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

>> ERIC: COMING UP, MICHAEL OSTERHOLM TALKS ABOUT NEWS OF THE NEW ANTIVIRAL PILL TO TREAT COVID-19, RETIRING LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR JAMES NOBLES REFLECTS ON HIS REMARKABLE CAREER, AND KATE DICAMILLO STOPS BY TO CHAT UP HER NEW NOVEL.

THEN MARY LAHAMMER HAS A STORY FOR US.

>> Mary: LAWMAKERS ARE HEARING FROM CITIZENS ACROSS THE STATE AS THE BOUNDARIES FOR YOUR REPRESENTATIVES ARE ABOUT TO BE REDRAWN.

>> WE HAVE HEARD OF THEIR HOPES AND THEIR ADVICE FOR THE FUTURE.

>> NOT AN EFFORT TO COME HERE AND TELL YOU WHERE DISTRICT LINES ARE GOING TO BE.

>> 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 28 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.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINE3US.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

>> ERIC: IN JUST A BIT, WE'LL TALK TO KATE DICAMILLO ABOUT HER NEW NOVEL.

JAMES NOBLES WILL BE OUR GUEST AS HE LEAVES HIS LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR POST, AND WE'LL PREVIEW A MINNESOTA HISTORY DOCUMENTARY THAT WILL HAVE ITS BROADCAST PREMIERE NEXT WEEK.

>> CATHY: BUT FIRST UP, NEWS TODAY ABOUT AN EXPERIMENTAL COVID-19 PILL THAT COULD GREATLY REDUCE HOSPITALIZATON AND DEATH.

COULD THIS PILL BE A GAME-CHANGER?

LET'S ASK MICHAEL OSTERHOLM.

HE HEADS THE U OF M'S CENTER FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESEARCH AND POLICY AND JOINS US BY WEBCAM.

ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> Cathy: TO MERCK'S ANTIVIRAL PILL, PRETTY BIG DEAL?

>> IT'S IMPORTANT, LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY AND THERE ARE OTHER ONES COMING DOWN THE PIKE.

A NUMBER OF COMPANIES HAVE BEEN WORKING AT WHAT WE CALL SMALL MOLECULE DRUGS, THE KINDS OF PILLS WE THINK OF WHEN WE THINK ABOUT INFLUENZA LIKE TAMI FLU.

THIS PARTICULAR DRUG FROM MERCK, ACTUALLY THE TRIAL WAS STOPPED EARLY BECAUSE THE RESULTS WERE THAT IMPRESSIVE.

I WOULD CUT DOWN HOSPITALIZATIONS AMONG THOSE WHO COULD OTHERWISE POTENTIALLY BE SERIOUSLY ILL BY ABOUT 50% AND IN THE GROUP THAT GOT THE DRUGS, NONE OF THE PATIENTS DIED AND 8 PATIENTS DIED IN THE PLACEBO GROUP SO IT SURELY WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON DEATHS, TOO.

BUT I THINK THERE'S SOME REALLY IMPORTANT CARBOUS NOTES TO PUT FORWARD WITH THIS, IS THAT IT'S NOT COMING SOON.

IT WILL BE HERE BUT, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF QUANTITY AND AMOUNT OF DRUGS, AND, THEREFORE, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO KEEP PUSHING VACCINATIONS.

DON'T THINK THAT YOU CAN RUN OUT THE GAME CLOCK AND WAIT FOR THIS DRUG TO POTENTIALLY SAVE YOU, SHOULD YOU GET INFECTED, YOU STILL NEED TO GET VACCINATED IF YOU'RE NOT VACCINATED.

>> Eric: I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU, IF WE WERE IN A COVID PEAK AND I SAW YOU SAID THIS WEEK IT'S MIGRATING LIKE VIRAL LAVA.

DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A PEAK.

>> ELL, IT ISN'T.

IF YOU'RE IN THE FAR UPPER NORTHEAST, MAINE, VERMONT AND NEW HAMPSHIRE AND IF YOU'RE IN THE UPPER MIDWEST RIGHT NOW, MINNESOTA, NORTHERN MICHIGAN, PARTICULARLY NORTHERN WISCONSIN, IOWA, WE'RE ACTUALLY IN THE THROES OF IT.

TODAY WE REPORTED OUT 3714 EW CASES, 17 NEW DEATHS AND, FRANKLY, OUR SCHOOLS ARE ON FIRE RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE SEEING A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH COVID IN THE SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

>> Cathy: I WANT TO ASK YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I SEE THERE'S, LIKE, 250 SCHOOL BUILDINGS THAT HAVE OUTBREAKS IN MINNESOTA RIGHT NOW.

THE 12 TO 15-YEARS OLD, THEY'RE THE LOWEST GROUP IN TERMS OF VACCINATIONS, RIGHT?

THAT'S AN ISSUE.

>> WELL, RIGHT NOW, CATHY, WE HAVE A CONVERGENCE OF SEVERAL THINGS.

FIRST OF ALL IS THAT THIS IS A HIGHLY INFECTIOUS VIRUS, VERY, VERY DIFFERENT THAN WE SAW A YEAR AGO.

WE HAVE FAR EXCEEDED THE CASES BY THREE TO FOURFOLD OF WHAT WE SAW A YEAR AGO AT THIS TIME.

IF YOU LOOK AT KIDS WHO ARE REPORTING OVER 3,000 CASES IN KIDS A WEEK AND THAT NUMBER, IF YOU LOOK JUST AT THE SCHOOL KIDS, THIS WEEK ALONE, WE REPORTED 2388 CASES AND WE HAVE MORE THAN 43,718 CONTACTS THAT ARE BEING FOLLOWED UP RIGHT NOW.

LET ME REPEAT THAT, 43,718 KIDS.

STAFF HAVE HAD 408 CASES THIS PAST WEEK, AND WE HAVE MORE THAN 4,000 CASE REPORTS THAT ARE STILL BEING LOGGED IN AT THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT INVOLVED LARGELY SCHOOLS AND KIDS.

WE ARE REALLY IN TROUBLE RIGHT NOW AND A LARGE PART OF IT IS MOST HAVE OH OUR SCHOOLS IN RURAL MINNESOTA, MANY IN THE TWIN CITIES AREA ARE FAILING US.

THEY ARE FAILING US MISERABLY.

THEY ARE NOT ADHERING TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT PUT FORWARD ABOUT HOW TO CONTROL THIS.

I UNDERSTAND THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THE ISSUES OF SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS AND MASKING MANDATES AND ALL THE THINGS THAT HAVE CREATED SOME VERY UGLY SITUATIONS BUT RIGHT NOW, WE ARE IN BIG TROUBLE WITH CASES AND KIDS, OUR PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNITS ARE FULL.

I HAD A VERY SENIOR PHYSICIAN LAST NIGHT SAY TO ME, WE ARE NO LONGER TALKING ABOUT BENDING, WE ARE READY TO BREAK.

AND I JUST DON'T THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THE SCHOOLS ARE DOING LITTLE TO CONTROL THIS.

THEY'RE LETTING SICK KIDS COME BACK TO SCHOOL.

THEY'RE NOT FOLLOWING UP ON PEOPLE WHO ARE TESTING POSITIVE AND THEIR CONTACTS AND IN MANY CASES, THEY'RE ADVISING SCHOOL KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES NOT TO GET TESTED BECAUSE THE CONSEQUENCES WHAT IT WILL DO TO THE SCHOOL.

>> Eric: AM I RIGHT THAT YOU'VE QUESTIONED SOME OF THE MESSAGING FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMUNITY?

>> WELL, I FIRST OF ALL QUESTION THE ISSUE ABOUT COULD YOU SAY THAT COULD YOU SAY THAT YOU HAVE SCHOOL CONDUCTED SAFE, WHICH IS DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

I SAID YOU COULD DO IT SAFER WITH INCREASED BUILDING VENTILATION, ACTUALLY DOING THE KIND OF VACCINATION, CATHY, THAT YOU JUST TALKED IF FOR 12 AND OLDER.

I ALSO NOTED THAT, IN FACT, IF SCHOOL, THAT'S SURELY GOING TO HELP.

HOLDING DOWN IT IS DENSITY.

WE HAVE MANY, MANY REPORTS FROM SCHOOL NURSES WHO, BY THE WAY, ARE AFRAID THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE THEIR LICENSE OVER WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN OUR SCHOOLS, WHO WILL TELL YOU THAT THEY'RE PACKING STUDENTS INTO SCHOOL ROOMS.

NOT EVEN THREE FEET APART, CLOSER THAN THAT.

AND SO IF YOU DID ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AND THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT DID PROVIDE ALL THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE THAT INFORMATION AND MANY OF THEM ARE SIMPLY NOT DOING IT.

>> Cathy: DOES THIS MEAN, THEN, OF COURSE, BECAUSE THE SCHOOLS ARE A HOT SPOT THAT THE PANDEMIC JUST KEEPS GOING ON, JUST KEEPS -- IT JUST WON'T EVER REALLY GET TAMPED DOWN?

>> WELL, FOR NOW, IT'S GOING TO SURELY IN, REALLY, FUEL THE NUMBER OF CASES, AND PARTICULARLY IN RURAL MINNESOTA.

WE'VE SEEING MANY, MANY OF THESE OUTBREAKS RIGHT NOW EMERGE IN RURAL MINNESOTA.

SO THE KIDS ARE GOING TO BRING IT HOME.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, IN SOME CASES, AT HOME IS WHERE THE KIDS PICK IT UP AND THEN BRING IT TO SCHOOL.

AND, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T STATE IN ANY MORE STRONGER TERMS, THIS VIRUS WILL FIND YOU.

IF YOU'RE NOT VACCINATED, AND IT WILL IN EFFECT YOU.

AND JUST BY THE CASE NUMBERS I JUST GAVE YOU JUST NOW, AND KNOW THAT OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS THAT I JUST POINTED OUT ARE READY TO BREAK, NOT BEND ANYMORE.

DO NOT IN THIS STATE RIGHT OW COUNT ON GETTING, YOU KNOW, OUTSTANDING MEDICAL CARE IF YOU HAVE A HEART ATTACK OR IF YOU'RE IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT BECAUSE THOSE HOSPITALS ARE OVERWHELMED RIGHT NOW WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH COVID AND I THINK HAT'S WHAT PEOPLE AREN'T GETTING.

SO WE HAVE TO STOP IT WHEREVER WE CAN, HOWEVER WE CAN, AND SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO BE A MAJOR PART OF THAT IN TERMS OF KEEPING I WOULD FROM FUELING UP MORE CASES IN THE COMMUNITY.

THIS COULD LAST FOR WEEKS BEFORE WE SEE IT REALLY START TO COME DOWN.

>> Cathy: LET'S TALK BOOSTERS IN WE COULD.

THERE'S DISAGREEMENT OVER BOOSTERS.

WHAT'S THE STORY THERE?

>> I THINK OVER TIME THERE WON'T BE.

YOU KNOW, THE SITUATION IS THAT THERE IS EMERGING DATA THAT IN FACT YOU DO WANNING IMMUNITY AT SIX TO SEVEN MONTHS AFTER THE SECOND DOSE OF YOUR MRNA VACCINE AND AFTER ONE OSE OF J AND J, THE SAME KIND OF WANTING IMMUNITY AT ABOUT 6 MONTHS.

I THINK WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO START SEEING, HOWEVER, WHEN WE START GIVING ADDITIONAL DOSES OF WHAT SOME CALL BOOSTERS, I THINK THIS WAS MEANT TO BE A THREE-PRIME VACCINE, MEANING THREE OSES, I THINK YOU'LL SEE A LOT LESS CRITICISM OF THE FACT THAT EAR WITH' JUST GIVING THIS AS SOMETHING TO KEEP MILDLY ILL PEOPLE FROM BEING MILDLY ILL. WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE HAVE MORE SEVERE ILLNESS.

THIS ISN'T TO BE INTERPRETED THAT THE VACCINES AREN'T WORKING, THEY CAN, BUT WE'RE JUST REALIZING WE EED THE THIRD DOSE.

AND ACTUALLY I THINK WE'LL HAVE TREMENDOUS PROTECTION AFTER THE THIRD DOSE.

>> Eric: JUST A MINUTE LEFT.

SERIOUS FLU SEASON AHEAD?

>> YOU KNOW, WITH HE DON'T KNOW.

ANYONE THAT TELLS YOU WE KNOW, BE CAREFUL, THEY PROBABLY HAVE A BRIDGE TO SELL YA.

WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST PANDEMICS OF OF HUH-UH, WE SAW A RESPIRATORY WINTER VIRUS, ANOTHER ATHOGEN OCCURRED HIS SUMMER, PEOPLE SAID IT WAS BECAUSE WE PUT DOWN OUR GUARD, WE STOPPED MASKING, WE HAD COUNTRIES AVERAGED THE ORLD THAT DIDN'T EVER MASK AND THEY SAW THE SAME RSCP PICTURE THIS SUMMER.

COULD FLU COME BACK?

IT COULD BE.

COULD IT BE SEVERE?

IT COULD.

COULD IT BE ANOTHER DOWN YEAR?

IT COULD.

BUT NO MATTER WHAT, GET YOUR FLU VACCINE BECAUSE IF IN FACT IT DOES TURN OUTS TO BE A BAD FLU YEAR, YOU DON'T WANT TO ALSO SUFFER FROM THAT.

SO I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GET THEIR FLU SHOT.

>> Cathy: SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU EVERY MONTH.

THANK YOU SO UCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Eric: THANKS.

>> CATHY: THIS WEEK, THE SENATE HELD ITS SECOND HEARING TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE ONCE-EVERY-TEN-YEAR PROCESS OF REDISTRICTING FOLLOWING THE CENSUS.

THE HOUSE HAS BEEN HEARING FROM FOLKS ACROSS THE STATE FOR MONTHS.

OUR MARY LAHAMMER GETS US UP TO SPEED ON THE LEGISLATIVE ENGAGEMENT ON THIS IMPORTANT PROCESS TO REDRAW THE LINES FOR THE PEOPLE WHO REPRESENT YOU.

>> Mary: STATE SENATORS OPTED FOR IN-PERSON MEETINGS TO HEAR FROM CITIZENS ABOUT REDISTRICTING.

THE.

>> THE PURPOSE OF TODAY'S MEETING IS NOT AN EFFORT O COME HERE AND TELL YOU WHERE DISTRICT LINES ARE GOING TO BE AND HERE'S WHAT WE WANT TO SEE.

BUT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT MAKES LAKEVILLE AND THIS REGION IMPORTANT AND WHERE WE NEED TO BE LOOKING FOR THESE PARTICULAR INTERESTS AND LINES THROUGH THE DISTRICT.

>> Mary: THE BATTLE GROUND BOOMING SUBURB OF LAKE VIAL WAS THE LOCATION OF THE LATEST HEARING.

>> OUR DIVERSITY IS CHANGING IN THE CONTEXT OF OUR CITIES AND IT ERTAINLY IS HERE IN LAKEVILLE AND IT'S VERY EXCITING.

>> I KNOW HOW MUCH TIME, EFFORT, ANGUISH, IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW WHETHER YOU'RE DOING THINGS RIGHT WITH SO MANY UNKNOWNS.

>> HAS THERE BEEN ANY COORDINATED EFFORT WITH THE HOUSE AT ALL?

WE TALK TO THEM?

>> WE HAVE SENT A FEW EMAILS BACK AND FORTH.

>> GOOD MORNING, Mr. CHAIRMAN AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS.

>> Mary: THE SENATE COMMITTEE ALSO TRAVELED TO BEMIDJI THAT'S TRENDING REPUBLICAN.

>> THANK YOU FOR DOING THE HEARINGS HERE.

IT'S VERY HELPFUL TO OUR MEMBERS AND TOWNSHIPS TO HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK TO YOU OUTSIDE OF St. PAUL.

>> AS YOU REDISTRICT, WE NEED THE REPRESENTATION FOR THE RURAL COMMUNITIES.

>> LOOKING AT REDRAWING THE BOUNDARY LINES TO ENSURE THAT THAT NATIVE VOTE IS NOT DILUTED AND AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, WHITE EARTH, LEECH LAKE... [INDISCERNIBLE] >> Mary: WEANMILE, HOUSE -- AS LAWMAKERS ATTEND TO DRAW THEIR OWN LINES EVEN THOUGH A PANEL OF JUDGES USUALLY ENDS UP DOING THE WORK IN MINNESOTA.

>> I UNDERSTAND WE'LL ROBABLY PASS SOMETHING OUT OF COMMITTEE.

IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME WHAT THE PATH FORWARD FOR THAT BILL MIGHT BE.

>> WE HAVE HEARD FROM MINNESOTANS ACROSS THE STATE.

WE HAVE HEARD OF THEIR HOPES AND THEIR ADVICE FOR THE FUTURE.

>> Mary: WHILE NEWER SUBURBS ARE GROWING FAST, SOME ESTABLISHED PLACES LIKE COON RAPIDS FEEL CARVED UP IN THE CURRENT LEGISLATIVE LINES.

>> ARE.

>> REDISTRICTING HAS SLICED AND DICED OUR COMMUNITY DIVIDING US INTO DIFFERENT MINNESOTA HOUSE AND SENATE DISTRICTS.

>> OUR CITY HAS SPLIT ACROSS FOUR DIFFERENT HOUSE DISTRICT AND THREE SENATE DISTRICTS.

>> Mary: THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IS HOME TO SOME OF THE MOST POPULATION GROWTH IN THE STATE, SO CHANGES IN THE SOUTH METRO ARE MORE THAN LIKELY.

>> I HOPE THEY WOULD NEVER BE DRAWN AS A WAY TO EITHER ADVANTAGE OR TO DISADVANTAGE ONE POLITICAL PARTY OVER THE OTHER.

>> Mary: TOWNSHIPS IN THE 7th DISTRICT EXPRESS CONCERN OVER RURAL ISSUES LIKE AGRICULTURE, KEEPING SCHOOL DISTRICTS TOGETHER AND GETTING HIGH-SPEED INTERNET.

>> BASICALLY ALWAYS BEEN THE LAST 50 YEARS, ALWAYS BEEN A WESTERN AGRICULTURAL NORTH TO SOUTH DISTRICT STARTING IN CANADA AND GOING ALMOST ALL THE WAY RECENTLY TO IOWA.

>> GREATER MINNESOTA IS IN GREAT NEED OF YOUR HELP.

OUR VOICES ARE NOT BEING ADEQUATELY HEARD IN WASHINGTON, NOR IN St. PAUL.

>> Mary: LAWMAKERS LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE UNIQUE MAKE-UP OF THE STATE.

[Overlapping Conversation] >> LAKES IN THE UNITED STATES IN ONE OUNTY.

WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT AN EASY TASK THAT YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN AND WE WANT TO BE CONSIDERATE OF THAT, AS WELL.

>> Mary: TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS HIMSELF SHARED CONCERNS OVER REDISTRICTING AND HOPE TO JOIN FORCES WITH OTHER NATIVE COMMUNITIES IN THE NEW POLITICAL BOUNDARIES.

>> THE WHITE EARTH RESERVATION MUST REMAIN IN ONE CONGRESSIONAL, STATE SENATE, STATE HOUSE DISTRICT.

THE RESERVATION IS LARGEST CONTIGUOUS RESERVATION IN MINNESOTA.

>> WE'RE NOT PROPERLY REFLECTED IN POLITICS AND, BASICALLY, FOR ME, IT'S -- AS A RED-RAKER, IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES THAT, YOU KNOW, BOTH NOT ONLY REPRESENTS OUR IDEOLOGICAL VIEWPOINTS BUT CAN REPRESENT THE TRIBES AS A TRIBAL MEMBER.

>> WE CAN HAVE A PLAN THAT PASSES THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE AND MEETS THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, WE ARE GOING FORWARD INTO THE FUTURE.

♪♪ >> ERIC: MINNESOTA'S LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR JAMES NOBLES HAS BEEN ON "ALMANAC" DOZENS OF TIMES OVER THE DECADES.

AND IT'S NO WONDER.

TAKING THE JOB IN 1983, NOBLES HAS BEEN ON THE JOB LONGER THAN "ALMANAC" HAS.

TASKED BY LAWMAKERS TO INVESTIGATE PROBLEMS, THE OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR HAS INVESTIGATED STATE PENSIONS, DISCRIMINATION, CAPITOL SECURITY, THE IRRRB, U OF M DRUG TRIALS, THE LOTTERY, THE LIST GOES ON.

NEXT WEEK, JAMES NOBLES IS RETIRING FROM STATE GOVERMNENT.

WE WOULD BE REMISS IF WE DIDN'T INVITE HIM ONE FINAL TIME TO SIT AT THE "ALMANAC" TABLE.

WELCOME AND THANK YOU.

HOW DID YOU KEEP THIS OFFICE TO NONPOLITICAL IN AN INTRINSICALLY POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT?

>> WELL, THAT'S THE MISSION OF THE OFFICE, THAT'S THE EXPECTATION AND THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO DO IT.

AND SO -- AND IT TAKES THAT IN MIND WITH EVERY WORD YOU WRITE AND EVERY WORD YOU DON'T WRITE AND THE ASSIGNMENTS YOU TAKE ON, THE ONES YOU DON'T SO, YES, NAVIGATING THROUGH THAT VERY POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT IS JUST PART OF THE JOB.

AND ONE OF HE THINGS THAT HELPS IS YOU BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH LEGISLATORS, AND IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

THEY KNOW YOU, THEY KNOW, I HOPE, THAT YOU'RE NOT THERE JUST TO THROW ROCKS BUT TO TRY TO FIND SOME IMPROVEMENTS THAT CAN BE MADE IN STATE AGENCIES.

>> Cathy: ERIC HAD A LAUNDRY LIST OF AUDITS AND INVESTIGATIONS THAT YOU'VE DONE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE TOP TWO MOST IMPORTANT THAT YOU'VE COMPLETED?

>> WELL, OF COURSE THE WORK WE'VE DONE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S NOT JUST ONE BUT MANY EFFORTS TO FIND WHERE THE PROBLEMS ARE, SOMETIMES EVEN, I'VE SAID SOMETIMES TO OFFEND SOME PEOPLE THAT WE FOUND DISTURB DYSFUNCTION, YOU KNOW, IN THAT DEPARTMENT.

AND SO THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE THINGS BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS ANOTHER ONE THAT SOMETIMES -- WELL, YOU ACTUALLY MENTIONED IT BUT I SAY IT WAS IMPORTANT AND TO ME AND I THINK TO OTHERS, AS WELL, AND THAT WAS THE DRUG TRIAL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

>> Eric: PERSON DIED OUT OF THAT.

>> PERSON DIED BUT I THINK WHAT WAS SO IMPORTANT ABOUT THAT IS THAT THE UNIVERSITY JUST SHUT DOWN IN THE AFTERMATH OF THAT, WOULDN'T ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM THE MEDIA, FROM EVEN FACULTY WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY AND THAT IN AND OF ITSELF BECAME KIND OF A SCANDAL THAT THE UNIVERSITY WAS SO WALLED OFF FROM ANY KIND OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND THAT'S WHY WE WENT IN.

I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE -- JUST BREAKING DOWN THAT WALL AROUND THE UNIVERSITY, MAKING THE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENTS, THE BOARD OF REGENTS BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR NOT THE SUICIDE ITSELF, WE NEVER BLAMED THEM FOR THAT.

IT WAS A YOUNG MAN HAD A REALLY SERIOUS PSYCHOSIS, BUT THE WAY THEY HANDLED IT AND DEALT WITH HIS FAMILY AFTERWARDS WAS REALLY KIND OF OUTRAGEOUS, FRANKLY.

>> Eric: WHAT'S THE 30,000-FOOT VIEW OF MINNESOTA STATE GOVERNMENT, BANG FOR THE TAXPAYER BUCK, ASTE, FRAUD ABUSE, EFFECTIVENESS?

WE LOVE TO BE TOLD HOW GREAT WE ARE.

IN THIS REALM, IN YOUR REALM, ARE WE GREAT?

>> WE ASPIRE TO BE BUT I DON'T THINK WE'VE ACHIEVED THAT.

OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN OUT OF A JOB A LONG TIME AGO.

SO I'VE OFTEN SAID THAT EVEN THOUGH I THINK WE ARE A VERY GOOD STATE AND HAVE A OT OF GOOD PROGRAMS AND GOOD STATE EMPLOYEES, GOOD LEADERSHIP IN THIS STATE, BEING AN AUDITOR IN MINNESOTA IS STILL A LAND OF OPPORTUNITY.

BECAUSE THERE'S MUCH WORK TO BE DONE.

>> Cathy: I'M BETTING THAT THE WORK CAN BE A LITTLE FRUSTRATING BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS -- >> UH-HUH.

>> Cathy: TIME AND TIME AND TIME GAIN.

HOW MUCH ARE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS ACTED UPON?

>> THEY ARE, WITHIN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, BECAUSE THOSE ARE USUALLY THE ONES TO TIGHTEN UP INTERNAL CONTROLS, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN DO THAT.

BUT IN SOME OF THE WORK WE DO, WE GET INTO SOME POLICY, WHETHER OR NOT A PROGRAM IN POLICY IS WORKING OR NOT AND -- AND SO SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE DIFFICULT FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO IMPLEMENT BECAUSE THERE ARE WINNERS AND LOSERS.

SOMETIMES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS, AND SO SOMETIMES IT TAKES THEM QUITE A LONG TIME, I REMEMBER THERE WAS ONE REPORT THAT THEY HAD THREE OR FOUR TASK FORCES TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO.

FINALLY THEY DID SOME THINGS, SO -- BUT I RESPECT THAT.

I RESPECT LEGISLATORS AND THE LEGISLATURE AS AN INSTITUTION.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF FOLKS THROUGH ROCKS AND CERTAINLY NOT PERFECT BUT I HAVE REALLY COME TO RESPECT THE FACT THAT THEY WORK HARD TO GET ELECTED, AND THEN THEY HAVE TO WORK EVEN HARDER IN OFFICE, AND THESE ARE NOT EASY TIMES TO BE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

>> Eric: I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT, SORT OF THE LACK OF TRUST IN GOVERNMENT AND MANY INSTITUTIONS, POLITICAL DIVISIVENESS.

HOW DOES THAT PLAY INTO THE SCENE?

>> PLAYS IN A LOT.

AND I HAVE CERTAINLY TRIED TO KEEP IT AWAY FROM THE OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR BUT I DO HAVE TO MEND SOME RELATIONSHIPS AFTER A REPORT IS ISSUED WITH SOME OF THE THEM, AND SO THAT'S, AGAIN, PART OF THE JOB, TO CONNECT WITH THEM, AND SOMETIMES I'VE BEEN TOLD BY A LEGISLATOR THAT THEY JUST ABSOLUTELY HATED A REPORT AND I UNDERSTOOD WHY, BECAUSE IT STEPPED ON THEIR TOES, SOMETHING THAT THEY HAD ACCOMPLISHED.

>> Eric: BUT IT'S BEEN RARE FOR YOU TO GET CRITICISM IN PUBLIC, I'M SURE YOU GET IT BEHIND THE SCENES BUT YOU -- YOU REALLY DON'T -- PEOPLE DON'T REALLY QUESTION YOU THAT MUCH IN PUBLIC.

>> NOT IN PUBLIC, NOT -- IT IS RARE BUT IT DOES HAPPEN.

I DO RECALL SOME IN MY LAST-IN FACT -- >> Eric: MAYBE IN THE HUMAN SERVICES STUFF.

>> YES, YES, I THINK THAT'S BECOME MUCH MORE SENSITIVE FOR SOME LEGISLATORS, AND -- BECAUSE WE'VE DONE SO MUCH THERE.

>> Eric: IT'S A HUGE DEPARTMENT, TOO.

>> A HUGE DEPARTMENT.

AND SO I HAVE TO BE -- THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR HAS TO BE REAPPOINTED, I HAVE A SIX-YEAR TERM, LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR IN LAW, I HAVE A SIX-YEAR TERM, CAN'T BE REMOVED EXCEPT FOR CAUSE AND I THINK THE CAUSE IS RELATED TO IF I DID SOMETHING THAT I ALSO WENT TO JAIL FOR.

[Laughter] SO I DON'T THINK IT WAS EVER SET UP THAT THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR SHOULD BE FIRED BECAUSE OF A REPORT THAT PEOPLE JUST DISAGREE WITH.

SO -- BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO DELIVER AS AN OFFICE ON THE EXPECTATION OF BEING NONPARTISAN AND DELIVERING REPORTS THAT ARE -- OUR MANTRA ACCURATE, OBJECTIVE, TIMELY AND USEFUL.

AND GIVEN SOME OF THE STUFF WE TAKE ON IN THAT OFFICE, COMPLEX, DIFFICULT TOPICS, IT'S A LOT OF WORK AND THAT WORK, OF COURSE, IS TYPICALLY NOT ALWAYS DONE BY ME.

>> Eric: NO, YOU'VE GOT A STAFF.

YOU HAVE INVESTIGATORS -- >> YEAH.

>> Eric: WELL, JIM OBLES, A GRATEFUL STATE THANKS YOU.

>> WELL, THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: JOB WELL DONE.

>> AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE AGAIN.

I COULDN'T BE IN A BETTER PLACE.

>> Eric: WE MIGHT HAVE YOU ON SPEED DIAL FOR A BIG CONTROVERSY.

>> HAVE ME BACK TO GIVE YOU A KIP ON HORSES.

>> Cathy: A VERY GOOD HORSE PLAYER.

ENJOY THE PAINTING, I KNOW YOU PAINT LANDSCAPES SO ENJOY THAT.

>> YEAH, THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

>> Eric: THANKS SO MUCH.

>> CATHY: KATE DICAMILLO'S LATEST NOVEL IS A BOOK SHE BEGAN YEARS AGO, SET ASIDE AND THEN FORGOT ABOUT.

"THE BEATRYCE PROPHECY" IS DEDICATED TO KATE'S MOTHER WHO THE AUTHOR SAYS IS THE REASON SHE BECAME A READER AND LATER A WRITER.

KATE DICAMILLO JOINS US NOW TO TALK ABOUT, AMONG OTHER THINGS, OTHER PROJECTS SHE MAY HAVE STARTED AND THEN FORGOTTEN.

I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT YOU STARTED THIS AND FORGOT ABOUT IT.

WHAT?

>> YEAH, YEAH, NO, I KNOW BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, I ONLY DO -- >> Eric: TWO PAGES A DAY.

>> IGHT, SO YOU WOULD THINK I WOULD KEEP CAREFUL TRACK OF THOSE TWO PAGES, AND, YOU KNOW, I LOVE HOW YOU INTRODUCED IT AND THAT IT'S DEDICATED TO MY MOM, AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE REASON THAT I FORGOT ABOUT IT.

I STARTED IT THE YEAR THAT SHE PASSED AWAY AND I THINK THAT IT WAS UST A LITTLE BIT TOO CLOSE TO HOME.

SO I HAD TURNED FROM WORKING ON THAT TO WORKING ON THE STORY OF THE SQUIRREL THAT GETS SUCKED UP IN A VACUUM CLEANER, ONE OF YOUR FAVORITES.

>> Eric: YOU'VE HAD TOAST, THE PIG -- >> TOAST, PIGS, SQUIRRELS, VACUUM CLEANER.

>> Eric: AND NOW GOATS.

>> Cathy: HE'S WORRIED ABOUT THE GOAT IN HERE.

ARE.

>> THERE'S OTHING YOU SHOULD WORRY ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE GOT WOULD APPROVE OF YOU, THAT'S WHAT GOAT WOULD APPROVE OF YOU.

>> Eric: HAVE EVER YOU HAVE THE HALF KING, HALF WOLF, A BOY TURNS INTO A BIRD.

>> YOU READ THE WHOLE THING?

>> Cathy: I DID.

>> 245 PAGES.

>> CAN WE JUST HAVE A MOMENT OF JOY IN SILENCE WHILE WE SAY, ERIC READ THE WHOLE BOOK.

THAT THRILLS ME.

>> Cathy: HOW MANY INTERVIEWERS DO YOU KNOW WHO ACTUALLY READ THE WHOLE BOOK?

>> Eric: THIS IS KIND OF PSYCHEDELIC, IN THE IMMEDIATE DEFINITELY TIMES, IS IT A FAIR RETALE?

>> YOU'RE I A CAREFUL READER IF YOU ASSUME THAT IT'S NOT BECAUSE AT THE END I SAY, ALL OF THIS HAPPENED LONG AGO OR PERHAPS T HAS YET TO HAPPEN.

SO YOU'VE READ -- NOT ONLY DID YOU READ IT LL, YOU READ IT WELL.

>> Eric: WELL, IT SHOWS MY GREAT RESPECT FOR THE AUTHOR.

[Laughter] >> I THINK I SHOULD JUST LEAVE RIGHT NOW.

I MEAN, THAT'S A HIGH NOTE, RIGHT?

>> Cathy: EXACTLY.

>> Eric: LITERACY APPEARS TO BE CENTRAL TO THIS STORY.

>> IT IS, IT IS, AND -- >> Eric: WHY DID YOU DO THAT?

>> WELL, I DIDN'T DO IT ON PURPOSE BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHAT I'M DOING BUT AS I WAS WORKING ON IT, I COULD SEE THESE THEMES OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE AND THEN BY THE TIME I WAS DONE AND GETTING READY TO START TO ALK ABOUT THE BOOK, I COULD BRING IT INTO FOCUS AND THINK, GOSH, THIS IS WHY THIS WAS SO SENSITIVE BECAUSE I STRUGGLED TO LEARN TO READ AND IT WAS MY MOTHER THAT HELPED ME.

AND HELPED ME IN THIS, LIKE, REALLY WONDERFUL WAY BECAUSE WE WERE BEING TAUGHT WITH PHONICS, IS THAT HOW YOU ALL LEARNED?

>> Eric: SURE.

>> Cathy: YEAH.

>> IT MADE NO SENSE TO ME AND AND I CAME HOME FROM SCHOOL DISTRAUGHT AND SHE SAID TO ME SEVERAL THINGS.

ONE, YOU'RE SMART.

TWO, WE'LL FIND A WAY TO WORK AROUND IT AND, THREE, YOU'RE GOOD AT MEMORIZING.

SO SHE SHOWED ME THERE WAS A WAY AROUND AND ALSO SAW ME VERY CLEARLY AND KNEW WHAT I COULD DO AND SHE MADE ME FLASH CARDS AND THAT'S HOW I LEARNED TO READ WAS MEMORIZING THE WORDS.

>> Cathy: SO BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU TOOK THIS UP AFTER YOUR MOM DIED AND YOU'RE PROBABLY RIGHT, IT WAS PROBABLY TOO SOON AFTER BUT WAS SHE TALKING TO YOU AT ALL AS YOU WERE WRITING?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT HAS BEEN SO MUCH ON MY MIND IS THAT I WISH -- THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT I DID THANK HER FOR AND I WISH THAT I HAD SEEN THIS MORE CLEARLY SO I COULD -- IT'S NEVER THAT I FORGOT THAT BUT IT'S LIKE THE FURTHER AWAY I GET -- BECAUSE WHO I AM MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE OTHER THAN SOMEBODY THAT LIKES TO PICK ON ERIC ASK -- AND SOMEBODY WHO WRITES TWO PAGES A DAY, I ANNUAL A READER AND I KNEW FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE THAT I NEEDED WHAT WAS IN THE BOOK AND I WAS DESPERATE TO LEARN TO READ, AND SHE GAVE ME THAT GIFT AND PAID ATTENTION TO ME AS A READER AND IT WAS THE WORLD FOR ME.

>> Eric: I DUG UP AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCE IN THIS.

WHERE DO THE WORDS COME FROM?

I DO NOT KNOW.

THEY WERE IN MY HEAD AND I WROTE THEM DOWN.

THAT IS ALL I KNOW.

THAT'S THE STORY OF YOUR CAREER, ISN'T IT?

[Laughter] >> Cathy: HE READ THE BOOK.

>> YOU COULD WRITE A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THIS BOOK OR A TERM PAPER OR -- >> Eric: LET'S NOT GO NUTS.

>> YEAH, AND YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE I WOULD NEVER BE AWARE OF THAT AS ME SPEAKING TRULY ABOUT HOW I WRITE THROUGH ANOTHER CHARACTER BUT THAT IS EXACTLY RIGHT.

>> Eric: THAT'S YOUR PROCESS.

>> THAT'S MY PROCESS.

I'M -- I FEEL SO SEEN HERE.

>> Cathy: SEE?

AREN'T YOU GLAD YOU JOINED US TONIGHT?

>> I WAS SO THRILLED TO COME BACK HERE AND SEE Y'ALL IN PERSON.

>> Cathy: I HAVE TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE YOUR ROUTINE CHANGED DURING THE PANDEMIC, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, AND YOU AND I TALKED PRETTY EARLY ON AND I WAS WALKING UP TO SEE THAT BIG OLD TREE EVERY DAY AND THAT WAS MY TOUCHSTONE WAS THIS OLD, OLD TREE THAT'S OVER 100 YEARS OLD AND I THINK, GOSH, YOU'VE LIVED THROUGH A PANDEMIC BEFORE SO I ALWAYS LIKED TO VISIT THAT TREE.

YEAH, MY ROUTINES HAVE CHANGED BECAUSE I USED TO BE ON THE ROAD ALL THE TIME AND I'M NOT AND WHEN I WAS AT THE FITZGERALD LAST NIGHT, THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I WAS ON A STAGE IN ALMOST TWO YEARS.

IT WAS TERRIFYING.

>> Eric: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OPERA AND SHAKESPEARE THEATER?

>> ROYAL SHACKS POWER THEATER OPENS OCTOBER 14th, THE MAGICIANS' ELEPHANT, YEAH, AND ITS GOING TO BE ASTONISHING, SO THAT WILL GO ON.

AND THE OPERA WILL HAPPEN AT SOME POINT WHERE E'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING SOMETHING IN DECEMBER KIND OF A -- NOT THE FULL OPERA BUT A THING, SO STAY TUNED, YEAH.

>> Cathy: ARE YOU OKAY THAT YOU'RE NOT TRAVELING?

DO YOU LIKE KIND OF JUST BEING -- >> WHAT -- YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT I MISS AND I REALIZE IT SO MUCH LAST NIGHT IN FRONT OF THAT LIVE AUDIENCE IS -- AND I KNEW IT BUT I'VE REALLY FELT IT, THE KIDS.

AND WHAT KIDS ASK YOU AND THAT YOU CAN -- I MEAN CONNECT WITH THEM AND IT -- I CAN FEEL THAT CONNECTION AND IT MATTERS SO MUCH TO ME AND I HOPE THAT IT MATTERS TO THEM, TOO.

THAT'S WHAT I MISS.

I DON'T MISS FLYING ALL OVER AND, LIKE, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO GET MY LUGGAGE IN THE OVERHEAD BIN.

>> Eric: HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE THE NAME OF HE GOAT?

>> EN-AS WELL-KA.

>> >> Eric: THE STORY ENDS UP HAPPILY BUT IT'S BASICALLY ANOTHER BUDDY ROAD TRIP, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT, IT IS A BUDDY ROAD TRIP GOAT BOOK.

THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

>> ric: AND GOAT IS VERY EMBLEMATIC BECAUSE WHEN YOU TAKE THE LETTERS OF GOAT, YOU GET THE GREATEST -- >> OF ALL TIMING.

>> Eric: THERE YOU ARE.

>> AND I DIDN'T HEAR THAT, I DIDN'T KNOW HAT UNTIL THE OLYMPICS, SO, YEAH, THEN I LEARNED IT.

>> Cathy: WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON NEXT?

>> I'VE BEEN WRITING FAIRY TELL US, SEEMS LIKE A GOOD TIME FOR FAIRY TELL US AND THEN I CAN COME BACK HERE AND ERIC CAN TAKE THEM APART AND SAY THEY'RE LIKE FEVER DREAMS AND THEY ARE, SO E'VE GOT SOME WORK TO DO.

>> Eric: ALL RIGHT.

WHEN YOU GOT SOMETHING TO PLUG, COME BACK AND SEE US.

>> Cathy: SHE ALWAYS DOES.

>> I WILL COME BACK AND SEE YOU.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: SEE YA LATER.

♪♪ >> FOR 40 YEARS, THE MACARTHUR FELLOWS PROGRAM HAS BEEN REWARDING AMERICANS WHO DISPLAY, QUOTE, "EXTRAORDINARY ORIGINALITY AND DEDICATION IN THEIR CREATIVE PURSUITS AND A MARKED CAPACITY FOR SELF-DIRECTION."

THESE SO-CALLED "GENIUS GRANTS" ARE AMONG THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS AND LUCRATIVE AWARDS IN THE COUNTRY, $625,000 OVER FIVE YEARS.

NO STRINGS ATTACHED.

THEY ANNOUNCED THE WINNERS THIS WEEK.

AND FOR THE 40TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR, I HAVE BEEN IGNORED... DARE I SAY?

-- SNUBBED.

PROBABLY THE BEST-KNOWN OF THIS YEAR'S TWO-DOZEN FELLOWS IS IBRAM KENDI, AUTHOR OF THE BOOK, "HOW TO BE AN ANTIRACIST."

BUT, AS IS OFTEN THE CASE, MOST OF THESE FOLKS, YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF THEM.

THREE OF THEM THIS YEAR DON'T EVEN HAVE WIKIPEDIA PAGES.

AS I LOOK AT THE LIST OF FELLOWS, I SEE EVERYTHING FROM ART HISTORIANS TO ZOOLOGISTS.

I DO NOT SEE A SINGLE MONOLOGIST.

I'VE BEEN STANDING IN FRONT OF THIS MONITOR FOR 22 YEARS, SO "DEDICATION IN CREATIVE PURSUITS?"

CHECK.

EXTRAORDINARY ORIGINALITY?

WELL, MODESTY FORBIDS, BUT... YOU KNOW.

SO, I'M AT A LOSS TO EXPLAIN THIS OBVIOUS AND FLAGRANT OVERSIGHT.

AND THE CORRECTIVE IS ELUSIVE.

YOU CAN'T CAMPAIGN FOR A MACARTHUR FELLOWSHIP.

THE NOMINATION AND SELECTION PROCESSES ARE GUARDED LIKE THE GOOGLE SEARCH ALGORITHM.

BUT I FIGURE ONE OF YOU SMART "ALMANAC" WATCHERS MAYBE KNOWS SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS SOMEBODY WHO COULD TALK ABOUT MY EXCEPTIONAL CREATIVITY.

SOMEONE WHO COULD PUT ME IN THE SAME LEAGUE WITH PREVIOUS WINNERS.

LIKE THE PLANT BIOLOGIST FIGURING OUT HOW TO FEED A HUNGRY WORLD... OR THE LINGUIST ENDEAVORING TO RESTORE THE ALGONQUIAN LANGUAGE OF HER ANCESTORS... OR THE PEDIATRICIAN, WORKING TO CURE CHILDHOOD CANCER... OR I COULD WAIT ANOTHER 40 YEARS.

MAYBE THEY'LL RUN OUT OF GENIUSES BY THEN.

[Applause] ♪♪ >> ERIC: MINNESOTA EXPERIENCE IS TPT'S SIGNATURE HISTORY SERIES AND IT LAUNCHES ITS FOURTH SEASON ON MONDAY NIGHT WITH THE DOCUMENTARY "CO-OP WARS," THE SURPRISING STORY ABOUT THE FIGHT OVER NATURAL FOOD IN MINNEAPOLIS IN THE 1970S.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS STORY AND OTHER DOCUMENTARIES IN THE NEW SEASON IS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER DANIEL BERGIN.

DANIEL, HOW DO THESE STORIES COME TO YOU OR HOW DO YOU CHOOSE A SUBJECT MATTER?

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROPER SEESES WE USE AT TPT, KIND OF LOOKING FOR ABSENT NARRATIVES, FINDING STORIES THAT WILL ENLIGHTEN AND MAYBE ENTERTAIN.

IN THIS CASE, IT WAS INDEPENDENT PRODUCERS WHO CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA AND STARTED FE HISTORY OF FOOD CO-OPS IN MINNESOTA AND WE'RE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY, WE KNOW THESE GUYS, ERIC, DECAN WARNER, FILMMAKERS, LOCALLY, AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO SHARE IT.

>> Cathy: I SEE THAT PETER COYOTE DID THE NARRATION, OH, MY GOSH.

DO YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE THE CLIP OF THIS?

>> YEAH, AND PETER HAS SOME RADICAL ROOTS HIMSELF AND THAT'S HOW THEY WERE ABLE TO GET HIM FOR THE FILM.

IT'S FASCINATING STORY, AND THE CLIP WE'LL SEE SPEAKS TO THIS SURPRISING TENSION THAT WAS KIND OF AT THE HEART OF WHAT EMERGED IN TERMS OF THESE STORES, AND IN TERMS OF THE POLITICAL CONFLICT AND SO YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT THE C.O., THIS IS THE COON ORGANIZATION, AND THIS WAS A MARXIST ORGANIZATION TO TRY TO HUSTLE THEIR WAY IN ON THE HIPPIES AS IT WAS DESCRIBED IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE CO-OPS IN MINNEAPOLIS AND St. PAUL.

>> Eric: LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> I CAME OUT OF THE LAKE '60s AND '70s, A HIPPY ON THE ROAD AND I WAS TRAVELING FROM VERMONT OUT TO THE WEST COAST, WAS HEADING BACK, I WAS VERY PREGNANT.

ENDED UP VISITING A FRIEND IN SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA.

IN SOUTH DAKOTA, WE WOULD MAKE AN ORDER OF ALL THE FAMILIES AND THEN WE WOULD DRIVE A STATION WAGON OR A PICK-UP TRUCK OR SOME VEHICLE AND DRIVE UP HERE TO MINNEAPOLIS TO GET OUR FOOD FROM WHAT WAS CALLED PEOPLE'S WAREHOUSE.

♪♪ >> THE WAREHOUSE WAS DOING $50,000 WORTH OF BUSINESS IN 1973 OR '74 AND THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A BOOK KEEPER.

>> IT WAS AT THE WAREHOUSE'S POLICY REVIEW BOARD MEETING IN APRIL, 1975, THAT THE C.O.

DECIDED TO MAKE ITS MOVE.

THEY WOULD USE THE WAREHOUSE'S CHAOTIC MANAGEMENT AS A PRETEXT TO SEIZE CONTROL, GIVING THEM POWER TO INFLUENCE THE ENTIRE CO-OP SYSTEM.

>> SO THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF HIPPIES IN TOWN FOR OUR QUARTERLY.

>> I HAD OLUNTEERED TO DO ALL THE WORK IN THE KITCHEN SO I WAS IN THE KITCHEN WASHING DISHES, I KNEW SOMETHING WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AND IT WAS GOING TO BE CRAZY.

I'D RATHER BE BACK IN THE KITCHEN.

>> A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WALKED IN AND IN A LOUD VOICE ANNOUNCED THAT THEY HAD DECIDED THAT WE WERE NOT AN EFFECTIVE ORGANIZATION AND THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE OVER THE WAREHOUSE.

>> Cathy: OH, GOSH, OKAY, THAT'S THE FIRST -- THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST ONES YOU'RE GOING TO AIR, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, CO-OP WARS WILL AIR NEXT WEEK, WE'RE EXCITED.

>> Cathy: WHAT OTHER SHOWS WILL YOU BE AIRING THIS SEASON?

>> WE LWAYS LIKE TO OFFER OUR VIEWERS KIND OF A MIX, SOME CLASSICS FROM TPT HISTORY VAULT, WE'LL AVE SOME PROGRAMS FROM SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORS, SOME OF THE PBS STATIONS FROM ACROSS THE STATE.

WE ALWAYS LIKE TO FEATURE SOME OF THOSE AND GET A BROADER SENSE OF MINNESOTA ISTORY.

WE'RE ALSO REALLY INTERESTED IN THIS THEME ACTUALLY OF KIND OF RADICAL ROOTS AND I'M SEE IT IN SOME OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE FEATURING, INCLUDING LATER IN OCTOBER A FILM CALLED "THE BALANCEDEES."

DAVID ROTH OUR PRODUCER WHO SOME MAY REMEMBER HIS PUNK ROCK DIGITAL SERIES ABOUT THE PUNK SCENE CALLED MINNESOTA HARD CORE, HE'S CONTINUING THE EXPLORATION INTO THAT WORLD AND IN THIS CASE, IT'S ABOUT THE SKINHEADS WHO WERE ANTI-RACIST, THEY LOOKED LIKE THE RACIST SKINHEADS BUT THE BALDS WERE THE ONES WHO STOOD UP AGAINST THE SKINHEADS IN THE TWIN CITIES IN HE '80s.

>> Cathy: DIDN'T CATHY DO ONE OF THESE FOR YOU?

>> FINALLY WE'RE TELLING THE STORIES OF CEMETERIES THROUGH A STORY THAT CENTERS LAKE WOOD AND THEY'RE UNIQUE AND IMPORTANT HISTORY AND IT'S ALSO HOW THAT PROCESS HAS CHANGED OVER THE CENTURY AND A HALF, SO -- >> Cathy: ABSOLUTELY.

>> BEAUTIFUL FILM THAT I THINK EVERYONE WILL FIND A REAL CONNECTION TO.

>> Cathy: IT WAS REALLY FUN TO DO THAT, TOO.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE A SHOW LIKE THIS?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S OUR ORIGIN STORY, IT REALLY IS HOW WE GOT TO NOW AS MINNESOTA.

I THINK IT, YOU KNOW, INFORMS THE HEADLINES OF THE DAY WITH SOME OF THE FILMS THAT WE FEATURE, AND IT'S ALSO, YOU KNOW, GOOD TV.

IT'S ENGAGING SHE IT IS EDUCATIONAL, WE'RE DOING A LOT MORE WITH OUR HISTORY DOCUMENT EARS AND GETTING THEM INTO SCHOOLS MORE INTENTIONALLY THROUGH A PROCESS CALLED THE PBS LEARNING MEDIA WEB PORTAL, SO ACROSS THE STATE TEACHERS UTILIZE OUR LOCAL HISTORY DOCUMENTARIES IN THEIR CLASSROOMS.

>> Eric: WHAT'S THIS FILM IN THE CITIES THING?

>> YEAH, THAT'S A FUN ONE.

I'M A FORMER FILM IN THE CITIES STUDENT.

>> Cathy: WERE YOU?

>> STEVE SPENCER, OUR COLLEAGUE, AND SO IT'S ANOTHER KIND OF RADICAL ROOT STORY SO THERE'S YOUR THEME FOR THE SEASON AND IN THIS CASE, IN 1970, KIND OF REVOLUTION AIR EDUCATORS, WE'RE LOOKING FOR A WAY TO KIND OF TEACH DIFFERENTLY AND ALSO INTEGRATE SCHOOLS AND SO FILM IN THE CITIES WAS ONE OF THESE ARTS PROGRAMS THAT KIDS WERE BROUGHT TOGETHER, LEARNED HOW TO MAKE SUPER 8 FILM, LATER VIDEO AND ATHEY MADE SOME AMAZING FORT MYERS IN THE PROCESS.

SO WE MEET SOME OF THE FOUNDERS, WE FEATURE SOME OF THE FILMS AND WE'LL SEE THAT LATER THIS WINTER.

>> Cathy: I THOUGHT I HEARD ABOUT A LATINO HISTORY DOC.

>> YEAH, THANKS FOR ASKING.

WE'RE REALLY EXCITED, YOU KNOW, I MENTIONED EARLIER ABSENT NARRATIVES, WHAT STORIES IN OUR HISTORY HAVEN'T BEEN TOLD AND THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT ART AND WRITING AROUND LATINX HISTORY IN MINNESOTA BUT TPT NEEDS TO DO OUR PART IN TELLING THAT STORY OF THAT LONGER, DEEPER HISTORY.

SO WE'RE JUST BEGINNING THE PROCESS AND WE'RE HOPING TO SHARE THAT NEXT YEAR.

>> Cathy: OKAY.

>> Eric: HOW FULL IS YOUR PLATE?

>> Cathy: E'S GOT TONS OF STUFF.

>> Eric: YOU HAVE STUFF GOING ON EVERYSOMEWHERE.

>> I HAVE A GREAT TEAM AND A LOT OF COLLEAGUES AND WE DRAW FROM GREAT INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS AND IT'S GREAT WORK TO DO, ERIC.

ERIC LET ME SHARE HE TUNE-IN INFORMATION.

DANIEL, THANKS A LOT.

ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> ERIC: A REMINDER THAT TPT VIEWERS CAN TUNE IN "MINNESOTA EXPERIENCE" MONDAY NIGHTS AT 8:00 P.M. AND NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE, YOU CAN STREAM THESE PROGRAMS FREE ANY TIME BY GOING TO TPT.ORG.

SEARCH FOR THE KEY WORDS "MINNESOTA EXPERIENCE."

WE'LL SWAP OUT GUESTS AND BE RIGHT BACK.

♪♪ >> CATHY: CONGRESS HAS AVERTED, AT LEAST FOR NOW, A SHUTDOWN, AND DEMOCRATS IN WASHINGTON ARE STILL DIVIDED OVER PRESIDENT BIDEN'S AGENDA.

MEANWHILE, STATE LAWMAKERS CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE TO REACH A DEAL ON COMPENSATING FRONT-LINE WORKERS IN THE PANDEMIC, AND REPUBLICANS ARE MEETING TO ELECT A NEW PARTY CHAIR THIS WEEKEND.

IT'S A GREAT TIME TO TALK POLITICS.

FRITZ KNAAK IS BACK.

HE'S A REPUBLICAN, A LAWYER, AND A FORMER STATE SENATOR.

JEFF HAYDEN IS HERE TOO.

HE'S ALSO A FORMER SENATOR.

HE'S A LEGISLATIVE LOBBYIST AND A DEMOCRAT.

SENATOR HAYDEN, LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS HERO PAY SITUATION.

SEEMS LIKE IT'S STILL MIRED -- STILL MIRED IN DISAGREEMENT.

WHAT IS GOING ON?

>> LOOKS LIKE IT IS, SOUNDS LIKE THE REPUBLICANS WERE KIND OF A NARROW KIND OF AGENDA WITH THE 250 MILLION AND THEY SAID THAT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

BUT THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT GET LEFT OUT AND SO I KNOW THAT THE DEMOCRATS, ESPECIALLY THE LABOR UNIONS REALLY WANT THAT TO BE BROADER.

SO I'M NOT SURE HOW THEY'RE GOING TO GET TOGETHER WITHOUT A ARGER PACKAGE AND, YOU KNOW, KIND OF UNDER THE RADAR JUST A LITTLE BIT IS THIS THREAT OF TAKING JAN MALCOLM OUT OF THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH COMMISSIONER AND I THINK THAT'S PLAYING A ROLE IN THESE NEGOTIATIONS.

>> SURE IT IS.

>> Eric: AROUND THE D.F.L.ers CAN'T LEAVE THE UNION MEMBERS BEHIND.

>> NO, THEY CAN'T.

IT'S A TRICKY GAME BUT WHAT A NICE PROBLEM TO HAVE.

WE HAVE ALL THIS MONEY TO GIVE AWAY AND WHO'S GOING TO GET IT.

BY AND LARGE, I THINK THEY'LL ENDS UNGOING SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE, THAT'S THE WAY THE SYSTEM WORKS.

MALCOLM IS THE MORE INTERESTING QUESTION FOR ME.

I THINK THERE'S OME PEOPLE THAT REALLY WANT TO SEE SOME BLOOD THERE AND I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT WOULD BE FAIR UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.

>> Eric: WHAT'S THE POLITICAL IMPERATIVE, WHAT CONSTITUENCY IS IT APPEALING TO?

>> WELL, FRANKLY, IT'S APPEALING TO THE CONSTITUENCY THATS -- ALL THOSE FOLKS OUT THERE THAT ARE IRRITATED ABOUT EVERYTHING THEY'VE HAD TO DO DURING THE PANDEMIC.

I THINK SHE'S GOING TO END UP BEING A LIGHTNING ROD FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE'S FRUSTRATIONS AND WHETHER THAT'S FAIR OR NOT, PROBABLY PRETTY OBVIOUS ITS ISN'T ON ONE LEVEL.

>> I THINK IT'S A SHAME.

I'VE WORKED WITH JAN ON THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE COMMITTEE, I KNOW THE CHAIRS OF THE SENATE LIKED HER, AFTER SHE TOOK Dr. ELLINGER'S PLACE.

THE PEOPLE IN THE SENATE HAVE WEAPONIZED THIS PROCESS LIKE NO OTHER BEFORE AND FRITZ COULD PROBABLY TELL ME IF MORE COMMISSIONERS HAVE BEEN TAKEN OUT BY THE MAJORITY WHICH WERE THE DEMOCRATS BUT I THINK IT'S A SHAME, I THINK JAN IS FANTASTIC.

>> Cathy: THAT'S TRUE BUT OTHER COMMISSIONERS HAVE BIT THE DUST.

>> SURE, AND IT DOES HAPPEN AND EVERY ONCE IN A HILE, THE SENATE NEEDS TO FEEL ITS OATHS AND EXERCISE THAT POWER AND EARN THE RESPECT THAT IT DESERVES AND THE DEMOCRATS DID THE SAME.

>> Cathy: THERE'S NOT OING TO E A SPECIAL SESSION, RIGHT?

YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME SORT OF -- IF JAN MALCOLM'S FUTURE IS HANGING OUT THERE, THERE WON'T BE A SPECIAL SESSION.

>> THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT.

THE GOVERNOR CALLS A SPECIAL SESSION BUT THE LEGISLATURE THEN TAKES UP THE ISSUES.

THEY USUALLY HAVE A PINKY SWEAR AND AN AGREEMENT BUT THE SENATE CAN DO WHAT IT WANT, AS TOM BAKK WOULD SAY, THIS IS THE MINNESOTA SENATE, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO FULFILL THEIR LEGISLATIVE DUTIES.

THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO BE ASSURED THAT WHATEVER AGREEMENT THEY COME TO, THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GO AFTER JAN. >> Eric: I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE 2021 ELECTION IN MINNEAPOLIS AND NOT START WITH THE REST DEFENSE OF MINNEAPOLIS BUT THE SUBURBITE.

HOW CLOSE ARE, YOU KNOW, SUBURBAN VOTERS AND KIND OF THE INDEPENDENTS, THE TOSS-UP VOTERS MONITORING KIND OF THE POLICE DEBATE IN MINNEAPOLIS?

>> LOSER THAN YOU MIGHT THINK.

I HAVE A FEELING THAT GAZELKA, FOR EXAMPLE, IS SECRETLY HOPING THAT THE -- THAT THE PROVISION PASSES IN MINNEAPOLIS JUST BECAUSE THAT AMPLIFIES HIS ARGUMENT OUTSTATE ESPECIALLY THAT LOOK AT THOSE PEOPLE IN MINNEAPOLIS, LOOK AT THE PROBLEM YOU'VE GOT WITH POLICING AND LETS HIM KEEP THAT FRONT AND CENTER.

AND HE'S MAKING THE ARGUMENT, AND OTHERS ARE, TOO, THAT, REALLY, PUBLIC SAFETY IS GOING TO BE A KEY ISSUE IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION AND WHAT HAPPENS IN MINNEAPOLIS ON THAT ISSUE IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WILL NOTICE.

I MEAN, IN TERMS OF DOES IT REALLY MATTER IN TERMS OF HOW THEY GOVERN THEIR OWN CITY, NO, BUT HOW THEY THINK ABOUT SAFETY OVERALL, IT IS IMPORTANT.

SYMBOLICALLY, IF NOTHING ELSE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT AREN'T IN MINNESOTA.

>> Eric: IN THE OLLING THE "STAR TRIBUNE" DID, A MR. SPEAKER ALT LIKE THE REIMAGINE THE POLICE THING BUT EVEN IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY, FOR INSTANCE, IT WAS PRETTY MUCH WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE POLICE, EITHER.

>> YEAH, WELL, BECAUSE OF HE 72 PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN MURDERED, 85% OF THOSE HAVE BEEN BLACK AND MOSTLY BLACK MEN SO THEY ASSOCIATE EVEN THOUGH THAT THEY DON'T WANT THE POLICE TO COME AND CHOKE THEM LIKE CHAUVIN DID TO GEORGE FLOYD, THEY ASSOCIATE THAT WITH PROTECTION.

AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, RONDO, A -- CHIEF ARRADONDO IS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN MAN THAT IS FROM MINNEAPOLIS THAT MANY PEOPLE KNOW AND SO THERE IS SOME KIND OF ISSUES THERE ABOUT WHY DO WE WANT THE ABOLISH THE POLICE NOW THAT WE HAVE AN AFRICAN AMERICAN MAN THAT IS VERY WELL-RESPECTED AND IS PUTTING IN THE REFORMS THAT PEOPLE WANT.

>> Eric: WE HAVE TIM WALZ, ANGIE CRAIG, SOMEBODY ELSE BIG TIME -- AMY KLOBUCHAR, THEY'RE AGAINST THE AMENDMENT TO, YOU KNOW, REIMAGINE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

KEITH ELLISON, ILHAN ARE FOR IT.

>> IT'S WORKING THAT WAY, JUST LIKE YOU SAID IN WASHINGTON, IT'S WORKING OUT HERE PEOPLE THAT IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AS PROGRESSIVE VERSUS MAINSTREAM, THEY ALL WANT THE SAME THING.

I KNOW THEM ALL VERY, VERY WELL AND THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A ROW US ABOUT PROTECTION SYSTEM THAT PROTECTS PEOPLE BUT RESPECTS THE PEOPLE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO POLICE BUT THEY HAVE VERY DIFFERENT WAYS ON HOW TO GET THERE AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SEEING, YOU'RE SEEING THAT IN WASHINGTON A LITTLE BIT.

>> AND I THINK ANGIE CRAIG IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.

THERE'S SOMEBODY IN A DISTRICT THAT ISN'T DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY INNEAPOLIS BUT JUST THE OPTICS OF WHAT HAPPENS IS GOING TO MATTER IN HER DISTRICT AND IT'S GOING TO MATTER STATEWIDE AND I'M SURE THAT AMY IS PROBABLY THINKING THE SAME THING.

>> WELL, THE PROBLEM IS YOU'VE KIND OF POLITICIZED THIS ISSUE THAT IS PRIMARILY ABOUT KIND OF BLACK PEOPLE AND THEIR SAFETY AND ALSO THEM BEING IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT THEY CAN TRUST THE POLICE.

AND IT'S A SLAME THAT IT'S BECOME SO POLITICIZED THAT IT'S NOW SOMETHING THE NATION IS WATCHING AND PEOPLE IN MINNESOTA THAT AREN'T EVEN IN MINNEAPOLIS ARE THINKING ABOUT IT IN POLITICAL TERMS AND NOT ABOUT THE PEOPLE.

>> IT'S BEYOND POLITICS AT A CERTAIN POINT.

WE'RE TALKING, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHILE NOT TRYING TO PANIC ANYBODY, IS TALKING ABOUT 0,000, 12,000 SHOTS HEARD IN THEIR SYSTEM AND IT'S MOSTLY CONCENTRATED IN CERTAIN AREAS AND, YOU KNOW, WITH ALL THAT LEAD FLYING AROUND, AND IT IS FLYING AROUND, IT'S REALLY KIND OF REMARKABLE THAT MORE PEOPLE AREN'T GETTING HURT RIGHT NOW.

>> WHERE DO THEY GET THE LEAD, WHERE DO THREE GET THE GUNS?

I MODERATED A PANEL WHERE RON DO SAID 20 YEARS AGO TO BE -- >> Cathy: CHIEF ARRADONDO.

>> THERE WOULD BE SIX OR SEVEN BULLETS AND NOW THERE ARE 70, WE HAVE TO ASK THAT QUESTION, TOO.

>> Cathy: I'M WONDERING, YOU MENTIONED THE MINNESOTA POLL.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE NUMBERS WE SAW IN THAT POLL FOR GOVERNOR WALZ AND PRESIDENT BIDEN, BELOW 50%.

AND FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S NUMBERS AREN'T THAT GREAT, EITHER.

WHEN DID YOU THINK OF THE NUMBERS?

I MEAN, WHAT IT SHOWED, IT WAS INTERESTING THAT IT CAME OUT IN MINNEAPOLIS PAPER FINALLY BUT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER -- THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER POLLS THAT HAVE BEEN INDICATORS IN THE PAST OF THIS DIVISION THAT EXISTS, THIS DIFFERENCE IN HOW THINGS LOOK.

I MEAN, I LIKE TO USE THE ANALOGY THEY USE IN WISCONSIN ABOUT MADISON, WE HAVE TWO CORE CITIES SURROUNDED BY REALITY IN MINNESOTA.

I MEAN, EVEN WHEN YOU HIT THE SUBURBS, YOU START GETTING A VERY DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW ON THINGS AND A VERY DIFFERENT TAKE ON THINGS AND THAT'S A LITTLE UNSETTLING AND YOU WERE MENTIONING SOMETHING EARLIER ABOUT LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN INSTITUTIONS AND SOME OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT.

I'M SURE THERE IS A LOTTERY LATED TO THIS BUT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS HAT THAT POLL REFLECTED AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD CONCERN EVERYBODY IN THE STATE.

>> Eric: IN THE SUBURBAN INDEPENDENT CROSS-TAB, GOVERNOR WALZ, 39% APPROVAL, PRESIDENT BIDEN 34% APPROVAL.

AMONG THOSE SUBURBAN INDEPENDENTS THAT MIGHT BE UP FOR GRABS.

>> YEAH, I MEAN IT REALLY IS DISHEARTENING BUT WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH A PANDEMIC SO, LIKE, WHOEVER WAS THERE, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S, LIKE, JUST BIDEN OR WALZ BUT ANYBODY THAT WAS THERE, I MEAN, I THINK THAT THEY'RE LIKE LOW APPROVAL RATINGS IN A LOT OF PLACES SO I'M.

SURE -- I HAVEN'T STUDIED ALL THE STUFF FROM EVERY SINGLE STATE BUT I THINK A LOT OF THESE ISSUES IS BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS PANDEMIC, TAKE -- PANDEMIC FATIGUE AND WE HAVE AN UNPRECEDENTED ISSUES WHERE WE'VE HAD RIOTS OR CIVIL UNREST IN THE CITIES, AND IF YOU WERE A THE MAYOR, GOVERNOR, PRESIDENT, YOU GOT TO OWN THAT.

>> I DO THINK IT'S INTERESTING THAT WHO WOULD HAVE SEEN THIS COMING THAT THE OUTSTATE GOVERNOR THAT WAS CAMPAIGNING ON ONEMINNESOTA IS FINDING THAT HIS ONLY REAL REMAINING SUPPORT AT THIS POINT IS IN THE TWO CORE CITIES.

WHO WOULD HAVE THUNK IT, RIGHT?

>> Eric: DO WE KNOW IF PEGGY FLANAGAN IS GOING TO STAY ON THE TICKET?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT.

THERE HAVE BEEN RUMORS, I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING CONCRETELY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

IT'S NOT UNPRECEDENTED TO MOVE AND FIND SOMEBODY ELSE BUT AT THE SAME TIME EVERYTHING THE GOVERNOR IS SAYING AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IS SHOWING IS THAT THEY'LL BE TOGETHER.

>> Eric: REPUBLICAN CHAIR WITH A VOTE TOMORROW.

>> YES, INSIDE BASEBALL.

>> Eric: BUT, IT -- THERE HAS BEEN SUCH A COMMOTION ABOUT IT AND EVERYTHING AND, I DON'T KNOW IF PANIC HAS SET IN OR WHAT IF THAT'S ALL PAST AND -- >> YEAH, I THINK HE PANIC PART IS PAST.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT REPUBLICANS IN MINNESOTA NEED TO DO TO THEMSELVES EVERY THREE YEARS OR SO, YOU KNOW, I -- IT'S A LITTLE FRUSTRATING.

RIGHT NOW, I MEAN, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT T'S NECK AND NECK IS WHAT I'M HEARING BETWEEN DUTTIN' GERE AND HANN, BUT WE'LL SEE.

EACH ONE BRINGS SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO THE TABLE.

BOTH WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE, YOU KNOW, IF THAT TURNS OUT TO BE THE CASE FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.

REALLY WHAT YOU'RE HOPING FOR IF YOU'RE IN ONE OF THE CAUCUSES, THE PARTY DOESN'T DO ANYTHING TO MAKE YOUR JOB HARDER, RIGHT?

SO NEITHER ONE OF THOSE WOULD DO THAT THAT.

THE REAL ISSUE FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS WE'RE JUST BEING SO OVERWHELMINGLY OVERSPENT AND THE PARTY ITSELF IS IN DIRE FINANCIAL STRAITS SO IT'S AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT SITUATION FOR WHOEVER IS GOING TO GET THE JOB.

I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU'D WANT IT.

>> Cathy: DO WE SEE JENNIFER CARNAHAN AROUND AGAIN?

>> I HEAR ALL KIND OF RUMORS.

>> I HOPE SO.

>> LIKE JENNIFER, I'M NOT IN THE MINORITY IN THAT, EITHER.

I THINK SHE WAS VERY EFFECTIVE IN A LOT OF WAYS SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALL KIND OF RUMORS THAT SHE'S AMBITIOUS AND SHE'S NOT GONE.

>> Cathy: BEFORE YOU GUYS GO -- >> I THINK I THINK THAT'S GOOD FOR DEMOCRATS, I JUST WANT TO SAY.

>> NO, I DON'T.

>> Cathy: BEFORE WE GO, WE HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR JAMES NOBLES.

NICE TO HAVE HIM ON THE SET TONIGHT.

HIS LAST DAY ON THE JOB IS THIS COMING WEEK.

>> I WAS HOPING TO CATCH HIM WHEN HE WENT OUT, HE ALWAYS TREATED ME FAIRLY, HE WAS PHENOMENAL, WE DIDN'T ALWAYS AGREE, SOMETIMES THERE WERE THINGS WE DIDN'T DO THAT WE WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO DO BUT JIM WAS A VERY FAIR PERSON AND RAN A FIRST-CLASS SHOP.

>> HE STARTED THE YEAR I STARTED.

YES, SO MAKES ME FEEL OLD WHEN ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST, YOU KNOW.

[Laughter] BUT HE WAS JUST SUPERB.

HE DEFINED THE ROLE AND HE'S GOT A SUPERB STAFF THAT HE'S BUILT UP AROUND HIM SO I THINK THERE'S EVERY REASON TO HOPE THAT OFFICE WILL CONTINUE IN ITS CURRENT FUNCTION BECAUSE OF HIM.

>> Eric: REDISTRICTING, IS IT GOING TO BE MINOR TWEAKS BY THE COURT OR WHAT DO WE KNOW?

>> WELL, IT'S -- THAT'S REAL INTERESTING AND ESPECIALLY ON THE CONGRESSIONAL LEVEL, WHO'S GOING TO BE GAINING AND WHO'S GOING TO BE LOSING.

IT IS GOING TO BE -- I WOULD CALL IT TWEAKING.

THERE ISN'T GOING TO BE ANYTHING MAJOR GOING ON UT THERE ARE SOME CITIES, FOR EXAMPLE, I SUSPECT THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR FIFTH -- CURRENT FIFTH DISTRICT CONGRESSWOMAN WHOSE NAME I NEVER WANT TO SAY BUT THERE SHE IS, SHE IS PROBABLY GOING TO LOSE SOME OF HER SUBURBAN SEATS, WE'LL SEE.

>> YEAH, THAT'S GOOD FOR HER SO I THINK THERE WILL BE SOME TWEAKING BUT I THINK THERE WILL BE SOME PRICES THERE AND I THINK I WOULD WILL BE OKAY.

I THINK IT WILL BE GOOD NOR DEMOCRATS.

>> Eric: MORE RETIREMENTS IN THE LEGISLATURE, I GUESS.

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT'S GOING ON ON BOTH SIDES.

>> Eric: LEARNED A LOT, MEN, THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH.

THANKS.

>> ERIC: IT'S NOW TIME TO TEST YOUR WITS REGARDING MINNESOTA HISTORY.

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION CONCERNS A UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA GRAD.

IN OCTOBER OF 1952, A TWIN CITIES NEWSPAPER NOTED THAT THIS PERSON, MOST DEFINITELY NOT SEEN HERE, WAS ATTENDING THE "U."

SOON, THIS PERSON WAS MAKING NEWS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

IN THE FALL OF 1967, THIS MYSTERY GOPHER GRAD APPEARED ON THE COVER OF "TIME" MAGAZINE FOR ACHIEVING A NOTABLE "FIRST."

WE WANT YOU TO GIVE US THEIR NAME.

WHAT U OF M GRAD WAS ON THE COVER OF "TIME" MAGAZINE IN THE FALL OF 1967?

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU ARE DIALING IN FROM BELLE PRAIRIE, LESTER PRAIRE, LONG PRAIRIE, OR GOPHER PRAIRIE.

THAT'S THE FICTIONAL SETTING OF SINCLAIR LEWIS' FAMED NOVEL "MAINSTREET."

651-229-1430 IS THE WAY TO REACH US WITH YOUR ANSWER.

LEAVE COMMENTS, TOO, AT THE SAME NUMBER.

AGAIN, 651-229-1430.

IF YOU PREFER EMAIL, ALMANAC@TPT.ORG WILL DO THE TRICK NICELY.

BEFORE WE GO, LET'S PLAY A TUNE FROM OUR ARCHIVES.

THIS WEEK IN 2013, SINGER SONGWRITER ANN REED DROPPED BY OUR STUDIOS.

SHE SANG A SONG FROM HER THEN-NEW ALBUM "EVENTUALLY."

THE TUNE WAS "WEDNESDAY."

THE DAY, SHE NOTED, WHEN CHOIRS OFTEN REHEARSE.

LET'S ALL LISTEN TO ANN REED AS WE ROLL THE SHOW CREDITS.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT TIME.

AND BE CAREFUL.

♪ HERE'S' DAY I LIKE JUST LITTLE, SETS THERE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK.

♪ A COUPLE DAYS HAVE GONE BEFORE AND UP THERE LAY A COUPLE MORE, OH, ♪♪ ♪ OLE NURSERY HYME MAKES ME WONDER, IT'S A VERSE THAT'S KIND TO THE OTHERS, IT'S JUST SO... FAIR OF FACE, THAT'S MONDAY'S LESSON, TUESDAY'S FULL OF GRACE, NEXT ONE'S FULL OF WARM ♪ ♪ AND I WAS BORN ON WEDNESDAY ♪♪ ♪ I WAS BORN ON WEDNESDAY ♪♪ Captioned by: Paradigm Reporting/Captioning www.paradigmreporting.com "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

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