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

>> CATHY: WE TALK COVID MUTATIONS WITH MICHAEL OSTERHOLM....

THE JOB MARKET WITH MINNEAPOLIS FEDERAL RESERVE PRESIDENT NEEL KASHKARI... WE EXPLORE THE DETAILS OF OUR FROSTY UPCOMING WEEK WITH PAUL DOUGLAS... AND THEN WE'LL LEARN WHETHER MINNESOTA MIGHT JOIN 15 OTHER STATES IN MAKING A CERTAIN SUBSTANCE LEGAL.

>> Mary: THE CONVERSATION AROUND CANNABIS AT THE CAPITOL IS CHANGING WHEN IT COMES TO LEGALIZING ADULT USE.

WE'LL HAVE THE STORY.

>> BETTER THAN 50-50 CHANCE.

>> I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF TIME.

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

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

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

A TOUCHSTONE ENERGY COOPERATIVE.

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

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINE3US.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

>> CATHY: WE'LL FOCUS ON A NUMBER OF STORIES TONIGHT BUT WE START WITH THE MIXED MESSAGES THESE DAYS ABOUT COVID.

CASES ARE DOWN IN MINNESOTA AND ELSEWHERE AND SCHOOLS ARE REOPENING.

YET, HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE INCREASINGLY WORRIED ABOUT MUTATIONS IN THE VIRUS THAT COULD SOON MAKE THINGS MUCH WORSE.

>> ERIC: JOINING US FOR HIS MONTHLY VISIT IS ONE OF THE HEALTH OFFICIALS WHO'S BEEN RAISING ALARMS THIS WEEK.

MICHAEL OSTERHOLM, HEAD OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA'S CENTER FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESEARCH AND POLICY, JOINS US BY WEBCAM.

DOCTOR, 47 STATES REPORT CASES OPT DECLINE.

WHY ARE YOU SOUNDING THE ALARM?

>> YOU KNOW, ERIC, I FEEL LIKE I'M SITTING IN A BEACH IN THE MIDDLE OF MEXICO, BLEW SKIES, GENTLE BREEZE AND I'M SITTING THERE TELLING EVERYBODY TO EVACUATE.

THE REASON IS WE CAN SEE THIS CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE JUST FIVE DAYS SOUTH OF THERE AND IT'S ON ITS WAY IN.

RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE'RE SEEING HAPPEN WITH THE VIRUS THAT CAUSE COVID-19, ALL THESE NEW MUTATIONS, THESE CHANGES IN THE VIRUS AND ONE OF THOSE VIRUSES HAS CAUSED DEVASTATING OUTBREAKS, ILLNESSES IN EUROPE.

IT'S NOW CIRCULATING IN THE UNITED STATES AND WE BELIEVE IT WILL JUST BE A MATTER OF WEEKS BEFORE WE SEE A MAJOR EXPLOSION OF CASES HERE.

SO AS MUCH AS I HATE TO SAY THIS AND NO ONE WANTS TO HEAR THIS, I THINK THE VERY DARKEST DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC ARE YET TO OCCUR OVER THE NEXT FIVE TO 12, 14 WEEKS.

>> Cathy: YOU ALSO SAID AT A LEGISLATIVE HEARING THIS WEEK, DOCTOR, THAT YOU WERE WORRIED ABOUT A SURGE THIS FALL INTO NEXT WINTER COULD BE SEVERE, MUCH MORE SEVERE THAN ANYTHING WE'VE SEEN.

SO YOU'RE ALREADY OUT THAT FAR?

>> NO, NO, THERE WAS A MISINTERPRETATION IN THE MEDIA.

I NEVER COMMENTED ON ANYTHING BEYOND THIS SPRING.

SO I'M TALKING ABOUT THE NEXT FIVE TO 14 WEEKS AT MOST.

YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY BY SUMMER, IF IN FACT THESE VIRUSES DO NOT FURTHER MUTATE AND CAUSE MORE PROBLEMS WITH PROTECTION FROM THE VACCINE, I'M HOPING THAT THIS SUMMER WE CAN START TO SEE A REAL TURNAROUND WITH THIS BUT RIGHT NOW WHAT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS, LIKE THAT HURRICANE ANALOGY, WHAT'S COMING.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT, THANKS FOR THE CLARIFY CAKES.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> Eric: NOW, YOU WANT TO CALL AN AUDIBLE.

YOU CALL YOURSELF A 2-DOSE GUY WHEN IT COME TO THE VACCINE BUT IS THERE CONTROVERSIAL AT ALL?

YOU MIGHT GET MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK FOR 65-PLUS IF YOU JUST GET ONE DOSE AND DELAY THE SECOND DOES?

>> WELL, I'M ONE OF SEVERAL SCIENTISTS WHO ARE REALLY CALLING FOR A VERY RAPID AND COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF WHAT DATA DO WE HAVE FOR THESE TWO VACCINES AS TO HOW WELL DO THEY WORK AFTER ONE DOSE AND WE HAVE MORE DATA NOW SUPPORTING THE FACT THAT THEY ACTUALLY WORK QUITE WELL AND REMEMBER THAT FOR MANY VACCINES, WE DON'T EVEN GIVE A SECOND DOSE UNTIL SOMETIME FOUR TO SIX MONTHS, AND SO THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE UNUSUAL FOR THIS SITUATION.

AND THE REASON THAT WE'RE SO CONCERNED IS THE FACT THAT IF YOU LOOK AT EVEN OUR BEST GUESSTIMATE OF HOW MUCH VACCINE CAN BE DELIVERED BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF MARCH, WHICH IS ABOUT 100 MILLION DOSES, WHICH IS STILL WAY AHEAD OF WHAT THE PRESIDENT ORIGINALLY SAID 100 MILLION DOSES BY THE END OF APRIL.

BUT IF YOU DO THE MATH ON THOSE 100 MILLION DOSES AND REALIZE THAT WILL ONLY VACCINATE ABOUT 12% OF THE U.S. POPULATION.

EVERYONE WOULD NEED TWO DOSES.

AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WILL NOT BE COVERED BY THIS NEW SURGING VARIANT.

SO WHAT OUR WHOLE POINT IS WITH THE DATA SUPPORTS THAT, IN FACT, WE CAN DELAY THESE DOSES, NOT STOP IT, EVERYONE WILL STILL GET TWO DOSES BUT THERE WON'T BE ANY DIFFERENCE IN THE SENSE OF HOW MUCH PROTECTION THEY'LL HAVE AGAINST SEVERE ILLNESS, HOSPITALIZATIONS OR DEATHS.

WHY NOT GIVE TWICE AS MANY PEOPLE THE VACCINE TO KEEP OUR HOSPITALS FROM BASICALLY LITERALLY OVERFLOWING WITH PATIENTS WHICH COULD VERY WELL HAPPEN IN THIS TIME PERIOD AS I SAID IN THE NEXT 12 TO 14 WEEKS.

>> LET'S TALK, AGAIN, ABOUT THESE VARIANTS IN THE NEXT 12 TO 14 WEEKS.

MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FLORIDA AND PLACES WARM TO HANG OUT FOR A WHILE.

DO YOU THINK THERE SHOULD BE TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS >> YOU KNOW, CATHY, ONE OF THE STRUGGLES WE HAVE RIGHT NEW WITH THIS PANDEMIC IS PANDEMIC FATIGUE AND EVEN PAN DECK I CAN ANGER.

PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF IT.

PEOPLE HAVE HIT THE WALL.

THE ECONOMY HAS SUFFERED IMMEASURABLELY FROM IT.

MANY SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE ALL BEEN BUT DONE IN.

AND SO I UNDERSTAND WHERE THE FRUSTRATION IS, I UNDERSTAND THE GOVERNOR'S EFFORTS AND ALL THE GOVERNORS AROUND THE COUNTRY TO EASE UP NOW THAT THE CASE NUMBERS ARE COMING DOWN.

REMEMBER, THEY'RE COMING DOWN TO 1250 TO 130,000 NEW CASES A DAY, WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT 3,000 DEATHS.

YOU KNOW, IF THIS HAD OCCURRED BACK LAST SUMMER, OR LAST SPRING, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE WORST HOUSE ON FIRE EVENT YOU COULD HAVE IMAGINED WHEN 20,000, 30,000 OR EVEN 70,000 CASES WERE A LOT.

AND SO WHAT MY CONCERN IS, IS THAT HOW ARE WE GOING TO TURN IT AROUND QUICKLY?

IF WE SUDDENLY SEE THIS SURGE IN THESE CASES, AND LET ME JUST POINT OUT, IN ENGLAND, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU EQUALITY THE HOSPITALIZATIONS THAT OCCURRED THERE WITH THIS VIRUS, THEY WOULD I.INDICATE TO ABOUT 190,000 HOSPITALIZATIONS A DAY IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE WERE LITERALLY IN COLLAPSE WITH OUR HEALTH CAME SYSTEMS AT 130,000, SO WHICH IS THE HIGHEST WE GOT.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO RIGHT NOW IS SAY, OKAY, WE UNDERSTAND, THIS IS REALITY, EVERYBODY'S GOING TO LOOSEN UP, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO BE TIGHTENING UP REAL SOON AND YOU BETTER BE ABLE TO DO IT FAST.

WE'RE REALLY GOOD IN THIS COUNTRY ON PUMPING THE BRAKES UP WHEN WE WRAP THE CAR AROUND THE TREE.

OUR JOB NOW IS TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE SURGE WILL BE.

MY GOD, I HOPE I'M WRONG BUT IF WE'RE NOT AND I'M NOT, WHAT WERE GOING TO ENCOUNTER OVER THE NEXT 12 TO 14 WEEKS IS REALLY GOING TO BE A PAGE LIKE WE EVER' NOT YET READ.

>> Eric: WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE VIRUS AND THE VACCINES ON PREGNANT WOMEN AND THEIR FETUSES?

>> AT THIS POINT BE, ALL THE DATA SUPPORTS THAT THE VACCINES ARE VERY SAFE FOR PREGNANT WOMEN.

AND I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, THE CHALLENGE THERE IN TERMS OF SAFETY BUT WE HAVE SEVERAL NEW STUDIES THAT HAVE JUST COME IN WHERE THE ACTUAL VACCINE COMPANIES THEMSELVES HAVE DONE THE KIND OF SAFETY STUDIES THAT NORMALLY WOULD BE DONE LOOKING AT ANIMAL MOD GELS AND SO FORTH, AND JUST BASED ON WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE BIOLOGY, THESE ARE VERY SAFE VACCINES.

THE REAL DANGER TO PREGNANT WOMEN IS ACTUALLY GETTING INFECTED WITH COVID AND THEN HAVING A SERIOUS ILLNESS THAT WOULD COMPROMISE BOTH THE MOTHER'S HEALTH AS WELL AS THE BABY'S HEALTH.

>> Cathy: WOULD HE HAVE A QUESTION FROM A VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW, THEY HAVE TWO FAMILY MEMBERS IN THEIR 30s WHO HAVE HAD COVID.

SO SHOULD THESE TWO FAMILY MEMBERS GET THE VACCINE ANYWAY?

>> WHEN IT COMES TIME, DEFINITELY GET THE VACCINE.

WE HAVE DATA TODAY SHOWING THAT ACTUALLY THE IMMUNE RESPONSE YOU GET FROM THE VACCINE IS ACTUALLY BETTER THAN THE IMMUNE RESPONSE YOU GET JUST FROM HAVING NATURAL INFECTION.

AND, AGAIN, A LOT OF THIS IS GOING TO BE UNDER FLUX.

WE HAVE VARIANTS RIGHT NOW IN BRAZIL THAT ARE CLEARLY CAUSING SECOND INFECTIONS IN PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD CONFIRMED INFECTIONS SIX MONTHS BEFORE.

WE'RE SEEING THE SAME THING IN SOUTH AFRICA.

SO, BUT FOR NOW, IN THIS COUNTRY, DEFINITELY GET THE VACCINE AGAIN AND WE'RE ONLY CAN HOPE THAT WE DON'T SEE THE SAME VARIANTS SPREADS AROUND THE WORLD THAT WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD WHERE, IN FACT, THEY HAVE COMPROMISED THE PROTECTION OF THE VACCINE.

>> Eric: DOUBLING-MASKING HAS COME UP AND I LISTENED TO YOUR PODCAST THIS WEEK AND YOU TALKED ABOUT FIT AND FILTRATION.

CAN YOU GIVE US MORE ON THAT?

>> WHEN WE PROTECT OURSELVES IN TERMS OF GETTING INFECTED, WE DO ONE OF TWO THINGS.

ONE IS WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE INFECTED AND DON'T KNOW IT FROM BLOWING THEIR VIRUS OUT ALL OVER INTO THE ENVIRONMENT.

AT THE SAME TIME, IF I'M NOT IN EFFECTED AND I WANT TO STAY UNIN EFFECTED, I'M TRYING NOT TO BREATHE IN AIR THAT THE VIRUS IS FLOATING IN.

SO AIR GETS INTO YOUR RESPIRATORY TREE, INTO YOUR NOSE, INTO YOUR MOUTH BASICALLY EITHER THROUGH A MASK, EITHER RIGHT THROUGH THE MASK OR FROM AROUND THE SIDES WHERE IT LEAKS.

NOW, THE N95 RESPIRATORS, THE VERY BEST DEVICES ARE THOSE THAT ARE TIGHT-FACE FITTING, THEY HAVE A SPECIAL MATERIAL THAT THE AIR COMES THROUGH THAT'S VERY POROUS SO YOU CAN BREATHE EASILY BUT HAS AN ELECTROSTATIC CHARGE SO IT PROTECTS THE VIRUS.

THOSE WE MUST RESERVE FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS.

BUT WHEN YOU GET INTO SURGICAL MASKS, FACE CLOTH COVERINGS, GATERS, THEY OFTEN DON'T FIT TIGHT TO YOUR FACE SO IT'S LIKE A BIG LEAK.

LIKE YOUR SWIM GOGGLES, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU LEAKED THROUGH THE GLASS?

YOU LEAKED THROUGH THE FIT.

SO THEN WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE AT THIS POINT.

THEN IF YOU DO PUT A LOT OF FILTRATION IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE, YOU COULD PUT CELLOPHANE IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE AND YOU WOULDN'T BREATH ANY VIRUS BUT YOU WOULDN'T GET ANY AIR.

SO WITH DOUBLE-MASKING, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T CREATE MORE SPACES ALONG THE SIDE OF YOUR FACE BECAUSE IT GETS SO HARD TO BREATH THE AIR ITSELF IN THROUGH THE DOUBLE FILTRATION.

SOME DOUBLE-MASKING MIGHT WORK IF YOU KEEP THE TIGHT FACE FIT AND YOU ALSO STILL CAN BREATHE.

IF YOU CAN'T, THEN YOU MAY ACTUALLY MAKE IT WORSE FOR YOURSELF.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS IF YOU'RE GOING TO WEAR IT, AND YOU SHOULD WEAR IT, WEAR IT CORRECTLY.

WE'VE SEEN UP TO A QUARTER OF THE POPULATION WEAR IT UNDER THEIR NOSE, WHAT I CALL A CHIN DIAPER.

BASICALLY, IT'S -- I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC BEHIND THAT, IT'S LIKE FIXING THREE OF THE FIVE SCREEN DOORS IN YOUR SUBMARINE.

YOU KNOW, BASICALLY WEAR IT OVER YOUR NOSE AND YOUR MOUTH.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU FOR TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DOUBLE MASKING BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT THAT.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT VACCINES HERE BUT ARE WE FOCUSED TOO MUCH ON THE VACCINES AND NOT ENOUGH ON DEVELOPING GOOD THERAPEUTICS?

>> WELL, ACTUALLY, SINCE YOU NOTE THAT, I'M I PART OF A GROUP THAT WROTE AN OP ED PEACE IN THE "WASHINGTON POST" TODAY, THESE ARE MY COLLEAGUES ON THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADVISORY BOARD WITH ME AND WE LAID OUT REALLY THREE PRIORITIES.

NUMBER ONE IS WE CLEARLY NEED TO BE DOING RIGHT NOW THIS GENETIC SEQUENCING.

WE NEED TO BE SURVEYING ALL THE VIRUSES IN THE U.S. AND TAKING A SAMPLE OF THEM, A MUCH LARGER SAMPLE TO FIND OUT ARE THESE VARIANTS HERE?

WE DON'T REALLY KNOW.

WE'RE FLYING BLIND WRITE NOW IN THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE THERE'S SO LITTLE OF THE SEQUENCING TESTING GOING ON.

SECONDLY, WE SAID WE NEED NEW AND BETTER VACCINES.

ALREADY WE BELIEVE WE NEED PROBABLY A SECOND OR THIRD-GENERATION VACCINE THAT CAN TAKE CARE OF THE VARIANTS THAT WE'RE NOT DOING NOW WITH THE CURRENT VACCINES NEARLY AS WELL AS WE COULD.

NUMBER THREE, WE NEED THERAPEUTICS.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT INVESTED ALMOST ALL OF ITS EFFORTS IN TERMS OF TREATMENTS IN THESE IMMUNE THERAPIES.

YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THE MONO CHROMEALL ANTI BODES, LOOKING AT RECOVERED PLASMA AND THEY'VE NOT BEEN THAT SUCCESSFUL.

SO WE NEED WHAT WE CALL SMALL MOLECULE OR DRUGS, BASICALLY, JUST PILLS OR INJECTIONS THAT WOULD BE DRUGS THAT COULD WORK, AND SO THIS IS RAY NEED, AN IMMEDIATE NEED AND WE'RE CALLING ON THE NIH AND THE ADMINISTRATION TO BEGIN REALLY A MAJOR PROJECT TO BRING NEW DESTRUCTION FOR THOSE WHO DO BECOME IN EFFECTED AND TRYING TO KEEP THEM FROM DEVELOP SERIOUS ILLNESS.

AND THEN FINALLY WE NEED DRUGS TO TRY TO WORK ON THESE LONG-HAULERS, THE CONDITION I'VE TALKED ABOUT HERE BEFORE ON THIS SHOW, PEOPLE WHO ARE DEVELOPING THESE LONG-TERM SYMPTOMS, AFTER THEY'VE HAD THE ILLNESS, WHICH IN SOME CASES ARE LITERALLY DEBILITATING.

LUNG AND HEART DAMAGE SUCH THAT THEY LITERALLY HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING OUT OF BED DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, BEFORE WE GO, YOU AND I TALKED LAST WEEK ON MPR AND YOU WERE -- WE WERE TALKING ABOUT YOUR PREDICTION ABOUT HOW THINGS COULD GET PRETTY DARN TOUGH HERE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

AND, BOY, DID I GET A LOT OF BLOW-BACK FROM THAT INTERVIEW WITH YOU, SO I'M CURIOUS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WERE SAYING, OH, MY GOSH, HE'S TRAFFICKING IN FEAR PORN, HE'S NEVER RIGHT.

HOW MUCH BELOWBACK DO YOU GET WHEN YOU MAKE THESE PREDICTIONS?

>> YOU KNOW, I'M USED TO IT AT THIS POINT.

I WOULD TELL ANYBODY TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT MY RECORD.

YOU KNOW, I WAS ON HERE TALKING ABOUT CASES WAY BACK LAST SPRING AND IF YOU GO BACK, YOU KNOW, EVERY ONE OF MY PREDICTIONS HAVE TURNED OUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS SAYING IN SEPTEMBER WE'D HAVE 200,000 CASES BY THANKS GULF AND WE WERE ONLY AT 26,000 CASES, WELD 200,000 CASES ON NOVEMBER 8th.

YOU KNOW, I SAID IT WOULD BE OVER 300,000 CASES IN JANUARY, BACK IN EARLY DECEMBER.

WE CLEARED 300,000 CASES IN JANUARY.

SO, YOU KNOW, I'LL LET MY REAL RECORD SPEAK FOR ITSELF.

PEOPLE WHO SAY I'VE BEEN WRONG, YOU KNOW, SO BE IT.

THAT'S NOT TRUE.

I HOPE I'M WRONG THIS TIME.

I WOULD GIVE ANYTHING TO BE WRONG THIS TIME AND VERY HAPPILY ACKNOWLEDGE I'M WRONG.

I DON'T WANT TO SEE WHAT I THINK IS COMING BUT, YOU KNOW,.

>> TO TELL THE TRUTH IS NOT WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.

I'M SUPPOSED TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, STRAIGHT AND FORWARD.

>> Eric: THANKS, DOCTOR, APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TONIGHT.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU >> ♪♪♪ >> THE PRESIDENT OF THE MADAM PRESIDENT FEDERAL VERVE -- RESERVE MADE APPEAR AN BEFORE A COMMITTEE TODAY.

YOU TOLD THE COMMITTEE, Mr. PRESIDENT, THAT IF THERE WAS A WORKER SHORTAGE, ONE WAY TO PREVENT THAT WAS TO PAY PEOPLE MORE AND JUST TODAY, THE BIDEN TEAM CAME OUT AGAIN IN FAVOR OF A $15 MINIMUM WAGE.

WHAT WOULD THAT DO TO THE SITUATION?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE VARIED AROUND THE COUNTRY.

WHEN YOU RAISE THE MAINLY MUM WAGE, IT CERTAINLY HELPS WORKERS WHOSE WAGES GO UP BUT IT CAN ALSO MAKE IT MORE EXPENSIVE FOR BUSINESSES.

SO WE'RE DOING A LONG-TERM ECONOMIC STUDY ON MINNEAPOLIS [INDISCERNIBLE] TO RAISE THEIR MINIMUM WAGE AND WE WANT TO STUDY THOSE EFFECTS.

RIGHT KNOW THE JOB MARKET IN AMERICA IS STILL LOUSY, STILL AROUND -- THE REAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE TODAY IN AMERICA IS AROUND 90.5 OR 9.6%.

SO THERE ARE FAR MORE AMERICANS OUT OF WORK THAN THERE ARE JOB OPENINGS AVAILABLE.

>> Eric: BROADLY, YOU SAID THAT THE VIRUS REALLY IS IN CONTROL OF THE ECONOMY.

CAN YOU EXPAND ON THAT A LITTLE BIT?

>> ABSOLUTE LIE.

IF WE WANT TO REOPEN THE ECONOMY AND WE ALL DO AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, IT NEEDS TO BE SAFE AND WE ALL NEED TO FEEL SAFE AND SO THE FASTER THAT MINNESOTA AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT WE CAN VACCINATE THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS AND VAST MAJORITY OF MINNESOTANS, THE FASTER IT WILL BE SAFE FOR US TO GO BACK TO NORMAL AND SO THE VACCINATIONS ARE ABSOLUTELY KEY.

WE NEED TO GET AS MAINLY PEOPLE VACCINATED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

THEN WE CAN REOPEN THE ECONOMY SAFELY.

>> Eric: HOW ABOUT PEOPLE OF COLOR, WOMEN, THE POOR?

THEY SEEM TO BE FARING WORSE THAN THE OTHER COVID ECONOMY.

CAN YOU FLESH THAT OUT FOR US A LITTLE BIT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE COVID PANDEMIC IS DEEPLY UNFAIR.

FIRST OF ALL, TENDS TO BE LOWER INCOME WORKERS WHO WERE IN THE SERVICE JOBS THAT ARE LOSING THEIR JOBS, SO PEOPLE LIKE [INDISCERNIBLE] ME AT THE FEDERAL RESERVE, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TOE LARGELY WORK REMOTELY AND NOT LAY ANYBODY OFFER.

SO THE JOB LOSSES ARE AFFECTING THOSE WHO CAN LEAST AFFORD IT.

AND THOSE WHO KEPT THEIR JOBS IN THE SERVES INDUSTRIES, THEY'RE THE ONES MOST LIKELY GETTING EXPOSED TO THE VIRUS THROUGH THAT IN-PERSON INTERACTION AND OFTENTIMES THEY HAVE LESS ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE SO THIS VIRUS AND THIS PANDEMIC IS DEEPLY UNFAIR AND I'M GLAD THAT CONGRESS HAS SEND UP VERY AGGRESSIVELY OVER THE PAST YEAR TO SUPPORT FAMILIES, TO SUPPORT WORKERS AND TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES THAT CONTINUE TO NEED MORE SUPPORT.

>> Eric: THIS $1.9 TRILLION BUY DONE -- BIDEN PACKAGE DREW SOME HEAT TODAY FROM THE TREASURY, SAID IT WAS TOO BIG AND IT WILL CAUSE ECONOMIC HARM.

WHAT SAY YOU?

>> WE HAVE VERY POWERFUL TOOLS AT THE FEDERAL RESERVE TO KEEP INFLATION IN CONTROL.

[INDISCERNIBLE] THAT'S THE FEDERAL RESERVE JOB.

PART OF OUR JOB IS TO KEEP INFLATION IN CHECK SO I DON'T SEE THE RISK OF HIGH INFLATION AS THE REASON NOT TO PURSUE THE PACKAGE AND CONGRESS SHOULD NEGOTIATE, THEY SHOULD DEBATE THE DETAILS OF THE PACKAGE AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY THINK IS RIGHT BUT I FOR ONE AM NOT WORRIED THAT THIS PACKAGE IS GOING TO LEAD TO HIGH INFLATION.

>> Eric: YOU WERE ASKED A COUPLE TIMES WHAT CAN THE STATE LEGISLATURE DO TO FILL IN THE GAPS IN COVID RELIEF AND I WAS INTERESTED THAT YOU CAME UP WITH TWO THINGS OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD.

ONE WAS SUPPORTING CHILD CARE AND THE OTHER BORDER TO BORDER BROADBAND.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> WE KNOW THAT CHILD CARE IS SO VACATE -- VITALLY IMPORTANT FOR FAMILIES TO GO BACK TO WORK.

CHILD CARE CENTERS HAVE IN MANY CASES BEEN IMPACTED, SOME OF HAVE CLOSED.

IN-HOME CHILD CARE PLACES HAVE CLOSED SO THAT'S KEEPING MANY PEOPLE AT HOME AND ESPECIALLY WOMEN BEING PULLED OUT OF THE JOB MARKET BECAUSE OF THE INABILITY OF CHILD CARE.

AND THE SECOND ONE IS THE ACCESSIBILITY OF BROADBAND ACROSS THE STATE, IT WAS IMPORTANT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC BUT IT HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT NOW.

I SPEAK TO A LOT OF OUR FEDERAL LEGISLATORS ABOUT THAT, THEY ALL GET IT.

REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT, THEY ALL GET IT.

AND I HOPE THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MOVES VERY AGGRESSIVELY TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL MINNESOTANS AND ALL AMERICANS HAVE ACCESS TO BROADBAND: >> Eric: MINNESOTA HAS THIS VERY WIDE OPPORTUNITY GAP WHEN IT COMES TO A LOT OF THINGS BUT INCLUDING ECONOMICS AND ECONOMIC PROSPERED AND SO FORTH.

IS THERE A PRESCRIPTION FOR GETTING THAT GAP NARROWED?

>> THE BEST PRESCRIPTION WE HAVE STARTS WITH EDUCATION AND THAT'S WHY FORMER SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ALAN PAGE AND I ARE CHAMPIONING AN AMENDMENT TO THE MINNESOTA CONSTITUTION TO CREATE A CIVIL RIGHT FOR EVERY MINNESOTA CHILD TO GET A QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND THEN MAKE THIS THE STATE'S HIGHEST PRIORITY, EDUCATION IS AT THE ROOT CAUSE OF SO MANY DISPARITIES.

HOUSING, HEALTH CARE, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, THEY START AT THE ROOT CAUSE OF QUALITY EDUCATION, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FOCUSING OUR TIME AND THAT'S WHERE WE THINK THE STATE SHOULD FOCUS ITS ENERGY.

>> Eric: YOU WANT I TO SHARE WITH THE AUDIENCE SOMETHING YOU SAID IN THAT COMMITTEE ABOUT FLORIDA AND MINNESOTA.

IN THE LATE '90s, BOTH STATES HAD SIMILAR ACHIEVEMENT GAMES FOR EDUCATION BUT SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST 20 YEARS AND MINNESOTA GOT THE SHORT INDEPENDENT OF THAT.

COULD YOU TALK ABOUT THAT STUDY A LITTLE BIT?

>> YEAH, SO THE LATE '90s, FLORIDA AMENDED THEIR CONSTITUTION TO MAKE EDUCATION A HIGH PRIORITY FOR THE STATE.

THAT CATALYZED THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO COME TOGETHER AND MAKE SWEEPING CHANGES AND IN 20 YEARS, THEY'VE GONE FROM MID-30s OUT OF 50 STATES IN TERMS OF THE GAP BETWEEN RICH AND POOR AND WHITE AND STUDENTS OF COLOR, THEY'RE NOW 6th.

THEY'VE MADE ALMOST -- THEY'VE CLIMBED 30 PLACE INS ABOUT 20 YEARS.

MINNESOTA IS STUCK IN THE MID 30s, EXACTLY WHERE WE WERE.

WE'VE MADE NO PROGRESS.

AND IF FLORIDA CAN DO IT, I DON'T SEE WHY MINNESOTA CAN'T DO IT.

>> Eric: WORK TO DO.

NEEL KASHKARI, MINNEAPOLIS FEDERAL RESERVE, THANKS FOR THE TIME.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

♪♪♪ >> Cathy: I REMEMBER BEING IN TOWER THAT MORNING.

THAT WAS COLD.

IT'S BEEN ONE OF THE WARMEST WINTERS ON RECORD FOR MANY PARTS OF THE STATE.

AND, BOY, ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR IT.

FORECAST HIGHS IN THE TWIN CITIES ARE NOT EXPECTED TO HIT DOUBLE DIGITS ABOVE ZERO UNTIL THE END OF NEXT WEEK.

YOU WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK TO 2008 TO FIND A STRETCH THAT COLD THAT LONG IN THE METRO.

TO RUB IT IN, PAUL DOUGLAS IS JOINING NOW TO TALK ABOUT OUR COLD SPELL FROM A RENTAL HOME IN FLORIDA.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

WHAT?

>> CATHY, I -- FIRST OF ALL, HI, BEST WISHES TO YOU AND ERIC AND THE VIEWERS.

I PLANNED THIS TRIP SIX MONTHS AGO AND IT'S A WORK-CATION.

I'M WORKING FROM DOWN HERE.

>> Eric: LIKELY STORY.

>> Cathy: WORKING ON YOUR TAN.

>> IF YOU'VE BEEN TO THE PANHANDLE, IT'S NOT NAPLES, IT'S NOT FORT MYERS, IT'S IN THE 50s AND 60s AND I'M TAKE IT BUT, YEAH.

JUST A FEW WEEKS.

>> Cathy: IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.

SO HERE, OF COURSE, WE'RE LOOKING -- STARING HERE AT A REALLY PRETTY IMPRESSIVE COLD SPELL.

>> YEAH, AND I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD CALL THIS PIONEER COLD.

AGAIN, IT WAS 2013-204, WE HAD 53 NIGHTS BELOW ZERO.

THAT WAS A FORMIDABLE WINTER!

BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, WE'VE HAD A FAIRLY MILD WINTER TO DATE AND NOW IT'S TIME FOR A LITTLE BIT OF PAYBACK.

ABOUT 10 TO 12 UNCOMFORTABLE DAYS AND THEN WE COME OUT OF IT.

I DID BRING SOME VISUALS, MAINLY FOR ERIC.

>> Eric: THANK YOU.

>> TO TRY TO TELL -- YEAH, TO TRY TO TELL THE WEATHER STORY.

FIRST, THE GOOD NEWS.

WE PICKED UP 72 MINUTES OF DAYLIGHT SINCE THE WINTER SOLSTICE.

72 MINUTES OF DAYLIGHT.

AND SOLAR WINTER, WHICH MARKS THE 90 DARKEST DAYS OF THE YEAR IN MINNESOTA IS NOW OFFICIALLY BEHIND US.

WE ARE NOW ENTERING THE PERIOD OF MOST RAPID DAYLIGHT GAIN.

WE'RE PICKING UP TWO TO THREE MINUTES OF ADDITIONAL DAYLIGHT EVERY DAY.

THAT OLD PROVERB AS THE DAYS LENGTHENING, THE COLD DOTH STRENGTH 10.

YES, IT DOTH.

THE NEXT TEN DAYS WILL REMIND YOU WHERE YOU'RE LIVING.

BUT, LOOK, A LITTLE BIT OF PERSPECTIVE.

WE'VE ONLY HAD TWO NIGHTS BELOW ZERO TO DATE, RIGHT AROUND CHRISTMAS.

TWO NIGHTS.

DURING A TYPICAL WINTER SEASON, THE TWIN CITIES METRO PICKS UP CLOSER TO 22 NIGHTS BELOW ZERO AND I WANT TO SHOW YOU THE TRENDS HERE.

BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING ME, AND SO I ASKED KENNY BLUMENFELD AND MARK SEELEY, AND THIS IS THE GRAPH.

WE USED TO HAVE CLOSER TO 40 NIGHTS BELOW ZERO IN THE 1870s AND 1870s.

THERE'S BEEN A STEADY DECLINE.

ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPTICK IN THE 60s AND 70s BUT SINCE THEN, FAIRLY CONSIST -- FAIRLY CONSISTENTLY, WE'VE SEEN A DROP-OF IN THE NUMBER EVER NUMBER OF NIGHTS AT OR BELOW ZERO.

SO NOW... [NO AUDIO] THAT NUMBER IS CLOSER TO 22.

I LOOKED AT DATA FROM MYLON, MINNESOTA, AND OTHER AREAS AROUND THE STATE WITH NO URBAN HEAT ISLAND AND THERE ARE STILL THE SAME NUMBER.

WE'VE WARMED ABOUT 5 GROWS DURING THE WINTER MONTH AND YOU HEAR ABOUT THE POLAR VORTEX, THAT'S A PERMANENT FIXTURE.

IT'S ALWAYS UP OVER THE NORTH POLE BUT BECAUSE THE ARTIC IS WARMING THREE TIMES FASTER THAN THE REST OF THE PLANET, THAT HAS MADE THE JET STREAM INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE, A WAVE EASIER, LOOPIER JET STREAM AND SOMETIMES WE SEE A BIG DOLLOP OF POLAR AIR PLOWING DUE SOUTH AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FACED WITH NOW, A CONGA LINE OF COLD FRONTS BETWEEN MINNESOTA AND THE UCONN.

IT IS GOING TO BE GETTING COLDER HERE PROGRESSIVELY OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

BUT, AGAIN, PERSPECTIVE.

THIS IS FROM CLIMATE RE-ANALYZER AND IT SLOWS TEMPERATURE ANOMALIES.

EVERYTHING IN BLUE, COLDER THAN AVERAGE, EVERYTHING IN RED WARMER THAN AVERAGE.

SO IT'S HARD TO MAKE GLOBAL CONSIDERATIONS WHEN YOU'RE JUST STARING OUT THE WINDOW, AND THIS IS, AGAIN, WHAT CLIMATE SCIENTISTS DO, KEEP AN EYE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING ALL ACROSS THE PLANET.

WITH ALL THOSE CAVEATS IN MIND, HERE WE GO, SATURDAY THE SUN WILL BE OUT.

OUR COLDEST DAYS TEND TO BE SUNNY AND I THINK PSYCHOLOGICALLY, THAT HELPS A LOT OF PEOPLE.

A HIGH OF ONE TOMORROW.

AND THEN SUNDAY MORNING, WE'RE GOING TO BE WAKING UP TO DOUBLE-DIGIT NEGATIVE NUMBERS.

I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO SET ANY RECORDS BUT IT'S GOING TO BE COLD ENOUGH, AND THEN HIGHS SUNDAY AFTERNOON, STRUGGLING TO REACH ZERO IN THE METRO.

IT MAY STAY JUST BELOW ZERO.

SINGLE-DIGIT HIGHS LATER NEXT WEEK, BEFORE THE CORE OF THAT POLAR AIR ARRIVES NEXT THURSDAY, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, WE MAY NOT CLIMB ABOVE ZERO FOR DAY TIME HIGHS.

THIS IS GFS GUIDANCE FROM NOAA, BUT LOOK AT THAT, 30s BY THE THIRD WEEK OF FEBRUARY, WE ARE GOING TO COME OUT OF THIS.

I DON'T SEE ANY EVIDENCE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE WEEK AFTER WEEK AFTER WEEK OF POLAR PAIN.

YEAH.

>> Eric: HOW ABOUT A SUNDAY EVENING TAMPA BAY SUPER BOWL FORECAST?

>> CHIEFS BY 6.

>> Eric: NO, NO, THE WEATHER, THE WEATHER!

>> OH.

IT'S GOING TO RAIN IN THE MORNING IN TAMPA AND THEN IT SHOULD CLEAR OFF IN THE AFTERNOON.

I THINK GAMETIME TEMPERATURES IN THE 60s, THE WEATHER SHOULD NOT BE A FACTOR.

CHIEFS BY SIX.

>> Eric: ALL RIGHT, GO CHIEFS.

THANKS, PAUL.

>> Cathy: ENJOY.

WE MISS YOU.

♪♪♪ >> IT HAS BEEN A FULL YEAR SINCE I WAS LAST IN THIS STUDIO.

WHAT A DECADE OF A YEAR IT HAS BEEN.

JUST AS A TULIP PUSHES ITS WAY UP THROUGH THE TIGHT SNOWY SOIL TO HERALD THE RETURN OF SPRING, THIS!!

IS A SIGN THERE REALLY IS LIGHT AT THE END OF THIS TUNNEL!

AS MINNESOTANS WE KNOW THESE EARLY SHOOTS OF SPRING WITH NAMES LIKE PFIZER AND ASTRAZENECA DON'T MEAN THAT WINTER IS BEHIND US ENTIRELY.

WE KNOW THERE'S MORE SNOW AND STORMS BEFORE WE GET THROUGH THIS.

AT ONE POINT OR ANOTHER, WE'VE ALL GOTTEN GREEDY AND PACKED UP OUR SNOW SHOVELS AND OUR LONG UNDERWEAR IN MARCH ONLY TO HAVE TO DIG 'EM BACK OUT AGAIN A WEEK OR TWO LATER.

WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO STILL NEED THOSE AND FOR THAT MATTER, THESE FOR QUITE SOME TIME YET.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE CAN'T REVEL IN THESE BABY STEPS TOWARDS THINGS GOING BACK TO SOME SEMBLANCE OF NORMAL.

THE SUN'S OUT LONGER AND LONGER EACH DAY.

MORE AND MORE OF OUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS HAVE A MEASURE OF SAFETY THEY HAVEN'T HAD FOR A FULL YEAR NOW.

WE'LL NEVER FORGET THIS WINTER, OR THOSE THAT WE LOST ALONG THE WAY.

BUT NOTHING GOOD HAS EVER COME WITHOUT HOPE, AND AFTER 12 MONTHS OF HOPING AND SHORTER SUPPLY THAN PPE, I AM GRATEFUL FOR EVERY OUNCE OF IT THAT WE CAN GET.

I FORGOT SOMETHING THE LAST TIME THAT I WAS HERE.

SO, I WANT TO DO A TOAST TO HOPE, TO PERSEVERANCE, TO SPRING, TO MY FRIENDS HERE AT TPT WHO I SO HOPE WE WILL BE ABLE TO CHEER TOGETHER AGAIN SOME TIME SOON.

AND TO YOU, MAY WE ALL STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY FOR A LITTLE BIT LONGER AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY THAT WE CAN BE HERE TOGETHER AGAIN.

♪♪♪ >> SEARCH OF THE WATER RESEARCH BASED HERE IN St. PAUL.

THANKS FOR JOINING US AND THANKS FOR COMING TO TALK ABOUT YOUR RECENT ARTICLE ABOUT FOOD DISPARITIES, ESPECIALLY AS TO HOW THEY AFFECT PEOPLE ON RACIAL LINES.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT ARTICLE AND WHAT SOME OF THE FINDINGS WERE?

>> WE'VE SEEN THAT BLACK, LATINX MINNESOTANS HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY AT TWICE THE RATE OF WHITE RESIDENTS.

AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE DISPARITIES THAT WE'RE SEEING ARE NOT NEW IN MINNESOTA.

FOR EXAMPLE, EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC IN 2019, AMERICAN INDIAN 8th GRADERS WERE THREE TIMES AS LIKELY AS WHITE STUDENTS TO REPORT KEEPING MEALS IN THE LAST 30 DAYS DUE TO A LACK OF MONEY AND BLACK AND LATINX 8th GRADERS WERE TWICE AS LIKELY TO DO SO.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE HISTORICAL FACTORS, LIKE RACIAL COVENANTS OR RED-LINING THAT FACTOR INTO THOSE DISPARITIES YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT?

>> WE KNOW THAT FOOD INSECURITY CAN BE IMPACTED BY A VARIETY OF FACTORS, AND CERTAINLY THE NUMBER ON QUALITY OF GROCERY STORES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD DOES MATES, BUT STUDIES CONSISTENTLY SHOW THAT IN THE UNITED STATES, THE MAIN DRIVER OF FOOD INSECURITY IS THE LACK OF MONEY TO AFFORD FOOD AND SO THEN WE HAVE TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND LOOK AT SOME OF THE LONG-LASTING IMPACTS OF DISCRIMINATORY POLICIES THAT CREATE DIFFERENCES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, HOMEOWNERSHIP, ALL OF WHICH ACCUMULATE OVER GENERATIONS AND CAN REALLY IMPACT A FAMILY'S ABILITY TO AFFORD FOOD IN THE PRESENT DAY, SO, FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE FIRST HALF OF THE 20th CENTURY, RED-LINING AND RACIAL COVENANTS PREVENTED NON-WHITE MINNESOTANS FROM PURCHASING HOMES IN SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOODS.

THIS MADE IT HARDER FOR FAMILIES TO GAIN CREDIT AND BUILD WEALTH WHICH CAN ALSO HAVE IMPLICATIONS ON ABILITIES TO AFFORD HIGHER EDUCATION AND ACCESS JOB INTERVIEWS, OR OPPORTUNITIES.

AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE POLICIES SUCH AS THE G.I.

BILL AND SEVERAL NEW DEAL PROGRAMS THAT CREATED NEW ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR WHITE AMERICANS THAT WERE NOT FULLY AVAILABLE TO BLACK AND INDIGENOUS FOLKS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.

>> WHAT KIND OF IMPACT CAN THOSE KIND OF DISPARITIES, CAN FOOD INSECURITY HAVE ON PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY LIVE IN?

>> WE KNOW THAT FOOD INSECURITY CAN HAVE RIPPLE EFFECTS FOR BOTH INDIVIDUALS AND SOCIETY.

FOOD INSECURITY IS ASSOCIATED WITH A NUMBER OF MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS, INCLUDING HEART DISEASE, STROKES, ASTHMA AND UNDERWEIGHT BIRTHS, AS WELL AS DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY.

WHICH CAN INCREASE HEALTH CARE COSTS FOR BOTH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AS WELL AS AT THE STATE LEVEL.

AND THEN FOOD INSECURITY CAN ALSO IMPACT EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES IN YOUNG CHILDREN AND IT'S BEEN SHOWN TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH LOWER EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT LATER ON, WHICH CAN HAVE EFFECTS ON LONG-TERM EARNINGS AND SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COST TO INDIVIDUALS IN TERMS OF THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL HEALTH, AS WELL AS ON EDUCATION AND EARNING POTENTIAL OVER TIME AND OVER A LARGE POPULATIONS, THESE ADD UP TO SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS.

>> IN THE TIME WE HAVE LEFT, CAN YOU DISCUSS JUST A FEW DATA-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS THAT CAN START TO ADDRESS THIS INEQUITY?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S CLEAR THAT ACTIONS ARE NEEDED ON MULTIPLE LEVELS.

WE'RE SEEING SOME EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THESE DISPARITIES BOTH IN TERMS OF THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS BUT AS WELL AS LONGER TERM SOLUTIONS.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND MINNESOTA BOTH EXPANDED S.N.A.P.

BENEFITS, INCLUDING THE MOST RECENT STIMULUS BILL IN THE EXECUTIVE ORDER BY PRESIDENT BIDEN WHICH INCREASED BENEFITS BY 15%.

S.N.A.P.

IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE APPROACHES FOR ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY, FOR EVERY MEAL DISTRICTED BY FOOD BANKS, S.N.A.P.

PROVIDES 9 AND THE PROGRAM IS ALSO FOUND TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH BETTER PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, IMPROVED BIRTH OUTCOMES, AS WELL AS REDUCED HEALTH CARE COSTS, BUT, YOU KNOW, AS I MENTIONED, WE KNOW THAT THESE CHANGES WILL BE NEEDED TO BE IN PLACE BEYOND JUST THE NEXT YEAR TO TRULY MEET THE GROWING NEED, TO TRULY COMBAT THE DISPARITIES WE'RE SEEING, WE NEED LONGER TERM SOLUTIONS THAT ADDRESS THE ECONOMIC INEQUITIES THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT BLACK AND INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES, AS WELL AS RESIDENTS OF COLOR, SO POLICIES THAT MAKE IT EASIER FOR FAMILIES TO BE FINANCIALLY SECURE, SUCH AS MINNEAPOLIS WITH MINIMUM WAGE ORDINANCE AND St. PAUL'S GUARANTEED INCOME PILOT ARE PROMISING FIRST STEPS AS WELL AS JUST BROADER INVESTMENT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND EDUCATION AND JOB CREATION.

>> WELL, AMANDA, THANKS FOR COMING TO TALK ABOUT YOUR ARTICLE AND THERE ARE SOME MORE TAKE-AWAYS IN THE ARTICLE WE RECENTLY DID ON RAISISM UNVEILED THAT USES SOME OF YOUR RESEARCH.

♪♪♪ >> WHEN I ANNOUNCED I WAS RUNNING FOR THE STATE SENATE, I WAS 9 MONTHS PREGNANT, I GAVE BIRTH TO HIM ONE WEEK LATER AND THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE I HAD TO CONVINCE, IT IS OKAY TO BE A YOUNG MOTHER AND BE A STATE SENATOR JUST TO GET THROUGH THE ENDORSEMENT PROCESS AND THE PRIMARY AND THROUGH THE GENERAL WAS A LITTLE DISCOURAGING AT TIMES BUT ALSO ENCOURAGING IN THE FACT THAT I WAS ABLE TO CHANGE HEARTS AND MINDS.

BUT I DIDN'T EXPECT IT.

AND THEN, ON THE OTHER ENDS, I FOUND OUT WE WERE EXPECTING AGAIN RIGHT BEFORE THE ELECTION AND GOT A MESSAGE FROM A CONSTITUENT SAYING, WELL, YOU HEAD YOUR PREGNANCY.

AND NOW INSTEAD OF DOING YOUR JOB, YOU'RE GOING TO BE ON LEAVE.

I WAS A LITTLE DISCOURAGED AND WHEN I SHARED THE MESSAGE I SEVERED, I WAS BOMBARDED WITH SUPPORT FROM BOTH MEN AND WOMEN ON EACH SIDE OF THE AISLE THAT I SERVE WITH.

THEY SAID WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER, WE'VE GOT YOUR BACK.

KAERCHER CLEAR ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ >> CATHY: MINNESOTA HAS MOVED SLOWLY ON THE ISSUE OF MARIJUANA.

WE HAVE ONE OF THE MOST RESTRICTIVE MEDICAL CANNABIS PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY, BUT CONSERVATIVE STATES NEARBY ARE FORCING THE ISSUE IN OUR STATE.

POLTICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER SHOW US WHY MANY AT THE CAPITOL SEE MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION AS INEVITABLE.

>> Mary: CANNABIS IS GROWING LEGALLY ACROSS THE STATE.

AGRICULTURAL HEMP AND MEDICINAL MARIJUANA ARE LEGAL IN MINNESOTA, AS OUR BORDERS BEGIN INCREASING LEGALIZATION OF RECREATIONAL POT, MOMENTUM AND PRESSURE IS MOUNTING AT THE CAPITOL.

>> LEGALIZE, REGULATE AND EXPUNGE CRIMINAL RECORDS RELATED TO CANNABIS.

>> Mary: THE DFL MAJORITY LEADER IS THE MAIN AUTHOR.

THE REPUBLICANS WON'T COMMIT TO PASSAGE PUBLICLY AT THIS POINT.

MANY SEE LEGALIZATION AS INEVITABLE.

>> CONTRARY TO PUBLIC OPINION, PEOPLE THINK THAT THIS ISSUE IS DEAD.

I WOULD SAY THAT'S NOT TRUE.

I THINK THERE'S ACTUALLY A BETTER THAN 50-50 CHANCE THAT WE PASS SOMETHING THIS YEAR.

BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

OUTRAGEOUS DISPARITIES REGARDING ENFORCEMENT, BLACK MINNESOTANS ARE OVER FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE ARRESTED FOR MARIJUANA THAN THOSE WHO ARE WHITE.

THIS IS ONE OF THE WORST DISPARITIES IN THE NATION.

>> Mary: THE SENATE AUTHOR OF THE BILL IS A LATINA WOMEN WHO REALIZES THE EQUITIES ISSUES AND RACIAL DISPARITIES THAT ARE GAINING RECOGNITION.

>> SO WE CALL IT ADULT USE CANNABIS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT SCIENTIFICALLY IT HAS THE MEDICAL BENEFITS.

>> Mary: THE OTHER ISSUE THAT HAS CHANGED AND HAS GIVEN THIS A LITTLE MOMENTUM IS THE FOCUS ON EQUITY.

EVERYBODY, STATEWIDE, REGARDLESS OF PARTY IS LOOKING AT EVERY ISSUE IN A NEW LENS.

SO HIGH DOES EQUITY HELP REFRAME THIS FOR YOU?

>> I'M A LAWYER BY TRADE, I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS WORKING IN THE PUBLIC DEFEND'S OFFICE READING POLICE REPORTS ADENOSES YUM AND SOME OF THEM DID START WITH THERE'S CANNABIS IN THE VEHICLE, LET'S SEARCH FOR MORE.

SO THOSE ARE THINGS AND IT REALLY DISPROPORTIONATELY HITS COMMUNITIES OF COLOR >> THE EQUITY COMPONENT MAY PROVIDE A CONVENIENT EXCUSE FOR SOME PEOPLE TO BE MOTIVATED.

THE REALTY IS, TRIM LINES FOR THIS HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME LINE.

>> Mary: >> TRADITIONALLY, CONSERVATIVE CONSTITUENCY GROUPS WHICH WILL TEMP YOU WHY, AGAIN, THE STANDARD NARRATIVE OF DEMOCRATS, YOUNG HIPPIES, ARE IN FAVOR OF THIS, OLD WHITE GUY REPUBLICANS ARE AGAINST IT, THAT'S NOT TRUE.

>> Mary: GAROFALO WOULDN'T VOTE FOR THE EXISTING BILL YET BUT SAYS REPUBLICANS HAVE TO ENGAGE ON THE ISSUE THAT'S COMPLEX BOTH IN POLICY AND POLITICS.

REPUBLICANS ARE NOT SAYING NO WAY, NO HOW.

WILL YOU EXPLAIN THAT?

>> THE CURRENT PROCESS OF MARIJUANA REGULATION IN MINNESOTA IS BROKEN.

IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE, IT'S UNFAIR, AND IT'S INEFFICIENT.

IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE RURAL LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS WHERE THERE WERE LEGALIZED CANNABIS CANDIDATES RUNNING, THE LEGALIZE CANNABIS CANDIDATES ACTUALLY TOOK MORE VOTES FROM REPUBLICANS THAN DEMOCRATS.

AND SO THE LEGALIZATION IN SOUTH DAKOTA, THAT PASSED, THERE IS A CONSERVATIVE LIBERTARIAN, AGRICULTURAL BENT ON THIS THAT SAYS, YOU KNOW, HEY, WHY WOULD WE NOT WANT THIS PRODUCT TO BE AVAILABLE IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY?

>> Mary: WE ARE A COMPETITIVE STATE.

OTHER STATES ARE DOING THIS, AREN'T THEY?

>> OTHER STATES AND THEY'RE GETTING CLOSER TO MINNESOTA, ILLINOIS, WE KNOW THAT OTHER STATES ARE -- THE DAKOTAS ARE ALSO PASSING IT AND A LOT OF STATES HAVE PASSED IT BY BALLOT INITIATIVE.

SO WE WANT TO BE THOUGHTFUL, NOT JUST PUT IT ON THE BALLOT.

>> Mary: POLITICALLY, WOULDN'T THAT MAYBE BE AN EASIER VOTE FOR FOLKS TO SAY LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE?

>> I'M NOT OPPOSED TO IT BEING ON THE BALLOT, I JUST THINK WE SHOULD TAKE OUR TIME TO FLESH OUT AMOUNT DETAILS OF THE LEGISLATION BECAUSE IT REALLY IMPACTS THE ENTIRE JURISDICTION OF THE ENTIRE STATE, FROM TAXES TO HEALTH CARE TO PUBLIC SAFETY, SO IT'S A REALLY BIG BILL.

>> Mary: INTERESTING THAT YOU KEEP SAYING THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE OUR TIME BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT REPUBLICAN MAJORITY LEADER PAUL GAZELKA SAID.

HE DIDN'T SAY NO, HE JUST SAID THIS IS NOT A PRIORITY AND WE MAYBE SHOULDN'T MOVE TOO FAST.

IS THIS POSSIBLE IN THE SENATE?

>> WELL, I THINK IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE.

>> Mary: THE OPEN QUESTION IS WHETHER THE SENATE, NARROWLY CONTROLLED BY REPUBLICANS, WILL HOLD HEARINGS AND HELP SHAPE LEGISLATION OR THEY'LL HAVE TO DEAL WITH A BILL LOBBED OVER BY HOUSE DEMOCRATS THAT THE DFL GOVERNOR COULD SIGN.

>> MAKING LAWS IS ACTUALLY VERY COMPLEX, AND LEGALIZING MARIJUANA IS A VERY COMPLEX ISSUE IN TERMS OF EMPLOYERS' RIGHTS, EMPLOYEE RIGHTS, TAXATION, MARKET DESIGN.

OBVIOUSLY NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT SETTING UP VENDING MACHINES WHERE 7-YEAR-OLDS CAN BUY POT OUT OF THEM, NO ONE IS SAYING THAT BUT HOW THE MARKET IS DESIGNED AND WHAT CONTROLS WE HAVE IN PLACE, THIS IS A REALLY COMPLICATED ISSUE AND THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR NOT ONLY LEGISLATORS BUT ALSO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO GET MORE INFORMED ON THE TRADE-OFFS.

>> IT'S INEVITABLE.

I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF TIME AND IT MIGHT TAKE A YEAR OR TWO YEARS OR IT MIGHT HAPPEN THIS SESSION.

♪♪♪ >> ERIC: AS CONGRESS PREPARES FOR A CONTENTIOUS SENATE TRIAL OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, LOCAL LAWMAKERS ARE ALSO FIRMLY ENTRENCHED INTO PARTISAN CAMPS OVER ISSUES LIKE COVID REGULATIONS AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

WE'LL SPEND MUCH OF THE REST OF THE HOUR TALKING ABOUT THAT.

WE WELCOME BACK TO THE PANEL DFLER KENZA HADJ-MOUSSA WITH THE GROUP "TAKE ACTION MINNESOTA."

GINA COUNTRYMAN IS A REPUBLICAN WITH THE MINNESOTA ACTION NETWORK ORGANIZATION.

HEY, GINA, I WAS LOOKING AT THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORT AND DEMOCRATS OUTRAISED REPUBLICANS PRETTY SUBSTANTIALLY BUT LOST SOME GROUND IN LEGISLATIVE SEATS.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> I THINK THE OLD STEREOTYPE THAT REPUBLICANS ARE THE PARTY OF BIG MONEY IS JUST NOT BEEN THE CASE IN MINNESOTA.

IT'S BEEN YEARS SINCE I'VE SEEN A CASE WHERE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGNS AT EITHER THE LEGISLATIVE OR STATEWIDE LEVEL HAVE OUTSPENT THEIR OPPONENTS, AND EVEN IN THAT TIME, YOU SEE REPUBLICANS DO WELL IN THE LEGISLATURE, ESPECIALLY WHERE THE -- IT GETS TO BE VERY LOCAL CAMPAIGN AND THE CANDIDATES ARE ABLE TO REALLY CONNECT WITH THEIR CONSTITUENTS IN A MORE CONCERTED FASHION.

>> Eric: WELL, KENZA, DO THE DEMOCRATS NEED TO SPEND THE MONEY BETTER OR DIFFERENTLY OR WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?

>> I THINK WE WENT INTO THE 2020 CYCLE REALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO THE 2016 NUMBERS AND READY TO PUT ALL HANDS ON DECK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE DOING OUR PART TO ELECT JOE BIDEN.

AND I EXPECT THAT THE FUNDRAISING WILL CONTINUE TO BE STRONG AND ESPECIALLY AS WE GO INTO REDISTRICTING AND THERE WILL BE A CHANCE, TOO, ONCE MORE SEATS, ESPECIALLY AT THE STATE LEVEL WITH THE STATE SENATE.

>> Cathy: LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME ISSUES AT THE CAPITOL.

GINA, GOVERNOR WALZ WANTED ACTION BY MONDAY ON THAT $35 MILLION FUND TO REIMBURSE OUTSTATE POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENTS WHO HELP BOLSTER SECURITY DURING THE DEREK CHAUVIN TRIAL IN THE TWIN CITIES.

WHAT ARE THE POLITICS AROUND THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S A REALLY COMPLICATED ISSUE BECAUSE YOU HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS OUTSIDE OF MINNEAPOLIS WHO SAW A CITY BEFORE THE RIOT SAY THEY DIDN'T WANT TO SEE THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENT GET THE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT THEY WERE ALREADY ASKING FOR, AFTER THE RIOTS THEY SAID THEY WANTED TO DISMANTLE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY DIDN'T THINK THEY NEEDED ONE ANYMORE AND THEN YOU FLASH FORWARD NOW, NEVER A TRIAL COMING UP, THERE'S VERY CLEARLY A NEED FOR POLICE.

THEY ARE SHORT-STAFFED BECAUSE THEY'VE HAD A LOT OF POLICE OFFICERS DEALING WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, AND THE COMMUNITIES AROUND THE STATE THAT HAVE POLICE OFFICERS AVAILABLE WANT TO BE CONCERNED AND ARE CONCERNED THAT THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE TREATED WELL IN THE COURSE OF, YOU KNOW, PROVIDING THEIR SERVICE.

AND ON TOP OF THAT, YOU HAVE CONSTITUENTS IN GREATER MINNESOTA THAT ARE CONCERNED TO SEE A CITY POLITICALLY CLOSE TO GO DOWN A PATH THAT MAKES THEIR CITIZENS LAST SAFER AND ARE COMING BACK AND WANTING TO SPEND OTHER MONEY AND OTHER RESOURCES FROM OUTSIDE OF THE CITY TO THEM.

WITHOUT ANY REAL PROMISE THAT ANYTHING IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT THAN LAST MAY.

WHAT DECISIONS ARE GOING TO BE MADE DIFFERENTLY OR BETTER, WHAT CONFIDENCE SHOULD THEY HAVE THAT THINGS WILL BE DONE IN A WAY THAT MAKES SURE LAKE STREET ISN'T BURNING DOWN FOR THREE DAYS STRAIGHT?

>> Cathy: KENZA, WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THIS?

>> IT'S A COMPLICATED ISSUE AND I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING FROM GOVERNOR WALZ IS REAL LEADERSHIP WHEN -- IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE'VE LEARNED IN THE LAST YEAR, IS THAT WE NEED TO BE PREPARING FOR THE WORST.

HE ALSO RAN ON WE ARE ONE MINNESOTA, WE LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER WHEN THERE IS A CRISIS OR EMERGENCY IN MANKATO OR MINNEAPOLIS, WE'RE SHOWING UP AND IT'S AND A ZERO SUM GAME THAT HAS TO DO WITH ANYTHING THAT HAPPENED EVEN AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

EMERGENCIES, THIS IS A TRIAL THAT IS GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE WORLD WATCHING IT, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF PRESSURE, THE SMART THING THAT A LEADER WOULD DO IS PREPARE FOR THE WORST, PREPARE FOR ANYTHING AND MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WHAT -- DOESN'T MATTER WHAT CITY IT IS, IF THERE IS A CRISIS, WE'RE GOING TO SHOW UP AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO AT THE STATE LEVEL TO SUPPORT LOCAL CITIES.

WE ALSO HAVE THE EXPERIENCE OF NOT GETTING FEMA FUNDING AND NOT NECESSARILY BEING ABLE TO COUNT ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHEN THERE IS A CRISIS, TOO, SO IT MAKES SENSE THAT AT THE STATE LEVEL WE'RE PREPARING AND SHOWING UP.

>> Eric: GINA, GIVE US AN UPDATES ON THE REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL SWEEPSTAKES.

I SEE THAT MIKE MURPHY GOT IN AS A CANDIDATE AND MIKE LINDELL OF MY PILLOW IS MAKING SOUNDINGS HE MIGHT RUN.

WHERE IS THAT IN FINDING AN OPPONENT FOR PRESUMABLY GOVERNOR WALZ?

>> I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF INTEREST IN PEOPLE RUNNING IN THE NEXT CYCLE.

IT WILL BE THE MID-TERM OF THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT, A DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR WHO HAS HAD ANY NUMBER OF THINGS THAT YOU COULD POINT TO AND SAY IT'S TIME FOR A NEW DIRECTION, SO I THINK THERE WILL BE A LOT MORE TEAM TO COME LOOKING AT GETTING INTO THE RACE FROM A WIDE VARIETY OF MESSAGES.

MY HOPE IS THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS ABLE TO FIND SOMEBODY THAT BRINGS OUT THE BEST AND UNIFIES I THINK A PARTY THAT MAYBE NEEDS A LITTLE BIT STRONGER LEADERSHIP TOWARDS UNIFYING OUR FAXES TOGETHER.

>> Eric: YEAH, THE GOTCH IS GOING PART TIME WITH ITS STAFF AND THE DEMOCRATS, KENZA, ARE ADDING STAFF AND KEN MARTINI SUPPOSE WILL BE BY ACCLIMATION REELECTED AS PARTY CHAIR TOMORROW, IS THAT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE IT AND IT MAKES SENSE AS DFLERS HAVE WON EVERY STATEWIDE ELECTION SINCE 2000, IT'S BIN UNDER KEN MARTIN'S LEADERSHIP AND SO I THINK THERE'S NO APPETITE FOR CHANGE KNOWING THAT THE WORK THAT HE'S DONE HAS BEEN WORKING AND BUILDING AND SHOWING UP IN ELECTIONS.

>> Cathy: GINA, DO YOU THINK THAT CHAIR CARNAHAN SURVIVES THE CHALLENGE TO HER LEADERSHIP?

>> YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT ABOUT WHO'S GETTING ELECTED DELEGATE AND HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT A DELEGATE LIST IN SUCH A LONG TIME, I COULD NOT EVEN BEGIN TO SAY.

I DO KNOW WHENEVER WE HAVE A STATEWIDE LOSS LIKE WE DID WITH LAST NOVEMBER WITH BOTH THE SENATE RACE AND THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE, THERE IS A LOT OF ANGST THAT NEEDS TO BE WORKED OUT AT STATE CENTRAL AND USUALLY MANIFESTS IN A LEADERSHIP RACE.

>> Eric: WHAT ARE WE TO MAKE OF ANY ELECTION CHANGES?

THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE A BIG EXPANSIVE DEMOCRACY BILL AND THE REPUBLICANS ARE LOOKING AT VOTER I.D.

BY DEFINITION, EVERYTHING'S GOT TO BE BIPARTISANSHIP UP THERE.

KENZA, IS THERE GOING TO BE ANY ELECTION CHANGES OR JUST KIND OF DIE FOR LACK OF A SECOND?

>> I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THERE WON'T BE A TON THAT GETS DONE IN BOTH CHAMBERS.

THERE COULD BE SOME TECHNICAL FIXES THAT NEED TO BE WORKED OUT.

I KNOW -- I WENT TO VOTE AND I WASN'T ON THE REGISTRATION LIST BECAUSE OF MY HYPHENATED LAST NAME SO IT COULD BE TECHNICAL CHANGES LIKE THAT THAT GET SORTED OUT BUT I IMAGINE ISSUES LIKE PHOTO I.D.

WILL NOT GO ANYWHERE AND THAT LEADERSHIP IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE KNOW WE'VE GOT REALLY PRESSING ISSUES AROUND COVID-19 RELIEF.

>> Eric: GINA, ARE THE REPUBLICANS THE RANK AND FILE REPUBLICANS IN MINNESOTA STILL UNSATISFIED WITH THE WAY THE ELECTION WAS HANDLED IN MINNESOTA?

WHERE'S THE PARTY ON THAT ISSUE?

>> WELL, I THINK PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, IN MINNESOTA WE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS.

WE PICKED UP A LOT OF SEATS IN THE STATE HOUSE, WE CUT THE STATE SENATE, WE HAVE ALL THE RURAL CONGRESSIONAL SEATS SO THERE IS A LOT FOR PEOPLE TO LIKE AND IT IS ALWAYS DIFFICULT WHEN YOU STILL LOSE THE RACE THAT YOU WANTED TO WIN THE MOST BUT I THINK PEOPLE HAVE MOVED ON O ARE ARE MOVING ON AS BEST THEY CAN AND THERE WILL ALWAYS BE PEOPLE THAT REGRET THE RESULTS OF THE LAST ELECTION AND I THINK I AGREE WITH KENZA, GOING FORWARD, YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR WITH THE MAKE-UP OF COVID GOVERNING EVERYTHING GOING ON AT THE SESSION, THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO SCRATCH THE SURFACE OF DISCUSSING SOME KEY ELECTION-RELATED ISSUES BUT WITH THE BUDGET AND COVID AND EVERYTHING THAT WILL DICTATE TIME AND ENERGY TO DO THAT, THAT ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THOSE BIGGER THINGS WILL PROBABLY GET SHIFTED TO NEXT YEAR.

>> Cathy: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL THAT STARTS NEXT WEEK OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

SENATOR TIM KAINE, KANSAS, SAID THAT SCIENCE SURE MAY BE BETTER THAN A TRIAL.

HOW POLITICALLY REST KEY IS THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL FOR THE DEMOCRATS?

>> I DON'T THINK IT IS POLITICALLY RISKY AND I DON'T THINK IT IS A POLITICAL CALCULATION THAT'S BEING MADE AROUND THE TRIAL.

I THINK IT'S ABOUT THE LONG-TERM PRECEDENTS OF THE COUNTRY AND WHAT DO WE DO WHEN WE HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO'S VIOLATED THE OATH THAT HE TOOK, SO I THINK WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS CLINICALLY POPULAR, IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT THOSE IN THE SENATE WOULD HAVE TO CARRY OUT AS PART OF THEIR OATH OF OFFICE, AS WELL.

>> Cathy: GINA, WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR VIEWS ON THIS?

>> I THINK -- GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT HE'S BEEN IMPEACHED WITH, I THINK YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF THE DEBATE REALLY FOCUS ON THE PROCESS IN TERMS OF DO WE HAVE A PERIOD THAT FUTURE ELECTED LEADERS DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IMPEACHMENT BECAUSE IT'S THE LAME DUCK PERIOD AND OH, THEY'RE LEAVING ANYWAY, WE CAN'T IMPEACH THEM SO THE PROCESS OF THAT THE PROCESS OF IMPEACHING SOMEBODY WHO IS NOW A PRIVATE CITIZEN EVEN THOUGH THEIR ACTION WAS WHILE IN OFFICE, AND I THINK YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF SENATORS REALLY TRYING TO DIG INTO WHAT KIND OF PRECEDENTS DO WE SET AS FAR AS WHAT ACTIONS DO WE THINK ARE OKAY BUT ALSO WHAT ACTIONS DO WE THINK ARE OKAY IF SOMEBODY HAS DEPARTED OFFICE AND WHAT TYPE OF SENSE SURES COULD WE BE DOING, BOTH IMPEACHMENT OR SOMETHING ELSE IS APPROPRIATES FOR SOMEBODY NO LONGER IN OFFICE.

THERE IS NO LONGER ANYTHING FOR THEM TO GO ON EXCEPT A RANDOM SECRETARY FROM THE 1800s, SO I THINK YOU'LL SEAT THE DEBATE SHIFT OVER HEAVILY TO THE PROCEDURE AND AWAY FROM, UNFORTUNATELY THE ACTIONS THEMSELVES WHICH I THINK THERE MAY BE SOME ROOM FOR DISCUSSION THERE.

>> Eric: KEIN.

ZAARE, JUST TEN SECONDS LEFT.

TRANSPARENCY AT THE CAPITOL, ARE CITIZEN GROUPS LIKE YOURS GETTING ACCESS OR IS IT NOT TRANSPARENT ENOUGH OUT THERE?

>> THE HOUSE HAS DONE A REALLY GREAT JOB IN TERMS OF THEIR TECHNOLOGY AND ABILITY TO LIFESTREAM AND MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS CAN SIGN UP FOR COMMITTEES BUT IT IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT BALL GAME TRYING TO CONNECT WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS, STAFF, BUT FOLKS ARE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN AND WE'RE GLAD THAT WE HAVE THE OPTION TO HAVE A VIRTUAL SESSION.

>> Eric: THANK YOU BOTH.

STAY WARM.

THANKS.

>> THANKS.

s ♪♪♪ >> CATHY: THIS IS THE PART OF THE SHOW WE DEVOTE TO MINNESOTA HISTORY, PAST AND RECENT.

THIS WEEK WE POSE A SPECIAL MYSTERY PERSON QUESTION.

THE PERSON WE SEEK, NOT SEEN HERE, WAS BORN IN ST. PAUL AND GREW UP IN THE COMO NEIGHBORHOOD.

THIS PERSON'S LIFE WAS DEVOTED TO PUBLIC SERVICE, WORKING MANY YEARS AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND DECADES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA WHERE HE SERVED AS CFO AND TREASURER.

HE PLAYED A LARGE ROLE IN MAKING POSSIBLE MANY PROJECTS FROM SPORTS FACILITIES TO RESEARCH BUILDINGS ON THE U OF M CAMPUS.

THERE'S EVEN A PLAZA NAMED AFTER HIM THERE.

HIS RECENT OBITUARY IN THE "STAR TRIBUNE" ALSO NOTED THAT HE WAS AN AVID SPORTSMAN WHO LOVED HIS FAMILY'S CABIN.

WHO WAS THIS MYSTERY MINNESOTAN?

ONE FINAL HINT... HIS OBITUARY ALSO NOTED THAT HE HAD FEW REGRETS, AND I'M QUOTING HERE, "THOUGH ADMITTEDLY HE WISHED HE HAD BEEN ON TPT'S "ALMANAC," JUST ONCE."

SO WHO IS THIS MYSTERY MINNESOTAN?

LET'S BREAK FORMAT AND GIVE THE ANSWER RIGHT NOW.

RICHARD HENRY PFUTZENREUTER, KNOWN BY EVERYONE AS FITZ, WAS A TRUE PUBLIC SERVANT LONG ADMIRED IN PUBLIC POLICY CIRCLES.

FITZENRIGHTER DIED OF CANCER THIS WEEK AT THE AGE OF 68.

HIS FAMILY SAYS A GATHERING TO CELEBRATE HIS LIFE WILL BE PLANNED FOR A LATER DATE.

WE HAVE SOME NOTES BEFORE GO.

REMEBER THAT FLOOR ACTION AND COMMITTEE HEARINGS OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE CAN ALL BE FOUND ON LOCAL PBS STATION EACH WEEK DAY.

ALSO ON THE SAME STATION YOU WATCH LEGISLATIVE COVERAGE, YOU CAN TUNE INTO OUR SISTER PROGRAM "ALANAC AT THE CAPITOL" EACH WEDNESDAY NIGHT DURING THE WINTER AND SPRING AT 7:00 P.M. FOR SHOW-CLOSING MUSIC, WE DIP INTO A NEW DIGITAL FEATURE HERE AT TPT.

IT'S CALLED PANDEMIC PERFORMANCES.

EACH SESSION WAS RECORDED DURING THE PAST YEAR AND IS A SOLO PERFORMANCE.

THIS WEEK, WE BRING YOU PAVEL FRENCH WHO WAS RECENTLY NAMED A JEROME HILL ARTIST FELLOW BY THE JEREME FOUNDATION.

YOU CAN WATCH THE ENTIRE PANDEMIC PERFORMANCE SERIES BY GOING TO TPTORIGINALS.ORG.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK.

♪♪♪ ♪ SCATTING ♪♪♪ ♪ I'M BEAUTIFUL ♪ ♪ I HAD IT ALL ♪♪♪ AND I AM REGAL AND I'M STANDING TALL ♪♪♪ ♪ CAN'T NOBODY SAY DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE BABY IT'S REVOLUTIONARY ♪♪♪ ♪ SCATTING ♪♪♪ Captioned by: Paradigm Reporting/Captioning www.paradigmreporting.com >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

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

A TOUCHSTONE ENERGY COOPERATIVE.

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

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINE3US.

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.