JULIE: I'’M JULIE ZENNER AND HERE'’S WHAT'’S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

THE 2020 GREAT LAKES SHIPPING SEASON HAS COME TO A CLOSE.

WE WILL FIND OUT WHAT WENT WELL AND WHICH CARGOES WERE MOST IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC.

BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FACES UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES AS OUR NEW NATIONAL LEADERS TAKE OFFICE AND AND A SODA AND WISCONSIN OFFICIALS ARE URGING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO RAMP UP THE PACE FOR VACCINATION AGAINST COVID-19.

THESE TOPICS AND VOICES OF THE REGION, NEXT ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

♪ JULIE: HELLO AND WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH."

DENNIS IS OFF THIS WEEK AS WE ALTERNATE HOSTING DURING THE PANDEMIC.

OUR SHOW WAS BROADCAST LIVE AT 5:30 ON FRIDAY.

MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM WALZ AND MINNESOTA LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ANNOUNCED A PLAN FOR THE STATE TO HAVE 100% CARBON FREE ELECTRICITY BY THE YEAR 2040.

THE 100% CLEAN ENERGY STANDARD WOULD REQUIRE ALL STATE UTILITY COMPANIES TO GENERATE POWER FROM CARBON FREE SOURCES.

MINNESOTA POWER AND XL ENERGY, THE STATES TO BIGGEST PUBLIC UTILITIES HAVE ALREADY COMMITTED TO GOING CARBON FREE BY 2050.

PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN MINNESOTA'’S ARROWHEAD REGION HAVE COME UP WITH A PLAN TO HONOR FRONT-LINE WORKERS FIGHTING THE PANDEMIC.

PROJECT BLUE LIGHT ASKS FOLKS TO TURN ON A BLUE LIGHT IN FRONT OF THEIR HOMES AND BUSINESSES FOR A WEEK BEGINNING SUNDAY.

THEY ARE ENCOURAGED TO PUT UP SIGNS AND BANNERS OF SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE HOPE -- HELPING TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY PLANS TO EXPAND VACCINATIONS FOR COVID BY THE END OF THE MONTH.

THE COUNTY IS RAMPING UP PHASE ONE A PRIORITY GROUPS SUCH AS EMERGENCY SERVICE WORKERS, LONG-TERM CARE, AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES.

THE NEXT PHASE WILL BE BROADER BUT COUNTY OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE DEALING WITH THEM IT'’D VACCINE SUPPLIES.

BRIAN HANSEN, THE PRESIDENT OF THE AREA PARTNERSHIP FOR ECONOMIC EXPANSION HAS BEEN HONORED FOR HIS WORK.

HE RECEIVED THE PRESIDENTS AWARD FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION OF MINNESOTA.

THE AWARD RECOGNIZES HANSEN FOR HIS HARD WORK AND DEDICATION TO DRIVING ECONOMIC GROWTH IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY IS A LARGE ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR OUR REGION AND IT HAS SEEN CHOPPY WATERS INC. TO THE PANDEMIC.

THE CLOSING OF THE SIOUX LOCKS RINGS AN OFFICIAL CLOSE TO THE SHIPPING SEASON.

HOW DID THE PORT OF DULUTH SUPERIOR FAIR THROUGH COVID?

HERE TO TELL US IS THE EXECUTIVE OF THE SEAWAY PORT AUTHORITY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN AND BEING WITH US.

NICE TO SEE YOU IN PERSON.

GUEST: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.

IT'’S WONDERFUL TO BE HERE IN PERSON AND FUND TO SEE YOU FACE-TO-FACE.

JULIE: LET'’S START BY GIVING US THE BIG PICTURE OF HOW COVID IMPACTED THE PORT IN THE CARGOES THAT COME THROUGH HERE.

GUEST: THE 2020 SEASON WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED AS A SEASON THAT STARTED WITH GREAT HOPES.

WE HAD BRISK PACE AT THE BEGIN OF THE SEASON AND THOSE HOPES WERE DASHED BY COVID.

WE DID HAVE A NICE RESURGENCE AT THE END OF THE SEASON.

WHEN THE PANDEMIC CAME, SHUT STEP -- SHUTDOWNS WERE DEMAND AND AS DEMAND SHRANK AND WE HAD PLANNED CLOSURES AND SHUTDOWNS AND THAT IT AFFECTED THE ENTIRE SUPPLY CHAIN.

WE SAW THAT THROUGH THE PORT OF DULUTH SUPERIOR, ESPECIALLY WITH COAL AND IRON ORE. OUR TOTAL TONNAGE WAS DOWN 22.9% COMPARED TO LAST YEAR AND OUR TOTAL TONNAGE WAS LESS, THE LOWEST TOTAL TONNAGE SINCE 1938 THROUGH THE PORT.

THAT IS SIGNIFICANT.

JULIE: BUT THERE WERE SOME BRIGHT SPOTS?

GUEST: THERE ARE DEFINITELY BRIGHT SPOTS.

THE NUMBER ONE BRIGHT SPOT IS THE WIND ENERGY CARGO THAT CAME THROUGH THE PORT.

IT CAME IN AT A RECORD-SETTING PACE AND SAILED INTO THE CORE PUBLIC TERMINAL OWNED BY THE DULUTH SEAWAY PORT AUTHORITY.

WE BROKE THE SEASON RECORD FOR THAT WITH 525,000 FREIGHT TONS.

WE CLEARED THAT HURTLE BY QUITE A MARGIN.

THE PREVIOUS RECORD WAS SET THE YEAR BEFORE WITH 306,000 FREIGHT TONS.

THAT RECORD WAS A LITTLE LEAN.

IT SIGNALS AND IMPORTANT WIN FOR CARGO DIVERSITY WITHIN THE PORT OF DULUTH SUPERIOR ITSELF BUT ALSO FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY NATIONWIDE.

JULIE: THE WINTER LAY UP IS JUST STARTING AND I UNDERSTAND THERE WILL BE FOUR VESSELS WINTERING IN DULUTH THIS YEAR?

HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO A TYPICAL YEAR AND WHAT HAPPENS DURING THAT TIME AS FAR AS THE IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY?

GUEST: IT DOES VARY FROM YEAR TO YEAR AND WE HAVE HAD YEARS WITH MANY MORE AND YEARS THAT ARE ON PAR.

BUT WE HAVE FOR THIS YEAR.

WE HAVE TWO AT FRASER SHIPYARDS AND WE HAVE THE MIDWEST ENERGY DOCK AND THE BURNS HARBOR, THOSE ARE ALL IN SUPERIOR AND THOSE ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR REGIONAL ECONOMY.

IT REPRESENTS WORK THAT VERY SKILLED TRADES MEN AND WOMEN ARE DOING ON THOSE SHIPS AND THAT IS SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, A LOT LIKE OUR CARS, THERE'’S SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

AND IT IS A BIG ECONOMIC BOON FOR THOSE TRADESPEOPLE.

JULIE: SOME GOOD NEWS FOR -- FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WITH A LOT OF FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE MARITIME INDUSTRY ON THE GREAT LAKES.

TALK ABOUT BIG PIECES OF THAT AND HOW THEY WOULD BENEFIT OUR PORT.

GUEST: THAT ACT CARRIED A LOT OF GOOD NEWS FOR PORTS NATIONWIDE, ESPECIALLY THE GREAT LAKES.

THE THREE CHUNKS -- SOME OF THEM GET COMPLICATED, SO I WILL TRY TO KEEP IT HIGH-LEVEL -- BUT THE HARM -- HARBOR MAINTENANCE TRUST FUND WAS CREATED IN 19 THE SIX AND IS A MECHANISM THAT WHEREBY TAX WAS COLLECTED ON CARGO AND PUT INTO APARTMENT TO BE SPENT ON MAINTAINING HARBORS AND NAVIGATIONAL CHANNEL AND STRUCTURES LIKE BREAKWATERS AND JETTIES.

BUT WHAT HAPPENED WAS THE ACT WAS NOT ACCOMPANIED BY A REQUIREMENT THAT MONEY GET SPIN DOWN EACH YEAR.

SO THE MONEY WAS COLLECTED BUT NOT NECESSARILY SPENT.

SO WE HAD A $10 BILLION SURPLUS JUST SITTING THERE NOT BEING SPENT.

WHAT HAPPENED WITH THIS MOST RECENT ACT, THERE'’S A SCHEDULE TO RELEASE THAT MONEY FOR ITS INTENDED PURPOSE.

JULIE: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN LOCALLY?

GUEST: HARBOR DREDGING, REPAIR ON STRUCTURES.

SOME OF IT COULD GET DIRECTED TOWARD THE SIOUX LOCKS REPAIR.

I DON'’T KNOW WHETHER THAT WOULD BE USED FOR THE BIGGER RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT.

THE OTHER IMPORTANT WIN IS THOSE REVENUES ARE COLLECTED ANNUALLY AND AS THOSE REVENUES ARE COLLECTED ANNUALLY, 13% ARE DESIGNATED FOR THE GREAT LAKES.

THAT IS A BIG WIN.

EVERY YEAR, THAT MONEY WILL BE COMING TO THE GREAT LAKES.

THAT IS AN IMPORTANT WIN.

THERE WAS $4 MILLION PUT ASIDE FOR CONTINUED DESIGN OF THE LARGE-SCALE ICEBREAKER FOR THE COAST GUARD.

IT WOULD BE THE ONLY -- IT WOULD ONLY BE THE SECOND ONE THAT SERVICES THE GREAT LAKES, SO THAT IS IMPORTANT.

AND THEN CONTINUED FUNDING OF THE SIOUX LOCKS AND REDUNDANT, THOUSAND FOOT OR SIZE LOCK.

THAT IS A TENURE PROJECT AND ABOUT A $900 MILLION PROJECT.

WE NEED TO KEEP IT FUNDED SO IT STAYS ON SCHEDULE AND ON BUDGET.

JULIE: THE PORT AUTHORITY RECENTLY RECORD -- RECENTLY ACQUIRED THE DOCK AT RACE POINT.

TALK ABOUT THE PLANS FOR THAT GUEST: PROPERTY.

WE HAVE A BUNCH OF CAPITAL PROJECTS.

WE JUST ACQUIRED THAT ON DECEMBER 1, CLOSE THAT TRANSACTION.

WE ARE STILL IN THE PLANNING STAGES.

WE KNOW WE NEED TO DO A LOT OF WORK ON THE DOCK BUT WE WILL USE IT TO EXPAND OUR DULUTH CARGO CONNECT LOGISTIC HUB SERVICES OR IT IS POSSIBLE WE COULD LEASE IT OUT.

MOST LIKELY, WE ARE PLANNING FOR IT TO GO TO OUR OWN SERVICES.

IT IS OPERATED BY LAKE SUPERIOR WAREHOUSING AND TOGETHER, WE OWN THE ASSETS, WE OPERATE THEM AND WE ASKED THAT IT AS DULUTH CARGO CONNECT.

WE ALSO ARE IN THE PROCESS OF COMPLETING THE REHABILITATION OF THE OLD SEAWAY BUILDING.

THAT WILL BECOME OUR NEW OFFICE BUILDING AND THAT IS REALLY EXCITING AND WE ARE HOPING TO MOVE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

JULIE: I HAVE DRIVEN BY AND YOU ARE DOING A LOT OF RENOVATION WORK ON THE FACILITY.

SO YOU WILL BE MOVING IN THREE WEEKS?

GUEST: IT DEPENDS ON THE FURNITURE ORDER.

IF ONLY BY EARLY MARCH, BUT HOPEFULLY IN FEBRUARY.

JULIE: A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN THE CRUISE INDUSTRY.

WHAT IS ON THE HORIZON IN TERMS OF CRUISE SHIPS RETURNING TO DULUTH?

GUEST: THERE ARE TWO SHIPS SCHEDULED TO COME THIS YEAR.

THEY ARE COMING TO DULUTH BUT NO ONE KNOWS WHAT'’S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE CRUISE INDUSTRY IN 2021.

NUMBER TWO, VIKING IS ENTERING THE GREAT LAKES MARKET AND COMING TO DULUTH SEVEN TIMES IN 2022.

THEY ARE FACILITY SO THEY WILL GET CLEARED BY CUSTOMS WHEN THEY COME INTO DULUTH, SO THAT IS BIG NEWS.

WE ARE WORKING ON THE FACILITY WITH A COUPLE OF NURSE.

THAT'’S THE CITY OF DULUTH, THE DULUTH ENTERTAINMENT CENTER AND VISIT DULUTH, SO THAT GROUP OF FOUR IS WORKING ON THIS.

JULIE: LEGISLATIVE RIGHT READIES FOR THE COMING YEAR?

GUEST: WE ARE WORKING WITH THE MINNESOTA PORTS ASSOCIATION, IF THERE IS A BONDING BILL, WE WANT TO BE POSITION FOR THE PORT GRANT PROGRAM.

JULIE: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AS ALWAYS.

GUEST: IT WAS VERY NICE TO BE HERE.

♪ JULIE: IT'’S TIME NOW FOR VOICES OF THE REGION.

EACH WEEK WE HEAR FROM A JOURNALIST IN OUR REGION ABOUT THE STORIES THEY ARE REPORTING.

OUR CORRESPONDENT IS A REPORTER WITH KU WS ON WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO.

>> IN WISCONSIN RIGHT NOW, THE NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD MET TODAY TO TAKE UP WHETHER OR NOT TO IMMEDIATELY RESUME THE HUNT.

THERE'’S A LOT OF HUNTERS AND TRAPPERS OUT THERE WHO REALLY WANT THE SEASON TO BEGIN IMMEDIATELY WHICH TYPICALLY RUNS FROM OCTOBER 15 TO THE END OF FEBRUARY.

STATE LAW DOES REQUIRE REGULATORS TO HOLD A SINGLE WOLF SEASON WHENEVER THE ANIMAL IS DELISTED.

THERE ARE REASONS ANIMAL AND WILDLIFE GROUPS ARE OPPOSED TO THAT, ONE BEING THE WOLF MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY OUTDATED.

IT WAS PUT IN PLACE IN 1989 AND LAST UPDATED IN 2007 AND HAS A GOAL OF ABOUT 350 WOLVES FOR THE STATE POPULATION.

RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE JUST OVER 1000 WOLVS IN WISCONSIN AS OF THE MOST RECENT COUNT.

SO THERE'’S SOME CONCERN ABOUT DRASTICALLY REDUCING THE POPULATION.

SOME PEOPLE ARE FLAT-OUT OPPOSED TO RECREATIONAL HUNTING OF WOLVES.

SOME PEOPLE WOULD BE OPEN TO THE IDEA OF JUST ALLOWING LETHAL CONTROL OR BEING ABLE TO KILL PROBLEM WOLVES, BUT IT IS A HOT BUTTON ISSUE AND THERE WAS A LAWSUIT FILED BY ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS LAST WEEK SEEKING TO RESTORE PROTECTIONS FOR THE GRAY WOLF ACROSS MOST OF THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING WISCONSIN.

THE DNR ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK THAT ANGLERS SHOULD LIMIT THE SMELT THEY CATCH DUE TO P FAST CONTAMINATION AND PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT BE AWARE, P FAST IS WHAT IS CALLED A FOREVER CHEMICAL.

IT IS FOUND IN EVERY DAY PRODUCTS, THINGS LIKE FIREFIGHTING FOAM AND IT HAS BEEN LINKED TO SOME SERIOUS HEALTH EFFECTS LIKE THYROID DISEASE AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ISSUES AND EVEN SOME CANCERS.

THE AGENCY IS RECOMMENDING PEOPLE NOT CONSUME MORE THAN ONE MEAL OF SMELT PER MONTH, THAT THEY CATCH FROM LAKE SUPERIOR.

THIS WAS AFTER THEY HAD DONE TESTING -- THEY HAD BEEN MONITORING A COUPLE OF SITES AND FOUND HIGHER P FAST LEVELS IN THE SMELT, WHICH ARE SMALL, NONNATIVE FISH, ABOUT SEVEN TO NINE INCHES LONG AND PEOPLE USUALLY FISH THEM IN THE SPRINGTIME WHEN THEY COME NEAR THE SHORE TO SPAWN.

ASHTON COUNTY HAS BEEN IN THIS SITUATION BEFORE.

THIS IS NOT NEW FOR THEM TO BE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY.

IF PEOPLE REMEMBER A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THE COUNTY PUT A REFERENDUM BEFORE VOTERS ASKING THEM TO INCREASE PROPERTY TAXES BY ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS.

THAT FAILED TO GAIN THE SUPPORT OF RESIDENCE AT THE TIME.

THE REASON THEY WERE DOING IT IS THEY WERE SEEING INCREASE COSTS RELATED TO DRUG ABUSE IN THE AREA.

THEIR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WAS SEEING AN INCREASE IN COST AS WELL AS LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THEY WERE TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO PAY FOR IT.

NOW THEY'’RE AT A POINT WHERE THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PAY THEIR BILLS WITHIN TWO YEARS OF DAY CAN'’T COME UP WITH A NEW SOURCE OF REVENUE.

THAT MIGHT MEAN IF THE REFERENDUM GOES TO VOTERS IN THE SPRING AND THEY DO NOT PASS IT, THEY MAY HAVE TO CUT SERVICES.

THINGS LIKE THE ASHTON COUNTY AGING UNIT.

THEY HAVE A RURAL TRANSIT SYSTEM CALLED ART AND THEY MIGHT HAVE TO CUT SERVICES PROVIDED BY UW EXTENSION IN THE COUNTY.

AS WE ARE TALKING TODAY, THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 779 THOUSAND DOSES OF THE VACCINE ALLOCATED TO WISCONSIN.

BUT ONLY ABOUT A THIRD OF THOSE DOSES HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED STATEWIDE.

PART OF THE REASON IS YOU HAVE TO HOLD BACK A DOSE FOR THE SECOND SHOT.

BUT THERE IS CONCERN THAT THE ROLLOUT IS HAPPENING A LOT SLOWER IN WISCONSIN AND WHY THAT IS, THERE'’S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT A LACK OF COORDINATION OR CONFUSION ABOUT WHERE PEOPLE SHOULD GO TO GET A SHOT OR WHERE THERE THEY ARE L -- WHETHER THEY ARE ELIGIBLE TO GET A SHOT.

PART OF THAT IS BEING BLAMED ON THE STATE, BUT OTHER PEOPLE ARE SAYING THERE IS A LACK OF INFORMATION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMING DOWN ABOUT WHAT WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE AND WHEN WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE IT AND IT'’S DIFFICULT TO PLAN AND ROLL STUFF OUT IF WE DON'’T HAVE THAT INFORMATION.

RIGHT NOW, EVERYBODY IS DOING THE BEST THEY CAN WITH THE INFORMATION THEY'’VE GOT AND IN RURAL AREAS OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN, THERE ARE CHALLENGES WITH ROLLING OUT THE VACCINE.

JULIE: COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN MINNESOTA ARE PREPARING TO VACCINATE LARGE GROUPS OF CITIZENS WHEN VACCINE SUPPLIES ARE AVAILABLE.

BUT WHAT'’S THE BEST WAY TO REACH FOLKS IN RURAL AREAS?

WE SPOKE WITH A CARLTON COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE SPECIALIST ABOUT PLANS TO DELIVER THE VACCINE.

>> WE USED OUR FLU CLINIC AS A TRIAL RUN BECAUSE WE KNEW THE COVID-19 VACCINE WOULD BE COMING.

WE WEREN'’T SURE WHEN IT WAS GOING TO COME, SO WE THOUGHT WE CAN STAND UP THIS DRIVE-THRU CLINIC FOR A FLU VACCINE, WE WILL BE READY WHEN THE COVID VACCINE COMES.

WE WERE SURPRISED TO HEAR IT WAS COMING AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

OUR FIRST BUYBACK IN THE SUMMERTIME WAS PROBABLY SOMETIME IN 2021.

WE WERE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED WE HAD TO VACCINE OPTIONS ALREADY WITH EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION FOR THE END OF 2020.

IT'’S STILL IMPORTANT TO WEAR A MASK WHILE OUT IN PUBLIC, TO CONTINUE TO WASH HER HANDS FREQUENTLY, TO STAY FEET AWAY FROM OTHERS, JUST IN CASE THERE'’S A POTENTIAL THE VIRUS COULD STILL SPREAD.

WE ARE NOT OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC YET.

WE NEED TO PRACTICE OUR COVID-19 SAFETY MEASURES, BUT HOPEFULLY IN THE NEAR FUTURE, WE WILL BE ABLE TO RETURN TO NORMALCY WITH THIS VACCINE.

♪ JULIE: THIS WEEK, OUR NATION'’S NEW PRESIDENT SWORN INTO OFFICE.

JOE BIDEN BECAME THE 46TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND, HARRIS IS THE FIRST WOMAN TO SERVE AS VICE PRESIDENT.

THE CHALLENGES FACING THE NEW PRESIDENT ARE DAUNTING.

GREG RALPH SPOKE TO A UMB APPLICABLE SCIENCE PROFESSOR ABOUT THE NEW ADMINISTRATION'’S FORMIDABLE TO DO LIST.

>> I THINK BIDEN IS FACING AN UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER OF CHALLENGES AND HE SORT OF LAID THEM OUT, WHAT HE SEES AS THE MOST PRESSING CRISES OF THE DAY, OF WHICH THERE ARE A LOT.

HE IS IDENTIFIED THE CLIMATE CRISIS, THE COVID CRISIS, THE ECONOMIC PROBLEMS THE COUNTRY IS FACING AND A CRISIS OF TRUST AND PROLIFERATION OF MISINFORMATION IN THE UNITED STATES TODAY.

SO MOST RESIDENTS DON'’T COME IN WITH THAT NUMBER AND MAGNITUDE OF PROBLEMS THEY HAVE TWO DEAL WITH ON DAY ONE.

AND DEFINITELY DON'’T HAVE TO FACE THEM WITH THE TRANSITION PROCESS BIDEN HAS HAD TO DEAL WITH AS HE COMES INTO THE WHITE HOUSE.

DEFINITELY UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS OF CHALLENGE FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND HIGH PUBLIC EXPECTATIONS, TOO.

>> TRADITIONALLY, PRESIDENTS HAVE WHAT THEY WOULD CALL A HONEYMOON TIME WHEN YOU COME INTO OFFICE.

A LITTLE TIME TO ENJOY THE VICTORY AND AN EASY TRANSITION, BUT I DON'’T THINK THAT'’S GOING TO HAPPEN.

IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE ALREADY HEARING A LOT OF PARTISAN BICKERING.

>> YES.

MOST PRESIDENTS GET A LITTLE BIT OF A CUSHION MAY BE FOR THE FIRST 100 DAYS.

BUT BIDEN IS NOT GOING TO GET THAT.

WE HAVE SEEN HOW MUCH HE HAS DONE IN THE FIRST TWO DAYS.

HE HAS SIGNED MANY EXECUTIVE ORDERS TRYING TO GET NUMEROUS ASPECTS OF HIS AGENDA OFF THE GROUND IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

BUT WE HAVE ALSO SEEN SOME CONFLICTING THINGS FROM MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME SIGNS THAT SOME REPUBLICANS ARE INTERESTED IN COOPERATION AND DOING A SOLID, BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES, PARTICULARLY THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.

WE'’VE SEEN SOME CONFLICT ALREADY ABOUT HOW OLD THEY ARE GOING TO HANDLE THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.

IT CAME OUT THIS MORNING THAT THE DEMOCRATS INTEND TO TRANSMIT THE ARTICLE OF IMPEACHMENT TO THE SENATE ON MONDAY, THEREFORE IMMEDIATELY TRIGGERING THE NEED FOR A TRIAL.

THAT'’S GOING TO STIR UP SOME PARTISAN ISSUES NOT EVEN ONE WEEK INTO THE BIDEN PRESIDENCY THAT COULD POSSIBLY SET THE STAGE FOR WHAT'’S GOING TO HAPPEN FOR FUTURE COOPERATION.

I'’M SURE THE DEMOCRATS IN SOME WAYS WANT TO GET THAT TRIAL OVER WITH AND MOVE ON, BUT IT'’S A HUGE PARTISAN DISTRACTION EARLY ON IN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

>> WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN'’S PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE IN THE ADMINISTRATION, DOES THAT GIVE HIM SOME ADVANTAGES THAT OTHER NEW PRESIDENTS WOULD NOT HAVE GOING INTO OFFICE?

>> FOR SURE.

NOT ONLY WAS BIDEN VICE PRESIDENT, HE SPENT MANY YEARS AS A SENATOR, SO HE HAS TONS OF LAWMAKING EXPERIENCE.

HE HAD SEEN THE SAUSAGE MADE AND HE'’S DONE IT MANY TIMES.

AND IN MANY DIFFERENT CAPACITIES AS A SENATOR, LEADING COMMITTEES AS VICE PRESIDENT AND NOW AS PRESIDENT.

IN MANY WAYS, HE HAS A LOT OF ADVANTAGES.

HE UNDERSTANDS THE SYSTEM.

HE KNOWS A LOT OF THE PLAYERS IN THE GAME, INCLUDING MITCH MCCONNELL AND MANY OF THESE OTHER SENATORS THAT -- YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME.

HE KNOWS THE GAME, HE KNOWS THE RULES, HE KNOWS THE PLAYERS, SO THAT PUTS HIM AT A HUGE ADVANTAGE FIGURING OUT HOW TO BEST USE THE RESOURCES HE HAS AND NAVIGATE THAT PROCESS BECAUSE HE DOESN'’T REALLY HAVE TO LEARN AS MUCH AS SOMEBODY ELSE MIGHT HAVE TO.

HE'’S GOT LOTS OF EXPERIENCE AND I THINK THAT PUTS HIM IN A GOOD POSITION WHEN HE IS MAKING CALLS FOR UNITY TO MAYBE GET THAT DONE BECAUSE HE HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE LEGISLATING.

AT THIS POINT, HE HAS A GOOD FOUNDATION TO GET STARTED ON, WHETHER OR NOT THE PLAYERS AND THE RULES ARE GOING TO BEHAVE AS HE WOULD LIKE THEM TO OUR WE EXPECT THEM TO IS ANOTHER ISSUE.

>> AS A POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR, YOU ARE DEALING WITH STUDENTS ON A DAILY BASIS.

WHAT KINDS OF THINGS ARE YOU HEARING FROM STUDENTS?

ARE THEY EXCITED ABOUT THIS?

>> I WOULD SAY MOST OF MY STUDENTS ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO HAPPEN.

IT WAS INTERESTING TO START CLASS IN THE LAST WEEK IN LIGHT OF THE EVENTS ON JANUARY 6.

MOST OF MY STUDENTS SEEM TO HAVE BEEN PERTURBED, AS MANY AMERICANS WERE, BY THOSE EVENTS AND THEY SEEM READY TO SEE SOMETHING GET DONE.

OF COURSE THEY ARE BEING IMPACTED REALLY HEAVILY BY THE PANDEMIC IN WE ARE NOT DOING MUCH IN PERSON INSTRUCTION AND THEY ARE NOT GETTING THE TYPICAL COLLEGE EXPERIENCE, SO THEY HAVE AN INTEREST WANTING THAT TO GET SOLVED, TO SOLVE PROBLEMS IMPACTING THEM AND THEIR EDUCATION, THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR JOBS.

THE IMPRESSION I GET FROM THEM IS THEY ARE HOPEFUL THINGS WILL IMPROVE PANDEMIC WISE, BUT ALSO JUST IN THE GENERAL TRAJECTORY OF THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

JULIE: WE ARE OUT OF TIME THIS WEEK, BUT YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH "ALMANAC NORTH" BY FINDING US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

YOU CAN FIND US ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE AND TWITTER.

VISIT THE WSE WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE STATION AND DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APP FOR ON-DEMAND VIEWING OF YOUR FAVORITE PROGRAMS.

THANKS TO OUR GUESTS AND THE CREW IN THE STUDIO.

I'’M JULIE ZENNER.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

WE'’LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

♪ ♪