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

>> ERIC: COMING UP ON "ALMANAC," WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET ACTION IN WASHINGTON.

HEAR ABOUT RELAXED WALLEYE REGULATIONS ON MILLE LACS LAKE.

PAUL DOUGLAS IS HERE FOR HIS MONTHLY WEATHER CHAT.

AND MARY LAHAMMER HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE INTERSECTION OF FOOD, FORAGING AND TRADITION UP AT THE CAPITOL.

>> Mary: FORAGING FOR FOOD IS AN ANCIENT TRADITION, BUT NOW THERE'S A POLITICAL BATTLE BREWING ABOUT LIMITS ON STATE LAND THAT BROUGHT SOME BIG NAMES TO HE CAPITOL.

>> I'M JUST EXCITED HERE TO LEND MY VOICE.

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW IT GOT TO BE SO POPULAR.

>> ALL WE WANT IS A PLACE AT THE TABLE.

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

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

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

>> ERIC: ANOTHER FULL SHOW FOR YOU TONIGHT.

PAUL DOUGLAS IS HERE FOR HIS MONTHLY WEATHER CHAT.

PIONEER PRESS REPORTER FRED MELO IS HERE WITH AN UPDATE ON VACANT DOWNTOWN ST. PAUL BUILDINGS.

DOMINIC PAPATOLA HAS AN ESSAY FOR US.

AND WE HAVE PLENTY OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL POLITICS FOR YOU.

>> CATHY: NATIONAL POLITICS IS WHERE WE START TONIGHT.

A BILL TO AVERT A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN NARROWLY PASSED THE U.S. SENATE A LITTLE MORE THAN AN HOUR AGO AND SHOULD BE SIGNED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT RUNNING.

KATHRYN PEARSON TEACHES POLITICAL SCIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

THE U OF M IS ALSO THE ACADEMIC HOME OF LARRY JACOBS, WHO HEADS UP THE HUMPHREY SCHOOL'S CENTER FOR POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE.

WELL, PROFESSOR PEARSON, THIS CONTINUING RESOLUTION THAT PASSED FEELS DIFFERENT, DOESN'T IT?

IT SETS SOME PRECEDENT?

>> IS IT DOES FEEL DIFFERENT FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.

SO IT KEEPS THE GOVERNMENT FUNDING ROUGHLY AT THE SAME LEVEL IT HAS BEEN THROUGH SEPTEMBER.

IT'S A SIX-MONTHS CONTINUING RESOLUTION, A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY FOR DEFENSE.

BUT WHAT IT ACKS IS A LOT OF THE PROVISIONS THAT DEMOCRATS HAD ADDED DURING THE APPROPRIATION CYCLE IN THE LAST CONGRESS THAT CONGRESS MISSED ALTOGETHER, AND THEN ALSO SOME PROVISIONS THE DEMOCRATS REALLY INITIALLY TRIED TO NEGOTIATE FOR, SUCH AS BREAKS ON SOME OF THE CUTS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS SORT OF INFLICTING ON THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE.

BRAKES.

AND DEMOCRATS WERE IN A ERY HARD POSITION.

ON THE ONE HAND, THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, AND ONE OF THE REASONS THAT A SHUTDOWN THIS TIME MIGHT HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT, SAY, THAN IN 2019, IS BECAUSE ONCE WORKERS WERE FURLOUGHED, THAT WOULD MAKE IT EVEN EASIER FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP TO ONTINUE TO DOWNSIZE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

ON THE OTHER AND, IT ALSO FEELS DIFFERENT BECAUSE THIS WAS DEMOCRATS' ONE OPPORTUNITY TO SORT OF HAVE SOME LEVERAGE.

THEY HAD A TACTIC HERE OF PREVENTING THE SENATE FROM PASSING THIS BECAUSE OF THE FILIBUSTER, IT REQUIRED 60 VOTES IN THE SENATE, WHICH NECESSITATES AT -- NECESSITATED AT LEAST EIGHT DEMOCRATIC VOTES WHICH THEY ULTIMATELY GAVE HIM BECAUSE CHUCK SCHUMER WHO SAID HE WOULDN'T DO SO SWITCHED HIS POSITION ON WEDNESDAY AND NOW DEMOCRATS ARE DEEPLY DIVIDED OVER THIS.

>> Cathy: SAY, I SEE THAT AMY KLOBUCHAR VOTED AGAINST THIS.

AND SHE WENT AGAINST CHUCK SCHUMER.

ISN'T THAT KIND OF INTERESTING IN TERMS OF GOING AGAINST YOUR LEADER.

>> IT'S VERY INTERESTING.

AMY KLOBUCHAR'S BEEN VERY CAREFUL TO STAY WITH THE LEADERSHIP.

SHE'S PART OF LEADERSHIP NOW.

ON THE OTHER HAND, I THINK THERE WAS SOME FREEDOM HERE TO VOTE.

THIS WASN'T A KIND OF, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THOSE "MUST-HAVE" VOTES BECAUSE HE WAS ALREADY ABLE TO OVERCOME THE FILIBUSTER, THAT WAS THE KEY THING.

BUT THE KEY THING HERE IN SCHUMER'S THINKING AND THE DEMOCRATS, THINGS ARE GETTING DIFFICULT FOR DONALD TRUMP.

YOU SEE IT IN POLLS AND A LOT OF OTHER THINGS.

AND IF THE DEMOCRATS WERE TO NOT PROVIDE THE VOTES FOR PASSING THIS, THEY WOULD BECOME PART OF THE STORY, PART OF THE REASON THAT THINGS ARE GOING SOUTH.

IN D.C.

THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT.

THEY WANT THE SPOTLIGHT TO REMAIN ON DONALD TRUMP AND THE POLITICAL COSTS OF THE CHAOS, OF THE CUTS, AND THE FUTURE CUTS TO BE SQUARELY ON THE REPUBLICANS.

>> Eric: DO WE HAVE ANY INFORMATION AS TO WHETHER HE 77 MILLION VOTES THAT TRUMP GOT ARE SHRINKING, THAT HIS BASE IS ABANDONING HIM?

>> WELL, CERTAINLY POLLING SUGGESTS THAT INDEPENDENTS ARE ABANDONING HIM.

IN PART, BECAUSE OF ELON MUSK'S ROLE AND DEMOCRATS ARE REALLY TRYING TO PLAY THAT UP.

AND, OF COURSE, IN PART, BECAUSE OF THE TARIFFS AND WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE STOCK MARKET AND THE ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY, AND THE PRICE OF EGGS, YOU KNOW, HASN'T GONE DOWN AS PROMISED.

>> Eric: BUT THE TRUMP BASE?

>> I THINK THE TRUMP BASE IS STILL QUITE ENTHUSIASTIC, BUT A BASE ISN'T ENOUGH TO WIN AN ELECTION IN THE MIDTERMS.

IN 2026.

>> THE ISSUE ABOUT THE BASE IS, WILL IT TURN OUT?

AND WE MAY SEE, YOU KNOW, IN A YEAR AND A HALF'S TIME THAT SOME OF THOSE REPUBLICANS JUST STAY AT HOME.

AND THAT'S OFTEN A PROBLEM FOR THE INCUMBENT, PART WILL STAY AT HOME.

WE HAVE SOME VERY SIGNIFICANT CUTS COMING UP PROBABLY TO MEDICAID.

AND IF YOU FOLLOW CLOSELY WHAT'S BEING TALKED ABOUT IN CONGRESS, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS 11% CUT.

THERE ARE 26 HOUSE RACES -- HOUSE SEATS HELD BY REPUBLICANS IN WHICH 30% OR MORE OF THE POPULATION RELIES ON MEDICAID.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF PAIN HEADING THE REPUBLICAN WAY.

AND I THINK DONALD TRUMP IS GOING TO FIND IT INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT.

>> AND WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THIS IN TOWN HALL MEETINGS, THAT REPUBLICANS ARE HOLDING, WE'RE STARTING TO SEE REPUBLICAN CONSTITUENTS COME TO THESE TOWN HALL MEETINGS WHO ARE UPSET ABOUT CUTS TO THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE MORE FEDERAL WORKERS IN THE D.C. METRO THAN SORT OF IN MOST PLACES, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF FEDERALLER WORKERS SPREAD OUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND MEMBERS -- REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE STARTING TO HEAR FROM THEM.

>> Cathy: SAY, CAN I ASK YOU GUYS ABOUT THE DEMOCRATIC SCHISM HERE, THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS WERE REALLY NOT HAPPY WITH THE SENATE DEMOCRATS.

THEY'RE A LITTLE YOUNGER, RIGHT?

SO NEW SO NE NEW YORK TIMES HAD A VERY INTERESTING ARTICLE TODAY ABOUT THE GENERATIONAL DIVIDE IN THE PARTY.

WHAT OF THAT?

>> WELL, THERE'S NO DOUBT THE DEMOCRATS ARE DIVIDED ABOUT THE FUTURE, AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK FOR KEN MARTIN, WHO'S NOW, YOU KNOW, THE LEADER OF THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY, HIS STRATEGY'S BASICALLY THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE TRUMP POLICIES, THE CUTS, INFLATION PROBABLY COMING UP AGAIN, PERHAPS ECONOMIC RECESSION S BEING TALKED ABOUT MORE AND MORE.

ALL OF THAT IS GOING TO PLAY TO THE DEMOCRATIC FAVOR.

WHEREAS, THE YOUNGER DEMOCRATS, THEY WANT A NEW AGENDA.

THERE'S TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS THE 2025 PROJECT FOR THE REPUBLICANS.

THERE ARE PROGRESSIVES WHO ARE TALKING ABOUT THE 2029 AGENDA.

AND THEY WANT TO SEE A WHOLE NEW APPROACH, THEY DON'T WANT TO JUST BE FIGHTING TO GO BACK TO WHERE THINGS WERE.

YOU KNOW, TO JOE BIDEN.

>> Eric: THE STOCK OF CONGRESS GOING DOWN, THE TOCK OF THE COURTS GOING UP, IS THAT FAIR?

>> OH, I MEAN, ABSOLUTELY.

CONGRESS IS BASICALLY ABDICATED ITS RESPONSIBILITY AS A BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT.

IN OUR SYSTEM.

I MEAN, CONGRESS IS SUPPOSED TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE SOME SORT OF GUARDRAILS AND E'RE JUST NOT SEEING THAT AT ALL.

AND, OF COURSE, -- >> Cathy: WHY DO YOU THINK DO NAH >> WELL, OF COURSE, IT'S BECAUSE PRESIDENT AND REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE ARE ACTING AS A TEAM INSTEAD OF SEPARATE INSTITUTIONS SHARING POWER IN OUR GOVERNMENT.

SO, AS A RESULT, WHERE IN EARLIER TIMES EVEN UNDER UNIFIED GOVERNMENT AND IN CONTEMPORARY TIMES UNDER DIVIDED OVERNMENT, WE WOULD SEE OVERSIGHT HEARINGS, WE WOULD SEE A LOT GOING ON, WE WOULD SEE LEGISLATION, WE WOULD SEE A LOT GOING ON THAT WE'RE NOT SEEING BECAUSE REPUBLICANS ARE ACTING AS A TEAM AND THEY'RE ACTING AS A TEAM TO A MUCH GREATER EXTENT THAN THEY WERE IN TRUMP'S FIRST TWO YEARS.

>> AND LET'S REMEMBER, DONALD TRUMP IS DOING A LOT OF THREATS.

WE SAW THE HOUSE PASS BY A TINY MARGIN THE BUDGET.

AND DONALD TRUMP WAS TOWING FOLKS AROUND, YOU DON'T VOTE FOR THIS, I WILL BE PUTTING UP A CHALLENGER IN YOUR PRIMARY.

AND THERE WERE PROBABLY A HANDFUL OF MEMBERS, REPUBLICANS, WHO FOLDED.

AFTER ALL, EVERYONE REMEMBERS WHAT HAPPENED TO LIZ CHENEY.

>> YEAH.

>> Eric: YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO COME ACK BECAUSE THERE'S MORE TO TALK ABOUT BUT WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

THANKS A LOT.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YA.

>> Eric: GOOD TO SEE YA, THANKS.

♪ >> ERIC: THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES ANNOUNCED RELAXED WALLEYE REGULATIONS ON MILLE LACS LAKE EARLIER THIS WEEK.

THAT'S QUITE DIFFERENT FROM A DECADE AGO WHEN THE LAKE WAS CLOSED TO WALLEYE FISHING MID SUMMER.

WALLEYE MANAGEMENT ON MILLE LACS HAS LONG BEEN A CONTENTIOUS ISSUE.

BACK IN 2014, WE SENT DAVID GILLETTE UP TO CHRONICLE THE SITUATION.

HERE'S A QUICK LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THE HISTORY OF THIS CONTROVERSIAL MATTER.

>> WE THINK SOME OF THE FUNDAMENTAL PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF THIS LAKE HAVE BEEN SHIFTING OVER TIME.

PERHAPS GOING BACK MAYBE 30 YEARS.

AND THEN OVER ABOUT THE PAST TEN YEARS, WE STARTED TO REALLY DOCUMENT AN INCREASE IN MORTALITY RATE OF THESE JUVENILE WALLEYES.

SO WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS, AND WE THINK IT'S POSSIBLY RELATED TO THESE PHYSICAL CHANGES IN THE LAKE.

>> David: IN SHORT, THE DNR BELIEVES IT'S A MIX OF FACTORS, FROM EXOTIC SPECIES TO CHANGES IN WATER CHEMISTRY TO A DISPROPORTIONATE PERCENTAGE OF LARGE PREDATORY FISH.

AND IT'S A PERSPECTIVE THE MILLE LACS BAND OF OJIBWE AGREES WITH.

>> THERE IS NO ONE BIG SMOKING GUN AS TO THE DECLINE OF THE WALLEYE.

AND IT'S ACTORS THAT AFFECT NOT ONLY LIKE MILLE LACS BUT A LOT OF THE LAKES IN THE AREA, WE'RE LOOKING T CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> David: BOEVER ORGANIZATIONS, THE STATE DNR AND THE TRIBAL DNR HAVE STATED THAT REBUILDING THE FISHERY IS A TOP PRIORITY.

BUT EVEN SO, THERE ARE LAKE RESIDENTS WHO REMAIN DEEPLY FRUSTRATED WITH THE DNR'S MANAGEMENT APPROACH.

>> OUR DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES HAS CHOSEN A MANAGEMENT COURSE THAT HAS PUT THIS LAKE IN A DOWNWARD SPIRAL.

>> WOULD SAY THAT IT PROBABLY STARTED WHEN THE COAL MANAGEMENT OF THE LAKE STARTED.

CO-MANAGEMENT OF THE LAKE STARTED.

IT SEEMED AT THAT POINT THEN, THE DNR HAD TO BECOME MORE POLITICAL RATHER THAN BIOLOGICAL.

>> David: THE CO-MANAGEMENT Mr. ENO IS REFERRING TO IS THE CURRENT POLICY, IN PLACE SINCE THE FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT RULING IN THE '90s REQUIRING WALLEYE HARVEST LIMITS TO BE SET IN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE MINNESOTA DNR AND THE TRIBAL DNR, A.K.A., CO-MANAGEMENT BETWEEN TWO SOVEREIGN AUTHORITIES.

>> I THINK IT'S JUST DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT'S SENSITIVE TO PEOPLE, BECAUSE YOU'RE DEALING WITH TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF GOVERNMENT.

WE'RE DEALING WITH THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENT, THAT HAS ITS OWN SOVEREIGNTY, AND YOU'RE DEALING WITH A STATE GOVERNMENT THAT HAS ITS.

>> YOU GET THESE TWO AGENCIES TOGETHER, AND THEY'RE WORKING THEIR SCIENCE VOODOO AND THEN THEY FORGET ABOUT THE PEOPLE.

>> ERIC: HERE TO BRING US UP TO SPEED ON THE JUST-ANNOUNCED RELAXATION OF WALLEYE REGULATIONS FOR MILLE LACS THIS YEAR, BRAD PARSONS, HEAD OF FISHERIES FOR THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.

I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A NEW EXTENDED MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE -- WITH YOU AND THE TRIBES.

>> WELL, YEAH, IN ESSENCE, WE'RE LOOKING AT A TWO-YEAR INTERIM AGREEMENT.

>> Eric: IT USED TO BE ONE YEAR, IT WASN'T?

>> IT HAS BEEN.

YEARS AGO, THERE WERE FIVE-YEAR PLANS.

BUT THIS GIVES US A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBILITY THIS YEAR IN TERMS OF -- AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE ALLOTMENT, WE COULD KEEP IT OPEN FOR CATCH ND RELEASE RATHER THAN CLOSE IT.

WHICH WE REALLY DO NOT WANT TO DO.

>> Cathy: SO WHAT HAPPENED TO CHANGE THINGS?

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: OBVIOUSLY CATCH AND RELEASE CLEARLY HELPED BECAUSE THE SMALLER FISH GREW UP, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: BUT WHAT ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE LAKE, THE WATER QUALITY, AND FOOD SOURCES?

>> WELL, IT'S THE FOOD SOURCES, REALLY, THAT HAS CHANGED SO MUCH THIS YEAR.

AS WE WENT INTO LAST YEAR'S FISHING, THE FISH WERE VERY VERY HUNGRY.

AND THAT MEANT THEY WERE WILLING TO BITE.

AND HAT BECOMES VERY CHALLENGING FOR US.

IT'S AN OPEN ACCESS FISHERY.

WE DON'T CONTROL HOW MANY PEOPLE GO O THE LAKE.

WE CAN'T CONTROL HOW THE FISH BITE.

WE CAN'T CONTROL THE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

BUT LAST YEAR WE HAD A GREAT YEAR CLASS, NOT ONLY F WALLEYE BUT YELLOW PERCH, WHICH IS THE PRIMARY FOOD AND ALSO TULABY.

AND, SO, THE FISH ARE MUCH BETTER FED.

THE CATCH RATES ARE STILL GOOD, BUT THEY'RE NOT RIDICULOUS LIKE THEY HAD BEEN IN THE PAST.

>> Cathy: BY THE WAY, DO YOU STOCK MILLE LACS?

>> NO.

NO.

WE DID A FEW YEARS AGO, BUT THAT WAS MORE -- THAT WAS TO FIND OUT HOW MANY NATURAL FISH WERE OUT THERE.

>> Eric: WHAT IS THIS GOING TO MEAN FOR ANGLERS?

>> IT MEANS THERE WILL BE A TWO-WALLEYE LIMIT BEGINNING ON THE OPENER THIS YEAR.

THEY DO HAVE TO BE OVER 17 INCHES, THERE IS A STATEWIDE RULE THAT ONLY ONE OF THOSE FISH CAN BE OVER 20.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE STATEWIDE FOR QUITE A WHILE, TO PROTECT THOSE PRIMARILY LARGER SPAWNING FEMALES.

>> Cathy: HOW'S IT BEEN TO WORK WITH THE RIBAL DNR?

I MEAN, TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE MANAGEMENT OF THAT, BECAUSE, AS YOU HEARD THE INDIVIDUAL IN THE PIECE, YOU KNOW, THE SCIENCE VOODOO, THAT KIND OF THING.

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: HOW IT BEEN WORKING?

>> WELL, IT DOES WORK, IT DOES WORK, IT CAN BE CHALLENGING, BUT WE HAVE THE SAME GOALS, WHICH IS THE LONG-TERM HEALTH OF THE LAKE, THE ABILITY FOR BOTH TRIBAL AND STATE ANGLERS TO HAVE WALLEYE TO CATCH INTO THE FUTURE.

THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE OF EVERYTHING RIGHT THERE.

HOW WE GO ABOUT THAT, THERE CAN BE DISCUSSIONS, THERE CAN BE DISAGREEMENTS.

BUT PARTICULARLY RIGHT NOW WHEN THE LAKE IS IN A GOOD PLACE, IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS MORE ABOUT THE FUTURE RATHER THAN THE PRESENT.

>> Eric: YOU SAID LOWER THE TEMPERATURE, IT SEEMS, THOUGH.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND WHEN THE LAKE IS HEALTHY, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS.

IT'S NOT LIKE 2012 HEN WE WERE IN A TOUGH SPOT.

>> Cathy: SO, HOW DO YOU KEEP THE LAKE HEALTHY?

>> WELL, YOU KEEP THE LAKE HEALTHY Y MAKING SURE YOU DON'T OVERHARVEST, EITHER ONE OF THE FISHERIES.

YOU MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S ENOUGH FOOD OUT THERE.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO KEEP TRACK OF THE INVASIVE SPECIES THAT HAVE CHANGED THE FOOD CHAIN, AND THAT'S REALLY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS LED TO SOME OF THE DIFFICULTIES THAT ARE OUT THERE.

IT'S SYSTEM CHANGE.

IT'S NOT JUST INVASIVE SPECIES, IT'S WATER QUALITY AND VARIOUS OTHER THINGS.

>> Cathy: I WONDER IN TERMS OF INVASIVE SPECIES IN THAT LAKE, WHAT ARE YOU MOST WORRIED ABOUT?

>> PRIMARILY ZEBRA MUSSELS AND SPINE KNEE WATER FLEECE, AND THAT'S BECAUSE THEY DO, THEY EAT THE LITTLE STUFF THAT'S THE BASE OF THE WHOLE FOOD CHAIN.

>> Eric: ICE FISHING, WAS IT A SUCCESSFUL SEASON?

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE?

>> YEAH, IT WAS SUCCESSFUL IN TERMS OF GOOD ICE CONDITIONS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WENT TO FISH.

OUR LAST TWO WINTERS HAVE BEEN TERRIBLE ICE CONDITIONS FOR TWO VERY DIFFERENT REASONS.

BUT THE WALLEYE BITE WAS GOOD, BUT OST OF THE FISH PEOPLE WERE CATCHING WERE LAST YEAR'S HATCH.

SO THOSE ARE VERY SMALL FISH, THEY'RE IN THE 8, 9-INCH SIZE RANGE WHICH AREN'T AVAILABLE FOR HARVEST.

AND, AGAIN, THE BIGGER FISH DIDN'T BITE AS MUCH BECAUSE THEY -- THEY'RE HEALTHY.

THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF FOOD OUT THERE.

AND THAT'S EXCITING.

I'M AS EXCITED ABOUT A GOOD PERCH OR TULABY YEAR CLASS AS I AM ABOUT A WALLEYE CLASS ANY DAY.

>> Eric: WHAT A DIFFERENCE.

REALLY.

>> IT IS.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT.

♪ ♪ >> YOU KNOW, AS I KIND OF GOT INTO POLITICS A LITTLE BIT, SERVING ON THE CITY COUNCIL, SERVING AS MAYOR, I HAD SOME LOCAL FOLKS FROM THE PARTY CAME AND THEY SAID, HEY, YOU KNOW, WE'D REALLY LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER MAYBE RUNNING.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR A CHANGE.

SO I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT FOR SIX MONTHS, PRAYED ABOUT IT, SPENT A LOT OF TIME THINKING ABOUT IT.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WAS DOING IT FOR THE RIGHT REASONS.

WE DID CHALLENGE AN INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN WHO HAD BEEN THERE FOR 12 YEARS.

SO THAT WAS FAIRLY UNIQUE.

I THINK I'M THE ONLY PERSON THAT UNSEATED N INCUMBENT.

I DON'T KNOW, ON THE DEMOCRAT SIDE IF THAT'S TRUE OR NOT.

BUT ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE IT WAS JUST THAT NE RACE.

AND I HAD TO THINK ABOUT IT.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

BECAUSE IT'S A BIG DEAL TO TAKE ON SOMEBODY WITH YOUR OWN PARTY.

THERE WAS DIFFERENCES IN THE WAY THAT WE SAW THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT.

YOU KNOW, I WANT LESS GOVERNMENT AND MORE FREEDOM, AND I THINK THERE'S THINGS THAT HE WAS, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT MORE WILLING TO KIND OF SEE THE GOVERNMENT SORT OF INVOLVED IN DIFFERENT AREAS, HAVE ITS FINGERS IN DIFFERENT THINGS.

♪ ♪ >> CATHY: MORE BAD NEWS FOR DOWNTOWN ST. PAUL THIS WEEK.

LUNDS AND BYERLYS ANNOUNCED THEY WILL PERMANENTLY CLOSE LATER THIS MONTH.

AND COMMERCIAL TENANTS WERE GIVEN 48 HOURS TO VACATE THE ALLIANCE BANK CENTER BUILDING, THOUGH THAT DEADLINE HAS NOW BEEN EXTENDED.

WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE PLIGHT OF POST-COVID DOWNTOWN ST. PAUL WITH PIONEER PRESS REPORTER FRED MELO.

AND YOU ARE BACK.

>> I'M BACK.

>> Cathy: THERE'S A LOT TO TALK ABOUT.

>> THERE IS.

>> Cathy: I'M WONDERING HERE, NOW, WE HAD THIS MADISON EQUITIES.

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: IT'S A COMPANY THAT OWNS A LOT OF THE MAJOR PROPERTIES IN DOWNTOWN St. PAUL.

THE OWNER DIED.

RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: SO THE SURVIVING -- I THINK THE SPOUSE WANTS TO PUT UP ALL THE PROPERTIES AND THIS HAS JUST BEEN A BIG MESS.

MY QUESTION, I GUESS, FRED, SHOULDN'T THE CITY HAVE KIND OF FIGURED -- SHOULD THEY HAVE KEPT BETTER TRACK AS TO WHAT WAS GOING ON?

>> THAT'S CERTAINLY A CRITICISM THAT COMES UP, YOU KNOW, OVER AND OVER.

IT'S TOUGH, I THINK, WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THE MAYOR CAN'T JUST SAY, HERE'S WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO WITH THE U.S. BANK CENTER, THE ALLIANCE BANK CENTER, AND THE LOWRY APARTMENTS.

AT THE SAME TIME, SOME OF THESE APARTMENTS WERE DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM CITY HALL, AND THEY WERE DETERIORATING.

YOU HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY AND INSPECTIONS, THAT'S THEIR JOB TO KIND OF CHECK ON THESE APARTMENTS.

YOU KNOW, THERE WERE PROBABLY THINGS THAT WERE NOWN BEHIND CLOSED DOORS THAT WEREN'T NECESSARILY ADVERTISED TO THE PUBLIC.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S PRIVATE PROPERTY.

IT'S REALLY THE PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS' RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE CARE OF IT.

SHE'S COLLECTING THE RENTS.

>> Eric: HOW DOES THE ROAD BACK BEGIN?

WHERE DO THEY START?

>> SURE.

WELL, THERE'S THIS PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SECURIAN, YOU KNOW, ECOLAB, THE CITY HALL, AND THEY JUST -- IT'S CALLED THE DOWNTOWN ALLIANCE, THEY JUST HIRED A GUY WHO'S OUT OF BOSTON BE, OUT OF NEW YORK -- BOSTON, OUT OF NEW YORK, A VETERAN OF REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES.

ONE OF THE THINGS HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT IS WHAT BUILDINGS DO WE KEEP, WHAT BUILDINGS DO WE SAVE, WHICH ONES DO WE REPOSITION, TURN THEM FROM OFFICE BUILDINGS TO RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS, WHICH ONES DO WE DEMOLISH, AND NOT EVERY BUILDING IS A GOOD FIT FOR CONVERSION.

>> Eric: WOULD IT HELP IF THE STATE AND THE FEDS, TO THE EXTENT THEY CAN, ORDER THEIR EMPLOYEES BACK TO WORK DOWNTOWN?

>> IT WOULD ABSOLUTELY HELP.

>> Eric: WHY HASN'T THAT BEEN AN APPROACH?

>> THEY'D ALL QUIT, T'S VERY HARD IN A SHORT LABOR MARKET, WITH THE SHORTAGE WE HAVE, TO HANG ONTO TALENT.

I THINK THERE'S BEEN COVERAGE OF THE STATE CANNABIS OFFICE, TOLD EVERYONE TO COME IN AND A BUNCH OF THEM ALL QUIT IMMEDIATELY.

AND THAT ADDED TO THE DELAY.

SO, YEAH, I MEAN, IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH.

BUT RIGHT NOW THERE'S STATE EMPLOYEES THAT COME TO THEIR OFFICE ONCE EVERY SIX MONTHS.

I MEAN, THEY COULD OBVIOUSLY SAY, HEY, COME BACK AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK, THREE TIMES A WEEK.

THE MET COUNCIL, RAMSEY COUNTY, CITY OF St. PAUL, THEY'RE ALL VERY CAGEY, A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS, ESPECIALLY DEALING WITH UNIONS.

BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO LOSE THAT TALENT.

>> Cathy: SAY, I WONDER, SO I TOOK A TRIP FROM MPR THROUGH THE SKYWAY, TRIED TO GET TO THE St. PAUL HOTEL BY THE SKYWAY, DESOLATE TO SAY THE LEAST.

>> YOU POOR THING.

>> Cathy: I FOUND MY WAY THROUGH BUT IT WAS DESOLATE.

I'M WONDERING WITH THE ALLIANCE BANK BUILDING, AS IT GOES UNDER, AND AS YOU SAY, IF YOU LOOK AT WHICH BUILDINGS MAYBE SHOULD BE TORN DOWN, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE SKYWAY SYSTEM, SERIOUSLY?

>> YEAH, THERE WAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT JUST TODAY FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY AND INSPECTIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, SKYWAY, THROUGH THE ALLIANCE BANK WILL PROBABLY START CLOSING, 9:00 P.M., MAYBE CLOSE ENTIRELY ON WEEKENDS, THAT IT'S JUST -- MADISON EQUITIES HAS LREADY PULLED ITS STAFF, SECURITIER STAFF.

THEY HAVE A PARKING RAMP WITH NO ATTENDEES, THE GATE'S JUST OPEN, YOU CAN PARK THERE AT YOUR OWN RISK.

SO, IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD.

IT'S A DESOLATE BUILDING.

>> Eric: CRIME AND SORT OF QUALITY-OF-LIFE STUFF, HOW'S THAT OING?

>> Cathy: MADISON EQUITIES OWNER SAID THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS -- OKAY, WELL, I'M JUST SAYING.

>> SURE.

THEY'RE THE BIGGEST PROPERTY OWNER DOWNTOWN.

CRIME'S GOTTEN BETTERRER OVER THE PAST YEAR, THERE'S STILL INCIDENTS, OF COURSE.

BUT EVEN THE LIGHT RAIL'S LOOKING BETTER.

THERE'S ALL KINDS OF -- THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE ISSUES IN DOWNTOWN WHERE YOU HAVE FEWER EYES ON THE STREET.

BUT I WAS AT A BUILDING OPENING JUST THIS WEEK ON BROADWAY BEHIND CHS FIELD, YOU KNOW, 130 NEW UNITS COMING ONLINE, RESIDENTIAL IS STILL A STRONG SPOT FOR DOWNTOWN, IT'S REALLY THAT COMMERCIAL OFFICE THAT'S SUFFERING.

>> Cathy: WELL, BECAUSE RESIDENTIAL IS STRONG, I MEAN, I WONDER, WELL, LUNDS AND BYERLY'S IS GOING TO PULL OUT, WHAT ABOUT THAT?

>> YEAH, THEY REALLY BLAME, AS YOU WERE SAYING, THE STATE EMPLOYEES LEAVING, WITHOUT THE OFFICE WORKERS COMING IN FOR LUNCH, GRABBING THINGS, YOU WOULD HOPE, YOU KNOW, HOPED WHEN THEY OPENED IN 2014 THAT THAT RESIDENTIAL PUSH WOULD INCREASE AND GROW, IT HASN'T REALLY GROWN FAST ENOUGH.

>> Eric: A LOT OF HOCKEY FANS.

>> 250,000 PEOPLE ARE COMING TO St. PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS DECEMBER 26 THROUGH JANUARY 5 FOR THE WORLD JUNIORS.

YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE 17-YEAR-OLDS, 18-YEAR-OLDS, UNDER 20s, TRYING TO MAKE IT TO THE NATIONAL TEAM, TRYING TO MAKING IT TO THE NHL.

IT'S GOING TO BE RIGHT HERE, IT'S GOING TO BE HUGE.

29 GAMES BETWEEN MARIUCCI, THE U OF M, AND DOWNTOWN St. PAUL.

NINE COUNTRIES.

>> Eric: AND 20,000 FANS FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL FINAL.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, IT'S LIKE A ST. PATRICK'S DAY EVERY DAY AROUND HERE, INCLUDING MONDAY.

INCLUDING MONDAY.

>> Cathy: ARE YOU THEN SAYING THAT OFFICIALS ARE THINKING THERE ARE GLIMMERS OF HOPE HERE.

BECAUSE IT LOOKS PRETTY DISMAL AT THIS POINT.

>> YEAH.

CERTAINLY THAT CENTRAL AREA IS PRETTY DISMAL.

AND THEN YOU HAVE KIND OF GLIMMERS OF HOPE AROUND MARRIES PARK, MAYBE -- MEARS PARK, RESIDENTIALLY, THEY LOST A LOT OF RESTAURANTS AROUND THERE, GLIMMERS OF HOPE AROUND THE St. PAUL HOTEL, PRETTY TOUGH IN THE MIDDLE.

>> Eric: APPRECIATE YOU BIRD DOGGING THIS FOR US.

THANKS, FRED.

>> Cathy: THANKS, FRED.

>> HERE IS MY SIX-WORD PRESCRIPTION FOR REDUCING THE POLITICAL POLARIZATION THAT IS TEARING OUR COUNTRY APART.

TAKE DOWN.

YOUR DAMN.

CAMPAIGN SIGNS.

WE LIVE IN THE LIBERAL ENCLAVE OF ST. PAUL, AND THERE IS VIRTUALLY NO PLACE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I CAN WALK WITHOUT A SERIES OF 24 X 18 INCH REMINDERS THAT KAMALA HARRIS AND TIM WALZ LOST THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

WHEN WE DRIVE TO OUR CABIN IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN, WE PASS THROUGH TERRITORY THAT RANGES FROM SALMON PINK TO CARDINAL RED.

THERE ARE TRUMP FLAGS.

TRUMP BANNERS.

AND BIG TRUMP SIGNS REPURPOSED FROM 2016, WITH MIKE PENCE’S NAME SCRIBBLED OUT IN WHAT LOOKS TO HAVE BEEN ANGER.

I SAY THIS WITH ALL THE KINDNESS IN MY HEART: I MAY STRONGLY AGREE WITH YOUR POLITICAL IDENTITY OR OPPOSE IT WITH EVERY FIBER OF MY BEING.

BUT IN THIS MOMENT, I TRULY, HONESTLY, DEEPLY DO NOT GIVE A FLYING FIG WHO YOU VOTED FOR.

AND WHILE I CHERISH YOUR RIGHT TO FREE EXPRESSION, I WOULD ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THAT THE CONTINUED PRESENCE OF YOUR SIGNS AND YOUR BANNERS AND YOUR FLAGS IS NOT HELPING.

THEY ARE A CONSTANT, UNRELENTING REMINDER OF THE THINGS THAT SEPARATE US.

AND THEY ARE A GOAD FOR THE WINNERS TO REMAIN SMUG AND THE LOSERS TO REMAIN OUTRAGED.

AND GUESS WHAT?

SMUGNESS AND OUTRAGE ARE CRAPPY INGREDIENTS FOR CIVIL DISCOURSE.

POLITICAL IDEOLOGY IS AN IMPORTANT LENS THROUGH WHICH WE VIEW THE WORLD, AND IT’S ALSO THE EASIEST WAY TO HURL BOMBS ACROSS THE CHASM BETWEEN OTHERWISE INTELLIGENT PEOPLE.

SO I’M ASKING THAT WE DISARM.

AT LEAST IN OUR FRONT YARDS.

FOR THE MOMENT.

IT’S A TINY STEP.

BUT MAYBE TINY STEPS ARE THE BEST WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW.

♪ >> ERIC: THE HIGH TEMPERATURE FORECAST FOR ST. PAUL TODAY - FRIDAY WAS 75°.

SATURDAY THE HIGH MAY ONLY BE 48.

THAT'S ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS SPRING'S WEATHER ROLLER COASTER.

PAUL DOUGLAS IS BACK.

WHEN PAUL ISN’T ON OUR AIRWAVES, YOU CAN CATCH HIS PREDICTIONS IN THE STAR TRIBUNE.

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

ARE WE -- I WROTE THIS DOWN -- ARE WE GETTING FEWER OF OUR STORM SYSTEMS THAT GENERATE OUT OF CALIFORNIA AND COLORADO?

>> WE HAVE THIS WINTER.

YEAH.

WE'VE HAD ANOTHER STORM DROUGHT, A SNOW DROUGHT.

BY THE WAY, DO YOU WANT SPRING?

>> Cathy: WELL, TODAY IT WAS VERY SPRINGY.

>> ARE YOU READY?

>> Cathy: 75-DEGREE TEMPERATURE, WAS IT A RECORD?

>> IT WAS A RECORD.

75, TYPICAL HIGH FOR JUNE 2.

WARMEST SINCE OCTOBER 30.

>> Eric: BETTER PUT THE GRAPHICS UP.

>> BEST I CAN DO, 75 TODAY, SLUSH TOMORROW.- >>USH TOMORROW.- >> EH TOMORROW.- >> EriTOMORROW.- >> Eric:MORROW.- >> Eric: SRROW.- >> Eric: SLUOW.- >> Eric: SLUSH.- >> Eric: SLUSH YOU.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

[ Laughter ] I'VE HEARD WORSE.

THIS IS OUTSIDE MY HOUSE.

THAT'S WHAT'S LEFT OF THE SNOW.

>> Cathy: WOW.

>> YEAH, IT'S BEEN ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE WINTERS FOR SNOW LOVERS.

YOU KNOW, IT HAS NOT BEEN A PIONEER WINTER.

YES, WE HAD A COUPLE OF VISITS FROM THE POLAR VORTEX.

A COUPLE OF CHILLY SLAPS.

DIDN'T LAST TOO LONG.

MSP TWIN CITIES, HALF A DEGREE COOLER THAN AVERAGE.

THIS WINTER WAS THE 44th WARMEST ON RECORD.

A LITTLE WARMER THAN AVERAGE IN St.

CLOUD AND ROCHESTER.

A LITTLE COLDER IN DULUTH.

LOOKING AT HEATING DEGREE DATA SINCE AUGUST OF LAST YEAR, THE COOL SEASON, THE ENTIRE THING, WE'VE ACTUALLY SAVED 9% HEATING UR HOMES, HEATING OUR BUSINESSES.

27 SUBZERO NIGHTS.

THE AVERAGE IS 22.

AND, YEAH, I THINK WE'RE PAST THE SUBZERO STUFF.

THE SNOW DROUGHT CONTINUES TWO WINTERS IN THE ROW OF SHEER DISAPPOINTMENT FOR ANYONE WHO LOVES SNOW.

25.3 IN THE TWIN CITIES.

34th LEAST SNOWY WINTER SINCE 1871.

AND HERE ARE THE AMOUNTS.

AGAIN, 7 INCHES St.

CLOUD.

ONLY 15 ROCHESTER.

EVEN DULUTH, ONLY 44 INCHES UP IN THE TWIN PORTS.

NOW, CHECK OUT THE DEPARTURE FROM AVERAGE SINCE JULY 1st.

AND YOU CAN SEE QUITE A BIT OF A DEFICIT, ALMOST A 30-INCH DEFICIT FOR ROCHESTER AND DULUTH.

MARQUETTE EVEN, LESS LAKE-EFFECT SNOW.

YEAH, A DISAPPOINTMENT.

BUT COMMUTERS WERE PRETTY HAPPY.

70% OF THE STATE STILL IN MODERATE OR SEVERE DROUGHT.

AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING I SEE THINGS ARE GOING TO GET A LITTLE BIT WORSE THAN THEY -- UNTIL HOPEFULLY THEY GET BETTER SOMETIME THIS SUMMER, MUCH LIKE WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR.

BUT A LACK OF SNOW.

AND THERE'S NOT MUCH WATER.

THIS IS THE STORM WATER EQUIVALENT, AND YOU CAN EE VERY LITTLE WATER LOCKED UP.

THE GOOD NEWS IS, THAT MEANS A MUCH LOWER THREAT OF RIVER FLOODING, NOT ONLY FOR THE MISSISSIPPI BUT ALSO THE RED RIVER, THE MINNESOTA RIVER, AND THE St. CROIX.

AND LOOK AT THESE TEMPERATURES MOSTLY -- YEAH, IT'S GOING TO CORRECT A LITTLE BIT, STILL 60ISH ON MONDAY.

MOSTLY 40s AND 50s ACCORDING TO THE EUROPEAN MODEL.

AND BY THE WAY, ONE THING I CAN PREDICT WITH 100% ACCURACY IS MORE POTHOLES.

THIS IS POTHOLE SEASON.

AND, OF COURSE, THE UNFORTUNATE FACT THAT WATER EXPANDS WHEN IT FREEZES, SO WATER GETS INTO THE CRACKS, IT GOES BELOW FREEZING, THE FREEZE/THAU CYCLE, IT EXPANDS AND THAT LITERALLY PULVERIZES THE ROAD SURFACE OVER TIME.

CATHY, ERIC, FOLKS AT HOME, YOU MAY BE WONDERING, WHY DO WE CALL IT POTHOLES?

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> Cathy: BECAUSE THEY LOOK LIKE -- >> WELL, 15th CENTURY ENGLAND, WE CAN ADVANCE TO THE NEXT FRAME, ONE MORE -- >> Cathy: WE DON'T HAVE IT.

IT'S GONE.

>> IT'S GONE, IT WENT AWAY.

>> Cathy: OH, SHOOT, WHAT?

>> 15th CENTURY ENGLAND, POTTERS USED TO FOLLOW BEHIND THE WAG JONS, THE RUTS THAT THE WAG ONS -- WAGONS LEFT BEHIND, THEY WOULD USE THE RUTS TO HELP THEM GET DOWN TO THE CLAY, THE CLAY FOR THEIR ARTWORK.

>> Eric: WOW.

>> SO THEY MADE THE SITUATION EVEN WORSE, THEY WERE POTTERS' HOLES, WHICH VENTUALLY GOT SHORTENED INTO POTHOLES.

>> Cathy: I HAVE TO SAY, I DID KNOW THIS.

>> Eric: LIVING HISTORY, YOU BRING IT ALL.

>> I'M GREAT FUN AT PARTIES.

NO, I'M NOT.

>> Eric: PAUL DOUGLAS, EVERYONE!

PAUL DOUGLAS!

♪ >> GOVERNOR WALZ DECLARED A PEACETIME EMERGENCY IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19, RECOMMENDING GATHERINGS OF 250 PEOPLE OR MORE BE DELAYED OR CANCELED, BUT THE CAPITOL AND SCHOOLS REMAIN OPEN FOR NOW.

>> I'VE JUST SIGNED EXECUTIVE ORDER 20-01, DECLARING A PEACETIME STATE OF MERGENCY FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

♪ >> CATHY: THE STAR TRIBUNE HAS HIRED ITS FIRST NORTHERN MINNESOTA BASED EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBER.

HE'S A KNOWN PRESENCE ON THE IRON RANGE AS AN AUTHOR, RADIO PRODUCER, AND INSTRUCTOR AT MINNESOTA NORTH COLLEGE.

HE'S NO STRANGER TO "ALMANAC," EITHER.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT HIS NEW FULL-TIME GIG WITH THE STRIB, WRITER AARON BROWN.

HEY, CONGRATULATIONS!

>> THANK YOU, CATHY.

YEAH, LOTS OF FUN.

AND, YES, OLD TERRITORY HERE FOR ME, BUT NEW JOB.

>> Cathy: HEY, I READ YOUR INTRO COLUMN YESTERDAY.

AND YOU REFERENCED YOUR STUDENTS' FRAME OF MIND COMPARED TO, SAY, 20 YEARS AGO.

I'M GOING TO QUOTE YOU NOW, IS THAT OKAY?

>> THAT'S FINE.

>> Cathy: WHEN I STARTED TEACHING 21 YEARS AGO, MY WORKING CLASS TUDENTS TOLD ME THEIR HOPES AND DREAMS.

TODAY THEY TELL ME THEY'RE BROKE, THEY CAN'T AFFORD RENT, THEY DON'T SEE HOW THEY'LL EVER OWN A HOUSE.

FAR TOO MANY TRAIN FOR JOBS THEY DON'T WANT BECAUSE THEY NEED THE MONEY.

IMAGINATION AND AMBITION WERE REPLACED BY FEAR.

WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED TO KIDS ON THE RANGE, DO YOU THINK?

>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S JUST THE RANGE, BUT I KNOW GIVE AN ASSIGNMENT WHERE I ASK THE STUDENTS AT THE END OF A SEMESTER TO TELL ME WHAT THEY WANT TO DO IN THE FUTURE.

AND QUITE OFTEN, IT WAS STUDENTS, WHEN I STARTED, IT WAS STUDENTS TALKING ABOUT THEIR, LIKE I SAID, HOPES AND DREAMS, THE THINGS THEY WANTED TO DO WITH THEIR CAREERS.

AND QUITE OFTEN, THE SPEECHES NOW GO, WELL, I WISH I COULD DO THIS, BUT I NEED ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY MY BILLS, SO I'M GOING TO TRY TO FIND SOMETHING THAT MAKES SOME MONEY.

AND IT'S JUST A CHANGE IN ATTITUDE, I THINK.

I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE BASKET WEAVING OR CERTAIN KINDS OF PROFESSIONS MIGHT NOT PAY THE BILLS AND THERE'S SOME OF THAT, BUT A LOT OF THIS IS REALLY JUST STUDENTS MAKING DECISIONS LESS ABOUT THEIR ALLING, WHAT THEY WANT OUT OF LIFE AND MORE ABOUT JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE.

AND I THINK WE'RE SEEING THAT BECAUSE THE COST OF LIVING HAS GONE UP SO MUCH IN THE LAST 20 YEARS I'VE BEEN TEACHING.

SO, LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, I LOVE TEACHING, BUT THE CHANCE TO EXPLORE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES PEOPLE ARE FACING ACROSS THE STATE AND MAYBE, YOU KNOW, GATHER INFORMATION FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THESE KIND OF CHALLENGES AND TRY TO FIND IDEAS, THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO SOLVE THOSE KIND OF PROBLEMS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE STUDENTS TO HAVE HOPES AND DREAMS THAT THEY CAN FOLLOW.

>> Eric: SO WHAT'S THE MISSION STATEMENT FOR THE COLLEGE?

FOR THE COLUMN?

>> MISSION STATEMENT.

OF TO TRY TO MAKE BORING THINGS INTERESTING, O TRY TO FIND PEOPLE AND THEIR STORIES AND BRING THEM TO THE FRONT TO REALLY REPRESENT PEOPLE WHO, FOR ME, THIS IS IMPORTANT, PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE POWER AND ACCESS, YOU KNOW, THOSE FOLKS HAVE THEIR OWN COLUMNISTS, I'M TRYING TO FIND PEOPLE WHO MAYBE FEEL A LITTLE LEFT OUT.

SO THAT'S THE KIND OF STORIES I LIKE TO TELL.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING A LITTLE BIT OF TRAVEL AND REALLY JUST TRYING TO BRING A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE TO A REALLY RESPECTED NEWSPAPER WITH A LOT OF GREAT WRITERS, BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE IN THE WOODS AS I M IN MY HOUSE RIGHT NOW, AND YOU DRIVE BY MINES AND PAPER MILLS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU SEE DIFFERENT WORLD THAN WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING AROUND THE TWIN CITIES.

>> Cathy: SAY, I'M WONDERING HERE, AARON, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?

I MEAN, THERE'S THE EDITORIAL PAGE FOR SOME PEOPLE IS A DIFFERENT ANIMAL THAN, SAY, REPORTING, RIGHT?

SO, HOW DO YOU FRAME YOUR ACTUAL JOB IN TERMS OF YOUR POSITION?

>> YEAH.

WELL, I'M A MEMBER OF THE EDITORIAL BOARD, AND IN THE OLD DAYS THAT WOULD MEAN I'M ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD GATHER UP AND WE'D WRITE SINGLE EDITORIALS THAT WHAT I CALL THE VOICE OF GOD EDITORIALS FROM THE NEWSPAPER THAT WE'D TRY TO FIND AGREEMENT.

AND THERE MAY YET BE SOME OF THAT, BUT A LOT OF WHAT THE MINNESOTA STAR MINNESOTA ST "STAR TRIBUNE'S" DOING NOW IS VOICE OF INDIVIDUAL WRITERS, THEIR OWN EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE, BRINGING THAT FORWARD AND THEN MAKING MAYBE A DIVERSE ARRAY OF OPINIONS THAT WOULD APPEAR IN THE PAPER.

SO, THE THING ABOUT THE BOARD, THOUGH, IS WE STILL COLLABORATE AND TALK ABOUT TOPICS AND ISSUES, AND ACTUALLY I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

I'VE DONE MOST OF MY CAREER AS SOME KIND OF A LOANER -- LONER IN THE WOODS WRITING IN MY OWN LITTLE WORLD AND TO HAVE SUCH TALENTED PEOPLE AROUND ME AND GET SUCH GREAT GUIDANCE, FRANKLY, AND INPUT FROM OTHERS IS KIND OF COOL.

IT'S A COOL TEAM ENVIRONMENT.

AND REALLY THE IDEA IS THAT YOU HAVE A BROAD ARRAY OF THOUGHTS IN THE NEWSPAPER.

>> Eric: ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR COLUMN TIME TO TIME IN THE STRIB.

GOOD LUCK WITH THIS NEW ENDEAVOR.

IT SOUNDS VERY EXCITING.

>> THANK YOU, ERIC, THANKS, CATHY.

>> Cathy: THANKS, AARON.

>> CATHY: A STATE SENATE COMMITTEE GAVE THE GO-AHEAD TO A BIPARTISAN BILL TO ADDRESS THE INCREASING POPULARITY OF FORAGING FOR FOOD ON STATE LAND.

THE IDEA TO CREATE A NEW TASK FORCE BROUGHT WORLD-RENOWNED FORAGER CHEFS TO THE CAPITOL FOR EXCLUSIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR MARY LAHAMMER.

>> MEET CHEF SEAN SHERMAN, YOU MIGHT KNOW HIM AS THE SIOUX CHEF.

SEAN HAS MADE IT HIS LIFE'S WORK TO REVITALIZE NATIVE AMERICAN CUISINE.

>> Mary: SHERMAN HAS WON SEVERAL PRESS TEASOUS JAMES BEARD AWARDS FOR HIS RESTAURANT, OOKBOOKS.

>> I'M HERE TO LEND MY VOICE, WE HAVE SO MUCH FOOD AROUND US, SO MUCH MEDICINE AROUND US.

THERE'S A LOT TO LEARN, REALLY WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY AND NOT TO OVERHARVEST.

SPRING IS REALLY A RESTORATIVE, ALMOST MAGICAL TIME OF YEAR.

>> Mary: A JAMES BEARD AWARD-WINNING FILMMAKER AND THE FORAGER CHEF ALAN BURGO CELEBRATE WHAT THEY CALL NATURE'S GROCERY.

>> WATERCRAFT IS THE FIRST GREEN THAT I WILL HARVEST IN THE SPRING.

HAD THE MOST PRECIOUS AND EXPENSIVE THINGS THAT CAME IN, THEY WERE ALL WILD.

I THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOME LIMITS.

I THINK THAT KIND OF THE CRUX OF THE CONVERSATION HERE S THAT THE DNR HAS NOT ALLOWED LOCAL EXPERTS TO BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION AND THEY'VE REALLY SHOWN THAT THEY'RE NOT FORAGING EXPERTS.

YOU KNOW, ALL WE WANT IS A PLACE AT THE TABLE.

>> OH, MY GOSH!

LOOK AT THIS AWESOME CHICKEN OF THE WOODS!

AH!

IT'S SO TENDER.

AH!

I CAN'T WAIT TO PUT IT IN MY GALLON BAG THAT THE DNR IS PROPOSING WILL BE OUR LIMIT.

>> Mary: CHICK OF THE WOODS IS WHAT JAMIE ROCKNEY CALLS HERSELF AND HER BUSINESS, TEACHING PEOPLE HOW TO FORAGE IN MINNESOTA.

>> JUST LEAVE IT HERE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T FIT.

SOCIAL MEDIA'S SO HUGE, SO I THINK THAT'S GOT TO BE LIKE THE NUMBER ONE WAY THAT PEOPLE FIND ME.

I DON'T KNOW HOW IT GOT TO BE SO POPULAR, BUT, NOW, IT'S THE FASHION SOMEHOW, SO IT'S WORKED OUT WELL.

IT TAKES A LOT TO GET ME TO THE CAPITOL.

I'VE NEVER BEEN TO THE CAPITOL BEFORE THIS.

SO, THIS BILL IS JUST REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME.

>> Mary: CURRENTLY THE DNR ALLOWS THE HARVESTING OF EDIBLE FRUIT AND MUSHROOM FOR PERSONAL CONSUMPTION ON STATE LAND, BUT THE RULES ARE CONSIDERED VAGUE.

SO THIS BILL WOULD ESTABLISH A NEW TASK FORCE ON FORAGING.

>> I AM A MEMBER OF THE MINNESOTA, AN EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION AND THE SECOND OLDEST MUSHROOM ORGANIZATION IN THE COUNTRY AT 125 YEARS OLD.

MIKE LOGICAL.

THE REASON WHY WE WERE PUSHING FOR THIS BILL, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WE FOUND OUT THAT THE DNR WAS POTENTIALLY LOOKING AT SEVERELY LIMITING FORAGING IN STATE PARKS.

>> Mary: ERICKSON HAS A LONG HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE EXPERTISE, BUT FORAGING IS PERSONAL FOR HER.

>> WE JUST REALLY FEEL THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE AT THE TABLE.

SO OUR BILL AS A TASK FORCE, FORAGING IS REALLY GAINING GROUND AGAIN.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE UNDERSTANDING THAT NATURE IS CALMING, NATURE IS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR KIDS.

>> EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE SPECIES COULD BE PICKED WITHIN FIVE TO TEN MINUTES OF WHERE WE'RE STANDING.

THERMORE REALLIES ARE OUR STATE MUSHROOMS, LOBSTER MUSHROOMS, THEY HAVE AN AROMA FRUIT, HEAD OF THE WOODS.

THEN THEY HAVE CHICKEN OF THE WOODS.

THERE'S THIS DICHOTOMY WHERE IT'S SEEN AS POVERTY FOOD AND IT'S ALSO THE GREATEST TABLES OF THE RESTAURANTS OF THE WORLD.

I THINK PEOPLE SEE THAT, THEY SEE THE GROWING MOVEMENT.

>> Mary: THEY CALL THEMSELVES NATURE NERDS, AS MANY AS A THIRD OF REGIONAL RESIDENTS FORAGE.

>> THE TRUE NERDY NERDS OF THE MUSHROOM WORLD, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOREVER.

WE JUST -- WE'VE BEEN OUT IN THE WOODS.

THERE'S NOT MANY PEOPLE THAT I KNOW THAT SPEND MORE TIME IN THE WOODS THAN I DO.

YOU KNOW?

I FEEL LIKE I DO HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.

YOU KNOW?

I WOULD JUST -- I JUST REALLY WANT US TO BE HEARD.

>> AND PEOPLE WERE LOVING OUR PARKS TO DEATH.

PART OF WHAT WE FOUND AND WHAT DREW US TO THOSE RULE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, RULE ROCESS, WAS WE IDENTIFIED COLLECTION OF EDIBLE FRUITS OR MUSHROOMS THAT EXCEED THE INTENT OF PERSONAL NONCOMMERCIAL USE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WITHIN OUR STATE PARKS.

>> Mary: WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, STILL THERE ARE SOME CONCEPT PARTICULARS OF ANOTHER TASK FORCE.

>> I JUST DON'T WANT FORAGING TO BE MADE ILLEGAL.

AND AFTER HAVING MORE CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER FORAGERS AND WITH THE DNR, THEY'RE NOT GOING THERE.

>> FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS, MINNESOTANS AND OUR INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN FORAGING.

AND TODAY THAT IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

IS THAT THAT CAN BE VERY MUCH RESTRICTED OR PROHIBITED.

[ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ] >> BOOZHOO, I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE, SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO HAVE THIS TESTIMONY.

>> Mary: HAVE YOU TESTIFIED BEFORE ON A BILL AT THE CAPITOL?

>> NO, I HAVEN'T.

>> MOTION PREVAILS.

>> I DO THINK THEY BRING SOME STAR POWER TO THE IMPORTANCE OF AVERAGE PEOPLE JUST HAVING ACCESS TO STATE LANDS.

>> AND AS WE LOOK AT INDIGENOUS FOODS ACROSS NORTH AMERICA, SO MUCH OF OUR INDIGENOUS FOODS ARE COMPLETELY UNDERUTILIZED BECAUSE THE WESTERN DIET KIND OF IGNORED SO MUCH OF THE FOOD THAT'S HERE, RIGHT WHERE WE'RE STANDING, AND WE JUST WANT TO MAKE FOOD TASTE LIKE A PLACE, NOT ABOUT WHICH SIDE OF THE FENCE YOU'RE ON POLITICALLY OR ANYTHING.

LIKE FOOD BRINGS US TOGETHER.

>> ERIC: WE STARTED THE HOUR WITH CONGRESSIONAL POLITICS.

SO LET'S END OUR TIME TOGETHER WITH LEGISLATIVE POLITICS.

HERE TO HELP US DO THAT, THIS WEEK'S VERSION OF THE POLITICAL PANEL.

REPUBLICANS UP FIRST.

FRITZ KNAAK IS A FORMER STATE SENATOR, LONGTIME REPUBLICAN, WHO IS NOW AN ATTORNEY IN PRIVATE PRACTICE.

ANNETTE MEEKS, A FORMER CONGRESSIONAL STAFFER AND LT.

GOVERNOR CANDIDATE WHO NOW HEADS THE FREEDOM FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA.

DEMOCRATS ON THE COUCH TONIGHT.

JEFF HAYDEN IS A FORMER STATE SENATOR, NOW LOBBYIST.

KARLA BIGHAM IS ALSO A FORMER LAWMAKER.

SHE SERVED IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

I'M INTERESTED IN THE 40B RESULT.

THE SPECIAL ELECTION THAT THE DEMOCRATS WON HANDILY.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S A PRECURSOR OF WHAT WE MIGHT SEE IN THE MIDTERM, BECAUSE HE WON HANDILY, WAS A HUGE TURNOUT FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION.

>> YEAH.

>> Eric: IS THIS THE CANARY IN THE COAL INE?

>> WELL, IT CERTAINLY COULD BE.

I MEAN, THERE WAS A LOT OF ORGANIZING, A LOT OF DOOR KNOCKING, 70% OF THE CANDIDATE.

I ALSO THINK THAT EVEN IN THE FIRST, YOU KNOW, MONTH PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY SAW WHAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CAN DO AND I THINK THAT THEY'RE ANXIOUS TO GET OUT AND VOTE.

>> Eric: SENATOR?

>> IN A WORD, NO.

WHAT YOU HAD IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT SEAT WITH A LOT OF RESOURCES AND A LOT OF MONEY AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE INTERESTED IN AN OUTCOME THAT WOULD KEEP THE DEMOCRATS AT THE VERY LEAST AT HALFSIES AND PROBABLY ALMOST DESPERATELY WERE HOPING THE REPUBLICANS DIDN'T WIN THAT SEAT.

VERY WELL FUNDED, VERY WELL ORGANIZED.

IT'S A HARBINGER OF NOTHING OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT THERE'S TOO MUCH MONEY IN POLITICS RIGHT NOW.

>> Cathy: SO NOW IT'S 67-67 IN THE HOUSE.

AND I'M WONDERING, HOW DID YOU THINK THE REPUBLICANS USED THEIR TIME IN POWER?

IN THE HOUSE.

>> I THOUGHT THEY DID A REALLY GOOD JOB, ACTUALLY, OF BRINGING SOME OF HE KEY ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE DISCUSSED, THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED THAT WERE FORCED DOWN THE THROATS OF PEOPLE THAT WE HEARD ABOUT AT THE DOORS IN 2024 THAT PEOPLE ARE VERY UNHAPPY ABOUT.

AND THEY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THE REPUBLICAN POSITION ON THAT VERSUS WHAT THE DFL DID FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.

>> Cathy: AND OF COURSE THE DFLers TOOK SOME UNCOMFORTABLE VOTES.

THAT WAS BY DESIGN.

>> AND ALSO PASSED SOME VERY UNCOMFORTABLE LEGISLATION THAT WE'RE ALL NOW LIVING UNDER FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS UNTIL WE HAVE THE 2026 ELECTION AND REPUBLICANS HAVE GAVELS IN EVERY COMMITTEE.

>> THEY WASTED THEIR TIME THAT THEY HAD BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING RELATED TO THE ECONOMY THAT THEY SAID THAT THAT'S WHAT THE WHOLE ELECTION WAS ABOUT.

THEY WASTED THEIR TIME ON BILLS THAT WERE NEVER OING TO PASS.

AND WHAT I'M HEARING AND WHAT I THINK THE COUNTRY'S DEMONSTRATING RIGHT NOW, WHETHER IT'S HE TURNOUT IN SPECIAL ELECTIONS, WHICH THEY'RE OVERPERFORMING HARRIS AND THE REPUBLICANS RE UNDERPERFORMING TRUMP ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN SPECIAL ELECTIONS, IT IS ABOUT THE ECONOMY, AND IT'S ABOUT WHAT TRUMP AND MUSK ARE DOING TO WORKING FAMILIES, TO VETERANS, TO OUR SCHOOLS WITH THE LACK OF DIGNITY AND THE CHAOS THAT THESE CUTS AND POLICIES THAT ARE -- THEY'RE IMPLEMENTING.

>> Eric: WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE THERE'S ABOUT A $6 BILLION SHORT -- PROJECTED SHORTFALL DOWN THE ROAD, '28 AND '29.

I WROTE DOWN SOME OF THE STUFF THAT HAS BEEN DONE IN THE PAST.

THEY COULD TEMPORARILY STOP COUNTING INFLATION IN THE BUDGET.

THEY COULD DO SOME SHIFTS.

>> DON'T TELL BIT COIN THAT.

[ Laughter ] >> Eric: SOME ACCOUNTING SHIFTS OR GIMMICKS, THEY'LL SAY, WE'LL SAVE MOST OF THE HEAVY LIFTING OR THE 2026 SESSION.

IT SEEMS TO ME THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS TO SKIN THE CAT IF THEY WANT TO DO IT.

>> YEAH, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE KNOW IN THE STATE BUDGET, IT'S EDUCATION AND THEN HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES REALLY BEING DRIVEN BY ELDERLY SERVICES AND THEN PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY WHERE THEY HAVE TO FOCUS.

THEY CAN DO THOSE SHIFTS AND GIMMICKS TO GET THEMSELVES OUT, BUT IF THEY REALLY WANT TO FIX THIS, THEN THEY HAVE TO FIGURE OUT, LIKE, HOW DO THEY DO THAT AND REALLY GET, LIKE, DEEPLY IN THAT BUDGET TO FIGURE OUT, LIKE, WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO DO.

INCLUDING, AS A DEMOCRAT, TO SAY, THE FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE.

I'M GOING TO JUMP ON THAT BEFORE YOU GUYS DO.

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THAT IS THE ABSOLUTE DRIVER.

I THINK THAT THAT IS A PROBLEM.

BUT I ALSO THINK THAT THEY HAVE TO FIGURE OUT THAT BUDGET.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, TO TOUCH A LITTLE BIT ON WHAT KARLA WAS SAYING, BECAUSE IT RELATES TO THIS, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF EFFORT TO BLAME REPUBLICANS IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER FOR THE OUTCOME.

IF THERE'S ONE THING IN MY EXPERIENCE, YOU DON'T SEE TOO MUCH, THIS IS VERY PARTISAN, BUT YOU DON'T SEE VERY MUCH IS, YOU KNOW, DEMOCRATS TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR BAD OUTCOMES.

THEY HAD THE TRIFECTA.

THEY BURIED US IN THIS PERSPECTIVE DEBT, THEY PUT INTO PLACE KNOWING A DEBT THAT THEY KNEW WAS COMING.

PROSPECTIVE DEBT.

NOW THE GAME S IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY, IT WAS THAT WAY WHEN WE WERE IN THERE, FOR NIGHT IMMEMORIAL, FIND A WAY TO LAME THE REPUBLICANS.

SO WHAT YOU HEARD HERE IS A NARRATIVE THAT SAYS, OH, WELL, IF REPUBLICANS WERE IN OFFICE, THEY WOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, THAT OR SOMETHING ELSE.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, WHAT DEMOCRATS NEED TO DO IS TO FIND A WAY TO PIN THE BLAME ON THE REPUBLICANS.

>> AND I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT'S REALLY IRRESPONSIBLE WITH TWO MONTHS LEFT IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS FOR OUR GOVERNOR TO TAKE OFF, LEAVE THE STATE, AND LEAVE THE DEMOCRATS WITHOUT SOMEBODY TO HELP START THE NEGOTIATIONS ON THIS PROCESS.

>> Eric: I'M SO GLAD YOU BROUGHT THIS UP BECAUSE HE'S NOW THE ROAD WARRIOR.

TIM WALZ.

IOWA, NEBRASKA, MONTANA.

PODCAST WITH NEWSOME, A BOOK, MAYBE, IN THE OFFING.

>> BUDGET STUFF DOESN'T HAPPEN T STUFF DOESN'T HAPPEN UNTIL MAY, ERIC.

[ OVERLAPPING CONVERSATION ] SO TARGETS AREN'T EVEN IN COMMITTEES.

BUT I WILL SAY, RELATED TO GETTING DOWN TO FIXING THE DEFICIT, IT'S GOING TO CAUSE SOME HURT.

I WOULD SAY, LET'S ALSO NOT PUSH IT ON TO COUNTIES.

YOU KNOW, AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER, THAT'S GOING TO HURT.

>> Eric: SURE.

>> THAT'S GOING TO LEAD TO PROPERTY TAX INCREASES.

SO I WOULD PLEAD WITH MY FORMER COLLEAGUES, DON'T DO THAT EITHER.

BUT LET'S ALSO NOT EXACERBATE THE ISSUE WITH THESE RECKLESS CUTS THAT ARE COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A $30 MILLION CUT WITH MEDICAID CUTS TO WASHINGTON COUNTY ALONE.

THOSE WILL HURT AS WELL.

>> Cathy: DO YOU THINK, GIVEN THE RANCOR THAT WE'VE SEEN, AND NOW A 67-67 TIED HOUSE, THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE DECENT DECISIONS WHEN IT COMES TO A BUDGET TO FIX SOME OF THESE ISSUES?

IS IT EASIER TO KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD?

>> IN A SPRAING WAY, I DO THINK -- STRANGE WAY, I DO THINK THAT THE REPUBLICANS GOT THEIR STUFF OUT, THEY GOT EVERYTHING THEY NEEDED, THEY MESSAGED BOTHERINGS, GUNS, ALL THE THINGS THEY DON'T LIKE.

AND I HAPPEN TO, LIKE, I MET WITH SPEAKER DEMUTH THIS WEEK ON ANOTHER MATTER, AND JUST IN THE SIDE TALK, I THINK SHE AND SPEAKER EMERITUS HORTMAN, HOWEVER THEY'RE ORGANIZING, ARE GOING TO REALLY START TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE THE THINGS THEY NEED TO DO.

I KNOW THAT THEY'RE DOING THAT WORK IN THE SENATE.

I HAPPEN TO KNOW A FEW PEOPLE, A FEW LEADERS THERE.

SO I ACTUALLY THINK IN A REALLY DIFFERENT WAY THAT A LOT OF THAT STUFF IS GOING TO GO AWAY, WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START TO DO NOW IS FOCUS ON THE BUDGET, AND BOTH CAUCUSES KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET OUT OF THERE OR THEY BOTH WILL BE BLAMED.

I DISAGREE WITH FRITZ, I THINK THAT BOTH SIDES WILL BE BLAMED IF WE GO INTO A SPECIAL SESSION OR IF WE GO INTO A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

>> AND I AGREE ALSO WITH THAT IN THE SENSE THAT THE GOVERNOR PUT DOWN A BASE-LINE BUDGET THAT THE COUNTIES, EVERYONE, AND MOST LEGISLATORS DISAGREE WITH.

WE CANNOT BALANCE THIS BUDGET ON THE SICKEST AND THE POOREST MINNESOTANS.

>> Eric: BUT YOU CAN'T SAY, I AM FOR CUTTING SPENDING AND THEN OBJECT WHEN THEY PUT OUT A PLAN TO CUT SPENDING.

>> WELL, THERE'S OTHER WAYS YOU CAN CUT SPENDING THAT DON'T PENALIZE PEOPLE WHO CANNOT HELP THEMSELVES.

>> YEAH, BUT LET'S GO BACK TO THIS AGAIN, THE TWO BIGGEST PLACES IN STATE OVERNMENT IS EDUCATION AND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

JUST LIKE ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IT IS THE DEFENSE BUDGET AND IT IS MEDICAID.

>> THEY HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET OUT OF HERE.

THEY NEED EACH OTHER IN BOTH CHAMBERS, THEY NEED EACH OTHER TO GET THIS DONE.

AND, SO, THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, SO THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET IT DONE.

BUT THE GOVERNOR PROPOSES A BUDGET.

AND THE LEGISLATURE DISPOSES OF THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET AND THEY BRING IT TOGETHER TO GET IT DONE.

>> BUT THE HARD POLITICS OF THIS, THOUGH, RESTS WITH THE REPUBLICANS.

I MEAN, WE'VE GOT A VOICE AT THE TABLE WITH THE SPEAKER, RIGHT.

THAT'S ALL SHE IS.

THE REAL DECISION MAKING IS GOING TO HAVE TO COME FROM THE DEMOCRATS.

AND WHAT REPUBLICANS HAVE TO MAKE SURE OF IN ALL OF THIS IS THAT THIS DOESN'T GET PINNED ON THEM.

YOU KNOW, OH, E'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

YOU'RE A LITTLE THIS NOW.

WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

WE'RE SOLVING THESE PROBLEMS TOGETHER.

YOU KNOW, PAY NO ATTENTION TO THOSE -- TO THAT GUY BIND THE -- BEHIND THE CURTAIN, FORGET IT.

>> Eric: I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE GOVERNOR.

DOES HE WANT TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR IN 026?

OR NOT RUN AND FOCUS TWO YEARS ON HIS PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN?

OR O WE KNOW THAT YET?

>> I DON'T THINK WE KNOW -- I DON'T THINK WE KNOW THAT YET.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE A ROAD TRIP TO DES MOINES IS A ROAD TRIP TO OMAHA DOESN'T CONSTITUTE THAT HE'S IN NEW YORK OR HE'S IN DALLAS, TEXAS.

I THINK -- >> Eric: DO YOU THINK HE AND KEN MARTIN, THE FORMER DFL CHAIR, NOW DNC CHAIR, THEY'RE STRATEGIZING, THE TWO OF THEM?

>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.

I MEAN, THEY'RE FRIENDS.

HE'S THE DNC CHAIR, HE'S A PROMINENT GOVERNOR AND A FORMER VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.

SO I'M SURE THAT THEY'RE HAVING A CONVERSATION AND THEY'RE FROM MINNESOTA.

BUT I THINK THAT THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO PLACES AND WHERE REPUBLICANS AREN'T GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE TERRIBLE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON.

[ OVERLAPPING CONVERSATION ] >> Cathy: HE DOESN'T HAVE O DO THAT, THOUGH.

>> I THINK THIS IS MORE MAGICAL THINKING FROM OUR GOVERNOR.

>> YEAH.

>> WHERE HE THINKS THAT SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER, THEY ONLY LAST THIS -- LOST THIS LAST ELECTION BY A VERY NARROW MARGIN.

THEY WERE WIPED OUT BY A MAN THAT PEOPLE SAID COULD NOT COME ARE -- COULD NOT COME BACK FROM THE DEAD.

AND PRESIDENT DID SO.

IT WAS THE GREATEST AMERICAN COMEBACK IN HISTORY.

NOW THAT GOVERNOR WALZ IS RUNNING AROUND ON THE RAINBOW TOUR TALKING ABOUT THE GREAT THINGS HAPPENING IN MINNESOTA, I THINK HE'S GOING TO BE A LAUGHING STOCK.

>> I AGREE.

>> PRESIDENT TRUMP AND MUSK HAVE CAUSED SO MUCH CHAOS AND FEAR AND JUST CALLOUS WITH WHAT THEY HAVE DONE THAT PEOPLE WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.

AND WHEN THEIR REPRESENTATIVES WON'T SHOW UP TO BE ASKED, WHY AREN'T YOU STEPPING UP AND DOING YOUR JOB IN CONGRESS WHEN YOU'RE LETTING THIS UNAPPOINTED, NOT NOMINATED, UNELECTED BILLIONAIRE DO THAT.

>> Cathy: WHY IS IT GOVERNOR WALZ'S ROLE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

>> WELL, WE'RE NOT IN CHARGE OF ANYTHING NATIONALLY, CATHY, SO WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A PARTY LEADER HEAD, RIGHT?

[ OVERLAPPING CONVERSATION ] BECOMES THAT FIGURE HEAD.

>> I THINK ALL DEMOCRATIC LEADERS' JOB TO DO IT.

>> YEAH, EXACTLY.

>> I THINK THEY SPLIT HE COUNTRY UP, HE'S AKEN HIS SECTION, HE'S A FORMER DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR ASSOCIATION CHAIR -- >> YOU'RE SAYING ALL DEMOCRATS.

>> I DON'T THINK THAT HE'S SELLING PIE IN THE SKY.

I THINK WHAT HE'S DOING, HE'S GOING AND TELLING THE PEOPLE THE TRUTH.

>> LET ME BE THE FIRST REPUBLICAN TO JOIN THE COMMITTEE, RUN, TIM, RUN, PLEASE RUN, WE DON'T CARE WHAT YOU'RE RUNNING FOR.

PLEASE.

>> Eric: 2028 IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AHEAD.

>> Eric: I'M ALWAYS LOOKING AHEAD.

>> OTHER INDIGENOUS GROUPS ACROSS THE WORLD, NATIVE HAWAIIANS, THE MAURY IN NEW ZEALAND HAVE SUCCESSFULLY REVITALIZED THEIR LANGUAGES WHEN THEY WERE DOWN TO 7% FLUENCY.

THE HAWAIIANS WERE DOWN TO 500 SPEAKERS ND THEY HAVE 15,000 AND 3,000 OF THEM ARE FIRST LANGUAGE LEARNERS IN THE HOME.

AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN DO SIMILAR THINGS HERE IN MINNESOTA.

>> ERIC: ANOTHER FULL SHOW TONIGHT SO HERE'S ANOTHER SPEEDY VERSION OF OUR MINNESOTA HISTORY QUESTION AND ANSWER.

WE TOOK YOU BACK IN TIME TO THE SPRING OF 1972.

AT THE BEGINNING OF APRIL AN INDUSTRY WIDE DISPUTE LED A COLLECTION OF FAMED PERFORMERS TO MAKE AN APPEARANCE AT ST. OLAF COLLEGE.

WE TOLD YOU THE GROUP WOULD SPEND THIRTEEN DAYS WORKING IN NORTHFIELD BEFORE RETURNING TO THEIR HOME DIGS LATER IN THE MONTH.

WHAT COLLECTION OF FAMED PERFORMERS SETTLED IN FOR A THIRTEEN-DAY RESIDENCY AT ST. OLAF COLLEGE IN APRIL 1972?

WE ASKED THIS QUESTION TWO WEEKS IN A ROW, MOSTLY BECAUSE WE WANTED MORE ANSWERS TO CHOOSE FROM - BOTH RIGHT AND WRONG.

HERE'S OUR FAVORITE COLLECTION OF WRONG ANSWERS.

>> ERIC: ALL CLEVER.

ALL WRONG.

BUT WE ARE HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE RECEIVED SEVERAL CORRECT ANSWERS THIS WEEK.

INCLUDING THIS NEXT CALLER WHO STEPPED UP BOTH WEEKS.

>> ERIC: THE GROUP OF PERFORMERS WAS THE MINNESOTA TWINS.

THERE'S A NICE SHOT OF HARMON KILLEBREW WAITING TO TAKE BATTING PRACTICE.

DURING SPRING TRAINING IN 1972, THE FIRST BIG BASEBALL PLAYERS STRIKE HAPPENED.

SO THE TWINS PLAYERS AND COACHES PACKED UP AND HEADED FROM FLORIDA TO NORTHFIELD TO CONTINUE PRACTICING UNTIL THE STRIKE WAS SETTLED.

SPECIAL THANKS TO BRENDAN HENEHAN FOR THE SPRING-TRAINING-RELATED QUESTION.

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

THIS WEEK BACK IN 2001 SEMISONIC PERFORMED "CLOSING TIME" ON NEWSNIGHT MINNESOTA RIGHT HERE IN STUDIO B.

TAKE A LISTEN.

AND BE CAREFUL.

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