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

>> ERIC: WE'VE GOT ANOTHER BIG SHOW FOR YOU TONIGHT.

GOVERNOR WALZ IS IN THE HOUSE, DAVID SCHULTZ IS HERE TO TALK DEBT CEILING AND OTHER D.C. HAPPENINGS.

KAOMI LEE TAKES US TO A NEW FABRIC STORE THAT SPECIALIZES IN NATIVE DESIGN, AND MARY LAHAMMER WAS AT THE BIG MARIJUANA BILL SIGNING EARLIER THIS WEEK.

>> IT'S LEGAL.

THERE YOU GO.

[Applause] >> Mary: MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION WAS SIGNED INTO LAW.

WE'LL HAVE A SPIRITED ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATION WITH GOVERNOR JESSE VENTURA WHO'S ADVOCATED FOR LEGALIZATION IN DECADES.

>> WHAT IS TODAY, TRULY, I'M A DAY OF FREEDOM.

>> Mary: THAT'S COME UP ON "ALMANAC."

>> THEY'VE GOT THE SECURITY, THEY'LL HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COME IN AND MAKE SURE THE SECURITY AND THE CONTAINMENT -- >> Cathy: WOULD YOU BE THE FIRST TO JUMP IN THE POLL?

>> I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THEY'LL BE READY TO.

WE HAVE THE AUGUST 1 AND I THINK THEY'LL AKE SOME OF THE ORIGINAL APPLICATIONS JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE PREPARED TO DO SO AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING.

MY CONCERN WAS THAT THIS BECAME BIG BUSINESS THAT THE MONEY FLOWED OUTSIDE OF MINNESOTA RATHER THAN HOME-GROWN OPPORTUNITIES HERE, AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING.

>> Eric: STEVE CRIMER FROM THE MINNEAPOLIS DOWNTOWN COUNCIL HAD AN OP ED IN THE COUNCIL THIS WEEK.

HE WAS TALKING ABOUT MINNEAPOLIS CITY GOVERNMENT BUT HE DID -- I WANTED TO RUN IN BY YOU, BEWARE OF THOSE IN PUBLIC LIFE WHO DENOUNCE THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

AND I THINK SOME REPUBLICANS ARE FEELING THAT MAYBE THIS AGENDA FROM THE HOUSE AND SENATE WAS KIND OF ANTI-BUSINESS, ANTI-PROSPERITY?

>> WELL, I DON'T SEE IT THAT WAY.

I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS WE HEARD FROM BUSINESSES WAS HOW ARE WE GOING TO ATTRACT WORKERS?

WHAT ARE WE GOING DO ABOUT DAY CARE, HOUSING, EDUCATION OF OUR WORKFORCE AND I APPROACHED THIS ENTIRE SESSION LOOKING AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS THAT ARE COPING AND IT'S INEVITABLE, WE'RE AN AGING POPULATION, HAVING FEWER CHILDREN, NORTHERN STATES ARE ALMOST ALL LOSING SOME OF THEIR POPULATION JUST DUE FEIT NATURE OF IT.

I WILL MAKE THE CASE THAT CLIMATE CHANGE WILL REVERSE SOME OF THAT AS PEOPLE MOVE BACK NORTH BUT WE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR THIS DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE, SO I DON'T SEE IT THAT WAY.

I THINK HAT YOU'RE SEEING A STATE THAT IS ATTRACTING PEOPLE, FIRST OF ALL, YOU'LL BE PROTECTED HERE, YOU'LL MAKE YOUR OWN HEALTH CARE DECISIONS, YOU'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A QUALITY EDUCATION FOR YOUR CHILDREN.

I THINK THAT'S THE PRO-BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE AND I'VE ALWAYS BEEN IN THAT PLACE WHERE WE CAN'T THRIVE WITHOUT THE OPPORTUNITY OF THESE PRIVATE BUSINESSES CREATING JOBS SO PEOPLE CAN CHOOSE WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO LIVER, IF THAT'S IN ROSEAU OR ROCHESTER, WE NEED THE BUSINESS ECTOR TO BE THERE.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS, IS THAT BECAUSE -- ARE YOU -- SEEMS LIKE YOU ARE RAISING YOUR NATIONAL PROFILE AND TALKING ABOUT MINNESOTA AS A REFUGE STATE FOR A NUMBER OF -- ARE YOU DOING THIS FOR DEMOGRAPHICS OR FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES?

>> I THINK PART OF IT IS TELLING OUR STORY.

I'VE SAID THIS I THINK WE THE OLD MINNESOTA ADAGE, IF YOU DO A GOOD DEEDS AROUND TALK BIT, IT DOESN'T COUNT, THAT HUMAN BELIEVENESS OR WHATEVER.

I DO THINK WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT ITS, WE NEED REPUTATION TO GET OUT THERE BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE SEE US AS A COLD STATE, SOME PEOPLE KNOW US FOR THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS, THEY MIGHT KNOW US FOR 3M OR WHATEVER, THEY KNOW US FOR GEORGE FLOYD.

I MEAN, THOSE THINGS ARE REALITY SO I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS IS TAKING US OUT THERE, SHOWING WHAT'S POSSIBLE AND THIS IDEOLOGICAL, THIS DRIVE TO THE BOTTOM OF LOWER WAGES, LESS RESOURCES, TELLING US THAT WE DON'T NEED AN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.

WE DO.

WE ARE A COUNTRY OF IMMIGRANTS AND WHICH KNOW THAT WONG OF THE SOLUTIONS TO OUR EMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS AND OUR WORKER EMPLOYEE SHORTAGE IS GOING TO BE THROUGH LEGAL IMMIGRATION, AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE MINNESOTA IS SET UP TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER.

>> Eric: THERE IS A SEGMENTS OF THE REPUBLICAN CONSTITUENCY THAT IS TALKING ABOUT PARENTAL RIGHTS WHEN ITS COMES TO EDUCATION.

AND I WONDER AS A CAREER TEACHER HOW MUCH PARENTAL INPUT DID YOU ENCOURAGE WHEN YOU WERE IN THE CLASSROOM?

>> ALWAYS, I ENCOURAGED PEOPLE TO COME AND BRING KLEENEXES WHEN THEY CAME BECAUSE WE NEVER HAD ENOUGH.

ANY DOOR WAS ALWAYS OPEN.

THIS IDEAS THAT THE SYLLABUS WAS ALWAYS VERY PUBLIC, I WOULD INVITES PEOPLE TO COME IN THAT HAD EXPERTISE.

IT'S NOT BRING A PARENTS TO WORK DAY TYPE OF THING, WE WOULD DO THAT.

PARENTS ALWAYS HAVE THIS INPUT.

THE THING IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN SOME PLACES, ONE PARENT COMPLAINS ABOUT A BOOK AND WE BAN IT FROM THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

THERE ARE A WHOLE BUNCH OF PARENTS THAT WERE THEN DENIED THAT OPPORTUNITIES.

SO I THINK STRIKING THE PROPER BALANCE.

PARENTS ABSOLUTELY SHOULD HAVE A SAY IN THAT, THEY ALWAYS OF COURSE.

WHICH HAVE TOOK BOARDS FOR A PARTICULAR RON.

THAT DOOR IN MY ROOM WAS ALWAYS OPEN, NEVER SHUT FOR THAT VERY REASON, I ENCOURAGED FOLKS TO COME IN WHEREVER THEY COULD.

SOME OF THEM DID BUT ONE OF THE THINGS IS, I THINK FOR MANY OF US, I THINK I'M A RELATIVELY SKILLFUL GEOGRAPHY TEACHER, I'M NOT SKILLFUL CHEMISTRY TEACHER.

I'M GLAD Mr. WALKER WAS DOWN THE HALLWAY.

THOSE PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE TO DO SO THEMSELVES HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO SO, HOME-SCHOOL THEIR CHILDREN OR CHOOSE ELSEWHERE BUT FROM A PUBLIC SCHOOL PERSPECTIVE, IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT PUBLIC INPUT.

>> WHERE ARE YOU ON THE SOCIAL ISSUES, ABORTION, GAY, THERAPY, SOUNDS LIKE IT WILL YOU BE A SUBTEXT FROM THE 2022 CAMPAIGN?

WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHT?

>> I THINK PEOPLE MOVE TOWARDS FREEDOM, PEOPLE MAKE THEIR CHOICES ON THIS.

IF YOU DON'T WANT TO ENGAGE IN WHAT YOU DO AROUND YOUR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS BUT ANOTHERS NEED TO.

WE NEED TO HAVE BODILY AUTONOMY ISSUES, THAT'S WHAT MOST OF THIS.

I THINK THERE'S FOLKS THAT TRY TO MAKE THESE SOCIAL ISSUES, THEY TRIED TO MAKE IT THE CENTERPIECE.

PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT ROADS HERE.

THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT GIVE US OUR PROTECTION, STAY OUT OF OUR BUSINESS, OUR BEDROOMS AND FIX THE ROADS.

MAKE SURE MY TAXES AREN'T TOO HIGH BUT MAKE SURE I'M GETTING SOMETHING FOR THEM.

SO I WOULD JUST HAVE TO SAY IF REPUBLICANS CONNECT TO GO DOWN THE ROAD OF DENYING ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE CARE, IF THEY CHOOSE TO DEMONIZE TRANSGENDER CHILDREN, THEY'RE GOING TO BE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY AND THE WRONG SIDES OF THE ELECTORATE.

THEY WON'T WIN N THAT ISSUE, YOU HAVE TO COME WITH A LITTLE BIT MORE.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN ON HOW DO YOU PLAN ON TACKLING THIS ISSUE OF WORKER SHORTAGE.

HOW DO YOU PLAN ON TACKLING CRIME?

HOW DO YOU PLAN ON IT OTHER THAN JUST COMPLAINING?

YOU CAN'T BE IN THIS POINTS OF ROOTING FOR FAILURE AND I REALLY SEE THAT, THAT IT'S A NEGATIVE MANTRA ALL THE TIME.

THIS WON'T WORK.

WE DON'T LIKE THIS.

WELL, WHAT IS THE ALTERNATIVE?

IT CAN'T JUST BE TAX CUTS FOUR EVERY SINGLE ISSUE.

THAT IS NOT A WINNING SOLUTION.

>> Cathy: THIS MAY COME OUT OF THE LEFT FIELD HERE, GOVERNOR, BUT YOU MENTIONED THESE ARE ISSUES OF BODILY AUTONOMY THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS PAST SESSION.

I DID NOTES THAT THE PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED DEATH BILL DIDN'T HAVE A HEARING BUT CAME UP, IT WAS INTRODUCED.

IS THAT JUST A BRIDGE TOO FAR?

DO YOU THINK THAT BILL WILL EVER ASS?

>> I WOULD JUST SAY PERSONALLY IT'S ONE THAT I HAVE SOME INTEREST IN.

I WATCHED AS A TEENAGER AND MY FATHER WAS DYING IN THE HOSPITAL AND THERE WAS NO WANT THERE TO MAKE DECISIONS ON S AND HE ENDED UP STAYING THERE FOR A TIME LONGER AND THEN EVENTUALLY DIED.

IT STRAPPED MY MOM WITH INCREDIBLE MEDICAL BILLS AND I THINK THERE SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST BEEN SOME COUNSELING.

I THINK THERE SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST BEEN SOMEONE THERE TO SHARE THAT BUT NO ONE WAS WILLING TO -- THE LAW WOULDN'T DIET AND JUST STAY ON LIFE SUPPORT AND THERE WAS NO -- YOU KNOW, THERE WAS NOT GOING TO BE A POSITIVE OUTCOME AND I THINK YOU SEE THESE SITUATIONS OF DEATH WITH DIGNITY NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED.

I THINK IT'S ONE THAT WE SHOULDN'T SHY AWAY FROM.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SOCIETY WILL ETERMINE WHEN E.WHERE THAT ENDS UP BUT I DO THINK IT'S ONE WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER STATES AND COUNTRIES.

THERE'S TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE HOW DO YOU -- HOW DO YOU GIVE PEOPLE PERSONAL AUTONOMY AROUND THIS IDEAS OF TERMINAL ILLNESS.

>> Eric: FORMER PRESIDENT OBAMA'S TWEET IF YOU NEED A REMINDER THAT ELECTIONS HAVE CONS CONSEQUENCES, CHECK OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MINNESOTA.

I'M SURE THE DEMOCRATS LOVE EX, REHABILITATION ARE FURTHER INFLAMED ON IT.

ARE YOU PLANNING TO DO ANY TRAVELING ON BEHALF OF THE BIDEN REELECTION CAMPAIGN?

>> I THINK SO.

I THINK PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS DELIVERED ON WHAT HE SAID.

>> Eric: HAVE YOU TALKED TO THE BIDEN FOLKS?

>> YEAH, WE'VE TALKED SOME, JUST THIS WEEK AND I'LL GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE, AND BOTH PRESIDENT BIDEN AND SPEAKER McCARTHY, WHO I UNDER ESTIMATED, HE DID IT, IT'S DONE FOR AMERICA, I APPLAUDS THE FOLKS WHO VOTED YES ON THIS A TOUGH VOTE, KIND OF PLUG YOUR NOSE ON SOME OF THIS BUT THIS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH SPENDING, NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING OTHER THAN IT'S A PROCEDURAL VOTE TO KEEP THINGS FROM US FROM DEFAULTING SO I THINK GETTING OUT THERE AND TELLING THE STORY THAT YOU CAN DO THESE ISSUES, YOU CAN LISTEN TO THE PUBLIC, YOU CAN GET THESE THINGS DONE, IS A GOOD MESSAGE.

AND PRESIDENT BIDEN, PEOPLE WANTS TO SEE THE ROADS FIXED.

THAT'S WHAT I'M MOST INTO ITED ABOUT, THE BONDING BILL.

THERE WON'T BE THE PRESS OR THE DOCUMENTARY LIKE THERE IS ON MAR WAYNE, THE MANKATO WATER TREATMENT PLANT OR THE FOOD CONTROL IN MOORHEAD BUT THOSE ARE THE THINGS PEOPLE REALLY CARE ABOUT.

I'M CONVINCED WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, PUBLIC SAFETY AND INFRASTRUCTURE ARE THE TWO THINGS, THEN IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN, IT BECOMES EDUCATION.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW WHAT I NOTICED DURING THE SESSION, YOU MENTIONED THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

YOU JUST CALLED THE BONDING BILLING, RIGHT, BUT THIS ONE WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T HAVE AS MUCH BONDING IN IT, YOU ACTUALLY PAID CASH.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: AND USUALLY BONDING BILLS ARE BIPARTISANSHIP AND IN HE PAST ELECTION LAW CHANGES HAVE BEEN BIPARTISANSHIP BUT NEITHER WERE THAT WAY THIS WAY?

>> THE BONDING BILL WAS AND DEAN YOU ARE STALL DID A HECK OF A JOB ON THIS, IT WAS BEING HELD UP IN THE SENATE AND THEY HELD IT UP LAST TIME BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT WAS VERY BIPARTISAN.

AND I SAID THE THING WITH THE ELECTION LAW, WE'VE GOT FOLKS WHO ARE DENYING THE 2020 ELECTION.

WE HAVE FOLKS THAT HAVE NOW TAKEN ELECTIONS TO THAT.

I DIDN'T START THIS AND I DON'T THINK DEMOCRATS STARTED THIS BUT I HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE.

AND I THINK HERE IN MINNESOTA, ALL OF HESE CHANGES ARE SIMPLY TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE BALLOT BOX.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE REPUBLICANS HAVE GIVEN UP ON ELECTORATE WHERE THEY SAID, WELL, ALL THESE 55,000 FELONS ARE GOING TO ROW VOTE DEMOCRAT.

THERE'S A LOT OF RESEARCH TO SHOW THAT'S NOT TRUE.

NO CARE HOW THEY VOTE, I DON'T CARE HOW THE EXPANSION OR ANYBODY VOTES, THAT'S NOT MY CHOICE TO MAKE.

>> Eric: YOU DON'T THINK THE THUMB IS ON THE SCALE WITH THE CHANGES?

>> NO, GO OUT AND EARN ITS, EVER A MESSAGE THAT TRACTS PEOPLE TO GETTING THERE.

WHY WOULD YOU BELIEVE THAT JUST EXPANDING VOTES TO MORE PEOPLE HURTS YOUR POLITICAL PARTY?

I WOULD REALLY DO SOME SOUL-SEARCHING ON THAT IF YOU'RE A FRAYED THAT IF MORE PEOPLE VOTE, YOU'LL LOSE ELECTIONS, THAT OUGHT TO TELL YOU KIND OF WHERE YOU STANDS, SO... >> Cathy: GOT TO ASK YOU ABOUT A POTENTIAL SPECIAL SESSION BECAUSE IT KIND OF CAME UP AT THE ENDS OF SESSION.

WHERE ARE WE WITH THE SANFORD HEALTH-FAIRVIEW HEALTH MERGER AND WHERE IS THE U OF M IN ALL THIS?

>> WELL, THE U OF M, I, AGAIN, GRATEFUL OVER THERE WITH THE INTERIM PRESIDENT WITH INTERIM PRESIDENT ETTINGER AND I IN THE MEETING WITH HIM, YOU KNOW, MY -- WHATEVER IT'S WORTH, PIE TWO CENTS, IF IT'S THAT, THAT THAT'S THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS, TO ANYTHING OUT WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THE MERGER, TO BRING IN THE EXPERTS THAT CAN HELP OH DO THIS.

THIS WAS A MEETING THAT GOVERNOR DAYTON AND GOVERNOR PAULINE' ASKED TO HAVE, WE BROUGHT IN THE U OF M FOLKS.

THEY'VE GOT AN INTERIM PRESIDENT NOW.

I BROUGHT IT UP, THIS IS WHAT A SPECIAL SESSION SHOULD BE FOR, NOT FOR NOT GETTING YOUR WORK DONE, IT SHOULD BE A SINGLE ISSUE THAT IS OF IMPORTANCE AT THE TIME AND I FLOATED IT, SEE IF E'LL GET THERE, BRING IN THE EXPERTS, CHART THE COURSES OF ACTION AND THEN GET SETS TO COME IN ON A SPECIAL SESSION.

>> Eric: AUTISM WOULD BE THE TIME OF THAT?

>> SEEMS LIKE IT.

SEEMS LIKE COMING BACK -- FIRST OF ALL, WE HAD SANFORD AND FAIRVIEW SAYING WE WANT TO HAVE THIS DONE IN MARCH.

WELL, THAT WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN.

THEN WE EXTENDED IT ON AND I THINK THE LEGISLATURE PUT A LITTLE MORE EETH IN WHAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CAN DO WHICH IS APPROPRIATE FOR MERGERS, ANTI-TRUST, THINGS LINING THAT BUT WE STILL NEED TO FIGURE THIS OUT AND MY ROLE AS GOVERNOR IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA THAT INCREDIBLE MEDICAL SCHOOL THAT PROVIDES OVER 75% OF OUR PHYSICIANS THROUGHOUT MINNESOTA, THAT THAT'S TAKEN CARE OF AND ALSO THAT ACCESS TO CARE ACROSS ALL CORNERS OF THE STATE.

WE SEE CONSOLIDATION START TO COLLAPSE, WE NO LONGER HAVE A BIRTHING UNIT IN ALBERT LEA AND PEOPLE HAVE O TRAVEL 40 MILES.

MIGHT NOT OUND LIKE MUCH UNLESS IT'S FEBRUARY NIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A BLIZZARD, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT PEOPLE EXPECT SERVICES TO BE CLOSER TO THEM, DON'T -- I THINK THAT BROADER ISSUE OF HEALTH CARE CONSOLIDATION IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE TALKED ABOUT.

>> Eric: APPRECIATE YOUR TIME COMING OVER.

THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

>> ALL THE BEST TO YOU.

>> Cathy: THANKS.

♪♪ >> ERIC: WE TURN OUR ATTENTION NOW TO THE BIG NATIONAL POLITICAL NEWS OF THE WEEK, THE DEBT CEILING DEAL FORGED BY PRESIDENT BIDEN AND HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN MCCARTHY.

GETTING A DEAL THAT ENOUGH HOUSE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WOULD ACCEPT WAS THE CHALLENGE.

IN THE END, THE BILL EASILY PASSED THE HOUSE WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, AND BIPARTISAN OPPOSITION.

THE SENATE TOOK SWIFT ACTION, PASSING THE BILL ON THURSDAY EVENING TO PREVENT THE GOVERNMENT FROM DEFAULTING ON ITS DEBT IN JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS.

PRESIDENT BIDEN IS EXPECTED TO RECEIVE THE BILL AND SIGN IT ON SATURDAY.

DAVID SCHULTZ TEACHES POLITICS AND LAW AT HAMLINE UNIVERSITY, AND IS ALSO AN ADJUNCT LAW PROFESSOR AT THE U OF M. KIND OFF A WING-WIN FOR THE PRESIDENT AND SPEAKER McCARTHY?

>> THEY BOLT CAME OUT PRETTY GOOD AT THIS POINT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE THINKING THEY WEREN'T GOING TO DO THE DEAL.

BY THE WAY, I WAS ALWAYS CONVINCED THEY WOULD REACH AN AGREEMENT AT SOME POINT.

THEY HAD A SORT -- SORT OF HAD TO PLAY TO THEIR BASIS BUT THEY BOTH LOOKED PRETTY GOOD AT THIS POINT IN TERMS OF THE FACT THEY GET THE WALK-AWAY AND BOTH CLAIM THEY OT SOME VICTORIES, THEY WENT BAKE BACK TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND SAID WE DIDN'T GET THE ENTIRE LOAF BUT PART OF IT.

AT THE END OFT DAY, A GOOD WIN FOR AMERICA AND HOW POLITICS OUGHT TO BE WHEN BOTH SIDES GET TO GO BACK AND SAY WE GOT SOME STUFF.

>> Eric: O.

>> Cathy: MORE DEMOCRATS VOTED THAN REPUBLICANS, IS THAT A SURPRISE?

>> NOT A SURPRISE GIVEN THE FACT THAT, I THINK, IT WAS BASICALLY BIDEN'S DEMOCRATS BEHIND HIM AT THIS POINT, AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THE DEMOCRATS WHO VOTED FOR IT WERE THE MORE CENTRIST MODERATE DEMOCRATS WHICH IS WHERE BIDEN REALLY IS POLITICALLY.

I MEAN, WHAT WE REALLY SAW IN TERMS OF -- WHEN YOU SAID THE BIPARTISAN, LET'S SAY VOTING AGAINST IT, IT WAS REALLY WHAT THE EXTREMES ON THE LEFT AND EXTREMES ON THE RIGHT, YOU KNOW, BOTH SIDES ARE SAYING WE DON'T LIKE LL THE DIFFERENT STUFF, YOU KNOW, THAT'S -- >> Cathy: OMAR VOTED FOR IT AND SO DID MARRIAGELY TAYLOR GREEN, SO -- >> YEAH, WHAT I'M SAYING, THIS DEFIED IN SOME WAYS A LITTLE BIT OF THE IDEOLOGY AND, AGAIN, THIS MAY BE SOMEHOW IT SHOULD BE AT THE END OF THE DAY.

>> FISCHBACH AND FINSTAD VOTED NO FROM THE MINNESOTA DELEGATION, EMMER AND STAUBER VOTED YES.

I WONDER IF THIS HAS ANYTHING GOING FORWARDS FOR THE 2024 ELECTION CAMPAIGN, FOR THE PRESIDENCY AND ALL THAT STUFF.

>> PROBABILITY REFLECTS THE FACT THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN VOTING WHERE THEY THINK THEIR CONSTITUENTS ARE.

WE SOMETIMES FORGETS AT THE ENDS OFT DAY, GUESS WHAT, ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES ARE SUPPOSED TO, WHAT, VOTE IN MANY WAYS HOW THEIR CONSTITUENTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE.

WE'RE SO USED TO STRAIGHT PARTY-LINE VOTES AND SO USED TO THE IDEAS OF SAYING WE'RE JUST GOING TO DRIVE STUFF IDEALOGICALLY THAT YOU KIND OF HOPE IN A REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY, AT LEAST THAT'S THE THEORY, FISCHBACH AND PEOPLE LIKE THAT GO BACK TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND SAY WE DON'T SUPPORT THIS.

EVEN IN THE REPRESENTATIVES PERSONALLY WANT TO VOTE FOR IT, IF THE CONSTITUENTS ARE SAYING NO, MAYBE THAT'S THE RIGHT ANSWER.

>> Cathy: THERE IS A TWO-YEAR EXTENSION.

WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?

>> THAT'S IMPORTANT, IT GETS US PAST THE 2024 ELECTIONS AT THIS POINT.

SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE THIS FIGHT AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

NOW, WHAT IS INTERESTING HERE IS THAT NOTICE, IT'S A SUSPENSION OF THE DEBT CEILING LIMIT.

JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY HERE IS THAT UP UNTIL THE 1930s, WE NEVER HAD ANYTHING CALLED A DEBT CEILING LIMIT U AS CONGRESS SPENT MONEY, IT JUST SORT OF KEPT ACCUMULATING, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

I COULD EVEN TELL YOU THAT UNTIL THE 19 -- RIGHT AFTER WORLD WAR I, WE DIDN'T REALLY EVER A BUDGET, NOT REALLY A FEDERAL BUDGET IN THE WAY WE THINK OF IT NOW UNTIL THE 1970s.

>> SO IN SOME SENSE, THIS IDEA OF SAYING THERE IS A LIMIT, A STATUTORY LIMIT ON HOW MUCH WE CAN BORROW, IT'S REALLY AN ARTIFICIAL CONSTRUCT.

IF CONGRESS TOMORROW WANTED TO SAY, PERMANENTLY SUSPENDS THE DEBT CEILING LIMIT THEY COULD DO THAT.

>> Eric: GIVEN YOUR BACK E.BACKGROUNDS AN WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, LET'S TRY THE 14th AMENDMENT, TAKE T TO THE SUPREME COURT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> YOU COULD MAKE THAT ARGUE.

, YOU COULD TRY THAT, MY SUSPICION IS THE SUPREME -- IF IT HAD GONE TO THE SUPREME COURT, THE SUPREME COURT WOULD PASS ON THIS ONE.

THEY WOULD SAY, TO USE THE LANGUAGE OF LAW, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A POLITICAL QUESTION, THIS IS A MATTER FOR CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO HAVE TO WORK OUT AND THEY WOULD HAVE WALKED AWAY FROM IT BUT THAT IS A POSSIBILITY.

YOU'VE HEARD OTHER -- NOW I I TAUGHT BUSINESS SCHOOL FOR 15 YEARS, TAUGHT ECONOMICS, TOO, SO I COULD ALSO SAY THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE SAID MAYBE WHAT THE TREASURY COULD HAVE DONE IS ISSUE A $1 TRILLION COIN TO TRY TO DO IT.

SO THERE IS A WHOLE BUNCH OF OPTIONS OUT THERE.

AGAIN, SOME PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT THE 14th AMENDMENT THAT SAYS THAT OUR DEBT CAN NEVER BE QUESTIONED IS ONE LEGAL MECHANISM OF DEALING WITH IT.

YEAH.

THAT'S A POSSIBILITY BUT, AGAIN, I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT WOULD BE AN ISSUE THAT THE COURT'S NEVER GOING TO TOUCH.

>> Cathy: YOU JUST GOT BACK FROM TEACHING IN LATVIA WITH MY LATVIAN ROOTS, I ALWAYS LOVE WHEN OU GO OVER THERE.

HOW DID IT GO AND GIVE US A SENSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING OVER THERE?

WHAT ARE THEY THINKING ABOUT?

WHAT'S HAPPENING BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE, WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE U.S., WHAT KIND OF FEEL DID YOU GET?

>> SURE.

FIRST, UNIVERSITY OF LATVIA -- RIGA, YES, A GORGEOUS CITY.

I SHOULD ALSO MENTION I WAS THERE DURING THE WORLD HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS AND UNFORTUNATELY SAW THE UNITED STATES LOSE TO LATVIA, ALTHOUGH THE LATVIANS WERE THRILLED.

NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

BUT THE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, LAD VIA BORDERS ON RUSSIA.

THERE IS A LARGE RUSH PAN POPULATION IN LATVIA.

THINGS ARE TENSE.

THINGS ARE TENSE AND DAY BY DAY, WHICH ALL KEPT EXPECTING THAT THE SUPPOSED COUNTER -- COUNTER ATTACK, YOU KNOW, BY UKRAINE WAS GOING TO START, OR HAPPEN.

BUT THE LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT IN TERMS OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE IS NOT A SURPRISE AT ALL.

THEY JUST REINSTATED OVER IN LATVIA THE DRAFT OR MILITARY SERVICE.

FOR MANY, MANY YEARS THEY DID NOT HAVE THAT SO THEY'RE REALLY NOW TAKING SERIOUSLY THIS IDEA ABOUT COMBAT READINESS AND I THINK WHAT LATVIAN US AND LIT JUANIN US AND I TEACH THERE A LOT ARE NOW SAYING, LISTEN, WE'VE BEEN TELLING YOU FOR 25 YEARS, RUSSIA IS A THREAT.

YOU HAVEN'T LISTENED TO US AND SOME SENSE LATVIA AND LITHUANIA AREN'T QUITE SAYING WE TOLD YOU SO BUT THEY'RE SAYING WE TOLD YOU SO.

>> Eric: PER PATET PARTICULAR PROFESSOR, DAVID SCHULTZ.

IS THAT A WORD?

>> IT PROBABLY IS.

YES, IT IS.

>> Eric: NICE TO HAVE YOU.

>> >> MY PLEASURE.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME AGAIN.

>> Cathy: NICE TO SEE YA.

>> ERIC: THIS YEAR, TWO NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN OPENED THE FIRST NATIVE FABRIC STORE IN THE STATE.

KAOMI LEE WENT TO BROOKLYN PARK TO FIND OUT HOW THEY ARE FILLING A NEED BEYOND THE FABRICS.

[NO AUDIO] A ♪♪ >> ADIA: I DON'’T ACTUALLY ENJOY SUMMER ALL THAT MUCH.

TEMPERATURES ABOVE 75 DEGREES AND TROPICAL HUMIDITY ARE THE STUFF OF LOW-GRADE MISERY.

SWEATER WEATHER IS THE BEST WEATHER.

HOWEVER, SUMMER IS WHEN MY CHILD WILL BE ON SCHOOL BREAK, WHICH WILL, HOPEFULLY, GIVE US ANOTHER BREAK, SUSTAINED FREEDOM FROM ILLNESS.

I THINK WE'’VE HAD A TOTAL OF, MAYBE, SIX WEEKS SINCE EARLY SEPTEMBER WITHOUT SOMEONE IN OUR HOUSE BATTLING SOME KIND OF GUNK.

I THINK WE'’RE IN THE CLEAR AND THEN THERE'’S A CONGESTED, "“MAMA, I'’M HUNGRY,"” FROM THE OTHER ROOM, AND THE DESPAIR WASHES OVER ME, KNOWING IT'’LL BE AT LEAST ANOTHER WEEK BEFORE THE SNOT FACTORY SHUTS DOWN AGAIN.

SERIOUSLY, I WIPE MY CHILD'’S NOSE, TURN MY BACK, AND NOT 30 SECONDS LATER, HIS NOSTRIL LOOKS LIKE AN EXTRA IN A TOY SLIME COMMERCIAL.

THESE GERMS SURE ARE HAVING FUN, EVEN IF WE'’RE NOT.

NO MATTER HOW MANY TISSUES I STUFF IN MY POCKET, IT'’S NEVER ENOUGH; NOT TO MENTION THE NEED TO VISIT FIVE TARGETS BEFORE WE CAN FIND ANY KIDS'’ MEDS IN STOCK.

I KNOW THIS WILL END.

AT LEAST, THAT'’S WHAT I SAY TO MYSELF TO MAINTAIN MY SANITY.

ONE DAY, WE'’LL ALL BREATHE FREELY, LITERALLY.

IN THE MEANTIME, I'’VE GOT AN EXTRA NOSE FRIEDA I'’M WILLING TO PART WITH FOR SOME CHERRY-FLAVORED CHILDREN'’S TYLENOL.

ANY TAKERS?

[Laughter] CLEAR ♪♪ ♪ >> Eric: WHERE HE HAD A MISFIRE WITH THE NATIVE FABRIC STORE PIECE SO LET'S GIVE IT ANOTHER TRY WITH KAOMI LEE.

♪♪ >> OFTEN THE BEST IDEAS COME FROM NECESSITY.

>> THE IDEA CAME FROM US FINDING THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO PERSONALLY FIND ANY OF THE FABRICS THAT WE WANTED IN OUR REGALIA THAT WE WERE MAKING FOR OUR KIDS.

>> SO THESE TWO FRIENDS DECIDED TO OPEN A FABRIC STORE IN BROOKLYN PARK.

BUT NOT JUST ANY ONE, THIS STORE FEATURES NATIVE AMERICAN FABRICS.

>> SHE JUST SAID THAT WE SHOULD START OUR OWN, AND SO I AGREED TO IT AND WE JUST ROLLED WITH IT.

EVERYBODY COMES IN EXCITED TO SEE EVERYTHING.

YEAH, IT'S BEEN GREAT.

>> Reporter: THEIR INTENTION IS BIGGER THAN JUST SELLING FABRIC.

JESSICA'S ROOTS ARE LAKOTA OF STANDING ROCK.

ARLENE'S ARE NAVAJO.

THEY ENVISION THEIR STORE BEING A BRIDGE FOR YOUNG AND OLD TO CONNECT WITH THEIR ROOTS.

>> THE NEED IS OUT THERE, LOTS OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, LOTS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT ARE COMING TO US BECAUSE THEY'RE HOLDING RIBBON SKIRT AKING OR RIBBON SHIRT MAKING CLASSES FOR THE STUDENTS, OR THEIR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

IT BRINGS A LOT OF JOY KNOWING THAT OUR TRADITIONS AND CULTURES ARE BEING TAUGHT IN A VERY RESPECTFUL MANNER, BY OUR ELDERS, TO OUR YOUNGER GENERATION.

>> I GREW UP ON THE REZ AND IT'S A LOT DIFFERENT WHEN YOU'RE IN THE CITY, GROWING UP IN THE CITY AND YOU KIND OF LOSE THAT -- LOSE TOUCH WITH THAT SIDE OF YOUR TRADITION AND YOUR CULTURE.

>> Reporter: THE BEST-SELLING ARE PRINTS WITH DAKOTA, OJIBWE MOTIFS LIKE BERRIES AND FLOWERS.

>> THE JESSICA FABRIC IS ALSO REALLY GOOD.

SHE'S A LOCAL DESIGNER.

THEY REACHED OUT TO HER AND TOOK ACTUAL PICTURES F HER BEAD WORK TO BRING IT INTO THE FABRIC.

>> Reporter: YOU CAN SEE THE BEDES WORK, IT LOOKS REAL.

>> THERE ARE SOME SOUTHWEST NATIVES THAT GO FOR THE DEMETRIC CALL DESIGNS SO A LOT OF THESE ARE POPULAR.

THERE'S OVER 530 FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBES SO EVERYBODY'S TASTE IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

>> Reporter: SOME DESIGNS TELL A STORY.

THIS DESIGN IS CALLED THE LEDGER.

>> WITH OUR PEOPLE, EVERYTHING WAS DOCUMENTED AND SO IT'S USING THAT OLDS LEDGER AND THEN PUTTING DESIGNS ON TOP OF IT SO IT IS A PRETTY POWERFUL STATEMENT OR WAY OF USING ART INTO THE FABRICS, AS WELL.

>> Reporter: AUTHENTIC NATIVE ART IS REPRESENTED MORE THAN EVER.

THERE ARE STORIES THROUGH ART ABOUT BEARS, FIRE FLIES AND CONSTELLATIONS.

BUT THE STORE IS NOT YET OPERATING WITH REGULAR HOURS.

ARLENE HAS GONE THROUGH TWO RADIATION TREATMENTS FOR CANCER.

JESSICA HAS A FULL-TIME JOB.

BOTH ARE MOMS.

>> WE HAVE THEIR OWN CHILDREN WITHIN THE SYSTEM SO TRYING TO NAVIGATE OUR CHILDREN THROUGH THE SYSTEM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO KIND OF WALK BOTH WORLDS, EACH THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AS WELL.

WE'VE BEEN STRONG ADVOCATES FOR OUR YOUTH.

♪♪ >> CATHY: AS THE SUMMER OF 2023 BEGINS, MOST MINNESOTANS HAVE RETURNED TO PRE-COVID ACTIVITY LEVELS AND BEHAVIOR PATTERNS.

THE NUMBER OF CASES IN THE STATE IS LOWER THAN WE'VE SEEN IN NEARLY TWO YEARS.

DOES THIS MEAN WE'RE DONE WITH COVID?

LET'S ASK DR. MIKE OSTERHOLM.

HE HEADS UP THE U OF M'S CENTER FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESEARCH AND POLICY.

OSTERHOLM IS A WORLD-RENOWNED EPIDEMIOLOGIST.

WELCOME BACK IN STUDIO AGAIN.

NICE TO SEE YOU.

>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

COLORADO SO TRANSMISSION LEVELS SEEM LOW, SEEMS LIKE GOOD NEWS.

>> IT IS.

WE'RE CLEARLY IN THE BEST PLACE WE'VE BEEN IN THE PANDEMIC SINCE THE EARLIEST DAYS OF 2020.

I THINK THE QUESTION WE ALL HAVE, IS THIS WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE FROM HERE GOING ON AND I THINK THAT'S THE REAL CHALLENGE BECAUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, WE'VE SEEN DEATHS GO UP BY 7% IN THE UNITED STATES THIS WEEK.

NEW YORK CITY IS REPORTING SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN ACTIVITY.

SO I THINK AT THIS POINT THE QUESTION IS, IS THIS ABOUT TALKING ABOUT HAVING THREE OR FOUR-FOOT SNOWFALLS OR IS THIS ONE- OR TWO-INCH THAT YOU OCCASIONALLY GET FOUR INCHES WITH.

WE DON'T KNOW YET.

I THINK THERE'S NOT HIGH LIKELIHOODS OF HAVING A BIG BURST OF CASES AGAIN BUT IT'S STILL PERSISTS AND FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS OR OLDER, THIS STILL CAN BE A VERY SERIOUS IF NOT LIFE-THREATENING DISEASE.

>> Eric: I THINK THE SIXTH BOOSTER IS AVAILABLE NOW FOR OLDER ADULTS WHO QUALIFY.

IS THERE ANY DATA STUDIES ON HOW EFFECTIVE THE VACCINES ARE?

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE IS TRYING TO TALK ABOUT THESE VACCINES IN A WAY THAT PEOPLE AREN'T CONFUSED AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT, THESE ARE GOOD VACCINES.

THEY HAVE SAVED MILLIONS OF LIVES BUT THEY'RE NOT GREAT VACCINES.

WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THE DURABILITY OF THE VACCINE IS LIMITED.

A STUDY THAT CAME OUT THIS PAST WEEK BY THE CDC AND HEALTH PARTNERS HERE IN MINNESOTA WERE ONE OF THE MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS TO THE DATA FOR THIS STUDY SHOWED THAT IF YOU GOT THE BIVALENT BOOSTER IN THE FIRST WEEKS AFTER YOU GOT IT, YOU HAD ABOUT A 62% PROTECTION AGAINST HOSPITALIZATION.

NOW, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, GOOD BUT NOT GREAT.

BUT THE PROBLEM WAS, BY ABOUT FOUR TO SIX MONTHS OUT, YOU WERE DOWN TO LESS THAN 0% PROTECTION.

AND SO THIS WANES OVER TIME SO THIS REALLY SPEAKS TO GETTING PEOPLE BOOSTED EVERY SIX MONTHS WHICH IS RIGHT,000 N AMERICA NOT GOING TO HAM.

WE HAVE A WHOLE GROUP OF PEOPLE OVER 65 THAT SHOULD BE GETTING THEIR BOOSTER RIGHT NOW AND ONLY 42% HAVE IN THE LAST FIVE MONTHS SO I THINK WE HAVE SOME CHALLENGES AHEAD WITH THESE VACCINES AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS OUR CENTER IS WORKING ON IS ACTUALLY TRYING TO HELP OVERSEE THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW AND BETTER COVID VACCINES.

>> Cathy: TALK TO US ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL COVID ROAD MAP THAT YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON.

THAT'S INTERESTING.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE RECOGNIZE THAT PART OF THE PROBLEM OF TRYING TO GET NEW VACCINES IS -- AS ONE OF OUR FAVORITE MINNESOTA AUTHORS ONCE SAID, IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING, ANY ROAD WILL GET YOU THERE AND SO SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WE ACTUALLY PUT TOGETHER AN INTERNATIONAL GROUP WITH SUPPORT FROM THE WELCOME TRUST FOR INFLUENZA VACCINES TO ACTUALLY LOOK AT WHAT WOULD IT TAKE, AND WE HAD VERY MEASURABLE GOALS.

THIS MONTH'S YOU HAD TO DO THIS, THIS MONTH THAT.

AND WHEN THE COVID SITUATION UNFOLDED EARLY ON, I SAID, THIS IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE BETTER GUIDANCE ON HOW TO HELP DIRECT TO GET BETTER COVID VOC SEASONS.

SO WE PUT TOGETHER A GROUP OF 50 INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS SUPPORTED BY THE ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION AND GATES FOUNDATION AND OVER THE OURSE OF ABOUT 9 MONTHS, WE PUTS TOGETHER THIS VERY DETAILED ROAD MAP THAT HAS ALL THESE MEASURABLE ITEMS HOW DO WE KNOW IF WE'RE GOING FROM STEP ONE TO STEP 2 O STEP 3 SO THAT'S IN PLACE RIGHT NOW AND WE'RE MONITORING AND FOLLOWING THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WORK IS GETTING DONE.

>> Eric: DOES THE POLITICS, THE VARIOUS COUNTRIES INVOLVED, INTERNATIONALLY, DOES THAT GETS IN THE WAY OF DOING SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY CAN FIND ACCEPTABLE?

>> WELL, I THINK ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS THE PUBLIC'S PERCEPTION OF THE VACCINE AND IT WAS NOT JUST THE UNITED STATES THAT RAN INTO TROUBLE WITH PEOPLE BELIEVING THERE WAS SOMETHING POLITICAL ABOUT THE VACCINES OR REASON NOT TO TAKE THEM AND SO ACCINE ACCEPTANCE IN AND OF ITSELF IS CRITICAL.

YOU CAN HAVE THE BEST DARN VACCINE IS IN THE WORLDS BUT IF YOU CAN'T GET IT IN PEOPLE'S ARMS, WHAT GOOD IS IT?

SO THAT'S E.THAT IS REAL AROUND THE WORLD.

I THINK THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE NOW AND I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS IS THAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO MOVE ON FROM COVERED.

I GET THAT, OH, GODS, DO I GET THAT.

BUT AT THIS POINT THIS IS NOT THE LAST ONE.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO HEAR THIS BUT THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED JUST NOW.

WE HAD A VIRUS THAT KILLED ABOUT A HALF PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE THAT OT NFECTED AND WAS HIGHLY INFECTIOUS.

SARS AND MERS, TWO OF THE CORONAVIRUS WHICH HAPPENED TEN TO 120 YEARS AGO, WERE KILLING BETWEEN 15 AND 35% OF THE PEOPLE BUT THEY WEREN'T VERY INFECTIOUS AND WE COULD CONTROL THEM.

THERE IS NOTHING TO KEEP IT IS NEXT CORONAVIRUS FROM BEING HIGHLY INFECTIOUS AND VERY EFFECTIVE AT KILLING.

SO WE HAVE GOT TO WORK NOW WITH THE LESSONS LEARNED ROM THIS PANDEMIC TO DEVELOP THESE BETTER VACCINES SO THAT WE CAN BE IN A POSITION OF REALLY NOT LETTING THAT HAPPEN, AND O I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A KEY, KEY PRIORITY.

I'M AFRAID PEOPLE WANT TO WALK AWAY RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE DONE.

>> Cathy: PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO HEAR THIS AT ALL AND I BET PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO HEAR THIS NEXT QUESTION, TOO.

I KNOW YOUR GROUP IS WORKING ON CWD, A LOT OF DEAR HUNTERS IN THE STATE, A LOT OF I DON'T THINKIC WASTING DISEASE IN WHITES TAIL DEER.

I KNOW YOU HAVE SOME MONEY, YOU'LL LOOK AT THE POSSIBILITIES OF THIS JUMPING TO UMANS?

>> RIGHT.

PEOPLE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT WE'VE NOW BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FOR MORE THAN 30 DAYS, WITH CERVIDS, WHITE-TAIL DEAL, THIS IS A TYPE OF INFECTIOUS MATERIAL THAT IS HIGHLY, HIGHLY DIFFERENT TO EVER KILL OR TO BASICALLY DISIN EFFECT.

AND MANY PEOPLE REMEMBER BACK IN THE DATES OF THE UNITED -- KINGDOM WITH THE MAD COW ISSUE, THAT WAS A PRION RELATED DISEASE, CAUSING ALZHEIMER'S-LIKE CONDITIONS AT VERY EARLY AGES AND RAPIDLY FATAL.

WE NOW HAVE IT IN OVER 30 STATES IN THE UNITED STATES AND WE HAVE IT IN 18 COUNTIES IN MINNESOTA AND THESE ANIMALS MAY NOT SHOW SYMPTOMS EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE THE PRION IN THEIR MUSCLE AND IF YOU INGEST IT, THERE IS A CHANCE YOU CAN GET INFECTED.

WE HAVE SEEN MILLIONS OF DEER HUNTERS IN THIS COUNTRY AND THEIR FAMILIES EATING PRION CONTAMINATED MEAT.

I WAS INVOLVED BACK IN THE 1980s AND '90.

>> Eric: REQUEST MAD COW IN EUROPE, I'M CONVINCED WE'LL SEE THE SAME THING HAPPEN HERE, IT WILL SPILL OVER TO HUMANS AND BECAUSE WE'RE FOLLOWING THE STRAINS OF THERE AND IT'S BECOMING MORE AND MORE HUMANIZED.

YEARS AGO WE COULD NOT PUT THIS INTO HUMAN OTHERWISED MITES, MYSELF THAT HAVE BEEN MADE GENETICALLY TO LOOK LIKE HUMANS, NOW WE CAN DO IT EASILY.

THAT IS A BAD SIGN SO I SNOW PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO HEAR THIS BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE THE PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE INFECTIOUS DISEASE-WISE I THINK IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

GOING TO BE HUGE.

>> Cathy: UGH.

ALL RIGHT.

[Laughter] ALWAYS PPRECIATE YOU HAVING YOU.

>> JUST INVITES ME AGAIN.

>> Eric: THANKS, DOCTOR, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Eric: THANK YOU.

ALWAYS GOOD TO TALK WITH YOU.

BEFORE WE HEAD OVER TO THE COUCH TO VISIT WITH THIS WEEK'S POLITICAL PANEL, IT WAS ANNOUNCED EARLIER TODAY THAT FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER DAVID JENNINGS DIED LATE LAST MONTH AT THE AGE OF 74.

JENNINGS WAS LONG ACTIVE IN MINNESOTA POLITICS AND A FREQUENT GUEST ON THIS SHOW, DATING BACK TO THE FIFTH EPISODE IN EARLY 1985.

HE APPEARED AS A POLITICAL ANALYST, REPUBLICAN HOUSE SPEAKER IN THE MID 1980S, COMMERCE COMMISSIONER IN THE VENTURA ADMINISTRATION, AND SUPERINTENDENT OF MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

HERE'S A LOOK AT A VERY MEMORABLE WEEK IN HIS TENURE AS MINNESOTA SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, WHEN HE GAVELED SESSION TO A CLOSE IN MARCH OF 1986 AMID CHAOS ON THE FLOOR.

TAKE A LOOK AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> TUESDAY WAS QUITE A DAY AT THE STATE CAP STOLE.

EARLY THAT MORNING, 5:00 AUTOMOBILE, AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE HOUSE ADJOURNED, EVEN THOUGH THE LEGISLATION WAS NOT FINISHED.

THE SCENE LOOKED A BIT LIKE WHEN WHERE HE IS KNOWLEDGE COMES TO THE MET CENTER.

>> YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF, Mr. SPEAKER.

[INDISCERNIBLE CONVERSATIONS] [Overlapping Conversation].

>> PEOPLE YELLING AND CHANTING] >> MOTION PREVAILS.

-- VERY WORSE SPEAKER.

>> IF THAT WASN'T ENOUGH ACTIVITY FOR ONE DAY, HOUSE SPEAKER DAVE JENNINGS THEN HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE WHERE HE ANNOUNCED THAT HE WASN'T A CANDIDATE, NOT FOR GOVERNOR, NOT EVEN FOR HIS OWN SEAT IN THE HOUSE.

>> THE STUNNED MEDIA CALLED IT A BOMB SHELL AND BOMBER DAVE JENNINGS IS WITH US TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT IT.

DAVE JENNINGS, HOW COME YOU ADJOURNED THE HOUSE AT 5:00 a.m. TUESDAY MORNING?

>> WELL, BECAUSE WE HAD COMPLETED ALL OF THE BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF HE BUDGET BALANCING BILLS, THE TWO BUDGET BALANCING ILLS AND WE WERE NOWHERE NEAR AGREEMENT ON THOSE BILLS AND I COULDN'T SEE HAVING THE ENTIRE LEGISLATURE SITTING AROUND WAITING FOR THOSE TEN CONFEREES TO REACH AGREEMENT.

I BELIEVED THAT THE BEST WAY TO BRING PRESSURE TO BEAR ON THEM TO SETTLE UP O THAT WE COULD GET IT OVER WITH WAS TO ADJOURN AND SENDS THE REST OF THE LEGISLATURE HOME SO THE FOCUS OF ALL YOU FOLKS WOULD BE ON THEM.

♪♪ >> ERIC: AS NOTED EARLIER IN THE HOUR, IT WAS ANOTHER BIG WEEK OF BILL SIGNINGS FOR GOVERNOR WALZ.

STILL A LOT TO TALK ABOUT COMING OUT OF THIS YEAR'S ACTION-PACKED SESSION.

GET OUT YOUR SCORECARDS, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO SORT OUT WHAT NEW LAWS START ON WHICH DATE.

HERE TO HELP US, A COUCH FULL OF POLITICAL ANALYSTS.

DEMOCRATS UP FIRST THIS WEEK.

MELISA LOPEZ FRANZEN IS BACK.

SHE'S A FORMER DFL SENATE MINORITY LEADER.

JAVIER MORILLO IS A LONGTIME PARTY ACTIVIST AND FORMER NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEMBER.

REPUBLICANS JOINING US TONIGHT, ANNETTE MEEKS HEADS UP THE FREEDOM FOUNDATION.

AND WE WELCOME BACK JEN DEJOURNETT, A REPUBLICAN POLITICAL OPERATIVE.

ANNETTE, AARDING TO THE GOVERNOR, NO PROPER-BUSINESS -- >> HE CAN KEEP SAYING WHAT HE WANTS, THE FACTS ARE THE FACTS.

WE SAW RECORD TAX-RAISING IN A SESSION WITH A $17.5 BILLION SURPLUS THAT LITERALLY HAS BEEN SQUANDERED TO DEMOCRATS' SPECIAL INTERESTS.

IT REALLY ASK A SHAME WHAT'S HAPPENED.

BUT YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE THE EFFECTS.

PEOPLE SAYING DON'T INVEST IN THE STATE, OTHER PEOPLE SAYING, WOW, NATIONAL REVIEW HAD A HUGE SCORCH THE EARTH POLICY -- ARTICLE THIS WEEK TALKING ABOUT WHEN POLITICS GOES BAD, LOOK TO MINNESOTA, THAT WILL SHOW YOU WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

>> Eric: SENATOR?

>> WELL, I THINK YOU HAVE TO SEE THE BUDGET NOT IN TWO-YEAR CYCLES BUT LONG TERM AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THEY CAME TO SEE THAT WE HAVE TO RECEIVES NOW TO SEE THE BENEFITS IN THE FUTURE AND T WON'T HAND OVERNIGHT SO YOU HAD A CHAIR AND A SENATE ABOUT SENATOR REST AND IN THE HOUSE, WITH AISHA GOMEZ, I THINK THEY CAME TO AGREEMENT THAT THEY NEEDED TO PIECE IT TOGETHER FOR THE LONG HAUL AND I THINK THEY ARE BETTING ON MINNESOTANS ON THE WORK AND THE INVESTMENTS THAT THEY'RE PUTTING IN THEIR BUDGET.

>> WELL, SMALL BUSINESSES, WHETHER IT'S MOM-AND-POP BUSINESS OR THAT PIZZA PLACE DOWN THE STREET ARE REALLY CONCERNED.

SOME OF THE POLICIES THAT CAME OUT AROUND THE SICK AND SAFE TIME AND THE FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE ARE GOING O HIT THEM HARD.

LIKE EVEN IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, WE WERE ESTIMATING THE SICK AND SAFE TIME ON SOME OF THE COUNTY LEVELS TO BE OVER $200,000, SO EVEN THOUGH THEY INCREASED OUR BASE FUNDING BY $400,000, THEY TOOK IT ALL BACK, SO WHAT GOVERNMENT GIVES YOU, GOVERNMENT QUICKLY TAKES RIGHT BACK IN THE SAME ENTIRE BUDGET.

>> WELL, WE'RE GOING TO FIND, I THINK, THAT A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES ARE GOING TO FIND, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, CREATING AN INSURANCE PROGRAM LIKE UNEMPLOYMENT, THERE ARE NO BUSINESSES WERE SAYING, OH, LET'S GETS RID OF UNEMPLOYMENT BECAUSE IT SERVES A PURPOSE.

YOU PAY INTO IT AND THEN, LIKE THE FACT THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO ATTRACT WORKERS WHO, LIKE, PEOPLE LOSE EMPLOYEES BECAUSE OF THEIR INABILITY TO TAKE CARE OF SICK ONES OR TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES WHEN THEY ARE SICK.

SO, LIKE -- THERE IS A LOT OF HOOTING AND HOLLERING ABOUT THIS BUT I THINK IN THE EN, THAT'S GOING TO BE BARELY FELT AND IF ANYTHING, FELT AS A BENEFIT.

DEMOCRATS CAME IN WITH A BOLD AGENDA, THEY DID -- THEY DID WHAT THEY HAD TO DO AND I AM INCREDIBLY PROUD.

THE FACT THAT A RIGHT-WING MAGAZINE DOESN'T LIKE IT IS NOT SHOCKING.

>> I THINK WHAT'S REALLY GOING TO HIT HOME IS PEOPLE'S FAMILY BUDGET DIDN'T INCREASE BY 38%, OUR STATE BUDGET DID.

AND THEY WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT FOR A LONG TIME.

>> Cathy: ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THE MUSHROOMING IZE OF STATE GOVERNMENT, IN THAT THE SICK AND SAFE TIME IS -- THERE'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER WHOLE INFRASTRUCTURE TO CREATE, RIGHT?

MARIJUANA WITH THE DISPENSARIES AND IT IS OFFICE OF -- THAT WILL BE CREATED O OVERSEE THAT.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF JOBS -- >> Eric: OFFICE OF CHILDREN.

>> Cathy: OFFICE OF CHANGE, THAT'S RIGHT, SO THREE KIND OF LARGE SECTIONS OF STATE GOVERNMENT ARE BEING CREATED, ANY CONCERNS OVER THAT?

>> I'M CONCERNED.

NOBODY ASKED LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXACTLY HOW THEY WERE GOING TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THESE THINGS.

THEY FORCED IT UPON US AND THEY DIDN'T CONCERN, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A RAMP-UP TIME, TOO, SO, FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE MARIJUANA POLICY, YOU KNOW, HOW ARE WE GOING TO IMPLEMENT THAT, HOW ARE WE GOING O ENFORCE IT, HOW DO WE CHANGE THE ORDINANCES TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT.

ALL OF THAT COSTS US TIME AND THOSE ARE THE HIDDEN COSTS OF SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT GOT IMPLEMENTED.

NOT THAT -- IN A VERY RUSHED, IN A VERY HURRIED, IN A VERY NOT FULLY VETTED KIND OF WAY, AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE PROBABLY IN THE NEXT SESSION THE LARGEST REVISION BILL EVER POSSIBLE WHEN THEY HAVE TO CLEAN UP SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT GOT SHOVED THROUGH WITHOUT EACH PIECE OF IT EQUALLY VETTED.

>> WELL, I DON'T THINK IT WAS PUSHED UPON ANYBODY.

THIS IS WHAT WE CAMPAIGNED ON ALL YEAR, WE WENT AND TALKED TO THE PEOPLE AND THAT'S WHAT OUR CAUCUS CAMPAIGNED TO TAKE OVER THE SENATE THAT THEY WANTED ACTION, THEY WANTED TO VOID AND STOP THE GRIDLOCK AND THAT'S WHAT HEY GOT AND THEY'VE HAD TEN YEARS TO VET SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE, LONGER FOR MARIJUANA AS YOU HEARD EARLIER IN THE PROGRAM, THESE ARE NOT NEW IDEAS, THEY'VE BEEN ON THE BOOKS, VETTED, THOROUGHLY AND THERE'S BEEN INPUT FROM A OT OF PEOPLE, WHETHER IT'S GOING TO CHANGE IN THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTATION, THERE WILL BE ROOM FOR THAT BECAUSE THERE IS A REGULATORY PROCESS TO DO JUST THAT.

NOTHING IS ALL SET IN ONE PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

>> Eric: HOW GOT GOVERNOR'S POINT THAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE THE ARTIES OF -- NO POSITIVE AGENDA AND VOTERS DON'T LIKE THAT.

>> WELL, I THINK THAT IS A FAIR CRITICISM BUT THEY ALSO THINK WHEN WE DO HAVE VALID CRITICISM, IT WAS JUST IGNORED.

WE COULDN'T EVEN GET AMENDMENTS PASSED TO MOST OF THESE BILLS.

WE HAD NO HEARING ON THE GAS TAX, WE HAD -- THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WERE JUST RUSHED THROUGH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, YOU CAN'T LOOK AT THAT AND BLAME REPUBLICANS FOR THAT, THAT'S ALL ON THE DEMOCRATS.

BUT I THINK WHAT'S MOST CONCERNING TO US, TALKING ABOUT THE POT BILL, FOR EXAMPLE, ALL OF THIS WAS CRAFTED WITH THE STATE KNOWS BEST.

SO YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY CAN'T SAY, WE DON'T WANTS A DISPENSARY IN OUR TOWN YOU CAN'T SAY THAT, EVEN IN A COUNTIES, EVEN COLORADO ALLOWED THAT TO HAPPEN AND WE HAVE A STATE KNOWS BEST.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT.

>> Eric: JAVIER, FOR A YOUNG GUY, A VETERAN OUR NOISIER AND I THINK JUST HAVING OBSERVED ALSO SCENE MANY YEARS MYSELF, I HAVE IS TO SAY THAT THE ORGANIZING AND THE VARIOUS GROUPS THAT CAME TOGETHER, ISAIAH, AND YOU COULD GO ON AND ON AND ON, THIS IS KIND OF A DISTRICTS RYE FOR ORGANIZING.

>> 100%, THANKS FOR SAYING THAT.

I THINK THE BACK STORY TO WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, LIKE WE HAD THE -- CAN'T UNDERESTIMATE THE QUESTION OF LEADERSHIP.

WEDNESDAY A ONE-VOTE MAJORITIES IN THE SENATE.

THAT'S TRUE BUT THIS IS ALSO THE RODUCTS OF DECADES OF ORGANIZING AND GROUPS WORKING TOGETHER.

I WITNESSED -- OR WAS TOLD ABOUT, YOU KNOW, BEAUTIFUL MOMENTS PEOPLE WORKING ON RESTORING THE VOTE FOR EX-FELONS AND FOLKS WORKING ON DRIVER'S LICENSES, LIKE LOOKING OUT FOR EACH OTHER, SAVING EACH OTHER'S SEATS IN HEARINGS AND PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER, AND AS A SENATOR SAID, THESE HAVE NOT ONLY BEEN VETTED FOR MANY YEARS BUT COMMUNITIES HAVE EEN ORGANIZING TO PLAYING IT HAPPEN FOR MANY YEARS AND THAT'S WHY THIS ESSION THAT THINGS WENT QUICKLY, THEY FUND THEIR JOB -- LIKE ALL THE THINGS WE ALWAYS COMPLAIN ABOUT DIDN'T LAP THIS TIME.

WE DIDN'T HAVE THE GRIDLOCK, WE GOT THE WORK DONE AND FINISHED ON TIME.

>> Eric: AGENDAS, DO THE REHABILITATION HAVE SOMETHING SIMILAR?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE ARE THOSE OF US THAT ARE TRYING AND TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER AND TRYING TO PARTNER WHERE IT MAKES SENSE TO MAKE OUR DOLLARS GO FARTHER, BUT JUST RECENTLY I HAD SOMEONE THAT I ASKED TO PARTNER WITH TOLD ME THEY WEREN'T INTERESTED IN PARTNERING.

THEY DON'T PARTNER WITH ANYONE.

YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT'S REALLY SAD BECAUSE FOR INDIVIDUALS LIKE MYSELF THAT TRAVEL WITH THE STATE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF MILES EVERY DAY, AND TALK TO REAL PEOPLE AND PEOPLE RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND WHO DO TRACH PROGRAMS OR PARTNER WITH OTHER GROUPS THAT ARE DOING GREAT THINGS AND WANTING TO MOVE FORWARD, TO HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT AREN'T INTERESTED IN WORKING TO PARTNER AND AREN'T WILLING TO DO BETTER FOR VERYONE SO THAT WE CAN GET OUR IDEAS FORWARD, WE CAN GET PEOPLE IN ELECTED OFFICE, IT'S JUST A REALLY SAD THING AND I HOPE INDIVIDUALS WITH THAT MINDSETS REALLY CHANGE THEIR MIND BECAUSE, TOGETHER, WE WIN.

IF WE'RE STRONGER TOGETHER.

>> Eric: WHAT IS THE PATH FORWARD FOR REPUBLICANS?

PARTICULARLY ON A STATEWIDE-RACE BASIS?

>> I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK WHOLESALE AT HOW WE NOMINATE PEOPLE AND WHAT OUR PROCESS IS.

I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT UNIVERSALLY, MOST REPUBLICANS AGREE UPON.

WE HAVE A FAULTY PROCESS THAT WAS DEVELOP IN THE 1950s, JUST TALKING WITH A OLD-TIMER POLITICAL ANALYST WHO SAID WE SETTLED ON THE CAUCUSES BECAUSE THEY WERE CHEAPER THAN PRIMARIES.

A TERRIBLE WAY TO PICK CANDIDATES.

>> AT THE SAME TIME YOU NEEDS THE BASE, TOO, YOU CAN'T JUST SAY WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE PRIMARY AND STEAMROLL PEOPLE AND NOT WORK TOGETHER, THERE IS THAT PRIMARY PROCESS BUT YOU HAVE TO BRING EVERYONE TOGETHER.

>> Cathy: DEMOCRATS, HOW DO YOU ALL HOLD ON TO SOME OF THE SEATS THAT YOU WON, ESPECIALLY IF GREATER MINNESOTA BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE KIND OF A PROBLEM OUT THERE, DON'T YA?

>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED, AND OURS IS A -- WHEN I TALK TO NATIONAL GROUPS, I SAY THIS IS THE TALE OFF TWO TRIFECTAS.

IN 12012 AND 2014, WE HAD ADVOCATES GO TO WAR WITH THE SENATE MAJORITIES CAUCUS TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE AND INDEX IT TO INFLATION.

YOU'LL RECALL, THIS WAS EVERYONE WAS SO WORRIED ABOUT OVERSTEPPING AND -- AND IN THE EN, NECESSITY LOST THOSE MAJORITY ANYWAY.

SO THE LESSON HERE IS PEOPLE WANTS YOU TO ACT AND THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT YOUR SEAT IS TO GO BACK HAVING PROMISED WHAT YOU PROMISED TO DO.

>> WOULD SAY MY BIGGEST SURPRISE WAS HOW MUCH THEY WERE ABLE TO GET ACCOMPLISHED.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THE AUTHOR OF THE PAID MEDICAL LEAVE BILL HAD HER OWN MEDICAL EMERGENCY, THE LEADER OF THE SENATE AD HER OWN MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

THEY STILL GLUED IT TOGETHER, THEY STILL MADE SO MUCH PROGRESS, SO IT CAN BE DONE WHEN PEOPLE ARE FOCUSED ON THE GOAL AND THEY ARE CAMPAIGN PROMISES, THOSE ARE CAMPAIGN PROMISES THAT WERE KEPT AND I THINK WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT ELECTION TO EE WHAT THE REST OF THE POPULATION OF MINNESOTA HAS TO SAY ABOUT IT.

>> AND I THINK WE'LL REMINDS THEM OF THE PROMISES THEY DIDN'T KEEP.

THEY DIDN'T REDUCE THE TAX -- DIDN'T ELIMINATE THE TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITIES INCOME.

THEY RAISED TAXES ON MOST PEOPLE.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT MOST PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER NEXT ELECTION.

>> Cathy: WHY DO YOU THINK SUCH WAS DONE THIS SESSION?

WHAT DIDN'T GET THE ATTENTION THIS SESSION THAT SHOULD HAVE?

>> I THINK THAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT SESSION, THE UBER BILL ACTUALLY BEING SOMETHING THAT IS BROUGHT UP AGAIN.

THIS WAS ORGANIZING BY EAST AFRICAN, VERY POOR WORKERS, DRIVERS WHO ARE BEING EXPLOITED AND I THINK FIGURING OUT THAT BILL WILL BE AN IMPORTANT THING AND I HOPE THAT HAPPENS EARLY NEXT SESSION.

>> I WOULD SAY THE NURSE'S BILL.

OBVIOUSLY THAT WAS A BIG ISSUE THAT AT THE ENDS UNRAVELED, UNFORTUNATELY AND I THINK WE HAVE TO PLAYING SURE WE TAKE CARE OF OUR NURSES, THEY HAVE BEEN THERE FOR US THROUGH THICK AND THIN, ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND WE OWE THEM A GREAT DEAL OF GRATITUDE AND RESPECT AND THAT ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

>> Eric: GOES SENATOR KLOBUCHAR HAVE A REPUBLICAN OPPONENT YET?

>> NO, THERE IS NO OPPONENT YET AND I THINK HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE AT SOME POINTS AND I'M HOPING THAT MANY OF US WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD AROUND AN OPERATION THAT CAN SUPPORT A CANDIDATE.

>> NOT THROBBING YOUR HATS IN THE RING?

>> NOT THROWING ANY HAT IN THE RING, NO THANK YOU.

>> Eric: WE'LL STAY TUNED FOR THAT.

>> ERIC: WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH TIME LEFT FOR SOME SHOW-CLOSING MUSIC.

THE PRODUCERS DUG IN TO THE ARCHIVES AND CAME UP WITH A FAVORITE FROM 15 YEARS AGO.

IT WAS THIS WEEK BACK IN 2008 THAT DAN WILSON OF SEMISONIC JOINED US IN STUDIO B.

HE TALKED WITH US ABOUT LAUNCHING A SOLO CAREER AND WAS HERE TO PROMOTE HIS NEW SOLO C.D.

TAKE A LISTEN TO THE TITLE CUT, "FREE LIFE."

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

BE CAREFUL.

♪♪ CAPTIONED BY: VERITEXT/PARADIGM CAPTIONING WWW.VERITEXT.COM ♪ LET'S TAKE A LITTLE TRIP DOWN WHERE WE USED TO GO ♪ IT'S WAY BEYOND THE STRIP A PLACE THEY CALL YOUR SOUL ♪ WE'LL SIT DOWN FOR A WHILE AND LET THE EVENING ROLL ♪ DON'T WORRY 'BOUT THE TIME WE'LL FIND A PLACE TO STAY ♪ THE PEOPLE 'ROUND HERE SEEM FAMILIAR IN SOME WAY ♪ LOOK KINDA LIKE WE DID BEFORE WE GOT SO COLD ♪ AND IN THE AIR THE QUESTIONS HANG ♪ WILL WE GET TO DO SOMETHING ♪ WHO WE GONNA END UP BEING ♪ HOW WE GONNA END UP FEELING ♪ WHAT YOU GONNA SPEND YOUR FREE LIFE ON?

♪ ♪ FREE LIFE ♪ LET'S FALL IN LOVE AGAIN WITH MUSIC AS OUR GUIDE ♪ WE'LL RAISE OUR READY HANDS AND LET GO FOR THE RIDE ♪ DOWN INTO UNKNOWN LANDS WHERE LOVERS NEEDN'T HIDE ♪ WE GOT THESE LIVES FOR FREE WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'VE BEEN ♪ WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'LL GO WHEN WE ARE THROUGH WITH THEM ♪ THE STARLIGHT OF THE SUN, THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON ♪ AND IN THE AIR THE QUESTIONS HANG ♪ WILL WE GET TO DO SOMETHING ♪ WHO WE GONNA END UP BEING ♪ HOW WE GONNA END UP FEELING "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

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