IS SNEAD >> ERIC: ANOTHER BUSY SUMMER WEEK OF POLITICS SO LET'S JUMP RIGHT IN WITH OUR COUCH FULL OF POLITICAL ANALYSTS.

DFLERS UP FIRST TONIGHT.

FORMER SENATE MINORITY LEADER, SUSAN KENT, AND WITH HER, POLICY DIRECTOR AT UNIDOS MINNESOTA, SARA LOPEZ.

REPUBLICANS ON THE COUCH, FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER AMY KOCH HERE WITH US, AND FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER TURNED LOBBYIST AND STAND-UP COMEDIAN BRIAN MCDANIEL.

SENATOR KOCH, MITCHELL, MORRISON, SPECIAL ELECTION, WHERE IS IT ALL HEADED?

>> WELL, THERE'S ONE SEAT THAT HOLDS THE MINNESOTA SENATE FOR THE DFL.

AND ACTUALLY NOT ANYMORE BECAUSE THE RESIGNATION OF SENATOR MORRISON MEANS THAT THE SPLIT IN THE SENATE IS NOW 33-33.

AND IN THE SENATE, EVERYTHING DIES ON A TIE.

THERE IS NO TIE-BREAKER.

AND SO WHILE THAT SEAT LEANS LEFT, OR LEANS, I THINK, LIGHT BLUE, IT DOES HAVE A REPUBLICAN HOUSE MEMBER AND A DFL HOUSE MEMBER SO DON'T SLEEP ON THE SENATE THIS SESSION.

WHAT IT MEANS IS, I THINK EVERYBODY WAS SAYING, EVERYTHING'S ABOUT THE HOUSE, WITH ONLY 4 SEATS BUT BOY, OH BOY, THE SENATE JUST GOT HOT.

>> Eric: YOU'VE CALLED FOR SENATOR MITCHELL TO STEP DOWN.

WHERE IS THE STATE OF PLAY IN THIS THING?

>> Mary: AND YOU'RE NOT RUNNING, WE SHOULD JUMP IN THAT BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN ASKED TO RUN, THAT IS YOUR DISTRICT.

>> I AM NOT RUNNING AND, YEAH, AND I THINK IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PART OF WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT WAS THE UNCERTAINTY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ARE WE GOING TO BE RECOMMENDED, GIVEN THE TIMING AND AS SENATOR MORRISON REQUEST BY RESIGNING BY THAT DATE, NOW, THE SPECIAL ELECTION WILL BE ON THE GENERAL BALLOT BUT SENATOR MITCHELL DID NOT, IT'S ALL UP IN THE AIR AND NOW, YOU KNOW, THERE CONTINUE TO BE DELAYS ON HER CRIMINAL SITUATION AND NOW NOBODY KNOWS.

SO NEXT JANUARY IT MAY HAPPEN AND DEPENDING ON WHAT HIMSELF HARKS WOODBURY MIGHT NOT HAVE A SENATOR.

>> I THINK WE JUST SAW BASED ON THE ADS I ACQUIRED THAT SENATOR MITCHELL IS ON THE BALLOT BECAUSE NOW SHE'S BEING LINKED TO HOUSE CANDIDATES.

DID WE EXPECT THAT?

>> WELL, I MEAN -- I THINK -- >> YES.

>> I THINK FIVE MINUTES AFTER WE ALL GOT WORD OF WHAT HAPPENED, WE KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO BE THE -- >> Mary: IS IT RELEVANT, THOUGH, DOES WHAT THE SENATOR DID MATTER TO THE HOUSE AND -- >> YES.

FIRST OF ALL, SIN ECONOMY, REPUBLICANS PROBABLY THINK IT INOCULATES THEM ON PRESIDENT TRUMP A LITTLE BIT BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, DEMOCRATS REALLY LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF SAY THAT REPUBLICANS ARE THE PARTY OF LAWLESSNESS AND THIS IS SOMETHING WHERE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF UITE BRAZENLY, THE DEMOCRATS ALLOWED HER, SENATOR MITCHELL, TO CONTINUE TO VOTE AND THEN AS SOON AS SHE WASN'T USEFUL TO THEM, YOU KNOW, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, DUE PROCESS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE HEARD ABOUT BEFORE, DIDN'T MATTER AS MUCH.

I ALSO THINK SHE SHOULD RESIGN.

>> AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS LIKE, EVERY SINGLE SIDE IS WAGING A WAR OF ATTRITION, RIGHT, OF LIKE LEGAL BATTLES LEFT AND RIGHT AND I THINK THAT THE WINNING HAND BELONGS TO WHOEVER IS ABLE TO ARTIC LATE A CLEAR VISION, WHAT THEY STAND FOR FOR THE FUTURE TO BE VERY HONEST.

>> Mary: WITH A PERSON NAMED BIDEN AND A PERSON NAMED TRUMP IN COURT, DOES IT MATTER IF A PERSON NAMED MITCHELL IS ALSO IN COURT?

ARE WHICH GETTING DESENSITIZED TO IT?

>> I THINK IT'S A DIFFERENT LEVEL BECAUSE OF THE TRIFECTA WITH THE DFL, THERE'S NO ARGUING THE DFL ARE IN CHARGE AND ALL THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, INCLUDING THIS ARE ALL DFL RELATED AND SO MINNESOTA LIKES -- I THINK A TREE EFFECT TAKE IS UNUSUAL FOR US.

WE LIKE SPLIT GOVERNMENT, WE'VE OFTEN BEEN SPLIT GOVERNMENT AND I THINK IN PARTICULAR, MINNESOTANS ARE GOING -- THEY ALSO BY THE WAY SEPARATE THE FEDERAL RACES FROM THE STATE RACES, AND THEY'RE SMART INFORMED VOTERS.

I THINK IT WILL MATTER.

>> Eric: THE MINNESOTA HAS HAD AN ACTIVIST BIG GOVERNMENT SYSTEM AND I WONDER WHAT THESE THINGS FROM THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR THIS WEEK, I WONDER IF THAT REPRESENT YOU TAGS HAS BEEN DENTED FOR DEMOCRATS.

SEEMS LIKE THERE'S PROBLEM WITH OVERSIGHT.

>> FIRST OF ALL, THESE THINGS HAPPEN UNDER DIFFER LEADERSHIP AND IT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED, THE FEEDING OUR FUTURE AND THE WORKERS ISSUE, YOU KNOW, THOSE THINGS ARE NOT OKAY AND I THINK EVERYBODY AGREES THAT'S NOT OKAY AND WE NEED TO DO BETTER.

BUT THOSE WERE ALSO BOTH EMERGENCY RESPONSES IN DIFFICULT TIMES AND, YOU KNOW, CHANGES ARE BEING MADE TO TRY TO ADDRESS THEM AND -- >> THERE CAN'T BE ANYTHING MORE IMPORTANT FOR A LEGISLATOR OR A GOVERNOR TO DO THAN BE A GOOD STEWARD OF THE PEOPLE'S MONEY AND THAT HAS BEEN PROVEN TO NOT BE HAPPENING.

NOW, WE CAN ALL SAY WHOSE FAULT IT WAS AND WHO COULD HAVE CAUGHT WHAT BUT THE TRUTH IS, UNDER DFL MANAGEMENT, THAT THESE THINGS DID HAPPEN AND I THINK THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF EXCUSE MAKING AND ALMOST, YOU KNOW, TURNING A BLIND EYE, NOT WANTING IS TO BELIEVE THAT THESE THINGS WERE BEING HALT FRAUDULENTLY.

>> Mary: IT'S COMPLICATED, THIS IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT THE STATE WAS PAYING OUT, DO ALL THOSE SINK OUT TO THE VOTERS, CAN THAT BE COMMUNICATED?

>> I DON'T THINK WE'RE SAYING THAT ACCOUNTABILITY IS NOT IMPORTANT.

WHAT HAPPENED WAS CRIMINAL, THEY WERE STEALING FROM, LIKE, CHILDREN, BUT -- AND THERE IS A PROCESS IN PLACE AND I THINK WE BOTH AGREE THAT WHOEVER -- LIKE CRIMINALS HAVE TO BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE.

>> THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR, BY THE WAY, THE GOLD STANDARD FOR NONPARTISAN AUDITING, I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE, WE'RE SO GRATEFUL -- JIM SNOWMOBILES AND NEWSPAPER THE CURRENT AUDITOR, THEY'RE OUTSTANDING, RIGHT, SO THAT SAID, IT WASN'T A SIMPLE CRIMINAL MATTER.

THIS WAS LIKE -- ACTUALLY SHE WAS VERY VOCAL ABOUT HOW THIS ADMINISTRATION, MDE MESSED UMM, DIDN'T CALL THE F.B.I., ACTUALLY, UNTIL THE F.B.I.

CONTACTED THEM, SHE WAS VERY CLEAR.

AND ALSO THE FRONT-LINE WORKER, 40% UNVERIFIED, 40% OF THE CHECKS PAID OUT WERE UNVERIFIED.

NOW, WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT A FRONT-LINE WORKER, LIKE AN EMERGENCY ROOM NURSE WHO REALLY IS SORT OF THE PICTURING OF WHAT THE FRONT-LINE WORKER SHOULD BE TO RECEIVE THIS, RECEIVES LESS WHEN 40% OF THE PEOPLE GET IT ARE UNVERIFIED.

THAT WAS ONE POT OF MONEY THAT WAS DIVIDED BY EVERYBODY WHO GOT IT.

>> BUT ONE OF THE THINGS -- >> SO UNFAIR TO THEM.

>> ON THE ISSUE WITH THE DEPARTMENTS OF EDUCATION, I THINK IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE IN THE YEARS LEADING UMM TO THAT I REMEMBER VIVIDLY THE FORMER SENATE EDUCATION CHAIR KARLA NELSON REPEATEDLY TRYING TO GUT THE STAFFING AT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

I MINE, SO IT'S -- WE'VE NOT BEEN ADDING, WE'VE NOT BEEN GROWING, THE AGENCY -- >> DIVIDED GOVERNMENT.

>> FOR $250 MILLION -- [Overlapping Conversation] >> THIS HAPPENED UNDER DIVIDED GOVERNMENT, THOUGH, DID IT NOT?

>> BUT CERTAINLY NOT AT THE -- AT THE EXECUTIVE EVEL.

NO.

AND I THINK THAT IF YOU HAVE GOVERNMENT THAT IS NOT ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO SUPPORT GROWING THAT GOVERNMENT.

WE'RE LOSING EVEN MORE -- >> Mary: THE PEOPLE VOTED FOR DEMOCRATS.

>> NECESSITY DID, THEY DID, NOW WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK BACK AND SAY, OKAY, AS THAT A SMART CHOICE.

IS THAT WHAT WE WANT?

>> Mary: IS THIS BAD FOR DEMOCRATS ON THE BALLOT?

>> WELL, I THINK -- WELL, I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT REGULATION IS GREATLY IMPORTANT AND I THINK FOR DEMOCRATS, THERE IS SOMETHING WE LIKE IS OUR INSTITUTIONS FINANCINGS ONCE.

IF THE ATTENTION INSTITUTION KNOT GETTING FUNDED, YOU CANNOT DO YOUR JOB, YOU CANNOT RUN YOUR JOB ON A SHOESTRING BUDGET.

>> Eric: MINNESOTA POLL, BIDEN AND TRUMP CLOSE, SEEMS LIKE PRETTY SUBSTANTIALLY MORE ENTHUSIASM FOR TRUMP THAN BIDEN.

JILL BIDEN WAS IN DULUTH YESTERDAY.

ARE DEMOCRATS WRINGING THEIR HANDS HERE OR -- >> WELL, YOU KNOW, DEMOCRATS ARE NOTORIOUSLY BED-WETTERS ABOUT THESE THINGS BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT OLLS IN JUNE DON'T NECESSARILY REALLY PREDICT THE FUTURE AND I THINK PEOPLE WILL BE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE ALL 10 ACTIVE WHEN IT BECOMES CRYSTAL CLEAR AND PEOPLE ARE FOCUSING ON IT.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE PROBLEM FOR BIDEN, JUST LIKE HILLARY CLINTON WHEN THERE WAS ONE POINT BETWEEN HER AND FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, IT'S BECAUSE SHE SEVERELY UNDERFORMED AND JOE BIDEN IS SEVERELY NDERPERFORMING.

AND TRUMP CAN WIN EVEN HERE IN MINNESOTA.

>> RIDING THE ROLLER COASTER, WE THOUGHT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A RED WAVE AND THERE WASN'T, AND YES, THERE IS A BIT OF DISOH DAMAGES, WE'RE IN UNCHARTED TERRITORY BUT I DO THINK THE DEMOCRATS HAVE DELIVERED ENOUGH FOR THE STATE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HOLD ON TO THE TRIFECTA.

>> LET'S REPUBLICAN, DONALD TRUMP DOESN'T HAVE TO WIN MINNESOTA IN ORDER FOR REPUBLICANS AT THE STATE LEVEL TO BENEFIT IF HE DOES WELL IN WINONA, UP NORTH.

>> Mary: THE POLLS SAID THE MAJORITIES OF VOTERS IN MINNESOTA SAID HE WAS DISQUALIFIED, REALLY, BECAUSE OF THE CRIPPLE UNTIL CASE.

THAT WASN'T GOOD FOR HIM IN MINNESOTA, WAS IT?

>> AND THIS WEEK WE'VE GOT REPUBLICANS WHO ARE CHALLENGING IVF AND CONTRACEPTION.

I MEAN, THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY CRITICAL RACE AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TUNE IN AND THEY'RE GOING TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THE REAL -- >> I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE THE ISSUE THAT THE DFL IS GOING TO RIDE ON.

>> Mary: WHEN YOU SAY IVF, ABORTION WAS MAYBE THE BIGGEST ISSUE LAST TIME.

IN THE POLLS SO FAR NOT SHOWING AS A BIG ISSUE.

>> POLITICAL OPERATIVE COX, I WANT YOU TO PUT ON YOUR VET HAT.

THIS IS A NEW TERM TO ME THIS WEEK, BE DOUBT HATER VOTERS.

>> THEY DISLIKE THEM BOTH, THEY ABSOLUTELY FEEL -- >> Eric: ARE THEY UP FOR GRABS -- >> I DON'T -- I THINK THAT -- I THINK --S AND THIS IS THE PROBLEM ALSO FOR BIDEN.

I THINK A LOT OF THEM STAY HOME.

I THINK A LOT OF THE DOUBLE HATERS SAY, I REFUSE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THESE TWO CANDIDATES.

I DO NOT ACCEPT THEM.

I DIDN'T LIKE THEM FOUR YEARS AGO AND I WAS FORCED TO CHOOSE AND I WILL NOTES CHOOSE- >> Mary: BUT IF THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IS DEMOCRACY, GOING BACK TO ABORTION BEING A BIG ONE, THAT'S PROBABLY NOT GREAT FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP.

>> AND EVERYBODY IS INCREDIBLY UNHAPPY AND EVEN THE ECONOMIC MARKERS MAKE US LOOK GOOD IN TERMS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE ECONOMY, PEOPLE STILL DON'T FEEL THEY'RE DOING GREAT.

HOWEVER, WHOEVER ARTICULATES THAT VISION OF HOPEFULNESS FOR THE FUTURE, THE VISION OF PROSPERITY WHICH WE DO REALLY WELL, I THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT GIVES US THE UPPER HAND.

>> AND THIS IS WHERE THE ENTHUSIASM GAP THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT EARLIER REALLY MATTERS, BECAUSE IF EVERYONE'S UNHAPPY, IT'S LIKE WHO'S GOING TO HOLD THEIR NOSE AND GO TO THE POLLS MORE AND THAT'S WHAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT.

>> Mary: THAT DIDN'T WORK FOR TRUMP LAST TIME, WHEN PEOPLE DIDN'T LIKE EITHER PERSON.

>> NOT IN 2018, NOT IN... [Overlapping Conversation].

>> Eric: NORTH DAKOTA BALLOT MEASURE, UPPER AGE LIMIT FOR CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES, YOU WEREN'T RUN FOR CONGRESS IN NORTH DAKOTA IF YOU TURN 81 DURING YOUR TERM.

>> I'M A BIG LEAVER THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO VOTE FOR DID YOU MEAN CANDIDATES IF NOTE SO -- FOR DUMB CANDIDATES AS YOU WANT.

AS MUCH AS I'M BEING PROVEN WRONG, MAYBE IS THERE SHOULD BE AGE LIMITS, I DON'T LIKE THEM BUT PEOPLE SHOULD BE IS THAT RIGHTER ABOUT WHO THEY VOTE FOR.

>> ANYBODY LIKE IT?

>> I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD RETIRE WHEN THEY NEED TO RETIRE.

>> Mary: VOTER TURNOUT IS KIND OF A TERM LIMIT, ISN'T IT IN MINNESOTA?

>> WE NEED PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO CHALLENGE INCUMBENTS, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S... [Overlapping Conversation].

>> VICE PRESIDENTIAL -- WHO'S THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE FOR NOT TRUMP?

>> OH, I THINK IT'S -- MIGHT BE NORTH DAKOTA, BURGHUM.

>> HE WROTE A BIG CHECK.