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

>> ERIC: IN THE NEXT HOUR, HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES ARE UP.

IS THE NEWS ALL GOOD?

A STORY ON THE GROWING INFLUENCE OF NATIVE DESIGN IN THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY, AND THEN MARY LAHAMMER BRINGS US UP TO DATE ON A BIG VOTE AT THE CAPITOL THAT COULD LEGALIZE MARIJUANA.

>> 34 AYES, 33 NOs, THE BILL IS PASSED AND HE IS TITLE AGREED TO.

>> Mary: MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION HITS THE HOME STRETCH AT THE CAPITOL.

WE'LL EXPLORE SOME OF THE BUSINESS CONCERNS.

>> WE THOUGHT THROUGH ALL THE DOWNSTREAM IMPACTS, IG CITY, LITTLE CITY, IT IMPACTS THEM ALL.

>> 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 27 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH WHILE ADVANCING SOCIAL EQUITIES.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

ONE GREATER MINNESOTA REPORTING ON "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE OTTO BREMER TRUST, WHOSE MISSION IS INVESTING IN PEOPLE, PLACES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR REGION.

>> ERIC: IN A FEW MINUTES, WE'LL LOOK AT STATE GRADUATION RATES, TALK WITH PAUL DOUGLAS ABOUT OUR RELUCTANT SPRING, LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BARRIERS TO PROSECUTING SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES.

BUT FIRST, TODAY'S STATE SENATE VOTE ON ADULT USE MARIJUANA.

>> CATHY: LATE THIS AFTERNOON, FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE MINNESOTA SENATE PASSED A BILL TO LEGALIZE ADULT-USE OF MARIJUANA.

AS MARY LAHAMMER SHOWS US, THIS COMES DAYS AFTER THE HOUSE TOOK ACTION.

>> AN ACT RELATING TO CANNABIS.

>> Mary: THE HOUSE PASSED AN ENORMOUS, MORE THAN 300-PASSENGER BILL TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA IN MINNESOTA.

>> THE BILL IS PASSED AS AMENDED AND ITS TITLE AGREED TO.

>> MADAM SPEAKER.

>> 16 COMMITTEE HEARINGS, HOURS OF PUBLIC DEBATE AND OVER A DOZEN OF PUBLIC AMENDMENTS ADOPTED INTO THE BILL, WE ARE GOING TO PASS A BILL TO LEGALIZE CANNABIS OFF THE HOUSE FLOOR TODAY.

IT'S TIME.

MINNESOTANS DESERVE THE FREEDOM AND RESPECT TO MAKE RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS ABOUT CANNABIS THEMSELVES.

>> Mary: BIPARTISAN SUPPORT WAS REAL, BUT SO ARE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ABOUT POT IN THE STATE.

>> THE MAJORITY OF MINNESOTANS AGREE THAT THE TIME TO END MARIJUANA PROHIBITION IS HERE.

>> THERE IS A BROAD ARRAY OF VIEWPOINTS IN THE PARTY AND AMONG OUR CAUCUS.

THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT LEGALIZATION, SOME PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT DECRIMINALIZATION, SOME PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT EXPUNGEMENT, BUT WE ALL, NO MATTER WHERE OU LAND ON THOSE ISSUES, THIS BILL HAS A LOOT OF FLAWS.

>> MUST BE SAFETY CONCERNS, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER CONCERNS, THOSE COME WITH A COST.

THOSE COME WITH A COST PARTICULARLY TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES WHO WILL BEAR THE BRUNT OF THAT COST WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND THE PUBLIC EXPECTS US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT TAKING RESOURCES FROM THE GENERAL FUND OR OUR SCHOOLS OR OUR NURSING HOMES OR ANYTHING ELSE TO PAY TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA.

>> Mary: A LONG DEBATE STARTED AFTER DARK AND STRETCHED INTO A SECOND DAY.

>> THERE IS NO CURRENT TEST, LIKE A ROADSIDE TEST LIKE WE DO WITH ALCOHOL, FOR CANNABIS THAT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS CAN USE.

>> AS A FORMER LEADER IN THE CANNABIS COMMUNITY, I TRAVELED THE STATE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS TALKING TO MINNESOTANS, BORDER TO BORDER, AND THE PEOPLE WHO SHOWED UP O MAKE SURE THEIR VOICES WERE HEARD ON THIS BILL WERE OVERWHELMINGLY ASKING US TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE JUSTICE AND THAT'S WHAT DEFINING SOCIAL EQUITY APPLICANTS DO IN A GOOD LEGAL MARKET.

>> 34 AYEs, 3 NOs, THE BILL IS PASSED AND ITS TITLE IS AGREED TO.

>> Mary: WITH A PARTY-LINE ONE-VOTE MARGIN, THE SENATE PASSED CANNABIS LEGALIZATION FOR THE FIRST TIME BUT THE BILL DIFFERS FROM THE HOUSE.

>> THE SENATE IS NOW ADJOURNED.

[Cheering] >> THERE IS A STRONG TEMPTATION TO TRY TO BE FUNNY THIS MORNING AND TALK ABOUT ALL THE PUNS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HAVING A JOINT BILL THAT EVERYBODY HASHED OUT ABOUT THE THE REALITY IS, THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS PARTICULAR BILL THAT'S UP TODAY ON THE SENATE FLOOR ARE VERY DIRE FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND IT IS NOT A JOKING MATTER.

>> THIS BILL IS PREMATURE.

IT IS JUST NOT READY.

AND THERE ARE MANY REASONS FOR THAT.

I'LL JUST LIST A FEW OF THEM.

PUBLIC SAFETY IS NUMBER ONE.

>> Mary: THE HEAD OF THE MINNESOTA TRUCKING ASSOCIATION SHARES THE SENTIMENT.

>> AS A HIGHWAY SAFETY ORGANIZATION, WE'RE VERY CONCERNED IT DOES NOT PROPERLY ADDRESS HIGHWAY SAFETY.

WE KNOW RIGHT NOW THE BILL DOES NOT HAVE THE MECHANISM TO DETERMINE IMPAIRMENT ROADSIDE.

WE SEE DATA FROM COLORADO THAT SHOWS THAT AFTER THEY LEGALIZED RECREATIONAL CANNABIS, HIGHWAY TRAFFIC FATALITIES INVOLVING CANNABIS WENT UP 138%.

YOU'RE STANDING UP A WHOLE NEW AGENCY THAT'S -- THAT JUST TAKES TIME.

>> Mary: SUPPORTERS SAY, THEIR GOALS ARE SIMPLE.

LEGALIZE, REGULATE AND EXPUNGE.

>> THE PROHIBITION OF CANNABIS IS A FAILED SYSTEM THAT HAS NOT ACHIEVED THE ESIRED GOALS AND HAS HAD INCREDIBLE COST FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

ESPECIALLY FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

>> THE TAX RATE IS HELPING US CREATE THAT NEW REGULATED MARKET, THAT IT'S PAYING FOR THAT.

>> PROSECUTE MY DISTRICT, Mr. PRESIDENT, IF I WERE TO VOTE FOR THIS, IT WOULD BE POPULAR.

BUT, MR. PRESIDENT, I DIDN'T COME HERE TO BE POPULAR, AT LEAST IN THIS REGARD.

I CAME HERE TO BE RESPONSIBLE.

>> MAKING IT A CRIME, PROHIBITION AS WE'VE DONE HERE FOR SO MANY DECADES, IT JUST HASN'T WORKED.

>> THIS BILL IS ABOUT I.T.

IT'S ABOUT FREEDOM, IT'S ABOUT JUSTICE.

>> WE KNOW THAT BIG TOBACCO TARGETED YOUTH AND WE REALLY BELIEVE THAT BIG CANNABIS IS GOING TO TARGET YOUTH.

DO WHERE HE REALLY HAVE ENOUGH IN THE BILL TO DEAL WITH THAT?

AND WE THINK THE QUICK ANSWER IS NO, SO LET'S TAKE THE TIME, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SAY, OPPONENTS ARE FARE-MONGERS.

NO, WE'RE TRUTH-TELLERS THAT HAVE DATA AND EXPERIENCE FROM OTHER STATES WHO HAVE LEGALIZED IT AND WE SEE WHAT REALLY HAPPENS IN THE NEGATIVE WAY.

>> SOCIAL USTICE ISSUES, DECRIMINALIZATION, AGAIN, THEY CAN O WITH THAT NOW OR IN A YEAR.

I THINK THEY'RE DOING TO.

HAVE WE THOUGHT THROUGH ALL THE DOWNSTREAM IMPACTS?

BIG CITY, LITTLE CITY, IMPACTS THEM ALL.

>> CATHY: WITH TODAY'S VOTE, THE HOUSE AND SENATE WILL NEED TO RECONCILE THE DIFFERENCES IN THEIR BILLS.

MARY LAHAMMER IS WITH US WITH A QUICK PRIMER ON WHAT MAY HAPPEN NEXT.

WELL, ANY SURPRISES?

IT WAS A STRAIGHT PARTY-LINE VOTE.

>> I WOULD SAY IT IS SOMEWHAT OF A SURPRISE BECAUSE IT WASN'T CLEAR THAT YOU HAVE THE VOTES.

I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU SCHEDULE A BILL LIKE THIS WOULD YOU TELL US HAVING THE VOTES BUT THERE WAS STILL A LOT OF DRAMA IN THE LAST 24 HOURS, DO THEY HAVE THE VOTES, DON'T THEY?

DID THE AMENDMENT THAT WENT ON GAIN VOTES, LOSE VOTES?

THEY WERE IN AND OUT OF RESOURCE DURING THE VOTING TODAY SO THERE WAS A LITTLE DRAMA BUT WE COULD SKI IN A FEW OF THE PROCEDURAL VOTES ALONG THE WAY, WE WERE GETTING KIND OF A MARKER THAT ALL 34 DEMOCRATS AND ONE VOTE MARGIN AND DEMOCRATS CONTINUE TO HOLD TOGETHER ON EVERY BIG VOTE.

IT'S REALLY KIND OF A SURPRISE BECAUSE ESPECIALLY THE SENATE HAS SOME MORE MODERATE DEMOCRATS, SOME MORE VULNERABLE DEMOCRATS AND THEY ALL HELD TOGETHER.

>> Eric: FIVE MEMBERS FROM THE HOUSE AND FIVE FROM THE SENATE NOW MEET IN CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

SOUNDS LIKE THEY CAN FIND COMMON GROUND.

>> YEAH, THEY'RE NOT DRAMATICALLY FAR APART AS YOU KNOW.

A LITTLE BIT OF TAX PERCENTAGE, THE SENATE HAS A 10% TAX RATE, THE HOUSE HAS 8%, MAYBE THEY MEET AT 9, I DON'T KNOW.

MAYBE WE CAN DO THAT MATH.

ONE OF THE MORE INTERESTING AMENDMENTS THAT DID GO ON TODAY IS A LITTLE BIT OF LOCAL CONTROL, NOT THE FULL LOCAL JURISDICTIONS CAN'T SAY NO POT IN OUR BORDERS BUT IT DOES ALLOW SOME OF THE SMALLER CITIES TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF DISPENSARIES SO THAT GAVE A LITTLE MODICUM OF LOCAL CONTROL, AND THEN LSO SOME REAL MONEY, ABOUT $10 MILLION WENT ON FOR MORE, EAH, ADDICTION.

>> Eric: BUT THIS IS NOT A BIG REVENUE RAISER FOR THE STATE AND I THINK PEOPLE FEEL THIS WILL BE OCEANS OF MONEY POURING INTO THE STATE NOW ON MARIJUANA BUT NOT REALLY.

>> Mary: NOT OCEANS BUT IT COULD BE SIGNIFICANT.

IT'S HARD TO DO A FISCAL NOTE.

CAN YOU ACCURATELY PREDICT HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO BRING IN?

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN.

>> Cathy: THERE ARE MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS AROUND LEGALIZING MARIJUANA.

IS THERE ANY MONEY, THEN, FOR TREATMENT IS THIS YOU MENTIONED ADDICTION BUT ANY OTHER -- >> Mary: YEAH, AND THAT WAS ADDED INTO THE SENATE BILL TODAY AND THAT GAVE JOHN HOFFMAN, WHO'S, AGAIN, ANOTHER KIND OF MODERATE DEMOCRATS HAD SOME CONCERNS AND THAT'S WHEN THEY WENT INTO RECESS AFTER THAT SO THAT BROUGHT SOME DRAMA AND INTEREST, YOU KNOW, AND THOSE WERE BIPARTISAN AMENDMENTS THAT WENT ON TODAY, SO IT WAS INTERESTING THE END THAT IT WAS A PARTY-LINE VOTE.

ESPECIALLY IN THE HOUSE, BECAUSE HOUSE DEMOCRATS PICKED UNTWO REPUBLICANS WHO WERE YES VOTES AND THERE ARE AS MANY AS DOZENS OF REPUBLICANS WHO WANT THE IDEA OF MAYBE SOME EXPUNGEMENT, MAYBE SOME, REALLY BASIC STEPS TOWARDS LEGALIZATION.

WHAT REPUBLICANS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH WITH IS WHERE THIS LANGUAGE IS.

IT'S TOO MUCH FOR THEM.

>> Eric: CAN THEY GET THIS UP AND RUNNING BY AUGUST?

>> >> Mary: THAT'S THE COMPLAINT YOU JUST HEARD IN THE PIECE, THIS IS AWFULLY FAST.

BOTH HOUSE AND SENATE HAS LEGALIZATION HAPPENING THIS SUMMER AND YOU HAVE TO STAND UP A WHOLE NEW AGENCY TO RUN THIS AND IT REALLY DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT WOULD TURN, YOU KNOW, THE EXISTING CBD OR HEMP OPERATIONS INTO MARIJUANA OPERATIONS, THIS LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE A SEPARATE LANE, SEPARATE LICENSING STRUCTURE, SO DECEMBER EXPENSERIES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO START FROM SCRATCH AND THE THOUGHT IS THAT'S GOING TO BE 6, 1, 4 MONTHS OUT.

>> Eric: ON THE CASE AS USUAL, THANKS, MARY.

>> I TRY.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> ERIC: AFTER DIPPING A BIT DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE GRADUATION RATE FOR THE MINNESOTA HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2022 WILL BE 83.6%.

THAT'S CLOSE TO THE RATE PRE-PANDEMIC.

THE BIGGEST GAINS IN THE PAST YEAR WERE FOR BLACK, MULTI-RACIAL AND NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS.

WHAT DO THE NUMBERS MEAN, AND HOW MUCH SHOULD WE READ INTO THEM?

LET'S VISIT AGAIN WITH LONGTIME EDUCATION REPORTER BETH HAWKINS.

SHE WORKS FOR THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ONLINE PUBLICATION, THE 74.

- GRAD RATES UP SLIGHTLY, IS THAT BECAUSE STANDARDS HAVE BEEN LOWERED OR IS THERE SOMETHING POSITIVE GOING ON HERE?

>> I THINK THERE'S GOOD NEWS AND THERE IS AN ASTERISK.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THEY ARE INDEED UP AND INCHING CLOSE TO WHERE THEY WERE AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, SO AS YOU SAID, 83.6%, IN 2024.

THAT'S UP FROM A LOW OF 83.3% BUT SHY OF 83.8%.

TICKING UP AND DOWN.

>> Eric: WHAT'S THE NOT SO GOOD NEWS PART.

>> WELL, AS YOU MENTIONED, THE RACIAL DISPARITIES ARE STILL VERY STARK.

8% OF WHITE CHILDREN GRADUATED, 73% OF BLACK CHILDREN, 69% OF LATINOS, 61% OF NATIVE AMERICANS, AND TWO-THIRDS OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.

SO WE STILL HAVE SOME NATION-LEADING GAPS, BUT AS YOU ALSO MENTIONED, WELD A 3-POINT TICK UP IN BLACK STUDENT GRADUATION AND 2.5% IN NATIVE AMERICAN, SO THOSE ARE PRETTY STRONG GAINS.

>> Cathy: DO DIPLOMAS STILL MEAN WHAT THEY DID BACK IN THE DAY?

[Laughter] >> NO.

I THINK THE OTHER ASTERISK THAT WE HAVE FOR THIS IS THAT THESE GRADUATES ARE GOING INTO THE WORLD LESS PREPARED FOR COLLEGE AND CAREERS.

WE NOW FROM OTHER INDICATORS THAT THEY'RE NOT READING STRONGLY, THAT MATH SUFFERED TERRIBLY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

I THINK THAT THE AST NATION-WIDE NUMBERS SHOW THAT 20 YEARS OF PROGRESS HAVE BEEN WIPED OUT.

NOT SO MANY OF THEM ARE ATTEMPTING TO GO TO COLLEGE.

COLLEGE ENROLLMENT RATES ARE WAY DOWN, ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN WHO DON'T OME FROM FAMILIES WITH HISTORIES OF COLLEGE.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE AN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL IMPACT THAT'S GOING TO BE LIFELONG FOR THIS GENERATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE.

>> Eric: BACK IN THE DAY, THEY JUST MEASURED SEAT TIME, BASICALLY, TO GET A DIPLOMA.

>> YES.

>> Eric: THAT DYNAMIC HAS CHANGED NOW, HASN'T IT, IN THE MODERN ERA, OR NOT SO MUCH?

>> YOU KNOW, THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IN MINNESOTA, THERE ARE A VARIETY OF WAYS TO GET A HIGH SCHOOL CREDENTIAL.

I MEAN, IF YOU UNPLUGGED DURING THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE YOU HAD TO WORK, BECAUSE YOU HAD TO TAKE CARE OF SIBLINGS, THERE WERE A VARIETY OF WAYS TO GO BACK.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF VERY STRONG, WHAT THEY CALL CREDIT RECOVERY PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE FAIRLY QUICK, FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD WAYS FOR STUDENTS TO GET CREDENTIALS.

SOME STUDENTS HAVE REMAINED ENROLLED IN ONLINE SCHOOLS WHICH GIVES THEM THE FLEXIBILITY TO KEEP GOING.

I WOULD SAY THE THING THAT I'M MOST ENCOURAGED ABOUT, BY THESE NUMBERS, IS THEY SUGGEST THAT KIDS ARE PLUGGED BACK IN SOMEWHERE.

AND WHAT WE KNEW A YEAR AGO WAS THAT HIGH SCHOOLERS HAD DISAPPEARED IN HUGE NUMBERS BECAUSE THEY CAN, AND BECAUSE THEY'RE NEEDED OFTEN BY THEIR FAMILIES AND HEIR COMMUNITIES ELSEWHERE.

SO IF THEY'RE GRADUATING, THEY'RE PLUGGED IN SOMEWHERE.

>> Cathy: THAT IS GOOD NEWS, A LITTLE BIT OF GOOD NEWS THEN.

I WONDER, CAN YOU GLEAN ANYTHING FROM THE NUMBERS ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC ON LEARNING AND GRADUATION?

YOU TOUCHED ON THAT A LITTLE BIT.

>> YEAH, SO THE -- THE NUMBERS THAT CAME OUT FROM THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS A FEW WEEKS BACK WERE DEVASTATING.

THEY SHOWED VERY LOW NUMBERS OF STUDENTS ACHIEVING AT GRADE LEVEL.

THOSE TESTS ARE ADMINISTERED TO 4th AND 8th GRADERS BUT OF COURSE 8th GRADERS AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC ARE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS NOW SO WHAT WE CAN EXTRAPOLATE FROM THAT IS THEY WOULD NOT BE SUCCESSFUL THIS COLLEGE FOR THE MOST PART.

COMMUNITY COLLEGES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK A LOT HARDER IF STUDENTS CHOOSE TO GO THAT ROUTE.

CHOOSE TO GO DO SOME SORT OF BRIDGE THING THAT INCLUDES SOME REMEDIATION OR SOME ACCELERATION.

AND WE MAY HAVE TO -- WE OUGHT TO BE, I THINK, ADJUSTING OUR STRATEGY TO PROVIDE REALLY REALISTIC WORKFORCE OPTIONS FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE TOO MUCH GROUND TO MAKE UP.

>> Eric: HOW ARE WE DOING WITH THE TEACHERS OF COLOR?

[CHUCKLING] >> THAT'S BEEN A HOT BUTTON AT THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR.

WE'VE -- THE SENATE HAS ONE VERSION OF A BILL THAT WOULD ELIMINATE A PATHWAY TO LICENSURE FOR TEACHERS OF COLOR THAT HAS WORKED VERY WELL, VERY QUICKLY.

IT'S A COMPLICATED ISSUE BUT THERE'S A WAY FOR A TEACHER WHO'S NOT TRAINED IN A TRADITIONAL MINNESOTA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION TO GET A PERMANENT LICENSE IF THEY TEACH SUCCESSFULLY HERE FOR THREE OR MORE YEARS.

25% OF THOSE TEACHERS ARE TEACHERS OF COLOR AND IN THE FIRST YEAR THAT THE PROGRAM WAS MOVING TEACHERS INTO PERMANENT STATUS, 99 GAINED FULL LICENSURE.

2,000 SPECIAL EDUCATORS WHO ARE EQUALLY IN HORT SUPPLY, SO THE SENATE LAST WEEK REMOVED A PROVISION THAT WOULD HAVE ENDED THAT PATH TO LICENSURE BUT IT'S STILL IN THE HOUSE BILL AND THOSE HAVE GONE TO CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

>> Eric: A LOT OF MONEY THEY'RE THROWING AROUND FOR E-12 THIS YEAR AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

>> A LOT OF MONEY AND IN THE VERY, VERY LARGE BILL, ALSO A LOT OF THINGS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO REQUIRE DISTRICTS TO SPEND MONEY ON, UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FOR HOURLY EMPLOYEES WHO STOP WORKING AT THE END OF EACH SCHOOL YEAR.

>> Eric: I SMELL UNFUNDED MANDATES.

>> YOU KNOW IT, YES.

PARENTAL LEAVE, SICK LEAVE, YEAH, SO -- >> Eric: ADDS UN.

>> SO THE 4% FOR NEXT YEAR WILL ACTUALLY MAYBE BE 2% OR LESS.

>> Eric: APPRECIATE YOU WATCH-DOGGING THIS FOR US, BETS.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> Cathy: YEAH, THANK YOU.

>> TAKE CARE.

♪♪ >> CATHY: RAMSEY COUNTY ATTORNEY JOHN CHOI WAS HONORED RECENTLY FOR HIS WORK TO PROSECUTE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT.

MEANWHILE, STATE LAWMAKERS ARE LOOKING AT WAYS TO IMPROVE THESE EFFORTS AS PART OF A BIG PUBLIC SAFETY BILL.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE APPROACH USED IN RAMSEY COUNTY IS JOHN CHOI.

HE'S THE RAMSEY COUNTY PROSECUTOR.

CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NICE TO BE ON YOUR SHOW AGAIN.

>> Cathy: WELCOME BACK.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME N -- THREE YEARS.

>> >> IT'S BEEN A WHILE, YEAH.

>> Cathy: AS MANY FOLKS KNOW, THE MAJORITIES OF SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS JUST DON'T REPORTS.

>> RIGHT.

>> Cathy: AND I'M CURIOUS AS TO WHY, AND THEN WHAT IS THE COUNTY DOING ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION THAT WE NEED TO HAVE BECAUSE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THESE ISSUES ROUND SEX AND ALL THOSE THINGS, I THINK A LOT OF VICTIMS ARE -- THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS GOING ON IN THEIR MINDS ABOUT IN THEY WILL BE BELIEVED, WHAT THE REPERCUSSIONS AND WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT, AND SO THAT'S WHY, IN 2016, WE LAUNCHED RAMSEY COUNTY START BY BELIEVING, WHICH IS AN EFFORT TO REALLY HAVE CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN VICTIMS DO COME FORWARD, THAT THE SYSTEM, THE POLICE, THE PROSECUTOR, THE COURT SYSTEM, ALSO HAS TO BE READY TO BELIEVE VICTIMS AND ACTUALLY ACT APPROPRIATELY, AND SO THERE WAS A LOT OF CASES, SITUATIONS, YOU NOW, THAT WE KNEW WERE NOT BEING FINISHED IN TERMS OF AN INVESTIGATION.

OFTENTIMES, WE WOULD SEE A LOT OF DROP-OUT WITH VICTIMS AND APART OF THAT IS BECAUSE THEY WERE GETTING THE SENSE THAT THEY WEREN'T BEING BELIEVED, OR THINGS WEREN'T TAKEN SERIOUSLY SO WE HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD TO CHANGE ALL OF THAT.

AND NOW MOVE OF THE CASES ARE COMING TO US.

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN TWO-THIRDS OF ALL SEXUAL ASSAULTS NEVER CAME TO MY OFFICE BECAUSE IT DIED IN THE INVESTIGATIVE PHASE.

>> Cathy: BUT ONCE THEY DO COME TO YOUR OFFICE, REALLY, WHAT'S THE CONVICTION RATE?

>> WELL, A LONG TIME AGO, WE USED TO BELIEVE THAT HINGS WERE REALLY OOD BECAUSE WE WOULD WIN THESE TRIALS, RIGHT?

AND IT WAS ACTUALLY -- HE CHARGING RATE WAS REALLY LOW, IT WAS LIKE 30% AND NOW BECAUSE OF THE INTENTIONAL WORK AND THE RESOURCES THAT WE'VE PUT INTO INVESTIGATION, WHICH IS THE BIG PART OF THIS, OUR CHARGING RATE IS NOW ABOVE 50%, WHICH IS LIKE ANY OTHER PARTICULAR CRIME, RIGHT?

AND THEN, ON TOP OF THAT, YOU KNOW, BEFORE, WE WON EVERY CASE AT JURY TRIAL.

BUT THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THAT.

YOU OULD THINK THAT'S GREAT, RIGHT?

BUT WE WERE JUST TAKING ON THE CASES THAT WERE SLAM DUNKS.

AND NOW WE HAVE CASES THAT WE'VE LOST SOME CASES AND I THINK APPROPRIATELY THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING, IF WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE AND WE BELIEVE THAT HE DEFENDANT IS GUILTY, THEN WE SHOULD PROCEED TO A TRIAL.

>> Eric: YOU ARE YOU'VE BEEN ON THIS ISSUE FOR YEARS, AND I WONDER IF OU'RE RIDING A LITTLE WAVE OF SUCCESS HERE WITH THE "ME TWO" MOMENT, FOR INSTANCE.

IS SOCIETAL CHANGE HELPING THE SITUATION HERE?

THAT'S ALSO THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE I REALLY BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO ALSO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE RAISE BOYS, RIGHT?

AND SO THAT CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITIES, IN OUR FAMILIES AND OUR PLACES OF WORSHIP, IT'S NOT AN EASY CONVERSATION BUT MORE MEN NEED TO BE OUTSPOKEN ABOUT THESE PARTICULAR ISSUES SO THAT WE CAN CREATE A BETTER WORLD WHERE EVERYBODY IS SAFE, VALUED, RESPECTED.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED THIS -- YOU STARTED THIS IN 016.

THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING PERSONAL WHEN YOU START EFFORTS LIKE THIS.

WHAT IS THAT FOR YOU?

>> WELL, FOR ME, IT'S -- I'VE BEEN IN THIS PUBLIC SPACE FOR A REALLY LONG TIME AND I STARTED AS THE St. PAUL CITY ATTORNEY, AND I JUST MINUTE SO MANY INCREDIBLE ADVOCATES AND VICTIMS AND I LEARNED SO MUCH.

TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I GREW UP IN A HOUSEHOLD THAT WAS VERY PATRIARCH Y'ALL, IT WASN'T -- THIS WAS NOT HOW I WAS RAISED.

BUT JUST -- YOU'RE ALWAYS A LIFELONG LEARNER AND YOU ALSO LEARN IN AN EMOTIONAL WAY, AS WELL, AND I HAVE COME TO THIS PLACE THAT, LIKE THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT NEED TO CHANGE AROUND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE SO THAT'S WHERE MY PASSION COMES FROM SO THE SEX TRAFFICKING WORK THAT DID RIGHT AWAY, AND THEN OF COURSE NOW IN 2016, AROUND THE -- TRYING TO GET A BETTER RESPONSE AROUND -- FOR THE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND OUR SURVIVORS, THAT MEANS A LOT TO ME BECAUSE I HAVE SO MANY PERSONAL RIPS WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE -- PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING IN THIS AREA AND I'VE GROWN AS A HUMAN BEING AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT FOR MY COMMUNITY.

>> Eric: MONEY OR POLICY CHANGES COMING FROM THE LEGISLATURE TO HELP OU OUT?

>> YEAH, I THINK THERE ARE SOME BILLS THAT I THINK ARE GOING TO PASS, YOU NEVER KNOW FOR SURE AT THE END BUT THERE IS A LOT -- APPROPRIATION FOR VICTIM SERVICES AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

I ALSO THINK, WHEN THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT FIGHTING VIOLENT CRIME, THEY'RE INCLUDING CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT, INCLUDED IN THAT, SO I THINK THERE WILL BE MORE RESOURCES FOR INVESTIGATIONS.

THE TRUTH IS, IF WE WANT TO DO BETTER IN THIS AREA, WE HAVE TO INVEST IN IT AND SO WE NEED TO HAVE ENOUGH INVESTIGATORS TO BE ABLE TO DO THE JOB PROPERLY AND ALSO THE FORENSIC TESTING.

>> Cathy: I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THAT.

>> THAT'S REALLY CRITICAL AND THAT APPROPRIATION IS ALIVE AND WELL AND I HOPE THAT -- >> Cathy: BECAUSE ISN'T THERE A BACKLOG, STILL, A HUGE BACKLOG?

>> YES, AND THE FORENSIC SCIENTISTS WHEN WE DO THE DNA TESTING, WHEN IT'S ALL BACKED UP, THEN VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS HAVE TO WAIT LONGER TO FIND OUT WHETHER OR NOT THEIR CASES ARE GOING TO BE CHARGED AND WHAT WE CAN DO IN THE COURT SYSTEM.

>> Eric: APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN AND COMING COUNSEL DEL LOG BOULEVARD AND TELLING US HOW YOU'RE DOING WITH THIS.

>> WELL, THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH.

>> Eric: THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YOU.

♪♪ >> CATHY: RECLAMATION, RESURGENCE, RESILIENCE.

NATIVE AMERICAN FASHION AND ART IS BECOMING MORE VISIBLE THESE DAYS.

KAOMI LEE MET ONE OJIBWE ARTIST WHO IS HELPING TO CREATE THESE AUTHENTIC DESIGNS, AND KEEP OTHERS ACCOUNTABLE.

>> HI, ARE YOU ADRIEAN?

>> I AM.

HOW ARE YOU?

NICE TO MEET YOU.

COME ON IN.

THIS IS MY LITTLE HOME, MAKESHIFT STUDIO IN MY HOUSE.

>> OKAY, SO YOU DO ALL THE WORK RIGHT HERE.

>> I DO.

>> AT HER HOME NEAR ISLI, MINNESOTA, ADRIEAN BENJAMIN IS PART OF A GROWING RESURGENCE IN NATIVE DESIGN.

>> I'M A DESIGNER, I FEEL LIKE I'M ALSO KIND OF A TEACHING ARTIST, FIRST.

>> BENJAMIN HAS BEEN SUING ANISHINAABE REGALIA AND ATTIRE FOR DECADES.

WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG, AN ELDER TAUGHT HER HOW TO MAKING HE WILL DRESSES AND RIBBON SKIRTS TO KEEP THE TRADITIONAL CULTURE ALIFE.

NOW BENJAMIN'S CLOTHES REGULARLY SELL OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE LOOKS ARE NOT JUST FOR POW-WOWS NATIVE AMERICAN.

>> WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT, I THINK THAT HE'S RECLAMATION IN A BIG WAY, YOU KNOW, EVEN PEGGY FLANAGAN, TO BE EEN, YOU KNOW, VISUAL REPRESENTATION OUT THERE, WHAT THAT DOES FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN GENERAL, IS CRAZY.

>> WHETHER IT'S MINNESOTA LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FLANAGAN OR U.S.

INTERIOR SECRETARY DEB HOLLAND, A RECLAMATION OR RESURGENCE IN NATIVE FASHION IS VISIBLE.

>> ONE OF THE PRODUCTS THAT WE CARRY IS NTVS, NATIVES AND THEY HAVE A WHOLE DIFFERENT CLOSING LINE.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT T-SHIRTS.

>> IT WASN'T ALWAYS THIS WAY.

BOARDING SCHOOLS FORCED GENERATIONS OF NATIVE AMERICANS TO BE ASHAMED OF WHO THEY WERE.

FEW COULD MAKE A LIVING OFF THEIR ART.

AND THAT'S WHY IT MATTERS NOW.

>> SO ANOTHER COMPANY IS ROUND LAKE TRADITION AND THAT'S BY HERB FINDE, ALSO A FOND DU LAC MEMBER AND HE DOES THE DENIM SHIRTS -- >> THERE'S ALSO RIBBON SKIRTS, WEIGHT SHIRTS AND HATS, AND THE NUMBER OF NATIVE CLOTHING BRANDS IS GROWING.

>> IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE PEOPLE COME IN HERE, ESPECIALLY SOME OF THE KIDS AND SOME OF THE YOUNGER PEOPLE THAT WANT TO START WEARING THESE ITEMS AND TAKE RIDE IN THEIR CULTURE, YOU KNOW, AND BE ABLE TO REPRESENT THEIR CULTURE BY HAVING A CLOTHING LINE THAT'S FOR THEM AND THAT'S DESIGNED BY PEOPLE LIKE THEM.

>> TODAY'S FOCUS ON NATIVE DESIGNERS AND RT IS AN ACT OF RESILIENCE TO DECADES OF CULTURAL APPROPRIATION BY NON-NATIVE COMPANIES.

ZIMMERMAN SAYS, ANYTHING THAT USES GENERIC OR ROMANTICIZED NATIVE IMAGERY IS PROBABLY NOT AUTHENTIC.

>> HOW IS CULTURAL APPROPRIATION HARMFUL?

>> WELL, FOR ONE THING, I THINK THAT AMERICAN INDIAN ARTISTS AREN'T GETTING CREDITED FOR THEIR WORK, AND A LOT OF TIMES WITH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT NATIVE AMERICANS, IF -- LET'S SAY THEY HAVE A BEAD WORK DESIGN AND IT GETS APPROPRIATED AND PUT ON A SHIRT AND SOMEONE IS SELLING IT, IT'S OKAY, OKAY, YOU JUST RIPPED OFF MY ART.

>> BUT IT'S COMPLICATED.

SOME BIG NAME COMPANIES THAT HAVE APPROPRIATED NATIVE DESIGNS FOR YEARS ARE ALSO BELOVED BY MANY NATIVE AMERICANS.

SOME ARE NOW TRYING TO MAKE AMENDS.

TORREY MILLER SCHEER IS PRESIDENT AND A FOURTH GENERATION FAMILY MEMBER AT MINNETONKA.

HER GREAT-GRANDFATHER GOT INVOLVED IN THE COMPANY IN 1946.

HER GRANDFATHER JOINED SOON AFTER.

>> AND IT WAS REALLY AT THAT TIME, LIKE, A GIFT SHOP SOUVENIR COMPANY, THAT WAS A TIME IN OUR COUNTRY WHEN PEOPLE WERE GOING ON ROAD TRIPS.

>> THE NATIVE-INSPIRED MOCCASIN BECAME A BEST-SELLER.

>> 77 YEARS FROM THE MAJORITY OF THAT TIME DID NOT UNDERSTAND CULTURAL APPROPRIATION.

AND I WOULD SAY IN THE LAST DECADE, WE'VE REALLY STARTED TO THINK ABOUT IT AND START TO BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT WAS AND WHAT WE WERE DOING.

AND THERE WERE A FEW YEARS WHERE WE WERE REALLY PARALYZED BY FEAR.

>> BUT IN 2019, THE COMPANY STARTED REACHING UT TO NATIVE AMERICANS, WHO BECAME ADVISORS ADVISORS.

CHEER SAYS THE COMPANY'S CULTURE AND MIDWESTERN NATURE WAS TO STAY QUIET BUT GEORGE FLOYD WAS MURDERED IN THIS STATE AND WITH THEIR ADVISOR'S HELP, MINNETONKA STARTED TO CHANGE.

>> IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THIS AND DO IT RIGHT, YOU HAVE TO DO SOME SERIOUS LOOKING IN THE MIRROR AND YOU HAVE TO FACE THINGS AND BE OPEN AND GET PAST MAYBE INITIAL SELF-DEFENSE FEELINGS AND THEN WE IN SUMMER, 2020, PUBLISHED AN APOLOGY ON OUR WEBSITE AND TALKED ABOUT IT VERY CLEARLY.

WE CALLED IT APPROPRIATION, SO WE ACKNOWLEDGED WHAT IT WAS, WE APOLOGIZED FOR IT AND WE SAID, COME BACK AND CHECK IN THE FALL AND WE'LL HAVE MORE OF A PLAN.

COMING THIS SUMMER IS THIS COLLABORATION WITH ADRIEAN.

>> MINNETONKA ALSO CHANGED ITS LOGO, AND IT BEGAN COLLABORATING WITH NATIVE AMERICAN DESIGNSERS LIKE ADRIENNE BENJAMIN ON A LINE OF BEADED HATS AND LUCY SHEFTY ON A NEW BEADED MOCK SIGN DESIGN.

THE COMPANY DONATES TO NATIVE AMERICAN ENTITIES.

SCHEER, WITH IN HER LATE 30s, SAYS THAT TOO IS GETTING A MAKEOVER.

IT'S THESE EFFORTS THAT HAVE CONVINCED BENJAMIN THE COMPANY WANTS TO DO BETTER.

>> THAT REVOLUTION HAS TO COME THROUGH ALLEYSHIP AND I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE MAYBE DON'T THINK THAT AND THAT'S OKAY BUT I THINK, LIKE, PEOPLE CAN -- AND DESERVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RIGHT THEIR WRONGS.

♪♪ >> FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, EVERYONE AND THEIR MOTHER HAS BEEN IN THE GYM GETTING READY FOR THE SUMMER.

IT'S A PRETTY COMMON WAY TO START THE YEAR, BUT WITH THE END OF WINTER SO, TOO, COMES THE END OF THE DESIRE FOR A BEACH BODY.

THAT'S RIGHT, EVERYBODY, DROP YOUR DUMBBELLS AND LEAVE THE GYM.

IT'S TIME TO START THOSE GARDENS.

WHETHER YOU'RE A NOVICE OR A PRO, EVERYONE KNOWS HITTING THE GYM SHOULD ONLY COME AFTER HITTING THE GARDEN, IT'S A KNOWN FACT.

WHAT ARE PEOPLE GOING TO SEE MORE OF, YOUR LATS OR YOUR LAWN?

YOUR GLUTES OR YOUR GARDEN?

YOUR ABDOMINALS OR YOUR PERENNIALS?

WHAT DO YOU GET FROM WORKING OUT?

WITH EXERCISE, THE FRUIT OF YOUR LABOR IS BEING OUT OF BREATH AND SWEATY.

WITH GARDENING, THE FRUITS ARE LITERAL FRUITS, ALTHOUGH WITH MINNESOTA'S CLIMATE, YOU LIKELY WON'T GROW ANY FRUITS.

YOUR LOCAL GYM CAN'T EVEN COMPETE WITH A GARDEN, EITHER.

AT A GYM, YOU HAVE LEERING STRANGERS JUDGING YOU ON YOUR FORM AND STAMINA.

IN A GARDEN, THE ONLY LEERING EYES BELONG TO SQUIRRELS, AND THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE JOBS SO WHO ARE THEY TO JUDGE?

NOW, MANY OF YOU MIGHT HAVE A DESIRE TO LOSE WEIGHT AND TO THAT I SAY, ARE YOU SURE THE GYM IS THE RIGHT WAY TO DO THAT?

I KNOW A PLACE IN TOWN THAT OFFERS FAT-FREE, SUGAR-FREE, MEALS THAT ARE SURE TO HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT, AND IF YOU CAN'T TELL ALREADY, I'M TALKING ABOUT YOUR GARDEN!

LISTEN, I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF EASY COMPARISONS TO MAKE BETWEEN GYMS AND GARDENS, BUT IF YOU NEED ONE MORE REASON AS TO WHY GARDENS ARE BETTER THAN GYMS, IT'S BECAUSE GARDENS ARE SO MUCH MORE GIVING.

NO ONE WOULD EVER GO TO A GYM PARTY AND NO ONE WOULD EVER WANT A BOUQUET OF DUMBBELLS.

BUT EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO TO A GARDEN PARTY, AND WHO WOULDN'T BE DELIGHTED WITH A BOUQUET OF FLOWERS?

I MEAN, SURE, GYMS MIGHT MAKE YOU LOOK BETTER, BUT BELIEVE ME WHEN I TELL YOU A GARDEN IS JUST A BETTER VIEW.

♪♪ >> ERIC: INSERT YOUR FAVORITE ADJECTIVE TO DESCRIBE THIS YEAR'S SPRING SEASON.

SLUGGISH?

INDIFFERENT?

INSINCERE?

LISTLESS?

ALL WOULD WORK JUST FINE.

WE THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT THIS IS NOT THE SPRING OF PAUL DOUGLAS' DREAMS.

DREAMY PAUL IS A MULTI-MEDIA WEATHER TALENT.

THE "STAR TRIBUNE," WCCO RADIO, AND "ALMANAC," WHO COULD ASK FOR MORE.

>> OH, MY.

>> Eric: THERE IS NO SPRING ANYMORE, IT'S WINTER TO SUMMER.

>> PAINFUL, THAT'S THE WORD THAT COMES TO MIND FOR ME.

>> Eric: YOU BROUGHT A THESAURUS OR -- >> THE INTRO WAS PAINFUL.

>> Cathy: IT'S TRUE, JUST NOT A GOOD SPRING.

>> Eric: WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE WEATHER?

>> BILL SHAKESPEARE, HE HAD THE RIGHT IDEA BUT NOW IS THE SPRING OF OUR DISCONTENT AND WE ARE SEEING MORE DISCONTENTMENT, ESPECIALLY MARCH AND APRIL OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS.

TOO EARLY TO SAY IF IT'S A FLUKE OR A TREND BUT I DID BRING VISUALS.

A VISUAL REMINDER THAT, AS BAD AS IT IS, IT CAN ALWAYS BE WORSE.

>> Cathy: OH, NO.

>> THAT WAS ME HOVELING OUR DECK BACK IN APRIL OF 2018.

>> Eric: WOW.

>> MY WIFE WAS AFRAID THE DECK WOULD COLLAPSE AND I DID NOT HAVE THE ENERGY TO ARGUE O I JUST WENT OUT AND SHOVELED THE DECK.

26 INCHES OF SNOW.

>> Cathy: YEAH.

>> Eric: YOU COULD CLIMB UP YOUR WALL AND HIRE SOMEBODY.

[Laughter] OKAY, TOCCHET.

NO, I NEEDED THE EXERCISE.

THANK YOU, IT COULD ALSO BE WORSE, FOR INSTANCE, AND WHEN PEOPLE SAY, OKAY, PAUL, THE SPRINGS ARE GETTING LOUSY BUT I REMINDS THEM, 1965, I DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD A WORSE SPRING.

CERTAINLY NOT IN ODERN DAY WEATHER RECORDS.

WE HAD RECORD FLOODING ON THE MISSISSIPPI, MINNESOTA, AND ALSO ON THE ST. CROIX.

LEVELS HAVEN'T REACHED THAT HIGH EVER SINCE AND I DON'T THINK THEY WILL FOR A LONG TIME.

IN ADDITION, WE HAD THE TORNADO OUTBREAK.

MAY 6th, ANYWHY ARE WHERE FROM 4 TO SIX SEPARATE EF4 TORNADOES, ABOUT AS POWERFUL AS THEY EVER GET, WINDS UP AROUND 180, 190 AND THAT WAS OBVIOUSLY A DEVASTATING EVENING, ESPECIALLY FOR THE TWIN CITIES METRO.

IT HAS NOT BEEN RIFLED SINCE.

>> Cathy: THAT THE FAMED FRIDLEY TORNADO?

>> YES, THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN BEEN HIT Y TWO SEPARATE EF4s IN FRIDLEY.

AND THEN TO TOP THINGS OFF, THE LATEST FLURRIES ON RECORD, MAY 28th, 1965.

>> Cathy: OH, NO, COME ON.

>> SO DO YOU THINK THEY WERE COMPLAINING IN 1965.

>> Cathy: SHELL-SHOCKED IN '65.

>> BUT THE QUESTION IS COMING UP NOW, INCREASINGLY, WHAT S GOING ON?

WHAT IS RUINING OUR SPRINGS AND, LOOK, MOST YEARS, IT'S NOT ON A DIMMER SWITCH, IT'S ON OR OFF BUT IT SEEMS INCREASINGLY WE'RE SEEING COLDER WEATHER LINGERING LONGER AND MORE SNOW.

AND ACCORDING TO MARK SEELEY, SPRING TEMPERATURES HAVE BEEN COOLING SINCE ABOUT 2012, AND HE LISTED SOME OF THE YEARS.

2013, 2014, 2018, 2022, AMONG THE COLDEST SPRINGS OF THE LAST 50 YEARS AND, YES, SPRINGS ARE ALSO TRENDING WETTER THAN NORMAL.

AND HE MENTIONED ARTIC AMPLIFICATION, THE WARMING OF THE ARCHITECT, THE MELTING OF PERMA ROST MAY BE KNOCKING THE JET STREAM KIND OF OFF ITS ROCKER AND IT'S A DIFFERENT CONFIGURATION NOW THAN IT WAS TEN YEARS AGO.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THAT Dr. KENNY BLOOMINGFIELD FROM THE MINNESOTA DNR, OUR SENIOR CLIMATOLOGIST SENT TO ME, ALL THOSE RED BAR GRAPHS, TEMPERATURES TRENDING WARMER IN THE FALL.

THE LATEST 30-YEAR CLIMATE AVERAGE VERSUS THE PREVIOUS.

>> Cathy: SO IT'S FLIPPING IN A SENSE.

>> >> IT'S FLIPPING.

WARMTH IS LASTING LONGER, DEEPER INTO a.m., BUT APRILS ARE ESPECIALLY APRILS ARE TRENDING COLDER.

SO WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?

IT COULD JUST BE NATIONAL VARIABILITY.

WEATHER IS FICKLE, RIGHT?

WE DON'T REALLY HAVE ''NUF DATA TO SAY WITH A DEGREE OF CONFIDENCE TO SAY, YES, IT'S RELATED TO CHANGES AT THE NORTH POLE BUT WHERE I HAVE' HAD A La NIÑA PATTERN FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND THAT CORRELATES WITH CHILLY WINTERS AND SPRINGS HERE IN THE UPPER MIDWEST.

IT COULD HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE ARTIC, THIS ARTIC AMPLIFICATION, THE ARTIC WARMING TWO TO THREE TIMES FASTER THAN MINNESOTA.

AND THAT'S AFFECTING THE CONFIGURATION OF THE JET STREAM, DISPLACING COLD AIR THAT SHOULD BE UP OVER THE NORTH POLE FARTHER SOUTH AND EAST.

BUT, ANYWAY, BE THAT AS HE IS IT MATE, 182 IN BAY FIELD, THEY BROKE THE OLD RECORD BY 32.

MARK SEELEY TOLD ME THAT, YEAH, HOVELAND IS ALSO UP AROUND 160, 170 INCHES OF SNOW ON THE NORTH SHORE.

DULUTH SET A RECORDS, 139.9, WE'RE NUMBER 3, 90.3, St.

CLOUD SET AN ALL-TIME RECORD, 88.2.

AND LOOK AT THESE DEPARTURES.

20, 30, 40, 50 INCHES ABOVE AVERAGE.

THE SILVER LINING AND THERE ARE SOME, THE DROUGHT IS OVER FOR MOST OF MINNESOTA, A LITTLE POCKET OF DROUGHTS DOWN AROUND WORTHINGTON, FAIRMONT, NEAR THE IOWA BORDER BUT WE'RE IN MUCH BETTER SHAPE THAN WE WERE LAST YEAR.

WE'RE HEADING INTO AN EL NINO, MAYBE A SUPER EL NIÑO.

THE PACIFIC 3, 4 DEGREES WARMER THAN AVERAGE AND THAT CORAL RATES WITH WARMER WINTERS, AND LESS SNOW AND MORE RAIN AND ICE, AND THIS IS THE LATEST EUROPEAN MODEL.

60s RETURN NEXT WEEK, WE'LL SEE SOME 70s AND THEN BY THE WAY, UNDER THE HEADING IT CAN ALWAYS BE WORSE, THE SKI RESORT IN UTAH, 901 INCHES.

I KNOW IT'S A SKI RESORT BUT CAN YOU IMAGINE?

>> Cathy: NO, WE CANNOT.

IS THERE ANY CORRELATION BETWEEN WHAT WE'VE HAD, IKE OURS AND SEVER WEATHER OUTBREAKS IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER?

>> THERE IS, 1965 AGAIN COMES TO MIND.

WE HAD THE INCREDIBLE FLOODING AND THEN WE HAD THAT TORNADO OUTBREAK ND WE HAD SNOW ON THE GROUND LITERALLY INTO LATE APRIL THAT YEAR SO THE FASTER WE WARM UP, OFTEN, THE MORE PRIMED THE ATMOSPHERE IS FOR TORNADOIC STORMS.

IF WE DO TURN ON A LIGHT SWITCH AND WE HAVE ENOUGH MOISTURE, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, IT WAS IN THE 80s AND WE MIGHT HAVE SEEN TORNADOES BUT IT WAS VERY DRY.

SO, YEAH, I THINK THIS YEAR COULD BE A MORE ACTIVE YEAR FOR SEVERE STORMS.

>> Eric: THANK YOU, DREAMY DOUGLAS.

>> Cathy: DREAMY DOUGLAS.

>> Eric: THAT'S WHAT IT IS INTRO SAID.

YOU MISSED THAT.

>> I MISSED THAT PART.

>> Cathy: HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

>> YOU'RE SCARING ME NOW.

♪♪ >> ERIC: JOE BIDEN ANNOUNCED HE WAS RUNNING, DONALD TRUMP WAS IN COURT, AND TUCKER CARLSON IS OUT A JOB.

LOTS OF THINGS ROILING THE WORLD OF POLITICS.

LET'S TALK TO A TRIO OF FULLY-CERTIFIED, CARD-CARRYING POLITICAL SCIENTISTS.

KATHRYN PEARSON TEACHES POLITICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

THAT'S WHERE LARRY JACOBS HEADS THE CENTER FOR POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE AT THE HUMPHREY SCHOOL AT THE U OF M. CYNTHIA RUGELEY ROUNDS OUT OUR GROUP.

SHE HEADS THE POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH.

WELL, PROFESSOR JACOBS, AGE AND MENTAL ACUITY ISSUES ASIDE, WHAT DOES THE CAMPAIGN LOOK NOW FOR BIDEN?

ARE WE GOING TO GET A REPLAY OF BIDEN-TRUMP 2 HERE OR -- >> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, I WOULD AY WHAT'S THE ECONOMY GOING TO BE LIKE IN A YEAR.

I THINK THAT KIND OF SUMMARIZES IT.

IF THE ECONOMY SOMEHOW CHUGS ALONG AND DOESN'T HIT A RECESSION, I THINK BIDEN IS GOING TO HAVE A DECENT CHANCE.

THE AVERAGE IS THAT THE INCUMBENT USUALLY WINS OVERWHELMINGLY REELECTION BUT IF WE'RE HEADING INTO RECESSION, LOTS OF ECONOMISTS THINK WE ARE, THEN I THINK IT'S A PROBLEM AND BIDEN'S APPROVAL RATING VERY LOW.

AND HIS, YOU KNOW, SCORES IN TERMS OF PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS WITH REGARD TO THE ECONOMY IS TERRIBLE ALREADY.

IT COULD GET WORSE.

>> Eric: PROFESSOR?

>> I AGREE.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S MUCH ENTHUSIASM FOR EITHER ONE OF THE FRONT-RUNNERS IN THE PRIMARY BUT, AGAIN, IF THE ECONOMY STARTS SLUMPING, THEN HE'S GOING TO HAVE TROUBLE.

MY OPINION WILL JUST END FOR CLOSE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS FOR A LONG TIME TO COME.

THEY'VE BEEN CLOSE THE LAST SEVERAL TIMES.

>> I THINK THAT'S RIGHT AND THEN NARROWLY DIVIDE AND DEEPLY POLAR EASED COUNTRY, I THINK WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE HIGH APPROVAL RATINGS FOR PRESIDENTANTS FOR MANY YEARS WHOEVER THEY ARE BECAUSE OF THE POLARIZATION.

WERE SEEING DEMOCRATS LARGELY ENTHUSIASTICALLY ENDORSING BIDEN.

>> EXCEPT FOR REPRESENTATIVE DEAN PHILLIPS.

>> RIGHT, THE REST OF THE MINNESOTA DELEGATION HAS BEEN ENTHUSIASTICALLY BEHIND BIDEN AND I THINK PHILLIPS IS SPEAKING TO HIS CONSTITUENTS WHO PERHAPS ARE SAYING IN AN IDEAL WORLD, WE WOULD HAVE A DIFFERENT CANDIDATE.

BUT WE ON'T LIVE IN AN IDEAL WORLD, THE INCUMBENTS IS RUNNING FOR REELECTION SO MOST DEMOCRATS ARE SEEING THIS AS A CHOICE BETWEEN BIDEN, WHO MOST DEMOCRATS WOULD AGREE HE'S DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB, VERY LEGISLATIVELY PRODUCTIVE IN THE FIRST TWO YEARS AND POTENTIALLY TRUMP, POTENTIALLY ANOTHER REPUBLICAN BUT T'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT BIDEN IS RUNNING AGAINST MAGA AND TRUMP, EVEN IF TRUMP ISN'T ULTIMATELY THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE.

>> Cathy: TALK ABOUT YOUNG VOTERS AND OLDER CANDIDATES?

IS THERE ANY RESEARCH ON THAT?

>> OH, YEAH, BIDEN IS NOT POPULAR.

THERE IS A REASON WHY WE'VE SEEN SO MANY DEMOCRATS AND DEMOCRATIC COMMENTATORS MENTIONING, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE TO HIM.

IT HASN'T AND AS KATHRYN SAID, THE PARTY IS MORE OR LESS SEALED WITH HOW IDEN HAS DONE.

I THINK THE CHALLENGE FOR BIDEN, MOVING AHEAD AND SO FAR THERE'S PROGRESS, IS HE'S BEEN REBUILDING THE SO-CALLED BLUE WALL AND IT'S PENNSYLVANIA, MICHIGAN, YOU KNOW, WITH THE BIG WIN IN WISCONSIN, THE SUPREME COURT RACE, ALL THAT LOOKS PRETTY GOOD.

AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THE DEMOCRATS DOING WELL IN ARIZONA WHERE THEY WON A BIG GUBERNATORIAL RACE, PICKED UP A SENATE RACE IN GEORGIA, ALL THIS KIND OF LOOKS LIKE THE MAKINGS OF A WINNING COALITION FOR BIDEN UT CAN HE BRING IN THE COALITION AGAIN?

WILL YOUNG PEOPLE TURN OUT?

I DON'T SEE THEM VOTING FOR DONALD TRUMP BUT THEY MIGHT JUST STAY AT HOME.

>> Eric: CONGRESSIONAL EXPERT, WE NEED DEBT CEILING 101 HERE.

>> OH, WELL, REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE HAVE NARROWLY PASSED A BILL AND THIS BILL EXTENDS THE DEBT CEILING FOR A YEAR BUT ALSO IMPOSES HEAVY, HEAVY SPENDING CUTS ON DOMESTIC DISCRETIONARY SPENDING AND UNDOES MOST OF THE CLIMATE LEGISLATION THAT THE CONGRESS PASSED IN THE LAST CONGRESS UNDER DEMOCRATSIC CONTROL.

AND SO CLEARLY THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THE SENATE IS GOING TO PASS OR THAT THE PRESIDENT IS GOING TO SIGN BUT NOW PRESIDENT BIDEN WHO'S BEEN SAYING, I WANT A CLEAN INCREASE, YOU KNOW, NO SPENDING CUTS, NO -- NOTHING ELSE ATTACHED, WILL BE SORT OF FORCED TO COME TO THE TABLE AND AGREE TO PROBABLY SOME CONCESSIONS FOR REPUBLICANS.

ON THE OTHER HANDS, McCARTHY DOESN'T HAVE ANY ROOM TO SPARE TO PASS A COMPROMISE, SOME HOW DEMOCRATS WILL NEEDS TO GO ALONG.

>> Eric: DOESN'T McCARTHY DESERVE SOME CREDIT FOR WRANGLING THIS DEAL ON A DISPARATE CONGRESS?

>> I GUESS SO.

I'M NOT SURE IT'S A PARTICULARLY POPULAR PACKAGE THAT HE'S PUTS TOGETHER, I'M NOT SURE IT'S GAINING HIM ANY VOTES.

WHEN OU TALK ABOUT -- WHEN WE TALKED A MINUTE AGO ABOUT THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND YOUNG VOTERS, SEEMS LIKE THE ISSUES THAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE RUNNING ON CERTAINLY DO LINE UP BETTER FOR THESE YOUNG VOTERS THAN, YOU KNOW, BIDEN AND THE AGE ASIDE.

BUT AGAIN, I THINK, UN, McCARTHY IS GOING TO HAVE TO DO THAT THROUGHOUT HIGH TENURE OF SPEAKER IS COBBLE TOGETHER THE COALITIONS AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT HE CAN PUT TOGETHER IS GOING TO BE A VERY CUTE PUP TEE.

>> Cathy: GO AHEAD, PROFESSOR.

>> I'M GOING TO SAY I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT.

I AGREE WITH CINDY.

THEY BASICALLY PASSED A SYMBOLIC BILL BUT THEY HAD TALKED ABOUT BALANCED BUDGETS, THEY TALKED ABOUT THESE REALLY DRACONIAN CUTS.

THEY DIDN'T DELIVER ON IT AND SOME OF THE CONSERVATIVES WHO DID NOT VOTE WITH McCARTHY ARE SAYING WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL HERE, YOU KNOW, OVER TEN YEARS, THE BIDEN BUDGET IS GOING TO GIVE YOU 58 BILLION DEBT AND WITH THE EPUBLICAN BILL, IT'S GOING TO BE 53 BILLION.

SO NOW THEY NEGOTIATE, THEY COME BACK TO THE SAME GROUP OF REPUBLICANS AND THEY SAY, OKAY, WE'VE HAD TO MAKE THESE COMPROMISES, AND THE CUTS THAT WE'VE PROPOSED IN THE SYMBOLIC BILL ARE EVEN LESS SEVERE.

SO I THINK THIS IS -- THIS IS GOING TO BE NAIL-BITING TIME AND WE MAY BE HEADING INTO SOME REAL, YOU KNOW, DEBT POLITICS AND CRISIS.

>> Eric: COULD YOU TALK ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ON THE -- ON POLITICS?

YOU'RE SEEING PICTURES ON LINE THAT LOOK TOTALLY REALISTIC AND THEY'RE NOT AND INTERVIEWS THAT ARE BEING MADE UP AND -- >> Cathy: THE RNC HAD THE AD AGAINST BIDEN RIGHT AFTER HIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

>> IT'S ENORMOUS AND I CAN'T BEGIN TO GRASP WHAT THE FUTURE HOLD, JUST AS THIS TIME LAST YEAR I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABILITY TO SORT OF SAY, OH, MY STUDENTS WOULD EVER THE CAPACITY TO GIVE A FEW PROMPTS FOR AN ESSAY SO I'VE RYE STRUCK TUR EXAMS AND THINGS SO IRV AERIE STRUCTURED EXAMS AND THINGS BUT EVERY INDUSTRY IS GOING TO HAVE TO GRAPPLE WITH THIS AND POLITICS IS NO DIFFER.

>> Eric: YOU KIND OF NEED A HIGH-TRUST ELEMENT IN A DEMOCRACY AND THIS JUST CRICKETS TO OW TRUST, DOESN'T IT?

>> AND YOU KNOW THAT GOES INTO A BIGGER QUESTION, WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT IT?

WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO MISLEAD AND USE BAD INFORMATION, WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT IT?

I MEAN, WE'VE TALKED BEFORE ABOUT HOW WE PUT THE BURDEN REALLY LIES ON ELECTED OFFICIALS AND ELITES IN ORDER TO BRING THIS -- BRING THESE MAD BEHAVIORS FLANKLY UNDER CONTROL.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT DOES RAISE INTERESTING QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO -- YOU KNOW, I DO -- I THINK WE MAY BE SEEING THE BLUE BOOK AGAIN, I MEAN, IT'S -- YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THE WAY YOU GIVE EXAMS AND DO WE NEED TO CHANGE SOMETHING TO REIN IN BAD POLITICS.

>> WELL, TRUST HAS BEEN TAKING A HIT NOW FOR A WHILE IN AMERICA.

WE HAVE ALL SORTS OF MEASURES OF TRUST THAT ARE DONE ND AT OR BELOW HISTORIC LOWS SO THIS IS ANOTHER KIND OF, YOU KNOW, PUNCH TO THE STOMACH, AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE VERY SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE.

I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S KIND OF A MAGIC BULLET HERE.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE IN FOR CRISIS -- >> Cathy: BUT HOW WORRIED ARE YOU ALL ABOUT POLITICAL SCIENTIST?

>> I WOULD SAY IT'S THE NUMBER ONE THING, I DON'T WORRY ABOUT RUSSIA ANYMORE, HEY'VE GOT THEIR OWN PROBLEMS.

I'M NOT WORRIED, REALLY, ABOUT THE SAFETY AND SECURITIES OF OUR ELECTION SYSTEM, I THINK WE MADE BIG PROGRESS THERE BUT THIS IS SOMETHING WHERE THE CAT'S OUT OF THE BAG.

IT'S JUST RUNNING AROUND AND HONESTLY WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A SOLUTION TO IT.

>> Eric: WHAT IS WITH GOVERNOR WALZ AND THE NATIONAL MEDIA?

NOW HE'S ON CNN AGAIN TODAY TALKING ABOUT THE TRANSGENDER STUFF.

HE'S RIPPING ON GOVERNOR DeSANTIS IN THE STATE-OF-THE-STATE ADDRESS.

HERE'S A MODERATE FIRST-DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN, COULDN'T GETS ENDORSED AT HIS OWN CONVENTION BECAUSE IT'S NOT LIBERAL ENOUGH AND HERE HE IS LEADING IT IS PROGRESSIVE CHARGE.

>> CERTAINLY HE HAS A LOT TO BRAG ABOUT IN THE SENSE THAT VERY NARROW UNIFIED DFL CONTROL IN MINNESOTA AND JUST, YOU KNOW, A VERY HIGH LEVELS OF LEGISLATIVE PRODUCTIVITY.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THE POLITICAL SCIENCE, EVERYBODY WAS SAYING AT THE OUTSET OF SESSION, VERY NARROW MARGINS, IT'S GOING TO BE HARD, THERE WILL BE INTERNAL DIVISIONS BUT THE REALITY IS, YOU KNOW, THEY JUST KEEP PASSING PRIORITY AFTER PRIORITY, YOU KNOW, TODAY IS NO EXCEPTION, STILL NEEDS TO GO TO CONFERENCE, THE MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION BILL BUT IT IS JUST IMPRESSIVE HOW MUCH THEY HAVE DONE AND I THINK THERE'S THE SENSE NOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WITH TOSS-UP POLITICS, THINGS GO BACK AND FORTH AND SO MAKE THE MOST OF THE TIME.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, HE'S TRYING TO SHARE THAT WITH THE COUNTRY JUST AS MANY EPUBLICAN STATES ARE GOING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, THE QUESTION IS, DOES HE HAVE HIGHER AMBITIONS?

>> Eric: THE R SAY WE'RE TURNING INTO CALIFORNIA AND THEY SAY, OF COURSE, THAT AIN'T GOOD.

>> YES, THEY DO BUT I THINK HE'S BEING RECOGNIZED AS MAYBE WHAT A LOT OF DEMOCRATS ARE LOOKING FOR, A CENTRIST WHO'S ABLE TO GETS THINGS DONE, AND I MEAN, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE COMING IN HERE, THE MARIJUANA BILL IN THE SENATE.

DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE HAVE RECOGNIZED, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEIR CAUCUS IS, AND WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO TO GETS THINGS DONE AND, FRANKLY, TO GET THEIR COLLEAGUES REELECTED.

>> WELL, WE'LL SEE.

I THINK IN A LOT OF WAYS THE DEMOCRATS MAY BE OVERREACHING.

THERE IS A LOT OF SPENDING GOING ON HERE, EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE GOT A MASSIVE SURPLUS, THEY'RE RAISING TAXES, AND THEN THEY'RE PUTTING TAXES AND FEES WHICH ARE EASY POLITICAL GAME FOR REPUBLICANS.

AT THIS MOMENT, YOU KNOW, MORE POWER TO THE GOVERNOR, HE'S GETTING SOME NATIONAL PRESS.

BUT LET'S CHECK BACK IN A COUPLE YEARS.

I THINK THIS COULD BE A LOSING SESSION.

>> Cathy: BY THE AY, I SEE SENATOR KLOBUCHAR HAS A NEW BOOK OUT.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> OH, SHE'S RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT FOR SHU SURE.

OBVIOUSLY NOT IN PLACE OF JOE BIDEN -- >> ADJUSTED CASE CANDIDATE -- >> NO, THE THING WITH BOOKS AND ALL OF US CAN TALK ABOUT THIS, YOU KNOW, THEY TAKE A WHILE TO WRITE AND THEN THEY'RE UNDERWAY AND YOU CAN'T REALLY PULL THEM BACK.

SO MAYBE THERE WILL BE A SECOND EDITION.

>> Eric: I CHECKED AN GOVERNOR WALZ IS NOT WRITING A BOOK.

[Laughter] SO THAT MEANS THAT SOMETHING ELSE IS UN, MAYBE.

NO LABELS, THIRD PARTY, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE?

>> YEAH, THAT COULD BE A CHALLENGE BECAUSE AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, THESE ARE VERY, VERY CLOSE NATIONAL ELECTIONS.

IF YOU'VE GOT A THIRD PARTY CANDIDATE THAT'S ABLE TO EVEN TAKE ONE OR TWO PERCENT, COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE.

BY THE WAY, THAT COULD BE PART OF THE PASSAGE OF THE MARIJUANA BILL, THE DFL IS VERY INTENT TO GET THOSE POT PARTIES OUT OF ELECTIONS, THEY THINK THEY CAN WIN MORE RELIABLELY IF THEY'RE NOT THERE.

>> Cathy: COMMENT FROM YOU ON THIS?

>> YEAH, WELL I HINK -- CERTAINLY TRUMP LOOKS LIKE HE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE THE NOMINEE AGAIN BUT I THINK IT WILL BE INTERESTING IF HE IS NOT THE NOMINEE, WOULD HE RUN ANY WAY?

>> Eric: INTERESTING.

GOOD STUFF, PANEL.

>> Cathy: NICE TO SEE YOU ALL.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR OMING DOWN IT IS HIGHWAY.

♪♪ >> ERIC: NOW FOR THE TIME OF THE SHOW WHERE YOU JOIN IN THE FUN, OUR MINNESOTA HISTORY QUESTION.

LAST WEEK, WE ASKED ABOUT SOMETHING ASSOCIATED WITH ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY IN COLLEGEVILLE.

WE TOLD YOU A GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORD WAS SET BY TWO ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN 1978.

WE TOLD YOU THAT THE PAIR CONSIDERED MAKING AN ATTEMPT AT GRAPE THROWING BUT REJECTED THAT.

KEEP THAT HINT IN MIND AS YOU HEAR THE WRONG ANSWERS IN A FEW SECONDS.

WHAT WORLD RECORD WAS SET IN 1978 BY TWO STUDENTS AT ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY?

LET'S START WITH A TRIO OF WRONG GUESSES.

>> ERIC: AGAIN, THE ANSWER, WE TOLD YOU, HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH GRAPES.

OUR QUESTION CAUSED A BIT OF EXCITEMENT TO VIEWER GREG OF PERHAM.

HE WAS PRETTY SURE HE HAD IT RIGHT.

>> ERIC: YES.

THE BRITISH BRANCH OF THE GUINNESS RECORD GROUP WASN'T INTERESTED IN THE CATEGORY OF LONGEST STRING OF PREPOSITIONS BUT THE AMERICAN RECORD GROUP WAS.

THE WINNING ENTRY BY STUDENTS GERRY AND ROGER CONTAINED 10 PREPOSITIONS IN A ROW.

I'LL READ IT TO YOU.

"TERRY'S DOG BUTTONS RACED ON AS BEFORE UP FROM DOWN BELOW INSIDE, OFF TO OVER NEARBY OUTSIDE."

FRANKLY, I UNDERSTAND WHY ENGLISH TEACHERS MAY BE UPSET.

PERHAPS YOU WENT TO SCHOOL WITH SOMEONE WHO SET A GUINNESS RECORD.

IF SO, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

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SPEND A FEW MINUTES TO LET US KNOW HOW WE'RE DOING.

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AGAIN, TPT.ORG/ALMANACSURVEY.

FOR SHOW-CLOSING MUSIC, THIS WEEK IN 1999 THE CANADIAN GROUP GREAT BIG SEA STOPPED BY STUDIO B AND PLAYED FOR US.

FOR THE FOLLOWING TWO DECADES, THE GROUP WAS ONE OF THE BEST SELLING BANDS IN CANADA.

LET'S LISTEN TO THEM AS WE ROLL THE SHOW-ENDING CREDITS.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK.

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♪ IF YOU JUST PUT YOUR TRUST IN ME 'CUZ WE'LL KEEP THE GOOD TIMES ROLLING.

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CLEAR CLEAR