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

>> Cathy: COMING UP ON "ALMANAC" CITY HALL TRANSITIONS IN THE CAPITAL CITY, A NEW EXHIBIT AT THE HISTORY CENTER WHICH IS FANTASTICS, A TANE DANGER HANKSGIVING ESSAY, PLENTY OF POLITICS AND MARY LAHAMMER LOOKS CONTINUES HER LOOK AT BRIDGING THE POLITICAL DIVIDE.

>> CIVILITY WAS AT THE CENTER OF CONGRESSMAN JIM RAM STEAD'S WORK.

FOLLOWS AN ACT OF CONGRESS NAMING THIS POST OFFICE AFTER HIM.

WE'LL HAVE THE STORY ON THE LATEST EFFORT.

>> HE PRACTICED CIVILITY.

HE WAS ALWAYS A BIPARTISAN LEADER, WHICH NOW I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF YOU CAN FIND THEM ANYMORE.

>> WE DON'T HAVE MODELS ANYMORE THAT ARE MODELING A PASSION FOR PUBLIC SERVICE AND A PASSION FOR HOW YOU TREAT ONE ANOTHER.

>> 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 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH ITS MEMBER-OWNER COOPERATIVES AND CUSTOMERS.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH AND HELPING COMMUNITIES THRIVE.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

>> Cathy: COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR WE'LL TALK WITH A POLITICAL SCIENTIST DUO ABOUT THE LATEST IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

FRED MELO FROM THE "ST.

PAUL PIONEER PRESS" BRINGS US UP TO SPEED ON THE TRANSITION PLANS IN THE ST.

PAUL MAYOR'S OFFICE.

MARY LAHAMMER HIGHLIGHTS ONE OF FORMER CONGRESSMAN JIM RAMSTAD'S LEGACIES.

>> Eric: AND WE START TONIGHT WITH THE DELAYED U.S.

JOBS REPORT FROM THURSDAY.

THE SEPTEMBER NUMBERS SHOW MORE JOB GAINS, BUT ALSO AN INCREASE IN UNEMPLOYMENT.

AND WITH NO OCTOBER NUMBERS OUT YET, THE OVERALL ECONOMIC OUTLOOK IS UNCLEAR.

LOUIS JOHNSTON IS BACK TO HELP US SORT THROUGH ALL OF THIS AS WE HEAD INTO THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON.

HE TEACHES ECONOMICS AT THE COLLEGE OF ST.

BEN'S AND ST.

JOHN'S UNIVERSITY.

WELL, PROFESSOR, THERE IS MISSING DATA.

BUT WHAT DOES THE FED DO NOW WITH THE UNEMPLOYMENT ABOVE THAT 3% THRESHOLD >> I THINK THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION.

RIGHT NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THE FED IS KIND OF DIVIDED THE BOARD BETWEEN SOME WHO WANT TO CUT THE RATE AND SOME WHO WANT TO WAIT 'TIL WE GET SOME MORE DATA.

SO RIGHT NOW IT'S 50/50 ON WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO.

>> Cathy: ARE YOU WORRIED THIS UNEMPLOYMENT RATE'S AT IA FOUR-YEAR HIGH, I KNOW THESE FIGURES ARE OLD BUT THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE'S AT A FOUR-YEAR HIGH?

>> NO, ACTUALLY I'M NOT, IT'S AT 4.4%.

IF YOU HAD ASKED TEN YEARS AGO, EVERYBODY WOULD HAVE BEEN GOING, HOARY, IT'S FANTASTIC.

I'M NOT TOO WORRIED ABOUT THAT.

I'M WORRIED ABOUT PEOPLE NOT BEING ABLE TO GET JOBS WHO ARE OUT THERE LOOKING FOR THEM.

>> Cathy: OKAY.

SO LET'S THOUGH TALK ABOUT SOME OF THESE BIG LAYOFFS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING.

THAT DOESN'T GIVE YOU PAUSE?

>> EXACTLY.

THAT'S WHAT BOTHER DOLLARSED ME BUT THEY HAVEN'T HAPPENED YET THAT'S WHY THEY HAVEN'T SHOWN UP IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS.

PEOPLE HAVEN'T LOST THEIR OBS, THEY HAVE ANNOUNCED THE LAYOFFS.

AND PART OF WHAT'S GOING ON IS NOT UST LAYING PEOPLE OFF BUT NOT DOING NEW HIRES.

>> Eric: THIS IS AN EFFECT FROM ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE?

>> PARTLY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

PARTLY FROM JUST BEING CAUTIOUS WITH ALL OF THE UNCERTAINTY FROM TARIFFS, WITH LACK OF DATA AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THE WAY I LIKE TO THINK OF IT IS THAT THE JOB MARKET IS KIND OF FROZEN.

PEOPLE ARE JUST HOLDING BACK, THEY'RE NOT FIRING PEOPLE BUT THEY'RE NOT HIRING PEOPLE EITHER.

>> Cathy: INVIDIA IS VERY INTERESTING, SPEAKING OF AI, THE CHIP MAKER, THEY'RE ON FIRE WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR STOCK PRICE BUT I WONDER IF THERE IS AN AI BUBBLE THAT'S ABOUT READY TO BURST.

>> THE PROBLEM WITH BUBBLES IS YOU DON'T KNOW THEY'RE ONE UNTIL THEY POP.

BUT I AM WORRIED ABOUT IT AND THE REASON I'M WORRIED ABOUT IT IS THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THINGS LIKE THE AMOUNT OF INVESTMENT SPENDING THAT BUSINESSES ARE DOING ON BUILDINGS AND COMPUTERS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, ALMOST ALL OF IT IS IN THE AI SECTOR.

AND THAT DISTURBS ME BECAUSE IT'S NOT HAPPENING IN THE OTHER SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY.

IF AI STARTS TO PULL BACK, THAT'S GOING TO PULL A LOT OF THE REST OF THE ECONOMY DOWN WITH IT.

>> Eric: AT LAST REPORT CONSUMER CONFIDENCE WAS WAY DOWN.

WE ENTER THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON THIS COMING WEEK.

WHAT IS THE PROGNOSIS >> YES.

WELL, THE PROGNOSIS RIGHT NOW IS THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF SALES THAT WILL PROBABLY GO UP.

BUT SINCE PRICES ARE UP, THE AMOUNT THAT PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY BUYING PROBABLY IS GOING TO STAY THE SAME AND GO DOWN.

SO IF YOU THINK OF A BASKET WITH STUFF IN IT, THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE FEWER ITEMS IN THE BASKET THAT COST MORE.

>> Eric: FARM ECONOMY?

>> FARM ECONOMY IS IN DEEP TROUBLE.

RIGHT NOW EVERYTHING THAT I'VE BEEN READING IS THAT FARMERS ARE SELLING AT A PRICE LESS THAN WHAT THEIR PRODUCTION COSTS ARE.

AND SO AND IF THEY CAN SELL IT.

SO THAT IS GOING TO LEAD TO PROBLEMS GETTING BANK LOANS,, IT'S GOING TO PUT PEOPLE IN DEBT.

I'M VERY WORRIED ABOUT THAT.

>> Cathy: WE OF COURSE COVERED THE FARM CRISIS IN THE '80s WHERE TRACTORCADES WERE RINGING THE STATE CAPITOL IN ST.

PAUL.

REALLY A TOUGH TIME WITH ALL OF THE FORECLOSURES.

ARE YOU THINKING THAT COULD BE ON THE HORIZON?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THAT COULD BE BUT I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT P BECAUSE IT'S CONNECTED TO THAT.

WHEN WE'VE SPEND THE PAST 40-PLUS YEARS DOING IS IN REACTION TO THAT COLLAPSE.

WITH THIS TARIFF REGIME WE'VE BASICALLY TORN ALL THAT DOWN AND NOT BUILT ANYTHING NEW UP.

IT'S NOT CLEAR WHAT KIND OF FARM ECONOMY WE'RE GOING FARM ECONOMY WE'RE GOI GOING TOF WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ONE BASED ON EXPERTS.

>> Cathy: I WANT TO GO BACK TO HOLIDAY SHOPPING FOR JUST A SECOND AND CIRCLE BACK IN A MOMENT.

IS IT AS IMPORTANT AS IT ONCE WAS?

THERE WAS ALL THIS ATTENTION ON WHAT CONSUMERS ARE GOING TO SPEND AND HOW IMPORTANT HOLIDAY SHOPPING IS FOR BUSINESSES.

STILL THE CASE, RIGHT?

>> IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE RETAILERS BUT OR THE ECONOMY AS A WHOLE, NO, BECAUSE PEOPLE SPREAD THEIR PURCHASES OUT OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR SO IT'S NOT GOING TO DECIDE WHETHER THE ECONOMY BOOMS OR BUSTS BUT IT IS GOING TO DECIDE WHETHER COMPANIES LIKE TARGET, WAL-MART, OUTFITS LIKE THAT, WHETHER THEY HAVE A GOOD YEAR OR NOT.

>> Eric: DO WE KNOW IF TARIFFS ARE DOING WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO, OR?

>> WELL, THEY ARE IN THE SENSE THAT IMPORTS ARE DOWN SO WE'RE IMPORTING A LOT FEWER GOODS FROM JAPAN, HINA AND THE PLACES WE'VE GOT DATA ON.

>> Eric: U.S.

MANUFACTURING THEN?

>> THAT'S THE QUESTION, IS MANUFACTURING IN THE U.S.

GOING TO RESPOND TO IT, AND SO FAR, NO.

>> Eric: WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN?

>> WELL, I THINK WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IS YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT DOES AMERICAN MANUFACTURING NEED IN ORDER TO COME BACK AND CUTTING OFF SUPPLIES FROM ABROAD IS NOT THE WAY TO DO IT.

YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THESE SUPPLY CHAINS.

AND THAT'S, THEY'RE OT THINKING THROUGH THAT IN WASHINGTON.

>> Cathy: OKAY, WE MIGHT NOT SEE YOU BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF THE YEAR SO WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BE LOOKING, IN YOUR CRYSTAL BALL FOR >> I'M GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR WHETHER THE FED CUTS RATES OR NOT.

I'M GOING TO BE LOOKING OR WHAT HAPPENS TO THE INFLATION NUMBERS WHEN WE FINALLY GET THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET AN OCTOBER INFLATION REPORT, THEY'RE GOING TO SKIP STRAIGHT TO NOVEMBER.

GOING TO SEE WHETHER THAT'S HOLDING STEADY OR GOING UP.

>> Eric: ARE INTEREST RATES HELPING THE HOUSING MARKET?

>> A LITTLE BIT RIGHT NOW.

AND THAT'S WHY I THINK THE FED IS SPLIT.

THEY'RE WORRIED THAT IF THEY DON'T CUT RATES THAT'S GOING TO NOT HELP THE HOUSING MARKET, THAT'S GOING TO MAYBE PREVENT SOME JOBS FROM GROWING.

AND THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN IS, YEAH, BUT IF WE CUT THOSE INTEREST RATES WE MIGHT CREATE INFLATION AND THAT WILL HURT BOTH OF THOSE THINGS.

>> Eric: HAPPY HOLIDAYS, THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YA.

♪ >> Cathy: ANOTHER BUSY WEEK IN WASHINGTON D.C.

AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO REOPEN AFTER THE LONGEST SHUTDOWN IN HISTORY.

AMONG THE MANY NEWS ITEMS THIS WEEK, PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNED THE BILL TO RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES, HE CALLED SOME DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TRAITORS AND MULTIPLE COURT RULINGS WERE OUT AGAIN THIS WEEK.

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

ALWAYS HAPPY TO HAVE HER DRIVE ALL THE WAY DOWN I35 TO JOIN US.

LARRY JACOBS TOILS AWAY AT THE U OF M'S TWIN CITIES CAM CAMPUS WHERE HE HEADS UP THE HUMPHREY SCHOOL CENTER FOR POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH.

PROFESSOR RUGELEY, PRESIDENT MET WITH THE INCOMING NEW YORK CITY MAYOR, MAMDANI TODAY.

KIND OF INTERESTING MEETING.

PRESIDENT AND NEW YORK CITY MAYOR.

WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF IT?

>> THAT WAS SOMETHING.

IT WAS A SWEET FEST, LIKE WERE VERY NICE AND RESPECTFUL TO EACH OTHER.

IT WAS SURPRISING AND I MEAN I LISTENED TO IT ON THE RADIO ND I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT 12 YEARS AGO THIS WOULD BE WHAT WAS EXPECTED BUT IT'S NOT ANYMORE WHERE THEY HAVE THIS NICE CONVERSATION AND EVERYTHING.

AND, YOU KNOW, I SUSPECT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENING IS THAT FOLKS THINK THAT THE MAYOR-ELECT WON, YOU KNOW, GOT WHAT HE WANTED OUT OF IT AND THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS PLAYED.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST THE NATURE OF THEIR TWO BASES AND HOW THEY RESPOND TO THINGS.

WHERE, YOU KNOW, SEEMS LIKE TRUMP'S BASE WANTS, HIT HIM IN THE FACE AND MAMDANI'S IS SAYING, ALL RIGHT, YOU PLAYED IT.

>> Cathy: SEEMS LIKE THOUGH THE PRESIDENT TOOK THE AIR OUT OF THE BALLOONS OF SOME OF THE MAGA FOLKS WHO WERE NOT TERRIBLY IMPRESSED WITH THE MAYOR-ELECT, WORRIED ABOUT HIM.

>> OH, YEAH, FOR SURE.

MAMDANI'S GOING TO BECOME THE POSTER CHILD FOR THE FAR LEFT AND REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO BE RUNNING AGAINST THIS FOR THREE YEARS AT LEAST.

FOUR YEARS.

MAMDANI'S TERM.

BUT THE THING I FIND INTERESTING IS DONALD TRUMP'S BIG PROBLEM RIGHT NOW IS AFFORDABILITY.

AND THAT WAS MAMDANI'S WHOLE CAMPAIGN.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN LOOK AT THIS AND SAY, OH, THAT'S ANOTHER WEIRD TRUMP EXPERIENCE.

BUT I GIVE TRUMP A LOT MORE CREDIT THAN THAT.

I THINK HE REALIZES HE HAS TO KIND OF FIND A WAY TO RUN IN FRONT OF THIS PARADE, AND YOU KNOW, WELCOMING MAMDANI, WELCOMING THAT AGENDA IS A WAY TO TRY TO START.

I THINK HE'S GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO BUT IT WAS A SHREWD MOVE I THINK.

>> NOW THAT THE SMOKE HAS CLEARED A LITTLE BIT FROM THE EPSTEIN FILES BEING SIGNED INTO LAW.

I'M READING THERE ARE LOOPHOLES LIKE CRAZY THAT COULD PREVENT A FULL AIRING OF THE SITUATION.

IS THAT FAIR?

>> YEAH, THAT IS FAIR.

AND I THINK THAT LARRY AND I BOTH AGREE IT'S NOT AS BAD FOR THE DEMOCRATS AS IT'S BEING PAINTED.

FOR THE FIRST TIME THEY ARE DISCUSSING, YOU KNOW, THE CUT AND THE SUBSIDIES.

I THINK THAT WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED.

IT WASN'T SOMETHING WHERE THERE WAS AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION TO ELIMINATE THE SUBSIDIES, THEY JUST DIDN'T RENEW THEM.

SO, YEAH, THERE'S PLENTY OF THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT SUBSIDIES WON'T GET RELEASED.

OH, YEAH -- BUT I THINK IT'S ON THE EPSTEIN FILES I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE THE RIAL, I THINK THEY'RE JUST GOING TO SAY THAT WE'RE INVESTIGATING, INVESTIGATING IS STILL ALIVE.

>> Eric: IS IT GOING TO GO AWAY?

>> NO.

>> Eric: NOT BE AN ISSUE?

>> I MEAN, WELL, DONALD TRUMP'S PROBLEM IS HE'S GOT A POSE AFTER HIM.

AND PART OF THEM ARE HIS BASE, REPUBLICANS ARE DEMANDING WHAT THEY CALL TRANSPARENCY.

AND IF DONALD TRUMP REALLY FOLLOWS THROUGH IN TRANSPARENCY THE FILES ILL BY ALL ACCOUNTS HAVE A LOT ABOUT HIM.

THAT'S JUST GOING TO FEED THIS, YOU KNOW, FEEDING FRENZY.

AND THEN YOU OT THE DEMOCRATS WHO SEE THIS AS A TERRIFIC WAY TO KNOCK TRUMP DOWN.

IN FACT I THINK THIS MAY BE, IT'S ONE OF THED WORST MONTHS THAT I CAN RECALL A PRESIDENT HAVING.

WE'VE GOT EPSTEIN, WHICH IS MOBILIZING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AGAINST TRUMP, AND THE BIG, ONE OF THE BIG VARIABLES COMING UP IN THE '26 ELECTION IS GOING TO BE TURNOUT OF THE REPUBLICANS AND WITH THIS IT'S GOING TO GO THE OTHER WAY.

THIS IS GOING TO BE DEMOBILIZING.

BUT THE OTHER PART OF THIS IS DONALD TRUMP HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT HE WANTS THE CLINTONS INVESTIGATED AND IT'S JUST A SETUP FOR THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO SAY, OOPS, WE CAN'T RELEASE EVERYTHING BECAUSE IT WOULD VIOLATE OUR RULES WHILE WE'RE CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION.

EVERYONE KNOWS THAT'S COMING.

AND IT'S JUST GOING TO FEED INTO THE SENSE THAT DONALD TRUMP IS NOT OLLOWING THROUGH WITH THE TRANSPARENCY.

>> YOU KNOW, AND I THINK THAT THERE'S, HIS BASE IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU'D EXPECT.

I MEAN, THEY REALLY EXPECT SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN YOU EXPECT FROM TRADITIONAL PRESIDENTS.

I MEAN, ON THIS ONE, DEALING WITH THE EPSTEIN FILES IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE IT GOES INTO THIS WHOLE ARGUMENT THAT THERE'S TWO SETS OF RULES.

THOSE FOR THE RICH AND POWERFUL, AND I THINK TRUMP IS ALWAYS SEEN AS A GUY THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT ON THAT.

THAT, YOU KNOW, HE LOOKED OUT FOR THEM.

AND, YEAH, THERE'S A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CONSPIRACY THEORIES THAT GO ITH IT BUT I DO THINK A LOT OF IT DEALS WITH THE FACT THAT THEY EXPECT HIM TO BE DIFFERENT AS FAR AS THAT.

>> Cathy: WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THE SEDITION COMMENTS THAT HE MADE IN REFERENCE TO SEVERAL DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO SERVED IN THE MILITARY, MADE THEIR COMMENTS, AND HE CALLED THEM, THAT THOSE WERE SEDITIOUS COMMENTS AND TRAITORS AND SEDITION IS PUNISHABLE BY DEATH.

I MEAN.

THE WHITE HOUSE WALKED THAT BACK OBVIOUSLY BUT T'S NOT LIKE IT'S, THE RHETORIC'S BEEN TONED DOWN AT ALL.

>> NO, I MEAN, DONALD TRUMP IS TERRIFIC AT KIND OF LIKE SPEWING OUT A LOT OF DIFFERENT STORIES.

SO YOUR HEAD JUST STARTS SPINNING AND IT'S A GREAT DISTRACTION.

ARE WE TALKING ABOUT EPSTEIN?

NO, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SEDITION.

SO I THINK IT'S JUST PART OF, YOU KNOW, THE ONGOING TRUMP STRATEGY AND TO THE EXTENT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT, NOT EPSTEIN, NOT THE ELECTION AND NOT THE POLITICAL EFFECTS OF THE ECONOMY, WHICH ARE REALLY QUITE PROFOUND.

>> Cathy: ALTHOUGH IN A STATE THAT HAD A POLITICAL ASSASSINATION, I NOTICED NONE OF THE MINNESOTA MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, REPUBLICANS HAD ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THIS.

BUT SOME OF THESE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE GETTING DEATH THREATS.

>> IT IS REALLY HORRIFIC THAT PART.

AND EVEN MARJORIE TAYLOR GREEN WHO'S A FAVORITE OF THE DEMOCRATS, WHEN TRUMP CALLED HER A TRAITOR SHE HAD THE SURGE OF DEATH THREATS AGAINST HER AND SHE SAYS SHE'S WORRIED ABOUT WHETHER SHE'S GOING TO SURVIVE.

AND THIS S FROM THE PRESIDENT WHO SHE'S BEEN LOYALLY BACKING UP UNTIL THIS EPSTEIN EPISODE.

I AGREE WITH YOU, I THINK THE SEDITION COMMENT, IT'S SERIOUS BUT I DO THINK T'S PART OF THE TRUMP STRATEGY.

>> Eric: IS TRUMP SHOWING HIS LAME DUCKEDNESS HERE A LITTLE BIT?

ARE REPUBLICANS GOING TO BE LESS AFRAID OF HIM AS HE MOVES ON HERE IN HIS TERM?

>> I THINK HE'S SHOWING HIS VULNERABILITY.

I THINK SHE'S SHOWING THAT WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT LOW 40s, HIGH 30 APPROVAL RATING DEPENDING ON THE POLLS IT'S SHOWING VULNERABILITY, HE'S NOT THE SAME THREAT THAT HE WAS BEFORE.

AND I MEAN ONE OF THE THING THINGS THAT PEOPLE LOOK AT PEOPLE LOOK AT WHEN THEY GET A PRESIDENT AND THEY'RE NOT AS STRONG WHEN THEY'VE GOT THESE KIND OF APPROVAL RATINGS, SUDDENLY THESE GUYS ARE GOING HOW TIGHT DO WE WANT TO BE WITH HIM WHEN WE'RE GOING INTO MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

, OW DOES THAT CHANGE THE 2026 POLITICAL LANDSCAPE?

>> THIS HAS BEEN A HORRIBLE MONTH.

THE APPROVAL RATINGS WHICH ARE REFLECTING THE DEEP CONCERN ABOUT THE ECONOMY.

THERE WAS AN N BC POLL THAT SHOWED ONLY 30% SAID DONALD TRUMP WAS LIVING UP TO HIS PROMISES TO HOLD INFLATION DOWN.

AND YOU SEE IT IN ALL SORTS OF NUMBERS.

THEN YOU GET TO THE ELECTION RESULTS WHICH, OKAY, THEY WERE IN DEMOCRATIC STATES.

BUT THE THING I WOULD FOCUS ON IS THE TURNOUT.

THE TURNOUT IN NEW JERSEY AND ELSEWHERE OF DEMOCRATS WAS PRETTY EXTRAORDINARY.

MEANWHILE DONALD TRUMP IS DEMOBILIZING REPUBLICANS WITH THE EPSTEIN.

THAT'S SOMETHING TO KEEP AN EYE ON.

>> Eric: OKAY, THANKS FOR COMING DOWN.

SAFE TRAVELS.

AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

>> YOU TOO.

♪ >> HE WASN'T INTERESTED IN WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO HIMSELF SO MUCH AS HOW HE'D HELP OTHER PEOPLE.

HE WAS MORE INTERESTED IN PEOPLE WHO ARE DISENFRANCHISED OR DISADVANTAGED THAN HE WAS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAD MADE IT.

AND SO I THINK THAT GRABS EVERYBODY TO REALIZE THAT.

>> I ALWAYS LOOKED AT GOVERNOR ANDERSON AS A PERSON WHO ULTIMATELY DEFINED COMMUNITY.

HE WAS EMBRACING, HE WAS ENVELOPING, HE WAS THOUGHTFUL, HE WAS INVOLVED.

I REMEMBER ONE TIME HE SAID EACH OF US HAS THREE CAREERS IN US.

AND YOU LOOK BACK, YOU KNOW, THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HE DID.

♪ >> Eric: NOW WHEN THE ALMANAC PRODUCERS OPENED UP THE ST.

PAUL PIONEER PRESS WEBSITE THIS MORNING THERE WERE NO FEWER THAN FIVE STORIES WITH THE SAME REPORTER BYLINE AND THAT DOESN'T COUNT ANYTHING THAT WAS POSTED AFTER 1:00 THIS AFTERNOON.

I THINK YOU HAD ONE AFTER 1.

>> I SWEAR I DID NOT USE CHATGPT OR AI OR NYTHING.

[ LAUGHTER ] IT'S TIME TO BRING BACK OUR FAVORITE ST.

PAUL REPORTER BACK TO ALMANAC, FRED MELO, YOU'VE BEEN BUSY THIS WEEK.

>> I HAVE.

>> Eric: THE NEW MAYOR-ELECT I WONDER, WHAT IS SHE FOCUSING ON?

>> SHE'S FOCUSING ON TRANSITION RIGHT NOW WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

SHE HAS A TRANSITION TEAM, ERICA SCHOMACKER WHO USED TO WORK FOR CHRIS COLEMAN WHEN HE WAS MAYOR IS COCHAIR OF THAT AND CAMPAIGN COCHAIR IS THE OTHER COCHAIR.

SO SHE'S BRINGING IN A MIX OF FORMER CITY HALL STAFF, FORMER STATE CAPITOL WORKERS, AND CAMPAIGN STAFF.

SO SOME OF HER LOYALISTS AND SOME FOLKS WHO ARE JUST KIND OF FAMILIAR WITH THE TERRITORY.

SO SHE'LL BE CHOOSING NEW DEPARTMENT HEADS, FIGURING OUT THE LAY OF THE LAND, MAYBE WE'LL SEE SOME TURNOVER AT CITY HALL.

>> Cathy: SHE'S NOT A NEWBIE BECAUSE SHE SERVED IN THAT OFFICE BEFORE UNDER MAYOR CARTER SO IT SHOULD BE RELATIVELY EASY FOR HER?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I DON'T THINK IT'S EVER EASY WHEN YOU HAVE A TRANSITION BECAUSE THERE'S MAJOR POSITIONS LIKE HEAD OF PUBLIC WORKS IN A CITY THAT HAS NOTORIOUS ROAD CONDITIONS AND SNOWPLOWING CHALLENGES.

THERE'S BEEN ISSUES WITH THE POLICE CHIEF AND FIRE CHIEF, THEY TOOK PAY CUTS TO TAKE THEIR JOBS, THEY WEREN'T GETTING MORE AS UNIONIZED COMMANDERS.

THEY TOOK LIKE 25% PAY CUTS TO STEP DOWN.

IF EVER THERE WAS A TIME TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, IT'S TIME FOR ME TO GO, IT WOULD BE NOW.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BE A WHOLE DISCUSSION.

SO I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE EASY BUT SHE'LL HAVE MORE FAMILIARITY THAN SOME.

>> Eric: SHE ALREADY SPOKE AT A VIGIL THAT CAME AFTER THE I.C.E.

RAID IN ST.

PAUL SO SHE'S HIT THE GROUND RUNNING IN THAT RESPECT.

>> YEAH, THERE WERE 14 PEOPLE THAT WERE SCOOPED UP.

AND SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE ONE OF THEM HAD A PREVIOUS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASE AND ONE OF THEM HAD RE-ENTERED THE COUNTRY WHICH IS A FELONY CHARGE ACCORDING HOMELAND SECURITY.

THE OTHER 12 MAYBE WERE JUST THERE.

YOU CALL THAT A COLLATERAL ARREST WHEN YOU JUST SCOOP UP EVERYBODY, EVEN PEOPLE JUST MINDING THEIR BUSINESS AND SORT IT OUT LATER.

AND IT COULD BE CIVIL INFRACTIONS, COULD BE SOMEONE WHO'S OVERSTAYED THEIR VISA AND MAYBE IS IN THE PIPELINE TO GET A NEW VISA.

WE DON'T KNOW.

CONGRESSWOMAN BETTY MCCOLLUM, THEY'RE ALL SPEAKING OUT.

>> Cathy: IS SHE WORKING ON THE URBAN WEALTH FUND CONCEPT THAT SHE FLOATED DURING THE CAMPAIGN?

>> YOU KNOW, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

I HAVEN'T ASKED THIS WEEK.

CERTAINLY THAT WAS ONE OF HER BIGGER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IDEAS.

IT SEEMED A LITTLE I DON'T WANT TO SAY FUZZY BUT WHEN I TALKED TO HER ABOUT IT SHE SAID I'M LOOKING AT DIFFERENT MODELS AND THERE'S POPULATIONS WHERE IT'S WORKED, AND PLACES WHERE IT HASN'T WORKED BUT BASICALLY CREATING SOME KIND OF ENTITY THAT WOULD HELP ACQUIRE AND CONTROL VACANT LOTS OR UNDERUTILIZED PROPERTIES.

>> Cathy: FOR UTILITIES, RIGHT?

>> WELL, FOR ANYTHING, REALLY.

THEY COULD RENT THEM OUT, THEY COULD SELL THEM.

THEY COULD USE THEM FOR MUNICIPAL PURPOSE TEMPORARILY UNTIL THE ECONOMY HEATS UP AND THAT EIGHBORHOOD HEATS UP AND SOMEBODY WANTS TO BUY IT.

>> Eric: IT'S BUDGET TIME IN CITY GOVERNMENT.

SHE'S NOT AKEN OFFICE YET BUT DOES SHE HAVE SOME UNOFFICIAL INPUT INTO BUDGET PROCEEDINGS?

>> NOT REALLY.

SO RIGHT NOW THAT'S IN THE HANDS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

THERE'S A TRUTH IN TAXATION HEARING TUESDAY.

SO I THINK WE'LL KIND OF KNOW MORE IN JANUARY WHERE SHE'S LEANING IN TERMS OF NEW DEPARTMENT HEADS.

>> Eric: BECAUSE THAT TAX, CITY TAX SITUATION IN ST.

PAUL IS PRETTY DAUNTING.

>> PRETTY DAUNTING.

YOU KNOW, 5.4% I THINK IS WHAT'S ON THE TAX LEVY WHICH ISN'T THAT BAD COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES RIGHT NOW BUT FOR RAMSEY COUNTY THEY'RE LOOKING AT JUST ABOUT 10% INCREASE IN THEIR LEVY.

WHEN YOU ADD IT ALL UP SOME PEOPLE ARE REALLY GOING TO GET HIT HARD.

>> Cathy: RIGHT.

ERIC AND I WERE REMEMBERING WHEN COLEMAN AND RYBAK TOOK OFFICE, THEY MET AT DEGIDIO'S AND HAD LASAGNA.

TALK ABOUT HOW GOOD THEY WORKED TOGETHER.

I WONDER IF MAYOR-ELECT HER WILL BE MEETING WITH MAYOR FREY AT ALL.

>> I KNOW THAT HODGES DID THAT TOO.

I DON'T THINK HODGES REALIZED SHE WOULD BE SURROUNDED BY MEDIA AND THAT DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS LOOK WHEN WE'RE ALL KIND OF LIKE YOU'RE THE MAYOR, YOU'RE THE MAYOR.

I ASSUME THINGS LIKE THAT WILL CONTINUE, I CAN'T IMAGINE HER BREAKING CONNECTIONS.

>> Eric: IS CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT LEAVING FOR GREENER PASTURES >> WELL, SHE HAS NOT ANNOUNCED ACTUALLY.

THIS WAS A PRIVATE LETTER TO HER CONSTITUENTS THAT I SNIFFED OUT, SHE SAID, LOOK, I'M RUN FOGGER THE DISTRICT 5 SEAT ON COUNTY BOARD.

THAT DISTRICT SEAT IS HELD BY ORTEGA, SHE'S BEEN THERE SINCE 1994.

IF HE WERE TO RUN AGAIN IN NOVEMBER AND WIN, THAT WOULD BE OVER 40 YEARS IN OFFICE.

DISTRICT 5 INCLUDES WEST SEVENTH STREET WHERE THE COUNTY WAS WORKING FIRST STREET CAR, DID NOT INCLUDE ANYTHING, OAD CONSTRUCTION THAT NEVER HAPPENED, TREES TAKEN OFF AND NO ONE REPLANTED BECAUSE THEY'RE WAITING FOR STUFF THAT'S COMING IN THE PIPE PIPELINE THAT'S NEVER COME.

SO, EAH, THERE'S ISSUES THERE.

AND WE MISS LUND'S DOWNTOWN, THERE'S NO GROCERIES DOWNTOWN.

>> Cathy: ARE YOU SNIFFING AROUND, IS ANYTHING COMING?

>> THERE'S SO MANY RUMORS, ALDI'S, THERE WAS A RUMOR ABOUT A GUY IN STILLWATER HAVING N IDEA -- I'LL BELIEVE IT WHEN I SEE IT.

>> Eric: HAMM'S, THE BEER REFRESHER.

>> YEAH, I TOOK A TOUR OF PROPERTIES THAT WERE GOING BACK TO THE 1880s THAT ARE GOING TO BE ART LOFTS AND I ON REALLY HOPE THEY KEEP THE GRAFFITI, IF IT'S AN ART LOFT IT'S FOR ARTISTS ANYWAY AND SOME OF THAT GRAFFITI IS AMAZING.

THE HAMM'S BEAR LIVES ON AS GRAFFITI INSIDE AN 1880s.

>> Cathy: THAT WILL BE HOUSING AND OTHER MIXED DEVELOPMENT?

>> YEAH, THEY'RE TRYING TO GET INDOOR TWO AND A HALF STORY, INDOOR SHOPPING, MARKETPLACE BAZAAR.

THERE'S A LOT OF HMONG AND IMMIGRANT ENERGY ON THE EAST SIDE.

>> Eric: THEY GIVE YOU THANKSGIVING WEEK OFF?

>> THE WEEK?

NO, JUST THE DAY.

>> Eric: HARDEST WORKING MAN IN SHOW USINESS.

>> YOU KEEP SAYING THAT, I DON'T KNOW F IT'S TRUE BUT I'LL TAKE IT.

>> Cathy: YOU TOTALLY ARE.

>> Eric: THANKS, FRED.

♪ >> Tane: THE HOLIDAYS ARE HERE, WHICH MEANS GATHERING WITH FAMILY—— >> Shanan: WHAT YA DOING THERE INSTEAD OF TALKING TO YOUR DEAR MOTHER?

>> Tane: MOM, I’M DOING AN ESSAY FOR ALMANAC.

>> Shanan: OH, SO YOU HAVE TIME TO TALK TO PUBLIC TELEVISION THAN EAT DINNER THAT I TOILED OVER.

>> Tane: DINNER?

THANKSGIVING ISN’T UNTIL NEXT WEEK.

>> Shanan: AND I MAY BE DEAD BY THEN!

>> Tane: DAD?

>> Jim: PLEASE, I’M WATCHING THE GAME.

DON’T UPSET YOUR MOTHER.

OHHH!

PARK I JUST MISSED THE PLAY.

>> Carmen: OHHH, I’M SORRY, BROTHER.

AT LEAST YOU HAVE ME, YOUR SISTER, TO DEAL WITH OUR CRAZY PARENTS.

>> Tane: I NEVER SAID THEY WERE CRAZY.

>> Carmen: YOU ALWAYS TAKE THEIR SIDE!

>> AND THEN HERE'S YOUR EXTENDED FAMILY WHO IS SUCCESSFUL IN WAYS THAT YOU'LL NEVER BE LIKE YOUR BROTHER-IN-LAW.

>> I JUST COMPLETED MY MEDICAL RESIDENCY.

IN SPACE.

THAT'S RIGHT!

I'M AN ASTRONAUT DOCTOR.

>> AND YOUR FATHER'S SECRET GAY LOVER.

>> I TOLD YOU NEVER TO COME HERE!

>> BUT I HAD TO SEE YOU ... >> LET'S GO WATCH THE GAME.

>> OKAY, VERYBODY, LINE UP, LINE UP!

WE ARE FAMILY AT THE END OF THE DAY, AND WE LOVE EACH OTHER!

YOU TOO, ROY!

GET IN HERE!

ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY SMILE!

[ LAUGHTER ] >> HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYBODY!

♪ ♪ >> Cathy: I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

THE MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY OPENED A NEW EXHIBIT THIS WEDNESDAY ENTITLED "THE STORIES WE KEEP."

THE EXHIBIT BRINGS TOGETHER OBJECTS FROM MNHS'S COLLECTIONS RANGING FROM ORIGINAL LETTERS PENNED BY F. SCOTT FITZGERALD TO COSTUME SAMPLES OF PRINCE’S TOUR WARDROBE AND EVEN A MILK CARTON KAYAK FROM THE FIRST MINNEAPOLIS AQUATENNIAL.

BOAT RACES.

THIS INAUGURAL EXHIBIT IS PART OF A LARGER MISSION TO BRING MATERIALS FROM THE VAST ARCHIVES OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY IN TOO A MORE PUBLIC SETTING.

CURATOR JENNIFER HUEBSCHER JOINS US WITH MORE.

WELCOME TO ALMANAC.

>> THANK YOU!

>> I LOVE THIS SO MUCH.

WHERE DID THE SPARK FOR THIS IDEA COME FROM FOR THIS EXHIBIT >> WELL, ACTUALLY LAST YEAR THE CURATORIAL TEAM GOT TOGETHER, FIVE CURATORS, FIVE ARTICLES APIECE AND WE EACH HAD TO SELECT IECES THAT WE THOUGHT WOULD RESONATE REALLY WELL ITH MINNESOTANS BUT TELL UNIQUE AND UNEXPECTED STORIES ABOUT OUR COLLECTIONS.

>> Eric: WHAT WERE THE CRITERIA TO MAKE THE CUT?

[ LAUGHTER ] >> THEY LOCKED US IN A ROOM AND WE HAD TO JUST DUKE IT OUT.

NO, IN ACTUALITY, WE LOOKED AT A LOT OF OUR, THE SAME CRITERIA THAT WE USE WHEN WE SELECT OBJECTS.

WE WANTED THINGS THAT REPRESENTED A WIDE RANGE OF THE STATE GEOGRAPHICALLY, ITEMS THAT DATED BACK TO PRE-STATEHOOD, UP TO PRESENT DAY.

AND, YEAH, JUST ANYTHING THAT HAD COMPELLING STORY THAT WE THOUGHT FOLKS WANTED TO KNOW MORE.

>> Cathy: AND THAT'S THE KEY, STORY IS ALWAYS THE KEY ON THIS ONE.

LET'S SEE IF WE COULD GO THROUGH SOME OF HE PHOTOS HERE OF THE EXHIBIT.

>> SURE.

>> Cathy: THIS I AM NOT SURE WHAT THIS IS.

>> OH, THESE ARE CONTACT SHEETS THAT WERE TAKEN BY A RONDO PHOTOGRAPHER EARL MCGGE, HE LIVED IN ST.

PAUL AND DOCUMENTED THE RONDO COMMUNITY EARLY TO MID-'60s.

WHAT'S REALLY FASCINATING ABOUT HIM IS THAT HE WAS A COMMUNITY MEMBER SO HE'S TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OF HIS FRIENDS, HIS FAMILY, SOCIAL EVENTS, THINGS THAT HAPPENED AT HALLIE .

BROWN, DOCUMENTING CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, ALL OF THIS WHILE THE INTERSTATE IS GOING THROUGH RONDO.

>> Eric: HUBERT HUMPHREY GETS A SHOT IN HERE.

>> HE DOES!

IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS OF THE EXHIBIT.

IT'S THE COPY OF HIS ICONIC 1948 DNC SPEECH AND IT'S COMPLETELY MARKED UP BECAUSE HUMPHREY COULDN'T LET A SPEECH LIE UNTIL HE WAS UP AT THE PODIUM.

AND SO YOU SEE HIS NOTES ON IT AND THE WAY THAT WE'VE INTERPRETED IT IS YOU CAN WATCH ON THE SCREEN HOW HIS NOTES COME TO LIFE, AND REALLY ADD EXTRA -- EXTRA OOMPH TO THAT SPEECH.

>> Cathy: THAT WAS A FAMOUS FAMOUS SPEECH.

THIS NEXT ONE I REMEMBER DOING A STORY ABOUT THIS.

>> MM-HMM.

>> Cathy: THIS IS THE FAMED MASK, MARK ANDRE FLEURY OF THE WILD WORE I THINK A COUPLE GAMES MAYBE.

>> HE WORE IT IN KIND OF PRACTICE AHEAD OF A GAME.

BUT, YEAH, WE GOT IT ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO TODAY.

HE WORE IT IN HONOR OF NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE NIGHT, THAT THE MINNESOTA WILD WAS HOSTING AND NATIVE ARTIST MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COLE REDHORSE TAYLOR DESIGNED HE HELMET, INCORPORATED THOSE FLORAL MOTIFS ND WE WERE REALLY THRILLED TO GET IT.

AND LOOK AT THAT INTERSECTION OF SPORTS AND NATIVE HERITAGE.

>> Eric: YOU HAD TO GET A PRINCE OBJECT IN.

>> OF COURSE.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> Eric: WHAT DO YOU GOT?

>> SO THESE ARE SAMPLE BOOKS THAT BELONGED TO A TEXTILE ARTIST, ARLIS JENSEN WHO LIVED IN THE TWIN CITIES AND SHE DYED FABRIC FOR NUMEROUS THEATER PRODUCTIONS.

BUT THE PRINCE TEAM REACHED OUT TO HER BECAUSE OF HER DYEING CAPABILITIES TO MAKE FABRICS IN VIBRANT HUES THAT HE WAS LOOKING FOR, ESPECIALLY FROM THAT MID-'80s, EARLY '90s, LOTS OF COLOR.

>> Eric: SO THIS IS STAGE WEAR?

>> MM-HMM.

YEAH, SAMPLES OF STAGE WEAR AND WHAT IT WAS USED FOR AND NOT JUST COSTUMES BUT ACCESSORIES.

GUITAR STRAP AND THINGS THAT HIS DANCERS ALSO WOULD HAVE WORN.

>> Cathy: I LOVE THAT.

SAY, AS AN ARCHIVIST, WHAT DO OBJECTS SAY ABOUT A PERSON OR ERA, EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT FAMOUS?

>> SO MUCH.

IN FACT, THAT'S A LOT OF WHAT THIS EXHIBIT IS.

IT'S LOOKING AT EVERYDAY ITEMS OR ITEMS THAT MAY NOT NECESSARILY BELONG TO A FAMOUS MINNESOTAN AND GETTING FOLKS TO REALIZE THAT THERE ARE THESE RICH STORIES THERE, AND WE WANT THESE OBJECTS TO SPARK INTEREST AND GET PEOPLE TO START DIGGING IN TO THEIR COLLECTIONS AT HOME AND OTHER COLLECTIONS AT NHS.

, RUNS THROUGH?

>> AUGUST 2026.

>> Eric: AND ARE YOU PREPARING NEW OBJECTS TO SUCCEED THAT?

>> HOPEFULLY, I WOULD LOVE TO GET MORE MATERIAL OUT.

WE'VE GOT A SPOTLIGHT GALLERY THAT WILL LSO HAVE SOME MATERIALS OUT, AND YEAH, COME SEE IT.

>> Cathy: I MEAN, THE ARCHIVES, AND THIS IS KIND OF A BASEMENT AREA OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, IT'S AN AMAZING PLACE TO GO INTO.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: AND THE PUBLIC CAN'T SEE THAT OF COURSE.

>> NO, NO, SO THIS IS THEIR ENTRYPOINT, GET THE COLLECTIONS OFF THE SHELF AND OUT ONTO THE MUSEUM FLOOR.

>> Cathy: GREAT.

JENNIFER.

GOOD WORK.

THANK YOU.

♪ >> Eric: CONGRESSMAN JIM RAMSTAD DIED FIVE YEARS AGO AND NOW THERE'S A NEW EFFORT TO KEEP HIS MODEL OF BIPARTISAN WORK ALIVE THROUGH THE RAMSTAD INSTITUTE FOR CIVILITY AND YOUTH LEADERSHIP.

REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER EXPLAINS AS PART OF HER ONGOING SERIES ON SOLUTIONS TO POLITICAL POLARIZATION.

>> WE WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

>> CONGRESSMAN JIM RAMSTAD LOVED POLITICS FROM THE VERY BEGIN.

HE WAS AT BOYS STATE WITH FUTURE PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON INCLUDING A FAMOUS MEETING WITH PRESIDENT JOHN .

KENNEDY IN 1963.

>> HE EL BOWED HIS WAY TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE IN ORDER TO GET HIS PICTURE.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> I PLEAD GUILTY.

>> PRETTY SOON THERE'S GOING TO BE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT SAY I DON'T ANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH POLITICS, IT'S NOT A PLACE I WANT TO PLAY -- >> AND THAT WOULD REAK JIM'S HEART, WOULDN'T IT, HONESTLY?

>> KATHERINE RAMSTAD IS STILL HEARTBROKEN AT THE LOSS OF HER HUSBAND BUT SHE AND OTHERS WHO ADORED THE TRAIL BLAZING CONGRESSMAN ARE CHANNELING GRIEF INTO A NEW PROJECT.

>> IT'S CALLED JIM RAMSTAD INSTITUTE FOR CIVILITY AND YOUTH LEADERSHIP.

>> WHAT WOULD HE THINK?

>> I HOPE HE WOULD LOVE IT.

I THINK HE WOULD LOVE IT.

HE PRACTICED CIVILITY.

HE WAS ALWAYS A BIPARTISAN LEADER, WHICH NOW, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF YOU CAN FIND THEM ANYMORE.

>> IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE JIM RAMSTAD TODAY IN CONGRESS, ISN'T IT?

>> YEAH, HE WOULD NOT BE -- HE WOULD NOT LIKE IT.

>> WE NEED TO FIND THAT COMMON GROUND WHICH IS SORELY MISSING I'VE NOTICED IN THIS CITY.

>> HE LOVED GOING TO SCHOOLS AND TALKING TO KIDS AND PASSING ON THE PASSION FOR PUBLIC SERVICE THAT WAS GIVEN TO IM BY JOHN F. KENNEDY IN THE ROSE GARDEN.

BUT ALSO EVEN GOING ACK TO HIS YOUTH IN JAMESTOWN, NORTH DAKOTA WHERE HE'S PULLING A RED WAGON, YOU KNOW, POLITICKING OR DOING PARADES HE JUST LOVED PUBLIC SERVICE.

>> PAUL ANDERSON INTERNED IN RAMSTAD'S OFFICE AND LATER SERVED IN HIS SAME STATE SENATE SEAT.

>> >> WHEN I WAS 7 YEARS OLD JIM RAMSTAD KNOCKED ON OUR DOOR IN PLYMOUTH WHEN HE WAS RUNNING FOR STATE SENATE.

I REMEMBER THAT VIVIDLY.

WE DON'T HAVE MODELS ANYMORE THAT ARE MODELING PASSION FOR PUBLIC SERVICE AND PASSION FOR HOW YOU TREAT ONE ANOTHER.

WE HAVE POLITICS OVER PEOPLE, WE HAVE POLITICS OVER POLICY.

AND THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE.

>> OUR CONFERENCE PROGRAMS, YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT AND MODEL UNITED NATIONS ARE RUN BY STUDENT LEADERS.

SO WE HAVE ABOUT 200 STUDENT LEADERS THAT HELP TO CREATE THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOR 2,000 PARTICIPANTS.

AND THE THEME IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO CREATE THIS INSTITUTE TO HELP TRAIN THOSE 200 LEADERS TO BE MORE LIKE JIM RAMSTAD.

HOW TO DO IT WITH THE KIND OF CIVILITY AND RESPECT AND EMPATHY AND CONSTITUENT FOCUS THAT HE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE.

>> Mary: THE FIRST WAVE OF STUDENTS HAS ALREADY STARTED LEARNING ABOUT RAMSTAD'S LEGACY.

>> THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW, RIGHT?

BUT THEY DON'T GET A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES.

WHAT WE SEE IS HOW MUCH THEY ENJOY THE OPPORTUNITIES THEY GET TO BUILD DEEPER RELATIONSHIPS, TO UNDERSTAND ONE ANOTHER.

THAT IS NOT A NORMAL THING FOR MOST YOUNG PEOPLE RIGHT NOW.

>> Mary: HERE IN WAYZATA THE POST OFFICE IS NAMED FOR CONGRESSMAN JIM RAMSTAD.

THAT TOOK AN ACT OF CONGRESS AND HIS IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY IS FAR WIDER THAN THAT.

>> IT'S NOT JUST POLITICS, IT'S COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND THAT'S WHY I LOVE THE CENTER FOR YOUTH VOICE.

IT'S EXPANSIVE.

>> Mary: THE INSTITUTE WILL ALSO TRAIN TEACHERS ON HOW TO INSTRUCT CIVILITY AND CONSENSUS BUILDING.

A RECENT EVENT WITH PATRICK KENNEDY HELPED RAISE THE NOW $800,000 TOWARDS THE MILLION-DOLLAR GOAL.

>> WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO KEEP JIM'S LEGACY ALIVE IN PUBLIC POLICY AND POLITICS.

BECAUSE AGAIN, HERE IS SOMEBODY THAT WON AT 70% IN A DISTRICT THAT CONSISTENTLY WAS A 50/50 NATIONAL PRESIDENTIAL DISTRICT.

PEOPLE FORGET THAT.

>> Mary: COULD A PAUL ANDERSON OR JIM RAMSTAD WIN TODAY?

>> IT'S PRETTY TOUGH, IT'S PRETTY TOUGH.

YOU KNOW, SOMETHING HAS SHIFTED.

>> Mary: THE SHIFT IN POLARIZATION AND ANGER SYMBOLIZED BY A HORRIFIC ACT OF VIOLENCE AGAINST PEOPLE ANDERSON SERVED WITH AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

>> THIS BECAME REAL.

MELISSA AND MARK WERE MURDERED.

JOHN AND YVETTE WERE SHOT NINE AND EIGHT TIMES.

JOHN AND YVETTE AND HOPE, THEY HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH JIM RAMSTAD WAY BEFORE HE BECAME A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER AND A STATE SENATOR.

>> Mary: SO HOW DESPERATELY DO WE NEED THIS RIGHT NOW?

>> HE ALWAYS WORKED ACROSS THE AISLE, THE BIPARTISANSHIP, THE CONSENSUS MAKING, THE, YOU KNOW, CIVILITY WITH PEOPLE WHO HE DIDN'T AGREE WITH, BUT HE FIGURED OUT WHAT HE COULD AGREE WITH.

AND IF WE DON'T COME TOGETHER LIKE THAT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

>> Mary: RAMSTAD PASSED IN 2020 OF PARKINSONS, LEAVING AN ENDLESS IMPACT ON POLICY AND PEOPLE.

>> YOU THINK OF JIM RAMSTAD AND HIS LEGACY IN THE TREATMENT WORLD, IN RECOVERY.

OBVIOUSLY WITH MENTAL HEALTH PARITY LEGISLATION WHICH WAS MONUMENTAL.

BUT WHAT HE DID IN THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT HE MEANT TO PEOPLE EVEN WALKING DOWN THE STREET, EVERYBODY KNEW JIM.

>> Mary: GROUNDBREAKING, HISTORIC BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION, I DON'T THINK WE COULD EVER TALK ABOUT JIM RAMSTAD WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT WHAT HE DID WITH PAUL WELLSTONE.

>> PAUL AND JIM WERE LIKE HERE TO THERE ON POLITICS BUT THEY VERY MUCH AGREED ON MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION PARITY AND THEY CAME TOGETHER AND BECAME VERY GOOD FRIENDS.

>> Mary: HOW ABOUT YOU PERSONALLY, HOW MUCH DO YOU MISS HIM AND HIS DAILY PRESENCE?

>> I MISS HIM A LOT.

IT'S A HARD THING TO TALK ABOUT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I LIVED HIS LIFE, HE LIVED MINE.

♪ ♪ >> Eric: DAYS AFTER MINNESOTA'S ENTIRE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION VOTED TO RELEASE THE INFAMOUS EPSTEIN FILES, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S THREATS TO EXECUTE DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS FOR SEDITION DREW PARTICULAR OUTRAGE FROM MINNESOTANS STILL REELING FROM MELISSA HORTMAN'S ASSASSINATION.

AND ELECTION FALLOUT FROM EARLIER THIS MONTH PROMISES MORE SPECIAL ELECTIONS ON THE HORIZON FOR THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE.

SO TO TALK ABOUT THIS, REPUBLICANS UP FIRST, BRIAN MCDANIEL, FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER, NOW A LOBBYIST AND STANDUP COMEDIAN.

FRITZ KNAAK.

ALYSSEN NESSE, PARTY LOYALIST AND LOBBYIST AT THE CAPITOL.

WELCOME TO THE COUCH TARA ERICKSON.

BRIAN, I WANT TO START WITH YOU AND YOUR INTERNSHIP WITH JIM RAMSTAD AND THE QUESTION THAT MARY ASKED.

COULD RAMSTAD WIN A ELECTION THESE DAYS?

>> A VERY, VERY, VERY LONG TIME AGO I WAS AN INTERN FOR JIM RAMSTAD.

HIS DISTRICT DIRECTOR AT THE TIME WAS ERIC PAULSON WHO EVENTUALLY WENT TO THE HOUSE AND SUCCEEDED HIM AND ERIC IS WHO HIRED ME AT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SO I'M SITTIN' HERE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF JIM RAMSTAD AND I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT.

AND COULD HE WIN THESE DAYS?

NOPE!

[ LAUGHTER ] >> Eric: WOW.

WELL, WHY DON'T WE GO TO NATIONAL NEWS.

MARJORIE TAYLOR GREEN, CONGRESSWOMAN FROM GEORGIA SAYS SHE'S LEAVING CONGRESS IN JANUARY SAYING TO THE PRESIDENT, LOYALTY IS A TWO-WAY STREET.

IMPLICATIONS?

>> REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

I MEAN, THERE IS NO GOOD NEWS ON THIS FROM EITHER SIDE.

IT'S I WOULD SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHERE THE FALLOUT IS, TALKS OF THREATS, WORRIES ABOUT HOW THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT THE IMAGE THE PRESIDENT HAS, PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.

LET'S THROW THE EPSTEIN IN TO PUT IT IN SOME CONTEXT, YOU DON'T WANT TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THAT UPPOSEDLY PICKING ON SOMEBODY.

SO I DON'T THINK HE'S COMING OUT OF THIS THING LOOKING VERY GOOD AND CERTAINLY SHE HAS BEEN -- PLENTY.

>> Eric: IS CONGRESS JUST UP FOR GRABS RIGHT NOW?

WHO INSIDE THE BELLWAY IN WASHINGTON JUST SEEMS TO -- >> -- IMPLODING.

>> WELL, HE DEFINITELY SEEMS TO BE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, PICKING WINNERS AND LOSERS A LITTLE BIT LATELY.

AND WE SAW THAT WITH HIS VERY INTERESTING MEETING TODAY WITH MAMDANI.

AND JUST THINKING THE FACT THAT OBVIOUSLY CONGRESSWOMAN MARJORIE TAYLOR GREEN HAS BEEN ONE OF HIS BIGGEST SUPPORTERS FOREVER AND IF YOU BREAK EVEN A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, THREATS ON YOUR LIFE.

AND I JUST THINK SHE FINALLY MAYBE JUST SAID I'M GOING TO BACK AWAY FROM THIS RIGHT NOW.

THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU THINK, BRIAN?

>> SO WE'VE CHASED MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE OUT OF THE PARTY?

INTERESTING TIMES.

UP IS DOWN, DOWN IS UP.

DOGS AND CATS LIVING TOGETHER.

ALL OF THAT.

BUT IT'S SO INTERESTING HOW TRUMP EEPS WINNING AND PEOPLE ON HIS TEAM KEEP LOSING.

WHETHER IT'S MARJORIE TAYLOR GREEN, GIULIANI, CHRIS CHRISTIE, YOU KIND OF, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE ALONG FOR THE RIDE THERE'S NOT REALLY A LOT OF PROSPECTS.

AND I'M JUST KIND OF WONDERING, WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU GUYS TALKED ABOUT LAME DUCK A LITTLE EARLIER, I'M JUST WONDERING WHEN DO PEOPLE KIND OF JUMP OFF THE RIDE AND START THINKING ABOUT WHAT'S IN THEIR OWN BEST INTERESTS.

>> Cathy: WELL, WHEN YOU THINK IN TERMS OF, ALYSEN, DO YOU THINK THE PARTY IS FRACTURING A LITTLE BIT AT THIS POINT?

>> I THINK THAT THEY'RE REALIZING THAT THERE HAS TO BE A PARTY BEYOND TRUMP, BEYOND 2028 AND WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO MAGA BEYOND THAT IS THE QUESTION I THINK REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS MASSIE WHO WAS REALLY THE FORCE BEHIND GETTING THIS BILL TO FORCE THE DOJ TO RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES SAID IF YOU DO NOT VOTE FOR THIS, IN 2030 THERE WON'T BE DONALD TRUMP BUT YOU WILL HAVE VOTED TO PROTECT PEDOPHILES.

>> I AGREE WITH THAT AND I THINK THAT THERE WAS SOME SPLIT THIS WEEK WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THUNE TOOK THE BILL UP IMMEDIATELY AND THEY DID NOT WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.

SO OBVIOUSLY WHEN THAT KIND OF BROKE YOU COULD SEE THAT SPEAKER JOHNSON WAS PHYSICALLY UPSET ABOUT THAT NEWS.

AND SO IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THERE COULD BE SOME SPLITS KIND OF COMING WITHIN MAGA.

>> I THINK SOME OF THE IT'S THE DYNAMIC OF CONGRESS ITSELF TOO, THOUGH, I THINK THEY'RE TIRED OF THIS.

FOR THE MOST PART I KNOW THE REPUBLICANS ARE.

AND I'M GUESSING THAT ANYTHING THAT THEY COULD DO TO MOVE THIS THING ALONG, THEIR LEADERSHIP WAS GETTING PUSHED AND TRUMP COULDN'T STOP THAT.

WE'LL SEE WHETHER OR NOT IT ULTIMATELY MATTERS, BUT HE COULDN'T STOP IT.

>> Cathy: RAND PAUL HAD SOME CHOICE WORDS ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS ABOUT SEDITION AND TRAITOR COMMENTS THAT HE WAS MAKING, AND THE HOUSE SPEAKER WAS ALSO PRETTY UNCOMFORTABLE TOO AS REPORTERS WERE CHASING HIM ACROSS THE CAPITOL THERE AND I'M WONDERING, WE'RE IN THIS STATE WHERE WE HAD A POLITICAL ASSASSINATION, AND I WONDER THE WHITE HOUSE WAS WALKING BACK THOSE COMMENTS, BUT WHAT'S -- OBVIOUSLY HE RHETORIC HAS NOT BEEN TONED DOWN AT ALL.

>> MM-MM, IT HASN'T BEEN TONED DOWN.

AND WHEN YOU, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I WAS OBVIOUSLY, THERE WERE MANY OF US WHO WERE AT THE HUMPHREY DINNER WITH MELISSA HORTMAN HOURS BEFORE SHE WAS ASSASSINATED, AND I JUST THINK FOR THE PRESIDENT TO BE SAYING THINGS LIKE THAT TO THE PUBLIC, WE KNOW THAT WORDS HAVE CONSEQUENCES AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE WILL ACT ON THOSE.

>> AND IT'S NOT JUST THAT THIS WEEK, HE SAT WITH MBS AND DEFENDED THE MURDERING AND DISMEMBERING OF KAMAL KHASHOGGI, A JOURNALIST FOR THE WASHINGTON POST.

HE CALLED A JOURNALIST "PIGGY" AND THEN HE TALKED ABOUT THE EXECUTION FOR SIX SENATORS WHO RELEASED A VIDEO JUST REINFORCING EXISTING LAW.

>> AND THE CONSTITUTION.

>> I MEAN -- AND THE CONSTITUTION.

SO IT'S BEEN QUITE A WEEK FOR HIS PRESS SECRETARY, BUT IT'S ABSOLUTELY INEXCUSABLE, IT'S CHAOTIC AND T'S EXHAUSTING.

>> WELL, BUT THIS HAS BEEN THE NARRATIVE SINCE HE GOT ELECTED AND SO EVERY WEEK HYPERBOLE IS NOW THE BASELINE IN POLITICAL DISCOURSE, I MIGHT ADD, ON BOTH SIDES.

AND SURE, IT SURE WOULD BE NICE IF PEOPLE WOULD CALM DOWN A BIT AND THE FACT THAT YOU HAD SOMETHING ON JIM RAMSTAD HERE JUST A LITTLE WHILE AGO, YOU WANT A NICE CONTRAST IN TERMS OF STYLES, THERE YOU'VE GOT IT.

YOU CAN HOPE THAT AT SOME POINT WE'RE GOING TO GET BACK TO THAT BUT I DON'T SEE THIS CHANGING AT ALL SOON.

TRUMP'S GOING TO TALK TO HIS FRIENDS THE SAME WAY IF HE DOESN'T THINK THEY'RE ACTING QUITE FRIENDLY ENOUGH AS HE TALKS ABOUT DEMOCRATS ND BOY, GOD KNOWS I HAVE NEVER HEARD A DEMOCRAT AT LEAST IN RECENT MEMORY SAY A NICE THING ABOUT DONALD TRUMP.

>> WELL, AND YOU CAN'T SAY THAT HIS RHETORIC DOESN'T HAVE REPERCUSSIONS FOR HIM.

HE WAS HOT.

WE FORGET THESE THINGS.

THIS IS THE SICK, SAD WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN IS LIKE THAT'S NOT EVEN SOMETHING WE THINK ABOUT ANYMORE.

BUT THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF GOT SHOT AND THEN, SO WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED IN MINNESOTA WE KNOW THIS ISN'T A GAME.

I MEAN, IT MIGHT BE A GAME FOR HIM AND ONE THAT HE'S HAPPY TO PLAY, BUT FOR THE COLLATERAL DAMAGE ABOUT IT, IT'S NOT FUNNY, IT'S NOT TRUE, AND IT'S UPSETTING.

>> Eric: LOCAL NEWS, GOING TO STATE SIDE, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE SETTING BUDGETS, GETTING LEVY INCREASES ON THE PROPERTY TAXES, ARE WE SEEING OR GOING TO SEE OLD FASHIONED PROPERTY TAX REVOLT THAT'S GOING TO FORCE SOME LEGISLATION HERE IN 2026?

>> I MEAN, ALL LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE DEALING WITH A SEARESS DECLINE IN COMMERCIAL PROPERTY VALUES WHICH IS SHIFTING THE BURDEN ONTO RESIDENTS WHETHER YOU'RE A HOMEOWNER OR RESIDENT RENTER.

SO THAT RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY TAX IS DISPROPORTIONATE AND IT'S VERY PAINFUL.

SO CITIES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GRAPPLE WITH THAT, THE STATE LEGISLATURE'S GOING TO HAVE TO GRAPPLE WITH IT.

IT'S BEEN 13 YEARS SINCE WE ADJUSTED THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT AID FORMULA BUT WE MIGHT HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT THIS NEW REALITY IS POST-COVID IS WITH COMMERCIAL PROPERTY VALUES.

>> Eric: YOU WERE IN THE LEGISLATURE WHEN PROPERTY TAXES USED TO BE A KEY KEY ISSUES.

>> YES, ALL THE TIME.

>> Eric: WALL TO WALL, YEAH.

>> CONSTANT.

>> Eric: WHAT CAN THEY DO, LOCAL PROGRAM AID, CIRCUIT BREAKER, BUT A THIRD TIER ON MORE EXPENSIVE HOUSES LIKE THEY USED TO HAVE.

>> I HAD AN INTERESTING EXPERIENCE IN REPRESENTING SOME PEOPLE OVER IN WISCONSIN WHERE THEY AREN'T NEARLY AS HEAVILY SUBSIDIZED, WE DON'T REALIZE JUST HOW HEAVILY SUBSIDIZED OUR TAXES ARE IN THIS STATE ALREADY.

AND A WOMAN THERE WAS TELLING ME HER LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT TAXES, JUST HERS ALONE WERE $6,000 A YEAR.

I MEAN, YOU CAN HAVE A VERY NICE HOUSE ON LAKE MINNETONKA FOR ALL OF YOUR AXES AND, YOU KNOW, BEING THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, MAYBE I'M DATING MYSELF A BIT, BUT I'M THINKING THAT THAT KIND OF THING IS, YOU KNOW, THE PRESSURE'S THERE, I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S ANY APPETITE FOR THE TAX INCREASES IT WOULD TAKE TO MITIGATE THE PROBLEM, THOUGH.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO SWITCH FOCUS HERE FOR JUST A MOMENT.

WE HAD EMBER REICHGOTT JUNGE, AND SHE HAD AN INTERESTING COMMENT.

I WANT OUR DEMOCRATIC FRIENDS TO GIVE THEIR TWO CENTS IN IT.

SHE SAID A LOT OF DEMOCRATS ARE REALLY WORRIED ABOUT TIM WALZ RUNNING AGAIN.

AND SHE SAID A LOT OF DEMOCRATS FEEL LIKE HE'S A RISKIER CANDIDATE BECAUSE OF ALL THE FRAUD THAT HAS OCCURRED ON HIS WATCH.

DO YOU THINK HE WILL ACTUALLY RUN?

IS IT -- OR WILL THE PRESSURE GET TO THE POINT WHERE HE DOESN'T ULTIMATELY RUN?

>> SO, YOU KNOW, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS EARLIER THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME OF THOSE RUMORS FLYING AROUND.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD TO BE TALKED INTO RUNNING AGAIN.

I THINK SPEAKER HORTMAN'S ASSASSINATION, THEY WERE VERY CLOSE, I THINK THE POLITICAL DYNAMICS ARE REALLY TOXIC, AND, I WONDER IF HE STILL HAS THE GUMPTION TO WANT TO DO THAT.

BUT THERE ARE, THERE ARE RUMORS OUT THERE.

>> Eric: ALYSEN.

>> YEAH, ANYBODY'S THIRD TERM IS GOING TO BE INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING.

WE SAW THAT IN THE MAYORAL RACES IN BOTH MINNEAPOLIS AND ST.

PAUL.

BUT I DO THINK ONCE HE DID CHOOSE TO RUN AGAIN, HE IS FULL STEAM AHEAD AND I'M NOT GOING TO BELIEVE ANYTHING UNTIL I SEE IT FOR MYSELF.

>> WELL, AND HE'S VULNERABLE.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE WOULD ADMIT THAT, THERE'S JUST A LOT GOING ON WITH THE FRAUD AND THE THIRD TERM AND RUNNING FOR VICE PRESIDENT UNSUCCESSFULLY.

SO I MEAN HE HAS TO KIND OF THINK DOES HE WANT TO DO THIS?

AND NOW WITH REPUBLICANS STARTING TO PUT UP SOME CREDIBLE CANDIDATES THAT COULD LEGITIMATELY BEAT HIM, HE HAS TO THINK ABOUT THAT, SO I DON'T KNOW IF SOMETHING, I MEAN, I'M SPECULATING OBVIOUSLY, IF BETWEEN CONGRESSWOMAN CRAIG AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FLANAGAN, MAYBE THEY WORK SOMETHING OUT AND ONE OF THEM SHIFTS TO GOVERNOR, BUT EVERYTHING'S JUST RUMORS NOW AND THEY'RE NOT HOT ENOUGH RUMORS.

>> HE IS RAISING MONEY, THOUGH.

>> Eric: WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THIS SEGMENT.

[ LAUGHTER ] THANK YOU, PANEL.

>> Cathy: GOOD JOB.

WE APPRECIATE YOU.

♪ >> HE WAS A RENOWNED RESEARCHER, CANCER ESEARCHER PRIOR TO BECOMING GOVERNOR.

WOULD HE THEN IF HE DID IT AFTER HE BECAME GOVERNOR IF HE DID RESEARCH AND PROFITED FROM IT, WOULD HE BE ACCUSED OF USING THE OFFICE?

NO, THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS IN THIS INSTANCE THE GOVERNOR IS DOING A JOB, COLOR COMMENTARY IN PRO FOOTBALL, THAT HE HAS DONE IN HIS PAST.

♪ ♪ >> Cathy: AH, FRIENDS, IT IS HISTORY TIME ONCE AGAIN.

SO LET'S REFRESH OUR MEMORY WITH LAST EEK'S QUESTION.

WE TOOK YOU BACK IN TIME TO JUNE OF 1978 WHEN OUR MYSTERY MINNESOTAN IS TAPPED FOR HIS OR HER DREAM JOB.

WE TOLD YOU HE OR SHE WOULD GO- ON TOLD YOU HE OR SHE WOULD GO- ON TO D YOU HE OR SHE WOULD GO- ON TO ACYOU HE OR SHE WOULD GO- ON TO ACCEU HE OR SHE WOULD GO- ON TO ACCEPTHE OR SHE WOULD GO- ON TO ACCEPT A OR SHE WOULD GO- ON TO ACCEPT AN R SHE WOULD GO- ON TO ACCEPT AN OFSHE WOULD GO- ON TO ACCEPT AN OFFEE WOULD GO- ON TO ACCEPT AN OFFER WOULD GO- ON TO ACCEPT AN OFFER INULD GO- ON TO ACCEPT AN OFFER IN TD GO- ON TO ACCEPT AN OFFER IN THEGO- ON TO ACCEPT AN OFFER IN THEGO- SAME PROFESSION IN 1979 BUT NEVER RISE TO THE HIGH LEVEL OF FAME AS THE YOUNGER SIBLING WHO GREW UP IN THEIR SHADOW.

YOUR TASK WAS TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION: WHO IS THIS MYSTERY MINNESOTAN?

WE THEN GAVE YOU A TON OF HINTS BECAUSE IT WAS THE SECOND TIME WE HAD TO ASK THIS QUESTION.

THESE CALLERS STILL STRUCK OUT.

“I HAVE THE ANSWER TO THE ALMANAC QUESTION.

IT’S JOE AND PHIL NIEKRO.” “THE INDIVIDUALS YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ARE GENE LARKIN AND TOM LARKIN.

GENE LARKIN DROVE IN THE WINNING RUN IN 1991 TO WIN THE WORLD SERIES.” “THE ANSWER IS JAKE MAUER, WHO WAS RECRUITED WITH HIS BROTHER JOE MAUER.”.

“I’M THE MOTHER OF A TWO-TIME INDEX FILE QUESTION ANSWERER.

DANIEL FROM SAINT PAUL ANSWERED TWO QUESTIONS IN A ROW SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

I THINK THE ANSWER TO TONIGHT'S INDEX FILE QUESTION IS DAVE WINFIELD.

MY FAMILY WOULD BE SO PROUD IF I GOT A BASEBALL QUESTION RIGHT.” >> Cathy: ALL BASEBALL PLAYING BROTHERS.

AND ALL WRONG.

CAROLEE, WE HOPE YOU KNOW THIS NEXT CALL IS COMING.

“THIS IS DANIEL THE BASEBALL GUY FROM SAINT PAUL.

MY MOTHER CAROLEE JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH ME BEAMING THAT SHE HAD GOTTEN THE QUESTION ON THE INDEX FILE.

I HATE TO BE THE ONE TO SAY IT LIVE ON ALMANAC, BUT, MOM, YOU GOT IT WRONG.

THE PERSON THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IS TOM MORRIS.

HE WAS A PITCHER WHO WAS THE OLDER BROTHER OF WORLD SERIES LEGEND JACK MORRIS.

THIS IS ACTUALLY MY THIRD BASEBALL QUESTION THAT I’VE GOTTEN CORRECT FOR THE INDEX FILE, AND, MOTHER DEAR, AREN'T YOU JUST SO PROUD OF YOUR BOY.” >> Cathy: YES, I THINK SHE IS.

THE MORRIS BROTHERS, THAT'S WHO WE WERE LOOKING FOR, TOM AND JACK WERE THE ST.

PAUL NATIVES AND PITCHING DUO WE ASKED ABOUT.

OLDER BROTHER TOM SEEN HERE IN A CUBS UNIFORM WAS THE SUPERSTAR PITCHER IN HIGH SCHOOL, BUT AFTER SIGNING WITH THE CUBS IN 1979, HE DIDN'T RISE TO THE MAJOR LEAGUE LEVEL AND LEFT PRO BASEBALL.

YOUNGER BROTHER JACK, OF COURSE, BECAME AN ALL-STAR PITCHER AND A LEGEND FOR WINNING GAME 7 OF THE 1991 WORLD SERIES, PITCHING 10 SCORELESS INNINGS FOR THE MINNESOTA TWINS.

QUICK NOTE ABOUT THE 1978 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL DRAFT -- TOM MORRIS WAS PICKED N THE TENTH ROUND WITH THE TWINS BUT DIDN'T SIGN WITH THEM.

WAY DOWN IN THE 17TH ROUND OF THE DRAFT THE TWINS PICKED A BLOOMINGTON HIGH SCHOOL KID -- NAMED ENT HERECK WHO WOULD OF COURSE PLAY ALONGSIDE JACK MARIS IN THE 1991 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON.

WOWZA.

THAT'S ENOUGH BASEBALL HISTORY FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR OR AT LEAST TO GET YOU THROUGH THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY NEXT WEEK.

SPEAKING OF THANKSGIVING, WE WILL BE TAKING NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT OFF TO GIVE EVERYONE TIME TO RECOVER FROM EATING TURKEY, PUMPKIN PIE, AND SPENDING TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

WE'LL BE BACK THE FIRST FRIDAY IN DECEMBER.

TONIGHT'S SHOW-ENDING MUSIC KICKS OFF THE HOLIDAY SEASON FOR US.

THIS WEEK BACK IN 1999 THE BLENDERS PERFORMED ON THE OLD "NEWSNIGHT MINNESOTA" SHOW TO PROMOTE THEIR UPCOMING HOLIDAY CONCERT SERIES.

TAKE A LISTEN.

WE'LL SEE YOU IN TWO WEEKS.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

♪ MERRY CHRISTMAS ♪ [ VOCALIZING ] ♪ CHESTNUTS ROASTING ♪ ON AN OPEN FIRE ♪ ♪ JACK FROST NIPPING AT YOUR NOSE ♪ ♪ YULE-TIDE CAROLS BEING SUNG BY A CHOIR ♪ ♪ AND FOLKS DRESSED UP LIKE ESKIMOS ♪ ♪ EVERYBODY KNOWS A TURKEY AND SOME MISTLETOE ♪ ♪ HELP TO MAKE THE SEASON BRIGHT ♪ ♪ TINY TOTS WITH THEIR EYES ALL AGLOW ♪ ♪ WILL FIND IT HARD TO SLEEP TONIGHT ♪ ♪ THEY KNOW THAT SANTA'S ON HIS WAY ♪ ♪ HE'S LOADED LOTS OF TOYS AND GOODIES ON HIS SLEIGH ♪ ♪ AND EVERY MOTHER'S CHILD IS GONNA SPY TO SEE IF REINDEER ♪ REALLY KNOW HOW TO FLY ♪ AND SO I'M OFFERING THIS SIMPLE PHRASE ♪ ♪ TO KIDS FROM ONE TO NINETY-TWO ♪ ♪ ALTHOUGH IT'S BEEN SAID MANY TIMES, MANY WAYS ♪ ♪ MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!

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