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

>> Mary: WE'LL EXPLAIN WHAT THE FINAL VERDICT MEANS AND MORE, THAT'S ALL COMING UP ON "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL."

"ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TV STATION.

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

MANITOBA HYDRO: PROVIDING CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY TO MINNESOTA UTILITIES FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS.

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINE3US.

LIUNA: MINNESOTA'S INFRASTRUCTURE UNION, REPRESENTING 12,000 SKILLED CONSTRUCTION LABORERS.

LIUNAMINNESOTA.ORG.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY.

PLAYING OUR PART BY GENERATING FUNDS FOR MINNESOTA.

IF YOU'RE GAME, JUST SAY I'M IN.

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

>> MARY: WELCOME TO "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL."

IF YOU WERE WATCHING LIVABLE LEGISLATIVE COVERAGE, WE'LL RETURN TO THAT AFTER THE SHOW.

AS THE WORLD WATCHED, THE JURY RETURNED GUILTY VERDICTS ON ALL THREE CHARGES AGAINST FORMER MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER DEREK CHAUVIN.

THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN WORKING IN THE SHADOW OF THE TRIAL AND THE RECENT POLICE KILLING OF DAUNTE WRIGHT.

WITH LESS THAN FOUR WEEKS BEFORE ADJOURNMENT, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK YET TO BE DONE.

WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THAT THROUGHOUT TONIGHT'S SHOW.

IN JUST A FEW MINUTES, OUR ANALYST DUO, DFL'ER CARIN MROTZ AND REPUBLICAN BRIAN MCDANIEL JOIN ME LIVE TO SORT IT ALL OUT.

WE'LL MEET A FIRST-TERM LAWMAKER WHO IS BREAKING BARRIERS.

BUT FIRST, HERE'S A CLOSER LOOK AT HOW THE CHAUVIN GUILTY VERDICTS MAY IMPACT PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES AND POLICE REFORM AT THE CAPITOL.

[CROWD YELLING AND SHOUTING] >> Mary: THE REACTION TO THE FIRST WHITE POLICE OFFICER FOUND GUILTY FOR KILLING A BLACK MAN IN MINNESOTA REVERB BRAIDED, SEEMINGLY EVERYWHERE.

>> AMEN.

>> >> AMEN!

>> I WOULD NOT CALL TODAY'S VERDICT JUSTICE, HOWEVER, BECAUSE JUSTICE IMPLIES TRUE RESTORATION.

BUT IT IS ACCOUNTABILITY.

WHICH IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS JUSTICE.

>> I'M GONNA MISS HIM, BUT NOW I NOW HE'S IN HISTORY.

>> YEAH.

>> WHAT A DAY TO BE A FLOYD, MAN.

>> Mary: GEORGE FLOYD'S KILLING TRIGGERED PROTESTS AROUND THE GLOBE AND LAW CHANGES IN MINNESOTA.

>> TRIAL'S OVER BUT HERE IN MINNESOTA, I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR, WE KNOW OUR WORK JUST BEGINS.

THIS IS THE FLOOR, NOT THE CEILING OF WHERE WE NEED TO GET TO.

>> Mary: THE WORK AHEAD INCLUDES MORE POLICE REFORMS AND ADDRESSING RACIAL GAPS IN EDUCATION, HOUSING, HEALTH CARE AND MORE.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE WILL USE HIS POLITICAL CAPITAL TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> MINNESOTA IS AN EXCEPTIONAL PLACE WITH EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE.

WE'RE MANY TIMES LIFTED UP AS A MODEL OF WELL-BEING, BUT WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT'S TRUE OF EVERYONE.

MEASURES OF WELLNESS, HAPPINESS, ECONOMIC SECURITY, EVEN DURING COVID, WE WERE RECOGNIZED AS BEING THE BEST STATE IN THE NATION FOR THE CARE OF CHILDREN AND THE BEST STATE IN THE NATION FOR WOMEN.

BUT IF YOU DO A LITTLE DIGGING AND YOU DISAGGREGATE AND BREAK THAT DATA APART, A CHILLING TRUTH BECOMES VERY APPARENT.

THOSE STATISTICS ARE TRUE ON WELL-BEING, IF YOU'RE WHITE.

THEY'RE NOT ONLY NOT TRUE IF YOU'RE BLACK, IT'S EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE.

THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD WAS MAYBE AN AWAKENING FOR SOME MINNESOTANS TO THIS HARD TRUTH.

A TRUTH THAT OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR HAVE KNOWN THEIR ENTIRE LIFE.

>> Mary: BASED ON THE GOVERNOR'S REQUEST, THE SENATE QUICKLY PASSED NEARLY $10 MILLION TO FUND THE PUBLIC SAFETY RESPONSE TO PROTEST ONGOING AND POSSIBLY AHEAD.

>> WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AND PART OF THAT, FRANKLY, IS SUPPORTING THE POLICE AND THE NATIONAL GUARD, THE WORK THEY'RE DOING TO KEEP OUR STREETS SAFE.

>> Mary: DEMOCRATS, PARTICULARLY IN THE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND INDIGENOUS CAUCUS, ARE DEMANDING THEY BE INCLUDED IN DECISIONS.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF MILITARY PRESENCE IN THE STREETS AND PEOPLE ARE TRAUMATIZED.

AND THEY WANT TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH MONEY.

I HAVE TO SHOW YOU HOW MANY EMAILS I HAVE FROM CONSTITUENTS OF MINE ASKING, WHO'S PAYING FOR ALL OF THIS?

WHAT IS THE COST OF IT?

WHO'S APPROVING THIS?

>> NATIONAL GUARD WERE LITERALLY SHOT PUN AND THUMBED -- RECEIVED SOME SHRAPNEL AND THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE.

>> NOT A MILITARY VIEW OF POLICING THAT LED TO DEREK CHAUVIN TO BRUTALLY MURDER GEORGE FLOYD?

ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE CIVIL UNREST THAT FOLLOWED, WERE THERE NOT ABHORRENT ACTIONS BY M.P.D.

AT THE THIRD PRECINCT THAT SET THE TONE FOR THE SUBSEQUENT WEEK OF UNREST?

AND CONFLICT BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE COMMUNITIES?

>> WE MUST RECOGNIZE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LAWFUL PROTEST, LAWFUL DEMONSTRATIONS AND CRIMINAL ACTS IN THE FORM OF RIOTING.

THIS PAST WEEKEND, THERE ARE BRICKS AND BOTTLES -- >> Mary: THE SENATE ALSO PASSED A RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT THE NATIONAL GUARD.

>> I DON'T THINK THIS RESOLUTION IS ABOUT SUPPORTING LAW ENFORCEMENT OR OUR ARMED SERVICE MEMBERS.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT MAKING A WEDGE ISSUE AND DIVIDING OUR COUNTRY FURTHER AND OUR STATE.

I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT THE SENATE G.O.P.

MINORITY IS TONE-DEAF AT THE MOMENT WE'RE LIVING IN TODAY, IN MINNESOTA.

>> THIS RESOLUTION IS NOT THEATER.

THIS RESOLUTION SUPPORTS OUR NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

>> LOVE BUILDS UP.

WE ARE SUPPOSED TO LOVE EACH OTHER, TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR, AS WE LOVE OURSELVES.

WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY IS NOT LOVING OUR NEIGHBORS, IT IS NOT BUILDING IT UP, IT IS NOT CALMING THE TENSIONS, IT IS NOT PROVIDING REASSURANCES OF TRUST.

>> Mary: WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE ON THE CHAUVIN TRIAL AND VERDICT ON A SPECIAL EDITION OF "ALMANAC" AIRING LIVE AT 8:00 p.m. TONIGHT, WEDNESDAY, ON TPT.

VIEWERS OUTSIDE THE METRO AREA, OR THOSE WHO HAVE MISSED THE LIVE BROADCAST, CAN WATCH IT ONLINE AT TPT.ORG.

♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ >> FORMER VICE PRESIDENT FRITZ MONDALE DIED EARLIER THIS WEEK AT THE AGE OF 93.

HIS POLITICAL CAREER SPANNED MOST OF HIS ADULT LIFE, SERVING AS MINNESOTA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL, A U.S.

SENATOR, AND AS VICE PRESIDENT TO JIMMY CARTER.

HIS FINAL RUN FOR POLITICAL OFFICE HERE IN MINNESOTA WAS A LAST-MINUTE CONTEST FOR U.S. SENATE IN 2002 WHEN SENATOR PAUL WELLSTONE DIED IN A PLANE CRASH LESS THAN TWO WEEKS FROM ELECTION DAY.

HE LOST THAT RACE TO REPUBLICAN NORM COLEMAN.

MONDALE REMAINED ACTIVE IN PUBLIC LIFE AND WAS HONORED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO FOR HIS WORK TO PRESERVE THE ST. CROIX RIVER.

HERE'S LOOK BACK AT HIS LAST TWO DECADES.

IT WAS A DEVASTATING NIGHT FOR DEMOCRATS.

WITHOUT A CLEAR VICTOR IN THE SENATE RACE, MONDALE WEPT HOME FOR THE NIGHT.

>> I TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS RESULT.

IT'S ON MY SHOULDERS.

[YOUTH REACTING] >> NO, NO, THIS IS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.

I -- THIS IS THE RESULT THAT THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO MAKE.

THEY MADE IT, I ACCEPT IT, I DID MY BEST AND LET'S GO ON TO THE NEXT ISSUE.

[Applause] >> WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO STILL BE ALIVE WHEN SOMETHING IS NAMED AFTER YOU?

[Laughter] >> YOU'RE GLAD YOU ARE.

WE ARE GLAD YOU ARE!

>> WE DID A LOT OF THINGS TOGETHER.

WE SHAPED A STATE TOGETHER.

WE PROTECTED THIS WONDERFUL RIVER TOGETHER.

♪♪♪ >> MARY: MAKE SURE TO TUNE IN TO "ALMANAC" ON FRIDAY NIGHT, WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE ON MONDALE'S LEGACY.

JOINING ME NOW TO TALK ABOUT THE POLITICS OF PUBLIC SAFTEY, STATE BUDGETS AND THE FINAL WEEKS OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION... DFLER CARIN MROTZ IS A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST AND PARTY LOYALIST.

PARTY LOYALIST IS A LABEL YOU CAN ALSO ATTACH TO LEGISLATIVE LOBBYIST AND REPUBLICAN BRIAN MCDANIEL.

WELL, THE TWO OF YOU, LET'S START WITH YOU, CARIN.

THE LEGISLATURE CANNOT AND IS NOT IGNORING THE OUTCOME OF THE TRIAL, AND MORE TRIALS TO COME.

SET UP FOR US WHAT YOU SEE AHEAD HERE IN THE FINAL WEEKS ON THESE ISSUES.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, THEY HAVE TO GET TO COMPROMISE.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE CAN'T NOT HAVE DONE.

WE NEED TAX CONFORMITY, I KNOW THAT THE REPUBLICANS WANT NO NEW TAXES AND SO THEY ARE INCENTIVISTED TO COMPROMISE AND I THINK IN TERMS OF PUCK SAFETY, CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, WHAT I'M WATCHING FOR IS TO SEE THE PLACES WHERE THEY'RE DOING TO FIND COMPROMISES, WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO FIND LOW-HANGING TRUTH, WHEREVER IT'S DRIVER'S LICENSE, CONVICTION RELIEF.

LAST SUMMER, I REMEMBER IN JUNE, SENATOR WARREN LIMMER, MADE A PUBLIC STATEMENT THAT THIS WAS JUST THE START TO AN EXTENDED CONVERSATION AROUND POLICING, RACE AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

HE SAID, I DON'T WANT TO NIBBLE AROUND THE EDGES, THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF A CONVERSATION, SO HERE WE ARE, HERE WE ARE IN APRIL OF 2021 AND WE ARE HERE AND WE'RE READY AND SO I THINK THAT IN ORDER TO GET TO COMPROMISE, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE SOMETHING.

>> Mary: OKAY, BRIAN, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM THE SENATE?

WE COULD HAVE HEARINGS NEXT WEEK, OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS PRESSURE BECAUSE THEY WENT FROM NOT BEING LIKELY TO HOLD HEARINGS TO HOLDING HEARINGS.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK REPUBLICANS HAVE TO DO ON THIS?

>> WELL, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW THAT I'M PREDICTING THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF MASSIVE CHANGE IN THIS AREA THAT COMES OUT OF THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

BUT I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY THE RIGHT THING TO HOLD HEARINGS, TO GET PUBLIC INPUT, TO KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING, BECAUSE I THINK THE STATUS QUO IS JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE, AND MINNESOTA'S GETTING A TERRIBLE REPUTATION, SOME OF IT MIGHT BE EARNED, AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULDN'T PASS ANYTHING BECAUSE WE WANT TO SAY WE PASSED SOMETHING, WE FEEL GOOD, WITH HE DID OUR JOB, PAT OURSELVES ON THE BACK.

BUILT WE NEED TO DISTILL DOWN WHAT ARE THINGS THAT ARE IN THE REALM OF THE POSSIBLE THAT ACTUALLY BRING REAL CHANGE WITHOUT SACRIFICING PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> Mary: AND WHAT MIGHT THAT BE?

>> THAT CAN ONLY HAPPEN -- >> Mary: COULD YOU COME UP WITH A SPECIFIC THAT YOU THINK THERE COULD BE COMPROMISE ON?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT -- THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT CARIN MENTIONED, POST-CONVICTION RELIEF.

EVEN I'M WORKING A LITTLE BIT ON DRIVER'S LICENSES FOR UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE.

I THINK THAT SOME OF THE -- YOU KNOW, WE DID SOME -- WE DID SOME CHANGE OVER THE SUMMER, OVER THE INTERIM THAT HAS YET TO KIND OF BEEN IMPLEMENTED SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE'VE ALREADY AGREED UPON THAT HAS -- THAT HAS COME -- THAT HAS YET TO COME TO FRUITION BUT WILL EVENTUALLY BE VERY HELPFUL.

BUT, YOU KNOW, AS THESE -- AS THESE CASES KEEP POPPING UP, WE'RE LEARNING THAT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE ARE HELPING, BODY CAMS, HOW IMPORTANT HAVE BODY CAMS BECOME WITH BOTH THE GEORGE FLOYD SITUATION AND THE DAUNTE WRIGHT SITUATION.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT SOMETIMES SEEM SCARY AT THE BEGINNING BUT ULTIMATELY FIND OUT REALLY DO HELP, EVERYBODY.

>> Mary: YOU MENTIONED THE DAUNTE WRIGHT CASE.

CARIN, WHAT ABOUT THE LEGISLATION NOW, TRYING TO LIMIT ITS OFFENSES, LOW-LEVEL OFFENSES THAT PEOPLE ARE PULLED OVER FOR?

DO YOU THINK THAT COULD BE A BIPARTISAN BILL?

>> I MEAN, I THINK IT SHOULD BE.

I MEAN, I THINK IF YOU JUST LOOK AT THE DATA, THIS IS NOT HELPING ANYONE, THIS IS ONLY CAUSING HARM.

I THINK OBVIOUSLY, HUGER, WILDER, MORE TRANS FOR ACTIVE REFORMS ARE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY BUT THIS DOES SEEM LIKE A QUICK THING THAT COULD BE DONE IN A BIPARTISAN WAY THAT COULD CHANGE PEOPLE'S LIVES.

>> Mary: EARLIER, YOU MENTIONED BUDGET AND THAT IS ACTUALLY WHAT THE SPECIAL IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT, THAT IS WHAT THE SESSION HAS TO ACCOMPLISH OR THE GOVERNMENT WILL SHUT DOWN IN JULY.

SO BUDGET.

HOW DIFFICULT IS IT GOING TO BE TO COME TO AGREEMENT IN THE FINAL WEEKS, WE'RE DOWN TO JUST WEEKS NOW.

BRIAN, YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET AND GETTING THAT DONE?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK THAT CERTAINLY WE'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, POSITIVE CHANGES TO OUR LOCAL -- OUR STATE FISCAL OUTLOOK.

THROW ON TOP OF THAT JUST A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF FEDERAL MONEY THAT IS COMING IN THAT I THINK WOULD -- THAT ULTIMATELY, I'M NOT PREDICTING WE'RE GOING TO GET DONE ON TIME, WE PROBABLY WON'T BUT I THINK ALL THE TOOLS ARE THERE TO GET DONE ON TIME AND THAT WILL LARGELY BE BECAUSE OF ALL THE OTHER MONEY THAT IS COMING INTO TOWN.

[DOGS BARKING] >> Mary: CARIN, DID THE FEDS REALLY BAIL OUT THE STATE HERE AND DOES THAT MAKE IT EASIER TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON THE BUDGET?

>> I'M NOT SURE IT'S MAKING IT ANY EASIER.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE FEDERAL DOLLARS AND THE WAY THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE SUPPORTING RENTERS AND FOLKS WHO ARE BENEFITING VERY MUCH FROM THE FACT THAT THERE'S AN EVICTION MORATORIUM IN PLACE RIGHT NOW THAT WE REALLY NEED TO SEE A STRUCTURED OFF-RAMP FOR, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IT'S GREAT TO HAVE THIS MONEY COME IN SO THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO HELP MORE MINNESOTANS BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT YET DONE.

WE STILL NEED THE LEGISLATURE TO ACTUALLY DO THE DEAL AND COMPROMISE TO GET IT DONE.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE KEY PLAYERS.

BRIAN, THE GOVERNOR IS REALLY GETTING CHALLENGED ON HIS LEFT.

NO CONFIDENCE VOTES COMING FROM DIFFERENT GROUPS.

HOW MUCH OF A CHALLENGE IS IT TO SHORE UP HIS LEFT FLANK?

>> WELL, I THINK -- I THINK THAT THE VERDICT THAT CAME DOWN YESTERDAY IS GOING TO CALM A LOT OF THAT BECAUSE WE'RE HAVE NOT GOING TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER FIVE DAYS OF CIVIL UNREST.

YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR, YOU KNOW, CAME IN MORE THAN A FEW DAYS LATE, YOU KNOW, AFTER GEORGE FLOYD AND HE PROBABLY OVERCOMPENSATED A LITTLE BIT WHERE DAUNTE WRIGHT.

I THINK THAT IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHETHER A VIABLE CHALLENGE FROM THE LEFT COMES BUT I THINK THAT A LOT OF PRESSURE WAS LET OFF YESTERDAY.

>> Mary: CARIN, WILL THE GOVERNOR BE CHALLENGED BY ANOTHER CANDIDATE ON THE LEFT?

SHOULD HE?

>> I THINK HE PROBABLY WILL BE.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS.

IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT ELECTION AND CERTAINLY THERE IS WAVERING SUPPORT CURRENTLY FROM PROGRESSIVES AND FOLKS ON HIS LEFT.

I MEAN, I WILL SAY THAT WHILE THE GOVERNOR'S MADE A LOT OF DECISIONS THIS WEEK AND MOVES THAT I PERSONALLY AS SOMEBODY WHO SUPPORTED HIM HAVE, YOU KNOW, CHALLENGES WITH AND DON'T NECESSARILY AGREE WITH HIM ON, I THINK THAT HE -- FROM WHAT I KNOW OF HIM, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT HE'S MAKING THOSE MOVES AND DECISIONS CALCULATING HIS REELECTION.

I THINK HE'S COMING BY SOME OF THE THINGS THAT EVEN I DISAGREE WITH HIM ON VERY HONESTLY AND VERY IDEALOGICALLY AND MOTIVATED BY TRYING TO DO GOOD.

AND SO I DON'T ACTUALLY THINK THAT HE'S BEEN OPERATING THIS PAST WEEK THINKING OF REELECTION, BUT CERTAINLY THIS IS GOING TO COME UP.

>> Mary: LAST QUESTION, BRIAN, WHO IS THE REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER FOR THE GOVERNOR?

IS IT GAZELKA OR DID HE REALLY SUFFER DEFEAT IN NOT GETTING HIS NEW PARTY CHAIR ELECTED?

>> WELL, NO, I'M STILL GOING TO MAYBE SAY -- I'M STILL MAYBE GOING TO TAKE THE FIELD ON THAT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, SENATOR GAZELKA IS SOMEBODY WHO IS KNOWN BY ALL OF THE DELEGATES, HE IS SOMEBODY WHO, YOU KNOW, MIGHT HAVE SOME TROUBLE BY BEING THE ESTABLISHMENT BUT, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW, I WOULD SAY THAT IF HE'S IN, THAT HE MIGHT BE THE FRONT-RUNNER.

>> Mary: WOULD YOU PICK AN OUTSIDER, THEN, IF YOU THINK THAT'S THE APPETITE, BRIAN?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

[Laughter] >> Mary: CARIN, WHO DOESN'T THE GOVERNOR WANT TO FACE, LAST WORD?

>> WELL, BRIAN McDANIELLE.

>> YEAH, NO, I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO CORRECT ISSUES THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE HAD IN THE SUBURBS AND WITH WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.

AND I VERY MUCH LOOK FORWARD TO THAT CANDIDATE PRESENTING THEMSELVES.

>> Mary: VERY GOOD, THANK YOU, TWO, WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

>> MARY: UP NEXT, OUR SERIES OF FRESHMAN LAWMAKERS CONTINUES.

THIS WEEK, WE MEET SOMEONE WHO NOTED EARLY IN LIFE THAT THERE WEREN'T MANY PEOPLE IN POSITIONS OF POWER THAT LOOKED LIKE HER.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO BE IN THE LEGISLATURE?

>> YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE POLITICS WASN'T SOMETHING I WAS INTERESTED IN.

BUT IN MY LIFE, AS AN INDIGENOUS WOMAN, I GREW UP NOT SEEING PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME IN ALL AREAS.

YOU KNOW, MY TEACHERS DIDN'T LOOK LIKE ME, LAW ENFORCEMENT, DOCTORS, AND ESPECIALLY OUR LEADERS.

AND SO SUBLIMINALLY THAT KIND OF ALWAYS TOLD ME I DIDN'T BELONG HERE.

BUT IT WAS ACTUALLY IN GRAD SCHOOL THAT I DID MY PRACTICUM AROUND TALKING CIRCLES IN OUR COMMUNITY TO THE BARRIERS TO EDUCATION.

AND IT'S WHEN I REALLY EVOLVED INTO THIS OPPORTUNITY, AT THE TIME, I ALSO WORKED LOCALLY TO PASS INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S DAY IN MY COMMUNITY SO I SAW THE POWER OF COLLECTIVE EFFORT IN OUR LOCAL ENVIRONMENT AND THEN THROUGH THE PRACTICUM WORK THAT I DID, I WANTED TO RUN FOR SCHOOL BOARD.

AND THEN BEEN LIEN ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS RETIRING AND 20 WOMEN IN MY COMMUNITY REACHED OUT TO ME AND ENCOURAGED ME TO RUN AND IT KIND OF MADE ME START TO THINK THAT I TALK A LOT ABOUT REPRESENTATION AND HOW THAT MATTERS IN SPACES, AND SO I JUST THOUGHT THIS WAS MY WHY AND IT WAS MY REASON TO STEP UP AND BE A VOICE AT THE TABLE THAT MAYBE WE DON'T OFTEN HEAR.

>> Mary: WHEN YOU SAID 20 WOMEN ASKED YOU TO RUN, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THE STUDIES THAT WOMEN AREN'T ASKED TO RUN AS MUCH AND WHEN THEY ARE ASKED, THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO SAY YES.

SO CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT DYNAMIC?

>> GO THAT'S SO TRUE, THOUGH, LIKE, THERE IS A LOT OF SELF-DOUBT SOMETIMES IN, LIKE, OUR ABILITY.

I'M ALSO A MOM AND, YOU KNOW, I LIVE ALMOST FOUR HOURS AWAY FROM THE CITY SO THERE'S THAT SACRIFICE TO IT, BUT WHEN WOMEN 'EM POWER EACH OTHER, THERE IS A SISTERHOOD THAT MAKES YOU BELIEVE IN YOURSELF SO IT'S ONE THING I LEARNED FIRSTHAND AND NOW I'M TRYING TO REPLICATE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE INTENTIONAL ABOUT ASKING WOMEN TO STEP UP.

YOU KNOW, HISTORICALLY THIS YEAR, IN THE LEGISLATURE, WE HAVE A LOT OF WOMEN AND IT'S AWESOME AND IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT LENS OF LIFE THAT'S GOOD TO BRING TO THE TABLE.

I THINK WE COMMUNICATE IN A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT STYLE BUT, YES, WOMEN SUPPORTING WOMEN IS JUST SO POWERFUL.

>> Mary: I HAVE A GOOD FRIEND WHO ALWAYS SAYS, YOU HAVE TO SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT.

AND I'M WONDERING IF SOME OF THE NATIVE WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE BEFORE YOU DID HELP YOU SEE IT TO BELIEVE THAT YOU COULD DO IT.

>> A THOUSAND PERCENT.

PEGGY FLANAGAN WAS THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE THAT I WAS LIKE, WOW, IF SHE COULD DO IT IN OUR STATE, THERE IS AN ACTUAL POSSIBILITY THAT PEOPLE LIKE ME CAN DO IT.

AND I WILL WORKED IN INDIAN EDUCATION FOR A LONG TIME, AND AT THE TIME I KIND OF USED HER STORY TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE MY STUDENTS TO STEP UP AND LEAD, AND THIS WHOLE TIME IT WAS ACTUALLY PLANTING A SEED FOR ME.

AND THEN JAMIE BECKER-FINN, MARY KUNESH, YOU KNOW, WE ALL ARE VERY CLOSE IN OUR COMMUNICATION, YOU KNOW, JUST PERSONALLY WALKING THROUGH THIS, CULTURALLY WALKING THROUGH THIS AND THEN POLICY-WISE, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE FOCUSED COLLECTIVELY ON CULTURALLY VITALIZATION AROUND THE STATE.

>> Mary: SO ISSUES WHAT ISSUES DO YOU THINK ARE FOREMOST, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS THAT THEY WANT TO YOU GET DONE?

>> WELL, YEAH, I COME FROM A BACKGROUNDS OF EDUCATION AND IT'S BEEN VERY CLEAR NOR A LONG TIME THAT EDUCATION EQUITY AND INCLUSIVITY IS A PRIORITY FOR ME, ALL THE WAY FROM PRE-K, K-12 AND HIGHER ED.

AND SO THAT'S A PRIORITY IN BEING FROM MOORHEAD WHERE WE HAVE THREE HIGHER ED INSTITUTIONS HERE.

IT'S A COMMUNITY PRIORITY, TOO.

NOT ONLY DO WE LIKE REALLY VALUE OUR EDUCATION, IT'S A A BIG MART OF OUR ECONOMY BECAUSE WE HAVE TEACHERS AND PROFESSORS THAT ARE WORKING AND LIVING HERE, AS WELL, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE A BORDER CITY WHICH WE HAVE REALLY UNIQUE NEEDS HERE SO IT'S BEEN REALLY FUN GETTING TO KNOW THE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS WHEN IT COMES TO THE UNIQUE THINGS THAT WE ALL KIND OF WALK THROUGH, SO FROM FLOOD MITIGATION, I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE SO IN THE WEEDS WITH HOUSING CODES BUT I SPENT TWO MONTHS IN MY JOB BUT THE LOCAL EFFORTS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME.

AND THEN CULTURALLY VITALIZATION AND THINGS AROUND OUR INDIGENOUS POPULATION, AND THEN PROTECTING MOTHER EARTH ARE KIND OF MY FOUR BIG AREAS.

♪♪♪ >> Mary: WHY DID YOU WANT THIS JOB?

WHY DID YOU WANT TO COME TO THE CAPITOL?

>> I'LL BE HONEST, I DIDN'T.

I WAS A SCHOOL TEACHER FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS.

I WAS ASKED TO RUN SEVERAL TIMES AND JUST DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THIS IS THE THING FOR ME OR THE TIME OR WHATEVER.

I HAD TOLD -- I WAS TEACHING TENTH GRADE ENGLISH AT THE TIME AND I WAS TELLING MY STUDENTS THAT I HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE ASKING ME TO RUN FOR OFFICE AND THEY THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY EXCITING AND I SAID, I'M TOTALLY NOT DOING THIS.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

AND THEY SAID, Mrs. MUELLER, YOU ALWAYS TELL US THAT OUR VOICE MATTERS.

I'M LIKE, YOU CAN'T USE MY WORDS AGAINST ME.

[Laughter] >> Mary: YOUR STUDENTS TALKED YOU INTO IT ULTIMATELY.

>> >> MY STUDENTS TALKED ME INTO IT.

♪♪♪ >> MARY THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

MAKE SURE TO TUNE IN AGAIN NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT AS WE FOLLOW THE FINAL WEEKS OF SESSION.

UNTIL THEN, YOU CAN HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE, TPT.ORG/AATC, WATCH ANY OF OUR SHOWS, INCLUDING TONIGHT'S.

FOLLOW US ALL WEEK ON FACEBOOK.

LOOK FOR LEGISLATIVE UPDATES AND MORE FROM OUR TEAM ON TWITTER.

THAT'S ALL AT TPT.ORG/AATC WHEN THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION, YOU CAN FOLLOW HOUSE AND SENATE FLOOR ACTION, COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND MORE, EVERY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY ON THE PBS STATION YOU ARE WATCHING RIGHT NOW.

A COUPLE OF TUNE-IN NOTES FOR YOU.

AS ALWAYS, MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT "ALMANAC" ON FRIDAY NIGHT.

ERIC AND CATHY WILL HAVE MUCH MORE ON THE CHAUVIN TRIAL VERDICT, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE LEGACY OF PRINCE FIVE YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH, AND I'LL TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE LIFE OF FORMER VICE PRESIDENT MONDALE, AND PRESSURE FOR MORE POLICE REFORM POLICIES AT THE CAPITOL.

IF YOU'RE WATCHING US LIVE ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT IN THE TWIN CITIES, DON'T WANDER FAR FROM YOUR TELEVISION SET.

AT 8:00 P.M. ON TPT2, FRED DE SAM LAZARO AND I WILL HOST A LIVE SPECIAL EDITION OF "ALMANAC," TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT THE CHAUVIN TRIAL AND VERDICT.

VIEWERS OUTSIDE THE METRO AREA CAN CHECK IT OUT AT TPT.ORG.

THAT'S OUR SHOW.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪♪♪ Captioned by: Paradigm Reporting/Captioning www.paradigmreporting.com ♪♪♪ "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TV STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: POWERING WHAT'S POSSIBLE.

MANITOBA HYDRO: PROVIDING CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY TO MINNESOTA UTILITIES FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS.

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINE3US.

LIUNA: MINNESOTA'S INFRASTRUCTURE UNION, REPRESENTING 12,000 SKILLED CONSTRUCTION LABORERS.

LIUNAMINNESOTA.ORG.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY.

PLAYING OUR PART BY GENERATING FUNDS FOR MINNESOTA.

IF YOU'RE GAME, JUST SAY I'M IN.

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

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