>> ERIC: IN THE NEXT HOUR, WE'LL TALK SUMMERTIME WEATHER WITH PAUL DOUGLAS, LOOK AT A NEW BOOK ABOUT TRAINS AND THE TWIN PORTS, AND ADIA MORRIS HAS AN ESSAY FOR US.

>> CATHY: BUT WE START TONIGHT WITH THE ONGOING BIG POLITICAL NEWS IN THE STATE.

DEMOCRATS ARE HEADING TO CHICAGO EARLY NEXT WEEK FOR THEIR NATIONAL CONVENTION.

GOVERNOR WALZ IS TRAVELING AROUND THE COUNTRY CAMPAIGNING 'S THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE ON THE HARRIS-WALZ TICKET.

BACK HERE IN MINNESOTA, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PEGGY FLANAGAN HAS BEEN HOLDING DOWN THE FORT AND GETTING A BIT OF NATIONAL ATTENTION HERSELF.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

IT'S BEEN A BUSY WEEK.

>> Cathy: I CAN ONLY IMAGINE.

SO HOW'S YOUR LIFE CHANGING?

>> IT'S GETTING A LITTLE MORE ATTENTION FOR THE WORK WE'RE DOING HERE IN MINNESOTA.

BUT REALLY, WHAT I THINK MINNESOTANS HAVE SEEN IS THAT GOVERNOR WALZ AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING SIDE BY SIDE FOR ALMOST SIX YEARS, O A LOT OF MY SCHEDULE IS VERY MUCH THE SAME, TRAVELING ACROSS THE STATE.

MAYBE PICKING UP ONE OR TWO THINGS FOR THE GOVERNOR.

BUT WE JUST DID A JUDICIAL INTERVIEWS ON MONDAY.

I'M IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH THE GOVERNOR.

AND SO I THINK INNESOTANS SHOULD JUST EXPECT THAT, LIKE, THINGS WILL GO PRETTY SMOOTHLY HERE FOR THE NEXT 80 DAYS.

>> Eric: DID YOU PLAN THIS KIND OF UNDERGROUND EFFORT TO GET HIM INTO A PLACE WHERE HE COULD BE NAMED TO THE TICKET?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WAS SO UNDERGROUND.

I JUST THINK HE'S A GOOD AND THOUGHTFUL LEADER.

I THINK KAMALA HARRIS MADE AN INCREDIBLE CHOICE.

BUT HE'S JUST -- HE'S WHO EVERYBODY IS SEEING -- AMERICA IS SEEING THAT, YOU KNOW, TEACHER, COACH, VETERAN, AND, YOU KNOW, BIG DAD VIBES, WHICH IS SORT OF THE HASHTAG, RIGHT, ON SOCIAL MEDIA RIGHT NOW.

BUT JUST SEEING A GUY WHO REALLY CARES ABOUT PEOPLE AND I THINK IT'S SUPER EXCITING.

>> Cathy: DID AMALA HARRIS CONTACT YOU TO ASK ABOUT GOVERNOR WALZ AT ALL?

>> HE DID NOT.

ALTHOUGH THE LAST TIME I SAW HER WAS AT A EVENT FOR EMILY'S LIST IN MAY.

WE HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION AND SHE SAID, I WANT YOU TO KNOW I HAVE YOUR BACK, AND I'M LIKE, I HAVE YOURS TOO.

SO I REALLY FEEL LIKE I'M DELIVERING ON THAT AS WE ARE NOW CAMPAIGNING INCREDIBLY HARD FOR KAMALA HARRIS AND NOW FOR TIM WALZ.

>> Eric: YOU WERE IN THE MATH AFTER THE GEORGE FLOYD KILLING.

WHAT'S THE REAL STORY THERE?

>> THE REAL STORY IS THAT OUR HEARTS WERE RIPPED FROM OUR CHESTS.

AND THAT MINNESOTA EXPERIENCED AN INCREDIBLE TRAUMA.

AND I THINK WE ARE STILL HEALING FROM THAT TRAUMA.

>> Eric: HOW DID HE HANDLE IT?

>> I THINK HE HANDLED IT WELL.

HEARTS WERE BREAKING.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, HE -- HE SENT IN THE NATIONAL GUARD.

PRESIDENT TRUMP DID NOT.

PRESIDENT TRUMP, DONALD TRUMP, YOU KNOW, HAS PRAISED GOVERNOR WALZ' RESPONSE DURING THAT TIME.

AND I WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR.

THE ONLY PERSON WHO'S RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT OR VICE PRESIDENT WHO CAUSED A RIOT IS DONALD TRUMP ON JANUARY 6TH.

>> Cathy: WHEN YOU HEAR, AND IT'S GOING TO RATCHET UP EVEN MORE THAN IT IS NOW IN TERMS OF THE MICROSCOPE ON BOTH CANDIDATES, HAT IS THE NATIONAL MEDIA NOT UNDERSTANDING?

>> WELL, I THINK, WE ARE IN THIS MOMENT THAT WE'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE WHERE WE'VE GOT A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION THAT IS, YOU KNOW, LESS THAN 100 DAYS LONG.

BUT I THINK KAMALA HARRIS IS PREPARED AND SHE'S READY.

THAT IS A JOB OF THE SECOND IN COMMAND.

I KNOW THAT WELL.

AND THAT TIM WALZ, I THINK, HAS JUST PROVEN, THAT HE IS READY FOR THIS POSITION AS WELL.

WHAT I DO THINK IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IS, YOU KNOW, IN 2002, I HAD MY FIRST CAMPAIGN EXPERIENCE ON THE WELLSTONE FOR SENATE CAMPAIGN, AND THEN LIVED THROUGH OBAMA E 08 AND IN '12 AND IT REALLY WAS THIS JOYFUL, HOPEFUL MOMENT IN TIME.

I AM OVER THE MOON THAT SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NOW EXPERIENCING THAT AGAIN.

POLITICS SHOULD BE FUN.

BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT THE BIG THINGS THAT WE GET TO DO TO IMPROVE PEOPLE'S LIVES.

AND I THINK YOU'RE SEEING THAT RIGHT NOW.

AND I THINK THAT IS A MOMENT THAT THE MEDIA, YOU KNOW, I THINK CAN REALLY CAPTURE, JUST THE CONTRAST OF LOOKING FORWARD, PROTECTING OUR FREEDOMS, AND OUR RIGHTS, AND, YOU KNOW, MINDING OUR OWN DAMN BUSINESS, SO WANTING PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, POLITICIANS TO BE IN THE EXAM ROOM, CRITIQUING CHILDLESS CAT LADIES AND SORT OF INSULTING WOMEN AT EVERY TURN, AND A POLITICS OF DIVISION.

SO WE'RE IN THIS INCREDIBLE MOMENT.

AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT.

>> Eric: YOU MUST BE THINKING, I COULD BE GOVERNOR IN JANUARY.

>> WELL, WE'VE GOT 80 DAYS TO DO A WHOLE LOT OF WORK.

AND I AM FOCUSED ON ELECTING KAMALA HARRIS -- >> Eric: BUT THE AGENCIES, THE STATE AGENCIES ARE BEGINNING TO WORK ON THE BUDGET FOR 2025.

>> SURE, AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WORK THAT I'VE DONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GOVERNOR.

FOR THE LAST MANY YEARS.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GETTING THINGS READY.

THAT WON'T CHANGE.

I THINK WHAT HAS BEEN MY GUIDING LIGHT AND THE GUIDING LIGHT OF GOVERNOR WALZ IS MAKING MINNESOTA THE BEST PLACE IN THE COUNTRY TO RAISE A FAMILY.

THAT WORK CONTINUES.

IF I'M LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OR, YOU KNOW, TAKE ON A DIFFERENT ROLE IN THE STATE.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS BEEN SO INCREDIBLE ABOUT OUR PARTNERSHIP IS THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO BE, YOU KNOW, ALONGSIDE GOVERNOR WALZ AS WE'VE ORKED WITH, YOU KNOW, FARMERS AND VETERANS AND, YOU KNOW, DID OUR PUBLIC SAFETY TOUR.

ALL OF THESE PIECES THAT I THINK HAVE INFORMED THE WAY THAT WE HAVE GOVERNED, THAT WE'VE PUT TOGETHER BUDGETS, AND FEEL REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

>> Cathy: IS IT JUST A LITTLE -- ARE YOU THINKING IT'S PRESUMPTUOUS TO EVEN SEE YOURSELF AS GOVERNOR AT ALL?

>> BECAUSE OU CAN'T WAIT UNTIL MID-NOVEMBER TO START ROCKING AND ROLLING.

IF INDEED HE BECOMES VICE PRESIDENT.

>> RIGHT, SO THE NUMBER ONE JOB OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNORS AND SECONDS IN COMMAND IS TO BE READY.

I TAKE THAT INCREDIBLY SERIOUSLY.

NORMALLY, I THINK WHEN THAT HAPPENED, IT'S BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN SOME TRAGEDY.

NOW THIS IS, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY A VERY JOYFUL MOMENT.

AND CHANGE.

AND MINNESOTA, WE KNOW HOW TO RAISE GOOD VICE PRESIDENTS, RIGHT?

AND SO I THINK IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE TO SEE THE SPOTLIGHT ON MINNESOTA.

AND FEEDING KIDS, OUR CHILD TAX CREDIT THAT WILL LOWER CHILD POVERTY BY A THIRD.

AND, YOU KNOW, INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF OUR STATE.

AND THAT'S ON DISPLAY RIGHT NOW.

IT'S EXCITING.

>> Eric: DIDN'T THE ECONOMIC AGENDA THAT KAMALA HARRIS LAID OUT TODAY KIND OF SOUND LIKE MINNESOTA THE LAST TWO YEARS?

AND I WONDER, WAS THAT FILL FERNELIUSED FROM MINNESOTA.

OR -- SEEMS VERY SYNCHRONISTIC, THE TWO.

>> I THINK IT'S A GOOD PLAN.

>> Eric: IT'S GOING TO BE EXPENSIVE AND ADD TO THE DEFICIT AND SO FORTH.

>> BUT HERE'S WHAT I KNOW, RIGHT?

THE THINGS THAT WE HEAR FROM MINNESOTANS, AND I VENTURE TO GUESS THAT THINGS THAT THEY'RE HEARING ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BOTH THE VICE PRESIDENT AND THE GOVERNOR, IS THAT PEOPLE CARE TREMENDOUSLY ABOUT CHILD CARE, YOU KNOW, CARING FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

I THINK REALLY THIS -- THIS FOCUS ON INFANTS, AND WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE FIRST 100 DAYS HERE IN MINNESOTA, IS WHEN FAMILIES NEED THE MOST SUPPORT AND THERE'S THE LEAST AVAILABLE TO THEM.

SO GETTING KIDS ON A GOOD START, THINGS LIKE PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE, INVESTING IN HOUSING SO THAT FOLKS CAN BUILD WEALTH, THE LONG-TERM INVESTMENT FOR THAT AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THE ECONOMY HERE IN MINNESOTA, BUT ALSO ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE INCREDIBLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

>> Cathy: SAY, BY THE WAY, YOU'RE GOING TO GO TO THE D.N.C., RIGHT?

>> I AM.

>> Cathy: OKAY, SO WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING THERE IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE UNCOMMITTED MINNESOTA DELEGATES AND SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE NOT VERY HAPPY ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN GAZA?

I MEAN, HOW IS THAT GOING TO PLAY OUT IN THE CONVENTION?

>> SO I THINK ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS ABOUT THE D.F.L.

IS THAT WE ARE A BIG TENT.

AND I THINK PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN REALLY PASSIONATELY ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS.

IT'S OKAY.

RIGHT?

WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE ONVERSATIONS.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE -- I JUST -- I HAVE A LOT OF HOPE IN OUR FUTURE AND OUR PARTIED AND OUR ABILITY TO HAVE HARD CONVERSATIONS, AND GET TO A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE FEEL SEEN AND HEARD AND VALUED.

AND THAT'S WHAT I EXPECT TO HAPPEN IN CHICAGO.

>> Eric: YOU'LL BE THERE AT THE STATE FAIR AND THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN VERY FAMOUS OF BEING THERE AT 6:00 A.M. TO GREET PEOPLE.

>> HE WILL HAVE GIVEN A VERY BIG SPEECH THE NIGHT BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF THE STATE FAIR.

SO I'M NOT SURE.

BUT LET ME TELL YOU, I AM READY FOR THE STATE FAIR.

I WILL BE PAYING VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO PAUL DOUGLAS'S FORECAST FOR THE STATE FAIR.

IT IS MY FAVORITE, YOU KNOW, THING OF THE NTIRE YEAR.

AND IT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT GOVERNOR WALZ AND I HAVE REALLY ENJOYED DOING TOGETHER.

AND JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

>> Eric: WELL ENJOY THE NEW SCRUTINY THAT YOU'RE GETTING.

>> OH, I WILL.