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

>> IN THE NEXT HOUR WE'LL TALK ABOUT HOW THE RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE HAS ALTERED WORLD ALLIANCES, WE'LL EXPLORE NEW GUIDANCE ON MASK WEARING, AND WE'LL LEARN ABOUT A NEW PLAY AT THE CHILDREN'S THEATRE THAT IS EXPLORING RACE AND POLICING.

AND THEN MARY LAHAMMER LOOKS AT A CONTENTIOUS ISSUE AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

>> WITH ACTION IN TEXAS AND FLORIDA, MINNESOTA LAWMAKERS ARE RENEWING HEIR EFFORTS TO BAN CONVERSION THERAPY IN THIS STATE.

>> WE CONTINUE O PUSH FORWARD WITH IT BECAUSE WE ALL CARE ABOUT OUR KIDS.

>> I DON'T THINK WE KNOW THE TRUE ANSWER HERE.

>> THAT'S COMING UP ON ALMANAC.

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

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

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MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINETHREEUS.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

LATER IN THE HOUR WE'LL TALK ABOUT UPDATED COVID MASK POLICIES BY THE CDC, A NEW DIGITAL VIDEO SERIES AT TPT, AND WE'LL REMEMBER ARTIST JIM DENOMIE.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE STORY THAT'S BEEN GRIPPING THE WORLD FOR A WEEK NOW: THE INVASION OF UKRAINE.

>> Cathy: THE GROUND WAR IN UKRAINE IS NOT FOLLOWING A SCRIPT UKRAINIAN FORCES ARE STILL FIGHTING BACK.

AND MUCH OF THE WORLD HAS CONDEMNED RUSSIA'S ACTIONS AND ISSUED STRONG SANCTIONS THAT HAVE DAMAGED THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY.

DAVID SCHULTZ IS A POLITICAL SCIENTIST YOU'VE SEEN ON OUR PROGRAM MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS.

WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW IS THAT HE HAS TAUGHT EXTENSIVELY IN EASTERN EUROPE.

AMONG THE PLACES HE HAS INSTRUCTED STUDENTS: RUSSIA, BELARUS, AND UKRAINE.

HE WAS SCHEDULED TO GO BACK TO UKRAINE TO TEACH NEXT SPRING.

I'M ASSUMING THAT THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN FOR YOU, PROFESSOR.

I'M WONDERING WHAT YOU'RE HEARING FROM YOUR COLLEAGUES.

>> WELL, WHAT I'M HEARING FROM MY COLLEAGUES IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, I HEARD THIS MORNING FROM SOMEBODY IN LVIV, WHICH IS IN THE WESTERN PART, THEY'RE DOING OKAY BUT DEALING WITH A HUGE REFUGEE CRISIS.

I HAD A FRIEND I TALKED TO IN KYIV, AND TWO DAYS A HEARD FROM SOMEBODY ELSE IN HARKOV.

I'M HEARING FROM FORMER STUDENTS OF MINE.

ONE OF THE FORMER STUDENTS SENT ME A PICTURE OF HARKOV UNIVERSITY AND THE VIDEO SHOWS IT BLOWING UP.

I TAUGHT IN THAT BUILDING THREE YEARS AGO.

AND SO FOR ME LOOKING AT, IT'S LIKE OH, MY GOD, THAT'S WHERE I WAS AT ONE POINT.

>> Eric: LET ME RUN A COUPLE OF BITS FROM THE V LAD MERE PUTIN NEWS CONFERENCE TODAY.

HE SAID THAT THE GOAL IS TO STOP EXPANSION EASTWARD AND NOTED THAT THE U.S. HAS HAD TERRITORIAL DISPUTES AND MENTIONED THE U.S. INCURSION INTO MEXICO IN THE 1830S.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THOSE COMMENTS?

FIRST OFF, UNITED STATES MAY NOT BE AN ANGEL IN THE WORLD AND HAS MADE MISTAKE, THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

BUT THAT DOESN'T JUSTIFY THE US OF FORCE AND AGGRESSION IN UKRAINE.

AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS AGAIN AT HAMLINE YESTERDAY, WE HAVE A WHOLE FRAMEWORK OF INTERNATIONAL LAW THAT MAKES USE OF FORCE ILLEGAL, AGGRESSION ILLEGAL, FAILURE TO RESPECT TERRITORIAL BOUNDARIES.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT ANYTHING ELSE HAPPENED ESPECIALLY U.S. AND MEXICO TWO CENTURIES AGO.

THE FACT IS THAT WHAT RUSSIA'S DOING NOW BY ALL ACCOUNTS IS A VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW.

>> Cathy: I REMEMBER YOU'VE BEEN SKEPTICAL OF SANCTIONS IN THE PAST.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE IMPACT AT THIS POINT?

>> WELL, THIS TIME WE'RE LOOKING AT SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT.

YEAH, I'VE USUALLY BEEN SKEPTICAL OF SANCTIONS BECAUSE OFTENTIMES THEY'RE KIND OF PIECEMEAL AND KIND OF PERFUNCTORY.

IFUSHA IS ENGAGING IN OLD FASHIONED WAR, BODIES, BLOOD, BOMBS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, WHAT NATO ESSENTIAL IN THE WORLD OR THE EUROPEAN UNION IS DOING IS THE NEW GENERATION OF WAR.

IT IS CYBER WAR, FINANCIAL WAR, AND THE DEGREE OF A FINANCIAL SANCTIONS THIS TIME WE'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

THE FACT THAT, WHAT, WE'VE ESSENTIALLY DEFUNDED THE RUSSIAN CENTRAL BANK S A HUGE SHIFT IN TERMS OF WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE PAST.

>> Eric: WOULD THIS HAVE OCCURRED IF DONALD TRUMP WAS STILL PRESIDENT?

>> BOY, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION HERE.

SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY THAT MAYBE DONALD TRUMP HELPED ENCOURAGE THIS BEHAVIOR TO GO ON BY NOT KEEPING AN EYE ON PUTIN.

BUT I'M ALSO GOING TO ARGUE AND SAY THAT MAYBE YOU COULD SAY THAT IT GOES BACK EVEN A LITTLE BIT TO BARACK OBAMA, GOES BACK TO THE SENTENCE WHERE HE SAID WE'RE GOING TO DO A PIVOT TOWARDS ASIA AND AWAY FROM EUROPE MAYBE GAVE RUSSIA A VIEW TO SAY IT'S OKAY TO DO CERTAIN THINGS OR MAYBE IT EVEN GOES BACK TO THE 19 90S WHEN WE THOUGHT WE HAD WON THE COLD WAR, WE THOUGHT RUSSIA WAS NO LONGER A GEOPOLITICAL THREAT.

IT DISAPPEARED WITH COMMUNISM.

SO THERE'S PROBABLY PLENTY OF BLAME TO GO AROUND AT THIS POINT.

>> Cathy: DO YOU THINK THAT THE RUSSIAN AGGRESSION HAS UNIFIED EUROPE?

>> IT HAS BROUGHT TOGETHER NATO IN WAYS AND EUROPE AND THE WORLD IN WAYS WE'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

TRYING TO NOT TO O ANY ADVERTISING HERE, BUT, YOU KNOW, I TAUGHT IN LITHUANIA ALSO AND I'VE BEEN PUTTING TOGETHER A BOOK WHICH IS GOING TO COME OUT THIS, LATER THIS SPRING, IT'S CALLED "EUROPE ALONE" AND IT WAS ALL ABOUT EUROPEAN SECURITY AT A POINT WHERE THEY WEREN'T SURE ABOUT THE UNITED STATES BEING THERE.

WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE THE UNITED STATES AND NATO IS THERE NOW IN WAYS THAT PEOPLE HAD ANTICIPATED AND THIS HAS BROUGHT NATO TOGETHER AND AGAIN THE WORLD TOGETHER WITH RESOLVE IN WAYS THAT WE JUST HAVEN'T SEEN IN A LONG TIME.

>> Eric: IS THIS LIKE THE OLD STORY OF THE DOG CHASING THE CAR?

WHAT DOES THE DOG DO ONCE HE GETS THE CAR?

>> YEAH, I THINK PUTIN'S GOING TO HAVE A DIFFICULTY HERE.

THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT 1980S THE RUSSIANS -- THE SOVIETS AT THAT POINT WENT INTO AFGHANISTAN, THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD TAKE IT OVER, 10 OR 12 YEARS LATER THEY WALKED AWAY.

WE TRIED TO GO INTO AFGHANISTAN AND 20 YEARS LATER REALIZED WE COULDN'T DO IT.

HERE WE HAVE A COUNTRY THE SIZE OF TEXAS GEOGRAPHICALLY AND POPULATION GREATER THAN CALIFORNIA.

MERE MILITARY OCCUPATION ISN'T GOING TO WORK AND WHAT I'M LEARNING FROM MY FRIENDS AND MY STUDENTS OVER THERE IS THAT THEY'RE FIGHTING FOR THEIR FREEDOM, THEY'RE FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIFE.

AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE, I GUESS THE PARALLEL IS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE WORLD WAR II HISTORIANS I FEEL LIKE WHAT'S EMERGING IS SORT OF THE EQUIVALENT OF WHAT THE FRENCH RESISTANCE DURING WORLD WAR II, WHERE THERE'S NOW GOING TO BE MASSIVE RESISTANCE, URBAN WARFARE, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A PRETTY SIGHT.

>> Cathy: ANY POSSIBILITIES OF PEACE, OR WILL PUTIN JUST BURN IT ALL DOWN?

>> DOESN'T AT ALL IT AT THIS POINT, ACCORDING TO CONVERSATIONS WITH MACRON, THE PRESIDENT OF FRANCE, PUTIN IS MAKING CLEAR THAT HE WANTS UKRAINE AND IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THE SANCTIONS ARE GOING TO MATTER, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THE ARMY OF UKRAINE IS GOING TO MATTER, THE CIVIL WAR.

HE'S MADE UP HIS MIND.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU COULD DO NOW TO GET HIM TO BACK DOWN.

>> Eric: 30 SECONDS LEFT.

IMPACT ON BIDEN.

>> IMPACT ON GENTLEMEN BIDEN, SPEECH THE OTHER NIGHT, FIRST 15 MINUTES WAS AROUND UKRAINE, HE PICKED UP A HALF A DOZEN POINTS IN TERMS OF APPROVAL.

POLLS HAD HIM DOWN IN THE UPPER 30S, SO GIVES HIM A LITTLE BIT OF BREATHING ROOM BUT WHAT HE DOES NEXT WITH UKRAINE IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL AND ALSO WHAT HE DOES WITH OTHER THINGS LIKE INFLATION FOR HIS DOMESTIC AGENDA AND FOR THE DEMOCRATS.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

>> MY PLEASURE.

THANK YOU.

♪♪ CASES OF COVID HERE AND NATIONALLY HAVE PLUMMETED IN RECENT WEEKS.

AND THE CDC HAS NOW RELAXED RULES ABOUT WEARING MASKS.

OF COURSE, THE PATTERN OF THE LA LAST COUPLE YEARS IS THAT ONCE YOU THINK YOU KNOW WHERE THE PANDEMIC IS GOING NEXT IT FOOLS YOU AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT.

MICHAEL OSTERHOLM IS BACK TO SHARE ON COVID FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA AND HAPPY TO HAVE HIM BACK FROM THE CENTER OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESEARCH AND POLICY.

DOCTOR.

>> I'M SORRY, WE APPEAR.

I THINK HE'S HERE.

>> DR. OSTERHOLM, ARE YOU THERE?

I HAD A DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS MOMENT THERE FOR A SECOND.

ONLY NEVADA HAS INCREASING CASES.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, HOW VIGILANT SHOULD WE BE?

>> WELL, IF YOU MAY RECALL WHEN I WAS ON THE SHOW TWO MONTHS AGO EARLY JANUARY I SAID THIS WOULD BE A VIRAL BLIZZARD.

WE WOULD SEE MAJOR ACTIVITY.

IT WOULD BE UNPRECEDENTED AND THEN I THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD TAIL OFF QUITE QUICKLY THEREAFTER.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE IT'S GOING RIGHT NOW IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE ONE REAL EXCEPTION GLOBALLY IS THE WESTERN PACIFIC WHERE THEY GOT HIT LATER AND NOW WE'RE SEEING REALLY A DEVASTATING WAVE GO THROUGH HONG KONG, SINGAPORE, KOREA, AND JAPAN.

>> Cathy: SO ANY SIGN THAT THE SISTER VARIANT MAY SOMEHOW SURPRISE US AND RESULT IN A SURGE?

>> WELL, CATHY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A POINT THAT I HAVE MADE OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

YOU HEARD ME SAY IS WE ALWAYS NEED TO APPROACH COVID WITH A GREAT DEAL OF HUMILITY.

AND SO I WOULD NEVER TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THESE VARIANTS, PARTICULARLY THIS BA1 AND BA.2.

BUT EVERYTHING WE HAVE RIGHT NOW SAYS, YES, SOME COUNTRIES ARE SEEING A.1 STAYING THE DOMINANT VARIANT, OTHERS ARE SEEING THE BA.2 OF WHAT SOME PEOPLE CALL THE SISTER VARIANT, RISING.

IN THE UNITED STATES IT'S BEEN LIMITED INCREASE, 4% LAST WEEK OF ALL THE VIRUSES, IT'S 8% THIS WEEK.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE MESSAGE IS THERE'S NOT A CLEAR PATTERN THAT WHERE IT IS DOMINANT THAT THERE ARE MORE CASES.

SO I THINK AT THIS POINT IT'S MORE OF AN ODDITY, SURELY A SCIENTIFIC CURIOSITY BUT I DON'T THINK IT HAS MUCH PUBLIC HEALTH SIGNIFICANCE.

>> Eric: IN THIS LULL DOES IT GIVE YOU POLICY FOLKS A CHANCE TO LOOK AT WHAT COULD BE DONE DIFFERENTLY GOING FORWARD, INVESTIGATING LIKE LONG COVID, THOSE SORTS OF QUESTIONS?

>> WELL, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING RIGHT NOW.

AND I WAS VERY PLEASED DURING THE STATE OF THE UNION MESSAGE EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE PRESIDENT MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THESE VARIANTS CAN BE GAME CHANGERS OVERNIGHT.

AND WE DO NOT EXPECT THAT WE HAVE SEEN THE LAST OF NEW VARIANTS.

AND SO WE SURELY ARE FEELING GOOD ABOUT WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW IN KIND OF A POST-OMICRON EXPERIENCE, BUT YOU MAY REMEMBER IT WAS A YEAR AGO RIGHT NOW THAT I WAS ON THIS SHOW SAYING THAT I THOUGHT THE DARKEST DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC COULD STILL BE AHEAD OF US BECAUSE OF VARIANTS.

THIS WAS AT A TIME WHEN CASE NUMBERS WERE DROPPING JUST LIKE THEY ARE RIGHT NOW AND VACCINE WAS FLOWING.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE IS GOING TO BRING BUT I CAN TELL YOU FOR CERTAIN THAT IT WILL INVOLVE VARIANTS.

WHETHER IT BE MORE OF A MILDER ILLNESS PICTURE LIKE WE SEE WITH SEASONAL INFLUENZA, WHETHER WE COULD HAVE ANOTHER OMICRON-LIKE VARIANT THAT COULD EVADES IMMINE PROTECTION WE'VE ACHIEVED WITH VACCINE AND PREVIOUS INFECTION, WE DON'T KNOW.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED.

AND WHITE HOUSE PUT OUT A RATHER DETAILED PLAN THE DAY AFTER THE STATE OF THE UNION LAYING OUT THEIR PRIORITIES.

I'M PART OF ON A GROUP THAT ON MONDAY WILL BE RELEASING A MAJOR COMPREHENSIVE BLUEPRINT PLAN TO SAY THIS IS WHAT WE MUST DO IN THE NEXT YEAR.

IT'S TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THAT WE COULD SEE AGAIN VARIANTS THAT COULD BE VERY CHALLENGING.

>> Cathy: BECAUSE OF THAT, YOU KNOW, MOST AMERICANS ARE NOT BOOST BOOSTED.

DOES THAT WORRY?

>> YEAH, SO, CATHY, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO RETHINK OUR TERMINOLOGY.

REMEMBER WHEN THIS WHOLE VACCINE PROGRAM STARTED WAS BASED ON THE INITIAL RESEARCH LOOKING AT TWO DOSES OF VACCINE, PARTICULARLY WITH MRNA VACCINES, PFIZER AND THE MODERNA.

WE GOT VACCINATED ON DAY ONE AND ONE WAS THREE WEEKS LATER AND FOR THE OTHER IT WAS FOUR WEEKS LATER.

AND WE NEVER REALLY DID HAVE GOOD INFORMATION ON WHAT WAS THE IDEAL BOOSTING KIND OF SITUATION OR ADDITIONAL DOSES, HOW MUCH DO YOU GIVE, WHEN DO YOU GIVE IT.

AND SO AS I, AGAIN, SAID FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THIS VACCINE AS A THREE-DOSE VACCINE ALL ALONG.

IT'S NO LONGER YOU'RE FULLY VACCINATED WITH TWO DOSES, YOU SHOULD HAVE THREE.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE IMMUNE COMPROMISED WE RECOMMEND OF COURSE DOSES.

WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THAT GOING FORWARD.

IF YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE DATA ON YOUNG CHILDREN WE'VE HAD SOME DISAPPOINTING RESULTS RECENTLY.

I THINK THOSE ARE GOING TO BE TAKEN CARE OF BY INCREASING THE DOSE.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE GIVING CHILDREN 12 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER BASICALLY THE 30 MICROGRAM DOSE LIKE WE'VE SEEN ADULTS FOR THE 5 TO 11-YEAR-OLDS, WE'RE GIVING THEM BASICALLY 10 MICROGRAMS AND FOR YOUNGER, 3 MICROGRAMS, WELL, TURNS OUT WE MAY NEED TO GIVE 30 MICRO GRAMS TO EVERYBODY.

WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THAT ISSUE BUT DEFINITELY RIGHT NOW EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE THAT THIRD DOSE OF VACCINE.

>> Cathy: LET'S TALK ABOUT MASKS, I'M WONDERING BECAUSE OF THE FALLING NUMBERS AND IF YOU GO INTO A STORE IT LOOKS LIKE THE PANDEMIC'S OVER, NO ONE'S REALLY WEARING A MASK EXCEPT THE CLERKS, WHAT'S YOUR BEST ADVICE AS TO WHETHER YOU SHOULD KEEP WEARING A MASK IF YOU'RE COVID SKITTISH OR YOU'VE GOT SOMEONE IN YOUR LIFE THAT'S IMMUNOCOMPROMISED?

>> WELL, THIS ISSUE WITH MASKS IT LIKELY GOING TO GO DOWN AS PUBLIC HEALTH'S WORST MOMENT THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

BECAUSE THE CONCEPT OF MASKING IS LIKE SAYING SOMETHING -- EVERYTHING THAT HAS A TIRE IS THE SAME.

SO MY BIKE AND A 747 ARE THE SAME BECAUSE THEY HAVE TIRES.

WHAT WE'VE LEARNED A LONG TIME AGO, IN THE EARLIEST DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC THAT THIS VIRUS IS SPREAD BY THIS EROSOL, THE IDEA OF LIKE SMOKE, LIKE PERFUME.

AND ANYTHING YOU WEAR THAT'S A CLOTH FACE COVERING OR SURGICAL MASK DOES NOT REALLY PROTECT YOU WELL AT ALL.

AND SO JUST BECAUSE YOU MANDATE THOSE DOESN'T MEAN IT'S GOING TO MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE.

SO UNLESS YOU'RE USING AN N95 RESPIRATOR, THE TIGHT FACE-FITTING KIND OF BREATHING APPARATUS OR A K-N95, ONE FROM ASIA THAT ALSO CAN BE FITTED TIGHTLY, YOU'RE NOT DOING MUCH TO PROTECT YOURSELF.

SO I HAVE FELT LIKE WE'VE BEEN ARGUING ABOUT HOW MANY ANGELS CAN DANCE ON THE HEAD OF A PIN WITH THESE MASK MANDATES.

WE HAVE NO DATA THAT'S RELIABLE THAT SHOWS IT'S IN IN ANY DIFFERENCE IN SCHOOL KIDS.

SO I THINK WE'VE MADE A BIG MISTAKE MAKING THIS A FOUNDATIONAL ISSUE OF OUR PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE.

IF EVERYONE CAN WEAR A K95, I'D SAY WE HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT MESSAGE, VERY DIFFERENT ARGUE FOR MANDATES.

BUT THE WAY IT IS RIGHT NOW WE DON'T.

AND STUDIES WE'VE BEEN DOING DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY, WE SEE ABOUT QUARTER F THE POPULATION, WHATEVER THEY'RE WEARING WEAR IT UNDER THEIR NOSE.

THAT'S LIKE A CHIN DIAPER, FIXING THE SCREEN DOORS IN YOUR SUBMARINE.

IN FACT WHAT WE'VE BEEN MANDATING HASN'T MADE MUCH DIFFERENCE ANYWAY.

>> Eric: PRESIDENT BIDEN IS PROMOTING SOMETHING CALLED TEST TO TREAT WHICH IS KIND OF A ONE-STOP COVID TREATMENT AT A PHARMACY.

DO YOU KNOW MUCH ABOUT THAT, OR?

>> I DO, I WAS PART OF THE GROUP THAT PROMOTED THAT WITH THE WHITE HOUSE FOR THE STATE OF THE UNION MESSAGE AND WE'LL BE SAYING A LOT ABOUT THAT IN OUR REPORT COMING OUT ON MONDAY.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS THAT WE DO HAVE EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE AT RISK OF SEVERE ILLNESS BUT THEY'VE GOT TO BE TAKEN EARLY, WHETHER IT'S THE MONO COLLEGE ANTIBODIES OR CERTAIN DRUGS.

THE WAY YOU CAN GET THOSE IS YOU HAVE TO BE SHOWN TO BE POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS, YOU HAVE TO BE INFECTED.

AND WHAT WE HAD HAPPEN FOR EXAMPLE DURING OMICRON IS MANY PEOPLE NEVER GOT A CHANCE TO GET TESTED BECAUSE OF THE MAJOR CHALLENGES WITH FINDING TESTING SITES THAT WERE OPEN AND AVAILABLE.

THE SURGE OVERWHELMED S. SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW IS GETTING BETTER TESTS, FIRST OF ALL, THAT ARE MORE RELIABLE THAN THE ONES WE AVE THAT YOU TAKE HOME NOW, AND THAT ONCE YOU ARE IN A SETTING WHERE YOU HAVE THIS TEST, IF IT'S POSITIVE, WE WILL KNOW WITHIN HOURS, AND YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE PRESCRIBED THE DRUGS WITHOUT REGARD TO WHAT YOUR HOME HEALTH CARE SITUATION IS.

SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO CHASING DRUGS AROUND TOWN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO GET YOUR OWN PERSONAL PHYSICIAN TO PRESCRIBE THEM, AND FOR MANY WHO DON'T HAVE A PRIVATE PHYSICIAN THAT'S EVEN A BIGGER CHALLENGE.

SO WE THINK THAT THIS TEST TO TREAT IS REALLY GOING TO BE A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.

I JUST REMIND PEOPLE THAT, YES, VACCINES ARE THE FOUNDATIONAL RESPONSE TO THIS PANDEMIC BUT DRUGS CAN BE CRITICAL.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WERE -- I FIRST WAS ON THIS SHOW BACK IN THE MID-1980S I WAS TALKING ABOUT HIV/AIDS AS A DEATH SENTENCE.

TODAY HIV/AIDS IS MANAGEABLE FOR MANY PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THE DRUGS.

WE CAN DO A LOT WITH THE SERIOUS ILLNESS WITH COVID WITH GETTING PEOPLE QUICKLY TESTED AND GETTING THESE DRUGS TO THEM.

>> Cathy: AND THEN HOW DOES THE SYSTEM, HOW DOES IT MANIFEST, WITH YOUR DOCTOR OR TALKING ABOUT PHARMACIES?

TO GO INTO A PHARMACY?

>> LOOKING AT ANY NUMBER OF DIFFERENT VENUES, UT, YES, PHARMACY, WALK-IN CLINICS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN MANY LOCATIONS.

AND THIS IS WHAT NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED OUT AND THIS IS WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION'S COMMITTED TO.

AND I THINK THAT THIS AS A OVERALL PUBLIC HEALTH EFFORT IS UNLIKE ANYTHING WE'VE SEEN IN THE WORLD AND I THINK THAT COULD HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT.

SO IF WE DID HAVE ANOTHER SURGE WE COULD REALLY REDUCE THE SERIOUS ILLNESS, THE HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS IF WE COULD JUST GET PEOPLE TREATED EARLY WITH WHAT IS AN EVER-GROWING NUMBER OF EFFECTIVE DRUGS AND MONO COLLEGE BE ANTIBODIES.

>> Cathy: WELL, WE LOOK FORWARD TO MONDAY TO SEE WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT ALL OF THIS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Eric: THANKS, DOCTOR.

>> YOU BET.

>> Eric: THANKS.

♪♪ >> Cathy: THIS WEEKEND AT THE STATE CAPITOL PEOPLE WILL RALLY TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FOR TRANSGENDER YOUTH HERE IN MINNESOTA.

AFTER TEXAS AND FLORIDA POLICYMAKERS PASSED POLICIES WIDELY SEEN AS AGAINST LGBTQ STUDENTS, MINNESOTA LAWMAKERS ARE RENEWING THEIR EFFORTS TO BAN CONVERSION THERAPY FOR TEENS AND VULNERABLE ADULTS.

THE D.F.L.-LED BILL PASSED A HOUSE COMMITTEE THIS WEEK AND THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED SENATE NARROWLY DEFEATED IT IN THE PAST.

BUT SOME LAWMAKERS ARE HOPING THERE'S NEW LEADERSHIP AND MOMENTUM.

>> AT THE DIRECTION OF MY PARENTS I WAS FORCIBLY REMOVED FROM MY HOME BY TWO OFF DUTY POLICE OFFICERS AND TAKEN TO A WILDERNESS PROGRAM AND SUBJECTED TO 10 MONTHS OF CONVERSION THERAPY AND SUBSEQUENT PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL TORTURE.

>> CONVERSION THERAPY HAS BEEN BANNED BY MORE THAN 20 STATES AND 100 CITIES SO FAR.

>> 60% OF ALL PARTICIPANTS IN CONVERSION THERAPY HAD ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.

>> NOW THE MINNESOTA HOUSE IS POISED TO PASS THE BAN AGAIN.

>> THE GOVERNOR HAS SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER ALSO BANNING THIS THERAPY.

WHY IS EGISLATION NECESSARY S WELL?

>> WE CONTINUE TO PUSH FORWARD WITH IT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE CLINICS THAT ARE DOING THIS VERY DANGEROUS WORK.

I MEAN, FOR EXAMPLE -- >> IN MINNESOTA, YOU DO KNOW IT'S HAPPENING IN MY IN.

STILL >> OH, YES, ABSOLUTELY.

>> NOW GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE PAUL GAZELKA VOTED AGAINST THE BAN.

HIS CHILD SAYS AS A TEEN THEY WERE SENT TO PAINFUL THERAPY THAT DENOUNCED SAME SEX RELATIONSHIPS.

>> HE SAYS THAT HE LOVES ME.

AND I QUESTION THAT.

>> THIS BROKEN, TOXIC TWO-PARTY SYSTEM THAT IS PUSHING FORWARD NEGATIVE, HATEFUL, NOT ONLY SPEECH, BUT ACTIVITY.

>> THE LATEST ENTANT INTO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE CRITICIZED AS A THIRD PARTY CELEBRATORY SPOILER WAS LIGHT ON POLICY DETAILS IN HIS KICKOFF, BUT COREY HEPOLA TELLS ME HE BELIEVES BELIEVE CONVERSION THERAPY SHOULD BE BANNED AND THERE'S NO NUANCE HERE.

PLENTY OF OPPOSITION LINED UP AGAINST THE BILL BEFORE IT PASSED TO HOUSE COMMITTEE.

>> PEOPLE ARE NOT BORN GAY.

TO BE FAIR, THE STUDY CONCLUDED THAT SAME SEX ATTRACTION IS SHAPED BY A COMPLEX MIX OF GENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES, BUT TO SAY PEOPLE ARE BORN GAY IS A HALF-TRUTH AT BEST.

>> TO TELL A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO SEEK HELP S AUDACIOUSOUS AND THE MOST UNLOVING THING THAT I THINK I'VE EVER HEARD OF.

>> THIS WOULD COMPLETELY BAN IT FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE 18 OR UNDER.

THE SENATE DID TAKE A VOTE ON THIS AND IT WAS VOTED DOWN.

THERE IS SOME NEW LEADERSHIP.

ANY CHANCE OR HOPE THAT HIS COULD GET THROUGH THIS SENATE THIS SESSION?

>> WE REMAIN ETERNALLY HOPEFUL.

IT IS DEFINITELY AN UPHILL BATTLE.

THERE'S ALWAYS A PERSONAL CONNECTION TO WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THE LEGISLATURE.

AND SO I AM REALLY HOPEFUL THAT WITH NEW LEADERSHIP IN THE SENATE THERE WILL AT LEAST BE AN OPENING AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS HEARD.

>> EARLIER SAID, THIS ISSUE IS PERSONAL FOR NEARLY EVERYONE.

WHY IS IT PERSONAL FOR YOU?

>> IT'S PERSONAL FOR ME AS A PERSON WHO IDENTIFIES AS BISEXUAL.

I'VE NEVER HAD TO GO THROUGH CONVERSION THERAPY, THANKFULLY.

>> FOR PEOPLE WHO DO REDUCE SAME SEX ATTRACTION THROUGH THERAPY PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL BEING STRONGLY IMPROVES.

EVEN FOR PEOPLE WHO DO NOT CHANGE, AND CONTINUE TO IDENTIFY AS LGB, SUICIDALITY DECREASES.

>> I DON'T THINK WE KNOW THE ANSWER HERE.

SO TRYING TO PROTECT ONE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS I'M AFRAID THAT WE WOULD BE DOING HARM TO ANOTHER ROUP OF INDIVIDUALS.

>> IF I'M READING CORRECTLY, I THINK THAT THERE COULD BE FINES UP TO $10,000 PER INCIDENT WITH A LICENSING BOARD MAY FIND SOMEONE GUILTY OF BREAKING THIS LAW.

>> WE'RE NOT TRYING TO ATTACK PEOPLE, PER SE, AS MUCH AS ADDRESS BEHAVIORS AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE TYPE OF COUNSELING THAT YOU WANT.

ALSO, AS FAR AS STATES I WOULD ASK MEMBERS AND TESTIFIERS TO RESEARCH FLORIDA AND TEXAS.

>> ADVOCATES SAY ANTI-LGBTQ ACTION IN TEXAS AND FLORIDA IS EXACTLY WHY THEY'RE MOVING THIS BILL NOW.

>> THERE'S A LOT F INTEREST IN THIS BILL AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE SIGN UP TO TESTIFY.

>> THE DAY I DECIDED TO COME OUT TO MY FAMILY I HAD A BAG WITH ALL THE ESSENTIALS I NEEDED TO RUN AWAY FROM HOME IF THEY REJECTED ME AND CASK ME OUT.

I WAS LUCKY.

>> THE INCREASED LEVEL OF ANXIETY, DEPRESSION FACED BY THIS AT-RISK POPULATION OF YOUTH IS DUE IN PART TO THE UNSAFE ENVIRONMENTS IN WHICH THEY LIVE.

>> IT WAS A REALLY LONG HEARING, AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I HAD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WERE CONTACTING ME BEHIND THE SCENES SAYING THIS IS INCREDIBLY PAINFUL AND I DON'T WANT TO CONTINUE LISTENING TO IT.

I MEAN, THERE WAS JUST A WAVE OF ILL FEELING.

AFTERWARDS.

WHAT I'VE LEARNED IS THAT MINNESOTANS ARE ORESILIENT.

BUT THE REALITY IS WE ALL CARE ABOUT OUR KIDS AND WE ALL WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR KIDS.

♪♪ >> DISTINGUISHED MINNESOTA ARTIST JIM DENOMIE DIED THIS WEEK OF CANCER.

HE WAS 66.

DENOMIE'S WORK IS EXHIBITED AT EVERY MAJOR MUSEUM IN THE TWIN CITIES.

HE'S A PAST WINNER OF THE MCKNIGHT EXTINGUISHED ARTIST AWARD.

ABOUT A DECADE AGO, DENOMIE WAS FEATURED ON THE TWIN CITIES PBS PROGRAM "MINNESOTA ORIGINAL."

HE TALKED ABOUT HIS WORK AND HOW HIS NATIVE HERITAGE INFORMED IT.

♪♪ >> SUBJECT MATTER VARIES.

I DO A LOT OF SPONTANEOUS PORTRAITURE, ANIMALS, BUT SOME OF MY OTHER PAINTINGS FOCUS ON HISTORICAL, POLITICAL, AND SOCIAL NARRATIVES.

I OPERATE AS A CONTEMPORARY NATIVE ARTIST.

IT'S WHO I AM.

I CANNOT FACTOR THAT OUT.

I CANNOT REDEFINE THAT.

I WORK VERY HONESTLY AND MY IDENTITY FEEDS INTO EVERY PAINTING I DO, WHETHER THAT'S CONSCIOUSLY OR ABSTRACTLY.

WHO I AM IS IN MY WORK.

SO A LOT OF MY WORK DOES PERTAIN TO MY CULTURE, MY NATIVE AMERICAN ANISHINAABE IDENTITY AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I EXPRESS BECAUSE I'M PROUD OF WHO I AM AND WHERE I COME FROM.

♪♪ >> Eric: ABOUT 25 MINUTES AGO AT HE CHILDREN'S THEATER THE STAGE LIGHTS CAME UP UP ON OPENING NIGHT OF THE WORLD PREMIERE OF "SOMETHING HAPPENED IN OUR TOWN"."

THE PLAY IS BASED ON AN AWARD-WINNING CHILDREN'’S BOOK THAT TELLS THE STORY OF A COMMUNITY REELING FROM A POLICE KILLING.

DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF REHEARSAL FOR THE PLAY, AMIR LOCKE WAS SHOT AND KILLED IN MINNEAPOLIS.

STAR TRIBUNE THEATER CRITIC ROHAN PRESTON RECENTLY WROTE ABOUT HOW THE CHILDREN'’S THEATRE CAST HAD TO DEAL WITH THE TRAUMA OF A REAL LIFE PORTRAYING A SIMILAR STORY ON STAGE.

RO PRESTON JOINS US BY ZOOM TO TALK ABOUT BOTH THE PLAY AND THE REAL-WORLD ISSUES ADDRESSING IT.

RO, ON THE SURFACE IT SEEMED TO BE ADULT SUBJECT MATTER, I WONDER HOW THE PLAY STEER IT'S IN A SUITABLE WAY FOR CHILDREN?

>> WELL, AND I HAVEN'T SEEN THE PLAY BECAUSE IT'S OPENING THIS WEEKEND, BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU CHILDREN'S THEATER HAS BEEN VERY GOOD ABOUT JUST HANDLING VERY SENSITIVE SUBJECT MATTER, INCLUDING IN THE PAST SUICIDE AND OTHER REALLY WHAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER HEAVY TOPICS.

THEY'VE BEEN VERY, VERY GOOD.

SO IT'S NUANCE, METAPHORS, OBVIOUSLY SENSITIVE LANGUAGE.

AND THE PLAYWRIGHT, CHERYL WEST HAS A FAIRLY LONG HISTORY WITH THE COMPANY.

SHE DID "LAST UP ON MARKET STREET," SHE ADAPTED "AQUILA AND THE BEE" AS WELL.

SO I THINK THERE'S A KIND OF A REALLY GOOD TRACK RECORD AND HISTORY THERE, YOU KNOW?

>> Cathy: SAY, TELL US, RO, ABOUT THE YOUNG PEOPLE, THE YOUNG ACTORS, YOU KNOW?

THAT IS A LOT TO TAKE ON WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING IN THE NEWS.

ARE THEY GETTING ANY HELP TO TRY TO NAVIGATE THEIR FEELINGS AS THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, DEALING WITH THIS REALLY EAVY SUBJECT MATTER?

>> I THINK SO.

IN FACT, I KNOW SO.

ONE THING THAT THE THEATER DID DO IMMEDIATELY, AND THIS IS THE FIRST I'VE EVER HEARD OF HAPPENING, FOR CAST THEY BROUGHT IN A CRISIS COUNSELOR, AND THE DIRECTOR HIMSELF, HIS NAME IS TIMOTHY DOUGLAS, HE ACTUALLY JUST LITERALLY OPENED THE REHEARSAL ROOM SO THAT THEY COULD GIVE VOICE AND VENT TO THE CONFUSION AND CONFLICTED FEELINGS AND EVERYTHING.

BUT YOUR QUESTION IS REALLY WELL TAKEN.

IT'S ALMOST UNPRECEDENTED IN TERMS OF HOW THE REAL WORLD INTRUDES ON ART AND HOW ART IN ITSELF BECOMES ALMOST TOO REAL IN THIS CONTEXT.

>> Eric: HOW DID THE TWO LEAD ACTORS, YOUNG ACTORS, YOU TALKED TO THEM, HOW DID THEY HANDLE THE WHOLE THING?

>> THEY WERE VERY SMART, VERY RESILIENT.

AND I SHOULD EXPLAIN, I TALKED TO THEM IMMEDIATELY IN THE AFTERMATH AND I DIDN'T TALK -- AND BEFORE THEY HAD SEEN THE COUNSELORS.

AND THEN I TALKED, REVISITED WITH ONE OF THEM AFTERWARDS.

AND I HAVE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I APPLAUD YOUNG PEOPLE.

WE SOMETIMES UNDERESTIMATE THEIR RESILIENCE AND HOW SMART THEY ARE, BUT THESE TWO WHO ARE 14 AND 2 PROVED TO BE -- AND THEIR NAMES ARE LOLA RUNNING AND DEANTHONY JACKSON, THEY'RE BOTH VERY, VERY ADMIRABLY YOUNG PEOPLE.

>> TELL US ABOUT THE DIRECTOR AND HIS APPROACH TO CREATING THIS PLAY.

>> AND TIMOTHY DOUGLAS AS WELL, HE IS A DIRECTOR WHO HAS WORKED HERE AT THE GUTHRIE IN THE PAST AND HE WORKS ALL ACROSS THE GLOBE AND HE DIRECTS OPERA AS WELL AS THEATER.

VERY SENSITIVE DIRECTING FOR, AGAIN, FOR THIS AUDIENCE WHERE METAPHOR SOMETIMES IS MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE AND WHERE YOU HAVE TO SHOW AS MUCH AS YOU CAN THE HUMANITY OF EVERYONE INVOLVED SO THAT IT'S NOT -- AT LEAST THIS IS WHAT HE'S TOLD ME -- IT'S NOT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ONE SIDE OR ANOTHER, PER SE.

IT'S JUST LIKE HAVING A FULL DIMENSIONAL UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE ISSUES ARE AND HOW SOMETHING LIKE THIS IMPACTS, DISRUPTS, SORT OF RUPTURES A SOCIAL FABRIC.

>> Eric: HE GEORGE FLOYD KILLING, WAS THAT THE IMPETUS FOR THIS THING, OR?

>> THIS -- YES, IN A WAY.

DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN'S THEATER IS PETER BROCHAS AND HE REALLY ASKED THE QUESTION LIKE WHAT KOTYZA-WITTHUHN I DO IN MY AREA AS ARTISTIC LEADER IN THE NATION'S LARGEST AND MOST ESTEEMED THEATER FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES.

AND SO HE COMMISSIONED CHERYL WEST TO ADAPT THIS BOOK, VERY QUICK TURNAROUND IN THEATER TERMS BECAUSE THIS BOOK IS ONLY LIKE THREE YEARS OLD OR FOUR YEARS OLD OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO VERY QUICK BOOM, HERE WE ARE.

>> Eric: WELL, THANKS SO MUCH.

YOU GAVE US A NICE OVERVIEW OF THE PLAY AND WHET PEOPLE'S APPETITES TO SEE IT.

>> THANKS SO MUCH AND THANKS, CATHY.

>> Cathy: TAKE CARE.

♪♪ >> Eric: WE TALK A LOT ON ALMANAC ABOUT THE POLITICAL DIVISIONS IN OUR STATE AND COUNTRY.

IT CAN FEEL LIKE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES AREN'T JUST AT EACH OTHER'S THROATS, THEY'RE LIVING IN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT REALITIES.

WELL, IN A NEW BOOK TITLED "“THE OTHER DIVIDE,"” POLITICAL SCIENTISTS YANNA KRUPNIKOV AND JOHN BARRY RYAN SHARE SOME STARTLING FINDINGS ABOUT WHAT REALLY SEPARATES AMERICANS.

THEIR RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT 70, PERHAPS AS MUCH AS 80 PERCENT OF AMERICANS, DON'’T REALLY CARE THAT MUCH ABOUT PARTISAN POLITICS.

I KNOW!

IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT APPARENTLY THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT TWEETING OR FACEBOOKING THEIR POLITICAL HOT TAKES.

MANY MAY GO WHOLE DAYS WITHOUTS EVEN TALKING ABOUT DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.

I MEAN, DO THEY EVEN KNOW THE 538 FORECAST FOR THE CALIFORNIA '22 SPECIAL ELECTION RUNOFF?

[ SIGH ] >> I DON'T WANT TO BE ALARMIST, BUT CAN WE TRUST THESE PEOPLE?

I MEAN, WHAT WERE THEY DOING DURING THE STATE OF THE UNION IF NOT KEEPING A TALLY CARD OF HOW MANY TIMES EACH PARTY APPLAUDED, STOOD AND APPLAUDED, OR RUDELY SHOUTED?

HOW DOES SOMEBODY KNOW IF THEY DON'T HATE THE OTHER POLITICAL PARTY WHETHER SOMEONE IS GOOD ENOUGH TO MARRY THEIR DAUGHTER OR SON?

AND WHAT DO THESE PEOPLE REALLY OBSESS OVER IF NOT POLITICS?

I MEAN, PROFESSIONAL SPORTS?

I MEAN, COME ON, THEY'RE GOING TO WATCH SOME COSTLY SPECTACLE WHERE A BUNCH OF PEOPLE PLAYING THE SAME GAME BUT IN DIFFERENT COLORED JERSEYS JUST KEEP MOVING A ALL BACK AND FORTH, DRIVING UP THE BLOOD PRESSURE OF EVERYBODY WATCHING, ONLY TO START OVER AGAIN AND DO IT ALL AT THE START OF THE NEXT SEASON WHILE CABLE TELEVISION COMPANIES ARE AIRING IT AND MAKING A MILLION DOLLARS?

WHO WOULD SPEND THEIR TIME ON THAT?

APPARENTLY A LOT OF PEOPLE.

♪♪ >> Cathy: A NEW DIGITAL SERIES BY TPT'S RACISM UNVEILED INITIATIVE IS PUTTING A NEW SPIN ON RACIAL TOPICS.

THE SERIES "“THAT GOT WEIRD"” USES ANIMATION TO REENACT MINNESOTANS'’ EXPERIENCES WITH RACISM AND MICROAGGRESSIONS.

REPORT FOR AMERICA AND ALMANAC DATA REPORTER KYELAND JACKSON SPOKE WITH PRODUCER SERGIO RAPU ABOUT THE SHOW.

KYELAND ALSO SPOKE TO SERGIO IN THE FORM OF THE ANIMATED CHARACTER HE PLAYS IN THE SERIES.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> WHEN I WAS IN MY PREVIOUS JOB, A SENIOR LEADER AT THE ORGANIZATION CAME TO ME AND SAID YOU COULD TOTALLY PASS FOR NATIVE, SO COULD YOU JUST PUT SOME BRAIDS IN YOUR HAIR AND GO DO THAT?

>> WHAT?

OH.

>> YOU RECENTLY HELPED TO SPEARHEAD THE SHOW "THAT GOT WEIRD" AND THERE WAS A LOT THAT WENT INTO PUTTING IT TOGETHER, VISUALIZING IT, GETTING ALL OF THE PIECES AND THE PEOPLE TOGETHER TO REALLY SPEAK TO IT.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT WENT INTO PUTTING THIS TOGETHER?

>> IT WAS WAY OUTSIDE OF THE BOX OF WHAT I NORMALLY DO.

SO MY BACKGROUND IS REALLY IN DOCUMENTARY, THAT IS, FILMING REAL PEOPLE DOING REAL TALKING IN THE REAL WORLD.

AND THIS IS NOT THAT AT ALL.

>> THERE'S SO MANY MICROAGGRESSIONS 101 THINGS, LIKE DON'T SAY THAT.

>> THE INCEPTION OF THIS IS WE WERE TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO TALK ABOUT RACISM IN A WAY THAT BIPOC AUDIENCES WOULD FEEL THAT IT IS HELPFUL.

BECAUSE OFTENTIMES WHEN WE TALK ABOUT RACISM OR SYSTEMATIC OPPRESSION, LIKE ALL THESE SYSTEMS, LIKE THIS IS STUFF THAT WE ALREADY KNOW ABOUT, RIGHT?

AND SO AND MANY TIMES TO REMIND PEOPLE, HEY, IT'S TUESDAY AND YOU'RE STILL OPPRESSED, LIKE IT IS MORE TRAUMATIZING THAN IT IS HELPFUL.

AND IT WASN'T NECESSARILY THAT WE WERE TRYING TO BE HELPFUL IN A WAY, IT WAS JUST LIKE HOW DO WE CREATE CONTENT THAT IS DIFFERENT BUT HAT STILL KIND OF GETS ULTIMATELY AT THIS TOPIC?

SO WE SPENT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL MONTHS DEVELOPING DIFFERENT CONCEPTS AND EVENTUALLY WE LANDED ON THIS ONE.

IT WAS REALLY INSPIRED BY A MEME THAT WAS GOING AROUND WHERE A LAWYER LOGS INTO A ZOOM CALL, IT'S CALLED THE CAT LAWYER VIDEO, AND A LAWYER LOGS INTO A ZOOM CALL BUT UNFORTUNATELY WHOEVER WAS USING HIS COMPUTER PREVIOUS TO HIM HAD THIS CAT FILTER SET UP.

>> I'M HERE LIVE, I'M NOT A CAT.

>> AND O HE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO TURN FF THE CAT FILTER.

WHAT WAS INTERESTING BOUT THAT TO ME IS THAT, ONE, IT WAS JUST REALLY FUNNY, AND, TWO, THE LAWYER WAS COMPLETE COMPLETELY ANONYMOUS.

LIKE YOU ACTUALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHO HE WAS, IT WAS JUST A CAT ACTING LIKE A LAWYER.

AND SO FROM THAT WE STARTED THINKING ABOUT HOW CAN WE TELL PERSONAL STORIES, BUT AT THE SAME TIME MAKE IT COMFORTABLE AND ANONYMOUS FOR PEOPLE?

>> I FOUND THAT SELF-DEPRECATION, ESPECIALLY RACIAL SELF-DEPRECATION REALLY MADE PEOPLE HAPPY.

>> AND SO THAT'S KIND OF HOW WE LANDED ON ANIMATION.

>> HOW DID THAT IDEA TURN OUT FOR THE CONVERSATIONS, THE TOPICS THAT YOU DISCUSS IN THE SERIES?

>> WELL, THE ANONYMITY IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

PEOPLE FEEL MORE AT EASE WHEN THEY KNOW THAT THEIR NAME, THEIR IDENTITY IS NEVER GOING TO BE SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC.

AND THEN THEY CAN OPEN UP A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT IS IT LIKE TO EXPERIENCE A MICRO AGGRESSION, WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE TO BE TOKENIZED AT WORK R AT SCHOOL, THESE OTHER PLACES.

>> I WOULD CONSTANTLY GET TOLD LIKE, OH, MY GOSH, I THOUGHT YOU WERE WHITE WHEN I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH YOU, LIKE, YOUR ENGLISH IS SO GOOD.

>> AND SO IT JUST NATURALLY ALLOWED FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SHARE CONVERSATIONS THAT MAYBE TYPICALLY HAPPEN BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AND WITH TRUSTED FRIENDS, AND ADDING SORT OF THIS ADDITIONAL ELEMENT OF ME REENACTING THE MICROAGGRESSION.

>> YOUR NAME, IT'S REALLY FUNNY, WHERE'S THAT FROM?

>> THERE'S -- THERE HE IS.

>> OH, YOU LOOK KOREAN, YOU'RE SO PRETTY, YOU DON'T EVEN LOOK HMONG.

>> WHAT!

>> I FEEL A LOT OF THE CONVERSATIONS COULD BE LESS EGGSHELL-Y, MEANING LIKE WHEN YOU BRING LEVITY INTO A CONVERSATION IT BECOMES LESS ABOUT GUILT AND THESE OTHER SORT OF BIG HARD FEELINGS FOR THE AUDIENCE MEMBER AND ALSO FOR HE PERSON SHARING.

AND THEN SO WE'RE ABLE TO KIND OF HINK ABOUT IT MORE AS OPPOSED TO FEEL ABOUT IT MORE.

SO THAT'S KIND OF SORT OF OUR STRATEGY AROUND USING COMEDY A LITTLE BIT.

SO THEN IT'S JUST REALLY KIND OF MORE ACCESSIBLE, YOU KNOW, I THINK FOR A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

THE DOWNSIDE IS, YOU KNOW, I'M KIND OF THE BUTT OF ALL HE JOKES BUT I'M COOL WITH THAT.

>> SO NOW THAT THE SHOW STARTED, IT'S WELL UNDERWAY, HAS GOTTEN ALREADY A COUPLE OF VIEWS, EPISODES DONE, WHAT'S NEXT?

>> WE'RE GOING TO DO 10 EPISODES ALTOGETHER.

WE ARE CURRENTLY AROUND, YOU KNOW, EPISODE 4 OR 5.

SO WE'RE HALFWAY THROUGH THE SERIES.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT DOES A SEASON TWO LOOK LIKE?

WHAT IF WE COULD TALK ABOUT OTHER THINGS BESIDES RACISM?

BECAUSE LIFE GETS REALLY WEIRD IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS, RIGHT?

SO YOU CAN TALK ABOUT UNCOMFORTABLE THINGS USING THIS SAME SORT OF RUBRIC THAT WE'VE BUILT WITH THE SERIES, SO, WHICH FEELS REALLY EXCITING.

♪♪ >> WHEN I THINK OF DETTMER, I THINK MILITARY AND I THINK SERVICE.

>> THE EY WORD THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED WAS SERVICE.

WHEN I GOT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL IN '69 AND I WENT DOWN, I WAS GOING TO ENLIST RIGHT AWAY AND MY DAD SAID, NO, YOU'VE GOT A SCHOLARSHIP TO GO TO COLLEGE.

AND I COMPETED AND GOT MY EDUCATION, GOT MY TEACHING DEGREE.

I GOT INTO TEACHING AND JUST A FEW YEARS AFTER THAT I STARTED TALKING TO ALL THESE RECRUITERS WERE COMING INTO MY SCHOOL TO TALK ABOUT MY ATHLETES THAT I WAS COACHING AND I ALWAYS HAD IN THE BACK OF MY MIND I WANTED TO SERVE.

I WAS 33 YEARS OLD WHEN I ENLISTED.

>> WOW.

>> SOME OF MY STUDENTS WENT OFF TO COLLEGE TOO OR WENT OFF TO WEST POINTE AND SO FORTH.

OUR SONS WENT TO WEST POINTE.

I WAS OLDER THAN MY DRILL SERGEANTS WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH TRAINING.

I GOT TO SALUTE MY SONS, WHEN THEY COME HOME, THEY'RE LIEUTENANT COLONELS, SO THEY HAVE RANK ON ME.

♪♪ >> Eric: ECRANE HAS DOMINATED POLITICS BOTH NATIONALLY AND LOCALLY, THE STATE'S BUDGET FORECAST RELEASED ON MONDAY NOW HAS A BIG ASTERRIST ATTACHED TO IT DUE TO THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMY IN THE WAKE OF RUSSIA'S INVASION.

ON TUESDAY NIGHT, JOE BIDEN BECAME THE FIRST U.S. PRESIDENT IN A DECADE TO START A STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH BY FOCUSING ON FOREIGN POLICY.

>> RUSSIA'S V LAD MIR PUTIN SOUGHT TO SHAKE THE VERY FOUNDATIONS OF THE FREE WORLD.

THINKING HE COULD MAKE IT BEND TO HIS MENACING WAYS, BUT HE BADLY MISCALCULATED.

HE THOUGHT HE COULD ROLL INTO UKRAINE AND THE WORLD WOULD ROLL OVER.

INSTEAD HE MET WITH A WALL OF STRENGTH HE NEVER ANTICIPATED OR IMAGINED.

HE MET UKRAINIAN PEOPLE.

>> WE'RE GOING TO SPEND SOME TIME NOW TALKING ABOUT THE POLITICS OF THIS MOMENT IN TIME AND HERE TO HELP US DO THAT, TWO VETERAN POLITICAL OBSERVERS OBSERVERS, BRIAN MCCLUNG IS A FORMER SPOKESPERSON FOR GOVERNOR TIM PAW ATLANTARY AND CARIN MROTZ.

SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, THE REPUBLICANS DON'T NEED MUCH, THEY MAY VERY WELL BE IN CHARGE IN 2023 AND THEY'D JUST AS SOON DO THE MINIMUM AND HAVE ALL THAT MONEY TO PLAY WITH WHEN THEY'RE PRESUMABLY IN CHARGE IN THE 2023 SESSION.

BRIAN, IS THAT JUST PRENEGOTIATION POSTURING OR IS THAT THE MINDSET?

>> O, I THINK THAT THERE'S A STRONG POSSIBILITY THAT SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THIS $9.25 BILLION SURPLUS WILL BE UNSPENT, LEFT ON THE BOTTOM LINE FOR THE 2023 SESSION, BECAUSE AS WE'VE SEEN IN THIS DIVIDED LEGISLATURE, THEY HAVE A HARD TIME AGREEING ON ANYTHING, LET ALONE ON SOMETHING THAT BIG.

SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, A PORTION OF THAT WILL BE USED FOR THE FRONT LINE WORKER CHECKS, I THINK A PORTION OF THAT WILL BE USED FOR THE UI FUND, BUT THE REST IS GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE DEMOCRATS WANT TO SPEND A LOT MORE, REPUBLICANS WANT PERMANENT TAX CUTS, AND IT'S HARD TO MEET IN THE MIDDLE ON THAT.

>> Eric: CARIN, HOW MUCH PRESSURE ARE THE DEMOCRATS GOING TO BE TO DELIVER TO KIND OF THE UNMET NEEDS GROUPS?

>> YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT THE UNMET NEEDS GROUPS BUT I WILL SAY WHEN REPUBLICANS ARE IN CHARGE, THERE'S LOT OF GROUPS WITH THEIR HANDS OUT, THEY JUST LOOK LIKE CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND THE VERY, VERY RICH.

THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEONE LOOKING TO GET HELP FOR THEIR COMMUNITY AND THAT IT LOOKS LIKE MONEY FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT.

I DO THINK THAT THERE'S AN EXPECTATION AND HOPE THAT SOME OF THIS SURPLUS WILL BE SPENT ON EDUCATION.

WE ARE IN A LITTLE BIT OF A CRISIS WITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND WE ARE, OU KNOW, FUNDING FRONT LINE WORKERS, I THINK THAT'S AMAZING, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT OUR SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS ARE ALSO FRONT LINE WORKERS AND TO MAKE SURE WE'RE KEEPING THAT MONEY FLOWING AS WELL.

>> Cathy: BRIAN, DO YOU THINK THERE WILL BE ANY TAX REFORM AT ALL?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S SOME CHANCE OF THAT.

THE SURPLUS IS SO BIG THAT YOU REALLY DO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO IN AND MAKE SOME MOVES ON MINNESOTA'S TAX RATES.

ASK AND WE KNOW THAT MINNESOTA'S TAX RATES ARE OUTLIERS, I MEAN, WE ARE JUST DRAMATICALLY HIGHER THAN STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND ESPECIALLY OUR NEIGHBORING STATES.

YOU JUST SAW IN IOWA THEY'VE GONE TO A FLAT RATE LOW INCOME TAX.

SO WE ARE IN A COMPETITION FOR JOBS AND FOR TALENT AND TAXES DO MATTER.

SO I HOPE SO, I HOPE THERE'S SOME ROOM TO FIND A COMPROMISE ON THAT AND GET SOMETHING DONE WHEN YOU HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY.

>> Eric: CARIN, WHERE ARE YOU ON THE TIM WALZ CHECKS THAT NOW HE'S TALKING ABOUT 500 FOR AN INDIVIDUAL AND A THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A COUPLE IN KIND OF A ONE-TIME GIVEBACK?

>> FIRST OF ALL, ERIC, I CALL THEM TIMULUS, WHICH I THINK IS A BETTER NAME.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE STRUGGLED THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT OF WORK, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE INCREASED COSTS AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE TIMULUS IS TO PUT A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY BACK IN THE POCKETS OF REGULAR PEOPLE, NOT THE VERY WEALTHY BUT EVERYONE, REGULAR PEOPLE WHICH I ASSUME MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE FOR ME PERSONALLY I'LL SPEND THAT MONEY BACK IN MY COMMUNITY AND STIMULATE THE ECONOMY WITH IT.

>> Cathy: BRIAN, DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THIS BEFORE WE GO TO ANOTHER TOPIC?

>> YEAH, A LITTLE BIT OF A CHECK IS FINE BUT WITH INFLATION THE WAY IT IS THESE CHECKS WOULD COVER MAYBE A COUPLE TANKS OF GAS.

SO THAT'S NOT ALL THAT HELPFUL, WHAT WOULD BE HELPFUL IS PERMANENTLY REDUCING TAXES FOR EVERYONE AND YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT WITH THIS SIZE OF A SURPLUS AND SO I HOPE WHEN IT COMES TO TAXES THAT THE FOCUS IS ON REAL CHANGE AND NOT JUST SMALL CHECKS IN THE MAIL.

>> Cathy: SAY, CARIN, THE HOUSE PASSED THIS BILL TO CALL ON THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR TO LOOK AT THE SOUTHWEST LIGHT RAIL LINE MESS.

HOW MUCH OF A POLITICAL MEGS IS THIS?

>> OOH.

I MEAN, IT HAS BEEN VERY CONTENTIOUS, IT'S BEEN VERY CONTENTIOUS FOR A LONG TIME AND I THINK THAT THE AUDIT DOES MAKE SENSE.

IT DOES BEAR LOOKING AND AUDITING THE SITUATION BEFORE WE PROCEED ANY FURTHER, JUST GIVEN WHAT A MESS IT'S BEEN IN THE PAST.

>> Eric: WHY DON'T WE TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT GUBERNATORIAL POLITICS.

I'M CURIOUS, BRIAN, WHAT YOU THINK OF COREY HEPOLA, THE CHANNEL 11 AND WCCO RADIO PERSONALITY WHO'S GOING TO RUN AS A THIRD PARTY CANDIDATE ON THE FORWARD PARTY TICKET, AN ANDREW YANG PRODUCTION.

DEMOCRATS WERE OUT QUICKLY SAYING THIS GUY'S A VANITY CELEBRITY CANDIDACY THAT'S GOING TO HURT DEMOCRATS.

>> MAN, I TWEETED T ELOWSKI WINONA PRESENT IT AND I HAD DEMOCRATS PILING ON ME.

I THINK DEMOCRATS ARE VERY WORRIED ABOUT THIS.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY NECESSARILY SHOULD BE.

I THINK THAT COREY HEPOLA IS PROBABLY CENTER/LEFT.

BUT I THINK HE'S TRYING TO CARVE OUT A DIFFERENT SPACE, APPEAL TO PEOPLE ACROSS THE SPECTRUM.

AND THIS IS WHY IT'S SO CHALLENGING TO RUN AS A THIRD PARTY CANDIDATE BECAUSE YOU'RE IMMEDIATELY DEFINED AS WHO ARE YOU TAKING VOTES WAY FROM RATHER THAN WHO ARE YOU INSPIRING TO SHOW UP AND GET INVOLVED AND BE PART OF THIS.

AND FRANKLY I THINK WE NEED MORE OF THAT I'M FOR MORE PEOPLE RUNNING, NOT LESS.

SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE DEMOCRATS WANT TO TRY TO KEEP SOMEBODY OUT OF THE RACE, LET'S JUST BRING EVERYBODY IN, WHOEVER HAS THE BEST IDEAS, THE BEST CAMPAIGN, THE BEST MESSAGE, THEY'LL WIN.

>> Eric: CARIN, WHY IS THE D.F.L.

SO OFFENDED BY THIS?

>> I MEAN, SOME OF US JUST THOUGHT THE VIDEO WASN'T VERY GOOD AND HAD A LITTLE BIT OF FUN WITH IT THE WAY THAT WE DO AND IT ACTUALLY DIDN'T MEAN A LOT MORE THAN THAT.

BUT I DO KNOW THAT THE D.F.L.

RELEASED A STATEMENT AND I AGREE WITH BRIAN, I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS IS A SPOILER CANDIDATE FOR THE D.F.L.

VERSUS REPUBLICANS, THE G.O.P.

SLATE IS PRETTY EXTREME AND COREY HEPOLA MAY PROVE TO BE A GOOD RESTING POINT FOR MODERATE REPUBLICANS WHO DON'T HAVE A HOME IN THEIR PARTY.

BUT I DO THINK THAT THE REASON THAT THE D.F.L.

GOT SO MOVED ON THIS SO QUICKLY IS BECAUSE THERE IS TRULY JUST SO MUCH AT STAKE WITH THIS ELECTION.

YOU MENTIONED EARLIER IN THE SHOW THE GOVERNORS IN TEXAS AND FLORIDA AND WE'RE SEEING WHAT'S HAPPENING WHEN REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS ARE LEADING STATES AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS AN ATTACK ON YOUTH, QUEER YOUTH, TRANS YOUTH, THERE'S JUST A LOT AT STAKE AND IT FEELS LIKE A VERY EXISTENTIAL ELECTION HERE.

>> Cathy: SAY, BRIAN, WHILE WE'RE ON THE TOPIC OF GUBERNATORIAL POLITICS, I UNDERSTAND SCOTT JENSEN WILL INTRODUCE FORMER VIKING MATT BURKE NEXT WEEK AS HIS RUNNING MATE.

>> YEAH, I SAW THAT.

I THINK THAT CERTAINLY ADDS SOME PIZZAZZ AND INTEREST TO THE JENSEN TICKET.

I WONDER FOR MATT BURKE, THOUGH, IF ANYBODY HAS TOLD HIM WHAT THE JOB LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ENTAILS BECAUSE FRANKLY IT'S MAYBE THE WORST JOB IN MINNESOTA.

I DON'T KNOW WHY ANYONE WOULD WANT TO BE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

MOST GOVERNORS AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNORS END UP NOT LIKING EACH OTHER.

SO IT IS NOT AN IDEAL JUMPING OFF POINT AND FOR SOMEBODY WITH THE PROFILE MATT BURKE HAS I DON'T KNOW WHY HE'D WANT TO BE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

WITH THAT SAID, SCOTT JENSEN, BASE VOTERS ARE GOING TO FIND THIS VERY INTERESTING.

IT'S GOING TO DRAW A LOT OF ATTENTION ESPECIALLY THIS COMING WEEK.

IT MIGHT BE A GOOD BOOST FOR HIM.

>> Cathy: I LIKE THE LOOK ON YOUR FACE, WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

>> I BECAME AWARE OF MATT BURKE IN 2012 WHEN HE WAS A STAUNCH OPPONENT OF MARRIAGE EQUALITY.

THIS S A PRETTY EXTREME CANDIDATE ADDING N EXTREME RUNNING MATE TO HIS PLATFORM AND SO I DO ACTUALLY JUST HAVE CONCERNS THAT THESE WOULD BE THE PEOPLE IN THESE JOBS EVEN IF WE'RE NOT SURE THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE.

>> Eric: BRIAN, WHAT IS THE STATE OF THE CAUCUS CONVENTION ENDORSEMENT PROCESS ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE?

THERE'S CONTROVERSY OUT OF MORRISON COUNTY ON WHAT HAPPENED TO DELEGATE SELECTION ON CAUCUS NIGHT.

SOME SHARP ELBOWS NOW IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

WHAT IS THE STATE OF THE RACE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, THERE'S CERTAINLY SOME CONCERN OVER THE DATA AND THEY NEED TO GET THAT SORTED OUT.

A PARTY THAT IS TALKING ABOUT ELECTION INTEGRITY CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE ITS OWN CAUCUS SYSTEM WHEREBY YOU ENDORSE A CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR NOT WORKING.

SO THAT DOES MATTER I THINK.

I THINK THOUGH MORE BROADLY IT IS STILL A VERY WIDE OPEN RACE AND YOU'VE HAD SOME CANDIDATES GET IN KIND OF LATE IN THE GAME, YOU KNOW, RICH STANEK GETTING IN ON FEBRUARY 1ST, PRECINCT CAUCUS NIGHT AND SO I THINK THEY'RE STILL GETTING TO KNOW ALL OF THESE CANDIDATES, AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS NECESSARILY THE CLEAR FRONTRUNNER.

I THINK SCOTT JENSEN PROBABLY HAS THE ADVANTAGE BASED ON THE STRAW POLL AND SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS WE'VE SEEN LIKE FUND-RAISING TOTALS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS STILL I THINK AN OPEN RACE.

>> Eric: CARIN, GIVE US YOUR BEST 30 SECONDS ON THE LEVEL OF D.F.L.

ENTHUSIASM.

>> I THINK THE LEVEL OF D.F.L.

ENTHUSIASM S PRETTY HIGH.

WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF FIGURING HOW WE'RE DOING OUR CONVENTIONS, ARE THEY IN-PERSON, ARE THEY ONLINE OR WHAT.

BUT I THINK THAT PEOPLE ON THE LEFT FROM THE CENTER LEVEL TO THE FAR LEFT ARE AWARE OF WHAT AN IMPORTANT YEAR THIS IS, HOW MUCH IS AT STAKE, WE'RE WATCHING THE LEGISLATURE WE'RE WATCHING THE SENATE REPUBLICANS INTRODUCE, YOU KNOW, BILLS HAT WOULD REQUIRE SCHOOLS TO OUT CHILDREN THEY SUSPECT ARE QUEER, AND I THINK WE REALIZE THAT WE NEED TO TAKE THE HOUSE, TAKE THE SENATE, KEEP THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, AND JUST FIGHT FOR MINNESOTANS.

>> Eric: WE'RE GETTING THE HOOK.

GOOD STUFF TONIGHT.

THANK YOU, PANEL.

♪♪ >> I'M VERY PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THIS MORNING AN AGREEMENT ... >> A PARADE OF PEOPLE PATTED EACH OTHER ON THE BACK FOR ALF AN HOUR BEFORE TAKING QUESTIONS.

>> WITHOUT ANY GENERAL FUND DOLLARS -- >> PUT TOGETHER A DEAL.

>> HIS TEAM STAYS HERE.

>> IT'S HARD FOR PEOPLE TO TELL US WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD SUPPORT IT UNTIL THEY KNOW WHAT THE DETAILS ARE.

♪♪ >> Eric: YOU REMEMBER THAT THE U.S. BANK STADIUM OPENED TO THE PUBLIC IN 2016.

BUT LET'S DELVE INTO MINNESOTA HISTORY THAT IS SLIGHTLY MORE VINTAGE.

FOR THIS WEEK'S QUESTION WE JOURNEY BACK IN TIME 50 YEARS.

THIS MONTH IN 1972, A FAMED COUPLE WAS FEATURED ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE MINNEAPOLIS TRIBUNE AND MANY OTHER PAPERS AFTER THEY ANNOUNCED THEY WERE SEPARATING.

THE FAMED HUSBAND, HOWEVER, SAID THAT "“THE WEDDING RING WOULD ALWAYS STAY ON MY FINGER, I WILL ALWAYS LOVE HER.

"” HE BLAMED THE DEMISE OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP IN PART ON BEING BROKE.

THIS NOTED HUSBAND DID NOT LIVE IN MINNESOTA AT THE TIME, BUT WOULD LATER LIVE HERE.

HE WOULD ALSO GO ON TO MARRY TWO MORE TIMES.

THE QUESTION: WHAT FUTURE MINNESOTAN MADE NATIONAL MARITAL HEADLINES IN MARCH OF 1972?

NOW, DO YOU THINK YOU KNOW THIS ONE?

WELL, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU'RE LIVING NEAR DAISY VALLEY, ROSE CITY, LILY CREEK OR LILAC WAY.

WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU CALL IN EVEN IF YOU DON'T RESIDE NEAR A FLOWERY LOCALE.

651-229-14030.

AND REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS CONTACT US BY WAY OF E-MAIL IF YOU LIKE WRITING BETTER THAN TALKING.

ALMANAC @TPT.ORG, THE WAY TO REACH US.

ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL AIRS EACH WEEK NIGHT 7:00, DURING SESSION.

THAT'S THE SAME FREE OVER THE AIR SERVICE THAT BROADCASTS THE ACTION AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE EACH WEEKDAY.

MINNESOTA CHANNEL IS THE SERVICE OF ALL PBS STATION THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

FOR SHOW CLOSING MUSIC LET'S DIP INTO THE ARCHIVES.

IT WAS THIS WEEK IN 2016 THAT DALE WATSON AND THE TEXAS TWO STOPPED BY OUR SHOW AND PLAYED A FEW TUNES.

LET'S GO OUT WITH ONE OF THOSE.

THANKS FOR WATCHING THIS WEEK AND BE CAREFUL.

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

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

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION.

IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH WHILE ADVANCING SOCIAL EQUITIES.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINETHREEUS.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

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