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

>> CATHY: COMING UP ON "ALMANAC," ST. PAUL MAYOR MELVIN CARTER IS HERE.

PAUL DOUGLAS STOPS BY FOR HIS MONTHLY WEATHER CHAT.

WE'LL HAVE MORE ELECTION ANALYSIS.

AND MARY LAHAMMER LOOKS AT ELECTION CONSEQUENCES FROM NEARLY 50 YEARS AGO.

>> Mary: THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME HE MINNESOTA HOUSE HAS SEEN A TIE.

WE'LL TALK TO PEOPLE WHO WERE IN THE ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENED LAST TIME AROUND.

>> NOW IS THE TIME TO SIT DOWN AND TRY TO HAVE A CIVIL CONVERSATION WITH THE OTHER SIDE.

>> IT'S SO EXCITING BECAUSE BOTH ELISSA AND LISA ARE GOOD, STRONG WOMEN.

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

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

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

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

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

AND PAINTCARE: HELPING MINNESOTANS RECYCLE LEFTOVER PAINT.

MORE AT PAINTCARE.ORG.

>> CATHY: COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR, AN UPDATE ON THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT'S CONSENT DECREE.

WE'LL REMEMBER PLAYWRIGHT AND OPINION COLUMNIST SYL JONES.

PAUL DOUGLAS IS HERE FOR HIS MONTHLY WEATHER CHAT.

AND OF COURSE WE WILL HAVE PLENTY OF POLITICS.

>> ERIC: WE START TONIGHT WITH NEWS OUT OF ST. PAUL.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, MAYOR MELVIN CARTER ANNOUNCED A PARTNERSHIP THAT WILL BRING $40 MILLION OF MEDICAL DEBT RELIEF TO THE CITY'S RESIDENTS.

THE MAYOR'S WEEK ENDED WITH HE AND OTHER CITY LEADERS ASKING RESIDENTS TO COME FORWARD WITH INFORMATION ABOUT ILLEGAL GUNS.

THE CITY HAS NOW HAD NINE HOMICIDES IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS.

MAYOR MELVIN CARTER JOINS US.

I WANT TO GET TO THE MEDICAL DEBT, BUT I WANT TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO MAYBE AMPLIFY WHAT YOU TALKED ABOUT DURING THE WEEK, MAYBE SOME CITIZENS STEPPED FORWARD ON THE GUN ISSUE.

>> YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.

WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THE PROGRESS THAT WE'RE MAKING ON GUN VIOLENCE.

WE TOLD THE CITY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ALL IN, THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE STALL THE -- St. PAUL THE BEST PLACE ON THE PLANET TO FIND OPPORTUNITY AND A SECOND CHANCE AND THE WORST PLACE ON THE PLANET TO FIRE A GUN.

OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD, WE'VE DOUBLED OUR CASE CLEARANCE RATES FOR NONFATAL SHOOTINGS, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT ALMOST ALWAYS DOUBLES THE CASE APPEARANCE RATES FOR HOMICIDES, WE'VE BROUGHT DOWN A LOT OF VIOLENT CRIME.

OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE'VE SEEN SOME BLIPS, OUTLIERS.

>> Cathy: WHAT'S WITH THE SPASM OF THIS VIOLENCE, THAT'S A LOT -- THINK OF THE HEARTBREAK, NINE HOMICIDES IN TWO MONTHS.

DO THE POLICE HAVE MAYBE A THEORY AS TO WHAT THE SPASM OF VIOLENCE IS ALL ABOUT?

>> YOU KNOW, THE THING IS, THEY'RE NOT REALLY CONNECTED.

SO THERE'S NOT ONE KIND OF THROUGH-LINE, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE FACT IS, DUE TO THE DECISIONS WE MADE AS A COUNTRY, THERE'S A LOT OF GUNS OUT THERE.

AND, SO, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS WE GO ALL IN IS TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET GUNS OUT OF THE WRONG HANDS.

THIS IS WHERE THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE SO FAR, WHETHER IT'S REDUCING JUVENILE VIOLENCE OR A GROUP-INVOLVED VIOLENCE HAS ALL BEEN ABOUT PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY SO IT FELT LIKE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO RE-UP THAT, REMIND FOLKS THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN BE TWICE AS GOOD WITH THE KIND OF HELP FROM COMMUNITY.

>> Cathy: YOU'RE ASKING FOR RESIDENTS TO SPEAK UP AND TO MAYBE HELP YOU ALL OUT.

ARE YOU HEARING FROM PEOPLE?

>> WE ARE.

AND THAT'S, AGAIN, THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG DIFFERENCES BETWEEN St. PAUL AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS REALLY WELL, EVERY ONE OF THOSE SHOOTINGS HAS SOMETHING IN COMMON, AND THAT IS THAT THERE'S OFTENTIMES A PERSON WHO SAYS, I KNEW THAT PERSON SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD THAT GUN, AND IF THEY CAN HELP -- IF THEY CAN ENGAGE WITH US ON THE FRONT END, WE CAN HELP EVERYBODY AVOID TERRIBLE SITUATIONS.

>> Eric: 32,000 CITY RESIDENTS HAD MEDICAL DEBT ERASED.

>> 32,000 CITY RESIDENTS WILL GET A PIECE OF MAIL THIS WEEK LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THEIR MEDICAL DEBT IS NO LONGER.

>> Eric: HOW DID YOU TEAM UP WITH FAIRVIEW SYSTEM TO GET THIS DONE?

>> WELL, THERE'S THIS NATIONAL ORGANIZATION CALLED UNDO MEDICAL DEBT THAT WE PARTNERED WITH, THEY'RE REALLY GOOD AT WORKING, NEGOTIATING WITH THE HOSPITAL SYSTEMS.

WE ASKED FAIRVIEW, WE ASKED ALL OF OUR MAJOR HOSPITAL SYSTEMS LAST YEAR, THEY ALL SAID THEY WOULD.

AND, SO, FAIRVIEW WAS THE FIRST ONE TO GO.

WE WERE ABLE TO ELIMINATE JUST UNDER $40 MILLION OF MEDICAL DEBT ON BEHALF OF 32,000 RESIDENTS.

JUST EARLY ON THE WAY HERE, A RESIDENT STOPPED ME, SAID, THANK YOU, THIS GUY HAD A HEART ISSUE, FOUR YEARS AGO, WENT TO THE HOSPITAL, THEY RAN A BUNCH OF TESTS, FOUND OUT IT WAS A SIMPLE ISSUE, IT JUST NEEDED A SMALL KIND OF THING, BUT THE DIAGNOSTICS THEMSELVES COST $13,000 AND HE DIDN'T HAVE A JOB, SO HE HAD THAT BILL ON HIM.

HE DOESN'T HAVE TO PAY THAT ANYMORE.

HE'S EXCITED.

>> Cathy: WHY IS IT GOOD -- HOW DOES IT BENEFIT THE CITY TO HAVE THESE FOLKS HAVE THEIR MEDICAL DEBT ERASED?

>> YOU REMEMBER THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC WE JUST CAME THROUGH?

>> >> Cathy: YEAH.

>> ONE OF THE THING WE LEARNED IN THAT PANDEMIC IS HOW MUCH WE HAVE RIDING ON EACH OTHER BEING ABLE TO GO TO THE DOCTOR.

A FEW YEARS AGO WE CHATTED ABOUT THE FACT THAT St. PAUL DECIDED WE WEREN'T GOING TO DO LATE FEES ON OUR LIBRARIES ANYMORE AND WE ELIMINATED $2.5 MILLION OF LIBRARY DEBT, WE SAW DOUBLE-DIGIT LIBRARY USE.

MEDICAL DEBT KEEPS PEOPLE WAY FROM THE DOCTOR.

IT'S OUR BUSINESS, ALL OF US DID NOT LIKE GOING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, IT IS OUR BUSINESS TO ELIMINATE HURDLES THAT KEEP PEOPLE -- KEEP PEOPLE FROM GOING TO THE DOCTOR -- DOCTOR.

>> Eric: THE CHILD CARE TAX WENT DOWN IN DEFEAT.

>> I THINK IT WAS PROBABLY STEEPED IN GOOD INTENT.

AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD, PUBLIC EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEMS, IT WAS CLEAR TO ME THAT IT WASN'T OPERATIONAL IN THE WAY THAT IT WAS WRITTEN.

OUR VOTERS HAVE A LOT OF GOOD SENSE THEMSELVES, AND, SO, I THINK FOLKS SAW IT AND, YOU KNOW, SAW IT FOR WHAT IT WAS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF INTEREST IN ENGAGEMENT AROUND EARLY CHILDHOOD AND HELPING PEOPLE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WON'T DO IN St. PAUL IS TELL YOU E'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING THAT WE KNOW WE CAN'T.

>> Cathy: SO, THERE'S A SECOND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

>> I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> Cathy: THAT'S ON THE CRISP.

AND I'M WONDERING -- CRUMP.

I'M WONDERING -- CRISP.

WHAT ARE THE EXPECTATIONS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION?

WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT?

>> WE'RE GOING TO FIND THAT OUT REALLY QUICKLY.

WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED, THAT WAS IN THE SHADOW OF A BRAND-NEW TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

AND, SO, WE'RE KIND OF LOOKING BACK AT SOME OF THE POSTURES THAT WE HAD THERE.

ONE OF THE CENTRAL PIECES WAS HOW WE ENGAGE WITH IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND, SO, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL THEY'LL ASK OUR COMMUNITIES TO DO.

I'LL TELL YOU TWO THINGS WE KNOW FOR A FACT.

ONE, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THE FLUORIDE IN St. PAUL'S DRINKING WATER.

AND, TWO, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL NEVER SK ANYBODY, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL NEVER ASK ANYBODY, NOBODY WHO WORKS FOR CITY GOVERNMENT WILL EVER ASK ANYBODY TO SEE ANY IMMIGRATION PAPERS OR ANY OF THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

THAT'S NOT OUR JOB.

OUR JOB IS TO TAKE GOOD CARE OF EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> Eric: WE KNOW THE LEGISLATURE'S TIED UP IN A TIE IN THE HOUSE.

PROPERTY TAX RELIEF BE A PRIORITY FOR MAYORS AROUND THE STATE?

>> I THINK PROPERTY TAX RELIEF IS ALWAYS A PRIORITY.

CITIES ARE ALWAYS KIND OF STRAPPED AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO MORE WITH LESS.

ONE OF HE BIG THINGS THAT WE'LL BE AT THE CAPITOL TALKING BOUT THIS YEAR IS, OF COURSE, THE XCEL ENERGY CENTER, WE'VE CHATTED ABOUT THAT BEFORE, WE REALLY NEED A RENOVATION.

THOSE BUILDINGS LAST -- GENERALLY HAVE ABOUT A 25-YEAR COMPETITIVE LIFE SPAN THAT.

BUILDING WAS BUILT IN 2000.

THAT BUILDING WAS BUILT IN 2000, IT WAS DESIGNED AND BUILT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, BUT EVEN BEFORE 911911 SO IT'S -- 9/11, TWO GENERATIONS OLD.

IT ARE REQUIRES A REBUILD.

>> Eric: WE'LL HAVE YOU BACK.

LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

MAYOR CARTER IT, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

SYL JONES DIED AT THE AGE OF 72 ON SUNDAY AFTER MORE THAN FOUR YEARS IN HOSPICE CARE FOLLOWING A CATASTROPHIC STROKE IN AUGUST OF 2020.

JONES WAS A STORYTELLER, WELL KNOWN FOR HIS PROVOCATIVE PLAYS AND OPINION COLUMNS FOR BOTH THE STAR TRIBUNE AND MINNEAPOLIS SPOKESMAN RECORDER NEWSPAPERS.

HE WAS ALSO CONSIDERED A PIONEER IN NARRATIVE MEDICINE, WHERE HIS WORK INCLUDED TEACHING DOCTORS AND NURSES TO TREAT THE WHOLE PERSON AND NOT JUST SYMPTOMS.

BACK IN 1992 WHEN JONES WAS A YOUNG WRITER, HE WON A PRESTIGIOUS NATIONAL PLAYWRIGHT AWARD FOR "SHINE," A PLAY SET IN A DETROIT SHOESHINE ON THE DAY IN 1968 WHEN MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WAS SHOT.

THEN-ALMANAC STAFFER LISA BLACKSTONE TALKED WITH SYL JONES ABOUT THE PLAY "SHINE."

TAKE A LOOK AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR MARTIN LUTHER KING, THEN T'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME AND THAT'S THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT IT.

>> SHINE COMES OUT OF MY EXPERIENCE WORKING AS A SHOE SHINE BOY.

I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY DOING THAT.

AND I WANTED TO TRANSFER TO THIS GENERATION SOME OF THE VALUES I FEEL WE HAD IN THE '60s THAT WE MAY HAVE LOST TODAY AND THAT'S REALLY THE WHOLE POINT OF SHINE.

>> SET IN A DETROIT BUS STATION SHOE SHINE, THE PLAY CENTERS AROUND THE RELATIONSHIPS OF WESLEY, THE BUSINESS OWNER, JD, THE ONE COLLEGE-BOUND MAN, AND ME STUFF A, THE QUASI BLACK MUSLIM.

>> YOU'RE LOOKING AT A MAN WHO HATED HIS OWN PEOPLE.

>> PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS TRIED TO SAY, YOU KNOW, BLACK AMERICANS ASICALLY HAVE ONE POINT OF VIEW, AND IT'S NOT REALLY TRUE.

IN OUR OMMUNITIES THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A DIVERSITY OF OPINION.

AND WHAT I WANTED TO DO IS, AGAIN, GO AND CAPTURE THE TRUTH OF THAT.

>> I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT YOUR TROUBLE IS.

YOU AIN'T GOT NO RIDE.

YOU SEE, YOU BLACK, JUST LIKE ALL THE REST OF US.

NOW, BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL.

NOW THAT'S THROUGH ERITAGE, NOT COLORED, NOT NEGRO, BLACK.

>> DO I LOOK BLACK TO YOU?

NO, IT'S A FINE-TONE CHOCOLATE BROWN, JUST LIKE THE CANDY TURTLES I USED TO GIVE MY MAMA ON THE SWEETEST DAY.

>> YOU'VE BEEN BRAINWASHED BY THE WHITE MAN.

>> BRAINWASHED!

DON'T YOU COME IN HERE TELLING ME ABOUT BRAINWASHED.

LOOK AT YOU, STANDING THERE TRYING TO BE NATURAL, WEARING THAT PLACEMAT ON YOUR HEAD.

PRETENDING YOU'RE SOME KIND OF AFRICAN.

BOY, THIS AIN'T THE SAHARA DESERT, THIS IS DETROIT, THE MOTOR CITY, AND YOU AIN'T NO MORE AFRICAN THAN THE MAN IN THE MOON.

>> IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO DESCRIBE WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO GROW UP IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOUR WORLD IS COMING APART.

ESSENTIALLY IN 1968, MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT THE WORLD WAS COMING TO AN END.

IF YOU LOOK CAREFULLY IN THIS PLAY, YOU CAN SEE AND TRACK THE CHANGE THAT OCCURS WHEN THE ASSASSINATION IS ANNOUNCED.

OF COURSE, THE REAL KEY TO THIS PLAY, IF IT WORKS, IS THAT HISTORICAL REALITY HAS TO MERGE WITH THE REALITY OF THE PLAY.

THE TWIN CITIES, ONE OF THE PLACES WHERE THERE WAS OVERT VIOLENCE THAT OCCURRED, IN FACT, THERE WAS A BLACK MAN WHO SHOT A WHITE MAN, HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO SHOOT THE FIRST WHITE PERSON HE SAW AFTER HE HEARD ABOUT MARTIN LUTHER KING'S ASSASSINATION, HE PUT SIX BULLETS IN THAT WHITE MAN.

IT IS VERY IRONIC THAT MARTIN LUTHER KING'S MESSAGE WAS NONVIOLENCE BUT THOSE PEOPLE IN '68 CHOSE TO DEMONSTRATE IN VIOLENT WAYS.

I'M SURE HIS FOLLOWERS WERE VERY UPSET ABOUT THAT.

>> DEEP DOWN IN OUR NONVIOLENT CREED IS THE CONVICTION THAT SOMETHING SO DEAR, SOMETHING SO PRECIOUS, SOMETHING SO TRUE THAT THEY'RE WORTH DYING FOR.

>> WHAT I WANT TO DO IS GET PEOPLE TO LOOK AT WHAT IS REALLY GOOD ABOUT MARTIN LUTHER KING AND HIS VALUES AND TO RECAPTURE THEM, NOT TO CELEBRATE HIS BIRTHDAY.

THAT'S IRRELEVANT TO ME.

WHAT'S MOSTLY RELEVANT IS HIS IDEALS AND HIS VALUES.

>> PEACE AND UNDERSTANDING, BROTHER.

>> PEACE AND UNDERSTANDING... ♪♪ >> Cathy: I LOVE SOUL.

WELL, WORK ONTINUES ON THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT'S COURT-ORDERED REFORMS.

THIS WEEK THE INDEPENDENT GROUP OVERSEEING THAT WORK HELD TWO COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSIONS.

BUT WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PREPARING TO MOVE BACK INTO THE WHITE HOUSE, SOME OBSERVERS THINK THE FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE MAY FALL BY THE WAYSIDE, LEAVING JUST THE STATE CONSENT DECREE IN PLACE.

YOHURU WILLIAMS IS BACK.

HE'S A UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS HISTORIAN, DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOOL'S RACIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE, AND ONE OF HIS AREAS OF EXPERTISE IS THE HISTORY OF POLICING IN THE TWIN CITIES.

A LOT TO TALK ABOUT HERE.

SO THIS INDEPENDENT MONITOR FOR FOLKS WHO DON'T QUITE REMEMBER, BECAUSE IT'S JUST KIND OF LIKE BEEN A BOUNCING BALL HERE, THE INDEPENDENT MONITOR, HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT ROLE AND HOW DID IT ALL PLAY INTO THESE COMMUNITY MEETINGS?

>> THAT ROLE S EXCEPTIONALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY'LL ACTUALLY MONITOR THE PROGRESS ON THE CONSENT DECREE.

THEY'RE THE INDEPENDENT EVALUATOR TO DETERMINE IF THE DEPARTMENT IS ACTUALLY MAKING PROGRESS.

AND THESE LISTENING SESSIONS ARE KIND OF BAKED INTO THE ENTERPRISE BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE INDEPENDENT EVALUATOR WAS SAYING IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO CHECK IN WITH THE COMMUNITY REGULARLY, ABOUT EVERY FOUR MONTHS, AND JUST GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING.

LAST NIGHT WAS LESS ABOUT LISTENING TO COMMUNITY AND MORE JUST ABOUT GOING OVER THE PARAMETERS OF THE CONSENT DECREE, INTRODUCING THE COMMUNITY AGAIN TO THE TEAM, AND THEN TALKING ABOUT HOW TO GEAR UP FOR THE WORK, BEGINNING IN JANUARY.

>> Eric: THE ISSUES INCLUDE RACISM AND KIND OF HEAVY-HANDED POLICING VER MANY GENERATIONS IN MINNEAPOLIS, FOR THAT MATTER.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Eric: IF THE FEDERAL DECREE GOES AWAY UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, THERE WOULD STILL BE A STATE DECREE, CORRECT?

>> THERE WILL STILL BE A STATE DECREE, UNDER THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS, AND IT WILL LOOK AT HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN MINNESOTA.

WHAT MANY COMMUNITY LEADERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT, FOR EXAMPLE, COMMUNITIES UNITED AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY IS THAT YOU LOSE THAT CONSTITUTIONAL POLICING PIECE YOU'D GET WITH THE FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE.

AND THERE'S REAL CONCERN HERE BECAUSE UNDER THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION WE HAD 14 CONSENT DECREASE THAT WERE NEGOTIATED.

DECREES THAT WERE NEGOTIATED.

TRUMP ESSENTIALLY ENDED THAT WORK.

SO CHICAGO, FOR EXAMPLE, WAS SUPPOSED TO GO UNDER CONSENT DECREE, 2019, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CAME IN, JEFF SESSIONS WAS THEN ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND HE BASICALLY HALTED THAT WORK.

THE FEAR IN THIS MOMENT IS WITH THE SECOND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, WILL THE NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL, WILL THE ADMINISTRATION ALLOW THIS TO LAPSE?

AND AT THIS POINT, WE HAVEN'T REACHED THAT FINAL STAGE HERE IN MINNEAPOLIS IN TERMS OF THAT NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT.

>> Cathy: AND, BY THE WAY, THIS IS KIND OF HISTORY QUESTION HERE, TOO, BUT WHY DID THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION UNDER SESSIONS TRUNCATE THE OBAMA WORK?

>> WELL, FROM THE WAY THAT SESSIONS ARTICULATED IT, IT WAS IDEALOGICAL, BUT IT CERTAINLY ALIGNED WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP'S VIEW OF POLICING, THE IDEA WAS THAT IT WAS TOO MUCH OVERSIGHT, WE REALLY NEEDED TO TAKE THE HANDS OFF THE POLICE.

AND IT ECHOED SOME OF THE RHETORIC THAW HEARD DURING THE CAMPAIGN, BOTH IN -- THAT YOU HEARD DURING THE CAMPAIGN, BOTH IN 2018 AND THIS YEAR AROUND SANCTUARY CITIES, VIOLENCE RUN AMOK, AND CHICAGO IS ALMOST TAILOR MADE CENTRAL CASTING FOR THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS THIS WAVE OF VIOLENCE THAT WAS TAKING PLACE IN THE CITY AND TRUMP USED THAT TO SAY, WE DON'T NEED LESS POLICING, WE NEED MORE POLICING, MISSING THE CENTRAL POINT, THIS ISN'T ABOUT LESS POLICING, IT'S ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND THAT'S WHAT REALLY GOT LOST IN THAT CONVERSATION.

AND I HOPE IT DOESN'T GET LOST HERE.

>> Eric: THERE WAS A CASE IN MINNEAPOLIS WHERE A DISGRUNTLED NEIGHBOR SHOT AN AFRICAN AMERICAN EIGHBOR, AND APPARENTLY THE NEIGHBOR HAD BEEN COMPLAINING FOR A LONG TIME ABOUT THIS FELLA NEXT DOOR.

AND HOW OES THAT ADD TO THE MIX HERE?

>> IT DOES IN WAYS THAT I THINK ELEVATE THE WORK.

BECAUSE AT THE SAME TIME ALIFA WAS MEETING ON THURSDAY, I WENT TO THE THURSDAY MEETING, THERE WAS A MEETING UPSTAIRS WHERE MARY MORIARTY WAS MEETING WITH MEMBERS ABOUT JUVENILE JUSTICE AND HER MESSAGE AROUND PUBLIC SAFETY, NOT POLICING.

HER MESSAGE WAS CENTERING AROUND MENTAL HEALTH.

MELVIN CARTER JUST SPOKE TO THE WIDESPREAD ACCESS TO GUNS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THEN YOU HAD THESE TRAGEDIES.

WE HAVE TO OOK AT PUBLIC SAFETY, TO ALLOW THE COMMUNITY TO FEEL MORE SAFE, AROUND JUVENILE JUSTICE, A RANGE OF ISSUES.

>> Cathy: SO THE COMMUNITY IS REALLY UPSET WITH CHIEF O'HARA BECAUSE OF THIS SITUATION.

YOU KNOW, THAT THIS PERSON WAS PRETTY MUCH IGNORED.

HE DOESN'T SEEM LIKE E'S GOING TO GO ANYWHERE.

HOW IN DANGER IS HE AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT OTHER CHIEFS OF POLICE IN MINNEAPOLIS, YOU KNOW, HAVE WE SEEN ANYTHING QUITE LIKE THIS BEFORE?

>> WE HAVE.

AND, YOU KNOW, I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT BOTH CHIEF O'HARA AND MARY MORRIETY -- MORIARTY, THE WORK OF REFORM IS DIFFICULT, WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO MESSAGE THE COMMUNITY, THE TIME IT TAKES TO CREATE A CULTURE OF CHANGE, IT'S REALLY HARD.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE A REALLY SHORT MEMORY AS AMERICANS AND WE LIKE A TRAGEDY WITH A HAPPY ENDING.

SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR INSTANT GRATIFICATION IN TERMS OF THIS WORK, AND IT'S LONG-TERM WORK.

BOTH O'HARA AND MORIARTY ARE INVESTED IN THAT WORK AND WE'RE SEEING THEM MAKE THE CHANGES KNOWS GET US THERE.

WHAT I'M HOPING PEOPLE DON'T DO IS PANIC AND KIND OF PULL BACK AND GO BACK TO THE STATUS QUO.

THAT'S WHAT GOT US IN THIS SITUATION IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> Eric: ROOM FOR OPTIMISM?

>> I THINK GUARDED PTIMISM, WHAT CONCERNS ME IS HOW FEW PEOPLE ATTENDED THOSE SESSIONS FOR ALIFA.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS MOMENT ARE FEELING ANXIETY ABOUT NATIONAL POLITICS.

ONE WAY YOU CAN INVEST, LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN DO LOCALLY.

WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY IN THIS COMMUNITY TO BE PART OF CULTURAL CHANGE IN TERMS OF OUR POLICING.

THAT'S AN EXAMPLE AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED.

I HOPE MORE PEOPLE SHOW UP AND REALLY INVEST IN THIS PROCESS.

>> Cathy: REALLY GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE, PROFESSOR.

>> Eric: APPRECIATE YOU KEEPING TRACK OF THIS FOR US.

APPRECIATE YOU COMING OVER.

THANK YOU.

>> WITH THE ELECTIONS BEHIND US, PEOPLE ARE FEELING DIFFERENT LEVELS OF EXUBERANT ELATION OR ANXIETY.

AMERICANS ARE AWAKENING TO A CHANGED POLITICAL AND POLICY LANDSCAPE.

>> MY GOOD MAN!

I’VE JUST AWOKEN FROM A GREAT SLUMBER.

HAVE I MISSED THE ELECTION RESULTS?

>> YES, THE ELECTION WAS LAST WEEK.

>> AND THAT SILVER-TONGUED FIRE BREATHER, DID HE WIN?

>> DONALD TRUMP?

YEAH, HE WAS RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT.

>> TRUMP WHO?

I’M TALKING ABOUT WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN!

DID HE SUCCEED IN HIS CRUSADE AGAINST THE EASTERN MONIED INTERESTS?

>> WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN?

LIKE, CROSS OF GOLD GUY?

>> YES, THE ‘BOY ORATOR,’ THE ‘GREAT COMMONER’!

WILL THE NATION HEED HIS CALLS FOR INCREASED SILVER COINAGE?

>> YA KNOW, HONESTLY ANYTHING SEEMS POSSIBLE RIGHT NOW.

I’M SORRY, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN ASLEEP?

>> I DON’T KNOW.

I WAS ON THE WAY TO MY POLLING PLACE WHEN I RAN INTO A GROUP OF VOY AGEUERS AND DRANK FROM THEIR CAST OF SPIRITS AND I JUST WOKE UP NOW.

>> I'M GOING TO SAY, FOR 1900, THIS IS A BIT OF AN ODD OUTFIT.

>> THAT’S BECAUSE I WAS AT A COSTUME PARTY.

SEE, IT’S NOT A REAL BEARD.

TELL ME, HOW DID THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE FROM MINNESOTA FARE?

>> YOU MEAN GOVERNOR WALZ?

>> NO!

DONNELLY!

MINNESOTA’S IGNATIUOUS DONNELLY, THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE FOR THE POPULIST PARTY!

>> BOTH ALZ AND IGNACIOUS DONNELLY WERE DEFEATED.

>> SO YOU’RE SAYING MCKINLEY WON RE-ELECTION?

EVEN AFTER HE RAISED TARIFFS ON IMPORTS TO NEARLY 50%.

TIN PLATES BECAME UNAFFORDABLE FOR THE COMMON AMERICAN!

>> TARIFFS ARE STILL IN THE CONVERSATION.

JUST MORE FOCUS ON SEMICONDUCTORS AND IPHONES NOW THAN TIN PLATES.

>> THESE ARE STRANGE TIMES IN WHICH I HAVE AWOKEN.

I THOUGHT WE HIT OUR ODDEST AS A NATION WHEN WE RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT GROVER CLEVELAND TO A SECOND NONCONSECUTIVE TERM.

>> YOU KNOW, WE ACTUALLY JUST DID THAT, TOO.

BIGGEST POLITICAL COMEBACK IN HISTORY, EVEN BIGGER, AND I CAN’T BELIEVE I’M SAYING THIS, THAN GROVER CLEVELAND.

>> WELL, I HOPE THIS NEW PRESIDENT IS ABLE TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

THE NATION NEEDS IT.

IN ANY TIME PERIOD.

AND MAYBE I STILL HAVE SOMETHING FROM MY TIME TO TEACH YOU.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS AN AGE OF EXPERIMENTATION, OF FREEDOM, YES, OF SOME DECADENCE, BUT ALSO WHEN MEN LOVED ONE ANOTHER OPENLY AND WITH ABANDON.

WE CALLED IT THE GAY 90’S.

>> YOU KNOW, I ACTUALLY KNOW A BAR THAT YOU MIGHT LIKE.

>> ERIC: WE'VE BEEN TAKING A LOOK AT HOW PROPOSED CHANGES IN A SECOND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION COULD IMPACT MINNESOTANS.

LAST WEEK WE EXPLORED HEALTH CARE AND THE ECONOMY.

THIS WEEK WE TURN OUR ATTENTION TO IMMIGRATION, AN ISSUE MANY VOTERS SAID WAS ONE OF THEIR MAIN PRIORITIES.

KATELYN VUE WRITES FOR THE SAHAN JOURNAL.

SHE HAS RECENTLY LEFT THE HOUSING BEAT AND IS NOW COVERING IMMIGRATION.

WELCOME BACK.

IN THE BROAD STROKES, HOW MIGHT WHATEVER COMES OUT OF WASHINGTON ON IMMIGRATION AFFECT MINNESOTA?

>> YEAH, IN BROAD STROKES, I'VE TALKED TO IMMIGRATION LAWYERS, EXPERTS WHO HAVE PRACTICED IN THE FIELD A LONG TIME, AND IT'S HARD TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN UNTIL HE OFFICIALLY TAKES OFFICE.

BUT THERE'S MORE UNIFIED REPUBLICAN CONTROL AT WASHINGTON, AND WHAT WE CAN EXPECT IS THAT HE'LL TRY TO REINSTATE SOME OF HIS OLD POLICIES FROM HIS FIRST TERM.

>> Cathy: AND JUST FOR FOLKS, AGAIN, TO RUN IT DOWN, BECAUSE MEMORIES ARE SHORT, SO, WHAT WERE SOME OF THE POLICIES THAT WERE ENACTED THAT MIGHT COME BACK AGAIN AND MAYBE SOME NEW ONES, PERHAPS?

>> YEAH.

SO I TALKED TO MICHELLE GARNETT McKENZIE FROM THE ADVOCATES OF HUMAN RIGHTS, AND SHE SAID THAT SOME POLICIES THAT MIGHT HAPPEN QUICKER TO REINSTATE ARE SOME OF HIS RULES AROUND APPLYING FOR ASYLUM, SO HIS ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THAT MIGHT BECOME MORE OF A HIGHER BAR FOR FOLKS TO REACH.

HE MIGHT ALSO REINSTATE HIS REMAIN IN MEXICO POLICY, WHICH REQUIRED ASYLUM SEEKERS TO STAY IN MEXICO.

THAT CAUSED A LOT OF HUMANITARIAN CRISIS BEING STUCK AT THAT POINT BUT THEY WERE REQUIRED TO STAY THERE AND WAIT UNTIL THEIR COURT HEARING WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> Eric: IS THERE GOING TO BE AN ISSUE WITH SANCTUARY COUNTIES AND CITIES, MINNEAPOLIS AND St. PAUL, HENNEPIN, RAMSEY COUNTY, WHERE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT MAY BE ASKED TO STEP IN AND HELP OUT?

>> YEAH.

SO TRUMP HAS IN THE PAST TRIED TO BLOCK FEDERAL FUNDING FOR SANCTUARY CITIES.

THAT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL.

HE WAS BLOCKED BY.

[ Indiscernible ] BUT BECAUSE OF HIM BEING BACK IN OFFICE, HE COULD HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE TO DO THAT.

YOU KNOW, CITIES LIKE St. PAUL, MINNEAPOLIS, THEY HAVE THEIR OWN ORDINANCES, WHERE CITY EMPLOYEES AND LAW OFFICIALS CAN'T ASK ABOUT IMMIGRATION STATUS.

THAT'S GOING TO BE AN ORDINANCE I EXPECT WILL STAY IN PLACE WHEN HE TAKES OFFICE.

>> Cathy: WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF PEOPLE COULD BE AFFECTED, RIGHT?

DIFFERENT TYPES OF INDIVIDUALS, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

THERE'S A LOT OF UNDOCUMENTED FOLKS WHO WILL BE IMPACTED.

THERE WILL ALSO BE FOLKS IN THE SOMALI AND KAREN COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE LEGAL PROTECTED STATUS.

SEW MAYLY AND CONTAINER ARE THE ARGE -- KAREN ARE THE LARGEST COMMUNITIES IN THE U.S., IN MINNESOTA, SO MANY OF THEM HOLD THAT PROTECTED STATUS.

>> Eric: ARE FOLKS TALKING ABOUT THE LOGISTICS IT WOULD TAKE TO DO A MASS DEPORTATION?

WHAT ARE THE EXPECTATIONS THERE?

>> YEAH, SO THERE'S CONCERNS, I MEAN, IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY EXPENSIVE TO RECRUIT THAT MANY INDIVIDUALS IN FEDERAL IMMIGRATION, WILL TAKE A LONG TIME, BUT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF IT -- FOLKS ARE SAYING THAT THE RHETORIC IS JUST MEANT TO BE PART OF ALSO INTIMIDATION AND FOLKS BEING CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

IT WILL BE HARD BUT I ALSO THINK THAT HE HAS A SECOND CHANCE, REALLY, TO BE ABLE TO DO AND PUSH FORWARD SOME OF HIS POLICIES.

>> Cathy: I'M WONDERING, THOUGH, WHAT DO YOUR EXPERTS SAY, WHAT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO DO?

WHAT COULDN'T HAPPEN UNDER EXISTING LAW?

>> YEAH.

ONE THING THAT HE WANTS TO DO IS BASICALLY GO INTO THE 14TH AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION AND CHANGE THE LAW AROUND BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP.

SO, HAVING THAT END OR CHANGING HAT TO REQUIRE THAT AT LEAST ONE OF THE PARENTS ARE CITIZENS SO THAT THE COUPLE, WHEN THEY HAVE A CHILD, THEIR CHILD CAN BE CONSIDERED A CITIZEN AS WELL.

>> Eric: I'M GUESSING LEGAL WORK IS ALREADY UNDERWAY?

>> YEAH.

>> Eric: CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?

YEAH -- >> YEAH, SO THAT WILL DEFINITELY COME AGAINST A LOT OF CHALLENGES IN THE LEGAL COURT SYSTEM TO PASS.

WHAT WE KNOW, TRUMP IN HIS FIRST TERM, WAS ABLE TO GET SOME OF HIS APPOINTEES ON THE SUPREME COURT TO.

SO WE KNOW THAT HE FACES LESS GUARDRAILS TO BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE SOMETHING AS BIG AS A CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE.

>> Cathy: HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE YET TO TALK TO FOLKS WHO MIGHT BE AFFECTED HERE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA?

YOU KNOW, THE UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS OR PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE WITH A GREEN CARD, WHAT HAVE YOU, HOW SCARED ARE THEY?

>> THERE'S SOME FEARS, THERE'S DEFINITELY BEEN, YOU KNOW, REPORTERS LIKE ALFONSO AND ELSA, THEY'VE REPORTED ON IMMIGRATION LAW GROUPS GETTING MORE PHONE CALLS, AND SOME FOLKS ARE SKEPTICAL, THOUGH.

HE'S MADE THESE PROMISES IN THE PAST AND THEY DON'T QUITE BELIEVE THAT HE'LL BE ABLE TO DO IT AGAIN.

>> Eric: YOUR ARTICLE IN THE SAHAN JOURNAL WEBSITE IS REALLY COMPREHENSIVE, I REALLY RECOMMEND IT AS A PRIMER TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON AND PREPARE FOR THAT.

>> THANK YOU, APPRECIATE IT.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Eric: YOU BET.

>> WHO GOT THEIR START DOING WEATHER?

A, DAVID LETTERMAN?

B, DIANE SAUER?

C, PAT SAY JACK?

OR D, GOVERNOR TIM PAWLENTY?

>> Eric: DAVID LETTERMAN.

>> ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

>> AND?

>> AND PAT SAJACK.

>> AND?

>> Eric: GOVERNOR PAWLENTY?

[ Laughter ] >> CATHY: WE'VE BEEN DOING OUR NEARLY ANNUAL WEATHER QUIZZES WITH PAUL DOUGLAS FOR DECADES NOW.

AND THEY ARE ALWAYS SO MUCH FUN.

LONGTIME VIEWERS MAY HAVE NOTED FORMER "ALMANAC" REGULAR J.G.

PRESTON IN THAT SHORT EXCERPT.

I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT J.G.

WILL BE JOINING US IN JUST A FEW WEEKS TO CELEBRATE OUR 40TH ANNIVERSARY.

40 YEARS, WOW.

BUT I DIGRESS.

SPEAKING OF WEATHER, AND OUR LONGTIME METEOROLOGICAL FRIEND PAUL DOUGLAS IS HERE.

IN HIS SPARE TIME, HE RUNS HIS OWN WEATHER COMPANY, PREDICTX.

SO I'M THINKING, SO I'M THINKING, MY FRIEND, THAT THIS WEEKEND MIGHT BE THE WEEKEND TO HANG THE HOLIDAY LIGHTS BECAUSE OF THIS INCOMING STORM SYSTEM, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> YES.

I WOULD GET SERIOUS ABOUT YOUR DRIVEWAY STAKES AND MAYBE START REARRANGING THE CLOSET, MORE HEAVY JACKETS, BOOTS, NOTHING ARCTIC, BUT, FIRST, CAN WE REMINISCE?

CAN WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT HAS BEEN A LONG, LUXURIOUS AUTUMN?

>> Cathy: ES.

>> SUPER-SIZED WARMTH.

>> Cathy: YES.

>> MY SPACE LASER REMAINS UNDEFEATED.

>> Cathy: GOOD FOR YOU!

>> Eric: WILL YOU ILLUSTRATE THIS WITH SOME VISUALS?

>> MARJORIE TAYLOR GREEN, IT'S ALL ME, IT'S ALL ME DOING THIS.

WHAT AN AUTUMN.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ACTUALLY PREFER AUTUMN AND NOW THERE'S JUST MORE AUTUMN CONSISTENTLY.

AND THIS HAS BEEN THE WARMEST START TO AUTUMN, METEOROLOGICAL AUTUMN, BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 1st ON RECORD SINCE 1872, TIED FOR THE WARMEST START TO AN ENTIRE YEAR.

>> Eric: WOW.

>> ON RECORD.

SO, YEAH, IT HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARY.

AND WHAT A MIXED-UP YEAR IN TERMS OF MOISTURE.

THE WETS ARE WETTER, THE DRIES ARE DRYER, A DROUGHT SANDWICH.

WE STARTED WITH DROUGHT, WE'RE ENDING WITH DROUGHT.

METRO, THE DROUGHT HAS EASED.

IT'S STILL DRY, BUT THERE'S STILL A SEVERE DROUGHT, MUCH OF NORTHERN AND WESTERN MINNESOTA, WITH THE SEVENTH WETTEST SUMMER ON RECORD, SANDWICHED IN BETWEEN THESE EXTREME DROUGHTS.

I HAVE NOT SEEN THAT IN 40 YEARS.

AND, AGAIN, PRECIPITATION ABOVE AVERAGE.

IF YOU STEP BACK AND LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE, WE'RE RUNNING A SURPLUS ACROSS MUCH OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHEASTERN MINNESOTA.

LOOK AT THE DEPARTURES.

WE'RE ACTUALLY ABOVE AVERAGE NOW.

EVERYTHING IN GREEN, WETTER THAN AVERAGE.

BUT THAT'S LOOKING SINCE JANUARY 1st.

IF YOU LOOK SINCE SEPTEMBER THE 1st, WE'RE ACTUALLY RUNNING A DEFICIT.

IT'S LIKE MOISTURE WENT OFF A CLIFF IN LATE AUGUST, EARLY SEPTEMBER.

SO, YEAH, A BIT OF A HEAD SCRATCHER THERE.

OKAY.

AND, YES, A REALITY CHECK, NOT ARCTIC, BUT BELOW AVERAGE.

NEXT WEEK 40s, AND I THINK 30s FOR THANKSGIVING WEEK.

COLD ENOUGH TO SNOW AROUND THANKSGIVING.

NOT SURE WE'LL HAVE ANY MOISTURE TO ACTUALLY WHIP UP A STORM.

BUT WETTER IS -- BUT WINTER IS COMING.

IT'S JUST LATE.

I WANT TO MENTION FLORIDA HAS BEEN HIT SO HARD THIS YEAR.

MILTON AND HELENE AND, AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING AT ANYWHERE FROM 51 TO 81 BILLION DOLLARS IN HURRICANE DAMAGE, ACCORDING TO CORE LOGIC.

WHICH GOT ME THINKING ABOUT RISK.

HERE WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT OCCASIONAL TORNADOES, HAIL, FLASH FLOODING.

WE O HAVE SIGNIFICANT RISK OVER MUCH OF MINNESOTA, ESPECIALLY METRO ON SOUTH AND WEST.

NOTHING LIKE THE GULF COAST, EARTHQUAKE RISK OUT WEST.

THE AVERAGE PERSON HAS PAID 30% MORE IN NSURANCE PREMIUMS FOR PROPERTY INSURANCE JUST SINCE 2020.

>> Eric: OUCH!

>> AND HERE'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.

WINTER SHRINKAGE IS REAL IN MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN AND THE GREAT LAKES AND NEW ENGLAND.

THE UPPER MIDWEST HAS WARMED 4 TO 7 DEGREES, ESPECIALLY NIGHTTIME TEMPERATURES, 4 TO 7 DEGREES WARMER THAN BACK IN 1970.

IF YOU DOUBT THAT, ASK ANYBODY WHO OWNS A SNOWMOBILE.

THIS WINTER, WE DON'T HAVE EL NINO TO KEEP THINGS MILDER, LIKE WE DID LAST WINTER WHEN IT WAS IN THE 50s IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY.

AVERAGE SNOWFALL IS CLOSE TO 52.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO E SOMEWHERE IN THAT RANGE.

OF COURSE, YOUR RESULTS, AS ALWAYS, MAY VARY.

>> Eric: WHAT WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO MORE OR LESS THAN 50 INCHES OF SNOW?

WHAT FACTORS WOULD BE INVOLVED?

>> TORMS.

IF WE ACTUALLY -- >> Eric: IS THAT WHY YOU MAKE THE HEAVY MONEY, TO COME UP WITH STORMS?

[ Laughter ] >> WELL, THAT'S THE SIMPLE ANSWER.

I MEAN, LOOK, A SNOWSTORM IS A DELICATE BALANCE BETWEEN MOISTURE AND COLD AIR.

TOO MUCH COLD AIR SHIFTS THE STORM EAST.

AND, SO, IT REMAINS O BE SEEN.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A MORE TYPICAL PATTERN, WHERE WE DO OCCASIONALLY GET JET STREAM WINDS BLOWING UP FROM NEW MEXICO AND TEXAS, BLOWING THAT GULF MOISTURE NORTHWARD.

AND I THINK THERE WILL BE ENOUGH COLD AIR IN PLACE FOR MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT SNOW.

LAST WINTER, 29 1/2 INCHES OF SNOW.

>> Cathy: PATHETIC.

>> AVERAGE S 52.

EVEN IF WE HAVE AN VERAGE WINTER, SOME MINNESOTANS WILL BE COMPLAINING, IT WILL FEEL COLDER THAN LAST WINTER, BUT LOOK AT THE TRENDS.

OUR WINTERS AREN'T WHAT THEY USED TO BE, ESPECIALLY IN THE 1970s.

>> Eric: DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER, ISN'T THAT YOUR MESSAGE?

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT PS, YES.

>> Eric: PAUL DOUGLAS, EVERYBODY, RIGHT HERE ON OUR STAGE.

>> Cathy: SEE YOU LATER, DEAR, HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

>> YOU TOO.

♪♪ >> ERIC: COLLEGE STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WILL BE RETURNING HOME IN A COUPLE SHORT WEEKS.

SOME FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE STARTING COLLEGE THIS FALL.

A NEW BOOK RELEASED THIS YEAR ENTITLED "THE COLLEGE STUDENT'S GUIDE TO MENTAL HEALTH" OFFERS UP SOME TIPS AND STRATEGIES FOR STUDENTS AS THEY NAVIGATE HIGHER EDUCATION.

PENNED BY A PSYCHOLOGIST AND THERAPIST AT MACALESTER COLLEGE WITH MORE THAN 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE.

THE AUTHOR JOINS US NOW.

MIA NOSANOW.

>> PRETTY GOOD.

>> Eric: PRETTY GOOD.

SAY IT FOR ME.

IS THIS ALL ABOUT THE PANDEMIC, IS IT MORE THAN THAT?

>> OH, NO, THIS PREDATES THE PANDEMIC.

STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH HAS BEEN REALLY DECLINING SINCE THE EARLY 2000s.

>> Eric: WHY?

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

I WOULD BLAME ORIGINALLY ON BREAKDOWN IN GROUPS IN OUR SOCIETY.

IT SORT OF PARALLELS THE LONELINESS EPIDEMIC.

AND THEN A LOT OF FLAME GOT -- GAS GOT THROWN ON THE FIRE WITH SOCIAL MEDIA AND MEDIA IN GENERAL AND SCREENS.

AND BREAKDOWN IN OUR SOCIETY, I THINK, MADE STUDENTS ALSO FEEL THE PRESSURES AND THE FINANCIAL PRESSURES FROM THE 2008 AND THEN THINGS GOT A LOT HARDER, A LOT LOT HARDER WITH THE PANDEMIC FOR STUDENTS.

>> Cathy: WOW.

YOU KNOW, I'M A GRADUATE FROM UW RIVER FALLS, YOU PROBABLY HEARD THAT THE CAMPUS WAS REALLY HAD A VERY DIFFICULT -- THERE'S A CLUSTER OF FOUR DEATHS BY SUICIDE, STUDENTS.

AND IT WAS VERY SAD.

AND THE COLLEGE ADMITTED IT WAS RATTLED, IT DIDN'T QUITE KNOW HOW TO RESPOND.

WHAT ARE COLLEGE CAMPUSES DOING TO HELP INDIVIDUALS WHO MIGHT BE SHOWING SIGNS OF DEPRESSION AND MAYBE SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND ARE JUST HAVING A HORRIBLE TIME?

WHAT'S OUT THERE TO HELP?

>> THE COLLEGES ARE DOING SO MUCH.

THEY'RE TRYING EVERYTHING.

THEY'RE WORKING WITH NATIONAL FOUNDATIONS TO TRY TO DO SUICIDE PREVENTION, THEY'RE TRYING TO DO MORE PROGRAMMING THAN THEY ALREADY DID, WHICH THEY ALREADY DID A GREAT JOB, TO CONNECT STUDENTS WHEN THEY FIRST COME TO COLLEGE.

THEY'RE TRYING TO IMPROVE HOUSING SO THAT STUDENTS CAN LIVE IN CLUSTERS AND GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER BETTER.

BUT THERE'S -- AND ALSO, OBVIOUSLY, INCREASING THE STAFF IN THE COUNSELING CENTER, TOO.

BUT IT'S AN IMPOSSIBLE CURVE TO TRY TO GET ENOUGH COUNSELORS ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS TO MEET THE NEED OF STUDENTS.

>> Eric: WHAT'S THE ABC METHOD?

>> IT IS BEING -- IT'S OR COPING WITH THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS, BEING AWARE, BEING WITH IT, ACCEPTING WHAT IT IS, NOT JUDGING IT, AND THEN C IS CHOOSING WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH IT.

SO EITHER JUST, YEAH, I'M FEELING SAD.

WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?

I'M GOING TO HAVE A CUP OF COCOA WITH MY FRIEND.

OR, I'M JUST GOING TO LET IT BE.

I DON'T NEED TO DO ANYTHING WITH T, WITH THE THOUGHT.

BUT AS A HERAPIST I SAW STUDENTS COMING IN WITH A LOT OF THOUGHTS THAT WERE OT HELPING THEM, LIKE I DON'T BELONG HERE, I SHOULDN'T BE HERE, I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO BE HERE, AND THEY WERE GOOD ENOUGH TO BE THERE.

>> Cathy: IMPOSTER SYNDROME.

>> IMPOSTER SYNDROME AND JUST NEGATIVITY AND FEAR.

AND KIND OF UNDERSTANDING, IF YOU SAY REALLY BAD STUFF TO YOURSELF OVER AND OVER, YOU'RE GOING TO FEEL REALLY BAD.

SO HOW DO YOU INTERRUPT IT?

>> Eric: I DIDN'T GET THE LONELINESS ISSUE, HALF THE KIDS ARE LONELY, IT WASN'T THE IDYLLIC TEREOTYPE OF COLLEGE WHERE YOU MEET FRIENDS FOR LIFE, WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT?

>> IT'S JUST GOTTEN HARDER AND HARDER OVER THE YEARS.

AND THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST ARE GOING TO BE TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

I KNOW IT'S WITH, YOU KNOW, IF YOUR FACE IS IN A PHONE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE FRIENDS AS WELL.

IF YOU THINK YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ONE WAY BECAUSE YOU'VE SEEN IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT THAT'S NOT YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO REALLY CONNECT WITH PEOPLE?

WE HAD IT A LOT EASIER BECAUSE WE JUST HAD TO BE OUT THERE WITH PEOPLE.

>> Cathy: YOU WERE FORCED TO ACTUALLY INTERACT.

>> FORCED TO MAKE FRIENDS.

NOW THERE'S SO MANY BARRIERS TO JUST BEING WITH FOLKS AND SEEING THEM REPEATEDLY AND BEING THEMSELVES AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.

>> Cathy: SO I'M CURIOUS THEN ABOUT -- >> Eric: GO AHEAD.

>> DOCTOR: WHAT WOULD BE -- >> Cathy: WHAT WOULD BE, THERE ARE PARENTS WATCHING AND GRANDPARENTS WATCHING OF COLLEGE-AGE KIDS, I'M WONDERING HAT THEY CAN DO TO HELP.

BECAUSE THIS IS A LOT OF FOCUS ON WHAT COLLEGES ARE DOING, WHICH IS GREAT.

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

BECAUSE I DO THINK ALL OF OUR STUDENTS ARE WATCHING PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS, WE'RE THE BEST -- WE'RE SERIOUS ROLE MODELS.

SO THAT'S PART OF WHAT MY BOOK CAN PROVIDE IS SORT OF VALIDATION OF ALL THE DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT STUDENTS ARE DEALING WITH BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T QUITE HAD BEEN THE SAME CHANCE TO LEARN THE SKILLS IN THE SAME WAY TO HELP -- TO BE MENTALLY HEALTHY.

SO, WE CAN NDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE WORKING ON, HELP -- ASK THEM, HOW'S YOUR MENTAL HEALTH?

I CARE ABOUT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH.

ARE YOU DOING THESE DIFFERENT STEPS TO HELP IT.

>> Eric: THE COLLEGE STUDENT'S GUIDE TO MENTAL HEALTH, FOR THOSE THAT THIS APPLIES TO, IT'S QUITE A GOOD HANDBOOK.

THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: YOU BET.

>> ERIC: THIS ELECTION WAS CLOSE, AND NOTHING SYMBOLIZES THAT MORE THAN THE FACT THE MINNESOTA HOUSE APPEARS TO BE IN A TIE WITH 67 MEMBERS OF EACH PARTY WINNING.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF RECOUNTS YET TO HAPPEN, BUT EVERYONE AT THE CAPITOL IS BRACING FOR A TIE.

REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER TRACKED DOWN SOME KEY PLAYERS LAST TIME THERE WAS AN EVENLY DIVIDED HOUSE FOR THEIR UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE.

>> HOW SWEET IT IS!

>> THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE REPUBLICAN RENAISSANCE IN THIS STATE!

>> Mary: THE 1978 ELECTION WAS FULL OF UNANTICIPATED UPHEAVAL, RESULTING IN A TIED MINNESOTA HOUSE AFTER DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR WENDELL ANDERSON WAS PERCEIVED AS APPOINTING HIMSELF TO THE U.S. SENATE.

>> I ACCEPT THEIR JUDGMENT.

>> Mary: YOU WERE HERE ON THE GROUND WHEN THE SENATE AS TIED AND THE HOUSE?

>> I WAS HERE WHEN THE SENATE WAS TIED IN '71 AND I WAS HERE AS NICK COLEMAN'S CHIEF OF STAFF IN 1979 WHEN THE HOUSE WAS TIED.

THE TIE IN 1971 WAS OVER IN EIGHT DAYS, WHEN THE SUPREME COURT DECIDED THAT THE DEMOCRATS COULDN'T VIOLATE SEPARATION OF POWERS BY USING THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AS THE DECIDING VOTE ON ORGANIZING THE SENATE AND ON TIES.

>> THE CLERK PROTEM -- >> Mary: AND IN THE HOUSE, THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S JOB THEN AND NOW WAS TO CONVENE SESSION.

>> IT'S A LOVELY CEREMONY.

>> Mary: USUALLY.

>> USUALLY A LOVELY CEREMONY, UNTIL 1979, AND IT WAS TIED.

AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT HAD NEVER BEEN TIED BEFORE.

THEY STILL HADN'T OFFICIALLY COME TOGETHER.

I WOULD GO OVER THERE EVERY DAY, CALL THE SESSION TO ORDER, AND THEN IN A FEW MINUTES WE'D ADJOURN THE SESSION.

IT WAS EXTREMELY TENSE, AND IT REALLY WAS STARTING FROM SCRATCH.

>> Mary: REPUBLICANS IN '79 RODE A RED WAVE WITH MORE NEW MEMBERS THAN OLD ONES.

SO A PRE-AGREED-TO POWER-SHARING AGREEMENT DID NOT HAPPEN AHEAD OF TIME.

>> BECAUSE IT'S SO COMPLEX.

IT'S NOT ONLY A QUESTION OF WHO'S GOING TO BE SPEAKER, WHO'S GOING TO CHAIR THE COMMITTEES, BUT YOU HAVE HOUSE STAFF, WHEN HERE'S A MASSIVE CHANGE IN THE MEMBERSHIP AS IT WAS THEN, WHERE THE DEMOCRATS WENT FROM 131 DOWN TO 67.

THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE A LOT OF STAFF.

AND THAT'S PAINFUL.

THERE WERE MORE FRESHMAN THAN THERE WERE EXPERIENCED LEGISLATORS.

SO HE BRINGS IN ALL THESE BRAND-NEW MEMBERS WHO DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THE RESTROOMS WERE.

>> BOY, THEY WORKED HARD, ONCE THEY PICKED THEIR COMMITTEES AND FIGURED IT OUT.

WHAT THEY DECIDED WAS THAT THE REPUBLICANS WOULD GET THE SPEAKERSHIP AND THE DEMOCRATS WOULD GET THE THREE OR FOUR MOST IMPORTANT COMMITTEES.

NOW THE DEBATE WENT ON FOR SOME TIME AS TO WHO HAD THE BETTER DEAL.

YOU CAN IMAGINE.

>> Mary: WHAT DO YOU THINK IN RETROSPECT?

YOU KNOW POLITICS.

>> I KNOW POLITICS.

I TEND TO THINK THE DEMOCRATS ENDED UP WITH THE BETTER DEAL.

>> Mary: EVEN THOUGH THEY DIDN'T GET THAT TOP SPOT?

>> EVEN HOUGH DIDN'T GET THE TOP SPOT, THEY WERE CHAIRING THE IMPORTANT AND THEY GOT TO DECIDE WHICH BILLS WERE HEARD THROUGH THOSE COMMITTEES WHICH AUTOMATICALLY WENT TO THE FLOOR.

>> Mary: THE LAST TIME THE MINNESOTA HOUSE WAS IN A TIE, THE REPUBLICAN LEADER AT THE TIME WROTE BOOK CALLED "MINNESOTA STANDOFF, THE POLITICS OF DEADLOCK" AND HAD A SPECIFIC QUOTE SAYING, IT'S NOT A VICTORY FOR THE DEMOCRAT OR THE REPUBLICAN, BUT, QUOTE, RATHER, A REAFRATION OF THE -- REAFFIRMATION OF THE WISDOM AND WORKABILITY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

>> NOW IS THE TIME TO SIT DOWN AND TRY TO HAVE A CIVIL CONVERSATION WITH THE OTHER SIDE.

>> Mary: LOOKING HROUGH ALL THE PHOTOS COLLECTED BY LONGTIME HOUSE STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER TOM OLMSCHEID, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO MISS THE MASSIVE MAJORITY OF MEN IN THE LEGISLATURE.

YOU'RE THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE ROOM, PRACTICALLY.

>> THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN TRUE.

YOU KNOW, I WAS THE ONLY WOMAN FOR SO LONG, IT SEEMED, IN SO MANY CIRCLES THAT I JUST GOT KIND OF USED TO IT.

BUT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, I WAS ELECTED IN 1972.

AND AT THE TIME I RAN, THERE WAS ONE WOMAN IN THE LEGISLATURE, ONE.

>> Mary: THE NUMBER OF WOMEN WHO SOON INCREASE, IN FACT, THE MAJORITY OF THE CURRENT SENATE MAJORITY ARE WOMEN.

>> THAT'S BEEN A GREAT DEVELOPMENT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE KNOW THIS STORY, BUT WHEN NANCY WAS ELECTED TO THE SENATE IN 1974 IN A SPECIAL ELECTION, AND THERE WAS REALLY AN ARGUMENT MADE THAT IT WAS POSSIBLY A WASTE OF STATE DOLLARS TO BUILD A RESTROOM WHEN THERE WAS ONLY ONE WOMAN AND AFTER HOW LONG WAS SHE GOING TO BE AROUND.

>> Mary: THEY PAVED THE WAY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

>> IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR ME TO BE SURROUNDED BY ALL THIS TESTOSTERONE, YOU KNOW.

AND THEN THE ATTITUDE THEN, MEN WEREN'T ACCUSTOMED TO WORKING WITH WOMEN AS HEIR EQUALS.

>> Mary: MINNESOTA HAS YET TO ELECT A WOMAN AS GOVERNOR.

MUCH LIKE THE PRESIDENCY.

>> IT'S SHOCKING TO ME THAT WE'RE NOT READY TO ACCEPT A WOMAN AS HE LEADER OF OUR COUNTRY.

BUT APPARENTLY THAT APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE.

WE'VE COME A LOPPING WAY IN SOME WAYS, AND, YET, WE'VE GOT A ONG WAY TO GO.

>> IT'S SO EXCITING, I THINK, BECAUSE BOTH MELISSA AND LISA ARE GOOD, STRONG WOMEN.

LONG WAY.

>> CATHY: BETWEEN THE LIKELY FIRST TIE IN THE STATE HOUSE IN NEARLY FIVE DECADES, AND WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THAT, MINNESOTA TRADING A VP PICK FOR A CABINET NOMINATION THIS WEEK, THERE'S PLENTY OF POLITICS FOR OUR PANELISTS TO CHEW ON SO LET'S GET RIGHT TO IT.

DEMOCRATS UP FIRST TONIGHT.

KARLA BIGHAM IS A FORMER STATE SENATOR AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE, CURRENT WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

ABOU AMARA IS A FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER TURNED ATTORNEY.

REPUBLICANS HERE TONIGHT, ANNETTE MEEKS IS A FORMER CONGRESSIONAL STAFFER AND NOW HEADS THE FREEDOM FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA.

AND ROUNDING OUT THE GROUP, WE WELCOME BACK FOREMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE PAT GAROFALO WHO RETIRED FROM HIS HOUSE SEAT AT THE END OF THIS YEAR'S SESSION.

I BET YOU'RE EXCITED, AREN'T YOU, THAT YOU RETIRED?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Cathy: YES, THAT'S WHAT I FIGURED AS MUCH.

WELL, TOO BAD YOU'RE NOT THERE FOR THE FUN OF 67-67.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, IT'S INCREDIBLE.

IT REALLY IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

>> Eric: HOW'S IT GOING TO WORK?

>> Cathy: HOW WOULD YOU -- YEAH, WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND?

>> SO, I THINK WE GOT -- I HAVE NO INSIDE INFORMATION.

BUT I THINK WE GOT A PRETTY GOOD IDEA WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND THAT IS THAT THE THE COMMITTEES WILL BE SPLIT BY EVEN AMOUNTS.

THEY'LL HAVE REPUBLICAN AND DFL CO-CHAIRS.

THEY'LL ADOPT A RULE THAT SAYS THAT, LET'S SAY YOU'VE GOT TEN MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SIX VOTES TO PASS IT, SO IF ONE PERSON IS SICK OR SOMEONE STEPS OUT TO USE THE BATHROOM, YOU CAN'T PASS SOMETHING THROUGH THE COMMITTEE.

THEY'LL SPLIT THAT THROUGH, STAFF WILL BE EVENLY DIVIDED, CONFERENCE COMMITTEES WILL BE FOUR MEMBERS, TWO REPUBLICANS, TWO DFLers.

THE HARD PART IS GOING TO BE WHO GETS TO BE THE SPEAKER.

AND THAT'S THE PART THAT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME BECAUSE, AS EVERYONE KNOWS, THE DFL HAS TOTAL CONTROL OF THE REST OF THE STATE.

AND THIS IS THE ONLY FOOTHOLD REPUBLICANS HAVE.

SO, YOU KNOW -- >> Cathy: YOU WOULDN'T SPLIT THE SPEAKERSHIP?

>> I KNOW THERE'S SOME PROPOSALS TO TRY TO DO THAT, BUT THERE HAS TO BE, AT SOME POINT IN THE PROCESS, A DECIDER.

>> YEAH.

>> AND, SO, YOU'RE -- AGAIN, THAT WILL BE NEGOTIATED BETWEEN REPRESENTATIVE HORTMAN, REPRESENTATIVE DEMUTH, BUT IT'S KIND OF -- IT'S WORKING TOWARDS THAT PATH.

>> I THINK YOU'LL SEE, AND THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME INNOVATIVE OPPORTUNITY HERE FOR LEADERSHIP, BUT I AGREE, I THINK, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF WORK WILL BE DONE IN COMMITTEE BECAUSE -- WHICH, YOU KNOW, IN ALL FAIRNESS, THAT'S WHERE THE WORK SHOULD BE DONE.

AND IT WOULD BE A LOT MORE TRANSPARENT AND I THINK THERE WILL BE A LOT MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR COLLABORATION BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO TAKE THAT.

AND THAT'S WHAT MINNESOTANS EXPECT AND THAT'S WHAT'S GOOD FOR MINNESOTA TO HAVE THE WORK DONE IN COMMITTEE.

AND I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, I MAY BE BIASED, BUT, YOU KNOW, SPEAKER HORTMAN, IN MY OPINION, OF THE 134 MEMBERS IS PROBABLY THE BEST MEMBER THERE WHO HAS THE MOST EXPERIENCE DOING THE JOB, AND I THINK YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE OTHER POWER SHARING LOOKS LIKE FOR LEADER DEMUTH, I THINK THEY GET ALONG VERY WELL, AND I THINK THEY WILL BE ABLE TO WORK REALLY WELL TOGETHER AND COME UP WITH A POWER-SHARING AGREEMENT WHERE THEY'LL BE ABLE TO GET THINGS DONE ON BEHALF OF MINNESOTA BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY EXPECT.

>> Eric: NOW, ABOU, I WONDER IF THE SPENDERS AND THE SOCIAL JUSTICE WARRIORS WILL BE FORCED TO THE SIDELINES, BUT HOW ABOUT SOME GOOD OLD-FASHIONED BIPARTISAN PROPERTY TAX RELIEF?

I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A HEADACHE AROUND THE STATE ON THAT.

>> WELL, LOOK, I DO THINK IT'S GOING TO FORCE ALMOST A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE WITHIN THE HOUSE, RIGHT?

THE HOUSE ITSELF IS A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

AND, SO, YOU'RE REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO NEGOTIATE ON THE FRONT END ON LL KINDS OF THINGS.

WATCH OUT FOR THE RULES COMMITTEE, NOTHING'S -- NOBODY'S TALKING ABOUT IT, IT'S NOT A SEXY COMMITTEE, THAT IS THE COMMITTEE THAT SETS THE FLOOR OPERATIONS AND WHAT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE VOTED ON.

IN ADDITION TO SPEAKER, WHICH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT, I THINK THE RULES COMMITTEE IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER REALLY IMPORTANT POWER STRUCTURE FOR ULTIMATELY HOW THIS ENDS UP GETTING DONE.

>> AND I THINK THAT SPEAKER DEMUTH UNDERSTANDS THIS, AND SHE ALSO UNDERSTANDS THAT THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE A SEVERE MANAGEMENT OF EXPECTATIONS.

THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE A SESSION WHERE LOTS AND LOTS OF BILLS ARE GOING TO BE PASSED.

THIS IS OING TO BE A VERY MINIMAL, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S GOING TO BE MORE OF A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, WORK'S GOING TO BE DONE IN COMMITTEE AND NOT A LOT OF IT.

PASS A BUDGET'S GOING TO BE VERY VERY DIFFICULT.

IF THERE WAS A MESSAGE THAT SENT THE REPUBLICANS TO A NARROW LEAD, ALMOST, IS IT'S REALLY THAT PEOPLE ARE VERY UPSET ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON THE LAST TWO YEARS AND THEY WANT TO PUT A BRAKE ON THAT AND THEY DID.

>> Eric: HERE'S WHAT I WANT TO KNOW.

THIS WAS TOUTED AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AS THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTION OF UR LIFETIME.

AND THE FUTURE OF THE WORLD IS AT STAKE.

AND HERE'S A BILLION DOLLARS FOR GET OUT THE VOTE PROGRAM.

AND TURNOUT WAS LOWER.

>> WHAT?

>> I MEAN, THIS IS THE INCREDIBLE THING THAT HAPPENED IN MINNESOTA, IF YOU LOOK AT THE COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS, YOU HAD VOTERS GOING TO THE POLLS AND THEY VOTED FOR HARRIS, THEY VOTED FOR KLOBUCHAR, DFLers, THEY VOTED DFL FOR CONGRESS, AND WHEN THEY GOT TO STATE REPRESENTATIVE, THEY FLIPPED OVER AND THEY VOTED REPUBLICAN.

THAT IS INCREDIBLE.

THIS IS NOT THE SORT OF THING THAT WE'RE USED TO SEEING HAPPEN.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT SORT OF SUPER ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE MACHINE LISA DEMUTH PUT TO WORK, IT'S CLEAR THE REPUBLICANS FOUND SOMETHING.

I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IT IS.

BUT THEY FOUND IT.

THEY CRACKED IT.

AND DFL VOTERS VOTING REPUBLICAN ARE WHAT BROKE THE DFL TRIFECTA.

>> THESE BY AND LARGE, ARE NOT DFL VOTERS, THEY'RE NOT JUST TENS OF THOUSANDS DFL VOTERS VOTING FOR REPUBLICANS IN THE STATE HOUSE, WHAT THEY ARE, I BELIEVE, ARE NEVER TRUMP REPUBLICANS, WHO ARE VOTING FOR KAMALA HARRIS, REJECTING DONALD TRUMP, THEY'RE VOTING FOR AMY KLOBUCHAR BECAUSE HER OPPONENT WAS INSANE, AND THEY SAID THE STATE HOUSE IS THE ONE PLACE WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY RESTORE SOME LEVEL OF BALANCE.

RIGHT?

AND THAT'S WHERE THEY TARGETED AL ALL THEIR EFFORTS, BOTH ON THE MONEY SIDE AND ON THE VOTE SIDE OF.

>> I THINK YOU'RE A LITTLE OFF, THESE ARE THE VAST MAJORITY OF INDEPENDENT VOTERS THAT AREN'T REPUBLICAN -- >> NEVER TRUMPERS.

>> BUT THEY'RE NOT NEVER TRUMPERS, THEY'RE NOT NEVER KAMALA VOTERS.

THEY RE THE INDEPENDENT VOTERS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

THEY'RE EXHAUSTED, THEY'RE TIRED OF ALL THE FIGHTING, AND THEY JUST WANT SOME PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, THEY WANT SOME TAX RELIEF, FRANKLY, THEY WANT TO STOP THE CRAZINESS THAT THEY SAW HAPPEN FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS IN THE STATE.

>> AND I THINK ABOU AND PAT ARE BOTH RIGHT, THAT IT'S -- BOTH OF THEM ARE RIGHT IN THEIR ANALYSIS ON THAT, AND I THINK THAT'S RIGHT, TOO.

I MEAN, I DO BELIEVE WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, I THINK PEOPLE ARE EXHAUSTED AND FATIGUED ABOUT OUR POLITICAL CLIMATE.

AND THEY PUT PEOPLE IN MINNESOTA, I'M GOING TO SAY IN MINNESOTA, THAT I THINK THEY JUST WANT RELIEF FROM, I THINK, SOME OF THE RHETORIC AND, YOU KNOW, JUST KIND OF THE TENOR THAT'S GOING ON IN POLITICS.

BUT I AGREE WITH WHAT THEY SAID.

>> I WOULD HOPE THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE TAKE FROM THIS ELECTION IS THIS, THERE'S BEEN THIS EBATE THAT MAYBE MINNESOTA IS A HARD LEFT FAR LEFT STATE, THAT IT'S AN OREGON STATE OR CALIFORNIA.

IT'S NOT.

THIS STATE IS PRETTY CLOSE TO 50-50.

AND WHOEVER HAS THE LEVERS OF POWER IN THIS STATE NEEDS TO GOVERN WITH ALL MINNESOTANS, NOT JUST A 50% PLUS ONE STRATEGY.

>> PEOPLE EXPECT TO GET THINGS DONE, THE CONTROVERSIAL THINGS ARE NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, THE OBSTRUCTION'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> Cathy: WELL, YOU SAY GETTING STUFF DONE, SO, GOVERNOR WALZ, WHEN HE HAD THIS SPEECH LAST WEEK, SAID THAT HE WAS GOING TO GO OUT INTO THE HINTERLANDS AND TALK TO VOTERS WHO DON'T AGREE WITH HIM.

WHICH OTHER PEOPLE WOULD ARGUE, HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING THAT BEFORE.

WHERE IS HE, BY THE WAY?

>> I WOULD HE WAS DOING THAT.

I WOULD ARGUE HE WAS DOING THAT.

I THINK ENDS.

HE'S BEEN GONE FROM MINNESOTA FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, MINNESOTANS AVE BEEN SEEING HIM MORE ON TV THAN ON THE STREET.

WHAT HE'S BEEN DOING, REASSURING MINNESOTANS, YOU KNOW, WHAT I UNDERSTAND I WAS GONE FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS, YOU ARE THE PRIORITY, I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU BY CONTINUALLY BEING ON THE GROUND, I WOULD EXPECT DURING THE NEXT MONTHS AND THROUGHOUT SESSION, YOU'RE GOING TO EE HIM EVERYWHERE, ALL ACROSS MINNESOTA.

>> Eric: I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU TWO ON THE ABORTION ISSUE.

SEEMS TO ME IT WAS OVERSOLD BY THE DEMOCRATS AS SOME MAGIC BULLET.

>> I THINK THAT IS WHAT THEY CAMPAIGNED ON.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT, NOT ONE REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT LOST.

AND IF THIS WAS A MANDATE ON ANYTHING, IT WAS TO STOP THE MADNESS THAT'S HAPPENING.

AND IT WAS -- I REALLY BELIEVE THE DEMOCRATS OVERREACHED, THEY SPENT TOO MUCH, THEY GOT TOO INVOLVED IN PEOPLE'S FAMILIES, BUSINESS AND TELLING THEM HOW TO RAISE THEIR CHILDREN, THEY GOT TOO INVOLVED IN MICROMANAGING OUR SCHOOLS OF THE.

AND THIS WAS THE AVERAGE INDEPENDENT VOTER, ESPECIALLY IN THOSE SWING DISTRICTS THAT WE WON, THAT WERE HELD BY DFLers FOR A LONG LONG TIME, SAYING, STOP IT.

>> Eric: WHY WAS ABORTION RELATIVE TO -- >> I'M NOT THE LAWYER ON THIS PANEL, BUT I BELIEVE THE ONE THING TO WATCH OUT FOR IS THE COMSTOCK LAW, AND THERE ARE FEDERAL LAW -- >> Eric: WHICH IS?

>> WHERE IT'S A FEDERAL LAW, HELP ME OUT HERE, ABOU, IT'S A FEDERAL LAW -- >> INTERSTATE COMMERCE DEALING WITH -- >> DEALING WITH MAIL.

WITH MAIL.

>> ESSENTIALLY MAKING SURE THAT DRUGS FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS CAN GET ACROSS STATE LINES.

>> AND BIRTH CONTROL.

>> OVERSIMPLIFYING IT.

>> WHEN YOU CAN LIMIT THAT THROUGH FEDERAL CODE AND THROUGH EXECUTIVE ORDERS, NOW ABORTION IS GOING TO IMPACT EVERY STATE, NO MATTER HOW SAFE WE ARE HERE THROUGH COURT DECISIONS OR THROUGH STATE LAW IN MINNESOTA.

SO, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM IS SAFE IF WE HAVE AN ATTORNEY GENERAL IN A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT IS GOING TO IGNORE THAT.

TO BE DETERMINED.

>> JUST TO PUT A PIN IN THAT POINT, I THINK IT WASN'T ASSAILANT, SO MANY AMERICANS LIVE IN STATES WHERE ABORTION IS PROTECTED.

SO IT WASN'T IMPACTFUL, YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN THE RED STATES, IN A LOT OF THE BLUE AND PURPLE STATES, IT IS PROTECTED.

>> LOOK AT THE POLLING, IT NEVER ROSE ABOVE DOUBLE DIGITS.

NEU.

>> Cathy: CAN I ASK YOU ABOUT MINNESOTA NATIVE PETE HAGSETH, BEING A POTENTIAL -- WELL, TRUMP NOMINEE FOR DEFENSE SECRETARY, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?

>> I THINK IT'S A GREAT HONOR.

AND I WISH HIM WELL.

IT'S GOING TO BE VERY VERY TOUGH CONFIRMATION PROCESS FOR A LOT OF THESE FOLKS, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT THEY DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT, PETE HAGSETH BEING ONE OF THEM.

SO, GOOD LUCK TO HIM.

AND GODSPEED.

>> Eric: GODPARENTS OF SPORTS GAMBLING, MINNPOST HAD A STORY SAYING IT'S A GO.

>> YEAH, I WOULD SAY IF I WAS A ETTING MAN, AND I WILL REMIND ALL YOUR VIEWERS THAT I AM, IN FACT, A BETTING MAN, I THINK THERE'S A BETTER CHANCE THAN NOT THAT IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

I THINK THIS IS THE BEST CHANCE OF IT THIS YEAR.

A 67-67 HOUSE GIVES THEM A PERFECT CHANCE TO COLLABORATE, WORK TOGETHER.

ERIC, WILL IT BE THE FIRST THING?

NO.

BUT IS IT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN?

ABSOLUTELY.

THEY HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER, THOUGH.

>> HECK NO, HECK, NO.

>> I'M SORRY.

>> 100% IT'S GOING TO, I THINK IT'S AN ISSUE THAT THEY NEED TO GET DONE WITH.

AND I THINK THAT HOPEFULLY HINDSIGHT IS 20-20 WITH SOME OF THE DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE.

LET'S GO, LET'S GET IT DONE BE, IT'S SOMETHING YOU CAN AGREE ON, COME ON, LEGISLATURE, LET'S GET IT DONE.

>> Eric: THAT WILL BE A DEBATE THAT WE'LL HAVE YOU BACK.

>> WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET THEM FORGET ABOUT IT, ARE WE, PAT?

>> Cathy: HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

THANK YOU, GUYS, APPRECIATE IT.

WELL, CLEARLY, WE HAD A FULL SHOW TONIGHT.

AND WE HAVE NEARLY RUN RUN OUT OF TIME.

WE'LL HAVE THE INDEX FILE AND ANSWERS FOR YOU NEXT WEEK.

IF YOU MISSED THE QUESTION, THAT MEANS YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO CALL US WITH THE ANSWER, OF COURSE.

YOU CAN CHECK OUT LAST WEEK'S SHOW ON OUR WEBSITE TPT.ORG/ALMANAC.

WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH TIME LEFT FOR SOME SHOW-ENDING MUSIC.

TODAY BACK IN 2000, LARRY LONG AND DEBBIE DUNCAN PERFORMED ON THE OLD NEWSNIGHT MINNESOTA PROGRAM.

TAKE A LISTEN.

WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK.

WE PROMISE.

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