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

>> CATHY: WE'LL HEAR FROM LEGISLATORS, REPORTERS, POLITICAL SCIENTISTS, AND ANALYSTS ABOUT VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS' DECISION TO SELECT GOVERNOR TIM WALZ AS HER RUNNING MATE.

PLUS ST. PAUL MAYOR MELVIN CARTER ON THE FUTURE OF HIS CITY AND MARY LAHAMMER GOES ON THE ROAD WITH MINNESOTA'S NEWEST POLITICAL STAR.

>> Mary: AS GOVERNOR TIM WALZ HITS THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AS A VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, WE'LL TALK TO MINNESOTANS WHO GATHERED OUTSIDE HIS HOME TO SUPPORT THE LOCAL GUY.

>> WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT, YOU BETCHA ENERGY HERE.

>> MINNESOTA PRIDE IS LIKE NOTHING ELSE.

>> Mary: THAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC."

♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

>> SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY• GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 27 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

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

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

AND PAINTCARE: HELPING MINNESOTANS RECYCLE LEFTOVER PAINT.

MORE AT PAINTCARE.ORG.

>> CATHY: OVER THE NEXT HOUR WE WILL LOOK AT HOW GOVERNOR TIM WALZ IS BEING TALKED ABOUT AROUND THE COUNTRY NOW THAT HE HAS BEEN CHOSEN AS VICE-PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS' RUNNING MATE.

ESSAYIST DOMINIC PAPATOLA HAS SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW FOLKS HERE IN MINNESOTA ARE REACTING TO THE NEWS.

AND WE'LL LOOK AT WHAT IT WOULD MEAN FOR MINNESOTA'S STATE GOVERNMENT IF THE HARRIS/WALZ TICKET WINS THE ELECTION.

>> ERIC: BUT FIRST, MARY LAHAMMER HAS A FIRSTHAND LOOK AT THIS AMAZING WEEK IN POLITICS.

[ Cheers and applause ] >> Mary: TIM WALZ'S DEBUT AS A VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE CAME IN FRONTS OF A ROARING -- IN FRONT OF A ROARING CROWD.

>> WELCOME THE NEXT VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, TIM WALZ!

[ Cheers and applause ] >> ON HIS BIGGEST STAGE YET, THE MINNESOTA GOVERNOR, GLADLY EDUCATED THE AUDIENCE ON HIS CREDENTIALS.

>> DON'T EVER UNDERESTIMATE TEACHERS.

>> Mary: THE TEACHER AND VETERAN EXPLAINED HIS SERVICE THAT HAS BEEN QUESTIONED.

>> FOR 24 YEARS, I PROUDLY WORE THE UNIFORM OF THIS NATION.

[ Cheers ] >> Mary: THE COACH DETAILED HIS SUCCESSES.

>> FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF TEACHING HIGH SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES AND COACHING FOOTBALL.

[ Cheers ] INCLUDING WINNING THAT STATE CHAMPIONSHIP!

[ Cheers ] >> Mary: INCLUDING A CONGRESSIONAL CAREER FROM A CONSERVATIVE DISTRICT.

>> I LEARNED THE ART OF COMPROMISE WITHOUT COMPROMISING MY VALUES.

>> Mary: BUT HE WENT ON OFFENSE.

>> DONALD TRUMP SEES THE WORLD A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY THAN US.

[ BOOING ] FIRST OF ALL, HE DOESN'T KNOW THE FIRST THING ABOUT SERVICE.

HE DOESN'T HAVE TIME FOR IT BECAUSE HE'S TOO BUSY SERVING HIMSELF.

>> HE'S GOING TO THINGS THAT NOBODY HAS EVER EVEN HEARD OF.

HEAVY INTO THE TRANSGENDER WORLD, HEAVY INTO LOTS OF DIFFERENT WORLDS, HAVING TO DO WITH SAFETY, HE DOESN'T WANT TO HAVE BORDERS, HE DOESN'T WANT TO HAVE WALLS, HE DOESN'T WANT TO HAVE ANY FORM OF SAFETY FOR OUR COUNTRY.

>> VIOLENT CRIME WAS UP UNDER DONALD TRUMP.

THAT'S NOT EVEN COUNTING THE CRIMES HE COMMITTED.

[ Cheers ] >> Mary: WALZ APPEARED READY TO SQUARE OFF AGAINST JD VANCE.

>> AND I GOTTA TELL YOU, I CAN'T AIT TO DEBATE THE GUY.

[ Cheers ] THAT IS, IF HE'S WILLING TO GET OFF THE COUCH AND SHOW UP.

[ Laughter ] >> Mary: AND HE CONTINUED THE ATTACK LINE THAT MADE HIM FAMOUS.

>> THESE GUYS ARE CREEPY AND, YES, JUST WEIRD AS HELL, THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE!

THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE!

[ Cheers ] YOU KNOW WHAT'S OUT THERE, SO SAY IT WITH ME.

WE AREN'T GOIN' BACK!

WE AREN'T GOIN' BACK!

>> Mary: THEN IN NEARBY WISCONSIN, BOTH VP CANDIDATES HAD DUELING EVENTS IN DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS.

>> I WANT TO DEBATE GOVERNOR WALZ BECAUSE NOTHING TO DO WITH GOVERNOR WALZ BUT BECAUSE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE TO SEE THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE THEIR VICE PRESIDENT STAND BEFORE THEM AND TRY TO PERSUADE THEM.

>> SOMEBODY'S HOT CAN WE GET SOMEBODY TO HELP?

YOU OKAY?

>> Mary: WALZ STOOD OUT FOR STOPPING THE RALLY TO GET SOMEONE HELP BEFORE RETURNING TO THE SPEECH.

I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE DEBATE!

[ Cheers ] LOOK, I'VE DONE THIS ENOUGH.

I KNOW BULLIES.

♪ FREEDOM FREEDOM ♪ ♪ WHERE ARE YOU ♪ ♪ NEED FREEDOM TOO ♪ >> I WANT YOU TO DO THIS WITH ME.

LET'S DO THIS TOGETHER.

WOULD YOU BE MY RUNNING MATE AND LET'S GET THIS THING ON THE ROAD?

>> I WOULD BE HONORED, MADAM VICE PRESIDENT.

THE JOY THAT YOU'RE BRINGING BACK TO THE COUNTRY, THE ENTHUSIASM THAT'S OUT THERE, IT WILL BE A PRIVILEGE TO TAKE THIS WITH YOU ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> TIM WALZ BASHING HAS MADE CAMO AND CARHART COOL AGAIN.

>> Mary: AS SOON AS THE NEWS BROKE, MINNESOTANS IN THE GOVERNOR'S NEIGHBORHOOD GATHERED IN SUPPORT.

>> IT'S AMAZING TO BE HERE.

I GOT UP THIS ORNING, WATCHING THE NEWS LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, AND I'M JUST ACROSS THE RIVER, SO I JUST HAD TO BIKE OVER AND WHEN I SAW THE BARRICADES WITH, YOU KNOW, HUNDREDS OF SANDBAGS, I HAD TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET A I BEST VIEW POSSIBLE.

>> Mary: WHAT DID YOU SEE?

>> SO GREAT TO SEE TIM WALZ GETTING IN THE CARS, SEEING EVERYBODY MOVING AROUND.

THE THOUGHT THAT THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE IT ALL STARTED, SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED, TO HEAR A HELICOPTER IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO HEAR SOMETHING POSITIVE IS NICE.

>> I FEEL HOPE FOR THE FIRST FULL TIME.

I FEEL LIKE SINCE OBAMA.

YOU KNOW, IT HAS THAT KIND OF ENERGY AGAIN.

SO EXCITED TO WEAR MY SHIRT AND HAVE A WOMAN HOPEFULLY BE OUR PRESIDENT.

IT'S JUST -- IT'S EXCITING.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT A VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE FROM MINNESOTA?

>> I MEAN, MINNESOTA PRIDE IS LIKE NOTHING ELSE.

I WOKE UP THIS MORNING, SAW THE NEWS, AND GOT IN MY CAR AND HEADED OUT.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS NEIGHBORHOODS AND THIS IS WHAT MINNESOTA'S ALL ABOUT.

>> Mary: HOW COOL IS IT TO BE IN THIS CROWD AND SEE THIS FIRSTHAND?

>> THE ENERGY IS GREAT.

IT'S SO MINNESOTA WRAP, IT -- MINNESOTAN, IT WASN'T CRAZY, PEOPLE HAD THEIR COFFEE, THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

>> Mary: THE NEIGHBORHOOD COULDN'T MISS HOW MINNESOTAN THEIR ORGANIC GATHERING FELT.

>> EVERYBODY IN THE NATION NOW IS GOING TO LEARN HOW TO USE JUMPER CABLES.

>> Mary: GOUS OF GOVERNOR WALZ?

>> THAT'S RIGHT: >> Mary: WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO SHOW UP TODAY?

>> WALZ IS A GOOD GUY, SCHOOL TEACHER, DOWN TO EARTH, HE'LL DO A GOOD JOB.

>> WE'VE GOT SOME REAT YOU BETCHA ENERGY HERE TODAY, LET ME TELL YA.

>> Mary: YOU LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD?

>> YEAH, St. PAUL, HAD TO BE HERE PART OF IT CHEERING HIM ON.

[ Cheers ] ♪♪♪ >> MESSAGE THAT KEPT RESONATING THAT CONGRESS WAS BROKEN, THE WAY THINGS WERE BEING DONE, THE MINORITY WAS LOCKED OUT, THAT GENIUS OF THE CONSTITUTION IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT ALLOWED FOR MINORITY HOUSE TO -- MINORITY VOICE TO FIND COMPROMISE WAS NOT THERE.

WHEN YOU DON'T FIND COMPROMISE, YOU FIND A LARGE PORTION OF THE POPULATION FELT LIKE THEY WERE LOCKED OUT, THEY FELT LIKE THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF THE EXTREMISM IN THE DECISIONS.

♪♪♪ >> CATHY: THIS WEEK JOURNALISTS AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN LEARNING HOW TO CORRECTLY PRONOUNCE THE NAME OF OUR GOVERNOR - WALZ, NOT WALTZ.

WASHINGTON POST POLITICAL REPORTER AARON BLAKE DOES NOT NEED A CRASH COURSE.

HE IS A NATIVE MINNESOTAN WHO COVERED WALZ WHEN HE RAN FOR CONGRESS THE FIRST TIME.

SO PLEASED THAT AARON BLAKE JOINS US VIA ZOOM.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: WELL, WHEN YOU AND I TALKED ON MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT YOUR PODCAST, YOU HAD SAID AT THE TIME THAT YOU THOUGHT THAT TIM WALZ WAS A DARK HORSE, AND IT APPEARS THAT THAT HORSE IS NOW SADDLED UP AND RUNNING DOWN THE TRACK HERE, AARON.

WAS WALZ, THAT CHOICE, A GOOD STRATEGIC ONE?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S EEN REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE IN THIS PROCESS, I THINK MORE THAN A LOT OF OTHER RECENT PROCESSES, THERE WERE A LOT OF CANDIDATES WHO WERE MODERATE, CAME FROM SWING STATES, HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS IN THOSE STATES.

I THINK THAT TIM WALZ IS LESS IN THE MOLD OF THOSE CANDIDATES, BUT HE'S NOT A NONPRAGMATIC PICK, YOU KNOW.

THIS IS SOMETHING WHO WAS, OF COURSE, ELECTED SIX TIMES IN A CONSERVATIVE-LEANING SOUTHERN MINNESOTA DISTRICT, HE HAS SHOWN THAT HE CAN WIN, INCLUDING IN 016, WHEN TRUMP CARRIED THE DISTRICT BY 15 POINTS.

HE HAS A MORE PROGRESSIVE RECORD THAN A LOT OF THESE OTHER POTENTIAL VICE PRESIDENTIAL PICKS.

BUT I THINK WHAT THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN SEES IN HIM IS SOMEBODY THAT'S SHOWN THAT HE CAN TAKE SOME OF THESE PROGRESSIVE POSITIONS AND SELL THEM TO A LARGER AUDIENCE.

THEY WANT TO SEE WHAT THEY SAW IN THOSE HOUSE CAMPAIGNS, HOW HE WAS ABLE TO SURVIVE FOR THOSE SIX TERMS IN THE HOUSE AND THEY WANT HIM TO BRING THAT TO THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN TRAIL, IN ADDITION TO THE THINGS THAT HE GOT DONE AS GOVERNOR.

>> Eric: TEMPORARY SUGAR HIGH OR SUSTAINABLE FOR THE DEMOCRATS, THE LEVEL OF ENTHUSIASM?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO SUSTAIN ANYTHING THROUGH THREE MONTHS.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE LEFT NOW.

AND I WOULD SAY, THOUGH, THAT THE WAY THE DEMOCRATS ARE FEELING ABOUT THIS ELECTION RIGHT NOW, AND EVEN AFTER GOVERNOR WALZ WAS PICKED AS VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS' RUNNING MATE, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY FELT AT ANY POINT BEFORE IN THIS LECTION CYCLE.

THEY HAVE EASON TO BELIEVE THAT THEIR VOTERS ARE NOW MOBILIZED, THEY HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT SWING VOTERS ARE GIVING THEM A SECOND LOOK, AND ALL OF HAT'S BORNE OUT IN THE POLLS RIGHT NOW.

WE SEE VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS AND HER TICKET DOING BETTER THAN PRESIDENT BIDEN HAD DONE IN A LONG TIME.

WE SEE THEM LEADING WITHIN THE MARGIN OF ERROR IN MOST POLLS.

AND, SO, I THINK THAT THAT HAD A LITTLE BIT OF AN IMPACT ON THIS CHOICE.

IF YOU THINK THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE UP SOME GROUND, YOU GO WITH A MORE PRAGMATIC PICK, SOMEBODY WHO'S GOING TO WIN YOU A KEY STATE LIKE PENNSYLVANIA, LIKE ARIZONA.

WITH THIS PICK, I THINK THEY WENT WITH MORE OF A GOVERNING PICK, SOMEBODY WHO IS GOING TO BE A GOOD PARTNER IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND WHO THEY FEEL A LITTLE BIT MORE COMFORTABLE WITH ON A POLICY FRONT.

>> Cathy: I WONDER, YOU KNOW, WALZ SEEMS LIKE A GUY YOU WANT TO HAVE A BEER WITH.

MIGHT THEY BE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE LIKE THAT TO RELATE TO A SPECIFIC KIND OF DEMOGRAPHIC?

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME QUESTIONING AMONG, YOU KNOW, MIDDLE OF THE ROAD POLITICAL ANALYSTS, AT LEAST THE ONES THAT I PAY ATTENTION TO, LIKE WHY DIDN'T YOU PICK SOMEBODY LIKE JOSH SHAPIRO IN PENNSYLVANIA, WHO WON IN 2022 BY 14 SAINTS IN A SWING STATE, WHY DIDN'T YOU PICK MARK KELLY WHO WON TWO SENATE AISES -- RACES IN ARIZONA, ANOTHER SWING STATE.

SOMEONE WHO HAS PROVEN THAT THEY CAN APPEAL TO THE MIDDLE-OF-THE-ROAD VOTERS IN THESE KEY STATES.

I THINK WITH GOVERNOR WALZ, THE IDEA IS THAT HE HAS THAT PERSONAL APPEAL.

HE MAY NOT HAVE THE ELECTORAL RECORD, AT LEAST RECENTLY THAT SOME OF HESE OTHERS DO IN THESE SWING STATES, BUT HE'S SOMEBODY WHO KIND OF APPEALS ON A MORE PERSONAL, ALMOST VISCERAL LEVEL.

HE HAS THAT -- THOSE KINDS OF SENSIBILITIES THAT VOTERS IN, ESPECIALLY MIDWESTERN STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, MIGHT BE ABLE TO APPRECIATE.

AND MAYBE THAT DOESN'T SHOW UP IN THE NUMBERS THAT HE'S RUN UP IN HIS ELECTIONS, ALTHOUGH HE'S BEEN SUCCESSFUL THERE, TOO.

BUT IT'S KIND OF A BELIEF THAT HIS BRAND AND THE PERSON HE IS IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO COMPLEMENT THIS TICKET.

>> Eric: OU WROTE ABOUT THE TRUMP NEWS CONFERENCE THIS WEEK.

BASICALLY SAYING THERE'S NO COHERENT CASE BEING GIVEN AGAINST THE HARRIS/WALZ TICKET.

CAN YOU EXPAND ON THAT FOR US?

>> YEAH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE DEMOCRATS WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR TICKET, WHEN THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT PRESIDENT BIDEN, A LOT OF IT WAS, YOU KNOW, THAT HE WAS OLDER AND THAT WAS A CONCERN FOR VOTERS, BUT A LOT OF IT WAS ALSO THAT HE JUST WASN'T OUT THERE AS MUCH.

AND WHEN HE WAS MESSAGING ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN AND ABOUT DONALD TRUMP, IT WASN'T ALWAYS A VERY COHERENT MESSAGE.

IT WASN'T CONSISTENT.

IT WASN'T REPEATED OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

IT JUST WASN'T DEFINING HIS OP NEBT -- OPPONENT.

I THINK WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THAT A LITTLE BIT ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

SO WHEN DONALD TRUMP CAME OUT ON THURSDAY, DID THIS PRESS CONFERENCE, WHICH WAS HIS FIRST PUBLIC EVENT, BIG PUBLIC EVENT SINCE THE WEEKEND, WE DIDN'T SEE HIM KIND OF LAND ON A VERY CONSISTENT MESSAGE THAT POINTED TO THE POLICIES OF GOVERNOR WALZ AND VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS.

AND, SO, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE REPUBLICANS RIGHT NOW ARE STARTING TO GRAPPLE WITH A LITTLE BIT, LIKE THEY NEED TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE BALL, ESPECIALLY GIVEN VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS' CAMPAIGN SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN RISING.

BUT AT LEAST RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SAY THAT VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS MIGHT HAVE CHOSEN A MORE PROGRESSIVE RUNNING MATE, BUT UNLESS YOU CAN MAKE THE ARGUMENT AGAINST THAT, IT'S GOING TO BE A HARDER ARGUMENT TO MAKE.

>> Cathy: AARON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPENDING SOME OF YOUR FRIDAY WITH US.

WE APPRECIATE T. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

>> Eric: THANK YOU, SIR.

>> SURE THING.

THANKS.

>> Eric: YOU BET.

>> HOW MANY PAIRS OF SHOES DO YOU OWN?

>> SEVEN.

>> IS THAT TRUE?

>> YES, TWO RUNNING PAIRS, TWO BOOTS, A PAIR MY WIFE WON'T LET ME WEAR, AND TWO DRESS SHOES.

♪♪♪ >> ERIC: JOINING US NOW WITH THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE WALZ SELECTION ARE TWO PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED WITH HIM IN THE MINNESOTA HOUSE.

DFLER JAMIE LONG IS THE MAJORITY LEADER.

AND REPUBLICAN JIM NASH SERVES AS THE MINORITY WHIP.

YOUR DEALINGS WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THE RESULTS OF THE LAST COUPLE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS, DO YOU BUY THE PICTURE THAT'S BEING DRAWN?

>> I THINK THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS AN IMAGE WHEN HE WAS IN CONGRESS OF SOMEBODY WHO'S A VERY MODERATE PERSON, WHO IS YOUR, I THINK I HEARD, THE GUY YOU WOULD HAVE A BEER WITH, BUT I THINK THAT HIS RECORD AS GOVERNOR HAS BEEN ONE OF VERY EXTREME PROGRESSIVE, I'D EVEN ARGUE EVEN MORE PROGRESSIVE THAN KAMALA HARRIS, AND I THINK THAT AMERICA'S GOING TO WAKE UP TO THAT AFTER THE HONEYMOON, OR THE SUGAR HIGH, HAS PASSED AND THEY'RE GOING TO SEE THAT HE HAS PRESIDED OVER OUTRAGEOUS RECORD TAXES BEING RAISED, BLOWING THROUGH AN $18 BILLION SURPLUS, A BEVY OF SOCIAL ISSUES, LIKE SIGNING THE MOST EXTREME ABORTION LAW IN THE COUNTRY THAT PUTS US IN PARITY WITH NORTH KOREA AND CHINA.

AND THEN GREAT DEAL OF SPENDING ON SCHOOLS, BUT OUR TEST SCORES ARE PLUMMETING.

SO ALL THOSE THINGS, I THINK, THAT WE SEE IN THE LEGISLATURE ARE GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT HE HAS TO BE MEASURED BY.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT MINNESOTANS COULD BE ENORMOUSLY -- SHOULD BE ENORMOUSLY PROUD OF GOVERNOR WALZ BEING ON THIS TICKET.

I THINK THAT HE IS EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE ON THE STUMP AS WE'VE SEEN.

HE'S VERY LIKABLE.

I THINK THAT HIS RECORD IN MINNESOTA IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN BE PROUD OF, TOO.

THE BILLS THAT HE'S SIGNED INTO LAW, WHILE THEY DIDN'T GET JIM'S VOTE A LOT OF THE TIME, ARE VERY POPULAR ACROSS THE AISLE.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE, ABOUT UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS, ABOUT REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, 100% CLEAN ENERGY, GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION, THESE ARE THINGS THAT GET BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FROM VOTERS, EVEN IF THEY DON'T FROM POLITICIANS.

AND I THINK THAT GOVERNOR WALZ IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT RECORD ON THE ROAD AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS HE WAS PICKED.

>> Cathy: I'M WONDERING, YOU KNOW, DO YOU THINK HE'S READY FOR THIS?

IT CAN GET -- WELL, NATIONAL POLITICS, PRETTY SHARP ELBOWED.

THE GOVERNOR SOMETIMES CAN GET A LITTLE THIN SKINNED AND DEFENSIVE.

AND I'M WONDERING IF YOU THINK HE'S READY FOR THAT?

>> OH, I ABSOLUTELY THINK HE'S READY.

LOOK, HE'S BEEN A MEMBER OF CONGRESS FOR 12 YEARS, HE'S BEEN NOW IN HIS SECOND TERM AS GOVERNOR.

I THINK THAT HE HAS A RECORD, WHICH, FRANKLY, HAD MORE EXPERIENCE THAN A LOT OF THE OTHER FOLKS WHO WERE UP FOR VICE PRESIDENTIAL CONSIDERATION FROM THE KAMALA HARRIS TEAM.

AND I THINK THAT HE'S SOMEBODY WHO HAS A BROAD RECORD OF WINNING A PURPLE STATE, OF WINNING A DISTRICT, THAT HAS, AS WE HEARD, HAS BEEN WON BY TRUMP IN THE PAST.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK YOU SAID IT PERFECTLY, THAT HE CAN BE VERY THIN SKINNED.

AND I'VE SEEN HIM GET UNBELIEVABLY ANIMATED.

I THINK WHEN YOU GET TO THE LEVEL OF BEING ON THE NATIONAL DEBATE STAGE, WHEN QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE GREAT EXPERIENCE WITH COME AT YOU AND SOMETIMES QUITE FAST AND FURIOUS, THAT I THINK SOME OF HIS TEMPER IS GOING TO BUBBLE TO THE TOP.

AND I THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT AMERICANS NOTICE.

>> Eric: I WANT TO RUN THIS SCENARIO THAT I PICKED UP THIS WEEK WEEK BY YOU.

THE SCENARIO GOES THAT THE TRIFECTA HAS REACHED A HIGH-WATER MARK.

THAT THE NOVEMBER FORECAST WON'T BE ANYWHERE NEAR WHAT THE PAST COUPLE OF FORECASTS HAVE BEEN.

THAT SOME OF THE PROGRAMS IMPROVED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS MAY NOT BE SUSTAINABLE FINANCIALLY.

AND THAT THE THIRD TERM FOR A GOVERNOR IS TOUGH TO GET.

AND I'M WONDERING IF HE'S JUST FOUND AN INCREDIBLE PLACE TO LAND?

>> WELL, I THINK ANY TIME YOU'RE CALLED BY THE VICE PRESIDENT AND ASKED TO BE ON THE TICKET, YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT.

SO I DON'T THINK THIS WAS A JOB THAT GOVERNOR WALZ HAD BEEN ANGLING FOR FOR A LONG TIME.

I THINK THAT IT AS ONE THAT HE WAS CALLED TO, AND THAT HE IS WILLING TO SERVE IN, AND I THINK THAT IT IS AN INCREDIBLE PRIVILEGE FOR OUR STATE TO HAVE SOMEONE AS TALENTED AS HIM IN THIS ROLE.

>> I THINK THAT YOU HIT ON SOMETHING THAT RIGHT NOW IN KITCHEN TABLES AROUND MINNESOTA, PEOPLE ARE OOKING AT WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE WALZ ADMINISTRATION AND THEIR TAX POLICY HAS BEEN PASSED INTO LAW.

WE HAD AN $18 BILLION SURPLUS THAT THE GOVERNOR, DURING HIS CAMPAIGN SPEECH, SAID THAT WE'RE GOING TO RETURN THAT TO THE VOTERS.

THAT REALLY DIDN'T HAPPEN.

HE RAISED THE BIENNIAL BUDGET 40%, AND THE PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE THAT JAMIE JUST TALKED ABOUT IS GOING TO IMPACT BUSINESS OWNERS.

WE HAVE THE WORST BUSINESS TAX CLIMATE IN THE COUNTRY.

AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS IN AGGREGATE, PLUS A HANDFUL OF MANY OTHER THINGS, ARE GOING TO CAST A VISION OR A PALLOR ON THE WALZ ADMINISTRATION THAT I DON'T THINK THAT HE CAN LIVE THROUGH.

SO I THINK THIS IS A GREAT RIP CORD FOR HIM TO GET OUT.

>> Cathy: I'M WONDERING, THE HARRIS ADMINISTRATION IS TALKING ABOUT GOVERNOR WALZ'S RURAL ROOTS BEING IMPORTANT AND HIM TAKING THOSE -- THAT ETHOS, YOU KNOW, ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

BUT HE REALLY DIDN'T DO VERY WELL IN GREATER MINNESOTA.

SO I'M WONDERING HOW THAT'S GOING TO WORK?

>> WELL, I'VE HEARD FROM MY COLLEAGUES IN MICHIGAN, FROM COLLEAGUES IN WISCONSIN, THAT THEY ARE HEARING INCREDIBLY POSITIVE REVIEWS FROM THE GOVERNOR ON THE STUMP AND THAT HE'S APPEALING IN BROAD PARTS OF THE STATE.

I HEARD -- HAD A QUESTION FROM A NATIONAL REPORTER WHO SAID, HEY, HE WAS WEARING THAT CAMO HAT WHEN HE GOT THE CALL FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT.

THAT WAS AN ACT, RIGHT?

I SAID, YOU DON'T KNOW THE GOVERNOR VERY WELL, RIGHT?

HE HATES WEARING SUITS.

HE WAS THE BEST SHOT IN CONGRESS.

HE WAS SOMEBODY WHO LOVES TO GO HUNTING, LIKES WORKING ON HIS CAR.

HE'S VERY RELATABLE TO EVERYDAY PEOPLE.

AND I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S RARE, FRANKLY, IN A NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC POLITICIAN.

AND I THINK WILL HAVE REALLY BROAD APPEAL.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE RURAL ROOTS?

HE DIDN'T DO VERY WELL WHEN IT CAME TO RURAL MINNESOTA VOTERS.

>> WELL, HIS DEFINITION OF RURAL IS NOTHING BUT ROCKS AND COWS, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S GOING TO COME HOME TO ROOST.

THAT PEOPLE HO LOOK AT TIM WALZ AND THE WALZ ADMINISTRATION AND HIM BEING, AS I SAID EARLIER, MORE PROGRESSIVE AND EXTREME THAN KAMALA HARRIS, THEY'RE GOING TO FEEL LIKE RURAL AMERICA IS BEING LEFT IN THE DUST.

AND I THINK THAT THAT'S GAIN SOMETHING THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS TO OWN.

>> Eric: IMPACT ON THE HOUSE RACES?

DEMOCRATS ARE UP 70-64, ANY IMPACT ON THE DOWN-BALLOT RACES?

>> I THINK IT CAN ONLY HELP.

I THINK THAT HAVING GOVERNOR WALZ ON THE TICKET AND HAVING FOLKS VOTING FOR HARRIS/WALZ, VOTING FOR AMY KLOBUCHAR, I THINK THAT WILL HELP US.

BUT I DON'T THINK WE AVE ANY ILLUSIONS THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO WORK HARD.

>> Eric: I'M GETTING THE HOOK.

GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN, APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

♪♪♪ >> WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT COVID-19 IS THAT SOCIAL DISTANCING SLOWS IT DOWN.

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT COVID-19 THAT IF YOU CAN BUY A LITTLE BIT OF TIME AND YOU CAN GET FOLKS ADEQUATE HEALTHCARE, WE CAN DO BETTER AT THAT.

AND MINNESOTA HAS DONE BOTH OF THOSE THINGS.

AND I THINK IT JUST MAKES SENSE TO BE A LITTLE BIT CAUTIOUS.

WE UNDERSTAND, AND, I MEAN, I CAN'T SAY IT ENOUGH, THE AIN ECONOMICALLY THAT THIS IS CAUSING, THAT'S REAL, AND THOSE WHO SAY, LET'S GET OPENED UP BECAUSE IT'S HURTING US, THEY'RE RIGHT, BUT IF YOU DO IT TOO QUICKLY, THIS THING, AS WE SAW DOWN IN WORTHINGTON, YOU CAN GO FROM ZERO CASES TO 900 IN A WEEK.

>> IT WAS THE SUMMER OF 1984 WHEN “PURPLE RAIN” FIRST CAME OUT IN THEATERS.

I WAS AN ASPIRING ACTOR AT THE TIME, PLYING MY TRADE ON THE COMMUNITY THEATER CIRCUIT, WHEN I NOTICED SOMETHING: PRETTY MUCH EVERY RESUME OF PRETTY MUCH EVERY ACTOR IN THE TWIN CITIES AT THAT TIME BOASTED A “PURPLE RAIN” CREDIT.

NOW A HIGH SCHOOL BUDDY OF MINE DID, IN FACT, PLAY IN THE TIME AND WAS, IN FACT, A NOTICEABLE PART OF THAT FILM.

BUT THAT’S AS CLOSE I GOT.

AND — ANYWAY - I DOUBT “GUY IN PARACHUTE PANTS STANDING IN THE WAY BACK AT FIRST AVENUE” WOULD HAVE GIVEN MY STAGE CAREER MUCH OF A BOOST.

I’VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS WHILE SCROLLING THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA IN THE LAST FEW DAYS SINCE TIM WALZ BECAME THE DEMOCRATS’ VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.

SUDDENLY, MY FEEDS ARE FULL OF FOLKS WHO CLAIM TO BE — IN THE WORDS OF THE LATE, GREAT SID HARTMAN — CLOSE PERSONAL FRIENDS OF OUR GOVERNOR.

PEOPLE ARE POSTING SELFIES WITH WALZ ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

IN FRONT OF TRACTORS.

AT VIKINGS PRACTICES.

AND LOTS OF IMAGES OF WALZ SHMOOZING AND MUGGING FOR THE CAMERA AT THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR.

I GET IT.

I’VE LIVED IN MINNESOTA ALMOST ALL MY LIFE, AND I KNOW OUR STATE’S INFERIORITY COMPLEX WELL.

BASKING IN REFLECTED GLORY IS AS TIME-HONORED A TRADITION HERE AS THE TWINS LOSING TO THE YANKEES IN THE PLAYOFFS.

AND THERE’S SOMETHING DISTINCTLY MINNESOTAN ABOUT OUR GOVERNOR POTENTIALLY JOINING HUBERT HUMPHREY AND WALTER MONDALE AT THE VERY APEX OF BEING THE NUMBER 2 GUY.

SO ENJOY, MINNESOTA.

AND REMEMBER: IN A COUPLE DAYS, THE OLYMPICS WILL BE OVER AND WE CAN ALL START SETTING OUR SIGHTS ON GETTING A PICTURE WITH SUNI LEE.

♪♪♪ >> CATHY: TIM WALZ IS NOT THE ONLY ST. PAUL RESIDENT WITH A LOT ON HIS PLATE RIGHT NOW.

ST. PAUL MAYOR MELVIN CARTER WILL PRESENT HIS BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR THE CITY IN AN ADDRESS ON TUESDAY.

IT COMES AS DOWNTOWN ST. PAUL CONTINUES TO LOSE OFFICE WORKERS.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND MORE WITH St. PAUL MAYOR MELVIN CARTER.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK.

>> IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> Cathy: I'M GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT GOVERNOR WALZ.

WERE YOU SURPRISED?

>> NO, I WASN'T, AND I GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I WAS SURPRISED THAT I WASN'T SURPRISED.

BUT AS WE WENT THROUGH THAT PROCESS, AS HE PRETTY MUCH NAILED EVERY NATIONAL INTERVIEW THAT HE DID ON THE NEWS, AS HE WENT VIRAL OVER AND OVER GAIN, AS I HEARD THE VICE PRESIDENT REPEATING HIS ARGUMENTS ON TELEVISION AND AS WE LOOK AT JUST THE FACT THAT MINNESOTA HAS BEEN AS GOOD -- AT LEAST AS GOOD AS ANY STATE IN THE COUNTRY AT TRANSLATING PROGRESSIVE VALUES INTO ACTIONABLE, EXECUTED POLICY, I WASN'T SURPRISED AT ALL WHEN SHE CHOSE HIM.

>> Cathy: REPUBLICANS ALREADY TAKING AIM AT HIS RESPONSE TO THE RIOTS AFTER GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH.

AND IT'S GOING TO KEEP GOING ON.

IT'S GOING TO KEEP HAPPENING DURING THE COURSE OF THE CAMPAIGN.

YOU WERE RIGHT THERE.

WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THE RESPONSE?

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR REJOINDER TO ALL THAT?

>> WELL,S -- WELL, THAT IS AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION.

EVERYONE GOING AFTER THAT RESPONSE HAS ONE THING IN COMMON, THEY WEREN'T IN THE ROOM AT 2:00 A.M.

WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO NAVIGATE THE SITUATION.

ONE OF THE FUNCTIONS AS BEING A LEADER, YOU'RE THE ONE WHO HAS MAKE A DECISION WHERE THERE WERE NO GOOD OPTIONS ON THE TABLE, THAT'S CLEARLY A WEEK WHERE THERE'S NO GOOD OPTIONS ON THE TABLE.

THE MOMENT WE STARTED TO SEE UNREST IN THE St. PAUL, I CALLED THE GOVERNOR ASK ASKED HIM FOR SUPPORT, FOR NATIONAL GUARD SUPPORT, HE SAID, ABSOLUTELY, WE HAVE TO GET FINITE WITH REGARD TO WHAT THE SPECIFIC MISSION WAS HE WERE ASKING THEM TO ACCOMPLISH.

I THINK I MAYBE CAME INTO THAT THINKING, THERE WAS A SECRET UNDERGROUND LAYER, WHERE THERE WAS A BUNCH OF TROOPS IN BUNKS READY TO SPILL INTO VANS.

AS IT TURNS OUT, THOSE FOLKS GOT A CALL AT WORK SOMEWHERE, HAD TO CHECK OUT WITH THEIR BOSS, HAD TO GET PACKED, KISS THEIR SPOUSES, MAKE CHILD CARE PLANS, DRIVE IN SOME CASES ACROSS THE STATE, GET THERE, CHECK IN, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, THAT TOOK TIME.

I WOULD HAVE LOVED FOR IT TO TAKE LESS TIME, BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THE GOVERNOR DOESN'T HAVE A MAGIC WAND.

>> Eric: GOING TO -- THE 2025 BUDGET I GUESS YOU RELEASED ON TUESDAY.

>> YES.

>> Eric: YOU HAVE VERY AMBITIOUS PROGRAMS ABOUT REPARATIONS, MEDICAL DEBT, GUARANTEED ANNUAL INCOME.

IS THE MONEY THERE TO PROCEED WITH ALL OF THAT?

>> WE HAVE ERY AMBITIOUS PLANS AROUND A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS AND I APPRECIATE THAT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.

MANY OF THOSE THINGS ARE ONE-TIME FUNDING, MANY OF THOSE THINGS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO VERY SUCCESSFULLY COMPETE FOR WIN AND GRANT FUNDING AND FEDERAL FUNDING AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT FOR.

AND A LOT OF THOSE THINGS, YOU KNOW, WE FRANKLY, DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO PUT INTO OUR GENERAL FUND THAT'S FUNDED BY PROPERTY TAXES, WHICH IS WHERE PRIORITIES JUST COME INTO PLAY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING WITH FOLKS WHAT PRIORITIES HAVE LANDED ON.

>> Eric: BUT YOU HAVE BEEN ACCUSED BY ONE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER SUBTERRAIN PLOT TO SCUTTLE THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE FOR CHILD CARE SUBSIDIES THAT WOULD BE ON THE NOVEMBER 5th BALLOT, CORRECT?

>> WELL, THAT'S WEIRD.

I DON'T KNOW HOW I DO AN YURCHED GROUND PLOT ON SOMETHING I'VE BEEN SAYING ABOVE GROUND, OUT LOUD TO EVERYBODY.

THE QUESTION, I THINK THERE'S SOME FOLKS SIMPLIFYING THAT INTO A QUESTION, DO YOU LOVE CHILDREN OR NOT.

WE ALL LOVE CHILDREN, WHICH IS WHY I THINK WE HAVE A PROPOSAL TO DELIVER ON OVER $100 MILLION OF PROMISES WITH $20 MILLION IN FINANCING, WE'VE GOT TO BLOW THE WHISTLE AND SAY, WAIT A MINUTE, THIS, AS THEY SAY IN WALZ COUNTRY, THIS DOG ON'T HUNT.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW FOR THOSE OF US WHO WORK IN DOWNTOWN St. PAUL, STILL PRETTY QUIET DOWN HERE, THERE'S A LOT OF EMPTY OFFICE SPACE.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THAT?

>> I THINK THERE'S INCREDIBLY PROMISING ROAD OUT AHEAD FOR DOWNTOWN St. PAUL.

AND WE CAN ONLY GET THERE IF WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A ROCKY ROAD UNDERFOOT RIGHT NOW.

INCREDIBLE TRUTH IS, THERE'S A LOT OF PROMISE FOR DOWNTOWN St. PAUL.

AND I THINK THERE ARE FOLKS WHO LOOK AT THAT, SAY, HOW DO WE BUILD A DOWNTOWN THAT PEOPLE WANT TO BE IN?

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE REAL CHALLENGE.

WE HAVE A GLOBAL TIDAL WAVE OF PEOPLE DECAMPING FROM OFFICE SPACES AND St. PAUL IS NOT IMMUNE TO THAT.

BUT WHEN WE SEE PEOPLE CHOOSE WHERE THEY WANT TO LIVE, WHEN WE HAVE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS, WE HAVE 90% OCCUPANCY RATE IN OUR RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS.

>> Cathy: SOME OF THE OFFICE BUILDINGS?

>> ONE OF THE GOALS IS TO ABSOLUTELY CONVERT OFFICE BUILDINGS TO RESIDENTIAL, WHEN WE SEE PEOPLE DECIDE WHERE TO PUT BIG HUGE MAJOR EVENTS, LIKE THE MUSIC FESTIVAL, FROZEN 4, WORLD JUNIOR HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP, WE'RE IN AN ERA RIGHT NOW WHERE WE'RE MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN EVER IN OUR CITY AT WINNING THOSE TYPES OF EVENTS.

SO OUR JOB RIGHT NOW ISN'T TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO TRANSFORM DOWNTOWN -- IS AS A PLACE THEY WANT TO BE, OUR JOB IS TO BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO ENJOY THE CITY, THE DOWNTOWN IN WAYS THAT THEY'RE ALREADY TELLING US THEY LOVE OUR DOWNTOWN.

>> Eric: YOU RELEASE THE BUDGET ON TUESDAY, SOMETIME IN DECEMBER IT'S FINALIZED, IS THAT THE TIMELINE?

>> THE CITY COUNCIL WILL HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON EVERY ASPECT OF IT, AND WE'LL DETERMINE IT IN DECEMBER.

>> Cathy: I GOT TO ASK, SUNI LEE, IS THERE GOING TO BE A SUNI LEE STREET, AVENUE, IN St. PAUL?

>> WE'VE GOT A FIGURE OUT A LOT OF WAYS.

GOOD TIME FOR St. PAUL, JOE MAUER IN THE HALL OF FAME, SUNI LEE COMING HOME WITH OLYMPIC HARDWARE, A GUY MOVING TO WASHINGTON, D.C., SOON, GOO GOOD TIME TO BE A St. PAULITE.

>> Eric: THANKS, MAYOR.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

♪♪♪ >> THIS IS COOKIE SALAD, WHICH SAYS IT ALL.

THIS IS A RECIPE OF MY WIFE'S 100-YEAR-OLD GRANDMOTHER.

HI, VERA.

IT IS BUTTER MILK, VANILLA PUDDING, MANDARIN ORANGES, THERE'S A HEALTHY SIDE IN IT, AND FUDGE-STRIPED COOKIES.

WHICH, WE HAD A PACKAGE WAITING TO COOK THIS TODAY, IT WAS GONE, MY 13-YEAR-OLD ATE IT ALL, SO THIS IS A VERY POPULAR DISH AT OUR THANKSGIVING.

>> Eric: JOINING US NOW WITH THEIR CAMPAIGN COMMENTS ARE A COUPLE OF POLITICAL SCIENTISTS, KATHRYN PEARSON, PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, CINDY RUGELEY IS THE HEAD OF THE POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT AT UMD.

WHO VOTES FOR PRESIDENT BASED ON THE RUNNING MATE?

>> VIRTUALLY NO ONE.

SO THIS IS A CONTEST BETWEEN TRUMP AND HARRIS.

BUT NONETHELESS, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE RUNNING MATES AREN'T IMPORTANT FOR GENERATING EXCITEMENT AND ENTHUSIASM AND SOME CRITICISM.

>> Eric: SO IS THIS A NET PLUS PLUS PLUS FOR THE DEMOCRATS, OR WE DON'T KNOW YET BASED ON WHAT HAPPENS IN THE NEXT 90 DAYS?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT, WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING YET.

I MEAN, SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED IN THIS CAMPAIGN.

WHEN PEOPLE SAY, THIS IS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, I KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, HEY REALLY DON'T.

EVERY MODEL THAT WE'VE ALL USED TO PREDICT THESE THINGS IS TOTALLY SCRAMBLED.

AGAIN, VICE PRESIDENTS TRADITIONALLY HAVE NOT MADE THAT BIG A DIFFERENCE.

IT DOES SAY SOMETHING ABOUT DECISION MAKING OF THE HEAD OF A TICKET, BUT, OTHERWISE, GENERALLY NOT.

>> Cathy: THIS IS A VERY LIBERAL, PROGRESSIVE TICKET.

AND I'M WONDERING, THEN, DOES IT TURN OFF ANY MODERATE VOTERS OR SPUR ORE PROGRESSIVES TO GET OUT THERE AND VOTE?

>> WELL, DEFINITELY, FOR ANY CAMPAIGN, THEY BOTH NEED TO MOBILIZE THEIR BASE AND WOULD INDEPENDENT -- WOO INDEPENDENT VOTERS.

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER, THERE ARE FEWER INDEPENDENT VOTERS THAN SORT OF YOUR AVERAGE POLL WOULD HAVE YOU BELIEVE.

A LOT OF POLLS REPORT THAT ABOUT 30% OF THE AMERICAN ELECTORATE IS INDEPENDENT.

BUT THAT'S NOT ACCURATE.

THAT INCLUDES INDEPENDENT LEANERS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO INITIALLY SAY, OH, I'M AN INDEPENDENT, BUT THEN WHEN PRESSED BY POLLSTERS, SAY THAT THEY LEAN TOWARD REPUBLICANS OR LEAN TOWARDS DEMOCRATS.

AND THOSE INDEPENDENT LEANERS ALMOST VOTE IN A PARTISAN WAY OR TYPICALLY VOTE IN A PARTISAN WAY.

SO THE ACTUAL SEGMENT OF THE ELECTORATE THAT IS AN INDEPENDENT IS BOUT 8 TO 10%.

AND THOSE VOTERS ARE THE LEAST ATTENTIVE VOTERS TO POLITICS.

SO THEY MAY NOT EVEN BE TUNING IN QUITE YET.

SO, IT IS IMPORTANT TO WIN OVER INDEPENDENT VOTERS, PARTICULARLY IN SWING STATES, WHERE THEY COULD MAKE THE CRITICAL DIFFERENCE, BUT MOBILIZING THE BASE IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

>> Cathy: BOTH OF YOU TEACH YOUNG PEOPLE, OF COURSE, DOES IT THEN FIRE UP THIS YOUNGER DEMOGRAPHIC THAT HAS NOT BEEN VERY EXCITED TO THIS POINT?

>> I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SEEING.

AND I WANT TO BUILD A LITTLE BIT OFF WHAT KATHRYN SAID, BECAUSE I TOTALLY AGREE WITH HER, ONE OF THE PROBLEMS BIDEN HAD IS THAT HE WASN'T -- HE COULDN'T GET THE WAYS.

THE BASE.

THEY WEREN'T COMING ON BOARD, THEY WERE THE ONES SITTING OUT THERE SAYING, YOU KNOW, MAYBE BRAIN WORMS AREN'T SO BAD.

AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, YOUNGER VOTERS RIGHT NOW, THEY SEEM TO BE ENERGIZED MORE THAN THEY HAVE IN THE PAST.

AND I THINK THAT WAS AN ADVANTAGE FOR WALZ IS THAT HE WON THE INTERNET.

>> DEFINITELY.

AND YOUNGER OTERS, TODAY'S SORT OF YOUNG VOTERS SORT OF TREND DEMOCRATIC, BUT THIS IS THE LEAST ENGAGED COHORT IN TERMS OF VOTE TURNOUT.

EVEN CATCHING UP WITH VOTE TURNOUT IS VERY HELPFUL TO THE DEMOCRATS IF IT HAPPENS.

>> Eric: GENDER GAP, IS IT UNUSUALLY LARGE?

TRUMP DOING BETTER WITH MEN?

HARRIS DOING BETTER WITH WOMEN?

>> IT'S LARGE.

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

I MEAN, I MEAN, PARTICULARLY ON THE WOMEN'S SIDE.

I MEAN, I THINK MEN HAVE ALWAYS LEANED A LITTLE BIT MORE REPUBLICAN.

>> RIGHT.

THE GENDER GAP FIRST EMERGED IN 1980 WHERE WOMEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS THAN REPUBLICANS.

AND WE'VE SEEN THAT CONSISTENTLY IN EVERY PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION EVER SINCE.

BUT NONETHELESS, IT DOES SEEM AT LEAST POLLS SUGGEST, TO BE SLIGHTLY LARGER.

>> Eric: HOW HAS THAT CHANGED OR IS THAT PRETTY MUCH SET IN STONE FOR NOVEMBER?

CAN THOSE VOTERS BE MOVED SOMEHOW?

>> I THINK SOME VOTERS CAN BE MOVED.

I THINK ONE INTERESTING ISSUE THAT WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT IN 2022 WHERE THERE'S A GENDER GAP IS THE ISSUE OF ABORTION.

AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH GOING ON IN THIS CAMPAIGN BUT I SUSPECT THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED BRAIN WORMS SO LET'S TALK ABOUT ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR. HAS THIS -- ALL THIS MOMENTUM AND JOY AND ENTHUSIASM TAKEN THE STEAM OUT OF HIS ENGINE?

>> I THINK THAT, ONE, HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY MONEY.

THE ONLY MONEY WE CAN HAVE IS TO TRY TO GET ON BALLOTS.

YEAH, I THINK SO.

I MEAN, IT SEEMS LIKE NOW YOU'RE HEARING A LOT OF THE PODCASTERS SAYING, WELL, WE LIKE KENNEDY BETTER NOW.

SO, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO IS NOT PAY TOO MUCH ATTENTION TO POLLS AND OTHER THINGS RIGHT NOW.

BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL VERY VOLATILE.

I MEAN, WE'VE GONE FROM ONE BIG EVENT TO THE NEXT TO THE NEXT.

AND, SO, SURELY AT SOME POINT THERE WILL BE A COOLING-DOWN PERIOD.

>> I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

THE DEMOCRATS WILL GET SORT OF ANOTHER BUMP AFTER THE DNC, THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION.

SO START TO LOOK AT POLLS SORT OF AFTER LABOR DAY AND LOOK AT POLL AVERAGES NOT ANY ONE POLL BECAUSE, OF COURSE, POLLS ARE SNAPSHOTS IN TIME, NOT ACTUAL ELECTION PREDICTIONS.

>> Eric: WHY IS THE UPPER MIDWEST STILL UP FOR GRABS?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A LOT OF IT DEALS WITH HOW WE'RE POLARIZED NOW BETWEEN URBAN, NONURBAN VOTERS.

AND NONURBAN VOTERS TEND TO GO MORE REPUBLICAN.

URBAN TEND TO GO MORE DEMOCRAT.

AND WHEN WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE RURAL VOTE, HOW THEY'RE SWINGING SO HARD TO THE RIGHT, BUT, I MEAN, I THINK THAT CONSERVATIVES AND REPUBLICANS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH URBAN VOTERS AND SUBURBAN VOTERS.

>> Cathy: TRADITIONALLY, BY THE WAY, HOW DO CAMPAIGNS USE THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE AND HOW MIGHT THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN USE WALZ?

>> CERTAINLY AS A SURROGATE TO GO OUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

AND THEN IT'S ALSO INTERESTING TO SEE THIS DYNAMIC OF VANCE AND WALZ SORT OF GOING AFTER ONE ANOTHER.

I MEAN, THAT IS ITS OWN INTERESTING DYNAMIC WITH, OF COURSE, EACH OF THEM HAVING THEIR OWN SORT OF RURAL ROOTS, WITH VERY DIFFERENT POLICY POSITIONS TODAY AND LIFE PATHS.

>> Eric: HOPE YOU'LL CONTINUE TO JOIN US AS THIS TRAIL CONTINUES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Cathy: IT WILL BE INTERESTING.

>> Eric: THANK YOU, BOTH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: APPRECIATE IT.

>> CATHY: SINGER AND PIANIST JAMES "CORNBREAD" HARRIS AND HIS BAND WILL BE PLAYING ON SUNDAY AT PALMER'S BAR IN MINNEAPOLIS.

THAT THE BLUESMAN IS STILL PERFORMING AT AGE 97 IS ONE THE MANY REMARKABLE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT "CORNBREAD" HARRIS.

YOU CAN LEARN MANY MORE FROM A NEW BIOGRAPHY.

THE AUTHOR WILL JOIN US IN A MINUTE, BUT FIRST LET'S HEAR FROM HARRIS HIMSELF.

IN THIS 2015 MINNESOTA ORIGINALS PROGRAM, HE TALKED ABOUT PERFORMING IN FRONT OF PEOPLE FOR THE FIRST TIME WHILE HE WAS IN THE ARMY.

>> WHEN I WENT TO THE SERVICE, I WOULD PLAY IN THE DAY ROOM.

THEY WOULD TAKE THEIR CHAIRS, SIT AROUND THE PIANO AND LISTEN TO ME PLAY MY LITTLE THREE, FOUR SONGS.

♪♪♪ AND WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE SERVICE, I SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT?

PEOPLE LIKE THE MUSIC, SO I WENT TO SMITH'S MUSIC COMPANY AND BOUGHT A GUITAR BOOK.

SO I LEARNED TO PLAY MANY MANY SONGS, AS LONG AS I GOT THE WORDS, THE MELODY, AND THE CHORD PROGRESSION, I COULD PLAY PRET NEAR ANY SONG, NOT THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN BUT REALLY CLOSE TO THE SONG.

♪♪♪ >> CATHY: ANDREA SWENSSON JOINS US NOW AND IS THE AUTHOR OF DEEPER BLUES: THE LIFE, SONGS, AND SALVATION OF CORNBREAD HARRIS.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> SO GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> Cathy: GOSH, HE'S GOT SUCH A COOL STORY.

I MEAN, AN INTERESTING STORY BUT A REALLY TOUGH STORY.

I MEAN, CORNBREAD JUST HAD SO MANY CHALLENGES IN HIS LIFE.

>> HE ABSOLUTELY HAS.

YOU KNOW, HE WAS BORN ALMOST A FULL CENTURY AGO AND LOST HIS PARENTS AS A YOUNG BOY AND WAS PASSED AROUND TO ALL THESE FOSTER HOMES BEFORE FINALLY ENDING UP IN St. PAUL WITH HIS GRANDPARENTS.

BUT HE HAS THIS REALLY BEAUTIFUL WAY OF LOOKING AT THE WORLD AND HE SAYS, ALL OF MY HARDSHIPS JUST ENDED UP TO BE BLESSINGS.

AND HE REALLY COUNTS ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HE'S HAD TO OVERCOME IN HIS LIFE AS GIFTS.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, I THINK, AND I'M GOING TO JUST INTERRUPT YOU HERE MOMENTARILY, MY FRIEND, I BELIEVE YOUR MIC HAS FALLEN OFF.

SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS PUT THE MIC BACK ON YOU.

AND WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT WITHOUT PEOPLE WATCHING.

AND TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE, THE CHALLENGE OF LIVE TELEVISION IS ALWAYS GOOD, RIGHT?

>> I LOVE IT.

>> Cathy: LET'S TALK ABOUT MUSIC BEING CORNBREAD'S LIFE AND I MENTIONED HIS TO YOU, THAT MY FATHER, FRITZ, LOVED AUGGIE GARCIA, THOUGHT HE WAS A COOL DUDE.

AND I DID NOT KNOW THAT CORNBREAD WAS WITH AUGGIE GARCIA, FOR FOLKS WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR, WASN'T AUGGIE THE FIRST ROCK 'N ROLLERS IN THE TWIN CITIES?

>> HE AS, PLAYING IN THE MENDOTA CLUB SOUTH OF HERE AND CORNBREAD WAS HIS FIRST PIANO PLAYER.

HE REALLY WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN DEVELOPING THAT SOUND OF THAT BAND AND HE RECORDED WITH AUGGIE AND WAS ON THE FIRST 45s THAT THE AUGGIE GARCIA QUINTET RELEASED.

AUGGIE WAS AN RECORD SAYING, IT'S REALLY CORNBREAD THAT BROUGHT THAT SHUFFLE OF TO OUR SOUND, THAT KIND OF R & B SENSIBILITY.

>> Eric: HE HAS A SON THAT TURNS OUT TO BE ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PRODUCERS IN HISTORY.

>> ROCK 'N ROLL HALL OF FAMER, JIMMY JAM, YES.

>> Eric: SO YOU PLAYED A PART IN GETTING THOSE GUYS TOGETHER?

>> I DID.

>> Eric: TELL US.

>> WELL, THEY WERE ESTRANGED FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS, WHICH IS REALLY INCREDIBLE TO THINK ABOUT.

THEY STOPPED COMMUNICATING AROUND THE TIME JIMMY WAS 15.

AND IN 2021, I GOT A TEXT FROM Mr. JAM, SAYING, DO YOU KNOW HOW TO GET AHOLD OF MY DAD?

AND I SAID, IN FACT, I DO.

AND I'D BE HONORED TO HELP YOU CONNECT WITH HIM.

AND I DIDN'T KNOW THE FULL STORY AT THE TIME, BUT THEN AFTER THEY MET, JIMMY TEXTED AGAIN AND SAID THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME WE'D SPOKEN IN ABOUT 35 YEARS.

>> Eric: HOW DID YOU DO IT?

>> I HAVE NO IDEA.

I THINK I'M MAYBE JUST AN UNASSUMING MIDWESTERN LADY AND THEY SAID, SHE'S THE ONE, SHE'S GOING TO PUT US BACK TOGETHER.

BUT OVER TIME, YOU KNOW, WE HAD O IDEA IF THAT WOULD BE A ONE-OFF MEETING.

AND NOW THEY'VE HAD THIS RELATIONSHIP THAT'S REALLY BEEN ABLE TO BLOSSOM.

WE REGULARLY HAVE ZOOM CALLS BETWEEN CORNBREAD AND JIMMY, THEY'VE BEEN IN EACH OTHER'S LIVES THESE PAST THREE YEARS.

AND NOW JIMMY'S COMING HOME TO PLAY WITH HIS DAD AT THIS BOOK LAUNCH SHOW WHICH I'M JUST BEYOND EXCITED ABOUT.

>> Cathy: I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT, OBVIOUSLY.

OBVIOUSLY, TOO, MUSIC IS CORNBREAD'S LIFE, RIGHT?

I MEAN, IT GIVES HIM, IT SEEMS, THE FACT THAT HE'S AT PALMER'S EVERY WEEK, HE'S 97, IT CLEARLY GIVES HIM LIFE, IN A SENSE, RIGHT?

>> YES.

IT'S ACTUALLY HARD TO TALK ABOUT WITHOUT SOUNDING VERY CORNY, BUT I REALLY DO THINK IT IS SUCH A TESTAMENT TO THE HEALING POWER OF MUSIC THAT CORNBREAD IS STILL GOING AND HE'S STILL GIGGING AND I SEE IT EVERY TIME I SIT ACROSS FROM HIM IN HIS DINING ROOM.

HE WILL WALK INTO THE ROOM AND HE'S MOVING, YOU KNOW, SLOWER THESE DAYS, HE IS 97, BUT THEN AS SOON AS THOSE FINGERS HIT THE KEYS, YOU CAN JUST SEE HIM ENERGIZED AND YOU CAN SEE HIM CONNECTING WITH HIS MUSIC AND IT'S REALLY REALLY TOUCHING.

>> Eric: HIS NICKNAME?

>> CORNBREAD, IT'S A SONG, HE WROTE A SONG CALLED CORNBREAD.

>> Eric: HOW DID THAT ONE PARTICULARLY STICK AS A NICKNAME?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I MEAN, I THINK IT KIND OF BECAME A CALLING CARD.

ACTUALLY BACK AS EARLY AS THE 1960s WHEN HE WAS PLAYING SUPPER CLUBS AROUND TOWN, HE WOULD PLAY THESE FOUR, FIVE-HOUR-LONG GIGS, ENTERTAINING PEOPLE WHILE THEY WENT OUT TO EAT, AVE A DRINK.

AND HE WOULD ALWAYS GET THIS REQUEST TO PLAY THE CORNBREAD SONG.

IT'S A REALLY LONG SONG, IT GOES FOR LIKE TEN MINUTES, HE LISTS ALL THESE THINGS THAT PAIR WELL WITH CORNBREAD.

AND I THINK IT JUST DELIGHTED PEOPLE ENOUGH THAT HE BECAME KNOWN AS CORNBREAD.

>> Cathy: CLEARLY HE DELIGHTS YOU.

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM HIM?

>> OH, HE'S BROUGHT SO MUCH JOY INTO MY LIFE.

AND I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT HAVING A POSITIVE OUTLOOK AND DOING THINGS FOR OTHER PEOPLE.

I THINK THE CONNECTION THAT HE FEELS WITH PEOPLE THROUGH HIS MUSIC HAS REALLY TOUCHED ME PERSONALLY AND THE CONNECTION THAT I FEEL TO HIM NOW HAS JUST BROUGHT SO MUCH LIGHT INTO MY WORLD.

SO, HE'S JUST A GIFT.

>> Eric: CEDAR CULTURE CENTER ON THE WEST BANK, NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT, 8:00 P.M. >> BE THERE.

IT'S GOING TO BE A HISTORIC EVENING.

>> Eric: HAVE A GREAT TIME.

>> I CANNOT WAIT.

THANK YOU.

>> Eric: GOOD LUCK WITH THE BOOK.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

>> I THINK THE SIMPLICITY THAT GOT BROUGHT UP ON IT, WE'RE GOING TO DEFUND EVERYTHING, THE SOPHISTICATION AROUND THAT ARGUMENT IS S THAT WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS NOT WORKING.

JUST HAVING, YOU KNOW, A BIGGER POLICE BUDGET IS NO GUARANTEE THAT CRIME RATES GO DOWN.

AND IT CERTAINLY HASN'T BEEN A GUARANTEE THAT WE STOP, YOU KNOW, POLICE-INVOLVED SHOOTINGS.

>> ERIC: IT'S TIME TO SORT THROUGH THIS WEEK'S BIG POLITICAL NEWS WITH A PANEL OF PUNDITS.

WE'LL START WITH THE REPUBLICANS.

ANDY BREHM IS A LAWYER WHO SERVED AS U.S.

SENATOR IN NORM COLEMAN'S PRESS SECRETARY.

ANNETTE MEEKS IS A FORMER CONGRESSIONAL STAFFER WHO NOW HEADS THE FREEDOM FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA.

ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE WE HAVE KARLA BIGHAM, A FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE WHO IS NOW A WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

AND JANAE BATES, A MINISTER AND ORGANIZER WHO WORKS ON SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ECONOMIC ISSUES.

ANDY, HOW MUCH IS THIS GEORGE FLOYD AFTERMATH STUFF GOING TO PLAY IN THE CAMPAIGN GOING FORWARD?

IS IT JUST A TEMPORARY ISSUE OR DO YOU SEE THAT AS A LONGSTANDING ONE GOING FORWARD?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S A MAJOR LIABILITY.

MOSTLY BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY BEING COVERED BY THE NATIONAL MEDIA, WHICH HAS A LITTLE BIT MORE SCRUTINY THAN THE LOCAL MEDIA HERE.

I MEAN, THE FAWNING OVER GOVERNOR WALZ HAS ALWAYS BEEN PRETTY HEAVY, BUT LATELY IT'S UNLIKE ANYTHING WE'VE SEEN.

YEAH, YOU HAVE DAYS OF DELAY.

I LIVED IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS AT THE TIME.

YOU I REMEMBER WHAT -- I REMEMBER WHAT THAT WAS LIKE.

HE REALLY WAS JUST ABSENT.

I REMEMBER SAYING NEWS ANCHORS SAYING, WHERE IS THE GOVERNOR?

I THINK AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE SEE THAT, IT'S PART OF HIS RECORD, IT IS WHAT IT IS.

BUT IT HAD CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES THAT LIVE ON TODAY.

I MEAN, TAKE A WALK IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS, IT IS NOT THE SAME CITY.

AND I THINK NOT ONLY WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY IN DEALING WITH IT IN THE WAY HE DID, YOU KNOW, ALLOWED THE RIOTS TO GO ON FOR FAR LONGER THAN THEY SHOULD HAVE, BUT IT ALSO SENT A MESSAGE TO PEOPLE IN THE TWIN CITIES THAT, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT, DO WHATEVER YOU WANT.

AND, SO, THE LAWLESSNESS, I THINK IN A LOT OF WAYS CAME FROM THAT.

>> YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT MINNEAPOLIS WAS GROUND ZERO FOR WHAT OCCURRED, THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.

BUT THE AFTERMATH OF THAT AND THE HEALING AFTER THE RACIAL RECKONING, TIM WALZ WAS -- BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER.

HE BROUGHT JUSTICE LEADERS, RELIGIOUS LEADERS, SOCIAL LEADERS TOGETHER TO HEAL.

AND THAT REALLY TRANSCENDED ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO START CONVERSATIONS.

AND I THINK THAT THE COUNTRY SEES THAT, WHAT YOU'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW GOVERNOR WALZ THAT HAS LEAPT INTO THE NATIONAL NEWS, YOU'RE SEEING HAT IN HIS CHARACTER, THAT WE HAVE SEEN HERE IN MINNESOTA, THE CARING, THE COMPASSIONATE TIM WALZ IS WHAT WAS SEEN DURING THAT IME AS WELL.

>> YEAH, I WOULD AGREE.

I MEAN, I THINK WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS THE TIM WALZ WHO IS REALLY ABOUT BEING WITH PEOPLE ON THE GROUND, AND WHAT WE'RE ALSO SEEING IS THAT THE CRITICISMS THAT ARE COMING UP ACTUALLY TEND TO HAPPEN FROM BOTH SIDES IN THE SAME WAY THAT THE APPLAUSE IS HAPPENING FROM BOTH SIDES.

AND, SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S, FRANKLY, NOT SURPRISING THAT THERE'S RECORDINGS OF TRUMP CONGRATULATING HIM AND ALSO LEADERS ON THE GROUND WHO ARE VERY GRATEFUL THAT HE MADE SURE THAT KEITH ELLISON TOOK THE CASE.

>> IF I WERE ADVISING THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN, WHICH I AM NOT, BUT IF I WERE THEM, THAT'S ALL I'D RUN ADS ABOUT, WOULD BE, WE HAVE A VERY LITTLE BIT OF HEALING THAT HAS OCCURRED SINCE THE RIOTS OF 2020 IN MINNEAPOLIS AND St. PAUL.

AND IF I WERE THEM, THAT'S ALL I WOULD TALK ABOUT.

I WOULD TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT WALZ WAS NOT IN ACTION, OUR MAYOR WAS ON MSNBC NOT IN ACTION, WHILE OUR CITY BURNED AND DID INCREDIBLE DAMAGE, NOT ONLY TO THE BUILDINGS BUT TO THE PSYCHE OF THE CITY AND, FRANKLY, THE STATE.

BUT I WOULD ALSO ALK ABOUT KAMALA HARRIS' ROLE OF BAILING THEM OUT, ONCE THEY CAUGHT THESE PEOPLE.

SHE WAS THERE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO BAIL THEM OUT, PEOPLE WHO ALMOST DESTROYED OUR CITY.

AND I THINK THAT'S UNCONSCIONABLE, AND IF I WERE THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN, THAT'S ALL I'D TALK ABOUT.

>> Cathy: GENERAL IDEA.

>> YEAH, I MEAN -- JENEA, THE THING WE HAVE TO REMEMBER IS THE UPRISING HAPPENED BECAUSE OF A LONG HISTORY OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN ABOUT POLICE VIOLENCE AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY WITH ONE PARTICULAR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

TO CALL IT A RIOT I THINK IS UNFAIR.

IT WAS ABSOLUTELY AN UPRISING, IT WAS A CRY FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE.

AND THERE HAS ABSOLUTELY BEEN A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE TO START TO HEAL PEOPLE AFTER THAT HAPPENED.

AND, SO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK WE CAN UNDERMINE OR DISREGARD A LOT OF THE WORK THAT HAS GONE IN, YOU KNOW, WITH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, INCLUDING GOVERNOR WALZ.

AND THOSE WHO ARE THE CLOSEST TO THE PAIN.

>> Cathy: ANDY, I'M WONDERING, WHEN THE GOVERNOR WAS IN CONGRESS, HE WAS KIND OF A MODERATE BLUE DOG DEMOCRAT, RIGHT?

AND, GOSH, EVEN FIVE YEARS AGO, WHEN WE WERE TALKING TO HIM, HE CALLED HIMSELF A PROGRESSIVE.

AND -- HE CALLS HIMSELF A PROGRESSIVE RIGHT NOW.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ENT INTO TRA TRANSFORMATION AND DO YOU THINK SOME OF THE MORE MODERATE VOTERS WILL BUY THIS?

>> WELL, I REMEMBER WELL WHEN HE WAS IN CONGRESS, AND I WAS SOMEWHAT OF A FAN OF HIS, I THOUGHT HE WAS A VOICE OF MODERATION AND REASON.

AND WHEN HE BECAME GOVERNOR, I EXPECTED A LOT OF THAT.

SO I WASN'T TERRIBLY ALARMED.

WHEN HE BECAME GOVERNOR.

BUT IT'S NOT REALLY A TALKING POINT.

I MEAN, HE'S A PROGRESSIVE IS REALLY PUTTING IT LIGHTLY.

HE'S ONE OF THE MOST FAR LEFT GOVERNORS IN THE COUNTRY.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE MY WORD FOR T. JUST LOOK AT THE LAWS THAT HE SIGNED INTO LAW JUST LESS THAN TWO YEARS AGO.

I MEAN, YOU'RE TALKING BOUT SPENDING AN ENTIRE SURPLUS, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT COLLEGE TUITION FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT RADICAL ABORTION POLICIES, UP UNTIL BIRTH, I MEAN, THERE'S JUST ABSOLUTELY NO MODERATION WHATSOEVER.

WHY HE DID THAT, I DON'T KNOW.

I'LL TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD THAT HE'S JUST A LEGITIMATE -- THAT HE BELIEVES THIS STUFF.

I ACTUALLY THINK HE DOES AND I THINK IF HE WERE ELECTED, HE WOULD PUSH THAT.

I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY KAMALA HARRIS WANTED HIM.

SHE IS ALSO FAR LEFT.

AND WANTS SOMEONE THERE TO DO THAT.

SO WE'LL SEE IF THE COUNTRY'S IN THE MOOD FOR THAT.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK WHY YOU'RE SEEING SUCH LARGE CROWDS AT THE HARRIS/WALZ EVENTS IS BECAUSE AMERICA WANTS THE HOPE AND THE POSITIVITY THAT ISN'T HAPPENING.

AND I THINK WHEN, YOU KNOW, THE NEGATIVITY THAT HAS HAPPENED AND THE MESSAGING FROM DONALD TRUMP HAS REALLY IMPACTED THE PSYCHE OF THE COUNTRY.

SO, IF YOU'RE CALLING WALZ A PROGRESSIVE AND THAT MEANT FEEDING CHILDREN AT SCHOOL, CHILD CARE, MAKING THAT MORE AFFORDABLE, INVESTING IN BROADBAND, INVESTING IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR SCHOOLS ARE FUNDED ND MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HAVING A MORE PROGRESSIVE TAX SYSTEM, YOU KNOW, HEN HE'S GOING TO GO TALK ABOUT ALL THAT STUFF ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

BUT RIGHT NOW MINNESOTA SHOULD BE PROUD THAT THIS COUNTRY IS KNOWING THE HARD WORK THAT HE AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FLANAGAN HAVE PUT IN WITH THE HELP OF AND THE INPUT OF MINNESOTANS.

>> I'M WILLING TO MAKE A GUESS HERE TONIGHT THAT CALIFORNIA IS GOING TO GO FOR THAT TICKET.

THEY ALREADY WERE.

SO THAT'S WHERE I LOOK AT WALZ, NOT BRINGING ANYTHING TO THE TICKET.

SOMEBODY LIKE GOVERNOR JOSH SHAPIRO OF PENNSYLVANIA, WHO'S VIEWED AS A MUCH MORE MODERATE, JEWISH CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRAT IN MANY WAYS, HE'S FOR SCHOOL CHOICE, THINGS LIKE THAT, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN A MUCH MORE INTERESTING CHOICE AND BROUGHT SOMEBODY TO THE DANCE, IF YOU WILL, THAT SHE ISN'T GOING TO GET.

AND, SO, I THINK PENNSYLVANIA WILL BE THE TELLING STATE FOR ME ON ELECTION NIGHT, WHICH SHE DOESN'T CARRY IT, THE ELECTION WILL BE OVER, IT WILL GO TO DONALD TRUMP BECAUSE SHE PICKED WALZ WHO DELIVERS NO STATE.

>> YEAH, NO, I STRONGLY DISAGREE.

I THINK WHAT WE SAW WITH HER CHOOSING GOVERNOR WALZ WAS ACTUALLY WANTING TO CHOOSE THE ONE WHO IS JUST LIKE MOST PEOPLE.

I MEAN, WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN, LIKE, THE DIGGING THAT FOLKS ARE TRYING TO FIND OUT ABOUT HIM, FINDING OUT THAT, OH, HE HAPPENS TO BE A VETERAN, H, HE WAS A TEACHER, OH, HE DOESN'T OWN A BUNCH OF PROPERTIES AND STOCKS, HE -- HE HAS PROBABLY THE NET INCOME -- YOU KNOW, OF WHAT MOST OF US HAVE.

AND, SO, THEY ACTUALLY WANTED SOMEONE WHO IS REAL AND THEY WANT SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO CREATE A FUTURE FOR THIS COUNTRY THAT'S GOING TO LOOK FAR BETTER THAN THE DOOM AND GLOOM THAT HAS BEEN PAINTED FOR US.

>> THE PROBLEM WITH THAT, THOUGH, A LOT OF THAT IS SUPERFICIAL STUFF.

IT'S LIKE, WELL, HE WEARS CAMO.

AND, YOU KNOW, HE HAS A CERTAIN WAY ABOUT HIM.

I AGREE, ALL THAT'S CHARMING, HE'S A VERY ENGAGING GUY.

BUT I THINK YOU'RE UNDERESTIMATING VOTERS.

I MEAN, WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE THEIR DECISION ON IS WHAT THE TICKET IS GOING TO DO.

AND PEOPLE SEE THIS COUNTRY IN PEARL -- PERIL, THEY SEE THEM PAYING MORE AT THE SUPERMARKET.

I DON'T HAVE TO GO ON ABOUT THE HUGE PROBLEMS OUR COUNTRY HAS.

THEY KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO ELECT THIS TICKET, IT'S GOING TO BE A CONTINUATION OF THAT.

I THINK ALL THE SUPERFICIAL STUFF THAT THE MINNESOTA MEDIA IS IN LOVE WITH, I THINK HE AVERAGE VOTER DOESN'T CARE.

>> I CAN TELL YOU, THAT THE VOTERS DON'T WANT IT BACK O WHAT IT WAS, 14% INFLATION, YOU KNOW, -- >> 14% INFLATION?

>> UNDER TRUMP?

>> WHEN WE -- WHEN WE HAD THAT WITH TRUMP.

>> 2% INFLATION.

>> AND THE DEBT THAT TRUMP PUT ON OUR DEFICIT.

WHAT WE AREN'T GOING BACK TO IS WHAT TRUMP HAD AND THAT'S WHAT AMERICA DOESN'T WANT.

THAT'S WHY YOU'RE SEEING THE CROWDS, THE ENERGY, THE HOPE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THIS TICKET BRINGS BECAUSE OF WHAT WE KNOW WILL HAPPEN IF TRUMP IS ELECTED AGAIN.

>> Cathy: BUT THERE IS POWER, AS YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU'VE DONE CAMPAIGNS BEFORE, THERE'S POWER IN JOY AND ENTHUSIASM.

SO WHEN DO THE QUESTIONS START ABOUT THE HARD TOPICS?

>> THE HARD TOPICS ARE GOING TO START AS SOON AS HE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION IS OVER.

BECAUSE THAT'S ONE THING WALZ HAS GOTTEN, A FREE RIDE FROM THE MINNESOTA MEDIA FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE NATIONAL MEDIA.

THEY'RE GOING TO DIG INTO SOME OF HIS POLICIES, THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK INTO FEEDING THE FUTURE, ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT SCANDALS -- >> Cathy: WHICH WE HAVE ACTUALLY LOOKED INTO, IN THE MEDIA, YES, THANK YOU.

>> WITH ALL DUE RESPECT.

>> Cathy: YES.

>> SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED, I JOKINGLY SAY ABOUT GOVERNOR WALZ, THE BUCK DOESN'T EVEN PAUSE BY HIM.

IT JUST GOES RIGHT BY HIM.

HE DOESN'T FIRE PEOPLE.

HE DOESN'T ANNOUNCE CHANGE IN POLICIES.

IT JUST ONTINUES ON WITH A SMILE AND A NOD AND OFF WE GO.

WASTING MORE TAXPAYER MONEY.

THEY'RE GOING TO DIG INTO SOME OF THIS STUFF AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE PLEASANT.

>> Eric: PALESTINE, AN ISSUE THAT -- DID YOU NOTICE HOW VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS ADDRESSED THAT ISSUE IN ONE OF THE RALLIES?

SHE SAID, I'M TALKING.

IS THAT GOING TO BE A TOUGHER ISSUE NOW FOR DEMOCRATS GOING FORWARD?

>> NO, YOU KNOW WHAT I THINK IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAPPEN IS THAT, AND THIS IS THE BIG THING THAT IS REALLY EXCITING, I THINK, BOTH ABOUT VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS AND ALSO ABOUT GOVERNOR WALZ, IS THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY BOTH CANDIDATES AND GOVERNING FOLKS WHO MOVE ACCORDING DO WHAT -- TO WHAT PEOPLE NEED AND THEY ARE ACTUALLY LISTENING TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING.

AND, SO, I THINK YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN A POSITION WHERE THEY ARE LISTENING TO EVERY FACET, WE'RE IN A PLURALISTIC SOCIETY, WE'RE IN A PLURALISTIC COUNTRY THAT IS MULTIFAITH, MULTIRELIGION, AND MULTI-- JUST MULTIFACETED IN SO MANY WAYS, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO -- THEY'RE ACTUALLY WILLING TO LISTEN, UNLIKE WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH TRUMP.

>> Eric: 30 UICK SECONDS.

>> I THINK FOREIGN POLICY IS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE.

I'VE HAD PLENTY OF CRITICAL THINGS TO SAY ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP, BUT A FORCEFUL, POWERFUL AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY PAID OFF DURING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE THOUGHT THE WORLD WAS A SAFER PLACE.

IT WAS A SAFER PLACE DURING THOSE FOUR YEARS.

>> PEOPLE ARE NOT REALLY GOING TO WANT -- THEY DON'T WANT A DADDY TO COME AND SAVE THEM.

THEY DON'T THIS FORCEFUL CONTROL THAT IS HAPPENING.

THEY ACTUALLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE AGENCY, THEY WANT TO HAVE FREEDOMS AND THEY WANT TO HAVE JOY.

AND THEY GET TO HAVE THAT.

>> ric: THIS IS ALL GOOD BUT WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

>> Cathy: 87 DAYS LEFT, WE GET TO DOG ABOUT -- WE GET TO TALK ABOUT THIS FOR 87 DAYS.

>> Eric: WE'LL HAVE YOU ALL BACK.

>> Cathy: APPRECIATE IT.

WE RAN OUT OF TIME FOR THE INDEX FILE SECTION.

THERE'S JUST ENOUGH TIME, THOUGH, FOR SOME SHOW-ENDING MUSIC.

IT WAS TEN YEARS AGO THIS WEEK, MOLLY MAYER AND HER BAND WERE IN THE STUDIO PERFORMING A COUPLE OF OF SONGS -- A COUPLE OF SONGS, INCLUDING THIS ONE.

LISTEN AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

MOLLY MAHER.

♪ FOX GOT A HOLD, BIRD HAS A NEST, GOT NO HOME TO LAY MY HEAD 7 ♪ SANDS GOT THE SHORE, AIN'T GOT A PLACE IN THIS WORLD NO MORE ♪ ♪ BIRDS FLY SOUTH, THE WIND TURNS COLD, FOLLOW YOU WHEREVER YOU GO ♪ ♪ BIRDS HIGH FLY, BIRDS FLY LOW, FOLLOW YOU WHEREVER YOU GO ♪ ♪ RAIN HAS A CLOUD ♪ ♪ CLOUD HAS THE SKY ♪ ♪ AIN'T GOT NO HOME TO REST MY MIND ♪ ♪ TEARS FALLING DOWN IN THE COLD DARK RAIN 7 ♪ I AIN'T GOT NO HOME TO EASE MY PAIN 7 ♪ BIRD FLIES SOUTH WHEN THE WIND TURNS COLD ♪ ♪ FOLLOW YOU WHEREVER YOU GO ♪ >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

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