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

>> CATHY: COMING UP ON "ALMANAC," DFLERS HAVE RETURNED TO THE MINNESOTA HOUSE, AND BOTH PARTY LEADERS HAVE RETURNED TO "ALMANAC."

ATTORNEY GENERAL KEITH ELLISON IS HERE.

KAOMI LEE PROFILES SOME YOUNG SKI JUMPERS.

AND MARY LAHAMMER HAS AGAIN BEEN FOLLOWING THE ACTION AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

>> Mary: ONE POWER SHARING ENGROSSMENT ENDS AND ANOTHER BEGINS AS HOUSE MEMBERS REACH A DEAL TO FINALLY START SESSION.

>> TODAY IS A TESTAMENT TO THE PROGRESS AND THE POSSIBILITIES.

>> 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 WHILE ADVANCING SOCIAL EQUITIES.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

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

♪ ♪ >> CATHY: WE HAVE A BIG SHOW FOR YOU AGAIN TONIGHT.

SO MUCH POLITICAL NEWS NEAR AND FAR FOR US TO COVER.

DFLERS HAVE RETURNED TO THE STATE HOUSE, AND HOUSE LEADERS HAVE RETURNED TO THE "ALMANAC" COUCH.

A PANEL WILL FILL THE SAME COUCH AT THE END OF THE HOUR.

IN BETWEEN, WE'LL TALK WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL KEITH ELLISON, HEAR ABOUT A YEAR-LONG PROJECT TO CONNECT COMMUNITY THROUGH COMEDY, AND KAOMI LEE SPOTLIGHTS SOME YOUNG SKI JUMPERS.

>> ERIC: WE'LL HEAR FROM HOUSE LEADERS LIVE IN JUST A FEW MINUTES, BUT FIRST, MARY LAHAMMER TAKES US THROUGH A BUSY WEEK AT THE CAPITOL WITH THE HISTORIC ELECTION OF THE REPUBLICAN SPEAKER OF THE MINNESOTA HOUSE.

>> REPRESENTATIVE DEMUTH IS THE DULY ELECTED SPEAKER OF THE MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

>> Mary: IT'S NOW OFFICIAL.

THE >> SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS REAT HONOR DOESN'T ESCAPE ME.

TODAY IS A TESTMENT TO THE PROGRESS AND THE POSSIBILITIES OF OUR GREAT STATE.

>> Mary: THE MINNESOTA HOUSE MAKES HISTORY, ENDING THE LONGEST BOYCOTT DENYING QUORUM AND ELECTING THE FIRST PERSON OF COLOR AS SPEAKER.

>> LISA'S AWESOME.

SHE AS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE LEVERED SM SHE'D JUST LED WITH A STEADY HAND >> KNOWING THAT I AM MAKING HISTORY ON TWO FRONTS, BY BEING A BLACK WOMAN, THE FIRST TO HOLD THIS POSITION, AND THEN ALSO THE FIRST REPUBLICAN FEMALE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

IS AN HONOR, BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY THAT IT WILL NO LONGER BE A SURPRISE OR AN UNUSUAL THING.

>> Mary: DEMOCRATS ARE STILL DOWN A MEMBER FTER A RESIDENCY ISSUE.

SO THEY HAD TO GIVE UP THE SPEAKER'S GAVEL FOR ALL TWO YEARS AND MOST COMMITTEE CHAIRS UNTIL A ARCH SPECIAL ELECTION.

>> PRIOR TO THIS CONFLICT, I PUBLICLY STATED THAT THIS TIE GIVES US A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THAT BIPARTISAN GOVERNING CAN WORK.

>> GETTING THROUGH HESE PAST COUPLE MONTHS HAVE BEEN REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT, BUT WE'RE GLAD TO BE HERE TO SUPPORT SHAKOPEE AND SUPPORT THE VOTERS OF MINNESOTA.

>> HOW DOES IT FEEL TO KIND OF BE THE LYNCH-PIN?

>> IT'S BEEN TIRING.

IT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN A FIGHT WE KNEW WE HAD TO TAKE.

WE COULDN'T LET AN ELECTION BE OVERTURNED.

>> Mary: IF THE HOUSE GOES BACK TO A TIE, OST OMMITTEES WILL HAVE AN EQUAL NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

>> IMPROVING OUR PUBLIC SAFETY.

IMPROVING OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM BY REDUCING MANDATES AND INCREASING ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> Mary: A NEW COMMITTEE ADDRESSING FRAUD WILL MAINTAIN A REPUBLICAN HAIR AND MAJORITY, UNLIKE THE OTHERS.

>> THE STRENGTH OF OUR COMMITTEE GOING FORWARD AND THE FACT THAT I WILL CONTINUE IT BE CHAIR FOR TWO YEARS AND NOT GO TO A CO-CHAIR RELATIONSHIP SHOWS THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO DOING THIS WORK AND THAT WE ARE RESPONDING TO WHAT MINNESOTANS WANT.

THEY DON'T WANT THEIR TAXPAYER MONEY WASTED.

>> Mary: A LARGER GROUP OF LEADING LAWMAKERS SPENT THE WEEK BEHIND CLOSED DOORS HAMMERING OUT THE DEAL AND THEY SAID THE TONE WAS MORE PRODUCTIVE, EVE CONGENIAL.

>> WE COMMITTED TO WORK TOGETHER ON THE BUDGET, TO GET THE BUDGET APPROVED ON A TIMELY BASIS OUT OF WAYS ND MEANS ON A NO SHENANIGANS HANDSHAKE.

>> IT HELPS TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM BUT I'M SO PROUD OF OUR SPEAKER TO BE AND MAJORITY LEADER BECAUSE THEY HELD STRONG THROUGHOUT THESE NEGOTIATIONS AND NEGOTIATED IN A RESPECTABLE WAY.

I THINK THAT'S SO IMPORTANT.

WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE INSTITUTION AND THE INTEGRITY OF THE INSTITUTION.

THERE'S SOME REPAIR WORK TO BE DONE.

>> Mary: FOR FRESHMAN LAWMAKERS IT'S THEIR FIRST LOOK AT A FULL CHAMBER.

>> IT FEELS GREAT.

IT'S GREAT TO GET BACK INTO THE CHAMBER WITH OUR COLLEAGUES AND GET TO WORK.

>> Mary: WHAT DID YOU HEAR, LIKE, THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

DID YOU YOUR CONSTITUENTS PUT SOME PRESSURE ON?

>> THEY'RE JUST DISGUSTED THAT FOLKS WEREN'T AT WORK.

THAT'S WHERE THE PRESSURE WAS.

MY DISTRICT WAS A 96-YEAR DEMOCRAT DISTRICT THAT WE FLIPPED.

AND SO FOLKS BACK HOME ARE JUST EXCITED TO SEE US IN THE CHAMBER.

>> IT IT DEPENDSES ON WHAT YOU CONSIDER A FIRST DAY I SUPPOSE.

BUT THIS IS THE FIRST OFFICIAL JUDICIAL RECOGNIZED FIRST DAY, IF YOU WILL.

>> Mary: OES IT FEEL DIFFERENT?

>> YEAH, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE ENERGY HERE.

IT REALLY FEELS LIKE WE GOT A GOOD END OF THIS DEAL AND THERE'S A LOT WORK TO BE DONE.

>> I DO.

[ Applause ] >> Mary: MEANWHILE, THE SENATE ENDS THEIR POWER SHARING AGREEMENT WITH A SPECIAL ELECTION OF A NEW DEMOCRAT.

>> THE D.F.L.

MAJORITY HAS RETURNED AND I'M EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EVERYONE IN THE SENATE.

>> MINNESOTANS HAVE SENT IN A DIVIDED SENATE AND A DIVIDED HOUSE.

AND IF WE CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA, WE HAVE TO WITH THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SENATE SENT HERE.

>> BIPARTISAN IN THE SENATE IS DEAD.

♪ ♪ >> ERIC: WITH US NOW TO TALK ABOUT THE DEAL THAT GOT THE HOUSE ORGANIZED AND HOW BOTH PARTIES WILL WORK TOGETHER GOING FORWARD, NEWLY ELECTED REPUBLICAN HOUSE SPEAKER LISA DEMUTH.

SHE HAILS FROM COLD SPRING, MINNESOTA.

AND D.F.L.

HOUSE LEADER MELISSA HORTMAN, WHO CALLS BROOKLYN PARK HOME.

THE WELCOME BACK TO YOU TWO.

I WANT TO ASK YOU BOTH THIS.

WHAT PITCH DID YOU MAKE TO YOUR CAUCUS?

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE DEAL THAT WAS BEING OFFERED AND AS LONG AS 23 DAYS HAD PASSED WITHOUT REALLY BEING ABLE TO GET TO WORK FOR THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA, THIS WAS AN EXCELLENT COM PROJECTION.

>> Eric: HOW DID YOU SELL IT?

>> ONE, WE HAD TO HAVE BRAD TABKE SEATED AND HONOR THE WILL OF THE VOTERS IN SHAKOPEE.

WE ALSO HAD TO HAVE THAT THE WILL OF THE VOTERS AS HONORED STATEWIDE SO THAT WHEN WE RETURN TO A TIE, THAT THERE WILL BE POWER SHARING.

>> Eric: ONE OF THE LOBBYISTS TOLD ME THAT YOU LITERALLY FELL N YOUR SWORD TO SAVE TABKE AND MAKE THE DEAL.

IS THAT A FAIR CHARACTERIZATION?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK IT'S ALWAYS BEEN CLEAR SINCE THE REPUBLICANS WERE 67-66 THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE AN ACCOMMODATION AT SPEAKER.

WHEN YOU HAVE THE MOST VOTES, YOU GET THE SPEAKERSHIP.

AND SO THAT WAS LOGICAL THAT THAT PIECE WOULD FALL INTO PLACE.

WHAT WAS IMPORTANT WAS THAT WE SET SOMETHING UP SO THAT WHEN WE'RE TIED, WE CAN ALL GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER AND WE CAN WORK COLLABORATIVELY TOGETHER.

>> Cathy: AND DO YOU THINK IT ALSO BROKE BECAUSE YOU HAD MORE PEOPLE UNTIL THE ROOM?

>> POTENTIALLY.

I THINK LEADER HORTMAN AND I HAD DONE A GOOD JOB SINCE THE ELECTION.

AND IT HAS BEEN BUMPY AT TIMES.

BUT I THINK AS WE BROUGHT IN OTHER PEOPLE, THAT WAS TIME.

BUT WE'VE DONE A LOT OF THE FRAMEWORK AND A LOT OF THE FOUNDATION WORK THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE QUITE WELL TOGETHER.

>> Cathy: SO WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH WHILE THE REPUBLICANS HAVE HE MAJORITY?

>> WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IS WE WILL HAVE REPUBLICAN CHAIRS FOR -- UNTIL WE WOULD RETURN TO A TIE.

SO MID-MARCH, POTENTIALLY.

AND THEN E WILL HAVE A REPUBLICAN CHAIR FOR THE FULL TWO YEARS IN THE FRAUD COMMITTEE.

WE WANT TO DO THE THINGS THAT MINNESOTANS NEED US TO DO.

THAT'S ANSWERING THE QUESTION ON FRAUD AND MAKING SOME MOVEMENT TO STOP FRAUD IN MINNESOTA.

WE ALSO HAVE TO RECOGNIZE WHERE WE'RE AT FISCALLY.

EVEN THOUGH THE BUDGET FORECAST ISN'T OUT YET, WE KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT A EFICIT COMING UP.

AND SO WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THOSE THINGS.

SO SOME COMMON SENSE THINGS.

THAT WILL HAVE POTENTIALLY DEMOCRAT BUY-IN.

WE NEED 68 VOTES TO PASS ANY BILL AND WE FULLY RECOGNIZE THAT.

>> Eric: ONE OF THE TRIED AND TRUE ACTIVITIES OF A MINORITY AND YOU'RE NOT A MINORITY IN YOUR CAUCUS, BUT YOU WILL BE FOR A MONTH, IS TO THROW SAND IN THE GEARS, FILIBUSTER, DELAY.

IS THAT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE FOR FIVE WEEKS?

>> THAT IS NOT MY STYLE.

I WAS THE MINORITY LEADER IN 2017 AND 2018 AND I CONVINCED MY CAUCUS AT THAT POINT THAT THE BEST WAY TO COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE WAS TO HAVE PRESS CONFERENCES AND EBB GAUGE WITH THE MEDIA AND REACH OUT TO YOUR LOCAL VOTERS.

NOT TO BE A REAL PAIN IN THE NECK ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

CERTAINLY THAT'S A TOOL THAT CAN ACCOMPLISH THINGS SOMETIMES.

BUT I HOPE THAT'S A TOOL WE WON'T HAVE TO USE.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU THINK IS BEGUN BE HRD TO GET OFF THE HOUSE FLOOR?

>> SURE, I THINK THAT WE'LL BE FOCUSED ON THE BUDGET THIS YEAR, AND SO I THINK GIVEN THAT EVERYTHING THAT COMES TO THE HOUSE FLOOR WILL HAVE TO BE BIPARTISAN, AND AS LONG AS WE STAY FOCUSED ON THE UDGET AND WE DON'T WANDER OFF ON IDEOLOGICAL CONFLICT ON THE WAY TO A BALANCED BUDGET, I THINK WE SHOULD BE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE.

>> Eric: REPRESENTATIVE TORKELSON SAID AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE THAT YOU HAD EARLIER THIS WEEK, THAT SOME REPAIR WORK IS NEEDED.

>> I THINK IN RELATIONSHIPS, THERE WILL NEED TO BE SOME REPAIR WORK.

>> Eric: HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT THAT?

>> JUST GETTING US ALL BACK INTO THE SAME SPACE.

AND SO YESTERDAY WHEN WE WERE FINALLY ALL BACK TOGETHER ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, LOOKING ACROSS AND WATCHING PEOPLE, BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, MEET EACH OTHER FOR THE FIRST TIME, OR EMBRACE AND HUG AND SHAKE HANDS, IT WAS REALLY GOOD TO SEE THAT.

AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO AGREE ON EVERYTHING.

BUT GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE SAME ROOM, FOCUSED ON DOING THE WORK FOR MINNESOTANS, IS A REALLY GOOD START.

IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> Eric: ONE OF GREG DAVIDS' GREAT SAYINGS, HE'S A REPUBLICAN TAX COMMITTEE GUY FROM PRESS TON, MINNESOTA, AND HE SAID, YOU CAN'T TAKE THE POLITICS OUT OF POLITICS.

AND I WONDER HOW THAT'S GOING TO SHAPE -- GAUZE OF BECAUSE YOU TWO ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO IN AT THE END OF SESSION TOGETHER TO SELL THE HOUSE POSITION OR THE REPUBLICAN POSITION ON THE BUDGET.

HOW'S THAT ALL GOING TO WORK?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE FOR 20 YEARS.

I CAME IN WITH PAT GAROFALO IN 2004 AND HE'S SO BUMMED THAT HE'S MISSING THIS SESSION BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN EVERYTHING.

WE'VE SEEN THE MAJORITY GO BACK AND FORTH.

WE'VE SEEN BIG MAJORITIES AND SLENDER MAJORITIES.

BUT TO HAVE A TIE IS REALLY A COOL OPPORTUNITY.

EVERY SINGLE DAY, ONCE WE'RE TIED, IN THE MIDDLE OF MARCH, IN ORDER TO MOVE A BILL OUT OF COMMITTEE, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO RESOLVE CONFLICT.

EACH DAY.

IT WON'T BE ALL AT THE END.

THAT WE'LL BE TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.

IT WILL BE THOSE CO-CHAIRS IN EACH OF THOSE COMMITTEES DOING THAT WORK.

>> Cathy: >> Cat >> Cathy: AND OF COURSE AS SPEAKER, YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR CAULK YUCK OF YOUS TOGETHER, RIGHT?

>> I THINK THAT THERE'S ALWAYS OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY, BUT AS YOU SAW, THE SPEAKER VOTE YESTERDAY, WE WERE COMPLETELY UNIFIED.

AND AS WE BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, WE WILL CONTINUE WORKING TOGETHER.

WE'VE BEEN IN THE OFFICE SINCE THE 14TH.

AND SO WE'VE HAD TIME TO BOND AS A CAUCUS AND TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT OUR 14 NEW MEMBERS THAT ARE JOINING US.

BUT I THINK THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO A GOOD JOB.

MY PRIORITY FOR THIS YEAR, THOUGH, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT BUDGET GETS DONE ON TIME.

I DO NOT WANT TO SEE A SPECIAL SESSION.

>> Eric: MY SPIDEY SENSES ARE TINGLING THAT THE OUTBIENNIUM, '28-'29, WHERE THERE'S THE $5 BILLION SHORTFALL PROJECTED, THAT CAN'S GOING TO BE KICKED DOWN THE ROAD?

>> YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET STARTS TO TACKLE THAT.

AND THERE'S CERTAINLY LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS WE COULD TACKLE THAT.

WE FORTUNATELY HAVE A LARGE CASH BALANCE AT THE END OF THIS BIENNIUM, 3.7 BILLION ON THE BOTTOM LINE THIS BIENNIUM.

WE HAVE ANOTHER SURPLUS IN THE NEXT BIENNIUM, 1.5 BILLION.

SO WHEN WE GET TO, YOU KNOW, '28 AND '29, WE WILL HAVE HAD SOME TIME TO TRY TO BEND SOME OF THOSE CURVES WHERE THE INFLATION IS GOING UP JUST TOO HIGH OF A RATE.

>> Eric: UT IT SEEMS TO ME, THOUGH, THAT BOTH SIDES, BOTH PARTIES LIKE TO SPEND MONEY.

YOU SPEND IT ON DIFFERENT THINGS.

BUT -- AND I WOULD THINK EVEN THESE CUTS ARE GOING TO BE HARD.

SUBURBAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND SO FORTH?

>> WE DEFINITELY HAVE TO LOOK AT POTENTIAL REDUCTIONS ACROSS THE STATE BUDGET, NOT A ONE NUMBER ALL THE WAY ACROSS EVERYTHING.

BUT REALLY MAKING SOME COMMON SENSE DECISIONS.

WE'VE GOT TO DO THAT THIS YEAR.

PEOPLE ARE EXPECTING US TO DO THAT.

WE KNOW THAT MINNESOTANS ARE OVERTAXED.

WE DON'T HAVE A REINHARDT -- WE HAVE A REINHARDT THAT COMES IN, BUT WE ARE OVERTAXED IN THAT -- >> Eric: SO THAT SALES TAX PROPOSAL FROM THE GOVERNOR?

>> THAT IS 7 CENTS ON $100.

YEAH, SEVEN CENTS ON 100 E HUNDRED DOLLARS IS THAT REDUCTION, PLUS THEN IT INCREASES THE TAX ON OTHER THINGS THAT DIDN'T HAVE TAX BEFORE.

SO -- >> THERE WAS A PIECE IN TODAY'S "STAR TRIBUNE" ABOUT THE MAJOR SPORTS STADIA IN -- I THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT WAY TO SAY IT -- U.S. BANK STADIUM, XCEL ENERGY CENTER, TARGET CENTER, TARGET FIELD, ARE GOING TO NEED SOME MAJOR REPAIRS.

SO IN TERMS F THE BONDING BILL, WOULD YOU LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> BONDING IS AN INTERESTING THING, AND WE KNOW THAT THIS IS THE YEAR FOR THAT.

BUT WE HAVE TO BE WISE IN WHAT WE DO.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS IMPACT ON ANYTHING SPENT IN BONDING THAT GOES ACROSS THE STATE.

ROADS, BRIDGES, WASTEWATER, THOSE THINGS THAT MINNESOTANS ARE REALLY COUNTING ON.

I KNOW HE SPORTS STADIUMS DO HAVE SOME DEFINITE ASKS THAT THEY'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.

WE'LL DEFINITELY REVIEW THOSE.

BUT I THINK IT'S A LITTLE TOO EARLY.

WE JUST STARTED YESTERDAY.

IT'S A LITTLE TOO EARLY TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AS FAR AS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO LAND.

BUT WE'LL DEFINITELY LOOK AT THAT.

I KNOW OUR CHAIR IS WORKING HARD ON BONDING.

>> Cathy: AND OF COURSE MAYBE BONDING IS A BIG DEAL, RIGHT?

SO EVEN IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY IN YOUR CAUCUS THAT IS NOT HAPPY WITH WHAT'S GOING ON, YOU CAN JUST AY, THERE'S THIS PROJECT -- >> I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING IN THE BONDING BILL IS TO LOOK AT THOSE PROJECTS OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE.

I THINK IT'S VERY EASY TO GO DOWN THE PATHWAY OF DOING A LITTLE OF THIS AND A LITTLE OF THAT.

WHAT'S REALLY HARD AS A CAUCUS AND AS A LEGISLATURE IS O BE DISCIPLINED BY HE WAY WE SPEND THOSE BONDING PARTICULARS AND HAVE LOCAL COMMUNITIES RAISE MONEY IN THEIR COMMUNITY FOR THEIR LOCAL PROJECTS AND REALLY FOCUS ON THOSE BREAD AND BUTTER ISSUES THAT AFFECT ALL MINNESOTANS, HIGHER EDUCATION, ROADS AND BRIDGES.

>> Eric: FRAUD COMMITTEE MEETS, IS IT MONDAY MORNING MORNING?

>> YEAH, FIRST COMMITTEE OUT OF THE GATE, MONDAY MORNING AT 8:15.

THEY'LL BE HEARING FROM THE OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR, JUDY RANDALL.

AND I THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE AN EXCELLENT COMMITTEE TO GET THIS STARTED.

WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE FRAUD ACROSS THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

>> Cathy: DO YOU AGREE THAT THERE IS A LOT TO LOOK AT?

>> WELL, I THINK A.G. ELLISON AND ANDY LUGER HAVE DONE SOME GREAT JOBS PROSECUTING CRIMINALS AND FINDING THAT WHEN PEOPLE ABUSE THE GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS.

AND STEAL FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

I THINK WE'LL BE SEEING MORE PROSECUTIONS COMING UP.

>> Eric: HERE'S AN UTTERLY PREMATURE QUESTION.

ARE YOU RUNNING FOR REELECTION IN 2026?

>> NEVER SAY NEVER.

>> OKAY.

>> KIND OF FOLLOWING NANCY PE LOS WITH LOS WPELOSI'S MODEL.

>> Eric: THE PLOT THICKENS.

THANK YOU, GUYS.

APPRECIATE IT.

THANKS.

♪ >> I AM SADDENED, BECAUSE I THOUGHT JESSE HELMS WAS THE ONLY ONE IN THE COUNTRY WHO PLAYED CONFIRMATION POLITICS.

BUT APPARENTLY THAT'S NOT TRUE.

>> I THINK HE ESSENTIALLY COMPARING YOU TO JESSE HELMS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?

>> JEEZ, I WOULDN'T THINK TOO MUCH THAT.

I DON'T RESPECT JESSE HELMS, AT LEAST FOR HIS VIEWS.

I'M SURE HE'S A NICE PERSON.

♪ ♪ >> CATHY: A LOT HAS HAPPENED SINCE MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL KEITH ELLISON LAST SAT ON OUR SET IN MAY.

IN ADDITION TO HIS REGULAR WORK HERE IN THE STATE, ELLISON HAS JOINED MULTI-STATE LEGAL EFFORTS TO PUSH BACK AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP’S FLURRY OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS.

THE LATEST ANNOUNCEMENT FROM HIS OFFICE THIS MORNING CONCERNS THE CRIMINALIZATION OF GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE.

WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOW.

>> IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK, CATHY, THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: WELL, LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS SUIT THAT HAS BEEN FILED.

STATE OF MINNESOTA AND A COUPLE OTHER DEMOCRATIC STATES HAVE FILED -- >> WASHINGTON, OREGON.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

OVER THE PRESIDENT'S ORDER THAT MEDICAID EXCLUDE COVERAGE FOR GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE.

UNDER WHAT GROUNDS?

>> ON THE GROUNDS THAT T'S BEYOND THE PRESIDENT'S AUTHORITY TO DO IT VIA EXECUTIVE ORDER.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS, YOU HAVE TO INTRODUCE A ILL IN CONGRESS.

YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH COMMITTEE, IT HAS TO BE VOTED ON.

HE CAN'T JUST O IT BY EXECUTIVE ORDER.

ALSO, YOU KNOW, SO HE'S EXCEEDING HIS AUTHORITY.

HE'S GOING AROUND SOMETHING CALLED THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ACT.

A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION WHICH HAS -- REQUIRES NOTICE, COMMENT, AND DIALOGUE BEFORE UYOU CAN JUST CHANGE A RULE LIKE THAT.

SO THERE'S A NUMBER OF GROUNDS, AND I FEEL CONFIDENT WE'RE GOING TO WIN.

>> Eric: THE DEMOCRATIC RESPONSE TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SO FAR SEEMS TO ME TO BE, LET'S GO THROUGH ATTORNEYS GENERAL AND THE COURTS INSTEAD OF RELY ON CONGRESS WHERE THERE'S A TRIFECTA OF COURSE IN WASHINGTON WITH THE REPUBLICANS.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, ATTORNEYS GENERAL ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN ACTIVE AND THEY ARE, NO MATTER WHO'S IN POWER.

WHEN THE DEMOCRATS WERE IN POWER, THE REPUBLICANS, THEY FILED THEIR CASES.

I THINK OUR CASES ARE MORE MERITORIOUS.

BUT, YEAH, .G.s ARE -- THE STATE A.G.s ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE CHECKS AND BALANCES OF THIS COUNTRY AND IT'S A GOOD THING.

>> Cathy: DO YOU SEE -- THERE'S GOING TO BE OBVIOUSLY I THINK A FLURRY OF LAWSUITS.

>> ALREADY FOUR.

>> Cathy: RIGHT.

WILL YOU HAVE TO MAYBE ENLIST SOME PRIVATE ATTORNEYS TO HELP ON SOME OF THIS?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT UNUSUAL.

SOMETIMES WE DO.

BUT AT THIS POINT, WE'RE MANAGING THE WORK LOAD.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS THAT DEM A.G.s COME TOGETHER AND SOME STATES LEAD ON SOME THINGS -- >> Eric: DO YOU FORMALLY PLAN A STRATEGY?

>> YES.

>> Eric: I MEAN, YOU'RE N THE PHONE WITH EVERYBODY?

>> SURE.

BUT THAT'S COMMON.

WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT WAY BACK SINCE THE TOBACCO CASES.

>> Eric: OH, SURE.

>> A.G.s HAVE BEEN -- MULTI-STATE LITIGATION IS A COMMON THING.

NOWADAYS IT'S SORT OF A NECESSITY BECAUSE THE FLURRY IS SO GREAT.

I MEAN, I PHOTOCOPIED ALL OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND THEY STAND ABOUT THIS FAR OFF HE TABLE.

AND I'VE LOST PERFECT COUNT, BUT THERE'S ABOUT 250 OF THEM, I WOULD GUESS.

AND I TELL YOU, PEOPLE ARE UPSET.

WE'VE HAD OVER 2,000 PEOPLE CALL, ALL BECAUSE THEY'RE UPSET ABOUT ELON MUSK AND HIS ACCESS TO PEOPLE'S TREASURY DATA LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY.

>> Eric: FOLKS WHO SUPPORT PRESIDENT TRUMP BASICALLY SAY, THEY CALL IT A DISMANTLING OF THE DEEP STATE AND SAY IT'S CRUCIAL TO THE SURVIVAL OF THE COUNTRY.

>> WELL, THE SURVIVAL OF THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN GOING FOR QUITE A LONG TIME WITHOUT THIS.

AND IF YOU WANT TO -- IF YOU WANT TO GET RID OF AN AGENCY, INTRODUCE A BILL, DEBATE IT, PASS A LAW, HAVE THE PRESIDENT SIGN IT.

HAVING AN EXECUTIVE ORDER JUST BE THE MEANS ON HOW OUR COUNTRY IS GOVERNED IS UNDEMOCRATIC.

IT IS -- IT'S OVERREACH ON STEROIDS.

AND QUITE FRANKLY, I'M SHOCKED THAT MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES AGREE WITH THIS.

I MEAN, THEY USED TO ACCUSE OBAMA OF OVERREACH ALL N A REGULAR BASIS.

THIS IS OVER 200 EXECUTIVE ORDERS OF A SPRAWLING NATURE.

EVERYTHING FROM BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP, SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN PART OF AMERICAN LAW FOR 160 YEARS.

>> Eric: THEY SAY IF AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT COMES ACROSS THE BORDER AND HAS A -- THEY CALL IT AN ANCHOR BABY, THAT THE CHILD IS OT GUARANTEED PROTECTION, CITIZENSHIP BY THE CONSTITUTION.

>> ONLY THE SUPREME COURT IN 1898 SAID OTHERWISE, UNDER THE WONG KIM ARC CASE.

THIS IS A MAN BORN IN SAN FRANCISCO, WENT BACK TO CHINA, CAME BACK TO THE UNITED STATES AND THEY SAID, NO, YOU'RE CHINESE, YOU CAN'T COME HERE.

AND THE SUPREME COURT TWO YEARS AFTER PLESSY VERSUS FERGUSON, YOU KNOW, SEPARATE BUT EQUAL, SAID, WONG KIM ARC WAS RIGHT, THAT THE 14TH AMENDMENT GIVES HIM BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP.

AND IT'S PART OF OUR AMERICAN LAW.

THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT, UOTE, UNQUOTE, ILLEGAL.

THESE ARE AMERICAN CITIZENS.

AND IT'S -- I THINK IT'S APPALLING.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU THINK THE ROLE OF THE SUPREME COURT'S GOING TO BE IN THIS, ESPECIALLY SINCE THREE OF THE JUSTICES WERE APPOINTED BY TRUMP?

>> YEAH, NO DOUBT IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT.

HERE'S THE THING.

I ... JUST BEING CANDID, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THOMAS AND ALITO WILL DO ANYTHING TRUMP SAYS.

I DON'T THINK ROBERTS AND CONEY BARRETT WILL.

AND YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT GORE SUCH AND KAVANAUGH ARE GOING TO DO.

AND WE KNOW THAT SOCIETY WROA MAYOR, KAGAN, AND BROWN ARE NOT GOING TO GO ALONG WITH THIS.

IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO TURN ON WHAT CONEY BARRETT AND ROBERTS HAVE TO SAY.

>> Eric: THIS IS BASICALLY THE OPENING ROUNDS OF A PRIZE FIGHT.

CONGRESS, HOW MUCH CAN WE AFFORD TO OFFEND THE PRESIDENT?

ATTORNEYS GENERAL DECIDING WHAT THEIR ROLE IS GOING TO BE.

AND DO YOU THINK THEY'LL GET BACK TO SOME EQUILIBRIUM.

>> WE'LL SEE, A PRIZE FIGHT S A FAIR FIGHT.

THIS IS NOT FAIR.

THE RULES ARE, YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE LAW, YOU GO, YOU INTRODUCE A BILL IN CONGRESS AND YOU DEBATE IT, AND IF YOU GOT THE VOTES, YOU CHANGE THAT.

HE'S NOT DOING THAT.

AND THAT IS -- THAT'S DISTURBING.

THIS IS HOW PEOPLE RUN COUNTRIES -- THIS IS HOW SAID YI ARABIA IS RUN, YOU KNOW, SO WE ALL SHOULD BE NERVOUS.

HE SUED NBC.

THEY HAD TO PAY $13 MILLION TO SETTLE WITH HIM.

THERE'S THIS ANTIPRESS THING GOING ON.

IT'S CONCERNING.

>> Cathy: WHAT HAPPENS, DO YOU THINK, IF SOME OF THESE -- IF YOU'RE GOING TO COURT, WHAT IF SOME OF THIS IS IGNORED BY THE ADMINISTRATION?

WHAT THEN?

>> WELL, THIS IS A GOOD QUESTION.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WHAT IF HE OPENLY DEFIES THE RULING OF THE SUPREME COURT?

WE'LL HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS.

AND I THINK THAT AMERICANS NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR THE FACT THAT WE MIGHT FIND OURSELVES RIGHT THERE.

BUT PEOPLE HAVE A FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT.

THEY SHOULD WRITE LETTERS, SPEAK UP, PEACEFULLY LIFT THEIR VOICES UP, AND AFFIRM THE IDEA THAT WE LOVE OUR DEMOCRACY.

AS IMPERFECT AS IT IS, IT'S OUR DEMOCRACY, AND WE NEED TO STAND UP FOR IT.

>> Eric: REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING OVER TONIGHT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ >> ARON: IT’S FEBRUARY!

THAT MEANS BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

VALENTINE'S DAY!

AND FOR ME, IT’S THAT SPECIAL TIME OF YEAR WHEN I FRANTICALLY LOOK FOR MY MOM’S BIRTHDAY GIFT.

YES, NEXT WEEK IS MY MOM’S BIRTHDAY, AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 32 YEARS, I REMEMBERED AHEAD OF TIME!

SOME WOULD THANK MY THOUGHTFUL MATURITY.

OTHERS WOULD THANK GOOGLE CALENDAR.

REGARDLESS, I NEED TO FIND MY MOM A GIFT.

WHETHER IT’S BATHROBES OR GRANDKIDS, I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE MOMS LIKE SILLY STUFF.

AND THAT MAKES SHOPPING FOR THEM REALLY HARD.

AND NOW I’M FACED WITH AN IMPOSSIBLE QUESTION.

WHAT DO YOU GIVE AN AQUARIUS WHO GAVE YOU LIFE?

IN THE PAST, I’VE GIVEN MY MOM ALL OF THE HALLMARK MOM GIFTS: GLOVES, CANDLES, SCARVES, PERFUME, FLOWERS.

AND THEY’VE ALL BEEN JUST FINE.

BUT THIS YEAR I NEED TO GO BIGGER, MORE MEMORABLE.

PARTIALLY BECAUSE I ADORE MY MOTHER, BUT MAINLY BECAUSE IT’LL REALLY ANNOY MY SISTER.

LIKE ALL SIBLINGS, I’M CURRENTLY IN A COLD WAR WITH MY SISTER OVER MY MOTHER’S LOVE.

AND I REGRET TO SAY THAT IN THIS ANALOGY, I’M RUSSIA.

EVERY YEAR, MY SISTER BUYS MY MOTHER A FANTASTIC GIFT THAT MAKES ME LOOK LIKE A FOOL.

BUT NOW I HAVE THE EDGE BECAUSE I’VE FINALLY REMEMBERED.

SO THIS IS A PROCLAMATION TO THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN MY LIFE.

NEXT WEEK I WILL DESTROY YOU.

AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM.

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.

♪ >> ERIC: SKI JUMPING IN THE U.S. IS KNOWN TO HAVE ORIGINATED RIGHT HERE IN MINNESOTA.

THE SPORT IS NOT AS POPULAR AS IT ONCE WAS IN ITS HEYDAY.

ONE SKI JUMPING CLUB IN COLERAINE IS KEEPING IT ALIVE FOR AREA KIDS.

REPORTER KAOMI LEE WENT TO MOUNT ITASCA TO FIND SOME YOUNG THRILL-SEEKERS WITH BIG DREAMS.

>> Cathy: IT'S ANOTHER NIGHT.

SIX-YEAR-OLD PIPER CHRISTIANSON OF GRAND RAPIDS SUITS UP.

SHE'S ALL BUSINESS.

IT HELPS THAT OLDER BROTHER FIN BEGAN IS THERE TOO.

AND WITHIN MINUTES, THIS FIRST GRADER HAS SPEED.

>> I THINK I'M GOING TO, LIKE, MAKE IT TO THE TOP.

THE TOP ONE.

>> Cathy: YOU WANT TO GO TO THE OLYMPICS?

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: HER MOTHER SAYS SKI JUMPING IS IN THE FAMILY.

>> MY DAD SKI JUMPED AND HE TOOK OUR OLDER SON WHO ISN'T HERE OUT TO A COMPETITION.

>> Cathy: AT FIRST HAVING ALL HER KIDS TAKE ON THE SPORT WAS UNSETTLING.

BUT SEEING HER KIDS CONQUER THEIR FEARS MAKES IT ALL WORTH IT.

>> LL CLEAR?

>> CLEAR.

>> Kaomi: THE SPORT CAN BE EXPENSIVE WITH GEAR, COACHING, AND TRAVEL TO TOURNAMENTS.

IN COLERAINE, THERE'S A LOT OF COMPETITION BETWEEN DIFFERENT SPORTS FOR ONLY SO MANY KIDS.

THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THE SKI JUMPING CLUB AT MOUNT ITASCA COVERS LL OF THE COSTS FOR THE KIDS.

SUE KAVANAUGH IS THE VOLUNTEER COACH AND PART-TIME DEN MOTHER.

WITH THE CLUB'S NUMBERS DOWN TO 15 KIDS THIS YEAR, SHE SAYS THEY HOPE TO GET THE WORD OUT.

>> OUR NUMBERS ARE LOWER THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE BAD WINTER LAST YEAR.

SO MANY TOURNAMENTS WERE CANCELED.

WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE OURS BECAUSE WE MAKE SNOW AND WE'RE FURTHER NORTH.

>> Kaomi: THE ITASCA SKI AND OUTING CLUB AS FOUNDED IN 1905.

IT SENT SEVERAL SKI JUMPERS TO THE OLYMPICS INCLUDING THE MOST RECENT JIM MAKI IN 1976 AND 1980.

IN FACT, AMERICAN SKI JUMPING ORIGINATED IN MINNESOTA.

SOME OF TEAMMATES ARE INVOLVED WITH THIS SKI JUMPING HALL OF FAME IN RED WING.

THAT'S WHERE THE FIRST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS WERE HELD.

>> RIGHT HER IN RED WING, 1887.

SOME NORWEGIANS CAME OVER AND GOT BORED IN THE WINTER AND WANTED TO KEEP THE SPORT GOING AND CAME OVER HERE AND STARTED IT UP.

>> Kaomi: SKI JUMPING GREW IN POPULARITY.

NORWEGIAN IMMIGRANTS OF THE AURORA SKI CLUB WERE SOME OF THE EARLY STARS IN RED WING.

THAT'S WHERE MIKKEL SET THE FIRST RECORDED DISTANCE RECORD.

IT'S ISTORY THAT THESE LIVING OLYMPIANS SAY SHOULD BE PRESERVED.

>> VERY IMPORTANT TO REMIND PEOPLE OF THE PAST WHERE WE CAME FROM AND WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

THAT THE ACTUAL ON OR THAT THE ACTUAL ON ON OR THAT THE ACTUAL ON ON ORIGINSF THIS SPORT HAPPENED RIGHT HERE IN RED WING AND NOW WE GO FORWARD AND TRY TO SPREAD THAT GOOD NEWS AND SHARE THE OLDER STORIES.

TO HE YOUNGER KIDS.

>> Kaomi: TODAY THERE ARE ONLY FOUR SKI JUMPS LEFT IN THE STATE.

IN BLOOMINGTON, MAPLEWOOD, CLOQUET, AND HERE IN COLERAINE.

THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN OTHER CHANGES INCLUDING SAFER EQUIPMENT AND CONDITIONS, NEXT TECH FOLKS AND ALLOWING FEMALE COMPETITORS STARTING WITH THE 2014 OLYMPICS.

>> IT'S VERY EXHILARATING COMING OFF THE JUMP.

IT'S LIKE I WANT TO DO THIS AGAIN.

LIKE, IT'S THE FUNNEST THING EVER.

AND JUST THE FEELING OF FLYING THROUGH THE AIR IS UNEXPLAINABLE.

>> 18-YEAR-OLD GAVIN IS A FIFTH GENERATION SKI JUMPER.

HE DEMONSTRATES THE TELEMMARK STYLE PREFERRED LANDING, WHICH HIS CLUB CALLED THE RED WING.

HE SAYS JUMPING FROM 70 METERS HIGH IS A MIND GAME.

>> A LOT OF IT IS OVERCOMING YOUR FEARS.

MOST SKI JUMPERS ARE AFRAID OF HEIGHTS.

SO IT'S KIND OF WEIRD THAT WAY.

>> Kaomi: DON'T TELL PIPER CHRISTIANSON THAT.

SHE'S NOT INTIMIDATED BY THE EIGHT PETER BEGINNER JUMP.

>> I WAS THINKING I WAS GOING TO BE LIKE A BIRD FLYING.

>> Kaomi: AND IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE SHE'LL BE ABLE TO GRADUATE TO THE 15-METER JUMP.

♪ >> CATHY: HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED IF HAVING TOUGH CONVERSATIONS ABOUT POLITICS WITH FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS IS EVEN POSSIBLE ANYMORE?

OUR NEXT TWO GUESTS ARE LEADING A COLLABORATION CALLED "SKETCHES OF MINNESOTA" THAT USES COMEDY TO CONNECT COMMUNITIES.

THEY GATHER TOGETHER PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT BIG COMMUNITY- ISLK ABOUT BIG COMMUNITY- ISSU ABOUT BIG COMMUNITY- ISSUESBOUT BIG COMMUNITY- ISSUES, UT BIG COMMUNITY- ISSUES, TH BIG COMMUNITY- ISSUES, THENIG COMMUNITY- ISSUES, THEN T COMMUNITY- ISSUES, THEN TUROMMUNITY- ISSUES, THEN TURN MUNITY- ISSUES, THEN TURN ITNITY- ISSUES, THEN TURN IT ITY- ISSUES, THEN TURN IT INT- ISSUES, THEN TURN IT INTO AN IMPROV PERFORMANCE.

YOU HEARD ME IGHT.

TANE DANGER IS OFTEN ACROSS THE STUDIO BY THE BIG MONITOR, BUT HE'S HERE TONIGHT REPRESENTING DANGER BOAT PRODUCTIONS, THE IMPROV HALF OF THE PARTNERSHIP.

TRYGVE THRONTVEIT IS THE DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AT THE MINNESOTA HUMANITIES CENTER.

CONTAIN AND TRYG, THANKS.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE CONCEPT, TANE DANGER >> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME AND WE WERE ABLE TO BASICALLY MAKE HAPPEN BECAUSE THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MINNESOTA HUMANITIES CENTER.

YOU KNOW, I DO COMEDY FOR A LIVING AND I THINK IT REALLY HAS THIS ABILITY TO HELP BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

SO THE CONCEPT IS, YOU GO INTO A COMMUNITY, YOU SPEND TIME INVITING LOTS OF DIFFERENT PARTS OF THAT COMMUNITY TO BE THERE, TO JOIN TOGETHER, IN MEAL.

>> Cathy: FOOD HELPS.

>> FOOD ALWAYS HELPS.

AND THEN TRYG AND THE MINNESOTA HUMANITIES CENTER DO A WONDERFUL JOB OF FACILITATING A REALLY GOOD CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE CARE ABOUT.

AND THEN WE BRING THAT ALL TO LIFE THROUGH IMPROV.

SO IT'S PRETTY COOL.

>> Cathy: NOW, TRYG, WHEN TANE CAKE TO YOU, YOU SAID WHAT?

>> I SAID WHAT?

I SAID THIS IS FANTASTIC.

I HAD KNOWN ABOUT TANE AND BRANDON'S WORK WITH THEATER OF PUBLIC POLICY AND THE WAY THEY LIKED TO INTERVIEW A PERSON WITH SOME KNOWLEDGE ABOUT AN ISSUE AND TURN THAT INTO COMIC GOLD AND I LOVED THEIR IDEA OF MAKING THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA THE EXPERTS WHOSE STORIES AND WISDOM AND INSIGHT CAN BE TURNED INTO SOMETHING THAT NOT ONLY MAKES US LAUGH BUT MAKES US THINK.

AND I KNEW THAT WE HAD SOME EXPERIENCE FACILITATING TOUGH CONVERSATIONS.

HELPING PEOPLE BECOME COMFORTABLE SHARING THEIR STORIES AND LISTENING TO OTHER PEOPLE'S STORIES SO THAT THEY STOP THINKING OF THEIR FAIRS IN TERMS OF -- THEIR NEIGHBORS IN TERMS OF SIMPLE CATEGORIES AND I THOUGHT THIS WAS WORTH A TRY, AND OUR CEO, KEVIN LINDSAY, AGREED.

>> Eric: WHY IS COMEDY THE SECRET SAUCE HERE?

>> I EAN, ONE OF THE THINGS -- I PULLED THIS ORIGINALLY FROM STEPHEN COLBERT, THIS IDEA, IT IS VERY HARD TO LAUGH AND BE AFRAID AT THE SAME TIME.

AND SO I FUNDAMENTALLY BELIEVE, IF YOU CAN GET PEOPLE IN A ROOM TOGETHER AND YOU CAN FIND A WAY FOR THEM O LAUGH TOGETHER, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY'RE GOING TO AGREE OR THEY'RE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, GO OUT AND EXCHANGE HOLIDAY CARDS AT THE END OF THE YEAR, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THEY WILL BE AFRAID OF EACH OTHER.

AND I THINK THAT IT WILL OPEN THEM P IN A AY.

>> Eric: BUT HAVEN'T YOU HEARD SINCE THE ELECTION, A LOT OF PEOPLE TURNING OFF CABLE NEWS AND NOT WANTING TO GET INVOLVED AND VERY MUCH ISOLATE THEMSELVES?

>> I THINK THAT ACTUALLY IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS A STRENGTH OF THIS PROJECT IS WE'RE NOT BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND BEING LIKE, ALL RIGHT, EVERYONE PLEASE GO AROUND THE TABLE AND SAY WHO YOU VOTED FOR.

WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE QUESTIONS LIKE, WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY?

WHAT ARE THINGS THAT PEOPLE WHO WEREN'T FROM YOUR YOUR COMMUNITY GET WRONG ABOUT IT?

WHAT ARE THINGS THAT YOU IMAGINE FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS PLACE?

AND SO IF YOU CAN REALLY CENTER THE CONVERSATION, WHICH IS WHAT TRYG DOES REALLY WELL IN WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT HERE, LIKE AMONG NEIGHBORS, LIKE IN OUR TOW, DOWNTOWN, IN THE COMMUNITY, THAT MAKES IT SO THAT PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY GRAPPLE WITH THE THINGS THAT ARE RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM.

>> Cathy: SO I AGREE THAT IT IS TOUGH TO BE AFRAID WHEN YOU'RE LAUGHING.

HOWEVER, WHEN YOU'RE IN THESE GROUPS AND YOU'VE BEEN ALL OVER THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, HAVE THERE BEEN ANY TENSE MOMENTS?

>> THERE HAVE BEEN TENSE MOMENTS, AND THAT HAS BEEN INTENTIONAL.

BUT WHAT WE'VE DONE IS TAKE A LOOT OF CARE TO FRAME THESE EVENTS BEFOREHAND TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE EXPECTING A LITTLE BIT OF DISCOMFORT.

AND WE CTUALLY ASK EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THE AUDIENCE OR FRANKLY IN THIS BIG COMMUNAL DINING VENUE, TO VERBALLY AGREE THAT THEY WILL ASSUME THE GOOD WILL OF THEIR NEIGHBORS, ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION, BE GENUINELY CURIOUS, BEFORE TAKING UM BARRAGE, BEFORE TAKING OFFENSE.

AND WHEN YOU GIVE PEOPLE THAT CONFIDENCE IN THEMSELVES AND FAITH IN THEMSELVES, THEY PERFORM BEAUTIFULLY.

THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE NOTICED.

THEY START TELLING STORIES ABOUT ONE ANOTHER, RATHER THAN SHARING THEIR POSITIONS.

AND WHEN YOU HEAR SOMEONE'S STORY, YOU START WONDERING ABOUT THEM RATHER THAN TRYING TO CATEGORIZE THEM.

>> Cathy: ANY SENSE, THOUGH, THIS SOUNDS LIKE A LOVELY PROJECT.

>> THANK YOU.

IT IS.

>> Cathy: IT OES SOUND LIKE A GREAT PROJECT, BUTT OF BUT IN A SENSE, ARE YOU NOT PREACHING TO THE HOIR, THAT FOLKS WHO SHOW UP TO THESE GATHERINGS ARE KIND OF LIKE MINDED IN A SENSE?

>> YOU'D BE SURPRISED.

I WAS WORRYING ABOUT THIS LIKE WHEN WE FIRST STARTED DOING IT.

BUT OVER AND OVER AGAIN WE FOUND THAT THERE ACTUALLY ARE PEOPLE OF VERY DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW OF WHO COME TOGETHER ON THIS.

I ACTUALLY I ACTUA ACTUALLY THINK THAT'S ANOTHER PIECE THAT THE COMEDY DOES.

BUZZ YOU'RE RIGHT.

IF YOU WERE TO JUST SAY WE'RE GOING TO JUST HAVE A TOWN MEETING, WE KIND OF KNOW WHO SHOWS UP SOMETIMES FOR THOSE.

NOT THAT THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT.

BUT IF YOU AY, HEY, THERE'S GOING TO BE AN IMPROV COMEDY PRODUCTION ABOUT YOUR TOWN, LIKE THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO COME OUT FOR THAT.

AND THEN WANT TO SHARE THEIR STORY.

AND WE KNOW FOR FACT BECAUSE OF THE FACILITATION, LIKE THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO COME UT AND HAVE VERY DIFFERENT POLITICS AND VERY DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW AND PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY PLUGGED IN AND HAVE BEEN PART OF THE TOWN FOR 30 YEARS AND PEOPLE WHO JUST MOVED THERE LAST WEEK AND ARE COMING BECAUSE THEY WANT TO KNOW MORE.

>> Eric: IS THERE A WAY TO FOLLOW UP TWO AND THREE WEEKS OR A MONTH AFTER YOU'VE BEEN TO A CITY AND SAY, DID IT HAVE ANY IMPACT?

>> THANK YOU FOR ASKING, BECAUSE WE WORK VERY HARD WITH OUR LOCAL HOSTS TO MAKE THEM THE CONVENORS AND THE ORGANIZERS.

AND WE COACH THEM ON HOW DO YOU REACH OUT TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T THE USUAL SUSPECTS?

AND WE HAVE A SURVEY SYSTEM.

WE USE PAPER SURVEYS, ECAUSE PEOPLE ACTUALLY FILL OUT SURVEYS THAT RE ON THEIR DINNER TABLE RATHER THAN AN EMAIL SURVEY.

AND WE DO DO SOME FOLLOW-UP WITH THE FOLKS INCLUDING SEVERAL OF THE TOWNS WHO THEN APPLIED TO HOST THESE FINAL PERFORMANCES, AND THE RESULTS ARE VINDICATING OUR MODEL SO FAR.

>> Cathy: YOU SAID A FINAL PERFORMANCE.

>> YES.

GLASDZ AND?

>> SO WE CAN WENT TO TEN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE THIS YEAR AND WE COLLECTED STORIES AND NOW THIS FINAL PIECE OF THAT TOUR, WE ARE GOING TO DO A FINAL PERFORMANCE THAT TELLS STORIES FROM ALL TEN OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE WENT TO IN ONE BIG FINAL -- >> Eric: WHERE AND WHEN?

>> ONE PERFORMANCE FEBRUARY 11TH AT THE PARAMOUNT IN ST.

CLOUD.

AND HEN FEBRUARY 25TH AT DUDLEY RIGGS BRAVE NEW WORKSHOP IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS.

>> WHICH IS ALMOST SOLD OUT.

YOU CAN GO TO DANGERBOAT.NET, EVENTS, AND THEY ARE SELLING OUT.

SO COME AND SEE IT, AND YOU'LL GET A TOUR OF MINNESOTA IN A WAY THAT YOU'VE JUST NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

AND I WILL BE ON STAGE.

SO WILL TRYG.

>> THANKS, FELLAS.

>> THANK YOU.

♪ >> I'VE ALWAYS BEEN POLITICALLY ACTIVE.

WORKING WITH THE CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THE BOUNDARY WATERS.

AND I WAS ACTUALLY IN THE BOUNDARY WATERS AND JUST SOMEWHERE OUT HERE FOUND THE COURAGE THAT I SHOULD DO IT.

I'M AN ULTRA DISTANCE ARATHON DISTANCE RUNNER.

AS AN ADVOCACY PROJECT FOR THE CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THE BOUNDARY WATERS, SO YEAH, ENDURANCE RUNNING WHICH I THINK IS GOING TO FIT WELL FOR LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS BECAUSE IT'S AN ENDURANCE SPORT OF ITSELF.

I KNOW THAT I CAN GET THROUGH ALMOST ANYTHING AND WHATEVER PAIN WHAT PERSONAL SACRIFICE, I KNOW JUST HAVE MY EYE ON THE END GOAL, GET THROUGH SESSION, GET A BUDGET PASSED THROUGH THE STATE.

IT'S JUST GUTTING IT OUT, STICKING WITH IT.

YOU HAVE A GOAL, YOU GOT TO FINISH IT NO MATTER WHAT.

♪ ♪ >> ERIC: THE HOUSE IS IN ORDER, BUT THE LIMITS OF POWER-SHARING HAVE BEEN TESTED UP AT THE CAPITOL IN BOTH CHAMBERS.

WE'VE GATHERED AN ESTEEMED GROUP OF POLITICOS TO BREAK DOWN THE SHIFTING LEGISLATURE THIS WEEK.

DFLERS UP FIRST.

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

SUSAN KENT IS A FORMER STATE SENATE MINORITY LEADER AND D.F.L.

LOYALIST.

REPUBLICANS WITH US TONIGHT: AMY KOCH IS A FORMER STATE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER AND NOW LOBBYIST.

NEW TO THE COUCH: G.O.P.

STRATEGIST AND SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, PREYA SAMSUNDAR.

SHE'S SERVED AS COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR THE R.N.C.

AND TRUMP CAMPAIGN.

WISH WE HAD HOUSE MEMBERS BECAUSE YOU GUYS WOULD HAVE LOOKED DOWN AT WHATEVER THE HOUSE HAS DONE.

>> ABSOLUTELY, BECAUSE WHATEVER THEY DID WAS WRONG.

[ Laughter ] >> Eric: WHO WON?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT?

HONESTLY, THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA, ERIC.

[ Laughter ] NO.

>> Eric: OF COURSE.

>> I WAS SO GLAD THAT THEY GOT BACK TOGETHER.

I THINK THAT IT WAS A LITTLE MIX OF EVERYTHING, RIGHT?

IN THE END, THE D.F.L.

COULD HAVE ENDED UP WITH NO CHAIRS.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A CO-CHAIR SITUATION.

THERE COULD ONLY BE ONE SPEAKER, AND SO THERE WILL BE TWO YEARS OF SPEAKER DEMUTH WHICH IS EXCITING AND HISTORIC.

AND IN THE END, EVERYBODY'S GOING TO GET BACK TO WORK.

>> WELL, AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S A OOD THING THAT EVERYBODY IS BACK TO WORK.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THIS WHOLE ISSUE OF NOT BEING WILLING TO SEAT REPRESENTATIVE TABKE IS BEHIND US BECAUSE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN REALLY BAD.

AND HOPEFULLY NOW EVERYBODY CAN JUST GET BACK TO WORKING TOGETHER.

>> Eric: OF THE REPUBLICAN POINT OF VIEW, WHAT WAS GAINED, WHAT WAS LOST?

>> HONESTLY I THINK REPUBLICANS DID EXACTLY WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO.

THE REALITY IS THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, DEMOCRATS HAVE HAD A TRIFECTA THAT HAS ALLOWED THEM TO REALLY PUSH REPUBLICANS OUT OF THE WAY AND RUN THEIR OWN AGENDA AS THEY SEE FIT.

REPUBLICANS DECIDED TO TAKE A STAND THIS TIME, TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF A PLAY OUT OF HE DEMOCRATS' PLAYBOOK AND NOW THEY HAVE SPEAKER DEMUTH WHICH AS AMY SAID HISTORIC.

>> Cathy: THERE WAS A KSTP POLL THAT SHOWED THE MAJORITY OF MINNESOTANS SEEMED TO BE ON THE SIDE OF THE DFLerS.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN I THINK IN THE COUNTRY ABOUT ORDER AND THINGS HAPPENING THE WAY THEY SHOULD HAPPEN.

AND THERE WAS A POWER GAP THAT WAS ATTEMPTED.

I THINK THIS IS, YOU KNOW, LIKE IN TERMS OF WHO WON, WHO LOST, I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE SAME OFFER THAT THE SPEAKER HAD PUT ON THE TABLE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

BUT THIS IS GREAT.

AND I JUST DO WANT TO NAME THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE HISTORIC NATURE OF THIS.

THAT IT IS AN INCREDIBLE THING THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA A BLACK CHILD CAN LOOK TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AND SEE SOMEONE WHO LOOKS LIKE HER.

AND THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT AT A TIME WHEN NATIONALLY, PEOPLE OF COLOR IN POSITIONS OF POWER ARE BEING CALLED BY THE RIGHT, LEFT AND RIGHT, JUST D.E.I.

PEOPLE, D.E.I.

HIRES.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

AND SO, YEAH, I'M ALSO PROUD TO BE A PART OF THE ALL D.E.I.

PANEL.

>> Cathy: SO WHAT CHALLENGES DOES SPEAKER DEMUTH HAVE?

THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT, SAY, THAN OTHER SPEAKERS IN TERMS OF KEEPING HER CAUCUS TOGETHER.

IT'S A REALLY THIN MARGIN.

WHAT MIGHT SHE RUN INTO?

>> WELL, SO A COUPLE THINGS.

SO IMMEDIATELY, SHE'S THE HIGHEST ELECTED REPUBLICAN OFFICIAL STATEWIDE, RIGHT?

AND SO SHE BECOMES THE DE FACTO REPRESENTATIVE OF HE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THE STATE.

SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, HEAVY IS THE CROWN.

AND ALSO, EVERY SINGLE BILL NEEDS 6 VOTES.

SO -- NEEDS 68 VOTES.

SO HONESTLY, THIS IS WHERE I THINK THE CO-CHAIR SITUATION WILL BE HELPFUL BECAUSE THE HEAVY LIFTING IS GOING TO GET DONE IN THOSE COMMITTEES.

NOTHING'S GETTING OUT OF THOSE COMMITTEES THAT DOESN'T HAVE A D.F.L.

AND A REPUBLICAN CHAIR AGREEING TO IT.

AND THAT'S GOING TO HELP THE SPEAKER KEEP ORDER ON THE FLOOR.

>> Eric: THE REPUBLICANS DO HAVE A ONE-SEAT MAJORITY UNTIL THE SPECIAL ELECTION IN ROSEVILLE.

WHAT DO YOU ANTICIPATE THE REPUBLICANS STRATEGY WILL BE IN THE FIVE WEEKS HERE BEFORE THE ELECTION?

>> I HONESTLY THINK THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP DOING EXACTLY WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING WHICH IS CALLING TO ISSUE AND CALLING TO THE FRONT OF THINGS, THE ISSUES THAT THEY'VE HAD WITH THIS CURRENT ADMINISTRATION OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT FRAUD.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT SPENDING.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET.

AND THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, BESPITE THE FACT THAT WE'VE HEARD SOME RUMORS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, GOVERNOR WALZ AND THE D.F.L.LERS PROPOSING TAX INCREASES AT A TIME WHERE MINNESOTANS ARE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY, THEY'RE GOING TO BE THE VOICE OF REASON HERE.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT TAX CUTS, WAYS TO PUT MORE MONEY BACK INTO THE FOCTS OF MINNESOTANS AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE THEIR FOCUS.

>> I THINK IT'S AN INTERESTING OPPORTUNITY TO STRUCTURALLY BE REALLY REQUIRED AND AS AMY RIGHTLY SAYS, THEY NEED 67 OF ONE PARTY PLUS ONE OF ANOTHER PARTY TO DO ANYTHING.

AND SO POLITICS AS USUAL IS NOT GOING TO PLAY THE WAY IT NORMALLY DOES UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES.

AND SO THIS HOPEFULLY FORCES EVERYBODY TO REALLY HAVE DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS.

I THINK THE COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR THING IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HOPEFULLY PRACTICE AND BUILD SOME NEW MUSCLES.

>> Cathy: SO THEN WHO HOPS OVER, SAY FROM THE D.F.L.

TO THE REPUBLICANS?

WELL, I MEAN, THAT'S AN INTERESTING.

BUT I REALLY DO HOPE THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CRAFT THIS LEGISLATION IN A WAY THAT DOES WORK ON A BROADER SCALE BASIS.

>> Cathy: YOU THINK THAT AS ERIC MENTIONED, JAVIER, THAT THERE WOULD BE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE HROW SAND IN THE GEARS HERE EARLY ON?

>> YES, AND I THINK TO THE -- ON BOTH SIDES, RIGHT?

AND I THINK LIKE TO THE -- TO ERIC'S QUESTION ABOUT THE PRESSURES ON SPEAKER DEMUTH, RIGHT, YOU HAVE, LIKE, THE REASON THE BRAD TABKE ISSUE WAS NOT RESOLVED IS THAT THERE WERE SOME MEMBERS -- THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE SAYING ONE THING AND OTHER MEMBERS SAYING OTHER THINGS AND THERE'S A STRONG BASE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT IS WAY FURTHER TO THE RIGHT THAN THE MINNESOTA PUBLIC IS.

AND THAT'S BEGUN E -- THAT'S GOING TO BE A HARD THING TO MANAGE FOR HER.

>> ONE THING THAT THE REPUBLICANS HELD TO VERY STRONGLY IS THAT THEY HAVE A MAJORITY IN ONE COMMITTEE, AND THAT'S THE NEW FRAUD AND WASTE COMMITTEE.

WHICH I THINK IS GOING TO BE -- IT'S GOING TO SPEAK VOLUMES AND BE A BIG WIN PORE THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD RAMPANT ISSUES.

>> Eric: WHAT IS IT 800 MILLION THE LAST FIVE YEARS?

>> IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT PEOPLE THAT NEED THAT MONEY DON'T GET THAT MONEY.

THAT MEANS THAT TAXPAYERS' MONEY HAS BEEN FRITTERED AWAY, SPENT IN WAYS, CHECKS WRITTEN THAT NO ONE KNOWS WHERE THEY'RE GOING.

AND THAT -- THIS COMMITTEE HAS GOT A BIG JOB.

BUT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF EXPECTATIONS TO GET THEIR HANDS AROUND THAT AND THERE'S WHERE THE REPUBLICANS KEPT A TWO VOTE MAJORITY.

>> Eric: YOU DO A LOT OF POLITICAL WORK.

AND I WONDER THE ELECTION BEING IN 2026 IN NOVEMBER, HOW LONG ARE THE VOTERS' MEMORIES TO -- TO THE EXTENT THEY THINK THIS WAS A FIASCO, HOW DO YOU KEEP THAT FRESH IN THE VOTERS' MINDS?

>> I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, LIKE THIS MESSAGE IS REALLY GOING TO BE PREVALENT NOW.

LIKE, WE'RE SETTING THE GROUND WORK NOW.

SO THAT WHEN WE GET PAST SESSION, WHEN WE START GETTING INTO THE SUMMER MONTHS, WHEN WE START GETTING INTO JANUARY AND FEBRUARY AND WE GET INTO CONVENTION SEASON, WHEN FOLKS ARE STARTING TO PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE ATTENTION, THEY'RE GOING TO BE REMINDING FOLKS, HEY, REMEMBER WHEN DEMOCRATS DIDN'T SHOW UP FOR THEIR JOB AND TOOK $300,000 WORTH OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS AS PART OF THEIR PAYCHECK.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO SIT WELL WITH MINNESOTANS THAT KNOW IF THEY DIDN'T SHOW UP FOR WORK, THEY WOULD BE FIRED.

WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THE FRAUD.

AGAIN, AS TO AMY'S POINT, THEY'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT BUDGETS.

THE FACT THAT THEIR TAXES ARE GOING UP.

AND THINGS ARE LESS AFFORDABLE.

>> BUT THAT STUFF THAT PEOPLE DON'T FORGET.

>> UT FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS AND I THINK THIS IS A REALLY CHALLENGE FOR ELECTED REPUBLICANS, REGARDLESS OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, WE'RE GOING TO BE WATCHING WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON.

AND WHAT TRUMP AND ELON MUSK ARE DOING AND THE DEGREE TO WHICH CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS KEEP RUBBER STAMPING THAT.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE WHAT'S CAPTURING PEOPLE'S ATTENTION AND HOPEFULLY REPUBLICANS IN MINNESOTA TAKE A DIFFERENT PATH.

>> Cathy: I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE HOUSE HERE.

HOW ABOUT THE SENATE?

THERE WAS A POWER SHIFT IN THE SENATE WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING THERE?

>> RIGHT, WELL, THERE'S 34-33, THE SAME THING WE HAD SMTD.

BUT SOME CHAIRS ARE KEEPING A SORT OF CO-CHAIR SITUATION.

AGAIN, LOOK OF THE 200 LEGISLATORS CURRENTLY, 100 ARE REPUBLICAN ND 100 ARE DEMOCRAT.

NOW THAT COULD CHANGE AND LIKELY WILL CHANGE WITH THAT ROSEVILLE STATE SEAT.

STILL IT'S THE MOST NARROW MARGIN YOU COULD HAVE.

AND EVERYBODY WILL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.

>> Eric: JAVIER, YOU'VE GOT THREE CAUCUSES, THE P.O.C.I.

CAUCUS, REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM, THE QUEER CROSSWALK YOUS, NOW YOU'VE GOT THE BLUE DOGS.

IS THE SENATE DEMOCRATS GOING TO BE PRETTY CHOPPED UP IN NICHES?

>> LOOK, I THINK WE -- ALL THE LEGISLATION THAT PASSED IN THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION HAPPENED WITH A ONE-VOTE MAJORITY.

WITH A LOT OF THE SAME CHARACTERS THERE.

I THINK THAT THOSE, YOU KNOW -- THOSE ARE AFFINITY CAUCUSES AND THEY ARE IMPORTANT FOR THE -- FOR THAT REASON.

BUT I THINK THAT WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS A SENATE THAT HAS.ON THE D.F.L.

SIDE HAS BEEN UNIQUELY UNITED.

>> Eric: MIGHT YOU HAVE BEEN A BLUE DOG?

WERE YOU STILL THERE?

>> I DOUBT I'D HAVE BEEN A BLUE DOG.

IT'S THE BIG TENT, RIGHT?

WE ALL HAVE TO BE RESPECTFUL OF EACH OTHER AND WHERE WE COME FROM AND THE PEOPLE WE REPRESENT.

AND THOSE ARE GOING TO BE COMPLICATED CONVERSATIONS, BUT WE'VE SEEN THE D.F.L.

CAUCUS REALLY HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND COMING TO UNANIMITY.

>> Cathy: YOU BROUGHT UP SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

SO HOW DUDS THAT CHANGE MAYBE SESSION?

>> WELL, IT'S GOING TO CHANGE -- IT ON HAVE GREAT IMPACT ON THE STATE BUDGET.- DEPACT ON THE STATE BUDGET.- DEPECT ON THE STATE BUDGET.- DEPEND ON THE STATE BUDGET.- DEPENDINN THE STATE BUDGET.- DEPENDING THE STATE BUDGET.- DEPENDING ONE STATE BUDGET.- DEPENDING ON WSTATE BUDGET.- DEPENDING ON WHAATE BUDGET.- DEPENDING ON WHAT E BUDGET.- DEPENDING ON WHAT THBUDGET.- DEPENDING ON WHAT THEUDGET.- DEPENDING ON WHAT THEUDGET.- FEDERAL -- BECAUSE FEDERAL DOLLARS FLOW THROUGH THE STATE AND ALSO SUPPLEMENT THE STATE AND DIFFERENT GRANT PROGRAMS WHETHER IT'S SCHOOLS R CITIES OR ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

>> THE USAID IS GOING TO HURT FARMERS IN MINNESOTA.

>> RIGHT, SO IT'S SO THAT IS GOING TO IMPACT -- IT'S GOING TO BE HARD.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BUDGET FORECAST COMING OUT THE FIRST WEEK OF MARCH AND I THINK IT'D GOING TO BE A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO KNOW, IS THAT FORECAST GOING TO HOLD OR NOT BECAUSE OF HE UPHEAVAL AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

>> Eric: BEFORE WE GO, YOU'VE BEEN IN SECTION ENDING NEGOTIATIONS.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN YOU HAVE THE HOUSE POSITION BEING DEFENDED BY HORTMAN ND DEMUTH?

I MEAN, IT'S A LITTLE DYNAMICALLY DIFFERENT, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, WELL, IF THEY COME TOGETHER AS I THINK THIS MEEGHT, THERE'S ACTUALLY A LOT OF STRENGTH IN THAT BECAUSE THEY'LL AUTOMATICALLY SORT OF PRECONFERENCED THESE BILLS.

SO COULD BE SOME STRENGTH OVER ON THE HOUSE SIDE.

I'LL ALWAYS HOLD OUT FOR THE SENATE.

>> YOU CAN SEE IT IN THE WAY THEY NEGOTIATED THIS.

I THINK IF IT WERE TWO MEN, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT MORE SHOW BOATING.

SO I HAVE HOPES FOR THE END OF SESSION.

>> Eric: RECALL PROGRAM FROM THE REPUBLICAN, IS THAT GOING TO CONTINUE?

>> I ABSOLUTELY THINK SO.

YOU KNOW, I THINK TODAY THEY CAME OUT AND SAID, POINT BLANK, THAT THEIR FOOT IS LIKE FULL ON, ON THE GAS THERE.

THEY REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE MINNESOTANS OUT THERE WHO ARE UPSET WITH THE FACT THAT THEY'VE TAKEN PAYCHECKS WHEN HEY DIDN'T SHOW UP TO ORK, THE FACT THAT THEY ARE MAKING PROMISES THAT THEY DIDN'T KEEP.

AND SO THERE ARE MINNESOTANS WHO ARE UPSET WITH THAT AND I THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO GIVE A VOICE TO THEM RIGHT NOW.

WHETHER OR NOT IT ACTUALLY STICKS IS A WHOLE ANOTHER THING.

>> Cathy: BUT ISN'T IT REALLY HARD?

>> IT'S A CUMBERSOME PROCESS AND MINNESOTANS WANT PEOPLE TO MOVE ON AND GET TO WORK.

>> Eric: WOULD MEMBERS WANT TO GIVE BACK THEIR PER DIEM?

>> I'LL TELL YOU, DURING THE SHUTDOWN, WHICH IS THE LODGEST SHUTDOWN, I DIDN'T TAKE PAY OR PER DIEM.

>> I AGREE.

>> Eric: INTERESTING TOUGH TIME TO BE COVERING POLITICS.

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU.

♪ >> IT'S A RACE FOR AN EXECUTIVE POSITION.

AND I'M ON THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE IN THIS RACE.

I MANAGED HE LARGEST CITY IN THIS STATE THROUGH A MASSIVE CRISIS.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN THIS STATED.

>> Cathy: WHY ARE YOU ELECTABLE?

>> BECAUSE GROWING UP IN RURAL MINNESOTA AND LIVE EAIVE PROUDLY IN MINNESOTA, I AM ABLE TO GO OUT TO MINNESOTANS AND TALK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT THEY CARE ABOUT.

BRINGING PEOPLE AROUND THE TABLE IN A TOUGH SITUATION WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE MAYOR, HE WORKS IN A TOWN WHERE EVERYONE PRETTY MUCH AGREES WITH EACH OTHER.

♪ ♪ >> CATHY: YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT, GOSH, THAT WAS 15 YEARS AGO.

NEITHER R.T. RYBAK OR MARGARET ANDERSON KELLIHER BECAME GOVERNOR.

MARK DAYTON DID.

GOVERNOR DAYTON HAS NOT YET BEEN THE ANSWER TO AN INDEX FILE QUESTION.

JUST NOTING THAT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.

WE ARE NEARING THE END OF OUR HOUR TOGETHER, BUT FIRST IT'S TIME TO CHECK YOUR KNOWLEDGE ON A BIT OF MINNESOTA HISTORY.

FOR THIS WEEK'S QUESTION, WE TRAVEL BACK IN TIME TO 1993 AND AN UNUSUAL FEAT BY A MINNESOTA NATIVE, NOT SEEN HERE.

SOMETHING RELATED TO THIS MINNESOTA SUPERSTAR TOURED THE COUNTRY IN 1993, BRINGING OUT STANDING ROOM ONLY CROWDS ALONG THE WAY, BREAKING INDUSTRY NORMS OF BEHAVIOR AND LEADING A WELL-KNOWN INSIDER TO ANOINT THIS MINNESOTAN THE "MODERN MOZART."

OUR QUESTION FOR YOU IS SIMPLE.

WHO IS THIS MINNESOTAN?

AND WHY WAS HE OR SHE COMPARED TO MOZART?

HERE'S A HINT FOR YOU.

THIS "THING" DEBUTED IN IOWA.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU ARE CALLING FROM JITTERBUG LAKE, FISHDANCE LAKE, OR JIG LAKE UP IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

651-229-1430 ARE THE DIGITS TO DIAL TO REACH OUR FRIENDLY VOICE MAIL SYSTEM.

YOU CAN ALWAYS DROP US A NOTE IF YOU'RE ONLINE TOO.

YOU'LL FIND THE ELECTRONIC INBOX AT ALMANAC@TPT.ORG.

WHILE YOU'RE ONLINE, HOP ON OVER TO OUR WEBSITE AND CHECK OUT SHOWS FROM THE ARCHIVES.

TPT.ORG/ALMANAC.

YOU'LL LOVE THE HAIR STYLES.

TPT.ORG/ALMANAC.

IS WHERE THAT IS.

A QUICK TUNE-IN NOTE BEFORE WE GO.

REMEMBER TO CATCH "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL" WITH MARY LAHAMMER, LIVE FROM THE HOUSE GALLERY, WEDNESDAYS AT 7:00 P.M., ON THE STATEWIDE MINNESOTA CHANNEL.

YOU CAN ALSO CATCH HOUSE AND SENATE FLOOR ACTION, COMMITTEE HEARINGS, AND MORE LEGISLATIVE COVERAGE ON THE SAME STATEWIDE CHANNEL.

WE'VE GOT JUST ENOUGH TIME FOR SOME MUSIC FROM THE ARCHIVES.

THIS WEEK BACK IN 2011, DEAN MAGRAW AND MARCUS WISE PAID US A VISIT HERE IN STUDIO "B."

TAKE A LISTEN.

AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Captioning by: Paradigm Reporting & Captioning www.paradigmreporting.com >> 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 WHILE ADVANCING SOCIAL EQUITIES.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

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

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