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

>> Cathy: COMING UP ON ALMANAC, A DUO OF POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSORS TALKS TRUMP TARIFFS AND A WHOLE LOT MORE.

WE'LL MEET THE NEW D.F.L.

STATE PARTY CHAIR, TANE DANGER HAS AN ESSAY FOR US AND MARY LAHAMMER'S BEEN TRACKING THE GOVERNOR.

>> GOVERNOR WALZ WENT ON THE NATIONAL SPEAKING CIRCUIT AGAIN THIS WEEK AND NOW HAS AN INTERNATIONAL TRIP PLANNED.

WE'LL ANALYZE WHAT HE'S UP TO.

>> KEEP HIM IN THE CONVERSATION AND IN THE MIX AS HE CONSIDERS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

>> I HAVE BEEN INVITED AND I THINK I'M GOING TO TO E IN TORONTO.

>> THAT'S COMING UP ON ALMANAC.

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

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

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

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

>> Cathy: WE HAVE A FULL HOUR AHEAD FOR YOU TONIGHT.

WE'LL CHECK IN WITH A REPORTER WHO'S BEEN TRACKING ICE DEPORTATIONS IN MINNESOTA, TANE DANGER HAS A SPECIAL MESSAGE FOR ALL OF YOU, WE REMEMBER RENOWNED WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER JIM BRANDENBURG.

AND AS THE LEGISLATURE STARTS THEIR SPRING BREAK, WE'LL LOOK AT WHERE THINGS STAND AT THE CAPITOL.

>> Eric: WE START TONIGHT WITH WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN THE U.S. CAPITOL THIS WEEK.

PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS DELAYED MANY OF HIS TARIFFS IMPOSED LAST WEEK EXCEPT AGAINST CHINA SO A WORLDWIDE TRADE WAR IS STILL IN PLAY WITH CHINA RAISING TARIFFS IN RETALIATION.

BOTH THE U.S. SUPREME COURT AND CONGRESS HAS BEEN BUSY AS WELL.

CINDY RUGELEY MADE THE DRIVE DOWN I-35 TO JOIN US.

SHE HEADS UP THE POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT AT UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH.

THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA'S TWIN CITIES CAMPUS IS HOME TO LARRY JACOBS, WHERE HE HEADS UP THE HUMPHREY SCHOOL'S CENTER FOR POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE.

WELL, PROFESSOR, HOW DOES TARIFF HUBBUB EVOLVE OR DEVOLVE INTO A POLITICAL ISSUE FOR 2026.

>> I MEAN, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG ONE.

I THINK ON TWO FRONTS, ONE, IT'S GOING TO DRIVE UP COSTS IF IT KEEPS GOING THE WAY IT IS.

AND SECONDLY WHEN YOU SEE THE BOND MARKETS TAKING A TANKING, YOU'RE SEEING BIGGER PROBLEMS.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IT'S POSSIBLE THAT INTEREST RATES ARE GOING TO GO UP AND IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG ISSUE.

AND IT'S ON THE PRESIDENT AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT CAME BECAUSE OF ANYTHING ELSE BESIDES CONSCIOUS DECISIONS.

>> Cathy: IT LOOKS LIKE APPROVAL RATINGS FOR THE PRESIDENT ARE SLIPPING.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?

>> I THINK THIS IS A BEGINNING OF A SLIP.

THE PRESIDENT STARTED WITH A BIT MORE THAN 50% APPROVAL RATINGS AND IT'S NOW OWN FIVE OR SIX POINTS DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU'RE LOOKING.

AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO GO DOWN BUT BECAUSE WE'RE SO DIVIDED BY PARTY IT'S NOT GOING TO GO DOWN A WHOLE LOT MORE, HE'S GOT KIND OF A FLOOR UNDER HIM.

I THINK THE CHALLENGE IS THE ISSUE CINDY'S RAISING IS THE TARIFFS AND INFLATIONS AND THE STOCK MARKET AND NOW THE BOND MARKETS WHICH IS VERY UNSETTLING.

THAT'S GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT AS WE HEAD TOWARDS 2026 ELECTIONS.

CHARLIE COOK CAME OUT TODAY AND WAS STARTING TO PARSE WHAT THIS WOULD MEAN AND HE'S PROJECTING THAT THE REPUBLICANS WILL LOSE THE MAJORITIES IN THE HOUSE BY SOME MARGIN, AND THAT EVEN THE MAJORITY THAT THE SENATE REPUBLICANS HAVE COULD BE ENDANGERED NOW BECAUSE OF THIS ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY.

>> SO THAT REALLY COULD BE A POLITICAL LIABILITY FOR REPUBLICANS.

>> YEAH, IT COULD BE.

AND I MEAN IT'S MORE THAN JUST THE IMPACT OF THE TARIFFS THEMSELVES, IT'S JUST THE UNCERTAINTY AND PEOPLE NOT KNOWING WHAT'S GOING ON, THE CHAOS.

>> Eric: U.S. HOUSE AND U.S. SENATE ARE WORKING ON DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF A BUDGET BILL AND IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE A LIF OUT OF WHACK, NOT EASILY PUT TOGETHER.

HOW THAT GOING TO EVOLVE?

>> FIRST I THINK THE REPUBLICANS GET A WIN THIS WEEK BECAUSE THE HOUSE DID PASS A BUDGET BLUEPRINT.

WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT THE SENATE REPUBLICANS CAN MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT THE FILIBUSTER.

SO KUDOS TO THEM, THEY DO IT.

NOW THE HARD WORK REALLY BEGINS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO PUT TOGETHER ACTUAL BUDGET, AND THERE ARE DEEP DIVISIONS WITHIN EACH CHAMBER BETWEEN THE TWO, AND IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO THE FACT THAT REPUBLICANS WANT TO CONTINUE DONALD TRUMP'S 2017 TAX CUTS.

>> Eric: THEY'RE IN PLACE NOW.

AND END OF THE YEAR THEY WOULD CONTINUE.

>> THEY WOULD CONTINUE UNDER THIS LEGISLATION PROPOSAL.

AND THEN THEY WOULD TO ADD MORE TAX CUTS AND DONALD TRUMP HAS IDEAS WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.

CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS DO.

PLUS THEY WANT TO PUT QUITE A BIT OF MONEY INTO THE MILITARY, INTO THE BORDER, AND OTHER AREAS.

SO HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DO THE MATH.

NOW, YOU'VE GOT ONE GROUP SAYING WE'VE GOT TO REALLY CUT SPENDING LET'S SAY ON MEDICAID, YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER GROUP SAYING HOW DARE YOU DO DEEP CUTS IN MEDICAID.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BE APE BIG SPLIT.

MEANWHILE THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE WHICH IS THE SCOREKEEPER, CAME OUT AND SAID, WELL, WITH REPUBLICANS ARE TALKING ABOUT WILL ADD $6 TRILLION TO THE DEFICIT.

SO NOW GOOD LUCK TO THEM.

>> Eric: THE NO TAX ON TIPS, NO TAX ON OVERTIME, WILL THAT STUFF SURVIVE?

>> I DON'T THINK SO, NOT UNLESS THEY FIND SOME WAY TO, I MEAN AT ONE POINT THE PRESIDENT WAS EVEN TALKING ABOUT RAISING THE TOP TIER OF THE, TO COVER THEM, BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH TO KEEP THE TAX WHERE IT IS.

AND THEN PUT IN PLACE THOSE -- YOU KNOW, IT'S ALSO KIND OF HARD TO KEEP TRACK OF.

THERE'S A LOT OF TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY AT PLAY.

>> Cathy: THERE'S A LOT TO KEEP TRACK OF HERE, IT JUST CHANGES EVERY MINUTE.

I'M WONDERING AS WE TALK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN CONGRESS AND WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS DOING, WHAT'S THE ALTERNATIVE THAT DEMOCRATS ARE OFFERING?

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING?

>> WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS WE'RE NOT THE REPUBLICANS.

I THINK THE DEMOCRATS -- >> Cathy: IS THAT GOOD ENOUGH?

>> WELL, DEPENDS WHO YOU ASK.

I MEAN, THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE AN INDEPENDENT MESSAGE.

YOU KNOW, DONALD TRUMP I THINK HAS BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE IN HIS DIAGNOSIS OF THE PROBLEM AND SPEAKING TO THE ANGST AND THE RESENTMENT OF SO MANY AMERICANS.

HIS SOLUTION TO IT IS NOW VERY CONTROVERSIAL AND THE TARIFFS OBVIOUSLY ARE GOING THROUGH SOME TOUGH TIMES NOW.

THE DEMOCRATS ARE HAVING A HARD TIME JUST SPEAKING TO THAT RESENTMENT AND ANGER.

INSTEAD THEY GO STRAIGHT TO THE POLICY IDEAS AND GET VERY WONKY.

I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE PUT TOGETHER THEIR PLATFORM.

THERE ARE A LOT OF DIVISIONS YOU'RE SEEING YOUNGER PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS, THEY'RE NOW CHALLENGING LEADERSHIP.

YOU KNOW, LEADER SCHUMER IN THE SENATE IS NOW POSSIBLY GOING TO BE LOOKING AT A PRIMARY CHALLENGE TO HIS REELECTION.

AND THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, WE'RE GOING TO SEE I THINK SOME OF THE DEMOCRATIC SENIOR LEADERSHIP BEING CHALLENGED BECAUSE OF THIS ANGST.

SO, O, I THINK THE DEMOCRATS DON'T REALLY HAVE A RESPONSE OTHER THAN WE'RE NOT THEM.

>> Cathy: DO YOU AGREE?

>> I AGREE TOTALLY AND I MEAN, I THINK WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF A GENERATION SHIFT AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DRAMATIC.

>> Eric: IS HERE ANY TRACTION FOR THE ISSUE OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS INSIDER TRADING?

I'VE HEARD A COUPLE OF MEMBERS BRING THAT UP, I THINK TIM WALZ WHEN HE WAS IN THE HOUSE I THINK EVEN BROUGHT THAT UP AT ONE POINT.

>> EAH, IT'S BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE.

>> Eric: IS IT SERIOUS?

IS SOMETHING GOING ON A LOT?

>> YES.

I MEAN, YES, YOU KNOW, IT'S HAPPENING, WHETHER IT'S ILLEGAL IS THE QUESTION.

AND SORTING THAT OUT OF COURSE HAS BEEN DIFFICULT OVER, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A COUPLE DECADES AT LEAST.

THE BIG ISSUE THIS PAST WEEK IS DONALD TRUMP SAID ON HIS SOCIAL MEDIA SITE SOCIAL TRUTH, IT'S A GREAT TIME TO BUY.

>> Eric: SIGNAL?

>> YEAH, SIX HOURS LATER.

>> SIX HOURS LATER HE PAUSED HIS TARIFFS FOR 90 DAYS AND THE STOCK MARKET WENT UP 9% SO, YOU KNOW, A NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS ARE ACCUSING HIM OF INSIDER TRADING AND SO FORTH.

GOOD LUCK FINDING EVIDENCE OF THAT.

>> Eric: ARE THEY SHOCKED THE GAMBLING IS GOING ON IN THIS ESTABLISHMENT?

>> SHOCKED.

SHOCKED.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> Eric: THANKS, YOU TWO.

APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN.

>> YOU BET.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> Cathy: WE'RE GOING TO TURN OUR ATTENTION NOW TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S ACTIONS ON IMMIGRATION AND DEPORTATION AND HOW IT IS AFFECTING IMMIGRANTS AND FOREIGN STUDENTS IN MINNESOTA.

BECKY DERNBACH IS PART OF A TEAM OF REPORTERS WHO HAVE BEEN COVERING THIS COMPLEX ISSUE FOR THE SAHAN JOURNAL.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME BACK.

>> Cathy: OH, GOSH, MPR'S IMMIGRATION REPORTER SAID THAT LIKE 24 STUDENTS IN THE MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM THAT ARE HAVING SOME ISSUES WITH THEIR STUDENT STATUS BEING REVOKED.

THE STRIB HAS 27.

I GUESS THE QUESTION IS HOW HARD IS IT TO DETERMINE WHO'S BEING AFFECTED?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, IT'S HARD TO TRACK.

EACH UNIVERSITY IS TRACKING THEIR OWN SYSTEM AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, DECENTRALIZED ND EVEN THE MINNESOTA STATE SYSTEM HAS MANY DIFFERENT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

BUT, YEAH, I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY A COUPLE DOZEN STUDENTS HAVE HAD THEIR STATUS REVOKED AT LEAST AND WE DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S MORE TO COME OR WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> Cathy: WHEN YOU SAY STATUS, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THIS FOR FOLKS, HAVE THEIR VISAS BEEN REVOKED OR WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE THE STUDENT STATUS?

>> YEAH, SO A VISA IS A TRAVEL DOCUMENT AND PASSPORT THAT ALLOWS YOU TO ENTER THE COUNTRY.

ONCE YOU'RE HERE AS A STUDENT YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE IN GOOD STUDENT STATUS, AND FORMALLY WHAT THAT MEANS IS YOU HAVE A FULL COURSELOAD, YOU'RE NOT WORKING WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION, YOU'RE DOING ALL THE THINGS YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING TO BE IN GOOD STATUS AS A STUDENT.

AND SOMETIMES THERE MIGHT BE AN ISSUE WITH THAT IF YOU TAKE ON SOME WORK THAT MAYBE YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN ON OR AND THEN TYPICALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL WORK WITH A DESIGNATED OFFICIAL ON CAMPUS TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE STATUS, YOU CAN BE IN TOUCH WITH THE STUDENT BE BE LIKE, HEY, THIS IS OUT OF -- YOU NEED TO WORK ON THIS, YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAL IT.

AND INSTEAD WHAT THEY'RE SEEING IS THEY JUST GO INTO THE SYSTEM AND SEE THAT DHS OR I.C.E.

HAS TERMINATED THE STUDENT'S STATUS WITHOUT WARNING AND THEN THAT MEANS THAT THE STUDENT IS NOT LEGALLY AUTHORIZED TO STAY IN THE COUNTRY AND DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS COULD BEGIN.

>> Eric: DO WE KNOW HOW I.C.E.

IS TRACKING THESE FOLKS?

WHERE DOES THE INFORMATION COME FROM THEM FOR THEM TO GO AFTER THE PEOPLE?

>> YEAH, SO WE KNOW ABOUT TWO SPECIFIC STUDENTS WHOSE STATUS HAS BEEN REVOKED.

IN ONE CASE THAT STUDENT WAS ARRESTED.

THERE HAVE BEEN, AND WE KNOW ABOUT THOSE STUDENTS BECAUSE THEY FILED FEDERAL LAWSUITS.

AND ONE OF THOSE IS THE STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF INNESOTA, A TURKISH STUDENT AT THE CARLSON SCHOOL STUDYING FOR AN MBA.

AND HE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN FLAGGED OVER A DRUNK DRIVING CONVICTION AND SEEMS THAT I.C.E.

DID LIKE A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK AND SORT OF CROSS-REFERENCED.

AND THEN YESTERDAY I REPORTED ABOUT A SECOND STUDENT, THIS ONE AT METRO STATE WHOSE STATUS WAS TERMINATED AS WELL.

THE STUDENT HADN'T BEEN ARRESTED.

THIS STUDENT IS FROM THAILAND, HE'S A NURSING STUDENT, AND HE ALSO WAS FLAGGED OVER DRUNK DRIVING CONVICTION.

AND IT SAID IN THE, WHERE THEY CANCELED HIS STATUS IN THE LITTLE COMPUTER DATABASE IT SAID THAT HE HAD BEEN FLAGGED IN A CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK.

IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING FOR THE TWO INSTANCES WE KNOW ABOUT.

THERE ARE SOME TWO DOZEN MORE THAT I DON'T HAVE THE DETAILS ON, I CAN'T SAY ALL OF THE REASONS THAT THEY MIGHT BE, THAT THEIR STATUSES MIGHT BE CANCELED.

IF THAT'S ABOUT CRIMINAL RECORDS, IF THAT'S ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN SOME EXAMPLES ON THE EAST COAST OF SOME FREE SPEECH ISSUES.

I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT HERE BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT HAPPENING.

>> Cathy: HOW HARD IS IT TO REPORT ON THIS IN IS THAT MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS ARE NOT REALLY TALKING, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO KIND OF GET THE INFORMATION FROM THE ACTUAL SCHOOLS.

ARE YOU FINDING THAT TOO?

>> YEAH, I MEAN THE SCHOOLS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT PRIVACY, THERE ARE A LOT OF STUDENT PRIVACY LAWS AND THEY ALSO WANT TO BE HONORING STUDENTS' WISHES.

AND SO, YEAH, I MEAN I THINK THAT IT'S CHALLENGING TO TRACK WHAT'S GOING ON.

SOME OF THESE, THESE TWO STUDENTS THAT I ENTIONED, THEY'RE CHALLENGING THIS IN COURT AND WE KNOW ABOUT A MANKATO STUDENT WHO'S BEEN ARRESTED AS WELL BUT I DON'T THINK ALL OF THE STUDENTS ARE GOING TO CHALLENGE IT.

I'M HEARING THAT SOME ARE JUST MAKING PLANS TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY.

>> Cathy: WHERE DOES THIS END UP?

SO THE TURKISH STUDENT FROM THE U OF M WAS IN IMMIGRATION COURT TODAY, FRIDAY.

SO IS THIS AN IMMIGRATION COURT SITUATION?

IS IT A DISTRICT COURT?

IS IT A FEDERAL COURT?

>> IT'S COMPLICATED.

SO, YEAH, SO IT'S BOTH.

IMMIGRATION COURT AND IN IMMIGRATION THERE'S TWO TRACKS, THERE WAS LIKE A BOND HEARING TODAY FOR WHETHER HE COULD BE RELEASED WHILE PROCEEDINGS ARE PENDING AND ALSO THE REMOVAL TRACK IN IMMIGRATION COURT OF SHOULD HE BE DEPORTED AND THERE'S ALSO A FEDERAL LAWSUIT OF WAS THIS DONE IN A WAY THAT WAS COMPLIANT WITH THE LAW, AND THERE ARE SOME JURISDICTIONAL QUESTIONS THERE THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GET WORKED OUT.

BUT, YEAH, THERE'S BASICALLY THREE SEPARATE LEGAL TRACKS GOING ON FOR THAT ONE STUDENT.

>> Eric: ARE SOME LOCAL COUNTY SHERIFFS COOPERATING WITH I.C.E., OR?

>> THAT IS A BETTER QUESTION FOR ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES, YEAH, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME COUNTY SHERIFFS THAT HAVE SIGNED NEW AGREEMENTS ABOUT COOPERATING WITH I.C.E.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WAS AT ISSUE IN THE METRO STATE CASE, THE U OF M CASE OR THE MANKATO CASE.

BUT, YEAH, THERE ARE SOME SHERIFFS THAT HAVE -- AND SOME OF THOSE AGREEMENTS ARE ALSO ABOUT SHARING JAIL SPACE WITH I.C.E.

>> Eric: SURE.

APPRECIATE YOU COMING OVER.

>> Cathy: BECKY, GOOD REPORTING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, APPRECIATE IT.

WELL, EARLIER THIS WEEK NEWS HIT THAT WORLD RENOWNED WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER, LONGTIME ELY RESIDENT AND NATIVE OF LUVERNE, MINNESOTA, JIM BRANDENBURG DIED LAST THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

HE HAD BEEN BATTLING THYROID CANCER AND PNEUMONIA.

BRANDENBURG'S WORK APPEARED IN BOOKS, FILMS, AND MANY OTHER FORMATS OVER THE DECADES.

INCLUDING QUITE OFTEN IN NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC.

HE WON THEIR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD JUST TWO YEARS AGO.

BRANDENBURG APPEARED ON ALMANAC TEN YEARS AGO THIS WEEK IN FACT, AND PART OF THAT HE SHARED HIS PASSION FOR WOLVES.

HERE'S A SHORT EXCERPT.

>> IT STARTED ON THE PRAIRIE WHEN I WAS A YOUNG BOY, THE CORNFIELDS AND NO WILDERNESS AND I HAD THIS DREAM OF LIVING IN THE NORTH WOODS IN TALL PINES WITH WOLVES AND IT CAME TRUE.

AND THAT'S 45 YEARS NOW I'VE BEEN UP THERE LIVING WITH THEM.

AND I THINK I KNOW THEM PRETTY WELL.

>> Eric: WE'VE GOT A PICTURE OF -- TELL US ABOUT THIS.

>> THAT'S A WOLF PHOTOGRAPH FROM THE HIGH ARCTIC WHERE I SPENT THREE YEARS LIVING WITH A FAMILY OF WOLVES, LITERALLY LIKE S CLOSE AS WE ARE TONIGHT.

SO I GOT TO KNOW THEM QUITE WELL.

THEY HAD NO FEAR OF MAN UP THERE.

MINNESOTA THEY HAVE A LITTLE MORE REASON TO BE AFRAID NOW OF COURSE BECAUSE OF THE WOLF HUNT.

♪♪ >> Eric: THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FACES BUDGET TROUBLE ALONG WITH OTHER STATE AGENCIES AMIDST FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS.

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS ANNOUNCED APPROXIMATELY 170 LAYOFFS.

ON THURSDAY, UNION ORGANIZERS AND M.D.H.

EMPLOYEES RALLIED AGAINST THOSE ROLLBACKS TO PUBLIC HEALTH.

HERE WITH MORE IS HEALTH COMMISSIONER DR. BROOKE CUNNINGHAM.

WELL, HOW UNCERTAIN IS YOUR BUDGET SITUATION, AND HOW, ARE YOU WORKING ON SOME KIND OF ALTERNATIVE?

WHERE DOES THIS ALL STAND TONIGHT?

>> UNFORTUNATELY IT'S VERY UNCERTAIN.

I THINK ALL STATE AGENCIES, THAT IS THE CASE.

WE ARE HEAVILY RELIANT ON FEDERAL FUNDS, THAT'S SORT OF HOW THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN BUILT.

MY AGENCY IS 50% FEDERALLY FUNDED, AND CERTAIN SECTIONS LIKE OUR INFECTIOUS DISEASE PROGRAMS AND OUR PUBLIC HEALTH LAB ARE 90% FEDERALLY FUNDED.

AND WE'VE HAD REALLY A LOT OF SUCCESS IN SECURING FEDERAL AWARDS BUT NOW WE'RE IN A PLACE WHERE WE'RE SEEING THOSE AWARDS BEING TAKEN BACK, TAKEN BACK WITH NO ADVANCE NOTICE AND SO THAT MAKES YOU FEEL VERY UNCERTAIN IN AN AGENCY THAT RELIES ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BE A PARTNER.

>> Cathy: SO IF THERE WAS ANOTHER LARGE DISEASE OUTBREAK, ARE YOU SAYING THAT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT TO TRACK IT?

>> O WE ARE, IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE ROLLING BACK TO SORT OF PRE-PANDEMIC TIMES.

WE STILL HAVE TEAMS IN PLACE.

WE BRAID FUNDING.

WE HAVE A CORE EPIDEMIOLOGY AND LABORATORY CAPACITY GRANTED THAT WE'VE HAD FOR MANY MANY YEARS, BUT THESE MONEYS THAT WERE JUST TAKEN WERE MANY TIMES THAT, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO REALLY INVEST IN DATA INFRASTRUCTURE, TO BUILD OUR IMMUNIZATION SYSTEM, TO MODERNIZE IT, TO MODERNIZE ANALYTICS, TO GO OUT INTO COMMUNITIES.

ONE OF THE THINGS E LEARN FROM THE COVID PANDEMIC WAS THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP IN REAL CONCRETE WAYS, AND THESE FUNDS SUPPORTED THOSE PARTNERSHIPS.

AND SO I AM WORRIED ABOUT OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE THE SAME LEVEL OF CUSTOMER SERVICE AND TIMELY RESPONSIVENESS TO DIFFERENT SETTINGS.

>> Cathy: IS THIS MONEY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, AS THIS THE COVID MONEY IN LARGE PART?

BECAUSE THAT WAS GOING TO WIND DOWN ANYWAY, RIGHT?

>> IT'S CALLED COVID, THE NAME SAYS COVID, BUT IT ALSO SAYS EXPANSION GRANTS.

SO IT'S EPIDEMIOLOGY AND LABORATORY CAPACITY EXPANSION GRANTS.

SO IT IS FOR THOSE CORE SCIENCE TEAMS.

IT'S FOR OUR LABS, IT'S FOR DATA INFRASTRUCTURE, IT'S FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND IT'S TO ADDRESS THE CHRONIC GAPS IN PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE THAT THE PANDEMIC REVEALED TO US IN A REALLY TROUBLING WAY.

>> Eric: IS THE PROGRAMS THAT FIGHT MEASLES, FOR INSTANCE, THE VACCINATION PROGRAMS, THAT'S SOMETHING THE BE ON HE GROUND AND PEOPLE AFFECTED BY, ARE THOSE IN DANGER?

>> AGAIN, OUR INFECTIOUS DISEASE TEAMS ARE 90% FEDERALLY FUNDED, SO WHEN YOU AY IN DANGER, WE CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK, BUT WE WILL HAVE, IF WE HAVE TO DO THESE LAYOFFS, LESS PEOPLE DOING THAT WORK.

AND THE THING IS, ERIC, YES, WE DID KNOW THAT THE GRANTS WOULD COME TO AN END, BUT THE WAY THIS ROLLED OUT THERE WAS NO ADVANCED NOTICE.

THERE WAS NO CLOSEOUT PERIOD.

USUALLY YOU'RE WATCHING THE END DATE FOR A GRANT SO THAT YOU CAN SWITCH TO ALTERNATIVE FUNDING.

>> Eric: SURE.

>> SO AT THIS POINT WE GOT A TERMINATION NOTICE ON A TUESDAY THAT WAS RETROACTIVE TO THE MONDAY.

>> Cathy: AND THE STATE CAN'T HELP YOU BACKFILL THIS.

>> NOT THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY.

NOT THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY, AND CLEARLY OTHER AGENCIES IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY, THEY WILL IN THE FUTURE FACE SIMILAR CUTS.

>> Eric: GOVERNOR WALZ HAS TOLD THE AGENCIES SUCH AS YOURS TO HAVE SOME DIFFERENT SCENARIOS READY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Eric: BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THE ONEY IS SO SCARCE AFTER THE FEDS BAILOUT THAT OPTIONS ARE HARD TO FIND MAYBE.

>> OPTIONS ARE CHALLENGING.

WE ARE CERTAINLY UNNING THOSE SCENARIOS.

WE ARE CERTAINLY LOOKING AT THE FUNDING FOR ALL OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS.

I, YOU KNOW, HAVE TALKED TO MY STAFF, I NEED TO KNOW EVERY PERSON IN OUR AGENCIES, WHAT THEIR FUNDING STREAMS ARE, RIGHT, AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO PIVOT IF THOSE FUNDS GET CUT.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU WERE FIRST ON THE SHOW WHEN YOU FIRST TOOK THE REINS OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AS THE NEW COMMISSIONER YOU TALKED AT LENGTH ABOUT YOUR ATTENTION TO EQUITY AND HEALTH CARE.

HOW MUCH THEN DO HOSE EFFORTS GET SIDELINED BECAUSE OF THESE BUDGET ISSUES?

>> THEY CAN'T GET SIDELINED.

WE CAN'T LET EQUITY GET SIDELINED.

IT'S FOUNDATIONAL TO OUR WORK.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PUBLIC HEALTH FOUNDATIONAL CAPABILITIES, EQUITY IS THE OVERARCHING APPROACH, AND EQUITY IS REALLY ABOUT BOTH HOW YOU DO THE WORK AND WITH WHOM YOU DO THE WORK.

SO PART OF MY CONCERN WITH THESE GRANTS, AND THERE WAS A COVID DISPARITIES GRANT THAT GOT CUT, AND I WILL TELL YOU, I DON'T KNOW THE TOTAL NUMBER ON THAT GRANT SPECIFICALLY, BUT IN THIS WHOLE BUCKET OF MONEYS THAT WERE CUT, WE HAD OVER 180 GRANTS AND CONTRACTS OUT TO COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS OUT TO TRIBES, OUT TO LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND MUCH OF HAT WORK IS TO WORK WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES TO ADDRESS HEALTH INEQUITIES AND TO EVEN HELP PEOPLE RECOVER FROM THE LINGERING EFFECTS OF COVID.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> YOU BET.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> Tane: HI.

AS I’M SURE VIEWERS ARE AWARE, OUR NATION AND WORLD ARE FACING SOME OF THE GREATEST CHALLENGES AND PROBLEMS OF LIFETIMES.

FROM POLITICS TO THE ECONOMY, IT FEELS AS THOUGH EVERYTHING IS BREAKING DOWN.

PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED.

THEY ARE ANGRY.

AND RIGHTFULLY SO.

I WANTED TO COME HERE TONIGHT TO SAY, I’M SORRY.

I KEEP LOOKING AROUND AT ALL THE PROBLEMS AND I JUST THINK THESE HAVE GOT TO BE PARTIALLY, IF NOT LARGELY MY FAULT.

LOOK AT THE PRICE OF GOODS.

SEEMS LIKE THE PRICE OF EGGS GOES UP EVERY TIME YOU GO TO THE GROCERY STORE.

I PERSONALLY EAT TWO EGGS EVERY SINGLE MORNING!

CAN'T BE ELPING.

SO WHEN YOU SEE HIGH EGG PRICES AT THE GROCERY STORE YOU SHOULD SAY, THANKS A LOT, TANE.

PEOPLE ARE RIGHTFULLY DISCONTENT WITH THE BREAKDOWN OF OUR CIVIL DISCOURSE, IT SEEMS LIKE NOBODY CAN TALK TO EACH OTHER ANYMORE.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

I WAS A COMMUNICATIONS STUDIES MAJOR IN COLLEGE.

IT SEEMS LIKE I SHOULD HAVE FIXED THAT BY NOW!

YET OUR DISCOURSE HAS ONLY SEEMED TO GET WORSE IN THE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN ALIVE.

SO AGAIN.

[ WHISPERING ] I'M SORRY.

AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT NATIONAL ISSUES.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WATCHING RIGHT NOW WHO ARE ESTRANGED FROM THEIR FAMILIES.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT?

I DON'T EVEN KNOW MOST OF YOUR FAMILIES, SO I CERTAINLY COULDN'T HAVE HELPED WITH ANY OF THAT.

AND WHAT ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE?

I AM LITERALLY PUMPING OUT CO2 JUST STANDING HERE RIGHT NOW, SO WHEN THE EARTH GETS TOO HOT TO SUSTAIN HUMANS, YOU CAN BLAME TANE DANGER.

A LOT OF PEOPLE GET MAD BECAUSE THE MEDIA DOESN'T COVER THE IMPORTANT ISSUES.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WATCHING THE TV RIGHT NOW AND THEY ARE THINKING THIS ENTIRE ESSAY IS A WASTE OF TIME THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SPENT ON SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT!

AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE YOUR FRUSTRATIONS ABOUT THE WORLD AND POTENTIALLY HOW I, TANE DANGER AM MAKING THEM WORSE, PLEASE SEND A LETTER TO TANE DANGER, CARE OF TWIN CITIES PUBLIC TELEVISION 172 EAST FOURTH STREET, ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, 55101.

I WILL DO MY BEST TO RESPOND TO EACH LETTER WITH A PERSONAL APOLOGY.

THOUGH, CONSIDERING THE VOLUME OF THINGS GOING ON IN THE WORLD, MY RESPONSES WILL PROBABLY BE SLOW, SO, AGAIN, I AM SORRY.

THE NEXT TIME THAT YOU ARE FRUSTRATED ABOUT SOMETHING GOING ON IN THE WORLD, JUST REMEMBER, IT'S NOT EVERYBODY ELSE'S FAULT.

IT'S MINE.

TANE DANGER.

♪♪ >> Eric: AN INTERIM CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, TENSIONS OVER RENT CONTROL AND TENANT PROTECTIONS.

LINGERING UNCERTAINTY OVER TRASH COLLECTION.

AND ANOTHER DOWNTOWN BUILDING CONDEMNED.

AND I BET WE COULD FIND OTHER ISSUES PLAYING ST. PAUL BUT THAT'S WHY WE BRING IN FRED MELO OF THE PIONEER PRESS TO BRING HIS EXPERTISE.

IT WAS LIKE THE MINNESOTA HOUSE FOR A WHILE, 3-3 ON THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR HAD TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.

>> YEAH, WHAT IS GOING ON?

IS IT I CALLED A LOT OF FORMER CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, WOMEN WHO HAD BEEN ON THE COUNCIL, COUNCIL KATHY LANTRY WHO HAD BEEN ON THE COUNCIL FOR TEN YEARS, THEY WERE ALL LIKE WHAT THE HECK JUST HAPPENED?

YOU DON'T DO THAT.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT STEPPED DOWN AND INSTEAD OF PICKING THEIR SEVENTH THEY GAVE AWAY ALL THEIR POWER TO THE BIG GUY, TO THE MAYOR IN THE CORNER OFFICE.

SO THESE SIX WOMEN, PROGRESSIVE WOMEN, I THINK ONE OF THE FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS SAID THEY'RE ALL ALPHAS, THEY'RE ALL KIND OF, YOU KNOW, STRONG LEADERS, SO WHAT THE HECK JUST HAPPENED?

BUT THEY COULDN'T GET TO YES, THEY COULDN'T COMPROMISE, THERE WASN'T A LOT OF DISCUSSION BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, THERE WAS THIS WEIRD EMERGENCY RECESS.

THREE DIFFERENT MEETINGS THEY COULDN'T GET THERE.

>> Cathy: WHAT'S WITH THE DYSFUNCTION?

SERIOUSLY?

>> RIGHT NOW FIVE OF THE SEVEN ARE FRESHMAN, THEY'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE.

THEY'VE NEVER WORKED TOGETHER BEFORE.

I THINK THEY CAME IN WITH STRONG MANDATES, I'D BE THE FACE OF RENT CONTROL OR THE FACE OF ANTI-RENT CONTROL.

BUT THEY HAVEN'T REALLY SPENT MAYBE THE FACE TIME BEHIND CLOSED DOORS THAT PREVIOUS COUNCILS HAVE.

I TOOK THE LIBERTY OF COUNTING UP THEIR ATTENDANCES.

THEY WERE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, TWO, THREE OF THEM WERE IN THAT B RANGE IN TERMS OF LIKE 84, MAKING 84% OF MEETINGS.

KATHY LANTRY SAID EVEN WHEN SHE HAD CANCER TREATMENTS SHE DIDN'T MISS A MEETING.

SO THEY NEED MORE TIME TOGETHER.

>> Cathy: SPEAKING OF DYSFUNCTION, WHAT IN THE HECK IS GOING ON WITH ARBAGE IN THE CAPITAL CITY?

THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME ISSUE WITH GARBAGE HAULERS IN THE CITY.

>> WE WENT FROM KIND OF THIS LAISSEZ-FAIRE SYSTEM WHERE YOU PICKED YOUR OWN HAULER AND THE CITY SAID YOU HAVE SEVEN TRUCKS IN ONE ALEEY, THIS IS CRAZY.

SO THEY SWITCHED TO SEMI-ORGANIZED SYSTEM HAS THERE WERE ONES, DIFFERENT HAULERS IN DIFFERENT ZONES AND THE BIG ONES BUY OUT THE LITTLE ONES AND ALL KINDS OF DELAYS.

NOW THEY'VE GOT ONE HAULER, FCC ENVIRONMENTAL.

THAT HAULER SEEMED TO HAVE WAITED A LITTLE BIT TOO LONG TO FIND A BASE OF OPERATIONS.

THE ONE THEY FOUND GOT FOUGHT BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS, CITY COUNCIL TOOK THE SIDE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS.

WITH TWO WEEKS TO GO THEY LOST THEIR ZONING AND COULDN'T REALLY PUT THEIR OPERATIONS THERE.

>> Eric: SOME DOWNTOWN BUILDINGS COULD BE DEMOLISHED OR IS THAT TOO EXPENSIVE?

>> WE HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE ON WHAT WILL GET DEMOLISHED WHEN AND WHO WILL DO THAT, WHETHER IT'S THE PORT AUTHORITY, DOWNTOWN ALLIANCE, CITY HRA SOMEHOW.

BUT IT'S CLEAR THAT THAT'S COMING.

NO ONE IS DOUBTING THAT.

AND THERE'S ACTUALLY BEEN A STUDY OF WHICH ONES WOULD BE MOST WELL POSITIONED FOR CONVERSION TO HOUSING AND WHICH ONES WE JUST HAVE TO GIVE UP ON.

CLEARLY NOT ALL OF THESE BUILDS ARE GOING TO MAKE IT.

>> Cathy: WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE HERE IN ST. PAUL WITH THESE LARGE BUILDINGS BEING ABANDONED, EQUITIES WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE PAST.

I'M WONDERING WILL THERE BE OTHER PROPERTIES TO FALL LIKE IN A DOMINO SITUATION?

>> I THINK WE'VE ALREADY SEEN IT WHEN ST. JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL WENT OFFLINE.

A COUPLE OF THE MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDINGS THAT WERE IGHT THERE ON EXCHANGE STREET KIND OF NEARBY JUST BECAME EMPTY.

ONE WENT FOR AUCTION FOR A DOLLAR AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE DID NOT SELL.

SO WE HAVEN'T REALLY HEARD ABOUT THAT CHANGING HANDS.

WHEN IT WENT FOR AUCTION IT LOOKED LIKE THERE WAS A BUYER AND THEN IT WENT BACK UP FOR AUCTION.

SO, YEAH, I THINK THERE'S OTHER PROPERTIES NOT MADISON EQUITY THAT ARE IN TOUGH STRAITS.

>> Eric: IN THE MINUTE AND A HALF WE HAVE LEFT GIVE US POSITIVE NEWS, A BRIGHT LIGHT WE CAN LOOK TO.

>> ALLIANZ FIELD, THEY STARTED TURNING UP THE ARTS.

A COUPLE RESTAURANTS PAVILIONS.

>> Eric: THIS IS THE SOCCER STADIUM.

>> WE'VE GOT THE WORLD'S LARGEST LOON AND I LIVE NEAR THERE AND SNELLING/UNIVERSITY WAS LOOKING ROUGH ABOUT A YEAR AGO.

SOME ELECTED OFFICIALS VERY PRO TRANSIT SAID THEY WOULDN'T TAKE IT AT NIGHT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.

I WOULD TAKE IT AT NIGHT NOW.

IT'S LOOKING BETTER, MORE EYES ON THE STREET.

GREAT RESTAURANTS, GREAT COMMUNITY CENTERS, THE NORTH END COMMUNITY CENTER, $30 MILLION REC CENTER, GRAND OPENING TOMORROW MORNING.

I TOURED IT TODAY, LOOKS AWESOME, IT'S ON RICE STREET.

>> Eric: ON THAT POSITIVE UPBEAT NOTE WE'LL LET YOU HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

>> THANK YOU, I'M NOT JUST THE FACE OF DEMISE, I PROMISE.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> Eric: THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> I ALWAYS START OUT WITH THE EAR.

>> OKAY.

JUST KIND OF THE SQUIGGLE LIKE THAT.

>> AND HER HORN.

>> YEP.

>> AND JUST KIND OF GO DOWN.

>> YOU ALWAYS START ON THE FACE LIKE THIS?

>> YEP.

ALWAYS ON THE TOP.

AND SHE'LL BE SMILING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU'RE FAST, I HAVE TROUBLE KEEPING UP.

AND SHE HAS THESE BIG GOOGLY EYES.

>> THESE ARE FUN TO DRAW.

THERE'S ONE.

>> GOOGLY EYES.

♪♪ >> Cathy: KEN MARTIN WAS THE LONGEST SERVING D.F.L.

PARTY CHAIR IN STATE HISTORY.

WHEN HE LEFT EARLIER THIS YEAR TO TAKE OVER THE REINS AT THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE, IT WAS THE FIRST VACANCY AT THE TOP OF THE MINNESOTA PARTY IN ALMOST 15 YEARS.

EARLIER THIS MONTH THE D.F.L.

PARTY MET AND CHOSE RICHARD CARLBOM TO LEAD THEM.

CARLBOM IS THE FORMER MAYOR OF ST. JOSEPH, MINNESOTA, AND HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN STATE PARTY POLITICS FOR DECADES.

HE MOST RECENTLY WORKED AS DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF TO GOVERNOR WALZ.

WELCOME BACK TO THE BIG SHOW, IT'S BEEN AWHILE SINCE YOU'VE BEEN HERE.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> Cathy: CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE WERE TALKING WITH PROFESSOR LARRY JACOBS AS YOU HEARD PROBABLY EARLIER IN THE SHOW JUST THE DEMOCRATIC RESPONSE HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON AND HE KIND OF SAID, WELL, THERE'S NOT A REALLY REAT RESPONSE.

IT LOOKS LIKE NATIONALLY THE PARTY'S ADRIFT, HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE THE STATE PARTY?

>> I THINK THAT FIRST OF ALL NATIONALLY IT TOOK US A LITTLE BIT TO GET OVER THE SHOCK OF THE 2024 RESULTS.

BUT I WAS IN ST. PAUL LAST WEEKEND WHEN 25,000 PEOPLE WERE AT THE STATE CAPITOL AND THEN I DROVE OUT TO WILLMAR AND 750 PEOPLE FILLED AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAFETERIA AND EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT I CAN DO IN THIS MOMENT TO BE EMPOWERED.

AND SO AS THE NEW STATE PARTY CHAIR, WHAT I AND OTHER DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IS THAT WE NEED TO DO WHAT PAUL WELLSTONE TAUGHT US, ORGANIZE, ORGANIZE, ORGANIZE, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW WITH THE ENERGY AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SHOWING UP TO GIVE THEM THEIR MARCHING ORDERS, TO GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO DO.

THEY WANT A CALL TO ACTION.

>> Cathy: WHAT ARE YOU OFFERING AS ONALTERNATIVE?

IS >> ABSOLUTELY, WELL, FIRST AND FOREMOST, DEMOCRATS SHOULD, WHEN WE START TO ORGANIZE WE NEED TO LISTEN TO VOTERS, A LOT OF TIMES I THINK DEMOCRATS HAVE A REPUTATION FOR TELLING VOTERS WHAT TO THINK AND INSTEAD WE NEED TO LISTEN TO WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH AND RIGHT NOW THEY'RE GOING THROUGH A LOT OF, LOT OF CHAOS AND CONFUSION FROM WASHINGTON.

I THINK IT'S A PARTY WHEN WE LISTEN WE'RE GOING TO HEAR VOTERS TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE THE ECONOMY, HEALTH CARE, HOUSING, THOSE CORE ISSUES.

AND I THINK AS A PARTY WE CAN ENGAGE THEM AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE, TALK TO THEM ABOUT UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS, TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE LARGEST CHILD TAX CREDIT IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAPPENED RIGHT HERE IN MINNESOTA.

DEMOCRATS HAVE DELIVERED IN SPADES ON THE CORE ISSUES FACING FAMILIES, AND I THINK WE CAN REMIND THEM OF THAT AND BE THE CALM PRESENCE IN THIS CHAOS AND CONFUSION THAT'S COMING FROM WASHINGTON TO HELP SORT THROUGH THE MESS, AND ULTIMATELY HELP THEM REBUILD SO THAT WE CAN WIN IN 2026.

>> Eric: WHAT YOU ALL MENTIONED THERE REQUIRES A LOT OF SPENDING AND I WONDER IF MINNESOTANS BELIEVE THEY'RE GETTING A BANG FOR THEIR BUCK WITH ALL THE SPENDING THAT THE DEMOCRATS WHEN THEY WERE IN THE MAJORITY THE LAST TWO YEARS PROVIDED FOR EVERYBODY.

>> I THINK SO.

I THINK WHEN PARENTS LOOK AT THE CHILD TAX CREDIT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT'S REAL MONEY IN THEIR POCKET TO HELP PAY FOR GROCERIES OR THE MORTGAGE OR RENT.

WHEN THEY SEE THEIR KIDS GET TO EAT UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS THAT MEANS THEY SAVE ABOUT $1,400 A CHILD EVERY YEAR WHEN IT COMES TO OT HAVING TO PROVIDE LUNCH AND BREAKFAST AT SCHOOL.

SO I ACTUALLY DO THINK FAMILIES UNDERSTAND THAT IN MINNESOTA WE INVEST IN THEM AND WE ARE ON THE SIDE OF WORKING FAMILIES.

>> Eric: I ONLY BRING THIS UP IN A LITTLE BIT IN JEST, BUT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION SINCE THE ELECTION, LOT OF SWEARING BY DEMOCRATS.

SENATOR SMITH, GOVERNOR WALZ, KEN MARTIN, SENATE MAJORITY LEADER ERIN MURPHY.

IS THIS WHAT, WE'RE TOUGH SO WE CAN SWEAR?

HAVE YOU NOTICED THIS?

MAYBE YOU HAVEN'T.

>> I THINK WHAT THEY WERE DOING IS REFLECTING THE SENSE OF THE VOTERS.

PEOPLE ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE UNILATERAL AND I THINK PROVEN IN COURT, ILLEGAL ACTION COMING OUT OF THE TRUMP AND MUSK ADMINISTRATION.

AND I THINK DEMOCRATS ARE RESPONDING TO THAT WITH I THINK THE DUE ALARM THAT MANY AMERICANS FEEL.

>> Eric: DO YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN ON WHO MIGHT BE THE GOVERNOR CANDIDATE, WHO MIGHT BE THE SENATE CANDIDATE?

WILL YOU BE HANDS-ON ON IN THAT WAY OR LET HE PROCESS WORK ITS WILL?

>> MY JOB AS PARTY CHAIR IS TO ENSURE THERE'S A FAIR PROCESS THROUGH THE ENDORSING CONVENTIONS AND ENSURE THAT DEMOCRATS AS A PARTY CAN GATHER, CAN TALK AND DISCUSS WHO SHOULD BE OUR CANDIDATE AND ULTIMATELY AT OUR STATE CONVENTION ENDORSE A CANDIDATE.

>> Eric: MARCH PRIMARY?

>> NO, I THINK OUR PRIMARY IS RIGHT WHERE IT SHOULD BE.

>> Cathy: HAVE YOU BEEN TALKING AT ALL TO SHARE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE?

>> I HAVE NOT REACHED OUT TO THE REPUBLICAN CHAIR, I'VE BEEN ON THE JOB 13 DAYS.

>> Cathy: THAT'S RUE, YOU'VE NEW ON THE JOB, BUT DO YOU PLAN TO DO THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY I THINK THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE DIALOGUE THAT IS RESPECTFUL AND ENGAGING AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.

>> Cathy: ERIC AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS OFF-AIR, YOU HEAR A LOT FROM LAWMAKERS HEARING WE'RE AT THE DOORS, PROBABLY DURING BREAK, HEARING FROM CONSTITUENTS, RIGHT, AND I'M WONDERING, DOORKNOCKING, THE TRADITIONAL WAYS OF REACHING VOTERS SEEM QUAINTLY OLD FASHIONED, YOU KNOW, WHO'S GONNA ANSWER THE DOOR OR WHO'S GOING TO ICK UP THEIR PHONE?

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO REACH OUT TO VOTERS?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION FIRST AND FOREMOST WE CAN'T WAIT 'TIL 2026, WE CAN'T WAIT 'TIL THE ELECTION YEARS.

WE POSTED JOB DESCRIPTIONS FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS, WE'RE HIRING RIGHT NOW AND PUT THEM INTO THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN 2025 SO WE CAN BUILD ON AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS ULTIMATELY O DELIVER ICTORIES IN 2026 AND WE HAVE TO UP OUR DIGITAL GAME AS WELL.

>> Eric: HOPE YOU COME BACK AND SEE US.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU, Mr.

CHAIR.

APPRECIATE IT.

MINNESOTA TOP TWO PARTIES HAVE NEW LEADERS.

REPUBLICANS CHOSE ALEC MECHANICICH FOR THEIR CHAIR.

IF YOU WANT TO GET TO KNOW THEM IN OUR INTERVIEW, HEAD TO TPT.ORG/ALMANAC.

WE HOPE TO HAVE THEM ON TOGETHER IN THE COMING MONTHS.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> ALMOST 29-YEAR STEELWORKER, I WORK AT THE MINN TAC MINE ON THE IRON RANGE.

MY DAD AND I HAVE COMBINED 60 YEARS OF SERVICE.

MY FAMILY GOT BEHIND ME IN A BIG WAY, WHICH HISTORICALLY IS UNUSUAL BECAUSE I'M A REPUBLICAN.

A LOT OF DEMOCRATS ON THE IRON RANGE HAVE CONSERVATIVE VALUES.

IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY, I'VE GOT AN AMAZING FAMILY, I COULDN'T DO THIS WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF MY WIFE.

I HAVE NINE KIDS AND THAT'S NOT A SECRET.

I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE GET CONCERNED ABOUT, OH, WE'RE BRINGING CHILDREN INTO POLITICS AND SOME CAMPAIGNS WILL SAY, OH, I'M KEEPING MY KIDS OUT OF THIS BECAUSE POLITICS IS MESSY AND DIRTY AND MEAN AT TIMES.

AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE TRUE BUT WHEN I BROUGHT MY FAMILY INTO IT, I THINK THE IRON RANGE THE SPHERE WE LIVE IN REALLY FELT LIKE IT'S ABOUT FAMILY AND IT'S ABOUT COMMUNITY AND IT'S ABOUT ALL OF THAT SUPPORT AND THIS IS WHO WE ARE.

♪♪ >> Eric: GOVERNOR WALZ ON THE ROAD AGAIN THIS WEEK ON A NATIONAL SPEAKING TOUR THAT IS ABOUT TO GET INTERNATIONAL.

POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER ANALYZES THE GOVERNOR'S LATEST STEPS WITH SOMEBODY WHO'S SEEN A SIMILAR SITUATION BEFORE.

>> JOIN ME IN WELCOMING GOVERNOR TIM WALZ.

>> THANK YOU ALL.

>> IT WAS A CHALLENGING AUDIENCE BACK HOME IN MINNESOTA FOR THE GOVERNOR.

>> THERE'S SOME PASSION IN THE BUILDING, WHICH IS A GOOD THING!

>> WALZ, WHO IS A VETERAN, FACED HECKLERS.

>> YOU'RE A COWARD!

>> SPEAKING TO VETERANS DAY ON THE HILL, BUT HE STOOD HIS GROUND.

>> I WILL COMPROMISE WITH YOU ON THE BUDGET.

I WILL NOT COMPROMISE IN THE SPACE OF THE VETERANS ISSUES.

>> HE WON OVER SOME IN THE CROWD AND HAD TOUGH TALK ON NATIONAL POLITICS.

>> 83,000 OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE LAID OFF AND FIRED.

[ BOOING ] WELL, SOME OF YOU VOTED FOR IT.

I DON'T GIVE A DAMN WHAT YOUR POLITICS ARE ACROSS THE BOARD, BUT HOW THE HELL WE GOT INTO AN ISSUE WHERE WE WEREN'T UNIFIED ABOUT TAKING CARE OF OUR VETERANS.

>> THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO AFACE REALITY, SOME OF THESE GUYS VOTED FOR WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE V.A.

AND THEY DON'T LIKE IT.

>> I HAVE FLIP-FLOPPED ON THIS ISSUE MORE THAN DONALD TRUMP CHANGES HIS MIND TARIFFS.

A FEW MONTHS AGO I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU ABSOLUTELY GOVERNOR WALZ WILL RUN FOR REELECTION.

IT WAS BE HOMEWORK TO SERVE A THIRD TERM.

I THINK IT WOULD ALSO KEEP HIM IN THE CONVERSATION AND IN THE MIX AS HE CARRIES RUNNING FOR -- CONSIDERS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

>> WE CREATED A CHECKLIST OF A CANDIDATE RAMPING UP OR A FEDERAL RUN AS OUR EXPERIENCE IN SEEING TIM PAWLENTY MAKE A SIMILAR MOVE.

>> BEFORE RETURNING TO THE STATE CAPITOL GOVERNOR WALZ SPENT THREE DAYS IN THE SWING STATE OF OHIO TALKING NATIONAL POLITICS.

>> MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM WALZ!

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> WHAT I HEARD IN OHIO IS FASCIFASCINATING, YOUNGSTOWN.

THEY HAD AN OVERFLOW IN THE GYM OF 1200.

I ASKED THEM HOW MANY HAD EVER BEEN TO THESE POLITICAL EVENTS, 75% OF THEM HAVEN'T BEEN.

>> I'M TERRIBLY SORRY I'LL BE ABLE TO TO ATTEND YOUR PATHETIC SPECTACLE IN PERSON ON MONDAY.

[ BOOING ] IT'S JUST I'VE BEEN AT THIS FOR A LONG TIME, MY SKILL SET'S PRETTY NATURE AEW BUT I KIND OF -- NARROW, BUT I KIND OF SEE THIS, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO COME BACK AND BITE HIM IN THE ASS AT ONE POINT IN TIME.

SO.

>> THESE TRIPS COME DURING A CLOSELY DIVIDED SESSION.

>> GOVERNOR WALZ DOES RUN THE RISK OF UPSETTING LEGISLATORS BY NOT LOOKING LIKE THIS IS THE NUMBER ONE THING, THE ONLY THING HE'S FOCUSED ON.

>> MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM WALZ!

>> WHAT THESE FOLKS ARE SAYING IS WE WANT TO BE HEARD, WE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY, WE WANT TO KNOW ESPECIALLY ABOUT TITLE FOUNDING IN EDUCATION, WE'RE DEEPLY CONCERNED WITH TARIFFS AT THAT TIME IN OHIO.

>> HELLO AGAIN, OHIOANS, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

>> THERE'S A DEMAND FOR THESE CONVERSATIONS AND FOR SOMEBODY TO COME IN AND RALLY THE TROOPS AND GET PEOPLE FIRED UP AND GIVE DEMOCRATS A LITTLE BIT OF HOPE AGAIN.

>> AND NOW WE GOT THE GOVERNOR TO REVEAL HE HAS AN INTERNATIONAL TRIP PLANNED.

>> I HAVE BEEN INVITED AND I THINK I'M GOING TO BE IN TORONTO WITH PREMIER FORD.

WHAT WE CAN DO TO STRENGTHEN SOME OF THAT TRADE THAT'S AN INVITATION I THINK I'M GOING TO TAKE.

I THINK THERE IS A CASE TO BE MADE THAT MINNESOTA, MAYBE OTHER THAN MAINE IS THE CLOSEST STATE IN TERMS OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CANADA.

IT IS THE SINGLE LARGEST TRADING PARTNER FOR MINNESOTA BUSINESSES.

WE KIND OF RIGHT ON THE EDGE, WE'VE GOT A BIG BORDER WITH CANADA.

>> THE FORMER GUBERNATORIAL SPOKESMAN NOW IN PUBLIC RELATIONS HAS A WARNING ABOUT THE TALK OF A SHADOW GOVERNMENT.

>> TALKING ABOUT THE IDEA OF A SHADOW GOVERNMENT IS PROBABLY NOT A GREAT MESSAGE.

FIRST OF LL, TALKING ABOUT SHADOWY THINGS IS PROBABLY NOT GONNA THROW PEOPLE OFF A BIT.

YOU CAN'T REALLY PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE AS SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE NOT.

>> THE FORMER VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE CLEARLY IS NOT GIVING UP THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT.

>> AND THEN I WANT TO TRY ALLIGATOR SOUP, DO YOU HAVE THAT?

THE ALLIGATOR SOUP, IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU GET IN MINNESOTA.

>> I FEEL LIKE HE'S ONE OF US.

I FEEL LIKE HE'S IN THE TRENCHES WITH US, HE GETS IT, AND HE KNOWS WHAT WE CAN DO AND WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO DIG OUR WAY OUT OF THIS.

>> WHEN I CRITICIZE, I'M CRITICIZING MYSELF, I OWN THIS, I'M PART OF THE TICKET.

♪♪ >> Cathy: WHEN THE LEGISLATURE RETURNS FROM THEIR SPRING BREAK LATER THIS MONTH, THEY WILL HAVE 28 DAYS UNTIL THEY HAVE TO ADJOURN.

WILL THEY GET THE STATE BUDGET OVER THE FINISH LINE AND TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK BY THEN?

ONE OF MANY QUESTIONS WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK'S VERSION OF THE POLITICAL PANEL.

REPUBLICANS HERE TONIGHT, FRITZ KNAAK IS A FORMER STATE SENATOR, LONGTIME REPUBLICAN WHO IS NOW AN ATTORNEY IN PRIVATE PRACTICE.

PREYA SAMSUNDAR IS A G.O.P.

STRATEGIST, FORMER COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR THE R.N.C.

AND THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN.

DEMOCRATS ON THE COUCH, KARLA BIGHAM IS A FORMER STATE LAWMAKER.

SHE SERVED IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, NOW A WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

JAVIER MORILLO IS A LONGTIME UNION AND PARTY ACTIVIST AND FORMER NATIONAL COMMITTEEMAN.

JAVIER, THAT WAS A CHALLENGING CROWD THAT THE GOVERNOR FACED WITH THE VETERANS THIS WEEK, YOU KNOW, WITH THE BOOING AND IT WAS NOT EASY.

AND I'M WONDERING WITH THE GOVERNOR GOING AROUND THE STATE MORE AND HE'S GETTING THAT NATIONAL ATTENTION, BUT MINNESOTANS DON'T SEEM VERY FIRED UP ABOUT THAT.

>> YEAH, I MEAN I'D SAY, ONE, I THOUGHT HE HANDLED THAT VERY WELL.

AND I MEAN THAT LIKE HE DOESN'T ALWAYS HANDLE THINGS WELL -- I MEAN, NO ONE DOES WHEN YOU'RE FACING A CROWD LIKE THAT.

BUT I THOUGHT HE HANDLED IT VERY WELL.

I WOULD SAY LIKE I THINK GOVERNOR WALZ IS REALLY DOING SOMETHING VERY PROFOUND FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY NATIONALLY.

WHICH IS TO SAY LIKE HE'S FEELING, FILLING A VOID FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE FRUSTRATED WITH DEMOCRATS IN WASHINGTON WITH THE FEELING OF JUST A LACK OF, FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP.

WE HAVE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT JUST IS FALLING APART, WE HAVE LIKE A LAWLESS, COMPLETELY LAWLESS ADMINISTRATION AND THE DEMOCRATICS JUST SORT OF FLAILING.

NOW SO HE'S DOING AN ENORMOUS LIKE THING FOR THE PARTY NATIONALLY.

I THINK HE'S, LIKE IN MINNESOTA, LIKE WE NEED SOME ATTENTION ON THE STATE, AND THAT'S, THAT IS NOT HELPING.

>> Eric: PREYA, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK THIS IS JUST A SAVING FACE TOUR.

PART OF THIS IS, YOU KNOW, TIM WALZ GOT A GLIMPSE OF WHAT THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT LOOKS LIKE.

HE GOT A GLIMPSE OF THE GLAMOUR, THE BEYONCE, THE KATY PERRY OF IT ALL.

HE DOESN'T WANT TO GIVE IT UP, HE'S LOOKING AT A POTENTIAL RUN IN 2028, I THINK ANYBODY LOOKING AT WHAT HE'S DOING NOW WOULD BE REMISS TO DENY THAT.

AND HE'S JUST HOPING TO KEEP THAT ATTENTION ON HIM FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

>> Cathy: 28 DAYS LEFT UNTIL THE END OF SESSION.

>> I THINK PEOPLE ARE SCARED DUE TO THE CUTS.

THEIR 401Ks EVAPORATING AND DIFFERENT CONCERNS ABOUT THE TARIFFS, THE SOCIAL SECURITY, AND HE IS -- HE'S OUT THERE FACING THESE FOLKS.

AND I THINK HE DID HANDLE IT REALLY WELL AS JAVIER SAID.

AND I DO THINK THAT THE PEOPLE ARE SPEAKING AND THEY WANT SOMEBODY TO BE HEARING THEM, AND HE WAS THERE AT THAT TIME.

AND SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AN ISSUE BUT TO YOUR POINT, CATHY, IT'S GETTING DOWN TO THE WIRE TO GET THE SESSION DONE AND I THINK HE'S GOING TO BE NEEDED HERE FOR IT.

>> HIS NUMBERS AREN'T GOOD IN MINNESOTA, YEAH.

>> Eric: I WONDER, YOU WERE IN THE MINORITY IN THE SENATE.

>> OH, WAS I EVER.

YEP.

>> Eric: BUT THIS YEAR BECAUSE THERE'S A TIE IN THE HOUSE, VERY NARROW MARGIN IN THE SENATE, REPUBLICANS ARE AT THE TABLE.

>> RIGHT.

>> Eric: AND I WONDER HOW THAT CHANGES THE CHARACTER OF THE WORK PRODUCT.

>> WELL, IT'S HOPEFULLY IT GETS EVERYBODY HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET THIS ALL OVER THE LINE.

THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A LOT TO LOSE NOT HAVING SOME KIND OF BUY-IN ON THE PART OF THE REPUBLICANS TO COME IN.

AND THEY'RE LUCKY IN A WAY THAT THEY HAVE A REPUBLICAN SPEAKER, YOU KNOW, WHO AT LEAST OUTWARDLY LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN NEGOTIATION AND THE OUTCOME.

SO I THINK EVERYBODY BENEFITS FROM HAVING AN OUTCOME, THE POLITICAL HAZARD COMES FROM REPUBLICANS' POINT OF VIEW OF OWNING ANY OF THAT.

BECAUSE WHATEVER HAPPENS AT THE END IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE GOING TO SHARE SOME BLAME FOR AND THAT NECESSARILY, ISN'T NECESSARILY THEIRS TO SHARE.

>> Eric: IF YOU'VE GOT THE SPEAKER THAT'S THE FRONT PERSON OF THE HOUSE AND THINGS GO BAD, DOESN'T -- THE REPUBLICANS GET SOME OF THEM ON THEM, OR?

>> I MEAN, SOME OF IT BUT I ALSO THINK THAT YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE BLUE DOG DEMOCRATS, IF YOU WILL, WHO ARE IN VERY TIGHT SEATS.

2026, YOU HAVE EVERYTHING UP ON THE BOARD, YOU HAVE HOUSE, YOU HAVE STATE HOUSE, STATE SENATE, YOU HAVE EVERYTHING UP ON THE BOARD.

THERE ARE FOLKS THAT WON THEIR RACES, DEMOCRATS, BY A MARGIN OF 500, A THOUSAND, 2,000 VOTES.

I MEAN, IF THEY'RE NOT MAKING PROGRESS TO JOIN REPUBLICANS AND SHOW SOME BIPARTISANSHIP, ESPECIALLY IN THESE MORE BLUE AREAS, OR PURPLE AREAS, EXCUSE ME, WHERE THEY'RE RUNNING, THAT COULD BE A HUGE PROBLEM FOR THEM COME 2026.

>> IN AN OFF YEAR IN 2026, AN OFF YEAR WHEN THE PRESIDENT WILL NOT E ON THE BALLOT THE ELECTORATE HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY AND DEMOCRATS ARE FIRED UP AT THIS MOMENT.

SO I THINK THE PROBLEM REPUBLICANS WILL HAVE IS THAT THEY NEED TO LEAVE WITH SOMETHING TO BE ABLE TO RUN ON BECAUSE IT IS NOT UNLIKELY THAT NEXT YEAR IS A VERY TOUGH YEAR FOR REPUBLICANS BECAUSE THE COUNTRY'S FALLING APART AND PEOPLE ARE NOTICING.

>> WELL, I THINK THE SMITH SEAT'S GOING TO BE TERRIBLY IMPORTANT IN THAT.

THE OPEN SENATE SEAT'S GOING TO BE TERRIBLY IMPORTANT.

GO AHEAD.

>> AND I WILL SAY THE LEGISLATIVE TARGETS, GETTING IN THE WEEDS A LITTLE BIT, THE AMOUNT THAT EACH COMMITTEE DOES RECEIVE, ARE NEGATIVE, AND SO THOSE ARE CALLED CUTS AND DEMOCRATS, YOU KNOW, HAVE THE SENATE, THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, EVENLY SPLIT IN THE HOUSE AND THEY HAVE THE GOVERNOR.

SO DEMOCRATS WILL HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS AND CUTS, AND SO THE REPUBLICANS HAVE A CHOICE HERE.

ARE OU GOING TO SAY WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, WHICH IS CUT AND JOIN US IN HAVING TO MAKE THESE TOUGH DECISIONS?

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE, THEY'RE GOING TO OWN SOME OF THIS AS WELL, SO.

>> I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF MONEY THOUGH COMING FROM THE OUTSIDE IN THIS RACE IN '26 AND I THINK THE SENATE RACE, THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO THINK THAT THAT MIGHT BE GETTABLE FOR THEM WITH THE RIGHT CANDIDATE.

NOW, YOU COULD PROBABLY SAY THAT'S RIDICULOUS, BUT IT'S POSSIBLE.

AND AS LONG AS IT STAYS INSIDE THE POSSIBLE RANGE YOU MAY START TO SEE SOME REAL MONEY IN THAT AND ONCE THAT ENTERS INTO A STATE, IT EALLY KIND OF GOES UP AND DOWN THE TICKET, SO IT'S GOING TO BE REAL INTERESTING FPOINT OF VIEW TO SEE WHAT THAT'S GOING TO RESULT IN.

>> Cathy: WITH 28 DAYS LEFT OF SESSION, WE WERE TALKING TO SENATOR JOHNSON THIS MORNING WHO THINKS THAT THINGS CAN GET DONE IN TIME.

>> Eric: SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER.

>> Cathy: SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER, YES, EXCUSE ME.

HE THINKS IT CAN BE DONE IN TIME.

JAVIER, WHAT MIGHT BE THE POTENTIAL LANDMINES?

>> WELL, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THE CUTS AND THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF THINGS RIGHT NOW HAVE DIRECT IMPACTS ON TATE BUDGETS.

SO I MEAN I THINK WE MAY NOT SEE THE END WHETHER THEY DO THEIR WORK OR NOT, RIGHT, JUST BECAUSE -- OR THEY MIGHT HAVE TO COME BACK TO DEAL WITH CUTS.

YOU KNOW, LIKE THEY'RE TRYING TO ELIMINATE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THERE'S A LOT OF EDUCATION FUNDING IN OUR STATE, IN EVERY STATE, COMES, YOU KNOW, A SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH PROPORTION COMES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, SO THAT LANDMINE ALONE SHOULD PREPARE EVERYONE FOR A WILD RIDE.

>> THE SHIFTS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THESE CUTS THAT COME DOWN TO THE STATE THAT THEN COME DOWN TO THE COUNTY ARE REAL PROPERTY TAX INCREASES AND THE STATE LEGISLATURES KNOW THAT.

THESE CUTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE PROPOSED ARE GOING TO HURT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, OUR NURSING HOMES, THE SCHOOLS, OUR HOSPITALS.

NOBODY WANTS TO MAKE THESE CUTS, AND SO THAT'S THE LANDMINES, THOSE ARE EACH -- RIGHT, BUT NOBODY REALLY WANTS TO MAKE THEM, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE FUN OR EASY OR QUICK, THEY'RE GOING TO PROBABLY NEED EXTRA INNINGS, SO THOSE ARE THE LANDMINES AND WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES, THE LESS THEY DO TO, IF THEY EASE MANDATES, BUT IF THEY'RE GOING TO JUST SIT HERE AND HAVE THIS UNPREDICTABILITY, THEN THAT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE STATE AND THE LOCALS.

>> THAT'S JUST A RED HERRING FROM MY POINT OF VIEW.

I THINK SOME OF THE STRUCTURAL DEFECTS THAT THERE ARE DEFICITS THAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT WERE GOING TO HAPPEN REGARDLESS AND THOSE ARE GOING TO BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO WORK THROUGH, IT MIGHT BE EASY TO BLAME THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> THEY'RE NOT GIVING ANY DIRECTION.

>> I MEAN, THE REALITY IS IS LIKE IN DECEMBER OF 2024 WE WERE ALREADY PREDICTING A $6 BILLION DEFICIT.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND THAT WAS BEFORE TRUMP EVEN GOT INTO OFFICE.

I THINK TO FRITZ'S POINT THAT'S A RED HERRING.

AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ELIMINATING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THE REALITY IS IS WE'RE HEARING CONVERSATIONS THAT MONEY YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY GET MORE MONEY IN STATE BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT DEALING WITH A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PASSTHROUGH, IT'S COMING DIRECTLY TO THE STATE FOR HE STATE TO REIMBURSE, SO YOU MIGHT GET MORE FUNDING THAT WAY.

>> MOST OF OUR EDUCATION FUNDING COMES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

>> BUT THAT MONEY'S NOT GOING TO GO AWAY, THOUGH, THAT'S.

THE POINT.

>> THOSE FEDERAL ATAX DOLLARS ARE NOT REPLACED BY FEDERAL TAX DOLLARS, THAT'S NOT HOW THAT WORKS.

>> THEY MIGHT JUST SHIP IT STRAIGHT TO THE STATE IS WHAT I'M SAYING.

>> Eric: MAKE HAY OUT OF HE D.F.L.

APPARENT ALLEGED FRAUD LEADER, FRAUD DE JURE?

>> THE CULTURE OF FRAUD, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.

>> Eric: IS THAT A GOING ISSUE FOR REPUBLICANS?

>> ODDLY ENOUGH, I WON'T SAY ODDLY, BUT,E, IT'S ACTUALLY SHOWING UP IN POLLING, THE WHOLE ISSUE OF FRAUD, THE WHOLE PROBLEM THAT THEY HAD, THE LARGE COVID, THE PROSECUTION FOR THE LARGE COVID FRAUD, ALL OF THAT IS HAVING AN IMPACT AND PEOPLE ARE NOTICING IT AND UNFORTUNATELY, I MEAN, EVEN IN RELATIVELY SMALLER ACCUSATIONS LIKE WITH WHAT CHAMPION'S GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW.

>> Eric: SENATOR CHAMPION.

>> IT'S ALL HAVING A MIXED EFFECT IN TERMS OF PEOPLE'S ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE GOVERNMENT.

>> I THINK LIKE LOOK AT HE LEGISLATURE YOU HAVE LEGISLATORS WHO ARE LANDLORDS WHO DON'T -- WHO OPPOSE LEGISLATION TO SUPPORT RENTERS, WE HAVE LEGISLATOR WHO'S INVOLVED IN A PREGNANCY CRISIS CENTER, WHO IS SPONSORING A BILL TO GET MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THEM.

ALL OF THESE THINGS SHOULD BE LOOKED AT.

ALL OF ANY KIND OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, THAT AND SENATOR CHAMPION HAS SAID HE PUT HIS BUSINESS WITH THAT CLIENT ON HOLD WHILE THIS IS INVESTIGATED AND STEPPED AWAY FROM THE ETHICS COMMITTEE AND WHILE THEY'RE LOOKING AT IT THEY SHOULD LOOK AT ALL THESE OTHER THINGS AS WELL.

>> I AGREE.

I THINK IN THE INTERIM THEY SHOULD GET A GROUP OF PEOPLE TOGETHER, ETHICS LAWYERS AND DIFFERENT GROUPS AND COME UP WITH SOME REVISIONS.

>> Eric: LOT OF GROUND TO COVER TONIGHT.

THANKS, PANEL.

TREMENDOUS.

THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: WELL DONE.

THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> WE NOW HAVE STATE SPONSORED COMPANIES THAT ARE TOO BIG TO FAIL.

WE HAVE A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT'S TOO BIG TO SUCCEED.

WE HAVE A GOVERNMENT DEBT THAT'S TOO BIG TO PAY OFF.

AND WE HAVE NATIONAL LEADERS THAT ARE TOO SMALL TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

♪♪ >> Cathy: WOW, THAT WAS FORMER GOVERNOR TIM PAWLENTY, 15 YEARS AGO.

MY, HOW TIME FLIES.

AND NOW IT IS TIME FOR THE HISTORY PORTION OF TONIGHT'S SHOW.

OUR TASK FOR YOU THIS WEEK CONCERNS A MINNESOTAN - NOT SEEN HERE - WHO WON A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP LAST OCTOBER WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BREAK HIS OWN WORLD RECORD.

SOME KEY THINGS FOR YOU TO KNOW: THE CONTEST INVOLVED TOOK PLACE ON THE WEST COAST, IT HAS AFFECTIONATELY ADOPTED "THE SUPER BOWL" AS PART OF ITS UNOFFICIAL NAME.

AND THE NUMBERS TWO, SEVEN, FOUR AND NINE FEATURE PROMINENTLY IN THIS PERSON'S QUEST.

SO WHO IS THIS MINNESOTAN?

EXTRA CREDIT ALWAYS GOES TO THE CALLERS WHO KNOW THE RECORD IN QUESTION OR CAN CLAIM TO HAVE BEEN AT THE COMPETITION.

OR JUST HAVE A REALLY GREAT WRONG ANSWER.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU ARE CALLING FROM HAUNTED LAKE, COFFIN LAKE, GRAVE LAKE OR GHOST LAKE -- ALL REAL BODIES OF WATER IN THE GREAT STATE OF MINNESOTA.

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

YOU CAN ALWAYS SEND US AN EMAIL IF YOU'D RATHER: ALMANAC@TPT.ORG.

A BIT OF HOUSEKEEPING FOR YOU BEFORE WE GO TONIGHT.

IT'S TIME FOR THE ANNUAL ALMANAC VIEWER SURVEY.

NOW, EVERY SPRING WE ASK YOU TO SPEND A FEW MINUTES TO LET US KNOW HOW WE'RE DOING.

IT'S A GREAT HELP AS WE PLAN UPCOMING SHOWS.

YOU CAN FILL OUT HE SURVEY ONLINE Y GOING TO TPT.ORG/ALMANACSURVEY.

AGAIN, THAT'S AT TPT.ORG/ALMANACSURVEY.

A REMINDER TO TUNE IN TO A SPECIAL EDITION OF "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT 7:00 ON THE STATEWIDE MINNESOTA CHANNEL.

A FULL HALF HOUR OF FIRST-TERM LAWMAKER PROFILES FROM MARY LAHAMMER'S SERIES.

WELL, WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH TIME LEFT FOR SOME SHOW-ENDING MUSIC FOR YOU.

IT WAS THIS WEEK BACK IN 2019 WHEN JOHNATHA BROOKE STOPPED BY STUDIO B TO SING IN HONOR OF MINNESOTA MUSIC MONTH.

TAKE A LISTEN.

WE'LL BE BACK AGAIN NEXT WEEK.

♪♪ >> SINGING: VYING FOR THE SPOTLIGHT EVEN AS I FEEL THE RUSH OF COLD AIR BUT NO ONE SAYS A WORD I'M THE ONE NIGHT STAND UP AGAINST THE WALL I PROMISE YOU I LOVE YOU BUT I'LL NEVER, EVER CALL LIAR, LOSER, PHONY >> SINGING: NO ONE EVER SAYS SO BUT I KNOW IT'S TRUE POSEUR, LIGHTWEIGHT, CHEAPSKATE THE WOE IS ME, THE WANNABE, SOMEONE BETTER DROP THE OTHER SHOE ♪♪ >> SINGING: IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY ... >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE TELEVISION STATION.

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

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

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

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

♪♪