♪ >>> ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT, GOVERNOR WALZ PROCLAIMED THE STATE OF OUR STATE AS STRONG.

AND HE WAS A CHEERLEADER FOR THE PROGRESSIVE FL AGENDA.

WALZ POINTEDLY CONTRASTED THAT AGENDA WITH THOSE OF RED STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

HERE WITH CONTRASTING VIEWS ABOUT THE SPEECH AND THE LEGISLATIVE WORK REMAINING, FOUR POLITICAL AN LOTS, REPUBLICANS, FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, AMY KOCH.

ANNETTE MEEKS WITH THE FREEDOM FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA.

DEMOCRATS ON THE COUCH, FORMER COMMITTEE MEMBER, JAVIER MORILLO, AND WINTANA MELEKIN.

>> WINTANA MLEKIN.

>> EAST CLIFF IS NOW INTO THE WHERE IS THE GOVERNOR GOING TO BE DURING THE RENOVATION.

ISN'T THAT ROB THE REPUBLICANS OF A GREAT ISSUE, THIS EXPENSIVE SUNFISH LAKE HOME, AND NOW HE'LL BE AT EAST CLIFF FOR A THIRD OF THE PRICE.

>> FOR A THIRD OF THE PRICE.

WELL, I THINK THAT WAS BOUND TO HAPPEN, RIGHT?

I THINK AS SOON AS THAT AMOUNT THAT WAS BEING PAID TO RENT THIS KIND OF LAVISH PLACE -- I DON'T KNOW WHO SIGNED OFF ON THAT.

BUT IT WASN'T A GOOD IDEA.

PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE HAD SOME FOR THOUGHT ON THAT.

THEY GOT KIND OF CALLED OUT, AND, YOU KNOW, IT HAD TO BE REELED BACK.

WHICH IS NOT SURPRISING TO ME.

THAT HAPPENS.

>> IT'S A GOOD SOLUTION.

>> I'VE GOT A TWO-BEDROOM, TWO-BATH CONDO FOR SALE.

I'M WILLING TO RENT IT OUT SHORT-TERM.

IF THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED.

THE TAXPAYERS WON ON THIS ONE.

WHAT THEY INITIALLY PROPOSED WAS OUTRAGEOUS.

AND EVERYBODY REALIZED THAT AS SOON AS IT BECAME PUBLIC.

IT DIDN'T PASS THE SMELL TEST.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH.

WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE GOVERNOR'S TONE IN THAT SPACH?

>> I WAS VERY IMPRESSED BY THE TONE HE HAD.

I THINK ABOUT SOME SPECIFIC LINES THAT COME OUT TO ME WHEN WE HAVE A REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT'S BANNING BOOKS IN MINNESOTA, WE'RE GETTING RID OF CHILD HUNGER.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A STATE THAT HAS DRAMATICALLY INCREASED RESOURCES TO THE MOST DIRECTLY IMPACTED, THE MOST UNRESOURCED.

AND I THINK HIS STATE OF THE STATE REALLY SHOWED ALL OF THE AMAZING WORK THAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED SINCE THIS LEGISLATIVE CYCLE HAS BEGUN.

>> THERE WAS SOME NATIONAL UNDERTONES IN THAT SPEECH.

THERE REALLY WAS.

AND I'M CURIOUS WHAT OUR OTHER FRIENDS THINK ABOUT THAT.

FLORIDA WAS MENTION AND HAD RON DeSANTIS.

>> I THOUGHT THAT WAS AN INTERESTING KERFUFFLE HE WAS TRYING TO START.

THEY THINK WE'RE FOOLISH.

WE DOUBLED OUR STATE BUDGET IN TEN YEARS.

THEY LOOK AT THAT AND THINK, OU PEOPLE ARE NUTS.

THAT'S USUSTAINABLE.

BUT I THOUGHT HE BETTER DO SOME BETTER FACT-CHECKING.

THE PEOPLE BANNING BOOKS WERE THE DULUTH SCHOOL BOARD.

HIS DFL COLLEAGUES WHO BANNED "TO KILL A"TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD"."MOCKINGBIRD.""

HE MIGHT WANT TO DO SOME FACT-CHECKING.

>> THIS IS TIM WALZ, FORMER FIRST-DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN, TOO MODERATE TO BE ENDORSED FOR GOVERNOR.

AND A-RATING WITH THE NRA BACK IN THE DAY AND WHEN HE WAS IN CONGRESS.

AND NOW HE DID EVERYTHING BUT SAY WE ALL DO ETTER WHEN WE ALL DO BETTER THE OTHER NIGHT ON -- IS HE EVOLVING, OR WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> I LOVE THIS TIM WALZ.

AND I HAVE KNOWN TIM PERSONALLY, KNOWN THE GOVERNOR PERSONALLY, AND I THINK THIS IS TRUE TO HIS VALUES.

AND, LIKE ANY -- YES, ANY POLITICIAN WILL -- LIKE, SHOULD EVOLVE.

ON ISSUES.

BUT I THINK THIS IS ALSO -- I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNTRY WHEN WE HAVE STATES LIKE FLORIDA THAT ARE NOT JUST BANNING BOOKS, BUT PASSING DON'T SAY GAY LAWS.

LIKE, TARGETING CHILDREN IN THESE WAYS.

IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ACTUALLY BE A BEACON, AND NOT -- NOT JUST FOR DEMOCRATS, FOR PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO ARE FREEDOM-LOVERS.

BECAUSE AS THE GOVERNOR SAID, FLORIDA IS WHERE FREEDOM GOES TO DIE.

>> SENATOR?

>> WELL, THERE'S TWO THINGS I THINK AT WORK HERE.

ONE IS, IT'S ALWAYS HELPFUL TO SORT OF NATIONALIZE AN ELECTION, RIGHT?

AND WHILE THE GOVERNOR IS NOT 3 FACING RE-ELECTION, IN ANOTHER YEAR, THE HOUSE WILL BE UP FOR RE-ELECTION.

HE ANTS TO KEEP HIS TRIFECTA, I'M SURE.

AND SO SO MANY PEOPLE DON'T PAY ATTENTION ON SORT OF A STATE LEVEL, SO IT'S ALWAYS A WAY TO RAISE AWARENESS TO NATIONALIZE ISSUES AND ELECTION.

AND WE TOUCHED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT ON THE COUCH.

YOU KNOW, DOES THIS GOVERNOR HAVE AN EYE TOWARDS SOME NATIONAL -- SOME NATIONAL OFFICE?

I DON'T KNOW.

BUT HE CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW -- IS MAKING OME MOVES TO DO SOME CONTRAST THERE.

>> HE'S AISING HIS NATIONAL PROFILE, DO YOU THINK?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I AM UNSURE.

WHAT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT IS ABOUT THE SUCCESS HE IS HAVING IN MINNESOTA.

WE ARE SEEING A BUDGET THAT LOOKS PHENOMENAL SO FAR.

WE ARE RESTORING VOTING RIGHTS TO FOLKS INCARCERATED AND FEEDING CHILDREN.

SO IF WE WANTS TO RUN FOR HIGHER OFFICE, GREAT.

I'M JUST HAPPY HE'S DOING WHAT HE SAID HE IS GOING TO DO ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

I ALSO WANT TO ADD THAT PART F HIS SUCCESS COMES FROM THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THE MOST DIVERSE AND YOUNGEST LEGISLATURE WE HAVE EVER HAD IN OUR STATE HISTORY AND THEY ARE MAKING DEMANDS AND THE DEMANDS ARE BEING MET AND ALSO WHAT THE VOTERS ASKED FOR.

HE IS NOT DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

HE IS DOING WHAT HE RAN ON, DOING WHAT THE MAJORITY OF MINNESOTANS REQUESTED.

>> WOW, WOW.

I'M SORRY.

SORRY.

>> IT'S HARD TO ACCEPT.

I GET IT.

>> IT'S HARD TO ACCEPT, IS RIGHT.

I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY WHO CAMPAIGNED ON SOME OF THIS STUFF.

EXCEPT FOLKS IN MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL.

THIS IS NOT WHAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA EXPECTED.

NOR NEED.

I THINK SOME OF THIS STUFF IS -- YOU KNOW WHAT HE'S DOING, HE'S TURNING THIS INTO A COLD CALIFORNIA.

AND IF THEY WANT CALIFORNIA, THEY'VE GOT GOOD AFTERNOON NEW SOME.

THIS IS A JOHNNIE COME LATELY GOVERNOR FROM A COLD, MISERABLE STATE, OUT THERE TRYING O DO -- I'M SORRY, HE'S TURNED US INTO A COLD CALIFORNIA.

AT LEAST THEY HAVE NICE WEATHER.

AND NOW WE HAVE IN NEW INCOME TAX LEVEL, RECORD SPENDING, THAT IS UNUS TAKENABLE.

AND I THINK WE'LL SEE THE PAYOFF AS PEOPLE LEAVING AND OUR STATE IS GOING TO PAY A HEFTY PRICE.

>> JAVIER?

>> THE REALITY IS THAT LAST FALL, I SAY THIS EVERY TIME WE COME ON THIS SHOW.

LAST FALL, REPUBLICANS WERE EXPECTED TO SWEEP.

AND INSTEAD, DEMOCRATS WON A TRIFECTA IN MINNESOTA, AND DEMOCRATS WON -- RUNNING ON PRECISELY THESE THINGS.

I AM SORRY, THAT IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE THAT HE DID NOT RUN ON THESE TINGS.

IF PEOPLE WEREN'T PAYING ATTENTION, NONE OF THIS IS A SURPRISE TO ME.

FREE LUNCHES FOR KIDS.

PEGGY FLANAGAN, THAT HAS BEEN HER -- HER REASON FOR BEING ELECTED IN OFFICE THE ENTIRE TIME I HAVE KNOWN HER.

AND SO -- LIKE, THE FACT THAT DEMOCRATS, WHEN THEY GET ELECTED, ACT LIKE DEMOCRATS SHOULD SURPRISE NO ONE.

>> SOUNDS LIKE HE'S RETIRED ONE MINNESOTA, WHICH HAD BECOME KIND OF A PARODY.

>> FOR SURE.

>> IS HE MORE COMFORTABLE AND AUTHENTIC WHEN HE IS TALKING ABOUT THE BEST PLACE TO RAISE KIDS?

>> I THINK SO.

AND I THINK THERE HAS OBVIOUSLY BEEN SOME INTERNAL POLLING.

ALSO, WHEN HE DID THE UNIVERSAL SCHOOL LUNCH, RIGHT?

THERE WAS SOME GREAT, LIKE, PRESS MOMENTS IN THAT.

THERE WAS SOME REALLY BEAUTIFUL PICTURES OF HIM WITH KIDS.

AND VERY NATURAL MOMENT.

I'M NOT EVEN LIKE -- SOME OF IT WAS UST VERY NATURAL AND ORGANIC.

AND SO I THINK THAT THEY HAVE MADE A CONSCIENCE SHIFT.

I THINK THEY HAVE MADE A CONSCIOUS SHIFT LEFT.

AND THAT MAY BE FOR WHAT AREEVER THE REASON.

IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT.

BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THOSE ARE THE ISSUES IN THE ELECTION.

IT MIGHT BE WHAT THEY HELD IN THEIR HEART.

BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT WAS THE BIG ISSUES IN THIS ELECTION.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THE IMPACT HAS BEEN OF THE YOUNGER MEMBERS, MORE DIVERSE MEMBERS?

IT SEEMS A LITTLE FRESH AIR IS BLOWING THROUGH THE PLACE UP.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THE YOUNGER, MOST DIVERSE CAUCUS HAS REALLY LED TO MAKING SURE THAT WE STAY -- WE STAY FIRM AGAINST THE THINGS WE RAN ON.

THEY SAID WE NEED TO RESTORE VOTING RIGHTS.

THEY SAID WE NEED DRIVER'S LICENSE.

THEY SAID WE NEED TO FEED CHILDREN.

ALL WE'RE DOING IS ACTUALLY DOING WHAT WE RAN ON, AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE, THE NEW FOLKS OF COLOR THAT ARE AT THAT LEGISLATURE, ARE JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE STAY HONEST AND TRUE, AND I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO SOME OF THE SENIOR MEMBERS.

NONE OF THIS ALSO WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT SENATOR CHAMPION.

HE HAS GONE A GREAT JOB OF ORGANIZING HIS CAUCUS, DONE A GREAT JOB OF MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS ARE IN LINE AND ORGANIZED.

>> AND I THINK IS IMPRESSIVE.

>> JAVIER, THERE'S A VOTE IN THE HOUSE MONDAY ON LEGALIZING RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.

I'M WONDERING, WHY NOT -- IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EQUITY HERE, RIGHT, PART OF THE ARGUMENT TO DO THAT, WHY NOT JUST EXPUNGE RECORDS, CRIMINAL RECORDS, INSTEAD OF GOING THE WHOLE ENCHILADA, AND LEGALIZING POT?

>> I THINK IT'S BOTH AND.

WHY NOT BOTH AND?

I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE WILL SOON BE IN -- LIKE, ALONE, GEOGRAPHICALLY IN A SENSE.

THIS IS HAPPENING IN MANY STATES.

I THINK PEOPLE OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORT -- SUPPORT LEGALIZING MARIJUANA.

AND DOING IT IN A WAY THAT IS SENSIBLE AND EQUITABLE I THINK IS JUST -- IS JUST THE WAY TO DO IT.

I MEAN, I THINK THE -- THE IMPORTANT THING -- YOU KNOW, LIKE, THE LEGISLATURE IS BEING BOLD.

I THINK A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE YOUNG -- THE YOUNGER MEMBERS AND THE NEW MEMBERS.

THE MEMBER -- REMEMBER, A LOT OF THESE ISSUES WERE ON THE TABLE THE LAST TIME WE HAD A DEMOCRATIC TRIFECTA.

AND THIS TIME, WE HAVE A ONE-SEAT MAJORITY IN THE SENATE, AND HEY ARE DOING THESE THINGS BECAUSE THERE IS PRESSURE FROM THE BOTTOM TO MAKE THEM HAPPEN.

>> WHAT ARE YOUR COLLEAGUES TELLING YOU ABOUT MARIJUANA IN THE SENATE?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S GOING TO PASS.

EVERYTHING IS MORE TENUOUS IN THE SENATE BECAUSE OF THE 34-33 SPLIT.

THERE IS JUST A LITTLE BIT NATURAL, OLDER GROUP IN THE SENATE.

AND SO THAT'S WHERE ANY OF THESE, WHETHER IT'S SPORTS BOOK, CANNABIS -- TAX INCREASES.

THAT'S WHERE THIS COMES UP FOR QUESTION, BECAUSE EVERYONE IS A -- IS A DECIDING VOTE.

EVERYONE IN THE DFL CAUCUS IS A DECIDING VOTE.

NOT ON THE REPUBLICANS, SADLY.

>> WELL, AND MANY OF THE DEMOCRATICS, THEY HAVE A ONE-SEAT MAJORITY IN THE SENATE.

MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE CAMPAIGNED VERY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT IS IN THE RADICALS IN THE HOUSE.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BE THE REALLY BIG DIFFERENCE, I THINK, IS A LOT OF THINGS ARE GOING TO GO TO THE SENATE.

AND THANKFULLY, DIE.

BECAUSE THEY'RE POORLY WRITTEN.

THEY'RE NOT WHAT THEY CAMPAIGNED ON.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO REMOVING THE TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY?

I MEAN -- YOU DON'T EVEN HEAR ABOUT IT ANY MORE.

>> IT IS BEING -- THE HOUSE JUST PROPOSED, IT'S BEING REMOVED FOR THE AST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ON SOCIAL SECURITY.

>> 75%.

>> AMY KLOBUCHAR IS PUSHING A NEW BOOK.

IS THERE SOMETHING WE SHOULD GLEAN FROM THAT.

>> SHE IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

>> I THINK SO TOO.

>> THANKS, PANEL.

>> GOOD JOB.

>> SUPER JOB.