TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.

>> I GOT MY GRUB, I GOT MY MOSQUITO REPELLENT, I'M READY FOR CAMP MPR.

>> Cathy: THERE'S NO CAMP HERE.

IT'S THE BOOTH AT THE FAIR, IT WILL BE ALMANAC" AT THE FAIR.

>> Eric: AND WE'RE NEXT.

>> Cathy: "ALMANAC" IS NEXT.

[Cheering] ♪♪ "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 28 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH WHILE ADVANCING SOCIAL EQUITIES.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

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 OUR REGION.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY THE BLANDIN FOUNDATION, WORKING TO STRENGHTEN RURAL MINNESOTA.

[Cheering] [Cheers & Applause] >> Cathy: WOW, WHAT A CROWD.

WE ARE LIVE FROM THE STATE FAIR!!

YEAH, THANK YOU.

SO NICE TO SEE YOU ALL HERE.

WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS AND WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE A CHANCE TO DO IT ALL AGAIN.

I'M CATHY WURZER AND THIS IS "ALMANAC."

WE ARE WORKING, TWIN CITIES PBS, WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR FRIENDS AT MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO.

WE'RE AT CAMP MPR HERE AT THE FAIR AND WE ARE CONDUCTING NOT ONLY A LIVE RADIO PROGRAM BUT A TV SHOW, AS WELL.

>> Eric: I'M ERIC ESKOLA, A SPECIAL WELCOME TO AM OF YOU WHO CAME TO THE FAIR, LISTENING ON THE RADIO, WATCHING ON TV.

A LOT TO SHARE IN THE NEXT HOUR.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT POLITICS, BOTH LOCAL AND NATIONALLY.

MARK SEELEY HERE WITH SOME WEATHER STUFF.

KEVIN KLING, A STATE FAIR ESSAY.

SHOULD BE A LOT OF FUN.

THANKS FOR COMING.

>> Cathy: OH, DID WE MENTION LIVE MUSIC?

AND OF COURSE FARM ANIMALS!!

YES!!

I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

I LOVE THAT.

WE HAVE A LOT TO GET TO.

IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR, Y'ALL KNOW THAT, OBVIOUSLY.

WE'LL START BY TALKING POLITICS WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE GOOD AT HERE AT "ALMANAC" AND PBS.

WE'LL START WITH TWO STARS IN THE BROADCASTING SPHERE.

BRIAN BAKST.

BRIAN BAKST IS MPR'S POLITICAL REPORTER.

MARY LaHAMMER IS "ALMANAC'S POLITICAL REPORTER.

[Applause] >> Mary: CAN WE SAY HOW GREAT IT IS TO SEE EVERYONE?

LIKE A BUNCH OF LONG LOST FRIENDS OUT THERE IN THE AUDIENCE.

THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR COMING BACK.

>> BUT SO FAMILIAR AT THE SAME TIME.

>> Mary: YES.

[ Laughter ] >> Cathy: SO WHAT HAVE YOU GUYS RUN INTO SO FAR AT THE FAIR HERE, WHEN IT COME TO POLITICS?

>> MARY: YEAH, SO I SPENT THE DAY YESTERDAY CHASING THE LEADING TWO CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR.

REALLY INTERESTING.

I THINK GOVERNOR WALZ WAS DOING HIS TYPICAL THING, HE LOVES TO BE CRACK OF DAWN AT THOSE FRONT GATES, GREETING FOLKS.

BUT DIDN'T LINGER TOO LONG.

I THINK RIGHT NOW HE'S REALLY FAVORING MORE CONTROLLED, MORE PREDICTABLE LOCATIONS, THUS NOT DEBATING HERE.

JENSEN IS THE WILD CARD IN THIS RACE AND THAT'S HOW HE'S PLAYING IT HERE AT THE FAIR.

HE'S HERE EVERY AFTERNOON, AND YOU'LL SEE LATER IN THE SHOW, OUR INTERVIEW, WHICH I'VE DESCRIBED AS PROBABLY THE MOST UNUSUAL STATE FAIR INTERVIEW I'VE EVER DONE IN 25 YEARS.

IT REMINDED ME A LITTLE BIT OF THE JESSE VENTURA ERA.

HONESTLY, BECAUSE THE CROWDS, THE PASSION, THE ENGAGEMENT, FOLKS AT HIS BOOTH.

THEY WERE ANGRY, THEY WERE EXCITED, THEY WERE JUMPING INTO OUR INTERVIEW, CHEERING AND JEERING IN THE MIDDLE OF IT BUT VENTURA WAS A VERY DIFFERENT DYNAMIC IN A THREE-WAY RACE, THIS IS A TWO-WAY RACE.

>> AND THIS IS THE LARGEST AUDIENCE THE CANDIDATES WILL FACE BETWEEN NOW AND THE ELECTION.

SURE, THEY HAVE THEIR TV ADS, BILLBOARDS, MAYBE A FEW DEBATES, BUT THEY'RE GETTING PEOPLE COMING UP TO THEM, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'LL ASK, HOW THEY'LL BE RECEIVED.

THEY HAVE TO BE ON THEIR GAME, OTHERWISE YOU HAVE MOMENTS THAT COME OUT OF THESE FAIR VISITS.

>> Eric: SOMETIMES AN UNEXPECTED ISSUE THAT COMES UP IN THE CAMPAIGN AND I SUPPOSE THIS LINKING OF COVID RESTRICTIONS AND NAZIS IS A RECENT EXAMPLE OF THAT, I GUESS?

>> Mary: ABSOLUTELY.

I SPOKE TO FORMER SENATOR AND Dr. SCOTT JENSEN ABOUT THAT YESTERDAY.

THE FIRST TIME I ASKED THE QUESTION, HIS ANSWER WAS, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND SCHOOL KIDS UNDERPERFORMING.

I SAID, OKAY, BUT I'M ASKING ABOUT THIS QUESTION ABOUT THE COMPARISON, IS IT OKAY TO MAKE THIS COMPARISON, HAVE YOU HEARD FROM THE JEWISH COMMUNITY?

HE SAID, YEAH, I JUST SPOKE TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, THEY APPLAUDED ME.

THEY SAID, THIS IS HOW I TALK.

I THINK OUT LOUD.

I'M GOING TO MAKE MAYBE -- YOU KNOW, SOME THINGS HE MAY HAVE TO FURTHER EXPLAIN DOWN THE ROAD.

THIS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE.

HE DOESN'T STAY HARD AND FAST ON ISSUES.

HE'S BEEN ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT SIDES OF A LOT OF ISSUES AND HAD TO DO QUITE A FEW CLARIFICATIONS.

>> I MEAN, THIS IS DAY FIVE OF THIS TOPIC WHERE HE'S HAD TO RESPOND TO IT OR HE'S GETTING CRITICIZED OVER IT.

OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOT WHAT HE WANTS TO BE FOCUSING ON AT THIS POINT IN THE CAMPAIGN WITH ABOUT 75 DAYS TO GO, BUT ALSO HE'S HOLDING FIRM AND THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF HIS BASE WANTS.

THEY LIKE THAT THESE CANDIDATES WHEN THEY PUNCH BACK, BOTH AT THE MEDIA AND AT - THE CRITICS, SO THERE'S AN UP AND A DOWN SIDE TO HIM KEEPING IT ALIVE BUT IT'S TAKING AWAY FROM THE ISSUES HE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT.

>> Cathy: SO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE IS THE MARQUEE RACE BUT THERE'S ALSO SOME PRETTY INTERESTING RACES ON THE BALLOT.

I'M THINKING OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S RACE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THIS WILL PROBABLY BE THE CLOSEST AND MOST CONTESTED ATTORNEY GENERAL'S RACE WE'VE SEEN IN A LONG WHILE.

AS YOU MAY REMEMBER, REPUBLICANS HAVEN'T HELD THAT OFFICE IN 50 YEARS, THEY FEEL VERY GOOD ABOUT THEIR CHANCES THIS TIME.

KEITH ELLISON IS A HARD CAMPAIGNER, AND HE'S NOT GONNA -- HE'S NOT GONNA LET THIS COME EASILY, HE'LL BE OUT THERE.

BUT CRIME IS A DRIVING ISSUE IN THAT RACE.

KEITH ELLISON HAS BEEN OUT THERE WITH SOME OF THE POLICE FUNDING ISSUES, HE'S PROSECUTED POLICE OFFICERS WHO HAVE BEEN ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THINGS, AND SO THIS -- THIS IS THE EASIEST ONE FOR REPUBLICANS TO MAKE THAT CRIME LINE REALLY STICK AS AN ISSUE.

>> Mary: YEAH, AND IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE JIM SCHULTZ, THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE, DOESN'T HAVE A HUGE TRACK RECORD IN POLITICS, YOUNGER, KIND OF UNKNOWN, THAT'S WHAT THE PARTY WENT FOR.

WHAT'S INTERESTING IN THIS RACE, UNLIKE THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, WHERE JENSEN HAS BEEN DECRYING THE FACT THAT THERE'S NO DEBATE HERE AT THE FAIR AND WE HAVEN'T HEARD THE SLATE OF DEBATES YET, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DEBATES ARE ON AND TPT "ALMANAC" WILL BE HOSTING ONE OF THEM, WE JUST FOUND OUT.

>> JUST ONE MORE THING ON THIS.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE RARE RACES -- THERE ARE TWO IN THE STATEWIDE WHERE IT'S HEAD TO HEAD, ONE DEMOCRAT VERSUS ONE REPUBLICAN, AND A LOT OF THESE RACES, THE GOVERNOR'S RACE AND THE AUDITOR'S RACE, THERE ARE SOME THIRD PARTY CANDIDATES SO THAT ADDS A LITTLE MORE UNSETTLEDNESS TO THOSE RACES.

>> ERIC: DO WE KNOW WHAT KIND OF TURNOUT THERE WILL BE FOR THE MID-TERM?

>> Mary: IF, SO FAR, THE FIRST COUPLE DAYS OF THE STATE FAIR IS ANY INDICATION, PEOPLE ARE ENGAGED, THEY'RE VERY EXCITED, THEY'RE VERY ANGRY, WE'RE REALLY SEEING DEMOCRATS DOUBLING DOWN ON THE ROE V. WADE ISSUE.

AT THEIR BOOTH, THEY HAVE A HANDFUL OF NEW T-SHIRTS, SAYING DIFFERENT THINGS.

THEY'RE DOING THE SOYBEAN POLL WHERE YOU GET A LITTLE SOYBEAN AND YOU VOTE ON THE ISSUE THAT YOU CARE ABOUT THE MOST.

SO FAR IT LOOKED LIKE ABORTION WAS THE ISSUE DRIVING DEMOCRATS.

>> ERIC: PRIMARY WAS WHAT, 19% TURNOUT?

IS THAT INDICATIVE OF WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN NOVEMBER?

>> 19%, AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT A PRESIDENTIAL YEAR WHEN WE SOMETIMES GET CLOSE TO OR EXCEED 80%.

I WOULD IMAGINE THAT WE'LL BE SOMEWHERE IN THE 55 TO 65% RANGE, AND SO THAT -- THAT MAKES THESE RACES A LITTLE MORE HARD TO READ BECAUSE THE BASE, MOTIVATING THE BASE IS SO MUCH MORE IMPORTANT BECAUSE A LOT OF THE FOLKS WHO DON'T COME OUT IN THE ODD YEARS ARE LESS POTENT IN THESE RACES.

>> Cathy: ALL 201 LAWMAKERS ARE UP FOR RE-ELECTION.

HOW WILL THAT FACTOR INTO THIS IN TERMS OF TURNOUT?

>> Mary: IT'S GOING TO BE HUGE BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE AN EXCEEDINGLY LARGE PORTION OF LEGISLATURE THAT WILL BE BRAND-NEW.

WE SAW MANY, MANY DOZENS AND DOSES OF RETIREMENT, SO NO MATTER WHAT, EVEN IF THE INCUMBENTS WHO ARE RUNNING AGAIN WIN, WE'LL HAVE AN ALL-NEW, VERY DIVERSE LEGISLATURE COMING INTO SESSION.

>> AND YOU'LL HAVE ONE THAT'S MAYBE A LITTLE MORE POLITICALLY STRIDENT.

IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE NOMINEES COMING OUT OF THESE PRIMARIES, THE CAUCUSES WILL GET PUSHED TO THE RIGHT AND TO THE LEFT AND SO THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE THE GOVERNING ONCE THE LEGISLATURE COMES BACK, NO MATTER WHO IS IN CHARGE.

>> Cathy: BRIAN BAKST FROM MPR NEWS, MARY LaHAMMER FROM TPT, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

[Applause] WE'LL SWAP OUT GUESTS RIGHT KNOW AND, IN A MINUTE, WE'LL CHAT WITH MINNESOTA WEATHER GURU, DR. MARK SEELEY, BUT SHELLETA BRUNDIDGE, ALWAYS A PARTY HERSELF, IS IN THE AUDIENCE, ALONG WITH JEARLYN STEELE.

WHERE ARE YOU GUYS?

>> WE'RE RIGHT HERE.

>> OH, MY GOODNESS.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.

MY NAME IS JEARLYN STEELE AND I'M HERE WITH SHELLETA BRUNDIDGE, OF COURSE, AND WE'RE READY TO HAVE SOME FUN WITH A BIG CROWD OF FANS OF PUBLIC TELEVISION -- WITH TELEVISION AND RADIO.

NOW, THE WEATHER IS FANTASTIC TODAY.

>> IT IS.

>> IT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL.

IT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN, HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN.

NOW, THE STATE FAIR IS VERY BUSY RIGHT NOW AND LATER IN THE HOUR, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME MUSIC.

I CAN'T WAIT.

HE'S SO GOOD.

AND, OF COURSE, SHELETTA BRUNDIDGE WILL BE UP TO SOMETHING, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.

SO HERE WE GO.

HOLD ON.

[Laughter] >> YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO GET IN TROUBLE BUT GOOD TROUBLE, RIGHT?

I AM GOING TO BE HANGING OUT WITH ALL THE FANS AND MEETING AND GREETING PEOPLE BUT BEFORE I TALK TO ANYBODY HERE, I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE SUPER FAN WHO IS HERE.

WE WERE HOPING SHE WOULD COME.

SHE HAS BEEN WATCHING "ALMANAC" FOR OVER 50 YEARS AND SHE WAS NOT GOING TO LET THIS MOMENT PASS.

97-YEAR-OLD Ms. RUTH FROM SHELBY, MINNESOTA, IS HERE WITH HER DAUGHTERS!!

[Cheers & Applause] SHE WANTED TO GET HERE TO THE STATE FAIR TO WATCH HER FAVORITE TV SHOW, "ALMANAC."

HER FAVORITE HOSTS, CATHY AND ERIC.

SHE SAYS SHE REALLY WANTS ME TO HAVE MORE TIME.

I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN WITH BRENDAN AND KARI IN THE BACK BUT, CATHY AND ERIC, I'M GOING TO TOSS IT TO YOU WHILE I TALK TO THE PRODUCERS ABOUT GETTING ME SOME MORE AIR TIME.

>> Cathy: OH, DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT, THAT WE'LL GIVE YOU MORE AIR TIME.

I'M SO EXCITED HAVE TO HAVE THAT FAN IN THE STANDS HERE.

THEY'RE RIGHT, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY HERE AT THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR.

OUR TV VIEWERS CAN SEE THAT BUT MY RADIO LISTENERS, YOU GOT TO TRUST ME, IT'S A NICE DAY.

MARK SEELEY IS HERE TO TRULY REMIND US THAT IT WAS DURING THE STATE FAIR IN 1949 THAT THERE WAS A TRACE OF SNOW IN DULUTH.

IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL THAT SNOW GETS HERE THIS YEAR.

TO TALK ABOUT THE CLIMATE AS HE DOES EVERY FRIDAY AFTERNOON ON PBS, THE ONE AND ONLY Dr. MARK SEELEY.

[Cheers & Applause] >> IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE.

RIGHT OFF THE BAT, PAT ALL YOURSELVES ON THE BACK BECAUSE YOU PROBABLY PICKED -- OF THE FIRST FIVE DAYS OF THE FAIR, WHETHER ARE WEATHER-WISE, YOU PROBABLY PICKED ONE OF THE BEST FIVE DAYS TO BE HERE.

>> Cathy: YES, SIR, BIG THUMBS' UP.

SINCE I BROUGHT IT UP, I HATE TO BRING IT UP, BUT THE TRACE OF SNOW IN DULUTH AT THE END OF AUGUST IN '49, WHAT HAPPENED THERE?

>> WELL, IT WAS A COLD, CLOUDY DAY.

AT THAT TIME, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OBSERVERS, OF COURSE, WERE TAKING HOURLY OBSERVATIONS SO WE HAVE ALL THOSE RECORDS AND THE CEILING OF CLOUDS AS WE ALL KNOW THAT CAN HAPPEN OVER LAKE SUPERIOR KIND OF GOT LOWER AND LOWER THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

BY EVENING, IT WAS DOWN TO AROUND A 600- TO 800-FOOT CLOUD CEILING, SO NOT VERY HIGH OFF THE GROUND.

THE TEMPERATURE WAS 42 DEGREES, THE WINDCHILL WAS 45.

>> Cathy: CLASSIC DULUTH DAY.

>> THE WIND WAS OUT OF THE NORTH AND OUT OF THOSE CLOUDS CAME SOME SNOW FLURRIES BETWEEN 8:00 p.m. AND MIDNIGHT ON THE 31st OF AUGUST AND THAT REMAINS AS THE SINGULAR PIECE OF EVIDENCE FOR SNOW IN THIS STATE SINCE STATEHOOD IN 1858, FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST.

>> Eric: WHAT'S YOUR VERDICT ON OUR PAST SUMMER?

>> WARM -- WARMER THAN NORMAL, THAT'S HOW WE'LL END UP, ERIC, AND A HUGE DISPARITY IN RAINFALL.

WE -- CATHY AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS.

WE HAVE NORTHERN MINNESOTA LOCATIONS, UP ALONG THE CANADIAN BORDER, INTERNATIONAL FALLS, WEST AND EAST FROM THERE, THAT ARE ON PACE TO HAVE THEIR WETTEST YEAR IN HISTORY.

AND YET, WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER PLACES AS WE KNOW, INCLUDING THE TWIN CITIES, THAT ARE VERY, VERY, VERY DRY.

>> Cathy: RIGHT.

SO I'M KIND OF CURIOUS, TOO, ABOUT THE WIND THIS YEAR.

I MEAN, PEOPLE -- HAVE YOU NOT NOTICED HOW WINDY IT'S BEEN THIS YEAR?

WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?

IT'S A LITTLE BIT CALMER TODAY - THAN YESTERDAY BUT WHY IS IT SO WINDY THIS YEAR?

>> RIGHT.

THAT'S A HEAD-SCRATCHER FOR THE ENTIRE METEOROLOGICAL COMMUNITY.

IT'S -- THIS -- MY GOOD FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE, KENNY BLOOMINGFIELD, FROM THE STATE CLIMATE OFFICES HAS GONE BACK THROUGH THE DECADES AND ANALYZED THE DATA AND THIS IS THE WINDIEST -- NOT JUST IN THE TWIN CITIES, BUT THE WINDIEST YEAR IN MINNESOTA IN OVER 40 YEARS, AND IT'S NOT BY A THIN MARGIN, IT'S BY A HUGE MARGIN, AND I'M SURE BECAUSE OF THAT IT'S GOING TO BE STUDIED AND STUDIED AND STUDIED.

BY THE WAY, IT'S NOT JUST IN ISOLATION TO MINNESOTA'S GEOGRAPHY, THIS HAS BEEN A WINDY YEAR FOR THE DAKOTAS AND WISCONSIN AND MANITOBA AND ONTARIO, AS WELL.

SO IT'S ALL OF THAT CENTRAL NORTH AMERICAN GEOGRAPHY.

>> Cathy: YOU'RE WITH THE CLIMATE ADAPTATION PROJECT HERE IN MINNESOTA.

>> RIGHT.

>> Cathy: DO YOU THINK THAT'S A SIGNAL OF CLIMATE CHANGE -- CLIMATE CHANGE SOMEHOW?

>> IT COULD BE, COULD VERY WELL BE, BUT WE DON'T INSTANTANEOUSLY -- WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DECIPHER THAT.

THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE STUDIED LIKE CRAZY AND WE'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT IT IN THE FUTURE.

IT MIGHT BE SOLELY ATTRIBUTABLE TO CLIMATE CHANGE OR IT MIGHT BE PARTIALLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO CLIMATE CHANGE, DEPENDING -- IT MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE HIGH LATITUDES BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW, AT THE HIGH LATITUDES, WE'VE BEEN CONSISTENTLY LOSING PERMA FROST AND ICE COVER, AND THAT CHANGES THE PRESSURE GRADIENT ACROSS US IN THESE LATITUDES.

>> Eric: HAVE YOU HEARD WEATHER PEOPLE SAY, IN MINNESOTA, WE'RE HEADING TOWARD OMAHA-STYLE WEATHER OR IS THAT TOO GLIB?

>> I DON'T LIKE THOSE GEOGRAPHIC ANALOGIES, ERIC, BECAUSE OF THE LANDSCAPE.

THE LANDSCAPE IN MINNESOTA IS SO UNIQUE, OUR BIOMES, OUR ECOLOGY AND LAKES AND WETLANDS AND EVERYTHING, BUT OVER THE COURSE OF CENTURIES, WE COULD MIGRATE IN THAT DIRECTION AND DESTROY THOSE ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS.

I'M NOT SAYING IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE I, FOR ONE, AM STILL HOPEFUL THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, AS -- BY WHAT'S HAPPENED LATEST -- IN THE LATEST NEWS WITH THE FEDERAL ALLOCATION THAT'S GOING TO GO TOWARDS CLIMATE CHANGE, BOTH ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> Cathy: SAY, I'M CURIOUS.

I THINK IT WAS 2013, I REMEMBER SHARING A STAGE WITH YOU HERE AT THE FAIR AND IT WAS AWFUL.

IT WAS SO HOT.

WE HAD LITTLE PUDDLES OF SWEAT UNDER OUR CHAIRS, IT WAS TERRIBLE.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> Cathy: AND I THINK IT WAS LIKE SIX DAYS IN THE 90S DURING THE FAIR THAT DAY, THE THIRD WARMEST FAIR EVER.

ANY 90-DEGREE DAYS ON THE HORIZON THIS YEAR?

>> NO, NO.

THE WARMEST DAY OF THE 12-DAY RUN THIS YEAR WILL PROBABLY BE TOMORROW, LIKE MAYBE 84 OR 85.

>> Cathy: SATURDAY?

>> AND WE GET THROUGH TOMORROW, SUNDAY AND MONDAY, THERE WILL BE CHANCES FOR SHOWERS.

THERE WILL BE SOME CHANCES FOR SHOWERS.

AND THEN NEXT WEEK, WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO 70s AND 80s, SO FOR THE RUN OF THE FAIR THIS YEAR, IT LOOKS LIKE PRETTY COMFORTABLE WEATHER, IF YOU ASK ME.

NO SIGN OF 90s ALL THE WAY TO THE END OF THE FAIR.

>> Eric: WHAT KIND OF WINTER PREVIEW CAN YOU GIVE US?

>> Cathy: OOOOO.

>> La NIÑA IS STILL IN PLAY, THE COLD OCEAN EPISODE IN EQUATORIAL PACIFIC, IT'S SUPPOSED TO STAY IN PLAY UNTIL NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER AND THEN MAYBE FADE AWAY.

SO THE FALL IS EMPHATICALLY LIKELY TO BE WARM AND DRY.

>> Eric: OKAY.

>> SO THAT GETS US THROUGH NOVEMBER.

>> Eric: OKAY.

>> BUT IF YOU'VE GOT A COIN ON YOU, THE WINTER SEASON RIGHT NOW IS A COIN FLIP BECAUSE OF THE TRANSITION CHANGE.

WHETHER WE GO FROM La NIÑA TO NEUTRAL OR FROM La NIÑA TO EL NINO, WILL PROBABLY HAVE A SAY IN WHAT KIND OF WINTER WE HAVE.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.

Dr. MARK SEELEY, YOU'RE A TREASURE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS.

THANKS A LOT FOR HAVING ME.

[Cheers & Applause] >> Eric: THANKS.

>> Cathy: BY THE WAY, IN JUST A MINUTE, ERIC WILL BE JOINED ON THE STAGE BY A SPECIAL GUEST.

WE'LL THROW IT OUT TO MARY LaHAMMER AND SHELETTA BRUNDIDGE IN THE AUDIENCE.

>> Mary: YOU ALREADY TALKED TO THE QUEEN BEE OF OUR SUPER FANS WITH SOME HISTORY AT THE FAIR.

>> YES, SHE IS SO INSPIRATIONAL.

GIVE HER ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

>> Mary: YEAH, WE LOVE RUTH.

WELL, I FOUND SOMEONE WHO'S GOT SOME REALLY GOOD STATE FAIR HISTORY BACK HERE, AND OUR POLITICAL JUNKIES MAY RECOGNIZE FORMER LAWMAKER, COMMISSIONER DAN McELROY.

>> HELLO.

>> Mary: SO, HE'S NOT TALKING POLITICS, HE'S TALKING HIS PERSONAL STATE FAIR HISTORY.

HE SHARED A VERY INTERESTING FACT.

DAN?

>> WELL, MY FIRST STATE FAIR MEMORY IS COMING TO THE FAIR WITH MY MOM, AND I HAD TO BE FOUR YEARS OLD BECAUSE WE STILL LIVED IN HIGHLAND.

I REMEMBER WALKING UP THE HILL TO THE STREET CAR STOP AND TAKING THE STREET CAR HERE.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN 19 -- >> Mary: ISN'T WHEN THE STREET CARS WERE STILL HERE?

>> IT WAS IN 1952 SO 70 EARS AGO.

THE TWO THINGS I REMEMBER WERE THE STREET CAR AND THE MERRY-GO-ROUND, AND IT WAS THE OLD WOODEN MERRY-GO-ROUND IN ITS OLD BUILDING.

AND I'VE BEEN A FAIR JUNKIE EVER SINCE.

>> Mary: WE LOVE IT, 70 YEARS.

>> NOW THAT I'M RETIRED, I COME A LOT.

>> Mary: 70 YEARS FOR DAN McELROY.

SHELETTA, WHAT DO YOU HAVE?

>> THINKING OF LONGEVITY, THIS BEAUTIFUL COUPLE HAS BEEN MARRIED 50 YEARS, IT'S THEIR 49th YEAR TOGETHER AT THE FAIR!!

GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE!!

[Cheers & Applause] 50 YEARS TOGETHER.

WHAT IS YOUR SECRET FOR A LONG AND HAPPY MARRIAGE?

>> SENSE OF HUMOR.

>> A SENSE OF HUMOR.

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

I'M A COMEDIAN AND I JUST GOT DIVORCED!!

[Laughter] MY JOKES MUST NOT BE THAT FARE, MARY.

[Laughter] >> Mary: OR MAYBE YOU WERE TOO FUNNY AND THERE WAS A RIVALRY AT HOME SO -- >> OH, OKAY, MAYBE THAT'S IT.

>> Mary: BECAUSE I COULD LIVE WITH YOU.

WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO LIVE WITH THIS ONE?

[Laughter] WE LOVE YOU, SHELETTA.

DOUBLE E, BACK TO YOU.

>> Eric: ONE OF OUR GREAT STATE FAIR "ALMANAC" TRADITIONS IS KEVIN KLING COMING BEFORE US TO GIVE US AN ESSAY ON THE STATE FAIR AND THE CONNECTION IT HAS TO HIS FAMILY.

SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, THE GREAT STORY-TELLER, THE PRIDE OF OSSEO HIGH SCHOOL, KEVIN KLING!!

[ Applause ] >> THANK YOU GUYS.

SO WHEN I TRAVEL AROUND, I TRY TO EXPLAIN MY LOVE OF THE STATE FAIR.

BUT IT'S LIKE EXPLAINING WHEN I GO ON VACATION TO FLORIDA, WHY I PACK A COAT AND A HAT AND ROAD FLARE AND A CAN OF SPAM.

IT'S WHAT YOU DO.

WHEN I WAS A KID, I WOULD GO TO MACHINERY HILL WITH MY DAD AND HE WOULD CRAWL OVER EVERYTHING.

WHEN WE LEFT, HE'D HAVE GRASS STAINS ON HIS BACK, A STREAK OF OIL ACROSS HIS FACE, A TORN SHIRT, AND A HUGE GRIN.

IT WAS OBVIOUS HE'D FOUND HIS THRILL ON MACHINERY HILL.

[Laughter] AT THE STATE FAIR, WE ALL HAVE OUR MUST-DO LIST, LIKE I'VE GOT TO SEE THE ART, I GOTTA GET A CORN DOG, I HAVE TO HIT THE ALL YOU CAN DRINK MILK BAR.

FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY THE MEN'S ROOM.

I THINK IF ALL INTOLERANCE HAD THE SAME EFFECT AS LACTOSE, WE'D HAVE A MUCH KINDER NATION.

THERE'S THE OLD MILL WHICH LOOKS HARMLESS, IT'S A SLOW BOAT THAT PASSES DIORAMAS OF FORESTS AND STAR WARS AND CHRISTMAS BUT, OH, MAN, THAT'S LIKE WRAPPING A ROMANCE NOVEL IN A TEXT BOOK JACKET.

IT IS 50 SHADES OF DORIAN GRAY.

I MEAN, LORD ONLY KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS IN FRONT OF THOSE GNOMES AND STORM TROOPERS AND SANTA'S REINDEER.

[SHIVERING] >> IN THE MIDWAY, THERE IS A TOY CRANE THAT PICKS UP STUFFED ANIMALS AND TRINKETS BEHIND A PLATE OF GLASS, AND THAT GRATEFUL DEAD CIGARETTE LIGHTER THAT'S COST ME ABOUT 30 BUCKS OVER THE YEARS.

ONE DAY, I AM GOING TO GET THAT LIGHTER.

THE MIDWAY, THE MIDWAY GETS ITS NAME BECAUSE IT'S MIDWAY IN LIFE BETWEEN HAPPINESS AND HEALTH AND A SLIPPERY SLOPE OF DEGRADATION.

LIKE THAT SCENE IN PINOCHIO, RIGHT BEFORE THEY TURN INTO DONKEYS, YOU GET WHAT YOU DESERVE IN THE MIDWAY.

LIKE THERE'S RIDE WE CALL THE RETURN OF THE CORN DOG.

THE STATE FAIR... [Laughter] THE STATE FAIR LAW OF PHYSICS STATES, A BODY IN MOTION WILL STAY IN MOTION UNTIL THAT TEENAGER IN THE METALLICA T-SHIRT SAYS YOU'VE HAD ENOUGH.

MOST OF ALL, THOUGH, IT'S THE PEOPLE, MY PEOPLE.

THIS IS NEUTRAL GROUND WHERE WE MEET AND SET OUR DIFFERENCES ASIDE.

WE GATHER AND TOGETHER, IT DOESN'T MEAN WE AGREE, NO.

IT'S A RECOGNITION.

I BRING WHO I AM TO WHO YOU ARE, OUR HERD, OUR FLOCK, OUR PACK, A CONSTELLATION.

EACH STAR BRINGING A BIT OF LIGHT TO THE DARKNESS, EACH VOICE ANOTHER INSTRUMENT IN THE SILENCE.

THESE ARE MY PEOPLE, MY CLAY, THE PLACE I BELONG.

[Cheers & Applause] >> Eric: KEVIN KLING, EVERYBODY, GIVE IT UP!

KAOMI AND MARY, MARY, YOU READY OUT THERE?

>> Mary: YEAH, I AM, MARY LaHAMMER IN THE CROWD WITH KAOMI LEE WHO IS OUR GREATER MINNESOTA CORRESPONDENT.

KAOMI, YOU HAVE SOME HISTORY HERE AND WE WANT TO TELL PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR HISTORY AND HOW YOU CAN GET UP TO DATE WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND DIGITAL MEDIA, IT'S ON OUR WEBSITE.

IT'S ON THE BACK OF YOUR T-SHIRT.

HERE WE GO.

TPT.ORG.

YOU CAN HEAD THERE AND LOOK AT ALL OF OUR ARCHIVES, YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND Facebook.

BOTH TPT, TPTALMANAC AND FIND MARY LaHAMMER.

I WILL BE TWEETING ABOUT POLITICS AND MAYBE SOME FOOD AT THE FAIR AND SPORTS AND ALL THOSE THINGS.

AND WE'RE EVEN ON TIKTOK NOW, AND SOMEONE ELSE IS ON TIKTOK, RIGHT?

>> YES, MPR NEWS IS NOW ON TIKTOK, I'VE HEARD THIS FROM A GOOD SOURCE, JUST VERY NEW.

SO DEFINITELY CHECK THEM OUT.

AND I FEEL RIGHT AT HOME HERE, MARY BECAUSE, TOO MANY YEARS AGO, I STARTED MY JOURNALISM CAREER HERE AT MPR NEWSD NOW I'M A ROVING REPORTER FOR "ALMANAC."

FOR MORE ABOUT MPR NEWS, YOU CAN GO TO MPRNEWS.ORG AND THERE YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR THEIR EMAILS AND THEY GO RIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MPRNEWS IS ALSO ON Facebook, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM AND, AS WE MENTIONED NOW, NEWLY ON TIKTOK.

THAT'S IT FOR ME.

>> Mary: GREAT, ALL RIGHT, THAT'S WHERE TO FIND PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

BACK TO YOU AT THE STAGE, Z.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, THE CUTENESS LEVEL JUST WENT UP 1,000% HERE ON STAGE.

MY RADIO AUDIENCE, I'M SO SAD YOU CAN'T SEE THIS.

THIS IS A NEWBORN LAMB SO I GET THE ANIMAL INTERVIEWS HERE AT THE STATE FAIR, I GET TO SHOW OFF MY MARGINAL ANIMAL SCIENCE KNOWLEDGE, AND I WAS IN CITY 4H SO THAT DIDN'T REALLY COUNT FOR ANYTHING, I GUESS, BUT, WE ARE JOINED BY A NEWBORN BABY LAMB AND KELLY PAGEL FROM FFA, AND, KELLY, YOU'RE FROM BENSON, MINNESOTA.

>> YES, I ACTUALLY GREW UP HERE DOWN IN THE CITIES, ROSEVILLE, MINNESOTA, AND MOVED OUT TO RURAL BENSON ABOUT TWO AND A HALF HOURS FROM HERE A COUPLE YEARS AGO, AND NOW I LIVE ON A FARM WITH BEEF AND GET TO HELP WITH SHEEP AND SWINE AND KIND OF STICKING MY HANDS IN EVERYTHING.

>> Cathy: WHO IS WITH US TODAY?

YOU ARE SO CUTE.

ARE YOU AWAKE OR NOT?

YOU'RE KIND OF AWAKE.

YEAH.

WHO IS THIS?

>> WE HAVE DARRELL HERE, HE IS A POLYPAY RAM LAMB, HE CAME FROM WATERTOWN, MINNESOTA.

>> Cathy: OH, MY GOODNESS.

YOU ARE SO CUTE.

WHAT IS ---WHAT'S THE BREED KNOWN FOR?

>> THEY'RE KNOWN FOR HAVING MULTIPLE LAMBS DURING THE BIRTHING PROCESS, SO HE ACTUALLY HAS A TWIN SISTER NAMED SHERYL, ONE OF OUR VETERINARY -- >> SHERYL AND DARRELL, OKAY.

>> YEAH, OUR VETERINARIAN STUDENTS ARE PRETTY GOOD WITH COMING UP WITH NAMES THAT MATCH THEIR PERSONALITIES, SO... >> Cathy: ARE YOU -- I HATE TO ASK THIS, WOULD THAT BE MORE OF A MEAT LAMB VERSUS A WOOL LAMB?

>> THEY KIND OF DO BOTH.

IT DEPENDS ON THE BREED BUT THESE KIND OF DO BOTH.

I KNOW THEY DO A LITTLE MORE WOOL, I THINK, THAN MEAT BUT -- YEAH.

>> Cathy: SO CUTE.

WHAT WAS THAT?

DID YOU SAY SOMETHING?

JUST A LITTLE TINY -- JUST A LITTLE BLEET THERE, I'M NOT SURE.

YOU TOLD ME WHEN WE WERE TALKING, YOU WANTED TO BE IN AG COMMUNICATIONS?

>> YEAH, AG EDUCATION OR COMMUNICATIONS.

I'M A SENIOR THIS YEAR AT BENSON HIGH SCHOOL AND STEPPING INTO THE AGRICULTURE WORLD IS A PLACE I HOPE NOT TO LEAVE.

ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED AND THE OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS TO SHARE -- SHARE WHAT WE KNOW AND SHARE OUR EXPERIENCES IS SOMETHING THAT I HOPE TO CONTINUE.

>> Cathy: NOW, DARRELL WAS BORN, WHAT, 24 HOURS AGO?

>> A LITTLE UNDER 48.

HE CAME ON HIS RIDE OVER HERE, ACTUALLY, SO A LITTLE EARLIER THAN THE REST OF THEM.

WE HAVE A COUPLE ACTUAL NEWBORNS OVER THERE IN THE CHS MIRACLE OF BIRTH CENTER BUT HE'S A LITTLE OLDER THAN THE REST OF THEM.

>> Cathy: I'M SURE THE OWNER WAS PROBABLY A LITTLE SURPRISED TO OPEN UP THE BACK OF THE TRAILER AND THERE WAS DARRELL.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.

SO YOU CAN SEE DARRELL AND HIS SISTER SHERYL AND ALL THE OTHER ANIMALS AT THE MIRACLE OF BIRTH CENTER.

>> YES, WE HAVE JUST ABOUT 17 PIGLETS THAT WERE BORN YESTERDAY AND LAST NIGHT AND THERE'S A NEW DAIRY CALF, AS WELL, AND A COUPLE OTHER LITTLE LAMBS RUNNING AROUND BUT, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME DOWN AND SEE THEM.

>> Mary: DARRELL IS TAKING A LITTLE NAP RIGHT NOW WHICH IS SOMETHING I WOULD LOVE TO DO BUT WE'RE AT THE FAIR SO, DARRELL, HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME.

AND KELLY, BEST OF LUCK.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.

WE ARE -- [Applause] >> Cathy: I LOVE THE ANIMAL INTERVIEWS HERE AND SOMETIMES IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT TO CLEAN UP AFTER SOME OF OUR ANIMAL GUESTS BUT NOT THIS TIME AROUND SO WE'LL SEND IT OUT TO JEARLYN WHO HAS A SPECIAL GUEST.

>> THANK YOU, CATHY.

DID YOU SEE THAT?

HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO WELL?

THAT'S A LAMB, AN ADORABLE LAMB.

HOW DO WE DO THAT?

>> WE BRING THE LAMB BACK IN THE MUSIC OR -- >> NO, NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.

WE LOOK GOOD UP HERE.

HERE'S THE DEAL, WE'RE GONNA KNOCK 'EM OUT, RIGHT?

>> WE BETTER.

>> WE ARE WITH SINGER-SONGWRITER, WHO MAY BE FAMILIAR WE LISTENERS AT THE CURRENT, HIS NAME IS JAKE LA BOTZ AND HE'LL BE PERFORMING MONDAY AND TUESDAY AT THE FAIR, THE SHELLS STAGE, THE SHILLING AMPHITHEATER, YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS.

A FREE STAGE IN THE WEST END MARKET AND JAKE IS HERE TO GIVE US A PREVIEW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US, JAKE.

>> SO HAPPY TO BE HERE.

IT'S REALLY COOL.

IT'S MY FIRST TIME AT THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR AND I CAN SEE WHAT A TRADITION IT IS FOR PEOPLE.

YOU GET THE SENSE THAT PEOPLE'S FAMILIES HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME SO I HOPE TO MAKE IT PART OF MY TRADITION, TOO.

>> WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG?

>> I DIDN'T LIVE HERE.

I JUST MOVED HERE YESTERDAY, TUTLY.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I MOVED TO St. PAUL YESTERDAY.

>> BRAVO.

BRAVO.

THAT MEANS HE AND I WILL SING TOGETHER ONE DAY, THAT'S WHAT THAT MEANS, TO ME, ANYWAY.

OKAY.

SO, LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

YOUR TILE OF MUSIC IS QUITE INTERESTING.

YOU DO A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IT?

>> IT'S SOMETIMES CALLED AMERICANA MUSIC WHICH MEANS IT INCORPORATES ALL THE GREAT AMERICAN MUSIC ART FORMS, IT'S BLUES, OLD COUNTRY HONKY TONK, SOUL MUSIC, GOSPEL MUSIC, RAG TIME, ROCK AND ROLL, ALL THAT STUFF.

>> LIKE THE BLUES, LIKE... [SINGING] >> YOU DO ACTING AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS, FILM, ALL OF THAT.

I'M JUST WONDERING, YOU ALSO HAVE SOMETHING INTERESTING CALLED SEMANTIC MEDITATION.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, I'M A MEDITATION TEACHER IN A BUDDHIST TRADITION AND I SOMETIMES DO THAT EVEN WHEN I'M ON THE ROAD, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

WHEN I'M DONE WITH THE SEEDY BARS AT NIGHT, SOMETIMES NEXT DAY I'M TEACHING MEDITATION SOMEPLACE.

>> THAT IS JAKE LA BOTZ AND IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU'VE HEARD, YOU HEARD WHERE HE'S GOING TO BE ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY, THAT'S WHERE TO COME.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, JAKE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

♪ GUITAR MUSIC ♪ ♪ I'M DIGGING, DIGGING DIGGING FOR A DIAMOND IN THE RADIO, PRESSING MY LIP RIGHT TO THE FLOOR ♪ 20 MILES OVER THE DOUBLE FIVE, HANDS START TO CLAPPING SO MY KNEES CAN DRIVE ♪ I'M SHAKEN, TAKEN, THIS SOUL IS OCCUPIED ♪ I'M SHAKING, TAKEN, HOLY GHOST, CARRY ME OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'M SLIDING, SLIDING ♪ SLIPPING AND SLIDING WITH THE PULL OF MY FEET, A CORNER OF THE BOLT AND A QUEEN OF STEEL, - THEY TOLD ME YOU CAN'T CAST DOWN, DON'T COME AROUND UNTIL THE FOLKS COME DOWN ♪ I'M SHAKEN, TAKEN THIS SOUL IS OCCUPIED ♪ I'M SHAKEN, TAKEN, HOLY GHOST, CARRY ME OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'M SHOUTING, SHOUTING ♪ SHOUTING IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS ♪ NO CHURCH BIG ENOUGH TO HOLD MY JOY ♪ TROUBLE THE WATER, TROUBLE THE SEA, TROUBLE NO LONGER WORRY ME ♪ I'M SHAKEN, TAKEN, THIS SOUL IS OCCUPIED ♪ I'M SHAKEN, TAKEN ♪ HOLY GHOST CARRY ME OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE ♪ ♪ I'M SHAKEN, I'M TAKEN I'M SHAKEN, I'M TAKEN ♪ SHAKEN, I'M TAKEN!!

♪ SHAKEN, I'M TAKEN ♪ ♪ I'M SHAKEN, TAKEN ♪ WELL, THE HOLY GHOST CARRY ME OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [Cheers & Applause] >> THANKS A LOT.

>> Cathy: WOW, WOW, WOW.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE LIVE AT CAMP MPR, WHICH IS THE -- AT THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR.

WE'RE LIVING ON THE RADIO AND THIS IS A SPECIAL EDITION OF "ALMANAC" ON TWIN CITIES PUBLIC TELEVISION, THE LONGEST RUNNING PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM OF ITS KIND IN THE NATION, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

[Cheers & Applause] NOW, LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.

IN THE RADIO BUSINESS, SOMEONE WHO HAS AN ESPECIALLY BEAUTIFUL VOICE IS SAID TO HAVE A GOOD SET OF PIPES.

OUR NEXT GUEST HAS MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

HIS IS A VOICE THAT'S LIKE SILK.

FREDDIE BELL, INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

>> GOOD MORNING, TWIN CITIES.

GOOD MORNING TO YA!!

YOU GOT HERE RIGHT ON TIME.

HOWDY DO YA?

GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> Cathy: THE MORNING SHOW HOST AT KMOJ RADIO IN THE TWIN CITIES, THAT'S THE COMMUNITY RADIO STATION BASED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF MINNEAPOLIS AT 89.9 ON YOUR DIAL OR ONLINE AT KMOJFM.COM.

FREDDIE BELL IS AN AMAZING GUY, HE'S THE GENERAL MANAGER OF KMOJ, HE'S THE HOST OF THE NATIONALLY SYNDICATED FREDDIE BELL SHOW AND HE DOES THE SONG OF THE DAY ON MPR'S NEW PROGRAM AT NOONTIME CALLED MINNESOTA NOW, YEAH.

ONE OF THE REASONS HE'S WITH US ON "ALMANAC," JUST A FEW SHORT WEEKS FROM TODAY, FREDDIE BELL WILL BE INDUCTED INTO THE MINNESOTA BROADCASTER'S HALL OF FAME AT THE PADDOCK MUSEUM.

>> SO EXCITING AND I HEARD THAT YOU'LL BE INDUCTED AS WELL.

>> Cathy: WE'LL GO IN TOGETHER.

HOW ABOUT THAT?

>> THAT'S GREAT.

>> Cathy: AND, OF COURSE, ERIC IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE HALL OF FAME.

>> Eric: I'M IN ALREADY, BY THE WAY.

>> Cathy: NICE TO MEET YOU, BY THE WAY.

>> THE PLEASURE IS ALL MINE.

>> Eric: WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE AND THE EFFECT THAT COMMUNITY RADIO HAS?

>> IT GIVES A VOICE TO THE VOICE-LESS, IT GIVES HELP TO THE HELPLESS, IT EVEN GIVES HOMES TO FOLKS WHO DON'T HAVE HOMES.

ALSO, IT EMPOWERS INDIVIDUALS TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES WHEN NOBODY ELSE IS THERE AND JUST LIKE RADIO IS AT MPR, IT IS THAT FRIEND THAT YOU CAN DRESS TO, YOU CAN EAT WITH AND YOU CAN TALK BACK TO EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE TALKING BACK TO YOU.

>> Cathy: EXACTLY.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT RADIO?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I STARTED OUT IN TELEVISION AND I LIKE RADIO BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE TO WEAR THE MAKE-UP ANYMORE.

[Laughter] I DON'T NEED MAKE-UP FOR RADIO.

BUT I LOVE THE IMMEDIACY.

WE'RE SCRIPTED HEAVILY IN THE WORK THAT WE DO WITH OUR MORNING PROGRAM BUT I LOVE THE FACT THAT WE CAN SCRIPT, BE READY BUT GO OFF-SCRIPT AS OFTEN AS WE NEED TO OR AS OF AS WE LIKE.

>> Eric: YOU DO SPEAKING AS ONE OF YOUR SIDE GIGS, I THINK, MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKING AND THAT SORT OF THING.

>> YEAH, I THINK TODAY, THOUGH, THEY CALL IT A SIDE HUSTLE.

[Laughter] >> Eric: I'LL TAKE YOUR WORD FOR IT.

>> BUT I DO, I DO.

>> ERIC: ENCAPSULATE IT FOR THEM, WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU LIKE TO BRING PEOPLE?

>> YOU HAVE THE POWER TO DO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO DO, NO MATTER YOUR AGE, NO MATTER YOUR STATUS IN LIFE, NO MATTER WHO YOU HAPPEN TO BE OR NO MATTER WHO YOU ASPIRE TO BE, YOU CAN DO IT, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS DECIDE AND MAKE A DECISION.

THERE ARE SOME FOLKS WHO HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME MAKING A DECISION BECAUSE THEY'RE WONDERING, IS IT OKAY, CAN I DO THIS AND THE ANSWER IS EMPHATICALLY, YES, YOU CAN.

>> Cathy: TELL ME ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY TO WHERE YOU'VE GOTTEN TO RIGHT NOW, YES, YOU CAN AND YOU HAVE.

HOW HARD WAS IT TRYING TO CLIMB -- BECAUSE BROADCASTING CAN EAT YOU ALIVE.

>> IT DOES EAT YOU ALIVE.

I'M STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, CATHY, THE NAME OF THE WORD FOR PROFESSIONAL GYPSY.

I'VE GONE FROM ONE STATION TO THE OTHER, FROM ONE SIDE OF THE COUNTRY TO THE OTHER, CHASING THIS CAREER CALLED BROADCASTING, BUT IT'S BEEN GOOD TO ME.

I'VE MET A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE LIKE THE FOLKS I'M SITTING HERE WITH THIS MORNING.

I'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOTHING AND I'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE KINGS AND QUEENS OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES ALL AROUND THE WORLD AND THE ONE THING THAT I'VE FOUND IS THAT EVERYBODY IS JUST TRYING TO DO THE VERY BEST THEY CAN.

THAT'S ALL THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MAKE OUR MARK ON OUR LIVES AND THE LIVES OF OTHERS.

>> Eric: WHAT'S THE FUTURE OF RADIO WITH STREAMING AND THE INTERNET AND ALL THAT, HAS TERRESTRIAL RADIO GOT A FUTURE OR... >> OF COURSE!

OF COURSE.

>> Cathy: YES, IT DOES.

>> IT'S INTERESTING.

HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE RADIOS?

THERE'S YOUR ANSWER RIGHT THERE.

>> Eric: IT'S UNANIMOUS IN THE CROWD.

[Laughter] >> Cathy: WHERE IS THE NEXT GENERATION COMING FROM?

I DO WORRY ABOUT THAT, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

>> WELL, THE NEXT GENERATION OF RADIO IS SIMPLY THIS.

I REMEMBER WHEN DISCO CAME INTO THE MARKET, I'M THAT OLD, I REMEMBER DISCO, WHEN IT HAPPENED, PEOPLE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN TO MUSIC.

WILL DISCO TAKE IT OVER, BUT WE STILL HAVE THOSE WONDERFUL SELECTIONS.

WE STARTED A NEW RADIO STATION CALLED THE ICE, MINNESOTA'S COLDEST MUSIC, AND IT IS GENERALLY GEARED TO THE HIP-HOP COMMUNITY SO WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH KMOJ IS REINVENTING OUR RADIO STATION, WE STARTED IN 1976 AND THE PEOPLE LISTENING WERE PROBABLY 18 OR 19 AND NOW THEY'RE LIKE ME IN THEIR 60s -- I'M 80, IN THEIR 80s, WE'RE TRYING TO CULTIVATE A BRAND-NEW AUDIENCE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE LIKE MY GRANDCHILDREN, THOSE WHO TURN THE DIAL FROM THE BACK SEAT, DAD, TURN THE STATION TO MPR.

SO THOSE ARE THE FOLKS THAT WE ARE CATERING TO WITH HD 2, THE ICE KMOJ, MINNESOTA'S COLDEST MUSIC.

>> Cathy: ARE THEY FINDING -- HAVE THEY FOUND A HOME THERE?

>> IT'S AMAZING THE HOME THAT THEY'VE FOUND.

IT'S AMAZING BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE LISTENING TO US AND THEY DON'T REALIZE THAT IT IS KMOJ.

THEY JUST KNOW IT'S THE COLDEST MUSIC AND WE SELECTED THAT TITLE ONLY BECAUSE WHEN I WAS ASKING, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO CALL IT AND I WAS WITH SOME GUYS FROM ATLANTA, AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY HOT HERE.

HE GOES, YEAH, IT'S COLD IN MINNESOTA.

I SAID, WE GOT IT, MINNESOTA'S COLDEST MUSIC, HIP-HOP.

>> Cathy: FREDDIE BELL, I'M TELLING YOU, REALLY A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU.

YOU'RE A BROADCAST LEGEND.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION?

>> Cathy: YEAH, GO AHEAD.

>> MAY I HAVE YOUR AUTOGRAPH AFTER THIS OVER?

>> Cathy: STOP THAT NOW.

ONLY IF YOU GIVE ME YOURS.

>> Eric: FREDDIE BELL, EVERYBODY.

>> Cathy: CATCH HIM AT NOON ON MPR.

MARY LaHAMMER, I KNOW YOU'RE OUT IN THE AUDIENCE.

>> Mary: ABSOLUTELY, I HAVE MY FAMILY BEHIND ME.

MY SISTER AND I GREW UP LISTENING TO FREDDIE BELL.

WE'RE A LITTLE STAR-STRUCK, AREN'T WE?

[Laughter] HERE AT THE FAIR, THERE ARE ABOUT A THOUSAND BOOTHS SELLING THINGS, AABOUT 500 OF THEM ARE FOOD, AND OF COURSE, SOME OF THE THINGS ARE PRONTO PUPS, CHEESE CURDS, MALTED AT THE DAIRY BUILDING, I'M HEADING OVER THERE AFTER, ANYBODY WANT TO COME WITH ME FOR IT?

YES, LET'S DO IT.

THERE'S ALSO A HEAPING HELP OF POLITICS AND THE RACE I'M PAYING THE MOST ATTENTION TO, TOP OF THE TICKET, RACE FOR GOVERNOR.

I CAUGHT UP WITH BOTH CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR.

HERE'S A LOOK AT THAT.

THE FIRST DAY AT THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR STARTS WITH TRADITIONS.

TASTING A NEW FOOD OFFERING AT THE FARMERS' UNION.

>> I'VE GOT OUR BLT LAND -- >> D.F.L.

GOVERNOR TIM WALZ PIVOTS FROM FLAKY CRUST TO TOP POLITICAL ISSUES.

>> Mary: NOT ON OUR WATCH.

WHY ARE WE WEARING THIS T-SHIRT AT THE FAIR?

>> BECAUSE I THINK IT'S VERY CLEAR, THE ISSUE THAT'S ON A LOT OF PEOPLE'S MINDS, ESPECIALLY THE WOMEN THAT ARE HERE, WE SAW THE SUPREME COURT MAKE A DECISION THAT DENIES WOMEN THE RIGHTS TO MAKE THEIR OWN BODY AUTONOMY DECISIONS.

>> Mary: REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER, SCOTT JENSEN, PLANS TO BE AT HIS STATE FAIR BOOTH EVERY AFTERNOON.

SO YOU ARRIVED AT THE BOOTH TO APPLAUSE?

HOW DOES THAT FEEL?

>> IT FEELS GOOD.

WHAT'S ON THE BALLOT IS INFLATION, CRIME, RESTORING PUBLIC SAFETY, EDUCATION, THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS.

>> Mary: GOVERNOR WALZ IS WEARING A T-SHIRT RELATED TO ROE V. WADE.

D.F.L.

BOOTH, DEFINITELY RUNNING ON THE ABORTION ISSUE.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY ABOUT THAT TODAY?

>> IT'S FASCINATING BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONE ISSUE THAT'S NOT ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER AND HE KNOWS IT.

>> Mary: SCOTT JENSEN SAYS IT'S NOT ON THE BALLOT.

>> IT CERTAINLY IS ON THE BALLOT AND IN HIS OWN WORDS, HE SAID HE'LL GET BUSY AND HE'S GOING TO BAN ABORTION.

>> Mary: JENSEN WANTED TO DEBATE AT THE GREAT MINNESOTA GET-TOGETHER BUT WALZ DECLINED.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE DICTIONARY, WEBSTER DICTIONARY.

WHAT DOES CANCEL MEAN?

IT MEANS IF THERE IS AN ONGOING EXPECTATION AND SOMEONE STOPS IT FROM OCCURRING, THEY CANCELED IT.

>> Mary: WHY NOT DEBATE HERE?

>> I WANT TO MAKE NOTE, FOR EVERYBODY, I'M THE FIRST GOVERNOR IN THE COUNTRY THAT'S DONE A GENERAL ELECTION DEBATE.

>> Mary: DID YOU CANCEL THE STATE FAIR DEBATE OR DID YOU EVER AGREE -- >> WE NEVER AGREED TO IT.

THE WHOLE ISSUE ABOUT TRUTHFULNESS IN THIS... >> Mary: JENSEN HAS HAD TO CONTEND WITH HEADLINES SAYING THAT HE TRIPLED DOWN ON COMPARING COVID RESTRICTIONS TO NAZI GERMANY.

>> IT IS NEVER AN APPROPRIATE COMPARISON.

I WAS ONE OF THE FIRST 50 BALFOUR FELLOWS TO GO TO THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM, A TEACHER FROM EACH STATE.

AND I DID MY GRADUATE WORK IN GENOCIDE STUDIES.

>> WHEN I SAY SOMETHING THAT REFLECTS MY THOUGHT PROCESS, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

AM I OPEN TO CRITICISM, TO BE SURE.

>> Mary: HAVE YOU TAKE YOU TALKED TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY OR HEARD FROM FOLKS ON IT?

>> ACTUALLY, I MET THE OTHER NIGHT AND I WAS GIVEN A STANDING OVATION FOR MY COMMENTS.

OVERALL, THE FAIR IS ALREADY BUSY AND PEOPLE ARE BACK, READY TO TALK POLITICS.

>> I THINK 100% THE FAIR IS BACK AND I THINK PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO TALK POLITICS.

I THINK THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT NEIGHBORLINESS AND HOPEFULNESS.

>> MARY LaHAMMER WANTS TO KNOW WHAT THE VIBE IS HERE.

I WOULD SAY THE VIBE IS PRETTY ENERGIZED, ISN'T IT?

[Cheering] MARY, IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE VIBE IS HERE, YOU GOTTA GET YOUR HEARING AND YOUR VISION CHECKED BECAUSE IT'S PRETTY DARNED OBVIOUS.

[Applause] >> ERIC: ERIC ESKOLA BACK HERE.

LET'S KEEP THE POLITICAL THEME GOING.

AND JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THE ELECTION SEASION, NATIONALLY AND LOCALLY, A COUPLE OF ESTEEMED POLITICAL SCIENTISTS, KATHRYN PEARSON, PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

LARRY JACOBS HERE, HE HEADS THE CENTER FOR POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE AT THE HUMPHREY SCHOOL AT THE U OF M. PROFESSOR PEARSON, THE TRADITIONAL POLITICAL SCIENCE HISTORY OF A MID-TERM ELECTION WOULD SAY BIG REPUBLICAN YEAR.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

POLITICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THE ELECTORAL CONTEXT FAVORS THE PARTY THAT DOES NOT HOLD THE WHITE HOUSE.

ADD TO THAT, PRESIDENT BIDEN IS NOT VERY POPULAR, ADD TO THAT HIGH GAS PRICES AND INFLATION, AND THE POLITICAL CONTEXT BY AND LARGE SUGGESTS THAT REPUBLICANS SHOULD PICK UP SEATS IN THE HOUSE, THE SENATE AND IN STATE LEGISLATURES CROSS THE COUNTRY.

THAT SAID, CANDIDATES MATTER.

SO WHILE DEMOCRATS ONLY HAVE A FIVE-SEAT ADVANTAGE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THAT WILL MAKE IT VERY CHALLENGING FOR DEMOCRATS TO HOLD ON IN THE HOUSE.

THE SENATE IS 50-50 AND REPUBLICANS HAVE NOMINATED SOME CANDIDATES WHO AREN'T THAT GREAT, SO LOOK AT GEORGIA, ARIZONA, PENNSYLVANIA.

DEMOCRATS HAVE A CHANCE THERE WHERE A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, THAT DIDN'T SEEM SO CLEAR.

SO CANDIDATES MATTER BUT THE NATIONAL CONTEXT CLEARLY FAVORS REPUBLICANS.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU THINK, PROFESSOR JACOBS?

>> WELL, OBVIOUSLY, KATHRYN PEARSON IS SPOT ON BUT THERE ARE THESE QUESTIONS, AND SO I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS AS A RED WAVE CHILL, MEANING YOU'VE GOT THE ABORTION DECISION BY THE SUPREME COURT AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF POLLS SHOWING THAT THE TURNOUT ENTHUSIASM AMONG DEMOCRATS HAS GONE UP.

IF YOU LOOK IN THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS A SURGE OF WOMEN WHO ARE REGISTERING FOR THE FIRST TIME AND LOOKS AS IF DEMOCRATS MIGHT HAVE A 4-1 ADVANTAGE IN TERMS OF THOSE NEW REGISTRATIONS.

WE'RE SEEING THAT AROUND THE COUNTRY.

THESE SPECIAL ELECTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING, THE MARGIN, INCLUDING IN MINNESOTA, THE MARGIN OF THE REPUBLICAN WIN WAS QUITE SMALL, MUCH SMALLER THAN WE EXPECTED.

SO THAT -- BIDEN IS STILL UNPOPULAR BUT HE'S UP FOUR, FIVE POINTS OVER A MONTH AGO, AND THEN THERE'S DONALD TRUMP AND DONALD TRUMP IS STILL CREATING A HORNET'S NEST THAT MAY TURN OFF SOME OF HIS VOTERS.

THE JANUARY 6 COMMITTEE DID GET TRACTION, SO I THINK THERE'S UNCERTAINTY HERE BUT I THINK, BY AND LARGE, THIS IS STILL GOING TO BE AN ELECTION SEASON THAT FAVORS REPUBLICANS.

>> Cathy: SO PUT OUR GOVERNOR'S RACE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE NATIONAL POLITICAL SCENE, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE, IN TERMS OF THE ISSUES, PERHAPS, CRIME, THE ECONOMY, CHOICE.

HOW IS IT PLAYING?

>> SO THE SAME ISSUES THAT REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ARE DEBATING NATIONALLY ARE ALSO VERY MUCH IN DEBATE HERE IN MINNESOTA, THE ONES YOU MENTIONED, CRIME, ABORTION, THE ECONOMY, HOW GOVERNOR WALZ HANDLED COVID.

SO THESE ARE THE ISSUES THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE BOTH CANDIDATES CAMPAIGN ON BECAUSE AT THIS POINT IN A MID-TERM ELECTION YEAR, AS LARRY SAID, TURNOUT IS LOWER, USUALLY ABOUT 20 POINTS LOWER, SO BOTH SIDES ARE REALLY TRYING TO ENERGIZE THEIR VOTERS, GET OUT THEIR VOTERS, AND THE ISSUES PLAY DIFFERENTLY ON BOTH SIDES BUT THESE ARE ISSUES THAT WE'LL HEAR THE CANDIDATES CAMPAIGN ON.

AS LARRY SAID, ABORTION IS NOW AN ISSUE THAT IS MOTIVATING DEMOCRATS TO TURN OUT, WHEREAS TRADITIONALLY, IT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THAT HAS MOTIVATED REPUBLICANS.

>> Eric: ARE THERE ANY PERSUADABLE VOTERS OUT THERE OR IS IT JUST TURN OUT YOUR HARD CORES?

>> IT'S MOSTLY TURN OUT YOUR SUPPORTERS, AND SO USUALLY IN MINNESOTA, WE SEE A SIGNIFICANT DIP IN D.F.L.

TURNOUT.

IT TENDS TO FAVOR THE REPUBLICANS.

REPUBLICANS ARE COUNTING ON THAT, PARTICULARLY IN THE LEGISLATIVE RACES BUT ALSO IN THE SENATE RACES -- EXCUSE ME, IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'LL SEE.

MAYBE THE DYNAMICS HAVE CHANGED.

ALSO, THERE'S THE CANDIDATE QUALITY WHICH KATHRYN RAISED, AND I'M A LITTLE SURPRISED AT THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES, SCOTT JENSEN.

I THINK THAT TICKET HAS UNDERPERFORMED.

THEY'VE GOTTEN OFF-MESSAGE RATHER THAN JUST STICKING TO CRIME.

THEY'VE GOTTEN INTO THIS ISSUE ABOUT THE COVID INJECTIONS AND MASKING AND MANDATES, AND JENSEN IS TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A ROAD TO HOLOCAUST WHERE 6 MILLION PEOPLE WERE KILLED.

IT'S LIKE THERE ARE A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, MIDDLE-OF-THE-ROAD VOTERS WHO ARE JUST SHAKING THEIR HEADS, OR THE DISCUSSION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS A BAN ON ABORTION.

THESE ARE TERRIBLE MESSAGES FOR A REPUBLICAN TRYING TO WIN MIDDLE-OF-THE-ROAD VOTERS, SUBURBS, WOMEN VOTERS, SO THE CANDIDATE QUALITY MATTERS.

>> Eric: DID THE OMAR-SAMUELS DECISION IN THE 5TH DISTRICT, D.F.L.

PRIMARY, SURPRISE YOU?

SAMUELS CAME PRETTY CLOSE.

>> RIGHT.

WELL, SAMUELS CAMPAIGNED HARDER THAN OMAR DID, WHICH IS INTERESTING BECAUSE, OF COURSE, SHE'S AN INCUMBENT WHO HAS RUN CAMPAIGNS SUCCESSFULLY, BUT I THINK SHE SORT OF TOOK FOR GRANTED THE INCUMBENCY ADVANTAGE, THE DISTRICT HAD STRONGLY SUPPORTED HER AND SO SHE DIDN'T CAMPAIGN AS HARD.

I THINK SHE WILL HAVE AN EASY WIN TO REELECTION IN THE FALL BUT THE PRIMARY, CERTAINLY, I THINK WAS A WARNING SIGNAL TO BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO CONSTITUENTS.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF CD1?

>> SO CD1, THIS IS THE HAGEDORN SEAT AND CONGRESSMAN HAGEDORN PASSED AWAY.

IT'S -- FINSTAD WAS -- IS THE REPUBLICAN -- WAS THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE, IS THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE BECAUSE OF THE SPECIAL ELECTION, HE'S UP AGAINST AN UNUSUAL DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE, A FORMER CEO WHO IS A MODERATE DEMOCRAT, WHO HAS SUPPORTED REPUBLICANS IN THE PAST, HIS NAME IS EDDINGER, AND HE DID BETTER THAN I THINK A LOT OF US THOUGHT HE WOULD DO IN THE MID-TERM -- EXCUSE ME, IN THE AUGUST SPECIAL ELECTION.

I THINK HE'S GOT A SHOT BUT, HONESTLY, THIS IS A RACE THAT'S GOING TO PROBABLY TILT IN FAVOR OF THE REPUBLICAN BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL WATCHING WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE ABORTION, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH TRUMP, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH BIDEN'S APPROVAL THAT CONTINUES TO TICK UP.

IT'S POSSIBLE BUT I WOULD SAY PROBABLY STILL FAVORS FINSTAD.

>> Eric: IN THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST CLOSELY WATCHED RACES IN THE COUNTRY IN THE HOUSE.

>> YES, THAT'S RIGHT, CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 2, A REMATCH BETWEEN ANGIE CRAIG AND TYLER -- >> ERIC: KISTNER.

>> -- KISTNER, EXCUSE ME, WILL BE VERY CLOSE.

IT WAS CLOSE LAST TIME, IT WILL BE CLOSE THIS TIME.

WE DON'T KNOW WHO WILL WIN.

CRAIG HAS AN ADVANTAGE, THE ADVANTAGE OF INCUMBENCY, A BETTER ABILITY TO RAISE MONEY.

THAT SAID, IN A REPUBLICAN YEAR, MID-TERMS ARE THE TYPE OF ELECTIONS WHERE WE SEE CHALLENGERS DEFEAT INCUMBENTS SO THIS WILL BE CLOSE, WHICHEVER WAY IT GOES, AND CLOSELY WATCHED.

>> Cathy: SAY, NEXT YEAR AT THE STATE FAIR, WILL WE BE TALKING ABOUT DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGERS TO JOE BIDEN AND, IF SO, WHO?

>> WELL, OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S A BIG QUESTION.

BIDEN KEEPS SAYING HE HAS TO RUN, HE HAS TO KEEP SAYING THAT OR NO ONE WILL LISTEN TO HIM IN WASHINGTON.

MY FEELING IS BIDEN WILL RUN BUT THAT'S JUST A GUESS AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS THE FIELD OF DEMOCRATS IS QUITE SPLIT, AND IT LOOKS ALMOST CERTAIN THAT DONALD TRUMP IS GOING TO ANNOUNCE.

I THINK HE'S GOT A STRONG CHANCE OF WINNING THE NOMINATION, AND IF THERE'S ONE THING THAT WILL GET JOE BIDEN IN THE RACE, DONALD TRUMP.

>> Eric: AND AMY KLOBUCHAR, WOULD SHE BE READY IN THE WINGS, JUST IN CASE?

>> I SUSPECT, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I SUSPECT THAT BEHIND THE SCENES SHE IS PREPARING TO BE READY, IF BIDEN DOES NOT RUN FOR REELECTION.

I CAN'T SEE HER CHALLENGING HIM BUT IF HE DOESN'T RUN, I COULD SEE HER JUMP RIGHT IN.

>> Cathy: WE GOT ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT AND I NEED TO ASK THIS QUESTION.

WHAT ABOUT THE POLITICS OF STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS?

>> WELL, LOOK, THERE'S THE POLITICS OF SENIORS AND SOCIAL SECURITY AND THAT IS CONSIDERED TO BE FAIR GAME.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S A GOOD SIGN THAT STUDENT VOTES MATTER, AND WE'RE SEEING JOE BIDEN TREAT STUDENT VOTERS LIKE THE WAY DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS TREAT THE SENIOR VOTE.

AND HE'S PUT UP, YOU KNOW, A MEASURE WHICH IS QUITE CONTROVERSIAL BUT COULD WELL ACTIVATE STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE AND, IN THE FUTURE, SHOW HOW THEIR VOTE MATTERS.

>> Eric: JACOBS AND PEARSON, TUITION-FREE, RIGHT HERE, ON "ALMANAC."

[APPLAUSE] MARY LaHAMMER, ALL YOURS.

>> Mary: THANKS, GUYS.

SHELLETA AND I ARE OUT HERE IN THE CROWD AND FOR THE PUBLIC RADIO VIEWERS, WE ARE WEARING SOME GEAR.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE ON, SHELLETA?

>> I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL HAT.

HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT?

>> Mary: LITTLE TPT GEAR.

AND IF ANYBODY HAS SEEN THE TEENAGERS THESE DAYS, THEY WEAR THE FANNY PACKS ARE BACK, DID YOU KNOW THAT?

YES, FANNY PACKS ARE BACK, THUMBS' UP FROM THE CROWD, AND THEY KIND OF WEAR THEM CROSS-BODY, AND YOU CAN FIND THESE LOVELY ITEMS AND MUCH MORE AT THE TPT BOOTH.

WE'RE ALSO HERE ON THE NORTH END, BY THE KIDDIE MIDWAY, MACHINERY HILL, SWEET MARTHA'S ALL THAT.

WE HAVE ACTIVITIES FOR THE KIDS AND YOU CAN GET FREE GEAR.

I THINK ROBERT AND JEFFERY OVER HERE ARE SPORTING A LITTLE BIT OF THE FREE GEAR.

>> A LITTLE BACKPACK.

>> Mary: BACKPACKS ARE BACK AGAIN THERE.

THERE ARE THINGS YOU CAN PURCHASE.

WE ALSO WANT TO TELL PEOPLE, MPR DAY AT THE FAIR, NEXT FRIDAY, A LOT HAPPENING, ANGELA DAVIS LIVE, POLITICS FRIDAY, AND WE HAVE A LITTLE MORE TIME TO TALK IN THE CROWD.

WHO DO YOU HAVE?

>> I'M GLAD WE DO HAVE TIME.

SPEAKING OF TIME, IT TOOK ME TWO AND A HALF HOURS TO GET TO THE FAIR FROM COTTAGE GROVE.

I WAS ON SNELLING FOR QUITE SOME TIME, I DID MY TAXES, SO I WANTED TO CHECK THE CROWD TO FIGURE OUT HOW LONG IT TOOK THE REST OF YOU TO GET TO THE GREAT MINNESOTA GET-TOGETHER, SO TWO AND A HALF HOURS FROM COTTAGE GROVE?

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU?

>> IT TOOK A HALF HOUR ON A BICYCLE.

>> YOU BIKED?

>> Mary: OKAY, SMART.

>> SO SMART.

[Cheering] >> WHERE DID YOU BIKE FROM?

>> DOWNTOWN.

>> DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS OR St. PAUL?

>> MINNEAPOLIS.

>> MINNEAPOLIS, YES.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO GET TO THE GREAT MINNESOTA GET-TOGETHER?

>> ABOUT 15 MINUTES.

>> 15 MINUTES.

DO YOU LIVE ACROSS THE STREET, ARE YOU LIVING IN A PRONTO PUP BOOTH, WHERE DID YOU -- [Laughter] >> WE JUST -- WE WENT DOWN SNELLING ON OUR BIKES.

>> ANOTHER BIKER.

>> AND WE JUST WAVED AT PEOPLE IN THE CARS.

>> BECAUSE WE WERE STUCK, WE DIDN'T GET TO GO ANYWHERE FAST.

WHO DO YOU GOT, MARY?

>> I'VE GOT SOMEBODY WHO DID TAKE A WHILE BECAUSE WE HAVE A FARMER THAT WE HAVE FEATURED ON "ALMANAC" BEFORE AND I KNOW IT TOOK HIM LONGER THAN 15 MINUTES.

HOW LONG?

>> ABOUT TWO HOURS.

>> COMING FROM.

>> PINE ISLAND, DOWN BY ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA.

>> Mary: WHO'S GOT LONGER THAN TWO HOURS?

NO?

YOU WIN.

>> HE WON.

CONGRATULATIONS.

AND WE HAVE SOME REALLY BELOVED, LONG-TERM FRIENDS AND FANS HERE, TELL US WHO YOU ARE, HOW MANY YEARS YOU'VE BEEN COMING TO "ALMANAC" AT THE FAR?

>> ROB SPIKINGS, TEN YEARS.

>> YEAH, ALL OF.

>> Mary: ALL RIGHT.

>> I DON'T KNOW YOU.

[Laughter] JOHAN ELLERT, I THINK ABOUT EIGHT YEARS, ROUGHLY.

>> Mary: ANYBODY LONGER THAN EIGHT OR TEN YEARS COMING TO "ALMANAC" AT THE FAIR?

IN THE WAY BACK, HOW LONG?

SHOUT IT OUT.

15?

>> OKAY, WE GOT ONE RIGHT HERE, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN COMING TO "ALMANAC"?

>> AT LEAST 18 YEARS.

>> 18 YEARS.

WE GOT ANYBODY WHO CAN BEAT 18 YEARS?

THAT'S A LONG TIME.

CONGRATULATIONS, YOU'RE THE WINNER.

I DON'T HAVE NOTHING FOR YOU, YOU CAN HAVE MY HAT.

THERE YOU GO.

THERE YOU GO.

[Applause] BACK TO YOU, CATHY AND ERIC.

>> Eric: ALL RIGHT, GUYS.

WANT TO THANK THE WONDERFUL CROWD FOR BEING HERE.

GIVE YOURSELVES A HAND.

[ Applause ] I WANT TO THANK THE BEST CREW IN TELEVISION FOR PUTTING THIS THING ON THE AIR.

THANK YOU, GUYS AND GALS.

>> Cathy: THANKS TO THE MPR STAFF, AS WELL.

>> Eric: ABSOLUTELY.

AND FOR RADIO LISTENERS NOW, YOU CAN TUNE IN TONIGHT AND SEE HOW CUTE THAT -- >> Cathy: THE LAMB WAS.

>> ERIC: THE LAMB WAS >> CATHY: DARRELL THE LAMB, WHO WAS AMAZINGLY CUTE.

>> Eric: THERE YOU GO.

TAKE US HOME.

>> Cathy: SO, BY THE WAY, JAKE LA BOTZ IS BACK WITH A SHOW-ENDING TUNE AND A REMINDER THAT HE'LL BE PLAYING AT THE SHILLING AMPHITHEATER MONDAY AND TUESDAY HERE AT THE FAIR.

FOR MY MPR LISTENERS, THANKS FOR LISTENING.

TO THE TPT VIEWERS, WE HAD A GREAT TIME WITH YOU.

THANKS FOR JOINING US HERE AT THE MPR CAMP.

JAKE, TAKE US OUT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A SONG CALLED "FIRST McDONALD'S ON THE MOON."

IT'S WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF GREED AND ECONOMIC PRECEDENT TAKE OVER CARING FOR OURSELVES AND CARING FOR EACH OTHER AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

♪ FIRST McDONALD'S ON THE MOON, ♪ TAKING APPLICATIONS THIS AFTERNOON ♪ ♪ BERNIE SANDERS GOT ME $15 AN HOUR MAKING BURGERS IN A MEDIA SHOWER ♪ IF YOU DON'T COME, CHANGE YOUR WAYS.

♪ SO I'M DOWN HERE IN A MANMADE CAVE, 800 STORIES DOWN ♪ "ALMANAC" IS A PRODUCTION OF CAPTIONED BY: VERITEXT/PARADIGM CAPTIONING WWW.VERITEXT.COM VERITEXT/PARADIGM CAPTIONING WWW.VERITEXT.COM A THREED PRINTER MAKES THE ORDERS, IN A HOLOGRAM, IN THE FOREST OR IN THE AND.

♪ 800 STORIES DOWN, IN A CRATER TOWN ♪ FIRST McDONALD'S ON THE MOON BEEN OPEN SINCE JUNE ♪ BUT THE TIME IS STRANGE AND THE WEATHER DON'T CHANGE, RONALD'S THE ONLY THEY THINK THAT LOOKS THE SAME ♪ "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 28 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH WHILE ADVANCING SOCIAL EQUITIES.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

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 OUR REGION.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY THE BLANDIN FOUNDATION, WORKING TO STRENGHTEN RURAL MINNESOTA.

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