♪♪ >> Cathy: WHEN THE LEGISLATURE RETURNS FROM THEIR SPRING BREAK LATER THIS MONTH, THEY WILL HAVE 28 DAYS UNTIL THEY HAVE TO ADJOURN.

WILL THEY GET THE STATE BUDGET OVER THE FINISH LINE AND TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK BY THEN?

ONE OF MANY QUESTIONS WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK'S VERSION OF THE POLITICAL PANEL.

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

PREYA SAMSUNDAR IS A G.O.P.

STRATEGIST, FORMER COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR THE R.N.C.

AND THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN.

DEMOCRATS ON THE COUCH, KARLA BIGHAM IS A FORMER STATE LAWMAKER.

SHE SERVED IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, NOW A WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

JAVIER MORILLO IS A LONGTIME UNION AND PARTY ACTIVIST AND FORMER NATIONAL COMMITTEEMAN.

JAVIER, THAT WAS A CHALLENGING CROWD THAT THE GOVERNOR FACED WITH THE VETERANS THIS WEEK, YOU KNOW, WITH THE BOOING AND IT WAS NOT EASY.

AND I'M WONDERING WITH THE GOVERNOR GOING AROUND THE STATE MORE AND HE'S GETTING THAT NATIONAL ATTENTION, BUT MINNESOTANS DON'T SEEM VERY FIRED UP ABOUT THAT.

>> YEAH, I MEAN I'D SAY, ONE, I THOUGHT HE HANDLED THAT VERY WELL.

AND I MEAN THAT LIKE HE DOESN'T ALWAYS HANDLE THINGS WELL -- I MEAN, NO ONE DOES WHEN YOU'RE FACING A CROWD LIKE THAT.

BUT I THOUGHT HE HANDLED IT VERY WELL.

I WOULD SAY LIKE I THINK GOVERNOR WALZ IS REALLY DOING SOMETHING VERY PROFOUND FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY NATIONALLY.

WHICH IS TO SAY LIKE HE'S FEELING, FILLING A VOID FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE FRUSTRATED WITH DEMOCRATS IN WASHINGTON WITH THE FEELING OF JUST A LACK OF, FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP.

WE HAVE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT JUST IS FALLING APART, WE HAVE LIKE A LAWLESS, COMPLETELY LAWLESS ADMINISTRATION AND THE DEMOCRATICS JUST SORT OF FLAILING.

NOW SO HE'S DOING AN ENORMOUS LIKE THING FOR THE PARTY NATIONALLY.

I THINK HE'S, LIKE IN MINNESOTA, LIKE WE NEED SOME ATTENTION ON THE STATE, AND THAT'S, THAT IS NOT HELPING.

>> Eric: PREYA, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK THIS IS JUST A SAVING FACE TOUR.

PART OF THIS IS, YOU KNOW, TIM WALZ GOT A GLIMPSE OF WHAT THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT LOOKS LIKE.

HE GOT A GLIMPSE OF THE GLAMOUR, THE BEYONCE, THE KATY PERRY OF IT ALL.

HE DOESN'T WANT TO GIVE IT UP, HE'S LOOKING AT A POTENTIAL RUN IN 2028, I THINK ANYBODY LOOKING AT WHAT HE'S DOING NOW WOULD BE REMISS TO DENY THAT.

AND HE'S JUST HOPING TO KEEP THAT ATTENTION ON HIM FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

>> Cathy: 28 DAYS LEFT UNTIL THE END OF SESSION.

>> I THINK PEOPLE ARE SCARED DUE TO THE CUTS.

THEIR 401Ks EVAPORATING AND DIFFERENT CONCERNS ABOUT THE TARIFFS, THE SOCIAL SECURITY, AND HE IS -- HE'S OUT THERE FACING THESE FOLKS.

AND I THINK HE DID HANDLE IT REALLY WELL AS JAVIER SAID.

AND I DO THINK THAT THE PEOPLE ARE SPEAKING AND THEY WANT SOMEBODY TO BE HEARING THEM, AND HE WAS THERE AT THAT TIME.

AND SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AN ISSUE BUT TO YOUR POINT, CATHY, IT'S GETTING DOWN TO THE WIRE TO GET THE SESSION DONE AND I THINK HE'S GOING TO BE NEEDED HERE FOR IT.

>> HIS NUMBERS AREN'T GOOD IN MINNESOTA, YEAH.

>> Eric: I WONDER, YOU WERE IN THE MINORITY IN THE SENATE.

>> OH, WAS I EVER.

YEP.

>> Eric: BUT THIS YEAR BECAUSE THERE'S A TIE IN THE HOUSE, VERY NARROW MARGIN IN THE SENATE, REPUBLICANS ARE AT THE TABLE.

>> RIGHT.

>> Eric: AND I WONDER HOW THAT CHANGES THE CHARACTER OF THE WORK PRODUCT.

>> WELL, IT'S HOPEFULLY IT GETS EVERYBODY HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET THIS ALL OVER THE LINE.

THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A LOT TO LOSE NOT HAVING SOME KIND OF BUY-IN ON THE PART OF THE REPUBLICANS TO COME IN.

AND THEY'RE LUCKY IN A WAY THAT THEY HAVE A REPUBLICAN SPEAKER, YOU KNOW, WHO AT LEAST OUTWARDLY LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN NEGOTIATION AND THE OUTCOME.

SO I THINK EVERYBODY BENEFITS FROM HAVING AN OUTCOME, THE POLITICAL HAZARD COMES FROM REPUBLICANS' POINT OF VIEW OF OWNING ANY OF THAT.

BECAUSE WHATEVER HAPPENS AT THE END IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE GOING TO SHARE SOME BLAME FOR AND THAT NECESSARILY, ISN'T NECESSARILY THEIRS TO SHARE.

>> Eric: IF YOU'VE GOT THE SPEAKER THAT'S THE FRONT PERSON OF THE HOUSE AND THINGS GO BAD, DOESN'T -- THE REPUBLICANS GET SOME OF THEM ON THEM, OR?

>> I MEAN, SOME OF IT BUT I ALSO THINK THAT YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE BLUE DOG DEMOCRATS, IF YOU WILL, WHO ARE IN VERY TIGHT SEATS.

2026, YOU HAVE EVERYTHING UP ON THE BOARD, YOU HAVE HOUSE, YOU HAVE STATE HOUSE, STATE SENATE, YOU HAVE EVERYTHING UP ON THE BOARD.

THERE ARE FOLKS THAT WON THEIR RACES, DEMOCRATS, BY A MARGIN OF 500, A THOUSAND, 2,000 VOTES.

I MEAN, IF THEY'RE NOT MAKING PROGRESS TO JOIN REPUBLICANS AND SHOW SOME BIPARTISANSHIP, ESPECIALLY IN THESE MORE BLUE AREAS, OR PURPLE AREAS, EXCUSE ME, WHERE THEY'RE RUNNING, THAT COULD BE A HUGE PROBLEM FOR THEM COME 2026.

>> IN AN OFF YEAR IN 2026, AN OFF YEAR WHEN THE PRESIDENT WILL NOT E ON THE BALLOT THE ELECTORATE HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY AND DEMOCRATS ARE FIRED UP AT THIS MOMENT.

SO I THINK THE PROBLEM REPUBLICANS WILL HAVE IS THAT THEY NEED TO LEAVE WITH SOMETHING TO BE ABLE TO RUN ON BECAUSE IT IS NOT UNLIKELY THAT NEXT YEAR IS A VERY TOUGH YEAR FOR REPUBLICANS BECAUSE THE COUNTRY'S FALLING APART AND PEOPLE ARE NOTICING.

>> WELL, I THINK THE SMITH SEAT'S GOING TO BE TERRIBLY IMPORTANT IN THAT.

THE OPEN SENATE SEAT'S GOING TO BE TERRIBLY IMPORTANT.

GO AHEAD.

>> AND I WILL SAY THE LEGISLATIVE TARGETS, GETTING IN THE WEEDS A LITTLE BIT, THE AMOUNT THAT EACH COMMITTEE DOES RECEIVE, ARE NEGATIVE, AND SO THOSE ARE CALLED CUTS AND DEMOCRATS, YOU KNOW, HAVE THE SENATE, THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, EVENLY SPLIT IN THE HOUSE AND THEY HAVE THE GOVERNOR.

SO DEMOCRATS WILL HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS AND CUTS, AND SO THE REPUBLICANS HAVE A CHOICE HERE.

ARE OU GOING TO SAY WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, WHICH IS CUT AND JOIN US IN HAVING TO MAKE THESE TOUGH DECISIONS?

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE, THEY'RE GOING TO OWN SOME OF THIS AS WELL, SO.

>> I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF MONEY THOUGH COMING FROM THE OUTSIDE IN THIS RACE IN '26 AND I THINK THE SENATE RACE, THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO THINK THAT THAT MIGHT BE GETTABLE FOR THEM WITH THE RIGHT CANDIDATE.

NOW, YOU COULD PROBABLY SAY THAT'S RIDICULOUS, BUT IT'S POSSIBLE.

AND AS LONG AS IT STAYS INSIDE THE POSSIBLE RANGE YOU MAY START TO SEE SOME REAL MONEY IN THAT AND ONCE THAT ENTERS INTO A STATE, IT EALLY KIND OF GOES UP AND DOWN THE TICKET, SO IT'S GOING TO BE REAL INTERESTING FPOINT OF VIEW TO SEE WHAT THAT'S GOING TO RESULT IN.

>> Cathy: WITH 28 DAYS LEFT OF SESSION, WE WERE TALKING TO SENATOR JOHNSON THIS MORNING WHO THINKS THAT THINGS CAN GET DONE IN TIME.

>> Eric: SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER.

>> Cathy: SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER, YES, EXCUSE ME.

HE THINKS IT CAN BE DONE IN TIME.

JAVIER, WHAT MIGHT BE THE POTENTIAL LANDMINES?

>> WELL, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THE CUTS AND THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF THINGS RIGHT NOW HAVE DIRECT IMPACTS ON TATE BUDGETS.

SO I MEAN I THINK WE MAY NOT SEE THE END WHETHER THEY DO THEIR WORK OR NOT, RIGHT, JUST BECAUSE -- OR THEY MIGHT HAVE TO COME BACK TO DEAL WITH CUTS.

YOU KNOW, LIKE THEY'RE TRYING TO ELIMINATE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THERE'S A LOT OF EDUCATION FUNDING IN OUR STATE, IN EVERY STATE, COMES, YOU KNOW, A SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH PROPORTION COMES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, SO THAT LANDMINE ALONE SHOULD PREPARE EVERYONE FOR A WILD RIDE.

>> THE SHIFTS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THESE CUTS THAT COME DOWN TO THE STATE THAT THEN COME DOWN TO THE COUNTY ARE REAL PROPERTY TAX INCREASES AND THE STATE LEGISLATURES KNOW THAT.

THESE CUTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE PROPOSED ARE GOING TO HURT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, OUR NURSING HOMES, THE SCHOOLS, OUR HOSPITALS.

NOBODY WANTS TO MAKE THESE CUTS, AND SO THAT'S THE LANDMINES, THOSE ARE EACH -- RIGHT, BUT NOBODY REALLY WANTS TO MAKE THEM, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE FUN OR EASY OR QUICK, THEY'RE GOING TO PROBABLY NEED EXTRA INNINGS, SO THOSE ARE THE LANDMINES AND WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES, THE LESS THEY DO TO, IF THEY EASE MANDATES, BUT IF THEY'RE GOING TO JUST SIT HERE AND HAVE THIS UNPREDICTABILITY, THEN THAT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE STATE AND THE LOCALS.

>> THAT'S JUST A RED HERRING FROM MY POINT OF VIEW.

I THINK SOME OF THE STRUCTURAL DEFECTS THAT THERE ARE DEFICITS THAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT WERE GOING TO HAPPEN REGARDLESS AND THOSE ARE GOING TO BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO WORK THROUGH, IT MIGHT BE EASY TO BLAME THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> THEY'RE NOT GIVING ANY DIRECTION.

>> I MEAN, THE REALITY IS IS LIKE IN DECEMBER OF 2024 WE WERE ALREADY PREDICTING A $6 BILLION DEFICIT.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND THAT WAS BEFORE TRUMP EVEN GOT INTO OFFICE.

I THINK TO FRITZ'S POINT THAT'S A RED HERRING.

AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ELIMINATING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THE REALITY IS IS WE'RE HEARING CONVERSATIONS THAT MONEY YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY GET MORE MONEY IN STATE BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT DEALING WITH A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PASSTHROUGH, IT'S COMING DIRECTLY TO THE STATE FOR HE STATE TO REIMBURSE, SO YOU MIGHT GET MORE FUNDING THAT WAY.

>> MOST OF OUR EDUCATION FUNDING COMES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

>> BUT THAT MONEY'S NOT GOING TO GO AWAY, THOUGH, THAT'S.

THE POINT.

>> THOSE FEDERAL ATAX DOLLARS ARE NOT REPLACED BY FEDERAL TAX DOLLARS, THAT'S NOT HOW THAT WORKS.

>> THEY MIGHT JUST SHIP IT STRAIGHT TO THE STATE IS WHAT I'M SAYING.

>> Eric: MAKE HAY OUT OF HE D.F.L.

APPARENT ALLEGED FRAUD LEADER, FRAUD DE JURE?

>> THE CULTURE OF FRAUD, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.

>> Eric: IS THAT A GOING ISSUE FOR REPUBLICANS?

>> ODDLY ENOUGH, I WON'T SAY ODDLY, BUT,E, IT'S ACTUALLY SHOWING UP IN POLLING, THE WHOLE ISSUE OF FRAUD, THE WHOLE PROBLEM THAT THEY HAD, THE LARGE COVID, THE PROSECUTION FOR THE LARGE COVID FRAUD, ALL OF THAT IS HAVING AN IMPACT AND PEOPLE ARE NOTICING IT AND UNFORTUNATELY, I MEAN, EVEN IN RELATIVELY SMALLER ACCUSATIONS LIKE WITH WHAT CHAMPION'S GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW.

>> Eric: SENATOR CHAMPION.

>> IT'S ALL HAVING A MIXED EFFECT IN TERMS OF PEOPLE'S ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE GOVERNMENT.

>> I THINK LIKE LOOK AT HE LEGISLATURE YOU HAVE LEGISLATORS WHO ARE LANDLORDS WHO DON'T -- WHO OPPOSE LEGISLATION TO SUPPORT RENTERS, WE HAVE LEGISLATOR WHO'S INVOLVED IN A PREGNANCY CRISIS CENTER, WHO IS SPONSORING A BILL TO GET MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THEM.

ALL OF THESE THINGS SHOULD BE LOOKED AT.

ALL OF ANY KIND OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, THAT AND SENATOR CHAMPION HAS SAID HE PUT HIS BUSINESS WITH THAT CLIENT ON HOLD WHILE THIS IS INVESTIGATED AND STEPPED AWAY FROM THE ETHICS COMMITTEE AND WHILE THEY'RE LOOKING AT IT THEY SHOULD LOOK AT ALL THESE OTHER THINGS AS WELL.

>> I AGREE.

I THINK IN THE INTERIM THEY SHOULD GET A GROUP OF PEOPLE TOGETHER, ETHICS LAWYERS AND DIFFERENT GROUPS AND COME UP WITH SOME REVISIONS.

>> Eric: LOT OF GROUND TO