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

>> Eric: COMING UP ON "ALMANAC," CHRIS FARRELL IS HERE TO TALK JOBS AND UPHEAVAL AT THE FEDERAL RESERVE.

THE VIKINGS OPEN THE SEASON ON MONDAY NIGHT IN CHICAGO.

A POLITICAL PANEL ON A POTENTIAL SPECIAL SESSION.

AND MARY LAHAMMER HAS BEEN TRACKING THE POLITICAL REACTION TO LAST WEEK'S MASS SHOOTING AT ANNUNCIATION SCHOOL.

>> Mary: THE MINNEAPOLIS SCHOOL SHOOTING IS CREATING A POLITICAL REACTION HERE AT THE STATE CAPITOL AND BEYOND.

>> OUR COMMUNITY IS SHAKEN AND HEARTBROKEN.

>> THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE ABLE TO AGREE ON THAT WOULD GAIN 201 VOTES.

>> 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 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH ITS MEMBER-OWNER COOPERATIVES AND CUSTOMERS.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH AND HELPING COMMUNITIES THRIVE.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

>> Eric: IN THE NEXT HOUR, WE'LL COVER A WIDE RANGE OF POLITICS FROM THE NATION'S CAPITOL TO THE STATE CAPITOL TO CITY HALL HERE IN ST. PAUL.

IN BETWEEN, WE'LL VISIT WITH THE RETIRING MET COUNCIL CHAIR, TALK VIKINGS OPENER ON MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL, AND MARY LAHAMMER HAS POLITICAL AND COMMUNITY REACTION TO LAST WEEK'S MASS SCHOOL SHOOTING.

>> Kaomi: INDEED.

BUT WE START TONIGHT WITH ECONOMIC NEWS.

PRESIDENT TRUMP'S QUEST TO CONTROL THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK CONTINUED THIS WEEK.

TRUMP'S USE OF EMERGENCY POWERS TO IMPLEMENT TARIFFS MAY BE HEADED TO THE SUPREME COURT.

AND JOBS NUMBERS OUT FRIDAY MORNING SHOW A STALLED LABOR MARKET WITH THE FIRST LOSS OF JOBS SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

CHRIS FARRELL IS BACK.

HE COVERS ECONOMIC NEWS FOR AMERICAN PUBLIC MEDIA.

THE JOBS REPORT WAS KIND OF WEAK.

>> THE JOBS REPORT WAS VERY WEAK AND WHAT REALLY GRABBED EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION, IT WAS A GAIN OF 22,000.

AND THE EXPECTATION WAS AROUND 75,000.

SO STILL NOT A GREAT NUMBER.

BUT THE REVISED -- HE PREVIOUS MONTH DOWN, TO A NEGATIVE 13,000.

AND THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WENT UP TO 4.3%.

I MEAN, NOT A BIG CHANGE, BUT IT WENT UP.

AND SO COUPLE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT.

ONE IS, OKAY, THE FED IS GOING TO CUT ITS BENCHMARK INTEREST RATE WHEN IT MEETS SEPTEMBER 16TH AND 17TH.

SO THAT WAS THE IMMEDIATE REACTION THAT CAME HROUGH THE MARKET WHICH IS WHY THE STOCK MARKET WENT SO HIGH.

SO THAT WAS A BIG IMPLICATION.

SO THE ECONOMY IS WEAK.

YOU CAN'T SAY RECESSION.

IT'S ONE MONTH, TWO MONTHS OF DATA.

BUT DEFINITELY THE ECONOMY IS WEAKENING.

THE LABOR MARKET HAS A LOT OF CRACKS IN IT AND PEOPLE ARE RIGHTLY GETTING NERVOUS.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED CRACKS IN THE LABOR MARKET.

WHERE ARE THEY?

>> SO ONE OF THEM S MANUFACTURING.

AND YOU HAD MENTIONED TARIFFS AND A LOT F THIS TARIFFS IS TO BRING BACK MANUFACTURING.

A DECOMBINE OF 12,000 IN MANUFACTURING.

THE GAINS YOU'VE BEEN SEEING RECENTLY ARE IN HEALTHCARE AND SOCIAL ASSISTANCE AND SOCIAL SERVICES AND THE HEALTHCARE IS SLOWING DOWN.

THAT WAS WHAT PEOPLE WERE TAKING AWAY FROM THAT.

THE OTHER THIN IS WAGE GAINS ARE ALSO SLOWING DOWN.

SO, YOU KNOW, CONSTRUCTION IS DOWN.

AND I THINK IF YOU JUST SORT OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

WHAT IS HAPPENING?

YOU HAVE TO SAY, IT'S ALL THE UNCERTAINTY AROUND TARIFFS.

BECAUSE IF YOU'RE A COMPANY AND YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT EXPANDING -- >> Eric: SMALL BUSINESS IN PARTICULAR.

>> YOU'RE JUST HESITATING.

YOU'RE JUST NOT OUT THERE IN THE MARKET.

AND THEN YOU HAVE THIS EFFECT OF THE DEPORTATIONS AND PEOPLE NOT NECESSARILY LEAVING THE COUNTRY BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO WORK ANYMORE.

PEOPLE ARE NOT COMING IN.

AND SO THE COMBINATION OF THOSE TWO IS WHAT IS BEHIND THE WEAKER LABOR MARKET.

>> Eric: NEXT WEEK WE GET THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX.

IT'S A CONSUMER-DRIVEN ECONOMY, I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY.

WHAT WILL THAT TELL US.

>> SO WHAT THE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN, NOT DRAMATIC.

INFLATION HAS KIND OF BOTTOMED OUT AND IT'S BEEN GOING UP A LITTLE BIT.

AND SO THE EXPECTATION IS WHEN WE GET THAT CONSUMER PRICE INDEX NUMBER, THAT'S WHAT IT'S GOING TO REINFORCE, THIS MESSAGE, WHICH IS WHY THE FED IS IN A VERY DIFFICULT POSITION.

THE MESSAGE THAT WE'RE GETTING ON INFLATION WHICH IS WHAT YOU EXPECTED WITH TARIFFS AS THEY FILTER THROUGH THE SYSTEM IS THAT INFLATION IS STUBBORN RIGHT NOW.

IT'S NOT GOING THE DIRECTION WE WANT IT TO GO.

IT'S NOT OUT OF CONTROL BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE GETTING A REAL SIGNAL FROM THE LABOR MARKET THAT THIS LABOR MARKET IS WEAKENING, THE ECONOMY IS WEAKENING AND THAT PUTS PRESSURE ON THE FED TO LOWER ITS BENCHMARK NTEREST RATE.

>> Cathy: TRYING TO FIRE A FEDERAL RESERVE GOVERNOR.

WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF HIS?

>> THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE PAST, YOU KNOW, FOR THOSE OF US WHO CAN REMEMBER, WHEN PAUL VOLKER WAS CHAIR OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE, THE STORIES SINCE THEN OF THE EARLY 1980s IS THAT INFLATION HAS GONE LOWER AND LOWER.

AND THAT HAS REALLY BEEN TIED TO THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE FED.

NOW, LOOK, THE FED CHAIRMAN HAS TO GO BEFORE CONGRESS TWICE AND TESTIFY.

HE IS RESPONSIBLE TO THE CONGRESS.

THEY'RE NOT NAIVE.

SO BY SAYING THAT THEY'RE INDEPENDENT, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE NOT AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

BUT THEY'RE OPERATING WITH A LONGER TERM CYCLE.

SO THIS INTERFERENCE, IT WEAKENS THE FED.

IT'S ALREADY HAD AN IMPACT ON THE FED, ON ITS INDEPENDENCE.

STEVEN MIRREN WHO TESTIFIED WHO HAS BEEN NOMINATED TO REPLACE KRUGER, THE GOVERNOR WHO STEPPED DOWN, HE'S JUST GOING TO TAKE A LEAVE OF ABSENCE FROM IS POSITION IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

HE'S NOT GOING TO RESIGN FROM THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE ODDS ARE HE'S GOING TO APPROVED FAIRLY SOON.

INDEPENDENCE OF THE FED IS IMPORTANT TO THE CREDIBILITY OF FED THAT IT CAN BRING DOWN INTEREST RATES.

>> Eric: REAL QUICK, THE PRESIDENT SAID YESTERDAY, THERE'S SO MUCH MONEY COMING IN FROM THE TARIFFS THAT A SMALL REBATE MA'AM BE POSSIBLE O THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

>> YOU KNOW, UM, I'D BE VERY, VERY SKEPTICAL ABOUT THAT.

BUT THERE IS MORE MONEY THAN WAS EXPECTED THAT IS COMING INTO THE TREASURY.

AND SO ONE OF THE REASONS WHY YOU HAVEN'T SEEN A HUGE IMPACT IN THE BOND MARKET IS BECAUSE SOME OF THIS MONEY'S COMING IN, AND, LOOK, OUR DEBT AND DEFICIT ARE AT RECORD LEVELS, I MEAN, CLOSE TO RECORD LEVELS.

SO THEY'RE -- IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY.

>> Eric: ALL RIGHT.

>> Cathy: IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

♪ >> Eric: BEFORE THIS MORNING'S ECONOMIC NEWS, THE BIGGEST HEADLINES OUT OF D.C. LATE THIS WEEK WERE THE CONTENTIOUS SENATE HEARINGS WITH U.S. HEALTH SECRETARY ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JUNIOR, AND SEVERAL COURT RULINGS AGAINST ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

LARRY JACOBS IS HERE.

HE HEADS UP THE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE AT THE U OF M'S HUMPHREY SCHOOL.

ANY FALLOUT FROM THE KENNEDY APPEARANCE YESTERDAY BEFORE CONGRESS?

>> I THINK PEOPLE WERE STUNNED.

YOU USUALLY DON'T HEAR A WITNESS, PARTICULARLY A SECRETARY, WHO IS USUALLY BEGGING THE CONGRESS FOR MONEY, USUALLY ON'T HEAR THEM CALLING OUT SENATORS AS LIARS.

THIS WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY HEARING.

I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER SEEN ANYTHING QUITE LIKE IT.

AND ALSO, I HINK, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE SOME SIGNIFICANT QUESTIONS RAISED ABOUT KENNEDY.

NOTHING'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO HIM.

BUT I THINK HIS STANDING IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS PROBABLY SLIPPED A LITTLE BIT.

>> Cathy: WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF SOME OF THE REPUBLICAN SENATORS PRETTY MUCH SAYING THEY HAVE BUYER'S REMORSE FOR APPROVING HIM?

>> WELL, OF COURSE SENATOR AND DOCTOR CASSIDY WAS THE DECIDING VOTE THAT APPROVED THE NOMINATION.

FOR SECRETARY DEAFNL.

I THINK -- SECRETARY KENNEDY.

I THINK HE HAS DEEP RESERVATIONS ABOUT KENNEDY'S EFFORTS TO ROSTERING BACK VACCINES AND THEIR AVAILABILITY.

AND SO I THINK THAT WAS JUST A GUT CALL.

THE PROBLEM FOR CASSIDY IS THAT HE IS FACING A TOUGH REELECTION BID AND HE CAME OUT AND VOTED AGAINST TRUMP IN THE IMPEACHMENT HEARING.

SO HE'S ON VERY THIN ICE.

AND SO I TOOK WHAT HE -- HOW HE PERFORMED YESTERDAY AS TRYING TO THREAD A NEEDLE BETWEEN HE KIND OF POLITICS AND ALSO HIS ETHICAL CONCERNS AS A DOCTOR.

>> Eric: GOVERNMENT SCHOENBERG AT THE END OF THE MONTH?

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AT THE END OF THE MONTH?

>> SEPTEMBER 30TH IS THE DATE AND THERE ARE A COUPLE THINGS GOING ON THERE.

YOU'VE GOT VERY DEEP DIVISIONS OBVIOUSLY AMONG DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, DEEP DIVISIONS AMONG THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND THEN BIG CONVICTIONS BETWEEN REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

>> Eric: BUT WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE PRESIDENT'S DETAILED BUDGET YET, HAVE WE?

>> NO.

I THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO WORK OUT SOME KIND OF ARRANGEMENT OR AGREEMENT.

IT'LL JUST BE A TEMPORARY BILL TO GET THINGS THROUGH, MAYBE THE END OF THE -- INTO THE NEW YEAR.

BUT THIS IS NOT GOOD.

AND IT'S A SIGN THAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE REALLY STRUGGLING TO MOVE ON.

>> Cathy: I'M WONDERING ABOUT SOME OF THE COURT CASES THAT HAVE COME DOWN, LOWER COURT CASES, ON TARIFFS, DEPORTATION, THERE'S BEEN A BUN BUBUNCH.

ARE YOU SEEING ANY POTENTIAL CRACKS HERE WHEN IT COMES TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION?

OF COURSE THE SUPREME COURT HAS TO, YOU KNOW, WEIGH IN ON THIS ANYWAY.

BUT WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF SOME OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE LEGALLY?

>> THERE HAS BEEN FRUSTRATION BY LIBERTARIANS, SOME CONSERVATIVES, AND A LOT OF DEMOCRATS ABOUT WHY THERE WASN'T FASTER ACTION BY THE COURTS, COURTS MOVE SLOWLY.

BUT SHIS THIS BUT SHIS T THIS IS THE COURTS MG AND WE'RE SEEING THE COURTS CHALLENGING DONALD TRUMP'S DECLARATION OF EMERGENCIES.

EMERGENCIES ON THE ECONOMY.

HE'S CLAIMING THERE'S AN INVASION WHICH JUSTIFIES DEPORTATIONS.

HE'S CLAIMING THAT THERE'S INTERNAL REBELLION THAT WOULD JUSTIFY SENDING TROOPS INTO L.A. AND THE COURTS ARE STEPPING IN AND SAYING, WAIT, I'M NOT SEEING THAT REALITY, AND THESE -- THE ACTS HE'S DRAWING ON DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE THE LANGUAGE THAT DONALD TRUMP IS CLAIMING.

SO I THINK IT'S SIGNIFICANT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO PREDICT HOW THE SUPREME COURT'S GOING TO RULE.

BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A SLAM-DUNK FOR DONALD TRUMP.

I THINK THERE ARE JUSTICES, PARTICULARLY ROBERTS AND AMY CONEY BARRETT WHO HAVE VERY PARTICULAR VIEWS ABOUT JUICER PRUDENCE.

FOR INSTANCE, CONEY BARRETT IS AN ORIGINALIST.

I THINK HE'S GOING TO TAKE A VERY HARD LOOK AT THE LANGUAGE IN SOME OF THE STATUTES THAT DONALD TRUMP'S BEEN DECLARING TO MAKE THESE SWEEPING DECISIONS, LIKE, YOU KNOW, SETTING UP TARIFFS THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD FOR ALMOST A CENTURY ON HIS OWN, EVEN THOUGH CONGRESS HAS THE POWER TO TAX.

>> Eric: ON THE POLITICAL FRONT, I WONDER IF THE PRESIDENT IS -- WITH THE BOMBING OF THE VENEZUELAN DRUG BOAT AND GOING INTO D.C. WITH THE ATIONAL GUARD, IS HE PUTTING THE DEMOCRATS ON THE -- WE'RE PRO-DRUG DEALERS AND WE'RE PRO-CRIMINALS WHEN WE OPPOSE THAT?

>> I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE THINKING AND HE'D LOVE TO HAVE THE DEMOCRATS MIRED IN A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION, THE LAW, WHEREAS HE'S TAKING REAL ACTION.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE -- WHERE VOTERS ARE, IT VERY MUCH FOLLOWS FROM THE REPORT THAT MIGUEL MIGUCHRIS FARRELL GAVE.

THERE'S 38% APPROVAL OF DONALD TRUMP'S HANDLING OF INFLATION.

THAT IS THE STORY AND THOSE ARE THE BIG SALIENT ISSUES, MORE SO THAN CRIME.

SO IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE DONALD TRUMP IS TRYING TO FLIP THE SCRIPT.

I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING O WORK.

>> Cathy: BY THE WAY, SHOULD PEOPLE BE WORRIED ABOUT THE RENAMING OF THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT, THE WAR DEPARTMENT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, DONALD TRUMP RAN AGAINST WARS.

HE WAS AGAINST THE, YOU KNOW, NEVER-ENDING WARS.

SO YOU HAVE TO WONDER WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

BUT, YEAH, THINK THERE SHOULD BE CONCERN.

IT'S SENDING A VERY STRONG MESSAGE ABOUT WHERE AMERICA'S GOING AND HIS INTENTION TO USE MILITARY FORCE.

>> Eric: THANKS OR COMING OVER.

>> Cathy: ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

♪ >> Mary: THE THIRD DAY HERE IN DENVER AND EVEN THE NATIONAL MEDIA IS TAKING NOTICE OF MINNESOTA'S DIVERSE AND YOUNG DELEGATION WHICH INCLUDES THE YOUNGEST DELEGATE IN ALL OF THE CONVENTION.

OKAY, MR. 17-YEAR-OLD.

GIVE US THE TALLY OF THE MEDIA YOU'VE DONE.

>> MSNBC WITH LUKE RUSSER, LATE TIM RUSSER'S SUN.

B.E.T., W.W.E.

CNN, FOX.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS.

ITALY'S BIGGEST NEWSPAPER.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> Mary: OKAY, SO ARE YOU GETTING TOO BIG FOR US MINNESOTANS?

>> NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

♪ ♪ >> Cathy: ST. PAUL MAYOR MELVIN CARTER RELEASED HIS CITY BUDGET FOR 2026 ON THURSDAY.

WHILE IT WAS A FAIRLY BARE BONES PROPOSAL DUE TO FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS AND FLAGGING DOWNTOWN PROPERTY VALUES, THE BUDGET STILL RAISED EYEBROWS WITH ITS INTENT TO OFFSET THOSE LOSSES WITH INCREASED PROPERTY TAXES.

FRED MELO COVERS CITY POLITICS FOR THE "ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS."

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

I READ YOUR ARTICLE IN THE PI PRESS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: I LIKED THE LINE, IT WAS A NO FUN, NO TRILLS BUDGET.

>> THEY'RE FREEZING HIRING, MAYBE A COUPLE EXCEPTIONS HERE OR THERE.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO LAY ANYONE OFF BUT WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT BY NOT ADDING ANYONE.

SO THERE'S VERY LITTLE IN THE LIMITED NEW PROGRAMMING.

THERE'S SOME EXPANSION OF EXISTING HOUSING PROGRAMS, LIKE A DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WILL DOUBLE IN SIZE FOR HOME BUYERS.

BUT OTHERWISE, NOT -- IF ANYTHING, HE'LL TAKE A COUPLE HOURS OUT OF THE REC CENTERS.

SO YOU'RE ACTUALLY SEEING A REDUCTION IN A LOT F AREAS.

I THINK SOME CITY DEPARTMENT LEADERS, THEIR HEADS ARE EXPLODING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

>> Eric: WITH SCHOOL BOARD, WITH COUNTY, AND WITH CITY, WHAT'S THE IMPACT ON PROPERTY PY TAXES?

>> BAD.

IT'S NOT GOING TO E FUN.

IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO BE A FUN YEAR.

MEDIAN VALUE PROPERTY, $280,000 IN THE CITY OF ST. PAUL.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE CITY, THAT'S ABOUT A HUNDRED BUCKS THAT IT'LL GO UP IF THIS EVY PASSES.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE COUNTY, THAT'S ANOTHER 200, 204.

TB THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HASN'T TOLD US YET WHAT THEIR IMPACT WILL BE, BUT THEY HAVE A SPECIAL LEVY REFERENDUM, A TEN-YEAR PROGRAM, SO IF VOTERS APPROVE THAT IN NOVEMBER, THAT'S ANOTHER 300.

SO YOU DO 100 PLUS 200 IS 300 PLUS 300 IS 600, AND THEN WHATEVER THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ADDS ON TOP OF THAT.

COULD BE 700, $800 ON A HOUSE LIKE MINE.

THAT'S LOT OF SKIPPED BAR OUTINGS FOR ME.

OR SKIPPED RACES FOR MY KID.

>> Cathy: WOW, OKAY, THAT STILL HAS TO BE APPROVED, THOUGH, BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

>> THEY EEM TO BE ON BOARD.

FOR THE CITY, IT'S ABOUT A 5.3% INCREASE.

THAT'S MUCH LESS THAN IT WAS LAST YEAR COMING OUT OF THE GATE.

HE WANTED I THINK 7.8, 7.9.

SO THEY'RE STARTING MUCH CLOSER TOGETHER.

THAT'S WHAT THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT SAID.

>> Cathy: MAYOR CARTER AND OTHER MAYORS HAVE SAID THAT THEY WANT GUN CONTROL LAWS WITHIN THEIR CITIES, RIGHT?

IS THAT ENFORCEABLE?

>> NO.

AND THEY'RE VERY EXPLICIT ABOUT THAT.

THAT, HEY, WE WILL PASS A BAN ON NON-BINARY TRIGGERS.

WE WILL PASS A BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS.

WE WILL PASS A BAN ON GUNS IN OUR LIBRARIES, IN OUR REC CENTERS AND NONE OF THIS CAN BE ENFORCED UNTIL THE STATE GETS IT TOGETHER AND SAYS, FINE, YOU CAN DO THIS, AND IF YOU DO THAT AT MIDNIGHT, WE'LL ALREADY HAVE IT PASSED SO WE'LL IMPLEMENT AT 12:01.

SO HE'S KIND OF PUTTING THE ONUS ON THE STATE LAWMAKERS TO FINALLY DO SOMETHING BEYOND THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.

I'M NOT OPTIMISTIC.

>> Eric: YOU TALKED ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS FOR FENTANYL FOR -- >> I'M STILL LOOKING INTO EXACTLY HOW THAT WOULD BE STRUCTURED BECAUSE THERE'S A TWO-MAN UNIT CALLED THE C.A.R.E.S.

UNIT, WHICH IS E.M.S., FIRE DEPARTMENT, RESPONDING TO MENTAL HEALTH CALLS INSTEAD OF JUST LOOKING PEOPLE UP WHEN THEY'RE CLEARLY IN CRISIS.

HE'S ACTUALLY FOLDING THAT IN TO THE REGULAR FIRE DEPARTMENT, AMBULANCES, INSTEAD OF HAVING IT BE SEPARATE.

SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A REDUCTION AND AN EXPANSION AT THE SAME TIME WITHIN THE INTERPRETER DEPARTMENT.

THE UNION'S CONCERNED THAT WHAT LOOKS LIKE AN EXPANSION IS ACTUALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS COULD BE FEWER FIREFIGHTERS.

IN TERMS OF NOT HIRING, FILLING SOME OF THOSE POSITIONS.

SO WE'LL SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT.

BUT THERE'S A COUPLE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT I THINK WILL ROLL OUT OVER THE EXT YEAR.

>> Cathy: HE MENTIONED THE CYBER-ATTACK.

IT JUST KEEPS KIND OF DRARPING OUT.

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

THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON SAFEGUARDING EVERYTHING WITHIN THE CITY AND PROTECTING IT.

THEY GAVE ALL THE CITY EMPLOYEES EITHER NEW TECH OR NEW PASSWORDS.

IT'S GOING TO COST THE CITY OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.

SO THAT'S PART OF THIS BUDGET.

IT'S COSTLY.

>> Eric: DOWNTOWN, THE MOST URGENT THING AFFECTING THE CITY.

>> THINGS LOOK TOUGH DOWNTOWN.

I WAS LOOKING AT PROPERTY TAXES FOR U.S. BANK CENTER.

I THINK THEIR VALUE WAS $20 MILLION, $22 MILLION A FEW YEARS AGO.

THAT SAME BUILDING IS VALUED AT $14 MILLION TODAY.

THAT'S A BIG DROP.

AND WHEN YOU TAX IT, THE TAX IS LOWER.

WELL, WHO MAKES THAT UP?

THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING, IT'S THE HOMEOWNERS ARE MAKING THAT UP.

IN THE PAST THE APARTMENT BUILDINGS WERE AINING VALUE A LITTLE FASTER.

THAT'S NOT HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

THEY'VE ACTUALLY KIND OF LOST A LITTLE BIT OF VALUE OVER THE PAST YEAR.

SO IT'S REALLY ME AS A HOMEOWNER THAT'S GOING TO BE FEELING THIS AND HOMEOWNERS ACROSS THE CITY.

>> Cathy: DO YOU THINK HE'S GOING TO RUN FOR SOMETHING BEYOND ST. PAUL MAYOR?

JUST CURIOUS.

>> YEAH, MOST MAYORS DON'T GO PAST THREE TERMS IN T. PAUL.

I THINK GEORGE LATIMER IS PROBABLY THE LAST ONE THAT I CAN REMEMBER.

SO YEAH, THERE'S A THREE-YEAR TERM COMING UP, BECAUSE WE'RE MOVING TO EVEN-YEAR LECTIONS, AND THEN AFTER THAT, I DON'T KNOW.

YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO BE A PROGRESSIVE MAYOR IN A PURPLE STATE.

AND WE'RE NOT REALLY ENTIRELY BLUE AND WE'RE NOT REALLY ENTIRELY RED AND WE'RE VERY SPLIT IN OUR LEGISLATURE.

SO, BUT, YEAH, I COULD SEE HIM DOING WELL IN WASHINGTON, D.C., BUT WHENEVER I ASK HIM, HE SAYS, MY KIDS ARE HERE, I'VE GOT A KID IN KINDERGARTEN HERE.

LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, IT'S AN OUTRAGEOUS QUESTION.

>> Cathy: BECAUSE THIS BUDGET AIN'T LOOKING TOO GOOD.

>> AND THAT'S TRUE FOR A LOT OF CITIES I THINK.

I THINK MINNEAPOLIS HAS SOME TOUGH QUESTIONS AHEAD OF IT TOO.

ST. PAUL -- THE MAYOR'S ASKING FOR A 5% INCREASE IN THE TAX LEVY.

RAMSEY COUNTY IS ASKING FOR A 9.75% INCREASE.

>> Eric: KEEPING WATCH ON THE BUDGET IN RAMSEY AND ST. PAUL.

>> Cathy: AND WE DEEPLY APPRECIATE IT.

♪ >> YOU GOT TO FEEL SORRY FOR US HUMANS.

WE ARE SO GOOD AT SHAPING THE WORLD, AND YET WHEN IT COMES TO PRESERVING OUR OWN LIKENESSES FOR POSTERITY, WE ARE CURSED WITH A FATAL FLAW.

THE NOSE.

IT JUST STICKS OUT TOO FAR.

YOU CAN SEE IT IN THE SPHYNX.

YOU CAN EVEN SEE IT IN OUR OWN SCHEDULE SCHEDSKELETONS.

THE NOSE ALWAYS CRUMBLES FIRST.

AND YES, IT COULD BE WORSE.

FOR THE DUST BIN OF HISTORY AND ALIEN ARCHAEOLOGISTS WHO APPARENTLY DON'T AVE ANY NOSES THEMSELVES WILL BE FORCED TO ENDLESSLY SPECULATE ABOUT WHATEVER STRANGE APPENDAGES THEY THINK EMERGED FROM THOSE ALL TOO COMMON STUMPS.

IMAGINE HOW DISPOINTED THEY'LL BE IF THEY LEARN IT WAS NOTHING MORE THAN A SMALL ROUNDED LUMP OF FLESH ONLY SLIGHTLY TOO LARGE FOR THE BONDING PROPERTIES OF MOST CARVING MATERIALS.

WHICH BRINGS US BACK TO THE PRESENT.

BECAUSE THE NEXT TIME YOU SECRETLY STICK A FINGER UP YOUR NOSE, DO NOT FEEL SHAME.

YOU ARE MAKING CONTACT WITH ONE OF HE GREAT MYSTERIES OF THE FUTURE COSMOS.

YOU ACTUALLY KNOW THE UNKNOWABLE NOSE.

AND WHAT A PROFOUND EXPERIENCE THAT TRULY IS.

♪ >> Eric: THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS OPEN THE SEASON ON MONDAY NIGHT IN CHICAGO.

THE TEAM MADE BIG NEWS JUST LAST WEEK BY BRINGING ADAM THIELEN HOME TO MINNESOTA.

WHEN WE ASKED OUR NEXT GUEST ABOUT THAT POSSIBILITY JUST TWO WEEKS AGO AT THE STATE FAIR, LARRY FITZGERALD, SENIOR, SAID THIELEN "WILL NOT PUT ON A PURPLE UNIFORM AGAIN."

WHEN HE IS NOT TALKING SPORTS WITH US HERE ON "ALMANAC," FITZY DOES RADIO WORK FOR THE NATIONAL PROGRAMMING NETWORK.

I WASN'T SURE THAT THIELEN WAS GOING TO TURN DOWN A BUNCH OF MONEY TO COME BACK.

>> I KNEW CAROLINA WOULD TRY TO STICK IT TO THE VIKINGS, A FOURTH AND A FIFTH ROUND BACK, THAT'S A LOT FOR A GUY WHO WASN'T DRAFTED AND THE VIKINGS CUT HIM BASICALLY, YOU KNOW?

BUT THEY FEEL LIKE THEY NEED HIM AT THIS TIME BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, THE JORDAN ADSON STUFF AND -- >> Eric: HE'S MISSING THREE GAMES.

>> YEAH, AND A COUPLE OTHER RECEIVERS GOT SOME HEALTH ISSUES IN TERMS OF INJURIES ON THEIR HANDS OR ELBOWS.

SO THEY SAID, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS MOVE BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET OFF TO A GOOD START.

HAVE YOU YOU SEEN THEIR SCHEDULE?

THEY GOT TO BE READY.

AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE HAD A QUARTERBACK THAT'S GOING TO START A SEASON, A CAREER, THAT WAS PICKED NUMBER ONE BY THE VIKINGS.

YOU GOT TO GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO DAUNTE CULPEPPER.

THEY WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN HE'S GOT ALL THE PIECES AROUND HIM JUST IN CASE THE RUNNING GAME DOESN'T WORK.

THEY WANT HIM TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO THINK THROUGH THE GAME AND FIND PLACES TO GO WITH THE FOOTBALL.

>> Cathy: GETTING BACK TO THIELEN, BECAUSE PEOPLE LOVE HIM, UT IS HE STILL IN GOOD SHAPE?

>> YEAH.

HE HAS NEVER BEEN BURNER.

WIDE RECEIVERS ARE CATEGORIZED AS EITHER, YOU KNOW, SPEED GUYS OR POSSESSION GUYS.

HE'S BEEN MORE OF A POSSESSION GUY.

BECAUSE HE JUST FINDS A WAY TO PUT THE FEAR IN A DEFENSIVE BACK WHO DOESN'T WANT TO LET HIM GET BEHIND HIM.

SO THEY GIVE UP ALL THAT ROOM UNDERNEATH AND THIELEN HAS MADE AN INCREDIBLE CAREER OUT OF DOING THAT.

>> Eric: WHERE ARE YOU ON J.J. MCCARTHY?

>> I THINK HE'S READY.

YOU LOOK AT HIS RECORD FROM THE TIME HE START, HE'S BEEN A WINNER.

AND HE'S GOT THE MICHIGAN ADVANTAGE ON MONDAY NIGHT.

YOU GOT LAKE MICHIGAN RIGHT THERE.

HE'S A MICHIGAN GUY.

THERE'LL BE SOME FANS THERE PULLING FOR HIM.

BUT THIS IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM TO STEP OUT AND SHOW THAT HE CAN EXECUTE THE OFFENSE OF KEVIN O'CONNELL.

AND HE CAN DO IT IN A WAY THAT THEY HAVE IMPLEMENTED IN TERMS OF THEIR OFFENSE.

THEY'VE GOT TERRIFIC RECEIVERS.

THE OFFENSIVE LINE IS MUCH STRONGER HIS YEAR.

THE RUNNING GAME SHOULD BE EVEN BETTER.

JONES RAN FOR A THOUSAND LAST YEAR.

SO I'M LOOKING FOR THIS OFFENSE TO BE ABLE TO PICK UP WHERE IT LEFT OFF LAST YEAR AND THEY WON 14 GAMES.

GRASES YEAH, THEY DID, BUT THEN THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING IN THE PLAYOFFS.

>> THAT'S CORRECT, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE GOTTEN KIND OF USED TO AROUND HERE.

>> Cathy: BUT WE CAN'T.

>> I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE '78 AND I'M STILL WAIT PEAKING FOR THE VIKINGS TO TAKE ME TO A SUPERBOAMPLET.

>> Eric: CAN THEY GO INTO SOLDIER FIELD AND WIN?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

BUT THE BEARS ARE COMING IN WITH JOHNSTON -- >> Eric: DETROIT.

>> AFTER ALL THAT STUFF IN DETROIT.

HEAFD AN OFFENSE THAT PUT UP 564 POINTS LAST YEAR AND THEY DIDN'T WIN THE SUPER BOWL.

>> Cathy: SAY, THE TWINS, THEY'RE JUST HAPLESS.

CAN WE JUST STICK A FORK IN THEM NOW.

>> THEY GOT PABLO LOPEZ BACK.

AND HE'S THEIRST PITCHER.

AND THEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHERE THE TWINS ARE RIGHT NOW, GOING THROUGH ANOTHER MISERABLE SEPTEMBER, I'VE TOUCHED ON THIS BEFORE, BUT FOR THEM TO ALLOW THE WHITE SOX, A TEAM THAT'S 12, 13 GAMES BEHIND THEM, TO COME IN AND JUST DRAG THEM THROUGH -- I MEAN, THEY BEAT THEM FOUR STRAIGHT, IX STRAIGHT GAME.

AND SO NOW THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SWEAT IT OUT DOWN THE STRETCH AND SEE IF THEY CAN KEEP CHICAGO FROM CATCHING THEM.

>> Eric: LYNX, NUMBER ONE SEED.

>> VEGAS HAS BEEN HOT.

THEY'VE WON CHAMPIONSHIPS BEFORE.

THEY'VE GOT AN MVP TYPE LAYER IN AJA WILSON.

>> Eric: THEY'RE PHYSICAL TOO.

>> SHE IS AWESOME, MAN.

30 POINTS AND 10 REBOUNDS.

BUT THE LYNX GOT TO GET NAPHEESA BACK, PLAYING THE WAY SHE'S PLAYING AND I DON'T THINK SHE'S GOT HER LEGS BACK TO HER UNDER HER YET.

>> Eric: I'M GOING TO GO TO ONE MORE TWINS GAME AND PUT A PAPER BAG OVER MY HEAD AS A PROTEST.

>> THAT MIGHT BE GOOD.

MAYBE THEY'LL PICK UP ON THAT AND SEE THAT STUFF IS HURTING.

IT'S BECOMING PERSONAL THAT YOU CAN'T GO OUT AND SEE YOUR TEAM HOLD A THREE-RUN LEAD IN THE NINTH ANNE EGG.

THEY LOST THREE GAMES WHERE THEY GAVE UP THE LEAD IN THE NINTH INNING.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

♪ >> Aron: I RECENTLY CAME BACK FROM A FUNERAL, AS A GUEST.

I'M OLD ENOUGH NOW THAT I'VE BEEN TO A FEW OF THESE SHINDIGS, AND I TEND NOT TO LIKE THEM FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.

THE MAIN REASON BEING, IT'S COLLECTIVELY UNCOMFORTABLE.

IN A SENSE, A FUNERAL IS SUPPOSED TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE; THE WORST THING THAT CAN HAPPEN HAS HAPPENED, AND AS FAMILY AND FRIENDS, WE NEED TO COME TO TERMS WITH THAT.

BUT DISCOMFORT ISN'T SOMETHING WE COLLECTIVELY DO.

SO A FUNERAL SEEMS SO OUT OF CHARACTER.

THINK ABOUT IT.

WE DON'T ALL GO TO THE DENTIST AT THE SAME TIME.

WE DON'T ALL EXAMINE OUR FINANCES AT THE SAME TIME.

AND WE CERTAINLY DON'T TALK ABOUT OUR WEIGHT ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE RATHER UNCOMFORTABLE, SO WE DO THEM ALONE AND IN PRIVATE.

IN FACT, THE ONLY GROUP DISCOMFORT WE PARTICIPATE IN IS BEING VIKINGS FANS, AND EVEN THAT INVOLVES A GOOD AMOUNT OF DRINKING.

WHENEVER I GO TO AN END OF LIFE CEREMONY, I ALWAYS FORGET WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO TALK ABOUT.

TYPICALLY, I DO A LITTLE PRAYER, REMINISCE, AND FIND A WAY TO THE OBLIGATORY CASSEROLE OR LASAGNA.

SIDE NOTE: TO ANY FUTURE DESCENDANTS OR FRIENDS OF MINE, WHEN I KICK THE BUCKET, PLEASE DON'T SERVE A VEGETARIAN LASAGNA AT MY FUNERAL.

I CAN'T IMAGINE A WORSE WAY TO HONOR THE DECEASED THAN WITH A MUSHROOM-LACED PASTA.

AT THE LAST FUNERAL I WENT TO, I WAS GIVEN WISE WORDS FROM A CHARMING OLD-TIMER WHO SAW HOW UNCOMFORTABLE I WAS.

HE TOLD ME TRAGEDY IS LIKE AN OLD FRIEND.- YOD FRIEND.- YOU FRIEND.- YOU TEIEND.- YOU TENDND.- YOU TEND T.- YOU TEND TO FORGET ABOUT IT BEFORE IMMEDIATELY REALIZING IT'S BEEN THERE SINCE THE BEGINNING.

AND LIKE AN OLD FRIEND, IT DOESN'T JUST KNOW YOU; IT KNOWS EVERYONE YOU KNOW TOO.

SO WHEN GIVEN A CHANCE AT A REUNION, SAY HELLO, PAY YOUR RESPECTS, AND DO ENOUGH BEFORE THE NEXT TIME YOU'RE FORCED TO REUNITE.

♪ ♪ >> Cathy: THE HEAD OF THE MET COUNCIL IS STEPPING DOWN FROM HIS POSITION NEXT WEDNESDAY AFTER MORE THAN FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE.

APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR WALZ IN JANUARY 2020, THE CHAIR OVERSAW THE ONGOING CONSTRUCTION OF THE SOUTHWEST LIGHT RAIL PROJECT AND LED THE COUNCIL DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC.

DECLINING RIDERSHIP AND CRIME ARE LINGERING EFFECTS ON METRO TRANSIT.

THERE'S ALSO BEEN CRITICISM OF THE MET COUNCIL BEING MADE UP OF UNELECTED MEMBERS.

MET COUNCIL'S CHARLIE ZELLE IS HERE WITH US NOW, DAYS BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE.

WELCOME BACK.

I BET YOU'RE JUST COUNTING THE DAYS TOO.

[ Laughter ] SO WE FIRST RAN INTO WHEN YOU WERE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION CHAIR, HEAD, D.O.T.

AND NOW YOU'RE WITH MET COUNCIL, COMMISSIONER OF THE D.O.T.

WHICH JOB DID YOU LIKE BETTER?

>> YOU KNOW, I'M PROBABLY MORE NATURALLY A MET COUNCIL BUS GUY.

AND -- BUT IT'S MORE THAN TRANSIT.

I THINK WHAT IS WONDERFUL ABOUT BOTH AGENCIES HAT IT'S ABOUT COMMUNITY, IT'S ABOUT BUILDING ECONOMIC PROSPERITY, IT'S ABOUT CONNECTING PEOPLE.

AND I LOVE BOTH AGENCIES, BUT, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN WITH MET COUNCIL NOW, IT REALLY RESONATES, PLANNING, WASTEWATER, PARKS, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

IT'S NOT JUST TRANSIT.

BUT THAT'S IMPORTANT TOO.

>> Cathy: WE SHOULD SAY YOU'RE A BUS GUY BECAUSE YOUR FAMILY FOUNDED JEFFERSON BUS LINES.

>> YES, MY GRANDFATHER, OVER 100 YEARS OLD.

>> Eric: THE COUNCIL GOT A LOT OF HEAT FOR THE SOUTHWEST RAIL EXTENSION, STILL UNDERGOING.

I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH THIS PAST WEEK, AND THE HENNEPIN COUNTY BOARD KIND OF TOSSED THIS TO THE MET COUNCIL BEFORE YOU WERE THERE.

>> YOU THINK?

[ Laughter ] >> Eric: AND I >> Eric: AND I WONDER IF THAT WAS THE PROPER SEQUENCE OF EVENTS?

>> I'VE LEARNED A NUMBER OF THINGS IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND THAT IS YOU OWN THE DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE BEFORE YOU.

AND THE REALITY IS, SOUTHWEST LIGHT RAIL, THE GREEN LINE EXTENSION, HAS ALREADY STIMULATED OVER $3 BILLION OF DEVELOPMENT AND IT WAS A COMPLICATED -- IT IS A COMPLICATED AND MASSIVE PROJECT.

AND I JUST THINK WHEN I CAME IN, IT WAS NOT RECOGNIZED THAT WE NEEDED TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS.

SO BRINGING IN OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS, RENEGOTIATING ALL THE MAJOR CONTRACTS, RESEQUENCING IT, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S -- THANK YOU, HENNEPIN COUNTY, AND OUR PARTNERS, BECAUSE THEY GOT THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO FINISH WHAT IT REALLY NEEDED TO BE ALL ALONG.

AND THEY'RE GOING TO START TESTING TRAINS THIS MONTH.

NEXT MONTH.

SO IT'S ON SCHEDULE.

MAYBE SLIGHTLY A LITTLE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

>> Eric: '26 OR '27?

>> '27.

>> Eric: OKAY.

>> Cathy: WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE JOBS YOU'VE HELD THEN, AS COMMISSIONER OF MnDOT AND THEN ITH THE ET COUNCIL, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MISSED OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU LOOK BACK AND YOU THINK, OH, WISH I COULD HAVE DONE THAT?

>> WELL, THE THING YOU LEARN, AND THAT'S WHY ACTUALLY HAVING 13 YEARS IN PUBLIC SERVICE HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE, OVER TWO ADMINISTRATIONS, AND THEY'RE ALL, YOU KNOW, TWO GOVERNORS, GREAT, EACH ONE'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

I APPRECIATE THAT EFFORTS THAT ARE GOOD TAKE TIME.

THEY TAKE YEARS.

SOME OF THE CULTURAL SHIFTS AND IMPROVEMENTS IN MET COUNCIL, WE'RE PROBABLY TWO AND A HALF YEARS IN A FIVE-YEAR PROJECT TO REBUILD THE CULTURE.

WE HAVE ABOUT 80% NEW LEADERSHIP AND THEY'RE HRZ SUCH AN ESPIRIT.

IT'S IN SUCH GOOD SHAPE AND IN TERMS OF GOVERNANCE, I THINK THAT THE 17-PERSON COUNCIL IS ACCOUNTABLE TO MORE THAN THE GOVERNOR, BUT TO THE LEGISLATURE AND TO THE PEOPLE THAT WRITE THEM EVERY DAY.

SO I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE CHANGES THAT HAPPENED.

BUT THEY TAKE TIME.

THIS MORNING, THERE WAS A FLAG RAISING, A TRIBAL FLAG PLAZA CEREMONY AND I THOUGHT BACK, TEN YEARS, WITH GOVERNOR DAYTON, AND I'VE TALKED TO GOVERNOR WALZ ABOUT THIS TODAY.

WOW, HE TOOK IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL, BUT HE'S BUILDING ON THE MOMENTUM THAT TAKES TIME, THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR TRIBAL NATIONS.

SO I'VE BEEN REALLY BLESSED.

I'VE LEARNED A LOT.

I'VE BYE I'VE BY DEVELOPED ALL THESE GRET RELATIONSHIPS.

>> Eric: THIS IS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR COMMISSION.

WOULD IT BE DIFFERENT IN IT WAS ELECTED?

>> I THINK THAT IF IT WERE ELECTED, I THINK IT'D BE LIKE ANOTHER LEGISLATURE WITH THE SEVEN COUNTIES THAT IS MORE THAN HALF THE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY OF THE STATE.

I THINK IT WOULD BE VALUE CANNIZED AND HONESTLY THE FACT THAT 17 THAT 1 17 VERY DIFFERENT MEMBERS CAN COME TOGETHER AND THINK REGIONALLY AND BE TOGETHER AND DO THE RIGHT THING, SO I THINK IT IS A VERY GOOD KIND OF STRUCTURE.

I THINK THEY COULD BE TWEAKING IT, MAYBE STAGGERED TERMS.

WE'RE NOT ARGUING ABOUT THE AIRPORT.

STAGGERED TERMS, RUNNING PROFESSIONALLY.

BUT WHAT I LIKE IS THAT THE COUNCIL TAKES A REGIONAL VIEW, EXURBS, SUBURBS, 180 CITIES, YOU KNOW, MINNEAPOLIS, BIGGEST CITY, BUT IT'S ONLY 11% OF THE POPULATION.

WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT THE ENTIRE NETWORK.

>> Cathy: IS THIS RETIREMENT FROM WORKING OR RETIREMENT FROM PUBLIC SERVICE?

>> YOU KNOW, I AM STILL THINK BEG THAT BUS COMPANY.

AND I'M NOT LOOKING FOR A JOB.

AND I HAVE A LOT OF INTEREST IN ITS GROWTH.

WE JUST AGUIRREED A COMPANY IN MONTANA, IN BOZEMAN.

AND SO WE'RE EXPANDING THAT COMPANY QUITE A BIT.

I THINK I COULD SPEND A LITTLE MORE TIME, BUT NOT A JOB.

LOOKING ORWARD TO FREE TIME AND, YOU KNOW, JULIE'S WORKING ON HER CROP ART.

>> Eric: THERE YOU GO.

>> BE ATTENTIVE.

>> Eric: WE'LL SEE YOU ON THE BUS.

>> THANKS, ERIC.

THANK YOU, CATHY.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

♪ >> Eric: FAITH LEADERS GATHERED AT THE CAPITOL TODAY, AND STUDENTS WALKED OUT OF SCHOOLS, ALL URGING ACTION AFTER A SCHOOL SHOOTING IN A CHURCH.

POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER PREVIEWS HOW LEGISLATURE COULD CONVENE AS SOON AS THE GOVERNOR CALLS THEM BACK INTO SESSION.

>> I CAN CALL A SPECIAL SESSION.

I CAN'T RUN A SPECIAL SESSION.

AND TO BE VERY CANDID, JUST IN A VERY EVENLY DIVIDED, I'M GOING TO NEED SOME REPUBLICANS TO BREAK WITH THE ORTHODOXY AND SAY THAT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ON GUNS.

>> Mary: GOVERNOR WALZ INTENDED TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION FOR GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION FOLLOWING THE SHOOTING AT ANNUNCIATION SCHOOL AND CHURCH.

>> TO OUR LAWMAKERS AND PEOPLE IN POWER, WHO THE HELL IS GOING TO DO SOMETHING?

WHO'S GOING TO MAKE MEANINGFUL CHANGE AND TAKE TANGIBLE STEPS TO BREAK THE CYCLE?

THIS MOMENT AND THIS OPPORTUNITY WILL DEFINE YOUR CHARACTER.

ARE YOU COURAGEOUS, OR ARE YOU A COWARD?

>> A BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS I THINK IT DEPENDS ON HOW THEY DEFINE IT OF COURSE BUT GENERALLY IT'S A SEMIAUTOMATIC RIFLE THAT'S BEEN DESIGNED IN THE LAST 050 YEARS OR SO.

THEY'RE USED BY THOUSANDS OF MINNESOTANS FOR HUNTING, TARGET SHOOTING, SPORT SHOOTING, RECREATION.

IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO SEE A BAN GO INTO PLACE.

>> Mary: AT THE CAPITOL, URBAN AND SUBURBAN MAYORS MADE THEIR INTENTIONS CLEAR AFTER ANOTHER TRAGEDY.

AT THE WANT THE ABILITY TO LIMIT GUNS IN THEIR MUNICIPALITIES.

>> GIVE US THE ABILITY TO KEEP OUR CONSTITUENTS SAFE.

>> THE EMERGENCY STARTED WHEN WE FOUND OUT THAT WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY IN WHICH HE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH FOR CHILDREN IS GUNFIRE.

>> WEAPONS OF WAR ARE IN THE HANDS OF PEOPLE WHO SHOULD NEVER, EVER HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THEM.

>> IF YOU TAKE AWAY OPPORTUNITIES TO GET GUNS, THERE WILL BE FEWER GUNS USED.

DOES IT SOLVE THE PROBLEM?

IT DOES NOT.

BUT DOES IT REDUCE THE PROBLEM?

DOES IT MITIGATE HE PROBLEM?

YES, IT DOES.

>> Mary: MINNETONKA AND STILLWATER HAVE DIVIDED LEGISLATIVE DELEGATIONS, INCLUDING REPUBLICAN SENATOR KARIN HOUSELY.

>> I'M OPTIMISTIC AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT SHE CAN BE A LEADER ON HER SIDE OF THE AISLE.

>> THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE BLE TO AGREE ON THAT OULD GAIN 201 VOTES I THINK.

INVESTING IN MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS.

>> Mary: BACK IN THE D.F.L.

TRIINTEGRITY TRIINTEGTRIFECTA, DEMOCRATS PASA SERIES OF GUN CONTROL MEASURES INCLUDING A RED FLAG LAW THAT WOULD TAKE FIREARMS AWAY FROM INDIVIDUALS DEEMED TO BE DANGER TO THEMSELVES OR OTHERS.

>> WE ENACTED UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS AND RED FLAG LAWS AND THOSE TWO BILLS ARE SAVING LIVES TODAY.

>> Mary: BUT REPUBLICANS CURRENTLY CONTROL THE HOUSE AND THEY WANT SCHOOL SAFETY FUNDING FOR RIVATE SCHOOLS AND MORE MONEY FOR MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT, NOT MORE GUN CONTROL.

DFL LEADERS SAY NOW IS THE TIME TO BAN ASSAULT RIFLES.

>> WE HAVE TO TAKE THE VOTE.

WE NEED TO ACT ON THE WISHES OF MINNESOTANS.

AND FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR KIDS.

ALL ACROSS THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

>> Mary: AND WHAT ABOUT IN THESE MASS SHIETINGS AS PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT, THAT THESE HIGH CAPACITY, BEING ABLE TO SHOOT THAT MANY TIMES, BEING ABLE TO TAKE DOWN THAT MANY PEOPLE, HOW DO YOU DEFEND ACCESS TO THAT KIND OF WEAPON?

>> RESEARCH SHOWS ASSAULT WEAPONS ARE USED ABOUT 30% OF THE TIME.

SO THEY'RE NOT THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME, BUT THEY DO TEND TO CAPTURE A LOT OF OUR ATTENTION.

I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS INDIVIDUAL IN THE CHURCH SHOOTING HAD A SHOTGUN AND TWO PISTOLS WITH THEM AS WELL.

SO PEEFN IF THERE WAS SOME SORT OF AN ASSAULT WELL BAN, IT'S NOT CLEAR THAT IT WOULD HAVE ACTUALLY PREVENTED THE ATTACK.

>> Mary: WITH PROTESTERS NEARBY, VICE PRESIDENT J.D.

VANCE -- >> HIS DAD FOR THE FIRST TIME REVISITED THE CHAPEL WITH ME, AND THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME HE'D BEEN IN THE CHAPEL.

WE SHOULD TALK MORE ABOUT THESE KIDS.

WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT LESS ABOUT THIS SHOOTER.

WE SHOULD TALK LESS ABOUT THE CRAZE EYE PERSON WHO TOOK THESE CHILDREN FROM US.

>> Mary: CONGRESSWOMAN ILHAN OMAR LED A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN D.C. MOMS DEMAND ACTION -- >> LAWMAKERS AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS REFUSE TO DO THE ONE THING THAT COULD STOP THIS.

BAN ASSAULT WEAPONS, AND HIGH CAPACITY MAGAZINES.

[ Applause ] >> I KNOW FROM MY 25 YEARS OF PRACTICING PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE THAT WHEN YOU HAVE SEEN A SMALL BODY THAT HAS BEEN MUTILATED BY BULLETS, YOU DO NOT EASILY OR EVER GET OVER THAT.

>> WHO WILL IT BE TOMORROW?

HOW WILL WE EXPLAIN TO THEM, WE DID NOTHING TO SAVE THEM?

WE CANNOT SHIELD OUR CHILDREN WITH OUR EYES CLOSED AND HANDS BEHIND OUR BACKS.

>> OUR COMMUNITY IS SHAKE >> OUR COMMUNITY IS SHA SHAKEN D HEARTBROKEN.

LOSING TWO KIDS, 17 INJURED KIDS AND PA RELATIONSHIPPORS -- PA RELATIONSHIP ENTERS AND A WHOLE COMMUNITY WHO THIS TRAGEDY HAS REVERK RATED OUT.

>> IN TWO AND A HALF YEARS IN THIS JOB, I HAVE LOST COUNT OF THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT I HAVE STOOD IN FRONT OF A MICROPHONE SAYING THAT I'M STANDING HERE ANGRY AND HEARTBROKEN AND I AM JUST SICK OF IT, YET AGAIN OUR CHILDREN AND OUR PARENTS AND OUR TEACHERS AND OUR COMMUNITY TEAS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO LIVE THROUGH A NIGHTMARE.

>> ASSAULT WEAPONS ARE WEAPONS OF WAR.

THEY ARE DESIGNED FOR THE BATTLE GROUND.

THEY DON'T BELONG IN OUR SCHOOLS.

IN OUR CHURCHES.

IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND YET HERE WE ARE.

AGAIN.

BECAUSE POLITICIANS WOULD RATHER PROTECT THE GUN LOBBY'S PROFITS THAN PROTECT OUR KIDS.

♪ ♪ >> Eric: LAST WEEK'S MASS SHOOTING AT ANNUNCIATION CHURCH AND SCHOOL REMAINS TOP OF MIND FOR MANY MINNESOTANS, AND AS MARY JUST REPORTED, THE REACTIONS IN THE POLITICAL WORLD ARE FAR AND WIDE.

LET'S PICK UP THE CONVERSATION ABOUT A POTENTIAL SPECIAL SESSION AND MORE WITH THIS- WESSION AND MORE WITH THIS- WEEKION AND MORE WITH THIS- WEEK'SN AND MORE WITH THIS- WEEK'S VAND MORE WITH THIS- WEEK'S VERD MORE WITH THIS- WEEK'S VERSIMORE WITH THIS- WEEK'S VERSIONRE WITH THIS- WEEK'S VERSION O WITH THIS- WEEK'S VERSION OF ITH THIS- WEEK'S VERSION OF THH THIS- WEEK'S VERSION OF THE THIS- WEEK'S VERSION OF THE THIS- POLITICAL PANEL.

DEMOCRATS UP FIRST TONIGHT.

EMBER REICHGOTT JUNGE IS A FORMER STATE SENATOR WHO SERVED IN LEADERSHIP FOR HER CAUCUS.

JAVIER MORILLO IS A FORMER NATIONAL COMMITTEE MAN AND A UNION AND PARTY ACTIVIST.

REPUBLICANS ON THE COUCH: AMY KOCH IS A FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER NOW A LOBBYIST.

AND WE WELCOME BACK BRIAN MCCLUNG, FORMER GOVERNOR PAWLENTY SPOKESPERSON AND LONGTIME CAPITOL OBSERVER.

SENATOR KOCH, APPARENTLY GOVERNOR IS GOING TO MEET MONDAY WITH THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS TO DISCUSS THE PARAMETERS OF A SPECIAL SESSION.

PRIOR AGREEMENT SEEMS A LONG WAY OFF.

WOULD HE JUST THROW A BOMB AND JUST GO DO YOUR THING.

>> I THINK HE'S ALREADY BEEN VERY CLEAR THAT THAT'S WHAT HE WOULD INTEND TO DO.

NOW, I'VE HEARD FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE THAT THEY FELT LIKE THE GOVERNOR GOT AHEAD OF THINGS BY ANNOUNCING A SPECIAL SESSION.

AND THAT WAS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

SO I'M GLAD THAT HE'S NOW TAKING A BEAT.

AND GETTING THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS TOGETHER.

TO SEE WHAT'S POSSIBLE.

AND I THINK ABOUT, LIKE, A SPEAKER DEMUTH WHO WAS A SCHOOL BOARD OF ROCORI WHERE THEY HAD A SHOOTING.

SHE WAS NOT ON THE SCHOOL BOARD AT THE TIME, I BELIEVE, BUT I BELIEVE HER CHILDREN WERE STUDENTS THERE.

I THINK THERE ARE GREAT CONVERSATIONS THAT COULD ACTUALLY BE HAD.

I THINK THERE ARE SOME SOLUTIONS.

>> Cathy: WHAT MIGHT BE THE DFL PLAN, JAVIER?

>> WE'RE TALKING OBVIOUSLY ABOUT AN ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE THING ABOUT THIS, AND ABOUT THIS ISSUE, IS JUST, WE SEE -- WE KEEP -- IT KEEPS HAPPENING AND THE FACT THAT CHILDREN DYING HAS NOT UP TO NOW MEANT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DOING OR NOT DOING, IT'S HARD TO FEEL HELPFUL, JUST HONESTLY AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS SAYING EARLIER, I FEEL LIKE MINNESOTA IS BEING SCRIPTED IN THIS HORRIFIC MOVIE.

AND I HOPE THAT WHAT COMES UT OF MONDAY IS, YOU KNOW, THE -- LET'S BE BOLD.

LET'S EVEN START A SESSION WITHOUT A PLAN IN ADVANCE.

LIKE, THAT WOULD BE RISKY AS HELL, BUT DO NOT -- THESE KIDS DESERVE A RISKY STRATEGY, IF THERE'S SOME CHANCE OF VICTORY.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK TO ADD ON TO WHAT JAVIER IS SAYING, I THINK A LOT OF MINNESOTANS ARE DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET INTO THE POLITICS OF IT, IT BECOMES AN EITHER/OR.

AND I THINK A LOT OF MINNESOTANS WOULD LIKE TO SEE A YES/AND.

YES/AND WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THESE WEAPONS?

WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN?

I HINK THAT'S WHAT MORE MINNESOTANS WOULD LIKE TO SEE RATHER THAN THIS EITHER/OR KIND OF 2350EUBG9 THAT GETS SET UP.

>> HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE HAD MAJOR MASS SHOOTINGS AND EVERYBODY SAYS, PRAYERS AND GIVES COULD BE DOLE GIVES COULD BEGIVES CONDOLENCEST NOTHING HAPPENS, AND A FEW WEEKS LATER, WE'RE ONTO THE NEXT ISSUE.

WE CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN.

WE MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION, BUT WE STARTED THE CONVERSATION.

EVEN IF WE HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION WHERE THERE'S NO AGREEMENT AND THEY END IT IN TWO DAYS, YOU'VE STARTED THE CONVERSATION.

YOU'VE STARTED THE THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT WOULD BE REASONABLE RESTRICTIONS LIKE AN ASSAULT BAN OR A BAN ON BINARY TRIGGERS OR ON GHOST GUNS, DO IT YOURSELF GHOST GUNS WITHOUT SERIAL NUMBERS.

YOU'VE STARTED THAT CONVERSATION BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE TIME TO CREATE THE SUPPORT FOR THAT.

AND SO THROUGH THE NEXT MONTHS, UP TO THE NEXT SESSION, YOU CREATE THAT TIME, YOU CREATE THAT SUPPORT, WHEN YOU ACTUALLY COULD PASS SOME OF THAT.

THAT'S WHAT I THINK WE NEED TO DO, BECAUSE GUESS WHAT.

THE OTHER STRATEGIES IN THE PAST, AMY, SIMPLY HAVEN'T WORKED.

>> Cathy: WHERE DO YOU ALL SEE SOME KIND OF A MIDDLE GROUND HERE?

I MEAN, ARE REPUBLICANS AND THOSE WHO ARE IN FAVOR OF GUN RIGHTS, IS THERE -- CAN THEY -- >> I THINK THERE ARE SOME LISTS, RIGHT?

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S AROUND ASSAULT WEAPON BANS.

YOU THINK ABOUT THE RED FLAG LAWS THAT PASSED, AND UNFORTUNATELY ALSO JUST WANT TO SAY THIS, RED FLAG LAWS PASSED IN 2023.

IT WAS A BIPARTISAN BILL IN 2022 THAT PASSED ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

>> Eric: BUT DO PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT?

I WONDER IF THERE'S BEEN EDUCATION.

[Overlapping conversations] RIGHT, LOOK AT, WE'VE HAD THIS FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.

CLEARLY THIS PERSON WAS UNWELL IN SO MANY WAYS.

AND HIS FAMILY KNEW.

AND YET NO ONE FLAGGED THIS PERSON.

AND SO HE -- BY ALL ACCOUNTS, HE BOUGHT ALL OF THESE WEAPONS LEGALLY.

DESPITE HAVING FOR A YEAR AND A HALF WHAT WE THOUGHT AND WHAT PRESIDENT BIDEN WHEN HE SIGNED THE LAW SAID, THIS WILL MAKE PEOPLE SAFER AND IT DIDN'T STOP THIS.

SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING ALL WE CAN.

>> YOU KNOW, THE -- THIS PERSON CLEARLY WAS NOT WELL.

BUT I THINK TO SAY THAT THE RED FLAG LAW DIDN'T WORK, I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF -- LIKE, IS IT BEING APPLIED?

BUT WE -- THIS JUST -- IT CAN'T -- HOW CAN WE NOT JUST COME TOGETHER ON A SIMPLE SET OF THINGS?

LIKE AN ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN THAT WE KNOW, THERE ARE FACTS THAT WE KNOW.

WE KNOW THAT WHEN THERE WAS A BAN, THESE MASS SHOOTINGS WENT DOWN.

WHEN THE BAN ENDED, THEY WENT BACK UP.

WE KNOW THAT THE ONE THING THAT EVERY ONE OF THESE SHOOTERS HAVE IN COMMON IS WHAT'S IN THEIR HAND.

IT'S JUST AS SIMPLE AS THAT.

[Overlapping conversations] >> Eric: DO WE KNOW IF GOVERNOR WALZ IS RUNNING OR NOT?

OR WHAT -- >> DO YOU KNOW, ERIC?

>> Eric: I'VE FELT VERY STRONGLY BOTH WAYS LAST -- >> WELL, AMY AND I ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND I CAN SAY THAT THE DECISION TO NOT RUN IS A VERY DIFFICULT ONE.

BUT WHEN YOU MUSE ABOUT IT IN PUBLIC FOR THIS LONG, I CAN ONLY THINK THAT HE'S LEANING AGAINST IT.

BECAUSE I REALLY BELIEVE HE WOULDN'T BE THAT STRUGGLING AT THIS POINT.

>> BUT I ALSO THINK THAT WE DON'T KNOW, BECAUSE HE'S NOT SURE.

THAT'S HOW IT FEELS TO ME.

>> RIGHT.

>> IS THAT -- BECAUSE I, LIKE, YOU, ERIC, I THINK FELT, HE'S DEFINITELY RUNNING AGAIN.

OH, NO, HE'S FOR SURE OUT.

AND I THINK A LITTLE BIT OF THAT IS BECAUSE HE HAS GONE BACK AND FORTH.

>> Eric: IS THAT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN A SPECIAL SESSION?

>> I THINK IT DOES.

ANY TIME YOU HAVE THAT KIND OF UNCERTAINTY AT THE TOP AND THEN GOVERNOR WALZ IF HE CHOOSES NOT TO RUN, CREATES THIS DOMINO EFFECT, WHERE IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, KEITH ELLISON RUNS FOR GOVERNOR.

YOU COULD HAVE EVERY STATEWIDE RACE AS AN OPEN SEAT, ALL NEW.

AND THEN THE DOMINOES THAT COME OUT OF THAT.

NOW, STATE REPRESENTATIVE DAN WOLGAMOTT GETS INTO THE AUDITOR'S RACE.

THAT'S A SWING SEAT IN THE STATE HOUSE.

HE WON BY JUST A FEW DOZEN VOTES IN HIS LAST ELECTION.

SO I THINK WHETHER OR NOT THE GOVERNOR IS RUNNING DOES HANG OVER THESE NEXT FEW WEEKS WHETHER THERE'S A SPECIAL SESSION OR NOT.

>> Eric: WANDERING AROUND THE CAPITOL TODAY, I PICKED UP A RUMOR, DEAN PHILLIPS, JULIA COLEMAN, INDEPENDENT CANDIDACY FOR GOVERNOR.

>> WELL, THAT'S INTERESTING.

[ Laughter ] >> Cathy: WAY OF -- MINNESOTAN WAY OF SAYING THAT'S INTERESTING.

>> THAT IS THE MOST MINNESOTAN I'VE EVER HEARD.

>> WHAT I WILL SAY ABOUT THAT IS, I THINK ANY THIRD-PARTY TICKET COULD TIP IT TO THE REPUBLICANS, WHEN THAT MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE HAPPEN.

>> IT'S -- I CAN SEE DEAN PHILLIPS DOING THAT.

I COULDN'T SEE SENATOR COLEMAN.

SHE'S A REPUBLICAN -- >> SOMEWHAT VOCAL ABOUT THAT SHE DOESN'T REALLY CARE ABOUT THE PARTY ON THE TICKET.

>> Eric: I DON'T THINK SHE WANTS TO GO TO WASHINGTON WITH YOUNG CHILDREN, BUT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, I AM -- >> WELL, I MEAN, WE HAVE SEEN THIRD PARTIES MAKE MOVES, OBVIOUSLY, IN MINNESOTA.

SO -- AND CERTAINLY THERE'S A TIME AND A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE KIND OF SAYING, YOU KNOW, FOR BOTH PARTIES, ENOUGH OF BOTH OF YOU.

SO -- >> Cathy: BRIAN'S NOT SAYING ANYTHING.

>> NO, BUT THE THIRD PARTIES WERE DECISIVE IN THE 1998 RACE, IN THE 2022 RACE AND IN THE 2010 RACE WHEN KURT DAUDT WON BY .4%, RIGHT, AND THE THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATE, TOM HORNER, IN THAT RACE PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE SOA.

THAT OULD MAKE IT VERY INTERESTING.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, BOTH DEAN PHILLIPS AND JULIA COLEMAN BRING A LOT INDIVIDUALLY TO A RACE AND ARE VIBRANT, INTERESTING, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND PERSONALITIES.

SO THAT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, THAT COULD BE SOMETHING.

>> I LOVE YOUR RUMOR, ERIC.

HOWEVER, I THINK EITHER ONE OF THEM RUNNING ON THEIR OWN COURSE, IF YOU WILL, FOR ONE OF THOSE OPEN ELECTED SEATS COULD BE VERY STRONG, BECAUSE BOTH OF THEM WOULD BE STRONG CANDIDATES SEPARATELY.

>> Cathy: YOU ARE A MINNEAPOLIS RESIDENT.

>> I AM.

>> Cathy: WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS WITH THE DFL PARTY?

>> WELL, I THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS SETTLED, BECAUSE I FELT LIKE THE PROCESS JUST DIDN'T WORK.

I FELT LIKE THE STATE D.F.L.

WERE THE ADULTS IN THE ROOM.

AND CAUSED THE ENDORSEMENT TO BE THROWN OUT FOR GOOD REASON.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN AGAIN WITHOUT HOLDING ANOTHER CONVENTION.

AND I HOPE THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

LET'S GET ONTO THE ELECTION SO THAT ALL THE PEOPLE IN MINNEAPOLIS CAN VOTE.

>> Eric: JAVIER IS THE GOD FATHER OF CONVENTIONS IN MINNEAPOLIS.

>> WELL, I OUNCE >> WELL, I OUN ONCE WAS.

[Overlapping conversations] [ Laughter ] >> PIZZA.

>> I WAS A PIZZA -- BECAUSE WE COULD COUNT, WE ROBBED QUORUM.

WE WERE SUCCESSFUL AT THAT.

I COULD NOT DISAGREE MORE WITH WHAT EMBER HAS SAID.

JACOB FREY'S CAMPAIGN DID NOT KNOW HOW TO COUNT.

THEY LOST THE QUORUM.

THE PROCEDURAL ISSUES THERE WERE VOTED ON BY THE CONVENTION FLOOR, BY -- AND -- SO BY ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER, THEY TOOK UP THE QUESTION, SHOULD THEY DO THE BALLOT AGAIN OR NOT, AND THE FACT I AM TALKING ABOUT ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER TELLS YOU HOW INSANE THESE THINGS ARE TO BEGIN WITH.

BUT HE WON THAT ENDORSEMENT.

I SUPPORT DUANE DAVIS FOR MAYOR, BUT OMAR FATEH WON THAT ENDORSEMENT.

>> Eric: JUNE PRIMARY?

>> YES, ALL THE BETTER.

>> Eric: THANKS, PANEL.

♪ ♪ >> ONLY IN GOVERNMENT CAN YOU CALL IT A DEFICIT, YES, THERE WILL BE DIFFICULT DECISIONS THAT HAVE TO BE MADE, NO DOUBT.

>> REPRESENTATIVE EMMER, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE 126TH DAY SINCE YOU'VE BEEN ENDORSED BY YOUR PARTY AND YOU STILL HAVEN'T ANSWERED THAT QUESTION.

HOW WOULD YOU ELIMINATE A $5.8 BILLION DEFICIT >> >> WE HAVE A $6 BILLION DEFICIT NEXT YEAR BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR DIDN'T FIX A $3 BILLION DEFICIT.

♪ >> Eric: THAT WAS FROM AN MPR DEBATE AT THE FAIR 15 YEARS AGO.

TOM HORNER, BY THE WAY, RECEIVED 12% OF THE VOTE THAT YEAR.

MARK DAYTON WON A VERY CLOSE CONTEST AND SERVED TWO TERMS AS GOVERNOR.

TOM EMMER ENDED UP IN CONGRESS AND IS CURRENTLY THE NUMBER THREE REPUBLICAN IN THE U.S. HOUSE.

THAT'S OUR POLITICAL HISTORY FOR TONIGHT.

TIME TO MOVE ON TO MINNESOTA HISTORY AND THIS WEEK'S QUESTION.

OUR QUERY FEATURES A RECORD-SETTING EVENT IN APRIL 2025.

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