>> CATHY: ANOTHER BUSY WEEK IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AS PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TARIFFS CONTINUE TO RESHAPE THE WORLD ECONOMY.

THE EPSTEIN SCANDAL CONTINUES TO FOLLOW THE PRESIDENT.

AND THE ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON MINNESOTA WITH AN ATTACK ON THE "STAR TRIBUNE'S" COVERAGE OF IMMIGRATION POLICY.

CINDY RUGELEY MADE THE DRIVE DOWN I-35 TO JOIN US.

HOPE FRANK WASOKAY.

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

THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA'S TWIN CITIES CAMPUS IS HOME TO LARRY JACOBS, WHERE HE HEADS UP THE HUMPHREY SCHOOL'S CENTER FOR POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE.

SAY, I'M CURIOUS HERE.

PROFESSOR JACOBS.

THE WEAK JOB NUMBERS THIS MORNING.

THE PRESIDENT FIRED THE HEAD OF THE LABOR STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, SAYING THAT THE FIGURES WERE RIGGED, HE FEELS, AND IT'S -- SHE'S A BIDEN EMPLOYEE.

HISTORY'S BEEN SANITIZED AT THE SMITHSONIAN.

THERE'S BEEN AN INFORMATIONAL DISPLAY TAKEN DOWN OF THE PRESIDENT'S IMPEACHMENTS.

AND I'M WONDERING, WHAT'S THE ULTIMATE COST OF THESE INSTANCES OF WHERE -- IF THE PRESIDENT DOESN'T LIKE SOMETHING, HE JUST IGNORES IT OR TRIES TO MAKE IT GO AWAY?

>> IT'S A REAL PROBLEM.

I MEAN, IT'S A PROBLEM FOR OUR DEMOCRACY, WHAT DO PEOPLE BELIEVE?

IT'S A PROBLEM FOR OUR BUSINESSES.

BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT TO MAKE DECISIONS.

AND FOR INSTANCE, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, IT'S NOT JUST THE POLITICAL NUMBER.

THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF DATA THAT COMES OUT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR THAT ALL SORTS OF BUSINESSES RELY ON TO MAKE INVESTMENTS.

SO THERE'S A CASCADE OF EFFECTS.

WE NEED TO LIVE IN A REALITY WHERE PEOPLE CAN BE CONFIDENT.

IN THE CORE ELEMENTS OF THAT.

AND I THINK WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS DONE IS UNFORTUNATE.

BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S, FRANKLY, A WAY FOR HIM TO RUN AWAY FROM BAD JOB NUMBERS OR BAD INFLATION NUMBERS.

I MEAN, THIS REALITY, IF IT CONTINUES TO EVOLVE, AS THE TARIFFS GO INTO PLACE OVER THE NEXT YEAR WHICH IS WHAT "THE ECONOMISTS" ARE REPORTING, IT'S GOING TO BE IS IT'S GOING TO BE I APPARENT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AND I DON'T THINK BLAMING THE MESSENGER IS GOING TO WORK LONG TERM.

>> Eric: WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS, PROFESSOR?

>> I THINK ULTIMATELY WHAT IT DOES IS IT CONTINUES TO DIMINISH TRUST IN GOVERNMENT.

ANYONE HE APPOINTS, THOUSAND GOING GTHERE'SGOING TO BE DOUBTS ABOUR RELIABILITY AND CREDITED CREDIB.

IT ALSO GOES INTO OTHER THINGS.

FOR INSTANCE, HIS 2020 ELECTION DENIAL HAS CAST A WHOLE LOT OF DOUBT ON THE LEGITIMACY OF ELECTIONS.

IT CAUSES PEOPLE TO NO LONGER TRUST THEIR GOVERNMENT AND THAT'S NOT HEALTHY FOR ALL THE REASONS THAT LARRY JUST STATED.

>> Eric: I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THIS MIDTERM REDISTRICTING MODIFICATION THAT'S GOING ON IN TEXAS AND ELSE WHERE.

IS THAT A NEW DEAL?

>> WELL, T VARIES STATE TO STATE BECAUSE STATES CONTROL ELECTION ADMINISTRATION, AND TEXAS, YOU CAN DO IT IF THE GOVERNOR CALLS FOR IT.

>> Eric: BUT THERE AREN'T FRESH POPULATION AND GEM GRAPHIC NUMBERS, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

SO FOR INSTANCE IN CALIFORNIA WHAT THEY COULD COOK UP A BUNCH OF SEATS -- >> Eric: T'S A DEMOCRATIC CONTROLLED STATE.

>> BUT THERE'S A LAW THAT SETS UP AN INDEPENDENT PROCESS.

AND SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME REAL GYMNASTICS IF CALIFORNIA WANTS TO FOLLOW TEXAS AND TRY TO, YOU KNOW, GERRYMANDER.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A DANGEROUS -- ANOTHER DANGEROUS ROAD TO GO DOWN.

I MEAN, ALREADY, TEXAS IS WAY OUT OF WHACK IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF EMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS.

AND THE NUMBER OF REPUBLICAN MEMBERS IN THE HOUSE.

>> Cathy: AND YOU WOULD KNOW THAT GIVEN YOUR BACKGROUND.

>> TEXAS DID THIS ABOUT 10, 12 YEARS AGO, MIDTERM REDISTRICTING, AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, REALLY INCREASED THE NUMBER OF REPUBLICAN SEATS.

AND SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY SAYING IS THAT -- I MEAN, IN MY OPINION, ANY TIME, YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT OUR SUPREME COURT HAS SAID SOMEBODY CAN GIVE AS MUCH MONEY AS THEY WANT TO A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN, OR STATES CAN REDRAW DISTRICTS, GERRYMANDER DISTRICTS ANY AY THEY WANT, IT MAKES IT REAL DIFFICULT TO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY.

IT PUTS A LOT OF PRESSURE ON PEOPLE.

BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING S, IF YOU GET 52% OF THE VOTE, YOU GET ALL THE REPRESENTATION.

THE OTHER PEOPLE DON'T GET ANY REPRESENTATION.

AND I DON'T HINK THAT'S WHAT ANYBODY REALLY WANTS.

>> Cathy: I'M SURE THERE'S VIEWERS SAYING, OKAY, WE'VE JUST OUTLINED SOME PRETTY SERIOUS THINGS HERE.

HOW IN THE WORLD DO YOU CHANGE THIS AND TURN THIS AROUND?

>> WELL, THERE'S NO MAGIC BULLET.

AND, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED, REPUBLICANS, CONCERNED THAT THE REDISTRICTING IN TEXAS COULD BACKFIRE, ECAUSE IT'S BASED ON THE EXPECTATION THAT SPANISH-SPEAKING VOTERS WHO TRENDED TRUMP'S WAY IN THE LAST ELECTION ARE GOING TO CONTINUE THAT WAY.

WELL, LET'S SAY BECAUSE THE ECONOMY HAS A DOWNTURN AND THERE'S A USUAL BACKLASH AGAINST THE PRESIDENT'S PARTY, IN THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS, ALL OF A SUDDEN, THERE'S A RUN AWAY FROM REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES.

MAYBE THERE'LL BE SOME, YOU KNOW, CURRENT REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO LOSE THEIR SEATS.

SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT IS, YOU KNOW, WITH ALL THE KIND OF RHETORIC ASIDE, THAT'S THE FUNDAMENTAL REALITY.

WE'LL HAVE AN ELECTION.

IN 2026.

AND YOU COULD TRY TO COOK IT, BUT MAYBE THAT RECIPE WON'T WORK.

>> Eric: THE EPSTEIN STUFF.

IS IT JUST A SUMMERTIME, IT'S SLOW, NEWS, AND SO IT'S A DIVERSION FOR CABLE NEWS?

OR IS THERE MORE GOING ON THERE?

>> I THINK THAT -- I MEAN, A COUPLE OF DIMENSIONS.

ONE, OF COURSE THERE ARE A LOT OF CONSPIRACY THEORIES.

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S NECESSARILY WHAT'S AT PLAY HERE.

I THINK YOU'VE GOT A SITUATION WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE OF A CERTAIN POWER OR A CERTAIN WEALTH CLASS GET AWAY WITH A LOT OF STUFF, THAT EVERYBODY ELSE DOESN'T.

AND THEY DON'T LIKE IT.

AND I THINK THAT THAT'S A REALISTIC CONCERN.

AND I THINK THEY SAW, YOU KNOW, MAYBE PRESIDENT TRUMP AS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, SOMEBODY THAT DIDN'T DO THAT.

AND NOW WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW, I THINK THAT REINFORCES IN A LOT OF PEOPLE'S MIND THAT, YOU KNOW, HE KNEW ABOUT THIS AND COVERED IT UP AND HE'S -- AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON.

AND I THINK THAT PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, CORE BASIS, THERE'S NO MONOLITHIC VOTING BLOC FOR EITHER PARTY.

BUT I THINK IT STAYS ON THERE.

AND MAYBE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE TALKED ABOUT, BUT IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE UNDER THE SURFACE THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS HAPPENING AND WE DON'T LIKE IT.

>> YEAH, IT'S PART OF THE POPULIST BACKLASH THAT DONALD TRUMP HAS HELPS TO IGNITE AND FIRE, AND OF COURSE HE WAS PART OF BUILDING THIS SENSE THAT THERE WAS THE BIG LIE, THAT THERE WAS A LIST THAT WAS BEING HELD BY BIDEN, THAT HE WOULD RELEASE IT.

HE GETS INTO POWER, AND THEN HE'S TELLING HIS SUPPORTERS TO SHUT UP AND GO ON TO SOMETHING ELSE.

DEMOCRATS ARE EAGER TO HAVE INVESTIGATIONS IN CONGRESS.

SO YOU CAN SEE THEM TRYING TO USE IT AS A WAY TO OPEN UP QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TRUTHFULNESS OF DONALD TRUMP.

>> Cathy: I'M WONDERING WONDERIG ABOUT GOING AFTER MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS.

I THOUGHT THE "STAR TRIBUNE" ATTACK WAS INTERESTING IN HAT IT WAS SUCH A LOCALIZED ATTACK.

OF COURSE THE C.P.B.

JUST SHUT UP SHOP TODAY, CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTS.

WHAT DO YOU BOTH MAKE OF THE ATTACKS ON MEDIA?

>> IT'S WORKED.

IN SOME INSTANCES, IT HAS, AND I THINK IT'S AN ATTEMPT AT INTIMIDATION.

AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS REAL SURPRISED THAT HE PICKED OUT THE "STAR TRIBUNE" IN ONE WAY, BUT IN ANOTHER, I THINK MINNESOTA'S GOING TO BE ON, ANY TIME HE CAN TAKE AT SHOT AT SOMETHING HERE, HE WILL.

>> HERE'S THE "STAR TRIBUNE" DOING WHAT I WOULD SAY IS BOOTSTRAP REPORTING, FINDING THE 40% OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ROUNDED BY I.C.E.

HAVE NO CRIMINAL RECORDS AND THAT GOES DIRECTLY AGAINST DONALD TRUMP'S ARGUMENT THAT DEPORTATIONS IS GOING TO BE AIMED AT GETTING THE CRIMINALS, THE RAPISTS, OUT OF AMERICA.

TUXES OUT THE "STAR TRIBUNE" IS SAYING, WELL, A WHOLE LOT OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE BEING ROUNDED UP DON'T FIT THAT AND THAT'S A THREAT.

AND SO WHAT DO YOU DO?

YOU TRY TO DISCREDIT THE MESSENGER.

WILL IT WORK IN MAYBE FOR M.A.G.A.

BELIEVERS.

BUT IN THE COMING YEARS, DONALD TRUMP'S CREDIBILITY IS GOING TO TAKE A REAL HIT.

>> Eric: STARTED AUGUST WITH A BANG.

THANKS, PANEL.

♪ >> ERIC: THURSDAY WAS TRADE DEADLINE DAY FOR MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.

WITH THE MINNESOTA TWINS' LOSING WAYS CONTINUING AFTER THE ALL-STAR BREAK IN JULY, EVERYONE EXPECTED THEM TO BE SELLERS.

BUT NO ONE PREDICTED THAT BY THE TIME THE DUST SETTLED YESTERDAY, THE TEAM WOULD TRADE TEN PLAYERS THIS WEEK, INCLUDING FORMER ALL-STAR SHORTSTOP CARLOS CORREA AND CLOSER JHOAN DURAN.

LARRY FITZGERALD SENIOR IS BACK.

WHEN HE’S NOT CHATTING WITH US, FITZY DOES RADIO WORK WITH THE NATIONAL PROGRAMMING NETWORK.

GOOD, BAD, OR WE DON'T KNOW?

>> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU JUST CAN'T ACCOUNT FOR.

WE WENT INTO THIS SEASON WITH THE TEAM FOR SALE.

AND FALVEY, YOU KNOW, DEREK FALVEY, YOU KNOW, SO-CALLED, WHAT, ACTING PRESIDENT OR MANAGER, BUT TO TRADE TEN PLAYERS.

I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TWINS ARE TELLING THEIR FANS.

I WAS AT THE BALLPARK WEDNESDAY, THERE WAS 30,000 PEOPLE THERE.

THEY GOT SMASHED.

AND LIKE YOU SAID, SINCE THE ALL-STAR BREAK, THEY'RE ONLY 4-8 AND THEY'RE 51-57.

THEY'RE DOWN RIGHT NOW TO CLEVELAND.

SO THIS IS A BIZARRE SITUATION.

AND I HOPE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STEPS IN, BECAUSE I THINK IT SAYS THAT IF YOU LEAVE A TEAM WITHOUT OWNERSHIP, IT CAN GO INTO SEASON AND YOU CAN HAVE SITUATIONS LIKE THIS WHERE THERE'S A, YOU KNOW, BUYER TAKES WHATEVER THEY WANT.

>> Cathy: SO THIS IS KIND OF A FIRE SALE I GUESS, RIGHT?

SO DID THEY IN A SENSE RUIN THE TEAM BY DOING THIS?

CAN THE TEAM BE BUILT BACK UP?

>> THEY WERE DOING OKAY.

THEY WERE HANGING ITH BYRON BUXTON HEALTHYY.

THEY'VE HAD A LOT OF INJURIES.

THEY MISSED PABLO LOPEZ.

HE'S A BIG-TIME STARTER FOR HEM OF HEM THEM AND HE'S BEEN OUT FOR A WHILE.

AND JOE RYAN'S AN ALL-STAR, BUT AFTER THAT, IT'S BEEN HIT AND MISS.

BUXTON LEADS THE TEAM WITH, LIKE, 56R.B.I.s.

AFTER THAT, THERE'S NOBODY, YOU KNOW, THEY GOT ONE GUY IN THE 40s.

YOU GOT TO HAVE GUYS HITTING 60, 70R.B.I.s AND HITTING THE BALL OUT.

PARK TO HANG IN THERE.

>> Cathy: SO DOES THIS MEAN A POTENTIAL BUYER LOOKS AT THE TEAM AND SAYS, I'LL BUY IT NOW BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THIS BIG SAL BIG SA SALARIES OR DO THEY JUST STEER CLEAR?

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU LET A TEAM GO INTO A 162-GAME SCHEDULE AND THERE'S NO OWNER.

I MEAN, THE POHLADS HAVE PULLED BACK AND BASICALLY IT'S A FREE-FALL.

THEY WENT INTO THE SEASON, AND THEY'RE HEALTHING ANALYTICS DO THIS AND THAT, BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO TALENT AND PLAYERS WHO ARE COMMITTED AND GUYS THAT ARE HEALTHY.

AND THEY GAVE UP AN ALL-STAR.

DURAN IS LIGHTS OUT.

I MEAN, A 2.01 E.R.A.

50 INNINGS.

56 STRIKEOUTS, 16 SAVES.

IF THEY GAVE THEM MORE OPPORTUNITIES, THEY'D PROBABLY HAVE MORE SAVES.

BUT THIS TEAM IS NOT BUILT THIS WAY.

>> Eric: HAVE YOU ANALYZED THE PROSPECTS?

>> IT'S STILL A LITTLE EARLY FOR THAT BECAUSE YOU'RE LOOKING AT NUMBERS FROM GUYS THAT HAVE EITHER BEEN DRAFTED TWO, THREE YEARS, HAVE BEEN IN THE MINORS AND HOW DO YOU GAUGE ONE TEAM'S MINOR LEAGUE SYSTEM OVER ANOTHER, BECAUSE YOU'RE LOOKING AT SHEER NUMBERS AND WHAT THE PLAYERS ARE COMING.

I HOPE FALVEY'S DONE HIS HOMEWORK ON THESE GUYS BECAUSE THEY'RE ESSENTIALLY GOING TO START TO PLAY RIGHT AWAY.

>> Eric: ROCCO'S FUTURE?

>> I DIDN'T LIKE THE WAY SEPTEMBER FINISHED LAST YEAR FOR HIM.

AND THIS YEAR, AFTER THAT -- I CAN'T GET THAT TASTE OUT OF MY MOUTH FROM THAT LOSS TO THE RED SOX.

THAT WAS UMILIATING, 3-1, AND THEN TO COME BACK AND TRADE TEN GUYS, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE WOW.

>> Cathy: I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT FANS SAY ABOUT THIS.

WOULD YOU GO BACK OUT TO THE BALLPARK AND SPEND MONEY TO WATCH THESE GUYS.

IT'S LIKE WATCHING A CAR WRECK.

>> BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HOLD ANYTHING AGAINST THE TEAM.

THEY LOVE THE PLAYERS.

BUT THEY REALIZE FROM A MANAGEMENT STANDPOINT, THINGS ARE OUT OF WHAT ARE OUT OF WH WHAT WEAK.

>> Cathy: I WONDER WHAT CARL POHLAD WOULD SAY IF HE WAS STILL ALIVE.

>> BASEBALL'S HAVING A PRETTY GOOD YEAR.

THE NATIONAL LEAGUE'S STRONG.

THE AMERICAN LEAGUE LOOKS LIKE TORONTO COULD, WHO KNOWS, BEEN INTERNATIONAL TEAM IN THE WORLD SERIES.

GLEFS YOU'VE TOLD IT LIKE IT WAS.

THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

>> Cathy: THANKS.

♪ >> CATHY: 85 DOGS AND CATS WERE SPAYED OR NEUTERED FOR FREE IN GRAND PORTAGE RECENTLY.

MORE THAN 200 PREVENTATIVE VACCINES WERE ALSO GIVEN OUT.

IT WAS PART OF WEEK-LONG TRIBAL VET CLINICS.

REPORTER KAOMI LEE WENT TO COOK COUNTY TO FIND OUT HOW ONE GROUP IS FORGING A RELATIONSHIP WITH MINNESOTA TRIBES THROUGH ANIMAL WELFARE.

ONE NOTE: KAOMI ALSO VOLUNTEERS FOR THE GROUP IN HER SPARE TIME BUT NOT FOR THESE CLINICS.

>> Kaomi: FOR 20-YEAR-OLD ABRIANNA JENKINS, IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.

>> HE'S A BLACK AB, GERMAN SHEPHERD MIX.

>> Kaomi: IT STARTED OUT AS AN IMPULSE.

>> I'VE SEEN A POST ON FACEBOOK.

I WAS GOING THROUGH A LITTLE ROUGH SPOT FOR A LITTLE BIT THERE.

AND WAS KIND OF ALREADY LOOKING AT PUPPIES AND STUFF.

AND THEN I SEEN HIS PICTURE.

AND I WAS JUST, OH, MY GOD, LIKE, I JUST WANT HIM SO BAD.

>> Kaomi: AT THE TIME, ABRIANNA SAID SHE SUFFERED FROM DEPRESSION.

SHE IS A DESCENDANT AND AN ENROLLED MEMBER OF THE LAKE LAKE SUPERIOR BAND OF CHIP SUPERIOR BAND OF CH CHIPPEWA.

>> I JUST FEEL LIKE HE GIVES ME PURPOSE.

>> HI, WHO IS THIS ADORABLE PUPPY.

>> Kaomi: BUT IT CAN BE EXPENSIVE.

SHE CAME HERE TO A -- THE GROUP OFFERED A WEEK OF FREE VET SERVICES TO THE RAND PORTAGE BAND AND RESIDENTS OF COOK COUNTY.

SPAY AND NEUTER SURGERIES WERE PROVIDED BY MN-SNAP.

IT WAS A WELCOME RELIEF FOR ABRIANNA WHO MAKES 15.70 AN HOUR AS A RECEPTIONIST.

>> 300 I THINK FOR THE NEUTERING AND THE SHOTS AND DEWORMING, IT ALL JUST WOULD HAVE ADDED UP TO BE SO MUCH.

>> Kaomi: BUT THE NEAREST VET IS IN GRAND MARAIS OR SEVERAL HOURS AWAY IN DULUTH.

FOR PEOPLE LIVING ON TRIBAL RESERVATIONS, THE DRIVE FOR SERVICES CAN MAKE THEM OUT OF REACH.

>> WE'RE NE OF THE SMALLEST TRIBES OF ALL THE MINNESOTA CHIPPEWA TRIBES.

IT'S VERY VITAL.

OUR MEMBERS, THEY CAN'T GET TO GRAND MARAIS FOR THE SERVICE.

SOME OF THEM ON'T HAVE VEHICLES.

OR THEY DON'T HAVE MONEY TO PAY FOR THESE SERVICES.

SO THEN THE POPULATION JUST KEEPS EXPANDING FROM THERE.

>> Kaomi: TWO YEARS, SORENSON GOT IN TOUCH WITH THE BOND BETWEEN.

SHE SAYS THERE'S BEEN A SHARP INCREASE IN STRAY CATS ON THE RESERVATION.

THIS YEAR, SPAY AND NEUTER SERVICES WERE ADDED.

>> THERE'S BEEN A HUGE RESPONSE AND THERE WAS A COUPLE HOUSEHOLDS THAT WE WERE INTERESTED IN GETTING DONE.

>> Kaomi: THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR THE BOND BETWEEN HAS PARTNERED WITH HE GRAND PORTAGE TRIBE.

IT HAS RELATIONSHIPS WITH SEVERAL OTHER TRIBES IN