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

>> Eric: COMING UP ON "ALMANAC" PROFESSORS DAVID SCHULTZ AND LOUIS JOHNSTON BREAK DOWN THE STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH, LIVE MUSIC WITH SINGER/SONGWRITER SARAH MORRIS.

HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSIONER SHIREEN GANDHI TALKS FRAUD AND MORE.

MARY LAHAMMER FOLLOWING THE ACTION AT THE CAPITOL.

>> FROM THE PRESIDENT TO THE GOVERNOR, FRAUD IS THE FOCUS ONCE AGAIN.

>> THIS IS A TARGETED RETRIBUTION AGAINST A STATE THAT THE PRESIDENT DOESN'T LIKE.

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

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

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH ITS MEMBER-OWNER COOPERATIVES AND CUSTOMERS.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH AND HELPING COMMUNITIES THRIVE.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

>> Eric: IN THE NEXT HOUR WE'LL GET AN UPDATE ON RENTAL ASSISTANCE IN ST.

PAUL FROM PIONEER PRESS REPORTER FRED MELO, SOLO ARTIST SARAH MORRIS IS HERE TO PREVIEW HER UPCOMING SHOW AT THE DAKOTA, A DUO OF PROFESSORS ON PRESIDENT TRUMP'S STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH, WHICH INCLUDED PLENTY OF REFERENCES TO MINNESOTA AND FRAUD.

>> Cathy: INDEED.

WE'RE GOING TO START TONIGHT THOUGH WITH HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSIONER SHIREEN GANDHI WHO HAD THE WORD "TEMPORARY" REMOVED FROM HER TITLE EARLIER THIS WORK.

GANDHI OVERSEES THE DEPARTMENT THAT HAS DEALT WITH THE MOST FRAUD IN THE TATE GOVERNMENT.

SHE ALSO OVERSEES THE MEDICAID PROGRAM WHICH IS FACING TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT CUTS IN THE NEXT YEAR.

WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.

>> YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT -- IN THE DEPARTMENT.

FROM WHAT TO WHAT?

WHAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH THE CULTURE?

>> -- THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IN THIS LAST YEAR OF SERIOUS AND INTENSE WORK IS TO GET ALL OF OUR PROGRAM AREAS INVOLVED IN LOOKING AT CLAIMS, MONITORING, SPENDING IN A MUCH DEEPER, CLEARER WAY THAT HELPS US CHANGE, HELPS US SPOT FRIENDS OUTLIERS.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS ALSO THAT'S BEEN A BIG CULTURE CHANGE IS NOT JUST RELYING ON TIPS OF FRAUD, BUT ACTUALLY SORT OF FERRETING OUT THROUGH THE DATA OURSELVES WHAT LOOKS SUSPICIOUS AND LOOKING INTO IT.

>> Cathy: DOES A.I.

HELP WITH THAT BY THE WAY?

>> IT COULD, I DON'T THINK WE'RE USING IT YET.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT AND I THINK THAT COULD BE AN IMPORTANT ENHANCEMENT IN THE FUTURE.

>> Eric: I JUST WANT TO SHOW VIEWERS WHAT WAS HANDED AT YOUR NEWS CONFERENCE, THE PLAN THAT YOU AND GOVERNOR WALZ HAVE.

ALL OF THIS AND THEN WE WEREN'T ASLEEP AT THE SWITCH.

HERE'S OUR FRAUD REACTION THING.

IT SEEMS PRETTY DAUNTING WITH WHAT, NINE MONTHS EFT TO -- CHARGE POLITICAL -- HOW MUCH OF THIS CAN YOU GET DONE OR IS IT JUST A WISH LIST?

>> YEAH, NOT A WISHLIST.

LIKE I SAID WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD THIS PAST MORE THAN A YEAR, WORKING HARD IN SO MANY AREAS FROM THE ENHANCED PREPAYMENT REVIEW TO REVALIDATING PROVIDERS IN HIGH-RISK SERVICES, DISENROLLING PROVIDERS.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A LOT OF PROGRESS BY THE END OF THIS YEAR AND WE'LL BE -- MORE TO DO.

YOU CAN'T JUST DECADES OF WHAT I THINK TIM O’MALLEY SAID IN HIS REPORT, DECADES OF NEGLECT, YOU CAN'T CHANGE THAT QUICKLY.

BUT WE'RE MAKING GREAT PROGRESS AND I'M ONFIDENT THAT THE NEXT GOVERNOR AND ADMINISTRATION WILL CONTINUE ON.

>> Cathy: HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT BY THE WAS WAY?

YOU'VE BEEN IN THE DEPARTMENT SINCE 2017 AS A COMPLIANCE OFFICER.

AND THIS, THE FRAUD AS TIM O’MALLEY SAYS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR DECADES.

YOU HAVE AN UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL LOOK AT THE SYSTEM.

HOW DO YOU, WHAT DO YOU POINT TO IN TERMS OF WHY DID IT GO OFF THE RAILS?

>> I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS.

ONE, IT'S VERY COMPLEX TO DELIVER HUMAN SERVICES.

NUMBER TWO, THE NUMBERS WAS CHANGING, SO THE GROWTH IN PROGRAMS, GROWTH IN SPENDING CAN BE BECAUSE AN INCREASE IN PEOPLE SERVED, IT CAN BE BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE INCREASES THE RATES, BILLING RATES, IT CAN BE BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE CHANGES THE SCOPE OF THE PROGRAMS.

BUT IT ALSO CAN BE BECAUSE OF FRAUD AND THAT'S WHY WE EED BETTER DETECTION >> Eric: HAVE YOU GOT BRAIN DRAIN GOING ON?

I KNOW A COUPLE FINANCIAL PEOPLE LEFT WITH TEN MONTHS LEFT IN THE GOVERNOR'S TERM.

KEY PEOPLE WILL BE LEAVING TO FIND OTHER EMPLOYMENT.

ARE YOU STAFFED UP WELL ENOUGH TO HANDLE THIS?

>> WELL, WE ARE I THINK WE NEED MORE STAFF AND IT'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL THAT THE GOVERNOR AND HIS TEAM HAVE BEEN HELPING US REDEPLOY PEOPLE FROM OTHER AGENCIES TO DHS BECAUSE WE ARE UNDER A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SCRUTINY, BOTH AT THE STATE LEVEL BUT ALSO AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

, EXEC THE VICE PRESIDENT THE NEW FRAUD CZAR, $259 MILLION THAT'S BEING HELD IN ADVANCE UNLESS YOU IN 60 DAYS SHOW YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT FRAUD CONTROL.

>> YEAH.

THAT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN ON THIS JOURNEY FOR MORE THAN A YEAR OF SERIOUS AND INTENSE WORK TO CRACK DOWN IN FRAUD IN MEDICAID.

SO THAT'S, IT'S KIND OF AN ODD STATEMENT.

BUT WE ARE, YOU KNOW, WE TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY, WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SHOW THAT ALL OF THOSE CLAIMS ARE LEGITIMATE AND GET THE MONEY BACK.

AND IF THEY'RE NOT LEGITIMATE THEN WE WILL GO AFTER THOSE PROVIDERS FOR THAT MONEY.

>> Cathy: SO ERIC HAD THE LEGISLATION HERE, DO YOU REALLY NEED THE LEGISLATURE TO DO ALL THAT OR WHAT CAN YOU DO ON YOUR OWN TO CLEAR THINGS UP?

>> YEAH, WE'VE BEEN DOING -- FRAUD ON OUR OWN AND THIS IS THE PARTNERSHIP WE NEED FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

THERE'S A LOT OF PLAYERS IN THE HUMAN SERVICES SPACE, IT'S NOT JUST DHS.

WE HAVE DHS, WE HAVE THE COUNTIES, WE HAVE MANAGED CARE ORGANIZATIONS.

AND THEN THE LEGISLATURE THAT MAKES THE LAWS AND DESIGNS THE PROGRAMS.

AND SO WE HAVE TO DESIGN THE PROGRAMS BETTER ON THE FRONT END.

DHS HAS TO STRENGTHEN ITS INTERNAL CONTROLS THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS AND BETTER PREPAYMENT REVIEW, POST-PAYMENT REVIEW, THE A.I.

THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT TO HELP US CATCH THIS.

BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY CLAIMS GOING THROUGH OUR SYSTEM EVERY YEAR.

>> Eric: AND IT'S 2 BILLION -- 1.2 MILLION PEOPLE THAT ARE AFFECTED?

>> 1.2 MILLION PEOPLE AND OUR MEDICAID PROGRAM IS $20 BILLION, STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDS.

>> Cathy: DOES IT HELP TO HAVE BROKEN UP DHS INTO THREE DIFFERENT GROUPS IN A SENSE?

>> YES, YES, I THINK THAT'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL TO HAVE A FOCUSED MEDICAID AGENCY AND NOT HAVE THE COMMISSIONER NEEDING TO PAY ATTENTION ALSO TO CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES, AND THEN THE INTENSIVE NEEDS OF DIRECT CARE AND TREATMENT, THE STATE'S MENTAL HEALTH HOSPITAL SYSTEM.

MUCH BETTER TO BE A FOCUSED AGENCY.

>> Cathy: WE WISH YOU WELL.

>> Eric: YEAH, GOOD LUCK.

THANKS VERY MUCH FOR COMING OVER.

>> THANK YOU.

♪ >> AS BETTER TAX CLIMATE, BETTER REGULATORY CLIMATE, LESS WORKER'S COMP COSTS, LESS UNEMPLOYMENT COSTS THE BIG PICTURE OF WHAT ENTICES BUSINESSES TO BE IN MINNESOTA.

>> REPRESENTATIVE AND I AGREE THAT OVERALL IMPROVEMENTS IN REDUCING TAXES AND IMPROVING THE GENERAL BUSINESS CLIMATE IS DESIRABLE AND THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PRIORITY OF THIS ADMINISTRATION.

BUT WHERE WE DISAGREE IS THAT THEN THE STATE SHOULD JUST SIT BACK AND DO NOTHING AND WAIT FOR BUSINESSES -- LET ME JUST FINISH, PLEASE.

AND LET THE BUSINESSES JUST LINE UP DOWN THE STREET.

♪ >> AS WE ALREADY NOTED PRESIDENT TRUMP CALLED OUT MINNESOTA AND FRAUD IN HIS STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS, THE LONGEST STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH IN HISTORY.

IT STARTED OUT MORE TRADITIONAL BUT IN THE SECOND HOUR VEERED INTO ATTACKS ON DEMOCRATS AND OTHER POLITICAL TALKING OINTS.

JOINING US WITH MORE ON POLITICS AND ECONOMICS IN THE SPEECH, DAVID SCHULTZ HE TEACHES POLITICAL SCIENCE AT HAMLINE UNIVERSITY, ADJUNCT PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ST.

THOMAS.

JOINING HIM A FAMILIAR FACE FROM A DIFFERENT ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT AT A DIFFERENT UNIVERSITY.

[ LAUGHTER ] LOUIS JOHNSTON TEACHES AT THE COLLEGE OF ST.

BENEDICT'S AND ST.

JOHN'S UNIVERSITY.

WELCOME, FELLAS.

IF AFFORDABILITY IS THE BIG ISSUE IN THE CAMPAIGN, IT DIDN'T GET MUCH ATTENTION FROM THE PRESIDENT.

GOT NO ATTENTION AT ALL.

WELL, HE'S HOPING IT GOES AWAY OR LIKE HE DOESN'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT.

ONE OF THE THEMES OF THE SPEECH HE KEPT COMING BACK TO WAS I INHERITED THIS TERRIBLE MESS, -- WHICH NEITHER PART IS TRUE THAT IT'S A TERRIBLE MESS AND HE DIDN'T FIX IT.

>> HE'S RUNNING INTO THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I'M GOING TO SAY BIDEN AND HARRIS RAN INTO.

BIDEN AND HARRIS WHEN THEY KEPT SAYING THE ECONOMY'S DOING WELL, THE AVERAGE PERSON'S THINKING, WELL, BUT THE PRICE OF MILK, BREAD AND EGGS IS EXPENSIVE.

THE AVERAGE PERSON AND PROBABLY THE AVERAGE LISTENER OUT THERE IS PROBABLY THINKING THE SAME THING.

YEAH, PRICE OF MILK, BREAD, AND EGGS IS STILL PRETTY EXPENSIVE SO DON'T TALK ABOUT THINGS YOU DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT, INSTEAD TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE SO TALK ABOUT FRAUD, TALK ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE BUT DON'T TALK ABOUT, WHAT, THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE VULNERABLE FOR YOU.

>> Cathy: HOW WELL OFF IS THE ECONOMY?

>> I THINK WE'RE ACTUALLY, IT DEPENDS ON WHO YOU LISTEN TO POLITICALLY BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE FACTS I THINK WE'RE DOING QUITE WELL AT LEAST OVERALL.

GDP GROWTH IS ABOUT THE SAME THIS YEAR AS IT WAS LAST YEAR.

SO WE'RE PRESIDENTING ABOUT AS MUCH STUFF.

INFLATION IS ABOUT THE SAME, HASN'T GONE UP, HASN'T GONE DOWN.

INTEREST RATES ARE ABOUT THE SAME, IF ANYTHING THEY'RE GOING DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

SO AND THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS ABOUT THE SAME.

SO WE'RE DOING PRETTY GOOD I THINK OVERALL.

NOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN INDIVIDUALS NECESSARILY ARE.

THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN DIFFERENT SPOTS, PEOPLE WHO ARE ON DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE INCOME DISTRIBUTION.

BUT AS A GROUP WE'RE DOING PRETTY GOOD.

>> BUT AGAIN WE CAN'T FORGET THE FACT THAT WE'VE GOT THE GREATEST GAP BETWEEN THE RICH AND POOR IN AMERICA'S HISTORY.

>> EXACTLY.

>> AND THEY'RE SAYING THAT LISTEN, THE PRICE OF MILK, BREAD AND EGGS -- >> SO AFFORDABILITY STILL HAS LAGS AS A POTENT CAMPAIGN -- >> YES, IT DEFINITELY DOES AT THIS POINT.

>> DEFINITELY.

>> NOW, AGAIN WE'RE STILL WHAT, APPROXIMATELY WHAT 7 MONTHS OUT FROM THE ELECTION.

IF OU LOOK AT EARLY VOTING 6 AND A HALF MONTHS WHO KNOWS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BUT I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THE CARVILLE LINE IT'S ALMOST ALWAYS THE ECONOMY.

PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT, AND WE HAVEN'T EVEN TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT AT SOME POINT WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE PRICE OF MEDICAL CARE AND INSURANCE THAT'S GOING TO START TO KICK IN.

>> TARIFFS.

>> TARIFFS, WHAT ABOUT 'EM?

[ LAUGHTER ] >> Eric: WELL, SHE WAS SHAMING THE DEMOCRATS.

>> YEAH, AND WHAT KILLED ME, REALLY STRUCK ME IS HE WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW WONDERFUL IT IS TO CUT TAXES THAT WAS THE BIG THING LAST YEAR.

AND THEN BRAGGING ABOUT TARIFFS WHICH ARE TAXES ON PEOPLE.

SO IT'S LIKE, OKAY, I'M CUTTING TAXES WITH ONE HAND AND RAISING THEM WITH THE OTHER SO THAT'S REALLY A NET WASH, WE'RE NOT GAINING ANYTHING FROM THIS.

AND HE BASICALLY HAS NO OTHER ECONOMIC POLICY RIGHT NOW EXCEPT TARIFFS.

>> AND WITH THAT HE'S LOST ONE OF HIS BIGGEST POLITICAL TOOLS AT THIS POINT IN TERMS OF LEVERAGE.

THINK ABOUT FOR EXAMPLE IF I'M CANADA, LET'S JUST PICK CANADA AS AN EXAMPLE HERE.

KNOWING THAT THE SUPREME COURT, OUR SUPREME COURT HAS ALREADY STRUCK DOWN SOME TARIFFS, TRUMP SAYS 15% TARIFFS AGAIN.

IF I'M CANADA I'M THINKING A COUPLE DIFFERENT THINGS.

ONE, OTHER PEOPLE -- WE'VE GOT THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS COMING UP AGAIN IS NIX, SEVEN MONTHS HERE, LET'S WAIT IT OUT AND PLAY THEM OUT.

THE BARGAINING SITUATION COMPLETELY SHIFTED A WEEK AGO FROM TODAY WITH THE SUPREME COURT DOING WHAT THEY DID.

>> Eric: WHAT DID YOU THINK OF I THINK PRESIDENT REAGAN STARTED THE SPECIAL GUEST IN THE GALLERY.

HE SEEMED TO BE HAVING THE MOST FUN WHEN HE WAS AWARDING MEDALS AND THAT SORT OF THING.

>> HE WAS.

I MEAN, I'LL TURN THAT TO DAVID.

YOU'RE MORE ON THAT ONE.

BUT THE THING THAT I NOTICED WAS IT WAS ALMOST LIKE AN OLD EPISODE OF THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW OR A VARIETY HOW.

IT'S LIKE "NOW FOR MY NEXT GUEST" THAT'S WHAT IT FELT LIKE TO ME.

>> I'LL ADD SOMETHING TO.

IT WAS A TWO-HOUR SPEECH OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> HOUR 48.

>> I AS CLOSE.

ALL OF THIS COMES IN THE SECOND HOUR.

HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU THINK WATCHED BEYOND THE FIRST 30 MINUTES?

HOW MANY DO YOU THINK WATCHED BEYOND THE HOUR?

WHAT WE KNOW AND I DID STUDY THIS QUITE A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES CANDIDATES ARE SMART, THEY RECYCLE THEIR RHETORIC ABOUT EVERY 30 MINUTES KNOWING PEOPLE ARE ZONING IN AND ZONING OUT.

GIVEN THE HOUR, I DOUBT TOO MANY PEOPLE SAW ALL THAT BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE, WHAT, THOSE ARE THE SOUND BITS AND CLIPS.

BUT LIVE MOST PEOPLE DIDN'T EVEN SEE THAT.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

PBS GOT AHOLD OF THAT -- THAT'S BEEN FLOATING AROUND EVIDENTLY THAT WOULD GIVE THE PRESIDENT EXTRAORDINARY OWERS OVER THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS AND HE, THIS DRAFT EXECUTIVE ORDER INDICATES THAT HE COULD DECLARE A NATIONAL EMERGENCY AND TAKE CONTROL OVER SOME OF THE VOTING MECHANISMS WHICH IS WILDLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

>> OF COURSE.

>> Cathy: AND HE SAYS HE WOULDN'T DO IT, BUT I MEAN, HE ALSO -- PROJECT 2025 HE SAID HE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT EITHER.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> YEAH FIRST OFF YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

FOR THE MOST PART START OFF BY THE FACT THAT OUR ELECTIONS ARE ADMINISTERED AT THE STATE LEVEL.

THERE IS NO FEDERAL MACHINERY TO RUN THEM.

TWO, THE CONSTITUTION IS UNEQUIVOCALLY CLEAR REGARDING THE LANGUAGE ABOUT IT.

AND, THREE, WE'VE GOT SUPREME COURT DECISIONS THAT BASICALLY SAY THE FEDS CAN'T CONTROL STATE ELECTIONS.

SO FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE THE MEMO'S COMPLETELY INCORRECT.

AND REMEMBER, WAS IT 2020, YEAH, 2020 ELECTION THEY HAD THESE CLAIMS ABOUT VOTER FRAUD.

THERE WERE 42 CASES IN FEDERAL COURT.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION LOST ALL OF THEM ON THESE ESOTERIC LEGAL THEORIES BY PEOPLE LIKE EASTMAN AND GIULIANI.

THIS IS THE SAME THING HERE, THAT THE LEGAL THEORIES THIS IS BASED UPON TOTALLY BANKRUPT.

>> Eric: BASED ON THIS SPEECH FOR THE NEXT YEAR WHAT IS THE REPUBLICAN ECONOMIC PLAN?

>> I THINK THE REPUBLICAN ECONOMIC PLAN IS HOPE THAT THINGS DON'T GET WORSE.

I THINK THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT.

IT'S LET'S HOPE THAT THE TARIFFS DON'T DO THE BAD THINGS THAT ECONOMISTS HAVE BEEN SAYING THEY'RE GOING TO DO, LET'S HOPE THAT THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DOESN'T GO UP.

LET'S HOPE THAT GAS PRICES DON'T GO UP OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT BECAUSE USUALLY IN A STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS IS SOME KIND OF LAUNDRY LIST OF HERE'S THE ECONOMIC OLICIES THAT I WANT TO DO, WANT THE CONGRESS TO DO.

THE ONLY HING THE PRESIDENT TALKED ABOUT WAS THIS NEW PERHAPS SAVING MATCH.

I'M GOING TO MATCH $1,000 FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE A 401K AND IT WASN'T EVEN, WASN'T EVEN OUT IN DETAILS.

>> Eric: TRUMP RX, THE DRUG THING?

>> WELL, THERE'S THAT, BUT THIS WAS FOR PEOPLE HAVE 401Ks, THAT'S ALL -- IT'S LIKE WE'RE JUST HOPING WE CAN GET PAST NOVEMBER OR WHATEVER THE DAY IS.

>> YEAH, CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION, THOUGH?

ASSUMING IT MIGHT HAPPEN, WE GO TO WAR WITH IRAN, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE PRICE OF OIL AND AS WILL BE THE DAY AFTER THE WAR STARTS?

>> IT WILL JUMP MAYBE UP TO $90 OR $100 A BARREL.

BUT THE UNITED STATES IS STILL THE BIGGEST PRODUCER OF OIL.

SO I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WILL HAPPEN IS IT WILL GET A SPIKE BUT COME BACK DOWN AGAIN.

>> Eric: MEETING OF THE MINDS, POLITICAL SCIENCE.

INCREDIBLE.

>> Cathy: GOOD JOB.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Eric: GREAT STUFF.

♪ >> Adia: MORE DANCE PARTIES IN THE DINING ROOM.

MORE KID MOVIE SONGS IN THE CAR ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL.

MORE BURSTING INTO SONG AT BEDTIME.

MORE SONGS, PERIOD!

MORE PUTTING ON EVERYTHING IN THE DRESS-UP BIN AT ONCE AND PARADING AROUND THE HOUSE.

MORE TAG!

YOU’RE IT!

MORE KITCHENS FULL OF NOISE AND LIFE AND SCENTS AND OVEN WARMTH.

MORE SPEEDING DOWNHILL ON A PIECE OF PLASTIC WITH SNOW FLYING INTO YOUR OPEN MOUTH THAT YOU CAN’T CLOSE BECAUSE YOU’RE LAUGHING TOO HARD.

MORE RUNNING TO GET UP SPEED AND SLIDING ON LATE WINTER ICE.

MORE COZY ON THE COUCH WITH THE FAM UNDER A PILE OF BLANKETS.

MORE CANDLES AND TWINKLE LIGHTS.

MORE PUDDLE-STOMPING IN BIG RAIN BOOTS.

MORE CRACKING THE ICE WITH TIPPY TOES WHEN THE PUDDLES INEVITABLY FREEZE AGAIN.

MORE PORCH SWINGING WHEN THE SUN FINALLY HANGS AROUND LONG ENOUGH AFTER DINNER AND A COAT FEELS LIKE OVERKILL.

MORE IMPROMPTU BLOCK PARTIES.

MORE SCRUFFY HOSPITALITY.

MORE SPRINKLER-JUMPING IN REGULAR CLOTHES.

MORE FREEZIE POPS ON THE PATIO AFTER DINNER.

MORE, “DID YOU SEE THAT MOON LAST NIGHT?” MORE CHUNKY SWEATERS AND SCARVES TO BEAT BLUSTERY WINDS.

MORE WOOD SMOKE AND MARSHMALLOW-STICKY FINGERTIPS.

MORE LATE-NIGHT CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE DYING EMBERS.

MORE GIANT POTS OF CHILI.

MORE KID GIGGLES.

MORE GROWNUP GIGGLES.

MORE COMFORT.

MORE SILLINESS.

MORE JOY.

[ APPLAUSE ] ♪ >> Cathy: THE LASTING EFFECTS OF THE LARGEST IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTION IN U.S.

HISTORY WILL BE FELT FOR A LONG TIME.

ONE OF THE BIG CHALLENGES FOR MANY RESIDENTS IS THE LOSS OF INCOME FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS WHICH LEADS TO THE INABILITY TO PAY THINGS LIKE RENT.

COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS ARE LOOKING TO HELP OUT AS WELL AS STATE AND LOCAL OVERNMENTS.

EARLIER THIS WEEK THE ST.

PAUL CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR HER TOOK ACTION.

TO HELP THEIR RESIDENTS.

>> -- BY THE TIME IT WAS OVER THEY REVIVE IT DID IN NOVEMBER.

THAT GOES DIRECTLY TO THE LANDLORD NOT THE TENANT IF YOU'RE FACING EVICTION.

THE CITY COUNCIL IS MASSAGING SOME OF THE GUIDELINES, RULES, MAKING IT A LITTLE BROADER BUT IT'S THE SAME BASIC FORMAT SO THEY JUST ADDED ABOUT 1.4 MILLION TO A POT THAT HAD A MILLION AND ANOTHER MILLION IS GOING OUT.

IT'S ABOUT A $3.8 MILLION POT SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT WILL HELP ABOUT A THOUSAND PEOPLE BETWEEN LATE LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR.

>> Eric: FUNDING COMES FROM LEFTOVER COVID MONEY?

>> NO, IT'S A VARIETY OF PLACES.

SOME OF IT WAS AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND, BASICALLY HOUSING, TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOUSING DOLLARS.

CITY COUNCIL FOUND SOME, MAYOR FOUND SOME.

BUT, YEAH, IT'S RENT RELIEF.

THIS IS THE CRISIS THAT'S COMING.

IT'S STILL ON THE HORIZON, WE DON'T KNOW HOW BIG IT IS BUT OPERATION METRO SURGE LEFT US WITH HOUSING CRISIS, COMPOUNDED ONE THAT ALREADY EXISTED, REALLY.

PEOPLE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET TO WORK, THEY'VE BEEN IN HIDING FOR IN SOME CASES TWO MONTHS SO WE'RE JUST EGINNING TO SEE THAT AND FEEL THAT.

>> Cathy: SO THIS GOES DIRECTLY TO THE LANDLORD.

SO THE INDIVIDUALS IN QUESTION DON'T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING BACK.

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: BUT THERE'S, WHAT'S THE CATCH?

I MEAN, THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME CATCH HERE.

>> WELL, YOU HAVE TO PROVE A CERTAIN LEVEL OF ELIGIBILITY AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL'S BEEN SOFTENING.

OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE THE CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE LANDLORD, THE TENANT MAY HAVE OTHER NEEDS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED THAT KIND OF THING.

JUST ALLING A LITTLE BIT BEHIND ON YOUR RENT ISN'T GOING TO KIND OF GET YOU IN THE DOOR THERE.

HUGE ISSUE, I MEAN, LAST YEAR THE STATE HAD 23,000, 25,000 EVICTION FILINGS.

FLIRTING WITH A STATE.

THIS YEAR IT COULD BE WORSE.

>> Eric: ALDI'S GROCERY STORE RIDES TO THE RESCUE IN DOWNTOWN ST.

PAUL.

>> OH, MY GOODNESS.

ALL ANYBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT BECAUSE WHEN LUND'S CLOSED DOWNTOWN IT LEFT DOWNTOWN WITH NOTHING.

AND IT'S AN INCREASINGLY RESIDENTIAL DOWNTOWN.

YOU HAVE 10,000 PEOPLE DOWNTOWN, NOWHERE TO GO TO JUST GET MILK AND EGGS.

SO, YEAH, ALDI SAYS THEY'RE SERIOUS, THEY'RE COMING IN BY THE END OF THE SUMMER.

THEY WILL HAVE A BETTER PRICE FOR THE LOCALS THAN WHAT LUND'S AND BYERLY'S, THAT'S THE HOPE, AND, YEAH.

>> Cathy: SAY I WANT TO CIRCLE BACK TO THE SITUATION WITH I.C.E.

DO WE KNOW WHAT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE -- IN ST.

PAUL AT ALL?

HAS ANYONE UT A DOLLAR FIGURE ON THAT?

>> WE REALLY DON'T AND I ASK KIND OF WEEKLY ABOUT IT.

SURVEY THAT THE CITY IS ROLLING OUT THIS WEEK OR JUST ROLLED OUT.

ASKING INDIVIDUAL -- CLOSED, -- LATINO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CENTER ON THE EAST SIDE OF ST.

PAUL, THEY SURVEYED THEIR MEMBERS AND THEY FOUND THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR THE LATINO ORGANIZATIONS IT WAS JUST ABOUT EVERYONE WAS AFFECTED TO SOME DEGREE.

SOME OF THOSE PLACES -- >> Eric: DOES IT FEEL THIS IS -- TO A NORMAL ROUTINE?

>> HERE AND THERE.

-- IT'S OVER, I WOULDN'T SAY, WE MAY NOT GET BACK TIE NORMAL ROUTINE THIS YEAR.

-- SHE SAID WHEN SHE WENT BACK TO HER GROCERY AFTER SHE GOT OUT OF DETENTION, SHE WAS IN TEXAS, MADE IT BACK TO MINNESOTA TO HER GRANDKIDS AND WHEN SHE WENT BACK TO THE GROCERY THAT EMPLOY EMPLOYED HER, HER JOB WAS GONE, THEY'D GIVEN TO SOMEONE ELSE.

THAT LOSS OF INCOME IS WHY YOU NEED A RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, YOU'RE GOING TO BE FEELING IT FOR WEEKS MAYBE MONTHS TO COME.

>> Cathy: DID SHE SHIFT SOME MONEY OUT OF A DIFFERENT FUND FOR THIS?

>> YEAH, THERE WAS KIND OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER TO TAKE FUNDS FROM, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND.

I THINK IT WAS $500,000 OR SO, THEN THE CITY COUNCIL MATCHED THAT WITH 800,000 FROM ANOTHER AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND SO YOU GOT ABOUT A MILLION, FOUR I THINK THE NUMBERS COME TOUT TO BE.

>> Cathy: ARE THEY HOPING THE STATE WILL KICK OUT SOME MONEY?

>> YEAH CITY COUNCIL IS SPECIFICALLY ASKING GOVERNOR WALZ, LAWMAKERS, CAN YOU CREATE AN EVICTION MORATORIUM, JUST STOP EVICTIONS.

AND THAT'S DICEY, HARD TO DO.

THEY ALSO SAID, HEY, CAN YOU STOP UTILITY SHUTOFFS, WE HAVE A OLD WEATHER RULE BUT YOU HAVE TO APPLY FOR AND PROVE ELIGIBILITY FOR.

CAN YOU GET FREEWAY IT AND SAY NOBODY DO A HEAT OR ELECTRICITY SHUTOFFS FOR THE TIME BEING.

AGAIN THAT'S A REALLY BIG ASK AND I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE DEBATE WITHIN BOTH PARTIES AROUND THAT.

>> Eric: HARDEST WORKING MAN IN THE EAST METRO.

>> Cathy: TRULY.

>> I'LL TAKE IT.

THANKS.

♪ >> I'M WRITING THIS ESSAY FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS.

BECAUSE EVERYONE ALIVE TODAY ALREADY KNOWS IT'S HAPPENING.

AS OF THE YEAR 2026, PROFANITY IS BACK.

THE F WORD, THE S WORD, ALL OF THEM.

THEY'VE BEEN RELEASED INTO THE MAINSTREAM, AND THEY ARE PROLIFERATING.

OH, MY.

A COLLEGE ROFESSOR ONCE TOLD ME THAT EVERY LANGUAGE EVER STUDIED HAS AT LEAST A FEW TABOO WORDS.

YOU KNOW, SWEAR WORDS.

AND I PERSONALLY DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS TRUE, BUT I UNDERSTAND HIS POINT.

WHEN HUMANS HAVE HIGH IMPACT EMOTIONS THEY NEED HIGH IMPACT WORDS.

WORDS THAT PUNCH.

AND IN AMERICA IN 2026, WE ARE LIVING IN PUNCHY TIMES.

IT ONLY MAKES SENSE WE'RE ROLLING OUT THE PUNCHIEST WORDS WE HAVE.

AND, YES, LIKE MOST PEOPLE, I DO SWEAR.

BUT AS A MATTER OF PERSONAL PREFERENCE, LIMIT MYSELF TO CLOSE FRIENDS AND TRUSTED COWORKERS.

AND I'VE DECIDED, AFTER SOME DEEP REFLECTION, HAT EVEN IN THESE PERMISSIVE TIMES, I'M GOING TO KEEP MY PROFANITIES OFF-CAMERA.

NOW, THIS ISN'T BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE HIGH IMPACT EMOTIONS.

IT'S BECAUSE I'M FORCING MYSELF TO REMAIN AN OPTIMIST.

AND I AM OPTIMISTIC THAT SOMEDAY WE'LL BE ABLE TO PACK THESE WORDS AWAY, AT LEAST PUBLICLY, AND SAY, WOW, THOSE WERE SALTY TIMES.

SO HERE'S ME.

LOW-IMPACT WORDS IN HIGH-IMPACT TIMES.

WILL THIS EVEN WORK?

I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE IT WILL JUST MAKE ME IRRELEVANT.

BUT DON'T WORRY, IF T DOES, I STILL KNOW A FEW CHOICE WORDS I COULD SAY ABOUT IT.

AT LEAST TO Y FRIENDS.

♪ >> Adia: TONIGHT WE HAVE THE PLEASURE OF HOSTING MINNEAPOLIS' OWN SARAH MORRIS -- NO RELATION, HERE IN STUDIO B. B. THE SINGER-SONGWRITER AND LOCAL MAINSTAY HAS HONED HER PEN AND HER VOICE ACROSS A DECADE-PLUS CAREER AND SIX ALBUMS THAT SHOWCASE HER ROOTS IN COUNTRY AND AMERICANA.

SHE JOINS US TONIGHT AHEAD OF A DOUBLE BILL SHOW NEXT WEEK AT THE DAKOTA JAZZ CLUB.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, SARAH.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> YEAH, YOU'VE BEEN TO THE STUDIO A FEW YEARS AGO.

>> YES, I HAVE.

>> IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU BACK.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I WANTED TO ASK, YOU RELEASED AN ALBUM LAST FALL, OCTOBER 2025.

>> YES, IT'S CALLED "SAY YES."

>> TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT ALBUM.

>> YEAH, IT'S TEN SONGS I RECORDED WITH MY BAND LAST JANUARY.

AND I'M JUST REALLY THRILLED WITH WHAT WE CAME TOGETHER, LIKE IT WAS, WE DID A SLEEP-AWAY CAMP STUDIO EXPERIENCE.

>> WHICH, EXPLAIN THAT.

>> WELL, THERE'S A FAMOUS STUDIO IN MINNESOTA CALLED PACHYDERM, AND WHEN PACHYDERM, AND WH STAY THERE, IS IN CANNONFALLS YOU GET THE STUDIO BUT ALSO RENT THE HOUSE.

MOST OF US ARE PARENTS, IT WAS A SPECIAL TIME TO BE ABLE TO GET AWAY AND MAKE A RECORD AND IN THE COLD OF JANUARY AND THEN WE PUT OUT IN OCTOBER WHICH IS KIND OF A QUICK TURNAROUND FOR US, BUT IT WAS A REALLY JOYFUL WAY TO SPEND 2025.

>> YEAH, WHAT INSPIRED THE SONGS ON THE ALBUM?

ARE THEY NEW THINGS OR THINGS THAT YOU'D HAD IN YOUR POCKET FOR A WHILE?

>> KIND OF A COMBINATION.

SO I ELONG TO A GROUP OF WRITERS WHERE IN THE WINTER WE WRITE A SONG BASED ON A PROMPT EVERY OTHER WEEK AND THEN IN THE SUMMER -- SO I ACCUMULATE A LOT OF SONGS.

NOT ALL OF THEM ALBUM-WORTHY AT ALL, BUT AND BEFORE I WENT INTO THE STUDIO I TOOK A BIG PILE OF THEM AND I KIND OF LOOKED AT THE DIFFERENT THEMES AND I HAD THREE SONGS THAT WERE ANCHORS.

AND SO THAT HELPED GUIDE WHAT OTHER SONGS PLAYED TOGETHER.

I GET VERY WOO-WOO LIKE AN ALBUM OF SONGS, THEY'RE GOING TO BE FRIENDS, SO.

>> YEAH, AND I DO WANT TO ASK ABOUT ONE THING, I WAS CREEPING ON YOUR INSTAGRAM.

YOU LIKE LOVE MORNING SKIES.

>> I DO.

>> WHY DO YOU LOVE THEM?

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> WELL, WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE?

THEY'RE GORGEOUS.

AFTER BECOMING A MOM AND THEN IN, AND I JUST LOVE LOOKING UP.

I LOVE LOOKING UP, I LOVE LOOKING OUT.

AND IN COVID WHEN I NEEDED SOMETHING TO KIND OF ROOT ME IN A GRATITUDE PRACTICE, I JUST STARTED TAKING ONE PICTURE EVERY DAY OF THE SKY AND PUTTING IT OUT THERE AND THE HASHTAG IS ALWAYS THE SAME "FROM LOVE, FOR LOVE."

THAT'S WHAT I DO.

>> BEAUTIFUL.

WELL YOU HAVE A COLLABORATION COMING UP AT THE DAKOTA WITH MOLLY DEAN.

TELL US ABOUT THAT, WHEN IT IS, WHAT WE CAN EXPECT.

>> MARCH 3RD, 3/3, VERY EXCITED.

IT'S TUESDAY, YOU DON'T WANT TO COOK DINNER ON TUESDAY NIGHT YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE SOMETHING DELICIOUS AND LET US SING TO YOU.

MOLLY'S MAGICAL, SHE'S SO GIFTED AND GORGEOUS AND WE SHARE A FEW BANDMATES SO IT'S GOING TO HAVE A REAL SENSE F TOGETHERNESS AND I CAN'T WAIT.

WE HAD OUR RELEASE SHOW FOR THE ALBUM ON 10/10 AT DAKOTA SO ANYTIME WE CAN GO BACK THERE IT JUST FEELS GOOD.

>> WHAT TWO SONGS ARE YOU GOING TO SING FOR US TONIGHT?

>> I'M GOING TO START WITH A SONG FROM THE ALBUM, IT'S CALLED GLOW, IT WAS ONE OF THOSE ANCHOR SONGS I TALKED ABOUT, IT'S ABOUT CELEBRATING THAT SPECIAL SOMETHING THAT SOMEONE ELSE HAS AND ENCOURAGING THEM TO KEEP GOING WITH IT.

THE WORLD NEEDS MORE OF WHAT YOU'VE GOT.

>> YEAH.

>> AND THEN LATER ON I'M GOING TO SING A SONG THAT HAS BEEN IN MY POCKET FOR A MINUTE BUT I RECORD IT DID ON JANUARY 5TH OF THIS YEAR CALLED "WE BELONG TO EACH OTHER" AND I PUT IT OUT WITH MY FRIEND EARL TURNER AT THE END OF JANUARY.

BECAUSE IT FELT NECESSARY.

>> YEAH, FEELS LIKE THE RIGHT TIME.

>> WELL, LET'S HEAR FROM SARAH MORRIS, WITHOUT ANY FURTHER ADO.

♪ >> THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT YOU LATELY I CAN'T PUT MY FINGER ON IT A SUBTLE DIFFERENCE THAT'S SUDDENLY STRIKING IN THIS LIGHT ♪ ♪ THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT YOU LATELY THAT'S BEEN SOFTLY UNDULATING SLOW-BURN RADIATING -- UNTIL, UNTIL, UNTIL TONIGHT ♪ ♪ WHEN THE MOON BOWS DOWN TO YOUR BRIGHT WOULD YOU TELL ME, CAN YOU TELL ME, CAUSE I WANNA KNOW CAN YOU TELL ME, CAN YOU TELL ME ME 'CAUSE I WANNA KNOW WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE AND WHERE DO YOU GET, WHERE DO YOU GET, WHERE DO YOU GET ... THAT GLOW THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT YOU LATELY EVERYBODY'S SAYING THERE'S AN EASY, PEACEFUL WAY YOU MOVE NOW IT'S LIKE SUN ON WATER THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT YOU LATELY LIKE YOU'VE SHED SOME HEAVY WEIGHT IN SWEET ANTICIPATION OF STANDING EVEN, EVEN, EVEN, EVEN TALLER AND THE STARS LINE UP IN YOUR HONOR CAN YOU TELL ME, CAN YOU TELL ME ME 'CAUSE I WANNA KNOW CAN YOU TELL ME, CAN YOU TELL ME ME 'CAUSE I WANNA WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE, WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE AND WHERE DO YOU GET, WHERE DO YOU GET, WHERE DO YOU GET THAT GLOW?

I CAN'T HELP BUT NOTICE YOU'RE NOT EVEN SHOWING IT OFF DON'T CHANGE A THING, MY FRIEND AND PLEASE DON'T STOP THE WORLD NEEDS MORE, SO MUCH MORE OF HATEVER IT IS YOU GOT WHATEVER IT IS YOU GOT CAN YOU TELL ME, CAN YOU TELL ME ME 'CAUSE I WANNA KNOW CAN YOU TELL ME, CAN YOU TELL ME ME 'CAUSE I WANNA KNOW WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE AND WHERE DO OU GET, WHERE DO YOU GET, WHERE DO YOU GET OH, WHERE DO YOU GET, WHERE DO YOU GET, WHERE DO YOU GET THAT GLOW?

♪ ♪ THAT GLOW >> MY OWN SENSE OF CIVIC DUTY WAS INSTILLED IN ME BY MY IMMIGRANT GRANDPARENTS.

WHEN I WAS STILL TEACHING AND I GIVE EXAMPLES OF LIKE MUD-SLINGING AND NAME-CALLING AND NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING AND THE KIDS WOULD GET SO TURNED OFF BY IT AND THEY JUST WOULD HATE IT AND IF WE COULD BE MORE CIVIL TO EACH OTHER.

♪ ♪ >> THE STATE BUDGET FORECAST TECHNICALLY IMPROVED TO A MORE THAN $3 BILLION STATE SURPLUS.

ALTHOUGH A SHORTFALL STILL LOOMS IN THE FUTURE.

FEDERAL SHUTDOWNS AND SHIFTING POLICIES FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PUNISHING THE STATE FOR FRAUD MAKE THESE PREDICTIONS FAR FROM CERTAIN, THOUGH.

POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER PUTS THE DOLLARS AND CENTS AND THE POLITICS OF FRAUD INTO SOME CONTEXT.

>> MINNESOTA'S ECONOMY CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF THE MOST RESILIENT AND DIVERSE IN THE COUNTRY.

>> THE STATE BUDGET FORECAST ARRIVES WITH UNPRECEDENTED UNCERTAINTY.

>> CONTINUED FEDERAL FUNDING, UNCERTAINTY COULD HAVE IMPACTS ON OUR GENERAL FUND BOTTOM LINE.

>> THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF IMMIGRATION ACTION IN THE -- TO QUANTIFY -- IS DIFFICULT TO QUANTIFY.

>> IT IS LIKELY RESTRICTIONS ON IMMIGRATION WILL HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON THE NATIONAL ECONOMY BUT MINNESOTA IN PARTICULAR, MUCH OF OUR LABOR FORCE GROWTH OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS HAS BEEN BECAUSE OF INTERNATIONAL IMMIGRATION.

>> THE LOSS OF FEDERAL FUNDS WILL AFFECT THE STATE BUDGET AND LEAVE LAWMAKERS SCRAMBLING.

>> THIS IS NOT A NORMAL FORECAST DAY IN PART BECAUSE THIS FORECAST COMES WITH THE BIGGEST ASTERISK EVER.

ALL OF THE IMPROVEMENT WE SAW IN THE FORECAST TODAY, IN FACT MORE THAN ALL OF IT, WOULD BE OFFSET BY JUST THE CUTS TO MINNESOTA'S MEDICAID FUNDING THAT WERE ANNOUNCED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION EARLIER IN THE WEEK.

>> THE ESTIMATE FROM THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS ON THE IMPACT AND THEIR ECONOMICS IN THE CITY, IT'S OVER 200 MILLIONED ANDS THAT'S JUST ONE CITY.

SO CERTAINLY THE ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR THE STATE IS GOING TO BE TREMENDOUS AND AS WAS MENTIONED THAT ISN'T IN THE FORECAST RIGHT NOW.

>> IT'S GOOD I GUESS THAT FINALLY IN THE EIGHTH YEAR OF THIS GOVERNOR'S ADMINISTRATION HE'S IMPLEMENTED SOME BARE MEASURES OF FRAUD THAT HAVE SLOWED DOWN THE AVALANCHE OF FRAUD THAT'S BEEN ALLOWED UNDER HIS ADMINISTRATION.

>> WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT FRAUD AND IT HAS GONE ON FOR YEARS UNDER THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION, THERE NEEDS TO BE A LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY THAT WHEN IT WASN'T TAKEN AT A STATE LEVEL, THE FEDS ARE GOING TO HELP US MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS NOT MORE FRAUD GOING ON.

>> TEMPORARILY HALT CERTAIN AMOUNTS OF MEDICAID FUNDING THAT ARE GOING TO THE STATE OF MINNESOTA IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THE STATE OF INNESOTA TAKES ITS OBLIGATIONS SERIOUSLY TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE'S TAX MONEY.

>> A QUARTER OF A BILLION DOLLARS IS BEING CUT OFF.

>> THE TOP BILLER SUBMITTED 450 DAYS WHERE THEY CLAIMED THEY WERE WORKING MORE THAN 24 HOURS A DAY.

EVEN IN THE WHITE HOUSE THAT'S TOUGH.

IT'S HARD TO WORK MORE THAN 24 HOURS A DAY.

>> THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYS THEY'RE TAKING THE LARGEST ACTION THEY'VE EVER TAKEN AGAINST FRAUD SET UP WITH MISINFORMATION IN THE STATE OF THE UNION.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO THE CORRUPTION THAT IS PLUNDERING -- REALLY, IT'S PLUNDERING AMERICA.

THERE'S BEEN NO MORE STUNNING EXAMPLE THAN MINNESOTA.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK IS BEHIND THIS?

FROM THE IMMIGRATION ACTION -- >> IF I KNEW WHAT WENT ON IN DONALD TRUMP'S MIND I THINK THE WORLD WOULD BE REALLY GLAD TO HAVE ME SAY WHAT IT IS.

I HAVE NO DAMN IDEA, MARY.

I THINK THE NUMBER IS NOW 19 BILLION ACCORDING TO THE PRESIDENT, AND YOU KNOW, LOOK, THE THING ABOUT THAT IS AND WE'VE BEEN VERY ANDID AND OPEN TRYING TO SOLVE THIS.

MISINFORMATION DOESN'T ELP US FIX FRAUD.

THIS IS A TARGETED RETRIBUTION AGAINST A STATE THAT HE PRESIDENT DOESN'T LIKE.

>> GOVERNOR WALZ ANNOUNCED AN EXTENSIVE ANTIFRAUD PACKAGE THAT INCLUDES BETTER DETECTION, INVESTIGATION, AND INCREASED CRIMINAL PENALTIES.

HE SAYS IT'S HIS TOP PRIORITY THIS SESSION BEFORE HE LEAVES OFFICE.

>> THE PERSON WHO'S ANGRIEST ABOUT THIS FRAUD IS ME.

THERE'S NO POLITICAL UPSIDE TO HAVING FRAUD IN YOUR STATE.

>> THE THEFT OF OUR PUBLIC FUNDS IN PARTICULAR -- [ AUDIO CUT OUT ] IS PARTICULARLY EGREGIOUS BECAUSE WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS PREYING -- >> -- THAT WILL HELP PREVENT FRAUD.

>> HOUSE DEMOCRATS ALSO ANNOUNCED SEVERAL FRAUD BILLS INCLUDING SITE VISITS, BACKGROUND CHECKS, MORE TECHNOLOGY AND AUDITS.

>> HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE OUTRAGED BY THE AMOUNT OF FRAUD THAT HAS BEEN DISCOVERED IN -- TAKING STRONG ACTION.

>> IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO LOOK THROUGH THE SYSTEM AND SAY WHERE ARE WE FAILING TO DELIVER A GOOD PROGRAM.

>> INDIVIDUAL HOUSE MEMBERS HAVE BEEN CRITICAL OF GOVERNOR WALZ AS COMMITTEES REPEATEDLY FAILED TO ADVANCE A BILL CREATING AN OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL.

>> I DON'T REALLY CARE WHAT THE GOVERNOR LIKES OR WANTS TO DO.

>> OH.

>> THAT IS WHAT WE CHOOSE ERE IN THIS BODY TO DO, THAT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY.

>> THE CONVERSATION IS CLEAR THAT THIS BILL IS NOT READY AND IT IS NOT, THE HOUSE WORK IS NOT YET COMPLETED.

>> THIS BILL HAS BROAD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IT.

HAS COME OVER THE SENATE WITH AN EXCEPTIONALLY STRONG SENATE POSITION.

>> WHY WAS IT SO EASY IN THE SENATE LAST YEAR AND THE HOUSE IS REALLY STRUGGLING?

>> IT WASN'T EASY.

IT WAS NOT EASY.

I THINK SENATOR GUSTAFSON, SENATOR KREUN AND OTHERS WORKED VERY QUIETLY AND IN A COMMITTED WAY BEHIND THE SCENES TO FIND A PATH FORWARD.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOUR CAUCUS BUT THERE WERE LOTS OF QUESTIONS N OUR CAUCUS THAT NEEDED TO BE RESOLVED.

I THINK THERE WERE NINE OR 11 COMMITTEE HEARINGS.

IT'S NOT AN EASY POLICY.

>> I THINK THE SENATE OPERATES A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT TOO.

WE HAVE HAD RESPECTFUL CONVERSATIONS BEHIND THE SCENES WITH HEATHER GUSTAFSON AND MICHAEL CREEUN WHO HAVE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB BUILDING THAT RELATIONSHIP AND TRUST AND HOPING THAT SPILLS OVER TO THE HOUSE.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT SAME, THERE SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A BLOCK THERE.

♪ >> Eric: WE GOT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS, COMPETING PLANS HERE IN MINNESOTA TO COMBAT FRAUD, FEBRUARY FORECAST, SO, MANY TOPICS AND SO LITTLE TIME, NOT THE TO MENTION THE POLITICAL CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING OLYMPIC HOCKEY.

REPUBLICANS UP FIRST TONIGHT BRIAN MCCLUNG, FORMER PAWLENTY STAFFER NOW P AT THE CREATIVELY NAMED CREATIVELYNAME NAMED MCCLUNG FI.

EMILY NOVOTNY CHANCE IS A FORMER WHITE HOUSE INTERN AND LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT IN THE STATE SENATE.

SHE IS THE YOUNGEST NATIONAL REPUBLICAN COMMITTEEWOMAN IN THE COUNTRY.

DEMOCRATS ON THE COUCH TONIGHT, SARA LOPEZ IS A PARTY ACTIVIST AND POLICY DIRECTOR AT UNIDOS MINNESOTA.

AND ABOU AMARA IS A FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER TURNED ATTORNEY.

BRIAN, WITH HE FORECAST AND STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH, I WONDER IF THE PRESIDENT, AND HE'S CALLING HIS RETRIBUTION TO MINNESOTA, DOES IT HELP, URT OR MAKE NO DIFFERENCE TO REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES IN 2026?

>> WELL, LOOK, IT'S THE MIDTERM AND THE MIDTERM IS ALWAYS TOUGH FOR THE PARTY THAT'S IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

SO I THINK THAT'S A BASELINE GIVEN.

BUT I THINK IN MINNESOTA THINGS ARE DIFFERENT BECAUSE MINNESOTANS ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE FRAUD THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING.

SO WE SEE $9 BILLION WORTH OF FRAUD AND THE U.S.

ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS NOT LETTING THAT GO, RIGHT?

THEY'RE COMING BACK ON IT, CERTAINLY THEY'VE HAD STAFFING ISSUES, ET CETERA BUT THIS IS NOT GOING AWAY AND NOW THE WHITE HOUSE HAS PUT A FREEZE ON MEDICAID RIGHT NOW IN MINNESOTA BECAUSE THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO SEE MINNESOTANS CONCERNED AND WORRIED ABOUT THAT.

AND I THINK THAT'S AN ISSUE YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THINGS, RIGHT?

IF YOU WANT TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE FRAUD YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THINGS AND THAT MEANS REPUBLICANS.

>> 100%.

HITTING ON THE MEDICAID ISSUE, THE GOVERNOR COMMISSIONED THAT $2 MILLION STUDY ON -- AUDIO CUT OUT ] -- AUTISM AND CAME OUT WITH A FULLY REDACTED REPORT -- >> ACCOUNTABILITY AND ACTUALLY SAID I AM RESPONSIBLE, I'M NOT GOING TO BE THE ONE RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND I'M GOING TO FOCUS ON THIS PROBLEM.

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL YOU'RE MISSING SOMETHING, IT'S CALLED TIM WALZ -- SOMETHING YOU'RE GOING TO BE MAKING AGAINST AMY KLOBUCHAR.

>> IT'S QUITE SIMPLE, WE HAD U.S.

CITIZENS RELEASED FROM THE WHIPPLE TODAY, RIGHT?

AND PEOPLE ARE VERY CONCERNED FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS BEING ASSERTED AND ADDITIONALLY I DO BELIEVE THAT I MEAN FRAUD, NOBODY ON THIS COUCH, NOBODY IN THE PARTY, NOBODY IN THE D.F.L., NOBODY IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BELIEVES FRAUD IS GOOD.

THERE'S A LOT OF ATTEMPTS TO COMBAT IT SO I DO THINK THAT THE PRESENCE OF I.C.E.

IS STILL VERY MUCH FELT -- THAT'S A HUGE COMMUNITY THAT'S REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING.

THERE'S -- IN HOUSING.

SO THE PEOPLE ARE FEELING EFFECTS OF THE OCCUPATION.

>> AND IF YOU JUST SAW WHAT CHIEF JUDGE SCHULTZ, MINNESOTA CONSERVATIVE JURIST HAS SAID THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS VIOLATED HUNDREDS OF ORDERS.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MINNESOTANS REGARDLESS OF FAR LEFT OR FAR RIGHT THEY CARE ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND WHEN THERE'S EXECUTIVE OVERREACH BY THE PRESIDENT.

>> WELL, HERE'S THE THING, THOUGH, THE REAL FIGHT ON THE BALLOT THIS YEAR IS GOING TO BE AT THE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL.

RIGHT?

AND SO IN THOSE STATE SENATE AND STATE HOUSE RACES WHERE PEOPLE KNOW THE CANDIDATES WHO ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY.

AND THAT HAS BEEN SORELY LACKING IN MINNESOTA STATE GOVERNMENT FOR TOO LONG.

SO, SURE, RIGHT, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AT DIFFERENT LEVELS THE FEDERAL LEVEL, ET CETERA BUT I THINK WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THOSE STATE HOUSE AND STATE SENATE RACES PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE ASKING THEIR CANDIDATES WHAT WERE YOU DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR TAX DOLLARS WEREN'T WASTED.

WE USED TO SAY IN MINNESOTA, SURE OUR TAXES ARE HIGH BUT IT'S OKAY BECAUSE WE GET GOOD VALUE FOR THOSE TAXES, THAT HASN'T BEEN THE CASE RECENTLY.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF INTEREST IN ACCOUNTABILITY.

33,000 D.F.L.ERS CAUCUSED, COMPARED TO 18,000GOP.

>> IT'S STILL LOW, EITHER SIDE IS LOW.

>> THERE IS POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES COMING.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED THE GOVERNOR AND I'M WONDERING WHAT'S GOING ON, IT WAS INTERESTING TO WATCH SOME OF HIS .F.L.

COLLEAGUES IN THE LEGISLATURE ARE PUBLICLY DISAGREEING WITH HIM SO THE LAME DUCK STATUS, LAME DUCK BADGE IS KIND OF PENNED ON HIM AT THIS POINT.

INTERESTING TO SEE THE PUSHBACK?

>> I'M NOT SURPRISED AT ALL.

WE OFTEN SAY WE'RE NOT MEMBERS OF AN ORGANIZED PARTY, WE'RE MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

THERE'S TUSSLE AND BACK AND FORTH, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, I'M NOT SURPRISED.

THAT'S WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN, BUT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND MOVING FORWARD TIM WALZ IS FOCUSED ON THIS PROBLEM, LEGISLATORS ARE GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT, UNLIKE HIM.

>> Eric: IT'S NOT CLEAR WHETHER THE LEGISLATURE CAN FOLLOW THE FEDERAL LEAVE AND OVER TIME AND -- OVERTIME AND TIPS NO TAX.

THAT'S PRETTY POPULAR, THOUGH, ISN'T IT, EVEN THOUGH A BIG NUMBER.

IS THAT AN ISSUE IF THE DEMOCRATS WANT TO PUT A TAX ON SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES OR SOMETHING, IS THAT GOING TO PLAY?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

THE REPUBLICANS TODAY WHEN THEY CAME OUT WITH THEIR OWN PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER THE GOVERNOR, SPEAKER DEMUTH WAS TALKING ABOUT TAX UNIFORMITY, HOW SHE'D LOVE TO GET THERE RIGHT AWAY BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME TO GET THERE.

BUT I THINK MINNESOTANS ARE SEEING IT S THEY'RE FILING THEIR TAX RETURNS, I KNOW EVERYDAY BLUE COLLAR WORKERS THAT ARE SEEING MORE MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS AS A RESULT OF TRUMP TAX CUTS.

>> WELL, AND THIS IS THE THING IS THAT WHEN DONALD TRUMP PROPOSED NO TAX ON TIPS, NO TAX ON OVERTIME, HE KNEW THAT THAT WAS APPEALING TO VOTERS [ UDIO CUT OUT ] WHO LARGELY VOTED FOR DEMOCRATS, RIGHT?

THAT WILL ONE OF THE WAYS HE WAS ABLE TO BROADEN HIS COALITION AND FOR DEMOCRATS TO SAY, NO, WE'RE GOING TO TAX YOUR TIPS, YOU'RE A SERVER WORKING HARD, SOMEBODY WHO'S WORKING OVERTIME ON A CONSTRUCTION JOB, NO, WE'RE GOING TO TAX THAT, I THINK THAT IS A TERRIBLE POSITION FOR MINNESOTA DEMOCRATS TO BE IN, THEY'RE GOING TO PUSH BACK AGAINST THEIR OWN BASE IN MANY WAYS AND THESE ARE SWING VOTERS THAT THEN I THINK HAVE ONE FOR REPUBLICANS AND COULD DO THAT AGAIN.

>> I THINK THAT'S PLURALISM AND I DO BELIEVE THAT -- HAVE CORPORATIONS PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THERE'S -- LIKE WE ALL -- ABOUT EVERYBODY PEOPLE PAYING THE FAIR SHARE OF THE IE.

THAT'S PLURALISM.

>> THE DEMOCRAT SOLUTION IS ALWAYS JUST TO RAISE TAXES.

MORE TAXES, MORE TAXES, MORE TAXES, REPUBLICANS WANT TO -- >> PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE -- >> DONALD TRUMP RAISED 173 -- THROUGH TARIFFS.

>> SPEAKING OF TAXES YOU KNOW HOW PEOPLE WERE REALLY, REALLY UPSET WITH THEIR PROPERTY TAX BILLS WHEN THEY SAW THEM THIS PAST FALL?

ANY HINT OF ANY PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AT ALL IN THE SESSION?

OR IS THAT JUST A NONSTARTER >> YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY HARD TO SEE THIS LEGISLATURE SPENDING ANY MONEY.

RIGHT?

WHETHER ON TAX CUTS, WHETHER ON NEW PROGRAMS, ET CETERA, RIGHT, AGAIN, BACK TO WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR THESE AST COUPLE YEARS, 67-67 IN THE HOUSE, 34-33 IN THE SENATE.

AND YOU'VE SEEN EVEN BILLS THAT HAVE COME UP IN THE COMMITTEE SO FAR, MANY OF THEM FAILING.

HOUSE COMMITTEE -- SO I THINK -- MAYBE WOULD GIVE PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT OF BREATHING ROOM ESPECIALLY IN THE SENSE THAT THAT OUT-BIENNIUM WENT POSITIVE, RIGHT?

THEY'RE STILL SAYING STRUCTURAL DEFICIT BUT SLIGHTLY TO THE POSITIVE THERE AND ANOTHER BILLION DOLLARS IN THE CURRENT.

SO YOU'D THINK IN NORMAL KIND OF, YOU KNOW, SESSION YOU'D SAY PEOPLE WOULD BE LIKE READY TO GO.

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF CAUTION RIGHT NOW AND I DO THINK THAT IT'S NOT LIKELY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND MONEY ON -- >> WATCH THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEES LATE IN SESSION FOR TARGETED TAX RELIEF.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEBODY IN THE KNOW TOLD ME THERE ARE 17 TARGETED HOUSE DISTRICTS OF THE 134.

HOW MANY MONEY IS GOING TO BE SPEND ON 17 RACES?

I MEAN, IT'S -- NOT MUCH IS COMPETITIVE HERE.

>> I THINK IF YOU HAVE FIVE TO SEVEN DISTRICTS OU'LL PROBABLY HAVE SOMETHING TO THE TUNE OF 6 TO $8 MILLION SPENT CUMULATIVELY.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT THOUGH MARGINALLY THAT'S WHERE THE MAJORITY IS GOING TO LIE.

IT'S GOING TO LIE IN 36,000 VOTERS ACROSS TEN TO 12 DISTRICTS MAYBE.

>> YEAH.

>> AND IT KIND OF MAKES SENSE THAT MONEY WOULD O INTO THOSE EFFORTS.

>> WELL, WE'VE NEVER GONE INTO AN ELECTION CYCLE WITH A TIED HOUSE AND A ONE-SEAT MAJORITY IN THE SENATE, RIGHT?

SO I MEAN THAT IS AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN ACTUALLY BE.

AND SO WHEN YOU HAVE THIS MONEY COMING IN THROUGH, AND LOTS OF IT IS GOING TO BE SPENT THROUGH THE NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES.

RSCL, DLCC.

THEY'RE GOING TO RAISE A LOT OF MONEY AND MINNESOTA IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT TO THOSE LEGISLATIVE NATIONAL COMMITTEES.

SO I DO THINK OU'RE GOING TO SEE IN, YOU KNOW, ROUGHLY TEN STATE SENATE DISTRICTS, ROUGHLY 20 STATE HOUSE DISTRICTS A RECORD AMOUNT OF MONEY SPENT.

>> SPEAKER DEMUTH FRONTRUNNER FOR REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT ENDORSEMENT?

>> I'M BOUND TO RESPECT THE DECISION AT THE CONVENTION BECAUSE REPUBLICANS ALLOW A DEMOCRATIC PROCESS WHERE WE PICK OUR CANDIDATE SO I CAN'T COMMENT ON IT THAT UNTIL WE DECIDE AT THE END OF MAY.

>> SHE IS THE FRONT-RUNNER TO BE THE SACK OFFICIAL LAMB AGAINST AMY KLOBUCHAR.

>> OH, MAN, THAT'S ROUGH.

BUT I DO THINK, YOU KNOW, I WAS AT PRECINCT CAUCUSES.

>> WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WENT?

>> LAST TIME WAS 2018.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> AND BEFORE THAT -- I WENT, I WAS REALLY THERE.

SO EVERYBODY SAID BRIAN, YOU SHOULD ACTUALLY SHOW UP.

SO I WENT.

THERE WERE SIX PEOPLE IN MY PRECINCT, FORMER LEGISLATOR BUZZ ANDERSON WAS PRECINCT CONVENER, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE MINNESOTA RETAILERS ASSOCIATION.

GREAT TO SEE PEOPLE.

WE HAD FOUR VOTES FOR KENDALL QUALLS AND TWO FOR LISA DEMUTH.

I THINK HOSE TWO KIND OF EMERGED AS FRONT-RUNNERS AND MIKE LINDELL WAS IN THIRD PLACE.

SO I THINK THOSE THREE PROBABLY HAVE THE MOST SUPPORT AMONG DELEGATES.

WE'LL SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT AS WE GET INTO THE NEXT LEVEL.

I DO THINK SPEAKER DEMUTH IS THE FRONT-RUNNER OVERALL.

>> SAY, I'M WONDERING HERE, SWEENEY'S SALOON IN ST.

PAUL SAYS THEY'LL GIVE A FREE MEAL TO LEGISLATORS IF THEY SHOW UP, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS SIT TOGETHER.

NOW, WITH ALL THE TALK OF HEATED RHETORIC AND DO WE THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> I THINK THAT COULD HAPPEN.

I THINK -- REQUIREMENT OF HAVING A PICTURE.

[ LAUGHTER ] YOU KNOW?

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> Eric: THE HOUSE SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE PRICKLY STILL >> Cathy: YEAH, EXACTLY RIGHT.

>> THE HOUSE IS PRICKLY BUT HERE'S THE THING UNDERNEATH ALL OF THAT THERE ARE LOTS OF LAWMAKERS WHO REALLY LIKE EACH OTHER.

AND I ACTUALLY RETWEETED FRED MELO'S TWEET ON THIS, IF YOU OPEN IT UP TO PR HACKS AND LOBBYISTS AND THE REST OF US THEY MIGHT GO OUT OF BUSINESS, RIGHT?

LIKE THERE ARE A LOT OF US WHO DO RESPECT AND GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER.

GOOD FOR SWEENEY'S.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT SENTIMENT AND I HOPE PEOPLE TAKE THEM UP ON IT.

>> Eric: WHAT A NICE POSITIVE WAY TO END THE SEGMENT.

>> Cathy: THERE YOU GO, SEE?

GOOD JOB.

THANKS.

♪ >> TELL US ABOUT EDWARD, THIS IS YOUR MUSE?

>> THIS IS MY MUSE AND I CAN SEE ERIC LOOKING AT ME LIKE, OH, BOY, HERE WE GO.

[ LAUGHTER ] THIS IS WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING YOU KNOW?

>> SEVEN MILLION TIMES IT'S WORKED, SO.

>> SEVEN MILLION BOOKS, THAT IS UNBELIEVABLE.

>> I'M STILL GETTING USED TO THAT NUMBER OO.

I WONDER WHO CAME UP WITH THAT NUMBER, I READ THAT IN THE PAPER AND THOUGHT, REALLY?

WOW!

♪ ♪ >> Eric: I DO BELIEVE THAT KATE IS MY FAVORITE ALL-TIME GUEST.

ALWAYS HAVE A LOT OF FUN WITH HER EVEN AFTER ALL THESE YEARS.

SPEAKING OF DAYS GONE BY, IT IS TIME TO TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF MINNESOTA HISTORY.

FOR THIS WEEK'S QUERY WE TRAVEL BACK IN TIME.

THE YEAR IS 2005.

IN JANUARY, GEORGE W. BUSH IS SWORN INTO HIS SECOND TERM AS PRESIDENT.

IN FEBRUARY, THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS WIN THEIR SECOND CONSECUTIVE SUPER BOWL.

IN MARCH THE HIT SHOW "THE OFFICE" DEBUTS ON NBC.

IN APRIL, YOUTUBE'S FIRST-EVER VIDEO IS UPLOADED TO THE INTERNET.

AND THAT IS THE PIECE OF HISTORY THAT RELATES TO OUR QUESTION THIS WEEK.

A COUPLE MONTHS LATER, A MINNESOTAN AND FORMER ALMANAC GUEST UPLOADS A VIDEO TO THE NOW-UBIQUITOUS SITE.

THIS MINNESOTAN CLAIMS THAT WITH THIS VIDEO, THEY BECAME THE FIRST PERSON TO SWEAR ON YOUTUBE.

OUR QUESTION FOR YOU: WHAT FORMER ALMANAC GUEST CLAIMS TO BE THE FIRST PERSON TO SWEAR IN A VIDEO ON YOUTUBE?

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU ARE CALLING FROM WHISKEY LANE ALONG THE SAWBILL TRAIL, THE GUNFLINT TRAIL OR THE ARROWHEAD TRAIL.

ALL REAL ROADS LOCATED IN COOK COUNTY, UP IN THE ARROWHEAD REGION OF MINNESOTA.

651-229-1430 IS THE NUMBER TO CALL.

YOU CAN ALWAYS DROP US A NOTE ALMANAC@TPT.ORG.

EXTRA CREDIT TO ANY FORMER TPT EMPLOYEE WHO GETS THIS ONE RIGHT.

WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH TIME LEFT FOR SOME MORE MUSIC BY SARAH MORRIS.

YOU CAN CHECK HER AT THE DAKOTA NEXT TUESDAY NIGHT.

STILL TICKETS LEFT SO HOP ONLINE AND GRAB THEM AFTER ENJOYING ANOTHER TUNE.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

BE CAREFUL.

♪ ♪ >> WE BELONG TO EACH OTHER THERE'S A POWER IN A PROMISE CAN YOU FEEL IT SHIFT MOLECULES IN THE ROOM OH, WE ELONG TO EACH OTHER EVEN IF I NEVER HEARD YOUR NAME YOU'RE MY FAMILY YOU'RE MY NEIGHBOR IT'S MY HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO SHARE THIS BIT OF TIME AND SPACE WANTING LOVE AND A PLACE TO REST WHEN THE DAY'S DONE IF YOU SHOW ME YOUR HEART I'M SURE I WILL FIND YOURS I'M BOUND TO GET THIS WRONG MORE THAN I GET IT RIGHT BUT I'LL KEEP TRYING TO BE MORE PATIENT.

LESS DEFENSIVE IGNORE THE WORST ASSUME THE BEST OR AT LEAST TRY A LITTLE TENDERNESS OH, WE BELONG TO EACH OTHER I SAID IT AS A WHISPER BUT NOW I SING IT OUT LOUDER, CAN YOU HEAR HOW IT ECHOS.

I WANT TO SEE HOW FAR IT GOES SEND MY VOICE INTO THE COSMOS >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH AND HELPING COMMUNITIES THRIVE.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

"ALMANAC" IS A PRODU