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

>> ERIC: COMING UP ON "ALMANAC," WE'LL TALK TARIFFS AND TRADE WITH A DUO OF PROFESSORS.

MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL KEITH ELLISON IS HERE.

SEASON FOUR OF TPT'S MUSIC SERIES "STAGE" PREMIERES NEXT WEEK.

AND MARY LAHAMMER HAS BEEN UP AT THE CAPITOL.

>> Mary: FEDERAL POLICY AND POLITICS ARE NEWLY AFFECTING THE STATE WITH ITS UNIQUE SITUATION WITH POWER SHARING IN A TIE.

>> I'M BIT OF A DOUBLE AGENT IN THESE NEGOTIATIONS.

>> THIS IS A GOOD START OF THE PROCESS.

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

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

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

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.

"ONE GREATER MINNESOTA" REPORTING ON "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE OTTO BREMER TRUST, WHOSE MISSION IS INVESTING IN PEOPLE, PLACES, AND OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR REGION.

>> ERIC: COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR, WE'LL TALK HEALTHCARE MERGERS AND FEDERAL LAWSUITS WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL KEITH ELLISON, PREVIEW SEASON FOUR OF TPT'S MUSIC SERIES "STAGE."

KAOMI LEE VISITS AN OWATONNA FOOD BANK THAT'S SEEING AN INCREASE IN NEED.

AND WE'LL FILL THE COUCH WITH POLITICAL REPORTERS.

>> CATHY: WE START TONIGHT WITH THE INTERSECTION OF POLITICS AND THE ECONOMY.

ON FRIDAY, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TARIFFS CONTINUED TO ROCK FINANCIAL MARKETS WORLDWIDE AS THE TWO-DAY DECLINE ON WALL STREET WAS THE WORST SINCE THE COVID PANDEMIC CRASH IN 2020.

JOINING US TO SORT THROUGH THE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS OF A GLOBAL TRADE WAR, LOUIS JOHNSTON TEACHES ECONOMICS AT THE COLLEGE OF ST. BEN'S AND ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY.

JOINING HIM IS A FAMILIAR FACE WITH A DIFFERENT ACADEMIC EXPERTISE.

POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR DAVID SCHULTZ SHAPES YOUNG MINDS OVER AT HAMLINE UNIVERSITY AND IS ALSO AN ADJUNCT LAW PROFESSOR AT ST. THOMAS.

WELL, PROFESSOR JOHNSTON.

THERE ARE SOME SMART ANALYSTS WHO ARE SAYING THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST POLICY GAMBLES IN THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY.

WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> YES, I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST GAMBLES AND I'D BE WILLING TO BET IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST MISTAKES THAT WE'VE EVER MADE IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC POLICY.

THIS IS A SELF-INFLICTED WOUND, THE LIKES OF WHICH WE HAVEN'T SEEN IN PROBABLY 90 YEARS.

SINCE WE HAD THE SMOOT-HAWLEY TARIFF.

>> ALSO POLITICALLY, THIS IS THE MOST ABRUPT AND QUICK SHIFT IN TERMS OF, LET'S SAY, ECONOMIC POLICY FROM A POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE THAT WE'VE ALSO SEEN.

I'M GOING TO SAY AT LEAST SINCE, LIKE, THE 1930s.

AND IT WAS NOT ONLY A DRAMATIC SHIFT, BUT IT'S ALSO BEING EXECUTED VERY POORLY.

SO BAD POLICY, BAD EXECUTION AT THE SAME TIME.

>> Eric: COUPLE OF THINGS, THOUGH, HAPPENED TODAY.

CHINA RETALIATED WITH I THINK 34% TARIFF.

BUT VIETNAM WHO SAID WE'RE GOING TO DRAP OUR TARIFFS.

ISN'T THE VIETNAM EXPERIENCE HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK?

>> THAT'S HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK.

IS THAT REALLY WHAT THE POLICY IS?

NOBODY KNOW EAMS.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE POLITICS AND THE ECONOMICS COME TOGETHER ON.

IS THIS A GAME, SO TO SPEAK, THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS PLAYING, WHERE YOU THREATEN, AND THEN THE OTHER SIDE BACKS DOWN OR YOU COME TO A DEAL.

OR IS THIS REALLY A POLICY WHERE I'M GOING TO RAISE TARIFFS AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO MAKE EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY CAN IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE DON'T CARE WHETHER YOU DROP YOUR ARIFFS ARE NOT.

>> RIGHT.

AND LET'S SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WE WANT TO RING STUFF BACK TO THE UNITED STATES.

I WAS TELLING ONE OF MY STUDENTS TODAY TODAY, THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AUTOMATICALLY.

EVEN IF YOU THINK THAT'S A GOOD POLICY, IT'S GOING TO TAKE YEARS TO BE ABLE TO EXECUTE SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND IN THE PROCESS HERE, I THINK THIS IS WHERE THE POLITICS IS REALLY BAD BECAUSE THE DISTRIBUTION OF, LET'S SAY, PAIN IS GOING TO BE FELT BY ONSUMERS, AND A LOT BY A LOT OF VOTERS, WHO ARE NOT GOING TO BE HAPPY ABOUT THIS OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AND WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THIS IN REPUBLICAN DISTRICTS AS WELL AS DEMOCRATIC STRICTSES CROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> Cathy: SAY, YOU KNOW, THE PRESIDENT SAYS HE'S KIND OF LIKENING THE ECONOMY TO A SICK PATIENT, RIGHT?

AND WAS THE ECONOMY THAT BAD?

>> NO, AND THAT'S -- THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT MAKE MY BLOOD REALLY BOIL AND THAT'S ONE OF THEM TO CHARACTERIZE THE U.S. ECONOMY AS BEING SICK OR HAVING TROUBLE.

THE TREASURY SECRETARY DID THIS TOO.

HE WAS ON CAM WAS THE OTHER DAY I THINK WITH CNN SAYING, OH, THE ECONOMY WAS ON ITS EDGE.

WE WERE GOING TO HAVE SOME CRISIS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND THIS IS WAS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO DO IT.

NO, THAT NO, TH THE COMMITTEE ECONOMY WAS IN VERY GOOD SHAPE.

WE HAD SOLID G.D.P.

GROWTH.

INFLATION HAD COME BACK DOWN TO NICE LONG RUN LEVELS.

MAYBE IT WAS A ITTLE HIGH.

THERE WAS NO CRISIS AT ALL.

AND YET WE'RE DOING THIS TO THE ECONOMY.

>> Eric: INFLATION AND RECESSION WERE TWO WORDS THAT CAME UP THIS WEEK.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> FOR HOSE OF US WHO GREW UP A LONG TIME AGO AND REMEMBER THINGS SUCH AS STAG-FLAT ION.

THIS WAS THE LATE '70s, EARLY '80s AND THAT STAG-FLAITION WAS NOT ONLY BAD FOR CONSUMERS, THIS IS IN PART WHAT DOOMED JIMMY CARTER AND DOOMED A LOT OF DEMOCRATS WHO WERE PURSUING POLICIES THAT REALLY AT THE END OF THE DAY WERE REALLY NOT HELPFUL TO THE U.S. ECONOMY.

>> Cathy: SO $6.000000000000 WAS LOST IN -- $4.4 TRILLION WAS LOST IN THE STOCK MARKET.

WHEN DOES PANIC START TO ENSUE?

>> THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT ALL OF US ARE KILOGRAM.

MY STUDENTS ASKED ME THAT THIS MORNING.

ARE WE IN A STOCK MARKET CRASH?

AND I SAID, IT DEPENDS ON HOW PEOPLE REACT.

IF THEY THINK THAT THIS IS JUST A TEMPORARY SITUATION, WHERE SOME OF THESE POLICIES ARE GOING TO GET REVERSED AND SOME CERTAINTY IS GOING TO COME, THEN IT'LL JUST BE A SMALL DROP.

IT'LL DISAPPEAR AND WE'LL BE BACK TO THE LONG RUN.

BUT IF, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE THE CHINA RETALIATION.

IF WE HAVE COMPANIES FREEZING UP THEIR INVESTMENT AND THEIR HIRING, THEN WE'RE IN FOR A REALLY ROUGH RIDE.

>> Cathy: SO THEN WHAT IS THE ADMINISTRATION -- WELL, YOU'RE HEARING THE MESSAGING ALREADY FROM THE ADMINISTRATION, THAT THINGS WILL BE FINE, THERE'LL BE SOME BUMPS.

>> OF COURSE THEY HAVE TO SAY THAT.

BUT TO FIND OUT WITH ALL THE PRESSURE -- AT SOME POINT YOU HAVE TO WONDER, IS WALL STREET GOING TO ORT OF PUSH BACK ON THIS FROM A POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE HERE AND GET TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND SAY, YOU CAN'T KEEP DOING THIS.

BECAUSE WE'VE LOST, WHAT DID YOU SAY 3.5 TRILLION?

$6.4 TRILLION.

WE AN'T SUSTAIN THOSE TYPES OF HITS AT THIS POINT.

AND IS IT GOING TO BE SOMETHING WHERE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS TO PULL BACK AT SOME POINT, OR IS HE GOING TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO STAY THE COURSE.

IF HE SAYS THE COURSE, I MEAN, THE PUBLIC OPINION POLLS EVEN BEFORE WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE LATZ TWO DAYS ARE SUGGESTING THAT THE PUBLIC IS NOT THRILLED OVER THE DIRECTION THE ECONOMY WAS GOING.

IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE.

>> Eric: STRONG JOBS REPORT TODAY.

>> A STRONG OBS REPORT TODAY.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THAT'S HISTORY.

SO USUALLY THE ECONOMY IN TERMS OF FOLLOWS THINGS LIKE A STOCK MARKET DECLINE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT BY ABOUT SIX MONTHS.

SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE THE EFFECTS OF WHAT'S GOING ON NOW UNTIL WHAT'S SIX PLUS FOUR, TEN?

OCTOBER?

>> Eric: SO THE U.S. SENATE IS MEETING TONIGHT FOR WHAT THEY CALL VOTE-A-RAMA, TO GET REPUBLICANS TO VOTE ON RECORD.

IS CONGRESS GOING TO GET A PIECE OF THIS AT SOME POINT?

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK THE REPUBLICANS ARE SO DISCIPLINED BEHIND TRUMP, I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE THEM BASICALLY OVERTURN IT, AT LEAST RIGHT NOW.

>> Eric: YOU'RE HEARING SOME REPUBLICANS.

>> SOME.

BUT THE PAIN IS NOT THERE YET AT THIS POINT.

IS THAT THEY HAVE TO START FEELING EVEN MORE OF THAT FROM THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND IT'S -- WE'RE STILL NOT IS A THAT POINT YET.

WE'RE ONLY A EW DAYS INTO THIS AT THIS POINT.

IT'S WHEN NOW WE START TO SEE LAYOFFS AND, I DON'T KNOW, IN THIEF RIVER FALLS, WE START TO SEE LAYOFFS IN ST.

CLOUD, THAT'S WHEN THE POLITICAL PRESSURE STARTS TO CHANGE.

>> Eric: BUT THERE MUST BE A BEST CASE SCENARIO HERE.

>> THE BEST CASE SCENARIO WOULD BE THAT THIS WAS A GAME, THAT THIS WAS TRYING TO GET TRADE BARRIERS REDUCED TO OTHER COUNTRIES AND MAKE DEALS.

TARIFFS ALREADY AROUND THE WORLD WERE INCREDIBLY LOW.

HOW DO YOU GET 3% TARIFFS DOWN EVEN LOWER BY RAISING YOURS UP TO 25 OR 30%?

IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

[Overlapping conversations] >> Eric: TWO-HEADED THING, VERY GOOD.

COME BACK AND SEE US.

>> E WILL.

>> Eric: THANKS.

♪ >> ERIC: MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL KEITH ELLISON HAS REMAINED BUSY SINCE INAUGURATION DAY, JOINING MORE THAN A DOZEN MULTI-STATE LAWSUITS, MOTIONS, AND STATEMENTS, PUSHING BACK ON THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S AGENDA.

BACK HOME IN MINNESOTA, HE'S LOOKING TO EXPAND HIS MEDICAID FRAUD UNIT AND HAS STEPPED IN TO HELP MEDIATE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN FAIRVIEW, ESSENTIA, AND THE U OF M. WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOW.

HOW ORGANIZED ARE THE BLUE STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL?

>> PRETTY ORGANIZED.

I MEAN, FOR OVER A YEAR NOW, WE'VE BEEN MEETING.

WE FIRST LOOKED AT THE PROJECT 2025.

WE TOOK -- WE CHOPPED ALL 900 PAGES UP AND DIVIDED THE WORK OUT.

>> Eric: WHAT DID YOU GET AS YOUR SPECIALTY?

>> WORKER AND EMPLOYMENT RELATED THINGS, AND THEN ALSO RULE OF LAW.

SO OUR LAWYERS AND I ARE FOCUSING ON THAT.

WHILE OTHER PEOPLE ARE TAKING THE LEAD ON IMMIGRATION OR, YOU KNOW, TRANSGENDER STUFF OR SOMETHING -- OR EDUCATION ISSUES.

>> Cathy: THEN U.

A BIT OF A SOME POSITIVE NEWS THEN THIS WEEK, BECAUSE AN INJUNCTION HAS BEEN ISSUED AGAINST FIRING THE PROBATIONARY FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WELL, WE'VE HAD SOME GOOD NEWS ALL WEEK LONG.

ON PROBATIONARY EMPLOYEES, WE WERE BLE TO GET -- TO STOP THAT TEMPORARILY.

BUT THEN ALSO, WE BROUGHT AN ACTION REGARDING PUBLIC HEALTH GRANTS, WHICH HAS BEEN FROZEN.

WE'LL SEE WHERE THAT GOES.

BUT SO FAR, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE LAYOFFS RIGHT HERE IN MINNESOTA BECAUSE OF THAT.

AND SO THAT WAS GOOD.

HOPEFULLY COMMISSIONER CUNNINGHAM CAN WORK WITH THAT.

BUT THEN THE OTHER DAY, WE JUST GOT THIS THING ABOUT NEARLY EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT GOT A LETTER SAYING THAT UNLESS YOU GET RID OF D.E.I., YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE YOUR GRANT MONEY HELD UP.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER ONE THAT WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW.

BUT WE HAVEN'T ACTUALLY FILED IT.

>> Cathy: IT'S TAKING SOME TIME, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

I MEAN, THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS ARE INSTANTANEOUS.

THE COURTSES ARE MEASURES.

BUT THEN BECAUSE OF THE TIME FRAMES HERE, HOW MUCH DAMAGE IS BEING DONE?

>> A LOT, BECAUSE I MEAN, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LAID OFF.

AND ONCE YOU GET LAID OFF, SAY YOU'RE A WORKER AT THE V.A.

AND YOU'VE BEEN TOLD, GO.

I'VE MET PEOPLE WHO WERE TOLD THAT THEY HAD TO GO ON POSTAGE STAMP, BUT NOW THEY'RE BEING BROUGHT BACK, BUT SLOWLY, YOU'VE HAD AN INTERRUPTION IN YOUR WORK LIFE.

YOU'VE HAD TO GO FILE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT PERHAPS.

AND NOW YOU'RE SCARED.

YOU'RE NERVOUS.

YOU'RE VERY UNSTEADY AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE RELUCTANT IT GO OUT THERE AND BUY THAT NEW REFRIGERATOR, THAT NEW CAR BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS GOING TO LAST OR NOT.

SO THIS IS HAVING A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON CONSUMER DEMAND AND FOR THE INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES, LIKE, LOOK, WE GOT TO HANG ONTO OUR CHIPBECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT.

>> Eric: WHAT LEVEL OF FAITH DO YOU HAVE IN THE COURTS TO DEAL WITH THIS?

AND WHEN DOES CONGRESS GET A TASTE HERE?

>> WELL, I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WITH KORY BOOKER, WHO STOOD UP OVER 25 HOURS, RAISING THESE ISSUES.

THEY'RE BOTH IN THE MINORITY, BOTH IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

SO THEY DON'T AVE A BUNCH OF CARDS TO PLAY, BUT KORY SHOWED THERE ARE CARDS TO PLAY EVEN IF YOU'RE IN THE MINORITY.

NOW, WHEN T COMES TO CONFIDENCE IN THE COURTS, I HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN THE COURTS.

THIS IS BASIC RULE OF LAW STUFF.

THIS IS OT EVEN REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT STUFF.

EVERYTHING TRUMP IS DOING HE COULD DO, IF HE DID IT THE RIGHT WAY.

THERE IS A PROCEDURE TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION.

IN THERE'S A PROCEDURE -- HE WOULD BRING THESE THINGS THROUGH CONGRESS.

BUT HE WOANLZ.

HE WON'T.

>> Cathy: ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, THOUGH?

THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD JUTTED THOUGH.

AFFORDABLE CARE AFFORDABLE ENFORCEMENT.

>> WE HAD ONE IN SNORT ST. PAUL.

1300 PEOPLE.

WE'VE DONE THEM IN OCHESTER.

WE'RE GOING TO DULUTH THIS WEEKEND, IF YOU'RE IN DULUTH, COME ON DOWN.

BUT MY POINT IS, THAT PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS ASKED THE SAME QUESTION.

WHAT IF, WHEN WE GET TO THE END OF THE LINE, HE JUST REFUSED TO OBEY A COURT ORDER, AND WE'VE ALREADY SEEN SOME OF THAT ON SOME OF THESE IMMIGRATION MATTERS AS YOU KNOW.

SO THE BIG QUESTION IS, SO FAR, THE COURTS ARE HOLDING UP.

AND PEOPLE ARE RAISING VIRNIG VOICES.

AND I THINK THERE ARE ENOUGH PEOPLE IN AMERICA WHO STILL LOVE THE CONSTITUTION, BELIEVE IN THE RULE OF LAW, WHETHER THEY'RE REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS.

I THINK I BELIEVE IN US.

>> Eric: WHAT'S UP WITH THE FAIRVIEW HOSPITAL, U OF M HOSPITAL, ESSENTIA HEALTHCARE?

THAT NEEDS TO BE SORTED OUT AT SOME POINT.

WHERE ARE WE IN THAT?

>> WELL, IT'S GOT TO BE THEIR DEAL.

>> Eric: WHAT IS YOUR ROLE EXACTLY?

>> SO I HAVE A STATUTORY OBLIGATION TO REVIEW THE TRANSACTION AFTER IT HAPPENS.

WHAT I'VE DONE IS I WILL SAY AND I'LL ADMIT THAT I BELIEVE THAT THIS DEAL COULD BE VERY PROMISING.

AND SO -- BECAUSE IT HAS RURAL HEALTH.

IT HAS A STABLE CLINICAL OPERATION IN FAIRVIEW.

AND ACADEMIC MEDICINE.

70% OF MINNESOTA DOCTORS GO TO UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA MEDICAL SCHOOL.

SO WE NEED TO KEEP THAT STABLE.

AND SO I HINK IT HAS -- IT'S PROMISING.

I HAVE NOT ENDORSED IT.

BUT I ASKED A FRIEND NAMED LOIS QUAM TO HELP THE PARTIES COME TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER IF IT CAN BE PUT TOGETHER.

>> Eric: HEALTHCARE EXECUTIVE?

>> SHE KNOWS HER STUFF.

SHE KNOWS THE FOR-PROFIT SIDE OF IT.

SHE UNDERSTANDS WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM.

AND I THINK SHE'S GOING TO HELP LEAD US TO A GOOD PLACE.

>> Cathy: THIS IS GOING TO BE A THREE-HEADED DEAL?

>> WELL, HERE'S THE THING.

I DON'T WANT TO SAY TOO MUCH MORE THAN I'VE SAID BECAUSE I THINK THE PARTIES NEED SPACE TO TRY TO COME TO SOME UNDERSTANDING.

IF YOU'VE EVER TRIED TO NEGOTIATE ANYTHING, IT'S HARD TO DO IN THE FULL GLARE OF HE CAMERAS, RIGHT?

SO I'M SORT OF LIKE -- LOOK, I BELIEVE IN THE PRESS.

SO I'M HERE TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.

BUT I'M TRYING TO MINIMIZE MY COMMENTS BECAUSE I THINK IF THIS THING GETS TOO MUCH ATTENTION, THAT THE PARTIES WON'T BE ABLE TO REALLY TALK AND I WANT TO -- I WANT THEM TO TALK WHEN THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO SHARE, SO I'M ASKING THEM TO NOT TALK AND I'M NOT SAYING TOO MUCH EITHER.

>> Eric: A.G. OR GOVERNOR IN '2?

>> LET ME JUST TELL YOU, I KIND OF LIKE MY JOB.

I GOT THE BEST JOB IN POLITICS.

I GET TO STAND UP FOR THE RULE LAW.

>> Eric: WHEN YOU WANT TO MAKE NEWS, COME BACK AND TELL US.

>> THIS IS THE FIRST PLACE I'M COMING TO.

[ Laughter ] >> ERIC: AN OWATONNA FOOD SHELF IS NOW SERVING NEARLY THREE TIMES THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES IT DID IN 2021.

THIS RISING FOOD INSECURITY I BEING FELT ACROSS THE STATE.

NEW FEARS ABOUT FEDERAL CUTS HAS GOT MANY LOOKING FOR STATE RELIEF.

REPORTER KAOMI LEE WENT TO STEELE COUNTY TO FIND OUT MORE.

>> KAOMI LEE: THAT LIINA BEAVER'S FIVE-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER IS HER WHOLE WORLD.

>> SHE'S MY EVERYTHING.

HAD HER AT ALMOST 40.

>> Kaomi: THAT WAS DECEMBER OF 2019.

>> NO ONE EXPECTED COVID TO HAPPEN.

>> Kaomi: BEAVER MAKES NEARLY $17 AN HOUR AT TARGET, BUT HER HOURS HAVE JUST BEEN CUTS IN HALF TO ONLY 15 HOURS PER WEEK.

HER HUSBAND WORKS AS A FORK LIFT DRIVER AND PAYS CHILD SUPPORT FROM TWO PREVIOUS RELATIONSHIPS.

THE BEAVERS RELY ON THEIR LOCAL FOOD SHELF TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LIKE, OH, YOU KNOW, IF THEY JUST WORK.

I'M WORKING.

MY HUSBAND'S WORKING.

>> THE BEAVER FAMILY IS NOT ALONE.

IN FACT, FOOD SHELVES ACROSS THE STATE ARE SEEING RECORD VISITS.

>> WE COMPLETED 2024, AND WE ARE SEEING ALMOST 9 MILLION VISITS TO FOOD SHELVES STATEWIDE, AND IT REALLY IS A STAGGERING INCREASE FROM ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO.

>> Kaomi: AN INCREASE SHE SAYS HAS TRIPLED, GOING UP BY ONE AND A HALF MILLION VISITS EACH YEAR.

THE FOOD GROUP IS ONE OF SEVEN FOOD BANKS IN MINNESOTA THAT ALLOCATES STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING TO FOOD SHELVES, BUT SHE SAYS A NEW $1 BILLION CUT TO A USDA PROGRAM HAS BEEN ALARMING.

SHE SAYS IT'S COME WITH NO EXPLANATION OR RATIONALE.

>> WHEN WE LOOK AT FOOD SHELVES SEEING RECORD VISITS, AND THEN WE KIND OF LAYER ON TOP THIS REDUCTION IN THE FOOD SOURCING, IT REALLY IS A PRETTY CHALLENGING TIME.

>> Kaomi: IT'S CALLED TFAP, OR THE EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

THE GOVERNMENT PAYS LOCAL FARMERS TO PROVIDE FOOD TO FOOD SHELVES.

THEY SAY THEY'RE ALREADY FEELING THE CUTS.

>> THERE'S BEEN ABOUT A 35% REDUCTION N LOW OR NO COST FOOD GOING TO OUR FOOD BANKS.

AND THAT WILL TRICKLE DOWN TO US AND IN FACT E STARTED SEEING IT WITHIN THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF UST LESS FOOD AVAILABLE FOR US TO ORDER AT A COST AND A PRICE POINT THAT WE CAN MANAGE WITHIN OUR BUDGET.

>> Kaomi: IF MORE CUTS TO FEDERAL FUNDING BECOME A REALITY, COMMUNITY PATHWAYS IN OWATONNA SAYS IT'S COMMITTED TO NOT REDUCING HOURS, BUT THERE MAY BE LESS FOOD ON THE SHELVES.

IN CONGRESS ANOTHER PROGRAM FACING CUTS IS S.N.A.P.

"ALMANAC" REACHED OUT TO REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN BAD FINSTAD, WHO REPRESENTS THE FIRST DISTRICT.

IT WILL YOUS OWATONNA.

HE DID NOT REPLY.

>> WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH REPRESENTATIVE FINSTAD WHO, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN A UGE DEFENDER OF S.N.A.P.

BUT DOES UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT IT CAN PLAY IN HIS DISTRICT.

THERE'S BEEN SOME TALK AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THAT, WELL, MAYBE STATES WILL JUST HELP PICK UP SOME OF THIS.

MINNESOTA HAS THE STATE-FUNDED GRANT FOOD SHELF PROGRAM THAT WE ADMINISTER.

THAT TOTAL GRANT PROGRAM IS ABOUT $5 MILLION, WHICH IS GREAT.

BUT IF WE WERE TO ANNUALIZE SOME OF THE PROPOSED CUTS BEING TALKED ABOUT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL FOR S.N.A.P., IT COULD BE ABOUT OVER $200 MILLION.

IN MINNESOTA ALONE PER YEAR.

>> Kaomi: WHILE FOOD BANKS ARE CALLING ON THE STATE TO DO MORE -- >> WE CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH THAT ANY REDUCTION TO S.N.A.P.

BENEFITS WILL TURN THE CURRENT CRISIS INTO A CATASTROPHE.

>> Kaomi: THEIR CAUSE SUFFERED A CRITICAL BLOW WITH THE REVELATION OF A HIGH COMPENSATION PACKAGE FOR SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND'S CE OFFING.

>> THEIR TOP PERSON MAKES 721,000 AND THEY HAVE TEN PEOPLE THAT MAKE MORE THAN THE GOVERNOR WHICH IS MORE THAN 150,000.

SO THAT'S ELL OVER $2.6 MILLION.

IN THEIR HIGHEST PAID COMPENSATED PEOPLE.

SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE CUT HERE, A LITTLE CUT THERE.

>> Kaomi: HOUSE D.F.L.

LEADER CHAIRED THE COMMITTEE LAST YEAR.

HE SAYS THIS YEAR'S COMMITTEE GOT A SMALL INCREASE.

>> BUT THAT COMMITTEE HAS A LOT OF OTHER NEEDS AS WELL IN TERMS OF CHILD PROTECTION AND CHILD CARE AND EARLY LEARNING, OTHER ECONOMIC SUPPORTS FOR FAMILIES.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME VERY DIFFICULT CHOICES TO MAKE.

ON THE GROCERY SIDE, THE FIRST THING THEY COME INTO IS THE PRODUCE AREA.

IT'S ONE OF THE OST NEEDED PRODUCTS THAT PEOPLE REQUEST.

>> Kaomi: BACK AT COMMUNITY PATHWAYS, THE PRODUCE SHELVES ARE SPARSE.

THE FOOD SHELF IS WONDERING HOW IT WILL SERVE THE 4300 FAMILIES THAT CAME THROUGH THEIR DOORS LAST YEAR.

>> WHAT I THINK IS INTERESTING ABOUT THAT NUMBER IS ONLY 2% OF THEM ACCESS US EVERY WEEK.

AND YOU CAN SHOP OUR FOOD SHELF ONCE A WEEK.

SO WHAT THAT TELLS ME INTUITIVELY, IS THERE COUNTLESS FAMILIES LIVING ON THAT EDGE OF NEEDING HELP, NOT NEEDING HELP.

>> SO BROWN RICE.

BUTTER NOODLES ARE ALWAYS A HIT WITH OUR LITTLE ONES.

SO WE GRAB A COUPLE NOODLES EVERY TIME WE'RE HERE.

>> Kaomi: THOSE ARE FOOD SHELF STAPLES THAT BEAVER CAN DEPEND ON BEING HERE.

BUT SHE'S A DIABETIC AND HER HUSBAND IS IMMUNOCOMPROMISED.

KEEPING HER FAMILY HEALTHY ISN'T EASY.

>> IT'S SCARY KNOWING YOU HAVE A LITTLE ONE.

OBVIOUSLY I CAN GO WITHOUT THINGS, BUT SHE DOESN'T NEED TO GO WITHOUT ANYTHING.

♪ >> CATHY: THIS WAS A BANNER WEEK AT THE LEGISLATURE AS BUDGET TARGETS WERE SET, AND FRIDAY WAS A BIG COMMITTEE DEADLINE DAY.

THERE'S A LITTLE MORE THAN SIX WEEKS LEFT IN SESSION, AND ALL EYES WILL BE ON THE HOUSE, WHERE A TIE HAS LED TO POWER SHARING WITH COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS.

THE HOUSE WORKFORCE, LABOR, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE HAD SOME TENSION THIS WEEK OVER UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR MINERS ON THE IRON RANGE.

REPUBLICAN CO-CHAIR DAVE BAKER JOINS US.

HE HAILS FROM WILLMAR, MINNESOTA.

HERE, TOO, IS D.F.L.

CO-CHAIR DAVE PINTO FROM ST. PAUL.

REPRESENTATIVE BAKER, CHAIR BAKER, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES THAT BUBBLED UP HERE THIS WEEK WITH THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FOR THE RANGERS?

>> A WEEK AND A HALF AGO WE RECEIVED SOME REALLY HARD NEWS WHERE THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF MAJOR LAYOFFS.

IT REALLY KIND OFEN GAUGES THE TEAM DOWN THERE WHEN YOU'VE GOT A MAJOR LAYOFF LIKE THAT, WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MOVE QUICKLY.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

THE PART THAT GOT HEATED IS HOW DO WE DEAL WITH THE PERMITTING AND THE FUTURE OF THE RANGE.

AND I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH THOSE REALLY CHALLENGING ITEMS, THE CHALLENGES CONVERSATIONS ABOUT, INSTEAD OF JUST GIVING THEM THE UNEMPLOYMENT, WHICH IS A SHORT-TERM HELP, HOW DO WE LOOK AT THE RANGE IN THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE UT HOW TO GET TO THOSE BEAUTY MINERALS THAT ARE UP THERE IN THE RANGE AND HOW DO WE DO IT SAFELY?

BUT THAT WAS WHERE THE BIG ISSUE WAS REALLY TRYING TO GET THROUGH A LOT OF UNION MEMBERS THERE.

AND AGAIN, THERE WAS A VERY INTERESTING CONVERSATION DURING THE WEEK.

>> Cathy: AND WHAT YOU DID YOU TAKE AWAY FROM THE LITTLE TENSION THERE?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, SO THERE ABSOLUTELY IS AGREEMENT ON EXTENDING THOSE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS AND I'M GLAD TO SAY THAT THAT DID ACTUALLY HAPPEN.

IT HAPPENED ON THURSDAY.

REPRESENTATIVE PETE JOHNSTON WHO'S A FIRST TERMER FROM DULUTH LED THE CHARGE ON THAT.

THE PRIOR DAY, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT PIECE HAD BEEN PUT TOGETHER BY THE REPUBLICAN -- MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES.

TO BRING IN THOSE -- THIS ISSUE ABOUT LONGER TERM KIND OF OVERTURNING SOME COURT DECISIONS AND THOSE ULTIMATELY HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS.

WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEY WOULD GET REVIEWED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE.

THAT WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN.

THE PLAN WAS TO TRY TO GO AROUND THAT.

AND THAT WASN'T ACCEPTABLE TO US.

SO WE STOPPED THAT, AND THEN THE NEXT DAY ON THURSDAY WE VOTED OUT THE EXTENSION OF THOSE U.I.

BENEFITS.

AND THEN THE OTHER PROVISIONS WERE REFERRED TO THE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE WHERE THEY CAN BE CONSIDERED Y THE FOLKS WITH EXPERTISE.

>> Eric: ONE OF THE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES I THINK IS BEFORE YOUR COMMITTEE IS THE PAID FAMILY LEAVE.

AND I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR A DELAY MAYBE TO 2026.

IT'S NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME YET?

>> IN MY OPINION, WE'VE GOT SOME THINGS TO WORK ON.

I THINK AGAIN IT WAS A VERY HYPER-PARTISAN BILL, VERY LARGE MANDATE THAT PASSED THE LAST TWO YEARS.

AGAIN, WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO REPEAL IT AT THIS POINT.

A DELAY IS THE BEST WE CAN DO, REPRESENTATIVE PINTO AND I ARE REALLY WORKING ON IF THERE'S ANY CHANCES WE LOOK AT RECOGNITION FOR MALL BUSINESSES TO WHAT REALLY IS THIS GOING TO IMPACT JOBS AND VACANCIES AND SCHOOLS AND OTHER THINGS.

SO WE'VE GOT TO GET SERIOUS.

>> Eric: IS THE PAYROLL TAX GETTING A LITTLE ONEROUS?

IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE NOW THAN ADVERTISED.

>> THERE WAS AN >> THERE WAS A -- THERE NEEDED TO BE AN ADJUSTMENT IN THE RATE.

BUT LET'S REMEMBER, THIS IS A POLICY THAT WAS PASSED BY MAJORITY OF LEGISLATURE, SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.

GOING TO TAKE EFFECT, BECOME LAW ON JANUARY 1, 2026.

AND MINNESOTA'S BEEN WAITING FOR YEARS, FOR DECADES FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.

AND SO WE'RE REALLY VERY, VERYING YEAR TO HAVE THIS GET STARTED.

>> Cathy: THIS IS GOING TO BE A HUGE UNDERTAKING, THOUGH.

AND IS IT WISE MAYBE TO WORK TO TRY TO WORK SOME OF THIS OUT?

>> YEAH, SO THIS IS A BIG UNDERTAKING.

WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF YEARS TO GET READY EVEN SINCE IT PASSED.

MANY YEARS BEFORE THEN.

AND THE THING ABOUT WAITING IS, THOSE ARE MINNESOTANS WHO GOING TO BE HAVING A BABY, GOING TO BE GETTING SICK.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE TIME TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE NEEDS AND THAT'S WHAT THIS DOES.

IT'S A SOCIAL INSURANCE PROGRAM.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S AVAILABLE.

EXPWRE THERE IS A REPUBLICANTIVE IN THE SENATE, SENATOR COLEMAN.

>> THERE IS.

>> Eric: AND MUST IN THE HOUSE TOO?

>> NOTHING IN THE HOUSE, BUT SENATOR FRANCAIX HAS SOMETHING HE DROPPED THIS YEAR.

WE'VE GOT SOME OPTIONS.

AGAIN, WE THINK THESE BENEFITS ARE VERY WORTHY FOR SOME OF THE SMALLER FAMILIES.

IT'S JUST A REROBUST PROGRAM THAT HAS TO BE PAID, SO THIS IS A VERY LARGE PAYROLL TAX COMING THAT WE NEED TO FIND THE RIGHT MIX FOR.

>> Eric: IN YOUR DAY JOB, YOU ARE IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.

AREN'T WE GOING TO NEED IMMIGRATION TO KIND OF DO JOBS.

I SUPPOSE THAT AT YOUR PLACES -- >> SURE, E HAVE A NUMBER OF IMMIGRATION FOLKS.

>> Eric: HOW DOES THAT DOVE-TAIL WITH THE WORKFORCE STRATEGY OF THE STATE?

>> WE NEED MORE OF THEM, BECAUSE WE ARE SHORT PEOPLE.

I THINK, AGAIN, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF GREAT EMPLOYERS THAT KNOW HOW TO AY THEIR EMPLOYEES VERY WELL.

WHERE I'M REALLY HAVING STRUGGLE WITH WHAT HAPPENED LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS I DON'T WANT THE STATE OF MINNESOTA TO TELL ME HOW TO DO MY BENEFIT SET FOR MY EMPLOYEES.

I CARE DEEPLY FOR MY EMPLOYEES AND I CAN'T RUN MY BUSINESS WITHOUT THEM.

SO I JUST -- I DON'T WANT THE STATE GETTING INVOLVED.

IN THAT DEEP LEVEL OF POLICY WHEN I KNOW WHAT I THINK BETTER FOR MY EMPLOYEES IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

>> Cathy: COMMENT?

>> WELL, I MEAN, IT'S NOT ONLY ARE THESE BENEFITS SO IMPORTANT FOR EMPLOYEE EASE, IT SHOULDN'T MATTER WHO YOU'RE WORKING FOR THAT YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY.

BUT FOR THOSE EMPLOYERS WHO WANT TO PROVIDE THESE BENEFITS, RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE AT A COMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGE WITH THE BIG EMPLOYERS.

THEY OFTEN ACCOUNTS AFFORD TO DO THAT.

THAT'S WHY THIS INSURANCE PROGRAM GIVES THE SMALLER EMPLOYERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE FOR TALENT, MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE BENEFITS.

>> Cathy: SAY, WE HAVE A UNIQUE POWER-SHARING AGREEMENT OBVIOUSLY IN THE HOUSE.

IS IT HARDER, EASIER?

OR JUST DIFFERENT?

CHAIR BAKER?

>> YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME FOR BOTH OF US BEING IN A SHARED POWER.

IT IS A CHALLENGE.

IT SOUNDS GREAT ON THE RECORD.

LET'S GET THINGS DONE.

THIS IS WHAT THE VOTERS WANTED.

BUT WHEN DAVE AND I SIT DOWN AND WE DID THIS A LOT TODAY.

WE ARE TRYING TO GET THROUGH A BUDGET PROCESS.

BUT FOR ME, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT THESE POLICY THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.

WE ALL WANT TO GET A BUDGET PASSED BUT FOR ME IT'S A BUDGET PLUS SOME OTHER POLICY THAT I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO BE AT THE TABLE WITH HE LAST TWO YEARS.

>> Eric: SO POLICY MIGHT BE THE WAY FORWARD.

>> THE THING IS, THE JOB OF THIS SESSION HAS GOT TO BE ENACTING A STATE BUDGET AND IT'S COMPLICATED ENOUGH TO DO THAT IN A TIE SITUATION.

WE'VE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS.

BY THE CONSTITUTIONALLY MANDATED DEADLINE.

>> Cathy: WOULD YOU SAY BOTH OF YOU ARE SEEING EYE TO EYE GENERALLY SPEAKING?

>> WE AREN'T THERE YET.

I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF MUTUAL RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER.

IT'S TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE POLICY OVER THE LAST COUPLE F YEARS HAS CHANGED SO MUCH.

I AM FIGHTING LIKE MAD TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR VOICES ARE FINALLY HEARD AND I THINK WE'LL TRY TO MAKE THAT EFFORT.

>> Eric: WILLMAR AND ST. PAUL, LINK ARMS.

>> LET'S DO IT.

>> ONE MINNESOTA!

♪ ♪ >> SHELETTA: MY SON ANDREW HAS A PASSION FOR FASHION.

HE ALWAYS DRESSES FANCY.

EVEN WHEN HE’S JUST GOING TO COSTCO TO GET GAS, THAT BOY LEAVES THE HOUSE LOOKING LIKE A MILLION BUCKS.

>> OU'RE GOING TO SPEAK AT THE HIGH SCHOOL IN A FUR COAT?

GET YOUR CHILD?

HEY, COME BACK HERE.

HE TYPICALLY SPENDS HOURS AT THE MALL WHERE HE SPENDS ALL OF THE MONEY HE EARNS FROM HIS PART-TIME JOB BUYING TRENDY CLOTHES.

RECENTLY, THOUGH, I NOTICED MY SON HAS BEEN PINCHING PENNIES.

AND THAT AIN’T LIKE HIM.

HE’S ALL ABOUT THE NAME BRANDS.

BUT LATELY, HE AND HIS FRIENDS GO BARGAIN HUNTING.

HITTING UP THE THRIFT SHOPS HOPING TO FIND A DEAL.

WHY?

BECAUSE APPARENTLY, TARIFFS ARE HITTING TEENAGERS TOO.

THOSE ALREADY EXPENSIVE MICHAEL JORDAN SNEAKERS ARE GOING UP ANOTHER 20 BUCKS.

UH-UH, HONEY.

NIKE SHOULD CHANGE THEIR SLOGAN FROM “JUST DO IT” TO “YOU CAN’T AFFORD IT."

LIKE ANDREW, I’M MAKING SOME TOUGH DECISIONS WHEN I GO GROCERY SHOPPING.

ACCORDING TO SUPERMARKETGURU.COM, COFFEE IS GOING UP 10%, WHICH MEANS I’LL JUST BE DRINKING HOT WATER AND SUGAR FOR BREAKFAST, WITH NO EGGS, BECAUSE LET’S BE REAL.

WHO CAN AFFORD THEM?

NOW, LISTEN.

Y’ALL KNOW I’M A CLEAN FANATIC AND BELIEVE IN GOOD HYGIENE, BUT WITH TOOTHPASTE COMING IN AT $12 A TUBE, I’VE INFORMED MY CHILDREN THAT WE WILL BE CUTTING BACK AND ONLY BRUSHING OUR TEETH EVERY OTHER DAY.

WHO KNEW TARIFFS COULD CAUSE TARTAR BUILDUP?

LET ME SEE YOUR TEETH!

>> AH!

>> >> ♪ BRUSHY, BRUSHY BRUSH ♪ ♪ BRUSHY ♪ ♪ ♪ >> Cathy: THANKS SHELETTA, FOR THAT EARWORM NOW.

A NEW SEASON OF THE LOCAL MUSIC SERIES "STAGE" IS SET TO PREMIERE MONDAY.

FROM TWIN CITIES PBS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CURRENT, WHICH IS THE SISTER STATION OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO, THE LATEST WAVE OF EPISODES BRINGS TOGETHER MINNESOTA MUSICIANS AND UP-AND-COMING ARTISTS FOR UNIQUE COLLABS AND LIVE PERFORMANCES AT 7TH STREET ENTRY.

WE'LL HAVE THE PRODUCER OF "STAGE" HERE IN JUST A MOMENT, BUT FIRST, HERE'S A QUICK LOOK AT THIS UPCOMING SEASON.

>> 7TH STREET ENTRY, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA!

ONE, TWO.

ONE, WO, THREE, FOUR!

♪ ♪ >> WELCOME TO "STAGE."

FEATURING YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL MUSICIANS AND THE ARTISTS THEY WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT.

>> >> ♪ I GIVE UP ♪ ♪ SAY YOU'RE STARTING TO DANCE, GET UP ♪ ♪ ♪ >> UNFORGETTABLE PERFORMANCES AND THE STORIES BEHIND THE MUSIC.

>> YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR A LOT OF STORIES TONIGHT.

IF I CAN GET REAL WITH YOU, AND I THINK I CAN.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪ ♪ >> I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD REVEAL THIS AFTER ALL THESE YEARS.

>> I NEVER WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS JUST SO HEAVY.

>> SOMETIMES YOU JUST DO SOMETHING AND IT TAKES YOU 30 MINUTES AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE GOT NOMINATED FOR A GRAMMY.

♪ ♪ >> HEN YOU PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE AS AN ARTIST, IT CAN BE OBVIOUSLY VERY VULNERABLE.

>> I'VE HAD TO BECOME BRAVER AS I REALIZE HOW MU MILLATING THIS CAN BE.

>> BEING A WEIRDO, SHY KID, WHO IDN'T QUITE FIT IN, MUSIC WAS SUCH A SALVATION.

MUSIC WAS WHERE I FOUND MY POWER.

>> Cathy: WOW!

JOINING US NOW TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE FOURTH SEASON OF "STAGE" AND THE ONGOING COLLABORATION WITH THE CURRENT, TWIN CITIES PBS PRODUCER KATE MCDONALD.

WELCOME.

>> HI, THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: OKAY, SO WHEN SOMEONE COMES UP TO YOU, SAYS, KATE, WHAT IS THIS SHOW?

>> MY ELEVATOR SPEECH, I PROBABLY HAVE TO GET BETTER AT IT.

ONE OF OUR GUESTS, LAMAAR, I THINK THE STAGE ELEVATOR PITCH WOULD LSO BE TOO LONG.

BUT BASICALLY WHAT IT S IS YOUR FAVORITE OCAL MUSICIANS I CAN YOU'VE NEVER SEEN THEM BEFORE.

SO INTIMATE COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN ICONIC LOCAL ARTISTS AND THE MUSICIANS THEY WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT.

>> Eric: THE MISSION STATEMENT IS TO SHOW MUCH TALENT THERE IS IN MINNESOTA?

IS THAT FAIR TO SAY?

>> YEAH, GENERATIONALLY, INTERGENRELY, THERE'S SUCH A WIDE BREADTH AND DEPTH OF MUSICIANS HERE.

>> Cathy: APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THIS SHOW IS ACCESSIBLE.

YOU AVE THE LIVE ELEMENT.

BUT THERE'S ALSO -- OF COURSE WE LOVE RADIO, BUT E APPRECIATE THAT IT'S ON DIFFERENT PLATFORMS.

>> YES, THAT'S A BIG MISSION.

SHOW.

EVEN IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY A TICKET, THERE'S MANY WAYS TO ENGAGE WITH LOCAL MUSIC.

SO YOU CAN LISTEN TO IT ON THE CURRENT ON SUNDAY NIGHTS ON THE LOCAL SHOW AND YOU CAN WATCH IT ON TPT-2 ON MONDAY NIGHTS.

THERE'S SUCH WONDERFUL PROFESSIONALS.

I'VE DONE A LOT OF DIFFERENT MUSIC SHOWS.

SOME HERE, AND ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN AWESOME.

BUT THE 7TH STREET FOLKS REALLY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

THEY DO THIS EVERY SINGLE NIGHT.

SO IT'S JUST SO EASY AROUND TURN-KEY FOR US TO COME IN, PRODUCE A REALLY WONDERFUL LIVE EVENT AND HAVE THEM AS PARTNERS.

>> Cathy: SO HAPPY THAT THE CURRENT IS WORKING WITH YOU ON THIS.

>> YES, IT'S BEEN REALLY, REALLY WONDERFUL, AND A LONG TIME IN THE MAKING.

THIS IS THE FIRST SEASON THAT WE'RE COLLABORATING TOGETHER.

SO IT'S A REALLY NATURAL FIT.

THEY DO SO MUCH FOR LOCAL MUSIC IN TOWN.

AND TO HAVE IT ON ANOTHER PLATFORM LIKE THE CURRENT THAT HAS UCH A REALLY STRONG AUDIENCE HAS BEEN REALLY PHENOMENAL.

>> Eric: ARE THERE OTHER SHOARNS AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT DO THIS TYPE OF A THING WHERE YOU HAVE THE MENTOR AND THE MENTEE?

>> I THINK WE'RE KIND OF UNIQUE.

I MEAN, I THINK -- >> Eric: IT IS KIND OF A UNIQUE PREMISE.

>> YEAH, I THINK SO.

I MEAN, MAYBE THERE ARE SOME OUT THERE THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT, BUT I DO REALLY THINK THIS IS A UNIQUE MODEL BECAUSE IT REALLY SAYS, HEY, HEADLINING MUSICIANS IN MINNESOTA, YOU REALLY KNOW WHO THE BEST PEOPLE COMING NUPT UP N THE SCENE.

AND SO WHAT BETTER THAN TO HAVE RECOMMENDATION FROM ALL THESE LOCAL MUSICIANS AND I CAN THE SCENE IS UNIQUE IN THAT WAY.

IT IS A REALLY SUPPORTIVE SCENE AND IT ALSO KIND OF HIGHLIGHTS THAT ASPECT.

>> Eric: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SEASON?

>> Cathy: EXACTLY.

GO AHEAD.

>> I CAN'T PICK A FAVORITE.

IT'S NOT ONLY THESE INTIMATE PERFORMANCES AT 7TH STREET, BUT WE ALSO GET TO INTERVIEW THE BANDS AND HAVE THEM DO SOME ON STAGE STORY TELLING AS WELL.

AND THEN THERE'S ALSO A COLLABORATION ELEMENT TO THE SHOW.

SO THE HEADLINER PICKS THE ARTIST AND THEN THEY COLLABORATE ON STAGE.

SO THAT'S REALLY SPECIAL.

AND SOME OF THESE BANDS HAVE NEVER BEEN TOGETHER ON STAGE BEFORE.

SO THE SUBURBS WHO WILL BE THE LAST SHOW IN THE SEASON, THEY PICKED MATT WILSON OF TRIP SHAKESPEARE FAME.

MATT HAS HAD MANY DIFFERENT BANDS AND HE'S BEEN A HUGE FAN OF THE SUBURBS.

HE KIND OF CITES THEM.

THEY MET ON THE STEPS.

HARVARD LIBRARY.

>> Eric: KHAN POLING.

>> YES, THE LEAD SINGER FOR THE SUBURBS.

BUT THEY NEVER HARED THE STAGE BEFORE THAT NIGHT.

>> Cathy: I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE KIND OF UP AND COMERS, JUST HOW THRILLED THEY MUST BE, RIGHT?

I MEAN, WHAT AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE FOR THEM.

>> I THINK IT'S AMAZING FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.

I THINK ALSO THE HEADLINERS, IT'S REALLY COOL TO BE ABLE TO COLLABORATE WITH PEOPLE THAT MAY BE A GENERATION OR TWO BEHIND THEM, BRINGING NEW THINGS TO THE TABLE, HE FACT THAT THEY GET TO THEN WORK TOGETHER AND COLLABORATE ON A SONG RIESK SONG RIE I THINK IS REALLY SPECL AND HEAR WHY THEIR MUSIC HAS BEEN IMPORTANT.

YOU CAN LISTEN TO HEM FOR THE NEXT SIX WEEKS, THE NEW EPISODES WILL BE AIRING ON THE LOCAL SHOW WHICH STARTED AT 7:00 P.M. ON THE CURRENT.

AND THEN 9:00 P.M. ON MONDAY NIGHTS ON TPT-2.

>> Cathy: DO YOU HAVE A DIGITAL PLATFORM?

>> OH, MY GOSH.

THANK YOU, CATHY.

PBS APP, "STAGE," YOU CAN WATCH US AT ANY TIME OR ONLINE.

>> Cathy: THERE YOU GO.

>> Eric: CONGRATULATIONS.

IT'S FANTASTIC.

♪ >> David: EVERY PUBLIC SPACE IN THE CAPITOL AND THE SURROUNDING BUILDINGS HAS ONE OF THESE.

AN AUTOMATED CAMERA THAT BROADCASTS THE ACTION TO ANYBODY WHO WANTS.

AND THAT'S WHY WHEN YOU WATCH THE EVENING NEWS, NO MATTER WHAT STATION, YOU OFTEN SEE THE EXACT SAME VISUALS.

ALMOST ALL OF THE MEDIA OUTLETS BIG AND SMALL ARE PULLING FOOTAGE FROM A SINGLE FEED.

AND HERE'S WHY IT MATTERS.

INSTEAD OF RUNNING AROUND THE BUILDING LIKE THE PONY EXPRESS, REPORTERS ARE NOW SITTING IN THE BASEMENT LIKE HIGH SCHOOLERS ON MOVIE NIGHT.

♪ ♪ >> ERIC: AS WE NOTED EARLIER IN THE HOUR, DEADLINE WEEK AND BUDGET TARGETS ARE MAJOR MARKERS IN A LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

BUT WITH A TIED HOUSE AND FEDERAL CUTS, BUDGETING AT THE CAPITOL HAS NEW UNCERTAINTY.

POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER GIVES US SOME CONTEXT.

[ Cheers and applause ] >> Mary: A BIG WIN FOR DEMOCRATS IN NEIGHBORING WISCONSIN REVERB RATES IN MINNESOTA.

>> THE OLIVET GARVEGS >> THE OLIVET GAR OLIGARCHS LOS.

DEMOCRACY WON.

SO PRETTY STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT THAT AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF WISCONSIN FOR GETTING OUT AND VOTING.

>> Mary: GOVERNOR WALZ CONTINUED HIS WAR OF WORDS WE LOAN MUSK SAYING THE CEO'S ATTEMPT TO BUY AN ELECTION WAS AN AFFRONT TO DEMOCRACY AND EXPECTS WORSE CUTS ARE COMING.

>> GET RID OF OUR WEATHER FORECASTERS.

OR GET RID OF NASA.

THIS GUY IS MENACE.

HE IS AN UNELECTED BILLIONAIRE.

>> Mary: DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ECHOED THE GOVERNOR'S SENTIMENT.

>> I AM REALLY, REALLY HAPPY TO KNOW THAT THE VOTERS IN WISCONSIN CHOSE PRINCIPLE OVER THE INFLUENCE OF ELON MUSK'S MONEY.

HE GAVE THE CHEESE HEAD A BAD NAME.

>> Mary: REPUBLICANS HERE WERE RELUCTANT TO TALK IN DETAIL ABOUT THE IMPACT OF FEDERAL CUTS.

>> WE WILL KEEP AN EYE ON WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

AND AS THAT DOES POSSIBLY HAVE AN IMPACT LATER ON, AGAIN, OUR WORK CAN BE DONE ON TIME.

IF WE WOULD NEED TO COME BACK FOR A SPECIAL SESSION LATER, TO MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS, WE ARE OPEN TO THAT.

>> RIGHT NOW THAT'S JUST A DISTRACTION TO THE WORK THAT WE HAVE TO DO.

SO WE'VE GOT ISSUES THAT WE CAN DEAL WITH IGHT HERE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

AS THE SPEAKER SAID, NCE WE GET GOING DOWN THE ROAD, IF THERE'S A CHANGE GOING FORWARD, WITH FEDERAL DOLLARS, MAYBE WE'LL HAVE TO COME BACK AND ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.

>> Mary: ONLY THE GOVERNOR CAN CALL A SPECIAL SESSION AND FOR NOW HE'S CALLING OUT THE FEDERAL CUTS AND THEIR POTENTIAL IMPACT HERE THAT ALREADY INCLUDES 170 PEOPLE GONE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WHO WORKED ON DANGEROUS DISEASE TRACKING.

>> PEOPLE ARE OING TO DIE BECAUSE OF THESE CUTS.

>> Mary: AT THE STATE, POLITICS AND POLICY GOT SERIOUS THIS WEEK WITH BILL DEADLINES AND BUDGET TARGETS REACHED BY THREE OUT OF FOUR OF THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS IN THE POWER-SHARING AGREEMENT.

>> I'M IT OF DOUBLE AGENT, ADMITTEDLY, IN THESE NEGOTIATIONS.

I AM A DEMOCRAT.

TIM WALZ IS MY ALLY.

ERIN MURPHY IS MY ALLY.

AND SO I NATURALLY SEE THE WORLD THE WAY THEY DO.

BUT I'M ON TEAM HOUSE.

>> THIS IS A VERY GOOD START OF THE PROCESS.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN A NUMBER OF YEARS THAT WE HAVE THAT IMPENDING DEFICIT AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AND THAT CAN'T BE IGNORED.

>> Mary: HOUSE LEADERS PUT POWER-SHARING TO ITS FIRST REAL TEST.

>> WE ARE IN AS YOU KNOW, UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES WITH A TIE.

IT'S NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE.

WE'VE NEVER HAD CO-CHAIRS BEFORE, NEGOTIATE BUDGET TARGETS.

>> THIS, I THINK, WAS THE FIRST MAJOR TEST OF OUR ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER UNDER THIS POWER-SHARING AGREEMENT.

AND I'M REALLY PLEASED THAT WE PASSED THAT TEST.

>> Mary: BUDGET TARGETS ARE SET TO GUIDE THE REST OF THIS SESSION.

>> THESE BUDGET TARGETS REPRESENT ACOMB PROMISE BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

AND IF DEMOCRATS WERE SETTING TARGETS ON OUR OWN, THESE TARGETS WHO OF COURSE LOOKED VERY DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE ASKED THE WEALTHY AND LARGE CORPORATIONS TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE.

>> Mary: THE GOVERNOR HOSTED LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND KEY CHAIRS TO TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES AHEAD.

>> A BROADER MEETING WITH SENATE AND HOUSE LEADERSHIP, BIPARTISANLY, BUT THE LEADS, THE CHAIRS AND SOME OF THE STAFF.

AND I THINK THE PROGRESS MADE, WE HAVE A CHART OF SIDE BY SIDES COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES TO APPLES, THE PROPOSALS THAT ARE BEING MADE FROM THE BUDGET THAT I'VE HAD OUT, NOW A HOUSE BUDGET AND A SENATE BIT.

>> ONE OF THE MOST ENCOURAGING THINGS THAT I'M SEEING OVER TIME IS THE GOVERNOR'S CALLING US TOGETHER.

AS YOU HEARD FROM ME SPECIFICALLY, WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS, THAT WE CAN START THES.

>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE NOW EDGE GAUGED IN THIS ISSUE OF THE WORK TO BALANCE THE BUDGET TOGETHER.

I AM REALLY PROUD OF THE SENATE D.F.L.LERS THAT WE'VE PUT TOGETHER TARGETS THAT BALANCE OUT INTO THE TAILS.

SO FOR ALL FOUR YEARS.

>> WE'VE GOT A MONTH AND A HALF LEFT BEFORE THE END OF SESSION, BUT VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT WE CAN GET FINISHED ON TIME.

>> Mary: SO FAR, COMMITTEE COTHEIR CHAIRS ALSO FEEL OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THEIR UNIQUE MODEL.

>> THE SUPER BOWL, IF YOU WILL, IS THE FINANCE BILL, AND TARGETS CAME UTILITY AND REPRESENTATIVE KLEVORN AND I PRETTY MUCH GOT ON THE PHONE MINUTES AFTER WE HEARD WHAT THEY WERE.

AND SAID, OKAY.

WE'LL HAVE TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

AND I THINK WHAT A LOT OF FOLKS ARE WONDERING IS, HOW DO YOU IN A TIE, STICK THAT LANDING?

>> Mary: THE JOKE KIND OF IS THAT EVERYBODY HATES THEIR TARGETS?

DO YOU EQUALLY?

>> NO, I LIKE OUR TARGET MUCH MORE THAN JIM DOES.

>> I WAS ADVOCATING FOR ZERO.

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALIZE, THAT HOSE TARGETS, THEY'RE NUMBERS, BUT THEY REPRESENT PEOPLE, JOBS, SERVICES TO THE STATE.

AND THINGS THAT PEOPLE DEPEND ON AND RELY ON IN THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES.

>> ERIC: HERE TO TALK BUDGET TARGETS AND MORE, A TRIO OF CAPITOL REPORTERS.

YOU JUST SAW HER ON THE SCREEN AT THE CAPITOL.

NOW LIVE IN THE STUDIO.

ALMANAC'S OWN MARY LAHAMMER JOINS US.

DANA FERGUSON IS PART OF THE POLITICAL TEAM AT MPR NEWS.

AND ROUNDING OUT THE GROUP, KSTP-TV'S POLITICAL REPORTER AND AT ISSUE HOST, TOM HAUSER.

DEADLINE DAY, BUT ANYTHING THAT THE LEADERSHIP WANTS TO KEEP ALIVE AS FAR AS THE LEGISLATION WILL STAY ALIVE?

>> YEAH YOU KNOW HOW IT IS.

IT'S A DEADLINE.

IF YOU DON'T PASS SOMETHING, IT'S DEAD.

NOTHING IS EVER DEAD.

BECAUSE YOU CAN BRING IT UP ON THE FLOOR.

IF YOU GET ENOUGH VOTES.

YOU CAN AMEND IT TO SOMETHING ELSE.

BUT AT LEAST IT GIVES THEM SOME REASON TO HAVE THEIR WORK DONE AT SOME POINT IN TIME.

>> Cathy: IS THERE ANYTHING THAT COULD REALLY BE IN TROUBLE?

>> I THINK THE DISCUSSION WITH THE TWO DAVES, THE CO-CHAIRS THERE, YOU KNOW, THAT COMMITTEE HAS A LOT OF TOUGH STUFF.

WE WERE JUST TALKING PAID FAMILY LEAVE.

THERE'S A LOT OF DESIRE TO REPEAL IT, BUT THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT DELAY IT.

BUT THE ONE THING I GUESS I DO WANT TO GIVE THE LEGISLATURE A LITTLE CREDIT FOR.

YOU JUST SAW IN THE PIECE THERE.

THEY'RE ALREADY BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AND IT'S APRIL.

THEY DON'T USUALLY START THAT UNTIL MAY USUALLY.

SO I THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF WHAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY HARD.

>> AND IT'S A UNIQUE SITUATION TO KNOW IF WE'RE REALLY AHEAD OR BEHIND WHERE WE OUGHT TO BE BECAUSE OF THE TIE.

I WAS TALKING TO REPRESENTATIVE PINTO.

AND HE WAS JUST SAYING, YOU KNOW, YES, IT'S GOOD THAT WE HAVE HOUSE TARGETS.

SENATE TARGETS.

GOVERNOR'S BUDGET.

BUT THEN WE PASS EVERYTHING, WE HAVE TO REDO ALL THE GLOBAL AGREEMENTS STUFF AND THEN PASS IT AGAIN.

AND IT JUST MADE IT SEEM LIKE THERE'S STILL QUITE A WAYS TO GO.

>> ONE THICK I THINK IS IN TROUBLE IS SPORTS BETTING.

>> Eric: WHAT HAPPENED THERE?

>> THE POLITICIANS ALL SAY THEY'RE GOING TO -- THE ONE THING I HEAR ABOUT IS PAID FAMILY LEAVE, MONG MY FRIENDS AND LOIT AND LO LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WRITE IN, WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH SPORTS BETTING?

THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A BILL IN THE COMMITTEE IN IN THE SENATE, AND SENATOR FRANCAIX PULLED IT.

AND THERE'S WAYS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

BUT FOR SOME REASON, THEY JUST CAN'T COME TOGETHER.

>> Cathy: WHY IS IT SO TOUCHY?

>> THIS IS NOT THE YEAR, SO THEY MIGHT NOT WANT TO -- >> THEY SAY THAT EVERY YEAR.

>> THEY DO.

>> Mary: AND IT'S A HARD BIPARTISAN COALITION.

IT'S NO ONE PARTY THAT CAN EVER SPORTS BETTING.

WHEN YOU HAVE TO COBBLE TOGETHER A BIPARTISAN VOTE ON EVERYTHING IN THE HOUSTON.

IN THE HOUSE.

THEY WANT TO PRIORITIZE THE BUDGET BILLS.

>> Cathy: YOU BROUGHT TARGETS.

FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT TERRIBLY FAMILIAR, OUR AUDIENCE IS VERY SMART, BUT IF YOU'RE NOT FOLLOWING ALONG.

SO THESE TARGETS, THESE FINANCIAL GOALS IN A SENSE, HOW HARD AND FAST ARE THEY, TOM HAUSER?

>> WELL, THEY'RE NOT REAL HARD AND FAST, BUT GIVEN THE $6 BILLION PROJECTED DEFICIT, THEY CERTAINLY CAN'T SPEND MORE.

THE BUDGET WILL DEFINITELY BE SMALLER.

THE QUESTION IS, HOW MANY BILLIONS OF DOLLARS SMALLER WILL IT BE?

>> >> Eric: ARE WE LOOKING AT THIS AS CUTS OR JUST RESTRAINING THE RATE OF GROWTH.

>> BOTH: DEPENDS WHAT SIDE OF THE AISLE YOU'RE ON.

[ Laughter ] >> Mary: BOTH ARE TRUE.

>> THE RAMING FROM REPUBLICANS IS MORE THAT THIS IS A SET OF CUTS AND IT'S HISTORIC.

IT WOULD BE THE BIGGEST IN STATE HISTORY.

I THOUGHT IT WAS TELLING THAT MINORITY LEADER JOHNSON CAME OUT AND SAID 66 BILLION IS LIKELY GOING TO BE THE TOTAL, WHICH WE KIND OF NEW AHEAD OF TIME, IF YOU SHAVE OFF ALL THE ONE-TIME SPENDING FROM 2003, THAT'S WHERE YOU WOULD GET.

>> BUPT EACH THE GOVERNOR HAS -- BUT EVEN THE GOVERNOR HAS FRAMED IT AS THIS IS NOT KITS.

KITS THIS IS A REDUCTION IN THE GROWTH OF FUTURE NEEDS.

>> INFLATION IS BACK IN THE FORECAST.

SO THAT DOES CHANGE THE MATH FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

THERE WAS NOT INFLATION.

SO IS IT A SLOWING OF THE GROWTH OF THE INFLATION THAT'S FORECASTED OR AN ACTUAL CUT?

>> Eric: WHAT DO I MAKE OF THE DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE, CHAIR GOMEZ, OF THE TAXES COMMITTEE, PROPOSING A MILLIONAIRE TAX TO BACKFILL ANY MEDICAID CUTS THAT HAPPEN?

IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IN'T GOING TO GO.

BUT WHO KNOWS.

>> WE TALKED TO CO-CHAIR DAVIDS WHO BASICALLY SAID, YEAH, NO.

>> Eric: RANKING REPUBLICAN.

>> YES, RANKING, REPUBLICAN.

>> Eric: CO-CHAIR.

>> SAID HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE NOT INTERESTED IN ANYTHING THAT RAISES REVENUE.

SO TO THE SAME END, SENATOR ANN REST, WHO'S CHAIR OF THE SENATE TAX WHEN SENATE TAX WH COMMITTEE, WANTS O PUT A TAX ON THE COMPANIES THAT DO SOCIAL MEDIA, TAKE DATA FROM MINNESOTANS AND SAME THING, HE JUST SAID, THIS IS NOT THE YEAR TO DO THAT.

>> Mary: YEAH, REPUBLICANS WILL NOT AGREE TO ANY TAX INCREASES.

IT'S KIND OF A POLITICAL STATEMENT.

THEY HAD A WHOLE MONTH TO INTRODUCE AND PASS ALL OF THEIR BILLS.

NOW DEMOCRATS JUST GET TO DO A LITTLE CATCHUP.

>> THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THE 67-67 TIE DYNAMIC IS THAT REINS OR DEMOCRATS -- REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS CAN STOP ANYTHING THAT THEY DON'T LIKE.

EITHER SIDE CAN DO IT.

IT USED TO BE ONLY ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER UNLESS YOU GET SOMEBODY TO CROSS THE AISLE, WHICH ALMOST NEVER HAPPENS ANYMORE.

>> Eric: WHY IS GOVERNOR WALZ GETTING AFSCME AND MAPE, THE TWO PUBLIC EMPLOYEE UNIONS, UPSET AND ORDERING THEM 50% OF THE TIME BACK TO WORK ON JUNE 1ST?

>> WELL, THEY'VE GOTTEN USED TO THIS, YOU KNOW, SITUATION WHERE PEOPLE CAN ORK FROM HOME.

AND THE UNIONS ARE SAYING, WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOLD CARS.

SO THEY HAVE NO WAY TO GET TO WORK.

BY THE WAY, HIS IS THE PARTY OF MASS TRANSIT.

SAYS THEY HAVE NO WAY TO GET TO WORK BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A CAR.

AND IT JUST, YOU KNOW, THE DAYCARE S PROBLEM.

AND THAT IS CERTAINLY AN ISSUE.

BUT THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN THE MIND-SET THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE PERMANENT.

>> Eric: BLO OF >> Eric: BLO OIS OLSON HAD AN INTERESTING TAKE.

>> Mary: YES, WHILE WALZ IS A TEACHER AND THE TEACHERS UNION WAS CAN UNION WAS CA WITH HIM, MAPE AND AFSCME ACTUALLY ENDORSED THE PERSON WHO'S NOW THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, ERIN MURPHY, FOR GOVERNOR.

THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A LITTLE TENSION BEHIND THE SCENES BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND THOSE WRIEWNS.

>> HE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO HIS POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS AND THINKING IF HE'S RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR OR SOME OTHER HIGHER OFFICE, IT CAN HELP HIM MODERATE A LITTLE BIT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I TOOK THIS STANCE THAT THE UNIONS DIDN'T LOVE.

BUT WE GOT FOLKS BACK TO ST. PAUL OR OTHER CITIES.

>> Eric: HIS SISTER SOULJA MOMENT.

LOOK IT UP, IDS.

>> Cathy: HE TALKS A LOT ABOUT UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS, RIGHT, WHICH THERE'S THIS REPUBLICAN BILL TO SET SOME LIMITS ON THAT.

AND I'M WONDERING, IT'S REALLY POPULAR, BUT IT'S REALLY EXPENSIVE.

IS THIS A MUST-HAVE FOR THE GOVERNOR?

>> PROBABLY, DON'T YOU THINK IT'S HIS BIGGEST VISUAL LEGACY THAT PHOTO OF THE CHILDREN HUGGING HIM?

I THINK HE WAS MOST PROUD OF THAT.

[Overlapping conversations] >> Mary: IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE.

AND YOU REMEMBER THE ARGUMENTS AGAINST IT, TOM, WHERE THEY SAID EDINA KIDS SHOULDN'T HAVE FREE LUNCHES.

SO YEAH, YOU CAN PLAY THAT GAME OF, SHOULD EVERYBODY HAVE IT?

THERE WAS ALWAYS TALK ABOUT CAPPING IT.

BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO IN THE TRIFECTA.

GR >> THE GOVERNOR DID MAKE IT A SIGNATURE ACHIEVEMENT IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

WE NO LONGER HAVE AN $18 BILLION SURPLUS.

AND REPUBLICANS ARE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, A FAIRLY SENSIBLE BILL IF YOU MAKE 150,000 OR MORE, YOUR KIDS CAN STILL GET FREE BREAKFAST, BUT THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR LUNCH.

IT WOULD SAVE THE STATE 85 MILLION A YEAR REPUBLICANS SAY.

>> >> Eric: WHERE ARE WE ON THE WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE.

>> THEY'RE STILL MOVING THROUGH SOME OF OF THE PACKAGE.

BUT IN MY OBSERVATIONATION, IT SEEMS LIKE THE COMMITTEE DESIGNATED FOR THAT IS SPENDING A LOT OF TIME BRINGING THE GOVERNOR'S AGENCIES FREMPED, TALKING TO DEPARTMENT HEADS ABOUT HOW DID YOU HANDLE THIS SITUATION OR THIS SITUATION, COULD YOU HAVE DONE BETTER?

AND I KNOW THERE'S A DISAGREEMENTS BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ON THAT PANEL ABOUT, IS THIS THE BEST USE OF OUR TIME.

SHOULD WE BE LOOKING AT LEGISLATION OR SHORING UP PLACES WHERE THE STATE COULD BE A HARDER TARGET AGAINST SCAMMERS.

>> Cathy: SO I MENTIONED THE GOVERNOR TRAVELING.

HOW -- BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE HE'S GOING TO STOP.

HOW MIGHT THEY AFFECT THE LAST SIX WEEKS OF SESSION?

>> Mary: EVERY TIME WE BRING IT UP, WE GET PUSHBACK.

THEY ARE SAYING THEY'RE TRYING TO KEEP IT AT NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS.

>> Eric: VENTURA USED THAT EXCUSE.

>> Mary: UT VENT >> Mary: UT VE VENTURA SAID HE HAD TO TAKE A PAY CUT TO BE GOVERNOR.

>> SO, YEAH, THE BIGGER IMPACT MIGHT BE IF HE RUNS FOR GOVERNOR AGAIN.

THERE MAY BE OPPONENTS WHO USE THIS AGAINST HIM.

ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION TO MINNESOTA?

OR ARE YOU RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IN FOUR YEARS?

>> Eric: CAN THEY BE DONE ON MAY 19TH.

>> Mary: THEY ALL SAY THEY CAN.

>> I'M GOING TO SAY YES, BUT THEN THEY'LL COME BACK.

FOR ALL THE FEDERAL CUTS.

>> Mary: EVERYBODY'S ADMITTING -- BECAUSE THE FEDERAL MONEY IS SO VOLATILE.

>> 80% NO, THEY WILL NOT GET DONE ON TIME.

NOW I THINK IT'S 50-506789 >> Cathy: REALLY?

BUT WON'T THEY HAVE TO BE ON ALERT MOST OF THE SUMMER?

>> WATCH WHAT YOU'RE SPENDING MONEY ON, BECAUSE SOME OF IT MAY DISAPPEAR, IF YOU RELY A LOT ON FEDERAL MONEY.

>> Eric: SO THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF UNCERTAINTY STILL UP THERE?

>> A LOT.

BUT DEPENDING WHO YOU TALK TO, THERE'S A LOT OF DEFLECTION ABOUT JUST HOW BIG OF AN ISSUE THAT'S GOING TO BE LATER ON.

>> Eric: AND KEITH ELLISON, ATTORNEY GENERAL OR GOVERNOR?

>> HE MADE NEWS TONIGHT.

HE SAYS HE LOVES HIS JOB.

SO THERE YOU GO.

YOU TOOK CARE OF THAT FOR US, ERIC.

>> Eric: I'M HERE TO SERVE.

THANKS, GUYS.

TREMENDOUS.

OH, I READ FROM HERE TONIGHT.

WE'VE RUN LONG TONIGHT, SO WE'LL HAVE A NEW MINNESOTA HISTORY QUESTION FOR YOU NEXT WEEK.

BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, TWIN CITIES VIEWERS CAN CATCH THE SEASON FOUR PREMIERE OF "STAGE" NEXT MONDAY NIGHT AT 9:00 ON TWIN CITIES PBS.

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ALMOST TIME TO ROLL THE CREDITS.

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THIS WEEK BACK IN 1992, THE HOOPSNAKES APPEARED ON KTCA'S "SHOWCASE" PROGRAM.

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