EFFECTS OF WHAT WE DID HERE LAST YEAR.

>> ERIC: AS WE'VE BEEN HEARING THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM TONIGHT, THERE A LOT OF IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE MAY STILL ACT ON BEFORE THE END OF THIS SESSION.

WHO BETTER TO SORT THROUGH THOSE ISSUES, AND MORE, THAN A PANEL OF POLITICAL PUNDITS?

WE'LL START WITH THE DEMOCRATS.

JAVIER MORILLO IS A LONGTIME PARTY ACTIVIST AND FORMER NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEMBER.

JANAÉ BATES IS A MINISTER AND ORGANIZER WHO WORKS ON SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ECONOMIC ISSUES.

ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, AMY KOCH IS A FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, NOW POLITICAL STRATEGIST.

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

JAVIER, THIS UBER/LYFT THING, IT'S DIVIDE IS AKING DEMOCRATS.

>> YEAH, LOOK, I THINK THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL THIS WEEK DID A REALLY GOOD THING.

IT WAS TO DELAY IMPLEMENTATION.

BUT THE REALITY, WHAT PEOPLE ARE UNITED N IS THAT THESE ARE CORPORATIONS THAT HAVE TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

THAT WE REGULATE ALL KIND EACHT OF INDUSTRIES INCLUDING SETTING MINIMUM WAGES ACROSS INDUSTRIES.

AND I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT PEOPLE WILL GET TOGETHER AND WE'VE GET A SOLUTION BETWEEN THE LEGISLATURE AND THE CITY.

>> Eric: DO HE REPUBLICANS SEE AN OPENING HERE?

>> WELL, I MEAN, I THINK SO.

IT'S SURPRISING, THIS ISSUE HAS KIND OF GONE VERYWHERE.

BUT BY MOVING AND DELAYING THE IMPLEMENTATION UNTIL JULY, I THINK AN ATTEMPT TO GET THE LEGISLATURE OUT OF THE EQUATION BECAUSE THEY WILL ADJOURN MAY 20TH.

AND SO IF THE EXTENSION IS UNTIL JULY 1ST, I'M NOT SURE HOW YOU CAN INCLUDE THE LEGISLATURE IN THE ISSUE.

>> I THINK WE'RE DOOMED IF IT GOES BACK TO THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS THAT PEOPLE FLYING INTO MINNEAPOLIS FLOOR THE AIRPORT FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WON'T HAVE A RIDE.

I THINK IT'S -- THE LEGISLATURE HAS TO DEAL WITH THIS.

AND I THINK IT'S ON THE GOVERNOR'S SHOULDERS SINCE HE VETOED THE LAST BILL TO PUT TOGETHER A WORKING GROUP THAT REALLY WORKS AND GETS THIS SOLVED BECAUSE WE CAN'T LET IT HAPPEN.

>> I MEAN, I THINK WHAT MINNESOTANS ACROSS THE BOARD AGREE ON IS THAT HAVE THERE SHOULD BE LIVEABLE WAGES FOR FOLKS.

AND THERE IS MOST CERTAINLY GOING TO BE SOME DEBATES ABOUT HOW YOU ACTUALLY GET THERE.

I MEAN, BUT WHAT WE ALSO ARE SEEING IS THAT CORPORATIONS THAT DECIDE TO PAY THEIR CEOs $25 MILLION A YEAR DON'T REALLY GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO WHINE ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE GET 15 AN HOUR.

SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.

BUT WE'RE ALSO MAKING ROOM FOR OTHER COMPANIES WHO THINK THAT THEY CAN PAY A LIVEABLE WAGE TO COME IN AND TRY O DO THAT.

>> Cathy: ANOTHER ISSUE.

SO I WAS TALKING TO SENATOR MURPHY EARLIER THIS WEEK, AND, MAN, TALKING TO HER, IT SEEMS LIKE THE SPORTS BETTING BILL IS ON ROCKY GROUND, RIGHT?

SHE DOESN'T SEEM VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT AT ALL.

AND IF YOU LISTEN TO WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY WITH THE PERSON FROM RUNNINGSTS, THE HORSE TRACKS ARE NOT SURE WHAT'S -- THEY WANT A PIECE OF THIS.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S KIND OF A CLOUDY FUTURE.

I DON'T KNOW.

WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE SPORTS BETTING BILL?

IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S KIND OF A MESS NOW.

>> WELL, IT'S BECAUSE IT'S A COMPLICATED BILL, RIGHT?

SPORTS BETTING HAS SO MANY STAKEHOLDERS AND SO MUCH QUESTIONS, BUT THE TRUTH IS MOST STATES OR MANY STATES HAVE ALREADY LEGALIZED THIS AFTER THE SUPREME COURT DECISION.

IT ACTUALLY DOESN'T BRING THAT MUCH MONEY TO THE STATE.

SO IF YOU'RE SUPPORTING BECAUSE IT BRINGS IN REINHARDT, IT DOESN'T.

IT GETS IT OUT OF THE BLOCK MARKET.

CATHY, AND I COULD GO ON RIGHT NOW AND ILLEGALLY BET ON SPORTS BOOK.

BUT UESS WHAT, IF SOMEBODY TAKES OUR MONEY, THERE'S NO WAY TO GET ANY HELP FOR THAT.

IT GOES INTO BLACK MARKETS ENTERPRISES.

THE MONEY THAT WE WOULD PUT IN.

AND BY THE WAY, IF PEOPLE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH PROBLEM GAMBLING, THERE'S NO SUPPORT FOR THEM SO LEGALIZING IS REALLY ABOUT BRINGING IT OUT OF THE SHADOWS AND HAT'S WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD SUPPORT AND IF WE FOCUS ON THAT -- >> Eric: YOU BRING A DIFFERENT ASPECT TO THIS.

>> I BRING A VERY DIFFERENT ASPECT INDEED.

EVEN WE'RE THE A-TEAM, I DON'T THINK THIS THING IS GOING TO PASS.

THERE'S TOO MANY MOVABLE PARTS.

THEY'VE OVERCOM COMPLAITED IT.

I THINK WHAT THE MINNESOTA RACING COMMISSION ID WAS REALLY MUDDY THE WATER.

AND I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO PULL BACK THE POWER THAT THAT COMMISSION HAS, AND THEY WASTED TWO WEEKS DEALING WITH HISTORIC HORSE RACING WHICH I CAN GUARANTEE, NO ONE KNEW WHAT IT WAS UNTIL THEY BROUGHT IT UP ND TRIED TO PROP UP TWO FAILED RACETRACKS WITH IT.

BUT I THINK THE BIGGER PROBLEM WE HAVE IS THERE'S SO MANY MOVABLE PARTS AND SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE SO OPPOSED TO THIS.

AND WE'VE EEN WHAT SPORTS BETTING BEGETS.

LOOK AT ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR BASEBALL PLAYERS THAT ALL OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL NOW HAS A CLOUD OVER HIS NAME -- >> OHTANI FOR THE DODGERS.

>> RIGHT.

$16 MILLION WENT MISSING IN MY BANK ACCOUNT, I THINK I'D NOTICE T. BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE AND IDENTIFICATION SPORTS BETTING IS SOMETHING WE DON'T NEED.

>> YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN?

>> I WOULD SAY EVEN THOUGH THEY CALLED THEMSELVES THE A-TEAM, THE NUMBER ONE TEAM HERE, I JUST THINK IT'S ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS IS REALLY TRULY A BIPARTISAN WORK THAT'S HAPPENING.

AND FOLKS ARE AS YOU NAMED, JEREMY ILLER AND MATT KLEIN IN THE SENATE AND ZACH STEPHENSON AND IN THE HOUSE ARE WORKING HARD.

>> Eric: KSTP POLL.

TOO CLOSE TO FOR THE MINNESOTA HOUSE, AND THE FORMER PRESIDENT, DEAD HEAT.

JAVIER?

NOT PANIC, BUT CONCERN ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE?

>> I'D SAY APPROPRIATELY CONCERNED.

AS WE ALL AND EVERY ELECTION.

I THINK IN MINNESOTA, THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON.

THIS IS SOMETHING I SAY ALL THE TIME IN MY CURRENT JOB, I WORK NATIONALLY O SAY, PEOPLE SORT OF IN PROGRESSIVE SURGERY ALES WILL SAY, OH, WELL, Y'ALL HAVE A RIFECTA.

WE ARE A CONTESTED STATE.

WE HAVE BEEN FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

WE'RE A PURPLE STATE AND I FOUND THIS NEWS VERY HELPFUL FOR FUNDRAISING.

[ Laughter ] SO I AM QUITE THRILLED.

>> Eric: WHAT FACTORS ARE LEADING FOLKS TO LEAN MAYBE CLOSER TO THE REPUBLICANS?

>> FIRST OF ALL, TOP OF THE TICKET IS GOING TO BE A CONCERN, RIGHT?

AND FRANKLY, IT'S NOT SO MUCH THAT TRUMP WINS MINNESOTA.

LAST TIME AROUND, BUT HILLARY LOST AND I THINK YOU COULD HAVE A SIMILAR SITUATION HERE.

THERE'S THE QUESTIONS ABOUT $17 BILLION SURPLUS AND WHERE EXACTLY THAT WENT AND HOW MUCH WAS SPENT.

38% INCREASE IN THE STATE BUDGET.

YOU KNOW, WE DEFINITELY HAD PRIORITIES.

WE'RE NEVER GOING TO BE A LOW TECH STATE.

BUT WHAT HAPPENED THERE?

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, JUST SORT OF A GENERAL, I THINK FOR MINNESOTANS, THEY LIKE A DIVIDED GOVERNMENT.

WE ALWAYS HAVE.

AND, YOU KNOW, TRIFECTA ON EITHER SIDE WOULD JUST BE SOMETHING THAT WE FEEL A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH.

>> I WOULD DISAGREE WITH THIS NOTION ABOUT US LIKING A DIVIDED GOVERNMENT.

IDENTIFICATION INNESOTANS REALLY STARTED TO SHOW A LOT OF DISDAIN FOR THE WAY IN WHICH WE HAD GRIDLOCK FOR SO LONG.

AND SO WHAT WE GOT TO SEE IN 2023 AND WHAT MINNESOTANS ARE FEELING NOW, EVEN, YOU KNOW, KNOWING WE'RE COMING UP ON TAX TIME AND THAT HILD TAX CREDIT IS BENEFITING SO MANY MINNESOTANS, WE'RE CUTTING CHILD POVERTY BY A THIRD.

I MEAN, THERE WAS SO MUCH MOVEMENT THAT IS HATCHING -- >> BUT I DON'T THINK DIVIDED MEANS GRIDLOCK.

IT HOULDN'T.

IT SHOULD MEAN WORKING TOGETHER.

>> TELL THAT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

[ Laughter ] >> WHAT WE SAW WAS I THINK A WILD OVERREACH BY THE D.F.L., THERE WAS A 16-POINT JUMP FROM BEING FAVORING THE D.F.L.

TO FAVORING THE REPUBLICANS.

>> WE SHOULD ACTUALLY JUST MAKE YOU QUESTION THE POLL.

THE REALITY IS THAT -- BECAUSE THE LAST POLL WAS ACTUALLY TAKEN RIGHT AFTER ALL THOSE LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

I THINK THIS ELECTION WILL BE NATIONALIZED.

THIS ELECTION WILL BE, ESPECIALLY IN THE SUBURBS ABOUT, LIKE, WILL YOU VOTE FOR A PARTY THAT WILL DO WHAT IS HAPPENED IN ARIZONA, WHAT HAPPENED IN ALABAMA, WHAT IS IT LIKE.

A VOTE FOR A PARTY THAT IS DETERMINED TO TAKE AWAY YOUR BODILY AUTONOMY.

>> Eric: I WANT TO ASK THE TWO REPUBLICANS ABOUT CANDIDATE QUALITY.

BECAUSE I'VE HEARD THAT SOME OF THE CANDIDATES THAT HAVE BEEN UP FOR ENDORSEMENT MAY HAVE NOT BEEN THE PREFERRED CANDIDATE FOR THE HOUSE?

>> WELL, I THINK WE'RE ACTUALLY, THERE'S SOME VERY GOOD CANDIDATES.

I THINK BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE HAVE SOME STRUGGLES WHEN IT COMES TO THE PRECINCT CAUCUS ND THE ENDORSEMENT PROCESS.

IT TENDS TO BE VERY BASE RACE, RIGHT?

BUT CTUALLY -- I'VE ACTUALLY MET A COUPLE OF REALLY, REALLY GOOD CANDIDATES.

WE HAVE SOME REPUBLICANS THAT ARE STEPPING ASIDE.

FRANKLY, THERE'S A LOT OF RETIREMENTS.

AND SO IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHO COMES INTO THOSE DISTRICTS EVEN THE SAFE DISTRICTS.

>> I THINK TWO THINGS.

I THINK WE HAVE SOME REALLY EXCELLENT CANDIDATES AND INTERESTINGLY, IF YOU LOOK AT ALL THE OPEN SEATS AND E AND SOME OF THE MORE COMPETITIVE SEATS WHERE DFLerS WON BY FEWER THAN 00 OR 300 VOTES WE HAVE FIVE POLICE OFFICERS OR RETIRED POLICE OFFICERS RUNNING FOR THOSE, WHICH TELLS YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CALL TO ACTION.

THAT THEY FEEL TO GET INVOLVED IN THEIR STATE GOVERNMENT.

BUT I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT YOU'RE SEEING IS, OH, I'LL USE PENNINGTON COUNTY AS AN EXAMPLE.

COUNTY OF 14,000 PEOPLE.

THEY HAD 21 REPUBLICANS SHOW UP TO CAUCUS.

THIS IS THE END OF THE REPUBLICAN -- OR OF THE ENDORSING PROCESS.

PEOPLE ARE -- THEY DON'T WANT TO GO FIGHTS WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS.

BUT WHEN PENNINGTON COUNTY REPUBLICANS AD THE CHANCE TO GO VOTE, ALMOST 900 OF THEM SHOWS UP TO VOTE.

>> BUT WHAT YOU'RE POINTING IS AN IDEOLOGICAL DIVIDE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE THAT IS EXTREME.

THAT YOU HAVE EXTREMIST CANDIDATES RUNNING -- >> COPS?

>> AND YOU DON'T THINK THAT THERE CAN BE COPS THAT ARE EXTREMISTS?

AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SEEING OUT IN MINNESOTA AND LSEWHERE THAT THERE'S A REAL BATTLE BETWEEN A GRASS ROOTS THAT IS EVEN FURTHER RIGHT THAN MOST MINNESOTANS CERTAINLY WANT IN THEIR GOVERNMENT.

>> I'M GOING TO NOMINATE ONE TOMORROW TO REPLACE PAT GAROFALO AND OUR LOCAL CONVENTION.

AND I DON'T SEE AN EXTREMIST.

AND I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, JAVIER.

WE HAVE THAT COMMON BELIEF.

THERE ARE BAD APPLES IN EVERY INDUSTRY.

BUT I THINK FOR THE MOST PART, PEOPLE HAVE SEEN WHAT'S HAPPENED.

WE'VE HAD A WAR ON COPS IN THIS STATE THAT HAS TO STOP.

>> Eric: IT'S ONLY APRIL.

WE WILL CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION.

>> WELL, CAUTION FOR THE REPUBLICANS TOO, BECAUSE 2022 LOOKED REALLY GOOD, AND THEN WE GOT OUR BUTTS HANDED TO US.

>> THE