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

>> CATHTY: IN THE NEXT HOUR, WE'LL TALK ABOUT OMICRON, THE COVID CHALLENGES OF OUR STATE'S TOURISM INDUSTRY, AND WE'LL MEET THE NEW HEAD OF THE ORDWAY.

AND THEN MARY LAHAMMER TALKS TO THE MINNESOTA SENATOR PLAYING A KEY ROLE IN THE CONGRESIONAL INVESTIGATION INTO JANUARY 6.

>> Mary: I'LL TALK WITH MINNESOTA U.S.

SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR WHO LED THE REMEMBRANCE IN WASHINGTON OF THE JANUARY 6th INSURRECTION.

>> THIS IS OUR MOMENT TO STAND UP TO THAT BECAUSE THE PEOPLE ARE WATCHING.

>> Mary: HAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC."

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>> CATHY: IN A FEW MINUTES, WE'LL HEAR FROM SENATOR KLOBUCHAR ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF GOVERNING IN THESE PARTISAN TIMES.

AND LATER IN THE HOUR, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT STATE OFFICIALS ARE DOING TO SHORE UP MINNESOTA'S STRUGGLING TOURISM INDUSTRY.

BUT FIRST UP, NEW MASK MANDATES AS OMICRON SURGES ACROSS THE GLOBE.

>> ERIC: MASKING UP INDOORS AT BUSINESSES IS AGAIN REQUIRED IN THE TWIN CITIES AS RESTAURANTS AND CONCERTS READY FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF RETRENCHING.

OMICRON HAS SHATTERED ALL PREVIOUS NUMBERS IN TERMS OF CASES NATIONALLY.

WHILE OMICRON APPEARS TO BE LESS DEADLY THAN DELTA, HOSPITALS ARE STILL DEALING WITH A SURGE OF ADMISSIONS.

MICHAEL OSTERHOLM WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA HAS JOINED US ON THE FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

GLAD TO HAVE YOU WITH US AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Eric: OMICRON,.

>> AS DEADLY BUT SPREADS FASTER.

IS THAT A DANGEROUS SITUATION?

>> WELL, DEFINITELY IT SPREAD FASTER.

AS I MENTIONED LAST MONTH WHEN I WAS ON, I THOUGHT WE'D BE SEEING THIS VIRAL BLIZZARD AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING HERE IN MINNESOTA.

WE'RE JUST, I THINK, IN THE BEGINNING, YOU MIGHT SAY THE FIRST FEW INCHES OF THAT BLIZZARD, THE NEXT FEW WEEKS ARE GOING TO GET REALLY VERY DIFFICULT.

IN TERMS OF THE DEADLY, THOUGH, I THINK THIS HAS BEEN A MISUNDERSTANDING, IN THE FACT THAT IF YOU THINK OF DELTA, LET'S JUST SAY FOR EVERY 1,000 DELTA CASES, 100 PEOPLE WERE SEVERELY ILL. OMICRON, THAT MAY BE ONLY 100 OUT OF THAT,000, ONLY 10 BUT THE PROBLEM IS, THERE ARE TEN ^, 15 TIMES MORE CASES, AND SO FROM A COMMUNITY STANDPOINT, IT IS DEADLY AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

I THINK IN THE NEXT WEEK, WE WILL HIT ALL-TIME HIGHS FOR THE NUMBER OF HOSPITALIZATIONS AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN OUR ICUs SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC HERE IN MINNESOTA.

>> Cathy: WONDERING WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT -- THIS COUNTRY HAS SO MANY PEOPLE WITH DIABETES, HEART DISEASE, OBESITY, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF THEY'RE VACSED, DO YOU WORRY ABOUT THEIR CHANCES WITH OMICRON?

>> I WORRY A LOT.

EACH WITH THE RACK SCENES, BEING FULLY VACCINATED INCLUDING THE THIRD DOZE, YOU STILL MAY GET OMICRON BUT YOU WILL HAVE A MUCH, MUCH LOWER RISK OF BECOMING SERIOUSLY ILL AND DYING.

IF YOU'RE NOT FULLY VACCINATED, YOU HAVE LESS THAN THAT OR ANY OF THESE CO-MORBIDITIES THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED, THIS IS A IG CHALLENGE.

I THINK PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN AR TOO MUCH COMFORT FROM THE DATA FROM SOUTH AFRICA WHERE THERE WERE MANY FEWER DEATHS OCCURRING THERE BUT THAT IS A MUCH YOUNGER POPULATION, THRILLED A GREAT DEAL OF COVID ACTIVITY BEFORE SO WE HAD A NUMBER OF EOPLE WHO HAD IMMUNITY FROM THAT.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE UNITED KINGDOM WHERE THEY'RE STILL STRUGGLING WITH THIS MIGHTILY, THEY'RE DOING BETTER THAN WE MIGHT DO HERE BECAUSE THEY HAVE SO MANY MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED, PARTICULARLY IN THAT OLDER AGE GROUP THAN WE DO.

SO I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, WE ARE RIPE FOR SEEING OMICRON REALLY PICKING OFF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EITHER NOT FULLY VACCINATED OR WHO HAVE THESE UNDERLYING CO-MORBIDITIES OR BOTH.

>> Eric: WITH VACCINES AT THE TOP, IS THERE AN ALL OF THE ABOVE STRATEGY THAT WOULD INCLUDE THE MONO CHROME MALL ANTIBODIES, THERAPEUTICS, THAT PART OF PLAN R IS IT MAINLY VACCINE?

>> IT'S ALL OF THAT RIGHT NOW BUT LET'S BUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE.

WHEN WE HAVE A BLIZZARD, WE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT LASTING ALL WE WANT, IT'S 24, 36, 84 HOURS.

IN THIS CASE, WITH THE VIRAL BLIZ ARE THE A, I THINK THE NEXT THREE TO FOUR EEKS WILL BE THE CRITICAL TIME PERIOD.

WE'LL SEE CASE NUMBERS GO UP MUCH FURTHER THAN THEY ARE NOW.

I DO NOT EVEN KEEP TRACK OF CASES IN MINNESOTA BECAUSE THEY'RE MEANING LESS AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY OF THEM, WE ARE SO BACK-LOGGED IN COUNTING CASES, SO MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING TESTED BECAUSE OF LACK OF ARE ACCESS TO TESTING.

WE'RE SEEING MANY MORE CASES IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAN WE'LL EVER COUNT.

SO WHAT I'M FOCUSING ON ARE HOSPITALIZATIONS, INTENSIVE CARE UNIT USE AND DEATHS.

AND THEN REMEMBERING THAT IN THE NEXT THREE TO FOUR WEEKS, YOU CAN'T CATCH UP ON YOUR VACCINES SO IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN VACCINATED, EVEN IF YOU HAD AMOUNT VACCINES BUT THE THIRD DOZE ITS WILL STILL TAKE YOU AT LEAST TWO WEEKS AFTER THE THIRD DOSE TO MOUNT ANNUAL IMMUNE RESPONSE THAT WILL HELP PROTECT YOU.

WE'RE KIND OF IN THIS NOW WITH WHAT WE'VE GOT.

THE BEST THING WE CAN DO IS DISTANCE OURSELVES.

I KNOW PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT, WE'RE ALL TIRED, VERY TIRED BUT WE'RE GOING TO SEE SUCH WIDESPRAYED TRANSMISSION.

AND THE OTHER PART THAT I THINK WE HAVEN'T FULLY APPRECIATED YET, WE'RE BEGINNING TO SEE THE MAJOR ABSENTEEISM FROM WORK.

HOUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS HAVE BEEN HOLDING ON BY THE SKIN OF THEIR TEETH IN THIS STATE, WE HAVE REALLY CHALLENGED THAT SYSTEM.

THEY'RE TIRED, BURNT OUT, NOT ENOUGH OF THEM.

NOW IMAGINE OVER THE NEXT TWO TO THREE WEEKS, 20% OR MORE WILL BE OFF WORK BECAUSE THEY'LL BE INFECTED, TOO, WHICH I CAN'T EVEN HOME HELPED JUST THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT FOR PROVIDING HEALTH CARE BUT THAT IS TRUE FOR FIRE, POLICE, IT'S TRUE FOR OUR GROCERY STORES, GO TO THE GROCERY STORES TODAY, SEE WHAT FOOD'S ON THE SHERIFF.

I'M SEE OVER THE NEXT TWO TO THREE WEEKS THAT WILL BE TIGHTER.

WE'RE HEARING OF PHARMACIES THAT ARE PUTTING OUT MESSAGES NOW DON'T COUNT ON YOUR DRUGS BEING FILLED FOR THREE TO FIVE DAYS BECAUSE OF PEOPLE AT THE WAREHOUSE, THE TRUCK DRIVERS THAT DRIVER THE DRUGS TO THE PHARMACIES AND THE FARM SIGNIFICANCES THEMSELVES ARE OUT.

THIS IS A COMPLICATING FACTOR, A PERFECT STORM SITUATION, SO, ERIC, EVERYTHING WE CAN DO IS REALLY ABOUT DISTANCING OURSELVES IN THE SHORT TERM, USING HIGH-QUALITY MASKING.

USE THE N-95, NOT JUST ANY FACE CLOTHE COVERING AND REMEMBER MOST OF ALL, IF YOU HAVE LOVED ONES WHO ARE AT HIGH RISK FOR HAVING COVID, PLEASE NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO BE AROUND THEM.

IF YOU MIGHT POSSIBLY BE INFECTED.

>> Cathy: I'M WONDERING, THEN, WITH AM OF THAT, YOU KNOW, AND THE WORKER SHORTAGE SITUATION, THE CDC GUIDANCE REALLY IS CONFUSING FOR PEOPLE, DON'T YOU THINK?

I MEAN, THE TEN DAYS AND THEN THE FIVE DAYS AND THEN YOU DON'T REALLY NEED A NEGATIVE TEST TO GO BACK.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT MESS?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME JUST SAY RIGHT UP FRONT, I SUPPORT THE CDC IN GENERAL WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO.

YOU KNOW, AS SOMEONE WHO TRIES TO BE A REALIST HERE, I DEAL WITH A LOT OF MY ACADEMIC COLLEAGUES AND I WILL CALL MYSELF AN ACADEMIC, CALL MYSELF A TALKING HEAD ON TV.

BUT WE'VE ADDED TO THE MIX BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO DEBATE HOW MANY ANGELS CAN DANCE ON THE HEAD OF A MINN. HOW INFECTIONOUS ON DAY FIVE OR SIX OR DAY SEVEN?

WE DON'T KNOW.

WE KNOW GENERALLY WITHIN TEN DAYS OF BEING IN EFFECTED, YOUR INFECTIOUSNESS DROPS PRECIPITOUSLY.

MOST TRANSMISSION LIKELY OCCURS IN THE FIRST FEW DAYS.

I HAVE TALKED TO PHYSICIANS FROM THE HOSPITALS OPT EAST COAST WHERE TODAY THEY WERE ASKING ANY HEALTH CARE WORKER WHO OT INFECTED IN THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS TESTED POSITIVE TODAY, IF THEY WERE NOT SEVERELY ILL, PLEASE STAY AT WORK WITH AN N95 RESPIRATOR ON OR IT MEANT NOT HAVING ANYBODY BY THAT PATIENT'S BEDSIDE FOR THE NEXT EIGHT HOURS.

THAT'S HOW DIFFICULT THIS WILL BE.

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT BUSINESS AS USUAL.

FOR THREE TO OUR WEEKS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WE GOT TO GET THROUGH.

IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE WORKING AT THE PLANTS THAT MANUFACTURE OXYGEN AND THEN WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE DRIVING THE TRUCKS TO DELIVER THAT OXYGEN TO THE HOSPITALS, WE'RE GOING TO RUN OUT OF OXYGEN IN THE UNITED STATES IN OUR HOSPITALS, JUST LIKE THEY DID IN INDIA, SOMETHING WE THOUGHT COULD NEVER HAPPEN HERE.

SO, YOU KNOW WHAT, I'LL TAKE SOMEBODY WHO'S ON DAY FIVE OF THEIR INFECTION WHO STILL, YOU KNOW, MAY BE INFECTIOUS, I BELIEVE MUCH LOWER, I'LL PUT AN N59 ON THEM AND SAY PLEASE HELP OUT.

JUST BECAUSE YOU GET SHOT IN THE FOOT RIGHT NOW DOESN'T MEAN YOU GET TO LEAVE THE WAR ZONE.

THIS IS WAR AGAINST THIS VIRUS.

>> Eric: IS THE CONCEPT OF HERD IMMUNITY OBSOLETE NOW?

>> WELL, YEAH, I THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT AND I HAVE NOT BE' BELIEVED IN HERD IMMUNITY FOR PROBABLY A YEAR AND A HALF.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU -- YOU'VE REMINDED ME OF THIS, ERIC, JUST BY NOTE, I SAID ON THIS VERY SHOW OVER A YEAR AGO THAT I THOUGHT THAT SOME OF THE DARKEST DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC WERE AHEAD OF US.

YOU'VE REMINDED ME OF THAT FROM TIME TO TIME WHEN CASE NUMBERS HAVE COME DOWN.

THIS IS WHAT I'VE WORRIED ABOUT, IS THE VARIANTS, WHAT IMPACT THEY CAN HAVE.

WE WATCHED WHAT DELTA'S DONE, WE'VE NOW WATCHED WHAT OMICRON HAS DONE AND WHAT IT SAYS IS WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NEXT VARIANT WILL BE.

I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE THE AUDIENCE SITTING HERE THINKING THIS WILL BE LIKE THIS FOREVER, AGAIN, REMIND YOU, I THINK OMICRON IS ANOTHER THREE- TO FOUR-WEEK MAJOR SURGE BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT ANOTHER VARIANT IS OT GOING TO ARRIVE IN MARTHA COULD UNDO THE IMMUNE PROTECTION FROM OUR CURRENT VACCINES, EVEN MORE THAN MICRON, OR THAT IT COULD UNDO THE PROTECTION YOU GET FROM HAVING AN OMICRON INFECTION.

THIS IS WHAT MAKES THIS VIRUS SO, SO DIFFICULT.

SO I THINK THAT THAT'S THE CHALLENGE WOULD HE HAVE GOING FORWARD.

>> Cathy: SO COVID IS HERE TO STAY.

PRESIDENT BIDEN ISN'T SO SURE ABOUT THAT.

>> WELL, WHAT HE'S SAYING AND I WAS PART OF A SERIES OF ARTICLES THAT CAME OUT YESTERDAY IN THE JOURNAL OF MERGE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION TRYING TO LOOK FORWARD TO HOW DO WE LIVE WITH THIS GOING FORWARD AND THAT'S WHAT HE SAID YESTERDAY, WE HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO LIVE WITH THIS VIRUS GOING FORWARD.

AND THAT'S THE CASE.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THIS GO AWAY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT LIKE AN INFLUENZA PANDEMIC, AFTER A YEAR OF SURGES OF CASES, IT WOULD MELD AWAY INTO BEING A SEASONAL FLU VIRUS, THIS ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THIS ONE.

SO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS FIGURE IT OUT.

I DO BELIEVE WITH A SENSE OF OPTIMISM, AND, YOU KNOW, MY FIRST APPEARANCES ON THIS SHOW BACK IN 1986 WERE ABOUT A DISEASE THAT WAS A DEATH SENTENCE, HIV.

BACK THEN, BASICALLY, IF YOU HAD HIV, IT WAS A DEATH SENTENCE.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED?

WE'VE TURNED IT INTO A CHRONIC DISEASE IN MANY CASES WITH THERAPEUTIC DRUGS, TREATMENT DRUGS.

I THINK E'RE GOING TO SEE THE SAME THING WITH COVID OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT YEAR.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE VACCINATION BUT ALSO IF WE CAN FIND PEOPLE VERY EARLY IN THEIR INFECTION, IF WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S WHAT THEY HAVE IS COVID ND WE CAN TREAT THEM WITH THESE DRUGS, WE CAN VIRTUALLY TAKE SERIOUS ILLNESS HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATHS OFF THE TABLE.

WOULDN'T THAT BE A BIG CHANGE?

WOULDN'T THAT GET US FARTHER ALONG IN SOCIETY EVERY DAY?

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT HOPEFULLY WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING.

>> Cathy: WELL, WE'LL LEAVE IT THERE.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE -- >> CAN I JUST ADD ONE THING?

I DON'T USUALLY DO THIS.

I WANT TO MAKE AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THIS WEEK, MEL REEVES WHO IS A TWICE BLACK JOURNALIST, PART OF THE MINNESOTA RECORDER -- SPOKESMAN RECORDER, WHO WAS A COVERING COVID AND DID SUCH A GOOD JOB, INTERVIEWED ME LAST WEEK.

HE PUBLISHED THE ARTICLE ON DECEMBER 30th.

YESTERDAY MEL DIED FROM COVID AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ALL ARE GOING TO MISS HIM A LOT.

THIS IS A BIG, BIG LOSS TO OUR COMMUNITY TO SEE MEL REEVES DIE AND OF ALL THINGS, IRONICALLY, THE DAY AFTER HE PUBLISHES AN ARTICLE ON COVID.

>> Eric: WE'LL HAVE SOME TAPE OF HIM COME UP IN THE SHOW SO THAT'S A GOOD PREVIEW OF THAT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU GUYS.

>> Eric: YOU BET.

>> Cathy: SEE YA.

♪ >> Mary: MINNESOTA U.S.

SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR HAS TAKEN A LEAD IN REMEMBERING THE INSURRECTION AT THE USE CAPITOL.

THAT'S WHERE SHE JOINS US FROM.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE COMMITTEE MEETING YOU CHAIRED.

YOU HAD BIPARTISAN BUY-IN, PARTICIPATION, WHAT DID YOU LEARN?

>> WELL, THANKS, MARY, AND MY PIECE OF THIS HAS BEEN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE AFTER THE SECURITY BREAKDOWNS AND AS CHAIR OF THE RULES COMMITTEE, SENATOR BLOUNT, WHO'S THE REPUBLICAN FROM MISSOURI AND I, ISSUED A REPORT WITH 20 RECOMMENDATIONS AND WE ASKED THE NEW POLICE CHIEF TO OME IN AND GO THROUGH ALL OF THEM WITH US.

WHAT DID WE LEARN?

WE LEARNED, ONE, WHILE WE HAVE A NEW POLICE CHIEF, THAT WAS OUR NUMBER ONE GOAL.

NUMBER TWO, WE -- THE LAW THAT WE PASSED THAT MAKES IT EASIER FOR THE CHIEF TO CALL IN THE NATIONAL GUARD HAS BEEN HELPFUL BECAUSE BEFORE THERE WAS A HUGE DELAY.

THE NEXT THING WAS 75% OF THE OFFICERS THAT DAY WERE IN PLAIN CLOTHES.

IN MANY CASES, THE MOB THAT INVADED THE CAPITOL WAS WEARING MORE PROTECTIVE GEAR THAN THE OFFICERS THEMSELVES.

THAT HAS CHANGED.

AND FINALLY, THE HAUNTING WORDS OF THE OFFICER WHO SAID "DOES ANYONE HAVE A PLAN"?

THE ANSWER NOW COULD BE YES, THAT HORRIBLE DAY, THE ANSWER WAS NO.

AND SO THERE ARE SECURITY PLANS IN PLACE OR EVERY SINGLE EVENT.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK ABOUT MINNESOTA BECAUSE MINNESOTA ALSO HAD A PROTEST JANUARY 6th, MINNESOTANS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED.

WHAT ABOUT THE LOCAL CONCERNS?

>> YES, SO LIKE IN MANY STATES, THERE WERE PEOPLE ARRESTED, OVER 700 CASES ARE PENDING FOR THE VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW, AND I LET THE JUSTICE SYSTEM DEAL WITH THOSE BECAUSE I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE POLITICAL INTERFERENCE BUT I THINK IT IS VERY CLEAR, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES MADE CLEAR THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY.

YOU CANNOT HAVE PEOPLE GOING INTO THE U.S. CAPITOL WITH BAYONETS AND BEAR SPRAY AS A RESULT OF THAT DAY, FOUR OFFICERS HAVE DIED THAT WERE WITH THE POLICE THAT WERE THERE THAT DAY.

ONE DIED THE NEXT DAY.

WE'VE HAD OTHER PEOPLE KILLED, AS WELL, THAT WERE PARTICIPANTS IN THE INSURRECTION, AND THERE WERE MANY, MANY OFFICERS INJURED, OVER 100 OF THEM, AND SEEING THE CUTS ON THEIR FACES, AND THE ANGUISH ON THEIR FACES THAT DAY, IT WAS AN ALL-OUT ASSAULT.

>> Mary: HOW ABOUT GOING FORWARD?

YOU KNOW, ONGOING THREATS, ONGOING ONCERNS, THERE'S STILL GO ANGST AND SOME DISBELIEF IN OUR STATE AND THE COUNTRY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK GOING FORWARD?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT PEOPLE NEED TO BE BETTER PREPARED FOR ALL OF THIS, AND BY THE WAY, THE THREATS ON U.S. CAPITOL OR STATE CAPITOL AREN'T NECESSARILY FROM THE HOMELAND, YOU CAN HAVE FOREIGN THREATS, AS WELL, AND THREATS TO OUR DEMOCRACY, AND MAYBE PEOPLE JUST HAVE GOTTEN TOO COMPLACENT ABOUT OUR DEMOCRACY AND BELIEVE, WELL, IT'S JUST THERE NO MATTER WHAT.

THAT'S JUST NOT TRUE.

AS WE SAW THAT DAY, IT'S REALLY, REALLY FRAGILE AND IT'S ON ALL OF OF US NO ATTER WHERE WE ARE POLITICALLY TO UPHOLD THAT DEMOCRACY AND MAKE SURE IT'S PROTECTED.

>> Mary: WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE REST OF THE INNESOTA DELEGATION, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN REPORTS THAT THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION IN PARTICULAR HASN'T REALLY RESPONDED, THERE HAVE BEEN MEDIA REQUESTS SAYING, WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE ON THIS ANSWER VEERY, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?

>> I THINK A LOT OF THIS HAS TO DO WITH DONALD TRUMP, HIS SHADOW IS STILL HANGING OVER THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN A MAJOR WAY, A LOT OF THEM ARE AFRAID TO CROSS HIM.

>> THAT MOB DESECRATED OUR CAPITOL.

THE TEMPLE OF OUR DEMOCRACY AND DELAYED THE COUNTING OF THE ELECTORAL VOTES.

>> Mary: SO HOW, IN YOUR COMMITTEE HEARING, DID YOU GET REPUBLICANS, THEN, TO SHOW UP, PARTICIPATE, ASK QUESTIONS, BECAUSE THAT IS STANDING OUT RIGHT NOW?

>> INCLUDING TED CRUZ, A LOT OF THAT, I ASKED, YOU KNOW, STRAIGHTFORWARD QUESTIONS.

A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH SENATOR BLUNT AND MYSELF, WE'RE VERY GOOD FRIENDS AND WE GOVERN THAT COMMITTEE IN A WAY THAT'S BIPARTISAN.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IF WE HAVE A BREAKDOWN WHEN IT COMES TO POLITICIZATION OF EVENING RUN THE POLICE FORCE, THAT IS A HUGE PROBLEM.

SO WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE NEW CHEF AND WORKED WITH BOTH PARTIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE POLICE HAVE THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO DO THEIR JOBS, AND I THINK THAT CAUSE AND THE BELIEF THAT THEY PUT THEMSELVES BETWEEN US AND DEATH HAVE MOTIVATED PEOPLE THIS YEAR TO AT LEAST BE BIPARTISAN WHEN IT COMES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ROY AND MY FRIENDSHIP I THINK IS ALSO HELPING BECAUSE WE BRING PEOPLE IN OGETHER.

EVEN IF WE HAVE ISSUES THAT WE DISAGREE ON, WE TEND TO DO IT IN A CIVIL WAY AS A MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE SENATE.

I'M NOT SAYING IT ALWAYS WORKS, MARY, BUT IT WORKS ON OUR COMMITTEE.

>> Mary: FINALLY, T WAS A HIGH PROFILE WEEK.

YOU WERE CHAIRING A COMMITTEE, YOU WERE HELPING RUN A FLOOR SESSION, I'VE ALREADY THE ONE PHONE CALL THIS MORNING SAYING, WHAT IS SHE RUNNING FOR?

SENATOR KLOBUCHAR, ARE YOU SEEKING HIGHER OFFICE?

>> I AM DOING MY JOB.

I AM ACTUALLY DOING MY JOB AS SENATOR, IN THE SENATE.

I'M STILL HERE.

ON FRIDAY DOING MY JOB BECAUSE I THINK THAT THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.

♪♪ >> CATHY: YESTERDAY, PRESIDENT BIDEN GAVE A FULL-THROATED DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACY AND SIGNALED ONCE AGAIN THAT BEDROCK AMERICAN POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS WERE IN PERIL.

UNTIL RECENTLY, IT WOULD BE UNTHINKABLE FOR A U.S. PRESIDENT TO FEEL THE NEED TO SOUND SUCH AN ALARM.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE STATE OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY IN 2022 IS POLITICAL SCIENTIST AND ATTORNEY DAVID SCHULTZ.

DAVID TEACHES AT HAMLINE UNIVIVERSITY AND MITCHELL HAMLINE SCHOOL OF LAW.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> Cathy: WELL, THAT WAS A BLUNT SPEECH THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN GAVE, WENT AFTER FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

I'M CURIOUS, WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THE MESSAGE?

>> ELL, I THOUGHT THERE WERE SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WERE INTERESTING ABOUT IT.

FIRST OFF, I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING THAT IT STARTED OFF THE DAY.

I THINK THAT WHAT BIDEN WANTED TO DO WAS OWN THE AY BY GOING AT 8:00 OUR TIME BUT SECOND, WHAT HE WANTED TO DO IS TO REALLY PUT, I THINK, DONALD TRUMP, ALTHOUGH HE DIDN'T MENTION HIM, DONALD TRUMP AND THE OTHERS WHO SORT OF ASCRIBE TO THIS IDEA THAT THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN, PUT THEM ON THE DEFENSIVE.

AND HE WENT THROUGH, WHAT, HE LISTED WHAT WERE THE THREE LIES, AND WHAT HE TRIED TO DO, I THINK IN THE COURSE OF HIS SPEECH, WAS TO MARGINALIZE TRUMP, MARGINALIZE THOSE PEOPLE AND THEN USE THAT AS A SPRINGBOARD FOR REALLY SORT OF, I THINK, BOTH CHEERLEADING OUR DEMOCRACY BUT ALSO POINTING OUT THE THREATS THAT IT FACES.

>> Eric: WAS IS MESSAGE THE DEMOCRATS BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY AND REPUBLICANS DON'T?

>> I THINK IT WAS VERY CLOSE TO THAT OR AT LEAST I'M GOING TO REPHRASE THAT, IT'S GOING TO BE THAT SOME OF THE REPUBLICANS DON'T BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY AND, AGAIN, TRYING TO MARGINALIZE THEM AND SEPARATE THEM FROM THE REST OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

SO I THINK IT WAS REALLY AN EFFORT, IF I CAN USE THE PHRASE, DIVIDE AND CONQUER, THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT WAS, PUT THEM ON THE DEFENSIVE TO SAY, LISTEN, THERE'S BEEN COURT CHALLENGES, THERE'S BEEN STUDIES AFTER STUDIES, LISTEN, FOLKS, YOU DON'T HAVE PROOF THAT THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN AND, B, THAT, GUESS WHAT, YOU FOLKS ARE A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY IF YOU BELIEVE THIS.

>> Cathy: MARY ASKED SENATOR KLOBUCHAR THIS AND I'M CURIOUS WHAT YOU THINK.

WHY ARE G.O.P.

LAWMAKERS WHITE-WASHING, DEFLECTING, IGNORING THE REALTIES OF WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY?

>> I THINK SHE HAS AN ACCURATE ANSWER THERE, THAT I THINK TO A LARGE EXTENT, DONALD TRUMP STILL HAS SUCH A GRIP UPON LARGE PORTIONS OF THE ELECTORATE.

REMEMBER, HE GOT OVER 70 MILLION VOTES AND I THINK AT THIS POINT, HE STILL IS A POWERFUL FORCE WITHIN THE PARTY.

WE'RE SEEING ACROSS THE COUNTRY HOW CANDIDATES ARE STILL LOOKING FOR DONALD TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENTS SO I HATE TO SORT OF SAY IT'S LL ABOUT DONALD TRUMP BUT IT REALLY S ALL ABOUT DONALD TRUMP AT THIS POINT.

>> Eric: SEGMENTS OF THE LEFT AND RIGHT BELIEVE THAT IF THE OTHER GETS IN POWER, THE COUNTRY IS DONE.

DEMOCRACY IS OVER.

I MEAN, WHERE DO YOU GO FROM THERE?

>> THIS IS A REALLY TOUGH ONE BECAUSE FOR A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT REASONS, BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS THINK DEMOCRACY IS THREATENED.

BUT FOR A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT REASONS, AND THEY CAN'T AGREE ON THE REASONS FOR THAT IN THE SAME WAY THEY CAN'T AGREE ON THE REASONS FOR ANYTHING ELSE.

I HATE TO AY IT BUT SORT OF THE STATUS OF AMERICAN POLITICS RIGHT NOW FOR THE FORSEEABLE FUTURE IS THAT JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING IS GOING TO DIVIDE US, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SORT OF, I DON'T KNOW, INCREMENTALLY MUDDLE THROUGH FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS IN TERMS OF DEALING WITH THIS INTENSE PARTISANSHIP.

NOW, LONGER TERM, WE'VE GOT PRETTY GOOD EVIDENCE THAT AS WE START TO SEE GENERATIONAL SHIFTS ACOULD YOUR IN THE UNITED STATES, A LOT OF THIS WILL BREAK BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE SHORT TERM.

>> Eric: IT SEEMED TRENDY THIS WEEK FOR SOME PUNDITS TO TALK ABOUT A COMING CIVIL WAR, SECOND CIVIL WAR AND IN THE 1860s, YOU WOULD SLAVERY, VIETNAM IN THE '60s.

WHAT WOULD BE THE DRIVING ISSUE IN A NEW CIVIL WAR IN THE U.S.?

>> WELL, FIRST OFF, I O THINK THAT IS EXAGGERATED IN TERMS OF THE FACT THAT WE'RE HEADED INTO THAT DIRECTION HERE BUT IF IT WERE TO BE I THINK AMONG THE DIFFERENT THINGS IS WHAT, THE VERY FOUNDATION OF WHETHER WE HAVE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S SO IMPORTANT IN AMERICAN HISTORY FROM 1800 ON, 1800 WE HAD PEACEFUL CHANGE OF PARTY CONTROL IN THE UNITED STATES AND THAT ESTABLISHED A PATTERN WHERE THE LOSER SAID, I LOST, GOOD LUCK TO THE WINNER.

THE 2020 ELECTION BROKE THAT DOWN AND THAT'S THE CHALLENGE HERE.

BUT I WANT TO SORT OF MAKE A COMMENT HERE.

I REMEMBER AFTER THE VIETNAM WAR, AFTER NIXON, EVERYBODY WAS WRANG WILL THEIR HANDS SAYING WE'RE GOING TO THE PROVERBIAL HELL IN A HAND BASKET.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS WAS A BOOK THAT SAID THE IRONY OF THE SYSTEM, IT WORKED.

AND DESPITE AMOUNT TENSIONS, ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE FACING IN THIS COUNTRY, GUESS WHAT, WE STILL MANAGED TO HOLD AN ELECTION, WE STILL MADE A TRANSITION TO POWER.

AS FAR AS I KNOW, I DON'T SEE ANY TANKS IN THE STREETS ANYWHERE.

IT'S NOT A PRETTY PICTURE BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE AS CLOSE TO CIVIL WAR AS SOME OF THE PUN DITZ WANT TO SAY, OF WHICH PART OF THAT I'M GOING TO SAY IS WHAT, THAT'S HOW THEY SELL SOAP.

>> Cathy: YES, BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF LEGISLATURES IN THE -- THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY PASSING VOTING -- ANTI-VOTING RIGHTS LEGISLATION.

DO YOU WORRY ABOUT EVEN THIS NOVEMBER ELECTION COMING UP HERE IN 2022?

>> I DO AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THEOLOGIES MESSAGES THAT CAME OUT IN BIDEN'S SPEECH YESTERDAY WAS IMMISS -- IMPLICITLY THE IDEA WHAT THE DEMOCRATS DEMOCRATS HAVE TO TAKE A STAND ON NOW IS RYING TO PASSÉ NEW VOTING RIGHTS BILL.

I AND I THINK THAT'S THE FOCUS LEADING UP TO JANUARY 17th BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE LEARNED IN THIS COUNTRY THROUGHOUT HISTORY, STATES LEFT TO THEIR OWN DON'T EXPAND AND PROTECT VOTING RIGHTS.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LAST TO STEP IN IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM AND THAT'S THE REAL CHALLENGE NOW, THAT IF WE DON'T PASS SOME KIND OF VOTING RIGHTS LEGISLATION TO CREATE UNIFORM STANDARDS, WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE IT UP TO 50 DIFFERENT STATES AND A LOT OF THOSE STATES ARE NOT GOING TO, WHAT, PROTECT VOTING RIGHTS.

>> Cathy: ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, BY THE WAY.

>> HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU.

>> Cathy: SEE YA LATER.

♪♪ >> ERIC: EARLIER THIS WEEK, WHEN THREE MEMBERS OF THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL WERE SWORN INTO OFFICE, THEY LAID THEIR HAND ON THE SAME CEREMONIAL COPY OF THE QUR'AN.

AND IT TURNS OUT THIS QUR'AN HAS BEEN USED BY MANY OTHER MINNESOTA MUSLIM POLITICIANS WHEN TAKING THE OATH OF OFFICE.

THIS WEEK REPORTER HIBAH ANSARI WITH THE SAHAN JOURNAL WROTE ABOUT THIS STORY.

SHE'S A REPORTER FOR AMERICA JOURNALIST AT SAHAN.

ALMANAC'S KAYLAND JACKSON, ALSO A REPORT FOR AMERICA FELLOW, SPOKE WITH ANSARI ABOUT THIS LITTLE-KNOWN PIECE OF MINNESOTA POLITICAL HISTORY.

>> THANKS FOR JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT YOUR STORY.

IT WAS A STORY ABOUT A LARGE QUR'AN THAT MEMBERS OF THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL RECENTLY SIGNED AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE TO THAT QUR'AN.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE STORY FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T READ IT?

>> SO THE NEW CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WERE SELECTED IN NOVEMBER WERE SWORN IN ON MONDAY AND PART OF THAT SWEARING-IN EREMONY INVOLVES HOLDING YOUR HAND TO A BOOK AND RECITING AN OATH OF OFFICE TO MARK YOUR ENTRANCE INTO THE CITY COUNCIL OR TO ANY POSITION OF OFFICE.

SO THIS TIME AROUND, THREE MUSLIM CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE SWORN IN, IT'S THE MOST THAT THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL HAS EVER SWORN IN AT ONCE AND THEY ALL USED THE SAME CEREMONIAL QUR'AN FOR THEIR SWEARING-IN CEREMONY.

IT'S ALSO THE SAME QUR'AN THAT HAS BEEN USED FOR OTHER CEREMONIES FOR OTHER ELECTS IN THE STATE INCLUDING REPRESENTATIVE ILHAN OMAR, ATTORNEY GENERAL KEITH ELLISON, A WHOLE SLATE OF STATE LEGISLATORS, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, ET CETERA.

>> YOU LAUNCHED INTO THIS STORY WITH SOME OF THE HISTORY OF THIS QUR'AN BE SIGNED BY, AS YOU MENTIONED, ILHAN OMAR, OTHER REALLY BIG FIGURES.

HOW DID THIS STORY KIND OF CHANGE OR EVOLVE AS YOU WERE REPORTING ON IT?

>> THE STORY SORT OF STARTED OUT JUST COVERING THE SWEARING-IN CEREMONY ITSELF.

A COLLEAGUE OF MINE ACTUALLY HAD SENT A 2003 IN OUR CHANNELS -- A TWEET IN OUR CHANNELS SHOWING THE THREE MUSLIM CANDIDATES, JAMAL OSMAN AND [INDISCERNIBLE] AND KEITH ELLISON, HOLDING THIS QUR'AN.

AND JUST WRITING ABOUT THE ACTUAL SWEARING-IN CEREMONY ITSELF, I LEARNED ABOUT THE -- THIS QUR'AN THAT HAD BEEN USED BY DOZENS OF OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS ACROSS THE STATE AND HOW IT HAD SORT OF BECOME THIS MARKER OF THIS LEGACY THAT'S BEEN CREATED IN MINNESOTA IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SPHERE.

>> WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE QUR'AN IN YOUR STORY, YOU MENTIONED THAT IT WAS FIRST INTRODUCED ESSENTIALLY WITH THE FUTURE IN MIND, THINKING THAT IT WOULD EVENTUALLY BE SIGNED BY MORE PROMINENT MEMBERS AND MORE MEMBERS OF MINNESOTA'S MUSLIM COMMUNITY OVER TIME.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS WHEN IT COMES TO POLICY, POLITICS AND THE LEGISLATURE NOR MINNESOTANS AND MUSLIM MINNESOTANS BASED OFF YOUR REPORTING?

>> YEAH, SO THE QUR'AN WAS ACTUALLY -- AND THE WHOLE CEREMONY SURROUNDING THIS QUR'AN WAS KIND OF STARTED Y IMAM ASAS ZAMAN IN MINNESOTA AND HE IRST PURCHASED THIS WITH THE INTENTION TO USE IT FOR REPRESENTATIVE ILHAN OMAR'S SWEARING IN CEREMONY.

HE GOT ALMOST ALL OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS BEFORE HER TO SIGN IT, AS WELL, AND HIS INTENTION FOR IT AS THAT ANY MUSLIM ELECTED OFFICIAL IN THE STATE CAN REQUEST ITS USE FOR THEIR OWN SWEARING-IN CEREMONIES.

AND HE HAS SORT OF INTENDED THAT IT'S AVAILABLE FOR USE FOR ANYONE AND THAT ONE DAY, IF AND WHEN THERE IS A MUSLIM PRESIDENT, THAT PRESIDENT COULD REQUEST THIS SAME QUR'AN TO BE USED FOR THEIR OWN OATH OF OFFICE.

IT ALSO HAS KIND OF SHOWN HOW JUST THROUGH THE LIST OF SIGNATURES HOW MANY MUSLIM ELECTED OFFICIALS THERE ARE IN THIS STATE NOW, ESPECIALLY IN THE CITY COUNCIL, AS I SAID BEFORE, THERE ARE NOW THREE MUSLIM CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THAT'S THE MOST THERE HAVE EVER BEEN AT ONCE ON THE COUNCIL.

JEREMIAH ELLISON HAD ACTUALLY TOLD ME THAT HE USED TO JOKE ABOUT CREATING A MUSLIM CAUCUS IN THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL WHERE THEY COULD KIND OF HAVE A FEW MEMBERS WHO ARE KIND OF ACCESSIBLE TO THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY IN MINNEAPOLIS.

NOW IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S BECOME LESS OF A JOKE AND MORE - OF A POTENTIAL REALITY AS THE THREE MEMBERS ARE ALREADY KIND OF PLANNING ON WAYS THAT THEY CAN SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER BUT ALSO SHOW THAT THEY ARE ACCESSIBLE TO THE COMMUNITY SHOULD MUSLIM RESIDENTS OF THE CITY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS THAT THEY CAN GO TO ANY OF THE THREE OF THEM REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE ACTUALLY REPRESENTATIVES OF THEIR WARD.

SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING CREATING DOWN THE ROAD.

♪♪ >> HAVE I MENTIONED THAT I, LIKE MANY PEOPLE, REALLY DISLIKE BEING TERRIBLE AT THINGS?

I WENT BACK TO SCHOOL THIS FALL, A WEB DEVELOPMENT BOOTCAMP.

LEARNING TO CODE IN 22 WEEKS.

LIKE THE NAME IMPLIES, THE PACE IS GRUELING, AND, I HATE TO ADMIT THIS, BUT I AM NOT GOOD AT IT.

I THOUGHT I WAS READY FOR A CHALLENGE, BUT I MEANT A CHALLENGE THAT'S ONLY KIND OF CHALLENGING.

A "LIGHT JOG AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD" KIND OF CHALLENGING, WHERE YOU GET YOUR HEART RATE UP BUT STILL FEEL PRETTY CHIPPER WHEN YOU'RE DONE, NOT "RUNNING UP AND DOWN A HILL 20 TIMES THEN DOING 100 BURPEES" KIND OF CHALLENGING, WHERE YOU'RE MISERABLE AND JUST WANT TO VOMIT AT THE END.

THIS BOOTCAMP IS THE SECOND KIND OF CHALLENGE.

MY SON AND I WENT SLEDDING JUST AFTER THAT BIG SNOWSTORM A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND AFTER WE GOT TO THE BOTTOM, HE NEVER WANTED TO TAKE THE EASY WAY BACK UP THE HILL.

HE WANTED TO GO UP BETWEEN THE TREES, WHERE THE HILL WAS STEEPEST, EVEN IF IT MEANT FALLING AND SLIDING BACK DOWN THE HILL, GIGGLING ALL THE WAY.

I TRIED TO STEER HIM TOWARD THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE.

HE FOLLOWED HIS CURIOSITY AND HIS INTERESTS.

I DON'T MAKE RESOLUTIONS BUT, IF I DID, I'D DECIDE TO LOOK AT MY BOOTCAMP THE WAY MY CHILD LOOKS AT A SLEDDING HILL, NO REGARD FOR THE DIFFICULTY, LETTING CURIOSITY LEAD.

I MIGHT FALL DOWN A LOT -- AND I DO, AND IT IS NOT PRETTY -- BUT IT'S DEFINITELY MORE FUN THAT WAY, AND, EVENTUALLY, YOU MAKE IT TO THE TOP OF THE HILL.

♪♪ >> CATHY: AS ST. PAUL'S ORDWAY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS STARTS A NEW CALENDAR YEAR, IT HAS A NEW LEADER.

CHRIS HARRINGTON.

HARRINGTON HAS BEEN AT THE HELM SINCE NOVEMBER.

PREVIOUSLY, HE WORKED FOR A DECADE AT THE DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.

WELCOME TO MINNESOTA AND WELCOME TO "ALMANAC."

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

I'M HONORED TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME TODAY.

>> Cathy: OF COURSE WE'LL TALK ALL ABOUT THE ORDWAY BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT YOU, I THINK IT'S INTERESTING, YOUR EXPERIENCE AT THE DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.

I HEAR YOU INCREASED THE REVENUE 300%?

A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THAT SYMPHONIES AND OTHER NONPROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATIONS ARE LOOKING AT THAT AND GOING, WOW, HOW DID HE DO THAT?

HOW DID YOU DO THAT?

>> YEAH, SO IT WAS A NEW PROGRAM THAT WAS GEARED TOWARDS BRINGING NEW AUDIENCES TO THE ORCHESTRA AND REALLY HAD AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

IT WAS ALL ABOUT GETTING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, LISTENING, SEEING WHAT THEIR NEEDS WERE AND BEING ABLE TO DELIVER ON THAT AND THEN, AGAIN, MY BACKGROUND HAS BEEN IN MARKETING AND PROGRAMMING PRETTY MUCH MY ENTIRE PROFESSIONAL CAREER SO JUST BEING ABLE TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE TEAM AND REALLY RAMSEY COUNTY STRATEGICALLY MINDED TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE MEAN MORE TO MORE PEOPLE AND HOW WE GET THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN TO SUPPORT.

IT WAS A REALLY BIG TEAM EFFORT AND HONOR THAT I GOT A CHANCE TO DO THAT IN DETROIT.

>> Cathy: HOW DID YOU GET PEOPLE IN THE SEATS?

>> IT WAS ALL ABOUT FIGURING OUT HOW TO REACH THEM, WHY THEY SHOULD CARE AND FIGURING OUT HOW TO NOT ONLY MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE BUT TO FIGURE OUT HOW IT ADDED VALUE TO THEIR PARTICULAR LIVES.

IF YOU DIDN'T GROW UP WITH THE TRADITION OF GOING TO ORCHESTRA HALL OR THE THEATER WHEN YOU WERE A KID, WHY WOULD IT REGISTER AS A PLACE WHERE YOU COULD SEE YOURSELF REPRESENTED?

SO IT WAS ABOUT FIGURING OUT HOW IT CONNECTS TO OMETHING RELEVANT IN THEIR LIVES.

I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

FOR INSTANCE, IF PEOPLE WERE NOT NECESSARILY FAMILIAR WITH CLASSICAL MUSIC, THEY MIGHT BE FAMILIAR WITH YOGA SO BEING ABLE TO PAIR THINGS LIKE YOGA WITH LIVE CHAMBER MUSIC WAS ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY SUCCESSFUL IN DETROIT SO AGAIN CONNECTING THAT THING THAT'S FAMILIAR WITH THE THING THAT WE ULTIMATELY WANT THEM TO EXPERIENCE AND IF YOU CAN DO THAT IN A MEANINGFUL AND AUTHENTIC WAY, WE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH THAT.

>> Eric: THE ORDWAY HAD COME OFF AN 1-MONTH SHUTDOWN BECAUSE OF COVID AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU'RE BACK IN BUSINESS WITH THE DONNA SUMMER MUSICAL AND NOW ITS RUN IS SHORTENED BECAUSE OF COVID.

YOU HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE IN THESE TIMES, HUH?

>> YOU DO.

I WILL SAY MY FIRST EXPERIENCE IN OVER, YOU KNOW, BEING CLOSED OVER 20 MONTHS WAS FIDDLER ON THE ROOFER AND I HAVE O TELL YOU WHEN I WAS ON THE STAGE AND LOOKING OUT INTO THE SEA OF PEOPLE, IT WAS AMAZING TO FEEL THE ENERGY AND EXPERIENCE FOR EXPERIENCING LIVE THEATER AGAIN.

AS YOU MENTIONED, WHICH DID PRESENT DON SUMMER THE MUSICAL A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AND IT WAS GREAT TO BE OUT IN THE AUDIENCE AND SEE PEOPLE COME IN, EXPERIENCE THIS AMAZING STORY, CELEBRATING SUCH AN INCREDIBLE ICON.

WE'RE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC BUT I WOULD SAY WITH EURO BUS HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET PATRONS IN AND OUT SAFELY AND, AGAIN, THOSE PROTOCOLS ARE SUCH THAT IF FOR SOME REASON THERE ARE POSITIVE CASES OR SITUATIONS WHERE WE DO NEED TO PIVOT, WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE TEAM, PROFESSIONAL TEAM, FRONT OF HOUSE, BACK OF HOUSE, THE CAST AND THEN ALSO GO OUR INCREDIBLE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO RELY ON.

SO IT'S GREAT THAT WHEN WE HAVE SITUATIONS LIKE THIS, WE'RE ABLE TO PIVOT QUICKLY AND, AGAIN, IT'S THANKS TO THE INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY HAD ARE BUT ALSO THE AMISSING TEAM THAT COULD ACTUALLY RESPOND O SITUATIONS LIKE THIS.

>> Cathy: SO YOU'RE STILL PRETTY NEW TO THE AREA.

WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES IN THIS MARKET?

>> YEAH, SO STILL PRETTY NEW TO THE AREA.

I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN HERE NOW TWO MONTHS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LOVE MOST IS JUST HOW VIBRANT AND THRIVING THIS ARTS COMMUNITY HERE IS, AND HAVE IN THE TWIN CITIES AND I WOULD SAY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY IS WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO SHOW THE - WORLD HOW TO EMERGE FROM THE CURRENT SITUATION THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH, NOT ONLY THE HEALTH PANDEMIC BUT THE RACIAL PANDEMIC.

I DON'T SAY THIS AS HYPERBOLE OR TO EXAGGERATE BUT I DO KNOW THERE ARE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WATCHING THE TWIN CITIES RIGHT NOW TO SEE HOW WE'RE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER COLLABORATIVELY AS A COMMUNITY TO SHOW YOU HOW THE ARTS CAN BE SORT OF A FORCE IN BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER, TO ESSENTIALLY EMERGE FROM THIS CURRENT SITUATION EVEN STRONGER AND BETTER.

SO BEING ABLE TO BE AT THE HELM OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT'S SO-WELL RESPECTED NOT ONLY HERE IN THE TWIN CITIES BUT ALL OVER THE WORLD, JUST REALLY, REALLY HONORED TO PARTNER WITH THIS COMMUNITY TO SHOW HOW WE CAN EMERGE EVEN STRONGER AND BETTER AND MORE UNITED.

>> Cathy: MAYBE YOU DON'T WANT TO SPILL THE BEANS BUILT WHAT INTERESTING COLLABORATION WOULD YOU LOOK AT AND SAY, YEAH, WE SHOULD TRY THAT?

[Laughter] I DON'TI DON'T WANT TO SPILL THE BEANS ET.

I WILL SAY WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF LOOKING AT WHAT NEXT SEASON WILL LOOK LIKE AND I'LL DEFINITELY BE SHARING THOSE DETAILS IN THE COMING MONTHS BUT A LOT OF REALLY EXCITING COLLABORATIONS THAT WE ARE EXPLORING NOW AND I'VE BEEN JUST SORT OF IMMERSED INTO THIS COMMUNITY OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS AND HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET GARY HINES FROM SOUNDS OF BLACKNESS AND SO MANY OTHER ARTISTS, I THINK ABOUT HOW RICH THE TRADITION IS HERE.

I'LL JUST TELL THAT YOU ONE OF MY FAVORITE ARTISTS GROWING UP WAS PRINCE, WAS ONE OF MY MOM'S FAVORITE ARTISTS SO IT'S INTERESTING ALL THESE FULL-CIRCLE MOMENT, ONE OF HER FAVORITE MOVIES WAS "PURPLE RAIN" SO BEING ABLE TO SEE THAT, TO GROW UP LOVING AND APPRECIATING HIS MUSIC, BEING ABLE TO YEARS LATER TAKE MY MOM TO SEE PRINCIPALS BEFORE HE PASSED AND THEN FAST-FORWARD TO THIS PAST SUMMER, HAD THE PLEASURE OF GOING TO PAISLEY PARK TO SEE JUST THAT AMAZING FACILITY AND BEING ABLE TO END PHOTOS BACK FROM THE MEMORABILIA FROM PURPLE RAIN WAS REALLY AMAZING SO I THINK ABOUT ARTISTS LIKE PRINCE IN MINT CONDITION AND SOUND OF BLACKNESS AND EVEN COLLECTIONS THAT I HAD TO THIS PARTICULAR AREA BEFORE COMING HERE.

CHARLES SCHULTZ, I LOVED THE CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS GROWING UP, TO BE EXPOSED TO JAZZ AND KNOWING THAT CHARMS SCHULTZ WAS FROM THIS AREA, AS WELL.

I'M FINDING?

FACE EVERYWHERE I LOOK AND IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE HOW EVERYTHING I'VE BEEN PREPARING TO IN MY LIFE HAS ULTIMATELY LED ME TO BEING IN THE TWIN CITIES RIGHT NOW SO HONORED TO BE HERE.

>> Eric: WHEN YOU'RE READY TO PROPER THE MOTH SOMETHING, COME BACK AND SEE US.

>> WILL DO.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT.

>> CATHY: COMMUNITY ACTIVIST AND WRITER MEL REEVES DIED EARLIER THIS WEEK FROM COMPLICATIONS CAUSED BY THE CORONAVIRUS.

REEVES WORKED FOR DECADES TO BRING ATTENTION TO RACIAL DISPARITIES IN MINNESOTA, USING ADVOCACY AND HIS WRITTEN WORDS AS AN EDITOR FOR THE STATE'S OLDEST BLACK-OWNED NEWSPAPER, "THE SPOKESMAN RECORDER."

MEL WAS 64 WHEN HE DIED.

LAST YEAR, HE WAS ONE OF THE VOICES FEATUERD IN A TPT "RACISM UNVEILED" STORY ABOUT BIAS IN THE MEDIA.

HERE'S A CLIP FROM THAT STORY.

>> SO THE IDEA THAT ANYBODY'S OBJECTIVE IS A MISNOMER, INACCURATE AND FOLKS WHO INSIST ON IT I SUSPECT ARE DISINGENUOUS.

OUR RITERS WHEN THEY GO THROUGH A PROTEST, WRITE THAT, TOO, GIVE ALL THE PERSPECTIVES OF THE PROTEST.

YOU CAN'T OBVIOUSLY COVER EVERYTHING BUT DON'T TAKE THE REVOLUTIONARY PERSPECTIVE OUT BECAUSE YOU DON'T AGREE WITH IT.

A GUY GETS UP AND SAYS, THIS SYSTEM SUCKS, DON'T TAKE IT OUT BECAUSE YOU THINK THE SYSTEM WORKS.

YOU AREN'T THERE TO ARGUE WITH THEM, YOU'RE THERE TO COVER WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.

THAT'S FAIR JUMPISM.

BLACK PRESS HAS BEEN ADVOCACY JOURNALISM, YOU CAN'T PLAY BOTH END.

WELL, WE'VE HAD TO PLAY BOTH ENDS, NOBODY'S FAULT.

PLAQUE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN OPPRESSED AND STILL ARE SO IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT OUR SITUATION, SO I HAVE US WILL HAVE TO BE JOURNALISTS.

THE MAINSTREAM PRESS TAKES A SIDE.

THE PRESS WILL ELL YOU THEY DON'T BUT THAT'S NAIVE.

WRITING SO YOU CAN SEE SOMETHING IS WRONG AND MAYBE YOU WANT TO CHANGE IT.

THAT'S WHAT I DO AS AN ACTIVIST BUT EVEN AS A JOURNALIST, I WRITE STORIES, I'M NOT JUST WRITING 'EM, I'M WRITING 'EM THAT HOPING SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN DIFFERENT, WRITING 'EM SO PEOPLE WILL BEGIN TO THINK, THIS IS WHAT ADVOCACY JOURNALISM IS ABOUT, WHICH IS WHY THE BLACK PRESS EXISTS TO BEGIN WITH.

♪♪ >> MINNESOTA IS THE LAND OF 10,000 LAKES.

AND ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES.

FIND YOUR TRUE NORTH, ONLY IN MINNESOTA.

>> Eric: ONE OF THE ECONOMIC SECTORS AEXHIBIT IFED BY THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN MINNESOTA'S MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR TOURISM INDUSTRY.

EXPLORE MINNESOTA HAS A NEW DIRECTOR AS OF NOVEMBER.

SHE'S LAUREN BENNETT McGINTY AND JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT TOURISM IN 2022.

LAUREN, WHAT KIND OF LOSSES HAS THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN MINNESOTA SUFFERED HERE IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS?

>> WELL, RIGHT NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT A LOSS OF APPROXIMATELY $11.6 BILLION AND SO TOURISM IN MINNESOTA IS HISTORICALLY -- 6.6 ILLION INDUSTRY NOTLY AND SINCE JANUARY OF 2020, WE'VE SEEN A BIG LOSS.

SO IT'S FAIRLY SUBSTANTIAL AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY THE A HUGE IMPACT ON OUR OPPORTUNITIES AND BUSINESSES.

>> Eric: STRIKES ME IT MIGHT BE GEOGRAPHIC A LITTLE BIT, FOLKS MIGHT WANT TO GET OUTSIDE AND GO TO NORTHERN MINNESOTA, MAYBE NOT SO MUCH IN THE TWIN CITIES, MINNEAPOLIS, St. PAUL, BLOOMINGTON, SOMETHING TO THAT AT ALL?

>> YEAH, I THINK WE ARE SO BLESSED HERE IN MINNESOTA TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A REAL FOUR-SEASON STATE AND YOU CAN'T SAY THAT ABOUT ALL THE STATES IN OUR COUNTRY SO, YOU KNOW, WE WERE REALLY FORTUNATE TO SEE PEOPLE TRAVELING DURING WINTER AND GETTING OUT AND TRYING NEW SPORTS THERE AND OBVIOUSLY RIGHT NOW, EVEN THOUGH IT'S VERY COLD TODAY, PEOPLE ARE SO HEARTY THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT AGAIN BUT WE DO SEE IN GREATER MINNESOTA, A LOT OF THE RESORT TOWNS IN PLACES WHERE YOU CAN DO MOUNTAIN BIKING OR HIKING, ARE SEEING A BETTER RECOVERY CERTAINLY THAN HE TWIN CITIES BUT WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF PLACES IN THE TWIN CITIES, BOOKING CONFERENCES AND SPORTING EVENTS AND CONCERTS AGAIN SO IT IS STARTING TO CLIMB BACK UP SLIGHTLY THERE, AS WELL.

>> Eric: BROADLY SPEAKING, FOR THE INDUSTRY, IS IT PART OF THE GREAT RESIGNATION OF FOLKS IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY?

WHAT'S THE STAFFING LEVELS LOOK LIKE?

>> UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE STILL SEEING SOME LOWER STAFFING LEVELS THAN WE'D LIKE TO SEE RIGHT NOW ND OBVIOUSLY AS A NEW WAVE OF THE PANDEMIC HITS, WITH EERIE STARTING TO SEE THAT IMPACT, SWALE.

WE ARE A WORKING WITH TEAMS IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY TO TRY TO DETERMINE WAYS WE CAN HELP BOOST THOSE LEVELS BACK UMM OR FIND FOLKS FOR THOSE JOBS.

THERE ARE CURRENTLY DISCUSSIONS HAPPENING ABOUT DIFFERENT TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES BUT WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THOSE JOBS BOUNCE BACK UP AND UNFORTUNATELY WE KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE LEFT THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY BUT WE ALSO KNOW HAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE LOOKING FOR WORK AND WOULD BE A GREAT FIT.

SO WE'RE HOPING THAT WE SEE SOME OF THOSE LEVELS GO UP IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS HERE AND DEFINITELY OVER THE SUMMER AGAIN.

>> Eric: IT WAS LIKE A 50% OCCUPANCY RATE FOR TWIN CITIES HOTELS, I THINK THE LAST 18 MONTHS, MAYBE NOT EVEN 50%?

IS THAT RECOVERING AND WHAT'S BEEN THE SITUATION THERE FOR THE HOTEL-MOTELS IN THE METRO?

>> SO WE'RE SLOWLY STARTING TO SEE THAT TICK BACK UP BUT IT IS STILL FAIRLY LOW ESPECIALLY IF YOU LOOK AT THE OVERALL RATES IN THE COUNTRY.

UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, THERE ISN'T SOME SORT OF MAGICAL ANSWER TO MAKE THAT BETTER BUT WE DO EVER A TON OF EVENTS HAPPENING THIS SPRING AND ACTUALLY SOME COMING UP IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS HERE, AS WELL, THAT WE'RE HOPING WILL REALLY BOOST.

WE HAVE THE GREAT NORTHERN FESTIVAL AT THE END OF JANUARY WHICH IS A 10-DAY FESTIVAL BRINGING IN PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND HOPEFULLY THE WORLD.

AND THEN WE'VE GOT THE NCAA WOMEN'S FINAL FOUR THIS SPRING.

WE'VE GOT A FEW LARGER CONFERENCES THAT ARE COMING, AS WELL, THE CRAFT BREWERS' COVERAGE AND THE WORLD BREWING CUP IS COMING SO THERE IS A LOT OF ACTIVITY GOING ON AND WE'RE HOPING THAT THAT REALLY CONTRIBUTES TO BUILDING BACK THOSE HOTEL OCCUPANCIES.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU SEE AS YOUR MARKET AREA AND WHAT KIND OF PITCH ARE YOU MAKING TO FOLKS, SAY, IN THE UPPER MIDWEST AND CHICAGO TO COME AND VISIT?

WHAT'S THE ADVERTISING STRATEGY NORTH UPCOMING SEASON?

>> FOR RIGHT NOW, WE'VE GOT A TON OF OUT-DOOR ACTIVITIES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PITCH TO PEOPLE, WHETHER IT'S HOCKEY R ICE FISHING, I'M ACTUALLY GOING ICE FISHING IN A FEW WEEKS SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

AND THEN WE'VE GOT IN THE SPRING A TON OF PITCHES THAT WE'RE DYING REGARDING MOUNTAIN BIKING, IT'S BECOME HUGELY POPULAR, ESPECIALLY KIND OF IN THE MESABI IRON RANGE AREA, THERE ARE A LOT OF NEW TRAILS THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS AND IT'S GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER SO WE'RE DEFINITELY PITCHING THAT.

AND AS WE GET TO THE SUMMER, WE'LL BE PITCHING OME PADDLE BOARDING BECAUSE IT'S PRETTY UNIQUE TO MINNESOTA AND WE HAVE LOTS OF LAKES, ESPECIALLY IN THE METRO AREA THAT CAN HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THOSE PADDLE BOARDS.

>> Eric: AND YOU'RE OFF AND RUNNING WITH THE WINTER CLASSIC HOCKEY GAME, THAT WAS PRICELESS PROPER MOTION, I WOULD GUESS.

>> YEAH, IT WAS FUN TO CHECK THAT OUT AND WE WERE ABLE TO TRICKLE INTO THE St. LOUIS MARKET, THERE, AS WELL AND GRAB SOME OF THOSE FOLKS COMING IN.

IT WAS THAT CLASSIC MINNESOTA HOCKEY EXPERIENCE AND IT WAS REALLY FUN TO SEE HOW IT ALL CAME TOGETHER.

>> ric: LAUREN BENNETT McGINTY, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME, GOOD LUCK IN 2022.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME, REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

♪♪ >> ERIC: CONGRESS CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE WITH ACCOUNTABLITY REGARDING THE STORMING OF THE CAPITOL ON JANUARY 6.

CLOSER TO HOME, LAWMAKERS WILL BE RETURNING TO ST. PAUL AT THE END OF THE MONTH, MANY OF THEM WONDERING ABOUT REDRAWN DISTRICTS THAT COULD PUT THEM OUT OF A JOB.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT AND OTHER POLITICAL MATTTERS FOR THE NEXT TEN MINUTES OR SO WITH TWO FORMER STATE SENATORS.

AMY KOCH IS A REPUBLICAN AND FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER.

JEFF HAYDEN IS A DEMOCRAT AND A FORMER ASSISTANT SENATE MAJORITY LEADER.

AMY KOCH, WE HAVE A CLASSIC FRIDAY NEWS DUMP TODAY.

THE REPUBLICAN SENATE ISSUED ITS REDISTRICTING MAPS.

NEW DISTRICTS FOR THE CONGRESS AND FOR THE LEGISLATURE.

IS THERE AN OUTSIDE CHANCE THAT THEY COULD COME UP WITH A CONGRESSIONAL PLAN AT LEAST BY FEBRUARY 15?

>> I MEAN, I THINK IT'S HIGHLY UNLIKELY.

REDISTRICTING IS THE MOST RAW POLITICAL THING THAT YOU CAN DO.

YOUYOU ARE REDRAWING THE LINES, THE LEGISLATURE IS DRAWING THEIR OWN LINES, AND THERE IS JUST -- BESIDES THE USUAL, LIKE, PARTISAN-D.F.L.-REPUBLICAN FIGHTING, THERE IS A TREMENDOUS INTER-PARTY FIGHT ON THOSE LINES BECAUSE THERE ARE JUST TIMES WHERE A D.F.L.

SENATOR MAY BE REDISTRICTED WITH ANOTHER D.F.L.

SENATOR.

OR YOU MIGHT LOSE THAT FAVORITE TOWN IN YOUR DISTRICT THAT WAS JUST, YOU KNOW, 80% REPUBLICAN AND NOW IT GOT REDISTRICTED TO SOMEBODY ELSE.

SO IT IS -- I THINK IT'S HIGHLY UNLIKELY FOR THE LAST HOW MANY DECADES NOW THAT COURTS HAVE DECIDED TO -- EXCEPT FOR THE ONE TIME THE GOVERNOR, ARNE CARLSON FORGOT TO VETO THE MAP BUT OTHER AN OTHER THAN THAT, THE LINES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DRAWN BY A JUDGE AND I HINK IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.

I THINK THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A MAP COMING OUT OF THIS LEGISLATURE.

>> Eric: SENATOR HAYDEN, IT WILL BE UP TO, THEN, A FIVE-JUDGE PANEL.

DO THE COURTS USUALLY GO LEAST CHANGE POSSIBLE OR WOULD THEY BE DOING SOMETHING MORE SWEEPING?

>> YEAH, I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO LEAST CHANGE POSSIBLE.

WE HAVE HAD A DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFT WHERE FOLKS HAVE MOVED INTO THE METRO AREA, THE 11-COUNTIES, CERTAINLY THE 7-COUNTY METRO AREA, MINNEAPOLIS AND St. PAUL GREW, SO THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT, BUT, YOU KNOW -- AND THEY ALSO HAVE CERTAIN PRINCIPLES AND I'M NOT THE REDISTRICTING GURU BUT I KNOW THAT THEY LOOK AT NATURAL FOUND AGREES AND INCUMBENCY AND PEOPLE OF COLOR, YOU KNOW, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO THEY'RE USUALLY PRETTY FAIR BUT THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGES BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH IN THE METRO AREA.

>> Cathy: SAY, A LOT OF LAWMAKERS THIS WEEK SAID THEY'RE NOT GOING TO RUN FOR REELECTION.

REPRESENTATIVES DAVNIE, LIPPET, HAMILTON, THAT'S ON TOP OF OTHERS WHO HAVE SAID THEY'RE NOT GOING TO RUN AGAIN.

SENATOR KOCH, WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> WELL, ONE, SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE STEPPING DOWN HAVE BEEN THERE FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND WE HAVE SOME -- IT'S INTERESTING, WE HAVE A REAL MIX OF, LIKE, VERY NEW LEGISLATORS AND A LOT OF LONG TIME.

I ALSO THINK AHEAD OF REDISTRICTING, YOU REALLY HAVE TO START THINKING BIT, WE'VE NOT REDISTRICTED IN TEN YEARS AND WHEN YOU START TO REDRAW THOSE LINES AND PEOPLE START TO -- IT'S JUST -- THERE'S JUST A SHIFT AND I THINK WE'LL SEE MORE, NOT ONLY ARE WE GOING TO SEE HOUSE MEMBERS AND SENATE MEMBERS DRAWN TOGETHER, SO SOMEBODY'S GOING TO HAVE A RUN-OFF OR SOMEBODY WILL HAVE TO STEP DOWN, BUT YOU ALSO JUST SORTS OF LIKE LOOK AT YOUR -- THE UNCERTAINTY MAKES YOU SORT OF THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

IN THE SENATE, THEY'RE UP NOW -- THEY WERE JUST UP IN TWO YEARS, THEY USUALLY GET A FOUR-YEAR TERM, THEY DON'T WITH REDISTRICTING SO THEY LOOK AT THE TWO-YEAR TERM AND THINK, OH, I'M NOT REALLY INTO RUNNING AGAIN AFTER JUST A YEAR OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

A VARIETY OF FACTORS GO INTO IT.

AND, YOU KNOW, NOT WITH STANDING, THE POLITICAL CLIMATE, IT'S NOT GREAT AND BEING AND SERVING IS REALLY -- IS DIFFICULT NOW.

>> Cathy: SENATOR HAYDEN, SOME FOLKS HAVE HAD PRIMARY CHALLENGERS, IS IT GETTING HARDER TO RUN?

>> YEAH, IT'S GETTING HARDER TO RUN.

I MEAN, THERE IS A NATURAL SHIFT THAT'S GOING ON, THE SENATE THAT AMY AND I WERE IN TENDED TO BE A LITTLE BIT OLDER, A LITTLE MORE MATURE AND THAT'S CHANGING.

MEMBERS ARE GETTING OLDER AND ARE THINKING ABOUT DO THEY WANT TO RUN?

A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE CHOMPING AT THE BUILT THAT WANT TO RUN AND THINK THEY HAVE THE RIGHT IDEA.

I THINK WE'RE AS POPLARRIZED AS WE'VE EVER BEEN AND IT HAS BEEN A COUPLE OF REALLY HARD YEARS WITH COVID AND ESPECIALLY IN THE METRO AREA WITH THE GEORGE FLOYD MURDER.

IT REALLY HAS TAKEN A TOLL ON MEMBERS.

THE OTHER THING THAT I'VE HEARD JUST A ITTLE BIT IS EVEN THOUGH WE'VE RAIDED OUR PAY OVER THE YEARS, IT'S STILL ISN'T MEETING INFLATION.

SO UNLESS YOU HAVE A SEPARATE JOB THAT ALLOWS YOU TO SERVE OR YOU HAVE A SPOUSE THAT IS DOING PRETTY WELL, IT'S REALLY HARD TO RAISE A FAMILY ON THAT SALARY.

>> Eric: SENATOR KOCH, A COUPLE OF THING ON THE CRIME ISSUE.

ONE IS SUBURBAN MAYORS SHE GETTING TOGETHER ON MONDAY TO, I GUESS, SHARE IDEAS ON HOW TO STEM THE SPREADING TIDE OF CRIMINALITY INTO THE SUBURBS, AND THEN YOU HAVE SHERIFF HUTCHINSON FROM HENNEPIN COUNTY WHERE FIVE OF THE SEVEN COUNTY BOARD MEMBERS MUCH ASKED FOR HIS RESIGNATION.

THEY CAN'T GET IT BUT THEY'VE ASKED FOR IT.

>> RIGHT, SO PUBLIC SAFETY IS GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT.

HERE WE ARE IN 2022 AND NOT SURPRISING, IT'S GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT AND POLICE REFORM AND LAW ENFORCEMENT REFORM IS GOING TO BE A PART OF THAT MIX BUT ALSO JUST WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON.

JUST TODAY I GOT AN AMBER ALERT BECAUSE SOMEONE'S CAR WAS STOLEN WITH A ONE-YEAR-OLD CHILD AND PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED AND THAT'S GOING TO PLAY -- THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG PART OF THIS ELECTION.

>> ric: HOW DO YOU SEE THAT SHAKING OUT FOR DEMOCRATS, SENATOR HAYDEN?

>> GO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A TIGHT BALANCE.

WE WANT POLICE REFORM, WE ALL CAMPAIGNED ON IT, I'VE WORKED ON THAT ISSUE, AT THE SAME TIME THEY WANT TO BALANCE A COMMUNITY BASE, VIOLENCE IS UP AND PEOPLE WANT TO FEEL SAFE.

AND THEN WE DO HAVE TO KIND OF SHIFT THAT AND GET UPSTREAM OF THIS ISSUE AND START TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS KIND OF DRIVING THIS, AND THIS ISN'T JUST A MINNESOTA OR MINNEAPOLIS ISSUE, THIS IS NATION-WIDE.

SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT THAT SURPLUS AND INVEST IN HUMAN CAPITAL AS MUCH AS WE DO.

WE KNOW WE CAN'T POLICE OUR WAY OUT, LOCK EVERYBODY UP BUT AT THE SAME TOKEN, I KNOW THAT PEOPLE WANT TO FEEL SAFE.

I'VE TALKED TO SOME OF THOSE SUBURBAN MAYORS AND I KNOW THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED BUT THEY ALSO KNOW THAT THIS IS A REGIONAL AND STATEWIDE ISSUE.

>> I THINK THAT PEOPLE, THOUGH, FEEL LIKE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF LIGHTENING UP, THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN ENOUGH LAW ENFORCEMENT, THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN ENOUGH CRACKING DOWN, THAT THERE'S BEEN THIS SORT OF SOFTER ON CRIME APPROACH PARTICULARLY IN MINNEAPOLIS AND St. PAUL.

AND THEN YOU COUPLE THAT WITH THE SHERIFF, HENNEPIN COUNTY SHERIFF, THE LARGEST COUNTY IN THE STATE, ARGUABLY THE TOP COPS, YOU KNOW, GETTING INTO A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT, IT WAS A D.W.I.

AND .13, CLAIMING THAT SOMEBODY ELSE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND, REALLY, HE'S REALLY -- WHILE HE'S APOLOGIZED, THERE'S NOT BEEN A LOT OF ACTION ON THAT AND I THINK THAT PEOPLE SEE THAT AND THEY'RE FRUSTRATED AND THEY'RE WORRIED.

>> Cathy: DO YOU WANT TO HAVE ANOTHER REACTION TO THAT, SENATOR HAYDEN, OR DO I -- SHALL I MOVE ON?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, UNFORTUNATELY, SHERIFF HUTCH REALLY PUT HIMSELF IN A PREDICAMENT.

I DON'T WANT TO LOSE THE HUMAN PART OF THAT.

SHERIFF HUTCH IS GOING TO TREATMENT, HE'S ADMITTED THAT HE HAS AN ALCOHOL PROBLEM, WE KNOW THAT THE JOB IS STRESSFUL, WE KNOW THAT MANY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS HAVE LEFT THE PROFESSION BECAUSE OF PTSD, SUICIDE, THE HIGH RATES OF UICIDE, SO THOSE -- SHERIFF HUTCH IS BEING ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT HE'S DONE.

I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HE IS A HUMAN BEING AND IT IS A TOUGH JOB AND HE IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE HIMSELF BETTER.

>> Cathy: ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT, SENATOR KOCH, I SEE THAT KENDALL QWALLS IS GOING TO JUMP INTO THE RACE, A PRETTY BIG FIELD.

>> YEAH, IT'S ALREADY THREE TO FIVE BUT KIND OF THREE I WOULD SAY MAIN CANDIDATES, BUT SENATORS ALL, FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER GAZELKA, JENSEN AND BENSON.

YOU KNOW, HE RAN FOR THE CD3 OVER THERE, DEFINITELY HAS LIKE A REALLY, LIKE, EASY DEMEANSOR, STRONG CONSERVATIVE, SO I HINK IT'S GOING TO BE -- HE'S GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING ADD TO THE MIX AND WHERE I WOULD SAY I WOULD SEE REPUBLICANS, NO ONE HAS REALLY DECIDED YET.

MOST OF THESE DELEGATES THERE ARE GOING TO GO TO THE ENDORSING CONVENTION, THEY HAVEN'T PICKED AND THEY SAY -- THEY MEAN THAT WHEN THEY SAY THAT AND I THINK A LOT OF THE DECIDING IS GOING TO COME DOWN TO THE NEXT COUPLE MONTH AND PRIMARILY AT THE CONVENTION.

>> Eric: GOING TO BE A FUN YEAR, 2022, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MORE GOOD ANALYSIS FROM YOU FOLKS.

THANKS A LOT.

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

>> THANK YOU, HAPPY NEW YEAR.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

>> ERIC: THE INDEX FILE SECTION WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK BUT WE WILL LEAVE YOU WITH A TUNE FROM THE TPT ARCHIVES.

THIS WEEK IN 2007, THE LATE, GREAT WILLIE MURPHY STOPPED BY OUR STUDIOS TO PLAY A SOULFUL TUNE ON THE PIANO.

HERE'S WILLIE PERFORMING "I'VE GOT A SECRET."

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

AN BE CAREFUL.

♪ VOCALIZING ♪ ♪ I'VE GOT A SECRET, I SHOULDN'T TELL ♪ I'M GOING TO GO TO HAVEN IN A CELL ♪ ♪ BUT DIDN'T WE SIGH, CHERIE, ALL I HAD DONE AND GONE, BABY.

♪ YOU KNOW I PAWNED MY WATCH, I WOULD HAVE SOLD MYSELF BUT I FELT ASHAMED BUT, OH, ME, DIDN'T WE SHAKE, HERIE ♪ ♪ ALL I HAD DONE AND GONE, BABY ♪ "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

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