>> Cathy: PLENTY OF POLITICS TO PONDER THIS WEEK.

THERE IS OF COURSE THE ONGOING STUDENT RESOURCE OFFICER CONTROVERSY, A SPECIAL ELECTION IS ON THE HORIZON FOR A SEAT IN THE MINNESOTA HOUSE, AND THERE'S A NEW PUSH TO HAVE MINNESOTA BECOME THE 11TH STATE TO ALLOW TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS TO END THEIR LIVES.

WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE REST OF OUR TIME TONIGHT TALKING WITH POLITICAL REPORTERS WHO'VE BEEN COVERING THESE STORIES AND MORE.

DANA FERGUSON IS ONE OF THE TEAM OF REPORTERS COVERING STATE POLITICS FOR MPR NEWS.

THE AMAZING JOHN CROMAN TOILS AWAY ON THE POLITICAL BEAT FOR KARE11 TV.

GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS.

DANA, DANA, DANA.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT'S GOING ON EXACTLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE SRO SITUATION?

AND I KNOW THERE WAS THE MEETING OF THE FOUR BIG LEADERS TODAY, AND IS -- THE GOVERNOR, IS E IN OR OUT ON THE SPECIAL SESSION?

I CAN'T MAKE HEAD OR TAIL OF THIS.

>> MY ASSESSMENT IS THAT NO SPECIAL SESSION FOR NOW, AND THAT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE DEPENDING HOW THINGS TURN OUT.

THE GOVERNOR WAS ON MPR EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON AND SAID HE DOESN'T THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A SPECIAL SESSION AT THIS POINT.

HE TAKES SERIOUSLY CONCERNS FROM COMMUNITY LEADERS AND THOSE 44 D.F.L.

LEGISLATORS WHO CAME OUT YESTERDAY AND SAID, NOPE, LET'S NOT.

SO THERE'S SOME FRICTION IN THE D.F.L.

CAUCUSES ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

THERE ARE SOME WHO WOULD LIKE TO TAKE IT UP IN A SPECIAL EGGS AND JUST FIX IT.

THERE ARE OTHER -- SPECIAL SESSION AND JUST FIX IT.

THERE ARE OTHERS WHO CAME OUT AND TRIED TO MAKE A POINT THAT WE SHOULD NOT DO THAT.

>> Eric: 44 DEMOCRATS.

>> 44 IN TOTAL, YES, SO A PRETTY STRONG CONTINGENT OF THE D.F.L.

CAUCUS S SAYING LET'S NOT DO IT.

>> Eric: IS THIS JUST A CONTINUATION OF YOU'RE SOFT ON CRIME, YOU'RE TOO HARD ON CRIME, IS THIS THE LATEST EDITION, OR?

>> THERE'S SOME OF THAT IN THERE.

THEY KEEP SAYING THIS IS NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE, THEY DON'T THINK THIS IS A DEMOCRAT/REPUBLICAN THING BUT AT THE SAME TIME YOU HAVE REPUBLICANS HOLDING THE PRESS CONFERENCES AS JAMIE POINTED OUT EARLIER IN THE SHOW.

AND I THINK WHAT THE POLICE ARE SAYING IS THAT TACKLING STUDENTS TO BREAK UP A FIGHT, TACKLING SOMEONE WHO IS AN INTRUDER TRESPASSING, THOSE ARE THE EXAMPLES THEY RAISE.

AND ONE OF THOSE DOES INVOLVE BODILY HARM, WHICH IS COVERED BY THE EXCEPTION.

THE OTHER ONE DOESN'T AND SO THAT'S WHY THEY WANT THIS CLARITY THAT THEY CAN DO THESE RESTRAINTS ON KIDS WHO AREN'T SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING TO GO FROM HERE.

AGAIN, REALLY DEPENDS, A LOT OF THE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE OFFICERS OR POLICE THAT WE TALKED TO SAID THIS DOESN'T APPLY TO OFFICERS RESPONDING TO A EMERGENCY, SO WHAT THEY'LL DO IS JUST STATION THESE OFFICERS CLOSE TO THE SCHOOL AND IF THERE IS A FIGHT OR SOMETHING THEN THEY'LL BRING THEM IN.

>> Eric: OH, I SEE.

>> SO THAT'S A WORKAROUND FOR NOW AND IT'S A WORK AROUND THEY'RE NOT HAPPY WITH BECAUSE CLEARLY THEY THINK WHY HAVE AN OFFICER COME IN IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOT ONE INSIDE THE BUILDING.

>> Cathy: OKAY, IT'S JUST A LITTLE CONFUSING FOR MOST PEOPLE.

>> JUST A TOUCH.

VERY NUANCED.

>> Cathy: YOU AND I, DANA, TALKED ABOUT SOMETHING THAT CAME UP EARLIER IN THE WEEK, THE END OF LIFE OPTIONS ACT, WHICH DID NOT PASS THIS PAST SESSION, IT DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A HEARING, I BELIEVE.

AND THIS WOULD ALLOW TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS TO TAKE A ETHAL DOSE OF MEDICATIONS TO END THEIR LIVES, WITH RESTRICTIONS, RIGHT?

I'M WONDERING HERE WITH THE RELAXATION OF ABORTION RESTRICTIONS LAST SESSION, WHY DIDN'T THEY TAKE THIS UP?

>> IT SEEMS LIKE THERE WASN'T THE SAME AMOUNT OF PRESSURE TO TAKE THIS UP AS THERE WAS WITH ABORTION AFTER THE SUPREME COURT RULING AND THE UNCERTAINTY AROUND WITH WHAT THE NATIONAL CLIMATE WAS GOING TO LOOK LIKE ON ABORTION, AND THE D.F.L.

RAN ON THAT ISSUE AS WE REMEMBER, THAT WAS A PRETTY BIG PROMISE THEY MADE TO VOTERS.

NOW THAT THEY'VE CLEARED THAT MASSIVE STACK OF POLICY PROPOSALS I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE MORE OPENING FOR THE OTHER CATEGORY, THINGS THAT WERE NOT AS TOP OF MIND OR QUITE AS IMPORTANT TO THEM, THEY DIDN'T RUN ON THE ISSUE OF END OF LIFE OPTIONS, NECESSARILY, BUT NOW THAT THEY HAVE ANOTHER YEAR AND CAN TAKE UP ANYTHING THEY WANT, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE OF A PUSH TO GET THIS TO THE TOP OF THE PILE IN 2024.

>> Cathy: JOHN, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU COVERED THAT EVENT, I DON'T KNOW, DO YOU KNOW, DOES THE PUBLIC HAVE AN APPETITE FOR THIS >> I DID NOT COVER THAT EVENT, I DID SEE THE PRESS RELEASE FROM REPUBLICANS SAYING IT'S A BAD IDEA THAT IT WILL BE ABUSED AND USED FOR THE WRONG REASONS SO I DO KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE THAT AMOUNT OF PUSHBACK.

BUT WITH KELLY MORRISON RUNNING THE BILL I'M SURE IT WILL GET A HEARING AND THE QUESTION IS WHERE IT GOES FROM THERE IS TO BE SEEN.

>> Eric: HOW MANY REBATE CHECKS GOT TOSSED IN THE GARBAGE BECAUSE IT AD A MONTANA ADDRESS ON?

YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE, MY COLLEAGUE BRIAN BACH SAID HE WAS GOING TO RUN AROUND HIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND SEE HOW MANY TRASH CANS -- OBVIOUSLY JOKING -- HAD THOSE MONTANA LABELED LETTERS.

IT WAS INTERESTING JUST TO HEAR FOLKS WERE CONFUSED ABOUT THAT AND HOPEFULLY EVERYONE WHO WAS NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT THOSE LETTERS WERE OPENED THEM AND GOT THEIR MONEY, OR ALLED THE STATE TO CLARIFY HAT QUESTION, BUT, YEAH.

CERTAINLY A LOT OF FOLKS WOULD NOT LIKE TO THROW AWAY A IG CHECK LIKE THAT.

>> AND THERE'S A HOTLINE YOU CAN CALL IF YOU DIDN'T GET YOUR REFUND AND THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO GET ONE SO MAYBE PEOPLE WILL BE FOLLOWING UP.

>> RIGHT.

>> Cathy: SO IT LOOKS LIKE A SPECIAL SESSION IN THE HOUSE.

>> Eric: SPECIAL ELECTION.

>> Cathy: SPECIAL ELECTION, GOSH, I'M TIRED.

>> YOU'RE TRYING TO PLUG IN IDEAS.

>> Cathy: AGAIN, I'M CONFUSED OBVIOUSLY.

IT'S BEEN A LONG WEEK.

>> IT'S BEEN A LONG WEEK.

>> Cathy: PECIAL ELECTION, RUTH RICHARDSON IS STEPPING DOWN AND WILL STAY AS PLANNED PARENTHOOD'S HEAD.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IN TERMS OF THAT SITUATION?

>> MENDOTA HEIGHTS IS A SWING DISTRICT, I DON'T THINK IT'S SOLID BLUE TERRITORY.

>> D PLUS FOUR OR FIVE I THINK.

>> SEE, YOU WOULD KNOW, ERIC.

SO THERE'S A CHANCE THAT COULD BE ANOTHER REPUBLICAN PICKUP DEPENDING ON IF THEY HAVE ANY ISSUES THEY WANT TO RUN ON.

SO, LIKE SROs.

BUT, YEAH, E STILL HAVE A PRETTY SOLID MAJORITY, THE DEMS DO IN THE HOUSE SO IT WOULDN'T BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF THE LEGISLATURE I DON'T THINK.

>> RIGHT, THERE'S A CUSHION THERE IF A REPUBLICAN WAS ABLE TO PICK IT UP, THERE SEEMED TO BE QUITE A FEW CANDIDATES ALREADY WHO'VE THROWN THEIR HAT IN THE RING AND SAID, HEY, SURE, I'LL RUN FOR THIS, SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO WATCH.

WE'RE NOT SURE YET WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO CALL IT.

IT WOULD MAKE SENSE POTENTIALLY TO ALIGN IT WITH OTHER ELECTIONS COMING UP THIS FALL, BUT WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.

>> Eric: STATE FLAG.

>> OH, GOSH.

>> OH, THE EMBLEM REDESIGN COMMISSION.

>> Eric: OH, OKAY.

>> APPARENTLY THEY HAD THEIR FIRST MEETING WHILE I WAS IN KANSAS AT A FAMILY REUNION BUT THAT IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO WATCH >> Eric: THEY WANT AN EXTENSION ALREADY?

>> THEY WANT AN EXTENSION, THERE WAS DISAGREEMENT, TWO INDIVIDUALS WERE NOMINATED TO BE THE CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION AND THEY SAID NO, THANK YOU.

IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT'S OFF TO A SUPER GREAT START BUT THERE'S ROOM FOR THEM YET.

>> IT WAS INTERESTING, WE TALKED TO THIS GUY DOWN IN MANKATO WHO'S GOT A FLAG SHOP WHO SENT ME A PICTURE OF HIM IN 1989 AT THE LEGISLATURE WITH GILL GUTNECK AND OTHERS SHOWING THE SAMPLE FLAG.

BLUE AND GREEN, YOU CAN SEE IT FROM A DISTANCE, ALTHOUGH DULUTH KIND OF RIPPED IT OFF - I SHOULDN'T SAY THAT, DULUTH SEEMED TO BORROW THAT CONCEPT ALTHOUGH IT'S NEVER BEEN CONCERNED.

>> Cathy: HEY, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS, ACTUALLY ERIC AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS COVERING POLITICAL RACES WITH A.I.

LOOMING?

>> I DO, I'VE GONE TO POLITICAL REPORTING CONVENTIONS WHERE THEY ARE ALREADY WARNING ABOUT THE THINGS WE NEED TO BE LOOKING OUT FOR, THE DEEP FAKE VIDEO AND PHOTO.

WITH DEEP FAKE AUDIO THERE'S NOT REALLY A WAY TO CONFIRM OR DENY THAT SOMETHING MIGHT HAVE BEEN FALSIFIED OR TAMPERED WITH, SO OBVIOUSLY WORKING IN RADIO THAT DOESN'T AKE ME EEL VERY GOOD SO WE'LL JUST HAVE TO KEEP FACT CHECKING AND WATCHING OUT FOR THE THINGS WHERE SOMEONE HAS SIX FINGERS ON ONE HAND OR OTHER WEIRD THINGS.

[ LAUGHTER ] THAT TELLS THAT SOME PHOTO HAS BEEN FAKED OUT.

>> THE GOOD NEIGHBOR RADIO STATION IN TOWN CCO IS ALREADY RUNNING A PROMO WHERE THEY HAVE JOE BIDEN'S VOICE AND DONALD TRUMP'S VOICE CONGRATULATING THEIR RADIO ANCHORS AND THEY ADMIT IN THE SAME AD IT'S A DEEP FAKE OR THAT IT'S A.I.

OR PROCESSED, BUT, YEAH, IT CAN REALLY BE USED AS A WEAPON AND THE WAY THINGS TRAVEL ON SOCIAL MEDIA NOW YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO FIND OUT IF IT'S TRUE, IT JUST ETS A LIFE OF ITS OWN.

>> Eric: DO EPUBLICANS HAVE AN AMY KLOBUCHAR OPPONENT YET?

>> IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT, THE LAST WE CHECKED AT THE STATE FAIR THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CANDIDATE QUITE READY TO GO EVEN THOUGH THEY'D SAID THEY WERE HOPING TO HAVE SOMEBODY.

>> Eric: ANY POSSIBLE NAMES BEING FLOATED?

>> BOY, ZACH DUCKWORTH, I DON'T KNOW.

>> Eric: HE WAS JUST ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

>> YEAH, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT COME UP AND THEY HAVE O DECIDE THE ONES THAT RUN AGAINST TINA SMITH GENERALLY THINK THINK THEY HAVE A MORE VIABLE HANCE BUT KLOBO IS