>> WITH THE RESIGNATION OF SENATOR NICOLE MITCHELL THIS AFTERNOON, FRIDAY AFTERNOON THE NUMBER OF SPECIAL ELECTIONS THIS YEAR CONTINUES TO GROW, THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE MANY TOPICS WE'LL COVER WITH THIS WEEK'S VERSION.

POLITICAL PANEL.

REPUBLICANS UP FIRST FRITZ KNAAK IS A FORMER STATE SENATOR AND NOW PRACTICING ATTORNEY.

ANNETTE MEEKS IS A FORMER CONGRESSIONAL STAFFER AND FORMER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CANDIDATE.

NOW HEADS THE FREEDOM FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA.

DEMOCRATS WITH THEM, KARLA BIGHAM, FORMER SENATOR, NOW WASHINGTON COMMISSIONER.

LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT AT LEAST, JAVIER MORILLO, COMMITTEEMAN AND UNION ACTIVIST.

LET'S TALK ABOUT MITCHELL.

SHE SAID INITIALLY SHE WAS GOING TO WAIT UNTIL AUGUST TO LEAVE SO SHE JUMPED TODAY.

I'M WONDERING HOW COMPETITIVE WILL THAT RACE BE, THAT SPECIAL ELECTION IN WOODBURY?

>> I MEAN, I THINK THE DISTRICT IS VERY, HAS EEN VOTING DEMOCRATIC IN RECENT ELECTIONS SO IT SHOULD BE A GOOD RACE FOR DEMOCRATS.

SPECIAL ELECTIONS I THINK BOTH PARTIES ALWAYS NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT SPECIAL ELECTIONS BECAUSE THEY'RE VERY LOW TURNOUT AND YOU CAN HAVE A BIG IMPACT.

AND SO WITH BOTH PARTIES WILL BE I ASSUME VERY BUSY WITH ALL THESE SPECIALS COMING UP.

>> Eric: YOU'RE FROM OUT THAT WAY, HER DISTRICT.

>> YES, I REPRESENT ONE PRECINCT THE WOODBURY, THE BEST ONE, IT HAS THE BREWERY.

>> Eric: HER LEGACY, IS THAT A BROADER PROBLEM FOR DEMOCRATS IN '26?

>> IT'S A GOOD DAY FOR WOODBURY, I'M GOING TO SAY THAT, FOR THE LAST SESSION AND A HALF THEY HAVEN'T HAD PROPER REPRESENTATION AND THEY DESERVE IT.

I WOULD SAY THAT I DON'T EXPECT THIS TO CHANGE, IT WILL BE A DEMOCRAT SEAT.

SPECIALS ARE SPECIAL.

IT'S A PLUS 14 SEATS I WOULD SAY.

>> Eric: FOR DEMOCRATS.

>> FOR DEMOCRATS.

THE CANDIDATES THAT HAVE ANNOUNCED, BOTH REPRESENTATIVES ARE STRONG AND HAVE REALLY SHOWN P FOR THE COMMUNITY IN A VERY BIG WAY.

PICKING UP I THINK THE SLACK A LITTLE BIT OF THE SENATOR.

AND SO I THINK THEY'VE REALLY DONE A GOOD JOB AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO MAINTAIN BLUE.

>> Eric: WHAT KIND OF SHAPE IS THE D.F.L.

BRAND IN?

YOU HAD MORE FRAUD, HOUSING STABILIZATION PROGRAM, YOU HAD THE WACKY D.F.L.

CONVENTION IN MINNEAPOLIS.

MITCHELL -- >> I THINK OF IT AS UIT A TYPICAL D.F.L.

CONVENTION.

>> Eric: OKAY, SENATOR MITCHELL BRINGS THAT THE WHOLE THING UP AGAIN.

IS THE BRAND DAMAGED OVER IT THERE?

>> OVERALL I THINK IT'S DAMAGED.

PROBABLY NOT IRREPARABLY BUT CERTAINLY DAMAGED STATE AND NATIONALLY TOO.

THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT THEY HAVE TO DO TO BRING PEOPLE BACK INTO THE FOLD, SO TO SPEAK.

>> I THINK THEY'RE REALLY DAMAGED.

ESPECIALLY HERE IN THIS STATE.

I JUST CAME FROM A LEGISLATIVE CONVENTION OF 1500 STATE LEGISLATORS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND YOU SIT THERE AND YOU LISTEN DEMOCRATIC OR REPUBLICAN ALL THE GREAT THINGS STATES ARE DOING AND THEY LOOK AT YOU AND SAY WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOUR STATE, I DIDN'T HEAR THAT ONCE, I DIDN'T HEAR THAT TWICE, I HEARD IT THAT OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

PEOPLE THINK THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH US.

WE HAVE RAMPANT FRAUD AND NOBODY'S DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT, IT'S LIKE THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO BLAME REPUBLICANS FOR BRINGING IT UP.

>> I THINK IT'S SURREAL WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BRAND DAMAGE ABOUT DEMOCRATS WHEN WE HAVE ONE OF THE MOST CORRUPT ADMINISTRATIONS IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND RIGHT NOW.

LIKE WITH THE WHITE HOUSE BEING FOR SALE TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER AND THEM EXTORTING CBS AND OTHER MEDIA COMPANIES AND LAW FIRMS INTO ABIDING, LIKE WE ARE LIVING IN EXTRAORDINARY TIMES WHERE A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FROM THE TOP TO BOTTOM, IS PUSHING AN AGENDA THAT IS NOT ONLY DEEPLY UNPOPULAR, BUT VERY MUCH IS BASED ON FRAUD.

SO LIKE WHAT THE ELECTION WILL BE ABOUT NEXT EAR IT WILL BE A NATIONALIZED ELECTION AS THEY ALL HAVE BEEN IN RECENT YEARS, AND I WOULD PUT THE DEMOCRATIC BRAND UP AGAINST THE REPUBLICAN BRAND ANY DAY.

>> I THINK ANNETTE MADE -- >> WHEN TRUMP HAS NOT DELIVERED ON WHAT HE HAD CAMPAIGNED ON, WHEN THINGS ARE MORE EXPENSIVE, WHEN THINGS ARE MORE IN CHAOS AND RIGHT NOW HE'S CURRENTLY NEGOTIATING IT SOUNDS LIKE SOME SORT OF DEAL FOR JEFFREY EPSTEIN'S PARTNER.

>> COSON SPIRATTOR, YEAH.

>> AND CAN'T SHAKE SCANDAL AFTER SCANDAL AFTER SCANDAL AND KEEPS COVERING THINGS UP TO TRY TO GET OUT OF THE HEADLINES, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT, IT'S REALLY CONFOUNDING WE'RE EVEN TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT DEMOCRATS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE HAVING ANY SORT OF SCANDAL HERE.

>> I MIGHT HAVE MISSED THAT CAMPAIGN THAT YOU SAW LAST YEAR, THE ONE I SAW WAS DONALD TRUMP SAYING HE WAS GOING TO SECURE THE BORDER.

HE DID.

DONALD TRUMP SAYING HE WAS GOING TO MAKE THE TAX CUTS THAT HAVE BEEN IN EFFECT SINCE 2017 PERMANENT.

HE DID.

>> HE SAID HE WAS NOT GOING TO CUT MEDICAID.

HE DID.

HE SAID HE WAS NOT GOING TO FAVOR THE ELITES, HE'S DOING EXACTLY THAT.

HE SAID HE WOULD RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES, HE'S NOT DOING THAT.

THERE'S A WORLD OF HURT THAT PEOPLE ARE FEELING AND WILL FEEL.

>> IS ANYBODY -- >> HERE'S THE PROBLEM -- >> NOT GOING TO MAKE INFLATION WORSE THROUGH TARIFFS.

>> THE QUESTION WAS WHETHER OR NOT FRAUD FOR EXAMPLE IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE DEMOCRATS THIS YEAR AND WHETHER THEY HAD ANY PROBLEMS HERE AND WHAT IS ALWAYS THE RESPONSE?

LOOK AT THE ORANGE GUY, YOU KNOW.

EVERYTHING THAT YOU HEAR ALWAYS GETS TURNED AROUND TO BE SOMETHING ABOUT HOW AWFUL TRUMP IS AND IT'S NOT WORKING FOR YOU.

>> I'LL TELL YOU WHAT IT IS -- >> I WANT TO FINISH UP ON THIS BUSINESS ABOUT THE FRAUD, THOUGH, BECAUSE YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.

RIGHT NOW IT'S TIM WALZ'S BIGGEST PROBLEM.

HE'S GOT LIKE 40% NEGATIVES GOING ON OUT THERE ASK AND IF YOU ASK THOSE PEOPLE WHAT DO THEY NOT LIKE ABOUT TIM WALZ IT'S ABOUT THE FRAUD.

THAT'S AN ISSUE AND YOU'RE SAYING NO ONE'S DOING ANYTHING, WELL, SOMEBODY IS, UNFORTUNATELY FOR THEM AND I HAVE TO BELIEVE THERE'S SOME DIRECTION FROM WASHINGTON COMING ON THIS, BUT THAT'S BEEN THE PROSECUTION AND THAT'S BEEN THE FEDERAL PROSECUTION AND THEY'RE FOLLOWING THROUGH AND THIS THING IS NOT GOING TO GO AWAY.

SO ONE WAY OR ANOTHER YOU CAN'T WISH IT AWAY WHICH IS WHAT TIM WALZ IS ESSENTIALLY TRYING TO DO, THAT'S SO LAST YEAR.

>> -- DECISIVE ACTION THROUGH EXECUTIVE ORDER WITH HIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE BCA, DREW EVANS WHO IS WONDERFUL.

THEN DURING THE SESSION IN A BIPARTISAN MANNER THE LEGISLATURE ENACTED LEGISLATION THAT ALLOWED FOR CLAWBACK AND STOPPING PROGRAMS THAT -- >> Cathy: PEOPLE WOULD SAY IT WAS TOO LITTLE TOO LATE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Cathy: GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF FRAUD WE'VE SEEN, THOUGH.

>> A BILLION DOLLARS.

>> MORE THAN THAT, YOU KNOW.- >> SORE THAN THAT, YOU KNOW.- >> SO E THAN THAT, YOU KNOW.- >> SO THTHAN THAT, YOU KNOW.- >> SO THE AN THAT, YOU KNOW.- >> SO THE AC THAT, YOU KNOW.- >> SO THE ACTIHAT, YOU KNOW.- >> SO THE ACTIONT, YOU KNOW.- >> SO THE ACTIONS YOU KNOW.- >> SO THE ACTIONS THOU KNOW.- >> SO THE ACTIONS THAT KNOW.- >> SO THE ACTIONS THAT TNOW.- >> SO THE ACTIONS THAT THEW.- >> SO THE ACTIONS THAT THEW.- LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR TOOK WERE DURING SESSION AND THERE'S MORE WORK TO BE DONE, IT IS A SERIOUS ISSUE, IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK WHETHER IT'S THE FEDERAL, STATE, OR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

I MEAN, COUNTIES ARE THE MOST AUDITED LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT I WILL SAY.

SO I'M JUST TELLING YOU IT'S A VERY SERIOUS SUBJECT BUT THINGS ARE, YOU KNOW, BEING DONE ABOUT IT AND THERE'S A LOT MORE WORK THAT NEEDS TO GET DONE.

AND THERE WILL BE IN THE COMING SESSION.

>> Cathy: SPEAKING OF THE GOVERNOR.

>> THE OIG WILL BE AN ISSUE AND TOPIC.

>> >> Cathy: SPEAKING OF THE GOVERNOR HE'S EVIDENTLY GOING TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE FAIR TO DECIDE WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO.

>> Eric: JAVIER HAS A THEORY.

>> I OULDN'T CALL IT MY THEORY.

WHAT HE ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT HE WAS -- THAT IF HE RAN FOR REELECTION AS GOVERNOR HE WOULD NOT RUN FOR PRESIDENT.

I THINK THERE WERE A LOT OF HEADLINES NATIONALLY FROM SAYING LIKE, WELL, HE'S SAYING HE'S OT GOING TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT.

I THINK HE MIGHT JUST BE SAYING HE'S NOT RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, WE DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T HAVE ANY SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE ON THAT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE VERY -- THAT MAY VERY WELL BE THE ANNOUNCEMENT WE HAVE , EXEC HOW LONG IS THE LINE FOR GOVERNOR AT THE -- AT THE FILING COUNTER?

>> Cathy: LET ME SAY THIS, THOUGH.

DIDN'T YOU SAY PERPICH GOING TO THE FAIR DIDN'T YOU SAY HE KNEW HOW HE WAS STANDING WITH VOTERS THE FIRST COUPLE DAYS.

FAIR.

MIGHT THEN WALZ GO TO THE FAIR AND SEE WHERE HE IS AND THEN MAKE A DECISION?

>> I THINK THE DIFFERENCE IS GOVERNOR PERPICH WENT INTO THE FAIR WITH HIS EARS OPEN AND I THINK GOVERNOR WALZ WANTS TO GO INTO THE FAIR WITH HIS EYES CLOSED AND EARS CLOSED BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT TO HEAR WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY.

PEOPLE ARE PRETTY DOGGONE ANGRY ABOUT THE DIRECTION OF OUR STATE AND FOR EXAMPLE WHAT THE LEGISLATURE COULD HAVE DONE AND THE GOVERNOR DID NOT SUPPORT THIS IS HAVE AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATOR OF SPECIAL PROSECUTOR THAT CAN LOOK INTO THESE THINGS EVERY TIME THEY HAPPEN HERE IN THE STATE.

THAT LEGISLATION WENT NOWHERE AND I THINK HE'S GOING TO GO OUT TO THE FAIR AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GIVE HIM -- >> -- LEGISLATION THAT -- IN THE HOUSE?

>> GIVE HIM SENATEFUL OF HOW ANGRY THEY ARE ABOUT WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE IN THE ADMINISTRATION.

>> IF HE DECIDES TO NOT RUN, THEN WHAT?

>> I THINK IT HAS MORE TO DO WITH THE RESPECT OF SPEAKER HORTMAN AND HER SPECIAL ELECTION, THE DISTRICT OF HER SPECIAL ELECTION PASSING.

I THINK THE MEDIA NEEDS TO BACK OFF A LITTLE BIT, GIVE HIM SOME SPACE, GRACE.

>> BACK OFF?

>> BACK OFF THE GOVERNOR?

>> HE'S GRIEVING.

>> WELL, THE FLUFF PIECE THAT THE "STRIB" DID, WHERE IS HE GETTING ANY PRESSURE AT ALL FROM THE MEDIA IN THIS?

NOWHERE.

>> ASKING IF HE'S RUNNING AGAIN.

>> THAT'S ALL HIM.

THAT'S NOT ANYBODY REALLY ASKING QUESTIONS -- >> -- SEVEN YEARS, FRITZ.

>> THIS IS THE GOVERNOR WHO SAID HE WOULD ANNOUNCE RIGHT AFTER THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

HE WAS GIVEN A GRACE PERIOD BECAUSE OF HER ASSASSINATION.

>> WOW, OKAY.

>> I THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD LENGTHY TIME TO GRIEVE.

>> ELECTION'S IN WELL OVER A YEAR.

>> RIGHT.

>> Eric: IF THERE'S NO WALZ ON THE BALLOT FOR GOVERNOR IN '26, KEITH ELLISON, STEVE SIMON.

>> I'VE HEARD HAT, YOU KNOW, SEE IF ANGIE CRAIG STAYS IN THE SENATE RACE IF SHE WERE TO JUMP IN, SHE MIGHT JUMP IN FOR GOVERNOR.

I THINK THE GOOD THING, THE GOOD NEWS FORM DEMOCRATS IS THAT UNLIKE REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE NOT WON STATEWIDE IN THIS STATE FOR DECADES NOW, WE HAVE A DEEP BENCH F PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ELECTED STATEWIDE AND LEADERS WHO WOULD MAKE GREAT STATEWIDE CANDIDATES.

>> Eric: WOULD THAT SHAKE LOOSE OTHER REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES?

>> I WOULD EXPECT IT WOULD BUT IT'S A GOOD POINT.

THE FACT IS WE DON'T HAVE ANY OBVIOUS PEOPLE OUT THERE AND IT'S A CONCERN AND IT'S ALSO A PROBLEM UP AND DOWN THE TICKET.

>> I THINK IT WOULD BE BAR THE DOOR, THERE WILL BE A LOT OF REPUBLICANS STANDING IN LINE.

>> I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.

>> Eric: GOOD STU