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

>> ERIC: COMING UP ON "ALMANAC," WE'LL TALK JOBS AND INTEREST RATES WITH CHRIS FARRELL, PREVIEW THIS YEAR'S IRISH FESTIVAL WITH SOME LIVE MUSIC, AND COVER THE CONTINUING VEEPSTAKES SAGA WITH THE NEWS EDITOR FROM BLOOMBERG GOVERNMENT.

AND MARY LAHAMMER HEADED OUT TO VIKINGS TRAINING CAMP THIS WEEK.

>> Mary: WE'LL CATCH UP WITH GOVERNOR WALZ ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD AS THE FORMER HIGH SCHOOL COACH'S NATIONAL PROFILE CONTINUED TO INCREASE IN THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL SWEEPSTAKES.

NO MATTER WHAT, DO YOU EXPECT TO KEEP -- >> I'LL BE OUT THERE.

I'LL DO WHATEVER IS ASKED OF ME TO MAKE SURE THE TICKET GOES.

>> 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.

>> ERIC: IN THE NEXT HOUR WE'LL TALK JOBS AND INTEREST RATES, SEE HOW SOME MINNESOTA COMMUNITIES ARE DEALING WITH THE RECENT SUPREME COURT RULING ON HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS, FILL THE COUCH WITH POLITICAL PUNDITS, AND WE'LL TOSS IN AN ARON WOLDESLASSIE ESSAY PLUS LIVE IRISH MUSIC FOR YOU.

>> CATHY: BUT WE START TONIGHT WITH THE BIG POLITICAL NEWS THAT HAS DOMINATED HEADLINES HERE IN MINNESOTA AND ACROSS THE NATION SINCE PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCED LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AGO THAT HE WOULD NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION.

WHO WILL PRESUMPTIVE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE KAMALA HARRIS CHOOSE AS HER RUNNING MATE?

AS THE HANDFUL OF POTENTIAL CANDIDATES MAKES THE ROUNDS ON NATIONAL NEWS PROGRAMS, SOME OBSERVERS SAY GOVERNOR TIM WALZ HAS RISEN CLOSER TO THE TOP OF THE GROUP OF GOVERNORS, SENATORS AND OTHERS IN THE MIX.

THE TOP THREE CONTENDERS MOST OFTEN MENTIONED LATE THIS WEEK INCLUDE PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR JOSH SHAPIRO, ARIZONA SENATOR MARK KELLY, AND MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM WALZ.

MARY LAHAMMER CAUGHT UP WITH THE FORMER FOOTBALL COACH EARLIER THIS WEEK AT VIKINGS TRAINING CAMP.

CHEER 'EM ON, GUYS.

>> Mary: A FOOTBALL FIELD REMINDS FOLKS OF GOVERNOR WALZ'S RESUMÉ AS A STATE CHAMPION HIGH FOOL FOOTBALL COACH AS HE TRIES OUT FOR HIGHER OFFICE.

DID YOU LOVE BEING BACK HERE AS A FOOTBALL COUCH?

>> A LITTLE NOSTALGIC BUT ALWAYS THE FRESH START THINKING, OH, NO, HERE WE GO, FOOTBALL IS WHO WE ARE.

I WILL SAY THIS, NOW I'M GETTING A ALSO BUILT, DID NOT ANG, SUMMER IS GOING FAST.

>> Mary: HOW ABOUT YOUR RESUMÉ, THE NATIONAL PRESS HAS TAKING NOTE.

>> I LEAD WITH THAT FOOTBALL COACH.

I SAID IRNEVER CLOSED THE YEAR BOOK.

>> Mary: MINNESOTA GOV TIM WALZ IS ONE OF THOSE BEING VETTED AS A POSSIBLE RUNNING MATE.

YOU'RE GOVERNOR FOR THE MIDWEST STATE FOR THE DEMOCRATS.

ARE YOU WHAT THIS TICKET NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO BEAT THE TRUMP-VANCE TICKET?

>> WE WILL BEAT THAT TICKET.

THE ENTHUSIASM THAT HAS EXPLODED ACROSS MINNESOTA SINCE THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS IS SOMETHING TO BEHOLD.

>> Mary: WALZ HAS BEEN LEADING A LOT OF MEDIA REPORTS LATELY WHICH HAVE BEEN MAKE MAKING THE TOP THREE IN VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS'S SEARCH FOR A RUNNING MATE.

>> Mary: WHAT DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE TOP 3, DO YOU FEEL IT, DO YOU BELIEVE IT?

>> I'M HONORED TO BE CONSIDERED IN THIS AND I MADE THE CASE, I THINK WE JUST NEED A CHANGE TOWARDS A MORE INCLUSIVE AND A MORE HOPEFUL TYPE OF POLITICS AND I'M JUST DOING MY PART TO BE A PART OF THAT.

>> Mary: NO MATTER WHAT, DO YOU KEEP -- >> I'LL BE OUT THERE.

I'LL DO HATEVER IS ASKED OF ME TO MAKE SURE THE TICKET GOES.

>> Mary: PRESS AS FAR AWAY AS THE GUARDIAN IN BRITAIN HAD THE DETAIL F WHAT CAMP LaSHOULD SELECT TIM.

BUT HIS EXPERIENCE IN THE BATTLEGROUNDS OF THE MIDWEST IS ALSO GETTING NOTICED >> I GUARANTY YOU OVER TODAY IN THE BARS IN WISCONSIN, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PACKERS AND INTERCEPTIONS.

SO IT SEEMS WEIRD HAT YOU WOULD FOX CONSCIOUS N THAT RATHER THAN FOOTBALL SO I'M GLAD TO BE HERE TO TALK VIKINGS.

>> THESE ARE WEIRD IDEAS, SEE HOW THEY TALK ABOUT THINGS.

>> THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN SEEMS TO BE FOLLOWING THE LEAD.

>> Mary: WE'RE TOLD IT WAS NO BIG STRATEGIC PLAN THAT GO CREATED THE WEIRD TRENDS.

>> IT WAS NOT PRACTICED, IT JUST HAPPENED.

>> THE THICK I'M TELLING PEOPLE IS IT'S NOT MENTION TO BE MEAN, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE, I'M TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THESE FOLKS ARE KIND OF OBSESSED HAT SEEM REALLY WEIRD TO ME, LIKE MORE THAN OWED, KIND OF WEIRD.

>> Mary: ARE YOU SURPRISED THAT IT'S GONE VIRAL AND TAKEN OFF LIKE IT HAS?

>> A LITTLE BIT, I WILL GIVE CREDIBILITY TO THOSE OUT THERE, I ASKS O.WAS ASKING, HOW THIS GOING?

>> LEADERS NATIONALLY AND LOCALLY ARE SAYING WALZ IS THEIR MICK FOR V.P.

>> WHAT BETTER WAY TO CONNECT THE SUPPOSE PRO-WORKER ADMINISTRATION THAN HAVING THE MOST PRO-GOVERNOR IN THE NATION SERVE AS OUR VICE PRESIDENT.

>> HE WAS A FORMER UNION TEACHER WHO KEPT TIES WITH PEOPLE IN PARTICIPATION, INCREASING EDUCATION FUNDING DESPITE MANY DISTRICTS STILL MAKING CUTS.

>> AT HIS CORE, HE IS STILL A TEACHER.

TEACHERS GET THINGS DONE.

WHEN YOU HAVE A CLASSROOM FULL OF STUDENTS AND THEY NEED YOUR HELP, YOU KNOW YOU CAN'T KICK THAT CAN DOWN THE ROAD.

THE CHILDREN NEED YOU, NOW.

>> Mary: CONSTRUCTION WORKERS APPRECIATED A RECORD BILLION-DOLLAR BIPARTISAN BONDING BILL FOR STATE ROJECTS THAT CREATED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS.

>> TIM WALZ S ONE OF US.

A UNION TEACHER, A COACH, A VETERAN, FROM THE MIDWEST, FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS.

>> Mary: THE STATE IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST EMPLOYERS IN MINNESOTA, AND THE STATE WORKERS' UNION ALSO BACKS WALZ.

>> I STAND HERE PROUDLY TODAY TO BACK GOVERNOR WALZ FOR VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

IT IS WITHOUT QUESTION THAT HE HAS BEEN THE MOST PRO-WORKER, PRO-LABOR AND PRO-UNION GOVERNOR THAT THIS STATE HAS SEEN.

>> Mary: IF HARRIS SELECTS WALZ, IT WOULD ELEVATE A NATIVE WOMAN TO GOVERNOR AND A BLACK MAN TO LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FROM PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE MAKING HISTORY.

>> NOTION ABOUT ME BECOMING LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, I -- I DON'T THINK ABOUT THOSE THINGS.

I'M INTERESTED IN US GETTING VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS ELECTED.

WHOEVER SHE SELECTS.

FOR A VICE PRESIDENT.

>> CATHY: WE'RE GOING TO BROADEN THE VICE PRESIDENT CONVERSATON TO INCLUDE A NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON ALL OF THE NAMES BEING BANDIED ABOUT IN THE NEWS WITH A FOCUS ON THE SIX PEOPLE SAID TO BE LINED UP FOR INTERVIEWS WITH VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS THIS WEEKEND.

JOINING US FROM INSIDE THE BELTWAY, ANGELA GREILING KEANE, NEWS DIRECTOR AT BLOOMBERG GOVERNMENT, A FORMER WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT AND A MINNESOTA NATIVE WHO GREW UP OBSERVING POLITICS.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, EDGE La.

HOW HAVE YOU BEEN?

>> GREAT TO BE HERE.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> Cathy: THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME OBJECT A FRIDAY IGHT.

ALL SIX CANDIDATES ARE GOING TO MEET ITH KAMALA HARRIS THIS WEEKEND AND I'M CURIOUS FROM WHERE YOU SIT AND WHAT YOUR SOURCES ARE SAYING, WHO MIGHT THE FRONT-RUNNER ABOUT AND WHO IS A DARK HORSE?

>> FROM WHAT I'M SEEING AND HEARING, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S THREE FRONT-RUNNERS AND GOVERNOR WALZ IS ABSOLUTELY ONE OF THEM.

THE OTHER TWO ARE SENATOR MARK KELLY FROM ARIZONA AND GOVERNOR JOSH SHAPIRO FROM PENNSYLVANIA.

I WOULD SAY THE OTHERS ARE DARK HORSES, BUT, OF COURSE, THE NOMINEE, OFFICIALLY THE OMINEE AS OF TODAY, KAMALA HARRIS HAS THE DECISION TO MAKE AND SHE WILL ABSOLUTELY USE THIS WEEKEND AS PART OF THAT DECISION-MAKING.

>> Eric: DO YOU THINK SHE'S ALREADY DECIDED AND THESE ARE JUST PRO FORMA INTERVIEWS OR DO YOU THINK THEY COULD BE DETERMINATIVE?

>> I CERTAINLY HAVEN'T TALK WITH KAMALA HARRIS SO I DON'T HAVE INDEPENDENT OBJECT OF HER THINKING BUT FROM WHAT I'M READING, SOUNDS LIKE SHE HAS NOT DECIDED YET.

KEEP IN MIND, DONALD TRUMP HAD, YEARS, TO DECIDE WHO EMPTED TO BE AS HIS RUNNING MATE THIS TIME AROUND AND KAMALA HARRIS HAS HAD TWO EEKS SO SHE REALLY HAS A TOUGH DECISION TO MAKE BUT SHE AND HER TEAM AND OF COURSE THE LAWYERS THAT HAVE BEEN DOING THE DUE DILIGENCE ON ALL THESE POTENTIAL PICKS HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF AROUND THE CLOCK WORK THESE PAST COUPLE WEEKS TO ANYTHING OUT WHO WILL BE THE BEST PICK.

>> Cathy: YOU HAVE DEEP MINNESOTA CITIES AND THERE ARE PLUSES AND MINUSES OF THE CANDIDATES.

WHAT ARE SOME OF GOVERNOR WALZ'S MINUSES?

>> HE DOES HAVE A LOT OF PLUSES, I WOULD SAY.

THE TWO MINUSES AS I LOOK AT THIS ARE, OBVIOUSLY, THE CIVIL UNREST THAT STEMMED FROM THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD IN 2020, AGAIN IN INNESOTA, SO NOT THAT THE GOVERNOR IS IN CHARGE OF A CITY'S POLICE FORCE BUT IT STILL WAS DURING HIS TERM AS GOVERNOR AND OF COURSE THAT MOVEMENT AND NATIONAL UNREST THAT ACCOMPANIED SOME OF IT SPREAD AROUND THE COUNTRY SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH TIM WALZ.

THE OTHER THING I SEE IS THAT SOME OF THE OTHER FINALISTS WOULD POTENTIALLY BRING A STATE WITH THEM THAT'S IN PLAY PRESIDENTIALLY.

MINNESOTA OF COURSE IS NOT AS SOLID BLUE AS IT ONCE WAS BUT IT'S STILL A PRETTY SECURE BLUE VOTE FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, SO BY PICKING GOVERNOR WALZ, THERE WOULD BE LESS ADVANTAGE IN TURNING A STATE THAT COULD REALLY GO EITHER WAY.

>> Eric: THERE IS DATA, I THINK, THAT SHOWS THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT OFTEN DOESN'T BRING MUCH TO THE TABLE AS FAR AS CARRYING A STATE.

IS THAT FAIR TO SAY, THAT THIS IS GETTING HYPE BEYOND WHAT IT MIGHT MEAN IN NOVEMBER?

>> POTENTIALLY.

OBVIOUSLY, OHIO IS A PRETTY SOLID RED STATE THESE DAYS SO DONALD TRUMP, I DON'T THINK, WAS LOOKING TO PICK UP A STATE HE WOULDN'T OTHERWISE HAVE GOTTEN WITH HIS PICK OF JD.

VANCE, AND KAMALA HARRIS SO GO A DIFFERENT WAY.

AND THEY COULD GO IN A DEBATE HEAD TO HEAD.

THEY'RE BLUE COLOR ROOTS, THE CASUALNESS, THE MANNER OF SPEAKING SO THAT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT IS IN PLAY.

>> Cathy: YOU OBVIOUSLY ALL THE ATTENTION THAT GOVERNOR WALZ HAS GOTTEN HERE OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS HAS RAISED HIGHWAYS NATIONAL PROFILE AND I'M WONDERING HOW MIGHT THAT BENEFIT HIM IN THE FUTURE.

>> YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

WHEN HE SERVED IN CONGRESS, HE WAS WELL LIKED BY ALL ACCOUNTS, HE WAS A FAVORITE AMONG COLLEAGUES ON CAPITOL HILL IN THE HOUSE.

HE WAS WELL-LIKED BY THE MILITARY, GIVEN HIS MILITARY BACKGROUND PERSONALLY BUT HE DIDN'T HAVE A HIGH PROFILE IN WASHINGTON.

THERE'S 435 MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE, 100 MEMBERS OF THE SENATE SO CONGRESS MEMBERS IN WASHINGTON AREN'T THAT SPECIAL.

THERE IS A LOT OF THEM AND SOME PEOPLE, SENATOR KLOBUCHAR BEING ONE OF THEM, REALLY GET ON THE KIND OF WASHINGTON INSIDE THE BELTWAY PARTY SCENE AND THEY'RE SEE AND BE SEEN PEOPLE.

TIM WALZ WAS NOT THAT PERSON.

WHEN HE WAS IN WASHINGTON.

SO THIS ABSOLUTELY, EVEN IF HE ISN'T PICKED VERY SOON TO BE KAMALA HARRIS'S RUNNING MATE, THIS COULD ELEVATE HIM FOR THE FUTURE NATIONALLY.

>> Eric: I WONDER IF A -- IF THE HARRIS TICKET WINS, I WONDER -- AND HE'S NOT ON IT, I WONDER IF A ABINET OFFER MIGHT BE IN -- ASKING THAT WOULD HAPPEN?

>> OH, I'M SURE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE POTENTIALS WHO ISN'T PICKED IS THINKING ABOUT A CABINET POSITION, THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE LOOKING AT A HOSE OF WHITE MEN AND UNDOUBTEDLY, KAMALA HARRIS WOULD WANT A DIVERSE CABINET SO PROBABLY A WHOLE BUNCH OF WHITE MEN AREN'T GOING TO BE THE ONLY PEOPLE SHE LOOKS TO FOR CABINET PICKS BUT OBVIOUSLY TIM WALZ IS SOMEBODY, LIKE DENNIS McDONELL, ALSO WITH MINNESOTA TIES, WHO COULD BE CONSIDERED FOR SOMETHING LIKE VI SECRETARY.

>> Cathy: I KNOW YOU AND YOUR TEAM AT BLOOMBERG WILL BE BUSY DURING THE DNC.

WHAT STORIES WILL YOU BE LOOKING FOR?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I'LL BE PART OF OUR TEAM THAT'S GOING TO CHICAGO TO COVER THE CONVENTION.

WHAT WE LOOK AT IN MY PART OF BLOOMBERG IS THE ELEMENT THAT RELATES TO CONGRESS, SO WE'LL BE LOOKING AT HOW THE ICK AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET AND MOMENTUM FROM THAT AFFECTS THE BALANCE OF POWER IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE, AND HOW ALL OF THAT IS AT PLAY IN THE CONVENTION.

OBVIOUSLY, BOTH CHAMBERS, ALONG WITH THE WHITE HOUSE, ARE UP FOR GRABS IN NOVEMBER SO A LOT OF REALLY INTERESTING ASPECT OF PROSPECTS RIGHT NOW IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> Eric: ANGELA, SAY HI TO YOUR MOM AND THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> I'M SURE SHE'S WATCHING.

THANKS NOR HAVING ME.

>> Eric: YOU BET.

THANKS.

>> Cathy: THANK OU.

♪♪♪ ♪ DRAMATIC MUSIC] ♪ SOUNDS OF A MOVIE ILM RUNNING] CLUB CLUB 66 ♪ ROCK MUSIC ♪ >> ERIC: TODAY THE U.S. LABOR DEPARTMENT RELEASED ITS JOBS REPORTS FOR JULY AND THE DATA FELL WELL BELOW EXPECTATIONS BY ROUGHLY 60,000 JOBS.

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE ALSO JUMPED UP.

WALL STREET'S REACTION?

THE DOW FELL NEARLY 800 POINTS.

THIS COMES ON THE HEELS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE DECLINING TO CUT INTEREST RATES THIS MONTH.

MANY ECONOMISTS BLAME THE INTEREST RATE STATUS QUO FOR BAD ECONOMIC NEWS.

HERE WITH MORE, CHRIS FARRELL COVERS ECONOMICS FOR AMERICAN PUBLIC MEDIA.

WHAT'S UP WITH THE MARKET?

>> WELL, I THINK WE ALL NEED TO TAKE A STEP BACK.

>> Eric: ALL RIGHT.

>> WE NEED TO CALM DOWN.

YES, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

IN THE NASDAQ, WHICH IS TECH HEAVY, GOT A LOT OF TECH COMPANIES IN IT, IT'S IN WHAT WE CALL CORRECTION TERRITORY SO IT'S DOWN 10% FROM ITS JULY RECORD PEEK AND THERE IS A SENSE NOW, THERE IS THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION, YOU EVER BANK AMERICA, CITY CORP, THEY'RE SAYING THE FED WHEN IT MEETS IN SEPTEMBER NEEDS TO CUT BY ALF A PERCENTAGE POINT.

THE EXPECTATION IS THEY WERE GOING TO DO A QUARTER PERCENTAGE POINT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY'RE BEHIND, THEY'RE BEHIND.

WELL, TAKE A STEP BACK AND THINK ABOUT HIS.

WILL THERE WAS A HURRICANE AND THAT PROBABLY DID HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE EMPLOYMENT NUMBERS, THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS SAID IT DIDN'T BUT A LOT OF ECONOMISTS ARE SKEPTICAL ABOUT THAT.

BUT ANYWAY, THE ECONOMY, IT GREW 2.8% IN THE SECOND QUARTER, THAT WAS DOUBLE WHEN IT DID IN THE FIRST QUARTER.

PRODUCTIVITY, DO MORE WITH LESS, YOU'LL ALWAYS HEAR THAT AT THE OFFICE.

>> Eric: LAYER THAT A LOT.

>> BUT ECONOMISTS LOVE PRODUCTIVITY, THAT'S THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF YOUR LIVING STANDARDS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH AND SO PRODUCTIVITY IS RUNNING AT 2.7% OVER THE PAST YEAR, THAT'S REALLY GOOD NUMBER, AND, YOU KNOW, THE -- WE STILL ARE HAVING EMPLOYMENT GROWTH.

SO THERE ARE REASONS TO BE WORRIED ND THE MARKET IS LOOKING FORWARD BUT I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE DAYS WHERE EVERYONE IS JUST HYPERVENTILATING.

>> Cathy: CAN YOU -- PROBABLY TRUE.

CAN YOU GO BEHIND ON THE NUMBERS A LITTLE BIT HERE AND JUST SHED SOME LIGHT ON WHAT YOU THINK MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED?

YOU MENTIONED THE STORMS BUT IS IT -- WHAT ELSE MIGHT BE GOING ON BEHIND THAT NUMBER?

ANY IDEA?

>> SO PART OF IT IS -- YOU SAW A LOT OF GROWTH IN -- WHERE THE BIG GROWTH WAS WAS IN HEALTH CARE, AND ALSO IN CONSTRUCTION.

DRIVING HERE, DOWNTOWN St. PAUL, NOW YOU KNOW WHY THERE IS A LOT OF HIRING GOING ON IN CONSTRUCTION, RIGHT?

WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE IN THE TWIN CITIES, WENT OUT TO EDEN PRAIRIE THE OTHER DAY ON 494.

>> Cathy: YEAH, GOOD LUCK.

>> THE CONSTRUCTION IS NOT SURPRISING THAT IT WAS STRONG.

BUT THIS IS AN ECONOMY THAT CONTINUES TO ROW, THE LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE CONTINUES TO GO UP.

THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DID GO UP BUT IT WENT UP BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE WERE LOOKING FOR WORK, SO WHICH WOULD HELP DRIVE UP THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.

SO, AGAIN, THERE ARE CRACKS, THERE'S NO QUESTION THERE ARE CRACKS, UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AT 4.3%, YOU GO BACK TO APRIL OF 2023, IT WAS 3.4%, SO, CLEARLY, UNEMPLOYMENT'S GOING THE WRONG DIRECTION.

CONSUMERS' CREDIT, CONSUMERS ARE SEEING SOME STRESS, WE HAVE ISSUES GOING ON WITH THE HOUSING MARKET, SO THERE DEFINITELY ARE STRESSES IN THE ECONOMY.

I DON'T WANT TO MINIMIZE 'EM BUT I DO THINK THAT IT IS AN ECONOMY THAT IS CONTINUING TO GROW.

>> Eric: CUSTOMER RECESSION?

ARE WE ON THE CUSP OF A RECESSION?

>> NO, WE ARE NOT ON THE CUSP OF A RECESSION.

NOW, YOU MAY CALL ME BACK IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND SAY, CHRIS, YOU SAID WE WEREN'T ON THE CUSP OF A RECESSION.

BUT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT A RECESSION FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS AND, LOOK, IT'S STILL A 4.3% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WHICH HISTORICALLY IS A LOW RATE.

THERE ARE THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT, THERE ARE THINGS WHY THE FED NEEDS TO START CUTTING THE RATE.

IT DOES NEED TO START -- AND WE'LL HAVE SEVERAL CUTS IN A ROW, NO QUESTION -- >> Cathy: DID THEY WAIT TOO LONG TO CUT RATES?

>> PERSONALLY, I THINK THEY DID BUT I DON'T THINK IT WILL MAKE THAT BIG A DIFFERENCE BUT THEY ARE GOING TO ACT THE NEXT SEVERAL MEETINGS.

>> Eric: IS THIS TOO EGG HEALED TO ANSWER WHAT'S THE SHAM RULE?

>> THAT'S ABOUT -- WHEN YOU GET A -- OKAY, WHEN YOU GET MORE THAN HALF A PERCENTAGE POINT INCREASE IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, RELATIVE TO THE THREE MONTHS WHERE IT WAS THE AVERAGE AT ITS LOW, IT'S A SIGNAL THAT YOU'RE IN RECESSION.

>> Eric: HOW DO WE STAND ON THE THAT METER?

>> IF YOU LOOK AT THAT METER, YOU SAY WE'RE LOOKING AT A RECESSION.

BUT SHE HER SHHH SPECIFICALLY SELF HAS SAID IT'S A STATISTICAL REGULARITY, I WOULD BE SUSPICIOUS OF IT.

IT'S ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE RULESE WORRIED, THERE ARE REASONS TO BE WORRIED.

THERE ARE GOOD REASONS TO BE WORRIED.

THE FED SHOULD BE CUTTING ITS INTEREST RATE, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE BUT THIS NOTION THAT WE'RE NOT CUSP OF AIRY SESSION OR THAT WE'RE IN A RECESSION WHEN AN INFLATION RATE IS COMING DOWN, THE ECONOMY IS CONTINUING TO GROW AND THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS 4.3%.

IT JUST DOESN'T KNIT TOGETHER INTO A RECESSION.

>> Eric: I THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE IMPRESSED I THROUGH OUT THAT RESULT.

>> Cathy: HE BROUGHT THIS UP IN THE BRIEFING AND I SAID WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

>> EVERYBODY SNOWS THE SAUM RULE.

[Laughter] >> Cathy: THANKS, CHRIS.

WILL ♪♪♪ ACTIVITIES AND, OF COURSE, LOTS OF IRISH MUSIC.

BY THE WAY, THEY'RE BRINGING IN SOME REALLY BIG NAMES.

HERE WITH ME IS BRIAN MILLER FROM THE CENTER FOR IRISH MUSIC.

AND HE BROUGHT ALONG A FEW OF HIS STUDENTS.

THEY'RE ALL PART OF PERFORMANCES THROUGHOUT NEXT WEEKEND.

WELCOME TO "ALMANAC."

>> CAN YOU GIVE THE NAMES.

>> GABBY, KIERA AND HENRY, ALL STUDENTS AT THE CENTER FOR IRISH MUSIC IN St. PAUL.

>> THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

AND I KNOW THEY ENJOY IT.

YOU KEEP COMING BACK OVER AND OVER AGAIN, YOU KNOW THAT THEY LOVE IT, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, YEAH, THEY DO.

>> THEY SHOULD.

>> FOR ME, YOU GOT TO TELL US ABOUT THE CENTER OF IRISH MUSIC BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE HEAR ABOUT IT BUT THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT.

>> YEAH, SURE, WE'RE HIDING UP ON PRYER AVENUE HERE IN St. PAUL, A COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL, COMMUNITY-DRIVEN NONPROFIT AND WE'VE GOT OVER 435 STUDENTS THAT WE SERVE EVERY YEAR, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED BY THAT BUT -- AND THEY'RE ALL AGES AND ALL STUDYING IRISH TRADITIONAL MUSIC RIGHT HERE IN St. PAUL.

>> THAT'S AMAZING, BY THE WAY.

SO AS YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, YOU ALSO HAVE SOMETHING CALLED THE CENTER OF IRISH MUSIC INVOLVEMENT.

IS THAT CORRECT?

[ Laughter ].

DO I NOT HAVE THAT CORRECT?

>> WELL, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DISCOVER THE CENTER FOR IRISH MUSIC AT IRISH FAIRS IS WHAT WE DEFINITELY HAVE AND WE HAVE OUR OPEN HOUSE COMING UP LATER IN AUGUST, AS WELL, ON THE 25th, BUT THE IRISH FAIR IS, LIKE, THIS BIG IRISH PARTY, RIGHT, ON HARRIET ISLAND AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE IRISH TO GO TO IT.

I'M NOT IRISH, I WENT TO IRISH FAIR FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 1998 AND THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS THAT I GOT DEEPER INTO THIS WHOLE THING BUT IT'S, WHAT DO THEY SAY, IRISH OR NO, YOU'LL HAVE FUN IF YOU GO AT IRISH FAIR.

BUT AT THE CENTER FOR IRISH MUSIC, IT'S A WAY WE BRING WHAT WE DO OUT TO THE BROADER COMMUNITY AND WE LOVE IT.

WE DO A THING CALLED THE INSTRUMENT PETTING ZOO WHERE WE BRINGING INSTRUMENTS IN THE SCHOOL AND YOU CAN TRY A HARP OR A BANJO OR MANDOLIN.

>> PETTING ZOOs WILL BE FOREVER, FOR EVER, EVER.

HERE'S THE THING.

YOU KNOW THAT THE IRISH ARE O IMPORTANT HERE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, CORRECT?

>> YEAH.

>> AND YOU'RE HEARING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE THAT TALK ABOUT HOW BEAUTIFUL THEY ARE, FRIENDLY THEY ARE, AND FUN THAT THEY ARE, OU AGREE?

>> OH, FOR SURE, YEAH.

I MEAN, I'M A GERMAN SCOTTISH MUTT FROM MINNESOTA AND FOR ME, IT WAS JUST THE WHOLE CULTURE OF THE THING THAT DREW ME IN AND THE BEAUTY OF THE MUSIC AND SO, YEAH, WHETHER YOU GET A CHANCE TO GO TO IRELAND OR YOU GET TO GO TO HEART ISLAND, IT'S A FUN CULTURE TO GET INVOLVED IN.

>> JEARLYN STEELE, BLACK WOMAN, SO NICE TO MEET YOU, BRIAN.

REALLY, WHAT A PLEASURE.

WHAT SONG WILL THEY PERFORM?

>> WE WON'T DO ANY SINGING, WE'LL PLAY SOME DANCE TUNINGS.

THESE ARE HOP JIGS, THEY'RE CALLED.

>> I'M SO SORRY I CAN'T BE INVOLVED IN ALL OF THAT.

SUCH A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE.

BLESSINGS.

GO RIGHT ARRAYED.

>> GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ONE, TWO, THREE...

THE ♪♪♪ ♪ LIVELY IRISH MUSIC ♪♪♪ ♪ LIVELY IRISH MUSIC ♪♪♪ ♪ LIVELY IRISH MUSIC ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ >> MINNESOTA'S LAW LEGALIZING MARCH WAYNE TURNED ONE YEAR OLD DAY, AFTER THEY RELEASED THE RULES FOR BUSINESS HE IS.

THE RULES LATE OW LICENSE DISQUALIFICATION, POTENCY LEVELS, PROPER LABELING AND STORAGE OF PRODUCTS AND A WHOLE LOT MORE, ALL OF IT OPEN TO PUBLIC FEEDBACK ON THEIR WEBSITE THROUGH THE END OF AUGUST.

THE CLOCK IS TICKING AND OPENING UP THE LEGAL MARKET NEXT YEAR INCLUDING FINDING A REPLACEMENT FOR INTERIM DIRECTOR, SHARLINE BRIANER.

THANKS FOR SEEING YOU AGAIN.

>> THANKS FOR ASKING ME, PERPETUALLY.

>> Cathy: WE'LL HAVE TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT LATER ON.

SAY, WE'VE BEEN IN THIS SITUATION FOR ONE YEAR SINCE THE LAW PASSED, HOW FAR AWAY ARE WE FROM RETAIL OUTLETS BEYOND THE DISPENSE EARS?

>> THAT'S ALWAYS THE 100 MILLION-DOLLAR -- THAT'S ALWAYS THE QUESTION THAT I GET FROM THE INDUSTRY AND WHAT I ALWAYS SAY IS THAT IS AN INDIVIDUAL BUSINESS DECISION.

ONCE SOMEBODY HAS A LICENSE IN THEIR HAND, WHAT IT TAKES FOR THEM TO OPEN THAYER DOORS, HIRE THEIR STAFF, GET HAVING IN PLACE IS REALLY AN INDIVIDUAL BUSINESS DECISION.

I EXPECT WE WILL SEE IT AT SOME POINT IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2025 BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A LIGHT SWITCH WHERE ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HAVE DISPENSION RES OPEN.

>> Eric: HOW DO THE ULES INTERACT WITH WHAT YOU THINK SOCIAL SECURITY A SOCIAL EQUITY PIECE, FAIR TO SAY TO CALL IT THAT?

>> I THINK THAT THE WHOLE FOUNDATION OF THE CANNABIS LAW THAT WAS PASSED LAST YEAR REALLY CENTERED EQUITY IN A WAY THAT OTHER STATES HAVE NOT DONE, SO EVERYTHING FROM THE WAY THAT WE THINK ABOUT OFFERING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LICENSES TO THE WAY WE WANT TO MAKE THE RULES ACCESSIBLE TO THE REALLY SIGNIFICANT ENGAGEMENT WE AVE DONE WITH COMMUNITY AND WITH POTENTIAL OPERATORS, THAT'S UNIQUE AMONG STATES THAT HAVE LEGALIZED SO WE REALLY ARE DOING IT IN A WAY THAT IS REALLY COMMUNITY I SENSED AND REALLY FOCUSED ON BOTH HARM REPAIR ASPECTS OF THE BILL AND THE REALLY SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO ENTER THIS BUSINESS SPACE.

>> Cathy: ANY IDEA AT THIS POINT AS TO HOW MANY SOCIAL EQUITY APPLICANTS MIGHT BE READY TO GO?

>> THAT'S A BIG QUESTION, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

SO WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THERE WAS A TON OF INTEREST.

WE HAD MORE THAN 3,000 PEOPLE WHO APPLIED FOR SOCIAL EQUITY VERIFICATION, AND OF THAT 3,000, WE'RE STILL IN THE VERIFICATION PROCESS, AND THEN WE OPENED UP THE LICENSING WINDOW.

IT COULD BE THAT SOME OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS PLAY JUST WANT TO BE VERIFIED AND MAY WAIT FOR SUBSEQUENT -- FOR FUTURE ROUNDS OF LICENSING, SOME OF THEM MAY BE PARTNERSHIPS SO WE MIGHT SEE FOUR OR FIVE PEOPLE THAT BAND TOGETHER TO OPEN A BUSINESS SO WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL THAT WINDOW CLOSES HOW MANY ACTUAL LICENSE APPLICATIONS WE HAVE TO REVIEW.

>> Eric: ARE RECREATIONAL AND MEDICAL USERS AND THE SAME UMBRELLA OF RULES, ARE THEY DIFFERENT OR -- >> WE HAVE ALL THINGS CANNABIS SO EVERYTHING FROM ADULTS USE TO THE MEDICAL PROGRAM TO THE LOW POTENCY HEMP DERIVED PRODUCTS THAT YOU SEE ALREADY ON SHELVES ACROSS THE STATE SO EVERYTHING CANNABIS RELATED IS UNDER -- >> Eric: YOU WERE WORKING OUT AFTER A BROOM CLOSE HE WOULD AT THE DEPARTMENT OF AG OR SOMETHING?

WHAT'S YOUR WORKFORCE NOW?

>> WE'VE UP TO ALMOST 80 PEOPLE AND THAT INCLUDES LICENSING SPECIALISTS, REGULATORS, ATTORNEYS, CUSTOMER SERVES AND ENGAGEMENT, SOCIAL EQUITY DIRECTOR, OUR RESEARCH TEAM.

WE ALSO BROUGHT OVER THE TEAM FROM THE OFFICE OF MEDICAL CANNABIS AND THE HEMP-DERIVED INSPECTORS OF THE FIRST SO WE'RE GRATEFUL TO HAVE THAT EXPERTISE AND ADDITIONAL CAPACITY AND WE'RE ADDING STAFF AT AN AVERAGE OF THREE PER WEEK RIGHT NOW, EVENTUALLY ON OUR WAY TO 150 STAFF PEOPLE.

>> Cathy: THAT'S A LOT.

>> IT IS.

>> Cathy: GOING BACK HERE, I MENTIONED THE TRAVEL DISPENSARIES AND I WAS TALKING TO THE HEAD OF THE WHITE EARTH OPERATION, JUST THE OTHER DAY, AND I ASKED ABOUT, CAN YOU -- CAN WHITE EARTH, CAN HE OTHER TRIBAL NATIONS AND THEIR DISPENSARIES, CAN THEY EXPAND INTO, SAY, THE TWIN CITIES OR DOES THAT NEED TO BE PART OF A COMPACT?

>> IT IS PART OF COMPACTING.

SO THE RULES THEMSELVES ARE REALLY IMPORTANT AS WE CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN THE COMPACTING CONVERSATIONS WITH TRIBES WHO HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST AND THE TERMS OF HOW THEY WILL ENTER THAT LARGER COMMERCIAL MARKET OUTSIDE OF TRIBALLY REGULATED LANDS WILL REALLY BE DEFINED IN THE COMPACTS BUT ALSO ALIGNED CLOSELY WITH OUR RULES IN TERMS OF THE SAFETY STANDARDS AND THE REGULATORY STANDARDS AND THE PRODUCT INFORMATION, SO -- >> Eric: ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE A REGULATORY LINEFIELD OF STATE, FEDERAL AND LOCAL RULES?

I MEAN, I THINK IT'S STILL A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

>> IT IS, SO THERE IS DISCUSSION AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL ABOUT RESCHEDULING CANNABIS BUT FOR RIGHT NOW THERE ARE NO FEDERAL RULES, OTHER THAN FOR HEMP PRODUCTS, RIGHT?

HEMP IS UNDERSTAND THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUT THAT'S THE INTERESTING PART OF THIS, EVERY STATE HAS TAKEN A DIFFERENT APPROACH SO MINNESOTA AND EVEN WHEN IT COMES TO THE RULES, WE HAVE SORT OF THE THIRD -- WE'RE THE FIRST OF THE THIRD WAIVE OF LEGALIZATION BECAUSE WE HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK AT OTHER STATES, HOW THEY'VE APPROACHED REGULATION AND REALLY BRING IT INTO LINE WITH THINGS LIKE TOBACCO AND ALCOHOL RATHER THAN THIS SORT OF ILLICIT SUBSTANCE THAT HAS A STIGMA STILL ATTACHED TO IT SO WE THINK WE'RE TREADING NEW GROUNDS HERE THAT'S EXCITING.

>> Cathy: WE KEEP HAVING YOU BACK ON AS THE INTERIM DIRECTOR.

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHEN YOU MIGHT AKE THE PERMANENT JOB OR GO TO SOMETHING ELSE?

>> I CAN TELL YOU, I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THE PERMANENT JOB.

I'M GOING TO SERVE UNTIL THE GOVERNOR MAKES A DECISION ABOUT WHO IS THE RIGHT PERSON TO TAKE THE REIGNS.

IN THE MEANTIME, AS I'VE SAID, THIS IS OT ABOUT ONE PERSON, THE TEAM IS GROWING AND DOING REALLY GOOD WORK.

>> Eric: YOU'RE CURSED WITH THE GOD GIFT OF SERVICE.

>> THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO LOOK AT IT.

I'M DEPRESSIONED WITH WORK.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR COPING OVER.

>> Cathy: GOOD TOE SEE YOU.

>> GOOD VIEWERS, I HAVE FANTASTIC NEWS FOR YOU ALL TODAY!

I AM PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT AFTER TWO ODD YEARS OF TERRIBLE WORK, I AM FINALLY BACK TO MY PRE-PANDEMIC WEIGHT.

NOW, IF YOU'RE WATCHING THIS AND THINKING, "HE'S NOT IN GREAT SHAPE," LET ME JUST SAY THAT, FIRSTLY, YOU'RE NO PRIZE YOURSELF, AND, SECONDLY, MY APPEARANCE ISN'T SOMETHING I STRESS ABOUT AND THAT'S WHY I WAS ABLE TO LOSE THE WEIGHT.

FOUR YEARS AGO, WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, LIKE A LOT OF YOU, I WAS FORCED INSIDE, ATE A LOT AND REFUSED TO MOVE.

AND WHILE I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH I GAINED, I WILL TELL YOU THAT AS AN AVID BAKER, I BAKE ABOUT THREE CAKES A MONTH.

SO MAYBE I'M NOT LOOKING SO BAD AFTER ALL.

TWO YEARS OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, I WAS FEELING OUT OF SORTS AND I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO EXERCISE SO I ASKED A TRAINER I KNEW AND HE GAVE ME THE BEST I EVER HEARD.

"JUST DO IT BADLY."

IF YOU'RE EVER GOING TO DO SOMETHING NEW, DON'T TRY TO BREAK SOME RECORD OR ACHIEVE GOLD.

YOU'RE NOT MICHAEL PHELPS, YOU'RE YOU, AND YOU SHOULD JUST GIVE IT A GO AND SEE HOW YOU FEEL.

DON'T RUN 10 MILES, RUN A MILE AND SEE WHAT THAT'S LIKE.

DON'T DO 20 PULL-UPS, TRY 5 AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

I'M SURE THAT SEEMS LAZY BUT OFTEN THE GREATEST OBSTACLE TO DOING ANYTHING IS SIMPLY THE PRESSURE TO DO IT PERFECTLY.

SURE, PRESSURE MAKES DIAMONDS, BUT PEOPLE AREN'T DIAMONDS.

IF WE WERE, GAINING WEIGHT WOULD BE A GREAT WAY TO MAKE MONEY.

I KNOW DEDICATING MYSELF TO A STRICT REGIMEN WOULD HAVE GIVEN BETTER RESULTS SOONER BUT I'M NOT A SOLDIER, SO STICKING TO A REGIMEN ISN'T SOMETHING I'M GOOD AT.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M GOOD AT?

SHOWING UP.

WHEN IT COMES TO EXERCISE, I DO IT BADLY, BECAUSE THAT'S MORE REALISTIC THAN DOING IT PERFECTLY.

AND YOU WANNA KNOW A LITTLE SECRET?

IF YOU DO SOMETHING BADLY 100 TIMES, BY THE 101ST TIME, YOU'RE ACTUALLY OKAY AT IT.

SO IF YOU'RE THINKING OF EXERCISING, OR DOING ANYTHING NEW FOR THAT MATTER, JUST DO IT BADLY.

BECAUSE BEING THE PERSON YOU WANNA BE ISN'T A COMPETITION, IT'S A LIFE.

>> ERIC: BACK IN JUNE, THE U.S. SUPREME COURT RULED IN A 6-3 DECISION THAT IT'S NOT UNCONSTITUTIONAL TO PENALIZE PEOPLE FOR SLEEPING OUTSIDE ON PUBLIC PROPERTY.

CITIES SUCH AS ROCHESTER AND DULUTH HAVE PASSED ORDINANCES LOOKING TO DISCOURAGE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS, AND LAST WEEK CAMP NENOOKAASI IN MINNEAPOLIS WAS EVICTED FOR THE FOURTH TIME THIS YEAR.

KATELYN VUE IS A HOUSING REPORTER FOR THE SAHAN JOURNAL AND HAS BEEN TAKING A CLOSE LOOK AT LOCAL ORDINANCES HERE IN MINNESOTA.

I KNOW FOR A FACT IN DULUTH THERE WAS VIGOROUS DEBATE ABOUT MISDEMEANOR OR JUST A FINE OR -- WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE IMPACT OF THIS RULING?

>> ON JULY 29th, THEY PASSED AGE ORDINANCE ABOUT THIS OF MAKING THE LIMIT A FINE FOR SOMEONE WHO'S SLEEPING OUTSIDE ON PUBLIC PROPERTY UP TO 200 AND THEY ALSO VOTED TO REMOVE THE LANGUAGE ABOUT MAKING THIS OFFENSE AND MISDEMEANOR 'MISDEMEANORS CRIME.

SO I THINK IN A WAY THEY SORT OF SAW THE PUBLIC CONCERN AROUND THIS ORDINANCE SO THEY REMOVED THE MISDEMEANOR LANGUAGE BUT STILL THERE WILL STILL BE SOME FINE, SOME TYPE OF ENFORCEMENTS TO DETER END CAMPMENTS.

>> Cathy: WE SHOULD MAYBE GO BACK AND START T THE BEGINNING WITH THIS RULING.

IT ALLOWS THE REMOVAL OF HOLMES CARRIAGES IN CITIES, BUT THERE ARE ADVOCATES FOR THE HOLMES WHO SAY YOU'RE CRIMINALIZING HOMELESSNESS.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT ARGUMENT?

>> SINCE THIS IS A SUPREME COURT RULING, I THINK GENERALLY THAT THROWS, YOU KNOW, ALARM BELLS AT FOLKS BUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE SUPREME COURT DID WAS THAT IT'S REALLY UP TO THE CITIES TO PASS THEIR OWN ORDINANCE ABOUT THIS SO ROCHESTER PASSED THEIR OWN ORDINANCE ABOUT THIS IN FEBRUARY, DULUTH WAS THE NICKS CITY AND BRAINERD AND BAXTER ARE THE NEXT COUPLE OF CITIES THAT ARE LOOKING TO POST THE ORDINANCES AND ADVOCATES ARE WORRIED THAT THIS IS ONLY PUSHING THE PROBLEM TO OTHER CITIES THAT DON'T HAVE THESE ORDINANCES.

>> Eric: SO THE FUTURE OF HE EVER CAMPMENTS IS WHAT, I WONDER?

>> THAT'S A TRICKY QUESTION.

THE STORY I WROTE AT THE SAHAN JOURNAL, I TALKED ABOUT HOW MINNEAPOLIS AND St. PAUL FOCUS ON THEIR END CAMPMENTS?

THEY SORT OF HAVE A DIFFERENT APPROACH, I THINK St. PAUL HAS A HIGHER BAR WITH POSTING VACATE NOTICES VERSUS MINNEAPOLIS, AND WE'VE SEEN MINNEAPOLIS COME INTO THE NEWS QUITE OFTEN ABOUT THEIR PRACTICES ON VICTIM ENCAMPMENTS AND THE CRITICS HAVE POINTED OUT, YOU KNOW, AFTER CLEANING AN NCAMPMENT THAT THEY HAVE REBEL PLACE IN THOSE LAWS.

>> Eric: TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T COME BACK.

>> Cathy: GOING BACK TO BRAINERD, ARE THESE CITIES YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, DULUTH, ROCHESTER, BRAINERD, ARE THERE ISSUES WITH FOLKS WHO ARE CAMPING OUT?

>> YEAH, SO, LIKE, I THINK WITH THIS ORDINANCE, I THINK WHAT IS -- LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE ACTUALLY THE FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN RGING THEIR OWN LOCAL OFFICIALS TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE.

THEY WANT IT AS A TOOL BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT THERE AREN'T OTHER OPTIONS TO DETER THIS AND, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE ENCAMPMENTS GROWING, LIKE IN ROCHESTER, THAT WAS A BIG REASON WHY.

THERE WAS A FIRE AND PEOPLE HAD OVERDOSES AT THESE END CAMPMENTS AND SO IT'S REALLY BEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT PUSHING THIS.

>> Eric: AND THIS IS A PENALTIES EVEN IF THERE ARE NO SHELTER SPOTS AVAILABLE?

>> YEAH, EXACTLY.

THAT'S -- >> Eric: WHAT ARE THE FOLKS SUPPOSED TO DO?

>> THAT'S A LAYER THAT I THINK THAT ADVOCATES ARE POINTING OUT, TOO, THAT IT'S PENALIZING FOLKS WHO HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.

YEAH, THAT'S THE BIG ARGUMENT THERE.

>> Cathy: SO IN TERMS OF NEXT STEPS, THEN, DO YOU -- WHAT'S YOUR REPORTING, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM SOURCE?

WILL OTHER CITIES AROUND MINNESOTA KNOLL SUIT FROM DULUTH AND BRAINERD AND THE TWIN CITIES?

>> SO I TALKED TO MINNEAPOLIS AND I TALKED TO St. PAUL AND THEY ARE ADAMANT THAT THIS HAS NO IMPACT ON CURRENT POLICIES.

I'VE TALKED TO THE MINNESOTA INTERAGENCY HOMELESS COUNCIL AND THEY'RE A CABINET LEVEL BODY OF STATE AGENCIES.

I TALKED TO THE DIRECTOR THERE AND SHE SAID THAT THIS WON'T IMPACT FUNDING PRIORITIES OR STATE AGENCY PRIORITIES SO THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE BEEN ADAMANT ABOUT.

>> Eric: IS THERE DECENT COORDINATION, WHAT DOES YOUR REPORTING SAY ABOUT THE STATE, LOCAL IX OF COORDINATION?

I MEAN, IS EVERYBODY ROWING THE BOAT IN THE SAME DIRECTION?

>> YEAH, SO MINNEAPOLIS MAYOR AND St. PAUL MAYOR HAVE SAID THAT THE SCOPE OF SERVICES THEY HAVE ATTRACTS A LOT OF THE FOLKS THAT RE DEALING WITH HOMELESSNESS, BUT THAT PUTS A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THOSE TWO CITIES TO TRY TO MEET THOSE HOUSING NEEDS.

SO MINNEAPOLIS MAYOR AND St. PAUL MAYOR HAVE SAID THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE REGIONAL AND STATEWIDE APPROACHES TO HOMELESSNESS.

>> Cathy: INTERESTING.

ALWAYS A GOOD JOB, KAITLIN.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>> Eric: THANKS NOR COMING YOU EVER.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Eric: YOU BET.

♪♪♪ >> CATHY: SO MUCH PRESIDENTIAL AND VICE-PRESIDENTIAL POLITICAL PONDERING TO DO.

LET'S DIVE RIGHT IN WITH THIS WEEK'S VERSION OF THE "ALMANAC" POLITICAL PANEL.

DEMOCRATS UP FIRST.

ABOU AMARA IS A FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER TURNED ATTORNEY.

AND ALWAYS A DFL LOYALIST.

THAT'S A LABEL YOU CAN ATTACH TO FORMER STATE SENATOR SUSAN KENT AS WELL.

REPUBLICANS HERE WITH US TONIGHT, AMY KOCH IS A FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, NOW LOBBYIST.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, BRIAN MCCLUNG IS A FORMER TIM PAWLENTY STAFFER WHO HAD A FRONT ROW SEAT THE LAST TIME A MAJOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE VETTED A MINNESOTA GOVERNOR FOR VICE PRESIDENT.

ABU AMARA, AS YOU MAY HAVE HEARD, ANGELO GREILING KING, WAS ON EARLIER, AND SHE THINK GOVERNOR WALZ IS TOP 3 ON THE LIST.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT AND WHAT ARE THE ODDS THAT SOMETIMES THIS WEEKEND MAY GET WEIRD THAT GOVERNOR WALZ IS GOING TO BE RUNNING WITH KAMALA HARRIS?

>> I ACTUALLY AGREE, I WOULD ACTUALLY SAY IT'S TOP TWO, I THINK IT'S BETWEEN HIM AND GOVERNOR SHAPIRO OF PENNSYLVANIA AND I THINK THE REASON IS HE'S HAD THE BEST 9-DAY VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDACY MAYBE IN HIS TREATMENT.

HE'S REFORMED ABOUT THE WASTE THE DEMOCRATS ARE TAKEN ON STAG ON TRUMP BUT IN A MORE OPTIMISTIC WAY, I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.

AND THE SECOND THING, I THINK HE'S SHOWN POLITICAL VERSATILITY.

THIS GUY CAN CAMPAIGN NOTHING CORNFIELDS, CITIES, AND IF YOU WANT TO PROTECT THE BLUE WALL, HE HAS THE SKILL SET.

>> YOU'RE BRINGING BACK MEMORIES OF THE VEEPSTAKES IN 2008 AND I THINK ONE THING THAT'S INTERESTING, IN 2008, TIM PAWLENTY STARTED OFF MORE ON THE LONGER LIST, AND ULTIMATELY BECAME A FINALIST, IT WAS DO YOU THINK TO HIM AND SARAH PALIN AND I THINK YOU'RE SEALING THE SAME THING, WHERE GOVERNOR WALZ STARTED ON THE LONGER LIST AND AS ABU SIDE R.SAID HAS WORKED HIS WAYS INTO A FINALIST POSITION.

I DO THINK GOVERNOR WALZ OFFERS A REALLY INTERESTING PICK FOR THE HARRIS TEAM BUS HE PRESENTS AS A MODERATE, RIGHT, HE HAS THAT FOOTBALL COACH, HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER PERSONA, NATIONAL GUARD EXPERIENCE, ET CETERA, BUT HIS RECORD AS GOVERNOR IS VERY PROGRESSIVE, AND SO HE'S ABLE TO KIND OF WORK TO BOTH SIDES OF THE DEMOCRATIC BASE AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, SHAPIRO AND KELLY AND SOME OF THE OTHERS, THEY'RE KIND OF STUCK MORE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, SO I THINK THAT IS ACCRUING TO GOVERNOR WALZ' BENEFIT RIGHT NOW.

>> Cathy: WOULD YOU AGREE, SENATOR?

>> I DO AND I THINK IT'S VERY MUCH WHAT BRIAN IS HITTING ON.

I KEEP THINKING ABOUT AND PROBABLY THE ONLY NATIVE SOUTHERNER ON THE COUCH TONIGHT, I THINK VERY MUCH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, THAT GOVERNOR WALZ HAS AN ABILITY TO BRING PROGRESSIVE PRIORITIES AND VALUES INTO A VERY OMMON SENSE LANGUAGE THAT I THINK IS GOING TO APPEAL TO MODERATES AROUND THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING IN THE SOUTH, EVEN.

>> Cathy: WHAT COULD CREW THIS UP?

>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY, NOTHING MINNESOTANS LOVE TALKING ABOUT MORE THAN TALKING ABOUT MINNESOTA IN THE NEWS, BUT THEN YOU GO AND SAY WHY DOES IT STINK?

THERE ARE SOME DETRACTIONS HERE, RIGHT, AND SHE TOUCHED ON THEM EARLIER.

ONE IS GOING TO BE THE RIOTS IN MINNEAPOLIS, POST-GEORGE FLOYD.

HE'S GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, CALLED ABOUT THAT.

I THINK THERE'S ALSO EXECUTIVE OVERSIGHT ISSUES THAT ARE GOING TO BE RAISED AND HAVE NOT BEEN REALLY -- THEY'VE BEEN RAISED SOMEWHAT IN MINNESOTA BUT THEY'RE GOING TO BE MORE PINNED ON HIM IF HE'S THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.

ALSO, YOU KNOW, MINNESOTA IN THIS RACE, TWO WEEKS AGO, WHEN IT WAS BIDEN-TRUMP, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU, TRUMP IS GOING TO WIN MINNESOTA.

THAT CALCULATION CHANGES WITH VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS ON THE BALLOT AND SO IT'S JUST -- MINNESOTA'S BECOME LESS IMPORTANT AND I'M NOT SURE THAT WALZ PLAYS IN WISCONSIN AS MUCH AS PEOPLE THINK HE DOES.

BUT, HE DEFINITELY, LIKE, KINDS OF PLAYS TO A BROADER -- MAYBE NOT ELECTORAL PICK BUT SORT OF LIKE GETTING OUT THE FOLKS THAT VOTED FOR BIDEN, A LITTLE UNCERTAIN ABOUT KAMALA AND HER PROGRESSIVE NATURE AND WALZ SORT OF MAKES THEM MORE COME MOTHERRABLE.

>> Eric: ARE HIS CONNECTIONS IN THE MINNESOTA HOUSE HELPING?

INNINGS SEE PELOSI HAS SAID SOME NICE THINGS.

>> 100%.

THIS IS A PIECE OF HIS CAMPAIGN OVER THE LAST SEARCH TO NINE DAYS THAT IS REALLY UNDERESTIMATED.

HE HAS CONNECTIONS BOTH THROUGH THE OUSE, I MEAN, HE HAS DOZENS OF MEMBERS OF THE U.S. HOUSE, INCLUDING INNINGS SEE PELOSI WHO ARE QUIETLY SAYING REALLY NICE THINGS ABOUT HIM.

ON TOP OF THAT, HE'S THE CHAIR OF THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS' ASSOCIATION SO HE HAS MONEY CONNECTIONS THERE, CONNECTION ATTENTION TO STATEWIDE OFFICIALS ON THE GOVERNOR'S SIDE AND IN THE HOUSE SIDE, AND WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE THOUSANDS OF CALLS, LITERAL LEGAL THOUSANDS OF CALLS TO KAMALA WORLD, KAMALA ORBIT, EVERY PERSON YOU HAVE ON YOUR TEAM MAKING THOSE CAMPS, MAKING THE CASE MOVES THE THEY WOULD HE WILL CLOSER TO YOU GETTING PICKED.

>> Eric: TELL THE THE STORY OF GOVERNOR PAWLENTY WALKING THE DOG.

>> I JUST RECOUNTERRED THIS RECENTLY.

WE WERE ACTUALLY IF DENVER AT THE TAIL END OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION IN 2008 AND GOVERNOR PAWLENTY WAS DOING THE FINAL REBUTTAL TO BARACK OBAMA WHEN HE ACCEPTED THE NOMINATION AND THEN THEY SAID, YOU GUYS, WE NEED TO SHUT THIS DOWN, LIKE, WORD IS LEAKING THAT YOU MIGHT BE THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL PICK SO THEY CLOSED US DOWN THAT THURSDAY, SENT US TO THE AIRPORT EARLY WHERE I COULDN'T GET A FLIGHT BACK BECAUSE I WAS FLYING ON FRONTIER, PAWLENTY GETS BACK, I'M WAITING THERE, GETTING PHONE CALLS FROM KATIE COW RICK, FROM DANA BASH YELLE, HEY, BRIAN, YOUR OLD FRIEND, KATIE COURIC.

WE GET BACK THURSDAY NIGHT, THE HEARD NOTHING YET.

FRIDAY MORNING, THE GOVERNOR GOES OUT TO WALK HIS DOG AND JOHN McCAIN CALLS HIM, AND HE'S ON HIS CELLPHONE, TALKING, HE'S LIKE, GOVERNOR, I DECIDED TO GO INTO OTHER DIRECTION, I WANTED TO CALL YOU MYSELF AND THEN OF COURSE HIS DOG GOES NUMBER 2 AND HE HAS THE BAGGIE AND PICKS IT UP AND SAYS, HE THOUGHT TO HIMSELF, THIS IS THE ONLY NUMBER 2 I'LL BE GETTING TODAY.

SO THIS IS CLASSIC TIM PAWLENTY DAD JOKE.

HE TOLD THAT JOKE, WE WERE ON WCCO RADIO THAT MORNING AT THE FAIR, HE TOLD THAT JOKE THAT DAY AND ERE WE ARE, 16 YEARS LATER, STILL TELLING THAT JOKE.

>> Eric: DOWN BALLOT IN MINNESOTA, MINNESOTA HAS STATE HOUSE RACES, CONGRESSIONAL RACES, IF IT'S A HARRIS-WALZ TICKET, DOES THAT MEAN ANYTHING EXTRA FOR THE STATE RACES?

>> I MEAN, I THINK, OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S HELP THERE TO HAVE OUR LOCAL GOVERNOR ON THE BALLOT AND RAISING THAT PROPER FIGHT BUT I ALSO THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THIS YEAR AND WHERE WE ARE, AND WHERE WE HAVE SEEN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TURN, I THINK PEOPLE ARE REALIZING THE ENTIRE PARTY IS EXTREME, IT'S NOT JUST DONALD TRUMP AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE VOTING BLUE DOWN THE BALLOT IN PRETTY BIG NUMBERS.

>> Cathy: LET ME ASK, WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE NABJ PERFORMANCE?

>> I WAS SURPRISED HE WAS GOING TO DO THAT INTERVIEW.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A MISTAKE.

HERE'S WHAT I THINK HAPPENED WITH THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN, FOR A MONTH, THEY WERE A FREIGHT TRAIN, RIGHT NECESSITY WAS UNSTOPPABLE AFTER THE DEBATE, POST-DEBATE, THE V.P.

PICK, SURVIVING AN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT, THE RNC, IT WAS JUST A STRAIGHT ROCKETSHIP, HE WAS GOING, LIKE TWO WEEKS AGO, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU HE WAS GOING TO WYNNE MINNESOTA AND I MEANT THAT.

AND I THINK SOME OF THESE THINGS WERE PUT INTO THE QUEUE WHILE THAT WAS HAPPENING AND THEY WERE KIND OF FEELING A LITTLE BIT -- THEY WERE FEELINGY WERE FEELING REALLY STRONG, RIGHT, AND THEY WANTED TO CUT INTO -- AND SO I -- I THINK THEY MISSED SOMEHOW AFTER THE DEBATE THAT JOE BIDEN WAS NOT GOING TO BE ON THE TICKET AND I FEEL LIKE IN MY HEART THEY SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT BECAUSE IT SEEMED SO OBVIOUS TO ME AFTER THE DEBATE THAT I WOULD NOT BE AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET.

>> THE NABJ IS A ERFECT REPRESENTATION OF DONALD TRUMP THINKING HE WAS GOING TO GET 20, 30% OF AFRICAN MEN SO HE WAS ENGAGING THEM IN COMMUNITY.

THE PROBLEM WAS, I HAVEN'T TALKED TO ANY AFRICAN AMERICAN THAT SAID TRUMP DID A GOOD JOB.

THE POLLING IS GOING TO COMRADE CANCALLY BACK NOR TWO REGIONS WHEN IT COMES TO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN VOTE.

ONE IS, CAME LaHARRIS IS I THINK GOING TO BE THE FIRST BLACK FEMALE PRESIDENT.

THERE ARE A LOT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN THAT HAD GONE WITH TRUMP TRADITIONALLY MONTHS BEFORE WHO WILL NOT DO SO.

AND DONALD TRUMP OFFENDED MILLIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE WAY HE TALKED TO THE BLACK WOMAN ON THAT STAGE AND I'M TELL YOU, THERE ARE MILLIONS OF FATHERS, UNCLES, GRANDPAS ARE SAYING WHAT THEY DID TO THOSE WOMEN WAS UNACCEPTABLE, WE ARE NEVER GOING TO VOTE FOR THAT MAN.

>> Cathy: BRIAN, WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN YOU SAW IT?

>> AGAIN, THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF TRUMP MISSING THE WHOLE PICTURE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS COUNTRY AND WHAT WAS REMI PROBLEMATIC FROM MY PERSPECTIVE IS THAT HE CLEARLY WENT INTO THAT INTERVIEW INTENDING TO DELIVER THAT MESSAGE.

THAT WAS A TALKING POINT, THAT WASN'T SOMETHING HE CAME UP WITH ON THE FLY.

HE SHOWED UP WANTING TO SAY TO THAT AUDIENCE THAT KAMALA HARRIS HAS MISSLED PEOPLE ABOUT HER RACIAL BACKGROUND, WHICH IS BLATANTLY FALSE, AND SO, AGAIN, THIS IS, LIKE, JUST BEYOND STUPID.

AND LIKE AMY WAS SAYING, THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN WAS IN SUCH A STRONG POSITION FOR WEEKS AND STILL, I THINK, IN MANY WAYS, IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT.

YOU LOOK AT THE BATTLE GROUND POLLS AND DONALD TRUMP IS STILL HEEDING IN MOST OF THE PATTLE GROUND STATES.

BUT THEY CANNOT TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED AND THIS KIND OF, YOU KNOW, RHETORIC AND BEHAVIOR IS JUST OUT OF BOUNDS.

>> THEY CAN'T HAVE MISSES LIKE THAT BECAUSE LOOK AT THE SQUAD RALLY.

THAT RALLY THAT DONALD TRUMP HELD WAS AS BIG AS ANY OF HIS RALLIES SUFFERING HIS HEY AY.

THOSE NUMBERS WERE REMINISCENT OF 2016 AND SO I THINK THAT THERE'S STILL -- REALLY, I DON'T THINK ANY SIDE CAN CALL VICTORY HERE, AT ALL THE THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE IS GOING TO BE RAZOR CLOSE BUT HE CANNOT KEEP HAVING THOSE MISTAKES.

THEY NEED TO PIVOT AND START FOCUSING HIS RACE.

>> Eric: SENATOR, I WONDER IF THE WALZ ADMINISTRATION IS AT A HIGH LEVEL RIGHT NOW AND THAT IT COULD REALLY ONLY GO DOWN FROM WHERE THEY ARE AS FAR AS ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND THE AGENDA AND SO FORTH AND THAT A THIRD TERM ON TOP OF THAT IS HARD TO WIN IN MINNESOTA, HASN'T BEEN DONE AND I JUST WONDER IF -- IF AN EXIT TO WASHINGTON WOULD BE A SAFE MOVE FOR HIM.

>> YOU KNOW, I -- I THINK EVERYBODY IS GOING TO SEE HOW THE NEXT FEW DAYS PLAY OUT.

THIS HAS BEEN AN AMAZING WINDOW OF TIME, IT'S BEEN FASCINATING TO WATCH OUR GOVERNOR REALLY INFLUENCE THE NATIONAL DIALOGUE AND PUT MINNESOTA ON THE MAP FOR AN AWFUL LOT OF PEOPLE, TOO, YOU KNOW.

SO THINKING FORWARD BEYOND NEXT TUESDAY, I THINK EVERYBODY'S JUST SORT OF LIKE, WE'LL GET THERE, WE'LL SEE WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE.

>> Cathy: WHAT ABOUT DEBATE, DO YOU THINK BOTH OF THEM WILL DEBATE?

>> WE WERE DEBATING THIS BACK STAGE BEFORE WE CAME ON AND I THINK THERE'S GENERAL AGREEMENT AMONG US THAT DONALD TRUMP WOULD BEST BE SERVED BY NOT DEBATING, RIGHT?

I THINK KAMALA HARRIS THERE AS A FORMER PROSECUTOR, SOMEBODY WHO'S READY TO O THAT, SHE PROBABLY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

I THINK IT'S UNLIKELY.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU THINK, ABOU?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THE NABJ IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF DONALD TRUMP IN THE MOMENT WHEN IT MATTERS MOST, HE CANNOT STAY ON MESSAGE AND FROM A DEMOCRATIC STANDPOINT WE WOULD LOVE TO EXPOSE THAT, TOO,.

>> JUST JOURNALIST IN A ROOM BUT TO THE EXPIRE COUNTRY WHERE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE WATCHING.

SO IF I'M A REPUBLICAN PARTY, I'M SAYING THERE ARE STRUCTURAL ADVANTAGES WE HAVE RIGHT NUMB.

LET'S DO NO HARM WITH THOSE STRUCTURAL ADVANTAGES AND TRY TO PRINT TO THE FINISH LINE AND HOPE THE DEMOCRATS >> DO' ATCH US.

>> TRUMP HAS TO TIGHT EVEN UP HIS SPEAKING, TOO.

HIS FIRST 20 MINUTES AT THE RNC WAS BRILLIANT, IT WAS AUTHENTIC AND I WAS BLOWN AWAY AND I'VE NOT BEEN A TRUMP FAN AND THE NEXT HOUR AND 10 WAS JUST INTOLERABLE.

>> YOU DIDN'T LIKES THE HAND BELL LECTRO PART?

>> I WAS LIKE STOP, 20 MINUTES, BE DONE.

>> WAS IT WEIRD?

>> THAT'S GOING TO GET OLD, BY THE WAY.

[Laughter] >> Eric: THE POWER OF A SINGLE WORD.

WHY -- IN St.

CLOUD HE WAS STILL DOING BIDEN IM PERSONATIONS.

>> BECAUSE HE NEEDS TO DO 20 MINUTES AND GET OFF.

>> GET THE HOOK.

>> Eric: I'M GETTING THE HOOK HERE.

>> Cathy: SEE YOU LATER.

♪♪♪ >> LARRY WAS THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR AND WILL START TRAINING CAMP SOON WITH THE ARIZONA CARD THAT IS UNDER COACH DEN OPEN GREEN.

CONGRATULATIONS, YOUNG MAN.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: YOU'VE BEEN TO CAMP BEFORE, YOU WERE A VIKINGS BALL BOY YEARS AND YEARS AGO.

WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS FOR TRAINING CAMP NOW AS A PLAYER?

>> WELL, I WANT TO GO IN THERE AND HELP THE TEAM NY WAY I CAN.

I'M VERY PORT NATURE TO BE IN THIS POSITION AND THANKFUL AND INTEREST TO MAKE THE BEST OUT OF IT.

>> Cathy: ARE YOU NERVOUS AT ALL?

>> I'M NOT NERVOUS, I'M ANXIOUS.

>> ERIC: THAT WAS A FUN NIGHT WITH LARRY, JR., AND HIS DAD LARRY FITZGERALD, THE ORIGINAL, HERE.

LARRY, JR., OF COURSE WENT ON TO SPEND HIS ENTIRE RECORD-SETTING PRO FOOTBALL CAREER WITH THE ARIZONA CARDINALS.

TWO YEARS FROM NOW, HE'S VERY LIKELY TO BE A FIRST BALLOT HALL OF FAME SELECTION.

WHO KNOWS, SOMEDAY MAYBE HE'LL EVEN BE AN INDEX FILE QUESTION.

BUT NOT JUST YET.

FOR THIS WEEK'S MYSTERY PERSON, WE TRAVEL BACK TO 1992.

IT IS SPRINGTIME IN MINNESOTA.

MANY COLLEGE CAMPUSES ARE PREPARING FOR THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

A WELL-KNOWN DOG LOVER AND ANIMAL WELFARE ACTIVIST PAYS A VISIT TO A COLLEGE CAMPUS IN NORTHFIELD.

ON THE RIDE FROM THE AIRPORT, THIS CELEBRITY ASKS THE DRIVER TO STOP SO THEY CAN SHEPHERD A FARM DOG OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET TO SAFETY IN A NEARBY DITCH.

OUR QUESTION FOR YOU IS SIMPLE, WHO IS THIS 1992 SPRINGTIME NORTHFIELD CELEBRITY VISITOR?

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU ARE CALLING FROM ROSE CREEK, WHITE IRON LAKE OR DOGLEG LAKE.

ALL REAL BODIES OF WATER IN MINNESOTA.

651-229-1430 IS THE NUMBER TO CALL WITH ALL OF YOUR GUESSES, RIGHT OR WRONG.

OUR VOICE MAIL SYSTEM HAS BEEN A BIT LONELY THIS SUMMER, PLEASE GIVE IT SOME LOVE AND GIVE US A CALL.

YOU CAN ALWAYS DROP US A LINE, TOO.

ALMANAC@TPT.ORG IS OUR ADDRESS.

WHILE YOU'RE ONLINE, HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE TPT.ORG/ALMANAC AND CHECK OUT ANY SHOW YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED FROM THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES.

BEFORE WE GO TONIGHT, WE HAVE ANOTHER TUNE FROM OUR IRISH MUSICIANS.

DON'T FORGET, IRISH FAIR OF MINNESOTA IS NEXT WEEK, AUGUST 9 THROUGH 11 AT HARRIET ISLAND, JUST ACROSS THE RIVER FROM DOWNTOWN ST. PAUL.

YOU CAN CHECK OUT ALL THE ACTIVITIES ON THEIR WEBSITE.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

BE CAREFUL.

♪♪♪ CAPTIONED BY: VERITEXT/PARADIGM CAPTIONING WWW.VERITEXT.COM VERITEXT/PARADIGM CAPTIONING ♪ LIVELY IRISH MUSIC ♪ ♪ LIVELY IRISH MUSIC ♪ >> "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 MINNESOTA PAINT SMARTER TO PREVENT WASTE.

MORE AT PAINTCARE.ORG.

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

PLAN