OFFICIALLY RETURN TO THE STATE CAPITOL IN ST. PAUL FOR 34 DAYS, BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF POLITICAL ACTION THIS WEEK.

LEGISLATORS ARE HOLDING HEARINGS, THE GOVERNOR AND LT.

GOVERNOR ARE TRAVELING THE STATE, AND A FORMER HOUSE LEADER ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT.

PLENTY OF POLITICS FOR THIS WEEK'S COUCH FULL OF POLITICOS TO PONDER.

REPUBLICANS UP FIRST TONIGHT.

BRIAN MCDANIEL IS A FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER, NOW LOBBYIST AND STAND-UP COMEDIAN.

AMY KOCH IS A FORMER STATE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER NOW LOBBYIST.

DFLERS ON THE COUCH TONIGHT, ABOU AMARA IS ALSO A FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER NOW ATTORNEY, AND WE WELCOME SARA LOPEZ TO THE COUCH, POLICY DIRECTOR AT UNIDOS MINNESOTA WHO HAS SPENT MANY HOURS AT THE LEGISLATURE.

BRIAN McDANIEL -- >> YEAH.

>> Cathy: HI.

>> HEY.

[ Laughter ] >> Cathy: YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON WHEN IT COMES TO RETIREMENTS.

FORMER SPEAKER DAUDT DECIDED TO CALL IT QUITS.

THAT WAS KIND OF A SURPRISE.

>> I MEAN, I MEAN, YES AND NO.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, AMY AND I ARE FRIENDS WITH KURT, YOU KNOW, NOT CAPITOL FRIENDS BUT ACTUAL FRIENDS.

SO WE KNEW THAT HE WAS LOOKING AT WHERE HE WAS, YOU KNOW, AGEWISE, AND THESE ARE PRIME EARNING YEARS, AND, YOU KNOW, IF IT WAS UNLIKELY THAT HE WAS GOING TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR OR SPEAKER AGAIN, THEN HE JUST HAD TO KIND OF LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS THE SMARTEST THING FOR HIM TO DO FISCALLY, AND THE RIGHT JOB CAME AT THE RIGHT TIME AND WE'RE GOING TO MISS HIM.

BUT I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING FOR HIM TO DO.

>> Eric: WE SHOULDN'T READ INTO THIS THAT HE DOESN'T THINK THE REPUBLICANS CAN TAKE THE HOUSE MAJORITY IN '24?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

THE REPUBLICANS HAD MOVED OBJECT.

MOVED ON.

LISA DEMUTH IS LEADING THE CAUCUS.

THIS FOR KURT IS A TREMENDOUS OFFER AT EXACTLY THE RIGHT TIME.

AS A LEADER WHO HAD TO GO BACK FOR LIKE ONE MORE SESSION AFTER BEING LEADER, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

HE'S ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH, RIGHT?

HE WAS SPEAKER MULTIPLE -- SO MANY YEARS, LEADER FOR A LOT OF YEARS.

SO, I THINK HE FELT LIKE HIS TIME AT THE CAPITOL WAS DONE.

>> Cathy: SOME PRETTY BIG HITTERS, THOUGH, ARE LEAVING.

SPEAKER DAUDT, LIZ OLSON, GENE PELOWSKI, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER PEOPLE.

THIS COULD BE KIND OF AN INTERESTING ELECTION.

>> THAT HAPPENS KIND OF IN BIG CHUNKS.

I KNOW BACK IN 2016 THERE WAS MASSIVE TURNOVER.

I THINK IT JUST REPRESENTS A GENERATIONAL CHANGE, RIGHT?

IT'S FOLKS HANDING THE BATON TO A NEW GENERATION.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE CAUCUS, YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN THE 30s, EARLY 40s.

SOMEONE THAT SPARRED WITH CURT KURT DAUDT OFTEN, IT WAS A LIFE CYCLE, TIME FOR HIM TO DO SOMETHING ELSE.

>> Eric: WHAT DO WE EXPECT FROM THE TRIFECTA YEAR TWO, SARAH?

EXPECTATIONS STILL HIGH, GOT MOST OF WHAT YOU WANTED DONE?

>> I THINK THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE A SET OF TECHNICAL REVISIONS THAT NEED TO GET DONE ON SOME BIG BILLS, BUT ALSO I THINK THAT THERE'S SOME WORK THAT STILL NEEDS TO GET DONE THIS SESSION.

AND IT'S A DIFFERENT SESSION.

BUT I THINK THAT HE EXPECTATION IS THAT THEY'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE TO DELIVER FOR MINNESOTANS.

>> Eric: SENATOR, I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT A COUPLE OF THE PROGRAMS, SCHOOL LUNCH, HAVE EXCEEDED WHAT WAS ADVERTISED AS THE PRICE TAG.

>> YES.

SO THAT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO BE A NEEDED FIX, ND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HEARING A LOT OF, WELL, THERE'S A PROJECTED SURPLUS OF AROUND $2 BILLION, THAT'S NOT REALLY, RIGHT?

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT, WHICH MEANS IN THE OUTYEARS, BASICALLY, RIGHT, THE MONEY WAS OVERSPENT BASED ON A LOT OF FACTORS, RIGHT?

THINGS WERE MOVING FAST, IT WAS $17.6 BILLION, THE LARGEST SURPLUS EVER IN STATE HISTORY.

A LOT OF MONEY GOT SPENT.

>> WELL, THESE NUMBERS AREN'T STATIC, RIGHT?

AND, SO, IT MAY BE A PROJECTED DEFICIT IN THE FUTURE, BUT AS WE GROW, WE NOW THE ECONOMY'S GOING TO GROW.

INTEREST RATES ARE COMING DOWN.

AND THOSE NUMBERS WILL CHANGE AS WE OVE INTO THE FUTURE.

BUT DEMOCRATS HAVE THINGS TO SELL TO THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW THAT KIDS AREN'T HUNGRY IN SCHOOL, THAT THEY CAN LEARN.

THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK EVERY MINNESOTAN CAN GET BEHIND.

>> AND I THINK THAT'S TRUE.

I THINK THERE WERE SEVERAL THINGS THAT THE DFL DID THAT WILL ULTIMATELY BE POPULAR, BUT MINNESOTANS ARE NOT GOING TO APPRECIATE A BAIT AND SWITCH WHERE THEY SAY, HERE, HERE'S A PROGRAM THAT LOOKS GOOD, SOUNDS GOOD, MAYBE EVEN DOES GOOD, BUT IF YOU WANT TO KEEP IT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE YOUR TAXES.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE A LONG-TERM PLAN FOR SUCCESS FOR THE DEMOCRATS.

>> Eric: WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE PITCH AT THE DOOR WHEN CANDIDATES ARE RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION, FOR INSTANCE?

>> I THINK THAT SICK AND SAFE TIME IS GOING TO BE HUGE.

I'VE HEARD FROM PEOPLE, FROM ALL SIDES OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM, TALKING ABOUT HOW GOOD THAT POLICY IS.

PEOPLE JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THEIR LIVES, PEOPLE WANT TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN, PEOPLE WANT TO BE ABLE TO, IF THE WEATHER IS DANGEROUS, WANT TO BE BLE TO STAY HOME.

SO, I THINK THAT THAT'S A GREAT POLICY THAT IS DEFINITELY GETTING SUPPORT FROM EVERYBODY IN MINNESOTA.

>> Eric: BRIANA BEERS BACK HAS A STORY IN THE STRIB ABOUT I THINK SOME PEOPLE CALL IT A CIVIL WAR WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

IS THAT A LITTLE STRONG OR IS THAT HAPPENING?

>> WELL, I THINK A CIVIL WAR IS A LITTLE STRONG, BUT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS BEEN AT ODDS INTERNALLY FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND WE'VE SEEN THAT IN SOME REALLY HIGH-PROFILE PRIMARY THAT IS HAVE SHAKEN OUT.

IT'S GOING THROUGH A TRANSITION.

AND OBVIOUSLY WHEN YOU HAVE SUCH A DOMINANT TOP OF THE TICKET AS WE DID WITH FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND NOW RUNNING AGAIN, I MEAN, THERE'S REALLY A CULT OF PERSONALITY THERE, WHETHER IT WAS ON THE DEMOCRAT TICKET OR THE REPUBLICAN TICKET, SO MUCH STRONG PERSONALITY BECOMES ABOUT THAT PERSON AND NOT ABOUT THE, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE PARTY STANDS FOR.

SO THE FIGHT IS REALLY ABOUT IDENTITY, NOT ABOUT ISSUES.

>> Eric: THAT STORY IS VERY INTERESTING.

SHE TALKS ABOUT ONE SENATOR WHO, AN UNCOUPLE BENT DIDN'T GET EN-- INCUMBENT DIDN'T GET ENDORSED, CONSERVATIVE WAS ENDORSED, AND THAT FLIPPED THE BALANCE OF THE SENATE.

>> WE'RE ALL FRIEND HERE.

I CAN'T LIE TO YOU AND SAY THINGS ARE GREAT WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF MINNESOTA BECAUSE THAT'S JUST NOT TRUE.

BUT IT'S OLD NEWS.

THERE AREN'T NEW BATTLES BEING FOUGHT.

WITH NEW PLAYERS.

IT'S THE SAME PEOPLE IGHTING OVER THE SAME STUFF.

>> Cathy: CAN THE GOP GET ITS ACT TOGETHER AND TAKE BACK THE HOUSE?

>> WELL, THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

CAN THEY GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER?

EH.

CAN THEY TAKE BACK THE HOUSE?

ABSOLUTELY.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE NEW BATTLE LINES, ARE WITH THE DEMOCRATS.

LOOK WHAT'S GOING ON WITH PALESTINE, LOOK WHAT'S GOING ON -- I MEAN, THESE ARE ACTUALLY REAL FIGHTS WITH REAL CONSEQUENCES THAT REALLY IS BEING UNDERREPORTED.

>> THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FIGHTING BETWEEN POLICY, WHICH THE DEMOCRATS ARE LEGITIMATE FIGHTS, AND YOU'RE HAVING FIGHTS AMONG PEOPLE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

WINNING CURES ALL.

DON'T FORGET THAT.

THE REASON REPUBLICANS ARE FIGHTING SO HARD IS BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T WON STATEWIDE IN NEARLY 20 YEARS.

AND THEY DON'T HAVE A CHAMBER AT THE STATE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL.

THE SUPREME COURT, DEMOCRATS WILL HAVE APPOINTED EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON THE MINNESOTA SUPREME COURT BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

THE FACT IS, THE LOSING IS CAUSING THE CONSTERNATION AND THE INFIGHTING WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> BUT I HAVE TO -- I ACTUALLY DIFFER WITH YOU BECAUSE, FRANKLY, REPUBLICANS ARE KIND OF FIGHTING ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

IT HASN'T GOT TO DO WITH HOW MINNESOTA -- I MEAN, REPUBLICANS ARE DOING.

BECAUSE THIS SCHISM IS PLAYING OUT IN EVERY SINGLE STATES.

IN REPUBLICAN STATES, THEY HAVE THE TRIFECTA.

IT IS ABOUT A PERSONALITY AND AN IDENTITY.

IT'S BEEN GOING ON AS BRIAN SAID, FIVE YEARS, SIX YEARS, EIGHT.

>> Cathy: BUT BRIAN BRINGS UP A POINT, SARA, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, IN TERMS OF THERE IS A SCHISM IN THE DFL PARTY OVER ISRAEL AND HA PASS?

HAMAS?

>> ELL, I THINK THAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS A GOOD LIFE AND INCH THAT -- AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO POLITICS, MINNESOTANS ARE FEELING THE IMPACTS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, PARTICULARLY IN THEIR POCKET, RIGHT?

MINNESOTANS ARE ABLE TO AFFORD A BETTER LIFE.

MINNESOTANS ARE ABLE TO GET ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN, SO WE TALK ABOUT BIG POLITICAL THINGS, YES, THEY'RE IMPORTANT, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S AT HOME, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE ECONOMY, WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH YOUR RIGHTS, I THINK THAT THE DFL HAS THE LEAD.

>> Eric: STATE LAG IS N ISSUE.

>> I DON'T THINK THE STATE FLAG WILL BE THE ISSUE.

I THINK THE SENATE -- THE STATE OFFICE BUILDING IS GOING TO BE AN OFFICE.

ABISSUE.

EITHER SIDE MIGHT HAVE DONE IT BUT IT WAS THE DFL HAT DID IT.

>> Eric: THEY SURE GOT THE SHOVELS IN THE GROUND QUICK, I WILL SAY THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

HERE'S THE DEAL.

THE REPUBLICANS WANT TO TALK ABOUT A BUILDING.

DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'VE EEN BUILDING FOR MINNESOTANS.

>> EXACTLY.

>> AND THAT'S THE CONTRAST IN THE ELECTION.

>> I HEAR A CAMPAIGN.

>> IT'S A VERY REDUCTIONIST MINDSET.

DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT TO SELL ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

>> Eric: NEW SOB, YOU'RE OVER THERE EVERY DAY.

IS THAT GOOD FOR YOU?

>> WELL, THAT'S NOT WHAT THE POINT IS.

I OVE THAT BUILDING.

THAT BUILDING DEFINITELY, I MEAN, I STARTED THERE IN THE YEAR 2000, IT WAS FALLING APART THEN.

SO THERE'S DEFINITELY NECESSARY RENOVATIONS.

I THINK THAT WE'RE ALL JUST VERY SURPRISED THAT IT'S GETTING UP TO ALMOST $800 MILLION.

THAT'S A LOT, CONSIDERING THAT THE SENATE BUILDING WAS $90 MILLION.

EST THAT'S BONDS OVER A 20-YEAR PERIOD.

>> AND IT'S MULTIPLE AGENCIES, IT'S NOT JUST THE HOUSE.

>> THERE'S NOT LOTS OF OTHER STATE AGENCIES IN THERE.

THERE'S A REVISOR, THERE'S LEGISLATIVE PEOPLE IN THERE.

>> MY BARBER'S THERE.

>> THE BARBER'S THERE.

>> Cathy: REALLY REALLY QUICK.

>> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT DEMOCRACY FOR THE PEOPLE, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BUILDINGS ARE ACCESSIBLE, THAT PEOPLE AN NAVIGATE IT, THAT YOU HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE PARTICIPATING IN A HEARING, WITNESSING IN A HEARING.

FOR ME, IT'S ALL ABOUT ACCESS, IT'S ABOUT BRINGING PEOPLE FROM THE MARGIN, GETTING THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN DEMOCRACY.

SO, I'M ALL FOR THE NEW BUILDING.

>> Cathy: SAY, I'M KIND OF -- WE BROUGHT UP, OF COURSE, BRIANA'S STORY ABOUT THE GOP.

THERE'S ALSO A STORY IN THE STRIB ABOUT THE FBI INVESTIGATING ALLEGATIONS OF CHEATING, MISCONDUCT AND MAYBE DELEGATE FRAUD IN THE MINNEAPOLIS DFL.

ESPECIALLY AROUND THE FALL ENDORSING CONVENTIONS.

WHAT ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, THAT SAME STORY HAD -- SAID TWO THINGS.

THE CHAIR OF THE CITY DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAD NOT HEARD FROM THE FBI.

AND THE STATE PARTY HADN'T HEARD FROM THE FBI.

THE FBI SHOULD BE ABLE TO INVESTIGATE WHATEVER IT IS IT NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE.

I HAVE CONFIDENCE THERE'S NOT A WIDESPREAD NOTION THAT ANYTHING IS HAPPENING.

BUT REPUBLICANS WILL USE IT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SELL.

>> Eric: CAN ANYBODY IN TRUMP WIN IOWA?

>> TRUMP WILL WIN IOWA.

NEW HAMPSHIRE SAY QUESTION MARK.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, SOUTH CAROLINA AND OTHERS ARE GOING TO -- AND SUPER TUESDAY WITH