♪♪ >> Eric: FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND PUBLIC BATTLES WITH FOREIGN LEADERS TO THE U.S. SENATE RACE, IT'S HARD TO KEEP UP WITH THE POLITICAL SC SCORECARD.

LUCKILY THIS WEEK'S VERSION OF THE POLITICAL PANEL IS HERE TO HELP.

REPUBLICANS UP FIRST TONIGHT.

BRIAN MCDANIEL IS A FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER, NOW A LOBBYIST AND STAND-UP COMEDIAN.

PREYA SAMSUNDAR IS A GOP STRATEGIST WHO SERVED AS A COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR THE RNC AND THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN.

DEMOCRATS HERE TONIGHT, SARA LOPEZ IS A PARTY ACTIVIST AND POLICY DIRECTOR AT UNIDOS MN.

AND NEW TO THE COUCH ALYSEN NESSE, FORMER SENIOR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS NOW SPENDS HER TIME UP AT THE CAPITOL AS A LOBBYIST.

WELCOME, ONE AND ALL.

PREYA, WHAT ABOUT THIS BUSINESS IN THE OVAL OFFICE TODAY WITH THE UKRAINE AND U.S. PRESIDENTS?

>> OBVIOUSLY IT WASN'T A GREAT DAY I THINK FOR ANYBODY.

THE REALITY IS IS THAT, OU KNOW, THIS TRUMP WHITE HOUSE THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE COMING IN, THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE A DEAL, THEY HAD A FULL ON SETUP TO SIGN SOME LEGISLATION TO GET THIS MINERAL RIGHTS DEAL MOVED FORWARD.

I THINK IN SOME RESPECTS THEY PROBABLY THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS GOING TO GO THROUGH, MAYBE 75% OF THE CHANCE, BUT BASED ON THE CONVERSATION IN THE PAST COUPLE WEEKS THEY KNEW THAT SOMETHING COULD POTENTIALLY HAPPEN.

UNFORTUNATELY THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO DID HAPPEN, ZELENSKYY DECIDED TO USE THE MEDIA IN THE OVAL OFFICE TO TRY AND STRONG ARM HIS WAY BACK INTO A SECURITY DEAL, OBVIOUSLY THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT, IN FACT IT GOT HIM KICKED OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE.

AND UNFORTUNATELY IT'S GOING TO STALL TALKS, IT'S GOING TO PROLONG PEACE CONVERSATIONS LONGER.

AND I THINK HE SET HIMSELF, I THINK EVERYBODY SET THEMSELVES BACK A LITTLE BIT.

>> Eric: BLIP OR POLITICALLY IMPORTANT EVENT, OR WHAT DO YOU THINK, ALYSEN?

>> OH, INCREDIBLY POLITICALLY IMPORTANT EVENT.

IT WAS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION.

AND ALL PARTIES USED IT AS MORE OF A EDIA EVENT THAN AN ACTUAL I THINK CONVERSATION THAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN.

>> IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO SIT DOWN AND ACTUALLY WORK ON SOLUTIONS.

PEOPLE ARE HURTING.

>> Cathy: SAY, BRIAN, HOW DOES THIS INCIDENT FIT WITH WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST 30-SOME-ODD DAYS FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION?

>> OBVIOUSLY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS AN IDEA OF WHAT THEY WANT TO DO AND WE'RE KIND OF LIKE FIGURING IT OUT IN REAL-TIME.

I MEAN, TODAY WAS EMBARRASSING.

I MEAN, GOOD GOD.

HOW WE'RE DOING THIS, YOU KNOW, I THINK IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE NATO COUNTRIES AND HOW MUCH THEY'RE CONTRIBUTING TO THEIR OWN DEFENSE, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT MINERAL RIGHTS LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHETHER WE'RE SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY IN UKRAINE, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

NOT LIKE THIS.

THIS MAKES US LOOK TERRIBLE.

AND, YOU KNOW, EARLIER THING SAID THAT REPUBLICANS AREN'T SPEAKING OUT OUT ABOUT THIS.

I WILL.

YOU KNOW, RUSSIA IS OUR ENEMY.

AND DOESN'T MEAN THAT ANYONE ELSE NECESSARILY HAS TO BE OUR FRIEND, BUT RUSSIA IS OUR ENEMY AND IF YOU SHOW ME YOUR FRIENDS I'LL SHOW YOU YOUR FUTURE AND WHO WE VOTED WITH ON THAT IS EMBARRASSING.

I MEAN, I THINKAN DRAGO IS NOT OUR FRIEND AND NEVER WILL BE.

>> YEAH, AND LIKE WE CAN FIGHT WITH COUNTRIES THAT HAVE BEEN LONG-TIME ALLIES OF THE U.S. LIKE ENGLAND, LIKE NOW ENGLAND IS MAD AT US BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY SAYING THAT THE WAR WAS STARTED BY THE UKRAINE, WHICH IS INSANE.

JUST WANT TO STOP BEING EMBARRASSED ON THE NATIONAL ARENA, THIS IS VERY EMBARRASSING FOR US.

>> THAT PARTIALLY IS TRUE BUT LIKE THE REALITY IS THAT AMERICANS ELECTED DONALD TRUMP AND J.D.

VANCE PARTIALLY BECAUSE THEY RE A LITTLE BIT MORE BLUNT AND FORCE FORWARD RATHER THAN BEING HAT MORE POLITICIAN WE'VE SEEN IN YEARS PAST WITH LIKE A MITT ROMNEY OR PAUL RYAN, IF YOU WILL.

SO THEY ARE EXPECTING SOMEONE TO BE MORE OF THAT FIGHTER AND UNFORTUNATELY WHEN YOU HAVE A FIGHTER YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE INCIDENCES LIKE THIS UNFORTUNATELY WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE OF THESE PUBLIC CONFRONTATIONS BECAUSE IN THEIR MIND WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING AT IT FROM A ARRATIVE OF WE ELECTED A FIGHTER WE EXPECT YOU TO GO TO D.C. AND FIGHT FOR US BOTH HERE AT HOME AND ABROAD, THAT'S WHAT AMERICANS WHEN THEY ELECTED DONALD TRUMP, THAT'S WHAT THEY SAW AND THAT'S WHAT THEY VOTED FOR.

>> Cathy: PREYA, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE OTHER ALLIES IN YOU WERE ON WERE THINKING WHEN THEY SAW THIS >> OBVIOUSLY THEY KNOW THAT DONALD TRUMP ISN'T ONE TO BE MESSED WITH.

I MEAN, THE FIRST FOUR YEARS OF HIS ADMINISTRATION PROVED AS MUCH, HE HAS NO PROBLEM TELLING LEADERS TO STICK IT, FRANKLY.

HE'S DONE IT BEFORE, HE'S DONE IT WITH FRANCE, HE'S DONE IT IN THE U.K., HE'S DONE IT EVERYWHERE.

THIS IS SOMEONE WHO REALLY DOES BELIEVE -- >> Cathy: EXCEPT FOR HE HASN'T REALLY TOLD PUTIN TO STICK IT, THOUGH.

>> NO, HE HAS NOT.

IN SOME WAYS HE HAS, SOME WAYS HE'S NOT.

DONALD TRUMP I TRULY BELIEVE HE REALLY LOOKS AT THIS FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE RATHER THAN A POLITICAL AND IN A BUSINESS MINDSET WHEN YOU LISTEN TO HIS LIKE METHODOLOGY OVER THE LAST 30 EARS IT'S ALWAYS KEEP YOUR ENEMIES CLOSER THAN YOUR ACTUAL FRIENDS.

AND I THINK SOME SOME RESPECTS THAT'S WHAT HE'S DOING.

>> Eric: WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF SEVERAL OF THE MINNESOTA HOUSE REPUBLICANS TELLING THE FOUR REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE U.S. HOUSE TO GO EASY ON THE MEDICAID CUTS?

>> THANK YOU.

>> I WAS INCREDIBLY HEARTENED ACTUALLY FROM THE 14 MINNESOTA G.O.P.

MEMBERS WHO SIGNED A PRETTY IMPACTFUL LETTER ABOUT THE IMPACTS THAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT ON MEDICAID SERVICES.

MEDICAID IS THE FOUNDATION AND BACKBONE OF RURAL HOSPITAL SYSTEMS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY AND MINNESOTA.

AND THE SEVERITY AND THE IMPACT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES CANNOT BE UNDERSTATED.

>> Eric: THE FEDS DO, WHAT, 12 BILLION, A THIRD OF THE BUDGET IS FEDERAL MONEY IN MINNESOTA, THIS COULD HAVE BIG IMPACT ON THE MINNESOTA BUDGET.

TREMENDOUSLY BIG IMPACT ON THEA- MINNESOTA BUDGET.

WE BELIEVE IN A SOCIAL SAFETY NET AND MEDICAID AND MEDICARE ARE VERY IMPORTANT PARTS OF THAT.

ONCE AGAIN, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS DOING SOMETHING THAT PROBABLY IS POPULAR WHICH IS TRYING TO FIND OUT WHERE'S THE WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE.

THE IMPROPER PAYMENT RATES FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR MEDICAID IS 5% WHICH STILL COMES OUT TO $31 BILLION.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT, BUT USE A SCALPEL, NOT A SHOTGUN AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S MAKING PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE IS THAT IT'S THE RIGHT IDEA BUT THEY'RE JUST NOT TRUSTING THAT IT'S BEING TAKEN CARE OF IN A THOUGHTFUL WAY.

>> Eric: THE DEMOCRATS DON'T WANT TO BE SEEN AS BEING FOR WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE.

>> WELL, AND I THINK THAT WE TALK ABOUT WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL SMOKE SCREEN TO JUST CURTAIL, RIGHT, PUBLIC INTEREST, CURTAIL THE PUBLIC SAFETY NET.

THE COST OF CARE HAS GONE UP NOT BECAUSE PEOPLE USE MEDICARE, NOT BECAUSE OF PREGNANT WOMEN IN THE PROGRAM, BUT THE THE COST OF INSURANCE KEEPS ON RIPPING OFF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

AND WHEN YOU BLAME JUST PEOPLE WHO ARE USING THE PROGRAM BY CALLING THEM WASTE AND FRAUD, I JUST -- IT'S ALL A SMOKE SCREEN TO GIVE TAX CUTS TO TRILLIONAIRS, OLIGARCHS.

>> Eric: YOU'RE AT THE CAPITOL, IS THIS WEIGHING ON THE BUDGET PROCESS THERE, WHAT HAPPENS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

IN EVERY SINGLE COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE ASKING AGENCY STAFF WHAT THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF THESE CUTS ARE GOING TO BE ON STATE PROGRAMS, ON MINNESOTANS ACROSS THE BOARD FROM EDUCATION TO HEALTH CARE TO HOUSING.

IT'S DOMINATING THE CONVERSATION AND WE'LL SEE WHAT THE BUDGET ORECAST NEXT WEEKS BRINGS US.

>> Cathy: THERE IS A REVENUE FORECAST COMING, RIGHT?

DO YOU THINK THERE WILL HAVE TO BE KIND OF A ROLLING FORECAST GIVEN -- BECAUSE THINGS ARE CHANGING SO FAST?

>> WE'RE OING TO FIND SOMETHING OUT, YOU KNOW, COMING UP NEXT WEEK AND THEN IT'S GOING TO BE ADJUSTED BASED ON WHAT HAPPENS ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

THE ONLY THING I WANT TO SAY ABOUT WHAT SARA'S COMMENT IS THAT, YEAH, IT CAN BE BOTH THINGS, IT CAN BE A PROBLEM WITH THE INSURANCE WORLD BUT ALSO WE KNOW, WE KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THIS FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE IS HAPPENING, AND THAT MONEY IS THE MONEY THAT WE'RE ALL TALKING ABOUT NEEDS TO GO TO TRANSPORTATION, TO HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION AND EVERYTHING ELSE, AND IT'S NOT.

>> Cathy: SAY, PREYA, DO YOU THINK THE HOUSE HAS THAT FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE COMMITTEE, FOR WANT OF A BETTER TERM HERE, DO YOU THINK ANYTHING'S GOING TO COME OUT OF THAT IN THE HOUSE?

>> ABSOLUTELY, I DO.

BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE'VE OBVIOUSLY SEEN YOU TALKED ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT EARLIER WITH FEEDING OUR FUTURE.

THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE.

WE KNOW THAT FBI AGENTS ERE RAIDING ADULT CARE CENTERS HERE EARLIER THIS YEAR.

WE KNOW THAT ASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE IS HAPPENING.

THE REALITY IS SIMILAR TO WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS DOING RIGHT NOW WITH AUDITING DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, THIS WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE COMMISSION IS GOING TO GO THROUGH AND SEE WHERE DO THINGS LOOK A LITTLE STRANGE, WHERE DO NUMBERS NOT ADD UP, AND WHERE CAN WE INVESTIGATE TO SEE IF MINNESOTA TAXPAYERS ARE GETTING RIPPED OFF AND HOW DO WE CLAW BACK SOME OF THAT MONEY.

>> Eric: ANGIE CRAIG VERSUS PEGGY FLANAGAN IN AN AUGUST PRIMARY OR TINA SMITH'S SEAT?

>> THAT'S SO MANY MONTHS IN POLITICS FROM NOW BUT I THINK THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE TOO WHO ARE GOING TO JUMP IN THE RACE AND THE D.F.L.

PRIMARY.

>> Eric: IS THERE A FAVORITE RIGHT NOW?

OR TOO EARLY?

>> TOO EARLY TO SAY.

>> FAR TOO EARLY TO TELL.

>> Cathy: WELL, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> WELL, I MEAN, I THINK IT IS TOO EARLY BUT RIGHT NOW I THINK LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FLANAGAN DEFINITELY IS, YOU KNOW, OUT IN FRONT.

I THINK THAT WHAT ANGIE CRAIG ENDS UP DOING WHETHER SHE'S STAYING IN THE SECOND OR IS SHE GOING TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR OR RUN FOR -- I THINK ONCE THAT DECISION GETS MADE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS KIND OF FALL INTO PLACE.

FOR THE REPUBLICANS WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT OUR OWN STUFF.

, HAVE YOU GOT A FRONT-RUNNING PERSON OR IS THE FIELD GOING TO EXPAND?

OH, IT'S SO EARLY.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> Cathy: ANY SURPRISE THAT THE GOVERNOR DOESN'T RUN TO RUN FOR THE U.S. SENATE, BUT HE COULD BE LOOKING FOR A THIRD TERM?

>> I WASN'T SURPRISED.

I THINK GOVERNOR WALZ AT THE END OF THE DAY ACTUALLY REALLY ENJOYS BEING THE GOVERNOR OF MINNESOTA, AND I THINK LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FLANAGAN GETTING OUT THERE RIGHT AWAY REALLY SET THE TONE FOR -- >> I'LL JUST SAY, I THINK IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A TWO-PART WHERE WE SAW HIM ANNOUNCE THAT HE WAS THINKING ABOUT IT.

ON ONE HAND HE WAS DEFINITELY LOOKING TO POKE PEGGY FLANAGAN IN THE EYE, WE KNOW THAT THEIR RELATIONSHIP HASN'T BEEN REAT SINCE HE CAME BACK ROM A LOSING PRESIDENTIAL TICKET, AND THEY'VE KIND OF BEEN IGHTING IT OUT AND SO I THINK PART OF THAT WAS HIM POKING HER IN THE EYE, I ALSO THINK THAT HE'S LOOKING TO RECAPTURE SOME OF THAT, THAT NATIONAL STARDOM THAT HE FELT AND THAT HE EMBRACED DURING HIS RUN WITH KAMALA.

>> Eric: '28 FOR WALZ?

>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IS AN INCREDIBLY CAPABLE WOMAN AND I THINK SHE'LL UN BECAUSE SHE WILL MAKE AN INCREDIBLY LIKE AMAZING SENATOR.

>> Eric: THE GOVERNOR DIDN'T ENDORSE HER.

>> BUT I THINK THAT SHE WAS -- I JUST THINK SHE'S GOING TO, SHE'S MY FRONTRUNNER AND I THINK SHE'S LIKE THE BEST PERSON IN TINA SPLIT'S SEAT.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF TIME.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF TIME.

>> Eric: WE WANT TO SAY