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

>> THANKS FOR JOINING US.

TONIGHT WE'LL COVER THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR'S REPORT ON STATE GOVERNMENT GRANTS, LEARN ABOUT A NEW COLLABORATION AT THE ORDWAY, AND REMEMBER FORMER U.S.

SENATOR DAVE DURENBERGER.

MARY LAHAMMER HAS BEEN BUSY AT THE CAPITOL.

>> IT IS LAW!

[ Cheers and applause ] >> Mary: HISTORY IS HAPPENING AT THE CAPITOL.

THE LEGISLATURE HAS MORE FRESHMEN THAN ANY TIME 'IN THE LAST HALF CENTURY.

WE'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO TWO MORE FROM COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS IN GREATER MINNESOTA.

>> I LIKE TO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M FAIRLY APPROACHABLE.

>> IT'S WHO YOU ARE, NOT NECESSARILY WHAT YOU DO.

>> Mary: THAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC."

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

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

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

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

>> WE'VE GOT LOTS OF NEWS TO COVER THIS WEEK.

GOVERNOR WALZ HAS SIGNED A BILL GUARANTEEING ABORTION ACCESS INTO LAW.

WE REMEMBER FORMER U.S.

SENATOR DAVE DURENBERGER.

AND THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN THE U. S. HOUSE HAS KICKED MINNESOTA REP. ILHAN OMAR OFF OF THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.

OUR POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSORS ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> Cathy: THAT IS A LOT.

BUT WE START WITH YESTERDAY'S LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR REPORT ON STATE GOVERNMENT GRANTS TO NONPROFITS.

EACH YEAR, STATE AGENCIES PROVIDE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THROUGH GRANTS TO ORGANIZATIONS.

THOSE AGENCIES ARE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW A SET OF OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY POLICIES.

YESTERDAY'S REPORT FOUND "PERVASIVE NONCOMPLIANCE" WITH THOSE POLICIES.

HERE WITH MORE, LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR JUDY RANDALL.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK.

>> NICE TO BE HERE.

>> Cathy: THERE IS A STATE OFFICE OF GRANTS MANAGEMENT, RIGHT?

>> YES, THERE IS.

>> Cathy: WHY AREN'T THEY MANAGING?

>> WELL, THEY ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE OR REALLY DO MUCH CHECKING ON HOW DIFFERENT AGENCIES DO GRANTS MANAGEMENT AND FOLLOW THE POLICIES.

THE OFFICE OF GRANTS MANAGEMENT REALLY HAS ONE STAFF PERSON WHO DEVELOPS POLICIES.

BUT OTHERWISE THE MANAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT OF GRANTS IS HAPPENING OUT IN ALL OF THE STATE AGENCIES.

>> Eric: THIS IS AT LEAST THE THIRD TIME YOUR AGENCY HAS TAKEN A SWING AT THESE ISSUES WITH GRANTS.

WHY ISN'T SOMEBODY GETTING THE MESSAGE HERE?

>> I WOULD SAY IT'S ACTUALLY OUR 12th OR 13th TIME WE'VE TAKEN A SWING T THIS.

>> Eric: IT MAXIMUM MY QUESTION EVEN MORE POIGNANT, MAYBE.

>> WELL, WE AGREE.

AND THAT'S KIND OF WHY THIS TIME IN THIS REPORT, WE SAID, LOOK, WE HAVE DONE THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> WE HAVE ISSUED EIGHT FINANCIAL AUDIT REPORTS THAT IDENTIFIED THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS, TWO PROGRAM EVALUATIONS ACROSS DIFFERENT STATE AGENCIES, WITHIN THE THE SAME STATE AGENCY SEVERAL TIMES AND IT'S TIME TO TAKE A STATEWIDE LOOK AT THIS, A STATEWIDE APPROACH.

SO WE HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS, BOTH FOR -- WITHIN EACH STATE AGENCY, EXECUTIVE BRANCHWIDE, MAYBE THROUGH THE OFFICE OF GRANTS MANAGEMENT, AND THEN ALSO TO THE LEGISLATURE.

LET'S REALLY TACKLE THIS AND GET SERIOUS ABOUT IT.

>> Cathy: BECAUSE THIS KEEPS GOING ON, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY AN ONGOING PROBLEM, ARE WE TO ASSUME THAT THERE COULD BE WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE?

HAPPENING?

>> THERE'S CERTAINLY THE POTENTIAL FOR IT.

THESE POLICIES ARE PUT IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THE STATE FUNDS RE USED PROPERLY AND THEY'RE GIVEN TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN HANDLE THIS RESPONSIBILITY.

AND IF AGENCIES AREN'T CHECKING ON THOSE THINGS, IF THEY'RE NOT MONITORING THAT THE MONEY WAS USED AS INTENDED, IF THEY'RE NOT CHECKING TO MAKE SURE THE GRANTEES ACTUALLY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO HANDLE THESE GRANTS, IT OPENS THE DOOR TO THOSE PROBLEMS.

>> Eric: A LOT OF BEHAVIOR IS BLAMED ON COVID.

AND I WONDER IF I OF THIS IS, WE GOT TO GET THE MONEY OUT THE DOOR QUICK PHILOSOPHY THAT HAPPENED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> THAT MAY EXPLAIN SOME THINGS IN SOME CASES.

THAT IS NOT WHAT HAPPENED FOR THE GRANTS THAT WE WATCHED IN THIS REPORT AND THEN WE LOOKED BACK OVER FIVE YEARS OF REPORTS.

SO PRE-COVID, ABSOLUTELY.

>> Cathy: ARE THESE THE LARGER AGENCIES GETTING INTO TROUBLE OR THE SMALLER AGENCIES?

>> IT'S ALL OF THEM.

IT'S ALL OF THEM.

I MEAN, IN OUR REPORT WE COMPILED THE FINDINGS WE FOUND OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, AND I WAS JUST LOOKING THROUGH IT, IT'S THE BIG ONES, DHS, HEALTH, EDUCATION, BUT IT'S ALSO SMALL ONES, IRRR, THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION.

IT'S BIG AND SMALL, ARTS BOARD.

SO IT'S PERVASIVE.

AND THAT'S WHY WE USED THAT WORD.

>> Eric: NOW THEY'RE SAYING AT HOME, YOU HAVEN'T MENTIONED FEED OUR FUTURE.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

>> Eric: THIS IS NOT PART OF THIS, RIGHT >> FEEDING OUR FUTURE WAS NOT PART OF THIS REVIEW.

WE'RE DOING A SEPARATE REVIEW LOOKING AT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S OVERSIGHT OF FEEDING OUR FUTURE.

>> Eric: WOULD IT MATTER THAT IT'S FEDERAL MONEY INSTEAD OF STATE MONEY?

>> YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT POINT.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS.

PART OF WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR THE FEEDING OUR FUTURE ONE IS LOOKING AT ALL THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS, THE WEAFERS THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE -- WAIVERS THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE OF PANDEMIC, SO IN THAT CASE THAT DOES COME INTO PLY.

>> Eric: UNDER YOUR REPORT, HOW MUCH MONEY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT, THAT LACKS ACCOUNTABILITY?

>> SURE, THAT'S THE RIGHT WAY TO APPROXIMATE OUT IT.

WE SAY THAT THERE'S OVER 500 MILLION DOLLARS EACH YEAR GRANTED OUT TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.

>> Eric: WOW.

>> THAT'S JUST TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.

THE STATE GIVES GRANTS TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL.

IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

>> Cathy: IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

SO NEXT STEPS WOULD BE WHAT?

>> WELL, OUR HOPE IS THAT NEXT STEPS ARE SOME ACTION HERE BY EITHER THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OR THE LEGISLATURE OR BOTH.

>> Eric: IS THERE A POLITICAL BIAS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, DOES ONE PARTY NOT WANT TO DO THIS AS MUCH AS THE OTHER PARTY?

OR IS IT A GROUP EFFORT?

>> SO I'M NOT THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THAT.

WE'RE NONPARTISAN.

>> Eric: SURE.

>> BUT I THINK THAT OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY IS A SHARED INTEREST BY EVERYBODY.

>> Cathy: OKAY.

>> Eric: AND TELL US ABOUT THE FEED OUR FUTURE REPORT.

WHEN IS THAT DUE, WHAT WILL YOU BE LOOKING AT THERE?

>> SURE.

THAT'S A SPECIAL REVIEW.

WE'RE LOOKING AT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S OVERSIGHT OF FEEDING OUR FUTURE, AND THAT GRANT, AND THAT WILL BE OUT LATER THIS YEAR, WE'RE HOPING FOR SUMMER.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.

HIS YOU'RE A BUSY OFFICE OVER THERE.

>> WE ARE.

WE'VE GOT A LOT GOING ON.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR YOUR TEAM.

>> NICE TO SEE YOU.

♪♪ >> THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR TIM WALZ SIGNED A BILL ENSHRINING ABORTION ACCESS INTO STATE LAW.

MARY LAHAMMER HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE STORY CLOSELY.

HERE'S MORE.

>> IT IS LAW!

[ Cheers and applause ] >> Mary: GOVERNOR WALZ SIGNED A HISTORIC BILL INTO LAW, ALLOWING ALL ABORTIONS IN THE STATE, MAKING MINNESOTA OFFICIALLY ONE OF THE MOST LIBERAL STATES ON CHOICE.

[ Applause ] >> WE'RE GOING TO GET TO KEEP THAT PROMISE, THANKS TO THE FIRST PRO CHOICE MAJORITY IN STATE HISTORY.

[ Cheers and applause ] AND IT'S CERTAINLY NOT LOST ON ME AND OUR DFL MAJORITY CHAMBERS, IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, ARE LED BY WOMEN.

>> MINNESOTANS WANTED US TO ACT.

THEY VOTED US IN TO THE SENATE MAJORITY, IN PART, BECAUSE WE TOLD THEM WE WOULD PRESERVE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS, NOT TAKE THEM AWAY.

[ Cheers ] BECAUSE YOU ROW ROW ROW'd YOUR VOTE, MINNESOTA IS MAKING HISTORY.

[ Applause ] >> I AM JUST SO PROUD TO LIVE IN MINNESOTA.

TO LIVE IN A COMMUNITY, IN MY COMMUNITY OF DULUTH, IN MY COMMUNITY OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, THAT KNOWS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO PROTECT AND ENSHRINE THESE LIBERTIES AND FREEDOMS, TO MAKE SURE THAT MINNESOTA ILL REMAIN HIS NORTH STAR LEAD IN THE MIDWEST.

♪♪ >> THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION PLANS TO END THE COVID PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY IN MAY.

BUT IT'S STILL CIRCULATING, AS IS CONFUSION ABOUT WHO SHOULD GET VACCINATED AND WHEN.

IN THE LAST WEEK, MINNESOTA'S STATE-RUN COVID TESTING SITES HAVE CLOSED.

WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS MEAN?

HERE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION AND MORE, MIKE OSTERHOLM.

HE HEADS THE CENTER FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESEARCH AND POLICY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

WELL, DOCTOR, LET'S START WITH THE ENDING OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY Y PRESIDENT BIDEN.

HELPS OR HURTS THE SITUATION, NEUTRAL, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?

>> WELL, IT SURELY IS CAUSING A GREAT DEAL OF CONFUSION.

DON'T FORGET, IT AS ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO THAT THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED THAT WE WERE OVER THE PANDEMIC.

AND I, UNFORTUNATELY, SEVERAL LINES IN THE STORY IN "THE NEW YORK TIMES" SAID, NO, THAT WASN'T THE CASE.

BUT I UNDERSTOOD WHAT HE MEANT, THAT THE PUBLIC GENERALLY WAS OVER THE PANDEMIC.

I THINK THAT'S TRUE NOW.

BUT THIS IS -- WHAT THIS IS REALLY ALL ABOUT IS CHANGING THE STRUCTURE OF SOME OF THE FUNDING PROGRAMS THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS PART OF THE DECLARED EMERGENCY.

WE WILL STILL HAVE ACCESS TO FREE VACCINES AND DRUGS, TESTING MAY BE A CHALLENGE IN THE SENSE THAT IT'S NOT CURRENTLY COVERED AND WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT HOW WE'RE GOING TO COVER THAT.

>> Cathy: HOW IGHT THAT REALLY MESS THINGS UP?

I MEAN, BECAUSE WE'VE JUST, AS ERIC SAID, CLOSED DOWN THE STATE TESTING CENTERS, RIGHT?

IS THE MESSAGE TO PEOPLE, WELL, GOOD LUCK, TRY TO FIND YOUR OWN TESTS, HOW IS THIS GOING TO PLAY INTO THE OVERALL PANDEMIC?

>> WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF THAT, AND IT'S NOT THE STATE'S FAULT.

IT REALLY RIGHT NOW IS AT THE FED LEVEL TRYING TO CLARIFY WHAT WILL BE SUPPORTED, WHAT WON'T BE SUPPORTED.

I'VE BEEN IN SEVERAL MEETINGS THIS PAST WEEK AT THE WHITE HOUSE ON THAT VERY ISSUE, TRYING TO GIVE THEM THE CLEAR AND COMPELLING MESSAGE, YOU'VE GOT TO LET US KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING O HAPPEN, NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

WE STILL DO HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE STILL INFECTED.

I MUST TELL YOU, THIS IS A VERY UNUSUAL WEEK FOR ME, I KNOW MORE PEOPLE IN MY IMMEDIATE HOUSEHOLD, WORE PLACING -- WORKPLACE THAT HAVE COVID THIS WEEK THAN AT ANY TIME IN THE PANDEMIC.

SO IT'S NOT DONE YET.

I THINK THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT POINT.

WE'VE GOT TO CLARIFY, WHAT IS IT YOU CAN GET FOR TESTING?

WHAT CAN YOU GET FOR DRUGS?

AND FOR CERTAIN, MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE GETS VACCINATED WITH THE BIVALENT VACC SOON F YOU'RE -- VACCINE, IF YOU'RE 50 OR OLDER FOR SURE.

>> Eric: ARE YOU TARGETING THE ELDERLY FOR A BOOSTER, THERE'S BEEN PRETTY GOOD COMPLIANCE WITH THE BOOSTER SHOTS, HOW ABOUT THE BOOSTER ACTIVITY?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, ERIC, I'VE HAD SAID FOR SOME TIME, THE REAL SUCCESS FOR COVID WOULD BE THAT IF ALL OF US GOT IT TWICE A YEAR, BUT IT WAS NOTHING MORE THAN A COMMON COLD.

WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS VIRUS IS GOING TO TAKE US.

IT CONTINUES TO THROW THESE 210-MILE THAN AHOUR CURVE BALLS AT US.

WE'RE AT 500 DEATHS A DAY AGAIN.

WE'VE BEEN IDING THAT HIGH PLAINS PLATEAU AS YOU KNOW FOR THE LAST EIGHT TO TEN MONTHS.

IT HASN'T SUDDENLY DROPPED, AS SOME PEOPLE MIGHT THINK.

SO WE CLEARLY HAVE TO GET THE MESSAGE ACROSS THAT IT'S STILL IMPORTANT.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE DEATHS THAT ARE OCCURRING RIGHT NOW, THE MAJORITY ARE IN THOSE OVER AGE 50.

AND, YOU KNOW, TO ME, AS SOMEBODY WHO'S ABOUT TO TURN 70, I'M HARDLY DONE WITH MY LIFE YET.

SO DON'T CONSIDER ME A DISPENSABLE BECAUSE I'M OLD.

OKAY, SO WE'VE GOT TO GET PEOPLE IN THOSE AGE GROUPS VACCINATED.

WE HAVE CLEAR AND COMPELLING DATA NOW THAT SHOWS WITH THE BOOSTERS, YOU CAN REDUCE SERIOUS INESS, HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS.

IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED WITH THE BOOSTER, YOU'RE IN THE AGE GROUP, GET IT.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT A SIMPLIFIED PROCESS, THE WHEN AND HOW OFTEN?

LIKE FLU SHOTS?

>> YOU KNOW, I HAVE A REAL PROBLEM WITH THE FDA'S APPROACH RIGHT NOW WITH REGARD TO SEASONAL VACCINATION FOR COVID.

AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE WHEN WE HAVE A SEASONAL DISEASE, LIKE INFLEW INFLUENZA, WHICH TYPICALLY OCCURS FROM MID TO LATE DECEMBER, TO EARLY MID FEBRUARY, WELL, YOU CAN VACCINATE PEOPLE LARGELY IN THAT SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER TIME PERIOD, KNOWING THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO VACCINATE THEM TOO EARLY BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT PROTECTION WANES OVER TIME, MAYBE 15% PER WEEK.

WELL, WE DON'T HAVE A SEASON YET FOR COVID.

AND, IN FACT, IF YOU FOLLOW JUST SINCE NOVEMBER, THE NEW SOUTH WALES IN AUSTRALIA, MELBOURNE AND SYDNEY HAVE HAD EXACTLY THE SAME PIDEMIOLOGY OF DISEASES WE'VE SEEN IN THE NORTHEASTERN PART OF THE UNITED STATES.

SO IF WE DO HAVE THE SEASONAL ONCE A YEAR VACCINE IS AND I GET IT, AY, IN OCTOBER, AND IT DOESN'T TURN OUT THAT I SEE COVID IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY, BUT NOW IT'S GOING TO BE IN APRIL OR MAY, HOW GOOD'S MY VACCINE?

SO I UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW, BUT WE CAN'T JUST SIMPLIFY IT BY SAYING, IT'S A SEASONAL DISEASE.

FRANKLY, I THINK SOME OF US WOULD LIKE TO SEE AT LEAST FOR THOSE WHO ARE AT RISK OF SERIOUS ILLNESS, THOSE WHO ARE OLDER AGAIN, THOSE WITH IMMUNE-COMPROMISING CONDITIONS, MAYBE HAVE ACCESS TO IT TWICE A YEAR, KNOWING THAT MANY MANY PEOPLE YOUNGER WON'T MAKE -- TAKE IT, BUT MANY OF US OLDER WILL.

>> Eric: YOU'VE HAD TALKED ABOUT A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW, MAYBE AN OVERALL OF -- OVERHAUL OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY.

I WONDER WHAT IF, ANYTHING MIGHT BE GAINED BY CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS ON THAT SUBJECT?

>> WELL, RIGHT NOW, I THINK THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE WITH MOST OF THE CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS THAT WE'RE AWARE OF IS DO NO HARM.

I THINK THAT THERE'S A TREMENDOUS EFFORT BEING MADE TO GET INTO THE ISSUES AROUND WHERE DID THE VIRUS COME FROM, FOR WHICH WE WILL NEVER KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.

ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS IT'S OT A MAN-MADE VIRUS, WHETHER IT LEAKED OUT OF A LABORATORY OR DIRECTLY FROM AN ANIMAL, I DON'T THINK WE'RE EVER GOING TO KNOW.

IT WOULD BE REALLY WONDERFUL IF WE'D CONCENTRATE ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET NEW AND BETTER VACCINES, IN JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS, OUR CENTER IS GOING TO BE RELEASING A MAJOR NEW ROAD MAP FOR GETTING BETTER CORONAVIRUS VACCINES, IT'S BEEN SUPPORTED BY THE GATES FOUNDATION AND THE ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION AND IT'S INVOLVED MORE THAN 60 INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS.

WE NEED TO CONCENTRATE ON THAT.

HOW CAN WE GET BETTER VACCINES?

SO THAT WE DON'T FIND OURSELVES WITH THIS NEED TO VACCINATE POTENTIALLY EVERY SIX MONTHS.

I HOPE THEY WOULD DO THAT.

I'M NOT OPTIMISTIC THEY'LL DO THAT.

I'M AFRAID IT'S GOING TO BE MORE DRAMA AND TRAUMA THAN IT'S GOING TO BE ACTUAL REAL WORK.

>> Cathy: SAY, THIS QUESTION MIGHT COME OUT OF LEFT FIELD.

WE KNOW WE HAVE THE NEW VARIANT CIRCULATING, THE XBB, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT DEER, WHITE-TAILED DEER, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, MINNESOTA'S LOUSY WITH WHITE-TAILED DEER, ARE LIKE RESERVOIRS OF OLD VARIANTS.

YOU KNOW?

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> YOU KNOW, ATHY, WE DON'T KNOW.

IT'S CONCERNING.

AND I SAY IT'S CONCERNING BECAUSE MANY OF THESE STRAINS OF THE VIRUS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN WHITE-TAILED DEER ARE NOT ONES WE COMMONLY SEE IN HUMANS.

AND THAT MAY BE THE ACTUAL PLACE THAT SOME OF THE MAJOR GENETIC CHANGES OCCUR AND ONE DAY, BAM, WE'RE NOW HIT WITH THIS NEW VIRUS THAT'S COME OUT OF THE ANIMAL.

JUST LIKE THE ORIGINAL VIRUS FROM WUHAN DID.

ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, IT CAME FROM AN ANIMAL.

SO I THINK THAT THIS IS A REAL CHALLENGE.

WE'RE NOT CERTAIN JUST HOW MANY OTHER ANIMAL SPECIES ARE INFECTED WITH THE SARS CoV-2 VIRUS, THE VIRUS THAT CAUSES COVID.

SO THIS IS A REAL CONCERN.

I DON'T THINK AT THIS POINT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE PEOPLE SEE DEER IN THEIR YARD OR THEY'RE AROUND HUNTED DEER THAT THEY HAVE ANY CONCERNS THERE.

BUT WITH TIME, THIS COULD BE THE SOURCE OF NEW VARIANTS, IT COULD BE VERY VERY AINFUL.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Eric: THANKS, DOCTOR.

THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: SEE YA.

♪♪ >> IF WE LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER, WE GET A LITTLE HINT, MILITARY'S IMPORTANT IN YOUR BACK STORY.

>> I JOINED THE ARMY IN 1988.

I WAS JUST FINISHING HIGH SCHOOL, HAD MILITARY HISTORY IN MY FAMILY.

MY DAD SERVED IN THE KOREAN WAR AS A MARINE.

SO I WENT DOWN AND ENLISTED IN THE MINNESOTA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD.

AND A COUPLE OF YEARS BEFORE I RETIRED, I HAD MET A COUPLE OF PRO HOCKEY PLAYERS THAT WANTED TO GIVE BACK TO THE MILITARY THROUGH HOCKEY.

AND, SO, I STARTED A NONPROFIT , KIND OF OVERNIGHT.

GOT LUCKY, IT TOOK OFF, AND GREW INTO A NATIONAL PROGRAM.

MINNESOTA'S THE STATE OF HOCKEY.

AND I GREW UP IN THE DISTRICT HERE, SPENT MY WHOLE LIFE HERE.

WE DO A LOT OF HOCKEY ACTIVITIES IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK THAT RESONATED WITH SOME OF THE VOTERS.

♪♪ >> CATHY: THE ORDWAY AND THE MINNESOTA HUMANITIES CENTER HAVE A NEW COLLABORATION.

THEY'VE CREATED THE VISION TRUST, A GROUP OF COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO CONNECT WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AROUND THE CURRENT PRODUCTION - "A SOLDIER'S PLAY."

THE DRAMA FOLLOWS THE MURDER OF THE SERGEANT OF AN ALL-BLACK ARMY UNIT, SET IN THE SEGREGATION-ERA SOUTH.

HERE TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE VISION TRUST AND ITS WORK TO CONNECT WITH ACTIVE MILITARY, VETERANS, AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY, CHRIS HARRINGTON, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE ORDWAY, AND KEDAR HICKMAN WITH THE ST. PAUL FOUNDATION.

HE BRINGS A BACKGROUND OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY SERVICE TO THE VISION TRUST.

IT'S GOOD TO SEEUS BOTH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

CHRIS, THIS IS AN INTENSE PLAY.

IT REALLY IS.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: CAN YOU GIVE FOLKS A THUMBNAIL OF WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT?

>> SOLDIER'S PLAY IS A PULITZER PRIZE WINNING PLAY WRITTEN BY THE PLAY GREAT PLAYWRIGHT, CHARLES FULLER.

SEGREGATED ARMY BASE IN LOUISIANA.

IT REALLY IS SET AS A WHO-DUN-IT, SORT OF THIS MURDER MYSTERY THAT FOLLOWS THE INVESTIGATION OF A SERGEANT WHO WAS KILLED IN THE OPENING SCENE AND YOU'RE LITERALLY ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PERFORMANCE, JUST GOING ON THE EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER, LEARNING ABOUT DIFFERENT THEMES, YOU KNOW, JUST SORT OF WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE A SERGEANT AND PART OF THE MILITARY BACK IN THE '40s.

SO IT'S VERY INTENSE.

BUT IT'S A VERY POWERFUL STORY THAT I THINK IS VERY RELEVANT TODAY.

AND I KNOW THAT OUR AUDIENCES ARE GOING TO ENJOY SEEING IT.

>> Eric: I WAS GOING TO SAY WITH THE LATEST RACIAL RECKONING, OBVIOUSLY THE TIMING IS VERY GOOD FOR THIS, I WOULD THINK.

>> YEAH.

REALLY, IT IS.

INSIDE OF COMMUNITIES, WE ALWAYS HAVE TO HAVE SPACES TO BE ABLE TO MEET TOGETHER, TO HEAL TOGETHER, TO STRATEGIZE TOGETHER, TO THINK FORWARD TOGETHER.

ESPECIALLY IN TIMES OF THIS KIND OF RECKONING INSIDE OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND SOCIETY.

>> Cathy: SO HOW WILL THIS PLAY, THEN, BE THE CATALYST FOR COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS?

>> YEAH, WELL, I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS.

SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO BE PRESENTING THIS, AGAIN.

AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WRITTEN IN THE '80s, SET IN THE '40s, A LOT OF THE THEMES ARE STILL RELEVANT TODAY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE ORDWAY REALLY WANTED TO DO WAS TO DO THIS FOR COMMUNITY BUT TO DO THIS ALONGSIDE COMMUNITY.

SO WE KNEW THAT GIVEN SOME OF THE CHALLENGING THEMES THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE REACHED OUT TO DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DIDN'T FIND OUT ABOUT A COUPLE WEEKS BEFORE.

BUT WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN ON A LONG JOURNEY OVER THE PAST YEAR, PARTNERING WITH SOUL TOUCH PRODUCTIONS, PARTNERING WITH THE MINNESOTA HUMANITIES CENTER AND PARTNERING ALSO WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR AUDIENCES WERE PREPARED.

SO WE FORMED THE VISION TRUST.

YOU KNOW, THIS WAS ACTUALLY A VISION BY ROBIN HICKMAN WINFIELD WHO HAS BEEN A LONGTIME ADVISOR TO THE ORDWAY, SHE'S MAKING SURE THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY GET THESE COMMUNITY LEADERS.

IT'S ABOUT A GROUP OF 20 MEN, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE FAITH LEADERS, YOU HAVE POLICY MAKERS, YOU HAVE EDUCATORS, WE HAD A POWERFUL GATHERING BACK IN DECEMBER TO REALLY TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN GET THIS WORD OUT ABOUT A SOLDIER'S PLAY TO OUR COMMUNITY.

SO JUST BEING ABLE TO CREATE SPACE TO HAVE THESE CURRENTLIOUS CONVERSATIONS.

I'M HOPING WHEN PEOPLE COME TO SEE THIS PLAY, IT WILL INSPIRE CURIOSITY AND REALLY MPATHY.

I OFTEN TALK ABOUT THE POWER OF THE PERFORMING ARTS AND PLAYS LIKE THIS TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A LOT MORE IN COMMON THAN THOSE THINGS THAT ARE DIFFERENT.

SO I THINK THIS HAS THE ABILITY TO KIND OF BUILD THE EMPATHY AND TO REALLY ENCOURAGE US TO TAP INTO OUR SHARED HUMANITY.

COURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS >> Cathy: WE SHOULD SAY, THIS IS YOUR ISTER THAT HAS GOT THE SPARK GOING.

>> IT IS.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU WANT TO FEEL AND HEAR OUT OF THE CONNECTIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY?

ESPECIALLY AS THIS PLAY IS PRESENTED.

>> OU NOW, I WANT TO HEAR AND FEEL THE WELLNESS IN OUR PARTNERSHIPS OF BEING ABLE TO SPEAK WITH ONE ANOTHER, TO GATHER IN A SPACE THAT SAYS THAT IT'S OKAY TO SAY THAT WE ARE OKAY WHEN WE'RE TOGETHER.

AND WE CAN -- WE CAN SPEAK TO HARD TOPICS AND KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT SO FRAGILE AS TO FALL APART, BUT WE, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE FIVE FINGERS COMING TOGETHER, WE CAN COME OUT AND WE CAN MEET ANY CHALLENGE.

THIS IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US IN COMMUNITY TO BUILD PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.

IN A WAY THAT HASN'T BEEN BUILT BEFORE WITH THE ORDWAY AND WITH THE HUMANITIES CENTER AS WELL.

>> Eric: DO YOU THINK THAT A WHITE AUDIENCE AND A BLACK AUDIENCE WOULD GET DIFFERENT MESSAGES FROM THIS OR WOULD THEY BOTH GET THE SAME MESSAGE WATCHING IT?

>> THAT'S ACTUALLY A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

I THINK THE PLAY IS SO POWERFUL AND, AGAIN, SO RELEVANT TO TODAY, I THINK PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COME IN AND THEY'LL PROBABLY WALK AWAY WITH DIFFERENT MESSAGES.

IT REALLY TALKS ABOUT THE BLACK EXPERIENCE, IT TALKS ABOUT, AGAIN, BEING A VETERAN, WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO SERVE, YOU KNOW, YOUR COMMUNITY SOMETIMES WHEN YOUR SERVICE WASN'T AS VALUED AS SOMEONE THAT'S NEXT TO OU.

SO I THINK AUDIENCES ARE GOING TO WALK AWAY WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS FROM THIS.

SOME WILL COME AND THEY'LL BE ENTERTAINED.

SOME PEOPLE WILL BE CHALLENGED.

BUT I'M HOPING THAT IT WILL JUST CREATE THAT SPACE FOR US AGAIN TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

SO PEOPLE, THEY'LL LEARN A LOT, THERE ARE A LOT OF THEMES THAT I THINK WILL COME UP AND PEOPLE WILL WALK AWAY FROM DIFFERENT THINGS WITH THIS PLAY.

>> Eric: WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON AUDIENCE MESSAGING?

>> AUDIENCE MESSAGING, YOU USE THE WORD "RECKONING."

SO FOR A LOT OF FOLKS, PERSONALLY, THEY MAY HAVE SOME PERSONAL RECKONINGS WITH THIS.

INSIDE OF COMMUNITY, ONE F OUR RECKONINGS AND A PART OF THIS VISION TRUST HELPS US TO RECONCEPTUALIZE EVEN WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A SOLDIER AND TO BE A BLACK MAN AND BE A SOLDIER IN SOCIETY.

AND IN WHAT OFTENTIMES FEELS LIKE WAR-LIKE SITUATIONS.

>> Cathy: NOW, THE CAST IS FABULOUS.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: UM-HUM.

>> SO IT'S ACTUALLY STARRING THE GREAT NORM LEWIS, A LOT OF FOLKS MAY KNOW HIM FROM THE TV SHOW SCANDAL.

HE'S BEEN IN LES MIS, FIRST AFTER CAN AMERICAN -- AFRICAN AMERICAN TO PLAY THE LEADING ROLE OF PHANTOM OF THE OPERA.

HIS BODY OF WORK IS REALLY REALLY EXTENSIVE.

ALL-STAR CAST, EUGENE LEE, IS IN IT, HE WAS IN THE ORIGINAL PRODUCTION IN 1981.

SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO BE BRINGING THAT TO THE TWIN CITIES.

I HAD THE PLEASURE OF SEEING IT IN NEW HAVEN A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.

I WOULD SAY IT'S VERY BEAUTIFUL TO SEE THOSE 12 MEN GET UP ON STAGE AND REALLY POUR OUT OUR THEATERS, NIGHT AND NIGHT OUT.

AND TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS EXCHANGE WITH THE COMMUNITY AS WELL, ITTING IN THE AUDIENCES, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO BE PRESENTING THIS IN A ERY INTIMATE SPACE LIKE THE FITZGERALD, TOO, SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY PRESENTED A PLAY THERE IN OLLABORATION WITH FIRST AVENUE, IT'S BEEN ABOUT 20 YEARS NOW EING.

SO DOING THAT WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT COMMUNITY PARTYERS IN, I LIKE TO QUOTE MY AFRICAN PROVERB, IF YOU WANT TO GO FAR, GO TOGETHER.

SO I THINK THIS IS A REALLY GOOD REPRESENTATION OF THAT.

MINNESOTA HUMANITIES, CENTER, FIRST AVENUE, WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE St. PAUL LEADERSHIP.

ITIS I IT'S BEEN A BEAUTIFUL COMING TOGETHER.

THE AUDIENCES WILL BENEFIT FROM ALL THE AMAZING WORK WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THE PAST YEAR.

>> Cathy: WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP MAYBE OF VISION TRUST?

TAKE A STEP RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, GET THIS DONE.

>> YEAH.

I THINK IT'S ABOUT -- THIS IS AN INITIATIVE OF PERPETUITY.

WITH THE FLEXIBILITY AND THE INGENUITY TO BE ABLE TO MEET SOME OF THE PRESENT MOMENT ISSUES.

SO I THINK THIS IS ABOUT CONTINUING TO CREATE SPACES IN WHICH COMMUNITY CAN SPEAK TOGETHER.

IT IS CONTINUING TO BUILD THE PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS, SO WE ALL FEEL VALUED AND WELCOMED IN THESE PLACES AND SPACES AND WE CAN GROW AND LEARN TOGETHER THROUGH THE ARTS AND CULTURE.

>> Eric: FEBRUARY 8 THROUGH THE 12th AT THE FITS.

>> YES.

>> Eric: WE'LL GO SEE IT, THANK YOU.

FITZ.

♪♪ >> IT'’S BLACK HISTORY MONTH!

A MONTH FULL OF CURIOSITY, LOVE, AND PRIDE.

NOW OCCASIONALLY, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT APPROACH THIS MONTH WITH A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CYNICISM.

AND TO THAT I HAVE TO ASK: HOW FAST WAS HARRIET TUBMAN?

SHE RAN UP AND DOWN THE UNITED STATES OVER A DOZEN TIMES, FOUGHT IN THE CIVIL WAR, AND WAS A SPY; AND SHE DID ALL OF THAT IN FULL DRESS.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE COMPLETES BACK -- CLEATS BACK THEN.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE FREEDOM.

SHE MUST HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY FAST.

SOME OF YOU MIGHT BE THINKING, IT'S A LITTLE IMMATURE TO WONDER ABOUT HER SPEED.

BUT THAT'S A DOUBLE STANDARD.

BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES TO BLACK HISTORY, ALL WE GET IS THEIR NAME, WHAT THEY FOUGHT FOR, AND WHEN THEY WERE ASSASSINATED.

WITH WHITE HISTORY WE GET EVERYTHING, INCLUDING THE SILLY STUFF.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HARRIET TUBMAN'S WOULD HAVE LOOKED LIKE, BUT I DO KNOW THAT GEORGE WASHINGTON'S DENTURES WERE MADE OF GOLD, IVORY AND SILVER.

I KNOW ABOUT WASHINGTON'S DENTURES BUT I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF Dr. KING HAD A CAVITY.

I NOW THE NAME OF THE BROTHER OF THE GUY WHO SHOT LINCOLN, BUT I CAN'T BE SURE OF MALCOLM X HAD A FRATERNAL TWIN OR NOT.

WE ALL KNOW RONALD REAGAN LIKE JELLY BEANS BUT DID ARETHA FRANKLIN?

HOW ABOUT ROSA PARKS?

WHAT ABOUT JESSE OWENS, THOROUGH GOOD MARSHALL?

DID ANY OF THESE PEOPLE LIKE JELLY BEANS?

I DON'T KNOW.

I KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT THE INTIMATE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE WHO DEDICATED THEMSELVES TO GIVING ME OPPORTUNITIES, WHICH IS SO UNFAIR.

BECAUSE THAT MEANS I ONLY GET TO SEE A FRACTION OF THEIR HUMANITY.

SO THIS BLACK HISTORY MONTH, BE CURIOUS, ASK STRANGE QUESTIONS.

DID JAMES BALDWIN HAVE AN IN DIDIE OR OUTI ACTUALLY.

WHEN DID BESSY COLEMAN HEAR HER FIRST KNOCK KNOCK JOKE, IT'S A LITTLE ODD, SURE, BUT I PROMISE, WHAT YOU'LL HEAR WILL MAKE THESE FIGURES SO MUCH MORE REAL IN YOUR HEART.

AND FOR THE RECORD, HARRIET TUBMAN'S 40-YARD DASH, 4.3 SECONDS, WHICH IS REALLY GOOD BY THE WAY.

HAVE A GREAT BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

>> Eric: THE 2023 LEGISLATURE FEATURES THE LARGEST FRESHMAN CLASS IN 50 YEARS AND THEY'RE ALREADY PROVING TO BE A FORCE.

MARY LAHAMMER'S BEEN INTRODUCING US TO SOME OF THESE FRESH FACES EACH WEEK ON "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL."

TONIGHT SHE HAS TWO INTERVIEWS WITH NEW LAWMAKERS FROM COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS OUTSIDE THE METRO.

>> HIS.

>> Mary: YOU ARE A WELL KNOWN TELEVISION METEOROLOGIST IN THE AREA.

BUT YOU COULDN'T BE POLITICAL.

I DON'T KNOW IF FOLKS KNOW THAT.

BUT YOU REALLY CAN'T WHEN YOU'RE IN TELEVISION, IN JOURNALISM BE POLITICAL.

SO HOW DID FOLKS KNOW THAT THEY COULD TAP YOU AND HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?

>> I WORKED A LITTLE BIT BEHIND THE SCENES ON SOME HOUSE CAMPAIGNS IN THE PAST.

AND MY WIFE IS ALSO ON CITY COUNCIL IN MOORHEAD.

>> Mary: ONE THING WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF METEOROLOGIST WHO IS ARE JOURNALISTS TAKE A SIDE, ESSENTIALLY, AND THE ONE POLITICAL ISSUE WE PRETTY CONSISTENTLY SEEN, METEOROLOGIST SAY, CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL, THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT IT.

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU TOO HAVE BEEN OUTSPOKEN ON AND CAN BE EVEN MORE SO NOW?

>> YES.

AND IT IS, YOU KNOW, I WOULD TRY, IN MY TV BROADCAST, ONCE A WEEK I DID LIKE A LITTLE CLIMATE FEATURE, AND I WOULD SHOW THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, OUR GROWING SEASON'S GETTING A WEEK LONGER ON EITHER SIDE.

THE SPRING AND THE FALL.

AND THAT'S A SIGN OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

THESE HEAVY RAINFALL EVENTS.

THAT'S A SIGN OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> Mary: IS THERE REALLY SOMETHING AT A STATE LEVEL THAT LAWMAKERS CAN DO POLICYWISE ON CLIMATE CHANGE?

>> YEAH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BE A LEADER IN THE COUNTRY AND MOVE TOWARDS MORE RENEWABLE ENERGY.

>> Mary: THERE HAD TO BE SOME MOMENTS WHERE YOU KNOCK ON A DOOR AND SOMEBODY AYS, MY TV METEOROLOGIST IS ON MY FRONT STEP.

>> YES.

YES.

SO IF THEY HAD NOT HEARD, I WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE, THERE WAS A LITTLE PUZZLED LOOK AND I WOULD SAY, THIS IS OUR NEW DOORSTEP FORECAST AND I'M GOING TO SHOW UP EVERY DAY ON YOUR DOORSTEP AND GIVE YOU THE WEATHER FORECAST.

>> Mary: PEOPLE KIND OF LOVE TO HATE METEOROLOGISTS.

THERE'S A SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, IF I GOT MY JOB WRONG THAT MUCH, I WOULD NEVER HAVE A JOB.

ISN'T THAT THE MOST CLICHÉ THING?

>> IT IS THE OST CLICHÉ THING.

AND AT ONE TIME I'D ACTUALLY PREPARED A LIST OF, YOU KNOW, OTHER PEOPLE THAT THAT APPLIES TO.

LIKE BASEBALL PLAYERS BEING THE TOP, LIKE YOU HIT 400, IT MEANS YOU FAILED 60% OF THE TIME.

BUT YOU'RE GOING TO THE HALL OF FAME.

>> Mary: WE'VE HAD CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR, WE'VE HAD CANDIDATES FOR CONGRESS WHO HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MAKE THAT PIVOT FROM A TV JOB INTO POLITICS.

WHY WERE YOU SUCCESSFUL?

>> WHAT I AM ON THE AIR IS THE WAY I AM IN REAL LIFE TOO.

AND I LIKE TO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M FAIRLY APPROACHABLE AND CAN TALK, I MEAN, I DON'T -- YOU KNOW, I'M ON TV, I KNOW SOME PEOPLE GET ALL STAR STRUCK AND I'M LIKE -- BUT I'M LIKE, I'M JUST A GUY WHO GOES TO THE GROCERY STORE JUST LIKE YOU DO.

I HAD A BOSS TELL ME, YOU'RE LIKE AN OLD PAPER OF -- PAIR OF SLIPPERS, I PUT THEM ON, YOU'RE COMFORTABLE TO WATCH.

>> Mary: DID YOU GET TO KNOW SOME OF THE DIVERSE POPULATIONS YOU'LL BE REPRESENTING?

>> I DID.

THE OOR KNOCKING OPENED UP MY EYES A LOT, BUT I KNEW IT WAS THERE JUST FROM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE NEW BUSINESSES THAT WERE JOINING WERE DIVERSIFIED.

I ALSO SAW IT WITH UNITED WAY.

ALL THE BOARDS I SERVE ON, I SAW IT HAPPENING AND COMING.

AND THE BIGGEST THING WHICH REALLY WAS AN INCENTIVE TO ME IS THAT THE SOMALI GROUP CAME TO ME AND ASKED IF I WAS THEIR CANDIDATE.

SOME OF THE LEADERS PULLED ME IN TO MEETINGS, WE TALKED A LOT, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY WITH ABOUT A WEEK LEFT, THERE WAS A GROUP OF SOMALI LEADERS THAT SAID, WE WANT YOUR BROCHURE, WE WILL DOOR KNOCK FOR YOU IN THESE APARTMENT THAT IS ARE PROBABLY DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO GET INTO.

FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, I TRANSLATED ALL MY LITERATURE INTO SOMALI AS WELL.

SO I HAD THAT GOING ON WITH THE IDEA OF THESE ARE NEW WORK FORCE PEOPLE.

THESE ARE STUDENTS THAT ARE GOING TO SCHOOL.

THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT WANT SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> Mary: IT LOOKS LIKE OU REALLY REACHED OUT ND MADE AN EFFORT AND DIDN'T SAY, I CAN'T, I CAN'T ATTRACT VOTERS HERE.

>> NO.

I WENT WITH THE INTENTION OF ATTRACTING THEM AND GETTING THEM TO KNOW ME.

I STAND FOR DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AND EQUITY FOR EVERYONE.

>> Mary: HOW ARE YOU GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE IN THE MINORITY?

>> I JUST AM GOING IN WITHOUT THAT IDEA NAH AIM A MINORITY -- THAT IDEA THAT I'M A MINORITY.

YOU THINK ABOUT THAT YOUR WHOLE LIFE, YOU CAN BE A MINORITY IN A THE WILL OF THINGS.

YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP ON GOING.

IT'S WHO YOU ARE, NOT NECESSARILY WHAT YOU DO.

I BELIEVE THAT'S THE TRUE SKILL OF A LEADER.

IS BEING EMPATHETIC, CURIOUS, ATTENTIVE AND NOT CLOSING YOUR EYES TO OTHER THINGS AND HAVING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE.

I KNOW SOME PEOPLE THINK I'M UNREALISTIC AT TIMES BECAUSE I AM THE GLASS IS 3/4 FULL.

BUT I'VE BEEN THAT WAY MY WHOLE LIFE AND I DON'T WANT MY CHARACTER TO CHANGE.

YOU KNOW, OUR NEW LEADER, LISA DEMUTH IS GOING TO BE REALLY GOOD WITH COLLABORATION.

>> Mary: YOU KNOW HER, YOU KNOW HER BEFORE SHE BECAME FAMOUS, RIGHT?

>> I DO.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN SHE FIRST WAS ELECTED, I TOLD HER, DON'T PLAY FAVORITISM WITH ME BECAUSE I'M YOUR FRIEND ALREADY.

BUT I'LL TAKE ALL I CAN GET.

SHE'S A NEIGHBORING DISTRICT.

AND WE HAVE MET LONG TIME AGO.

SHE WAS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD AT THE TIME.

BUT WE ARE BOTH CANCER SURVIVORS.

SHE'S AN INFECTIOUS LEADER.

SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO SAY A WORD BUT BY HER ACTIONS, YOU KNOW SHE'S LEADING BY HER SILENCE.

♪♪ >> ON TUESDAY, FORMER U.S.

SENATOR DAVE DURENBERGER DIED AT THE AGE OF 88.

REMEMBERED AS A MODERATE REPUBLICAN AND CHAMPION OF HEALTH CARE, DISABILITY RIGHTS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, DURENBERGER ALSO FACED CENSURE FROM THE SENATE FOR ALLEGED FINANCIAL SCHEMES.

AFTER LEAVING THE SENATE, DURENBERGER RETURNED TO MINNESOTA, TEACHING AT ST. THOMAS FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES BEFORE RETIRING.

MARY LAHAMMER INTERVIEWED DURENBERGER IN 2008, JUST AFTER HE RECEIVED THE REUEL HARMON AWARD FOR SERVICE TO MINNESOTA'S PARKS AND TRAILS.

YOU'LL SEE THE AWARD IN THIS CLIP.

>> THERE'S HARDLY A MINNESOTAN, YOU KNOW, WHO ISN'T IN LOVE WITH THE WATER, WITH THE PARKS, WITH THE TRAILS, WITH THE FISH, WITH THE HUNTING.

YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IT IS.

AND IT'S A RICH TRADITION THAT WE ALL WANT TO HAND DOWN TO OUR KIDS AND GRANDKIDS AS LONG AS WE CAN.

AND, SO, THE REAL JOY OF ALL OF THIS WORK IS KNOWING THAT YOU'VE DONE SOMETHING FOR PEOPLE IN THE NEXT GENERATION.

>> Mary: AND YOU HAVE DONE SOMETHING, LET'S TALK ABOUT A COUPLE SPECIFICS, BECAUSE ALL THE BIG PROJECTS IN THIS STATE HISTORY, YOU KIND OF HAD A HAND IN.

DOES VOYAGEURERS STAND OUT, BWCA, I MEAN, WHAT ABOUT THAT LEGACY WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?

>> WELL, I COULDN'T PICK ONE OVER THE OTHER.

I THINK THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS EVERYTHING I WAS INVOLVED IN, PARKS AND OPEN SPACE, THE METROPOLITAN AREA, THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, AND VOYAGEURERS AND BWCA, ALL THESE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT WE ALL KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT, WAS ALWAYS A COMBINATION OF POLICY MAKERS LIKE YOU JUST TALKED TO AND CITIZENS.

AND THE BIG LINKAGE IN THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN SOMETHING LIKE THE MINNESOTA PARKS AND TRAILS COUNCIL, WHICH IS LINKS COMMUNITIES, LINKS EOPLE, IT'S A CITIZENS ORGANIZATION, AND IT IS ALWAYS THERE WHEN PEOPLE NEED THEM.

I MEAN, THE POLITICIANS ARE ONE THING.

THEY'RE AN IMPORTANT PART OF IT.

BUT IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.

>> JOINING US NOW TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE LEGACY OF DAVE DURENBERGER, HIS FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF, TOM HORNER.

WE ARE SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.

I KNOW YOU'RE REALLY A GOOD FRIEND OF THE SENATOR'S.

>> THANK YOU, CATHY.

YOU KNOW, HE WAS SUCH AN AMAZING INFLUENCE IN MY LIFE.

I WOULD NOT HAVE MET MY WIFE, WHO IS STILL MY WIFE AFTER 43 YEARS, WERE IT NOT FOR DAVE DURENBERGER.

SHE WAS STAFF PERSON FOR SENATOR UBERT AND THEN MURAL HUMPHREY, SHE WAS THE FIRST PERSON I MET IN WASHINGTON WHEN I WENT OUT THERE FOR AVE TO BE SWORN IN.

SO JUST IN EVERY WAY HAS BEEN SO IMPORTANT TO MY LIFE AND SUCH A DEAR FRIEND.

AND I THINK ALONG WITH SO MANY OTHER MINNESOTANS AND PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY, THEY FEEL THE LOSS DEEPLY.

>> Cathy: WE RAN IN 1978, SPECIAL ELECTION.

DIDN'T HE RUN AS INNESOTA'S NEXT GREAT SENATOR, SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY, THAT'S PRETTY BOLD, YOU KNOW.

DID THAT HAVE SPECIAL MEANING TO HIM?

>> IT DID, ESPECIALLY FOR A FIRST-TIME ANDIDATE, A LOT OF PEOPLE COULD SEE THAT AS A LITTLE BIT OVER THE TOP, BUT, CLEARLY, YOU KNOW, AN APPEAL IN THOSE WATERGATE DAYS, POST-NIXON DAYS, TO ALL OF THOSE DEMOCRATS AND INDEPENDENTS WHO HE HOPED HE COULD WIN OVER BY PUTTING HIMSELF IN THE STYLE OF A HUMPHREY, A MONDALE, A McCARTHY.

AND CERTAINLY DAVE DISAGREED WITH THEM ON A LOT OF THEIR POLICY ISSUES, BUT HE APPRECIATED THEIR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE.

HE APPRECIATED THAT THEY HAD THE COURAGE OF THEIR CONVICTIONS TO STAND UP ON CIVIL RIGHTS, ON THE VIETNAM WAR, ON OTHER ISSUES.

AND THAT'S WHAT REALLY MATTERED TO DAVE IS THAT COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE.

>> Eric: CONSENSUS AND COMPROMISE WERE KIND OF HIS WATCH WORDS.

THAT'S REALLY OUT OF FAVOR TODAY.

>> YOU KNOW, ERIC, I PUT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

COMPROMISE SOMETIMES GETS TO BE, LET'S EE IF WE CAN GET TO THE LEAST OBJECTIONABLE AGREEMENT.

DAVE WAS A COLLABORATOR.

>> Eric: OKAY.

>> WHAT DAVE REALLY DID IS CAME N AND RIED TO UNDERSTAND WHERE SOMEBODY ELSE WAS AT.

WHAT THEIR ISSUES WERE, AND WHAT PROBLEM WERE THEY TRYING TO SOLVE.

DAVE WOULD ARTICULATE WHERE HE WAS AT.

WHAT EDUCATION HE COULD BRING TO THE OTHER PERSON.

AND THEN TOGETHER TO SEE IF THEY COULD WORK OUT THE BEST SOLUTION.

SO YOU LOOK AT SOMETHING AS INFLUENTIAL, SIGNIFICANT AS THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT THAT DAVE WAS INSTRUMENTAL ON, AND THAT REALLY WAS A BLENDING OF WHAT CAN WE THROUGH THE MARKETPLACE AND WHERE DO WE NEED GOVERNMENT AND REGULATION.

AND BETWEEN THOSE TWO SECTORS, LET'S REALLY CREATE SOMETHING THAT'S POWERFUL, THAT CREATES ACCESS FOR ALL AMERICANS, AND HAS DONE A REMARKABLE JOB OF FULFILLING ITS PURPOSE.

>> Cathy: I'M THINKING, YOU KNOW, WHEN SOMEONE SPONSORS LEGISLATION LIKE SENATOR DID, AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ABILITY, I'M WONDERING, WAS THERE SOME KIND OF A PERSONAL STORY BEHIND THAT FOR HIM?

>> BEHIND ALL OF THESE THINGS, WHETHER IT WAS HIS ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION, CERTAINLY HIS HEALTHCARE POLICY, A.D.A., AMERICORPS, WHICH WAS ANOTHER SIGNATURE LEGISLATION THAT DAVE SPONSORED, IT WAS MINNESOTA.

I MEAN, IT WAS ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY, AND THE VALUES THAT HE LEARNED FROM THE GOOD MONKS AT THE ABBEY AND THE PROFESSORS.

IT WAS ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT HE MET IN MINNESOTA.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE HALLMARKS OF DAVE, WHEN HE WAS ELECTED TO OFFICE IN 1978, UNLIKE 99 OTHER SENATORS, DAVE PUT A LOT OF HIS POLICY PEOPLE IN MINNESOTA.

AND THEY WEREN'T JUST PEOPLE TO GO OUT AND ATTEND MEETINGS ON HIS BEHALF.

THEY ERE THERE TO DEVELOP POLICY, TO GO OUT AND TOUCH BASE WITH MINNESOTANS, TO LEARN FROM MINNESOTANS, TO GET THEIR INPUT, AND TO BRING IT BACK TO DAVE SO HE COULD BRING IT TO THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE.

>> Eric: BEING A PERSONAL FRIEND OF HIS, I'M INTERESTED IN YOUR TAKE ON, AFTER THE ETHICS, IMPROPRIETIES, AFTER THE CENSURE IN THE SENATE, DID IT CHANGE HIM?

HOW DID HE KEEP PUSHING ON?

TELL US ABOUT THE AFTERMATH OF ALL THAT.

>> I THINK TWO THINGS REALLY STAND OUT.

IT WAS IN THE REMARKS THAT HE MADE ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE.

THAT HE REALLY SINCERELY WAS COMMITTED TO, AS HE PUT IT, F HE HAS TARNISHED THE SEAL OF THE SENATE, THE NORTH STAR SEAL OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, THAT HE WOULD SPEND THE REST OF HIS LIFE TARNISHING THOSE SEALS.

AND I THINK HE DID THAT.

HE COULD HAVE STAYED IN WASHINGTON, TAIL BETWEEN HIS LEGS, AND BECOME A HIGH-PRICED LAWYER, A LOBBYIST, AND MADE, YOU KNOW, A SEVEN-FIGURE SALARY.

THAT'S NOT DAVE DURENBERGER.

HE CAME BACK TO MINNESOTA, HE TOOK ALL OF THIS EXPERIENCE, ALL OF HIS CONNECTIONS, ALL OF HIS RELATIONSHIPS, WHICH WERE SO IMPORTANT TO DAVE, AND CONTINUED HIS WORK IN HEALTHCARE, IN THE ENVIRONMENT.

WHEN YOU SAW THE CLIP THAT YOU LED WITH, WITH THE PARKS AND TRAILS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S DAVE DURENBERGER.

COMMUNITY ACTION, GRASSROOTS ACTION.

AND THAT'S WHAT HE BROUGHT TO MINNESOTA -- TO MINNESOTA AFTER HIS TERM IN THE SENATE.

>> Eric: HE HAVE THE HUMPHREY SCHOOL OF GOVERNANCE OVER AT THE "U."

MAYBE AT St. JOHN'S, IS THERE PLANS FOR A DURENBERGER DURENBERGER-NAMED INSTITUTION OR SOMETHING?

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR RAISING THAT.

YES.

THERE'S THE DAVE DURENBERGER LEGACY FUND AT ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS SCHOOL.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE A FUND THAT IS SO UNIQUELY DAVE DURENBERGER, IT WILL SPONSOR STUDENTS ROM St. JOHN'S, St. BEN'S, WHO WANT TO GO OUT TO WASHINGTON, D.C., TO INTERN IN PUBLIC POLICY.

YOU KNOW, I'M HOPEFUL THAT ONE DAY, MAYBE MY THREE GRANDDAUGHTERS, MOLLY, EMMA AND LUCY, WILL BE PART OF THAT, BE ABLE TO GO OUT TO WASHINGTON AND CONTINUE THE LEGACY OF DAVE DURENBERGER.

>> Cathy: I'M PLEASED THAT HE WILL HAVE HIS FUNERAL MASS AT THE ABBEY.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: WHICH IS APPROPRIATE T. WILL BE LIVESTREAMED.

>> YES, IT WILL BE, YOU CAN GET THAT THROUGH THE St. JOHN'S WEBSITE.

IT WILL BE LIVESTREAMED.

ABBOTT JOHN CLASSEN IS THE CELEBRANT.

GOVERNOR WALZ, SENATOR KLOBUCHAR ARE ABLE TO DELIVER EULOGIES.

PARTICULARLY HAPPY THAT SENATOR KLOBUCHAR, WHO OWNS THE SEAT NOW THAT DAVE ONCE HAD.

YOU KNOW, SHE'S GOING TO BE AT THE SERVICE, EVEN THOUGH THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS IS TUESDAY NIGHT.

MUCH SO SHE'S GOING TO BE THERE.

AND THEN FLY BACK TO WASHINGTON QUICKLY.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, JUST A MEASURE OF RESPECT THAT EVERYBODY HAD FOR DAVE DURENBERGER.

>> Eric: APPRECIATE YOU COMING BY WITH THE REMEMBRANCE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

>> Eric: ALL THE BEST.

THANKS.

♪♪ >> ERIC: THERE'S PLENTY TO COVER IN NATIONAL POLITICS THIS WEEK.

CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS HAVE VOTED TO REMOVE REPRESENTATIVE ILHAN OMAR FROM THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.

DEBT CEILING NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE LAUNCHED INVESTIGATIONS INTO DEMOCRATS, INCLUDING PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN.

AND DOCUMENTS, DOCUMENTS, DOCUMENTS!

LET'S GET RIGHT TO IT WITH KATHRYN PEARSON.

SHE TEACHES POLITICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

WE WELCOME BACK NEIL KRAUS.

HE TEACHES AMERICAN POLITICS AND PUBLIC POLICY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - RIVER FALLS.

AND JOINING US VIA ZOOM, CARLETON COLLEGE PROFESSOR EMERITUS STEVEN SCHIER.

ON THIS OMAR BUSINESS, PROFESSOR, THE REPUBLICANS ARE KIND OF SETTLING A SCORE AFTER THE DEMOCRATS BOOTED A COUPLE OF REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OFF COMMITTEES.

IS THAT FAIR?

>> I THINK THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING.

SO IN THE LAST CONGRESS, WHEN DEMOCRATS HAD MAJORITY-PARTY CONTROL, DEMOCRATS VOTED TO REMOVE MARJORIE TAYLOR GREEN AND PAUL GOSAR, TWO REPUBLICANS FROM THEIR COMMITTEES FOR INCITING VIOLENCE AGAINST OTHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, AND EVEN AT THE TIME REPUBLICANS SAID THAT IF THEY WERE TO TAKE BACK THE MAJORITY, THAT CONGRESSWOMAN ILHAN OMAR WAS IN THEIR SIGHTS BECAUSE OF ANTISEMITICKIC THINGS THAT SHE HAD SAID IN THE PREVIOUS CONGRESS, WHICH, AT THE TIME, DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADERS THEMSELVES WERE UPSET ABOUT AND THAT SHE POLOGIZED FOR.

ANTISEMITIC.

AT SOME LEVEL, IT'S NOT SURPRISING THAT THEY VOTED TO REMOVE HER FROM THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.

SPEAKER McCARTHY, ALSO REMOVED, HE HAS THE SOLE POWER TO DO THIS, TWO DEMOCRATS FROM THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE AS PART OF THIS RETALIATION.

BUT THIS IS REALLY SORT OF A TROUBLING TREND WHEN IT COMES TO CONGRESS.

TYPICALLY PARTY LEADERS AND A STEERING COMMITTEE FROM ONE'S OWN PARTY MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT COMMITTEES.

THE MAJORITY PARTY HAS THE DECISIONS ABOUT COMMITTEE RATIOS, BUT THE MEMBERSHIP THEMSELVES IS DONE BY MEMBERS' OWN PARTIES.

AND, SO, THIS IS TROUBLING.

IT'S PARTISAN.

AND THEN I ALSO THINK THAT REPUBLICANS ARE SPEAKING TO A PART OF THE REPUBLICAN BASE THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS TALKING TO WHEN HE SUGGESTED THAT REPRESENTATIVE OMAR AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SQUAD RETURN TO THEIR COUNTRIES.

>> Cathy: MIGHT THIS BE AN OPPORTUNITY, PROFESSOR, FOR THERE TO BE SOME SYSTEM CREATED TO MAYBE TRY TO AVOID THIS REMOVAL FROM COMMITTEES, THIS TIT FOR TAT?

>> TO CHANGE THE PROCESS, YOU MEAN?

>> >> Cathy: YES, THANK YOU.

>> I WOULD THINK IT WOULD PRESENT THAT SORT OF OPPORTUNITY.

I THINK THE REPUBLICANS IN DOING THIS, REALLY KIND OF ARE SORT OF TALKING WHAT THEY WANT -- YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT, RIGHT?

AND I THINK IT'S ALSO LINKED TO THE DEBATE ABOUT THE DEBT CEILING, RIGHT?

I MEAN, WE'VE HAD THIS SORT OF CONFUSION AS TO WHAT EXACTLY REPUBLICANS WOULD CUT WHEN IT CAME TO THE DEBT CEILING.

I THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO KEEP THE FOCUS ON THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, CONGRESSWOMAN OMAR AND TOPICS LIKE THAT, DIVISIVE TOPICS, PARTISAN TOPICS, SO THEY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT PRESIDENT BIDEN AND OTHERS HAVE WONDERED AND WHAT IS IT EXACTLY YOU'RE GOING TO CUT IN ORDER TO SIGN OFF ON THE DEBT CEILING.

>> Eric: PROFESSOR SCHERRER, ON THE DEBT CEILING, THIS IS MONEY THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN AUTHORIZED BY CONGRESS AND THEY'RE JUST PAYING -- ALLOWING THE COUNTRY TO PAY THE PAST EXPENDITURES.

I SEE McCARTHY, THE HOUSE SPEAKER, AND PRESIDENT BIDEN MET THIS WEEK.

ANYTHING COME OF IT?

>> APPY TALK, WHICH IS WHAT I THINK YOU HAVE TO EXPECT AT THIS STAGE OF THE NEGOTIATIONS.

THIS COULD BE A UNIQUELY DIFFICULT THING TO WORK THROUGH.

MAINLY BECAUSE THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO HAVE TROUBLE DEVELOPING A UNIFIED MAJORITY VOICE IN RESPONSE TO THE DEBT CEILING.

AND IF THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN, DEFAULT BECOMES MORE LIKELY.

SO, T'S A LONG AND WINDING ROAD AHEAD IN THE COMING MONTHS AND IT WILL BE FULL OF DIFFICULTIES.

>> Eric: THE PROSPECTS FOR -- WELL, PUT IT THIS WAY, HOW DOES MINNESOTA FIT WITH ITS ABORTION LAW WITH OTHER STATES AND WHATEVER'S HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL?

WHERE DO WE STAND IN THAT ARRANGEMENT?

>> RIGHT.

WE'RE SORT OF SEEING IS STATES GO IN TWO DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS IN THE WAKE OF DOBBS.

AND MINNESOTA IS THE FIRST STATE TO ACTUALLY LEGISLATE AND CODIFY A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO AN ABORTION, OF COURSE, THAT'S ALREADY THE STATE OF MINNESOTA LAW BECAUSE OF DOE VZ GOMEZ IN 1995.

BUT SHOULD A FUTURE SUPREME COURT CHANGE, PERHAPS OVERTURN THAT, DFLers WANTED TO ENSURE REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM WITH THE LEGISLATION THAT GOVERNOR WALZ JUST SIGNED.

AND, SO, MINNESOTA'S THE FIRST STATE TO LEGISLATE THIS.

NOW, THERE ARE SIX OTHER STATES THAT HAVE VOTED BY INITIATIVE IN RECENT ELECTIONS TO GUARANTEE WOMEN ACCESS TO ABORTION.

>> Eric: CAN THERE BE ANY ACTION ON THIS ISSUE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL OR ARE WE DONE WITH THAT, AS FAR AS WITH THE MIXED BAG OUT THERE?

>> OH, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH IN TERMS OF LIKE FEDERAL LAW OR SOMETHING.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE VERY TOUGH WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT AND REPUBLICAN HOUSE.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, AS KATHRYN SAID, IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AT THE STATE LEVEL.

WE'RE STARTING TO SEE, YOU KNOW, THERE WILL BE OTHER STATES THAT GO, I THINK, IN THE DIRECTION THAT MINNESOTA JUST WENT.

AND THEN I'M NOT REALLY SURE.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE ANY SIGNIFICANT ACTION AFTER WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE SUPREME COURT LAST SUMMER.

>> Cathy: SAY, PROFESSOR SCHIER, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE TRUMP/BIODIESELLEN -- BIDEN/PENCE, THE FEDERAL DOCUMENTS FOUND AT THEIR PRIVATE PROPERTIES HERE?

WHAT'S TO COME OF ALL OF THIS?

>> THAT IS A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

WHAT WILL COME OF ALL OF IT.

WILL THERE BE ANY CHARGES REGARDING THIS, THE POLITICS OF IT MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO SINGLE OUT ANY ONE OF THE THREE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE OTHER TWO FOR CHARGES.

ALTHOUGH THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF EACH SITUATION ARE VERY DIFFERENT.

TRUMP HAD MORE DOCUMENTS, HE WAS LESS COMPLIANT, IT'S NOT CLEAR WHAT SORT OF DOCUMENTS IN TERMS OF THEIR UBSTANCE WE HAVE IN EACH CASE EITHER.

THE MOST INADVERTENT EXAMPLE SEEMS TO BE MIKE PENCE AT THIS POINT.

WE HAVE A LOT TO FIGURE OUT ABOUT WHAT EACH CASE INVOLVED AND WHAT THE DOCUMENTS INVOLVED.

AND GENERALLY THE POLITICS, I THINK, MEAN THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET JUSTICE DEPARTMENT CHARGES AGAINST ANY OF THE THREE PEOPLE YOU'VE MENTIONED.

>> Eric: WE TALK ABOUT WHATEVER LEGISLATION IS REMAINING THAT COULD BE PASSED BEFORE THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, BEYOND THE DEBT CEILING?

IS THERE STUFF THAT CAN HAPPEN STILL?

>> THE DEBT CEILING IS OBVIOUSLY CRITICAL.

AND IF HISTORY'S ANY GUIDE, THAT WILL COME DOWN TO THE 11th HOUR AT THE BEGINNING OF JUNE.

BUT IT'S ALSO CRITICAL THAT CONGRESS PASSES AND THE PRESIDENT SIGNS INTO LAW ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS BILLS.

AND PART OF THE DEAL AMONG REPUBLICANS TO ELECT SPEAKER McCARTHY WAS 12 SEPARATE BILLS, IT'S BEEN YEARS SINCE THE BILLS HAVE BEEN SEPARATED AS THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY HARD TO IMAGINE WITH SUCH A FRACTURED REPUBLICAN PARTY AND SUCH NARROW MARGINS AND A DEMOCRATIC SENATE, DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT, HOW THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO A BIG OMNIBUS APPROPRIATIONS BILL THAT SORT OF MAKES EVERY FACTION HAPPY.

BUT THEY HAVE TO DO IT, OTHERWISE THE GOVERNMENT WILL SHUT DOWN.

>> Eric: IS THAT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS, WHAT, ON SEPTEMBER 30th?

IN A BIG HUMONGOUS BILL THAT NOBODY'S READ.

>> PROBABLY.

YOU'D HAVE TO, I THINK, KATHRYN WILL KNOW THAT BETTER THAN ME, BUT, I THINK, YEAH, I DON'T REALLY THINK THAT ANYTHING SIGNIFICANT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK BACK TO THE, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST TRUMP , YOU KNOW, 2017, THE TAX BILL WAS REALLY THE MAJOR THING THAT WAS PASSED.

AND THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH IT.

IN TERMS OF MAJOR LEGISLATION.

AT THAT TIME.

SO I DON'T REALLY SEE ANYTHING MAJOR BEYOND, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT.

>> Cathy: HOW ABOUT CONGRESSMAN SANTOS, HE STEPPED DOWN FROM TWO OF HIS COMMITTEES.

AND I'M CURIOUS, PROFESSOR SCHIER, WHAT DOES HIS FUTURE LOOK LIKE?

ESPECIALLY ITH THAT SLIM MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE.

>> HIS FUTURE IS EVERMORE DIM, CATHY.

IT'S QUITE CLEAR THAT HIS CONSTITUENTS ARE OUTRAGED ABOUT HIS PREVARICATIONS THAT ARE MANY IN NUMBER.

AND IT'S SIMPLY A MATTER OF TIME WHEN HE LEAVES THE HOUSE.

HE MAY SERVE A FULL TERM OR HE MAY NOT.

BUT YOU'RE SEEING A CAREER END SLOWLY.

>> Cathy: I KNOW YOU'RE A STUDENT OF CONGRESS, HAVE WE EVER SEEN SOMEBODY LIKE THIS BEFORE?

>> NOT TO THIS EXTENT.

I MEAN, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME COLORFUL CHARACTERS, CERTAINLY MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN INDICTED, GONE TO JAIL, WORN ANKLE BRACELETS OTING ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

BUT THIS IS REALLY QUITE EXTRAORDINARY.

JUST THE SHEER NUMBER OF LIES AND EVERY DAY THERE'S A NEW NEWS STORY.

BUT SOME OF THE ALLEGATIONS WITH CAMPAIGN FINANCE, I MEAN, THEY'RE QUITE SERIOUS.

AND, SO, WHETHER OR NOT THE HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE CAN SORT OF GET ITS ACT TOGETHER TO TAKE ANY ACTION.

I MEAN, THE COURTS MAY DECIDE BEFORE THEN.

BUT ACTUALLY THE COOK POLITICAL REPORT JUST CAME OUT YESTERDAY, RANKING HOUSE RACES FOR 2024, THEY'RE VERY FEW COMPETITIVE RACES, BUT HIS IS THE ONLY REPUBLICAN SEAT THAT IS ALREADY BEING RANKED AS LEANS DEMOCRATIC.

>> Eric: SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE, ARE THEY GOING TO BE ON THE TABLE S THEY DO THIS COST-CUTTING AS PART OF THE DEBT CEILING?

>> I MEAN, I DON'T THINK THE REPUBLICANS WANT TO SAY THAT OUT OUD.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE DEMOCRATS WOULD WANT TO HAVE THAT DEBATE, THEY WOULD WANT TO FORCE THAT ISSUE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IN NOVEMBER, PRESIDENT OBAMA GAVE ONE OF THE BEST SPEECHES THAT I'VE EVER HEARD HIM GIVE N MILWAUKEE WHEN HE CAME TO WISCONSIN.

AND HE TALKED ABOUT THIS ISSUE, HE TALKED ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE, PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOODS.

AND THAT -- I HINK THAT SPEECH AND HIS APPEARANCE IN MILWAUKEE WAS REALLY PIVOTAL TO HOW THE ELECTION WENT IN WISCONSIN.

>> Eric: PROFESSOR SCHIER, ON THE SENATE, KRISTEN SINEMA FROM ARIZONA, IS SHE NOW AN INDEPENDENT BUT PROCEDURALLY STICKS WITH THE DEMOCRATS?

WHAT'S HER STORY?

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE SENATE AS A WHOLE?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT YOU'LL SEE THAT SHE'LL BE VOTING WITH THE DEMOCRATS, LARGELY, AS SHE HAS IN THE PAST.

SO HER VOTE IS REALLY NOT GOING TO AFFECT THE DIRECTION OF THE SENATE IN ANY MAJOR WAY.

ONE OF THE INTERESTING QUESTIONS IS, IN THE THREE-WAY RACE WITH HER AS AN INDEPENDENT, WHO WINS?

NEXT TIME.

AND DOES THAT ADVANTAGE THE DEMOCRATIC OR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE?

THAT'S THE BIG IMPONDERABLE HERE.

>> Cathy: IS NIKKI HAILEY THROWING HER HAT IN THE RING?

>> YES, SHE'S THROWING HER AT IN THE RING.

SHE'S GOING TO ANNOUNCE IN MID FEBRUARY.

AND THIS DEFINITELY MAKES THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATING CONTEST MORE INTERESTING.

YOU KNOW, THE FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP SORT OF IF OU LOOK AT THE VERY EARLY POLLS, WHICH DON'T MEAN MUCH, HAS A PLURALITY OF SUPPORT, BUT ONCE OTHER CANDIDATES REALLY GET IN AND OFFER REPUBLICAN VOTERS SOME OTHER OPTIONS, IT WILL BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> Eric: YOU ARE TEACHING IN VERY INTERESTING POLITICAL TIMES.

>> Cathy: YES, YOU ARE.

[ Laughter ] >> Eric: I HEARD THE BELL.

CLASS DISMISSED.

THANKS.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

>> ERIC: WE'VE REACHED THE END OF THE SHOW SO LET'S DIVE RIGHT INTO THE INDEX FILE.

TWO WEEKS AGO WE ASKED YOU ABOUT A WELL-KNOWN ENTERTAINMENT DUO WHO BEGAN THEIR CAREER TOGETHER WITH A SERIES OF SHOWS IN MINNESOTA IN 1975.

THEY HAVE SINCE PERFORMED TOGETHER THOUSANDS OF TIMES AND HAVE APPEARED ON TELEVISION AND IN MOVIES.

WE ASKED YOU WHO THESE ENTERTAINERS ARE.

AND WE HEARD LOTS OF ANSWERS, RIGHT AND WRONG.

TAKE A LISTEN.

>> ERIC: WELL, NO.

SORRY, KELLY.

WE FOOLED SEVERAL CALLERS WITH OUR MENTION OF FRANKLIN.

LET'S SPIN NOW FOR THE RIGHT ANSWER.

>> Eric: IT'S A MIRACLE, ROBIN AND CHUCK.

YOU GUESSED IT, AS DID MANY VIEWERS.

MAGICIANS PENN AND TELLER PERFORMED AT THE MINNESOTA RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL IN 1975.

IT WAS ONE OF THEIR FIRST SHOWS TOGETHER.

BEFORE THE LEAP INTO SHOW BUSINESS, MR. TELLER TAUGHT LATIN AND GREEK AT LAWRENCE HIGH SCHOOL IN NEW JERSEY.

HE TOOK A LEAVE OF ABSENCE FROM THAT JOB TO PERFORM WITH PENN AT THE RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL AND NEVER RETURNED.

THANKS TO PRODUCER JIM BICKAL, WHO WENT TO LAWRENCE HIGH SCHOOL, FOR THE QUESTION.

HEY, IF WE HAVEN'T SAID IT RECENTLY, WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

651-229-1430 IS THE NUMBER TO DIAL.

EMAIL IS GOOD TOO.

DROP US A NOTE AT ALMANAC@TPT.ORG.

WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH TIME LEFT FOR SOME SHOW-CLOSING MUSIC.

IT WAS THIS WEEK BACK IN 1981 THAT RICHIE HAVENS PERFORMED ON THE OLD NIGHT TIMES VARIETY SHOW.

TAKE A LISTEN AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

AND BE CAREFUL.

♪ FOR THOSE OF YOU SEEKING PROTECTION, OH, LORD, IT'S BEEN GOT A LONG LONG WAY TO GO ♪ JUST MIGHT SEEM LIKE CHANGING DIRECTION RIGHT NOW ♪ ♪ DON'T GO AROUND TAKING UP CONNECTIONS ♪ ♪ ON YOUR WAY DOWN ♪ ♪ THERE'S NOBODY LEFT TO CROWN ♪ WHAT IF POLITICIANS WERE ALL GOOD GUYS ♪ ♪ OH, LORD, DON'T WE WISH THEY WERE ♪ ♪ WOULDN'T THAT BE SO DEPENDENT ♪ ♪ COURTS OF LAW MAKE US ALL FEEL LIKE DEFENDANTS SOMETIMES ♪ WE WANT FREEDOM, WE'VE GOT TO AMEND IT ♪ ♪ ON OUR WAY DOWN ♪ >> "ALMANAC" IS A PRODUCTION CAPTIONED BY: VERITEXT/PARADIGM CAPTIONING WWW.VERITEXT.COM ♪ WHERE THE DEER AND THE ANTIDOTES PLAY ♪ ♪ WHERE SELDOM IS HEARD ♪ >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

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