>> ERIC: GOVERNOR WALZ IS FINISHING UP A TRADE MISSION TO AUSTRALIA.

BACK HERE IN MINNESOTA, THE WEBSITE WITH POTENTIAL STATE FLAG DESIGNS HAS BEEN SEEING HEAVY TRAFFIC.

AND MORE THAN ONE MEMBER OF MINNESOTA'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION MAY HAVE A PRIMARY RACE AHEAD.

PLENTY OF FODDER FOR OUR COUCH FULL OF POLITICOS.

REPUBLICANS FIRST UP.

FRITZ KNAAK IS A FORMER STATE SENATOR NOW PRACTICING ATTORNEY.

ANNETTE MEEKS, FORMER CONGRESSIONAL STAFFER AND HEAD OF THE FREEDOM FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA.

DFLERS ON THE COUCH TONIGHT.

JEFF HAYDEN, FORMER STATE SENATOR NOW LOBBYIST.

AND WE WELCOME BACK WINTANA MELEKIN, DFL ACTIVIST WHO LOGGED MANY HOURS AT THE LEGISLATURE THIS PAST SESSION.

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOUR PEER GROUP, THE FLAG, IS INTERESTED IN OR IS THIS FOR OLD PEOPLE?

>> YOU KNOW, I RESPECT MY ELDERS.

[ Laughter ] BUT, YEAH, WE WERE DISCUSSING IT IN THE BACK ROOM.

I DON'T HAVE A DOG IN THE FIGHT.

I THINK AS LONG AS IT'S A FLAG THAT MOST PEOPLE LOVE AND RESPECT, I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE PRIORITY IS.

I DO THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME ISSUES WITH THE LAST FLAG BEING TOO BUSY AND NOT PAYING ENOUGH HOMAGE TO INDIGENOUS FOLKS THAT WERE HERE BEFORE ME AND ANY OF US AT THIS TABLE.

AND, SO, EXCITED FOR THAT SHIFT.

BUT NOT A TOP PRIORITY.

I THINK PUBLIC HOUSING IS MORE OF A PRIORITY FOR FOLKS.

>> Eric: YEAH.

LEGISLATURE, IF THE LEGISLATURE DOES ENACT, IT BECOMES THE FLAG, BUT THEY CAN REJECT IT?

>> I THINK THAT'S HOW IT IS.

I THINK THEY'VE REALLY GIVEN IT TO THE PEOPLE.

SENATOR KUNESH IS REALLY LEADING THAT PROCESS.

SO I SUSPECT THAT WHAT THE PEOPLE COME UP WITH, OR WHAT THE COMMISSION COMES UP, THE LEGISLATURE WILL AFFIRM.

>> Eric: CAN I GIVE ED A SOFTBALL.

EXPENSIVE -- CAN I GIVE ANNETTE A SOFTBALL.

EXPENSIVE STATE OFFICE BUILDING.

WASN'T THE SENATE OFFICE BUILDING, AND DOES THIS SERVE THE SAME PURPOSE?

>> I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS DESIRE TO SPEND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

YOU TALK ABOUT PUBLIC HOUSING, THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGHOUT THE STATE IS SUCH A GREAT PROBLEM AND WE HAVE A LEGISLATURE THAT SEEMS HELL BENT EVERY TWO YEARS TO SPEND GOBS AND GOBS.

THIS IS GOING TO BE CLOSE TO A BILLION DOLLARS BY THE TIME THEY'RE DONE.

>> Eric: WITH THE INTEREST.

>> RIGHT, WITH THE INTEREST.

>> Eric: THE BONDS.

>> AND WHATNOT ON A STATE OFFICE BUILDING, OBODY MOWS WHERE IT IS AND NOBODY WANTS TO SPEND THAT KIND OF MONEY.

>> STUNNING.

LOW-HANGING FRUIT AGAIN.

ONLY FAR FAR WORSE THAN BEFORE.

IT'S LIKE 5 MILLION BUCKS FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THE HOUSE.

I MEAN, JUST GIVE THEM A $2 MILLION HOUSE, LET THEM DO IT REMOTELY, RIGHT?

YOU'D SAVE HALF THE MONEY.

>> Eric: YOU WERE THERE DURING THE SENATE OFFICE BUILDING.

>> YES, I WAS THERE.

AND WE WENT THROUGH THOSE WARS AND SOME REASONS WHY PEOPLE FELT LIKE WE LOST AN ELECTION WAS BECAUSE OF THIS.

AND THAT WAS ONLY $96 MILLION.

BUT IT WAS RELATED TO THE $350 MILLION CAPITOL RENOVATION, WHICH WE THOUGHT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

I'LL BE CAREFUL HERE, BECAUSE THE SPEAKER'S A REALLY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, I'VE GOT A LOT OF GOOD FRIENDS IN THE HOUSE, I'M JUST WONDERING IF THAT NUMBER MIGHT NOT BE A LITTLE LARGE.

IF YOU GO TO THE STATE OFFICE BUILDING, THOUGH, IT IS A BUILDING THAT IS IN NEED OF RENOVATION, IT'S NOT SAFE, IT'S NOT TECHNOLOGICALLY SOUND.

WHEN I WAS IN THE MINORITY, THE SENATE USED TO SIT IN THE BASEMENT, IT WASN'T REALLY A GOOD PLACE TO BRING YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

SO THEY REALLY NEED TO DO THE.

BUILDING.

IF THAT'S THE RIGHT NUMBER, I THINK SOME OF US ARE SHAKING THEIR HEADS.

>> I THINK IT'S A FINE PLACE TO BRING YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

>> THEY COMPLETELY REDID IT.

>> Eric: YOU WERE IN THE BASEMENT, YEAH.

>> BUT THE BOTTOM LINE THERE WAS THERE, THEY DID A $50 MILLION RENOVATION, WHAT WAS IT, 30 YEARS AGO, TO TURN IT INTO BASICALLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BUILDING.

AND, YOU KNOW, 50 MILLION THEN, NOW WE'RE AT TEN TIMES THAT.

IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE.

>> WHEN WE HAVE SO MANY GREAT NEEDS THAT AREN'T BEING ADDRESSED, TO SPEND THIS KIND OF MONEY, THERE'S A REASON WHY THEY CALL IT THE S.O.B., I THINK THAT'S EVEN MORE ACCURATE TODAY.

>> Eric: HOW DO YOU THINK ILHAN OMAR, AND DON SAMUELS, APPARENTLY THERE'S A REMATCH, I DON'T KNOW IF MORE PEOPLE ARE GETTING IN, HOW DO YOU HANDICAP THAT FOR THE PRIMARY NEXT FALL?

>> I THINK ILHAN WILL DO PHENOMENAL.

LAST CYCLE SHE HAD A SMALLER CAMPAIGN, WANTED TO PRIERLTIZE THE GENERAL -- PRIORITIZE THE GENERAL AND STILL WAS ABLE TO BEAT DON.

I THINK THIS TIME WITH HER RAISING RECORD-LEVEL AMOUNTS OF MONEY, HAVING A REALLY PHENOMENAL CAMPAIGN TEAM, DON'S POPULARITY GOING DOWN, HER POPULARITY GOING UP, I THINK SHE'S GOING TO SAIL SMOOTHLY RIGHT THROUGH IT ALL, YEAH.

>> Eric: DOES THE GAZA VERSUS -- HAMAS VERSUS ISRAEL PLAY IN?

>> I THINK IT WILL PLAY.

IN I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL BE SMOOTH, I THINK IT WILL BE BUMPY, BUT I THINK THAT THE CONGRESSWOMAN HAS SHOWN THAT SHE'S A HARD CAMPAIGNER AND SHE'S READY.

SHE WASN'T REALLY QUITE READY FOR THAT RESURGE SENSE.

DEFUND THE BALANCE WAS ON THE BALLOT.

THAT'S NOT ON THE BALLOT ANYMORE.

SO I DO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IT WILL BE A TOUGH FIGHT, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT SHE'S GOING TO CATCH HE CONGRESSWOMAN OFF GUARD THIS TIME.

>> I DON'T THINK SHE'S GOING TO BE OFF GUARD.

BUT CERTAINLY HE ISN'T EITHER.

HE HAD KIND OF WHAT I'D CALL A SPONTANEOUS CAMPAIGN.

HE'S GETTING STARTED EARLY.

AND, OF COURSE, THIS IS STARTLING NEWS, BUT HE'S GOING TO GET ALL KINDS OF NONDEMOCRATIC MONEY, I SUSPECT.

IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY EXPENSIVE RACE.

GOOD TIME NUMBER THE PUBLIC MEDIA BUSINESS BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BE SELLING A LOT OF ADS.

>> I THINK THE OTHER THING IS, WE'RE IN SERIOUS TIMES NOW THAT WE WERE NOT IN TWO YEARS AGO.

WE HAVE A VERY SERIOUS WAR GOING ON WITH OUR AMERICA'S GREATEST ALLY, AND TO SEE HER AND HER WILDLY OFFENSIVE POSITIONS OFTENTIMES HAS REALLY ALIENATED A LOT OF VOTERS AND I THINK HE'S GOING TO -- I THINK HE'S GOING TO PREVAIL THIS TIME.

>> YEAH.

HE HAS ALREADY SAID HE'S NOT IN TOO FAR ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT SHE'S BEEN SAYING ON WHAT'S CURRENTLY HAPPENING.

SO I DON'T THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE THE ISSUE.

I THINK THE OTHER THING TO NOTE IS THAT TURNOUT WAS VERY MUCH DOWN.

DON RECEIVED THE SAME AMOUNT OF VOTES AS ILHAN'S LAST CHALLENGER.

I THINK THE CONSERVATIVE CHALLENGER IN THAT ACE HAS KIND OF HIT THE CEILING ON THE PROGRESSIVE BASIS -- AND THE PROGRESSIVE BASE S GROWING, ESPECIALLY WITH PRESIDENTIAL AND HOW WILDLY CONGRESSWOMAN OMAR IS IN THE DISTRICT.

I'M ACTUALLY NOT WORRIED ABOUT IT THIS CYCLE.

AND I HINK THE CONSTITUENTS OF THE C.D.

WILL ACTUALLY -- ARE ACTUALLY ON HER SIDE WITH THIS ISSUE.

>> IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAST ELECTION, WHICH I KNOW WE'LL GET INTO, THE ELECTORATE IS VERY PROGRESSIVE IN MINNEAPOLIS, THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THE VOTES COME FROM, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO THAT, SHE IS THE LEADER OF THAT.

SO I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT KIND OF WHERE WE'RE TRENDING, IN MINNEAPOLIS AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS, I THINK ILHAN WILL BE OKAY.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT C.D.

3 WHEN IT COMES TO DEAN PHILLIPS' SEAT?

A, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF WHAT REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIPS IS DOING N TERMS OF RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT?

AND WHAT HAPPENS -- HE ALREADY HAS A COUPLE OF PRIMARY CHALLENGERS.

>> I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT DEAN PHILLIPS IS DOING.

I HAVE ISSUES, YOU KNOW, WITH OUR PRESIDENT AND WISH HE WAS TAKING BETTER POSITIONS.

BUT DEAN PHILLIPS IS NOT THE CANDIDATE THAT IS FULFILLING THAT GAP.

AND -- I THINK HE'LL PICK UP SOME OLKS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT I DON'T THINK HE'S GOING TO COME CLOSE TO TAKING OUT THE PRESIDENT.

>> Eric: KELLY MORRISON, RESPECTED MEMBER OF THE STATE SENATE, IF SHE HAPPENS TO BECOME A NEW CONGRESS PERSON, YOU'D HAVE A 33-33 TIE IN THE SENATE, PENDING A SPECIAL ELECTION, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A SPECIAL LEGACY, I KNOW THE MAJORITY LEADER, I'VE TALKED TO HER, IS THINKING ABOUT THAT.

YOU KNOW, SENATOR MORRISON IS A PRETTY -- IS A REALLY GOOD LEGISLATOR WITH A REALLY REALLY LONG KIND OF TRACK RECORD OF BEING PROGRESSIVE, ESPECIALLY ON THE ISSUES AROUND REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE RIGHTS.

I WILL GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO MY FRIEND, OUR FRIEND, RON HARRIS, WHO, YOU KNOW -- >> Eric: DNC.

>> DNC EXECUTIVE WHO WAS SMART IN HIS RUNNING FOR THE FIRST TIME.

I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT'S GOING TO LINE UP.

BUT, YES, THERE WILL BE A 33-33.

>> Eric: LAST TIME YOU WERE ON -- >> Cathy: I WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO ASK ANNETTE WHAT SHE THINKS.

>> I THINK DEAN PHILLIPS IS PLAYING WITH FIRE, TO BE VERY HONEST.

I THINK KELLY MORRISON IS A VERY VERY STRONG CHALLENGER, SHE'S RACKING UP ENDORSEMENTS, RIGHT AND LEFT, AND I THINK HE THINKS HE CAN COME BACK HERE AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO ENDORSEMENT AND GET HIS SEAT BACK.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE THE CASE.

I THINK SHE SHOULD EASILY BECOME ENDORSED BY THE PROGRESSIVE LEFT AND I THINK SHE COULD ALSO LOSE THE SEAT IN A GENERAL ELECTION.

>> Eric: WOW.

>> I AGREE.

>> Eric: LAST TIME YOU WERE ON SENATOR KNAAK, LOOKING TO SCHOOL BOARD RACES.

>> YES.

>> Eric: WHAT DID YOU DETERMINE?

>> IT'S INTERESTING.

WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT, JUST GAVE IT A LITTLE LAST SHOT, BUT THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF MONEY THAT WAS COMING FROM ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT PLACES.

PRIMARILY IT WOULD -- I WOULD SAY EDUCATION MINNESOTA PROBABLY CAME OUT AHEAD OF THIS GAME, BUT THEY WERE ONE OF THE PLAYERS THAT WAS SPENDING.

THERE ARE OTHER GROUPS THAT ARE SPENDING.

AND ALL I WOULD SAY, ALL SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS ARE NOW IN PLAY.

I MEAN, THE BUSINESS WHERE THEY WERE SLEEPY LITTLE THINGS THAT NO ONE PAID A LOT OF ATTENTION TO ARE WAY BEHIND US.

AND YOU'VE GOT ACTIVISTS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE SPENDING MONEY ON THOSE SCHOOLS, IT'S GOING TO BE VERY VERY IMPORTANT.

WE KNOW THAT FROM WHAT HAPPENED IN VIRGINIA A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT HERE TOO.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I AGREE.

AND I ALSO THINK IT'S REALLY A GOOD THING FOR OUR SCHOOLS.

IT'S ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF COVID.

PEOPLE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO THEIR LOCAL SCHOOLS, WHAT'S HAPPENING, AND, FRANKLY, GETTING INVOLVED.

>> YEAH, WELL, I THINK THAT DEMOCRATS ARE WINNING THOSE RACES AND LARGELY BECAUSE THE FOLKS THAT ARE RUNNING AGAINST THEM WANT TO BAN BOOKS AND THEY WANT TO RESTRICT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE CURRICULUM, AND I THINK PARENTS ARE PAYING ATTENTION, THEY WANT THEIR KIDS TO HAVE A REALLY GOOD EDUCATION.

>> Eric: PROGRESSIVES HAD SUCH A GOOD SESSION LAST TIME.

WHAT MORE IS NEEDED IN THE 2024 SESSION OR DO PROGRESSIVES HAVE ENOUGH ON THE TABLE WHERE THEY ARE RE-ELECTION HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF?

>> YEAH.

AS SOMEONE WHO RAN A SLATE OF WOMEN IN THE CITY OF St. PAUL, THEN RAAB A P.A.C.

IN THE CITY -- RAN A P.A.C.

IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS, I WAS ECSTATIC ABOUT THE RESULT THAT IS WE HAD, THE REASON WE HAD THAT SUCCESS, FOLKS WERE TAKING THE TIME TO BUILD RELATIONSHIP WITH COMMUNITY, HEAR ABOUT THE TOP HONEST CONCERNS, I THINK WE'RE JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE THAT SUCCESS.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE NOT ONLY A RE-ELECTION OF FOLKS, BUT WE'RE GOING TO SEE AN EXPANSION OF THE MEMBER EBBS OF THE LEGISLATURE.

MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.

>> Eric: ONE ISSUE THAT YOU WANT TO HIT HERE AGAIN IN THE '24 SESSION?

>> I THINK THE ONE MISH IS THE SAME MESSAGING THAT IT'S ALWAYS BEEN, WORRY ABOUT THE PEOPLE, WORRY ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT THEY TALK ABOUT AT THEIR DINNER TABLE, CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, YOU'LL CONTINUE TO WIN MAJORITIES.

>> Eric: REPUBLICANS ABOUT DO WHAT?

>> CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE RADICALISM OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN.

I THINK THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL IS A VERY GOOD VANGUARD OF HOW FAR TO THE LEFT THEY REALLY ARE.

I'M GLAD WE SOLD OUR HOUSE.

WE CLOSED OCTOBER 2nd.

I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER THAN TO NOT BE A MINNEAPOLIS RESIDENT.

I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE GRIDLOCK BETWEEN THE PROGRESSIVE LEFT AND THE MAYOR, WHICH I NEVER THOUGHT I'D THINK JACOB FREY WAS A MIDDLE-OF-THE-ROAD COMPARED TO THESE PEOPLE.

HE IS.

>> Cathy: I'M GOING TO HAVE TO LET YOU ALL TALK AMONGST YOURSELVES WHILE I GO OVER HERE.

>> IT WAS JUST GETTING