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

>> Cathy: I LOT OF SHOW TONIGHT.

MICHAEL OSTERHOLM WILL JOIN US TO TALK ABOUT THE DELTA VARIANT IN MINNESOTA, ATTORNEY GENERAL ELLISON IS IN STUDIO TO EXPLAIN A TEAM HE'S ASSEMBLED TO EXPLORE WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS.

AND THEN IT'S A NIGHT OF POLITICAL REMEMBRANCES.

WE SAY GOODBYE TO LONGTIME "ALMANAC" POLITICAL PANELIST D. J. LEARY, AND THEN MARY REPORTS ON THE LEGACY OF A FORMER CONGRESSMAN.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> ERIC: ATTORNEY GENERAL ELLISON WILL JOIN US IN A FEW MINUTES, AND THEN PAUL DOUGLAS HAS AN IMPORTANT DROUGHT UPDATE.

BUT FIRST UP IN THE HOUR, THE DELTA VARIANT CONTINUES ITS MARCH ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> CATHY: DELTA IS DRIVING MORE COVID CASES, HOSPITALIZATIONS, AND DEATHS, ESPECIALLY IN SOUTHERN STATES.

BUT COVID IS ON THE RISE EVERYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.

BUT ALONG WITH COVID CASES, VACCINATIONS ARE ALSO UP.

HERE TO GIVE US THE DATA LANDSCAPE, MICHAEL OSTERHOLM.

HE HEADS THE U OF M 'S CENTER FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE AND HAS BEEN MAKING MONTHLY APPEARANCES ON "ALMANAC" SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN LAST YEAR.

WE SURE APPRECIATE THAT.

WELL, Dr. OSTERHOLM, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS DELTA SURGE, THIS DELTA VARIANT SURGE.

HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THIS CAN LAST?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WOULD HE HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH HUMAN WOOD TO BURN FOR THIS CORONAVIRUS FOREST FIRE, AT LEAST 90 MILLION AMERICANS RIGHT NOW ARE ELIGIBLE FOR VACCINE WHO HAVE NOT RECEIVED IT.

SURELY THAT IS CONCENTRATED IN SOME OF THE SOUTHERN STATES BUT EVERY STATE HAS COUNTIES OR LOCAL AREAS WITH REDUCED NUMBER OF PEOPLE VACCINATED.

WE CERTAINLY SEE THAT HERE IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND HERE IN THIS STATE.

I THINK THE ISSUE OF HOW LONG WILL IT LAST IS NOT ABOUT WHETHER ALL THESE PEOPLE GET INFECTED BUT WHETHER OR NOT IT WILL DO WHAT IT'S DONE IN OTHER COUNTRIES, WHERE WE'VE SEEN VERY RAPID RISES IN THE NUMBER OF CASES, LASTING FOR FOUR TO SIX WEEKS, AND THEN A VERY RAPID DECREASE.

AND THAT'S VERY POSSIBLE, AT LEAST FOR THE SOUTHERN STATES IF THAT COULD HAPPEN BUT WE'RE NOW BEGINNING TO SEE IN THE SOUTHEAST, IN THE UPPER MIDWEST, IN THE NORTHWEST, THE SAME KIND OF INCREASES THAT WE SAW FOUR WEEKS AGO IN SOUTHERN STATES.

SO THE QUESTION IS WILL THEY IN TURN TURN OUT TO BE LIKE THE SOUTHERN STATES, OR WILL THEY, TOO, IN FOUR, SIX WEEKS, WHATEVER, DECREASE?

WE DON'T KNOW BUT WE KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT THE LAST OF THE SURGES.

THIS ONE WILL GET DONE AND UNLESS WE'RE ABLE TO GET AN INCREASED NUMBER OF EOPLE VACCINATED, WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE OF THESE IN THE FUTURE.

>> Eric: YOU AGREE WITH Dr. FAUCI'S COMMENT THIS WEEK THAT GET EVERYBODY VACCINATED AND WE WOULDN'T EVEN BE TALKING ABOUT THIS?

>> YES, WE SURELY IN THIS COUNTRY WANT TO GET EVERYBODY VACCINATED.

BUT ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE AND I THINK IT'S HARD FOR PEOPLE TO IMAGINE THIS BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL THE READY TO GET DONE WITH THIS PANDEMIC, RIGHT NOW IN THE 6.4 BILLION PEOPLE LIVING IN LOWER INCOME COUNTRIES, LESS THAN 2% HAVE ACCESS TO VACCINE.

THE VIRUS CONTINUES TO BE A CHALLENGE THERE.

REMEMBER THE NEW TAKE ITED VIRUSES THAT ARE CAUSING SUCH CONCERN ACTUALLY ARE COMING FROM AREAS WHERE WOULD HE HAVE LOTS OF INFECTIONS, AND WE MIGHT THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT WE GOT A LOT HERE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE REST OF THE WORLD, PARTICULARLY THE LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME COUNTRIES, THERE IS AN AWFUL LOT OF INFECTIONS GOING THERE.

AND SO THESE NEW VARIANTS COULD SPIN OUT OF ONE OF THOSE COUNTRIES AND THEN ULTIMATELY HAVE AN IMPACT ON HOW WELL OUR VACCINES WORK FOR PROTECT.

>> Cathy: WITH THE NUMBERS OF INFECTED PEOPLE GOING UP AND FOLKS GETTING SICK, ARE WE SEEING THE DEATH RATES ALSO GOING UP?

>> ONE OF THE REALLY MAJOR ADVANTAGES NOW OF LIVING IN A WORLD WITH VACCINE IS IN THOSE COUNTRIES WHERE YOU HAVE EVEN MODERATE LEVELS OF VACCINATION, THE DEATH RATES HAVE SURELY BEEN MUCH LOWER.

NOW, YOU KNOW, ENGLAND, A COUNTRY EVEN MUCH MORE VACCINATED THAN WE ARE, THIS LAST SURGE THAT THEY HAD, THEY ACTUALLY HAD ABOUT A TENFOLD REDUCTION IN DEATHS, SO THEY HAD LOTS OF CASES, THEY HAD PEOPLE WHO MADE IT INTO THE HOSPITAL, THE INTENSIVE CARE UNITS BUT FEWER DIED.

EVEN IN THIS COUNTRY, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO -- WE'RE SEEING THAT RIGHT NOW IN PART BECAUSE OF VACCINE.

ALSO MANY OF THE CASES ARE MUCH YOUNGER.

THE MEDIAN AGE OF CASES IN THE SOUTH RIGHT NOW I 35 YEARS OF AGE SO THEY ACTUALLY DO BETTER OVERALL.

IT'S STILL VERY, VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM BUT UNLIKE THE 65-YEAR-OLD GRANDMOTHER, IF YOU'RE A 30-YEAR-OLD YOUNG, HEALTHY MALE, YOU HAVE A MUCH GREATER CHANCE OF GETTING THROUGH THE TWO TO THREE WEEKS IN THE ICU AND SURVIVING.

>> Cathy: SO YOU GET SICK AND YOU SURVIVE BUT I'M WONDERING, WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT LONG-HAULERS, AS THEY NUMBERS GO UP?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT ON THIS SHOW FOR MONTHS AND I HAVE TO COME BACK AND REPORT WE'RE STILL REALLY JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

WE DO KNOW THAT LONG-HAULERS IS OCCURRING.

WE KNOW THAT ANYWHERE FROM 20 TO 25% OF PATIENTS, EVEN THOSE WHO EXPERIENCED MILD ILLNESS MAY VERY WELL EXPERIENCE THIS LONG-HAULER KIND OF CONDITION, KIND OF A CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME, PICTURE, AND THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE LEGACY ISSUES WITH THIS VIRUS, WE'RE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH FOR A LONG TIME.

>> Eric: THE STURGIS MOTORCYCLE RALLY COMMENCES THIS WEEKEND AND I WONDER IF THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL AS A SUPER-SPREADER EVENT.

>> AS YOU REMEMBER LAST YEAR, ERIC, IT DID, WE HAD OVER HAVE00-PLUS CASES AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT RELATED DIRECTLY TO STURGIS.

WE THEN SAW ACTUAL TRANSMISSION HERE IN MINNESOTA FROM PEOPLE WHO RETURNED BACK FROM STURGIS AND, IN FACT, WE HAD A DEATH IN ONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ORIGINALLY THEY HAD BEEN EXPOSED IN STURGIS AND THEN TRANSMITTED THE VIRUS TO SOMEONE ELSE HERE.

WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

THIS DELTA VIRUS IS VERY, VERY INFECTIOUS.

WHAT WAS SEEN IN STURGIS WAS THE FACT THAT MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE EXPOSED THERE WERE EXPOSED IN BARS AND TATTOO PARLORS AND CASINOS SO IT REALLY WAS AN INDOOR AIR KIND OF SITUATION.

BUT WITH DELTA, WE'RE ACTUALLY SEEING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WHERE THERE'S LARGE CROWDS RESULTING IN TRANSMISSION.

THERE WAS A VERY LARGE ART FESTIVAL IN THE NETHERLANDS LAST MONTH WHERE OVER 20,000 PEOPLE CAME WHO WERE SUPPOSED TO EITHER HAVE BEEN VACCINATEDs OR WHO HAD EVIDENCE OF ANTIBODY AND OVER A THOUSAND OF THOSE PEOPLE BECAME INFECTED ATTENDING THE FESTIVAL.

AS YOU HEARD RECENTLY ABOUT PROVINCETOWN MASSACHUSETTS, WHERE WE HAVE NOW HAD OVER 450 CASES THERE ASSOCIATED WITH A RESORT TOWN AND WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT EVENTS SUCH AS STURGIS, STATE FAIRS, THINGS LIKE THAT, WHERE WE COULD SEE A TREMENDOUSLY ENHANCED TRANSMISSION.

>> Cathy: I HEARD SOMEONE SAY THAT THE DANGER TO THE VACCINATED IS OVERBLOWN.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> I'M NOT SURE WHAT OVERBLOWN MEANS.

WE DO HAVE THESE SITUATIONS WHERE WE'RE SEEING CLUSTERS OF CASES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED WHO THEN BECOME INFECTED.

THE GOOD NEWS IS, STILL, THEY ARE EXPERIENCING MILDER ILLNESS AND THAT THEY'RE NOT NEARLY AS LIKELY TO BE HOSPITALIZED OR IN SERIOUS CONDITION OR DIE.

SO IN THAT SENSE, IF YOU SAY IT'S OVERBLOWN, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE NAME YOU WOULD CALL IT, I THINK IT'S BEEN A REALLY VERY POSITIVE THING.

BUILT ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT WITH THESE BREAK-THROUGH ASES AND WE WANT TO STUDY THEM MORE IS WHY DID THEY HAVE A BREAK-THROUGH?

IS IT A FUNCTION OF WHERE THEIR IMMUNE STATUS IS, IS THIS A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE WHOLE IDEA OF BOOSTERS HAS COME UP AND WE WANT TO NOEL MORE ABOUT THAT AND WE ALWAYS WANT TO KNOW DO THEY TRANSMIT THE VIRUS SO AS WE THINK ABOUT HOW TO PREVENT TRANSMISSION, WHAT ROLE DO PEOPLE WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN VACCINATED PLAY?

I THINK AT THIS POINT THE DATA WOULD SUGGEST THAT WHILE THEY MAY BE INFECTIOUS, IT'S FOR A MUCH, MUCH SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME.

>> Eric: JUST AS WE WRAP UP HERE, I SAW A HEADLINE ON ONE OF THE NEWS SITES THIS WEEK THAT SAID DON'T PANIC, DOLT, DOT, DOT, WELL, PANIC A LITTLE.

IS THAT FAIR?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IF YOU'RE VACCINATED, CONGRATULATIONS, YOU ARE ALMOST HOME RIGHT THERE.

THAT'S BEEN A MAJOR, MAJOR PIECE OF REDUCING THE RISK OF SERIOUS ILLNESS AND, YOU KNOW, HOSPITALIZATION, ET CETERA.

IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN VACCINATED, YOU DON'T WANT THIS VIRUS TO FIND YOU.

THIS IS ONE WHERE YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO RUN OUT THE GAME CLOCK.

IF YOU THINK BECAUSE THE LAST 18 MONTHS YOU HAVEN'T BEEN INFECTED YET, THEREFORE, IT WON'T HAPPEN, THAT'S NOT TRUE.

YOU KEEP SEEING HE SURGES OCCURRING OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND THEY'LL CONTINUE TO OCCUR BECAUSE THIS IS A HIGHLY INFECTIOUS VIRUS.

SO I URGE PEOPLE TO GO OUT AND GET VACCINATED AND THEN IN THAT SENSE, NOBODY NEEDS TO PANIC.

>> Cathy: SO FINAL QUESTION HERE BECAUSE YOU JUST SAID THAT WE'LL PROBABLY SEE MORE SURGES, IF WE GET THROUGH THIS ONE, DO YOU EXPECT THAT WE MIGHT SEE ANOTHER ONE THIS FALL AS PEOPLE START TO GO INSIDE?

>> YOU KNOW, WE COULD BUT WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHY THESE SURGES ARE OCCURRING.

PEOPLE HAVE LL THESE EXPLANATIONS BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN THEM THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE YEAR, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT REALLY SEASONABLE, JUST SIX WEEKS AGO THE TWO HOTTEST SPOTS IN THE WORLD WERE INDIA, NEPAL AND PAKISTAN, ARGENTINA, URUGUAY AND PARAGUAY.

WHAT DO THEY HAVE IN COMMON?

BOTH AT THE 30-DEGREE LATITUDE, PROBLEM IS ONE WAS NORTH AND ONE WAS SOUTH.

SO WE HAVE NOT YET HAD A PATTERN THAT WOULD SUGGESTS ABOUT SEASONAL ALT.

SO COULD THERE BE A FALL SURGE?

ABSOLUTELY.

MIGHT THERE NOT BE A FALL SURGE AND SOMETHING LATER IN THE WINDS, SPRING, THAT'S REALLY POSSIBLE, TOO.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.

ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>> Eric: THANKS, DOCTOR.

THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> ERIC: IT'S A NEW LEGAL APPROACH THAT HAS BEEN INFLUENCED BY INNOCENCE PROJECTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

A TEAM IN THE MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE IS NOW LOOKING AT PAST LEGAL CASES TRYING TO UNEARTH WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS.

HERE TO EXPLAIN HOW THE NEW CONVICTION REVIEW UNIT WILL WORK, MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL KEITH ELLISON.

AS YOU ACCEPT CASES, HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT DETERMINE IF JUSTICE WAS DONE?

>> WELL, WE'RE LOOKING AT SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE OF INNOCENCE, WE'RE LOOKING AT CASES WHERE THERE'S CREDIBLE -- A CREDIBLE CASE CAN BE MADE THAT THIS CASE MIGHT BE ONE THAT MAYBE DIDN'T GET IT RIGHT.

THERE ARE CASES LIKE THAT.

SOMETIMES SCIENCE CHANGES, YOU KNOW, YOU THINK THAT THERE IS A -- SOMETHING WAS A MURDERER IN A DROWNING CASE AND YOU FIND OUT IT REALLY ISN'T.

SHAKEN BABY HAS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS WHERE PEOPLE THOUGHT THIS IS A SHAKEN BABY FOR SURE, NOW THEY'RE NOT SO SURE BECAUSE OF A MEDICAL PROBLEM.

AND SO THERE ARE CASES WHERE WE REALLY NEED O LOOK INTO IT AND THE ONLY PERSON WHO REALLY WANTS TO LEAVE AN INNOCENT PERSON IN PRISON IS THE TRUE PERPETRATOR AND NOBODY WANTS THAT.

SO T'S PART OF JUST MAKING SURE THAT EVERY MINNESOTAN FEELS THAT OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS SOLID, FAIR AND JUST, AND I THINK THAT'S GOOD FOR EVERYBODY.

>> Cathy: SOME OF THE MISTAKES IN A CONVICTION COULD HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE A.G.'S OFFICE.

>> TRUE, YEP.

>> Cathy: RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Cathy: SO HOW INDEPENDENT WILL THIS BE?

>> WELL, IT'S NOT IN OUR CRIMINAL PROSECUTION GROUP, IT IS SEPARATE.

WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT MANAGER IN OUR CRIMINAL PROSECUTION GROUP, GUY NAMED MATT FRANK, WONDERFUL GUY, HELPED WITH THE CHAUVIN CASE.

BUT HE IS NOT THE SUPERVISOR OF THE PERSON WHO RUNS OUR CONVICTION REVIEW UNIT, IT'S IN A SEPARATE UNIT ALTOGETHER.

SO WE -- THERE MAY BE SOME TENSIONS FROM TIME TO TIME BUT THAT'S NOT A BAD THING IF THE RESULT IS GREATER TRUTH AND MORE JUSTICE.

>> Eric: WHY NOT PUT IT IN THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE?

>> WELL, WE BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE IN THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS'S OFFICE IN CERTAIN OFFICES BUT WE SHOULD HAVE A PROSECUTOR-LED INNOCENCE PROJECTS.

AS A PROSECUTOR, WE'RE NOT HERE TO JUST LOCK UP PEOPLE AND INFLICT MAXIMUM PUNISHMENT.

WE'RE HERE TO DO JUSTICE AND THAT MEANS IF YOU'RE GUILTY, YOU GET CONVICTIONED AND YOU DEAL WITH THE CONSEQUENCES.

IT ALSO MEANS THAT IF YOU'RE NOT, WE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT, WE DON'T WANT ANYBODY SERVING TIME THAT DOESN'T SUPPOSED TO BE.

SO THIS REALLY DOESN'T UNDERMINE THE DEFENSE ROLE BUT IT -- IT SAYS PROSECUTORS SHOULD BE ON THE FOREFRONT OF JUSTICE.

>> Cathy: THE FACTORS GO INTO A CONVICTION, BUT I'M WONDERING ABOUT RACIAL BIAS?

CAN YOU LOOK AT THAT?

>> YEAH, WE CAN LOOK AT RACIAL BIAS, WE AN LOOK AT IMPLOW IDENTIFICATION, WE CAN LOOK AT CHANGES IN SCIENCE, AS I MENTIONED, WE CAN LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, BAD WITNESS I.D., YOU KNOW.

WE NOW THAT THE MEMORY AMEND THE MIND AND THE EYES DON'T ALWAYS COME TOGETHER TO PROPERLY IDENTIFY PEOPLE WHO DO THINGS.

THERE'S LIKE A RANGE OF THINGS, OF OURSE, DNA CONTINUES TO BE PART OF THE PICTURE, TOO, BUT WE JUST -- WE GOT ABOUT 25 CASES IN, WHICH IS ORT OF A FLOOD BUT IT'S NOT OVERWHELMING.

WE HAVE A DIRECTOR, HER NAME IS CARRIE SPERLING SO SHE'S GREAT.

FOLKS WHO HAVE INDICATIONS WHERE THEY THINK THERE'S REAL EVIDENCE OF INNOCENCE SHOULD CONTACT US, 651-296-3353 AND WE'LL LOOK AT IT AND WE'LL SCREEN OUT FOLKS WHERE IT LOOKS LIKE THERE WAS REAL JUSTICE THAT ACTUALLY ALREADY HAPPENED, BUT WHERE THERE'S EVIDENCE OF INNOCENCE, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT IT.

>> Cathy: EXCUSE ME.

CAN FOLKS IN PERSON, CAN THEY MAKE THEIR CASE?

>> THEY CAN, THEY CAN.

SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH PAUL SCHNELL AT THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, SO WE'RE KIND OF ALL IN AGREEMENT THAT THE INNOCENT SHOULD NOT BE IN PRISON.

>> Eric: TO THE EXTENT THAT EVERYTHING IS POLITICAL THESE DAYS, COULD POLITICAL OPPONENTS SAY, YOU SHOULD BE PUTTING PEOPLE AWAY, NOT LETTING THEM OUT?

>> THEY SHOULD SAY THAT AND THEY'RE RIGHT.

WE SHOULD BE PUTTING GUILTY PEOPLE AWAY AND WE SHOULD BE LETTING OUT THE INNOCENT ONES.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY SHOULD OVERCOME POLITICS AND I TELL YOU, WHEN I WAS IN CONGRESS, I CO-AUTHORED BILLS FOR JUSTICE WITH A LOT OF FOLKS YOU MIGHT NOT EXPECT.

ME AND RAND PAUL CO-AUTHORED A BILL TO GET RID OF IF I HAD MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCING.

ME AND ANOTHER EPUBLICAN FROM MICHIGAN SAID WE SHOULD REFORM THE FORFEITURE LAWS AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE MORE JUST AND HAVE MORE DUE PROCESS.

IN SOME -- YOU'RE RIGHT, THINGS GET POLITICIZED BUT THERE IS ALSO A MOVEMENT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE POLITICAL AISLE THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A HIGHER QUALITIES OF JUSTICE FOR EVERYBODY.

>> Cathy: SO HOW -- WHAT'S THE TIMELINE FOR THE FIRST -- ARE YOU ALREADY STARTING THIS PROCESS?

>> YES, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR A YEAR BUT WE LAUNCHED AT THE END OF JULY, BEGINNING OF AUGUST.

WE ACTUALLY HAD OUR FIRST PRESSER ON MONDAY, ANNOUNCING IT BUT WE'VE BEEN IN THE QUIET WORKING HARD FOR ABOUT A YEAR GETTING THE GRANTS TOGETHER, GETTING THE ADVISORY BOARD TOGETHER, GETTING -- PICKING AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PROJECT.

IT'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK AND, AGAIN, WE LAUNCHED ON MONDAY.

>> Eric: THE 300,000 YOU GOT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE -- >> RIGHT.

>> Eric: FUNDING AFTER THAT?

>> WE'RE GOING TO KEEP ON GOING FOR THAT BUILT ALSO HOPE TO BUILD ON IT.

THAT'S A PIT TAN, NOWHERE NEAR WHAT WE NEED BUT WE THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FUNDRAISE FOR IT, WE'RE GOING TO ALSO ASK THE PRIVATE BAR TO DO SOME PRO BONO WORK AS A LAWYER, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO PRO BONO HOURS AND WE'RE GOING TO GET THE LAW SCHOOLS INVOLVED, TOO, AND I THINK THAT STUDENTS WANT TO GET THEIR HANDS INTO SOMETHING SERIOUS AND MEANINGFUL.

I KNOW WHEN I WAS A LAW STUDENT, I WORKED ON A DEATH PENALTY CASE, LEFT A MARK ON ME, PROBABLY STILL THINKING ABOUT THAT EXPERIENCE AND SO THERE YOU GO.

>> Cathy: I HAVE A QUESTION.

WHAT'S THE PERCENTAGE, DO YOU THINK, OF FOLKS -- WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT THESE CASES, I DON'T KNOW, IS THERE A PERCENTAGE, 25%, 30%, WHATEVER, THAT WOULD BE INNOCENT?

DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA?

>> YEAH, WELL, WITH HE DO KNOW THERE'S BEEN OVER 150 PEOPLE EXONERATED AND GOTTEN OFF DEATH ROW SINCE THE DEATH PENALTY WAS RESTORED.

SO THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MOMENT.

YOU KNOW, IF EVEN 1% OF THE PEOPLE ARE UNJUSTLY CONVICTED, THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, COULD BE DOZENS OF PEOPLE.

SO LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THAT JUSTICE DONE AND DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE FEEL WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT IN CARS RAILS THE GUILTY, EXONERATES THE INNOCENT.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU, APPRECIATE IT.

>> Cathy: THANKS FOR COMING.

>> Eric: ALL THE BEST.

♪♪ >> ERIC: MINNESOTA LOST A POLITICAL TRAILBLAZER THIS WEEK.

LONGTIME D.F.L.

POLITICAL AND MEDIA CONSULTANT D.J.

LEARY DIED OF CANCER AT AGE 84.

LEARY RAN POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS, HANDLED MEDIA OPERATIONS FOR COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS, AND OFFERED ADVICE AND WISDOM THROUGH THE PIONEERING POLITICAL NEWSLETTER HE CO-CREATED WITH FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE WY SPANO.

HE TRAVELED THE STATE AND COUNTED FRIENDSHIPS IN ALL ZIP CODES.

D.J.

HAD SPECIAL FONDNESS FOR THE U OF M AND THE STATE FAIR.

>> CATHY: FOR 20 YEARS, D.J.

LEARY WAS A FIXTURE ON "ALMANAC," HOLDING DOWN THE FAR LEFT SEAT ON THE "ALMANAC" COUCH AS PART OF THE SHOW'S ORIGINAL POLITICAL PANEL.

"ALMANAC" VIEWERS CAME TO DEPEND ON HIS INSIGHTS NEARLY D.J.

RETIRED FROM THEUMOR.- "ALMANAC" COUCH IN 2005, AFTER OUR 20TH ANNIVERSARY BROADCAST.

HERE'S A CLASSIC CLIP FROM THAT FINAL APPEARANCE AS HE TALKED ABOUT HOW POLITICS IN MINNESOTA HAD CHANGED IN THE STATE HE GREW UP IN.

>> I THINK -- THE LETTER "P" COMES OUT FOR THE 20 YEARS I'VE SAT ON THIS COUCH.

I CAME IN IN THE FIRST PROGRAM THINKING ABOUT PERPICH, WAS HE GOING TO GET THE ENDORSEMENT OR WAS HE GOING TO ASK FOR IT, YOU KNOW, IN THE NEXT YEAR.

AND THROUGH THE YEARS, WE CAME UP WITH A LOT OF PASSION ABOUT -- WE NEVER CAME TO THIS COUCH WITHOUT PASSION.

YET, NOW, 20 YEARS LATER, WHEN I SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT PAWLENTY, 'M THINKING ABOUT A PROSTATE SO I... [AUDIENCE GROANS] >> Eric: MAYBE TOO MUCH INFORMATION, TO BE HONEST.

>> WORKING AT IT, YOU UNDERSTAND.

>> Eric: D.J., THE THEME TONIGHT HAS BEEN WE'RE GETTING MORE CONSERVATIVE.

WE'LL TRY IT AGAIN.

[Laughter] >> ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS SUCH A DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN CONSERVATIVISM.

REAL CONSERVATIVES IN THE EARLY PARTS OF THE EARLY YEARS WERE AGAINST EVERYTHING, AGAINST PUBLIC TOILETS, EVERYTHING, YOU DID IT ON YOUR OWN, YOU KNOW.

NOW THAT WHOLE CONSERVATIVISM HAS REALLY CREEPED INTO THE COMMUNITY AND INTO THE CHURCHES SO THAT IT IS ALL BEEN BUNCHED TOGETHER AND BECOMES A PART OF A VERY REAL EVERYDAY LIFE AND YOU NEVER SAW THAT BEFORE.

>> CATHY: WE'RE GOING TO SPEND A FEW MINUTUES TELLING D.J.

LEARY STORIES, AND HERE TO DO THAT, TWO LONGTIME FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES.

FELLOW "ALMANAC" POLITICAL PANELIST, LEGISLATIVE LOBBYIST AND TEACHER, WY SPANO.

BILL SALISBURY IS THE LONGTIME "PIONEER PRESS" CAPITOL REPORTER WHO FIRST MET D.J.

WHEN COVERING THE LEGISLATURE IN THE EARLY '70S.

I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU GUYS.

WELCOME BACK, WELCOME BACK.

SAY, BILL, GREAT OBIT.

THE STORY IN D.J.

'S OH BIT WHICH I BELIEVE D.J.

TOLD YOU HIMSELF WAS GREAT, THAT EVEN HIS DAD COULD NEVER EXPLAIN WHAT D.J.

DID EXCEPT TO SAY THAT HE HUNG OUT WITH HUMPHREY OR HE WAS -- RAN AROUND AWITH HUBERT HUMPHREY?

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT D.J.

DID?

>> D.J.

WAS A MASTER OF SO MANY, MANY DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT FROM THE NEWSPAPER REPORTER'S POINT OF VIEW, HE WAS A GUY WHO COULD WALK INTO ANY NEWSROOM IN THE STATE AND PEOPLE OULD RECOGNIZE HIM, BE HAPPY TO SEE THEM BECAUSE HE SAME AROUND, HE WAS ONE OF THE FEW P.R.

PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY GOT OUT OF THE CITY, GETTING HIS WHITE CADILLAC WITH THE POLITICS -- THE LICENSE PLATE AND HE WOULD DRIVE ALL OVER THE STATEMENT.

HE WOULD STOP AT EVERY LITTLE NEWSPAPER AND EVERY RADIO STATION AND TV STATION AND IN-BETWEEN THEM, HE WOULD STOP AT THE GRAIN ELEVATOR, CHAT WITH THE ARMERS AND THE BARBERS AND OFFEE SHOP OPERATORS.

HE CAME BACK AND TALKED TO US AND HE HAD SO MANY GOOD STORIES, WE COULD ALWAYS COUNT ON HIM TO GIVE US A GOOD STORY TIP.

HE WOULD MAKE A PITCH FOR SOME CLIENT BUT HE WAS REALLY GOOD ABOUT UNDERSTANDING, YOU KNOW, IF WE DIDN'T WANT TO USE IT, THAT WAS FINE, HE WASN'T GOING TO GIVE US A BAD TIME ABOUT THAT.

BUT HE ALWAYS HAD FUNNY STORIES, HE ALWAYS HAD JOKES AMEND HE WAG SO KIND, ALWAYS OFFERED TO -- IF YOU NEEDED HELP, HE WAS THERE FOR YOU.

>> Cathy: ABSOLUTELY.

>> Eric: FOR REPORTERS, HE WAS QUOTABLE AND AVAILABLE, AND THAT WAS ALWAYS GOOD.

>> ISN'T THAT THE TRUTH.

I'VE ALREADY HAD THREE CALLS FROM PEOPLE WHO SAID, OH, I REMEMBER THE STORY HE GAVE ME ON THIS, THAT OR THE OTHER.

I MEAN -- AND PEOPLE USED TO ASK ME, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU GUYS, YOU KNOW, WHAT -- WELL, D.J., I MEAN, ABHORRED THE THOUGHT OF REGISTERING AS A LOBBYIST.

>> Eric: WAS HE A CONSULTANT OR WHAT -- DID HE HAVE TO REGISTER AT ALL?

I GUESS NOT.

>> NO.

NO, BECAUSE HE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE JUST ASKED HIM THINGS AND IF HE WAS GOING TO HELP 'EM, HE WOULD START HELPING 'EM.

IT WAS NOT ANYTHING BUT PEOPLE RECOGNIZING, WOW, HIS GUY CAN HELP.

HE DID A LOT OF CONSULTING ON CRISIS MANAGEMENT, YOU KNOW, WHEN A COMPANY'S UP AGAINST IT.

HE WOULD BEGIN TO USE THAT.

IT WAS -- IT WAS JUST AN AMAZING KIND OF THING.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW WHAT I USED TO LOVE ABOUT THE OLD POLITICAL PANEL WAS YOU GUYS DID NOT REALLY TOE THE PARTY LINE.

[Laughter] I MEAN SERIOUSLY.

D.J.

WAS NOT POLITICALLY PURE AND THAT WAS OKAY.

>> OH, YOU BET.

I WAS -- I TOLD SOMEBODY I ALWAYS THOUGHT WE WERE MORE INTERESTING WHEN WE DISAGREED WITH THE PARTY BECAUSE THAT -- IT JUST MADE IT BETTER AND SO WE AGREED EARLY ON, IT WAS GOING TO BE OUR -- WHATEVER WE SAID, SOMETIMES SOME -- VERY RARELY BUT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, WE WOULD ALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WAS COMING TO THE SHOW AND SAY, BOY, I DON'T KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT THAT ONE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

BUT, GENERALLY, IT WAS OUR OWN THING.

>> Eric: WOULD HIS STYLE HAVE FIT IN THE CURRENT DAY, POLITICALLY?

>> IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT.

IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE HE WORKED WITH SO MANY REPUBLICANS, HE WORKED ACROSS PARTY LINES AND HE NEVER, AS I RECALL, EVER SPEWED THE PARTY LINE, YOU KNOW.

HE NEVER USED THE TALKING POINTS SO WE COULD ALWAYS COUNT ON HIM TO GIVE US SOMETHING FRESH AND NEW, AND NOW THERE'S SO MUCH MORE PRESSURE TO STICK TO THE PARTY LINE.

STICK TO KIND OF EXTREME VIEWS.

>> Cathy: HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HUBERT HUMPHREY WAS REALLY INTERESTING IN THAT THEY WERE REALLY RETTY DARN CLOSE.

>> VERY GOOD FRIENDS.

NORM SHERMAN SAID THAT D.J.

WAS HUMPHREY'S PERSONAL FRIEND, THAT THE PEOPLE AROUND HUMPHREY WHO TOOK THEMSELVES VERY SERIOUSLY, D.J.

TOOK THE JOB SERIOUSLY BUT HE WASN'T SERIOUS ABOUT HIMSELF.

[Laughter] AND SO HUMPHREY LOVED TO HAVE HIM TRAVEL WITH HIM EVERYWHERE HE WENT.

>> Eric: HOW DID THE NEWSLETTER COME ABOUT AND WHAT'S YOUR REMEMBRANCES OF THAT?

>> WENT TO A D.F.L.

CONVENTION, IT WAS THE SECOND ONE I HAD EVER BEEN TO BECAUSE I STARTED AS A REPUBLICAN WHEN I WAS 18.

DEBATING, IF YOU CAN IMAGINE, K.J.

McDONALD.

>> WOW.

>> WOW.

>> OVER WORLD GOVERNMENT.

>> Eric: ANOTHER IRISH STORY-TELLER.

[Laughter] >> SO -- SO D.J.

-- I WAS AT THE CONVENTION AND I SAW HIM THERE, HE HAD A RAPUTATION, NOT A RAP, I DIDN'T BECAUSE I WAS JUST KIND OF STARTING BUT HE KIND OF RECOGNIZED ME, HE SAID, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT STARTING A NEWSLETTER.

YEAH...

I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT A LOT, YOU KNOW, EVEN TRIED ONE OR TWO.

LET'S GO AHEAD.

AND I SAID, WELL, I'LL DO THE FINAL EDIT, TURN IT IN, GET IT PRINTED, MAIL IT OUT, I'LL DO AM OF THAT.

YOU JUST HAVE TO COMMIT -- THAT'S PERFECT, THAT'S JUST THE WAY I LIKE IT.

[Laughter] >> Eric: I STOLE SOME OF YOUR BEST STUFF, I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW.

BUT IT HELPED VISIBILITY AND YOU HAD A PLACE TO PUT THE STUFF YOU KNEW.

>> WRITE.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

THE REAL CORE OF THIS WAS I HONESTLY, NO KIDDING, AND STILL DO EXCEPT THE WORLD IS VERY DIFFERENT BUT I STARTED A PROGRAM THAT'S NOW AT METRO STATE CALLED MASTER'S IN ADVOCACY AND POLITICAL LEADERSHIP AND THE SLOGAN OF THE PROGRAM IS, POLITICS IS HOW WE CARE FOR EACH OTHER.

THIS IS HOW WE DO IT.

THIS IS IT.

AND D.J.

BELIEVED THAT.

YOU KNOW, HE BELIEVED THAT IN POLITICS, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO HELP SOCIETY TAKE, YOU KNOW, AND SO THAT'S WHY WE FIT TOGETHER REALLY BECAUSE HE -- HE DID BELIEVE THAT AND WE COULD WRITE THAT KIND OF STUFF.

SURE, THERE'S A LOT OF GRUMBLES IN THE MIDDLE BUT TALK ABOUT DIFFERENCE, JUST WANT TO SHOW YOU ONE THING.

SEE THIS?

THAT'S A PICTURE OF STEVIE SVIGGUM, CALLED VVIGGIE, AND PHIL CARUTHERS, AND IT'S A STORY ABOUT HOW THEY HAD THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS FROM BOTH PARTIES TOGETHER.

AND THINK WE'D SEE THAT TODAY?

>> Cathy: OH, NO, NO, NO, NOT AT ALL.

YOU MENTIONED THAT D.J.

BELIEVED A LOT OF WHAT HE SAID, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF POLITICS, TAKING CARE OF ONE ANOTHER.

HE WAS VERY FUNNY, OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW THAT, VERY FUNNY.

BUT HE WAS ALSO SUCH A KIND GUY.

>> HE WAS.

HE HE HELPED SO MANY REPORTERS -- HE WAS VERY GOOD ABOUT ENCOURAGING PARTICULARLY YOUNG REPORTERS TO GET INTO THE BUSINESS, COVER IT, OFFERING TIPS ON HOW TO GET AHEAD, WHERE TO GET A STORY.

AND HE DID THAT WITH YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE STARTING TO GET INTERESTED IN POLITICS, REALLY ENCOURAGED A LOT OF YOUNG WOMEN TO RUN.

SO, YEAH, HE WAS A GREAT GUY AND YOU COULD ALWAYS TRUST HIM.

HE HAD A LOT OF INTEGRITY.

>> Eric: NOW, MIKE AND CRONE AND DAVID, AFTER EVERY HOW HE WAS ON, DIDN'T HE COME OUT AND CONGRATULATE YOU GUYS AND THANKED YOU OR EVERYTHING?

THAT'S A MEASURE OF HIS KINDNESS, HE WOULD ALWAYS SAY, IT WAS IN FOCUS TONIGHT, GUYS, GOOD JOB.

>> Cathy: THAT'S TRUE.

>> Eric: HANKS, YOU GUYS.

>> Cathy: OH, WY, REALLY GREAT TO SEE YOU.

GREAT TO SEE YOU, TOO, BILL.

>> Cathy: WE'RE GOING TO SWITCH SUBJECT NOW.

CONGRESS HAS THE POWER TO NAME POST OFFICES AFTER INDIVIDUALS AND THE U.S. HOUSE AND SENATE RECENTLY PASSED A BILL IN HONOR OF THEIR FORMER COLLEAGUE, JIM RAMSTAD, WHO DIED LAST YEAR.

THE GROUND-BREAKING BIPARTISAN WORK OF THE MINNESOTA MEMBER OF CONGRESS IS REMEMBERED FONDLY BY MANY.

ALMANAC'S MARY LAHAMMER SHARES HOW HIS FRIENDS, FAMILY AND COLLEAGUES ARE HONORING RAMSTAD'S NEARLY 40 YEARS OF SOBRIETY AND LIFELONG WORK.

>> Mary: PASSING, PEOPLE GATHERED AT FORMER CONGRESSMAN JIM RAMSTAD'S HOME FOR A FAREWELL.

>> THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.

IS THIS FOR REAL?

I MEAN, THESE ARE YOUR CUT-UPS, RIGHT?

>> YOU'RE A HERO TO MEAN AND YOU WERE TO MY PARENTS.

>> Mary: MANY SHARED MEMORIES OF THE REMARKABLE MAN.

>> AS LARGE AS YOUR POLITICAL LIFE WAS, YOU WERE NEVER TOO BIG TO LISTEN TO THE SMALL THINGS.

>> Mary: RAMSTAD WAS IN THE FINAL STAGES OF PARKINSON'S WHICH WOULD TAKE HIM JUST MONTHS LATER.

MY DAD SHARED THAT AS A REPORTER, HE COVERED HUNDREDS OF LAWMAKERS BUT JUST A FEW GOT A NICKNAME.

>> BECAUSE OF THE ENTHUSIASM AND THE ENERGY YOU BROUGHT TO THE JOB, YOU WERE THE RAMMER.

ALWAYS BEEN THE RAMMER.

>> THIS IS REALLY, REALLY AWESOME, YOU KNOW.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

>> LET'S HEAR IT FOR JIM RAMSTAD'S 39 YEARS OF SOBRIETY.

[Applause] >> WOKE UP AS SOME OF YOU REMEMBER -- >> RAMSTAD TOOK HIS BATTLE WITH ALCOHOLISM AND TURNED IT INTO POSITIVE PUBLIC POLICY, LEADING GROUND-BREAKING BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION.

>> JIM LED WITH PRINCIPLE, WITH COMPASSION AND WITH GRACE.

AND HIS BATTLE WITH AND RECOVERY FROM ALCOHOLISM GAVE VOICE TO MILLIONS OF AMERICANS FACING THE VERY SAME CHALLENGE AND ILLUMINATED EVERY ASPECT OF HIS LIFE AND HIS SERVICE.

>> Mary: THE DEMOCRAT WHO HAS THE REPUBLICAN SEAT TODAY RECENTLY HONORED HIS PREDECESSOR.

>> FROM THE STATEHOUSE TO THIS HOUSE, JIM EMBODIED THE SPIRIT OF HONESTY, RESILIENCE, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

HE WAS A NOTED CONSENSUS SEEKER, AND A CHAMPION OF BIPARTISAN POLICIES TO REDUCE DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THOSE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES AND ADDICTION.

>> Mary: HOW CONGRESSMAN RAMSTAD'S LOCAL POST OFFICE HERE IN WAYZATA WILL BE NAMED IN HIS HONOR, THANKS TO LEGISLATION SUPPORTED BY THE ENTIRE MINNESOTA CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION THAT PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS UNANIMOUSLY.

>> OBVIOUSLY, JIM WAS LOVED BY DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE AND THERE ARE A LOT OF SENATORS THAT KNEW HIM AND I CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF GOING TO THE NORTH DAKOTA REPUBLICANS BECAUSE JIM GREW UP THERE.

>> Mary: KIND OF SEEMS PEOPLE ARE ALMOST FIGHTING OVER THE RIGHTS TO IS HE FROM WAYZATA, MINNETONKA, NORTH DAKOTA, WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT HIM?

>> IT GOES TO THE POWER OF THE REPUTATION OF JIM RAMSTAD WHERE I WOULD CLAIM HIM AS MY BEST FRIEND AS WOULD MOST PEOPLE THAT KNOW JIM.

WAYZATA WAS WHERE RAHMER HUNG OUT.

THIS IS WHERE HE TOLD PEOPLE HE WAS FROM, AND THAT WAS NEVER A RAP ON JAMESTOWN OR MINNETONKA OR ANYWHERE.

JIM JUST LOVED THIS COMMUNITY AND THIS COMMUNITY LOVED HIM.

>> WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THE POST OFFICE FOR JIM IS THAT, YOU KNOW, HE WAS SOMEONE WHO LOVED HIS DISTRICT.

HE REALLY LITERALLY WOULD HELP PEOPLE WITH THEIR ADDICTIONS, INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE, NOT JUST PASS BILLS, HE WOULD ACTUALLY TAKE IT ON HIMSELF SO HAVING HIM ACKNOWLEDGED IN HIS OWN DISTRICT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> THE JIM RAMSTAD LEGACY WILL NEVER GO AWAY.

HE WAS A CONNECTOR AND A UNITER AND SOMEBODY WHO KNEW WE WERE THERE TO GET THINGS DONE ON BEHALF OF OTHER PEOPLE.

>> Mary: AND HOW MANY POTENTIALLY MILLIONS HAS HE HELPED THROUGH THAT LEGISLATION THROUGH FEITING MENTAL HEALTH AND CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY HELP COVERED IN HEALTH CARE?

IT'S A HUGE CHANGE.

>> I THINK RAHMER WOULD NEVER CARE ABOUT THE NUMBER ALTHOUGH MILLIONS WOULD SOUND GOOD.

RAHMER ALWAYS CARED ABOUT THE ONE, WHICHEVER ONE WAS FRONT AND CENTER NOW, THE PERSON BATTLING MENTAL ILLNESS, THE PERSON BATTLING CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY, THE PERSON BATTLING ADDICTION, RAHMER WAS FRONT AND CENTER.

>> Mary: SO BIPARTISAN, SO NONPARTISAN, WE WONDER IF THIS IS STILL POSSIBLE IN AN HE WERE RAH WITHOUT A JIM RAMSTAD.

>> I THINK IT IS AND WE'RE PROVING IT RIGHT NOW IN THE SENATE WITH THIS MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE.

>> Mary: DO YOU THINK THIS IS WHERE THE COUNTRY IS AT, IS THAT THERE'S SOME KIND OF CRAVING FOR FOLKS TO COME TOGETHER AFTER SUCH A DIVISIVE ERA WE'VE BEEN THROUGH?

>> I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE YEARNING FOR COME ON ALT RIGHT NOW, IT'S THE MOMENT WHERE YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A CAUSE LARGER THAN YOURSELF AND CERTAINLY OUR COUNTRY IS THAT AND JIM BELIEVED THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY HE SERVED THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA.

>> I NOTE THAT JIM WAS A REPUBLICAN AND I AM A DEMOCRAT.

MAY THAT SPIRIT OF BIPARTISANSHIP INSPIRE THIS CONGRESS AND MAY HIS NAME GRACE THE POST OFFICE IN THE TOWN HE LOVED AND THE TOWN THAT LOVED HIM BACK FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

>> Mary: PHILLIPS SAYS NAME A POST OFFICE IS JUST A SMALL GESTURE FOR A GIANT IN MINNESOTA POLITICS.

>> I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF YOUR LOVE AND KINDNESS THROUGH THE YEARS, WHICH HAS MADE MY JOURNEY POSSIBLE.

♪♪ >> ADIA: RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU JUST DON'T HAVE "IT" THIS WEEK.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I'M OVERWHELMED.

I TOOK A VACATION.

MISTAKE NUMBER ONE.

DON'T GET ME WRONG, IT WAS EXCELLENT.

I GOT SOME "SISTERS ONLY" TIME, NO WORK, NO PARENTING, EATING TOO MUCH DELICIOUS FOOD, WALKING UNTIL MY SHINS WERE SORE, AND JUST DOING WHAT WE WANTED, FOLLOWING THE WIND OF OUR WHIMS.

AND THEN I CAME HOME.

AND THE AVALANCHE BEGAN.

AND I JUST DON'T KNOW IF I'LL EVER CATCH UP.

IT'S NOT JUST WORK, IT'S HOUSE STUFF, RELATIONSHIP MAINTENANCE, THE BOOTCAMP WEB DEVELOPMENT CLASS I'M FINALLY TAKING, BUT ALSO HAPPENS TO BE IN ONE OF THE BUSIEST MONTHS OF MY LIFE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.

AND I'VE ONLY BEEN BACK FOR FOUR DAYS.

MY TUCHUS IS TIRED.

IT'S ALMOST ENOUGH TO MAKE ME SKIP VACATIONS FROM HERE ON OUT.

JUST WORK.

NO TIME TO THINK ABOUT HAVING A LIFE OR RELAXING.

RELAXATION WOULD NO LONGER EXIST.

I WOULDN'T MISS IT BECAUSE WHO CAN MISS WHAT YOU NEVER HAVE?

MAYBE I'D GO IF TAKING VACATIONS INCLUDED A PERSONAL ASSISTANT FOR THE TWO WEEKS AFTER, WHO WOULD DO ALL THE THINKING AND PLANNING AND DOING WHILE I RESTED.

WELL, UNTIL EMPLOYERS GET ON BOARD AND WRAP THAT POST-VACATION P.A.

INTO BENEFITS PACKAGES, COFFEE WILL HAVE TO SUFFICE.

♪♪ >> ERIC: IT HASN'T BEEN TOO TERRIBLY DIFFICULT TO BE A MINNESOTA WEATHER FORECASTER THIS SUMMER.

NEARLY ALL YOU HAD TO REPEAT THE TERMS HOT AND DRY AND SMOKY.

FULLY ONE-THIRD OF THE STATE IS NOW CLASSIFIED AS IN EXTREME DROUGHT, AND THAT AREA IS GROWING.

PAUL DOUGLAS IS HERE WITH SOME DETAILS.

PAUL'S WEATHER OUTLETS INCLUDE THE "STAR TRIBUNE" AND WCCO RADIO, AND HIS OWN COMPANY AERIS WEATHER.

IS THIS AN EMERGENCY?

>> HOT, DRY AND SMOKEY, ERIC.

THAT'S ALL I GOT.

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> Cathy: ALL WE NEED.

>> WE'RE ON THE CUSP OF AN EMERGENCY.

I THINK I CAN SEE EMERGENCY, I SENSE THAT THINGS ARE GOING TO GET WORSE BEFORE THEY GET BETTER WITH A DROUGHT.

I DON'T THINK T'S GOING TO BE 1988 BAD BUT, CERTAINLY, ONE OF THE WORST THAT WE'VE HAD IN 30 YEARS, THE WAY IT'S SHAPING UP.

>> Eric: HOW ABOUT SOME SLIDES TO GIVE US SOME BEHIND-THE-SCENES ACTION HERE?

>> WE CAN DO THAT.

AND WE EVEN MUCH MUSIC.

YES, MA'AM, WE DO.

>> Cathy: WOW.

PLAYING MUSIC?

>> I'VE BEEN BLASTING "SMOKE ON THE WATER" FROM DEEP MURAL IN... [PLAYING QUESTIONINGS SMOKE ON THE WATER"] >> THIS WAS FUN FOR THE FIRST DAY OR TWO AND THEN MY NEIGHBORS CALLED THE POLICE AND IT ENDED BADLY.

IT WAS A BIZARRE SITE AND WE ALL HAVE STORIES.

LOOKED LIKE FOG COMING IN.

THIS IS UP ON PELICAN WHERE WE HAVE A CABIN AND IT WAS SURREAL.

MY WIFE SAID IS THAT FOG, I SAID, NO, IT'S SMOKE.

WHAT?

YEAH, THE FIRES ARE JUST A COUPLE HUNDRED MILES UPWIND.

NEVER IN MY CAREER HAVE I BEEN TRACKING A SMOKE FRONT.

YOU CAN SEE IT, INSTEAD OF THE WHITE OF CLOUDS, IT'S THE BROWN DRIFTING DUE SOUTH.

>> Eric: OH MY GOODNESS.

>> AND NOTHING IN MY MET ROW LOGICAL EDUCATION PREPARED ME TO TRACK AND PREDICT SMOKE.

DEPENDS ON THE PREVAILING WINDS, IT DEPENDS ON HOW FIRE-FIGHTING CREWS ARE DOING, MANAGING THESE FIRES AND LIGHTENING SETTING OFF NEW FIRES.

BUT SINCE JUNE 1st, THE BEGINNING OF METEROLOGICAL SUMMER, IT'S BEEN THE DRIEST PERIOD FOR THE TWIN CITIES AND MUCH OF MINNESOTA SINCE 1982, THE FIFTH DRIEST SINCE 1871. INTERNATIONAL FALLS, THE DRIEST ON RECORD.

AND YOU CAN SEE THE DARK RED, WE'RE TALKING EXTREME DROUGHT, 35% OF THE STATE, THAT'S THE BIGGEST PART OF THE STATE IN EXTREME DROUGHT SINCE FEBRUARY OF 2007.

AND SO EACH WEEK, IT GETS WORSE, IN PITE OF DRIBS AND DRABS OF RAIN, THUNDERSTORMS HERE, THUNDERSTORMS THERE.

OUT WEST, IT'S EVEN WORSE, EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT AND, AGAIN, 1200-YEAR MEGADROUGHT GRIPPING THE WESTERN U.S. CITIES GOING UP IN SMOKE, MANY TOWNS RUNNING OUT OF WATER.

THE HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE, THE WATER CYCLE ON FAST FORWARD, YOU WARM THINGS UP A FEW DEGREES, MORE EVAPORATION, AND WHEN THE WATER DOES FALL IN THE FORM OF RAIN, IT FALLS FASTER AND HARDER AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE SEEING.

AND, LOOK, WE'VE HAD DROUGHTS, WE'VE HAD FLOODS SINCE THE DAWN OF TIME.

BUT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH A WARMER CLIMATE, IT'S TURNING UP THE DIAL.

THE WETS ARE WETTER, THE DRIES ARE GETTING DRYER, THE EXTREMES TRENDING MORE EXTREME.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE SEEING.

BY THE WAY, SCIENTISTS PREDICTED THAT 30, 40 YEARS AGO, AND WHAT WAS THEORY IS NOW BECOMING REALITY.

AND THE IMPACTS ARE MORE DRAMATIC THAN I THINK ANY CLIMATE SCIENTISTS THOUGHT.

HERE'S THE XTENDED FORECAST, A CONSENSUS OF NOAA'S CLIMATE MODELS KEEP US WARMER FROM AUGUST INTO OCTOBER, THAT WARM BIAS CONTINUES, AND PRECIPITATION-WISE, I DON'T SEE MUCH OF A CHANGE FROM WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

A DRY BIAS FORECAST TO CONTINUE THROUGH OCTOBER, AS WELL.

WE'RE GOING TO PULL OUT OF THIS BUT IT MAY NOT BE UNTIL THE SPRING OR SUMMER OF NEXT YEAR.

MY HUNCH IS THAT WE'LL GO INTO THE GROWING SEASON WITH LESS SOIL MOISTURE.

THE GOOD NEWS, I DON'T SEE ANY MORE 90s, NO MORE HEAT WAVES IN THE NEARLY TERM, ALTHOUGH THE STATE FAIR IS COMING SO ALL BETTER ARE OFF.

>> Cathy: THAT IS TRUE.

SO LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

BECAUSE WE JUST SAW THAT MODEL SAYING THAT WE COULD -- WE PROBABLY MIGHT BE -- WE PROBABLY MIGHT BE, THERE YOU GO -- DRYER AND WARMER HEADING INTO FALL, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

>> Cathy: SO IF YOU EVER A DROUGHT, DO WE HAVE -- HOW ABOUT SNOWFALL TOTALS, THEN?

YOU HAVE TO, AS YOU SAY, COULD THIS GO INTO THE SPRING OF NEXT YEAR?

>> I THINK IT WILL, IF WE HAVE A BIG SNOW SEASON, IF WE GET A LOT OF SNOW, THAT WOULD CERTAINLY -- >> Cathy: BUT COMING OFF A DROUGHT, DOES THAT USUALLY HAPPEN?

>> IT CAN, SOME YEARS.

NOTHING'S IN THE BAG.

OUR SNOW IS INCREASINGLY FICKLE AND VARIABLE AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO GET AN 80-INCH WINTER.

MORE TIMES THAN NOT, IT'S 30, 40, 50 INCHES, BUT THE FROZEN GROUND, THE MOISTURE ISN'T GETTING TO WHERE IT'S NEEDED AND WHAT WE NEED IS NOT ONE DELUGE OF EIGHT NCHES OF RAIN, WE NEED EIGHT WEEKS WITH AN INCH OF RAIN EACH WEEK AND THE ODDS OF THAT HAPPENING IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS BEFORE THE GROUND FREEZES UMM IN NOVEMBER ARE PRETTY SLIM.

I'M OPTIMISTIC FOR NEXT YEAR, SHORT TERM, WE NEED TO PREPARE FOR A TOUGH DROUGHT.

>> Eric: WE WON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER, THOUGH.

>> Cathy: BECAUSE WE LOVE YOU.

>> I APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU.

>> athy: HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

>> YOU TOO.

♪♪ >> CATHY: FARM FEST IS OVER AND STATE FAIR POLITICKING IS JUST A FEW WEEKS AWAY.

MEANWHILE, CONGRESS IS MAKING PROGRESS ON A TRILLION-DOLLAR INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

PLENTY TO TALK ABOUT THIS WEEK WITH A POLITICAL PANEL DUO.

JAVIER MORILLO, LONGTIME D.F.L.

ACTIVIST AND FORMER NATIONAL PARTY COMMITTEE MEMBER.

BRIAN MCDANIEL, REPUBLICAN, LEGISLATIVE LOBBYIST, STAND-UP COMEDIAN IN HIS SPARE TIME.

JAVIER, MINNESOTA REFORMER BLOKE THAT STORY ABOUT SEX HARASSMENT CLAIMS AGAINST A D.F.L.

OPERATIVE WHO HAS TIES TO THE LEGISLATURE AND SENATOR KENT'S CAMPAIGN.

PRETTY COMPLEX STORY.

WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS?

>> IT LOOKED LIKE THERE'S GOING TO BE AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION BECAUSE ONE OF THE ISSUES IS THAT THE SENATE NONPARTISAN OFFICE DIDN'T INVESTIGATE IT -- INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE, WHICH IT SEEMS THEY SHOULD HAVE.

SO THAT'S -- THAT'S WHAT THE NEXT STEP IS.

I MEAN, I FIND THIS STORY VERY TROUBLING, AS DO MANY PEOPLE AND MANY OF THE STAFFERS SIGNED ON TO A LETTER SAYING THIS WAS NOT HANDLED WELL, SO IT'S NOT A GOOD -- IT'S NOT A GOOD LOOK.

>> Eric: BRIAN, I WAS INTERESTED IN THE -- I THINK IT WAS AN MAIL THAT WAS INTERCEPTED BY A D.F.L.

SENATOR FROM A PURPLE DISTRICT AND HE SAID THAT SEXUAL HARASSMENT STORY JOINS JOHN THOMPSON, DEFUND THE POLICE AND RACE THEORY AS PROBLEMATIC ISSUES FOR D.F.L.ers RUNNING FOR THE LEGISLATURE NEXT YEAR.

>> WELL, FIRST I WANT TO SAY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DAUGHTER, SARAH MARGARET McDANIEL.

HAPPY 11th BIRTHDAY.

>> Cathy: YAY.

>> BUT, YEAH, THE ELECTION IS SETTING ITSELF UP WITH SOME EASY THEMES FOR THE REPUBLICANS, AND E KIND OF KNOW THAT IN POLITICS, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY RECENTLY, THE EASY THEMES ARE THE BETTER THEMES, ND THE DEMOCRATS, I THINK, ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND DIFFERENT WAYS CERTAINLY OUTSIDE OF MINNEAPOLIS AND OUTSIDE OF St. PAUL TO CONVINCE PEOPLE THAT GO THEY'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO DEFUND THE POLICE, THAT THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY PROMISED TO BE AS FAR AS WITH METOO ISSUES AND I THINK RIGHT NOW THERE WILL BE D.F.L.

ON D.F.L.

VIOLENCE AND IT MIGHT BE SOME PEOPLE LOSING JOBS OR POSITIONS IN LEADERSHIP.

>> Eric: ARE WE LOOKING AT A SHAKE-UP IN D.F.L.

LEADERSHIP?

>> IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S SOME RUMORS AROUND THAT BUT I -- WE DON'T KNOW.

I THINK -- I THINK THE, YOU KNOW, THE -- THIS BEING ANNUAL ELECTORAL ISSUE, WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IS DEMOCRATS HOLDING OTHER DEMOCRATS ACCOUNTABLE.

THIS IS ALSO TRUE IN NEW YORK, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, A VERY BIG DIFFERENCE THAN WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND AS FAR AS CRITICAL RACE THEORY, THAT IS LITERALLY A MADE-UP ISSUE SO, LIKE, IT'S HARD TO SEE HOW THAT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT IN MINNESOTA.

>> Eric: ON THE COVID POLITICS, DOESN'T THE GOVERNOR NOW HAVE A GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD BECAUSE HE HAS NO MORE EMERGENCY POWERS, YOU CAN'T BLAME ME?

>> WELL, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE -- HE DOESN'T HAVE EMERGENCY POWERS AND I THINK THAT'S GOOD.

I TRUST THE LEGISLATURE, THEY WERE ELECTED TO REPRESENT THEIR DISTRICTS, THEY SHOULD BE DOING THAT.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THERE MIGHT NOT BE AN EMERGENCY.

THE GOVERNOR CAN, YOU KNOW, CAN GET HIS POWERS BACK, YOU KNOW, AT ANY POINT.

I THINK THAT THE GOVERNOR PROBABLY IS NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT ON COVID WITH ANY, YOU KNOW, ANY JOY BECAUSE HE MIGHT BE PUT IN RAY REALLY BAD DECISION, IN AN ELECTION YEAR, IF THINGS NEED TO BE SHUT DOWN AGAIN, IF SCHOOLS NEED TO MASK AGAIN, I THINK HE'S GOING TO HAVE A REAL HARD TIME KIND OF SELLING THAT TO THE VOTERS.

>> I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT POLLING ON THE ISSUING OF MASKING, WHAT YOU HAVE IS A VERY SMALL, LOUD MINORITY OF PEOPLE, LIKE MOST PEOPLE ACTUALLY SUPPORT -- SUPPORT THESE REQUIREMENTS AND INCLUDING VACCINE REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION IN CERTAIN THINGS AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW IN THE STATE, JUST LIKE ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS A RESURGENCE OF A VIRUS AND THIS IS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AS LONG AS IT'S LET RUN RAMPANT, YOU KNOW, THESE VARIANTS.

>> Cathy: THERE IS A SPECIAL SESSION PROBABLY MID-SEPTEMBER, WHERE -- WILL WE SEE THE SITUATION WITH REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON COME TO THE FORE DURING THIS SPECIAL SESSION?

>> I THINK IT -- WELL, REPRESENTATIVE HOMPSON APOLOGIZED TO REPRESENTATIVE LUCERO, SO I THINK -- I BELIEVE THAT HIS THE ETHICS COMPLAINT AGAINST HIM IS GOING TO BE REMOVED.

BUT THAT'S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH THE -- >> Cathy: MOST RECENT.

>> THE ABUSE AND LIVING IN WISCONSIN.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO DO THE DEMOCRATS' JOB FOR THEM.

I THINK THAT THE REPUBLICANS PROBABLY WANT TO SEE THE DEMOCRATS HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE, TAKING AWAY, YOU KNOW, COMMIT TEA ASSIGNMENTS, OR, YOU KNOW, CHOOSING WHETHER OR NOT TO LET HIM REMAIN BEING SEATED.

>> Cathy: IT'S BEEN PRETTY QUIET ON THIS ISSUE.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> APPALLINGLY QUIET.

I'LL BE HONEST, I THINK THAT THE ALLEGATIONS FROM MULTIPLE WOMEN WITH VERY SIMILAR DESCRIPTIONS IN DIFFERENT STATES, I FOUND EXTREMELY APPALLING AND IT SHOWS IN MANY INSTANCES OF POLICE IGNORING THE PLEAS OF BLACK WOMEN AND I -- I JUST THINK IT'S UNCONSCIONABLE AND IT WOULD BE ONE THING IF IT WERE A PART OF THE STORY THAT HE ALWAYS TOLD ABOUT HIMSELF BUT IT WAS NOT AND IT IS NOT, AND INSTEAD IT'S BEEN REALLY DENIAL.

SO I -- I THINK THE HOUSE CAUCUS REALLY NEEDS TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE.

>> Eric: YOU DO SOME WORK FOR MINNEAPOLIS AND YOU'RE A FORMER MINNEAPOLIS RESIDENT SO I DON'T WANT TO ASK YOU TO TAKE SIDES IN THE MAYOR'S RACE OR THE COUNCIL OR THE CHARTER AMENDMENTS BUT I AM WONDERING, ARE 202022 CANDIDATES GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THE MINNEAPOLIS RESULTS COME NOVEMBER TO KIND OF SEE WHERE THE ELECTORATE IS -- >> I DON'T THINK THERE'S MUCH FOR REPUBLICANS TO LEARN IN WHAT APPENS THERE BUT I THINK THERE WILL BE DEMOCRATS WHO ARE IN, YOU KNOW, SUBURBAN OR EX-URBAN SEATS OR THE FEW THAT ARE STILL RURAL WHOA ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO SEE THE DE-FUND CITY COUNCIL EOPLE, WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM.

YOU KNOW, WERE THEY ABLE TO FIRE UP THE PROGRESSIVES OR, YOU KNOW, DID THE MORE MODERATE PEOPLE IN THE DISTRIBUTION CHOOSE TO REJECT THEM.

>> Eric: IS THAT A CANARY IN THE COAL MINE KIND OF RACE TO GET A FIX -- >> * I THINK THE POLITICS IN THE CITY ARE PRETTY UNIQUE AND DIFFERENT THAN STATEWIDE, AND DIFFERENT THAN St. PAUL WHERE I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A PRESENT.

>> Eric: OH, REALLY, I'M SORRY.

>> I JUST BUTT INTO MINNEAPOLIS POLITICS QUITE A BIT WHEN I WAS PRESIDENT OF THE UNION.

I THINK IT'S VERY PARTICULAR TO THAT.

I THINK THAT -- I THINK THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ASSUME THAT -- THAT THE POLITICS ARE PLAYING OUT IN A WAY HAT I THINK ACTUALLY IT'S MUCH MORE COMPLICATED AND I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE VERY MIXED RESULTS IN TERMS OF COUNCIL RAISES -- >> Eric: A LOT OF MONEY IS GOING TO BE SPENT.

>> A LOT OF MONEY IS GOING TO BE SPENT.

>> Cathy: SENATORIAL KOCH WAS ON THE COUNSEL LATELY, YOUR COLLEAGUE, AND SHE SAID THAT SENATOR GAZELKA IS ABSOLUTELY RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> I WOULDN'T USE THE WORD "ABSOLUTELY.

I HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO SENATOR GAZELKA AND I'M NOT BREAKING ANY NEWS OR NYTHING LIKE THAT.

I THINK THERE ARE LOTS OF CONSIDERATIONS THAT GO INTO WHETHER SOMEONE RUNS, BOTH POLITICAL, FAMILY, OCCUPATIONAL, ALL OF THOSE THINGS, SO I THINK WE WERE TOLD OR LED TO BELIEVE HE WOULD MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT HE WAS RUNNING THIS MONTH.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S HAPPENING AND -- THIS MONTH BUT I WANT SAY, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAID ABSOLUTELY -- >> Cathy: DEFINITELY.

>> I WOULD SAY DEFINITELY IS NOT THE RIGHT WORD, MAYBE PROBABLE STILL BUT NOT DEFINITE.

>> Cathy: I SEE SENATOR JENSEN'S CAMPAIGN IS KIND OF PUTTING PRESSURE ON GAZELKA, SENATOR JENSEN WHO'S RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

>> WELL, YEAH.

I THINK THEY WOULD LOVE TO KEEP EVERYBODY OUT BUT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE, YOU KNOW, MORE REPUBLICANS GET IN, MORE SENATORS GETTING IN AND I THINK THAT THE -- IT'S GOING TO BE A CONTRAST BETWEEN THEM AND I VERY MUCH LOOK FORWARD TO THE DEBATES.

>> Eric: WOULD GOVERNOR WALZ HAVE A CREDIBLE OPPONENT FROM THE LEFT, EITHER FOR ENDORSEMENT OR IN THE PRIMARY NEXT YEAR?

>> NOT -- I HAVE HEARD NOTHING ALONG THOSE LINES.

I MEAN, I THINK THAT THE BIGGEST DANGER DEMOCRATS HAVE NEXT YEAR IN THE GENERAL ELECTION IS IF OUR BASE IS NOT EXCITED.

>> Eric: AND WITHOUT TRUMP TO GET THEM FIRED UP.

>> AND THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT PORTIONS OF THE PROGRESSIVE BASE THAT ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THE GOVERNOR FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER SO I THINK IT IS EXTREMELY HARD FOR REPUBLICANS TO WIN STATEWIDE GIVEN THE VOTE ADVANTAGE WE HAVE IN POPULATION IN THE CITIES AND SO THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE LOSE, REALLY S IF WE HAVE DEPRESSED TURNOUT AND I THINK THAT'S THE REAL DANGER THAT FACES DEMOCRATS AND THAT I WOULD BE THINKING ABOUT A LOT IF I WERE A PART OF THE GOVERNOR'S TEAM.

>> Eric: 2020 CENSUS DATA COMES OUT NEXT WEEK.

DO WE HAVE AN EARLY THOUGHT ON WHO GEOGRAPHICALLY LOSES AND GAINS?

>> I THINK THERE DEFINITELY IS GOING TO BE -- THERE ARE GOING TO BE METRO GAINS, FOR SURE AND I THINK YOU'LL SEE GAINS IN MINNEAPOLIS AND PROBABLY St. PAUL.

I THINK THAT FOR THE MOST PART, THERE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE SOME BENEFITS FOR THE DEMOCRATS BUT MAYBE IN AREAS THAT ALREADY ARE, YOU KNOW, STONE-COLD LOCKS FOR THE DEMOCRATS.

>> Eric: FAIR ENOUGH?

>> YEP, ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK -- AND IT WILL BE, AGAIN, THE SUBURBS THAT WILL BE, I THINK, THE DESIZIVE FACTOR IN WHAT THE FUTURE LEGISLATURE LOOKS LIKE.

>> Eric: NICE TO SEE YOU FELLOWS, IN PERSON.

>> Cathy: YEAH, IN PERSON.

GOOD SOCKS, JAVIER.

>> THERE HE GO WITH.

[ Laughter ] -- >> THERE WE GO.

♪♪ >> CATHY: IT'S MINNESOTA HISTORY TIME.

PAY ATTENTION TO THE DETAIL FROM LAST WEEK.

WE SHOWED YOU THIS AQUATENNIAL MOSTCARD -- ISN'T THAT PRETTY?

FROM THE 1976s.

FROM THE 1960s.

THE CELEBRATION WAS IN ITS HEYDAY, WITH FAMED GRAND MARSHALLS LEADING PARADES.

THE DECADE SAW POLITICIANS DWIGHT EISENHOWER AND HUBERT HUMPHREY GIVEN GRAND MARSHALL STATUS.

ENTERTAINERS LIKE BOB HOPE AND BRUCE LEE AND ARTHUR GODFREY WERE TAPPED FOR THE HONOR, TOO.

BUT THERE WERE SOME DEBATABLE SELECTIONS.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE CELEBRITY GRAND MARSHALL OF THE TORCHLIGHT PARADE IN 1966.

WE THEN ADDED A BIG HINT BY ADDING THAT THIS PERSON WAS IN A HIT TV SERIES AT THE TIME.

OUR QUESTION WAS: WHO WAS THE CELEBRITY GRAND MARSHALL OF THE AQUATENNIAL TORCHLIGHT PARADE IN 1966?

YOU TOOK OUR TV HINTS TO HEART, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE TRIED TO TRICK YOU INTO THINKING THE ANSWER HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW.

SORRY, DAVE.

>> CATHY: SORRY TO ALL OF YOU WHO GUESSED THIS WEEK.

WE RECEIVED AN IMPRESSIVE LIST OF WRONG ANSWERS: EDDIE ALBERT, ART LINKLETTER, BURT PARKS, TIPPI HEDREN.

ONLY ONE VIEWER CALLED IN WITH A RIGHT GUESS.

FRITZ FROM SLEEPY EYE, YOUR INDEX FILE PERSISTENCE HAS PAID OFF.

>> CATHY: AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS "MINNEAPOLIS TRIBUNE" ARTICLE, WHILE BRUCE LEE FROM THE "GREEN HORNET" WAS IN THE DAY PARADE IN 1966, THE PROFESSOR FROM "GILLIGAN'S ISLAND" WAS THE STAR OF THE TORCHLIGHT AQUATENNIAL PARADE.

WASN'T GILLIGAN OR THE SKIPPER OR GINGER AVAILABLE??

DO YOU HAVE A FUN TRIVIAL MINNESOTA HISTORY FACT YOU WANT TO SHARE?

GIVE US A JINGLE AT 651-229-1430, OR EMAIL US AT ALMANAC@TPT.ORG.

EARLIER TONIGHT, WE REMEMBERED OUR GOOD FRIEND D.J.

LEARY WHO PASSED AWAY THIS WEEK.

MY GOOD FRIEND AND MENTOR, MIKE NORMAN, DIED EARLIER TODAY.

PROFESSOR NORMAN TAUGHT ME JOURNALISM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-RIVER FALLS AND NUDGED ME INTO A CAREER IN BROADCASTING.

IF IT WEREN'T FOR MIKE, I WOULDN'T BE BEHIND A MICROPHONE OR STANDING IN FRONT OF THIS CAMERA.

MIKE NORMAN LOVED THE ART OF BROADCASTING.

HE WAS ALSO A HECK OF A WRITER AND STAGE ACTOR.

HIS INFECTIOUS LAUGH AND BIG HEART WILL BE SORELY MISSED IN THIS WORLD.

THANKS FOR EVERYTHING, MIKE, AND MY SYMPATHIES TO HIS FAMILY.

WELL, WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH TIME FOR SHOW-ENDING MUSIC.

THE GREAT LIAM CLANCY PERFORMED IN THIS STUDIO THIS WEEK IN 1999.

THE "ALMANAC" PRODUCER REQUESTED AN UPTEMPO TUNE BUT LIAM WISELY SAID, "I THINK WE'LL PLAY SOMETHING SLOW.

YOU'LL LIKE IT BETTER."

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK.

♪ NOT THAT KIND OF MAN TO KEEP HIS THOUGHTS DROWNED IN THE DAM, THAT HOLDS HIS DREAMS IN ♪ ♪ THAT'S A SECRET ONLY MARGARET KNOWS ♪ ♪ WHEN AMSTERDAM IS GOLDEN, IN THE MORNING MARGARET BRINGS HIM BREAKFAST, SHE BELIEVES HIM ♪ ♪ HE THINKS THE TULIPS BLOOM BENEATH THE SNOW HE'S MAD AS HE CAN BE BUT MARGARET ONLY SEES THAT SOMETIMES, SOMETIMES HE SEES HER UNBORN CHILDREN IN HIS EYES ♪ ♪ LET US GO TO THE BANKS OF THE OCEAN ♪ ♪ WHERE THE WALLS RISE ABOVE THE SEA ♪ ♪ LONG AGO, I USED TO BE A YOUNG MAN AND WHERE MARGARET REMEMBERS THAT FOR ME ♪ ♪ A DUTCHMAN STILL WEARS WOODEN SHOES, HIS COAT IS PATCHED WITH LOVE, THAT MARGARET IS SEWING ♪ ♪ SOMETIMES HE THINKS HE'S STILL IN ROTTERDAM ♪ ♪ HE WATCHES TUGBOATS DOWN CANALS AND CALLS OUT TO THEM WHEN HE THINKS HE KNOWS THE CAPTAIN ♪ ♪ "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 28 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

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

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.