OF PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.

>> CATHY: BIG SHOW FOR YOU TONIGHT.

MINNEAPOLIS POLICE CHIEF BRIAN O'HARA IS HERE.

MIKE OSTERHOLM JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT THE LOWEST COVID DEATH RATE IN MORE THAN THREE YEARS.

A POLITICAL PANEL WILL FILL THE COUCH.

AND MARY LAHAMMER HAS AN INSIDE LOOK AT PREPARATION FOR MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION.

>> Mary: WE'LL TAKE YOU INSIDE STATE GOVERNMENT TO SHOW YOU HOW DIFFERENT AGENCIES ARE GEARING UP FOR LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA IN MINNESOTA.

>> WE ARE PHYSICALLY GOING THROUGH 2500 SEED UNITS.

>> THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THIS IS TO HAVE A SAFE, ACCESSIBLE, REGULATED MARKET.

>> 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.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

>> CATHY: COMING UP ON TONIGHT'S SHOW, A LOOK AT THE BIGGEST DECLINE IN COVID DEATHS SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN MORE THAN THREE YEARS AGO.

RETIRING CHIEF JUSTICE GILDEA PAYS US A VISIT, AND WE'LL SPEND A CHUNK OF TIME LOOKING AT MINNESOTA'S NEW MARIJUANA LAW, SET TO BEGIN ON AUGUST 1ST.

>> ERIC: WE START WITH NEWS OUT OF MINNEAPOLIS.

LATE YESTERDAY, CEDRIC ALEXANDER, THE CITY'S FIRST PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSIONER, ANNOUNCED HE WILL LEAVE AFTER JUST ONE YEAR ON THE JOB.

ONE OF THE DEPARTMENTS DIRECTLY REPORTING TO ALEXANDER IS THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THE M.P.D.

WAS PLACED UNDER A COURT-ORDERED AGREEMENT LATE LAST WEEK WITH THE MINNESOTA HUMAN RIGHTS DEPARTMENT AND IS AWAITING A FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE RELATING TO THE RECENT U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE REPORT.

JOINING US NOW, MINNEAPOLIS POLICE CHIEF BRIAN O'HARA.

WELCOME BACK TO "ALMANAC."

DOES ALEXANDER'S RETIREMENT IN ANY WAY IMPEDE THE MOVE TOWARDS THIS TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE THAT THE M.P.D.

IS SEEKING HERE?

>> WELL, I THINK IT DOESN'T IMPEDE -- IT DOESN'T IMSPEED THE PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING BUT CERTAINLY IT'S ANOTHER CHANGE WE'LL HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY HELPFUL AND SUPPORTIVE DURING HIS TIME HERE.

YOU KNOW, HE STOOD UP THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY SAFETY, SOMETHING THAT DID NOT EXIST AND NOBODY GAVE HIM AN INSTRUCTION MANUAL ON HOW TO DO IT SO, YOU KNOW -- AND I KNOW EVERYTHING THAT WE DO HERE, PARTICULARLY AROUND PUBLIC SAFETY IN MINNEAPOLIS IS UNDER A MICROSCOPE SO I'M THANKFUL FOR HIS TIME HERE BUT, LIKE OTHERS I KNOW, WE WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE ON.

IT'S JUST -- WE HAVE TO FIGURE THOSE THINGS OUT AS WE GO FORWARD.

>> Cathy: SO WE HAVE THAT ^ -- THAT POSITION WON'T BE FILLED FOR MAYBE A LITTLE WHILE.

WE HAVE THE MENTAL HEALTH TEAM THAT'S LOOKING FOR SOME RESOURCES.

THEY GOT A COUPLE PATS ON THE BACK FROM THE D.O.J.

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: IS IT TOUGH TO BUILD THE PLANE WHILE IT'S IN THE AIR WHILE YOU'RE TRYING TO FIGURE EVERYTHING OUT?

>> OF COURSE, OF COURSE IT IS.

AND I KNOW THERE WAS SOME CRITICISM FROM THE D.O.J.

REGARDING THE MENTAL HEALTH TEAM.

I THINK THEY'RE FANTASTIC AND I KNOW JUST FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD STANDING IT UP HERE WAS A CHALLENGE.

THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T NECESSARILY BELIEVE IN IT, INCLUDING SOME OF OUR OFFICERS.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU TODAY, ALL OF OUR COPS LOVE HAVING THOSE RESOURCES AVAILABLE, THEY SEE THE VALUE IN IT, AND, QUITE FRANKLY, THEY'RE FOLKS WHO ARE TRAINED TO DEAL WITH THOSE TYPES OF EMERGENCIES, LIKE POLICE OFFICERS AREN'T.

SO I THINK THE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE HERE IS OUTSTANDING AND A MODEL FOR THE COUNTRY, AND I KNOW ALL OF OUR COPS THINK THE SAME, AS WELL.

>> Eric: AS THE DEPARTMENT SCREENS APPLICANTS FOR JOBS IN MINNEAPOLIS P.D., IS THE NEED SO GREAT YOU HAVE TO KIND OF TAKE A SECOND-LEVEL PERSON OR A THIRD-LEVEL PERSON, YOU CAN'T WAIT FOR THE BEST BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT OUT THERE OR... >> NO, THAT'S NOT TRUE AT ALL.

THE REALITY IS TODAY, IF WE ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD, IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE PROGRESS, IF WE ARE GOINGS TO START TO EARN BACK TRUST THAT HAS BEEN LOST FROM SOME FOLKS, AND TRYING TO BUILD TRUST IN PLACES WHERE WE NEVER HAD IT BEFORE, WE HAVE TO BE HAT MUCH MORE CAUTIOUS IN DOING THAT AND SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE, I HAVE LEARNED THAT THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT FLAWS IN THE PROCESSES IN WAYS THAT I COULD NOT HAVE ANTICIPATED UNTIL I GOT HERE.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH, A NUMBER OF CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE ALREADY AND I'M LOOKING TO INCLUDE COMMUNITY IN SOME OF THAT DECISION-MAKING PROCESS, AS WELL.

>> Cathy: I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE CONSENTS DECREASE BUT I ALSO NOTICE YOUR BADGE HAS THE BLACK BAND AROUND IT WHICH I'M TUNING IS IN MEMORY OF OFFICER WALLIN, WHO WAS SHOT AND KILLED IN FARGO.

WITH OFFICER SHOOTINGS AND DEATHS, HIGH-PROFILE THAT HAVE OCCURRED RECENTLY, IS IT HARD TO GET YOUNGER PEOPLE INTO THIS FIELD?

>> IT'S HARD ACROSS THE BOARD IN THIS COUNTRY TO ATTRACT YOUNG PEOPLE TO THIS PROFESSION.

I MEAN, JUST THE PROFESSION ITSELF IS VIEWED SO DIFFERENTLY TODAY, AND LIFE IS SO DIFFERENT TODAY.

SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE WANT TO GO INTO JOBS WHERE THEY CAN WORK VIRTUALLY.

YOU CANNOT DETHAT WORKING IN A SQUAD CAR AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT IS, YOU KNOW, EXPONENTIALLY THAT MUCH HARDER, PARTICULARLY IN THIS AREA WITH EVERYTHING EVERYONE HAS BEEN THROUGH AND, YES, IT DOES SEEM LIKE THERE HAVE BEEN JUST SOME OUTRAGEOUS VIOLENT ASSAULT ON POLICE AND -- >> Eric: THE HUMAN RIGHTS DECISION AND THEN THE CONSENTS DECREE FROM THE FEDS, HOW IS THAT GOING IMPLEMENTING THOSE?

>> YEAH, SO THE SETTLEMENTS AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE JUST BECAME OFFICIAL.

WE HAVE AN IMPLEMENTATION UNIT IN PLACE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT WORKS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE AN AT THIS TIME PATING HAVING THE FEDERAL CONSENTS DECREE.

I THINK, OF COURSE BEEN THROUGH THIS BEFORE, I KNOW WHAT THIS STUFF LOOKS LIKE, I KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT, YOU KNOW, GIVEN THE SUPPORT THAT OUR OFFICERS NEED, THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH THIS.

>> Eric: YOU'RE NOT CONCERNED IT WILL DEE INVOLVE INTO A SERIES F TESTIFIES, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES WITH TURF BATTLES AND THE WHOLE THING GOES ON A SHELF SOMEWHERE OR -- >> WE ABSOLUTELY CANNOT HAVE THIS DEVOLVE INTO SOMETHING THAT'S VIEWED AS SIMPLY A LEGAL PROCESS.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT HAVING THE BEST POLICIES WRITTEN ON PAPER, THIS IS ABOUT MAKING CHANGE REAL THAT OUR RESIDENTS CAN FEEL.

THIS IS ABOUT HAVING A YEAR FROM NOW, TWO YEARS FROM NOW, MORE AND MORRIS DENTS OF MINNEAPOLIS, MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WHO INTERACTS WITH THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT TELLING YOU, I TRUST OUR COPS, OUR COPS ARE GOOD PEOPLE, THEY'RE DOING RIGHT BY US.

>> Cathy: BUT I'VE WORKED UNDER THIS BEFORE, THOUGH.

WHAT'S IT LIKE TO HAVE THE COURT OVER YOUR SHOULDER?

>> IT CAN BE VERY DIFFERENT, DEPENDING ON WHICH JURISDICTION YOU'RE IN.

AND WHICH -- WHO ARE THE PLAYERS, THE INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE INVOLVED, SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IN NEWARK, I WOULD SEE THE FEDERAL JUDGE THREE OR FOUR TIMES A YEAR.

IN NEW ORLEANS, WHERE THEY HAVE A CONSENT DECREE, IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR THE FEDERAL JUDGE TO SIDEWALK INTO A PRECINCT AND START GIVING -- TO WALK INTO A PRECINCT AND START GIVING DIRECTIONS TO OFFICERS.

DEPENDING ON WHO THE JUDGE IS, THE MONITOR IS, DEPENDING ON WHO THE POLICE LEADERSHIP IS AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY VIEW THIS AS SOMETHING BEING SORT OF SHOVED DOWN THE THROATS OF THE POLICE OR SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO TELL OUR OFFICERS, THIS IS WHO WE ARE, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING DO AND TRY AND GET BUY-INVOLUNTARILY.

>> Cathy: SAY, I HAVE TO ASK YOU THIS, HE FEEL SPENTLY MINNEAPOLIS CAR THREATS ARE UP TO 4 A DAY, THERE IS A 70% INCREASE.

WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

>> THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A YEAR.

LITTLE DRIVEN -- THE INCREASE IS DRIVEN EXCLUSIVELY BY THE THEFTS OF KIAA AND HUNDAIS.

IT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW, DRIVEN BY ALL THIS STUFF ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE'RE SEEING YOUNGER AND YOUNGER JUVENILES INVOLVED.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN TRYING DO GET ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE FOR MONTHS AND WE ARE STARTING TO SEE SOME REFORMS THAT WILL BE HELPFUL.

BECAUSE WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING, MOST OF THE TIME I'VE BEEN HERE, IS POLICE OFFICERS WHEN THEY DO MAKE ARRESTS FOR THESE KIDS AND STOLEN CARS, THEY'RE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY RELEASED AND THAT IS PART OF WHAT IS DRIVING THE PROBLEM.

>> Eric: CHIEF, THANKS SO MUCH FOR COMING OVER.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS.

♪♪ >> CATHY: MINNESOTA REPORTED THE LOWEST NUMBER OF COVID DEATHS LAST MONTH SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN HERE IN MARCH 2020.

THIS DECLINE FOLLOWS A NATIONWIDE DOWNWARD TREND IN OVERALL DEATHS, WITH THAT NUMBER NO LONGER CONSIDERED HISTORICALLY ABNORMAL.

EPIDEMIOLOGIST MIKE OSTERHOLM HAS BEEN JOINING US REGULARLY THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

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

EVERY TIME YOU'RE ON, YOU SAY COVID IS NOT DONE WITH US.

THAT'S BEEN THREE YEARS.

IS COVID DONE WITH US?

>> IT IS ANSWER IS NO.

HOWEVER, LET ME SAY I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS NIGHT FOR THREE YEARS, I REALLY AM CONVINCED WE'RE ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE PANDEMIC.

AS YOU REPORTED, WE HAD 0 DEATHS IN JUNE WHICH WAS DOWN FROM 83 IN MAY AND DOWN FROM 139 MONTH IN JANUARY.

AND I THINK THAT TRENDS WILL HOLD FOR SOME TIME.

WHEN I IS A I THAT WE'RE NOT DONE WITH IT YET, WE ARE SEEING NEW VARIANTS EMERGE THAT HAVE STARTED TO SEE SOME UPPARTICULAR AROUND THE COUNTRY AND SOME PLACES AROUND THE WORLD, FOR EXAMPLE, JAPAN IS GETSING HIT QUITE HARD.

SO IT'S NOT DONE YET.

HOWEVER, I DON'T BELIEVE WE'LL EVER SEE NOTHER BIG SURGE LIKE WE SAW WITH THE DELTA, THE OH MA KRONS AND SO FORTH.

KEEP IN MIND, THIS IS GOING TO BE PROBABLY MORE LIKE A FLU-LIKE PICTURE WHERE IT MAY COME UP BUT IT WON'T COME DOWN IN THE SENSE THAT WOULD MEAN WE HAVE TO SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN OR EVEN THINK ABOUT THAT.

>> Eric: WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE BOOSTER DEVELOPED FOR THIS FALL WITH THE XBB STRAIN?

>> YES, UNFORTUNATELY WE'VE CONTINUED TO MOVE THE ARIANTS FROM THE BBB, IN FACT, THE ONES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW, THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BUT I THINK THE PROTECTION THAT YOU'LL HAVE WITH IN NEW BOOSTER IS GOING TO STILL BE QUITE SUBSTANTIAL, AND AS I'VE POINTED OUT ON EACH OF THE SHOWS, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR BOOSTER.

IT DOES MEAN YOU WON'T GET INFECTED, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU MIGHT NOT EVEN GET SICK BUT IT HAS CONTINUED TO HAVE GOOD STAYING POWER AGAINST SERIOUS ILLNESS, HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS AND I'LL TAKE THAT ANY DAY OF THE WEEK.

>> Cathy: SO BECAUSE THOSE BOOSTERS ARE FOR CERTAIN PEOPLE, THERE'S OTHERS OF US WHO CANNOT GET THOSE BOOSTERS YET.

WHAT DO WE O?

>> WELL, COMPLAIN.

SOME OF US ARE COMPLAINING.

I THINK THE FDA HAS BEEN TOO NARROW ALONG WITH THE CDC IN ITS SCOPE OF WHO SHOULD GET THE VACCINE.

NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT MANDATING IT, TALKING ABOUT MAKING IT PERMISSIVE AND SO FOR THOSE THAT ARE CURRENTLY RECOMMENDED, THE OLDER POPULATION, THOSE WITH UNDERLYING CONDITIONS, THEY CAN GET IT.

BUT I THINK FOR ANYONE TODAY THAT WANTS THEIR ASSURANCE THAT THEY WON'T GET SERIOUSLY ILL OR BE HOSPITALIZED, WE'RE HOPING THEY WILL MAKE T PERMISSIVE SO YOU CAN GET IT.

>> Eric: NO JULY 4TH SPIKE THIS YEAR?

>> FIRST OF ALL, IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THIS VIRUS IS DOING BY SEASON.

WE'VE OFTEN SEEN BIGGER INCREASES IN CASES IN THE SUMMER MONTHS AND THEN A LULL IN FALL AND POSSIBLY SOME PICK-UP IN THE WINTER.

SO, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT'S DONE IT THREE YEARS IN A ROW, WILL IT IT THIS YEAR?

I DON'T KNOW.

WHERE THE VARIANTS KEEP CHANGING AND WITH THEM CHANGES THE PICTURE OF THE ILLNESS.

FOR EXAMPLE, TODAY, WE SEE ALMOST NO ONE WHO HAS A PROBLEM WITH LACK OF TASTE, LACK F SMELL.

WELL, THAT WAS VERY DIFFERENT IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC.

WE KNOW THAT TODAY, IF YOU WERE INFECTED BACK IN 2000 AND -- 2020, 2021, YOU WERE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO HAVE LONG COVID THAN IF YOU GET INFECTED TODAY.

SO THE VARIANTS ARE CHANGING THEIR MIX OF WHAT HE THIS DO TO US AND HOW THEY DO IT SO I THINK AT THIS POINT IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT THAT'S THE ONE THING WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR EYE ON TO SEE IF A NEUVIRTH EMERGES BUT I DO THINK WE'RE ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE PANDEMIC.

I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SAY THAT TONIGHT HERE BUT I DON'T THINK THE VIRUS IS COMPLETELY DONE WITH US YET.

>> Cathy: I'M CURIOUS TO WHO HE WHAT YOU THOUGHT ABOUT CERTAIN GENES BEING LINKED TO THOSE WHO HAD ASYMPTOMATIC COVID.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS INTERESTING.

>> THERE IS ACTUALLY A GROWING BODIES OF DATA, YOU'RE REFERRING TO A REPORT THAT CAME OUT THIS PAST WEEK WHAT DOES SHOW THAT LINK THAT THE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD A CERTAIN GENE TYPE ACTUALLY DID HAVE A MUCH LOWER LIKELIHOOD OF GETTING SERIOUSLY ILL, MORE LIKELY TO BE ASYMPTOMATIC, IN FACT, IF INFECTED OR LESS LIKELY TO GET LONG COVERED.

WE'VE SAID ALL ALONG THE IMMUNE SYSTEM OF THE HOST IS ALSO PLAYING A PART IN WHETHER YOU GET SICK OR DON'T GETS SICK AND MUSIC YOU GET.

IN SOME CASES, THE ACTUAL ILLNESS YOU GET IS YOUROUT OF WHACK GO IMMUNE SYSTEM RESPONDING TO THE VIRUS.

I'M NOT SURE IT GIVES US ANY INFORMATION THAT SAYS WE CAN DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY, WHAT CAN WE CAPTURE FROM THAT INFORMATION BUT IT'S URELY IS -- THIS IS A BATTLE BETWEEN THE VIRUS AND THE MUM.

>> Eric: AS YOU TALKED TO YOUR COLLEAGUES IN THE U.S. AND AROUND THE WORLD, ARE YOU MORE CONFIDENT THAT THERE IS A SYSTEM IN PLACE TO DO A BETTER JOB NEXT TIME THIS HAPPENS OR -- >> FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY RIGHT NOW WE HAVE DISMAY NOT HE WOULD ALL THE SENIOR VEIL LANCE SYSTEMS TO KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH CASES SO I DON'T HAVE ANY FAITH IN CASE NUMBERS.

IF SOMEBODY TELLS YOU THERE'S X NUMBER OF CASES, THAT WON'T EVEN BUY YOU A BEER AT A BAR.

ON THE OTHER HAND, HE DEATHS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS STILL ARE TRACKING PRETTY WELL SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING, WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT THAT SO WE DON'T HAVE GOOD SURVEILLANCE ANYMORE.

THE SECOND PIECE IS, IN TERMS OF FOR THE FUTURE, I THINK WE'RE LESS PREPARED NOW FOR A NEW PANDEMIC THAN WE WERE BEFORE THIS ONE.

ONE IS, FIRST OF ALL, YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS THE LARGELY MAJOR CUT IN PUBLIC HEALTH FUNDING.

THE CDC IS GOING TO TAKE MAJOR HITS IN TERMS OF HAVING TO LOSE EMPLOYEES.

THE N.I.H.

BUDGETS ARE GETTING CUT AND ALL IN REACTION TO THE COVID SITUATION, THINKING THAT PUBLIC HEALTH DID SUCH A POOR JOB.

AND FINALLY THE TRUST PEOPLE HAVE A REAL HALLENGE TRUSTING PUBLIC HEALTH.

>> Eric: WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

APPRECIATE YOU COMING OVER, AS ALWAYS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU FOR COMING OVER.

HAPPY SUMMER.

>> THANK YOU.

>> SOMETIMES WHEN YOU HAVE A RECORD LIKE WE DO IN 2000, YOU GET THE OPPORTUNITIES TO ET A GOOD PLAYER.

THIS IS A BONA FIDE CATCHER WITH ALL THE SKILLS THAT YOU LOOK FOR.

HE CAN THROW, HE CAN RUN, HE HAS POWER.

HE CAN HIT, HE CAN HIT FOR AVERAGE.

HE CAN HIT LEFTIES.

HE IS ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT YOU LOOK FOR IN A ALL PLAYER.

>> I COULDN'T ASK FOR A BETTER SPOT TO BE PLACED IN, AND IT'S JUST AN UNBELIEVABLE FEELING TODAY AND I'M JUST THANKFUL THAT THE TWINS SELECTED ME AND I'M A BASEBALL PLAYER.

>> ERIC: LAST MONTH, SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE LORIE GILDEA ANNOUNCED SHE WILL LEAVE MINNESOTA'S HIGH COURT THIS COMING FALL.

GILDEA IS JUST THE SECOND WOMAN TO LEAD THE COURT AND WHEN SHE DEPARTS ON OCTOBER 1S, SHE WILL BE THE THIRD LONGEST SERVING JUSTICE IN THE STATE'S HISTORY.

CHIEF JUSTICE GILDEA JOINS US.

WELCOME.

WHY NOW?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> >> YOU BETTER.

WHY NOW.

>> SO I'VE BEEN ON THE COURT, SERVING AS CHIEF JUSTICE NOR 13 JEERS AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR EVERY DAY BUT YOU DO HAVE TO BE BAG IN OUR MINNESOTA HISTORY MORE THAN 100 YEARS TO FIND SOMEBODY WHO HAS SERVED IN THAT HOLE AND I THINK IT'S PRETTY GOOD EVIDENCE IT'S TIME FOR SOMEBODY ELSE TO HAVE A TURN.

>> Cathy: YOU DID A LOT.

YOU GOT THE COURTS TO GO PAPER-LESS, YOU GO WORKED ON TRANSPARENCY, CAMERAS NOTICE COURTROOM, WHAT ARE YOU REALLY PROUD OF?

>> I THINK ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

ACCESS TO JUSTICE OF COURSE IS ALWAYS TOP OF MIND.

ONE OF THE FIRST PROMISES IN THE MINNESOTA CONSTITUTION IS THAT ALL MINNESOTANS HAVE THE RIGHT TO ACCESS TO JUSTICE, SO THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN ON MY MIND AS WE'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT HOW TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA TO INTERACT WITH THEIR COURT SYSTEM.

AND ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT, ELECTRONIC FILING, GREATER CAMERA ACCESS, THOSE THINGS ALL GO TOWARD THE DELIVERY OF THAT CONSTITUTIONAL MISSION.

>> Eric: AS YOU HAVE SERVED YOUR TIME -- >> DON'T TALK ABOUT IT THAT WAY.

>> Eric: YEAH, DOING A STRETCH ON THE COURT, THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S TERRIBLE.

ATTENTION OU'VE DONE YOUR SERVICE, BUDGET AFTER BUDGET, YOU'VE SAID, IT AIN'T ENOUGH AND I WONDER IF YOU GOT A PIECE OF THE SURPLUS THIS YEAR TO UPGRADE STUFF THAT NEEDED UPGRADING.

>> YES, THIS WAS A HISTORIC LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM FOR THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, FOR THE COURTS, FOR CIVIL LEGAL AID.

I THINK THAT REALLY DOES HELP MAKE THIS A GOOD TIME FOR A TRANSITION IN THE JUDICIARY, THE COURT, BRANCH IS CERTAINLY ON A FIRM FISCAL FOUNDATION.

>> Cathy: LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE STATE OF OUR JUDICIARY.

YOU SEEM LIKE YOU'RE PRETTY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT MINNESOTA.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT A WISCONSIN-STYLE SYSTEM, DO YOU EVER SEE US GOING IN THAT DIRECTION AND -- >> BOY, I HOPE NOT.

MY VIEW IS WE SHOULD KEEP PARTISAN POLITICS AS FAR AWAY FROM JUDICIAL SELECTION, JUDICIAL ELECTION AS POSSIBLE.

WHEN YOU'RE A JUDGE IN MINNESOTA, YOU NEED TO BE A JUDGE FOR ALL MINNESOTANS, PEEL OF EVERY POLITICAL PARTY AND PEOPLE OF NO POLITICAL PARTIES.

>> Eric: ARE BEAM IN THE PROFESSION TALKING ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE?

>> YES.

>> Eric: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THERE OR QUESTIONS -- >> WE'RE STARTING TO SEE CASES WHERE LAWYERS ARE BEING SANCTIONED BECAUSE THEY USE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TOOL THEY USE IS MAKING UP CASE LAW AND THEY'RE JUST PUTTING IT IN BRIEFS AND SUBMITTING IT TO COURTS SO WE HAVE TO BE VERY MINDFUL.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT A.I.

DOESN'T HAVE A ROLE, IT CLEARLY DOES.

I WAS TALKING TO A FAMILY MEMBER ABOUT HOW IT'S BEING USED TO HELP DIAGNOSE CANCER BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR EYES WIDE OPEN AND BE VERY CAREFUL IN USING IT IN LEGAL FILINGS.

>> Eric: SO YOU'RE LEAVING, STEPPING DOWN AFTER A CAREER ON THE BENCH AND I'M WONDERING WHAT IGNITES YOU NOW?

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU WANT TO DO?

>> I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THINKING ABOUT THAT AND I'M -- WITH THE DECISION, YOU KNOW, AND THE ANNOUNCEMENTS IN JUNE, NOW I'M REALLY JUST BEGINNING TO THINK ABOUT THE NEXT PHASE, AND I MEAN, I'M GOING TO BE HONEST, IT'S A LITTLE TERRIFYING, THE FIRST TIME IN MY ADULT LIFE WHERE I AREN'T KNOWN EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BUT ALSO VERY FREEING AND SATISFYING AND SO I'M STARTING TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

I'M OPEN.

MAYBE I CAN COME OUT AND HANG OUT WITH YOU GUYS AND BE A FELLOW HOST OR SOMETHING.

>> IF THE PHONE RINGS, YOU'LL PICK IT UP?

>> I'LL PICK IT UP.

>> Eric: THERE A LOGICAL NEXT STEP?

I WAS WONDERING ABOUT THIS, WHAT DO SOME OF THE JUSTICES HAVE LEFT AND GO BACK INTO PRIVATE PRACTICE?

>> YES, THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING I'M THINKING ABOUT, SOME OF HAVE GONE ON TO TEACH, I'M THINKING ABOUT THAT, AS WELL.

>> Cathy: YOU COULD BE A U OF M PRESIDENT.

>> I COULD SPEND MORE TIME WITH MY HORSE... [Laughter] THAT WON'T MAKE HIM HAPPY BUT THAT'S CERTAINLY AN OPTION, S WELL.

>> Cathy: YOU'RE AN EQUESTRIAN SO I KNOW YOU'LL BE OUT THERE.

>> Eric: YOU HAVE COME A LONG WAY FROM PLUMBER UP IN REDS LAKE COUNTIES.

>> PLUMBER IS EVERYTHING I AM.

IT WAS A WONDERFUL, SAFE PLACE TO GROW UP AND UP IT'S NEVER FAR FROM MY HEART.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR YOUR SERVES TO THE STATE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO.

>> OH T. >> Eric: ALL THE BEST.

>> CATHY: MINNEAPOLIS' MIXED BLOOD THEATER IS HOSTING A SUMMER-LONG "SHOWCASE" OF ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE METRO.

THE PERFORMANCE SERIES, TITLED "TWELVE BY TWELVE," STARTED IN APRIL AND RUNS THROUGH THE END OF AUGUST.

EACH ARTIST WILL REPRESENT A DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD AROUND THE TWIN CITIES.

THE SERIES CULMINATES IN AN ALL-DAY FESTIVAL AT THE THEATER.

HERE WITH MORE, MIXED BLOOD THEATER'S NEW ARTISTIC DIRECTOR MARK VALDEZ.

AND THIS WEEKEND'S FEATURED ARTIST, POET AND MULTIMEDIA ARTIST, HAWONA SULLIVAN JANZEN.

WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.

OH, MY GOODNESS, THERE IS A LOT TO TALK ABOUT HERE.

MARK, WHAT WAS THE SPARK FOR THIS -- THIS IS A BIG PROJECT.

WHAT WAS THE SPARK FOR IT?

>> THIS IS A VERY BIG PROJECT.

SO WE WANTED TO CELEBRATE THE TWIN CITIES.

THE WHOLE PROJECT IS ABOUT LOOKING AT THE DIVERSITY AND THE BREADTH AND THE JOY, ALL THE BEAUTY THAT IS HERE IN THE TWIN CITIES BECAUSE I JUST MOVED HERE AND SO I HAD NO IDEA -- I KNEW NOTHING, BASICALLY, SO WHAT I WANTED TO DO WAS TO IND A WAY TO METE ARTISTS AND GET TO KNOW THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT BETTER WAY THAN TO MAKE ART TOGETHER?

SO THAT WAS THE IMPETUS.

>> Eric: WHAT IS YOUR PARTICULAR CONTRIBUTION TO THIS?

[Laughter] >> WELL, I THINK I HAVE ABOUT TEN YEARS OF EXPERIENCE DOING SOCIAL PRACTICE ART AND BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT DIFFICULT THINGS.

>> Eric: WHAT WOULD BE AN EXAMPLE?

>> THAT A FREEWAY CAUSED YOUR GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE TO BE TORN DOWN, THAT THE PANDEMIC MADE IT REALLY HARD FOR YOUR TODDLER TO MAKE FRIENDS.

SO WE ALL HAVE THESE THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN COMMON BUT WE RARELY TALK ABOUT THOSE THINGS WHEN WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> AND SO HOW WILL THESE CONVERSATIONS AND HOW WILL THE COMMUNITY INTERACT?

WHAT WILL BE THE MICK NICE?

>> SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE COMMISSIONED 12 ARTISTS TO WORK IN 12 COMMUNITIES, 12 DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS AND DIFFER COMMUNITIES AND THE IDEA IS THAT THEY WILL EACH ENGAGE IN OUR COMMUNITY PART NEST, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH INDIVIDUALS IN EACH OF THESE COMMUNITIES AND THROUGH THE CONVERSATIONS, THROUGH WORK, THEY WILL TOGETHER MAKE A PERFORMANCE, A SHORT ART PIECE.

AND SO WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING IS WE HAVE THE EVENTS WHERE E INVITE COMMUNITY TO COME TALK WITH US, TO COME TALK WITH THE ARTISTS AND AS HAWONA WAS SAYING, WE ASK QUESTIONS AND FIND OUT WHAT'S ON PEOPLE'S MINDS.

THERE ARE SOME GUIDING QUESTIONS, SOME THINGS THAT THE ARTISTS THEMSELVES ARE INTERESTED IN BUT IT'S REALLY JUST A SPACE TO JUST BE HEARD AND TO SHARE STORIES, AND THEN THAT WILL LEAD O THE ART THAT GETS MADE.

>> Cathy: HAWONA, YOU GOT TO HELP ME OUT HERE.

SO I BET YOU'VE GOT A TON OF THINGS YOU'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT.

SO WHAT WILL YOUR PART OF THIS LOOK LIKE?

WHAT WILL I FEEL IF I INTERACT WITH YOU?

>> OH, BIG QUESTION, CATHY.

WELL, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, OF THE 12 ARTISTS, I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO IS DOING A TRADITIONAL PLAY AND BY TRAINING, I'M HISTORIAN AND SO I GREW WEARY OF THE ONE STORY ABOUT RONDO BEING THAT THE FREEWAY TORE THE COMMUNITY APART.

AND SO AS I STARTED TO HAVE CASUAL CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE AROUND THE FREEWAY, I DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF STORIES THAT PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT THE FREEWAY AND WOULDN'T IT BE INTERESTING TO COME TOGETHER AND, YES, TALK ABOUT THAT THING, THAT HISTORY, BUT ALSO TALK ABOUT ALL OF THE THINGS AND THE WAYS THAT THE FREEWAY HAS AFFECTED OUR LIVES AS A PEOPLE SINCE IT WAS BUILT HERE.

AND SO THE STORIES HAVE BEEN AMAZING.

THEY ARE EVERYTHING FROM THE MAN WHO, AS A LITTLE BOY, PLAYED IN THE AREA THAT THEY HAD DID YOU GO OUT FOR THE BUILDING OF THE FREEWAY TO THE WOMAN WHO EXPERIENCED ROAD RAGE WHEN SHE HAD HER KIDS ON THE FREEWAY AND SHE ACCIDENTALLY CUT SOMEONE FF, SO THESE STORIES I THINK ALLOW US TO COME TOGETHER TO PROCESS THE ROLE THAT THIS BIG THING HAS PLAYED IN OUR LIVES BUT ALSO IN AN INTERESTING WAY, IT REALLY MAKES US PAUSE AND BE TOGETHER DURING A TIME THAT MOST OF THE TIME WE DON'T WORK SO HARD AT THAT NOWADAYS.

>> Eric: I WAS GOING TO ASK THAT, MARK, BECAUSE POST-PANDEMIC, I WONDER IF THERE IS A NEED TO KIND OF GET THE ART COMMUNITY TOGETHER IN AN INTERDISCIPLINARY WAY, MAYBE?

>> ABSOLUTELY, I THINK SO.

I THINK WHAT WE VIEW AS THEATER IS EVOLVING AND EXPANDING.

THERE IS A LOT MORE INTEREST IN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES, SO SOME OF THE ARTISTS THAT WE HAVE, WE'RE WORKING WITH A SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING GROUP, A NICE SKATING COMPANY, A ATTOO ARTIST, A CHEF, YIA VANG IS WORKING WITH US, HAWONA IS A HIS TEAR YOU KNOW ARTIST, THERE IS A WIDE RANGE OF THINGS BECAUSE THE TWIN CITIES ARE SO IVERSE.

THERE ARE SO MANY INTERESTING THINGS HERE, AND MANY DIFFERENT WAYS THAT PEOPLE WANTS TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES, AND SO THIS WAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

>> Cathy: AS A PROUD NATIVE OF THE LONGFELT LOW NEIGHBORHOOD IN MINNEAPOLIS, I'M GLAD THAT YOU ALL ARE GOING INTO NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT THE TWIN CITIES.

I CAN SEE THIS IN GREATER MINNESOTA, THAT COULD BE KIND OF INTERESTING.

>> OH, YES.

>> WE'LL BE DOING A PROJECT IN THE IRON RANGE NEXT YEAR, SO DEFINITELY, YES.

[Laughter] >> Cathy: EXCELLENT.

>> Eric: WHERE CAN PEOPLE COME AND SEE YOUR WORK?

>> THEY THINK COME AND SEE T ON SATURDAY ACTUALLY AT THE RONDO COMMUNITY PLAZA.

>> Cathy: TOMORROW?

>> TOMORROW, 4:00 p.m., BUT IT WILL ALSO BE A PART OF THE 12 BY 12 FESTIVAL THAT WILL BE HAPPENING AT MIXED BLOOD AUGUST 19th AND 20th, AS WELL.

>> Eric: HOW DID YOU PICK THE PARTICIPANTS?

>> I ASKED PEOPLE.

I ASKED FOR RECOMMENDIZATIONS BECAUSE I WASN'T FROM HERE SO USUALLY WHEN I'M LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO EAT OR SOMETHING, I WILL SAY, OKAY, CAN YOU RECOMMEND A RESTAURANT?

IT WAS THE SAME IDEA, CAN YOU RECOMMEND AN ARTIST WHO IS SOMEBODY THAT YOU'RE EXCITED BY AND SO PEOPLE GAVE ME A LOT OF NAMES AND I GOT TO MEET WONDERFUL ARTISTS, SO IT WAS GREAT.

>> Cathy: SOUNDS GREAT.

WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST.

WE'LL DEFINITELY HAVE TO HAVE YOU ALL ON, BACK, ABSOLUTELY.

>> Eric: OUT OF THE BOX, I LOVE IT.

THANKS.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Eric: ALL THE BEST.

♪♪ >> TANE: I'VE BEEN TEACHING IMPROV COMEDY FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS.

ONE OF THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES I'VE HAD IS TO TRAIN DOCTORS, NURSES, AND OTHER HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS IN IMPROV.

I'LL ACTUALLY START LEADING AN EIGHT-WEEK CLASS FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS AT THE MAYO CLINIC LATER THIS MONTH.

PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS WHEN I TELL THEM I'M TRAINING DOCTORS IN IMPROV.

"WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU TEACHING THEM?"

>> JOY: ALL RIGHT, BEFORE WE START TODAY'S OPERATION, CAN I GET A SUGGESTION?

WHERE SHOULD WE MAKE THE INCISION?

JUST SHOUT IT OUT.

>> TANE: I PROMISE, IT'S NOT THAT.

IT'S ALSO NOT ABOUT TRAINING DOCTORS AND NURSES TO CRACK JOKES OR TO BE PATCH ADDAMS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

NO.

IMPROVE IS ABOUT TEACHING US TO BE A REALLY GOOD ISTENER, AND TO BE PRESENT IN THE MOMENT.

AND THAT'S INVALUABLE TRAINING FOR ANYONE IN HEALTH CARE.

I'M GUESSING A LOT OF US HAVE HAD EXPERIENCES WITH DOCTORS WHO DIDN'T EXACTLY MAKE US FEEL LIKE THEY WERE LISTENING... >> JOY: ALL RIGHT, HELLO MISTER, MISTER -- I CAN'T READ THAT ON THE CHART.

LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE GOT A...

PAIN IN YOUR CHEEK?

CHEST?

CAN'T READ THAT EITHER.

DOCTOR'S HANDWRITING, AM I RIGHT?!

ANYWAY, HERE'S A PRESCRIPTION.

IF THAT DOESN'T MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER IN TWO WEEKS, AND YOU'RE STILL ALIVE, CALL THE MAIN NUMBER.

WE CAN PROBABLY GET YOU BACK IN IN THREE, FOUR MONTHS TOPS.

- GOTTA GET TO MY NEXT APPOINTMENT!

>> TANE: IMPROV TRAINS US TO BE COLLABORATIVE.

TO WORK TOGETHER TO DO SOMETHING WE COULDN'T DO BY OURSELVES.

AND WE LEARN WAYS TO CELEBRATE THE JOY IN MEDICINE, WHICH HELPS PREVENT BURN-OUT AND EXHAUSTION.

LISTENING.

COLLABORATION.

JOY.

IMPROV MAY SOUND LIKE A FUNNY HEALTH CARE TRAINING BUT THOSE ARE EXACTLY THINGS WE WANT ALL OUR CARETAKERS TO PRACTICE.

>> JOY: THANK YOU FOR TALKING THROUGH HOW YOU'VE BEEN FEELING WITH ME.

I'VE BEEN LISTENING, AND I'VE GOT SOME IDEAS ABOUT WHAT MIGHT BE GOING ON.

>> TANE: YOU DO?

>> JOY: YES, AND YOU REALLY CAN'T HAVE ANY TACO BELL IN THIS ARENA, IT'S DOING DAMAGE.

I THINK IT WILL IMPLODE.

>> TANE: OKAY, THANKS, EVERYBODY.

>> ERIC: ON AUGUST 1ST, MINNESOTA WILL BECOME THE 23RD STATE TO LEGALIZE THE RECREATIONAL USE OF MARIJUANA.

WE ARE GOING TO SPEND SOME TIME IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS EXAMINING WHAT THIS WILL MEAN AND HOW THE STATE IS PREPARING FOR IT.

UP FIRST TONIGHT, ONE OF THE CHIEF AUTHORS OF THE BILL IN THE HOUSE, DFL REPRESENTATIVE ZACK STEPHENSON FROM COON RAPIDS.

320-WHAT, PAGE BILL, THERE WERE 30 HEARINGS, NUMEROUS ENGROSSMENTS, CHANGES IN THE BILL.

IS IT HOLDING UP UNDER SCRUTINY HERE IN THE TWO MONTHS SINCE SESSION?

>> I THINK SO, BUT IT'S EARLY.

WHICH STARTED THE NEW AAGENCY, THE OFFICE OF CANNABIS MANAGE.

, THEY'RE STARTING TO HIRE PEOPLE AND LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE ENDS OF THE PROHIBITION REGIME WHICH STARTS ON AUGUST 1.

>> Cathy: WHAT'S HAPPENING, MONDAY, LAKEVILLE CITY COUNCIL IS GOING TO LOOK AT AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD MAKE SMOKING MARIJUANA IN PUBLIC A NUISANCE.

DULUTH IS LOOKING AT BANNING SMOKING IN -- WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?

>> WE SETS THE FLOOR AND THE CEILING.

WE SAID THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO CONSUME CANNABIS IN THEIR HOMES, THEY CAN'T DO IT IN SCHOOLS OR IN THEIR CARS, AND IT IS STUFF IN THE MIDDLE, PUBLIC PLACES, STREETS, SIDEWALKS, BILLS, THAT'S UP FOR PLOTS TO DECIDE.

I'M NOT SURPRISED TO SEE THEM TAKE IT UP.

>> Cathy: J MINNESOTA INDOOR KLEIN AIR ACT DOES BAN SMOKING, I ASSUME IT ALSO BANS SMOKING A JOINTS, TOO.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, IT INCLUDES CANNABIS AS WELL AS TOBACCO.

IT STARTS TO HAPPEN AUTOMATICALLY ON AUGUST 1, O THERE IS A PROCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH MORE SERIOUS CASES, LIKE FELONIES, WHERE THEY GO BEFORE A BOARD TO DECIDE IF THEY GET AN EXPUNGEMENT.

THE BOARD IS GOING TO WORK THROUGH EVERY SINGLE ONE IN THE SYSTEM AND FOR THE LOWER LEVEL OH FENCES, MISDEMEANOR AND GROSS MISDEMEANORS, THOSE WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY EXPUNGED ARRANGED THAT PROCESS ALSO WILL START ON AUGUST 1 BUT THERE'S OME WORK TO BE DONE THERE TO GET THE TECHNOLOGY UP AND RUNNING AND FIGURING OUT HOW TO CODE THINGS TO GET THAT PROCESS DONE.

>> Cathy: WHAT -- HOW MUCH OF A LANDS RUSH WILL IT BE FOR THE LICENSES TO GET DISPENSARIES AND HOW WILL YOU MAKE SURE THERE'S DIVERSITY IN GETTING A DISPENSARY?

>> WE PRIORITIZED THAT IN THE BILL, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO WERE HARMED AND THE COMMUNITIES HARMED THE MOST BY OVER-ENFORCEMENT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS BENEFITED THE MOST FROM LEGALIZATION, SO PRIORITY WAS GIVEN TO SOCIAL EQUITY APPLICANTS IN ORDER TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THEY BENEFIT THE MOST FROM LEGALIZATION BUT IT WILL TAKE A WHILE BEFORE YOU SEE DISPENSARIES OUT AND BWE HAVE TO GET THE AGENCY UP AND RUNNING, THERE HAS TO BE REGULATORY RULE-MAKING AND LICENSES WHERE YOU TAKE APPLICATIONS, CONSIDER THEM, SEE IF THEY MEET THE CRITERIA AND GRANTS LICENSES.

SO I THINK WE'RE 18 MONTHS AWAY PROBABLY ROM LICENSED DISPENSARY INS MINNESOTA.

>> Eric: CAN NOT SMOKING MARIJUANA BE A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT UNDER THIS?

>> IT DEPENDS ON YOUR JOB, SO IF YOU HAVE A SAFETY-SENSITIVE JOB, IF YOU, YOU KNOW, WORK, FOR EXAMPLE, SUPERVISING KIDS OR TAKING CARE OF SOMEBODY IN A HOSPITAL, YES, YOU CAN MAKE IT A CONDITION JUST LIKE YOU CAN FOR ALCOHOL AND OTHER SUBSTANCES.

SO IT WILL PRETTY CLOSELY TRACK ALCOHOL IN THAT RESPECT.

>> Cathy: CAN FOLKS START GROWING AUGUST 1?

>> THAT'S RIGHT, STARTING AUGUST 1, PEOPLE CAN GROW UP TO 4 -- 8 PLANTS OVERALL, FOUR OF WHICH CAN BE MATURE.

WE'RE THE 23rd STATE TO LEGALIZE CANNABIS, ONLY THE 11th TO ALLOW HOME-GROWN.

>> Eric: DRIVING WHILE HIGH -- >> NOT ALLOWED.

>> Eric: THAT WAS A BIG PART OF THE DISCUSSION AT THE CAPITOL.

>> RIGHT, IT'S ILLEGAL NOW, IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE ILLEGAL.

YOU CAN'T EVEN ONSUME CANNABIS IN A CAR, THE SAME WAY AS WE HAVE AN OPEN CONTAINER LAW FOR ALCOHOL, A SIMILAR LAW FOR CANNABIS, EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT DRIVING, YOU CAN'T CONSUME CANNABIS IN A MOTOR VEHICLE.

>> Eric: WHAT ARE YOUR HONEST AS TO WHAT HAPPENS TO THE BLACK MARKETS, THE STREET-CORNER DRUG TRADE?

>> EVENTS WALLLY I HOPE IT GOES AWAY, THAT'S THE MAJOR GOAL OF THIS LEGISLATION IS TO TRANSITION FROM THE ILLICIT MARKETPLACE TO A LEGITIMATE ONE, BUT THAT WILL TAKE TIME.

IN SOME STATES THAT HAVE CAN ABUSINESS, WE SEE OVER 85% OF THE SALES HERE HAPPENING IN LEGITIMATE PLACES, PLACES LIKE OREGON AND WASHINGTON BUT THAT TOOK YEARS AND IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE IME IN HERE, TOO.

>> Eric: THERE ARE SOME TWEAKS IN THE LIGGER LAWS, YOUR COMMITTEE TAKES CARE OF THAT AND I SUPPOSE THERE WILL BE A MARIJUANA TWEAK FOR SESSION TOSS COME, WOULD YOU GUESS?

>> I WOULD ALWAYS SAY, ALCOHOL PROHIBITION STARTED 100 YEARS AGO AND AS YOU POINTS OUT, WE STILL DO LIQUOR LAGS, AND I'M SURE WE WON'T GET THIS RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL BE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGING COME AUGUST 1?

>> I THINK, GETTING THE EXPUNGEMENT MACHINERY IS A REAL CHALLENGE AND A NECESSARY ONE.

THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT WHEN WHO CAN'T GET JOBS, CAN'T GET HOUSING BECAUSE OF CONVICTIONS RELATED TO CANNABIS, AND SOME CASES ARE DECADES OLD.

THE SOONER WE CAN GET THOSE CONVICTIONS OFF THE BOOKS, THE SOONER THEY CAN GET ON WITH THEIR LIVES.

>> Eric: EXCELLENT STUFF TONIGHT.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> ERIC: NEXT UP IN OUR QUEST TO HELP YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION MEANS IN MINNESOTA, MARY LAHAMMER GIVES US A UNIQUE LOOK INSIDE VARIOUS STATE AGENCIES THAT ARE PREPARING FOR THE MAJOR CHANGE IN LAW.

>> Mary: WHERE ARE WE?

>> WE ARE AT THE PLANT AT THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

>> Mary: AND WHAT DOES HE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE HAVE TO DO WITH MARIJUANA OR HEMP?

>> WE ARE GEARING UP -- >> Mary: THEY'RE GEARING UP TO TEST CANNABIS, JUST LIKE THEY'RE CURRENTLY TESTING LEGAL HEMP SEEDS WHICH ARE ALREADY AN ALLOWABLE CROP IN THE STATE.

>> THERE IS A PHYSICAL PURCHASE SEE THAT WILL HAPPEN IN SEED SO WE'RE GOING THROUGH 2500 SEED LOTS AND WE'RE LOOKING FORMATS, WEED SEED IN OTHER CROPS, AND WE'RE GETTING THE PERCENTAGE OF THOSE CONTENTS AND THEN WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT NOXIOUS WEED EXAM SO GOING THROUGH 25,000 SEEDS AND LOOKING FOR ANY NOXIOUS WEEDS THAT WILL BE RESTRICTED OR PROHIBITED IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

>> Mary: THE PERSON LEADING ALL THE NEW EFFORTS BEHIND LEGALIZATION IS NO STRANGER TO STATE GOVERNMENT.

>> I AM HELPING WITH EARLY IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OFFICE OF SCAN ABYSS MANAGEMENT, WHICH INCLUDES LEADING THE SEARCH FOR THE NEW DIRECTOR AND GETTING SOME OF THE FOUNDATIONABLE PIECES IN PLACE TO PUT A BRAND-NEW REGULATED CANNABIS INDUSTRY IN MINNESOTA.

>> Mary: YOU'VE WORKED IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT PARTS OF STATE GOVERNMENT SO HOW IS ALL OF THAT MULTI-AGENCY, LEGISLATIVE EVERYTHING COME TO BEAR IN THIS?

>> ONE OF THE LUCKY THINGS IS I KNOW THE LANGUAGE OF STATE GOVERNMENT AND I KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE THE BUREAUCRACY FOR BETTER OR WORSE AND I DON'T HAVE THAT LEARNING CURVE SO I CAN REALLY HELP GET SOME OF THE PIECE INS PLACE QUICKLY.

>> Mary: BRYNAERT HAS WORKED AT THE DEPARTMENTS OF EDUCATION, HUMAN SERVICES AND THE RACING COMMISSION, SO SHE'S DONE TEEDIOUS TASKS LIKE GOVERNMENT RULE-MAKING.

>> IT DOESN'T SOUNDS FUN.

>> Mary: BUT HOW IMPORTANT IS RULE-MAKING RIGHT NOW?

>> RULE-MAKING IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE LAW TELLS HE IS WHAT PEOPLE CAN DO.

>> THE RULES WILL TELL US HOW TO DO IT AND HOW THE AGENCY WILL ACTUALLY OPERATE.

>> Mary: LOOKS IKE APPLICATIONS ARE DUE ON THE BOARD ON MONDAY.

YOU NEED TO GET DIRECTOR -- SO YOU'VE GOT A COUPLE BIG DATES COMING.

>> E DO, SO WE POSTED HE POSITION FOR THE DIRECTOR, THAT'S THE KEY POSITION, RIGHT?

WE NEED A LEADER OF THE AGENCY WHO CAN BUILD A TEAM AND HIRE THE 100-PLUS EMPLOYEES WHO WILL OVERSEE AND REGULATE THE INDUSTRY.

WE ALSO POSTED POSITIONS FOR CANNABIS ADVISORY COUNCIL, AN OVERSIGHT BOARD THAT WILL BE NAMED BY THE GOVERNOR.

>> Mary: AND MINNESOTA HAS DOZENS OF OTHER STATES TO LOOK TO FOR GUIDESSANCE.

>> >> WE ARE LEARNING THE LESS SONGS OF WHAT WORKED IN OTHER STATES AND ALSO LOOKING TO STATES WHO HAVE REALLY STRUG TOLD GETS THEIR OPERATIONS OFFER THE GROUND TO TRY TO AVOIDS SOME OF THE PITFALLS.

THE GOOD IN US IS THERE ARE FROM PEOPLE HERE IN STATE GOVERNMENT AND THE LEGISLATURE WHO DRAFTED THE POLICY AND A WHOLE UNIVERSE OF ADVOCATES WHO ARE WILLING TO STANDS BY OUR SIDE AND HELP INFORM HOW WE DO THIS.

>> Mary: LEGALIZATION WILL INVOLVE MANY DIFFERENT AGENCIES IN DATE GOVERNMENT, TO PUBLIC SAFETY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC OF HEALTH AND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AND MORE.

>> IT'S INTERESTING, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LIKE THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, WHY IS THE WORK STARTING THERE?

>> RIGHT NOW, THEY DO A LOT OF TESTING FOR HEMP.

>> DEPARTMENTS HAVE OF HEALTH HAS BEEN REGULATING AND OVERSEEING REGULAR CANNABIS SINCE 2014, EVENTUALLY THAT WORK WILL COME OVER TO THE OFFICE OF CANNABIS MANAGEMENT.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN ACTUALLY REGULATING CANNABIS FOR REGULAR PURPOSES, THEY'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH US AND WE WITH HEM.

>> Mary: COME AUGUST 1, COULD PEOPLE SEE AND SMELL MARIJUANA IN PUBLIC?

>> THAT IS A POSSIBILITIES.

THERE IS A PRETTY PERMISSIVE USE OF CANNABIS IN PUBLIC PLACES AND PRIVATE RESIDENCES BUT THERE ARE SOME PROHIBITION ATTENTION, WHERE CHILDREN MAY BE EXPOSED, SO A BUS DRIVER OR EDUCATOR CANNOT USE IF THEY'RE WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND THERE ARE EXCLUSIONS IN OTHER PUBLIC PLACES WHERE SMOKING OR VAPING MY EXPOSE CHILDREN.

>> Mary: WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO SAY THIS SEEMS FAST?

>> WE HEAR PEOPLE SAY THIS SEEMS FEES AND OTHER FOLKS SAY THIS IS NOT FAST ENOUGH.

THERE IS A TENSION BETWEEN THE TWO.

WE TELL THEM WE ARE TAKING OUR TIME TO BE INTENTIONAL WHILE ACTUALLY WORKING AS NATIVE AMERICAN BLOW AND QUICKLY AS WE CAN.

THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THIS IS TO HAVE S.A.F.E., ACCESSIBLE REGULATED MARKET.

>> Mary: BACK IN THE LAB, THE STATE HAS MANY LONG-TIME EXPERTS THEY'LL BE LEANING ON AS MINNESOTA EMBARKS ON FULL MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION.

>> SO HERE WE HAVE [INDISCERNIBLE], SHE IS PERFORMING A SEED PURITY ON A GRASS SAMPLE, WE HAVE TO GERMINATE THEM, AS WELL, AND THERE ARE RULES ABOUT THAT.

WE FOLLOW THE AOSA RULES FOR TESTING SEEDS WHICH IS FOR ALL GOVERNMENT LABORATORIES.

>> Mary: THIS LOOKS LIKE TEDIOUS, SPECIFIC WORK WHEN WE'RE TALKING SEEDS.

>> IT IS VERY SPECIFIC, TAKES A WHILE TO LEARN HOW TO DO IT WELL.

THE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE ARE VERY HELPFUL.

SO WE HAVE CERTIFIED ANALYSTS HERE, SHE'S BEEN DOING THIS FOR 20 YEARS.

♪♪ >> CATHY: MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION IS JUST ONE TOPIC WE WILL COVER WITH THIS WEEK'S VERSION OF THE POLITICAL PANEL.

DEMOCRATS ON THE COUCH TONIGHT, JAVIER MORILLO, A LONGTIME PARTY ACTIVIST AND FORMER NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEMBER.

JOINING HIM IS FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER AND NOW ATTORNEY ABOU AMARA.

ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, WE HAVE LOBBYIST, STAND-UP COMEDIAN AND FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER BRIAN MCDANIEL.

AND WE WELCOME BACK FORMER REPUBLICAN SENATE LEADER MICHELLE BENSON.

SENATOR, LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT AUGUST THE 1.

WHERE DO YOU THINK THE GROWING PAINS WILL BE WITH THIS MARIJUANA LAW?

>> I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE ENOUGH STAFF TO STAND IT UP.

I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES THAT NEED TO BE HIRED ACROSS STATE GOVERNMENT, I DON'T HINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE READY.

I THINK CITIES ARE LOOKING AT SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES AND HOW THIS IS GOING TO WORK AND EACH INDIVIDUAL MUNICIPALITY.

I THINK THEY COULD HAVE TAKEN STEPS LIKE DECRIMINALIZATION, FOR EXAMPLE, SO THAT THEY COULD GET TO SOCIAL JUSTICE WITHOUT GOING ALL IN BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS ON HOMELESSNESS, MENTAL HEALTH, HOW OUR CITIES ARE GOING TO OPERATE, HOW WE'RE GOING TO TEST THIS IN WORKPLACES, HOW WE'RE GOING TO TEST IT AT THE ROAD SIDE IF SOMEBODY APPEARS TO BE COMPROMISED OR HIGH, SO I DON'T THINK IT WILL ROLL OUT AS SMOOTH LIE AS PERHAPS THE PROPER MONTHS HAD HAPPENED.

>> THERE WILL BE BUMPS, NO QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT BUT THE FUNDAMENTAL PREMISE IS WE'RE MOVING IN A DIRECTION WE ALL NEED TO GO.

WE HAVE DECRIMINAL STATION, BECAUSE FOR THE NEXT 18 MONTHS, YOU WILL YOU'LL SEE THAT TAKING PLACE.

DECRIMINALIZATION IS MAKING SURE WE DON'T LOCK PEOPLE UP BECAUSE THEY HAVE LOW DOSES OF MARIJUANA ON THEM A.

>> Cathy: HOW MUCH OFF A PAIN, LIKE I SAY, LAKEVILLE IS LOOKING AT MAKING IT IT A PETTY MISDEMEANOR TO SMOKE IN PUBLIC, DULUTH, HOW ABOUT PATCHWORK -- >> I THINK THAT I THINK ONE THING THEY WOULD LIKE TO AVOID AND I THINK IN 2025, WHEN THEY HAVE THE OFFICE OF CANNABIS MANAGEMENT, A LOT OF THIS STUFF IS GOING TO NOT WORK ITSELF OUT BUT IT WILL BE CLEARER.

RIGHT NOW, THERE IS A LOT OF CONFUSION BETWEEN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND RETAILERS ON WHO CAN SELL WHAT, WHEN, WHERE AND HOW AND BETWEEN MOW AND 2025, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF THE WILD, WILD WEST.

IT'S GOING TO BE A LEARNING PROCESS, WE'RE GOING TO KIND OF LEARN WHERE THE MAJOR PROBLEMS ARE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING, THOUGH, SO I MEAN WE ALL NEED TO GO INTO THIS KIND OF SAYING, ALL RIGHT, SIR, HOW DO WE MAKE THIS, YOU KNOW, AS SAFE FOR THE PUBLIC AND AS INTUITIVE FOR RETAILERS AS WE CAN.

>> Eric: ALF AREA, INTERESTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT UNION ACTIVISM ON THE RISE.

UPS, THE WRITERS IN HOLLYWOOD, NURSES -- YOU COME FROM A UNION BACKGROUND AND HOW DOES THIS PLAY POLITICALLY FOR THE UNIONS AND POLITICAL SYSTEM?

>> I THINK WE'RE IN A MOMENT WITH A POST PANDEMIC STILL, A LOT OF FOLKS REALLY A -- THE GREAT RESIGNATION AND NOW PEOPLE STILL RECKONING WITH THEIR ABILITY TO COLLECTIVELY MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN THEIR LIVES AND I THINK THE HOLLYWOOD STRIKES AND THE UPCOMING UP PS ONE ARE INDICATIVE OF PEOPLE DEMANDING THAT THE ECONOMY WORK FOR WORKERS, HAVE NOT JUST FOR CORPORATIONS SO I THINK IT'S AN INCREDIBLY EXCITING TIME FOR UNIONS.

>> Eric: WILL YOU BE NBC AS THE MOST FIFTH FRIENDLY FOR BUSINESS?

>> IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE -- THERE WERE SOME LIFESTYLE THINGS, MINNESOTA IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.

IT IS AN INCREDIBLY HARD PLACE TO DO BUSINESS AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE INTERNALS OF THEIR RANKINGS, YOU'LL SEE, ECONOMY, WE WERE, LIKE, 31, BUSINESS-FRIENDLY CLIMATE, WE WERE DEFINITELY DOWN TOWARDS THE BOTTOM, SO I DISAGREE WITH THE HEADLINES.

>> AND I THOUGHT WITH THE WRITER STRIKE, YOU KNOW, IT IS PEOPLE AT CNBC WERE APPLYING FOR COMEDY WRITER SHOPS BECAUSE THEY TOLD A FUNNY JOKE AND I WROTE IT IN MY JOURNAL AT NIGHT BUT IF YOU LOOK AT -- YOU COULD TELL THAT WAS A -- THAT WAS A LIST PUT TOGETHER BY PEOPLE WHO AREN'T ACTUALLY RUNNING BUSINESSES, BECAUSE WHEN YOU TALK TO MINNESOTA BUSINESSES, YOU KNOW, THEY WILL TALK ABOUT WE HAVE A GREAT WORKFORCE, A GREAT PLACE TO RAISE A FAMILY, ALL THAT STUFF BUT THEY WON'T SAY THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO STARTS A BUSINESS.

>> I THINK THE FACTS THAT YOU JUST POINTED OUT IN CERTAIN AREAS WE WEREN'T THAT GOOD AND IN OTHERS REALLY GOOD, GIVES US CREDIBILITY.

>> IT DIDN'T SAY MINNESOTA BASS THE BEST THING AT ALL TIMES TO ALL PEOPLE, IT WAS SAYING WE HAVE STRENGTHS AND ROOM TO GROW.

>> YES, THERE ARE BUSINESSES THAT MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON LIVABILITY WHICH IS ACTUALLY VERY IMPORTANT, AND THE REALITY IS, I MEAN, OUR REPUBLICANS WILL BE DISMISSIVE ABOUT HOW RADICAL THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS NATION-WIDE BUT WHEN BUSINESSES ARE MAKINGS DECISIONS ABOUT STATES WHERE WOMEN HAVE A RIGHT TOE BODILY AUTONOMY, WHERE CHILDREN -- FAMILIES AND CHILDREN WON'T BE PERSECUTED BY ATTORNEYS GENERAL, YEAH, THAT HE MIGHT RATHER SETTLE HERE BECAUSE THE WORKERS WON'T WANTS TO LIVE IN THOSE PLACES.

>> WHEN YOU ASK A BUSINESS A BUSINESS QUESTION AND YOU'RE NUMBER 31 AND THE HEADLINE SAYS WERE EASE TOP FIVE AND BE BEAT TEXAS, THAT'S A MISLEADING HEADLINE AND THAT'S BEYOND CREATIVE JOURNALISM, I THINK BRIAN WAS RIGHT.

IT WAS CLOSER TO A JOKE THAN JOURNALISM.

>> Cathy: SO MONDAY I HEAR THAT GOPERS IN THE HOUSE, REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE ARE GOING TO ANNOUNCE A SUBURBAN SOLUTIONS CAUCUS.

WHAT ABOUT THAT, BRIAN?

>> WELL, IT'S NEW SIX TO MY EARS.

I MEAN, I'M CURIOUS TO SEE KIND OF WHAT THEY COME UP WITH BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'LL BE ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE TO CRITICIZE THE REPUBLICANS FOR THEIR MESSAGING IN THE SUBURBS.

I'M OLD ENOUGH O REMEMBER WHEN THERE WAS A NICE, BRIGHT RED RING AROUND MINNEAPOLIS AND St. PAUL ND OBVIOUSLY NOW, YOU HAVE TO HUNT AND PECK, YOU HAVE TO GO AGENTS WAY DOWN TO WHERE I LIVE IN LAKEVILLE BEFORE YOU START FUNDING REPUBLICAN DISTRICTS AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE MESSAGING FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TOO EOPLE IN THE SUBURBS HAS BEEN HORRIBLE.

>> Eric: GO AHEAD, SENATOR.

ATHEY'RE REALLY GOOD IDEAS THAT WHEN I WAS IN THE SENATE, WE WERE WORKING ON, IF THEY'RE GOING TO BUNDLE THEM AND COMMUNICATE THEM IN A WAY THAT VOTERS CAN ACTUALLY HEAR IT INSTEAD OF YELLING ABOUT THINGS THAT VOTERS DON'T CARE ABOUT AND FRANKLY IF THE TOP OF THE TICKET IS ACTUALLY FOCUSED ON WELCOMING PEOPLE INTO THE PARTIES INSTEAD OF MAKING THINGS ABOUT THEIR EGO, WE'VE GOT A CHANCE.

>> THIS IS A LIPSTICK ON A PIG.

THIS IS TRYING TO REBRANDS, IT WON'T CHANGE THE FUND MENTAL.

THE FUNDS MENTAL ISSUES ARE ON CORE ISSUES THAT MATTER TO PEOPLE IN THE SUBURBS, THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IS ABORTION.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTIES CONTINUES TO THIS DAY TO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THEIR POSITION ON ABORINGS.

THAT IS A NON-STARTER FOR SUBURBAN VOTERS.

>> DID YOU HEAR NIKKI HALEY TALK ABOUT BORTION?

>> SHE'S NOT RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR OF MINNESOTA.

>> AND NIKKI HALEY IS VOWING THE QUESTION, SHE REFUSE TOSS ANSWER WHETHER, EASE FOR A NATIONAL BAN.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK WITH PEOPLE.

THE REPUBLICANS DON'T HAVE A MESSAGING PROBLEM IN IT IS SUBURBS, THEY HAVE A SUBSTANCE PROBLEM IN THE SUBURBS.

>> BUT WHAT IF WE TALK ABOUT EDUCATION AND THE FACT THAT KIDS GOT LEFT BEHIND?

DOES THAT MATTER TO HEM IN THE SUBURBS?

>> THE DEMOCRATS JUST FUNDED TWO RECORD LEVEL INVESTMENTS -- >> AND WE HAVE BEEN FUNDING EDUCATION IN THE TOP 20 IN THIS COUNTRY NOR A LONG TIME AND OUR DISPARITIES AND OUR READING SCORES CONTINUES TO SLIDE.

SO HOW ABOUT WE TALK ABOUT WHAT MOMS ARE THINKING ABOUT, HOW EXPENSIVE LIFE HAS GOTTEN IN THE SUBURBS?

THE QUALITIES OF THEIR KIDS' EDUCATION, DO THEY TRUST THEIR SCHOOLS ANYMORE?

ARE THEY MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE KIDS?

THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT WE HAVE TO ASK, AND, AGAIN, IF THE TOP OF THE TICKET FOCUSES ON BRINGING PEOPLE TO THE PARTY INSTEAD OF MAKING IT ABOUT THEIR EGO, WE GOT A SHOT.

>> INSTEAD WHAT REPUBLICANS TALK ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION IS BANNING BOOKS -- >> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> OH, WOW, WOW, WOW, WE'RE NOT -- >> IT'S TERRORIZING QUEER CHILDREN.

>> WHAT BOOK HAS BEEN BANDS?

>> I'M TALKING ABOUT NATIONAL REPUBLICANS WHERE EVERY SSUE TODAY IS NATIONALIZED AND THE RAMSEY COUNTY PARTY VEN IN MINNESOTA SENATE TAKING THOSE ISSUES ON.

THEY'RE NOT MINNESOTA REPUBLICANS STANDING UP TO THE CRAZINESS EVERYWHERE ELSE.

>> SAYING BOOKS ARE INAPPROPRIATE FOR FIRST GRADERS IS NOT BANNING A BOOK.

>> Eric: WE'VE HAD A SERIES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, AND TWO RECENTLY OF PEOPLE IN PUBLIC POLICY ELECTED OFFICIALS, DWIs.

JUST -- IS THERE SOMETHING GOING ON THERE OR IS IT JUST REFLECTIVE OF SOCIETY OR -- >> LOOK, I WOULD SAY IT'S A REFLECTION OF SOCIETIES IN THE BEST AND WORST SENSE.

THE LEGISLATURE RENTS THE PEOPLE, THEIR STRUGGLES, HOMES, DREAMS, FAILURES, AND I THINK WE CAN'T LOOK TOO DEEPLY INTO THIS SAYING POLITICIANS ARE CORRUPTS, THEY'RE THIS OR THAT, THEY'RE PEOPLE, FLAWED AND THEY REPRESENTS US.

>> AND THERE WERE' HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD WHICH IS BOTH FAIR AND DIFFICULT.

>> Eric: I GOT TO SAY PEOPLE AT MIDES COFFEE SHOP WILL COME UP TO ME AND SAY, HEY, WHAT AM I GETTING BACK ON MY REBATE AND I GIVEN THEM THE NUMBER AND THEY'RE KINDS OF EXPECTANT AND THEN I GIVE THEM A NUMBER AND THEY'RE KIND OF, HUNH.

IS THAT GOING TO BE A PROBLEM FOR DEMOCRATS?

>> LET'S BE CLEAR AND MOST OF THEM PROBABLY AREN'T EVEN GOINGS TO GET THE NUMBER YOU QUOTE THEM.

IS THAT GOING TO BE A PROBLEM FOR DEMOCRATS?

I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK THAT RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, EVEN GOING BACK TO THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, THE REPUBLICANS HAVE A HUGE -- THERE'S PART OF A SUBSTANCE PROBLEM BUT THERE IS A CHARISMA PROBLEM SO I THINK THAT REPUBLICANS CAN LIST ALL THE THINGS THE DEMOCRATS HAVE DONE THAT ARE HURTING FAMILIES OR BUSINESSES BUT THE MESSENGER, QUITE OFTEN, CAN'T GET THE MESSAGE THROUGH.

>> Eric: JAVIER.

>> AGAIN, THERE IS A MESSAGE PROBLEM BUT A MORE FUNDAMENTAL SUBSTANCE PARTY WHEN IT COMES TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTIES.

I DON'T THINK WE HAVE REPUBLICANS IN MINNESOTA, THERE ARE REPUBLICANS IN THIS STATE, ON THIS COUCH, WHO >> MAGA EXTREMISTS BUT THERE ARE NO REPUBLICANS FROM MINNESOTA STANDING UP TO THAT AND THAT IS A PROBLEM FOR THEM.

IT IS A BRANDING PROBLEM, A PROBLEM OF MESSAGE AND A -- >> AND A THRESHOLD QUESTION, IF YOU DON'T PASS THAT, PEOPLE WON'T LISTEN TO EDUCATION OR THE OTHER THINGS YOU HAVE TO TALK ABOUT.

>> Eric: OUT OF TIME.

IT WAS JUST GETTING GOOD, OO.

[Laughter] >> THANKS, PANEL.

>> CATHY: LISTEN UP, MY FRIENDS.

THE TIME HAS COME FOR A BIT OF MINNESOTA HISTORY.

LAST WEEK, WE TRAVELED BACK TO THE SUMMER OF 1952 AND ASKED YOU ABOUT A CENTRAL MINNESOTA FARMER WHO CREATED A MODERN-DAY "INVENTION" OUT OF WOOD AND PIECES OF STEEL WELDED TOGETHER.

ERIC THEN TOLD YOU THAT THIS FARMER WAS NOT THE FIRST PERSON TO FASHION THIS NOW UBIQUITOUS ITEM BUT IS CREDITED WITH ITS CREATION BASED IN PART ON HIS UNIQUE STEERING SYSTEM.

OUR QUESTION FOR YOU, WHO IS THIS FARMER, AND WHAT IS HIS 1952 INVENTION?

THESE NEXT CALLERS TOOK A WRONG TURN ON THE WAY TO OUR VOICEMAIL SYSTEM.

>> I LIKE A GOOD WEED WHIP, YEAH.

THE MAJORITY OF YOU GOT THIS ONE RIGHT SO THE PRODUCERS HAD PLENTY OF DETAILED ANSWERS TO CHOOSE FROM.

THIS CALLER EASILY GETS THE NOD.

>> CATHY: THANK YOU, DAVID, FOR ALL OF THOSE DETAILS, AND FOR SENDING US THIS PHOTO ALONG WITH MORE INFO ABOUT THE BOAT.

"THE WEERES' LINE OF PONTOONS IS NO LONGER IN PRODUCTION, THE LAST BEING MANUFACTURED 4 TO 5 YEARS AGO.

BUT I DID RESURRECT THIS ONE A FEW YEARS AGO AND WE TAKE IT OUT FOR NIGHTLY CRUISES ON OUR STEARNS COUNTY LAKE."

THAT'S A MIGHTY FINE LOOKING BOAT, AND DOG, YOU HAVE THERE, DAVID.

SPECIAL THANKS TO THERESA HENEHAN FOR SUGGESTING THIS WEEK'S INDEX FILE QUESTION.

DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE A PIECE OF MINNESOTA HISTORY WE SHOULD ASK ABOUT?

GIVE US A CALL AT 651-229-1430 OR DROP US A NOTE, ALMANAC@TPT.ORG.

TIME FOR SOME SHOW-ENDING MUSIC.

THIS WEEK, BACK IN 2010, JOEY RYAN AND INKS STOPPED BY OUR STUDIOS TO PLAY FOR US.

TAKE A LISTEN.

SEE YA LATER.

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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.

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