THINKING HE COULD ATTACK A GATHERING LATER THIS MONTH.

THE TEENAGER HAD BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH AN UNDERCOVER INFORMANT FOR TWO YEARS BEFORE HIS TUESDAY ARREST.

NOW AN ATTORNEY ALONG WITH REPUBLICAN ERIC PRATT A CURRENT STATE SENATOR REPRESENTING PRIOR LAKE.

ONCE AGAIN THE FORMAT WILL BE A TYPICAL "ALMANAC" DEBATE.

THAT MEANS NO TIMED RESPONSES, NO OPENING STATEMENTS, NO PODIUMS, NO STOPWATCHES, NO FORCED FORMALITY.

GENTLEMEN, YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN THERE I SPENT THE WEEK OUT IN A COMPETITIVE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT, A RACE TO WATCH.

BOTH CANDIDATES RAN ON AFFORDABILITY.

>> MM-HMM.

>> LET'S START WITH YOU, SENATOR PATTY WHICH IS A REPUBLICAN I HEARD RUNNING ON AFFORDABILITY.

WHAT CAN A MEMBER OF CONGRESS DO ABOUT AFFORDABILITY?

AND WHAT WOULD YOU DO ABOUT THAT ISSUE?

>> YOU KNOW, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

BECAUSE T'S ONE OF THE THINGS I HEAR MOST ABOUT AS I'M OUT TALKING TO RESIDENTS OF THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

THEY'RE STRUGGLING WITH THE HIGH COSTS OF LIVING.

SMALL BUSINESSES ARE DEALING WITH RISING COSTS AND REGULATIONS.

MY BELIEF IS THAT FAMILIES DESERVE TO KEEP MORE OF WHAT THEY EARN.

I PASSED A CHILD TAX CREDIT HERE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS AND I WOULD FIGHT TO DO THE SAME THING AT -- IN WASHINGTON.

WE SHOULD STREAMLINE THE PERMITTING, FEDERAL PERMITTING AND INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF HOUSING.

AND QUITE HONESTLY WE JUST REALLY NEED TO GET A GOOD PRO-GROWTH ECONOMY GOING THAT CREATES GOOD PAYING, SELF-SUSTAINING JOBS.

>> AND REALISTICALLY WHAT CAN A MEMBER OF CONGRESS DO ABOUT AFFORDABILITY?

>> WELL, I THINK IF YOU'RE GOING TO RUN FOR CONGRESS YOU GOT TO BELIEVE YOU CAN MAKE THE CHANGE WHEN YOU GET THERE.

I THINK THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO DO IS GET OUT OF THE WAR IN IRAN, A WAR POWERS RESOLUTION TO TAKE AWAY THE FUNDING, STOP FUNDING THE WAR IN IRAN.

THAT'S ONE OF THE DIFFERENCES ERIC PRATT AND I DR.

HAVE IN THIS RACE.

HE WANTS TO STAY THERE, I WANT TO GET OUT.

I THINK WE NEED TO END TARIFFS RAISING COST OF ALL COMMODITIES, CONGRESS ALSO HAS POWER TO TAKE THAT BACK.

WE DO NEED TO BUILD MORE HOUSING, FOUR TO FIVE MILLION MORE UNITS.

AND PASS MEDICARE FOR ALL AND SECURE LONGEVITY.

>> Cathy: SENATOR PRATT, -- SAID THAT INFLATION ON EVERYDAY ITEMS IS DUE ENTIRELY TO TRUMP TARIFFS.

THERE IS A GENTLEMAN RUNNING IN MICHIGAN, SENATOR MIKE ROGERS THINKS THERE SHOULD BE AN IMMEDIATE END TO TRADE WAR WITH CANADA.

WOULD YOU CALL FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, THE TARIFFS, PARTICULARLY THOSE TARIFFS WERE CANADA ARE HURTING MINNESOTA WORSE THAN A LOT OF OTHER STATES AND I HAVE NEVER BELIEVED THAT WE SHOULD HAVE TARIFFS TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.

WE SHOULD BE USING TARIFFS TO EFFECT FAIR TRADE.

FOR INSTANCE, WE HAD CHINA DUMPING STEEL ON US SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

THAT WAS THE RIGHT TIME TO PUT IN A TARIFF.

WE SHOULD BE USING -- EVERY PRESIDENT'S USED TARIFFS TO ENACT THEIR FOREIGN POLICY.

BUT TARIFF IS A TAX.

AND I THINK CONGRESS NEEDS TO STEP UP AND REASSERT ITSELF AS A COEQUAL BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT IN ORDER TO, ON TAXATION LIKE THAT.

>> Cathy: SOUNDS LIKE YOU TWO MIGHT AGREE ON THIS IN TERMS OF GETTING RID OF TARIFFS.

>> YEAH, DEFINITELY I DIDN'T HEAR THE FIRM ANSWER THAT HE WOULD STOP TARIFFS AGAINST CANADA BUT I THINK THE DIFFERENCE IS WHO WILL ACTUALLY TAKE BACK HE POWER TO ONGRESS BECAUSE ERIC PRATT HAS SAID HE'S ALL IN ON TRUMP, WENT DOWN TO MAR-A-LAGO TO TRY TO GET AN ENDORSEMENT, SENT APE FUND-RAISING LETTER SAYING HE WILL STAND FOR TRUMP, HE WILL DO WHATEVER HE TELLS HIM O DO.

>> NO, I WAS THERE FOR A PRAGER U FUNDRAISER, MATT, I DIDN'T SAY THAT AND YOU KNOW I DIDN'T SAY THAT AND YOU CONTINUE TO REPEAT THE LIE AND IT'S NOT TRUE.

YOU CONTINUE TO MAKE UP FACTS AND MISLEAD VOTERS OF SECOND DISTRICT AND I WISH IT WOULD STOP.

>> SO I'M NOT MAKING UP ANY FACTS.

>> SURE YOU ARE.

>> YOU TOLD THE STAR TRIBUNE THAT.

>> I DIDN'T TELL THE STAR TRIBUNE THAT, IT WASN'T A QUOTE.

>> THE STAR TRIBUNE WROTE THAT.

-- YOU'VE BEEN IN POLITICS.

>> THAT'S NOT YOU SAYING -- WHERE DO YOU STAND WITH TRUMP RIGHT NOW?

LET'S CLARIFY WHERE YOU ARE WITH HIM RIGHT NOW?

LET'S HEAR IT IN YOUR WORDS.

>> LET'S HEAR IT IN MY WORDS, I DON'T AGREE WITH MY WIFE ON EVERYTHING, I DON'T AGREE WITH TRUMP ON EVERYTHING.

I'M NOT GOING TO BE A RUBBER STAMP ON ANYBODY'S POLICY, I'M GOING TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF THE SECOND DISTRICT.

I'VE DONE THAT N THE MINNESOTA SENATE.

THAT'S WHY I'VE BEEN REELECTED THREE TIMES AFTER WINNING THE FIR TIME.

I'VE BEEN AN INDEPENDENT VOICE IN THE MINNESOTA SENATE.

BUT MY OPPONENT CONTINUES TO TRY TO SAY I'VE SAID THINGS THAT I HAVEN'T.

HE CONTINUES TO TAKE PERSONAL ATTACKS ON ME.

HE ACCUSED ME OF PERSONALLY COMMITTING FRAUD AGAINST MY OWN CUSTOMERS WHEN I WAS AT U.S.

BANK.

THAT'S NOT THE TOP OF RECKLESS SPEECH THAT MOST PEOPLE IN THE SECOND DISTRICT WANT TO HEAR.

>> IS THIS RECKLESS?

>> IS WHAT PART RECKLESS?

>> DEPICTING YOUR OPPONENT WITH THINGS THAT HE'S SAYING THAT ARE NOT TRUE?

>> SPEAKING THE TRUTH?

HE HAS CAMPAIGNED IN HIS E-MAILS, SO MANY OF THEM, AND YOU'LL HAVE TO ADMIT, YOU'VE CAMPAIGNED THAT YOU HAVE 30 YEARS OF FRAUD AND RISK PREVENTION EXPERIENCE, BUT AT U.S.

BANK DURING YOUR TENURE, SHAM ACCOUNTS WERE OPENED.

YOU WERE FINED $37.5 MILLION, WHAT DID YOU DO ABOUT THAT?

NOTHING.

>> PERSONALLY, WERE YOU PERSONALLY FINED >> NO.

>> OR WAS IT THE ORGANIZATION?

>> U.S.

BANK WAS FINED.

>> OKAY.

BUT ARE YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT -- U.S.

BANK DID?

>> NO, I WASN'T IN THE FRAUD DEPARTMENT AT THAT TIME.

I WAS IN A DIFFERENT PART OF THE BANK.

MY OPPONENT KNOWS THAT.

AND YET HE CONTINUES TO -- HE CONTINUES TO MISLEAD VOTERS IN THE SECOND.

>> LET'S MOVE ONTO ANOTHER ISSUE.

>> Cathy: YEAH, I WANT TO GO AROUND TO AFFORDABILITY AGAIN.

FOLKS WHO ARE WATCHING ARE PAYING A LOT FOR FOOD AND GAS AND THAT KIND OF THING.

TARIFF OF COURSE ARE ALSO, I'M GOING TO IT ON TARIFFS TOO, TARIFFS ARE DRIVING UP FOOD PRICES AND REALLY IN THE SECOND DISTRICT YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF FARMERS AND THEY'RE REALLY SUFFERING.

AND I'M WONDERING WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WERE ELECTED TO THE SECOND DISTRICT, WOULD YOU ONTO WANT TO SERVE ON THE AG COMMITTEE?

WHAT WOULD YOU DO ABOUT THE FARM BILL THIS HAS BEEN HOLED UP IN THE SENATE?

AND HOW WOULD YOU HELP YOUR FARMERS IN THE SECOND DISTRICT?

>> YEAH, THANKS.

FIRST THING WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IS PASS EMERGENCY RELIEF FOR FARMERS.

THEY HAVE BEEN HURT ONCE AGAIN.

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME TRUMP IN A MIDTERM AS VERY CLEARLY HURT OUR FARMERS SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PASS EMERGENCY RELIEF PROGRAM.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PASS A FARM BILL.

I THINK THERE'S SOME VERY GOOD THINGS IN THERE FOR MINNESOTA FARMERS NUMBER ONE BEING YEAR ROUND E15, I THINK THAT OPENS MARKETS, GETS MORE MONEY IN THE POCKETS OF OUR FARMERS BUT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MODIFY THE S.N.A.P.

REQUIREMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN CHANGED AND THAT IS WHAT'S HOLDING IT UP.

THEY ARE PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM GETTING THE FOOD THEY NEED AND THAT ALSO HURTS FARMERS BECAUSE IT REDUCES THE DEMAND FOR WHAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO BUY.

>> WOULD YOU WANT TO SERVE ON THE AG COMMITTEE?

>> I'VE SAID I WANT TO SERVE ON AG ND GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT.

>> SENATOR PRATT.

>> YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT COMMITTEES TO SERVE ON.

IF I WAS ABLE TO SERVE ON AG I'D LOVE TO.

>> WHAT ABOUT S.N.A.P.?

COULD YOU ADDRESS THAT SPECIFICALLY?

DID YOU SUPPORT THE CUTS FOR S.N.A.P.?

WOULD YOU WANT SOME OF THAT RESTORED?

HOW DOES THAT AFFECT THE DISTRICT?

IS IS >> YOU KNOW, NOBODY HAS TO LOSE THEIR S.N.A.P.

BENEFITS.

THE CUTS ARE COMING FROM THE FACT THAT WE'RE REQUIRING PEOPLE TO WORK OR VOLUNTEER 20 HOURS A WEEK.

THESE WERE THE SAME ULES THAT WERE PUT IN UNDER THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, AND I THINK WHEN YOU HAVE ABLE-BODIED PEOPLE WITHOUT CHILDREN, YOUNG CHILDREN, THAT THAT'S A REASONABLE EXPECTATION.

AND SO WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO IS LOOK AT -- BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MONEY IN S.N.A.P.

IS GOING TO THE FAMILIES THAT NEED IT MOST.

NOT SPREADING IT OUT, AS FAR AS WE CAN BUT, REALLY HELPING THE MOTHERS AND THE HILDRENS AND THE FAMILIES THAT ARE REALLY STRUGGLING.

THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO PUT OUR FOCUS.

AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FARMERS CAN, YOU KNOW, GET THEIR CROP IN WITH THE CAPITAL AVAILABLE, THE RISK MANAGEMENT INSURANCES THAT ARE THERE, AND ALSO OPEN UP NEW MARKETS LIKE E15.

>> ET'S TALK MORE ABOUT THE AG COMMITTEE AND CONGRESSWOMAN CRAIG BECAUSE SHE WAS THE RANKING MEMBER ON THAT.

I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW FIRST OF ALL HOW YOU DISAGREE WITH HER OR HOW YOU WOULD BE DIFFERENT FROM HER.

>> THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS.

>> OKAY.

>> AND I HAVE TREMENDOUS RESPECT FOR THE CONGRESSWOMAN, SHE HAS FLIPPED THE DISTRICT RED TO BLUE.

>> NO, THIS ISN'T THROWING SHADE, JUST HOW YOU DISAGREE.

>> YEAH, AND WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER ON A NUMBER OF THINGS SO I HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESPECT FOR HER.

IN TERMS OF POLICY I'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR ABOUT GAZA, THAT'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE THAT HER AND I HAVE.

I BELIEVE IT IS A GENOCIDE AND WE NEED TO STOP SENDING MILITARY AID TO ISRAEL AND WE NEED A FULL WEAPONS EMBARGO AND I LSO DISAGREE ON IMMIGRATION, I WOULD HAVE VOTED FOR THE LAKEN RILEY ACT.

>> OKAY, AND CAN YOU PROBABLY GUESS THE FLIP SIDE?

WHERE DO YOU AGREE WITH HER?

SHE WAS ELECTED AND OVERPERFORMED, WHAT DID SHE DO RIGHT AND WHERE DID YOU AGREE WITH HER?

>> I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT CONGRESSWOMAN CRAIG AND I HAD A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP BUT DISAGREED ON MOST THINGS.

>> SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO AGREE.

OR SOMETHING SHE DID WELL OR SOMETHING WHERE YOU COULD FOLLOW IN HER FOOTSTEPS?

>> I CAN'T THINK OF THE SPECIFIC BILL I THINK THERE WERE SOME TIMES SHE WAS ABLE TO CROSS OVER AND REALLY REPRESENT THE DISTRICT BECAUSE IT IS A SWING DISTRICT.

AND, YOU KNOW, BEING A HARDCORE ON THE EXTREME LEFT, HAVING YOUR PLATFORM ALIGN WITH THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS ISN'T WHERE THIS DISTRICT'S AT.

THEY WANT SOMEONE WHO CAN THINK FOR THEMSELVES, THEY WANT SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO BE THOUGHTFUL AND OPEN MINDED FOR SOLUTIONS.

>> ALIGNING WITH THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS?

>> I'M A D.F.L.ER, I'M NOT A DSAER, I THINK ERIC PRATT KNOWS THAT.

IF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT EXTREMIST, I THINK WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT HE STAFFER ERIC PRATT HIRED.

HE KNOWINGLY HIRED A WHITE NATIONALIST WHO HAS SAID ISLAMAPHOBIC THINGS, ANTI-SEMITIC THINGS, SO ABHORRENT, LIKE SAYING I WANT TO DO BLACK FACE AS DR.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, HE KNOWINGLY HIRED THIS GUY.

IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT EXTREMISM.

>> DO YOU HAVE A RESPONSE?

>> YEAH, I DIDN'T KNOWINGLY HIRE A WHITE NATIONALIST.

I HIRED A KID TO BE A DRIVER, HE WAS NEVER IN A POLICY R COMMUNICATION ROLE AND AS SOON AS WE FOUND OUT THERE THAT WE WERE -- WE CUT HIM LOOSE WITHIN AN HOUR.

>> CUT HIM LOOSE AS IN YOU FIRED HIM.

>> YES, WELL, WE LET HIM GO.

>> HE WASN'T YOUR FIELD DIRECTOR?

>> HE WAS, HIS TITLE WAS FIELD DIRECTOR BUT HE DID SIGNS, HE DID DOORKNOCKING, BUT HE WASN'T PART OF THE STRATEGY PART OF THE TEAM.

LOOK, WHAT HE SAID ANGERED ME.

THOSE AREN'T THE VALUES THAT I HOLD, THOSE AREN'T THE VALUES I WANT MY CAMPAIGN TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH.

AND WITHIN AN HOUR OF FINDING THAT OUT, HE WAS GONE.

>> SINCE IT CAME UP I'D LOVE TO KNOW HOW YOU CURRENTLY DESCRIBE YOUR POLITICS BECAUSE I COVERED BOTH OF YOU IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, IN THE STATE SENATE.

I REMEMBER, SENATOR MATT LITTLE, BEING A MODERATE, REALLY TOUTING HOW YOU REACHED ACROSS THE AISLE AND MATT LITTLE WHO'S RUNNING FOR CONGRESS HAS BEEN KIND OF MORE OF A PROGRESSIVE.

WHAT ARE YOU?

>> YEAH, I THINK MY POLICIES THAT I WORKED ON AS MAYOR AND I WORKED ON IN THE STATE SENATE ARE VERY CONSISTENT WITH WHAT I'M DOING NOW AND WHEN WE ARE IN THE MINNESOTA SENATE I SUPPORTED THINGS LIKE PUBLIC OPTION BECAUSE MEDICARE FOR ALL IS NOT POSSIBLE, I WORKED HEAVILY ON GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND SUPPORTED A BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS BACK THEN.

YOU KNOW IT, YOU WERE THERE, I WENT AFTER INSULIN COMPANIES AND PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES.

MY POLITICS ARE CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT TIME.

>> WHAT ARE THEY?

WHAT DO YOU DESCRIBE -- SO WHAT'S THE TERM YOU USE TO DESCRIBE?

MODERATE, PROGRESSIVE?

>> ANYBODY CAN CALL ME WHATEVER THEY WANT.

I WOULD CONSIDER MYSELF A PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRAT.

>> OKAY.

AND SENATOR PRATT, I WOULD SAY YOU HAD A CONSERVATIVE RECORD IN THE STATE SENATE BUT YOU'VE BEEN TALKING MORE MODERATE PERHAPS AS A CANDIDATE.

HOW DO YOU LIKE TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF?

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS T U.S.

BANK I WAS, AND THINKING OF RUNNING FOR THE SENATE I GOT CALLED IN TO THE CHIEF RISK OFFICER'S OFFICE AND HE SAID BANKERS ARE PROBLEM SOLVERS AND WE NEED MORE PROBLEM SOLVERS IN GOVERNMENT.

SO I WOULD DESCRIBE MYSELF AS A PROBLEM SOLVER.

EVERY BILL I'VE PASSED INTO LAW IN THE MINNESOTA SENATE HAS BEEN ON A BIPARTISAN VOTE.

WE NEED PEOPLE WHO KNOW HOW TO REACH ACROSS THE AISLE AND GET THINGS DONE.

WHETHER IT'S TEACHER LICENSURE REFORM OR TEACHER PENSION REFORM, ON THE JOBS COMMITTEE MATT AND I BOTH SAT ON WE FOCUSED ON THINGS LIKE MAKING SURE MINNESOTA WAS A GREAT PLACE TO INVEST, MAKING SURE WE HAD A WORKFORCE READY FOR THE JOBS OF TODAY AND THE JOBS OF TOMORROW AND MAKING SURE WE REMOVED BARRIERS SO MORE PEOPLE COULD BE PART OF THAT WORKFORCE.

>> SO WHAT TERM DO YOU?

LIKE WHAT CAN YOU STICK TO >> I LIKE PRAGMATIC.

>> OKAY, OKAY.

>> Cathy: SAY, WE'VE GOT KIND OF A LIGHTNING ROUND OF QUESTIONS HERE.

THEY'RE KIND OF FUN SO -- >> RELAX, DEEP BREATHS.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> Cathy: DEEP BREATHS.

MARY, WHY DON'T YOU START?

>> YOUR FAVORITE SPACE AT THE CAPITOL.

STATE CAPITOL.

>> Cathy: SINCE YOU BOTH SERVED.

>> Mary: WHO'S READY FOR?

>> I THINK THE SENATE CHAMBER WAS MY FAVORITE PLACE.

>> YEAH, I'VE GOT TO AGREE WITH MATT.

I MEAN, WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED I CALLED MY COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACH BILL MCCARTNEY AND I SAID, COACH, YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO BELIEVE WHERE I'M SITTING, HE WAS SO PROUD AND MY MOM AND DAD WERE SO PROUD.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.

>> I GOT A FUNNY STORY IF WE GOT TIME.

>> NO, WE DON'T, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A LIGHTNING ROUND?

>> DEEPLY UNFAIR, ALL RIGHT.

>> Cathy: FAVORITE PODCAST?

>> OOH.

BOY, I'D HAVE TO SAY RIGHT NOW IT'S PROBABLY RUTHLESS.

>> GLOBAL NEWS PODCAST.

>> Cathy: OKAY.

THAT'S GOOD TOO.

ALL RIGHT.

YOUR FIRST CAR.

>> MY FIRST CAR AS, IT WAS MY DAD'S OLD CAR, IT WAS 1988 FORD TAURUS SHO.

>> Cathy: IT WAS COOL AT THE TIME KIND OF.

>> Mary: NO, IT WASN'T.

NO, IT WAS NOT COOL.

>> WHAT DO YOU KNOW?

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT COOL, LAHAMMER?

[ LAUGHTER ] >> I HAD A LITTLE CHEVY PICKUP THAT I JUST BEAT THE HECK OUT OF.

>> Mary: THAT'S FUN, THAT'S A GOOD ONE.

HOW ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN MADE SO MUCH OF THE AGE OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, EITHER OF YOU WOULD BRING THE AGE LIMIT I THINK WAY DOWN.

ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF AGE LIMITS IN CONGRESS?

>> YOU KNOW, BOY, THAT'S A TOUGH ONE.

HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

I THINK WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT THE INDIVIDUALS AND SAY HAVE THEY GONE PAST -- >> Mary: IS IT A PROBLEM, THOUGH?

DO YOU AGREE IT'S TURNED INTO A PROBLEM?

>> I DO THINK IT'S A PROBLEM BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE LIVING LONGER AND I GUESS I'M MORE SENSITIVE TO IT BECAUSE I JUST WAS CAREGIVER FOR MY DAD AS HE WAS PASSING AWAY FROM ALZHEIMER'S AND IT WAS EXTREMELY SAD TO WATCH AND IT WAS EXTREMELY SAD TO SEE SOME OF OUR OLDER MEMBERS THAT CONTINUE TO SERVE BUT MAYBE JUST DON'T HAVE THE PHYSICAL OR THE CAPACITY TO DO IT.

>> Mary: IS THIS A YES, NO, MAYBE.

>> YES, NO, MAYBE.

>> Cathy: OKAY, ABOUT 24 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE 80 YEARS OR BETTER.

>> OR BETTER, I LIKE THAT PHRASE.

>> THERE ARE SOME SHARP PEOPLE, YES, BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK IT'S A MONEY PROBLEM.

MONEY IN OUR POLITICS IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM.

IT KEEPS PEOPLE THERE, HE ALLURE OF THAT MONEY AND POWER.

I DON'T THINK T'S AN AGE PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE'S PLENTY OF PEOPLE THAT ARE YOUNGER AND THEY'RE THERE AND THEY SHOULDN'T BE, SO I THINK THE VOTERS GET TO DECIDE WHO THEY'RE GOING TO ELECT, I TRULY BELIEVE THAT, I THINK IT'S A MONEY PROBLEM.

>> Cathy: OF COURSE YOU ARE ALL ARE GOING TO BE HAVING TO RAISE A LOT OF MONEY EVERY TWO YEARS.

>> YEAH, I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU'RE REMINDING US OF THAT.

>> Cathy: IT'S A HARD THING, DIALING FOR DOLLARS ALL THE TIME.

SO DO YOU SEE WAYS TO MAYBE, WHAT ABOUT CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM?

WHAT'S ON YOUR PLATE WHEN IT COMES TO THAT?

>> 100%, I THINK WE NEED TO OVERTURN CITIZENS UNITED BUT THERE'S ANOTHER SPEAKIER COURT CASE, BUCKLEY VIED VALE HOE THAT SAID MONEY IS SPEECH.

WE NEED TO OVERTURN THAT AS WELL.

>> Mary: HE WENT ATTORNEY.

CAN YOU GO BANKER ON THIS ONE?

[ LAUGHTER ] >> WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

-- POSITION ON IT, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS HAVE A VOICE IN THEIR POLITICS AND I THINK MATT AND I AGREE ON THAT.

YOU KNOW, MY AVERAGE CONTRIBUTION IS RIGHT AROUND $75.

AND I'M PROUD OF THAT BECAUSE WE ARE TAPPING INTO THE GRASSROOTS.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHERE OUR VOICE NEEDS TO GO.

I HAVEN'T LOOKED SPECIFICALLY INTO VARIOUS ISSUES OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE BUT, YOU KNOW, -- >> Mary: IS CITIZENS UNITED A PROBLEM?

IS MONEY SPEECH, DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT PHILOSOPHICALLY OR DISAGREE >> I MEAN, WE CAN LOOK -- I MEAN, IF WE LOOK AT IT ACROSS THE BOARD WE HAVE A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS LIKE ALLIANCE FOR BETTER MINNESOTA THAT ARE TAKING THAT -- MONEY AND USING IT.

>> Mary: I THINK BOTH SIDES ARE DOING IT FOR THE RECORD.

>> HONESTLY YOU'RE RIGHT, BOTH SIDES ARE DOING IT.

BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT IT THEN WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT HOLISTICALLY.

>> Cathy: WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CONGRESS HERE FOR JUST UA MOMENT, IT'S A MESS.

YOU ALLUDED TO THAT, SENATOR PRATT, A GALLUP POLL RECENTLY, ONLY 10% OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC THINK CONGRESS IS DOING A GOOD JOB.

AND CONGRESS, YOU ALLUDED TO THIS, SEEMS CONTENT TO TURN OVER ITS POWER TO THE PRESIDENT.

WAR POWERS, POWER OF THE PURSE.

WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE TO WREST CONGRESS' POWER BACK?

>> I THINK IT IS WHOLLY DEPEND ON THE TYPE OF PEOPLE YOU ELECT AND GOING BACK TO WHAT WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT, MONEY IS THE PROBLEM, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE BOUGHT AND PAID FOR.

THEY GET ALL OF THIS MONEY TO GET ELECTED, TO HOLD THAT TITLE AND THEY GO AND DO THEIR BIDDING AND THEY DON'T WORK FOR THE PEOPLE.

I THINK THAT IS, WE'RE SEEING THAT TIME AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

SO ELECT PEOPLE THAT ARE UNBOUGHT.

>> Cathy: SENATOR PRATT.

>> I WOULD ADVOCATE FOR DOING WHAT I DID DURING COVID.

AND THAT WAS WHEN GOVERNOR WALZ WOULD PUT FORTH AN EXECUTIVE ORDER, WE HELD A HEARING ON IT, WE DRAFT A BILL ON IT, WE TOOK BACK THE POWER OF THE LEGISLATURE DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME.

ONE OF THE ONES THAT I REMEMBER THE MOST WAS UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE REFORM.

DOING AWAY WITH SOME OF THE INITIAL BARRIERS FOR PEOPLE THAT WERE LAID OFF FROM GETTING THOSE FUNDS BECAUSE WE WERE IN SUCH A UNIQUE SITUATION.

I THINK CONGRESS HAS GOT TO -- THE PRESIDENT CAN DO THESE IMAGE EXECUTIVE ORDERS BUT I THINK CONGRESS HAS GOT TO HAVE THE WILL TO STAND UP AND SAY WE'RE GOING TO PUT OUR STAMP ON IT, YES OR NO.

>> Mary: SOMETHING CONGRESS MAY VOTE ON AND ONE OF YOU MAY HAVE THE CHANCE TO VOTE ON, MINNESOTAN PETE HEGSETH IMPEACHMENT.

>> DEFINITELY.

>> Mary: HOW WOULD YOU VOTE?

>> YES, IMPEACH.

>> Mary: WHY?

>> I THINK THEY HAVE -- THEY HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT THEY ARE ONE OF THE MOST CORRUPT ADMINISTRATIONS OF OUR TIME.

THEY ARE SELF-DEALING, THEY ARE TRADING STOCKS AND THEY ARE TRADING -- >> Mary: WHY HEGSETH SPECIFICALLY INSTEAD OF THEY, WHY HIM?

WHY HIM, REMOVAL?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S ALL OF THEM AND THAT APPLIES TO HIM AS WELL.

BUT LOOK AT WHAT HE HAS DONE WITH THE WAR IN IRAN.

I BELIEVE THIS IS AN ILLEGAL WAR, LOOK AT WHAT HE'S DONE TO CHANGE EVEN THE NAME OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

I THINK THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS IN WHICH HE SHOULD BE IMPEACHED ON.

HE IS NOT FOLLOWING THE CONSTITUTION AND NOT SERVING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

>> Cathy: A VOTE COULD BE BIPARTISAN IF THIS ACTUALLY DOES OCCUR.

HOW WOULD YOU VOTE?

>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T TALK ABOUT HOW I'D VOTE ON CERTAIN THINGS.

I'M NOT CLOSE ENOUGH TO IT.

>> Cathy: SOUNDS LIKE YOU MIGHT BE EVASIVE ON THIS.

>> WELL, HERE'S WHAT I WOULD SAY WHEN IT COMES TO THE WAR IN IRAN THE PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY HAVE TO BE MORE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THE OBJECTIVES ARE.

I BELIEVE WE CAN'T WALK AWAY WITH IRAN AND LEAVE IT IN SHAMBLES LIKE AFGHANISTAN.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE IRAN NEVER GETS A NUCLEAR WEAPON.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY CANNOT CONTINUE TO BE THE BIGGEST SPONSORS OF TERRORISM ACROSS THE WORLD.

AND I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE MAKE SURE THAT THE STRAITS OF HORMUZ REMAINS OPEN, THEY DON'T END UP CONTROLLING IT.

THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO HEAR FROM THE ADMINISTRATION.

THAT'S HOW WE NEED TO EXECUTE THIS CONFLICT AND I'M LOOKING FOR THE SECRETARY AND THE PRESIDENT TO BE MORE CLEAR ON THAT.

>> Cathy: OKAY, SO DO YOU THINK HEGSETH IS DOING A GOOD JOB?

>> I DON'T HAVE AN OPINION ON WHETHER HE'S DOING A GOOD JOB OR BAD JOB.

I'M SAYING WE HAVE NOT HAD A CLEAR MESSAGE COMING FROM THE ADMINISTRATION ON WHAT'S GOING TO BRING THIS CONFLICT TO AN END.

>> Mary: QUICKLY.

>> PETE HEGSETH HELPED GET US INTO THIS MESS SO I DON'T THINK WE CAN TRUST HIM TO GET OUT OF IT.

>> LAST QUESTION, KIND OF A FUN ONE.

CONGRESS DID ACT ON NCAA REFORM FOR ATHLETES AS AN NCAA DIVISION ONE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYER, YOU KNOW I'M KIND OF GLANCING AT MY NCAA ATHLETE, TEXAS WAS UP 1-0 LAST TIME I CHECKED.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE BILL?

DOES CONGRESS HAVE ANY BUSINESS WEIGHING INTO COLLEGE SPORTS?

>> IT DOES IN THE FACT THAT RIGHT NOW THE ULES IN COLLEGE SPORTS ARE BEING WRITTEN BY THE COURTS.

AND THE NCAA IS LOOKING FOR CONGRESS TO DO SOME THINGS TO ALLOW IT TO CONTROL NIO MONEY.

>> Mary: NAME, IMAGE, LIKENESS.

>> YES.

AS A COLLEGE SPORTS FAN I'M FRUSTRATED WITH HOW THE PORTAL IS WORKING.

>> Mary: TRANSFER PORTAL.

>> WE NEED TO GIVE THE NCAA TO MANAGE THEMSELVES AND NOT ALLOW THE COURTS TO DO THIS ON THEIR BEHALF.

>> Cathy: IS THIS OMETHING CONGRESS NEEDS TO WEIGH IN ON?

>> I THINK IT'S DEEPLY UNFAIR YOU DIDN'T GET TO AKE MONEY WHEN YOU PLAYED D1 FOOTBALL.

>> Mary: AND AS A MAYOR YOU SHOWED UP TO ALL THE GAMES, I'LL GIVE YOU SPORTS CREDIT.

>> HERE'S THE DEAL, I THINK THESE ATHLETES PUT THEIR BODIES ON THE LINE, I DON'T THINK THERE SHOULD BE CAPS OKAY IN, WHATEVER THEY CAN MAKE IN COLLEGE DOING WHAT THEY THREE DO AND LOVE BEST THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO AND THERE SHOULD BE NO RESTRICTIONS ON THAT.

>> Mary: THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

WELL, NOW TO THE LEGISLATURE AND ANOTHER IMPORTANT RACE TO WATCH.

THIS WEEK IT'S A WO-FER, A TARGETED HOUSE AND SENATE SEAT BUT IT'S THE HOUSE DISTRICT THAT'S OPEN IN A PICTURESQUE AREA WHERE INDEPENDENT VOTERS SPLIT THEIR TICKETS.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> Mary: THIS RACE TO WATCH TAKES US BACK TO THE HASTINGS AREA TO HOUSE DISTRICT 41B, AN OPEN SEAT WE'VE FEATURED BEFORE.

>> I'M JEN FOX, I'M RUNNING FOR THE HOUSE.

>> DEMOCRAT JEN FOX RETURNS DETERMINED TO WIN THIS TIME AROUND, AND