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

>> Cathy: WE HAVE QUITE A SHOW COME UP.

SPECULATION ON A POSSIBLE HARRIS-WALZ NOTALTY TICKET.

KAOMI LEE TRAVELS TO WHITE EARTH TO SEE THEIR EXPANDING CANNABIS BUSINESSES.

ALL-STAR WEATHER DUO PAUL DOUGLAS AND MARK SEELEY ARE HERE.

AND MARY LAHAMMER CONTINUES HER TRAVELS AROUND THE STATE.

>> Mary: PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS OFTEN HAS AN IMPACT ON RACES TO WATCH LIKE THIS ONE IN THE St. PETER AREA WHICH HAS BEEN SWINGING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

>> MY TRICK IS THAT I HAVE TO GO OUT AND ENGAGE WITH AS MANY PEOPLE S POSSIBLE.

HOPE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO FLIP THE STATE TO BRING SOME ACCOUNTABILITY AND BALANCE BACK.

>> 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.

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

>> CATHY: IN THE NEXT HOUR, WE'LL HEAR ABOUT PLANS TO IMPROVE SAFETY IN DOWNTOWN ST. PAUL.

ALL-STAR WEATHER DUO PAUL DOUGLAS AND MARK SEELEY ARE HERE.

KAOMI LEE HAS A RARE LOOK INSIDE WHITE EARTH'S CANNABIS OPERATION, AND MARY LAHAMMER'S LEGISLATIVE RACES TO WATCH SERIES CONTINUES.

>> ERIC: WE START TONIGHT WITH THE BIG NATIONAL NEWS HITTING MINNESOTA.

THE YOU WERE PRECEDENTED ANNOUNCEMENTS BY PRESIDENT BIDEN THAT HE WILL NOT SEEK REELECTION IN THE FALL LEAVINGS VERY LITTLE TIME FOR ANOTHER DEMOCRAT TO CLAIM THE PARTY'S NOMINATION.

IT APPEARS THAT VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS WILL BE THAT CANDIDATE AND SPECULATION HAS TURNED TO WHO SHE WILL CHOOSE AS HIRE VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, AMONG THE DOZEN OR SO OFTEN MENTIONED NAMES, MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM WALZ.

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR KATHRYN PEARSON JOINS US TO SORT THROUGH THE SPECULATION.

WHERE DO YOU WANT TO START?

>> Eric: WALLS GOT A SHOT?

>> HE DOES, HE DOES.

I DON'T KNOW THAT HE'S TOP OF THE LIST BUT HE IS ON THE LIST AND THAT IS SIGNIFICANT.

YOU KNOW, HE IS AMONG A HANDFUL OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS WHO HAVE STRONG QUALIFICATIONS AND ARE REALLY IN THE MIX, IN ADDITION TO DEMOCRATIC SENATOR, MARK KELLY.

NOW, WHAT WALZ DOESN'T MUCH GOING FOR HIM IS HE DOESN'T -- HE'S NOT IN A SWING STATE, YOU KNOW, MINNESOTA IS DEFINITELY LEANING DEMOCRATIC, AS IT HAS SINCE 1976 AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT IS AN ADVANTAGE THAT, SAPE, A COOPER OF NORTH CAROLINA OR SHAPIRO OF PENNSYLVANIA OR A SENATOR MARK KELLY HAS IN ARIZONA.

BUT THAT SAID, VICE PRESIDENTIAL SELECTIONS ARE USUALLY NOT GOOD WINNING A PARTICULAR STATE.

THEY'RE ONLY REALLY A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF EXAMPLES THAT YOU CAN OINT TO WHERE IT'S ABOUT WINNING A PARTICULAR STATE.

AND SO THERE ARE, OF COURSE, ELECTORAL ONSIDERATIONS, BALANCING THE TICKET, YOU KNOW, ALL WALZ HAS A VERY DISTINCT BACKGROUND FROM VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS.

YOU KNOW, SCHOOL TEACHER FROM MANKATO, THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD ACTUALLY REPRESENTED A RURAL DISTRICT IN CONGRESS FOR MANY YEARS, SO A PROFILE THAT WOULD BE A POTENTIALLY NICE COMPLIMENT.

BUILT THE OTHER THING THAT POLITICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH HAS FOUND IS THAT FOR THE MOST PART, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES ARE LOOKING FOR PARTNERS IN GOVERNING, THAT REALLY RESEARCH HAS SHOWN STARTED WITH CARTER'S SELECTION OF MONDALE FROM MINNESOTA.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, E DON'T KNOW THE DYNAMICS BETWEEN VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS AND ALL OF THESE GOVERNORS AND SENATOR KELLY, AND SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARD TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HER CHOICE WILL REST ON BUT HE IS DEFINITELY IN THE MIX.

>> Cathy: HE'S MAKING QUITE A NAME FOR HIMSELF IN TERMS OF NATIONAL MEDIA, DOING A PRETTY DECENT AUDITION.

>> YES, HE'S CLEARLY AUDITIONING, AND DOING AVERY GOOD JOB.

>> Cathy: SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PRESUMED NOMINATION OF VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS.

SO REPUBLICANS ARE CRYING CORONATION, THAT THIS IS NOT A DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AT ALL.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?

>> WELL, I MEAN, IT'S OBVIOUSLY AN EXTRAORDINARY SITUATION, YOU KNOW.

IT WAS BACK IN 1968 WHEN JOHNSON IN MARCH SAID AS AN INCUMBENT PRESIDENT HE WON'T RUN FOR REELECTION AND BEFORE NOW, THAT'S THE LATEST IT'S EVER HAPPENED.

SO OF COURSE DEMOCRATIC DELEGATES WERE POISED TO VOTE FOR THE BIDEN AND HARRIS TEAM AND NOW THEY ARE FREE AGENTS BUT PRETTY MUCH AS SOON AS PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCED HE WASN'T RUNNING AGAIN, AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY ENDORSED HARRIS, A CONSENSUS SORT OF IMMEDIATELY FORMED AMONG DEMOCRATS WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE PROVE TO BE A FOR MIDDABILITY CHALLENGER, LIKE THE GOVERNORS WHO COULD HAVE BEEN ON THAT LIST EITHER IMMEDIATELY SAID THEY WEREN'T RUNNING OR NDORSED HER, AND DELEGATES ALSO PRETTY QUICKLY SAID, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY WOULD SUPPORT HER, AS WELL, AND NO ONE ELSE IS RUNNING.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT IS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY'S RULES THAT, YOU KNOW, SORT OF GET THESE DELEGATES TO VOTE.

IT'S COMPLICATED BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T GO THROUGH THE PRIMARY PROCESS SO THAT IS MAYBE A DISADVANTAGE FOR HER BUT DEMOCRATS DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME, 100 DAYS UNTIL THE ELECTION SO IT REALLY MAKES SENSE.

>> Eric: IF THE DEMOCRATS' GOAL WAS TO SAVE DEMOCRACY, DOESN'T A COUP OF THE SITTING PRESIDENT AND PRESUMPTIVE NOMINEE FOR A SECOND TERM, DOESN'T THAT KIND OF NEGATE THE FIGHTING FOR DEMOCRACY?

>> OH, IT'SLY A COUP.

SHE WAS ON THE TICKET AS THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL -- AS THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL RUNNING MATE SO, YOU KNOW, THE WAY THE PROCESS USED TO WORK BEFORE 18972, THE DELEGATES WEREN'T CHOSEN IN PRIMARIES AND CONVENTIONS -- I MEAN, IN PRIMARIES.

>> Eric: I DON'T THINK HUMPHREY WON A SINGLE PRIMARY.

>> EXACTLY.

SO IT WAS DONE IN SMOKED-FILLED ROOMS SO THEY CHANGED IT TO MAKE IT MORE RESPONSIVE SO THAT PRIMARIES WERE CHOSEN IN THE PRIMARIES BUILT IT'S THE DEMOCRATIC RULES THAT ESTABLISHED THIS AND SO THERE'S JUST NO TIME FOR CANDIDATES TO COMPETE IN PRIMARIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY SO DELEGATES ARE FREE AGENTS.

>> Cathy: IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THE RACE IS TIGHTENING.

WELD THIS NEW USUMMIT A -- KSTP-USA POLL OUT TODAY.

HARRIS 50, TRUMP 40 IN MINNESOTA, SO THE RACE IS TIGHTENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE, IT REALLY HASN'T CHANGED MUCH, HAS IT?

>> IT'S CHANGED A LITTLE BIT.

I MEAN, CERTAINLY, THIS TIME LAST WEEK, IF YOU LOOK AT KEY SWING STATE POLLS, AGAIN WAS BEHIND.

HARRIS IS STILL BEHIND IN SOME OF THEM, THOUGH SHE'S GAINING GROUND BUT SHE ALSO OPENS UMM THE POSSIBILITY OF A COMPETITIVE RACE IN GEORGIA, WHEREAS BIDEN REALLY DID NOT.

IN ARIZONA, IN NEVADA AND SOME OF THESE STATES WHERE THERE ARE A LOT OF VOTERS OF COLOR WHO ARE VERY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT HER CANDIDACY.

>> Eric: GREAT STUFF AS ALWAYS.

THANKS FOR COPING YOU HAVE.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

>> Eric: HAVE A FANTASTIC WEEKEND. '

IS.

♪♪ >> WE ARE LIVING IN UNPRECEDENTED TIMES.

BUT, ARE WE?

REALLY?

CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING.

IN MARCH OF 2020, MINNESOTA SHUT DOWN TO REDUCE THE SPREAD OF COVID-19.

THAT QUARANTINE CHANGED PRETTY MUCH EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES, FROM WORK TO SCHOOL TO HOW I DO THIS MONOLOGUE.

NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE.

UNPRECEDENTED.

IN 2023, GLOBAL TEMPERATURES WERE WARMER THAN THEY'VE BEEN IN AT LEAST 125,000 YEARS, AS GLOBAL WARMING MOVED FROM FUTURE THREAT TO CURRENT REALITY.

FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF HUMANITY, THAT HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE.

UNPRECEDENTED.

AND THEN, LAST WEEKEND, PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCED THAT HE WOULD NOT SEEK A RETURN TO OFFICE.

THIS HAPPENED A LITTLE MORE THAN 100 DAYS BEFORE THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.

THAT KIND OF TIMING?

NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE.

UNPRECEDENTED.

SO, BY THE DICTIONARY, YES, THESE ARE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES.

BUT THE IDEA OF "UNPRECE-DENTED," AT LEAST FOR ME, HAS ALWAYS CARRIED THIS SUBTEXT OF "WHOA, DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING."

BUT IF THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE CENTURY HAS TAUGHT US NOTHING ELSE, IT'S TAUGHT US THAT WE SELDOM SEE IT COMING.

WHO COULD HAVE FORETOLD THE IPHONE?

THE EURO?

FROSTED STRAWBERRY MILKSHAKE POP-TARTS?

WE LIKE TO GET COZY WITH OUR PRECEDENTS.

RELY ON THEM.

BUT THAT IS FOLLY.

THE SHEER NUMBER OF UNPRECEDENTED EVENTS IN OUR RECENT HISTORY IS...

UNPRECEDENTED.

AND IT'S A GOOD BET THAT WE WILL SEE MORE PRECEDENTS SHATTERED IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS TO COME.

HOW TO RESPOND, THEN?

WELL, WE CAN EITHER BE ROLLED OVER BY THE UNPRECEDENTED OR ROLL WITH IT.

YOU CAN MAYBE GIVE THAT SOME THOUGHT AS YOU TUNE IN TO THE BREAKDANCING COMPETITION IN PARIS, A NEW AND UNPRECEDENTED ADDITION AT THE OLYMPICS.

>> CATHY: ON WEDNESDAY, THE ST. PAUL CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO DOUBLE THE SIZE OF THE CITY'S DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT TO COVER THE EASTERN SIDE OF DOWNTOWN AND ITS RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES IN LOWERTOWN.

PROPERTY OWNERS PAY DUES THAT FUND IMPROVEMENTS AIMING TO INCREASE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN A DOWNTOWN THAT HASN'T REBOUNDED POST-PANDEMIC.

FRED MELO COVERS ALL THINGS ST. PAUL FOR THE "ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS."

NEWS OUTLET.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANKS.

>> Cathy: SINGS I WORK THIS DOWNTOWN St. PAUL, IT'S A MESS, IT IS.

AND I'M WONDERING HERE, THIS FUND?

THE SAME FUND THAT HELPED SPUR SOME PRETTY DECENT CHANGES IN MEARS' PARK, BACK IN THE DAY.

>> >> A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

THIS DIDN'T ACTUALLY GO INTO LOWERDOWN BEFORE SO WHEN IT'S DOUBLING IN SIZE, IT WILL EXTEND ALL THE WAY TO LOWERTOWN, TO MEARES' PARK.

THIS IS A DIFFERENT FUND, JUST STARTED IN 20 XII, SECURIAN AND ECOLAB AND TRAVELERS WORKING WITH CITY HALL, TO CREATE A FEE, THEY CALL IT A TAX ON THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.

SO NOW THIS WILL EXTEND THROUGH ALL DOWNTOWN AND INCLUDE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES.

>> Eric: SO ISN'T ONE OF THE GOALS HERE T.INCREASE PRETTY DRAMATICALLY THE DOWNTOWN POPULATION, AS A NEIGHBORHOOD?

>> SURE.

>> Eric: THERE IS MORE SKIN IN THE GAME NOW FOREST DENTS WHO ARE GOING TO GET CHARGED A FEE.

>> THERE WAS A PUBLIC HEARING AT CITY HALL ABOUT THIS AND A LONG LINE OF CONDO OWNERS SHOWED UP SAYING CHARGE ME, AN EXTRA 5 BUCKS A MONTH TO GET MORE EYES ON THE STREET, MORE LITTER PICK-UP, GRAFFITI PICKUP, THEY'LL PAY FOR BIKE PATROLS FOR THE POLICE, A COMMUNICATIONS CENTER, THEY CALL IT THE FUSION CENTER THAT WORKS WITH THE POLICE AND OUTREACH WORKERS AND SOMETIMES YOU DON'T WANT TO CALL 9-1-1 WHEN SOMEONE IS PASSED OUT AND MAYBE THEY JUST NEED TO BE DIRECTED TOWARDS SERVICES, BUT, YEAH, SEEING A LOT OF HOLMES FOLKS ON THE STREET, A LOT OF PEOPLE IN NEED AND THE CONDO OWNERS, THEY HAVE A HEART, THEY WANT TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS, GOSH, THERE'S SO MANY EMPTY COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS HERE IN DOWNTOWN St. PAUL.

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: WHAT ABOUT THE OWNER, IS IT MADISON EQUITIES THAT SEASONS, WHAT, HOW MANY BUILDINGS, A LOT IN St. PAUL?

>> A LOT.

I THINK LAST COUNT OVER 13 DOWNTOWN.

THEY WERE PART OF THE OPPOSITION, DAVE BROOKS IS A BUILDING OWNER DOWNTOWN, HE WAS PART OF THE OPPOSITION.

THEY'RE SAYING, LOOK, YOU WANT MORRIS DENTS OWNTOWN, WHY WOULD YOU MAKE HOUSING MORE SUSPENSIONIVE WHERE THIS FEE?

COUNTER ARGUMENT, I THINK SOMEONE WORKED OUT THE AVERAGE TO BE ABOUT $65 FOR CONDO OWNERS SO AN EXTRA 5 BUCKS A MONTH TO GET THE LITTER PICK-UP AND EXTRA EYES ON THE STREET TO MAKES THINGS FEEL SAFER.

IN THE AREAS OF DOWNTOWN THAT HAVE ALREADY HAD THIS DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, CRIME WENT DOWN 40%.

EYES ON THE STREET MATTER.

>> Eric: WHAT ABOUT THE LUNDS AND BYERLY'S CONTRACTION, IS THAT THE -- >> THAT'S ONE OF THE LOW POINTS, WE'RE DOWN TO ONE GROCERY STORE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME SAYING IT'S KIND OF OVERPRICED FOR DOWNTOWN, FOR WHAT YOU GET, AND IT'S NOW CUT FIVE HOURS OUT OF ITS DAY, 35% OF ITS OPERATINGS HOURS, OPEN FROM 10:00 a.m. TO 7:00 p.m.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I MIGHT WORK THOSE HOURS, THAT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH FOR DOWNTOWN.

>> Cathy: SO IF YOU'RE TRYING TO GET FOLKS TO MOVE TO DOWNTOWN, WHAT, 10,000 PEOPLE LIFE HERE RIGHT NOW?

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: YOU'LL HAVE TO HAVE MORE AMENITIES, RIGHT?

>> IF YOU WANT TO TRIPLE THAT POPULATION, YOU'RE REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO SAY, LOOK, MERCY BARK IS GOOD, THERE'S MUSIC, RICE PARK, BEAUTIFUL, GREAT PLACE THERE.

THERE IS A DEADSEASON IN-BETWEEN AND YOU HAVE TO WORK ON THE PEDESTRIAN CORRIDORS SO THE DOWNTOWN ALLIANCE, WHICH IS CREATING THIS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT CAME OUT WITH A CONSULTANT REPORT IN MARCH THAT SAID, LOOK, FIFTH STREET IS A DEAD ZONE.

WE HAVE TO FIX THAT.

KELLOGG, WABASHA, ROBERT, VERY SPECIFIC CORRIDORS INSTEAD OF EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE.

SO THAT'S PART OF THE STRATEGY IS HOW DO YOU MAKE A LITTLE MORE LIVELIHOOD IN PEDESTRIAN ACCESS THERE.

>> ric: IS HOUSING A BARGAIN IN DOWNTOWN St. PAUL?

>> I WOULDN'T CALL IT A BARGAIN.

I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME QUESTIONS AHEAD AS TO HOW DO WE FILL SOME OF THESE VACANT BUILDINGS AND COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS AND MAYBE CONVERTING THEM INTO RESIDENTIAL MIGHT HELP, MAYBE THAT LOWERS PRICES?

WE HAVE YET TO SEE HOW ALL THAT PLAYS OUT.

I THINK RENT STABILIZED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THERE IS PLENTY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AS WELL, DOWNTOWN.

>> Cathy: GETTING BACK TO MADISON EQUITY, I WONDER, IS ANYONE WANTING TO SNAP UP THOSE BUILDINGS?

I MEAN, THERE ARE SEVERAL OF THEM -- >> SO MADISON EQUITY, THE OWNER DIED IN JANUARY AND HIPS WIDOW, ROSEMARY, SAID LEAPT THE TEN ICONIC BUILDINGS ROT, I WANT TO SELL THEM ALL AT ONCE TOGETHER.

THAT'S REALLY HAROLD.

SOME OF THESE BUILDINGS, 45% OCCUPIED, SOME ARE EMPTY.

PARK SQUARE COURT BY MEARES' PARK IS EMPTY.

BUT EVEN THAT FIRST NATIONAL BANK BUILDING WITH THE "ONE" ON TOP, ONLY 45% OCCUPIED.

A HUGE BUILDING.

ALLIANCE BANK CENTER.

IT WILL BE A WHILE BEFORE WE SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT.

>> Eric: WE HOPE YOU'LL COME OVER AND HELP US CHART PROGRESS HERE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANKS.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

♪♪♪ >> ERIC: SEVERAL MINNESOTA TRIBES ARE CURRENTLY NEGOTIATING COMPACTS WITH THE STATE TO SELL CANNABIS OFF-RESERVATION.

ONE OF THEM IS WHITE EARTH NATION.

REPORTER KAOMI LEE GOT A RARE INSIDE LOOK AT ITS EXPANDING CANNABIS GROW FACILITY AND DISPENSARY.

>> Reporter: THIS IS SIDS TO BE SOME OF THE BEST, HIGHEST QUALITIES CANNABIS GROWN ANYWHERE.

IT'S CULTIVATED RIGHT HERE IN MINNESOTA IN THIS 45,000-SQUARE-FOOT CONVERTED POTATO CHIP FACTORY.

AND ITS TRIBAL MADE.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING OUT FOR, YOU WANT NICE CONSISTENT WITHIN THE STEM.

IT WILL BE CULTIVAR DEPENDENT BUT YOU CAN GET SOME RED OR PUMPING IN THAT.

>> DAVID IS THE -- IT'S WHITE EARTH NATION'S CANNABIS OPERATION IN MAHNOMEN.

IT'S ONE OF TWO DISPENSE EAR PLACES IN THE STATE, WITH MORE COMING ON LINE.

COMMERCIALLY GROWN NUTRIENTS IS A SCIENCE ALL ITS OWN, FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE GENETICS.

>> IT WAS OUR BIGGEST PUSH, ENSURING WE GET THE IS GENETICS THAT THE CONSUMERS WANTS.

>> HE'S PART OF A CANNABIS TEAM BROUGHT IN BY WHITE EARTH LAST FALL AND THEY'RE SETTING THE BAR HIGH FOR A PROGRAM HERE.

ZACK WILSON IS THE CEO.

THIS IS HIS FIRST TRIBAL ENTERPRISE.

>> EVERY MARKET I'VE EVER BEEN IN FOR CANNABIS, IT'S ALWAYS FRESH, ALWAYS NEW, SO THERE IS A TON OF EXCITEMENT.

>> Reporter: WHITE EARTH HAS INVESTED MORE THAN $50 MILLION IN THE VENTURE.

SEVERAL OTHER TRIBES ARE ALSO OPEN FOR BUSINESS ON RESERVATION LAND, WELL AHEAD OF STATE LICENSING OF THE OPEN MARKET.

WHILE NOT REGULATED BY THE STATE, WHITE EARTH HAS ITS TONE CANNABIS COMMISSION.

>> A LOT OF OUR RULES AND REGS ARE TIGHTER THAN THE STATE'S, WHICH I'M PROUD OF, RIGHT?

IT ALLOWS US TO REALLY PROVE AND SHOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE A HIGH-QUALITY STANDARD IN OUR PRODUCTION.

>> Reporter: THE DISPENSARY CAN SEE UP TO 200 CUSTOMERS A DAY, THAT'S NEARLY 125 FOUND OF PRODUCT GOING OUT THE DOOR EACH MONTH.

WHILE THE BUSINESS HAS ABOUT 50 EMPLOYEES, IT'S NOT STOPPING THERE.

>> WE'RE ACTUALLY IN THE BEVERAGE SPACE, AS WELL, ALREADY, WE HAVE A BRAND CALLED MENOBE.

>> A SECOND LOCATION WILL OPEN IN BAGLEY SOON.

A THIRD LOCATION OFF-RESERVATION IN MOORHEAD IS ALSO POSSIBLE.

THAT DEPENDS ON A STATE COMPACT AGREEMENT NOW IN NEGOTIATION.

>> WE'VE BEEN AT IT SINCE ABOUT 2020, OUR CANNABIS, AND, YOU KNOW, AND LOOKING BACK AT THIS ROAD THAT I WAS ON WITH HIS AND, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, EXCITED.

>> Reporter: MICHAEL FAIRBANKS IS IN HIS THIRD TERM AS CHAIRMAN OF WHITE EARTH NATION.

HE SAYS MEDICINAL ANNABIS HAS BEEN BENEFICIAL FOR MEMBERS, NOW GOING BIC INTO RECREATIONAL CANNABIS, WHITE EARTH WAS THE FIRST MINNESOTA BAND TO SELL TO OTHER TRIBES.

FIRST TO LEECH LAKE AND NOW PRAIRIE ISLAND INDIAN COMMUNITY.

>> WE'RE ANISHINAABE PEOPLE, THE FIRST PEOPLE, WE'RE THE PEOPLE THAT HELP EVERYONE AND THAT'S HOW -- I'VE ALWAYS HAD THAT MENTALITY OF I WAS REACHING OUT MY HANDS AND ASKING OTHER TRIBAL LEADERS TO HELP US AND I THINK THIS IS WHERE THE HISTORY TAKES PART, YOU KNOW, OF US AND BEING HOW OUR HISTORY PLAYED OUT IS THAT WE HAVE TO STAY TOGETHER AND STAY STRONG AS A PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS IF WE'RE ANISHINAABE OR DAKOTA.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS ITS HE'S ALSO SHARED THE KNOWLEDGE IN FIGHTING THE CRISIS.

FAIRBANKS SAYS HE HOPES THIS FLOWER WILL HELP HEAL HIS COMMUNITIES IN MANY WAYS.

>> VERY PROUD OF MY COUNCIL AND OUR PEOPLE FOR SUPPORTING OUR VISION, OUR INITIATIVE, AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING FOREWHITE EARTH NATION AND FOR TRIBES ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO LOOK AT US IN A GOOD WAY THAT WE ARE TAKING ON THESE ENDEAVORS TO PROVE THAT WE CAN BE A PLAYER IN THIS MARKET.

>> Reporter: PRIORLY ISLAND INDIAN COMMUNITIES IN WELCH IS ALSO RACING TO SET UP ITS OWN CANNABIS FOOTPRINT.

THIS DIFFERENCE PENS REJUST OPENED IN JUNE.

>> FOR US IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF PROCESS OF DEVELOPING WHERE WE SIT TODAY.

FROM OUR COMMUNITY, WE LOOK AT OUR ECONOMY AND WHAT BRINGS INTO OUR COMMUNITY.

THAT PROVIDES OUR SERVICES, HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, PUBLIC SAFETY, WASTE WATER TREATMENT, SO THOSE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT TO US AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES US BE ABLE TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY, SO THIS IS ANOTHER BUSINESS VENTURE THAT CAN GIVE US THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT OUR PROGRAMS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE OFFER FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

>> JOHNSON SAYS THE PARTNERSHIP WITH WHITE EARTH HAS BEEN CHANCE TO CONTINUE INTER-TRIBAL COOPERATION.

>> LONG TIME AGO, TRIBES USED TO HAVE TRADES WITH ONE ANOTHER AND AS TIME HAS GONE, IT KIND OF WENT AWAY BUT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET BACK TO THE WAY TRIBES USED TO OPERATE AND WORK TOGETHER.

>> Reporter: THE DISPENSION REIS NAMED ISLAND PEJPEZI, WHICH MEANS GRASS.

IT'S ONLY AN HOUR AWAY FROM THE CITIES.

THEY'RE ALSO IN TALKS WITH THE STATE ON A COMPACT TO SELL OFF-RESERVATION AND JOHNSON SAYS THEY'RE STARTING TO GROW THEIR OWN.

>> HELLO.

>> HI.

>> MY NAME IS GRACE, I'LL BE YOUR BUD TENDER TODAY.

>> I LIKE IT.

>> Reporter: BACK AT WOULD BE GONE, DOUGLAS BELLMORE WAS EXCITED TO VISIT THE DISPENSARY FOR THE FIRST TIME.

- HE LIVES PART TIME IN TEXAS WHERE MEDICINAL MARIJUANA IS LEGAL BUT RECREATIONAL WEED IS NOT.

HE SAID IT HAPPENS WITH HIS ANXIETIES.

>> WAY BETTER THAN DRINKING.

A LOT EASIER ON THE BODY AND MIND.

>> CATHY: LIKE TRUE MINNESOTANS, WE JUST LOVE TALKING ABOUT THE WEATHER HERE ON "ALMANAC."

IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE SEGMENTS.

AND A COUPLE OF TIMES A YEAR, WE MAKE IT EVEN MORE FUN BY HAVING BOTH OF OUR WEATHER GURUS JOIN US ON THE COUCH.

MARK SEELEY IS THE AUTHOR OF "MINNESOTA WEATHER ALMANAC" AND A PROFESSOR EMERITUS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

AND PAUL DOUGLAS RETURNS.

WHEN HE'S NOT VISITING US MONTHLY HERE IN STUDIO B, YOU CAN READ HIS WEATHER MUSINGS IN THE "STAR TRIBUNE."

HE'S SO BUSY RUNNING HIS OWN WEATHER COMPANY PRE-DICT-IX THAT TODAY WAS HIS LAST DAY ON WCCO RADIO.

LEAVING "ALMANAC" AS HIS ONLY REGULAR BROADCAST WEATHER GIG.

>> I HOPE TO DO THIS ANOTHER 50, 60, 70 YEARS.

>> Cathy: I HOPE SO, HON.

OKAY, YOU HAVE HAD, LIKE, WHAT, A 50-YEAR BROADCAST CAREER?

>> YEAH, I STARTED IN HIGH SCHOOL ON THE RADIO, ND -- >> Cathy: OH, MY GOSH.

>> ANTWONE RADIO STATION LED TO 11 RADIO STATIONS, A LITTLE COMPANY, SO I GOT THE TASTE OF HAVING MIGHT OWN COMPANY AND THAT TURNED INTO A THING BUT, YEAH, I LOVE RADIO.

I LOVE TELEVISION BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO DEPEND ON RADIO AND TELEVISION.

I ANTED TO HAVE SOMETHING ELSE THAT I COULD DEPEND ON.

>> Cathy: SO YOU'RE NOT REALLY COMPLETELY UTTERLY RETIRED, JUST KNOWING YOU -- >> NO, NO, NO, IF I COULD GOLF, MAYBE, BUT, NO.

>> Cathy: OKAY.

>> Eric: YOU GUYS ARE HALF THE MOUNT RUSHMORE OF WEATHER.

DID EITHER OF YOU FIND IT DIFFERENT -- DIFFICULT TRANSITION FROM KIND OF THE OLD-FASHIONED WEATHER TO NOW CLIMATE CHANGE AND ALL THE PECULIARITIES THAT IT BRINGS?

HAS THAT BEEN AN EVOLUTION FOR FORECASTING AND FOR HOW YOU LOOK AT THE WEATHER?

>> YEAH, MOST OF MY COLLEAGUES WILL TELL YOU, AS A PROFESSOR AT THE "U," ERIC, I WAS A SLOW LEARNER AND I HAD TO SEE THE DATA AND THE DATA BECAME REALLY EMPHATIC IN THE '90s.

IN FACT, PAUL AND I WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THAT BEFORE THE PROGRAM.

SO I STARTED BEING A METEOROLOGIST AND CLIMATOLOGIST IN THE '70s AND THEN IT TOOK ME TO THE THEN 90ED AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE MEASUREMENTS AND SIGNAL CHANGE WAS BECOMING SO EVIDENT, AND CATHY HAS HEARD ME SAY THIS, THE STATE TAKE STARTS SCREAMING AT YOU.

HEY, YOU'RE A SCIENTIST, PAY ATTENTION TO THIS.

>> Eric: DID YOU HAVE A SIMILAR TRANSITION OR EPIPHANY?

>> I THINK EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN AH' HA MOMENT BUT I THINK TELEVISION METEOROLOGISTS HAVE A MORAL AND SCIENTIFIC OBLIGATION, I WOULD SAY, TO CONNECT THE DOTS AND COMMUNICATE THE STATE OF THE SCIENCE.

EVEN IF IT MAKES THEM SQUIRM, EVEN IF IT MAKES THEM UNHAPPY, I THINK WE HAVE A DUTY TO TALK ABOUT IT.

I WAS TALKING ABOUT IT IN THE '90s, MUCH TO MY DETRIMENT BECAUSE LOCAL TELEVISION IS A POPULARITY CONTEST, AND YOU KNOW 30% OF THE AUDIENCE IS NOT GOING TO WANT TO HEAR THIS.

BUT I THINK WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO TALK AND -- AND TODAY -- IN FACT, CAN I -- WE WERE GEEKING OUT, MARK AND I, BACK IN THE LUNCHROOM ABOUT THE HEAT INDEX IN LAC QUI PARLE COUNTY, WHAT WAS IT?

>> 113 TODAY.

>> Cathy: WHAT?

ON FRIDAY -- >> MOST OF UP AND DOWN WESTERN MINNESOTA WAS 105 TO 113 HEAT INDEX TODAY BETWEEN 3:00 p.m. AND 5:00 p.m. >> Cathy: IN LAC QUI PARLE COUNTY.

>> MADISON, HEADWATERS OF THE MINNESOTA RIVER VALLEY.

>> Eric: DID YOU BRING A GRAPHIC?

>> THE HSU POINT WAS 81.

I THINK SOME OF THAT MIGHT BE SWEATY CORN, EVAPORATION WHICH IS PUTTING MORE MOISTURE INTO THE AIR.

>> Cathy: SPEAKING OF MOISTURE, WE HAVE THIS SITUATION IN MINNESOTA, THE WEATHER WHIPLASH FROM DRY, RIGHT, DRY WINTER, RIDICULOUS WINTER AND NOW LOOK AT THIS, WE'VE SO MUCH MOISTURE.

>> LAST YEAR, BETWEEN APRIL 1st AND JULY 26th, WE HAD 5.8, SO THAT WAS THE 4th DRIEST ON RECORD.

FAST-FORWARD TO THIS EAR, THE METRO UP TO 21.26, SECOND WETTEST SUCH PERIOD SINCE 1871.

ONLY 2014 WAS WETTER AND YOU SAID THAT -- I MEAN, 2019, THE WETTEST YEAR STATEWIDE?

>> STILL THE WETTEST YEAR STATEWIDE, OVER 235 INCHES OF ANNUAL PRECIPITATION ON A STATEWIDE BASIS.

THAT'S OVER 1500 OBSERVATION ATTENTIONS, PAUL, SO THAT'S A LOT.

>> AND THAT KIND OF WENT OFF A CLIFF.

>> WE D. >> A THREE-YEAR DROUGHT.

>> WE DID.

>> Eric: WHAT DID YOU BRING TO ILLUSTRATE -- >> THE STATEWIDE YEAR-TO-DATE NUMBERS, ERIC, ILLUSTRATE WHERE WE'RE AT AND WE'VE SURPASSED ALL THE PREVIOUS HISTORY FOR THE STATEWIDE AVERAGE VALUES OF PRECIPITATION UP TO TODAY.

AND IT'S REMARKABLE THE PACE, AND THE PACE, I MIGHT ADD, FURTHER, CATHY AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS EARLIER, IS BOTH DUE TO QUANTITIES WHICH IS A CLIMATE CHANGE SIGNAL, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE GET IT, WE GET A LOT, BUT ALSO FREQUENCY.

WE'VE HAD SOME PLACES THAT HAVE REPORTED HALF TO TWO-THIRDS OF THE DAYS HAVE BROUGHT MEASURABLE PRECIPITATION SINCE APRIL.

THAT IS A VERY HIGH FREQUENCY.

NO WONDER WE'VE SEEN MOSS GROWING ALL OVER THE PLAYING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> UNGLE-LIKE OUT THERE.

>> Cathy: I HAD KNOW.

>> AND 30, 40, 50 YEARS AGO, THE CLIMATE SCIENTISTS, Ph.D.s, THOUSANDS OF THEM WERE SAYING THE WETS WILL GET WETTER, THE DRIES WILL GET DRYER, AND -- >> Cathy: THE SWINGS, THOUGH.

>> THE WEATHER WHIPLASH AND THAT'S ONE OF MY QUESTIONS AND YOU BELIEVE -- I DON'T WANT TO PUPPET WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH, BUT ARE WE SEEK MORE WHIPLASH BACK AND FORTH?

>> I THINK WE'RE SEEING A HIGHER FREQUENCY.

GOODNESS KNOWS THERE'S HISTORICAL EVIDENCE FOR SUCH THING, 1910 TO 1911, 1976 TO 1977, BUT NOW THEY'RE COMPRESSED INTO SHORTER PERIODS OF TIME.

WE CAN HAVE A WIDE SWING FROM MONTH TO MONTHS, YEAR TO YEAR, AND IT'S HAPPENING WITH GREATER FREQUENCY.

AND I THINK THAT'S A SIGNAL F CLIMATE CHANGE IN OUR REGION.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT FOR QUITE A BIT OF TIME AND THERE'S AMPLE SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE OUT THERE THAT ALSO SUGGESTS THAT FOR THE MID-LATITUDES.

IT'S NOT EVERY PLACE BUT IT'S FOR THE ID-LATITUDES.

>> Eric: SMOKE?

>> YEAH.

>> AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WASN'T PREPARED FOR BUT LAST YEAR WAS A BIG WAKE-UP CALL FOR ME AS A METEOROLOGIST THAT THESE SUDDEN DROUGHTS AND THE HEAT IN THE WEST DRIES UT THE VEGETATION, THE FOREST LAND AND LIGHTENING, WE'RE SEEING LIGHTENING NOW WAY UP NEAR THE ARTIC CIRCLE, MUCH FARTHER NORTH.

AS CANADA WARMS, THUNDERSTORMS ARE BUBBLING UP AND THESE STORMS PRODUCE THOUSANDS OF LIGHTNING STRIKES, WHICH IS TRIGGERING THESE FIRES, WHICH CAN LAST FOR MONTHS, AND CANADA DOESN'T PUT OUT THE FIRES.

THEY CAN'T.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE MANPOWER, THE MEANINGS, SO HESE FIRES BURN WEEK AFTER WEEK, MONTH AFTER MONTH.

IT'S GOING TO BE A SMOKEY REST OF THE SUMMER.

>> Eric: YOU GOT NOTHING ELSE TO DO, MAYBE YOU COULD EMCEE THE POLLEDCAST OF THESE TWO?

>> Cathy: WOULDN'T THAT BE FUN?

OH -- >> PLEASE.

>> Eric: I WANT MY 7%.

>> Cathy: THE WEATHER STYLINGS OF DOUGLAS AND SEALY, I LOVE THAT.

>> I WANT TO SAY PAUL HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL COLLEAGUE OVER THE YEARS, HE'S NO LONGER ON 'CCO FOR US BUT HE HAS BEEN A CHAMPION OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND I WANT TO SALUTE THAT FOR HIS CAREER BECAUSE HE'S JUST BEEN TERRIFIC TO WORK WITH VER THESE YEARS.

>> Cathy: AND TPT IS PAUL'S LONGEST -- >> MY LONGEST GIG.

>> Cathy: BROADCAST ANY?

WHERE.

>> Eric: OKAY.

SEE YOU NEXT MONTHS.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU GUYS.

>> THANK YOU.

THANKS, MARK. '

♪♪♪ >> MY FAMILY RECENTLY SPENT SOME TIME IN NORWAY AND MY PLAN WAS TO SEND A VIDEO POSTSCARRED, SOMETHING THAT BASICALLY SAID LOOK HOW BEAUTIFUL OSLO IS IN THE SUMMER.

BUT THEN I GOT THERE AND I DECIDED I WOULD RATHER TALK ABOUT THIS ROPES COURSE.

AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S ONE OF THESE ADVENTURE PLACES WITH TIGHT ROPES AND 0 LINES.

YOU CAN FIND IT JUST OUTSIDE THE SMALL TOWN OF OSC.

BUT HERE'S THE THING THAT AMAZED ME, WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT THIS ROPES COURSE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIGN ANYTHING.

THERE'S NO iPAD WHERE YOU SCROLL PAST THE FINE PRINT, INITIAL, INITIAL, INITIAL, SIGN YOUR LIFE AWAY.

THEY JUST GIVE YOU A QUICK TUTORIAL AND LET YOU GO.

AND THEN WHEN YOU ACTUALLY GET TO THE COURSE, THERE AREN'T ANY EMPLOYEES HELPING YOU DO IT.

IT'S YOU, A CLIMBING HARNESS, GRAFT AND YOUR OWN SENSE OF SELF PRESERVATION.

NOW, I WILL ADMIT, I HESITATED BEFORE SHARING THIS VIDEO BECAUSE I KNOW SOME PEOPLE WILL BE THINKING I SHOULDN'T TAKE THIS TYPE OF RISK WITH MY CHILDREN.

BUT THEN I DECIDED I AM GOING TO SHARE IT BECAUSE I'VE COME TO DISAGREE.

>> YOU DID IT.

>> YOU SEE I'VE TAKEN ME KIDS A LOT OF PLACES WHERE THE RISK IS SUPPOSEDLY REDUCED, PLACES WHERE EVERY BUCKLE IS CHECKED AND EVERY CARABINER IS SECURED BY THE ON-STAFF EXPERT.

AND WHAT I'VE SEEN IS THAT WHEN KIDS ARE TOLD THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE IN CHARGE OF THEIR SAFETY, THEY TENDS TO ACT RECKLESSLY, THEY TENDS TO ACT LIKE CHILDREN.

HOWEVER, WHEN THEY GENUINELY UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR OWN CHOICES ARE WHAT'S KEEPING THEM SAFE, THEY'RE FULLY CAPABLE OF SWITCHING TO ADULT MODE.

OTHERWISE SEEN IT WITH MY OWN EYES AND I WOULD ARGUE THAT YOU'RE SEEING IT NOW, TOO.

HERE'S MY 7-YEAR-OLD SON CAREFUL LEGAL MANAGING HIS OWN HARNESS AND HE KEPT THIS UP FOR ALMOST EIGHT HOURS.

THIS IS WHY I'M GRATEFUL NORWAY HASN'T ADOPTED OUR MINDSET OF IF I GET HURT, IT'S YOUR FAULTS.

BECAUSE I'VE CONVINCED MYSELF, THERE ARE CERTAIN IMPORTANT PORTION ATTENTION OF THE HUMAN BRAIN YOU CAN ONLY DEVELOP BY TAKING RISKS, AND THE REWARDS FOR TAKING THE RISKS FAR OUTWEIGH THE PHYSICAL DANGERS.

SO, THANK YOU, NORWAY.

OSLO IS BEAUTIFUL, IF ANYBODY ASKS FOR MY OPINION, I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND THEY HEAD OUT OF TOWN AND TRY ON A CLIMBING HARNESS.

>> "WHERE WOLVES DON'T DIE" IS THE DEBUT NOVEL FROM ANTON TREUER RELEASED LAST MONTH.

TREUER IS A PROFESSOR OF OJIBWE UP AT BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY AND HAS WRITTEN SEVERAL NONFICTION BOOKS EXPLORING, CELEBRATING, AND PRESERVING THE OJIBWE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE.

WE'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE THE AUTHOR OF "WHERE WOLVES DON'T DIE" WITH US TONIGHT.

ANTON TREUER, THANKS FOR MAKING THE TRIP DOWN.

PROFESSOR, IT IS GREAT SEEING YOU.

WELCOME BACK.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING MY.

>> Cathy: YOU'VE WRITTEN A TON OF BOOKS BUT THIS IS YOUR FIRST STAB AT A Y.A.

NOVEL FOR YOUNG KIDS, YOUNG ADULTS.

WHAT POSSESSED TO YOU DO THAT?

>> OH, ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, BOTH OF MY PARENTS HAVE PASSED AWAY.

WE HAVE NINE CHILDREN, WE GOT SIX OUT THE DOOR, THREE TO GO.

I AM LIVING IN KID LAND ALL THE TIME IN MY PERSONAL IFE BUT MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE, TOO.

I THINK WE HAVE ALWAYS RELATED TO THE WORLD THROUGH STORY AND EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT INDIANS BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK, A PREVIOUS BOOK, WE DID A YOUNG ADULT ADAPTATION OF THAT AND I'VE JUST BEEN WORKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE A LOT.

SO I WANTED TO TRY MY HAND AT FICTION AND, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE DON'T MAKE THE TRANSITION VERY WELL, SO I FIGURED THE BEST THING TO DO WOULD BE TO TEST-DRIVE EVERYTHING WITH MY OWN CHILDREN.

SO I READ IT OUT LOUD TO THEM IN HAPTERS AND I KNEW IF THEY WERE WALKING AWAY OR JUMPING INTO THEIR PHONES THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS THE BEST BAROMETER AND THEY WOULD BE THE STUFFEST JUDGES BUT THEY WERE INTO IT AND FLIPPING PAGES WITH ME AND IT WAS PRETTY EXCITING.

>> Cathy: COOL.

>> Eric: YOU CALL THIS A HUMAN STORY SET IN AN INDIGENOUS CONTEXT.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT?

>> YEAH.

NATIVE LIT IS NOT JUST FOR NATIVE PEOPLE AND NOT JUST ABOUT NATIVE THEMES, IT'S ABOUT THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE, SO THE BOOK'S A STORY OF 125-YEARS OLD NATIVE KID, STARTS IN NORTHEAST MINNEAPOLIS.

HE'S DEALING WITH A LOSS, PRIOR TO THE START OF THE BOOK, AND IMMEDIATELY FINDS HIMSELF EMBROILED IN A MAJOR DRAMA.

HE'S KIND OF LOOKING FOR CLUES TO A MURDER AND FINDING HIMSELF IN THE PROCESS SO BOTH A THRILLER AND A TENDS KERR COVERAGE-OF-AGE STORY.

>> Cathy: I ONDER, WRITERS TENDS TO WRITE FROM EXPERIENCE, SO EZRA, I'M WONDERING HOW MUCH OF HIS LIFE MIRRORS YOUR OWN JOURNEY AS A YOUNG PERSON.

>> AH.

WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION SO IT'S CONSTRUCTED BUT, YOU KNOW, I'VE FOUND MYSELF OFTEN FRUSTRATED WITH NATIVE LIT.

UP UNTIL A FEW DECADES AGO, MOST OF IT WAS AUTHORED BY NON-NATIVE PEOPLE WHO HADN'T EVEN TALKED TO ONE OF US, IT WAS THE IMAGINED NATIVE.

AND IN MORE RECENT YEARS, WE'VE HAD A LOT MORE WONDERFUL NATIVE-AUTHORED NATIVE LIT BUT EVEN MOST OF THE WORK OUT THERE ARE STORIES OF TRAGEDY AND TRAUMA, CHARACTERS WHO LaMENTION THE CULTURE THEY NEVER HAD AND I SPEAK OJIBWE AND TAKE MY KIDS HUNTING ALL THE TIME AND WE HAVE A LIVING, BEAUTIFUL VIBRANT CULTURE AND I WANTED TO GIVE PEOPLE A WINDOW INTO THAT BUT TO SHOW THIS HUMAN EXPERIENCE THAT STILL HAS A 15-YEAR-OLD KID DEALING WITH THE STRUGGLE WITH THINGS, WITH, YOU KNOW, COMING OF AGE.

IT'S FULL OF TENSION BUT I THINK IT SHOWS SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT.

>> Eric: THE BULLYING IS -- THAT SEEMS TO COME UP WITH THE INTERNET AND SO FORTH, A LOT OF BULLYING ONLINE AND SO FORTH, THAT WAS INTERESTING THAT YOU PLAYED THAT PART OF IT UP.

>> SURE.

I MEAN, FIRST OF LL, WHO IN THEIR CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES NEVER HAD THAT?

YOU KNOW, SO IT'S A WINDOW INTO, YOU KNOW, THE TENSIONS THAT ALL OF US AS HUMANS NAVIGATE AND THE DESIRE THAT I THINK ALL OF US HAVE TO BOTH FIND MY OWN WAY TO BREAK FROM OUR PARENTS AND EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING.

I HAD THE IDEA THAT A LOT OF HIGH SCHOOLERS HAVE HAT I'D FINISH SCHOOL AND GO SOMEWHERE ELSE AND NEVER COME ACK AND FINISH COLLEGE WITH THE THOUGHT THAT I WANT TO GO HOME AND NEVER LEAVE.

YOU KNOW, SO WE HAVE THIS TENSION BETWEEN WANTING TO BELONG AND BE ACCEPTED AND, AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, BE INDEPENDENT, SO, OF COURSE, - EZRA IS DEALING WITH ALL OF THAT.

MY OWN KIDS, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TEENAGERS WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF THESE THINGS SO THERE ARE COMPOSITES OF EXPERIENCES, PERHAPS, BUT CERTAINLY IT'S NOT THE STORY OF ANYONE OF THEM.

>> Cathy: BY THE WAY, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK IN THE LANGUAGE, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTING THE LANGUAGE.

YOU HAVE A GREAT -- IF FOLKS HAVEN'T SEEN IT, YOU HAVE TO GO FIND Dr. TREUER ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH THE WORD OF THE DAY.

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THAT?

>> I'M NOT EVEN THE FIRST ONE TO DO AN OJIBWE WORD OF THE DAY BUT IT'S BEEN REALLY A PLEASURE TO DO THIS WITH MY DAUGHTER.

THERE'S A OT HAPPENING IN THE OJIBWE LANGUAGE REVITALIZATION, THE UNIVERSE, PROBABLY A BIGGER CONVERSATION.

WE HAVE A OJIBWE WWW.OF STAR WARS OUT.

THERE'S A ROSETTA ZONE FOR OJIBWE AND FINALLY MARSHALING THE EFFORTS FOR THE IMMERSION SCHOOLS.

>> Eric: "WHERE THE WOLVES DON'T DIE, " PERFECT FOREGIFT-GIVING.

>> GREAT TO BE ON.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: HANK YOU.

WELL, WE OF COURSE WILL TALK ABOUT PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS HERE, INCLUDING THE RACES DOWNABALLOT.

THAT'S TRUE IN THIS NEXT RACE TO WATCH IN THE ST. PETER AREA WHERE MARY LAHAMMER SHOWS US IT'S A QUINTESSENTIAL SWING DISTRICT.

>> >> WELL, NICE TO MEET YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> FL REPRESENTATIVE JEFF BRAND KNOWS AND LOVES St. PETER IN DISTRICT 18A, HE'S WON BIG, THEN LOST AND WON CLOSE RACES HERE BEFORE.

>> I ENJOY THE PERSUASION OF POLITICS AROUND HERE.

I ENJOY HAVING TO SELL THE IDEAS TO PEOPLE, RIGHT?

AND SO I ENJOY ENGAGING WITH PEOPLE, AS WELL.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE A GOOD LEGISLATOR, YOU HAVE TO BE A GOOD LISTENER.

>> I'M ERICA SCHWARTZ, THE NO, MA'AM FEE FOR THE REPUBLICAN -- >> I'M ALL IN ON REPUBLICANS.

GO GET 'EM.

BE A TYKE GEAR OUT THERE.

>> REPUBLICAN BE IS A FIRST-TIME CANDIDATE COUNTING ON VOTERS IN THE RED RURAL PART OF THE DISTRICTS WHO WANT CHANGE.

>> NICOLLET IS A PARTICULARLY REPUBLICAN AREA, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE VOICED THEIR CONCERNS AND WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN FLIP THE SEAT TO BRING SOME ACCOUNTABILITIES AND BALANCE BACK TO THE DISTRICT.

>> Mary: A HIP FARM TO TABLE CAFÉ IN St. PETER HAS PLENTY OF DFL SUPPORTERS.

>> THIS PLACE MEANS A LOT TO ME.

THIS IS THE FIRST PLACE WHERE SOMEBODY ASKED ME TO RUN FOR OFFICE OVER COFFEE.

THIS COMITTEE IS WONDERFUL, ECLECTIC, ARTSY, WE HAVE A FOCUS ON THE DOWNTOWN BUILDINGS.

WE HAVE A WONDERFUL COLLEGE, DUE STAVE US ADOLPHUS UP THE HILL.

>> Mary: A GAS STATION IN NICOLLET IS A HOT SPOT FOR THE REPUBLICANS.

>> THIS IS THE BUSINESS I ELP MY HUSBAND RUN.

WE HAVE A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT COME IN FOR COFFEE IN THE MORNINGS AND ON WEDNESDAY MORNINGS, WE HAVE ANOTHER GROUP OF CHURCH LADIES THAT COME IN.

>> Mary: LAST TIME THE DEMOCRAT FROM St. PETER WON BY JUST OVER 400 VOTES, THE ELECTION BEFORE THE REPUBLICAN PREVAILED BY ABOUT 100 VOTES.

SO NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS IS A SWING DISTRICT.

WHY IS IT SO CLOSE?

>> THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.

I THINK NOT EVERYBODY VOTES, YOU KNOW, NOT EVERYBODY IN A POPULATION WILL VOTE, RIGHT, SO IT COMES DOWN TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE MOST ENGAGED.

SO MY TRICK IS THAT I HAVE TO GO OUT AND ENGAGE WITH AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.

>> HOPE IT'S NOT THAT CLOSE, I HOPE I WIN WITH A LARGER MARGIN BUT WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL NOVEMBER.

ALL I CAN DO IS PUT IN THE WORK AND CAMPAIGN, CAMPAIGN AND CAMPAIGN, DOOR-KNOCK, MEET AND GREET PEOPLE AND FIND OUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE.

>> MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

>> MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS REALLY IMPORTANT, YEP.

THIS LAST BIENNIUM, WE WERE TO MAKE A BILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT IN HOUSING.

>> AFFORDABLE?

>> YEP, ABSOLUTELY.

BRAND HAS RECORD TO RUN ON FROM ALL DFL CONTROL AT THE CAPITOL.

>> I'VE SEEN SPLIT LEGISLATORS AND THE TRIFECTA, THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE FOR TWO DIFFERENT WAYS OF GOVERNING BUT I THINK AT THE ENDS OF THE DAY WE WERE ABLE TO DO SOME THINGS WE WEREN'T ABLE TO DO IN THE LAST TEN YEARS BECAUSE WE HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY.

THINGS THAT ARE REALLY GOING TO HELP, ESPECIALLY THINGS IN GREATER MINNESOTA, SICK AND SAFER TIME, PAID FAMILY LEAVE.

>> SCHOOLING, THE KIDS ARE OUR FEW DID YOUR SO THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ATTENTION ON THAT CURRENTLY.

>> WHO YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE FOR.

>> THAT'S A TOUGH ONE.

>> JUST BECAUSE I FEEL IKE IT'S SUCH -- KIND OF AT A CROSSROADS POLITICALLY.

>> Mary: SWARTZ HAS HER LIFE EXPERIENCE TO CALL ON.

>> I WAS A SINGLE PARENT FOR OVER 17 YEARS, AND I LOST MY FIANCÉE IN A CAR ACCIDENTS AND THAT'S HOW I BECAME A SINGLE PARENT SO I KNOW THE STRUGGLES OF A ONE-PARENT INCOME ND WITH THIS ECONOMY, THEY'VE BEEN HIT HARD.

I'VE SEEN WHAT THE ECONOMY HAS DONE TO OUR SENIORS.

I THINK IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE AND I WANT TO BE THAT PERSON THAT MAKES THAT CHANGE AT THE CAPITOL FOR THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA HERE ESPECIALLY IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA.

>> Mary: STUDENTS AND YOUNG VOTERS ARE IMPORTANT IN THE COLLEGE TOWN.

>> A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, YOU LIVE IN St. PETER?

>> YEAH.

>> WELL, I HOPE I CAN COUNT ON YOUR VOTE IN NOVEMBER.

>> ARE YOU PLANNING ON VOTING?

>> MOST LIKELY, YEAH, BECAUSE YOU'LL BE MY FIRST BIG, LIKE... [ Indiscernible ] >> Mary: THEY BOTH KNOW ULTIMATELY CHANGES IN A VOLATILE PRESIDENTIAL RACE COULD HAVE A BIG IMPACT HERE.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, WISCONSIN!!

>> I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BRING A NEW ENERGY TO THE DISCUSSION.

WE'VE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO REALLY ENGAGE PEOPLE.

>> Mary: COULD IT HELP YOUR RACE KNOWING HOW CLOSE IT'S BEEN?

>> I THINK IT COULD BECAUSE THAT ENERGY, THAT OPPORTUNITY, WE'RE ALREADY ENGAGED IN GREATER MINNESOTA, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, RIGHT, BUT IT'S REALLY INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THERE AREN'T MANY INCUMBENTS THAT SUPPORT FARMERS, FARM FAMILIES, I REPRESENTS 2,000 FARM FAMILIES IN MY DISTRICT.

>> YOU FEEL THAT TENDENCY, THE NATIONAL PRESIDENTIAL RACE MIGHT AFFECT THIS?

>> IT COULD.

I'VE BEEN NOTICING MORE OF THAT IN THE PARADES WE'VE BEEN IN THE SUMMER, TALKING TO PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF NICOLLET.

I'VE SEEN A LOT MORE TRUMP FLAGS, REPUBLICANS ARE MORE PROUD, NOT AFRAID SO MUCH TO BE A TRUMP SUPPORTER NOW, AND THIS AREA IS LUGE FOR TRUMP SUPPORT.

♪♪♪ >> ERIC: MINNESOTA POLITICOS LOVE NOTHING BETTER THAN SPECULATION ABOUT ONE OF THEIR OWN JOINING A PRESIDENTIAL TICKET.

SUPPORTERS CAN TELL THE REST OF THE NATION HOW WONDERFUL THE POLITICIAN IS.

AND DETRACTORS CAN EXPLAIN WHY THEY'VE BEEN SO BAD FOR MINNESOTA THAT THEY COULDN'T POSSIBLY BE GOOD FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

WILL GOVERNOR TIM WALZ BE TAPPED AS KAMALA HARRIS' RUNNING MATE?

LET'S CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION WITH THIS WEEK'S COUCH FULL OF ANALYSTS.

DEMOCRATS UP FIRST TONIGHT, JAVIER MORILLO IS A FORMER NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEMBER AND LONGTIME UNION AND PARTY ACTIVIST.

PARTY ACTIVIST IS A LABEL YOU CAN ATTACH TO SARA LOPEZ, POLICY DIRECTOR AT UNIDOS MINNESOTA WHO HAS SPENT MANY HOURS AT THE LEGISLATURE.

REPUBLICANS HERE WITH US TONIGHT.

BRIAN MCDANIEL, FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER TURNED LOBBYIST AND STANDUP COMEDIAN.

AND ROUNDING OUT THE GROUP TONIGHT, KAILEY TAFFE, ALSO A FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER TURNED LOBBYIST.

JAVIER, WALZ GOT A SHOT?

>> I REALLY THINK HE DOES AND -- >> Eric: LABOR SEEMED TO GET BEHIND HIM A LITTLE BIT TODAY.

>> EARLIER THIS WEEK, I WOULD HAVE SAID, THE BUS IS NOT -- BUT I THINK IT'S VERY SERIOUS ABOUT.

I THINK HE HAS A VERY GOOD SHOT AND I THINK HE'LL BE A FANTASTIC CANDIDATE.

>> Eric: HOW DOES HE GET PAST THE GEORGE FLOYD AFTERMATH AND COVID AND FRAUD IN THE -- >> WELL, I MEAN, I THINK THAT ANYONE YOU PICK IS GOING TO HAVE ADVANTAGES AND DRINKS, YOU KNOW, IF YOU PICK SHAPIRO OUT OF PENNSYLVANIA, YOU'RE GOING TO RUN INTO PROBLEMS ON THE PAL STEEN ISSUE.

SO EVERYBODY HAS THEIR FLOWERS AND WARTS.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE VANCE PICK WAS A LITTLE BIT OF REACTION TO TRUMP DOING WELL AND I WONDER IF NOW THAT CAPTAIN LaIS DOING WELL, IF PICKING SOMEBODY SAFE LIKE WALZ WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA VERSUS THE SWING STATES.

>> YEAH, IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE WHY HE WOULD BE AN ATTRACTIVE CANDIDATE FOR HARRIS.

WITH THE DFL TRY EFFECTS TAKE THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, PASSED A VERY PROGRESSIVE AGENDA AND AS ONE OF THE MOST LIBERAL SENATORS THAT HARRIS WAS, I COULD SEE WHY SHE WOULD WANTS TO ADD HIM TO THE TICKET AND THE MIDWEST HAS A LOT OF SWINGS STATES THAT HE WOULD BE APPEALING TO.

>> I'M TOTALLY BIASED BECAUSE I GOT TO WORK ON HIS CAMPAIGN IN 2022 SO I WILL BE AN EXTRAORDINARY PICK.

HE WOULD OFFER SOME VERY IMPORTANT CONTRAST BETWEEN VANCE AND HIMSELF, AND TO BE REALLY HONEST, HE TOOK US THROUGH THE EPIDEMIC.

HE WAS THERE WHEN THE STATE HAS BEEN THROUGH ITS TOUGHEST MOMENTS SO I THINK THAT HE WILL -- I KNOW HE WORKS REALLY, REALLY HARD SO I LOVE HIM, IF HE WILL GET PICKED.

>> Cathy: I SEE YOU'RE WEARING BRETT GREEN.

>> YES, I AM.

>> Cathy: I NOTED THAT.

>> WHAT WAS MISSING LAST WEEK, THE BIGGEST ROUND DEMOCRATS HAD WAS THE BIDEN ENTHUSIASM GAP ON I WHEN IT CAME TO THE SUPREME COURT, ABORTION RIGHTS, WHEN IT CAME TO ALL SPORTS OF I, THE FUN WAS WITH US BUT WHAT WAS GETTING IN THE WAY OF CONVERSATIONS WAS THE QUESTION OF, LIKE, VOTERS WERE GOING TO INTERPRETER THE VOTING BOOTH, THINKING AN THE PRESIDENT DO THE JOB.

THAT'S BEEN TAKEN AWAY.

I'VE BEEN BLOWN AWAY BY THE ORGANIC, GENUINE ENTHUSIASM, VOLUNTEERS SIGNING UP, MONEY COME IN AT ALL LEVELS, SO, YEAH, AND THINGS LIKE THE MEANS AND ALL THIS -- THE MEMES, AND ALL THE EXCITEMENT.

>> Eric: THE DAYS HAVE CLANGED BUT.

ISSUES CHANGED?

>> I DON'T THINK THE ISSUES HAVE CHANGED.

AND I HAVE TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO MY MOTHER NOR HER BIRTHDAY TODAY.

IF YOU LOOK AT HARRIS'S POLLING NUMBERS, THEY WERE ALMOST WORSE THAN BIDEN.

I UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS A COALESCE EDGES BEHIND HER, I UNDERSTAND IT BUT WHAT YOU CAN'T CONVINCE ME IS THAT THIS IS THE CANDIDATE THEY WANTED.

THIS IS THE CANDIDATE THAT I THINK CAN STILL BEAT TRUMP, I GET WHY THEY'RE VOTING BUT THIS IS NOT WHO THEY WANTED EVEN A WEEK AGO AND EVERY REASON THEY DIDN'T WANTS HER IS GOING IS TO COME BACK OUT.

>> Eric: I READ AN ARTICLE ON THE HILL TODAY BUT SOME MODERATE REPUBLICANS IN THE U.S. HOUSE HAVING LITTLE BUYERS' REMORSE AGAINST SENATOR VANCE.

I WONDER, ARE YOU PICKING THAT UP?

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CONTROVERSIAL -- AND SHE'S MADE CONTROVERSIAL COMMENTS, OBVIOUSLY.

>> SHE HAS AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ALWAYS GET THINGS TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT AND KEEP BEATING HIM UP BECAUSE HE WAS JUST CHOSEN THIS WEEK JUST LIKE KAMALA IS BEING BEEFED UP AS THE DARLING OF THE PARTY SO SHE'LL HAVE HER RECORD OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS BUT YOU NEVER GET THE CANDIDATE THAT EVERYBODY WANTS BUT THAT'S HOW IT IS.

>> Cathy: SARAH, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT ECONOMY IS THIS THE CANDIDATE THAT THE DEMOCRATS REALLY WANTED?

>> YES, BECAUSE SHE'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO GALVANIZE INDEPENDENT VOTERS.

EVERYBODY WAS WAITING, KIND OF LIKE SECRETLY FOR AN OPTION AND I THINK SHE'LL BE ABLE TO GALVANIZE INDEPENDENT WOMEN VOTERS AND WHO IS O.THOSE WOMEN WHO WERE UNDECIDED ON BOTH SIDES.

>> Cathy: COMING OUT OF THE DNC, WHAT WILL BE A WIN FOR HER?

>> TO SHOW HERS AS A STRONG PROSECUTOR, SHE HERSELF HAS SAID SHE'S PRODUCT CHEAT YEARS, MONITORS, SO FOR HER ABILITY TO LEAD THE COUNTRY, BEAN AN EXTRA ORDER IS SENATOR, AS WELL, AND I THINK THAT SHE'S WELL-POISED TO MEET THE MOMENT.

>> Eric: DOWN-BALLOT -- DOWN I BART IMPACT OF THE CHANGING SCENE HERE, WHAT'S IT GOING TO DO TO LEGISLATIVE RACES, CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT RACES?

>> SURE, I MEAN THAT I THINK THAT REPUBLICANS IN MINNESOTA HAVE A LOT TO BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT, IT'S A VERY SHRINAL MAJORITY AND THERE ARE A COUPLE OF SEATS THAT ARE LIKELY TO LOOK REALLY GOOD, THE LISLEGARD SEAT, PLOW KEY ACCEPT, RIGHT NOW THE MINNESOTA SENATE IS 33-33.

THE MORRISON SEAT IS UP.

WE HAVE A PHENOMENAL REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE THERE AND THE DEMOCRATS HAVE AN ACTIVE PRIMARY BUT I HAVE TO MINUTES WITH THE DNC THAT YOU BROUGHT UP, I DON'T SEE HOW THE DEMOCRATS CAN RUN ON THIS IDEA THAT THEY'RE SAVING DEMOCRACY AFTER THIS WHEN THEY ARE COORDINATING A CANDIDATE THAT DID NOT GET ONE OTE IN THE PRIMARY AND THEN PUSHING IT AS IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE SOMETIME WHEN EVEN DEAN PHILLIPS BROUGHT UP A YEAR AGO THAT BIDEN WASN'T UNTO THE JOB SO NOW WE'RE SEEING THIS COME THROUGH, I HOPE HE'S GETTING A LOT OF APOLOGIZE BEHIND THE SCREENINGS.

>> THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

THEY'RE FOLLOWING A PROCESS THAT WAS DESIGNED FOR PRECISELY THESE KIND OF SITUATIONS AND THE CONTRAST WITH TRUMP AND J.D.

VANCE ON DEMOCRACY ARE THE PLANS WHAT THEY WANT TO DO FOR THE COUNTRY, ALL THE -- WE HAVE NEW RECORDINGS OF J.D.

VANCE WANTING TO CHASE WOMEN CROSSING STATE LINES, TO SEEK ABORTIONS, LIKE -- I MEAN, J.D.

VANCE IS THE -- SARAH PALIN MUST BE HAPPY BECAUSE SHE'S NOW THINKING MAYBE SHE WON'T BE THOUGHT OF AS THE WORST PICK IN U.S. HISTORY.

>> THE DEMOCRATS GET TO PICK WHO THEY WANT AND THE REPUBLICANS DON'T GET TO BE MAD ON THE DEMOCRATS' BEHALF BUT THEY ARE FOLLOWING A PROCESS, A PROCESS THAT ONE PERSON HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO REALLY PARTICIPATE IN, AND THAT COMES BACK TO WHAT I WAS SAYING BEFORE, IS THAT IF THIS WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH THE NORMAL PROCESS, I DON'T THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN KAMALA.

MY TWO FRIENDS RIGHT HERE ARE VERY HAPPY WITH THAT, THE POLLING NUMBERS WE'RE SEEK, PEOPLE ARE HAPPY WITH THAT SO I DON'T GET TO TELL THEM THEY CAN'T BE HAPPY WITH KAMALA HARRIS BUT YOU ALSO CAN'T TELL ME THAT THIS IS WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE DONE IF THIS WERE A NORMAL YEAR.

I-A COULD HAVE, WOULD EVER, SHOULD HAVE.

YOU'RE ARGUING A THE COUNSELOR FACTUAL WHICH IS IRRELEVANT.

THE SITUATION IS THAT WE HAVE OUR PEOPLE, EXCITED PEOPLE ARE SIGNING UP, MONEY'S OMING IN, THAT'S A GREAT THINGS FOR DEMOCRATS.

>> AND WOMAN PROBLEM OF ORGANIZING IS NOT THE HIM MOMENT COMING TO YOU BUT YOU'RE MAKING THE MOMENT AND I THINK MAKING THE MOMENT HAPPEN.

>> IT'S CLEAR THEY MADE THE MOMENT, PRESIDENT BIDEN MADE IT VERY CLEAR OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS THAT HE DID NOT WANT TO GET OUT OF THE RACE UNTIL HE WAS FORCED OUT AND SO OBVIOUSLY THAT'S HOW -- VERY TELLING OF THE PARTY, AS WELL.

>> Cathy: SPEAKING OF, A LOT OF EXCITEMENT ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

THERE WAS A LOT OF EXCITEMENT COMING OUT OF THE RNC BUT FEELS LIKE IT'S SOMETHING HAS SHIFTED >> >> Eric: TRUMP AND VANCE ARE IN St.

CLOUD TOMORROW.

>> YEAH, THEY'RE IN St.

CLOUD TIME.

AS FAR AS GETTING BACK TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE STATE RACES, I THINK THAT MINNESOTA POLITICIANS ALWAYS WERE GOING TO AVE TO, THERE ARE TRUMP AS WITH WITH BIDEN OR WITH HARRIS, THEY WERE ALWAYS GROWING TO HAVE TO KIND OF DIFFERENTIATE THEMSELVES, SORRY, FROM THE TOP OF THE TICKET AND THAT STILL IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS THAT WE'RE SEEING TODAY, YOU KNOW, IT SHOULD GIVE US PAUSE BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, WHAT, TWO WEEKS AGO, THERE WAS AN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AND NOW WE'RE ALREADY PAST IT.

NICKS WEEK WHEN THE AIL ONCE COME, WE'LL ALL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO THEN.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S COMING NEXT SO I WON'T SAY THAT WHAT IS HAPPENING TODAY IS WHAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING IN NOVEMBER.

>> Cathy: ARE REPUBLICANS IN MINNESOTA EXCITED ABOUT TRUMP ANY MEAN, GIVEN THIS RALLY IN St.

CLOUD, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WHY St.

CLOUD, BY THE WAY?

>> IT'S A PLACE HE HASN'T HAD A RALLY IN A LONG TIME, WE'VE BEEN IN OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE STATE AND I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM FOR HERE.

REPUBLICANS ARE EXCITED THAT MINNESOTA'S IN PLAY.

OBVIOUSLY THE POLL THAT CAME OUT TODAY SHOWS A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT STORY BUT OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, IT'S BEEN REALLY CLOSE AND IF MINNESOTA IS IN PLAY, THAT'S HUGE FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND -- BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T SEEN, YOU KNOW, EVEN WHEN REGAN DIDN'T TAKE THE WHOLE COUNTRY, IT DIDN'T TAKE MINNESOTA.

TRUMP LIKES A CHALLENGE AND WE'LL SEE HIM HERE.

>> Eric: WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE BECAUSE BOTH SIDES HAVE TONED DOWN THE RHETORIC LIKE THEY SAID.

>> Cathy: YOU ALL DID A GREAT JOB.

THANK YOU THANKS, THANK YOU.

>> Eric: GREAT JOB.

CHILDREN CLUB ARE ARE ♪♪♪ >> THIS IS JR.

DOCTOR SPEAKER PRESTON LIVE FROM THE MOON AND ONCE AGAIN, "ALMANAC" SPARSE DARN THROUGH EXPENSES IN SEARCH OF THE TRUTH.

WE CELEBRATED THE 21th FIRST VISIT BY OUR COUNTRYMEN BUT THIS OCCASION WAS MARRELD BY SOME WHO REFUSE TO BELIEVE THE GREATEST TECHNOLOGICAL ACTS IN HISTORY NEVER HAPPENED.

>> Jearlyn: I LOVE J.G.

PRESTON BUT THAT SPACE SUIT, I DON'T KNOW.

LET'S MOVE RIGHT ALONG TO THE HISTORY PORTION OF THE SHOW.

LAST WEEK WE TOOK YOU BACK TO 1930.

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

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

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

OUR QUESTION FOR YOU WAS, WHO WAS THIS FAMOUS ST. PAUL GRANDCHILD?

JUST TWO CALLERS WITH WRONG ANSWERS FOR US TONIGHT.

TAKE A LISTEN.

>> CATHY: ONLY ONE OF THOSE WAS REALLY A SERIOUS GUESS BUT WE'RE GRATEFUL YOU BOTH CALLED.

ONLY A HANDFUL OF CALLERS WITH AN INDEX FILE GUESS LAST WEEK.

THE SUMMER WEATHER MUST BE KEEPING ALL OF YOU AWAY FROM YOUR PHONES, OR MAYBE OUR VOICE MAIL SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY.

FOR THIS WEEK'S RIGHT ANSWER, THE STAFF FAVORITE COMES FROM REGULAR VIEWER, BONNIE.

>> CATHY: YES, BONNIE, THE ST. PAUL GRANDCHILD WE SOUGHT WAS INDEED ELEANOR PATCH.

THERE'S HER FAMOUS HARNESS RACING GRANDFATHER DAN PATCH ON THE SCREEN NEXT TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF HER DEATH.

WE COULDN'T FIND AN IMAGE OF ELEANOR BUT ACCOUNTS AFTER HER DEATH SAY SHE WAS BELOVED BY A GENERATION OF ST. PAUL CHILDREN.

THINK YOU HAVE A HISTORY QUESTION FOR US THAT WILL GET THE PHONES RINGING?

DROP US A NOTE, ALMANAC@TPT.

ORG.

WHILE YOU'RE ONLINE, YOU CAN ALWAYS POP OVER TO OUR WEBSITE: TPT.ORG/ALMANAC.

CHECK OUT RECENT SHOWS OR DIVE INTO THE ARCHIVES TO FIND AN OLD FAVORITE.

WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH TIME TO SHARE A LITTLE SHOW-ENDING MUSIC FROM THOSE ARCHIVES.

THIS WEEK BACK IN 2009, STEVE KAUL AND THE BRASS KINGS JOINED US HERE IN STUDIO B.

TAKE A LISTEN.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

♪♪♪ ♪ IT WAS A BUSTED BUICK N THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WITH $300 WORTH OF ANTIQUE CHROME ♪ A GREEN PATINA ON A RUSTED BONES ♪ AND SILVER LETTERS SPELLING DINAFLOW ♪ SILVER LETTERS SPELLING DINAFLOW.

♪ SILVER LETTERS SPELLING DINAFLOW ♪ CAPTIONED BY: VERITEXT/PARADIGM CAPTIONING WWW.VERITEXT.COM >> "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.

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