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

>> ERIC: ON TONIGHT'S SHOW, WE'LL HEAR ABOUT ST. PAUL MAYOR CARTER'S PROPOSED CITY BUDGET, A RESTRUCTURING OF THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

MARK DEPAOLIS IS GETTING READY FOR THE GREAT MINNESOTA GET-TOGETHER, AND MARY LAHAMMER WAS UP AT THE CAPITOL THIS WEEK.

>> Mary: WE'LL CHECK IN WITH THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER WHO'S JUST ABOUT HAD IT WITH DEMOCRATS TAKING CREDIT FOR ALMOST EVERYTHING DURING SESSION.

>> I DON'T THINK HE SHOULD TAKE CREDIT FOR IT.

>> 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 27 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

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

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

>> ERIC: COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE RESTRUCTURING OF THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT, PAUL DOUGLAS IS HERE WITH A DROUGHT UPDATE, AND THIS WEEK'S NEW LAW SEGMENT HIGHLIGHTS CHANGES FOR MINNESOTA VOTERS.

>> CATHY: WE START TONIGHT WITH ST. PAUL CITY NEWS.

MAYOR MELVIN CARTER DELIVERED HIS BUDGET ADDRESS YESTERDAY, AND IT CONTAINED SOME GOOD NEWS ON PROPERTY TAXES AND MEDICAL DEBT FOR CITY RESIDENTS.

ST. PAUL "PIONEER PRESS" REPORTER FRED MELO WAS THERE.

IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK.

>> THANKS.

>> Cathy: EXPLAIN THIS.

PROPERTY TAXES ARE GOING UP BY 15%.

THAT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S GOOD NEWS.

BUT IT'S OFFSET, EVIDENTLY, BY DROPS IN THE TREET REPAIR -- THE MAINTENANCE FEES, EVIDENTLY.

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> THIS YEAR, WE SAW THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF PROPERTY TAXES COLLECTED, THE TAX LEVY, GO UP A LITTLE OVER 14%.

BETWEEN 14 AND 15%.

THEY'RE GOING TO GO UP AGAIN 3.7%.

SO WE'RE ACTUALLY SEEING A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A LEVELING OF THAN WE HAVE.

A COUPLE YEARS AGO IT WAS 6%.

SO THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS.

AND IF YOU'VE GOT A HOUSE THAT'S WORTH, LET'S SAY, ESTIMATED MARKET VALUE, $1267,000, MEDIAN -- $267,000, MEDIAN VALUE HOUSE, YOU MIGHT SEE $27 IN SAVINGS, THAT'S GOOD NEWS FOR MEDIAN HOMEOWNERS.

THE BIG COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, THE FACTORIES, THE WAREHOUSES WHERE YOU DO SAME-DAY DELIVERY OUT OF, THAT'S HUGE RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A LOT OF DEMAND FOR THOSE COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO ABSORB SOME OF THAT 3.7%, TO THE POINT WHERE I AS A HOMEOWNER MIGHT GET TO SAVE A COUPLE BUCKS.

>> Eric: COULD YOU TALK ABOUT THIS REST IN PEACE MEDICAL RECOVERY, R.I.P.

MEDICAL DEBT?

>> R.I.P., MEDICAL DEBT.

YEAH, IT'S A NATIONAL NONPROFIT.

IT'S OUT OF LONG ISLAND CITY IN NEW YORK.

IT GOES TO HOSPITALS, HEALTHCARE INSTITUTIONS, IT SAYS, LOOK, YOU HAVE ALL THIS UNCOLLECTED MEDICAL DEBT, YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO SEE THAT MONEY.

WE WILL BUY THAT, WE HAVE ALL THESE DONATIONS FROM PHYSICIANS AND FAITH-BASED GROUPS, CITY OF CLEVELAND DID IT, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, WHERE CHICAGO IS, DID THIS, WE'LL GIVE YOU A MILLION DOLLARS TO WRITE OFF $100 MILLION OF MEDICAL DEBT.

SO YOU GET A DOLLAR FOR EVERY 100 THAT YOU'RE OWED.

BETTER THAN NOTHING.

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> BETTER THAN HAVING TO SEND THIS TO COLLECTIONS, HOUND PEOPLE, PUT, YOU KNOW, A BLACK MARK ON PEOPLE'S CREDIT.

THE PATIENT BENEFITS, AND THEY CAN COME BACK TO YOUR HOSPITAL INSTEAD OF GOING, OH, I'M NOT GOING TO DO BUSINESS WITH THEM AGAIN.

>> Cathy: WHY WOULD THIS BE A MAYORAL PRIORITY?

>> WELL, PART OF St. PAUL MAYOR MELVIN CARTER'S KIND OF ATTITUDE IS THAT CITIES THRIVE WHEN PEOPLE THRIVE.

SO HE'S TAKEN A MUCH MORE, SOME SAY HEAVY-HANDED, SOME SAY IT'S TOO MUCH, SOME AY IT'S JUST RIGHT, BUT A MUCH MORE DIRECT APPROACH IN CITIES FORGIVING LIBRARY FINES SO PEOPLE AREN'T DISSUADED FROM COMING BACK TO THE LIBRARY, HE SAYS, BY THE SAME TOKEN, IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF MEDICAL DEBT, THE LAST TIME YOU TOOK AN AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL, HAD A PROCEDURE DONE, YOU MIGHT NOT DO THAT AGAIN.

SO WE WANT TO INVITE PEOPLE IN, NOT PUSH PEOPLE OUT.

SO, IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT WAY OF LOOKING AT WHAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAN DO.

BUT, LIKE I SAID, THE MAYOR OF CLEVELAND WAS HIS FRATERNITY BROTHER, HEY, MELVIN, GOT TO GET ON THIS, IT'S WORKING FOR CLEVELAND.

>> Eric: NOW, St. PAUL VOTERS IN NOVEMBER HAVE A CHANCE TO RAISE THE CITY SALES TAX.

WHAT IS IT, ALMOST A BILLION OVER 20 YEARS, BIG MONEY.

>> IT'S BIG MONEY.

IT'S ALMOST A BILLION VER 20 YEARS.

AND IT'S KIND OF A TRIPLE WHAMMY, BUT SOME VERY NEEDED TRIPLE WHAMMY CONSIDERING THE CONDITION OF OUR ROADS.

WE HAVE ROADS, LIKE SUMMIT AVENUE, THAT THE MAYOR KEEPS SAYING, THE LAST TIME IT WAS RECONSTRUCTED, YOU KNOW, TAFT WAS PRESIDENT.

THAT WAS 1909, BY THE WAY.

>> Eric: OKAY.

>> SO THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ON A 60-YEAR RECONSTRUCTION CYCLE, THEY'RE ON A 120-YEAR RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT.

YOU HAD A PERSONAL POINT TO THE SALES TAX, IT WOULD BE BY FAR THE MOST EXPENSIVE SALES TAX IN THE STATE, 9.87, BUT OVER 20 YEARS, WE HAVE MONEY, WE CAN REBUILD MAYBE 20 BIG, BUSY ARTERIAL STREETS AND A FOURTH OF THAT BILLION WOULD GO TO PARKS, PARK FACILITIES AND WE'RE A BIG PARK CITY.

>> Cathy: St. PAUL FIREFIGHTERS WERE PICKETING FOR HIGHER STARTING WAGES, RIGHT?

WHAT'S THE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION AND THE ADMINISTRATION?

>> NOT GOOD.

I MEAN, I GOT TO THE MEETING A LITTLE BIT EARLY.

THE MAYOR ACROSS THE STREET, TO TALK TO THE FIREFIGHTERS, SAY, IF YOU'RE RESPECTFULLY, YOU CAN COME SIT DOWN, JUST JOIN, YOU KNOW, MY BUDGET ADDRESS.

THEIR FIRST THING OUT OF SOME OF THE FIREFIGHTERS' MOUTHS WAS WHY BOTHER?

YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED.

PAY US WHAT YOU OWE US.

VERY KIND OF COMBATIVE ATTITUDE.

AND A LOT OF DISAGREEMENT ON BOTH SIDES WHERE THAT RELATIONSHIP BROKE DOWN.

YOU KNOW, WHO INVITED WHO TO THE TABLE, WHO REFUSED TO GO.

THEY'RE HEADING TO ARBITRATION AT THE END OF THE MONTH.

BUT THEY'RE SAYING, HEY, OUR STARTING WAGES ARE $65,000, THAT MAY NOT SOUND LOW TO SOME PEOPLE, BUT IT'S SUPPOSEDLY THE 14th LOWEST IN THE STATE.

SO CAPITAL CITY, BRUISING PANDEMIC, THEY DO A LOT OF RESPONSES TO THINGS LIKE GUNSHOTS IN St. PAUL AND CERTAINLY THE PANDEMIC WAS TAXING ON EVERYBODY.

>> Eric: AND THE COUNCIL FINALIZES THE BUDGET IN DECEMBER, I THINK?

>> IN DECEMBER, YEAH.

SO THERE'S DISCUSSIONS AHEAD.

NONE OF THIS IS A DONE DEAL.

>> Eric: RIGHT.

THANKS, FRED, FOR COMING OVER.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Eric: GOOD TO SEE YOU.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> ERIC: ON MONDAY MINNEAPOLIS POLICE CHIEF BRIAN O'HARA ANNOUNCED A MAJOR RE-STRUCTURING OF THE DEPARTMENT, SPLITTING IT INTO TWO DIVISIONS, ONE FOR OPERATIONS AND ONE FOR COMMUNITY RELATIONS.

CHIEF O'HARA SAYS THE CHANGE, WHICH INCLUDES TWO NEW ASSISTANT CHIEFS, IS PART OF HIS PLAN TO BUILD A BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH COMMUNITY.

HERE TO TALK WITH US ABOUT WHAT THIS MIGHT MEAN, YOHURU WILLIAMS.

HE'S A UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS HISTORIAN, THE DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOOL'S RACIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE.

AND ONE OF HIS AREAS OF EXPERTISE IS THE HISTORY OF POLICING IN THE TWIN CITIES.

DO YOU BUY THE EMPHASIS ON COMMUNITY RELATIONS, COMMUNITY TRUST, AND THEN OPERATIONS, IS THAT THE PATH FORWARD?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND I THINK THIS IS WHY 'HARA WAS SELECTED IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THAT EXPERIENCE THAT HE BRINGS FROM NEWARK, REALLY ANCHORING THIS IN BUILDING COMMUNITY TRUST IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.

AND HE'S BETTING HERE ON THIS IDEA THAT YOU ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY SUPPORT, FAITH IN THE POLICE BY REALLY REACHING OUT AND SAYING, WE AKE THIS SO SERIOUSLY THAT WE'RE DIVIDING THE DEPARTMENT ALONG THOSE LINES.

ONE FOR OPERATIONS, POLICE OPERATIONS, AND AN ENTIRE DIVISION TO REBUILD THAT TRUST.

>> Cathy: BUT HE'S PROMOTING FROM WITHIN.

TWO ASSISTANT CHIEFS.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY?

>> WELL, IT'S PROBLEMATIC EXTERNALLY.

SO YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO LOOK AT THIS AND SAY, HERE WE GO AGAIN.

THEY'RE GOOD CHOICES IN A WAY, INTERNALLY, FOR THOSE OFFICERS WHO MAY HAVE ISSUES WITH THE DEPARTMENT MOVING TOO QUICKLY, BUT EXTERNALLY, IT SIGNALS SOME CONCERN, WHY ARE WE NOT LOOKING EXTERNAL TO THE DEPARTMENT, GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE KNOW THAT THERE'S THIS INTERNAL CULTURE THAT CHIEF O'HARA REALLY NEEDS TO DEAL WITH IS BEING A BIG PART OF THE PROBLEM FOR MANY PEOPLE IN COMMUNITY.

>> Eric: IMPROVED COMMUNITY RELATIONS, IMPROVED COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN ON THE STREET?

>> IT WILL MEAN IMPLEMENTING A LOT OF THE THINGS WE SAW COME UP IN THE DECREE, THE DISCOURSE, BOTH FROM THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE FEDS, DEALING WITH RACE-BASED POLICING, DEALING WITH ISSUES OF TRAFFIC STOPS, HOW THE POLICE ENGAGE COMMUNITY ON A DAILY BASIS, ALL THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT.

THE APPOINTMENT OF GATORS, IN PARTICULAR, TO OVERSEE THAT WORK, I THINK, IS ENCOURAGING BECAUSE OF HIS REPUTATION IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, BLACKWELL ON THE OPERATIONS SIDE IS ALSO POSITIVE IN THAT SENSE BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE A REPUTATION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT AND WITHIN COMMUNITY OF BEING MORE FOCUSED ON THOSE ISSUES.

>> Cathy: THAT'S ALL POSITIVE.

AS YOU SAY.

BUT AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF SOME OF THESE STORIES THAT HIT THE NEWS THIS WEEK.

EVIDENTLY, THE MPD'S NOT REALLY DISCIPLINING OFFICERS, THEY'RE COACHING THEM.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY?

>> WELL, THIS IS INTERESTING BECAUSE I THINK BE THIS IS PART OF THE PROBLEM.

IF YOU'VE GOT A CULTURE THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO REALLY HELP EVOLVE, HOW DO OU DEAL WITH OFFICERS WHO ENGAGE IN BEHAVIORS THAT TYPICALLY RAISE THE FLAG OF POLICE BRUTALITY OR CONTINUATION OF THAT CULTURE.

THE DEPARTMENT RIGHT NOW IS IN AN INTERESTING PLACE.

THEY'RE DOWN 34%, MINNPOST REPORTS TODAY THAT, FACT CHECKED THAT, WE HAD A FORCE THAT WAS ALMOST 900 OFFICERS IN 201, THEY'RE DOWN TO JUST -- 2018, THEY'RE DOWN TO JUST SHY OF 600 NOW.

SO HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN MORALE, HIRE PEOPLE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME GIVE OFFICERS A CHANCE TO BE A PART OF THAT CULTURE CHANGE.

IT DOESN'T SIGNAL WELL FOR COMMUNITY, BUT, AGAIN, THAT'S THE -- THESE ARE THE FAULT LINES, THE MIND FIELDS THAT O'HARA IS NAVIGATING RIGHT NOW IN THE DEPARTMENT.

>> Eric: YOU'VE STUDIED THIS THROUGH HISTORY.

I WONDER WHAT KIND OF EXPECTATIONS YOU HAVE.

CAN O'HARA REALLY REROUTE THE RIVER, SO TO SPEAK?

I MEAN, SEEMS LIKE A TOUGH JOB.

>> IT'S A VERY TOUGH JOB.

WHEN HE USED THE WORD UNPRECEDENTED THIS WEEK, THAT'S IMPORTANT.

WE NEEDED A STATE LAW CHANGE IN ORDER TO HAVE THIS REMOVAL OF THE CAP ON THE CHIEF BEING ABLE TO DO THIS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, A UNANIMOUS VOTE BY THE CITY COUNCIL, BUT O'HARA'S BEEN VERY CONSISTENT, I DO LIKE THIS IN SAYING, THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT THE POLICE, THEY'RE HAVING LISTENING SESSIONS, COMMUNITY HAS TO SHOW UP.

WE CAN'T BUILD TRUST AND WE CAN'T LEAVE THIS ENTIRELY TO THE PURVIEW OF THE CHIEF.

WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THIS HOLISTICALLY AS A COMMUNITY.

WHAT DO WE WANT TO SEE WITH REGARD TO PUBLIC SAFETY IN MINNEAPOLIS?

>> >> Cathy: SAY, BEFORE YOU GO, THE LAST OF THE FORMER MPD OFFICERS WHO WERE ACCUSED IN GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH WERE SENTENCED, HE WAS LAST TO BE SENTENCED.

YOU AND I TALKED EARLIER IN THE WEEK ON MPR, THIS IS NOT THE LAST CHAPTER.

>> NOT AT ALL.

AND CERTAINLY SOME OF THE REPORTS THAT WE HEARD ABOUT OFFICERS BEING COACHED IS PART AND PARCEL F THIS.

HAVE WE REALLY DEALT WITH THE CULTURE ISSUES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT THAT WILL GIVE PEOPLE MORE TRUST, BUT, MORE IMPORTANTLY, THIS ISN'T THE UNDERSTAND OF THE STORY WITH REGARD -- THE END OF THE STORY WITH REGARD TO THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD.

WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO IN ORDER TO UILD THAT LEVEL OF TRUST NECESSARY FOR PEOPLE TO FEEL CONFIDENT IN THE MPD.

SO THIS IS REALLY JUST THE BEGINNING.

THE FEAR IS THAT THE END OF THOSE TRIALS, TOU, IN PARTICULAR, WILL SIGNAL TO PEOPLE THAT THIS IS THE E7BD OF THAT WORK, THIS IS -- THE END OF THAT WORK, THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING, THE RESTRUCTURING OF THE DEPARTMENT, PART AND PARCEL OF THAT.

>> Eric: WHAT'S NEXT STEPS HERE?

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE QUICKLY HAPPEN?

>> I WOULD HOPE WHAT WE WOULD SEE IS WHAT CHIEF O'HARA IS ASKING FOR.

GIVE THIS PROCESS A CHANCE.

BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, TO RECOGNIZE, PARTICULARLY WITH THE RICKY COBB KILLING LAST WEEK -- OR NEARLY TWO WEEKS AGO NOW, THAT WE STILL HAVE ISSUES IN MINNESOTA, E'RE STILL GROUND ZERO IN THIS CONVERSATION.

I APPRECIATED CHIEF O'HARA ACKNOWLEDGING THAT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

WE CAN BE A NATIONAL MODEL.

CERTAINLY NEWARK WAS IN 2020, NEWARK DIDN'T HAVE A SINGLE OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING.

SO HE LED THAT CHANGE IN THAT COMMUNITY.

BUT IT CAN'T E ALL DOWN TO HIM.

HE MADE THAT MISTAKE IN THE '80s WITH TONY BOSA, WE CAN'T AFFORD TO MAKE THAT MISTAKE IN THIS MOMENT, WE HAVE TO APPROACH THIS HOLISTICALLY WITH COMMUNITY, EMBRACE WHAT WE HEAR, AT THE SAME TIME, RECOGNIZE THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> Eric: REALLY APPRECIATE YOU SHARING YOUR EXPERTISE WITH US TONIGHT.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> Cathy: THANKS VERY MUCH.

♪♪ >> CATHY: HAVE WE MENTIONED RECENTLY THAT THE 2023 LEGISLATURE WAS SO BUSY, IT WAS HARD TO KEEP UP?

DID YOU HAVE TROUBLE FOLLOWING EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED?

WE'RE HERE TO HELP.

SPENDING TIME THIS SUMMER HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THE NEW LAWS ON THE BOOKS UP THIS WEEK, CHANGES TO VOTING IN MINNESOTA, SECRETARY OF STATE STEVE SIMON JOINS US.

WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOW.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: LET'S START WITH THE RESTORING OF VOTING RIGHTS TO FELONS HO SERVED THEIR TIME.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO FOLKS WHY THAT'S MPORTANT?

>> YEAH.

BY THE WAY, IT'S A HUGE CHANGE AMONG MAN OTHERS, 55,000 MINNESOTANS ELIGIBLE.

MANY OTHERS.

I THINK WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO IS THIS, WE'RE JOINING A NATIONAL TREND, NORTH DAKOTA, IOWA IS MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION, FLORIDA, OTHER STATES LIKE THAT.

I THINK THE IDEA IS, LOOK, IF A JUDGE OR JURY, NOT YOU OR ME, NOT YOUR VIEWING AUDIENCE BUT A JUDGE OR A JURY THAT THEY DETERMINE THAT A PERSON IS GOOD ENOUGH, SOUND ENOUGH, SECURE ENOUGH, SAFE ENOUGH TO BE OUT AMONGST THE REST OF US, THEN THEY SHOULD HAVE SOME SENSE OF INVESTMENT, SENSE OF OWNERSHIP IN SOCIETY.

AND THIS IS ONE WAY TO DO IT.

AND THERE ARE MANY STUDIES THAT SHOW THAT PEOPLE WHO ENGAGE IN THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR ARE FAR LESS LIKELY TO REOFFEND.

SO IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT DOING A GOOD THING FOR THAT PERSON.

THIS IS TO EVERYONE'S BENEFIT, ALL OF OUR BENEFIT.

>> Cathy: HOW MANY FOLKS HAVE SIGNED UP SO FAR?

I KNOW, YOU JUST STARTED SIGNING FOLKS UP.

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: HOW MANY?

>> REALLY HARD TO KNOW.

THERE ARE 55,000 TOTAL.

AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AS ARE A OT OF GROUPS AROUND THE STATE TO TRY TO MAKE SURE HAT THEY AT LEAST GET THE WORD THAT THIS IS A THING, THAT THEY HAVE NOW GOTTEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE BACK, HOPEFULLY ACTED ARE ACT ON THEM.

NO ONE CAN MAKE THEM.

HOPEFULLY -- MAKING SURE THE 55,000 MINNESOTANS WHO HAVE THE FREEDOM TO VOTE ACT GET IT BACK.

>> Eric: 16 AND 17-YEAR-OLDS CAN PREREGISTER.

WHAT'S THE GOAL THERE?

>> THE GOAL IS TO GET AS MANY ELIGIBLE BUT UNREGISTERED PEOPLE ON TO THE VOTING ROLLS.

AND THAT'S A WIN-WIN.

IT'S OBVIOUSLY GOOD FOR ACCESS, BUT IT'S ALSO GOOD FOR BALLOT SECURITY, IT'S GOOD FOR MAKING SURE WE HAVE A SECURE VOTING SYSTEM, THAT THE VOTING ROLLS ARE EVEN MORE CLEAN THAN THEY ARE NOW.

WHY?

BECAUSE INSTEAD OF HAVING TO REGISTER SAME DAY, A LAW THAT WE'VE HAD ON THE BOOKS SINCE 1937, WHERE YOU CAN REGISTER THE DAY OF THE ELECTION, INSTEAD OF DOING THAT, HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WILL ALREADY BE IN THE SYSTEM.

THEY'LL HAVE BEEN VETTED AND SCREENED AND FILTERED WEEKS BUT MORE LIKELY MONTHS IN ADVANCE.

THAT'S GOOD FOR EVERYBODY.

>> Cathy: CAN YOU OPT OUT, THOUGH?

>> YOU CAN ALWAYS OPT OUT.

YES.

ALWAYS.

>> Eric: DID THE LEGISLATURE GET ANY MONEY TO WORK ON ELECTION SECURITY, NOT ONLY AT THE POLLING PLACE BUT AT EARLY VOTING STATIONS OR IS THAT A LOCAL PROBLEM FOR ENFORCING THAT?

>> I THINK IT'S BOTH.

THERE IS SOME MONEY IN TERMS OF GRANTS FOR ACCESSIBILITY TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

WE'LL BE ADMINISTERING THOSE THROUGH OUR OFFICE.

WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO STEP UP, AS THEY HAVE IN THE PAST, WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTION SECURITY OF ALL KINDS, NOT JUST PHYSICAL BUT CYBERSECURITY AS WELL.

SO THAT'S A PRESSING NEED.

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP PRESSING FOR IT.

>> Eric: YOU DID TEST A NEW VOTING SYSTEM, WAS IT LAST WEEK?

>> YEAH.

>> Eric: I THINK IT'S PUBLIC, ISN'T IT?

>> IT IS.

>> Eric: DID ANY OF THE ELECTION DENIERS SHOW UP TO MONITOR?

>> NOBODY SHOWED UP.

I'M GLAD YOU FLAGGED THAT BECAUSE TO THOSE WHO ARE SKEPTICAL, WHO HAVE BOUGHT INTO SOME OF HE, FRANKLY, $INFORMATION -- DISINFORMATION ABOUT ELECTION EQUIPMENT, SWITCHING VOTES FROM CANDIDATE A TO CANDIDATE B, WE HAVE THIS PROCESS THAT YOU TALK ABOUT IN LAW, WHICH IS WHEN WE'RE TESTING NEW EQUIPMENT, THAT IS OPEN TO ALL COMERS, YOU DON'T NEED AN ENGRAVED INVITATION, IT'S A PUBLICLY NOTICED MEETING, ONCE WE'VE CERTIFIED EQUIPMENT, EVERYBODY IN MINNESOTA WHO OWNS ELECTIONS EQUIPMENT, TOWNSHIPS, CITIES, COUNTIES, THEY HAVE TO, WITHIN TWO WEEKS BEFORE EVERY ELECTION, SPECIAL GENERAL, IT DOESN'T MATTER, OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC VIEW AGAIN.

WHERE THEY AN WATCH ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATORS TRY TO BASICALLY TRICK THE EQUIPMENT AND SEE IF THEY CAN STUMP THE EQUIPMENT.

THEN AND ONLY THEN IS IT READY FOR PRIME TIME, READY FOR ELECTION DAY.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE THOUGHT OF THESE THINGS.

AFTERWARDS, THERE'S POST-ELECTION AUDITS AS WELL.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, THERE WAS SO MUCH THAT HAPPENED DURING THE SESSION, AS YOU SAY, THERE'S A LOT OF VOTING CHANGES THAT OCCURRED.

BUT IT'S BEEN RADITIONAL TO HAVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

AND THAT DIDN'T REALLY HAPPEN THIS SESSION.

DOES THAT CONCERN YOU?

>> WELL, I ALWAYS WISH THAT THERE'S AS MUCH CONSENSUS AS POSSIBLE, BUT I WILL SAY THAT EVERY ONE OF THE MAJOR REFORMS THAT PASSED THIS YEAR, EVERY SINGLE ONE, IS BIPARTISAN OR NONPARTISAN IN ORIGIN AND IN EFFECT, IN FACT, ONE QUICK ANECDOTE.

I REACHED OUT TO MY CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUE IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA, WE DISAGREE ON A LOT OF THINGS, BUT HE, AT MY INVITATION, WROTE A LETTER TO STATE LEGISLATORS, ABOUT ONE REFORM, REREGISTRATION FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, YOUR SECRETARY OF STATE AND I DON'T AGREE ON THIS -- ON MUCH, BUT WE AGREE ON THIS, WE LOVE THIS LAW, YOU'LL DO WELL TO ADOPT IT.

>> Eric: WE'LL BE WATCHING TO SEE.

FOR CITY ELECTIONS IN NOVEMBER, THIS WILL BE IN LAW?

>> YES.

>> Eric: DOES IT WAIT UNTIL '24?

>> ALMOST ALL OF IT IS IN PLACE RIGHT NOW.

>> Eric: OKAY.

THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> CATHY: LONGTIME TWIN CITIES FOOD JOURNALIST AND CHEF MECCA BOS STARTED BIPOC FOODWAYS ALLIANCE WITH NATIONALLY RENOWNED CHEF SEAN SHERMAN TO HELP TELL UNDERREPRESENTED FOOD STORIES.

LAST MONTH THEY WERE JOINED BY ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THC BEVERAGE COMPANY, PLIFT, TO CO-HOST THEIR COMMUNAL TABLE DINNER.

ALMANAC'’S KRISTOFFER FERNANDES WAS THERE AND GIVES US A TASTE.

♪♪ >> WE'RE MAKING JUMBALAYA, CORNBREAD, PINEAPPLE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE WHICH ARE THE FAMILY FAVORITES OF TODD HARRIS'.

>> TODAY'S STORY IS ABOUT HIS FAMILY AND HIS COMPANY AND WE'RE REALLY TELLING A STORY ABOUT PEOPLE, NOT ABOUT FOOD.

BIPoC FOODWAYS ALLIANCE AND BIPoC FOODWAYS ALLIANCE TABLE WAS KIND OF A MIND MELD BETWEEN MYSELF ND MY PARTNER, SEAN SHERMAN.

SEAN HAS BEEN SPEARHEADING THE INDIGENOUS FOOD MOVEMENT FOR A LONG TIME AND I'M A LONGTIME TWIN CITIES-BASED FOOD WRITER AND CHEF.

ABOUT THE PAST FIVE YEARS, I'VE BEEN MOSTLY CONCERNED WITH BLACK FOODWAYS.

>> AMERICAN HISTORY UST HAS SO MUCH INTERSECTION WITH BLACK AND INDIGENOUS.

SO WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT DOING SOMETHING THAT REALLY HELPS WEAVE THOSE STORIES TOGETHER AND CENTERING IT AROUND FOOD, WHICH IS REALLY KIND OF THE CENTER AND HEART OF EVERYTHING WE DO ANYWAYS.

AND IT REALLY CAME ABOUT OF JUST INCLUDING EVERYBODY, ALL PEOPLE OF COLOR, TO COME TO THE TABLE AND A LOT OF ALLIES TO COME AND LISTEN TO THESE STORIES.

AND ALLOWING MECCA TO HAVE A PLATFORM TO REALLY RECORD SOME OF THESE REALLY IMPORTANT STORIES THAT DON'T GET THE ATTENTION THEY GET.

SO MUCH ACTION THAT STILL HAS TO HAPPEN IN AMERICA, IN GENERAL, TO REALLY CONFRONT A LOT OF THE RACIAL OPPRESSION AND SEGREGATION THAT'S ONGOING AND CONTINUOUS.

AND GETTING INTO THE FOOD BUSINESS IS A REALLY HARD THING.

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY HAS A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS LAYING AROUND TO TRY TO OPEN UP A RESTAURANT OF THEIR DREAMS, YOU KNOW.

>> FOOD IS A REALLY POWERFUL TOOL.

AND I JUST GENUINELY BELIEVE THAT WE CAN HEAR EACH OTHER BETTER IF WE'RE SITTING AROUND A TABLE TOGETHER.

WHAT WE O, WE BRING IN A CO-HOST EACH MONTH AND THIS MONTH IT'S TODD OF PLIFT.

>> THIS RECIPE IS ONE OF MY MOM'S RECIPES.

IT'S MY MOM'S JUMBALAYA.

THINKING ABOUT IT NOW, HOW MANY TIMES IN MY LIFE DID THIS MEAL, WAS THIS MEAL THE MEAL THAT I REQUESTED WHEN I WAS A KID.

THE IMPETUS OF THE BRAND IS TO BE A ACCESSIBLE WAY FOR PEOPLE TO SWAP IN A THC SUBSTITUTE FOR ALCOHOL.

ALCOHOLISM IS A REAL THING IN OUR FAMILY.

PROVIDING SOMEONE WITH SOMETHING THAT THEY STILL ARE GOING TO FEEL AN EFFECT, STILL GIVE THEM A LIGHT, HEADY BUZZ, ALLOWS THEM TO UNWIND, IT DOESN'T REQUIRE ALCOHOL.

WE'RE READY TO HOST ONE OF THE TABLES AND WE'RE OING TO SHARE THE STORIES OF PLIFT, ALL OF OUR PERSONAL STORIES, OVER A REALLY KILLER MEAL WITH SOME NEW FRIENDS.

>> WE STRIVE TO DO A VARIETY OF THINGS WITH THIS NEWLY FORMING NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.

THIS IS A DINNER PARTY, NOT A MEETING, NOT A CLASSROOM.

THIS IS A PLACE TO HAVE FUN.

IT'S ALSO A PLACE TO TELL UNDERTOLD STORIES.

AND I HAVE BEEN SAYING, IT'S A PLACE TO TELL UNDERTOLD FOOD STORIES, BUT I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY MORE OF A PLACE TO TELL UNDERTOLD PEOPLE STORIES.

>> ON AUGUST 1st, MINNESOTA BECAME HE 23rd STATE TO LEGALIZE REC CRATIONAL -- RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.

AS PART OF THE LEGISLATION, THE NEW OFFICE OF CANNABIS MANAGEMENT ESTABLISHES A DIVISION OF SOCIAL EQUITY.

IT WILL BE TASKED WITH IDENTIFYING SOCIAL EQUITY APPLICANTS FOR BUSINESS LICENSES AND PROMOTING DEVELOPMENT, STABILITY, AND SAFETY IN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED DISPROPORTIONATE, NEGATIVE IMPACT FROM CANNABIS PROHIBITION.

>> THERE'S A COUPLE HINGS GOING ON IN THE WORLD WE LIVE IN.

ONE OF WHICH IS THIS EUPHORIC FEELING WE ALL FEEL AROUND THE DECRIMINALIZATION AND THE LEGALIZATION OF CANNABIS, BUT THE REALITY OF IT IS IS THAT THE PEOPLE HO ARE MOST OFTEN LEFT BEHIND ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR.

>> MECCA BOZ HOPES TO KEEP BRINGING IN MORE CO-HOSTS FOR HER TABLE SERIES.

>> WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP THESE GOING AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

IT COSTS MONEY, OF COURSE.

WE'VE DONE FIVE OR SIX OF THESE.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A PAUSE IN AUGUST FOR FUND-RAISING.

>> AND SHARING MORE INTIMATE CONVERSATIONS, LIKE TODD HARRIS'?

>> AS WE WERE PUTTING THE TABLE TOGETHER, MY SISTER, ALICIA, WHO'S SITTING AT THE END OF THE TABLE, SHE REMINDED ME THAT THE FIRST MEAL THAT WE EVER SHARED TOGETHER WAS MY MOM JUMBALAYA.

BECAUSE MY MOM COULDN'T BE HERE, AND I KNEW THAT ME AND MY SISTER SHARED THAT MEMORY, I ASKED HER TO COME MAKE HER CORNBREAD, BECAUSE WHEN SHE PULLS UP TO MY HOUSE AT MEALS, SHE NORMALLY MAKES CORNBREAD, AND IT'S FIRE.

[ Laughter ] SO, I WANTED HER TO BE HERE, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE STORY OF PLIFT IS A PAINFUL ONE FOR HER.

ALL THESE FLAVORS ARE THINGS THAT BRING ME SO MUCH JOY.

AROUND MY MOM.

BUT THIS DRINK IS GOING TO FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE THE WAY FAMILIES LIKE MINE HAVE TO SOCIALIZE.

SHE DIDN'T WANT TO BE HERE BECAUSE HER STRUGGLES WITH ALCOHOL ARE REALLY REAL FOR HER ND I DON'T BLAME HER, BUT I WANTED TO REPRESENT HER IN A WAY THAT SHE DESERVES TO BE REPRESENTED.

♪♪ >> ERIC: IT'S BEEN QUITE THE MINNESOTA SUMMER.

MOST OF THE STATE REMAINS IN AT LEAST MODERATE DROUGHT, IT'S HOTTER THAN IT'S BEEN IN DECADES, AND AIR QUALITY ALERTS DUE TO CANADIAN FIRES HAVE BECOME COMMONPLACE.

THE STATE FAIR IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

DOES THAT MEAN WE'LL SOON HAVE SOME RELIEF FROM THIS SUMMER'S WEATHER?

LET'S ASK PAUL DOUGLAS, WEATHER MEDIA MOGUL EXTRAORDINAIRE.

WHEN HE'S NOT MAKING MONTHLY VISITS TO THE "ALMANAC" SET, YOU CAN HEAR HIM ON WCCO RADIO.

AND HE HEADS UP HIS OWN WEATHER COMPANY, PREDICT-IX.

BEFORE YOU NARRATE SOME SLIDES, WHAT ID WE GET LATE THIS AFTERNOON?

>> I JUST WANT TO SAY, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE WITH CATHY WURZER AND ALBERT EINSTEIN.

I JUST -- I EVER IN MY MIND -- NEVER IMAGINED THAT IT WOULD COME TO THIS.

>> Eric: SUPERFICIAL.

>> I AM SUPERFICIAL.

>> Eric: I'M NOT A PIECE OF MEAT, YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT FEELINGS, TOO.

[ Laughter ] >> PRIME RIB.

>> Cathy: OH, MY GOSH.

HEY, WE HAD A STORY.

THANK YOU FOR -- HEY, WE HAD A STORM.

THANK YOU FOR DRIVING THROUGH A STORM TO GET HERE.

>> I SHOULD NOT HAVE DRIVEN THE CONVERTIBLE.

THAT WAS A BIG MISTAKE.

I WAS WEARING MY HELMET.

IT ALL TURNED OUT OKAY.

GOLF BALL-SIZE HAIL, SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS.

FOUR-INCH HAIL IN DIAMETER IN DASSEL, THAT IS SERIOUS HAIL AND BENEFICIAL RAINS.

I THINK WHEN PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THE SUMMER OF 2023, THEY'RE GOING TO THINK DROUGHT AND THEY'RE GOING O THINK SMOKE.

WE HAVE NOT HAD AIR QUALITY THIS BAD -- [ ROCK MUSIC ] >> Cathy: IS THAT WHAT I THINK IT IS?

>> Eric: SMOKE ON THE WATER.

>> YES, YES, IT IS.

THE FIRST AND LAST TIME DEEP PURPLE WILL BE A PART OF THE "ALMANAC" PROGRAM.

>> Eric: RIGHT.

>> Cathy: THAT'S SO TRUE.

>> Eric: NARRATE SOME SLIDES, WILL YOU?

>> I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE.

THIS WAS THE VIEW FROM OUR CABIN, A LOT OF SMOKY RED SUNSETS.

AND, YES, ACCORDING TO THE -- [ MUSIC CONTINUING ] >> CRANK IT.

GO AHEAD AND CRANK IT.

YOU CAN DO ANYTHING ONCE.

WELL, MAYBE NOT.

ALL RIGHT.

WE'VE HAD 16 DAYS OF STATEWIDE AIR QUALITY ALERTS.

>> Cathy: WOW.

>> THE OLD RECORD WAS 13.

BACK IN 2021.

SO, YEAH, A LOT OF OZONE.

AND BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER, THIS IS NAPLES, FLORIDA.

MANY MINNESOTANS, WISCONSINITES FLEE TO SOUTH FLORIDA.

THIS NUMBER IS LOW.

I THINK IT'S UP TO 54 NOWADAYS WITH A HEAT INDEX ABOVE 100.

IN A ROW.

AND SOME OF THE -- I MEAN, THE SOUTHERN U.S. IS SUFFOCATING.

YES, IT GETS HOT IN THE SUMMER.

BUT THE EXTENT OF THE HEAT IS JUST UNPRECEDENTED.

I SAW A HEAT INDEX OF 123 IN TAMPA.

>> Cathy: THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

>> AND ALSO IN ORLANDO.

AND WATER TEMPERATURES AS WARM AS 101.

>> Cathy: COME ON.

>> FLORIDA EVERGLADES.

101.

MUCH BATH WATER.

>> Cathy: HOTTER THAN BATH WATER, WOW.

>> WHO KNOWS WHAT HURRICANE SEASON WILL BRING.

>> Cathy: YEAH.

>> YES, WE STILL HAVE A SEVERE DROUGHT.

ABOUT A THIRD OF THE STATE UNDER SEVERE DROUGHT, INCLUDING MUCH OF THE METRO.

POCKETS OF EXTREME DROUGHT NOW.

BRAINERD, St.

CLOUD AREA.

AND ROCHESTER.

IT CONTINUES TO GET WORSE.

SO, YEAH, TODAY'S RAIN HELPED, BUT WE NEED SIX, EIGHT, 10 INCHES F RAIN TO REALLY PULL OUT OF THE DROUGHT.

THE GOOD NEWS, BECAUSE OF THE DROUGHT, IT'S BEEN SO DRY, IT HAS NOT BEEN SWAMPY.

WE HAVEN'T HAD THE TROPICAL DEW POINTS.

WE'VE HAD ONLY SIX DAYS WITH A DEW POINT OVER 70.

NORMAL IS CLOSER TO ABOUT 19.

THAT'S THE FEWEST NUMBER OF REALLY SWEATY DAYS IN 30 YEARS.

I HAD TO LOOK HARD TO FIND SILVER LINING.

BUT IT'S BEEN A REAL SUMMER.

I KNOW WE WERE WONDERING AND WORRYING BACK IN APRIL.

75 DAYS OF 80s.

AND ONLY 1988 AND 934 HAD MORE 80-DEGREE DAYS TO DATE.

SO, YEAH, WE ARE GETTING A NICE LONG WARM SUMMER.

TOMORROW, THE BETTER LAKE DAY.

LOOKS LIKE LOW TO MID 80s.

METRO, 70s.

UPPER 70s UP NORTH.

GRAB TOMORROW, BECAUSE SUNDAY, ANOTHER CLIPPER COMING IN, HEAVY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.

I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK.

BUT IT WILL FEEL LIKE SEPTEMBER BY LATE SUNDAY AND MONDAY OF NEXT WEEK.

A STRONG HE WILL ANYONE YA, NOAA CAME OUT, 90% ODDS IT WILL LAST THROUGH THE WINTER.

HE WILL ANYONE YA.

ABOUT A 66% PROBABILITY THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A STRONG EL NINO.

AND IT COULD RIVAL OF '82-83 AND 97-98.

THERE'S A STRONG CORRELATION BETWEEN THE WARM PHASES IN THE PACIFIC AND MILDER WINTERS FOR THE UPPER MIDWEST MINNESOTA.

WILL IT SNOW?

YES, OF COURSE, BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET 90 INCHES.

CUT THAT IN HALF.

MAYBE EVEN LESS THAN THAT.

AND I WANTED -- PEOPLE HAVE SAID, WELL, YEAH, IT WAS HOT DURING THE DUST BOWL DAYS.

AND IT WAS.

BUT THAT WAS A GREAT PLAINS REGIONAL HEAT WAVE.

AND YOU CAN SEE HE AREA OF THE 1930s HIGHLIGHTED.

IT'S BEEN A STEADY WARMING TREND.

OF AND THIS YEAR I THINK -- AND THIS YEAR, I THINK FOR THE FIRST TIME, GLOBAL TEMPERATURES 1.5 CELSIUS ABOUT 2.7 FAHRENHEIT, WARMER THAN AVERAGE.

THAT WAS THE LIMIT EVERYBODY WAS TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE STAY BELOW.

A LOT F CLIMATE SCIENTISTS ARE SCARED BECAUSE THINGS SEEM TO BE HAPPENING FASTER THAN THE MODELS PREDICTED.

AND WE'RE SEEING THE SYMPTOMS RIGHT NOW.

>> Eric: ALL I CAN SAY IS E EQUALS MC SQUARED.

PAUL DOUGLAS, EVERYBODY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

>> I LOVE THE STATE FAIR.

I CAN'’T WAIT FOR OPENING DAY.

THIS YEAR I DECIDED TO GO TO THE FAIR EARLY.

REALLY EARLY.

I WENT LAST WEEK.

TURNED OUT TO BE A GOOD TIME TO GO.

PARKING WAS EASY.

I PARKED RIGHT NEXT TO THE GATES FOR FREE, NOT IN SOMEBODY'S FRONT YARD A MILE FROM THE HIPPODROME.

GETTING IN WAS FREE, TOO.

MUST HAVE BEEN 'GOOFY DOCTOR DAY,' BECAUSE NO ONE EVEN ASKED FOR A TICKET.

IF YOU WANT TO AVOID CROWDS, IT WAS A REALLY GOOD TIME TO GO.

HARDLY ANYONE WAS THERE.

THE ONLY PEOPLE I SAW LOOKED LIKE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, HAMMERING AND SAWING AND PAINTING, LIKE THE WHOLE FAIRGROUND WAS ONE BIG HOME IMPROVEMENT BUILDING.

FIRST I WENT THROUGH THE ANIMAL BARNS, WHICH WERE UNBELIEVABLY CLEAN THIS YEAR.

NO BARNYARD SMELL, DIDN'T HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU STEPPED.

UNFORTUNATELY, I DIDN'’T SEE ANY ANIMALS, NOT EVEN THE GIANT HOG.

I DON'T THINK IT WANDERED OFF -- THEY CAN'T EVEN STAND UP.

I WENT TO MY FAVORITE FOOD BOOTHS -- MINI-DONUTS, GIANT PEPPER, CORN ON THE COB.

UNFORTUNATELY, THEY WERE ALL CLOSED.

THE FAIRGROUNDS WERE SO CLEAN.

THERE WAS NO TRASH ANYWHERE, WHICH SHOWS HOW THOUGHTFUL MINNESOTANS CAN BE.

THE DNR BUILDING WAS LOCKED, SO I WENT AROUND TO THE BACK AND THREW A PENNY INTO THE FISH POND.

IT MADE A CLINKING SOUND AND ROLLED TO THE BOTTOM.

THE MIDWAY LOOKED LIKE A CONSTRUCTION SITE.

THE ONLY PEOPLE GETTING RIDES WERE ON FORKLIFTS AND TRACTORS.

THE GIANT SLIDE WAS LOCKED UP TIGHT, NO BURLAP BAGS ANYWHERE.

THE SKYRIDE CARS WERE SITTING ON THE GROUND.

I SAT IN ONE FOR A WHILE, GETTING A PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE GRASS AROUND ME.

THE FOOD BUILDING WAS FULL OF PEOPLE BUILDING LITTLE PLYWOOD BOOTHS.

THERE WAS NO FOOD, NOT EVEN WEIRD ITEMS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES.

AND THE AGRICULTURE BUILDING HAD CARS AND TRUCKS STORED ALONGSIDE THE SCARECROWS AND CROP ART.

I WANDERED AROUND MACHINERY HILL, WITH NO MACHINERY, UNTIL SOME MEN DROVE BY UNLOADING PICNIC BENCHES.

I SAT DOWN, TAKING IN ALL THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS AND SMELLS OF OUR GREAT STATE FAIR.

THAT DAY, THERE WEREN'T ANY.

IT WAS A PRETTY QUICK VISIT.

I DID EVERYTHING IN ABOUT 30 MINUTES, MUCH LESS TIME THAN I USUALLY SPEND AT THE FAIR.

BUT I STILL HAD A GREAT TIME.

I MAY GO BACK AGAIN, LIKE MAYBE IN A WEEK OR TWO, JUST TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T MISS ANYTHING THE FIRST TIME THROUGH.

[ Laughter ] [ Applause ] ♪♪ >> Cathy: YES, WE WILL BE AT THE FAIR THE FIRST FRIDAY OF THE FAIR AT THE MPR BOOTH.

COME OUT AND SEE US.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK NEXT ABOUT A NEW EXHIBIT THAT'S OPENED AT THE MINNESOTA HISTORY CENTER, IT OPENED LAST MONTH, SHOWCASING St. PAUL NATIVE AND PEANUTS CREATOR CHARLES SCHULZ.

ANNIE JOHNSON IS THE MUSEUM MANAGER AT THE MINNESOTA HISTORY CENTER.

I THINK THAT IS YOUR FIRST TIME ON "ALMANAC."

WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU, I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> Cathy: YEAH.

SO THIS EXHIBIT CAME FROM CALIFORNIA, RIGHT?

WHERE CHARLES SCHULZ MOVED TO, LIVED THERE AND DIED THERE, RIGHT?

>> YES.

THE CHARLES M. SCHULZ MUSEUM IS LOCATED IN SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA.

AND THEY HAVE TRAVELING EXHIBITS.

AND WE SAW THIS ON THE LIFE AND ART OF CHARLES M. SCHULZ WAS ONE OF THEIR EXHIBITS AND THOUGHT, WHAT A FANTASTIC THING TO BRING HERE TO MINNESOTA, TO St. PAUL, AND WE KNEW THAT WE HAD SO MANY THINGS IN OUR COLLECTIONS AND SO MANY ADDITIONAL MINNESOTA STORIES THAT WE COULD ADD TO THE EXHIBIT TO REALLY ENHANCE IT.

>> Eric: WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE?

GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND OF SCHULZ IN MINNESOTA.

>> SURE.

SO, CHARLES SCHULZ WAS BORN, ACTUALLY, IN MINNEAPOLIS, BUT LIVED MOSTLY IN St. PAUL, LIVED IN MINNESOTA FOR ALMOST HALF OF HIS LIFE.

AND THERE IS INFORMATION ON HIS EARLY YEARS, SO HIS FATHER OWNED A BARBER SHOP IN St. PAUL, ONE OF THEM WAS NEAR WHERE O'GARA'S USED TO BE.

HIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HE WENT TO, THERE'S A GREAT MAP IN THE EXHIBIT THAT SHOWS MANY OF THE LOCATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH SCHULZ AND HIS FAMILY.

WE HAVE SECTIONS ON PEANUTS ON PARADE, THAT FANTASTIC, YOU KNOW, FIVE YEARS IN THE TURN OF THE CENTURY, WHERE WE HAD PEANUTS STATUES LOCATED AROUND St. PAUL, AS WELL AS CAMP SNOOPY AT THE MALL OF AMERICA.

>> Cathy: OH, WOW.

I'M ASSUMING, LOOKING AT THIS EXHIBIT, THAT I'M BETTING MHS MUST HAVE SOME OR MANY SCHULZ ARTIFACTS THAT ARE PART OF THIS EXHIBIT OR AM I WRONG ABOUT THAT?

>> YES, WE DEFINITELY HAVE THINGS THAT ARE IN THE EXHIBIT, INCLUDING A LARGE COLLECTION OF ITEMS FROM THE REAL CHARLIE BROWN, SCHULZ NAMED SEVERAL CHARACTERS AFTER PEOPLE HE KNEW ERE IN THE TWIN CITIES.

SO THE REAL CHARLIE BROWN DONATED OY -- A LOT OF HIS ITEMS TO THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY SO THEY'RE ON DISPLAY.

>> Eric: THERE'S A LOUNGE AS PART OF THE EXHIBIT?

>> YES, A LOUNGE AREA.

THERE'S A GREAT TRACING TABLE, YOU CAN TRY YOUR HAND AT CREATING YOUR OWN COMIC STRIP, THERE'S AN AREA TO DO THAT.

THERE'S AN AREA WITH BOOKS, COMPLETE COPPIC STRIP BOOKS, CHILDREN'S BOOKS, PUZZLES, SO FAMILIES CAN SIT AND STAY FOR A HILE AND REAL DIVE INTO THE UNIVERSE THAT SCHULZ CREATED.

>> Eric: WAS IT HARD INTEGRATING WHAT YOU HAD AND WHAT THE MUSEUM HAS OR WAS THERE ANY ARGUMENT ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO GO IN OR WAS THAT PRETTY SMOOTH COLLABORATION?

>> IT WAS PRETTY SMOOTH.

THE EXHIBIT THAT CAME FROM CALIFORNIA IS JUST PANELS, IT'S JUST TEXT PANELS, SO WE KNEW THAT WE COULD REALLY ADD THE STUFF.

SO THAT'S EVERYTHING THAT'S ON DISPLAY S FROM OUR COLLECTION OR FROM LOCAL COLLECTORS.

IT'S FANTASTIC, WE HAVE A LOCAL COLLECTOR ON OUR STAFF AT THE HISTORY CENTER.

SO SHE WAS ABLE TO LOAN US A LOT OF HER CHECKS THAT'S ON DISPLAY IN THE EXHIBIT.

>> Cathy: WHAT'S BEEN THE REACTION SO FAR?

WHAT HAVE YOU EARD?

>> IT'S BEEN FANTASTIC.

PEOPLE ARE LOVING IT.

ATTENDANCE HAS BEEN HUGE, ESPECIALLY POST-COVID, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING TO DO TO HELP MUSEUM ATTENDANCE RECOVER IS WONDERFUL.

AND PEOPLE ARE JUST REALLY HAVING FUN.

AND I THINK THEY'RE LEARNING THINGS HEY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT CHARLES SCHULZ.

AND, YOU KNOW, MEMORIES ARE COMING UP.

I KNOW, FOR ME, I GREW UP HERE IN THE TWIN CITIES, AND WHEN THE MALL OF AMERICA OPENED AND WALKING IN AND SEEING THE GIANT SNOOPY, MY SENIOR PROGRAM WAS AT CAMP SNOOP ISNOOPY, WAS FUN AND IT BROUGHT BACK A LOT OF MEMORIES.

SO I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THOSE EXPERIENCES.

>> Eric: IT WILL BE HERE UNTIL JUNE OF 2024?

>> CORRECT.

SO PEOPLE HAVE TIME TO COME OUT AND SEE IT ONCE OR TWICE OR MORE.

>> Eric: CAN'T WAIT TO GO.

THANKS, ANNIE.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> ERIC: BEFORE GOVERNOR WALZ WENT TO IOWA TO MAKE NEWS THERE, BACK HOME HE'’S HAD PRESS EVENTS TOUTING NURSING HOME FUNDING PASSED IN AN END-OF-SESSION DEAL.

THAT CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER WHO'’S CONCERNED ABOUT JUST WHO IS TAKING CREDIT.

MARY LAHAMMER HAS THAT AND MORE IN HER CONVERSATION WITH THE NEW CAUCUS LEADER.

>> MANY NURSING HOMES ARE STILL REELING -- >> Mary: IN THE EWS WEEK AFTER WEEK.

>> IT'S EXPENSIVE TO CARE FOR SENIORS, BUT WE'VE DECIDED AS A STATE AND AS A NATION WE CARE ABOUT OUR ENIORS AND WE'RE GOING TO INVEST TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS.

>> WE'RE HAPPY SOME OF THE BILLS THAT GOT PASSED, THERE WERE GOOD NURSING HOME DOLLARS LEFT, IN THE LAST MINUTE THAT CAME THROUGH, WE APPLAUD THAT EFFORT.

>> Mary: THE GOVERNOR WAS VISITING NURSING HOMES, CELEBRATING FUNDING THAT WASN'T EXACTLY EASY TO GET IN AN END-OF-SESSION DEAL.

>> AS WE GOT INTO SESSION, IN JANUARY, WE WERE HEARING FROM OUR NURSING HOMES AND THE DIRE NEED THAT THEY HAD.

SO AS HOUSE REPUBLICANS, WE PUT TOGETHER A WORKING GROUP, JUST WITHIN OUR CAUCUS.

>> Mary: DEMUTH, A NEW LEADER, ASKED THE GOVERNOR FOR AN EARLY SOLUTION TO THE LONG-TERM CARE CRISIS.

>> $18 BILLION OF SURPLUS, THERE WAS -- WE WERE FLUSH WITH CASH.

AND IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE WE WERE GOING TO BE IN A HARD POSITION FINANCIALLY TO ADDRESS A GREAT NEED ACROSS THE STATE.

LET ME REMIND YOU THAT THE GOVERNOR ONLY HAD $3.9 MILLION IN HIS ORIGINAL BUDGET PROPOSAL.

THAT WAS NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH WHATSOEVER.

THANKFULLY, AT THE VERY END OF SESSION, WITH A LOT OF NEGOTIATION FROM SENATE REPUBLICANS, HOUSE REPUBLICANS, OBVIOUSLY THE MAJORITY WAS INVOLVED IN THAT, WE WERE TOLD BY DHS THAT WE COULD NOT DO THIS, IT HAD TO BE LOANS.

>> Mary: NOW SHE'S SEEN DFL LEADERS AND THE GOVERNOR TOUTING THE FUNDING WHICH SHE SAYS REPUBLICANS REALLY BROUGHT TO THE TABLE IN A LARGER COMPROMISE.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE HE'S TAKEN CREDIT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Mary: AND SHOULD HE?

>> NO, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD TAKE CREDIT FOR IT BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE EARLIER IN SESSION WHEN WE FIRST BROUGHT UP THE NEED.

NURSING HOME UNDING SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN PARTISAN.

IT SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE THAT WE COULD COME TOGETHER AND FIND SOLUTIONS FOR.

>> Mary: BUT HAS IT TURNED PARTISAN?

>> I THINK SO.

OTHERWISE WE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.

>> Mary: THE OTHER ISSUE LEADER DEMUTH AND REPUBLICANS THINK COULD BECOME CAMPAIGN FODDER IS DEMOCRATS' PLAN TO SPEND HALF A BILLION DOLLARS TO RENOVATE THE STATE OFFICE BUILDING.

>> WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL CAPITOL BEHIND US, STATE OFFICE BUILDING.

WE ARE LOOKING AT SPENDING $500 MILLION AS A BASE, FOR THE RENOVATION AND ADDITION TO THIS BUILDING FOR 134 LEGISLATORS.

ALL WE HAVE FOR NURSING HOME FUNDING THAT WE HAD TO BEG FOR AT THE VERY END IS $300 MILLION FOR NURSING HOMES ACROSS THE STATE FOR 27,000 RESIDENTS THAT RE IN NURSING HOMES RIGHT NOW.

THAT EELS VERY PARTISAN TO ME.

THIS WAS DONE UNDER THE RADAR BEFORE WE CAME BACK INTO SESSION, SO THIS WAS DONE BEFORE MY LEADERSHIP, IT WAS DONE BY THE HOUSE MAJORITY.

>> Mary: BUT IT'S HARD TO DENY DEMOCRATS DOMINATED THE ELECTION CYCLE AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THE STATE CONTINUES TO SUFFER WITH A LACK OF MONEY, A TOP DONOR, SENTENCE FOR SEX TRAFFICKING KIDS, AND AN ALL-WHITE-MALE SUBURB BANS CAUCUS ROUNDLY CRITICIZED FOR FORGETTING WOMEN.

CAN YOUR PARTY HELP YOU TO TAKE BACK CONTROL?

>> THINK MY FOCUS RIGHT NOW IS GETTING THE HOUSE INTO THE MAJORITY.

AND I THINK AS MINNESOTANS SEE THAT WE ARE REASONABLE, WE'LL HAVE GREAT CANDIDATES IN THE AREAS THAT WE MOST WANT TO FOCUS ON WILL HOLD ALL 64 OF THE SEATS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.

>> Mary: DEMUTH SAYS SHE'S FOCUSED ON HER CURRENT JOB, BUT OTHERS MENTION ER FOR HIGHER OFFICE.

>> MARY, YOU KNOW, I DON'T LEAD WITH, WELL, I'M A WOMAN, OR I'M A BLACK WOMAN, I DON'T LEAD WITH THAT, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION.

I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD QUALITY CANDIDATES OUT THERE.

OUR JOB IS TO FIND THEM AND EMPOWER THEM TO WIN.

IF IT'S WOMEN, GREAT.

IF IT'S A GOOD, QUALIFIED MAN, THAT'S AWESOME OO.

>> Mary: REPUBLICANS NEED TO STOP SCARING SUBURBAN WOMEN.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT?

>> I WOULD SAY, LET'S HAVE A CONVERSATION.

OUR INTENT IS NOT TO SCARE SUBURBAN WOMEN.

I THINK THE THINGS THAT ARE LOOKED AT ACROSS THE STATE FIT BOTH IN THE SUBURBS AND GREATERAND, IS --AND MINNESOTA, IS MINNESOTA A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE, IS IT A GOOD PLACE TO DO BUSINESS?

>> Mary: WOMEN MIGHT ALSO BE CONCERNED ABOUT KIDS AND ACCESS TO CANNABIS.

>> IT WAS NOT READY TO BE SIGNED INTO LAW.

WE MADE SOMETHING LEGAL THAT BECAME LEGAL TO HAVE IN MINNESOTA WITHOUT THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK AT ALL IN PLACE.

AND, SO, IT'S KIND OF CART BEFORE THE HORSE TYPE THING.

WE WANT A SPECIAL SESSION, ESPECIALLY WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT THE PENALTIES FOR MINORS.

WE HEARD FROM BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS THAT WERE ON THE BILL, THEY WERE PART OF THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, SO I'M NOT SAYING WE BACK THAT UP AND DON'T MAKE IT LEGAL.

I'M SAYING, LET'S FIX THE MOST CONCERNING THINGS.

SPECIFICALLY WHEN IT COMES TO MINORS.

ALMOST $18 BILLION OF SURPLUS WAS BLOWN THROUGH AND IT DIDN'T COME BACK TO MINNESOTANS.

WE ALSO RAISED STATE SPENDING BY $10 BILLION, INCREASED THAT STATE BUDGET BY $10 BILLION.

THAT IS GOING TO AFFECT ALL MINNESOTANS.

THAT'S GOING TO COME UP TO THE TOP, WHETHER IT'S BUSINESS OWNERS, PEOPLE ON THE STREET, PEOPLE I RUN INTO, THEY'RE, LIKE, WHERE'S OUR MONEY?

WHERE IS OUR SURPLUS THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING, LIKE, WHAT DID YOU DO TO OUR STATE?

SERIOUSLY.

WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR STATE?

THIS IS NOT MINNESOTA.

♪♪ >> ERIC: REPUBLICANS CALLING FOR SPECIAL SESSION, GOVERNOR WALZ IN IOWA STUMPING FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN AND TOUTING MINNESOTA NATIONALLY, AND A SURPRISINGLY LOPSIDED PRIMARY IN THE DULUTH MAYOR'S RACE, JUST THREE OF THE TOPICS WE'LL COVER WITH TONIGHT'S VERSION OF THE POLITICAL PANEL.

REPUBLICANS UP FIRST.

FRITZ KNAAK IS HERE.

HE'S AN ATTORNEY AND FORMER STATE SENATOR.

FORMER STATE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER IS A TITLE YOU CAN GIVE AMY KOCH.

DFLERS ON THE COUCH TONIGHT, JAVIER MORILLO IS A LONGTIME PARTY ACTIVIST AND FORMER NATIONAL COMMITTEE MAN.

ABOU AMARA, FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER, NOW ATTORNEY.

I LISTENED TO YOUR PODCAST THIS WEEK.

YOU WERE REALLY TOUGH ON THE PARTY ABOUT WOMEN'S ISSUES AND WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION.

WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?

>> WELL, I MEAN, WE'RE HEMORRHAGING WOMEN, RIGHT?

AND THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE -- WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET TO SAFE MAJORITIES IN THE STATE, WHICH IS WHAT I WANT, I WANT TO SEE -- I WANT TO SEE A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR IN THIS STATE.

I WANT TO SEE A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT AT THE HELM.

AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET THERE WITH THE MESSAGING AND HOW WE'VE BEEN DEALING -- RECRUITING, TALKING ABOUT, MESSAGING WOMEN IN ANY KIND OF WAY.

I MEAN, EVERYTHING FROM THE BARBIE MOVIE, WHICH PPARENTLY REPUBLICANS CANNOT ALLOW THAT KIND OF JOY, TO THE STORY THAT CAME OUT ABOUT LAZ ARROW THIS WEEK, AND THE 21 YEARS, BUT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE THAT HE GOT.

LAZARO.

IT'S JUST A CONSTANT, LIKE, WOMEN JUST WALKING AWAY.

LIKE REPUBLICAN WOMEN WALKING AWAY FROM THE PARTY, THAT'S A PROBLEM FOR US.

>> Eric: WHY IS THE GOVERNOR AND DEMOCRATS TAKING CREDIT FOR THIS NURSING HOME STUFF WHEN IT WAS REPUBLICANS WHO CREATED THAT COMPROMISE AT THE END?

>> WELL, FIRST, ON TWO FRONTS, FIRST, THAT'S JUST NOT TRUE.

DEMOCRATS CONTINUOUSLY SUPPORT SENIORS.

WE'RE HAVING AN INSIDE THE BASEBALL CONVERSATION ABOUT WHERE YOU STARTED HERE, WHERE YOU MOVE HERE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE GOVERNOR SIGNED THE BILL, THE LEGISLATURE PASSED IT, THE GOVERNOR'S GOING TO GET THE CREDIT, AS HE SHOULD.

AND HE'S GOING AROUND THE STATE REMINDING MINNESOTANS, THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE DEMOCRATS WERE ELECTED TO CONTROL ALL OF STATE GOVERNMENT.

>> Cathy: HE REALLY DIDN'T TALK ABOUT IT, THOUGH, DURING SESSION.

HE FOCUSED ON KIDS AND FAMILIES.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Cathy: DIDN'T REALLY BRING IT UP AT ALL.

>> LIKE ANY AGENDA, YOU HAVE ANAN AGENDA, BUT ALSO THINGS COME ALONG THE WAY THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT, AS WE HEARD IN THE PIECE.

THE GOVERNOR IS STILL PROPOSING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO GO INTO SENIOR CENTERS, IT'S NOT AS IF HE WAS ZEROING IT OUT.

THIS CAME UP, HEY, THIS IS A GOOD IDEA, LET'S INVEST IN IT.

>> Eric: CAN I GIVE ANOTHER ITEM ON THE PODCAST, YOUR ROUND ABOUT EVERYTHING PODCAST.

MAYOR LARSON UP IN DULUTH GOT PASTED IN HE PRIMARY.

>> YUP.

>> Eric: SHE GOES ON TO THE GENERAL.

ROGER REINERT, A MODERATE, IS THE OTHER SURVIVOR.

BUT YOU SAID IT'S, WHAT, A SHOT ACROSS THE BOW FOR PROGRESSIVES, I THINK YOU SAID.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, INK ITS IMPORTANT -- I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT THING FOR PROGRESSIVES.

THE RACE NOW WILL BE VERY INTERESTING, ROGER REINERT VERY MUCH HAS, LIKE HE WAS PUSHING HIMSELF AS A MODERATE, AND DULUTH ELECTORATE HAS BECOME ORE AND MORE PROGRESSIVE.

SO, IT'S UP TO NOW FOR DEMOCRATS, YOU KNOW, AND PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS, TO GET OFF THEIR -- YOU KNOW, GET OFF THEIR BEHINDS AND WORK.

I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF COMPLAISESSANCY AND -- COMPLACENCY.

HE ALSO, OF COURSE, HAS HIGH NAME I.D., AND THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS.

BUT, YEAH, IT'S CERTAINLY A WAKE-UP CALL.

WE TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED.

>> Cathy: WE SHOULD SAY, IT IS REALLY REALLY HARD TO WIN A THIRD TERM, RIGHT?

NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

BUT I DO THINK THAT REPUBLICANS ARE WATCHING THIS VERY VERY CLOSELY BECAUSE, AGAIN, THE DYNAMIC OF WHAT'S GOING ON OUTSTATE GENERALLY MATTERS.

AND IF THERE SEEMS TO BE ANY KIND OF WEAKENING ON THE PART OF THE DFL, WHICH STRONGLY SUPPORTED THE INCUMBENT, REPUBLICANS CAN TAKE HEART IN THAT AND ALSO THINK, OKAY, WHAT KIND OF THINGS WORKED FOR A MODERATE DEMOCRAT THAT WE MIGHT, IN TURN, BE ABLE TO USE, PRIMARILY OUTSTATE, BUT -- SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S PART OF IT.

I KNOW, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WANTS TO SAY, OH, THERE'S NO WEAKNESS HERE, WE'RE ALL DEMOCRATS, WE ALL LOVE EACH OTHER.

>> I ACTUALLY THINK IT'S FASCINATING, ANOTHER REPUBLICAN MADE THE EXACT SAME ARGUMENT ON THE PODCAST.

I WOULD BOTTLE UP WHAT YOU SAID AND HE SAID AND BLAST IT OUT TO DEMOCRATS IN DULUTH TO SAY, REPUBLICANS ARE SEEING THIS RACE AS THE PROXY BEING ROGER REINERT.

LIKE THAT'S NOT GOING TO BODE WELL FOR HIM.

>> WE'RE CIRCLING THE WATERS, THAT'S PUT IT THAT WAY.

>> Eric: WAS A SPECIAL SESSION ON CANNABIS NEEDED?

>> NO.

I MEAN, THERE ARE DEFINITELY FIX THAT IS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN TO THAT BILL.

I DON'T THINK A SPECIAL SESSION IS REQUIRED.

THEY'LL COME BACK IN FEBRUARY, FIXES NEED TO BE MADE, DISPENSARIES WON'T OPEN UNTIL 2025, THERE IS TIME TO WORK ON THIS.

THAT BILL WAS RUSHED THROUGH.

AND I THINK IT'S NOT THE ONLY BILL THAT'S GOING TO NEED FIXING FROM THIS LAST SESSION.

BUT I THINK IT'S OKAY TO COME BACK IN FEBRUARY.

>> LOOK, I THINK IT WILL E FIXED, YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE CONTINUALLY FIXING THIS, BUT LET'S REMEMBER, THIS HAD BEEN VETTED FOR NEARLY A DECADE.

THERE WAS PENT-UP DEMAND TO DO STUFF ON MARIJUANA, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY I CAN TELL YOU THAT WAS TRUE WHEN I WAS AT THE CAPITOL.

ALTHOUGH THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME FIXES, THE FUNDAMENTALS ARE IN PLACE.

AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE CAN MAKE RESPONSIBLE CHANGES.

BUT THE FOUNDATION'S THERE FOR THIS TO WORK IN MINNESOTA.

>> WELL, LOTS OF FIXES IS WHAT I WOULD SAY.

AND I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, A SPECIAL SESSION ON IT ISN'T A BAD IDEA ON THIS AND ANY NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS.

BUT NOT FOR THE REASONS THAT THEY'RE GIVING.

YOU KNOW, THE FACT IS, YOU'VE GOT CITIES OUT THERE TRYING TO RESPONSIBLY GET THIS LEGISLATION IN PLACE THAT THEY NEED TO PASS, NOT AT ALL CLEAR DESPITE THE ADVOCATES FOR THE BILL SAYING, OH, IT'S ALL IN THE BILL, T'S ALL QUITE SIMPLE, I'VE BEEN THROUGH IT ANY NUMBER OF TIMES WITH OTHER CITY ATTORNEYS AND OTHERS THAT ADVISE CITIES, IT'S A MESS.

AND PEOPLE ARE IN KIND OF -- I WOULDN'T SAY A PANIC MODE, BUT THEY'RE REALLY CONCERNED.

AND, SO, IT WOULDN'T HURT.

>> I THINK THIS IS ACTUALLY QUITE HILARIOUS.

THE CHICKEN LITTLES -- OH, AUGUST 1st -- OH, LEGALIZATION, YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED?

LIKE, AUGUST 1st, WAS EXACTLY LIKE JULY 31st, NOTHING HAPPENED.

THERE WERE PEOPLE ALREADY SMOKING AND USING CANNABIS ALL OVER THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

THEY CONTINUED TO.

IT'S NOT BEEN -- IT'S NOT THIS HUGE THING.

YES, LIKE THERE ARE FIXES HAT NEED TO HAPPEN.

BUT, LIKE, BUT THIS IS -- NOTHING HAS CHANGED.

RIGHT NOW.

NOTHING.

>> ELL, THAT'S BECAUSE IMPLEMENTATION IS LATER.

THERE'S WILL LICENSING TO BE DONE.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHERE YOU CAN SMOKE PUBLICLY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT ARE THE CITIES' ROLE IN WHAT THEY CAN -- I'M JUST SAYING, THOSE HAVE TO BE ANSWERED.

I'M NOT SAYING THIS THEY CAN'T BE ANSWERED IN THE NEXT SESSION.

I SAY THAT THEY CAN.

BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF -- TO PRETEND LIKE THIS BILL, I UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE'S BEEN AROUND, BUT THIS BILL MOVED QUICKLY THROUGH AN INCREDIBLY BUSY SESSION, AND DID NOT RECEIVE THE FULL VETTING AND THE FULL INPUT OF ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS.

IT SIMPLY DIDN'T.

>> I THINK THAT'S VERY TRUE.

I DON'T HINK YOU CAN REALLY DENY THAT.

>> HERE'S THE DEAL.

>> IT WAS A CRAZY SESSION.

>> THAT BILL EMPOWERS MUNICIPALITIES ALL ACROSS THE STATE TO PUT FORTH REGULATIONS THAT THEY SEE FIT.

AND THAT'S WHO PEOPLE SHOULD BE TALKING TO.

NOW THAT WE HAVE THE LEGISLATION IN PLACE, GO TALK TALK TO YOUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.

>> AND THEY ARE.

AND THE CITY COUNCILS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.

>> THAT'S WHERE THE ANSWERS ARE GOING TO LIE.

>> THEY'LL DO IT, SURE, EVENTUALLY, OF COURSE.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF CONGRESSMAN DEAN PHILLIPS EVIDENTLY HAS NOT MADE A DECISION YET ON CHALLENGING PRESIDENT BIDEN.

I WONDER WHAT SENATOR KLOBUCHAR THINKS OF THIS.

I ASKED HIM IF HE'S TALKED TO HER AND HE SAID HE HASN'T.

I WONDER WHAT SHE THINKS.

>> I HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT HER ABOUT THIS EITHER.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU THINK SHE THINKS?

>> I THINK THIS IS AN INSURANCE POLICY.

EASEL VATING HIS PROFILE.

-- HE'S ELEVATING HIS PROFILE.

HE REPRESENTS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY THINKING THROUGH THE POLICIES.

I THINK OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT BIDEN WILL BE THE CANDIDATE.

NOW IF HE'S.

>> Eric: 89% OF DEMOCRATS NATIONWIDE APPROVE OF JOE BIDEN.

>> LISTEN, DEAN PHILLIPS IS JUST EMBARRASSING HIMSELF HONESTLY.

LET'S GO BACK TO HOW THIS STARTED.

A HANDFUL OF RICH PEEL IN NEW YORK INVITED HIM FOR A CONVERSATION -- RICH PEOPLE.

THERE ARE NO BASE DEMANDING THIS.

THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE CLAMORING FOR THIS.

THIS IS AN EGO TRIP.

AND THIS IS SOMEONE WHO, YOU KNOW, LET'S REMEMBER, HIS DISTRICT WAS ED AND THEN PURPLE.

AND NOW IT'S PRETTY SOLIDLY BLUE.

HE WON BY 20 POINTS.

THIS IS CAUSING A LOT OF DISCONTENT.

HE SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT A PRIMARY CHALLENGE.

THE BEST THING THAT COULD COME OUT OF THIS, HE'LL BE THE ANSWER TO A TRIVIA QUESTION ABOUT SELF-INVOLVED DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES LIKE OE LIEBERMAN AND TULSI GABBERT.

>> Eric: YOU HAVE HANDLED ELECTION LAW FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> SURE.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU MAKE THE ELECTION LAW CHANGES?

>> WELL, I WOULD SAY, SOME OF THEM ARE CERTAINLY VERY USEFUL AND WORTHWHILE.

I, OF COURSE, WAS INVOLVED IN AN ELECTION WHERE I WAS REALLY HOPING THAT SOME OF THOSE ABSENTEE BALLOTS THAT WERE TECHNICALLY EXCLUDED WOULD GET COUNTED.

>> Eric: COLEMAN, FRANKEN?

>> YEAH.

THERE'S A LOT OF THIS THAT I THINK IS WORTHWHILE AND GOOD.

I HAVE SOME REAL QUESTIONS ABOUT AUTOMATICALLY REGISTERING OR PREREGISTERING 16 OR 17-YEAR-OLDS.

NOW QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE IS IF WE'RE REGISTERING THEM WHEN THEY GET THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE, WHAT'S WRONG WITH REQUIRING PEOPLE TO PRODUCE A DRIVER'S LICENSE WHEN THEY GO VOTE?

TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES FOR I.D.

AMAZED THAT QUESTION DIDN'T GET ASKED, EVEN THOUGH SOMETHING LIKE 67% OF MINNESOTANS STILL LIKE THE IDEA.

>> WELL, THE ANSWER TO THAT IS, YOU HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO VOTE, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO DRIVE.

THAT'S THE DISTINCTION.

THE DEMOCRACY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN GETTING A DRIVER'S LICENSE.

SO WE MAKE SURE IT'S EASY, ACCESSIBLE AND SECURE.

>> YOU CAN GET AN I.D., YOU KNOW THAT.

>> Eric: THUMB ON THE SCALE FOR DEMOCRATS IN THIS?

SENATOR?

>> THAT'S ALWAYS A CONCERN ANY TIME ELECTION LAW GETS OPENED UP AND IT'S DONE IN A WAY THAT'S VERY PARTISAN.

AND, I MEAN, THIS WAS THE TRIFECTA.

DEMOCRATS GET TO DO WHAT THEY WANT.

BUT THAT'S -- THERE WAS A TIME AT THE CAPITOL WHEN ELECTION BILLS DID NOT MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

>> RIGHT.

>> THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

I THINK THERE WAS SOME INPUT, BUT IT WAS LARGELY A PARTISAN BILL.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE'LL FIND OUT, WE'LL FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS.

SOME OF THE THINGS, I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT.

AND OTHER THINGS I HAVE -- I HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT.

>> LET'S GO TO THE UNDERLYING PREMISE OF EVEN YOUR QUESTION, RIGHT, THAT MAKING VOTING EASY IS PUTTING THE THUMB ON THE SCALES FOR DEMOCRATS.

I MEAN, IF WE -- YEAH, SURE, IF WE BELIEVE THAT VOTING IS A GOOD THING, LIKE IT HAS BECOME PARTISAN BECAUSE REPUBLICANS PUT SO MUCH EFFORT INTO RESTRICTING PEOPLE'S RIGHTS TO VOTE.

IN OHIO, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY JUST GOT EMBARRASSED BECAUSE THEY TRIED TO -- THEY TRIED TO SHUT DOWN THE PEOPLE'S VOIGT.

THE PEOPLE'S VOICE.

AND PEOPLE ARE REALIZING THIS.

>> Eric: TURNOUT WAS AMAZING.

>> THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SUPPRESSING THE VOTE AND WANTING INTEGRITY IN THE VOTE SO THAT EVERYONE'S VOTE MATTERS, RIGHT?

AND THAT SHOULD BE -- THAT IS HOW I FEEL ABOUT VOTING.

I FEEL ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE VOTE IS SAFE AND SECURE.

AND EVERYONE VOTE.

>> YOU RECALL TALKING EARLIER ABOUT THE 89% IN FAVOR, WHAT INTERESTED ME WAS "NEW YORK TIMES" CAME OUT WITH A POLL THAT SHOWED BASICALLY TRUMP AND THE PRESIDENT EVEN.

NOW, THAT'S NOT TRUE IN MINNESOTA.

CERTAINLY.

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> BUT IT MAKES FOR AN INTERESTING -- >> Eric: PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HUNTER BIDEN FOR ANOTHER DAY, I GUESS.

THANKS, GUYS.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

>> ERIC: NOW IS THE TIME FOR ALL THE HISTORY BUFFS OUT THERE TO PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION.

IT'S A NEW WEEK AND WE HAVE A NEW INDEX FILE QUESTION FOR YOU TO PONDER.

THE PRODUCERS LOVE MAKING ME USE THE SPECIAL "MYSTERY PERSON" VOICE SO HERE GOES.

"“I AM A FAMOUS HOLLYWOOD STAR.

I STARTED MY CAREER IN VAUDEVILLE AND EASILY MADE THE JUMP TO MOTION PICTURES.

OFTEN APPEARING ON THE COVER AND INSIDE PAGES OF POPULAR MAGAZINES.

IN 1934 I WAS FEATURED PROMINENTLY IN A SILVER SCREEN MAGAZINE AD FOR A PROMINENT "MINNESOTAN," CREDITING HER PRODUCTS WITH HELPING ME KEEP MY VITALITY UP.

WHO AM I?

EXTRA CREDIT IF YOU CAN NAME THE MINNESOTA PRODUCT I ENDORSED.

"” WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU ARE CALLING FROM BROWNIE LAKE, COOK COUNTY OR BAKER MINNESOTA.

651-229-1430 IS THE NUMBER TO CALL WITH ALL YOUR ANSWERS.

IF YOU PREFER OUR INTERNET OPTION, DROP US A LINE AT ALMANAC@TPT.ORG.

WE LOVE HEARING FROM YOU EITHER WAY.

THOUGH WE CONFESS, YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO END UP ON THE AIR IF YOU LEAVE A VOICE MAIL.

651-229-1430 IS THAT NUMBER ONCE AGAIN.

WE HAVE AN EXCITING PROGRAMMING NOTE FOR YOU.

TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY WE CONTINUE OUR STATE FAIR SHOW TRADITION.

FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, TWIN CITIES PBS AND MPR NEWS HAVE WORKED TOGETHER TO CREATE AN EDITION OF "ALMANAC AT THE STATE FAIR."

CIRCLE THE DATE ON YOUR CALENDAR, FRIDAY, AUGUST 25TH.

11 A.M.

IN THE MORNING "ALMANAC" WILL BE AT THE MPR BOOTH AT THE CORNER OF JUDSON AND NELSON, NEAR THE DAIRY BUILDING.

WE'LL BE LIVE ON THE RADIO AND RECORDING THE SHOW FOR TV THAT EVENING ACROSS THE STATE.

THAT'S TWO WEEKS FROM NOW YOU CAN WATCH "ALMANAC" IN ACTION LIVE AT THE FAIR, FRIDAY MORNING AT 11:00 ON AUGUST 25, AT THE MPR STATE FAIR BOOTH NEAR THE CORNER OF JUDSON AND NELSON.

WE'VE GOT A GREAT SHOW PLANNED FOR YOU.

GOVERNOR TIM WALZ WILL BE THERE.

WE'LL HAVE SOME LIVE MUSIC.

AND IT WOULDN'T BE A STATE FAIR SHOW WITHOUT A KEVIN KLING STORY AND SOME BABY ANIMALS.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.

JUST ENOUGH TIME LEFT FOR SOME SHOW-ENDING MUSIC.

THIS WEEK BACK IN 1997 THE IRISH ROVERS WERE RIGHT HERE IN STUDIO B.

TAKE A LISTEN.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

BE CAREFUL.

♪ IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 1806, WE SET SAIL FROM THE ♪ ♪ WE WERE SAILIN' AWAY WHEN THE CARGO OF RICKS, THE GRAND CITY OF NEW YORK ♪ ♪ LORD HOW THE TRADE WINDS ROAR ♪ ♪ WE HAD 23 MASTS AND SHE STOOD SEVERAL BLASTS AND WE CALLED HER THE IRISH ROVER ♪ ♪ WELL, THERE WAS McGEE FROM THE BANKS OF THE LEE ♪ ♪ THERE WAS HOGAN FROM CODY TO ROME ♪ ♪ AND THERE WAS JOHN ♪ >> "ALMANAC" IS A PRODUCTION CAPTIONED BY: VERITEXT/PARADIGM CAPTIONING WWW.VERITEXT.COM ♪ ♪ ♪ WE HAD SAILED SEVEN YEARS WHEN THE MEASLES BROKE OUT ♪ ♪ AND OUR SHIP LOST ITS WAY ♪ ♪ AND THE WHOLE OF THE CREW WAS REDUCED DOWN TO TWO ♪ ♪ JUST MYSELF AND THE CAPTAIN ♪ AND THE SHIP STRUCK A ROCK ♪ ♪ LORD, WHAT A SHOCK ♪ >> "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.

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.