> THAT IS LARGELY ADMINISTRATIVE, IN FACT, IT IS ADMINISTRATIVE.

>> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY -- SO I THINK AN I.G.

BILL IS ON TOP.

>> INSPECTOR GENERAL.

>> INSPECTOR GENERAL, RIGHT, KIND OF BILL.

AND HE NEEDS TO KIND OF FIGURE THAT OUT.

SO I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SEEING MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IS THAT GOVERNOR WALZ REALIZES HE NEEDS ON GET BACK IN THE STATE ASSERT HIS LEADERSHIP.

>> I THINK HE WILL DO THAT EARLIER EFFECTIVELY IN THE HOUSE.

REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS YOU PRETTY MUCH HAVE A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE AS A BODY AND SO THAT'S GOING TO REQUIRE THE ADMINISTRATION TO ACTUALLY ENGAGE EARLIER TO RESOLVE SOME OF THESE CONFLICTS IF WE WANT TO GET DONE BY CONSTITUTIONAL DEADLINE.

>> Eric: EIGHT OR NINE DEMOCRATS FROM SWING DISTRICTS NOW HAVE ORGANIZED AS BLUE DOG DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE.

IS THAT NATURE'S WAY OF SAYING WE TOOK TOO MANY TOUGH VOTES IN -- >> WE TOOK TOO MANY.

IT'S NOT SURPRISING IT'S THE SENATE, THEY'RE NOT CFSS UP FOR REELECTION IN TWO YEARS, THIS IS POLITICS, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

ADDITIONALLY THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT NO MORE TAX INCREASES AND I THINK VERY KEY IS ONE OF THOSE BLUE DOGS IS THE TAX CHAIR HERSELF SENATOR ANN REST.

>> WOULD YOU BE A BLUE DOG IN THE SENATE?

>> WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN WHEN I GOT THERE, MAYBE WHEN I LEFT, THOUGH.

[ LAUGHTER ] AND WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT SHIFTS RIGHT, AND PEOPLE START TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEIR DISTRICTS ARE AND WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.

OFTEN WHEN YOU'RE IN LEADERSHIP, YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'RE ESTABLISHMENT, LIKE WHEN I LEFT AND I THINK I'M PROGRESSIVE AND STILL FEEL LIKE ONE.

GLANDY.

>> IT'S A LITTLE DISINGENUOUS, EACH ONE OF THOSE SENATORS DURING THE LAST SESSION COULD HAVE BEEN THE JOE MANCHIN AND SAID, HEY, LET'S PUT THE BRAKES ON THIS AND NONE OF THEM DID THAT.

AND NOW THEY'RE READING THE POLITICAL TEA LEAVES AND SEEING MORE OF THE COUNTRY LEANING TO THE MIDDLE.

IT'S DISINGENUOUS AT THIS POINT, EACH ONE OF THEM COULD HAVE PREVENTED IT.

>> Eric: REALLY GOING TO ENJOY 2025.

>> Cathy: IT'S GOING TO BE O MUCH FUN.

>> HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

>> Eric: HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

TREMENDOUS STUFF.

TREMENDOUS.

♪♪ >> I WAS BROUGHT UP BOTH IN TERMS OF THE FAMILY AND IN TERMS OF POLITICS, THAT RELIGION WAS PRIVATE.

IT'S A PRIVATE CONVICTION.

MINNESOTANS GO TO CHURCH, THEY GO TO THE SYNAGOGUES AND SO ON AND SO FORTH, BUT YOU DON'T TALK ABOUT IT.

I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S PART OF OUR SCANDINAVIAN HERITAGE THAT YOU'RE QUIET ABOUT IT.

AND BEING LUTHERAN WE WERE ALWAYS TOLD THAT IF YOU PRAY, YOU SHOULD GO IN A CLOSET AND SHUT THE DOOR.

♪♪ >> Eric: IT'S TIME FOR ONE LAST MINNESOTA HISTORY QUESTION THIS YEAR.

FOR THIS WEEK'S EFFORT WE HEAD TO THE WORLD OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS.

THE YEAR, 1998.

A SEASON THAT ENDED WITH HEARTBREAK FOR MINNESOTA VIKINGS FANS.

MAYBE THIS YEAR WILL BE DIFFERENT?

WHO KNOWS.

OUR QUESTION HAS TO DO WITH A HAPPIER OUTCOME.

AS A MINNESOTA SPORTS TEAM NEARS THE END OF ITS REGULAR SEASON THEY WIN A HIGH SCORING CONTEST, BUT THE SCORE IS NOT THE KEY PART OF THE COMPETITION THAT DAY.

NOT ONE, BUT TWO LEAGUE RECORDS WERE SET BETWEEN BOTH TEAMS ON THE FIELD.

SO THE QUESTION FOR YOU IS: WHAT TWO PROFESSIONAL SPORTS RECORDS WERE SET IN 1998 IN A GAME BY A MINNESOTA TEAM AND ITS OPPONENT?

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU'RE CALLING IN FROM ST. NICHOLAS, SANTA CLAUS LAKE OR MISTLETOE CREEK.

651-229-1430 THE NUMBER TO CALL WITH ALL OF YOUR HOLIDAY GUESSES FOR THE SEASON.

IF YOU'D RATHER VISIT US ON THE WEB, DROP US A NOTE AT ALMANAC@TPT.ORG.

WHILE YOU'RE ONLINE WE'D ALSO LIKE TO GET YOUR FEEDBACK IF YOU USE THE CLOSED CAPTIONING FEATURE AND WHY YOU USE IT AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT.

ALMANAC@TPT.ORG.

NO "ALMANAC" NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT.

TWO WEEKS FROM TONIGHT A SPECIAL EDITION OF THE SHOW WITH MARY LAHAMMER, PREVIEWING THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION, A LOOK AT WHO CAME OUT ON TOP ON HER "RACES TO WATCH" SEAR.

JUST ENOUGH TIME FOR SHOW-ENDING HOLIDAY MUSIC.

A TREAT FOR YOU TONIGHT.

THIS WEEK BACK IN 2005 BUTCH THOMPSON VISITED THE STUDIO AND PLAYED THE PIANO N ONLY THE WAY HE CAN ON THE OLD PETROF.

TAKE A LISTEN.

WE'LL SEE YOU IN THE NEW YEAR.

BE CAREFUL.

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

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY ... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 27 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH WHILE ADVANCING SOCIAL EQUITIES.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

AND PAINT CARE, HELPING MINNESOTA PAINT SMARTER TO PREVENT WASTE.

MORE AT PAINTCARE.ORG.

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