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

>> ERIC: COMING UP ON "ALMANAC," CHARLIE PARR PERFORMS LIVE IN STUDIO.

A LOOK AT WHAT THE NEW FEDERAL HEMP BAN COULD MEAN FOR MINNESOTA.

PROFESSOR DAVID SCHULTZ ON THE END OF THE FEDERAL SHUTDOWN.

AND MARY LAHAMMER HIGHLIGHTS POLITICS CLOSER TO HOME.

>> Mary: AFTER ANOTHER SLATE OF SPECIAL ELECTIONS, TWO NEW SENATORS ARE HEADED TO THE STATE CAPITOL AND THEY COULDN'T BE MORE DIFFERENT.

MEET THEM BOTH.

>> WE'RE PROUD OF BEING THE LARGEST REPUBLICAN BPOU IN THE STATE.

>> PEOPLE REALLY CARE ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE, ENVIRONMENT, THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR HEALTHCARE.

>> 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 WHOLESALE POWER TO 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH ITS MEMBER-OWNER COOPERATIVES AND CUSTOMERS.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH AND HELPING COMMUNITIES THRIVE.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

AND EDUCATION MINNESOTA: THE VOICE FOR PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

>> ERIC: FULL SHOW FOR YOU TONIGHT.

LIVE MUSIC WITH CHARLIE PARR, SHELETTA BRUNDIDGE HAS AN ESSAY FOR US, KAOMI LEE TRAVELED TO HERMANTOWN TO DIVE INTO THE PROPOSED DATA CENTER CONTROVERSY.

AND OF COURSE STATE AND NATIONAL POLITICS WILL BOOKEND THE HOUR.

>> CATHY: WE START WITH NATIONAL POLITICS.

THE RECORD 43-DAY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN HAS ENDED, BUT FULL RE-OPENING WILL TAKE SOME TIME AS SYSTEMS CATCH UP ON S.N.A.P.

PAYMENTS, FEDERAL WORKER PAYCHECKS AND MUCH MORE.

WITH THE RETURN OF CONGRESS, THERE IS ALSO RENEWED TALK OF THE EPSTEIN FILES.

AND I HAVEN'T EVEN MENTIONED ONGOING LITIGATION AGAINST THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WINDING ITS WAY THROUGH THE COURTS.

DAVID SCHULTZ TEACHES POLITICAL SCIENCE AT HAMLINE UNIVERSITY AND IS ALSO AN ADJUNCT LAW PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ST.

THOMAS.

WOW!

OKAY.

YEAH.

DEEP BREATH.

[ SIGHS ] >> Cathy: HOW LONG WILL THIS LAST, THOUGH?

AREN'T WE ACK IN THE FIRE BY JANUARY 30th OF THIS COMING YEAR?

>> WE ARE.

YOU WOULD HAVE AT LEAST THOUGHT THEY WOULD HAVE DONE SOME KIND OF CONTINUING RESOLUTION OR SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE PUSHED IT OUT, I WAS THINKING, AT LEAST OCTOBER, THE START OF THE NEW BUDGET YEAR OR SOMETHING THAT GETS THEM PAST THE 2026 ELECTIONS, THEN THEY DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT AGAIN.

MY CALCULATION IS TWO TO THREE MONTHS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

NOT LONG ENOUGH, IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO CHANGE, LET'S SAY, THE POWER DYNAMICS AT ALL OR I'LL SAY THE ANGRY FEELINGS THAT THEY WALK AWAY WITH.

>> Cathy: TALK ABOUT THE ANGRY FEELINGS, TOO, THERE ARE SOME PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS WHO ARE JUST REALLY UNHAPPY ABOUT THE EIGHT SENATE DEMOCRATS WHO DECIDED TO VOTE WITH THE REPUBLICANS.

>> YEAH.

IT'S INTERESTING, TOO, BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS HERE IS THAT YOU HAD ABOUT A WEEK AGO THE DEMOCRATS DID WELL, THEY HAD A GREAT ELECTION, AND, SO, THE DEMOCRATS ARE THINKING, WE'VE GOT A VOICE, WE GOT A MESSAGE, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, AND THEN THIS HAPPENS.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

THE PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS ARE EXCEEDINGLY UPSET, AND IN SOME SENSE, THE DEMOCRATS ARE ALMOST BACK TO WHERE THEY WERE, I DON'T KNOW, RIGHT AFTER THE ELECTION AST YEAR AND AN INCREDIBLY DIVIDED PARTY, DIVIDED MESSAGING, AND INTERNAL FIGHTS.

>> Eric: SO WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF GETTING AN EXTENSION OF THOSE TAX SUBSIDIES FOR HEALTHCARE THROUGH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE?

>> I THINK PRETTY LOW.

ALTHOUGH WHAT'S INTERESTING HERE IS THAT THE DEMOCRATS, ESPECIALLY SCHUMER'S DEAL HE OFFERED LAST -- EARLIER THIS WEEK, ACTUALLY WAS A SMART DEAL FOR THE REPUBLICANS, THAT THEY TURNED DOWN ALSO, WHICH IS BASICALLY GET THE EXTENSIONS THROUGH THE 2026 ELECTIONS SO IT DOESN'T HIT THE FAN RIGHT NOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.

SO INSTEAD, WHAT WINDS UP HAPPENING, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEWHAT OF A VICTORY FOR THE DEMOCRATS, WE'RE ALL SEEING OUR HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS GO UP, THE DEMOCRATS HAVE THE ABILITY TO MESSAGE, SAY, THIS IS BECAUSE OF OF THE REPUBLICANS.

REPUBLICANS WOULD HAVE BEEN SMART, REALLY, TO PUSH IT DOWN THE LINE.

BUT ALSO, LET'S THINK ABOUT IT HERE, THIS IS A YEAR AWAY FROM THE ELECTIONS.

>> Eric: RIGHT.

>> WHO KNOWS HOW MANY DOZENS OF THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> Cathy: SO, REALLY, LONG TAILS TO HE FALLOUT IN TERMS OF THE FALLOUT THAT HAS -- THAT WE WILL SEE IN THE FUTURE?

WILL THIS WHOLE SITUATION HAVE LONG TAILS TO IT, THE SHUTDOWN?

>> WELL, WE KNOW IN THE PAST, USUALLY THE PARTY THAT'S BLAMED FOR IT PAYS SOME PRICE IN THE NEXT ELECTION.

HOWEVER, AGAIN, THIS IS A YEAR OUT, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT, WHAT, STILL THE INFLATION, THE ECONOMY, I MEAN, THERE ARE DRUM BEATS OF WAR WITH VENEZUELA AT THIS POINT, AND WHO KNOWS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT YEAR.

AGAIN, THERE'S THE OLD ADAGE, ETERNITY IS FOREVER IN POLITICS.

IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE THERE SOMEWHERE, THE QUESTION BECOMES, CAN THE DEMOCRATS OR THE REPUBLICANS, WHICHEVER PARTY IT IS, HOW GOOD ARE THEY GOING TO BE AT MESSAGE, GETTING THEIR MESSAGING ACROSS.

>> Eric: PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS ORDERED THE DOJ TO LOOK INTO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOME PROMINENT DEMOCRATS AND JEFFREY EPSTEIN.

>> YES.

>> Eric: WHO'S ON THE BACK FOOT, WHO'S N THE FRONT FOOT?

WHAT ARE WE THERE?

>> OKAY.

TRUMP IS ON THE BACK FOOT AT THIS POINT BECAUSE OF THE EMAILS THAT CAME OUT HIS WEEK BASICALLY COMMENTS BY EPSTEIN ABOUT TRUMP KNOWING CERTAIN THINGS.

NOW, EXACTLY WHAT E KNOWS, I DON'T KNOW.

BUT I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS, YOU KNOW, TODAY, IS THAT THERE'S SOME OF US, YOU KNOW, WHO HAVE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH THAT REMEMBER THE IDEA OF, WHAT, SPECIAL PROSECUTORS, THE IDEA THAT YOU DON'T LET THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE INVESTIGATE ITSELF OR THE PRESIDENT.

YOU NEED SOMEBODY DISTINCT.

YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF DOING IT.

AND THIS IS THE PERFECT SITUATION BECAUSE NO NE'S GOING TO TRUST THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO DO AN INVESTIGATION OF TRUMP OR THE DEMOCRATS.

YOU WANT TO, AGAIN, TAKE IT OUT OF POLITICS.

WE LIT THAT SPECIAL PROSECUTOR LAW -- LET THAT SPECIAL PROSECUTOR LAW EXPIRE A QUARTER CENTURY AGO.

THIS IS EXACTLY THE SCENARIO YOU WANT TO HAVE.

>> Cathy: BECAUSE IT'S NOT AN INDEPENDENT INDEPENDENT DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

>> YES.

YOU CAN'T TRUST THEM TO INVESTIGATE TRUMP.

YOU CAN'T TRUST THEM TO INVESTIGATE DEMOCRATS, BECAUSE, WHAT?

BONDI, ULTIMATELY, IS ACCOUNTABLE TO DONALD TRUMP.

SO YOU HAVE TO WONDER, MUCH IN THE SAME WAY THAT SOME OF US REMEMBER ARCHIBALD COX FROM A LONG LONG TIME GO, SOMEBODY WHO I ACTUALLY HAD THE PLEASURE TO MEET AT ONE TIME, GETS FIRED BECAUSE, WHY?

HE'S GETTING TOO CLOSE TO NIXON, TO FIGURING OUT WHAT'S GOING ON, NIXON SAYS, YOU'RE GONE.

>> Cathy: LOOKS LIKE SOME OF THE TARIFFS WILL BE ROLLED BACK ON COFFEE AND SOME OTHER -- >> Eric: STAPLES.

>> Cathy: YES, EXACTLY.

IS THE PRESIDENT HEARING ABOUT THE AFFORDABILITY?

>> I THINK HE IS.

RIGHT NOW HE'S HEARING ABOUT THE PROBLEM ABOUT TARIFFS, WHICH IS DRIVING UP INFLATION, WE ALSO HAVE THE PROBLEM OF HEALTHCARE PREMIUMS OING UP.

THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, I THINK, IS PRETTY DPROUCH WHICH I ABOUT THE ECONOMY.

THIS IS LIKE LAST YEAR WHEN BIDEN KEPT SAYING, THE ECONOMY'S GREAT AND FORGOT, WHAT, FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON, MILK, BREAD AND EGGS IS WHERE IT'S AT.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> Eric: ALWAYS GREAT STUFF, THANKS, MAN.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STUDIO RIGHT NOW AND DIVE A LITTLE DEEPER INTO THE FEDERAL HEMP BAN THAT BECAME PART OF THE EDGED OF THE SHUTDOWN.

PART OF THE ENDING OF THE SHUTDOWN.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

♪ ♪ >> Eric: END OF THE SHUTDOWN CAME WITH AN UNEXPECTED FEDERAL BAN ON HEMP PRODUCTS THAT WOULD START A YEAR FROM NOW.

HERE IN MINNESOTA, THAT WOULD EFFECTIVELY END THE HEMP-DERIVED THC BEVERAGE INDUSTRY, A LARGE PART OF THE CRAFT BREWERY BUSINESS.

WILL THE LAW BE TWEAKED BEFORE IT STARTS?

HOW DOES ALL OF THIS FIT IN WITH THE STATE'S LEGALIZED CANNABIS INDUSTRY?

ERIC TAUBEL HEADS UP THE MINNESOTA OFFICE OF CANNABIS MANAGEMENT.

DFL STATE SENATOR LINDSEY PORT WAS THE CHIEF AUTHOR OF LEGALIZED CANNABIS IN THE SENATE.

HERE TOO, REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE NOLAN WEST, A CO-AUTHOR ON THE HOUSE BILL.

DO YOU HAVE A PLAN B?

IS THIS ALL OR NOTHING?

HOW DO YOU SEE THIS?

>> WELL, IT'S NOT MY PLAN, LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW IT SHAKES OUT.

THERE'S A YEAR.

CONGRESS DOESN'T DO MUCH IN A YEAR.

BUT THERE ALWAYS COULD BE A RESCHEDULING OF.

CANNABIS HAS BEEN ON THE HORIZON.

IF WE'RE GOING TO TREAT IT LIKE CANNABIS, THAT WOULD HELP THE SITUATION QUITE A LOT.

>> Eric: YEAH, THIS RELATES LIKE MARIJUANA, IS A SCHEDULE III ILLEGAL SUBSTANCE, RIGHT?

IN FEDERAL TERMS.

>> IT DOES NOW.

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> WHICH COMPLETELY UPENDS AN ENTIRE INDUSTRY THAT WAS BUILT AFTER CONGRESS LEGALIZED HEMP IN 2018.

>> Cathy: SO WHAT'S BEHIND THIS, DO YOU THINK?

>> SO, ONE OF THE CHALLENGING THINGS ABOUT THE HEMP INDUSTRY IS THAT IT'S FEDERALLY LEGAL, OR IT WAS, AND IT WILL BE FOR THE NEXT YEAR, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY REGULATED IN ANY WAY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

AND, SO, STATES HAVE BEEN LEFT TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT HOW THEY WANT TO REGULATE THIS MARKET.

THE LEGISLATORS ERE WITH ME TODAY MADE REALLY GREAT CHOICES IN 2022 WHEN THEY SAW THE FARM BILL IN 2018 START TO ALLOW THESE PRODUCTS TO CREATE A MINIMALLY VIABLE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT THAT LIMITED HOW MANY MILLIGRAMS COULD BE IN A SERVING, REQUIRED CERTAIN KIND OF LABELING AND PACKAGING, AND THEN IN 2023, WHEN WE LEGALIZED CANNABIS, THEY REALLY INCREASED THE REGULATORY OVERSIGHT.

SO MINNESOTA IS UNIQUE AMONGST OTHER STATES IN THAT WE HAVE A WELL-REGULATED HEMP MARKET.

BUT IN AN INTERSTATE MARKET, YOUR REGULATORY STRENGTH IS REALLY THE WEAKEST STATE.

BECAUSE THERE'S NO FEDERAL REGULATION AND A LOT OF STATES HAVE NO STATE REGULATION, THE REALITY IS THAT MINNESOTA'S MARKET CAN BE INFILTRATED BY PRODUCTS THAT DON'T GO THROUGH THE SAME QUALITY CONTROLS THAT THE PRODUCTS WE'RE PURCHASING AND SEEING MADE BY OUR MINNESOTA BREWERIES, OUR MINNESOTA MANUFACTURING COMPANIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND, SO, I THINK A LOT OF LEGISLATORS FROM STATES, UNLIKE MINNESOTA, REACTED STRONGLY TO THE LACK OF ANY REGULATORY OVERSIGHT OF THESE PRODUCTS AND TOOK WHAT SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY EXTREME MEASURE TO CREATE A TOTAL BAN.

OF.

>> Cathy: I HAD A FRIEND OF MINE ASK ME THE OTHER DAY, SO, OKAY, IF THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN, WHY BOTHER WITH HEMP?

IF CANNABIS IS LEGALIZED, WHY SHOULD WE WORRY ABOUT HEMP?

>> THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

THE BIGGEST FEATURE WAS, YOU COULD OPERATE AS A REGULAR BUSINESS WHEN YOU DO HEMP.

THAT'S WHY YOU SEE ALL THESE BREWERIES AND DISTRIBUTORS IN YOUR LIQUOR STORE, ALL HAVE THESE HEMP-DERIVED PRODUCTS.

NOW THEY HAVE TO RETHINK THOSE AT LEAST WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR AND THAT DRIVES A HUGE PORTION OF THEIR REVENUE, A HUGE PORTION, WE'RE TALKING 30, 40% OF THE REVENUE OF SOME OF THESE STORES BECAUSE THE MARGINS ARE HUGE.

IT'S GOING GOING TO BE A BREWERY APOCALYPSE IF THIS IS ALL JUST UNDONE.

THE BREWERIES OUR PEOPLE LOVE ARE GOING TO BE GONE.

SO CONGRESS NEEDS TO ACT.

>> Eric: WHAT ARE YOU GETTING FROM THE MINNESOTA CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION?

>> I SPOKE WITH OUR SENATORS' OFFICES THIS MORNINGINGS -- THIS MORNING, AND OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION VERY STRONGLY, YOU KNOW, SPOKE AGAINST THIS, VOTED AGAINST IT.

AND BOTH OF OUR SENATORS' OFFICES ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH THE INDUSTRY, TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION.

BUT THEY CKNOWLEDGE THAT CONGRESS IS ITS OWN BEAST AND IT'S A CHALLENGE TO MOVE PROGRESS THROUGH.

>> Eric: A THEORY ON WHAT HAPPENED HERE, SENATOR McCONNELL, KENTUCKY, HAD THE AMENDMENT.

TWO DOZEN DISTILLERIES IN HIS STATE, INCLUDING JIM BEAM AND MAKERS MARK, HE'S JUST PROTECTING A LOCAL INDUSTRY, I SUPPOSE, IN KENTUCKY.

>> YEAH, OPERATORS IN HIGHLY REGULATED INDUSTRIES LOVE TO USE REGULATIONS TO DEFEND THEIR TURF.

AND, YEAH, I WOULD SAY THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE IT CAME FROM.

BUT TO MINNESOTA'S CREDIT, OUR INDUSTRY HERE, THE ALCOHOL INDUSTRY, EMBRACED IT AND REALLY BENEFITTED FROM IT.

THEY DIDN'T TRY AND MURDER IT.

>> Eric: I THINK BOTH OF OU HAVE SAID THAT THERE WOULD BE KIND OF A MARIJUANA BILL EVERY YEAR TWEAKING IT, LIKE YOU HAVE THE LIQUOR BILL EVERY YEAR.

IS THIS GOING TO AFFECT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER WHAT YOU DO ON THC AND MARIJUANA IN THE 2026 SESSION?

>> YOU KNOW, AT THE STATE LEVEL, WE HAVE REALLY BUILT OUT A REGULATORY FRAMEWORK THAT, OF COURSE, WILL NEED TWEAKS HERE AND THERE FOR CONTINUED YEARS TO COME.

BUT IT REALLY WAS BUILT AROUND THE FEDERAL WORLD AS WE UNDERSTOOD IT.

SO, HEMP AND HEMP-DERIVED PRODUCTS CAN BE AT A GAS STATION, CAN BE AT A LIQUOR STORE, THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE IN A DISPENSARY LIKE WE PUT CANNABIS BECAUSE IT IS -- IT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF PRODUCT, IT'S A DIFFERENT LEVEL THAT WE HAD REGULATED AT.

NOW, ALL OF THAT IS SORT OF OUT THE WINDOW, AS FAR AS WILL THESE BUSINESSES EVEN BE AROUND TO BE ABLE TO BE REGULATED?

>> Cathy: TO THAT POINT, AND, THANK YOU, IS THERE SOMETHING THAT -- LIKE A LIFELINE THAT THE STATE COULD THROW THE BUSINESSES OR NO?

>> I THINK, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S NO CLEAR PATH AND THERE'S NO EASY FIX.

AS SENATOR PORT SUGGESTED, AND I THINK REPRESENTATIVE WEST MENTIONED, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MADE THIS INDUSTRY VIABLE FOR BREWERIES AND OTHER BUSINESSES IS THAT IT WASN'T FEDERALLY ILLEGAL, SO YOU DIDN'T FACE THE SAME CHALLENGES THE CANNABIS BUSINESSES FACE IN TERMS OF BANKING, IN TERMS OF TAXES, IN TERMS OF ACCESS TO THINGS LIKE CREDIT CARD EXCHANGE NETWORKS.

>> Eric: ANY HELP FROM OTHER STATES JOINING IN THE OBBYING EFFORT ON CAPITOL HILL?

WHAT ARE THE OTHER STATES UP TO?

>> I'D LIKE TO SEE EVERYBODY GET BEHIND IT, AND I THINK PEOPLE WILL WHEN THEY KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHAT JUST HAPPENED.

YOU KNOW, THIS LAW WAS MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, BASICALLY, SHOVED INTO A MULTITRILLION-DOLLAR BUDGET, LIKE ANY GOOD LAW.

AND ONCE PEOPLE REALLY REALIZE WHAT HAPPENED, CONGRESS IS GOING TO HEAR FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> Eric: CHILDREN HAVE BEEN HOSPITALIZED INGESTING THE THC PRODUCTS THAT LOOK LIKE CANDY.

FAIR?

>> FAIR, AND THAT'S WHY WE REGULATE IT IN MINNESOTA.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHY YOU AVE TO PUT REGULATION AROUND IT.

WE HAVE A FRAMEWORK THAT THE REST OF THE STATES, THAT THE REST OF THE COUNTRY COULD ADOPT.

WE HAVE FEDERALLY FIGURED OUT HOW TO REGULATE ALCOHOL, LIKE THIS IS NOT NEW, AND INSTEAD OF REGULATING, CONGRESS THREW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATH WATER, AND IN MINNESOTA, IT'S GOING TO AVE HUGE IMPACTS.

>> Cathy: WHEN WILL WE START SEEING THOSE IMPACTS?

RIGHT AWAY?

>> WELL, WE DO HAVE A YEAR.

THE BILL GOES INTO EFFECT, THE DEFINITIONAL CHANGE HAPPENS ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE OF ENACTMENT.

AND, SO, CERTAINLY THERE'S NOW A RACE TO THE U.S.

CONGRESS TO TRY TO GET SOMETHING ON THE BOOKS THAT CAN CHANGE THIS.

BUT AS I NOTED, THERE'S REALLY, YOU KNOW, NO EASY FIX FOR US, YOU KNOW, WE NEED THE FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP IN ORDER TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN.

>> Cathy: WOW.

INTERESTING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EXPLAINING THIS.

>> Eric: GOOD STUFF TONIGHT.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WHO GOT THEIR START DOING WEATHER?

A, DAVID LETTERMAN?

B, DIANE SAUER?

C, PAT SAY JACK, OR, D, GOVERNOR TIM PAWLENTY?

>> DAVID LETTERMAN.

>> ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

>> Cathy: AND PAT SAY JACK.

>> AND?

>> GOVERNOR PAWLENTY?

[ Laughter ] HAD ♪ >> MINNESOTA SINGER-SONGWRITER CHARLIE PARR IS FRESH OFF BEING INDUCTED INTO THE MINNESOTA BLUES SOCIETY'S HALL OF FAME LAST MONTH.

CHARLIE HAS STOPPED BY TO PLAY FOR US DURING A RARE BREAK BETWEEN TOUR DATES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

AND CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> HOW DID THAT FEEL?

>> WELL, IT'S AN HONOR.

>> YEAH.

>> IT'S A SURPRISE.

>> YEAH.

>> PROBABLY TO MORE THAN JUST ME.

>> WELL, WELL DESERVED, I MEAN, YOU'VE ROLLED THROUGH THE "ALMANAC" STUDIO A FEW TIMES, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

>> AND YOU'RE ON A BREAK RIGHT NOW.

YOU HAVE ANOTHER ANNUAL JANUARY RESIDENCY AT THE TURF CLUB, RIGHT, COMING UP?

>> YES.

>> ANY SPECIAL GUESTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE JOINING YOU HEN?

>> ALL KINDS OF 'EM.

>> YEAH.

>> WE'VE GOT DIFFERENT PEOPLE COMING TO PLAY EVERY SUNDAY, EVERY SUNDAY IN JANUARY.

INCLUDING LOCAL, LIKE DAVE KING AND EVEN FOLKS FROM CHICAGO AND MONTANA.

>> AWESOME.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE -- I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

IT'S GOING TO BE NICE.

>> YEAH.

SO, YOU'RE ON A BREAK RIGHT NOW.

WHY ARE YOU ON A BREAK AT THE MOMENT?

>> WELL, YOU GOTTA TAKE A BREAK SOMETIME.

>> YEAH.

I HEARD YOU'RE WORKING ON A NEW ALBUM.

>> I'M WORKING ON A NEW RECORD.

THAT WILL BE DONE BY THE END OF JANUARY.

>> OKAY.

>> AND, YOU KNOW, WINTER THIS TIME OF YEAR IS KIND OF TRADITIONALLY WHEN I JUST KIND OF SLOW DOWN FOR A MINUTE BEFORE JANUARY STARTS RAMPING STUFF UP AGAIN.

>> WELL, WHERE CAN PEOPLE FIND OUT INFORMATION ABOUT WHERE YOU'RE PLAYING?

>> THERE'S A WEBSITE, CHARLIEPAEHR.COM, I BELIEVE.

CHARLIEPARR.COM, I BELIEVE.

>> CHECK HIM OUT.

CHECK HIM OUT AT THE TURF CLUB IN JANUARY, TOO.

WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, CHARLIE PARR.

>> THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ THERE'S A WOMAN NEXT DOOR, OUT ON HER PORCH WITH A BOOM BOX BLASTIN' AT FULL FORCE ♪ ♪ AND SHE'S DANCIN' SLOW, IN HER WOOLY SOCKS, SLIDING ACROSS THE WOODEN FLOOR THROUGH THE DUST ♪ ♪ CRYIN', WHEN I'M DANCIN', THIS IS HOW I DANCE ♪ ♪ LET THE MUSIC MOVE ME THIS WAY AND THAT ♪ ♪ IF YOU EVER DANCE, I CAN APPRECIATE THAT ♪ ♪ BUT WHEN I DANCE, THIS IS HOW I DANCE ♪ ♪ THERE'S A BAR DOWNTOWN WHERE THEY PLAY THE BLUES ♪ ♪ ON A TINY STAGE NEAR THE CORNER BOOTH ♪ ♪ AND YOU CAN CLOSE YOUR EYES, MAN, AND YOU CAN FEEL THE GROOVE ♪ ♪ YOU CAN DANCE, EVEN IF YOU DON'T MOVE ♪ ♪ YEAH, WHEN I'M DANCIN', THIS IS HOW I DANCE ♪ ♪ WITH THE MUSIC MOVIN' ME THIS WAY AND THAT ♪ ♪ IF YOU EVER DANCE, I CAN APPRECIATE THAT ♪ ♪ WHEN I'M DANCIN', THIS IS HOW I DANCE ♪ ♪ I HAVE A FRIEND, CAN'T PLAY A SINGLE NOTE, BUT THE MUSIC GETS RIGHT DOWN TO THEIR SOUL ♪ THEY CAN HEAR IT PLAYIN' NO MATTER WHERE THEY GO ♪ ♪ YOU'D HEAR IT, TOO, IF YOU JUST LISTEN NOW ♪ ♪ YEAH, WHEN I'M DANCIN', THIS IS HOW I DANCE ♪ ♪ LET THE MUSIC MOVE ME, THIS WAY AND THAT ♪ ♪ IF YOU EVER DANCE, I CAN APPRECIATE THAT ♪ ♪ BUT WHEN I'M DANCIN', THIS IS HOW I DANCE ♪ ♪ WHEN I'M ALONE, IT'S ALL RIGHT ♪ ♪ I DONE WHAT I'VE DONE, I FEEL FINE, I CAN DANCE ♪ ♪ MEMORIES ARE IN MY MIND, I CAN TAKE A TURN ♪ ♪ MY OWN TIME ♪ ♪ WHEN I'M DANCIN', THIS S HOW I DANCE WITH THE MUSIC MOVIN' ME THIS WAY AND THAT ♪ ♪ IF YOU DANCE, I CAN APPRECIATE THAT ♪ ♪ WHEN I'M DANCIN', THIS IS HOW I DANCE ♪ [ Applause ] ♪ >> CATHY: HERMANTOWN OFFICIALS HOPE THEIR COMMUNITY IS THE NEXT TO SECURE A MASSIVE DATA CENTER THAT WOULD OUSE COMPUTER SERVERS.

THEY SAY A FORTUNE 50 COMPANY IN THEIR CITY WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY EXPAND THE TAX BASE AND ADD JOBS.

BUT A RESIDENT GROUP OPPOSES THE PLAN AND SAYS SECRECY OVER THE PROJECT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS HAVE CREATED DEEP MISTRUST.

>> Kaomi: IS THIS WHERE YOU CROSS-COUNTRY SKI?

>> YEAH.

>> AND WE PICK WILD RASPBERRIES.

>> Kaomi: BOB AND KATHY HAVE LIVED ON THEIR RURALLER IT MAN TOWN HOME FOR 50 YEARS, THEY'VE PLANTED PINE TREES ON THEIR 50 ACRES TO ENJOY IN THEIR RETIREMENT.

NOW THEY'VE LEARNED A PROPOSED DATA CENTER COULD BE GOING UP 300 FEET AWAY.

>> THE DATA CENTER WILL BE ON THIS SIDE OF THE POWER LINES, YOU CAN SEE IT THERE.

>> Kaomi: IN JANUARY, THEY RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM MORTONSEN, A DEVELOPER IN MINNEAPOLIS.

>> IT STATED THAT THEY WERE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING OUR LAND FOR THE PURPOSE OF SITE SELECTION FOR AN INDUSTRIAL PROJECT IN HERMANTOWN.

>> THEY LEARNED THAT MORTENSON WAS THE DEVELOPER FOR META'S MASSIVE DATA CENTER IN ROSEMOUNT.

HE ASKED CITY OFFICIALS AND THE MAYOR FOR INFORMATION.

NO ONE REPLIED.

SO HE AND HIS WIFE CALLED MORTENSON.

>> FIRST THING WE SAID IS, WHAT IS THE PROJECT?

AND THEY SAID, WE CAN'T TELL YOU.

SO, I WAS PUT ON KIND OF THE DEFENSIVE.

>> Kaomi: NINE MONTHS LATER, ON OCTOBER 17th, THEY RECEIVED AN EMAIL THAT THEIR RURAL AND RESIDENTIAL CORNER OF HERMANTOWN WAS UP FOR REZONING, THE 200-ACRE ACRE CONTAINS FOREST LANDS AND WETLANDS, THREE DAYS LATER, RESIDENTS PACKED CITY HALL FOR THE VOTE.

>> WE WENT TO THE MEETING, IT WAS 51 OF US AGAINST IT.

MANY ASKED FOR A DELAY.

AND IT WAS 13 FOR T. AND WITHIN MINUTES AFTER EVERYBODY SPOKE, IT WAS UNANIMOUS.

APPROVED.

>> WHEN IT WAS FINALLY BROUGHT TO THE PUBLIC, YOU FELT LIKE ALL THE DEAL MAKING IT BEEN DONE.

>> Kaomi: IT WASN'T UNTIL A PUBLIC DATA REQUEST LAST MONTH THAT RESIDENTS LEARNED THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WAS, IN FACT, A DATA CENTER.

THE SITE IS NEXT TO MINNESOTA POWER SUBSTATION.

EMAILS SHOW CITY OFFICIALS HAD BEEN IN TALKS WITH MORTENSON, D.E.E.D., AND MINNESOTA POWER ABOUT PROJECT LOON FOR MORE THAN A YEAR.

MINNESOTA POWER IS ALSO EXPANDING TO THE WEST.

MORTENSON DID NOT RESPOND TO MULTIPLE REQUESTS FOR COMMENT.

MINNESOTA POWER ALSO DECLINED COMMENT ABOUT PROJECT LOON, CITING A NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENT.

>> WE FEEL THAT THIS HAS BEEN A DELIBERATE PROCESS BECAUSE THEY KNEW FROM THE BEGINNING, ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO, THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE A DATA CENTER, AND TOOK EFFORTS TO OBSCURE THAT INFORMATION.

>> Kaomi: GUSTAFSON LIVES ON A SHEET FARM IN THE EARBY TOWNSHIP.

HE REPRESENTS GROUP OPPOSING THE PROJECT.

HERMANTOWN FINALIZED AN ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.

FOR 1.8 MILLION SQUARE FOOT INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT NEAR HIS HOME.

THE CITY CONDUCTED AN ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW CALLED AN ALTERNATIVE URBAN AIRWIDE REVIEW, OR AUAR, GUSTAFSON SAID THE REVIEW NEVER STUDIED A DATA CENTER.

>> WE FEEL THAT THERE'S MORE NEEDED WITH AN ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.

>> Kaomi: CITY OFFICIALS SAY CONFIDENTIALITY IS OFTEN REQUIRED IN THESE PROSPECTIVE DEALS.

JOE WICKLAND IS ASSISTANT CITY ADMINISTRATOR, HE SIGNED AN NDA WITH THE DEVELOPER.

>> THE REALITY IS, SO MUCH OF THIS IS ABOUT TIMING.

SO IF WE TALK ABOUT SOMETHING IN JUNE THAT ENDS UP NOT BEING THE REALITY IN SEPTEMBER WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR THAT, I WOULD HATE FOR SOMETHING THAT WOULD DERAIL THOSE COMMUNITY BENEFITS JUST BECAUSE IT ISN'T QUITE THE RIGHT TIME FOR IT TO BE PUBLICLY KNOWN.

>> Kaomi: THERE'S NOW AN FAQ PAGE FOR THE PROJECT.

THE CITY SAYS IT COULD BE HISTORY MAKING.

HERMANTOWN HAS A POPULATION OF 10,000 PEOPLE, AND IS JUST OUTSIDE DULUTH.

CHAD LEADS HERMANTOWN'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

HE SAYS A FORTUNE 0 COMPANY AND UP TO A BILLION DOLLARS PER PHASE IN INVESTMENT IS AT STAKE.

>> THE PLAN IS TO BUILD ONE BUILDING INITIALLY AND WITH THAT BUILDING WILL COME, AT A MINIMUM, OF 40 JOBS.

UP TO FOUR DATA CENTER BUILDINGS.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO FORECAST HOW MANY JOBS, BUT IT'S EXPECTED THERE WILL BE 100 PLUS FULL-TIME POSITIONS IN THESE.

AND THESE ARE GOOD-PAYING JOBS.

>> Kaomi: BUT THERE'S UNCERTAINTY AROUND THEM, TOO.

>> ONE OF THE REALLY HARD PARTS OF PLANNING FOR DATA CENTERS IS HOW FAST THEY'RE COMING.

>> Kaomi: HE SAYS, DATA CENTERS AREN'T NEW, BUT HYPER SKILLED ONES ARE AND TEN TIMES LARGER.

TECH GIANTS ARE COMPETING AGAINST EACH OTHER TO WIN THE RACE IN AI AND CRYPTOMINING.

>> WE DON'T KNOW HOW EFFICIENT THESE DATA CENTERS CAN PERFORM IN THE LONG RUN.

BUT WE HAVE TO BUILD THE ELECTRICITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND THESE DATA CENTERS.

>> Kaomi: MORTENSON HAS HOW PAUSED THE PROJECT.

THE CITY IS FACING A CHALLENGE FROM THE CITIZENS GROUP AND THE MINNESOTA CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY.

THEY'VE ASKED THE STATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY BOARD TO STEP IN.

AND THEY'RE ALSO SUING THE CITY AND THE DEVELOPER CALLED HARMONY GROUP, LCC, IN DISTRICT COURT.

>> THE REASON THAT WE'RE BRINGING THIS CHALLENGE IS BECAUSE THIS PROPOSAL HAS MOVED FORWARD WITH VERY LITTLE TRANSPARENCY OR PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> Kaomi: THE ULUTH MONITOR FOUND THAT 22 St.

LOUIS COUNTY EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING THREE ELECTED COMMISSIONERS, SIGNED NDAs WITH MORTENSON, SO DID WO HERMANTOWN CITY ADMINISTRATORS, MINNESOTA POWER, DULUTH'S FORMER CITY ADMINISTRATOR, AND THE HEAD OF THE YOU DULUTH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

HOFFMAN SAYS, IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO DO A GOOD AND TRANSPARENT ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY AND WITHHOLD WHAT IT IS.

>> THESE ARE SORT OF INTERLOCKING NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS SO THAT ALL THESE FOLKS CAN TALK TO EACH OTHER AND PLAN.

BUT CONTINUE TO WITHHOLD ALL OF THAT PLANNING FROM THE PUBLIC.

AND TO DO SO OVER SUCH A LONG PERIOD OF TIME REALLY IS PERHAPS THE MOST EXTREME EXAMPLE OF SECRECY THAT WE'VE SEEN.

>> Kaomi: THE MCEA CURRENTLY IS SUING FIVE HYPER-SCALE DATA CENTER PROJECTS IN THE STATE.

SHE SAYS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS THAT NO ONE ENTITY HAS FULL AUTHORITY OVER DATA CENTERS.

BOB KOHLMEYER SAYS HE HASN'T GOTTEN MUCH SLEEP.

HE SAYS TRUST IS HARD TO WIN BACK.

>> THE DEVELOPERS ARE BEING PROTECTED, BUT THE CITIZENS SHOULD BE PROTECTED.

♪ ♪ HERE WITH MORE ON THIS DEVELOPING STORY, GREATER MINNESOTA REPORTER KAOMI LEE.

GOOD REPORTING.

I MEAN, REALLY, THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT STORY.

>> Kaomi: THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: IT SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE LIGHTING FOLKS UP AROUND HERMANTOWN.

THE NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS, WHY DOES THIS HAVE TO BE SO SECRETIVE?

>> Kaomi: WELL, CITY OFFICIALS WILL SAY THAT NDAs, NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS ARE JUST A REGULAR PART OF THEIR PROCESS WHEN THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, LOOKING FOR DEVELOPMENT TO COME IN, AND THAT, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT THESE DATA CENTERS, THAT IT IS THESE TECH COMPANIES, ABOUT A HANDFUL OF THEM, THAT ARE REALLY DRIVING THE GROWTH IN THIS.

AND THEY ARE -- THEY WANT A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE AND, THEREFORE, THEY'RE REQUIRING THE CONFIDENTIALITY.

I THINK WHAT WE ARE SEEING, THOUGH, THAT IT'S -- YOU KNOW, THESE NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS ARE BEING SIGNED BY ALSO PUBLIC OFFICIALS, SO YOU'VE GOT IN St.

LOUIS COUNTY, THERE WERE THREE COMMISSIONERS, AND ALSO I THOUGHT INTERESTINGLY, TOO, ERIC FORCEMAN, WHO'S A DULUTH CITY COUNSELOR, ALSO WORKS FOR MINNESOTA POWER, AND WE SAW IN THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT, THAT THESE EMAILS CAME TO LIGHT THAT FORCE MAN IS INVOLVED WITH PEAKING WITH MORTENSON, SPEAKING WITH THE CITY, AND, IN FACT, ONE OF THE KICKOFF MEETINGS HAPPENED AT ELITE MINNESOTA POWER FOR PROJECT LOON.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WITH THE MINNESOTA CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY THAT, YOU KNOW, WITH THESE ELECTED OFFICIALS, IT'S BASICALLY LOBBYING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS ND THE PUBLIC IS UNAWARE.

NOW, THE CITY, YOU KNOW, WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

WELL, FOR EXAMPLE, THE HERMANTOWN DATA CENTER COULD TAKE MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF WATER, COULD CONSUME MASSIVE AMOUNTS, THESE DATA CENTERS, WE KNOW.

>> Cathy: AND THIS LAND IS IN A WETLAND.

>> Kaomi: YEAH.

THEY TAKE A LOT OF WATER.

AND HE CITY OF HERMANTOWN GETS ITS WATER FROM THE CITY OF DULUTH.

AND IN THE EVENT THAT THIS DATA CENTER WOULD ACTUALLY NEED MORE WATER RESOURCES AND THAT THE CITY OF HERMANTOWN WOULD ASK FOR AN INCREASE IN ITS ALLOTMENT, THAT WOULD COME UP IN FRONT OF THE DULUTH CITY COUNCIL.

NOW, FORCE MAN SAYS -- FORSMAN SAYS THAT IT'S NOT LIKELY TO HAPPEN, THAT THE RATE OF CONSUMPTION OF THIS DATA CENTER IS ONLY 50,000 GALLONS A DAY, BUT CRITICS AY, WELL, THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW DIDN'T ACTUALLY SPECIFY OF THAT IT WAS A DATA CENTER AND, SO, THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THE CONSUMPTION -- TRUE CONSUMPTION IS GOING TO BE.

>> Cathy: I WOULD THINK, TOO, THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW, AS I SAY, THERE'S A WETLAND INVOLVED IN HERE, AND YOU CAN SEE A FAIR AMOUNT OF FOREST, YOU KNOW.

I MEAN, I WOULD THINK THIS IS A FAIRLY SENSITIVE AREA IN NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA.

WHAT ABOUT AN EXTENDED ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW, WOULD THAT BE NEEDED?

>> Kaomi: WELL, HAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK THE CITIZENS GROUP WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT A STRONGER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT WOULD BE DONE.

YOU KNOW, THE CITY ELECTED TO DO AN AUAR, WHICH IS AN ALTERNATIVE URBAN AREAWIDE REVIEW.

THAT TYPE OF EVIEW DIDN'T ACTUALLY SPECIFY WHAT THE DEVELOPMENT WAS, AND IT'S BASICALLY LOOKING AT DIFFERENT SCENARIOS AND THEN LOOKING AT DIFFERENT MITIGATIONS.

BUT IT WASN'T SPECIFIC TO A DATA CENTER, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE MCEA, THEY FILED THEIR LAWSUIT, THEY ARE ASKING FOR A MORE STRINGENT ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.

>> Eric: FOR LANDOWNERS, IS THIS MORE THAN JUST THE GARDEN VARIETY, NOT IN MY BACKYARD?

IS THAT ABOUT IT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF FOLKS THERE, YOU KNOW, THEY HOPE TO RETIRE THERE AND THEY, I THINK, WERE PROMISED THAT IT WAS GOING TO STAY A RURAL RESIDENTIAL AND FOREST LAND AREA.

SOME OF THEM HAVE, YOU KNOW, FARMS.

>> Eric: SURE.

>> Kaomi: THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ACTUALLY WAS CHANGED IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR TO ALLOW FOR A REZONE INTO BUSINESS-LIKE MANUFACTURING.

SO, BEFORE THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, THE EARLIER VERSION HAD INTENDED THAT THAT AREA, YOU KNOW, THE PREFERENCE WOULD BE TO HAVE THAT AREA STAY RURAL AND NOW WITH THE CHANGING THAT HAPPENED, CURIOUSLY, THIS YEAR OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, THEN THAT OPENED THE DOOR FOR WHAT'S HAPPENING.

>> Eric: KEEP TRACK OF IT FOR US.

WE'LL HAVE OU BACK.

>> Cathy: WOW, INTERESTING.

>> Eric: GREAT STUFF.

>> SURE.

>> Cathy: THANKS.

>> Eric: THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ >> SHELETTA: EVERYBODY HAS A TWIN.

FOLKS SAY MY SON DANIEL LOOKS LIKE THE SINGER BRUNO MARS, AND APPARENTLY I'M THE SPITTING IMAGE OF TISHA CAMPBELL, THE ACTRESS WHO PLAYS GINA FROM THE HIT TV SHOW “MARTIN.” WE’VE BOTH GOT BIG CHUBBY CHIPMUNK CHEEKS AND ROUND, SWEET-POTATO-PIE-SHAPED FACES.

MY FRIEND MICHAEL ROBERTS IS A DEAD RINGER FOR MINNESOTA VIKINGS WIDE RECEIVER JUSTIN JEFFERSON, BUT I DIDN'T SEE IT UNTIL I WENT TO HYVEE TO BUY SOME CINNAMON TOAST CRUNCH FOR MY KIDS.

I LOOKED AT THE FRONT OF THAT BOX OF CEREAL AND DID A DOUBLE TAKE.

TURNS OUT THAT WASN’T MICHAEL.

IT WAS JJ.

I MIGHT NEED NEW GLASSES 'CAUSE THIS SUMMER SOMETHING SIMILAR HAPPENED.

I WAS ON A FLIGHT TO D.C.

TO PICK UP A NATIONAL AWARD FOR THE WORK I DO FOR AUTISTIC KIDS.

AS ME AND MY FRIEND KARI RIHM GOT OFF THE PLANE AT WASHINGTON NATIONAL AIRPORT, I SPOTTED THIS GUY.

I MUST HAVE SCARED THE BEJESUS OUT OF HIM BECAUSE I RAN RIGHT UP TO HIM, GRABBED HIS CELL PHONE AND DEMANDED HE CALLED OPRAH WINFREY RIGHT AWAY SO I COULD TALK TO HER.

LISTEN, A ABLACK WOMAN BROADCASTER OPRAH WINFREY HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY SHERO, TURNS OUT, HE DIDN'T HAVE OPRAH'S NUMBER, BECAUSE HE WASN'T OPRAH'S BOYFRIEND, STEDMAN, GRAHAM.

NO, NO, IN FACT, HE WAS AND IS FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER.

EGG ON Y FACE.

I WAS EMBARRASSED.

BUT ONLY FOR A MOMENT.

RIGHT AFTER WE SNAPPED THAT PICTURE, I INVITED HIM TO VISIT MINNESOTA, HAVE A JUICY LUCY AND THEN PUREIFY HIMSELF IN THE WATERS OF LAKE MINNETONKA.

AND GUESS WHAT?

HE EXPECTED MY OFFER.

ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER WILL BE THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT THE MINNESOTA ASSOCIATION OF BLACK LAWYERS GALA NEXT WEEKEND.

AND GUESS WHO HE ASKED TO BE THE EMCEE.

ME.

BUT, FIRST, I GOTTA CLEAR UP A FEW THINGS WITH THE COURTS.

BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED LAST SUMMER, I'M TECHNICALLY NOT SUPPOSED TO BE WITHIN 100 FEET OF HIM.

>> ERIC: A SPECIAL ELECTION BRINGS TWO NEW SENATORS TO THE STATE CAPITOL, AS MARY LAHAMMER REPORTS THEY COME FROM DIFFERENT PARTIES AND PARTS OF THE STATE WHERE POLITICS ARE CHANGING.

>> Mary: THEY COULDN'T BE MORE DIFFERENT.

A REPUBLICAN FROM A RURAL RED DISTRICT AND A DEMOCRAT FROM A BLUE SUBURBAN SEAT.

ONE IS NEW TO ELECTIVE OFFICE.

THE OTHER IS ALREADY SERVING IN THE HOUSE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE DIFFERENCE WILL BE FROM THE HOUSE TO THE SENATE?

>> SO, I'VE NLY OBSERVED KIND OF WHAT I HAVE FROM BEING IN THE HOUSE.

I FEEL IKE THERE'S SOME ORE RULES, A LITTLE BIT MORE STRICT DECORUM.

>> Mary: WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE TO E HERE AND SEE THIS?

>> IT'S SURREAL.

TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I'VE BEEN IN THE HOUSE CHAMBERS QUITE A FEW TIMES, I'VE NEVER STEPPED FOOT IN THE SENATE CHAMBERS.

>> Mary: WHAT HAVE PEOPLE TOLD YOU, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?

>> YOU HEAR A LOT OF JOKES, RIGHT, YOU DON'T ACTUALLY HEAR A LOT OF ADVICE.

>> Mary: THE SCIENTIST, GENERAL ASSIST FROM WOODBURY, APPROACHES LAW MAKING IN A METHODICAL WAY.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU NIGHT GET MORE SOME NOR INFLUENCE?

>> MATHEMATICALLY, YES, BUT IT COMES DOWN TO THE RELATIONSHIPS.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE GOOD RELATIONSHIPS, IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN THE ROOM, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE HEARD OR TAKEN SERIOUSLY.

>> Mary: THE MALL BUSINESS OWNER FROM BUFFALO PROVIDES A LOT OF PASSION TO HIS POLITICS AND ACTIVISM.

>> IF YOU'VE EVER TRIED TO EVICT IN MINNESOTA, I LOST 20,000 IN ONE DEAL AND MY CABINETS.

AND THERE WAS NOTHING YOU CAN DO.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF PROBLEMS IN THE WAY THAT WE MANAGE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND IN THE BUSINESS WORLD, THERE'S TON OF LICENSING THAT GOES WITH IT.

THERE'S SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT COMING IN THROUGH A SPECIAL ELECTION AND, YOU KNOW, YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE MANDATES FROM YOUR VOTERS AND SHE'LL BELIEVE SHE HAS MANDATES FROM HERS, I'M EXCITED TO SEE HOW THOSE TWO CORRELATE.

>> Mary: DESPITE THEIR DIFFERENCES, THEY BOTH WON WITH THE SAME ROUGHLY 62% OF THE VOTE.

YOU WERE THE DECIDING VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS TO RETAIN THE MAJORITY.

DID YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

WAS THAT PRESSURE?

>> I WOULD THINK ABOUT IT MAYBE IF I WAS DONE CAMPAIGNING FOR THE DAY, IN THAT IT'S LIKE, DON'T THINK ABOUT IT TOO MUCH BECAUSE WE REALLY WANTED TO RUN A REALLY GOOD CAMPAIGN AND BE SOLID.

>> Mary: YOUR RACE COULD HAVE DECIDED CONTROL.

DID YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> WE WERE ALL VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE IDEA, RIGHT?

I'M SURE THEY WERE, TOO, HEY, THIS COULD HAPPEN, WHETHER IT'S A LONG SHOT OR NOT, IT'S A POSSIBILITY.

>> Mary: DO YOU THINK BECAUSE OF THOSE VERY VERY CLOSE MARGINS, YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE, BECAUSE A LOT OF BILLS ARE GOING TO NEED BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

FOR SURE.

>> Mary: SHE REPLACED SENATOR NICOLE MITCHELL, FOLLOWING HER BURGLARY CONVICTION AT HER STEPMOTHER'S HOME.

>> IT REALLY DIDN'T COME UP THAT MUCH.

EVER SINCE EVERYTHING STARTED, WHEN PEOPLE WERE CONCERNED, IT ALWAYS CAME DOWN TO, IS SHE OKAY, WE KNOW FAMILY STUFF GETS MESSY AND ARE WE GETTING OUR WATER TOWER.

>> Mary: HAD HE REPLACED, LONE-SERVING, WELL-LIKED, BRUCE ANDERSON, WHO WAS BELOVED BY REPUBLICANS.

>> WRIGHT COUNTY WAS BLUE WHEN BRUCE WON IN 1994.

AND IT HASN'T BLUE SINCE.

>> Mary: OR CLOSE.

>> OR EVEN CLOSE.

WE'RE PROUD OF BEING THE LARGEST REPUBLICAN IN THE BPOU IN THE STATE.

WE GET THE MOST DELEGATES, WE GET THE MOST ALLOTMENTS, WE WALK IN, WE KNOW THE VALUE, WE KNOW WHAT THE VALUES OF THE DISTRICT ARE, AND WE DEFEND THEM WELL.

>> Mary: MEANWHILE, WOODBURY HAS MOVED MORE BLUE.

>> IT'S REALLY BEEN SHIFTING, AND I THINK THAT'S JUST BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE REALLY CARE ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENT, AND THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR HEALTHCARE, AND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF YOUNG FAMILIES MOVING IN, WITH BEING THE HEALTH HUB OF THE EAST, KIND OF EAST METRO, AS WELL AS 3M, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF SCIENTISTS IN THE COMMUNITY, TOO.

SO A LOT OF DATA-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS-FOCUSED PEOPLE THAT WANT TO SEE THAT EXPANDED IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND STATEWIDE.

>> NOTHING WAS TAKEN FOR GRANTED.

AND THERE WAS ALWAYS THE RECOGNITION THAT THIS IS REAL, DEMOCRATS HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO SPEND THEIR ENERGY ON.

SO WHY WOULDN'T THEY THROW IT ALL AT IT?

>> Mary: IT WAS KIND OF A CABIN RURAL COMMUNITY BUT NOW PEOPLE LIVE THERE AND COMMUTE FROM THERE.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> Mary: IT CHANGED, CORRECT?

>> OH, YEAH, FOR SURE.

>> Mary: TELL ME A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THAT.

>> IT'S THE FASTEST-GROWING DISTRICT IN THE STATE, WRIGHT COUNTY IS THE FASTEST-GROWING COUNTY.

DELANO IS EXPLODING, MONTICELLO IS HUGE, BUFFALO, WE'RE ABOUT TO BUILD 400 NEW RESIDENCES.

>> Mary: SINCE BOTH OF THE NEW TWO NEW SENATORS WERE ELECTED IN THE SPECIAL ELECTION, IF THEY SO CHOOSE, THEY'LL HAVE TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION IN LESS THAN A YEAR WHEN THE ENTIRE LEGISLATURE, ALL 201 MEMBERS, ARE UP.

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO HAVE TO GO RUN AGAIN IN LESS THAN A YEAR?

>> I'M EXCITED.

I REALLY DO ENJOY HITTING DOORS.

MY TIME, I FIRMLY BELIEVE I HAVE THE BEST TEAM IN POLITICS IN MINNESOTA.

AND WE'RE ALREADY ON THE GROUND, WE'RE ALREADY HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW TO RAMP BACK UP.

>> Mary: WHAT SURPRISED YOU AT THE DOORS THE MOST?

>> YOU KNOW, IT SOUNDS PARTISAN, BUT THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO TALK ABOUT TIM WALZ REALLY SURPRISED ME.

>> Mary: HOW DID THAT RESONATE WITH PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY LIKE YOU SAY, MED TECH, 3M BEING RIGHT THERE, WERE THERE SOME DOORS WHERE PEOPLE ACTUALLY UNDERSTOOD WHAT A SCIENTIST MIGHT DO?

>> THEY LOVED IT.

YOU KNOW, IT KIND OF BROUGHT US TOGETHER IN, LIKE, I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT NOT BELIEVING IN CLIMATE CHANGE.

I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT NOT VACCINATING OUR KIDS AND MAKING SURE OUR KIDS AND OUR NEIGHBORS STAY HEALTHY.

SO A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE RELIEVED THAT I HAVE SUCH A STRONG SCIENCE BACKGROUND.

>> Mary: AND THEY CERTAINLY HEARD DIFFERENT MESSAGES AT THE DOORS IN THEIR DISTRICTS.

>> IT WAS A LOT OF THE POLICIES, IT WAS AFFORDABILITY, IT WAS I.C.E.

COMING INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND, GRABBING OUR NEIGHBORS, IT WAS THE TOTAL ISREGARD FOR SCIENCE, SO, YOU KNOW, NOAA, EPA, CDC.

>> SO MANY PEOPLE AWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING, THEY KNOW ABOUT THE FRAUD, THEY NOW ABOUT THE PAID FAMILY, THEY KNOW ABOUT THE SCHOOL ISSUES, SO YOU CAN SAY, HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THE FRAUD?

OH, YEAH, I DID.

WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THAT?

AND WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT THEY THINK THE SOLUTIONS ARE, WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE OUT OF GOVERNMENT.

IT WAS A LOT OF FUN AND REALLY ENGAGING.

>> ERIC: AS WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING TONIGHT, THE LONGEST FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IN AMERICAN HISTORY CAME TO AN END THIS WEEK.

BUT LOOSE ENDS REGARDING HEALTHCARE, SOCIAL SERVICES, WORKER BACKPAY AND MORE REMAIN.

NEITHER PARTY EMERGED AS A CLEAR "WINNER" IN THE WEEKS-LONG STANDOFF.

TIME FOR THIS WEEK'S POLITICAL PANEL TO WEIGH IN.

DEMOCRATS UP FIRST.

EMBER REICHGOTT JUNGE IS A FORMER STATE SENATOR AND CAUCUS LEADER.

JAVIER MORILLO IS A LONGTIME UNION AND PARTY ACTIVIST AND A FORMER DNC NATIONAL COMMITTEE MAN.

REPUBLICANS HERE.

AMY FREDERIKSEN IS A FORMER STATE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, NOW A LOBBYIST.

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

GLAD WE GOT SENATORS ON THE COUCH, BECAUSE THERE'S A TURNSTILE THERE GOING IN AND OUT WITH ALL THE SPECIAL ELECTIONS.

>> RIGHT.

NOW WE'VE GOT A COUPLE MORE COMING UP, RIGHT?

I MEAN, NOW THEY'LL BE IN THE HOUSE, BUT IT'S BEEN -- IT'S BEEN -- SO LAST YEAR -- OR THIS 2025 IS TIED FOR THE MOST SPECIAL ELECTIONS.

BUT WE'LL HAVE TWO MORE BECAUSE OF THE LATEST ELECTION NOW.

SO THAT OPENED UP THE WOODBURY SEAT FOR THE STATE REP AND THEN THE MAYORAL RACE HERE IN St.

PAUL CHANGED THINGS UP FOR THAT DISTRICT.

>> Eric: WELL, WITH ALL OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF 2025, I WONDER IF WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE RETIREMENTS AND PEOPLE NOT RUNNING AGAIN.

>> I BET YOU WILL.

AND I THINK THAT WILL HAPPEN ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL TOO OVERALL.

I DON'T KNOW WHO MIGHT WANT TO SERVE THESE DAYS.

IT'S REALLY HARD.

AND IT'S VERY POLITICAL.

ON THE OTHER HAND, MAYBE WE CAN GET TO THE OTHER SIDE OF IT.

I LIKE THE ENACT WE HAVE NEW, FRESH ENERGY COMING INTO BOTH HOUSES.

THAT'S GOOD.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOSING FOLKS LIKE SENATOR PAPPAS, THOUGH, WHO'S BEEN AROUND FOR HOW MANY YEARS NOW, 42.

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, SHE KNOWS -- SHE KNOWS WHERE ALL THE BODIES ARE BURIED.

YOU KNOW?

>> Eric: SHE'S ON THE BONDING COMMITTEE, WHICH IS VERY PRESTIGIOUS.

>> Cathy: EXACTLY.

>> YEAH.

>> NOT TO MENTION SENATOR REST.

>> SENATOR REST ON THE TAX COMMITTEE.

>> LONGSTANDING LEGISLATORS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED A GREAT DEAL, LOSING A LOT OF INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY.

>> Eric: WHAT DID YOU THINK OF SPEAKER DEMUTH NAMING HER RUNNING MATE AS SHE SEEKS THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION?

>> I THINK IT'S KIND OF EXPECTED.

I FEEL LIKE 2026, YOU KNOW, THE LEADUP TO 2026 AND CONVENTION, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT BALL GAME.

I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS LOOKED AT 2024, WHAT HAPPENED WITH OUR CONVENTION THEN, THEY LOOKED AT 2022, AND THIS IKE WEIRD BROKERAGE THAT HAPPENED WITH A CANDIDATE THAT NOBODY EXPECTED WOULD HAVE ANY SORT OF WIELDING POWER AT CONVENTION, AND I THINK NOW WITH THE SET OF CANDIDATES THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, YOU HAVE A LOT OF GREAT CANDIDATES WITH A LOT OF EXTENSIVE BACKGROUNDS.

EVERYONE'S TRYING TO DIFFERENTIATE THEMSELVES AND, SO, UNLIKE PAST YEARS AND PAST CONVENTIONS, WHERE FOLKS WAITED UNTIL CONVENTION OR MAYBE A LITTLE AFTER TO ANNOUNCE AND DECIDE WHO THEIR RUNNING MATE WAS GOING TO BE, I THINK DEMUTH IS TAKING THAT STEP OF SAYING, HEY, THIS IS MY RUNNING MATE, THIS IS WHAT WE OFFER TOGETHER AS A TICKET, AND I ALSO THINK IN SOME RESPECTS, IT'S GIVING HER A LITTLE BIT OF BUY-IN ITH THE DELEGATES WHO MAYBE SEE HER AS ESTABLISHMENT, JUST BECAUSE OF HER PRESTIGE AS HOUSE SPEAKER, BEING IN THE LEGISLATURE, THAT WOULD TYPICALLY BE AN ISSUE WITH THE DELEGATES THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, CONVENTION GOERS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW FROM AN ESTABLISHMENT PERSPECTIVE.

AND I THINK SHE JUST SETTING SOME STONES, SETTING SOME MARKERS IN PLACE TO OFFSET THAT.

>> Cathy: DOES HER RUNNING MATE ALLOW HER THEN FOCUS ON THE HOUSE AS HE GOES OUT CAMPAIGNING, PERHAPS?

>> I WOULD IMAGINE SO.

I THINK SPEAKER DEMUTH WILL BE A STRONG CANDIDATE.

AND DEMOCRATS WILL NEED TO TAKE HER SERIOUSLY AND TAKE THE TICKET SERIOUSLY.

>> Cathy: DOES IT ADD, THOUGH, A LEVEL OF -- I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE WORD MIGHT BE -- A LITTLE BIT -- FEELS A LITTLE ODD, MAYBE, WITH THE SESSION -- WOULD THE SESSION BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT WITH THE SPEAKER RUNNING?

>> CERTAINLY THE SESSION WILL BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT, RIGHT.

REPRESENTATIVE HARRY NISKA, THE MAJORITY LEADER, WILL TAKE A LARGER ROLE.

SO I THINK THIS IS, IN PART, TO SHARE THE LOAD A BIT.

BUT ALSO, THIS IS A SMART MOVE.

THIS IS A VERY SMART MOVE.

FROM A CAMPAIGN THAT GOT IN A LITTLE LATER, THEY'RE HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING IN A REALLY BIG WAY.

HE REALLY OFFSET -- HE, LIKE, COMPLIMENTS HER IN A NICE WAY.

HE'S FROM GREATER MINNESOTA -- SHE'S FROM GREATER MINNESOTA, COLD SPRING, HE'S ROM THE SUBURBS, HE'S BEEN AROUND THE DELEGATES FOR FOUR YEARS, HE STAYED INSIDE REPUBLICAN POLITICS.

HE KNOWS REPUBLICAN DONORS.

AND, SO, IT'S JUST -- I THINK IT WAS REALLY SMART MOVE BY THE DEMUTH CAMPAIGN.

>> AND I THINK SPEAKER DEMUTH'S REAL CHALLENGE IS GOING TO BE EMERGING FROM THAT REPUBLICAN RIMARY.

THERE'S SO MANY GOOD CANDIDATES THERE.

SHE WILL HAVE A STRONG CHANCE AT IT.

BUT HAVING HIM ON THE TICKET TO HELP THAT, I THINK RIGHT NOW TO CONNECT WITH THE DELEGATES I THINK WILL BE AN ADVANTAGE FOR HER.

SO, I THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD MOVE AS ELL.

>> Eric: HOW'S THE GOVERNOR DOING, GOVERNOR WALZ, AS HE SEEKS A THIRD TERM?

HE'S IN TEXAS, WAS IT LAST NIGHT OR THE NIGHT BEFORE, BRAGGING ABOUT OUR UNIVERSAL PRE-K.

>> YEAH.

>> Eric: WHICH WE DON'T HAVE.

YOU KNOW, ALL THE FRAUD, KIND OF FILTERED BACK TO HIM.

WHAT KIND OF SHAPE IS HE IN GOING INTO THE CAMPAIGN YEAR?

>> I THINK THERE ARE DEFINITELY CHALLENGES.

BUT THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, WHAT THE ISSUES ARE GOING TO BE COME NOVEMBER, WE DO NOT KNOW.

AND WE'RE LIVING IN TIMES THAT ARE NOT JUST HIGHLY POLARIZED BUT HIGHLY NATIONALIZED AND WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON IN WASHINGTON, IT'S JUST IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT, RIGHT?

SO, LIKE, -- AND NO ONE EXPECTED THE VIRGINIA ATTORNEY GENERAL TO WIN AND HE DID AND HE WAS A WOUNDED CANDIDATE.

SO, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE CHALLENGES, BUT I THINK -- I THINK THE CAMPAIGN AND LOTS OF DEMOCRATS ARE COUNTING ON THE NATIONAL MOOD ON THE ECONOMY, ON ISSUES OF FEDERAL CORRUPTION, ALL THESE THINGS WE'RE SEEING NATIONALLY THAT ARE DAILY HEADLINES AS BEING THE DEFINING CHARACTERISTICS OF THAT RACE.

>> I THINK THERE'S ONE THING THAT WE DEFINITELY KNOW THAT'S GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT THIS YEAR, AND THAT IS FRAUD.

I MEAN, THE FACT IS, WE HAVE A U.S.

ATTORNEY WHO HAS EATEN THE STATE'S LEADERSHIP'S LUNCH DAY IN AND DAY OUT, BY FINDING NEW ASPECTS OF FRAUD, TAKING IT HEAD ON.

MEANWHILE, TIM WALZ AND KEITH ELLISON ARE SITTING THERE WITH THEIR HANDS EMPTY, THEY'RE LEFT HOLDING THE BAG, ESSENTIALLY, AND THEY'VE GOT NO ANSWERS FOR IT.

MEANWHILE, THE TICKER KEEPS GOING UP, WE'RE AST A BILLION DOLLARS ALREADY.

I THINK FOLKS ARE STARTING TO ASK, HOW MANY BILLION MORE ARE WE GOING TO BE SEEING HERE?

AND NOBODY REALLY HAS AN ANSWER FOR IT.

IT FEELS LIKE DEMOCRATS RE PLAYING CATCH-UP.

AND WALZ ALREADY VERY WOUNDED BECAUSE EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT THE CURSE OF BEING ON A PRESIDENTIAL TICKET AFTER YOU GO ON A PRESIDENTIAL TICKET, USUALLY IT'S YOUR MOST CHALLENGING YEAR, WE SAW IT WITH BACHMANN, AND KLOBUCHAR AGAINST ROYCE WHITE, NOT A GREAT CANDIDATE, SHE LOST GROUND, THE MOST GROUND SHE'S LOST.

>> Eric: IN HER VICTORY MARGIN.

>> IN HER VICTORY MARGIN.

AND I THINK THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME THING.

>> THE GOVERNOR IS THE STOP GAP IN MINNESOTA AGAINST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO IT'S REALLY CRITICAL, HE IS GOING TO BE A STRONG CANDIDATE ON THE NTI-TRUMP MESSAGE, HE WILL BE A STRONG CANDIDATE ON THE AFFORDABILITY MESSAGE.

BECAUSE HE HAS A RECORD TO SHOW THAT.

HE, UNFORTUNATELY, HAS THE FRAUD ON HIS WATCH, AND I THINK THAT MAKES HIM VULNERABLE.

AND I WILL JUST SAY THIS, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS WHO FEEL THAT HE IS A RISKIER CANDIDATE THAN OTHER DEMOCRATS MIGHT BE.

BECAUSE OF THAT.

AND WE DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANOTHER SHOE THAT MIGHT DROP.

>> Eric: SENATOR.

>> SO I THINK SOME OF ALL OF THIS IS TRUE.

WHAT I WOULD SAY FOR REPUBLICANS, GIVEN THE -- GIVEN THIS OFF-YEAR ELECTION, THEY NEED TO HEED THE WARNING THAT IT IS.

I DON'T THINK IT WAS A ROUT, BUT I THINK IF YOU DON'T LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE, LIKE THEY'RE JUST BUYING THAT THE ECONOMY'S BETTER.

THINGS ARE STILL INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE, INFLATION IS STILL HIGH.

AND SORT OF PRETENDING LIKE ALL OF THAT DISAPPEARED, YOU COULD GO DOWN THE SAME PATH THAT FORMER PRESIDENT BIDEN SUFFERED FROM, LIKE, SORT OF IGNORING THE VERY OBVIOUS THING THAT AMERICANS AND MINNESOTANS ARE FACING.

SO, -- BUT THERE'S TIME FOR REPUBLICANS TO COURSE CORRECT.

AND UNLIKE 2018, IN PRESIDENT TRUMP'S FIRST TERM, THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE THAT SAME ELECTION.

THIS IS A VERY DIFFERENT PRESIDENCY, IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATION IN MANY WAYS, AND IT'S BEING -- AND ARE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE RESPONDING TO IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

SO KIND OF RYING TO RUN THE SAME GAME WON'T BE AS EFFECTIVE.

BUT THERE ARE CERTAINLY THINGS THAT REPUBLICANS WILL NEED TO BE -- >> AND I THINK TO AMY'S POINT REAL QUICK.

IF YOU LOOK AT EXIT POLLS, A MAJORITY OF FOLKS IN THE EXIT POLLS, CNN, FOX NEWS, THEY'RE ALL SAY THEY'RE VOTING FOR CANDIDATES, NOT IN OPPOSITION OF TRUMP, BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT THE CANDIDATE'S MESSAGE IS.

AND I THINK THE WHITE HOUSE HAS RECOGNIZED THAT RIGHT OFF THE BAT, WE NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABILITY MORE THAN HARD, SOCIAL CONSERVATIVE ISSUES THAT WE RUN ON IN CYCLES PAST.

>> Eric: WHAT IS UP WITH THE DSA, THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST, AND THE MINNEAPOLIS DFL AND IT SEEMS LIKE, AFTER THE ELECTION, THERE SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A BIT OF CONTROVERSY BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES AND WHAT DOES THAT PORTEND FOR '26, IF ANYTHING?

>> I MEAN, I THINK, LIKE LAST TUESDAY, RIGHT, YOU SAW MINUTE DANNY WON AND YOU ALSO SAW MODERATE DEMOCRATS WIN IN OTHER PLACES, RIGHT?

I THINK THIS QUESTION IS REALLY OVERPLAYED, THE TENSIONS BETWEEN THE DSA AND DEMOCRATS, IN A PLACE LIKE MINNEAPOLIS, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT.

IN OTHER PLACES, YOU ARE NOT GONNA HAVE THAT TENSION.

AND IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.

>> Eric: WE HAD ONE GROUP SAY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A DSA CAUCUS, AND ANOTHER GROUP SAID, WE'RE GOING TO BE THE SOCIABILITY CAUCUS, WE'RE GOING TO GET ALONG WITH EVERYBODY.

NEW COUNCIL GOING TO BE ANY GOOD OR MORE COMPLEMENTARY?

>> I HOPE SO.

BECAUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE GOT TO BE UNITED IN THIS ELECTION.

THERE'S JUST NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

AND WE HAVE A BIG TENT.

AND WE HAVE ROOM FOR EVERYONE UNDER THAT TENT.

>> Cathy: I WONDER, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF, WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT, THOUGH, BUT HOW DEEP IS THE SCHISM, THOUGH, ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT WE SAW WITH THE EIGHT SENATE DEMOCRATS BREAKING AWAY, ANGERING OTHER PROGRESSIVES?

>> INCLUDING ME.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING AS A DEMOCRAT TO HAVE HANDED THE -- THE VOTERS HANDED DEMOCRATS A BIG VICTORY AND WHAT THEY DID WAS THEN CAVE ON THE SHUTDOWN WITH LITTLE TO SHOW FOR IT.

DEMOCRATS IN WASHINGTON ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LEARN A LESSON.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY KEEP MAKING THE SAME MISTAKE OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

>> Eric: GOTTA GO.

THANKS.

GOOD STUFF.

>> Cathy: THANKS.

>> THIS IS AN HONOR THAT'S BEEN BESTOWED UPON ME, AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO LIVE UP TO IT.

ACTUALLY, I'M GOING TO CALL UPON THE FOLKS THAT HELPED ME GET HERE AND HAVE THEM HELP ME WORK THROUGH ALL THIS.

I'M NOT GOING TO DO THIS ALONE.

AND THEY ALL KNOW THAT.

>> ERIC: IT'S HISTORY TIME ONCE AGAIN, SO LET'S REFRESH OUR MEMORY WITH LAST WEEK'S QUESTION.

WE TOOK YOU BACK IN TIME TO JUNE OF 1978 WHEN OUR MYSTERY MINNESOTAN IS TAPPED FOR HIS OR HER DREAM JOB.

THEY WILL GO ON TO ACCEPT AN OFFER IN THE SAME PROFESSION IN 1979 BUT NEVER RISE TO THE HIGH LEVEL OF FAME AS THE YOUNGER SIBLING WHO GREW UP IN THEIR SHADOW.

YOUR TASK WAS TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION.

WHO IS THIS MYSTERY MINNESOTAN?

WRONG ANSWERS ALWAYS UP FIRST.

>> ERIC: INTERESTING GUESSES BUT BOTH WRONG.

DAVE FROM EAGAN SENT US HIS GUESS VIA EMAIL.

I'LL READ IT.

THIS IS ONLY A GUESS.

TOUGH QUESTION.

I THINK THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION ON NOVEMBER 7 IS NEAL AND AARON BROTEN.

DAVE OUT OF EAGAN.

DAVE, YOU WERE WRONG BUT YOU GOT CLOSER THAN ANYBODY ELSE WITH YOUR GUESS OF SPORTY BROTHERS.

SO WE ASK AGAIN ITH A FEW MORE DETAILS.

THIS MYSTERY MINNESOTAN IS THE OLDER BROTHER IN A DUO OF STANDOUT ST.

PAUL ATHLETES.

HE WAS DRAFTED BY THE HOMETOWN TEAM BUT NEVER TOOK THE FIELD FOR THEM.

HIS ACE YOUNGER BROTHER WOULD BECOME LEGENDARY DECADES LATER FOR HIS WORLD SERIES PERFORMANCE DURING THE ONLY SEASON HE PLAYED FOR THAT HOMETOWN TEAM.

WHO IS THIS MYSTERY MINNESOTA ATHLETE?

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU ARE CALLING FROM THE VILLAGE OF MOUND, THE CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW, OR NEAR MOUNDS BOULEVARD IN ST.

PAUL.

651-229-1430 IS THE NUMBER TO CALL WITH ALL OF YOUR GUESSES.

YOU CAN DROP US A NOTE ONLINE TOO.

ALMANAC@TPT.ORG IS OUR ELECTRONIC INBOX.

WE MIGHT READ YOUR ANSWER ON THE SHOW NEXT WEEK.

IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER TUNE BY CHARLIE PARR.

TAKE A LISTEN.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

AND BE CAREFUL.

♪ YOU REMEMBER WHAT IT'S LIKE, WHEN ALL THE WORLD IS FILLED WITH PLIGHT ♪ ♪ AND HOW DO YOU HAVE THAT IN YOUR SITE ♪ ♪ SPREAD IT AROUND ♪ ♪ SPREAD IT AROUND, OOH ♪ ♪ SPREAD IT AROUND ♪ ♪ YOU FELT JOY, NEW DAYS.

♪ EVEN THOUGH YOU HAD YOUR SHARE OF PAIN ♪ ♪ ALL THAT JOY AGAIN ♪ ♪ SPREAD IT AROUND ♪ ♪ SPREAD IT AROUND, OOH ♪ ♪ SPREAD IT AROUND ♪ CLEAR CAPTIONED BY: VERITEXT/PARADIGM CAPTIONING WWW.VERITEXT.COM ♪ IS YOUR BELLY FULL, HAVE YOU FED YOUR FAMILY TOO ♪ ♪ DOES YOUR TABLE HAVE JUST A LITTLE MORE ROOM ♪ ♪ SPREAD IT AROUND ♪ ♪ PREAD IT AROUND ♪ ♪ SPREAD IT AROUND, DO ♪ >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH ITS MEMBER-OWNER COOPERATIVES AND CUSTOMERS.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH AND HELPING COMMUNITIES THRIVE.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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.