
Pres. Biden, Getting out the Black vote, ice road to Canada
Season 2021 Episode 19 | 59m 3sVideo has Closed Captions
Real state of the economy, historic trauma, ice road to Canada, political science duo
Real state of the economy, historic trauma, ice road to Canada, political science duo
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Almanac is a local public television program presented by TPT

Pres. Biden, Getting out the Black vote, ice road to Canada
Season 2021 Episode 19 | 59m 3sVideo has Closed Captions
Real state of the economy, historic trauma, ice road to Canada, political science duo
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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"Almanac" is a Minnesota institution that has occupied the 7:00 p.m. timeslot on Friday nights for more than 30 years. It is the longest-running primetime TV program ever in the region.Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> "ALMANAC" IS A PRODUCTION OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.
>> CATHY: IN THE NEXT HOUR, YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT THIS WEEK'S SOBERING ECONOMIC NEWS, THE GET-OUT-THE-VOTE EFFORT THAT LED TO HISTORIC GAINS FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN POLITICIANS THIS ELECTION CYCLE, AND A REMARKABLE 30-MILE ROAD ON THE ICE OF LAKE OF THE WOODS.
AND MARY LAHAMMER WILL EXPLORE HOW THE INAUGURATION WAS DIFFERENT THIS TIME AROUND.
S-THE PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURAL CREATED HIGH PROFILE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MANY WOMEN.
WE'LL TALK WITH SOME LOCAL LADIES ABOUT AMPLIFYING WOMEN'S VOICES.
>> YOU CAN'T BE WHAT YOU CAN'T SEE.
>> 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.
ONE GREATER MINNESOTA REPORTING ON "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE OTTO BREMER TRUST, WHOSE MISSION IS INVESTING IN PEOPLE, PLACES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE UPPER MIDWEST.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT COMES FROM THE MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION, INSPIRING AND ENGAGING IN ACTION TO REALIZE STRONG, VIBRANT COMMUNITIES.
AND FROM THE BLANDIN FOUNDATION.
>> CATHY: IT WAS A MOMENTOUS WEEK.
WE'LL GET TO SOME POLITICAL NEWS IN A BIT BUT WE START THE HOUR WITH A MESSAGE REINFORCING ONCE AGAIN THAT THE STOCK MARKET AND THE ECONOMY AREN'T THE SAME THING.
>> ERIC: THE SAME WEEK THAT THE U.S. STOCK MARKET AGAIN REACHED RECORD HIGHS, NEARLY A MILLION AMERICANS FILED CLAIMS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT AS THE ECONOMY CONTINUES TO REEL FROM THE EFFECTS OF COVID.
HERE TO HELP US EXPLAIN THIS DISCONNECT, CHRIS FARRELL, SENIOR ECONOMICS REPORTER FOR AMERICAN PUBLIC MEDIA.
WE WELCOME JEANNE BOEH BACK TO THE PROGRAM.
SHE'S AN ECONOMICS PROFESSOR AT AUGSBURG COLLEGE.
PROFESSOR BOEHE-- BOEH, I GUESS THE STOCKED MARKET LIKES STIMULUS.
>> YOU HAVE TO WORRY IT'S GETTING A LITTLE BIT FROTH'.
PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR RETURN WHICH MEANS HIGHER RISK.
AND AT THIS POINT, SOME OF THE -- SOME OF THE SIGNALS, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH BEARS AROUND.
EVERYBODY'S BULLISH AND WHEN EVERYBODY IS BULLISH, THAT'S OFTEN A SIGN THAT BAD THINGS ARE LIKELY TO HAND.
IF, ON THE OTHER HAND, ECONOMY IMPROVES, IT MAY WELL BE OKAY.
>> Cathy: KRIS FARRELL, PROFESSOR BOEH MENTIONED LOW INTEREST RATES AND JANET YELLEN SAID THE SMARTEST THING WE CAN DO IS IS TO ACT BIG.
SO THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO BORROW IN ORDER TO BOAST THE ECONOMY?
>> YES, THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO BORROW FOR TWO REASONS.
ONE IS TO SUPPORT PEOPLE, TYPICALLY LOWER INCOME PEOPLE, PEOPLE IN THE SERVICE JOBS, PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING OR WOULD LIKE TO BE WORKING IN RESTAURANTS, IN THE LEASE SURE, HOSPITALITY INDUSTRIES WHO ARE AT RISK OF BEING, YOU KNOW, NOT BEING ABLE TO PAY THE RENT, NOT BEING ABLE TO PAY THE BILLS.
SO THEY'RE GOING TO GET SUPPORT BUT WHAT THEY ALSO WANT TO DO IS A BIGGER FISCAL STIMULUS THAT WOULD HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING.
IT WOULD, YOU KNOW, RAISE IT IS MINIMUM WAGE TO $15 AN HOUR.
WE'VE ALREADY MADE A STEP TOWARD THAT WITH ALL FEDERAL WORKERS.
YOU KNOW, WITH THE IF HE HAD CONTRACTORS, SO, -- WITH THE FEDERAL CONTRACTORS, SO, YES, THERE IS A TIME TO MOVE WHEN INTEREST RATES ARE LOW AND THE FEELING IS, AND I THINK THIS REALLY COMES TOGETHER WITH THE BUILD BETTER AMERICA PROGRAM, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION CAMPAIGNED ON, THAT JOE BIDEN CAMPAIGNED ON, ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING IN ORDER TOLL SOAP UP A LOT OF WORKERS AND BRING DOWN THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.
>> Cathy: BUT PROFESSOR BOEH, HELP US OUT ARE HAD.
PRESIDENT TRUMP LEFT THE OFFICE WITH A RECORD DEFICIT SO IS IT SMART TO BE SPENDING EVEN MORE MONEY ON A COVID RELIEF PACKAGE?
>> I THINK THE QUESTION JUST LIKE IN PERSONAL FINANCES AND I DON'T LIKE TO USE PERSONAL FINANCES FOR GOVERNMENT BUT THE QUESTION IS WHAT DO YOU SPEND IT ON.
AND IF YOU'RE SPENDING IT ON CAPITAL ITEMS, LIKE A HOUSE OR A CAR, THEN THAT IS USUALLY OKAY DEBT, OR EDUCATION.
BUT IF YOU'RE SPENDING IT TO HAVE FANCY MEALS, NOT THAT YOU COULD HAVE IT RIGHT NOW, OR SPEND ON NEW CLOTHES, THEN THAT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA.
SO IT'S NOT IN SOME WAYS THE SIZE OF THE AMOUNT, IT'S WHAT IT'S SPENT ON.
>> Eric: GO AHEAD.
>> JUST LIKE TO ADD, THOUGH, A LOT OF THIS IS ALSO GETTING PEOPLE TO WHAT WE CAN SEE IS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VACCINE.
I MEAN, WHAT HAPPENS TO PROGRESS ON THE VACCINE IS PROGRESS FOR THE ECONOMY, SO A LOT OF THIS MONEY THAT'S -- LIKE THE 900 BILLION THAT WAS RECENTLY SIGNED INTO LAW TOWARD THE END OF DECEMBER, I MEAN, THIS IS TO GET PEOPLE WHOLE TOWARD WHEN THE ECONOMY IS GOING TO BE OPENING UP, WHEN THE VACCINES ARE REALLY HAVING AN EFFECT.
SO IN THAT SENSE, THIS IS SMART MONEY BECAUSE IT'S REALLY BAD WHEN PEOPLE LOSE THEIR JOBS, WHEN THEY'RE THROWN OUT OF THEIR HOMES, WHEN THEY HAVE TO SORT OF RECONSTRUCT LIVES, WHEN IN PARTICULAR YOU KNOW THAT WITH THE VACCINE, THERE IS AN END DATE THERE.
THIS IS NOT AN OPEN-ENDED COMMITMENT.
IT'S TO GET PEOPLE AS WHOLE AS POSSIBLE TO A STRONGER ECONOMY.
>> Eric: PROFESSOR, PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID THAT ON THE LAUNCH PAD FOR, LIKE, A ROCKET RECOVERY.
DO YOU SEE THAT IN THE OFFING AT SOME POINT OR... >> WE HAD A ROCKET RECOVERY ESSENTIALLY, IF YOU LOOK AT UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS OVER THE LAST YEAR, THEY WENT DOWN AND THEN THEY WENT UP.
THEY DIDN'T GO BACK UP AS FAR AS THEY WERE BEFORE.
THERE ARE SOME SECTORS, THOUGH, IN THE ECONOMY THAT ARE REALLY SUFFERING AND IN PARTICULAR, BLACK WORKERS ARE SUFFERING.
THEY'VE HAD A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN UNEMPLOYMENT SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS WENT DOWN IN MINNESOTA BUT MOSTLY BECAUSE PEOPLE LEFT THE LABOR FORCE, NOT BECAUSE THERE WERE MORE JOBS.
AND SO IF YOU DON'T -- IF YOU'RE NOT HIGHLY EDUCATED, IF YOU WORK IN SORT OF LOW-SKILLED JOBS, YOU'RE GOING TO BE SUFFERING FOR A LONG TIME.
THE OTHER ISSUE IS HOW DO BUSINESSES SURVIVE TO HIRE PEOPLE BACK, RIGHT?
SO IF YOU LOOK AT RESTAURANTS AND LEISURE INDUSTRIES, SOME OF THEM SAY WE CAN'T MAKE IT MORE THAN THREE MONTHS OR WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE PERMANENTLY.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A JOB TO GO BACK TO.
>> Eric: CHINESE ECONOMY, CHRIS, IS STILL GROWING.
WHAT CAN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION DO TO HELP THE ECONOMY THROUGH CHINA?
>> WELL, I MEAN, WE'RE GOING TO RESET THE RELATIONS WITH CHINA, IT'S GOING TO REMAIN CONTENTIOUS.
MY GUESS IS THE TARIFFS DON'T COME OFF VERY QUICKLY BECAUSE THEY'LL BE USED AS A NEGOTIATING LEVER BUT WHAT WILL BE DIFFERENT IS THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CHINA ARE GOING TO BE MORE MULTI-LATERAL, SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE MORE THROUGH THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION AND A NUMBER OF THESE BILIT RAM -- THESE AGREEMENTS WITH EUROPE AND WITH LARGE PARTS OF ASIA.
SO IT'S GOING TO -- THE RELATIONSHIP IS GOING TO REMAIN CONTENTIOUS AND THERE ARE SOME REALLY DIFFICULT ISSUES.
THAT DOESN'T MATTER WHO YOU ARE OR TOUGH TO NEGOTIATE BUT I THINK THE KEY HERE IS THE SHIFT TOWARD A MULTI-LATERAL APPROACH AS OPPOSED TO A UNILATERAL APPROACH, AND I THINK THAT HOLDS A GREAT DEAL OF PROMISE ABOUT GETTING TO A BETTER PLACE.
>> Cathy: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BETTER PLACE IN TERMS OF THE RECOVERY.
I WAS HEARING I THINK SOMEBODY ON MARKETPLACE, CHRISTOPHER RELEVANT, TALK ABOUT A KEY-SHAPED RECOVERY.
A KEY-SHAPED RECOVERY.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN ATHAT?
>> WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF A K SHIFT RECOVERY, YOU CAN CLICK ON NATIONAL OR MINNESOTA, AND FOR PEOPLE WHO MAKE $60,000 AND OVER, AS FAR AS EMPLOYMENT GOES, THE RECESSION IS OVER.
SO ACTUALLY, THEIR EMPLOYMENT NUMBERS ARE UP.
IF YOU MAKE 27 AND LESS, YOU'RE STILL DOWN IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY, THAT PERIOD OF TIME.
EMPLOYMENT IS STILL DOWN ABOUT 29%.
SO IT IS A K-SHAPED RECOVERY, JUST AS JEANNE WAS TALKING ABOUT, THAT AS IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME FOR MANY BLACK WORKERS, FOR MINORITY WORKERS, FOR WOMEN, PEOPLE WHO WERE IN LOWER WAGE JOBS TO COME BACK IN ORDER TO GET THEMSELVES TO GET HIRED.
SO THAT'S THE K-SHAPED RECOVERY AND THIS IS WHAT WORRIES SO MANY PEOPLE.
>> Eric: PROFESSOR BOEH, HIGHER TAXES FROM THE DEMOCRATS, HELP OR HURT THE ECONOMY?
>> DEPENDS ON-ONCE AGAIN, DEPENDS ON HOW THEY'RE INITIATED AND WHO'S PAYING IT AND HOW HARMFUL THEY ARE.
I WOULD SAY THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS TO HAPPEN TO GET THE ECONOMY BACK TO WORK IS THAT SCHOOLS HAVE TO OPEN UP, SO IT'S STARTING BUT FOR MANY WOMEN, IT'S BEEN A CHOICE OF THEIR JOB OR THEIR CHILDREN, AND THE ONLINE SCHOOL IS NOT WORKING FOR QUITE A FEW CHILDREN, SO THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE RECOVERY.
>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.
GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH.
THANK YOU.
>> Eric: THANKS YOU TOO.
>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> Eric: YOU BET.
>> ERIC: GOVERNOR WALZ MADE A VIRTUAL STOP AT THE YOUNG WOMEN'S INITIATIVE CABINET LAUNCH TODAY.
IT'S AN EFFORT LED BY THE WOMEN'S FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA THAT ALSO HAS A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH THE "SHARE THE MIC" MOVEMENT IN MINNESOTA.
OUR MARY LAHAMMER SPOKE WITH THE LEADERS OF BOTH EFFORTS IN A BIG WEEK FOR WOMEN IN POLITICS.
>> AND SO WE LIFT OUR GAZES NOT TO WHAT STANDS BETWEEN US BUT WHAT STANDS BEFORE US.
>> Mary: THE YOUNGEST INAUGURAL POET IN AMERICAN HISTORY DID MORE THAN CAPTURE THIS DIFFICULT MOMENT.
SHE SKYROCKETED INTO INTERNATIONAL PROMINENCE.
THAT HAD A LOCAL LIFESTYLE EXPERT AND SOCIAL MEDIA MAVEN WATCHING CLOSELY.
>> SHE WAS PROFOUND AND SHE WAS REGAL AND SHE WAS POISED AND SHE WAS CONFIDENT, AND SHE WAS STUNNING AND SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL AND I GOT -- THOUGHT, LIKE, ONE, I'M IN AWE OF THE TOTAL PACKAGE.
>> Mary: SHE HAS JUST EXPLODED IN SOCIAL MEDIA AND MAINSTREAM MEDIA.
>> SHE HAD 2.4 MILLION FOLLOWERS, SO THAT'S HUGE, AND SO THAT REALLY GETS THEM TO THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING WITH SHARE THE MIC MINNESOTA AND THIS NEW COLLABORATION.
>> Mary: JASMINE, WHO FULL DISCLOSURE, IS A FRIEND, HAS BEEN SPEARHEADING THE SHARE THE MIC MINNESOTA MOVEMENT WHERE PEOPLE TURN THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS OVER TO WOMEN OF COLOR TO SHARE INSIGHTS, TO MAKE THE STATE MORE INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE.
SHE HAS A NEW COLLABORATION WITH THE WOMEN'S FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA.
>> WE HAVE AN INITIATIVE CALLED THE YOUNG WOMEN'S INITIATIVE.
IF I COULD CONTEXTUALIZE IT IN THIS CONVERSATION, IT'S BASICALLY RESOURCING AND FOLLOWING THE LEADERS SORT OF THE AMANA GORMANS OF MINNESOTA.
AND WE DO THAT IN VARIOUS WAYS,S AMPLIFYING THEIR VOICE.
>> MY FATHER WAS AMONG THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN TO COME TO -- >> WE ARE SO BLESSED, SHE PARTICIPATED AT THE BEGINNING OF SHARE THE MIC MINNESOTA LAST SUMMER WHEN WE MARCHED AND SHE'S HOPE US KICK OFF THIS COLLABORATION.
>> IF YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BE IN FOR YOU, LET THEM.
>> WHAT'S SO INTERESTING ABOUT THIS IS THIS IS THE LAYERS OF NOT JUST RACE AND GENDER BUT GEOGRAPHY.
YOU HAVE A LOT OF GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY AND THAT IS SO IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW, ISN'T IT?
>> IT IS SO IMPORTANT.
I THINK WE HEARD THAT BEFORE, THAT WE HAVE TO STOP THIS, IT CANNOT BE THE CITIES IN GREATER MINNESOTA AND THE IRON RANGE.
WE ARE ONE MINNESOTA, YOUNG WOMEN OF COLOR, THEIR VOICES ARE THE VOICES THAT ARE IGNORED AND LOCKED AWAY AND NOT INVITED SO MANY TIMES.
>> JOBS AND PATHWAYS FOR YOUTH TO GET MIDDLE AND HIGHWAY JOBS.
THE ISSUES ARE SHARED AND SO WE'RE HOPING WITH THIS AMPLIFICATION NARRATIVE, PEOPLE CAN SUDDENLY SEE THE COMMONALITIES.
>> A HISTORIC MOMENT, A FIRST, TO ADMINISTER THE OATH TO OUR FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN, OUR FISHES ASIAN AMERICAN AND OUR FIRST WOMAN VICE PRESIDENT.
>> Mary: THE OTHER MOMENT WAS SEEING HISTORY MADE AND CAN BOTH OF YOU TALK ABOUT THE VICE PRESIDENT AND WHAT IT WAS LIKE FOR BLACK AND BROWN GIRLS AND WOMEN TO SEE THAT?
>> IT WAS A LONG TIME IN THE MAKING.
RATHER THAN -- YOU CAN'T BE WHAT YOU CAN'T SEE.
>> I THOUGHT, GOSH, THIS IS A REAL MODERN-DAY AMERICAN FAMILY.
I MEAN, THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS WE CAN BREAK IT DOWN, HER HUSBAND IS WHITE AND HE'S JEWISH.
>> STRINGER ALSO NOTED HOW ABLY MINNESOTA SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR ACTED AS MASTER OF CEREMONIES, SOMETHING SHE DOES PROFESSIONALLY.
HOW DID SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR DO UP THERE ON THE BIG STAGE?
>> I THINK SENATOR KLOBUCHAR DID AN AMAZING JOB.
SHE WAS VERY RELATABLE.
YOU KNOW, SHE REPRESENTED THE HOME STATE WITH HER MAROON AND THE YELLOW AND THE JACKET AND THE MASK.
♪♪ OH, THIS LAND ♪♪♪ >> THIS IS THE FIRST INAUGURATION IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICA WHERE J-LO WAS THE WARM-UP ACT FOR CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS.
♪♪♪ >> CATHY: IT WAS A WEEK THAT UNDERSCORED THE POWER OF THE DEMOCRATS' GET OUT THE VOTE EFFORT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT CAME TO AFRICAN AMERICAN TURNOUT IN GEORGIA AND OTHER SWING STATES.
SHEMEKA BOGAN WORKED ON GETTING OUT THE VOTE HERE IN MINNESOTA, PARTNERING WITH, AMONG OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, BLACK CHURCHES.
WITH INCREASED CLOUT COMES HIGHER EXPECTATIONS.
SHEMEKA BOGAN SEES THAT FIRSTHAND IN HER WORK AS A LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT TO DFL STATE SENATOR BOBBY JOE CHAMPION.
SHEMEKA, WELCOME.
>> HI, HOW ARE YOU?
>> Cathy: I'M GOOD.
THANK YOU.
WERE YOU WEARING YOUR PEARLS ON WEDNESDAY AND WHERE WERE YOU AND WHAT WERE YOU THINKING WHEN YOU SAW KAMALA HARRIS TAKE THE TOOT OF OFFICE?
>> I WAS.
YOU KNOW, IT WAS AN EMOTIONAL MOMENT.
I WATCHED FROM MY LIVING ROOM, FROM MY COUCH AND I HAD NO IDEA THAT I WOULD CRY AS MUCH AS I DID, BUT I DID HAVE ON MY PEARLS AND IT REALLY WAS A DYNAMIC MOMENT FOR YOUNG WOMEN EVERYWHERE, AND SO, YEAH.
IT DEFINITELY WAS EMOTIONAL.
>> Eric: WHAT WORKED SO WELL ON GET OUT THE VOTE IN YOUR COMMUNITY?
WAS IT OUT OF THE STACY ABRAMS PLAY BOOK OR WHAT WORKED SO WELL?
>> SO, REALLY, IN MY COMMUNITY, IT'S USING THOSE CREDIBLE TRUSTED VOICES TO REALLY GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT WE NEED TO KNOW.
SO HERE SPECIFICALLY AROUND THE BLACK VOTE, WE HAVE FAITH LEADERS THAT I WAS ABLE TO COLLABORATE WITH AND WORK WITH, AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT WORKED HERE, WITH COLLABORATING WITH THOSE MAIN LEADERS, THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE JUST SO TRUSTED VOICES IN THE COMMUNITY.
>> Cathy: EXPLAIN HOW DOES THAT LOOK, HOW DOES THAT SOUND?
>> YEAH.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, HERE YOU HAVE THE LEADS OF THE MINNESOTA-R.BAPTIST CONVENTION, YOU HAVE THE LEAD OF THE PAW AND THE MWDDC.
YOU HAVE ALL THESE DENOMINATIONAL LEADS THAT GET TOGETHER AND WHEN YOU'RE ABLE TO MEET WITH THEM, YOU'RE ABLE TO REALLY GET THAT WORKED OUT TO THE CHURCHES, THE CONGREGATIONS BECAUSE THEY'RE A PILLAR IN THE COMMUNITIES.
THEY'RE KNOWN AS CREDIBLE VOICES, PEOPLE TRUST THEIR WORD ON THINGS AND THEY'RE ABLE TO REALLY GO THROUGH, SO FOR US, WHAT I WAS ABLE TO DO WAS TO SEND OUT PLATFORM ISSUES TO THEM AND THEY WERE ABLE TO DISCUSS THOSE THINGS WITH THEIR CONGREGATIONS AND IT'S REALLY ABOUT CONNECTING WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO US.
YOU KNOW, WHAT AFRICAN AMERICANS AND BLACK PEOPLE REALLY WANTS TO KNOW OR WANTED TO KNOW IS HOW DOES THIS CORRELATE TO US?
WHO'S GOING TO REALLY WORK FOR US?
WHO CAN WE SENDS THAT'S GOING IS TO WORK ON OUR BEHALF OR ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO US AND THE BIDEN-HARRIS ORGANIZATION, THOSE ISSUES THEY HIT RIGHT ON.
>> Eric: BUT, UNTHERE IS SKEPTICISM IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY OFTEN THAT DEMOCRATIC POLITICIANS COME AROUND EVERY 18 MONTHS AND SOLICIT A VOTE AND, YET, REALLY IGNORE THE COMMUNITY THE REST OF THE TIME.
AND I WONDER HOW YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP OFFICE-HOLDERS ACCOUNTABLE SO THAT THEY'RE JUST NOT VIRTUE SIGNALING.
>> EXACTLY, THAT IS TRUE.
THERE IS SKEPTICISM WHEN IT COMES TO THAT AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHY WE HAVE TO KEEP PEOPLE ENGAGED OFTEN, WE HAVE TO KEEP THEM ENGAGED EARLY.
WE DON'T WANT TO WAIT FOUR YEARS AND HAVE TO REINTRODUCE IT IS ADMINISTRATION OR RE-INTRODUCE THE ISSUES AND START TALKING ABOUT IT GAME.
IT NEEDS TO BE CONSISTENT AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT ESPECIALLY IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY THAT'S BIG ON BEING CONSISTENT AND BEING SEEN OFTEN.
WE WANT TO GET TO KNOW OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE WORKING FOR US AND NOT JUST SEE THEM EVERY TWO OR FOUR YEARS WHEN IT'S ELECTION TIME.
>> Eric: AS FAR AS THE TURNOUT WAS CONCERNED, I WONDERED JUST HOW MUCH DID OPPOSITION TO PRESIDENT TRUMP PLAY IN THE TURNOUT?
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT OVERALL, THE MAJORITY OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY IS NOT SO MUCH IN FAVOR OF TRUMP BUT, OVERALL, I THINK, FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN AND FROM MY VANTAGE POINT, THIS YEAR PEOPLE WERE REALLY OPEN TO THE INFORMATION AND REALLY WANTING TO KNOW HOW CAN WE STAY ENGAGED GOING FORWARD, AND NOT JUST ABOUT, OKAY, LET'S GET TRUMP OUT, LET'S GET BIDEN-HARRIS IN AND LET'S LEAVE IT AT THAT.
PEOPLE ARE REALLY WANTING TO STAY ENGAGED AND KNOW HOW DO I STAY ENGAGED, HOW DO I KNOW THESE THINGS?
IF I DON'T KNOW, HOW CAN I FIND IT OUT, HOW CAN I STAY ENGAGED OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS?
>> Cathy: AND HOW ARE YOU GOING TO HELP PEOPLE STAY ENGAGED?
>> AGAIN, THAT GOES BACK TO THOSE CREDIBLE VOICES IN THE COMMUNITY, REALLY CONTINUING TO MEET WITH THEM, CONTINUING JUST CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM, WITH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE IN MINNESOTA, WITH OUR STATE SENATORS AND HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES HERE AS WELL AS SENATOR KLOBUCHAR AND SENATOR SMITH THAT DO SUCH A GREAT JOB REPRESENTING FOR MINNESOTA, SO REALLY JUST KEEPING ALL OF THOSE LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN.
>> Eric: HOW ENCOURAGING IS IT TO HAVE A GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE LEGISLATURE?
YOU'RE AFTER ALL A SENATE STAFFER.
>> I AM.
YOU KNOW, AND IT IS.
MY BOSS IS SENATOR BOBBY JOE CHAMPION SO HE IS ACTUALLY THE ONLY AFRICAN AMERICAN SENATOR FOR THE SENATE BUT IT'S NICE TO SEE THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE BECOMING AWARE OF THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING.
THERE ARE MORE STAFF THAT ARE COMING ON SO IT'S GOOD TO SEE THINGS CHANGING.
I THINK FOR SO OFTEN, YOU SEE THINGS HAPPEN AND YOU THINK THAT IT JUST KIND OF HAS TO SAY THAT WAY AND I THINK THAT'S A PART OF WHAT WAS SO EMOTIONAL FOR ME WATCHING, YOU KNOW, THE VICE PRESIDENT.
IT'S LIKE, WOW, SHE LOOKS LIKE ME, SHE LOOKS LIKE OTHER PEOPLE SO THIS REALLY IS POSSIBLE.
>> Cathy: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> Eric: ALL THE BEST, THANKS.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> Eric: YOU BET.
>> CATHY: THIS PAST WEEKEND, LAURA WATERMAN WITTSTOCK DIED AT AGE 83.
SHE WAS THE CO-FOUNDER OF MINNEAPOLIS-BASED MIGIZI COMMUNICATIONS.
HER LIFE WORK HAS FOCUSED ON EDUCATION AND MEDIA, AND GIVING VOICE TO NATIVE AMERICANS HERE AND AROUND THE NATION.
WITTSTOCK APPEARED MOST RECENTLY ON "ALMANAC" IN 2018 WHEN SHE REMEMBERED HER FRIEND, PHOTOGRAPHER DICK BANKCROFT.
TOGETHER IN 2013, THEY AUTHORED A BOOK ON PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN MOMEVENT CALLED "WE ARE STILL HERE."
HERE'S A BIT OF OF THAT INTERVIEW FROM 2018.
IN IT, YOU CAN SEE LAURA WATERMAN WITTSTOCK'S WARMTH AND GRACE.
>> WELL, IT'S THE EASIEST THING IN THE WORLD TO TALK ABOUT DICK BANG CROFT.
>> Cathy: WHAT KIND OF MAN WAS HE?
>> WELL, HE WAS IN THE TRUE SENSE OF THE WORD A CURMUDGEON, HE WOULD TELL YOU WHAT HE WANTED FOR BREAKFAST THAT DAY AND NOTHING ELSE WOULD DO.
AND OTHER TIMES HE WOULD FLY TO IRELAND ON A MOMENT'S NOTICE BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN ASKED TO TAKE PICTURES.
>> Cathy: WE HAVE SOME GREAT PHOTOS.
WE'RE GOING TO ROLL THROUGH THEM AN YOU HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THEM, OKAY?
>> PAT BELANGER.
>> Cathy: I THINK THEY WERE AT THE "U" IN SWITZERLAND AND ALSO THERE WAS RUSSELL MEANS.
>> AND WHICH DONE ADUKE WAS THERE AS A VERY YOUNG 18-YEAR-OLD.
>> Cathy: THIS IS IN '77, WHAT HAPPENED THERE, AT THAT CONFERENCE?
>> IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.
AND IT TOOK ALL THOSE YEARS UNTIL 2007 FOR THE DECLARATION TO BE ADOPTED.
>> THAT ARTISTRY IS REALLY COMING THROUGH, ISN'T IT?
>> THAT'S THE UNIVERSAL PICTURE, A MOTHER AND BABY.
>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU THINK DICK'S LEGACY IS?
YOU'RE A WOMAN OF WORDS AND I'M CURIOUS AS TO WHERE YOU WOULD PUT DICK IN TERMS OF HIS LEGACY.
>> WELL, HE HIMSELF WOULD SAY, I JUST DID, AND I -- AND THERE IT IS, YOU KNOW.
SO HE'S REALLY NON-INTELLECTUAL ABOUT IT AND YET THE PLASS OF HIS WORK, THE * THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PHOTOGRAPHS THAT HE SAVED TELL YOU HE TRULY WAS AN ARTIST AND HE WAS A PERSON WHO UNDERSTANDS HUMANITY.
♪♪♪ >> ERIC: MANY MINNESOTA BUSINESSES HAVE STRUGGLED THROUGH THE PANDEMIC BUT FEW HAVE BEEN AFFECTED LIKE THE FISHING RESORTS IN THE NORTHWEST ANGLE.
THAT'S BECAUSE WHEN CANADA SHUT ITS BORDER TO U.S.
VISITORS IN MARCH, IT NEARLY SHUT DOWN THEIR MAIN ECONOMY.
TO TRAVEL BY LAND TO THE ANGLE, WHICH IS PART OF MINNESOTA, YOU HAVE TO FIRST GO THROUGH CANADA.
NOW THESE BUSINESSES HAVE BANDED TOGETHER TO CREATE THE FIRST-EVER NORTHWEST ANGLE GUEST ICE ROAD.
OUR ONE GREATER MINNESOTA REPORTER KAOMI GOETZ PUT THIS TOGETHER.
♪♪♪ >> WHAT'S IT LOOKING LIKE THIS WINTER?
>> I'LL TELL YOU, IT'S KIND OF A TALE OF TWO LAKES.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE -- WE HAVE THE SOUTH END RESORTS THAT OFFER ICE FISHING AND THEY'RE DOING, YOU KNOW, QUITE WELL.
PEOPLE CAN DRIVE THERE AND SOCIAL DISTANCE NATURALLY AND GO AND CATCH WALLEYES ON THE LAKE OF THE WOODS LIKE ANY YEAR.
THE ONE CAVEAT WE HAVE IS UP AT THE NORTHWEST ANGLE.
OF COURSE THE NORTHWEST ANGLE IS THAT LITTLE TIP OF MINNESOTA THAT STICKS UP INTO CANADA AND NORMALLY, TO TRAVEL TO THE NORTHWEST ANGLE, VISITORS HAVE TO DRIVE THROUGH CANADA AND THEN SZCZERBIAK INTO MINNESOTA.
WELL, BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, THE U.S.-CANADA BORDER HAS BEEN SHUT SINCE MARCH.
SO, YOU KNOW, GETTING VISITORS UP TO THE NORTHWEST ANGLE RESORTS, IT'S JUST -- IT HASN'T BEEN HAPPENING.
SO BIG PROBLEM.
SO THE NORTHWEST ANGLE RESORTS HAVE GROUPED TOGETHER AND KIND OF COME TOGETHER AS A GROUP AND SAID, HEY, WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING.
SO THEY CAME UP WITH THE NORTHWEST ANGLE GUEST ICE ROAD, AND BASICALLY WHAT IT IS, IT'S AN ICE ROAD THAT EXTENDS FOR, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY 30 MILES THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO DRIVE FROM THE SOUTH END OF LAKE OF THE WOODS, STAY IN MINNESOTA AND TRAVEL ALL THE WAY UP TO THE NORTHWEST ANGLE RESORTS TO GO ICE FISHING.
>> HAD THEY NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE?
>> THEY HAVE NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE AND, QUITE FRANKLY, YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO BECAUSE, NUMBER ONE, IT'S VERY, VERY COSTLY AND LABORIOUS TO MAINTAIN AN ICE ROAD.
THEY SAY IT COASTS WITH PLOWING AND STAKING AND CONSTANT MAINTENANCE, CRACKS, IT COSTS ABOUT $1500 A MILE TO MAINTAIN SO NATURALLY FOR MOST, YOU KNOW, EITHER DRIVING UP THROUGH CANADA AND THEN ENTERING BACK INTO MINNESOTA IS BY FAR THE EASIEST.
AND THEN OF COURSE WE ALSO HAVE -- EVERY YEAR, WE HAVE A SNOWMOBILE TRAIL THAT'S GROOMED AND STAKED THAT GOES UP TO THE ANGLE AND WHICH HAVE A BOMBARDIER SORT OF -- BEING ALMOST LIKE A SNOW BUS WITH TRACKS AND SKIS BRINGING GROUPS OF PEOPLE UP BUT MOST PEOPLE STILL COME UP VIA THEIR AUTOMOBILE AND THAT'S REALLY PUT A CRIMP ON DOING BUSINESS UP THERE.
NOT ONLY THIS WINTER BUT AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, ALL SUMMER LONG.
>> AND THERE'S SO MUCH CONCERN ABOUT THOSE RESORTS, HAVE THEY JUST BEEN HANGING ON BY A THREAD?
>> YES, THEY'VE BEEN HANGING -- THE NORTHWEST ANGLE RESORTS HAVE BEEN HANGING ON BY A THREAD, THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO PUT IT.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF TRAFFIC COMING ACROSS LAKE OF THE WOODS IN THE SPRING, SUMMER AND FALL, BUT I WOULD SAY A LITTLE BIT -- 40 MILES ACROSS THE BIG OPEN WATERS OF LAKE OF THE WOODS, IT'S SUCH A GREAT LIKE AND OH GREAT LAKE, MOST PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THE BOAT OR THE KNOW-HOW TO SAFELY NAVIGATE THAT BIG WATER SO CONSEQUENTLY THEY DON'T COME.
SO WE'VE HAD A FEW VISITORS COMING UP BUT OVERALL, IT'S JUST A FRACTION OF THE KIND OF BUSINESS THAT THOSE RESORTS WOULD NORMALLY DO AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY EVER THOUGHT THAT THIS WILL LAST THIS LONG INTO THE WINTER SEASON BUT HERE WE ARE.
THESE HARD-WORKING MINNESOTA SMALL BUSINESS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CAUGHT BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES DURING A PANDEMIC AND THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN, THEY'RE JUST KIND OF GETTING MISSED AND IN THE MEANTIME, THEY'RE DOING A SLOW DEATH.
SO I GIVE THEM A LOT OF CREDIT, WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IS TEAMED UP TOGETHER TO FIGHT FOR THEIR BUSINESS EXISTENCE AND THERE'S ONLY ABOUT 120 PERMANENT RESIDENTS UP AT THE NORTHWEST ANGLE, ABOUT A DOZEN RESORTS, BUT IT'S A VERY SPECIAL AREA.
PART OF THE LAKE WHERE THE 14,552 ISLANDS AGAIN, THE PART OF THE LAKE WHERE FISHING IS JUST THIS CREDIBLE.
THE ICE FISHING FOR WALLWISE, PER MUCH, PIKE, SO GOOD.
♪♪♪ >> EVERYONE HAS BEEN GETTING PANDEMIC PETS, I'M FEELING LEFT OUT.
I SEARCHED RESCUE SITES BUT THERE WEREN'T PLANE TO CHOOSE FROM BECAUSE EVERYONE IS GETTING A PANDEMIC PET.
THE FEW LEFT WERE SNAPPED UP BY MORE READIER PEOPLE.
I HAVE A 2-YEAR-OLD AND THAT'S ENOUGH CHAOS AND MESS AND FOLLOWING SOMEONE ELSE'S SCHEDULE FOR ME.
ONE DAY, A BEAUTIFUL CALICO POPPED UP AS A STRAY ON MY NEIGHBORHOOD PAGE.
THE FOLKS WHO FOUND HER COULDN'T KEEP HER AND WERE HOPING TO HAND HER OFF.
WITHOUT THINKING, I SAID, IF NO ONE STEPS FORWARD, WE'LL TAKE HER.
AND THEY DIDN'T.
AND WE DID.
SHE WAS SO SKINNY THAT PETTING HER WAS LIKE RUNNING YOUR HAND ACROSS THE TOP OF THE RADIATOR.
HER FROSTED EARS GAVE HER A PERPETUALLY DEPRESSED LOOK AND ALL SHE WANTED WAS FOOD AND A WARM LAP.
SHE INVESTIGATED OUR HOUSE.
I WATCHED HER, AM BEFORE LENT.
DID I REALLY WANT TO DO THIS FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT TEN YEARS?
AND THEN I WENT TO THE STORE, I BOUGHT ALL THE CAT THINGS.
I CARRIED HER AROUND THE HOUSE.
MY KID DO FOLLOWED HER LIKE SHE WAS HIS NEW BEST FRIEND AND SHE NEVER GOT IRRITATED WITH HIM.
SHE DIDN'T JUMP ON THE COUNTER, Y'ALL.
WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A CAT, THIS LITTLE ANGEL BABY WAS A PRETTY GREAT ONE.
AND THEN SOME OTHER NEIGHBORS SECOND-GUESSED THEIR EARLIER ASSESSMENT THAT SHE WASN'T THEIRS.
I MET THEM AT THE VET.
THEY CHECKED HER FOR A CHIP, SHE WAS THEIRS AND THEN SHE WAS GONE.
WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANOTHER CAT.
IT WAS NICE HAVING ANOTHER LIVING CREATURE TO SHAKE THINGS UP, THOUGH.
AND WHEN THE PANDEMIC IS OVER AND PEOPLE START DITCHING THEIR IMPULSE PETS, WE'LL BE RIGHT THERE TO SCOOP ONE UP.
♪♪♪ >> CATHY: HISTORIC TRAUMA LIKE SLAVERY, RED-LINING AND DISCRIMINATION HAVE CREATED DISPARITIES THAT AFFECT BLACK AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF COLOR TODAY.
AN UPCOMING TWIN CITIES PBS EVENT AIMS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE BY FOCUSING ATTENTION ON TRAUMA FACED BY BLACK MINNESOTANS.
"REPORT FOR AMERICA" AND "ALMANAC" DATA REPORTER KYELAND JACKSON SPOKE WITH ONE OF THE EVENT PANELISTS ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT.
>> FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LAND SANCTUARY, THANKS FOR JOINING ME TODAY AND FOR TALKING ABOUT THIS UPCOMING EVENT.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME >> >> >> CAN YOU TELL PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS EVENT IS AND KIND OF THE INTENTIONS THAT IT HAS BEHIND IT?
>> THE NAME OF THE EVENT IS FIGHT, FLIGHT AND FLOW, SELF HEALING AND IT'S GOING TO BE A PANEL DISCUSSION WITH THREE LOCAL BLACK HEALING PRACTITIONERS, MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS, PHYSICAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS, ABOUT HISTORICAL TRAUMA AND BLACK FOLKS IN COMMUNITY AND HOW TO HEAL, HOW WE CAN KNOW ABOUT IT AND DO THINGS TO SUPPORT OUR OWN WELL-BEING.
>> I NOTED THIS EVENT IS PART OF OUR RACISM UNVEILED INITIATIVE AT TWIN CITIES PBS AND THAT IT'S SPECIFICALLY TARGETED TOWARDS BLACK MINNESOTANS AND TO MINNESOTANS WHO ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR, BIPoC PEOPLE OF COLOR HERE.
BUT CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW HOW PAST TRAUMAS CAN AFFECT THE HEALTH OF BLACK PEOPLE TODAY?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AMOUNT STRUCTURAL PIECES, THE SOCIETAL TRAUMA THAT WE ARE LIVING WITH AS BLACK PEOPLE IN MINNESOTA AND IN THE COUNTRY AT LARGE ARE CONNECTED TO STRUCTURAL AND SYSTEMIC RACISM THAT IS PERPETUATED BY THE SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE TO LIVE IN BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY THAT THE COUNTRY IS CURRENTLY RUN.
AND SO YOU CAN'T SEPARATE THE ACTUAL HEALTH DISPARITIES, THE HEALTH EFFECTS TO OUR BODIES, TO OUR MINDS, TO OUR SPIRITS FROM THE TRAUMA THAT WE CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE ON A DAILY BASIS BECAUSE OF POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND SYSTEMS AND THE WAY THAT THEY'RE SET UP TO CONTINUE THE OPPRESSION THAT REALLY THE COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED ON.
>> I WANTED TO SPEAK TO THAT, TOO.
CAN YOU GIVE SOME EXAMPLES OF, FIRST OF ALL, SOME OF THE ISSUES, THE HEALTH THINGS THAT AFFECT PEOPLE OF COLOR THAT THEY MIGHT BE EXPERIENCING AND SOME OF THE SOLUTIONS THAT MIGHT BE DISCUSSED FOR TRYING TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES?
>> SO TRAUMA, WHEN WE'RE EXPERIENCING TRAUMA, IT'S REALLY READ BY YOUR BODY AS AN EMERGENCY, AND WE ARE NATURALLY -- WE'RE CREATED, WE'RE BUILT TO DEAL WITH EMERGENCIES SO WHEN WE'RE LIVING WITH PERPETUAL THREATS, PERPETUAL TRAUMA, EVEN THOUGH THERE MIGHT NOT BE AN ACTUAL THREAT THAT'S RIGHT IN FRONT OF US, OUR SYSTEMS REALLY CAN STAY IN THIS MODE THAT IS NOT -- IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE AND SO THAT HAS AN EFFECT ON OUR HEALTH, BOTH MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY, BECAUSE IT'S ALL COMBINED, AND SO IT CAN CAUSE THINGS LIKE FOGGY THINKING, LOSS OF MEMORY, AND DIFFERENT ILLNESSES THAT WE KNOW THAT BLACK FOLKS HAVE A GREATER PREVALENCE OF, LIKE DIABETES, OBESITY, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND ALSO THE SYSTEMIC PIECES OF THIS CAN RESULT IN THINGS LIKE HIGHER INFANT MORTALITY RATES, THAT'S A HUGE THING, AND BLACK MOTHERS DYING IN CHILDBIRTH AT AN ASTONISHINGLY HIGHER RATE THAN WHITE MOTHERS.
AND THEN YOU GET INTO THE SOCIETAL PIECES.
WE HAVE LOWER LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT, INCOME, OF HOMEOWNERSHIP, BUT HIGHER PERCENTAGES OF INCARCERATION, POVERTY, SCHOOL DISCIPLINE, LOWER GRADUATION RATES, HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES, YOU KNOW, IT JUST GOES ON AND ON AND ON AND JUST LIKE AS PEOPLE, WE'RE NOT OUR -- DIFFERENT PARTS ARE DISCONNECTED, THE SOCIETAL, BEHAVIORAL, ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES THAT WE LIVE WITH COMPOUND AND FEED INTO THE HEALTH CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE SO IT'S A CYCLE THAT CAN CONTINUE.
SO WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT HOW TO BREAK -- WAYS TO BREAK THE CYCLE.
>> THANK YOU AGAIN, REBEKA, FOR JOINING US AND WE'LL SEE YOU AT THAT EVENT COMING SOON.
THANKS A LOT.
MY PLEASURE.
♪♪♪ >> ERIC: IT'S HARD TO FIND THE NBA AND NHL ON TV THESE DAYS.
THAT'S GOOD NEWS FOR THE T-WOLVES WHO ARE PLAYING MISERABLY, NOT GOOD NEWS FOR THE WILD WHO ARE OFF TO A FAST START TO THEIR SEASON.
TOSS IN A SURPRISING GOPHER MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM AND THE NFL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES AND THERE'S PLENTY TO TALK ABOUT WITH LARRY FITZGERALD, SENIOR.
FITZY, A WILD HOME * HOMEOPENNER TONIGHT AFTER A GREAT ROAD TRIP.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THEY'RE GETTING OFF TO A FRESH START.
THEY ADDED SOME SPEED, SOME TALENT AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THEM.
THE ONLY LOSS WAS 1-0 SO THEY'RE CLOSE TO BEING A PERFECT TEAM STARTING THE SEASON AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE, WE'RE CONTINUING TO LIVE THROUGH THIS VIRUS AND THE INABILITY TO HAVE FANS AT GAMES IN MINNESOTA BUT IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THAT, FOR THE WINTER MONTHS, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF TEAMS, THE GOPHERS AND THE WILD, AND THAT HOCKEY TEAM ON THE CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA THAT ARE GIVING US SOMETHING TO REALLY BE EXCITED ABOUT.
>> Cathy: YEAH, THE GOPHER MENS'S HOCKEY TEAM, THEY ARE ON FIRE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THEM?
>> I TELL YOU, THAT 10-0 WIN OVER ARIZONA STATE IS VERY DIFFICULT, IF YOU'VE WATCHED HOCKEY FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME, IT TAKES SOME COORDINATION AND SOME GOOD FORTUNE TO SCORE GOALS BUT TO SCORE TEN GOALS?
THAT'S TELLING YOU THEY'VE GOT A VERY TALENTED TEAM AND I'M EXCITED FOR THEM.
HOPEFULLY THEY CAN GET ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP THIS YEAR.
>> Cathy: MEANWHILE, THE TIMBERWOLVES, WHAT'S WRONG WITH THEM?
>> WELL, I HATE -- WHEN I TALK ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES, PEOPLE THINK I'M BASHING 'EM.
I JUST DON'T THINK THEY GET IT.
I THINK FROM THE TOP DOWN, OWNER GLEN TAYLOR, AS YOU KNOW, HE'S BEEN TRYING TO SELL THE TEAM BUT BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS PANDEMIC, THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO PUSH THE BUTTON ON THAT DEAL TO SELL THE TEAM.
I NEVER BELIEVED HE DID THE RIGHT THING IN FIRE TOM THIBODEAU, BECAUSE TOM THIBODEAU KNEW WHEN HE WAS DOING EVEN THOUGH THEY COULDN'T COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON JIMMY BUTLER.
HE WANTED FIVE YEARS, THEY ONLY WANTED TO PAY HIM FOR FOUR.
SO HERE WE GO.
15 OUT OF THE LAST 16 YEARS THEY HAVE BEAN IN THE LOTTERY, WHICH MEANS THEY'RE LOSING.
HE WOULD THIS THE NUMBER ONE PICK AGAIN THIS YEAR AND ANTHONY EDWARDS, A TERRIFIC TALENT BUT YET HE'S YOUNG AND UNFORTUNATELY CARL ANTHONY TOWNES HAS GOT THE VIRUS, HE'S MISSED SEVERAL GAMES THIS YEAR.
HE'S GOING THROUGH TRAUMA, REALLY, BECAUSE THE GUY LOST HIS MOTHER AND SIX OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS TO THE CORONAVIRUS SO THE TIMBERWOLVES HAVE SOME INHERENT THINGS THAT ARE HURTING THEM BUT THEY'RE STILL A YOUNG TEAM AND RYAN SAUNDERS, YOU KNOW, EVENTUALLY IF HE DOESN'T START WINNING, THINGS ARE GOING TO CHANGE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, TEN OUT OF 13 LOSSES IS NOT GOOD.
>> Eric: AND I WANT YOU TO LINK ARMS WITH ME AND WE'LL SUPPORT CHERYL REEVE TO BE THE FIRST WOMAN HEAD COACH IN THE NBA.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT, IF THEY DECIDE TO MAKE THE SWITCH, SHE SHOULD BE THE COACH BECAUSE SHE KNOWS WHAT SHE'S DOING.
SHE'LL HAVE THE RESPECT OF THE PLAYERS BECAUSE SHE'S GOING TO ESTABLISH CERTAIN THINGS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO AND THEY'RE GOING TO TO HAVE TO DO IT HER WAY AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WITH SOME OF THESE TEAMS THAT THEY LET GOOD COACHES GO BECAUSE CERTAIN PLAYERS WANT TO HAVE CERTAIN THINGS GO THEIR WAY.
THAT'S NOT HOW YOU WIN.
YOU WIN BY ESTABLISHING A WAY OF WINNING AND A WAY OF DOING THINGS AND GETTING BACK ON DEFENSE AND IF YOU DON'T DO THAT FIRST, YOU KNOW, YOU GET INTO BAD HABITS.
>> Eric: WE BEGIN TO GET FAMILIAR WITH THE NAME OF CLINT KUBIAK?
>> YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT'S THAT'S AN IRONIC THING.
I JUST HATE THE FACT THAT GARY IS LEAVING.
THIS WILL BE THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW THE VIKINGS ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR AN OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR AND THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PIECE.
THIS YEAR THEY WERE THE SIXTH BEST OFFENSE IN FOOTBALL, YOU COULDN'T TELL IT BECAUSE THE DEFENSE WAS HORRENDOUS, THEY GAVE UP 475 POINTS.
BUT THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD MOVE.
ALTHOUGH MIKE ZIMMER KNOWS THAT NEXT YEAR IS GOING TO BE A CRITICAL YEAR FOR NOT ONLY THE VIKINGS BECAUSE WE JUST WENT THROUGH 60 YEARS OF CELEBRATING VIKING FOOTBALL AND ZERO CHIRMS AND THERE IS A TEAM PLAYING IN GREEN BAY THAT THEY BEAT IS IN THE SAME SEASON WHO'S WON 15 OF THEM.
>> Cathy: LET'S REMEMBER THE LEGENDARY HANK AARON.
WHERE WERE YOU WHEN YOU SAW HIM BREAK BABE RUTH'S RECORD.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT, I BELIEVE I WAS IN CHICAGO AND I TELL YOU, YOU JUST NEVER FORGET MOMENTS LIKE THAT.
YOU KNOW WEATHER WAS GOING THROUGH IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, THE RACE RELATIONS IN AMERICA AT THAT TIME AND, BOY, WHEN HE GOT CLOSER TO BABE RUTH'S RECORD, A LOT OF VENOM NEWS THINGS AND PEOPLE WER SAYING^^ -- YOU WERE FIGHTING FOR HIM BECAUSE YOU KNOW HE'S OUT THERE PLAYING A GAME THAT HE LOVES AND THEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO PROTECT BABE RUTH'S IMMORTAL RECORD BUT, BOY, I TELL YOU, IT REALLY DID SO MUCH FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO SEE HIM PLAY THE GAME WITH THE PASSION THAT HE PLAYED FOR ALL THOSE YEARS.
HE'S STILL THE ALL-TIME RBI LEADER IN THE HISTORY OF BASEBALL AND THAT'S 755 HOME RUNS BUT THE DAY HE PASSED BABE RUTH, WOW, RUNNING AROUND THE BASES AND SOME FAN CAME OUT OF THE STANDS RAN UP -- I WAS SHUDDERED IN FEAR BUT WHAT A GREAT PLAYER, WHAT A TREMENDOUS PERSON HE WAS, AND IT WAS A TREAT TO GET TO TALK TO HIM AND INTERVIEW HIM A FEW TIMES.
>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.
>> Eric: GREAT STUFF, FITZY.
THANKS SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU GUYS.
>> Cathy: SEE YOU LATER.
>> CATHY: IN HIS 20-MINUTE INAUGURAL ADDRESS, JOE BIDEN IDENTIFIED A SERIES OF CRISES THE UNITED STATES FACES, RACISM, INEQUALITY, CLIMATE CHANGE, COVID, AND A CRISIS OF TRUTH-TELLING AS BIDEN CALLED OUT "LIES TOLD FOR POWER AND FOR PROFIT."
HOW WILL THESE CRISES BE RESOLVED WITH THE TIGHT LEGISLATIVE MARGINS IN CONGRESS AND AT HOME HERE IN MINNESOTA?
QUESTIONS FOR OUR NEXT TWO GUESTS.
STEVEN SCHIER IS A PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT CARLETON COLLEGE.
CYNTHIA RUGELEY HEADS THE POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT AT THE UNVERSITY OF MINNESOTA-DULUTH.
PROFESSOR SHIR, NOW WE UNDERSTAND AS OF FRIDAY NIGHT, N STRUCK THAT THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL WILL BEGIN THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY THE 8th, AND DURING HIS INAUGURAL ADDRESS, PRESIDENT BIDEN TALKED A LOT ABOUT UNIFYING THE COUNTRY.
SO THE QUESTION IS, HOW DOES A TRIAL, IMPEACHMENT TRIAL UNIFY OR DIVIDE THE COUNTRY FURTHER?
>> WELL, IT'S NOT GOING TO UNIFY THE COUNTRY.
THE QUESTION IS, HOW LONG IT TAKES AND WHAT IS THE ULTIMATE OUTCOME.
THE DATE WAS THE DATE THAT MITCH McCONNELL, THE REPUBLICAN LEADER IN THE SENATE WANTED AND McCONNELL WANTED THAT IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE PRESIDENT'S ATTORNEYS TO DEVELOP THEIR CASE BECAUSE THERE WILL BE SEVERAL DAYS OF ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST IMPEACHMENT.
>> Eric: SAY PROFESSOR RUGELEY, HOW ABOUT THIS ONE, THE 14th AMENDMENT THAT SAYS AN OFFICE HOLDER THAT PARTICIPATE IN INIS YOUR REACTION IS FORBIDDEN FROM HOLDING OFFICE.
>> THEY HAVE TO GET 17 REPUBLICAN VOTES IN ORDER TO CONVICT THE PRESIDENT AND I THINK THAT'S -- I THINK THAT'S A PRETTY HEAVY CARRY SO I THINK IT IS IN PLAY.
I THINK A LOT OF -- YOU KNOW, THE REPUBLICANS THAT ARE LOOKING AT IT PROBABLY ARE LOOKING AT IT FOR THAT VERY REASON, YOU KNOW, TRUMP'S ALREADY OUT OF OFFICE BUT IT WOULD BE A WAY TO MAKE SURE HE DIDN'T CONTINUE TO DOMINATE THE PARTY AND DIDN'T RUN FOR OFFICE AGAIN.
BUT, AGAIN, I THINK THAT GETTING THAT CONVICTION THROUGH THE SENATE, JUST BECAUSE IT REQUIRES 17 REPUBLICAN VOTES IS GOING TO BE KIND OF TOUGH.
>> Cathy: SO WE HAVE IMPEACHMENT, LET'S SEE, WE HAVE CONFIRMATION HEARINGS FOR BIDEN CABINET MEMBERS.
TINA SMITH SIGNED ON WITH SIX OTHER SENATORS, DEMOCRATS, ON AN ETHICS COMPLAINT AGAINST SENATORS CRUZ AND HAWLEY INTO THEIR CONDUCT ON JANUARY 6th.
PROFESSOR SCHIER, IS AN HE HAD THINGS INVESTIGATION THE ROYALTY MOVE HERE AT THIS POINT?
>> WELL, IT CERTAINLY WILL PRODUCE A PITCHED PARTISAN BATTLE IN THE SENATE.
THERE'S JUST A LOT OF RANCOR STILL EVIDENT IN THE COUNTRY.
I THINK WE KNOW THAT AND I THINK IT'S ALSO REFLECTED IN OUR LEGISLATIVE CHAMBERS.
THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, NANCY PELOSI, I THINK THIS WEEK SUGGESTED THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS COMPLICIT IN MURDER BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE DEATHS THAT OCCURRED AT THE CAPITOL, SO YOU CAN SEE THAT THE RHETORIC IS STILL PRETTY POISONOUS ON BOTH SIDES.
>> Eric: PROFESSOR RUGELEY, WHAT'S THE R.THE FATE OF THE BILL BUSTER IN THE SENATE?
>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
YOU KNOW, THE FILIBUSTER WAS INTENDED TO REQUIRE NEGOTIATION AND DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES.
IT WAS MEANT TO ENCOURAGE DEBATE.
IT'S KIND OF EMERGED A LITTLE BIT NOW THAT IT'S TO BLOCK LEGISLATION, REALLY TO UNDERMINE THE WILL OF THE MAJORITY IN SOME INSTANCES.
I DON'T THINK PRESIDENT BIDEN, HE'S AN INSTITUTIONALIST, WANTS TO DO AWAY WITH THE FILIBUSTER BUT I ALSO DON'T THINK THAT A LOT OF THE DEMOCRATS WANT TO SIT BACK AND HAVE ALL THEIR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA BLOCKED.
I THINK THAT FUNDAMENTALLY, THEY'RE NOT REALLY FOR DOING AWAY WITH THE FILIBUSTER BUT I THINK NOTE TO KEEP IT ON THE TABLE JUST IN CASE, YOU KNOW, THEY NEED IT.
IF IT COMES UP WHERE THEY CAN'T GET ANYTHING DONE, I THINK THE DEMOCRATS WILL TRY TO PUSH IT AND I THINK THEY'LL GET IT DONE.
AGAIN, I MEAN, I HATE TO BE WISHY WASH-ON IT, I JUST DON'T THINK ANY OF THE INSTITUTIONALISTS WANT IT, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS A BIG FAN OF DOING AWAY WITH IT BECAUSE IT DOES GIVE MINORITY PARTIES A VOICE.
THE SENATE HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO HAVE MORE OF THESE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE PARTIES BECAUSE OF THE FILL BUSTER, UNLIKE THE HOUSE WHERE IF YOU'RE IN THE MINORITY PARTY, YOU DON'T HAVE A VOICE AT ALL BECAUSE OF THE RULE STRUCTURE.
>> Cathy: PROFESSOR SCHIER, DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT ON THAT?
>> WELL, I THINK WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND IN CONGRESS AND I THINK EVERYONE WHO'S IN THE VERY THIN DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY UNDERSTANDS THAT IT'S QUITE POSSIBLE IN 2022, THEY COULD BE IN THE MINORITY AND WILL NEED THE FILIBUSTER QUITE A BIT SO I THINK PRACTICALLY FOR MOST LEGISLATION, YOU'RE GOING TO NEED 60 VOTES, WHICH MEANS COMPROMISE AND NEGOTIATION.
NOW, WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT MITCH McCONNELL AND JOE BIDEN HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR 36 YEARS IN THE SENATE.
THEY KNOW HOW TO NEGOTIATE, AND BIDEN I THINK WILL BECOME MORE INVOLVED IN THIS GIVEN HIS BACKGROUND THAN PRESIDENT TRUMP EVER WAS WITH NEGOTIATIONS WITH CONGRESS.
>> Eric: PROFESSOR RUGELEY WHY THE SQUAD AND JOE MANCHIN MIGHT BE KEY TO GETTING THROUGH THE CONGRESS.
>> BECAUSE THE SQUAD IN THE HOUSE -- I MEAN, THE HOIST -- THE MARGINS ARE SO TIGHT, THAT'S WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT IT.
I MEAN, THERE'S NO DOMINANT -- I MEAN, BIDEN REPRESENTS THE MIDDLE, THERE IS A CLOSE -- THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE BUT IT'S A NARROW MAJORITY, IT'S 50-50 IN THE SENATE.
SO YOU LOOK AT THE SQUAD AND THEY'RE LICK BRAILS, THEY HAVE A CERTAIN -- THEY'RE LIBERALS, THEY HAVE A CERTAIN AGENDA, THEY DECIDE THEY'RE NOT SIGNING ON, YOU KNOW, THEN IT COULD GO DOWN.
SO REALLY THEY HAVE TO WORK WITH THEM IN ORDER TO GET THINGS PASSED.
MANCHIN REPRESENTS KIND OF A CONSERVATIVE OR MODERATE DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE AND HE'S WORKING INTERESTINGLY, HE'S BUILDING COALITIONS WITH PEOPLE LIKE LISA MURR COULD YOU SKI ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE AND E SEEING THIS INTERESTING LITTLE GROUP OF FOLKS COMING TOGETHER IN THE SENATE TRYING TO REPRESENT THIS BIPARTISAN AND GET TALKS GOING AND DISCUSSIONS, AND SO I'M REALLY WATCHING THAT SENATE GROUP BECAUSE, I MEAN, THEY WORK TOGETHER WHILE IN TRUMP'S CLOSING DAYS TO GET THE STIMULUS PACKAGE THROUGH THE LAST ONE, I'LL BE INTERESTED TO WATCH THEM AND SEE HOW WELL THEY WORK UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE ABLE TO CARRY THROUGH AND GET -- IF THEY CAN GET SOMETHING DONE FROM THE MIDDLE.
>> Eric: PROFESSOR SCHIER, WHAT'S MIKE LINDELL OF MY PILLOW UP TO?
>> YOU'LL HAVE TO ASK MIKE, IT'S AN INTERESTING PATH HE'S BEEN FOLLOWING.
AT THE VERY END OF THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY, APPEARED AT THE WHITE HOUSE WITH DOCUMENTS THAT HAD SOME SUGGESTIONS OF MARTIAL LAW ON THEM AND HE HAS NOW BEEN CHALLENGED BY DOMINION VOTING SYSTEMS TO CEASE AND DESIST FROM HIS CLAIMS OF MASSIVE FRAUD THROUGH THOSE SYSTEMS.
HE HAS TOLDO MINNION BRING IT ON, I'M READY FOR THE FIGHT.
HE'S ALSO CONSIDERING RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR OF MINNESOTA, SO AT THE HAS CERTAINLY COMMANDED COMMANDED A LOT OF ATTENTION LATELY AND WOULD BE CERTAINLY AN EXOTIC COON DATE FOR GOVERNOR SHOULD HE DECIDE TO RUN.
>> Eric: WE'VE HAD THEM BEFORE, THOUGH, EXOTIC CANDIDATES, SO... >> OH, YEAH, I CAN THINK OF A FEW AND I BET YOU CAN, TOO.
>> Eric: SURE.
>> Cathy: SAY, I'M CURIOUS ABOUT STATE-SIDE HERE AS WE TALK ABOUT THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
FROM WHERE YOU BOTH SIT, WHAT MIGHT WE EXPECT HERE?
THIS IS A BUDGET YEAR, OBVIOUSLY, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO TIGHT MARGINS, I THINK PROFESSOR, ORIGINALLY, YOU MENTIONED TIGHT MARGINS IN CONGRESS, THERE'S ALSO SOME PRETTY TIGHT MARGINS IN MINNESOTA, TOO.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT WHEN IT COMES TO BIPARTISANSHIP?
>> WELL, THAT'S -- YOU HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OF IT IN MINNESOTA, WHICH HAS BEEN KIND OF SHOCKING OVER THE LAST YEAR.
I MEAN, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO COME TO MUCH OF AN AGREEMENT ON THINGS LIKE HOW TO DEAL WITH COVID AND SO I THINK THAT -- YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO -- GOING INTO REDISTRICTING, FOR EXAMPLE, AND GOING INTO STATEWIDE ELECTIONS, I THINK BOTH OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE STAKING OUT SOME TURF SO I THINK A LOT OF THE AGREEMENT IS GOING TO BE TOUGH AND SO, AGAIN, I MEAN, I THINK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOME SHARP DIFFERENCES BECAUSE OF THE FACT WE'RE HEADING INTO THOSE 2022 ELECTIONS AND THERE IS, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE LINING UP FOR THINGS LIKE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.
YOU MENTIONED MIKE LINDELL WHICH, YOU KNOW, IS KIND OF INTERESTING THAT HE'S LINING UP FOR RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR AND REALLY, I MEAN, HAS MADE SOME STATEMENTS ABOUT THROWING OUT VOTES IN MINNESOTA AND REALLY, HONESTLY, A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY, THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT AND YOU HAVEN'T HEARD MUCH FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ABOUT THAT, WHICH I FIND INTERESTING.
>> Eric: PROFESSOR SCHEIR, WHAT'S THE WAY FORWARD FOR THE G.O.P.?
>> OH, WELL, THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.
BOTH AT THE NATIONAL AND STATE LEVEL, NATIONALLY DEPENDS A LOT ON WHAT TRUMP DOES, AND TRUMP STILL HAS SUPPORT OF MOST REPUBLICANS NATIONALLY IN TERMS OF THE OPINION POLLS AND HE'S PLANNING TO COME BACK IN SOME FORM, AND HE COULD BE A VERY DIVISIVE OR A UNIFYING FORCE IN THE PARTY DEPENDING UPON HOW HE PLAYS HIS CARDS.
AT THE STATE LEVEL, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A VERY POLL LASHIZED STATE.
WE HAVE A STRONGLY LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND A STRONGLY CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
THE ACTIVISTS IN THOSE PARTIES NOMINATE THE CANDIDATES FOR THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND SO YOU HAVE A STRONGLY LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS AND A STRONGLY CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS IN BOTH CHAMBERS.
AND THAT'S WHY, AS PROFESSOR RUGHELEY SAYS NOT MUCHO CURSE AND IT'S SORT OF BAKED INTO THE CAKE THE WAY THE SYSTEM OPERATES.
>> Cathy: PROFESSOR RUGELEY, WHAT DO YOU THINK THERE, ABOUT THE G.O.P.?
>> I THINK IT'S A >> MORE DIVIDED.
I THINK THAT PARTICULARLY WASHINGTON AND NATIONALLY, YOU'VE GOT THE GROUP, AGAIN THE LISA MURKOWSKIRINK, THE MORE TRADITIONAL, MAINSTREAM AND THEN YOU HAVE THE OTHERS WHO ARE TIED PRETTY TIGHTLY TO TRUMP AND SO I THINK THERE'S AN INTERNAL -- THERE IS AN INTERNAL FEUD GOING ON, PARTICULARLY AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.
I MEAN, YOU HAVE MITCH McCONNELL WHO FRANKLY IS DONE WITH DONALD TRUMP.
OPT STATE LEVEL, I MEAN, I THINK YOU SEE IT TO A LESSER EXTENT.
I MEAN, I THINK THAT YOU DO HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE CANDIDATES WHO ARE TIED PRETTY CLOSELY TO TRUMP BUT YOU HAVE OTHERS THAT ARE TRYING TO KIND OF WALK THAT FINE LINE BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, SAYING WE'RE STILL BIPARTISAN BUT BEING PARTISAN AT THE SAME TIME.
I THINK IT'S PARTICULARLY ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL, I THINK IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF A PARTY THAT'S IN SEARCH OF AN IDENTITY.
>> Eric: ALL RIGHT.
WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.
HEAR THE BELL, CLASS DISMISSED.
THANK YOU TWO.
>> Cathy: THANK YOU.
♪♪♪ >> CATHY: IT'S TIME TO INDULDGE IN SOME MINNESOTA HISTORY.
HERE'S THE QUESTION WE HAVE FOR YOU THIS WEEK.
IN 1941, A PERFORMING TEAM KNOWN AS "LORD AND SHERRY" WAS APPEARING AT A MINNEAPLIS THEATER.
AT THAT TIME, THE "LORD" OF THE GROUP, NOT SEEN HERE, COMPLAINED TO THE "MINNEAPOLIS STAR" NEWSPAPER THAT WORLD WAR II HAD RUINED HIS OCCUPATION.
HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT HE WAS GETTING READY TO PERFORM HIS SIGNATURE STUNT IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS WHEN THE "LAW TURNED HIM DOWN."
WE WANT YOU TO NAME THE OCCUPATION WORLD WAR II RUINED FOR THIS MINNEAPOLIS RESIDENT.
WHAT OCCUPATION WAS RUINED FOR MINNEAPOLIS RESIDENT LORD LYONS?
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU ARE CALLING FROM JITTERBUG LAKE, JIG LAKE, OR TANGO BAY.
ALL REAL LOCATIONS IN MINNESOTA.
651-229-1430 WILL HOOK YOU UP WITH OUR VOICEMAIL SYSTEM.
IT'S AVAILABLE ALL WEEKEND LONG IN CASE YOU ARE INSPIRED OFF HOURS.
JUST DIAL CAREFULLY.
ESPECIALLY AT 2:00 IN THE MORNING.
651-229-1430.
AND REMEMBER, WE WELCOME EMAILS TOO.
ALMANAC@TPT.ORG IS THE WAY TO REACH US IF YOU PREFER THAT METHOD.
IN TERMS OF THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE, REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS TRUST THE FOLKS AT HOUSE AND SENATE LEGISLATIVE TV TO PROVIDE GAVEL-TO-GAVEL COVERAGE EACH WEEKDAY OF MINNESOTA LAWMAKERS IN ACTION.
YOU CAN WATCH THAT ON THE STATEWIDE MINNESOTA CHANNEL ON EVERY PBS STATION IN THE REGION.
THAT'S THE SAME CHANNEL WHERE EACH WEDNESDAY AT 7:00, YOU CAN TUNE IN MARY LAHAMMER HOSTING "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" FROM NOW UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF MAY.
SHOW-CLOSING MUSIC; THIS WEEK IN 1980, THE DISTINCTIVE VOICE OF LEON REDBONE WAS HEARD IN THE TPT STUDIOS ON THE NIGHTTIMES VARIETY PROGRAM.
WE DON'T PULL THIS OUT OF THE TPT VAULTS OFTEN, IT'S A TREAT.
THANKS FOR WATCHING.
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK.
♪♪♪ ♪ OH, Mrs. JONES, WHETHER HE AMOUNTS YOUR BONES, ALL KIND OF -- HE WENT ROUND LIKE A CLOWN Ms. VIRGINIA, PASS ME THE... ♪♪♪ 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.
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ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.
MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINE3US.
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ONE GREATER MINNESOTA REPORTING ON "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE OTTO BREMER TRUST, WHOSE MISSION IS INVESTING IN PEOPLE, PLACES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE UPPER MIDWEST.
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AND FROM THE BLANDIN FOUNDATION.
"ALMANAC" IS A PRODUCTION OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.
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