FULLY BE INDEPENDENT.

>> Eric: ANGELA, THANK RAISE LOT FOR JOINING US.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Eric: YOU BET.

WE'RE GOING TO TURN OUR ATTENTION TO MINNESOTA POLITICS.

THE 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION CAME TO A CLOSE WITH RETIREMENTS.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT THE CAPITOL MARY LAHAMMER SPOKE WITH GOVERNOR WALZ AS PART OF HIS FINAL SESSION AS GOVERNOR.

HERE'S PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> YOU HAVE THE FIRST TIME IN MINNESOTA HISTORY SOMEONE WHO SERVED ON DISTRICT COURT, COURT OF APPEALS AND THE SUPREME COURT AS WELL AS A PUBLIC DEFENDER.

>> FIRST PUBLIC DEFENDER, THAT'S HISTORIC.

>> YES, AND I THINK YOU HAVE DIVERSITY IN THAT.

WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE EX-NETS CORPORATE LAW.

>> AND NONPARTISAN, THIS COURT -- DIDN'T ALWAYS RULE IN YOUR FAVOR -- >> NO, BUT I HOPE YOU SAW, THE ONE EXCEPTION AROUND SOME OF THESE -- CAME BACK UP AGAIN THIS WEEK.

BUT WHEN THEY MADE THESE -- RESPONSIBILITY OF US TO -- THAT I RESPECT IT AND WE I'M GOING TO >> THE FAMILY'S BEEN THROUGH A LOT, I BET THEY'RE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU BACK.

IT'S BEEN TOUGH, HASN'T IT >> YEAH, BUT IT'S AN HONOR TO GIVE AND THE ONE THING I'VE LEARNED, PRIVATE SECTOR, BUSINESS COMMUNITY, NON-PROFITS THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS O SERVE.

AND I THINK THESE JOBS DO HAVE A SHELF LIFE TO IT AND I DON'T THINK IT'S A BAD IDEA TO SWITCH THINGS UP.

I'M AT PEACE WITH THIS DECISION AS YOU SAID I THINK LIKE I SAID DOWN HERE WHEN I SAID IT WAS MY LAST SPEECH THERE WAS SOME PEOPLE CHEERING ON THAT.

BUT I THINK THE IMPACT WE MADE ARE GOOD AND WE DIDN'T FIX IT ALL AND DIDN'T GET IT ALL RIGHT BUT WE DID IT I THINK IN THE RIGHT SPIRIT.

>> THANK YOU, OVERN