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

>> Eric: COMING UP ON ALMANAC, MICHAEL OSTERHOLM IS HERE TO ON TALK ABOUT RISING COVID CASES NATIONWIDE, MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL APPROVES THE NEW POLICE DEPARTMENT CONTRACT.

TANE DANGER IS HERE WITH AN ESSAY AND MARY LAHAMMER TRACKING THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION IN OUR NEIGHBORING STATE.

>> IN WISCONSIN REPUBLICANS GATHERED FOR THEIR NATIONAL CONVENTION.

>> THE BATTLEGROUND STATE OF MINNESOTA.

>> TURN MINNESOTA RED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 50 YEARS!

>> THAT'S COMING UP IN 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 27 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

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

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

AND PAINTCARE.

HELPING MINNESOTANS RECYCLE LEFTOVER PAINT.

MORE AT PAINTCARE.ORG.

>> Eric: FULL HOW FOR YOU TONIGHT.

IN THE NEXT HOUR WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE NEWLY APPROVED MINNEAPOLIS POLICE ONTRACT, TALK SURGING COVID CASES WITH MICHAEL OSTERHOLM, AND LOOK BACK AT THE 1934 MINNEAPOLIS TRUCKER STRIKE.

>> Cathy: WE'RE GOING TO START ONIGHT WITH THE NATIONAL POLITICAL NEWS.

THE WEEK BEGAN WITH AN ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION ON DONALD TRUMP IN PENNSYLVANIA.

IT ENDS WITH PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IN ISOLATION WITH COVID.

IN BETWEEN TRUMP ACCEPTED HIS NOMINATION AT THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION IN MILWAUKEE.

MARY LAHAMMER PICKS UM THE STORY THERE WITH A REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE.

[ ROCK MUSIC ] >> WISCONSIN IS WHERE REPUBLICANS CONVENED FOR THEIR CONVENTION AS THEY FOCUS ON UPPER MIDWEST STATES LIKE MINNESOTA.

♪♪ >> I AM RUNNING TO BE PRESIDENT FOR ALL OF AMERICA, NOT HALF OF AMERICA.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] BECAUSE THERE IS NO VICTORY IN WINNING FOR HALF OF AMERICA.

SO TONIGHT WITH FAITH AND DEVOTION, I PROUDLY ACCEPT YOUR NOMINATION FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> THE NEW VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WAS SELECTED IN PART FOR HIS APPEAL FOR THE REGION.

>> TO THE PEOPLE IN MIDDLETOWN, OHIO AND ALL THE FORGOTTEN COMMUNITIES IN MICHIGAN, WISCONSIN, PENNSYLVANIA AND OHIO AND EVERY CORNER OF OUR NATION I PROMISE YOU THIS, I WILL BE A VICE PRESIDENT WHO NEVER FORGETS WHERE HE CAME FROM.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> THIS IDEA OF J.D.

VANCE, THE PERFECT FRANKENSTEIN MONSTER CREATED BY THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION.

GOOD THING WITH REPUBLICANS THEY DON'T HAVE MUCH DIVISION WITHIN THEIR PARTY.

THEY BEND THEIR KNEE AND GROVEL TO SOMEONE WHO TOLD US THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN, SOMEONE WHO TOLD OF OVERTURNED ROE V. WADE, SOMETHING ON WHO US HE DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING BOUT NATO.

>> DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR TIM WALZ TRAVELED ACROSS THE BORDER TO COUNTER THE RNC AND PROJECT 2025 ON BEHALF OF THE BIDEN/HARRIS TICKET.

>> WE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY IN AMERICA NOT TOO LONG IN IT A BINARY CHOICE BETWEEN SOMEONE WHO CARES DEEPLY ABOUT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, POLICIES THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE VERSUS SOMEONE WHO MADE IT VERY CLEAR, TRUMP IS FOR TRUMP.

>> WALZ SPECIFICALLY WENT AFTER REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

>> GOVERNORS ARE ONE OF THE BEST MESSENGERS, WHETHER IT'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, IT'S A MAN IT'S TIME TO SHUT THE HELL UP AT TIMES IN THESE SPACES AND STEP BACK.

>> IN WISCONSIN MINNESOTA COOS TOM EMMER GOT TO THE STAGE AND GAVE A FIERY ADDRESS REMINISCENT OF HIS TIME IN THE STATE HOUSE.

>> MINNESOTANS CAN'T AFFORD FOUR MORE YEARS OF JOE BIDEN AND KAMALA HARRIS.

WHICH IS WHY I'M CONFIDENT WE WILL MAKE HISTORY THIS NOVEMBER WHEN WE TURN MINNESOTA RED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 50 YEARS!

>> THE REPUBLICAN IN U.S. HOUSE LEADERSHIP NOTED THE ACIAL RECKONING THAT BEGAN IN MINNEAPOLIS WHEN TRUMP WAS PRESIDENT.

>> THE DEMOCRATS' DISASTROUS RECORD ON CRIME, TRADE AND REGULATION HAS RUINED THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS MINNESOTANS.

WHEN MINNEAPOLIS WAS IN FLAMES AND BUSINESSES ARE IN RUINS, KAMALA HARRIS ENCOURAGED AND ENABLED THE CRIMINALS AND THE RIOTERS.

DONALD TRUMP STANDS WITH THE PEOPLE AND THE POLICE, OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN BLUE, NOT WITH THE CRIMINALS AND THE RIOTERS.

GLEAN THOUGH TRUMP ONCE STOPPED EMMER FROM MOVING UP TO HOUSE SPEAKER REPUBLICANS FROM MINNESOTA AT THE NATIONAL CONVENTION FELL IN LINE WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

>> THE BATTLEGROUND STATE OF MINNESOTA WHICH WILL ELECT A REPUBLICAN FOR PRESIDENT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SINCE 1972 THIS YEAR, MINNESOTA.

THE FIRST STATE TO FIGHT TO PRESERVE OUR NATION IN 1861, TODAY TO PRESERVE OUR NATION AGAIN, WE MINNESOTANS PROUDLY PLEDGE ALL 39 OF OUR DELEGATE VOTES FOR OUR NEXT PRESIDENT, DONALD J. TRUMP.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> WE WILL VERY QUICKLY MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, WISCONSIN, GOD BLESS YOU AND GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

♪♪ >> Eric: JOINING US NOW TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE INCREDIBLE WEEK IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE AND NATIONAL POLITICS, DAVID SCHULTZ.

HE SHAPES YOUNG MINDS TEACHING POLITICAL SCIENCE AT HAMLINE UNIVERSITY AND ADJUNCT LAW PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS.

WELL, DID THE REPUBLICANS ACHIEVE WHAT THEY SET OUT TO DO?

>> THEY DID ACTUALLY.

THEY HAD A VERY, VERY GOOD CONVENTION THERE, THEY WANTED TO PROJECT A SENSE OF UNITY, THEY WANTED TO START TO LAY OUT SOME OF THEIR BASIC THEMES.

THE FACT THEY HAD NIKKI HALEY, DESANTIS SPEAKING, I ACTUALLY THOUGHT THE BEST SPEAKER WAS THE PERSON FROM THE TEAMSTERS WHO CAME ON.

BUT WHEN YOU WALKED AWAY YOU GOT A SENSE THE PARTY WAS UNIFIED AND AT THIS POINT THEY HAD A THEME, THEY HAD AN ARGUMENT THEY WANTED TO MAKE AND SO I THINK THEY DID A VERY GOOD JOB.

USUALLY THE REPUBLICANS DON'T QUITE CHOREO GRAPH IT AS WELL BUT THIS ONE THEY DID A REALLY GOOD JOB ON.

>> Cathy: FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP TALKED ABOUT UNITY FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES AND THAT KIND OF WENT OFF THE RAILS LATER ON IN THAT 93-MINUTE SPEECH THAT HE GAVE LAST NIGHT.

I MEAN SO THE SENSE OF UNITY THAT HE WANTS AS HE SAID HE WANTS TO BE THE PRESIDENT FOR ALL OF AMERICA BUT POLLS SHOW THAT MORE THAN AT LEAST HALF ARE NOT TOO IMPRESSED WITH HIM, SO WHERE'S THE UNITY THERE?

>> WELL, THE UNITY WAS WITHIN THE PARTY, IT CERTAINLY WASN'T ACROSS AMERICA.

AND RIGHT IF HE STOPPED AFTER THE FIRST 15 MINUTES I STILL THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE GREATEST ACCEPTANCE SPEECHES EVER BECAUSE THERE'S A SENSE OF HUMILITY, THERE WAS A SENSE.

COMPASSION, RECOGNIZING WHAT ALMOST HAPPENED TO HIM AND IT WAS A GOOD SPEECH.

STOP IT THERE AFTER 15 MINUTES, IT'S GREAT.

BUT THE NEXT 75 MINUTES OR 80 MINUTES OR WHATEVER WENT TOO LATE, WENT TOO LONG, IT WAS WANDERING, MEANDERING AND YOU'RE RIGHT ANYTHING THAT HE TRIED TO ACHIEVE IN TERMS OF THEME, IN TERMS OF UNITY AT THAT POINT BACK TO THE OLD, OLD -- OLD THEMES AND ALSO OLD THEMES.

BUT OTHER THING I SHOULD POINT OUT HERE IS DESPITE ALL OF THAT REMEMBER THERE USUALLY IS A CONVENTION BUMP AND THE BUMP IS USUALLY ABOUT THREE TO FIVE POINTS.

I'LL BE LOOKING TO SEE WHAT THE POLLS ARE AT THIS POINT.

HE'LL GET A SHORT-TERM BUMP EVEN DESPITE HIS SPEECH.

>> Eric: WE'LL SEE J.D.

VANCE QUITE OFTEN IN MINNESOTA?

>> I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE HIM A LOT BECAUSE HE'S GOING TO BE THERE TO TRY TO SELL MINNESOTA TO HIM AND TO THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN.

HIS THEMES WERE ALL ABOUT WHAT?

ALL ABOUT HIS MIDWEST VALUES, TRYING TO APPEAL TO THE WHITE WORKING CLASS, FOR SOME PEOPLE WHO'VE ACTUALLY LOOKED T FOR EXAMPLE THE WHICH I HAVE, HILLBILLY ELEGY, HE'S TRYING TO TALK ABOUT THE AMERICAN STORY, THE STORY OF, WHAT, STARTING OFF POOR, APPALACHIA, AND WORKING YOUR WAY UP AND AMERICA LOVES THAT STORY AND THAT'S WHAT HE TRIED TO TELL.

KEEP IN MIND HE'S ALSO FULL MAGA, THIS IS NOT SOMEBODY REACHING OUT TO SWING VOTERS.

>> Eric: PRESIDENT BIDEN, WILL HE STAY OR WILL HE GO?

>> IT'S FUNNY WE WERE ON THIS SHOW THREE OR FOUR WEEKSING AGO I THINK IT WAS, DOES IT LOOK LIKELY?

IT DOES LOOK LIKE IT'S INCREASINGLY HAPPENING AT THIS POINT, MORE SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES, BETTY MCCOLLUM CAME OUT FRIDAY AND SAID IT'S TIME TO LEAVE.

THE PRESSURE IS PRETTY ENORMOUS AT THIS POINT IN ERMS OF HIM GETTING OUT AT THIS POINT.

BUT REMEMBER IT'S STILL HIS CALL, IT'S STILL HIS CHOICE.

AND HE'S BEEN SUCCESSFUL FOR 50 YEARS AND IT'S KIND OF HARD TO CONVINCE SOMEBODY IT'S TIME TO LEAVE.

SO RIGHT NOW I THINK I MIGHT HAVE SAID TWO WEEKS AGO OR THREE WEEKS AGO 50/50 CHANCE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS, I THINK NOW IT'S GREATER THAN 50% CHANCE BUT THE CLOCK IS RUNNING OUT.

>> Cathy: IN TERMS OF TOO, THE DEMOCRATS HAVE THIS CHAOS THEY'RE DEALING WITH, DOESN'T THIS ALSO HURT THEM AS THE ELECTION IS JUST RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, PRETTY MUCH?

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, SO THEY HAVE TO KIND OF TRY TO BUTTON THIS UP SOMEHOW.

>> THEY DO HAVE TO BUTTON UP.

BUT I THINK IF THE POLLS ARE ACCURATE AND I THINK THEY ARE NATIONWIDE, BIDEN IS BEHIND, NATIONWIDE POLLS DON'T MATTER BUT THE CRITICAL SWING STATES HE'S BEHIND AND IN MINNESOTA BIDEN IS IN DANGER OF LOSING MINNESOTA.

IF YOU LOSE MINNESOTA AS A DEMOCRAT, YOU LOSE EVERYTHING.

WHAT I'M GETTING AT S THE DEMOCRATS MAY HAVE NO CHOICE.

THEY MIGHT HAVE TO GET RID OF HIM AND GO THROUGH A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CHAOS.

IF HE WERE TO STEP DOWN I KNOW PEOPLE ARE SAYING IT AUTOMATICALLY GHOST TO HARRIS.

THE DEMOCRATS PROBABLY WOULD BE SMARTER TO SAY WE'VE GOT THREE WEEKS, LET A VARIETY OF CANDIDATES EMERGE AND SEE WHO EMERGES AS THE STRONGEST CANDIDATE AT THIS POINT.

AGAIN THE OLLS ARE UGGESTING AT THIS POINT VARIOUS LEVELS OF SUPPORT FOR WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, HARRIS OR GRETCHEN WHITMER, GAVIN NEWSOM.

THE CHAOS IS THERE, THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO LOSE RIGHT NOW IF THEY DON'T MAKE A CHANGE.

I DON'T WANT TO SAY THEY HAVE TO GO HAIL MARY BUT THEY'RE GOING HA HAIL MARY.

>> Cathy: WHAT HAPPENS AT AN OPEN CONVENTION THEN?

>> OPEN CONVENTION, IF THE DELEGATES ARE FREE, IT'S GOING TO BE HORSE TRADING ND JOCKEYING TO SEE WHO GETS THE MOST SUPPORT.

MAYBE THAT'S THE BETTER WAY OF CONSENSUS AT THIS POINT.

PART OF WHAT'S GOING ON HERE RIGHT NOW IS QUESTION OF WHO'S THE PARTY AT THIS POINT?

RIGHT NOW BIDEN THINKS HE'S THE PARTY, HE GETS TO MAKE THE CALL.

MAYBE IT OUGHT TO BE, WHAT, THE PUBLIC OPINION POLLS SAYING 60% OF DEMOCRATS SAYING HE OUGHT TO GO.

MAYBE IT OUGHT TO BE THE CONVENTION PEOPLE SAYING MAYBE WE HAVE BUYER'S REMORSE.

>> Eric: COULD BE A BIG WEEKEND FOR DECISION MAKING.

>> IT COULD BE, IT COULD BE.

>> Eric: APPRECIATE YOU COMING BY.

>> MY PLEASURE, THANKS.

>> Eric: GOOD TO SEE YOU.

♪♪ >> Cathy: WE JUST TALKED ABOUT IT, PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID THIS WEEK AND CURRENTLY ISOLATING AT HOME.

THE PRESIDENT IS NOT ALONE IN HIS ILLNESS AS COVID CASES ARE ON THE RISE ACROSS THE OUNTRY, AND HERE IN MINNESOTA.

DR. MIKE OSTERHOLM IS BACK WITH US, HE HEADS UP THE CENTER FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESEARCH AND POLICY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU WERE HERE LAST YOU SAID THINGS ARE LOOKING REALLY GOOD WHEN IT CAME TO COVID NUMBERS.

NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS SURGE RISE IN INFECTIONS, NO SURPRISE GIVEN THAT IT IS JULY?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, JUST TO PUT IT INTO PERSPECTIVE ACTUALLY JUST SIX WEEKS AGO WE HAD ABOUT 50 DEATHS A WEEK IN THE STATE FROM COVID.

NOW WE'RE UP TO 141.

AND SO IT IS RISING.

WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE, AND BUT THIS IS THE SAME STORY THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR FOUR YEARS.

THIS VIRUS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CONTINUE TO CHANGE ITSELF, THESE NEW VARIANTS.

AND EVERY TIME THAT HAPPENS IS GIVES IT ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO ESCAPE KIND OF THE IMMUNE PROTECTION THAT WE'VE HAD, AND IT ALSO IN SOME CASES IS MORE INFECTIOUS WHICH THIS ONE APPEARS TO BE.

THEN YOU ADD INTO HAT WE NOW KNOW WITH VACCINE OR INFECTION ITSELF YOU GET PROTECTION FOUR TO SIX WEEKS -- FOUR TO SIX MONTHS FOR HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATH AND THAT'S GOOD.

BUT THE PROBLEM IS MANY OF US ARE WELL BEYOND SIX MONTHS SINCE OUR LAST VACCINE OR SINCE WE HAD IT.

NOW YOU'RE SEEING THIS COLLISION OF THIS NEW MORE INFECTIOUS VARIANT WITH MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUSCEPTIBILITY AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING.

>> Eric: WAIT 'TIL SEPTEMBER OR TAKE THE PLUNGE NOW?

>> THIS IS A REAL CHALLENGE, I HAPPEN TO BE RIGHT AT THE PINNACLE OF THAT QUESTION MYSELF.

AT 71 YEARS OF AGE, FOUR AND A HALF, FIVE MONTHS SINCE I GOT VACCINATED LAST, AND THE QUESTION WE'RE ASKING, SHOULD I GO GET THE OLD VACCINE ONE MORE TIME WHICH ISN'T ALL THAT GOOD ANYMORE BECAUSE THE VARIANTS HAVE MOVED ON, OR WAIT LIKELY UNTIL AFTER LABOR DAY BEFORE THE NEW VACCINE WHICH WILL HAVE THE COMPONENT PARTS IN IT OF THIS NEW VARIANT.

AND, YOU KNOW, IN THE MEANTIME IT DOESN'T HELP TO GET SICK AND DIE IN TERMS OF WAITING FOR THE NEW VACCINE.

SO A LOT OF US ARE KIND OF DEBATING.

I'M ACTUALLY ON THE EDGE RIGHT NOW OF THINKING OF GETTING THE OLD VACCINE ONE MORE TIME.

>> Cathy: CAN YOU AS AN EPIDEMIOLOGIST CAN WE DETERMINE HOW LONG SURGES LIKE THIS COULD LAST?

>> NO, WE'RE IN UNCHARTED TERRITORIES WITH OVID.

WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THAT THEREFORE BEEN NINE MAJOR SURGES IN THIS PANDEMIC UP TO NOW.

AND THEY'VE OCCURRED IN ALL FOUR SEASONS, EQUALLY DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE SEASONS.

EACH ONE WAS REALLY TIED TO WHEN THE NEW VARIANT SHOWED UP AND STARTED TO TO SPREAD AND HOW LONG DID IT LAST, IN SOME CASES IT WAS EIGHT TO TEN WEEKS, SOME CASES MORE 15 TO 20 WEEKS.

WE REALLY DON'T KNOW.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE WANTED TO CALL THIS A SEASONAL VIRUS MEANING THAT IT OCCURS TYPICALLY IN ONE SEASON, THAT'S NOT TRUE EITHER.

IT OCCURS IN ALL SEASONS, THAT'S WHAT IT MAKES T A SEASONAL VIRUS I GUESS.

SO IT'S GOING TO CONSTANTLY BE TIP BATTLE BETWEEN GETTING VACCINES, HOW OFTEN YOU GET A VACCINE AND IN FACT RECENT STUDY SHOWED IT DIDN'T MATTER HOW MANY DOSES OF VACCINE YOU HAD, IT'S WHEN DID YOU GET YOUR LAST ONE.

>> Eric: COULD THE TWO REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC THAN CONVENTIONS TURN INTO SUPERSPREADERS?

>> ABSOLUTELY, ANYTHING WITH LARGE CROWDS INDOORS COULD VERY WELL BE THAT.

FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE YOUNGER WHO DON'T HAVE UNDERLYING CONDITIONS, THIS TENDS TO BE MORE MILD FLU-LIKE ILLNESS.

>> Eric: HOW ABOUT PRESIDENT BIDEN?

>> HE OBVIOUSLY IS AT RISK FOR SERIOUS ILLNESS AT HIS STAGE IN LIFE AND WHAT HE HAS FROM HEALTH ISSUES BUT AT THE SAME TIME HE WAS VACCINATED AND HE'S ALREADY HAD IT ONCE BEFORE WITH ADDITIONAL IMMUNITY ON BOARD THERE AND HE RECEIVED PAXLOVID IMMEDIATELY THE DRUG AND HE'S GOT GREAT CARE.

ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WITH COVID IF YOU PROGRESS TOWARDS SERIOUS ILLNESS, IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD HEALTH CARE UP TO THAT POINT YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO SEE IT.

IF HE HAS ANY REAL CHALLENGES THEY WILL CLEARLY GET HIM ADDITIONAL HEALTH CARE, SO I THINK HE SHOULD RECOVER AND DO FINE.

>> Cathy: ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE FLIRT VARIANT?

>> IT'S THE FLIRT VARIANT WITH ONE MORE ADDITION TO IT.

THESE MUTATIONS KEEP OCCURRING.

THIS IS WHY BACK IN 2020, I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT SOME OF THE OLD DISCUSSIONS WE HAD AND WE TALKED AT THAT TIME ABOUT THESE VARIANTS ARE THE GAME-CHANGERS.

WE DON'T HAVE AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE LIKE THIS, EVEN INFLUENZA CHANGES SEASON TO SEASON SOMETIMES BUT NOT THREE OR FOUR TIMES A YEAR, THAT'S MADE THIS A MUCH MORE COMPLICATED SITUATION TO DEAL WITH.

>> Cathy: HAVE YOU NOTICED DIFFERENT SYMPTOMS THIS TIME WITH FLRT?

>> YOUNGER PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS TYPICALLY HAVE COLD SYMPTOMS, SNIFFLES, FEEL BAD FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.

WHEN WE'RE SEEING THE PROBLEM AND WE HAVE OUTBREAKS IN MINNESOTA OR AT LEAST INCREASED NUMBER OF CASES IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY MOST VULNERABLE RIGHT NOW TO SERIOUS ILLNESS, WITH THAT WE ALSO HAVE TO WEIGH IN WITH.

>> Eric: KEEP US POSTED.

>> I WILL.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> Eric: THANKS.

♪♪ >> I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT OUR COUNTRY AND THE ELECTION THAT WE ARE FACING.

FEELS AS THOUGH EVERY DAY BRINGS A NEW AND UNEXPECTED TWIST.

AND -- [ PHONE RINGING ] I'M SORRY, ONE SECOND.

HELLO?

>> HELLO!

I’M WITH THE NATIONAL POLLING FIRM CONDUCTING A SURVEY OF AMERICAN VOTERS.

WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS?

GREAT.

HOW WOULD YOU RATE THE DIRECTION OF OUR COUNTRY?

>> I'M SORRY, THIS IS REALLY NOT A GOOD TIME.

>> OKAY.

A COUNTRY IS ON THE WRONG TRACK.

GOT IT.

>> NO, I'M SORRY, THAT'S NOT WHAT I WAS SAYING, I'M SORRY, I'M RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF SOME WORK RIGHT NOW.

>> YOU'RE WORKING AT 7:00 P.M. ON A FRIDAY NIGHT?

>> WELL, I -- IT'S NOT EXACTLY LIKE MY JOB, IT'S LIKE A SECOND GIG KIND OF THING.

>> HAVING TO WORK MULTIPLE JOBS, CAN'T BE A GOOD SIGN.

I'M GOING TO PUT DOWN THE ECONOMY IS YOUR TOP ISSUE.

>> WELL, NO -- I MEAN, THAT IS ALSO NOT WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY.

>> NEXT QUESTION.

NOW, WHICH PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WOULD YOU MOST WANT TO O ON A LONG ROAD TRIP WITH?

JUST THE TWO OF YOU IN A CAR, LISTENING AND TELLING STORIES AND POINTING OUT THINGS OUT THE WINDOW FOR HOURS AND HOURS AND ... >> HONESTLY?

LIKE NONE OF THEM?

>> OKAY.

UNDECIDED THEN, WOW.

THAT IS RARE THESE DAYS.

YOU ARE A UNICORN, MY FRIEND.

LAST QUESTION.

DO YOU PLAN TO VOTE THIS FALL?

>> YES.

>> ARE YOU SURE?

>> YES.

>> WHAT IF YOU GET REALLY BUSY?

>> I'LL FIND TIME.

>> YEAH, BUT WHAT IF YOU SPRAIN BOTH YOUR ANKLES AND DRAGGING YOUR SOCKED FEET AROUND YOUR HOUSE YOU CREATE SO MUCH STATIC ELECTRICITY THAT IT SHORT-CIRCUITS ALL OF THE ELECTRONICS AROUND YOU, AND EVEN IF YOU PULL YOUR BODY ACROSS THE GLASS STREWN SIDEWALKS TO GET TO YOUR POLLING PLACE YOU ARRIVE TO FIND YOUR ANDS ARE NOW USELESS HUSKS AND YOU TRY AND PUT THE PEN IN YOUR MOUTH TO FILL IN THE CIRCLE BUT THERE IS THE SOLAR ECLIPSE BLOCKING OUT THE SUN, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE YOU TO EVEN SEE WHERE YOU'RE SCRAGLING WITH NO HOPE MECFS COMPLETE FILLING IN THE OVAL?

WHAT THEN?

>> I GUESS I WOULD VOTE BY MAIL.

>> OKAY.

I'LL PUT YOU DOWN AS A LIKELY VOTER THEN.

YOU HAVE A GOOD DAY.

♪♪ >> Eric: SUMMER OF 1934 FULL OF GREAT LABOR UNREST ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

ONE OF THE MOST VIOLENT STRIKES THAT SUMMER OCCURRED RIGHT HERE IN MINNEAPOLIS.

TWO STRIKING TEAMSTERS DIED ON WHAT CAME TO BE KNOWN AS "BLOODY FRIDAY."

THIS SATURDAY MARKS THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TRUCKER STRIKE IN THE MINNEAPOLIS MARKET DISTRICT.

MINNEAPOLIS PAST, WHICH WAS A TPT-PRODUCED DOCUMENTARY FROM YEARS GONE BY TOLD THE STORY OF THE 1934 TRUCKERS' STRIKE AND HERE'S A SHORT EXCERPT.

>> IN THE SUMMER OF 1934 THE NATION'S EYES WERE FIXED ON THE TEAMSTERS STRIKE IN THE MINNEAPOLIS MARKET DISTRICT.

THROUGH THE MARKET LOOKS LIKE A THRIVING PLACE IN THESE PHOTOS, THERE WERE MANY PROBLEMS HERE IN THE EARLY '30S.

THE FARM ECONOMY WAS IN A MESS.

WAGES IN THE CITY WERE BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

BUSINESS OWNERS HAD A STRIKE-BREAKING ORGANIZATION CALLED THE CITIZENS ALLIANCE, AND THEY DESPERATELY FOUGHT TO HANG ONTO THEIR DWINDLING PROFITS AND TO THEIR CONTROL.

♪♪ >> MEMBERS.

TEAMSTERS LOCAL 574 WENT ON STRIKE IN AY AND THE STRIKE WAS LONG AND BRUTAL.

DURING THE FIRST MONTH THERE WERE MANY VIOLENT FIGHTS BETWEEN THE TRUCKERS AND BUSINESSMEN.

DOZENS OF WORKERS WERE INJURED IN THE FIGHTING, AND TWO MANAGEMENT SUPPORTERS WERE BEATEN TO DEATH BY STRIKERS.

♪♪ THE VIOLENCE CONTINUED LATER THAT SUMMER.

IN JULY, TWO MEMBERS OF THE TEAMSTERS WERE SHOT TO DEATH BY POLICE.

THE CITY MARKET HAD BECOME A BATTLEGROUND BETWEEN TWO ARMIES.

♪♪ THE STRIKE WAS PART OF THE YEAR OF NTENSE LABOR VIOLENCE AROUND THE COUNTRY.

IT SEEMED THE NATION WAS ON THE BRINK OF CLASS WARFARE.

>> THE YEAR WAS ONE OF VIOLENT LABOR TROUBLES AND STRIKES, SAN FRANCISCO'S GENERAL STRIKE GRIPPED THE CITY IN A DEATH-LIKE CLUTCH.

A GASOLINE SHORTAGE STOPPED ALMOST EVERY WHEEL IN TOWN.

EVERYONE WALKED OR STAYED AT HOME.

IN MINNEAPOLIS A TRUCK DRIVER STRIKE WAS CLIMAXED BY SEVERE RIOTS AND FIGHTS BETWEEN THE STRIKERS AND POLICE WITH MANY CASUALTIES.

AUTO ACCESSORY WORKER STRIKE IN TOLEDO, HAD TO RESORT TO TEAR GAS, LEAD AND EARL TO TEMPER THE STRIKERS.

CIVIC STRIKES AT ITS WORST.

>> LABOR RIGHTS GOVERNOR FLYD B. OLSON HAD ENOUGH.

IN A MOVE THAT PLEASED NEITHER SIDE OLSON IMPOSED MARSHAL LAW AND CALLED THE NATIONAL GUARD TO RESTORE ORDER.

AT THE PRESSURE FROM WASHINGTON, MANAGEMENT BACKED DOWN.

THE STRIKERS HAD WON.

THE CITIZENS ALLIANCE, THE GROUP WHICH HAD KEPT MINNEAPOLIS A NON-UNION TOWN FOR THREE DECADES WAS FORCED TO ADMIT DEFEAT FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.

>> Eric: JOINING S NOW LINDA LEIGHTON, LABOR ACTIVIST, GRANDDAUGHTER OF PROMINENT STRIKE LEADER RAY DUNNE.

WITH HER IS FORMER ST. OF ST.

CLOUD PROFESSOR AND ORGANIZER OF THE ART EXHIBIT 1934 AND NOW, KEITH CHRISTIANSEN.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

TELL US ABOUT GRANDPA.

>> HE WAS REMARKABLE.

AND HE DIED WHEN I WAS JUST NOT QUITE 23 -- OR, I'M SORRY, 23.

THE AND HE WAS NOT -- WE DIDN'T SEE HIM A LOT WHEN I WAS REALLY YOUNG BECAUSE HE WAS STILL VERY ACTIVE AS A UNION WORKER AND WITH THE SOCIALIST WORKERS PARTY.

BUT MY GRANDMOTHER OF COURSE FILLED IN AND HE CAME TO THE MAJOR HOLIDAYS.

WHEN HE GOT OLDER I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET TO KNOW HIM EVEN BETTER AND HE WAS A REMARKABLE MAN WHO WAS VERY KIND, ACCEPTING OF EVERYONE, AND VERY INTERESTED N ANCIENT HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY TOO.

>> Cathy: SAY, KEITH, WHEN YOU SEE THOSE NEWS REALIZE AND BERMAN'S VOICE, AND HOW HE USED TO SAY THIS EVENT, THE '34 TRUCKERS STRIKE WAS PIVOTAL AND PEOPLE REALLY DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT AND AHE WAS ALWAYS UPSET ABOUT THAT.

WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND WHEN YOU SEE SOME OF THE THAT OLD FOOTAGE?

>> IT CAME TO ME IT'S A KIND OF HIDDEN HISTORY.

AND IS SO WHEN I WAS, YOU KNOW, LEARNING ABOUT IT AND UNDERSTANDING THE MEANING OF IT, IT SHOWED ME THE ROOTS OF A LOT OF ACTIVISM TODAY THAT I'VE WITNESSED.

>> Cathy: LINDA, WHAT DID YOUR GRANDPA SAY ABOUT THIS?

DID HE GO IN-DEPTH WHEN YOU WERE TALKING TO HIM ABOUT WHAT THIS WAS LIKE TO LIVE THROUGH IT?

>> HE ARELY TALKED ABOUT IT.

WE GOT A LOT OF OUR INFORMATION FROM MY MOTHER.

HE WAS VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN THE PRESENT.

EVERYTHING THAT WAS GOING ON IN THE WORLD THAT WAS ADVANCING WORKING PEOPLE'S CAUSES WAS WHAT HE MOSTLY WAS ENCOURAGED BY.

>> Eric: AND YOU PICKED UP THE TORCH IT SOUNDS LIKE.

>> I TRIED TO.

I HAVEN'T DONE AS MUCH.

>> Eric: HOW DID HIS EXAMPLE SERVE YOU AS YOU WENT THROUGH YOUR WORKING YEARS?

>> I KIND OF TELL THIS AS A LITTLE BIT OF A STORY.

HE ALWAYS WORE A SUIT AND MOST OF THE OTHER STRIKE LEADERS DIDN'T.

AND HE TOLD ME, YOU KNOW, I JUST -- I FEEL A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THEIR PLANE WHEN I'M MEETING WITH THE BOSSES AND WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN CHARGE.

POLITICIANS AND WHATNOT.

AND WHEN I WAS -- I WAS A LONG-TIME STEWARD IN SEIU 284 AND I THINK I PICKED UP FROM HIM THE FEELING HA IN LABOR THINGS THE WORKERS HAVE A VOICE TOO, AN IMPORTANT VOICE, AND SO I ALWAYS FELT COMFORTABLE PUTTING MYSELF IN THAT POSITION.

>> Cathy: SAY, KEITH, I'M WONDERING, THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THIS EVENT IS JUST REALLY REVERBERATED FOR YEARS AFTER, OBVIOUSLY.

AND WHAT, WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED DURING THIS STRIKE?

>> BECAUSE IT'S RELEVANT AND WE KIND OF NEED SOME OF THE LESSONS I THINK YOU CAN LEARN FROM THAT STRIKE.

NUMBER ONE LESSON IS SOLIDARITY, THEY WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF A DEPRESSION, THEY FOUGHT LIKE HELL, SOME OF THEM DIED, BUT THEY WERE EFFECTIVE AND THEY WON THEIR STRIKE.

>> Eric: F.D.R.

GOT INVOLVED, RIGHT?

>> HE DID, HE PROBABLY WAS THE ONE TO SETTLE IT BUT HE ALSO PUT PEOPLE BACK IN AIL TOO LATER, SO.

>> Eric: WHAT PRESSURE POINT DID HE HAVE ON THE ALLIANCE, THE BUSINESSPEOPLE?

>> THE BANKERS.

HE CALLED IN THE LOANS AND THEY SETTLED VERY QUICKLY AFTER THAT.

>> Cathy: FLYD B. OLSON ALSO PLAYED A BIG ROLE AS YOU SAW IN THAT DOCUMENTARY TOO.

AND I'M WONDERING WHAT YOU THOUGHT OF HIS ROLE, LINDA.

>> WELL, HE WAS TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND HE WAS PUT IN A REALLY TOUGH PLACE IN A LOT OF WAYS.

THE STRIKERS I THINK ORIGINALLY COUNTED ON MORE SUPPORT FROM HIM AND HE BECAME A DISAPPOINTMENT DURING THE STRUGGLE.

>> Eric: WAS THERE CONCERN FOR YOUR GRANDFATHER'S SAFETY?

>> ALWAYS.

>> Eric: TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, HOW DID FAMILY HANDLE ALL THAT >> I THINK IT WASN'T JUST MY GRANDPA, IT WASN'T ABOUT THE LEADERS AS MUCH AS IT WAS ABOUT ALL THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE STRIKE.

LIKE KEITH SAID, THE SOLIDARITY.

EVERY SINGLE FAMILY THAT HAD SOMEBODY WHO WAS IN THE STRIKES WORRIED EVERY DAY WHETHER THEY WERE GOING TO COME HOME OR NOT.

BECAUSE OF THE THINGS GOING ON.

>> Cathy: AND BY THE WAY, FOR FOLKS -- I WAS -- WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS OFF AIR BUT WHERE THE PLAQUE IS DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS THAT COMMEMORATES THIS EXACTLY, DO YOU KNOW?

>> 701 THIRD TREET NORTH.

>> Cathy: THIRD STREET NORTH.

YEAH, THAT'S THE SITE OF WHERE ALL THE UNREST -- >> BLOODY FRIDAY, 67 WORKERS WERE SHOT, MOST OF THEM IN THE BACK, TWO WERE KILLED.

>> Eric: THE EXHIBITS AT THE MINNEAPOLIS CENTRAL LIBRARY ON NICOLLET MALL.

>> RIGHT, I'M THE ORGANIZER AND PARTICIPANT IN AN EXHIBITION AT THE MINNESOTA CENTRAL LIBRARY.

>> Eric: WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION?

>> WELL, WE'RE GIVING TOURS IN FACT THIS WEEK THERE WILL BE A TOUR WITH THE JEWISH COMMUNITY ACTION GROUP WHO WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOLIDARITY WITH LABOR AS WELL AS HOW IT RELATES TO CURRENT CONDITIONS.

>> Cathy: NOW, LINDA, AS A PERSON WHO'S KIND OF LIVING HISTORY BECAUSE OF OUR GRANDFATHER IN A SENSE, SORRY ABOUT THAT, BUT IT'S -- WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUNG PEOPLE TO REMEMBER ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN 1934?

>> I WANT THEM TO REMEMBER THAT WHEN PEOPLE FELT THEY HAD A RIGHT TO SOMETHING AND WANTED TO MAKE THEIR LIVES BETTER, THEY SHOULD GO AHEAD AND FIGHT FOR IT.

>> Cathy: AND IS THERE A PICNIC BY THE WAY COMING UP TO CELEBRATE?

>> THERE'S A GATHERING.

>> Cathy: THERE'S A GATHERING.

>> ON THE 27TH OF THIS MONTH, AND IT WILL BE AT MINNEHAHA PARK.

WAHBAN PARK.

>> Eric: APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Eric: YOU BET.

♪♪ >> THIS SUMMER WE'RE HAVING GUEST HOSTS EACH WEEK AND TONIGHT WE HAVE CATHY WURZER FROM MID MORTGAGE AND MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ERIC.

ON TUESDAY THE STAR TRIBUNE'S MINNESOTA POLL SHOWED THAT STATE RESIDENTS ARE SPLIT ON THE ISSUE OF COMPULSIVE GAMBLING.

♪♪ >> Cathy: THAT WAS SO LONG AGO.

[ LAUGHTER ] WELL, AT NY RATE WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE ON WITH THE PROGRAM.

ON THURSDAY THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A NEW UNION CONTRACT FOR THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THE CONTRACT CONTAINS A HISTORIC 22% PAY RAISE FOR OFFICERS, ADVOCATES SAY THIS WILL HELP ATTRACT MORE RECRUITS TO THE FORCE, CRITICS, ON THE OTHER HAND SAY THE RAISES ARE NOT WARRANTED GIVEN THE LACK OF DEPARTMENT REFORM.

HERE TO HELP US SIFT THROUGH THE DETAILS IS UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA SOCIOLOGY PROFESSOR MICHELLE PHELPS WHO RECENTLY WROTE A BOOK ON THE HISTORY OF THE M.P.D.

PROFESSOR, WELCOME BACK.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: I BET YOU PROBABLY HAVE FOLLOWED THE UPS AND DOWNS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS IN THE CITY COUNCIL AND I'M WONDERING, THIS IS A BIG PAY RAISE.

HAS THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT EVER SEEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, THIS KIND OF HISTORIC PAY RAISE IS UNIQUE, CERTAINLY WHEN WE LOOK AT THE MOST RECENT CONTRACT THERE WAS A SORT OF A SMALL BONUS FOR OFFICERS BUT WE DIDN'T SEE THIS KIND OF INCREASE IN THE SALARY.

AND I THINK WHAT'S MOST NOTABLE IS WHERE IT WILL PUT MINNEAPOLIS COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES IN MINNESOTA AND IN THE STATE.

THIS IS REALLY GOING TO SHIFT WHERE THE DEPARTMENT IS RANKED IN TERMS OF OFFICER SALARIES.

>> Eric: YOU KNOW THIS WELL, THAT IN THE PAST THE POLICE CONTRACT HAS BEEN SEEN AS A BLOCK TO REFORM.

AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S THE GATEWAY TO PROGRESSIVE REFORM, LITTLE IRONIC, OR?

>> RIGHT, SO, YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR I THINK IS RIGHTFULLY GETTING SOME PUSHBACK IN THE MOMENT BECAUSE IN SUMMER 2020, ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS WAS THAT THE REASON WE HADN'T HAD MORE REFORM OF THE M.P.D.

WAS BECAUSE OF THE BARRIERS OF THE UNIONS AND THE FEDERATION'S POWER AND IN PARTICULAR THE UNION CONTRACT.

AND BY THE TIME WE SAW THE NEXT ITERATION OF THE CONTRACT, WHICH WAS IN 2022, AND WOULD EXPIRE BEFORE THAT -- BY THE TIME THAT YEAR WAS OVER LEADING TO THIS NEW NEGOTIATION, THAT CONTRACT, RIGHT, DIDN'T INCLUDE REALLY ANY PROVISIONS THAT FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED HOW MISCONDUCT HAPPENED IN THE DEPARTMENT OR THE KINDS OF TRANSPARENCY AND OVERSIGHT THAT PEOPLE WERE CALLING FOR, AND IT DOES FEEL LIKE THE BALL HAS SHIFTED, RIGHT, IN TERMS OF WHERE REFORM IS SUPPOSED TO BE HAPPENING.

AND I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE UNION CONTRACT, IF YOU LOOK AT POLICIES AND PRACTICES, IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT, IN NONE OF THOSE SPACES IT IS IT REALLY CLEAR WHAT'S CHANGED WITH THE M.P.D.

IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE FACT THAT THE CHIEF NOW HAS MORE POWER EVIDENTLY UNDER THIS CONTRACT THAN HE OR SHE HAD PRIOR?

>> SO I THINK ONE OF THE POSITIVE CHANGES IN THIS UNION CONTRACT IS THAT THERE IS MORE EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY OVER STAFFING POSITIONS AND EXPANDS THE ABILITY OF THE DEPARTMENT TO HIRE CIVILIAN STAFF IN INVESTIGATORY POSITION.

I THINK BOTH OF THOSE MOVES ARE GOOD MOVES TO TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT THE WAY THAT WE'RE DEPLOYING THE POLICE OFFICERS THAT WE DO HAVE MAKES SENSE FROM ORGANIZATIONAL PERSPECTIVES AND NOT JUST THE UNION CONTRACT.

BUT, AGAIN, WHETHER OR NOT THAT WILL SORT OF SOLVE HE BIG CRISES THAT THE CITY IS FACING I THINK IS A QUESTION MARK.

>> Eric: SO HOW FAR AWAY ARE WE FROM DEFUND THE POLICE AND RADICAL TRANSFORMATION, SOME OF THE BUZZWORDS THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED THROUGH THIS EPISODE?

>> SURE, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THE FUNNY THING THAT GETS LOST IN THE DEBATES ABOUT DEFUND THE POLICE IS THAT THE FOCUS OF THE SLOGAN OBVIOUSLY IS ON PULLING MONEY AWAY FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT WHAT THAT MOVEMENT WAS REALLY TRYING TO SAY WAS THAT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND POLICE NOT AS SYNONYMOUS WITH PUBLIC SAFETY, THAT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO GET PUBLIC SAFETY AND SOMETIMES POLICE DEPARTMENTS HARM PUBLIC SAFETY, RIGHT, AS WITH THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.

SO WHAT DEFUND REALLY WANTED TO DO WAS TO MAKE US RETHINK WHEN DO WE NEED TO SEND ARMED POLICE OFFICERS?

WHAT IS THE RIGHT NUMBER AND STAFFING AND WHAT DO WE THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE USE THE BUDGETS THAT CITIES HAVE AVAILABLE TO THEM?

AND SO, YOU KNOW, IN SOME WAYS THIS IS A LOSS OBVIOUSLY IN THAT THE DEPARTMENT'S COSTS WILL GO UP AND THEIR SALARY COSTS WILL GO UP, BUT THINGS LIKE MORE CIVILIAN STAFF AND ACTUALLY AN M.P.D.

THAT IS TRYING TO ADAPT TO THE FACT THAT IT WILL BE A SMALLER DEPARTMENT, THOSE IN SOME WAYS ARE MOVES THAT YOU COULD SEE AS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT ADVOCATES WERE TRYING TO CALL FOR IN SUMMER 2020 WITH THAT SLOGAN.

>> Cathy: SO HAD THERE NOT BEEN THIS CONTRACT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IT WOULD HAVE GONE BACK INTO MEDIATION, WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN THEN MAYBE IF THAT WERE TO HAVE HAPPENED, WOULD WE SEE FEWER REFORMS THAN ARE ALREADY IN THE CONTRACT?

>> SO THIS IS ALWAYS SORT OF THE SCARE TACTIC BROUGHT OUT AT THE END OF THIS PROCESS.

SO THE CITY COUNCIL FORMALLY HAS VERY LITTLE ROLE IN THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS WITH THE UNION OVER THE CONTRACT.

AND SO IT COMES AT THE END AFTER OFFICERS HAVE ALREADY RATIFIED THAT THEY WANT TO VOTE FOR THE UNION CONTRACT, THEN THE CITY COUNCIL HAS A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN.

BUT THE CITY COUNCIL REALLY CAN ONLY GIVE IT A THUMBS UP OR THUMBS DOWN.

THAT IS THE SCOPE OF THEIR AUTHORITY.

AND IF THEY WOULD HAVE NOT HAVE APPROVED IT, YES, IT OULD HAVE GONE BACK TO MEDIATION AND POTENTIALLY ARBITRATION ND THERE WAS A CONCERN THAT THAT WOULD LEAD TO A WORSE CONTRACT OVERALL.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE GOOD EVIDENCE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER BUT IT'S CERTAINLY NOT OBVIOUS THAT HAD THE CITY COUNCIL TURNED DOWN AT THIS POINT THAT WE WOULD HAVE WOUND UP WITH A BETTER CONTRACT.

>> Cathy: I'M KIND OF CURIOUS ABOUT, AND IT'S KIND OF CONFUSING FOR PEOPLE, THERE ARE THE CONSENT DECREES, RIGHT, THAT I'M WONDERING HOW THIS CONTRACT FITS INTO THAT PUZZLE.

>> RIGHT.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK ABOUT POLICING AS IN THIS REGULATORY MAZE.

SO YOU HAVE THE CITY LEVEL DEPARTMENTS AND PRACTICES, YOU HAVE STATE LAW, YOU HAVE FEDERAL LAW, AND OPERATING IN BETWEEN ALL OF THAT IS THIS DEPARTMENT AND ITS DAY TO DAY ACTIONS.

SO, YES, THE NION CONTRACT IS JUST A PIECE OF THE REFORM PROCESS.

I THINK THE MAYOR IS CORRECT WHEN HE SAYS THIS IS NOT THE ONLY WAY TO REFORM A DEPARTMENT AND IT'S NOT.

THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHER ROUTES AND THE CONSENT DECREE, SO THERE'S ONE ONGOING NOW THAT THE CITY IS UNDER WITH THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS.

THEY'RE ALSO NEGOTIATING A SECOND CONSENT DECREE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE FINAL DETAILS ON.

I EXPECT BOTH OF THOSE, CERTAINLY THE ONE WE ALREADY KNOW ABOUT AND THE DOJ WHEN IT COMES OUT, BOTH OF THOSE WILL INVOLVE A FAIR DEAL OF POLICY AND PRACTICE WE REFORMS OF THE DEPARTMENT.

BUT REALLY IMPORTANTLY, ALL OF THOSE EGOTIATED AGREEMENTS WITH THE COURTS, THEY ALL CEDE WHAT IS GRIEVABLE THROUGH THE UNION AS A SEPARATE PROCESS.

SO THE CONSENT DECREES WILL NEVER OVERRULE WHAT IS IN THE UNION CONTRACT, RIGHT, BECAUSE THAT IS BARGAINING AGREEMENT, THEY HAVE THOSE TERMS SET IN PLACE.

AND SO IT DOES IN SOME WAYS CONSTRAIN THEN, WHATEVER IS WRITTEN INTO THE UNION CONTRACT MEANS IT CAN'T BE CHANGED THROUGH CONSENT DECREE PROCESS.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPLANATION.

PROFESSOR, THANK YOU.

>> Eric: THANKS A LOT.

♪♪ >> Eric: THIS PAST MONDAY THE SAHAN JOURNAL NAMED ITS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR VANAN MURUGESAN WHO HAS WORKED FOR NEARLY A DECADE AT NON-PROFIT PILLSBURY UNITED COMMUNITIES AND HELPED LAUNCH COMMUNITY NEWS OUTLETS NORTH NEWS AND KRSM RADIO.

HE SUCCEEDS THE FOUNDER AND CEO MUHKTAR IBRAHIM AND WILL MOVE INTO THE ROLE IN EARLY SEPTEMBER.

VANAN MURUGESAN JOINS S NOW.

HOW DID I DO ON YOUR NAME?

>> GOOD ATTEMPT, ERIC.

VANAN MURUGESAN.

MY WIFE WANTED ME TO SPELL IT OUT PHONETICALLY SO I THINK I WILL TAKE HER UP ON THAT OFFER.

NO WORRIES, NO WORRIES, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Eric: YOU DON'T HAVE A JOURNALISM BACKGROUND PER SE, WHAT DO YOU SEE YOUR ROLE AS?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

I WAS BROUGHT IN BY THE LEADERS OF SAHAN TO BE AN ORGANIZATION BUILDER.

IT'S NOT UNCOMMON TO SEE ORGANIZATIONS BRING IN LEADERS THAT ARE NOT SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS OF THE FIELD.

MINNESOTA UNITED BROUGHT IN SHARI, CEO -- SORRY, EXECUTIVE FROM BEST BUY.

YESTERDAY I MET ROB ZESKE, CEO OF REPORT FOR AMERICA.

NO JOURNALISM BACKGROUND TOO, BUT THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE IN COMMON, A, WE'VE GOT TO BE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE DO.

THAT'S A GIVEN, THAT'S NONNEGOTIABLE.

BUT SECOND I THINK THERE ARE PARTICULAR SETS OF SKILL SETS AND EXPERIENCES THAT THE ORGANIZATION NEEDS IN A PARTICULAR MOMENT IN TIME.

AND SO IN THIS PARTICULAR MOMENT I HAVE A STRONG TRACK RECORD OF DRIVING STRATEGIC GROWTH, COMING UP WITH INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS, BRINGING IN NEW NCOME REVENUE STREAMS INTO A PARTICULAR BODY OF WORK THAT I OVERSEE.

I'M PROUD OF THE FACT THAT I'M ABLE TO BUILD STRONG CULTURE WITHIN AN ORGANIZATION, I THINK SAHAN IT'S MOSTLY JUST MAINTAINING IT.

BUT, YEAH, NO JOURNALISM BUT I THINK I DO HAVE, I'M VERY CONFIDENT ABOUT MY SETS OF SKILLS TO TAKE OVER MUHKTAR.

YEAH.

>> Cathy: YOU HAVE BIG SHOES TO FILL BUT I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE GREAT.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: SO YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU HAVE A KNACK FOR DEVELOPING NEW REVENUE STREAMS.

AS WE ALL KNOW MEDIA LANDSCAPE IS PRETTY TOUGH OUT THERE WHEN IT COMES TO FINANCES.

>> YES, YES, CORRECT.

>> Cathy: IS IT STILL IMPORTANT TO YOU TO KEEP SAHAN AS A NON-PROFIT >> IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I DON'T SEE THAT CHANGING, CATHY.

IN FACT I THINK WE'RE SEEING A GROWING TREND NATIONWIDE NATIONALLY WHERE MEDIA IS BEENING NON-PROFIT.

AND IT DOES REQUIRE STRATEGIC THINKING.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO COMPLETELY BE RELYING ON NON-PROFIT METHODS BUT, YES, I DO SEE THAT WAY.

>> Eric: WHAT LED YOU TO SEEK THIS JOB?

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SIT DOWN SOMETIMES YOU'LL SEE DOTS CONNECTING.

AND THERE'S BEEN SPECIFIC MOMENTS IN TIME OF MY LIFE WHERE THAT'S COMING AND BRINGING ME TO THIS MOMENT.

I HAVE ALWAYS CARED ABOUT JOURNALISM, THE IMPACT OF THE WORK THAT IT DOES, HOLDING TRUTH TO POWER.

GROWING UP IN MALAYSIA, I'VE SEEN THE POWER OF -- I'VE SEEN VARYING DEGREES OF JOURNALISM, ABILITY TO DO IT, COMING TO THE UNITED STATES I SAW THAT ABILITY.

UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T SEE THAT AS MUCH BEING REPRESENTED IN THE BIPOC COMMUNITIES, AND I FEEL LIKE SAHAN HAS THE ABILITY TO DO THAT, TO REPRESENT THE WORK.

>> Cathy: DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU FIRST PICKED UP OR CLICKED ON SAHAN JOURNAL AND YOU SAID TO YOURSELF, WHAT?

>> OH, THE FIRST PIECE THAT I PICKED UP FROM SAHAN WAS ABOUT I THINK IT WAS DURING COVID WHERE THEY HAD A PIECE ABOUT A BARBER SHOP IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS, I THINK IT'S THIEL WILSON A WELL KNOWN FIGURE WITHIN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS BUT HE WAS ALSO PROVIDED SERVICES, COVID IMMUNIZATION, RIGHT, AND THE STORY, AND I THINK IT WAS IN COMBINATION WITH MPR TOO.

BUT THE STORY WAS WELL TOLD, IT TOLD STORIES ABOUT IMMIGRANT, BIPOC COMMUNITIES IN A WAY THAT I RARELY SEE FROM LEGACY MEDIA, YOU KNOW, NO KNOCK ON LEGACY MEDIA.

BUT JUST VERY, VERY WELL DONE, AND I STILL REMEMBER IT WAS KIND OF A FUN PIECE, I AM LIKE, HUH, THESE GUYS ARE PRETTY COOL ACTUALLY.

>> Eric: KIND OF UNFAIR TO SAY WHAT'S UNDER EVERY ROCK BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT THERE YET.

>> NO, NOT THERE YET.

>> Eric: BUT FIRST BLUSH WHAT STRIKES YOU ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION?

>> I THINK IT'S AN AMAZING -- I WOULD NOT HAVE TAKEN THIS JOB IF IT WAS -- I WAS VERY HAPPY AT PILLSBURY UNITED COMMUNITIES SO I WAS NOT LOOKING FOR A JOB BUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SAHAN CAME UP.

IT'S AN AMAZING ORGANIZATION AND I REALLY DO FEEL LIKE THE DOTS, THE PAST EXPERIENCE THAT I'VE HAD FOR THE PAST YOU GO TO EIGHT, NINE YEARS LED ME TO THIS POINT.

IF I HAD MORE TIME I WOULD LOVE TO TELL THAT STORY ANOTHER DAY.

IT'S A FANTASTIC ORGANIZATION, GREAT CULTURE, I'VE ALREADY MET THE STAFF SEVERAL TIMES, MET MUHKTAR SEVERAL TIMES, HE'S A LIVERPOOL SOCCER FAN, SO AM I SO I CAN'T WAIT TO BE PART OF THE TEAM.

>> Eric: KEEP US POSTED AS YOU ASSUME YOUR NEW DUTIES.

>> WILL DO, WILL DO.

>> Eric: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

♪♪ >> Cathy: IT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY WEEK IN AMERICAN POLITICS WITH AN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AT THE TOP OF THAT LIST.

THE NEAR-MISS AND INJURY OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP LED TO CALLS ACROSS PARTY LINES TO TONE DOWN VIOLENT RHETORIC IN POLITICAL DISCOURSE ND LEAN INTO CIVILITY.

SO WE'VE GATHERED A GROUP OF CURRENT AND FORMER LAWMAKERS TO EXAMINE THAT THEME WITH US TONIGHT.

UP FIRST THE CURRENT LAWMAKERS.

TWO OF THE COCHAIRS OF THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE'S CIVILITY CAUCUS ARE WITH US.

THIRD TERM REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE KRISTIN ROBBINS HAILS FROM MAPLE GROVE.

D.F.L.

STATE SENATOR GRANT HAUSCHILD IN HIS FIRST TERM CALLED HERMANTOWN HOME.

RETIRED LAWMAKERS JOINING US, FORMER D.F.L.

STATE SENATOR JEFF HAYDEN FROM MINNEAPOLIS, AND ROUNDING OUT THE GROUP MICHELLE BENSON FROM HAM LAKE.

IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE.

REPRESENTATIVE ROBBINS, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE CIVILITY CAUCUS.

I THINK WE SHOULD PROBABLY GET THAT ON THE TABLE FIRST.

THE CIVILITY CAUCUS AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

WELL, I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE, BACK IN THE DAY WHEN ERIC AND I COVERED THE LEGISLATURE WE COULDN'T IMAGINE HAVING A CIVILITY CAUCUS, BUT WHY DO YOU NEED ONE?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS PARTIES AND BODIES.

SO IT'S BIPARTISAN AND BICAMERAL.

AND I THINK THOSE TWO FORUMS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT SO THAT AS WE BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER AS PEOPLE, THEN IT'S EASIER TO DO THE WORK OF NEGOTIATING, HAVING HEARINGS, DOING THOSE END OF SESSION NEGOTIATIONS BECAUSE YOU SEE THE OTHER PERSON AS A PERSON WITH, YOU KNOW, YOUNG KIDS OR AGING ARENTS OR WENT TO THE SAME GRAD SCHOOL.

BUT YOU HAVE COMMONALITIES, OU DON'T, YOU KNOW, DEMONIZE THEM.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT BECAUSE I WANT TO KNOW FROM YOU WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF -- HOW DO YOU EVEN DESCRIBE WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE IN THE PAST WEEK OR SO?

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE RHETORIC THAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING FROM BOTH SIDES.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I'LL JUST SAY AS A MILLENNIAL AND YOUNGER LAWMAKER I WASN'T ALIVE WHEN JOHN F. KENNEDY, RONALD REAGAN, MARTIN LUTHER KING WERE ASSASSINATED OR SHOT AT.

THIS IS REALLY A MOMENT I THINK FOR MY GENERATION TO SAY, WOW, THIS IS WHAT CAN HAPPEN AND THAT'S WHY I JOINED KRISTIN AND OTHERS IN SAYING WE NEED TO TONE DOWN THE RHETORIC, WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT THIS IS REAL.

AND IT WAS REALLY SCARY TO SEE AND AS A LAWMAKER WITH YOUNG KIDS I JUST THINK ABOUT OUR FUTURE AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING WHAT'S RIGHT.

>> Eric: YOU TWO HAVE SAT THROUGH OR GIVEN FAREWELL SPEECHES, RETIREMENT SPEECHES ON THE LAST DAY OF SESSION.

AND INVARIABLY THE FINEST HAPPIEST MOMENTS IN MY TIME AT THE LEGISLATURE WAS WORKING ACROSS THE AISLE AND I MADE SO MANY FRIENDS THAT WERE REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS.

WHERE DOES THAT GOING DURING THE SESSION?

>> I THINK THAT IT, IN THE COMPETING AND THE FIERCENESS OF FIGHTING FOR THE THINGS THAT YOU THINK ARE IMPORTANT I THINK SOMETIMES WE FORGET ABOUT THAT.

WE FORGET ABOUT THIS IDEA THAT WE'RE ALL PARENTS OR WE'RE UNCLES OR WE'RE GRANDPARENTS OR SONS AND DAUGHTERS.

SO I HINK THAT WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT WE OFTEN FORGET ABOUT IT, WE CERTAINLY DID THIS YEAR.

I WASN'T THERE BUT I THINK THAT WE FORGOT ABOUT THAT THIS YEAR IN THE LEGISLATURE AND I THINK WE HAVE TO GET BACK TO THAT.

AND I WOULD SAY MY EXPERIENCE WE DIDN'T FORGET IT, LIKE YOU DO THINGS ON THE FLOOR THAT YOU NEED TO DO TO MAKE YOUR POINT, BUT THEN YOU COULD GO IN THE RETIRING ROOM AND HAVE A CONVERSATION.

I KNEW WHAT JEFF'S KIDS WERE UP TO AFTER I GAVE A VERY RAUCOUS FLOOR SPEECH, I WALKED INTO THE BACK ROOM AND DAVE TOMASSONI STUCK A FORK IN A PIECE OF CAKE AND SAID YOU'RE GOING TO NEED SOMETHING TO EAT AFTER THAT.

AND IT'S NOT TO MAKE LIGHT, I WANT TO BE CLEAR WITH PEOPLE, THAT ARE REALLY PRINCIPLED REASONS FOR STANDING UP AND FIGHTING, BUT WITH SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE VULCANIZATION OF ACTIVISTS I THINK PEOPLE FORGET THAT THE FIGHTS WE HAVE ON THE FLOOR WE TRY TO KEEP THEM NOT PERSONAL, WE DON'T ATTACK THE OTHER PERSON'S CHARACTER, THEIR KIDS, WE DON'T CALL THEM LIARS.

AND SO IF SOME OF THAT MIRRORING OF THESE RE MY PRINCIPLES AND I'M GOING TO FIGHT LIKE HECK TO TELL YOU WHY THEY MATTER BUT IN THE END I SEE YOU AS A PERSON WITH CHILDREN.

I SEE YOU AS SOMEBODY WHO'S GOING TO GO HOME AND HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY FOR MILK JUST LIKE I DO.

WHO'S GOING TO RUN NTO SOMEBODY AT THE GROCERY STORE WHO'S GOING TO TELL YOU YOU DID A REALLY DUMB THING.

WE'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE THAT COMMON EXPERIENCE.

I THINK THE BALKANIZATION PARTICULARLY OF SO SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> Cathy: I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN, REMEMBER WHEN HE WAS SHOT, THE REACTION WAS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS SHOT.

SUCH A DIFFERENT REACTION, I'M WONDERING IS IT BECAUSE SOCIETY IS SO MUCH MORE COARSE THAN IT WAS WHEN PRESIDENT REAGAN WAS WOUNDED?

AND I'M WONDERING THE ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN THAT.

>> I THINK IN BOTH ASES THE IMMEDIATE REACTION ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM WAS SHOCK AND PEOPLE WERE HORRIFIED AND THAT'S HOW I FELT WHEN REAGAN WAS SHOT, I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER IT.

I DO THINK IT WAS SOME SOMEWHAT A UNIFYING MOMENT AND WE AS A COUNTRY SAID THIS IS A BRIDGE TOO FAR.

WE ALL HAVE TO CONDEMN POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND I DID SEE THAT COME IN THOSE IMMEDIATE DAYS.

NOW PEOPLE ARE GOING BACK TO THEIR CORNERS A LITTLE BIT, BUT I REALLY THINK THERE'S AN UNDERLYING COMMITMENT AS A COUNTRY THAT WE REALIZE THAT WE HAVE TO CONDEMN POLITICAL VIOLENCE ACROSS THE SPECTRUM BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE.

WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO WORK TOGETHER.

>> Eric: BUT I'M WONDERING IF WHEN YOU GO TO YOUR ENDORSING CONVENTION AND YOU GET UP AND SAY I WENT ACROSS THE AISLE AND I COMPROMISED, I WONDER IF THE DELEGATES SAY WE DON'T WANT YOU TO GO COMPROMISE, WE WANT YOU TO GO KICK SOME TAIL.

>> I'LL SAY JUST REALLY QUICKLY I'M IN A PURPLE DISTRICT, A RETIGHT DISTRICT AND THAT ACTUALLY IS A STRENGTH I WILL SAY EVEN AMONG DELEGATES AND HARDCORE DEMOCRATS.

WHEN I GO TO THEM AND SAY WE HAVE TO WIN AND IN ORDER TO WIN, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT FOR, THIS IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO REPRESENT THE REGION, THAT MATTERS TO PEOPLE.

THEY AT THE END OF THE DAY AS A PARTISAN WANT TO WIN.

AND IN ORDER TO WIN AND I THINK PRESIDENT BIDEN SHOWED THAT DURING HIS 2020 RACE AS WELL THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY THE MARTY SORT OF CAME TOGETHER -- PARTY SORT OF CAME TOGETHER BEHIND HIM BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO WIN.

>> Eric: DO THE ACTIVISTS GIVE YOU CREDIT?

>> I THINK UP IN GRANT'S DISTRICT, I'M NOT QUITE SO SURE IN THE DISTRICT I REPRESENTED.

WE TEND TO SKEW.

AND IT'S A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY, IT'S A COMMUNITY MY MOTHER GREW UP IN.

BUT I THINK IT WAS THERE WAS A CHARGE, AND MAYBE IT WAS POST-GEORGE FLOYD AND WE TALKED ABOUT DEFUND THE POLICE AND ALL THESE POLE RISING ISSUES.

BUT AT THE TIME I WAS UP FOR REELECTION IT WAS REALLY ABOUT THE IDEAS AND IT WASN'T ABOUT BEING PRAGMATIC.

>> Eric: AND DO THE LEADERS SAY IN CAUCUS AWAY FROM THE MEDIA, AWAY FROM EVERYBODY LET'S GO OUT THERE AND COMPROMISE?

I DOUBT IT.

>> YOU -- SO I'VE ALWAYS BEEN IN THE POSITION OF HAVING TO COMPROMISE BUT YOU NEED TO START WHERE YOUR PRINCIPLES ARE, BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE THAT EFFECTIVELY TO YOUR DELEGATES, TO YOUR VOTERS, THEY NEED TO KNOW YOU UNDERSTAND THEIR LIFE, AND THEN AFTER YOU DO THOSE THINGS, THE COMPROMISE WORKS.

THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS AND WHEN YOU'RE IN CAUCUS YOU HAVE TO DELIVER VOTES SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE TO A SPACE WHERE YOU CAN GET THOSE VOTES.

>> Eric: LEADERSHIP IMPACT ON THE CIVILITY AND THE WORKING TOGETHER AND ACROSS THE AISLE AND ALL THAT STUFF?

>> I THINK ALL THE LEADERS IN ALL FOUR CAUCUSES SUPPORT THE CIVILITY CAUCUS.

THEY'VE SET ASIDE TIME FOR US TO HAVE OUR MEETINGS, THEY ENCOURAGE MEMBERS TO GO, THEY COME THEMSELVES, SO I THINK THEY HAVE SET A TONE THAT WE DO WANT TO WORK TOGETHER BIPARTISANLY AND BICAMERALLY WHEN IT'S POSSIBLE.

AND EVEN IF WE HAVE VERY STARK POLICY DIFFERENCES THAT WE CAN STILL HAVE A LEVEL OF RESPECT THAT KEEPS THE INSTITUTION FUNCTIONING BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT THE INSTITUTION OF THE LEGISLATURE TO GET OUR WORK DONE.

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THAT IS GREAT AND I THINK THAT THE REPRESENTATIVE IS RIGHT IN TERMS OF THE WAY THAT SHE WANTS THINGS TO HAPPEN.

THAT CLEARLY DIDN'T HAPPEN THIS YEAR.

I HATE TO BE THAT GUY AND I WANT TO BE CIVIL ABOUT IT.

BUT CLEARLY I WAS SADDENED AND I THINK ALL OF US HERE THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND THE LEGISLATURE WERE SADDENED.

SO I DO HOPE THAT THE WORK THAT THE CIVILITY CAUCUS REALLY I HOPE THAT THEY'RE WORKING THIS SUMMER TO REALLY CHANGE IT BUT THE TONE OF LAST YEAR'S SESSION DID NOT KIND OF MEET THE EXPECTATIONS OF I THINK THE REPRESENTATIVE -- >> I AGREE.

>> I DON'T -- NOT TO BE TOO CRASS THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN IN A DEFICIT AND NEVER BEEN IN A MINORITY AND THAT CHANGES DYNAMICS.

>> Eric: 70/30, 80/20 DISTRICT AND YOU'VE NEVER HAD TO HOLD A GAVEL AND TELL PEOPLE NO.

IT CHANGES THE WAY YOU'RE GOING TO BEHAVE ON THE FLOOR AND TOWARDS PEOPLE IN OTHER CAUCUSES.

>> AND VICE VERSA AS WELL.

YOU HAVE MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN THERE FOR 30, 40 YEARS AND THAT CREATES SOME REALLY CONCRETE POSITIONS AND BELIEFS AND STRUCTURES OF HOW THEY GO ABOUT THINGS.

AND I THINK BRINGING NEW PERSPECTIVE, BRINGING YOUNGER MEMBERS, WHETHER THEY'RE FROM 80/20 DISTRICTS OR MINE WHERE IT'S 50/50, WE NEED A BROUGHT RANGE OF PERSPECTIVES TO SHOW THAT WE'RE REPRESENTING MINNESOTA AND IF IT MEANS CHANGING RULES IN THE LEGISLATURE IF IT MEANS DOING THINGS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY, WORKING IN THE CIVILITY CAUCUS TO BRING FOLKS TOGETHER I THINK ALL OF THOSE VOICES ARE GOOD.

>> Eric: WE'RE GOING TO CHART YOUR PROGRESS.

HOPE IT WORKS OUT.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

GREAT STUFF, GREAT STUFF.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> THIS IS A BONA FIDE CATCHER WITH ALL THE SKILLS THAT YOU LOOK FOR.

HE CAN THROW, HE CAN RUN, HE HAS POWER.

HE CAN HIT, HE CAN HIT FOR AVERAGE.

HE CAN HIT LEFTIES.

HE IS ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT YOU LOOK FOR IN A BALL PLAYER.

>> I COULDN'T ASK FOR A BETTER SPOT TO BE PLACED IN.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST AN UNBELIEVABLE FEELING TODAY AND I'M JUST THANKFUL THAT, YOU KNOW, THE TWINS SELECTED ME AND I'M A BASEBALL PLAYER.

♪♪ >> Eric: JOE MAUER WAS INDEED A BASEBALL PLAYER.

HE SPENT HIS ENTIRE CAREER IN A TWINS UNIFORM AND BECAME THE FIRST AMERICAN LEAGUE CATCHER IN MLB HISTORY TO WIN THREE BATTING TITLES.

A FIRST BALLOT HALL OF FAME SELECTION, MAUER'S INDUCTION CEREMONY IS THIS SUNDAY IN COOPERSTOWN, NEW YORK.

WITH ALL THAT BASEBALL TALK IT'S HARD TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE BALL FIELD FOR THIS WEEK'S HISTORY QUESTION.

BUT ALAS, WE MUST.

THE YEAR 1930.

MARCH OF THAT YEAR A BELOVED FORMER ST. PAULITE DIES AFTER A TWO, HAD YEAR RETIREMENT ON A FARM IN FOREST LAKE.

THEIR CLAIM TO FAME, A GRANDFATHER SO FAMOUS THAT HE HAD A ST. PAUL STREET NAMED AFTER HIM.

PLUS HE OR SHE WAS THE LAST OF THEIR KIND UNTIL THEIR GROUP WAS RESURRECTED IN 1995.

SO THE QUESTION FOR YOU: WHO IS THIS FAMOUS ST. PAUL GRANDCHILD?

WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU'RE CALLING IN FROM MIDWAY PARKWAY, FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP OR CARNEY LAKE UP ON THE EDGE OF THE BOUNDARY WATERS CANOE AREA WILDERNESS.

612-229-1430, THAT'S THE NUMBER TO ALL WITH YOUR GUESSES.

AND GET EXTRA CREDIT IF YOU CAN CLAIM A CONNECTION TO THE RIGHT ANSWER.

IF YOU'D RATHER TYPE THAN TALK, DROP US A NOTE ALMANAC@TPT.ORG, THAT'S THE ELECTRONIC INBOX.

JUST ENOUGH TIME FOR SHOW-ENDING MUSIC FROM THE ARCHIVES.

THIS WEEK, 2010, JOEY RYAN AND THE INKS PAID A VISIT TO US RIGHT HERE IN STUDIO B.

TAKE A LISTEN.

WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK.

BE CAREFUL.

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