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

>> CATHY: PLENTY OF POLITICAL COVERAGE AHEAD OF TUESDAY.

REPUBLICAN LISA DEMUTH CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR IS HERE.

HENNEPIN COUNTY ATTORNEY MARY MORIARTY IS IN STUDIO AFTER FILING FELONY CHARGES AGAINST TWO POLITICAL ACTIVISTS.

AND MARY LAHAMMER WITH A FINAL LOOK AT RACES AROUND THE STATE.

>> Mary: WITH JUST DAYS TO GO UNTIL THE ELECTION, WE'LL ROUND UP MY FINAL LIST OF RACES TO WATCH, FROM CONGRESS TO THE STATE HOUSE AND SENATE.

>> THE OTHER PROBLEM IS REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE.

>> IT WAS BECAUSE WE WERE IN A TIE.

>> THEY WANT US TO GET THINGS DONE.

>> THEY DON'T WANT EXTREMES.

>> 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.

DELTADENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION, IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH AND HELPING COMMUNITIES THRIVE.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

AND VANESSA DAYTON THROUGH THE HEALTHCARE FOR ALL MINNESOTANS FUND SUPPORTING ACCESSIBLE HEALTHCARE STATEWIDE.

FUNDING FOR "VOICES RISING" MINNESOTA PBS STORIES FOR AMERICA'S 250TH REPORTING ON "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY MINNESOTA'S ARTS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE FUND.

>> CATHY: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M CATHY WURZER.

ERIC ESKOLA IS OFF AGAIN TONIGHT.

HERE ARE SOME TOP HEADLINES FROM ACROSS THE STATE.

GOVERNOR TIM WALZ IS EXTENDING EMERGENCY RELIEF TO MINNESOTA FARMERS, LOGGERS, TRUCKERS AND FUEL HAULERS AS DIESEL PRICES REMAIN HIGH.

THE EXTENDED EXECUTIVE ORDER KEEPS TEMPORARY TRUCKING IN PLACE THROUGH THE END OF NOVEMBER, AS PRODUCERS WORK TO BRING IN THIS YEAR'S CROPS.

THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL VOTED THIS WEEK TO DISSOLVE ITS OFFICE OF COMMUNITY SAFETY.

THE OFFICE WAS CREATED IN ATTEMPT TO IMPROVE EMERGENCY SERVICE COORDINATION FOLLOWING THE AFTERMATH OF THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.

IT COMES AS THE CITY WORKS TO TIGHTEN ITS BUDGET.

A NEW STUDY IS PUTTING A DOLLAR FIGURE ON THE IMPACT OF THIS SUMMER'S WILDFIRES IN THE BOUNDARY WATERS.

RESEARCHERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH ESTIMATE ELY AND GRAND MARAIS LOST ABOUT $9 MILLION IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN JULY ALONE.

FEDERAL OFFICIALS VISITED ST.

CLOUD TO TALK ABOUT A NEW FEDERAL EFFORT TO COORDINATE FRAUD PREVENTION.

TAKE A LISTEN.

>> SINCE JANUARY 2025, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS UNCOVERED MORE THAN $260 BILLION IN FRAUD, PREVENTED $72 BILLION IN TAXPAYERS' FUNDS FROM GOING OUT THE DOOR TO ELICIT ACTORS ANNUALLY, AND BROUGHT ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS AGAINST NEARLY $60 BILLION.

NOWHERE IS THE WORK ORE URGENT THAN HERE IN MINNESOTA.

>> WE'RE HERE TODAY TO ANNOUNCE THAT JUST YESTERDAY FBI MINNEAPOLIS AND OUR PARTNERS EXECUTED 17 SEARCH WARRANTS IN A SINGLE DAY TO COMBINE INTO A 26-COUNT INDICTMENT.

THREE OF THOSE SEARCH WARRANTS WERE AT A CHILD CARE CENTER, TWO OF THOSE SEARCH WARRANTS WERE AT THE RESIDENCES OF THE OWNERS OF THOSE CENTERS, AND TWO MORE OF THOSE SEARCH WARRANTS WERE ON THE EARLY INTENSIVE DEVELOPMENT AND BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION UNIT HERE IN MINNESOTA.

FBI MINNEAPOLIS AND OUR INTERAGENCY PARTNERS ARRESTED FOUR OF THE ALLEGED FRAUDSTERS.

>> HERE IN MINNESOTA, 50% OF PEOPLE IN SOCIAL ADULT DAY CARE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE.

I HAD TO ASK THE BIGGER QUESTION, SHOULD WE BE USING FEDERAL TAX DOLLARS TO PLAY PEOPLE O PLAY CARD GAMES AS THEY HANG OUT IN CLUBHOUSES FOR CROOKS?

>> CATHY: WHILE CANDIDATES MAKE THEIR FINAL PUSH BEFORE ELECTION DAY, WHAT SHOULD VOTERS REALLY BE WATCHING FOR?

PROFESSOR DAVID SCHULTZ IS JOINING US TO SHARE HIS THOUGHTS.

HE TEACHES POLITICAL SCIENCE AT HAMLINE UNIVERSITY AND IS ALSO AN ADJUNCT PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ST.

THOMAS.

>> CATHY: AS WE'VE BEE FRAUD, FRAUD, MORE FRAUD.

SO, FEDERAL R OFFICIALS IN MINNESOTA TO TALK ABOUT FRAUD, KIND OF TAKING ONE LAST ATTEMPT TO KIND OF SWIPE DEMOCRATS WITH THIS ISSUE.

WILL THIS STICK AS A BIG ISSUE FOR VOTERS?

>> WELL, WHAT'S INTERESTING RIGHT NOW, IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, NATIONWIDE IN THE POLLS, WHAT'S EMERGED AS THE TOP ISSUE IS FRAUD, CORRUPTION, EXCEPT WHAT'S NOT CLEAR AT THIS POINT, ESPECIALLY IN MINNESOTA, BECAUSE IT'S ALSO THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE HERE, ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT FRAUD, CRAFT AND CORRUPTION AT THE STATE LEVEL OR AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL?

SO WE REALLY DON'T HAVE CLARITY ON THIS, AND ESPECIALLY AMONG THE UNDECIDED VOTERS WHO ARE STILL ABOUT 7 TO 10% OF THE POPULATION, WHEN THEY THINK OF CRAFT, THEY THINK OF CORRUPTION, ARE THEY THINKING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, ARE THEY THINKING THE STATE?

THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IF THEY VOTE, THEY'RE LIKELY TO VOTE AGAINST THE INCUMBENT SO, WHO'S THE INCUMBENT PARTY?

IS IT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY NATIONALLY OR IS IT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY STATEWIDE?

>> Cathy: SAY, I WONDER WHAT YOU THINK OF NO VICE PRESIDENT VANCE IN St.

CLOUD.

HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN St.

CLOUD, SO THEY SENT OTHER FEDERAL OFFICIALS TODAY.

THE PRESIDENT RESCHEDULED HIS RALLIES IN IOWA AND KANSAS.

I THINK HEY'RE BACK ON.

I'M NOT EXACTLY -- NO ONE'S REALLY SURE WHAT'S HAPPENING.

WHAT'S WITH THE OVEMENT OF VANCE AND TRUMP AND THE ELECTION IN THE LAST DAYS HERE?

>> I THINK THEY'RE LOOKING AT WHATEVER POLLS THEY HAVE, TELLING THEM WHERE THEY NEED TO GO TO HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT AND BASICALLY SAY THAT, OKAY, THEY MAY BE WORRIED ABOUT LOSING IOWA, MAYBE WORRIED ABOUT LOSING KANSAS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND, SO, DO YOU WANT SAY, WITH SCARCE RESOURCE, THE MOST SCARCE RESOURCE RIGHT NOW IS TIME, SO YOU FIGURE OUT WHERE YOU COULD HAVE THE WIG IT'S -- BIGGEST BANG FOR THE BIGGEST BUCK.

I THINK WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, THE POLLS MAY BE STARTING TO SUGGEST AT THIS POINT THAT THE CHANCES OF REPUBLICAN PICKUPS HERE, MAYBE IN THE SENATE RACE, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE LESS THAN THEY THAN TH THEY ARELESS ELSEWHERE, BUT, MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOU HAVE TO DEFEND YOUR CORE BASES, PLACES LIKE KANSAS, IOWA, TEXAS.

>> Cathy: ARE YOU URPRISED THAT SO MANY RACES ARE TOSSUPS AND SO CLOSE THAT SHOULD BE IN REPUBLICAN STRONGHOLDS?

>> I AM SURPRISED BY THAT.

BUT IT ALSO SPEAKS TO, AGAIN, IT IS A REFERENDUM, MIDTERM ELECTIONS ON THE PRESIDENT'S PARTY.

HE'S GOT AN APPROVAL RATING ABOUT 34%.

SO WE GOT A LOFT THAT GOING ON AT THIS POINT.

THERE MAY BE A CERTAIN AMOUNT, AS THE POLLS ARE INDICATING, I'M GOING TO CALL IT TRUMP FATIGUE.

BUT ALSO, IN STATES LIKE TEXAS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHERE I USED TO LIVE, I USED TO TEACH IN TEXAS -- >> Cathy: THAT'S RIGHT.

>> -- YOU'RE SEEING DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFTS GOING ON THERE THAT ARE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.

SAME IN PLACES LIKE SOUTH CAROLINA, IOWA, SO FORTH.

SO THIS MAY JUST BE REFLECTING SHIFTING MIGRATION PATTERNS AS PEOPLE ARE MOVING AROUND, TOO.

>> Cathy: THERE WAS A NATIONAL STORY ON MORNING EDITION THIS MORNING ABOUT AN INCREASE IN I.C.E.

AGENT ACTIVITY ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND THAT, OF COURSE, SENDS THE ANTENNA UP FOR MANY VOTERS.

AND THERE'S, OF COURSE, THERE HAVE BEEN THOUGHTS AND DISCUSSIONS ABOUT SCENARIOS OF FEDERAL INTERFERENCE IN THIS ELECTION.

BUT, REALLY, HOW LIKELY IS SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO HAPPEN?

>> IT'S PRETTY UNLIKELY FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE ALMOST ALL THE SCENARIOS, AND I'VE RUN THIS THROUGH A FEW TIMES HERE, BASICALLY FIVE SCENARIOS, CAN'T CALL OFF THE ELECTION, CAN'T SEIZE THE BALLOTS EASILY, REMEMBER, THEY'RE ALL IN POSSESSION OF STATES, THERE ARE A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.

FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE, NOT LIKELY.

SOMEONE'S GOING TO SAY, WELL, FRUDZ A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE.

FROM A REAL-WORLD PERSPECTIVE, PRETTY LOW ALSO, TOO, BECAUSE, REMEMBER, WE HAVE A HUGELY DECENTRALIZED ELECTION SYSTEM IN THIS COUNTRY.

IT WOULD TAKE COORDINATION BEYOND WHAT'S POSSIBLE FOR ANYBODY TO BE ABLE TO RIG THE ELECTION.

I MEAN, I ALSO HAVE BEEN TELLING PEOPLE AT ALL THE TALKS I'VE BEEN GIVING THIS YEAR, IF YOU'RE REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF THE ELECTIONS, THERE'S ONE THING YOU CAN DO, VOTE.

>> Cathy: THERE YOU GO.

THERE WILL BE A NUMBER OF ELECTION MONITORS SENT OUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> RIGHT.

>> Cathy: FEDERAL ELECTION MONITORS.

NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT HAT?

>> NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THAT.

WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT SINCE THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

IN THE SOUTH, CLASSICALLY, TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WASN'T ANY FEDERAL INTERFERENCE WITH THE ENFORCEMENT F THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

SO ON ONE LEVEL, NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.

THE PROBLEM BECOMES, I KEEP HEARING PEOPLE SAY, ARE THEY GOING TO SEND THE TROOPS OUT, THE MILITARY OUT?

THAT'S ILLEGAL UNDER FEDERAL LAW, CAN'T HAPPEN.

>> Cathy: I GOTTA ASK YOU ABOUT CONGRESSWOMAN I ABOUT CONGRESSWOMAN ILHAN OMAR, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT DECLINED TO UNSEAL THE COURT DOCUMENTS IN THAT CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION AGAINST HER.

THIS IS AN INTERESTING CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION BECAUSE THE FEDS, FEDERAL AGENTS SEIZED HER ELL PHONE.

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: I WOULD THINK THERE WOULD BE BIPARTISAN CONCERN ABOUT THAT AT THE CAPITOL, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, AGAIN, HER OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT CELL PHONE.

HER OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT CELL PHONE, IT RAISES, AGAIN, IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ABOUT SEPARATION OF POWERS.

BUT EVEN IF IT'S HER PERSONAL CELL PHONE, AGAIN, THERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS THERE.

BUT CERTAINLY IF IT'S HER GOVERNMENT PHONE, THERE'S MAJOR MAJOR PROBLEMS THERE.

NOT TO SAY THAT THEY CAN'T GET A SEARCH WARRANT, EXECUTE IT, BUT THERE'S A PROBLEM.

THE OTHER THING I WANT TO MENTION VERY QUICKLY HERE, ALL THIS SEEMS TO BE GROWING OUT OF ALLEGATIONS ABOUT SOMETHING APPROACHING WHAT MAY BE FRAUD COMMITTED FOR IMMIGRATION STATUS.

REMEMBER, SHE WAS 17.

HER FATHER APPLIED FOR IMMIGRATION STATUS, GETS CITIZENSHIP, SHE AUTOMATICALLY GETS IT.

ANY FRAUD, IF IT OCCURRED AT ALL, IS BEYOND THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.

IT'S NOT PROSECUTABLE.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.

I HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD ELECTION DAY.

I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE WORKING FOR THE BBC.

>> BBC, BBC WORLD, LONDON TIMES.

FRANCE 24.

AND MS -- USED TO CALL MS NBC BUT NOW IT'S MS NOW.

>> Cathy: BUSY GUY.

THANK YOU.

>> APPRECIATE IT.

>> CATHY: AS WE'VE BEEN TELLING YOU ALL SUMMER AND FALL, CONTROL AT THE CAPITOL IS AT STAKE WITH MANY COMPETITIVE CONTESTS ACROSS THE STATE.

POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER IS BACK WITH A FINAL ROUND-UP OF HER RACES TO WATCH.

>> THAT IS DIRTY POLITICS.

>> Mary: REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN BRAD CONTINUE STATD IS TRYING TO FEND OFF DEMOCRATIC TEACHER JAKE JOHNSON.

>> IF YOU'RE ONE OF FINSTAD'S CONSTITUENTS RIGHT NOW, HOW DO YOU GET IN CONTACT WITH HIM?

CAN YOU MEET WITH HIM IN PERSON?

THE ANSWER IS NO.

AND IF YOU DO ASK FOR AN IN-PERSON TOWN HALL MEETING, YOU'RE CALLED, HIS WORDS NOW, A PITCHFORK-WIELDING MOB.

CAN YOU CALL HIS OFFICE AND SPEAK TO HIM?

NO.

YOU'RE GOING TO SPEAK TO A STAFFER WHO MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO HIS POLICY POSITIONS.

CAN YOU SEND HIM AN EMAIL AND GET A SUFFICIENT RESPONSE?

THENCE IS NO.

AND -- THE ANSWER IS NO.

AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN, CONGRESSMAN FINSTAD HAS CHOSEN TO HIDE FROM THE PUBLIC.

>> YOU KNOW, I'M HAVING ROUNDTABLES, LISTENING SESSIONS, Q&A SESSIONS ALL OVER THE DISTRICT.

IN THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS ALONE, I'VE HAD HOUSING FORUMS IN WORTHINGTON, I HAVE HAD EMT FORUMS IN OWATONNA, I HAVE HAD FARM PROGRAM FORUMS AND Q&A SESSIONS, LISTENING SESSIONS IN FARIBAULT.

I'M DOING THIS NONSTOP ALL THE TIME.

>> Mary: A POLL FOUND FINISH STATD DOWN 2 PERCENTAGE POINTS IN A DISTRICT WHERE AND HE TRUMP WON BY DOUBLE DIGITS.

GOVERNOR TIM WALZ IS THE LAST DEMOCRAT TO WIN IN THE SOUTHERN MINNESOTA REGION.

>> DURING THAT WHOLE TIME, THE ONE THING WE CAN ALL AGREE UPON IS, SOMEBODY SHOULD HAVE BEEN MINDING THE STORE.

>> THE GOVERNOR DID NOT TAKE ACTION NEARLY FAST ENOUGH.

HE'S EVEN SAID THIS HIMSELF.

THAT IT'S HIS FAULT THAT WE DIDN'T TAKE ACTION QUICKLY ENOUGH ON FRAUD.

BUT THE OTHER PROBLEM IS REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE.

>> Mary: RURAL RACES TO WATCH IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE INCLUDE St.

CLOUD DFL INCUMBENT SENATOR ERIC PUTNAM WHO'S BEING CHALLENGED BY CURRENT REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE BERNIE PERRYMAN.

>> YES, THE HOUSE SAT ON IT FOR A LITTLE BIT, BUT IT'S NOT BECAUSE WE WERE NOT TALKING ABOUT IT, IT'S BECAUSE WE WERE IN A TOWN.

>> Mary: HERMANTOWN DFL GRANT HAUSCHILD IS TRYING TO BEST BABBITT MAYOR.

>> AN INDEPENDENT GROUP DETERMINED THAT I WAS THE MOST INDEPENDENT SENATORS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> MY POSITION RIGHT NOW IS AS A MAYOR, WHICH THIS IS MY TENTH YEAR AS BEING A MAYOR FOR THE TOWN, IT IS BIPARTISAN.

>> OUR GROWING SEASON IS GETTING A WEEK LONGER ON EITHER SIDE, THE SPRING AND THE FALL, AND THAT'S A SIGN OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

THESE HEAVY RAINFALL EVENTS, THAT'S A SIGN OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> Mary: IS THERE REALLY SOMETHING AT A STATE LEVEL THAT POLICYMAKERS CAN DO ON CLIMATE CHANGE?

>> I THINK WE NEED TO BE A LEADER IN THE COUNTRY AND MOVE TOWARDS MORE RENEWABLE ENERGY.

>> Mary: IN MOORHEAD, FORMER TV METEOROLOGIST DFL SENATOR ROB PEW PECK IS FACE -- KUPEC IS FACING REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER AUSTIN PETERSON.

>> Mary: AND YOU SPOKE OUT DURING THE IMMIGRATION MOVEMENT, YOU SAW SOME I.C.E.

MOVEMENT IN YOUR DISTRICT THAT AFFECTED YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

>> A WROTE A LETTER AND SAID, COULD YOU HELP YOUR OFFICERS BEHAVE A LITTLE BIT BETTER, WHAT WE'RE USED TO IN MINNESOTA, REMEMBER THE CONSTITUTION.

I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

I TEACH MY KIDS TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

I WROTE IT VERY POLITELY.

AND I GOT PUSHBACK ON BOTH SIDES.

>> Mary: REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT SEEKING TO SURVIVE INCLUDE LONGTIME JIM ABELER VERSUS ANGELA ANOKA IN ANOKA AND SENATOR BIG LIESKE VERSUS FARMER IN NORTHFIELD.

>> Mary: SEVERAL HOUSE RACES TO WATCH FROM THE LAST ELECTION CYCLE ARE TOP TARGETS ONCE AGAIN AND ALSO REMATCHES, INCLUDING THE CLOSEST CONTEST IN THE ENTIRE LEGISLATURE WITH JUST A 14-VOTE MARGIN.

>> THE REASON WHY WE'RE TAKING THIS UNPRECEDENTED STEP OF DENYING QUORUM HERE IN MINNESOTA, FIRST TIME IN STATE HISTORY -- >> Mary: THE DISPUTED RACE LED TO THE MONTH-LONG STANDOFF AT THE START OF SESSION WITH QUORUM QUESTIONS.

[ AUDIO DIFFICULTY ] >> PEOPLE WANT TO SEE A FUNCTIONING GOVERNMENT.

THEY WANT US TO GET THINGS DONE.

YOU THINK ABOUT CHANHASSEN, PAISLEY PARK, YOU THINK ABOUT CHANHASSEN DINNER THEATER, YOU THINK ABOUT THE ARBORETUM.

>> SERVING YOUR CONSTITUENTS A REALLY IMPORTANT THING TO DO.

THAT'S WHY I BECAME A PUBLIC TEACHERS, I HAVE A PASSION FOR EDUCATION, I'M A HISTORY TEACHER, SAME THING WITH THE NATIONAL GUARD, I WANT TO SERVE PEOPLE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE, THEY DON'T WANT EXTREME.

WHAT THEY WANT IS A MODERATE APPROACH TO GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS.

>> CATHY: A LONG-STANDING TRADITION HERE ON "ALMANAC" HAS BEEN BRINGING IN MINNESOTA'S CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR FACE-TO-FACE FOR A DEBATE.

DFL NOMINEE SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR HAS DECLINED REPEATED INVITATIONS TO JOIN US THIS EVENING.

SHE DID CHAT WITH POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER IN A STORY YOU CAN FIND ON OUR WEBSITE.

ACCEPTING OUR INVITATION IS REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE AND MINNESOTA HOUSE SPEAKER LISA DEMUTH.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU, CATHY.

GREAT TO BE WITH YOU TONIGHT.

>> Cathy: IF YOU ARE ELECTED, YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO QUICKLY PROPOSE A NEW STATE BUDGET.

AND THERE'S A LOOMING SHORTFALL THAT YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO CONSIDER.

WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE MOST PAINFUL PART OF THE BUDGET TO CONTEND WITH RIGHT OFF THE BAT?

>> WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE STATE BUDGET AND IT HAD DOUBLED THE LAST TEN YEARS UNDER DEMOCRAT CONTROL, WE HAVE NOT DOUBLED THE POPULATION AND WE HAVE RECORD FRAUD, AN ESTIMATED $9 BILLION OF FRAUD.

UNDER MY TIME AS SPEAKER, WHEN WE SETTLED THE BUDGET FOR TWO YEARS IN 2025, WE MADE A REDUCTION OF $5 BILLION IN SPENDING, SO WHEN I LOOK AT OUR STATE BUDGET GOING FORWARD, MY PLAN S TO MAKE SURE WE ARE RIGHT-SIZING GOVERNMENT.

WE NEED TO CUT OUT WASTE, DEFINITELY CUTTING OUT FRAUD, AND TURN AROUND AND MAKE THINGS MORE AFFORDABLE TO MINNESOTANS.

THAT IS MY PRIORITY AS WE GO FORWARD.

>> Cathy: I WONDER ABOUT EDUCATION, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE K-12 SCHOOLS, OF COURSE, HAVE LONG COMPLAINED ABOUT BEING UNDERFUNDED, MINNESOTA STATE, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA SAY THEY'RE UNDERFUNDED, SO WHAT WOULD EDUCATION FUNDING LOOK LIKE UNDER A DEMUTH EDUCATION.

>> SO EDUCATION SAY PRIORITY TO ME AS IT IS TO MANY PEOPLE.

>> Cathy: IT IS A BIG CHUNK OF THE STATE BUDGET.

>> IT IS A LARGE LARGE CHUNK.

AND WHEN WE LOOK AT WHY WE HAVE BEEN INVESTING A HIGHER DOLLAR AMOUNT PER STUDENT IN OUR PRE-K-12, HIGHEST AMOUNT WE'VE EVER INVESTED, WITH SOME OF THE WORST OUTCOMES WE'VE EVER EXPERIENCED, ONLY HALF OF OUR KIDS ARE READING AT GRADE LEVEL.

CATHY, WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT BUDGET, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE INVESTING IN THE WAYS THAT KIDS NEED TO BE ABLE TO BE PREPARED FOR THE FUTURE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE THAT I ILL DO DAY ONE WHEN ELECTED AS GOVERNOR, IS OPT US INTO THE SCHOLARSHIP GRANTING ORGANIZATION.

>> Cathy: WHAT'S THAT?

>> GOVERNOR WALZ HAS OPTED US OUT OF THIS.

THIS IS A $1,700 PER PERSON TAX CREDIT, A FEDERAL TAX CREDIT THAT GOES INTO EFFECT JANUARY 1st OF 2027.

IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THAT WOULD BRING IN $1.2 BILLION INTO THE STATE AT NO ADDITIONAL TAX COST TO THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA, BUT IT WOULD BRING THAT INTO EDUCATION, FOR SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATION.

SO WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT TUTORING AND SOME OF THOSE EXTRA THINGS THAT COULD REALLY HELP OUR STUDENTS, IT'S A FEDERAL TAX CREDIT THAT NO MATTER WHAT, BECAUSE WE'VE OPTED OUT AS A STATE, GOVERNOR WALZ HAS DONE THIS, WE TRIED TO MOVE LEGISLATION FORWARD THIS LAST YEAR, COULDN'T GET IT OVER THE FINISH LINE WITH JUST THE TIE, DEMOCRATS ABSOLUTELY BLOCKED IT, BUT WHAT THAT WOULD DO IS BRING THOSE DOLLARS IN.

MINNESOTANS CAN STILL TAKE -- >> Cathy: THIS IS FOR TUTORING, IT WOULDN'T BE FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS LIKE A VOUCHER SITUATION.

>> IT WOULD GO TO ANY SCHOOL THAT'S NEEDED.

NOW IT WOULD MOSTLY GO TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS BECAUSE 90% OF OUR KIDS GO TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

BUT IT COULD GO TO PUBLIC OR PRIVATE.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, IF MINNESOTANS WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A $1,700 FEDERAL TAX CREDIT, THEY CAN DO IT, BUT THOSE DOLLARS ARE GOING TO END UP IN OTHER STATES.

NEW YORK, COLORADO, OTHER EVEN DEMOCRAT-LED STATES THAT HAVE OPTED THEIR STATES INTO THIS.

SO DAY ONE, I'M GOING TO BRING IN EXTRA DOLLARS FOR EDUCATION TO START.

>> Cathy: IT DOES SOUND, THOUGH, IF I'M LISTENING TO YOU, THAT YOU WOULD PROBABLY -- IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU MIGHT HOLD THE LINE ON K-12 SPENDING IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, THE FORMULA, WOULD YOU PUT ANYTHING OWARD THE EDUCATION FORMULA?

WOULD YOU INCREASE THAT?

AGAIN, SCHOOLS ARE ALWAYS COMPLAINING THAT THEY'RE NOT FULLY FUNDED.

>> WELL, AND, AGAIN, WE HAD DEMOCRATS UNDER THE TRIFECTA THAT SAID THEY WERE GOING TO FULLY FUND EDUCATION.

NOBODY COULD DEFINE WHAT THAT MEANS.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IS INVESTING MINNESOTA TAX DOLLARS INTO SCHOOLS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS CAN READ AT GRADE LEVEL.

THAT THEY ARE PREPARED FOR THE FUTURE, THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO MATH AND SCIENCE AT A GRADE LEVEL THAT IS ACCEPTABLE.

WE'VE SEEN A FAILURE.

SOME OF THOSE MANDATES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT ON ALL OF OUR BUSINESSES, WHEN YOU THINK OF PAID FAMILY LEAVE, EARNED SICK AND SAFE TIME, THOSE ARE HITTING OUR SCHOOLS.

AND, SO, WE'RE INVESTING MORE DOLLARS, WE'RE TAXING SCHOOLS BUT, YET, WE'RE PULLING EDUCATORS OUT OF THE CLASSROOM.

SO RETHINKING THAT, ALLOWING SCHOOLS TO POTENTIALLY OPT OUT OF THOSE THINGS RATHER THAN PUTTING THE BURDEN ON TAXPAYERS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE PROPOSED IN OUR EDUCATION PLAN.

>> Cathy: BY THE WAY, WOULD YOU ROLL BACK PAID FAMILY LEAVE?

>> I THINK WE NEED TO PUT SOME GUARDRAILS IN THERE.

RIGHT NOW WE KNOW THAT PLAN IS GOING TO BE OUT OF MONEY.

IT IS A .88% ON ALL EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES, HOWEVER THEY CHOOSE, IF THEY SPLIT IT OR NOT, BUT IT IS A MANDATE THAT WAS PUT ON ALL BUSINESSES IN MINNESOTA.

EVEN IF YOU ONLY HAVE JUST ONE EMPLOYEE.

WE KNOW THAT IT POTENTIALLY IS RIPE FOR FRAUD AND ABUSE.

SO PUTTING GUARDRAILS AND MAKING IT A BETTER OPTION, WE HAD A LOT OF BUSINESSES, CATHY, THAT WERE ALREADY PROVIDING GREAT BENEFITS AND IT WAS A MANDATE PUT ON AGAIN BY DEMOCRATS WHEN THEY'RE IN CONTROL OF STATE GOVERNMENT.

>> Cathy: HENNEPIN COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER, AND THERE WERE SOME DISTRESSED RURAL R HOSPITALS NEEDING INFUSES -- INFUSIONS OF CASH.

IN A DEMUTH ADMINISTRATION, WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO TRY TO SHORE UP SOME OF THE HOSPITALS THAT ARE INSTRUMENTALLING?

>> SOME OF THE THINGS WE DID THIS LAST SESSION, WE PUT IN ADDITIONAL DOLLARS, WE INCREASED REIMBURSEMENT RATES AND WE DID PUT ON A LITTLE BIT OF A BAND-AID OR HELP FOR OUR HOSPITALS.

HEALTHCARE ACCESS ACROSS THE STATE MATTERS VERY MUCH, WE HAVE HIGH HEALTHCARE COSTS BECAUSE OF OBAMACARE AND OTHER MANDATES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT ON.

[ STRUGGLING ] NOW, MY OPPONENT WAS THE DECIDING VOTE FOR OBAMACARE, REALLY PROMISED TO PROTECT THE COUNTRY N COUNTRY IN HER VOTES WHEN SHE RAN FOR OFFICE ORIGINALLY TO BRING DOWN HEALTHCARE FRAUD.

WE'RE NUMBER ONE FOR HEALTHCARE FRAUD IN THE TATE OF MINNESOTA RIGHT NOW.

UNDER A DEMUTH WILSON ADMINISTRATION, WE'RE LOOKING AT REDUCING MANDATES, MAKING SURE THAT HEALTHCARE IS ACROSS THE STATE IS ACCESSIBLE TO MINNESOTANS BUT WE'VE GOT TO BRING DOWN THE COST.

AND WE HAVE TO END FRAUD, FRAUD ACROSS THE STATE HAS DRIVEN THE COST OF EVERYTHING UP.

BUT TO BE LISTED AS NUMBER ONE IN HEALTHCARE FRAUD IN THE NATION IS TERRIBLE PLACE FOR MINNESOTA TO BE.

>> Cathy: WILL YOU TRY TO CLAW BACK SOME OF THE MONEY THAT HAS BEEN LOST DUE TO FRAUD?

>> WE WOULD LOVE TO CLAW THAT BACK.

BUT WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S POSSIBLE RIGHT NOW.

BUT GOING FORWARD, DEMUTH/WILSON ADMINISTRATION IS OING TO MAKE FRAUD THE CRIMINAL PART OF WHAT IT IS.

I'M TASKING MY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, RYAN WILSON, WITH BEING IN CHARGE OF A FRAUD PREVENTION COMMISSION THAT HE WILL DO, KIND OF LIKE I DID IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WITH THE FRAUD PREVENTION COMMITTEE THAT WE HAD.

THE BEST WAY WE CAN PROTECT TAXPAYER DOLLARS IS TO BE ABLE TO PREVENT FRAUD FROM EVER STARTING.

UNDER MY ADMINISTRATION, IF YOU COMMIT FRAUD IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, AND YOU ARE CAUGHT AND CONVICTED, YOU WILL FOE TO JAIL AND WE WILL SEIZE THOSE ASSETS.

I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING SIMILAR -- IT'S INTERESTING ON FRAUD.

WHEN YOU THINK BACK TO OVER FOUR YEARS, ALL OF THE PRESS RELEESDZ THAT SENATOR AIM -- RELEASES THAT SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR PUT OUT ABOUT MANY MANY DIFFERENT THINGS, TAYLOR SWIFT TICKETS, MANY THINGS, SHE NEVER ONCE MENTIONED FRAUD UNTIL GOVERNOR WALZ CHOSE HER TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR AND THEN SHE SAID FRAUD IS BAD AND NOW SHE'S GOING TO DO TOP TO BOTTOM AUDIT.

SHE COULD HAVE DONE MUCH MORE.

SHE COULD HAVE HELD JUDICIAL HEARINGS, SHE COULD HAVE SHOWN UP, SHE COULD HAVE PROTECTED OUR STATE FROM FRAUD AND SHE CHOSE NOT TO.

I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO ASK HER WHY NOT.

>> Cathy: I WILL ASK YOU ABOUT AN AD THAT IS RUNNING THAT HARPER MOYSKI'S PARENTS ARE DOING AN AD FOR AMY KLOBUCHAR.

THEY ARE PARENTS, OF COURSE, HARPER WAS ONE OF THE CHILDREN KILLED AT ANNUNCIATION.

AND THEY PRETTY MUCH HAVE SAID THAT YOU -- YOU LIED BECAUSE THEY SAY THAT YOU PROMISED TO BRING A GUN CONTROL BILL UP FOR A VOTE IN THE HOUSE.

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY IN THAT SITUATION WITH THOSE PARENTS?

>> THE LOSS OF LIFE AND KIDS AND THE TRAGEDY THAT THE ANNUNCIATION COMMUNITY HAS EXPERIENCED IS HORRIFIC.

AND I AM THE FIRST ONE TO SAY THAT.

OUR FAMILY EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR THING AT ROCORI, MY COMMUNITY DID.

AND WHAT I WOULD SAY IS, WHEN I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH HARPER'S PARENTS AND THEN OTHER FAMILIES LATER ON FROM ANNUNCIATION, I COMMITTED THAT BILLS WOULD BE INTRODUCED, REFERRED TO COMMITTEE, HEARD IN COMMITTEE, AND THEN VOTED ON.

THAT HAPPENED FIVE TIMES, STARTING IN FEBRUARY.

THE BILLS WERE HEARD, VOTED ON, WHICH IS WHAT I COMMITTED, AND -- >> Cathy: VOTED ON IN COMMITTEE OR ON THE LOOR?

>> IT HAPPENED BOTH WAYS, CATHY.

FIVE TIMES IN COMMITTEE, THREE TIMES IN ON THE THOUSANDS FLOOR.

WE THROUGH ANONYMOUS REPORTING.

GOVERNOR WALZ, WHEN ASKED BY THE CATHOLIC CONFERENCE IN 2024 TO ALLOW TAXPAYER DOLLARS FOR SCHOOL SAFETY IN SCHOOLS TO ALSO BE AVAILABLE TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS, DEMOCRATS IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA SAID ABSOLUTELY NOT.

SENATOR KLOBUCHAR COULD HAVE HAD THOSE SAME DOLLARS, SHE COULD HAVE BEEN PRESSED THAT UPON GOVERNOR WALZ WHO IS IS HE HAS SAID IS AN INCREDIBLE GOVERNOR WHO HAS DELIVERED FOR THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA.

WHEN HE BLOCKED THAT, SHE COULD HAVE STEPPED IN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WOULD MAKE THAT AVAILABLE FOR ALL MINNESOTA STUDENTS INSTEAD OF JUST PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, I'VE COVERED YOU FOR A WHILE, AND YOU'RE KIND OF A PRIVATE PUBLIC PERSON IN A SENSE.

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION ABOUT RELIGION.

AND I ASK YOU THIS BECAUSE YOU ARE A MEMBER OF A PENTACOSTAL DENOMINATION, ASSEMBLY OF GOD.

HOW DOES YOUR FAITH AMPLIFY OR UNDERSCORE YOUR LEADERSHIP?

>> I WAS RAISED GOING TO CHURCH, GOING TO CHURCH AND TO SUNDAY SCHOOL, BASIC VALUES THAT ARE FOUND IN THE BIBLE, AND THAT IS A STRONG PART OF WHO I AM.

DEFINITELY NOT ASHAMED OF IT.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS THE CORE OF WHO I AM IN EVERY DECISION I MAKE.

SO IT'S NOT JUST SOMETHING I DO ON SUNDAYS.

>> Cathy: I WANTED TO ASK YOU A LITTLE BIT, JUST ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT THIS, IN 2023, YOU TALKED AT A ASSEMBLY OF GOD CONFERENCE AND YOU SAID THERE'S DESPERATE NEED FOR GODLY LEADERSHIP.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT LEADERSHIP IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, THE FAILED WALZ ADMINISTRATION, AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE REALLY TAKEN OUR STATE AND DISRESPECTED THE TAXPAYERS OF MINNESOTA, WHEN I CHOSE TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR, PART OF THE REASON I DID THAT IS BECAUSE IT HAS GOTTEN TIE PLACE THAT UNDER DEMOCRAT CONTROL, SPECIFICALLY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT, DECISIONS WERE ADE THAT DISRESPECTED THE TAXPAYERS, ALLOWED FRAUD TO GO UNCHECKED, ALLOWED CRIME TO GO FORWARD, AND I THINK WE NEED TO BRING THAT BACK.

WHAT I'M HEARING, WHEN I'M ACROSS THE STATE IS PEOPLE ARE JUST SAYING, WOULD YOU PLEASE HELP MY GOVERNMENT RESPECT THE WORK I DO?

ALLOW BUSINESSES SO I CAN ARN A LIVING.

HELP THOSE THAT NEED IT THE MOST, BUT DON'T ALLOW FRAUD AND THE WASTE TO GO FORWARD.

THAT IS NOT TO DO WITH A RELIGION.

THAT IS NOT EVEN TO DO WITH A PARTY.

CATHY, THAT IS COMMON SENSE.

THAT'S WHAT I HEAR ALL OVER THE STATE, INCLUDING THE BUS TOUR THAT I JUST STEPPED AWAY FROM SO I COULD COME IN AND MAKE SURE I WAS HERE IN FRONT OF YOUR AUDIENCE.

BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HEAR.

THAT IS JUST COMMON SENSE.

WE CARE FOR PEOPLE THAT NEED HELP.

WE PROVIDE A SAFETY NET.

BUT WE SURE WANT PEOPLE TO BE INDEPENDENT IN WHAT THEY CAN DO.

>> Cathy: SPEAKER LISA DEMUTH, REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR, THANKS FOR BEING HERE ON "ALMANAC."

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> Cathy: THANKS.

>> CATHY: DANGER BOAT PRODUCTIONS AND THE MINNESOTA HUMANITIES CENTER HAVE WRAPPED UP THEIR SKETCHES OF MINNESOTA TOUR.

OUR FIELD CREW STOPPED BY THE LAST SHOW, WHERE IMPROV COMEDY SPARKED CONVERSATIONS ABOUT DEMOCRACY.

IT'S PART OF OUR "VOICES RISING: STORIES FOR AMERICA'S 250TH INITIATIVE."

IN THIS EDITION, WE VISIT A COMMUNITY CONSIDERING IF IT SHOULD CHANGE ITS OWN CONSTITUTION.

>> LUVERNE, MINNESOTA, HAS AN UNOFFICIAL SLOGAN, MORE NUT CRACKERS THAN PEOPLE.

AND THIS SUMMER, THE TOWN GOT A NEW RESIDENT.

>> VERN, THE PATRIOT, IS A 65-FOOT 7 1/2-INCH TALL WOOD CRACKER WITH A WORKING JAW, HE'S THE WORLD'S TALLEST NUTCRACKER.

>> JUST FOR NUTS UNVEILED VERN AS PART OF THE 250th CELEBRATION.

HE FITS RIGHT INTO THE TOWN, MORE THAN 7,800 NUT CRACKERS, WHICH BROUGHT TOURISTS TO TOWN.

>> IT'S JUST ODD ENOUGH TO BRING PEOPLE IN YEAR ROUND.

BETTY, SHE SEES FORWARD AND SHE COULD SEE THAT THAT WOULD BRING PEOPLE IN AND SHE WAS RIGHT.

>> WELL, IT WAS A CRAZY IDEA.

BUT IT HAS CERTAINLY DONE WHAT I WAS HOPING IT WOULD DO.

IT HAS DRAWN PEOPLE INTO LUVERNE DAILY.

>> I LIKE THE WESTERN ONES.

>> YEAH.

>> IN JULY, WE HAD OVER 1,000 PEOPLE WHO SIGNED OUR REGISTER HERE AT THE MUSEUM, AND WE'RE DOWNTOWN, WE'RE AWAY FROM THE BIG NUTCRACKER.

>> I AM FROM GOLDEN VALLEY, MINNESOTA, BUT I GREW UP HERE IN LUVERNE.

IT IS UNBELIEVABLE.

HOW THEY PUT THIS TOGETHER AND THE GROUP THAT SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE WANT TO MAKE LUVERNE DIFFERENT, UNIQUE, WHETHER PEOPLE LIKE IT OR NOT, IT IS TOTALLY BRINGING PEOPLE HERE.

>> AT THE RECENT SKETCHES OF LUVERNE IMPROV COMEDY SHOW RESIDENTS VOICED THEIR STRONG OPINIONS ABOUT ALL KINDS OF OTHER CONTROVERSIAL POP TOPICS.

AND PUBLIC UTILITIES WERE ONE OF THOSE HUT-BUTTON ISSUES.

>> WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME SCENES ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT LUVERNE IS FACING, YOU FOE, WHAT BETTER WAY TO DO THAT IN A COMEDY SHOW THAN TO TALK ABOUT THE UTILITIES SITUATION.

[ Laughter ] >> SO THE CITY CURRENTLY RUNS THE UTILITIES, RIGHT, BE ELECTRICITY.

>> ELECTRICITY, WATER, AND SEWER.

>> OKAY.

>> SOME PEOPLE FEEL THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE OVERSIGHT IN THE WAY THE UTILITIES COMMISSION IS RUN.

AND, SO, WITH SOME MISINFORMATION HEY GOT PETITIONS SIGNED TO PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT.

>> AND THE IMPROV OKES FOLLOWED.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT?

I THINK LUVERNE IS MORE THAN ONLY NUT CRACKERS.

WE CAN HAVE NUT CRACKERS, BUT NOT JUST NUT CRACKERS.

>> YEAH, WE CAN HAVE GOVERNMENT CONTROL OVER MUNICIPAL UTILITIES.

>> YES, WE CAN.

[ Laughter ] >> OKAY.

>> THE CITY OF LUVERNE CURRENTLY OWNS AND OPERATES ELECTRIC WATER AND SEWER.

AND IN THE CITY WITHOUT A SALES TAX, REVENUE FROM PUBLIC WORKS GOES BACK INTO COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS, DIRECTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

>> WE UTILIZE THOSE FEES TO HOLD PROPERTY TAXES DOWN AND PAY FOR JUST GENERAL GOVERNMENTAL COSTS TO RUN OUR CITY, WHICH MIGHT INCLUDE PARKS AND TRAILS, LUVERNE LOOP, PURCHASING TRUCKS AT THE PUBLIC WORKS OR PROJECTS THAT OUR COUNCIL AND OUR COMMUNITY CITIZENS HAVE IDENTIFIED AS BEING A PRIORITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

>> PRIORITIES IKE THE LUVERNE AQUATICS AND FITNESS CENTER, THE THEATER, AND THE NEW DAY CARE CENTER, BUT NOT EVERYONE AGREES ON THOSE PARTICULAR PRIORITIES.

THIS YEAR, A GROUP OF CITIZENS PETITIONED THE CITY TO CHANGE ITS CHARTER AMENDMENT, PROPOSING TO MOVE REINVESTMENT DECISIONS FROM THE CONTROL OF CITY COUNCIL TO A NEW COMMISSION.

>> THE BIGGEST ISSUE THAT BROUGHT BACK THE DISCUSSION OF MUNICIPAL SERVICE COMMISSION IS CONCERNED ABOUT CONTINUED GROWTH AND CONTINUED SPENDING, AND HAVING CONCERNS THAT WE CAN'T KEEP THAT KIND OF TRAJECTORY LONG TERM, ESPECIALLY GIVEN ECONOMIC SITUATIONS CURRENTLY.

THERE JUST HAS TO BE A STOP TO THE RATES GOING UP AND, SO, HAVING A UTILITY COMMISSION KIND OF OVERSEE THINGS, SEEING WHERE THE PROFITS COME IN, SEEING WHERE THE FUNDS ARE NEEDED JUST WOULD BE BETTER OVERSIGHT.

WE HAVE LOT OF AMENITIES THAT MANY PLACES, ESPECIALLY IN A TOWN LESS THAN 5,000 DO NOT HAVE.

WE'VE DONE SO UCH GROWTH.

THERE COMES A TIME WHEN WE HAVE TO STOP, TAKE A STEP BACK, AND SAY, WHAT WE HAVE IS ACTUALLY PRETTY GOOD ENOUGH.

>> RESIDENTS HAVE QUESTIONS AND STRONG OPINIONS ABOUT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> THE PREMISE FOR THIS, PEOPLE HO WANT A COMMISSION IS THAT THE CITY RATES ARE TOO HIGH.

AND THE CITY CHARGES TOO MUCH.

AND WE COULD SAVE MORE MONEY IF A DIFFERENT GROUP OF PEOPLE WERE SETTING THE RATES.

>> WE'LL JUST VOTE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

>> I HAVEN'T DUG INTO IT DEEPLY ENOUGH TO BE N INFORMED VOTER YET.

>> WE ARE AT ISK OF RUINING THE COMMUNITY THE WAY IT IS.

BECAUSE OF THIS.

>> IT'S A TIME TO FOCUS ON THE AMENITIES, MAKE SURE WE TAKE CARE OF THEM, MAYBE EVEN ADD FUNDING OF PROGRAMS, LIKE COMMUNITY EDUCATION, THE SENIOR CENTER, THINGS LIKE THAT THAT BENEFIT THE RESIDENTS RATHER THAN ADDING NEW CONSTANTLY.

IT'S NOT A GREAT TIME TO CONTINUE OUR GROWTH, IN MY OPINION.

>> THE GOAL OF SKETCHES OF LUVERNE WAS TO GET RESIDENTS TALKING AND TO RE-ENGAGE WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

>> DEMOCRACY DEMANDS THE WISDOM OF ITS CITIZENS.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS, 250 YEARS AGO, WHAT WE WERE REALLY DOING IS SAYING, I WANT THE BEST FOR YOU AND I HOPE YOU WANT THE BEST FOR ME, AND IF WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE THAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP AND THAT KIND OF D.I.M.E.

-- THAT KIND OF DYNAMIC, WE CAN CREATE SOMETHING TRULY FANTASTIC AND UNIQUE IN A DEMOCRACY.

>> LUVERNE RESIDENTS WILL VOTE ON THE PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT ON ELECTION DAY WITH VERN, THE PATRIOT, STANDING BY.

>> CATHY: AS WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT EARLIER IN THE SHOW, ELECTION INTEGRITY IS TOP OF MIND FOR MANY VOTERS HEADING INTO NEXT WEEK'S ELECTIONS.

AND WHILE MANY ARE ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SECURITY OF THE STATE'S VOTER SYSTEMS, THIS WEEK THE HENNEPIN COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE BROUGHT CHARGES AGAINST TWO MEN WHO TOOK THOSE QUESTIONS A STEP FURTHER.

HENNEPIN COUNTY ATTORNEY MARY MORIARTY JOINS US NOW TO EXPLAIN THAT CASE AND MORE GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

WALK US THROUGH THIS.

WHAT HAPPENED FOR FOLKS WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT?

>> SO TWO MEN APPROACHED A POLLING PLACE AND WENT INSIDE AND APPROACHED THE ELECTION JUDGE.

>> Cathy: IT WAS DURING THE PRIMARY.

>> IT WAS, ON AUGUST 11th.

AND THEY STARTED THE APPLICATION PROCESS.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATUTE, APPLYING FOR A BALLOT IS DIFFERENT THAN DEPOSITING A BALLOT.

SO, THEY WERE PARTICIPATING IN APPLYING FOR A BALLOT.

AND INSTEAD OF GIVING THEIR OWN NAMES, THEY GAVE THE NAMES OF ACTUAL VOTERS.

SO THEY MISREPRESENTED THEIR IDENTITY.

SO WE HAVE CHARGED THEM WITH IDENTITY THEFT.

>> Cathy: THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS, POLITICAL ACTIVISTS, WERE ALSO TALKING -- THEY WERE ALSO TRYING TO SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON VOUCHING, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> YES.

WELL, SO, WHAT'S IMPORTANT, ACTUALLY, THEY PUT OUT A VIDEO AFTERWARDS, AND THEY'RE TRYING TO IMPLY THAT THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE VOTING -- OR THE VOUCHING PROCESS, WHICH WE HAVE HAD FOR OVER 50 YEARS.

AND TO GIVE SOME CONTEXT N THE 2024 ELECTION, .6% OF THE BALLOTS THAT WERE CAST WERE DONE UNDER THE VOUCHING PROCESS, AND IT'S TYPICALLY PEOPLE WHO ARE RETIRED, DOWNSIZE, MOVE INTO AN APARTMENT, CONDO, THEY JUST HAVEN'T CHANGED THEIR LICENSE, MAYBE THEY'RE NOT DRIVING ANYMORE.

SO THEY CAN HAVE A REGISTERED VOTER IN THAT WARD COME WITH THEM AND SIGN AN OATH THAT THIS PERSON IS ALSO A VOTER AND LIVES THERE.

SO THESE PEOPLE CAME IN AND THEY WERE TRYING TO SHINE LIGHT ON PROBLEMS WITH THE VOUCHING PROCESS, BUT WHAT THEY ACTUALLY SHOWED WAS THAT IT WORKS BECAUSE WHEN THEY GOT TO THE POINT WHERE THEY WERE ASKED TO SIGN THE OATH, THEY MADE UP EXCUSES FOR WHY THEY HAD TO LEAVE.

THE KEY THING HERE IS IF YOU SIGN THE OATH AND YOU ARE LYING OR MISREPRESENTING, IT IS PERJURY AND T'S A FELONY.

SO THAT IS A DETERRENT FOR ANYONE TO COME IN AND SIGN THAT OATH TO VOUCH FOR SOMEONE ELSE.

>> Cathy: THESE TWO, THOUGH, CLAIM THAT THIS WAS OKAY BECAUSE IT'S FREEDOM OF SPEECH, THEY CLAIM THEY'RE MEDIA.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: YOU'RE NOT BUYING THAT.

>> WELL, IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER HOWEVER YOU DEFINE MEDIA OR NOT.

JOURNALISTS ARE WELCOME AT THE POLLING PLACE, ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS COME UP TO THE ELECTION JUDGE AND SHOW A PHOTO ID AND SOME MEDIA CREDENTIALS AND THEY'RE WELCOME TO BE THERE.

AND THEY HAVE TO BE AT LEAST SIX FEET AWAY FROM VOTERS AND THEY CANNOT ALK TO VOTERS.

THE IDEA OF VOTING IN THE POLLING PLACES, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE CALM PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO GO, REFLECT, CAST THEIR BALLOT, TO NOT BE INTERFERED ITH.

SO MEDIA IS ABSOLUTELY WELCOME IN OUR POLLING PLACES, THEY SIMPLY HAVE TO FOLLOW THE STEPS THAT ARE REQUIRED BY LAW.

>> Cathy: BUT THESE TWO SAY THAT THIS IS A FREE SPEECH ISSUE, NOT A CRIMINAL MATTER.

>> IT'S A CRIMINAL MATTER BECAUSE YOU CANNOT WALK INTO A POLLING PLACE AND MISREPRESENT YOURSELF TO THE PERSON -- AND THEY DID WALK IN AND SAY, I AM O IS ACTUALLY A REGISTERED VOTER, NOT YOU, SOMEBODY WHO IS A REGISTERED VOTER, IN THE PROCESS.

YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

YOU CAN'T MISREPRESENT YOUR IDENTITY IN THE PROCESS OF APPLYING FOR A BALLOT.

SO THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THEY DIDN'T VOTE.

BUT THOSE ARE TWO EPARATE PROCESSES.

THE PROCESS OF APPLYING FOR A BALLOT AND THE PROCESS OF VOTING.

AND IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO APPLY FOR A BALLOT AND MISREPRESENT YOUR IDENTITY.

>> Cathy: SO THE SYSTEM WORKED?

>> THE SYSTEM WORKED REALLY WELL.

AND I THINK MINNESOTANS SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF THAT.

WE HAVE SAFE, FAIR ELECTIONS HERE IN MINNESOTA.

AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT THAT WILL CONTINUE INTO THIS ELECTION.

>> Cathy: SAY, I HAVE TO ASK YOU ABOUT UPDATES WITH THE RENEE GOOD AND ALEX PRETTI CASES.

WHAT ARE THE UPDATES ON THAT?

>> SO, WE DID GET A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DURING THAT WINDOW F EVIDENCE SHARING.

THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WE DID NOT GET.

AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF LITIGATING ALL OF THIS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

WE EXPECT A DECISION FROM THE JUDGE IN D.C.

SOMETIME NEXT YEAR.

WE EXPECT THAT WILL GO THROUGH THE APPELLATE PROCESS AND TAKE MAYBE UP TO A YEAR OR MORE.

SO I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WE ARE ALWAYS ASSESSING THE EVIDENCE THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE, AND DECIDING, OKAY, DO WE HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO GO FORWARD NOW?

AND, SO, WE ARE CONSTANTLY ENGAGING IN THAT PROCESS AND, SO, I WOULDN'T SAY TO PEOPLE, JUST BECAUSE WE MAY NOT HAVE A DECISION, A FINAL DECISION N THE PROCESS FOR OVER A YEAR, THAT THAT MEANS WE CANNOT MAKE A CHARGING DECISION UNTIL AFTER THAT.

WE CONSTANTLY EVALUATE WHERE WE ARE AND WHETHER WE ARE AT A PLACE WHERE WE FEEL THAT WE CAN MAKE A CHARGING DECISION.

>> Cathy: THIS MIGHT BE THE LAST TIME YOU'RE ON "ALMANAC."

>> I HOPE NOT.

>> Cathy: I'M NOT SURE.

BUT YOU'RE LEAVING OFFICE.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: I DON'T KNOW, WHAT DO YOU PLAN ON DOING NEXT, I HAVE TO KNOW.

>> SLEEP FOR A WHILE.

READ BOOKS.

EXERCISE.

ALL OF THOSE HINGS.

I'M VERY INVESTED.

I LIVE IN MINNEAPOLIS.

I'M STAYING IN MINNEAPOLIS.

I'M VERY INVESTED IN THE CITY.

I LOVE THE CITY.

AND, SO, I'M GOING TO STAY INVOLVED IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.

MARY MORIARTY, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: APPRECIATE IT.

>> CATHY: DATA CENTERS ARE MAKING HEADLINES AGAIN THIS WEEK IN HERMANTOWN AND PINE ISLAND, WITH THE PROPOSED CENTER IN PINE ISLAND IS NOW FACING A NEW KIND ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.

HERE TO TALK TO US ABOUT THAT REVIEW AND THE LARGER ISSUES DRIVING SOME VOTERS TO THE POLLS, KATHRYN HOFFMAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MINNESOTA CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY.

WELCOME BACK TO THE PROGRAM.

>> THANKS, CATHY.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: ABSOLUTELY.

SO HOW IS THIS REVIEW PROCESS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THE TRADITIONAL REVIEW PROCESS HAS BEEN TO THIS POINT?

>> SO, THE REVIEW PROCESS IN PINE ISLAND WAS A CITY-LEVEL REVIEW PROCESS.

IT'S CALLED AN A VV AND IT'S VERY LOCALIZED VIEW.

AND THAT'S BEEN THE CASE FOR ALL OF THE DATA CENTERS, THESE BIG ONES THAT HAVE STARTED TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS IN MINNESOTA.

AND THE CHALLENGE HERE IS THAT DATA CENTERS, THESE NEW HYPER-SCALE AI DATA CENTERS, THEY'RE BIG, COMPLEX PROJECTS, AND THEY HAVE STATEWIDE AND REGIONALWIDE ISSUES.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, IF THEY'RE USING A LOT OF WATER, THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT NEIGHBORING CITIES, INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES, AGRICULTURE, PEOPLE'S PRIVATE WELLS.

SO THERE'S QUESTIONS OUTSIDE THE CITY BORDER.

SIMILARLY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, BIG INCREASES IN ENERGY USE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CHANGING OUR STATEWIDE GRID.

THESE ARE STATEWIDE QUESTIONS OF HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR THAT AND ARE WE GOING TO DO THAT WITH CLEAN ENERGY OR FOSSIL FUELS.

AND, SO, THIS LOCALIZED PROCESS, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE CITIES JUST STRUGGLE TO DEAL WITH THOSE KINDS MUCH QUESTIONS.

SO THIS NEW PROCESS IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT WILL BE RUN BY THE STATE, BY THE MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY, AND THEY JUST HAVE A LOT MORE TOOLS AS STATE AGENCIES TO ANALYZE THESE ISSUES AND TO REALLY STUDY THEM IN A HELPFUL WAY, SO IT WILL BE TRANSPARENT, WE HOPE IT WILL BE THOROUGH.

WE'LL HAVE A 60-DAY PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, SO LOTS OF TIME FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE, TO WEIGH IN AND COMMENT.

AND, SO, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS FIRST TIME THAT THE STATE'S GOING TO BE DOING THIS REVIEW.

>> Cathy: I CAN IMAGINE HEARING THAT MAYBE THE PUSHBACK FROM SOME OF THE BUSINESSES, THIS IS GOING TO SLOW THINGS DOWN.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THEY COULD HAVE CHOSEN THIS PATH IN THE FIRST PLACE.

IS THE FIRST THING I WOULD SAY.

THESE LOCALIZED REVIEWS, IT WAS NEVER CLEAR, TO BE HONEST, THAT THEY MADE MUCH SENSE FOR DATA CENTERS.

AND IT WAS ALWAYS AN OPTION FOR THEM TO START AT THE STATE LEVEL AND OPT FOR THE STRATEGY IN THE FIRST PLACE.

AND THEN PROBABLY THEY WOULD BE DONE WITH IT.

SO I THINK THAT'S ONE THING.

AND THEN THE SECOND THING IS THAT, YEAH, SOMETIMES TRANSPARENCY AND DEMOCRACY TAKES TIME.

RIGHT?

TO HAVE A GOOD STUDY, TO GIVE FOLKS A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN, AND, UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF THE DATA CENTERS SO FAR HAVE OPTED FOR SPEED OVER TRANSPARENCY AND DEMOCRACY.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE'D LIKE TO SEE CHANGED.

>> Cathy: SO THIS IS PINE ISLAND.

BUT I'M WONDERING, THERE ARE DATA CENTER PROJECTS ALL AROUND THE STATE.

IS IT STILL TOO LATE FOR HERMANTOWN, INVER GROVE HEIGHTS TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

>> IT'S NOT AT ALL.

IN FACT, OUR HOPE S THAT THIS WILL BE A BLUEPRINT FOR OTHER DATA CENTERS.

A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, IN AND OF ITSELF, IS A NEGOTIATION BETWEEN THE ARTIES AND IT'S A RESOLUTION OF A PARTICULAR CASE.

SO IT'S NOT PRECEDENTIAL, THE WAY THAT, LIKE, A COURT OPINION WOULD BE.

HOWEVER, IT IS A GOOD PATH FORWARD THAT OTHER DATA CENTERS CAN FOLLOW AND, IN FACT, WE HAVE LITIGATION FOR OTHER DATA CENTERS AROUND THE STATE, INCLUDING HERMANTOWN, MONTICELLO, AND, SO, MY HOPE IS THAT WE CAN USE THIS AS A BLUEPRINT FOR THESE OTHER ONES GOING FORWARD AND THEY CAN ALL UNDERGO THE STATE REVIEW AND THEY CAN LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN PINE ISLAND AND SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT, IT'S NOT SO BAD, IT'S NOT SO SCARY, WE CAN DO IT, TOO, AND FOLLOW THAT PATH.

>> Cathy: FINAL QUESTION FOR YOU.

JUST HOW STICKY CAN THIS GET GOING FORWARD?

YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH TALK, PEOPLE ARE SO UPSET ABOUT SOME OF THE DATA CENTER PROJECTS, HOW STICKY CAN IT GET IN THE FUTURE?

>> I MEAN, FOR SURE THE CONVERSATIONS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL HAVE BEEN TENSE.

YOU KNOW, WE SEE IT COMING UP IN A LOT OF THE LOCAL ELECTIONS AND THE CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

SO I DO THINK THEY CAN BE -- YOU KNOW, THEY CAN BE HARD CONVERSATIONS.

WE HAVE A VERY POLITICALLY POLARIZED ENVIRONMENT HERE, I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING ANYONE DOESN'T KNOW ALREADY.

I DO THINK THAT TRANSPARENCY IS THE FIRST STEP, THOUGH, TO A BETTER CONVERSATION.

I THINK PART OF WHAT'S MADE IT HARD SO FAR IS THAT FOLKS ARE TALKING ABOUT THESE ISSUES WITHOUT THE FACTS.

AND ONCE WE HAVE THE FACTS AND IT'S REALLY LAID OUT, HERE ARE THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, HERE ARE THE SOLUTIONS THAT ARE PROPOSED, HERE ARE THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS, HOPEFULLY WE HAVE A BETTER CONVERSATION FOR A GOOD DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> YEAH, THANK YOU, CATHY.

>> Cathy: EVERY ELECTION SEASON MEANS NEW FACES AT THE CAPITOL BUT IT ALSO MEANS THE DEPARTURE OF MINNESOTA LAWMAKERS AND POLICYMAKERS.

WE'RE NOW JOINED BY AN EXPERT PANEL OF RETIRING LAWMAKERS.

DFLERS UP FIRST.

SENATOR SANDY PAPPAS REPRESENTS SAINT PAUL, SHE IS FINISHING HER 11TH TERM IN THE STATE SENATE.

SENATOR ANN REST REPRESENTS NEW HOPE AND NEIGHBORING WESTERN SUBURBS, AND SHE FINISHES OUT HER EIGHTH SENATE TERM.

REPUBLICANS WITH THEM TONIGHT.

SENATOR CARLA NELSON REPRESENTS ROCHESTER.

THIS WAS HER FIFTH TERM IN THE SENATE.

AND, FINALLY, REPRESENTATIVE PAUL TORKELSON OF NEW ULM AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES, FINISHING OUT HIS NINTH TERM IN THE STATE HOUSE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THE COUCH.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> OUR PLEASURE.

>> Cathy: SENATOR PAPPAS, LET'S BEGIN WITH YOU, SHALL WE?

>> I'M GOING TO GO FIRST?

>> Cathy: SURE, COME ON.

SO WE HAD CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR LISA DEMUTH ON, SPEAKER DEMUTH, AND I'M WONDERING, HOW COULD A NEW GOVERNOR, WHOEVER THAT'S GOING TO BE, DEMUTH OR KLOBUCHAR, HOW WILL NEW LEADERSHIP POTENTIALLY RESET THE LEGISLATIVE TONE AND TENOR, DO YOU THINK?

>> YEAH.

WELL, CERTAINLY A TONE AND TENOR OF COOPERATION, BEING PRESENT, OF BEING INVOLVED, I MEAN, THAT'S REALLY BEEN AMY KLOBUCHAR'S WAY OF BEING, AS SHE'S COVERED ALL 87 COUNTIES THAT SHE VISITS EVERY YEAR.

AND LISA ALSO IS SOMEBODY WHO REALLY REACHES OUT QUITE A BIT.

SO I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT.

WE USED TO ALL BE INVITED TO HAVE LUNCH OR DINNER AT THE GOVERNOR'S HOUSE, BIPARTISAN, YOU KNOW, BICAM YOU KNOW, BICACAMERAL, BOTH HOUSE AND SENATE.

>> Cathy: YOU SAID USED TO BE INVITED?

>> THERE WAS THE REMODELING GOING ON, ITCHING THERE WERE SOME YEARS WE WEREN'T INVITED, BUT WE WERE ALWAYS INVITED.

I THINK THEY COULD TAKE SOME ADVICE FROM US OLD-TIMERS, WHAT ARE THE IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT THEY HAVE FACING.

FOR ME, IT'S GOING TO OBVIOUSLY BE INFRASTRUCTURE.

THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, 8 TO $9 BILLION OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IN STATE GOVERNMENT, AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES, AS WE SAW EARLIER ON THE SHOW, THEY HAVE ISSUES WITH SEWER AND WATER INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ARE KIND OF AGING OUT.

SO, I THINK TAKE SOME ADVICE FROM US.

>> Cathy: REPRESENTATIVE TORKELSON.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: YEAH.

HOW MIGHT THINGS CHANGE, DO YOU THINK?

>> WELL, AS EVERYONE KNOWS, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH SOME HISTORIC EVENTS IN THIS LAST BIENNIUM.

INCLUDING SOME VERY TRAGIC EVENTS.

I THINK WE'RE STILL HEALING FROM THAT.

I ALSO THINK WE'RE STILL KIND OF GETTING OVER COVID.

COVID REALLY DISRUPTED KIND OF THE NATURAL FLOW WITHIN THE LEGISLATURE BECAUSE WE WERE WORKING REMOTELY, WE DIDN'T GET THE CHANCE TO REALLY GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER, ESPECIALLY THOSE LEGISLATORS THAT CAME IN DURING COVID.

SO, I THINK WE'RE GETTING PAST OF THAT, BUT IT TAKES WORK.

YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD TO GET ALONG.

>> Cathy: SENATOR REST?

>> WELL, I THINK WHAT HAS HAPPENED, AND I WOULD CERTAINLY AGREE WITH REPRESENTATIVE TORKELSON, IS WE'RE FACED WITH A LACK OF GRACE THAT WE FAIL TO OFFER ONE ANOTHER IN DEALING WITH THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE IN FRONT OF US.

AND I WOULD ACTUALLY -- WHEN I HEARD THAT SENATOR NELSON, SENATOR PAPPAS, AND REPRESENTATIVE TORKELSON WERE GOING TO BE HERE TONIGHT WITH ME, I WAS DELIGHTED BECAUSE THIS IS A GROUP OF LEGISLATORS WHO DO INDEED OFFER ONE ANOTHER GRACE IN OUR DISCUSSIONS ON POLICY AND IN OUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS.

>> Cathy: JUDGE IS THAT -- WHY IS THAT LACKING SO MUCH?

THERE'S HARD EDGES AND A HARSHNESS.

>> I THINK PART OF IT IS THAT OUR SOCIETY HAS CHANGED A LOT.

AND, SO, NOW WE HAVE A LOT OF ONLINE MEDIA AND IT ALSO IS FEEDING A PARTICULAR VIEWPOINT.

THE FORMER -- AS A FORMER READING SPECIALIST, I'LL SAY IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE A BROAD BACKGROUND, LISTEN TO BROAD IDEAS, BROAD BACKGROUND.

AND I THINK ALSO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE HONEST DIALOGUE AND DEBATE, BECAUSE IF THE ISSUES WERE REALLY THAT SIMPLE AS WHAT YOU HEAR ON THE SOUND BITES, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN SOLVED ALREADY.

I THINK WHAT WE HEAR HERE, ON THIS COUCH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE LEARNED THAT YOU LISTEN TO ALL POINTS OF VIEW, YOU ARGUE HONESTLY, AND YOU TRY TO WORK TOGETHER ON THOSE AREAS WHERE YOU CAN.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED BONDING, BEING KIND OF QUEEN OF BONDING YOUR TIME IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> QUEEN OF LIQUOR, SO THIS IS A PROMOTION.

>> Cathy: EXACTLY.

I'M WONDERING, WHAT ARE THE ISSUES THAT THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE, BIG ISSUES NOW, WHAT ISSUES, THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES, HAVE YOU ALL AVOIDED?

>> OH, AVOIDED.

>> Cathy: RIGHT.

I MEAN, THINK ABOUT SOME OF THESE MAJOR ISSUES, WHAT HAVE YOU AVOIDED?

>> YOU MEAN IN TERMS OF HONEST DISCUSSION?

>> Cathy: YES.

>> WELL, I WOULD SAY CERTAINLY WE SHY AWAY FROM TALKING HONESTLY ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE AND TEND NOT TO TAKE SIGNIFICANT ACTION OR EVEN AS WE'VE NOTICED IN THIS PAST SESSION BEING ALLOWED TO VOTE.

AND I THINK THE PUBLIC EXPECTS MORE OF US THAN THAT.

AND OTHER TOPICS LIKE WHAT ARE WE REALLY GOING TO BE DOING ABOUT NUCLEAR ENERGY.

WE STILL HAVE A MORATORIUM ABOUT EVEN DISCUSSING IT.

AND THAT'S COWARDICE ON OUR PART.

>> Cathy: REPRESENTATIVE TORKELSON?

>> I FIND THAT THE BEST-ADVERTISED ISSUES ARE OFTEN THE HARDEST TO DEAL WITH, WHETHER IT BE RIGHT TO LIFE HIGH ISSUES, WHETHER IT BE INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES, THAT SENATOR PAPPAS TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, THE THINGS THAT DIVIDE US TEND TO KEEP US DIVIDED.

AND WHEN THEY ARE USED IN POLITICAL ADS AND OTHER MEDIA RESOURCES, IT MAKES IT WORSE.

AND THE OTHER THING THAT'S REALLY DEVELOPED OVER THE TIME WE'VE EEN IN THE LEGISLATURE IS SOCIAL MEDIA.

PEOPLE GET STUCK IN THESE ECHO CHAMBERS WHERE THEY HEAR PEOPLE THAT THEY AGREE WITH AND THOSE MESSAGES GET BOUNCED BACK AND FORTH WITHIN THE ECHO CHAMBER AND THEY BECOME TRUE BELIEVERS.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, I WANT TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT, I THINK WE ALL REMEMBER LAWMAKERS -- ROGER MOE COMES TO MIND, HE WAS A REALLY GOOD DEAL MAKER.

YOU ALL ARE LEAVING WITH A LOT OF INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY AND KNOWLEDGE.

AND YOU ALL CAN DO DEALS.

SO WHO'S BEHIND YOU THAT ARE ABLE TO DO DEALS?

>> WHO DO I -- >> Cathy: DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE AS OU LEAVE?

>> YES.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, THERE'S -- YOU GOT TO DO DEALS, YOU JUST HAVE TO DO THAT TO GET THINGS DONE.

>> YES, YES.

I FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THE CANDIDATES THAT I KNOW, IN THEIR BACKGROUND AND THEIR ABILITY TO LISTEN TO ALL SIDES AND COME UP WITH A WORKABLE SOLUTION.

SO I FEEL CONFIDENT IN THAT.

BUT I ALSO THINK, AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, IF IT'S NOT AN HONEST DISCUSSION AND DEBATE AND ALSO IF IT'S ALL ABOUT GETTING SOUND BITE THAT YOU CAN IMMEDIATELY GO PUT ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES.

>> Cathy: SENATOR PAPPAS.

>> I THINK ERIN MURPHY IS A GOOD DEAL MAKER, SHE'S BEEN OUR MAJORITY LEADER FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW.

I THINK SHE KNOWS HOW TO MAKE THE COMPROMISES, AND SHE'LL SACRIFICE HERSELF, WHICH I THINK IS PART OF A GOOD LEADER, SHE'LL SACRIFICE, YOU KNOW, WHAT SHE WANTS OR WHAT SHE NEEDS FOR HER DISTRICT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DEAL GETS MADE.

>> Cathy: SAY, ARE YOU OKAY IF I ASK PREDICTIONS, WHICH PARTY WILL ONTROL THE HOUSE AND SENATE, SENATOR REST?

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT EARLIER, I DON'T THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO COMMENT.

>> Cathy: REPRESENTATIVE TORKELSON?

>> I CHOOSE TO BE OPTIMISTIC.

I THINK REPUBLICANS HAVE THE BEST SLATE OF STATEWIDE CANDIDATES WE'VE HAD FOR A LONG TIME.

I HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESPECT FOR FUTURE GOVERNOR DEMUTH.

I'VE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH HER SINCE SHE WAS ELECTED LEADER OF OUR CAUCUS.

>> Cathy: DO YOU THINK REPUBLICANS ABOUT CONTROL THE LEGISLATURE?

>> I THINK WE HAVE A SHOT.

>> Cathy: YOU HAVE A SHOT.

SENATOR NELSON?

>> YES, I DO, TOO.

ALL ACROSS THE DISTRICT, I'M OUT AND ABOUT A LOT, PEOPLE ARE JUST FED UP WITH THE FRAUD, JUST FED UP WITH THAT.

SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT NEW LEADERSHIP.

>> Cathy: OKAY.

BUT WILL REPUBLICANS CONTROL THE SENATE?

THE HOUSE?

>> I THINK DEMUTH HAS A GOOD CHANCE AS GOVERNOR.

>> Cathy: OKAY.

>> I THINK WE HAVE A GREAT CHANCE IN THE SENATE.

AND I'M NOT AS FAMILIAR ABOUT THE HOUSE CANDIDATES.

>> Cathy: SENATOR PAPPAS?

>> I THINK EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE LOCAL ISSUES THAT ARE A CHALLENGE FOR DEMOCRATS, I THINK THE NATIONAL MOVEMENT THAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE BLUE WAVE WILL HIT MINNESOTA AND WE'LL HAVE A DFL TRIFECTA.

>> Cathy: I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF FOR YOU YOUR SERVICE TO THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

REALLY, THANK YOU.

YOU'VE DONE GREAT WORK.

AND YOU'LL BE MISSED.

HAPPY RETIREMENT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANKS SO MUCH.

>> Cathy: THANKS SO MUCH.

ONCE AGAIN, WE HAVE GONE LONG TONIGHT.

A CAMPAIGN SEASON RECURRENCE.

BEFORE WE GO, A REMINDER ELECTION DAY IS THIS COMING TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD.

NO EXCUSE VOTING IN MINNEOSTA MEANS JUST THAT.

YOU CAN VOTE EARLY, BY MAIL OR HEAD TO THE POLLS.

DON'T FORGET TO CHANGE YOUR MICROWAVES AND CAR CLOCKS BACK