BUT WE ARE DEFINITELY IN A RACE AGAINST TIME.

♪ ♪ >> DANA: PLENTY OF POLITICS NEAR AND FAR FOR US TO CHEW ON TONIGHT WITH THIS WEEK'S VERSION OF THE POLITICAL PANEL.

SO LET'S DIVE RIGHT IN.

DEMOCRATS UP FIRST.

JEFF HAYDEN IS A FORMER STATE SENATOR, NOW LOBBYIST.

ALYSEN NESSE, PARTY LOYALIST AND LOBBYIST.

REPUBLICANS ON THE COUCH TONIGHT: FRITZ KNAAK IS A FORMER STATE SENATOR, NOW AN ATTORNEY IN PRIVATE PRACTICE.

ANNETTE MEEKS IS A FORMER CONGRESSIONAL STAFFER AND A FORMER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CANDIDATE, NOW HEADS THE FREEDOM FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA.

SO, SENATOR, LET'S START WITH YOU.

THERE'S BEEN SOME CONVERSATION RECENTLY ABOUT WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S GOING TO DO AND ANNOUNCEMENT COMING UP.

IT SEEMS LIKE AFTER LABOR DAY.

IS HE IN, IS HE OUT, IS HE DOING SOMETHING ELSE?

>> ALLEY SENATE WERE T A GOLF TOURNAMENT IN MANKATO, BUT THERE WAS LOTS OF TALK.

AND IT WAS ABOUT 50-50 SPLIT.

YOU KNOW, BEFORE THE STATE FAIR AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S AFTER.

I WILL GIVE HIM A LITTLE BIT OF LEEWAY LIKE THE REST OF US AFTER THE POLITICAL VIOLENCE THAT HAPPENED THIS SUMMER.

I THINK THAT'S WEIGHED HEAVILY ON HIS MIND.

>> Eric: HE WOULD HAVE TO EXPLAIN, I SUPPOSE, TO A LOT OF PEOPLE HOW HE HANDLED COVID AND GEORGE FLOYD AND FRAUD.

AND GREATER MINNESOTA IS NOT FRIENDLY TO HIM OUTSIDE OF SOME OF THE COLLEGE TOWNS.

WHAT'S THE DECK LOOK LIKE FOR HIM?

>> I THINK HE WILL HAVE TO RUN A VERY CONCISE CAMPAIGN IN HENNEPIN AND RAMSEY COUNTY.

LET ME TELL YOU, THE WORDS THEY USED TO DESCRIBE OUR GOVERNOR AND THE TRAJECTORY OF THE STATE CAN'T BE SAID AMONGST POLITE SOCIETY.

PEOPLE ARE REALLY ANGRY.

AND YOU SAW THE JOBS REPORT THAT CAME OUT TODAY.

>> Eric: WE'RE SLOWING DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

>> THERE'S NOT SOME GREAT NEWS ESPECIALLY IN GREATER MINNESOTA.

AND THEY'RE REALLY FRUSTRATED.

THEY DON'T THINK THAT NOT ONLY THE GOVERNOR'S OUT OF TOUCH BUT THEY ALSO THINK THAT THE GOVERNOR DOESN'T CARE.

>> Dana: I WONDER WHO COMES INTO THE FIELD, THOUGH, IF HE DECIDES HE'S NOT GOING TO RUN FOR A THIRD TERM?

>> I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHETHER HE RUNS OR NOT OR LOOKING AT OTHER POLITICAL OFFICES, THE DEMOCRATS WE HAVE SUCH A STRONG BENCH.

WE HAVE FIVE STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO HAVE SERVED IN PUBLIC OFFICE IN VARIOUS CAPACITIES FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

I KNOW SECRETARY SIMON, ATTORNEY GENERAL ELLISON ARE ALL REALLY WELL SET TO POTENTIALLY LOOK AT RUNNING FOR ANOTHER STATEWIDE OFFICE.

>> Eric: WOULD IT MAKE REPUBLICANS TAKE A MAYBE HIGHER PROFILE REPUBLICANS TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THOSE RACES?

>> OH, NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THE GOVERNOR IS SHOWING AN INABILITY TO DO IS RAISE MONEY AND HE CAN ALWAYS, ALWAYS RELY ON WHAT I CALL THE BLUE ZOMBIE VOTE WHICH IS THE METRO AREA TO KIND OF GET THEM THROUGH.

BUT I THINK -- [ Laughter ] WE HAVE A DIFFERENT VIEW -- [ Laughter ] BUT, YOU KNOW, THE THING, THOUGH, I THINK THAT E'RE SEEING IS HE'S -- HE LOOKED AT IT.

HE GOT A LOT OF HEAVY PUSHBACK FROM PEOPLE SAYING DON'T DO IT.

AND RIGHT NOW, ALL THE SIGNS INDICATE THAT HE REALLY, I THINK, HAS PROBABLY ALREADY DECIDED.

HE'S NOT GOING TO RUN AGAIN.

HE'S WAITING TO HEAR IF ANYBODY'S GOING TO BEG HIM TO SAY.

YOU KNOW, OH, PLEASE, YOU KNOW, TIM, STAY.

I'M ONE OF THEM, BY THE WAY.

RUN, TIM, RUN.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT HE WOULD PROBABLY BE THE WEAKEST GOVERNOR CANDIDATE THAT THEY COULD HAVE RUN.

THEY DO HAVE A EEP BENCH ON THAT STATE.

THAT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT.

BUT FOR THOSE OF US THAT CAN REMEMBER LIKE WHEN LINCOLN WAS PRESIDENT BACK IN '78, THEY ALSO HAD A DEEP BENCH AND THE REPUBLICANS WITH NEW PEOPLE SWEPT THE SCENE.

>> Eric: YOU USED TO REPRESENT MINNEAPOLIS IN THE SENATE.

I WONDER, THE D.S.A., THE DEMOCRAT SOCIALISTS VERSUS THE OLD ACTIONED DFLERS, IS THAT CAUSING HEARTBURN?

>> YEAH, IT CERTAINLY IS KIND OF AN ISSUE.

IT'S CERTAINLY AN ISSUE RIGHT NOW IN THE MAYORAL RACE IN MINNEAPOLIS.

I THINK IT'S KIND OF SETTING UP THAT WAY.

I THINK THAT ULTIMATELY, THOUGH, LIKE, IF WE'RE GOING TO PROJECT THAT OUT FOR A STATEWIDE RACE, I DON'T THINK THAT THE D.S.A.

IS GOING TO VOTE FOR JULIA COLEMAN OR, YOU KNOW, ZACK -- YOU NEED REALLY GOOD CANDIDATES THAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE.

THEY'RE STILL GOING TO STAY HOME AND THEY'RE GOING TO STILL VOTE FOR WHOEVER THE DEMOCRATS PUT UP, INCLUDING GOVERNOR WALZ.

>> Eric: WHAT'S THE PROSPECT FOR CANDIDATE RECRUITMENT F INDEED THE GOVERNOR SAYS I'M NOT GOING TO RUN.

>> I THINK THE CANDIDATES WILL COME CRAWLING OUT OF THE WALL ON OUR SIDE, FOR ALL FOUR OF THE OFFICES, BY THE WAY.

I THINK WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING, THOUGH, IS THE INTERPARTY FIGHT THAT'S HAPPENING WITHIN THE DFL RIGHT NOW.

JUST THIS LAST WEEK, WE SAW -- I CAN NAME THREE INCUMBENT D.F.L.

STATE SENATORS THAT HAVE PRIMARY CHALLENGERS FROM THE FAR PROGRESSIVE LEFT THAT HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED AND THERE'S REALLY A PROBLEM.

THERE'S SOME TURMOIL THERE, NO LEADERSHIP.

AND IN THE MEANTIME, WHILE THEIR PARTY'S IN FLAMES, WE HAVE A GOVERNOR WHO'S TRYING TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO.

I'LL MAKE A PREDICTION ON "ALMANAC" TONIGHT.

I THINK HE'LL ANNOUNCE RIGHT AFTER THE STATE FAIR.

HE WON'T BE RUNNING AGAIN AND HE'LL LAND SOFTLY AT THE HUMPHREY INSTITUTE.

HENCE THOSE APPOINTMENTS HE MADE THIS WEEK TO THE U OF M BOARD OF REGENTS.

>> Dana: WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE COMMENTS ABOUT PRIMARYING CANDIDATES AND SOME OF THE FRICTION.

>> I HAVE TO PUSH BACK.

OUR PARTY IS NOT IN FLAMES.

PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED.

THE FRUSTRATION THAT PEOPLE IN GREATER MINNESOTA ARE FEELING ARE THE FRUSTRATIONS THAT PEOPLE IN MINNEAPOLIS ARE FEELING.

WE'RE FRUSTRATED WITH THE ECONOMY, WITH THE COST OF THINGS, THINGS THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS DOING, THAT ARE FEELING THE IMPACT NOW.

IT'S OKAY TO HAVE DEBATE AND CHALLENGES TO FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE FOR A LONG TIME.

IF FORCES HEM TO SHARPEN THEIR SWORDS AS WELL AND THE MAKE SURE IN THEY'RE BEST TO REPRESENT THEIR COMMUNITIES AS THEY CHANGE.

>> I THINK THE OPTICS ON THE WHOLE THING ARE BAD, THOUGH, I THINK WHAT IT DOES IS REINFORCES THIS US VERSUS THEM NOTION THAT PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT MINNEAPOLIS AND HOW COMPLETELY DIFFERENT IT IS AND WHAT A DIFFERENT PLANET IT SEEMS TO BE ON.

AND THOSE KINDS OF DISCUSSIONS AND THOSE KINDS OF DEBATES DON'T HELP WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO MEASURE A POLITICAL PARTY, ESPECIALLY IF THE NOMINATED CANDIDATE ENDS UP BEING THE CANDIDATE.

>> WELL, I MEAN, I THINK IT'S A NICE TRY.

I MEAN, PRESIDENT TRUMP IS THE PROBLEM, RIGHT, AND WE'RE GOING TO RUN INTO A MIDTERM AND THAT'S GOING TO BE -- AND THAT NATIONAL POLITICS ALWAYS LEADS.

SO I'M NOT SAYING THAT A GOVERNOR GOING INTO A THIRD THEY WERE IS NOT GOING TO HAVE SOME ISSUES BUT THE AIRWAYS ARE GOING TO BE DOMINATED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP.

PEOPLE FROM MINNEAPOLIS DO GO UP NORTH ALL THE TIME AND THAT'S SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT PEOPLE HAVE.

AND THEY GO TO BOUNDARY WATERS, LAKE COUNTRY.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE GOING ACROSS TO EUROPE OR SOMETHING AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE.

SO I THINK THAT AS THIS KIND OF MOVES FORWARD, THE GOVERNOR WILL HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION IF HE WANTS TO DO IT.

I WILL SAY THAT THE ONE NAME THAT I THAT I WAS SURPRISED FLOATING AROUND WAS THAT OF SENATOR KLOBUCHAR MAYBE KICKING THE TIRES ABOUT RUNNING.

AND I DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING.

BUT I HEARD IT FROM MORE THAN A COUPLE OF PEOPLE.

SO I THOUGHT THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTING?

>> Eric: MARY MORIARTY NOT RUNNING AGAINST?

>> GOOD RIDDANCE.

I'M SEEMPLE.

SHE HAS JUST ABOUT DESTROYED THE COUNTY AND WHAT SHE'S DONE WITH HER -- THE OLICE CATCH ALL OF THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE JUST ARE IANESTHESIAING TERROR ON CERTAIN COMMUNITIES IN MINNEAPOLIS AND SHE LETS THEM GO.

I CAN'T IMAGINE ANYBODY'S GOING TO SHED A TEAR ABOUT HER DEPARTURE.

>> Eric: ALYSEN.

>> I THINK THE MORE ACADEMIC APPROACH IS SHOWING SOME POSITIVE IMPACTS.

CRIME IS VERY -- IS ONE OF THE LOWEST RATES IT'S BEEN IN MINNEAPOLIS.

BUT THERE IS ALSO THE REALITY THAT KIND OF THESE REVOLVING DOOR OF CRIMINALS THAT SHE -- THAT NARRATIVE IS JUST NOT GOING TO LEAVE HER, SO SHE'S READING THE ROOM.

>> Dana: YOU'VE ALL BEEN AROUND THE CAPITOL FOR A WHILE.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A CONVERSATION THIS COMING WEEK ABOUT SECURITY AND SAFETY IN THAT BUILDING.

I WONDER WHAT YOU'RE HOPING TO HEAR FROM THAT AND IF THERE ARE MEASURES THAT CAN BE TAKEN TO MAKE IT A SAFER PLACE.

>> IT'S LONG OVERDUE AND I'M GLAD THEY'RE DOING IT.

BE FULLY TRANSPARENT AND DO IT QUICKLY SO IT'S IN PLACE IN TIME FOR THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

NO ONE SHOULD EVER FEEL UNSAFE AT THEIR PLACE OF WORK AND I THINK ALL 201 LEGISLATORS HAVE SOME SERIOUS DOUBTS ABOUT THE CAPITOL SECURITY AND GOING FORWARD WE NEED TO REASSURE EVERYONE, LOBBYISTS, EVERYONE, IT'S SAFE.

>> YEAH, AND I THINK THE POLITICAL VIOLENCE THAT JUST HAPPENED DIDN'T HAPPEN NECESSARY CAPITOL.

AND THEN WE HAD THIS KIND OF PERSON THAT SNUCK IN.

FRANKLY, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, THERE HASN'T REALLY BEEN A LOSS OF INSTANTS IN THE CAPITOL OR EVEN IN BUILDING AROUND THE CAPITOL.

I THINK WE NEED MORE SECURITY BUT I DON'T WANT US TO SHUT PEOPLE, GOOD PEOPLE, THE 4-H FOLKS THE PEOPLE FROM BEMIDJI WITH THEIR OUTFITS AND ON AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF THAT MAKES THE CAPITOL WHAT IT IS AND YOU GET A CHANCE TO HEAR HOMELESS DAY ON THE HIGH SCHOOL, THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED FOLKS THAT COME AND SEE AND LET YOU KNOW HOW IMPORTANT GOVERNMENT IS TO THEIR LIFE.

I HOPE WE DON'T GO TOO FAR.

>> THE SECURITY ISSUE WITH THE LEGISLATORS, THOUGH, EALLY ISN'T SO MUCH AT THE CAPITOL.

I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.

AND A LOT OF WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT WITH C BUILDINGS AND SO FORTH ARE GOOD.

BUT FRANKLY, IN THESE KINDS OF DISCUSSIONS, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HEAR A LOT OF PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS.

YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR SOME OF THE PLAYERS, THE LEGISLATORS, PRESUMABLY, BUT ALSO SECURITY MAKING PLANS AND THE LAST THING THEY WANT TO DO IS TELL SOME POSSIBLE PERPETRATOR WHAT THE PLAN IS.

>> Dana: POTENTIALLY A QUICK SORT OF GUESSING GAME HERE, BUT DO YOU THINK THEY WILL PUT IN PLACE METAL DETECTORS?

>> YEAH, I THINK SO AND I THINK THEY'LL LIMIT ACCESS AND I THINK THAT'S OKAY AS LONG AS PEOPLE FEEL SECURE, BECAUSE I REALLY ENJOYED WHEN I WAS THERE TALKING TO MY CONSTITUENTS.

I HAD MY DOOR OPEN ALL THE TIME.

I HOPE THAT DOESN'T STOP AND CERTAINLY AS A -- >> I'LL GET THE NUMBER WRONG, BUT I THINK WE'RE ONE OF ONLY SEVEN OR EIGHT STATES THAT DOESN'T HAVE MAGS RIGHT THERE.

BAGSSHOULD BE CHECKED.

>> Eric: POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.

MY MOM HAS TURNED 99, HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

I LOVE YOU.

99 AND GOING.