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

>> CATHY: COMING UP ON "ALMANAC" TONIGHT, FLOODING IN NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA, AN ANNUAL REPORT ON BIPARTISANSHIP, THE CHAIR OF THE QUEER LEGISLATORS CAUCUS, AND MARY LAHAMMER ON A HOTLY CONTESTED HOUSE SEAT.

>> Mary: CONTROL OF THE CAPITOL IS AT STAKE THIS ELECTION SEASON.

WE'LL START A SERIES OF RACES TO WATCH, BEGINNING HERE IN CHANHASSEN.

>> I AM ONE OF THE TOP NAMES WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THE HOUSE.

>> IT IS ONE OF THE CLOSEST RACES IN THE STATE.

>> 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.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

AND PAINTCARE: HELPING MINNESOTANS RECYCLE LEFTOVER PAINT.

MORE AT PAINTCARE.ORG.

>> CATHY: IN THE NEXT HOUR, WE'LL SIT DOWN WITH A ST. CATHERINE UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR ON HER NEW BOOK, ARON WOLDESLASSIE HAS AN ESSAY FOR US, AND WE'LL LOOK BACK AFTER THE PASSING THIS WEEK OF BOTH DEFENSE ATTORNEY JOE FRIEDBERG AND ONE OF THE GREATEST BASEBALL PLAYERS WHO ALSO HAD A STINT IN MINNEAPOLIS, WILLIE MAYS.

>> ERIC: BUT WE START TONIGHT WITH RISING FLOODWATERS AROUND THE STATE.

FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS AND ROAD CLOSURES HAVE BEEN INCREASING THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, INCLUDING A STRETCH OF I-90 IN SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA CLOSING FOR PART OF FRIDAY AS FLOODWATERS OVERTAKE THAT CORNER OF THE STATE.

TONIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON THE FLOODING AND DAMAGE IN THE NORTHEASTERN PART OF THE STATE WHERE SOME COMMUNITIES RECEIVED MORE THAN 7 INCHES OF RAIN IN TUESDAY'S STORMS.

THE STREETS OF DOWNTOWN COOK, MINNESOTA, REMAIN FLOODED WITH SEVERAL FEET OF WATER, AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY HAS DECLARED A DISASTER.

GOVERNOR WALZ TOURED THE IMPACTED AREAS IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY EARLIER TODAY AND PROMISED HELP FROM THE STATE.

HERE WITH AN UPDATE FOR US ABOUT CLOSED ROADS AND BOUNDARY WATERS ENTRY POINTS, TRAPPED CAMPERS AND MORE, AUTHOR AND CO-FOUNDER OF "PADDLE AND PORTAGE," JOE FRIEDRICHS.

JOE, WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS LIKE TONIGHT?

>> WELL, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL EVENING RIGHT NOW IN GRAND MARAIS, M -- SOME OVERCAST SKIES BUT NO RAIN COMING DOWN.

EVERYBODY I TALKED TO TODAY ABOUT THE FLOODS HAD A CONSISTENT MESSAGE AND THAT WAS WE'RE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS.

WE'RE NOW IN A SORT OF -- LET'S ASSESS THE DAMAGE AND DEAL WITH THE DAMAGE PHASE, AS OPPOSED TO LET'S STOP THE WATER AND THE RAINS COMING DOWN AND THAT CHAOS OF WEDNESDAY, IN PARTICULAR.

>> Cathy: DO YOU THINK, JOE, THAT ONE OF THE HARDEST-HIT AREAS, COOK, MINNESOTA, PRETTY SMALL PLACE, LIKE 500 PEOPLE, IS THE WATER RECEDING THERE?

ARE THEY STILL HAVING SOME ISSUES?

>> CATHY, WHEN I WANTED TO FIND OUT TODAY, THIS AFTERNOON, ABOUT 4:30, WHAT THE SITUATION WAS IN COOK, I WANTED TO CALL ONE PLACE, THE HARDWARE STORE.

SO I CALLED THERE, AND THEY SAID THAT SAME MESSAGE, YOU KNOW WHAT?

THINGS ARE FEELING SO MUCH BETTER TODAY.

THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT ADDED SOME TONE OF, OKAY, THIS S ENOUGH -- THIS IS AN UPBEAT THING, WE'RE RALLYING AS A COMMUNITY HERE.

THE MESSAGE FROM THE HARDWARE STORE, THE FOLKS THERE, WAS, WE GOT THIS, WE'RE ON A BETTER SIDE OF THIS.

>> Eric: WHAT'S THE GENERAL OUTLOOK FOR, LIKE, THE YMCA CAMPERS AND THE CANOEISTS THAT HAVE BEEN STUCK, PEOPLE GOING UP THERE ON THE WEEKEND?

KIND OF SORT THAT OUT FOR US, IF YOU WOULD.

>> SURE.

I TALKED TO SOME PEOPLE AT CAMP WIGIWAGON AROUND NOON TODAY ABOUT HOW PEOPLE ARE COMING AND GOING, ARE THEY ABLE TO COME AND GO ON THE NORTH ARM ROAD THAT WASHED OUT DRAMATICALLY, CAVED IN.

THEY SAID THE SAME THING.

WE FOUND A WAY TO GET PEOPLE OUT, OUT, BACK TO THE ECHO TRAIL.

ECHO TRAIL IS NOW OPEN.

THAT JUST CAME OUT ABOUT AN HOUR AGO, MAYBE.

SO THAT SAME TONE.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE'RE FINDING UNIQUE WAYS TO RALLY TOGETHER, WE'RE SUPPORTING EACH OTHER, AND WE'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS, NO ONE'S HURT, I MEAN, THAT'S THE BIG THING.

THERE'S NO INJURIES OR THERE'S DEFINITELY SOME PROPERTY DAMAGE AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT JUST PEOPLE RALLYING TOGETHER.

IT'S REALLY UNIQUE TO SEE THAT TONE FROM COOK, YOU KNOW, DOWN HERE ON THE NORTH SHORE, TO ELY SIDE, TOO.

>> Cathy: WE JUST SAW THREE CANOEISTS WITH THEIR CANOES ON THEIR CARS.

ARE PEOPLE GETTING OUT OF THE BWCA OKAY?

>> YEAH, THAT'S A BIG THING.

THOSE THREE GUYS WERE TRYING TO GET INTO THE BWCA, THAT WAS WEDNESDAY, AT THE MUD OW ENTRY POINT, OFF THE ECHO TRAIL.

THEY COULDN'T BECAUSE THAT ROAD WAS COMPLETELY FLOODED OUT AND GONE, MORE OR LESS.

SO THEY HAD TO REFIGURE PLANS, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE IF THEY WERE ABLE TO NTER, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THAT PERMIT, WITH THE BOUNDARY WATERS PERMIT, YOU CAN ONLY GET IN OR YOUR ENTRY POINT.

SO THAT'S COMPLICATING THINGS.

NOW PEOPLE GETTING OUT, THAT'S A WHOLE OTHER STORY.

MUD ROAD, TODAY, I KNOW, THEY WERE ABLE TO GET SOME VEHICLES OUT, THEY REBUILT THAT ROAD IN A VERY MAKE SHIFT WAY, TO GET THE VEHICLES THAT WERE ON THE INSIDE OUT.

SO THAT'S A SITUATION THAT PEOPLE ARE DEFINITELY DEALING WITH, LIKE TO COME OUT OF THE BOUNDARY WATERS, YOU CAN'T GET YOUR CAR OUT OF THE ENTRY POINT, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO, THE FOREST SERVICE IS TAKING THAT VERY SERIOUSLY AND WORKING TO GET THAT FIXED.

SO IT'S A TOP PRIORITY.

IT IS HAPPENING.

>> Cathy: OKAY, GOOD TO KNOW.

SAY, I KNOW FOLKS ARE SAYING, HEY, WE'RE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS, BUT SEEING SOME OF THESE PHOTOGRAPHS, THERE'S SOME SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE UP THERE, OBVIOUSLY.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT ANY STATE OR FEDERAL HELP TO GET THESE FOLKS BACK ON THEIR FEET?

>> I KNOW, YOU KNOW, WITH THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TODAY AND THAT PLEDGE, I THINK HE SAID, SAVE YOUR RECEIPTS, SO THEY'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY, THE STATE HAS SET ASIDE, $24 MILLION, I THINK IT IS, OR MORE, $50 MILLION IN DAMAGE IN St. LOUIS COUNTY, I HEARD ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS SAY.

SO SIGNIFICANT, OBVIOUSLY.

IN COOK OUNTY, IT AS NOT BEEN DECLARED A DISASTER YET.

THE WEST END OF THE CONFIDENT, SCHROEDER, TOFTE, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT IN LUTSEN, THEY SAW SOME SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE.

A LOT OF THIS IS ELY, St. LOUIS COUNTY, LAKE COUNTY.

THEY'VE GOT SERIOUS DAMAGE THERE, TOO.

SO, THERE'S FUNDING AVAILABLE, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE STEPPING UP.

BOTH FEDERAL AND STATE IT LOOKS LIKE.

>> Eric: WHERE DOES THIS STACK UP IN THE HISTORY OF HEAVY RAIN IN THAT PART OF THE STATE?

>> IT DEPENDS WHAT COUNTY YOU ASK.

I KNOW OUR COOK COUNTY SHERIFF SAID, I'VE BEEN THROUGH WORSE, I THINK HE WAS TALKING WITH YOU, CATHY, THE OTHER DAY AND SAID THAT.

St. LOUIS COUNTY, THEY'RE SAYING, THIS IS REALLY BAD, I KNOW THE NIGHT OF THE STORM ITSELF, TUESDAY NIGHT, SOME PEOPLE HERE IN COOK COUNTY WERE SAYING, THIS REMINDS ME OF THE BLOWDOWN FROM '99.

THIS IS REALLY INTENSE.

SOME OF THE FOOTAGE YOU SHOWED OF THOSE TREES COMING DOWN WERE DOWN AT THE END OF THE GUNFLINT.

IT DEPENDS WHO YOU ASK.

IT WAS REALLY VARIED.

BUT, YOU KNOW, SEVEN PLUS INCHES IN TWO HARBORS, FIVE IN TOFTE.

FIVE OVER IN ELY, IN THAT AREA.

SO, IT DEPENDS WHO YOU ASK, AS FAR AS WHAT TO COMPARE IT TO.

I'VE HEARD A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS TOSSED OUT.

>> Cathy: FINAL QUESTION FOR YOU.

IF FOLKS WANT TO KNOW ABOUT CLOSURES IN THE BWCA OR ANY CLOSURES IN STATE PARKS, THAT KIND OF THING, WHERE MIGHT THEY GO FOR INFORMATION?

>> RIGHT.

THE FOREST SERVICE IS UPDATING THAT INFORMATION.

WE HAVE IT AT PADDLE AND PORTAGE, THAT INFORMATION, A LOT OF THE OUTFITTERS ARE A GREAT PLACE FOR THAT, TOO.

THEY KNOW.

STATE PARKS, IT'S THE -- THE DNR IS HANDLING THAT.

SUPERIOR HIKING TRAIL, THEY'RE ADVISING PEOPLE TO STAY OFF THE SUPERIOR HIKING TRAIL RIGHT NOW TO DECREASE THE RISK OF PEOPLE GETTING INJURED AND STRETCHING THESE RESOURCES THAT ARE ALREADY PRETTY THIN RIGHT NOW.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.

JOE, IT'S BEEN GREAT SEEING YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Eric: THANKS, JOE.

>> YOU BET.

YEAH, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

♪♪♪ >> CATHY: THE END OF THE 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION WAS MARKED BY CHAOS AND DIVISION DURING THE CLOSING MOMENTS IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE CHAMBERS.

AS ALL HOUSE SEATS ARE ON THE BALLOT THIS FALL, SOME LEGISLATORS WILL NEED TO WORK WITH EACH OTHER AND ACROSS THE AISLE.

MAJORITY IN THE MIDDLE, A NON-PROFIT AIMING TO FOSTER CONVERSATION BETWEEN POLITICALLY DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS, HAS RELEASED ITS SECOND ANNUAL REPORT ON BIPARTISANSHIP.

JOINING US IS FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MAJORITY IN THE MIDDLE, SHANNON WATSON.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> YOU TOO.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: SO WE HAD YOU ON LAST YEAR.

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: YEAH.

IT DOES NOT SEEM, SHANNON, AS THOUGH MUCH HAS CHANGED WHEN IT COMES TO BIPARTISANSHIP AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE, GIVEN THE IRRITABLE ENDING TO SESSION.

I DON'T KNOW, WHAT'S YOUR FEEL?

WHAT DOES YOUR REPORT SAY?

>> YOU KNOW, WE LOOKED AT THE -- WE LOOKED AT SORT OF VERY SPECIFIC THINGS WITH THE REPORT.

WE LOOKED AT THE NUMBER OF MINORITY-LED BILLS THAT ERE GETTING HEARINGS AND THEN WE LOOKED AT THE NUMBER OF BILLS THAT WERE GETTING INTRODUCTIONS THAT WERE BIPARTISAN IN NATURE AND THEN JUST SORT OF HOW INDIVIDUAL LEGISLATORS SORT OF MANAGED THEIR OWN BILLS.

WERE THEY JUST THEIR OWN PARTY OR WERE THEY BIPARTISAN IN NATURE.

AND WHAT WE FOUND WAS, IF YOU LOOK AT REALLY TOP LINE, SORT OF OVERALL RESULTS, THE NUMBER OF BIPARTISAN BILLS INTRODUCED IN '24 COMPARED TO '23, IT FELL A LITTLE BIT.

AND THE NUMBER OF HEARINGS GIVEN TO MINORITY-LED BILLS, THOSE FELL A LITTLE BIT.

BUT THE THING THAT WAS GOOD WAS IT LOOKED LIKE A LOT OF INDIVIDUAL LEGISLATORS WERE HAVING MORE BIPARTISANSHIP AND THEN THERE WERE A LOT OF COMMITTEE CHAIRS WHO SEEMED TO BE MAKING AN EFFORT.

LIKE EVEN IF, YOU KNOW, YOU WENT FROM ONE BILL TO TWO BILLS, LIKE THAT'S AN IMPROVEMENT.

AND THAT SHOWS THAT PEOPLE WERE TRYING.

>> Eric: DON'T A LOT OF THE LAWMAKERS' CONSTITUENTS AND THE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS, THEY KIND OF ENCOURAGE PARTISANSHIP, DON'T THEY?

>> THEY ABSOLUTELY DO, YEAH.

>> Eric: WHAT'S THE ANTIDOTE FOR THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, WE THINK THAT ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THOSE VOICES GET DROWNED OUT IS BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO WANT THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO BE BIPARTISAN AND TO WORK TOGETHER WERE NOT ARTICULATING THAT MESSAGE TO LEGISLATORS.

SO LEGISLATORS GET TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY HAPPY OR VERY UPSET OR ADVOCATES THAT ARE PAID TO PERSUADE THEM FOR SOMETHING.

WHAT THEY'RE NOT HEARING FROM CONSTITUENTS IS, WE CARE ABOUT BIPARTISANSHIP, WE CARE ABOUT COMPROMISE, AND WE WANT YOU TO DO THAT AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO PUNISH YOU FOR DOING SO.

THERE'S A LOT OF LEGISLATORS THAT DON'T REALLY ACTUALLY WANT TO DO A LOT OF BIPARTISAN WORK OUT IN THE OPEN RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT MAKES THEM A TARGET.

>> Cathy: THAT'S A SHAME.

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: THE REPORT SAID, YOU'RE RECOMMENDING SUFFICIENT TIME FOR DISCUSSION AND AMENDMENTS.

IS THAT NOT HAPPENING?

>> YOU KNOW, WE SEEM TO HAVE AN INVERSE ELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE AMOUNT OF TIME SPENT IN COMMITTEE AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME SPENT ON THE FLOOR.

IT SEEMS LIKE IF THE COMMITTEES THAT SPEND A LOT OF TIME GOING THROUGH AMENDMENTS, GOING THROUGH ALL THE BILLS, GIVING A LOT OF DIFFERENT BILLS HEARINGS, LIKE SENATE TRANSPORTATION IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THIS, THEY SPEND AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF TIME IN COMMITTEE THIS YEAR, AND THEN WHEN IT CAME TIME TO PASS THEIR OMNIBUS BILL ON THE FLOOR, I THINK IT TOOK 20 MINUTES AND IT PASSED 65-0.

AND EVERYBODY WAS HAPPY WITH THAT BILL.

THE HOUSE PUBLIC SAFETY POLICY OMNIBUS BILL, IT PASSED THE HOUSE 129-0.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE HAD UNANIMOUS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY POLICY?

BUT BECAUSE PEOPLE WORKED TOGETHER AND THEY WERE VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT THAT, THEN THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO HAVE A BUNCH OF AMENDMENTS ON THE FLOOR, A BUNCH OF PEOPLE STANDING UP GIVING SPEECHES.

THE SPEECHES WERE, HEY, LOOK, HOW GREAT THIS IS.

>> Eric: HOW ABOUT TIME LIMITS FOR THE HOUSE FLOOR SPEECHES?

>> YEAH, THAT GOES WITH ONE OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS TO HEAR MORE STANDALONE BILLS AND ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS FOR MNIBUS BILLS IS IT IT'S JUST ABOUT MANAGING THE MOUNT OF BILLS AND, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LUMP A BUNCH OF THEM TOGETHER, THEN IT DOESN'T TAKE AS MUCH TIME TO GET THEM ALL THROUGH THE FLOOR.

SO, WE THINK, IF YOU DO HAVE LIMITS ON THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT YOU CAN TAKE PER BILL, THEN YOU HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITY TO O MORE STANDALONE BILLS AND THE STANDALONE BILLS ARE GENERALLY THE ONES THAT GET A LOT OF BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

>> Cathy: I MENTIONED THE CHAOTIC ENDING TO SESSION.

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: WHAT DOES THAT BODE, THEN, AS WE LOOK INTO 2025?

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: OF OURSE THERE'S AN ELECTION SO WHO KNOWS.

>> THERE'S AN ELECTION.

YOU KNOW, BOTH CHAMBERS, THE MAJORITY IS GOING TO BE DECIDED IN NOVEMBER.

AND THAT'S A UNIQUE SITUATION FOR THIS YEAR.

USUALLY IT'S JUST THE HOUSE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE RECOMMEND IS THAT LEADERS SIT DOWN NOW AND FIGURE OUT ANY OF THESE RULE CHANGES AND FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, WHETHER I'M GOING TO BE IN THE MAJORITY OR I'M GOING TO BE IN THE MINORITY, I DON'T KNOW, AND WHAT ARE THE RULES THAT I WOULD BE HAPPY WITH.

BECAUSE I THINK PART OF THE CHALLENGE WITH THE WAY SESSION ENDED WAS THE DAMAGE TO RELATIONSHIPS AND THE TRUST FACTOR AND, SO, IF THEY COULD GO IN AND SORT OF HASH THOSE THINGS OUT NOW THAT EVERYBODY COULD BE HAPPY WITH, THEN I THINK JANUARY NEXT YEAR WILL BE EASIER.

>> Eric: MAJORITY IN THE MIDDLE WEBSITE, YOU CAN FIND THE FULL REPORT.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY, ALL 295 PAGES OF IT.

>> Eric: ALL RIGHT.

GREAT WORK.

THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

>> THANKS SO MUCH.

GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS.

♪♪♪ >> ERIC: JOE FRIEDBERG DIED EARLIER THIS WEEK AT THE AGE OF 87.

THE PROMINENT TWIN CITIES DEFENSE ATTORNEY HAD BEEN BATTLING COLON CANCER AND CONTINUED PRACTICING LAW UNTIL THE VERY END.

FRIEDBERG WAS A VOCAL ADVOCATE FOR HIS CLIENTS AND ALWAYS A COLORFUL QUOTE FOR THE MEDIA.

HE WAS PART OF "ALMANAC'S" OLD ALL-STAR DEFENSE ATTORNEY PANEL AND OFTEN SPARRED WITH THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE GROUP.

HERE'S A SHORT EXCERPT FROM A 1999 CONVERSATION ABOUT THE BIG TOBACCO TRIAL.

IT INCLUDES A FUN EXCHANGE BETWEEN HE AND THE LATE BILL KENNEDY.

A COMMON OCCURRENCE.

TAKE A LOOK AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THE TOBACCO TRIAL, WOULD YOU AGREE THAT THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIG LEGAL STORIES IN OUR AREA?

>> PROBABLY AS UNFAIR A TRIAL SETTING AS I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.

THE WHOLE THING WAS TILTED, THE JUDGE WAS SO PRO PLAINTIFF THAT IT JUST EXUDED FROM EVERY CREVICE IN THE COURTROOM.

>> THIS IS JUST YOUR DEFENSE ATTORNEY BIAS SPEAKING.

>> LOOK -- >> NO, NO, NO.

>> -- I THINK TOBACCO COMPANIES ARE EVIL, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT TRIALS OUGHT TO BE FAIR AND THIS JUDGE WAS ANYTHING BUT FAIR RIGHT FROM THE GET-GO.

>> I DISAGREE WITH THAT, RIGHT DOWN THE LINE.

YOU SOUND JUST LIKE A REPUBLICAN ARGUING.

>> I AM A REPUBLICAN.

>> FOR BILL CLINTON, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD.

[ Laughter ] GOOD GRIEF.

[ Laughter ] >> CAREFUL.

WHAT DOES THAT GOT TO DO WITH ANYTHING?

>> CAREFUL, YOU MAY BE AN ENDANGERED SPECIES.

>> DEMOCRATS N THE SOUTH THAW ARE PRO TOBACCO.

DEMOCRATS IN THE OUTH THAT ARE PRO TOBACCO.

>> Cathy: THURSDAY, A PRIDE TOWN HALL WAS HELD IN MINNESOTA'S DISTRICT 66 WITH DFL LAWMAKERS REPRESENTING St. PAUL, AND RECENTLY THE QUEER LEGISLATORS CAUCUS LISTED ACHIEVEMENTS FROM ITS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

HERE WITH US NOW TO TALK PRIORITIES AHEAD, THE CHAIR OF QUEER LEGISLATORS CAUCUS, DFL REPRESENTATIVE LEIGH FINKE.

WELCOME BACK TO "ALMANAC."

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.

>> Cathy: WHAT DID YOU HEAR AT THE TOWN HALL MEETING?

>> WE HAD A GREAT TOWN HALL, SO DISTRICT 66 IS THE FIRST ALL-QUEER REPRESENTED DISTRICT IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

AND WE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME.

WE HEARD A LOT OF EXCITEMENT AND INTEREST ABOUT WHAT WE HAD PASSED.

WE HEARD SOME CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT BLOCKED THE E.R.A.

FROM GETTING OVER THE FINISH LINE.

WE TALKED ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.

WE TALKED ABOUT ENVIRONMENT.

THERE WAS A LOT OF INTEREST IN WHAT WE HAD GOTTEN DONE.

>> Eric: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE E.R.A.

I HEARD THAT NATIONAL MONEY WAS NOT COMING IN BECAUSE IT WAS NEEDED IN STATES THAT AREN'T AS FAR ALONG AS MINNESOTA.

WHAT HAPPENED THERE THAT IT GOT SCUTTLED?

>> WELL, THAT SOUNDS LIKE A CAMPAIGN QUESTION.

YOU'LL HAVE TO ASK THE ADVOCATES.

I WOULD SAY THAT WE MOVED THE E.R.A.

IN THE HOUSE.

WE DEBATED IT FOR 15 HOURS.

TO TALK ABOUT YOUR -- TO GO BACK TO YOUR PREVIOUS GUEST.

WE HAD A VERY ROBUST AND THOROUGH DEBATE.

AND WE GOT IT DONE.

BUT THE SENATE JUST RAN OUT OF TIME.

WE HAD A LOT TO DO.

WE HAD A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME, AND AS YOU KNOW, WE HAD TO DO URGENT ACTIONS AT THE END TO FINISH OUR AGENDA.

>> Cathy: WHAT WERE THE CONTROVERSIAL PARTS OF THE E.R.A.

THAT YOU THINK WERE JUST A BRIDGE TOO AR FOR SOME LAWMAKERS?

>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A BRIDGE TOO FAR, BUT I THINK EVERY TIME THAT WE TRIED TO PROTECT TRANS PEOPLE, THE OTHER SIDE IS GOING TO DIG IN THEIR HEELS.

THERE IS NO BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR TRANS PEOPLE.

WE HAVE TO KEEP THE MAJORITY IF WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PROTECT MY COMMUNITY.

THAT'S MY PRIORITY.

THAT'S WHY I GOT BEHIND THE E.R.A.

IN THE WAY THAT I DID.

AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE COME BACK AND FINISH THE JOB.

>> Eric: WE'RE A REFUGE STATE NOW.

>> UM-HUM.

>> Eric: THAT MEANS WHAT, PRACTICALLY?

>> YEAH, SO WE PASSED A TRANS REFUGE BILL LAST YEAR, AND WHAT IT MEANS IS THAT IF YOU NEED ACCESS TO GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE, ND YOU LIVE IN A STATE THAT DOES NOT ALLOW ACCESS, YOU CAN TRAVEL TO MINNESOTA AND RECEIVE YOUR CARE.

WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS THAT PEOPLE AREN'T REALLY TRAVELING TO MINNESOTA.

THEY'RE JUST MOVING.

PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO GET GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE FOR THEIR CHILD AND THEN MOVE BACK TO A STATE THAT AS TAKEN AWAY THEIR RIGHTS.

SO A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY JUST MOVING OVER TO THE STATE.

SO WHAT THE TRANS REFUGE IS REALLY BECOMING IS, HOW ARE WE GOING TO PROTECT TRANS PEOPLE LIVING HERE, COMING HERE, OR WHO LIVE NEARBY?

>> Eric: SO SAFETY OF IS A CONCERN?

>> YEAH, RIGHT.

IT'S AN ONGOING PROMISE, RIGHT.

THAT'S HOW I VIEW IT.

WE ARE A REFUGE STATE.

WE SAID WE WOULD PROTECT TRANS PEOPLE, THAT MEANS WE NEED TO NOT JUST PROVIDE THEM HEALTHCARE BUT PROVIDE THEM SAFE SCHOOLS FOR THEIR KIDS, WE NEED TO HAVE THEM RESPECTED IN HEIR WORKPLACES, PROTECT THEIR ACCESS TO HOUSING, I WANT TO BUILD A REFUGE STATE FOR TRANS PEOPLE IN ALL AVENUES OF OUR LIVES.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE TRANS LAW NOW, AND FOLKS ARE MOVING HERE, ARE THERE ENOUGH PROVIDERS, THOUGH, TO PROVIDE THE CARE?

>> YEAH, THERE ARE NOT.

THERE ARE DEFINITELY NOT.

AND THAT'S NOT UNIQUE TO MINNESOTA.

WE NEED MORE GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE PROVIDERS.

WAIT TIMES ARE GETTING LONGER.

THAT WAS ALREADY A PROBLEM BEFORE WE PASSED THE TRANS REFUGE LAW.

BUT I WILL SAY, I TALK TO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE COMING AND WHILE WE WANT TO SHORTEN THE WAIT TIMES FOR THOSE DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS, BUT A LOT OF FAMILIES ARE SAYING, WE'RE JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE, WE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT, IT'S NEXT YEAR, MY KID IS EXTREMELY HAPPY THAT THAT IS TRUE, AND THEY'RE FEELING MUCH SAFER IN THEIR SCHOOL, SO WE DO ABSOLUTELY NEED TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM, BUT WE CAN'T LET THAT GET IN THE WAY OF THE MASSIVE SUCCESS THAT PEOPLE FEEL WHEN THEY GET HERE.

>> Eric: BUSINESS GRANTS, INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE, A MILLION DOLLARS FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE SUCCESS IN THE '24 SESSION?

>> I'M VERY SATISFIED WITH THE SUCCESS, BUT, I MEAN, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PUSH.

A MILLION DOLLARS IS A LOT OF MONEY FOR A VERY SMALL COMMUNITY, BUT IT'S NOT NEARLY ENOUGH.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR SHELTER SPACES, WE NEED TO SOLVE THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS, WE HAVE S.U.D.

AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER SITUATION, THAT I THINK REALLY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

THERE'S LOTS MORE WORK TO DO.

>> Eric: ALL RIGHT.

>> Cathy: THE CAUCUS TALKS ABOUT WANTING TO HAVE A MORE INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE SOCIETY FOR ALL LGBTQ+ INDIVIDUALS.

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE TO YOU?

>> I MEAN, I TALK ABOUT A LOT -- A LOT ABOUT TRANS LIBERATION, WHICH I THINK IS THE SAME, THAT'S WHAT THAT MEANS TO ME, AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS, EVERYONE CAN BE WHOEVER THEY ARE WHEREVER THEY ARE.

RIGHT?

IF YOU LIVE IN ANY COMMUNITY IN MINNESOTA, NO MATTER WHAT YOUR RACE IS, NO MATTER YOUR ECONOMIC STATUS, YOUR GENDER IDENTITY OR YOUR SEXUAL ORIENTATION, YOU CAN LIVE FREELY, SAFELY, AND BE A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU CHOOSE.

>> Eric: APPRECIATE YOU COMING OVER.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> YEAH, THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

>> Eric: THANKS.

♪♪♪ >> IT’S SUMMER!

THAT SPECIAL TIME WHEN PEOPLE ARE HANGING OUT BY THE POOL.

THE DAYS GET MUGGY AND BUGGY, AND ALL THE HANNAHS AND HENRYS ARE OUT GETTING ICE CREAM, AND YOU WANNA JOIN THEM.

BUT BEFORE YOU TAKE YOUR FIRST LICK OF THAT TASTY CONE, LET ME ASK, ARE YOU LACTOSE INTOLERANT?

AND BEFORE YOU ANSWER, LET ME ASK ANOTHER QUESTION: WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SERIOUSLY CHECKED?

BECAUSE NOT TO PROJECT, BUT NOTHING IS MORE HUMBLING THAN FALLING TO YOUR KNEES BECAUSE YOU DECIDED TO GET A MEDIUM-SIZED MILKSHAKE.

DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH DAIRY IS IN ICE CREAM?

100%.

DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH OF HUMANITY CAN’T DIGEST DAIRY?

75%.

THOSE NUMBERS DON’T ADD UP TO A GOOD TIME!

BESIDES, YOU DON’T NEED ICE CREAM TO HAVE FUN.

IT WAS THE GREAT AMERICAN PHILOSOPHER DANNY ZUKO WHO ONCE SAID, “SUMMER LOVIN' HAD ME A BLAST!” HE DIDN’T SAY “SUMMER LOVIN' HAD ME A LACTAID,” BECAUSE THE PATRIARCH OF THE T-BIRDS KNEW WHAT I KNOW: ICE CREAM IS A LITTLE OVERRATED.

WHY TAKE THE HOUR AND A HALF OF BOWEL PAIN THAT COMES WITH A SUNDAE WHEN YOU COULD JUST AS EASILY HAVE A POPSICLE?

HAVE YOU HAD POPSICLES RECENTLY?

IT’S SWEET AND CRISP, IT’S ESSENTIALLY A MOCK-TAIL ON A STICK.

AND HAVE YOU TRIED VEGAN ICE CREAM?

SURE, IT’S A LITTLE PRETENTIOUS, THAT’S WHY THEY CALL IT VEGAN, BUT IT TASTES JUST AS GOOD AS REGULAR ICE CREAM WITHOUT THE STOMACH-CHURNING AGONY OF THE REAL STUFF.

I KNOW THIS STUFF SOUNDS SILLY, BUT NOT THAT LONG AGO I WAS JUST LIKE YOU: A HAPPY-GO-LUCKY KID ENJOYING HIS ICE CREAM.

BUT THEN I TURNED 30 AND REALIZED, THIS SUMMERTIME TREAT IS MEANT FOR CHILDREN, TEENS, AND THE 25% OF HUMANITY THAT DOESN’T NEED TO KNOW WHERE THE NEAREST BATHROOM IS WHENEVER THEY PURCHASE FUDGSICLE.

SO THIS SUMMER HAVE FUN, BE MERRY, AND ASK YOURSELF “IS ICE CREAM REALLY WORTH IT?” ♪♪♪ >> ERIC: A LOT OF GREAT BALL PLAYERS HAVE CALLED MINNESOTA HOME, AND THIS WEEK WE LOST ONE OF THE GREATEST IN WILLIE MAYS, WHO HAD A SHORT STINT ON THE MINNEAPOLIS MILLERS BEFORE BEING CALLED UP TO THE MAJORS.

BACK IN 1951.

WE THOUGHT THERE WAS NO BETTER TIME TO CHECK IN WITH HISTORIAN AND AUTHOR OF "THEY PLAYED FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME: UNTOLD STORIES OF BLACK BASEBALL IN MINNESOTA," FRANK WHITE.

GREAT TO SEE YOU.

IN THE 35 GAMES E PLAYED WITH THE MILLERS, 477 BATTING AVERAGE, EIGHT HOMERS, 38 RUNS SCORED, 30 RBIs, 16-GAME HITTING STREAK WHEN HE WAS CALLED TO THE NEW YORK GIANTS, AMAZING.

>> YOU KNOW, YOU PROBABLY ARE NOT GOING TO FIND ANYBODY ELSE WITH STATS LIKE THAT IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, ALTHOUGH WE DID HAVE ROY CAMPANELLI HERE WITH THE SAINTS THAT WENT EARLIER WAS VERY SIMILAR, MAYBE NOT THE SAME BATTING AVERAGE, BUT WITH VERY MUCH SUCCESS IN THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION.

>> Cathy: I WAS DOING A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND, REMEMBER HALSEY HALL.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: MOST PEOPLE O.

WHEN HE WAS A SPORTS WRITER FOR THE "TRIBUNE," HE SAID, WILLIE MAYS IS THE BEST HE EVER SAW.

IT WAS CLEAR THAT HE WAS STAR EVEN AT THE VERY BEGINNING.

WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN RIGHT?

>> YOU KNOW, CAN'T SPEAK FOR HALSEY, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHEN WILLIE WAS HERE, AND AT THAT BEGINNING, HE HAD OBVIOUSLY PLAYED IN THE NEGRO LEAGUE, HAD SUCCESS FOR A YEAR WITH THE BIRMINGHAM BLACK BARONS, BUT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HARD TO SAY THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE WHAT HE ENDED UP BEING AT THAT POINT IN TIME, IN MY OPINION.

I MEAN, YOU SEE A LOT OF BALL PLAYERS EVEN TODAY, AND RIGHT AWAY WE'RE SAYING, OH, MAN, THEY'RE GOING TO -- THAT'S A HALL OF FAMER, AND I COULD MENTION A COUPLE NAMES, BUT IN FAIRNESS, I WON'T DO THAT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE RAISE THEM TOO SOON, IN MY OPINION.

SO I THINK HALSEY, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, HE SAW A LOT OF BALLS, SO IF THAT'S WHAT HE SAID, I'M GOING WITH HIM.

YEAH, I'M GOING WITH HIM.

>> Eric: I AN'T IMAGINE THIS EVEN HAPPENED, BUT THE GIANTS OWNER, HORACE STONEAM, WROTE AN OPEN LETTER TO THE MINNEAPOLIS MILLER FANS, KIND OF APOLOGIZING AND EXPLAINING WHY THEY CALLED HIM UP TO THE BIG CLUB.

>> YEAH.

>> Eric: HAVE YOU HEARD OF SOMETHING LIKE THAT BEFORE?

>> NOT WITH ANOTHER PLAYER, BUT I HAVE HEARD THAT STORY.

AND, SO, I MEAN, PEOPLE HERE WERE DISAPPOINTED THAT HE WAS CALLED UP.

>> Cathy: YEAH.

>> AND YOU CAN IMAGINE, I MEAN, HE WAS TEARING UP THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION.

SO TO LOSE HIM WAS LIKE, HOW COME?

>> Cathy: WHAT WAS BASEBALL LIKE IN MINNESOTA IN HE EARLY '50s?

>> WELL, KEEP IN MIND, WE HAD SEGREGATED BASEBALL UNTIL '47.

OKAY?

AND I'M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT JACKIE, I'M TALKING ABOUT HERE IN MINNESOTA.

SO IN 51.

IN ALL FAIRNESS TO WILLIE AND TO OTHERS THAT HAD JUST COME BEFORE HIM, CAMPANELLA, BARNHILL, DANDRIDGE, WE WERE MINNESOTA AND WE HAD SOME ISSUES HERE.

AND, SO, HOSE PLAYERS, TO BE ABLE TO PLAY AND SUCCEED THE WAY THEY DID, PRETTY SPECIAL BECAUSE ONCE THEY LEFT THE BALL FIELD, BEING IN TOWN WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

YOU COULDN'T STAY IN HOTELS.

YOU COULDN'T EAT IN SOME RESTAURANTS.

EVERYBODY MAYBE DIDN'T TREAT YOU THE SAME IN TERMS OF EQUITY OR WHATEVER.

SO I THINK PEOPLE TEND -- PEOPLE MAY HAVE BEEN A LITTLE ISOLATED BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE REALLY A SUPPORT SYSTEM.

ALTHOUGH WILLIE HAD RAY DANDRIDGE AND BARNHILL HERE, THEY LIVED RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE HE LIVED ON FOURTH AVENUE, SO HE PROBABLY HAD MORE SUPPORT THAN MAYBE A COUPLE OF THE OTHER PLAYERS AT THE TIME WITH THE MILLERS.

SO, -- BUT '51, WE HAD SOME CHALLENGES HERE IN MINNESOTA, AND WE OFTEN DON'T TALK ABOUT THEM, AND WE DON'T NEED TO DWELL ON THEM, BUT IT'S A PART OF OUR HISTORY HERE AND, SO, I THINK PUTTING IT IN CONTEXT, I THINK IT MEANS THAT WILLIE AND SOME OF THE OTHER INDIVIDUALS WERE REALLY SPECIAL.

>> Eric: IN THE BACKYARD WITH MY FRIENDS BACK IN THE DAY, I WOULD PRACTICE THE BASKET CATCH.

[ Laughter ] AND WAS WILLIE THE ONLY ONE THAT REALLY DID HAT, RIGHT?

>> PROBABLY, YEAH.

AND YOU, LIKE MANY OTHERS, WE USED TO GO OUT AND PLAY BALL, AND EVERYBODY WAS, I'M GOING TO BE WILLIE, I'M GOING TO BE MANO.

>> Eric: FOR SURE.

>> I WAS ALKING TO STEVE WINFIELD ON THE WAY OVER HERE, AND STEVE SAID, TELL ERIC THAT WILLIE WAS -- I WANTED TO BE LIKE WILLIE.

AND STEVE WAS A GOOD BALL PLAYER.

I MEAN, MANY PEOPLE PRETENDED TO BE, WANTED TO EMULATE WILLIE.

YEAH.

>> Eric: APPRECIATED YOU COMING OVER AND SHARING THE MEMORIES.

IT WAS GREAT.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> Eric: ALWAYS GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, ERIC AND CATHY, APPRECIATE IT.

>> Cathy: TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

>> CATHY: THE CHILDREN'S THEATRE COMPANY'S LONGTIME ARTISTIC DIRECTOR PETER BROSIUS IS SET TO DEPART AT THE END OF THIS MONTH AFTER HIS FINAL PRODUCTION OF "A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD" THIS PAST SUNDAY.

TWIN CITIES PBS PRODUCER MIRANDA HARINCAR SAT DOWN WITH BROSIUS RECENTLY TO TALK ABOUT HIS LONG CAREER AT CTC AND HIS DEPARTURE.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

♪ I THINK OF THE REASONS I HAVE TO BE HAPPY ♪ >> THE CHILDREN'S THEATRE COMPANY IS CURRENTLY SHOWING THEIR TONY AWARD NOMINATED PRODUCTION OF A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD, "IT IS UNIQUE, IT'S THE FINAL SHOW PUT ON BY THE LONGTIME DIRECTOR.

>> YOU FINISHED THE LAST TECH REHEARSAL, YOU'VE GONE THROUGH THE PREVIEWS, OH, YOU WISH THEM WELL, TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER, DELIGHT THE AUDIENCE, HAVE A GLORIOUS TIME.

OH, THIS IS HARD.

THIS IS THE LAST ONE OF THESE I'LL DO.

>> A FITTING BOOK END TO HIS TIME AS DIRECTOR, THE PRODUCTION OF FROG AND TOAD BROUGHT THIS TWIN CITIES THEATRE COMPANY TO THE NATIONAL STAGE.

>> ONE, IT WAS A JOY WHEN I RECEIVED THE SCRIPT.

THEN TO WATCH THAT SHOW OPEN HERE WITH THIS REMARKABLE CAST, GO TO THE NEW VICTORY AT 42nd, BROADWAY, THEN GET NOMINATED FOR THREE TONY AWARDS, BEST BOOK, BEST SCORE, BEST MUSICAL, THE SAME YEAR THAT THE CHILDREN'S THEATRE COMPANY WON THE TONY AWARD FOR SUSTAINED EXCELLENCE IN A REGIONAL THEATER, THAT WAS A PRETTY REMARKABLE YEAR.

TO TAKE THIS PIECE, PRODUCE IT REALLY WELL, A PIECE ABOUT THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP AND NOW TO MY GREAT DELIGHT, IS BEING DONE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

AND IT STARTED RIGHT HERE ON THIS STAGE WITH THE SET RIGHT BEHIND ME.

>> WHEN HE TOOK OVER THE THEATER IN 1997, THE ORGANIZATION HAD BEEN ENMESHED IN SCANDAL DAL.

HE COMMENTED ON WHAT IT TOOK TO CREATE A NEW REPUTATION FOR THE COMPANY AND A PLACE WITHIN THE TWIN CITIES COMMUNITY.

>> I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE A GREAT PLEASURE AND HONOR TO MOVE TO A COMMUNITY THAT VALUED THEATER SO MUCH AND VALUED THE ARTS AND VALUED YOUNG PEOPLE.

I THINK THE FIRST YEAR I WAS HERE, THEY WERE INTERVIEWING FOR A NEW SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS FOR HE MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND IT WAS THE WHOLE INTERVIEW WAS BROADCAST ON THE RADIO.

AND I WAS LIKE, I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THAT.

OH, MY GOD, THIS MATTERS THAT MUCH.

THIS COMMUNITY IS SO INVESTED IN EDUCATION.

WE HAVE HAD FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS PROFOUND COMMITMENT TO REPRESENTATION, TO INCLUSION, TO MAKE SURE ALL VOICES ARE HEARD.

TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PANOPLY AND GORGEOUS MOSAIC OF THIS NATION AND THIS PLANET ARE ON THIS STAGE.

ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVED DEARLY ABOUT THIS PLACE IS HOW DEEPLY THIS STAFF, HE ARTISTS WHO WORK HERE, THE BOARD, THIS COMMUNITY CARES ABOUT THAT MISSION.

>> IN APPRECIATION FOR HIS COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY, ON THE OPENING NIGHT OF THE SHOW, HE WAS IN FOR A SURPRISE AS THE MAYORS FROM MINNEAPOLIS AND EDINA AND A REPRESENTATIVE FOR GOVERNOR WALZ TOOK THE STAGE AT THE OPENING DINNER.

>> FOR SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE ARTS, TO OUR COMMUNITY, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM SATURDAY, APRIL 27th, 2024, AS PETER C.BROSIUS DAY IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

[ Cheers and applause ] >> THE INAL PRODUCTION HIT ROADBLOCKS AS THEIR LEAD ACTOR DECIDED TO LEAVE THE PRODUCTION PRIOR TO OPENING NIGHT.

THE CHILDREN'S THEATRE SAID THEY CANNOT COMMENT ON THE STAFFING OR THE CHANGE TO THE CAST.

BUT HE'S LEAVING THE THEATER OPTIMISTIC AND SAYS, LOOKING AHEAD, THERE'S MUCH IN STORE FOR THE CTC.

>> THERE'S A NEW TEAM COMING IN.

I HOPE I GET DELICIOUSLY SURPRISED BY NEW WORK, NEW INITIATIVES, NEW WAYS OF WORKING.

YOU KNOW, I'M HUGELY EXCITED BY THE WORK THAT OUR BRILLIANT ANN JOSEPH DOUGLAS, HEAD OF EDUCATION, HAS LED IN WORKING WITH THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, NEAR NORTH, ABOUT TRYING AN ARTS IMMERSION SORT OF PROGRAM WHERE 100% OF THOSE KIDS ARE INVOLVED IN ARTS CTIVITIES.

THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT'S IN THE HOPPER THAT IS PART OF A WONDERFUL PARTNERSHIP CALLED GENERATION NOW, WHICH IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN CTC AND PENUMBRA AND LATINO THEATER COMPANY, MYA THEATER COMPANY AND NATIVE VOICES, LEADING CULTURALLY SPECIFIC THEATERS TO GENERATE NEW WORK BY BIPoC AUTHORS FOR MULTIGENERATIONAL AUDIENCES.

WE'RE DOING THE FIRST OF THOSE NEXT YEAR, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL OF THOSE PIECES HAVING A LIFE, NOT JUST HERE AND AT OUR PARTNER THEATER, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> EVEN AFTER ALL OF THESE YEARS OF PRODUCTION, HE SAYS HE IS STILL LEARNING LESSONS FROM FROG AND TOAD.

>> BE KIND TO HE PEOPLE THAT YOU TOUCH.

IN YOUR LIFE.

BE KIND TO ALL THOSE.

AND EMBRACE THOSE WHO ARE RADICALLY DIFFERENT.

THERE'S SO MUCH TO LEARN.

YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST SO MUCH TO LEARN FROM THOSE WHO ARE SO UTTERLY DIFFERENT OR SOMETIMES IMPOSSIBLE, BUT THERE'S GIFTS, IF YOU OPEN YOUR HEART.

♪ FROG IS THE FROG ♪ ♪ TOAD IS A TOAD ♪ ♪ OF MY DREAMS ♪ ♪♪♪ >> ERIC: "TRAVELING WITHOUT MOVING: ESSAYS FROM A BLACK WOMAN TRYING TO SURVIVE IN AMERICA" WAS RELEASED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA PRESS EARLIER THIS MONTH.

WE'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE THE AUTHOR RIGHT HERE WITH US TONIGHT, AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH AND WOMEN'S STUDIES AT ST. CATHERINE UNIVERSITY, TAIYON COLEMAN.

WELL, PROFESSOR, HERE'S -- WHAT LEAPED OUT AT ME, PEOPLE DO NOT LISTEN TO BLACK WOMEN.

>> YES.

>> Eric: WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?

THE STRONG BLACK WOMAN IS KIND OF PARAMOUNT IN THE CULTURE, ISN'T IT?

>> I KNOW.

WELL, FIRST, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> Eric: OH, SURE.

>> Cathy: NICE TO HAVE YOU.

>> I THINK IT CONNECTS TO HISTORICAL PARADIGMS, PARTICULARLY IF YOU ARE DESCENDENTS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN LAVES IN THE UNITED STATES, OFTENTIMES THE BLACK WOMAN IS SEEN AS A DOMESTICATED FIGURE, A PERSON WITH NOT A LOT OF POWER, IT IS A RACIAL STEREOTYPE, AND OFTENTIMES WE'RE NOT LISTENED TO.

AND, OF COURSE, WHEN I WRITE ABOUT IT, NOT ONLY DO I WRITE ABOUT THE VERY INTIMATE INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCES THAT IT CAUSES US TO HAVE IN INSTITUTIONS, BUT ALSO THE INTIMATE EXPERIENCES, AND HOW THAT RELATES TO MORE STRUCTURAL EXPERIENCES.

I THINK SOMETIMES YOU CAN THINK BACK, I DON'T WRITE ABOUT IT SPECIFICALLY IN THE BOOK, BUT I THINK DURING COVID, HER NAME WAS Dr. MOORE, AND SHE DIED OF COVID IN A HOSPITAL, BUT SHE WAS A PHYSICIAN, AND SHE WAS CONSTANTLY TRYING TO TELL THE DOCTORS, LOOK, THIS IS WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME, THIS IS WHAT I NEED IN ORDER FOR YOU O HELP ME AND THEY DIDN'T DO IT.

AND SHE DIED.

OF COVID.

AND, SO, I USE THAT AS AN EXAMPLE.

BUT IF YOU THINK OF ALL THE DISPARITIES THAT AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN EXPERIENCE IN TERMS OF THEIR HEALTH, IN TERMS OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT, THEIR LIFE EXPECTANCY, IT ALL CONNECTS WITH THIS NOTION OF POWER AND VOICE AND WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE LISTENED TO.

SO I REALLY LIKE HOW YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION, BECAUSE YOU CAN TALK ABOUT IT LITERALLY IN TERMS OF, DO PEOPLE LISTEN TO US WHEN WE SPEAK OR IN THE SAME SENSE, ARE WE ACTIVELY ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE AND CONTRIBUTE IN THIS PROCESS OF DEMOCRACY, SO THAT WE CAN, WHAT, BE FULL AND EQUAL PARTS OF SOCIETY AND INSTITUTIONS IN OUR LIVES.

>> Cathy: I WAS THINKING, YOU KNOW, THE GREAT W.E.B.

DUBOIS, FRAME, THE DUALITY OF BEING BLACK AND AMERICAN IS A TWONESS, IS THERE A THREENESS, THEN, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BLACK WOMEN?

>> RIGHT.

TO BE BLACK AND TO E A WOMAN, ABSOLUTELY.

AND THEN I WOULD REFER TO O HURSTON OR ALICE WALKER, AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A WOMAN HOW DOES THAT INTERSECTIONALITY IMPACT THE EXPERIENCES THAT YOU'VE HAD, RIGHT?

AND THAT'S NOTHING NEW, RIGHT?

PROFESSOR CRENSHAW TALKS ABOUT INTERSECTIONALITY AND, OF COURSE, HOW WE DEFINE IT, IF YOU DON'T GET TO EE WOMEN AS NOT ONLY BLACK WOMEN, AS BEING BLACK AND WOMEN, WE'RE INVISIBLE, AND IF YOU CAN'T SEE SOMETHING, WHAT, YOU CAN'T FIX IT, YOU CAN'T ACKNOWLEDGE IT, YOU CAN'T EXIST.

AND IN SOME WAYS, I HOPE THAT'S WHAT I ATTEMPT TO WRITE ABOUT.

OF COURSE, WITH A LITTLE HUMOR, RIGHT?

BECAUSE THAT'S JUST MY WAY.

BUT ALSO IN A WAY TO GIVE AN EXPERIENCE, AND I WANT TO BE CAREFUL, I'M ONLY ONE PERSON, BECAUSE NO IDENTITY IS THE SAME.

SO I TALK ABOUT MY EXPERIENCES AS AN INDIVIDUAL WITH THE HOPES THAT I CAN INSPIRE OTHER PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES AND HOPEFULLY THROUGH COMPASSION AND EMPATHY AND MAYBE MIXING THAT WITH HISTORY, WE CAN FIND A WAY TO CONTINUE THESE CONVERSATIONS IN ORDER TO IMPACT CHANGE.

>> Eric: YOU HAVE A DISTINGUISHED CAREER, YOUR KIDS ARE ON THE RIGHT PATH, YOU'VE HAD THE SLINGS AND ARROWS OF RACISM, YOU'VE COME OUT THE OTHER END, OBVIOUSLY, VERY WELL.

WHAT'S THE SECRET TO COPING WITH THAT STUFF?

>> WELL, I WON'T SAY I'VE COME OUT ON THE OTHER END, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHY TRYING TO SURVIVE, SO, LET ME JUST SAY -- >> Eric: STILL COMP TEMPERATURE -- CONTEMPORARY, YOU'RE SAYING.

>> I THINK I WRITE ABOUT MY MOTHER DYING AT 49, I'M 54.

I KNOW IT'S A SELFISH THING TO ASK THAT I GROW OLD WITH MY KIDS, SO I'LL HOLD THAT SPACE THERE.

I WANT TO SAY THE ONE REASON WHY I'M SITTING AT THIS TABLE IS BECAUSE OF MY BLACK MOTHER, WHO RAISED E, WHO SACRIFICED FOR ME, AND MY SIBLINGS, AND PRETTY MUCH, YOU KNOW, TOLD US THAT THE ONE THING THAT YOU CAN DO THAT SOMEONE CAN NEVER TAKE AWAY FROM YOU IS YOUR EDUCATION.

AND IN A WAY THAT SAVED US, SO I'LL SAY, I'M TRYING, AND I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT I BELIEVE THAT IF I'M ABLE TO COME THROUGH SOMETHING, THEN MY JOB IS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE.

SO I HOPE THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING.

BUT IN SOME SENSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL A PART OF SUCCESS AND FAILURE AND I THINK THAT'S A PART OF LIFE, AND I'M JUST LIVIN' IT AND TRYING TO DO MY BEST TO, WHAT, CREATE ART BUT ALSO TO TEACH AND TO HELP AND TO LIVE.

AND HOPEFULLY LEAF AN ARTIFACT, RIGHT -- LEAVE AN ARTIFACT?

SO UNFORTUNATELY WHEN I DO PASS, DID I DO MY WORK?

DID I CONTRIBUTE POSITIVELY TO THE DISCOURSE THAT CAN HELP OTHER PEOPLE?

>> Cathy: I THINK YOU DID.

>> AND THAT'S MY HOPE.

>> Cathy: HOW ARE YOU HELPING YOUR STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM FIND THEIR VOICE?

>> OH, MY GOODNESS, I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE THEY HELP ME, RIGHT?

THEY'RE THE SMARTEST PEOPLE IN THE ROOM.

I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I CAN DO IS TO TRY TO SEE THEM AND RESPECT THEM AND ACKNOWLEDGE WHO THEY ARE.

AND IT'S MY JOB TO HOLD UP A MIRROR, TO SAY TO YOU, THAT NO MATTER WHAT EXPERIENCE YOU'VE HAD, NO MATTER WHAT YOU'VE DONE, YOU ARE STILL WORTHY OF EDUCATION, YOU ARE STILL WORTHY OF SUCCESS.

AND THAT'S MY GOAL, RIGHT?

SO I FEEL IT'S RECIPROCAL, RIGHT?

THEY TEACH ME, I TEACH THEM, AND WE LEARN TOGETHER.

>> Eric: TRAVELING WITHOUT MOVING, AT YOUR FAVORITE BOOKSTORE OR ONLINE, I ASSUME?

>> YES.

>> Eric: GOOD LUCK WITH IT.

IT'S VERY COMPELLING READING.

>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Eric: THANKS.

THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTION IN MINNESOTA THIS FALL WILL BE FOR CONTROL AT THE CAPITOL.

ALL 134 HOUSE SEATS ARE UP, BUT JUST A HANDFUL WILL DECIDE IF DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS RUN THE CHAMBER.

OUR MARY LAHAMMER WILL BE FEATURING KEY RACES TO WATCH, AND SHE STARTS HER SERIES OF REPORTS IN THE BATTLEGROUND OF CHANHASSEN.

>> I'M LUCY REHM.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

>> Mary: I HAVE HEARD OF YOU.

>> I'M YOUR STATE REP, RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION, WOULD LOVE YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR VOTE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO, TOO.

>> Mary: DFL REPRESENTATIVE LUCY REHM IN DISTRICT 48B KNOCKED OFF A INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN TO GET TO THE CAPITOL.

♪ DEARLY ELOVED, WE ARE GATHERED HERE TO GET THIS THROUGH THING CALLED LIFE ♪ >> Mary: WHERE SHE SPONSORED A BIPARTISAN BILL TO RENAME A HIGHWAY IN ITS DISTRICT IN HONOR OF ITS MOST FAMOUS RESIDENT AND BUSINESS.

>> PRINCE NELSON -- PRINCE ROGERS NELSON MEMORIAL HIGHWAY.

I LIKE TO MAKE THAT LITTLE JOKE.

WE WERE ABLE TO GET EVERYONE ON BOARD TO VOTE FOR IT.

PEOPLE WANT TO SEE A FUNCTIONING GOVERNMENT.

THEY WANT TO SEE -- THEY WANT US TO GET THINGS DONE.

YOU THINK ABOUT CHANHASSEN, YOU THINK ABOUT PAISLEY PARK, CHANHASSEN DINNER THEATER, THE ARBORETUM.

>> I'M A LOCAL TEACHER, OFFICER IN THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD, JUST TRYING TO BRING BACK A LITTLE BALANCE TO OUR STATE LEGISLATURE IF I CAN.

>> Mary: REPUBLICAN KALEN STEPHENHAGEN, SOLDIER, SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND TEACHER WHO'S TRYING TO BRING THE DISTRICT AND THE MINNESOTA HOUSE BACK TO HIS SIDE OF THE AISLE.

>> SERVING YOUR CONSTITUENTS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT THING TO DO.

THAT'S WHY I BECAME A PUBLIC TEACHER, I HAVE A PASSION FOR EDUCATION, LEARNING AS A HISTORY TEACHER, AME THING WITH THE NATIONAL GUARD, I WANT TO SERVE MY OUNTRY.

THIS IS AN STIPULATION OF THAT.

A LOFT PEOPLE, YOU KNOW -- A LOT OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T WANT EXTREMES, WHAT THEY WANT S A MODERATE APPROACH TO GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE IND OF SICK OF THE PARTISANSHIP, THAT DOESN'T WORK FOR THEM, GET THE JOB DONE AT THE END OF THE DAY.

SOME PEOPLE RE OKAY PAYING THE TAX RATE THAT HEY'RE PAYING.

SOME ARE NOT.

THEY WANT LOWER TAXES, WHICH I EMPHASIZE WITH AS WELL.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, BOTH SIDES CAN AGREE, THEY WANT THEIR TAX DOLLARS TO WORK FOR THEM IN A WAY THAT KIND OF GET THE JOB DONE.

>> Mary: IN THE LAST ELECTION, THIS HOUSE SEAT IN CHAN HAS WAS DECIDED BY JUST OVER 400 VOTES.

SO, IT'S, AGAIN, EXPECTED TO BE ANOTHER CLOSE CONTEST.

>> SO LAST TIME, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK I WAS ON THE RADAR, I DON'T THINK PEOPLE KNEW THAT I WAS, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY GOING TO FLIP THE SEAT.

IT WAS A BLINK AGO WE WERE MEETING YOU AS A FRESHMAN, NOW YOU'RE ALREADY RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION.

WHAT ABOUT THAT PACING AND CYCLE?

>> IT'S FAST.

YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE ALWAYS BUSY.

IT IS KIND OF SURPRISING HOW QUICKLY EVERYTHING EVOLVES, I WOULD SAY.

>> Mary: ARE YOU AWARE F HOW CLOSE THIS COULD BE?

>> IT IS ONE OF THE CLOSEST RACES IN THE STATE.

AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE ABSOLUTELY OUT THERE EVERY DAY TALKING TO PEOPLE.

>> Mary: IS IT DAUNTING ON ANY LEVEL?

>> YES, IT IS DAUNTING.

>> Mary: YEAH.

>> YOU KNOW, EVERYONE HAS A STAKE IN THE RACE AND THEY WANT TO WIN.

SO, IT'S HELPFUL TO HEAR SO MANY VOICES WITH ADVICE AND COUNSEL.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S PRESSURE EVERY DAY.

SO IT'S GREAT FOR ME TO JUST COME HOME ND JUST SIT WITH MY WIFE AND TALK IT OVER, HOW IT WENT, TALK ABOUT HER DAY, GO ON A WALK WITH OUR DAUGHTER.

>> Mary: POLLS SO THE BATTLE FOR THE HOUSE IS CLOSE AND THE SUBURBAN SEAT COULD DECIDE COMPLETE CONTROL OF AT THE CAPITOL.

>> I'M A DFLer, PRO REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM.

>> AND YOU'LL BE VOTING >> YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH?

>> Mary: SHE TRIES TO TALK TO WOMEN IN PARTICULAR AT THE DOORS WHO HELPED PROPEL ABORTION AS A TOP ISSUE FOR DEMOCRATS IN THE LAST ISSUE.

>> IT DOES SEEM THAT I'M ONE OF THE TOP NAMES WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THE HOUSE.

BUT I KEEP THINKING THAT THE PRESSURE IS REALLY NOT ON ME, IT'S ON THE VOTERS.

WE THOUGHT THAT LAST TIME, TOO, THAT WE NEEDED TO TURN OUT, NOT JUST PEOPLE WHO LEAN TOWARD THE DEM SIDE BUT ALSO PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE MIDDLE, PEOPLE WHO ARE INDEPENDENT, I THINK THAT'S WHERE THESE RACES ARE WON.

I THINK DEMOCRACY -- DEMOCRACY ON ON THE BALLOT, IT WAS LAST TIME, BUT IT STILL IS.

>> I ASK IF THERE'S A BIG PRIORITY THAT MATTERS TO YOU ON THE STATE SIDE OF THINGS, EDUCATION, TAXES, ENVIRONMENT.

>> I JUST KNOW IT'S ECONOMIES, NATIONALLY.

>> YEAH.

>> I THINK OF IT NATIONALLY MORE SO.

>> Mary: THE CHALLENGER DOES NOT PUSH HIS REPUBLICAN PARTY ENDORSEMENT AND EMBRACES THE IDEA OF MODERATION IN THIS SUBURBAN SWING DISTRICT.

>> IT DOESN'T SAY HERE, ARE YOU WITH EITHER THE REPUBLICANS OR THE -- >> YEAH, SO I'M RUNNING AS A FISCAL CONSERVATIVE.

>> ALL RIGHTY.

>> THANKS FOR YOUR TIME, YOU GUYS.

>> BYE-BYE.

>> THEY SAY, HAVING THE DEMOCRATS CONTROL ALL THREE BRANCHES WAS TOO MUCH FOR THEM, THEY WENT A LITTLE BIT TOO FAR WITH THE SURPLUS, SPENDING IT.

THEY WANT A SIMPLE CHANGE, JUST TO BRING BACK A LITTLE BALANCE.

>> Mary: DO YOU THINK YOU COULD VOTE AGAINST YOUR CAUCUS, PARTY, IF IT COMES DOWN TO IT IF IT FITS YOUR DISTRICT?

>> I WANT TO VOTE IN A WAY THAT REPRESENTS THE CONSTITUENTS.

I SURROUND MYSELF WITH FEMALE VOICES, BECAUSE THAT'S IMPORTANT.

I'M A GUY, SO I COME FROM A GUY'S PERSPECTIVE.

WHICH S GREAT.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT THE ISSUE OF ABORTION, THOUGH, WAS IT GOOD FOR REPUBLICANS?

>> I HEAR IT AT THE DOORS, PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED.

AND, YOU KNOW, I'M A REALIST, I LIVE IN MINNESOTA, SO I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, REPUBLICANS PROBABLY AREN'T GOING TO GET THEIR ENTIRE ISH LIST ON THIS TOPIC.

♪♪♪ >> CATHY: AS WE JUST MENTIONED, ALL 134 MINNESOTA HOUSE SEATS ARE ON THE BALLOT THIS FALL.

ALTHOUGH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS OVER, LAWMAKERS ARE STILL REPRESENTING THEIR DISTRICTS, SO WE'VE GATHERED AN ESTEEMED GROUP OF RETIRING LAWMAKERS TO LOOK AHEAD AND LOOK BACK AT THE LEGISLATURE.

DFL UP FIRST.

REPRESENTATIVE GENE PELOWSKI, FROM WINONA, IS SERVING IN HIS 19TH TERM.

WE HAD, OF COURSE, REPRESENTATIVE HODAN HASSAN WAS GOING TO JOIN US, SHE'S RUNNING LATE, IF SHE GETS HERE, WE'LL TALKING TO HER, TOO.

REPUBLICANS JOINING US, ELECTED BACK IN 2002, REPRESENTATIVE DEAN URDAHL MADE THE TRIP OUT FROM GROVE CITY, AND LAST, AND CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, REPRESENTATIVE JOHN PETERSBURG IN HIS SIXTH TERM REPRESENTING THE FINE CITY OF WASECA.

GOOD TO EE YOU ALL, BY THE WAY.

CONGRATULATIONS ON FINISHING OUT ESTEEMED LEGISLATIVE CAREERS.

Mr.

CHAIR, REPRESENTATIVE PELOWSKI, I NOTED, YOU DIDN'T HAVE A FAREWELL SPEECH, EVERYBODY ELSE, ALMOST EVERYBODY ELSE HAD A FAREWELL SPEECH.

YOU DID NOT.

WHAT YOU HAVE SAID IF YOU HAD GOTTEN UP?

>> WELL, ACTUALLY, I HAVE TWO OF THEM.

THE MOST RECENT ONE WAS THE FRONT PAGE OF THE WINONA DAILY NEWS, A WEEK AGO SATURDAY, AND ANOTHER FULL PAGE INSIDE.

SO, MY ADDITIONAL FAREWELL SPEECH WAS TO MY CONSTITUENTS, AND I THINK IT WAS VERY DETAILED AND VERY WELL DONE.

AND, OF COURSE, IT WAS THE WINONA DAILY NEWS.

MY SECOND FAREWELL SPEECH, I KEPT A AILY JOURNAL SINCE JANUARY 5th, 1987, AND I HAVE 7,000 PAGES OF A FAREWELL SPEECH THAT I'M SURE HISTORIANS WILL FIND MOST FASCINATING.

SO THAT'S 11 SPEAKERS OF THE HOUSE AND SIX GOVERNORS.

>> Eric: REPRESENTATIVE PETERSBURG, YOU TALKED ABOUT RESPECTING THE OPINIONS OF OTHERS IN YOUR FAREWELL SPEECH AND YOU SAID, ONCE YOU REALIZE THAT, IT LOWERED THE WALL, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THAT?

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF MY -- I SPENT 21 YEARS AS A CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR, LEARNING HOW TO DEAL WITH THE POLITICS IN A CHURCH, WHICH IS ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT THAN IT IS UP HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE BECAUSE YOU TRIED TO DEVELOP 100% CONSENSUS ON EVERYTHING.

SO ONCE YOU DETERMINED YOU'RE GOING TO GO TO A CONSENSUS, AND YOU GET READY FOR A VOTE, AND SOMEBODY STANDS UP AND SAYS, WAIT A MINUTE, I THINK WE OUGHT TO DO THIS, YOU DON'T SAY, WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR OPINION AND MOVE ON, YOU GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING AND START ALL OVER AGAIN.

WHERE THE LEGISLATURE, YOU ACTUALLY GET TO MAKE A DECISION, MOVE ON, AND THEN UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS, WHEN YOU ELIMINATE THE OPINION THAT THE OTHER SIDE IS TRYING TO BE MEAN AND IS TRYING TO BE BAD, BUT, RATHER, THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY SUPPORTING HEIR OWN VIEW AND THEIR OWN BASIS OF BELIEF, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU CAN DEAL WITH THEM ON A PERSON-TO-PERSON BASIS, RATHER THAN JUST EALING WITH THEM AS KIND OF A CONFLICT OF ONE SIZE FITS ALL, WINNER TAKE ALL.

>> Cathy: SURE.

>> Eric: IT'S NOT FUN ANYMORE IS WHAT YOU SAID.

>> YEAH.

I WAS ELECTED 2002, FIRST SESSION WAS IN 2003.

AND IT WAS MORE FUN THEN.

>> Eric: WHAT'S MADE IT LESS FUN?

>> WELL, I THINK WE HAD MORE FREEDOM TO DO WHAT WE WANTED TO DO IN LEGISLATION.

AND I SAID IN MY RETIREMENT SPEECH THAT I WAS GUIDED AND SOME OF MY CLOSE FRIENDS, THE THREE Cs, WE MAKE OUR DECISIONS BASED ON OUR CONSCIENCE, OUR CONSTITUENTS AND THEN THE CAUCUS.

WELL, I THINK THE CAUCUS POWER AND INFLUENCE HAS GROWN OVER THE YEARS, OVER THE 22 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND, FRANKLY, A LOT OF IT NOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO THINK TOO MUCH BECAUSE THEY'LL TELL YOU HOW TO VOTE.

>> Cathy: HOW HAS THAT CHANGED FROM 1986, '87?

>> I HAVE ALWAYS HAD THIS PHILOSOPHY.

PEOPLE ASK ME, WHAT DO YOU DO?

I SUPPORT THE DISTRICT FIRST.

THE STATE SECOND.

NATIONAL, WHATEVER WE DO NATIONAL, THIRD.

AND PARTY HAS ALWAYS BEEN LAST.

AND IT SERVED ME FOR 38 YEARS.

SO, FOLKS DIDN'T GET IT, DISTRICT FIRST, STATE SECOND, NATIONAL THIRD, PARTY LAST.

>> Cathy: AND OBVIOUSLY THAT HAS CHANGED, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S YOUR OPINION ON THAT, REPRESENTATIVE?

>> YES, IT'S CHANGED TO THE POINT WHERE I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE IN A KIND OF A WINNER TAKE ALL MENTALITY, IN WHICH WE'RE NOT INTERESTED IN UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE ARE GREAT DEAL, NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE VOTING FOR REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE OTHER PARTY THAT HAVE TO HAVE THEIR VOICE HEARD AND NEEDS TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY BE THE VOICE FOR THEM THERE.

AND, SO, WHEN WE DISREGARD THAT BECAUSE THE OPINION OF THE PARTICULAR MAJORITY IS GOING TO TAKE PARAMOUNT, DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A GREAT NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE STATE THAT DISAGREE WITH WHATEVER BILL WE HAVE ON THE FLOOR.

AND, SO, HOW DO WE GET TRANSPARENCY IN WHICH PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO FEEL LIKE THEIR VOICE IS HEARD.

THAT, TO ME, IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE OUTCOME.

>> Eric: FULL-TIME LEGISLATURE?

YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> WELL, DON'T KNOW THAT I'M READY TO GO THAT WAY.

I THINK OUR PART-TIME LEGISLATURE GENERALLY HAS SERVED US VERY WELL, EVEN THOUGH PART TIME IS KIND OF A MORPHOUS TERM.

LEGISLATORS, IF THEY'RE DOING THEIR JOB, IT REALLY ALMOST IS FULL TIME NOW.

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> BUT I'LL JUST SAY ONE OTHER THING, AND THAT IS, THERE ARE MORE STATESMAN-INCLINED PEOPLE WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED.

I THINK WE HAVE MORE AND MORE WHO ARE MORE INTERESTED IN THE POLITICS, MORE SO THAN DOING THE JOB.

THEY'RE MORE INTERESTED IN SAYING NO THAN IN SAYING HOW CAN WE GET THINGS DONE.

>> Cathy: DO YOU TWO AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT?

>> FULL-TIME LEGISLATURE?

>> FULL-TIME LEGISLATURE, NO, IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE.

WE SET ANOTHER RECORD FOR INTRODUCTIONS OF BILLS THIS SESSION.

>> Eric: 5,000 OR SO, RIGHT?

>> I THINK 5,486, BUT WHO COUNTS?

AND THAT'S 500 MORE THAN WE DID THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WE HAVE STRESSED UR STAFF, BOTH IN THE REVISOR'S OFFICE AND THE CHIEF CLERK'S STAFF TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE LITERALLY DROWNING IN OUR OWN LEGISLATION.

WE'RE 134 MEMBERS, WE HAVE 120 DAYS ON THE FLOOR.

5,500 BILLS, GIVE OR TAKE, THE SENATE ACTUALLY INTRODUCED MORE.

I DID LEAD THE GOV OPS COMMITTEE IN '07 AND '08, WE HAD EIGHT HEARINGS IN THE INTERIM, TO PUT IN RULES THAT WOULD PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING.

AND I JUST HAD A DISCUSSION WITH YOUR PREVIOUS GUEST ON GOING BACK TO WHAT WE DID IN '07 AND '08 AND TAKE A LOOK AT HOW WE CAN CHANGE IT AND CORRECT IT.

>> Cathy: I'M CURIOUS, ACTUALLY, I WANT TO GO BACK TO WHAT REPRESENTATIVE URDAHL SAID.

THERE'S A LACK OF STATESPEOPLE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

BECAUSE YOU'RE THE RANKING MEMBER HERE ON THE COUCH, WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> I'M THE RANKING MEMBER IN THE HOUSE.

SO, THERE WAS A TIME WHEN WE COULD, BOTH THE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS, PRODUCE ABOUT FIVE OR SIX PEOPLE EACH, 12, WE COULD STOP ANYTHING BY SIMPLY SAYING, WE'RE NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR IT, WE NEED TO CHANGE.

THAT'S CHANGED COMPLETELY.

THAT NO LONGER EXISTS.

IT WOULD PROBABLY BE REPRESENTATIVE URDAHL AND I THAT WOULD BE THE TWO THAT MIGHT AGREE MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

YOU JUST DON'T HAVE THE MIDDLE ANYMORE.

>> Eric: HOW ABOUT TIME LIMIT ON FLOOR DEBATE?

>> WELL, GETTING BACK TO ACTUALLY THE FULL-TIME LEGISLATURE -- >> Eric: SURE, GO AHEAD.

>> -- WITHOUT DEADLINES, WE DRAG THINGS OUT ALL THE TIME, AND IT'S NOT UNTIL WE HAVE THE DEADLINE APPROACHING THAT PEOPLE GET SERIOUS ABOUT NEGOTIATING AND MOVING FORWARD.

SO, FULL-TIME LEGISLATURE WOULD JUST DRAG THINGS OUT.

PROBABLY NOT GOING TO SOLVE ANY MORE PROBLEMS, NOT GETTING ANYTHING MORE PASSED.

SO I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.

YOUR QUESTION ABOUT LIMITING DEBATE, NO, I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD BE LIMITING DEBATE TO THE POINT WHERE YOU HAVE TO HAVE TIME LIMITS BECAUSE SOME BILLS AND SOME PARTICULAR AMENDMENTS REQUIRE MORE TIME.

>> WE MIGHT BE ONE F THE ONLY STATES IN THE COUNTRY THAT DOESN'T AT THIS POINT.

>> ACTUALLY, WHEN WE DID OUR RESEARCH IN '07 AND '08 AND WITH THOSE EIGHT HEARINGS, AND I INVITED THE ENTIRE HOUSE TO PARTICIPATE, WE MADE THE RECOMMENDATION, UNDER SPEAKER MARGARET ANDERSON KELLIHER, WE IMPLEMENTED LIMITING DEBATE, THEN WHEN THE REPUBLICANS TOOK OVER, THEY GOT RID OF IT.

WE ARE ONE OF THE FEW LEGISLATURES THAT DOES NOT HAVE IT.

IT'S COME NOW, WE HAVE TO LIMIT DEBATE.

YOU SIMPLY -- FILLIBUSTERS IS DONE IN ONE, AND ONLY ONE BODY IN THE SENATE.

IN YOU HAVE >> THOROUGHLY DISCUSSING.

>> IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN WHAT A FILIBUSTER IS, LOOK AT THE LITTLE VIDEO THAT'S ON YouTube, FILLI BURGER FOR THE MINNESOTA HOUSE.

>> I WANT TO SAY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S LED TO THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE, FRANKLY, IS THE CAUCUS SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE IN THIS STATE.

>> Eric: THE ENDORSEMENT PROCESS.

>> RIGHT.

BASICALLY THIS ALLOWS EXTREME GROUPS TO TAKE CONTROL OF EACH OF THE PARTIES.

AND, YOU KNOW, I'M FOR A PRIMARY SYSTEM.

>> Eric: A MARCH PRIMARY, THOUGH, YOU GUYS WOULD BE IN SESSION AND YOU COULDN'T RAISE MONEY.

JUNE WOULD BE MORE APPETIZING?

>> THERE'S A DIFFERENT ANSWER TO THE CAUCUS SYSTEM.

WHEN I FIRST CAME, WE CAUCUSED MAYBE ONCE A WEEK, MAYBE ONCE A WEEK.

WE NOW CAUCUS ONCE OR TWICE A DAY.

WHERE YOU'RE DRAGGED INTO CAUCUS, YOU'RE TOLD HOW TO VOTE.

WE'VE GOT TO GO BACK TO A SYSTEM WHERE THE EMBER DECIDES HOW THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE AND I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU LOOK AT YOUR DISTRICT FIRST WHEN YOU'RE VOTING.

>> Eric: YOU WERE AT YOUR DESK OFTEN DURING A CAUCUS MEETING.

>> I WAS AT MY DESK QUITE OFTEN BECAUSE Y JOURNAL DEMANDED THAT I DO SOME THINGS.

>> Cathy: I WANT TO SEE THAT JOURNAL.

>> Eric: ALL RIGHT, GUYS.

>> MY BOOK'S COMING OUT.

END OF SESSION.

THAT'S THE NAME OF THE BOOK.

>> Cathy: "END OF SESSION," WE'LL HAVE YOU BACK THEN.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

>> Eric: THANK YOU OR YOUR SERVICE.

SAFE RAVELS.

>> Cathy: IT WAS GREAT TO SEE YOU.

>> Eric: THANKS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

♪♪♪ >> I SPENT A LIFETIME FOR TRANSIT, ICHGHTLY ONE WANTS TO SAY YES.

THIS ONE, I STARTED LOOKING AT THE FACTS, IT MAKES NO SENSE.

VERY LITTLE INCREASE IN MOBILITY FOR THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

THREE STATIONS WHERE HARDLY ANYONE LIVES.

HE SAID, NOBODY LIVED THERE, YOU WOULDN'T BE STRETCHING THE TRUTH VERY FAR.

>> CATHY: THAT WAS THE LATE FORMER CONGRESSMAN MARTIN OLAV SABO TEN YEARS AGO THIS WEEK.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOU BACK IN TIME NOW TO 21 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK.

A CURRENT "MINNESOTAN" IS IN TOWN 'PERFORMING' BEFORE A CROWD.

ON THE DAY IN QUESTION, HE OR SHE DOES SOMETHING FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME AND IT BECOMES PART OF A RECORD-SETTING FEAT.

OUR MYSTERY PERSON WOULD RETURN TO MINNESOTA INTERMITTENTLY FOR NEARLY A DECADE, BUT DUE TO HEALTH ISSUES WOULD NEVER PERFORM AS WELL AS THEY DID IN THE SUMMER OF 2003.

15 YEARS LATER HE OR SHE BEGINS TO SPEND SEVERAL MONTHS EACH YEAR HERE IN MINNESOTA WHICH IS WHY WE CAN CLAIM THEM AS OUR WN.

OUR QUESTION FOR YOU.

WHO IS THIS MYSTERY "MINNESOTAN" AND WHAT DID HE OR SHE ACCOMPLISH IN THE TWIN CITIES IN JUNE OF 2003?

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU ARE CALLING FROM JUMP LAKE, LEEPER LAKE OR HOP HOLLOW ROAD IN HOUSTON MINNESOTA.

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

IF YOU'D RATHER TYPE THAN TALK, YOU CAN DROP A NOTE IN OUR ELECTRONIC INBOX ALMANAC@TPT.ORG.

WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH TIME FOR SOME SHOW-ENDING MUSIC.

IT WAS THIS WEEK IN 1993 THAT JAZZ LEGEND CAPTAIN JACK MCDUFF PERFORMED NEXT DOOR IN STUDIO A.

HE WAS TERRIFIC.

TAKE A LISTEN.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK.

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