>> Eric: LAST WEEK'S MASS SHOOTING AT ANNUNCIATION CHURCH AND SCHOOL REMAINS TOP OF MIND FOR MANY MINNESOTANS, AND AS MARY JUST REPORTED, THE REACTIONS IN THE POLITICAL WORLD ARE FAR AND WIDE.

LET'S PICK UP THE CONVERSATION ABOUT A POTENTIAL SPECIAL SESSION AND MORE WITH THIS- WESSION AND MORE WITH THIS- WEEKION AND MORE WITH THIS- WEEK'SN AND MORE WITH THIS- WEEK'S VAND MORE WITH THIS- WEEK'S VERD MORE WITH THIS- WEEK'S VERSIMORE WITH THIS- WEEK'S VERSIONRE WITH THIS- WEEK'S VERSION O WITH THIS- WEEK'S VERSION OF ITH THIS- WEEK'S VERSION OF THH THIS- WEEK'S VERSION OF THE THIS- WEEK'S VERSION OF THE THIS- POLITICAL PANEL.

DEMOCRATS UP FIRST TONIGHT.

EMBER REICHGOTT JUNGE IS A FORMER STATE SENATOR WHO SERVED IN LEADERSHIP FOR HER CAUCUS.

JAVIER MORILLO IS A FORMER NATIONAL COMMITTEE MAN AND A UNION AND PARTY ACTIVIST.

REPUBLICANS ON THE COUCH: AMY KOCH IS A FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER NOW A LOBBYIST.

AND WE WELCOME BACK BRIAN MCCLUNG, FORMER GOVERNOR PAWLENTY SPOKESPERSON AND LONGTIME CAPITOL OBSERVER.

SENATOR KOCH, APPARENTLY GOVERNOR IS GOING TO MEET MONDAY WITH THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS TO DISCUSS THE PARAMETERS OF A SPECIAL SESSION.

PRIOR AGREEMENT SEEMS A LONG WAY OFF.

WOULD HE JUST THROW A BOMB AND JUST GO DO YOUR THING.

>> I THINK HE'S ALREADY BEEN VERY CLEAR THAT THAT'S WHAT HE WOULD INTEND TO DO.

NOW, I'VE HEARD FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE THAT THEY FELT LIKE THE GOVERNOR GOT AHEAD OF THINGS BY ANNOUNCING A SPECIAL SESSION.

AND THAT WAS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

SO I'M GLAD THAT HE'S NOW TAKING A BEAT.

AND GETTING THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS TOGETHER.

TO SEE WHAT'S POSSIBLE.

AND I THINK ABOUT, LIKE, A SPEAKER DEMUTH WHO WAS A SCHOOL BOARD OF ROCORI WHERE THEY HAD A SHOOTING.

SHE WAS NOT ON THE SCHOOL BOARD AT THE TIME, I BELIEVE, BUT I BELIEVE HER CHILDREN WERE STUDENTS THERE.

I THINK THERE ARE GREAT CONVERSATIONS THAT COULD ACTUALLY BE HAD.

I THINK THERE ARE SOME SOLUTIONS.

>> Cathy: WHAT MIGHT BE THE DFL PLAN, JAVIER?

>> WE'RE TALKING OBVIOUSLY ABOUT AN ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE THING ABOUT THIS, AND ABOUT THIS ISSUE, IS JUST, WE SEE -- WE KEEP -- IT KEEPS HAPPENING AND THE FACT THAT CHILDREN DYING HAS NOT UP TO NOW MEANT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DOING OR NOT DOING, IT'S HARD TO FEEL HELPFUL, JUST HONESTLY AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS SAYING EARLIER, I FEEL LIKE MINNESOTA IS BEING SCRIPTED IN THIS HORRIFIC MOVIE.

AND I HOPE THAT WHAT COMES UT OF MONDAY IS, YOU KNOW, THE -- LET'S BE BOLD.

LET'S EVEN START A SESSION WITHOUT A PLAN IN ADVANCE.

LIKE, THAT WOULD BE RISKY AS HELL, BUT DO NOT -- THESE KIDS DESERVE A RISKY STRATEGY, IF THERE'S SOME CHANCE OF VICTORY.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK TO ADD ON TO WHAT JAVIER IS SAYING, I THINK A LOT OF MINNESOTANS ARE DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET INTO THE POLITICS OF IT, IT BECOMES AN EITHER/OR.

AND I THINK A LOT OF MINNESOTANS WOULD LIKE TO SEE A YES/AND.

YES/AND WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THESE WEAPONS?

WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN?

I HINK THAT'S WHAT MORE MINNESOTANS WOULD LIKE TO SEE RATHER THAN THIS EITHER/OR KIND OF 2350EUBG9 THAT GETS SET UP.

>> HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE HAD MAJOR MASS SHOOTINGS AND EVERYBODY SAYS, PRAYERS AND GIVES COULD BE DOLE GIVES COULD BEGIVES CONDOLENCEST NOTHING HAPPENS, AND A FEW WEEKS LATER, WE'RE ONTO THE NEXT ISSUE.

WE CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN.

WE MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION, BUT WE STARTED THE CONVERSATION.

EVEN IF WE HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION WHERE THERE'S NO AGREEMENT AND THEY END IT IN TWO DAYS, YOU'VE STARTED THE CONVERSATION.

YOU'VE STARTED THE THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT WOULD BE REASONABLE RESTRICTIONS LIKE AN ASSAULT BAN OR A BAN ON BINARY TRIGGERS OR ON GHOST GUNS, DO IT YOURSELF GHOST GUNS WITHOUT SERIAL NUMBERS.

YOU'VE STARTED THAT CONVERSATION BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE TIME TO CREATE THE SUPPORT FOR THAT.

AND SO THROUGH THE NEXT MONTHS, UP TO THE NEXT SESSION, YOU CREATE THAT TIME, YOU CREATE THAT SUPPORT, WHEN YOU ACTUALLY COULD PASS SOME OF THAT.

THAT'S WHAT I THINK WE NEED TO DO, BECAUSE GUESS WHAT.

THE OTHER STRATEGIES IN THE PAST, AMY, SIMPLY HAVEN'T WORKED.

>> Cathy: WHERE DO YOU ALL SEE SOME KIND OF A MIDDLE GROUND HERE?

I MEAN, ARE REPUBLICANS AND THOSE WHO ARE IN FAVOR OF GUN RIGHTS, IS THERE -- CAN THEY -- >> I THINK THERE ARE SOME LISTS, RIGHT?

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S AROUND ASSAULT WEAPON BANS.

YOU THINK ABOUT THE RED FLAG LAWS THAT PASSED, AND UNFORTUNATELY ALSO JUST WANT TO SAY THIS, RED FLAG LAWS PASSED IN 2023.

IT WAS A BIPARTISAN BILL IN 2022 THAT PASSED ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

>> Eric: BUT DO PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT?

I WONDER IF THERE'S BEEN EDUCATION.

[Overlapping conversations] RIGHT, LOOK AT, WE'VE HAD THIS FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.

CLEARLY THIS PERSON WAS UNWELL IN SO MANY WAYS.

AND HIS FAMILY KNEW.

AND YET NO ONE FLAGGED THIS PERSON.

AND SO HE -- BY ALL ACCOUNTS, HE BOUGHT ALL OF THESE WEAPONS LEGALLY.

DESPITE HAVING FOR A YEAR AND A HALF WHAT WE THOUGHT AND WHAT PRESIDENT BIDEN WHEN HE SIGNED THE LAW SAID, THIS WILL MAKE PEOPLE SAFER AND IT DIDN'T STOP THIS.

SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING ALL WE CAN.

>> YOU KNOW, THE -- THIS PERSON CLEARLY WAS NOT WELL.

BUT I THINK TO SAY THAT THE RED FLAG LAW DIDN'T WORK, I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF -- LIKE, IS IT BEING APPLIED?

BUT WE -- THIS JUST -- IT CAN'T -- HOW CAN WE NOT JUST COME TOGETHER ON A SIMPLE SET OF THINGS?

LIKE AN ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN THAT WE KNOW, THERE ARE FACTS THAT WE KNOW.

WE KNOW THAT WHEN THERE WAS A BAN, THESE MASS SHOOTINGS WENT DOWN.

WHEN THE BAN ENDED, THEY WENT BACK UP.

WE KNOW THAT THE ONE THING THAT EVERY ONE OF THESE SHOOTERS HAVE IN COMMON IS WHAT'S IN THEIR HAND.

IT'S JUST AS SIMPLE AS THAT.

[Overlapping conversations] >> Eric: DO WE KNOW IF GOVERNOR WALZ IS RUNNING OR NOT?

OR WHAT -- >> DO YOU KNOW, ERIC?

>> Eric: I'VE FELT VERY STRONGLY BOTH WAYS LAST -- >> WELL, AMY AND I ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND I CAN SAY THAT THE DECISION TO NOT RUN IS A VERY DIFFICULT ONE.

BUT WHEN YOU MUSE ABOUT IT IN PUBLIC FOR THIS LONG, I CAN ONLY THINK THAT HE'S LEANING AGAINST IT.

BECAUSE I REALLY BELIEVE HE WOULDN'T BE THAT STRUGGLING AT THIS POINT.

>> BUT I ALSO THINK THAT WE DON'T KNOW, BECAUSE HE'S NOT SURE.

THAT'S HOW IT FEELS TO ME.

>> RIGHT.

>> IS THAT -- BECAUSE I, LIKE, YOU, ERIC, I THINK FELT, HE'S DEFINITELY RUNNING AGAIN.

OH, NO, HE'S FOR SURE OUT.

AND I THINK A LITTLE BIT OF THAT IS BECAUSE HE HAS GONE BACK AND FORTH.

>> Eric: IS THAT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN A SPECIAL SESSION?

>> I THINK IT DOES.

ANY TIME YOU HAVE THAT KIND OF UNCERTAINTY AT THE TOP AND THEN GOVERNOR WALZ IF HE CHOOSES NOT TO RUN, CREATES THIS DOMINO EFFECT, WHERE IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, KEITH ELLISON RUNS FOR GOVERNOR.

YOU COULD HAVE EVERY STATEWIDE RACE AS AN OPEN SEAT, ALL NEW.

AND THEN THE DOMINOES THAT COME OUT OF THAT.

NOW, STATE REPRESENTATIVE DAN WOLGAMOTT GETS INTO THE AUDITOR'S RACE.

THAT'S A SWING SEAT IN THE STATE HOUSE.

HE WON BY JUST A FEW DOZEN VOTES IN HIS LAST ELECTION.

SO I THINK WHETHER OR NOT THE GOVERNOR IS RUNNING DOES HANG OVER THESE NEXT FEW WEEKS WHETHER THERE'S A SPECIAL SESSION OR NOT.

>> Eric: WANDERING AROUND THE CAPITOL TODAY, I PICKED UP A RUMOR, DEAN PHILLIPS, JULIA COLEMAN, INDEPENDENT CANDIDACY FOR GOVERNOR.

>> WELL, THAT'S INTERESTING.

[ Laughter ] >> Cathy: WAY OF -- MINNESOTAN WAY OF SAYING THAT'S INTERESTING.

>> THAT IS THE MOST MINNESOTAN I'VE EVER HEARD.

>> WHAT I WILL SAY ABOUT THAT IS, I THINK ANY THIRD-PARTY TICKET COULD TIP IT TO THE REPUBLICANS, WHEN THAT MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE HAPPEN.

>> IT'S -- I CAN SEE DEAN PHILLIPS DOING THAT.

I COULDN'T SEE SENATOR COLEMAN.

SHE'S A REPUBLICAN -- >> SOMEWHAT VOCAL ABOUT THAT SHE DOESN'T REALLY CARE ABOUT THE PARTY ON THE TICKET.

>> Eric: I DON'T THINK SHE WANTS TO GO TO WASHINGTON WITH YOUNG CHILDREN, BUT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, I AM -- >> WELL, I MEAN, WE HAVE SEEN THIRD PARTIES MAKE MOVES, OBVIOUSLY, IN MINNESOTA.

SO -- AND CERTAINLY THERE'S A TIME AND A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE KIND OF SAYING, YOU KNOW, FOR BOTH PARTIES, ENOUGH OF BOTH OF YOU.

SO -- >> Cathy: BRIAN'S NOT SAYING ANYTHING.

>> NO, BUT THE THIRD PARTIES WERE DECISIVE IN THE 1998 RACE, IN THE 2022 RACE AND IN THE 2010 RACE WHEN KURT DAUDT WON BY .4%, RIGHT, AND THE THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATE, TOM HORNER, IN THAT RACE PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE SOA.

THAT OULD MAKE IT VERY INTERESTING.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, BOTH DEAN PHILLIPS AND JULIA COLEMAN BRING A LOT INDIVIDUALLY TO A RACE AND ARE VIBRANT, INTERESTING, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND PERSONALITIES.

SO THAT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, THAT COULD BE SOMETHING.

>> I LOVE YOUR RUMOR, ERIC.

HOWEVER, I THINK EITHER ONE OF THEM RUNNING ON THEIR OWN COURSE, IF YOU WILL, FOR ONE OF THOSE OPEN ELECTED SEATS COULD BE VERY STRONG, BECAUSE BOTH OF THEM WOULD BE STRONG CANDIDATES SEPARATELY.

>> Cathy: YOU ARE A MINNEAPOLIS RESIDENT.

>> I AM.

>> Cathy: WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS WITH THE DFL PARTY?

>> WELL, I THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS SETTLED, BECAUSE I FELT LIKE THE PROCESS JUST DIDN'T WORK.

I FELT LIKE THE STATE D.F.L.

WERE THE ADULTS IN THE ROOM.

AND CAUSED THE ENDORSEMENT TO BE THROWN OUT FOR GOOD REASON.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN AGAIN WITHOUT HOLDING ANOTHER CONVENTION.

AND I HOPE THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

LET'S GET ONTO THE ELECTION SO THAT ALL THE PEOPLE IN MINNEAPOLIS CAN VOTE.

>> Eric: JAVIER IS THE GOD FATHER OF CONVENTIONS IN MINNEAPOLIS.

>> WELL, I OUNCE >> WELL, I OUN ONCE WAS.

[Overlapping conversations] [ Laughter ] >> PIZZA.

>> I WAS A PIZZA -- BECAUSE WE COULD COUNT, WE ROBBED QUORUM.

WE WERE SUCCESSFUL AT THAT.

I COULD NOT DISAGREE MORE WITH WHAT EMBER HAS SAID.

JACOB FREY'S CAMPAIGN DID NOT KNOW HOW TO COUNT.

THEY LOST THE QUORUM.

THE PROCEDURAL ISSUES THERE WERE VOTED ON BY THE CONVENTION FLOOR, BY -- AND -- SO BY ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER, THEY TOOK UP THE QUESTION, SHOULD THEY DO THE BALLOT AGAIN OR NOT, AND THE FACT I AM TALKING ABOUT ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER TELLS YOU HOW INSANE THESE THINGS ARE TO BEGIN WITH.

BUT HE WON THAT ENDORSEMENT.

I SUPPORT DUANE DAVIS FOR MAYOR, BUT OMAR FATEH WON THAT ENDORSEMENT.

>> Eric: JUNE PRIMARY?

>> YES, ALL THE BETTER.