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

>> CATHY: BIG LINEUP TONIGHT.

WE'LL HEAR FROM A POLICE CHIEF ABOUT WAYS TO BETTER HIRE OFFICERS.

WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE TEACHERS STRIKE IN MINNEAPOLIS.

KYELAND JACKSON WILL INTRODUCE US TO A LITTLE KNOWN AND CONTROVERSIAL MEDICAID PROGRAM, AND THEN MARY LAHAMMER TALKED TO SENATOR DAVID TOMASSONI ABOUT AN A.L.S.

RESEARCH BILL THAT PASSED THE SENATE THIS WEEK.

>> Mary: I'LL CHECK IN WITH SENIOR DAVID TOMASSONI, AS LAWMAKERS PASSÉ BILL FUNDING A.L.S.

RESEARCH IN HIS HONOR.

>> HOW DOES THAT FEEL TO HAVE THAT UNANIMOUS OUTPOURING OF AFFECTION FOR YOU?

OVERWHELMING?

THAT'S COMING UP, ON "ALMANAC."

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

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

A TOUCHSTONE ENERGY COOPERATIVE.

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

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION THAT CARES ABOUT COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINE3.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

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

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

AND FROM THE BLANDIN FOUNDATION.

>> CATHY: LATER IN THE HOUR, WE'LL ADDRESS THE MINNEAPOLIS TEACHERS STRIKE, WE'LL HAVE MARY'S INTERVIEW WITH SENATOR TOMASSONI, AND WE'LL HEAR FROM A POLICE CHIEF ABOUT BETTER WAYS TO HIRE OFFICERS.

BUT FIRST UP IN THE HOUR, A BIGGER LOOK AT THE EXPANDING POLITICAL FALLOUT FROM THE RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE.

>> ERIC: FACING A FRIDAY MIDNIGHT DEADLINE, THE HOUSE PASSED A $1.5 TRILLION SPENDING BILL THIS WEEK AS CONGRESS ONCE AGAIN FLIRTED WITH A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

SENATORS NOW HAVE UNTIL TUESDAY TO PASS THE BILL.

THE FEDERAL SPENDING BILL CONTAINS $14 BILLION OF AID TO UKRAINE.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE POLITICAL DYNAMICS OF PUTIN'S WAR, LARRY JACOBS.

HE HEADS THE CENTER OF POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE AT THE U OF M'S HUMPHREY SCHOOL.

WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FOR UKRAINE TO HAVE SOME IMPACT ON THE MID-TERMS?

>> WELL, THEY'VE ALREADY HAD AN IMPACT.

JOE BIDEN'S GOT A NICE SLOW RALLY HERE.

HIS APPROVAL RATING WAS ABOUT 40%, IT'S ABOUT 4.5%.

SO THAT'S ONE IMPACT.

I THINK IT'S BEEN A RALLYING CRY IN CONGRESS.

WE'VE SEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS COME BEHIND SOME SPENDING BILLS AND, YOU KNOW, THE CONVERSATIONS WHICH ARE PRIVATE BETWEEN THE WHITE HOUSE AND PEOPLE LIKE McCONNELL AND OTHERS I THINK HAVE BEEN QUITE CORDIAL FROM ALL REPORTS.

SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME REAL IMPACT.

THE OTHER PART IS ESSENTIALLY DONALD TRUMP'S KIND OF ISOLATIONISM HAS TAKEN A SERIOUS HIT AND YOU CAN SEE NOW VERY VOCAL PUSHBACK AMONG REPUBLICANS AGAINST THE IDEA THAT PUTIN IS A GENIUS, HE'S REALLY, YOU KNOW, BEEN VERY CLEVER IN HOW EAST PLAYED THIS.

SO IT'S ALREADY HAD A BIG IMPACT.

WHETHER THAT LASTS, THAT'S A DIFFERENT QUESTION.

>> Cathy: SO WHAT HAPPENS IF THE U.S. IS BROUGHT FURTHER INTO THIS WAR?

>> I'M GONNA BE SURPRISED.

THERE ARE A LOT OF WHAT'S THAT COULD HAPPEN BUT I'M GOING TO BE SURPRISED.

JOE BIDE DID I KNOW HAS MADE IT VERY CLEAR, AS WELL AS HIS TOP NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM, INCLUDING MINNESOTA'S OWN JAKE SULLIVAN, THAT THEIR TOP PRIORITY IS CHINA.

CHINA IS THE EXISTENTIAL THREAT.

THEY DON'T SAY THIS BUT ESSENTIALLY, RUSSIA IS A GAS STATION AND A FADING POWER.

AND WHEN I LOOK AT WHAT BIDEN HAS BEEN DOING, IT LOOKS TO ME, HE'S GLAD TO PROVIDE SOME FINANCIAL SUPPORT, SOME WEAPONS BUT THEIR MAIN FOCUS IS ON CHINA, STOPPING CHINA, CREATING AN ALLIANCE IN THE PACIFIC AND INCREASINGLY DEFENDING TAIWAN.

>> Eric: TODAY I THINK IS THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE ACTS, RECOVERY ACTS THAT WAS PASSED BY CONGRESS TO DEAL WITH THE FALLOUT FROM COVID.

HOW DO YOU THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE LOOKED AT GOING FORWARD?

DID IT FUEL INFLATION OR WHAT DO YOU THINK THE IMPACT HAS BEEN?

>> WELL, INFLATION IS ALL VER THE WORLD SO I DON'T THINK THERE IS ONE PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT KIND OF GOOSED INFLATION TO 40-YEAR HIGH.

AND THE OTHER WAY TO LOOK AT IT IS THAT SPENDING, WHICH WAS BIPARTISAN, HELPED PREVENT A MASSIVE ECONOMIC RECESSION PERHAPS EVEN A SMALL DEPRESSION.

SO IT HAD ENORMOUS IMPACT.

WE'VE COME OUT OF COVID, OR COMING OUT OF COVID AND WE'RE ON FIRE IN TERMS OF OUR ECONOMY.

WE'RE ROWING, JOBS ARE COMING BACK.

THE ECONOMY'S DOING GREAT STRONG.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE UKRAINE WAR AND IMPLICATIONS OF THAT BUT I THINK THE SPENDING HAS WORKED.

>> Cathy: SAY, I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE VOTE THAT WAS TAKEN AGAINST THE ILHAN OMAR FIFTH DISTRICT CONGRESSWOMAN VOTED AGAINST THE RUSSIAN OIL BAN.

WHAT KIND OF VOTE WAS THAT?

>> IT WAS A PERSONAL VOTE.

IT WAS A POLICY VOTE.

IT WAS SOMETHING BASED ON HER CONVICTION BUT SHE'S NOW IN A VERY IFFERENT POLITICAL SITUATION.

SHE'S FACING, WHAT I THINK IS GOING TO BE A SERIOUS CHALLENGE FROM DON SAMUELS, FORMER CITY COUNCIL MEMBER IN MINNEAPOLIS.

WHO IS PUTTING TOGETHER I THINK A FORMIDABLE CAMPAIGN.

ILHAN OMAR, CERTAINLY THE -- THE ADVANTAGE IS ON HER SIDE.

SHE'S GOT ALMOST HALF A MILLION IN THE BANK, SHE'S WELL KNOWN IN THE DISTRICT.

THE LAST PRIMARY CHALLENGE, SHE BEAT BY ALMOST 20 POINTS.

ON THE OTHER HAND, DON SAMUELS IS ALMOST LIKE AN INCUMBENT BECAUSE HE'S SO WELL KNOWN IN THE DISTRICT, HE'S RAISING, I THINK, QUITE A BIT OF MONEY.

HE'S GOING TO HAVE NATIONAL FOLLOWING AND REALLY LIKE HIS POSITIONING.

HE'S GOING TO BE GOING AFTER ILHAN OMAR IN TERMS OF NOT GETTING ENOUGH DONE AND RUSSIA IS PART OF THAT.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, NEGOTIATE.

YOU KNOW, MAKE IT MORE TO YOUR APPEALING AND THE OTHER PART S BEING OUT OF TOUCH WITH THE DISTRICT, INCLUDING HER SUPPORT FOR THE MINNEAPOLIS BALLOT INITIATIVE AND PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH DON SAMUELS OPPOSED AND HIS SIDE WON WITH 56%.

SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE A VERY HEATED CAMPAIGN THERE AND I'M NOTICING THE "STAR TRIBUNE" IS PUTTING A LOT OF SPOTLIGHT ON ILHAN OMAR'S VOTES THAT ARE OUT OF STEP WITH EVEN DEMOCRATS.

>> Eric: HERE IS A BIG IF QUESTION.

IF COVID MAINTAINS LIKE IT IS TONIGHT, THROUGH NOVEMBER, SPEEDY NEWS CYCLE, SHORT MEMORY, KIDS ARE BACK IN SCHOOL, NO MASKS, DOES THAT GET DEFLATED AS AN ISSUE COME NOVEMBER?

>> WELL, IT'S STILL VERY HIGH IN THE POLLS BUT, YES, I THINK IT GETS DEFLATED BUT THERE IS A WHOLE LINE-UP OF OTHER ISSUE, INFLATION BEING ONE OF THEM, CONCERNS ABOUT THE ECONOMY.

YOU KNOW, SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

UKRAINE, IT CAN GO SIDEWAYS IN A LOT OF IFFERENT DIRECTIONS SO IT'S ALMOST LIKE JOE BIDEN CAN'T GET A BREAK HERE.

IT'S ONE INCREDIBLE DISASTER AFTER ANOTHER AND SO FAR, HIS PRESIDENCY HAS BEEN CURSED.

>> Cathy: SAY, I'M ONE DURING, GETTING BACK HERE TO THE SITUATION IN UKRAINE, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE REALIGNMENT OF EUROPEAN POLITICS BECAUSE OF THIS?

>> YOU KNOW, PUTIN WENT INTO THIS THE TO WEAKEN THE ALLIANCE, TO CHALLENGE THIS KIND OF PRO-U.S.-N.A.T.O.

DEFENSE POSTURE, AND IT'S BACK-FIRED.

IT'S REMARKABLE HOW IT'S BACK-FIRED.

ONLY PUTIN COULD UNIFY THE EUROPEAN UNION THAT HAD BEEN WARRING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER IN BRITAIN AND THE E.U., THAT'S LIKE ALMOST DISAPPEARED.

N.A.T.O.

WE'RE TALKING REALLY ONLY A MONTH OR TWO AGO WILL IT BE AROUND AND NOW IT'S LIKE FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS.

THE U.S. IS ALL OF A SUDS VERY RELEVANT, SO I'M QUITE IMPRESSED BY HOW GOOD PUTIN HAS DONE IN REALLY MOBILIZING THE WEST.

YOU KNOW, PUTIN'S GOT AN ALLIANCE WITH CHINA, WE'LL SEE HOW LONG THAT LASTS.

I DON'T SEE BASIC INTEREST F CHINA LOCKED IN WITH RUSSIA IF THINGS CONTINUE IN THIS WAY.

>> Eric: GOOD TO SEE YOU FACE TO FACE.

>> Cathy: NICE TO SEE YOU FACE TO FACE.

>> Eric: THANKS NOR COMING OVER.

>> ERIC: AMIDST ALL THE DIVISION AND PARTISANSHIP AT THE CAPITOL, LAWMAKERS CAME TOGETHER IN DRAMATIC FASHION THIS WEEK AS THE SENATE UNANIMOUSLY PASSED A BILL FUNDING A.L.S.

RESEARCH AND CAREGIVER SUPPORT.

THE HOUSE IS EXPECTED TO HEAR THE BILL NEXT WEEK.

REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER WAS ABLE TO TALK WITH THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE BILL, SENATOR DAVE TOMASSONI, WHOSE A.L.S.

SYMPTOMS ARE PROGRESSING QUICKLY NOW.

>> IN YANKEE STADIUM, TOUCHED BY THE TRIBUTE, GARY MADE HIS LAST PUBLIC APPEARANCE.

>> TODAY, I CONSIDER MYSELF THE LUCKIEST MAN ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH.

>> Mary: ALMOST A CENTURY AFTER THE EARTH LEARNED OF LOU GEHRIG'S DISEASE, OR A.L.S., IT'S STILL A FATAL DISEASE WITHOUT A CURE.

>> I LOVE YOU, DAVID TOMASSONI.

>> >> WE DO LOVE YOU, DAVID.

>> THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

$20 MILLION FOR A.L.S.

RESEARCH?

>> THIS VOTE IS NOR YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY.

>> THERE BEING 67 AYES AND NO NAYS, SENATE FILE 3372 DOES PASS AND ITS TITLE AGREED TO.

[Applause] >> Mary: HOW DOES THAT FEEL TO HAVE THAT JUST UNANIMOUS OUTPOURING OF AFFECTION FOR YOU?

>> OVERWHELMING.

>> Mary: OVERWHELMING?

>> OVERWHELMING.

>> Mary: LAWMAKERS IN MINNESOTA ARE STRIVING FOR SOLUTIONS AFTER ONE OF THEIR OWN WAS STRUCK BY THE DEBILL STATING DISEASE WHO NOW OFTEN USES TECHNOLOGY TO COMMUNICATE.

WHAT'S THE REACTION TO THE VOTE IN THE ENATE TODAY?

>> I AM ELATED.

GRATEFUL AND OVERWHELMED AT THE GENEROSITY AND COMPASSION OF ALL MY SENATE COLLEAGUES.

>> Mary: JUST SEVEN MONTHS AGO, SENATOR TOMASSONI STOOD AND WALKED AND TALKED ABOUT HIS MEMORIES AS AN ATHLETE AND A POLITICIAN.

>> YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY LIKES THIS GRETZKY PICTURE BUT I KIND OF LIKE THE ONE OF ME AND BIDEN ON AIR FORCE 2.

>> Mary: THE IRON RANGER ALWAYS RAN AS A DEMOCRAT BUT THEN JOINED THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS AND OFFICIALLY I.D.s AS AN INDEPENDENT.

>> Mary: DOES THIS MEAN YOU'LL BE A DEMOCRAT AGAIN?

>> I NEVER QUIT BEING A DEMOCRAT.

[Laughter] >> Mary: FELLOW FORMER DEMOCRAT, TOM BAKK, SHARES A CORRIDOR AND A SPECIAL SET OF OFFICES WITH TOMASSONI, JUST OFF THE SENATE FLOOR.

>> I WILL NEVER FORGETS THE DAY BACK IN JUNE THAT SENATOR TOMASSONI CAME, I WENT INTO HIS OFFICE BECAUSE I KNEW HE HAD BEEN TO THE DOCTOR ON FRIDAY, HE WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH HIS ARM AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE HAD A.L.S.

AND HE SAID, TOM, THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO!!

>> Mary: SO IT'S NO SURPRISE BAKK IS BACKING THE A.L.S.

BILL IN HONOR OF HIS FRIEND.

>> WOULDN'T IT BE SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF IF MINNESOTA WAS THE PLACE THAT WAS ABILITY TO CHANGE THE HEALTH OF THE WORLD FOR ALL OF THE FUTURE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE DIAGNOSED WITH A.L.S.

>> Mary: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT SENATOR BAKK STEPPING UP FOR HIS BEST FRIEND?

>> HE HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE CHAMPION.

>> Mary: THE ESEARCH FUNDING BEING DESCRIBED AS A GAME-CHANGER SAILED UNANIMOUSLY THROUGH COMMITTEE.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAD TO KNOW SOMEBODY NEAR AND DEAR TO US THAT IS BEING SACRIFICED IN ORDER TO HAVE THIS IN FRONT OF US.

SOMETIMES I READ I JUST BREAK DOWN CRYING... >> Mary: IT'S OKAY, TAKE YOUR TIME.

WHATEVER YOU NEED.

WE'RE HERE.

>> THE DRUG'S NOT WORKING.

>> Mary: THAT'S OKAY.

THE SYMPTOMS CAME ON FAST FOR TOMASSONI.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS AFTER ALL THESE YEARS.

>> THANKS.

>> Mary: YEAH, YOU DO.

700 PEOPLE RECENTLY GATHERED TO HONOR THE SENATOR AT AN EVENT WITH TOP ELECTED OFFICIALS.

>> TO SEE ALL THOSE PEOPLE, WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?

>> AMAZING.

>> Mary: AMAZING?

>> YEAH.

>> Mary: YEAH.

THE BILL TO TRY TO FIND A CURE FOR A.L.S.

GIVES EVERYONE AROUND THE BELOVED LAWMAKER HOPE.

>> THIS BILL COULD NOT ONLY GIVE HOPE TO FINDING AN EVENTUAL CURE BUT IT ALSO GIVES RELIEF TO CARE-GIVERS WHO BEAR THE BRUNT OF THE BURDEN.

I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD OF THE SENATE THAN I AM TODAY.

WHAT IN THE WORLD CRYING AT THE END OF A CHICK-FLICK, I'M SUPPOSED TO BE A BIG, TOUGH HOCKEY PLAYER, IGHT?

YOU CAN'T CRY AT THE END OF A CHICK FLICK.

>> Mary: TOMASSONI IS A PROUD, TOUGH, LOVABLE LAWMAKER I'VE COVERED FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

HE EMBRACES HIS HERITAGE THAT HAD HIM FACE HOCKEY GREAT WAYNE GRETZKY.

>> I WAS PLAYING FOR THE ITALIAN NATIONAL TEAM.

HE'S ALREADY LOST THE PUCK AND ABOUT TO GO DOWN IN THIS PICTURE.

>> Mary: HE SAID I'M SORRY I CAN'T TALK VERY WELL BUT I'M ITALIAN AND I CAN'T USE MY HANDS AND EVERY ITALIAN HAS TO TALK WITH THEIR HANDS.

[Laughter] >> Mary: AND THE HOCKEY PLAYER IS PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE CURRENT STATE TOURNAMENT BUT STAYS TRUE TO HIS IRON RANGE ROOTS, REFUSING TO ROOT FOR MY METRO TEAM.

>> I LOVE YOU BUT I'M NOT -- >> HE SAID HE LOVES YOU BUT THAT'S FARCE HE CAN GO.

[Laughter] >> Mary: I'LL TAKE IT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

♪♪ A >> CATHY: AS POLICE DEPARTMENTS AROUND THE STATE NEED TO HIRE MORE OFFICERS, THERE ARE PLANS AT THE LEGISLATURE TO PROVIDE INCENTIVES.

THERE'S ALSO TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR CHARACTER-BASED HIRING.

JOINING US IS SOMEONE WHO IS AN ADVOCATE OF THIS APPROACH, ST.

CLOUD POLICE CHIEF WILLIAM BLAIR ANDERSON.

WELCOME, CHIEF.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: I KNOW THAT THIS WEEK, YOU MET WITH THE GOVERNOR AND COMMISSIONER HARRINGTON.

WHAT CONCLUSIONS WERE REACHED IN THAT MEETING IN St.

CLOUD?

>> WELL, NOT A LOT OF CONCLUSIONS BUT THEY DID ASK SOME SENSIBLE QUESTIONS ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO HELP US BETTER RETAIN AND BETTER RECRUIT NEW OFFICERS.

AS YOU KNOW, IT'S A TOUGH TIME FOR US AND WE HAVE TO BE LITTLE MORE CREATIVE AND THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.

TO GET PEOPLE TO GET INTO THIS PROFESSION.

WHEN I APPLIED 27 YEARS AGO, THERE WERE 900 APPLICANTS FOR 40 JOBS AT STATE PATROL AND WE OPENED OUR PROCESS LAST MONTH AND WE HAD TEN OPENINGS AND THERE WERE 30 APPLICANTS.

AND SO THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE AND SO WE'VE GOT TO UP OUR AME WHEN IT COMES TO RETENTION, AND CERTAINLY RECRUITMENT.

>> Eric: TELL US ABOUT YOU SEEM TO STRESS HAVING GOOD CHARACTER FOLKS BE OFFICERS.

HOW DO YOU DETERMINE THAT OR JUST AN INTERVIEW OR WHY IS THAT SO IMPORTANT?

>> WELL, THE REASON IT'S IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT A 25-YEAR PROBLEM TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, AND FOR US, WHEN I GOT TO St.

CLOUD, THEY WERE STILL USING THE -- WHAT I CALL THE ARCHAIC CIVIL SERVICE EXAM AND I PETITIONED THE CIVIL SERVES BOARD AND WE GOT RID OF THAT AND REPLACED IT WITH WHAT I CALL AN EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REVIEW, AND THAT HELPS US FERRET OUT THOSE FOLKS THAT WE DON'T WANT IN OUR PROFESSION AND IT HELPS US BETTER CAPTURE THOSE CANDIDATES THAT HAVE THE TEMPERAMENT TO BE OF SERVICE.

I LIKES TO EMPHASIZE THE SERVICE ASPECT OF THE PROTECT AND SERVE, THE PROTECTION PART IS A GIVEN, AND SO FOR US, WE'VE COUPLED THAT WITH A FEW OTHER INITIAL ACTIVES WITH INTERNSHIPS, WITH UR CADET PROGRAM AND THAT HELPS US CAPTURE THE KIND OF PEOPLE THAT WE WANT, AND SO FAR IT'S BEEN SUCCESSFUL FOR US.

>> Cathy: WHY DO YOU THINK FOLKS ARE NOT APPLYING?

>> WELL, IT'S THE NARRATIVE.

IT'S THE PUBLIC NARRATIVE.

THE LAST TWO YEARS, SINCE GEORGE FLOYD, IT HAS NOT BEEN A GOOD TIME TO BE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND I'VE SAID IT BEFORE AND I'LL KEEP SAYING IT, THE VAST MAJORITY OF MEN AND WOMEN OUT HERE SERVING ARE DOING THE JOB THE RIGHT WAY FOR THE RIGHT REASONS AND SO IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE GET JUDGED BY THE WORST OF OUR ELEMENT.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU COUPLE THAT WITH -- AND WE'VE HEARD THAT IN SOME EXIT INTERVIEWS LATELY, FOLKS DON'T WANT TO GO TO PRISON FOR MIKING A ISTAKE AT WORK.

IT'S THAT SIMPLE SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE'VE SEEN SUCH AN EXODUS.

>> Eric: TELL US ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY ACTION TEAM.

>> WELL, OUR COMMUNITY ACTION TEAM HELPS US ASSIST FOLKS WHO ARE IN A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, THAT WE'VE SEEN A TREMENDOUS SPIKE IN THOSE KIND OF CALLS AND AS WE'VE SEEN AROUND THE COUNTRY, SOMETIMES THOSE DON'T END WELL.

THAT IS NOT OUR WHEELHOUSE AND I'VE TESTIFIED AT THE STATEHOUSE ABOUT THIS.

WE NEED TO MAKE THE MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTIONS AND THE SUPPORT NETWORKS A LITTLE BIT MORE ROBUST AND SO WHAT OUR COMMUNITY ACTION TEAM DOES, IT IS COMPRISED OF MEMBERS FROM THE BENCH, FROM PROBATION, FROM CENTRA CARE HEALTH, METRO HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, POLICE, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND WHAT WE DO WITH THAT TEAM, WE FIGURE OUT A WAY TO SHARE INFORMATION AND GET FOLKS TO THE RIGHT SERVICE PROVIDER SO THAT THEY ARE NOT ON THE MERRY-GO-ROUND AND WE'RE NOT RESPONDING TO THE SAME PERSON AND THE SAME PLACE EVERY TWO OR THREE DAYS.

AND WE'VE HAD TREMENDOUS SUCCESS WITH THAT.

WE DID A TEST PROGRAM, ONE INDIVIDUAL WE HAD 100 CONTACTS WITH IN A YEAR, AND ONCE WE PUT OUR COMMUNITY ACTION TEAM IN PLACE, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO SHARE, BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE HAD MANY ENTITIES WORKING ON THEIR BEHALF, SOCIAL SERVES, PROBATION, CORRECTIONS -- >> Eric: BUT NOT COORDINATED, PROBABLY.

>> CORRECT, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SHARE THE INFORMATION.

GOD BLESS SENATOR DZIEDZIC BECAUSE SHE'S INTRODUCED A BILL TO HELP REMOVE THAT BARRIER AND SO MY POINT IS, ONCE WE PUT THAT TEAM IN PLACE AND GOT AN M.O.U.

AND SOME CONSENT FORMS THAT FOLKS WILL SIGN SO THEY CAN SHARE THAT INFORMATION, THAT INDIVIDUAL THAT WE HAD HAD 100 CONTACTS WITH, THE PREVIOUS YEAR, THE NEXT YEAR, WE HAD ZERO CONTACTS WITH HAT PERSON.

AND SO THESE ARE THINGS THAT CAN WORK, AND SO THAT'S WHY I'VE BEEN LOBBYING AT THE STATEHOUSE THAT WE NEED PERMANENT FUNDING SOURCES FOR THESE KIND OF INITIATIVES TO MAKE THEM MORE ROBUST BECAUSE WE'RE AT THE END OF THE CATCH BASIN, RIGHT?

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS THE ONLY ENTITY THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE LUXURY OF SAYING WE'RE CLOSED, WE CAN'T RESPOND AND IF I WANTED TO BE A MENTAL HEALTH ROFESSIONAL, I WOULD HAVE GONE TO MEDICAL SCHOOL AND SO I DON'T SAY THAT TO BE FLIP, IT'S JUST THAT'S NOT OUR WHEELHOUSE BUT YOU CALL AND WE'RE COMING AND WE'LL TRY TO MAKE THINGS BETTER THAN THEY WERE BEFORE WE GOT THERE.

>> Cathy: CAN I GO BACK TO SOMETHING YOU JUST SAID, THAT YOUR FOLKS, AS THEY HAD EXIT INTERVIEWS, THEY DON'T WANTS TO GO TO PRISON FOR MAKING A MISTAKE.

BUT FOLKS HAVE TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR ACTIONS, RIGHT?

>> 100%.

>> Cathy: HOW DO YOU TALK ABOUT THAT WITH YOUR APPLICANTS AND CURRENT STAFF?

>> WELL, FOR ME, I DON'T HIRE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT VOLUNTEERED.

THAT'S PART OF OUR SCREENING PROCESS, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE NAMES THAT WE CAN FERRET OUT THE FOLKS THAT MAY NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TEMPER.

FORTY CULTURE IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

ACCOUNTABILITY IS HUGE AND I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF RULES BUT THE FEW I HAVE ARE NOT NEGOTIABLE AND AT THE TOP OF THE LIST IS WE DON'T STRIP HUMAN EINGS OF THEIR DIGNITY.

AND EVERYBODY IS MADE AWARE OF THAT DURING THE SCREENING PROCESS AND IT IS CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE ACADEMY AND THE TRAINING PROCESS, AND SO THAT IS ONE OF THE MANY WAYS THAT WE CAPTURE THE KIND OF FOLKS WHO ARE GOING TO UNDERSTAND THAT AND ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO FIT INTO OUR CULTURE, AND IF THEY DON'T, THEY'RE GONE.

VERY SIMPLE.

>> Eric: WISH WE HAD MORE TIME.

THANKS, CHIEF.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> CATHY: WORD REACHED US THIS WEEK OF THE RECENT DEATH OF FORMER TWIN CITIES PBS PRESIDENT JACK WILLIS.

WILLIS WORKED IN PUBLIC BROADCASTING FOR FOUR DECADES AND CREATED PROGRAMMING THAT WAS KNOWN FOR ITS INNOVATIVE, GRASS ROOTS APPROACH.

WHILE AT TPT FROM 1990 TO 1997, HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSEEING AN INCREASE IN LOCAL PRODUCTION WITH PROJECTS THAT INCLUDED "NEWSNIGHT MINNESOTA," "TAPE'S ROLLING," AND "DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE."

WHEN WILLIS LEFT TPT IN 1997, HE TALKED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

LET'S WATCH A CLIP OF THAT INTERVIEW AS WE CHANGE GUESTS.

>> THERE'S 500 CABLE CHANNELS OUT THERE, EVERYBODY CAN GET THEM.

>> THAT'S THE POINTS, THE POINT IS THERE ARE 500 CABLE CHANNELS BUT NO ONE IS REALLY SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY SO WHERE DO WE GET COMMUNITY NEWS, HOW DO WE ENJOY OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE, WHERE DO WE LEARN ABOUT THE ARTS AND THE CULTURE IN THE COMMUNITY.

HOW DO WE DEAL WITH PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT NOBODY ELSE IS TOUCHING.

I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF REASONS TO DO LOCAL PROGRAMMING, I THINK IT'S THE NICHE FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING AS WE GO INTO THE FUTURE.

>> ERIC: MEDICARE IS THE NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE AVAILABLE TO ALL AMERICANS 65 AND OLDER.

MEDICAID IS A DIFFERENT PROGRAM THAT HELPS PAY HEALTH CARE COSTS FOR LOW-INCOME AMERICANS OF ANY AGE.

IN MINNESOTA, MEDICAID IS KNOWN AS MEDICAL ASSISTANCE OR M.A.

MEDICAID HAS STRICT LIMITS AS TO HOW MUCH ASSETS YOU CAN HAVE TO QUALIFY.

BUT THE PROGRAM DOES ALLOW YOU TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY HOME.

WHAT MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IS THAT A FAMILY HOME CAN HAVE A LIEN PUT ON IT BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AFTER A MEDICAID RECIPIENT DIES.

A 1993 FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES STATES IN SOME INSTANCES TO RECOUP THE COSTS OF BENEFITS PAID OUT TO MEDICAID RECIPIENTS, COSTS SUCH AS NURSING HOME PAYMENTS.

>> CATHY: THIS LITTLE UNDERSTOOD PROGRAM IS CALLED MEDICAID ESTATE RECOVERY AND IT'S THE FOCUS OF A SERIES OF STORIES BY "ALMANAC" DATA REPORTER KYELAND JACKSON.

KYLELAND'S WORK IS SUPPORTED BY REPORT FOR AMERICA.

IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, KYELAND WILL EXPLORE ESTATE RECOVERY BY LOOKING AT DATA, POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THE EXPERIENCES OF THOSE FAMILIES AFFECTED BY IT.

THAT'S WHERE THE STORY BEGINS TONIGHT, WITH THE HELP OF KEVIN WHITE OF MAZEPPA.

>> THIS IS THE HOUSE THAT USED TO BELONG TO MY PARENTS, MARVIN AND KATHY WHITE.

I OWN IT NOW SINCE THEY PASSED AWAY.

YEAH, MY DAD, HE WAS A CONTRACTOR WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER.

HE USED O BUILD HOUSES FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND HE BUILT THIS HOUSE ON HIS OWN.

HE NEVER HAD ANY BLUEPRINTS FOR IT, HE ALWAYS SAID ALL THE BLEWPRINTS ARE UP HERE IN HIS HEAD.

HE NEVER HAD NOTHING WRITTEN DOWN ON PAPER BUT EVERYTHING ALWAYS CAME OUT SQUARE.

MY MOM, SHE WAS ORIGINALLY A TELEPHONE OPERATOR FOR St. MARY'S HOSPITAL.

THEN AFTER SHE HAD US KIDS, IT WAS EASIER FOR HER TO TAY HOME AND TAKE CARE OF THE KIDS, AND PRETTY SOON, SHE WAS BABY-SITTING FOR EVERY FAMILY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OUT HERE.

>> FOR NEARLY 70 YEARS, KEVIN WHITE'S FAMILY HOME HAS BEEN A FOUNDATION IN THE LIVES OF HIS RELATIVES AND HIS NEIGHBORS.

BUT THAT FOUNDATION IS NOW AT RISK.

THIS WAS THE LAST BIG PHOTOGRAPH WHERE -- THAT I HAVE WHERE WE WERE ALL TOGETHER.

>> WHEN KEVIN'S MOM WAS HOSPITALIZED ITH TYPE I DIABETES, SHE QUALIFIED FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE ESTATE RECOVERY.

IT'S A PROGRAM WHERE COUNTIES CLAW BACK WHAT THEY SPENDS ON MEDICAID RECIPIENTS BY GOING AFTER THEIR ESTATES.

MONTHS AFTER SHE DIED, KEVIN GOT A 13-PAGE LETTER IN THE MAIL THAT SAID SHE OWES BACK $1287,000.

TO PAY IT BACK, THE STATE PUT AILEEN ON HIS FAMILY HOME.

BUT BY THE TIME THAT HIS LOAN WAS READY, THE HOUSING MARKET AND HIS HOME'S VALUE HAD BOOMED.

THAT'S WHEN KEVIN GOT ANOTHER LETTER.

THE STATE HAD CANCELED THEIR FIRST DEAL, SAYING THAT HIS LIEN AMOUNT HAD NOW DOUBLED.

>> WELL, I DON'T AGREE WITH THE WAY THEY GO ABOUT CHANGING THE RULES AS THEY GO.

THAT'S JUST NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

>> HOW DOES THIS AFFECT YOUR TRUST IN THE STATE AND ITS SYSTEMS?

>> IT -- I'VE GOTTEN TO WHERE I DON'T REALLY TRUST ANYTHING THAT THEY SAY, JUST BECAUSE THEY SAID IT OR PUT IT IN WRITING DOESN'T MEAN THAT THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO STICK TO.

>> KEVIN IS ONE OF MANY MINNESOTANS WHO ARE STUCK IN THESE KIND OF SITUATIONS.

STATE DATA REQUESTED BY TWIN CITIES PBS SHOWS THAT MORE THAN 64,000 MINNESOTANS HAVE PAID INTO THE ESTATE RECOVERY PROGRAM IN RECENT YEARS.

THAT'S RAKED IN MORE THAN A QUARTER OF A BILLION DOLLARS.

AND WHILE THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY, THAT IS STILL LESS THAN 1% OF WHAT THE STATE SPENDS TO COVER PEOPLE ON MEDICAL ASSISTANCE.

>> WE SPENT $7 BILLION ON MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND THE STATE RECOVERY IS, LIKE, A GRAIN OF SAND AT THE BOTTOM OF SOMEBODY'S SHOE.

WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT'S ACTIVE ACROSS OUR STATE AND WE TRY TO MAKE URE THAT IT'S FAIR TO EVERYBODY AND THAT IT'S IMPLEMENTED EVENLY.

>> ALTHOUGH STATE OFFICIALS WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROGRAM IS FAIR FOR PEOPLE LIKE KEVIN, MANY OF THEIR OFFICES ARE SHORT-STAFFED AND COMPLICATED LOOPHOLES ARE ALLOWING SOME FAMILIES TO BENEFIT FROM MEDICATE WITHOUT PAYING FOR ESTATE RECOVERY.

ONE REPORT TO CONGRESS BY A NONPARTISAN AGENCY SAID THAT ESTATE AGENCY PROGRAMS ACROSS THE NATION ARE DESTROYING INTERGENERATIONAL WEALTH OPPORTUNITIES AND MAKING WEALTH INEQUALITY WORST.

>> WE BUILT THE HOUSE HERE HIMSELF IN 1968, GOT THE PROPERTY FROM HIS PARENTS.

>> THAT MAY BE THE CASE FOR KEVIN WHITE.

HE'S WORKED AT A CHROMING FACTORY FOR 35 YEARS NOW AND HE SAYS THE MONEY HE SPENT FIGHTING THIS CASE IS DRAINING HIS EQUITY AND HIS SAVINGS.

BUT IF YOU ASK HIM WHY HE DOES IT, KEVIN SAYS THAT HE WANTS TO PASS ON THE FOUNDATION AND THE LEGACY OF THIS HOME ON TO HIS SON.

>> YEAH, I TRY TO DO A LOT OF CUTBACKS.

I MEAN, WE DON'T GO OUT TO EAT OR GO TO MOVIES OR DON'T TRAVEL ANYMORE THAN WE REALLY HAVE TO TO TRY TO SAVE EVERY LITTLE BIT THAT WE CAN.

I FEEL THAT IT'S WORTH FIGHTING FOR TO TRY TO HANG ON TO IT.

IF YOU KNOW THAT IT'S WRONG, JUST STICK TO YOUR GUNS AND TRY TO FIGHT FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN.

>> CATHY: HERE TO TALK A BIT MORE ABOUT MEDICAID ESTATE RECOVERY AND UPCOMING STORIES IN HIS SERIES, KYELAND JACKSON.

WOW.

WHAT GOT YOU ON TO THIS PROJECT?

>> I WAS DOING A STORY FOR NEXT AVENUE, ANOTHER OF TPT'S WEBSITES AND STUMBLED ON TO THAT FEDS REPORT THAT YOU HAD SEEN MENTIONED THERE.

THAT REPORT REALLY TIPPED ME AS TO THE PROGRAM AND HOW IT WAS AFFECTING EVERY STATE, IN DIFFERENT WAYS, DEPENDING ON HOW THEY ROLL IT OUT OR HOW THEY REGULATE IT.

>> Eric: WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RACIAL DISPARITIES, LACK OF A HOUSE IS A PROBLEM FOR GENERATIONAL WEALTH TRANSFER SO I THINK THAT -- AS WE TALK ABOUT EQUITY AND SO FORTH, THAT'S A KEY PART OF THAT, REALLY.

>> YES, AND THAT FEDERAL REPORT MENTIONED THAT THAT IS A MEANS OF INTERGENERATIONAL WEALTH THAT THIS PROGRAM MAY BE CUTTING OFF FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE AND IT ALSO MENTIONED IT MAY BE AFFECTING MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR THAN IT IS OTHERS BECAUSE IT BEING SUCH A HUGE ASSET THAT S BEING BLOCKED FROM THEIR KIDS AND THEIR KIDS' KIDS.

>> Cathy: I THINK PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE PRETTY SURPRISED WHEN THEY SAW WHAT THIS GENTLEMAN'S GOING THROUGH.

WHY GENERALLY SHOULD PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THIS?

>> WELL, PEOPLE SHOULD CARE BECAUSE THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT DOESN'T JUST AFFECT MINNESOTANS.

MEDICAID IS ENROLLED OR PEOPLE ENROLL IN MEDICAID THROUGHOUT THE NATION AND MORE THAN A MILLION MINNESOTANS ARE ESTIMATED TO ALREADY BE ON MEDICAID, AND THERE IS A HIGH PEAK FOR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ENROLLED INTO MEDICAID OVER THE PANDEMIC, NATIONALLY.

SO THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT IF IT DOESN'T AFFECT SOMEONE YOU KNOW ALREADY, IT IS LIKELY GOING TO IN COMING YEARS.

OR IT COULD BE AFFECTING US AS WE GET OLDER AND WANT TO PASS DOWN OUR OWN ASSETS.

>> Eric: YOU'RE SHINING A LIGHT ON THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM.

WHAT'S NEXT AS FAR AS MOVING THE STORY AHEAD?

>> NEXT WE'RE GOING TO BE PUBLISHING A PIECE NEXT WEEK THAT WILL BE A WRITTEN PIECE THAT TALKS ABOUT HOW DIFFERENT COUNTIES IN MINNESOTA CAN REGULATE OR GO ABOUT ESTATE RECOVERY IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

AFTER THAT, WE PUBLISH ANOTHER PIECE LOOKING AT SOLUTIONS ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL, ON THE LOCAL LEVEL, AND SOME PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCES WITH THE PROGRAM AND FOR SOME PEOPLE, IT'S BEEN A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.

>> Cathy: WOW.

THANKS FOR SHINING THE LIGHT ON THIS.

>> Eric: GREAT STUFF, THANKS.

>> Cathy: APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> CATHY: BY THE WAY, KYELAND'S SERIES OF STORIES WAS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF A GRANT FROM THE USC ANNENBERG SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS AND JOURNALISM.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU ABOUT THIS STORY, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE HAD EXPERIENCE WITH THE ESTATE RECOVERY PROGRAM.

YOU CAN CALL US AT OUR COMMENT LINE, 651-229-1430, OR EMAIL US AT ALMANAC@TPT.ORG.

IF YOU PREFER MAIL, YOU CAN DO THAT TOO.

JUST ADDRESS YOUR NOTE CARE OF ALMANAC, TWIN CITIES PBS, 172 EAST 4TH STREET, ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

WE'LL PUT THAT ADDRESS UP ON THE SCREEN BEFORE OUR NEXT SEGMENT.

♪♪ >> EVERYBODY AWAKE?

LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE TROUBLE FALLING ASLEEP.

YOU LIE THERE, STARING AT THE CEILING, AFRAID YOU'LL NEVER SLEEP AGAIN.

THE NUMBER ONE REASON PEOPLE DON'T SLEEP IS WORRYING ABOUT NOT FALLING ASLEEP.

SO THEN YOU BEAR DOWN AND TRY REALLY HARD TO GO TO SLEEP, WHICH IS LIKE TRYING REALLY HARD TO BE TALLER.

SOME PEOPLE CAN ONLY FALL ASLEEP WHEN THEY ARE BUNDLED UP TIGHT OR CUDDLING WITH SOMEONE, WHICH IS HARD TO EXPLAIN TO THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU ON THE AIRPLANE.

ACCORDING TO A RECENT ARTICLE IN THE JOURNAL OF SLEEP RESOURCES, STRESS IS THE MAIN REASON FOR SLEEPING TROUBLE.

THEY RECOMMEND SETTING A ROUTINE AT BEDTIME TO REDUCE STRESS.

DIM LIGHTS, SOFT MUSIC, PRETEND YOU'RE ON A DATE WITH YOURSELF.

EXERCISE ALSO HELPS, BECAUSE, DUH, YOU'LL BE TIRED.

AND BEING OUTSIDE FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR A DAY.

SUNLIGHT RESETS OUR BRAIN'S INTERNAL CLOCK, ALTHOUGH OUTSIDE IN MINNESOTA, YOU MIGHT DIE BEFORE THIS HAPPENS.

KEEP THE BEDROOM TEMPERATURE A LITTLE LOWER.

AGAIN, MINNESOTA, NOT A PROBLEM.

OBVIOUSLY, GET RID OF CAFFEINE.

THAT DOUBLE CAPPUCCINO STAYS IN YOUR SYSTEM UNTIL THE NEXT ONE.

CAN'T SLEEP IF YOU'RE JITTERY AND PALPITATING.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, NO SCREENS IN THE BEDROOM.

WATCHING TV WON'T HELP YOU SLEEP.

I THOUGHT THAT'S WHY THEY INVENTED MASTERPIECE THEATER, BUT PHONES, TVS, TABLETS, LAPTOPS, THEY ALL EMIT LIGHT THAT MESSES UP THE SLEEP CENTER IN THE BRAIN.

THEY DO RECOMMEND READING JUST BEFORE BED, BUT NOTHING EXCITING OR STIMULATING.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO PICK UP A COPY OF THE JOURNAL OF SLEEP RESOURCES.

I DON'T NEED IT BECAUSE I HAVE AN OLD TEXTBOOK FROM MY COLLEGE HISTORY CLASS CALLED, "FROM THE TIGRIS TO THE TIBER."

IT WAS ABOUT... WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS ABOUT, NEVER MADE IT PAST THE INTRODUCTION.

FINALLY, IF NOTHING WORKS, THEY RECOMMEND PRETENDING TO BE ASLEEP.

APPARENTLY, FAKING IT DOES WORK.

IF YOU LIE THERE WITH EYES CLOSED, YOU STILL GET SOME OF THE REST YOU NEED.

OTHERWISE, REMEMBER WHAT MY GRANDMA USED TO SAY, IF YOU CAN'T SLEEP, STAY UP.

AND SHE MADE IT TO ALMOST 100.

OF COURSE, SHE NEVER DID GET ANY TALLER.

♪♪ >> ERIC: WILL WORKPLACES EVER BE THE SAME POST-PANDEMIC?

WHAT ABOUT RETAIL?

WHEN IT COMES TO BIG TWIN CITIES BASED COMPANIES LIKE TARGET AND BEST BUY, THOSE ARE REALLY BIG QUESTIONS WITH PROFOUND IMPORTANCE TO THE TWIN CITIES.

NICOLE NORFLEET HAS BEEN TRACKING THESE STORIES FOR THE "STAR TRIBUNE."

SHE IS A BUSINESS REPORTER THERE.

WELCOME BACK TO THE PROGRAM.

HOW DID TARGET AND BEST BUY DO DURING THE PANDEMIC?

>> WELL, TARGET HAD AN AMAZING -- AMAZING AMOUNT OF GROWTH.

THEY JUST REACHED $106 BILLION IN REVENUE, THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE REACHED $100 BILLION REVENUE MARK.

ONLY ONE OF THREE COMPANIES IN MINNESOTA TO DO THAT.

BEST BUY, AS WELL, SAW SO MUCH GROWTH DIGITALLY AS WELL AS IN STORES AND BOTH COMPANIES USED THIS TIME TO EXPLORE DIFFERENT WAYS TO INTERACT WITH THE CONSUMER, WHETHER THROUGH PICK-UP, SHIPPED, DELIVERY, OR DRIVE-UP, SO THEY BOTH DID AMAZING REALLY IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.

>> Cathy: I'M ONE DEERING, NICOLE, WHAT ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES?

HOW HAS THAT AFFECTED THE BOTTOM LINE?

>> SURE.

WELL, FOR BEST BUY, THE HOLIDAY SEASON WAS A LITTLE BIT -- THEY HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A SLUMP COMPARED TO THE YEAR BEFORE.

THEY HAD -- THEY SUFFERED FROM THE SAME THING A LOT OF OTHER RETAILERS DID, BEING ABLE TO KEEP THINGS IN STOCK AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO STILL KIND OF CONTINUE FOR CERTAIN HOT ITEMS AS WELL AS WE ALSO ARE DEALING WITH ISSUES HAVING TO DO ITH SHIPPING CONTAINERS AND HAVING TO GET THINGS OVERSEAS THE RIGHT WAY, AND SO THAT'S STILL GOING TO BE SOME CONCERNS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE AND THAT DID IMPACT BEST BUY ESPECIALLY DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

>> Eric: THESE PANDEMIC-INSPIRED CHANGES, WILL THEY GO AWAY NOW THAT THE PANDEMIC MAY BE EASING OR ARE THEY IN FOR THE LONG HAUL?

>> WELL, WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY -- WE SAY IT'S EASY, WE HAVE NO IDEA YET, RIGHT, BUT THIS NEW NORMAL THAT WE'RE FALLING INTO, THERE'S BEEN SOME CONSUMER CHANGES THAT HAVE HAPPENED THAT WE THINK ARE GOING TO CONTINUE.

FOR TARGET, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY SAW MORE THAN 45% JUMP IN SAME-DAY SERVICE USAGE, THAT'S ON TOP OF THE 235% JUMP THEY SAW THE YEAR BEFORE, WHICH MAKES ME BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE AREN'T JUST DOING IT TO BE SAFE, THEY'RE DOING IT BECAUSE IT'S CONVENIENT AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY EXPLORING A PILOT -- ALLOW PEOPLE TO PROCESS RETURNS THROUGH DRIVE-UP AND ALSO PICK UP THEIR STARBUCKS COFFEE AT THE SAME TIME.

>> Cathy: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE WORKERS IF WE COULD FOR A MOMENT.

BOTH OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS, TARGET UNDER BEST BUY, ARE THEY WELCOMING BACK THEIR WORKFORCE TO THE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS, ARE THEY GOING TO BE HYBRID, WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH THAT?

>> SO, BOTH OF THEM ARE A LITTLE TIGHT-LIPPED.

THEY BOTH SAID THAT THEY ERE EXPLORING THAT POSSIBILITY THIS YEAR BUT BOTH OF THEM HAVE ALSO TAKEN BACK THEIR MASK RESTRICTIONS N STORES IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS SO THAT THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE NOT REQUIRED TO WEAR MASKS AND THEY'RE ALSO NOT REQUIRING CUSTOMERS TO WEAR MASKS, SO I WOULD EXPECT IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS TO A MONTH, WE'LL START TO HEAR ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT THEIR HEADQUARTERS EMPLOYEES GOING BACK TO WORK.

BUT SIMILAR TO A LOT OF OTHER PLACES, I WOULD EXPECT THERE TO BE A HYBRID MODEL TO BEGIN WITH AS ALL OF US ARE DECIDING HOW WE WANTED TO WORK AND LIVE GOING FORWARD.

>> Eric: READING YOUR STUFF, I GOT THE IMPRESSION THAT NEITHER COMPANY EXPECTS MAYBE -- EXPECTS A SLOWDOWN IN 2022?

DID I READ THAT RIGHT?

>> WELL, IN ALL ACTUALITY, BOTH COMPANIES ARE STARTING TO ASSESS KIND OF A NORMAL RATE OF GROWTH.

ACTUALLY BEST BUY IS EXPECTING A DECLINE OF ONE TO 4% THIS YEAR BUT THEY THINK THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO RECOUP THAT IN THE COMING YEARS BECAUSE IN A LOT OF WAYS, BEST BUY IS PROBABLY ONE IN NOT TOO MANY SPECIALTY RETAILERS OUT THERE THAT SELLS ELECTRONICS SO THEY'RE BETTING ON THE FACT THAT YOU'RE STILL GOING TO GO TO THEM WHEN YOU NEED A COMPUTER, A LAPTOP, WHEN YOU NEED SOMEONE THAT WILL BE ABLE TO HELP YOU AND BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH WE RELY ON TECHNOLOGY, THROUGH THE PANDEMIC ND INTO THE FUTURE, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUES TO GO TO THEM SO I THINK BOTH COMPANIES HAVE A POSITIVE OUTLOOK BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE MORE NORMALIZED THAN THE 20%, 10% THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.

>> Eric: GOOD STUFF, NICOLE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> Cathy: THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> WHEN I THINK PAUL MARQUART, I THINK TAXES AND PROPERTY TAXES.

WHY HAS THAT BEEN AN IMPORTANT AREA FOR YOU TO SPECIALIZE?

>> I THINK IT GOES BACK TO MY MAYORAL DAYS WHEN WE WERE DEALING ALWAYS WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AID AND PROPERTY TAX LEVIES, AND I'M KIND OF A NUMBERS GUY.

>> Mary: DEMOCRATS ARE WORRIED THAT THIS SEAT FLIPS WHEN YOU LEAVE.

>> IT CERTAINLY IS A TOUGH SEAT, KIND OF MATCHES KIND OF RURAL MINNESOTA BUT, YOU KNOW, THE FORMULA IS, IF YOU'RE A CANDIDATE, YOU'VE GOT TO GET OUT AND DOOR-KNOCK.

THE MOST ENJOYABLE THING I DID AS A LEGISLATOR WAS GOING OUT AND DOOR-KNOCKING AND MEETING WITH CONSTITUENTS.

THE KEY IS, I NEVER LOST SIGHT OF WHO I WAS SERVING, AND I THINK, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL MINNESOTA, THEY DON'T SEE YOU AS OUT THERE LEFT OR RIGHT TOO FAR, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE LIKE THEM AND MOST PEOPLE ARE PRETTY MODERATE IN MY MIND.

♪♪ >> CATHY: AS WE GO ON THE AIR FRIDAY NIGHT, MINNEAPOLIS TEACHERS AND CLASSROOM AIDES ARE STILL OUT ON STRIKE.

HERE WITH A LOOK AT WHAT THE STICKING POINTS ARE, BECKY DERNBACH.

SHE'S AN EDUCATION REPORTER FOR THE "SAHAN JOURNAL."

SHE'S ALSO A "REPORT FOR AMERICA CORPS" MEMBER.

IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU IN PERSON.

>> YES, YOU TOO.

USUALLY JUSTICE EMBODIED VOICES.

>> Cathy: EXACTLY, EXACTLY, ON M PR.

THE BIG ISSUE IS PAY, RIGHT?

CLASSROOM TEACHERS BUT ALSO CLASS RHYME AIDES.

CAN YOU PARSE OUT THE MINNEAPOLIS PAY SCALES VERSUS OTHER DISTRIBUTION, LIKE St. PAUL, FOR INSTANCE?

>> SURE, YES.

SO MINNEAPOLIS TEACHERS ACTUALLY GET PAID -- I TALKED TO AN EXPERT WHO WAS TELLING ME THAT COMPARED TO OTHER DISTRICTS, THE MINNEAPOLIS PAY SCALE INCREASES AT A LOWER RATE SO THEY START AT SIMILAR SCALES TO ANOKA HENNEPIN AND St. PAUL, THE OTHER TWO BIG DISTRICTS IN THE STATE BUT THEN OVER TIME, THE OTHER TWO DISTRICTS TEACHERS GET PAID MORE AND THEY -- AND MINNEAPOLIS TEACHERS FALL BEHIND.

AND SO MINNEAPOLIS TEACHERS STARTED OUT ASKING FOR A 20% RAISE TO MAKE UP WITH WHAT THEY SAID ARE YEARS OF FALLING BEHIND AND NOW THAT NUMBER IS DOWN TO MORE ABOUT 12%.

BUT THAT'S THE BIGGEST -- THAT'S THE BIGGEST MOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S BEING DISPUTED RIGHT NOW.

>> Eric: IS THERE A SIMPLE EXPLANATION WHY St. PAUL SETTLED AND MINNEAPOLIS DID NOT?

>> WELL, St. PAUL -- THE ISSUES WERE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

PAY ESPECIALLY, St. PAUL TEACHERS WERE -- ARE GETTING PAID AT A HIGHER RATE AND THEY WERE ASKING FOR -- WERE NOT ASKING FOR THE SAME KIND OF RAISES, BUT THEY ALSO WERE ASKING TO -- THEY ALREADY HAVE SOME OF THE THINGS N THE CONTRACT THAT MINNEAPOLIS IS HOPING TO GET LIKE CLASS SIZE CAPS AND THEY WANTED TO MAINTAIN THOSE AND THE DISTRICT -- IN St. PAUL, THE DISTRICTS WANTED TO ROLL THEM BACK AND THEY BACKED OFF THAT.

AND IN MINNEAPOLIS, THEY'RE TRYING TO PUT THEM IN THE CONTRACT TORT FIRST TIME, SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFER DYNAMIC.

>> Cathy: CAN YOU EXPLAIN FOR FOLKS, BECKY, ABOUT THE ISSUE OF CLASSROOM AIDES?

>> SO EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS PLAY A REALLY INSTRUMENTAL ROLE IN CLASSROOMS, THEY HELP WITH ANY NUMBER OF THINGS.

THEY HELP WITH BEHAVIOR, THEY HELP WITH -- THEY COMMUNICATE WITH FAMILIES, THEY HELP WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION AND THEY ARE GETTING PAID MUCH LESS THAN TEACHERS, MANY THAT I'VE TALKED TO ARE EARNING 25, 32, $33,000 A YEAR, EVEN AFTER MANY YEARS IN THE DISTRICT AND SO THAT'S THE UNION'S TOP PRIORITY.

THEY SAY THEY WON'T BUDGE ON ANYTHING LESS THAN A $35,000 MINIMUM SALARY FOR E.S.P.s.

>> Eric: WHAT IS MEANT WHEN M.F.T., OR ANY TEACHERS' GROUP, SAYS WE MUST FULLY FUND EDUCATION.

IS THERE A NUMBER ON THAT OR WHAT -- WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> YEAH, SO I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR WHAT M.F.T.

SAYS WHEN THEY EAN THAT BUT ONE THING THAT'S REFERRING TO IS THE STATE HAS NOT BEEN FUNDING EDUCATION IN A WAY THAT KEEPS UP WITH INFLATION, AND A REALLY BIG AREA WHERE THEY'RE FALLING BEHIND IS SPECIAL EDUCATION, ENGLISH LANGUAGE SERVICES ARE ANOTHER PART OF THAT.

SO THE SCHOOLS ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES.

THE STATE FOR YEARS HAS BEEN REQUIRED TO REIMBURSE THEM FOR THAT BUT THEY DON'T REIMBURSE THEM AS MUCH AS THE SERVICES ACTUALLY COST.

SO IN MINNEAPOLIS, THAT COMES TO A TUNE OF LIKE $60 MILLION A YEAR THAT THEY'RE SPENDING ON SPECIAL EDUCATION THAT THE STATE THEORETICALLY IS SUPPOSED TO REIMBURSE THEM FOR BUT DOESN'T AND THAT'S CALLED A CROSS-SUBSIDY.

>> Cathy: I KNOW YOU TALKED TO MINNEAPOLIS SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR KIM ELLISON.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: IS THE SCHOOL BOARD GETTING MORE INVOLVED IN THIS STRIKE?

>> YEAH, SO CHAIR ELLISON STARTED -- SHE JOINED THE NEGOTIATING TABLE ON SUNDAY AND SO THAT WAS NEW, AND SHE SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, NORMALLY THEY DELEGATE THAT TO STAFF AND THEY FOUND WHEN THEY STEPPED IN, IT WAS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT STAFF HAVE BEEN TELLING THEM BUT NOW THEY'RE MORE AT THE TABLE THEMSELVES, AND SHE TOLD ME THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES AND THEY'RE TRYING TO TARGET THOSE TO THE STUDENTS WHO NEED THEM MOST, SO INSTEAD OF CLASS SIZE CAPS FOR EVERYBODY, MAYBE CLASS SIZE CAPS FOR THE SCHOOLS WHERE THERE'S HIGHEST NEED.

>> Cathy: HAVE OU WOULD A CHANCE TO TALK TO PARENTS?

>> PARENTS -- A LOT OF PARENTS SUPPORT WHAT THE TEACHERS ARE ASKING FOR BUT THEY WANT THEIR KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL.

SO IT'S -- YEAH, IT'S A TOUGH SITUATION.

>> Eric: AND BARGAINING THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND, IS THAT THE SCHEDULE OR -- >> YEAH, BARGAINING IS SCHEDULED TO CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND.

>> Eric: DO YOU HAVE A SENSE, GUT FEELING, LONG STRIKE, SHORT STRIKE?

>> I MEAN, THEY'RE STILL VERY, VERY FAR APART SO THE DISTRICT JUST CAME OUT WITH A NEW PROPOSAL FOR THE UNION THAT I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THOROUGHLY AND SO THEY'RE MAKING SOME MOVEMENT BUT BIG PICTURE, THEY'RE STILL VERY, VERY FAR APART AND SO I -- I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO RESOLVE THAT OVER THE WEEKEND BUT WE'LL SEE.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.

BECKY THANKS YOU, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING MEAL.

>> Eric: YOU BET, THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> ERIC: UKRAINE HAS UPENDED AMERICAN POLITICS, LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY.

IT'S A GOOD REMINDER THAT THE AGENDAS FOR LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS ARE DIFFICULT TO PREDICT.

LET'S CHECK IN WITH A SEASONED DUO OF POLITICAL OBSERVERS.

JAVIER MORILLO IS A LONGTIME DFL ACTIVIST.

BRIAN MCDANIEL IS A REPUBLICAN WHO WEARS MANY HATS.

LAWYER, LOBBYIST, PROFESSOR, STAND-UP COMIC.

>> Cathy: REALLY.

>> Eric: AMONG OTHERS.

BRIAN, LOOKING AT THIS MINNEAPOLIS TEACHERS' STRIKE, IT ISN'T A BUDGET YEAR BUT THE STATE IS SWIMMING IN MONEY.

I ASSUME THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO TOSS SOME MONEY AT THE K-12 OR HOW'S IS THIS GOING TO INTERPLAY WITH THE SESSION?

>> WELL, I THINK EVERYBODY IS ALWAYS VERY MUCH FOCUSED ON EDUCATION FUNDING.

I THINK THE MINNEAPOLIS TEACHERS, I THINK, TRUE, PEOPLE WANT THEM O BE PAID MORE, YOU KNOW, MY WIFE'S A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER, NOT IN MINNEAPOLIS, AND MY SISTER-IN-LAW TEACHES SPECIAL EDUCATION.

I KNOW HOW PEOPLE ARE FALLING SHORT, HOW THE GOVERNMENT'S FALLING SHORT IN PROPERLY FUNDING THESE AREAS BUT I THINK THE TEACHERS ARE REALLY MISREADING THE ROOM BECAUSE PEOPLE AFTER THE LAST TWO YEARS, WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING TO THESE STUDENTS NOT BEING IN CLASS, THIS IS JUST COMPOUNDING THE PROBLEMS THEY'RE ALREADY HAVING HAVE THE THE KIDS NEEDS TO BE IN SCHOOL.

>> Eric: THE HEAD OF THE M.F.T.

LOCAL SAID WE'RE FIGHTING THE PATRIARCHY AND CAPITALISM AND THAT DREW SOME PROVOCATIVE REACTION FROM REPUBLICANS.

>> AND I THINK THAT'S -- THE REASON THAT'S UNFORTUNATE MESSAGING TO ME AS A FORMER LABOR LEADER IS THAT I THINK WE ALWAYS NEED TO SPEAK ABOUT OUR ISSUES WITH REGARDS TO IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.

IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SEXISM, LIKE, TALK ABOUT THE DISRESPECT SHOWN TO A PROFESSIONALS THAT IS A MAJORITY FEMALE AND ABOUT THE WOMEN WHO RE TEACHERS AND E.P.S.s.

IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE UNFAIRNESS OF CAPITALISM, TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH THE DISTRICT IS SPENDING THIS DISTRICT OFFICE WITH HIGH-PAID SUPERINTENDENT AND OTHERS.

MAKE IT REAL AND CONCRETE.

BUT THE REALITY IS THIS, LIKE, THAT -- THIS STRIKE IS ONE OF, LIKE, WE'RE AT A HISTORIC HIGH OF WORKER MOBILIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ALL KIND OF THINGS.

HENNEPIN COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDERS' JUST TOOK A STRIKE VOTE FOR THE FIRST TIME, AUTHORIZE A STRIKE.

THERE ARE FRUSTRATIONS AMONG WORKERS EVERYWHERE BECAUSE THE -- THE PANDEMIC DID HIGHLIGHT A LOT OF THE INEQUITIES THAT EXIST IN SOCIETY SO, YES, IT IS FRUSTRATING FOR PARENTS BUT IT'S -- WORKERS ARE FRUSTRATED EVERYWHERE AND TEACHERS CAME OUT IN HUGE NUMBERS TO VOTE FOR THIS STRIKE.

>> Cathy: BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH THAT THE STATE IS SWIMMING IN MONEY, DO WE THINK IT'S LIKE LETHAL' PUT SOME MONEY ON THE PER PUPIL EDUCATION FORMULA?

>> WELL, I MEAN, IT'S NOT A BUDGET YEAR -- >> Cathy: RIGHT.

>> BUT WE DO HAVE HISTORIC AMOUNT OF ONE-TIME MONEY.

I HINK THE PROBLEM WITH PUTTING THINGS ON THE FORMULA IS THAT THAT'S ONGOING.

SO I THINK IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE ON THE TABLE.

I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY WILL CERTAINLY EXPLORE BUT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS NOT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE NEXT YEAR OR THE YEAR AFTER, THE YEAR AFTER, SO THAT JUST HAS TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.

>> AND I THINK WE'RE HAMSTRUNG IN POLITICS BY, YOU KNOW, THE LAW THAT WAS PASSED SOME TIME AGO THAT DOES NOT ALLOW THE STATE TO ACCOUNT FOR INFLATION WHEN LOOKING AT BUDGET ISSUES LIKE THIS.

IT JUST -- IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE AND MAKES NO SENSE FOR US TO SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'RE THROWING ALL THIS MONEY INTO EDUCATION.

YEAH, BUT IF IT'S NOT KEEPING UP WITH INFLATION, THEN WE'RE -- KIDS ARE LOSING.

>> ric: CHANGE OF PACE.

GAS TAX HOLIDAY, ELECTION-YEAR GIMMICK BY THE DEMOCRATS OR SOMETHING THAT'S NEEDED AND WANTED?

>> I THINK THAT THERE -- I CAN MAKE A REALLY STRONG ARGUMENT FOR WHY WE NEED MORE FUNDING IN TRANSPORTATION AND WHY IT MIGHT SOUND LIKE GOOD POLITICS TO HAVE A GAS TAX HOLIDAY BUT IT IS A GIMMICK.

IT'S SOMETHING -- THE GAS TAX GOES TOWARDS ROADS AND BRIDGES, IT'S CONSTITUTIONALLY DEDICATED.

ONCE YOU START MOVING MONEY AROUND, ALL OF SUDDEN YOU'RE TAKING MONEY FROM THE GENERAL FUNDS WHICH PEOPLE DIDN'T LIKE TO DO BECAUSE THEY LIKE TO SAY THE GENERAL FUND IS FOR HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATION, WHEN REALLY OF COURSE IT'S FOR EVERYBODY.

BUT THE GAS TAX HOLIDAY IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK THAT PEOPLE WHO REALLY WORK IN THE TRANSPORTATION AREA AREN'T VERY FOND OF AND IT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD POLITICS BUT IT'S TERRIBLE POLICY.

>> YEAH, I THINK -- GAS IS ONE OF THESE ISSUES WHERE GAS PRICES, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE PRESIDENT AND POLITICIANS GENERALLY HAVE VERY LITTLE CONTROL OVER WHAT THEY CAN DO TO AFFECTS THE PRICE BUT THEY ARE ALSO REALLY STRONGLY JUDGED ON IT.

SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, WITH, LIKE, GAS PRICES THERE ESPECIALLY WITH THE SITUATION WITH THE WAR IN UKRAINE, PEOPLE NEED TO BE SEEN AS DOING SOMETHING ON THIS ISSUE.

>> Cathy: LET'S TALK POLITICS OR KIND OF THROW SOME STUFF OUT HERE.

FORMER MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL MEMBER DON SAMUELS IS -- WANTS TO RUN AGAINST ILHAN OMAR IN THE 5th.

LARRY JACOBS THINK HE'LL MOUNTS A STRONG CAMPAIGN.

>> I STRONG LIE DISAGREE WITH THAT.

I THINK THAT -- YOU KNOW, I THINK DON SAMUELS AND OTHERS AROUND HIM SORT OF SOMETIMES POLITICIANS OVERREAD SITUATIONS AND I THINK THEY'RE OVER-READING THE RESULTS OF THE BALLOT CAMPAIGN FROM LAST FALL.

ON THE ONE HAND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OUR OPPONENTS -- YOU KNOW I WORKED ON THAT CAMPAIGN.

A LOT OF OUR OPPONENTS HAVE ACTUALLY -- WHO HAD WORKED WITH DON BACK THEN HAVE REACHED OUT TO MEMBERS -- TO LEADERS IN OUR CAMPAIGN BECAUSE THEY FEEL A LOT OF REGRET ABOUT HOW ALL THAT WENT DOWN, ESPECIALLY AFTER SEEING THAT THEY WERE BAMBOOZLED ON THINGS LIKE CHIEF ARRADONDO LEAVING, YOU KNOW, THAT IT WAS FRAMED AS THIS IS A WAY TO SAVE -- VOTING NO WAS A WAY TO SAVE THE CHIEF.

AND ALSO THAT WITH THE AFTER-TAX REPORT THAT CAME OUT THIS WEEK IN MINNEAPOLIS -- >> Cathy: A WHOLE OTHER THING TO TALK ABOUT.

>> EXACTLY.

>> Cathy: BUT DON IS A PRETTY POPULAR GUY, ISN'T HE?

>> NO, HE'S NOT, ACTUALLY.

I MEAN, HE -- LIKE, DON, REMEMBER -- THIS S THE MAN WHO SAID BURN DOWN NORTH HIGH.

HE HAS A HISTORY OF VERY INFLAMMATORY STATEMENTS AND HE'S A VERY CONSERVATIVE PERSON, RIGHT?

SO, LIKE, THEY KEEP RUNNING PEOPLE AGAINST ILHAN OMAR WHO ARE TO HER RIGHT IN A ERY PROGRESSIVE CITY ND I THINK -- I HONESTLY PREDICT HE'LL BE TROUNCED.

>> Eric: TRIBES ARE ON BOARDS WITH THE HOUSE VERSION OF THE SPORTS BETTING BILL.

THAT GIVES IT'S BREATH OF LIFE.

>> I THINK THERE'S DEFINITELY POSITIVE MOMENTUM ON THAT.

I THINK AS LONG AS THERE IS A MOBILE COMPONENT TO IT, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE THERE WILL BE, IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE ENJOYED NOT JUST ON THE RESERVATION BUT IN BARS AND RESTAURANTS, OTHER PLACES SO IT CAN BENEFIT ALL DIFFERENT SECTORS OF MINNESOTA.

>> Eric: 13 CANDIDATES FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 1, REPUBLICANS WAITING TO SEE WHAT JENNIFER, CARNAHAN, THE FORMER REPUBLICAN CHAIR DOES OR WHERE DOES THAT STAND?

>> WELL, NO REPUBLICANS I KNOW ARE WAITING FOR IT BUT I THINK THAT THERE ARE VERY SERIOUS CANDIDATES THERE, TODAY REPRESENTATIVE NILS PIERSON THREW IN HIS NAME, BRAD FINSTAD, REPRESENTATIVE JEREMY MUNSON, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BIG NAMES, MATT BENDA, SO I THINK THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE TO CHOOSE FROM AND THERE'S JUST WAY TOO MUCH CONTROVERSY AROUND CARNAHAN.

>> Eric: AND -- ETTINGIER, HE THREW IN AS A DEMOCRAT, SURPRISING?

>> I THINK FOR A LOT F DEMOCRATS WHO FEEL LIKE, WELL, -- -- HE'S MORE MODERATE BUT IN THAT DISTRICT, LIKE, THAT'S -- I THINK ESPECIALLY IF CHAIR CARNAHAN, WHO ENDS UP BEING THE NOMINEE, I THINK WE MIGHT SEE CONGRESS ETTINGER.

>> Cathy: BRIAN, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MATT BIRK, THE FACT THAT SENATOR JENSEN HAS NAMED HIS RUNNING MATE ALREADY?

DOES IT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT IT HELPS SENATOR JENSEN.

SENATOR JENSEN'S DOING VERY WELL SO I THINK HE PROBABLY COULD HAVE HELPED HIMSELF A - LITTLE BIT MORE WITH MAYBE SOME GENDER BALANCE OR MAYBE WITH WHO WAS A LITTLE MORE MODERATE OR GEOGRAPHIC DISTANCE BUT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS EASILY PREDICTED, BUT MATT BIRK HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH FORMER SENATOR DOCTOR JENSEN, HOWEVER HE WANTS TO REFER TO HIMSELF, THIS WHOLE TIME SO I THINK THAT IT IS A SOLID PICK BUT NOT ONE THAT NECESSARILY I THINK MOVES THE NEEDLE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER FOR HIM.

>> Eric: FORMER DNC MEMBER, IOWA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE MAY NOT BE ONE AND TWO IN THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY LINE-UP?

>> FROM YOUR LIPS TO GOD'S EARS, I HOPE SO.

I HOPE THAT THAT'S -- THEIR THE TWO LEAST REPRESENTATIVE ARE REPRESENTATIVE STATES IN TERMS OF THE DEMOGRAPHIC OF THE DID HE MEAN DEMOCRATIC BASE.

IT MAKES NO SENSE FOR THEM TO HAVE THE ROLE THAT THEY DO SO I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT'S TRUE.

>> Eric: COULD THE REPUBLICANS DO IT AND THE REPUBLICANS NOT?

-- COULD THE DEMOCRATS DO IT AND THE REPUBLICANS NOT?

T-IT COULD HAPPEN.

>> THANKS, OLKS.

>> ERIC: WE'VE RUN LONG TONIGHT.

THE INDEX FILE QUESTION WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK.

IN THE MEANTIME, LET'S ENJOY A MUSICAL CLIP FROM THE TPT ARCHIVES.

THIRTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK, TRIP SHAKESPEARE GAVE A CONCERT NEXT DOOR TO US IN STUDO A.

LET'S WATCH THEM AS WE ROLL THE CREDITS.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

BE CAREFUL.

♪♪ AND THEY'VE COME TO POSSESS MY CAR, I'LL BE FOUND WITH THE BASE OF THE CANYON, I'LL BE TORN FROM THE WRECK OF THE MOTOR ♪ ALL YOU MEN SEVEN HOURS WORTH OF LIFE FORGIVES ♪ AND YOU RACE IN THE DARK WHEN HE'S DREAMING AND YOU WAIT FOR THE YANK OF THE HOOK.

♪ UNDERSTAND THAT MACHINES ARE MAGICAL AND THEY STRAIN TO KEEP YOU WHERE YOU ARE ♪ ♪ I'LL BE FOUND AT THE BASE AFT CANYON, I'LL BE TORN FROM THE WRECK OF THE MOTOR ♪♪ >> "ALMANAC" IS A PRODUCTION Captioned by: Paradigm Reporting/Captioning www.paradigmreporting.com "A LMANAC" 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.

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

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

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