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

>> ON TONIGHT'S SHOW WE'LL TALK WITH DR. MARK SEELEY ABOUT THE STATE'S DEEPENING DROUGHT, OUR PROFESSOR POLITICAL PANEL FILLS THE COUCH, WE HAVE SOME LIVE MUSIC RIGHT HERE IN STUDIO B AND MARY LAHAMMER HAS AN INTERESTING POLITICAL PROFILE FOR US.

>> THE LONGEST SERVING D.F.L.

PARTY CHAIR IS MAKING NATIONAL NEWS.

MEET THE MAN BEHIND THE VICTORIES IN HIS SUBURBAN SETTING.

>> WHERE DO YOU GO TO WIN ELECTIONS?

WHERE THE VOTES ARE, AND GUESS WHAT, THE FASTEST GROWING OF THE STATE ARE THE UBURBS.

>> 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.

ONE GREATER MINNESOTA REPORTING ON "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE OTTO BREMER TRUST, WHOSE MISSION IS INVESTING IN PEOPLE, PLACES, AND OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR REGION.

>> IN THE NEXT HOUR WE'LL HEAR HOW THE COMMUNITY IS SUPPORTING THE FAMILIES OF FIVE YOUNG SOMALI WOMEN KILLED IN THAT FATAL CAR CRASH LAST FRIDAY NIGHT IN MINNEAPOLIS.

KAOMI LEE CHECKS IN WITH A FORMER WASHINGTON POST REPORTER WHO MOVED TO MINNESOTA, THE MINNESOTA COMMUNITY HE ONCE CALLED THE WORST PLACE TO LIVE IN AMERICA, BUT WE START TONIGHT WITH THE EARLY SUMMER DROUGHT EXPANDING ACROSS THE STATE.

>> Eric: THURSDAY'S U.S. DROUGHT MONITOR UPDATE SHOWS MORE THAN 90% OF THE STATE NOW IN THE ABNORMALLY DRY OR DROUGHT STAGE AND THE SEVERE DROUGHT AREA HAS DOUBLED THE LAST WEEK.

MARK SEELEY JOINS US, LONG-TIME METEOROLOGIST AND CLIMATOLOGIST AT THE U OF M. MARK, AS WE PUT UP THE DROUGHT MAP WHAT DOES IT SHOW US?

>> WELL, PROBABLY THE MOST DISCONCERTING THING I SEE IN IT, ERIC, IS THAT THE MIDSECTION OF MINNESOTA IS NOW IN, YOU KNOW, SEVERE DROUGHT AND IT'S EXPANDED SIGNIFICANTLY WITH ALL THESE WARM TEMPERATURES THAT WE'VE HAD, SO IT'S ON A PACE, IF YOU WILL, WEEK TO WEEK, THAT'S A BIT OF A DISTURBING PACE.

A LOT OF METEOROLOGISTS AND CLIMATOLOGISTS TODAY CALL THAT "FLASH DROUGHT" WHEN IT EXPANDS SO RAPIDLY WEEK TO WEEK AND THAT'S PARTLY A FUNCTION OF HOW WARM THE DARN TEMPERATURES HAVE BEEN, WE'VE BEEN SO EXTRAORDINARILY WARM THAT WE, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY ACCELERATED THE EXPANSION OF THE DROUGHT.

>> Cathy: WE SHOULD SAY THAT DROUGHT IS NOT NUSUAL FOR MINNESOTA, FOR GOODNESS SAKES.

>> NO, THERE'S MANY MANY DROUGHTS.

IN FACT WE TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT ON MORNING EDITION TOO, CATHY, THAT THERE'S BEEN 13 HISTORICALLY THAT HAVE OCCURRED NEAR THE END OF JUNE INITIATED NEAR THE END OF JUNE.

AND BEEN RATHER SEVERE BY THE TIME WE GET TO THE END OF THE MONTH.

AND 10 OF THOSE 13 HAVE CONTINUED RIGHT THROUGH THE SUMMER.

SO WE HARDLY SEE MITIGATION TAKE PLACE, FULL MITIGATION TAKE PLACE FOR THE BALANCE OF SUMMER IT.

REALLY TENDS MORE OFTEN TO O THE OTHER WAY.

>> Cathy: IS THIS UNUSUAL TOO, WHAT ARE THE MECHANISMS?

I MEAN OBVIOUSLY IT HASN'T RAINED, I GET THAT, BUT THE MECHANISMS BEHIND THESE FLASH DROUGHTS WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE THAT KIND OF KEEPS THIS -- THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED NOW, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

WELL, WE GET DOMINATED BY HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEMS.

BASICALLY THE UNNEL SYSTEMS BYPASS US OR THEY'RE WEAK OR THEY DON'T BEAR A LOT OF MOISTURE.

NOW, WE HAVE HAD A DOMINANCE OF HIGH PRESSURE WHICH DOVETAILS NICELY, I MIGHT SAY, WITH ALL OF THE AIR QUALITY ALERTS WE'VE BEEN GETTING AS WELL.

SO THE ATMOSPHERE IS NOT BEING VERY DYNAMIC, IF YOU WILL.

WE'RE NOT GETTING THOSE PROVERBIAL HUGE CHANGES AND SWINGS THAT OUR MINNESOTA HISTORY IS FULL OF AND SO WE GET DRYER AND DRYER AND DRYER.

THE SUN IS OUT UNDER HIGH PRESSURE MOST OF THE TIME AND BAKES THE LANDSCAPE, THE WATER USE OF THE NATIVE VEGETATION IS SUCKING ALL THE MOISTURE OUT OF THE SOIL, THE LAKES ARE HEATING UP AND EVAPORATING A LOT MORE WATER, SO EVERYTHING IS OPERATING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION BUT AT A REALLY ACCELERATED RATE.

SO THAT'S WHY WE KEEP SEEING EXPANSION OF THE DROUGHT.

>> Eric: HOW MUCH WOULD WE NEED TO CATCH UP?

>> GOOD QUESTION, ERIC.

I THINK RIGHT NOW WE'D HAVE TO SEE A REVERSAL OF FORTUNE IN THE RAINFALL THAT GAVE US ANYWHERE FROM 4 TO 7-INCHES MORE THAN WHAT'S AVERAGE.

>> Eric: IN THE CARDS?

>> I DON'T SEE IT.

NONE OF THE MODELS SHOW A REVERSAL IN THE PATTERN.

IT DOES, SILVER LINING STORY IS AS OF TODAY A LOT OF THE MODELS ARE SHOWING THAT WE'RE GOING TO WRAP UP JUNE WITH MORE FREQUENT CHANCES FOR PRECIPITATION AND AS WE GO INTO JULY WE'LL HAVE MORE FREQUENT CHANCES.

BUT THE QUANTITY IS NOT THERE IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, TO MAKE UP THAT HUGE DEFICIT.

>> Cathy: IS IT TOUGH -- I WAS TALKING TO PEOPLE EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE ASSISTANT STATE CLIMATOLOGIST AND HE'S TERRIFIC AS YOU KNOW, IS IT TOUGH TO BREAK A DROUGHT?

ONCE YOU GET STARTED, YOU JUST TOLD US ABOUT THESE MECHANISMS ONCE THEY GET GOING, IS IT TOUGH TO BREAK?

>> WELL, I'D SAY YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD, CATHY, IN TERMS OF THE TIMING.

THIS TIME OF YEAR AS OPPOSED TO THE SHOULDER SEASONS OF AUTUMN OR SPRING THIS TIME OF YEAR IS ESPECIALLY TOUGH TO BREAK A DROUGHT.

THE HISTORY LESSON THERE IS YOU HARDLY EVER BREAK A DROUGHT IN THE SUMMER SEASON, JUST DOESN'T SEEM TO GO THAT WAY.

EVEN WHEN WE GET A HEAVY DOSE OF PRECIPITATION IT'S USUALLY IN THE CONVECTIVE THUNDERSTORM FORM WHERE A LOT OF IT RUNS OFF.

YOU'RE DISCHARGING IT INTO THE STREAM SO FAST THE SOIL DOESN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO TAKE IT ALL IN.

>> Eric: IMPACT ON THE GROWING SEASON?

>> YEAH, I THINK THERE IS SOME REAL CONCERN OUT THERE.

WE WILL HAVE AN ACCELERATED CROP DEVELOPMENT SEASON WHERE PROBABLY EVEN THOUGH WE PLANTED LATE, ERIC, WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE THINGS, THINGS ARE GROWING SO FAST IN THIS WARM ENVIRONMENT WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE MATURATION AND HARVESTABLE CROPS READY EARLIER THAN NORMAL TO THE CALENDAR BUT THE QUESTION IS WILL THEY HAVE ENOUGH MOISTURE FOR THE BALANCE OF THE SEASON TO PRODUCE A SIZEABLE YIELD?

AND THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY'S THINKING ABOUT.

>> Cathy: SO I KNOW YOU WORRY ABOUT THIS AN AWFUL LOT SO IF THIS DROUGHT CONTINUES INTO THE FALL, BECAUSE WE ALWAYS WORRY ABOUT RECHARGE, YOU KNOW.

>> RIGHT.

>> Cathy: IT KIND OF HAPPENED LAST YEAR, WE GOT SOME DECENT RAIN.

>> WE DID, AND THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS THIS YEAR THANKFULLY WERE REALLY WETTER THAN NORMAL, STRIKINGLY SO.

SO YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THE CARRYOVER EFFECT.

I THINK A LOT OF CLIMATE SCIENTISTS ARE WORRIED IF WE END THE AUTUMN SEASON AND STILL MAYBE THIS DROUGHT EXPANDS EVEN MORE THAT'S NOT A GOOD PRECURSOR TO WHAT WE MIGHT FACE NEXT YEAR IN TERMS OF THE GROWING SEASON.

>> Eric: REALLY GREAT STUFF TONIGHT, DOCTOR.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YA.

THANKS.

♪♪ >> Cathy: ON THURSDAY OF THIS WEEK DERRICK THOMPSON WAS CHARGED WITH MULTIPLE COUNTS OF VEHICULAR HOMICIDE IN LAST FRIDAY'S MINNEAPOLIS CAR CRASH THAT KILLED FIVE YOUNG WOMEN.

THE WOMEN HAD CLOSE TIES TO THE DAR AL FAROOQ ISLAMIC CENTER.

THE MOSQUE HAS RAISED MORE THAN $400,000 FOR THE VICTIMS' FAMILIES.

WITH US RIGHT NOW IS A LEADER FROM THE DAR AL-FAROOQ ISLAMIC CENTER ABDULAHI FARAH.

WE'RE TERRIBLY SORRY, THIS IS A HUGE HUGE LOSS TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> DEFINITELY.

IT'S BEEN A VERY SHOCKING AND TRAGIC EVENT.

WE'VE NEVER THOUGHT SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD HAPPEN, BUT IT HAPPENED.

AND REALLY SINCE THAT NIGHT WHEN I GOT THE CALL AND MOST OF OUR LEADERSHIP WENT TO THE SCENE, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE WAS LOOKING FOR ANSWERS, BUT WE WERE REALLY JUST HAD NO ANSWERS OF HOW SOMETHING COULD HAPPEN SO SUDDEN.

AND, YEAH, IT'S STILL, THE SHOCK'S STILL THERE FOR THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU TELL THE SURVIVORS, THE FAMILY MEMBERS?

>> THE FAMILIES I THINK HE FIRST REACTION WE HAD WAS TO SUPPORT THE FAMILIES AND SO THAT THEY CAN GO THROUGH THIS, YOU KNOW, HORRIFIC, HORRIFIC EXPERIENCE AND REALLY TELL THEM TO, YOU KNOW, LEAN BACK IN FAITH AND LEAN BACK ON, YOU KNOW, THAT TO REALLY, YOU KNOW, THAT WE ARE HERE.

THAT WE ARE HERE O SUPPORT THEM NO MATTER WHAT.

AND BECAUSE THOSE GIRLS GREW UP AT DAR AL FAROOQ, IT WAS MORE THAN A MOSQUE, IT WAS A REC CENTER WHERE THEY HUNG OUT.

THEY WERE VERY PROMISES COLLEGE AGE STUDENTS WHO ATTENDED UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, NORMANDALE, MCTC, THEY WERE GETTING READY FOR A WEDDING FOR THEIR FRIEND.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S THAT TIME THAT YOU REALLY DON'T PICTURE SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENING.

AND SO FOR THE FAMILIES AND THESE ARE LARGE FAMILIES AS WELL AND SO AL FAROOK, WE SAID WE WILL HANDLE ALL FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS, BECAUSE THE FAMILIES WERE NOT -- >> Eric: LET ME JUST INTERRUPT.

IN THE MUSLIM TRADITION YOU TURN AROUND BURIALS VERY QUICKLY.

>> ES, YES.

IT'S ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, WHEN SOMEONE PASSES AWAY IT IS PREFERRABLE THAT WE BURY THEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

AND WE BURY THEM IN A CERTAIN WAY THAT IS ACCORDING TO OUR FAITH.

AND, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THINGS TAKE TIME, YOU KNOW, WITH MEDICAL EXAMINER AND SO FORTH LIKE THAT.

BUT IT'S THE WHOLE SHOCK OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND THIS HAS REACHED ALL THE WAY TO THE FIVE CONTINENTS, FAMILY MEMBERS CALLING AND, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS SOME FROM THE COMMUNITY WHO SUGGESTED TO START RIGHT AWAY AND THAT WAS A REALLY GOOD IDEA BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO SUPPORT.

AND SO ALSO WHEN WE DID THE FUNERAL THERE WERE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS.

I'M GLAD WE WERE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, PLAN EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A THREE-DAY ROTATION OF LIKE A ALMOST 24-HOUR SHIFT, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY REALLY CAME TOGETHER.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOTTEN SUPPORT FROM EVERYBODY TO REALLY, THE LARGER COMMUNITY TOO.

AND SO BUT IT'S, YOU KNOW, I WISH I COULD REPLACE THE PAIN OR THE EVEN THE AFTERMATH THE FAMILIES ARE FEELING.

>> Cathy: ALSO WE SHOULD SAY TOO, THIS IS A HORRIBLE SITUATION, THE FUNERALS WERE HELD, BUT NOW, YOU KNOW, THE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS START.

YOU KNOW, THE COURT PROCEEDINGS.

DO THE FAMILIES PLAN TO ATTEND ANY OF THAT AT ALL?

OR IS THAT JUST TOO HURTFUL?

IS >> THE FAMILIES ARE REALLY GOING THROUGH THE GRIEVING PROCESS NOW AND WE'RE JUST GIVING THEM THEIR TIME TO REALLY GRIEVE.

WE ACKNOWLEDGE THERE ARE SOME STEPS GOING FORWARD BUT I THINK THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE TAKING ONE DAY AT A TIME AND REALLY GETTING THEIR OWN LEGAL COUNSEL AND SO FORTH LIKE THAT.

BUT, YEAH.

RIGHT NOW THE FAMILIES, WE'RE HAVING THEM FOCUS ON THE REMAINING SIBLINGS AND MAKING SURE THAT THINGS ARE ACK TO NORMAL BECAUSE YOU CAN IMAGINE, YOU KNOW, WE TAKE A LOT OF THINGS FOR GRANTED IN JUST A SECOND, YOU KNOW, FIVE FAMILIES HAVE BEEN REALLY THEIR WHOLE LIFE CHANGED.

ACTUALLY, THE WHOLE COMMUNITY'S LIFE CHANGED.

>> Eric: WELL, THE FAMILIES SO LUCKY TO HAVE YOU AND YOUR TEAM IN THEIR CORNERS.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, WE LOVE THEM, THEY'RE OUR DAUGHTERS AND THESE FAMILIES ARE OUR FAMILIES AND SO WE'LL CONTINUE BEING SUPPORTING THEM AND STANDING WITH THEM AND MAKING SURE, YOU KNOW, THAT VERY, VERY APPRECIATIVE ALSO, ALL THE SUPPORT THAT WE'VE GIVEN THEM SO FAR BUT IN OUR TRADITION WE SAY YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY THANKS TO WHAT I'M OBLIGATED TO DO, WHICH MEANS E FEEL WE'RE OBLIGATED TO DO THIS AS A COMMUNITY.

>> Eric: WELL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING BY TONIGHT.

THANKS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Eric: ALL THE BEST.

♪♪ >> Eric: THIS SUNDAY WE'LL SEE THE PREMIERE OF THE ANAHITA, MOTHER'S JOURNEY ON TPT 2.

THE DOCUMENTARY FOLLOWS THE HAROWING FIRST PERSON ACCOUNT OF A FEMALE FGHANISTAN POLICE OFFICER WHO FLED KABUL WITH HER FIVE CHILDREN IN 2021 WHEN THE TALIBAN SEIZED CONTROL OF THE CAPITAL CITY.

ANAHITA KHANJARY AND HER CHILDREN SETTLED HERE IN MINNESOTA.

TAKE A LOOK.

[ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ] ♪♪ >> I RAN A RESPECTABLE HALF-MARATHON LAST WEEKEND IN DULUTH.

YAY, ME, RIGHT?

WELL, NOT REALLY.

I HAD ACTUALLY SIGNED UP TO RUN THE WHOLE 26.2-MILE GRANDMA'S ENCHILADA.

I COULD MAKE EXCUSES, AN ANKLE INJURY, PROBLEM WITH MY TOE THAT SENT ME BRIEFLY TO THE MEDICAL TENT.

BUT IF I'M HONEST, AFTER SIX MONTHS AND ALMOST 600 MILES OF TRAINING, I SIMPLY COULDN'T DO IT.

IT WAS A LITTLE DEMORALIZING TAKING THE FATIGUE BUS DOWN TO CANAL PARK.

FINISHERS GOT T-SHIRTS AND MEDALS WHILE I FEASTED ON A BIG OLD PLATE OF CROW.

NOW, I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT AN IMPORTANT PART OF GROWTH IS TRYING SOMETHING EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE THAT SCARES YOU, PUSHES YOU OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE.

WHAT I NEVER REALLY STOPPED TO CONSIDER IS THAT I GUESS I ALSO BELIEVED THAT IT WAS NECESSARY TO SUCCEED AT THAT THING THAT YOU TRIED.

AND I DID OT SUCCEED.

AND MAYBE I'M RATIONALIZING, BUT MAYBE I DIDN'T FAIL EITHER.

FROM A CARDIOVASCULAR PERSPECTIVE I AM IN BETTER SHAPE NOW THAN I HAVE BEEN IN LITERALLY DECADES.

I RAN ALMOST ALL OF THOSE 600 MILES WITH MY WIFE MARY, FOR WHOM COMPLETING MARATHON WAS A BUCKET LIST ITEM.

IT WAS JUST KIND OF A RIDE-ALONG FOR ME.

AND WHEN SHE CROSSED THE FINISH LINE AND GOT HER MEDAL ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS SHE TOLD ME WAS HOW GRATEFUL SHE WAS THAT I INSISTED SHE GO ON WHEN I HAD NO MORE MILES LEFT IN THE TANK.

SO I'M A GOOD HUSBAND AND A LOUSY MARATHONER AND A GUY WHO CHALLENGED HIMSELF, WHO PUSHED HIMSELF OUT OF HIS COMFORT ZONE AND WHO DIDN'T DO WHAT HE SET OUT TO DO.

BUT WHO LEARNED SOME STUFF ALONG THE WAY.

I GUESS I'LL JUST THINK OF IT AS A GIFT IN LOUSY WRAPPING PAPER.

[ APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ >> Cathy: IT IS NOT EVERY DAY THAT TWO CORNELL EDUCATED 30-SOMETHINGS ITH NO TIES TO THE STATE DECIDED TO EMBRACE SMALL TOWN LIFE IN NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT FORMER WASHINGTON REPORTER CHRIS IMAGE GRAHAM AND WIFE BRIANNA DID.

KAOMI LEE REVISITS THE STORY AND FINDS OUT HOW THEY'RE DOING.

>> CHRIS AND BRIANNA NGRAM AND THEIR THREE SONS CHARLIE, JACK AND WILLIAM ENJOY SMALL TOWN LIFE IN MINNESOTA.

EIGHT YEARS AGO CHRIS INGRAM DISSED THE COUNTY FROM A THOUSAND MILES AWAY.

>> I WAS LOOKING FOR THINGS TO WRITE ABOUT, IT WAS KIND OF A SLOW TIME IN THE NEWS ROOM AND I STUMBLED ACROSS THIS DATA FROM THE USDA CALLED NATURAL AMENITIES INDEX.

WHAT IT DID IS BASICALLY RANKED EVERY COUNTY IN THE UNITED STATES ACCORDING TO THEIR NATURAL AMENITIES.

>> PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS LIKE MOUNTAINS, OCEANS AND LAKES.

THE GOVERNMENT WAS ATTEMPTING TO QUANTIFY BEAUTY.

COUNTIES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TOPPED THE LIST.

>> THE PLACE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST ENDED UP BEING RED LAKE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA.

IT'S FLAT AND DESPITE THE NAME THERE ARE NO LAKES HERE, NO CREDIT FOR WATER IN RED LAKE COUNTY.

>> THIS EAUTIFUL SCENERY BEHIND ME IS THE CLEARWATER RIVER IN RED LAKE FALLS, MINNESOTA IT'S ARD TO BELIEVE THAT CHRIS INGRAM CALLED RED LAKE COUNTY THE WORST PLACE TO LIVE IN AMERICA.

>> THEN I GOT A LOT OF VERY POLITELY WORDED ANGRY LETTERS FROM FOLKS IN MINNESOTA.

IT WAS FROM FOLKS UP HERE IN RED LAKE COUNTY WHO WERE OBVIOUSLY KIND OF OFF-PUT BY IT BUT ALSO FOLKS FROM ALL AROUND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA WHO WERE JUST KIND OF UPSET THAT ANYWHERE IN MINNESOTA WOULD RANK POORLY.

>> I READ IT ND I JUST THOUGHT THIS GUY, YOU KNOW, HE'S READING IT OFF STATISTICS THAT REALLY MAKE NO SENSE UNLESS YOU ACTUALLY COME TO THE COMMUNITY AND SEE THE COMMUNITY.

>> RED LAKE FALLS, POPULATION 1400 IS, SITUATED AT THE CONVERGENCE OF TWO RIVERS.

THE CLEARWATER AND RED RIVER MEET.

THERE ARE BLUFFS AND HILLS, PLENTIFUL JOBS, AND A THRIVING DOWNTOWN.

AND THERE ARE THINGS THE DATA DOESN'T SEE.

>> PEOPLE WAVE TO STRANGERS HERE.

>> OH, YEAH, THAT'S NATURAL, YOU WAVE TO EVERYBODY.

>> JASON ROMO IS THE OWNER OF A LOCAL CAMPGROUND AND RIVER TUBING ATTRACTION.

HE THOUGHT THE STORY AND BACKLASH WAS FUNNY AT FIRST.

>> D.C. ELITIST, HE DOESN'T KNOW, LIKE LOTS OF EXPLETIVES.

AND SOME PEOPLE WERE GENUINELY HURT BY IT.

>> GENERALLY SPEAKING, NO, I THINK I WAS WRONG, I WAS A LITTLE FLIPPANT IN WRITING OFF RED LAKE COUNTY, MINNESOTA.

BECAUSE I FIGURED, YOU KNOW, RED LAKE COUNTY, 4,000 PEOPLE HERE, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO READ THE WASHINGTON POST, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO CARE WHAT I SAID ABOUT THEM.

>> BROMO CHALLENGED CHRIS TO VISIT.

TO THE TOWN'S SURPRISE, CHRIS ACCEPTED.

>> THEY'RE LIKE GONNA KILL YOU, THEY'RE GOING TO TAR AND FEATHER YOU.

>> I DID WANT HIM TO GO, I WAS AFRAID FOR HIM.

I WAS LIKE YOU NEED TO TEXT ME, MAKE SURE YOU'RE OKAY.

>> I GO TO THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE AND AS SOON AS I GET OUT OF MY CAR THERE'S LIKE A DOZEN CAMERAS IN MY FACE.

THEY GOT ALL THESE LOCAL TV CREWS TO COME AND FILM THE EVENT.

THEY HAD THE MARCHING BAND FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL PLAY, STRIKE UP A TUNE ON THE STEPS AND THERE WAS PROBABLY AT LEAST 100 PEOPLE MILLING AROUND THERE, THEY HAD THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

>> JUST AS CHRIS MISJUDGED SO TOO HAD THE TOWN.

SURE, CHRIS AND BRIANNA LIVED OUTSIDE BALTIMORE, UT BOTH WERE FROM SMALL TOWNS IN UPSTATE NEW YORK.

CHRIS IMMEDIATELY SAW THE VITALITY, GOOD SCHOOLS AND NATURAL BEAUTY.

>> THEY REALLY PUT RED LAKE FALLS ON THE MAP.

AND I THINK THE ONE THING THAT HAS CAME OUT OF IT THAT IS QUITE INTERESTING IS I THINK A LOT OF EOPLE IN TOWN SAW A LOT OF BEAUTY IN THE COMMUNITY THAT NECESSARY NEVER SAW BEFORE.

>> RED LAKE FALLS LEFT AN IMPRESSION TOO.

THE IMAGE GRAHAMS HAD TWO-YEAR-OLD TWINS AND WERE OUTGROWING THEIR CRAMPED ONE AND A HALF BEDROOM HOME.

>> YOU START THINKING ABOUT A NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL WHERE YOUR KIDS CAN EASILY WALK OR BIKE TO SCHOOL.

WHEN I WAS HERE I SAW THE COMMUNITY COHESION WHERE EVERYONE WAS LOOKING OUT FOR EACH OTHER.

>> SO THEY MOVED TO RED LAKE FALLS, BRIANNA ECAME A TEACHER AND ACTIVE ON THE CITY COUNCIL.

THEIR FAMILY GREW, THEY ADAPTED TO THE LONG WINTERS.

>> CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING AND SNOWSHOEING, WE STARTED MAKING IGLOOS IN OUR YARD.

>> THEN LAST FALL THE FAMILY GOT SOME BAD NEWS.

>> BASICALLY A HUGE TUMOR IN MY LIVER.

DOCTORS THOUGHT INITIALLY IT WAS BILE DUCT CANCER WHICH IS ONE OF THE REALLY BAD CANCERS.

>> YOU'RE THINKING THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO THINK, WHAT AM I GOING TO DO, I HAVE THREE BOYS.

>> THE COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER TO RAISE MONEY FOR THEM, AND THAT'S WHEN THE INGRAHAMS SAW THE TOWN'S TRUE BEAUTY.

>> THE ITEMS THEY HAD FOR AUCTION, PEOPLE OFFERED UP LIKE A ICE FISHING TRIP, THERE WAS A KAYAK, DONATED AND JUST -- >> YEAH, BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE JUST DONATING BIG THINGS.

>> JUST DONATING THESE ITEMS TO HELP AND, YEAH.

IT'S JUST IS STILL VERY EMOTIONAL.

>> THE CANCER TURNED OUT TO BE LESS AGGRESSIVE.

TODAY, CHRIS HAS UCCESSFULLY BEAT IT.

AS FOR THAT INFAMOUS STORY EIGHT YEARS AGO, HE SAYS HE'S LEARNED A LOT ABOUT READING DATA.

>> THEY CAN BE ACCURATE BUT STILL NOT TRUE.

YOU KNOW, THEY CAN BE LIKE THIS IS A CORRECT UMBER BUT IT'S NOWHERE NEAR THE WHOLE STORY.

♪♪ >> Eric: THE TWIN CITIES JAZZ FESTIVAL IS CELEBRATING 25 YEARS THIS WEEKEND WITH LIVE MUSICAL PERFORMANCES AT MULTIPLE STAGES IN ST. PAUL'S LOWERTOWN.

ONE OF THE VENUES IS RIGHT HERE AT TWIN CITIES PBS JUST A COUPLE OF FLOORS BELOW US IN THE STREET SPACE.

ALSO LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE OUR OWN ALMANAC MINI JAZZ FESTIVAL TONIGHT IN STUDIO B. RICK CARLSON BACK THERE ON PIANO, HE'LL BE ON STAGE AT THE APOSTLE SUPPER CLUB ON SATURDAY NIGHT AND MAUD MAUD HIXSON IS HERE PERFORMING AT 9 CAN.

MAUD, YOU'RE A TWIN CITIES PERSON, BUT YOU'RE CHICAGO, NEW YORK, LONDON AND ALL POINTS OF THE COMPASS.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THE JAZZ FESTIVAL TO THE LOCAL JAZZ SCENE?

>> H, IT'S BECOME SO ESSENTIAL TO BASICALLY BE A PLACE WHERE WE COME OUT ONCE A YEAR AND SHOW EVERYTHING THAT THERE IS.

AND THERE'S SO MUCH DIFFERENT KINDS, SO MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF JAZZ THAT YOU CAN HEAR AND IT'S ALL HAPPENING.

>> Eric: NEW LEADERSHIP IS HEADING TO THE FESTIVAL.

>> YES.

DANA MARTINEZ IS TAKING OVER FOR STEVE HECKLER WHO SPENT 25 YEARS BEING JUST, YOU KNOW, THE GO-TO PERSON AND I THINK IT'S A NICE, NICE TIME AND A NICE THING.

>> Eric: WHAT CAN FOLKS EXPECT FROM YOUR PERFORMANCES HERE THIS WEEKEND?

>> WELL, SOME CLASSIC SWING, WE'LL BE WITH HE WOLVERINES TRIO.

>> Eric: HAS BEEN ON THAT FOREVER, RIGHT?

>> FOR A LONG TIME, YEAH.

BUT THEY'RE CELEBRATING 50 YEARS THIS YEAR.

>> Eric: OH, MY HEAVENS.

>> AND, YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GOOD TIME.

>> Eric: WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SING FOR US?

>> TONIGHT RIGHT HERE WE HAVE A COUPLE OF HENRY MANCINI SONGS FOR YOU TONIGHT.

>> Eric: RICK CARLSON, MAUD HIXSON, TAKE IT AWAY.

>> THANKS.

♪♪ >> SINGING: IF YOU'RE FEELING FANCY FREE, COME WANDER THROUGH THE WORLD WITH ME AND ANY PLACE WE CHANCE TO BE WILL BE OUR RENDEZVOUS.

TWO FOR THE ROAD WE'LL TRAVEL DOWN THE YEARS SELECTING PRECIOUS MEMORIES COLLECTING SOUVENIRS AND LIVING LIFE THE WAY WE PLEASE IN SUMMERTIME THE SUN WILL SHINE IN WINTER WE'LL DRINK SUMMER WINE AND EVERY DAY THAT YOU ARE MINE WILL BE A LOVELY DAY AS LONG AS LOVE STILL WEARS A SMILE, WILL ALWAYS BE TWO FOR THE ROAD AND THAT'S A LONG, LONG WHILE.

♪♪ [ APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ >> Cathy: EARLIER THIS MONTH A NEW YORK TIMES INVESTIGATION OUTED MINNEAPOLIS BASED ALLINA HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS DENYING NON-EMERGENCY HEALTH CARE TO PATIENTS WITH UNPAID MEDICAL BILLS.

IN THE AFTERMATH OF THAT STORY ALLINA PAUSED THE PRACTICE.

STAR TRIBUNE REPORTER JEREMY OLSON STARTED FOLLOWING THE STORY EARLY ON AND DISCOVERED ALLINA WAS NOT THE ONLY MINNESOTA HEALTH CARE SYSTEM CUTTING OFF NON-EMERGENCY CARE TO PATIENTS WITH UNPAID BILLS.

LAST WEEK HE INTRODUCED READERS TO A GLENCOE WOMAN DURING THE END OF HER PREGNANCY SLATED TO LOSE MEDICAL CARE SHORTLY AFTER THE BIRTH.

JEREMY JOINS ME NOW.

I KNOW HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS CAN BE PRETTY AGGRESSIVE IN TRYING TO GET THEIR MONEY.

HOW DOES ALLINA'S POLICY STACK UP WITH OTHERS THAT YOU KNOW OF?

>> WELL, IT'S REAL HIT AND MISS.

SOME HOSPITAL SYSTEMS USE THESE KIND OF POLICIES WHERE THEY'LL CUT OFF ACCESS TO CLINICS, OTHERS DON'T.

MAYO CLINIC DOES.

HEALTHPARTNERS DOES.

AND OBVIOUSLY GLENCOE REGIONAL HEALTH DOES.

YOU KNOW, SMALL HOSPITALS THAT ARE INDEPENDENT, THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES OF A MAYO OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE SQUEEZED FOR DOLLARS AND THEY IMPLEMENT THESE KIND OF POLICIES AS MUCH AS THE BIG GUYS.

>> Cathy: ISN'T THIS MEDICALLY UNETHICAL TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

>> WELL, IT'S INTERESTING, MINNESOTANS HAVE EXTRA PROTECTION, THERE USED TO BE PROBLEMS WITH BILLING IN THE PAST AND THERE WAS SOMETHING CALLED THE HOSPITAL AGREEMENT AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL PUT IT IN PLACES ITH HOSPITALS AND THE HOSPITALS AGREED TO NOT DO UNETHICAL BILL PRACTICES.

WELL, THE QUESTION IS IS THIS AN NETHICAL PRACTICE TO DENY ACCESS TO CARE FOR MONEY LOSERS FOR THE HOSPITAL?

>> Eric: WHEN ALLINA SAYS PAUSING THE PRACTICE, WHAT DO YOU TAKE THAT TO MEAN?

>> WELL, IT MEANS THEY ARE GOING TO ALLOW PATIENTS TO CONTINUE TO RECEIVE AND MAKE APPOINTMENTS, RECEIVE NON-EMERGENCY CLINICAL CARE WHILE THEY CONSIDER WHAT TO DO NEXT.

>> Eric: AFTER THE PUBLICITY DIES DOWN ARE THEY BACK AT IT?

>> WELL, THE FACT THEY'RE NOT OUT THERE ALL ON THEIR LONESOME MEANS THEY MIGHT LOOK AT INSTITUTING POLICIES LIKE THIS.

THE FACT IS A LOT OF OUR HOSPITALS WERE IN THE BLACK PRIOR TO HE PANDEMIC BUT FINANCES GETTING LEANER AND A LOT OF THEM ARE IN THE RED NOW AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD AS MUCH DEBT AS IN THE PAST AND THEY MAY BE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO CUT COSTS.

WHETHER THIS IS HE RIGHT WAY THAT'S AN OPEN QUESTION.

>> Cathy: I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING IN YOUR PIECE THERE'S LIKE A STEP BY STEP PROCESS FOR CUTTING OFF PATIENTS THAT ALLINA WORKERS GO THROUGH INCLUDING DOCTORS.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT?

>> YEAH, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THREE INCIDENTS OF A PATIENT NOT PAYING $1,500 OR ACCRUING $1,500 IN UNPAID BILLS AND THEY SAY EACH TIME THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT 20 NOTICES INCLUDING DOCTORS, PHONE CALLS FROM THE BILLING DEPARTMENT BEFORE THEY TAKE THIS STEP AND EACH EVIDENCE INCIDENT.

SO THEY FEEL ATHEY EXHAUSTED THEIR EFFORTS BEFORE THEY TAKE THIS FINAL STEP.

>> Eric: SO IN GLENCOE, I MEAN, THE COVERAGE HAPPENED AND THEN MONEY CAME IN?

I MEAN THAT'S A PRETTY SAD WAY TO RUN A HEALTH SYSTEM, I MEAN, ALL DUE RESPECT.

>> YEAH, AND WELL TO BE HONEST I DON'T KNOW GLENCOE HAS RESCINDED ITS POLICY BUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT WOMAN WHO HAS HAD A GOOD WEEK SHE GAVE BIRTH ON THURSDAY TO A BABY BOY, AND AS A BABY SHOWER GIFT DONATIONS FROM ACROSS INNESOTA CAME.

SHE HAD ABOUT $4,100 IN DEBT AND THAT WAS CAUSING HER TO POTENTIALLY LOSE ACCESS TO HER DOCTORS AFTER BIRTH.

PEOPLE CALLED IN AND DONATED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO NOT ONLY COVER THAT DEBT BUT THE OTHER DEBTS THAT HAD PUT HER AFAMILY IN BANKRUPTCY SO THEY'RE OFF TO A GOOD START AFTER HAVING A ROUGH GO OF IT.

>> Cathy: WE SHOULD SAY THE HOSPITALS DO HAVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, SO WHERE DOES THAT COME INTO ALL THIS?

>> IT'S A COMPLICATED THING BECAUSE HOSPITALS HAVE CHARITY CARE AND THEY HAVE BAD DEBT AND SOMETIMES IT DEPENDS ON WHETHER YOU KNEW TO ASK FOR IT OR CIRCUMSTANCES.

PEOPLE WHO ARE LOW INCOME CAN GET CHARITY CARE IF THEY ASK FOR IT, IF THEY QUALIFY FOR IT OR IF DOCTORS THINK THEY HAVE A CERTAIN KIND OF CARE THEY NEED THAT THEY CAN'T GET ELSEWHERE.

IF THEY DON'T ASK FOR IT, THEY JUST ACCRUE BILLS AND GET SCARED AND STOP PAYING OR STOP TALKING TO THEIR DOCTOR ABOUT IT THEN THAT GETS WRITTEN OFF AS BAD DEBT AND THAT'S THE KIND OF MONEY THE HOSPITALS GO AFTER.

CHARITY CARE IS THE GOOD BUCKET, BAD DEBT IS THE BAD BUCKET AND OW YOU END UP IN ONE OR THE OTHER SOMETIMES IS RANDOM.

>> Cathy: INTERESTING TO SEE THAT ALSO THERE ARE WAYS TO GET CARE IN SPITE OF THE UNPAID BILLS BUT THEY'RE NOT GREAT.

YOU CAN DECLARE BANKRUPTCY AND HOSPITALS HAVE THEIR OWN LOAN PROGRAM, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> WELL, THESE KIND OF DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES AND DENIAL OF CARE IF YOU DECLARE BANKRUPTCY THAT ENDS THAT, I MEAN, YOU CAN'T COLLECT A BILL ONCE SOMEONE HAS THE BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION SO THE ATTORNEY FOR THIS PARTICULAR WOMAN, STEPHANIE, SHE'S DONE THAT WITH OTHER CLIENTS AGAINST MAYO WHEN MAYO WAS CLAMPING DOWN SHE HAD HER PATIENTS OR CLIENTS IN THAT CASE DECLARE BANKRUPTCY AND RETAINED ACCESS TO CAREGIVERS.

>> Eric: ATTORNEY GENERAL ELLISON IS IN THE GAME LOOKING FOR FOLKS TO COME FORWARD WITH THEIR STORIES SO I SUPPOSE WE'LL SEE THIS FURTHER DOWN THE LINE, HUH?

>> YEAH, YEAH, HE'S ABSOLUTELY COLLECTING STORIES FROM PEOPLE AND IT REMAINS TO BE THIS OPEN QUESTION, IS DENYING CARE AN UNETHICAL BILLING PRACTICE?

IT HASN'T BEEN ENCOUNTERED BEFORE, LITIGATED OR EBATED BEFORE SO HERE WE ARE.

>> Eric: WE KNOW YOU'LL BE ON IT.

>> I WILL, ABSOLUTELY.

>> Eric: THANKS, MATT.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YA.

>> YOU BET.

♪♪ >> Eric: THIS WEEK GOVERNOR WALZ AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS WENT TO THE WHITE HOUSE TO HIGHLIGHT THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

MINNESOTA IS GETTING A LOT OF NATIONAL ATTENTION FOR DEMOCRAT DEM SUCCESS HERE.

MARY LAHAMMER TAKES A LOOK AT THE D.F.L.

GAINS IN THE STATE.

>> DEMOCRATS DOMINATED IN MINNESOTA WITH A WELL FUNDED AND TIGHTLY ORGANIZED CAMPAIGN THAT LED TO COMPLETE CONTROL OF STATEWIDE OFFICES AND THE LEGISLATURE.

>> THERE'S NO RED WAVE MATERIALIZING, FOLKS.

>> TWO AND A HALF MILLION PEOPLE SHOWED UP LAST NOVEMBER AND CAST VOTES.

THEY MADE A CHOICE.

>> THE SLICK CAMPAIGNING CONTINUES WITH A CINEMATIC VICTORY LAP FROM THE PARTY LED BY ITS LONGEST SERVING PARTY CHAIR IN STATE HISTORY.

>> WHEN MARK DAYTON SKED ME TO DO THIS AND I THINK I'VE SHARED THIS STORY MY FIRST RESPONSE WAS HELL, NO, I WASN'T INTERESTED IN BEING PARTY CHAIR.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE ASPIRES TO THESE JOBS, WE KNOW HOW TO RAISE MONEY AND WE USE THAT MONEY TO BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE.

THIS IDEA OF TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK, WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO WIN.

>> NOW NATIONAL PRESS IS TAKING NOTICE.

THE WASHINGTON POST PINION PAGE SAYS THE MINNESOTA MIRACLE SHOULD SERVE AS A MODEL FOR DEMOCRATS.

HUFF POST DETAILED HOW MINNESOTA DEMOCRATS PAST A RAFT OF PROGRESSIVE LEGISLATION WITH A ONE-SEAT MAJORITIES.

NEW YORK MAGAZINE EXPLORED WHY MINNESOTA DEMOCRATS ARE SO PROGRESSIVE.

>> HOW ABOUT THE NATIONAL ATTENTION COMING YOUR WAY?

>> WELL, LOOK, I'D BEEN ELECTED THREE TIMES BY MY PEERS TO LEAD OUR ASSOCIATION, ASSOCIATION OF STATE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEES AND WILL BE THE LONGEST SERVING PRESIDENT OF THAT ASSOCIATION, NOT THAT THAT'S A GREAT TITLE OR ACCOLADE, BUT WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE IS REALLY THE MODEL AROUND THE NATION.

PEOPLE LOOK AT MINNESOTA AND HOW YOU BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE TO WIN ELECTIONS.

>> A LOT OF FOLKS SAY IT'S A THANKLESS JOB TO BE A PARTY CHAIR, YOU DON'T EED TO BE TOLD IT'S A -- BLEEP -- JOB.

I THANK KEN MARTIN EVERY SINGLE DAY.

>> ARE LOOKING TO MARTIN A LOT THESE DAYS AS THEY DID AT THE ASSOCIATION OF DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEES WITH THE STATE DNC IN TOWN.

>> POWER IS FLEETING.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU WILL HAVE POWER AGAIN SO LET'S USE IT NOW.

GENERATIONS OF MINNESOTANS WILL BE TALKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> WHAT ABOUT OVERREACH?

WHAT ABOUT IF IT'S TOO MUCH AND YOU'RE TOUTING TOO MUCH AND THERE'S A BACKLASH?

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S OVERREACH.

THE PACKAGE WE PUT TOGETHER NOT ONLY HELPS IMPROVE PEOPLE'S LIVES IN THE STATE BUT THERE'S GENERAL SUPPORT OF WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

>> FOR DECADES HE'S BEEN PLAYING THE LONG GAME IN SUBURBIA SEEING THIS AREA WOULD MOVE HIS DIRECTION.

>> WHERE DO YOU GO TO WIN ELECTIONS?

WHERE THE VOTES ARE, AND THE FASTEST GROWING PARTS OF THE STATE IS THE SUBURBS.

>> THE FACT THAT YOU WERE IN EAGAN, YOU WERE PARTY CHAIR AND THIS WAS REPUBLIC.

>> IT WAS, IN 2010 WHEN I CAME IN THIS AREA WAS FAIRLY RED, A LITTLE BIT MORE PURPLE ACTUALLY.

THIS SUBURBAN COMMUNITY MUCH LIKE A LOT OF SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES INCLUDING WHERE YOU LIVE IN EDINA GONE COMPLETELY BLUE NOW AND IT'S A TREND WE SAW COMING A LONG TIME AGO.

>> THE STATE D.F.L.

IS FUNDING WITH MERCH TOUTING LEGALIZED WEED, ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CALLING IT THE LAND OF 10,000 RIGHTS.

>> MERCHANDISE IS NOT ANYTHING NEW, WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR YEARS, I THINK PEOPLE ARE JUST PAYING ATTENTION NOW.

WE WANT TO OF COURSE TOUT OUR SUCCESS AND THAT'S ONE THING THAT NOT ONLY DEMOCRATS DO WELL BUT MINNESOTANS DON'T DO WELL.

>> NOT ALL THE D.F.L.

VOTES SENATORS TOOK WOULD E EASY.

>> KEN MARTIN SAID HE'S GOT HER BACK.

MAKE THIS A STATE PEOPLE WANT TO COME TO.

I THINK IT'S SIMPLER TO JUST WIN ELECTIONS AND GET STUFF DONE AND LET THEM WORRY ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO.

THANK YOU ALL.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> REPUBLICANS HAVE HAD MANY MISFIRES ON SOCIAL ISSUES, DISAGREEMENT AMONGST STATEWIDE CANDIDATES AND TURNOVER AT THEIR HEAD OFFICE.

>> I KEPT HEARING FOLKS SAY WE WANT A BORING CHAIR.

>> WELL, THEY GOT ONE WHAT, CAN I SAY?

>> SO YOU'RE GOING TO EMBRACE THE IT'S GOING TO BE SMOOTH AND BORING?

>> DURING THE ELECTION AND PEOPLE WOULD ASK ABOUT THIS AND I'D SAY, LOOK, THE PARTY CHAIR'S JOB IS NOT TO BE THE CENTER OF THE POLITICAL UNIVERSE.

THAT'S FOR OUR CANDIDATES, WE WANT TO PROMOTE OUR CANDIDATES, OUR MESSAGE.

THE JOB OF THE PARTY CHAIR IS TO BUILD AN ORGANIZATION.

>> THE REALITY IS THEY'VE SWITCHED OVER I THINK THEY'RE ON SIX CHAIRS IN MY TIME HERE OVER THE LAST 13 YEARS AND CONTINUITY MATTERS.

I'D RATHER BE BORING AND STAY IN THE BACK.

YOU KNOW, FOR ME I'VE SPENT MY WHOLE CAREER RUNNING CAMPAIGNS OUT OF THE LIMELIGHT.

>> MEANWHILE MARTIN MAINTAINED HIS STEADY CLIMB WITH DEMOCRATS.

>> THE MARRIAGE AMENDMENT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING TO MOVE SUBURBAN VOTERS, IT'S NOT JUST POPULATION GROWTH, IT'S ALSO THE FACT THAT THE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND IN MANY WAYS HAS MOVED AWAY FROM WHERE THOSE SUBURBAN VOTERS ARE ON CRITICAL ISSUES.

>> THERE ARE SOME FOLKS WITHIN THE PARTY WHO HAVE SHUT SOME DOORS ON ME AND NOW I'M GOING TO KICK A FEW OPEN.

>> TIM PAW PAWLENTY FROM EAGAN HERE HE FAMOUSLY CAMPAIGNED AS A SAM'S CLUB REPUBLICAN, UNDERSTOOD SUBURBAN VALUES BUT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TODAY OF MINNESOTA HAS REALLY WALKED AWAY FROM THAT UNDERSTANDING.

♪♪ >> Eric: HUNTERRER BIDEN'S PLEA AGREEMENT, TRUMP DIME IN THE UPCOMING TRIAL, THREE OF THE TOPICS WE HOPE TO TACKLE WITH A COUCHFUL OF POLITICAL PROFESSORS.

CINDY ROUGELY AT UMD, MICHAEL MINTA IS HERE, LAST BUT ABSOLUTELY NOT LEAST PROFESSOR EMERITUS, STEVEN SCHIER.

I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE GLORY DAYS OF HUMPHREY, MONDALE, ET CETERA.

THOSE WERE PERCENTS, THOSE WERE INDIVIDUALS.

THIS NEW D.F.L.

SUCCESS IS BASED ON ORGANIZATION MORE THAN PERSONALITIES.

>> IT IS, RIGHT.

YOU HAD NATIONAL LEADERSHIP COMING OUT OF MINNESOTA DURING THE HUMPHREY ERA.

MONDALE, HUMPHREY AND GENE MCCARTHY FOR THAT MATTER.

BUT THIS IS VERY DIFFERENT.

YOU CAN'T REALLY SAY THAT THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS MINNESOTA POLITICIANS AT THE FRONT OF IT.

THEY'RE GOOD SOLDIERS IN THE PARTY BUT THEY'RE NOT NATIONAL LEADERS OF THE STATURE OF HUMPHREY.

WHAT YOU SAW WITH KEN MARTIN IS THE INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTH OF THIS PARTY WHICH REALLY IS UNRIVALED BY THE REPUBLICANS AND THAT HELPS TO EXPLAIN A LOT OF WHAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

>> Cathy: WHAT DID YOU THINK, D.F.L.

LEADERS WENT TO THE WHITE HOUSE, WHITE HOUSE LEADERS WANTED O KNOW OW DID YOU GUYS DO?

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT >> I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY INTERESTING AND WE'VE SEEN A LOT WITH GOVERNOR WALZ GETTING SOME KIND OF, YOU KNOW, NATIONAL NOTORIETY AND NATIONAL ATTENTION -- NOTORIETY IS THE WRONG WORD BUT I KNOW EOPLE ALREADY SAID, MAYBE IN FOUR YEARS HE AND, YOU KNOW, COULD BE A VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPRESSIVE AND ONE OF THE THINGS IS THAT THEY GOT THINGS DONE AT A TIME WHEN IN WASHINGTON EVERYTHING STOPPED P. THEY GOT THINGS DONE, YOU MAY AGREE WITH IT OR DISAGREE WITH IT BUT THEY DID SOMETHING AND THEY DID QUITE A BIT.

>> I WANTED TO ADD, I MEAN, A LOT OF IT IS I THINK DEMOCRATS FEEL LIKE, HEY, THEY MAY NOT HAVE THIS MAJORITIES MUCH LONGER SO YOU MIGHT AS WELL DO AS MUCH S YOU NEED TO DO NOW BECAUSE IT'S NOT A PROMISE.

AND SECOND, I MEAN, THEIR CONSTITUENTS IF THEY DIDN'T DO THESE THINGS REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, CANNABIS, IF THEY DIDN'T GET THAT DONE THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE SURELY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> SO I THINK IT'S LIKE WE MIGHT AS WELL GET THINGS DONE NOW WHILE WE HAVE THIS MAJORITY.

>> IT WAS INTERESTING, I THOUGHT BACK TO GEORGE W. BUSH WHEN HIS FATHER WAS PRESIDENT AND SHOT UP WITH A 91% APPROVAL RATING HE SAID HE WASTED IT.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS A VERY, I DON'T KNOW WHY I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT BUT I THOUGHT, YEAH, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

>> DO WE HAVE A TWO-TIERED JUSTICE SYSTEM?

[ LAUGHTER ] >> WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT TO DIG INTO THE DETAILS OF ALL THIS TO BEGIN TO FIGURE IT OUT.

CERTAINLY REPUBLICANS ARE ARGUING THAT BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHERE THE EVIDENCE TAKES US ON THE WHOLE HUNTER BIDEN THING.

AND SO FAR TO ME IT'S A PRETTY BLURRY PICTURE.

>> Eric: BUT DON'T PEOPLE WITH INFLUENCE DO BETTER IN THE COURT SYSTEM THAN PEOPLE WITHOUT INFLUENCE?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT'S PRETTY MUCH A GIVEN, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT ONE PARTY IS NECESSARILY ADVANTAGED.

>> NO, BUT I MEAN, THAT'S DEFINITELY TRUE, THAT IS A GIVEN, BUT IN TERMS F, YOU KNOW, REPUBLICANS ARE STARTING TO SAY THAT HUNTER BIDEN AND HILLARY CLINTON ARE GETTING THESE SPECIAL FAVORS THAT DONALD TRUMP IS NOT GETTING AND HE'S BEING PERSECUTED.

BUT IF WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE CASE THAT'S GOING ON ABOUT THE DOCUMENTS IN MIAMI, IT SEEMS LIKE THE ARCHIVES, EPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TRIED TO WORK WITH HIM TO HAVE THEM RETURNED AND THAT THEY TRIED O HIDE HEM, SO IT'S VERY DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF THAT PARTICULAR CASE IN TERMS OF CRYING FOUL.

NOW, THE TAX SITUATION WE HEARD THERE WERE A FEW WHISTLEBLOWERS NOW THAT ARE SAYING THAT HUNTER BIDEN, THESE ARE ALLEGATIONS THAT HE COULD HAVE BEEN CHARGED FOR MUCH STRICTER OR FELONIES IF THEY FOLLOWED THROUGH, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, BUT THEY DIDN'T DO THAT.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE A DEVELOPING STORY THAT WE'LL KEEP WATCHING.

>> Cathy: I SEE HOUSE SPEAKER MCCARTHY SAYS THAT HE SUPPORTS AND YOU CANNING THE TWO IMPEACHMENTS OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP SO IS THIS TRYING TO BE A REWRITE OF HISTORY?

>> YOU CAN'T DO THAT, I MEAN, THEY CAN'T AND YOU CAN IT, THAT'S KIND OF, YOU KNOW, -- YOU CAN'T EXPUNGE IT, KIND OF A STUNT.

REWRITING HISTORY, THEY'RE TRYING TO BUT YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

YOU CAN'T UNDO AN IMPEACHMENT.

>> Eric: IMPEACHMENT ARTICLES ARE HEADING TO A COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE.

>> YEAH, THAT'S TRUE.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT SORT OF G.O.P.

NITY YOU GET ON MEASURES LIKE THAT.

I'M GUESSING THAT YOU WILL GET PARTY-LINE VOTES, BUT IF YOU DON'T THAT IN ITSELF IS INTERESTING, AND WHO IS DIVERGING FROM THE PARTY.

>> Eric: CAN I ASK ABOUT JURY SELECTION IN THE AUGUST, MID-AUGUST TRIAL ON THE DOCUMENTS?

APPARENTLY THEY'RE GOING TO SIT IN FORT PIERS, FLORIDA, A DISTRICT TRUMP WON TWICE IS.

JURY SELECTION GOING TO BE CHALLENGING FOR THE FEDS HERE?

>> YEAH, I THINK, TRUMP IS FORMER PRESIDENT, AS YOU SAID HE'S IN FLORIDA, HE'S IN HOME TERRITORY.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO FIND ANY JURY THAT'S -- BECAUSE ALL YOU NEED IS ONE PERSON, RIGHT?

TO SAY NO TO CONVICT PRESIDENT TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

SO I THINK EVEN IF THEY WEREN'T IN FLORIDA THEY WOULD STILL HAVE THAT PROBLEM.

>> AND THEN I DON'T THINK YOU'LL GET A RETRIAL IF YOU HAVE A HUNG INJURY.

I THINK IT WOULD JUST BE TOO HOT.

>> YOU KNOW, AND I AGREE.

I MEAN, IT'S NOT -- FORT PIERCE IS THE HOME BASE OF THE JUDGE SO YOU WOULD EXPECT HER TO TRY TO HAVE IT THERE.

I DON'T THINK THERE WAS ANY KIND OF WILLY-NILLY ON IT.

I THINK WITH A PRESIDENT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME, T IS GOING TO BE TOUGH.

EVERYBODY KNOWS HIM, PARTICULARLY HIM, I DON'T THINK THERE'S BEEN ANY SECRET ABOUT SOME OF HIS FLAM BOYANCES.

SO, I AGREE TOTALLY WITH MIKE, I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT NO MATTER WHERE THEY DID IT.

>> AND WHAT'S AMAZING IS THAT HIS APPROVAL RATING AMONG REPUBLICANS IS ESSENTIALLY THE SAME, SO I MEAN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT POLARIZATION AND THE IMPACT OF THIS INFORMATION WHERE PEOPLE THINK IT'S A POLITICAL WITCH HUNT, THEY'RE OUT TO GET TRUMP, HE'S NOT SUFFERING IN THE POLLS, WE'RE STARTING TO SEE CHRIS CHRISTIE IS TRYING TO HAMMER A LITTLE BIT, HE'S ONE OF THE BRAVER REPUBLICANS GOING OUT SAYING THIS ISN'T RIGHT.

AGAIN, IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE HAVING AN IMPACT ON, AND EVEN THE INDEPENDENT VOTERS, IT'S PROBABLY DROPPED SOME BUT NOT AS MUCH AS YOU WOULD THINK.

>> Cathy: SO THANKS FOR BRINGING UP POLLS AND THAT KIND OF THING.

RON DESANTIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE CATCHING FIRE AT ALL, IS HE?

>> WELL, IF YOU THINK ABOUT HE'S IN A STRATEGICALLY VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION BECAUSE HE WANTS TRUMP VOTERS TO SUPPORT HIM, BUT HE WANTS TO DIFFERENTIATE HIMSELF FROM TRUMP IN A WAY NOT TO OFFEND THOSE PEOPLE AND HE HASN'T -- I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IN THIS FIELD HAS FIGURED OUT HOW TO DO THAT SUCCESSFULLY.

>> Eric: LET'S GO BACK TO 1968.

GENE CCARTHY GETS 42% I THINK IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, SCARING LYNDON JOHNSON WHO THEN DROPS OUT.

DOES ROBERT KENNEDY JUNIOR HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO DRAW KIND OF BIDEN'S TOO OLD VOTES, PARK THEM THEN AND CAUSE A LITTLE BIT OF HEARTBURN FOR THE PRESIDENT'S CAMPAIGN.

>> I THINK IT WILL CAUSE SOME HEARTBURN BECAUSE HE'LL PULL SOME VOTERS, BUT, NO, HE CAN'T, THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> HE'S JUST A FLAWED MESSENGER.

HE'S GOT SO MUCH ISSUE -- >> Eric: THE KENNEDY NAME.

>> BUT LOOK BEHIND THE KENNEDY NAME AND YOU'LL FIND POSITIONS MANY VOTERS FIND ECCENTRIC.

>> Eric: ARE DEMOCRATIC VOTERS EXCITED ABOUT BIDEN?

>> NO, BUT HE'S THE BEST CHANCE FOR THE PRESIDENCY.

NOBODY'S GOING TO CHALLENGE HIM.

YOU'VE HEARD NAMES BEEN FLOATING LIKE GAVIN NEWSOM AND ALL F THAT.

THEY'RE NOT RUNNING.

REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO MAKE THIS AN ELECTION ABOUT KAMALA HARRIS BECAUSE BIDEN IS MUCH OLDER AND SO REALLY YOU'RE NOT REALLY VOTING FOR HIM YOU'RE VOTING FOR KAMALA HARRIS.

>> AND ONE THING TO WATCH IS THIRD WAY WHICH IS TRYING TO DEVELOP AN INDEPENDENT CANDIDACY FOR PRESIDENT >> Eric: IS THAT THAT NO LABELS GROUP?

>> NO LABELS GROUP.

IF YOU READ WHAT JOE MANCHIN WAS SAYING THIS WEEK, HE'S NOT CLOSED THE DOOR TO THIS.

AND IF HE WERE TO RUN WHO KNOWS HOW THAT WOULD AFFECT THE OUTCOME.

>> I THINK THE REPUBLICANS HAVE THEIR WORK CUT OUT FOR THEM.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT RON DESANTIS, HE'S UNIQUELY DISLIKEABLE AND THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN GET AROUND THAT.

ANYBODY THAT'S MET HIM GOES HE'S JUST NOT REAL LIKEABLE.

AND SO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

HIS POLITICAL SKILLS PROBABLY NEED SOME BUFFERING UP.

YOU KNOW, TRUMP, I'M PROBABLY THE ONLY PERSON IN THE WORLD THAT THINKS THIS BUT I DON'T THINK HE'S GOING TO GET THE NOMINATION.

SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE RACE NOW ARE IN IT TO BUILD UP SOMETHING FOR FOUR YEARS FROM NOW.

BUT THAT MANY CANDIDATES GETTING IN THE RACE ARE GETTING INTO IT FOR A REASON.

>> Eric: IF YOU HAVE TEN OR 11 CANDIDATES DOESN'T THE SAME THING HAPPEN IN 2016 THAT EVERYBODY TAKES A LITTLE SLICE AND TRUMP MOTORS ALONG AT 32, 33% AND GETS A BUNCH OF WINNER TAKE ALL DELEGATES?

>> I THINK THE REASON DESANTIS SHOT UP SO HIGH EARLY ON IS PEOPLE WERE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT, THEY WERE TIRED OF THE CHAOS.

I THINK IF ANYBODY DOES SOMETHING LEAST BIT SURPRISING THEY'RE GOING TO SHOOT UP.

>> -- LOST THE CAUCUS IN 2016 AND # NEW HAMPSHIRE IS NOT ONE OF HIS STRONGEST STATES IN THE COUNTRY.

SO IF THERE IS AN OPENING LIKE SIN THISSA IS SUGGESTING IT MIGHT HAPPEN THROUGH THOSE TWO STATES.

>> Eric: TURNOUT WOULD BE DOWN BIDEN-TRUMP 2, WOULDN'T IT?

EVEN IN A PRESIDENTIAL YEAR?

>> YEAH, BUT I THINK DEMOCRATS HAVE LEARNED THEIR LESSON, LIKE THIS, TRUMP IS STILL VERY POPULAR AMONG HIS BASE AND I DON'T THINK TURNOUT WILL BE LOW FOR DEMOCRATS AND I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE LOW FOR REPUBLICANS BECAUSE THEY, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT TRUMP REALLY WON THE ELECTION AND THEY THINK THAT HE DESERVES A SHOT TO BE REINSTALLED AS PRESIDENT.

>> THERE'S THIS PHENOMENON THAT POLITICAL SCIENTISTS HAVE FOUND CALLED NEGATIVE PARTISANSHIP WHICH IS, YES, YOU IDENTIFY WITH A PARTY BUT YOUR NEGATIVE FEELINGS TOWARDS THE OPPOSITE PARTY ARE MORE INTENSE THAN THEY WERE IN RECENT DECADES AND THAT WOULD DRIVE DEMOCRATS TO VOTE AGAINST TRUMP.

>> Eric: OF COURSE A LOT OF PEOPLE -- TRUMP MAY BE THE ONLY REPUBLICAN THAT BIDEN COULD BEAT.

>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

I MEAN, COULD SOMEBODY ELSE DO -- YOU KNOW, IT'S WEIRD, I HAVEN'T, YOU KNOW -- RIGHT NOW I WOULD ARGUE THAT THE ISSUES ARE ON THE DEMOCRAT SIDE.

BUT I AGREE WITH EVERYONE ELSE WHO'S SAID THAT THERE'S NOT A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM FOR HIM WITHIN THE DEMOCRATS.

>> I DON'T KNOW, LOOK AT REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES.

I THINK HE BEATS TIM SCOTT, HE BEATS NIKKI HALEY, HE BEATS MIKE PENCE, HE BEATS A LOT OF THESE - I DON'T REALLY SEE ANYONE.

DESANTIS ALSO.

>> Eric: SUMMER SCHOOL'S OUT.

THANKS, PANEL.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: THANKS.

♪♪ >> Cathy: WE HAVE REACHED THE INDEX FILE PORTION OF TONIGHT'S SHOW.

WE SHARED A PIECE OF MINNESOTA HISTORY WITH YOU AND OU COMPLETE THE STORY FOR US.

TONIGHT'S STORY TAKES PLACE IN LATE DECEMBER OF 1982 # AND INVOLVES A RARE EVENT THAT TOOK PLACE OUTSIDE THE U.S.

IT INVOLVES A WELL KNOWN MINNESOTAN AND AN EVEN MORE WELL KNOWN INTERNATIONAL FIGURE.

MORE THAN 15,000 PEOPLE WITNESSED THIS INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT AND NEARLY ALL OF THEM TOOK THE SIDE OF THE NON-MINNESOTA PARTICIPANT.

OUR QUESTION FOR YOU, WHAT MINNESOTAN WAS INVOLVED IN A RARE INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT IN DECEMBER OF 1982?

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU'RE CALLING FROM HOLLAND, THE YUCATAN, OR DELHI, ALL CITIES LOCATED RIGHT HERE IN MINNESOTA (651)229-1430 IS THE NUMBER TO CALL DAY OR NIGHT, IF YOU CALL DURING THE NIGHT, BE CAREFUL CALLING.

LISTEN TO EVERY MESSAGE LEFT ON THE VOICEMAIL SYSTEM.

YOU CAN DROP US A NOTE ALMANAC @TPT.ORG IS WHERE YOU CAN FIND US.

QUICK TUNE-IN REMINDER, ANAHITA A MOTHER'S JOURNEY PREEMIES MONDAY NIGHT 6:00 IN THE TWIN CITIES.

GREATER MINNESOTA VIEWERS CAN HEAD TO TPT.ORG/ANNA MEETA TO WATCH ONLINE OR ON THE PBS APP TO WATCH ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE.

WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH TIME LEFT FOR ANOTHER TUNE BY THE AMAZING MAUD HIXSON AND RICK CARLSON.

THEY'RE BOTH PERFORMING THIS WEEKEND AT THE TWIN CITIES JAZZ FEST RIGHT HERE IN ST. PAUL'S LOWERTOWN.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT TIME.

♪♪ >> SINGING WANDERING FREE, WE PRESENT THE KIND OF PICTURE PEOPLE ARE GLAD TO SEE AND WE DON'T CARE THAT TOMORROW COMES WITH NO GUARANTEE WE'VE EACH OTHER FOR COMPANY AND COME WHAT MAY, YOU AND ME WILL STAY TOGETHER YEAR AFTER YEAR WON'T WE, MY DEAR?

WE'LL ALWAYS BE YOU AND ME ... ♪♪ >> SINGING: AND WE DON'T CARE IF TOMORROW COMES WITH NO GUARANTEE, WE'VE EACH OTHER FOR COMPANY.

>> "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.

ONE GREATER MINNESOTA REPORTING ON "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE TTO BREMER TRUST, WHOSE MISSION IS INVESTING IN PEOPLE, PLACES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR REGION.

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