TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.

>> CATHY: WE'VE GOT A FULL SHOW TONIGHT.

WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT PUBLIC SAFETY FROM LOTS OF DIFFERENT ANGLES, GET AN UPDATE ON THE DRIVER'S LICENSES FOR ALL BILL, AND CHAT WITH CHRIS FARRELL ABOUT THE ECONOMY.

MARY LAHAMMER HAS BEEN COVERING NEWS FROM THE CAPITOL, TOO.

>> Mary: PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES ARE TOP OF MIND AT THE CAPITOL, FROM GUN CONTROL TO CRIME, LAWMAKERS ARE LOOKING FOR ANSWERS.

>> I THINK THIS IS EXACTLY GETTING AT THE ISSUE.

>> IT THREATENS OUR CIVILIZATION.

>> 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.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

♪♪ >> CATHY: WE'VE GOT A FULL SHOW FOR YOU THIS EVENING.

WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE DRIVER'S LICENSES FOR ALL BILL MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE.

WE'LL TALK WITH HISTORIANS ABOUT POLICING IN MINNEAPOLIS.

OUR POLITICAL PANEL IS HERE, TOO.

>> ERIC: BUT WE START THE HOUR WITH NEWS ON POLICING.

YESTERDAY, THE BOARD OF PEACE OFFICER STANDARDS AND TRAINING, KNOWN AS THE P.O.S.T.

BOARD, VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO EXCLUDE EXTREMIST GROUP MEMBERS FROM POLICING IN MINNESOTA.

IT COMES ON THE TAILS OF OTHER NEW RULES FOR POLICE OFFICERS.

HERE TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE CHANGES, P.OS.T.

BOARD CHAIR KELLY MCCARTHY, WHO ALSO SERVES AS POLICE CHIEF IN MENDOTA HEIGHTS.

CHIEF, HOW DOES A HATE GROUP -- HOW IS A HATE GROUP DEFINED IN THIS RULE?

>> FIRST, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

WE START OUT WITH THE DEFINITION THAT THE U.S. MILITARY HAS HAD TO INSTITUTE.

THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM THAT IS JUST IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, IT'S ANY INDUSTRY IN WHICH PUBLIC TRESS IS PARAMOUNT.

SO WE STARTED THE -- WITH THE DEFINITION THAT THE U.S. MILITARY USES, AND THEN WE HAVE A VERY DIVERSE GROUP, AN ADVISORY PANEL THAT REALLY WHITTLED AWAY AND MADE SURE THAT THE DEFINITION THAT WE ARE USING IS WHAT THE PUBLIC THINKS OF WHEN THEY THINK OF HATE GROUPS OR EXTREMIST GROUPS, AND SO IT'S THOSE GROUPS THAT AT THEIR CORE, THEIR PURPOSE IS TO DENY PEOPLE RIGHTS BASED ON THOSE IMMUTABLE CHARACTERISTICS THAT ARE PROTECTED BY THE U.S. CONSTITUTION.

>> Cathy: SO I'M WONDERING ABOUT ARE THERE FREEDOM OF SPEECH ISSUES INVOLVED WITH THIS?

SO -- NO.

SO -- IT'S A LITTLE DISAPPOINTING THAT THIS AS GOTTEN SO MUCH ATTENTION.

EVERY AGENCY HAS A POLICY THAT SAYS THAT OFFICERS CAN'T ENGAGE IN THIS TYPE OF ACTIVITY.

ALL WE'RE DOING IS BRINGING IT UP TO THE STATE LEVEL.

SO YOU OF COURSE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION.

HOWEVER, WHEN YOU ARE IN A PUBLIC POSITION, A POSITION THAT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO USE FORCE ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT, YOU ARE HELD TO HIGHER STANDARD, AND YOU SHOULD BE.

SO YOU CANNOT BE IN AN ORGANIZATION HAT DENIES THOSE BASIC RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS THAT WE'RE ENTRUSTED TO DEFEND AND PROTECT.

>> Eric: CURRENT OFFICERS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THESE GROUPS HAVE TO QUIT THE GROUP OR QUIT THE FORCE OR -- >> SO WE DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S ANY MEMBERS THAT ARE IN THESE GROUPS AND I WOULD PRESUME THEIR GENCY HAS DEALT WITH THAT IN THE PAST.

WHAT THIS IS REALLY MEANT TO DO IS SEND THAT CLEAR MESSAGE OF THE TYPE OF PEOPLE THAT WE WANT AND NEED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND THE TYPE OF BEHAVIOR THAT WE REALLY LOOK TO FOSTER AND HOPEFULLY IT SENDS A MESSAGE TO POTENTIAL APPLICANTS WHO WHEN THEY SEE POLICE MISCONDUCT AND THINK, WELL, I I WANT TO GO INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT BUT MAYBE THAT'S NOT THE INDUSTRY FOR ME BUT WHEN THEY HEAR US SAY VERY CLEARLY, THAT WHEN THE OLICE ARE DOING OUR JOB WELL, WE'RE FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE.

RACISM IS AN INJUSTICE, IT IS OKAY TO BE ANTI-RACIST ND BE A POLICE OFFICER.

AND HOPEFULLY THAT BRINGS THIS SOME MORE PEOPLE TO OUR RANKS.

>> Cathy: ACTUALLY, HERE IS A LOT -- THERE'S THIS RULE THAT WAS PASSED.

YOU HAVE A BUNCH OF OTHER THINGS THAT WERE PASSED.

HE HAVE DOESN'TLY THE BOARD NO LONGER HAS TO WAIT FOR A CRIMINAL CONVICTION TO INVESTIGATE AN FFICER WHO HAS BAD CONDUCT, WHICH I WAS KIND OF SURPRISING YOU HAD TO WAIT TO THIS POINT TO INVESTIGATE.

>> YEAH, SO WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT, THAT THIS IS VERY TRANSFORMATIVE FOR MINNESOTA POLICING.

HOWEVER, IT FEELS LIKE A NO-BRAINER YEAR' JUST BRINGING UP THE STANDARDS OF THE P.O.S.T.

BOARD TO EVERY OTHER BOARD IN MINNESOTA I WENT BONKERS WHEN I HEARD WE HAD TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEBODY WAS CONVICTED OF A CRIME WHEN THERE IS SO MUCH CONDUCT BETWEEN ARREST AND CONVICTION, OR EVEN JUST AN ALLEGATION, SO NOW THE P.O.S.T.

BOARD WILL BE ABLE TO, IF ACTIONS RISE TO STATE OR PROFESSIONAL LEVELS, WILL BE ABLE TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION AN GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT.

>> Eric: THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF CANDIDATES, YOU'RE LOOKING AT STANDARDS.

WHERE'S THE BALANCE THERE BETWEEN MAKING THE STANDARDS ACHIEVABLE BUT NOT HAVING FOLKS THAT AREN'T QUALIFIED MEET THE NEW STANDARDS?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

SO WE DID NOT LOWER STANDARDS BUT WHAT WE DID IS WE WENT BACK THROUGH THE STANDARDS WITH AN EYE TOWARDS WHAT REALLY MATTERS TO BE A POLICE OFFICER, AND TOWARDS RACIAL EQUITY.

SO ONE OF THE INCONSIST TEST WAS, IF YOU EVER RECEIVED A CITATION FOR USING MARIJUANA, YOU COULD NOT BE A POLICE OFFICER IN MINNESOTA.

BUT IF YOU WERE A POLICE OFFICER AND RECEIVED A SKY STATION FOR USING MARIJUANA, THE P.O.S.T.

BOARD COULDN'T AFFECT YOUR ICENSE.

SO WE WENT AND SAID IS THAT REALLY SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BEAR YOU FROM BEING A POLICE OFFICER IN MINNESOTA AND I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD AND OUR ADVISORY GROUP AND EVERY SINGLE LAWYER AGREED WITH US.

SO WE REMOVED THAT.

SHOPLIFTING IS ANOTHER ONE.

IF YOU'RE 17 AND YOU SHOPLIFTED A PAIR OF EARRINGS FROM 2 PLUS 2, YOU COULD NEVER BE A COP IN MINNESOTA AND THAT SEEMED PRETTY RIDICULOUS.

SO WE REMOVED THATS A BARRIER BUT AGENCIES STILL GET TO DECIDE.

THEY GET TO DECIDE THAT IS BEHAVIOR THAT WE DON'T WANT IN OUR POLICE OFFICERS.

>> Cathy: HOW DIFFICULT WAS THIS ROW TO HOE TO GET THIS PASSED?

>> IT WAS FOUR YEARS IN THE MAKING AND WE'RE NOT DONE.

THIS IS JUST THE FIRST SET OF RULES AND SO BUT IT HAS BEEN FOUR YEARS TO GET THIS TO WHERE IT IS TODAY.

>> Eric: WE'LL WATCH THIS TO SEE HOW IT GOES.

THANKS, CHIEF, FOR COMING OVER.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> ERIC: THE DRIVER'S LICENSES FOR ALL BILL IS MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE.

LAST WEEK, THE HOUSE PASSED THE BILL AND SENT IT TO THE SENATE, WHERE IT CURRENTLY IS IN THE JUDICIARY AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

PROPONENTS SAY IT COULD HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMMIGRANTS, REGARDLESS OF STATUS, AND COULD HELP IMPROVE ROAD SAFETY.

OPPONENTS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT EXTENDING THIS RIGHT TO NON-CITIZENS.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE BILL AND ITS IMPLICATIONS, VEENA IYER, WHO HEADS THE IMMIGRATION LAW CENTER OF MINNESOTA.

WELCOME.

MAYBE JUST THE SLIGHTEST BIT OF HISTORY THAT THIS WAS ALLOWED UNTIL AFTER 9/11, RIGHT?

>> CORRECT.

THE LAW IN 2003 IN MINNESOTA WAS THAT F YOU PASSED THE WRITTEN TEST AND YOU COULD OBTAIN INSURANCE, YOU COULD GET A DRIVER'S LICENSE IN MINNESOTA REGARDLESS OF YOUR IMMIGRATION STATUS.

>> Cathy: AND THEN IT CHANGED.

>> CORRECT.

IT CHANGED IN 2003 AND O FOR THE 20 YEARS SINCE 2003, A GROUP OF BUSINESSES, LAW ENFORCEMENT, FAITH, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IMMIGRANT-LED GROUPS HAVE COOL LESSED TOGETHER TO RESTORE THAT RIGHT.

>> Cathy: I REMEMBER IT WAS A ZILLION YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS TAKING DRIVER'S ED IN HIGH SCHOOL, I REMEMBER THE INSTRUCTOR SAID, HAVING A DRIVER'S LICENSE IS A PRIVILEGE, NOT A RIGHT.

WHY SHOULDN'T BEING A CITIZEN COME FIRST BEFORE YOU GET THE DRIVER'S LICENSE?

>> THE KEY HERE IS THAT THERE'S REALLY NO RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WHETHER YOU'RE A CITIZEN AND THAT ABILITY TO DRIVE.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, THAT A DRIVER'S LICENSE IS JUST CONFIRMING THAT YOU KNOW THE RULES OF THE ROAD, THAT YOU'RE GETTING INSURANCE AND THAT YOU CAN DRIVE ON THE ROAD, AND SO WE REALLY ARE JUST TRYING TO DECOUPLE TWO THINGS THAT DON'T REALLY FIT TOGETHER, WHICH IS CITIZENSHIP AND THE PRIVILEGE TO DRIVE.

>> Eric: THERE'S BEEN SOME TALK THIS IS A GATEWAY TO VOTING ILLEGALLY, I GUESS YOU WOULD SAY.

>> YEAH.

IT'S NOT.

THIS IS A DRIVER'S LICENSE BILL, IT IS NOT A VOTING BILL.

AND WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IS, ONE, THAT NONCITIZENS ARE NOT VOTING IN MINNESOTA.

IF IT HAPPENS, IT'S VERY, VERY RARE AND IT'S ACCIDENTAL.

>> Eric: WASN'T THERE A WITNESS, THOUGH, WHO SAID WE'RE VOTING AND WE'RE OING TO PUNISH THOSE WHO VOTE AGAINST THIS?

>> WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT ABOUT THAT IS THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THE CONTEXT OF WHERE THAT WAS STATED, YOU HAD AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS REALLY TALKING ABOUT MORE BROADLY ABOUT LATINO COMMUNITY, COMMUNITIES WHO CARE ABOUT THESE ISSUES TALKING ABOUT IT.

THAT INDIVIDUAL ACTUALLY EARLIER HAD SAID, I CAN'T VOTE BECAUSE I'M NOT A CITIZEN.

>> Cathy: SO THE GROUPS THAT ARE FOR THIS, IT'S -- WOW, SOME REALLY EXHIBITING GROUPS THAT YOU WOULDN'T EXPECT TO SUPPORT IT ARE SUPPORTING IT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU'VE GOT GROUPS RANGING FROM THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION AND THE CHIEF'S ASSOCIATION, A NUMBER OF FAITH ORGANIZATIONS, AND THEN JUST SO MANY IMMIGRANT-LED ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ALSO SUPPORTING THIS GROUP.

>> Eric: HOW ABOUT N FARM COUNTRY, I WOULD THINK THIS WOULD HAVE A BIG IMPACT THERE.

>> VERY MUCH SO.

WHEN YOU RELEVANT AT BUSINESSES, COMMUNITIES THAT WILL BENEFIT, IT'S REALLY IN GREATER MINNESOTA.

THERE YOU HAVE A SHORTAGE OF FOLKS TO WORK AND LACK OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SO TAKING AWAY THAT FEAR OF DRIVING AND ALLOWING PEOPLE TO GET LICENSED IS REALLY GOING TO SOLVE SO MANY ISSUES FOR GREATER MINNESOTA.

>> Cathy: DRILL DOWN A LITTLE BIT DEEPER HERE.

WE UNDERSTAND OB ACCESS.

HOW ABOUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY PIECE OF THIS?

>> THERE ARE SO MANY PUBLIC SAFETY BENEFITS AND I THINK THAT'S WHY LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS COME OUT IN SUPPORT OF THIS.

THE TWO MAIN THINGS IS THAT, ONE, IT ALLOWS LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE RUNNING INTO ON THE ROADS WHICH RIGHT NOW ISN'T NECESSARILY POSSIBLE BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN'T GET DRIVER'S LICENSES.

THE SECOND IS IT REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF REALLY UNNECESSARY DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE VIOLATIONS THAT THEY'RE HAVING TO DEAL WITH, AS WELL.

AND FINALLY, IT JUST MAKES OUR ROADS SAFER.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT OTHER STATES THAT HAVE ADOPTED THIS LEGISLATION, YOU SEE A DECLINE IN HIT-AND-RUNS, YOU SEE AN INCREASE IN INSURED DRIVERS, SO IT REALLY JUST MAKES SENSE FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY PERSPECTIVE AND FOR ALL DRIVERS.

>> Eric: DOES THIS HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH REAL I.D., CAN THIS BE A STEP TOWARD THAT OR -- >> IT CAN'T.

SO HERE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IN ORDER TO GET REAL I.D.E.A., YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PROVE THAT YOU'RE CITIZEN OR YOU HAVE CERTAIN TYPES OF LAWFUL STATUS.

THE I.D.

THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE WOULD BE A REELING I.D.

NON-COMPLIANT LICENSE, THE KIND I HAVE BECAUSE I HAVEN'T GOTTEN REAL I.D.

YET SO THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO FOLKS REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION STATUS.

>> Eric: THIS IS BIPARTISAN IN THE HOUSE.

>> IN THE HOUSE, T WAS -- IT WAS -- THERE WERE BIPARTISAN -- THERE WERE AMENDMENTS FROM REPUBLICANS THAT WERE ADOPTED INTO THE BILL BUT, AT THE END, WITH THE VOTE, IT WAS ALL DEMOCRATS WHO VOTED FOR THE BILL.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME REPUBLICANS WHO WANTED TO PUT A SPECIAL -- >> Eric: STRIPE?

>> Cathy: YES, STRIPE, THANK YOU, SPECIAL STRIPE ON THE DRIVER'S LICENSE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?

>> SO, WE DON'T THINK THAT IT'S NECESSARY AND WE THINK IT WOULD DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM GETTING THE LICENSE.

IN PARTICULAR, HAVING A MARKING ISN'T NECESSARILY -- BECAUSE WE HAVE REAL I.D.

AND ENHANCED I.D.

NOW, WE HAVE OTHER CATEGORIES OF LICENSES THAT DIDN'T EXIST.

THE OTHER THING IS THAT WE HAVE THE CONCERN ABOUT RACIAL PROFILING THAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU HAD THAT KIND OF MARKING SO I THINK THAT FOR COMMUNITIES AND FRANKLY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO DOESN'T WANT TO BE ACCUSED OF IT, HAVING JUST A STANDARDS LICENSE MAKES SENSE.

>> Eric: WE'LL SEE HOW IT DOES IN SENATE FINANCE.

THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

>> THANKS SO MUCH.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> CATHY: FORMER GOVERNOR JESSE VENTURA RETURNED TO THE CAPITOL TO DELIVER POWERFUL TESTIMONY AS THE LEGALIZATION OF ADULT-USE CANNABIS CONTINUES TO MOVE THROUGH HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES.

LONGTIME POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER HAS MORE ON WHY THE ISSUE OF MARIJUANA MATTERS SO MUCH TO THE VENTURAS.

>> THE SENATE WILL COME TO ORDER.

>> Mary: THE SENATE HAD BEEN THE STOPPING POINT FOR MARIJUANA EGALIZATION IN THE STATE BUT WITH A NO PARTY IN CONTROL, THAT'S WHERE FORMER GOVERNOR JESSE VENTURA DECIDED TO TESTIFY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE UPPER CHAMBER.

>> I'M HERE BECAUSE STARTED THIS.

AND AS GOVERNOR, I BELIEVED IN HEMP AND CANNABIS BACK THEN.

>> Mary: VENTURA SAYS IT WAS A VISION HE HAD OVER 20 YEARS AGO AND HE WANTS TO SEE CANNABIS USE BECOME LAW.

>> CANNABIS SAVED MY LIFE.

>> REMEMBER, VENTURA HONED HIS ORATORY SKILLS AS A PRO-WRESTLER AND HOLLYWOOD ACTOR AND HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS WIFE OF NEARLY 50 YEARS IS NOTABLE.

THEY SHARED WITH US HOW THEY RENEWED THEIR VOWS DURING HIS ADMINISTRATION AT THE GOVERNOR'S RESIDENCE.

SO THIS ISSUE IS PERSONAL.

>> I GET CHOKED UP A LITTLE.

BEAR WITH ME.

IT WAS ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO, FIRST LADY, TERRY VENTURA, STARTED SUFFERING FROM LATE-STAGE SEIZURES.

>> OUR NEW FIRST LADY, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL NIGHT I'VE HAD IN A LONG, LONG TIME.

VERY HAPPY FOR MY HUSBAND, HE DID A GREAT JOB AND HE'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO A GREAT JOB FOR EVERYBODY IN MINNESOTA.

>> THEY PUT HER ON FOUR DIFFERENT SEIZURE MEDICINES.

FIRST ONE DID NOT WORK.

FIRST TWO DID NOT WORK.

THIRD ONE DID NOT WORK.

FOURTH ONE DID NOT WORK.

ALL HAD BAD SIDE EFFECTS.

IN DESPERATION, WE BROKE THE LAW.

>> Mary: THE VENTURAS WENT TO COLORADO WHERE CANNABIS IS LEGAL.

>> Y WIFE TOOK THE FIRST THREE DROPS UNDER HE TONGUE AND HAS NOT HAD A SEIZURE SINCE.

NONE.

MARIJUANA CANNABIS STOPPED THE SEIZURES.

>> KIND OF LIKE BEING UNDERWATER ALL THE TIME.

YOU GET UP AND EVERYTHING IS AN EFFORT TO MOVE, TO WALK, TO TALK, TO DO ANYTHING.

>> Mary: MINNESOTA'S MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM IS EXPENSIVE AND VENTURA WANTS LOWER PRICES FOR ALL WITH FULL LEGALIZATION.

>> I DON'T WANT NO OTHER FAMILY TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT MY FAMILY WENT THROUGH.

>> Mary: EVER THE SHOWMAN, HE CONCLUDED WITH ANOTHER COMPELLING CONFESSION.

>> I BEHAVED FAR WORSE ON ALCOHOL THAN I EVER HAVE ON CANNABIS.

>> THANK YOU, GOVERNOR.

>> >> THE ONLY BAD THING I DID ON CANNABIS, I WENT AND SAW JIMMY HENDRICKS AND JANICE JOPLIN.

[Laughter] ♪♪ >> ERIC: THE FEDERAL RESERVE HAS BEEN QUICKLY RAISING RATES, HOPING TO CALM INFLATION.

MANY ECONOMISTS HAVE FEARED A RECESSION IS LOOMING, BUT WITH MORE JOBS AND SIGNS THAT THE HOUSING MARKET MAY BE PICKING BACK UP, WE'RE WONDERING ABOUT THE ODDS OF THAT RECESSION AFTER ALL.

HERE TO TALK US THROUGH LOTS OF ECONOMIC QUESTIONS, CHRIS FARRELL, ECONOMICS REPORTER FOR AMERICAN PUBLIC MEDIA.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU RAISE INTEREST RATES, YOU TAME INFLATION, YOU SLOW THE RATE OF GROWTH.

VOILÀ, RECESSION.

IS THAT HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK?

>> NO.

WELL, WE HOPE IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.

WHAT THEY IDEALLY WOULD DO IS RAISE RATES, SLOW DOWN THE RATE OF INFLATION AND THE ECONOMY SKIPS A RECESSION.

SLOWS DOWN, NO QUESTION IT SLOWS DOWN IF YOU LOOK AT THE HOUSING MARKET, FOR EXAMPLE, AND HOUSING MARKETS VARY AFFECTED BY THE RISE IN INTEREST RATES.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT WE CALL IT THE GOLDILOCKSES ECONOMY AND IF YOU AT JANUARY'S NUMBER CREATED, WHAT, 570,000 JOBS, JOBS,.4% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, AND YET THERE ARE SIGNS THIS INFLATION IS MODERATING, SO WHAT YOU'RE NOTICING ON WALL STREET, THE ECONOMISTS -- EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT PERCENTAGES, RIGHT.

64% CHANCE OF RECESSION, BUT IT'S KIND OF SHRINKING.

THEY'RE STARTING TO THINK, TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WE MIGHT SKIP A RECESSION.

>> Cathy: SO MINNEAPOLIS FED CHAIR, KNEEL CASH KARI WAS OUT THERE WEEK SAYING MORE WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE TO TAME INFLATION, WHICH MEANS WHAT?

>> WELL, SO, THE FED GOVERNORS AND HE FED PRESIDENTS, LIKE NEEL KASHKARI, THEY'RE ALL READING FROM THE SAME PLAY BOOK AND THEY'RE ALL OUT THERE AND TALKING TOUGH AND WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO RAISE RATES BECAUSE THEY'RE REALLY NERVOUS.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE ACTION IN THE MARKET, BOND TRADERS, THEY'RE SORTING TO LICK WE MIGHT SKIP A RECESSION, MAYBE THE FED ISN'T GOING TO RAISE RATES AS HIGH AS THEY WANT AND WHAT THEY'RE ERVOUS ABOUT IS THEY WANT TO MAINTAIN THIS POSTURE THAT THEY'RE STILL -- WE HAVE TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE, AND THEY'RE GOING TO, BUT WHAT THIS REPORT DID IN JANUARY, YOU KNOW, THIS INCREDIBLE JOB REPORT DID, IS IT GAVE THE FED A LITTLE BIT OF BREATHING ROOM SO MAYBE IT ONLY BE ANOTHER QUARTER POINT AND ANOTHER QUARTER POINT AFTER THAT, BUT THESE DRAMATIC THREE-QUARTERS OF PERCENTAGE POINT MOVES THAT THEY WERE DOING IN 2022, LOOKS LIKE THAT'S OVER WITH.

BY THE WAY, YOU GET THE INFLATION NUMBERS NEXT WEEK SO THAT, AGAIN, THIS MURKY POST-PANDEMIC ECONOMY, WHAT WILL THE NUMBER BE?

PEOPLE ARE ALL OVER THE LOT.

>> Eric: COULD THIS DEBT CEILING CONTROVERSY COME INTO PLAY, IN THIS CASE O.ECONOMICALLY?

>> IF YOU LOOK AT THE ECONOMICS, THEY'RE GOING IF THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AS FAR AS PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED, THE ECONOMY IS NOT GDP, IT'S JOBS, RIGHT?

THAT'S WHAT THE ECONOMY IS ALL ABOUT AND THEN, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WITH HIGH INFLATION LESS PURCHASING POWER, YOUR WAGES AREN'T GOING AS FAR AS THEY DID, SO WAGES ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.

THERE ARE TWO THINGS OUT THERE THAT COULD REALLY MESS UP THIS ECONOMY.

ONE OF THEM IS, WE GET A BIG SPIKE IN ENERGY PRICES BECAUSE OF THIS WAR IN UKRAINE, SOMETHING THAT WE CAN'T REALLY FORECAST.

AND THE OTHER IS THIS FAKE CRISIS, THIS FALSE CRISIS, THIS CRISIS THAT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN CALLED THE DEBT CEILING CRISIS, RIGHT?

THERE IS NO GOOD THAT COMES FROM THE DEBT CEILING CRISIS, SO EVERYONE HAS GOT THEIR FINGERS CROSSED THAT THERE IS A LOT OF VERBAGE, A LOT OF POSTURING BUT IN THE END, YOU KNOW, WE RAISE THE DEBT CEILING BECAUSE IT'S A BAD -- THIS IS JUST A BAD THING.

>> Eric: IS THE DEBT CEILING CONSTITUTIONAL?

>> NO, NO.

WE JUST SHOULD GET RID OF IT.

VOTE AWAY -- JUST GET RID OF IT AND THEN THERE IS A SERIOUS LEGITIMATE DEBATE ABOUT THE DEBT THAT WE HAVE AND HOW ARE YOU GOING TO LOWER IT.

FINE, BUT THIS DEBT CEILING CRISIS, I REMEMBER THE FIRST ONE AND YOU CALL AROUND TO ECONOMISTS AND THEY GO OH, CHRIS, COME ON, THIS IS JUST A MEDIA-GENERATED THING.

THEN THE SECOND ONE, THEY GOT A LITTLE BIT SCARED FROM THE FIRST ONE AND THEY'RE LIKE THIS IS GETTING A LITTLE BIT TOO SCARY.

THIS TIME WHEN YOU CALL AROUND, PEOPLE ARE HEDGING THEIR BELTS.

THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO COME OUT OF THIS.

PART OF IT IS UNCLEAR WHAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE NEGOTIATING FOR SO THIS IS THE FULL FAITH AND CREDIT OF THE GOVERNMENT, YOU ENCAPSULATE IT.

EVERY PAMPHLET FOR A 401:00, THE REST-LESS SECURITIES ARE TREASURIES, WHETHER THAT'S TREASURY BILLS, TREASURY BONDS, THIS IS PART OF EVERY RETIREE PORTFOLIO UT THERE.

THEY'RE RISK-LESS SECURITY, YOU'RE GOING TO PUT THAT AT RISK?

HUM.

>> Cathy: SAY, GOING BACK TO THE JOBS REPORT AND THAT WAS A REALLY ROBUST JOBS REPORT.

HOWEVER, THERE IS SOFTNESS AND SOME CONCERN IN THE TECH INDUSTRY WITH THESE LAYOFFS, SO HOW MUCH OF A RED FLAG IS THAT?

>> SO, WHAT -- THERE ARE LAYOFFS IN THE TECH INDUSTRY AND THERE ARE GOING TO BE MORE LAYOFFS IN THE TECH INDUSTRY, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

IT'S BEING DWARFED, OR SWAMPED, WHATEVER METAPHOR YOU WANT TO USE BY HIRING IN LEASE SURE, HOSPITALITY, BARS, RESTAURANTS, HOTELS AND EMPLOYS ABOUT 36% OF THE WORKFORCE.

TECH'S LIKE ABOUT 2% OF THE WORKFORCE BUT HERE'S THE OTHER TWIST ON TECH AND BY THE WAY, NOT MINIMIZING WHEN SOMEONE LOSES THEIR JOB, IT'S A GUTS PUNCH, DOESN'T MATTER, BUT THEY HAVE SKILLS THAT ARE REALLY VALUED IN THIS ECONOMY SO THE EVIDENCE THAT WE HAVE, MORE THAN ANECDOTAL BUT NOT NECESSARILY COMING FROM THE GOVERNMENT IS THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING REHIRED FAIRLY QUICKLY.

TYPICALLY AT A LOWER WAGE.

>> Eric: LOWER PAID -- >> LOWER PAID JOB BUT DOESN'T COME WITH NECESSARILY THE FREE -- >> Cathy: THE PERKS.

>> SOME OF THE PERKS.

>> Eric: PING-PONG TABLE SOME OF THAT TABLE -- >> Eric: YOU'RE ALMANAC'S GUY IN CHARGE OF EXPLAINING TOUGH.

ANOTHER GREAT JOB.

>> Cathy: THANKS, SEE YOU LATE.

>> Mary: NEW SEAT, OPEN SEAT, DOES THAT HELP?

>> YES, THIS WAS A TOTALLY NEW SEAT.

EVERYTHING THAT I'VE DONE IN LIFE KIND OF LIKE LINED UP, YOU KNOW.

I KNOW VERY FEW PEOPLE THAT START RIGHT OUT OF COLLEGE AND SAY, I'M GOING TO BE A POLITICIAN.

I WORKED IN HOUSING, WORKED FOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, I WORKED FOR SUBSIDIZED HOUSING, I WORKED PEOPLE FIND RESOURCES, I WAS A CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSIONER FOR THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

LEARNED ABOUT THE DISCRIMINATION PIECE, AND THEN I ENDED UP TEACHING BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER, WHEN SHE WAS, LIKE, LITTLE KID JUST STARTING SCHOOL, SHE'S ALREADY READING AND WRITING AND DOING MATH FOR THIRD GRADE BUT A TEACHER SAID, COULD YOU PLEASE KEEP THE BEADS QUIET IN HER HAIR.

SO THAT KIND OF -- THAT WAS A CALL TO ACTION.

♪♪ >> CATHY: PUBLIC SAFETY IS A GROWING CONCERN FOR COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE, INCLUDING MINNEAPOLIS.

VIOLENT CRIME RATES IN THAT CITY DECLINED LAST YEAR BUT RATES ARE STILL ABOVE THE NORM.

COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE PUSHING FOR CHANGES AND ALTERNATIVE EFFORTS TO SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY.

OF COURSE, WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND CURRENT EFFORTS TO CHANGE POLICING WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF POLICING.

HERE WITH EXPERTISE ON THAT SUBJECT, CO-FOUNDERS OF THE OVER-POLICED AND UNDER-PROTECTED PROJECT.

YOHURU WILLIAMS IS A HISTORIAN AND DIRECTOR OF THE RACIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS.

MICHAEL LANSING HEADS UP THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT AT AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY.

PROFESSOR WILLIAMS, WE'RE GOING TO SHOW A PHOTOGRAPH THAT'S REALLY DISTURBING, IT'S ON YOUR WEBSITE.

I WANT YOU TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS PHOTO TAKEN IN 1971 AND WHY YOU HAVE IT ON YOUR WEBSITE?

>> WELL, IT'S APRIL OF 1971, IT'S THE CASE OF A YOUNG MAN BY THE NAME OF RANDY SAMPLE WHO IS AT 12 YEARS OLD DRAGGED ACROSS THE STREET BY THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE AND IT BECOMES A TOUCHSTONE BECAUSE IT APPEARS IN NEWSWEEK PLAYING ZENE AND IT RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT POLICING HERE IN THE TWIN CITIES AND ABOUT BRUTALITY, SPECIFICALLY AGAINST AFRICAN AMERICANS, BLACK PEOPLE, SO A GOOD INDICATION OF WHAT E SEE AS THESE LONGSTANDING THEMES N POLICING IN MINNEAPOLIS, IN THE TWIN CITIES AS A WHOLE, AROUND POLICE BRUTALITY.

IT'S ONE OF THESE MOMENTS WHERE THE COMMUNITIES COMES TOGETHER AND IS QUESTIONING WHY THE POLICE ARE TREATING THIS YOUNG MAN IN THIS WAY.

THERE IS AN ATTEMPT TO HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY, ULTIMATELY THOSE EFFORTS FAIL AND WHAT PEOPLE ARE LEFT WITH ARE THE MEMORY, AGAIN, OF THIS YOUNG PERSON BRUTALIZED AND NO ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> Cathy: WASN'T MAYOR CHARLIE TEN INVESTIGATION THE MAYOR AT THE POINT AND HE WAS A FORMER POLICE OFFICER?

>> THAT'S PARTS OF THE STUDY.

>> I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE PRESIDENT OF POLICE UNION WAS SERVING AS MAYOR, STARTING A SECOND ERM WHEN THIS INCIDENTS TOOK PLACE.

THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE, IN FACT, IN THE OLD EAK MAYOR SYSTEM IN MINNEAPOLIS, OF COURSE THE MAYOR WAS IN CHARGE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND SO THERE WAS A GRAND JURY INVESTIGATION IN 1971 OF OVER 30 INSTANCES OF POTENTIAL POLICE BRUTALITY TARGETING MINIORITIES, BLACK PEOPLE AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN MINNEAPOLIS.

NO OFFICERS WERE EVER PROSECUTED OR DISCIPLINED FOR ANY OF THOSE INCIDENTS, THE GRAND JURY DECIDED THAT IT WAS NOT ANYTHING WORTH PURSUING.

IN THE MEANTIME, RANDY SAMPLES' FAMILY PURSUED CLAIMS AGAINST THE THREE PATROL OFFICERS THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THE INCIDENT.

THAT CASE KIND OF WAS DRAWN OUT BY 1974, THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS AT THE STATE LEVEL INTERVENED AND SUGGESTED THAT THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD IN FACT PAY SAMPLES $100, SENDS A LETTER OF APOLING AND THE MDP -- MPD SHOULD CHANGE ITS POLICIES.

THEY REFUSED AND EVENTUALLY A JUDGE OVERTURNED THE STATE'S RULING.

ERIC THERE IS A WELL-TRAFFICKED OPINION THAT SAYS THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE CULTURE IS A THUMPER CULTURE.

IS THAT A FAIR LABEL AND IF SO, HOW DID IT DEVELOP?

>> IT'S ABSOLUTELY A FAIR LABEL AND PART OF THE STORIES WE WANT TO CAPTURE IN THIS PROJECT AND WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW THAT HAPPENED.

WE THINK ABOUT THAT 1971 MOMENT, STENVEG.

MOST PEOPLE THINK ABOUT PEOPLE LIKE FRANK RISSO IN PHILADELPHIA AS KIND OF THE TYPICAL IMAGE OF THE BRUTAL POLICE CHIEF OR ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

ACTUALLY, RISSO WAS NOT IN OFFICE WHEN STENVIG IS TAKING OFFICE, MINNEAPOLIS IS THE MODEL FOR WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND IT'S LET ME BE CLEAR TAKE THE HANDS OFF THE POLICE, SO THAT THUMPER MENTALITY HAPPENS AS A RESULT OF NO ACCOUNTABILITY AND WHAT YOU SEE IS PEOPLE GRAVITATING TOWARD THE DEPARTMENTS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY WON'T BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR ACTS OF SCRIM NATURAL AGAINST BLACK ADDS PEOPLE OF COLOR.

1975 WERE ON THE WEBSITE OUR SHORT FROM 1975 WHICH IS WE DID IN ONJUNCTION WITH TPT, A PHENOMENAL PARTNER BUT WE HAVE ARTHUR CUNNINGHAM, THE HEALED OF THE NAACP IN 1974 SAYING WE BELIEVE THAT THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE HAVE DECLARED WAR ON BLACKS AND INDIANS.

THAT'S SPEAKING TO THAT THUMPER MEN AT THAT TIME THAT WHEN WE GET INTO IT IS '0s AN '90ED, YOU'RE STILL SEEING MANIFEST IN EMPLOYS BEHAVIOR.

>> Cathy: THIS SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT HISTORY PROJECT AND I'M IN LOVE WITH HISTORY.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT?

>> WE AS HIS ATTORNEYS TAKE OUR EXPERTISE -- WE AS HISTORIANS TAKE OUR WORK AND TAKE IT TO CONVERSATIONS.

THAT'S WHAT POLICE AND UNPROTECTED MSP IS REALLY ALL ABOUT.

WE'RE INTERESTED IN RECOVERING, COLLECTING AND SHARING STORIES OF UNJUST POLICING AS WELL AS FORMS OF COMMUNITY RESISTANCE TO UNJUST POLICING, WITH THE HOPE THAT IT MAKES THIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE VERY IMPORTANT COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.

I THINK THAT, IN FACT, YOU CAN'T REALLY TALK ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE LOOKS LIKE IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'VE BEEN AND I THINK THAT RECOVERY IS SO IMPORTANT AND THE SHALE IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT.

>> Eric: DOES THE GEORGE FLOYD MURDER GIVE THIS OME CURRENCY THAT IT'S RECENT HISTORY BUT STILL HISTORY AND IS IT KIND OF AN INFLECTION POINT TO USE THIS KIND OF STUFF TO IMPROVE THINGS GOING FORWARD --- >> ABSOLUTELY, AND WE SAW THAT LAST YEAR WITH THE HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT WHICH ONLY WENT BACK TEN YEARS AND WE THOUGHT THAT WAS A MISTAKE.

WE'RE FOND OF SAYING THAT HISTORY DOESN'T REPEAT ITSELF, IT ECHOS SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS NOTHING LIKE THE FLOYD MURDER, THE INABILITY TO HOLD OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE ARE THE I CAN COULDS OF THE PAST.

IF WE GO BACK TO RECOVER THAT HISTORY, WE HAVE A BASIS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT REAL CHANGE WOULD LOOK LIKE, NOT JUST PROFESSIONALIZATION BUT ACTUAL REFORM AND A MOVE FROM POLICING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> Eric: SO THE WORK ROD OF THIS WILL CONTRIBUTE HOW TO THE OVERALL DISCUSSION OF SOLUTIONS?

>> WELL, I THINK OUR PLAN IS TO DO ANY NUMBER OF THINGS.

WE HOPE TO CONTINUE TO DO WORK IN THE DOCUMENTARY FORMAT WITH THE COLLEAGUES HERE AT TPT.

WE HOPE TO DO SOME PUBLIC-FACING EVENTS.

WE'RE INTERESTED ALSO IN GATHERING COMMUNITY STORIES.

LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE LOTS OF KNOWLEDGE IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY ELDERS BUT LOTS OF OTHER PEOPLE, TOO, AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO CAPTURE THOSE PUBLIC SAFETY STORIES.

WE'RE ALSO ENGAGED IN ORAL HISTORY PROJECT.

WHICH ACTUALLY STARTED THIS PAST SUMMER AND HEN FINALLY WE'RE BUILDING AN ARCHIVE WHICH WE'LL BE DEPOSITING INTO A LOCAL CONSTITUTION.

SO INSTITUTION.

SO I THINK THESE ARE ALL VERY ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC PRODUCTS THAT WE HOPE ILL ENRICH THE CONVERSATION AND THE DEBATES THAT ARE GOING ON AROUND THE QUESTION OF POLICING IN THE TWIN CITIES.

>> WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT TO ORGANIZATIONS LIKE MINNESOTA JUSTICE RESOURCE CENTER AROUND THINGS LIKE THE P.O.S.T.

BOARD, SO RECOVERING THAT HISTORY AND TALKING ABOUT HOW THAT ORGANIZATION CAME TO BE, WHAT THOSE VARIOUS MOMENTS, '67 AT ITS INCEPTION, '77, OTHER EFFORTS TO REUP, THE SAME TYPE OF BEHAVIOR WE'RE EEING NOW.

>> Eric: WILL RETIRED OFFICERS, MAYBE NOT CURRENT OFFICERS BUILT RETIRED OFFICERS GET A CHANCE TO WEIGH?

WILL YOU DO SOME OUTREACH TO GET THEIR SIDE OF THE STORY?

>> WE LAUNCHED THE HISTORY PROJECT BY TALKING TO OFFICERS THAT SERVED ON THE MINNEAPOLIS FORCE IN THE 18960s.

>> Eric: WHAT DID YOU HEAR FROM THEM?

>> WE HEARD THAT THE DEPARTMENT WAS A PLACE THEY WERE INTERESTED IN REFORMING, THEY WERE INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE THAT OFFICERS WHO SERVED WERE ABLE TO PURSUE COLLEGE CREDIT, TO GET CREDIT FOR THAT WITHIN THE DEPARTMENTS AT PROPER MOTION TIME AND TO THINK MORE BROADLY ABOUT PUBLIC RELATIONS.

BOTH OF THEM WERE OUT OF THE DEPARTMENT BY THE END OF 1970 WHICH I ALSO THINK IS REALLY TELLING.

>> Cathy: SO WHAT WAS STOPPING THEM, WHAT WAS STOPPING THOSE REFORM EFFORTS?

>> WELL, IT WAS OTHER OFFICERS.

WHAT WE TODAY OFTEN REFER TO ACCORDING TO THESE FOLKS, IT WAS WHAT WE THINK OF AS THE CULTURE OF POLICING.

ALSO, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT ONE OF THOSE OFFICE ARERS TOLD US A STORY THAT INVOLVED MAYOR CHARLES STENVIG, AGAIN THAT NAME COMES UP AS A REALLY IMPORTANT PLAYER.

>> Cathy: THIS FEELS REALLY FRESH.

HAVE OTHER CITIES DONE SOMETHING SIMILAR?

THIS IS A GLOBAL PROJECT HERE, IT'S A REALLY LARGE FAR-REACHING PROJECT.

>> THERE'S CERTAINLY BEEN OTHER PROJECTS IN OTHER CITIES.

WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS IMPORTANT ABOUT THE STORY HERE IS THAT MINNEAPOLIS FOUND ITSELF IN THE EPICENTER OF THIS CONVERSATION AND SO WE NEEDED TO RECOVER THAT HISTORY TO HELP CONTEXTUALIZE THIS MOMENT BUT AT THE SAME TIME TO BE IN CONVERSATION WITH OUR COLLEAGUES IN OTHER CITIES WHO ARE DOING SIMILAR WORK.

ARE THERE THEMES THAT WE CAN PICK UP, CAN CHALLENGES THAT WE CAN PICK UP, ECHOS THAT WE CAN PICK UP ACROSS THIS WORK TO SAY, THIS IS REALLY WHAT WE NEED IS TO DO TO REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY.

THE IDEA OF REFORM IS SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH SO WE HAVE TO BE PART OF PROVIDING A HISTORICAL RECOVERY TO INFORM THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THE POLICY CHANGE, CHANGING THE POLICIES, PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES THAT HAVE GOTTEN US HERE.

>> Eric: WHAT DOES MEMPHIS ADDS TO THE DISCUSSION?

>> MEMPHIS, TO ME, IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE AND A LONG HISTORY OF EXAMPLES NATIONALLY AND LOCALLY OF POLICE BRUTALITY, MISCONDUCT AND MISTREATMENT AND IT SUGGESTS THAT THERE ARE SYSTEMIC ISSUES, AND SOME OF THOSE ARE NATIONAL ISSUES.

YOU CAN FIND THEM IN DEPARTMENTS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AND RURAL PLACE, AS WELL AS IN URBAN PLACES, IN SUBURBAN DEPARTMENTS.

BUT IT IT'S ALSO TRUE THAT AT THE SAME TIME EVERY PARTICULAR CITY HAS ITS OWN TRAJECTORY, HAS ITS OWN KIND OF STRUCTURE, ITS OWN POLITICS, AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WHAT WE DO AS HISTORIANS IS WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT SCHOLARS ARE SAYING AROUND THE COUNTRY AND THEN LISTENING TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND TRYING TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THAT TELLS US ABOUT THESE PARTICULAR STORIES IN THE TWIN CITIES.

>> Eric: CAN YOU CHANGE CULTURE?

ANYWHERE, MUCH LESS A POLICE DEPARTMENT?

>> I THINK OUR CURRENT CHIEF IN MINNEAPOLIS AND OBVIOUSLY Dr. ALEXANDER AND BRIAN O'HARE ARE GOING TO FIND OUT.

WE GO BACK TO THE 18980s, THIS IS WHAT TONY BOUZA WAS TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH, WE CAN TALK ABOUT OTHER CHIEFS, JENSEN IN 1975 AND WHAT HE WAS TRYING TO DO.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO CHANGE CULTURE, IT IS POSSIBLE AND I THINK WHAT WE'VE SEEN ARE VARIOUS MOMENTS WHERE THERE WAS EFFORT TOWARDS MAKING REAL CHANGE BUT IT DISSIPATES GENERALLY IN CALLS FOR GREATER, YOU KNOW, LET'S TAKE THE HANDCUFFS OFF THE POLICE, CRIME IS GOING UP SO PEOPLE AREN'T CREATIVE IN THINKING ABOUT IF WE WANT REAL CHANGE, WE HAVE TO INVEST IN THAT CHANGE.

>> Eric: THIS IS REALLY A FASCINATING TOPIC.

WHERE CAN WE GET THE WEBSITE TO GET A LOOK AT YOUR STUFF?

>> OVERPOLICEED MSP.ORG.

>> Eric: ALL RIGHT.

GOOD LUCK WITH THE REST OF THE WORK.

WE'LL BE WATCHING.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

>> Eric: THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> ERIC: FANS OF PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING LOST AN ICON LATE LAST WEEK.

KENNY "SODBUSTER" JAY DIED AT THE AGE OF 85.

REMEMBERED FONDLY BY FANS AND WRESTLERS ALIKE, THE SODBUSTER IS PERHAPS BEST KNOWN FOR, WELL, LOSING.

BACK IN 1997, AN EPISODE OF THE TWIN CITIES PBS SHOW "TAPE'S ROLLING" HIGHLIGHTED PRO WRESTLING IN MINNESOTA.

HERE'S AN EXCERPT OF A GRUDGE MATCH BETWEEN KENNY "THE SODBUSTER" JAY AND HIS NEPHEW.

>> NEPHEW, I DON'T CARE WHAT HE IS BECAUSE WE'RE GOING ALL OUT ON THIS ONE.

I MEAN, THERE'S GOING TO BE HITTING A CHICKEN AND EYE I GOUGING AND HAIR-PULLING.

BUT I'M GOING TO TELL YOU ONE THING, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHO'S COMING RIGHT OUT ON TOP OF THAT ONE.

THAT'S SODBUSSER, KENNY JAY.

>> ALL RIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

THIS IS THE ONE EVERYBODY HAS BEEN WAITING FOR, SODBUSTER KENNY JAY GOING IN THE RING AGAINST HIS VERY OWN NEPHEW.

KENNY JAY HAS BEEN IN CONTROL OF THIS ONE ALMOST FROM THE ONSET HERE.

REFEREE EDIE SHARKEY HASN'T HAD A LOT TO DO BUT ASK J.B.

IF HE WARRANTS TO CALL IT A NIGHT.

>> LOOK AT HIM -- >> MORTIMER PLUMBTREE, THE BUG ON THE WINDSHIELD OF RO WRESTLING WHO AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT WILL STICK HIS STICKING NOSE IN ANY MAN.

>> FOR JB TRASK MY GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE AT ANY COST, HE GETS RIDS OF KENNY JAY.

>> WHAT A SHOT THIS IS, WHAT A STRETCH FOR PLUMBTREE TO HAND-CRAFT SOMETHING.

AT THE NAILED RIGHT IN THE THROAT OF SODBUSTER KENNY JAY.

THE FANS BRINGING UP THE CHANTS OF CHEATING.

YOU KNOW SOMETHING, THAT IS MUSIC TO THE EARS OF J.B. -- >> KEEP IT DOWN RIGHT NOW.

>> HOW MANY TIMES IN ONE NIGHT CAN THIS IDIOT INTERFERE?

>> WE NEED ANOTHER REFEREE OR WE NEEDS MORTIMOR PLUMBTREE OUT OF THIS SPORT.

>> KENNY!!

HE'S ROLLING HIM OVER.

THIS IS A SUBMISSION HOLD.

KENNY JAY'S GOT IT LOCKED IN AND THERE'S NOWHERE, NO PLACE LEFT TO GO.

ABSOLUTELY NOWHERE.

OH, MY GOD.

>> OH, NO.

HEY, HEY, KENNY.

KEN A.

>> MORTIMER PRESUMETREE INTERJECTED HIMSELF INTO THE MATCH ONCE AGAIN.

KENNY JAY BETTER PAY ATTENTION TO BUSINESS.

THE REFEREE IS CONTINUING O COUNT.

WAIT A MINUTE, GOT HIS LEG.

NOW, COME ON.

OH, NO, NO.

BED BELL SOUNDING] >> I DON'T BELIEVE IT.

>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, KENNY JAY NAILED TO GET BACK INTO THE RING BY THE COUNTS OF 10, YOUR WINNER IS J.B. TRASK.

>> NO WAY.

>> WELL, THAT IS ONE VERY ANGRY AND A VERY JUSTIFIABLY ANGRY SODBUSTER KENNY JAY.

>> THIS WAS A DIRTY RIP-OFF.

I WANT A REMATCH.

♪♪ >> Eric: NOT SURPRISINGLY THERE WERE FINES AND SUSPENSIONS AFTER THE MATCH.

CRIME WAS A TOP ISSUE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND LAWMAKERS ARE BEGINNING TO LOOK AT SOLUTIONS.

POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER IS BACK TO SHOW US HOW THE LEGISLATURE IS ADDRESSING PUBLIC SAFETY SO FAR THIS SESSION.

>> Mary: CRIME IS UP AND RIDERSHIP IS DOWN ON METRO TRANSIT.

LAWMAKERS ARE LISTENING.

>> TRANSIT SAFETY AND COMFORT OF RIDE IS SPECIFICALLY AS WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE ON BLUE LINE AND GREEN LINE HAS DEVOLVED SIGNIFICANTLY POST-COVID.

IT IS NECESSARY THE LEGISLATURE TAKES ACTION.

>> Mary: FEDERAL DATA SHOWS TWICE LIGHT RAIL IS SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS IN THE COUNTRY BASED OWNED NUMBER OF PERSONAL SECURITY EVENT REPORTED TO OFFICIALS.

>> I THINK THIS IS EXACTLY THE CORRECT APPROACH, REACHING OUT MORE TO SOCIAL SERVICES AND GETTING HOMELESS, YOU KNOW, TO SHELTERS AND LOOKING AT LOSS WITH DRUG ADDICTION GETTING THEM THE SERVICES THEY NEED, BUT THEY CAN'T BE DOING THAT STUFF ON THE SYSTEM.

IT'S NOT GOOD FOR ANYBODY.

>> THE OPIOID CRISIS AND ISSUES WITH ADDICTION STEMMING FROM OPIOIDS SPECIFICALLY.

>> THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT TRANSIT, WE ALL KNOW THAT, WE'VE BEEN SAYING THAT, IT'S ABOUT SOCIAL BREAKDOWN AND WE HAVE TO DO OUR BEST TO FIGHT BACK WITH THAT BECAUSE IT REALLY THREATENS OUR CIVILIZATION.

I DON'T MEAN TO BE MELLOW DRAMATIC, I REALLY BELIEVE THAT.

>> Mary: ALSO GUN CONTROL IS ONE OF THE MANY BILLS DEMOCRATS SAY REPUBLICANS HAVE BLOCKED FOR YEARS IN DIVIDED GOVERNMENT, BUT NOW WITH COMPLETE CONTROL AT THE CAPITOL, ACTION IS HAPPENING.

>> MEMBERS, YOU'RE WELL AWARE THAT OUR COUNTRY HAS A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER RATE OF GUN DEATHS THAN OTHER COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD.

>> Mary: BACKGROUNDS COLLECTION FOR PRIVATE GUN SALES WAS ONE OF THE ISSUES ADDRESSED IN COMMITTEE.

>> HAVING SERVED AS A POLICE CHIEF AND BEING IN THE POSITION OF RESPONDING TO A HELPLESS FAMILY WHO ONLY AFTER A TRAGEDY WHEN THEIR OB TOOK THEIR LIFE AFTER PURCHASING A GUN FROM A PRIVATE PARTY WITHOUT ANY LEVEL OF BACKGROUND CHECK, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN STOPPED HAD A BACKGROUND CHECK OR THE PERMIT PROCESS OCCURRED.

>> WHILE WE KNOW THAT THIS WON'T PREVENT ALL GUN VIOLENCE OR ALL GUN DEATHS, WE DO BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> Mary: WHILE LAW ENFORCEMENT SUPPORTS THE BILL, LOCAL AND NATIONAL GUN GROUPS OPPOSE THE EFFORT.

>> ONLY 8% OF CRIMINALLY ACQUIRED FIREARMS COME FROM PRIVATE SALES AND A LOT OF THOSE SALES ARE FROM FAMILY MEMBERS WHO WOULD IKELY BE EXEMPTED BY THIS BILL.

WE'RE MISSING THE TARGET HERE, GOING AFTER THE CRIMINAL ACQUISITION OF FIREARMS, OVERWHELMINGLY THE BLACK MARKET STRAW PURCHASERS, THINGS LIKE THAT WHERE I THINK WE CAN BUILD A LOT OF BIPARTISAN SUPPORT TO GO AFTER.

>> THIS BILL MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO LOAN A FIREARM TO MANY TYPES OF RELATIVES AND FRIENDS, AND MINNESOTA HAS A STRONG TRADITION OF HUNTING AND IT IS COMMON TO INTRODUCE PEOPLE INTO THE SPORT BY LOANING FIREARMS FOR HUNTING PURPOSES.

>> T'S MESSED UP.

YOU'RE NOT GOING AFTER THE PEOPLE YOU SHOULD BE GOING AFTER HERE.

WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS PUTTING MORE BURDEN ON PEOPLE LIKE ME, PEOPLE LIKE THE CHAIR WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERS.

>> WHEN I PURCHASED A FIREARMS FROM JOE SPORTING GOODS, THE BACKGROUND PROCESS AND BEEN ONEROUS WHATSOEVER.

IT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED ME TO BUY SOME MORE STUFF.

>> I CHALLENGE FOLKS TO FIND A WAY TO JUSTIFY 3600 DEATHS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY THIS.

>> RESTRICTING ACCESS TO A SECOND AMENDMENT, CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, THE VAST NUMBER OF CITIZENS IN MAKING IT A LOT OF HURDLES IN ORDER TO EXERCISE THEIR SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

>> Mary: AND RED FLAG WARNINGS ARE ALSO TOOLS LAWMAKERS ARE CONSIDERING.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE A NUMBER THAT SAYS, 76% OF DEATHS ARE BY FIREARMS AND PART OF THAT ARE SUICIDES, I THINK THIS IS EXACTLY GETTING AT THE ISSUE.

THIS IS DESIGNED EXACTLY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

♪♪ >> ERIC: THE LIGHTNING-FAST PACE OF THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION CONTINUES WITH MORE BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW THIS WEEK, AS CONSERVATIVE GROUPS THREATEN LAWSUITS.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ARE FRONT-OF-MIND AS VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS VISITED ST.

CLOUD YESTERDAY TO TOUR AN E.V.

PLANT.

JOINING US ON THE COUCH THIS WEEK, OUR PANEL OF POLITICAL ANALYSTS.

WE'LL START WITH REPUBLICANS THIS WEEK.

AMY KOCH IS A FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER.

ANDY BREHM IS A FORMER CONGRESSIONAL STAFFER AND ATTORNEY.

DFLERS JOINING US THIS WEEK ARE FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER, NOW ATTORNEY, ABOU AMARA.

AND LONGTIME PARTY ACTIVIST CARIN MROTZ.

SENATOR, YOU HAVE BEEN ACTIVE IN A CONSERVATIVE GROUP THAT WAS DEALING WITH THE ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT AND I WAS VERY CURIOUS WHAT YOU THOUGHT OF THIS 100% RENEWABLE BY 2040 BILL THAT WAS SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR THIS WEEK.

>> RIGHT.

SO ACTUALLY CONSERVATIVE GROUP THAT WAS IN ALL OF THE MIX, RENEWABLES, GOOD, I'M CERTAINLY ON BOARD WITH RENEWABLES FOR LOTS AND LOTS OF YEARS.

I VOTED AND WAS A PART OF THE GROUP THAT NEGOTIATED THE 25 BY 25, WHICH AT THAT TIME WAS THE MOST AGGRESSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARD AS WELL AS THE NEXT GENERATION ACT.

>> Eric: HOW DOES THIS STRIKE YOU?

>> SO, THAT'S WHAT -- I DID ALL THAT, I SUPPORTED ALL THAT.

100% BY 2040 IS IRRESPONSIBLE, IT'S NOT ATTAINABLE.

A MIX OF ENERGY IS WHAT'S IMPORTANT.

EVERY ENERGY HAS AN UPSIDE, EVERY SOURCE OF ENERGY LAST A DOWN SIDE AND TO CHOOSE 100% OF ANYTHING, WHETHER IT'S COAL, NUCLEAR, I LOVE NUCLEAR BUT A 100% OF NUCLEAR IS RIDICULOUS AND THIS IS ALSO THE SAME.

IT DRIVERS UP COSTS, IT CREATES UNRELIABLE GRIDS.

>> Eric: OVERREACH.

>> THAT'S NOT WHAT THE BILL DOES.

IT DOESN'T SAY 100% NUCLEAR OR 100% SOLAR PAGES, IT SAYS 100% CARBON FREE.

IT'S MAKING SURE WE HAVE A DIVERSE ENERGY PORTFOLIO AND YOU'RE INCENTIVIZING BUSINESSES TO GET INVOLVED.

XCEL ENERGY IS INVESTING IN PLANTS.

THIS WILL GALVANIZE THE -- >> THE LEGISLATURE REJECTED NUCLEAR, THE ONLY CARBON-FREE IS AS RENEWABLES.

>> Eric: WHEN THE REPUBLICANS ARE ON THE FLOOR, THE WORD "EXTREME" COMES UP A LOTS.

AND I WONDER, IS THIS AN EXAMPLE OF DFL OVERREACH HERE?

>> SO, THE REPUBLICANS ARE IN THE MINORITY, WHICH MEANS THAT IT IS THEIR JOB TO NOT GET THINGS DONE BUT TO TELL A STORY.

THEY COULD HAVE THE OPTION OF GETTING THINGS DONE, THEY COULD PARTICIPATE IN A BIPARTISAN WAY AND THE STORY THAT THEY TELL COULD BE HOW THEY WORKED TOGETHER WITH DEMOCRATS.

THE STORY THAT REPUBLICANS ARE TELLING THIS SESSION IS THAT DEMOCRATS ARE EXTREMISTS, DEMOCRATS ARE DOING LIKE ALL THESE TERRIBLE, AWFUL RADICAL THINGS AND THEY'RE TELLING THIS STORY BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE GOT.

WHEN YOU'RE N THE MINORITY, THAT'S YOUR WEAPON.

THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE NEXT ELECTION AND THAT IS THE STORY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO TELL.

DO I THINK IT MIGHT BE EFFECTIVE FOR THEM TO BE PARTICIPATING AND GETTING SOME THINGS DONE FOR MINNESOTANS SO THAT THERE IS ANOTHER STORY FOR THEM TO TELL?

COULD BE GOOD.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I -- I'M NOT A FAN OF STORIES, I'M A FAN OF FACTS AND THE FACTS ARE THAT THIS AGENDA IS EXTREMELY EXTREME.

WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS NO NUCLEAR ENERGY, NO COAL, I MEAN, THIS BILL, WHAT IT WILL DO, IT WILL RAISE PEOPLE' UTILITIES BY THROUGHS OF DOLLARS.

YOU SAY THIS IS PRO-BUSINESS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INCREASING ANNUAL PREMIUMS BY HUNDREDS OF THROUGHS OF DOLLARS, NOT TO MENTION THE BLACKOUTS THAT WILL COME AS A RESULT OF THIS.

SO YOU CAN CALL IT A STORY ALL YOU WANT.

WHAT THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN AS AMY SAID, I MEAN, WHY IN THE WORLD WASN'T NUCLEAR PART OF THIS, THERE'S NO SCIENCE TO BACK THAT UP.

IT IS AN IRRESPONSIBLE PIECE OF LEGISLATION AMONG OTHERS.

>> WILL LET'S TALK ABOUT EXTREME.

THE DEMOCRATS HAVE CONTROL OF ALL THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS WHICH ARE THE EXTREME PARTY AND THAT GAVE THE POWER TO THE DFL.

>> I WORKED ON THOSE ENERGY BILLS, WE HAD BIPARTISAN BUY-IN ND WE HAD BIPARTISAN WORK.

THESE BILLS PASSED THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE IDENTICAL.

THERE WAS NO CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON THIS.

HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?

THEY HAD MULTIPLE COMMITTEES THAT WENT THROUGH AND NOT A SINGLE AMENDMENT WAS ACCEPTED, NOT A SINGLE CHANGE WAS MADE IN EITHER BODY ON A MASSIVE BILL LIKE THAT.

THAT'S JUST NOT HOW THE LEGISLATURE WORKS.

THE SENATE IS DIVIDED 34-3.

THAT MEANS IF YOU DIED OUT THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE, HALF OF -- HALF OF MINNESOTA'S LIKE DISTRICTS WERE NOT HEARD ON THIS ISSUE AT ALL AND NOT A SINGLE AMENDMENT, NOT SINGLE CHANGE WAS MADE IN THE HOUSE OR THE SENATE.

>> Cathy: KARIN, FINAL COMMENT ON THIS?

>> APPRECIATE THE FACTS, THE ENERGY BILLS ARE GOING UP IN CREDIBILITILY REGARDLESS OF HOW WE ADDRESS THE CRISIS AND IT'S NOT REALLY WORTH MORTGAGING THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN AND OUR ENTIRE CLIMATE IN ORDER TO KEEP DOING IT THE WAY WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

>> Eric: AND THERE MAY BE THE NORTH DAKOTA LAWSUIT OUT OF THIS SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

DFL BILLS ON ELECTIONS AND VOTING.

HAD TO BE BIPARTISAN IN THE OLD DAYS.

IS THAT GONE AWAY OR -- >> I THINK IT HAS AND I THINK A BIG REASON IT'S GONE AWAY IS 10, 20 YEARS AGO, YOU HAD A REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT ACCEPTED THE RESULTS OF ELECTIONS, AND NOW YOU HAVE REPUBLICAN ELECTION DENIERS, AND SO IT'S NOT ABOUT REPUBLICAN-DEMOCRAT IN THIS CONTEXT, IT'S ABOUT DO YOU SUPPORT DEMOCRACY OR AUTHORITARIANISM.

THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE, WE DON'T HAVE GOOD FAITH PARTNERS WHO ARE TRYING TO MAKE OUR ELECTIONS MORE ACCESSIBLE AND SECURE AT THE SAME TIME.

>> Eric: RELEASED FELONS CAN VOTE, 16 AND 17-YEAR-OLDS CAN PRE-REGISTER.

>> IT'S VERY EXTREME STUFF AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REPUBLICANS HAVE OFFERED SENSIBLE AMENDMENTS, FOR INSTANCE, ON THESE DRIVER'S LICENSES, THE DEMOCRATS WANTS TO PROVIDE TO ILLEGAL ALIENS TO SAY IT CAN'T BE USED FOR VOTING, THAT'S BEEN REJECT FINDS.

BUT THIS RHETORIC OF CALLING EVERY REPUBLICAN AUTHORITARIAN, THAT'S GETTING OLD.

>> EXTREMISM ILLEGAL, I UNDERSTAND THE TALKING POINT FAX WENT OUT THIS AFTERNOON BUT WHAT I WANT TO SAY ABOU S RIGHT, IT'S NOT JUST 20 YEARS AGO, I WORKED ON VOTER PREREGISTRATION FOR 16-YEAR-OLDS EIGHT YEARS AGO?

AND NOT ONLY WAS IT BIPARTISAN, OUR AUTHOR WAS DEAN URDAHL, A REPUBLICAN, A CIVICS TEACHER WHO NDERSTOOD THE WAY THAT VOTER PREREGISTRATION WOULD GET KIDS WHO ARE IN THE CLASSROOM HAVING A CIVICS EDUCATION PREREGISTERED TO VOTE AT A GREAT TIME IN THEIR LIFE WHEN THEY WERE LEARNING ABOUT POLITICS.

ABOUT THE NOW REPUBLICANS DON'T WANT KIDS LEARNING ABOUT POLITICS OR THE WAY THE WORLD WORKS SO WE DON'T WANTS THEM TO PRE-REGISTER TO VOTE BECAUSE WE DON'T WANTS A CIRCUITS CURRICULUM AT ALL.

>> Cathy: I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE BILL -- HAD AN INTRODUCTION THIS WEEK, MINNESOTA HEALTHCARE FOR ALL THROUGH A PUBLIC OPTION.

ONLY A HANDFUL OF STATES HAVE TRIED THIS, IT'S RUN INTO POLITICAL AND FISCAL ISSUES SO MINNESOTA WANT TO TRY TO DO THIS ON ITS OWN?

DO YOU SEE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS?

>> WELL, I THINK THE BEST TIME TO FIX THE ROOF IS WHEN THE SUN IS SHINING SO NOW MINNESOTA HAS A $17 BILLION SURPLUS.

NOW I THINK IT'S TIME TO THINK ABOUT ABOUT HOW DO WE REIMAGINE THE HEATS CARE SYSTEM?

THIS ISN'T SAYING YOU CAN'T GO TO THE PRIVATE MARKET AND BUY PRIVATE HEALTH CARE, THIS IS SIMPLY SAYING THERE'S GOING TO BE ONE OPTION THAT MINNESOTANS CAN BUY INTO PROVIDED BY THE STATE AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO HELP DRIVE DOWN HEALTH CARE COST ATTENTION.

WE'VE SIGN IN MINNESOTA A GREAT STATE FOR HEALTH CARE, EVEN WE ARE SEEING INCREASES IN HEALTH CARE COSTS AND ONE WAY TO DRIVE DOWN THOSE COSTS ARE TO PROVIDE A COMPETITIVE OPTION FOR MINNESOTANS TO HAVE IN THE MARKETPLACE.

>> Cathy: IS THIS GOING ANYWHERE?

>> YEAH, I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING ANYWHERE, IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE, BEEN PROVEN OVER AND OF.

NOT TO SAY THAT 7 SHOULDN'T GET ON BOARD WITH SOME HEALTH CARE REFORM.

IT'S INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE, IT'S -- WE DON'T DO HEALTH CARE, WE DO KIND OF SICK CARE, RIGHT, PREVENTION HAS BEEN THROWN OUT THE WINDOW SO THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS TO DO BETWEEN WHAT WE HAVE AND THE PUBLIC OPTION AND THE PUBLIC OPTION, WHEREVER IT'S BEEN TRIED, IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE, IT BUSTS THE BANK AND THAT WON'T BE -- IT WON'T HAPPEN THIS YEAR.

>> Eric: WE KNOW DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO SPENDS.

DO WE HAVE THE OUTLINES OF A TAX CUT PACKAGE THAT MIGHT OCCUR?

>> I MEAN, THE GOVERNOR HAS ALREADY PROPOSED THE LARGEST TAX CUT IN THE HISTORY OF MINNESOTA, THAT'S WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS PUTS ON THE TABLE.

>> Eric: SO... >> WELL, I THINK IT'S WHERE IT'S CUT IS WHERE -- WHAT'S GOING TO BE AT DISCUSSION HERE.

I THINK IT SHOULD BE 100% OF SOCIAL SECURITY, WE'RE WAIT OUT OF STEP AS A STATE ON THAT.

100% ON 100%, WHETHER IT'S WALZ CHECKS, YOU KNOW, THEY DO A LOT OF INCOME TESTING AND I THINK THAT THEY SHOULD LOOK AT MORE BROAD-BASED TAX RELIEF FOR ALL, HAVE AN $18 BILLION SURPLUS, THAT'S A OT OF MINNESOTANS THAT PAID A LOT OF MONEY INTO THE SYSTEM AND FINDING A WAY TO GET SOME RELIEF FOR ALL FAMILIES I THINK WOULD BE THE RIGHT WAY TO GO.

s. >> Eric: DO YOU LIKE THAT TARGETED TAX CUT APPROACH INSTEAD OF CUTTING INCOME TAXES OR -- >> NO, I WOULDN'T CALL THAT A TAX CUT.

LET'S REMEMBER THE GOVERNOR HAS PROPOSED ACTUALLY INCREASING TAXES DURING THIS TIME, MAKING MINNESOTA THE HIGHEST TAXED STATE IN THE COUNTRY.

THAT'S THE PROPOSAL AND THE PROBLEM WITH THIS IS, WHETHER YOU LIKE HIGH AXES OR NOT, IS MINNESOTANS ARE LOSING.

MINNESOTA'S LOSING POPULATION EVERY YEAR, A LOT OF STATES ARE GAINING IT, WE'RE LOSING ITS.

IF E CONTINUES TO BE SO UNCOMPETITIVE AND THIS IS SUCH AN UNFRIENDLY STATE TO DO BUSINESS IN, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE.

MINNESOTA TAXES ARE WAY TOO HIGH.

THEY SHOULD BE CUT PERMANENTLY AND WE SHOULD MAKE OURSELVES MORE COMPETITIVE TO BRING IN BUSINESS.

>> IF THE IT'S SUCH A TERRIBLE PLACE TO DO BUSINESS, WHY DO WE HAVE THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THE STATE'S HISTORY?

WHY DO WITCH THE MOST NOIR TUNE 500 COMPANIES IN THE STATE THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY?

THE JOBS ARE ERE, THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE HERE.

WE HAVE THE DOOM AND GLOOM ARGUMENTS EVERY TIME, IF IT'S RAINING THEY WANT TAX CUTS, IF IT'S SNOWY, THEY WANT TAX CUTS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S JUST RHETORIC.

LOOK AT THE RESULTS, MINNESOTA IS SHOWING IT CAN WORK.

>> Eric: MARGINAL AIDED GROUPS, SEEM TO BE DOING BRETT' WELL PROPERTY-WELL.

YOUR SENSE OF HOW THAT'S GOING.

AND THE IMPORTANCE OF IT.

>> YEAH, LOOK, MANY OF THE GROUPS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVE BEEN WAITING A REALLY LONG TIME TO EVEN GET THEIR VOICES AND THEIR BILLS HEARD.

THERE ARE THINGS LIKE DRIVER'S LICENSES, THINGS LIKE PAID FAMILY LEAVE, THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN -- "WE" MEANING MINNESOTANS HAVE BEEN WAITING TO EVEN GET A HEARING FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS SO, YEAH, I THINK -- I WAS WATCHING THE TRANS REFUGE BILL THIS AFTERNOON AND IT WAS REALLY INSPIRING TO SEE MINNESOTANS GO TO THE CAPITOL AND SHOW UP AND BE ABLE TO TESTIFY ABOUT THEIR LIVES, IN A HEARING THAT PREVIOUSLY WOULD NOT EVEN BE HELD.

SO SOME THINGS ARE GOING TO PASS, SOME THINGS ARE GOING TO MOVE, SOME THINGS ARE GOING TO BE A FIRST STEP AND THEY WON'T GET ALL THE WAY TO THE FINISH LINE BUT THE FACT WE'RE GIVING HEARINGS TO SOME OF THESE BILLS IS A TREMENDOUS IMPROVEMENT.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK THE CHANGE IN THE DIVERSITY THAT WE'VE SEEN AT THE LEGISLATURE IS A GOOD THING, RIGHT?

IT'S ALL VOICES FOR MINNESOTA.

YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S JUST A MATTER OF, AGAIN, EVERYONE NEEDS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE AND I'M NOT SEEING THAT RIGHT NOW, AND I WOULD CAUTION NEW LEGISLATORS AND ALSO TALK TO, LIKE, MORE EXPERIENCED LEGISLATORS TO FIND WAYS TO DO THAT.

I'M NOT SEEING IT YET.

THESE BILLS HAVE BEEN JUST, YOU KNOW, CRASHING THROUGH WITH NO, LIKE, NO AMENDMENTS, NO INPUTS FROM THE OTHER SIDE, NOTHING ACCEPTED IN ANY KIND OF REAL WAY AND I THINK THAT'S JUST SETTING -- JUST SETS A TONE WHERE I THINK THERE'S SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET SO MANY AMAZING THINGS DONE.

YOU SAID FIX THE ROOF WHILE IT'S SUNNY, I THINK THAT'S RIGHT, WE HAVE A SUNNY MOMENT IN MINNESOTA HISTORY, LET'S GRAB HOLD OF THAT.

>> Eric: GREAT DISCUSSION, YOU ALL WERE STYLING TONIGHT.

>> Cathy: YEAH, YOU ALL LOOK GREAT.

>> THANKS.

>> Eric: THANKS, PANEL.

♪♪ >> CATHY "WE'VE COME TO THE END OF THE SHOW BUT, BEFORE WE GO, WE HAVE A NEW INDEX FILE QUESTION FOR YOU.

LET'S GET RIGHT TO IT.

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION IS ABOUT A STRUCTURE SOMEWHERE IN MINNESOTA THAT IS STILL STANDING AND WAS NAMED TO THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES IN 1978.

IT'S CONSIDERED THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE UNITED STATES AND REPRESENTS AN IMPORTANT ADVANCEMENT IN DESIGN.

IN 2013, AN ARTIST REPLICATED ITS DESIGN IN A SCULPTURE MADE FROM STEEL AND 12,000 FEET OF ROPE.

OUR QUESTION TO YOU, WHAT IS THIS HISTORIC STRUCTURE?

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU ARE CALLING FROM LAKE STREET, LAKEVILLE, OR LAKE AVENUE.

GIVE US A CALL.

651-229-1430 IS THE NUMBER.

YOU CAN ALSO EMAIL US ANYTIME AT ALMANAC@TPT.ORG.

COUPLE LITTLE TUNE-IN NOTES HERE.

DON'T FORGET TO WATCH OUR SISTER SHOW "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" WEDNESDAYS THROUGHOUT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

TUNE IN TO TPT'S MINNESOTA CHANNEL AT 7:00 FOR NEWS FROM THE STATE CAPITOL, INTERVIEWS WITH LAWMAKERS, AND TO TRACK WHICH BILLS ARE SIGNED INTO LAW.

THE STATEWIDE MINNESOTA CHANNEL IS ALSO WHERE YOU CAN CATCH LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALL WEEK LONG, FLOOR SESSIONS, COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND MORE.

CHECK OUT PAST EPISODES OF "ALMANAC" ON OUR WEBSITE AT TPT.ORG/ALMANAC.

WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH TIME FOR SHOW-ENDING MUSIC.

IT WAS THIS WEEK IN 1983 THAT LEO KOTTKE STRUMMED HIS STRINGS ON THE "NIGHT TIMES" VARIETY SHOW.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND GOOD NIGHT.

♪ I'M THE GUY WHO DIDN'T MARRY PRETTY PAMELA BROWN ♪ EDUCATED, WELL-INTENTIONED, GOOD GIRL IN OUR TOWN ♪ ♪ I WONDER WHERE I'D BE TODAY IF SHE HAD LOVED ME TOO PROBABLY BE DRIVING KIDS TO SCHOOL ♪ ♪ I GUESS I OWE IT ALL TO PAMELA BROWN ALL OF MY GOOD TIMES, ALL MY RUNNING AROUND ♪♪ "ALMANAC" IS A PRODUCTION OF CAPTIONED BY: VERITEXT/PARADIGM CAPTIONING WWW.VERITEXT.COM ♪ SEEN THE LIGHTS OF CITIES AND I'VE BEEN INSIDE THE DOORS.

♪ SAILED TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES AND WALK UPON THEIR SHORES.

♪ I GUESS THE GUY SHE MARRIED WAS THE BEST PART OF MY LUCK ♪ SHE DUG HIM BECAUSE HE DROVE A PICK-UP TRUCK ♪ ♪ I GUESS I OWE IT AM TO PAMELA BROWN ALL OF MY GOOD TIMES, ALL MY RUNNING AROUND ♪ ONE OF THESE DAYS I MIGHT BE IN YOUR TOWN AND I GUESS I OWE IT ALL TO PAMELA BROWN ♪♪ "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.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH WHILE ADVANCING SOCIAL EQUITIES.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

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