>> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

>> ERIC: THE DROUGHT IS GETTING WORSE, WE'LL HAVE SEVERAL STORIES ON THAT.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE FATE OF REPRESENTATIVE JOHN THOMPSON, THE PRECARIOUS STATE OF NON-PROFITS IN MINNESOTA, AND THEN MARY LAHAMMER WILL SIT DOWN WITH A DISTINGUISHED MINNESOTAN.

>> Mary: HOW DOES MINNESOTA'S LEADING CITIZEN DECIDE TO CELEBRATE HIS 100TH BIRTHDAY?

BY TACKLING A WHOLE NEW PUBLIC POLICY ISSUE FOR HIM.

TOM SWAIN TALKS CLIMATE CHANGE.

THAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC."

>> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING ELECTRICITY AND RELATED SERVICES TO 28 CO-OPS IN MINNESOTA.

A TOUCHSTONE ENERGY COOPERATIVE.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: MAKING DENTAL CARE POSSIBLE FOR MINNESOTANS IN NEED.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINE3US.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

ONE GREATER MINNESOTA REPORTING ON "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE OTTO BREMER TRUST, WHOSE MISSION IS INVESTING IN PEOPLE, PLACES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE UPPER MIDWEST.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT COMES FROM THE MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION, INSPIRING AND ENGAGING IN ACTION TO REALIZE STRONG, VIBRANT COMMUNITIES.

AND FROM THE BLANDIN FOUNDATION.

>> ERIC: WE'LL GET TO POLITICS AND OLYMPIC SPORTS AND A SHELETTA BRUNDIGE ESSAY IN A FEW MINUTES, BUT FIRST UP IN THE HOUR, THE PROBLEMS DUE TO ONGOING LACK OF RAIN.

>> CATHY: THE WEEKLY FEDERAL DROUGHT MONITOR WAS RELEASED THURSDAY AND THE NEWS IS GETTING MORE GRIM.

FULLY 72% OF MINNESOTA IS NOW IN SEVERE OR EXTREME DROUGHT, THAT'S THE RED AND DARK ORANGE ON THIS MAP.

THAT IS A JUMP OF 20% IN JUST ONE WEEK.

CITIES ARE NOW IMPLEMENTING WATERING RESTRICTIONS AND OTHER CONSERVATION MEASURES.

RANDALL DONEEN IS A MANAGER IN THE D.N.R.

'S ECOLOGICAL AND WATER RESOURCES DIVISION.

THE D.N.R.

IS THE AGENCY THAT COORDINATES DROUGHT RESPONSE.

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU ON THE PROGRAM.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: SO I KNOW THE DROUGHT TASK FORCE ONLY CONVENES WHEN IT'S NOT GREAT NEWS.

SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS A PRETTY -- A GROWING GRIM SITUATION.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

YEAH, WE CONVENED THE DROUGHT TASK FORCE WHEN THE SITUATION GETS TO WHERE THERE IS A STATE DROUGHT WARNING, THE STATE DROUGHT RESPONSE PLAN HAS DIFFERENT PHASES OF DROUGHT AND WHENEVER IT GETS TO THE DROUGHT WARNING PHASE, WE CONVENE THE TASK FORCE TO MAKE SURE THERE'S COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION AMONG FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.

>> Eric: THE WILD FIRES AND I THINK AGRICULTURE GET A LOT OF THE PUBLICITY BUT WHAT HAS THIS DONE TO LAKE LEVELS, FOR INSTANCE?

>> YEAH, LAKE LEVELS ARE LOW IN SOME AREAS.

NOT CONSISTENTLY ACROSS THE STATE.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING MOST IS CONSISTENTLY LOW STREAM LEVELS, RIVER AND STREAM LEVELS ARE BEING VERY LOW ACROSS THE STATE.

>> Eric: THAT MEANS WHAT FOR THE FISHERY, THE ECO SYSTEMS, WHAT'S THE RESULT OF THAT?

>> WELL GO, YOU KNOW, ECO SYSTEMS ARE ADAPTED TO DRY PERIODS AND SO, YOU KNOW, A PERIODIC LOW-WATER SITUATION IS SOMETHING THAT AN SURVIVE.

PROLONGED LOW STREAMS DOES CREATE ISSUES WITH ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS, AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, MANY PEOPLE RELY ON THE SURFACE WATER FOR THEIR WATER SUPPLIES, WHETHER IT'S FOR AGRICULTURE, EDUCATION, DRINKING WATER OR ANYTHING, SO WHEN IT GETS LOW, WE DO HAVE TO PROTECT THE ECOSYSTEMS AND DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES BY IMPLEMENTING SUSPENSION MEASURES ON OTHER WATER PERMIT HOLDERS THAT APPROPRIATE FROM SURFACE WATER.

>> Cathy: HOW DOES THE DROUGHT TASK FORCE THEN PAIRS ALL THIS OUT?

YOU -- PARSE ALL THIS OUT.

CLEARLY THIS IS A BAD SITUATION GETTING WORSE, HOW ARE YOU PREPPING FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS AND I GUESS INTO OCTOBER, EVIDENTLY, ACCORDING TO MODELS?

>> EAH, WELL, THE DROUGHT PLAN DOES LAY OUT A PRETTY GOOD ACTION PLAN SO WORKING WITH THE TASK FORCE TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND WHAT ALL THE OTHER AGENCIES -- ACTIONS THE AGENCIES ARE TAKING SO THAT WE WORK TOGETHER AND WORK ACROSS -- AND NOT WORK AT CROSS PURPOSES AND LSO IF THERE ARE ANY ISSUES THAT ARE RAISED THAT TASK MEMBERS BRING UP, WE CAN DISCUSS THOSE IN THE GROUP AND DECIDE IF THERE IS ANY ACTION THAT MIGHT BE NEEDED BUT LARGELY THERE'S CERTAIN ACTIONS THAT HAPPEN AT THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF DROUGHT.

WORKING WITH CITIES TO REDUCE THEIR WATER DEMAND AND ALSO WORKING WITH THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO IMPLEMENT THE MISSISSIPPI-WIDE LOW FLOW RIVER SYSTEM, ARE THE ACTIONS WE DO.

AND LARGELY IT'S JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW WHAT EVERYBODY IS DOING AND SO THAT IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT AN AGENCY NEEDS HELP WITH, OTHER AGENCIES AN CHIME IN.

>> Eric: A CITY LIKE St.

CLOUD, I THINK THE GAUGE JUST SOUTH OF SEWED IS THE LOWEST ON THE MISSISSIPPI SINCE 1988 AND THEY GET THEIR WATER FROM THE MISSISSIPPI.

SO HOW WOULD YOU COORDINATE THAT WITH, LIKE, St.

CLOUD CITY OFFICIALS?

>> WELL, WE -- THE CITY WOULD OBVIOUSLY LET US KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY CONCERNS WITH THAT AND WE DO WORK WITH THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS FOR THEIR MANAGEMENT OF THAT SYSTEM, AND A OT OF THE SYSTEM ITSELF IS MANAGED MAINLY TO ENSURE THAT THE DRINKING WATER SUPPLY DOWNSTREAM, AS I INDICATED, AS WE GET IN LOW-FLOW SITUATIONS, WE DO SUSPEND LOWER PRIORITY WATER USES IN FAVOR OF DRINKING WATER SUPPLY SO THAT HOPEFULLY THE FLOWS WILL BE SUFFICIENT SO THAT THE INTAKES CAN STILL ACCESS THE WATER.

>> Cathy: A NUMBER OF CITIES HAVE IMPLEMENTED WATERING RESTRICTIONS.

I'M CONSIDER USE ABOUT FOLKS WHO HAVE PRIVATE WELLS, SHOULD THEY BE DOING SOMETHING?

>> YEAH, I THINK WATER CONSERVATION IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT.

DROUGHTS CAN AFFECT GROUND WATER LEVELS AND IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE WELLS IN A NEARBY AREA, IT CAN REDUCE THE WATER AVAILABILITY BELOW THE WELLS AND THE PUMPS SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE OUT OF WATER SITUATIONS SO IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA TO CONSERVE WATER.

>> Cathy: SO I KNOW THAT YOU MET THIS WEEK AND I KNOW YOU HAVE MODELS THAT YOU LOOK THE A. EVIDENTLY THESE MODELS AS I MENTIONED INDICATED THIS COULD LINGER OR WORSEN INTO OCTOBER, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE HEARING, TOO?

>> WELL, IT CAN BE HARD TO SAY BECAUSE THE MODELS THE FURTHER OUT YOU GET, THE LESS ACCURATE THEY ARE BUT IT IS VERY DRY AND THE PREDICTIONS CALL FOR MORE HOT, DRY WEATHER AND SO WE ENVISION IT IGHT GET WORSE.

BUT YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN LONGER RANGE.

MANY DROUGHTS DO LAST MULTIPLE YEARS, HOPEFULLY THIS WON'T BE ONE OF THEM.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.

RANDALL, THANKS FOR COMING N. >> Eric: GOOD INFORMATION.

THANKS FOR COMING ON.

>> THANK YOU.

>> CATHY: AS WE MENTIONED, THE PART OF THE STATE FACING THE TOUGHEST DROUGHT CONDITIONS IS THE NORTHWEST.

THE LONG, HOT AND DRY SUMMER HAS BEEN DEVASTATING TO FARMERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE RAISING LIVESTOCK.

ONE GREATER MINNESOTA REPORTER KAOMI LEE TRAVELED UP NORTH TO RED LAKE AND CLEARWATER COUNTIES, AN AREA HARDEST HIT BY THE DROUGHT.

>> AFTER NEARLY 50 YEARS OF FARMING, RICHARD MOEN HAD TO MAKE ONE OF THE TOUGHEST DECISIONS OF HIS 81 YEARS.

[COW MOOING] >> THIS YEAR HE SOLD OST OF HIS CATTLE HERD AND DECIDED TO RETIRE.

>> IT'S THE END OF AN ERA FOR ME, I SUSPECT.

>> THE CLEAR BROOK FARMER OWNS 640 ACRES OF PASTURE LAND BUT THIS SUMMER, A SEVERE DROUGHT HAS LEFT THE LAND BONE DRY.

I'M LOOKING OUT THERE, NONE OF THIS IS EDIBLE?

NO, I WOULD SAY IT'S NOT BECAUSE -- THIS SHOULD BE BRIGHT GREEN AND ABOUT THIS HIGH.

THEN IT'S LUSH AND SUCCULENT.

>> AND THAT'S LEFT LITTLE FOR HIS COWS TO EAT.

>> UNLESS SOMETHING REALLY CHANGES, I ANTICIPATE AN JON SLAUGHT OF COWS GOING TO MARKED PREMATURELY THIS YEAR, YEAH.

>> WITH MOST OF THE STATE IN DROUGHT ONDITIONS AND HALF THE STATE IN SEVERE DROUGHT, FOR THE STATE'S LYFT FARMERS, IT'S A TICKING TIME BOMB.

FARMING HAS BEEN IN SCOTT'S FAMILY FOR FOUR GENERATIONS.

HE TAKES US TO A DRY WATERING HOLE ON GRAZING LANDS ON HIS FARM.

>> HONESTLY THERE'S VERY FEW I GUYS MY AGE AROUND HERE FARMING BUT GUYS I TALK TO, I TEASE THEM, YOU SHOULD GET SOME COWS AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM SAY NO, I WILL NEVER GET COWS.

SO THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY MIGHT SLOWLY FIZZLE OUT BECAUSE, GUYS MY AGE DON'T WANT TO DO IT, THEY JUST ARE NOT INTERESTED ONE SINGLE BIT.

I CAN COUNT THREE CATTLE HERDS IN THE SURROUNDING AREA THAT ARE GONE NOW BECAUSE THE GUYS ARE OLD AND THEY HAVE NO ONE ELSE TO TAKE THEM OVER SO THEY SOLD OUT.

>> THE PHONE FOR THIS FOURTH GENERATION FARMER IN OAKLY HAS BEEN RINGING NONSTOP.

HE NORMALLY HARVESTS ABOUT 4,000 BALES OF HAY.

THIS YEAR HIS HARVEST WAS CUT IN HALF.

SO THIS IS HOT STUFF RIGHT HERE AND IT'S ALL SPOKEN FOR.

>> IT IS.

COULD HAVE SOLD IT TWICE.

>> IT'S THE REVERSE OF LAST SUMMER, WHERE THERE WERE HUGE AMOUNTS OF RAIN.

>> WE ACTUALLY FLOODED OUT SOME CROPS BACK IN 2020, QUIT RANG LAST SEPTEMBER AND WE HAVE SEEN LIKE 7 INCHES IN THE LAST 11 MONTHS.

>> NOW THE PRICE OF HAY HAS DOUBLED TO ABOUT $100 A BAIL.

ALLAN SAYS THAT'S DRIVEN FARMERS TO SLASH HERDS OR GET OUT OUT OF THE BUSINESS ENTIRELY.

>> NORMALLY YOUR LOCAL OPTION BARS, YOU CLOSE THE SALES DOWN IN JUNE AND JULY OTHER THAN A FEW CULLED COWS BUT THEY'RE HAVING SALES EVERY WEEK NOW AND THEY'RE BIG SALES.

700 TO 1800 HEAD A WEEK OR MORE COMING IN IS WHAT I UNDERSTAND.

>> DEFINITELY IS GOING TO HAVE A BIG EFFECT.

IT WILL SHOW UP A YEAR AND A HALF DOWN THE ROAD.

A LOT OF THESE ANIMALS WILL ENDS UP GOING TO SLAUGHTER BECAUSE THEY'RE NO BUYERS FOR THEM AND THERE'S JUST NO FEED TO FEED THEM SO THEY'LL ENDS UP GOING TO THE MARKET IN THE MEAT UPPLY RIGHT NOW.

SO THAT'S GOING TO, YOU KNOW, ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF DOWN THE ROAD, THERE'S GOING TO BE A SHORTAGE OF BEEF SO IT WILL DRIVE UP PRICES FOR THE CONSUMER BECAUSE THERE WILL BE LESS BEEF AVAILABLE.

>> THEY SAY IT'S BEEN THE MOST SEVERE DROUGHT SINCE THE 1980s, AND THIS ONE IS WORSE AND NOT ALL FARMERS HAVE BEEN HIT EQUALLY.

>> FARMERS JUST NEED A CHANCE.

THERE'S CROP INSURANCE ON THE CROPS BUT NOTHING FOR THE LIVESTOCK BECAUSE WE SURROUND 4H LAND.

>> THE GOVERNOR HAS ASKED FOR SOME FEDERAL RELIEF.

THE USDA HAS PLEDGED TO OPEN UP SOME CONSERVATION LANDS FOR GRAZING BUT THAT MAY BE TOO LITTLE TOO LATE.

>> THE DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE, I WOULD SAY.

>> PROBABLY DIDN'T ENVISION YOUR LAST YEARS LIKE THIS.

>> EAH.

NO, IT WOULD BE NICE TO GO OUT ON YOUR OWN RATHER THAN TO E FORCED INTO IT, INDEED, YEAH.

♪♪ >> ERIC: THE OLYMPIC OPENING CEREMONIES TOOK PLACE EARLY THIS MORNING AND, LIKE EVERYING ELSE IN THE PANDEMIC ERA, NOTHING WAS NORMAL.

ALSO IN THE SPORTS WORLD, A SHAKEUP AT THE WILD AND A BIG TRADE BY THE TWINS.

HERE TO TOUCH ON IT ALL, VETERAN SPORTS ANALYST LARRY FITZGERALD, SENIOR.

YOU CAN HEAR LARRY'S RADIO WORK ON THE NATIONAL PROGRAMMING NETWORK.

FITZY, LOOKS LIKE THE VIKINGS OFFENSIVE LINE COACH RICK DENNISON WILL BE OUT UNLESS HE GETS THE VACCINE.

WE'VE HEARD SOME DIFFERING REPORTS ON THAT TODAY.

WHAT'S THE LATEST?

>> THAT IS ABOUT IT.

IT'S AMAZING TO ME THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SEEING THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE, THE COMMISSIONER IS SHOWING THE LEADERSHIP FOR THE ENTIRE LEAGUE AND ESTABLISHING THAT LAST SEASON THE RULES WERE, WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER, EVERYBODY HAD TO BE TESTED EVERY DAY BUT THE DIFFERENCE THIS YEAR IS THAT A VACCINE AND VACCINES ARE AVAILABLE AND WITH THE DELTA VARIANT JUST ALL OVER THE PLACE, THEY WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE PLAYERS UNDERSTAND THAT FOR THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE AND FOR THE BUSINESS TO MOVE FORWARD, COACHES, PLAYERS, TRAINERS, EQUIPMENT MANAGERS, EVERYBODY'S GOT TO BE ON BOARD, EVERYBODY'S GOT TO GET VACCINATED AND THOSE THAT DON'T, THERE'S GOING TO BE SEVERE PENALTIES IN TERMS OF GAMES, GAME CHECKS, AND IT'S A TOUGH SITUATION BUT IN TERMS OF A COACH, IT'S RARE BUT A COACH WOULD BE NO DIFFERENT THAN A PLAYER BECAUSE HE HAS TO DO WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE DOES, SAME THING FOR ANY EQUIPMENT MANAGER OR CHEF.

>> Cathy: SO OTHER BIG STORY, TWINS OF COURSE TRADE, NELSON CRUZ GOES, HOW BIG OF A DEAL IS THIS?

>> WELL, WE SORT OF ANTICIPATED THAT THE TWINS WOULD BE SELLERS.

NELSON CRUZ HAS BEEN A REMARKABLE PLAYER, BROUGHT IN 36 RANGE OF MOTION HUNDREDS IN HIS CAREER, TREMENDOUS LEADER, A GREAT MAN AND A FUTURE HALL-OF-FAMER IN MY VIEW.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE THE DECISION WAS MADE THAT THEY CAN GET SOME VALUE OUT OF THE SITUATION THEY HAVE.

THIS IS THE LAST YEAR OF HIS CONTRACT AND THE TWINS NEED TO START BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE BECAUSE THEY SEE THE WRITING ON THE WALL, THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO WATCH THE WHITE SOX, IN FACT, THEY MIGHT NOT CATCH DETROIT.

THEY'VE WON SEVEN IN A ROW.

SO THEY MADE A DECISION TO TRY TO GET SOME FUTURE DRAFT PICKS AND SOME GUYS THAT CAN HELP THEM BEYOND 2021.

>> BIG 10 FOOTBALL MEDIA DAY DOWN IN CHICAGO.

HOW DO THE GOPHERS LOOK?

>> WELL, THE GOPHERS THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE IMPROVED BUT, ERIC, YOU AND I KNOW, THEY START WITH OHIO STATE AND OHIO STATE LAST YEAR HAD A CHANCE TO WIN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

OF COURSE AFTER THE BIG 10 SEASON WAS -- THEY SAID THEY WEREN'T GOING TO PLAY, THEN THEY WENT BACK, THEY WENT BACK BECAUSE OF OHIO STATE SO THE BUCKEYES ARE GOING TO BE TOUGH.

THEY'RE GOING TO START WITH THEM BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THE GOPHERS SHOULD BE READY TO BE COMPETITIVE AND BE MUCH BETTER THAN THEY WERE LAST SEASON.

>> Cathy: HOW ABOUT HE MINNESOTA WILD LETTING GO SUITER AND PA REESEY?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT, THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE RULES MADE T THAT THEY COULD DO THIS, THEY GAVE THEM THESE00 MILLION-DOLLAR CONTRACTS, THEY PLAYED NINE YEARS HERE.

WAS IT SUCCESSFUL?

NO, THEY DIDN'T WIN A STANLEY CUP BUT THEY GET TO SAVE SOME MONEY IN TERMS OF THE SALARY CAP AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE TEAM THAT THEY HAVE WHICH LAST YEAR PUSHED A STANLEY CUP FINALIST, THE LAS VEGAS TEAM ALL THE WAY TO THE LIMIT, THE 7-GAME SERIES.

SO THEY ADE A DECISION THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT, THE RULES ALLOW THEM TO PAY THE GUYS OFF, THANK THEM FOR WHAT THEY DID BUT RECOGNIZE THAT THE DREAM THAT THEY HAD RINGING THEM HERE DIDN'T WORK OUT.

>> Eric: TELL US ABOUT THE St. PAUL SAINTS HONORING THE St. PAUL COLORED GOPHERS.

>> I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THAT.

IT'S VERY GOOD THAT THE RECOGNITION WILL COME TO SOME GUYS WHO PAID A SEVERE PRICE DURING SOME REAL ROUGH TIMES AND IT'S IRONIC THAT THE SAINTS AND THE CITY OF St. PAUL, BASEBALL IS REALLY GROWING, BY BEING A FARM TEAM FOR THE MAJOR LEAGUE TWINS AND ALL THE ATTENTION THAT THEY'RE GETTING IN THE CAPITAL CITY, I THINK IT'S A MARVELOUS THING AND I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE IT.

>> Cathy: BEFORE WE GO HERE, FITZY, OF COURSE THE OPENING CEREMONIES FOR THE OLYMPICS WAS HELD THIS MORNING IN TOKYO AND MINNESOTA IS REALLY WELL-RECOMMENDED ON TEAM U.S.A. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BE WATCHING FOR?

>> WELL, I'M GOING TO BE WATCHING -- YOU KNOW, I'M A BIG FAN OF GYMNASTICS LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE AND SO I'M GOING TO BE WATCHING Ms. BIEL TO SEE IF SHE CAN COME CLOSE TO, YOU KNOW, WINNING -- MY GOODNESS, FIVE OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALS, SHE HAS FIVE EVENTS SO I WANT TO SEE IF SHE CAN DO THAT.

BUT ALSO I WANT TO SEE IF THE AMERICAN BASKETBALL TEAM CAN HOLD THE HONOR OF PROVING THAT WE'RE THE BEST TEAM IN THE WORLD IN BASKETBALL, REGARDLESS OF WHO WE SENDS OVER THERE, MEN OR WOMEN, AND I WANT TO SEE IF THE SOCCER TEAM CAN COME BACK.

I MEAN, THEY'VE RUN THE WORLD CUP, WE KNOW THAT BUT NOT GOOD START AGAINST AUSTRALIA.

HOPEFULLY THEY CAN TURN THAT AROUND.

I'LL BE WATCHING THAT VERY, VERY CLOSELY.

>> Eric: LARRY FITZGERALD, SR.

THANKS, FITZY.

>> Cathy: THANKS, FITZY.

♪♪ ♪ UPBEAT ROCK MUSIC ♪♪ >> CATHY: MINNESOTA BECAME A STATE IN 1858.

100 YEARS LATER, IN 1958, DROVES OF MINNESOTANS CELEBRATED THE HISTORIC EVENT.

THE MAN BEHIND THAT OUTPOURING OF CIVIC PRIDE IS ALSO HITTING A SIMILAR MILESTONE AND CELEBRATING BY CREATING A NEW IMPORTANT INITIATIVE.

REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER CAUGHT UP THIS WEEK WITH TWO PEOPLE SHE HAS KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME.

>> Mary: WHEN MINNESOTA TURNED 100, TOM SWAIN WAS CENTRAL TO A HUGE SUCCESSFUL CELEBRATION TO HONOR THE CENTURY-MARK IN THE NORTH STAR STATE.

SWAIN REACHED THE SAME MILESTONE.

HE WAS APPROPRIATELY BORN ON THE 4th OF JULY, 100 YEARS AGO.

>> ALL MY FRIENDS ASKED ME WHAT I WANTED TO DO WHEN I TURNED 100 AND I THINK THEY THOUGHT I WANTED TO SAY, I WANT A BIRTHDAY PARTY BUT I SAID, NO, I WANT TO GET MORE INVOLVED AND GET MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN CLIMATE CHANGE BECAUSE I THINK WITHOUT QUESTION, IT'S THE BIGGEST, MOST CRITICAL ISSUE THAT HUMANKIND FACES.

>> Mary: AUTHOR AND JOURNALIST ORI STURDEVANT, WROTE THE BOOK "CITIZEN SWAIN" ABOUT THE MINNESOTA ICON AND TOOK NOTE OF HIS LATEST QUEST.

>> 100 YEARS OLD NOW, STAFF SERGEANT SWAIN CALLING ON THIS GENERATION TO COME TOGETHER, RALLY THE WAY HIS GENERATION DID, TO ADDRESS A MAJOR SHARED PROBLEM.

>> Mary: WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PLANET RIGHT NOW, NOT JUST MINNESOTA AND THE HORRIBLE DEVASTATING DROUGHT THAT WE'RE SUFFERING WITH MAJOR ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES, ISN'T IT JUST ALMOST KALAMITIOUS WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW?

>> YES, ALTHOUGH THE SKEPTICS MIGHT SAY THAT'S ONE OF THOSE EVENTS THAT HAPPENS EVERY SO OFTEN BUT WE'RE EMITTING INTO THE ATMOSPHERE 5100 TONS OF GREENHOUSE GASES EVERY YEAR.

I HAVE 11 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN, I DON'T WANT THEM WHEN THIS HITS THEM S IT INEVITABLY WILL, TO SIT BACK AND SAY, WHAT DID MY GREAT-GRANDPA DO.

>> OH, I THINK TOM AND HIS WHOLE GENERATION REALLY BROUGHT HOME FROM WORLD WAR II A SENSE OF STEWARDSHIP FOR THIS PLACE.

THEY HAD SEEN HOW WE WERE ON THE BRINK OF LOSING DEMOCRACY TO FASCISM.

THEY FOUGHT AND SUFFERED, SACRIFICED ENORMOUSLY TO SAVE DEMOCRACY AND THEN CAME OME, INSPIRED TO I CAN MA IT WORK.

>> IN THE JUDGMENT OF SOME, WITH HE HAVE' ALREADY PASSED THE POINT OF NO RETURN POINT AND I THINK THAT'S DISASTROUS, AND YOUNG PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY THE YOUNG ONES HAVE GOT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THEY'VE GOT TO BECOME MORE ACTIVE POLITICALLY.

THEY GOT TO BE GRETA THORN BERGS.

SHE'S MY HEROINE, SHE'S THE ONE WHO CAME HERE AND STUCK HER FINGER OUT AND SAID, DON'T JUST TALK ABOUT IT, DO SOMETHING.

>> MOST RECENTLY, TOM SWAIN WAS MAYOR HERE IN LILLIE DALE.

BEFORE THAT HE HELD ALMOST EVERY PUBLIC POLICY POSITION YOU CAN IMAGINE, FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

SUFFICE TO SAY, TIME SWAIN KNOWS OUR STATE.

>> A NUMBER OF MY FRIENDS SAID, IF AN OLD FOGEY LIKE THIS CAN CONSIDER CLIMATE CHANGE THE MOST CRITICAL THING HE DEALS WITH, WE CAN USE THAT AS A HOOK BECAUSE THERE AREN'T VERY MANY PEOPLE OVER 100 THAT ARE THINKING ABOUT THIS TO THAT EXTENT.

SO AS A RESULT, WE'VE ESTABLISHED A SWAIN CLIMATE POLICY SERIES THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY.

>> Mary: THE SERIES WILL HAPPEN AT THE HUMPHREY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC FFAIRS AND MORE BROADLY AT THE "U," THEY'VE ALREADY RAISED MORE THAN $350,000 TO GET MAJOR NATIONAL SPEAKERS TO VISIT AND DEVELOP PROGRAMS.

>> TOM SEES AN OPPORTUNITY NOW FOR US TO HAVE A SIMILAR UPLIFTING EXPERIENCE WITH CLIMATE CHANGE.

THIS IS NOT ALL DOOM AND GLOOM.

THERE ARE THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE TO MAKE THIS PROBLEM MORE CONTROLLABLE, ANYBODYISH ITS IMPACT ESPECIALLY ON MINNESOTA.

LET'S GET ABOUT THAT WORK IS WHAT HE'S SAYING.

>> Mary: LORI SAYS TOM IS IMPATIENT, IMPATIENT FOR ACTION AND FRUSTRATED WITH POLITICS THAT HE WAS ONCE ON THE INSIDE F. >> PEOPLE SAY I HAVE LEFT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

I SAY, NO, THEY LEFT ME.

THEY'VE CHANGED TOO MUCH.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE POSITION OF SO MANY OF THEM ON THIS ISSUE.

>> THAT GENERATION ACTUALLY BROUGHT US AFTER THEY CAME HOME FROM THE WAR, BROUGHT US THE IMPROVEMENTS IN EDUCATION IN MINNESOTA THAT BUILT THE MODERN MINNESOTA.

THEY BROUGHT US THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, THEY BROUGHT US THE LEADERSHIP FOR THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT.

THE FACT THAT MINNESOTA HAS SURPASSED SO MANY OF ITS SURROUNDING STATES HAS MUCH TO DO WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF TOM'S GENERATION.

I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT TOM IS STILL HERE AND STILL CALLING US TO BE THAT KIND OF LEADER AGAIN.

>> Mary: ULTIMATELY, ON THE OCCASION OF HIS 100TH BIRTHDAY, WE CAN'T HELP BUT THINK BACK HOW WE BROUGHT THE STATE TOGETHER ON ITS 100TH BIRTHDAY.

DO YOU THINK WE COULD REMOTELY HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THAT CIVIC PRIDE AND TOGETHERNESS TODAY?

>> I'M LEERY, I'M APPREHENSIVE.

THE CENTENNIAL WAS A TIME WHEN YOU FELT GREAT TO BE A MINNESOTAN.

♪ ROCK MUSIC ♪ >> ERIC: MINNESOTA IS SOMETIMES CALLED THE LAND OF 10,000 NON-PROFITS.

AND THE STATE DOES HAVE NEARLY THAT MANY.

BUT THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN TOUGH ON THEM.

NEARLY 200 HAVE DISBANDED IN THE PAST YEAR, AND MANY MORE HAVE REDUCED SERVICES.

AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S A CHANGING OF THE GUARD AT THE MINNESOTA COUNCIL OF NON-PROFITS.

IT'S A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THIS VALUABLE SECTOR OF OUR ECONOMY.

JON PRATT IS RETIRING AS HEAD OF THE MINNESOTA COUNCIL OF NON-PROFITS, A JOB HE HAS HAD FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES.

TAKING HIS PLACE STARTING NEXT MONTH, NONOKO SATO.

WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU.

>> THANK OU FOR HAVING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Eric: WHAT'S THE STATE OF THE ENTERPRISE HERE AS WE COME OUT OF COVID AND MAYBE HEAD BACK IN, WHO KNOWS?

>> >> YEAH, IT'S I BEEN A TOUGH YEAR AND LOSING 200 NONPROFITS IS NOT A GOOD THING BUT IF YOU -- YOU KNOW, THE 10,000 FIGURE WAS VERY CLOSE BECAUSE 9500 NONPROFITS HAVE AT LEAST ONE EMPLOYEE, SO THE 200 REPRESENTS ABOUT 2%, SO IT'S AN ABOVE-AVERAGE CHURNING AND IT'S BEEN TOUGH ESPECIALLY FOR ARTS AND CULTURE GROUPS.

ACTUALLY THE HEALTH AREA WAS ALSO HARD HIT AND HUMAN SERVICES, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, MINNESOTA NONPROFITS GOT $3.4 BILLION IN PAYROLL PROTECTION ACT MONEY SO THERE'S BEEN SOME OFF-SETTING REVENUES THAT HAVE HELPED SORT OF KEEP MOST OF THE ORGANIZATIONS GOING.

>> Cathy: Ms. SATO, I'M GOING TO ASSUME THERE'S DIFFICULTY FUMED RAISING, ALL THE BIG GALAS THAT WE ARE USED TO FOR MANY NONPROFITS WEREN'T HELD BUT WERE THERE OTHER REASONS FOR THE NONPROFITS SAYING WE'RE DONE?

>> SOMETIMES IT'S JUST A NATURAL ENDING OF A NONPROFIT AS WELL, SO I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARILY TIED TO FUNDING BUT OF COURSE IT DOES.

I WOULD SAY ALSO I THINK THE NONPROFIT SECTOR HAS SHOWN INCREDIBLE INNOVATION AND RESILIENCY DURING THIS TIME AND HAVE REALLY SUPPORTED EACH OTHER AND, YOU KNOW, FIGURED OUT DIFFERENT WAYS TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE DO THEIR -- TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE THE GET FUNDED.

>> Cathy: WAS THIS A TIME, TOO, JON, WHEN SOME OF THE JON PROFITS TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO PULL BACK AND RETHINK MISSION?

>> WELL, THAT'S DEFINITELY -- ESPECIALLY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC AND NOT ONLY MISSION BUT JUST THROUGH MEANS OF DELIVERY.

SO THERE WERE GROUPS THAT HAD THOUGHT -- THE TASK FORCES WORKING FOR TWO YEARS ON TELEHEALTH.

WELL, ALL OF A SUDDEN WITHIN A WEEK, THEY FIGURED IT OUT.

SO IT WAS AN ACCELERATOR TO-FORCE SOME OF THE CHANGES THEY HAD BEEN THINKING ABOUT.

>> Eric: FOR NONPROFITS AROUND THE STATE, HOW WELL DO YOU THINK THEY'RE DOING ON THE EQUITY ISSUE, THE RACIAL EQUITY ISSUE, NOT ONLY IN THE PROGRAMS THEY HAVE BUT BOARD MEMBERS, ADMINISTRATORS.

IS THAT A JOB YET TO BE FULFILLED OR HOW DO YOU SEE THAT?

>> I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY A WORK THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON.

IT'S -- YOU KNOW, THE DISPARITIES ARE OUT THERE.

THERE'S LESS NUMBER OF PEOPLE OF COLOR IN POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP IN NONPROFIT SECTOR.

ESPECIALLY WITH THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD, I DO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER SECTOR IN THIS COUNTRY, WE'VE ALL DECIDED, LIKE WE'VE ALSO REALIZED THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO TRY TO BRIDGE A DISPARITIES THAT EXIST BETWEEN PEOPLE OF COLOR AND WHITE FOLKS IN THE STATE.

WITH THAT SAID, I THINK THE INTEREST IS THERE AND I THINK IT IS WITHIN OUR POWER AND PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO HELP SHEPHERD HIS PROCESS FOR OUR NONPROFIT SECTOR WHO'S REALLY INTERESTED IN SEEING MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR IN LEADERSHIP TO BE BLE TO CENTER THE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR THAT ARE MOST IMPACTED AND, YEAH, I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT NEXT STEP FOR US.

>> Cathy: ARE FUNDING SOURCES, FOUNDATIONS ALSO RESPONDING TO THIS AND ARE THEY FUNNELING NEEDED MONEY TO NONPROFITS THAT ARE WORKING IN THIS AREA?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE WAS A BIG RESPONSE BOTH TO THE COVID AND THEN AFTER THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD OF SORT OF MORE FUNDING FOR EQUITY AND ALSO THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN SORT OF PAYING MORE ATTENTION TO THIS, DEDICATING FUNDS TO SORT OF BIPoC, LACK, INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR ORGANIZATIONS, SO THERE ARE MORE RESOURCES.

I THINK THE QUESTION IS HOW LONG DO THEY LAST AND WHAT HAPPENS WITH THEM.

>> Eric: IF YOU'VE GOT AN ISSUE, LET'S SAY AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND AROUND THE STATE THERE'S 80 NONPROFITS WORKING ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING, DOES YOUR GROUP DO SOMETHING TO HELP COORDINATE AND STRATEGIZE SO THERE ISN'T A BIG DUPLICATION OF EFFORT, OR IS THAT BEYOND YOUR PURVIEW OR...

I WOULD SAY THERE ISN'T NECESSARILY A DUPLICATION OF EFFORT.

NONPROFITS EXIST BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY NEEDS THEM AND SO I DO THINK, FOR ME, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE WAYS THAT THEY ARE WORKING TOGETHER.

THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO BRING THEM TOGETHER THROUGH OUR CONFERENCES BUT, YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY SAY THAT, LIKE, ONE S BEING REDUNDANT AND THE OTHER JUST BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY OF THEM THAT EXIST.

I THINK HOUSING ISSUES ARE AN ISSUE EVERYWHERE, THERE'S CHILD CARE ISSUES AND EDUCATIONAL ISSUES, RIGHT.

>> Cathy: JOHN, YOU HAVE A I BEEN DOING THIS WORK FOR 30 YEARS.

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN, WHAT HAS HANGED OVER THOSE 30 YEARS FOR YOU?

WHAT TRENDS ARE YOU SEEING?

WHAT HAS FALLEN AWAY, WHAT'S GROWING?

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN I STARTED AND I WAS THERE AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS ORGANIZATION, AND SO THE FOUNDERS FOR A LOT OF THE SORT OF SCRAPPY, YOUNG NONPROFITS, WHO SAID, WELL, WISHED HAVE MORE INFLUENCE.

WE SHOULD HAVE MORE RESOURCES, AND IT'S OVER THE 30 YEARS, THE NONPROFIT'S PERCENT OF THE WORKFORCE HAS DOUBLED.

THE NUMBER OF NONPROFIT EMPLOYEES HAS MORNING DOUBLED AND THE WAGE DISPARITY, THERE HAVE BEEN NONPROFITS WERE PAID VERY MODESTLY, ESPECIALLY 30 YEARS AGO AND THAT WAGE GAP HAS REDUCED, SO I WOULD SAY A LOT OF THE MANAGEMENT AND THE GOVERNANCE HAS GOTTEN STRONGER.

UNFORTUNATELY, AT THE SAME TIME, A LOT OF THE DISPARITIES NONOKO WAS TALKING ABOUT ARE AS BIG OR BIGGER, O IT'S NOT AN ECONOMIC CURE-ALL BUT A CRITICAL PART OF THE STATE'S ECONOMY AND MINNESOTA IS AN ABOVE-AGE STATE WHEN IT COMES TO PHILANTHROPY AND NONPROFITS.

>> Cathy: I KNOW YOU WORKED CALIFORNIA, RIGHT, FOR QUITE SOME TIME AT LEAST?

>> YES, A DECADE.

>> Cathy: A BIG DIFFERENCE IN MINNESOTA WHEN IT CONFERENCE TO THE NONPROFIT SECTOR?

>> WOW, HERE IS A LOT MORE TURNOVER, ESPECIALLY IN THE BAY AREA WHERE I WAS FROM SO THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY I THINK FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP AND JUST TAKE ON ROLES.

MAYBE THEY'RE NOT EACH QUITE READY FOR WHEREAS I'VE SEEN A LOT OF FOLKS HERE WHO HAVE BEEN IN THIS INDUSTRY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND I DO THINK THAT THAT'S BOTH AN OPPORTUNITY AND ALSO A CHALLENGE ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNGER LEADERS WHO MIGHT WANT TO LEAD AND BE ABLE TO TAKE ON MORE RESPONSIBILITIES SO -- BUT, YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY THERE'S -- I MEAN, I AM VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE ROBUSTNESS AND BEAUTY OF MINNESOTA NONPROFITS AND THE SURE NUMBER OF INCREDIBLE WORK THAT THESE NONPROFITS ARE DOING TO BRING JOY AND THRIVING TO COMMUNITIES EVERY SINGLE DAY.

>> Cathy: LIKE TO THANK YOU, JON, FOR YOUR WORK.

>> Eric: SEAMLESS TRANSITION, LOOKS LIKE.

ALL THE BEST TO BOTH OF YOU.

>> THANKS SO MUCH.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

♪ ROCK MUSIC ♪ >> ALL EYES ARE ON TOKYO FOR THE OLYMPICS, EVEN THOUGH SPECTATORS WON'T BE ABLE TO ENJOY THE EXCITEMENT OF THE GAMES IN PERSON BECAUSE OF COVID RESTRICTION.

FANS WATCHING ON TELEVISION WILL STILL BE ABLE TO SEE THE WORLD'S BEST ATHLETES COMPETE FOR THAT COVETED GOLD MEDAL ,AND SOME OF THOSE OLYMPIANS ARE FROM RIGHT HERE IN MINNESOTA.

EDINA'S JORDAN THOMPSON WILL REPRESENT TEAM U.S.A.

IN VOLLEYBALL.

AND IF UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA'S GABLE STEVENSON HAS HIS WAY, HE'LL BECOME THE YOUNGEST WRESTLER TO GET A GOLD MEDAL IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY.

THERE ARE SO MANY MINNESOTANS POISED TO DO GREAT THINGS AT THE GAMES, AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT FOR ME, IT'S INSPIRING.

TO SEE THESE TOP-TIER ATHLETES, SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN TRAINING SINCE THEY WERE TODDLERS, CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

MAKING ALL THOSE SACRIFICES, OVERCOMING OBSTACLES AND INJURIES TO GET TO THAT POINT IN THEIR JOURNEY AND COMPETE FOR WORLD DOMINATION ON THE BIGGEST STAGE.

I'M SO MOTIVATED WATCHING GYMNASTIC STAR SUNISA LEE TWIST AND TURN AND FLIPPING ALL OVER THE MAT, I NOW WANT TO COMPETE IN THE 2025 GAMES.

THAT'S RIGHT, I HAVE BEEN TAGGING ALONG WITH MY DAUGHTER, CAMERON, TO HER GYMNASTICS LESSONS AT PERPETUAL MOTION IN WOODBURY AND I'M NOT JUST A SPECTATOR PARENT SITTING ON THE SIDELINE CHEERING ON MY LITTLE SUPERSTAR.

I'M DOWN IN THE BALL PIT BUILDING UP MY ENDURANCE, WALKING THE BEAM TO GET MY BALANCE.

NOW, I HAVE TO SAY, THE TEACHERS WERE A LITTLE CONFUSED AT FIRST, BUT WHEN THEY SAW MY COOL CARTWHEEL COMBINATION, THEY DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD WORK WITH ME.

I'M NOT SURE IF THEY THINK I HAVE POTENTIAL OR THEY DON'T WANT ME TO WIND UP AS A PATIENT AT WOODWINDS HOSPITAL.

IT DOESN'T MATTER, 'CAUSE EITHER WAY, I'M GOING FOR THE GOLD.

AND IF I CAN QUALIFY FOR THE NEXT OLYMPICS, I'LL BE THE FIRST 53-YEAR-OLD GYMNIST TO TACKLE THE UNEVEN BARS.

BUT FIRST I GOTTA EVEN UP MY HEIGHT TO WEIGHT RATIO.

♪♪ >> CATHY: IT'S DEEP IN JULY, IT'S NOT A BIG ELECTION YEAR, SO THINGS ARE SLOW IN THE WORLD OF POLITICS.

NOT ON YOUR LIFE.

IN WASHINGTON, THE JANUARY 6TH COMMISSION IS A SOURCE OF CONTENTION.

SO IS A TRILLION-DOLLAR INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

CLOSER TO HOME, THE REPRESENTATIVE JOHN THOMPSON SAGA HAS RAISED QUESTIONS OF WHEN, IF EVER, SHOULD THE LEGISLATURE EXPELL A MEMBER.

DAVID SCHULTZ IS HERE TO TALK POLITICS BOTH NEAR AND FAR.

DAVID IS THE DISTINGUISHED UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND LEGAL STUDIES AT HAMLINE UNIVERSITY.

HELLO, DISTINGUISHED, PROFESSOR.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> Eric: ALL THAT'S ON YOUR BUSINESS CARD?

>> IT TOOK A SMALL FONT.

>> Cathy: THAT'S GREAT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE JANUARY 6 COMMISSION.

DO YOU LOSE ACCOUNTABILITY IF THERE'S ONLY ONE REPUBLICAN ON THE COMMISSION?

>> I THINK YOU DO AT SOME POINT.

AT THIS POINT, THERE'S AN ILLUSIONIVE GOAL OF TRYING O BE BIPARTISANSHIP AND HAVE A MEETING OF THE MINDS TOGETHER.

IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

AT THE SAME TIME, DOG A SAME-PARTY COMMISSION WHERE YOUR ONE REPUBLICAN IS LIZ CHENEY AT THIS POINT IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO WORK, EITHER.

AT HE END OF THE DAY, WE PROBABLY WANT TO DO SOME KIND OF INVESTIGATION ON WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 6th BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO HAVE A HAPPY ENDING.

THINK ABOUT IT, 20 YEARS AGO, WE HAD A 9/11 COMMISSION WHERE BIPARTISANLY WE COULD WORK TOGETHER AND REALLY SORT OF TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS GOING ON.

THOSE DAYS ARE PART OF A HALYCON, ROSE-TINTED GLASSES ERA THAT'S GONE.

>> Cathy: DO YOU THINK WE'LL EVER FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT DAY?

>> PROBABLY NOT.

I THINK THIS WILL BE SOMETHING THAT HIS TAKE YOUR -- HISTORIANS THINK ABOUT WELL PAST OUR TIME HERE.

TO A LARGE EXTENT, THE SOCIAL MEDIA HAS MADE IT I WILL POSSIBLE TO BE -- AND CELL PHONES AND SO FORTH, MADE IT POSSIBLE TO BE ABLE TO DO A LOT OF THIS STUFF THAT WE'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO TAP WITHOUT A SERIES NVESTIGATION.

>> Eric: MISSISSIPPI IS ASKING THE SUPREME COURT TO BASICALLY OVERTURN ROE V. WADE.

IF THEY TOOK THE CASE, HEARD ARGUMENTS NEXT YEAR, EARLY IN THIS FALL, THE DECISION COMES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 2022 CAMPAIGN CYCLE.

>> YEP.

>> Eric: WHAT'S THE POTENTIAL FOR THAT TO THROW EVERYTHING UP IN THE AIR?

>> THAT WILL COMPLETELY CHANGE THE ELECTION.

NOW, WHETHER THIS MOTIVATES DEMOCRATS AND LIBERALS MORE OR ENERGIZES THE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS, WE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW AT THIS POINT.

BUT YOU RAISE A REALLY GOOD POINT AT THIS STAGE THAT WE HAVE A 6-3 COURT AT THIS POINT.

6-3 SUPPORTED BY REHABILITATION, WE HAVE SEVERAL JUSTICES WHO MADE IT CLEAR THEY WOULD LIKE TO OVERTURN ROE VERSUS WADE, EVEN IF CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS WANTS TO TRY TO PLAY SORT OF SWING VOTE, HE DOESN'T HAVE CONTROL OF THE COURT NOW, EITHER, SO IT'S NOT LIKE HE COULD DO SOMETHING TO SAY WE'RE IN THEORY STILL UPHOLDING ROE BUT WHITTLING IT AWAY AT THIS POINT.

THAT'S GOING TO BE THE REAM QUESTION HERE.

DO THEY ACTUALLY DO THE FORMAL OVERTURN ROE OR IS IT GOING TO BE OVERTURNING ROE IN ALL BUT NAME?

>> Cathy: DO YOU THINK THERE WILL BE A RETIREMENT SOON ON THE SUPREME COURT?

>> UNDERSTAND A LOT OF PRESSURE ON BRIAR TO STEP DOWN.

>> Eric: HE SEEMS TO BE RESISTING, THOUGH.

>> YEAH, HE IS RESISTING.

HE STILL FEELS LIKE HE CAN CONTRIBUTE, HE STILL FEELS LIKE HE HAS PRODUCTIVITY BUT A LOT OF THE DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING, REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED TO RUTH BADER GINSBURG AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE CLOCK AND SAYING, CHANCES OF THE DEMOCRAT HOLDING THE SENATE AFTER NEXT YEAR'S ELECTIONS, U.S. SENATE, THIS IS, PROBABLY NOT VERY GOOD, SO GET HIM OUT SOONER AS OPPOSED TO LATER.

I'M ALMOST WONDERING AT THIS POINT THAT EVEN IF WE WERE TO STEP DOWN NOW, GIVEN HOW CLOSE THE SENATE IS AND SO FORTH LIKE THAT, THIS WILL BE ONE HECK OF A BATTLE TO REPLACE HIM.

>> Eric: THE POLITICS OF COVID.

IF THE DELTA VARIANT SURGES, THE GOVERNOR COULD NOT JUST DICTATE A MASK MANDATE, HE WOULD HAVE TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY AGAIN, CORRECT?

GIVE US YOUR EGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE BRANCH PROCEDURE HERE.

>> NO, HE WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK TO SCRATCH AT THIS POINT.

HE WOULD HAVE TO START OVER.

HE CAN'T JUST SORT OF REAUTHORIZE WHAT HE HAD BEEN DOING FOR LIKE AFTER A YEAR.

HE HAS TO GO BACK TO SORT OF THE ORIGINAL AUTHORIZATION, ORIGINAL ORDERS.

THEY'LL HAVE TO SORT OF REDO EVERYTHING.

NOW, LUCKILY EVERYTHING IS ON COMPUTER SO YOU CAN PROBABLY JUST REDO THE STATES AND SO FOR THE.

>> ric: BUT HE POLITICS OF THAT WITH GREATER -- WITH MINNESOTA, HOW WOULD IT PLAY?

>> I THINK IT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT TO DO SOMETHING.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY'RE TRYING TO DO A MASK MANDATE THERE AND THERE IS AN ENORMOUS PUSHBEING BA.

THE PUSHBACK I THINK WILL BE HUGE IN MINNESOTA, ALSO, GREATER MINNESOTA.

>> Eric: IF IT HAPPENS.

>> IF IT WERE TO HAPPEN.

I EMEMBER A FEW YEARS AGO, BEFORE THE PANDEMIC READING A BOOK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE 1918 PANDEMIC AND WE SEEM TO HAVE NOT LEARNED ANYTHING AFTER 100 YEARS.

BACK THEN, THERE WERE MASK BURNING PARTIES, THERE WAS PUSHBACK, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

I WAS THINKING AT ONE POINT, WELL, ONCE THE PANDEMIC STARTED, IF WE'RE LUCKY WE'LL BE ABLE TO CURE THIS IN NOT THREE YEARS BUT TWO YEARS.

I'M NO LONGER BETTING ON TWO.

>> Cathy: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE JOHN THOMPSON SITUATION.

WE'RE ON THE AIR FRIDAY NIGHT AND HE HAS BEEN PRESSURED TO RESIGN, SAYS HE'S KIND OF THINKING ABOUT HIS POLITICAL FUTURE.

LEGISLATURES ARE KIND OF LOATHE TO EXPEL A MEMBER.

IS THIS A SITUATION WHERE YOU WAIT FOR THE VOTERS TO DECIDE OR WHAT.

>> THAT'S ONE MEMBER.

THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE HAS NEVER EXPELLED A MEMBER, EVEN THOUGH THE AUTHORITY TO DO IT IS THERE.

ONE WAY IS TO SAY LET HIS CONSTITUENTS MAKE THE CAM.

THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF ELECTIONS TO BE ABLE TO DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO KEEP HIM OR NOT.

ON THE OTHER HAND, I THINK THE DEMOCRATS FEEL SQUEEZED IN VERY INTERESTING WAYS BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND THE MAJORITY LEADERSHIP IN THE HOUSE WANT TO DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM HIM BECAUSE OF A WHOLE TRAIN OF LET'S SAY ALLEGATIONS.

AT THE SAME TIME, IF THE DEMOCRATS WERE TO PUT PRESSURE ON HIM WHICH IS HAPPENING NOW, THEY'RE LOSING POTENTIALLY SUPPORT FROM PEOPLE OF COLOR, THE BIPoC COMMUNITY.

IF THEY DON'T DO SOMETHING, THEY'RE PROBABLY LOSING SUPPORT FROM SUBURBAN MINNESOTA SO THEY'RE REALLY SORT OF PLAYING WITH TWO DIFFERENT COALITIONS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH AND I DON'T HINK THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A GOOD VIABLE OPTION HERE IN TERMS OF A CHOICE.

IF I WERE A REPUBLICAN, I WOULD BE SORT OF SALIVATING SAYING THAT LET THIS DRAG OUT AS LONG AS POSSIBLE AND HOPE THAT THOMPSON STAYS IN.

THE OTHER THING I WAS GOING TO MENTION, WHEN THOMPSON SAID, WHAT WAS IT A COUPLE DAYS AGO, THAT WHEN THE POLICE REPORTS AND SO FORTH WERE, WHAT, WERE NOT ACCURATE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I CAN'T REMEMBER HIS EXACT WORDS.

>> Cathy: HE WAS QUESTIONING THE AUTHENTICITY OF THEM.

>> THAT'S WHAT THE PHRASE WAS HERE.

FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO FEEL LIKE THEY'VE BEEN HARASSED BY POLICE OR OFTENTIMES AS WE KNOW WHERE CHARGES HAVE BEEN ESSENTIALLY TRUMPED UP, THAT RESONATES WITH HIS CONSTITUENCY.

>> Eric: BUT DOES IT FIT INTO THE REPUBLICAN-D.F.L.

SOFT ON CRIME TALKING POINT?

>> OH, THIS -- THIS BECOMES -- THIS BECOMES ANOTHER GREAT TALKING POINT FOR THE REPUBLICANS IN TERMS OF SORT OF PUTTING, WHAT, DEMOCRATS SOFT ON CRIME, BLACK LIVES MATTERS, WE CAN PUT A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS TOGETHER HERE HAT THIS BECOMES YET ANOTHER OF THE ISSUES AT THE STATE LEVEL AS WELL AS THE NATIONAL LEVEL THAT REALLY POLARIZE WHYS THE TWO PARTIES.

THE ONLY THING THAT CHANGES HERE IS THE DEMOCRATS WOULD LIKE THOMPSON TO GO AWAY, ALSO, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YOU.

FACE TO FACE NOW.

>> YES, WONDERFUL.

>> Eric: THANKS, PROFESSOR.

>> NICE TO SEE YOU.

♪♪ >> ERIC: LET'S KEEP THE POLITICAL CONVERSATION GOING.

THIS TIME WE'RE JOINED BY TWO FORMER LEGISLATIVE LEADERS.

REPUBLICAN FORMER SENATOR AMY KOCH, ONE-TIME SENATE MAJORITY LEADER.

DFL FORMER HOUSE AND SENATE MEMBER JEFF HAYDEN IS HERE AS WELL.

HE WAS AN ASSISTANT SENATE LEADER.

SENATOR HAYDEN, JOHN THOMPSON, WHERE DO YOU WANT TO START?

>> WELL, SOUNDS LIKE JOHN APOLOGIZED TODAY OR YESTERDAY -- >> Eric: TO THE POLICE OFFICER.

>> TO THE POLICE OFFICER, SOUNDS LIKE HE HAS A CONTINUANCE IN HIS INCIDENT WITH REPRESENTATIVE LUCERO.

LOOKS LIKE JOHN HAS A LOT TO THINK ABOUT AND HAS TO FIGURE OUT HOW HE MOVES FORWARD.

>> Eric: HE'S GETTING -- I THINK PEGGY FLANAGAN WAS THE ONLY PERSON OF COLOR IN THE HIERARCHY THAT CALLED FOR HIS RESIGNATION.

THE POCI CAUCUS, VERY POWERFUL IN THE DFL.

HAVE THEY MADE A STATEMENT ON THIS YET?

>> I HAVEN'T HEARD SO BUT I THINK THEY BELIEVE IN DUE PROCESS AND AI THINK OFTEN THAT'S NOT WHAT PLAYS OUT SO I THINK WHAT THEY'RE WAITING FOR IS TO KIND OF SEE WHAT HAPPENS, SEE WHAT REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON HAS TO SAY ABOUT THOSE ACCUSATIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT HAPPENED TO HIM IN HIS PAST.

I THINK THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, HAVING SOME CONVERSATIONS AND TRYING TO FIGURE UT WHAT'S BEST MOVING FORWARD.

>> Cathy: SENATOR KOCH, DO REPUBLICANS SIT BACK AND LET THIS PLAY OUT?

>> FOR SURE.

WE ALSO BELIEVE IN DUE PROCESS BUT THIS ISN'T -- IT'S NOT A COURT OF LAW HERE, IT'S I A COURT OF POLITICAL OPINION AND SO FOR THAT, TIME IS ON THE REPUBLICANS' SIDE.

AND IN FACT THE STORY IS ON THE REPUBLICANS' SIDE.

YOU KNOW, REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON HAS BEEN VERY VOCAL.

YOU REMEMBER THERE WAS AN INCIDENT IN HUGO, AND THAT WAS PRIOR TO THE ELECTION AND HE WAS ELECTED BUT THAT WAS AN ISSUE IN THE OTERS' MINDS AND HE'S ALSO BEEN VERY VOCAL WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT REFORM.

AND THERE WERE SOME ISSUES WITH THAT STOP THAT SUPPORTED THAT BUT THERE WAS ALSO IS HE GOING TO ALLOW THE BODY CAM TO BE RELEASED AND THAT WAS ULTIMATELY BUT THAT LET TO FURTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT ALLEGATIONS FROM MULTIPLE WOMEN, VERY SIMILAR STORIES, VERY TERRIFYING STORIES OF PAST THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN PAST RELATIONSHIPS WITH REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON, SO IT KEEPS -- THE STORY KEEPS UNFOLDING AND HIS STORY DOESN'T MATCH UP.

I ALWAYS SAY WHEN ANYBODY TO CRISIS COMES, TELL THE TRUTH.

YOU'RE SO MUCH BETTER, DON'T TRY -- EVERYBODY IS GOING TO FIND OUT EVERYTHING IN THIS FAST-PACED MEDIA WORLD SO THERE'S NO POINT IN LYING.

>> Eric: THE POLITICAL CALCULATION FOR DEMOCRATS, WHAT'S THE THINKING BEHIND THE SCENES ON THE POLITICS OF IT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO COME UP SO THE IDEA THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE MORE POLARIZED, WE ALREADY WERE, SO REHABILITATION WERE ALREADY KIND OF GOING DOWN THIS ROLE OF DEMOCRATS BEING SOFT ON CRIME AND MINNEAPOLIS EING OUT OF CONTROL.

YOU KNOW, THE DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN SAYING, LISTEN, WE GOT TO DEAL WITH COMMUNITY-BASED VIOLENCE BUT YOU ALSO GOT TO DEAL WITH POLICE CONDUCT AND INVEST IN MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES SO THAT DOESN'T CHANGE BECAUSE OF JOHN THOMPSON NO MATTER WHAT PEOPLE SAY.

>> Cathy: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE RESIDENCY QUESTIONS.

I MEAN, DOES THIS -- DO A LOT OF LAWMAKERS LOOK AT THIS AND GO, UM, I'M NOW -- AM I LIVING INSIDE OR OUTSIDE MY DISTRICT?

HOW MANY DO YOU THINK ACTUALLY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT RESIDENCY ON THEIR OWN?

SERIOUSLY.

>> WELL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIVE IN IT -- YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN YOUR DISTRICT I THINK IT'S SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE ELECTION CYCLE, CORRECT, WHICH THERE IS QUESTIONS ON THIS BECAUSE HE HAD A WISCONSIN DRIVER'S LICENSE THAT HE HAD REISSUED IN NOVEMBER OF 2020 WHEN HE WAS ELECTED SO THERE'S REAL QUESTIONS HERE.

IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE, IT WAS A REPUBLICAN LAST TIME AROUND, BOB BARRETT, THE COURT DETERMINED IT WAS A DEER STAND THAT HE AID WAS HIS PLACE AND A STICK OR SOMETHING AND IT NEVER MOVED AND THE COURT DECIDED, YEAH, OU'RE RIGHT, HE DOESN'T LIVE THERE AND HE COULDN'T PROVE OTHERWISE AND HE ASN'T ALLOWED TO TAKE -- AND THAT WAS A SEATED REPRESENTATIVE, AS WELL.

SO IT'S NOT WITHOUT PRECEDENT.

IT IS A PART OF OUR RULES AND OUR CONSTITUTION AND IT SHOULD BE UPHELD AND SO I THINK THAT THAT IS A REAL THING TO LOOK INTO.

OTHER THING THAT'S POLITICAL ON THIS IS MANY VERY PROMINENT DFLERS INCLUDING OUR GOVERNOR ENDORSED REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON AND THAT'S ABSOLUTELY GOING TO COME INTO PLAY AND JUST FROM A POLITICAL SIDE, THIS HAPPENS, RIGHT.

YOU THINK YOU HAVE A SAFE SEAT, YOU DON'T VET SOMEONE TYPICALLY IN THE SAFE SEATS, RIGHT?

BUT YOU SHOULD FOR AN ENDORSEMENT, THAT SHOULD BE PART OF YOUR PROCESS.

>> Eric: ONE THING ABOUT THE SMOKE-FILLED BACK ROOM IS THAT PARTY ELDERS BACK IN THE DAY WOULD VET A CANDIDATE.

NOW IT'S SORT OF GRASS-ROOTS ORIENTED AND YOU TWO AS LEADERS HAVE RECRUITED CANDIDATES.

DOES THE VETTING PROCESS JUST IN GENERAL NEED SOME IMPROVEMENT?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK SO BUT, YOU KNOW, OFTEN TEAM ARE KIND OF COMING TO THE LEGISLATURE NOW WITH VARIOUS LEVELS OF EXPERIENCE.

SO THE IDEA IS THAT YOU VET THEM BUT EACH IF YOU FIND SOMETHING THAT THEY DID IN THEIR PAST, WE KNOW THE SYSTEM DOESN'T ALWAYS TREAT, FOR INSTANCE, AFRICAN AMERICANS FAIRLY.

SO SHOULD THEY NOT BE ABLE TO RUN FOR OFFICE BECAUSE THEY WERE IN A SYSTEM THAT TARGETED THEM AND DIDN'T TREAT THEM FAIRLY?

SO YOU HAVE TO KIND OF START TO FIGURE OUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN AND AND THEN WHO GETS TO DECIDE WHO'S THE RIGHT PERSON TO MOVE FORWARD.

SO I'M.

>> EXCUSING ANY OF WHAT ALLEGEDLY REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON DID IN HIS BACKGROUND BUT I'M ALSO SAYING, WHO'S THE ARBITER OF THAT.

>> Eric: HOW DID YOU VET COON DATES WHEN YOU WERE RECRUITING?

>> YOU KIND OF VET THE ONES THAT ARE IN THE TOUGH DISTRICTS, THE SWING DISTRICT BUT AS MYSELF, ONE WHO'S BEEN THROUGH BUMPS AND BRUISES, I DON'T -- I'M -- I'M -- THERE IS A LOT OF DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES AND PEOPLE GO THROUGH A LOT AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S A DISQUALIFIER BUILD WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING THIS DEEP, NOT ONLY SHOULD PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT AND ALLOW THE VOTERS TRANSPARENCY TO KNOW ABOUT IT BUT ALSO AS A NEW LEGISLATOR, THEY NEED TO KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THAT.

YOU ARE AT A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF SCRUTINY WHEN YOU RUN FOR THE LEGISLATURE, RUN FOR OFFICE, SO IT'S NOT ABOUT EVEN NECESSARILY WHO GOES FORWARD OR DOESN'T BUT FRANCE PARENT SEE FOR THE VOTERS AND ALLOWING THEM, THOSE REPRESENTATIVES TO ACTUALLY HAVE A CHANCE AT SUCCESS AND KNOWING THAT THIS IS GOING TO COME UP AND THIS IS GOING TO BE PAINFUL, AND YOU ARE GOING TO BE DRAGGED THROUGH -- YOU COULD POTENTIALLY BE DRAGGED THROUGH THE MUD AND AGAIN, AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN DRAGGED THROUGH THAT MUD, IT IS NOT A PLEASANT EXPERIENCE, IT IS INCREDIBLY HARD AND DIFFICULT, AND MOST PEOPLE -- IT'S HARD TO STANDS UP TO THAT KIND OFTEN SCRUTINY.

>> Cathy: BEFORE WE GO, WE HAVE A FEW MINUTES HERE, I HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO SENATOR TOMASSONI THIS WEEK AFTER HIS A.L.S.

DIAGNOSIS AND IT WAS AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION.

HE SAYS HE'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE AND WAIT TO SEE WHAT TO DO IN TERMS OF RUNNING FOR REELECTION.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ABOUT SENATOR TOMASSONI.

>> I HAD A CHANCE TO SIT AND WORK WITH HIM FOR A LONG TIME.

I'VE SAT NEXT TO HIM, HE WAS MY SEATMATE FOR A LOCK TIME.

I'VE SPOKEN TO HIM, AS WELL, IT WAS A REALLY TOUGH CALL AND HE'S A SWEET GUY, A FUN GUY.

HE'S A HARD-WORKING GUY AND SO IT WAS A REALLY HARD AND EMOTIONAL CALL TO HAVE SO I WISH DAVID ALL THE LUCK IN THE WORLD, WE'RE PRAYING FOR IM.

I KNOW HE'S GOING TO FIGHT AND MAYBE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES IN THE NEXT YEAR AND WE CAN KEEP HIM AROUND.

I DON'T KNOW THAT TO BE TRUE BUT THAT'S CERTAINLY WHAT I WISH FOR.

>> THOSE IRON RANGER, YOU GOT TO LOVE THEM, WHEN WE LOST REPRESENTATIVE RUKAVINA, THAT WAS PAINFUL.

SENATOR TOMASSONI, I FELT THE SAME, IT WAS A BLOW.

IT WAS SO SAD.

HE WAS JOBS CHAIR AND I WAS THE LEAD ON JOBS.

WE SPENT A LOT OF YEARS GOING BACK AND FORTH, HIM EXPLAINING THE TACONITE TAX TO ME AND WHY THEY SHOULD HAVE ALL AFTER IT -- ALL OF IT ALL THE TIME AFTER SECOND OF THE DAY, HE'S JUST A DELIGHT AND SO PRAYING FOR HIM AND HIS FAMILY AND THAT HE COMES THROUGH THIS.

>> Eric: DO WE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT REDISTRICTING, HOW THE PRELIMINARY NUMBERS ARE SHAKING OUT, WHO MIGHT GAIN OR LOSE OR IS IT TOO EARLY?

>> WHAT I'M HEARING IS WHAT WE KIND OF KNOW IS GREATER MINNESOTA IS LOSING, THE METRO 7, ESPECIALLY 11 COUNTY IS GAINING.

HOW THAT SHAKES OUT ACTUALLY, I'M NOT SURE WE KNOW.

WE KNOW THE STATE HAS GAINED POPULATION BUT MOSTLY IN THE METRO.

>> Eric: DO YOU LIKE THE FIVE JUDGES DOING OR WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE THE LEGISLATURE -- >> I WAS SO OPPOSED TO THE LEGISLATURE, I HOUGHT IT WAS THE LEGISLATURE, THEY SHOULD DO THEIR JOB.

I HAVE CHANGED ON THAT.

WE HAVE NOT HAD THE LEGISLATURE DO IT IN FIVE DECADES, IT GETS PULLED OUT EVERY TIME BECAUSE WE'VE ALWAYS HAD A SPLIT LEGISLATURE, SO IT ALWAYS GOES TO THE COURT AND AT SOME POINT, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE PEOPLE DRAWING THE LINES FOR THEIR OWN DISTRICTS AND I THINK THERE CAN BE SOME CONFLICT THERE.

SO I SAY LET'S PULL IT OUT, LET'S HAVE AN INDEPENDENT -- I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S JUDGES, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE MAKIAN LOOKS LIKE BUT I THINK WE NEED INDEPENDENT COUNSEL.

>> Eric: ARE YOU COMFORT WITH THE EQUITY PIECE?

>> WERE CLEARLY NOT GEORGIA AND TENNESSEE AND ALABAMA, AND ALL THESE OTHER GERRYMANDERED STATES, SEEMS TO LOOK OUT WELL.

THE A DIVIDED LEGISLATURE, THAT GO SEEMS TO SHOW THAT THE -- >> I SEE JANA SHORTAL TALKED TO SENATOR GAZELKA EARLIER THIS WEEK ABOUT RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE.

>> HE'S RUNNING.

[Laughter] >> HE'S RUNNING, HE IS GOT A LOT OF NAME I.D., HE'S TRAVELING THE STATE, NO DOUBT IN MY MIND HE'LL BE THROWING HIS HAT IN THE RING.

BUT CERTAINLY THE MAJORITY LEADER IS GOING TO BE RUNNING.

[Laughter] >> Cathy: AND HOW WOULD HE STACK UP?

>> RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE BASICALLY DOC JENSEN, FORMER SENATOR AND Dr. JENSEN AND NOT MUCH -- NOBODY ELSE IN THE FIELD.

NOW, THERE WILL BE MORE, I'M HEARING MORE NAMES, SENATOR BENSON IS A NAME THAT COMES UP.

>> Eric: A DERMATOLOGIST IN NORTH OAKS?

I DON'T REMEMBER THE NAME.

>> MAYBE HE NEEDS TO WORK ON NAME I.D.

THERE, IF I'M RUNNING THAT CAMPAIGN.

>> I'M SURE HE'S A GOOD GUY, THOUGH.

>> YOU JUST WANT HIM TO RUN.

>> AND WILL GOVERNOR WALZ FACE AN HE BEEN DOORSMENTS OR PRIMARY FIGHT FROM HIS LEFT?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

THOSE ARE KIND OF RUMORS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, I THINK GOVERNOR WALZ HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB AND AS THE DUST SETTLES AND WE LOOK AT WHERE HE'S FOCUSED, HE'S PUT A LOT OF MONEY IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND HE'S LOOKED AT EQUITY, THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE SOME UMBLINGS FROM THE LEFT THAT THEY DON'T LIKE EVERYTHING HE'S DONE BUT I THINK FOR THE MOST PART THE PARTY AND DEMOCRATS WILL GET BEHIND HIM AND THEN REALLY HOPE THAT THE REPUBLICANS FIGHT IT OUT AND BEAT THEMSELVES UP.

IT'S GOING TO BE A BETTER YEAR FOR REPUBLICANS, TYPICALLY, IT'S AN INTERIM, THE EMOCRATS HOLD AMOUNT LEVER OF POWERS, SHOULD BE A GOOD REPUBLICAN YEAR.

>> Eric: WE LEARNED A LOT.

GREAT TO SEE YOU ALL.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN.

>> THANKS.

>> ERIC: LET'S JUMP RIGHT IN.

LAST WEEK WE ASKED YOU A MINNESOTA HISTORY QUESTION.

HERE'S A REFRESHER.

THIS IS A PHOTO OF FOUR U OF M STUDENTS.

THEY WOKE UP IN MID-JANUARY, 1944 TO DISCOVER THAT THEIR CLASSES WERE CANCELLED FOR THE DAY.

DOZENS OF PATIENTS WERE DISCHARGED THAT DAY FROM THE UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS DUE TO THE SAME REASON.

WE TOLD YOU CLASSES REMAINED CANCELED UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF THE FOLLOWING WEEK.

YOUR JOB WAS TO TELL US THE REASON FOR THE CANCELLATION.

WHY DID THE U OF M CANCEL CLASSES IN JANUARY OF 1944?

WE RECEIVED A HEALTHY NUMBER OF GUESSES.

AND, AS USUAL, MOST OF THEM WERE WRONG.

LET'S START THE LITANY WITH LEE.

>> ERIC: STEVE, A BLIZZARD WAS A GOOD GUESS FOR JANUARY.

BY THE WAY, THE BIG BLIZZARD OF THAT ERA WAS THE TRAGIC ARMISTICE DAY STORM OF 1941.

BUT WHAT WAS THE RIGHT ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION ABOUT 1944?

DAVID FROM DARWIN WAS THE FIRST TO CALL IN WITH A RIGHT GUESS.

>> ERIC: THANK YOU, DAVID.

OF COURSE, THE DARWIN BALL OF TWINE HAS BEEN A PREVIOUS INDEX FILE QUESTION.

IT WAS INDEED A WORKER STRIKE AT THE U OF M THAT CANCELLED ALL CLASSES, EXCEPT MILITARY ONES, AT THE UNIVERSITY FOR ABOUT A WEEK IN JANUARY OF 1944.

THE GOVERNOR HAD TO INTERVENE IN ORDER TO BREAK THE LABOR LOGJAM.

DO YOU HAVE A HISTORY QUESTION YOU THINK WE SHOULD ASK?

KEEP THEM COMING.

YOU CAN REACH US AT 651-229-1430.

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FOR SHOW-CLOSING MUSIC, LET'S GO BACK TO THE SUMMER OF 1984 WHEN KTCA AIRED A SPECIAL CALLED "JETHRO AND FRIENDS" THAT FEATURED A TUNE BY STEVE GOODMAN.

SHE'S JETHRO AND SOME FRIENDS SINGING "MY MAMA SK A TRUCK-DRIVING MAN."

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

BE CAREFUL.

♪♪ MY MOMMA WAS A TRUCK-DRIVING MAN ♪ ♪ THE ONLY HOME SHE KNEW WAS THE OPEN ROAD 'CUZ MY MOMMA WAS A TRUCK I DRIVING MAN ♪ ♪ HERE'S MY STORY AND IT'S TRUE, TO BELIEVE IT'S UP TO YOU ABOUT MY MOMMA AND THE WINE HE SOLD] ANY HAVING MONEY IN A SOCK, STASHING CASH BEHIND A CLOCK, JUST TO BUY A DECENT RIG TO HIT THE ROAD ♪ ♪ I WAS SEVEN WHEN I KNEW THAT MY FAMILY WAS THROUGH AND MY POPPA TOLD ME, SON, SHE'S GOING AWAY ♪ SHE'S LEAVING TO SAY GOODBYE AND A TEAR FELL FROM MY EYE AND I MISS THAT MOTHER-TRUCKER EVERY DAY.

♪ ANY MOTHER WAS A TRUCK-DRIVING MAN, SWEET MOMMA, MY MOMMA WAS A TRUCK I DRIVING MAN ♪ ♪ THE ONLY HOME SHE KNEW WAS THE OLD BENDING ROAD, BECAUSE MY MOMMA WAS A TRUCK I DRIVING MAN ♪♪ [MANDOLIN MUSIC ♪♪ ♪ MY MOMMA WAS A TRUCK-DRIVING MAN, SWEET MOMMA, MY MOMMA WAS A TRUCK-DRIVING MAN ♪ ♪ THE ONLY HOME SHE KNEW WAS THE OLD BEND ROAD BECAUSE MY MOMMA WAS A TRUCK-DRIVING MAN ♪♪ Captioned by: Paradigm Reporting/Captioning www.paradigmreporting.com >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

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