>> CATHY: WE’RE CERTAIN OF ONE THING HERE AT "ALMANAC."

THERE’S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT WITH OUR POLITICAL PANEL.

THIS WEEK?

VOTER PRIVACY, SAFETY CONCERNS FOR LAWMAKERS, UPCOMING SPECIAL ELECTIONS, AND MORE FRAUD ALLEGATIONS.

LET’S GET RIGHT TO THE INTRODUCTIONS STARTING WITH THE REPUBLICANS.

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

I ALWAYS LAUGH WHEN I HEAR THAT.

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

REPRESENTING THE DFL SIDE OF THE AISLE IS SUSAN KENT, A FORMER STATE SENATE MINORITY LEADER AND A DFL LOYALIST, AND ABOU AMARA, A FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER, NOW ATTORNEY.

YOU CAN TELL I'M AT THE END OF A VERY LONG WEEK, EVERYBODY.

MARY MORIARTY, ABOU, HENNEPIN COUNTY ATTORNEY, DID WE SEE THIS COMING?

IT SEEMED LIKE A PRETTY BIG SURPRISE THAT SHE'S NOT GOING TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION.

>> I THINK FOR MANY OF US IT WAS A SURPRISE.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A PERSON OF CONVICTION, AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH HER, SHE IS A PERSON WHO BELIEVES IN WHAT SHE WAS SAYING, AND WE ALL SUSPECTED THAT SHE WOULD BE FROWNING A SECOND TERM, THE FACT THAT SHE'S NOT MAY BE AN INDICATION THAT SHE UNDERSTANDS THE MOMENT OF 2022 WAS VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE MOMENT OF 2026.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

>> WELL, AT THE TIME WE'RE COMING OUT OF THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD, HUGE DEMANDS FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

NOW WE'RE SITTING IN A MOMENT WHERE FOLKS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY, BOTH IN PSYCHOLOGICALLY BUT IN REAL TERMS.

PROSECUTORS WANT BACK TO THE BASICS, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A THEME OF THE 2026 CAMPAIGN.

>> Eric: IS THERE A LAW ENFORCEMENT COMPONENT TO THIS, GET TOUGH ON CRIME THAT SOMEBODY COULD BENEFIT FROM THE MORE CONSERVATIVE SIDE OF THING?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THE REALITY IS, MORIARTY THOUGHT SHE WAS, YOU KNOW, AWED DIGSING -- AUDITIONING FOR A ROLE AS THE HEAD ATTORNEY FOR MINNESOTA FREEDOM FUND.

AND THE REALITY IS, SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE CHIEF PROSECUTOR FOR THE PEOPLE OF MINNEAPOLIS.

AND SHE FUMBLED SOME MAJOR CASES.

SHE TOOK HER AUTHORITY AND HER POWER WAY TOO FAR TO THE POINT WHERE THE GOVERNOR OF MINNESOTA HAS TO STEP IN, FOR A COUNTY ATTORNEY, AND SAYS, YOU'RE WRONG, I NEED TO TAKE THIS BACK FROM YOU.

THAT IS A HUGE LAP IN THE FACE IF YOU'RE A COUNTY ATTORNEY.

THERE WAS A LOT RIDING AGAINST HER.

AND THE REALITY IS, MINNEAPOLIS AND St. PAUL ARE JUST FACING A MOMENT RIGHT NOW WHERE THE CITY IS IN DECLINE, FROM CRIME, FROM A LACK OF BUSINESSES WHO ARE WANTING TO SHOW UP, MORIARTY IS PART OF THE PROBLEM, AND SHE WAS GOING TO HAVE TO FACE A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND SHE WAS GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE SOME ACTUAL MEANINGFUL ANSWERS FOR WHAT SHE WAS GOING TO DO DIFFERENTLY, AND I JUST DON'T THINK SHE HAD THOSE ANSWERS.

>> Eric: WHAT'S OUR TAKE ON THE LIBERAL VERSUS SOCIALIST SCHISM IN THE PARTY?

>> FIRST, I JUST HAVE TO SAY, THE REPUBLICAN TALKING POINT ABOUT THE HELLSCAPE THAT IS MINNEAPOLIS IS A LITTLE OVERDONE.

YOU KNOW, THAT JUST -- YEAH, LET'S LEAVE THAT THERE.

>> Eric: WE'LL LET HER GET IN.

>> BUT, YOU KNOW, THE DFL CONTINUES TO BE A BIG TENT, DIFFERENT OPINIONS, IT IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE SCRAPPY BECAUSE WE CARE DEEPLY, BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE END OF THE DAY COMES ALONG, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD, FIGURE THIS OUT.

I DO THINK THIS IS INTERESTING.

I THINK IT WAS A SURPRISE.

AND WITH A LOT OF ANNOUNCEMENTS STILL SUPPOSEDLY TO COME, I THINK IT DID ADD SOME RIPPLES INTO THE POOL.

>> Cathy: CEDRICK FRAZIER MIGHT JUMP IN FOR CANDIDATE.

>> CEDRICK FRAZIER REPRESENTS MY PARENTS SO MAYBE IT'S TIME TO GET A McDANIEL IN THE STATE HOUSE, I DON'T KNOW, PROBABLY NOT.

BUT, YOU KNOW -- >> Eric: COUNTY ATTORNEY, THOUGH.

>> WE'VE HEARD HIS NAME ASSOCIATED WITH THIS.

I THINK THAT HE'S EXPLORING IT NOW.

I DO SUSPECT THAT THAT WILL TURN INTO AN ACTUAL CANDIDACY.

I THINK LOT OF PEOPLE WILL LOOK AT HIM AND SAY, WELL, HIS POLITICS AREN'T THAT DIFFERENT FROM MARY MORIARTY, BUT I THINK THAT AS FAR AS BRINGING, YOU KNOW, SHOULD IT BE HIM, I THINK THAT HE WOULD BRING A LITTLE BIT MORE STABILITY, BECAUSE MARY MORIARTY JUST DIDN'T REPRESENT THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT.

SHE DIDN'T EPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA VERY WELL, AND I THINK THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, LEADS TO LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THE ROLE.

>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, I DON'T THINK IT'S A SCHISM.

I THINK THIS IS A CONVERSATION HAPPENING IN THE PARTY, AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, LOCAL LEVEL OF, STATE LEVEL.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE A SENATE RACE IN MINNESOTA WITH PEGGY FLANAGAN AND CONGRESSWOMAN ANGIE CRAIG.

PHILOSOPHICALLY THAT'S KIND OF THE SAME THING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

IN TERMS OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY RACE.

AND, SO, I DON'T ACTUALLY SEE IT AS A FIGHT.

IT'S A REAL CONVERSATION IN THE PARTY ABOUT WHICH DIRECTION WE WANT TO GO, AND IN THE CONTEXT OF TRUMP, WHAT DIRECTION WE WANT TO GO.

SO I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION TO HAVE.

>> Eric: FRAUD.

REPUBLICAN GIFT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, LOOK, AT THE END OF THE DAY, LIKE, I WAS TALKING TO SOMEBODY ABOUT THIS, YOU KNOW, JUST EARLIER THIS WEEK, AND I KIND OF COMPARED IT TO, YOU KNOW, BEING A COACH OF A TEAM, AS TIM WALZ LIKES TO CALL HIMSELF.

HE'S THE COACH OF MINNESOTA.

WELL, AS COACH, YOU'VE SEEN WHAT IS NOW BEING TOTALED CLOSE TO, WHAT, A BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF FRAUD THAT'S HAPPENED UNDER YOUR WATCH.

YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF LIKE MY DAD WHEN HE WAS WATCHING THE VIKINGS GROWING UP, I REMEMBER HIM YELLING AND SCREAMING ABOUT DENNY GREEN BEING A TERRIBLE COACH, THAT'S WHY THE VIKINGS WERE TERRIBLE.

IT CONTINUED CYCLE AFTER CYCLE AFTER CYCLE.

WELL, THE REALITY IS, TIM WALZ, YOU'RE THE COACH, YOU'VE BEEN IN THE SEAT FOR EIGHT YEARS, AND ALL THIS FRAUD HAS HAPPENED UNDER YOUR WATCH.

NOW YOU GOT TO OWN UP TO IT.

>> Eric: SENATOR?

>> WELL, HE ACTED DECISIVELY THIS WEEK.

EVERYBODY HAS AGREED AND WORKED ON POLICIES TO ADDRESS THE FACT THAT FRAUD IS NOT A GOOD THING.

NOBODY WANTS TAXPAYER MONEY GOING PLACES IT'S NOT INTENDED TO GO.

AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO NEED THOSE SERVICES, DESPERATELY, GOOD WORK HAS BEEN DONE IN THAT AREA TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH HOMELESSNESS AND THAT IS IMPORTANT EXAMINE IT MATTERS.

ALSO, IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT FRAUD ND CORRUPTION, WE SURE OUGHT TO TALK ABOUT THE GUY WHO'S GOING TO PUT THE BIG 200 MILLION DOLLAR BALLROOM ON OUR WHITE HOUSE, AND THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE CRYPTOCURRENCY AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE PRIVATIZING OF DETENTION CENTERS THAT ARE HORRIFIC AND IMPRISONING PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ACTUALLY NECESSARILY ACCUSED OF DOING ANYTHING SUPER ILLEGAL.

SO, IF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT FRAUD, LET'S REALLY TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO AFFECT THE LIVES OF A LOT OF MINNESOTANS.

>> THE PROCESSES ARE IN PLACE TO CATCH THIS TYPE OF FRAUD.

I THINK THAT THERE WASN'T THE WILL TO SAY NO TO NONPROFITS THAT REALLY DIDN'T HAVE A TRACK RECORD.

WE HAVE HUGE, YOU KNOW, NONPROFIT WORLD IN MINNESOTA WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF HELPING PEOPLE AND BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA'S MONEY, AND THEY WERE SORT OF PUSHED ASIDE IN ORDER FOR -- TO GET SOME, YOU KNOW, NEWER PLAYERS INTO THE FIELD 8.

AND I THINK THAT THAT HAS HURT THE NONPROFIT SECTOR AS MUCH AS ANYTHING.

THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, THE GOVERNOR, THE WALZ ADMINISTRATION, THEY NEEDED TO SAY NO TO SOME OF THESE NEW NONPROFITS, THEY DIDN'T DO IT FOR FEAR OF A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE CAN GUESS, AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS.

A TRUE CRIME TO THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA.

>> Cathy: SO, THE LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED THIS PAST SESSION RELATED TO FRAUD, IS THAT GOING TO BE ENOUGH?

>> Eric: I THINK THERE WERE 18 SEPARATE BILLS.

>> Cathy: EXACTLY.

>> THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT CONTINUING TO DO THIS WORK IN NEXT SESSION.

I MEAN, EVERYBODY AGREES.

FIRST OF ALL, FRAUD IS EVER EVOLVING.

YOU CAN'T SLEEP ON IT, YOU'VE GOT TO CONSTANTLY STAY, TECHNOLOGY, EVERYTHING, IS GOING TO KEEP CHANGING.

AND I DO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE OF BOTH PARTIES IN THE LEGISLATURE AND IN THE ADMINISTRATION HAVE BEEN TAKING THIS VERY SERIOUSLY.

>> I JUST DON'T THINK THAT THE ANSWER IS MORE GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'VE GOT.

>> Cathy: DID YOU SAY YOU DON'T THINK THE ANSWER IS MORE GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT?

>> I MEAN, I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE -- WE HAVE TO ENFORCE WHAT PROCEDURES ARE ALREADY IN PLACE, BUT I THINK JUST TAKING -- BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED WAS, IN A LOT OF WAYS, THEY STOPPED FUNDING INDIVIDUAL NONPROFITS AND NOW THEY'RE GIVING THEM TO THE DEPARTMENTS, LETTING THE DEPARTMENTS DECIDE, AND THAT'S WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS ORIGINALLY.

AND I THINK THAT IS ABSOLUTELY THE WRONG WAY TO DO IT, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY CHOSE TO DO.

>> WELL, I JUST WANT TO SAY VERY QUICKLY, AS A FORMER CONSTITUENT OF MINE HAD A LETTER TO THE EDITOR IN THE "PIONEER PRESS" JUST THIS WEEK AND REMINDED US, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF REPUBLICAN EMPHASIS ON SCALING BACK GOVERNMENT.

SO THAT'S WHY SOME OF THIS STUFF HAS BEEN SENT OUT INTO THE PRIVATE AND NONPROFIT SECTOR.

>> I MEAN -- >> TO SAY THAT WE HAVEN'T HAVE MORE GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT, WELL, OKAY, LET'S JUST HAVE MORE GOVERNMENT.

>> BETTER.

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LIKE, THE REALITY IS, IS THAT THERE WERE PROCESSES IN PLACE THAT THIS GOVERNMENT, THAT TIM WALZ'S GOVERNMENT FAILED TO IGNORE, BECAUSE THEY PUT -- I'LL BE THE ONE TO SAY IT -- BECAUSE THEY CHOSE TO PUT SOCIAL, YOU KNOW, LEFTIST AGENDAS AND THINGS THAT THEY PRIORITIZED AS A PARTY OVER THE ACTUAL DUE DILIGENCES THAT THEY NEEDED TO DO AS A STATE.

LIKE, THIS IS ALL POLITICS AT THE END OF THE DAY.

THEY CHOSE TO PUT PARTY POLITICS AHEAD OF THE ACTUAL PROCESSES IN PLACE.

AND AS A RESULT, THEY DECIDED, WELL, WE'RE JUST GOING TO, LIKE, NOT PAY ATTENTION TO THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO PAY ATTENTION BECAUSE THEY CHECK CERTAIN BOXES.

AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT STEP BACK.

AND THEY DID THAT AND NOW WE HAVE FRAUD.

>> TIM WALZ FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS SITUATION.

HE SHUT IT DOWN.

HE'S MADE IT CLEAR TO THE PEOPLE WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO MOVING FORWARD.

THERE'S A BIPARTISAN CONSENSUS ON FRAUD BEING BAD.

THAT IS NOT THE DEBATE.

THE DEBATE ACTUALLY IS ABOUT WHAT BRIAN JUST ALLUDED TO.

THERE'S A PHILOSOPHICAL DIFFERENCE AT THE CAPITOL ABOUT WHETHER WE NEED MORE GOVERNMENT TO ACTUALLY OVERSEE THESE PROGRAMS OR WHETHER WE NEED TO SCALE DOWN.

DOGE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE.

WHEN YOU CUT GOVERNMENT, AT SOME POINT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A RUN AMOK AND NOT ENOUGH EYES ON WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING.

WE HAVE TO BALANCE THE TWO PRINCIPLES AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

>> Cathy: BEFORE WE GO, CAPITOL SECURITY.

DID I WRITE THIS DOWN RIGHT, FOUR DOORS ARE OPEN NOW AT THE CAPITOL FOR FOLKS, IS IT TOO LITTLE TOO LATE HERE OR WHAT?

>> I THINK IT'S TOO LITTLE TOO LATE.

LET'S ALSO REMEMBER, THE ASSASSINATION DIDN'T HAPPEN AT THE CAPITOL.

I'VE BEEN UP THERE 26 YEARS.

WITHOUT INCIDENT.

HOWEVER, WE CAN'T BE NAIVE, BUT I THINK ANYTHING THAT SEPARATES THE PUBLIC FROM THE PUBLIC SERVANTS IS BAD SO WE HAVE TO HAVE IT BE AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE.

>> Eric: WHAT ARE YOUR COLLEAGUES SAYING ABOUT SAFETY?

>> YOU KNOW, WAS SAYING, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE JUNE 14th AND I WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT ON MY WAY OVER HERE.

THIS HAS ALL HIT PEOPLE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COMMUNITY AND THE EXTENDED COMMUNITY SO HARD ON SO MANY LEVELS.

AND PEOPLE ARE JUST REALLY STRUGGLING, YOU KNOW.

BUT RECOGNIZING, THINKING ABOUT FAMILIES WHO HAVE HAD REALLY TOUGH CONVERSATIONS WITH THEIR KIDS AFTER THAT HAPPENED.

WE HAVE TO DO MORE.

AND I HAVE TOO MANY MEMORIES OF SITTING IN THAT SENATE CHAMBER DURING REALLY TOUGH DEBATES WITH A LOT OF SECURITY AND IT WAS SCARY.

AND WE NEED TO DO BETTER.

>> Eric: GOTTA GO, GOOD STUFF TONIGHT