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

>> Mary: AS WE SEE INSURRECTION AT THE U.S. CAPITOL AND PROTESTORS AT THE MINNESOTA STATE CAPITOL IN THE OPENING WEEK OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THE OH WE'LL CONTEXTUALIZE IT ALL.

>> MEMBERS, THE 2021 COVID ADVENTURE BEGINS.

>> Mary: THAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL."

BLOOM "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TV STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 28 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

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LIUNA: MINNESOTA'S INFRASTRUCTURE UNION, REPRESENTING 12,000 SKILLED CONSTRUCTION LABORERS.

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PLAYING OUR PART BY GENERATING FUNDS FOR MINNESOTA.

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AND THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

>> MARY: WELCOME BACK TO "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" FOR THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I AM HERE IN THE "ALMANAC" STUDIO WHERE WE WILL BE FOR THE FORSEEABLE FUTURE DURING THE ONGOING COVID PANDEMIC.

ON TONIGHT'S SHOW, WE'LL COVER THE OPENING DAY OF SESSION AND MEET ONE OF THE MANY NEW LAWMAKERS WHO WAS SWORN IN EARLIER THIS WEEK.

BUT FIRST, THE HISTORIC AND VIOLENT OCCUPATION OF THE U.S. CAPITOL EARLIER TODAY AS CONGRESS WAS MEETING IN JOINT SESSION TO CERTIFY THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE FOR PRESIDENT-ELECT JOE BIDEN.

AND PROTESTORS GATHERED HERE OUTSIDE THE MINNESOTA STATE CAPITOL, MANY WAVING FLAGS IN SUPPORT OF PRESIDENT TRUMP.

ONE SPEAKER SAID SHE HAD FRIENDS WHO GOT INSIDE THE U.S. CAPITOL, WHICH THE CROWD CHEERED.

HERE IN MINNESOTA, THE STATE PATROL KEPT A STRONG PRESENCE ON SITE.

AUTHORITIES PUT UP BARRICADES FOR MANY BLOCKS SURROUNDING THE CAPITOL COMPLEX.

THE GOVERNOR CANCELLED A NEWS CONFERENCE PLANNED AT A NEARBY LOCATION, AND ALSO CANCELLED HIS PLANNED APPEARANCE ON OUR SHOW TONIGHT.

AS WE GO ON THE AIR WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT 7:00, THINGS ARE MORE PEACEFUL HERE IN MINNESOTA BUT REPORTS OUT OF WASHINGTON, D.C.

INCLUDE A WOMAN SHOT INSIDE THE CAPITOL WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD.

AND CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS HAVE ANNOUNCED THEIR INTENTION TO RETURN TO THE CERTIFICATION OF THE ELECTORAL PLEDGE VOTES TONIGHT, AND AGAIN, AS WE'RE GOING ON AIR HERE, LIVE AT 7:00 p.m., WEDNESDAY NIGHT, WE HIMSELF KNOW THERE ARE IMAGES OF U.S.

SENATORS BEING ESCORTED BACK INTO THE CAPITOL.

WE'RE HIMSELF HEARING MEMBERS ARE GOING TO AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION, AS WELL.

SO IT REALLY ALREADY SEEMS LIKE A LIFETIME AGO BUT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION KICKED OFF JUST A DAY OWING.

AND THAT TOO WAS HISTORIC AND UNPRECEDENCED.

HERE'S A LOOK.

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

>> Mary: THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION LOOKS VERY DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER SESSION IN HISTORY.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THE SESSION IS UNLIKE ANY WE HAVE SEEN BEFORE.

WE ARE STARTING OUT WITH THE MINNESOTA HOUSE OPERATING COMPLETELY REMOTELY.

WE WILL HAVE VERY LIMITED STAFF AND MEMBERS WORKING IN THE STATE CAPITOL BUILDING.

>> Mary: THE DFL-CONTROLLED HOUSE HAS A THAT'SER SYSTEM FOR VOTING WITH FINGERPRINTING DIGITALLY.

THE REPUBLICAN-LED SENATE HAD MEMBERS ON THE FLOOR WITHOUT WEARING MASKS, AFTER LOSING ONE OF THEIR OWN TO COVID.

>> SENATORS, THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM.

>> Mary: AROUND THE CLOSE POLITICAL DIVIDE, THE MANUEVERING CONTINUED TO AVOID ANOTHER LINE OF SUCCESSION CHALLENGE IN CASE THE SENATE PRESIDENT WERE TO BECOME LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AGAIN.

>> WE ACTUALLY SOUGHT OUR NONPARTISAN LEGAL STAFF TO MAKE SURE WE WERE FOLLOWING THE CONSTITUTION AND WITHIN THE CONSTITUTION, AND YET TRYING TO AVOID ANOTHER PITFALL THAT WE HAD JUST I THINK FOUR YEARS AGO.

>> OUTSIDE OF THE CONSTITUTION, WE'RE OUTSIDE OF OUR REELS, OUTSIDE OF CUSTOM AND USAGE.

LITTLE PRECEDENTS FOR YOUR CAUCUS TO BEHAVE IN THAT MANNER.

WE HAD A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SITTING IN THE PRESIDENT'S CHAIR FOR AN ENTIRE SESSION.

>> Mary: SO IF PRESIDENT BIDEN NO, MA'AM NATURES U.S.

SENATOR KLOBUCHAR TOE A POST AND GOVERNOR WELLS APPOINTS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FLANAGAN TO REPLACE KLOBUCHAR, THE FORMER DEMOCRAT WHO'S NOW AN INDEPENDENT SENATOR, TOMASSONI WOULD ASCEND TO LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AS SENATE PRESIDENT.

>> MOTION PREVAILS.

MEMBERS, THE 2021 COVID-ADVENTURE BEGINS.

>> YOUR DUTIES AS A SENATOR.

>> Mary: DOZENS OF NEW MEMBERS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE WILL HAVE TO SOLVE A BUDGET FORTCALL BROUGHT ON BY THE PANDEMIC.

BECAUSE OF THAT, EXPECTATIONS ARE LOWER FOR TAKING ON OTHER ISSUES.

>> WE WILL FIGHT LIKE HELL FOR THE PRINCIPLES THAT WE STAND FOR AND NO DOUBT SENATE REPUBLICANS WILL DO THE SAME.

BUT IN THE END, I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL COMPROMISE AND WE WILL ENACT A BUDGET THAT'S IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF MINNESOTANS.

>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET OUR KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL, THAT WE GET OUR BUSINESSES OPEN SAFELY, THAT WE GET THE VACCINE DISTRIBUTED QUICKLY AND IN AN ORDERLY FASHION SO THAT WE CAN GET THINGS OPENED UP AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND GET BACK TO NORMAL.

♪♪ >> Mary: JOINING ME NOW VIA REMEMBER CAM TO TALK ABOUT AN EVENTFUL FIRST FEW DAYS OF THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND MUCH MORE, WE HAVE DANA FERGUSON WHO WORKS FOR THE FORUM NEWS SERVES COVERING THE CAPITOL FOR A GROUP OF GREATER MINNESOTA NEWSPAPERS.

SO, DANA, IN WE CAN PIVOT TO THE UNEXPECTED NEWS OUT OF Z.C.

TODAY AND TAKE A MINNESOTA ANGLE, WE'RE HEARING FROM MINNESOTA MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, I KNOW YOU COVER PETE STAUBER UP IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU JUST HEARD TONIGHT THAT EVEN HE'S ANNOUNCED HE WILL VOTE TO CERTIFY PRESIDENT-ELECT BIDEN.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM MEMBERS FROM CONGRESS YOU'RE COVERING?

>> BASICALLY, UP UNTIL TODAY, WE'D HAD SOMEWHAT OF RADIO SILENCE ABOUT THE PUBLIC MEMBERS OF MINNESOTA'S DELEGATION, AS YOU MENTIONED, REPRESENTATIVE STAUBER TODAY SAID THAT HE'S WILLING TO CERTIFY.

WE HEARD FROM REPRESENTATIVE FISCHBACH, FRESHMAN MICHELLE FISHBACK OUT OF THE 7th DISTRICT THAT SHE IS NOT PLANNING TO CERTIFY AT THIS TIME.

AS FOR REPRESENTATIVE 'EM MERE, REPRESENTATIVE HAGEDORN, WE'VE STILL NOT HEARD AT THIS POINT.

WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM MEMBERS IS THAT THEY ARE SAFE, THE ONES WHO ARE IN THE CAPITOL AT THE TIME THAT A MOB DESCENDED ON THE BUILDING AND BROKE INTO THE HOUSE CHAMBER, IS THAT THEY'RE ALL SAFE, THAT THEY WERE SHELTERING, BUT THEY WERE FAIRLY SHOOK UP, I THINK, FAIRLY, AFTER THE EVENT THAT OCCURRED TODAY.

AND THEY WERE SHARING ON TWITTER MORE RECENTLY, THEY WERE TAKING PHONE CALLS WITH SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES, JUST TALKING ABOUT THE UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION THAT TOOK PLACE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., TODAY AND SEEMED LIKE MANY OF US ARE STILL COMING TO GRIPS WITH EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.

>> Mary: ABSOLUTELY.

A COUPLE MORE MEMBERS FROM CONGRESS THAT WE'RE HEARING FROM HERE IN THE METRO AND THE SUBURBS, REPRESENTATIVE OMAR, YOU MAY HAVE SEEN HER STATEMENT THAT SHE WANTS TO BEGIN IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE PRESIDENT.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HEARD THE STORY OF REPRESENTATIVE DEAN PHILLIPS ON THE FLOOR TODAY, IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF THIS, HE APPARENTLY TURNED TO SOME OF HIS REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES AND SAID, "YOU DID THIS," AND WAS KIND OF PUTTING THE BLAME ON THEM.

SO THIS IS PERSONAL AND EMOTIONAL, I THINK, FOR A LOT OF LAWMAKERS.

AREN'T YOU SEEMING TO HEAR THAT, AS WELL?

>> IT DOES SEEM THAT WAY, AND ESPECIALLY COMING FROM REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIPS WHO SEEMS TO BE SOMEONE WHO HAS REALLY TRIED TO WORK IN A BIPARTISAN FASHION, BEEN A MEMBER OF THE PROBLEM-SOLVERS CAUCUS, SEEMS SURPRISING TO HEAR SOMETHING OF THAT TONE COME FROM HIM.

BUT HE WAS IN THE CHAMBER WHEN MEMBERS WERE ASKED TO PUT ON THEIR GAS MASKS, TO PREPARE FOR SOMETHING PRETTY DIRE TO HAPPEN AND THEN ASKED TO EVACUATE.

THAT WAS JUST BEFORE INDIVIDUALS OUTSIDE THE CHAMBER WERE SHOOTING INTO THE CHAMBER AND SECURITY GUARDS IN THE CHAMBER WERE SHOOTING BACK OUTWARD, AND AS WE KNOW, THERE'S BEEN CON CONFIRMED FATALITY FROM THE BACK-AND-FORTH THERE, SO I THINK EMOTIONS WERE CERTAINLY RUNNING HIGH AND LIKELY WILL CONTINUE AS DEBATES CONTINUE AT THE CAPITOL.

>> Mary: APPARENTLY, ONE OF THE RECENT IMAGES, AND, AGAIN, IT'S BEEN A DAY OF REALLY STARTLING IMAGES ALL DAY LONG, GAS MACKS, GUNS DRAWN, PEOPLE RAPELLING AND GRABBING FLAGS AND THE SPEAKER'S ROSTRUM, AM OF THAT, ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO WAS REALLY FRONT AND CENTER TODAY WAS SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR.

OUR EYES ARE ON HER AS POLITICAL REPORTERS, WE'VE BEEN WATCHING A POSSIBLE LINE OF SUCCESSION ISSUE AND THIS SEEMS FAR-FETCHED, WHICH WE KNOW IT'S NOT, WE'VE SEEN THIS WHERE WE'VE HAD A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HAVE TO BE REPLACED, WHERE THE SENATE PRESIDENT ELEVATES UP TO LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND LET'S TALK THROUGH THAT BECAUSE THE STATE SENATE TODAY HAD TO PREPARE FOR THE POSSIBILITY THAT SENATOR KLOBUCHAR COULD BE APPOINTED TO A POST WITH PRESIDENT-ELECT BIDEN.

>> RIGHT.

AND DURING THE FIRST DAY OF SESSION, THERE WAS A CONVERSATION AND A LITTLE BIT OF BACK AND FORTH ABOUT WHETHER SENATOR TOMASSONI, WHO'S NOW AN INDEPENDENT, OUGHT TO TAKE ON A TEMPORARY SENATE PRESIDENT ROLE IN THE EVENT THAT AMY KLOBUCHAR WOULD BE ELEVATED IN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, AND THEN LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FLANAGAN WOULD MOVE UP TO THE SENATE SEAT, LEAVING AN OPENING IN THAT POSITION.

AS YOU MENTIONED, WE'VE SEEN IT ALL BEFORE AND SEEMS LIKE SENATE LEADERS ARE GETTING READY FOR ANYTHING THAT MIGHT TAKE PLACE.

>> Mary: YEAH, I KNOW, I HAD TO DOUBLE-CHECK LINE OF SUCCESSION NOT JUST AT THE STATE LEVEL BUT THE FEDERAL LEVEL TODAY, THAT WAS CERTAINLY BEING EXCUSED AND WE'RE GOING -- BEING DISCUSSED AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN I HAVE NOTING TIME WATCHING PRESIDENT HARRIS RESPIED OVER WHAT IS NOW A 50-50 TIE.

INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

AND KLOBUCHAR LOOKS LIKE SHE'LL HAVE A GAVEL AND MINNESOTA, IF SHE REMAINS IN THE SENATE, WILL CERTAINLY PLAY A ROLE, DOESN'T IT SOUND LIKE?

>> IT CERTAINLY DOES, AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING SHE'S BEEN SORT OF PREPARING FOR OR HOPING FOR.

OBVIOUSLY, SINCE SHE ENDED HER RUN FOR PRESIDENT WRITE AT THE LAST SECOND HERE IN MINNESOTA BEFORE THE PRIMARY ELECTION GOT BEHIND BIDEN AND CERTAINLY SHE WOULD SAY, NOW PRESIDENT-ELECT BIDEN WOULD SAY IT MADE A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL DIFFERENCE FOR HIS CAMPAIGN HAVING HERRING BACKING HERE AND HAVING HER SUPPORTERS IN OTHER STATES SEE HER GET BEHIND HIS CAMPAIGN AND BE VERY SUPPORTIVE AT A TIME WHERE HE NEEDED THAT UNITY, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE -- I DON'T THINK HE'LL FORGET THAT SHE DID THAT.

I THINK THEY'RE STILL RELATIVELY CLOSE AND HE COULD LOOK AT HER AND SAY, YOU KNOW, I COULD USE YOU SOMEWHERE IN MY ADMINISTRATION.

>> Mary: AND WHAT ABOUT MORE REACTION THAT WE'RE HEARING FROM LOCAL MINNESOTA POLITICIANS TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN D.C.

I NOTICED THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIR JENNIFER CARNAHAN, SENATE MAJORITY LEADER PAUL GAZELKA, IT SEEMS LIKE MOST OF THE LEADERSHIP FROM THE MINNESOTA REPUBLICAN SIDE ARE REALLY DECRYING THE VIOLENCE AND THE ACTS IN WASHINGTON, EVEN THOUGH PRESIDENT TRUMP, YOU MAY HAVE HEARD HIS REMARKS TODAY, SAID HE LOVES THE PATRIOTS.

HE HAD ADDRESSED THEM EARLIER.

THIS SOUNDS LIKE MINNESOTA REPUBLICANS ARE SPLITTING WITH THE PRESIDENT ON THIS ONE.

>> THEY CERTAINLY ARE, AND THE MESSAGE THAT WE'VE LARGELY HEARD FROM REPUBLICANS, AT LEAST IN OUR STATE, IS THAT THEY JUST WANT THE VIOLENCE TO STOP.

THEY DON'T CONDONE THE PROTESTS THAT END UP BECOMING VIOLENT, THAT END UP CAUSING DAMAGE OR RIOTING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THERE ARE SOME WHO HAVE BEEN POINTING TO THEM AND SAYING, WELL, YOU ENABLED SOME OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WITH YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE PRESIDENT WHEN HE WAS MAKING THESE COMMENTS AND SAYING THAT THESE PEOPLE SHOULD BE PROTESTING OR TAKING TO THE STREETS.

BUT NOW THEY'RE SORT OF WALKING IT BACK AND THEY'RE SAYING, THIS IS NOT WHAT WE MEANT.

WE DON'T WANT TO SEE VIOLENCE AND CERTAINLY WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE CAPITOL IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN SUPPORT.

>> AND FINALLY, DANA, THE NEWS OF THE DAY REALLY GOT ECLIPSED, WE THOUGHT WE WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT THE GOVERNOR RELAXING SOME COVID RESTRICTIONS.

WHAT'S YOUR QUICK REACTION ON WHAT HE DECIDED TODAY?

>> SURE.

AS YOU MENTIONED, EVERYONE WAS PRETTY READY FOR THAT ANNOUNCEMENT COMING TODAY, AS WAS MANY, THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF PREPARATION FOR IT, SLOW ROLLING UP TO IT.

RESTAURANTS AND BARS GOT EXCITING NEWS TODAY, THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO REOPEN FOR INDOOR SERVICE AT 50% CAPACITY WITH SOME LIMITS ON TABLES, HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN SIT TOGETHER.

MUSEUMS, BOWLING ALLEYS, MOVIE THEATERS, THAT KIND OF THING WILL ALSO REOPEN WITH LIMITED CAPACITY.

WEDDING CEREMONIES AND PARTIES CAN TAKE PLACE BUT VERY SMALL GROUPS FOR THOSE, AND OVERALL, THE GOVERNOR AND STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS SAID, THINGS ARE LOOKING BETTER, THEY'RE HOPEFUL THAT MINNESOTANS CAN REMAIN VIGILANT, WEAR MASKS, WASH HANDS, SOCIAL DISTANCE AND TRY TO KEEP THINGS RELATIVELY SAFE AS THESE NEW STEPS TAKE PLACE.

AND AS VACCINES START ROLLING OUT.

>> Mary: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME JUMPING ON WITH US TODAY, DANA FERGUSON.

>> SURE THING.

THANKS, MARY.

♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ >> MARY: THERE WERE A LOT OF NEW FACES SWORN IN ON OPENING DAY THIS YEAR.

WE'RE GOING TO SPEND A LITTLE TIME GETTING TO KNOW SOME OF THEM EACH WEEK THIS SEASON.

FIRST UP, A YOUNG HARVARD-EDUCATED STATE REPRESENTATIVE WITH SOME BIG SHOES TO FILL.

REPRESENTATIVE RASMUSSEN, FIRST OF ALL, TELL US WHY YOU RAN FOR OFFICE >> >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, MARY.

THE REASON I DECIDED TO RUN FOR OFFICE, THE REASON WHEN BUD NORNES WHO HAD REPRESENTED US FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS IN THE HOUSE, SAT ME DOWN AND SAID HE WAS THINKING ABOUT RETIRING AND ASKED ME TO RUN.

SO THAT SPURRED THE CONVERSATION WITH ME AND MY NOW-WIFE EMMA ABOUT THIS IS SOMETHING WE WANTED TOGETHER AND DO, AND ULTIMATELY WE DECIDED THAT WE WANTED TO BE A PART OF THIS PROCESS AND WE REALLY CARE ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT MINNESOTA IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND RAISE A FAMILY.

MY FAMILY'S LIVED HERE IN MINNESOTA FOR SIX GENERATIONS AND SO I'M HONORED TO BE REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE OF OTTER TAIL COUNTY DOWN AT THE MINNESOTA HOUSE.

>> Mary: SO YOU'VE BEEN IN FERGUS A LONG TIME, SO YOU KNOW NORNES AND WHAT IS IT LIKE IN FOLLOWING THE FOOTSTEPS -- KIND OF A LEGENDS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> ONE OF THE KEYS TO OUR SUCCESS, MARY, DURING THE CAMPAIGN AND HOPEFULLY THE FIRST SESSION, BUD HAS BEEN AN AMAZING MENTOR TO ME IN TERMS OF HELPING ME THINK THROUGH WHAT A FIRST-TERM LEGISLATOR SHOULD BE DOING, AND FOR ME, ONE OF THE BIG TAKE-AWAYS FROM REPRESENTATIVE NORNES HAS JUST BEEN THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING PRESENT IN THE COMMUNITY, REACHING OUT TO EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY, TO GETTING INPUT ON THE KEY ISSUES THAT WILLIE BE DEBATING IN THE MINNESOTA HOUSE.

AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT LEGACY OF STAYING CLOSE TO THE PEOPLE THAT I'LL BE REPRESENTING.

NOW, YOUR COMMUNITY HAS A REPUTATION FOR KIND OF BEING BIPARTISAN, YOUR MAYOR MAKES SOME NEWS.

IT'S A REALLY INTERESTING COMMUNITY SO TELL ME ABOUT YOUR ATTITUDE ABOUT PARTISANSHIP IN THIS REALLY DIFFICULT TIME.

>> YOU KNOW, FOR ME WHEN I WAS OUT TALKING TO THE VOTERS OVER THE COURSE OF THE CAMPAIGN, THEY CARE A LOT MORE ABOUT YOUR VALUES THAN THEY NECESSARILY DO YOUR PARTISANSHIP.

AND WHAT I REALLY HEARD WHEN I WAS OUT DOOR-KNOCKING, ON PHONE CALLS, ZOOM MEETINGS WITH VOTERS, THEY WANT SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM-SOLVER, AND I WAS ABLE TO TALK ABOUT MY BACKGROUND IN THE BUSINESS WORLD, BOTH AS A FINANCIAL ANALYST AND A MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT AND SAY THOSE ARE THE SKILLS THAT WE NEED IN A LEGISLATOR TO HELP FIGURE OUT ISSUES LIKE OUR STATE BUDGET DEFICIT AND ENSURING THAT MINNESOTA TAXPAYERS ARE GETTING A GOOD RETURN ON THEIR INVESTMENT.

SO THEY WERE MUCH MORE INTERESTED IN UNDERSTANDING WHAT MY VALUES WERE AND HOW I WAS GOING TO APPROACH PROBLEMS THAN NECESSARILY MY PARTY IDENTIFICATION.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT YOUR CHALLENGES IN PARTICULAR, I'VE BEEN UP THERE DOING A SERIES OF REPORTS ON THE ENORMOUS FASCINATING FORMER STATE HOSPITAL YOU HAVE UP THERE AND I KNOW FOLKS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH IT AND IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGING ECONOMY FOR YOU THERE.

>> YES, SO WHEN IT COMES TO THE STATE HOSPITAL, I THINK IT'S A UNIQUE ASSET THAT WE HAVE HERE IN OTTER TAIL COUNTY, IN THE CITY OF FERGUS FALLS, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH OUR LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TOLL, OVER THE LONG TERM, HOPEFULLY REDEVELOP THAT SITE AND USE IT AS AN ECONOMIC CATALYST, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST FOR FERGUS FALLS BUT HOPEFULLY FOR THE REGION.

THERE ISN'T GOING TO BE AN EASY ANSWER OR SOLUTION, BUT THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US BOTH AT THE STATE CAPITOL AND HERE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO TAKE A LONG-TERM VIEW ABOUT WHAT'S POSSIBLE.

I WOULD SAY SOME OF THE OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES FOR PEOPLE HERE IN OTTER TAIL COUNTY IS MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW, AND FROM TALKING WITH A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT MINNESOTA'S COMPETITIVENESS FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE.

WE'RE A VERY CLOSE DRIVE TO NORTH DAKOTA AND SO WE'RE COMPETING, NOT JUST FOR BUSINESSES AND INVESTMENT DOLLARS BUT EACH MORE IMPORTANTLY, FOR THE WORKFORCE AND WHAT ARE WE DOING TO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ATTRACTING YOUNG FAMILIES, ENTREPRENEURS, BUSINESSES SO THAT PEOPLE CAN LIVE, WORK AND RAISE A FAMILY RIGHT HERE IN OTTER TAIL COUNTY.

SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE KEY ISSUES THAT I'VE HEARD DURING MY CAMPAIGN.

>> MARY: JOINING ME NOW VIA WEBCAM TO TALK ABOUT AN THE EVENTS IS PROFESSOR DAVID SCHULTZ WHO TEACHES AT THE U OF M. THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT LANGUAGE.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO KNOW.

WHAT WORDS DO WE DESCRIBE THIS?

TODAY WE'RE HEARING SEDITION, INSURRECTION, TREES ON, TERRORISM, WHICH WORDS ARE APPROPRIATE TO DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED IN D.C. TODAY?

>> I FIRST START WITH THE WORD HISTORIC AND THE SECOND WORD I WOULD DO IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN INIS YOUR RECOLLECTION, REBELLION.

WORDS ALONG THAT LINE BECAUSE THIS WAS NOT LEGITIMATE FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTED FREE SPEECH OR DEMONSTRATION, IT WAS SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT.

THIS IS WHAT, THE TAKEOVER OF THE STATE CAPITOL, UNFORTUNATELY WE FOUND OUT A WOMAN DIED TODAY BECAUSE SHE WAS SHOT.

THIS CROSSED THE LIVEN FROM, AGAIN, PROTECTED FREE SPEECH TO CRIMINAL ACTIONS THAT WERE HERE AND AT SOME POINT ONE HAS TO BE THINKING ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF CRIMINAL CONSEQUENCES HAVE TO BE PAID FOR WHAT HAPPENED TODAY.

>> Mary: AND WHAT CONSEQUENCES FOR THE PRESIDENT.

LET'S START THERE.

HE ADDRESSED THE RALLY, HE SAID HE LOVES THESE FOLKS, CALLED THEM PATRIOTS.

FOLKS ARE TALKING ABOUT THE 25th AMENDMENT.

IS THAT A POSSIBILITY HERE?

>> IT IS A POSSIBILITY.

THE 25th AMENDMENT WOULD ALLOW FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT AND HIS CABINET TO DECLARE THAT HE'S NO LONGER FIT TO SERVE IN OFFICE AND TO REMOVE HIM, PRACTICALLY IMMEDIATELY, OR TEMPORARILY, AND THEY COULD DO THIS BASICALLY REMOVE HIM FOR THE REMAINING, WHAT, 15 DAYS THAT HE'LL BE IN OFFICE.

THAT'S A POSSIBILITY.

I'M HEARING SOME PEOPLE SAY, WELL, IMPEACH AND HOLD ANOTHER TRIAL AND REMOVE HIM.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO MOVE IN 15 DAYS BUT CLEARLY, I THINK, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF ISSUES TO THINK ABOUT HERE, IS GOING FORWARD FOR THE NEXT 15 DAYS, AFTER THE TYPE OF LANGUAGE HE'S REALLY SORT OF UTTERED IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, AND IN MANY WAYS ENABLING THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR, WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT WHAT ARE THE CHECKS IN PLACE FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS WITH A PRESIDENT WHO STILL IS SAYING AT THIS POINT THESE ARE MY FRIENDS, I ENCOURAGE YOU, THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

THIS RAISES A LARGER QUESTION, ALSO, ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE'RE ONE OF THE FEW COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD THAT, AFTER THERE IS AN ELECTION AND THE PRESIDENT OR PRIME MINISTER HAS BEEN DEFEATED, WE DON'T LIMIT THAT PERSON'S POWERS.

MOST OTHER COUNTRIES, THEY HAVE CARE-TAKER ROLES SO WE MAY BE WANTING TO THINK ABOUT THAT AS AN ISSUE, ALSO, BUT WE CLEARLY HAVE, I THINK FOR MANY OF US, A CONCERN THAT THE PRESIDENT -- IF I CAN SORT OF USE RELIGIOUS LANGUAGE HERE, REALLY HASN'T SORT OF REPENTED TO REALIZE THAT THE LANGUAGE THAT HE USED HAS RECOMMENDING' INCITED WHAT HAPPENED TODAY.

>> Mary: TALK ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S MAIN MEANS OF COMMUNICATION, REALLY, TWITTER IS HOW HE COMMUNICATES WITH THE PUBLIC AND TODAY HIS TWEETS WERE FLAGGED, REMOVED AND APPARENTLY NOW HE'S BEEN LOCKED OUT.

THIS IS ALL UNPRECEDENTED, ISN'T IT?

>> IT IS, AND THERE IS A REASON WHY -- YOU KNOW HOW UNPRECEDENTED IT IS, THERE IS A REASON WHY USUALLY ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE PEOPLE LIKE PRESS AGENTS OR THEY HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE SPOKESMEN FOR THEM, THEY WANT TO FILTER THE STUFF AND WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAS DONE HERE HAS GONE UNMEDIATED DIRECTLY TO TALK TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AND THAT'S BEEN SORT OF HIS STRENGTH BUT THE OTHER HAND, ONE OF THE REAL DANGERS IS HE'S ENCOURAGED THIS TYPE OF UNFETTERED POPULIST HIM WHICH REALLY IN MANY SITUATIONSY DANGEROUS.

AND WE SEE THAT TODAY, CLEARLY IN TERMS OF WHAT THE REPERCUSSIONS ARE OF USING THE TYPE OF HATEFUL LANGUAGE AND OF USING THE KIND OF SORT OF INSCEND EAR APPEALS TO HIS BASE, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT WE START TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE SHOULD BE PLACING, AGAIN, MORE RESTRICTIONS OR THINKING ABOUT HOW PRESIDENTS NEED TO BE WORKING NOT IN THIS DIRECTLY MEDIATED WAY BUT, AGAIN, THROUGH A FILTERED MECHANISM FOR COMMUNICATING WITH THE PUBLIC.

>> Mary: FINALLY, WHAT ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONAL ROLE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT IN ALL OF THIS, THE CURRENT VICE PRESIDENT, PENCE, PRESIDING OVER THE CERTIFICATION, THE DISCUSSION AND VOTES ARE BEGINNING AGAIN IN D.C., AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT PRESIDING OVER A 50-50 SPLIT SENATE.

IS THIS UNPRECEDENTED OR UNUSUAL?

>> WELL, TWO THINGS FIRST.

TECHNICALLY TODAY, WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN IS THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT'S ROLE WAS REALLY SUPPOSED TO BE MORE CEREMONIAL, KIND OF LIKE THE PERSON OPENING UP THE ENVELOPE AT THE ACADEMY AWARDS SAYING, AND THE WINNER IS... VICE PRESIDENTS DON'T REALLY HAVE MUCH AUTHORITY HERE T.DO ANYTHING, BUT GOING FORWARD, THIS IS GOING TO BE ONLY THE THIRD TIME IN AMERICAN HISTORY THAT IT'S BEEN SPLIT WITH 50-50 OR EVEN-STEVEN IN TERMS OF PARTISAN CONTROL, WHERE THE VICE PRESIDENT IS GOING TO HAVE A MORE ACTIVE ROLE AND WE'RE GOING TO START TO SEE, PERHAPS, YET A NEW REDEFINITION OF WHAT ROLE THE VICE PRESIDENCY HAS, MUCH IN THE SAME WAY THAT VICE PRESIDENT WALTER MONDALE DID THE SAME THING.

>> Mary: OKAY.

PROFESSOR SCHULTZ FROM THE U OF M AND HAMLIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

WE WILL BE BACK AGAIN NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT, I'LL BE JOINED BY SENATE LEADERS AND WE'LL MEET A NEW-COMBER IN THE STATE SENATE.

UNTIL THEN, YOU CAN HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE, TPT.ORG/AATC, WATCH ANY OF OUR SHOWS, INCLUDING TONIGHT'S.

YOU CAN STREAM US LIVE AND FOLLOW US ALL WEEK ON FACEBOOK.

LOOK FOR LEGISLATIVE UPDATES AND MORE FROM OUR TEAM ON TWITTER.

THAT'S ALL AT TPT.ORG/AATC.

DON'T FORGET, WHEN THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION, YOU CAN FOLLOW HOUSE AND SENATE FLOOR ACTION, COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND MORE, ALL DAY EVERY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY ON THE PBS STATION YOU ARE WATCHING RIGHT NOW.

MAKE SURE TO TUNE IN TO "ALMANAC" FRIDAY NIGHT.

ERIC AND CATHY WILL TALK WITH INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERT MICHAEL OSTERHOLM, LEGISLATIVE LEADERS HORTMAN AND GAZELKA... AND I'LL SHOW YOU HOW SOME FRESHMEN AND VETERAN LAWMAKERS ARE FINDING POSITIVES IN PANDEMIC...

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

"ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TV STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: POWERING WHAT'S POSSIBLE.

MANITOBA HYDRO: PROVIDING CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY TO MINNESOTA UTILITIES FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS.

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINE3US.

LIUNA: MINNESOTA'S INFRASTRUCTURE UNION, REPRESENTING 12,000 SKILLED CONSTRUCTION LABORERS.

LIUNAMINNESOTA.ORG.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY.

PLAYING OUR PART BY GENERATING FUNDS FOR MINNESOTA.

IF YOU'RE GAME, JUST SAY I'M IN.

AND THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

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