LICENSING CHALLENGES.

AND ADIA MORRIS IS HERE WITH AN ESSAY.

>> Eric: WE START TONIGHT WITH POLITICS.

THERE'S LESS THAN A MONTH TO GO IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

BIG QUESTIONS REMAIN ABOUT THE WORK THAT CAN OR WILL GET DONE AFTER D.F.L.

STATE SENATOR NICOLE MITCHELL WAS CHARGED WITH FELONY BURGLARY EARLIER THIS WEEK.

DEMOCRATS HOLD JUST A ONE VOTE MARGIN IN THE STATE SENATE, SCHEDULED FLOOR SESSIONS WERE CANCELLED EARLIER THIS WEEK AND SENATE REPUBLICANS HAVE FILED AN ETHICS COMPLAINT AGAINST SENATOR MITCHELL.

BIG QUESTION FOR MANY, HOW MANY BILLS WILL NOW MAKE IT TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK BY MAY 20TH?

DFL GOVERNOR TIM WALZ JOINS US.

YOU HAVE SAID THIS WEEK THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD.

YOU ALSO SAID WE NEED MORE FACTS.

SHOULD WE RESIGN AND IF NOT SHOULD THE SENATE VOTE HER OUT OF OFFICE?

>> WELL, THE OTERS WILL VOTE HER OUT IF THAT'S THE CASE ON THIS.

I THINK WE'RE WATCHING A FAMILY TRAGEDY UNFOLD IN FRONT OF US.

IT DOESN'T EXCUSE THERE ARE SERIOUS QUESTIONS AND THAT'S WHY THE LAW IS INVOLVED.

WE ALWAYS GIVE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT THAT PEOPLE GET THEIR DUE PROCESS BUT I ALSO THINK YOU HAVE TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS WHEN YOU'RE IN THIS.

AND I THINK IT'S FAIRFOR THE PUBLIC TO HOLD YOU TO A HIGHER STANDARD.

BUT, LOOK, THIS IS GOING TO BE A DECISION THAT SENATOR MITCHELL HAS TO MAKE.

BUT I THINK DEALING WITH WHAT SHE'S DEALING ITH AND DEALING WITH FAMILY IT MAYBE MAKES SENSE TO FOCUS ON THAT.

>> Cathy: THIS IS BEGINNING TO BE A PRETTY BIG MESS AT THE CAPITOL.

IT STOPPED MOST OF THE WORK AT THIS POINT, SHE SAID SHE WILL NOT RESIGN.

THERE'S A LOT OF PROBLEMS TO WADE THROUGH BEFORE THE END OF SESSION?

>> WE STILL HAVE A DEAL, WE HAD A DEAL, WE GOT TARGETS IN THERE.

I THINK WE HAVE A REASONABLE MANAGEABLE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET.

WE HAVE A BONDING BILL THAT HAS WIDESPREAD SUPPORT.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY REASON WHY WE CAN'T GET THINGS DONE.

I'M CONVINCED EPUBLICANS WANT TO SEE THE STATE PATROL HEADQUARTERS GET BUILT, HE FUNDING FOR MEALS THIS SUMMER WITH THE EDERAL MONEY.

>> Cathy: SO THINGS CAN GET DONE EACH WITH THE 33-33?

>> I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN ALL OF THIS AND I HAD ASKED OR A FEW FIXES FOR SOME OF THE TECHNICAL PROGRAMS.

I MADE IT CLEAR WE WANTED A PRETTY NARROW BUDGET, WE HAVE THIS TYLER SUIT WE NEED TO GET TAKEN CARE OF, I THINK THAT'S BIPARTISAN.

A LOT OF THIS WHETHER IT'S EMS FUNDING FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES THOSE ARE REALLY BIPARTISAN.

I THINK WE JUST MOVE THEM FORWARD.

>> SOUNDS LIKE YOU FEEL SHE WILL BE AROUND 'TIL MAY 20TH ADJOURNMENT AND SOUNDS LIKE SHE WILL BE VOTING.

>> I THINK SO RIGHT NOW AND THE SENATE WILL MAKE THEIR DECISIONS, THEY WILL HAVE THEIR ETHICS INVESTIGATION, PEOPLE WILL GET ANSWERS BUT IT SEEMS TO ME PEOPLE IN WOODBURY AND ACROSS THE STATE SHOULD EXPECT US TO GET TO DO THESE THINGS, IT CERTAINLY NARROWS THINGS WHERE WE HAVE TO BE BIPARTISAN, THAT'S OKAY.

I THINK REPUBLICANS AGREE WITH MANY OF THESE THINGS.

>> Cathy: ON THE OFF-CHANCE IT DOESN'T WORK THE WAY YOU'RE HOPING IS THERE ONE THING YOU REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE GETS TO YOUR DESK?

>> WELL, CERTAINLY THE BONDING BILL.

I THINK IT'S JUST THERE'S SO MANY GOOD PROGRAMS IN THERE AND IT'S GOING TO GET MORE EXPENSIVE TO DO THAT AND WE JUST HAVE A FEW THINGS, I REALLY DO NEED A LITTLE BIT F HELP TO MAKE SURE WE CAN GET THIS FEDERAL MONEY FOR THE SUMMER PROGRAM ON FEEDING KIDS THAT A FEW STATES TURNED IT DOWN LIKE IOWA AND OTHERS BUT THE VAST MAJORITY KNOW IT'S A REALLY GOOD NEW PROGRAM ON SUMMER BENEFITS FOR KIDS AND WE NEED A LITTLE BIT OF HELP ON THAT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN DELIVER.

>> Eric: OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR SAYS STATE AGENCIES ARE FAILING TO SAFEGUARD TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS GOING TO NON-PROFITS.

I BELIEVE THE FIGURE IS A BILLION DOLLARS LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR.

HOW MUCH FRAUD, ASTE AND ABUSE ARE YOU WILLING TO TOLERATE?

>> WELL, THEY DIDN'T CALL IT FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE, THEY SAID MORE SAFEGUARDS CAN BE PUT IN PLACE.

THINGS LIKE AN INSPECTOR EVERYONE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THINGS TO PUT IN.

THERE'S THINGS WE CAN DO BETTER BUT THEIR FINDINGS WERE NOT CLEAR ABUSE, THAT THIS MONEY WENT TO THE WRONG PLACE, THEY SIMPLY ASKED ARE YOU SURE WE'RE DOING ENOUGH IN THERE, AND I THINK FOR ME IT'S A ZERO SUM PROPOSITION.

I WELCOME THE AUDITOR'S HELP IN THIS, WHEN THE AUDITOR DOES THIS WE'RE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THESE THINGS.

JUST LIKE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WE SIMPLY DIDN'T HAVE THE PEOPLE THERE TO BE ABLE TO DO AS MUCH AND I THINK WE SHOULD.

SO I APPLAUD THEM FOR THE WORK.

I THINK OVERALL THE FINDINGS WERE THAT IT'S SOLID, NOTHING THERE, BUT IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED AND TAKE THAT AS THEY'RE RIGHT.

>> Cathy: GET GETTING BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE HERE FOR A MOMENT.

THERE'S THAT UBER AND LYFT SITUATION THAT'S A LITTLE COMPLICATED AND PEOPLE ARE KIND OF WONDERING WHAT THE HECK'S GOING ON WITH THAT?

IS THERE A DEAL TO BE HAD?

ARE YOU BROKERING ANYTHING?

>> I'M TRYING THE BEST I CAN, I'M TRYING TO GET MIDDLE GROUND ON THIS WHERE WE GET FAIRNESS IN WAGES BUT ALSO MAKE SURE IT WORKS.

THE EASIEST WAY TO FIX THIS IS FOR THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO, USE THE STATE GUIDELINE ON THIS, BRING EVERYBODY TO THE TABLE.

I'M GOING TO KEEP ASKING THEM TO COME TO THE TABLE, LET'S REACH A COMPROMISE.

THAT WOULD BE THE EASIEST AND SUREST WAY.

IN ABSENCE OF THAT WE HAVE A STATE, YOU KNOW, STUDY THAT GIVES US SOME PRETTY GOOD IDEAS TO GIVE SOME CONSISTENCY INTO THIS.

AGAIN, I DON'T, I DON'T ASCRIBE TO THE MAGICAL THINKING THAT SOMETHING'S GOING TO INSTANTLY FILL THIS VOID WHERE IT HASN'T HAPPENED THAT WAY IN OTHER PLACES.

I THINK IT PUTS US AT COMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGE, I THINK IT PUTS DISABILITY GROUPS, FOLKS WHO ARE TRYING TO GET TO THEIR JOBS.

IT'S NOT JUST WEDY PEOPLE FLYING IN FROM THE AIRPORT IT'S FOLKS TRYING TO BE DO THEIR JOB TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES.

>> Cathy: I KNOW YOU'RE HOPING THE COUNCIL DOES SOMETHING BUT I THINK THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE LEGISLATURE HOPING THEY DO SOMETHING.

>> I MADE IT CLEAR I THINK THERE'S A COMPROMISE HERE THAT INCLUDES THE RIDESHARE COMPANIES.

BUT I JUST THINK THE, YOU KNOW, BE THE STOPPING THIS, ENFORCING, I WELCOME THAT WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF A SPACE HERE BUT THAT JUST ADDED A LITTLE SPACE THAT DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

MY HOPE IS AND I WOULD JUST KEEP SAYING THIS IS THAT WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY ASKING PEOPLE TO COME BACK TO THE TABLE TO BRING A WORKABLE PLAN TO SHOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

THIS IDEA THAT MAGICALLY ON JULY 1ST SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN, I DON'T TALK TO ANY MINNESOTANS WHO THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

THIS IS A CONCERN OF FOLKS ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM.

>> Eric: ARE YOU CONSIDERING GIVING TROOPER LUNDGREN'S ASE TO HENNEPIN COUNTY?

AND WHAT'S YOUR OPINION ON HOW MARY MORIARTY'S DOING?

>> FIRST I WANT TO SAY WE'RE SEPARATE BRANCHES AND I TRY TO BE AS CAREFUL AS I CAN ABOUT NOT WEIGHING AGAIN.

THIS ONE I SAID I HAD CONCERNS FROM THE BEGINNING WHETHER IT WAS A USE OF FORCE EXPERT.

IT IS AN EXTRAORDINARY STEP FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO ASK FOR ME TO DELIVER, IT'S AN INCREDIBLE STEP ON THAT.

BUT AGAIN WE SAW THIS WEEK A LITTLE BIT, AND I TALK TO THE LEGAL EXPERTS TELL ME IT'S KIND OF A RARE SITUATION WHERE WE HAD THE LEAD PROSECUTOR STEP AWAY AND OUTSIDE COUNSEL IS GOING TO BE THERE.

WHAT I WANT IS JUSTICE TO BE SERVED FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THIS.

AND I THINK THE FEAR IS NOW PEOPLE THINK IF THERE'S A THUMB ON THE SCALE OR WHATEVER WHICH DIRECTION.

WHAT I WOULD SAY ON THIS IS WE CONTINUE TO EVALUATE DAILY, WE CONTINUE TO WAIT TO SEE AS INFORMATION COMES OUT.

>> Eric: I'M REALLY CURIOUS WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN CRITICISM THAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE NOT ONLY ANTILAW ENFORCEMENT BUT MAYBE PRO-CRIMINAL.

AND I'M WONDERING IF THESE THINGS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ADDS A LITTLE SPICE TO THE SITUATION, OR.

>> LOOK, THESE ARE THE FOLKS THAT BLAME LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR JANUARY 6TH, I TAKE IT WITH A GRAIN OF SALT.

I'VE SUPPORTED AND I THINK DEMOCRATS HAVE, WE'RE ASKING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY.

THESE ARE FOLKS THAT WANT TO SAY DEREK CHAUVIN DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG.

OF COURSE THE WORLD SAW HE DID AND THAT CREATES DISTRUST.

I THINK THE POLITICIZING OF SAYING THAT AND THE PRO-CRIMINAL PIECE OF THIS I -- LOOK, PEOPLE KNOW THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

COME TO US AND HELP US ON THIS.

HELP US WORK SOME OF THESE THINGS, HELP ME FUND THE BCA FACILITY IN MANKATO.

HELP ME FUND THE STATE PATROL HEADQUARTERS, MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING GOOD TRAINING FOR OUR FOLKS THAT WE HAVE.

SO AGAIN WHAT THEIR SOLUTION IS TO TRY AND BLAME OTHERS WITHOUT OFFERING SOMETHING, THAT'S A LUDICROUS PROPOSITION.

I THINK FOLKS KNOW WE WANT O STRIKE THE PROPER BALANCE.

PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT AND IN THEY NEED KNOW LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS A DIFFICULT JOB IN DIFFICULT SITUATIONS ND WE ALSO HAVE O MAKE SURE WE'RE HOLDING FOLKS ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THEY GET IT WRONG AND THAT'S A SIMPLE THING I THINK MOST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGREES TO.

>> Cathy: IT'S A FORMER EDUCATOR I'M CURIOUS WHAT YOU THINK ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH PROTESTS AT VARIOUS COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

THERE WAS THE PROTEST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EARLIER THIS WEEK AROUND THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR.

AND I'M WONDERING WHERE'S THE LINE BETWEEN FREE SPEECH AND SAFETY?

BECAUSE SO MANY JEWISH STUDENTS FEEL UNWELCOME AND UNSAFE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S THE QUESTION.

>> Cathy: WHERE ARE YOU ON THIS?

>> YEAH, WELL I THINK LIKE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY COLLEGE CAMPUS ESPECIALLY IS A PLACE WHERE YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO EXPRESS OPINIONS, YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO CHALLENGE AUTHORITY OR CONVENTIONAL THINKING ON THIS.

BUT IT NEEDS TO BE IN THE WAY THAT A HECKLER'S VETO OR THE IDEA THAT NO ONE ELSE CAN SPEAK ON THESE SITUATIONS.

I THINK HEN JEWISH STUDENTS ARE TELLING US THEY NEED UNSAFE WE NEED TO BELIEVE THEM AND I DO BELIEVE THEM.

I THINK CREATING A SPACE WHERE POLITICAL DISSENT OR RALLYING CAN HAPPEN IS ONE THING.

INTIMIDATION ON ANOTHER IS ANOTHER AND I THINK THESE COLLEGE CAMPUSES HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

I THINK SETTING PARAMETERS IS CORRECT.

I DON'T THINK YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, OCCUPY A SPACE THAT ALLOWS OTHERS NOT TO BE THERE OR NOT TO BE HEARD, SO IT'S A CHALLENGE.

I WILL SAY THIS THAT I THINK ALL OF US AGREE THE SITUATION IN GAZA IS INTOLERABLE.

WHAT HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 7TH WAS INTOLERABLE.

I THINK FOR FOLKS LIKE MYSELF WHO HAVE BEEN THERE, WALKED IN GAZA, BEEN IN ISRAEL, A TWO-STATE SOLUTION AND A WORKABLE SOLUTION HAS TO BE THERE.

THE UNITED STATES NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR THAT.

AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT HUMANITARIAN AID IS GETTING THERE.

SO WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR IS ONE THING, BUT THIS IS A COMPLEX ISSUE THAT IS DEEP AND I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS RESPECTING THAT RIGHTS OF OTHERS, RESPECTING THE DIFFERENCE OPINION ON THIS BUT I DO THINK THERE'S A LOT OF COMMONALITY ON THIS.

WE NEED TO BRING PEACE TO THIS REGION AND THE ONLY WAY THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS TWO-STATE SOLUTION WITH SELF-DETERMINATION.

AND WE CAN CRITICIZE WHERE IF ISRAEL IS OVERSTEPPING THEIR AUTHORITY, WE CAN ALSO CRITICIZE WHERE ANTI-SEMITISM IS SNEAKING INTO THIS DISCUSSION AND MAKE SURE WE KEEP IT IN A PLACE TO FIND A SOLUTION.

>> Eric: HAVE YOU THOUGHT WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN 2026?

ARE YOU GOING TO RUN FOR SENATE, GOVERNOR AGAIN?

CABINET POST?

WHAT -- >> I WAS TRYING TO GET THROUGH THIS WEEK WITH ALL THE NEWS THAT WAS OUT THERE.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU GOT UP YOUR SLEEVE?

>> LOOK, I'M WORKING HARD TO ELECT MORE GOVERNORS THAT ARE DELIVERING THINGS I THINK, FROM EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

RIGHT NOW I'M FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE MINNESOTA'S THE BEST STATE IN THE COUNTRY, WE KEEP HEARING BEST ROADS, SAFEST ROADS, SEEING POSITIVE NEWS.

BUT I'M ENJOYING TELLING MINNESOTA'S STORY.

I'M GETTING ASKED TO GO TALK AT PLACES ABOUT MINNESOTA, NOT NECESSARILY TO TALK ABOUT ME BUT WHAT MY ROLE IS IN IT.

>> Cathy: LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FLANAGAN WAS HERE LAST WEEK AND SHE SAID YOU GUYS HAVEN'T MADE A DECISION ABOUT RUNNING AGAIN.

>> NO, THERE'S NOT TERM LIMITS, I'M SURE YOUR REPUBLICAN VIEWERS ARE NOT HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

MAYBE THAT'S THE NEXT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON TERM LIMITS FOR GOVERNORS.

TRYING TO DO THE BEST WE CAN.

MINNESOTANS WILL DECIDE THAT IF THEY DECIDE AT A TIME AND SAY, LOOK, THEY'LL SPEAK ABOUT IT AND IF WORN OUT OUR WELCOME WE'LL DO THAT TOO.

>> Eric: YOU HAVEN'T RULED IT OUT I WOULD SAY.

>> NO, I HAD A FRIEND AND CONFIDANT TELL ME DON'T EVER TURN DOWN A JOB YOU HAVE NOT BEEN OFFERED.

AND JJ MCCARTHY?

>> I'M THERE, AND I KNOWS IN EVERYBODY, I WAS SAYING MCCARTHY A FEW WEEKS AGO.

I LOVE WATCHING HIM PLAY AT MICHIGAN.

THIS GUY SIMPLY WINS AND AT THE END OF THE DAY SIMPLY WINNING IS WHAT THEY'RE THERE