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

>> Eric: COMING UP ON "ALMANAC" WE'LL TALK WITH A REPORTER COVERING THE FEDERAL RAID IN MINNEAPOLIS, HEAR HOW ATTACKS ON JEWS AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE AFFECTING THE MINNESOTA JEWISH COMMUNITY AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE JUST ANNOUNCED STATE BUDGET AGREEMENT.

MARY LAHAMMER BEEN TRACKING THAT ALL WEEK LONG.

>> LAWMAKERS AND THE GOVERNOR ARE WORKING TOWARDS A SPECIAL SESSION WHILE WALZ RETURNS TO THE NATIONAL STAGE, INCREASING HIS POLITICAL PROFILE.

>> YOU'VE INTERVIEWED A LOT OF CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT.

DOES HE LOOK AND SOUND LIKE ONE?

>> I THINK HE'S TRYING SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

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

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

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

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

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

>> Eric: ON TONIGHT'S SHOW, STEVE HUNEGS FROM THE JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT HOW VIOLENT ATTACKS OUTSIDE OF MINNESOTA ARE AFFECTING THE COMMUNITY HERE, A PSYCHOLOGIST WHO'S WORKED WITH FARM FAMILIES FOR MORE THAN FOUR DECADES IS RETIRING AT THE END OF THIS MONTH, AND, OF COURSE, THERE IS THE NEWLY SIGNED BUDGET AGREEMENT AND MONDAY'S UPCOMING SPECIAL SESSION.

>> Cathy: WE'LL COVER ALL OF THAT, WE START TONIGHT, THOUGH, WITH THAT BIG RAID AND PROTEST AT A SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS MEXICAN RESTAURANT EARLIER THIS WEEK.

IT INVOLVED MULTIPLE FEDERAL AGENCIES INCLUDING I.C.E.

AND THE FBI.

THE INNEAPOLIS POLICE AND HENNEPIN COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENTS WERE CALLED IN AS PART OF THE OPERATION AS WELL.

WAS IT AN IMMIGRATION ACTION, AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS FEARED?

OR A NEW CHAPTER IN CONFRONTING WHAT THE FEDS SAY IS MULTI-DIMENSIONAL THREATS FROM DRUG SMUGGLING TO CRIMINAL LABOR TRAFFICKING?

JOINING US RIGHT NOW IS ONE OF THE STAR TRIBUNE REPORTERS COVERING THE EVOLVING STORY, KYELAND JACKSON, SO NICE TO HAVE YOU BACK.

>> THANK YOU, IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK.

>> THIS WAS QUITE AN ACCIDENT.

THERE'S A LOT OF FINGER-POINTING GOING ON, SOME MISINFORMATION, DO WE REALLY KNOW WHAT HAPPENED?

>> UNFORTUNATELY WE ONLY KNOW WHAT THE FEDERAL AGENTS AND FEDERAL AGENCIES HAVE TOLD US, WHICH IS NOT TOO MUCH.

WE HAVE BEEN TOLDS AS YOU MENTIONED IT'S PART OF A NEW FEDERAL TASK FORCE THAT MINNEAPOLIS IS INVOLVED IN AND THIS IS UST ONE OF THOSE RAIDS THAT'S INVOLVED IN THAT TASK FORCE, SO THERE'S NO TELLING IF THERE COULD BE MORE OPERATIONS AS PART OF THAT TASK FORCE THAT INVOLVED DCI, HOMELAND SECURITY, ATF, DEA AND OTHERS THAT WE SAW ON LAKE STREET.

BUT WE KNOW THAT THERE WAS AT LEAST EIGHT RAIDS TOTAL ON THAT DAY.

>> Eric: IS THERE A SITUATION WHERE A FEDERAL AGENCY HAS TO REPORT TO LOCALS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, OR IS THAT A PROPRIETARY THING THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO DISCLOSE?

>> WE DON'T KNOW FOR CERTAIN BUT IN THIS CASE AT LEAST IT WAS PROPRIETARY, AND THE MPD AND OTHER OFFICIALS N MINNEAPOLIS WEREN'T ACTUALLY TOLD OF THE OPERATION UNTIL ABOUT THE HOUR OF OR THE HOUR AFTERWARDS.

SO CHIEF BRIAN O'HARA FOR THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE FOR EXAMPLE WASN'T TOLD ABOUT THE OPERATION UNTIL ABOUT AN HOUR OR SO AFTER IT HAD BEGUN AND WAS BROUGHT IN FOR HELPING ITH CROWD CONTROL, WITH TRAFFIC, AND WITH PEOPLE ON THE SIDEWALKS.

SO IN THIS CASE THEY WERE NOT TOLD.

BUT IT'S CIRCUMSTANTIAL, DEPENDS ON WHAT THE EVENT IS AND IF THEY FEEL LIKE TELLING THEM.

>> Cathy: THIS WAS AS THEY SAY VERY TENSE.

FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY WERE VERY UPSET.

THEY THOUGHT, THEY SAW THE I.C.E.

AGENTS AND THOUGHT IT WAS A RAID, AN IMMIGRATION RAID.

SOME ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE ACCUSING OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS OF SPREADING MISINFORMATION.

WHAT ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF FINGER-POINTING, BUT A LOT OF IT IS HAVING A CURRENT EFFECT ON THE BUSINESSES THERE, AND REALLY THEY'RE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHICH DIRECTION TO MOVE FORWARD.

AS YOU MENTIONED, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE POINTING FINGERS IN TERMS OF SAYING MISINFORMATION WAS SPREAD ON SOCIAL MEDIA, PROTESTERS, PEOPLE WHO WERE AT THE SITE WERE ALLEGING THE SAME FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, FEDERAL AGENCIES.

BUT A LOT OF THIS ROOTS INTO JUST MISINFORMATION, PERHAPS JUST MISUNDERSTANDINGS THAT GOT ONTO SOCIAL MEDIA AS AN IMMIGRATION RAID OR IMMIGRATION OPERATION, AND THE TRAIN WENT OFF THE TRACKS FROM THERE.

>> Eric: DO RULES ABOUT THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT INVOLVEMENT IN FEDERAL IMMIGRATION CASE, DO THEY NEED TO BE REVISED?

IF YOU'RE CALLED S A POLICE OFFICER FOR CROWD CONTROL, IS THAT CONTRIBUTING TO THE DEPORTATION?

OR IS IT JUST PROTECTING AND IS SERVING THE PEOPLE OF YOUR COMMUNITY?

>> WELL, THE MINNEAPOLIS COUNCIL MAY LOOK INTO THAT VERY SOON.

THEY JUST VOTED I ELIEVE IT WAS 12-0 TO DO AN AFTER-ACTION REVIEW OF WHETHER OR NOT MINNEAPOLIS WAS INVOLVED IN THIS OPERATION IN A WAY THAT THEY WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE.

MINNEAPOLIS IS DESIGNATED AS A SANCTUARY CITY WHICH MEANS THAT MINNEAPOLIS POLICE AREN'T NECESSARILY SUPPOSED TO HELP WITH IMMIGRATION ACTIONS SUCH AS TAKING PEOPLE UNDER I.C.E.

OR OTHER SUCH ACTIONS.

SO THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT BUT WE SHOULD KNOW SOON MORE ONCE THAT'S DONE.

>> Cathy: IGHT, THIS INCIDENT OBVIOUSLY WAS VERY SENSITIVE FOR THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

CAN YOU TELL FOLKS WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT AREA OF MINNEAPOLIS ABOUT WHY THIS WAS SUCH A VERY TENSE SITUATION?

>> YES, WELL, IT'S A VERY LARGE PART OF THE MIGRANT AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY IN SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS, AND IT HAD VERY IN SOME BUSINESSES' CASES, DISASTROUS EFFECTS JUST FROM THE NEWS OF IT.

THE DAY AFTER THE FACT BUSINESSES UP AND DOWN LAKE STREET SAID THAT THEY ERE NOT HAVING CUSTOMERS COMING IN ALL DAY.

OTHERS THOUGHT THAT DIFFERENT BUSINESSES WERE SHUT DOWN BECAUSE OF MISINFORMATION OR CONFUSION ONLINE.

AND IT'S AFFECTING THEM TODAY, LIKELY IN IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

>> Eric: THAT SOCIAL MEDIA COMPONENT ALLOWS FOLKS TO ORGANIZE PRETTY QUICKLY, I MEAN, WORD GETS OUT.

>> YES, THERE WAS EVEN A UNIVERSITY OF I BELIEVE ST. THOMAS PROFESSOR THAT OUR COLLEAGUE INTERVIEWED TALKING ABOUT THAT.

THEY MENTIONED THAT THEY HAVEN'T SEEN PEOPLE RESPOND IN SUCH MASS NUMBERS AND SO QUICKLY IN RECENT HISTORY.

A LOT OF THAT THEY BELIEVE IS BECAUSE SOCIAL MEDIA HAS BECOME A PIVOTAL RESOURCE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO ORGANIZE.

>> Cathy: OKAY, SO BEFORE YOU GO YOU MENTIONED THE AFTER-ACTION REVIEW.

DO WE HAVE A TIMELINE AS TO WHEN THAT REPORT MIGHT BE DONE AT ALL?

>> UNFORTUNATELY NOT.

THE COUNCIL DID VOTE ON IT THURSDAY BUT WITH A LOT OF THE OUTCRY OF RESIDENTS, OF PROTESTERS, IT COULD BE SOONER THAN LATER.

THERE WAS EVEN A MERGENCY PRESS CONFERENCE OUTSIDE OF MAYOR FREY'S OFFICE I BELIEVE THURSDAY.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.

KYELAND, IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU.

>> GREAT TO SEE YOU BOTH.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

>> Eric: ALL THE BEST.

♪♪ >> Eric: FEAR IN JEWISH COMMUNITIES HAS INTENSIFIED AFTER A FIREBOMBING IN BOULDER, COLORADO, ON SUNDAY INJURED NEARLY 20 PEOPLE.

THE ATTACK CAME LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AFTER TWO ISRAELI EMBASSY STAFF MEMBERS WERE SHOT AND KILLED BY A GUNMAN IN WASHINGTON, D.C. STEVE HUNEGS IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL OF MINNESOTA AND THE DAKOTAS, KNOWN AS JCRC.

ARE FOLKS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE BETWEEN LIKE VIOLENCE FROM THE LEFT AND VIOLENCE FROM THE RIGHT?

I MEAN, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S KIND OF COMING FROM ALL DIRECTIONS.

FISCAL NOTE IS EXACTLY RIGHT, ERIC, AND THANK YOU, CATHY, FOR HAVING US ON THE SHOW.

DRIVING JEWS FROM THE PUBLIC SPACES, FROM THE CIVIC SPACES IS ONE OF THE GOALS OF THIS TERRORISM.

THEY WON'T SUCCEED.

ALSO, PEOPLE ARE GOING ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS, GOING TO SYNAGOGUE, GOING TO SCHOOLS, GOING TO AGENCIES, GOING TO THEIR WORKPLACE, HAPPENS TO BE A JEWISH WORKPLACE, SO THAT'S ALSO GOOD.

PEOPLE ARE CALM, WE'RE RESOLUTE.

BUT YOUR POINT IS WELL TAKEN.

IF YOU GO BACK TO SYNAGOGUE, THE ATTACK ON THE SYNAGOGUE IN PITTSBURGH, THAT WAS CONNECTED BY WHITE SUPREMACISTS.

THE SYNAGOGUE IN SAN DIEGO, OUTSIDE OF SAN DIEGO, WHITE SUPREMACIST.

FIVE YEARS LATER WHAT ARE WE SEEING, WHETHER IT'S THE ATTACK ON GOVERNOR SHAPIRO IN PENNSYLVANIA, ATTACKS ON EMBASSY WORKERS, IN D.C. OR WHAT HAPPENED IN BOULDER, THAT'S NOW COMING FROM THE FAR LEFT.

THEY CALL IT THE HORSESHOE PHENOMENAL, THAT'S WHERE THE FAR LEFT AND FAR RIGHT AGREE HATRED OF JEWS AND TERRORISM OF JEWS AND AS YOU SUGGESTED ERIC, DEEPLY CONCERNING.

>> Cathy: THIS SEEMS TO BE AN INTRACTABLE SITUATION.

JEWISH FOLKS, THIS DOESN'T SEEM TO GO AWAY, THE ANTI-SEMITISM.

>> IT'S OUR WORK AND WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.

AS I SAID BEFORE WE'RE RESOLUTE.

KEEP IN MIND IN THE UNITED STATES THERE'S NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO BE A JEW, RIGHT?

WE ENJOY REMARKABLE FREEDOMS, WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH MOST GROUPS, MOST RELIGIOUS GROUPS.

GOT TO KEEP IT IN PERSPECTIVE.

NEVERTHELESS THIS IS A DIFFICULT AND TROUBLING TIME BECAUSE OF THE RISE OF ANTI-SEMITISM AND NOW WHAT WE'RE SEEING, IMPORTATION OF SORT OF THE WORST ASPECTS OF THE MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT BY TERRORISM OF JEWS AND ISRAEL SUPPORTERS TOO.

I BROUGHT WITH ME THIS LETTER THAT WAS SIGNED BY A NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND THIS IS SORT OF THE CRITICAL POINT HERE IS THEY SAID THE CONTEXT IS EFFECTIVELY GLORIFYING VIOLENCE, AND OPEN CALLS TO VIOLENCE OBSERVED AFTER OCTOBER 11th IT'S A LETTER TO FACEBOOK, TICK TOK AND X.

WELL, THAT'S THE POINT, WHAT'S DRIVING SO MUCH OF THIS IS JUST THE INCENDIARY LANGUAGE, THE RAW SEWAGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA.

WHAT USED TO BE CONFINED TO A BROADSIDE OR A NEWSPAPER OR SOME SUCH THING IS NOW I CALL IT A DAILY NUREMBERG RALLY, YOU KNOW, EVERY DAY, EVERY DAY, SAME SORT OF TROPES WHICH ACCUSE JEWS OF, YOU KNOW, CONTROLLING THE WORLD, ENGAGING IN ALL SORTS OF NEFARIOUS ACTS ARE NOW THE BREAD AND BUTTER OF SO MANY PEOPLE.

>> Cathy: HOW DOES AN ORGANIZATION LIKE JCRC AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TRY TO THEN BATTLE THIS?

>> IT'S A FORMIDABLE EFFORT TO SAY THE LEAST.

OUR ORGANIZATION PRIDES ITSELF ON WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY, COMMUNICATION.

WORKING WITH LEADERS, WORKING WITH OTHER CIVIC GROUPS, MAKING ALLIANCES.

IT'S HUGELY HELPFUL.

BUT THAT'S A, WE TELL WORLD.

NOW WE'RE DEALING WITH A WORLD OF SORT OF WHOLESALE HATE.

AND THAT IS, WE HAVE TO MAKE CERTAIN ADAPTATIONS NOW WHEN IN WHAT WE'RE DOING.

SIGNIFICANT RESPONSIBILITY WE HAVE IS COMMUNITY SECURITY, AND YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE NOW THREE CARS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT GO FROM PLACE TO PLACE MAKING SURE PLACES ARE SECURE.

BUT THE WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE.

PEOPLE ARE OFTEN SURPRISED WHEN THEY GO INTO SYNAGOGUES IN THE TWIN CITIES FOR INSTANCE THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL SORT OF SECURITY PROVISIONS AND IT'S WHAT WE DO, IT'S IMPORTANT.

IT'S DIFFERENT THAN GOING INTO A CHURCH OR MOSQUE EVEN OR A TEMPLE WHERE YOU ON'T SEE SUCH THINGS.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU SEE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI SOLUTION, TWO-STATE SOLUTION, THE POLITICS THAT WERE INVOLVED?

WHERE ARE YOU HEADING INTEREST?

>> RIGHT, WELL, OUR ORGANIZATION HAS LONG SINCE 1993 BEEN A PROPONENT OF A TWO-STATE SOLUTION.

ISRAEL ALONGSIDE PALESTINIAN STATE.

WE'VE SEEN SINCE OCTOBER 7TH, THOUGH, ISRAELI PUBLIC OPINION HAS SOURED ON THE IDEA OF A TWO-STATE SOLUTION GIVEN WHAT HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 7TH.

IT'S OUR JOB OF COURSE TO ADVOCATE AS BEST WE CAN FOR ISRAEL IN A MIDWESTERN PERSPECTIVE TOWARDS ISRAEL POINTING OUT SOME OF THE IMPORTANT AND POSITIVE THINGS THAT ARE ALSO HAPPENING IN THE MIDDLE EAST TOO.

THE ABRAHAMIC ACCORDS FOR INSTANCE AND BUILDING UPON THOSE RELATIONSHIPS ALSO.

KEEPING IN MIND THAT PERHAPS A WEAKENED SYRIA AND WEAKENED IRRAN AND OTHER POSSIBILITIES AND MORE NEGOTIATIONS OR AT LEAST THE POTENTIAL OF NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN LEBANON AND ISRAEL COULD POINT OUT TOE A BETTER FUTURE TOO.

>> Eric: APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND SHARING YOUR EXPERTISE.

>> APPRECIATE YOU, ERIC.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU, NICE TO HAVE YOU.

>> Eric: NICE TO HAVE YOU.

♪♪ >> Aron: I’VE RECENTLY GONE THROUGH A RITE OF PASSAGE THAT ALL WORKING PEOPLE GO THROUGH: I’VE BEEN LET GO.

IT’S SOMETHING THAT INEVITABLY HAPPENS TO EVERYONE, BUT IF YOU’RE LUCKY, YOU WON’T HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THE STRANGE DEVASTATION OF LOGGING ON TO A ZOOM CALL AND HAVING A BRITISH PERSON EXPLAIN WHY YOU NO LONGER HAVE A JOB.

YOU KNOW, I’VE BEEN FIRED WITH AN AMERICAN ACCENT AND A BRITISH ACCENT, AND I GOTTA SAY AMERICAN’S BETTER; FEELS LESS COLONIAL.

I STARTED THIS MONTH OFF WITH A SHARP PANG OF UNCERTAINTY.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME, I’M NOT SURE WHAT COMES NEXT.

IT’S A LITTLE HUMILIATING, A LITTLE DISCOMBOBULATING, AND NOTICEABLY ISOLATING.

INTELLECTUALLY, I KNOW WHAT COMES NEXT: I GET A HAIRCUT, PUT ON A SUIT, AND START LYING TO A BUNCH OF MIDDLE MANAGERS ABOUT MY GREATEST WEAKNESS.

BUT EMOTIONALLY, I’M JUST SO OVER IT.

EVERY DAY FEELS LIKE A BOB DYLAN SONG.

IT’S JUST A MALAISE OF PESSIMISM AND SYMBOLISM.

WHEN YOU’RE DEPRESSED, EVERYTHING GETS TRANSMUTED INTO METAPHORS; IT’S EXHAUSTING.

THIS MORNING, I SPENT 20 MINUTES STARING AT ROADKILL BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS A MIRROR.

I’M MISERABLE.

I TOLD MY FRIEND I WAS LET GO AND HE SAID I NOW HAD MORE TIME FOR HOBBIES.

HOBBIES?

YOU KNOW WHAT MY FAVORITE HOBBY IS?

LOOKING AT MY CHECKING ACCOUNT EVERY OTHER WEEK.

NOW I GOTTA SETTLE FOR PAINTING WATERCOLORS OR STAMP COLLECTING.

I KNOW THESE FEELINGS ARE TEMPORARY, THAT IN A FEW DAYS IT’LL TURN AROUND, BUT IS THAT WHAT LIFE IS?

YOU GET A JOB, YOU TRY YOUR BEST, THEN SOME LADY FROM EUROPE TELLS YOU TO STOP, AND THEN YOU START THE WHOLE THING OVER AGAIN?

IT’S DISHEARTENING.

I DON’T HAVE A SOLUTION FOR THIS YET, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE.

I THINK THAT’S AN IMPORTANT PART OF FEELING BAD, JUST SPREADING IT OUT SO IT’S LESS DAUNTING.

SO IF YOU’RE IN THE SAME BOAT AS ME, JUST SHARE SOME OF THE SORROW AND YOU’LL FEEL BETTER.

BECAUSE, BROTHER, NEXT WEEK I’M GETTING A HAIRCUT AND HANDING OUT RESUMES.

AND THAT’S NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN DO WITH A FROWN.

♪♪ >> Cathy: IN THE NEW BOOK "LUCKY TOMORROW," THE STORY OF A YOUNG FLOWER VENDOR WHO JUST MOVED TO MINNEAPOLIS THREADS THROUGH VIGNETTES OF PEOPLE LIVING IN THE TWIN CITIES, IN SEATTLE, ACROSS THE SOUTHERN U.S., EVEN OUT TO TOKYO, JAPAN.

AUTHOR DEBORAH JIANG-STEIN DREW FROM HER OWN LIFE, THE LIVES OF PEOPLE SHE'S WORKED WITH, AND FROM PEOPLE SHE'S SIMPLY OBSERVED IN CRAFTING THESE CHARACTERS, ALL TO CONJURE UP THE QUIET MOMENTS WE SHARE AS HUMANS.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: THE BOOK IS SO INTERESTING.

IT OPENS BY TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO GO THROUGH LIFE UNSEEN.

>> EAH.

>> Cathy: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> WELL, BECAUSE OF MY WORK IN PRISONS, I SEE THOUSANDS, MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE UNSEEN.

BUT I WAS THINKING ON THE WAY HERE, WOMEN, PEOPLE IN RETIREMENT HOMES, PEOPLE OF COLOR, JUST PEOPLE KIND OF CAST OFF OR UNSEEN IN A WAY AND DISCONNECTED, NOT DELIBERATELY, BUT BY, YOU KNOW, BEING PUSHED TO THE SIDE.

SO I JUST CHANNELED THAT THROUGH MY CHARACTERS.

>> Eric: WHEN YOU TOUR A REHAB CENTER OR A PRISON AND SOME OF YOUR COMMENTS ARE JUST TREMENDOUS, YOUR AUDIENCE FOCUSES -- THE FOCUS OF YOUR AUDIENCES ARE OUTCASTS AND VISIONARIES.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT?

I LOVE THAT.

>> YOU KNOW, I WAS THINKING, SO I'M FASCINATED BY THE LAYERS AND COMPLEXITIES OF PEOPLE, AND JUST THOSE MOMENTS, BECAUSE LIFE IS JUST A COLLECTION OF MOMENTS.

SO THEY ARE, THEY'RE IN THEIR HEAD AND LIVING THEIR LIFE, AND SO TO ME THEY'RE VISIONARIES IN THAT WAY.

THEY'RE IMAGINING WHAT THE WORLD COULD BE FOR THEM.

>> Cathy: YOU HAVE A CHARACTER IN THE BOOK A RECURRING CHARACTER, THELMA.

DOES THAT CHARACTER REFLECT PARTS OF YOURSELF?

>> SHE DOES, SHE IS THE OPPOSITE OF ME, SO SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE BIRTH MOTHER THAT RELINQUISHED ME FROM BEING IN PRISON.

I GOTH, FROM THE MEMOIR AND JUST MY SPEAKING I'M A LITTLE BIT TIRED OF MY OWN STORY, IT'S ALL I KNOW.

AND I THOUGHT, SO WHAT DOES THE OTHER SIDE LOOK LIKE?

AND I ALSO MEET A LOT OF WOMEN IN PRISONS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR CHILDREN, HAD THEM REMOVED AND I MEAN IT'S THE SAME THING NOW AS IT WAS DECADES AGO.

>> Cathy: AND YOU, WE SHOULD SAY, DEBORAH GOES TO PRISONS AND HELPS WOMEN WRITE.

>> WRITE AND ALSO JUST ABOUT MESSAGING STORY.

I'M GOING NEXT WEEK TO THE FEDERAL PRISON IN WASECA TO TALK TO A GROUP OF WOMEN ABOUT HOW TO MESSAGE YOUR STORY WHEN THEY'RE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

THE WAY I WAS KIND OF TAUGHT.

IT WAS MEDIA TRAINING ACTUALLY.

I HAD AN INTERVIEW WITH I THINK IT WAS "PEOPLE" AND THEY SAID SO WHAT'S THE WORST CRIME YOUR MOTHER DID?

AND I THOUGHT, YOU'RE ASKING ME THAT INSTEAD OF THE THOUSANDS OF WOMEN I'VE WORKED WITH?

SO I HAD TO LEARN TO REFRAME IT AND I THOUGHT I COULD TEACH THAT TO THE THOUSANDS OF WOMEN AND MEN THAT I MEET.

>> Eric: PEOPLE ON THE EDGE HAVE INSIGHTS FOR THOSE IN THE CENTER.

>> I THINK SO.

>> Eric: ANOTHER ONE I JUST LOVE.

>> THEY DO, WE DO.

WELL, BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE ALL ON THE EDGE, IT JUST DOESN'T SHOW.

YOU'VE BEEN ON THE EDGE, WE JUST DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT.

AND SO I THINK IT'S A COMMONALITY.

I MEAN, WE ALL HAVE SOME KIND OF ISOLATION.

MY CHARACTERS ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE EXTREME, BUT TO E I'M HIGHLIGHTING A COMMONALITY ABOUT ALL OF US.

>> Eric: AM I RIGHT THAT THE SHORT STORY SPRANG FROM POETRY?

>> YES, I WROTE MOST OF IT AS PROSE POEMS.

>> Eric: HOW WAS THAT TRANSITION TO DO?

>> WELL, IT'S HARD TO MARKET POETRY BUT ALSO I WANTED TO EXPAND THE STORIES.

SO I JUST HAD TO GO INTO ANOTHER FORM.

>> Cathy: WAS IT HARD, I MEAN, BECAUSE I PERSONALLY THINK IT WOULD BE HARD TO MINE MY PAST.

>> I HAD ALREADY DONE IT FOR THE MEMOIR.

>> Cathy: YES, I REMEMBER THAT.

>> AND A STORY LIKE MINE I'M STILL LEARNING THINGS BUTT THE GOVERNMENT BURIES THINGS.

I HAD LEARNED THAT MY BIRTH MOTHER WAS PART OF A FEDERAL MEDICAL EXPERIMENT WHERE THEY WOULD TAKE HEROIN ADDICTS, WITHDRAW THEM IN PRISON AND THEN RE-ADDICT THEM, IT WAS IN KENTUCKY, THEY CAULKED IT THE NARCOTICS FARM.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS SHE WAS PART OF THAT EXPERIMENT.

AND SO I HAVE LEARNED THINGS SINCE THE MEMOIR AND SOME OF THAT KIND OF SHOWS UP IN THE STORIES.

I'M SPRINKLING IT INTO FICTION.

>> Cathy: YOU HAD A BIG EVENT YOU HAVE TO TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> WE DID, SHERRY CAGE, A PROMINENT ACTOR AND DIRECTOR IN MINNEAPOLIS WAS ON STAGE WITH ME, IT WAS AT CHILDREN'S THEATER, MAYBE 175, 200 PEOPLE I KNEW ABOUT -- IT WAS SPECTACULAR.

I'M LEARNING FROM THE QUESTIONS THAT PEOPLE ASK, WHICH IS FASCINATING.

I NEVER WROTE THE BOOK THINKING THAT "LUCKY TOMORROW" WOULD BE ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.

I'M JUST INSIDE THE CHARACTERS, AND NOW I'M HEARING FROM READS AND INTERVIEWS AND REVIEWS THAT THIS IS A CALL TO AWARENESS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, AND I KNEW ABOUT INCARCERATION AND FAMILY SEPARATION, BUT THE MENTAL HEALTH THING I HADN'T EVEN IMAGINED, SO.

>> Eric: AMAZON AND YOUR LOCAL BOOKSTORE.

>> YES, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA PRESS.

BIRCHBARK AND ANY INDEPENDENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

>> Cathy: GET THOSE INDEPENDENTS IN THERE, DEBORAH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: APPRECIATE IT.

♪♪ >> YOU ARE ON THE ROAD AND, OH, NO, YOU GET A FLAT.

WHO JUMPS OUT FIRST TO FIX T?

YOU OR THE CREW >> ME.

>> IS IT ALWAYS YOU?

>> YEAH, AND I CAN TELL YOU STORIES ABOUT THAT WHICH WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR.

WE RUN OUT OF GAS THEY SIT THERE AND I GO WE GOTTA GET GAS.

>> START WALKIN', JASON.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> GOOD MAN, GOOD MAN.

I'VE BEEN TOLD A FORMER GOVERNOR ACTUALLY DEDICATED A DAY IN MINNESOTA AS "ON THE ROAD" DAY.

HOW DO YOU WANT US AVERAGE MINNESOTANS TO CELEBRATE THAT DAY?

>> TAKE THE DAY OFF, EVERYBODY TAKE THE DAY OFF.

>> STAY HOME OR TRAVEL?

>> DO WHATEVER YOU WANT BUT TAKE THE DAY OFF, DON'T GO TO WORK.

>> GREAT.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

♪♪ >> Eric: RURAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS MINNESOTA SAW STATEWIDE FARM INCOMES IN 2024 DROP TO THE LOWEST LEVEL THIS CENTURY.

THE OUTLOOK IS BETTER FOR 2025, BUT A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY REMAINS OVER TARIFFS, INTEREST RATES, AND A VOLATILE ECONOMY.

PERSISTENT STRESS COMES WITH THE TERRITORY FOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS.

AND A GROUP THAT HAS A HIGHER RATE OF SUICIDE THAN THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

TED MATTHEWS IS A MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

HE'S A PSYCHOLOGIST WHO IS RETIRING AT THE END OF JUNE AFTER MORE THAN FOUR DECADES WORKING WITH FARMERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

WELCOME AND CONGRATULATIONS, TED.

CATHY AND I WERE AT THE CAPITOL WORKING IN THE MID '80s WHEN THERE WAS A FARM CRISIS AND ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE PROBLEMS FOR FARMERS, NOT ONLY THEIR ECONOMICS BUT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

I WONDER HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN THE ENSUING DECADES?

>> WELL, IN A LOT F WAYS IT'S ACTUALLY WORSE BECAUSE IN FARMING NOW IF YOU DON'T ALREADY HAVE LAND YOU'RE OT GOING TO BE ABLE TO FARM.

SO YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WANT TO TAKE OVER THE FARMS, WHO'S GOING TO DO THAT.

THE COST OF LAND IS SO HIGH THAT TO GET INTO FARMING NOW REQUIRES BEING PART OF A FAMILY OR FINDING SOME KIND OF LUCKY SCHEME OF SOME TYPE WHICH I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT.

SO IT'S REALLY, REALLY STRESSFUL ON FARMS ANYWAY, NO MATTER WHAT.

MOST PEOPLE THINK WHEN YOU HAVE A BAD YEAR, THAT'S A STRESSFUL YEAR.

THE FACT IS EVERY YEAR IS A STRESSFUL YEAR WITH FARMING BECAUSE THE FIRST THING YOU HAVE TO DO IS GET AN OPERATING LOAN, THAT'S STRESSFUL.

WHETHER THE BANK IS GOING TO GIVE YOU WHAT YOU NEED, AND THE NEXT THING IS YOU HAVE TO PLANT.

AND IS IT GOING TO BE HOT, IS IT GOING TO BE COLD, IS IT GOING TO BE DRY, IS IT GOING TO BE WET?

AND ALL OF THOSE FACTORS COME IN.

AND THEN ONCE YOU GET THAT IN, THEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE APHIDS, ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE HAIL, ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE WIND, ALL THOSE POSSIBILITIES, CAN BE TOO DRY, TOO WET, AND SO YOU GO HROUGH ALL OF THAT AND THEN YOU GET TO TIME TO HARVEST AND WHEN YOU HARVEST ARE THE PRICES GOING TO BE GOOD, IS THE YIELD GOING TO BE HIGH.

AND LET'S SAY ALL OF THOSE THINGS COME OUT POSITIVE, YOU STILL FEEL STRESS ALL THE WAY THROUGH THAT PROCESS, AND THEN ONCE YOU GET DONE WITH THAT, YOU HAVE ABOUT TEN MINUTES TO SAY, OH WE HAD A GOOD YEAR AND NOW THEY'RE LOOKING AT GOING TO GET ANOTHER OPERATING LOAN.

>> Cathy: SAY, TED, STRESS IS ALWAYS THERE AND I'M WONDERING, TED, DOES THAT THEN PLAY INTO THE HIGH SCHOOL SUICIDE RATES IN RURAL AMERICA?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE IS NO TIME WHEN FARMERS AREN'T STRESSED, AND THEY'RE ISOLATED.

OFTENTIMES THEY DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO TURN, THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, I STILL REMEMBER WHEN I WORKED FOR FEMA, I WAS THERE FOR A YEAR AND I GOT A CALL FROM THE FARM BUSINESS MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTOR AND ASKED ME IF WE WORKED WITH FARMERS AND I LOOKED ON OUR RECORDS AND NOT ONE FARMER HAD VER CALLED IN IN A YEAR, WHICH MEANS FARMERS DON'T CALL PSYCHOLOGISTS.

SO WHAT WE HAD TO DO IS IDENTIFY IT AS FARMERS CALLED TED, THEY'RE COMFORTABLE DOING THAT, AND SO HAT WAS ALWAYS THE PREMISE.

THAT LET'S JUST CALL TED, HE KNOWS MORE ABOUT THIS THAN I DO, RATHER THAN LET'S CALL A PSYCHOLOGIST BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING REALLY WRONG WITH YOU AND GOING ON FROM THERE.

SO, YES, HIGH STRESS ALL THE WAY AROUND, BUT OME PEOPLE HANDLE STRESS REALLY WELL, AND SOME PEOPLE DON'T, AND THAT'S NOT BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THEM, THAT'S BECAUSE WE'RE ALL DIFFERENT.

>> Cathy: EXACTLY.

>> SO I ALWAYS RECOMMEND THAT PEOPLE FOCUS ON TAKING CARE OF THEMSELVES BY IDENTIFYING WHO THEY ARE, NOT WHO THEY SHOULD BE, NOT WHO OTHER PEOPLE WANT THEM TO BE.

>> Cathy: SURE.

>> BUT WHO THEY ARE AND FOCUS ON HOW DO I DEVELOP A BETTER MENTAL HEALTH AND NOT THE CONCEPT OF THIS GENERIC "WE" SOMETHING, THAT JUST DOESN'T WORK FOR PEOPLE AND DEFINITELY DOESN'T WORK FOR FARMERS.

>> Cathy: AND I'M WONDERING, TED, DO YOU FEEL THE 40 YEARS YOU'VE BEEN IN THE BUSINESS THAT THE STIGMA AROUND MENTAL HEALTH MAYBE HAS EASED A BIT GIVEN THE ATTENTION WE NOW HAVE AROUND THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH?

>> I THINK IT'S GOTTEN BETTER, BUT ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT I SEE IS PEOPLE STILL LOOK AT MENTAL HEALTH AS MENTAL ILLNESS.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, HEY DON'T -- IF I FEEL LIKE IT'S MENTAL HEALTH THEN I WOULD WANT TO BE HEALTHIER.

BUT IF I FEEL LIKE IT'S MENTAL ILLNESS, THEN THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME.

SO I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE FOCUS ON TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF BETTER, FOCUSING ON WHAT YOU CAN DO, AND FRANKLY, BEING NICE TO YOURSELF.

WE'RE REALLY GOOD OFTEN TIMES AT BEING NICE TO OTHER PEOPLE, NOT VERY GOOD AT BEING NICE TO OURSELF.

FOCUS ON BEING NICER TO YOURSELF AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOUR NEEDS ARE AND NOT WHAT THE GENERIC CONCEPT OF THAT IS.

>> Eric: WHAT DOES RETIREMENT HOLD FOR YOU NOW?

WHAT'S ON THE DOCKET TO DO?

>> Cathy: HOW ARE YOU GOING TO BE NICE TO YOURSELF?

>> OH, WELL, YOU KNOW, HONESTLY, I TELL PEOPLE THIS BECAUSE IT'S THE TRUTH.

IF I CAN TELL YOU WHAT TIME "BONANZA" IS ON, SHOOT ME.

I WILL BE DOING SOMETHING, JUST NOT AT THE LEVEL THAT I'VE BEEN DOING AT, I'M JUST GETTING TOO OLD FOR THAT.

I'M 78 AND I HAVE LOVED EVERY DAY THAT I HAVE WORKED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND I CANNOT GIVE YOU -- ONE THING THAT JUST I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SAY S WHEN IT COMES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AG, THEY ARE AWESOME PEOPLE WHEN IT COMES TO THE REPUBLICANS AND THE DEMOCRATS IN THE AG COMMITTEE, THEY ARE WONDERFUL PEOPLE, BOTH PARTIES.

>> Cathy: OKAY.

>> AND THEY ALWAYS GET THINGS DONE AND THEY GET IT DONE FASTER THAN ANY OF THE OTHER ONES AND THAT'S WHY, BECAUSE THEY WORK TOGETHER.

>> Eric: WISH WE HAD MORE TIME.

CONGRATULATIONS ON CAREER, HAVE A GREAT TIME IN RETIREMENT.

THANKS, TED.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU, TED.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

>> YOU'RE VERY WELCOME, HAVE A GOOD DAY.

>> Cathy: WELL, IT'S JUNE, FRIENDS.

A SPECIAL SESSION IS ON THE HORIZON TO PASS THE STATE BUDGET, OUR WHIPLASH EATHER HAS US ENJOYING SEVERAL SEASONS OFTEN IN ONE DAY.

IN A FEW SECONDS MANY OF YOU WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RENEW OR BECOME A NEW MEMBER OF THIS STATION.

AFTER THE BRIEF BREAK, WE'LL BE BACK TO TALK POLITICS AND SPECIAL SESSION WITH A COUCH FULL OF PUNDITS.

>> WE'LL TAKE A SHORT BREAK FROM "ALMANAC" RIGHT NOW TO GIVE YOU SOME NEWS AND HAVE YOU BACK TO THE SHOW IN JUST FEW MOMENTS.

FRIDAY NIGHTS, WHAT DO YOU DO ON FRIDAY NIGHT?

YOU TUNE IN TO "ALMANAC" BECAUSE YOU TRUST THE INFORMATION YOU HEAR, YOU CAN HAVE CIVIL CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE THAT DISAGREE WITH EACH OTHER BUT THEY'RE CALM AND MAKING THEIR POINTS VERY CLEARLY.

WE HAVE NOT BEEN IN A PLEDGE DRIVE SITUATION AT "ALMANAC" FOR SIX, SEVEN DRIVES.

AND I GOTTA TELL YA, THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE THAT TIME.

I'M DAVID PRESTON, VICE PRESIDENT OF MEMBERSHIP, SO I'M WATCHING THESE NUMBERS VERY CLOSELY.

YOU UNDERSTAND THE SERIOUS THREAT THAT PUBLIC MEDIA AND TPT AND PBS HAS WITH THE THREAT OF UTS OF FEDERAL FUNDING.

FOR T PT IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT 10% OF OUR BUDGET.

10% IS A LOT OF WHAT WE DO IN ORDER TO BRING PROGRAMS LIKE "ALMANAC" AND TO GET THE NEWS HOUR AND PAY OUR DUES ON PBS.

AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TONIGHT TO ASK YOU TO SUPPORT.

AND THE BEST AY TO SUPPORT IS BECOME A SUSTAINING MEMBER.

THAT'S AN ONGOING MONTHLY SUSTAINING MEMBER, AND TO HELP YOU DO THAT, WE HAVE A SPECIAL CHALLENGE MATCH TODAY FROM AN ANONYMOUS DONOR, AND WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO IS GIVE YOU FIVE DOLLARS A MONTH FOR THE FIRST 12 MONTHS OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP.

SO THAT MEANS YOU'RE GOING TO ADD FIVE DOLLARS A MONTH FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR TO WHATEVER LEVEL YOU GIVE.

IF YOU'RE A CURRENT SUSTAINING MEMBER AND I KNOW MANY OF YOU ARE, IF YOU INCREASE YOUR MEMBERSHIP, THAT WILL ALSO BE MATCHED.

>> AND GUESS WHAT?

IF YOU CAN GIVE AT THE $10 A MONTH LEVEL YOU ARE GOING TO GET THE T-SHIRT THAT YOU SEE DAVID AND I WEARING, IT'S THE I HEART TPT T-SHIRT SO YOU CAN TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF PUBLIC MEDIA WHEREVER YOU O, WHILE YOU'RE RUNNING ERRANDS, PICKING UP THE KIDS, HEADING TO A COMMUNITY EVENT OR LOUNGING AT HOME CATCHING UP ON "NOVA."

SOFT ENOUGH TO SLEEP IN BUT COOL ENOUGH TO WEAR ANYWHERE AND THAT BRIGHT HEARTH SAYS WHAT WE ALL FEEL, I LOVE TPT.

EVERY TIME YOU PUT IT ON YOU'RE REMINDED THAT YOU'RE PART OF MAKING THIS STATION POSSIBLE.

IF YOU CAN COME IN AT THE $15 A MONTH LEVEL, THOUGH, YOU ARE GOING TO ENJOY A FULL YEAR OF TRUSTED JOURNALISM WITH THE "STAR TRIBUNE" DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION AND THAT IS A GREAT WAY TO STAY INFORMED ANYTIME, ANYWHERE.

SO YOU'LL GET UNLIMITED ACCESS TO LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL NEWS ACROSS ALL DEVICES, WHETHER YOU'RE AT THE COFFEE SHOP ON YOUR TABLET OR AT WORK.

YOU'RE GOING TO GET BREAKING NEWS, IN-DEPTH FEATURES AND JOURNALISM THAT TRAVELS WITH YOU, AND IT'S NOT JUST FROM ANY NEWS SOURCE, THIS IS AWARD-WINNING REPORTING FROM THE LARGEST NEWSROOM IN THE MIDWEST.

THAT'S RIGHT, A ONE-YEAR DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION TO THE "STAR TRIBUNE" THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

SO YOU WATCH "ALMANAC" BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF NEWS.

LET'S COMPLEMENT THAT WITH THAT $15 A MONTH DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION TO THE "STAR TRIBUNE."

>> AS I MENTIONED EARLIER WE DON'T GO TO "ALMANAC" AUDIENCE VERY OFTEN TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

WE WANT TO KEEP THE SHOW TOGETHER WITHOUT INTERRUPTING IT.

BUT NOW WE'RE AT A POINT, A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF URGENCY HERE THAT WE HOPE THAT WE CAN GET ALL "ALMANAC" VIEWERS TO SAY, YES, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT.

MAYBE IT'S AN ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION OR A MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION, AND IF YOU ARE ABLE TO BECOME A SUSTAINER, REMEMBER, THE FIRST 12 MONTHS OF YOUR SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP IS GOING TO BE MATCHED BY AN EXTRA FIVE DOLLARS FROM A GENEROUS GIFT FROM AN ANONYMOUS DONOR.

NOW, IF YOU ARE ALREADY A SUSTAINER, WHICH I KNOW MANY OF YOU ARE, JUST ADD 10, $15 A MONTH TO THAT DONATION AND YOU WILL ALSO BE MATCHED.

IT IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT TIME, AND WE GATHER EVERY WEEK IN COMMUNITY HERE TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MINNESOTA AND IN THE REGION.

AND WE ARE HERE TO GIVE YOU VERY THOUGHTFUL COMMENTARY ON WHAT'S HAPPENING.

WE WOULD NEED THIS FOUNDATION OF REVENUE TO MAKE SURE WE CAN CONTINUE DOING THIS.

THIS IS A SERIOUS RISK TO WHAT WE'VE ONE.

I'VE BEEN HERE 43 YEARS AND I'VE SEEN MANY OF THESE THREATS COME AND GO.

THIS ONE'S A LOT MORE REAL THAN SOME OF THE OTHER ONES WE'VE EXPERIENCED.

AND YOUR SUPPORT RIGHT NOW IS ESSENTIAL TO CONTINUE THE SERVICES YOU KNOW FROM TPT.

>> SO TONIGHT WE GET TO OFFER YOU GIFTS IN RETURN OF YOUR GIFT TO US.

LET'S START SAT THAT $10 A MONTH LEVEL.

YOU WILL GET THIS I HEART TPT T-SHIRT.

PUBLIC TELEVISION HAS GIVEN YOU SO MUCH AND NOW YOU CAN GIVE BACK AND LOOK GREAT DOING IT.

THIS 100% COTTON I LOVE TPT TEE IS MORE THAN JUST UNCOMFORTABLE, IT'S MEANINGFUL AND YOUR PERSONAL BILLBOARD FOR EVERYTHING YOU VALUE, EDUCATION, ARTS, HISTORY, CULTURE, TRUTH, AND TRUST.

SO MAKE YOUR PLEDGE AND CLAIM YOUR TEE AND WEAR YOUR TPT SHIRT WITH PRIDE WHEREVER YOU GO.

IF YOU CAN COME IN AT THE $15 A MONTH LEVEL YOU ARE GOING TO GET A ONE-YEAR DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION TO THE STAR TRIBUNE, IT'S TRUSTED, DAILY REPORTING ALL IN REAL-TIME.

FROM GOPHER GAME DAY COVERAGE TO ANALYSIS OF GLOBAL MARKETS, FROM CITY COUNCIL UPDATES TO LOCAL ARTS AND HAPPENINGS, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE IN THE KNOW.

THE VARIETY SECTION HIGHLIGHTS THE BEST MINNESOTA CULTURE WHILE EDITORIALS AND OPINION PIECES CHALLENGE YOU TO THINK DEEPLY.

PLUS YOU'LL BE SUPPORTING JOURNALISM THAT'S SHAPING CONVERSATIONS AND INFORMING DECISIONS RIGHT HERE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

BECAUSE TRUTH MATTERS.

SO IF YOU LOVE "ALMANAC" AND YOU WANT JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE NEWS COME IN AT THAT $15 A MONTH LEVEL AND GET THAT DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION TODAY.

>> THAT $15 A MONTH LEVEL IS A GREAT LEVEL BUT, REMEMBER, YOU CAN GIVE MORE THAN $15 A MONTH AND GET THE SAME PREMIUM.

SO DON'T GET STUCK IN THAT -- WE WOULD LIKE MORE THAN THE 15 OR $10 A MONTH, WHATEVER LEVEL YOU CAN COME IN IS SO IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW.

AND ONE OF THE GREAT BENEFITS OF BEING A MEMBER OF TPT IS TPT PASSPORT.

THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF PROGRAMS, THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF PROGRAMMING THAT IS EXCLUSIVELY CURATED AND ONLY ABLE TO BE VIEWED ON TPT PASSPORT.

AND THIS STARTS AT JUST FIVE DOLLARS A MONTH.

AND IT'S NOT, YOU'RE OT LOOKING AT IT JUST ON YOUR PHONE, YOU CAN LOOK AT YOUR 900-FOOT TELEVISION IF YOU WANT BECAUSE THE PBS APP IS ALL OVER THE PLACE, IT'S ON YOUR SMART TV, IT'S ON YOUR COMPUTER, IT'S ON YOUR CABLE SYSTEM, WE ARE NOW ON COMCAST, XFINITY, YOU CAN SEE THE APP THERE.

ING ITS SUCH A GREAT WAY TO SEE THAT PROGRAM YOU MAY HAVE MISSED BEFORE.

YOU CAN ALSO SEE "ALMANAC" THERE IF YOU GO TO THE PBS APP AND YOU CAN FIND IT THERE.

BUT BEING ABLE TO BRING THESE SHOWS TO YOU THE WAY THEY ARE IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE HAVE THE SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY AND THE EXTRA SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY WHICH WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR RIGHT NOW.

AND IF YOU CAN BECOME A SUSTAINING MEMBER, REMEMBER WE HAVE THAT GREAT CHALLENGE FOR EVERY SUSTAINING GIFT, AN ANONE MOUSE DONOR IS GOING TO ADD AN EXTRA FIVE DOLLARS A MONTH FOR THE NEXT YEAR TO THAT CONTRIBUTION SO IT'S GOING TO MAKE YOUR GIFT GO SO MUCH FURTHER AT A TIME THAT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR BOTH OF US.

AND WHEN YOU'RE GIVING THESE DOLLARS, YOU'RE GOING TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, YOU'RE GOING TO FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT IT.

AND I LIKE YOUR POINT ABOUT HOW WE HAVEN'T COME TO YOU DURING "ALMANAC" IN A LONG TIME AND I THINK THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION AND THE REAL RISK THAT WE'RE UNDER.

SO THIS IS THE TIME TO CALL BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO MAKE AN IMPACT AND IT'S GOING TO MAKE YOU FEEL GREAT.

THIS IS THE IME TO CALL.

651-229-1500.

OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE STANDING BY OR VISIT OUR SAFE AND SECURE WEBSITE AT TPT.ORG/GIVE.

THE TIME IS NOW.

♪♪ >> Cathy: ON MONDAY LAWMAKERS WILL RETURN FOR A SPECIAL SESSION TO PASS A BUDGET AND AVOID A STATE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

MEANWHILE, GOVERNOR WALZ CONTINUES TO INCREASE HIS NATIONAL POLITICAL PROFILE.

REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER EXPLORES WHAT'S AHEAD.

[ CROWD CHANTING ] >> IMMIGRANTS WILL DIE, CHANTED PROTESTORS OUTSIDE THE GOVERNOR OFFICE WHO SAYS WALZ SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THE ORIGINAL DEAL HE MADE WITH LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AT THE CAPITOL.

>> WE'RE HERE ENGAGING WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND STATE LEGISLATORS TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO TURN OUR BACKS ON IMMIGRANTS.

>> A SITTING STATE REPRESENTATIVE ALSO SPOKE UP AGAINST THE AGREEMENT HER PARTY LEADER STRUCK AS THE REGULAR SESSION CAME TO A RAUCOUS CLOSE.

>> I HEARD FROM REMARKS ON THE "ALMANAC" BY OUR GOVERNOR, WHO WORKS IN THIS OFFICE HERE AND I DON'T WORK FOR HIM, I WORK FOR THE PEOPLE.

>> WALZ STATED HIS DISAPPROVAL OF LAWMAKERS SHOWING UP AT HIS OFFICE DURING THE DEAL ANNOUNCEMENT IN OUR INTERVIEW ON "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL."

>> I'VE NEVER SEEN LAWMAKERS PROTESTING A DEAL BETWEEN THEIR LEADERS.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

>> THAT'S UNUSUAL.

>> NO, IT IS UNUSUAL AND LOOK IT'S A PASSIONATE ISSUE, MANY OF THESE WERE AND THIS WAS AN ISSUE AROUND HEALTH CARE.

BUT I WILL SAY THAT'S NOT THE WAY YOU APPROACH THIS AS LEGISLATORS.

THERE'S WAYS TO DO IT.

>> LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND THE GOVERNOR BEHIND CLOSED DOOR NEGOTIATIONS RESULTED IN AN AGREEMENT FOR A SPECIAL SESSION TO BE HELD N MONDAY.

>> IT'S BEEN A LONG ROAD TO GET TO THIS POINT BUT YOU SEE LEADER HORTMAN AND MYSELF WE ARE HERE TOGETHER.

>> THIS IS A BUDGET THAT ANTICIPATES A DEFICIT IN THE OUT-YEARS.

AND SO ANY TIME YOU'RE PASSING A BUDGET THAT'S NOT JUST SPENDING A SURPLUS BUT IT IS IN FACT ANTICIPATING A DEFICIT IS GOING TO HAVE SOME HARD CHOICES.

>> THIS IS CHAOTIC, DEMOCRACY IS.

BUT AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF WHAT YOU SEE IN D.C.

THIS IS THE CONTRAST TOE THAT THAT DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS WORKING TOGETHER, FINDING COMPROMISES, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO AT TIMES YOU'RE GOING TO BE VOTING ON THINGS YOU DON'T NECESSARILY LIKE.

>> WHILE TALKS CONTINUE AT THE STATE CAPITOL, GOVERNOR WALZ WAS MAKING HIS CASE TO NATIONAL AUDIENCE, TRAVELING COAST TO COAST IN WEEKEND EVENTS.

>> GOOD MORNING, SOUTH CAROLINA!

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> IN THE KEY EARLY PRIMARY STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, WALZ WORKED UP THE CROWD ATTACKING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IN D.C. >> AND ALL BUT TWO REPUBLICANS VOTED FOR THIS BIG BEAUTIFUL PILE OF [ BLEEP ] >> THE GOVERNOR FROM MINNESOTA, HE'S A SICK PUPPY, THAT POOR GUY, I FEEL SORRY FOR HIM.

>> NATIONAL NEWS ANALYSTS ARE TAKING NOTICE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, FOLKS.

TIM WALZ WANTS TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2028.

>> WE WOULD LOVE TO WELCOME MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM WALZ.

>> ON A NEW PODCAST WITH MINNESOTA NATIVE JOURNALIST OUSTED WITH JOHN TESTER, THE RURAL DEMOCRAT AND GOVERNOR WALZ BOTH MADE NEWS.

>> WHEN YOU WERE PART OF THE TICKET I THOUGHT THIS IS AN ASSET THAT IS GOING TO HELP KAMALA HARRIS IN THE PRESIDENCY.

I'M JUST GOING TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I DON'T THINK HE USED YOU, ESPECIALLY IN THE END, I DON'T THINK SHE USED YOU.

THAT IS MY OPINION AND THAT'S WHAT I SAW.

AND I THINK THAT WAS A MASSIVE MISTAKE.

>> THOSE CAMPAIGNS ARE BIG, WE HAD 90 DAYS, STRATEGIC DECISIONS HAD TO BE MADE.

I TAKE PERSONALLY IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY AND WE DIDN'T GET IT DONE.

>> I WAS HOPEFUL THAT IT WOULD GET SOME ATTENTION AND I DON'T THINK I KNEW IT WOULD LAND ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE "NEW YORK TIMES."

>> I MEAN, THAT WAS BIG, RIGHT?

>> IT WAS BIG.

>> WERE YOU SURPRISED BY TESTER'S PRAISE OF WALZ, SAYING YOU WERE THE GUY, I WAS EXCITED ABOUT YOU BUT THEN HOW CRITICAL HE WAS OF HARRIS AND THE CAMPAIGN NOT USING HIM?

>> NO, I WASN'T REALLY SURPRISED BY THAT.

TESTER'S PRETTY FRANK.

WHEN I FIRST SAW GOVERNOR WALZ COME ON THE STAGE LIKE THAT OF COURSE I'M FROM MINNESOTA SO I MAYBE KNEW MORE ABOUT HIM.

>> YOU'VE INTERVIEWED A LOT OF CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT, DOES HE LOOK AND SOUND LIKE ONE?

>> I THINK HE'S TRYING SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND IT'S REALLY TO GO OUT AND TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR, YOU KNOW, THE PART HE SAYS THAT HE PLAYED IN IT.

AND ALSO I THINK HE'S ON A LISTENING TOUR BECAUSE WHETHER PEOPLE LIKE IT OR NOT, HE IS A HIGH PROFILE FACE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY RIGHT NOW, AND HE WAS A VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW, MARY.

>> I WASN'T ABLE TO CONNECT WITH ENOUGH OF THOSE WHITE MIDDLE CLASS OR WORKING CLASS FOLKS.

I DON'T KNOW IF MORE OF ME WOULD HAVE DONE THAT OR IF IT WAS THE WRONG MESSAGE BUT I TELL YOU WHAT, WE BETTER FIGURE IT OUT.

IF WE DON'T FIGURE IT OUT IT'S A PROBLEM.

>> I DID NOT SEE YOU ON TV AS MUCH AS I THOUGHT YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON TV.

YOU LET TIM WALZ TALK, JUST LET HIM TALK.

THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO TO TIM WALZ, IN MY OPINION IS TELL HIM WHAT HE SHOULD BE SAYING.

>> I KNOW, I'M BETTER TERRIBLE AT THAT.

[ LAUGHTER ] ♪♪ >> Cathy: LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED BUDGET AGREEMENT THIS AFTERNOON, AFTERNOON RETURN TO ST. PAUL FOR A MONDAY SESSION TO AVERT A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN ON JULY 1ST.

HOW DID THEY FINALLY GET THERE?

FINE FODDER FOR THIS WEEK'S VERSION OF THE POLITICAL PANEL.

REPUBLICANS UP FIRST TONIGHT.

BRIAN MCDANIEL IS A FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER TURNED LOBBYIST AND NOW STAND-UP COMEDIAN.

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

DEMOCRATS ON THE COUCH, KARLA BIGHAM, FORMER STATE SENATOR, NOW A WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

AND WE WELCOME BACK SARA LOPEZ, A PARTY ACTIVIST AND POLICY DIRECTOR AT UNIDOS MN.

BRIAN, THE LAST TIME LEADERSHIP HAD AN AGREEMENT THERE WAS POUNDING ON THE DOOR BY LAWMAKERS WHO WERE UPSET ABOUT IT.

DO WE REALLY KNOW WHAT'S IN THIS THING?

>> WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT'S IN THIS THING, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY HAVE THE VOTES TO PASS MANY OF THESE ITEMS.

THERE IS A HEALTH BILL WHICH IS ONE OF THE LARGEST PARTS OF MINNESOTA'S STATE BUDGET WHERE WE HAVE NOT SEEN LANGUAGE.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS IN THERE LANGUAGE-WISE, AND THE PROCESS THAT THIS HAS GONE THROUGH, THE PRODUCT IS ONE THING, THE PROCESS THAT IT'S GONE THROUGH IS EMBARRASSINGLY BAD.

>> IT'S BEEN A TOUGH PROCESS.

SPENT THE AFTERNOON UP AT THE CAPITOL DEFENDING LOCAL CONTROL ON THE SALES TAX THAT THE COUNTIES RECEIVE, IS BEING SHIFTED OVER TO THE MET COUNCIL TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $93 MILLION.

>> Eric: SO THEY JUST TOOK IT OUT OF YOUR POT OF MONEY.

>> STOLE IT!

>> Eric: WHY?

WHY?

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> THEY WANT TO DO A REGIONAL BALANCED APPROACH, WHICH WE ALL KNOW IS ABOUT POPULATION.

BUT IT TOWARDS BUS RAPID TRANSIT AND THAT MEANS THAT PREDOMINANTLY A LOT OF THE BUS RAPID TRANSIT LINES WILL GO IN THE HIGH DENSITY AREAS.

>> Eric: IT DOES SEEM, SARA, THAT THE DEMOCRATS WERE ABLE TO PRESERVE MOST OR MUCH OF WHAT HAPPENED THE LAST TWO YEARS?

>> SO I THINK THE DEMOCRATS HAD A PRETTY SUCCESSFUL RUN PROTECTING WINS FROM 2023 AND 2024.

THE UNDOCUMENTED PIECE IS AN INCREDIBLY HARD PILL TO SWALLOW.

I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT THE CHILDREN WILL STAY BUT AS THE MURDER BILL FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMES DOWN AND ANOTHER SPECIAL SESSION MIGHT BE CALLED FOR THE SUMMER, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, I HOPE THAT THE CHILDREN REALLY DO STAY AND THAT THIS IS THE LAST THING THAT GETS WATER WHEN IT COMES TO THE IMMIGRANT AGENDA THAT WAS PASSED LAST SESSION.

>> I THINK THIS IS A SESSION WHERE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO COME OUT AND SAY THAT THEY HAD A LOT OF WINS.

THE TAKING UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS OFF OF MEDICARE IS ONE OF THEM, THIS WAS ONE OF THEIR BIG PIECES, ONE OF THEIR BIG, THEIR BIG PIECES THAT THEY WANTED TO COME AWAY WITH, THEY GOT IT, THEY WERE ABLE TO CUT GOVERNMENT.

THAT IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT THEY WANTED TO DO, THEY WANTED TO COME IN STRONG SO I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF THINGS TO POINT TO ESPECIALLY HEADING INTO 2026.

>> THAT'S AN EXPENSIVE BILL TO PAY IN THE END BUT I DO THINK DEMOCRATS CAN CAME IN AND WILL HAVE A VERY STRONG AGENDA OF WINS WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF WORKERS FOR EDUCATORS AND ALSO PAID FAMILY LEAVE, SAFE AND SICK TIME, THE FAMILY TAX CREDIT, ALL THE THINGS, THE PRO-FAMILY AGENDA THAT REALLY HAD BEEN A PINNACLE OF WALZ' ADMINISTRATION BUT ALSO OF THE D.F.L.

MAJORITY IS INTACT, REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

>> Eric: HOW IS THE GOVERNOR BEING GRADED?

>> WELL, I THINK HE'S BEING GRADED ON HIS TRAVEL SCHEDULE.

BECAUSE HE'S BEEN SPENDING A CERTAIN, CERTAINLY A LOT OF TIME AWAY FROM MINNESOTA.

LAST WEEKEND WHEN A LOT OF THIS NEGOTIATING COULD HAVE BEEN DONE, HE'S IN SOUTH CAROLINA TELLING DEMOCRATS TO BE MEANER AND THEN FLYING OVER TO CALIFORNIA AND WE ALL UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING, HE'S RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, FINE.

HE HAS THE RIGHT TO DO THAT.

BUT MINNESOTA NEEDS HIM RIGHT NOW, AND WHEN THEY NEEDED HIM HE WASN'T HERE.

>> Cathy: THIS SEEMS LIKE IT'S BEEN A REAL TOP-DOWN SITUATION IN TERMS OF THERE'S A LOT OF, LAWMAKERS, LEGISLATIVE LEADERS HAVE BEEN TALKING, RIGHT, BUT WHERE HAVE BEEN THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE OR WORKING GROUP CHAIRS OR THE OTHER FOLKS WHO USUALLY WEIGH IN?

I MEAN, YOU'RE A FORMER LAWMAKER, WHERE HAVE THEY BEEN?

>> AS FAR AS I KNOW THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS, I'VE BEEN HAVING DIRECT CONVERSATIONS RELATED TO THE TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS THAT WE HAD, COUNTIES HAVE HAD.

I KNOW THAT CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN ONGOING WITH THE LEADS OF THE COMMITTEES RELATED TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

SO I GUESS I DON'T FEEL LIKE THE LEGISLATORS AVE BEEN ABSENT ON THAT.

I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, I NEVER REALLY HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR IN LEGISLATIVE NEGOTIATIONS, BUT I ALSO WAS ONE OF THE LOWER MEMBERS ON THE TOTEM POLE, SO.

>> Cathy: BRIAN.

>> NO ONE SAYS THAT ABOUT YOU, YOU'RE A TREMENDOUS SLOUCH.

[ LAUGHTER ] BUT, NO, WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE?

OKAY, GREAT.

YOU KNOW, LEADERSHIP IS INVOLVED, THE GOVERNOR'S STAFF IS INVOLVED, AND SOME OF THE MEMBERS ARE INVOLVED, BUT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO COME OUT WITH PROPOSALS AND THEN THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO TEST IT BY WHAT DO, HOW DOES THIS AFFECT THE PEOPLE IN THEIR DISTRICTS OR IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA?

THE PEOPLE ARE NOT PART OF THIS PROCESS, WE'RE JUST FINDING OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING AFTER IT HAPPENS, AND THEN NEXT YEAR IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE, OH, WE CAN FIX IT, THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK.

>> THAT WAS HARD FOR BOTH SIDES, RIGHT?

EVEN FOR ALLIES ON BOTH SIDES, OKAY, WHAT'S GOING N, HOW CAN WE GET INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS.

THERE WAS A HUGE GAP IN COMMUNICATION I WILL SAY FROM BOTH SIDES AND I THINK THAT CAUSED SOME PROBLEMS.

>> Cathy: HAVE YOU SEEN THAT BEFORE?

>> WE HAVE A TRIFECTA SO EVERYTHING WAS LIKE AMAZING 2023 AND 2024 AND NOW THE CHESS BOARD HAS SHIFTED.

>> Eric: 14 BILLS -- >> 10:00 A.M. TO 7:00 A.M. >> Eric: GONNA MAKE IT >> YOU HAVE ONE LAWMAKER ALREADY SAYING MONDAY IS GOING TO BE HILARIOUS, SAYING THIS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SO I REALLY DOUBT IT.

>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THAT WILL BE HILARIOUS BECAUSE THE WHOLE REPEAL OF MINNESOTACARE IS VERY CRUEL.

SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AN INCREDIBLY CRUEL THING TO SEE.

>> NO.

YEAH, NO.

THEY'LL BE THERE A GOOD CHUNK OF THE WEEK.

>> CARLA AND I WATCHED THEM TALK ABOUT THE TRANSPORTATION BILL TODAY WHERE TWO MEMBERS SAID THEY DON'T THINK THE VOTES ARE THERE TO PASS THAT BILL.

WE KNOW THERE'S PROBLEMS WITH THE TAX BILL AND CERTAINLY EVERYTHING THAT SARA IS SAYING ABOUT THE UNDOCUMENTED HEALTH CARE IS VERY TRUE.

DEMOCRATS ARE NOT WALKING AROUND SAYING BIG WINS, BIG WINS, AND THAT IS A LARGE PART OF IT.

>> Cathy: SAY, IS A BONDING BILL PART OF THIS?

IT IS, WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?

>> WELL, I MEAN, I THINK THAT THE BONDING BILL IT'S A SORT OF REGULAR BONDING BILL WITH LOTS OF LOCAL PROJECTS.

THERE'S NO WAY IT WOULD HAPPEN AND THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TIME.

IF THEY'RE JUST FOCUSED ON INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY ARE, ROADS, BRIDGES, STUFF LIKE THAT, THEN I THINK -- WASTE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, I THINK THEY CAN GET THAT DONE AND I HOPE HEY DO.

>> Eric: OVERNOR WALZ IN TROUBLE WITH PUBLIC EMPLOYEE UNIONS?

>> I KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME DISCONTENT IN TERMS OF LIKE GOING BACK TO, LIKE THE GOING BACK TO WORK THING.

I THINK HE'S BEEN A PRETTY PROLABOR GOVERNOR, WITH SAFE AND SICK TIME AND PAID FAMILY LEAVE, I THINK THERE WERE SOME BIG WINS DELIVERED.

>> COME BACK TO WORK, THAT WAY THEY CAN GET THEIR LAYOFF NOTICE.

>> Eric: AFSCME AND MAPE ARE GOOD RELIABLE DEMOCRATIC PARTNERS.

>> IT'S BEEN A TOUGH SESSION FOR EVERYBODY OVERALL.

>> THE GOVERNOR SAID A COUPLE WEEKS AGO THEY'RE NOT THROWING HIM A PICNIC ANYTIME SOON.

>> Eric: HOW DOES THIS SET UP 2026, THE ELECTION, ALL 201.

>> THAT'S THE QUESTION, WE DON'T KNOW.

>> Eric: HARD TO KNOW UNTIL WE SEE A SPECIAL SESSION IN SEPTEMBER?

, OR?

>> EXACTLY, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE FALL AND 2026 IS A LIFETIME FROM NOW.

>> EXACTLY, OH, YEAH.

AGREED.

>> YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ELON AND DONALD FIGHTING AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO BRING IN ROYCE WHITE AND THE MY PILLOW GUY TO MEDIATE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN NEXT, IT'S EMBARRASSING.

>> I MEAN, KANYE IS TRYING TO MEDIATE RIGHT NOW.

>> OH, I MISSED THAT, OKAY.

IT JUST GETS BETTER EVERY MINUTE.

>> Eric: TWO PRETTY BIG PERSONALITIES AND BIG EGOS THERE, I DON'T THINK IT'S A SHOCK THAT THE BROMANCE IS OVER.

>> THEY'RE USED TO DIVORCES, BOTH OF THEM.

>> I MEAN, BENIFER?

>> I THINK ANYBODY WHO LOOKED AT THIS EVOLUTION OF THIS FRIENDSHIP, ALLIANCE, KNOW THERE WAS GOING TO BE A BREAKUP AT SOME POINT.

THE FACT IT CAME UP AT A TIME WHERE THEY'RE CALLING IT THIS IS A BREAKUP OVER E.V.

MANDATES, YEAH, I THINK THAT'S THE CAMEL, YOU KNOW, THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK BUT THIS REALLY STARTED AROUND ELECTIONS IN WISCONSIN A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, ELON SPENDING A LOT OF TIME IN WISCONSIN.

THINGS DID NOT GO THE WAY REPUBLICANS WANTED THEM O.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE POINTING FINGERS AT ELON, HIS AMERICA PAC THE DAY AFTER AND I THINK THERE WAS A START OF SOURING OF A RELATIONSHIP IN THE BETWEEN THE WHITE HOUSE AND ELON MUSK AND I THINK IT GOT WORSE FROM THERE.

>> Eric: DOES IT MATTER IF THEY'RE FEUDING?

>> I WOULD SAY IT'S THE TRUTH THAT THIS BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL ADDS A LOT OF MONEY TO THE DEFICIT, KICKS A LOT OF PEOPLE OFF OF HEALTH CARE, IT'S NOT POPULAR.

>> ALSO BRINGING LARGER DONORS INTO THE FRAY IN SUCH A PERMANENT WAY.

>> DEMOCRATS DO THAT ALL THE TIME.

>> IT'S NOT POLLING WELL.

>> Cathy: WHAT DOES THE SENATE DO IT DO YOU THINK?

>> Eric: U.S. SENATE.

>> I HINK THEY'RE GOING TO CHANGE IT SIGNIFICANTLY AND I THINK THE ELON/TRUMP STUFF DOES DEFINITELY IMPACT WHAT THE SENATE CAN DO, IT EMBOLDENS THEM TO DO THAT.

I THINK WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THE DEMOCRATS ONCE AGAIN ARE TAKING THE BAIT WHERE THEY'RE MORE EXCITED ABOUT ANTI-TRUMP MEMES ON X AND NOT JUST SAYING LOOK AT ALL THE STUFF THAT'S ACTUALLY IN THERE.

>> SO I AGREE.

I THINK LIKE TRUMP IS MASTERFUL AT DISTRACTIONS AND PLAYING TELEVISION, RIGHT?

AND SO THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THIS BILL ARE DEVASTATING TO AMERICAN FAMILIES.

AND TO HIGHLIGHT THE PAIN AND CRUELTY THAT THESE BILLS ARE GOING TO INFLICT IS SOMETHING THAT DEMOCRATS CAN NOT LOSE TRACK OF VERSUS -- >> I THINK -- >> VERSUS THE END OF THE RELATIONSHIP.

>> THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT AMERICANS VOTED FOR AND THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE GETTING.

>> Eric: I'M ETTIN' THE HOOK.

THANKS, PANEL.

>> Cathy: GOOD JOB, YOU GUYS.

THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> IT WAS A DAY OF PERSUASION AND POSITIONING FOR THE D.F.L.

SENATE CANDIDATES AND WE'LL TALK TO A COUPLE OF UNCOMMITTED DELEGATES ON THIS EVE OF THE ENDORSEMENT BALLOTING.

>> WE'LL HEAR FROM THE HALF DOZEN OR SO PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE OUR NEXT U.S.

SENATOR.

"ALMANAC"'S NEXT.

♪♪ >> Eric: I'VE PUT ON A FEW POUNDS.

YEAH.

IT'S MINNESOTA HISTORY TIME, LAST WEEK CATHY TOOK US BACK TO MAY OF 2015 WHEN WE REPORTED SOMETHING ON THE SHOW AND TOLD YOU TO PAY ATTENTION BECAUSE IT WOULD BECOME A FUTURE INDEX FILE QUESTION.

AND THAT TIME IS NOW.

HERE ARE THE DETAILS.

IT'S SPRINGTIME IN MINNESOTA.

SOMEONE OR SOMETHING TRAVELS SOUTH TO A PLACE RARELY VISITED BY MIDWESTERNERS.

2015 IS THE FIRST TIME THIS PARTICULAR THING HAS DONE THIS IN NEARLY TWO DECADES.

OUR QUESTION FOR YOU: WHO OR WHAT AM I?

ALWAYS UP FIRST, CALLERS WITH THE WRONG ANSWERS.

>> "I BELIEVE THE ANSWER IS THE GREAT GRAY OWL.

>> "IN SPRING OF 2015, MANY MINNESOTANS WHO WERE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS LEFT THE STATE AND WENT SOUTH.

THE STATE LOST MORE POPULATION THAN IT GAINED DURING THAT PERIOD.

LOVE THE SHOW!

THIS IS FRITZ IN SLEEPY EYE."

>> "THAT HAD TO BE SID HARTMAN, BECAUSE HE WAS A TRAVELING MAN, HE GOT AROUND!"

>> "THE ANSWER TO THE INDEX QUESTION: A MOOSE ALMOST MADE IT TO IOWA, AND I BELIEVE IT GOT HIT BY A CAR.

THANK YOU, BYE."

>> Eric: NO, NO, NOT EVEN CLOSE BUT WE WILL GIVE YOU KIND OF A B MINUS FOR EFFORT.

TURNED OUT THE ONLY RIGHT ANSWER WE RECEIVED WAS BY E-MAIL FROM A FORMER MEMBER OF OUR "ALMANAC" FAMILY, INTERN DALE!

>> "HI!

IT'S BEEN A WHILE.

I WAS A PRODUCTION VOLUNTEER/INTERN BACK IN 2005.

REACHING OUT TO SAY MY GUESS FOR THE INDEX FILE QUESTION IS THE MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA PLAYED IN CUBA AND WAS THE FIRST AMERICAN SYMPHONY TO DO THAT IN QUITE A WHILE.

I'M CURRENTLY RESIDING IN AUSTINTOWN, OHIO -- THIS IS DALE BUT TRY TO WATCH FAITHFULLY ONLINE AND KEEP UP WITH MINNESOTA EWS AND EVENTS.

THANKS FOR PRODUCING AN ENTERTAINING AND INFORMATIVE SHOW WEEK AFTER WEEK.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!"

UNQUOTE.

THANKS, DALE.

SO GLAD YOU'RE STILL WATCHING AFTER ALL OF THESE YEARS.

AND, YES, THE MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA TRAVELED TO CUBA IN WHAT THE "NEW YORK TIMES" CALLED A GROUNDBREAKING TOUR.

NEWS OUTLETS AROUND THE COUNTRY REPORTED THAT THE CONCERTS SIGNALED A THAWING BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.

HERE'SRE NICE SHOT OF THE MAESTRO CONDUCTOR OSMO VANSKA.

WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH TIME LEFT FOR SOME SHOW-ENDING MUSIC FROM THE ARCHIVES.

AND IT IS A REAL TREAT.

THIS WEEK IN 2006 WE HAD A GAMELAN ORCHESTRA ON THE SHOW.

IT TOOK UP A LOT OF SPACE SO W MOVED IT NEXT DOOR TO STUDIO A.

LET'S ENJOY LISTENING AND WATCHING AS WE ROLL THE CREDITS.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK AND 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 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH ITS MEMBER-OWNER COOPERATIVES AND CUSTOMERS.

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

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

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