UNPRECEDENTED SESSION, IT GOT DONE.

[ Applause ] >> Eric: LUCKY FOR US, H, 4NO SLEEPY SUMMER IN MINNESOTA POLITICS THIS WEEK.

CONTINUED TALES FROM THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FLANAGAN IN D.C.

PITCHING MINNESOTA FOR THE 2027 WORLD EXPO LOCATION.

AND BIG POLITICAL NEWS CAME THURSDAY WHEN MINNESOTA SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE LORIE GILDEA ANNOUNCED SHE WILL RETIRE IN THE FALL.

SO MANY TOPICS, SO LITTLE TIME FOR THIS WEEK'S POLITICAL PANEL.

DEMOCRATS UP FIRST.

KARLA BIGHAM IS A FORMER D.F.L.

STATE SENATOR, NOW DAKOTA COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

JANAÉ BATES IS A MINISTER AND ORGANIZER WHO WORKS ON SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ECONOMIC ISSUES.

>> DID I GET THE WRONG COUNTY FOR YOU?

>> IT'S WY APRIL COUNTY.

WASHINGTON COUNTY.

>> THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.

I JUST READ WHAT IS ON THERE.

JANAÉ BATES IS A MINISTER AND ORGANIZER WHO WORKS ON SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ECONOMIC ISSUES.

REPUBLICANS WITH US TONIGHT.

AMY KOCH IS A FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER.

FORMER SENATOR IS ALSO A LABEL YOU CAN GIVE FRITZ KNAAK.

SENATOR KOCH, IS THERE GOING TO BE A LEFNT ON LEFT ON THE SUPREME COURT?

STATE SUPREME COURT?

>> TURNS OUT THAT JUSTICE BARRY ANDERSON, AT 70, HE'S REQUIRED TO RETIRE.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE, AND HE'S 68 OR 6 THE 9.

HE'S NEARING THE REQUIRED RETIREMENT.

SO WITH CHIEF JUSTICE LORIE GILDEA STEPPING DOWN, IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS, IT LOOKS LIKE TIM WALZ WILL HAVE A CLEAR SHOT AT EMPTYING THE COURT OF REPUBLICANS.

>> Eric: AND WE SHOULD SAY THAT THE MINNESOTA SUPREME COURT IS NOT AS PART SAX MAYBE AS THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

PARTISAN?

>> WELL, IT USED TO BE EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE.

THE THINKING WAS THAT THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT, IT WASN'T CONCEIVABLE THAT THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED TO BE POLITICAL.

OF COURSE NORTHBOUND'S SAYING THAT IT IS.

I'M AFRAID THAT WE'RE GOING IN A DIRECTION IN MINNESOTA, MUCH LIKE WISCONSIN, WHERE THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE JUDICIAL ELECTIONS TO TURN THEM MORE PARTISAN.

HOPEFULLY THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

BUT RIGHT NOW I WOULD SAY YES, FOR THE MOST PART IT IS STILL NONPARTISAN.

>> Cathy: WAS ANYBODY SURPRISED SHE WAS STEPPING DOWN?

>> I AM.

I WORKED FOR HER, THE FIRST TIME I WAS ON THE COUNTY BOARD.

WE RECEIVED MONEY TO INCREASE COURTHOUSE SECURITY.

AND REALLY GOT TO KNOW HER REALLY WELL.

AND SHE'S JUST A BAD-ASS.

SHE'S TOUGH.

SHE'S A LEGAL SCHOLAR THAT IS UNMATCHED.

I MEAN, I UST REALLY LOOK UP TO HER.

SHE SWORE ME IN.

IT'S GOING TO LEAVE A HOLE, BUT OPPORTUNITY FOR WALZ, I THINK TO -- HE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE ELECTION.

THAT ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES.

BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALLY LET CHIEF JUSTICE GILDEA HAVE HER MOMENT HERE.

AND IT'S TWO WOMEN HAVE HAD THIS MOASES.

POST.

LONGEST SERVING CHIEF JUSTICE, I BELIEVE.

WHAT SHE HAD TO GO THROUGH WITH THE COURTS TO NAVIGATE COVID, YOU KNOW, IS VERY DIFFICULT.

AND SHE DID IT MASTERFULLY.

HER LEADERSHIP IS INCREDIBLE.

SO KUDOS TO HER, AND ENJOY RETIREMENT.

BUT STAY TUNED.

BECAUSE APPARENTLY IT'S NOT THE ENLDZ OF HER WORKING CAREER.

>> Cathy: RIGHT, EXACTLY.

WHO DO YOU THINK THE GOVERNOR APPOINTS?

ANY IDEAS?

>> WELL, HE'S GOING TO HAVE SOME OPTIONS I THINK.

INTERNALLY IN THE COURT, WHAT THEY'VE DONE IN THE PAST SOMETIMES IS IF YOU TAKE ONE OF THE MEMBERS F THE SUPREME COURT, YOU ELEVATE THAT PERSON TO THE CHIEF JUSTICE SLOT, AND THEN YOU PICK SOMEBODY ELSE TO BE THE ASSOCIATE JUSTICE.

AND THERE ARE A COUPLE OF, I WOULD SAY, RELATIVELY OBVIOUS CHOICES SHOULD HE CHOOSE TO DO THAT.

>> Eric: AFTER THIS SESSION IS OVER.

WHAT'S THE FUTURE NOW FOR MINNESOTA GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS?

IT'S HAPPENING -- IT'S GOING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

THE MINNESOTA'S A HOT FLAVOR OF THE MONTH HERE.

WHERE ARE WE HEADED?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK RIGHT NOW WE'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE THINGS THAT ACTUALLY ACTUALLY GOT DONE BECAUSE THE REALITY IS, A LOT OF MINNESOTANS, PROBABLY MOST OF THEM, DID NOT WATCH THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

AND IT WAS A MASSIVE ONE.

WHERE ONE MINNESOTA WAS ABSOLUTELY A THING IN WHICH WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT IT'S ONE MINNESOTA THAT IS THE BEST PLACE FOR FAMILIES AND KIDS AND WORKERS.

WHAT I'LL ALSO ADD AND I THINK IT'S REALLY APPROPRIATE BECAUSE JUNETEENTH IS UPON US.

A BENEFIT OF JUNETEENTH, AND LIKE IS A THING FOR ME I REALLY LOVE TO THINK ABOUT IS THE FACT THAT JUNETEENTH IS A HOLIDAY WE CELEBRATE BECAUSE A PIECE OF LEGISLATION GOT PASSED AND NO ONE KNEW ABOUT IT.

FOR TWO YEARS.

AND WE CANNOT UNDERESTIMATE THE FACT THAT THERE WERE SOME FOLKS WHO ACTUALLY BENEFITED FROM FOLKS NOT KNOWING ABOUT IT AND KNOWING THAT THIS -- THE MANY PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT ARE GOING TO BENEFIT BLACK FOLKS AND WORKERS AND POOR PEOPLE, FOLKS NEED TO KNOW.

>> Eric: FUTURE OF MINNESOTA GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS FROM A REPUBLICAN PERSPECTIVE?

>> OH, I GET -- [ Laughter THE LOOK THAT I GET WHEN I'M TALKING TO OTHER REPUBLICANS IS NOT UNLIKE THE LOOK YOU GET WHEN A TORNADO HAS GONE THROUGH A NEIGHBORHOOD.

YOU GET THE INVARIABLE MICROPHONE GETTING STUCK IN SOMEBODY'S FACE, WE'LL GET THROUGH IT SOMEHOW.

AND YOU KNOW LOOKING AT THEIR EYES, THEY DON'T HAVE A CLUE.

IT IS GRIM.

VIRTUALLY EVERY PROGRESSIVE FANTASY IN THE LAST 50 YEARS GOT THROWN AT THE WALL, AND THERE IS NO FIRE HOSE STRONG ENOUGH TO WASH ANY OF IT OFF AS FAR AS I CAN TELL FOR THE NEXT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS.

IT'S GOING TO BE A HARD SLUG.

AND REPUBLICANS JUST NOW ARE TRIAGING, IS THE WAY 'D DESCRIBE IT.

EVERYBODY'S SAYING ALL THESE WONDERFUL THINGS.

THEY'RE ALL DEMOCRATS AND SELF-ADULATION IS A WONDERFUL THING AND ALL, BUT YOU'RE NOT HEARING REPUBLICANS REALLY REACT M REACTING TO IT.

AND IT'S BECAUSE I THINK EVERYBODY'S KIND OF TEPPING BACK, AND THINKING, OKAY, THIS IS REALLY A BAD THING, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

>> Eric: YOU ARE NOT SUCCESSFUL REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGNS.

BUT I WONDER IF YOU'RE JUST FEELING A LITTLE OUTDONE FINANCIALLY AND ORGANIZATION AND ALL THE UNIONS AND ALL THE NON-PROFITS.

JUST SEEMS LIKE -- YOU CAN WIN LEGISLATIVE RACES, BUT STATEWIDE LOOKS TOUGH FOR REPUBLICANS, DOESN'T IT >> >> YOU KNOW, THIS IS -- THIS IS NOT ACTUALLY THE CASE.

THE SENATE IS ONE VOTE.

IT'S 49% OF THE SENATE IS REPUBLICAN.

IT'S A SEAT FLIP OF FOUR IN THE HOUSE.

AND BY THE WAY, OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL CANDIDATE WAS .87%, AND STATE AUDITOR, NOBODY EVEN KNOWS WHAT THAT OFFICE DOES, WAS .34%.

AND THAT'S A STATEWIDE RACE.

SO WHEN REPUBLICANS LOOK AT ME, AND SAY, CAN WE EVEN WIN STATEWIDE?

I SAY ABSOLUTELY.

BUT YOU NEED A STRONG, MINNESOTA-CENTRIC MESSAGE THAT ISN'T LIKE SOUNDING CUCKOO TO PEOPLE.

AND NEED GREAT CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT.

IT'S NOT A BLUE STATE.

THIS IS A PURPLE STATE AT BEST.

AND REPUBLICANS JUST NEEDS TO GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER.

>> Eric: POLITICAL FUTURE.

>> I THINK THAT IT SHOWED THIS SESSION THAT ELECTIONS MATTER.

THEY HAVE CONSEQUENCES.

AND THAT THE VOTERS ARE GOING TO HOLD THOSE ELECTED ACCOUNTABLE TO DELIVER.

ON WHAT WAS SAID AND DEMOCRATS DID THAT.

FOR THE REPUBLICANS, I'M GOING TO WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITH MY GOOD FRIEND AMY AND SAY REPUBLICANS HAVE TO STOP CONTINUOUSLY AND OBSESSIVELY TALKING G GUNS, GOD, GIEN COLLEGE, AND GAYS, WHICH IS THE MESSAGE THEY HAVE ALWAYS PROMULGATED AND THAT MESSAGE LEFT IN NOVEMBER AND THEY HAVE A VERY EXTREME MESSAGE.

>> BUT D.F.L.

DIDN'T RUN ON 90% OF WHAT THEY PASSED THIS YEAR.

JUST WANT TO POINT ON THAT.

NO, THEY ABSOLUTELY DID NOT.

GO TALK TO FOLKS IN WINONA, IN ST.

CLOUD, AND ASK THEM WHAT THE MESSAGING WAS.

IT'S PUBLIC SAFETY.

IT WAS ABORTION.

AND IT WAS THE ECONOMY.

>> RECORD TAX CUTS.

RECORD AMOUNT OF FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

RECORD AMOUNT OF SPENDING ON EDUCATION.

THEY DELIVERED WHAT THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO DO.

>> TAX CUTS TO SOME, BUT THERE'S ACTUALLY TAX INCREASES AS WELL.

YOU DIDN'T RUN ON THAT, BUT THAT'S WHAT IN THIS BILL.

>> Cathy: CAN I ASK YOU SOMETHING ABOUT, OF OURSE MERRICK GARLAND WAS IN TOWN HERE TODAY WITH THE D.O.J.

INVESTIGATION.

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON IN MINNEAPOLIS FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS, RIGHT?

SO WHERE WAS THE POLITICAL WILL TO CHANGE THINGS IN A DEMOCRATIC TOWN?

AFTER ALL THESE YEARS?

>> THAT IS AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, THE POLITICAL WILL, I THINK, HAS BEEN THERE, MOST CERTAINLY FOR THE PEOPLE OF MINNEAPOLIS.

I ALSO THINK THAT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT A HUGE PART OF THIS INDICTMENT, THAT WE'RE ALL WITNESSING, IS NOT JUST AGAINST MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT WHERE IT ABSOLUTELY SHOULD BE, BUT IT IS ALSO WITH THE CITY, AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE CITY, WHERE THE MAYOR IS THE EXECUTIVE CHIEF AND HAS BEEN LONG BEFORE GEORGE FLOYD WAS KILLED.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN SOME FEED-DRAGGING.

AND THERE HAS TO BE A POINT WHERE YOU HAVE TO STOP HIDING THE FACT THAT YOU'RE NOT ACCOMPLISHING THINGS YOU SET OUT TO DO.

>> Eric: DOES IT ANY WAY CHANGE THE PUBLIC SAFETY DEBATE IN MINNESOTA POLITICS?

>> WELL, I THINK IT ELEVATES IT, BUT I FEEL LIKE IN MINNESOTA IT'S ALREADY BEEN ELEVATED AND PARTICULARLY IN MINNEAPOLIS.

I THINK THERE'S BEEN MOVES IN MINNEAPOLIS IN RECENT YEARS TO MAKE SOME CHANGES.

AND THERE'S BEEN WORK, I THINK THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WITH COMMUNITY.

I THINK THERE'S BEEN EFFORTS.

BUT REMEMBER, THIS WAS A REPORT LOOKING BACK OVER THE YEARS, AND THERE'S JUST, YOU KNOW, THEY OBVIOUSLY FOUND SOME REAL DEFICIENCIES ACROSS MULTIPLE ADMINISTRATIONS.

AND FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

AND, YOU KNOW, DECADES.

OF LIFE IN MINNEAPOLIS.

SO, YOU KNOW, THIS SEEMS TO BE A WAKEUP CALL.

CERTAINLY PEOPLE SEEM TO BE LISTENING.

AND IT'LL BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE WHERE MINNEAPOLIS MOVES FORWARD NEXT.

>> I THINK THAT'S THE QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, BOOM.

THEY'VE ALL THIS TIME TO CONDUCT REFORM.

THE BOOK'S BEEN MORE OR LESS OUT ON THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

AND THERE ISN'T ANY REAL POLITICAL WILL.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE DIMMED, SO TO SPEAK, AND THE PRESS IS GONE, WHAT, IF ANYTHING, CONCRETELY IS GOING TO COME OF THIS, EVEN WITH TWO SEPARATE AGREEMENTS.

>> Eric: WHAT CAN WE EXPECT A REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER TO BE ANNOUNCED FOR AMY KLOBUCHAR'S SEETHE?

>> THAT'S A TOUGH ONE, RIGHT?

WE'VE GOTTEN CLOSE STATEWIDE, BUT NOWHERE CLOSE ON THAT RACE.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT SENATOR KLOBUCHAR DECIDES TO DO.

I THINK SHE'S ALSO GOT SOME NATIONAL ATTENTION.

THERE'S THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE ON THE SAME YEAR, SHE WOULD HAVE TO RUN FOR REELECTION.

I THINK THERE'S SOME STORY TO BE WRITTEN YET.

>> Eric: YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SHARE A NAME?

>> WELL, RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NOT A NAME TO BE SHARED.

OF THERE'S A FEW PEOPLE LOOKING AT.