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

>> Cathy: WE HAVE A SHOW.

COMING UP ON "ALMANAC," WE'LL REMEMBER LONGTIME "PIONEER PRESS" COLUMNIST RUBEN ROSARIO, A TRIO OF POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSORS ON PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS, A SHELETTA BRUNDIDGE ESSAY, AND MARY LAHAMMER LOOKS AT THE RACE FOR AN OPEN SEAT IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> Mary: THIS WEEK'S RACE TO WATCH TAKES US TO HE NORTH METRO TO THE COON RAPIDS/ANDOVER AREA AND A CONTEST THAT WAS DECIDED Y JUST A COUPLE OF HUNDRED VOTES LAST TIME.

>> I RUN INTO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO COME RIGHT OUT AND SAY, I'M A LIBERTARIAN.

>> WHEN YOU TALK TO FOLKS, THEY'RE VERY INDEPENDENT.

>> 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 WHOLESALE POWER TO 27 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH WHILE ADVANCING SOCIAL EQUITIES.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

AND PAINTCARE: HELPING MINNESOTANS RECYCLE LEFTOVER PAINT.

MORE AT PAINTCARE.ORG.

>> CATHY: WE HAVE A FULL SUMMERTIME SHOW FOR YOU TONIGHT.

LARRY FITZGERALD ON TWINS BASEBALL WITH THE ALL-STAR BREAK ON THE HORIZON.

KAOMI LEE HIGHLIGHTS A NEW STATE LAW ON OPEN BIRTH CERTIFICATES FOR ADOPTEES.

AND WE'LL FILL THE COUCH WITH POLITICAL SCIENTISTS.

>> ERIC: WE START TONIGHT WITH THURSDAY'S BIG ECONOMIC NEWS.

U.S. INFLATION COOLED FOR THE THIRD MONTH IN A ROW, LEADING TO SPECULATION THAT THE FEDERAL RESERVE MAY CUT INTEREST RATES IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

HERE TO HELP US SORT THROUGH INTEREST RATES, FLUCTUATING GROCERY AND GAS PRICES AND MORE, LOUIS JOHNSTON TEACHES ECONOMICS AT THE COLLEGE OF ST. BEN'S AND ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY.

WELL, PROFESSOR, THE FED'S MISSION IS KEEP INFLATION TO 2%, HAVE PRETTY GOOD FULL EMPLOYMENT.

>> EXACTLY.

>> Eric: AS WE SET UP THE SEPTEMBER MEETING OF THE FED, WHAT'S THE BIG PICTURE?

>> IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE HITTING THAT.

MY ONLY CONCERN, THEY REALLY DO WANT TO GET AT THE 2%.

RIGHT NOW IT'S MAYBE 2.5, AND I'M WORRIED THAT THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET THAT LAST HALF A PERCENT OF INFLATION.

SO THEY'RE NOT GOING TO -- I'M WORRIED THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO CUT INTEREST RATES.

>> Cathy: I WAS GOING TO SAY, HOW COULD THEY SCREW IT UP INCIDENT >> THEY WON'T SCREW IT UP, BUT IT'S JUST THE MARKETS ARE EXPECTING A CUT.

>> Cathy: OKAY.

>> MAYBE THEY'LL GIVE THEM ONE, MAYBE THEY'LL GIVE THEM A QUARTER PERCENT CUT TO SHOW THAT THEY MEAN IT.

I JUST DON'T THINK THAT THEY -- THEY DON'T WANT TO GET CAUGHT IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY EASE TOO SOON.

THEY WOULD RATHER EASE TOO LATE.

>> Eric: HOW GOOD IS THE FED AT TIMING THESE RATE CUTS FOR MAXIMUM EFFECT?

>> TERRIBLE.

IS THE SHORT ANSWER.

THIS ISN'T LIKE, YOU KNOW, DRIVING A CAR AND TAKING YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

DESPITE THE FAMOUS MINNESOTA ECONOMIST WALTER HELLER, USED TO LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO PUT ON THE BRAKES, WE'RE GOING TO HIT THE GAS, FINE-TUNE.

WE CAN'T DO THAT.

AND, SO, PART OF HAT I THINK THE FED IS CONCERNED ABOUT IS THEY DON'T WANT NFLATION TO COME ROARING BACK AGAIN.

AND, SO, THEY'D RATHER TAKE A CHANCE THAT THEY MAY BE PUSHED UNEMPLOYMENT RATE UP.

RIGHT NOW IT'S AT ABOUT 4, 4.1%.

MAYBE GO UP TO 4.5, FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE, I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE A PROBLEM.

>> Cathy: WELL, OF COURSE, THERE ARE TWO PARTS OF THE ECONOMY THAT ARE PRETTY VOLATILE, RIGHTS, GROCERIES AND GAS.

THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE REALLY FEEL.

>> THAT FACTORS DIRECTLY IN BECAUSE GROCERY PRICES GO RIGHT INTO THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX AND THE WAYS WE MEASURE PRICES.

SO DOES GASOLINE.

AND THEY TEND TO BE MORE VOLATILE THAN THE OTHER ARTS.

AND, SO, FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DROVE THE PRICE INDEX DOWN THE LAST MONTH OR TWO IS THAT GAS PRICES HAVE BEEN ALLING.

ON THE OTHER HAND, GROCERY PRICES HAVE BEEN GOING UP.

SO, ONE THING THAT ECONOMISTS TRY TO DO, WE TRY TO SEPARATE ALL THAT NOISE OUT FROM WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON.

WHAT'S THE REAL TREND?

IS AND THAT'S WHAT'S BEEN HARD TO DO.

IT'S REALLY HARD.

>> Cathy: HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN TO FOLKS WATCHING, THEN, WHO, AGAIN, COME BACK FROM THE GROCERY STORE SAYING, WOW, THAT'S REALLY EXPENSIVE, SO EVEN IF YOU HAVE A RATE CUT, HOW OES THAT TRICKLE DOWN TO JUST THESE BASICS?

>> WELL, THE RATE CUT, WHAT THAT WOULD DO IS IT WOULD EASE THE PRESSURE ON OTHER KINDS OF SPENDING BESIDES AT THE GROCERY STORE.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO OUT AND IF YOU'RE BUYING A CAR OR IF YOU'RE FINANCING SOMETHING ON YOUR CREDIT CARD, THAT MIGHT LOWER THOSE COSTS A LITTLE BIT.

BUT IT WON'T DIRECTLY SHOW UP IN YOUR GROCERY PRICES.

>> Eric: ARE PAYCHECKS KEEPING PACE WITH INFLATION?

>> YEAH, THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS.

IN FACT, PAYCHECKS, ON AVERAGE, ARE KEEPING PACE ITH INFLATION.

AND, IN FACT, IF WE LOOK OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, WHAT'S REALLY NICE IS THAT NOW PAYCHECKS HAVE ACTUALLY GROWN FASTER THAN PRICES.

SO, WE HAD A WHILE WHERE PRICES WERE GOING FASTER THAN PAYCHECKS.

BUT NOW OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF-YEAR STRETCH, THE PAYCHECKS ARE GOING FASTER.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED UNEMPLOYMENT, AND YOU SAID IT COULD GO UP A LITTLE BIT.

>> YUP.

>> Cathy: FOR SOME PEOPLE THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE REALLY GREAT NEWS.

>> IT ISN'T.

PART OF WHAT WE SAW IN THE JOBS REPORT IS THAT WE'RE SEEING SOME SOFTENING, YOU MIGHT SAY, IN THE LABOR MARKET.

PEOPLE ARE HAVING A HARDER TIME FINDING A JOB.

THERE ARE SOME PLACES THAT ARE ACTUALLY CUTTING BACK ON EMPLOYMENT.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE INTEREST RATE HIKES OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND A HALF, ROUGHLY, ARE STARTING TO REALLY HIT.

WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THAT.

THAT'S WHAT THE FED WANTED.

AND, SO, THAT'S WHY I THINK THEY'D RATHER BRING INFLATION DOWN AND LET UNEMPLOYMENT KIND OF DRIFT UP A LITTLE BIT RATHER THAN PUSH INTEREST RATES DOWN.

>> Eric: WHEN WILL WE FACTOR A.I.

INTO THE ECONOMY?

>> WELL, RIGHT NOW WOULD E PART OF T. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I'M BRINGING AN ECONOMIST, ACTUALLY, TO St. JOHN'S, St. BEN'S IN SEPTEMBER TO GIVE A TALK ON THIS.

AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE SEEING THE PRODUCTIVITY EFFECTS OF THAT FOR THE NEXT TWO TO TEN YEARS.

IT'S GOING TO BE SHOWING UP IN ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT AREAS, FROM MEDICAL RECORDS TO JUST THE WAY WE USE OUR PHONES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR POCKETS.

>> Cathy: HOW ASK THE -- HOW DOES THE PRESIDENTIAL UNCERTAINTY FACTOR INTO ALL THIS, PERHAPS?

>> I THINK IT MAKES PEOPLE MORE HESITANT TO DO BIG-TICKET ITEMS.

I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE A LITTLE MORE HESITANT ABOUT MAYBE BUYING A HOUSE OR BUYING A NEW TRAILER, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BECAUSE THEY NEED -- THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN AFTER NOVEMBER.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> Eric: THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> CATHY: LONGTIME "PIONEER PRESS" COLUMNIST AND REPORTER RUBEN ROSARIO DIED EARLIER THIS WEEK AFTER LIVING WITH AND BATTLING CANCER FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.

ROSARIO RETIRED IN THE SPRING OF 2020 AFTER NEARLY 30 YEARS AT THE ST. PAUL PAPER AS A CRIME REPORTER, CITY EDITOR, AND LONGTIME FEATURED COLUMNIST.

IN THAT COLUMN, ROSARIO OFTEN WROTE ABOUT THE LIVES OF ORDINARY PEOPLE AND ISSUES HE THOUGHT DESERVED MORE ATTENTION.

BACK IN 2013 HE WROTE A VERY PERSONAL COLUMN, REVEALING THAT HE WAS A CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE SURVIVOR.

HERE'S A PORTION OF OUR CONVERSATION WITH HIM ABOUT GOING PUBLIC WITH HIS CHILDHOOD TRAUMA.

HERE'S MY INTRODUCTION.

>> Cathy: TENS OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY ABUSED AS CHILDREN.

AND MANY OF THOSE MILLIONS NEVER TELL ANYBODY.

St. PAUL "PIONEER PRESS" COLUMNIST RUBEN ROSARIO BUCKED THAT TREND THIS MONTH.

HE PENNED A COLUMN ON SUNDAY IN WHICH HE TALKED ABOUT BEING ABUSED BY A TABLE COUSIN.

ROW SORE I DON'T WAS JUST 7 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME.

HE HOPES THAT GOING PUBLIC WITH HIS STORY, HE HOPES OTHERS WILL DO THE SAME.

THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS.

IT'S BRAVE.

YOUR FAMILY HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

BUT WHAT PUSHED YOU TO BECOME PUBLIC WITH THIS?

>> I THINK THE TIME, IT WAS JUST TIME.

FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS NOW, I'VE BEEN WRITING STORIES, DOING COLUMNS ON OTHER VICTIMS OF CHILD ABUSE AND ALWAYS WHEN I DID THOSE COLUMNS, I ALMOST ANSWERED THE QUESTION BEFORE THEY DID.

BECAUSE I HAVE GONE THROUGH IT.

AND WHEN YOU'RE A CHILD VICTIM OF SEXUAL ABUSE WITHIN A FAMILY STRUCTURE, THINGS GET A LITTLE MESSY AND MORE COMPLEX.

THE CHILD OR THE VICTIM IS VERY HESITANT, SOMETIMES, TO EVEN COME FORWARD.

BECAUSE OF DYNAMICS.

YOU KNOW, IF I COME FORWARD, IT'S GOING TO BREAK UP THE FAMILY, IT'S GOING TO SEVER TIES.

AND, SO, YOU HOLD BACK, YOU HOLD BACK.

AND IT WASN'T UNTIL MY AUNT, WHO WAS MY ABUSER'S MOTHER, DIED TWO YEARS AGO AND IT WASN'T UNTIL THAT SAME YEAR WHEN I BROKE THE NEWS FOR MY MOTHER FOR THE FIRST TIME, AFTER 51 YEARS.

THE SAME TIME I ALSO BROKE THE NEWS I HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER.

AND, SO, THE CANCER DID A LITTLE PRODDING, A LITTLE MORTALITY CHECK THERE.

AND ALSO LAST WEEK I MET ART CHESLEY, THE FORMER NFL FOOTBALL PLAYER FOR THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES, CHICAGO BEARS, WHO ALSO CAME OUT A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND CONFESSED THAT HE HAD BEEN A VICTIM OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE.

I SAW THIS BEAR OF A MAN, AND I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, IT'S TIME, IT'S JUST TIME TO COME OUT.

>> Eric: WHAT PRICE DID YOU PAY FROM HAVING BEEN ABUSED?

>> YOU KNOW, YOU DISSOCIATE YOURSELF BECAUSE IT HAPPENED SO YOUNG.

I WAS 7 YEARS OLD.

SO I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO ME.

I JUST NO IT WAS PAINFUL, IT WAS ICKY.

>> Eric: TELL US ABOUT THE RESPONSE YOU'VE RECEIVED.

>> IT'S BEEN HUMBLING.

ERIC, I'VE GOTTEN OVER 200 EMAILS, NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS.

VICTIMS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE, BOTH GENDERS, SURPRISINGLY, A LOT OF MALES REACHED OUT TO ME.

SOME HAVE NEVER TOLD ANYBODY.

AND THEY SENT ME AN EMAIL CONFESSING WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM AND THAT THEY ARE GETTING CLOSER TO TELL THEIR FAMILIES.

OTHERS HAVE THERAPISTS, RECEIVED EMAILS FROM THERAPISTS WHO SAY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO USE THE COLUMN SORT OF LIKE TO SHARE WITH OTHER VICTIMS OF ADULTS, ADULTS WHO WERE ICTIMS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN TERMS OF HOW TO DEAL WITH IT.

MY HOPE IS THAT THE COLUMN HELPS THAT 7-YEAR-OLD CHILD RIGHT NOW THAT'S GETTING ABUSED, WHETHER IT'S BY A FAMILY MEMBER OR BY A STRANGER, OR AN ADULT WHO KNOWS OF A CHILD BEING ABUSED, HOPEFULLY IT MIGHT SPUR SOMEBODY TO COME FORWARD BECAUSE MY LAMENT IS THAT I WAITED 352 YEARS -- 52 YEARS, YOU KNOW, A LONG TIME, MORE THAN A HALF A CENTURY.

AND I THINK IT'S TIME WITH MORE AWARENESS, ESPECIALLY NOW, I THINK HOPEFULLY IT HELPS OTHER PEOPLE.

>> ERIC: "THE EMPIRE BUILDER" IS A FOUR-PART DOCUMENTARY FOLLOWING THE STORY OF RAILROAD EXEC JAMES J. HILL.

SETTLING IN ST. PAUL AT 17, HILL WOULD LATER MAKE A PLAY IN THE RAILROAD BUSINESS.

HIS GROWING ENTERPRISE WOULD ESTABLISH INDUSTRY AND TOWNS TOWARDS THE PACIFIC AND EARN HIM THE NAME, THE EMPIRE BUILDER.

THE FIRST TWO EPISODES ARE SET TO PREMIERE ON TWIN CITIES PBS FRIDAY NIGHT RIGHT AFTER "ALMANAC."

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> HILL WAS A GIANT OF HIS TIME.

>> HE KNEW HE WASN'T JUST BUILDING A RAILROAD.

THE RAILROAD WAS THE LIFE BLOOD TO AN EMPIRE.

>> I THINK WHAT HE DID CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED IN ONE WORD.

AUDACIOUS.

>> AUDACIOUS IN BOLDNESS, IN VISIONARY THINKING, IN MASTER PLANNING.

HE NOT ONLY CHANGED THE TRADE, HE CHANGED THE WAY THE WORLD WORKED.

>> THERE ABSOLUTELY WAS NO EQUAL.

♪♪ >> MARY: A BRAND-NEW LOCAL COOKBOOK OUT THIS WEEK GIVES US A GREAT REASON TO DIG OUT OUR COOKING SET.

"APPETITE FOR CHANGE: SOULFUL RECIPES FROM A NORTH MINNEAPOLIS KITCHEN" HIGHLIGHTS WORK OF THE NONPROFIT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION AND SHARES A VARIETY OF RECIPES THAT ARE FOR EVERYONE.

HERE WITH ME, TWO OF THE FOUNDERS OF APPETITE FOR CHANGE, MICHELLE HOROVITZ AND PRINCESS TITUS.

I'VE ALREADY BEEN LOOKING THROUGH THIS.

THIS IS DELICIOUS.

TELL US WHY THE COOKBOOK, WHY NOW?

>> WELL, IN AN AREA WHERE WE HAVE 67,000 PEOPLE SHARING ONE FULL-SERVICE GROCERY STORE, WE HAD A YOUTH PROGRAM THAT ACTUALLY OPENED, BREAKING BREAD CAFÉ, WHERE THERE WAS NOT A SIT-DOWN RESTAURANT AND, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT RESTAURANT HAD TO CLOSE.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR OUR FOREVER HOME.

BUT WE'RE NOT LIKE BIG-CHAIN RESTAURANTS.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE PEOPLE ACCESS REAL OOD IN THEIR HOMES.

SO WE'RE SHARING THOSE RECIPES FROM BREAKING BREAD CAFÉ AND THE PEOPLE WHO HELPED CO-FOUND THE ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS COOKBOOK.

>> Mary: I'VE BEEN THERE, FARM FRESH ROAD TRIP FEATURED IT BACK IN THE DAY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Mary: IT'S AMAZING.

WHAT ARE WE MAKING TODAY?

>> TODAY I'M MAKING SNACKS, IT'S A FAVORITE FROM PRINCESS ANN, AND WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO JUST PUT IN TWO CUPS F OATS, A CUP OF -- HALF CUP OF COCOA NIBS, A HALF CUP OF COCONUT FLAKES, A FOURTH CUP OF FLAX MEAL, A FOURTH CUP OF HEMP, A LITTLE BIT OF WALNUTS AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO ADD TWO CUPS OF ALMOND BUTTER.

THIS IS A GREAT SNACK.

YOU CAN GET YOUR CHILDREN IN THE KITCHEN INVOLVED.

GETTING THEM POURING, MIXING, MEASURING.

>> Mary: LMOND BUTTER OR PEANUT BURDEN, WHAT'S YOUR -- BUTTER, WHAT'S YOUR PREFERENCE ON THAT ONE?

>> I PREFER SUN BUTTER MYSELF, REAL FOOD FOR REAL PEOPLE, AS LONG AS YOU'RE GETTING IN THE KITCHEN AND MAKING YOUR OWN FOOD, YOU'RE OFF TO A BETTER START.

TO GET A LITTLE BINDER IN THERE OR SEASONING, FIRST WE'RE GOING TO ADD SOME PUMPKIN SPICE, WE'RE WE'RE GOING TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF VANILLA AND I'M NOT RUINING THESE NAILS.

>> Mary: NONE OF S, NORTH.

>> SO I'M GOING TO GET RIGHT IN THIS BOWL WHILE YOU TALK TO MICHELLE ABOUT THE COOKBOOK.

>> Mary: ABSOLUTELY.

MICHELLE, REALLY, THE ETHIC THAT'S IN THIS IS PRETTY AMAZING.

I REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE THERE, THE PHRASE WE HEARD IS FOOD AS PHARMACY, HEALING OURSELVES WITH EATING REAL FOOD.

CAN YOU TALK MORE ABOUT THAT?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, EACH CHAPTER IS LED BY A STORY OF THE AUTHOR OF THAT CHAPTER TELLS HOW FOOD SHAPED THAT INDIVIDUAL PERSON AND THEN THE RECIPES COME FROM OUR COOKING WORKSHOPS, FROM OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FROM OUR MEAL BOXES.

AND ALL OF IT IS TO SHOW FOLKS THAT EVERYONE DESERVES REAL FOOD, AND THAT WHEN WE NURTURE OUR INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT, IT AFFECTS HOW WE THINK, IT AFFECTS HOW WE ACT, IT AFFECTS HOW WE MOVE, HOW WE INTERACT WITH OTHER PEOPLE.

AND REALLY, FOOD TOUCHES EVERY PART OF OUR LIVES.

SO WE WANTED TO SHARE OUR STORY.

>> Mary: AND WE WANT TO COME BACK TO THE INGREDIENTS.

THIS IS ONE OF THE FAVORITE THINGS IN THE WORLD TO MAKE, I MAKE THIS FOR MY FAMILY, THEY LAST FOREVER, THEY TASTE AMAZING, I HAVE NOT MET ONE PERSON WHO DOES NOT LOVE THESE.

THE HONEY IS REALLY IMPORTANT, IT'S THE GLUE, THE BINDER FOR IT.

>> THE HONEY IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GET A GOOD SAMPLE OF ALL THOSE ITEMS IN THERE.

I NEVER GET TO STIR IT ALL THE WAY TO THE CORNERS AND WE JUST MAKE THOSE LITTLE SNACKS THERE.

YOU CAN PUT THOSE IN THE FRIDGE AND THEY'LL STAY.

>> Mary: THEY DO.

THEY DO NOT GO BAD.

THEY'RE SO GOOD, THEY DON'T HAVE A CHANCE, REALLY, TO GO BAD, OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE THAT GOOD.

>> BUT THEY'RE SUSTAINABLE SNACKS.

>> Mary: GREAT ENERGY.

WE CALL THEM ENERGY BALLS IN OUR HOUSE, BECAUSE THEY REALLY ARE JUST THIS WONDERFUL, SUSTAINABLE ENERGY.

>> DEFINITELY.

>> Mary: OH, LOOK.

WE DO A LITTLE DUSTING, DID WE SEE THAT OVER HERE.

COCONUT FLAKE.

IT'S GORGEOUS.

WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK IN ANOTHER SEGMENT, WHAT ARE WE MAKING LATER WITH YOU?

>> SHRIMP ND GRITS, STRAIGHT FROM THE MENU, MICHELLE CUNNINGHAM'S SIGNATURE DISH.

>> Mary: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE'LL BE BACK LATER TO COOK MORE FOR APPETITE FOR CHANGE.

♪♪ >> SHELETTA: DID Y’ALL HEAR ABOUT THIS STORY?

DWIGHT JOHNSON, AN AFRICAN AMERICAN MAN IN MICHIGAN, DIDN’T GET A JOB THAT HE APPLIED FOR.

HE KNEW HE QUALIFIED FOR THE POSITION AND HAD A SNEAKING SUSPICION WHY HE WASN’T THE IDEAL CANDIDATE.

SO, HE CHANGED THE NAME ON HIS RESUME FROM DWIGHT JOHNSON TO JOHN JEBROWSKI.

SAME CREDITIALS, SAME QUALIFICATIONS, SAME EXPERIENCE, AND, VOILA, HE GOT THE OFFER!

HE ALSO GOT A LAWYER AND SUED THE COMPANY FOR VIOLATING HIS CIVIL RIGHTS.

THIS STRUCK A CHORD WITH ME BECAUSE MY NAME IS SHELETTA.

AND LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, THERE IS NO DOUBT, WITH A NAME LIKE SHELETTA THAT I AM A BLACK WOMAN.

AND THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES, WHEN I WAS LOOKING FOR WORK, THAT I HAD A SIMILAR SNEAKING SUSPICION, THAT PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS SAW MY NAME, DETERMINED MY RACE, GENDER AND ETHNICITY AND PROCEEDED TO DISQUALIFY ME.

I THOUGHT ABOUT IT A FEW TIMES, YOU KNOW, CHANGING MY NAME ON MY RESUME, JUST SO SLIGHTLY, SO THE GATE KEEPERS WOULDN’T KEEP ME OUT.

I THOUGHT ABOUT BEING SHELLY BRUNDIDGE, THE PERKY RED-HEAD, OR LETTA BRUNDIDGE, THE BEAUTIFUL BLONDE.

I EVEN CONSIDERED USING JUST MY INITIALS, S.B., SO THEY WOULDN’T KNOW IF I WERE A MAN OR A WOMAN.

BUT THEN I THOUGHT ABOUT A CERTAIN SOMEONE WHO DID JUST FINE USING HER OWN NAME, SO I STUCK WITH SHELETTA.

HEY, IT AIN’T OPRAH, BUT I THINK IT WORKED OUT PRETTY WELL.

♪♪ >> CATHY: ON JULY 1, MINNESOTA BECAME THE 15TH STATE TO ALLOW ADOPTED PEOPLE TO ACCESS THEIR ORIGINAL BIRTH CERTIFICATES.

THE LAW CHANGE WAS APPROVED BY STATE LAWMAKERS AT THE END OF SESSION THIS YEAR.

ADVOCATES SAY IT IS PART OF A MOMENTUM FOR EQUAL ACCESS RIGHTS HAPPENING NATIONWIDE.

REPORTER KAOMI LEE HAS MORE.

>> Kaomi: TWO MINNESOTA WOMEN HAVE LIVED LIVES OVERSHADOWED BY A SECRET.

ONE WAS HERS TO BEAR.

>> I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT SHE CAME FROM MONTANA, THAT SHE -- WHEN SHE FOUND OUT HE WAS EXPECTING, SHE CAME TO THE TWIN CITIES.

>> Kaomi: AND ONE WAS HERS TO KEEP.

>> IN THE '60s, I WAS SINGLE AND I FOUND OUT I WAS PREGNANT AND I KNEW I WASN'T GOING TO GET MARRIED.

AND IF YOU WEREN'T GOING TO GET MARRIED, IT WASN'T ACCEPTABLE, IT WAS SOCIETY THAT SORT OF SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T BE A SINGLE MOM.

>> Kaomi: 82-YEAR-OLD MARY JO LINDERBERG OF MINNETONKA WOULD NEVER MEET HER BIRTH MOTHER.

82-YEAR-OLD PAT GLISS CAN I NEVER SAW OR HELD HER NEWBORN SON BEFORE HE WAS TAKEN AWAY FOR ADOPTION IN THE 1960s.

IT WOULD BE MANY DECADES LATER BEFORE HE FOUND HER.

>> IT WAS VERY HARD.

THERE WAS A LOT OF DARK DAYS WHEN YOU HAVE THE BABY AND YOU'RE RECOVERING AND YOU WALK OUT OF THE HOSPITAL EMPTY HANDED.

>> Kaomi: LINDERBERG AND GLISSKI WENT ON WITH THEIR LIVES, MARRIED AND STARTED FAMILIES.

GLISSKI TOLD NO ONE BESIDES A BEST FRIEND WHOM SHE STAYED WITH DURING THE PREGNANCY AND LATER HER EVENTUAL HUSBAND, NOT EVEN HER PARENTS KNEW.

LINDERBERG ALSO REMAINED MOSTLY IN THE DARK.

>> MY MOTHER HAD DIED GIVING BIRTH TO ME WAS THE STORY THAT MY MOM TOLD ME WHEN I WAS 10 I'D SAY.

WHEN I FIRST BEGAN TO GET REALLY CURIOUS ABOUT WHO WAS MY MOTHER.

THIS SEEMED TO PUT EVERYTHING TO REST, AS FAR AS MY MOM WAS CONCERNED, WELL, THAT'S THE END OF THOSE QUESTIONS, THEY'LL NEVER COME BACK AGAIN.

BUT, OF COURSE, THEY WEREN'T TO ME.

>> Kaomi: AMENDED BIRTH CERTIFICATES ARE ALL MINNESOTA-BORN ADOPTED PEOPLE COULD HAVE, WITHOUT AN AFFIDAVIT FROM A BIRTH PARENT.

BUT ON JULY 1st, THE LAW CHANGED.

MINNESOTA BECAME THE 15th STATE TO PEN ORIGINAL BIRTH CERTIFICATES TO ADOPTEES.

BEFORE THAT ADOPTED PEOPLE COULD HIRE AN ATTORNEY AND TRY TO GET COURT DOCUMENTS OR ADOPTION AGENCY FILES BY COURT ORDER.

BUT IT WAS COSTLY AND OFTEN THE LUCK OF THE JUDGE YOU DREW.

>> OR THOSE AROUND THE STATE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO WERE BORN IN MINNESOTA AND ADOPTED, THEY NOW HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBTAIN THEIR OWN BIRTH RECORD WITHOUT ANY STRINGS ATTACHED.

AND THAT'S JUST TREMENDOUS.

BUT THEN IT ALSO SAYS THAT YOU CAN UNDO YEARS OF SECRECY.

>> Kaomi: LOOSE, AN ADOPTEE HIMSELF, HELPED CRAFT THE NEW MINNESOTA LAW.

IT CLEANS UP WHERE A 1977 LAW LEFT OFF.

HE SAYS FUNDAMENTALLY IT IS ABOUT THE RIGHT FOR A PERSON TO KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

DO YOU THINK SOME PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED THAT IN THIS DAY AND AGE THAT THIS IS STILL AN ISSUE?

>> YES AND NO.

I MEAN, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE, I WOULD SAY YOUNGER FOLKS ARE SURPRISED TO THINK THAT YOU CAN BE -- YOUR ORIGINS CAN BE WITHHELD.

I THINK OLDER FOLKS WHO HAVE SORT OF BEEN STEEPED IN THE SECRECY OF ADOPTION, THE FIRST THING THEY THINK ABOUT IS, YOU KNOW, RELEASING A RECORD THAT MAY RELEASE THE NAME OF A BIRTH ARENT.

>> Kaomi: THE LAW DOESN'T APPLY TO PEOPLE ADOPTED IN OTHER STATES.

LOOSE SAYS THE CHANGE WAS DECADES IN THE MAKING.

THE MINNESOTA COALITION FOR ADOPTION REFORM WAS A MAIN ADVOCATE AND SO WERE INDIVIDUAL BIRTH PARENTS AND ADOPTEES LIKE GLISSKI AND LINDERBERG, A MORE RESTRICTIVE BILL PASSED THE LEGISLATURE IN 2008, BUT REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR TIM PAWLENTY VETOED IT.

THIS YEAR, A YOUNGER LEGISLATURE TOOK IT UP GAIN, AND IT WAS SWEPT INTO A SESSION-ENDING OMNIBUS HEALTH APPROPRIATIONS BILL.

LOOSE SAYS IT'S ABOUT EQUAL RIGHTS.

>> AN ADOPTED PERSON WHO IS 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER MAY FILL OUT A FORM, PAY $40, SEND IT IN TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND THEN WITHIN A FEW WEEKS, THEY'RE GOING TO GET A COPY OF THEIR ORIGINAL BIRTH RECORD.

THEY MAY GET ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS.

ONE OF THOSE COULD BE A CONTACT PREFERENCE FORM THAT A BIRTH PARENT FILLED OUT INDICATING IF THEY HAVE ANY PREFERENCE FOR CONTACT, WHETHER IT'S NO CONTACT OR, YES, I WOULD WELCOME CONTACT, OR, I'D LIKE CONTACT, BUT COULD WE PLEASE USE AN INTERMEDIARY.

>> Kaomi: OVER COMFORT FOOD, A LOCAL GROUP OF ADOPTEES CONNECT AND MEET EVERY MONTH.

THIS MONTH'S MEETING WAS EXTRA SPECIAL.

BEFORE EATING, THERE WAS BUSINESS TO DO, ORGANIZER TRYSHA OSBORNE SAYS, THE CHANGE HAS BEEN LONG OVERDUE.

>> IT JUST MEANS LIKE WE'RE ACTUALLY BEING TREATED LIKE THE ADULTS WE ARE AND NOT TREATED LIKE CHILDREN ANYMORE, THAT NEED TO BE PROTECTED.

>> Kaomi: SHERRY RUDEBUSH HAS PAID NEARLY $1,000 TO LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE AND STILL HASN'T GOTTEN THE NAME OF HER BIRTH PARENTS.

>> I NEVER INTENDED TO HURT ANYBODY OR DO ANYTHING.

I JUST INTENDED TO GET SOMETHING THAT I FELT BELONGED TO ME.

>> Kaomi: AND WHAT -- -- WHAT ABOUT ADOPTEE MARY JO LINDERBERG, SHE FILED HER PAPERWORK THE FIRST DAY SHE COULD.

SHE HAD KNOWING HER MOTHER'S NAME WILL HELP HER TOP OFF A GREAT LIFE.

>> IT WILL BE NICE TO JUST FIT THESE LAST PIECING PIECES IN.

MY KIDS ARE CURIOUS TO KNOW.

>> Kaomi: PAT GLISSKI IS ACTIVE WITH A NATIONAL SUPPORT GROUP CALLED CONCERNED UNITED BIRTH PARENTS.

LOCALLY THE GROUP MEETS EVERY MONTH IN St. LOUIS PARK.

AFTER HER SON FOUND HER WHEN HE WAS 44, SHE SAYS SHE TOLD EVERYONE ELSE IN HER LIFE, INCLUDING HER OTHER THREE ADULT CHILDREN.

>> ONCE I STARTED TELLING EVERYONE, IT WAS SUCH A RELIEF TO BE ABLE TO FINALLY TALK ABOUT IT.

♪♪ >> BASEBALL'S BEEN A GREAT PART OF MY LIFE.

EVER SINCE I WAS 5 YEARS OLD, I'M 35 YEARS OLD SITTING IN FRONT OF YOU NOW AND I PLAYED BASEBALL EVER SINCE I'VE KNOWN FOR 30 YEARS, THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT PART OF MY LIFE, IT REALLY HAS.

BUT NOW IT'S TIME FOR ME TO CLOSE THE CHAPTER ON THIS BOOK IN BASEBALL AND GO ON WITH PART 2 OF MY LIFE.

IT'S GONNA BE ALL RIGHT.

KIRBY PUCKETT'S GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME.

♪♪ >> ERIC: THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER, WHEN TEMPS HEAD FOR THE MID 90S AND MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL HEADS FOR THE MID-SEASON ALL-STAR BREAK.

THE MINNESOTA TWINS HAVE NOT ONE BUT TWO PLAYERS ON THEIR WAY TO THE BIG GAME.

LARRY FITZGERALD IS BACK.

WHEN HE'S NOT VISITING US HERE IN STUDIO B, YOU CAN HEAR HIS RADIO WORK ON THE NATIONAL PROGRAMMING NETWORK.

TWINS ARE FOUR AND A HALF BACK OF THE GUARDIANS, ON PACE TO WIN 92 GAMES WITH A REDUCED PAYROLL.

BUT THEY BUILT THE ROSTER TO HIT HOME RUNS, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

JUST LIKE THE TEAM THAT SET THE RECORD A FEW YEARS AGO.

THEY'RE THE HOTTEST EAM IN TERMS OF HITTING THE LONG BALL.

THEY HIT A HOMERUN IN 28 STRAIGHT GAMES GOING INTO TONIGHT'S GAME IN SAN FRANCISCO.

I DON'T KNOW IF THE WIND'S BLOWING OUT THERE.

BUT THE TWINS HAVE A WAY OF STEPPING INTO THAT BATTER'S BOX AND ELIMINATING CERTAIN PITCHES AND REALLY GO AFTER IT.

AND JOSE MIRANDA AND CORREA, I LOVE WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

THIS TEAM, THEY'RE IMPRESSING ME MORE AND MORE EVERY DAY.

>> Cathy: YOU -- KNOW, I HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO DAVE St. PETER ON THE AIR EARLIER THIS WEEK ABOUT THE BALLY SPORTS NORTH COME CAST MESS.

>> IT'S A GOOD STORY.

>> Cathy: TALKED ABOUT JOE MAUER, ALSO A GREAT STORY GOING INTO THE HALL OF FAME IN THE NEXT, WHAT, TWO WEEKS OR SO, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY ABOUT THAT?

AS WE LOOK AT YOUNG JOE MAUER VERSUS NOW GOING TO THE HALL OF FAME?

>> I'M PROUD OF JOE.

HE'S ALWAYS BEEN WHO HE IS.

YOU KNOW, HE'S BEEN MILD MANNERED BUT A SUPER STAR FROM VIRTUALLY DAY ONE.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN COVERING SPORTS ALL MY LIFE, AND TO SEE A CATCHER BE, I MEAN, A BATTING CHAMPION, YOU KNOW, AN MVP, TO PLAY LIKE THAT AND THEN TO HAVE SOMETHING HAPPEN PHYSICALLY, WHATEVER, AND THEN THEY CHANGE HIS POSITION.

BUT HE CARRIED THAT TEAM.

HE DID EVERYTHING HE COULD.

I JUST WISH HE COULD HAVE GOT TO PLAY HIS ENTIRE CAREER AT THE DOME.

BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN HE WAS HITTING THE BALL OUT OF THE PARK.

AND THAT TYPE OF THING.

AND, OF COURSE, TARGET FIELD, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT BUILT FOR EVERYBODY TO HIT HOME RUNS.

>> Eric: RIGHT.

>> THEY'RE HITTING THEM OW.

BUT THEY WEREN'T THEN.

BUT I'M SO HAPPY FOR HIM.

YOU KNOW, JOE AND MY SON, LARRY, THEY'RE CO-CHAIRS OF THE 140th U.S.

AMATEUR, WHICH IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE OUT AT HAZELTINE LATER THIS SUMMER, THE 22nd THROUGH THE 29th.

AND, SO, THEY'RE BOTH PLAYING OUT AT THAT CENTURY WORLD AND LAKE TAHOE TODAY.

>> Cathy: NICE.

>> Eric: WHAT DID HE SHOOT?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT, I'VE BEEN WAITING TO CALL LARRY AND FIND OUT.

LARRY'S IN A GROUP WITH JERRY RICE AND THE RECEIVER WITH THE RAIDERS.

I'D SAY, WOW, I WANT TO FIND OUT.

>> Cathy: NO KIDDING.

>> Eric: KAITLIN CLARK BRINGS HER SHOW TO TOWN WITH THE INDIANA FEVER ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT?

>> I'M EXCITED TO SEE HER PLAY.

I'VE BEEN WATCHING HER GAME GROW.

HER TEAM'S GETTING BETTER BECAUSE SHE HAS FOUND A WAY TO DEAL WITH THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO TO HER DEFENSIVELY.

>> Eric: PRETTY PHYSICAL WITH HER.

>> THEY'VE ALL BEEN PHYSICAL WITH HER, THEY'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO GET THE BALL OUT OF HER HANDS AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE.

BUT SHE'S IMPROVED HER GAME, AS FAR AS GETTING THE BALL TO HER TEAMMATES, GETTING IT TO THEM EARLY SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE THEIR MOVES TO THE BASKET.

AND, SO, I JUST WANT TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE WITH MY OWN EYES FROM WHERE SHE WAS WHEN THEY WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP WITH THE BIG TEN, WHEN THE BIG TEN TOURNAMENT WAS IN MINNESOTA AND WHERE SHE IS RIGHT NOW AS SHE TRIES TO GET HER TEAM IN POSITION TO QUALIFY FOR THE PLAYOFFS WITH THE OLYMPIC BREAK COMING UP.

>> Cathy: I WAS GOING TO SAY, THE OLYMPIC BREAK, KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS, RIGHT?

THE WOLVES -- >> Eric: ANTHONY EDWARDS.

>> Cathy: I CAN NEVER GET THOSE TWO TOGETHER.

ANTHONY EDWARDS GOING TO THE OLYMPIC?

>> YEAH, IT'S GOING WELL.

HE'S TALKING A LOT, SO HE'S CONFIDENT WITH THE WAY THEY'RE UTILIZING HIM.

STEVE CURRY IS THEIR COACH, HE'S A WINNER, HE KNOWS WHAT IT TAKES.

HE'S GOT A OT OF TALENT IN HIS HANDS.

BUT THE OLYMPIC DEAL IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE EVERY COUNTRY'S GOT TWO, THREE, FOUR NBA PLAYERS, YOU KNOW?

AND LOOK WHO'S BEEN MVP MOST OF THE LAST FEW YEARS, IT'S AN -- INTERNATIONAL PLAYER SO ONE OF THOSE TEAMS IS GOING TO HAVE SOMEBODY THAT THEY CAN'T STOP.

>> Eric: LOOK OUT WITH FRANCE WITH WINBY.

YOU LOOK FANTASTIC, WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING, KEEP DOING IT.

>> Cathy: YEAH.

>> Eric: LARRY FITZGERALD, EVERYBODY.

♪♪ >> MARY: WE'RE BACK WITH MICHELLE AND PRINCESS AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS FABULOUS COOKBOOK, APPETITE FOR CHANGE.

WE'RE GOING TO MAKE ANOTHER DISH HERE IN JUST A SECOND.

LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT THE MISSION IS.

>> APPETITE FOR CHANGE'S MISSION IS TO USE FOOD AS A TOOL TO CREATE HEALTH, WELFARE AND SOCIAL CHANGE.

WE COOK, ATE, ALKED WITH 400 COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT THE CHANGE THAT THEY WANTED TO SEE.

THREE DIFFERENT WOMEN FROM THREE DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS.

ME AND MICHELLE AND LATASHA POWELL, WHO'S NOW OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CEO, AND WE KNEW THAT A COMMUNITY DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY EVERYTHING HAD TO HAVE POWER, HAD TO HAVE VOICE WHEN THIS CAME TO THEIR FOOD.

>> Mary: NOW, MICHELLE'S GOT SOME FANCY CHEF BACKGROUND CHOPS, DOESN'T SHE?

>> NO.

NO, NO.

>> Mary: ARE YOU GOING TO ADMIT THAT?

THERE WASN'T A JAMES BEARD -- >> YEAH, I WAS A LINE COOK, AND I ACTUALLY JUST GOT HIRED BECAUSE I WAS DODGING AND WORKING FOR FREE AND I WOULDN'T GO AWAY.

AND THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY A LAWYER WAS WORKING FOR FREE IN A KITCHEN SO THEY HIRED ME.

>> Mary: EXCELLENT.

>> YEAH, 12 BUCKS AN HOUR, MIAMI.

>> Mary: PAYING FOR LAW SCHOOL.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> Mary: HAT ARE YOU MAKING FOR US, MISH SNELL >> SO WE ARE MAKING -- MICHELLE?

>> SO WE ARE MAKING THE FOUNDING EXECUTIVE CHEF OF BREAKING BREAD CAFÉ'S SIGNATURE DISH, MICHELLE CUNNINGHAM, JERK SHRIMP AND CHEESY GRITS AND IT'S IN OUR BREAKFAST CHAPTER OF THE BOOK.

SO I MADE THE GRITS EARLIER, JUST REALLY SIMPLE, SHE USES CHICKEN STOCK AND MILK AND COOKS THE GRITS FOR I ALONG TIME, LOW AND -- FOR A LONG TIME, LOW AND SLOW, GETS THE CHEESE IN THERE.

WE PUT THE JERK SEASONING MARINATE, THE SHRIMP, COOK THEM FOR A COUPLE MINUTES ON EACH SIDE.

WE FINISH IT OFF WITH SOME SHREDDED CHEESE.

>> Mary: LOVELY.

>> NO JOKE, WE WERE SHORT STAFFED IN THE KITCHEN AT BREAKING BREAD ONE DAY, AND -- NOT ONE DAY, ONE WHOLE MONTH, AND I WAS A LINE COOK, AND I WAS MAKING EGGS TO ORDER AND GRILLIN' SHRIMP AND IT WAS LIKE THE BEST THING EVER.

SO WE GOT THE SHRIMP HERE.

AND THEN WE JUST GARNISH WITH SOME GREEN ONION.

>> Mary: OH, IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

WE WANT TO TELL PEOPLE, YOU CAN MAKE THESE RECIPES, YOU SAW THAT NO BAKE SEGMENT BEFORE, YOU'VE GOT THIS AMAZING RECIPE, IT'S ON OUR WEBSITE, THERE IT IS, TPT.ORG, ALMANAC RECIPES.

HEAD TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.

AND YOU'VE GOT SOME EVENTS COMING UP.

>> WE DO.

OUR COOKBOOK LAUNCHES, ACTUALLY, JULY 25th FROM 5:00 TO 7:00 AT THE ICONIC THEATER IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS.

>> Mary: WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THERE?

IS THERE GOING TO BE FOOD?

>> THERE WILL NOT BE FOOD.

>> I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE FOOD.

>> Mary: NOW YOU HAVE TO DO FOOD SINCE I BROUGHT IT UP, RIGHT?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT?

I'LL BE THERE.

>> Mary: THAT'S WORTH IT.

>> THE CO-FOUNDERS ARE THERE.

WE'RE GOING TO SHARE THE STORY OF APPETITE FOR CHANGE, AND GIVE THE IMPACT OF OUR PROGRAMS, OUR YOUTH, AN OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM, UR URBAN AGRICULTURE PROGRAM, OUR MEAL BOX PROGRAM AND WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT.

>> Mary: WHERE CAN WE BUY THE BOOK?

>> WWW.AFS AMEN.ORG.

>> Mary: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

IT'S SO MUCH FUN, DELICIOUS AND TERRIFIC, WE PROMISE.

>> MY BOWL.

♪♪ >> ERIC: IN THIS WEEK'S "ALMANAC RACE TO WATCH," IT COULD BE THE CONTEST THAT DECIDES CONTROL AT THE CAPITOL.

THIS HOUSE ELECTION WAS THE CLOSEST IN THE STATE LAST TIME, BUT MARY LAHAMMER SHOWS US IT'S NOW AN OPEN SEAT UP FOR GRABS.

>> Mary: WATER IS WHAT ORIGINALLY ATTRACTED PEOPLE TO COON RAPIDS AND T'S WHERE THE MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI STILL ROARS BY POPULAR PARKS AND TRAILS.

>> I TAUGHT PUBLIC SCHOOL FOR A LONG TIME, SCIENCE TEACHER.

CARE ABOUT OUR ENVIRONMENT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

TAKE CARE.

WHEN I ASK, WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT LIVING HERE, IT'S OUR PARKS AND TRAILS, OUR QUIET STREETS, AND IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AROUND, NATURE'S BEAUTY IS EVERYWHERE AROUND US.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, THINGS YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH ME, I'D LOVE TO HEAR IT.

>> Mary: ANDOVER'S SOUTHEAST SECTION IS ALSO IN THE DISTRICT, 35B, IN THE NORTH METRO, WHERE AN OPEN SEAT MAKES THIS A TOP TARGET.

>> IT'S A VERY PLEASANT MIXTURE OF BLUE COLLAR AND WHITE COLLAR, WHO DO WELL TOGETHER.

I RUN INTO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO COME RIGHT OUT AND SAY, I'M A LIBERTARIAN.

JUST POINT BLANK.

>> I'M CARRIE RAY BRAUER, I'M RUNNING FOR THE MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF CLOSE RACES.

>> Mary: POLITICS MAY NOT BE TOP OF MIND YET FOR VOTERS, BUT IN WHAT COULD BE THE CLOSEST RACE IN THE STATE, THEY WILL BE MADE AWARE.

>> THE BIGGEST THING IS HITTING EVERY DOOR AND TALKING FACE TO FACE WITH PEOPLE.

I THINK HAT'S WHERE THEY GET A SENSE OF WHO YOU REALLY ARE.

WHEN YOU TALK TO FOLKS, THEY'RE VERY INDEPENDENT.

>> MY NAME IS STEVE PAP THE E, I'M RUNNING TO BE YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND I JUST WANTED TO STOP BY AND INTRODUCE MYSELF.

>> Mary: COVERING AS MUCH GROUND AS POSSIBLE IS IMPORTANT WHEN THE RESULTS COULD COME DOWN TO JUST ONE DAY'S WORTH OF INTERACTIONS.

>> I DO DO SOME HINGS DIFFERENTLY.

I MADE A COMMITMENT THAT WHEN YOU DO DOOR KNOCKING, I WASN'T GOING TO GO LOOK FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE LIKE-MINDED.

IN FACT, I MADE ONE COMMITMENT IN A PREEBLGHT, I'M GOING TO KNOCK EVERY DOOR REGARDLESS OF WHETHER A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN, I'M GOING TO LISTEN TO EVERYBODY'S STORY.

>> Mary: IN THIS DISTRICT, BOTH CANDIDATES ARE WILLING TO TALK ABOUT THE MIDDLE.

>> NOT A BIG PART F THE -- FAN OF THE PARTISANSHIP, SAW SO MANY THINGS ARE NOT EITHER/OR, BLACK OR WHITE, WE'RE IN BETWEEN.

SO MANY THINGS ARE "AND."

FOR EXAMPLE, WE NEED PUBLIC SAFETY, WE NEED SAFE STREETS AND POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.

SO IT'S BOTH.

WE HAVE TO WELL FUND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENTS, LIKE I HAVE ON THE CITY COUNCIL.

>> I'M A SOCIAL MODERATE, I'M A FISCAL CONSERVATIVE, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE HELD TO A BUDGET.

AND THEY SHOULD BE PRUDENT WITH HOW THEY SPEND TAX DOLLARS.

MY JOB IS NOT TO VOTE FOR MY PARTY.

MY JOB IS TO REPRESENT MY CONSTITUENTS.

>> Mary: LAST TIME THE RACE HERE IN THE COON RAPIDS AREA WAS DECIDED BY JUST OVER 200 VOTES.

IT DOESN'T GET CLOSER THAN THAT IN MINNESOTA POLITICS.

>> FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, HE WON BY THE SLIMMEST MARGIN OF ANY CURRENT SITTING HOUSE MEMBER.

>> Mary: THAT'S A LOT.

FOR YOU TO TAKE ON, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> Mary: IS IT SCARY TO HEAR THAT NUMBER?

>> YES, IT'S A LITTLE BIT INTIMIDATING, BUT ALSO IT'S MOTIVATING.

IT MOTIVATES YOU TO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'VE TALKED TO EVERY RESIDENT.

>> IT'S NOT SCARY TO ME.

IF IT WERE SCARY, I MIGHT BACK AWAY.

I LOOK AT IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY.

WELL, AT LEAST IT WASN'T 2,000 VOTES.

I BELIEVE THAT I CONNECT WITH PEOPLE WELL.

I BELIEVE THAT I HAVE A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE TO MAKE REALLY SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE GOVERNMENT AND IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL LISTEN TO EACH OTHER, EVEN IF WE ISAGREE AND WE COLLABORATE AND DO WHAT WE CAN FOR OUR CITY.

>> Mary: THE DEMOCRAT IS RUNNING AS A MODERATE WITH EXPERIENCE IN CITY COUNCIL AND TEACHING IN HE CLASSROOM.

>> I WAS A TEACHER WITH A CAREER SPANNING 20 YEARS.

WHY I DECIDED TO RUN GOES BACK TO TEACHING.

WE HAD HAD 20% OF OUR STAFF CUT THE PREVIOUS SPRING.

AND IT REALLY FELT LIKE IT WAS UNSAFE FOR OUR KIDS.

THERE WASN'T ENOUGH ADULTS IN THE BUILDING TO TAKE CARE OF OUR STUDENTS.

I REALLY WANTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE ON EDUCATION AND FIND A WAY TO GET BACK TO WHERE WE USED TO BE.

20 YEARS OF UNDERFUNDING, 20 YEARS.

AND, SO, WE JUST HAD AN INCREASE AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME FOR THAT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> EARLY VOTING STARTS SEPTEMBER 20th.

>> OKAY.

>> WE ENCOURAGE THAT.

>> Mary: THE REPUBLICAN IS RUNNING FOR THE FIRST TIME AS A CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIAN, WHO'S AN ENGINEER AND VETERAN.

>> MY LIFE HAS TAKEN A TURN I DIDN'T EXPECT.

I NEVER HAD POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS.

BUT WHAT REALLY MOTIVATED E ARE MY SEVEN GRANDKIDS.

MY GREAT BELIEF IN THE AMERICAN DREAM WAS DIMMING.

I JOINED THE NAVY WHEN I WAS 17.

I SERVED IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

I SERVED IN VIETNAM.

I WORKED ON THE FLIGHT DECK OF AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER.

I REMEMBER WHEN I CAME HOME FROM VIETNAM, IT WAS NOT A VERY POPULAR THING TO SAY YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE.

AND NOW I HEAR PEOPLE SAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

>> Mary: LEADING ISSUES FOR THESE TWO IN THIS KEY RACE DEFINITELY DIFFER.

>> THE BIGGEST THINGS I HEAR FROM FOLKS ARE, ONE, THEY WANT US TO WORK TOGETHER.

THEY'RE TIRED OF DIVISIVENESS, WHY CAN'T WE MEET IN THE MIDDLE SOMEWHERE?

ARE YOU A RESIDENT OF COON RAPIDS?

>> YEAH.

>> OH, WONDERFUL, NICE TO MEET YOU.

>> NICE TO MEET YOU TOO.

>> ENJOY YOUR WALK.

>> THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IS TAXES.

PEOPLE ARE JUST MAD.

THEY SQUANDERED $18 BILLION.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> GOOD LUCK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> CATHY: WE ONCE SCHEDULED OUR NEXT GROUP OF GUESTS BASED ON FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S SENTENCING DATE FOR THE 34 FELONIES IN NEW YORK.

SINCE THEN, A PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE PERFORMANCE HAS THREATENED CURRENT PRESIDENT BIDEN'S RE-ELECTION BID, AND A U.S. SUPREME COURT RULING ON PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY HAS LED TO A POSTPONEMENT OF TRUMP'S SENTENCING.

HERE TO HELP US SORT THROUGH ALL OF THIS, A COUCH FULL OF POLITICAL SCIENTISTS.

KATHRYN PEARSON TEACHES STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA HERE IN THE TWIN CITIES.

CYNTHIA RUGELEY HEADS UP THE POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH.

AND WE WELCOME BACK DAN HOFRENNING WHO TOILS AWAY AT ST. OLAF COLLEGE DOWN IN NORTHFIELD.

WELL, PROFESSOR RUGELEY, PRESIDENT BIDEN IS IN DETROIT ON THIS FRIDAY NIGHT, AND E TELLS A WHIPPED-UP CROWD IN A RALLY, YOU MADE ME THE NOMINEE.

NO ONE ELSE.

NOT THE PRESS.

NOT THE PUNDITS.

NOT THE INSIDERS.

NOT THE DONORS.

YOU, THE VOTERS, DECIDED NO ONE ELSE AND I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

HE'S GOT ALL THE DELEGATES RIGHT THAT HE NEEDS AND PARTY ELDERS DON'T SEEM TO HAVE THE CLOUT TO STOP THEM OR DO THEY?

>> I THINK FOR IT TO BE SUCCESSFUL, HE WOULD LARGELY HAVE TO GET OUT.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE BEST PATH FORWARD IF CHANGE WAS MADE, WAS FOR HIM TO VOLUNTARILY WITHDRAW AND THROW HIS WEIGHT BEHIND SOMEONE.

THERE IS A WAY TO DO IT BY HAVING THE DELEGATES NOT VOTE FOR HIM OUT OF GOOD CONSCIENCE, IS THAT THE RIGHT WORD, GOOD ONSCIENCE, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE MESSY.

>> IT DOES TELL YOU A LOT ABOUT THE UNIQUE NATURE OF AMERICAN POLITICS, AND MOST PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACIES, THE PRIME MINISTER OR CHANCELLOR IS CHOSEN BY THE PARLIAMENT ITSELF.

THERE ISN'T A SERIES OF 50 PRIMARIES OR 40 PRIMARIES THAT SELECT DELEGATES, THAT GO TO A CONVENTION.

SO BIDEN IS LARGELY RIGHT.

THE POWER IS WITH WHAT POLITICAL SCIENTISTS CALL THE PARTY AND THE ELECTORATE, THE VOTERS.

>> Cathy: OKAY.

>> RIGHT, NOT PARTY LEADERS.

BUT THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE DISASTER FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

I MEAN, THE POLLS SINCE THE DEBATE REVEAL THAT IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN TO WIN RE-ELECTION AT THIS POINT.

AND THERE'S NO REASON TO THINK THAT THINGS ARE NECESSARILY GOING TO IMPROVE AFTER A MIXED PERFORMANCE LAST NIGHT.

AND YOU CAN SEE, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, THERE ARE A SEGMENT OF CURRENT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, WHO HAVE COME OUT AND SAID, WE STILL SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT, PARTICULARLY CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS MEMBERS, AFTER HE MET WITH THEM EARLIER IN THE WEEK, BUT YOU SEE MANY DEMOCRATS, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN SWING STATES COMING OUT AND ASKING THE PRESIDENT TO STEP ASIDE AND THEN JUST SILENCE OR SORT OF STRANGE STATEMENTS FROM LEADERS, LIKE THE SPEAKER'S LETTER THIS AFTERNOON, WHICH JUST SORT OF UPDATED HIS COLLEAGUES THAT HE MET WITH THE PRESIDENT.

BUT NOT ITERATING SUPPORT FOR HIM.

SO IT IS REALLY TOUGH SITUATION FOR DEMOCRATS.

IT WOULD BE EASIEST, THOUGH STILL CERTAINLY NOT EASY, IF THE PRESIDENT STEPPED ASIDE AND THE VICE PRESIDENT RAN.

BUT THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME PARTY UNITY ISSUES THERE, TOO.

IT'S VERY COMPLICATED.

>> Eric: HOW DO REPUBLICANS PLAY IN?

>> WELL, I THINK DONALD TRUMP IS POSTPONING HIS VICE PRESIDENTIAL SELECTION.

I THINK THEY'RE DELIGHTING.

HAVEN'T HEARD PROBABLY THE FIRST WEEK IN ABOUT EIGHT YEARS YOU HAVEN'T HEARD FROM DONALD TRUMP, THEY'RE LARGELY LETTING THE EMOCRATS STEW IN THE CONFLICT.

>> Eric: WAS THIS A MEDIA COVER-UP?

BIDEN'S STAFF WITHHELD ALL THIS DETAIL.

WHY WASN'T HIS SURFACED EARLIER OR WAS IT?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS EEN SUSPICIONS, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT POLLING, I MEAN, THE GENERAL PUBLIC THOUGHT HE WAS TOO OLD.

YOU KNOW?

I MEAN, THAT WAS THE REASON WHY, YOU KNOW, REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIPS GOT IN THE RACE, HE THOUGHT HE COULDN'T WIN.

>> Eric: DESERVES AN APOLOGY, MAYBE.

>> YOU KNOW, THERE'S AN INTERESTING THING THAW BRING UP.

IT CERTAINLY SHOWS THAT THE DEMOCRATS TWO YEARS AGO SHOULD HAVE HAD MORE VOICES IN THE ROOM, I THINK THAT'S WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO.

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

THE 2022 MIDTERMS, YOU KNOW, DEMOCRATS WERE MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN ANTICIPATED.

YOU KNOW, STILL REPUBLICANS TOOK THE HOUSE, MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN ANTICIPATED.

AND AT THAT POINT PRESIDENT BIDEN SORT OF WENT BACK ON HIS WORD THAT HE WOULD BE A TRANSITIONAL FIGURE AND DECIDED TO RUN AGAIN.

AND OTHER THAN, YOU KNOW, SORT OF A THIRD-TERM MEMBER OF CONGRESS FOR MINNESOTA, DEAN FELLOWSHIPS I ALSO REALLY -- PHILLIPS DID NOT FACE OPPOSITION FROM SENATORS, GOVERNORS, WHO COULD HAVE DEFEATED HIM.

IF DEMOCRATS COULD URN BACK THE CLOCK, I'M SURE THEY WOULD BUT THEY CAN'T.

NOW THERE'S A REAL PROBLEM.

>> WILL ALTHOUGH THEY ALWAYS KNEW HE WAS SOMEWHAT INARTICULATE BUT NOT THAT INARTICULATE AS HE WAS IN THE DEBATE.

I SUPPOSE TURNING DOWN THE SUPER BOWL INTERVIEW I THOUGHT WAS A REAL SIGN THAT YOU WOULD TURN DOWN THAT BIG AN AUDIENCE.

>> I DON'T THINK THE PRESS COVERED IT UP.

I MEAN, THEY WOULDN'T DO THAT, IT'S TOO GOOD A STORY.

BUT I DO THINK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ERE VERY SUSPICIOUS FOR A LONG TIME.

I MEAN, THE SUPER BOWL INTERVIEWS ARE A GOOD EXAMPLE.

AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY BOLTED ON THE THING, YOU KNOW, JUST OUTRAGE, AND THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

IT'S NOT THE THING THAT SHOULD BE IN A SPECIAL COUNCIL'S REPORT.

EVERYBODY GOES OH, NO, NO, NO, NO.

THERE'S PLENTY OF EVIDENCE THAT PERHAPS -- HE GUY NEVER HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE WHICH CERTAINLY RAISED A BUNCH OF EYEBROWS.

SO, I MEAN, WHEN IT HAPPENED AT THE DEBATE, I MEAN, I WAS STUNNED, I WATCHED IT FOR ABOUT THE FIRST TEN MINUTES GOING, OH, MY LORD.

>> Eric: WHO WINS IN THE SECOND -- WHO LIVES IN THE SECOND DISTRICT?

>> I DON'T LIVE THERE ANYMORE BUT THE CARLETON COLLEGE IS THERE.

SHE'S IN A SWING DISTRICT, IN A TOUGH RACE, AND IT PROBABLY DOES HELP HER POLITICALLY.

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

EVERY DEMOCRAT, WHETHER THEY'RE RUNNING FOR THE SENATE, THE HOUSE IN A GOVERNOR'S RACE IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE PRESIDENT BEING A DRAG ON THE TICKET.

YOU THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS SHOULD HAVE COATTAILS AND GIVE A BUMP.

BUT IT'S THE OPPOSITE SITUATION NOW.

I MEAN, OOK AT MINNESOTA, THE WELL-RESPECTED COOK POLITICAL REPORT DOWNGRADED MINNESOTA FROM A LIKELY DEMOCRATIC STATE TO A LEANS DEMOCRATIC STATE AFTER THE DEBATE.

>> Cathy: SO SO MUCH ENERGY IS GOING TO BE SPENT NOW, UNLESS THERE'S A DECISION SOON, ON EACH MISSTEP, EACH MISSTATEMENT THAT THE PRESIDENT WOULD MAKE.

>> RIGHT.

>> YES, AND THAT'S TIME THAT DEMOCRATS AREN'T SPENDING TALKING ABOUT SORT OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S FAULTS.

>> Eric: WHAT IS THE SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM SITUATION HERE?

IT'S EARLY IN THE YEAR.

THE CONVENTIONS HAVEN'T HAPPENED YET.

IS THERE ENOUGH TIME FOR THIS THING TO GET EVEN MORE CRAZY OR SETTLE DOWN OR WHAT'S THE PROGNOSIS HERE?

>> I THINK THEY'VE GOT TWO WEEKS.

I MEAN, I THINK THAT -- I MEAN, OHIO'S BALLOT COMES UP PRETTY SOON.

I MEAN, OHIO'S NOT GOING TO SAY, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO LET YOU REPLACE.

>> Eric: THERE'S GOING TO BE THE EARLY ROLL CALL, RIGHT?

>> THERE'S SOME DISCUSSION, BIDEN COULD DROP OUT AFTER THE CONVENTION, SOME DISCUSSION ON THE ROLE OF TIM WALZ AS CHAIR OF THE GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION.

HE WOULD BE CONSULTED.

>> THINK IF HE DROPS OUT AFTER THE CONVENTION, I THINK THEY'RE OING TO BE ONE LAWSUIT AFTER ANOTHER AND THE SUPREME COURT IS SO UNPREDICTABLE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THEY WANT THAT.

>> Eric: IS A SMOKE-FILLED BACK ROOM NEEDED HERE?

HAVEN'T HAD ONE SINCE '68.

[ Laughter ] >> WELL, AND, AGAIN, THE ENTIRE PROCESS WAS REFORMED AFTER 1968.

SO STARTING IN 1972, DEMOCRATS CHOOSE THEIR DELEGATES IN PRIMARIES, SOME CAUCUSES.

AND, SO, THAT'S THE PROBLEM HERE, IS THE SMOKE-FILLED ROOMS HAVE NO POWER.

YOU KNOW, PARTISANSHIP IN THE ELECTORATE, AS WETDZ EARLIER, IS EXTREMELY STRONG BUT DELEGATES AND PARTY OFFICIALS ACTUALLY HAVE VERY LITTLE POWER.

THE EASIEST THING FOR DEMOCRATS GRAPPLING WITH THIS WOULD BE FOR THE PRESIDENT TO STEP ASIDE.

ABSENT, THAT I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'LL SORT OF NAVIGATE THE NEXT WEEKS.

>> THIS IS A TEST TO SEE HOW MUCH POWER THE SMOKE-FILLED ROOM MIGHT STILL HAVE, BECAUSE THEY'RE SMOKING HARD, I'M SURE.

>> I THINK THEY'RE SMOKING HARD IN THE BACK ROOMS NOW.

I MEAN, NANCY PELOSI DOESN'T RANDY LOMB SAY, 'M -- RANDOMLY SAY, I'M GOING TO GO ON MORNING JOE AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> Eric: OBAMA AND BIDEN HAVE A PRETTY COOL RELATIONSHIP, RIGHT?

>> PRESIDENT OBAMA DISCOURAGED HIS VICE PRESIDENTS, THEN JOE BIDEN FROM UNNING.

HE IS PROBABLY NOT THE PERSON TO URGE HIM.

>> Cathy: MONEY DOES TALK, THOUGH.

WHAT ABOUT THE ROLE OF BIG DONORS?

YOU MENTIONED THERE'S SMOKE-FILLED BACK ROOMS, AND THERE'S PROBABLY SMOKING IN THE BACK ROOMS RIGHT NOW.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE DONORS?

>> THEY SEEM TO BE COOLING A BIT, ALTHOUGH, I DON'T THINK WHOEVER RUNS, THE DEMOCRATS ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE A MONEY PROBLEM, IN MY OPINION.

>> Eric: REPUBLICAN CONVENTION IN MILWAUKEE.

THEIR PLALT FORM HAS BEEN -- PLATFORM HAS BEEN WATERED DOWN, MAYBE SOME OF THE SHARP EDGES HAVE BEEN SANDED DOWN.

BUT THIS PROJECT 2025.

IS THAT THE NEW DEMOCRATIC HOOK?

>> YEAH, IT IS.

AND, I MEAN, I KNOW THAT TRUMP IS TRYING TO RUN FROM IT.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS, CAN BIDEN ARTICULATE THAT?

I MEAN, I THINK HE'S TRYING TO RUN FROM IT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK ON TRUMP'S WEBPAGE, HE HAS SOMETHING CALLED AGENDA 47, WHICH IS NOT TERRIBLY DIFFERENT FROM '25.

>> RIGHT.

BUT PROJECT 2025, T'S REALLY SORT OF INCREDIBLE.

SO THIS IS A 900-PAGE DOCUMENT WRITTEN BY THE CONSERVATIVE THINK TANK, THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION IN WASHINGTON, D.C., WITH, CCORDING TO CNN, OVER 100 PEOPLE FROM THE FORMER TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, EVEN AS FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IS BACKING AWAY FROM IT.

SO IT IS BOTH A POLICY MANIFESTO AND SORT OF A HOW TO GOVERN DOCTRINE, WHICH COVERS EVERYTHING FROM SOCIAL POLICY TO ECONOMIC POLICY TO SORT OF THE SIZE AND SCOPE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND DISBANDING SOME IVIL SERVICE.

AND, SO, IT REALLY IS -- IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE, BUT IT'S JUST RECENTLY GONE VIRAL AND DEMOCRATS ARE REALLY HOPING TO USE THIS AGAINST REPUBLICANS.

>> ND NOTEWORTHY THAT TRUMP IS DISTANCING HIMSELF FROM THAT.

AND THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM IS MOVING TO THE CENTER A LITTLE BIT ON ABORTION, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, GAY RIGHTS, SOCIAL SECURITY.

>> I DON'T KNOW, ON THE ABORTION THING, I'M WATCHING THAT JUST BECAUSE I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT -- I MEAN, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO REALLY FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT ABORTION IS MURDER.

AND THEY VOTED FOR TRUMP.

I MEAN, A LOT OF IT, THEY -- IT WAS TRANSACTIONAL, REALLY, THEY KNEW.

IT WAS A MEAN TO AN END.

NOW HE'S BACKING OFF ON WHAT THEY WANT.

I'M KIND OF CURIOUS TO HOW THEY'RE GOING TO RESPOND TO THAT.

IT'S A VERY SINCERE BELIEF.

I MEAN, THE PRO ABORTION MOVEMENT'S ALWAYS KIND OF TOLERATED AND RESPECTED IT A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S SINCERE.

>> Cathy: I WONDER, DO THEY SIT ON THE SIDELINES?

>> YOU SAW IT IN THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM DISCUSSION THAT TONY PERKINS, HEAD OF THE FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL, AND RALPH REED, PAT ROBERTSON'S FORMER KIND OF RIGHT-HAND MAN, THEY BOTH CRITICIZED THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.

>> Eric: OF COURSE, THE ALL-PURPOSE STATEMENT IS, WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GO?

>> RIGHT.

>> RIGHT.

>> THE ELECTORATE -- THE MORE THE ELECTORATE IS TALKING ABOUT ABORTION, THE BETTER FOR DEMOCRATS, NO MATTER WHAT THE OPINION IS.

>> Eric: NICE JOB.

>> Cathy: THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> Eric: NICE TO SEE YOU ALL.

>> MINNESOTA HOSPITAL, THE CONTINUING SAGA OF OUR DEDICATED MEDICAL MEN AND WOMEN WHO HELP MAKE MINNESOTA ONE OF THE BEST STATES TO GET SICK IN.

TODAY WE FIND Dr. GILL WHITNEY AND NURSE HELEN RENT IN VERY CLOSE CONSULTATION.

OH, HELEN.

HELEN.

>> GILL.

OH, GILL.

>> HELEN.

>> ILL. [ Laughter ] >> HELEN, IT'S FRIDAY.

AFTER WE GET OFF UTY TODAY, HOW ABOUT COMING WITH ME TO BRAINERD?

[ Laughter ] >> Cathy: OH, GILL, THAT SOUNDS SO ROMANTIC.

I HEAR THE WATER TEMPERATURE'S UP TO 74 NOW.

>> YEAH.

IT WILL BE EVEN HOTTER IN THE JACUZZI.

>> Eric: WHAT A BUNCH OF JERKS!

>> OH, HELEN, IT'S Dr. KIDNEY HARTMAN.

OUR SPORTS MEDICINE SPECIALIST.

>> Eric: WHITNEY, YOU COULDN'T OPERATE YOUR WAY OUT OF A PAPER BAG.

ALL YOU THINK ABOUT IS YOUR WEEKENDS OFF.

>> WELL, I NEED SOME TIMEOFF.

I'VE HAD A HEADACHE.

>> Eric: LIKE MY CLOSE PERSONAL FRIEND BUD GRANT ALWAYS SAID, THE GOOD ONES NEVER GET SICK.

♪♪ >> CATHY: AW, BOONE AND ERICKSON.

HARD TO BELIEVE THAT WAS ALREADY 15 YEARS AGO.

I REALLY MISS THOSE TWO.

IT'S TIME NOW FOR THE INTERACTIVE HISTORY PORTION OF THE PROGRAM.

OUR LAST QUESTION TOOK US BACK IN TIME TO THE SUMMER OF 2003.

WE TOLD YOU A CURRENT "MINNESOTAN" WAS IN TOWN 'PERFORMING' BEFORE A CROWD.

ON THE DAY IN QUESTION, HE OR SHE ACCOMPLISHED A CAREER "FIRST" AND IT BECAME PART OF THEIR ROOKIE YEAR RECORD-SETTING FEAT.

OUR MYSTERY PERSON WOULD RETURN TO MINNESOTA INTERMITTENTLY FOR NEARLY A DECADE, BUT DUE TO HEALTH ISSUES WOULD NEVER PERFORM AS WELL AS THEY DID IN THE SUMMER OF 2003.

15 YEARS LATER HE OR SHE BEGAN SPENDING SEVERAL MONTHS EACH YEAR HERE IN MINNESOTA.

WHICH IS WHY WE CAN CLAIM THEM AS OUR OWN.

OUR QUESTION FOR YOU WAS, WHO IS THIS MYSTERY "MINNESOTAN" AND WHAT DID HE OR SHE ACCOMPLISH IN THE TWIN CITIES IN JUNE OF 2003?

THESE NEXT FOUR CALLERS MISSED THE MARK, SOME OF THEM EVER SO SLIGHTLY.

>> CATHY: NO, ACTUALLY, JOE, YOU WERE ON THE RIGHT TRACK BUT HAD THE WRONG MANAGER.

AND WITH APOLOGIES TO YOU AND ALL OF OUR OTHER CALLERS, THE PRODUCER HAS A CONFESSION TO MAKE.

OUR PRODUCER DIDN'T MAKE THIS ONE EASY FOR ANY OF YOU.

BY TRUSTING A SECONDARY INTERNET SOURCE, THERE WAS AN ERROR IN THE DETAILS.

THE "FIRST" WE ASKED ABOUT HAPPENED IN APRIL OF 2003 AND NOT IN JUNE OF 2003.

ALAS, SHE PROMISES TO RETURN TO INDEX FILE SCHOOL AND BRUSH UP ON THOSE RESEARCH SKILLS.

THANK YOU TO LONGTIME VIEWER MITCHELL, THE POET, FOR SHOWING HER THE ERROR AND PENNING A RIGHT ANSWER POEM.

>> Cathy: MITCHELL, WELL DONE, YES, THANK YOU.

CURRENT TWINS MANAGER ROCCO BALDELLI WAS THE "MINNESOTAN" WE SOUGHT.

THERE HE IS IN HIS PLAYING DAYS FOR THE TAMPA BAY RAYS AND NOW AS THE TWINS SKIPPER.

BALDELLI'S HOME RUN SET A RECORD FOR MOST HITS BY A ROOKIE IN THE MONTH OF APRIL.

BUT HEALTH ISSUES WOULD DERAIL ROCCO'S PROMISING ON-FIELD CAREER.

QUICK TUNE-IN REMINDER FOR YOU BEFORE WE GO.

COMING UP RIGHT AFTER OUR CREDITS ROLL, TWIN CITIES VIEWERS CAN WATCH THE FIRST TWO EPISODES OF "EMPIRE BUILDER" AT 8:00 & 9:00 P.M. ON FRIDAY NIGHT ON TWIN CITIES PBS.

GREATER MINNESOTA VIEWERS CAN TUNE IN TO THE STATEWIDE MINNESOTA CHANNEL SUNDAY NIGHT AT 8:00 AND 9:00 P.M. WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH TIME FOR SOME SHOW-ENDING MUSIC.

IT WAS THIS WEEK BACK IN 2006 WHEN DAN ISRAEL AND THE CULTIVATORS STOPPED BY STUDIO B TO PLAY FOR US.

TAKE A LISTEN AND THANKS FOR JOINING US.

SEE YOU LATER.

♪ COME TO ME WHEN YOU NEED SOMEBODY ♪ ♪ COME TO ME WHEN YOU NEED SOMEONE ♪ ♪ PEOPLE WILL HELP IF YOU'RE LUCKY WHEN YOU'RE ON THE RUN ♪ ♪ EVERY DAY I LIVE RIGHT THROUGH IT ♪ ♪ THE INDIFFERENCE OF EVERYONE ♪ COME TO ME WHEN YOU STAND ALONE UNDER THE SUN ♪ ♪ AND ASKED ME, WHICH WAY I'M SUPPOSED TO GO ♪ ♪ DAYS, WEEKS AND MONTHS GO BY, WHERE I ON'T KNOW ♪ ♪ NOTHING UP FRONT IS MOVING ♪ ♪ I'M JUST A KID HERE ♪ >> "ALMANAC" IS A PRODUCTION CAPTIONED BY: VERITEXT/PARADIGM CAPTIONING WWW.VERITEXT.COM >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY• GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 27 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH WHILE ADVANCING SOCIAL EQUITIES.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

AND PAINTCARE: HELPING MINNESOTA PAINT SMARTER TO PREVENT WASTE.

MORE AT PAINTCARE.ORG.

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