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

>> CATHY: THE DRAMATIC INVASION OF THE U.S. CAPITOL BUILDING BY A PRO-TRUMP MOB ON WEDNESDAY LED TO FIVE DEATHS AND A SHAKEN NATION.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHERE THINGS STAND AT WEEK'S END.

ALSO TONIGHT, A LOOK AT RACIAL DISPARITIES IN POLICING IN MINNEAPOLIS AND LOUISVILLE WITH A REPORTER WHO'S LIVED IN BOTH PLACES.

>> Mary: AS LAWMAKERS RETURN TO THE CAPITOL FOR A NEW SESSION, THERE IS A HEALTHY CROP OF NEW FRESHMEN.

>> I WANTED TO COME IN SERVING AS THE FIRST SOMALI AMERICAN.

>> THESE SOMETHING I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING ON HERE IN THIS SESSION.

>> 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.

A TOUCHSTONE ENERGY COOPERATIVE.

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

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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/LINE3US.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

>> ERIC: THANKS FOR TUNING IN.

IT'S BEEN AN EXTRAORDINARY WEEK.

WE HAVE A LOT OF SHOW TONIGHT SO LET'S GET GOING.

>> CATHY: WE START THE HOUR WITH THE LATEST NEWS FROM OUR NATION'S CAPITOL, KEEPING IN MIND IT'S 7:00 P.M. ON FRIDAY.

HERE WITH US ARE TWO POLITICAL SCIENTISTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA KATHRYN PEARSON AND MICHAEL MINTA.

GOOD TO SEE BOTH OF YOU.

AS POLITICAL SCIENTISTS, HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK?

I'M GOING TO START WITH KATHRYN PIERSON.

>> WELL, IT'S HARD TO OVERSTATE THE GRAVITY OF WHAT HAPPENED ON TUESDAY.

THE PEACEFUL TRANSITION OF POWER IS KEY TO DEMOCRACY AND THE PRESIDENT INCITED A MOB TO GO TO THE CAPITOL AND STOP THE CERTIFICATION OF STATE'S ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTES.

BEFORE THAT, HE ENCOURAGED STATE LEGISLATORS AND A SECRETARY OF STATE TO OVERTURN ELECTION RESULTS IN THEIR STATES.

AND THE VIOLENCE THAT WE WITNESSED IN THE CAPITOL WAS UNPRECEDENTED.

I THINK THANKFULLY, CONGRESS RECONVENED AND THE JOINT SESSION OF THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE CONTINUED TO CERTIFY THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTES, BREAKING OUT -- FINISHING UP WITH ARIZONA AND THEN ALSO BREAKING OUT INTO SEPARATE SESSIONS WHERE OBJECTIONS TO PENNSYLVANIA'S ELECTORAL COLLEGE CERTIFICATION WERE VOTED ON.

>> Cathy: PROFESSOR MINTA, WHAT'S THE FUTURE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP AT THIS POINT?

I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE 12 DAYS LEFT UNTIL THE IN AG RATION.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS STARTING ON MOTION, OF COURSE THE 25th AMENDMENT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP.

WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENS?

>> YES, I THINK HE'S GOING TO SERVE OUT THE REST OF HIS TERM BUT THERE -- AS YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE FIASCO AT THE CAPITOL, THERE HAVE BEEN CALLS FOR IMPEACHMENT, FOR THE CABINET TO USE THE 25th AMENDMENT TO REMOVE HIM, SAYING HE'S -- HE'S PHYSICALLY -- THERE IS A DISABILITY, HE CAN'T PERFORM THE DUTIES OF THE JOB.

EVEN THOUGH HE'S BEEN GETTING SOME PUSH BACK FROM REPUBLICANS AND OBVIOUSLY FROM DEMOCRATS, I THINK WHAT'S LIKELY TO HAPPEN IS THAT THEY'LL GO THROUGH AND THEY'LL CONDEMN HIM FOR WHAT HE'S DOING, AND I THINK HE JUST ANNOUNCED EARLIER TODAY THAT HE WOULDN'T ATTEND THE INAUGURATION, TOO, SO I JUST THINK THESE SIGNALS ABOUT PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER, TRUMP IS JUST DEFYING THE RULES AND HE'S JUST DOING WHAT HE'S BEEN DOING.

WE DIDN'T THINK IT COULD GET WORSE BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT'S GOTTEN WORSE WITH THE LOSS OF A FEW LIVES AND THAT'S JUST -- JUST UNBELIEVABLE.

>> Eric: WHAT GRADE WOULD YOU TOO GIVE THE STATE OF OUR DEMOCRACY?

HAVE WE PASSED THE STRESS TEST SO FAR?

KATHERINE?

>> WELL, THERE IS ACTUALLY AN S GOVERNMENTS AND IT'S CALLED POLITY, AND IT DOWNGRADED THE UNITED STATES TO A FIVE OUT OF 10 AFTER TUESDAY BECAUSE OF STRESS, BECAUSE OF SIGNS THAT WE'RE CRUMBLING, BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THERE WAS LAWLESSNESS IN SKYPEED BY THE PRESIDENT SO THIS IS -- BY THE PRESIDENT AND THIS IS VERY SERIOUS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR LAWLESSNESS STILL EXISTS BETWEEN NOW AND JANUARY 20th, AND FRANKLY THIS SETS A PRESS DENT WHERE -- I MEAN, FUTURE LOSERS COULD RESPOND IN A WAY THAT IS VERY UNSMALL D DEMOCRATIC, AND I THINK SENATOR MITT ROMNEY MADE A VERY APPROPRIATE REMARK ON THE SENATE FLOOR VERY LATE ON TUESDAY NIGHT WHEN HE MADE THE POINT THAT IT'S RESPECTING AMERICAN VOTERS TO TELL THEM THE TRUTH ABOUT THE ELECTION RESULTS AND PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD NOT BEEN DOING THAT AND THAT SHOWS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT DOING WELL WITH DEMOCRACY.

>> Eric: WELL, MIKE AT, THE 45% OF REPUBLICANS IN THE POLL THIS WEEK SAID THEY APPROVED OF STORMING THE CAPITOL.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

>> WELL, I WOULD RATHER LOOK AT THE 55% THAT WERE, YOU KNOW, EXCUSE ME, THE 56% THAT WERE AGAINST IT AND -- BUT, YEAH, IT IS DISTURBING TO SEE THAT SO MANY REPUBLICANS APPROVED OF -- AND I THINK, AGAIN, THIS IS PART OF THE IMMEDIATE WHERE THAT WE GET.

YOU WATCH THE MEDIA THAT CONFIRMS YOUR BELIEFS AND SO SOME OF THE MEDIA OUTLETS ARE JUST PROPOSING THAT IT WASN'T AS BIG A DEAL.

I'VE EVEN SEEN SOME NEWS PROGRAMS THAT MENTIONED THE PIPE BOMBS THAT WERE SET SO I JUST THINK THAT THOSE WHO ARE MORE SYMPATHETIC TO THE PRESIDENT, THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO -- THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO JUST BELIEVABLE THEY WANT TO BELIEVE.

HOPEFULLY -- IT'S ENCOURAGING TO SEE PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT OUR REPUBLIC AND DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES AND IF YOU LOSE, THEN YOU JUST LEAVE AND YOU TRY AGAIN NEXT TIME, THAT YOU'RE HAVING SOME REPUBLICANS COMING OUT AGAINST THIS UPRISING, THESE RIOTS.

AND ALSO WHAT I FELT WAS GOOD TO HEAR HOUSE MINORITY LEADER KEVIN McCARTHY SAY THAT HE SPOKE WITH PRESIDENT-ELECT BIDEN, THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO LOWER THE TEMPERATURE ONCE HE TAKES OFFICE AND WE DEFINITELY NEED TO DO THAT, CONSIDERING ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

>> Cathy: PROFESSOR PIERSON, WHAT SHAPE IS THE G.O.P.

IN?

>> THE G.O.P.

IS IN A PERIOD OF POTENTIAL TRANSITION AND I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME SOUL-SEARCHING AFTER THIS.

SO, EIGHT SENATE REPUBLICANS VOTED FOR ONE OR BOTH OF THE ELECTORAL -- SORRY, VOTED AGAINST CERTIFYING ONE OR BOTH ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTES IN ARIZONA OR PENNSYLVANIA, AND A MAJORITY OF HOUSE REPUBLICANS DID.

BUT THERE ARE MANY REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE SPOKEN UP WITH GRAVE CONCERNS.

WE'RE HEARING EVEN SOME REPUBLICANS SUGGEST THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP SHOULD LEAVE OFFICE IMMEDIATELY, REPUBLICAN ELECTEDs, BUT, AGAIN, BECAUSE PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS BEEN UNWILLING TO ADMIT THE TRUTH, THAT JOE BIDEN WON THE-LICKS, THERE ARE MANY OF HIS SUPPORTERS THAT BELIEVE WHAT HE HAS BEEN SAYING AND SO THE ELECTORATE IS DIVIDED AMONG REPUBLICANS BUT MANY REPUBLICANS STILL SUPPORT HIM, AND SO THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO HAVE A TOUGH TASK MOVING FORWARD, ESPECIALLY IF PRESIDENT TRUMP CONTINUES IS TO SAY THAT HE WILL RUN AGAIN IN 2024.

>> Eric: PROFESSOR MINTA, IS THERE APPETITE ON CAPTAIN TOLL HILL TO DO SOME ELECTORAL CHANGES, MODIFY ALL THIS RIGMAROLE WITH THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE, CERTIFYING IT AND SO FORTH, OR IS THAT A BRIDGE TOO FAR?

>> THAT IS A -- YOU'VE SEEN SOME REPUBLICAN LEADERS SAY, HEY, WITH THE OBJECTION TO THE LECTOR RATHER, WHEN SEVERAL REPUBLICAN SENATORS WERE GOING TO SIGN ON AND SOME OF THEM, LIKE JOSH HAWLEY IN MISSOURI STILL SIGNED ON, BUT, YEAH, I THINK BECAUSE IT HAS THE -- THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE HAS BENEFITED REPUBLICANS, I WE CAN SEE WITH HILLARY CLINTON WINNING THE POPULAR VOTE BUT STIM LOSING BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T GET THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE AND BACK IN 2000 WITH AL GORE, SO I DON'T THINK THERE'S -- I THINK YOU'LL HEAR RUMBLINGS, PARTICULARLY FROM DEMOCRATS BECAUSE THEY THINK IT MIGHT ACTUALLY ADVANTAGE THEM BUT I THINK WE'RE JUST GOING TO END UP, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THE SAME SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE.

BUT I THINK THERE IS -- THERE HAS BEEN MORE TALK ABOUT IT.

>> Cathy: I WANT TO GO BACK TO OUR DELEGATION HERE FOR JUST A MOMENT WITH THE TIME REMAINING.

TWO -- THE MINNESOTA G.O.P.

DELEGATION SPLIT ON THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE THIS WEEK, PROFESSOR PIERSON.

WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THAT?

>> RIGHT.

WELL, THAT WAS INTERESTING AND, AGAIN, IT SORT OF REFLECTS THE DIVIDE WITHIN THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE OVERALL, SORT OF A MAJORITY OF HOUSE REPUBLICANS VOTED NOT TO CERTIFY ONE OR BOTH ARIZONA OR PENNSYLVANIA, BUT THEY WERE NEARLY EVENLY DIVIDED.

IT WAS ABOUT 57% SO THE MINNESOTA DOLE GAGS REFLECTS THAT BUT I THINK THAT -- I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, CONSTITUENTS WILL REMEMBER THIS VOTE.

IT WAS ONE OF THE -- ONE OF THE FIRST VOTES OF THE CONGRESS AND THEY WILL REMEMBER, FOR BETTER OR WORSE, AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME CONSTITUENTS WILL REALLY APPRECIATE TOM EMMER AND PETE STAUBER SORT OF VOTING TO CERTIFY AND SOME CONSTITUENTS WILL APPRECIATE CONGRESSWOMAN FISCHBACH AND HAGEDORN NOT VOTING TO CERTIFY, AND SO I THINK REPUBLICAN CONSTITUENTS WILL BE DIVIDED, BUT I THINK THE KEY IS WHETHER OR NOT, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE IN CONGRESS CAN COME TOGETHER AND SO -- SHOW SOME LEADERSHIP ABOUT FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS.

>> Eric: QUICK, THE LAST WORD, PROFESSOR MINTA.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY ABOUT THAT, REPUBLICANS, THEY'RE CONTEMPLATING HOW THEY'RE GOING TO WIN STATEWIDE ELECTIONS HERE IN MINNESOTA AND SO, YOU KNOW, TRUMP HOW CLOSE HE CAME IN 2000, I THINK MANY PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN STILL USE THE STRATEGY BUT OF COURSE DEMOCRATS, THE ADS, THE ADS ARE ALREADY MAKING THEMSELVES AND I DON'T KNOW IF REPUBLICANS, HOW CLOSELY THEY WANT TO TIE THEMSELVES TO TRUMP IN THE FUTURE.

IT'S A HUGE GAMBLE.

WE'LL SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT IN THE NEXT ELECTION CYCLE.

>> Eric: A LOT MORE TO DISCUSS, I WISH WE HAD MORE TIME.

WE DON'T.

THANK YOU BOTH.

♪♪♪ >> BUT DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF RIGHT NOW COMPANY AND UNION AGREEING TO MEET TOMORROW MORNING AND MAKE A FURTHER ATTEMPT TO SETTLE THIS THING.

>> CERTAINLY, THE WAY WE PUT IT, IN OUR LETTER, IS THAT WE'LL BE AVAILABLE AT A MUTUALLY SATISFACTORY TIME AND PLACE BEGINNING TOMORROW.

>> JIM, WHAT TIME AND WHERE?

>> WELL, I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS UNTIL JUST NOW, TONIGHT, SO AS SOON AS I GET BACK, WE'LL GET OUR PEOPLE TOGETHER BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN CHASING A LONG WAYS TO TRY TO GET THE COMPANY TO SIT DOWN WITH US.

WE'RE READY TO BARGAIN AND RESOLVE THE DISPUTE.

>> ERIC: ON THE DAY THE U.S. CAPITOL WAERUPTED IN VIOLENCE, COVID WAS AGAIN SETTING GRIM RECORDS.

ON WEDNESDAY, AMERICA REPORTED 151,000 NEW COVID CASES AND 3,900 NEW DEATHS.

MEANWHILE, THE ROLLOUT OF THE VACCINE IS GOING MORE SLOWLY THAN PLANNED.

LET'S CHECK IN AGAIN WITH MICHAEL OSTERHOLM.

HE LEADS THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA'S CENTER FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESEARCH AND POLICY.

DOCTOR, 100,000 MINNESOTANS HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

THERE IS A DISTRIBUTION MEETING IN THE STATE ON MONDAY AND APPEARS TO BE A BIT OF A BOTTLENECK.

IS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION GOING TO TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM?

>> WELL, AS YOU PROBABLY HEARD TODAY, THEY DID IN FACT ANNOUNCE THAT THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE AND NO LONGER REQUIRE THE SECOND DOSE, WHICH IS PART OF THE ONE TO TWO-DOZE REGIMEN, THAT THAT WOULD BE HELD FOR THAT 21 TO 30 DAYS AFTER THE FIRST DOSE, WE WOULD JUST USE ALL THE DOSES WITH JUST A SMALL PROPORTION SAVED BEHIND IN CASE THERE'S MANUFACTURING CHALLENGES.

BUT THAT'S -- THE IDEA OF WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, THOUGH, AND REALLY NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT FROM TWO PERSPECTIVES.

ONE IS [ Banging Gavel ] WHAT ABOUT MANUFACTURING, HOW MUCH VACCINE IS THERE.

THE SECOND IS GETTING IT INTO PEOPLE'S ARMS AND THAT'S ALL ABOUT HOW DO YOU ACTUALLY DISTRIBUTE IT IN THE STATE, HOW DO YOU CONVINCE PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED, SO THOSE ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT THINGS AND THEY BOTH TO HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED FOR US TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE GETTING VACCINATED.

>> Cathy: HISTORICALLY, STATES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ORGANIZING PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTIONS.

WHAT IS A COHERENT NATIONAL VACCINATION STRATEGY LOOK LIKE?

>> WELL, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE FIRST RECOMMENDATIONS CAME OUT FROM THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION INDICATING THAT THE VERY HIGHEST PRIORITIES WERE HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND THOSE LIVING IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, THAT CREATED A BIT OF A CHALLENGE RIGHT UPFRONT BECAUSE NEITHER OF THOSE REALLY ARE UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE STATE OR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.

OBVIOUSLY, HEALTH CARE CENTERS, HOSPITALS, WERE GIVEN THE VACCINE IN SOME PROPORTION TO THE AMOUNT THAT WE RECEIVED HERE IN THE STATE AND THEN IT WAS LEFT UP TO THEM TO DETERMINE HOW TO BEST VACCINATE THEIR POPULATIONS.

LONG-TERM CARE WAS EVEN MORE COMPLICATED BECAUSE CVS AND WALGREENS WERE AWARDED THE CONTRACT TO VACCINATE THESE LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES AND, FRANKLY, THEY WEREN'T REALLY READY TO GO AT THE TIME THAT THE VACCINE WAS AVAILABLE AND THE NEW RECOMMENDATIONS CAME OUT.

THAT'S CHANGING.

BUT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO FROM HERE IS REALLY CRITICAL AND THAT'S ALL ABOUT STATE AND LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND HOW THEY'RE GOING TO OVERSEE THOSE VACCINATION PROGRAMS, AND ONE OF THE PROBLEMS HAS BEEN IS THE -- NONE OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS HAVE RECEIVED ANY FUNDS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ACTUALLY PUT TOGETHER VACCINATING TEAMS TO PUT TOGETHER THE KIND OF INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN RUN THE SYSTEMS FOR MAKING RESERVATIONS FOR VACCINES, FOR KEEPING TRACK OF INFORMATION, AND THAT MONEY NOW IS JUST BEING RELEASED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, SO WE'RE WAY BEHIND THE EIGHT-BALL.

I HAVE SAID FOR OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS THAT WE SPENT BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON OPERATIONAL WARP SPEED TO MAKE THE VACCINES BUT WE PENT PENNIES ON THE LAST MILE AND LAST INCH TO GET THEM TO PEOPLE AND THAT HAS TO CHANGE, OR IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A VERY SLOW UPTAKE.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION GETS THAT.

I CAN TELL YOU THIS IS JOB ONE FOR THEM.

THEY SEE THE NEED TO WORK WITH STATE AND LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.

THERE WERE MEETINGS THIS PAST WEEK THAT I PARTICIPATED IN IN REGARDS TO THAT AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT THERE WILL BE REAL ATTENTION PAID TO HOW STATE AND LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS CAN BE SUPPORTED TO GET THIS DONE.

>> Cathy: SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE VACCINATION EFFORT, OBVIOUSLY, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THIS NEW STRAIN, THIS VARIANT OF COVID THAT'S EASILY CONTAGIOUS, HE EVER DENTALLY, SO HOW WORRIED ARE YOU ABOUT THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, THIS PANDEMIC'S BEEN LONG, IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR NOW, ON DECEMBER 30th OF THIS PAST YEAR, I REMINISCED ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT HAD BEEN EXACTLY ONE YEAR SINCE WE PUBLISHES OUR FIRST ARTICLE IN THE NEWS ABOUT THIS NEW VIRUS IN WOULD YOU HAND, CHINA.

I HAVE TO SAY DURING THAT ENTIRE TIME, IT'S BEEN PAINFUL.

I THOUGHT TO MYSELF THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES I HAVE NO TEARS LEFT TO CRY AFTER SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE DEALT WITH BUT THIS IS THE ONE THING THAT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT.

THESE NEW VARIANTS FEEL POTENTIAL TO BE MUCH MORE HIGHLY TRANSMISSIBLE.

YOU SEE WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE, THESE ARE MUTATIONS IN THE VIRUSES THAT ARE OCCURRING, THAT ARE MULTIPLE OF THESE VARIANTS, ONE IN SOUTH AFRICA, ONE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND ONE IN BRAZIL THAT HAVE ALL STARTED TO SPREAD AROUND THE WORLD, AND IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S JUST HAPPENED IN LONDON RIGHT NOW, THIS MORNING THEY BASICALLY DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY.

THE MAYOR IN LONDON SAID THAT THEY HAVE NO ADDITIONAL HOSPITAL BEDS AVAILABLE AS OF RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S THE KIND OF SPREAD WE'RE SEEING WITH THESE NEW VARIANTS AND SO IT CAUSES DISEASE THE SAME WAY, IT SPREADS THE SAME WAY, IT'S JUST MORE HIGHLY INFECTIOUS.

AND SO I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THEY WILL BE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, I THINK THEY'RE HERE NOW BUT I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THEY'LL START TO SPREAD SUBSTANTIALLY HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, AND AS I'VE BEEN TELLING YOU FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS, OUR DARKEST DAYS YET ARE STILL AHEAD OF US AND I THINK THEY ARE, EVEN WITH VACCINE.

WE'RE IN A RACE RIGHT NOW BETWEEN GETTING VACCINE IN PEOPLE'S ARMS AND UNFORTUNATELY GETTING THIS VIRUS IN PEOPLE'S LUNGS.

>> Eric: I READ SOMETHING INTERESTING THIS WEEK, ASYMPTOMATIC FOLKS ARE TRANSMITTING HALF THE CASES.

HOW LONG ARE THEY CONTAGIOUS?

>> WELL, FIRST LET ME SAY THAT STUDY WHICH CAME FROM THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION HASN'T NECESSARILY BEEN EMBRACED FULLY BY EVERYONE IN MY BUSINESS, OKAY?

>> Eric: OKAY.

>> IT'S CLEAR THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE ASYMPTOMATIC, AND THEY CAN CALL IN TWO CATEGORIES, THOSE WHO ARE PRE-SYMPTOMATIC, I GET IN NEXTED TODAY, I BECOME INFECTIOUS THREE DAYS LATER AND I DON'T REALLY BECOME SICK UNTIL DAY FIVE SO FOR THOSE TWO DAYS, I WAS PRESENT-SYMPTOMATIC AND INFECTIOUS, OR THERE ARE SOME WHO JUST NEVER GET CLINICALLY ILL ENOUGH TO KNOW THEY EVEN HAVE THE INFECTION AND THEY CAN SPREAD IT.

THESE ARE IMPORTANT SOURCES OF TRANSMISSION, WHETHER THEY ACCOUNT FOR 20 OR 30% OR 50% IS REALLY UNCLEAR.

THE POINT BEING IS THIS IS WHY THE RECOMMENDATIONS WE MAKE ABOUT DISTANCING, WEARING YOUR MASK, ET CETERA, ARE REALLY ALL IMPORTANT AS WE JUST GOT DONE TALKING ABOUT THE VARIANTS, UNTIL YOU GET THAT VACCINE, THAT'S WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOU PROBABILITY YOURSELF AGAINST THE VARIANT STRAINS AS WELL AS THE REGULAR STRAINS BY JUST DOING THAT, AS I'VE SAID BEFORE ON THIS SHOW, DON'T SWAP AIR.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT'S IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW.

>> Eric: THE QUOTE FROM DOCTOR Dr. FAUCI THIS WEEK WAS A SENSE OF NORMALCY BY THE FALL.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY UP TO US AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS WE'RE ALREADY SEEING AND YOU JUST HEARD IT IN YOUR PREVIOUS SEGMENT WHERE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PERCENTAGE OF REPUBLICANS THAT FELT STORMING THE CAPITOL WAS OKAY.

WE'RE SEEING A NUMBER OF PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT STILL BELIEVE THAT THIS PANDEMIC IS NOT REAL, THAT IN FACT IT'S SOME KIND OF POLITICALLY MOTIVATED ACTIVITY AND THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT AMENABLE TO GETTING VACCINATED.

IF WE COME TO SUMMER AND EARLY FALL AND WE'RE STILL MISSING 30 OR 40% OF THE POPULATION FROM BEING VACCINATED, IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO GET BACK TO SOME SENSE OF NORMALCY.

SO THIS IS WHERE WE ALL HAVE TO COME TOGETHER.

WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO GET VACCINATED AND THAT'S GOING TO BE OUR JOB.

WHEN I TALKED ABOUT THE LAST MILE AND THAT LAST INCH, THE LAST INCH IS GETTING THE NEEDLE IN THE ARM AND YOU CAN HAVE ALL THE VACCINE IN THE WORLD BUT IF WE CAN'T CONVINCE PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED, WE WILL NOT STOP THIS PANDEMIC FROM -- FOR A LONG, LONG TIME TO COME.

>> Cathy: FINAL QUESTION HERE, WITH JUST ABOUT A MINUTE AND A HALF LEFT.

WHEN MIGHT WE SEE ANY SPIKES IN CASES BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAYS, PERHAPS >> YOU KNOW, CATHY, WE'RE GOING TO SEE A TURN RIGHT NOW.

A VERY INTERESTING PHENOMENA, IF YOU LOOK AT THE DA CURTSIES, IOWA, WISCONSIN, MINNESOTA, WE ALSO YOU'VE DOWNTURN IN CASES IN MID-NOVEMBER.

WE WENT FROM ABOUT, YOU KNOW, 68,000-6800 CASES A DAY ON THE 7-DAY AVERAGE TO ABOUT 2,000 A DAY IN THE LAST WEEK, A VERY NOTABLE DROP AND A WELCOME DROP.

BUT WE'VE ALL SEEN THE CASE NUMBERS LEVEL OFF AND NOW STARTING TO TURN BACK UP AGAIN.

SO I'M NOT SO SURE WE'RE NOT SEEING IT RIGHT NOW, AND I WORRY THAT WE'RE JUST AS SUES SEPTEMBERIBILITY AND WE WERE BEFORE WE HAD THIS BIG PEAK IN NOVEMBER TOO MUCH ANOTHER BIG PEAK IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY, SO WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT AND I WORRY A LOT ABOUT WHAT THE CHRISTMAS POST-INFECTION PERIOD MIGHT LOOK LIKE.

>> Eric: ALWAYS APPRECIATE THE TIME, DOCTOR.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

♪♪♪ >> CATHY: LAST YEAR, POLICE KILLINGS IN LOUISVILLE AND MINNEAPOLIS CAUSED OUTRAGE ACROSS THE GLOBE.

BREONNA TAYLER WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY POLICE IN MARCH.

GEORGE FLOYD WAS KILLED WHILE IN CUSTODY IN MAY.

TPT'S REPORT FOR AMERICA DATA JOURNALIST KYELAND JACKSON LIVED IN BOTH LOUISVILLE AND MINNEAPOLIS LAST YEAR.

RECENTLY, HE DID A STORY COMPARING POLICE STATISTICS IN THE TWO CITIES AS PART OF TPT'S "RACISM UNVEILED" PROJECT.

THE STORY ALSO EXPLORED SOME POSSIBLE POLICIES THAT COULD REDUCE THE RACIAL DISPARITIES BOTH CITIES FACE.

KYELAND JACKSON JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT HIS REPORT.

SO YOU LIVED IN LOUISVILLE AND NOW MINNEAPOLIS, KILLINGS IN BOTH CITIES OF COURSE PUT THOSE CITIES IN THE SPOTLIGHT.

WHAT'S THE GENESIS, WHAT WAS THE GENESIS BEHIND THIS STORY, KYELAND?

>> IT IS GENESIS WAS LOOKING BACK AT MY TRAVELING FROM LOUISVILLE TO MINNESOTA.

COMING INTO MINNEAPOLIS, I WAS STEPPING INTO THE SCENE OF GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH AND INTO THE AFTERMATH OF ACTIVISM PROTESTS, SOME OF THE LOOTING AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE SAW RESULTING FROM THAT BECAUSE OF GENERATIONS IN SOME CASES OF ARE POLICE KILLINGS OF BLACK RESIDENTS.

AND SO LOOKING AT THAT, AND THEN LOOKING BACK TO LOUISVILLE WHERE I WAS COMING FROM, TO THE AFTERMATH OF THE BREONNA TAYLOR KILLING AND TO THE PROTESTS THERE AND SOME OF THE HISTORY AND HISTORICAL INEQUALITIES THERE, WE WANTED TO TRY AND SEE, IS THERE AN APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES, AND LOOKING AT THE DATA, THERE WAS AT LEAST A LOT OF DISPARITIES AND A LOT OF SHARED CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THEM, WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE KIND OF INEQUALITIES.

>> Eric: YOUR FINDING FROM MINNEAPOLIS BLACKS IS THEY ARE UNDERPROTECTED AROUND OVER-POLICED AND YOU DO HAVE SOME DATA TO SHOW THAT WE CAN BACK THAT UP WITH, I GUESS, HUH?

>> YES, IN BOTH CITIES, BLACK RESIDENTS MAKE UP LESS THAN A FOURTH OF THE POPULATION BUT IN MINNEAPOLIS, THEY MAKE UP MORE THAN HALF OF THE ARRESTS, AND TALKING TO SOME PROFESSORS, PROFESSOR DENSELY FROM THE METROPOLITAN STATE UNIVERSITY, EVEN THOUGH A LOT OF THAT IS DRIVEN BY HISTORICAL THINGS, LIKE RED-LINING, SEGREGATION, FEWER JOB OPPORTUNITIES, HE SAID THAT IT STILL DOESN'T EXPLAIN THE KIND OF DISPARITIES THAT WE'RE SEEING IN ARRESTS, AND THAT GOES ACROSS TO USE OF FORCE, TOO.

MINNEAPOLIS POLICE USE FORCE ON BLACK RESIDENTS TWICE AS OFTEN AS THEY DID ON WHITE RESIDENTS, AND MOST TIMES IT WAS JUST BECAUSE BLACK RESIDENTS TEND TO STEP AROUND AN OFFICER.

>> Cathy: LET'S LOOK AT THE LOUISEVILLE DATA, IF WE COULD, PLEASE.

>> IN LOUISVILLE, THERE WAS THE APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON BUT LESS SO WHEN IT COMES TO THE PERCENTAGE OF BLACK RESIDENTS WHO WERE MAKING UP ARRESTS, BUT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS LESS THAN MINNEAPOLIS, BLACK RESIDENTS STILL MAKE UP ONLY ABOUT 22% OR SO OF THE POPULATION, AND THERE'S DISPARITIES IN TERMS OF POLICE KILLINGS OF BLACK RESIDENTS IN TERMS OF THE POLICING OF DIFFERENT BLACK COMMUNITIES AND CRIME IN A LOT OF THOSE COMMUNITIES IS STILL PERSISTENT, REGARDLESS OF THE KIND OF FORCE THAT WE'RE SEEING USED ON THOSE RESIDENTS.

>> Eric: ANY SOLUTIONS SEEM PROMISING IN YOUR RESEARCH?

>> YES, SO GOING BACK TO PROFESSOR DENSELY AT METROPOLITAN STATE UNIVERSITY, THE SOLUTION THAT HE PROPOSED WAS TO PUT MORE FUNDING INTO PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, SO THAT WOULD BE THINGS LIKE MENTAL HEALTH CARE, THINGS TO TRY AND TARGET POVERTY, TO TRY AND TARGET HOMELESSNESS, BECAUSE AS HE SAID, THE POLICE ARE MORE OF A BYSTANDER OF THE KIND OF HISTORY THAT'S BEEN IN AMERICA OF INEQUALITIES, AND THEY BECOME THE STOP-GAP TO TRY AND ADDRESS THE KIND OF INEQUALITIES THAT WE'RE SEEING, THE KIND OF DISPARITIES THAT ARE AFFECTING RESIDENTS AND IT'S NOT WORKING OR NOT DOING ENOUGH AS HE HAD TERMED IT.

AND SO PUTTING MORE FUNDING INTO THOSE CAN KIND OF HAVE A TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECT OF HELPING THE RESIDENTS, HELPING THOSE COMMUNITIES TO OVERCOME THE KIND OF DISPARITIES THAT ARE BEING SEEN.

AND COUNCILMEMBERS FROM BOTH CITIES, LOUISVILLE AND MINNEAPOLIS COUNCIL JEREMIAH ELLISON AGREED THAT MIGHT BE THE KIND OF SOLUTION THAT COULD ACTUALLY WORK.

>> Cathy: NOW, THIS STORY IS PERSONAL FOR YOU.

HOW DID YOU BRING SOME OF THOSE ELEMENTS INTO IT?

>> YEAH, SO IT WAS VERY PERSONAL IN TERMS OF MY TIME IN LOUISVILLE WAS TIME SPENT CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE.

AND JUST BEING A BLACK MAN IN AMERICA, WE SEE OURSELVES IN A LOT OF THE STORIES THAT WE DO WHEN IT COMES TO BLACK RESIDENTS, BLACK FAMILIES THAT ARE TRYING TO DEAL WITH THE KIND OF INEQUALITIES THAT WE SEE IN THESE CITIES.

AND SO I SAW A LOT OF MYSELF, A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE SEEN AS FAMILY, A LOT OF MY OWN FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE FACES AND IN THE INEQUALITIES OF THOSE THAT I WAS REPORTING ON.

BUT I FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO BRING THAT NARRATIVE TO THIS BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH IT IS A JOURNALISTIC ENDEAVOR THAT WE'RE MAKING HERE, THERE IS SOME PERSONALITY TO IT AND IT SHOULD BE SAID THAT IT IS STILL FACTUAL, THOUGH IT IS MY PERSPECTIVE OF SEEING WHAT I'VE SEEN COME ACROSS HERE.

>> Eric: TELL US ABOUT THE RACISM UNVEILED PROJECT.

>> YES, SO THE RACISM UNVEILED PROJECT STARTED -- NOW IT WILL BE JUST ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO OR SO, MAYBE EVEN LESS, AND THE PROJECT IS SPECIFICALLY AIMED AT LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT FACTORS OF RACISM AND HOW THEY AFFECT PEOPLE TODAY.

HISTORY IS STILL VERY LIVING, VERY PRESENT AND THINGS SUCH AS RED-LINING, OVER-POLICING, HEALTH INEQUALITIES, POVERTY, THEY AFFECT US EVERY DAY BUT THEY MIGHT BE KIND OF WOVEN WITHIN THE SYSTEMS IN WAYS THAT AREN'T AT ALL APPARENT UNTIL YOU SPEAK TO THEM, OR UNTIL YOU UNVEIL THEM IN SOME OF THE STORIES THAT WE'RE DOING.

SO THIS INITIATIVE IS LOOKING TO TRY AND DIG OUT SOME OF THOSE INEQUALITIES THAT WE MIGHT BE SEEING EVERY DAY BUT DON'T NECESSARILY RECOGNIZE THEM FOR WHAT THEY ARE UNTIL SOMEONE'S MADE AWARE OF THEM.

>> Cathy: SO WE, I'M SURE, HAVE VIEWERS WHO WANT TO SEE THIS AND ALSO WANT TO SEE SOME OF THE OTHER REPORTING YOU'VE DONE AS PART OF THIS PROJECT.

WHERE CAN THEY TESTIFIED THESE STORIES?

>> SO, ALL OF THE STORIES ARE COLLECTED ON RACISM UNVEILED.ORG, AND ON TPT ORIGINALS, AS WELL.

THERE IS A YOUTube CHANNEL AND THERE WILL BE SOME MORE CONTENT THAT WE'LL BE CONTINUING TO DISTRIBUTE AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE FOLLOWING YEAR AND HOPEFULLY GOING FORWARDS.

>> Cathy: KYELAND, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

>> Eric: THANKS, KYELANDS.

>> THANK YOU.

♪♪♪ >> WHEN I WAS IN MY 20s, WE USED TO GO TO THE CALHOUN BEACH CLUB BECAUSE IN THE BASEMENT THERE WAS ALL-STAR WRESTLING.

WE LOVED IT.

THESE WRESTLERS WITH DRIVE US INTO A FRENZY, WE WOULD BE YELLING AND SHOUTING AND CHEERING.

I REMEMBER ONE TIME, THIS WOMAN GOT UP AND THROUGH HER BEER BOTTLE AND HIT HER WRESTLER IN THE HEAD.

IT HURT HIM.

WE COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.

WE DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING COULD HURT THESE GUYS.

AND THEN THE POLICE CAME AND HANDCUFFED HER AND DRAGGED HER OFF.

WE WERE CONFUSED.

I MEAN, HAD WE DONE SOMETHING WRONG?

THERE IS A WONDERFUL FOLK TALE ABOUT A MAN WHO GOES INTO TOWN ONCE A MONTH FOR SUPPLIES.

ONE TIME HE'S IN TOWN AND FINDS A MIRROR.

HE'S NEVER SEEN A MIRROR BEFORE.

HE LOOKS AT IT AND THINKS IT'S A PICTURE OF HIS FATHER.

I HAVE TO BUY THIS, A PICTURE OF MY FATHER.

SO HE BRINGS IT HOME AND PUTS IT UNDER THE BED AND THE NEXT WEEK HIS WIFE IS CLEANING, SHE FINDS THE MIRROR, SHE LOOKS, HUH, A PICTURE OF A WOMAN.

OBVIOUSLY THE WOMAN HER HUSBAND IS SEEING ONCE A MONTH IN TOWN.

THIS LOOKS JUST LIKE THE KIND OF HUSSY HE WOULD FALL FOR.

A FIGHT BREAKS OUT, FRYING FAN IS INVOLVED AND THE NECKACHES COME OVER AND GOES, NO, NO, A LOOKING GLASS, A MIRROR.

OH, NOW THEY'RE IN LOVE AGAIN AND SHE GOES AND GETS A BAG OF ICE FOR HIS HEAD.

BUT WE'RE LIKE THAT COUPLE.

WE DON'T BELIEVE WHAT WE SEE, WE SEE WHAT WE BELIEVE.

AND SOMETIMES IT HELPS US GET TO SLEEP AT NIGHT BUT SOMETIMES IT DRIVERS US INTO A FRENZY.

I REMEMBER GEORGE CARLIN SAID, IT'S CALLED THE AMERICAN DREAM BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO BE ASLEEP TO BELIEVE IT.

I USED TO THINK THAT'S FUNNY, BUT NOW I'M NOT SO SURE.

I HOPE, I THINK WE HAVE TO WAKE UP.

I HAVE A FRIEND AND HE GREW UP IN AN ABUSIVE HOUSEHOLD, AND WHEN HE HAD A SON, HE SAID, I'M NOT GOING TO LET THAT CHAIN OF VIOLENCE CONTINUE.

SO HE SHOWED HIS SON ALL THIS LOVE AND NOW THEY'RE ADULTS AND THEY'RE THE BEST OF FRIENDS, SO IN LOVE.

I SAID HOW DID YOU DO IT, MAN?

HOW DID YOU BREAK THAT CHAIN?

AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, I NEVER DID.

I HAVE TO WORK ON IT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

AND THAT'S THE THING ABOUT WAKING UP, WE HAVE TO DO IT EVERY DAY.

>> ERIC: JIM WALSH HAS BEEN A WRITER AND JOURNALIST FOR THREE DECADES.

HE'S A SINGER/SONGWRITER TOO.

EVERY DAY HE GETS UP AND WRITES.

FOR YEARS HE PENNED COLUMNS FOR THE LATE, GREAT "SOUTHWEST JOURNAL."

JIM GREW UP IN SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS AND THAT IS WHAT HE WRITES ABOUT MOST.

THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA PRESS RECENTLY PUBLISHED A COLLECTION OF HIS WRITING.

IT'S CALLED "FEAR AND LOVING IN SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS."

JIM, I LOVE THE TRIBUTE THERE TO HUNTER THOMPSON.

>> YEAH, YEAH, HE'S HAPPY.

THAT WAS MY EDITOR'S CALL.

HE LIKES -- THE TITLE OF A COLUMN THAT I WROTE CALLED FEAR AND LOVING IN SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS AND IT WAS ABOUT AN INCIDENT I HAD IN A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT, IT WAS JUST UTTER FEAR AND, YEAH, I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT MINNEAPOLIS FOR YEARS AND IT'S MOSTLY LOVING BUT IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO GROW UP AND A GREAT PLACE TO WRITE ABOUT.

SO MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE AND STORIES HAVE COME OUT OF HERE.

>> Eric: THE STUFF YOU DID WHICH IF YOU WERE IN MINNEAPOLIS IN THE '80s, IN PARTICULAR, KIND OF MY SALAD DAYS, THIS STUFF RINGS SO TRUE, MINNEAPOLIS THEN AND NOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> WELL, I'VE BEEN SAYING THE BOOK IS LIKE A HISTORY BOOK AT THE MOMENT BECAUSE WE'VE LIVED SO MUCH IN THE LAST TWO YEARS AND IT'S GOING THROUGH GREAT CHANGE LIKE THE REST OF THE WORLD.

SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS, NORTH MINNEAPOLIS, FLYERS MINNEAPOLIS, SOUTHEAST MINNEAPOLIS, St. PAUL, WHAT HAVE YOU.

WE ARE EXPERIENCING HUGE GROWING PAINS AND I'M WITH IT, I BELIEVE A DOWN FOR THE WHOLE PART OF IT BECAUSE I'VE LOVED WHAT MINNEAPOLIS HAS BEEN.

I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE GRAY CITIES.

I LOVE THE NATURE PART OF IT.

I LOVE -- I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE GREAT CITIES.

I LOVE THE NATURE PART OF IT.

SMART PEOPLE WHO REGULARLY COME FROM HERE AND STAY HERE AND I HAVE GREAT HOPE FOR THE CITY.

ALWAYS.

AND, YOU KNOW, GEORGE FLOYD'S MURDER AT THE HANDS OF THE MINNEAPOLIS COPS, YOU KNOW, HAS ABSOLUTELY CHANGED THE FACE OF HOW WE GO FORWARD AS, YOU KNOW, ONE MINNEAPOLIS TRIBE.

WE'RE LEARNING A LOT.

I'VE NEVER LEARNED MORE THAN I HAVE THIS YEAR ABOUT SO MUCH HISTORY, SO MUCH CIRCUMSTANCE, AND I'M HERE FOR IT.

LIKE I KEEP SAYING.

SO, YEAH, HERE'S THE BOOK, YOU GUYS.

"FEAR AND LOVING IN SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS."

TOMMY MIFFKEY DID THE FORWARD AND ERIC, I LOVE IT BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID THE SOUTHWEST JOURNAL IS GONE, CITY PAGES IS GONE AND ALTERNATIVE JOURNALISM IS ON THE ROPES AROUND HERE, OTHER THAN, YOU KNOW, SAHAN JOURNAL.

MINNPOST AND, YOU KNOW, A FEW OTHERS, BUT I -- I'M HAUNTED BY THAT IDEA THAT THESE PAPERS HAVE GONE AWAY AND WHERE ALL THOSE STORIES GO TO.

>> Cathy: THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO ASK YOU.

>> I HAVE A BUNCH OF STORIES COMPILED IN THIS COLLECTION.

>> Cathy: LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THAT BECAUSE OF COURSE THE LATE GREAT SOUTHWEST JOURNAL AND CITY PAGES, THEY'RE GONE, RIGHT?

SO WHAT'S LOST WHEN WE LOSE OUTLETS LIKE THAT?

>> OH, MY GOD.

I MEAN, HISTORY, INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY.

I DID A STORY FOR MINNPOST A COUPLE WEEKS AGO ABOUT [INDISCERNIBLE] FOR PRESIDENT, THEATER de la JEUNE LUNE'S 1980 PRODUCTION ABOUT THIS BUFFOON THAT I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THE LAST FOUR YEARS, CLASSIC PLAY, CLASSIC FRENCH PLAY AND I REMEMBERED THAT.

I WAS 19 WHEN I SAW THAT SHOW AND I KEPT THINKING ABOUT IT THESE YEARS, OVER THE TRUMP YEARS, AND -- BECAUSE IT WAS SO OUTRAGEOUS AND IT JUST -- IT JUST ABSOLUTELY SKEWERED POWER AND CAPTURED THAT EGO OF A TYRANT WITHOUT IT EVEN REALLY -- WITHOUT IT EVEN REALLY SAYING SO.

AND I REMEMBERED IT ALL THESE YEARS, AND SO I WROTE IT AND THAT IS -- THAT'S NON-EXISTENT IN MOST LEGACY NEWSPAPERS NOW BECAUSE OF ALL THE BUDGETS CUTS AND EVERYTHING WE KNOW ABOUT, ABOUT JOURNALISM AND DAILY AND WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS GOING DOWN.

>> Eric: HOW ABOUT A BROAD STROKE ON THE MINNEAPOLIS MUSIC SCENE AND YOU WERE THERE FOR KIND OF THE -- WHEN IT BECAME POPULAR AND NATION-WIDE, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> AMAZING.

THE BROAD STROKE IS TRUE ORIGINALS AND TRUE GENIUSES CAME OUT OF THIS VERY HOTBED AND WE'RE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE SEEN IT ALL.

AND, ERIC, DID YOU SEE KIRKE DO HIS LENNON THING THIS YEAR?

>> Eric: I WATCHED IT ONLINE, IT WAS GREAT.

FANTASTIC.

>> AMAZING, INCREDIBLE.

SO, YEAH, WE'VE LIVED THROUGH A LOT OF HISTORY AND MORE TO COME.

>> Eric: LOVED IT WHERE YOU TALK ABOUT THE WHITE SCREEN AT FIRST AVENUE, THE ANTICIPATION OF THE SHOW STARTING, THAT WAS WONDERFUL.

>> RIGHT ON.

SMALL THINGS BUT, YOU KNOW, BIG AT THE SAME TIME.

>> Eric: "FEAR AND LOVING IN SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS," AND AS YOU SAY IN THE BOOK, STAY WARM.

>> STAY WARM.

RIGHT ON.

>> Eric: I SAID THAT TO SOMEBODY TODAY AND THOUGHT OF YOU.

JIM WALSH, THANKS.

>> THANKS, GUISE.

-- THANKS HE IS, GUYS.

>> CATHY: AT THE SAME TIME A MOB BROKE INTO THE U.S. CAPITOL ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, A RALLY OF PRO-TRUMP SUPPORTERS WAS TAKING PLACE OUTSIDE OF THE CAPITOL BUILDING IN ST. PAUL WHERE LAWMAKERS WERE IN THEIR SECOND DAY OF THE NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

MARY LAHAMMER HAS A RECAP.

>> Mary: AS A VIOLENT OCCUPATION OF THE U.S. CAPITOL SHOCKED THE NATION, PRO-TRUMP PROTESTERS CAME TO THE STATE CAPITOL IN St. PAUL TO VOICE SUPPORT.

JUST A DAY EARLIER, BEHIND A CHAIN LINK FENCE FOR A STATE STILL IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION STARTED WITH A VERY DIFFERENT FEEL.

>> RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND TO TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE.

>> Mary: THERE ARE DOZENS OF NEW MEMBERS IN BOTH CHAIRMANS BEERS WHO HAVE TO TAKE ON A BUDGET SHORTFALL ALONG WITH RELIEF AND COVID RECOVERY.

>> START ENGINE A NEW SESSION AND TO BE WELCOMING EIGHT FIRST-TIME FRESHMEN AND TWO RETURNING MEMBERS.

>> ELKINS.

>> ELKINS, St. PAUL, PRESENT.

>> Mary: EACH MINORITY CAUCUS PICKED UP NEW MEMBERS IN A CAPITOL THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE DIVIDED.

>> WE SAT THESE INDIVIDUALS FROM ACROSS OUR STATE, THEIR STRONG VOICES WILL BE ADDITIONAL VOICE TOSS OUR CAUCUS AS WE DO OUR IMPORTANT WORK FOR THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA.

>> THIS ELECTION IS IMPORTANT, JUST TALKED ABOUT THE HISTORIC IMPORTANCE.

I WOULD LOVE YOU AND SENATOR -- TO TALK ABOUT THE INCREASED DIVERSITY AND WHY THAT MATTERS IN REPRESENTING THE COMMUNITIES ACROSS MINNESOTA.

>> I AM A FIRM BELIEVER THAT STORIES CAN HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND I THINK THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE HOUSE WHEN I SHARED THE IDEAS OF MISSING AND INDIGENOUS MUSHED WOMEN AND HOW WE HAVE THE 100% SUPPORT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE FOR THAT TASK FORCE.

>> I WANTED TO BE COMING IN AS SERVING AS THE FIRST SOMALI AMERICAN SERVING IN WITH THE SENATE, ESPECIALLY WITH MY SISTER COMING IN AS THE FIRST INDIGENOUS WOMAN, THIS IS TRULY AN HONOR AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO SEE AND CONTINUE.

WE WANT TO SEE MORE FOLKS STEPPING UP, NOT JUST ORGANIZING WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES BUT STEPPING UP AND RUNNING TO REPRESENT THEIR COMMUNITIES.

>> Mary: SENATE REPUBLICANS HAD JUST A FEW NEW MEMBERS BUT HIGH EXPECTATIONS.

>> ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, THERE ARE AMAZING PEOPLE DOING AMAZING THINGS AND -- >> Mary: THOSE LAWMAKERS WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY EVEN AS HE RELAXED RULES FOR BARS AND RESTAURANTS.

>> THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM.

>> RESTAURANTS AND BARS ARE GOING BACK TO 50% CAPACITY LIKE IN SUMMER, KEEP THE SIX FEET, SIX PEOPLE AT A TABLE, ASK FOR MASKS AND THEN THE 10:00 p.m. STOP SERVING OF FOOD AT THAT POINT IN TIME.

OUR RESTAURANTS CAN DO THIS, THEY CAN DO IT SAFELY, THE HEALTH DATA SUPPORTS THEM ON THIS, LET'S NOT LET IT GET BACK UP AGAIN.

>> I'M SENATOR MICHELLE BENSON OUT IN THE COLD WHICH IS WHERE GOVERNOR WALZ HAS LEFT OUR BARS AND RESTAURANTS.

>> NOT ONLY THAT, HE'S LEFT THE LEGISLATURE OUT IN THE COLD BY NOT RESPONDING TO OUR REQUESTS FOR TRANSPARENCY ON HOW HE MAKES THE DECISIONS.

>> Mary: SOME OF THE FRESHMEN FRESH FROM CAMPAIGNS ARE FINDING POSITIVES IN THE PANDEMIC.

>> COVID AND THE PANDEMIC HAS AFFECTED EVERY COMMUNITY BUT WHAT ARE YOU SEEING THERE THAT MIGHT BE UNIQUE IN TERMS OF THE STRUGGLES, CHALLENGES, OR EVEN SOME OF THE POST ACTIVITIES WE'VE SEEN COME OUT OF THIS?

>> I THINK ONE SILVER LINING THAT OTTER TAIL COUNTY HAS AND GREATER MINNESOTA HAS IS WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE DECIDED TO BASICALLY MAKE THEIR HOME UP IN LAKES COUNTRY, UP IN RURAL MINNESOTA DURING THIS PANDEMIC AND I ALSO THINK MORE COMPANIES AND BUSINESSES ARE GOING TO BE EXPANDING FOR REMOTE WORK OPPORTUNITIES SO I LOOK AT THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET MORE JOBS, TO GET MORE PEOPLE OUT IN GREATER MINNESOTA, AND THAT'S I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING ON HERE IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> COVID DID TEACH US ONE THING, IT TAUGHT US THAT FOR MANY PEOPLE, REMOTE WORK IS BOTH POSSIBLE AND PREFERRED, AND I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY, IT'S A REALLY NEW ERA AS WE THINK ABOUT WORK AND WHERE PEOPLE CAN WORK.

I BRING A LONG HISTORY OF JOBS, TRAINING AND WORKFORCE TRAINING IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, I'M VERY EXCITED TO WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES TO REINFORCE THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO WORK WHEREVER THEY WANT.

>> Cathy: KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING.

JOINING US NOW, THE TOP LEGISLATIVE LEADERS.

MELISSSA HORTMAN IS THE DFL SPEAKER OF THE MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

REPUBLICAN PAUL GAZELKA IS THE MINNESOTA SENATE MAJORITY LEADER.

GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH.

LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SECURITY, THAT'S TOP OF MIND, OBVIOUSLY, WITH WHAT HAPPENED IN THE NATION'S CAPITOL THIS WEEK.

YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE VIDEO FROM THE PROTEST THIS WEEK AT THE STATE CAPITOL, GOT THE BIG CHAIN LINK FENCE UP, I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE ROADS ARE NOW BLOCKED AROUND THE STATE CAPITOL IN St. PAUL.

SENATOR GAZELKA, WHAT ELSE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PROTECT THE CAPITOL COMPLEX?

WOULD YOU EVER CONSIDER, SAY, METAL DETECTORS?

>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE SECURE AND THE FACT THAT THERE IS A FENCE UP THAT BEGAN WITH THE RIOTS AND THE STATUE COMING DOWN, PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES HAVE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO STAND AGAINST THE VIOLENCE IN PARTICULAR AND LAWLESSNESS.

I THINK IF WE STAND TOGETHER EVERY TIME, I'VE SAID IT'S UNAMERICAN, SO METAL DETECTORS, ABSOLUTELY THAT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS IN THE FUTURE BUT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DAY WHEN THE PEOPLE CAN COME BACK TO THE CAPITOL, IT'S THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.

I THINK REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS BOTH WANT THAT BUT IT IS A DIFFERENT DAY RIGHT NOW, AND ON BOTH SIDES PEOPLE HAVE GONE TO EXTREMES THAT WE ALL NEED TO SPEAK AGAINST.

>> Cathy: SPEAKER HORTMAN?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE A PERSON WHO WOULD WANT TO SEE A MORE CONSTRAINED ENVIRONMENT AT THE MINNESOTA STATE CAPITOL.

I WORKED IN THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL BEFORE 9/11 WHEN IT WAS VERY OPEN AND TO ME IT WAS ASTONISHING AND SAD THE DIFFERENCES IN OPENNESS AFTER 9/11 AS UNITED STATES CAPITOL.

BUT GIVEN THAT BREACH THAT WE SAW THIS WEEK AT THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL, FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 200 YEARS, THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL WAS BREACHED, I THINK WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THE REALITY, THE UNFORTUNATE REALITY, WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT TIME AND WE HAVE TO TAKE A SERIOUS LOOK AT SECURITY.

>> Eric: ANOTHER TIMELY ISSUE AND A HOT TOPIC IS ELECTION REFORM, ELECTORAL REFORM.

MADAM SPEAKER, 'EM A GREENMAN, A FRESHMAN IN YOUR CAUCUS HAS A VERY AMBITIOUS BILL ABOUT VOTING AND -- LIKE AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION, FOR INSTANCE, IN VOTING.

AND SENATOR GAZELKA, GAZELKA, YOU'VE GOT SENATOR NEWMAN WITH A BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE PHOTO I.D.

ON VOTING.

MADAM SPEAKER, IS THERE GOING TO BE ANY REFORM OR WILL THERE BE LOGGERHEADS TWINE THE TWO CHAMBERS?

>> THE PRINCIPLES WE FAVOR ARE REALLY SIMPLE.

WE THINK EVERYBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND WE WANT IT TO BE EASY FOR THEM TO VOTE.

IF YOU'RE CITIZEN OF THIS COUNTRY AND LEGALLY ENTITLED TO VOTE, WE WANT IT TO BE EASY FOR YOU TO EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE.

THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS THAT GET IN THE WAY OF PEOPLE'S ACCESS TO THE BALLOTS, NOT KNOWING THEY'RE ENTITLED TO VOTE, NOT KNOWING WHERE TO VOTE, HAVING LIMITED OPTIONS OF WHEN THEY CAN VOTE.

THOSE ALL GET IN THE WAY OF VOTER PARTICIPATION.

AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT REPRESENTATIVE GREENMAN ARE BRINGING FORWARD ARE DESIGNED TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE.

>> Eric: AND LEADER GAZELKA, YOU IN THE MOOD FOR ANY OF THAT OR... >> WELL, WASN'T EVERY LEGAL VOTE FOR SURE BUT ONE OF THE THINGS, IF YOU MAKE IT EASY AND YOU DON'T HAVE SOME WAY OF VERIFYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NOT MISCHIEF GOING ON, YOU COULD HAVE MORE THAN YOU WANT AND SO THE REASON WHY WE'RE PUSHING PHOTO I.D.

IS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS ELECTION INTEGRITY, BUT IF WE GAIN SUCCESSFUL GROUND ON THAT, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT ANYBODY THAT COULD NOT AFFORD AN I.D., THAT THE STATE OF MINNESOTA WOULD PAY FOR IT.

WE DON'T WANT TO DISENFRANCHISE ANY LEGAL VOTER BUT WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S ONLY LEGAL VOTERS.

>> Cathy: WHILE THE CAMERA IS ON NOW, SENATOR GAZELKA, YOU HAD AN OP ODE IN THE PAUP ABOUT OPENING ALL BUSINESSES, ONCE YOU START VACCINATING THE FRONT LINE AND ESSENTIAL WORKERS AND FOLKS OVER THE AGE OF 75.

HOW WOULD THAT WORK EXACT LEAD AND ESPECIALLY NOW THAT WE HAVE THIS NEW VERY CONTAGIOUS VARIANT OF COVERED-19 GOING AROUND?

>> YEAH, I WROTE THE OP ED I THINK THREE OR FOUR DAYS AGO, IT CAME OUT BEFORE THE GOVERNOR PUT HIS LETTER OUT SAYING IF YOU AGREE TO ALL THESE THINGS, I'LL LIFT MY EMERGENCY POWERS BUT I WANTED TO SET SOME PARAMETERS SO WE COULD HAVE A DISCUSSION.

WHEN WILL EMERGENCY POWERS END?

IS IT 1 B, 75 AND OVER, 1C, 65 AND OVER, BUT THAT WE ALL HAVE A GOAL TO MOVE TOWARDS.

PEOPLE WANT LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE DEATHS UNDER AGE 50, ITS BARELY 100 AND MOST OF THEM HAD A CO-MORBIDITY AND SO WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DO THIS.

I WANT THE BUSINESSES OPEN, AS IMPORTANT, I WANT KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL AND NOW I WANT THEM IN SCHOOL NOW AND SO I'VE BEEN PUSHING -- IF WE NEED TO, LET'S GET THE TEACHERS VACCINATED SO WE GET KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL.

>> Cathy: SPEAKER HORTMAN, WHERE IS THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL?

>> WELL, THE VACCINATION IS HARDENING.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A FEW MORE TOUGH WEEKS OF WINTER BEFORE WE SEE THE VACCINATION WIDESPREAD ENOUGH TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN THE ACTIVITIES WE'RE ABLE TO ENGAGE IN.

WHAT REALLY MATTERS IS THAT WE KEEP THE PEOPLE WE LOVE ALIVE, AND WHAT WE HAVE TO DO RIGHT NOW IS WE HAVE TO CONSTRAIN THE AMOUNT OF HUMAN INTERACTION THAT WE HAVE IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE THAT WE LOVE FROM GETTING THIS DISEASE.

WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHICH OF THE PEOPLE WHO GET COVID-19 IT WILL TURN OUT TO BE A FATAL CASE, AND SO WE HAVE TO BE AS CAREFUL AS WE CAN BE TO PREVENT TRANSMISSION SO THAT THOSE PEOPLE AREN'T SUBJECT TO GETTING THIS DISEASE, AND ALL SORTS OF NEGATIVE IMPLICATIONS SHORT OF DEATH THAT CAN COME TO PEOPLE WHO GET THIS DISEASE.

>> Eric: SENATOR GAZELKA, I WATCHED YOU FOLKS AT THE CHAMBER EVENT VIRTUALLY THE OTHER NIGHT AND IT SOUNDED LIKE A HOT BUTTON STUFF LIKE SPORTS GAMBLING, RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA, WINE IN GROCERY STORES, SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

HOW ABOUT THE FAMILY LEAVE, SICK LEAVE, SOME OF THOSE FAMILY PROVISIONS THE DEMOCRATS ARE INTERESTED IN?

>> I WOULD SAY VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING THAT IS VOLATILE AND A POLICY ISSUE WILL BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR IT TO GET TO A PLACE MOVING SERIOUSLY FORWARD THIS YEAR.

I DON'T THINK IT MATTERS WHETHER IT'S REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, CONSERVATIVE OR LIBERAL ISSUE, WE HAVE TO GET THE BUDGET DONE.

THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF WORK.

WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, DEALING WITH THE REDISTRICTING AND HOW WE NAVIGATE THROUGH THAT, AND COVID, AND SO I'VE BEEN TELLING OUR SIDE I BELIEVE EVERY LEADER HAS BEEN TELLING THEIR SIDE TO THINK ABOUT DOING A LITTLE BIT LESS THIS YEAR.

IT'S ALREADY GOING TO BE A TOUGH YEAR BUT THAT'S WHY I SAID SOME OF THOSE ISSUES I DON'T AGREE WITH, ANYWAY, BUT I LIKE THE IDEAS WE'RE DISCUSSING ISSUES.

IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGHER THIS YEAR.

>> Eric: MADAM SPEAKER?

>> REMIND ME -- >> Eric: PAID LEAVE, SICK LEAVE ARE, SOME OF THE FAMILY THINGS YOU'VE BEEN PUSHING.

>> NEVER HAS IT BEEN MORE CLEAR THAT MINNESOTANS ARE ENTITLED TO TAKE TIME OFF WHEN THEY'RE SICK.

IT IS NOT ONLY A MATTER OF FINANCIAL HEALTH FOR A MEMBER'S FAMILY BUT IT IS A MATTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH FOR THE ENTIRE STATE.

IF PEOPLE HAVE PAID TIME OFF, THEN THEY CAN TAKE -- THEY CAN STAY HOME WHEN THEY'RE SICK AND PREVENT GETTING OTHER PEOPLE SICK.

I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE DEALING WITH THIS YEAR.

COVID-19 MAKES IT A NEAR IMPERATIVE.

>> Cathy: I'M WONDERING, ALL LAST YEAR WE OF COURSE WERE FOCUSING ON THE PROTESTS, THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD, THERE WAS TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.

WHERE IS THAT ISSUE RIGHT NOW?

I'M NOT HEARING A LOAD ABOUT THIS IN 2021, SENATOR GAZELKA, HOW MIGHT THAT PLAY OUT IN THE LEGISLATURE THIS SESSION?

>> WELL, I THINK EITHER IMPORTANT FOR MINNESOTANS TO KNOW THAT THE SPEAKER AND MYSELF AND OUR TWO CHAIRS REALLY HAMMERED OUT A HUGE STEP.

IT WAS -- I THINK IT WAS 13 OR 14 ISSUES THAT WE COMBINED INTO ONE LARGE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BILL.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T DO MORE.

I'M LISTENING TO SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT HAVE ISSUES THAT WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT BUT I ANNUAL PARTICULARLY PROUD OF THE BILL THAT WE DID DO AND THAT WE GOT EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM OR, YOU KNOW, DISTANCING BUT THEIR INPUT WAS THERE AND EVERYBODY SIGNED OFF ON IT.

SO WE'LL SEE.

ALWAYS WILLING TO LISTEN, THERE MAY BE SOMETHING ELSE BUT WE REALLY TOOK SOME SIGNIFICANT STEPS.

>> Eric: MADAM SPEAKER, WHAT DO YOU THINK -- YOU WANT TO BUILD ON WHAT WAS DONE OR ENOUGH'S ENOUGH OR WHERE ARE YOU ON THAT ONE IN THE HOUSE?

>> WELL, WHAT WE DID WAS A VERY IMPORTANT FIRST STEP, BANNING WARRIOR TRAINING, BANNING CHOKEHOLDS WAS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL IN THE WAKE OF GEORGE FLOYD'S MURDER.

WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO.

THIS WILL BE A DIFFICULT TIME FOR US TO DO THAT WORK.

I THINK WITH COVID-19 AND THE SOCIALLY DISTANCED GATHERING AND THE ENORMOUS DIFFERENCE IN POINT OF VIEW BETWEEN THE REPUBLICAN SENATE AND THE DEMOCRATIC HOUSE, BUT I THINK THAT THOSE ISSUES ARE SO FUNDAMENTAL TO JUSTICE, FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN OUR STATE, TO WHAT IT MEANS TO REALLY HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY FOR ALL, THAT EVEN THOUGH IT WILL BE DIFFICULT, WE HAVE TO PUT A SIGNIFICANT EFFORT FOR TRYING TO CREATE COMMON GROUND AND COME TOGETHER THERE.

>> Eric: Mr. LEADER, JUST A COUPLE MINUTES LEFT, YOU KNOW, BASED ON THE VOTE IN THE U.S. HOUSE THE OTHER NIGHT, MINNESOTA'S REPUBLICAN PARTY IS PRETTY SPLIT OVER THE CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES IN WASHINGTON, AND I'M WONDERING IF YOU'RE THE GUY TO BRING THE TWO SIDES TOGETHER IN THE PARTY AND MAYBE BE A CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR.

I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU MAKE SOME NEWS TONIGHT.

>> HA, YES, YOU WOULD.

I'VE BEEN ASKED A LOT MORE THIS TIME, ALL I CAN SAY IS I'M GOING TO GET THROUGH THE SESSION.

IT'S ALREADY GOING TO BE HARD.

ASK ME IN MAY OR UNBUT CERTAINLY OUR PARTY NEEDS TO GET TOGETHER.

IT WAS INTERESTING THAT THEY WENT ON BOTH SIDES OF THAT BUT WE'LL SEE.

I LOOKED AT IT FOUR YEARS AGO AND FELT LIKE I WOULD BEST SERVE THE STATE AS THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, WE'LL SEE COME MAY, JUNE, YOU NEVER KNOW.

>> Eric: NOT RULING IT OUT.

>> Cathy: SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S NOT A NO?

>> IT'S NOT A NO THIS TIME.

[Laughter] LITTLE >> Eric: ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE PRODDED YOU ENOUGH.

THANK YOU BOTH.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> I HOPE IT'S AFTER MAY OR JUNE WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO WRAP THE BUDGETS.

>> Eric: IS THERE GOING TO BE A REDISTRICTING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE THREE LEGS OF THE STOOL OR BACK TO THE COURTS?

>> ANYONE CAN GET A LEGISLATIVE AGREEMENT, IT'S GOING TO BE CHAIR MARY MURPHY.

>> YEAH, AND I WOULD SAY WITH SPEAKER HORTMAN AND MYSELF AND THE GOVERNOR, WE ACTUALLY HAVE DONE A FAIR AMOUNT AND I'M CHALLENGING ALL THREE OF US, LET'S ACTUALLY DO OUR JOBS SO IT DOESN'T HAVE TO GO TO THE COURTS LIKE IT HAS FOR AT LEAST 30 YEARS.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT, SO GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT MIGHT HAPPEN ON THAT, OBVIOUSLY.

>> Eric: AND A BONDING BILL.

>> Cathy: THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK, ANYTHING ON BONDING COMING UP?

>> I CANNOT IMAGINE A CHAIR, SENATOR BAKK, NOT BRINGING A BONDING BILL FORWARD WHEN HE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY, SO WE'RE READY TO RUMBLE ON A BONDING BILL.

>> Eric: Mr. LEADER.

>> YOU PLAY WITH FIRE WHEN YOU ALIGN AND BRING MORE PEOPLE IN ALIGNMENT AND PUT SENATOR TOM BAKK AS THE CAPITOL INVESTMENT CHAIR, BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK IN THE END, THERE'S GOING TO BE A PACKAGE OF THINGS AND, YOU KNOW, I'M WILLING FOR THAT TO BE PART OF WHAT'S CONSIDERED FOR A PACKAGE AT THE END.

IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH TIME TO CLOSE A DEAL BUT I DO THINK WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO IT.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.

>> Eric: ENDS OF A LONG WEEK, THANK YOU BOTH.

>> Cathy: YEAH, THANK YOU BOTH.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> BYE NOW.

♪♪♪ >> CATHY: LET'S JUMP RIGHT IN AND PRESENT OUR FIRST INDEX FILE QUESTION OF 2020.

IT'S A MYSTERY PERSON DEAL.

THE NOTED MINNESOTAN WE ARE ASKING ABOUT GREW UP IN OUR STATE, AND LISTENING TO PEOPLE TELL STORIES IN THEIR FATHER'S MINNEAPOLIS BUSINESS LED THIS PERSON TO WANT TO BE A PERFORMER.

TWO MORE BIOGRAPHICAL HINTS: OUR MYSTERY ACTOR ATTENDED SERVICES AT WESTMINISTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND STUDIED AT THE U OF M BEFORE HEADING TO HOLLYWOOD.

THIS PROLIFIC PERFORMER HAS APPEARED IN NO FEWER THAN THREE FILMS SELECTED AS CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT BY THE NATIONAL FILM REGISTRY OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

WHO IS THIS MINNESOTA-BORN ACTOR?

CALLING ALL FILM LOVERS.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU ARE CALLING IN FROM NEAR HOLLYWOOD TOWNSHIP OR HOLLYWOOD PARK, OSCAR TOWNSHIP, OR OSCAR LAKE.

IT'S THE SAME NUMBER... 651-229-1430.

OR YOU CAN SEND US AN EMAIL AT ALMANAC@TPT.ORG.

WE'VE LEFT JUST ENOUGH TIME FOR SOME SHOW-CLOSING MUSIC FROM THE TPT ARCHIVES.

THIS WEEK, BACK IN 2007, THE LATE GREAT WILLIE MURPHY STOPPED BY OUR STUDIOS AND SANG A TUNE AT THE PIANO.

IT WAS CALLED "I'VE GOT A SECRET."

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT TIME.

♪♪♪ ♪ I GOT A SECRET I SHOULDN'T TELL ♪ I'M GOING TO GO TO HEAVEN IN A '50 SCHELL ♪ BUT THEY'LL SAY, ALL I HAVE... ♪♪♪ Captioned by: Paradigm Reporting/Captioning www.paradigmreporting.com >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

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

A TOUCHSTONE ENERGY COOPERATIVE.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: INVESTING $25 MILLION TO IMPROVE DENTAL CARE 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/LINE3US.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

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

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

AND FROM THE BLANDIN FOUNDATION.

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