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

>> Eric: COMING UP ON "ALMANAC," THE LATEST ON TA FUNDING AND AIRPORT WAIT TIMES.

TANE DANGER HAS AN ESSAY, IT'S DEADLINE WEEK AT THE STATE CAPITOL AND WE'LL VISIT WITH HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COCHAIRS.

MARY LAHAMMER ROUNDS UP ALL OF THE WEEK'S ACTION.

>> BILLS ARE MOVING FAST BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE BREAK.

FIND OUT WHAT FRESHMAN HAS ONE OF THE FIRST BIPARTISAN TO REACH THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

>> PEOPLE ARE CHOMPING AT THE BIT, THEY WANT TO GO BACK TO THEIR DISTRICTS AND SAY THEY GOT SOMETHING ACCOMPLISHED.

>> 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.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

AND VANESSA DAYTON, THROUGH THE HEALTHCARE FOR ALL MINNESOTANS FUND, SUPPORTIN ACCESSIBLE HEALTH CARE STATEWIDE.

>> Eric: WELCOME TO "ALMANAC."

ON TONIGHT'S SHOW IT IS COMMITTEE DEADLINE WEEK AT THE LEGISLATURE AND WE'LL TALK WITH KEY COMMITTEE CHAIRS TO SEE WHERE THINGS STAND AS LAWMAKERS BRING THEIR ANNUAL SPRING BREAK.

MARY LAHAMMER WILL ROUND UP THE REST OF THE ACTION, WE'LL HAVE A PANEL AT THE END OF THE HOUR, AND IN BETWEEN, WE HAVE A DAVID GILLETTE VIDEO ESSAY AND WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON THE GOPHER WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM WITH THEIR SWEET 16 GAME IN LOG, LIVE FRIDAY NIGHT.

>> Cathy: THAT'S A LOTTA SHOW.

WE'RE GOING TO START TONIGHT THOUGH WITH NEWS OUT OF THE NATION'S CAPITOL.

IN THE WEEKS-LONG PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN THAT HAS CREATED LOANS LINES AT AIRPORTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

EARLY FRIDAY MORNING, THE U.S.

SENATE PASSED A COMPROMISE BILL THAT WOULD FUND TSA BUT NOT I.C.E.

OR BORDER PATROL.

AND THEN LEFT D.C.

FOR A TWO-WEEK BREAK.

ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON, HOUSE REPUBLICANS REJECTED THAT PLAN.

WITH CONGRESS AT AN IMPASSE, PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS GONE AROUND THEM AND ISSUED AN EXECUTIV ORDER TO PY PAY TSA WORKERS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY SAYS PAYCHECKS COULD BE ISSUED AS SOON AS MONDAY.

KYLE POTTER IS WITH THRIFTY TRAVELER, ONLINE TRAVEL NEWS SITE.

>> THE OVERLAP OF POLITICS AND TRAVEL IS JUST ENDLESS.

>> Cathy: BEAUTIFUL, ISN'T IT?

>> I THOUGHT I WAS GETTING OUT OF THAT.

>> IT JUST DRAGS ME BACK IN.

>> Cathy: NO!

WELL, WELCOME BACK TO "ALMANAC."

I'M ASSUMING THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER WON'T MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IMMEDIATELY.

>> I DON'T THINK SO BECAUSE WHILE PAYCHECKS WILL START TO GO OUT AS SOON AS MONDAY, IT WILL TAKE 7 TO 10 DAYS, ALL 50,000 AGENTS TO GET THEIR PAYCHECKS.

I WOULD EXPECT AT THE VERY LEAST AT THE AIRPORTS THAT HAVE HAD REALLY BAD PROBLEMS, HOUSTON, ATLANTA, NEW YORK AREA, INCREASINGLY BALTIMORE IT'S GOING TO BE DAYS IF NOT A WEEK OR MORE PROBLEMS UNTIL EVERYTHING GETS SMOOTH AS NORMAL.

>> Eric: WHY HAS MSP ESCAPED SOME OF THE WORST?

>> I HAVE TO THINK IT'S SOME OF THE REGIONALTY OF THE WORKFORCE AND PEOPLE WHO WORK IN MINNEAPOLIS APPARENTLY FEEL DIFFERENTLY ABOUT THEIR JOBS AND THE AIRPORT THEY WORK FOR THAN DO THE FOLKS IN HOUSTON OR ATLANTA.

MINNEAPOLIS IS WIDELY REGARDED AS ONE OF IF NOT THE BEST AIRPORT IN THE COUNTRY.

AND THAT CLAUSE THE TSA WORKFORCE.

NOT THE MOST POPULAR WORKFORCE IN THE WORLD DURING NORMAL TIMES BUT RIGHT NOW IT SEEMS TO BE PAYING OFF.

>> Cathy: GOOD FRIEND OF MINE ASKED, WELL, WHERE'S THE TSA UNION IN ALL OF THIS?

THEY ARE UNIONIZED, RIGHT?

>> THEY ARE UNIONIZED AND THEY HAVE BEEN LOUD BUT MAYBE JUST DROWNED OUT BY THE NEGATIVE HEADLINES IN THE NEWS.

THEY HAVE BEEN SAYING AGAIN AND AGAIN OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, OUR PEOPLE ARE AT A BREAKING POINT, THEY HAVE SAID THE T SA ITSELF HAS SAID THAT OVER 500 WORKERS HAVE QUIT THE WORKFORCE JUST WITHIN THE LAST FIVE OR SIX WEEKS, WHICH IS LAYERED ON TOP OF THE SHUTDOWN, NOT FIVE MONTHS AGO IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER WHEN A FEW HUNDRED ALSO QUIT THE WORKFORCE.

SO MY ONCERN IS ALMOST LESS ABOUT WHEN THIS GETS MOVING MORE SMOOTHLY IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS HOPEFULLY, IN THE NEXT WEEK AND CHANGE PROBABLY, BUT MORE ABOUT WHAT KIND OF SHAPE THIS WORKFORCE IS GOING TO BE IN WHEN IT'S GOING TO BE SO HARD FOR THEM TO HIRE REPLACEMENTS TO KEEP LINES MOVING NOT JUST THIS MONTH BUT YEARS FROM NOW.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

>> Eric: AVIATION FUEL MUST BE GOING UP IN PRICE.

WHAT IMPACT DOES THAT HAVE ON TICKETS?

>> ALREADY WE'RE SEEING SOME INCREASES.

PRICE OF JET FUEL THIS MORNING WAS UP ON AVERAGE 75%.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT ALL TICKETS ARE 75% MORE THAN THEY WERE.

AIRFARE IS NOT A MONOLITH, IT'S MILLIONS OF FARES AND SOME ARE GOING UP, SOME ALREADY HAVE GONE UP.

SOME ARE STAYING THE SAME, SOME ARE STILL GOING DOWN BUT ON AVERAGE I WOULD EXPECT TO PAY MORE WHICH MEANS FOR ME PERSONALLY I'VE BOOKED ALL OF MY UPCOMING FLIGHTS FOR SPRING AND SUMMER ALREADY BECAUSE THE ODDS THOSE FARES ARE GOING UP IN THE WEEKS AHEAD ARE HIGHER MAYBE THAN THEY'VE BEEN IN A LONG TIME.

>> Cathy: OKAY, SO WITH THE HIGHER TICKETS COSTS AND TSA DELAYS WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT GET BETTER, IT'S KIND OF NASTY TO FLY ANYWAY AT TIMES.

I WONDER ABOUT THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS FOR THE AVIATION INDUSTRY WITH ALL OF THIS.

>> I DO TOO.

I'M WORRIED ABOUT WHAT THIS DOES TO THE PSYCHE OF THE AVERAGE AMERICAN WHO DREADS GOING TO THE AIRPORT TO BEGIN WITH, AND SAYS YOU KNOW WHAT, IF IT'S A SIX-HOUR DRIVE OR AN HOUR AND A HALF FLIGHT I'M HOPPING IN THE CAR.

AND AGAIN PRICES AT THE PUMP, NOT SO GREAT EITHER.

SO I DON'T KNOW, MY HOPE IS, GENERALLY SPEAKING NOT A VERY OPTIMISTIC PERSON, MY HOPE IS WE CAN PUT THIS BEHIND US, PEOPLE GET BACK OUT THERE, THEY TAKE THE TRIPS THEY WANT TO TAKE BUT THIS PROBABLY WILL HAVE SOME KIND OF EFFECT ON TRAVEL DEMAND AS A WHOLE.

>> Eric: THRIFTY TRAVELER AS YOU COMMUNICATE ITH YOUR SUBSCRIBERS WHAT ARE YOU TELLING THEM?

>> I'M TELLING THEM BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS NOW, WAIT FOR THE DEAL, USE TOOLS LIKE GOOGLE FLIGHTS EXPLORE OR THE TIPS WE GIVE ON OUR PODCAST TO FIND A GREAT DEAL AND BOOK IT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER BECAUSE ODDS ARE THINGS ARE GOING TO LOOK A LITTLE BIT WORSE AT LEAST ON PRICE FRONT IN THE WEEKS TO COME.

>> Cathy: THIS MIGHT SEEM LIKE A STRANGE QUESTION TO END OUR CONVERSATION ON, BUT GIVEN ALL THE TURMOIL OR TURBULENCE, MAYBE A TERM YOU USE IN THE INDUSTRY, COULD THIS LEAD TO BUSINESS CONTRACTING OR, ANY OF THAT ON THE HORIZON AT ALL?

IS >> NO QUESTION, I THINK WE WERE HEADING THAT LONG BEFORE EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED IN THE LAST MONTH OR SO.

ESPECIALLY ON THE LOWER COST END OF THE INDUSTRY LIKE SPIRIT AND FRONTIER, THOSE TWO AIRLINES ARE REALLY STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE RIGHT NOW.

AND MAYBE YOU'RE SAYING AT HOME, I DON'T CARE ABOUT SPIRIT, I'M NEVER GOING TO FLY THAT AIRLINE.

YOU REALLY NEED THAT AIRLINE TO SURVIVE IN SOME FORM BECAUSE BY VIRTUE OF THEM FLYING THEY PREVIOUSLY DID FROM MINNEAPOLIS TO ATLANTA OR MINNEAPOLIS TO DETROIT THAT FORCED DELTA TO LOWER FARES TO COMPETE SO THEY DON'T LOSE ALL OF THEIR MANAGERS TO THAT LOWER FARE.

SPIRIT LEFT THE MARKET IN MINNEAPOLIS JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, AND I KID YOU NOT, BASICALLY OVERNIGHT FARES SHOT UP FROM SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 249 ONE WAY FLYING DELTA TO 469 OR SO.

THAT IS HOW IMPORTANT THAT COMPETITION IS.

>> YIKES.

>> AND WE'RE GOING SEE MORE OF THAT IN MONTHS TO COME.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERTISE.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ CLEAR CLEAR >> ABOUT A WEEK AGO MY FAMILY AND I HAD A REALLY GOOD DAY.

THE WEATHER WAS PERFECT, THE KIDS WERE HAPPY AND WE DID A LOT OF THINGS WE ENJOY.

AND THAT'S IT, FOR 12 SOLID HOURS IT WAS GREAT TO BE ALIVE.

END OF STORY.

THE STRANGE THING IS THAT IN TODAY'S WORLD I KEEP THE GOOD DAYS TO MYSELF BECAUSE I KNOW THE WORLD IS HARD RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY HERE IN MINNESOTA.

WHAT IF THE PERSON I'M TALKING TO JUST HAD A FAMILY MEMBER DEPORTED?

WHAT'S IT GOING TO SOUND LIKE WHEN I SAY, OH, THIS CREAM CHEESE DANISH I JUST GOT, YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE IT WAS SO ... IN LIKE THESE HAPPINESS CAN BE, I DON'T KNOW, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN TONE-DEAF AND CRUEL.

THIS IS ONE OF THE FRUSTRATING TENSIONS OF OUR TIME.

I HAVE A GOOD DAY, YOU HAVE AN AWFUL DAY AND TOMORROW EVERYTHING REVERSES.

YOU CAN HEAR THIS IN HOW WE FEEL EACH OTHER OUT CONVERSATIONALLY.

SO, HOW ARE YOU?

GOOD, GOOD, SHOULD I TALK ABOUT MY SKI TRIP?

OH, NOT GOOD, YEAH, I SAW THAT.

TERRIBLE, LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN HELP.

AND THAT'S HOW WE DANCE.

JOY AND SORROW, HAND IN HAND.

I THINK THE ONLY WAY TO MOVE FORWARD IS TO REMIND OURSELVES THAT THINGS ARE JUMBLED.

AND OUR EXPERIENCES AREN'T ALWAYS GOING TO LINE UP.

BECAUSE HERE'S THE REALITY.

NO MATTER HOW ROUGH THE WORLD GETS, GOOD DAYS ARE STILL GONNA HAPPEN SOMETIMES.

AND THAT'S A PRETTY SILLY THING TO KEEP A SECRET.

♪ >> Eric: WE'RE AT THE MIDWAY POINT OF THE SESSION AND THE LEGISLATURE IS AT A STALEMATE ON TOP ISSUES AS LAWMAKERS DEPART FOR BREAK THIS WEEK.

TWO LAWMAKERS CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS FOR SPENDING AND BUDGET ARE THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS AND THEY JOIN US NOW.

REPRESENTATIVE D.F.L.ER CEDRICK FRAZIER FROM NEW HOPE, ALSO SERVES AS COCHAIR OF THE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND INDIGENOUS CAUCUS.

ALONGSIDE IS REPUBLICAN PAUL TORKELSON FROM HANSKA WRAPPING UP HIS YEARS IN THE LEGISLATURE THIS SESSION.

WHEN A CONSTITUENT SAYS WHAT IS THAT WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, WHAT DO YOU TELL THEM?

WHAT DOES IT DO?

>> MONEY, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY.

EVERY MONEY BILL HAS TO GO THROUGH OUR COMMITTEE AND IN A BUDGET YEAR OF COURSE WE SET BUDGET TARGETS WHICH DETERMINES HOW MUCH MONEY EACH COMMITTEE CAN SPEND.

THIS YEAR IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, NOT A BUDGET YEAR, BUT EVERY MAJOR SPENDING BILL HAS TO GO THROUGH OUR COMMITTEE BEFORE IT CAN GO NOT FLOOR.

>> Eric: 3.7 BILLION PROJECTED SURPLUS, IS THAT JUST ENOUGH MONEY SO THAT PEOPLE EXPECT A LITTLE GREASE OF THE SKIDS HERE BEFORE THE END OF THE SESSION?

HOW OFTEN ARE YOU SAYING NO?

>> I THINK WE'RE SAYING NO A LOT.

I THINK WE'RE SAYING WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE STILL HAVE A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT COMING UP, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER WE'RE SPENDING ON DOESN'T HAVE A LARGE IMPACT ON THAT TO MAKE IT GROW.

BUT WE KNOW WE HAVE GREAT NEEDS AND MINNESOTANS NEED TAKEN CARE OF AND WE WANT TO TRY TO FOCUS ON THOSE ISSUES.

>> Cathy: I HEARD ABOUT NEEDS AND STORM CLOUDS ON THE HORIZON, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE EARLIER YOU MIGHT REMEMBER WERE NOT HAPPY WITH THEIR PROPERTY TAX BILLS WHEN THEY GOT THEM.

SO I'M WONDERING THERE IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY THAT MONEY COULD COME BACK TO TAXPAYERS AT THE END OF SESSION?

>> WELL, THERE IS SOME POSSIBILITY.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SOME PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT POSSIBLY LOWERING TAB FEES.

BOTH OF THOSE TASKS WILL BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.

BUT THERE'S MONEY AROUND, THERE'S UNSPENT FUNDS THAT WE COULD TAP INTO IF WE CAN AGREE TO TAP INTO THEM.

BUT WE'LL SEE.

>> Cathy: YOU COME ACROSS SOME CONTROVERSIAL BILLS, BOTH OF YOU OBVIOUSLY IN THIS COMMITTEE.

SO FAR WHAT'S BEEN THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL YOU'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH?

>> WELL, SO FAR THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL IS A DAIRY BILL.

IT WASN'T A VERY BIG BILL BUT STILL HELD UP IN OUR COMMITTEE.

>> IT DIED ON A TIE VOTE.

>> IT DID DIE ON A TIE VOTE.

>> Eric: AND OF COURSE WE SHOULD SAY THE HOUSE IS DIVIDED 67-67.

>> THAT DYING ON A TIE HAS BEEN PRETTY COMMON OCCURRENCE, NOT JUST IN OUR COMMITTEE BUT VIRTUALLY EVERY COMMITTEE.

WE'RE SEEING SOME SHAKING LOOSE AND BILLS MOVING, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE MORE BILLS SOON I THINK.

>> I WILL SAY IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR US TO NOT MOVE THINS AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.

THAT'S PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS BUT THAT DAIRY BILL PARTICULARLY, WE'RE GOING TO GET IT DONE, THERE'S ALWAYS INTERNAL CONVERSATIONS OR THINGS BEHIND THE SCENES THAT YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT MAY CAUSE AN IMPACT BUT WE'RE FOCUSED ON WHAT MINNESOTANS NEED AND WE'LL GET THINGS DONE WHERE WE NEED TO.

>> Cathy: YOU BOTH ARE LEAVING THE LEGISLATURE AT THE END OF SESSION.

YOU, Mr.

CHAIR, KNOWN AS A DEAL MAKER.

YOU'VE GOT A GOOD REPUTATION AS A DEAL MAKER.

YOU WANT TO PEEL THAT ONION FOR US A LITTLE BIT AND WHY DO YOU HAVE THAT REPUTATION >> WELL, THERE'S OTHER DEAL MAKERS IN THE WORLD AS YOU KNOW.

AND I THINK I'M A LOT DIFFERENT THAN THE HEAD DEAL MAKER.

MY DEAL-MAKING IS A LITTLE MORE SUBTLE AND FRIENDLY THAN OTHERS MIGHT BE.

I JUST LIKE TO, I LIKE TO SAY, I DON'T LIKE TO OMPROMISE, I LIKE TO GET TO KNOW WHO IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN DO TOGETHER TO SOLVE A PROBLEM, FIGURE A ATH THAT WE CAN BOTH LIVE WITH AND THEN MOVE DOWN THAT PATH.

>> Cathy: WHAT'S IT BEEN LIKE TO WORK ITH THIS REPRESENTATIVE?

IS >> IT'S BEEN VERY GOOD, I'VE KNOWN REP TORKELSON BEFORE I CAME COCHAIR AND WE'VE HAD A CORDIAL, FRIENDLY WORKING RELATIONSHIP, AND I RESPECT HIM VERY MUCH.

THEY'RE GOING TO MISS YOU WHEN YOU LEAVE.

I THINK WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT DEAL MAKING THE IDEA IS AS LONG AS IT'S VALUES BASED I DON'T MIND COMPROMISING TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR MINNESOTANS AS LONG AS IT'S NOT COMPROMISING VALUES I BRING TO THE TABLE OF THOSE THAT I REPRESENT.

>> Eric: YOU GUYS HAVE ANY IDEA WHY WE'RE NOT MORE WITH THE ONE MINNESOTA SLOGAN THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE URBAN, RURAL SPLIT, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT?

>> WELL 'A COUPLE OF THINGS.

I THINK WE'RE SUFFERING FROM A COVID HANGOVER.

COVID WAS A DIFFERENT TIME IN THE LEGISLATURE.

PEOPLE THAT CAME IN DURING THAT TIME MET ON ZOOM, THERE WAS NO CORDIAL MEETINGS BEFORE A COMMITTEE MEETING STARTED OR AFTER.

AND INSTEAD YOU HAD THIS LIMITED TIME WHERE YOU WERE STARING AT THE BOX AND EVERYBODY WAS JUST A HEAD ON A SCREEN.

AND I THINK IT DEVELOPED SOME KIND OF BAD HABITS THAT WE HAVE YET TO GET OVER COMPLETELY.

ALSO, WE'RE DRIVEN BY SOCIAL MEDIA.

THE WHOLE SOCIETY IN MANY WAYS IS DRIVEN BY SOCIAL MEDIA.

PEOPLE GET IN THEIR ECHO CHAMBERS, TEND TO LISTEN TO THE AREA THAT AGREES WITH THEM, THE NEWS CASTS THAT AGREES WITH THEM AND THEY DON'T GET THE FULL PICTURE AND THAT CAUSES EXTREMES.

>> I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST, I CAME IN DURING COVID SO I'M ONE OF THOSE MEMBERS.

ONE OF THOSE THINGS I DID WAS REACHED OUT TO EVERY REPUBLICAN MEMBER ON EVERY COMMITTEE I SAT ON TO HAVE A ONE TO ONE CONVERSATION TO GET TO KNOW THEM.

AND I'VE LIVED IN RURAL MINNESOTA, I'VE LIVED IN MORRIS, AND MANKATO.

AND I APPRECIATE THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF METRO VERSUS RURAL AREA.

I ALSO GREW UP ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO SO I'M A BIG CITY KID BUT MY FAMILY'S FROM MISSISSIPPI, JUST TALKING ABOUT THIS, I SPENT SUMMERS DOWN SOUTH.

SO THAT SMALL TOWN FEEL, EVERYBODY KNOWS EVERYBODY, THAT MORE LAID BACK PACE, I APPRECIATE THAT SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I COULD MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS AND I THINK MOST OF US HAVE DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF ACTUALLY BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AS WE'VE BEEN THERE.

>> Cathy: I WONDER THEN MOVING FORWARD, BECAUSE THERE IS STILL THIS SCHISM, WHAT DO OTHER FOLKS HAVE TO DO TO REPAIR THAT?

TO BRIDGE THOSE DIVIDES?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK A BIG THING IS CONNECTING AND GETTING TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER.

THERE'S THIS THING, THE MORE YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHEN YOU KNOW SOMEONE UP CLOSE, IT'S HARDER TO BE A JERK TO THEM, RIGHT?

BECAUSE YOU HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING, YOU KNOW THEIR FAMILY, YOU LEARN ABOUT THEIR BACKGROUND, AND IT'S REALLY KIND OF HARD TO BE A JERK WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE KIND OF CONNECTIONS.

I THINK THE MORE OF THAT WE CAN DO, VISITING DO, VISITI VISITING DISTRICTS, G AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THOSE DISTRICTS I'D LOVE TO DO THAT.

I'VE GOTTEN TO TRAVEL AROUND THE STATE AS PART OF THE LEADERSHIP TEAM AND THAT HAS GIVEN ME A CONNECTION TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND WORK WELL WITH FOLKS.

>> AND WE HAVE ANOTHER OBSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW, IT'S THE BUILDING WE'RE IN.

WE'RE IN TEMPORARY QUARTERS.

REPUBLICANS ARE ALL ON SECOND FLOOR, DEMOCRATS ARE ALL ON FIFTH FLOOR, AND I CALL THE BUILDING THE PENITENTIARY BECAUSE IT'S A PAIN TO GET IN AND OUT OF.

>> FAIR ENOUGH.

>> AND SO WE DON'T SEE EACH OTHER CASUALLY VERY MUCH IN THAT BUILDING, IT'S NOT LIKE THE OLD OFFICE BUILDING WHERE THIRD FLOOR WAS A MIX AND I SPENT A LOT F TIME ON THIRD FLOOR SO YOU JUST NATURALLY SAW EACH OTHER BY THE ELEVATORS AND IN THE HALLWAYS, THAT'S NOT HAPPENING EITHER.

, WHEN DO YOU HOPE TO HAVE TARGETS DONE?

AND THIS IS THE INDIVIDUAL SPENDING FOR EACH.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> Eric: I AS THINK NEGOTIATIONS -- THE NEGOTIATIONS ARE GOING TO BE FRAUGHT WITH PERIL, I WOULD THINK.

>> ERIC, THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE TARGETS.

>> Eric: WHAT?

>> Cathy: WHAT?

>> WE DON'T NEED TARGETS, WE WILL DEAL WITH EACH INDIVIDUAL SPENDING BILL AS IT COMES THROUGH.

AND WE KIND OF, AT LEAST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I'M SPEAKING NOW FOR MY CAUCUS AND MY LEADERSHIP.

>> YEAH.

>> WE ARE PLANNING ON JUST WORKING ON THE BILLS AS THEY COME THROUGH.

THERE WILL NOT BE BIG OMNIBUS BILLS.

>> Eric: NO 1400-PAGER?

>> NO 400-PAGER.

>> Eric: NO INDIVIDUAL TARGETS, THAT'S GOING TO SPEED THINGS ALONG?

>> WELL, IT'S GOING TO CHANGE THE WAY WE NEGOTIATE.

>> Eric: WOW!

>> IT WILL CHANGE THE WAY WE NEGOTIATE.

ON OUR SIDE WE WOULD PREFER TARGETS, BUT WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.

WE'RE IN A TIED HOUSE.

WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER, WE UNDERSTAND THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR BEST TO MAKE THIS WORK BUT AGAIN WHAT WE REALLY KIND OF FOCUS ON AND WHAT MINNESOTANS NEED WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO BE BRINGING BILLS AND PRIORITIES TO ADDRESS THAT, WE'RE THINKING OF THINGS, IMPACT OF WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE FEDERAL OPERATION IN OUR STATE, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE IMPACT ON OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE IMPACT OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT COULDN'T GO TO WORK, THAT ARE DEALING WITH MAKING SURE THEY CAN STAY IN THEIR HOMES, THOSE ARE MAJOR THINGS WE GOT TO FOCUS ON.

AND IF WE CAN DO IT WITHOUT HAVING TARGETS WE'LL MAKE SURE IT CAN HAPPEN FOR MINNESOTANS.

>> Eric: BREAKING NEWS!

THANKS, MAN.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, YEAH.

♪ >> ANN REST KNOWS THIS TERRITORY WELL.

FOR 14 YEARS SHE'S BEEN A STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR SUBURBAN DISTRICT 46A.

>> HI.

I'M ANN REST, STATE LEGISLATOR.

AND I'M JUST VISITING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO REDISTRICTING, IT'S A POLITICAL PROCESS.

WE'VE SEEN MANY STATES THAT HAVE TRIED OUTSIDE GROUPS TO IMPOSE DISTRICTS ON THE LEGISLATURE, OFTEN IT ENDS UP IN COURT ANYWAY BECAUSE IT GETS CHALLENGED BY CERTAIN GROUPS.

>> VOTERS DO WANT US TO GET SOME THINGS ACCOMPLISHED, AND PERHAPS SAW THAT DIVIDED GOVERNMENT WASN'T THE WAY TO DO IT.

I'VE CERTAINLY LEARNED TO RESPECT THE MINORITY, HAVING SPENT THE LAST TWO YEARS IN THE MINORITY.

>> MAJORITY LEADER YIELD.

>> ADDRESS IOLENT CRIME, ENSURE THAT OUR KIDS ARE GETTING THE QUALITY EDUCATION THAT THEY DESERVE, AND RETURN THE MONEY BACK TO THE PEOPLE F THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, THE BUDGET SURPLUS, GET THAT BACK IN THE POCKETS OF MINNESOTANS.

>> THIS IS THE RESULT OF DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS WORKING TOGETHER IN THE HOUSE, IN THE SENATE.

♪ >> Cathy: LAST WEEK THE NEW YORK TIMES PUBLISHED AN INVESTIGATION ALLEGING LONGTIME LABOR LEADER CESAR CHAVEZ SEXUALLY ABUSED OUNG GIRLS AND WOMEN FOR YEARS.

THIS WEEK THE MINNESOTA HOUSE AND SENATE QUICKLY PASSED BILLS TO REPEAL THE STATE HOLIDAY THAT HONORS CHAVEZ, THE PROMINENT MEXICAN-AMERICAN WHO COFOUNDED THE UNITED FARM WORKERS OF AMERICA.

GOVERNOR WALZ SIGNED THAT TODAY.

D.F.L.

REPRESENTATIVE MARÍA ISA PÉREZ-VEGA WAS THE AUTHOR OF THE BILL THATS PAD THE HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY ON MONDAY.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

THIS, THIS BILL LITERALLY WAS PASSED BY THE SPEED OF LIGHT PRACTICALLY.

I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT REALLY HAPPEN MANY OTHER TIMES, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

WHAT'S THE URGENCY?

THE URGENCY IS WE LISTENED AND RESPECTED OUR WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND IN PARTICULARLY OUR LATINA COMMUNITY HAS GONE THROUGH A LOT.

NOT JUST WITHIN THE MONTHS OF THIS OPERATION METRO SURGE, BUT IN PARTICULAR FOR DECADES WHEN IT COMES TO RESPECTING OUR MOVEMENTS.

AND WHEN OUR WOMEN AND OUR CHILDREN SPEAK.

TO ME AS A LEGISLATOR AND AS AS A MOTHER AND YOUTH WORKER, I- LIMOTHER AND YOUTH WORKER, I- LISTTHER AND YOUTH WORKER, I- LISTENER AND YOUTH WORKER, I- LISTEN A AND YOUTH WORKER, I- LISTEN ANDND YOUTH WORKER, I- LISTEN AND I YOUTH WORKER, I- LISTEN AND I TOUTH WORKER, I- LISTEN AND I TAKTH WORKER, I- LISTEN AND I TAKE WORKER, I- LISTEN AND I TAKE ACORKER, I- LISTEN AND I TAKE ACTIKER, I- LISTEN AND I TAKE ACTIONR, I- LISTEN AND I TAKE ACTION A I- LISTEN AND I TAKE ACTION AND- LISTEN AND I TAKE ACTION AND- THAT DOESN'T LEAVE WHEN YOU GO INSIDE THOSE CHAMBERS.

AND I WAS SURE TO SPEAK WITH BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE AND PARTICULARLY MY LEADER -- TO YOU PERSONALLY?

I'M A SURVIVOR.

AND IT'S TAKING, YOU DON'T LET THAT GO.

YOU WORK ON EMPOWERING YOURSELF TO BRING HEALING AND ALSO TO HAVE CAUSE AND EFFECT OF YOUR PROCESS OF NOT JUST HEALING YOURSELF BUT THINKING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY OF THOSE WHO MAY NOT HAVE THE ENCOURAGEMENT OR VILLAGE THAT IT TAKES TO GO THROUGH PROCESSING AND SPEAKING UP ON IT.

AND SO PERSONALLY IT WAS WHAT ARE WE DOING TO BRING HEALING IF WE'RE NOT IN A PROACTIVE, REACTIVE WAY?

>> Cathy: HOW DO YOU WEIGH THE -- HIS LEGACY AND THE GOOD WORK HE DID WITH THESE REVELATIONS?

IS IT DIFFICULT, OR?

HOW DO YOU PARSE IT?

>> IT'S VERY CHALLENGING, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT HE WORK OF THE WOMEN, BECAUSE IT WAS NOT, FOR ME GROWING UP IN A LATINA COMMUNITY IN PARTICULARLY THE COMMUNITY THAT I REPRESENT, WHICH IS THE ONLY LATINO DISTRICT COMMEMORATED BY A CULTURAL DISTRICT IN MINNESOTA, AND COMING FORTH FROM A MOVEMENT OF MEXICAN MIGRANT FARM WORKERS WHO OPENED UP OPPORTUNITIES OF ORGANIZING WITH PUERTO RICANS, WHO ARE THE COMMUNITY THAT I REPRESENT HERE IN MINNESOTA, AND IT WAS REALLY IMPACTFUL TO SAY, YOU KNOW, OUR MOVEMENTS HAVE ALWAYS HAD THE WOMEN AT THE FRONTLINE.

DOLORES, THE COCHAIR OF THIS MOVEMENT SPOKE UP AND WHEN SHE SAID WHAT SHE REVEALED, IT WAS REALLY CONNECTED IN INTO WHAT HAVE OUR GRANDMOTHERS GONE THROUGH, WHAT HAVE WE GONE THROUGH AND WHAT DO WE WANT TO BRING TO ADDRESS TO OUR DAUGHTERS, TO OUR CHILDREN, TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERSHIP IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

YES, WE DON'T WANT TO DISCREDIT THE WORK OF THE MOVEMENT, BUT IT'S NOT ONE MAN.

IT'S A CAUSE OF ALSO NOT JUST ONE COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK ABOUT THE FARMWORKERS IN THE LABOR MOVEMENT, I DON'T JUST THINK ABOUT MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS, I THINK ABOUT THE PUERTO RICAN COMMUNITY, THE OVERALL LATINA GENERATION OF MOVEMENT AND MIGRATION, BUT ALSO OUR FILIPINO COMMUNITY AND HOW THERE'S BEEN A BLEND OF WHAT THE COLONIALISM OF THE STRUCTURE OF WHAT MIGRATION AND AGRICULTURE HAS BROUGHT, WEATHER IT'S IN DELANO, IN FRESNO, THESE COMMUNITIES WHERE IT STARTED WHERE I VISITED OR RIGHT HERE IN OUR AGRICULTURAL STATE OF MINNESOTA.

>> Eric: GOING FORWARD NOW, DO YOU SEE -- THERE'S A STREET I THINK NAMED FOR CHAVEZ AND A SCHOOL.

>> YES, YES.

>> Eric: WOULD YOU WANT THOSE FOR DOLORES HUERTA?

OR RENAMED?

ARE WE -- NOT FAR ENOUGH ALONG TO KNOW?

>> I WOULD SAY AND WE ADDRESSED THIS IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE RIGHT BEFORE WE HIT THE FLOOR, RIGHT, THE LEADERSHIP OF RAMONA ROSALES WHO WAS TRAINED, HER AND HER HUSBAND WERE TRAINED BY CESAR CHAVEZ AND MARCHED ALONGSIDE AND STARTED THE CHICANO LATINO STUDIES PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

THIS LEGISLATION AND REPEAL OPENED UP THE OPPORTUNITY WITH HEALING AND WITH ALL HEALING IT TAKES TIME.

I AM NOT THE PERSON TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THIS TO THIS NAME.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A COLLECTIVE WORK, AND WE'RE IN A TIGHT HOUSE RIGHT NOW, THIS IS A COLLECTIVE WORK TO PASS THE REPEAL, RIGHT?

IT'S GOING TO TAKE A COLLECTIVE WORK OF LATINA COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND LET'S START IN THE DISTRICT THAT HAS HAD THE IMPACT TO CHANGE THESE NAMES, RIGHT.

IN THE FIRST PLACE TO NOW RECLAIM WHAT THESE STREETS SHOULD BE CALLED AND NOT DIRECTED AND IN PARTICULARLY APPOINTED OF ONE PERSON.

WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S NOT JUST ALSO REPEALING FOR CESAR CHAVEZ, THIS SHOULD OPEN UP THE DOOR TO REPEAL AND ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE'S EEN FOLKS THAT HAVE STATUES AND INSTITUTIONS AND SCHOLARSHIPS NOT ONLY IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY BUT IN FILES HAT ARE BEING HIDDEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.

>> Eric: APPRECIATE YOU COMING OVER TO TELL US ABOUT THIS.

>> THANK YOU.

NICE TO SEE YOU.

>> Eric: ALL THE BEST.

♪ >> LET'S PLAY TEN QUESTIONS AND WE'LL START PRETTY SIMPLE.

TELL US A CREATIVE HERO OF YOURS, KEVIN KLING.

>> CREATIVE HERO?

UM.

I THINK MARK TWAIN IS A CREATIVE HERO.

>> GOOD PICK.

DO YOU NEED A DEADLINE TO DO YOUR WORK?

>> I DO, I'M A DEADLINE PERSON, I GOTTA BE SWEATING BEFORE I PUT THE PEN DOWN.

>> YOU'D BE GOOD IN TELEVISION THEN.

WE'RE THE SAME WAY.

>> Tane: WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT TOGETHER THIS YEAR, MINNESOTA.

WE’VE BEEN TESTED IN WAYS FEW OTHER PLACES HAVE SEEN BEFORE.

WE’VE FACED TRAGEDIES THAT SHOOK THE NATION.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE SAW PEOPLE COME TOGETHER, STEPPING UP TO HELP THEIR NEIGHBORS IN WAYS THAT INSPIRED THE WORLD.

WE SAW POLITICAL CAREERS RISE AND COME CRASHING BACK TO EARTH.

WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH A CRUCIBLE IN 2026, MINNESOTA.

IT’S A YEAR I KNOW NONE OF US WILL FORGET, EVEN IF SOMETIMES WE WISH WE COULD.

BUT WE MADE IT.

SO I WANT TO SAY CHEERS TO YOU, MINNESOTA, AND HERE’S HOPING FOR A HAPPIER AND EASIER 2027.

[ SINGING AULD LANG SYNE ] >> UM.

TANE.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

>> MAKING A TOAST TO THE END OF 2026 AND FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

>> TANE, IT’S MARCH.

>> WHAT?

NO, THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE.

>> YEAH, WE’RE NOT EVEN A THIRD OF THE WAY THROUGH 2026 YET.

>> NO, NO, THAT CAN'T BE RIGHT, THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH THAT HAPPENED.

THERE WAS A FEDERAL IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN, THERE WERE HISTORIC PROTESTS THAT ROSE UP IN RESPONSE.

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN WROTE A SONG ABOUT MINNEAPOLIS!

>> YEAH.

THAT WAS JANUARY.

AND FEBRUARY.

>> BUT IT FELT LIKE YEARS!

>> YEAH, IT DID >> .

AND GOVERNOR WALZ RAN FOR AN UNPRECEDENTED THIRD TERM BUT DROPPED OUT LEAVING THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR OPEN.

>> YEAH, THAT WAS ON JANUARY 5TH.

THE ACTUAL CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE HIM HASN'T REALLY STARTED.

PRIMARIES AREN'T FOR MONTHS.

>> NO, NO, NO, THE PRESIDENT CALLED OUT MINNESOTA BY NAME IN THE STATE OF THE UNION FOR FRAUD AND THEN HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO SEND THE VICE PRESIDENT TO DEAL WITH IT.

>> YEAH, ON FEBRUARY 24TH.

>> AND THEN WE WENT TO WAR IN IRAN!

>> STILL HAPPENING.

>> BUT, BUT, BUT.

BUT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THAT'S GOTTA BE OVER, RIGHT?

>> NOT 'TIL MAY.

THEY HAVEN'T EVEN REALLY STARTED PASSING BILLS.

>> I THOUGHT THEY WERE JUST INEFFECTIVE THIS YEAR?

>> TANE, WE HAVE NINE MORE MONTHS OF 2026.

>> OH, MY GOD.

♪ >> Eric: SPRINGTIME, THE SEASON OF RAIN, SLEET, SOMETIMES SNOW AND EVENTUALLY SUNNY, WARM DAYS THAT LEAD TO BUDDING TREES AND FLOWER.

IT'S ALSO A TIME WHEN MULTIPLE SPORTS CONVERGE.

OPENING WEEK FOR MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL, WILD PUSHING FOR A PLAYOFF SPOT.

GOPHER WOMEN BASKETBALL TEAM PLAYING IN THE WEET 16 RIGHT NOW.

LARRY FITZGERALD IS BACK, WHEN HE'S NOT TALKING TO US YOU CAN CATCH HIM ON THE NATIONAL PROGRAMMING NETWORK.

UCLA, 34.

MINNESOTA, 29 AT THE HALF.

IN THE SWEET 16 GAME.

>> IT'S CLOSE.

>> Eric: WE'RE IN THE GAME HERE.

>> YEAH, UCLA IS VERY TALENTED.

AND OF COURSE THE GOPHERS ARE HAVING ONE OF THEIR BEST SEASONS EVER.

THEY'RE DEEP AND HAVE REALLY BEEN COMPETITIVE AND VERY IMPRESSED WITH WHAT THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS YEAR AND I HOPE THEY CAN RALLY AND COME BACK TONIGHT AND GET A WIN.

WOULDN'T THAT BE SOMETHING?

>> Eric: THAT WOULD BE INCREDIBLE.

>> Cathy: ARE YOU SURPRISED WE'RE HERE?

>> IN THE TOURNAMENT?

>> Cathy: YEAH.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, I THINK THEY HAD A NINE-GAME WINNING STREAK DURING THE BIG10 AND THEY START ESTABLISHING THAT THEY THEY, THIS IS NOT JUST THE SAME OLD GOPHER TEAM, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD A GROUP THAT WAS WILLING TO WORK TOGETHER TO PLAY TOGETHER, TO COMMIT TO ONE ANOTHER.

AND THEY SHOWED IT DOWN THE STRETCH AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE STILL PLAYING.

>> Eric: JOE RYAN LOOKED AWFUL SHARP AGAINST THE ORIOLES THE OTHER NIGHT.

>> HE PITCHED VERY, VERY WELL.

>> Eric: NO OFFENSE.

>> BYRON BUXTON HAD A TRIPLE AND OTHER THAN THAT, THEY JUST COULDN'T GET IT DONE AGAINST THE ORIOLES, WHO ARE ONE OF THE BEST TEAMS IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST.

AND AT LEAST THEY WERE A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

AND OF COURSE THIS YEAR THEY'RE BATTLING THE YANKEES AND TORONTO AND, YOU KNOW, THOSE CLUBS OVER THERE.

AND SO WE'LL SEE.

I THINK THE TWINS, I HOPE, SURPRISE US.

BECAUSE I'VE BEEN REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE WAY THEY PUT THIS TEAM TOGETHER AND HOW THEY'VE PIECED IT TOGETHER BUT IN A COUPLE OF DAYS OR SO WE'RE GOING TO SEE HOW GOOD THEY REALLY ARE.

>> Cathy: FINGERS CROSSED, I GET.

TIMBERWOLVES I'M A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT THEM, SHOULD I BE?

>> WELL BE YOU SHOULD BE BECAUSE ANTHONY EDWARDS HAS BEEN HURT, HE'S BEEN OUT A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

I HEARD SOMETHING TODAY THEY EXPECT TO GET HIM BACK REAL SOON.

THIS TEAM HAS A CHANCE TO DO SOMETHING THEY'VE RARELY DONE, WIN 50 GAMES IN A REGULAR SEASON.

THEY ONLY HAVE 7 OR 8 GAMES LEFT SO THEY CAN'T HAVE ANY SLIPUPS, BUT THIS MIGHT BE ONE OF THE DEEPEST TIMBERWOLVES TEAMS WE'VE SEEN IN QUITE SOME TIME.

I'M IMPRESSED THE WAY THEY'RE PULLING GUYS OFF THE BENCH, OFF THE STREET.

AND THEY'RE PLAYING WELL.

>> Eric: DOES HE WILD HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE A DEEP RUN?

>> YEAH, BUT YOU KNOW THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE IS JUST SO -- IT'S SO MESSED UP FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE WESTERN CONFERENCE AND EASTERN CONFERENCE AND THE CENTRAL, AND THEY MAKE THE TEAMS, I JUST DON'T GET IT, HOW THEY CAN FORCE A TEAM AS GOOD AS DALLAS, WIND UP PLAYING THE WILD IN THE FIRST ROUND.

I MEAN, I SAY WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING?

>> Eric: HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

>> THEY JUST DECIDED THAT'S WHAT THAT HE WANTED.

THEY WANT THESE INTERRIVALRIES DURING THE REGULAR SEASON TO COME TO LIFE DURING PLAYOFFS AND SOME TEAMS CAN'T STAND UP TO IT IN THE PLAYOFFS.

>> Cathy: VIKINGS, COUNTILER MURRAY, THE NEW QUARTERBACK, DIDN'T LARRY JUNIOR PLAY WITH HIM?

>> HE DID, HE STARTED HIS CAREER.

>> Cathy: IS HE OKAY?

DID HE?

OKAY.

>> UNFORTUNATELY HE HASN'T BEEN A DOMINANT PLAYER, YOU KNOW, HE'S BEEN KIND OF A HEADACHE, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

IN THE LOCKER ROOM.

AND THE ORGANIZATION SORT OF WENT ALONG WITH HIM AND HIS THINKING.

AND THEY LET IT GO TOO FAR, I THINK.

BUT NOW HE KNOWS WHAT THE DEAL IS.

HE'S ON THE, YOU KNOW, HE'S GOT TO PUT UP THIS YEAR OR WHO KNOWS.

AND HE'S A VERY TALENTED PLAYER BUT HE'S ONLY 5'7," 5'8".

>> Eric: HE'S THAT SHORT.

HOW DO YOU THROW IT OVER THE LINEMAN?

>> THAT'S GOING TO BE THE PROBLEM, HE'S GOT TO GET TO THE WIN, A LOT OF RUNNING LAYS, THAT TYPE OF THING, SET UP STUFF LIKE THAT.

BUT, HEY, DON'T FORGET JJ MCCARTHY STILL HERE.

NOW CARSON WENTZ IS BACK SO ONE OF THOSE THREE IS GOING TO BE THE BACK-UP.

>> Eric: YOU'RE BUSY THIS TIME OF YEAR.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, APPRECIATE YOU MAKING TIME FOR US.

>> Cathy: THANKS, FITZY.

>> Eric: AFTER A SLOW START TO THE SESSION SEVERAL BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR LATE TODAY.

POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER TELLS US WHERE THINGS STAND AS LAWMAKERS HEAD HOME FOR THEIR SPRING BREAK.

>> THERE BEING 67 AYES AND 0 NAYS THE BILL IS PASSED AND ITS TITLE AGREED TO.

>> THE SENATE SWIFTLY FOLLOWED THE HOUSE.

>> I WAS ONE OF THE AUTHORS OF THE LAW THAT CREATED THIS HOLIDAY.

>> CHAVEZ WAS A MONSTER AND THIS REPEAL IS LONG OVERDUE.

>> THERE BEING 129 AYES AND ZERO NAYS, THE BILL IS PAD AND ITS TITLE IS AGREED TO.

>> AS LAWMAKERS VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY TO END CESAR CHAVEZ DAY AFTER INVESTIGATIONS REVEALED YEARS OF SEXUAL ABUSE.

>> AS A PROUD MEXICAN-AMERICAN WHO'S STANDING HERE, AS A SURVIVOR IN SOLIDARITY, BUT ALSO AS A CHILD WHO WAS BORN IN SECRET, I KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO HAVE THAT UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF THE SILENCE.

THIS IS A SICKNESS AND WE HAVE TO TAKE IT DOWN.

>> IT WAS DEVASTATING.

I WAS ON THE FLOOR LAST WEEK AND I GATHERED AROUND MY COLLEAGUES THAT ARE HERE TODAY AND MY LEADER, I WENT RIGHT TO HIM AND SAID I WANT TO DO THIS.

>> IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT REMOVING THAT NAME NOW BUT IT'S WHAT DOES COMMUNITY FEEL IS THE BEST WAY TO HONOR THAT AND THAT'S THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOLD SPACE FOR WHAT THE MOVEMENT HAS ACHIEVED AND WHAT WE CALL IT NEXT.

>> THE HOUSE STATE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE REVIVED THE LONG-AWAITED INSPECTOR GENERAL BILL.

>> FRAUD IN ANY FORM REMAINS UNACCEPTABLE, AND I REMAIN COMMITTED TO TAKING APPROPRIATE ACTION TO ADDRESS IT HERE IN MINNESOTA.

>> WHAT HAPPENED BEHIND THE SCENES TO FINALLY GET THAT INSPECTOR GENERAL BILL GOING?

>> DID WE MAKE NEWS?

APPARENTLY WE HAD NEWS.

>> YES, YOU DID, YOU DID.

>> SO I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS, SPEAKING FOR ME, DEADLINES ARE REAL, AND THE BILL HAS TO GET MOVING.

THE WORKING GROUP HAS BEEN MOVING THINGS THROUGH AS WELL.

BUT I THINK THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN SAYING THIS IS SO IMPORTANT.

>> IF YOU'RE GOING TO START A NEW AGENCY AND YOU WANT IT TO BE SUCCESSFUL, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S REALLY FUNCTIONAL.

AND ALWAYS IN LEGISLATION THE DEVIL'S IN THE DETAILS, SO WE WANT ACCOUNTABILITY, WE WANT TRANSPARENCY, AND WE WANT IT TO REALLY FUNCTION AND DO ITS JOB.

JIM AND I BOTH AGREE ON THE INDEPENDENCE ISSUE OF THE OFFICE.

>> THE GOVERNOR IF IN HIS FINAL SESSION WAS REFLECTIVE, SPEAKING TO THE FARM BUREAU AT THE CAPITOL.

>> AS I STEP AWAY AND GO DO SOMETHING ELSE, I GUESS MY BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT HAS BEEN THIS IDEA THAT THERE'S A DIVISION AMONGST N URBAN AREA AND RURAL AREAS.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

WE ALL EXIST IN THIS TOGETHER.

WE ALL BENEFIT FROM A DIVERSE ECONOMY IN THIS STATE.

>> I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT ALL LEGISLATORS ACTUALLY WRESTLE WITH ON A REGULAR BASIS ESPECIALLY THOSE OF US THAT ARE FROM RURAL COMMUNITIES IS WERE WE ABLE TO BRIDGE THAT DIVIDE BETWEEN RURAL AND -- OR RURAL AND URBAN TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND KIND OF THE COMPLEXITIES OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN AG.

>> THIS FRESHMAN REPUBLICAN FARMER MAY HAVE ONE OF THE FIRST BILLS TO REACH THE GOVERNOR'S DESK THIS SESSION.

>> IT'S A SCHOOL BUS BILL.

WHAT WE ALL HEARD ABOUT THIS SUMMER AND IT CAME OUT OF THE CITY OF FARIBAULT, WHERE THERE WAS PEOPLE DRIVING THROUGH STOP ARMS THAT WEREN'T FULLY EXTENDED.

WE NOW HAVE, NOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF SCHOOL BUSES WITH CAMERAS ON THEM, LAWYERS WERE ABLE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE CAMERAS AND SAY THE ARMS WEREN'T FULLY EXTENDED.

>> HOW MANY VOTES IN BOTH CHAMBER?

>> 100% IN BOTH CHAMBER.

>> WHOO!

>> AND MAYBE FIRST TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK, WAITING TO SEE.

THERE WAS ANOTHER BILL THAT MAYBE BEAT ME BY AN HOUR OR SO BUT THE ONLY FRESHMAN WITH 100% VOTE RECORD ON THE SENATE AND HOUSE, I'M GOING TO TAKE THAT AS A WIN.

WHERE WE CAN FIND COMPROMISE, FIND AGREEMENT, LET'S SHOW MINNESOTA WE CAN WORK AND IT'S ABOUT TIME WE DO THAT.

THAT'S WHAT OUR CONSTITUENTS SENT US HERE TO BE ABLE TO DO ON A REGULAR BASIS.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT, IT'S ABOUT TIME WE SHOW WE CAN DO IT AND ACTUALLY ACT LIKE ADULTS.

>> IT'S DO OR DIE TIME FOR BILLS ON DEADLINE WEEK.

>> LET'S JUST SAY NOTHING AROUND HERE IS EVER REALLY FULLY DEAD, IT'S ONLY REALLY MOSTLY DEAD.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE COULD NOT GET VOTES ON GUN ONTROL OR IMMIGRATION ACTION ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> WE ARE NOT DETERRED AND THIS IS NOT OVER.

I HAVE BEEN SAYING FOR MONTHS NOW THAT HOUSE D.F.L.ERS WILL USE EVERY TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX.

>> IT WOULD HAVE JUST TAKEN ONE VOTE TO ADVANCE THE BILL FURTHER AND NOT A SINGLE REPUBLICAN WAS WILLING TO DO THAT.

>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING YOUR TIME TO COME TO THE CAPITOL TO VISIT WITH LEGISLATORS, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HEAR WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU ... >> LEGISLATIVE ACTION HEATED UP WITH RALLIES AND CROWDS CONVERGING AT THE CAPITOL.

WITH DEADLINES LOOMING, EVEN THE SENATE PRESIDENT SAW HIS BUSINESS RECOVERY BILL DEFEATED.

>> MEMBERS, JUST SO YOU KNOW THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE ANOTHER BILL THAT COMES UP, THIS WILL BE IT.

>> AND THE WOMEN OF THE SENATE MADE ISTORY BEFORE THEY WENT HOME.

>> IT IS TIME FOR US TO MAKE SPACE IN THIS PLACE FOR NEW PARENTS.

>> Y 7-MONTH-OLD LEO AND I WERE ESCORTED OFF THE SENATE FLOOR, AND THANKS TO THESE AMAZING MOMS WHO ARE BEHIND ME, WE WORKED TO CHANGE THE RULES.

>> SENATOR OUMOU VERBETEN MADE A GREAT POINT.

SHE SAID, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU WERE SPEAKING UP ABOUT CHALLENGES, YOU WERE THE ONLY ONE.

NOW THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER YOUNG PARENTS, AND SO MANY MORE MOTHERS THAT ARE OF CHILDBEARING YEARS, AND SO I THINK IT JUST KIND OF HAD TO BE THE RIGHT TIME, RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT ENVIRONMENT.

♪ >> Cathy: IN ADDITION TO DEADLINE WEEK AT THE STATE CAPITOL THIS WEEK ALSO SAW A MINNESOTA APPEALS COURT EXAMINE THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF OMNIBUS BILLS.

AND IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

THERE'S A GROWING RIFT BETWEEN REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

PLENTY TO PONDER FOR OUR POLITICAL TEA LEAF READERS.

REPUBLICANS UP FIRST TONIGHT, PAT GAROFALO IS A FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE MINNESOTA GROCERS ASSOCIATION.

EMILY NOVOTNY CHANCE IS A FORMER WHITE HOUSE INTERN AND LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT IN THE STATE SENATE.

SHE'S THE YOUNGEST NATIONAL REPUBLICAN COMMITTEEWOMAN IN THE COUNTRY.

DEMOCRATS WITH THEM, JEFF HAYDEN IS A FORMER DEPUTY MAJORITY LEADER IN HE STATE SENATE, NOW A LOBBYIST AND FINALLY, TARA ERICKSON IS A FORMER JOURNALIST AND LONG TIME LOBBYIST AT THE CAPITOL WHO NOW WORKS AS A CONSULTANT.

HEY!

WE'VE GOT A LOT TO TALK ABOUT HERE.

SO PAT GAROFALO, DEADLINE WEEK.

KIND OF ARTIFICIAL, THOUGH, RIGHT?

I MEAN, IN THAT IF THERE'S A WILL TO GET SOMETHING THROUGH, THERE ARE WAYS TO DO IT.

>> SURE.

WELL, FIRST, CATHY, ERIC, THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> Cathy: ABSOLUTELY.

>> YES, SO IT IS A ARTIFICIAL DEADLINE BUT IT DOES SIGNAL PRIORITIES OF WHAT'S IMPORTANT.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE CRAZY PART OF THE SESSION WHERE EVERYONE'S AGAINST EVERYTHING, THEY'RE TRYING TO JUICE UP THE VALUE OF ITEMS IN NEGOTIATIONS.

BUT IT IS TRUE THAT NOTHING HAS TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR.

NOW, THERE'S THINGS THAT SHOULD HAPPEN THAT ARE THE IGHT THING TO DO.

BUT WE HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS, IF IN THEORY THE LEGISLATURE BREAKS DOWN AND DOESN'T AGREE TO THINGS, GOVERNMENT IS STILL FUNDED.

BUT RIGHT NOW THEY'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

I THINK THE BIG ISSUE THAT THESE SIDES NEED TO COMMUNICATE BETTER ON IS THAT THE COURTS HAVE RULED PRETTY HEAVILY THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE THE GIANT GARBAGE OMNIBUS BILL, THROW EVERYTHING IN ONE, THEY CAN'T DO THAT.

AND THAT'S GOING TO MEAN MORE INDIVIDUAL BILLS WHICH PUBLIC POLICY IS A GOOD THING TO DO.

I'M NOT SURE LEGISLATORS ARE USED TO THAT.

AND THAT REQUIRES COMPROMISE, OUT AND OPEN, TRADEOFFS AND THAT'S GOING TO, IT'S GOING TO BE A BUMPY ROAD BUT IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

>> Cathy: SO WHEN WE HAD THE WAYS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS ON THE AIR WITH US TONIGHT THERE'S NO TARGETS.

I MEAN, LIKEWARES ALL SO USED TO HAVING TARGETS IN COMMITTEES.

>> BUDGETS.

>> Cathy: WHAT DID YOU MAKE THAT FAR >> HONESTLY, ACTUALLY I THINK IT WILL WORK FINE.

AGAIN LIKE PAT SAID WEES DON'T REALLY HAVE TO PASS ANYTHING.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.

AND SO I THINK GOING IN KNOWING THAT AND JUST GOING, ALL RIGHT, WHAT CAN WE ACTUALLY NEGOTIATE AND KIND OF WORKING THE BUDGET OUT WHILE ALL OF THE COCHAIRS ARE DOING IT, I THINK IT WILL WORK FINE.

ESPECIALLY DURING, YOU KNOW, DURING THE SHORT SESSION.

>> Eric: $3.7 BILLION PROJECTED SURPLUS.

ARE YOU CONFIDENT THAT ANY OF THAT'S GOING TO GET BACK TO THE TAXPAYER?

IN RELIEF ONE WAY OR ANOTHER?

>> WE'LL SEE.

I DON'T THINK SO.

WE STILL HAVE TO BALANCE OUT THE TAILS.

>> Eric: BECAUSE DOWN THE LINE THERE'S A PROJECTED PROBLEM.

THE TAB FEE THING GOT BEAT ALREADY IN ONE OF THE COMMITTEES IN THE LEGISLATURE.

AND JESSE VENTURA WON!

>> YEAH, HE DID, I THINK IT'S TOUGH, EVERYBODY'S GOT STICKER SHOCK.

I THINK THAT THERE PROBABLY IS SOME COMPROMISE, I DON'T KNOW IF SENATOR DIBBLE OR THERS ARE READY FOR IT BUT I THINK IT MAY BE SOMETHING THERE.

THAT'S THE BREAD AND BUTTER THINGS THAT YOU SEE.

>> I THINK JEFF, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, I THINK THAT'S A SLEEPER ISSUE, NOT THAT IT'S ALL ABOUT ME.

BUT HEY, IT'S ALL ABOUT ME, RIGHT?

MY LICENSE TAB FEES WERE $1,000.

A THOUSAND BUCKS TO RENEW MY TABS THIS YEAR.

>> PAT, I MEAN, MY GOD, WHAT YOU DRIVE.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> I HAVE A TESLA MODEL S, BUT STILL.

HERE'S MY TEST WHEN MY NONPOLITICAL FRIENDS OMPLAIN ABOUT SOMETHING I KNOW THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHOSE AB FEES INCREASED.

LIKE THEY HAD THE SAME CAR, CAR GOT A YEAR OLDER AND TAB FEES WENT UP.

THIS IS KIND OF A SLEEPER ISSUE.

>> Cathy: MY FRIEND HAS A TOYOTA MINIVAN WHICH IS NOT AN ATTRACTIVE CAR IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM AND IT'S OLD, $570.

>> I THINK THAT'S AN ISSUE.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT ANYTIME YOU WANT TO LIKE REDUCE THAT OR EVEN IF YOU WANT A TAX BREAK THAT'S KIND OF SPENDING AND PEOPLE DON'T SEE IT THAT WAY BECAUSE THAT'S LESS REVENUE COMING IN, I THINK WE HAVE TO PUT THAT ALL IN ONE BIG KIND OF BUCKET BUT I THINK THIS ISSUE AROUND TAB FEES, I'LL SHOUT OUT TO MY FRIENDS AT HEALTH CARE, HCMC, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING OTHERWISE THE HOSPITAL WILL REDUCE OR EVEN CLOSE.

THAT IS DISASTROUS FOR US.

>> Eric: GUNS.

IT LOOKS LIKE THE HOUSE WAS TARGETING THREE SUBURBAN REPUBLICANS LAST, EARLIER THIS WEEK IN A LONG FLOOR HEARING.

DEBATE.

I WONDER F THAT'S A TOUGH ONE FOR REPUBLICANS IN THE SUBURBS, OR?

>> THE GUN ISSUE WILL DEFINITELY BE ON THE TOP OF MINDS AS IT IS EVERY ELECTION CYCLE BUT I THINK THERE'S OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE GOING TO BE PROMINENT LIKE FRAUD.

THE $19 BILLION IN FRAUD.

>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S KEEP IT AT FACTS HERE.

KEEP IT AT FACTS.

>> THAT'S WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S INVESTIGATING RIGHT NOW, TARA.

>> THAT'S WHAT DONALD TRUMP HAS SAID.

>> IT'S NEVER BEEN SAID THAT.

>> HONESTLY I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S PROBABLY BETWEEN ONE AND TWO AND WE DON'T KNOW THOSE NUMBERS YET.

>> THAT ONE AND TWO BILLION WHAT IS YOUR TIME WINDOW.

I THINK F YOU WAS HE BACK TO 2019, JOE THOMPSON WHO IS PRETTY WELL RESPECTED, HE SAID NINE.

>> I THINK IT DEPENDS ON HOW FAR WE GO BACK.

THERE IS NO DOUBT.

I SAW FRAUD AND AS EVERYBODY HERE KNOWS 'VE WORKED ON MEDICAID FOR OVER 20 YEARS.

AND THERE WAS FRAUD IN NON-EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION DURING THE PAWLENTY ADMINISTRATION THAT I WAS DEALING WITH AND I WAS SAY THAT DHS IS PROBABLY THE REASON WHY THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE THEY DESTROYED THE PROGRAM.

BUT IT IS NOT 19 BILLION AND I THINK WE GOT TO STICK TO FACTS AND WE CAN DEBATE ABOUT THIS AND FRAUD IS BAD, BUT.

>> WE CAN SAY A TRILLION DOLLARS BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT TRUE.

I THINK AT THIS POINT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT A BILLION DOLLARS THAT THEY KNOW IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO GROW BUT I DON'T THINK IT GETS TO $19 BILLION.

BUT YOU HAVE TO SPEND SOME TIME IN THOSE COMMITTEES TO UNDERSTAND THAT, AND I THINK SOMETIMES WE PROJECT THAT BECAUSE IT SOUNDS -- >> IT'S A CRISIS, THOUGH, I THINK IT'S FAIR.

>> ABSOLUTELY, 100% >> IT IS A PROBLEM.

IT IS AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY USA IDS LEFT WHO ARE DEALING WITH.

>> DON'T USE ACRONYMS I DON'T KNOW.

>> THE ATTORNEYS, SO THE JOE THOMPSONS OF THE WORLD WHO WERE VERY GOOD ABOUT THIS.

AND I ACTUALLY HELPED HIM AND GAVE A PRESENTATION ON EXACTLY MEDICAID AND WHAT THE DISABILITY WAIVERS RE.

THEY HAD A REALLY GOOD GRASP ON WHAT WAS GOING ON AND WE'VE LOST ALL OF THAT.

I MEAN, THEY'RE GONE.

>> I DON'T WANT TO LOSE THE ISSUE AROUND GUNS AND THAT'S WHERE WE KIND OF STARTED THIS PORTION.

IT IS A REALLY BIG ISSUE.

AND SO MY KIDS WENT TO ANNUNCIATION TEN YEARS AGO.

I WANT TO BE CLEAR, BUT WE KNOW A LOT OF THOSE FAMILIES, WE'VE BEEN IN THAT CAMPUS, THAT IS A REAL ISSUE THAT I THINK IS GOING TO TUG AT PEOPLE TO SAY WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING IN THIS COMMUNITY ABOUT GUNS.

>> DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT SOMETHING CAN BE DONE?

I'M SORRY.

>> ISN'T PART OF THIS, THOUGH, THAT LIKE NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS, ANUNNATION, THE STATE HAS RULED, DEMOCRATS HAVE SAID THEY CAN'T GET ANY FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY FOR HARDENING OF CLASSROOMS AND SECURITY, ISN'T PART OF THIS THAT THOSE PRIVATE SCHOOLS THOSE KIDS DESERVE TO BE PROTECTED JUST AS MUCH AS THE KIDS AT -- >> WELL, YEAH, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET AN ARGUMENT OUT OF ME, MY KIDS WENT TO ANNUNCIATION AND DELA SALLE.

SO I THINK WE CAN PUT A PACKAGE TOGETHER.

I THINK THIS LINE ABOUT, HEY, WE'RE ONLY GOING TO DO THIS OR ONLY THAT OR WE FALSE EQUATE, THEY'RE DIFFERENT, I THINK WE HAVE TO PUT THEM LL TOGETHER.

THIS IDEA OF HIGH CAPACITY GUNS IN OUR SOCIETY, YOU KNOW, WE DID IT WITH THE BRADY BILL, WE CAN DO IT AGAIN.

AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL KIDS ARE PROTECTED.

>> GOOD NEWS IN THE SENATE AS A GUN RIGHTS ADVOCATE THEY DON'T HAVE THE VOTES IN THE SENATE TO HAVE IT THE THEATER IN THE HOUSE, THAT GETS ATTENTION RIGHT NOW.

>> IT GOT OUT OF COMMITTEE.

>> IT'S NOT GOING TO PASS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THEY WOULD BE VOTING FOR THAT ITH WOULD LITERALLY GIVE THE MINNESOTA STATE SENATE TO REPUBLICANS.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S TRUE.

I THINK THAT THERE'S FEATS TO -- SEATS TO PICK UP.

I'M NOT GOING TO TELL RURAL GUYS TO VOTE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

I THINK THEY SHOULD VOTE WITH HEIR HEART BUT I THINK THERE S OPPORTUNITY TO PICK UP SEATS IN THE SUBURBS.

I THINK THE MATH WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT RURAL GUYS HAVE TO WIN IN ORDER FOR DEMOCRATS TO WIN IN THE SENATE IS NOT NECESSARILY TRUE.

>> Cathy: WHAT ELSE ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

YOU MENTIONED SLEEPER ISSUE ABOUT THE TABS, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THAT.

WHAT ARE THE ISSUES OUT THERE UNDER THE RADAR THAT MIGHT MAKE IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE?

>> THE U.S.

SENATE RACE RIGHT NOW ON THE DEMOCRAT SIDE YOU'VE GOT PEGGY FLANAGAN RUNNING AGAINST ANGIE CRAIG AND I DON'T THINK I'M GIVING ANY SECRETS AWAY ON REPUBLICAN STRATEGY HERE, REPUBLICANS REALLY LIKE THE IDEA OF THE CHANCE TO RUN AGAINST PEGGY FLANAGAN.

THIS IS IF YOU LOOK AT THE FRAUD ISSUE WITH THE WALZ-FLANAGAN, WHICH IS SOMETHING FOR EIGHT YEARS THEY'VE BRANDED THE AD AS WALZ-FLANAGAN, I THINK THERE'S A REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR REPUBLICANS IN MINNESOTA IN THE SENATE RACE TO BE ESPECIALLY COMPETITIVE ESPECIALLY IF YOU END UP WITH MICHELLE TAFOYA AS NOMINEE.

NO, I'M SAYING IF YOU'RE RUNNING AGAINST ANGIE CRAIG, MORE CHALLENGING, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

IF PEGGY FLANAGAN IS NOMINEE, I THINK IF I WAS A BITTING MAN AND WE ALL KNOWS I'M A BETTING MAN, I WOULD SAY REPUBLICANS HAVE THE ADVANTAGE.

>> THERE'S A MESS IN THE REPUBLICANS, IS MICHELLE TAFOYA GOING TO GET THROUGH HER STANCES ON RIGHT TO LIFE AND ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS IS MUDDLED, WHO KNOWS WHAT REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO DO.

I DON'T KNOW IF TAFOYA IS GOING TO BE YOUR YOUR CANDIDATE.

>> YOU'VE GOT TO STAY NEUTRAL IN THIS, YOU DON'T TAKE A STAND UNTIL AFTER THE CONVENTION.

>> CORRECT.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF MAY.

I'LL HAVE TO BACK WHATEVER CANDIDATE OUR GRASSROOTS SUPPORT.

>> YEAH, AND JEFF AND I DON'T WANT TO HAVE A BATTLE LIKE THE DEMOCRATS DID LAST WEEK.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> AND KLOBUCHAR VERSUS CALLLES OR DEMUTH.

>> LOOKS LIKE DEMUTH HAS HAS GOT A MOMENTUM.

>> THE THING WITH AMY KLOBUCHAR, SHE'S EVERYTHING TO EVERYBODY AND SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE A STANCE.

SHE CAN'T E EVERYONE'S HAPPY-GO-LUCKY AMY, SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO SAY WHAT SHE'S FOR OR AGAINST WHEN IT COMES TO THE -- >> I THINK SHE'S DONE HAT OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS.

>> Eric: RUNNING MATE?

>> I THINK THOM PETERSEN.

AG COMMISSIONER WOULD BE -- >> JEFF HAYDEN.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> I THINK THOM PETERSEN WOULD BE A GREAT RUNNINGMATE FOR HER FOR RURAL MINNESOTA.

[ LAUGHTER ] ♪ >> THIS DISTRICT IS OBVIOUSLY MOSTLY THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

BUT WHO HERE LIVES OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS IN A SUBURB?

OKAY, JORGE, JORGE, WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM YOU.

>> I LIVE IN GOLDEN VALLEY.

>> VERY GOOD, OKAY.

STEP BACK INTO THE BOX.

LET'S DO ANOTHER ONE HERE.

EVERYBODY STEP FORWARD IF YOU CAN SPEAK A SECOND LANGUAGE, AND DON'T LIE BECAUSE WE MAY TEST YOU.

[ LAUGHTER ] ESPANOL?

[ SPEAKING SPANISH ] E TU?

OKAY.

[ LAUGHTER ] WHAT'S THAT?

>> DANISH.

>> VERY GOOD, BACK INTO THE BOX.

>> THAT WAS A LOT OF CANDIDATES.

YOU MAY REMEMBER THE KEITH ELLISON WON THE ELECTION IN THE FALL, HE SERVED SIX TERMS REPRESENTING MINNESOTA'S FIFTH DISTRICT IN THE U.S.

HOUSE BEFORE BEING ELECTED MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL IN 2018.

BUT TIME TO MOVE ON TO THE HISTORY PORTION OF THE PROGRAM.

LAST WEEK'S INDEX FILE FEATURED A AMOUS MYSTERY PERSON WITH A CONNECTION TO MINNESOTA BACK IN 1986 -- 1968, RATHER.

THE YEAR OF GREAT TURMOIL, OF COURSE, AND A BIG PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION BETWEEN MINNESOTA'S OWN DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE HUBERT HUMPHREY AND REPUBLICAN RICHARD NIXON.

OUR MYSTERY PERSON WROTE IN THEIR AUTOBIOGRAPHY ABOUT ONE PARTICULAR 1968 VISIT TO OUR STATE AND QUOTE WAS "I CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW ELECTRIC THE SCENE WAS.

THE HOTEL WAS FILLED WITH CELEBRITIES."

THE QUESTION IS THIS: WHO IS THIS MYSTERY PERSON?

AND WHAT HOTEL WERE THEY TALKING ABOUT?

THESE NEXT FOUR CALLERS MISSED THE MARK AND IN FACT, MANY OF THEM DIDN'T EVEN ANSWER BOTH PARTS OF THE QUESTION.

>> THE ANSWER TO THIS WEEK'S ALMANAC QUESTION HAS TO BE THE SUNWOOD INN OF MORRIS, MINNESOTA, WHICH HAS SINCE CLOSED DOWN.

>> YOUR QUESTION OF THE EVENING FOR AN ELECTRIC HOTEL, I’M GOING TO SAY WAS THE CURTIS HOTEL.

>> I’M THINKING THE HOTEL MIGHT BE THE LEXINGTON HOTEL IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS, WHICH IS NO LONGER THERE.

THANKS, BYE.

>> EUGENE MCCARTHY WAS IN MINNESOTA TO ANNOUNCE HIS PRESIDENTIAL RUN ON THE ANTI-WAR TICKET, HISTORICALLY ALWAYS POPULAR WITH CELEBRITIES.

THIS IS JEFF FROM EXCELSIOR.

LOVE THE SHOW!

>> Eric: WELL, THANKS BUT FOR THIS WEEK'S RIGHT ANSWER WE TURN TO STEVE UT OF WHITE BEAR TOWNSHIP.

YEAH, TOMMY JAMES AND THE SHONDELLS WERE PART OF AN ALL-STAR CAST OF CELEBRITIES AND MUSICIANS PERFORMING AT VICE PRESIDENT HUMPHREY'S 1968 ELECTION PARTY, FROM ELECTION NIGHT AT THE LOOMINGTON.

JAMES HIT THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL SEVERAL TIMES FOR HUMPHREY IN 1968 INCLUDING HERE IN MINNESOTA AND THERE'S A NICE SHOT OF THE TWO OF THEM IN THE VICE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE.

JAMES WOULD LATER PONDER HOW HIS LIFE MIGHT HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT IF HUMPHREY HAD BECOME PRESIDENT.

THEY BECAME CLOSE ENOUGH DURING THE CAMPAIGN THAT WHEN THE ICONIC "CRIMSON AND CLOVER" ALBUM CAME OUT IN JANUARY OF '69, HUMPHREY WROTE THE LINER NOTES.

PROOF RIGHT THERE ON YOUR SCREEN, YOU CAN LOO LOOK IT UP.

COUPLE OF HOUSEKEEPING NOTES FOR YOU.

DO YOU USE THE CLOSED CAPTIONING WHEN YOU ATCH US EACH WEEK?

IF SO, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

DOES IT WORK WELL?

DO YOU USE IT EVERY WEEK OR JUST SOME OF THE TIME?

DO YOU FIND VALUE IN IT?

DROP US A NOTE OR GIVE US A CALL, THE ELECTRONIC INBOX, ALMANAC@TPT.ORG OR YOU CAN GIVE US A CALL TO 51-229-1430.

AND WE HAVE SOME EXCITING NEWS FOR YOU.

SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER WE TOOK THE SHOW ON THE ROAD TO ROCHESTER LAST SPRING.

WE HAD SO MUCH FUN WE'RE GOING TO HEAD TO ST.

CLOUD THIS SPRING.

FRIDAY, MAY 1ST, WE'LL BE COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE CAMPUS OF THE ST.

CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY.

AND IF YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THE LIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE, HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE TO SECURE YOUR FREE -- FREE EVENT TICKET.

TPT.ORG/EVENTS, AND THERE'S LIMITED SPACE SO YOU DO NEED TO REGISTER TO ATTEND.

TONIGHT'S SHOW-ENDING MUSIC COMES TO US FROM 2024.

JUST TWO SHORT YEARS AGO, NUR-D MADE HIS FIRST APPEARANCE ON THE SHOW.

TAKE A LISTEN AND BE CAREFUL.

♪ ♪ [ VOCALIZING ] ♪ ♪ >> I AM BLESSED I WONDER MYSELF OF THAT EVERY TIME I'M TRESSED.

BEEN ASKING ME SINCE THE DAY I WALKED THROUGH THEM STEPS.

NEVER ASKING THEM WHAT'S NEXT NEVER REALLY HAD AN ANSWER FOR THEM, NEVER REALLY HAD A CHANCE, NEVER KNEW WHAT MY HANDS WERE FOR, PERFORMING MUSIC, HEY, IT'S A GOOD PLAN, PLAN B THAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING, JOB LIKE 9 TO 5, CAR BREAK DOWN ON 35.

SO YOU DON'T JUMP OFF BUT IT'S HARD TO DO MAGIC WITH THESE KNUCKLES IN THE WAY AND LADIES SEEM TO LOVE ME DON'T MENTION THAT TO SARA, I'M NOT TRYING TO DIE TODAY BUT IT'S TRUE COUPLE DUDES IN THERE TOO SO I THINK THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO THIS THINKIN' MAYBE I CAN DO THIS.

MAYBE THEY WILL BUY THE MUSIC I FEEL IT COMING SO QUICK, I FEEL IT COMING SO REAL.

THEY CALLING US ON THE PHONE SAYING THAT GUY THERE'S GONNA INTRODUCE YOU AND ALL THE LIGHTS WILL COME ON AND I ALWAYS THOUGHT I COULD MAKE IT, MUSIC WAS A DREAM NOW THE DREAM'S STEADY COMING TRUE JUST ANOTHER FEW TILL THEY SEE IT BUT THEY NEVER THOUGHT I COULD MAKE IT, JUST ANOTHER KID FROM THE WHITE SIDE OF 42... >> "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.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

AND VANESSA DAYTON, THROUGH THE HEALTHCARE FOR ALL MINNESOTANS FUND, SUPPORTIN ACCESSIBLE HEALTH CARE STATEWIDE.

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