♪- >> Eric: ANOTHER BIG HEAVY POLITICAL NEWSWEEK IN MINNESOTA AND THE NATION AND WE ARE GOING TO END OUR HOUR TONIGHT WITH THIS WEEK'S VERSION OF THE POLITICAL PANEL.

REPUBLICANS UP FIRST TONIGHT KURT DAUDT FORMER SPEAKER OF THE MINNESOTA HOUSE, ANNETTE MEEKS, FORMER CONGRESSIONAL STAFFER AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CANDIDATE, HEADS UP THE FREEDOM FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA.

DEMOCRATS WITH US TONIGHT EMBER REICHGOTT JUNGE, SENATOR, ABOU AMARA IS HERE, FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER, NOW ATTORNEY IN PRIVATE PRACTICE.

REAL QUICK DOWN THE ROAD, HOW DID WE GET HERE?

>> I THINK EGOS.

I KNOW PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY TRUMP'S EGO, I THINK TIM WALZ'S EGO IS BIGGER THAN TRUMPS.

HE SHOULD BE TELLING PEOPLE TO STAY HOME AND NOT INTERFERE WITH FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> SOMEHOW OUR COUNTRY HAS CHANGED FROM RULE OF LAW TO A RULE OF RETRIBUTION AND THAT'S SOMETHING I'M CONCERNED ABOUT.

>> DONALD TRUMP TOLD US, HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO FOCUS ON RETRIBUTION OF INNESOTA BECAUSE HE THINKS HE WON THIS STATE THREE TIMES.

>> I WILL TAKE A LITTLE DIFFERENT APPROACH.

DONALD TRUMP SAID HE WAS GOING TO RESTORE ORDER AND DEPORT PEOPLE HERE ILLEGALLY, THAT'S WHAT HE'S BEEN DOING.

FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS OUR STATE HAS DONE THIS QUIETLY.

6400 PEOPLE DEPORTED IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS, NOT ONE PRETTIEST, NOT ONE CRAZY MOMENT AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN THIS HAS BECOME SOMETHING BECAUSE TRUMP IS DOING IT.

IT'S TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME.

>> YEP.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF WHEN WHEN YOU SEE THOSE VIDEOS WITH OF I.C.E.

AGENTS KICKING PEOPLE AND DRAGGING PEOPLE OUT OF CARS AND TEARGASSING PEOPLE?

THAT'S A LOT OF VIOLENCE.

>> IT IS AWFUL AND I'M SORRY IT'S HAPPENING HERE.

BUT I ALSO PRAY THAT EVERY ONE OF THOSE OFFICERS GOES HOME SAFELY EVERY NIGHT AND I HOPE ALL THE PRETTYESTERS GO HOME EVERY NIGHT SAFELY.

AND WE'VE GOT ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT HAVE BEEN NEGLIGENT IN THEIR DUTY IN TELLING PEOPLE STAY HOME AND BE SAFE, DON'T DO THIS.

AND INSTEAD THEY KEEP EGGING THEM ON.

>> WELL, THERE'S THIS THING CALLED THE FIRST AMENDMENT, SO PEOPLE GET TO GO OUT AND MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD.

OF COURSE IF THEY'RE COMMITTING CRIMES THEY SHOULD BE ARRESTED.

BUT THIS IS AMERICA.

IF YOU DISAGREE WITH SOMETHING YOU HAVE THE RIGHT O VOICE IT AND YOU'RE SEEING IT BY AND LARGE PEACEFULLY, WERE THERE ISOLATED INSTANCES?

YES, THIS IS NOT THE PROTESTS WE SAY FOUR YEARS AGO WITH THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD.

>> Eric: Mr.

SPEAKER, DOES IT TAKE THE HEAT OUT OF THE FRAUD ISSUE?

>> I THINK THE FRAUD ISSUE IS WHAT'S DRAWN ALL OF THIS.

AND I HOPE PEOPLE DON'T LET THE I.C.E.

STUFF DISTRACT FROM THE FRAUD.

I'M SICK AND TIRED OF BEING GASLIT BY THE WALZ ADMINISTRATION THAT THERE IS NO FRAUD.

WE'VE GOT A YOUNG GUY THAT HAS MADE VIDEOS GONE VIRAL TO EXPOSE THIS STUFF AND WHAT WE GET FROM THE WALZ ADMINISTRATION IS, NOPE, NONE OF IT'S TRUE.

THE FRAUD IS OOBVIOUS THAT STEVIE WONDER CAN SEE IT.

7 HUNDREDER MILLION DOLLARS GONE OUT OF MINNEAPOLIS AIRPORT IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.

THAT'S A MILLION DOLLARS A DAY OF CASH IN SUITCASES GOING OUT OF THE MINNEAPOLIS AIRPORT.

THAT NEEDS TO STOP AND WALZ HAS DONE NOTHING TO STOP IT.

>> WE ALL AGREE THERE HAS BEEN FRAUD, IT HAS AFFECTED MANY VERY GOOD ORGANIZATIONS THAT SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THE MONEY.

WE ALL AGREE WITH THAT.

WHAT THE IRONY IS HERE THAT THE TOP PROSECUTOR FOR FRAUD JOE THOMPSON HAS JUST RESIGNED ALONG WITH FIVE OF HIS COLLEAGUES, SO THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN THE FRAUD INVESTIGATION ARE GONE BECAUSE OF WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WAS FORCING THEM TO DO, WHICH WAS TO PROSECUTE THE WIDOW OF RENEE GOOD >> Eric: WITH GOVERNOR WALZ NOT RUNNING DOES LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FLANAGAN BECOME THE FACE OF FRAUD IN THE POLITICAL SENSE AND DOES THAT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE SENATE D.F.L.

PRIMARY?

>> WALZ WILL NOT BE ON THE BALLOT IN 2026.

PEGGY FLANAGAN IS TRYING TO BE ON THE BALLOT IN 2026.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S GOING TO STOP HER BUT I WOULD THINK THAT'S THE POLITICAL REALITY.

>> I WOULD SAY SHE'S HAS THE ENDORSEMENT FOR THAT SEAT AND I THINK SHE HAS A LOT OF EXPLAINING TO DO.

WHEN SHE AND GOVERNOR WALZ WERE ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL PEOPLE WERE ROBBING OUR STATE BLIND WHERE THE POINT THAT THE U.S.

ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CALLED IT PROFESSIONAL FRAUD, AND TOURISM FRAUD.

TERMS WE HAD TO INVENT BECAUSE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN MINNESOTA BECAUSE OF THEIR NEGLIGENCE.

>> I DO THINK THAT ANGIE CRAIG IS GOING TO HAVE AN EASIER TIME WINNING THE PRIMARY GIVEN THE SITUATION.

I THINK THAT THERE'S JUST, THAT -- BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

>> REMEMBER THIS IS NOT AN ELECTION IN ISOLATION.

MIDTERM ELECTION WITH DONALD TRUMP WHO IS LARGELY UNPOPULAR, 14 POINTS UNDERWATER WITH CNN POLL.

DEEPLY UNPOPULAR AT A TIME WHEN YOU HAVE AN ACTIVATED BASE.

WHOEVER IS GOING TO BE THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT WHO'S GOING UP AGAINST AMY KLOBUCHAR.

>> AMY KLOBUCHAR WON'T BE AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET.

>> THIS IS WISHFUL THINKING.

>> NO IT WILL BE, MINNESOTA CAN'T GET OUT OF THE NATIONAL NEWS BECAUSE OF THE INCOMPETENCE OF THE WALZ ADMINISTRATION AND THE FRAUD.

>> WALZ IS NOT RUNNING.

>> ANY DEMOCRAT THAT RUNS IS GOING TO BE PAINTED ITH FRAUD, I GUARANTEE IT.

>> THE BENEFIT OF ENATOR KLOBUCHAR IS THAT SHE WAS A PROSECUTOR FOR EIGHT YEARS.

AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT?

SHE WAS GOING AROUND THE STATE DOING SEMINARS ON HOW TO PREVENT FRAUD SCAMS DURING THAT TIME.

THERE IS NOBODY BETTER QUALIFIED TO REBUT THAT ISSUE AND TO DO GOOD WORK ON THAT ISSUE THAN SENATOR KLOBUCHAR.

>> THIS IS WHERE I WOULD CHALLENGE THE D.F.L.

WHAT ARE YOUR SOLUTIONS?

I HAVE NOT HEARD ONE DEMOCRAT COME FORWARD AND SAY WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO GOING FORWARD SO WE DON'T HAVE THIS LEVEL OF FRAUD GOING INTO 2028?

BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THEY CAN'T, THEY CAN'T GO AGAINST THEIR GOVERNMENT UNIONS, THAT CONTROL ALL 87 COUNTIES AND ALL THE WORKERS THAT ADMINISTER THESE GRANTS AND OTHER THINGS, COUNTY BY COUNTY, ALL THE MEDICAID WAIVERS, ALL OF THAT, WE'RE ONE OF 11 STATES THAT DO IT THAT WAY AND IT'S A DISASTER, IT'S BEEN WAITING TO HAPPEN, AND WALZ AND HIS NEGLIGENCE ALLOWED IT TO HAPPEN.

>> Eric: LET ME TRY ANOTHER ONE.

THAT IS I.C.E.

'S EFFECT ON THE D.F.L.

PRECINCT CAUCUSES.

I WONDER IF ATTENDEES OF COLOR ARE GOING TO SAY I'M NOT SHOWING UP BECAUSE WHO KNOWS, I.C.E.

MIGHT BE THERE AND IT WAS POINTED OUT TO ME TODAY THAT IT COULD BE A VERY WHITE D.F.L.

PRECINCT CAUCUS NIGHT.

>> REMEMBER THIS IS NOT ACTUALLY NEW TO THE DEMOCRAT R D.F.L.

PROCESS.

DURING COVID WE HAD VIRTUAL EVERYTHING ELSE WITHIN THE PARTY, NOT ACTUALLY ELECTIONS BUT PARTY PROCESS.

THERE ARE WAYS TO ENGAGE VOTERS THAT WAY.

I'M NOT TOO CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

MORE BROADLY WHAT DOES IT DO IN TERMS OF TURNOUT AND PRIMARY AND GENERAL ELECTION.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MINNESOTANS WHO HAVE NEVER PARTICIPATED EFORE THEY ARE WALKING OUTSIDE AND SEEING PREGNANT WOMEN DRAGGED IN THE STREETS, MOTHERS BEING SHOT IN THE STREETS, YOU BETTER BELIEVE THEY'RE SHOWING UP ON ELECTION DAY.

>> I THINK IT HAS BROUGHT INDEPENDENTS AND MODERATES TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY'RE SEEING.

THIS IS NOT AMERICA, THIS IS WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT IN IRAN.

YET YOU'VE GOT PICKUP TRUCK URGING PROTESTERS IN IRAN.

>> YOU HAVE TO BE A U.S.

CITIZEN TO VOTE IN CAUCUSES SO I DON'T THINK IT IMPACTS ANYTHING.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED THE ELECTION.

THE PRESIDENT HAS FLOATED THE IDEA THAT THERE SHOULDN'T BE A MIDTERM ELECTION.

WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN YOU HEARD THAT?

HE TENDS TO DO THIS, IT'S LIKE BALLOONS OR -- >> DISTRACTION.

>> Cathy: OR IS HE SERIOUS?

>> NO, HE'S JUST, ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT COMES TO HIM AND HE SAYS IT OUT LOUD.

HE HAS NOT A LOT OF UNUTTERED THOUGHTS, HOW'S THAT?

I THINK THIS IS NOT ONE HE SHOULD HAVE UTTERED BUT HE DID.

>> WHY ARE WE CHALKING THIS UP AS IF THIS IS SOMEHOW NORMAL TO SOMEHOW JOKE THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE ELECTIONS.

>> WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, AFTER PRESIDENT BIDEN.

>> JOKING ABOUT NOT HAVING ELECTIONS IS THE SAME AS JOE BIDEN >> -- AND ALLIES HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR YEARS TO PUT INTO LOCAL OFFICES PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE ALIGNED WITH THEM AND WILL COUNT THE BALLOTS THE WAY THEY WANT THEM TO BE OR DESTROY THE BALLOTS AFTERWARDS OR WHATEVER.

IN OTHER WORDS, THEIR ALLIES ARE BEING PUT SLOWLY AND SURELY UP THE SCALE INTO THOSE LOCAL POSITIONS TO REGULATE ELECTIONS.

>> WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, EMBER, I DON'T THINK THAT'S HAPPENING.

IF IT WERE BRAD TABKE WOULDN'T BE RETURN TODAY THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

WE'RE LOSING THAT BATTLE IF THAT'S THE CASE.

>> REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR CONTEST, LISA DEMUTH WON THE STRAW POLL AFTER DEBATE.

IS SHE THE FRONT-RUNNER >> I THINK SHE PROBABLY IS.

ALTHOUGH WE'VE GOT THE MY PILLOW UY, AND IF TRUMP WEIGHS IN, HE'S KIND OF INDICATED HE THINKS THE MYPILLOW GUY DESERVES IT OR WHATEVER WORDING HE USED.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT TO PLAY OUT IN THAT RACE.

>> I'M INTERESTED TO SEE NOW THAT GOVERNOR WALZ IS OUT OF THE RACE HOW DOES LISA DEMUTH EXPLAIN HER ROLE IN THE FRAUD.

SHE'S THE PEAKER OF THE HOUSE, SOMEBODY WHO HAS THE POWER.

PURSE, SOMEBODY WHO HASN'T DONE ANYTHING ON FRAUD.

>> WITH ALL DUE RESPECT SHE HAD A TIED HOUSE, D.F.L.

SENATE AND D.F.L.

GOVERNOR, SHE WAS SPEAKER FOR -- MONTHS, AS OPPOSED TO 7 YEARS WITH GOVERNOR WALZ AND FLANAGAN.

>> WHERE'S HER BILL?

>> I PASSED SOMETHING CALLED PERIODIC DATA MATCHING WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO ELIMINATE FRAUD IN STATE PROGRAMS AND I WAS FOUGHT TOOTH AND NAIL BY DEMOCRATS WHO DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT WHO JUST BELIEVED EVERYONE SHOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC PROGRAMS.

IT TOOK US UNTIL 2019 TO GET THAT IMPLEMENTED AND THE FIRST YEAR OF ITS IMPLEMENTATION 20,000 PEOPLE WERE DISQUALIFIED.

>> LISA DEMUTH IS THE MOST POWERFUL REPUBLICAN IN MINNESOTA, DON'T TELL ME SHE COULDN'T DO SOMETHING ON FRAUD.

>> I THINK LISA DEMUTH -- COULD WIN AGAINST THE MY PILLOW GUY, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT.

THE MAGA BASE IS THE ONLY GROUP STILL STRONGLY TOGETHER.

I WOULD JUST SAY FOR THIS ELECTION COMING UP I DON'T THINK FRAUD IS GOING TO BE AS FRONT AND CENTER AS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IF GOVERNOR WALZ WAS THE CANDIDATE AND YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK AT HEALTH CARE COSTS, AFFORDABILITY AND ALL OF THE OTHER ISSUES AT LEAST A LITTLE MORE IN THIS ELECTION.

>> Eric: GOTTA RUN.

GOOD STUFF, PANEL.

THANK YOU.

WE HAVE RUN LONG TONIGHT.

ANOTHER BUSY NEWSWEEK.

HISTORY LESSON RETURNS LATER IN THE MONTH.

AND QUICK NIGHT BEFORE WE GO, NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT ALMANAC AFTER HOURS RETURNS, LEGISLATIVE PREVIEW COMBINED WITH AN ALMANAC TRIVIA COMPETITION.

CATHY AND I WILL BE THERE ALONG WITH MARY LAHAMMER AND SPECIAL GUESTS.

HEAD TO TPT.ORG/EVENTS FOR THE DETAILS.

SHOW-ENDING MUSIC THIS WEEK BACK IN 2011, JOHN GORKA JOINED US, HE SANG "WHERE NO MONUMENT STANDS" BASED ON A WILLIAM STAFFORD POEM ABOUT PEACE.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

BE CAREFUL.

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