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

>> CATHY: COMING UP ON "ALMANAC," KAOMI LEE HEADED TO COOK COUNTY TO MEET TWO SISTERS GIVING BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY.

WE JUST MIGHT MENTION THE 1991 HALLOWEEN BLIZZARD.

MOST OF THE HOUR WILL BE DEVOTED TO NEXT WEEK'S ELECTION, INCLUDING MARY LAHAMMER'S PREVIEW OF ONE OF TWO FEDERAL RACES ON EVERY MINNESOTA BALLOT THIS YEAR.

>> Mary: WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE USE SENATE RACE ABOUT SENATOR KLOBUCHAR COULD BE FACING HER TOUGHEST CONTEST IN YEARS AGAINST REPUBLICAN ROYCE WHITE.

>> THE FIRST MAN TO BE NOMINATED IN THE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

>> HIGHEST VOTER TURNOUT IN THE NATION.

>> 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.

"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 OUR REGION.

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

KAOMI LEE TRAVELED TO COOK COUNTY TO MEET TWO SISTERS WHO ARE PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO THEIR COMMUNITY.

SHELETTA BRUNDIDGE HAS A HOLIDAY ESSAY FOR US.

AND WE MIGHT MENTION THE 1991 HALLOWEEN BLIZZARD.

BUT WITH ELECTION DAY NEXT TUESDAY, WE WILL SPEND MOST OF THE HOUR TALKING POLITICS.

>> ERIC: WE START WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE.

WE'VE BEEN CHECKING IN REGULARLY WITH NATIONAL POLITICAL REPORTERS WHO HAVE MINNESOTA CONNECTIONS.

BACK TONIGHT IS JOHN MCCORMICK, A MINNESOTA NATIVE WHO WRITES FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL.

HE'S ALSO WORKED AT BLOOMBERG NEWS, THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE, THE DES MOINES REGISTER, AND THE ROCHESTER POST BULLETIN.

WELCOME BACK TO "ALMANAC," JOHN.

>> HEY, THANKS, GUYS.

I'M EXCITED FOR THAT 1991 BLIZZARD SEGMENTS.

I WAS A REPORTER AT THE ROCHESTER BULLETIN AND HAPPENED TO BE CHANGING APARTMENTS BECAUSE IT WAS OCTOBER 31.

I GOT INTO THE APARTMENT SO DIDN'T HAVE MUCH FOOD SO IT WAS QUITE AN ADVENTURE.

>> Cathy: I BET IT WAS.

>> Eric: GOING BACK TO THE CAMPAIGN, ALL THE TALK ABOUT GARBAGE AND PUERTO RICO AND PRESIDENT TRUMP NOT SURROUNDING HIMSELF WITH STRONG, INTELLIGENT WOMEN.

HOW DO YOU REPORTERS PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT GAFF TO REPORT ON?

>> YEAH, THERE IS A LOT TO CHOOSE FROM AND OFTENTIMES, A LOT OF THEM COME LATE AT NIGHT SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, FOR A NEWSPAPER, THAT'S NOT IDEAL TIMING BUT, YEAH, THERE'S BEEN A LOT TO CHOOSE FROM.

I WAS LOOKING AT ALL THE POLITICAL ADVERTISING THIS WEEK, TOO, KIND OF SEEING HOW MUCH OF IT IS NEGATIVE, OW MUCH OF IT IS POSITIVE, HOW MUCH OF IT IS CONTRASTING ADS AND, BOY, A LOT OF IT IS NEGATIVE.

I FORGET THE EXACT STATISTIC BUT SOMETHING LIKE 40% OF ALL ADS ARE NEGATIVE, AND REPUBLICANS ARE UNNING A FEW MORE NEGATIVE ADS THAN THE DEMOCRATS ARE.

>> Cathy: BUT THEY SAY THAT NEGATIVE ADS WORK, THOUGH, RIGHT?

SO -- I'M WONDERING, GIVEN THE NUISANCE EVERYTHING, AND WITH JUST DAYS TO GO, CAN YOU GLEAN AS TO WHICH CAMP MAY HAVE THE MOMENTUM AT THIS POINT?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, THIS IS MY 7th PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

I DON'T THINK I CAN REMEMBER ONE THAT HAS BEEN THIS CLOSE IN THE POLLS HERE IN THE HOME STRETCH.

YOU GUYS, YOU KNOW, GO BACK A WAYS, TOO.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN THINK OF ANY THAT HAVE BEEN REALLY THIS CLOSE.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, TRUMP DID DEFINITELY HAVE SOME MOMENTUM IN MID-OCTOBER.

NOW, WHETHER THAT HAS SLOWED DOWN OR NOT, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW.

HARRIS HAS HAD SEVERAL GOOD DAYS HERE, THE LAST FEW.

TRUMP HAS HAD A FEW BAD DAYS, DISTRACTIONS, THINGS THAT PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, HIS CAMPAIGN MANAGERS REALLY WISH HE HAD NOT SAID.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE SHOCK VALUE FOR RUMP IS SO HIGH AT THIS POINT, I MEAN, PEOPLE DISMISS SOME OF THE MOST OUTLANDISH THINGS THAT HE SAYS BECAUSE WE'VE ALL SORT OF BECOME NORMALIZED TO IT SO HOW MUCH OF THIS STUFF AT THE END WILL AFFECT HIM IS JUST REALLY HARD TO KNOW.

BUT I THINK ANYBODY WHO TELLS YOU -- ANYBODY WHO TELLS YOU THEY KNOW HOW THIS RACE IS GOING TO TURN OUT, DON'T BELIEVE THEM BECAUSE I JUST DON'T THINK THERE'S NY WAY TO REALLY KNOW.

WE DO THINK THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A BETTER GROUND GAME THAN THE REPUBLICANS BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S REALLY HARD TO QUANTIFY.

>> Eric: ACCURACY AT THE POLLS, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I WOULDN'T BET A LOT ON IT.

THERE'S THIS HISTORY OF UNDERESTIMATING TRUMP AG SUPPORTS, AT LEAST THERE WAS IN 2016 AND IN 2018 AND 2022, SOME OF THE DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT WAS OVER-ESTIMATED SO I THINK IT'S JUST REALLY HARD FOR POLLSTERS TO NAIL THESE THINGS.

YOU GOT TO REMEMBER THE MARGIN OF ERROR AND IN SOME OF THESE BATTLE GROUND STATES, THE SURVEY SIZE IS LIKE 600 PEOPLE.

IT'S NOT A BIG SURVEY TO BEGIN WITH, IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE TO DO POLLING AND THERE IS, YOU KNOW, SOME QUALITY POLLING OUT THERE BUT THERE IS A LOT OF GARBAGE POLLING OUT THERE, TOO, SO LOOK AT THE POLLING FOR TREND LINES BUT DON'T THINK THAT IT'S NECESSARILY GOING TO BE PREDICTIVE.

>> Cathy: HOW LATE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO WORK ON TUESDAY?

WHEN MIGHT WE GET THE RESULTS, DO YOU THINK?

>> WELL, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S REALLY EXPECTING THE RESULTS TO BE AVAILABLE BY TUESDAY NIGHT.

NOW, IS SOMETHING LIKE 3:00 IN THE MORNING ON WEDNESDAY POSSIBLE, PERHAPS.

BUT I KNOW OUR NEWS ORGANIZATION IS BUILDING IN THE POSSIBILITY THAT IT COULD COME AS LATE AS IT DID IN 2020, WHICH WOULD BE SAT, AFTER THE ELECTION AND THAT OES NOT SEEM, YOU KNOW, LIKE IT'S UNLIKELY, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S VERY CLOSE.

WE, LIKE MOST NEWS ORGANIZATIONS, DEPEND ON THE ASSOCIATED PRESS TO CALL THE RACE, YOU KNOW, AND CALL PARTICULAR STATES, AND, YOU KNOW, I KNOW LOTS OF FOLKS OVER AT THE .P., THEY'RE GOING TO BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS THIS TIME SO I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S GOING TO RUSH TO MAKE THESE CALLS.

ONE OF MY PREVIOUS EMPLOYERS, THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE WAS FAMOUSLY KNOWN FOR THE DEWEW DESTREETS TRUE MAY BE HEADLINE AND WE ALWAYS HAD A TALK ON ELECTION NIGHT, DON'T RACE TO MAKE THE CALLS BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO BE THE DEWEY BEATS TRUE MAN AGAIN.

>> Eric: HOW MANY PERSUADABLES ARE OUT THERE IN THE SWING STATES, A FEW PERCENT OR FEWER?

>> IN THE PARKING LOTS AND CAM PAGE EVENT, IT'S HARD TO FIND PEOPLE BUT THAT'S WHAT THE POLLS INDICATE, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 4 TO 6% IS MAYBE UNDECIDED OR NOT ABSOLUTELY DECIDED.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE EARLIER QUESTION ABOUT SORT OF WHO HAS THE MOMENTUM, WHO IS MAKING GRAFFS AT THIS LAST MINUTE, THAT COULD MATTER TO THOSE THREE, FOUR, FIVE% OF PEOPLE.

>> Eric: WE'VE SURE ENJOYED HAVING YOU ONLY AIR.

WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME.

WE KNOW YOU'RE BUSY.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

BYE-BYE.

>> Cathy: THANKS, JOHN.

♪♪ >> THE PUBLIC IS REALLY WHAT'S WRONG WITH TELEVISION.

THEY EXPECT TOO MUCH FROM IT.

IT'S A LOUSY HOME APPLIANCE YOU BUY FOR $500.

YOU ADVERTISE ITS OVER FIVE YEARS.

COSTS YOU $100 A YEAR.

NOW, YOU CAN'T TELL ME THAT YOU DON'T GET $100 A YEAR ENJOYMENT OF THAT SET.

THE PROBLEM IS WHEN YOU THINK ARE GOING TO GET $100 A NIGHT AND IT'S NOT THERE.

NOBODY GETS THOSE KIND OF ODDS.

EVERYBODY SITS AROUND, TALK ABOUT THE TELEVISION SET.

NOBODY -- YOU PAID LESS FOR THAT THAN YOU PAID FOR THE COUCH.

YOU DON'T SIT AROUND TALKING ABOUT YOUR COUCH ALL THE TIME.

♪♪ >> CATHY: OUR NEXT CONVERSATION -- YOU GUESSED IT -- PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS AND MORE WITH TWO OF OUR POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSORS.

KATHRYN PEARSON TEACHES STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

AMONG HER SPECIALITIES, U.S. CONGRESS, WOMEN IN POLITICS AND ELECTIONS.

DAVID SCHULTZ IS HERE.

HE TEACHES POLITICS AT HAMLINE UNIVERSITY AND IS AN ADJUNCT LAW PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS.

WELL, HERE WE ARE.

WE'VE MADE IT TO ALMOST THE FINISH LINE HERE SO -- THERE IS A LOT TO TALK ABOUT HERE.

SAY, I KEEP HEARING PROFESSOR PEARSON, THAT THE SMART PEOPLE THINK THERE COULD BE A DOUBLE FLIP IN CONGRESS?

>> WELL, BOTH CHAMBERS HAVE VERY, VERY NARROW MAJORITIES SO IN THE SENATE, DEMOCRATS HAVE 51 SEATS TO EPUBLICANS' 49.

AND IN THE HOUSE, REPUBLICANS HAVE A 4-SEAT MAJORITY.

BUT IN THE SENATE, DEMOCRATS ARE STRUCTURALLY DISADVANTAGED SO A THIRD OF ALL SENATE SEATS ARE UP THIS CYCLE AND OF THOSE, 34 THAT ARE UP,-THIRDS ARE HELD BY DEMOCRATS AND WE ALREADY KNOW THAT WEST VIRGINIA IS GOING TO FLIP FROM A DEMOCRATLY HEALED SEAT TO A REPUBLICAN SEAT.

MONTANA LOOKS LIKE INCUMBENT JOHN TESTER WILL LIKELY BE DEFEATED SO THAT WILL PROBABLY FLIP.

NOW, THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPETITIVE SEATS, SHEER ROAD BROWN IS ALSO TRYING TO HANG ON TO A REPUBLICAN STATE.

OF OHIO.

BUT TED CRUZ IS LOOKING A LITTLE BIT MORE VULNERABLE AND TEXAS, YOU KNOW, FLORIDA IS SORT OF IN PLAY BUT I THINK THE ODDS RE THAT THE SENATE WILL FLIP AND IN THE HOUSE, THERE'S SO MANY COMPETITIVE SEATS IN NEW YORK AND CALIFORNIA, THERE ARE ABOUT 24 TOSS-UPS TOTAL OUT OF 435.

SO, YOU KNOW, NOT A LOT IN TERMS OF THE PERSONNEL OF THE HOUSE BUT 24 SEATS WITH THE CURRENT FOUR-SEAT MARGIN MEANS THAT IT REALLY IS IN PLAY.

>> Eric: FIVE IN CALIFORNIA, 4 N.NEW YORK STATE WHERE REPUBLICANS ARE HOLDING BIDEN DISTRICTS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Eric: IS THAT THE WAY TO SAY IT?

>> YES.

>> Eric: THERE'S SO MUCH DYSFUNCTION IN WASHINGTON PEOPLE MIGHT SAY WHO CARES WHO HAS THE NARROW MARGIN IN THE HOUSE?

>> THEY MIGHT SAY THAT BUT AT THE ENDS OF THE DAY, IT'S IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF WHO GETS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE IF YOU GET A TRIFECTA AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, IT COULD HAVE CONSEQUENCES BUT I'M GOING TO VENTURE AND SAY THAT UNLESS SOMETHING TOTALLY HAPPENS THAT'S TOTALLY UNEXPECTED, THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A TRIFECTA AND NO ONE'S GOING TO GET 60 VOTES IN THE SENATE AND THE REASON WHY I MENTION THAT IS THAT I WILL ALMOST GUARANTEE YOU THAT WHATEVER HAPPENS AFTER ELECTION DAY, IF YOU LIKE THE WORKED GRIDLOCK, IT'S STILL GOING TO BE THERE.

IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY HARD TO SORT OF MOVE ANYTHING BECAUSE ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER IS JUST NOT GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH TO BREAK, YOU KNOW, FILIBUSTERS IN THE SENATE.

>> Cathy: SAY, GETTING BEYOND CONGRESS HERE, I WONDER, GIVEN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE, BOTH IDES ARE LAWYERED UP AT THIS POINT, RIGHT?

I MEAN, WHAT KIND OF MOVES TO DE-CERTIFY OR OTHER THINGS COULD OCCUR IN THE ELECTIONS?

>> THIS IS THE REALLY INTERESTING PART RIGHT NOW.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT HAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CLOSING TWO WEEKS, WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING AT THIS POINT SIGNAL HARRIS CAMPAIGN IS PUTTING A LOT INTO GET OUT THE VOTE, THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN IS PUTTING A LOT INTO PRE-ELECTION LITIGATION.

THAT MIGHT TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT RELATIVELY SPEAKING WHERE THEY THINK THEIR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES ARE AND WHAT THEIR STRATEGIES ARE.

TO ME, LOOK AT THE MONEY, WHERE IT'S GOING.

>> BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT HARRIS HAS A BIG LEAD IN CAMPAIGN FINANCE COMPARED TO TRUMP.

USUALLY WE SEE THE TWO PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS BEING ROUGHLY EQUAL BUT HERE THEY'RE REALLY NOT AT ALL, SO HARRIS HAS A BIG LEAD IN FUNDRAISING WHICH IS ALLOWING HER TO MOBILIZE VOTERS WITH GET OUT THE VOTE EFFORTS AND THEN ESPECIALLY RUN ADS LIKE IN PENNSYLVANIA, WHERE THEY'RE SEEING RECORD NUMBER OF ADS IN A PRESIDENTIAL YEAR.

>> Eric: 65 MILLION EARLY VOTES CAST NATION-WIDES.

>> YEAH.

>> Eric: THAT SEEMS ENORMOUS TO ME.

>> IT IS ENORMOUS BUT THIS IS THE TREND WE'RE SEEK SINCE THE PANDEMIC AT THIS POINT.

WHAT'S ALSO I THINK TO THINK ABOUT HERE IS UNLIKE FOUR YEARS AGO WHERE TRUMP WAS DISSUADING EARLY VOTING, WHAT WE'RE NOW SEEING IS TRUMP MAYBE HALF-HEARTEDLY BUT STILL SAYING GET OUT AND VOTE AND IF ANYBODY IS TRYING TO DIVINE ANY WISDOM, MY STUDENTS ARE GOING NUTS, THEY'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT ALL THE DIFFERENT STAKES AND SAY WHAT DOES THE EARLY VOTING TELL YOU.

IT'S NOT TELLING US A HECK OF A LOT OF THING.

>> I AGREE.

IN TERMS OF REDUCING COSTS OF VOTING FOR CITIZENS ODD THERE, IT'S GREAT THAT EARLY VOTING IS UP BUT YOU CAN'T TELL WHAT THAT MINES FOR WHO IS AHEAD.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE POLLS?

WE JUST HAD OUR FRIENDS JOHN McCORMICK SAY HE WOULDN'T BET ON THE ACCURACY OF THE POLLS.

>> I THINK THE POLLS TELL US THIS IS VERY COMPETITIVE RACE AND THE SEVEN STATES WE'RE WATCHING, NECK AND NECK BECAUSE THEY'RE IN THE MARGIN OF ERROR.

BUT I WOULDN'T READ A POLL THAT SAYS HARRIS AS A 1% LIED OR TRUMP HAS A 1% LEAD AND KNEEL THAT IS AN ACCURATE NUMBER.

>> Eric: IS THIS BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN?

>> WHAT'S SO INTERESTING ABOUT THIS RACE IS GENDER AND THE GENDER GAP IS SUCH A PROMINENT PARENT OF I WOULD BUT NOT BECAUSE HARRIS IS TALKING ABOUT IT.

IT BECAUSE THE APPEALS TO YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN AND SORT OF TRYING ON ONE SIDE TO INCREASE THE GENDER GAP AND OTHER OTHER TO MITIGATE IT AND WE'VE REALLY NEVER SEEN SO MANY APPEALS TO YOUNG MEN.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SOCCER MOMS AND SORTS OF SUBURBAN MOMS AND WOMEN AS BEING SORT OF THE TARGETS OF BOTH CAMPAIGNS BUT IN THIS CYCLE, E'RE REALLY SEEING YOUNG MEN.

>> THE REASON WHY WE'RE SEEING THAT IS FIRST OFF, THE MILLENIAL AND GEN Z04% OF THE ELECTORATE.

AACROSS THE BOARD FOR THEM, THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO VOTE DEMOCRAT, IF THEY VOTE.

ONE NOTABLE EXCEPTION, WHITE NON-COLLEGE MALES WITHOUT A DEGREE ARE -- WE'RE LOOKING AT DO YOU BELIEVE MOBILIZATIONS.

HARRIS WANTS TO MOBILIZE EVERYBODY WHO'S UNDER THE AGE OF 30, EXCEPT WHITE CAUCASIAN MAN WITHOUT A WHELMING DEGREE.

TRUMP WANTS TO MOBILIZE THOSE PEOPLE SO WHO'S GOING TO BE MORE SUCCESSFUL WITH THOSE.

I'VE BEEN SAYING FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS, WHOEVER CAN MOBILIZE THEIR BLOCK OF YOUNG VOTERS BETTER IS GOING TO WIN THE ELECTION.

>> WHAT'S SO NTERESTING ABOUT THIS IS UNTIL 2016, WHITE VOTERS WITHOUT COLLEGE DEGREES SPLIT ROUGHLY EQUALLY AND IN 2016, THEY BROKE HEAVILY FOR TRUMP AND THAT TRENDS HAS REALLY CONTINUED, AND SO THAT IS BOTH A CAUSE OF PART OF THE PROBLEMS WITH POLLING IS TRYING TO SORT OF FIGURE OUT THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE ELECTORATE AND WHICH GROUPS GO FOR WHOM AND IT'S CHANGED ND ALSO CHANGED THE STRATEGY, AS WELL.

>> I WANT TO THROW ONE MORE THING IN HERE.

IF WE WERE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION TWO YEARS AGO, WE WOULD ALL SAY WHETHER IT WAS TRUMP VERSUS INTO O.BIDEN, IT WAS DEAD EVEN IN THE NATIONAL POLLS AND PRETTY CLOSE IN THE SWING STATES.

GUESS WHAT, TWO YEARS LATER, EVEN THOUGH WE'VE SWITCHED OUT CANDIDATES, THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE.

THIS SPEAKS TO THE INTENSE POLARIZATION AND HOW NEW PEOPLE THERE ARE WHO ARE TRULY UNDECIDED.

>> Eric: YOU TWO HAVE GIVEN US GREAT STUFF URING THE CAMPAIGN.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND SERVES.

>> Eric: YOU'LL BE BACK AFTER.

>> Eric: YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE LAST OF US.

THANKS.

>> Cathy: THANKS.

>> AS A GHOST -- AND NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN MOTHER'S COMMITTEE, I URGE YOU TO VOTE.

I'LL SEE YOU AT THE POLLS.

♪♪ >> ERIC: LAST MONTH MARKED THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE HAMAS ATTACKS THAT KILLED 1,200 CIVILIANS IN ISRAEL AND SAW OVER 250 PEOPLE TAKEN HOSTAGE.

THE ENSUING CONFLICT HAS WIDENED ACROSS THE REGION WITH THE PALESTINIAN DEATH TOLL IN GAZA CONTINUING TO CLIMB PAST 40,000 WITH NO EVIDENCE OF AN IMMEDIATE CEASE FIRE.

HERE WITH US NOW, NATHAN STOCK IS A NON-RESIDENT SCHOLAR AT THE MIDDLE EAST INSTITUTE.

HE IS AN EXPERT ON THE MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT WHO HAS LIVED IN BOTH THE GAZA STRIP AND ISRAEL.

WELCOME BACK TO "ALMANAC."

WHY HAS WORLD WAR III HE RESULTED THERE?

WHAT'S HOLDING IT BACK?

>> IT'S GOOD WE HAVEN'T SEEN WORLD WAR III YET BUT WE ARE SEEING AN EXPANDING REGIONAL CONFLICT.

WE'VE SEEN ISRAEL INVADE LEBANON IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, AFTER A YEAR OF CROSS-BORDER SHELLING BETWEEN ISRAEL AND LEBANON.

WE'VE ALSO NOW SEEN REPEATED OCCASIONS OF DIRECT STRIKES BETWEEN ISRAEL AND IRAN, WHICH WAS A LINE THAT HADN'T BEEN CROSSED, YOU KNOW, INDEX KIDS UNTIL ERY RECENTLY AND IS QUITE CONCERNING.

SO I WOULDN'T -- I WOULDN'T UNDERSTATE THE SERIOUS THAT'S OF HE REGIONAL ESCALATION.

I DO THINK IRAN HAS AN INTEREST IN CONTAINING THIS.

I DON'T THINK THEY WANT A WIDER WAR WITH ISRAEL, I DON'T THINK THEY CAN AFFORD IT.

THE U.S. ALSO CERTAINLY HAS AN EXHIBIT IN TRYING TO CONTAIN THIS BUT IT'S ALREADY ESCALATED WELL BEYOND WHAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WANTED.

>> Cathy: I'M WONDERING HERE, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE DEATH TOLL.

CAN YOU PUT IT INTO SOME CONTEXT IN MODERN HISTORY AT ALL?

>> THE CIVILIAN DEATH TOLL IN GAZA IS UNLIKE ANYTHING WE'VE SEEN ESSENTIALLY IN 21st CENTURY WARFARE, RIGHT?

I MEAN, AT A MINIMUM, IN A YEAR OF FIGHTING IN THIS TINY TERRITORY, THERE ARE 16,000 CONFIRMED DEAD WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

THAT'S NOT ALL HE CIVILIANS, JUST WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

FOR CONTEXT, IN 20 YEARS OF FIGHTING IN AFGHANISTAN, THE U.S. AND OUR ALLIES KILLED APPROXIMATELY 12,400 CIVILIANS.

IN 20 YEARS.

IN ONE YEAR, 16,000 WOMEN AND CHILDREN, WHICH IS A SMALL PORTION OF THE OVERALL TOTAL OF CIVILIAN DEATHS.

>> Eric: HERE'S WHAT I WANT TO KNOW, SOMETHING I FOUND OUT THIS WEEK.

APPARENTLY NOVEMBER 13th IS A BIG DAY, THAT'S WHEN ISRAEL IS SUPPOSED TO TELL THE U.S. THAT IT'S STEPPING UP ITS HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS IN GAZA AT THE RISK OF LOSING USE MILITARY AID AND WEAPON ON RE?

THAT'S GOING TO COME DURING THE TRANSITION OF THE WHITE HOUSE?

THAT SEEMS FRAUGHT WITH ISSUES.

>> WELL, WE'LL SEE.

I MEAN, IT'S -- IT'S IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO BE CRITICAL OF THE WAY PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS HANDLED ALL OF THIS.

ON THE ONE HAND, WE HAVE THIS HORRIFYING HUMANITARIAN CRISIS AND INCREASINGLY A REGIONAL WAR AND IN THE MIDST OF ALL THIS, WHILE PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS PURSUED CEASE FIRE TALKS, THE U.S. IS ENGAGED IN THAT DIPLOMATIC EFFORT, THERE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN NO MEANINGFUL EFFORT TO USE WHAT LEVERAGE THE U.S. HAS OVER ISRAEL AS ITS PREDOMINANT SUPPLIER OF ARMS.

ACCORDING TO A BROWN UNIVERSITY STUDY, IN THIS PAST YEAR, WE GAVE $18 BILLION WORTH OF MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO ISRAEL.

NOW, I THINK ASSISTANCE TO HELP ISRAEL DEFEND ITSELF IS ONE THING BUT WHEN ISRAEL CONTINUES TO USE U.S.

WEAPONS IN WAYS THAT RE CLEARLY HARMING CIVILIANS, THAT'S A HUGE PROBLEM.

THE "WASHINGTON POST" REPORTED EARLIER THIS WEEK THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT IS INVESTIGATING 500 DIFFERENT INSTANCES WHERE THEY HAVE EVIDENCE THAT OUR WEAPONS HARMED CIVILIANS AND YET WE HAVEN'T STOPPED THE FLOW OF THOSE WEAPONS.

>> Cathy: DEPENDING UPON WHO'S IN THE HITE HOUSE, ONCE THIS ELECTION IS ALL SAID AND DONE, WE HAVE SOME TRACK RECORD OF WHAT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP DID IN THE MIDDLE EGGS.

WHAT ABOUT HIM, IF HE WINS, BUT WHAT IF KAMALA HARRIS IF SHE WINS?

>> I WOULD BE MORE CONCERNED FOR THE TRA JECTLY OF THIS CONFLICT IF PRESIDENT TRUMP COMES BACK TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

HE WAS RECENTLY DESCRIBED IN THIS EZRA KLEIN PIECE THAT GOT A LOT OF NOTORIETY AS BEING UNINHIBITED.

HE'S AN UNCONSTRAINED KIND OF GUY.

YOU COULD SEE THAT IN THE WAY HE ADDRESSED THIS CONFLICT WHEN HE WAS IN OFFICE.

>> Eric: THE ABRAHAM ACCORDS.

>> THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

HE GAVE IN TO ISRAEL'S MOST EXTREME DEMANDS AT THAT TIME.

PRESIDENT TRUMP REFERENCED ISRAEL'S ILLEGAL AND UNILATERAL AN EXATION OF JERUSALEM AND HE RECOGNIZED THEIR ANNEXATION OF SYRIAN TERRITORY IN THE GOLAN HEIGHTS.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT THAT MEANS.

THE U.N. CHARTER SAYS, YOU CAN'T INVADE OTHER COUNTRIES AND TAKE THEIR STUFF.

U.S. PRESIDENTS FROM LYNN DONE JOHNSON UNTIL DONALD TRUMP, DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN, WE ALL SAID, WE DON'T RECOGNIZE THAT.

YOU CAN'T O THAT.

YOU CAN'T INVADE TERRITORY AND TAKE IT.

DONALD TRUMP LETTER MIZED THAT.

HE GAVE IN TO THEIR MAXIMALIST DEMANDS AT THAT TIME.

THE MAXIMAL DEMANDS OF THE CURRENT ISRAELI GOVERNMENT ARE FAR MORE RADICAL.

THIS GOVERNMENT IS FAULKING ABOUT REESTABLISHING SETTLEMENT IN THE GAZA STRIP THAT IT DISMANTLED 20 YEARS AGO.

>> Eric: HOW ABOUT A QUICK PREDICTION ON HOW KAMALA HARRIS MIGHT HANDLE IT?

>> SHE WON'T DO THAT.

SHE'S MUCH MORE LIKELY TO AT LEAST PUT SOME GUARDRAILS IN AND IF PRESIDENT TRUMP IS THERE, I THINK YOU'LL SEE MORE SUFFERING ON BOTH SIDES.

>> Eric: WISH WEDNESDAY MORE TIME BUT WE DON'T.

APPRECIATE YOU COMING OVER.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU SO MUCH, PROFESSOR.

>> >> GOOD TO BE HERE.

♪ [Laughter] >> OH, WELL, WHAT I MEANT.

HALLOWEEN IS OVER.

IT'S NOVEMBER.

WHICH MEANS IT'S ALMOST TIME FOR MY MOTHER TO COME VISIT ME FOR THANKSGIVING AND HAT MEANS I NEED A -- A MY MOMMA'S COMING TO VISIT FOR THANKSGIVING DEEP CLEANING OF MY HOUSE.

LET ME CHECK THE CALENDAR.

YEP.

IT'S NOVEMBER, ALL RIGHT.

THAT MEANS SWEEPING AND MOPPING AIN'T GOING TO BE GOOD ENOUGH FOR MA'AM AI GOT TO TAKE A TOOTH BRUSH TO THESE BASEBOARDS.

WHEN MY MOTHER COMES TO VISIT ME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, SHE'S LOOKING TO MAKE SURE MY ENTIRE HOUSE IS CLEAN, AND THIS VACUUM CLEANER IS NOT GETTING UP EVERY SINGLE SPOT, THAT MEANS I GOTTA DO IT.

I CAN'T MISS ONE.

SHE'LL SEE IT.

KNOWING THAT Y HIM MOMMA IS GOING TO BE HERE TO INSPECT EVERY SINGLE PART OF MY HOUSE TO MAKE SURE IT'S SANITARY, I HAVE TO CLEAN PLACES I DON'T NORMALLY CLEAN, LIKE THE INSIDE OF THE WASHING MACHINE.

IT'S NOT JUST GOOD ENOUGH TO CLEAN THE INSIDE OF THE REFRIGERATOR, I HAVE TO CLEAN OFF THE TOP, EVEN THOUGH SHE'S ABOUT 5-II, YOU NEVER KNOW WITH THOSE SPEAKER MOM VISION X-RAY EYES, SHE MIGHT BE ABLE TO SEE UP HERE.

OH, NO, I THINK THAT'S HER.

SHE'S COMING AND I HAVEN'T EVEN FINISHED CLEANING MY ROOM YET.

I DON'T WANT HER TO TAKE MY IPAD AND PUT ME ON PUSH.

FOR USING THE PHONE.

OH-OH, THAT'S THE DOORBELL.

WISH ME LUCK.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> ERIC: ACCORDING TO THE 2020 U.S. CENSUS, COOK COUNTY HAD 5,900 HOUSING UNITS.

MORE THAN HALF OF THEM WERE VACANT; IN OTHER WORDS, SEASONAL OR SECOND HOMES.

THE COUNTY IS A VACATION DESTINATION AND HOSTS MORE THAN A MILLION VISITORS A YEAR.

HOWEVER, THAT DEMAND FOR HOUSING HAS MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR YEAR-ROUND WORKERS TO FIND HOUSING.

REPORTER KAOMI LEE MET TWO SISTERS IN GRAND MARAIS WHO ARE TRYING TO HELP CHANGE THAT.

[KNOCKING] >> HEY, I'M KAOMI FROM TPT.

>> I'M MARIAH.

>> THEY'RE USED TO BEING OUTLIERS SHE NOT ONLY ARE THE SISTERS IDENTICAL TWINS.

WHO'S OLDER?

I AM, BY 20 MINUTES.

>> THEY GREW UP IN NEARBY GRAND PORTAGE AND WERE ABLE TO BUY A HOME IN GRAND MARAIS.

>> USUALLY IF THERE IS SOMEWHERE TO RENT THAT'S ADVERTISED, IT'S GONE WITHIN, LIKE, A DAY, BUT THAT'S STILL TO PEOPLE WHO CAN ACTUALLY AFFORD IT BECAUSE THE RENT IS USUALLY OVER $2,000 AND THAT'S A LOT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN.

>> THE YOUNG WOMEN MOVED INTO THEIR THREE-BEDROOM, ONE-BATH HOME NEARLY TWO YEARS AGO.

THEY SAY THEY AGREE ON MOST EVERYTHING.

>> FOR THE MOST PART, WE GET ALONG ALL THE TIME.

>> INCLUDING KEEPING THEIR HOME OBSESSIVELY CLEAN.

>> I THINK IT'S GOTTEN WORSE AS WE'VE GOTTEN OLDER.

>> THEIR BRAND-NEW HOME AND MILLION-DOLLAR VIEW OF LAKE SUPERIOR COST THEM $300,000.

THEIR MONTHLY MORTGAGE PAYMENT IS JUST OVER $2,000 A MONTH, WHICH THEY SPLIT.

THEY SAVED FOR A DOWN PAYMENT BY SOCKING AWAY THEIR PAYCHECKS AND LIVING AT HOME WITH THEIR PARENTS.

THEY CONSIDER THEMSELVES LUCKY.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE AREN'T ABLE TO STAY HERE BECAUSE THERE'S NOWHERE TO LIVE AND TO AFFORD A HOUSE, ESPECIALLY A BRAND-NEW ONE, YOU'D PROBABLY HAVE TO GET, LIKE, AT LEAST TWO JOBS.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF OPEN POSITIONS N SEVERAL DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS BUT IF WE GET TRAVEL, LIKE CNAs OR NURSES, THEY, LIKE, WANT TO EXTEND BUT THEY HAVE NOWHERE TO STAY, LIKE NOWHERE TO RENT.

>> HOUSING IN GRAND MARAIS HAS BEEN IN SHORT SUPPLY FOR DECADES.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW AN ANSWER, DON'T ASK US QUESTIONS, THAT'S IND OF HOW WE'RE KNOWN BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR IT.

>> WHEN SISTERS ANNA AND SARAH HAMPTON MOVED HER DECADES AGO, THEY PAID $200 A MONTH FOR A CABIN ON THE GUNFLINT TRAIL.

>LUCKY WERE WE.

BUT THAT MOVED AWAY, AS SOON AS PEOPLE FOUND OUT THEY COULD MAKE A LOT OF MONEY RENTING OUT THEIR CABIN, THEY DID THAT.

>> THE LONG-TIME RESIDENTS AND RESTAURANT OWNERS DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING.

THE LACK OF WORKFORCE HOUSING MEANT WORKERS WERE WORKING TWO OR THREE JOBS AND SHARING LIVING SPACE.

PEOPLE OF ALL AGES WERE GETTING PRICED OUT OF THEIR HOMETOWN.

>> THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT COME HERE NEED TO BE SERVICED SO THAT MEANS HE BLUE COLLAR LITTLE GUY, THAT'S WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN, SO THEY'RE AT THE GAS STATIONS AND LITTLE RESTAURANTS AND THE GROCERY STORES AND THE GIFT SHOPS, EVEN THE HOSPITALS AND THE SCHOOLS.

>> THEY STARTED WITH A ONE-BEDROOM HOUSE.

>> WE HAD A WOMAN APPROACH US AND SAID IF YOU WERE A NONPROFIT, I WOULD GIVE YOU $100,000 AND WE JUST ABOUT FELL OVER.

>> AND HAMILTON HABITAT WAS HATCHED.

NOW ON THEIR 9TH HOME, THEY GET THE TERMS AT COST FROM ANNA'S EMPLOYER.

THEY HIRE THE LABOR AND DO A LOT OF THE FINISHING WORK THEMSELVES.

THEY FIND RARE PLOTS IN TOWN BY GOOD OLD ABSOLUTING.

>> IN THE WINTER, I GO THROUGH THE TAX ROLLS AND WRITE PEOPLE.

IF THERE IS A LOT OF LAND NOT BUILD ON AND I JUST ASK THEM IF THEY'RE INTERESTED IN SELLING AND THE LAST TWO HOMES WE DID LAST YEAR, THAT'S HOW I GOT THAT LOT.

>> THE HAMILTONS' TWO NEW HOMES A YEAR AREN'T GOING TO SOLVE ALL OF COOK COUNTY'S AFFORDABLE AND WORKFORCE HOUSING NEEDS BUT MANY IN THE COMMUNITY SAY, EVERY HOME COUNTS.

>> WE DON'T HAVE A VACANCY RATE SO THAT'S ONE OF THE CHALLENGES HERE.

>> A STUDY SAYS COOK COUNTY NEEDS UP TO 600 UNITS BY THE ENDS OF 026.

THIS HOUSING PROJECT IS THE FIRST NEW DEVELOPMENT IN A QUARTER CENTURY.

51 APARTMENT UNITS, ABOUT HALF WILL HAVE INCOME CAPS.

IT'S BUILD ON LAND ACQUIRED FROM THE CITY.

HILL SAYS 100 MORE REA UNITS ARE IN THE PIPELINE.

SOME BLAME SHORT-TERM VACATION RENTALS FOR THE LACK OF WORKFORCE HOUSING.

HEALTH SAYS IT'S NOT THE FULL STORY.

>> EVERY UNIT THAT'S NOT BEING USED FOR SINGLE FAMILY HAT COULD BE IS A NET LOSS, SO TO SPEAK, OF THE UNITS FOR HOUSING.

HOWEVER, IT'S ACTUALLY ABOUT GIVE OR TAKE TEN, 15% OF THE NUMBER OF HOUSES THAT ARE ACTUALLY SEASONAL OR SECONDS HOMES.

SO, IN OTHER WORDS, THERE'S LIKE 2500 PLUS SEASONAL PROPERTIES THAT COULD BE POTENTIALLY FULL-TIME HOMES.

>> BY COMPARISON, THE COUNTY SAYS THERE ARE 365 SHORT-TERM RENTAL PROPERTIES, EXCLUDING GRAND MARAIS.

SARAH HAMILTON OWNS AND MANAGES TRAIL CENTER, A FIXTURE ON THE GUNFLINT TRAIL.

SHE ALSO HAS A NONPROFIT CALLED ONE SPIRIT.

IT MENTORS LAKOTA YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE PINE RIDGE RESERVATION IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

>> WE JUST PURCHASED, WITH DONATION ATTENTION, A FOOD TRUCK FOR THE KIDS I HAVE WORKING HERE NOW.

THEY'RE GOING TO TRAIN ON IT NEXT YEAR AND THEN TAKE IT HOME TO THE RESERVATION WITH HIM AND HAVE THEIR OWN JOBS.

>> AND ANNA HAS FUTURE PLANS, TOO, INCLUDING CREATING A VILLAGE OF WORKFORCE HOUSING.

>> THE BICEST THING FOR US AND I SPEAK FOR YOU IS THAT PEOPLE TRUST US, TO HAVE COMPLETE STRANGERS SEARCHED US MONEY BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN WHAT WE DO IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPLIMENTS OF MY LIFE.

>> LOCALS SAY THE COMMUNITY HAS EMBRACED THESE IOWAN TRANSPLANTS AND THE WORK THEY'RE DOING.

>> HARD WORKERS, STRAIGHT-SHOOTERS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GUESS BUT VERY MUCH LOVE.

PEOPLE RESPECT THEM.

I'M GLAD THEY'RE ERE.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> CATHY: WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE OUR SHORT BREAK FROM POLITICS TONIGHT AND TURN TO ONE OF MY FAVORITE TOPICS, THE WEATHER!

YOU DIDN'T THINK WE WOULD END TONIGHT'S SHOW WITHOUT MENTIONING THE WORDS "HALLOWEEN" AND "SNOW" IN THE SAME SENTENCE, DID YOU?

THURSDAY'S PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS DIDN'T EVEN COME CLOSE TO THE INFAMOUS 1991 HALLOWEEN BLIZZARD TOTALS BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE WON'T COMPARE SOME OF THE NUMBERS WITH OUR NEXT GUEST.

KENNY BLUMENFELD IS A SENIOR CLIMATOLOGIST FOR MINNESOTA'S DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> GREAT TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: THE ONLY TIME WE CANCELED ALMANAC WAS FOR THE WINTER SNOWSTORM IN 1991.

>> THAT WAS THE ONLY TIME.

A LOT OF THINGS WERE CANCELED.

>> Cathy: WHERE WERE YOU, MY FRIEND?

>> I WAS A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL AND I WAS ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM AND GOING INTO THE PLAYOFFS AND WE PLAYED A GAME OF KIND OF SOFT TACK 'EM FOOTBALL WHILE IT WAS SNOWING UP ON ONE OF THE FIELDS.

IT WAS -- IT WAS ACTUALLY KIND OF FUN.

AND THEN I WAS ALREADY REALLY INTERESTED IN THE WEATHER.

I MEAN, I WAS ALREADY HOOKED SO WE -- >> Cathy: YOU'RE NOT DOING SNOWFALL TOTALS WERE YOU?

>> I WAS.

THE LEGENDARY BRUCE WATSON HAD TRAINED ME SO I WAS PRETTY DEVOTED OKAY SERVER AND I TOOK MEASUREMENTS THROUGHOUT THAT STORM.

>> Eric: I WANT TO ASK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT I SAW YOU QUOTED.

YOU SAID THE WEATHER EXTREME, ONE WEATHER EXTREME OFFSETS THE NEXT EXTREME.

>> SURE.

>> Eric: EXPLAIN.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

SO WE HAVE BEEN IN A VERY DRY PHASE, RIGHT?

AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAD ALMOST NO PRECIPITATION IN SEPTEMBER AND MOST OF OCTOBER, UNTIL, REALLY, THE LAST WEEK OR SO.

AND PEOPLE WERE BUMMED OUT AND CONCERNED AND, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE WERE PRETTY HAPPY.

THERE WAS A LOT OF RECREATION HAPPENING BUT PEOPLE WERE WORRIED.

OH, WE'D JUST BEEN THROUGH A DIFFERENT EXTREME.

WE HAD PREVIOUSLY, IN THE EARLY SUMMER, BEEN WAY TOO WET AND HAD A LOT OF FLOODING.

WELL, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WITH ALL THE EXCESS PRECIPITATION, ASIDE FROM THE FLOODING AND ASIDE FROM THE HARDSHIPS, ALL OF THE THINGS WE DON'T LIKE ABOUT IT, YOU ALSO HAVE THE FACT THAT THE SOIL'S GOT NICE AND SATURATED, THE ROOT SYSTEMS WERE FILLED WITH WATER.

WE HAD AN ABUNDANCE OF WATER SO WHEN WE HIT THE DRY SPELL, IT TOOK TIME TO DRAW DOWN THE WATER THAT WAS ALREADY THERE BEFORE WE WENT INTO DROUGHT.

SO IF WE HADN'T BENCH SO WET, WE WOULD HAVE GONE INTO DROUGHT EARLIER AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE WIDESPREAD.

WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE HAD MORE FIRES SO, YOU KNOW, IN THAT WAY -- >> Eric: IT BALANCES OUT A LITTLE BIT.

>> A BIT AND ALSO THE WET PERIOD WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE EXTREME, TOO, IF IT HADN'T BEEN DRY PRIOR TO THAT.

SO I KNOW IT'S EXHAUSTING FOR PEOPLE TO THINK OF ALL THE EXTREMES AND, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT WEATHER WHIPLASH, BUT IN THIS CASE, AND IT'S NOT GUARANTEED TO HAPPEN FOREVER BUT IN THIS CASE, WE ACTUALLY GET SOME PROTECTION FROM THOSE EXTREMES BECAUSE YOU HAVE ONE EXTREME IND OF PROTECTING YOU FROM THE NEXT, IF IT'S IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.

>> Cathy: GOT IT.

OKAY.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE OLD SAYING IS, DROUGHT BEGETS DROUGHT, RIGHT?

AND SO BUT T SO SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE HEADING INTO A LITTLE BIT OF A WET PATTERN COMING UP HERE WHICH IS A GOOD -- GOOD SITUATION, RIGHT?

>> WE COULD USE THE WATER AND THIS IS CTUALLY A RETTY GOOD TIME TO GET IT BECAUSE AS THE WATER FALLS ON THE GROUND, YOU DON'T HAVE ALL THE PLANTS COMPETING FOR USING UP THAT WATER.

SO IT ACTUALLY GOES INTO THE SOIL.

OUR FRIEND PARENNIAL MARK SEELEY TALKS ABOUT HOW WELL THE SOIL CAN UTILIZE THAT WATER IN THE FALL BECAUSE HE PLANTS ARE EITHER DORMANT OR DEAD, SO IT'S ACTUALLY A GOOD TIME TO GET WET AND ACCORDING TO THE WEATHER SERVICE AND THE REAL FORECASTERS, LOOKS LIKE A WET PERIOD IS UPON US.

>> Cathy: IS THAT THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER, THEN, IS THAT WHAT IT'S LOOKING LINING?

>> AT LEAST THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO, THE 8- TO 18-DAY FORECAST, SO MAYBE THE FIRST HALF OF NOVEMBER.

>> Eric: LONG-RANGE WINTER?

>> RIGHT NOW THE OFFICIAL FORECAST IS THE La NIÑA, COOLING OF THE OCEAN.

THOSE TEND TO, SIX OUT OF TEN TIMES, YOU GOT A REAL WINTER.

THE OTHER FOUR, THOUGH, IT COULD BE ANYTHING, IT'S ONE OF OUR WARMEST WINTERS ON RECORD WAS La NIÑA SO YOU DON'T WANT TO PLACE YOUR BETS BUT IT'S MORE LIKELY THAN NOT, WHEN YOU'RE IN A La NIÑA THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE COLDER CONDITIONS AND MORE SNOW THAN, FOR EXAMPLE, LAST WENT.

>> Cathy: THAT WOULD BE A GOOD INK THIS.

WE STILL ARE LOOKING AT CLIMATE CHANGE WHICH MUST SKEW THAT SOMEHOW.

>> YEAH, WE'VE SEEN SOME PRETTY BIG CHANGES IN BOTH THE BEHAVIOR OF La NIÑA AND EL NIÑO, THE OCEANS ARE WARMING AND SO THE BASELINE WE USE TO ASSESS La NIÑA AND L NIÑO, THOSE ARE CHANGING SO THERE'S MORE HEAT AVAILABLE.

SO BOTH OF THEM, OUR WINTERS ARE WARMER THAN THEY USED TO BE.

>> Eric: ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

>> Cathy: YOU GOT THE BEST JOB.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: THANK FOR COMING.

>> Eric: THANKS.

>> ERIC: ALL SUMMER AND FALL, OUR POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER HAS BEEN HUNTING DOWN RACES TO WATCH ACROSS THE STATE.

YOU CAN FIND HER TOP TEN STATE LEGISLATIVE CONTESTS ON OUR WEBSITE, BUT FOR THIS FINAL FRIDAY BEFORE THE ELECTION, MARY FOCUSES ON THE STATEWIDE FEDERAL RACE FOR U.S. SENATE.

>> RAIN, SLEET, SNOW, YOU GUYS KNOW I LIKE INCLEMENT WEATHER.

>> Mary: U.S. ENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR HAS A WELL-ESTABLISHED ROLE ON THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL ZENE AND BACK HOME IN MINNESOTA.

>> IN MINNESOTA, WE LOVE A DAD IN PLAID.

>> ROYCE WHITE.

>> Mary: PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL PLAYER, ROYCE WHITE FROM MINNESOTA, IS ALSO WELL KNOWN IN THE SPORTS WORLD, AND FOR CONTROVERSIES AS A REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE.

>> IF YOU'RE WONDERING ABOUT THE ACCUSATION THAT ROYCE SPENT CAMPAIGNS FUNDS AT A STRIP CLUB, LISTEN, HE HAS A VERY CLEAR EXPLANATION NOR THIS.

>> YOUR CLAIM IS, THERE ERE FILINGS WHICH SAID YOU SPENT CAMPAIGN FUNDS AT A TRIP CLUB BUT THEY WERE INCORRECT FILINGS.

>> NO, THEY DIDN'T SAY I SPENT THE FUNDS AT A STRIP CLUB OR, NO, THEY DIDN'T SAY I SPENT THE FUNDS ON STRIPPERS.

[Laughter] >> BUT IT WAS AT A STRIP CLUB.

>> WELL, A STRIP CLUB, THEY SELL FOOD AT A STRIP CLUB, DON'T THEY?

>> Mary: THEY RECENTLY SQUARED OFF ON A DEBATE ON WCCO RADIO.

>> MY OPPONENT SAID THE BAD GUYS WON IN WORLD WAR II WHEN HE SAID THERE WERE NO GOOD GUYS IN WORLD WAR II.

>> THE RUSSIANS WERE A COMMUNIST REGIME, A TOTALITARIAN COMMUNIST REGIME THAT SAW 0 MILLION CHRISTIANS DIE THERE SO THEY WERE BAD GUYS IN MY OPINION.

AND WE DID -- >> Mary: YOU'VE MIGHTED WHAT I THINK IS THE ONE AND ONLY DEBATE OF THE CAMPAIGN.

WHAT DID YOU THINK?

>> THIS CURRENT DEBATE I WASN'T SURPRISED BY ANY OF HIS POSITIONS.

HE'S WAY OUT THERE ON A NUMBER OF THINGS.

HE DOES A PODCAST SO HE TRIES TO BE PROVOKE ACTIVE.

>> Mary: WHITE HAS FOUGHT WITHIN HIS OWN PARTY AS THE ENDORSED CANDIDATE.

HE HASN'T SEEN AS MUCH MAINSTREAM REPUBLICAN SUPPORT.

HIS CAMPAIGN DID NOT RESPOND TO OUR REPEATED REQUESTS FOR AN INTERVIEW BUT HE HAS BEEN PUBLIC ABOUT HIS LIFE AND BATTLE WITH ANXIETY.

>> FINDING THE BRAVE REAND THE HUMILITY AND PRACTICING THE HONESTY OF SHARING YOUR STRUGGLES ITH OTHERS IS NOTHING BUT A SIGN OF MATURITY.

>> Mary: ONE OF THE REASONS I DID THE DEBATE, YOU NEVER HAVE O DO A DEBATE AND SOME PEOPLE NOT CHOOSE NOT TO DO ANY IN A NUMBER OF SENATE RACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY THIS CYCLE AND IN THE LAST FEW YEARS WHERE PEOPLE ACTUALLY DIDN'T DO DEBATES BECAUSE THEY WERE AHEAD OR FELT THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO.

>> Mary: YEAH, I CAN'T, SO WHY DO THIS ONE.

>> I THINK IT'S I IMPORTANT FOR DIXIE.

>> Mary: THE AVERAGE OF THE POLLS IN THE U.S. SENATE RACE SHOW SENATOR KLOBUCHAR WITH A DOUBLE O'DONNELL IT LEAD, SOME HAVE SHOWN WITHIN ABOUT 6 PERCENTAGE POINTS BUT SHE USUALLY WINS WITH LARGE MARGINS.

IS THIS THE CLOSEST RACE YOU'LL HAVE?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT, AT ALL.

I THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT TO GET PEOPLE TO KNOW ROYCE WHITE'S VIEWS.

>> I AM NUMBER ONE FOR BIPARTISAN BILLS IN THE U.S. SENATE.

>> DID DONALD TRUMP LOSE MINNESOTA IN 2020?

>> IT WOULD APPEAR TO.

YEAH, IT WOULD APPEAR SO BUT I CAN'T BE SURE AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S DANGEROUS TO SAY.

WHY IS IT OKAY THAT AMY AND KAMALA BOTH HAVE BEEN OPEN IN PUBLIC IN QUESTIONING THE SECURITY -- LOOK, YOUR AVERAGE VOTER MACHINE HAS A CHAIN OF CUSTODY THAT DOESN'T EVEN EQUAL UP TO YOUR AVERAGE SLOT MACHINE AT A LOCAL CASINO.

>> WHAT I'M FOCUSED ON THERE IS ELECTION DENIAL AND MY FIGHT FOR YEARS TO HAVE THESE BACK-UP PAPER BALLOTS BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW IF THERE'S SOME ATTEMPT FROM A FOREIGN POWER TO GET INTO OUR SYSTEM, THE BACK-UP PAPER BALLOTS OR IF THERE IS A CLOSE ELECTION, LIKE E'VE HAD IN THE PAST IN MINNESOTA BY A COUPLE HUNDRED OTES, HAVING THOSE BACK-UP PAPER BALLOTS IS IMPORTANT.

>> I DON'T LIKE IT ON EITHER SIDE.

IF THE REPUBLICANS WIN AND THEY SAY THE ELECTIONS ARE SECURE AND WE HAVEN'T SOLVED THOSE ISSUES, I'LL STANDS RIGHT UP IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE AND SAY DON'T PLAY THIS AME.

IF WE HAVEN'T SOLVED THE ELECTION SECURITY ISSUES, E NEED TO SOLVE THEM.

ANY SORT OF BONDING OF THE NARRATIVE TO TRY TO SIGH LEARNS AMERICANS IS UNAMERICAN AND BORDERS ON BEING UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

BECAUSE IT IS FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

>> SENATOR KLOBUCHAR, DID OBJECTED TRUMP WIN 2020 MINNESOTA?

>> NO, HE DID NOT, AND I JUST WANT TO QUOTE MY OPPONENT'S EXACT WORDS, HE SAID, I THINK HE, TRUMP, WON THE ELECTION.

I'M JUST GOING TO GO RIGHT OUT AND SAY, I THINK HE WON THE 2020 ELECTION.

I THINK THERE WAS FRAUD.

I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF PROOF THERE WAS FRAUD.

>> I NEVER SAID I DIDN'T THINK DONALD TRUMP LAST THE ELECTION IN GENERAL.

I WAS ASKED IF HE LOSS MINNESOTA.

CERTAINLY PEOPLE I KNOW PERSONALLY FELT VERY DIFFERENTLY ABOUT DONALD TRUMP THAN I DO NOW AND FOR GOOD REASON.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY BLACK MEN, AGE 18 TO 44, WHICH THEY'RE PANICKING ABOUT.

>> I'M CHAIRING THE INAUGURATION, NO MATTER WHO WINS.

>> Mary: SPEAKING ABOUT, THAT YOU COULD HAVE A LONGTIME FRIGID AND FELLOW MINNESOTAN OUT IN D.C.

SERVING WITH YOU.

>> TIM WAS PROBABLY A SURPRISE CHOICE FOR A LOT OF THE COUNTRY BUT A VERY GOOD, POSITIVE SOLID CHOICE.

♪♪ >> CATHY: WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT NATIONAL POLITICS FOR MUCH OF THE HOUR TONIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO ADD LEGISLATIVE POLITICS TO THE MIX WITH THIS WEEK'S VERSION OF THE POLITICAL PANEL.

DFLERS UP FIRST, JAVIER MORILLO IS A LONGTIME UNION AND PARTY ACTIVIST AND FORMER NATIONAL COMMITTEE MAN.

JOINING HIM IS ABOU AMARA, A FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER TURNED ATTORNEY.

REPUBLICANS ON THE COUCH TONIGHT, AMY KOCH IS A FORMER STATE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER NOW LOBBYIST, AND WE WELCOME BACK AUSTIN ALTENBURG, FORMER PRESS SECRETARY FOR FORMER WISCONSIN GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER AND WISCONSIN U.S.

SENATOR RON JOHNSON.

AMY KOCH, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT LAST KSTP SURVEY TV POLL HASSKAMP LaHARRIS UP BY 8 POINTS.

IF THAT HOLDS TRUE, I'M WONDERING, HOW WILL THAT THEN RAISE DEMOCRATIC VOTES DOWN BALLOT?

WHAT'S THE MAGIC MARGIN AND LIKEWISE, IF TRUMP WINS?

>> CORRECT.

SO, YOU KNOW, I NEVER LOOK AT JUST ONE POLL, I LOOK AT THE AVERAGE, IN MINNESOTA IT'S ABOUT A FOUR-POINT GAP WITH VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS WINNING, RIGHT?

SHE'S UP ABOUT THREE TO FOUR POINTS ON THE AVERAGE.

AND THAT IS ENOUGH TO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT FOR GOPERS.

IF DONALD TRUMP KEEPS THE MARGIN WITHIN THREE R FOUR POINTS, IN MINNESOTA, THAT IS GOING TO HELP IN THE DOWN-BALLOT RACES FOR THE GOP AND COULD POSSIBLY MEAN FLIPPING THE CONTROL OF THE MINNESOTA HOUSE.

IF IT IS EIGHT POINTS, IF THAT KSTP POLL HOLDS, 8 POINTS IS A HEAVY FAR GAP, THAT'S WHERE BIDEN I THINK WON BY SEVEN OR EIGHT AND THAT WILL MEAN THAT REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO STRUGGLE IN THE DOWN BALLOT.

>> Eric: JAVIER, WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHT ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE DFL GROUND GAME VERSUS WHAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE?

>> WELL, I THINK ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THERE IS A BIG IMBALANCE THERE TO OUR FAVOR.

I THINK THERE IS AN EXTREMELY STRONG GROUND GAME IN MINNESOTA, IT'S ACTUALLY -- MY FRIENDS WHO ARE WORKING ON THE CAMPAIGN ARE SAYING THEY'VE HAD VOLUNTEERS THROUGH THE ROOF FOR A GOOD -- SINCE KAMALA ANNOUNCED.

AND THAT'S TRUE, I THINK, ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHEREAS THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN HAS OUTSORTED TO ELON MUSK AND THAT'S WHAT THE MONEY HAS BEEN USED FOR.

>> Eric: AUSTIN, WHY HAVE THE DEMOCRATS BEEN ABLE TO BUILD SUCH AN ADVANTAGE INANCIALLY FOR THEIR PARTIES AND THEIR GET OUT THE VOTE EFFORTS?

THE DEMOCRATS REALLY OUTRAISED REPUBLICANS HERE IN THE STATE.

>> IN THE STATE OR NATIONALLY?

>> Eric: IN THE TATE.

>> IN THE STATE?

WELL, I THINK THAT THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES STATEWIDE ARE STRUGGLING AND LAGGING AND I THINK THEY'RE NOT THE HIGHEST QUALITIES CANDIDATES THAT WE COULD HAVE PUT OUT THERE AND THAT'S A HUGE FACTOR, YOU KNOW.

>> WHEN YOU'RE RUNNING REPUBLICANS RUNNING ON KITTY LITTER AND TAKING AWAY WOMEN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE, THEY'RE VERY UNPOPULAR AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE GETTING BEAT.

BACK TO THE PARTY, WHICH I THINK IS ESSENTIAL, THE DEMOCRATS, THAT 4-POINT LEAD YOU'RE TALK TALKING ABOUT, AMY, ASK PROBABLY SIX OR SEVEN BECAUSE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE PARITY LAST YEAR REPORTED HAVING $357 ON HANDS.

YOU CONTRAST THAT WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY THAT HAS MILLIONS IN THE BANK, THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS AT THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE DAY, THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND IT'S NOT REFLECTED IN THE POLLING.

>> Eric: THERE'S SO MUCH MONEY.

>> Cathy: I SAW AN AD ON LOCAL TV FOR, I JUST -- I DIDN'T EACH KNOW WHO IT WAS, SOME SMALL LITTLE RACE AND I THOUGHT THAT MEANS THERE'S JUST TOO MUCH MONEY OUT THERE.

WHAT ABOUT THE ADS THAT EVERYONE IS SWIMMING IN?

>> THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY BECAUSE REALLY IN THE STATE, RIGHT, THE KLOBUCHAR ROYCE WHITE RACE IS DONE, THAT'S OVER.

DONALD TRUMP WAS COMING INTO THE STATE AND THEN WHEN KAMALA HARRIS WAS -- WHEN THE SWITCH HAPPENED AND WALZ WENT ON THE BALLOT, THEY REALLY PULLED OUT ALL THEIR RESOURCES IN THE STATE SO WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO SPEND MONEY ON BUT STATE HOUSE RACES?

ALSO IF YOU HAVE THE BIG BATTLES IN THE SUBURBS AND YOU HAVE TO BUY INTO A BIGGER MARKET BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH A LARGE METRO MARKET AND YOU HAVE TO BUY INTO THAT SO I'M SEEING CHANHASSEN ADS, YOU'RE SEEING ALL THESE DISTRICT, OH, KAY.

>> Eric: JEFF BRANDON IN St. PETER I SAW N AD IN THE TWIN CITIES.

>> I GOT TO CALEB STEPHEN HAGEN STUFF, SO.

>> AND WE HAVE A VERY ATOMIZED MEDIA MARKET AND PEOPLE GET THEIR NEWS FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT SOURCES AROUND YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO TARGET PEOPLE TO THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL, RIGHT?

I'VE SPENT A LOT OF -- THIS PAST WEEK RESOURCING WORK WITH PUERTO RICANS IN PUERTO RICO TALKING TO PUERTO RICANS IN THE UNITED STATES ABOUT THEIR VOTE BECAUSE, YES, I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE STATE BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A PUERTO RICAN ON THE TABLE AND NOT TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN.

YEAH, HAVE THE FLAG LIKE MOST PUERTO RICANS.

BUILD WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO REACH PEOPLE VERY, VERY SPECIFICALLY, YOU CAN TARGET ADS SO THAT INDIVIDUALS SEE THEM WHEN THEY TURN ON THEIR PHONE AND TURN ON GOOGLE SO THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THE MONEY IS GOING.

>> Eric: WHAT'S THE THOUGHT ABOUT THE EARLY VOTING?

990,000 BALLOTS AS OF THIS MORNING IN MINNESOTA, DOES THAT CHANGE CAMPAIGN STRATEGY OR TACTICS?

>> SO, IT DOES.

ONE IS, AS PEOPLE VOTE, YOU CAN BANK THOSE VOTES AND YOU CHANGE THE UNIVERSION OF VOTERS YOU'RE TARGETING.

>> Eric: IS THIS CANNIBALIZING VOTERS IN ELECTION DAY?

>> I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A DEFICIT NORTH REPUBLICANS.

I THINK THERE IS A SUBSTITUTION EFFECT, ESSENTIALLY LOTS OF REPUBLICAN VOTERS ARE VOTING EARLY AS OPPOSED TO WHAT THEY DIDN'T DO IN THE PAST BUT THESE ARE NOT FUNDAMENTALLY NEW VOTERS.

HOW DO WE KNOW THIS?

IF YOU GO BACK TO THE REGISTRATION ROLLS, BACK IN MINNESOTA, IF YOU ASSUME DEMOGRAPHY AND THINGS, DO NOT NECESSARILY CHANGE SO I THINK IT'S A NET BENEFIT FOR THE DRASS.

>> TRUMP CAMPAIGN WOULD DISAGREE, THEY'RE VERY CONFIDENT THEY'LL HAVE A GOOD OUTCOME.

EARLY VOTING WASN'T AS POPULAR IN 2020 BUT THEY'RE SEEING REALLY STRONG NUMBERS.

>> THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HEARING LAST WE THINK.

WHAT WE'RE HEARING THIS WEEK IS LOOKING AT THE GENDER BREAK DUANE OF THE EARLY VOTE THAT'S EVERYWHERE ACROSS STATES, WOMEN ARE VOTING EARLY IN HIGHER NUMBERS AND THIS ELECTION IS EXPECTED TO HAVE, LIKE, A HISTORICALLY BIG GENDER GAP.

>> Eric: DOES THE EARLY VOTING PROCESSES, DOES IT ADD TO PEOPLE'S SCENT CYSTISM ABOUT LEGITIMACY OF THE OTING OR -- >> I THINK THAT WHEN IT HAPPENS, IT NEEDS TO BE HANDLED -- LIKE, IT NEEDS TO BE HANDLED WITH -- TO ENSURE THE UTMOST SECURITY.

WILLED THE INCIDENT IN EDINA, WHERE I VOTED EARLY -- THIS WEEK.

>> Eric: THERE WAS UNOCCUPIED VEHICLE.

>> UNOCCUPIED VEHICLE LEFT OPEN, IT WAS A COURIER, HE WAS FIRED, THEY WERE ABLE TO KNOW WHAT THOSE BOXES WERE AND WERE ABLE TO KNOW THAT THE BOXES THERE WERE NOT TAM PERIODS.

BUT WHEN THAT HAPPENS, IT DOES SEND A RIPPLE, WE'RE ALREADY AT HIGH ALERT.

WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTION INTEGRITY AND THE WOMAN IN NASHWAUK MAIL-ORDER VOTED AND VOTED FOR TRUMP, HER MOTHER HAD DIED AFTER -- [Overlapping Conversation].

[Overlapping Conversation].

>> AND THERE WERE SOME BALLOTS THAT WERE INCORRECT.

>> SO ALL OF THIS CONTRIBUTES TO SORT OF THE PUBLIC SKEPTICISM.

AND SO WE JUST HAVE TO GET THAT UNLOCKED, IT'S IMPERATIVE.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU THINK?

DO VOTERS, ARE THEY MORE WORRIED NOW THAN THEY HAVE EVER BEEN ABOUT VOTER INTEGRITY?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I DO THINK THERE ARE GOING TO BE EXAMPLES, NO SYSTEM IS PERFECT.

IF YOU LOOK FOR PERFECTION, LOOK TO THE AL MIGHTY BECAUSE YOU WON'T FIND IT IN ANYTHING HUMANS DO.

WHAT WE DO DO IS A COMBINATION OF THINGS, WE IMMEDIATELY POINT OUT WHEN THERE IS AN INDIVIDUAL PROBLEM, WE HAVE SOMETHING IN PLACE TO RESTORE THAT CONFIDENCE AND WE EXPLAIN IT TO MAKE SURE WE NEVER DO IT AGAIN.

I THINK SECRETARY OF STATE STEVE SIMON AND OTHERS IN THE ELECTION SYSTEM HAVE DONE EXACTLY THAT.

>> Cathy: HAVE THESE THINGS ALWAYS HAPPENED OR IS THERE A SPOT LIGHT ON THEM NOW?

>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY BECAUSE I DO THINK WE CAN'T UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER WE HAVE NOW YEARS OF NOT JUST DISINFORMATION BUT A DELIBERATE EFFORT TO JUST SOW DOUBT, SO THE SITUATION IN EDINA, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE CHAIN OF CUSTODY, THERE ARE ALL THESE THINGS, ALL THESE CHECKS, AND BALANCES, LIKE, IF SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED AND SOMEONE HAD TAKEN A BOX, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED WHEN THE BOXES WERE BROUGHT IN BECAUSE THESE THINGS ARE CHECKED STRICTLY.

BUT WHAT YOU HAVE NOW IS A MEDIA ICO SYSTEM WHERE EVERYTHING GETS BLOWN UP AND PUT IN THE WORST POSSIBLE LIGHT SO THAT HAS AN IMPACT ON PEOPLE'S -- >> BUT THERE IS A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD LIKE TALKING DOWN THESE METHODS OF VOTING.

PEOPLE ARE VOTING MORE AND MORE EARLY, ABSENTEE, THEY LIKE THE CONVENTION AND FLEXIBILITY.

WHEN YOU TALK THAT DOWN AND IN STILL FIR OF THAT, IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY -- IT SUPPRESSES YOUR VOTE SO EITHER PARTY, WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO DO THAT?

YOU HAVE TO SUPPORT IT, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW PEOPLE ARE WANTING TO VOTE BUT YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THERE IS INTEGRITY IN THE SYSTEM.

>> Eric: POST ELECTION MANUEVERING, IS IT TOO EARLY TO WONDER WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THE LEGAL CHALLENGES?

DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS.

>> WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THE STAKES WILL LAND.

I THINK BOTH CAMPAIGNS HAVE MAILED IT CLEAR THEY'RE STAFFING UP THEIR LEGAL TEAMS AND WE'RE DOING TO SEE WHERE IT LANDS BUT -- >> WE HAVE REPUBLICAN COUNTIES LIKE IN WISCONSIN, FOR EXAMPLE, WHERE THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE ALREADY SAID THEY WILL NOT CERTIFY SO YOU HAVE COUNTIES THAT THEY WILL NOT CERTIFY THEIR PRO-TRUMP VOTES IF THE STATE GOES TORE KAMALA HARRIS.

>> Eric: WILL THE DEMOCRATS BRING UP CHALLENGES TO DE-CERTIFICATION IF THEY WILL THERE'S SOME MONKEY BUSINESS GOING ON?

>> I SAY THIS AS A DEMOCRATIC LAWYER, I THINK THE LITIGATION IS GOING TO FOCUS ON WHEN IT'S TRYING TO SUPPRESS OR DENY THE ABILITY TO FAIRLY VOTE.

AND THAT'S THE FOCUS, AS LONG AS PEOPLE CAN FAIRLY VOTE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE, IF THERE ARE CHALLENGES TO THAT, WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT THAT.

>> Eric: YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN GREAT DURING THE CAMPAIGN.

>> Cathy: YES, YOU HAVE.

>> Eric: GET READY FOR THE REVENUE FORECAST AND THE SESSION.

>> Cathy: ENJOY NEXT WEEK.

>> Eric: HAVE FUN.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> Mary: GOVERNOR VENTURA GOT IN A MOODS FOR JAPANESE ADVENTURES BY WATCHING TRADITIONAL JAP PLEASE DANCERS AT THE MALL OF AMERICA.

>> WE'RE HERE AT THE MALL OF AMERICA FOR NUMBER OF REASONS.

OF COURSE, TYING IN WITH MONDAY, WE LEAVE FOR THE COUNTRY OF JAPAN OWNED A TRADE AND TOURISM MISSION AND OF COURSE THE MALL OF AMERICA LOOMS VERY LARGE IN OUR TOURISM OF WHAT DRAWS PEOPLE TO THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

>> CATHY: LAST WEEK WE SHARED AN ARCHIVE SNIPPET FROM A DIFFERENT POLITICAL ERA AND TURNED IT INTO LAST WEEK'S HISTORY QUESTION.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT, HERE'S ANOTHER LOOK AT THAT GEM FROM THE PAST.

>> GEORGE BUSH WANTS THIS RACE TO BE ABOUT ONE THING ONLY.

YOU GOT IT.

WANTS IT TO BE ABOUT TERROR.

>> WE CANNOT HOPE FOR THE BEST IN THIS WORLD.

THE POST-SEPTEMBER 11th WORLD, WE MUST DEAL WITH EVERY THREAT.

MILITARY IS ALWAYS THE LAST OPTION.

AFTER WE PLAYED IT, ERIC TOLD YOU THE INTRO TO THE TAPE MADE THIS BOLD ANNOUNCEMENT: "WE'RE FAIRLY SURE THIS IS AN INDEX FILE QUESTION JUST WAITING TO BE ASKED."

AND 20 YEARS LATER , THE TIME HAS COME.

OUR QUESTION FOR YOU LAST WEEK WAS: WHAT POLITICAL MILESTONE DID WE CLAIM WAS ACHIEVED IN OUR STATE DURING THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 22, 2004?

THESE NEXT FOUR CALLERS MISSED THE MARK, SOME OF THEM MORE THAN OTHERS.

>> CATHY: MIKE, YOU DID INDEED GET THE ANSWER WRONG BUT WE HAVE TO CONFESS, THIS WAS OUR FAVORITE CALL LAST WEEK.

AND YOU WERE NOT ALONE.

SEVERAL VIEWERS CALLED IN TO NOTE ERIC'S FINE NEW HAIRCUT.

AGE WE ENJOY THE FACT THAT HE FINALLY CUT IT.

BUT WE DIGRESS.

FOR THIS WEEK'S ANSWER, WE TURN TO A LONGTIME VIEWER, MITCHELL... >> MITCHELL, YOU ARE AMAZING AND ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR THAT FINE POEM WITH ALL THE DETAILS.

QUICK PROGRAMMING NOTE FOR YOU BEFORE WE GO.

TWIN CITIES VIEWERS CAN TUNE IN TO "PBS NEWS: VOTE 2024" NEXT TUESDAY NIGHT BEGINNING AT 5:00 P.M. "NEWSHOUR" LIVE COVERAGE WILL FEATURE REPORTERS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING ALMANAC'S OWN MARY LAHAMMER.

GREATER MINNESOTA VIEWERS, CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS, OR LOOK FOR THEIR LIVESTREAM OPTIONS ONLINE.

WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH TIME LEFT FOR SOME SHOW-ENDING MUSIC FOR YOU.

THIS WEEK, BACK IN 1997, CLIFF EBERHARDT PLAYED FOR US HERE IN STUDIO B.

TAKE A LISTEN, AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

♪♪ ♪ I'M DOING FINE ON MY OWN, HOW ABOUT YOU ♪ ♪ I WOULD NEVER ET ANOTHER PERSON OWN ME ♪ ♪ I HAVE FOUND TRICKS THAT I CAN LEARN, SOME OF THEM NEW ♪ ♪ AND I AM ADDRESSING TIMES, I GET LONELY ♪ ♪ THE NIGHT BIRD SINGS A TUNE, IT RAINS ON THE ROUGH FOR TWO ♪ ♪ I'M RUNNING AROUND FOR THINGS TO DO ♪ ♪ IF YOU WERE HERE, I WOULD DO THOSE THINGS WITH YOU ♪ ♪ AND I'M PACKING MY THINGS, MOVING AWAY ♪ ♪ AND I WHISTLE WHILE I WORK, ALTHOUGH IT KILLS ME ♪ ♪ EVERYTHING'S FINE, EVERYTHING'S GREAT... >> "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.

"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 OUR REGION.

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