>> CATHY: MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION IS JUST ONE TOPIC WE WILL COVER WITH THIS WEEK'S VERSION OF THE POLITICAL PANEL.

DEMOCRATS ON THE COUCH TONIGHT, JAVIER MORILLO, A LONGTIME PARTY ACTIVIST AND FORMER NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEMBER.

JOINING HIM IS FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER AND NOW ATTORNEY ABOU AMARA.

ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, WE HAVE LOBBYIST, STAND-UP COMEDIAN AND FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER BRIAN MCDANIEL.

AND WE WELCOME BACK FORMER REPUBLICAN SENATE LEADER MICHELLE BENSON.

SENATOR, LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT AUGUST THE 1.

WHERE DO YOU THINK THE GROWING PAINS WILL BE WITH THIS MARIJUANA LAW?

>> I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE ENOUGH STAFF TO STAND IT UP.

I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES THAT NEED TO BE HIRED ACROSS STATE GOVERNMENT, I DON'T HINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE READY.

I THINK CITIES ARE LOOKING AT SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES AND HOW THIS IS GOING TO WORK AND EACH INDIVIDUAL MUNICIPALITY.

I THINK THEY COULD HAVE TAKEN STEPS LIKE DECRIMINALIZATION, FOR EXAMPLE, SO THAT THEY COULD GET TO SOCIAL JUSTICE WITHOUT GOING ALL IN BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS ON HOMELESSNESS, MENTAL HEALTH, HOW OUR CITIES ARE GOING TO OPERATE, HOW WE'RE GOING TO TEST THIS IN WORKPLACES, HOW WE'RE GOING TO TEST IT AT THE ROAD SIDE IF SOMEBODY APPEARS TO BE COMPROMISED OR HIGH, SO I DON'T THINK IT WILL ROLL OUT AS SMOOTH LIE AS PERHAPS THE PROPER MONTHS HAD HAPPENED.

>> THERE WILL BE BUMPS, NO QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT BUT THE FUNDAMENTAL PREMISE IS WE'RE MOVING IN A DIRECTION WE ALL NEED TO GO.

WE HAVE DECRIMINAL STATION, BECAUSE FOR THE NEXT 18 MONTHS, YOU WILL YOU'LL SEE THAT TAKING PLACE.

DECRIMINALIZATION IS MAKING SURE WE DON'T LOCK PEOPLE UP BECAUSE THEY HAVE LOW DOSES OF MARIJUANA ON THEM A.

>> Cathy: HOW MUCH OFF A PAIN, LIKE I SAY, LAKEVILLE IS LOOKING AT MAKING IT IT A PETTY MISDEMEANOR TO SMOKE IN PUBLIC, DULUTH, HOW ABOUT PATCHWORK -- >> I THINK THAT I THINK ONE THING THEY WOULD LIKE TO AVOID AND I THINK IN 2025, WHEN THEY HAVE THE OFFICE OF CANNABIS MANAGEMENT, A LOT OF THIS STUFF IS GOING TO NOT WORK ITSELF OUT BUT IT WILL BE CLEARER.

RIGHT NOW, THERE IS A LOT OF CONFUSION BETWEEN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND RETAILERS ON WHO CAN SELL WHAT, WHEN, WHERE AND HOW AND BETWEEN MOW AND 2025, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF THE WILD, WILD WEST.

IT'S GOING TO BE A LEARNING PROCESS, WE'RE GOING TO KIND OF LEARN WHERE THE MAJOR PROBLEMS ARE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING, THOUGH, SO I MEAN WE ALL NEED TO GO INTO THIS KIND OF SAYING, ALL RIGHT, SIR, HOW DO WE MAKE THIS, YOU KNOW, AS SAFE FOR THE PUBLIC AND AS INTUITIVE FOR RETAILERS AS WE CAN.

>> Eric: ALF AREA, INTERESTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT UNION ACTIVISM ON THE RISE.

UPS, THE WRITERS IN HOLLYWOOD, NURSES -- YOU COME FROM A UNION BACKGROUND AND HOW DOES THIS PLAY POLITICALLY FOR THE UNIONS AND POLITICAL SYSTEM?

>> I THINK WE'RE IN A MOMENT WITH A POST PANDEMIC STILL, A LOT OF FOLKS REALLY A -- THE GREAT RESIGNATION AND NOW PEOPLE STILL RECKONING WITH THEIR ABILITY TO COLLECTIVELY MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN THEIR LIVES AND I THINK THE HOLLYWOOD STRIKES AND THE UPCOMING UP PS ONE ARE INDICATIVE OF PEOPLE DEMANDING THAT THE ECONOMY WORK FOR WORKERS, HAVE NOT JUST FOR CORPORATIONS SO I THINK IT'S AN INCREDIBLY EXCITING TIME FOR UNIONS.

>> Eric: WILL YOU BE NBC AS THE MOST FIFTH FRIENDLY FOR BUSINESS?

>> IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE -- THERE WERE SOME LIFESTYLE THINGS, MINNESOTA IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.

IT IS AN INCREDIBLY HARD PLACE TO DO BUSINESS AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE INTERNALS OF THEIR RANKINGS, YOU'LL SEE, ECONOMY, WE WERE, LIKE, 31, BUSINESS-FRIENDLY CLIMATE, WE WERE DEFINITELY DOWN TOWARDS THE BOTTOM, SO I DISAGREE WITH THE HEADLINES.

>> AND I THOUGHT WITH THE WRITER STRIKE, YOU KNOW, IT IS PEOPLE AT CNBC WERE APPLYING FOR COMEDY WRITER SHOPS BECAUSE THEY TOLD A FUNNY JOKE AND I WROTE IT IN MY JOURNAL AT NIGHT BUT IF YOU LOOK AT -- YOU COULD TELL THAT WAS A -- THAT WAS A LIST PUT TOGETHER BY PEOPLE WHO AREN'T ACTUALLY RUNNING BUSINESSES, BECAUSE WHEN YOU TALK TO MINNESOTA BUSINESSES, YOU KNOW, THEY WILL TALK ABOUT WE HAVE A GREAT WORKFORCE, A GREAT PLACE TO RAISE A FAMILY, ALL THAT STUFF BUT THEY WON'T SAY THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO STARTS A BUSINESS.

>> I THINK THE FACTS THAT YOU JUST POINTED OUT IN CERTAIN AREAS WE WEREN'T THAT GOOD AND IN OTHERS REALLY GOOD, GIVES US CREDIBILITY.

>> IT DIDN'T SAY MINNESOTA BASS THE BEST THING AT ALL TIMES TO ALL PEOPLE, IT WAS SAYING WE HAVE STRENGTHS AND ROOM TO GROW.

>> YES, THERE ARE BUSINESSES THAT MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON LIVABILITY WHICH IS ACTUALLY VERY IMPORTANT, AND THE REALITY IS, I MEAN, OUR REPUBLICANS WILL BE DISMISSIVE ABOUT HOW RADICAL THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS NATION-WIDE BUT WHEN BUSINESSES ARE MAKINGS DECISIONS ABOUT STATES WHERE WOMEN HAVE A RIGHT TOE BODILY AUTONOMY, WHERE CHILDREN -- FAMILIES AND CHILDREN WON'T BE PERSECUTED BY ATTORNEYS GENERAL, YEAH, THAT HE MIGHT RATHER SETTLE HERE BECAUSE THE WORKERS WON'T WANTS TO LIVE IN THOSE PLACES.

>> WHEN YOU ASK A BUSINESS A BUSINESS QUESTION AND YOU'RE NUMBER 31 AND THE HEADLINE SAYS WERE EASE TOP FIVE AND BE BEAT TEXAS, THAT'S A MISLEADING HEADLINE AND THAT'S BEYOND CREATIVE JOURNALISM, I THINK BRIAN WAS RIGHT.

IT WAS CLOSER TO A JOKE THAN JOURNALISM.

>> Cathy: SO MONDAY I HEAR THAT GOPERS IN THE HOUSE, REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE ARE GOING TO ANNOUNCE A SUBURBAN SOLUTIONS CAUCUS.

WHAT ABOUT THAT, BRIAN?

>> WELL, IT'S NEW SIX TO MY EARS.

I MEAN, I'M CURIOUS TO SEE KIND OF WHAT THEY COME UP WITH BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'LL BE ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE TO CRITICIZE THE REPUBLICANS FOR THEIR MESSAGING IN THE SUBURBS.

I'M OLD ENOUGH O REMEMBER WHEN THERE WAS A NICE, BRIGHT RED RING AROUND MINNEAPOLIS AND St. PAUL ND OBVIOUSLY NOW, YOU HAVE TO HUNT AND PECK, YOU HAVE TO GO AGENTS WAY DOWN TO WHERE I LIVE IN LAKEVILLE BEFORE YOU START FUNDING REPUBLICAN DISTRICTS AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE MESSAGING FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TOO EOPLE IN THE SUBURBS HAS BEEN HORRIBLE.

>> Eric: GO AHEAD, SENATOR.

ATHEY'RE REALLY GOOD IDEAS THAT WHEN I WAS IN THE SENATE, WE WERE WORKING ON, IF THEY'RE GOING TO BUNDLE THEM AND COMMUNICATE THEM IN A WAY THAT VOTERS CAN ACTUALLY HEAR IT INSTEAD OF YELLING ABOUT THINGS THAT VOTERS DON'T CARE ABOUT AND FRANKLY IF THE TOP OF THE TICKET IS ACTUALLY FOCUSED ON WELCOMING PEOPLE INTO THE PARTIES INSTEAD OF MAKING THINGS ABOUT THEIR EGO, WE'VE GOT A CHANCE.

>> THIS IS A LIPSTICK ON A PIG.

THIS IS TRYING TO REBRANDS, IT WON'T CHANGE THE FUND MENTAL.

THE FUNDS MENTAL ISSUES ARE ON CORE ISSUES THAT MATTER TO PEOPLE IN THE SUBURBS, THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IS ABORTION.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTIES CONTINUES TO THIS DAY TO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THEIR POSITION ON ABORINGS.

THAT IS A NON-STARTER FOR SUBURBAN VOTERS.

>> DID YOU HEAR NIKKI HALEY TALK ABOUT BORTION?

>> SHE'S NOT RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR OF MINNESOTA.

>> AND NIKKI HALEY IS VOWING THE QUESTION, SHE REFUSE TOSS ANSWER WHETHER, EASE FOR A NATIONAL BAN.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK WITH PEOPLE.

THE REPUBLICANS DON'T HAVE A MESSAGING PROBLEM IN IT IS SUBURBS, THEY HAVE A SUBSTANCE PROBLEM IN THE SUBURBS.

>> BUT WHAT IF WE TALK ABOUT EDUCATION AND THE FACT THAT KIDS GOT LEFT BEHIND?

DOES THAT MATTER TO HEM IN THE SUBURBS?

>> THE DEMOCRATS JUST FUNDED TWO RECORD LEVEL INVESTMENTS -- >> AND WE HAVE BEEN FUNDING EDUCATION IN THE TOP 20 IN THIS COUNTRY NOR A LONG TIME AND OUR DISPARITIES AND OUR READING SCORES CONTINUES TO SLIDE.

SO HOW ABOUT WE TALK ABOUT WHAT MOMS ARE THINKING ABOUT, HOW EXPENSIVE LIFE HAS GOTTEN IN THE SUBURBS?

THE QUALITIES OF THEIR KIDS' EDUCATION, DO THEY TRUST THEIR SCHOOLS ANYMORE?

ARE THEY MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE KIDS?

THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT WE HAVE TO ASK, AND, AGAIN, IF THE TOP OF THE TICKET FOCUSES ON BRINGING PEOPLE TO THE PARTY INSTEAD OF MAKING IT ABOUT THEIR EGO, WE GOT A SHOT.

>> INSTEAD WHAT REPUBLICANS TALK ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION IS BANNING BOOKS -- >> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> OH, WOW, WOW, WOW, WE'RE NOT -- >> IT'S TERRORIZING QUEER CHILDREN.

>> WHAT BOOK HAS BEEN BANDS?

>> I'M TALKING ABOUT NATIONAL REPUBLICANS WHERE EVERY SSUE TODAY IS NATIONALIZED AND THE RAMSEY COUNTY PARTY VEN IN MINNESOTA SENATE TAKING THOSE ISSUES ON.

THEY'RE NOT MINNESOTA REPUBLICANS STANDING UP TO THE CRAZINESS EVERYWHERE ELSE.

>> SAYING BOOKS ARE INAPPROPRIATE FOR FIRST GRADERS IS NOT BANNING A BOOK.

>> Eric: WE'VE HAD A SERIES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, AND TWO RECENTLY OF PEOPLE IN PUBLIC POLICY ELECTED OFFICIALS, DWIs.

JUST -- IS THERE SOMETHING GOING ON THERE OR IS IT JUST REFLECTIVE OF SOCIETY OR -- >> LOOK, I WOULD SAY IT'S A REFLECTION OF SOCIETIES IN THE BEST AND WORST SENSE.

THE LEGISLATURE RENTS THE PEOPLE, THEIR STRUGGLES, HOMES, DREAMS, FAILURES, AND I THINK WE CAN'T LOOK TOO DEEPLY INTO THIS SAYING POLITICIANS ARE CORRUPTS, THEY'RE THIS OR THAT, THEY'RE PEOPLE, FLAWED AND THEY REPRESENTS US.

>> AND THERE WERE' HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD WHICH IS BOTH FAIR AND DIFFICULT.

>> Eric: I GOT TO SAY PEOPLE AT MIDES COFFEE SHOP WILL COME UP TO ME AND SAY, HEY, WHAT AM I GETTING BACK ON MY REBATE AND I GIVEN THEM THE NUMBER AND THEY'RE KINDS OF EXPECTANT AND THEN I GIVE THEM A NUMBER AND THEY'RE KIND OF, HUNH.

IS THAT GOING TO BE A PROBLEM FOR DEMOCRATS?

>> LET'S BE CLEAR AND MOST OF THEM PROBABLY AREN'T EVEN GOINGS TO GET THE NUMBER YOU QUOTE THEM.

IS THAT GOING TO BE A PROBLEM FOR DEMOCRATS?

I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK THAT RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, EVEN GOING BACK TO THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, THE REPUBLICANS HAVE A HUGE -- THERE'S PART OF A SUBSTANCE PROBLEM BUT THERE IS A CHARISMA PROBLEM SO I THINK THAT REPUBLICANS CAN LIST ALL THE THINGS THE DEMOCRATS HAVE DONE THAT ARE HURTING FAMILIES OR BUSINESSES BUT THE MESSENGER, QUITE OFTEN, CAN'T GET THE MESSAGE THROUGH.

>> Eric: JAVIER.

>> AGAIN, THERE IS A MESSAGE PROBLEM BUT A MORE FUNDAMENTAL SUBSTANCE PARTY WHEN IT COMES TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTIES.

I DON'T THINK WE HAVE REPUBLICANS IN MINNESOTA, THERE ARE REPUBLICANS IN THIS STATE, ON THIS COUCH, WHO >> MAGA EXTREMISTS BUT THERE ARE NO REPUBLICANS FROM MINNESOTA STANDING UP TO THAT AND THAT IS A PROBLEM FOR THEM.

IT IS A BRANDING PROBLEM, A PROBLEM OF MESSAGE AND A -- >> AND A THRESHOLD QUESTION, IF YOU DON'T PASS THAT, PEOPLE WON'T LISTEN TO EDUCATION OR THE OTHER THINGS YOU HAVE TO TALK ABOUT.

>> Eric: