>> "ALMANAC" IS A PRODUCTION OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.

>> CATHY: IN THE NEXT HOUR, WE'LL DEBATE THE PUBLIC SAFETY AMENDMENT IN MINNEAPOLIS, CHAT WITH GUTHRIE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR JOE HAJ ABOUT HIS THEATER'S UPCOMING SEASON, AND EXPLORE WORRIES ABOUT THE BIG DROP IN RIDERS ON METRO TRANSIT BUSES AND TRAINS.

AND THEN MARY LAHAMMER WILL EXPLORE A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A NEW LEADER IN THE MINNESOTA SENATE.

>> Mary: WE'LL MEET THE NEW SENATE MINORITY LEADER.

>> A LOT OF CALLS ON MY WAY TO WORK, ON MY WAY TO ANYTHING.

BECAUSE IT'S VERY EFFICIENT.

>> Mary: WHO'S MAKING HISTORY.

>> PEOPLE ARE STEPPING UP, WOMEN ARE STEPPING UP, AND IT'S ALL GOOD.

>> Mary: THAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC."

♪ ♪ >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 28 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE AT ENBRIDGE.COM/LINETHREEUS.

AND EDUCATION MINNESOTA: THE VOICE FOR PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

>> CATHY: LATER IN THE HOUR, WE'LL TALK ABOUT POLITICS AND ECONOMICS AND COVID PROTOCOLS FOR LIVE THEATER.

BUT FIRST UP, A PUBLIC SAFETY AMENDMENT THAT IS BEING FOLLOWED CLOSELY ACROSS THE NATION.

>> ERIC: EARLY VOTING HAS BEGUN IN MINNEAPOLIS ON AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD BRING CHANGE TO THE CITY'S POLICE DEPARTMENT.

IN JUST A MINUTE, WE'LL DEBATE THE AMENDMENT.

BUT FIRST, SOME QUICK POLLING BACKGROUND FROM "REPORT FOR AMERICA" AND "ALMANAC" DATA REPORTER KYELAND JACKSON.

>> Kyeland: A POLL RELEASED THIS WEEK SHOWS THAT PUBLIC SAFETY CONTINUES TO BE A DIVISIVE COMPLEX ISSUE IN MINNEAPOLIS.

THE POLL WAS CONDUCTED BY THE "STAR TRIBUNE," MPR NEWS, KARE-11 AND PBS FRONT-LINE.

AND IT FOUND THAT 49% OF VOTERS SUPPORT REPLACING THE CITY'S POLICE DEPARTMENT.

41% OPPOSE A NEW PUBLIC SAFETY DEVELOPMENT.

JUST A THIRD OF RESPONDENTS SAID THEY HAVE A FAVORABLE OPINION OF THE POLICE.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO RACE AND POLITICS, THEY PLAY A KEY ROLE IN THE POLL'S RESULTS.

COMPARED TO 51% OF WHITE VOTERS, 42% OF BLACK VOTERS SUPPORT REPLACING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND WHILE 55% OF DEMOCRAT VOTERS SUPPORT OVERHAULING THE POLICE, ONLY 7% OF REPUBLICAN VOTERS SAID THE SAME.

>> ERIC: AN IMPORTANT REMINDER: ALL POLLS HAVE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF STATISTICAL CONFIDENCE.

THIS POLL'S MARGIN OF ERROR RANGES FROM 3.5% TO 4.5% BASED ON THE QUESTION BEING ASKED.

LET'S NOW DEBATE THE MERITS OF THE AMENDMENT.

WE ARE JOINED BY SOMEONE WHO SUPPORTS BALLOT AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO.

AN OPPONENT JOINS US AS WELL.

REPRESENTING A "YES" VOTE, JANAE BATES IS WITH THE GROUP "YES 4 MINNEAPOLIS."

A "NO" VOTE IS BEING ADVOCATED BY OUR GUEST LEILI FATEHI WITH THE GROUP "ALL OF MINNEAPOLIS."

ELEVATOR PITCH.

SOMEBODY SAYS, WHY SHOULD I VOTE FOR THIS.

WHAT'S YOUR 30-SECOND?

>> OUR POSITION IS THAT VOTERS SHOULD NOT VOTE FOR THIS AMENDMENT.

I THINK THAT MINUTE A POLL TANS ARE UNITED IN THE SENTIMENT THAT WE NEED TO HAVE MAJOR STRUCTURAL REFORM TO THE WAY WE DO POLICING AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

WHICH INCLUDES EXPANDING OUR NOTION OF PUBLIC SAFETY BEYOND JUST POLICING.

I THINK WHERE OUR POSITION IS TO ENCOURAGE OTERS TO VOTE NO ON THIS IS THAT THERE -- I MEAN, A FEW THINGS.

ONE, IS THAT THERE'S A PLAN ATTACHED TO THIS AMENDMENT.

>> Eric: WHY DON'T WE STOP THERE.

WHY VOTE FOR IT?

>> THE FOLKS OF MINNEAPOLIS SHOULD ABSOLUTELY VOTE FOR IT BECAUSE THE FOLKS OF MINNEAPOLIS HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR THIS.

THIS HAS BEEN A CHANGE THAT THEY'VE BEEN CALLING FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND THE REALITY IS THAT RECALL ON -- WE CALL ON POLICE FAR TOO OFTEN TO DO WAY TOO MANY THINGS WHEN THE REALITY IS FOLKS IN MINNEAPOLIS REALLY NEED AN ENTIRE SWATH OF FOLKS WHO ARE READY AND PREPARED TO RESPOND TO THEM THE WAY THEY NEED.

SO, LIKE, QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE TRAINED AND DISCIPLINED SHOULD RESPOND.

>> Cathy: DOES THIS CHARTER AMENDMENT ACTUALLY DEFUND THE POLICE?

>> THIS CHARTER AMENDMENT PAVES THE PATH FOR DEFUNDING THE POLICE.

IT ELIMINATES THE STAFFING MINIMUM AND THE STAFFING FORM LAR FOR POLICE AND IN THE ABSENCE OF A PLAN THAT INDICATES OTHERWISE, REALLY WHAT VOTERS ARE LEFT WITH ARE TAKING THE WORDS.

PROPONENTS AND ESPECIALLY THE PROPONENTS ON THE CITY COUNCIL OF THIS AMENDMENT WHO STARTED THIS OVEMENT BY STANDING ON A STAGE IN POWDER HORN PARK AND SINCE HAVE REPEATEDLY INDICATED ON THE RECORD THAT THEY -- A CONSEQUENCE OF THIS CHARTER AMENDMENT IS THAT THERE WILL BE FEWER COPS ON THE STREET, WHICH, YOU KNOW, POLLING INDICATES, AND EVEN IF YOU JUST TALK WITH PEOPLE IN MINNEAPOLIS, THE MAJORITY OF MINNEAPOLITANS WANT TO SEE EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE.

>> THIS AMENDMENT ACTUALLY EXPANDS PUBLIC SAFETY WHICH MEANS WE GET TO HAVE QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS ADDED TO THE DEPARTMENT, LIKE PEOPLE WHO ARE SPECIALIZED IN MENTAL HEALTH, WHO ARE SPECIALIZED IN WORKING WITH THOSE EXPERIENCINGS HOMELESSNESS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND POLICE OFFICERS.

AND THIS IS ACTUALLY -- IT'S BEEN FRUSTRATING TO HAVE TO GET INTO THIS 'EM BRO BROILED ARGUMENT AROUND A SLOGAN LIKE DEFUND THE POLICE.

WHAT IT IS DOING IS EXPANDING PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THE PEOPLE OF MINNEAPOLIS.

>> Cathy: WE HAVE A VIEWER QUESTION.

AND THE VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW, AND WHY THE WORDS "IF NECESSARY" REGARDING HE POLICE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND THEY ALSO KNOW, THE MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS KNOW, THAT THERE ARE MANY, MANY TIMES WHERE POLICE ARE NOT NECESSARY.

AND ACTUALLY ARE THE WRONG RESPONSE.

AND THE WRONG MOMENT.

AND SO EVEN CHIEF ARRADONDO SAID WHEN HE WAS TESTIFYING AGAINST DEREK CHAUVIN IN THE CASE OF THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD THAT THE POLICE OFFICERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE CALLED INTO THE MAJORITY OF TIME THINGS THAT THEY ACTUALLY SHOULDN'T BE RESPONDING TO.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE "IF NECESSARY"?

>> THE CHARTER AMENDMENT DOESN'T SAY THAT IT WILL DEPLOYS POLICE OFFICERS WHEN NECESSARY.

IT SAYS THAT IT WILL STAFF POLICE OFFICERS WHEN NECESSARY AND IT LEAVES UP TO THE DISCRETION OF THAT SAME CITY COUNCIL THAT HAS EPEATEDLY I MEAN, YOU KNOW, A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, WE TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE GOAL IS TO DEFUND, TO ELIMINATE, TO DISMANTLE POLICING.

IT'S ONLY SINCE THAT VIEWPOINT HAS BECOME CLEARLY POLITICALLY UNPOPULAR THAT THE MESSAGE HAS CHANGED.

AND NOW THE NOTION IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE NECESSARY -- NECESSARILY THE WILL -- CONTINUE TO BE POLICE.

>> WELL, THE REALITY IS THAT STATE STATUTE MANDATES THAT POLICE OFFICERS RESPOND TO CERTAIN SITUATIONS.

SO IT WAS NEVER AN ISSUE ON IF POLICE WOULD BE INVOLVED IN THE DEPARTMENT.

AGAIN, THE PURPOSE OF SAYING "IF NECESSARY" IS REALLY TO REFLECT WHAT THE PEOPLE OF MINNEAPOLIS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR.

IS THAT THEY NEED O HAVE POLICE OFFICERS BE RIGHTLY STEWARD INTO THE RIGHT SWAISES.

>> THERE IS -- NONE OF THESE -- THESE THINGS, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF EXPANDING PUBLIC SAFETY TO INCLUDE, YOU KNOW, MENTAL EALTH RESPONSE, SOCIAL WORKERS, ANY OF THESE THINGS, REQUIRE A CHARTER AMENDMENT.

MUCH OF THIS WORK HAS BEEN INITIATED.

DOES THERE NEED TO BE MORE INVESTMENT IN IT?

ABSOLUTELY.

DOES THERE NEED TO BE FURTHER EXPANSION OF IT?

ABSOLUTELY.

BUT THERE'S NO NEED FOR A CHARTER AMENDMENT.

AND SO OUR POSITION ABOUT BEEN THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT FIRST WHAT IS THE PLAN, WHAT IS THE PATH, AND THEN IF IT REQUIRES A CHARTER AMENDMENT, THEN THAT CAN BE DONE.

BUT -- >> Eric: WASN'T THERE TALK EARLY ON ABOUT HAVING A PLAN, AND THEN HAVING THE FOLKS VOTE ON THAT, THE VOTERS OF MINNEAPOLIS, AND THEN IF YOU NEED TO CHANGE THE CHARTER, YOU COULD DO IT THAT WAY?

>> WELL, ACTUALLY, THERE'S BEEN DECADES LONG STUDIES AROUND THIS WHICH ALSO SHOWS WHY WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MAKE THIS CHANGE.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO PIECE MEAL TOGETHER AND COBBLE TOGETHER FOR THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION.

THAT OFFICE AND EVERYONE WHO WORKS IN IT, THOUGH, WILL TELL YOU THAT THEY ARE VASTLY UNDERRESOURCED AND THEY ON'T ACTUALLY HAVE THE POWER TO DO THINGS THEY THAT THEY COULD DO.

>> Cathy: BUT THERE'S ACTUALLY NO PLAN THAT VOTERS ARE VOTING, RIGHT?

>> NO, THAT'S COMPLETELY WRONG.

AND QUITE FRANKLY, OUR OPPOSITION, HAS REALLY BEEN FUNNELING THIS IDEA THAT THERE'S NO PLAN.

WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY SAYING THAT WE'RE GETTING RID OF POLICE.

AND SO THEY ARE RIGHT IN ASSESSING THAT WE HAVE NO PLAN TO GET RID OF POLICE, BUT THE REALITY IS THAT THERE IS A VERY CLEAR PLAN.

>> THERE'S NO PLAN.

I MEAN, THERE'S NOWHERE YOU CAN POINT PEOPLE TO TO IDENTIFY WHAT THE PLAN IS.

THE PLAN HAS ALL BEEN KIND OF CONJECTURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO OPEN UP NOW THESE RESOURCES THAT ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO FUND THESE PROGRAMS THAT LREADY EXIST IN OUR -- AND ARE UNDERFUNDED.

THAT BY DEFINITION, I MEAN, KIND OF EXPLAINS WHY THIS IS REFERRED TO AS A DEFUND AMENDMENT.

IF YOU'RE ELIMINATING THE FUNDING FORMULA AYS FOR POLICE AND YOU'RE SAYING THAT SAME POT OF RESOURCES IS NOW GOING TO BE USED TO EXPAND SERVICES, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT MEANS YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THERE'S NO PLAN TO INDICATE OTHERWISE.

SO WE HAVE TO TAKE IT KIND ON THE WORD OF -- >> WELL, I WAS GOING TO SAY, BUT THAT PARTICULAR FORMULA THAT YOU KEEP REVIEWING THAT REQUIRES A CERTAIN NUMBER OF ARMED OFFICERS PER PERSON, THAT WAS CREATED IN 1961, BY THE POLICE FEDERATION.

THAT HAS EEN BASICALLY A CONTRACT PUT INTO THE CITY CONSTITUTION.

WHICH IS AN ANOMALY OF ANY OTHER -- ANY OTHER CITY IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

NONE OF THEM HAVE A MINIMUM NUMBER OF OFFICERS IN THEIR CITY CHARTER.

WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS JUST UPDATE IT SO THAT WE CAN HAVE AN ORDINANCE PROCESS LIKE MANY OTHER CITIES IN ORDER TO DETERMINE WHAT IS THE RIGHT NUMBER OF OFFICERS, WHAT'S THE RIGHT NUMBER OF QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.

AND DO THAT IN A DATA-DRIVEN WAY.

THERE ARE MANY RESIDENTS ALL ACROSS THE CITY, ESPECIALLY OVER NORTH, WHO ARE CALLING FOR MORE AND MORE RESOURCES, AND YET WE'RE SAYING, WELL, WE'RE GIVING THIS BLANKET NUMBER THAT WAS CREATED IN 1961 ARBITRARILY BY THE POLICE FEDERATION, ALLOWING THEM TO HOLD ONTO POWER ND RESOURCES.

>> Eric: I CAN ASK A QUESTION, OR YOU WANT TO RESPOND?

>> MY RESPONSE TO THAT WOULD BE THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS AGAIN NO PLAN.

THERE IS NOTHING THAT INDICATES THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENT MECHANISM BY WHICH THE NUMBER OF POLICE, WHICH THE PEOPLE OF MINNEAPOLIS ARE INDICATING THEY WANT MORE OF, THAT AFTER THEY VOTE FOR THIS AMENDMENT, THAT THERE WILL SIMULTANEOUSLY BE REFORM AND BETTER POLICE RATHER THAN FEWER OR NO POLICE.

>> Cathy: SO I'M WONDERING.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THIS AMENDMENT PASSES AND THE STRONG MAYOR AMENDMENT PASSES?

WHAT THEN?

>> I THINK THAT'S A LARGE QUESTION MARK.

>> WELL, NOT QUITE A QUESTION MARK.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE'RE PRETTY CLEAR ABOUT.

SO RIGHT NOW WE KNOW THAT THE MAYORAL CONTROL AMENDMENT, WE GET O SEE WHAT THAT OOKS LIKE IN REAL TIME THROUGH THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THAT IS THE ONLY DEPARTMENT IN THE ENTIRE CITY CHARTER THAT HAS THAT UNILATERAL CONTROL BY THE MAYOR.

SO WHAT WE OULD SEE IF THE MAYORAL CONTROL AMENDMENT PASSED IS THAT THEN ALL THE OF THE CITY DEPARTMENTS WOULD ALSO HAVE THE SIMILAR STRUCTURE THAT THE CURRENT MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS.

NOW, THAT DOES MEAN WE DO, IF BOTH OF THESE WERE VOTED IN, WE DO GET THE GIFT OF HAVING -- BENEFIT OF HAVING A MORE INTEGRATED AND COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH TO PUBLIC SAFETY WITH THE QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS AND THE POLICE OFFICERS.

BUT WE ALSO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY WITH POLICE OFFICERS.

IF THAT CONTINUES TO BE SILOED WITH JUST ONE PERSON.

>> I MEAN, WE ALSO KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN CITY COUNCIL IS RESPONDENT FOR OVERSEEING DEPARTMENTS, THAT IS ALL OF THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS EXCEPT FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THERE IS A REPORT WITH INTERVIEWS FROM ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, DESCRIBING HOW IT IS AN EXERCISE IN POLITICAL FRUSTRATION.

INTERFERENCE.

AND DIFFICULTY GETTING THINGS DONE.

WHICH IS THE REASON THAT THE STRONG MAYOR AMENDMENT, I LIKE TO CALL IT THE REGULAR MAYOR AMENDMENT BECAUSE MINNEAPOLIS IS QUITE FRANKLY THE ONLY CITY OF ITS SIZE THAT HAS THIS KIND OF STRUCTURE, BUT, YOU KNOW, EVEN THE CHIEF ARRADONDO, WHO THE RESIDENTS OF MINNEAPOLIS, I MEAN, WE SEE, THEY REALLY PUT A LOT OF TRUST BEHIND HIM AS BEING A LEADER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, HERE IN MINNEAPOLIS THAT CAN HELP USHER THIS TRANSFORMATION, AND PUBLIC SAFETY HAS SAID THAT THE REPORTING STRUCTURE THAT QUESTION TOO WOULD SET UP -- WOULD MAKE THE POSITION IN HIS WORDS WHOLLY UNBEARABLE FOR ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADER.

>> I MEAN, BUT WE REALLY ARE ONLY SEEING NATIONAL AND GLOBAL HEADLINES OF ABUSE, MISTRUST, AND MURDER, FROM ONE DEPARTMENT IN THIS CITY.

AND THAT IS THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

IT'S NOT -- WE'RE NOT HEARING THAT ABOUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

WE'RE NOT HEARING THAT ABOUT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

AND SO THE REALITY IS THAT THAT SHOWS US THAT THERE IS SOMETHING CLEARLY WRONG.

THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF ISSUES WHERE WE CONTINUE TO CALL ON POLICE AND NEEDING THIS LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT DISCIPLINE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT TRAINING, AND WE HEAR NOTHING, WE GET SILENCE.

AND THE FACT IS WE'VE ALWAYS HAD TO FILE MORE AND MORE LAWSUITS TO GET THAT INFORMATION.

>> Eric: TIME HAS ESCAPED US HERE.

THANK YOU BOTH.

♪ ♪ >> CATHY: LAST WEEK, WE TALKED WITH THE NEW SENATE MAJORITY LEADER.

THIS WEEK, IT'S THE MINORITY LEADER'S TURN.

MARY LAHAMMER MET UP WITH SENATOR MELISA LOPEZ FRANZEN AT HER HOME ON A TYPICAL BUSY DAY IN MOTION.

>> Mary: SHE'S MOST CERTAINLY A SUBURBAN MOM.

>> WE ALL HAVE KIDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> Mary: PICKING UP KIDS FROM SCHOOL AND SHUTTLING THEM TO ACTIVITY OF ACTIVITIES ARE AN EVERYDAY PART OF LIFE.

>> WHAT DID I SAY?

I DON'T WANT TO DO PIANO!

[ Laughter ] >> Mary: THE SENATOR WAS A HIGH POWERED ATTORNEY AT TARGET CORPORATION WHEN SHE WAS ELECTED IN 2012, MAKING HISTORY IN EDINA, BECOMING THE FIRST DEMOCRAT TO WIN THE REPUBLICAN SEAT.

>> FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME!

THE CITY OF EDINA IS SENDING A DEMOCRAT TO THE STATE SENATE!

[ Cheers and applause ] >> BACK THEN, IT WAS -- AND I SAY BACK THEN, IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO, PEOPLE WERE SAYING HOW THEY FELT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAD LEFT THEM.

AND NOW IT'S STILL VERY DIVISIVE.

I THINK WE'VE -- THE PENDULUM'S SWUNG THE OTHER WAY AND IT CONTINUES TO BE SWINGING.

AND RIGHT NOW I THINK HE PENDULUM IS SWINGING BOTH WAYS ON THE SPECTRUM OF POLITICS.

AND I DIDN'T GREW UP REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT.

I GREW UP TALKING ABOUT POLITICS AND THE STATUS OF WHERE I LIVED.

>> Mary: SIPPING STRONG PUERTO RICAN COFFEE OUTSIDE HER HOME, SHE STRAINS HOW SHE GREW UP IN THE SPANISH SPEAKING ISLAND TERRITORY AND IS NOW OFFICIALLY USING HER ENTIRE NAME AS A DELIBERATE DECISION.

>> I DON'T WANT TO HIDE OR HAVE TO HIDE.

>> Mary: THIS NEW ROLE AS HEAD OF THE SENATE D.F.L.

CAUCUS AND THE FIRST MEMBER OF THE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND INDIGENOUS CAUCUS TO HOLD A TOP LEADERSHIP POSITION AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

>> GROWING UP, WOMEN ARE STEPPING UP AND IT'S ALL GOOD.

WOMEN ARE SORT OF TAKING OVER, BUT I THINK WE ALREADY KNEW THAT.

>> Mary: AND DIVERSE WOMEN TOO.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Mary: HER LEADERSHIP TEAM ALSO INCLUDES THE FIRST INDIGENOUS WOMAN.

>> MY FAMILY IS FROM STANDING ROCK.

>> SENATE REPUBLICANS ARE LSO MAKING HISTORY, ELECTING A NEW LEADER, JEWISH IN FAITH, WHO BECAME THE YOUNGEST SENATE PRESIDENT, AND IS ALSO KNOWN AS A MODERATE.

>> IT'S NOT POPULAR TO BE CONSIDERED A MODERATE OR A CONSENSUS BUILDING NECESSARILY.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, YOU PUT ON YOUR ARMOR AND YOUO GO TO THE CAPITOL AND YOU FIGHT FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN.

BUT, YOU KNOW, MANY TIMES AS YOU KNOW, MOST OF IT, WE HAVE CON SENSE YOU.

I THINK JEREMY AND I COME FROM A SIMILAR BRAND OF POLITICS IN A A TIME AND A GENERATION WHERE WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S STABLE, THAT IT WORKS.

>> Mary: FRANZEN CALLS IT A HEALTHY PASSING OF THE BATON, BOTH WHOM HAVE BEEN MENTIONED FOR HIGHER OFFICE.

>> SOMEDAY, MAYBE.

GLAWM NOT RULING IT OUT?

>> I DON'T RULE ANYTHING OUT IN THIS WORLD.

>> BUT FIRST FRANZEN AND MILLER EACH WANT TO RETAIN OR WIN CONTROL OF THE CHAMBER AND DEMOCRATS EXPECT TO CONTINUE TO GAIN GROUND IN SUBURBS LIKE HERS.

>> IT'S A MORE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND CONSERVATIVE COMMUNITY BUT MORE SOCIALLY LIBERAL AND MUCH MORE.

>> TINY HANDS AND GOT PRINTS.

FOOTPRINTS.

>> Mary: LOPEZ FRANZEN SEES THE ISSUE OF EPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AS A KEY ONE FOR VOTERS LIKE HER.

>> CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THIS ISSUE CAN AFFECT TURNOUT, PARTICULARLY FOR WOMEN IN THE SUBURBS WHICH TURN OUT IN MINNESOTA AND ACROSS A LOT OF THE COUNTRY TO BE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SWING VOTES.

>> THAT STORY RESONATES AND WOMEN ARE PAYING ATTENTION.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT HAVING KIDS.

IT'S ABOUT FAMILY PLANNING OF POTENTIALLY NOT HAVING CHAIRMAN.

>> Mary: BUT FRANZEN ALSO HAS A PRO-BUSINESS TILT.

>> WHEN COMES TO BRED AND BUTTER ISSUE I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.

I CAME FROM CORPORATE BUT I ALSO CAME FROM A FAMILY THAT CAME FROM THE GOVERNMENT, THAT WAS REALLY RELIANT ON THE GOVERNMENT BEING STRONG AND IT WASN'T.

AND EVERYONE CAN BE ABLE O TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND THRIVE.

>> Mary: AND AFTER THE MISHAJING OF A SEXUAL HARASSMENT COMPLAINT OF A STAFFER, THIS LAWYER SNOWS THERE'S SOME SERIOUS WORK TO DO.

>> WHEN I FIRST RAN IN 2012, WE DID NOT HAVE AN H.R.

DEPARTMENT.

SO THIS IS SYSTEMIC AND IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED APPROPRIATELY BECAUSE WE OWE THAT TO ANYONE WHO WORKS AT THE CAPITOL IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM.

♪ ♪ >> ERIC: LOTS OF ECONOMIC STORIES MAKING NEWS THIS WEEK.

THE FEDERAL RESERVE UPDATED ITS INFLATION FORECAST AND SIGNALED A RAMPING DOWN OF STIMULUS SUPPORT OF THE ECONOMY.

MEANWHILE, CONGRESS IS ARGUING OVER WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT MIGHT SHUT DOWN DUE TO THE FEDERAL DEBT CEILING.

HERE TO EXPLAIN WHAT ALL OF THIS MAY MEAN TO OUR REGIONAL ECONOMY, LOUIS JOHNSTON.

HE'S A PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS AT THE COLLEGE OF ST. BENEDICT AND ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY.

HAPPEN TO STOMACH BAIL ACROSS CNBC THIS WEEK.

>> HAPPENED TO?

>> AND I HEARD A LOT ABOUT TAPERING.

WHAT IS IT AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

>> TAPERING IS, THE FEDERAL RESERVE IS OUT THERE BUYING UP CERTAIN KINDS OF BONDS AND THAT KEEPS INTEREST RATES LOWS AND BY TAPERING, THEY'RE GOING TO STOP BUYING SO MANY OF THEM SO THAT WOULD ALLOW INTEREST RATES TO PERHAPS GO UP.

>> Cathy: AND WHEN DOES THAT START?

>> THEY HAVEN'T SAID.

THEY KEEP HINTING AT.

THEY KEEP SAYING, OH, MAYBE NEXT ONTH, MAYBE THE MONTH AFTER.

BUT THE BEST GUESS S EARLY 2022.

>> Eric: THE FED HAS TWO MISSIONS, KEEP INFLATION IN CHECK AND FULL EMPLOYMENT.

HOW DOES INFLATION FIT INTO THIS?

ARE YOU BULLISH OR BEARISH ON INFLATION?

>> I CAN NEVER KEEP THOSE STRAIGHT, BUT I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT INFLATION.

WHATEVER THE ONE IS THAT THAT'S -- BECAUSE I THINK THAT A LOT OF THE INFLATION THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW -- HERE'S ANOTHER TERM THE FED'S USING A LOT, TRANSITORY.

THAT MEANS IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN FOR A WHILE, BUT IT'S GOING TO GO AWAY.

SO I'M NOT TOO WORRIED ABOUT THAT.

BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS IN PROBABLY TWO OR THREE GENERATIONS, AND SO PEOPLE IN POLL CIRCLES ARE NOT USED TO HAVING TO DEAL WITH A SITUATION WHERE INFLATION IS TRANSITORY LIKE THIS AND YOU'RE DEALING WITH UNEMPLOYMENT AND THINGS THAT ARE A PROBLEM RIGHT NOW.

IT'S LIKE EITHER INFLATION, OR UNEMPLOYMENT.

NOW WE'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH BOTH.

>> Cathy: HOW ABOUT THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.

HOW DOES THAT ALL FIT IN?

>> THAT'S MAKING THE INFLATION NUMBERS EVEN MESSIER RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE'VE GOT CONTAINER SHIPS SITTING OUTSIDE PORTS IN LOS ANGELES.

WE'VE GOT AUTO PLANTS NEEDING STUFF OUT HERE AND THEY'RE BIDDING UP THE PRICES.

AND SO THAT'S PUSHING THE INFLATION NUMBERS UP.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU'VE GOT SITUATIONS WHERE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE CAN'T SELL WHAT THEY WANT, AND SO THEY'RE HAVING TO CUT THE PRICES.

AND SO IT'S BASICALLY THROWING ALL KINDS OF NOISE INTO HE INFLATION NUMBERS AND THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM.

>> Eric: IMPACT OF COVID ON THE ECONOMY?

>> I THINK IT IS A TURNING POINT.

I'M STARTING TO BE CONVINCED THAT THIS IS SOMETHING LIKE THE PAT COSTRIKE OF 1981 WHERE PRESIDENT REAGAN FIRED THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS OR 1948 WHEN YOU HAD THE FIRST BIG UNION CONTRACTS.

I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TURNING POINTS.

>> Cathy: OKAY, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IN TERMS OF THE WORKPLACE?

DO YOU SEE THESE PERMANENT WORKPLACE CHANGES?

>> I DO, AND I THINK THAT A LOT OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES IS GOING TO GET RESET.

THERE ARE A LOT OF EMPLOYEES WHO ARE SAYING YOU KNOW WHAT?

WHAT WAS OKAY BEFORE COVID IS NOT OKAY NOW.

THE HOURS ARE THE WORKING CONDITIONS OR THE WAGES.

AND THEY'VE DECIDED TO PULL BACK.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, THE LABOR FORCE IS ACTUALLY DOWN COMPARED TO WHAT IT WAS.

AND YOU WOULD HAVE EXPECTED IT TO BOUNCE BACK UP AGAIN.

IT HASN'T.

IT'S GONE DOWN AND STAYED THERE.

>> Eric: TURMOIL IN THE RAIL INDUSTRY IS FORCING MINNEAPOLIS TO LOSE A CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS?

>> YEAH, SO CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILROAD IS BUYING KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN AND KANSAS SOUTHERN OF COURSE HAS ITS HEADQUARTERS IN IS.

CAN.

IS.

CITY, AND SO IT'S GOING TO MOVE ITH NEW HEADQUARTERS TO KANSAS CITY FROM MINNEAPOLIS.

SO WE COULD LOSE SOME DOWN TOX OFFICE JOBS.

BUT PROBABLY SOME OF THE ACCOUNTING AND THAT KIND OF STUFF.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED DOWNTOWN.

DO YOU SEE DOWNTOWN AREAS GOING BACK TO THEIR BUSTLING PEOPLE, FULL OF PEOPLE, AND OFFICES AND -- >> I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE THE SAME.

NO.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFERENT.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO NEED TO BE FACE TO FACE.

THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT.

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF US WHO JUST DON'T NEED TO BE.

SO MAYBE TWO DAYS A WEEK.

MAYBE FOUR DAYS A WEEK.

INSTEAD OF JUST 8:00 TO 5:00 FIVE DAYS A WEEK.

>> Eric: DO I NEED TO GET INVOLVED WITH CRYPTO CURRENCY?

>> WELL, DON'T IF YOU'RE IN CHINA BECAUSE TODAY THEY OUTLAWED IT AND THEY ARE BANNING THE MINING OF IT IN CHINA.

SO NEW YORK CITY EI WOULD STAY IS A AWAY FROM IT.

>> Cathy: NEIL KASHKARI SAID THAT 90% OF THEM ARE FRAUD, HYPE, AND NOISE.

>> YEP, BASICALLY IT'S A WAY TO DEAL WITH MARKETS IN ILLEGAL GOODS AND SERVICES.

LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY.

>> Eric: IT'S NOT THE FUTURE.

>> IT'S NOT THE FUTURE.

DIGITAL CURRENCIES, MAYBE, CRYPTO CURRENTSIES, NO.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

♪ ♪ >> Cathy: WE'RE SO EXCITED.

FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE PANDEMIC, THE GUTHRIE THEATER WILL PUT ON A PLAY NEXT WEEK.

IT'S THE START OF A NEW SEASON THAT WILL FEATURE A WORLD PREMIERE OF A NEW "CHRISTMAS CAROL," THE RETURN OF JOE DOWLING TO DIRECT A SHAKESPEARE CLASSIC, AND A TOURING PRODUCTION OF A TONY AWARD-WINNING PLAY.

ATTENDANCE AT THE PLAYHOUSE WILL NOT BE LIMITED, THOUGH TICKET HOLDERS MUST SHOW A PROOF OF VACCINE OR A RECENT NEGATIVE TEST TO ATTEND.

AND THEY MUST WEAR MASKS.

HERE TO TELL US MORE IS JOSEPH HAJ, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THE GUTHRIE THEATER.

WELCOME BACK TO THE PROGRAM.

IT IS SO NICE TO SEE YOU IN THE FLESH.

>> SO GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> Cathy: OH, MY GOSH.

IT'S BEEN A REALLY LONG TIME.

MY GOSH.

OKAY, SO LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE OPENING UP THE DOORS, FULL CAPACITY.

>> WE ARE.

WE ARE.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP EVERYBODY AS SAFE AS CAN BE.

SO AS YOU DESCRIBED, WE'RE MANDATING VACCINES AND WE'RE MANDATING MASKS THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE EVENING.

WE WON'T HAVE CONCESSIONS OR FOOD FOR A TIME.

JUST TRYING TO TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP EVERYONE MAXIMALLY SAFE IN THE AUDITORIUM.

BUT YEAH, WE START NEXT WEEK.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU THINK THE MOOD OF THE GUTHRIE THEATER GOER IS GOING TO BE?

>> YOU KNOW, WE WERE, NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT'S BEEN A YEAR AND A HALF OF NOTHING BUT OF SCENARIO PLANNING.

WE THINK THERE'S TREMENDOUS APPETITE.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN MISSED AND WE HAVE CERTAINLY MISSED MAKING WORK FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO DO WELL.

AND I THINK THE PROTOCOLS THAT WE'VE PUT IN PLACE, I KNOW, HAVE BEEN A GREAT COMFORT TO MANY, MANY, MANY OF UR PATRONS.

AND FOR FOLKS WHO ARE NOT READY YET, WE'LL BE READY FOR THEM WHEN THEY'RE READY FOR US.

AND SO WE'RE UST EXCITED TO BE GETTING BACK TO WORK.

>> Cathy: FOR FOLKS WHO DO WANT TO SEE SOME THEATER, BUT ARE JUST A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT GOING BACK WILL THERE BE SOME SORT OF A STREAM FOR PEOPLE OR NO?

>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH MORE STREAMED THEATER THERE IS APPETITE FOR.

YOU KNOW, WE PARTICIPATED IN THAT OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF.

WE MADE A FILM OF "A CHRISTMAS CAROL" BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT TO MISS OUR 46TH SEASON, AND IN THE END IT ENDED UP IN 15 COUNTRIES AND SOME 200,000 PEOPLE LOOKED AT IT.

SO WHEN WE THINK OF THAT STREAMING, NOT AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO LIVE EXPERIENCE, BUT AS ANOTHER POINT OF ACCESS, RIGHT?

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHETHER OR NOT CAN'T GET TO US, GEOGRAPHICALLY.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO NO LONGER DRIVE AT NIGHT TIME.

SO THE IDEA OF IT AS AN ASSET, AS AN ADDITIONAL THING WE DO THAT COULD PROVIDE ACCESS TO PEOPLE -- SO WE'RE THINKING OF IT NOW LIKE SOMETHING LET'S GET SOMETHING ON STAGE AND MAYBE CAPTURE THAT IN A SOPHISTICATED WAY.

>> Eric: YOU START WITH WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME.

I HAPPENED TO SEE IT ON BROADWAY.

>> WHAT DID YOU THINK?

>> Eric: WELL, IT'S VERY UNIQUE IN THAT IT'S EDUCATIONALITY AND ENTERTAINING AT THE SAME TIME.

IT'S A IFFERENT APPROACH TO A PLAY I THINK.

>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S A STUNNING PIECE.

I MEAN, IT MET WITH ALMOST UNIVERSAL ACCLAIM AND IT WAS NOMINATED FOR THE PULITZER AND THE TONY.

IT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY PLAY, AND I THINK A GREAT PLAY TO REOPEN WITH, GIVEN THE THEMES IN THIS EXAMINATION OF A CONSTITUTION.

AND I LOVE THAT IT'S FUNNY AND IT'S MOVING AND IT IS SO PERSONAL AND HOW IT IS TOLD.

AND SO AS YOU SAY, IT HAS ITS LESSONS IN IT TO BE SURE, BUT I FIND IT SO MEANINGFULLY NONDIDACTIC.

SO REALLY EXCITED AND WE'RE KICKING OFF THE NATIONAL TOUR WITH THAT.

CONTINUE THROUGH OCTOBER 24TH.

>> Cathy: SHOULD I BE A LITTLE WORRIED THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A NEW CHRISTMAS CAROL?

>> I HOPE YOU'RE NOT WORRIED BECAUSE I'M DIRECTING IT.

SO THIS WILL BE THE 47TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CAROL.

EVERY SIX OR EIGHT OR TEN YEARS, THE GUTHRIE REFRESHES IT.

SO WE'VE HAD THE SAME PRODUCTION ON THE ICE FOR TEN YEARS.

IN THE INTEREST OF NOT WASTING A GOOD CRISIS, WE HAD A LOT OF TRACK AND A LOT OF TIME.

WE FOUND A NEW ADAPTATION THAT WE LOVE BY LAVINA JODWANNI AND I CODETECTIVED WITH E.G.

BAILEY, THAT FILM 6 CHRISTMAS CAROL.

I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO DIRECT A NEW PRODUCTION.

SO NEW SCENERY.

NEXT COSTUMES, NEW PROPS, NEXT SOUND, NEW CHOREOGRAPHY, BRAND-NEW PROBABLES OF THAT STORY THAT WE ALL LOVE SO WELL.

SO I'M REALLY XCITED TO GET INTO REHEARSAL A WEEK FROM TUESDAY.

>> Eric: THE THEATER HAS BEEN OPEN WHAT FROM JANUARY?

HOW IS THAT EXPERIENCE BEEN?

>> WELL, JUST WANT TO GET PEOPLE BACK COMFORTABLE BEING IN A UBLIC BUILDING AGAIN.

YOU KNOW, WHEN HAT BUILDING OPENED, IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE A PUBLIC CENTER.

SO LIMITED HOURS.

VERY CAREFUL AROUND IT ALL.

BUT WE WANTED TO REOPEN PUBLICLY AND WE HAVE FOR A FEW DAYS A WEEK AND AS THINGS FEEL SAFER TO US OVER TIME WE'LL CONTINUE TO WIDEN THAT ATTAR TUR OF THE HOURS AND DAYS OF THE WEEK THAT WE'RE OPEN.

>> Cathy: SO JOE DOWLING COMING BACK, THAT'S COOL.

>> AND WITH "THE TESTIMONY PEST."

I THINK THE THEMES -- WE DO SHAKESPEARE LAYS REGULARLY OF COURSE, BUT THE IDEA OF THAT PLAY AND BRINGING BACK JOE DOWLING WHO WAS, YOU KNOW, 20 YEARS AS THE GUTHRIE'S ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, LEAVING IN 2015 WHEN I CAME IN AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING FOR A FEW YEARS NOW ABOUT FINDING SOMETHING TO DO TOGETHER AND I'M THRILLED THAT HE'S COMING BACK TO DO THIS PLAY.

>> Eric: HOW'S THE BOTTOM LINE OF THE THEATER?

>> SURPRISINGLY OKAY.

YOU KNOW, WE -- BRUTAL FOR ALL THE REASONS WE KNOW.

WE HAVEN'T MADE A PLAY IN 18 MONTHS.

BUT I WILL SAY, THE MINNESOTA STATE ARTS BOARD, OUR EXTRAORDINARY COMMUNITY OF THIS LAN THROE PICS WHO HELPED THROUGH THIS TIME, AND NOT LEAST OF ALL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU KNOW OF THESE S.V.O.G.

GRANTS, THIS IS $15 BILLION THAT CAME FROM THE NATURAL GOVERNMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE CULTURAL SECT YOUR, THE AMERICAN -- NOTHING IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICA SUGGESTED SUCH A THING WOULD EVER HAPPEN AND IT WAS COWRITTEN BY OUR OWN AMY KLOBUCHAR AND ACROSS THE AISLE WITH SENATOR CORNEN FROM TEXAS AND IT WAS ORIGINALLY FOR FOR-PROFIT CONCERT VENUES AND THEY WIDENED THAT LENS SO IT INCLUDED NON-PROFIT CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS AND THEY'RE SAVING A WHOLE SECTOR BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT ARTS ARE IMPORTANT TO THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY AND IT'S IMPORTANT AND IT'S MEANINGFUL.

AND SO THOSE THINGS COMBINED ALLOWED -- AND OF COURSE WE MADE THE TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE DECISIONS EARLY.

WE HAD TO LET A LOT OF FOLKS GO.

WE MAKE THEATER AND IF YOU'RE NOT GETTING PLAYS ON STAGE, THE FOLKS WHO SEE PATRONS IN, SELL TICKETS AT THE BOX OFFICE, BUILD OUR SETS, THERE JUST WASN'T WORK.

AND SO WE MADE DIFFICULT DECISIONS EARLY.

AND THEN WE CHALLENGED OURSELVES THAT THOSE DECISIONS WERE TERRIBLE, BUT THAT WHEN WE COME BACK, WE WOULD COME BACK ROBUSTLY AND I'M REALLY PROUD THAT IT'S A SEASON THAT IS BIG, BIG IN ITS THEMES AND AMBITIONS AND I'M JUST SUPER EXCITED FOR IT.

>> Eric: GREAT TO HAVE YOU BACK.

WE'LL BE THERE.

>> IT'S REALLY GOOD TO SEE YOU FRIENDS.

♪ ♪ >> WE'RE GOING TO START WITH SOME BIG DEEP BREATHS.

IN THROUGH THE NOSE.

OUT THROUGH THE MOUTH.

WE'RE GOING TO SCAN DOWN THE BODY.

STARTING AT THE TOP OF THE HEAD.

YOU KNOW, YOU LOSE 80% OF YOUR BODY HEAT THROUGH YOUR HEAD?

SEE IF YOU FEEL YOUR BODY'S WARMTH DRAINING OUT THROUGH YOUR HEAD.

MOVING DOWN THE BODY.

CHECKING IN WITH THE THROAT.

AND THE CHEST.

IS THAT TICKLE THERE JUST ALLERGIES?

SOMETHING WORSE?

KEEP SCANNING DOWN.

TO THE STOMACH.

WHERE THAT SECOND BOWL OF CHILI YOU HAD LAST NIGHT IS RESTING.

JUST RELAX.

LIKE THE CHILI.

NOW TO THE FEET.

THE FEET IN THIS AWKWARD POSITION, WHICH ARE NOW ALREADY SOUND ASLEEP.

NOW THAT THE BODY'S RELAXED, WE'RE GOING TO LET THE MIND TAKE A EST AS WELL.

DON'T THINK ABOUT THE YARD WORK YOU HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED.

JUST BREATHE.

INHALE THE SMELL OF UNCUT GRASS.

EXHALE DEEPLY.

LIKE THE BREEZE THAT'S ABOUT TO BLOW ALL THE LEAVES ONTO THE DECK.

IN.

YOU HAVE HAD 37 EMAIL MESSAGES SINCE YOU BEGAN.

AND OUT.

AND IN YOUR OWN TIME, OPEN YOUR EYES.

♪ ♪ >> ERIC: DURING THE PANDEMIC, MOST WORKERS DIDN'T GO DOWNTOWN TO THE OFFICE, AND THEY AVOIDED TRAVELING ON BUSES AND TRAINS FOR COVID REASONS.

ADD IN CONCERN ABOUT RISING CRIME, AND IT'S BEEN A TOUGH TIME FOR TRANSIT.

THE MET COUNCIL OVERSEES TRANSIT IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION, AND OFFICIALS THERE ARE WORKING ON WAYS TO GET MORE MINNESOTANS BACK ON TRAINS AND BUSES.

CHARLIE ZELLE IS THE HEAD OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.

HOW'S THE DOLLAR RIDE GOING?

>> WELL, WE'RE SEEING AN UPTICK IN OUR RIDERSHIP.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE BEING CONSERVATIVE IN OUR FORECASTING.

IT'LL BE A GRADUAL INCREASE.

EVEN THOUGH IT TOOK A BIG HIT WITH THOSE EXPRESS BUSES GOING TO THE DOWNTOWNS, MAYBE AS MUCH AS 95%, BUT THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, WE CARRIED MAYBE 60 TO 80,000 PEOPLE A DAY.

IT SHOWS THAT THE REGULAR BUS SYSTEM, THE ARTERIAL BUS RAPID TRANSIT, WHICH HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL, YOU KNOW, REALLY SERVES AN IMPORTANT PURPOSE FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS, AND EVEN THOUGH WE WERE GOING THROUGH A PERIOD -- IT KILLS A BUS GUY LIKE ME -- WE ARE ADVERTISING PEOPLE NOT TO RIDE BECAUSE WE ONLY WANTED ESSENTIAL WORKERS, YET WE HAD A 50% DROP.

THAT ACTUALLY MEANS WE CARRIED A LOT OF PEOPLE AND NOW IT'S GRADUALLY COMING AS THE ECONOMY RECOVERS, AS PEOPLE COME BACK TO WORK.

MAY NOT BE THE SAME.

BUT IT IS RADUALLY COMING BACK.

>> Cathy: I WAS WONDERING WHAT WAS GOING ON, THOUGH.

BECAUSE WAS IT LAST EEKEND OR THE WEEKEND, SOME OF THE ROUTES WERE SUSPEND AID BECAUSE OF A LACK OF DRIVERS.

>> DRIVER SHORTAGES, WE'RE NOT ALONE.

IT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE COUNTRY.

AND CERTAINLY WE'VE BEEN READING ABOUT THE SCHOOL BUS CRISIS.

WE DO HAVE A SHOSHTAGE.

WE'RE FORTUNATE BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO RETAIN MUCH OF OUR IMPORTANT OPERATORS AND MECHANICS.

WE'RE COVERING NOW STUDENTS IN ST. PAUL.

WHO ARE NOW COMING INTO OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO MANAGE A REDUCED SCHEDULE AND MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT CANCELING SCHEDULES.

THIS COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE, MY C.D.L.

LAPSED A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, SO I DON'T THINK I'M THE SOLUTION.

>> Cathy: BUT IF YOU GO TO SEE YOU BEHIND THE WHEEL -- THOUGH -- >> BUT I KNOW HOW TO DRIVE A BUS.

AND A SNOW TRUCK.

BUT I THINK THAT OVER IME WE'LL SEE PEOPLE COME BACK TO THE SECTOR.

BUT COMMERCIAL DRIVERS IS A REAL NATIONAL CRISIS.

GL >> Eric: YOU'VE GOT A SUBSTANTIAL PART OF THE RIDERSHIP THAT HAS SAFETY CONCERNS AND I KNOW CITIZENS LEAGUE DID SOME WORK FOR YOU AND ARE YOU DIGESTING THAT AND COMING UP WITH SOME SOLUTIONS.

WHAT'S ON THE HORIZON TO IMPROVE AT LEAST THE PERCEPTION OF SAFETY?

>> YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR ASKING ABOUT THE CITIZENS LEAGUE.

WE TOOK A VERY THOUGHTFUL APPROACH.

AND I KNOW WE HAD A DEBATE EARLIER IN THE PROGRAM.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD THE THIRD LARGEST, I THINK, POLICE FORCE, WITH THE METRO TRANSIT POLICE, BUT SAFETY IS MUCH BIGGER THAN JUST POLICE.

AND IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE IMPRESSION OF SAFETY.

SO HAVING THE CITIZENS LEAGUE DO FOCUS GROUPS, SURVEYS, MAKE SURE EVERY ONE OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING BUSINESS, NORTH MINNEAPOLIS STUDENTS, MOTHERS, HAVE BEEN REPRESENTED TO KNOW, WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING TO CREATE SAFETY ND AN IMPRESS OF SAFETY.

>> Eric: WHAT CHANGES ARE BEING MADE IF ANY?

>> WELL, WE'RE BRINGING IN AS MANY AS 50 TO 70 NEW COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICERS.

THESE ARE NON-UNIFORMED, NOT POLICE.

THEY'RE REALLY REPRESENTATIVES RIDING THE TRAINS ON THE PLATFORMS IN THE BUSES, TO BE BOTH GUIDES AND HUMAN PRESENCE TO KIND OF MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A SAFETY, A WELCOMING EXPERIENCE FOR OUR RIDERS.

BUT WE'RE LEANING INTO SAFETY.

WE'RE ACTUALLY INCREASING OUR POLICE FORCE.

WE HAVE A 24-HOUR CAMERAS AT A CENTRAL CONTROL STATION WHERE LIVE CAMERAS IN THE BUSES -- I MEAN, IN THE TRAINS ON THE FLAT FORMS ARE MONITORED PEOPLE THINK ABOUT SAFETY.

IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE CLEANLINESS.

WE'RE INCREASING THAT.

IT'S ABOUT THE ON TIME.

IT'S A LOT OF THE LITTLE THINGS.

>> Eric: AND IT'S GUYS SMOKING OR TALKING LOUD.

>> ENFORCING A CODE OF CONDUCT.

I HATE TO SAY IT, THAT'S PARTLY WHERE THESE -- >> Eric: HENNEPIN COUNTY PUT 200 MILLION INTO SOUTHWEST LIGHT RAIL.

I KNOW YOU'RE ABLE TO SAY, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT'LL COST AND WHEN IT'LL BE FINISHED, BUT DO YOU NEED A POLITICAL AND A LEGAL KNIFE FIGHT EVERY TIME THERE'S A LIGHT RAIL LINE, OR ARE THESE RAPIST BUS LINES CHEAPER, BETTER, NOT AS COSTLY?

>> THEY'RE NOT AS COSTLY, BUT THEY SERVE DIFFERENT PURPOSES.

THE BLUE LINE, THE GREEN LINE, THESE ARE HE BACKBONES OF THIS LARGE INTEGRATED TRANSIT SYSTEM AND THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT, WE ALREADY HAVE $1.6 BILLION OF DEVELOPMENT THAT'S EITHER ALREADY BUILT OR UNDER CONSTRUCTION LONG THE SOUTHWEST RIGHT LIGHT RAIL LINE.

I MEAN, THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THIS IS A REALLY VALUABLE SEGMENT OF THE INTEGRATED TRANSIT SYSTEM.

BUT IT'S NOT ONLY THE BIGGEST INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, IT'S THE MOST -- IN HISTORY, IT'S THE MOST COMPLICATED.

AND, YES, THERE'S BEEN SOME UNFARRELL SEEN CONDITIONS THAT KEN YIL WORTH TRAIL, THE CORRIDOR PROTECTION BARRIER ALONG BNSF.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME COST AND SOME DELAY.

SO WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING WITH A CONTRACTOR TO RE-SEQUENCE THE PROJECT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT TAXPAYERS AND OPEN AS SOON AS WE CAN.

>> Cathy: LAST QUESTION AND THAT WOULD BE ABOUT THE NORTH STAR COMMUTER RAIL LINE.

NOW, THAT'S GOT SOME PROBLEMS.

ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT THAT?

>> I AM WORRIED ABOUT THAT.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE REALLY LOOKING CAREFULLY AT -- WELL, ALL -- AS I MENTIONED, EXPRESS COMMUTER TRIPS TO DOWNTOWNS HAVE SUFFERED.

THE NORTH STAR IS VERY EXPENSIVE.

WE REDUCED THE SERVICE.

WE'RE LOOKING AT CAREFULLY ABOUT THAT WHOLE CORRIDOR.

HOW BEST CAN WE SERVE YOU KNOW REALLY MINNEAPOLIS TO ST.

CLOUD?

AND THE NORTH STAR HAS ALSO HAD ECONOMIC STIMULUS, IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR MANY STAKEHOLDERS ALONG THE WAY.

BUT WILL IT SURVIVE?

TO WHAT IT ONCE WAS OR BEYOND?

WE'RE TAKING A ARD LOOK.

>> Eric: TIME WILL TELL.

THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

♪ ♪ >> CATHY: LET'S SEE.

YOU HAVE BIG FIGHTS IN CONGRESS, DEMOCRATS ARGUING WITH THEIR PRESIDENT, AND SLIPPING APPROVAL RATINGS IN MINNESOTA FOR JOE BIDEN AND TIM WALZ.

LET'S TALK ABOUT IT ALL WITH A TRIO OF POLITICAL SCIENTISTS.

DAVID SCHULTZ TEACHES POLITICS AT HAMLINE UNIVERSITY.

MICHAEL MINTA IS A PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

JOINING US BY ZOOM: CYNTHIA RUGELEY, HEAD OF THE POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT AT U.M.D.

IN DULUTH.

HERE SHE IS.

PROFESSOR SCHULTZ.

I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> Cathy: OY, THE PRESIDENT'S APPROVAL RATING IS DOWN.

IS HE DELIVERING WHAT HE PROMISED?

>> IN ONE LEVEL, HE IS DELIVERING WHAT HE ROMISES AND I THINK IT'S PARTLY WHY HIS RATING IS DOWN.

HE TALKED ABOUT WANTING TO GET OUT OF AFGHANISTAN.

HE'S TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO ADDRESS THE ECONOMY.

HOW SUCCESSFUL HE IS, THAT'S A MATTER OF A QUESTION AT THIS POINT.

THE PANDEMIC MAYBE BE BEYOND HIS CONTROL BECAUSE HE'S FIGHTING WITH A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO COOPERATE AND HE'S ALSO FIGHTING WITH A CONGRESS THAT DOESN'T WANT TO COOPERATE.

SO I'M GOING TO SAY A LITTLE BIT OF HE'S UNPOPULAR FOR VERY MUCH WHAT HE SAID HE DID, UT ALSO KEEP IN MIND, HE GOT ELECTED MORE BECAUSE OF WHAT?

HE WAS NOT DONALD TRUMP THAN BECAUSE WHAT HE ACTUALLY BELIEVED.

GLEZ WHAT'S THE OUTLOOK FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL, THE -- SHOULD THAT HAVE BEEN DONE IN MAYBE BITE SIZED PIECES.

I WONDER IF IT'S TOO BIG TO SWALLOW?

>> I THINK IT'S THE COALITIONS WITHIN THE CONGRESS WHERE, I MEAN, LIKE THE SENATE'S KIND OF -- THEY HAVE ALL THE MODERATES IN THERE AND THEY WANT TO GET THE INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE.

AND YOU HAD THAT BIPARTISAN COMMISSION.

AND THEY ANT TO GET THAT THROUGH.

BUT YOU HAVE THE PROGRESSIVES OVER IN THE HOUSE THAT WANT MUCH MORE.

AND SO NOW THEY'RE MAKING THIS THING LIKE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET THIS BIG BUDGET BILL, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET HIS INFRASTRUCTURE BILL, WE'RE NOT GOING TO VOTE ON IT UNTIL YOU GET SOMETHING WITH THE VOTER BILL.

AND THAT'S WHY THERE -- I MEAN, IT COULD BE A VERY EMBARRASSING SITUATION IF, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE SHE MADE PROMISES TO THE MODERATES AND THE PROGRESSIVES.

IT'S LIKE A GAME OF CHICKEN.

WHO'S GOING TO GO FIRST.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE NEXT WEEK.

>> Cathy: PROFESSOR RUGELEY, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

LET'S GET YOU IN HERE?

>> ALL RIGHT.

I AGREE WITH MIKE.

I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING.

I MEAN, DEMOCRATS, HISTORICALLY, HAVE HAD THESE FLARE-UPS BETWEEN THE MORE CONSERVATIVE WING AND THE MORE PROGRESSIVE WING.

AND SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW.

AND I MEAN, I THINK THE PROGRESSIVES THIS TIME ARE KIND OF DIGGING THEIR HEELS IN A LITTLE BIT, SO IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

AND OVER ON THE SENATE SIDE, IT'S GOING TO TAKE 50 VOTES.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF THEM.

THREE DON'T HAVE ANY ROOM FOR ERROR.

AND RIGHT NOW JOE MAN CHIN, KRISTEN CINEMA ARE SAYING THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GO FOR THAT BIG A BITE.

>> THIS IS IT.

USING THE WORD BITE, THIS IS THE ONE BITE THEY HAVE.

WE'RE GOING TO 2022.

IT'S GOING TO GET HARDER TO PASS ANY LEGISLATION.

THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO HOLD ONTO THE SENATE OR THE HOUSE.

I THINK WHY THEY'RE PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER, THIS IS THEIR ONE SHOT TO DO IT AND THEY HAVE TO DO IT ALSO WITH WHAT?

A R RECONCILIATION BILL.

THEY HAVE ONE SHOT AT IT.

>> AND I COULD I ADD ONE THING?

AND WHAT CINDY SAID ALSO IS IN THE OUSE THEY HAVE A VERY NARROW MAJORITY.

AND SO YOU ALREADY HAVE PEOPLE LIKE GIA POLL, AND PEOPLE IN NEW YORK SAYING THAT IF THERE'S NOT IMMIGRATIONS PROVISIONS IN THE BILL, THAT HE'S NOT INCLINED TO SUPPORT IT.

SO PELOSI'S TRYING TO HOLD THIS FLANK TOGETHER BECAUSE SHE CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE ANY VOTES.

>> AND SHE'S ALSO FIGHTING WITH THE PARLIAMENT YAIR WRAN WHO WAS SAYING YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS CHRISTMAS TREE AND PUT EVERYTHING UNDERNEATH IT.

>> Eric: PROFESSOR RUGELEY, IS A GOVERNMENT DEFAULT POSSIBLE?

I MEAN, THAT'S KIND OF 9 -- MAYBE IT'S A HYSTERICAL WARNING, BUT IS IT POSSIBLE?

IF THEY DON'T GET THE DEBT CEILING FIGURED OUT?

>> SURE, IT'S POSSIBLE IF THEY DON'T PASS THE DEBT CIELG, IF THEY DON'T RAISE IT, THEN THE GOVERNMENT WILL DEFAULT.

WE GO THROUGH THIS PERIODICALLY AND I THINK THE DEMOCRATS MIGHT BE ON THE RIGHT FOOT SAYING THAT WE NEED TO PUT AN END TO THIS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IF THE REPUBLICANS HOLD THEIR GROUND AND THEY DON'T VOTE FOR IT IT'S GOING TO TAKE EVERYBODY -- YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT THROUGH RECONCILIATION IN THE SENATE I GUESS.

I GUESS IT'S POSSIBLE.

I CAN'T UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, THE POLITICAL WISDOM OF LETTING THAT HAPPEN ON THE PART OF EITHER PARTY.

SO IT'S INTERESTING, YEAH.

CAN IT HAPPEN, WILL IT HAPPEN?

I DON'T THINK SO.

BUT, YEAH IT CAN.

>> Cathy: HOW BIG OF A MESS COULD THIS BE, HAREHOLDERS SHAREHOLDERS?

>> IT COULD BE PRETTY BIG.

THE LAST TIME WE HAD AN EXTENDED BATTLE OVER THE DEBT CEILING, PEOPLE FORGOT THAT OUR CREDIT RATING STARTED TO GO DOWN.

OF OUR COST OF BORROWING GOES UP.

POTENTIALLY, WHAT, CHECKS DON'T GO OUT TO GRANDMA FOR SOCIAL SECURITY.

A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS HAPPEN.

SO POTENTIALLY IF WE SORT OF LET ALL THE DOMINOES FALL, IT'S REALLY QUITE SERIOUS.

>> Eric: FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IS ON THE ROAD TOMORROW IN GEORGIA.

THE ARIZONA AUDIT IS COMPLETE AND AT LEAST WHAT I READ, BIDEN PICKED UP VOTES IN ARIZONA?

[ Laughter ] BUT PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS SAYING THAT IT'S SHOWING THERE ARE 40,000 VOTES THAT ARE ILLEGAL, AND I EAN, WHAT -- SORT THIS OUT FOR ME.

>> I KNOW.

I SAW THAT.

PRIOR TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY THAT THINK TANK.

PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS SAYING, WOW, THESE ARE RESPECTED PEOPLE, AND IT CAME OUT THAT HE ACTUALLY LOST VOTES AND BIDEN GAINED VOTES.

AND THEN NOW HE'S LIKE -- THEY'RE QUESTIONING THE METHOD NOW.

SO, YEAH, I THINK IT'S VERY CLEAR.

I DON'T KNOW -- I THINK THAT IT'S CONTINUING.

THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO QUESTION IN OTHER STATES THE METHODOLOGY.

SO IT DIDN'T GET THE RESULTS HE WANTED.

BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO STOP THIS FIGHT OF TRYING TO DELEGITIMATIZE THE ELECTION PROCESS.

>> WHICH IS REALLY STRANGE.

>> Cathy: WHAT'S THE LONG TERM EFFECT OF THIS?

>> THE CONTINUED EROSION OF TRUST IN GOVERNMENT, SUPPORT FOR GOVERNMENT.

I MEAN, THERE'S, LIKE, AN UNWRITTEN PRINCIPLE THAT'S IMPORTANT TO DEMOCRACY, LOSERS CONCEDE.

YOU ACCEPT HE VALIDITY OF ELECTIONS AND IT'S UNDERMINING THAT.

REMEMBER, WHAT, AFTER THE ELECTION, I'M GOING TO FORGET THE EXACT NUMBER, IT WAS LIKE 62 DIFFERENT COURSE CASES THAT WERE BROUGHT, ALL ALLEGING FRAUD, ALL OF THEM WERE DISMISSED.

ALL OF THEM, THE REPUBLICANS LOST.

I THINK EXCEPT FOR ONE PROCEDURAL ONE.

BASICALLY, THIS IS NO LONGER ABOUT ACTS.

THE REALITY IS, GUESS WHAT, AT THE END OF THE DAY, BIDEN WON.

HE DID.

AND -- BUT THE FACT IS, PEOPLE AREN'T ACCEPTING THE FACT THAT THAT HAPPENED.

WHETHER IT'S GOOD OR BAD THAT HE WON, IT'S A DIFFERENT STORY ENTIRELY.

BUT HE WON.

IT'S IMMATERIAL.

>> I MEAN, I THINK IT'S RISKY WHAT TRUMP AND THIS STYLE OF REPUBLICAN TTACKS, BECAUSE I MEAN, LIKE NOW, BIDEN, HIS APPROVAL RATING'S GOING DOWN.

THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME VERY COMPETITIVE HOUSE AND SENATE SEATS.

SO WHEN REPUBLICANS HAVE A REALLY GOOD SHOT OF WINNING IN 2022, AND SO I DON'T KNOW, THIS MAY BACKFIRE OF THEM IF DEMOCRATS TRY TO EMPLOY SIMILAR TYPE TACTICS.

SO I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK IT'S JUST NOT THE WAY TO GO IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRUST IN OUR INSTITUTIONS.

>> Eric: PROFESSOR RUGELEY, I WONDER IF THE ABORTION DEBATE AND LEGAL ACTION THAT'S UPCOMING IS GOING TO BE -- WHAT IMPACT WILL IT HAVE ON VOTER TURNOUT AND LEGISLATING IN THE STATES?

>> WELL, IT'S GOING TO BECOME AN ELECTION ISSUE.

ONE THING, I WANT TO AGREE WITH MIKE.

I THINK WE'RE IN A REALLY DANGEROUS PLACE RIGHT NOW WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THESE ELECTION CHALLENGES AND DELEGITIMATIZING ELECTIONS IN OUR COUNTRY.

I CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH HOW UNHEALTHY THAT IS FOR OUR DEMOCRACY.

AS FAR AS ABORTION, I THINK IT IS GOING TO BECOME A BIG ISSUE IN STATES.

I THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A MOBILIZING ISSUE.

IT'S -- FOR A LONG TIME, IT'S BEEN A MOBILIZING ISSUE FOR CONSERVATIVES AND ANTI--ABORTION ADVOCATES BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THEY MOBILIZE BEHIND AND A LOT OF 9 PRO LEGAL ABORTION FOLKS KIND OF SAT BACK AND SAID, WELL, THE COURTS ARE WITH US.

AND SO, NE, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THE SUPREME COURT JUST LETTING IT GO WITHOUT COMMENT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN THE BEST OPTION FOR THEM.

BUT, AGAIN, I THINK IT IS GOING TO BECOME A POLITICAL ISSUE.

THE WEIGHT IT HAS IS GOING O BE INTERESTING.

I KNOW THE SUPREME COURT IS GOING TO BE HEARING A CASE ON DECEMBER 1 THAT COULD EITHER GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPEAL ROE V. WADE SHOULD THEY CHOOSE TO DO SO OR SERIOUSLY ROLL IT BACK.

SO I THINK WITHOUT QUESTION, IT IS GOING TO BE A -- AN ISSUE IN UPCOMING RACES.

>> Cathy: I HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE EFT.

THE MINNESOTA POLL CAME OUT THIS WEEK.

GOVERNOR WALZ, 49% APPROVAL RATING.

IS THAT A PROBLEM FOR HIM?

>> IT IS A PROBLEM.

REMEMBER, LAST TIME, HE WON BY ABOUT 53, 54% OF THE VOTE.

A PROGRESSIVE SWINGER VOTERS AND HARD CORE DEMOCRATS.

YOU START TO GET BELOW 50%, YOU'RE IN VULNERABLE TERRITORY.

IT LOOKING LIKE HE MAY NOT HAVE ALL THE PROGRESSIVES WITH THEM AT THIS POINT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT HAPPY ABOUT THE FACT HE HASN'T PUSHED HARDER TO POLICE REFORM AND STUFF.

FOR HIM TO WIN, HE'S GOT TO HOLD THE COALITION TOGETHER PLUS HOLD THOSE SUBURBAN SWING VOTERS TOGETHER, THAT POLL IS SUGGESTING IT'S NOT AS FIRM AS IT WAS.

>> Eric: THAT'LL DO IT.

CLASS DISMISSED.

THANKS, PROFESSORS.

♪ ♪ >> CATHY: LET'S LEAP INTO OUR WEEKLY EXERCISE IN MINNESOTA HISTORY.

THERE WAS A FAIR AMOUNT OF ATTENTION LAST WEEK WHEN THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA PLAYED THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS IN VOLLEYBALL.

ST. THOMAS IS NOW DIVISION ONE WHEN IT COMES TO SPORTS.

BUT IN THE PAST, IT WAS COMMON FOR THE U OF M TO PLAY REGIONAL COLLEGES AND EVEN HIGH SCHOOLS IN SPORTS LIKE BASKETBALL.

LAST WEEK'S QUESTION CONCERNED THE GOPHER MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM OF 1922 AND '23.

THE TEAM PLAYED AT THE U OF M ARMORY, SEEN HERE.

WHICH IS KIND OF A COOL BUILDING.

EARLY IN THE 1923 SEASON, THE GOPHERS LOST TWO GAMES IN A ROW TO MINNESOTA SCHOOLS, EVEN THOUGH THE GAMES WERE HELD ON THE U OF M CAMPUS.

WE WANT YOU TO NAME THESE SURPRISING MINNESOTA SCHOOLS.

WHAT MINNESOTA SCHOOLS BEAT THE GOPHER HOOPSTERS IN CONSECUTIVE WEEKS IN THE 1922-'23 SEASON?

MOST OF YOU KNOW THE DRILL BY NOW.

WE START WITH WRONG GUESSES.

RICK, MARK, AND JOHN, THAT MEANS YOU.

>> Cathy: NO, SORRY.

THOSE WEREN'T THE SCHOOLS WE SOUGHT.

WHAT WAS THE RIGHT ANSWER?

WAYNE FROM ST. PAUL, THE SCREEN IS YOURS.

>> CATHY: YES, THE GOPHER CAGERS HAD TROUBLE BACK IN 1922 AND '23.

IN BACK-TO-BACK GAMES, THEY SCORED ONLY 11 POINTS, LOSING TO MACALESTER AND ST. OLAF.

THE GOPHERS WOULD WIN ONLY TWO GAMES ALL YEAR.

YIKES.

AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS HEADLINE, THE LOSS TO ST. OLAF WAS NOT A SHINING MOMENT IN GOPHER SPORTS HISTORY.

DO YOU HAVE A HISTORY QUESTION FOR US?

LEAVE THE DETAILS ON OUR VOICEMAIL AT 651-229-1430.

EMAIL IS A GREAT OPTION TOO.

SEND THE MATERIAL TO ALMANAC@TPT.ORG.

WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME FOR SOME SHOW-ENDING MUSIC FROM THE TPT ARCHIVES.

THIS WEEK IN 2009, THE WORLD MUSIC GROUP "SPEAKING IN TONGUES" PERFORMED FOR US HERE IN STUDIO "B."

LET'S LISTEN TO THE GROUP AS WE ROLL THE PRODUCTION CREDITS.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK WHEN OUR GUESTS WILL INCLUDE KATE DICAMILLO TALKING ABOUT HER NEW NOVEL AND RETIRING LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR JAMES NOBLES LOOKING BACK ON HIS CAREER.

SEE YOU THEN.

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