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

>> CATHY: IN THE NEXT HOUR, WE'LL EXAMINE THE DECISION NOT TO FILE CHARGES IN THE DEATH OF AMIR LOCKE.

WE'LL ASSESS THE THREAT OF BIRD FLU AND HEAR ABOUT PLANS TO REFORM MEDICAID IN MINNESOTA.

THEN, MARY LAHAMMER HAS A STORY FROM THE CAPITOL.

>> Mary: THE GOVERNOR DECLARED VINCE FLYNN DAY IN MINNESOTA.

WE'LL SHOW YOU HOW THE GUESS-SELLING AUTHOR OF POLITICAL THRILLERS WAS HONORED HERE AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

>> HE WAS AN EVANGELIST FOR MINNESOTA WHEN HE TRAVELED AROUND THE WORLD.

>> 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 ELECTRICITY AND RELATED SERVICES TO 28 CO-OPS IN MINNESOTA.

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

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON 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 IS PROVIDED BY THE BLANDIN FOUNDATION, WORKING TO STRENGTHEN RURAL MINNESOTA.

>> CATHY: LATER IN THE HOUR, WE'LL TALK ABOUT WAYS TO MAKE MEDICAID MORE FAIR.

WE'LL LEARN ALL ABOUT BIRD FLU, AND WE'LL MEET THE PERSON WHO FOUND THAT FILM OF PRINCE, 11 YEARS OLD.

BUT FIRST UP, THE DECISION NOT TO BRING CHARGES IN THE POLICE KILLING OF AMIR LOCKE.

>> ERIC: ATTORNEY GENERAL KEITH ELLISON AND HENNEPIN COUNTY ATTORNEY MIKE FREEMAN THIS WEEK DECIDED NOT TO PRESS CHARGES AGAINST MARK HANNEMAN, THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER WHO SHOT AND KILLED AMIR LOCKE IN FEBRUARY DURING A NO-KNOCK RAID.

TO HELP EXPLAIN THE LEGAL QUESTIONS INVOLVED IN THIS CASE IS SHANNON PRINCE.

SHE'S THE NEW YORK CITY ATTORNEY WHO'S JOINED US NUMEROUS TIMES TALKING ABOUT POLICING ISSUES.

WELCOME BACK TO THE PROGRAM, COUNSELOR.

WHEN THE PROSECUTORS SAY THE LAW DOES NOT SUPPORT THE CHARGES, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IN LAY TERMS?

>> ELL, PROSECUTORS CANNOT BRING CHARGES SIMPLY BECAUSE A WRONG OCCURRED OR EVEN BECAUSE AN INJUSTICE OCCURRED.

A PROSECUTOR CAN ONLY BRING CHARGES WHEN HE SINCERELY FEELS THAT THERE'S SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO PROVE A CRIME BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT AND IN A CASE LIKE THIS, TO DISPROVE THE AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT.

NOW, AN AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE IS A LEGAL JUSTIFICATION FOR TAKING AN ACTION THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE UNLAWFUL.

IN THIS SITUATION, THE AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE FOR KILLING AMIR LOCKE IS REASONABLE USE OF DEADLY FORCE BY AN OFFICER.

NOW, FOR THE PURPOSES OF CHARGING, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF, WHEN AMIR ALCOHOLICS POINTED THE GUN AT OFFICER HANNEMAN, LOCKE THOUGHT THAT HE WAS UNDER ATTACK FROM PEOPLE HE DIDN'T RECOGNIZE AS THE POLICE.

THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS IS THAT PROSECUTORS DON'T FEEL THEY HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO PROVE BEYOND A REASONABILITY DOUBT THAT WHEN AMIR OCKE POINTED THE GUN AT OFFICER HANNEMAN, OFFICER HAND HE MINNESOTA DIDN'T THINK THAT HE WAS UNDER ATTACK BY A CRIMINAL.

>> Cathy: UNDER MINNESOTA STATE STATUTE, THE USE OF FORCE POLICY REQUIRES AN EVALUATION OF USING THE OFFICERS' PERSPECTIVE AND NOT THE VICTIMS, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, RIGHT?

>> YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

WE KNOW NOW THAT AHMER LOCKE WAS INNOCENT BUT WE HAVE TO ANALYZE OFFICER HANNEMAN'S ACTIONS BASED ON WHAT HE KNEW AT THE TIME AND WHAT HE KNEW AT THE TIME WAS THAT HE WAS EXECUTING A WARRANT AT A SCENE WHERE DANGEROUS CRIMINALS WERE LIKELY TO BE AND IN THAT CONTEXT, SOMEONE POINTED A GUN AT HIM.

NOW, WICK QUESTION WHETHER OFFICER HANNEMAN KNEW OR SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT INNOCENT PEOPLE ARE SOMETIMES FOUND WHERE DANGEROUS CRIMINALS ARE EXPECTED TO BE.

WE CAN QUESTION WHETHER HE KNEW OR SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT LAWFULLY ARMED PEOPLE WHO ARE STARTLED OUT OF SLEEP BY INTRUDERS THEY DON'T RECOGNIZE AS THE POLICE MAY REACT ACCORDINGLY, BUT ULTIMATELY, THE LAW DID NOT REQUIRE OFFICER HANNEMAN TO WAIT A MOMENT BEFORE SHOOTING AMIR LOCKE TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT IF AMIR LOCKE WAS INNOCENT.

NOT WHEN WAITING COULD HAVE COST OFFICER HANNEMAN HIS LIVE, AND EVEN IF NOT WAITING COST AMIR LOCKE HIS.

>> Eric: JUST TO GO OVER THERE ONE MORE TIME, THE POLICE CAN USE DEADLY FORCE IF THEY FEEL THREATENED.

A CITIZEN WOULD HAVE TO RETREAT FIRST AND THEN USE DEADLY FORCE AS, WHAT, A LAST RESORT OR... >> WELL, WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THIS CASE IS IF AMIR LOCKE INSTEAD OF RETREATING HAD ACTUALLY SHOT OFFICER HANNEMAN AND LIVED, HE MAY NOT HAVE FACED CHARGES SIMPLY BECAUSE HE DIDN'T RETREAT.

HE MAY HAVE HAD A DEFENSE OF SELF-DEFENSE BECAUSE HE COULD PROBABLY HAVE CLAIMED THAT HE WAS REASONABLY DEFENDING HIMSELF AGAINST INTRUDERS WHO HE DIDN'T RECOGNIZE AS THE POLICE.

THAT'S WHAT'S SO IRONIC ABOUT THIS CASE.

BOTH AMIR LOCKE AND OFFICER HANNEMAN WERE CTING REASONABLY BUT IN CONTRA DISTINCTION TO EACH OTHER, SO EVEN THOUGH AMIR LOCKE MAY NOT HAVE FACED CHARGES IF HE HAD SHOT OFFICER HANNEMAN, OFFICER HANNEMAN ALSO ISN'T FACING CHARGES FOR SHOOTING AND KILLING AMIR LOCKE.

>> THE FAMILY, OF COURSE, IS OBVIOUSLY VERY DISAPPOINTED.

WHAT'S NEXT?

WHAT CAN THEY DO?

>> WELL, AMIR LOCKE'S FAMILY HAS HIRED CIVIL RIGHT ATTORNEY BENJAMIN CRUMP TO BRING A CIVIL CASE.

NOW, ONE THING THAT'S NOTABLE ABOUT THAT CASE IS AS IT'S BEING DESCRIBED THUS FAR, OFFICER HANNEMAN IS NOT GOING TO BE NAMED AS THE DEFENDANT SO JUST AS HE DIDN'T FACE CRIMINAL LIABILITY, IT DOESN'T LOOK AS THOUGH HE'LL FACE CIVIL LIABILITY.

INSTEAD, THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE DEFENDANT.

ANOTHER THING TO NOTE IS THAT THE STANDARD OF PROOF IN A CIVIL CASE IS MUCH LOWER THAN THE STANDARD OF PROOF IN A CRIMINAL CASE.

AA PROSECUTOR HAS TO PROVE A CRIME BEYOND A REASONABILITY DOUBT TO WIN A CRIMINAL CASE.

NOW, A PLAINTIFF CAN WIN A CASE EVEN IF THE JURORS HAVE AMPLE DOUBT BECAUSE THE STANDARD F PROOF IN A CIVIL CASE IS PREPONDERANCE OF THE EVIDENCE.

THAT MEANS THAT THE PLAINTIFF ONLY HAS TO PROVE HAT IT'S 51% MORE LIKELY THAN THE DEFENDANT WAS IN THE WRONG THAN NOT.

>> Eric: WITH SECONDS LEFT, WILL THIS INDICATION HAVE ANY NATIONAL IMPACT?

>> I THINK THAT IT WILL, EVEN THOUGH CHARGES WEREN'T BROUGHT, THOUGH OFFICER HANNEMAN ISN'T BEING PUT ON TRIAL, NO-KNOCK WARRANTS AS A POLICY ARE.

>> Eric: SHANNON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> Cathy: IT WAS GOOD SO TEE YOU.

>> THANKS SO MUCH.

♪♪ >> CATHY: THE NUMBERS KEEP GOING UP.

THE LASTEST FIGURES SHOW THAT MORE THAN A MILLION BIRDS IN MINNESOTA HAVE AVIAN FLU.

MANY COMMERICAL TURKEY FARMS ARE AFFECTED.

AND THAT'S THE BIG WORRY SINCE MINNESOTA LEADS THE NATION IN TURKEY PRODUCTION.

SOME BACKYARD FLOCKS ARE AFFECTED, TOO.

JEFF BENDER IS A PROFESSOR AND EPIDEMIOLOGIST IN THE COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE, AND THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

HE WAS ONE OF THE RESEARCHERS WHO TRACKED THE DEADLY H5N2 BIRD FLU THAT HIT MINNESOTA IN 2015.

FROM TO SEE YA.

>> GOOD TO SEE YA.

>> Cathy: WELCOME BACK.

SO IS THIS VIRUS DIFFERENT THAN THE ONE IN 2015?

>> IT IS.

IT'S AN H5N2 AND HFN1 AND THERE'S ONLY ONE NUMBER DIFFERENCE BUT THEY ARE VERY DIFFERENT VIRUSES.

>> Cathy: SO WHY ARE WILD BIRDS THE VESSEL FOR THIS VIRUS?

>> THAT'S INTERESTING.

AQUATIC BIRDS LIKE DUCKS AND GEESE SEEM TO BE OUR RESERVOIRS FOR THIS AND THEN IT SPILLS OVER INTO OUR DOMESTIC BIRDS AND THAT'S WHERE WE SEE THE DEATHS, SO IT'S ADAPTED WELL TO THE AQUATIC BIRDS AND AS TO WHY THAT'S THE CASE, I'M NOT SURE.

IT'S EVOLUTIONARY, THAT'S WHERE THE VIRUS RESIDES AND IT'S NATURAL HOST.

>> Eric: WHY DOES IT GET TRANSMITTED SO QUICKLY?

>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FACTORS, ONE IS JUST THE NUMBER OF WAYS IT CAN BE TRANSMITTED SO IT CAN BE IN THE FECES OF THE BIRD, CAN I SEE POOP ON THE AIR?

>> Eric: SURE, GO FOR IT.

>> BUT ALSO NASAL, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS THE VIRUS CAN BE SHED.

AND WHEN YOU CONGREGATE BIRDS TOGETHER, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT MIGRATORY PATTERNS, THAT COMPOUNDS THE TRANSMISSION CYCLE.

>> Cathy: I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED, THOUGH, BECAUSE SOME OF THE POULTRY FARMS, THEY'RE HUGE, RIGHT, AND THEY HAVE JUST A TON OF IRDS IN EACH OF THEIR BARNS SO HOW ARE THESE BIRDS THAT ARE HOUSED IN BARNS GETTING INFECTED?

>> IT'S A GREAT QUESTION, I MEAN, THIS IS SOMETHING WE LEARNED A ITTLE BIT FROM 2015, SO WHEN WE SAW THAT OUTBREAK, IT AGAIN OCCURRED IN THE SPRING AND IT PRODUCTS TO CONTINUE ON INTO THE SUMMER AND INITIALLY WE WERE THINKING, GOSH, IT MUST BE COMING IN ON MIGRATORY BIRDS BUT WE DIDN'T FIND THAT.

BUT USUALLY THAT'S THE CASE.

USUALLY SOMEHOW IT'S COME IN ON THOSE BIRDS BUT ONCE IT GETS INSIDE THE TURKEY BARNS OR CHICKEN BARNS, THE VIRUS AMPLIFIES BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF INFECTION GOING ON, JUST IKE WE SAW WITH COVID.

BASICALLY, WHEN YOU GET A LOT OF A VIRUS, WE GET MORE EXPOSE SURE AND MORE TRANSMISSION.

SO THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS.

SO PROXIMITY TO OTHER BIRDS OR OTHER FARMS THAT ARE POSITIVE IS ACTUALLY A BIG RISK AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE WORKING SO HARD TO CONTROL THE SPREAD AND THEY TALK WITH CULLING OR REMOVING BIRDS OR KILLING BIRDS TO PREVENT THAT VIRAL CLOUD, IF YOU WILL.

>> Cathy: ET ME ASK ABOUT THAT.

WHY DO THE BIRDS NEED TO BE EUTHANIZED?

>> A LOT OF TIMES THEY'RE DYING ANYWAYS BECAUSE THE VIRUS IS SO DEADLY IN CHICKENS, YOU KNOW, AND TURKEYS, THAT THEY JUST DIE.

AND THEN BASICALLY, BIRDS THAT ARE EXPOSED ACTUALLY WILL AMPLIFY SO THEN THOSE BIRDS NEED TO BE DESTROYED, TOO.

>> Eric: IMPACT ON HUMANS, IF ANY?

>> SO ONE OF THE BIG ONCERNS IS ALWAYS FOOD, CAN I GET THIS FROM FOOD AND THE ANSWER IS NO.

THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS ACTUALLY THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING MORE DIRECTLY.

WHAT WE'VE SEEN SO FAR WITH THIS VIRUS IS THAT WE'VE NOT SEEN HUMAN TRANSMISSION BUT MOST HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE MONITORING PEOPLE THAT WORK DIRECTLY WITH THESE BIRDS.

ARE THEY GETTING SICK?

IF YOU'RE GETTING SICK, CAN WE TEST YOU AND SO FAR WE HAVE RECENT SEEN ANY EVIDENCE OF TRANSMISSION, SO THAT'S ONE IMPORTANT THING.

>> Cathy: HOWEVER, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF BACKYARDS THAT ARE IN EFFECTED, SO MAYBE SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE CHICKENS IN THE BACKYARD, SHOULD THEY BE WORRIED?

>> I THINK THEY SHOULD TAKE PROTECTIONS.

THEY SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THIS VIRUS IS OUT THERE AND CAN AFFECT THE CHICKENS.

THEY WANT TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS WHEN THEY HANDLE THEIR BIRDS.

THEY WANT TO NOTIFY THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES, THE MINNESOTA BOARD OF ANIMAL HEALTH OR CONTACT THAT HOTLINE IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, OR THEIR LOCAL VETERINARIAN IN THAT REGARD.

>> Eric: THE LEGISLATURE CAME UP WITH A MILLION DOLLARS PRETTY QUICKLY TO COMBAT THIS.

WHAT WOULD THAT MONEY -- HOW WOULD HAT MONEY BE BEST SPENT?

>> WELL, A LOT OF IT IS INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS AND TESTING AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.

THE OTHER THING THAT OFTEN GETS FORGOTTEN AND SOMETHING WE LEARNED FROM 2015 WAS THE IMPACT ON RURAL COMMUNITIES.

SO NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE STRESS OF WORRYING THAT YOUR BIRDS ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED BUT THEN YOU HAVE THE WORKFORCE, YOU HAVE YOUR CALL -- NEARING 3,000 PEOPLE WERE OUT OF WORK AS A RESULT OF THIS BUT THAT'S JUST A SMALL PERCENTAGE BECAUSE IT IMPACTS THE RURAL COMMUNITIES AND SO IT IMPEDES THE WAY THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE MOVE, SO, REALLY, THERE IS A LOT OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND THE STRESSORS THAT GO WITH HAT THAT WE NEED TO REALLY THINK BALSO THERE IS A SOCIAL STIGMA IN A RURAL COMMUNITY LIKE, OH, MY GOSH, YOU'RE ROM THAT FARM, YOU'RE POSITIVE, I'M WORRIED THAT I'LL SEE YOU IN THE GROCERY STORE.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, ANGST AND RIGHTLY SO NOR HOW TO SUPPORT THOSE COMMUNITIES.

HOPEFULLY THAT MONEY WILL BE SPENT TO SUPPORT THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> Cathy: AND HAT ABOUT BIOSECURITY?

I BRING THAT UP BECAUSE I WAS TALKING TO A U OF M POULTRY EDUCATOR AND SHE SAID BIOSECURITY IS HUGE.

AND THIS IS HOW THE VIRUS IS GETTING INTO SOME OF THE BIGGER BARNS.

WHAT ABOUT BIOSECURITY IN THE BIGGER BARNS AND ALSO JUST BACKYARD FLOCKS?

>> YEAH, SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT E'VE LEARNED FROM THESE AND WE SAW THIS BACK IN 2015 IS COUNTS ABOUT BIOSECURITY OR LACK THEREOF.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY OUR STATE AGENCIES AND OUR FEDERAL AGENCIES HAVE BEEN REALLY TRYING HARD IS HOW DO WE IMPROVE BISE OH SECURITY, HOW DO WE PREVENT -- IF YOU RECALL IN 2015, WE HAD 9 MILLION BIRDS THAT WE LOST, ON OVER 100 PREMISES.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT 21, I BELIEVE, OR -- AND A MILLION BIRDS.

SO HOPEFULLY WE WON'T SEE AS BIC OF AN OUTBREAK, HOPEFULLY THAT'S BECAUSE OF IMPROVED BIOSECURITY.

THAT'S PART OF IT.

THE OTHER THING WITH BACKYARDS FLEX AND BEING ONE MYSELF, I'M KEEPING THOSE BIRDS IN.

THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO WANDER OUTSIDE.

THEY'RE KIND OF STUCKS INSIDE, PROBABLY MAD AT ME BUT THEY'RE -- THAT'S PART OF THE SECURITY.

>> Cathy: FOR THEIR OWN GOOD.

ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> Eric: GREAT STUFF.

THANKS FOR COMING ON.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> CATHY: DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING ONCE SAID, "OF ALL THE FORMS OF INEQUALITY, INJUSTICE IN HEALTH IS THE MOST SHOCKING AND THE MOST INHUMAN."

THAT QUOTE'S AT THE FRONT OF A NEW REPORT BY THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, WHICH SUGGESTS NEW WAYS TO BUILD RACIAL EQUITY INTO THE STATE'S MEDICAID SYSTEM.

"REPORT FOR AMERICA" AND "ALMANAC" DATA REPORTER KYELAND JACKSON SPOKE WITH THE REPORT'S AUTHOR.

>> THANKS FOR JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT YOUR MOST RECENT REPORT WHICH FOCUSES ON IMPROVING RACIAL EQUITY IN MINNESOTA'S MEDICAID SYSTEM.

YOU MENTIONED IN THE REPORT THAT THIS HAS BEEN THE WORK OF MONTHS, I BELIEVE EACH YEARS IN THE MAKING.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE MAJOR FINDINGS FROM THAT REPORT?

>> REALLY TRIED TO OPEN THE REPORT WITH A COUPLE OF GROUNDING QUOTES, REALLY KIND OF SET THE FRAME.

FIRST IS ONE OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.'S MOST WELL-KNOWN QUOTES ABOUT HOW ALL THE FORMS OF INEQUALITY, INJUSTICE IN HEALTH IS THE MOST SHOCKING AND THE MOST INHUMANE AND WE FOLLOWED UP WITH A QUOTE THAT MAY BE A LITTLE LESS KNOWN FROM Dr.

HE HAVE LAND HAMMOND AT HARVARD THAT THERE'S NEVER BEEN A PERIOD IN AMERICAN HISTORY WHERE THE HEALTH OF BLACKS WAS EQUAL TO THOSE OF WHITES.

I THINK IT'S WELL KNOWN THE SYSTEM IN MINNESOTA HAS NOT AFFORDED THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES TO BLACK MINNESOTANS AND AMERICAN INDIANS IN PARTICULAR AND THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN BUILT OVER HUNDREDS OF YEARS IN LARGE PART BY SMALLER POLICY DECISIONS THAT WERE -- SOME WERE XPLICITLY RACIST, IKE RED-LINING OF NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THOSE THAT FAILED TO USE ANY MEASURE OF RACIAL EQUITY CITY START, ONE EXAMPLE IS INITIAL RESPONSE DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC AROUND THE LOCATION OF AND COMMUNICATION ABOUT TESTING RESOURCES.

AND SO WITH THIS REPORT, OUR GOAL IS NOT ONLY TO LAY OUT THE STRUCTURAL INEQUITIES AND WORK WITH THE MOST IMPACTED COMMUNITIES TO HELP PRIORITIZE THE CALL TO ACTION, A REPORT OF SORTS, AND GIVEN THE DISTINCT CURRENT AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT THAT HAS CONTRIBUTED O THE HEALTH DISPARITIES EXPERIENCED BY U.S.

I BONE BLACK COMMUNITIES IN THE U.S., A REPORT FOCUSED ON THIS COMMUNITY, MEETING WITH LEADERS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE REPORT PROCESS TO HELP GUIDE, INFORM THE CALL TO ACTION AND CAME AWAY WITH THREE MAIN CALLS TO ACTION.

IMPROVING RACIAL EQUITY IN ELIGIBILITY ENROLLMENT AND RENEWAL OF MEDICAID IN MINNESOTA.

IMPROVING RACIAL EQUITY AND ACCESS TO CULTURALLY VALUES AND CARE.

AMONGST MEMBERS SERVED BY MEDICAID IN MINNESOTA AND IMPROVING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY AND FAMILIES MEDICAID SERVES.

AND IN THE REPORT WE LAY OUT HOW THERE ARE THE TRUCK ACTUAL INEQUITIES, HOW THEY LEAD TO HEALTH DISPARITIES AND RACIAL HEALTH DISPARITIES AND THAT MEDICAID HAS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IN THAT BUS IT HAS AN IMPACT ON CARE FOR BLACK MINNESOTANS.

WE'RE WORKING WITH [INDISCERNIBLE], WE FOUND THAT MORE THAN 0% OF BLACK MINNESOTANS INCLUDING ALMOST TWO-THIRDS OF [INDISCERNIBLE] GET THEIR HEALTH CARE COVERAGE THROUGH THE MEDICAID PROGRAM.

SO EALLY CAN'T START TO ADDRESS ANY OF THESE RACIAL HEALTH DISPARITIES IN MINNESOTA 23 WE DON'T HAVE MEDICAID AT THE TABLE.

AND WHEN WE LOOKED AT OUR OUTCOMES, IN OUR MEDICAID PROGRAM, WE LOOKED AT COMPARED TO BLACK INNESOTANS BORN OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY, BLACK MINNESOTANS BORN IN THE U.S. HAVE THREE TIMES THE RATE OF CONDITIONS LIKE ASTHMA, DEPRESSION, HEART FAILURE, HEART CONDITIONS THAT LEAVE TO HOSPITALIZATION AND SO WE KNOW THERE IS A SPECIFIC GAP THERE IN THE CARE AND OUTCOMES THAT IS STRUCTURED BY THE INEQUITIES AND STRUCTURAL RACISM THAT WE'VE SEEN PASSED DOWN OVER GENERATIONS.

SO REALLY MEDICAID NEEDS TO BE AT THE TABLE IF WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS RACIAL INEQUITIES IN THE STATE AND IN THE HEALTH CARE.

>> THAT POINT SPEAKS TO WHAT YOU MENTIONED IN THE REPORT ABOUT THE MINNESOTA PARADOX.

A LOT OF MINNESOTA'S HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS BEING VERY BENEFICIAL TO WHITE MINNESOTANS BUT NOT SO MUCH SO FOR BLACK MINNESOTANS.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHY THE FINDINGS IN THIS REPORT AND THE ISSUES THIS REPORT RAISES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED ARE SO IMPORTANT FOR MINNESOTANS TO PAY ATTENTION TO?

>> ONE OF THE OTHER ACTIONS WAS -- IMPROVING SERVICES TO FAMILIES THAT MEDICAID SERVES.

THAT'S A TOP-GOWN POLICY SOLUTIONS HAVE BEEN TRIED REALLY FOR DECADES.

WE KNOW THAT THESE DISPARITIES HAVE EXISTED FOR DECADES AND YET THEY CONTINUE TO GROW AND REALLY ALL F OUR CONVERSATIONS BOTH WITH COMMUNITY AND WITHIN OUR OWN STAFF HIGHLIGHTED A SHARED DESIRE NOR MORE ENGAGEMENT AND CO-CREATION OF POLICIES, AND WHEN WE HAVE FOLKS AT THE TABLE WHO ARE MOST IMPACTED BY HOW THESE SYSTEMS ARE DEVELOPED, THEN WE'RE MORE LIKELY TO GET THE ANSWERS.

WE'VE REALLY SEEN THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC THAT THIS FASTER TRUST BETWEEN STATE AGENCIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES REALLY HAS IMPACTS ON FOLKS' ABILITY TO GET ACCESS THAT THEY NEED TO MAKE THE DECISIONS THEY NEED TO PROTECT THEIR HEALTH AND THEIR COMMUNITY'S HEALTH, SO REPAIR OF THIS TRUST REALLY REQUIRES RELATIONSHIPS BEING BUILT OVER YEARS, IT REQUIRES AN ONGOING CONVERSATION AND ONGOING COMMITMENT TO ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITY.

AND ACTUALLY HAVE THEM AT THE TABLE HELPING US PRIORITIZE THE DECISIONS WE MAKE.

>> CATHY: KYELAND JACKSON HAS FOCUSED A LOT OF ATTENTION RECENTLY ON MEDICAID.

YOU CAN WATCH AND READ HIS THREE-PART SERIES ON THE LITTLE-UNDERSTOOD MEDICAID ESTATE RECOVERY PROGRAM BY GOING TO TPTORIGINALS.ORG/PENNIESONTHE DOLLAR.

WE HAVE THAT ADDRESS ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW.

TPTORIGINALS.ORG/PENNIESONTHE DOLLAR.

UP NEXT, THE 50-YEAR-OLD VIDEO OF PRINCE THAT SURFACED THIS WEEK.

HANG TIGHT AS WE MOVE GUESTS AROUND THE STUDIO.

>> ERIC: THIS NEXT STORY ONLY CAME TO LIGHT BECAUSE OF HARD WORK AND A BIT OF LUCK.

AND IT WAS DONE BY A PERSON WHO FOR DECADES HAS HAPPILY WORKED BEHIND THE SCENES AT A TV STATION.

BUT THIS WEEK, HE'S BEEN IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA TALKING ABOUT THE REMARKABLE INTERNATIONAL STORY HE SET IN MOTION.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DISCOVERY OF THE LONG-LOST FOOTAGE OF 11-YEAR-OLD PRINCE ROGERS NELSON.

HERE TO DO A LITTLE SHOW AND TELL, WCCO TV PRODUCTION MANAGER, MATT LIDDY.

MATT, YOU WEREN'T LOOKING FOR LANDMARK ONE-OF-A-KIND FOOTAGE OF THE YOUNG PRINCE WHEN YOU DISCOVERED THIS.

>> I WAS NOT, I WAS LOOKING FOR COOL BUILDINGS IN THE TWIN CITIES AND I GREW UP HERE AND I STUMBLED UPON A KID WHO LOOKED PRETTY FAMILIAR TO ME.

>> Cathy: NOW YOU WERE LOOKING, WERE YOU NOT, FOR FOOTAGE OF THE 1970 TEACHERS' STRIKE.

>> H-HUH AND SOMEBODY ELSE AT OUR STATION, THE BOSSES HAD THE IDEA TO GO BACK AND FIND SOME FILM AND WE RESTORED IT TO HAVE IT IN A DIGITAL FORM AND ONCE IT WAS IN THE DIGITAL FORM, THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I SAW IT AND I WAS SCRUBBING THROUGH IT AND FAIRLY QUICKLY CAME ACROSS SOME PRETTY INCREDIBLE VIDEO AND WE SPENT SOME TIME MAKING SURE WE THOUGHT WHAT IT WAS.

>> Cathy: I WANT TO SET THIS UP BECAUSE 'CCO DID A STORY ABOUT THE SEARCH, WHAT HAPPENED, IT'S A REALLY GREAT STORY SO WE'LL THROW THAT TO TAPE RIGHT NOW.

GO AHEAD.

>> APRIL, 1970, MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS EDUCATORS WENT ON STRIKE.

WE RESTORED THE FILM TO OFFER CONTEXT TO THE EDUCATOR STRIKE THAT HAPPENED IN THE SAME DISTRICT JUST LAST MONTH.

>> OKAY, SO THERE'S THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION, THAT'S KIND OF COOL.

>> MATT LIDDY IS WCCO'S PRODUCTION MANAGER.

>> I GREW UP IN MINNEAPOLIS SO ALL I CARED ABOUT WAS LOOKING AT COOL OLD BUILDINGS FROM THE PLACE I GREW UP.

>> BUT HIS CURIOSITY TURNED INTO A DISCOVERY WHEN HE SAW A REPORTER INTERVIEWING KIDS AS TEACHERS PICKETED IN THE BAKK UNDERSTAND AND IT WAS THIS YOUNG BOY JUMPING AROUND AND LATER ANSWERING A QUESTION WHO LEFT LIDDY SPEECHLESS.

>> SO THEN I IMMEDIATELY JUST WENT UT TO THE NEWSROOM AND STARTED SHOWING PEOPLE AND SAYING, I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT ARE WHO I THINK THIS IS BUT WHO DO YOU THINK THIS IS?

AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON, PRINCE.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> TELL US THE DETECTIVE WORK THAT CCURRED TO AUTHENTICATE THIS.

>> JEFF WAGNER AND JOE BERG THE KNOT TO JOURNALISTS DID A GREAT JOB OF TRACKING DOWN TWO PEOPLE PRETTY KICKSLY, THEY WORKED ON IT I THINK ON MARCH 28th WAS A MONG, THE FIRST DAY THEY WORKED ON IT WAS A MONDAY, THE FIRST DAZE THEY WORKED ON IT AND THEY WENT TO A HISTORIAN AND SHE LOOKED AT IT ND SHE WAS SHAKING AND SAID, YEAH, THAT WAS HIM.

SO SHE WASN'T SOMEBODY THAT GREW UP WITH HIM SO WE WANTED TO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO WAS A KID WITH HIM AND SHE PUT US IN TOUCH WITH TERENCE JACKSON AND ROLAND JACKSON WHO LIVED NEXT DOOR.

TERENCE WAS IN THE BEERS BAND THAT PRINCE WAS EVER IN SO THEY BROUGHT THE VIDEO TO HIM AND SAME THING, HE IMMEDIATELY SAID, THAT'S SKIPPER, WHICH WAS PRINCE APES'S NICKNAME.

WE CAN'T CUED IM UP AND HE RECOGNIZED ANOTHER KIDS IN THE VIDEO, RONNIE KITCHEN, AND SO WE KNEW IMMEDIATELY WHEN HE SAW THAT, THAT IT WAS WHAT WE THOUGHT IT WAS AND HE -- IT WAS REMARKABLE.

>> Cathy: OF COURSE PEOPLE ARE JUST AGOG OVER THIS BECAUSE THERE WERE VERY FEW PICTURES AND MUCH LESS VIDEO OF A YOUNG PRINCE.

>> YEAH, WHEN I THINK IT'S THE OLDEST VIDEO THAT EXISTS OF PRINCE, WE'RE NOT POSITIVE OF THAT BUT IT'S CERTAINLY THE OLDEST THAT I'VE EVER SEEN AND IT'S BASED ON THE INTERNATIONAL REACTION TO IT, IT'S -- PEOPLE ARE LOVING IT.

>> Eric: YOU CAN'T SEE IT ENOUGH.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE PAY-OFF HERE.

>> ARE MOTH OF THE KIDS IN FAVOR OF THE PICKETING?

>> YEP.

>> HOW COME?

>> UM, I THINK THEY GIVE BETTER EDUCATION, TOO, BECAUSE, UM, AND I THINK THEY SHOULD GET SOME MORE MONEY BECAUSE THEY GON' BE WORKING EXTRA HOURS FOR US.

>> Cathy: IT WAS OUTSIDE HIS JUNIOR HIGH, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT, WITH HIS FRIENDS.

>> Cathy: I'M WONDERING, WAS THIS RAW VIDEO THAT YOU'RE WATCHING, RAW FILM?

>> YEAH, THERE'S AI BUNCH OF FILM REELS IN THE BASEMENT OF WCCO, AND THIS HAPPENED TO BE THE 13 MINUTES THAT OUR OPERATIONS MANAGER FIRST PICKED TO DIGITIZE AND HE HAPPENED TO BE ON THE LAST TWO MINUTES OF IT.

>> Eric: SO THIS WAS NEVER EVEN ON THE AIR.

>> NO, NOT -- I DON'T THINK THIS WAS ON THE AIR IN 1970 SO IT WAS PROBABLY ON AIR FOR THE FIRST TIME NOW.

>> Eric: NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK UNDERSTATES THE SITUATION.

>> IT WAS.

THERE ERE 100 THINGS THAT HAD TO HAPPEN FOR THIS VIDEO TO COME TO LIGHT.

>> YOU HAVE A THOUSAND CANS OF FILM USED AND UNUSED IN THE STORAGE AREA?

>> YEP, IN THE BASEMENT.

>> WILL -- MANAGEMENT NOW WILL SAY, MATT GET DOWN THERE AND FIND SOME MORE FOR ANOTHER EXCLUSIVE.

>> THIS IS A PRETTY GOOD WAY TO PITCH FOR SOME MONEY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN BECAUSE IT'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN VERY GOOD FOR THE STATION.

>> Eric: WHERE HAVE YOU APPEARED?

>> I -- THE NEW YORK TIMES" INTERVIEWED ME THE OTHER DAY, I DID A RADIO INTERVIEW WITH RADIO NEW ZEALAND, ALL OVER THE PLACE, IT'S JUST -- YOU GUYS, I'M ON ALMANAC, A VERY FUN WEEK.

>> Cathy: YEAH, AND NOTHING HAPPENS BY ACCIDENT.

I MEAN, ISN'T IT INTERESTING, COMING UP ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF HIS PASSING, TOO, IN APRIL.

>> I SAID TO SOMEBODY ELSE, THE PURPLE ONE WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS.

IT'S A WEIRD -- >> Cathy: FOR SURE.

I WOULD GO DOWN TO THE BASEMENT WITH YOU AND I'M JUST CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT ELSE IS DOWN THERE.

>> ME TOO, IT'S FASCINATING.

>> Eric: DID WE NEED A FELL-GOOD STORY AND YOU BROUGHT US ONE, SO THANKS.

>> I'M HAPPY SO.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

GOOD WORK.

>> Eric: THANKS.

♪♪ >> NEVER MIND THE LOUSY WEATHER OF THIS WEEK.

WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO TALK ABOUT IS POLITICAL METEOROLOGY.

AS IN, THERE'S A PROJECTED $9.3 BILLION STATE SURPLUS, WHICH MEANS THE SUN IS SHINING AND THERE IS PARTISAN HAY TO BE MADE.

OVER AT THE CAPITOL, OUR POLITICOS ARE FALLING INTO THEIR PREDICTABLE CAMPS.

DFLERS WANT TO INVEST A BUNCH OF THE MONEY IN THINGS LIKE EDUCATION.

REPUBLICANS WANT TAX CUTS.

THE ONLY OUTCOME I CAN PREDICT WITH ANY CERTAINTY IS THAT THE FOLKS WE ELECTED WILL, SOMEHOW, INEVITABLY, FIND A WAY TO CHOKE ALL THE JOY OF THIS WINDFALL.

BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY.

I HAPPEN TO HAVE AN ELEGANT LITTLE BIPARTISAN SOLUTION THAT CAN BE SUMMED UP IN TWO WORDS... PIZZA OVENS.

HEAR ME OUT.

BUYING A PIZZA OVEN FOR EVERY HOUSEHOLD IN MINNESOTA IS A POLITICAL WIN-WIN.

LIBERALS GET TO GIVE STUFF AWAY, WHICH THEY LOVE.

CONSERVATIVES CHERISH SELF-RELIANCE.

AND WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE MORE AUTONOMOUS THAN CHOOSING YOUR OWN DOUGH, TOPPINGS, SAUCE, AND LEVEL OF CRUST CRISPINESS?

PLUS, AND I MAY HAVE MENTIONED THIS BEFORE, PIZZA!

ACCORDING TO A 2021 HARRIS POLL, IT'S AMERICA'S MOST POPULAR FOOD, JUST THE THING FOR OUR POLARIZED TIMES.

I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH, AND IT TURNS OUT THAT THERE IS A MINNESOTA-BASED MANUFACTURER OF PIZZA OVENS.

THEY'LL PROBABLY NEED TO GEAR UP TO QUICKLY PRODUCE 2.2 MILLION UNITS.

HELLO, JOBS PROGRAM!

WITH THE VOLUME DISCOUNT, I FIGURE WE CAN GET THIS DONE FOR, LIKE, $750 MILLION.

LET THE POLITICIANS HAGGLE OVER THE REST; INFRASTRUCTURE, REBATES, TAX RELIEF, WHATEVER.

SURE, WE'LL HAVE TO ENDURE YET ANOTHER RANCOROUS DEBATE.

BUT AT LEAST WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO SO WITH A FULL BELLY.

♪♪ >> CATHY: THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT SHELETTA BRUNDIDGE, SHE'S VERY FUNNY.

AND HER CHILDREN MEAN THE WORLD TO HER.

IN THE NEXT FEW MINUTES, WE'LL LAUGH A FEW TIMES, BUT THE FOCUS WILL BE ON HER SON, BRANDON.

IN HONOR OF NATIONAL AUTISM MONTH, SHELETTA HAS WRITTEN HER THIRD CHILDREN'S BOOK, "BRANDON SPOTS HIS SIGN."

THE BOOK HAS A CURIOUS ORIGIN STORY WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT FOR THE NEXT FEW MINUTES.

ALL RIGHT.

YOUR THIRD BOOK.

>> MY THIRD BOOK IN TWO YEARS, I'M BUSY, GIRL, BUSY.

>> Cathy: YOU'RE ALWAYS BUSY.

NOW, THIS IS BASED ON SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO YOUR SON, BRANDON.

>> IT DID.

WE WERE ON VACATION IN HOUSTON AT THE RODEO IN AN R.V.

PARK, IN A GOLF CHART, RIDING AROUND AND MY SON THOUGHT THAT EVERYBODY WAS THERE TO SEE HIM.

HE WAS SO EXCITED THAT PEOPLE WERE CHEERING HIM ON, HE GOT CONFIDENCE AND HE WAS STRUTTING AROUND LIKE A PROUD PEACOCK AND I SAID, WHAT IS GOING ON WITH YOU?

HE SAID, MOMMA, THESE PEOPLE LOVE ME HERE.

THEY HAVE MY SIGN UP.

AND I HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS AND RIDING AROUND ON THE GOLF CART, HE SAID, MOMMY, STOP, TOP.

THERE'S MY SON, I SPOTTED MY SIGN.

DUE SPOT IT?

NO, HONEY, I DON'T SEE A SIGN, I SEE A BOOK.

HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THOSE "LET'S GO BRANDON FLAGS."

>> Cathy: OKAY, HE THOUGHT THAT WAS FOR HIM.

>> HE THOUGHT THEY WERE ALL THERE FOR HIM, ALL THE PEOPLE, FLAGS, THEY WERE WELCOMING HIM TO TEXAS.

>> Cathy: VERSUS BEING SOMETHING DERISIVE AGAINST THE PRESIDENT.

>> YES, YES.

>> Cathy: WELL, BLESS HIS HEART.

>> HE'S JUST SO SWEET AND I DIDN'T HAVE THE HEART TO TELL HIM OTHERWISE.

[Laughter] >> Cathy: NOW, SO YOU DECIDED TO WRITE A BOOK ABOUT IT.

>> I DID.

>> Cathy: DID HE PERK HIMSELF UP?

>> HE PERKED HIMSELF UP AND SOME KIDS WITH AUTISM HAVE A LOT OF SOCIAL ANXIETY AND BRANDON IS A STUDDERRER, SO SOMETIMES HE'S AFRAID TO TALK, AFRAID TO TRY NEW THINGS AND HE SAW THESE SIGNS AND THIS IS A BOY WHO WON'T SHOWER BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT THE WATER TO GET IN IS NOSE.

HE WAS READY TO JUMP IN THE POOL, RIDE HIS BIKE WITHOUT TRAININGS WHEELS.

HE WAS RIDING AROUND ON THE OLDER BROTHER'S HOVER BOARD DOING DO NUTS, FULL OF CONFIDENCE AND PRIDE AND PURPOSE AND HE LOVED THOSE FLAGS.

HE SAID, MOM, CAN WE GET THOSE FLAGS AND PUT THEM ALL OVER THE HOUSE, I WAS LIKE, NO, SON, WE CAN'T.

NOT A GOOD IDEA.

>> Cathy: COULD YOU READ FROM THE BOOK FOR US?

>> I WILL, I WILL.

[Overlapping Conversation] >> THE I WILL VACATIONS ARE BEAUTIFUL.

>> OH, MY GOODNESS, DARCY BEL MEYER, SHE DOES AN AWESOME JOB, WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER ON ALL THREE CHILDREN'S BOOKS AND I LOVE HER.

HER DAUGHTER ALSO HAS AUTISM SO THIS IS A PASSION PROJECT FOR HER, OO.

IT SAYS MY DAD IS A GOOD SWIMMER.

HE DOES NOT HAVE AUTISM.

WHAT IF I CAN'T SWIM?

WHAT IF THE WATER IS TOO COLD?

WHAT IF IT GOES UP MY NOSE?

BUT THEN I SPOT A SIGN.

AND OFF I GO, AND SO HE TURNS INTO THIS OLYMPIC SWIMMER.

HE GAINS AM THIS CONFIDENCE AND HE IS SO EXCITED ABOUT JUST TRYING ALL THESE NEW THINGS.

>> Cathy: OF COURSE I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE GOOD FRIEND AND I'VE ALWAYS -- I'VE BEEN SO DEEPLY IMPRESSED WITH YOUR ADVOCACY FOR YOUR KIDS.

>> YEAH, IT'S NOT JUST MY KIDS, IT'S ALL PARENTS WHO HAVE CHILDREN ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM.

I WORKED WITH CAR RYE DZIEDZIC TO DO OFFICER AUTISM TRAINING AND FUND THAT.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO HELP OFFICER OF COLOR TO UNDERSTAND AND LEARN HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO GET THOSE TESTS DONE EARLY AND OFTEN AND THE REASON I PUT THESE BOOKS OUT IS SO PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND AND KNOW THAT KIDS IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR HAVE AUTISM, TOO.

A LOT OF TIMES OUR KIDS GET DISCIPLINED INSTEAD OF GETTING A DIAGNOSIS.

THEY THOUGHT MY DAUGHTER HAD A BAD ATTITUDE WHERE SHE REALLY COULDN'T TALK BECAUSE OF HER ANXIETY BECAUSE OF AUTISM.

SHE GOT A SPECIALIZED PROGRAM AT SCHOOL, SHE HAS TESTED OFF IT IS SPECTRUM, NO LONGER GETS SPECIAL SERVICES.

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT WAS POSSIBLE SO WE OFFER THESE STORIES TO ALL FAMILIES SO THAT THEY'LL HAVE HOPE THAT THINGS CAN AND WILL GET BETTER.

>> Cathy: WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT FOLKS WHO HAVE AUTISM?

>> THAT THEY'RE NOT SMART.

THEY'RE NOT SMART, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND.

JUST BECAUSE THEY CAN'T TALK DOESN'T MEAN THEY CAN'T LEARN AND UNDERSTAND.

JUST BECAUSE THEY CAN'T SPEAK DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE NOT PROCESSING WHAT YOU'RE SAYING TO THEM AND HAVE THEIR OWN THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS.

MY SON, DANIEL, WAS FOUR AND A HALF BEFORE HE STARTED TALKING.

YOU REMEMBER THAT, HE SANG OLD TOWN ROAD AND, GIRL, DON'T EVEN START ME CRYING UP IN HERE, CATHY.

>> Cathy: I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT WHEN I SAW THE VIDEO.

HERE'S THIS LITTLE BOY WHO WAS NOT VERBAL.

>> NONE.

>> Cathy: AND HE IS SINGING THIS SONG BY LITTLE NAZ X.

>> BY HIMSELF THAT LETS US KNOW THAT THEY LEARN DIFFERENTLY.

SO NSTEAD OF US TRYING TO GET THEM TO COMMUNICATE WITH US AND THE WAY WE TALK, WE NEED TO LEARN HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH HIM SO WITH DANIEL, ANY TIME WE SING, HE LEARNS IT AND PICKS IT UP.

THIS BOY IS 7 YEARS OLD, READING AT A FOURTH GRADE LEVEL BOOKS AND HE'S DOING MATH ON FIFTH AND SIXTH GRADE LEVELS.

>> Cathy: IS HE?

>> ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SING.

>> Cathy: WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED AS A PARENT?

>> PATIENCE, PATIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE AND TO NEVER GIVE UP HOPE.

AND TO ALWAYS BE LOOKING FOR THE SILVER LINING IN EVERYTHING, SO EVEN IF IT'S A DEROGATORY FLAG, THERE MAY BE SOMETHING GOOD.

WE MAKE LEMONADE OUT OF LEMMONS OVER HERE, CATHY.

>> Cathy: SO THIS IS YOUR THIRD BOOK, I BET YOU HAVE A FOURTH ONE.

>> I DO.

>> Cathy: I KNEW IT.

>> I'M GOING TO DO ONE ABOUT MY SON ANDREW, I AM SPECIAL TOO.

HE IS THE OLDER BROTHER TO THREE KIDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND HE IS AMAZING.

HE'S ALWAYS TAKING CARE OF THEM AND LOOKING FOUGHT ARE OUT FOR THEM SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE KIDS WHO DON'T HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS BUT HAVE SIBLINGS THAT DO ARE ALSO RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR HARD WORK.

THEY ARE ADVOCATES, TOO.

>> Cathy: THEY ARE.

I HAD A FEELING YOU HAD A FOURTH BOOK IN YA.

>> I DO.

>> Cathy: THAT, THE PODCASTING.

>> HANGING OUTS WITH YOU -- >> Cathy: HERE.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT -- TAKE OVER THE WORLD, I WOULD SAY.

>> THAT'S IT, THAT'S IT.

[Laughter] >> Cathy: LOVE YOU.

>> LOVE US TOO.

>> Cathy: SKI YA LATER.

>> Cathy: SEE YA LATER.

>> ERIC: DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS JOINED FORCES THIS WEEK AT THE CAPITOL TO HONOR A FAMOUS MINNESOTAN GONE TOO SOON.

THE GOVERNOR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, HOUSE SPEAKER, U.S.

SENATOR AND STATE LAWMAKERS ALL GOT BEHIND THE EFFORT TO DECLARE VINCE FLYNN DAY IN MINNESOTA ON HIS BIRTHDAY.

THE AUTHOR OF POLITICAL THRILLER NOVELS CONNECTED WITH READERS EVERYWHERE, AND AS MARY LAHAMMER SHOWS US, HE REMAINED A PROUD RESIDENT OF THE NORTHSTAR STATE UNTIL THE END.

>> WELCOME TO VINCE FLYNN DAY.

>> Mary: VINCE FLYNN, A SON OF St. AUL WHO BECAME A BEST-SELLING AUTHOR DREAMED BIG.

>> VINCE, YOU KNOW, HE IMAGINED A LOT OF GOALS FOR HIMSELF AND HE ACHIEVED A LOT OF GOALS.

THIS IS ONE I DON'T THINK HE WOULD HAVE EVEN EVER IMAGINED.

>> Mary: STATE REPRESENTATIVE JIM NASH SAYS HE QUICKLY GOT HOOKED ON THE POLITICAL THEY WILLERS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN BY HIM.

>> THIS IS AN ADVANCED COPY OF THE LAST BOOK, TOTAL POWER.

>> Mary: HOW DO YOU GET AN ADVANCED READER COMPANY?

>> YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE SECRET HANDSHAKE.

ACTUALLY, IT WAS AN APPLICATION, SO I SUBMITTED MY APPLICATION AND AND I HAD TO SUBMIT MY TWITTER HANDLE, AND I PUT MY@REP NASH, AND THEY ASKED ABOUT THE REPRESENTATIVE THING AND THIS IS HOW THE WHOLE THING STARTED ABOUT THE VINCE FLYNN DAY.

>> Mary: DO YOU EVER GIVE FEED BACKS O.BACK ABOUT THE POLITICS, WHAT THEY ARE AND AREN'T GETTING RIGHT?

>> I HAVE MADE COMMENTARY BUT THEY DO A GOOD JOB.

>> Mary: YOU WOULD KNOW THAT.

IF IT WAS NOT AUTHENTIC, YOU WOULD SAY THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS >> >> THE FERTILIZER WOULD RISE UP AND SAY IT'S NOT VERY GOOD.

BUT THEY'RE GOOD.

>> Mary: HE DID A LOT OF CONSERVATIVE MEDIA SO PEOPLE ASSUMED HE HAD ERTAIN BELIEFS BUT KNOWING HIM AND HIS AMILY AND FRIENDS, HE WAS LIKE A LOT OF INDEPENDENT LIBERTARIAN VOTERS, SOCIALLY, ARE LIBERAL I FISCALLY VERY MODERATE.

>> SOME BAD THINGS, NOW YOU WANT TO GO KILL TERRORISTS, RIGHT?

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT HIS POLITICS, PEOPLE TRIED TO GUESS AND TALK ABOUT IT AND I KNOW HIS MAIN CHARACTER WAS POLITICALLY NEUTRAL.

WHAT WERE HIS POLITICS AND DID IT MATTER?

>> EVERYTHING YOU SAID WAS PRETTY SPOT-ON.

HE WAS A GOOD LISTENER BECAUSE HE ALWAYS WANTED TO LEARN, HIS EARS WERE OPEN AND HE LOVED A GOOD DEBATE, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE -- >> Mary: LIKE A LOT OF MINNESOTANS.

>> I MET VINCE THE VERY SAME NIGHT THAT I MET AMELIA, SO SOMEONE INTRODUCED ME TO VINCE AND SAID, HEY, YOU SHOULD MEET THIS GUY, YOU GUYS WOULD GET ALONG, YOU WOULD LOVE HIM.

NINE MONTHS LATER I WAS AT A FOOTBALL GAME AND I MET THIS PRETTY YOUNG WOMAN AND I SAID -- I CALLED UP VIN IMMEDIATELY AND SAID YOU HAVE TO GET DOWN TO THIS GAME, THIS GIRL IS GREAT, REALLY CUTE AND YOU WOULD REALLY LIKE HER AND THAT WAS LISA AND THINK ENDED UP GETTING MARRIED.

SO I HAVE A LOT OF INTERTWINED VINCE CONNECTIONS.

ED IN OUR VIEWERS WOULD LOVE THIS, TOO, BECAUSE YOU'RE CABIN BUDDIES.

>> YEAH, VINCE LOVED TO CONTROL AS MUCH AS HE COULD IN THE WORLD AND IN HIS BOOKS AND EVERYTHING ELSE AND HE BOUGHT THE CABIN NEXT TO HIM IN WISCONSIN.

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S JUST MY WIFE AND I WILL NEVER LEAVE THIS TOWN.

WE LOVE IT HERE.

>> Mary: VINCE FLYNN STAYED IN MINNESOTA.

HOW IMPORTANT THAT WAS TO HIM, AND YOUR WHOLE FAMILY FOR THAT MATTER.

>> YEAH, IT REALLY WAS NEVER A CONSIDERATION FOR HIM TO EVER BE RELOCATED AND, YOU KNOW, OUR KIDS WERE ALWAYS GOING TO GO TO SCHOOL HERE.

>> VINCE LOVED MINNESOTA.

HE WAS SUCH A St. PAUL GUY.

HE WAS AN EVANGELIST FOR MINNESOTA WHEN HE TRAVELED AROUND THE WORLD SO THIS IS REALLY AN APPROPRIATE AND GOOD HONOR AND DAY.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT HIS DECISION DELIBERATELY TO STAY IN MINNESOTA, TO KEEP HIS INFLUENCE HERE, TO KEEP HIS TAX DOLLARS HERE, TO KEEP HIS PHILANTHROPY HERE?

>> SO THAT'S I THINK ONE OF THE MOST COMPELLING PIECES OF THE VINCE FLYNN STORY, AND AS I HAD SAID EARLIER, IF YOU BECOME A FAMOUS WRITER, YOU CAN LIVE ANYWHERE, THAT'S A GREAT TESTIMONY TO MINNESOTAN EXCEPTIONALITYISM AND SOMEONE WHO'S WILDLY UCCESSFUL CHOOSES TO STAY PUT.

>> Mary: IN THE EN HISTORY UMP OVER A LEARNING DISABILITY, SELF-PUBLISHING START AND UNTIMELY ENDS, PASSING AWAY F AGGRESSIVE CANCER AT JUST 47 HAS HIM MISSED BY MANY IN MINNESOTA AND BEYOND.

>> BEING SICK, TOO, I THINK YOU HAVE ALMOST AN EXTRA SENSORY PERCEPTION OF THINGS THAT A LOT OF US DON'T HAVE, SO, YEAH.

>> Mary: HOW ABOUT HIS ACCESS BECAUSE THERE ARE STORIES BEING TOLD, HE WAS IN PRESIDENT BUSH'S LIMOUSINE, I MEAN, PRESIDENTS, U.S.

SENATORS, I HAD DIRECT ACCESS TO THE HIGH LEVELS OF POWER?

>> WELL, THERE'S JUST SOMETHING ABOUT THAT SMILE HE HAD AND HE WAS VERY -- PEOPLE TRUSTED HIM AND HE WAS SO ENGAGING, HE JUST KNEW HISTORY ALWAYS REPEATS ITSELF.

HE WAS KIND OF ABLE TO LOOK INTO THE FUTURE AND KNOW -- 9/11 WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT HE ACTUALLY WAS WRITING ABOUT IT BEFORE IT HAPPENED AND HAD TO SCRATCH ALL OF THAT BECAUSE IT WAS JUST NO ONE'S GOING TO BELIEVE THIS.

PRESIDENT BUSH EVEN ASKED HIM, HOW DO YOU KNOW ALL THIS?

♪ >> YOU HAVEN'T TALKED THAT MUCH ABOUT BEING THE KING OF THE IRON RANGE DELEGATION AND YOUR TIME AS TAX CHAIR.

TO ME IT SEEMED LIKE YOU ENJOYED THAT JOB ALMOST MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

>> >> PROBABLY MORE THAN ALMOST ANYTHING ELSE AND I THINK ALL TAX COMMITTEE MEMBERS TAKE SPENDING MONEY MORE SERIOUSLY THAN OTHER MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.

I HAVE TO JOKE WITH PEOPLE, YOU'RE ASKING ME TO SPEND A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS ON THIS.

DO YOU REALIZE WE DON'T PRINT THE MONEY IN THE BASEMENT?

EVERY DIME WE SPEND WE TAKE OUT OF OMEBODY'S WALLET AND THAT'S SERIOUS.

>> Mary: DO YOU LEAVE WANTING TO BE DESCRIBED AS A DEMOCRAT, A REPUBLICAN, AN INDEPENDENT?

HOW DO YOU WANT TO BE THOUGHT OF?

>> I'M A CARPENTER.

IF THERE IS ONE OCCUPATION OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY WHAT'S MORE PROBLEM-SOLVERS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS BUT CARPENTERS SOLVE PROBLEMS BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, YOU NEVER GET ANYTHING BUILT.

>> CATHY: IT WAS A NOTABLE WEEK IN POLITICS.

THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN WAS ELEVATED TO THE SUPREME COURT, RUSSIA WAS SUSPENDED FROM THE U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL, AND EARLY VOTING BEGAN IN THE SPECIAL ELECTION TO FILL THE CONGRESSIONAL SEAT OF THE LATE JIM HAGEDORN.

EACH TOPIC IS ON THE AGENDA WITH A PAIR OF POLITICAL SCIENTISTS.

KATHRYN PEARSON IS A PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

CYNTHIA RUGELY TEACHES POLITICS AT UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA-DULUTH.

GOOD TO SEE YOU IN PERSON.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, NICE PLACE YOU HAVE HERE.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THIS IS OUR LIVING ROOM.

USUALLY WE SEE YOU IN YOURS SO I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE.

WE MADE SOME HISTORY THIS WEEK, AS I MENTIONED, JUDGE JACKSON IS NOW JUSTICE JACKSON.

TALK ABOUT THIS IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS.

>> IT IS HISTORY.

IT TOOK A LONG TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY TO REACH THIS POINT AND IT'S -- IT IS HISTORY AND IT'S SUCH A STRONG POINT FOR A LOT OF YOUNG WOMEN, YOUNG BLACK WOMEN SO, AGAIN, IT'S A POSITIVE ENDS TO KIND OF A ROUGH WEEK.

>> Eric: WHITE MEN NO LONGER HAVE A MAJORITY ON THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Eric: THAT'S SORT OF SHOCKING, ISN'T IT?

>> WELL, IF YOU LOOK AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE COUNTRY, IT SHOULDN'T BE BUT GIVEN WHERE WE'VE COME FROM, YES.

OF COURSE THERE IS STILL ON MOST ISSUES A 6-3 CONSERVATIVE IDEOLOGICAL MAJORITY ON THE COURT AND SO WHILE I'M EXTREMELY HISTORIC MOMENT, IT DOES NOT CHANGE THE IDEOLOGICAL BREAKDOWN, ALTHOUGH OF COURSE JUSTICE-TO-BE JACKSON WILL BRING SOME UNIQUE EXPERTISE, THE FIRST PUBLIC DEFENDER EVER TO BECOME A SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, AND IT ALSO FULFILLS A REALLY SIGNIFICANT CAMPAIGN PROMISE THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN MADE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

>> Eric: DOES THE APPOINTMENT, THE HEARINGS AND THE VOTE BIPARTISANSHIP VOTE, DOES IT HAVE ANY IMPACTS AT ALL ON THE MID-TERMS?

>> WELL, I THINK IT COULD IF -- I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF THE REPUBLICAN SENATORS WERE PUSHING TOWARD IS TO MAYBE MOBILIZE A BASE THAT THEY'VE HAD OVER RECENT ELECTIONS, THOSE CONSERVATIVES WHO ARE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN THE COURT.

I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT -- I WOULD HINK THAT THE DEMOCRATS LIKEWISE WILL USE IT IN CERTAIN STATES WHERE THERE IS A HEAVY BLACK VOTE AND WHERE IT IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE THIS IS A VICTORY.

YOU COULD TELL IT WAS EMOTIONAL VICTORY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY.

>> Cathy: GO AHEAD.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, AND MID-TERM ELECTION TURNOUT IS TYPICALLY - AROUND 20 POINTS LOWER THAN GENERAL ELECTION TURNOUT, SO THE EXTENT TO WHICH IT CAN MOBILIZE BOTH PARTIES BASES, BOTH PARTIES WILL BE TRYING FOR THAT AND YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE SOUND BYTES IN THE MAKING DURING THE CONFIRMATION HEARINGS.

>> Cathy: SPEAKING OF THE MID-TERMS, THE ISTORICAL POINT TO IT COULD BE A BIG G.O.P.

YEAR BUT I'M WONDERING, HOW DOES RUSSIA FIT INTO THE MID-TERMS?

>> I THINK THE BIG ISSUE IS PROBABLY PRICE OF FOOD, INFLATION.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S DRIVING A LOT OF IT AND IT'S ALSO -- THE PARTY IN POWER ALWAYS HAS A ROUGH YEAR AND IF YOU LOOK AT A LOT OF SURVEY DATA, IT COULD BE A A BEATING BUT, I MEAN, IT'S STILL A LITTLE BIT EARLY WHERE IT REALLY HAS A LITTLE BIT OF EFFECT NOW WILL A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE ENTER A RACE IF THEY'RE THINKING IT'S GOING TO BE A ROUGH ELECTION YEAR FOR DEMOCRATS.

AS FAR AS RUSSIA, YOU KNOW, I I -- I DON'T KNOW.

THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION, IF IT'S STILL GOING ON IN NOVEMBER AND WE'RE STIM INVESTING, PEOPLE MIGHT FEEL DIFFERENTLY ABOUT IT THAN THEY DO NOW.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE RIGHT NOW OF WHAT THIS COUNTRY'S DOING AND HELPING OUT UKRAINE AND I MEAN, WHEN YOU HAVE STORIES LIKE WE DID TODAY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE TRAIN STATION, I THINK THAT BUILDS UP A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE.

I'M NOT SEEING, YOU KNOW -- I'M NOT SEEING AMONG MEMBERS OF CONGRESS MUCH DIFFERENCES OVER IT RIGHT NOW.

I MEAN, I THINK THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME MEMBERS OF THE SENATE, FOR EXAMPLE, AND HE HOUSE WHO HAVE VOTED AGAINST SOME FUNDING THAT COULD BE USED AGAINST THEM IN A COMPETITIVE DISTRICT.

BUT WE'LL SEE.

>> Eric: A COUPLE OF HINGS THAT MIGHT CHANGE THE DYNAMIC, WHATEVER THE SUPREME COURT DOES WITH ABORTION ND MAYBE THE FINDINGS AND PUBLICITY SURROUNDING THE JANUARYth COMMISSION?

>> THAT'S RIGHT, AND SORT OF THINKING ABOUT THE MID-TERMS, I THINK THAT THAT WILL COME AFTER THE SUPREME COURT, OF COURSE, DECIDES IN JUNE AND SO LATE MAY OR JUNE, AND SO THAT WILL MEAN MOBILIZATION ON BOTH SIDES, NOT JUST IN THE MID-TERM ELECTIONS FOR THE U.S. HOUSE, THE U.S. SENATE WHERE 34 SENATE RACES ARE OPEN BUT IN EVERY STATE LEGISLATURE BECAUSE NOW WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF THE ACTION ON ABORTION IS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURES, WE JUST SAW OKLAHOMA WITH ITS ABORTION BAN SO IT WILL BE AN ISSUE BOTH NATIONALLY BUT PARTICULARLY IN STATE LEGISLATIVE AND GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS.

>> Eric: OFF THE BEATEN TRACK, THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE MODERNIZATION OF CONGRESS AND, PROFESSOR PEARSON ADDRESSED THAT PANEL BY ZOOM.

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

>> Eric: THIS IS HE -- THE IDEA HERE IS WHAT APPENS F HALF CONGRESS GETS KILLED IN A CHEMICAL ATTACK OR SOMETHING?

>> THAT IS THE LATEST ISSUE THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON, SO THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE MODERNIZATION OF CONGRESS WAS CREATED BY SPEAKER PELOSI IN 2019, THE ONLY COMMITTEE IN THE U.S. HOUSE THAT'S COMPRISED OF AGE EQUAL NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS AND SO EVERYTHING THEY DO IS BIPARTISAN AND THEY ARE CHARGED WITH FIXING CONGRESS.

SO A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'VE PASSED SO FAR, AND THEY'VE BEEN ACTUALLY QUITE PRODUCTIVE, HAVE RELATED TO HUMAN RESOURCES, INCLUDING PAYING STAFF BETTER, DIVERSIFYING STAFF, BECAUSE STAFF, OF COURSE, EXPERT TEES IS VERY IMPORTANT AND CONGRESS HAS A STAFF PROBLEM RIGHT NOW.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT I ACTUALLY WORKED ON AND TESTIFIED ON ZOOM BEFORE THE COMMITTEE.

>> Eric: WHAT ABOUT THIS LINE OF SUCCESSION.

>> >> -- OF 2020 BUT RIGHT NOW WHAT THEY'RE WORKING ON IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT AND AFTER 9/11, IT BECAME CLEAR THAT CONGRESS HAS NO PLAN TO REPLACE ITS MEMBERS IF A QUORUM OR HALF OF THEM OR A GOOD CLUNK OF THEM ARE KILLED OR TAKEN OUT, WHETHER A TERRORIST ATTRACT OR SOMETHING, WHATEVER.

BECAUSE CONSTITUTIONALLY, MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE HAVE TO BE ELECTED IN SPECIAL ELECTIONS, IT'S NOT LIKE THE SENATE WHERE THEY CAN BE APPOINTED.

AND SO CONGRESS STARTED WORKING ON THIS AFTER 9/11, COULD NOT COME TO A BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT AND SORT OF GAVE IT UP BUT JUST RECENTLY, THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE MODERNIZATION OF CONGRESS HAS TAKEN UP THIS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE AGAIN.

>> Cathy: WOW.

>> THAT'S VERY INTERESTING.

>> Cathy: IT IS INTERESTING.

SAY, DO YOU WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT -- GO BACK TO MID-TERMS JUST A MOMENT IF WE COULD AND TALK ABOUT TURNOUT.

ERIC AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS OFF-AIR.

DEMOCRATS ARE -- HAVE THIS MOVE THAT IS KIND OF INTERESTING WHERE INSTEAD OF GOING DOOR TO DOOR, PEOPLE ARE BEING PAID -- YOUR NEIGHBORS ARE GETTING PAID TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING.

>> Eric: IT'S CALLED PAID RELATIONAL ORGANIZING.

>> Cathy: THERE YOU GO, WHICH I HAD NEVER HEARD OF BEFORE.

IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING.

>> THEY USED TO CALL IT WALK-AROUND MONEY, THEY'VE HAD IT DOWN IN SOUTH TEXAS, IT WAS PRETTY COMMON TO HAVE THAT DONE DOWN THERE, TOO, BUT, YEAH, AND, I MEAN, IT'S -- THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO GET PEOPLE TO VOTE IS TO ASK THEM TO AND SO, I MEAN, IT'S AN INTERESTING CONCEPT IN THE FACT THAT IT'S PEOPLE YOU KNOW COMING AND TALKING TO YOU ABOUT VOTING FOR THEM.

I MEAN, I THINK IT'S HELPFUL WHEN CANDIDATES GET UT AND KNOCK ON DOORS AND YOU'LL SEE A LOT MORE OF THAT THIS TIME THAN YOU DID WITH THE PANDEMIC WINDING DOWN, WE HOPE, APPARENTLY, FOR A WHILE, AND SO AGAIN I THINK IT'S AN INTERESTING CONCEPT.

AND ACTUALLY, IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY'VE DONE, LIKE, SAY THEY DID IT DOWN IN SOUTH TEXAS A LOT WHEN I WAS DOWN THERE, YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE STREET-LEVEL PEOPLE, THEY CALLED IT WALKING AROUND MONEY THAT THEY WOULD PAY TO DO THAT AND MOBILIZE NEIGHBORS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

A NICE LITTLE ARMY OF -- >> Cathy: DOES IT WORK?

>> IT MOBILIZES VOTERS, AGAIN, I MEAN, EVERYTHINGS YOU DO IN A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN IS DONE TO MOBILIZE VOTERS, TO GET OUT YOUR VOTE.

>> Eric: I'VE SEEN SOME REPUBLICAN EFFORTS TO REGISTER PEOPLE TO VOTE AT THE GAS STATION WHILE THEY'RE ANGRY ABOUT -- >> ABOUT THE PRICE OF GAS.

>> Eric: TURNOUT IS THE BIG DEAL IN A MIDTERM.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

TURNOUT IS A BIG DEAL.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT PERSUADING YOUR VOTERS, HIS IS ABOUT TURNING OUT YOUR BASE AND THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALIGNED WITH YOUR PARTY AND SO THAT'S WHAT BOTH SIDES WILL BE WORKING ON BUT AS CINDY MENTIONED, DEMOCRATS ARE DISADVANTAGED, BEING THE PARTY IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

THINK BACK TO 2018, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S PARTY LOSS 40 SEATS BACK TO 12010, OBAMA'S PARTY LOST 63 SEATS BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH IT'S A MID I TERM ELECTION, IT REALLY IS A REFERENDUM ON THE PRESIDENT AND PRESIDENT BUY ACCIDENT SEAS RATINGS ARE HOVERING AROUND IN THE 40s RIGHT NOW.

>> IT ALSO AFFECTS WHAT THE CONDITION IS, ARE THESE WHAT THEY CALL THE REALLY GOOD CANDIDATES, THE GOOD CANDIDATES GOING TO GET IN THE RACE, OR IS A DEMOCRAT GOING TO SIGN NOT MY TIME.

>> Eric: TRUMP FACTOR?

>> ABSOLUTELY, BOTH IN THE PRIMARIES WHERE WE'RE SEEING REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES RUNNING, SORT OF TALKING ABOUT HOW FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS ENDORSED THEM, R NOT, DEPENDING ON THE RACE, AND THEN OF COURSE THE BIG WILD CARD WHETHER OR NOT PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL RUN AGAIN IN 2024 IS STILL HOVERING OVER THIS RACE SO CANDIDATES ARE TRYING TO APPEAL TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND HIS FOLLOWERS WHO STILL MAKE UP SORT OF LARGE CHUNKS OF REPUBLICANS IN MANY DISTRICTS.

>> Cathy: SO THE RACE FOR THE FIRST DISTRICT, THE JIM HAGEDORN SEAT IS INTERESTING.

20-PLUS CANDIDATES IN THAT RACE.

TURNOUT IS BIG BUT NAME I.D.

IS PROBABLY EVEN BIGGER.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> Eric: HOW DO YOU SORT OUT THAT HUGE A FIELD?

>> IN AN ELECTION LIKE THIS, IT CAN GO ANYWHERE.

WE WERE ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, KATHRYN AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS VER THIS A MOMENT AGO.

IT IS REALLY HARD TO PREDICT SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHO'S GOING TO VOTE.

IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE IT DOES SEEM TO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES OF BOTH FAXES OF DEMOCRATIC PARTY -- I MEAN, I'M SORRY, BOTH FAXES OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY SO, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LOT OF QUESTIONS ON WHO IS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN MINNESOTA OR THE COUNTRY SO I FIND IT INTERESTING TO WATCH BUT YOU JUST DON'T KNOW.

I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T PUT ANY MONEY ON ANYBODY.

>> Eric: PRESIDENT BIDEN HEADS TO IOWA TUESDAY.

WHETHER HE'S GOING TO RUN AGAIN OR NOT, AND THE DNC IS SAYING MIGHT NOT BE FIRST ON THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

>> IT WAS SUCH A DEBACLE WITH THE RESULTS CONNING IN SO LATE AND IOWA HAS NOT BEEN VERY LIKELY TO PICK THE WINNER FOR A WHILE NOW SO STAY TUNED BUT THE CAGE DATES DON'T WANT TO SAY ANYTHING DEROGATORY ABOUT IOWA.

>> Eric: I'M HEARING THE BELL SO I GUESS CLASS DISMISSED.

THANK YOU, FOLKS, GREAT STUFF TONIGHT.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU BOTH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

♪♪ >> WE'RE GOING TO TAKE AN ANIMAL, WE'RE GOING TO RECOVER THAT HEART LIKE YOU WOULD FOR A HEART TRANSPLANTATION, INSTEAD OF TRANSPLANTING ANOTHER ANIMAL, WE'RE GOING TO GET IT TO BEAT OUTSIDE THE BODY AND USE NO LOOD, USE A CLEAR ARTIFICIAL BLOOD THAT WE CAN PUT CAMERAS IN AND THEN SEE ALL THE FUNCTIONAL ANATOMY INSIDE THE HEART.

♪♪ >> Cathy: THAT IS REALLY COOL.

IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER MINNESOTA HISTORY QUESTION.

THIS ONE HAS TO DO WITH A BIG NEWS STORY IN LATE 1980.

IT'S ONE OF OUR MYSTERY PEOPLE QUESTIONS SO LISTEN UP.

IT WAS A FEW DAYS AFTER CHRISTMAS WHEN PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER MADE NATIONAL HEADLINES WHEN HE WAS INJURED DURING A SKIING ACCIDENT.

CARTER WAS CROSS COUNTRY SKIING ON A NATURE TRAIL AT - CAMP DAVID WHEN HIS SKI HIT A ROCK AND HE TUMBLED, BREAKING HIS COLLAR BONE.

THE NATIONAL STORIES NOTED THAT CARTER WAS IN A SMALL GROUP THAT INCLUDED HIS WIFE, ROSLYN, AND SOMEONE WHO WOULD EVENTUALLY BE WELL KNOWN IN MINNESOTA.

WE WANT YOU TO NAME THAT MINNESOTAN.

WHAT FUTURE MINNESOTAN WAS ALONGSIDE PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER DURING THIS 1980 SKIIING ACCIDENT?

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU ARE DIALING IN FROM NEAR BIG SNOW LAKE, LITTLE SNOW LAKE OR BLUE SNOW LAKE.

ALL LEGITIMATE BODIES OF WATER IN THE LAND OF 10,000 LAKES.

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A FEW HOUSEKEEPING DETAILS.

THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE IS ON ITS EASTER/PASSOVER BREAK AND SO "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" HAS A SPECIAL PROGRAM NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT, FEATURING INTERVIEWS WITH RETIRING LAWMAKERS.

YOU CAN WATCH THAT WEDNESDAY AT 7:00 ON THE STATEWIDE MINNESTOA CHANNEL.

STATE LAWMAKERS WILL BE ON BREAK NEXT WEEK BUT WILL BE BACK ON STATEWIDE TELEVISION WITH LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS STARTING ON APRIL 20TH.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS.

FOR SHOW-CLOSING MUSIC... 30-YEARS AGO THIS WEEK, TPT'S MUSIC SERIES "SHOWCASE" FEATURED MOLLY AND THE HAYMAKERS, A COUNTRY BAND FROM HAYWARD, WISCONSIN.

SHOWCASE WAS FILMED NEXT DOOR IN STUDIO A.

THAT'S MOLLY SCHEER ON MANDOLIN AND LEAD VOCALS.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

SEE YA LATER.

♪ ♪ SINGING: GIRL, HE SAID, I LOVE YOU BUT I CAN'T EVEN HUG YA, WITH ALL THE PAJAMA ATTENTION AND WOOL-SIZED SOCKS AND THE WIND IN YOUR HAIR YOU AND I WITHOUT A CARE ♪ WELL, LET'S GO WHERE THE WARM WINDS BLOW ♪ ♪ WELL, LET'S STAY, WE'LL LEAVE IT THERE] ♪ WELL, LET'S GO OH, BABY, LET'S GO ♪ - ♪ WE'RE GON' TO MEXICO, YEAH ♪♪ ♪♪ >> "ALMANAC" IS A PRODUCTION CAPTIONED BY: PARADIGM REPORTING/CAPTIONING WWW.PARADIGMREPORTING.COM PA RADIGM REPORTING/CAPTIONING ♪♪ ALMANAC IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

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