>> Eric: RESIDENTIAL -- PRESIDENT POLITICS HAVE BEEN OCCUPYING THE NEWS BUT THE BALANCE OF POWER IN THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE IS ON THE BALLOT THIS FALL AS WELL AND SENATOR NICOLE MITCHELL WAS BACK IN COURT THIS WEEK TO PLEAD NOT GUILTY IN HER BURGLARY TRIAL.

LET'S JUMP IN WITH WITH THIS WEEK'S POLITICAL ANALYSTS.

REPUBLICANS UP FIRST.

BRIAN MCDANIEL, FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER TURNED LOBBYIST AND STANDUP COMEDIAN.

JEN DEJOURNETT, POLITICAL OPERATIVE AND VETERAN OF MANY PAINS.

DEMOCRATS WITH US JAVIER MORRILL IS A FORMER NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEMBER, LONGTIME UNION, AND ABOU AMARA, A FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER.

IS WALZ COMING TO THE STATE FAIR SOME >> PROBABLY NOT.

, >> Eric: YOU'VE GOT SOME INSIDE DOPE USUALLY.

>> I THINK HE SHOULD NOT BE HERE, I THINK HE SHOULD BE SPENDING HIS TIME IN THE BATTLEGROUND STATES.

>> I AGREE, HE SHOULD BE IN THE BATTLEGROUND STATES SO THEY LEARN HE'S NOT THE BEST CANDIDATE AND WHEN AMERICA GETS TO KNOW MORE OF HIM THEY'RE GOING TO BE FRUSTRATED TOO.

>> Cathy: ON HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THAT SHOWS THAT THERE'S A SPLIT ON WALZ BEING THE VP CHOICE.

52% THOUGHT, YEAH, GOOD CHOICE, 47% THOUGHT FAIR TO MOOR.

WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THAT?

>> WELL, I MEAN, I THINK THE ROLLOUT OF TIM WALZ AS THE VP CANDIDATE HAS GONE REALLY WELL.

I THINK IT'S HARD TO SAY THAT IT HASN'T.

I THINK WE ALSO HAVE TO REALIZE THAT THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MATTERS RIGHT NOW AND IN ABOUT A WEEK IT'S GOING TO MATTER A WHOLE HECK OF A LOT LESS.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO STOP TALKING ABOUT TIM PRETTY SOON.

>> I THINK IT'S -- I AGREE WITH BRIAN, THE ROLLOUT HAS GONE REALLY WELL.

I THINK IT'S BEEN AMAZING TO ME TO SEE LIKE REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE BEEN REALLY UNSUCCESSFUL AT MESSAGING AGAINST HIM IN MINNESOTA TRYING EVERY TRICK THAT DIDN'T WORK HERE AGAIN, EVERYTHING FROM LIKE CONSPIRACY THEORIES ABOUT HIS DOG.

>> WELL, I THINK HE SHOULD JUST KEEP TALKING, HE SEEMS TO SOMETIMES GET HIS FACTS NOT CORRECT.

HE'S GOT HIS MILITARY RECORD NOT CORRECT, HE'S GOT OTHER THINGS NOT CORRECT, SO I THINK THAT WHEN YOU HAVE THE NATIONAL SPOTPLIGHT WITH A NAG ANY OFYING GLASS ON YOU, YOU GET A SECOND LOOK AND I DO THINK SOME OF THE STORIES ARE NOT GOING TO PAN OUT.

>> -- FOR 24 YEARS, LIKE, YOU KNOW, SO YOU CAN -- >> WELL, BUT HE DIDN'T HAVE THE MILITARY THING CORRECT AND HE HAD TO ACKTRACK ON IT, THAT WAS AN ACTUAL THING.

>> SO YOU THINK HIS 24 YEARS OF SERVICE MEANS NOTHING?

IT MEANS A LOT TO THE PUBLIC.

>> I THINK HIS SERVICE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

I DON'T THINK HE SHOULD TAKE CREDIT FOR THINGS HE DIDN'T HAVE.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE FACTUAL AND I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR THE NATIONAL MEDIA TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT HIM.

>> HERE'S THE REALITY, THIS ARGUMENT IS NOT WORKING.

THE FACT.

MATTER THE POLLING SHOWS A MAJORITY OF MINNESOTANS THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

IF YOU LOOK AT J.D.

VANCE, MAJORITY OF MINNESOTANS THINK THAT WAS A BAD IDEA.

REPUBLICANS HAVE NOT WON STATEWIDE SINCE -- >> WELL, WE WILL -- >> SINCE 2006, THEY KEEP MAKING THE SAME ARGUMENTS AGAINST TIM WALZ AND OTHER DEMOCRATS AND CONTINUE TO LOSE.

>> HERE'S THE THING, THOUGH, YOU SHOULD HAVE COME OUT OF THAT DNC A LOT URTHER OFF.

IN MINNESOTA YOU'VE COLLAPSED FIVE PERCENTAGE POINTS NOW.

>> WE'RE UP BY EIGHT POINTS.

>> NOPE, FIVE ACTUALLY.

>> LAST THREE PRESIDENTIAL PAINS, THE IDEA OF A CONVENTION BOUNCE HAS NOT BEEN TRUE.

BUT EVEN WITH THAT ACTUALLY THE NUMBERS ARE DRAMATICALLY IMPROVING, DRAMATICALLY IMPROVING FOR DEMOCRATS FROM WHERE WE WERE A MONTH AGO.

>> Eric: HOW DID YOU THINK WALZ DID IN THE INTERVIEW IN CNN >> I THINK IT WAS FINE BUT I THINK LTIMATELY HAMBURGLAR, I THINK -- DRESSED VERY SMARTLY TODAY.

>> OUCH, HURTS.

>> I DISAGREE.

>> I DON'T REALLY WANT TO HEAR WHAT TIM WALZ HAS TO SAY BECAUSE AMERICA ULTIMATELY IN A WEEK ISN'T GOING TO CARE.

I WANT TO HEAR WHAT KAMALA HARRIS HAS TO SAY BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THE RACE WILL BE WON OR LOST AND SHE HAS BEEN GIVEN A PASS RIGHT NOW BUT THAT PASS ALSO IS ABOUT TO BE OVER AND SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO START ADDRESSING THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AND -- >> Cathy: THEN DID SHE DO WHAT SHE NEEDED TO DO IN THIS INTERVIEW WITH DANA BASH?

>> I MEAN, THE TAPED INTERVIEW THAT SAID LIVE ON IT?

THAT WAS WEIRD.

I THINK SHE DID INE, BUT WHEN YOU'RE ALLOWING A CANDIDATE TO PACKAGE THEMSELVES MOSTLY -- UNLESS THEY'RE JOE BIDEN, THEY'RE GONNA DO FINE.

THERE HAS TO BE OFF THE CUFF, THERE HAS TO BE EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEECH AND THAT IS WHERE I THINK SHE COULD O WELL BUT SHE NEEDS TO PROVE THAT SHE CAN.

>> THIS CAMPAIGN HAS NOT IKE NO OTHER.

IT'S VERY COMPRESSED, SHE'S BEEN A CANDIDATE FOR A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, SHE HAD A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO LINE UP SUPPORT, PLAN A CONVENTION, A CONVENTION THAT BY THE WAY WENT ALMOST SEAMLESSLY, THAT WENT SUPER WELL.

LIKE SHE'S ENERGIZING THE BASE AND NOW SHE DID WHAT SHE SAID A FEW WEEKS AGO SHE WAS GOING TO DO WHICH WAS SIT DOWN AND DO AN INTERVIEW AND SHE DID FANTASTIC.

>> I'M JUST MIND BLOWN, WE'RE HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT CONTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING AND THE ACT TO KIND OF HAVE AN AUTHENTIC EXCHANGE.

HAVE YOU SEEN DONALD TRUMP?

HAVE YOU SEEN THE THINGS HE'S BEEN SAYING?

HE'S TALKING ABOUT ELECTROCUTING SHARKS -- >> YOU'RE PRO-SHARK NOW?

[ LAUGHTER ] >> THE IDEA THAT THERE'S SOMEHOW A PROBLEM WITH HOW KAMALA HARRIS IS COMMUNICATING ABOUT SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES HEN WE HAVE -- >> SHE DID ONE INTERVIEW.

>> YOUR NOMINIE IS TALKING ABOUT ELECTROCUTING SHARKS, THIS IS NOT A SERIOUS PERSON.

>> BREAKING THE LAW AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY.

>> THE OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS SHE GOT UP THERE AND WALZ GOT UP THERE AND SAID BIDEN WAS FINE HAS IS THEY HAVEN'T EXPLAINED WHY DID GOVERNOR WALZ GET ON TV AND TELL AMERICA IT WAS FINE, EVERYTHING'S GREAT?

>> HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT DONALD TRUMP BREAKING THE LAW AND DISRESPECTING HALLOWED GROUND AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY?

>> LISTEN, I KNOW YOU WANT TO DEFLECT AND MAKE THIS ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE BUT YOUR CANDIDATES HAVEN'T TOLD THE TRUTH ABOUT THE CURRENT PRESIDENT.

UNITED STATES WHO'S SITTING ON A BEACH.

LIKE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, WHY AREN'T THEY EXPLAINING THAT?

THAT'S SO SILLY.

>> HERE'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT, KAMALA HARRIS DIDN'T JUST COME OFF THE TURNIP TRUCK, HE'S BEEN VICE PRESIDENT THIS WHOLE.

THE PROBLEMS WITH AMERICA HAPPENED UNDER HER WATCH, AND SHE WILL HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR SOME OF THOSE.

THEY MADE HER THE BORDER CZAR AND NOTHING REALLY HAPPENED.

THAT'S FINE BUT NOT THAT LONG AGO, MONTH, MONTH AND A HALF AGO HER POLLING NUMBERS WERE WORSE THAN BIDENS AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE REMINDED OF THAT.

>> Eric: WHEN DEMOCRATS SAY WE'RE NOT GOING BACK DOES THAT MEAN FIVE YEARS INSTEAD OF THREE AND A HALF?

>> WE ARE NOT GOING TO A TRUMP ADMINISTRATION THAT HAS BEEN HOSTILE TOWARDS WOMEN, TO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, FRANKLY TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, TO DEMOCRACY ITSELF, THAT IS WHAT WE'RE NOT GOING BACK TO, TURNING THE PAGE ON DONALD TRUMP AND MOVING FORWARD.

>> I DON'T THINK ANYONE IN THE HARRIS-WALZ AMP IS GETTABLE BY TRUMP, THAT'S NOT WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

EVERYONE MADE UP THEIR MIND ON DONALD TRUMP ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

IT'S GOING TO BE WHETHER HARRIS AND WALZ ARE ABLE TO KEEP THE D.F.L., THE DEMS ELECTORATE ENERGIZED NOT IN MINNESOTA BUT OTHER SWING STATES.

>> I ACTUALLY DON'T AGREE WITH THAT, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE REMINDING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WAS LIKE.

>> EVERYBODY REMEMBERS WHAT TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WAS LIKE.

FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T THINK THE LAST FOUR YEARS HAVE BEEN THIS GREAT.

HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THE EDUCATION ISPARITIES GOING ON EVEN IN MINNESOTA, EDUCATION HASN'T IMPROVED, IT HASN'T GOTTEN BETTER AND THAT'S IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT, LIKE WE'RE NOT -- I DO AGREE WITH YOU IT'S IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT SUBSTANCE ISSUES AND IS I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME F THAT.

>> LIKE ELECTROCUTING SHARKS.

>> NO, THAT'S NOT A SUBSTANTIVE ISSUE, I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE EDUCATION GAP IN MATH, READING, HOW COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE NOT GETTING ANY BETTER IN THEIR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.

I MEAN, IT'S BEEN FOUR YEARS, WE ALLEGEDLY HAD A GOVERNOR THAT WAS AN EDUCATION GOVERNOR AND KIDS' TEST SCORES POST-PANDEMIC HAVE NOT IMPROVED REALLY.

IF YOU HAD A CHILD IN SCHOOL DURING THE PANDEMIC, POST PANDEMIC, THEIR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT HASN'T REALLY GOTTEN BETTER, AND THAT IS A SHAME.

AND I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THAT IS IMPORTANT TO KIDS TODAY AND FOR AMERICA FOR THE FUTURE.

>> Eric: WHO'S BEST ON WHAT DOMINOES FALL IF WALZ BECOME THE VICE PRESIDENT AND PEGGY FLANAGAN ASCENDS TO GOVERNOR?

AND THEN BOBBY JOE CHAMPION, THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, IS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

COULD THAT GET MESSY, OR, I MEAN.

>> IT COULD, I DON'T THINK IT WILL.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, NO ONE'S COUNTING THEIR CHICKENS BEFORE THEY HATCH TOO MUCH, BUT I THINK THAT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IS A PRETTY ORDERLY, YOU KNOW, ASCENSION WITH MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW, ANN REST BECOMING PRESIDENT, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT I DON'T SEE IT GETTING MESSY.

>> THIS IS NOT LIKE WHERE THE REPUBLICANS TRIED TO SUE TO NOT BECOME THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IN THAT CIRCUMSTANCES, I THINK THE BE CONSTITUTION IN MINNESOTA IS PRETTY CLEAR AND ORDERLY.

I EXPECT DEMOCRATS TO ASSUME THE DUTIES THEY HAVE UNDER THE MINNESOTA CONSTITUTION.

>> Cathy: ACCORDING TO THE INTERVIEWS DONE AT THE STATE FAIR IN VARIOUS LOCALES, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PEGGY FLANAGAN SAYS SHE'S OPEN TO RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR IN 2026, -- NO ONE'S SURPRISED BY THAT.

TINA SMITH TOLD US THAT SHE IS PLANNING TO RUN.

SHE'S PLANNING TO RUN.

>> LITTLE BIT OF A SURPRISE.

>> Cathy: DOES THAT LEAVE A LITTLE WIGGLE ROOM MAYBE TO NOT RUN, ABOU?

>> I THINK IT POLITICS IT'S EASIER TO TURN THE LIGHT OFF THAN THE LIGHT ON, I SUSPECT SHE'LL CONTINUE WORK IN D.C. AND SEE WHAT THE LANDSCAPE LOOKS LIKE IN 026 AND HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH HER FAMILY AND ASSESS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

I THINK THE LIGHT IS ON RIGHT NOW FOR HER TO RUN FOR EREELECTION.

>> IF YOU SEE HOW SHE'S CAMPAIGNING, SHE'S CAMPAIGNING FOR SENATORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SHE HAS A -- WITH A SENATE DEMOCRATS CAUCUS ON THAT, SHE'S RAISING MONEY, NOT ACTING LYING SOMEONE WHO'S NOT GOING TO RUN AGAIN SO I THINK TAKE THE CLUES AND SHE SAID WHAT SHE SAID.

>> >> Eric: ROYCE WHITE VERSUS AMY KLOBUCHAR.

>> I EXPECT ROYCE WHITE'S NAME TO BE DROPPED IN EVERY -- IN THE COUNTRY.

HE IS THE MOST TOXIC ACROSS AMERICA.

>> YOU SUPPORTED HIM.

>> -- -- SUPPORTED HIM IN NOVEMBER, I THINK THAT'S PRETTY CLEAR.

I THINK HE HAS A MESSAGE AND HE'S GROWING HIS PODCAST AND WE KNOW WHAT THE OUTCOME WILL BE.

I'D LIKE EVERYONE TO CONSIDER -- HE DOES HAVERE POINT ABOUT TALKING TO VARIOUS DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AND I WISH THAT HE WOULD TALK ABOUT ISSUES AIMED TO THOSE COMMUNITIES.

>> THIS IS NOT REALLY A ROYCE WHITE PROBLEM, IT'S A DELEGATE PROBLEM BECAUSE SOMEONE LIKE ROYCE WHITE SHOULD NOT HAVE EVER GOTTEN TO THE POSITION HE'S IN.

>> HE WON THE PRIMARY,