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

>> IN THE NEXT FEW MINUTES, WE HAVE THE NEW PUBLISHER OF THE "STAR TRIBUNE," AND TANE DANGER.

FIRST UP, AN UPDATE ON FLOODING AROUND THE STATE.

>> BIG WEEK AT THE CAPITOL WITH THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, INCLUDING SOME NATIONAL MESSAGING.

>> WE ALL KNOW DAMN WELL, WEAPONS OF WAR HAVE NO PLACE IN OUR SCHOOLS.

>> AND WE TALK TO THE TAX CHAIR ABOUT THE HOUSE'S TOUGH NEGOTIATIONS AHEAD.

>> ANYBODY MIGHT HAVE A CLASH OF PERSONALITIES WITH EITHER ONE OF US.

>> 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 27 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION - ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

AND EDUCATION MINNESOTA.

THE VOICE FOR PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS AND TUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

MORE AT EDUCATION MINNESOTA.ORG.

>> SO I'M GOING TO DO THIS AGAIN, JUST TO REMIND YOU THAT WE'RE GOING TO IMMEDIATE THE NEW PUBLISHER OF THE "STAR TRIBUNE"IN THE NEXT HOUR.

TANE DANGER IS GOING TO STOP BY WITH A MEMORABLE USE OF THE STUDIO.

BUT FIRST, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT FLOODING AROUND THE STATE.

>> YEAH, FLOODING HAS BEGUN IN MINNESOTA, AND THIS WEEK'S HEAVY RAINS AND SNOWSTORMS ARE ADDING TO THE WORRIES.

WE HAVE PETE BOULAY.

PETE, SERIOUS, BUT NOT HISTORIC.

IS THAT FAIR?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, WITH HE SA YOU THIS COMING IN JANUARY.

LOTS OF MEETINGS AND GETTING PREPARED FOR THE FLOOD.

AND WE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE PRETTY GOOD-SIZED FLOOD, BUT NOT HISTORIC.

AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT IS PANNING OUT.

>> WE HAVE HAD A TON OF PRECIPITATION.

SO TALK ABOUT JUST THE PHYSICS OF IT, JUST HOW IT ALL WORKS TOGETHER HERE.

>> WELL, THAT'S WHY WE'RE -- WE'RE IN THE POSITION WE ARE NOW, BECAUSE WE HAD A NEAR-RECORD PRECIPITATION THIS WINTER, NEAR-RECORD SNOWFALLS ACROSS THE STATE.

SO WE HAD A LOT OF WATER SITTING ON THE GROUND.

AND BASICALLY, WATER HAS GOT TO GO SOMEWHERE.

SO UCKILY FOR US, WE DIDN'T HAVE A FROZEN GROUND.

OTHERWISE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN WORSE.

>> THE WHIPLASH EFFECT WAS, YOU KNOW, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT MONTHS AGO, THE STATE WAS DEEP IN DROUGHT.

>> YES, IF YOU WOULD HAVE ASKED ME IN THE FALL, I WOULD HAVE SAID NOT A PROBLEM.

AND THEN SURE ENOUGH, AN OUTSTANDING WINTER CAME OUT.

AND PROBABLY THE SILVER LINING, WE'RE GETTING RID OF THAT DROUGHT IN GOOD WAY.

THE DROUGHT EVERY WEEK IS SLOWLY EASING OFF, AND IN THE STATE, AND WE KEEP GETTING MORE AND MORE STORMS AND LESS DROUGHT.

>> SO OBVIOUSLY, AS YOU SAY, WE HAD A LOT OF WATER IN THIS SNOW PACK, ESPECIALLY IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

SO LET'S LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE NORTHERN WATERSHEDS AND HOW THAT AFFECTS PEOPLE DOWN RIVER.

>> WE HAD 4 TO 6 INCHES OF WATER IN THE SATE, AND IT STAYED LONG.

AND SO THAT'S -- IT TOOK A WHILE TO MELT.

BEGINNING INTO APRIL.

AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, WE GOT SOME HEAVY RAIN IN APRIL, TOO, SO THAT'S ADDED MORE TO THE CRESTS, SO THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW.

IT'S EXTENDING THE CRESTS, PUSHING IT OFF ANOTHER DAY, TWO OR THREE DAYS, IN MANY PLACES AND EVEN AKING A LONGER CREST, TOO.

SO IT WILL HANG AROUND LONGER.

>> SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WATERSHEDS HERE, LET'S GET OME RIVER UPDATES AND SOME OF THE RIVER SYSTEMS.

LET'S START WITH THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER SYSTEM, SINCE THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT SNOW PACK UP NORTH.

TELL US ABOUT FLOODING ON THE MISSISSIPPI.

>> SO FLOODING RIGHT NOW, IT'S GOING DOWN THE MAIN STEM RIGHT NOW.

COMING ACROSS SKOIPDT.

CLOUD AND UP TO FRIDLEY.

AND ST. PAUL WILL BE CRESTING DURING THE WEEK, WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, IT LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW.

IT GOES UP AND DOWN A LITTLE BIT AND YOU CAN OOK AT THE FORECAST, WEATHER.GOV IS THE BEST PLACE TO GO, AND YOU CAN FOLLOW ALONG.

AND WITH THE RAIN, THEY'RE PUTTING THAT INTO THE SYSTEM, TOO, TO SEE WHERE IT WILL CREST.

AND, YOU KOW, LOOKS LIKE THE NEXT FEW DAYS IS WHEN WE'LL SEE IT IN THE TWIN CITIES.

>> MOST PROBLEMATIC WATERSHED, WOULD THAT BE THE ST. CROIX?

>> YES, PARTLY BECAUSE THEY HAD THE MOST WATER YUP STREAM.

NORTHWEST WISCONSIN HAD EVEN MORE WATER ON THE GROUND THAN WE DID.

SIX INCHES OR EVEN MORE THAN THAT IN A FEW PLACES.

SO THAT IS THE PLACE THAT MIGHT GET MAYBE A TOP TEN RECORD CREST.

WHEN IT'S ALL SAID ND DONE.

RIGHT AROUND 90 FEET, MAYBE A LITTLE LESS THAN 90 FEET OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

AND THAT'S BEEN STRETCHED OH OUT A BIT, TOO, BECAUSE OF THE RAIN.

>> HOW DO YOU MESH FLOOD STAGE?

WHERE IS IT MEASURED, WHO DOES IT?

WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> WELL, EVERY RIVER IS DIFFERENT.

SUM IS BASED ON THE ELEVATION ON SEA LEVEL, SOME ON A BENCHMARK.

LIKE STILLWATER, YOU HEAR ABOUT 89, 90 FEET, LIKE THE TWIN CITIES, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT ST. PAUL OR OTHER PLACES, MIGHT BE MORE LIKE ELEVATION ABOVE SEA LEVEL.

SO, YOU KNOW, BACK IN THE OLD DAYS, YOU HAD, LIKE, A GAUGE ON THE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THEY HAVE MORE TECHNOLOGY NOW TO DO IT MORE PRECISE.

SO -- AND THEY'RE WATCHING IT ALL OF THE TIME AND PUTTING IN ANY KIND OF RAIN THE THAT COMES UP THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

>> ALL OF THE MITIGATION EFFORTS ON THE RED RIVER, ARE THEY 3 PAYING OFF?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IF YOU EVER GET A CHANCE TO VISIT UP THERE, GRAND FORKS, FARGO, YOU CAN SEE THERE IS NOW A PARK AND A GOLF COURSE WHERE THERE USED TO BE HOMES, AND THEY HAVE DONE A LOT TO PROTECT THE CITY.

SO, YOU KNOW, OTHER CITIES IN THE -- OTHER CITIES IN THE STATE, TOO, HAVE DONE THAT TOO.

ROCHESTER, FOR INSTANCE, HAS DONE A LOT, BECAUSE THEY HAVE HAD FLOODS IN THE PAST, TOO.

THEY HAVE HAD SOME STORMS IN THE PAST FEW YEARS AND HASN'T AFFECTED THEM, AS MUCH.

THEY HAVE LOT MORE PARKS.

>> SO WE HAVE AREAS OF WESTERN MINNESOTA, CENTRAL MINNESOTA, ROADS ARE CLOSED, BECAUSE OF WATER GOING OVER THE ROADS.

BUT IT LOOKS LIKE -- ARE WE CATCHING A BREAK NEXT WEEK?

IT LOOKS DRY?

WE ARE ENTERING INTO A COOL AND DRY PATTERN FOR THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS.

IT WILL START WARMING UP A BIT, MAYBE CLOSE TO NORMAL.

THAT WOULD BE NICE FOR A CHANGE.

BUT THE OUTLOOK IS REALLY TENDING DRY AND COOL.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.

NO MORE BIG STORMS IN SIGHT.

AND NO MORE SNOW, EITHER.

>> HOPE NOT.

>> THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

THANKS.

>> IT WAS A MAIN EVENT KIND OF WEEK AT THE CAPITOL FROM A STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, THE DEMOCRATS WERE CHEERING TO THE RELEASE OF A TAX BILL THAT HAS BOTH HISTORIC TAX CUTS AND INCREASES.

MARY LAHAMMER LANDED AN INTERVIEW TO PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT FROM THE CAPITOL.

>> I'M PROUD TO REPORT THE STATE OF OUR STATE IS STRONG, AND IT'S GETTING STRONGER.

>> THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS WITH A FULLY IN-PERSON LEGISLATURE AND ALL DEMOCRATIC CONTROL OF GOVERNMENT GAVE THE GOVERNOR ARENA FOR A POWER PLAY.

>> WE ALL KNOW DAMN WELL WEAPONS OF WAR HAVE NO PLACE IN OUR SCHOOLS, IN OUR CHURCHES, ANYONE IN AMERICA DOUBTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE MEANINGFUL ACTION TO PROTECT OUR KIDS.

I'VE GOT TWO WORDS.

WATCH US.

>> HIS MOVE FOR MORE NATIONAL PROMINENCE WAS HARD TO MISS.

>> THEY'RE BANNING BOOKS IN THEIR SCHOOLS.

WE'RE BANISHING HUNGERS FROM OURS.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> TAX INCREASES WERE NOT DETAILED, ONLY CREDITS IN HAD WALZ' QUEST TO MAKE MINNESOTA 3 THE BEST PLACE TO RAISE CHILDREN IN THE COUNTRY.

>> A NATION-LEADING CHILD TAX CREDIT WOULD PUT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS BACK INTO THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT THE MOST.

IF WE DID NOTHING ELSE THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THAT WOULD REDUCE CHILD POVERTY BY 25% IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> MINNESOTANS WERE LOOKING FOR TAX RELIEF.

AND KNOWING THAT WE HAD A $17.5 BILLION SURPLUS.

>> THE OTHER MAIN EVENTUALITY OF THE WEEK WAS THE RELEASE OF THE HOUSE TAX BILL, WHICH INCLUDES A CONFUSING MIX OF TAX CUTS AND INCREASES.

WE GOT THE HOUSE TAX CHAIR TO EXPLAIN.

>> EXPLAIN THE CUTS AND THE INCREASES.

>> THIS IS THE LARGEST TAX CUT IN MINNESOTA HISTORY IN OUR TAX BILL THIS YEAR IN THE DFL HOUSE TAX BILL, BUT IT'S VERY TARGETED.

THERE ARE TWO REVENUE-RAISERS IN THE BILL.

ONE IS A MILLIONAIRES' TAX.

SO THAT MEANS FOR PEOPLE BRINGING HOME $1 MILLION, IT ADDS AN EXTRA CENT ON THOSE DOLLARS ABOVE A MILLION.

>> HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WE TALKING.

>> 24 HOW PEOPLE.

THE OTHER IS WORLDWIDE COMBINED REPORTING, WHICH IS REALLY GOING AFTER THOSE HUGE MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS THAT ARE STASHING THEIR PROFITS OVERSEAS TO AVOID PAYING TAXES.

>> WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR THE SENATE TAX BILL, UT CHAIR ANN REST IS TOUGH, AND NEGOTIATIONS, EVEN WITH A FELLOW DEMOCRAT, WON'T BE EASY.

>> THAT $250 -- >> SO I REALLY WANT YOU TO CONCENTRATE ON THE TAX.

>> THAT IS TAX, BECAUSE A LICENSE EE IS TAX.

WOULD ANY OF YOU AGREE THAT A LICENSE FEE -- WOULDN'T YOU SAY A LICENSE FEE OF $1 MILLION WHEN THOSE CAME UP, ISN'T THAT A TAX.

>> THE DEFINITION OF A FEE AND A TAX IS VERY DIFFERENT.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE, AND -- AND IN OUR JURISDICTION, IS THE SALES TAX.

THERE'S NO PHOTOGRAPHY.

IN THIS COMMITTEE.

IS THAT CLEAR?

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT GOING TOE-TO-TOE WITH ANN REST NEXT?

>> I'M REALLY OOKING FORWARD TO IT.

I'M A PRETTY NEW MEMBER, AND IT'S MY FIRST TIME DOING THIS, AND SHE HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE.

>> IS IT GOING TO BE A CLASH OF PERSONALITY?

>> I THINK ANYBODY MIGHT HAVE A CLASH OF PERSONALITIES WITH EITHER ONE OF US.

I'M A HARD ASS TOO.

SO WE'LL SEE.

>> CONFERENCE COMMITTEE IS KIND OF EPIC.

FOLKS SAID THEY WANT TO SELL TICKETS, IF THE NEGOTIATIONS HAPPEN IN PUBLIC.

>> ABSOLUTELY, YEAH.

I THINK THAT SENATOR REST AND I SHARE A PRINCIPLE ABOUT TRANSPARENCY IN THIS PROCESS.

>> INSTITUTE REPUBLICANS SAY, WITH ALL THE OTHER ACTION AT THE CAPITOL, THE AMOUNT OF TAX INCREASES COULD BE GETTING LOST.

>> WE HAVE TRACKED DOWN RECENTLY, AND THE BILLS HAVE BEEN PROPOSED, AT LEAST $9.6 BILLION OF TAX INCREASES OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

>> IF YOU DON'T WISH TO SEE YOUR SENIORS, YOUR FAMILIES, PLACED UNDER AN ADDITIONAL TAX BURDEN OF THIS MAGNITUDE, THERE ARE 33 REPUBLICANS THAT STAND READY TO VOTE WITH YOU TO DEFEAT THESE TAXES, AND BRING SOME COMMON SENSE TO THE TAX POLICY OF MINNESOTA.

>> MY LOCAL COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN WATCHING.

AND THEY ARE GETTING MORE ND MORE UNEASY AND NERVOUS ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE SEEING COMING OUT OF THIS CPITOL.

>> THEY SAY THEY HAVE TALLIED UP $10 ILLION OF TAX INCREASES.

IS THAT ACCURATE?

>> I DIDN'T SEE THE PRESS CONFERENCE, AND I HAVEN'T REALLY SAT DOWN AND DONE THE LEDGER.

BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT IN THE TAX BILL, WHEN WE HAVE THESE TWO REVENUE-RAISERS AND A LOT OF RELIEF THAT'S FOCUSED ON MIDDLE CLASS AND WORKING CLASS FAMILIES, THERE IS A VERY CLEAR DIVIDE, AND I'M CLEAR ABOUT WHO I'M HERE FOR, AND I'M HERE TO DO THE MOST GOOD THAT I CAN FOR THE MOST PEOPLE WHO NEED IT THE MOST.

>> TAXES IS JUST ONE OF THE TOPICS THAT LEGISLATIVE LEADERS WILL NEED TO NAVIGATE IN THE NEXT MONTH.

WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT MORE FROM REPRESENTATIVE JAMIE LONG, THE MINNEAPOLIS DEMOCRAT IS THE DFL HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER.

REPRESENTATIVE JIM NASH JOINS US WITH A COUNTER VIEWPOINT.

HE'S THE REPUBLICAN MINORITY WHIP FROM WOULD CONIA.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

REPRESENTATIVE LNG, EVIDENTLY THE TAX BILL IS OUT OF COMMITTEE.

IT'S GOING TO GO TO THE HOUSE FLOOR.

TELL US WHAT'S IN IT.

>> WE HAVE THE LARGEST TAX CUT IN STATE HISTORY IN THE BILL, AND WE ALSO HAVE A CHILD TAX CREDIT THAT, WHEN IMPLEMENTED, WOULD REDUCE CHILDHOOD POVERTY BY 25%.

SO THAT, I THINK, IS HUGELY IMPORTANT.

WE HEARD ROM THE GOVERNOR IN THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, HIS COMMITMENT TO MAKING SURE THAT MINNESOTA IS THE BEST STATE IN THE COUNTRY FOR -- TO RAISE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

AND THIS WOULD MAKE AN IMPORTANT DOWN PAYMENT TOWARD THAT.

>> HOW MUCH IN TAXES AND FEES IN THIS BILL?

>> WELL, THE BILL HAS, I TINK, SOME TAX CREDITS, AND SOME FEES THAT ARE OFFSETTING.

WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING OUR BILLS TOGETHER AND GOING TO NEGOTIATION WITH THE SENATE.

BUT I THINK THE BILL IS REALLY FOCUSED ON TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING MONEY BACK IN THE HANDS OF THOSE WHO NEED IT, AND TRYING TO HELP WORKING FAMILIES.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS BILL, REPRESENTATIVE NASH?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE OUT OF THE PICTURE -- BIG PICTURE IS $20 BILLION INCREASE OVER THE PREVIOUS BIENNIAL BASE.

>> THAT'S SPENDING, YOU'RE SAYING.

>> CORRECT.

AND WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF TAXES AND FEES.

WE'RE SEEING A TAX FOR TRANSPORTATION, WE HAVE A DELIVERY TAX, WE HAVE A LOCAL HOUSING TAX IN THE METRO AREA.

>> IS A DELIVERY TAX STILL IN THIS BILL?

I THOUGHT IT WAS DELETED?

>> IT'S BEEN PULLED FROM THE SENATE, I GUESS.

>> IT'S STILL IN THE HOUSE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THERE IS A MYRIAD OF THINGS IN THERE THAT ARE INCREASES, AND I THINK THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO THE TAX ILL COMING TO THE FLOOR, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE 3 QUITE ANIMATED, AND I THINK THAT MINNESOTANS ARE IN A TIME OF A NEARLY $18 BILLION SURPLUS.

THEY ARE LOOKING AT WHAT THE STATE GOVERNMENT IS DOING UNDER THE TRIFECTA, AND THEY'RE GOING TO SEE THAT THEY HAVE SPENT ALL OF THAT AND RAISED ANOTHER -- I THINK CLOSE TO $2 BILLION IN TAXES, WITH DIFFERENT THINGS.

THERE'S A FIFTH TIER INCOME TAX COMING.

>> IS THE -- IS ALL THE SPEND THE DFL IS LOOKING AT SUSTAINABLE?

>> THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE HAVE ONE-TIME MONEY.

AND WE DON'T HAVE ONE-TIME PROBLEMS.

SO WE, FOR DECADES, HAVE NOT ACTUALLY KEPT UP WITH OUR TRANSPORTATION NEEDS.

WE HAVEN'T KEPT UP WITH OUR HOUSING NEEDS, WE HAVEN'T KEPT UP WITH OUR TWELVE EDUCATION NEEDS.

SO WE HAVE STEPPED UP TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS THAT MINNESOTANS WANT US TO TAKE CARE OF SO WE NEED ONGOING SOURCES OF REVENUE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE HELPING SCHOOLS.

WE PASSED A TREMENDOUS K-12 BILL, THE LARGEST IN STATE HISTORY.

WE ALSO PASSED A GREAT TRANSPORTATION BILL WHICH WILL TAKE CARE OF LONG-TERM PROBLEMS.

THE LAST TIME WE RAISED SIGNIFICANT REVENUE WAS WHEN THE BRIDGE FELL IN THE RIVER.

WE DON'T WANT TO WAIT UNTIL WE LOSE MORE LIVES ND ANOTHER TRANSPORTATION ACCIDENT.

WE EED TO ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS NOW, AND WE ARE.

>> HOW MUCH OF THE -- IN THE PROCESS HAVE REPUBLICANS HAD A VOICE?

IN THE HOUSE?

>> WELL, IT DEPENDS IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE WE DEBATING ON THE FLOOR OR IN THE CONSTRUCT OF THE BILLS?

I WOULD SAY AS WE BUILD HE BILLS, WE HAVEN'T BEEN TALKED TO VERY MUCH.

AND THE GOVERNOR ALLUDED TO THAT THE OTHER DAY IN HIS STATE OF THE STATE, THAT JUST WATCH US.

WE HAVE A TRIFECTA.

WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT WE WANT AND TAND BACK AND WATCH.

>> WHY NOT MORE COLLEGIALITY, COOPERATION?

>> EVERY BILL WE PASSED OFF THE FLOOR TODAY WAS A UNANIMOUS GREEN VOTE, INCLUDING NE THAT REPRESENTATIVE NASH HAD CARRIED IN THE PAST.

SO I THINK SOMETIMES YOU LOOK AT THE -- THE OUTSIDE, AND IT'S EASY TO FOCUS ON THE BIG STUFF AND THE FIGHTING, BUT WE PASS A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE BIPARTISAN AND GETTING THE WORK DONE.

>> I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT, THERE ARE MOMENTS OF BIPARTISANSHIP, THAT DON'T ALWAYS GET COVERED ON TELEVISION OR IN THE NEWSPAPER.

BUT WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS THE LARGE BUDGET BILLS.

WE HAVE HAD VIRTUALLY NO VOICE AT ALL.

AND WHEN WE RAISE OBJECTIONS, WE'RE -- WE'RE PATTED N THE HEAD, AND THANKED FOR OUR INPUT, AND THAT'S ABOUT IT.

>> SOCIAL SECURITY ELIMINATION.

WHERE PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT THAT QUITE A BIT.

IS THAT GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> SO THE TAX BILL THAT THE HOUSE HAS INTRODUCED WOULD ELIMINATE SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES FOR 80% OF MINNESOTANS, SO ONLY THE TOP 20% WOULD CONTINUE TO PAY SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES.

>> DIDN'T THAT TOP 20 TO PUT IN MONEY TO PAY TAXES AND DON'T THEY DESERVE A TASTE COMING BACK?

>> I THINK THIS STRIKES A RIGHT BALANCE.

THE HIGHEST INCOME EARNERS IN OUR STATE MORE THAN DOUBLED THEIR INCOMES AND THE LOWEST SAW A 9% DECREASE IN THEIR INCOME.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE STATE.

AND THAT MEANS THAT SOME OF THE WEALTHIEST MINNESOTANS CAN AFFORD TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE SO WE CAN HELP OUT WITH SCHOOLS AND CHILD CARE NEEDS AND THE REST.

>> YOU DISOBEDIENT LOOK LIKE YOU'RE BUYING THIS.

>> SADLY, I DON'T.

WE'RE STILL GOING TO BE TAXING SOME ELEMENTS OF OUR SOCIAL SECURITY, AND THAT WILL KEEP US AS ONE OF THE 12 STATES THAT ARE STILL TAXING SOCIAL SECURITY.

WHEN WE HEARD IT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, IT WAS GOING TO BE THE ELIMINATION OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY TAX.

AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT BE THE ELIMINATION OF A SOCIAL SECURITY TX.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A VERY FULL-THROATED CONVERSATION.

YOU HAD ASKED EARLIER, HOW IS IT GOING.

AND I TELL MY FRIENDS, I FEEL LIKE I'M A NORWEGIAN JON SPEED BUMP.

I'M HERE TO FORCE CONVERSATIONS AND SLOW THINGS DOWN SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN SEE WHAT'S GOING ON AND WE GET TO HAVE OUR VOICE AS THE MINORITY PARTY IN THE PROCESS.

>> THERE'S GOING TO BE A VOTE MONDAY, I BELIEVE, IN THE HOUSE ON LEGALIZING RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.

WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENS WITH THAT?

>> IT WILL PASS.

WE HAVE STRONG SUPPORT.

AND THIS IS A BILL THAT HAS BEEN PUT TOGETHER REALLY THOUGHTFULLY OVER MANY YEARS.

WE HAVE WORKED VERY HARD TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING THIS RIGHT, THAT WE'RE LEARNING FROM THE MISTAKES OF MANY OF THE OTHER ESTATES THAT HAVE IMPLEMENTED THIS.

BUT IT WILL BE ADULT-USE CANNABIS CANNABIS.

WE'RE INVESTING AND MAKING SURE WE'RE DEALING WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.

BUT THIS IS A BILL THAT MINNESOTANS ARE READY FOR.

THE MAJORITY WANT IT AND IT'S WIPE.

>> DO WE REALLY NEED THIS?

>> WELL, NEED IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER.

I THINK IT WILL PASS.

BUT MY OBJECTION HAS BEEN FOR A VERY LONG TIME THAT IT EXCLUDES THINGS LIKE LOCAL CONTROL.

SO CITIES THAT MAY WANT TO OPT OUT OF HAVING A DISPENSARY IN THEIR CITY HAVE NO VOICE.

THERE HAS BEEN NO CONSIDERATION FOR LOCAL CONTROL AT ALL.

AND I THINK THAT -- THAT THE MAJORITY PARTY HAS MISSED THE MARK ON THAT, AND WE HAVE BROUGHT IT UP IN COMMITTEE A NUMBER OF TIMES, AND IT'S BEEN VOTED DOWN.

I THINK THAT A GOOD PORTION OF OUR STATE MAY NOT WANT TO DO THIS.

AND MAY WISH TO HAVE A VOICE IN WHETHER IT IS LOCATED WHERE THEY LIVE OR NOT.

AND THAT'S BEEN TAKEN AWAY.

>> WITH THE SPENDING, WITH THE TAX BILL, WITH THE SOCIAL ISSUES THAT HAVE COME UP IN THE HOUSE, DID THE DEMOCRATS OVEREXTEND?

HAVE THEY OVERREACHED WHAT THEY WERE SENT TO DO?

>> NOT AT ALL.

WE ARE DOING THE THINGS THAT FOLKS HAVE ASKED US TO DO.

THE FIRST BILL WE PASSED WAS THE STRONGEST REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS PROTECTIONS ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.

THAT WAS THE TOP ISSUE WE HEARD FROM VOTERS IN THE CAMPAIGN.

ANOTHER TOP ISSUE WE HEARD FROM VOTERS WAS ACTING ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND WE PASSED ONE OF THE NATION'S LEADING 100% CLEAN ENERGY STANDARDS, ONE OF THE STRONGEST IN THE COUNTRY.

>> I THINK YOU HAD THE BILL.

>> THAT WAS MY BILL, YEAH.

WE ARE STEPPING UP TO HELP OUT WITH SCHOOLS, TO HELP OUT WITH CHILD CARE, TO HELP OUT WITH HOUSING.

THESE ARE COSTS HITTING FAMILIES AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN KEEP MORE MONEY IN HEIR POCKETS.

>> IF THE ELECTION WERE HELD ON MAY 23RD, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR PITCH?

>> THE TRIFECTA HAS COST MORE THAN IT PURPORTED TO IN A TIME OF ALMOST AN $18 BILLION SURPLUS.

THEY'RE RAISING MORE AND MORE TAXES AND THEY WILL HAVE INCREASED THEIR BIANNUAL SPEND BY $20 BILLION.

>> NO CHANCE FOR A SPECIAL SESSION OR DOES IT GO INTO NEXT YEAR SFL.

>> I THINK WE'RE SHOWING THAT GOVERNMENT IS WORKING.

WE'RE GETTING OUR WORK BE DONE.

GRIDLOCK IS OVER.

>> SLOP WAS A LITTLE PERJORATIVEPEJORATIVE.

I'M SORRY.

THANKS, FELLAS.

♪ >> THE "STAR TRIBUNE"HAS A NEW LEADER AT THE TOP OF THE ORGANIZATION, AND THIS WEEK WAS HIS FIRST WEEK ON THE JOB.

PUBLISHER, STEVE GROVE, IS A FORMER GOOGLE EXECUTIVE, WHO MOST RECENTLY HEADED D.E.E.D.

MINNESOTA'S DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

YOU COME FROM A HIGH-TECH BACKGROUND.

THANKS FOR COMING, BY THE WAY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WHERE DOES OUR -- WHAT IMPACT DOES ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE GOING TO HAVE?

>> IT'S CHANGING EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES.

IT'S ASKING US QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO WE ARE AS PEOPLE THAT ARE EVEN DEEPER THAN ANY TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT IN HISTORY.

I THINK FOR AN ORGANIZATION LIKE THE "STAR TRIBUNE," LIKE ANY COMPANY TODAY, WE HAVE GOT TO LEAN INTO TECHNOLOGIES LIKE THAT.

THOUGHTFULLY.

BUT WITH A MIND TOWARDS WHEN COMPANIES ARE IN FLEXION POINTS AND WANT TO BECOME RELEVANT TO A NEXT GENERATION OF USERS, YOU HAVE TO FIND THE WAYS TO CAPITALIZE ON ADVANCEMENTS LIKE THAT.

SO WE'LL EXPERIMENT IN WAYS THAT ARE SAFE AND ULTIMATELY KEEP THE "STAR TRIBUNE"'S CORE VALUES OF BEING A GREAT AND TRUSTED SOURCE OF NEWS THE CENTER OF WHAT WE DO.

>> ARE YOU SEEING ANY SAFEGUARDS IN THE NEWSROOM O VET VIDEOS AND OTHER INSPECTION THAT WILL BE OUT THERE THAT COULD BE FAKE?

BECAUSE OF A.I.?

>> IT'S CRITICAL, ISN'T IT?

>> RIGHT.

>> WE LIVE IN A WORLD THAT PARADOXICALLY HAS MORE SOURCES OF INFORMATION THAN EVER BEFORE, BUT IS HARDER TO FIND WHAT THE QUALITY OF INFORMATION IS.

AND I THINK JOURNALIST ARE THE CREATORS AND CURATORS.

WE NEED TO POINT IN THE DIRECTION OF WHAT IS USEFUL AND VALUABLE.

THAT IS A SERVICE TO SOCIETY.

AND I THINK NO ONE WOULD ARGUE WITH THE FACT THAT COMMUNITIES LIKE OURS HAVE STRONG JOURNALISTIC INSTITUTIONS, LIKE THIS ONE.

DO BETTER ON A WHOLE HOST OF METRICS.

VOTER TURNOUT, BELIEF IN WHAT IS HAPPENING.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A STATE THAT HAS GREAT JOURNALISM AND THAT'S WHY I TOOK THE JOB.

>> PARTICULARLY SINCE GEORGE FLOYD, THE PAPER MADE STABS AT INCREASING DIVERSITY.

AND I WONDER -- HERE COMES ANOTHER WHITE GUY AS THE NEW CEO, AND I WONDER HOW YOU'LL HANDLE THAT WHOLE DIVERSITY ISSUE.

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

AND THIS WAS A CENTRAL MISSION OF OUR AGENCY, TO REALLY FOCUS ON EQUITABLE OUTCOMES IN OUR STATE AND TO DO SO IN VERY DIFFERENT WAYS.

IF WE KEEP DOING THE SAME THINGS AS A STATE, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP GETTING THE SAME RESULTS.

AND I SAME SAY THE SAME OR THE "STAR TRIBUNE."

THIS IS A PAPER THAT WON A PRIZE.

I CAN TELL HAS ITS HEART IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

WE NEED TO DO MORE.

THE "STAR TRIBUNE"SHOULD BE TELLING THE STORY OF MINNESOTA, AND THAT IS A STORY OF VERY MINNESOTAN, NOT JUST THOSE WHO LOOK LIKE YOU AND ME.

>> YOU SPENT TIME AT OOGLE NEWS LABS.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN IN THAT EXPERIENCE?

>> I LOVED THAT.

I STARTED AFTER A CAREER OF GETTING GOOGLE PLUS OFF THE GROUND AND THEN SEEING IT PLUMMET TO EARTH.

ONE OF OUR FAILURES, BUT A LOT OF FUN.

GOOGLE NEWS, WE STARTED, BECAUSE IT SHOULD HAVE A BRIDGE BETWEEN ITS ENGINEERS AND NEWS ROOMS TO MAKE JOURNALISM FUNCTION MORE EFFECTIVELY.

AND, BOY, I LEARNED A LOT.

I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE GOOGLE OF JOURNALISM, AND TRYING TO BRIDGE THAT SPACE IS IMPORTANT.

WHAT I LEARNED BY GOING TO NEWS ROOMS AROUND THE WORLD IS THIS.

ORGANIZATIONS THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND THE CHANGE OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS IS GOING TO BE A LOT FASTER THAN CHANGE THE LAST TEN YEARS.

AND DON'T FIND WAYS TO LEAN INTO THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FACE REAL CHALLENGES.

AND FOR THE "STAR TRIBUNE"AND MEDIA IN GENERAL THIS IS AN INFLEXION POINT.

WE CAN PRESERVE A FUTURE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE DECADES, BUT UT WILL TAKE HARD WORK.

>> WHAT IS THE ECONOMIC MODEL FOR -- FOR DIGITAL?

I MEAN, IS IT UNDERWRITING?

IS IT A PAY WALL?

IS IT SUBSCRIBERS?

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE MONEY IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS?

>> IT'S REALLY INTERESTING.

JOURNALISM HAS LARGELY BEEN BASED ON ADS.

COMPANIES LIKE GOOGLE HAVE CHANGED THAT MARKETPLACE.

MARKEDLY.

WE WILL STILL BE A COMPANY THAT TAKES ADS.

WE HAVE GREAT RELATIONSHIPS WITH ADVERTISERS.

BUT IT IS INCREASINGLY READER REVENUE, ASKING USERS TO PAY FOR THIS CONTENT THAT'S GOING TO HELP ORGANIZATIONS LIKE OURS THRIVE, WHICH MEANS YOU CAN'T JUST BE ABOUT THE NEXT DIGITAL DO-HICKEY.

YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE SOMETHING, VALUE FOR OUR USERS AND CUSTOMERS.

THEY HAVE TO THINK, GOSH, I COULDN'T LIVE WITHOUT "STAR TRIBUNE"SUBSCRIPTION.

AND WE WANT TO CREATE THAT VALUE TO PEOPLE WILL TAKE THEIR HARD-EARNED MONEY AND TRUST IT WITH US O GIVE WHAT THEY NEED.

>> YOU HAVE VERY EXPENSIVE, I ASSUME, OFFICE SPACE IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS.

AND THE PLACE IS A GHOST TOWN MANY DAYS.

A LOT OF YOUR WORKERS ARE GOING FROM HOME OR ELSEWHERE.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO TELL THE GUILD?

ARE YOU GOING TO SAY, YOU GUYS ARE COMING BACK TO TOWN, OR WHAT HAPPENS THERE?

>> FAIR QUESTION.

I THINK I'M PROBABLY TOO EARLY TO FIGURE WHAT OUR PLAN SHOULD BE.

MONDAY, MY FIRST DAY, WE HAD A TOWN HALL.

YOU COULD FEEL THE ENERGY IN THE ROOM.

THERE WAS AN EXCITEMENT.

WE LIVE IN A HYBRID WORLD, PEOPLE ARE WORKING IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

THE REPORTERS NEED TO BE DOING THEIR JOBS.

WE'RE GOING TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT IT, AND I THINK FOR ME, WORK SHOULD MATCH THE TASK.

IF YOU'RE COLLABORATING, WORKING TOGETHER, BEING IN PERSON MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

IF YOU'RE OUT THERE REPORTING, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER YOU'RE IN A NEWSROOM OR WRINKLES WHERE.

>> CAN'T AIT TO HEAR WHAT IT IS PEOPLE ARE MISSING AND I WANT TO HEAR WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT WHAT OR VALUE PROPOSITION IS, WHAT WE SHOULD COVER.

WE ARE BLESSED WITH ONE OF THE LARGEST -- IN FACT, THE LARGEST NEWSROOM IN THE UPPER MIDWEST.

OVER 220 JOURNALISTS.

SO OUR SCOPE AND SCALE AND STRENGTH, ARE WE USING IT CORRECTLY, THOUGHTFULLY.

ARE WE MEETING WHERE THEY ARE.

WE SHOULD MEET YOU IN PRINT AND DIGITAL.

>> AND IF YOU LIKE VIDEO?

A YOUNG PERSON WHO LOVES VIDEO?

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT THAT?

PARTNER WITH PEOPLE WHO KNOW HOW TO DO VIDEO?

>> WE NEED TO, RIGHT?

>> NEWSROOM?

>> I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

MUSIC VIDEO IS IMPORTANT.

PARTICULAR TO GO, INSTAGRAM.

WE ATTACK MORE TOWARDS DEMOGRAPHICS MY AGE AND ABOVE.

AND WE NEED TO LOOK FOR YOUNGER USERS AND THEY CONSUME IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

>> REAL PAPER HAS BEEN ON MY DOORSTEP FOR 40-SOME YEARS.

>> TRUE.

>> GOOD LUCK TO YOU.

WE'LL BE READING.

>> THANKS TO YOU BOTH.

>> THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ >> TOMORROW IS EARTH DAY.

AND I WILL BE CELEBRATING IN A UNIQUE WAY.

CO HOSTING THE REPOWERED ROBOT FASHION SHOW AT THE MALL OF AMERICA.

REPOWERED IS ONE OF THE LARGEST COLLECTORS OF E-WASTE IN MINNESOTA.

AND WHAT'S E-WASTE?

ELECTRONIC WASTE IS BASICALLY STUFF LIKE CORDS AND KEYBOARDS AND COMPUTERS THAT PEOPLE JUST THROW AWAY.

BUT THAT IS A BIG PROBLEM, BECAUSE E-WASTE ACCOUNTS FOR 70% OF TOXIC WASTE IN U.S.

LANDFILLS.

NOW, REPOWERED COLLECTS E-WASTE AND KEEPS IT OUT OF LANDFILLS BY RE REFURBISHING IT OR REUSING IT LIKE AT THEIR ANNUAL ROBOT FASHION SHOW!

NOW TEAMS CREATE AND MODEL NIEKRO BOTTOMROBOT-INSPIRED LOOKS, ALL TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO RECYCLE YOUR OLD ELECTRONICS INSTEAD OF 3 THROWING THEM AWAY.

SO LET'S BRING OUT THE BOTS!

YOU WILL NOT MISS OUR FIRST FIBEROPTIC FASHION FEATURE, WALKING DOWN THE STREET.

IT'S NOT ONLY EYE-CATCHING, IT CATCHES SOME OF THE TV AND TABLET COMPUTER SCREENS THAT MAKE UP HALF OF ALL GLOBAL E-WASTE.

THIS NEXT ROBOT WANTS TO TERMINATE YOUR PLAN TO THROW ALL THOSE OLD CABLES IN THE TRASH, BRINGING THEM TO A RECYCLING CENTER LIKE REPOWER CAN ACTUALLY MEAN 80% FEWER GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS GOING INTO THE ATMOSPHERE.

SO YOU SHOULD GO AND GET DETAILS ABOUT TOMORROW'S REPOWERED ROBOT FASHION SHOW AT THE MALL OF AMERICA.

COME ON OUT.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, LEARN HOW EASY AND BENEFICIAL E-RECYCLING IS.

VISIT GETREPOWERED.ORG.

AND HAVE A HAPPY EARTH DAY, EVERYBODY.

ROBOT DANCE!

♪ >> WELL, FREEDOM OF THE PRESS HAS BEEN A HOT NEWS TOPIC.

THE BIG SETTLEMENT WITH FOX NEWS AND DOMINION, THE FIGHT OVER LABELS ON TWITTER AND CONCERNS ABOUT THE TREATMENT OF A STATE CAPITOL REPORTER HERE IN ST. PAUL.

JANE CURTLY IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE FOR THE STUDY OF MEDIAETHICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MNNESOTA.

HEY, IT'S BEEN A WHILE.

>> THANK YOU.

NICE TO BE HERE.

>> NICE TO SEE YU.

THAT FOX ELEMENT IS INTERESTING.

DO YOU FEEL IT'S TOO BAD THAT THEY SETTLED?

BECAUSE IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO HAVE SOME PRECEDENT ON DEFAMATION CASE LAW.

>> YOU KNOW, I DID NOT WANT THIS CASE TO GO TO TRIAL AND I CERTAINLY DIDN'T WANT IT TO GO ON APPEAL, BECAUSE THERE WAS A REAL RISK THAT THE U.S. SUPREME COURT COULD USE THIS CASE AS A MEANS TO DO AWAY ITH THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE, WHICH WAS AT THE HEART OF THIS CASE.

SO I AM VERY HAPPY THEY SETTLED.

I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WANTED TO SEE FOX HUMILIATED IN PUBLIC.

IT WASN'T WORTH THE GAMBLE TO ME.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT WERE THE PITFALLS, IF IT HAD GONE TO COURT, AND GOTTEN ELEVATED TO AN APPEAL LEVEL?

>> WELL, WE HAVE TWO JUSTICES CURRENTLY ON THE SUPREME COURT, WHO SAID THEY ARE ITCHING TO REEXAMINE THE NEW YORK TIMES VERSUS SULLIVAN VAN STANDARD.

>> WHAT IS THAT.

>> IT'S THE SO-CALLED ACTUAL MALICE STANDARD.

IF YOU'RE A PUBLIC FIGURE LIKE DOMINION, YOU HAVE TO PROVE THAT THE PUBLISHER KNEW OR HAD REASON TO KNOW THAT WHAT IT PUBLISHED WAS NOT TRUE.

AND, OF COURSE, WE KNOW FROM THE PRETRIAL DISCOVERY THAT CAME OUT FROM HIS CASE THAT FOX HAD SERIOUS DOUBTS ABOUT A LOT OF THE THINGS THEY AIRED ABOUT THE ELECTION TAMPERING.

SO IN THAT SENSE, ALMOST A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF ACTUAL MALICE.

HOW A JURY WOULD HAVE DEALT WITH IT, OF COURSE, WE WILL NEVER NOW KNOW.

BUT THE POINT IS, I THINK THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A CENTRAL ISSUE, HAD THE CASE BEEN APPEALED.

AND NO MATTER WHO WON OR LOST, I PROMISE YOU, THEY WOULD HAVE APPEALED IT.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE TWITTER BROUHAHA.

TWITTER WAS BRANDING PUBLIC MEDIA AS GOVERNMENT-FUNDED MEDIA.

THEY HAVE DROPPED THAT.

THERE WAS -- THERE WAS A LOT OF TALKING ABOUT MISLEADING THE AUDIENCE ABOUT -- ABOUT THEIR EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE, IF YOU'RE LABELED GOVERNMENT-FUNDED MEDIA.

WAS THAT KIND OF A TEMPEST IN THE TEA POT?

OR HOW DID YOU LOOK THAT?

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS A REAL SERIOUS ISSUE.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE A LOT OF MEDIA COMPANIES AROUND THE WORLD THAT ARE STATE-FUNDED THAT ARE STILL INDEPENDENT.

YOU THINK ABOUT, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR THE BBC AND BRITAIN, WITH I IS FUNDED THROUGH LICENSING FEES.

BUT THEY ALSO GET SOME MONEY FROM PARLIAMENT.

GOVERNMENT DOESN'T CONTROL THE BBC.

WITH YOU BUT THERE ARE OTHER COUNTRIES WHERE GOVERNMENT MEANS GOVERNMENT CONTROL.

AND I THINK FRANKLY THIS LABELING WAS CONFLATING THIS.

THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES AND I THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT PUBLIC MEDIA IN THE UNITED STATES SAYS, WE'RE NOT PLAYING THIS GAME ANY MORE.

WE'RE GOING TO GET OFF TWITTER IF YOU'RE GOING TO CALL US BASICALLY AN ARM OF THE GOVERNMENT.

>> THERE'S BEEN NICHE MEDIA IN THE DIGITAL AREA SINCE I SUPPOSE THE LATE '90s.

WE'RE IN A SECOND GENERATION NOW WHERE IT'S MORE EVIDENT AND OVERWHELMING.

I WONDER HOW THAT WILL SHAKE OUT FOR THE NEWS BUSINESS.

>> WE JUST LEARNED IN THE LAST COUPLE DAYS THAT BUZZFEED HAS DROPPED ITS NEWS DIVISION.

BUZZFEED WON A PULITZER PRIZE.

THEY WERE DOING EXCELLENT JOURNALISM.

AND YET ULTIMATELY, THE MEDIA CONGLOMERATE SAID THIS IS JUST NOT WORTH IT TO US ANY MORE TO CONTINUE TO UNDERWRITE THIS.

AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE THE KEY QUESTION.

DO ALL OF THESE NEWCOMERS HAVE A COMMITMENT TO WHAT I WOULD CALL THE ALL TRUISM OF JOURNALISM?

THE IDEA THAT YOU HAVE TO SERVE A PUBLIC TRUST.

ALTHOUGH IT'S FINE TO MAKE MONEY TOO.

AND THE ABILITY TO FIGURE OUT, TO SUSS OUT, WHO IS RELIABLE, CREDIBLE AND JUST IN FOR THE MONEY I THINK IS GETTING MORE AND MORE COMPLICATED.

>> SO FORMER GOOGLE EXECUTIVE TAKES OVER THE "STAR TRIBUNE."

>> YES.

>> YOU HEARD THE INTERVIEW WITH STREEF GROVE EARLIER TONIGHT.

ANYTHING STRIKE YOU IN THAT CONVERSATION?

>> I THINK HE'S BEING VERY REALISTIC WHEN HE SAYS HE'S GOT TO IMMEDIATE THE AUDIO JENS WHERE THEY ARE.

WHEN I HEARD HIM MENTION TICK TOCK, MY FLESH CRAWLS.

I DON'T TRUST TICK TOCK.

MY STUDENTS LOVE IT, BUT TO ME IT'S NOT A PLACE MAINSTREAM MEDIA IN THE UNITED STATES OUGHT TO BE PLAYING UNLESS THEY HAVE TO.

>> SO POST FOX DEFAMATION CASE.

DO NEWS ROOMS AROUND THE WORLD GLEAN ANYTHING FROM THIS, DO THEY CHANGE THEIR WAIVER, OR STATUS QUO?

ZING THE HUGE QUESTION IS WHETHER FOX IS GOING TO CHANGE BEHAVIOR.

ALL DURING THIS CASE, MANY ORGANIZATIONS WERE SORT OF COLLECTIVELY PULLING THEIR DIGITAL SKIRTS AWAY FROM FOX AND SAYING WE WOULD NEVER DO THAT.

I THINK THE PROBLEM IS, THAT HAVING NOW HAD THIS DEEP PROBE INTO HOW FOX MAKES ITS DECISIONS, OTHER NEWS ORGANIZATIONS NEED TO PREPARE THEMSELVES THAT THE SAME THING IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THEM.

THEY MAY BE CONFIDENT THEY HAVE GREAT STANDARDS.

BUT I'LL JUST WARN THAT URIES ARE NOT NECESSARILY REQUESTING TO REGARD THAT THEIR CAVALIER COMMENTS IN THE WAY THEY MIGHT IN THE NEWSROOM THEMSELVES.

THEY MIGHT THINK THAT'S EVIDENCE OF BIAS AT THE VERY EAST AND VOTE AGAINST THEM AT TRIAL.

>> INTERESTING TIME TO BE A LAW AND MEDIA PROFESSOR, ISN'T IT?

IT'S A CHALLENGING TIME, BUT GREAT.

>> THANKS, PROFESSOR.

>> THANK YOU.

♪ >> MINNESOTA LOST A BELOVED BUSINESS LEADER AND PHILANTHROPIST THIS WEEK.

ARCHIE GIVENS JR. IS PERHAPS BEST KNOWN FOR THE RENOWN COLLECTION OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN LITERATURE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA THAT HE HELPED CREATE.

BACK IN 1998, GIVENS TALKED ABOUT WHY BLACK LITERATURE WAS SUCH A PASSION OF HIS.

>> OUR MISSION REALLY IS TO FOCUS ON AFRICAN-AMERICAN LITERATURE AND CELEBRATE AND PROMOTE THAT.

AND WE WANT KIDS AND ALL PEOPLE, REALLY, TO TAKE HOME SOME OF THIS RICH TRADITION, THIS RICH LITERARY TRADITION.

AND HOPEFULLY, IF YOU CONNECT WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, THEY'LL HAVE AN EXCUSE AND INTEREST IN LIFE-LONG READING.

>> ARCHIE GIVENS GAVE BACK IN MANY WAYS, AS WELL.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT HIS LEGACY, JOHN WRIGHT, PROFESSOR EMERITUS IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

PROFESSOR, GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> GREAT TO SEE YOU BOTH AGAIN.

>> WHAT A SAD DAY THAT MR. GIVENS PASSED EARLIER THIS WEEK.

HE WAS SUCH A TOWERING FIGURE.

WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT HIM?

>> WELL, ARCH ARY, FIRST OF ALL, WAS JUST A WONDERFUL HUMAN BEING.

WARM, GENUINE, CHARISMATIC.

AND DEVILY HANDSOME.

>> KIND OF AN EARLY ADVOCATE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IS THAT FAIR TO SAY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

PART OF ARCHIE'S CONTRIBUTIONS AS A REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER AND BUSINESSMAN WERE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS LIKE THE HERITAGE PARK DEVELOPMENT IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS, OFF OF OLSON HIGHWAY AND LYNDALE, WHICH CONVERTED A -- A RATHER BLIGHTED ARRAY OF PUBLIC HOUSING INTO A REALLY VITAL LIVING COMMUNITY.

OFTEN ARCHIE WOULD HAVE BEEN PROUD OF THAT, AS HE WAS NOTHER ONE OF HIS SIGNATURE HOUSING OR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, THE RONDO LIBRARY BRANCH IN ST. PAUL AT UNIVERSITY AND DALE.

HE WAS VERY, VERY PROUD OF THOSE AMONGST HIS OTHER MAJOR BUSINESS ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

BUT AS THE CLIP SUGGESTS HERE, PART OF ARCHIE'S LEGACY HERE IS HIS ONTRIBUTIONS AS A PHILANTHROPIST AND PROMOTER OF THE ARTS.

AND THAT -- THAT DEVELOPED PRIMARILY OUT OF OUR RATHER 3 UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE DEVELOPED BACK IN THE -- IN THE LATE 1980s, IN 1985, WHILE I WAS CHAIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND AFRICAN STUDIES, WE WERE ABLE, IN PART WITH THE SUPPORT THEN OF PRESIDENT KEN KELLER, ABLE TO ACQUIRE FROM A NEW YORK COLLECTOR WHAT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA HAD NEVER HAD.

THAT IS AN ARCHIVE OF FIRST EDITION AFRICAN-AMERICAN BOOKS AND CULTURAL ARTIFACTS AND SO FORTH.

>> IS THIS THE START OF THE GIVENS ARCHIVE?

>> THIS PRECEDES THE GIVENS AKIND OF.

IT WAS ACQUIRED, FIRST, WITH THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES DEPARTMENT, WHAT'S CALLED THE BLACK STUDIES COLLECTION.

BUT FROM THE BEGINNING, IN PART BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT HAD A VERY STRONG COMMUNITY OUTREACH MISSION, WE DID NOT WANT THIS COLLECTION TO BECOME AN ISOLATED, IVORY TOWER ENTERPRISE.

WE WANTED IT TO HAVE A LIVING, BREATHING ROLE IN THE LARGER COMMUNITY.

AND FOR THAT, WE NEEDED COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

AND IN THAT CONTEXT, THE GIVENS FAMILY STEPPED FORWARD, ALONG WITH A -- A VERY IMPORTANT GROUP OF -- WHAT WE CALLED PATRONS COUNCIL MEMBERS, THAT INCLUDED, FOR INSTANCE, FORMER MYOR, SHARON SAYLES BELTON, WHO BECAME PATRONS FOR THE COLLECTION, AND HELPED DEVELOP AN EXPANSIVE OUTREACH PROGRAM THAT OVER THE YEARS INCLUDED OUR BEING ABLE TO MOUNT THE VERY FIRST NATIONALLY TRAVELING EXHIBIT ON THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE RENAISSANCE.

>> WOW.

>> WHERE WE PARTNERED WITH THE WISEMAN MUSEUM.

WE GOT A GRANT FOR THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES THAT ENABLED US TO STEM THAT SEGMENT N THE COLLECTION AROUND THE COUNTRY FOR MORE THAN THREE YEARS, AND WAS SEEN BY MORE THAN 1 MILLION PEOPLE.

>> TELL US ABOUT -- SO MR. GIVENS, VERY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMAN, BECOMES A WEALTHY MAN.

AND BECAME A PHILANTHROPIST ON THE SCALE OF WHITE PHILANTHROPISTS.

TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> THE GIVESNS FOUNDATION HAD BECOME YEARS EARLIER IN 1972.

THE GIVENS FAMILY, AND THAT MEANT PHOEBE GIVENS ARCHIE'S MOTHER, AND HIS SISTER, ROXANNE, HAD ESTABLISHED A FOUNDATION, PRIMARILY TO SUPPORT THE K-12 SCHOOL SYSTEM.

IN PART BECAUSE ARCHIE SENIOR HAD BEEN DEVOTED TO EDUCATION AS A TOOL FOR BOTH PERSONAL AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

SO THAT GIVENS FOUNDATION EXISTED THEN.

BUT WHEN WE ACQUIRED THE BLACK STUDIES COLLECTION IN 1985, AND FORMED THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GIVENS FAMILY AND THE UNIVERSITY'S RARE BOOKS AND SPECIAL COLLECTION, THAT FOUNDATION REDEFINED ITS MISSION, AND WE AGREED TO RENAME THE COLLECTION IN HONOR OF ARCHIE SENIOR.

AND THAT BEGAN THE LONG PROCESS, AGAIN, OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH, OF TEACHER TRAINING PROJECTS, OF COLLABORATIONS WITH A VARIETY OF CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS.

>> AND HE LOVED THAT, DIDN'T HE.

>> ARCHIE ABSOLUTELY LOVED THAT.

THE SHORT CLIP THERE WAS OF TWO OF OUR PUBLISHING VENTURE ENTERPRISES, A COMPANION SET OF VOLUMES, SPIRITED MINDS, AND STRONG SOUL SINGING.

EACH OF THEM DEVOTED TO ENCOURAGING LITERACY FOR YOUNG, BLACK BOYS AND GIRLS AND MEN AND SO FORTH.

AND TO DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS IN THAT PROCESS.

SO THE SPIRITED MINDS VOLUME FOCUSED ON BOOKS BY AND ABOUT AFRICAN-AMERICAN BOYS AND OUNG MEN.

AND STRONG SOULS SINGING FOCUSED ON BOOKS BY YOUNG AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT, I LOVE -- I'VE ALWAYS LOVED YOUR PASSION.

YOU'VE JUST COME ALIVE AS YOU TALK ABOUT MR. GIVENS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> APPRECIATE YOU COMING OVER AND TELLING US ABOUT YOUR FRIEND.

THANKS.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE SEEING YOU AGAIN.

♪ ♪ >>> ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT, GOVERNOR WALZ PROCLAIMED THE STATE OF OUR STATE AS STRONG.

AND HE WAS A CHEERLEADER FOR THE PROGRESSIVE FL AGENDA.

WALZ POINTEDLY CONTRASTED THAT AGENDA WITH THOSE OF RED STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

HERE WITH CONTRASTING VIEWS ABOUT THE SPEECH AND THE LEGISLATIVE WORK REMAINING, FOUR POLITICAL AN LOTS, REPUBLICANS, FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, AMY KOCH.

ANNETTE MEEKS WITH THE FREEDOM FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA.

DEMOCRATS ON THE COUCH, FORMER COMMITTEE MEMBER, JAVIER MORILLO, AND WINTANA MELEKIN.

>> WINTANA MLEKIN.

>> EAST CLIFF IS NOW INTO THE WHERE IS THE GOVERNOR GOING TO BE DURING THE RENOVATION.

ISN'T THAT ROB THE REPUBLICANS OF A GREAT ISSUE, THIS EXPENSIVE SUNFISH LAKE HOME, AND NOW HE'LL BE AT EAST CLIFF FOR A THIRD OF THE PRICE.

>> FOR A THIRD OF THE PRICE.

WELL, I THINK THAT WAS BOUND TO HAPPEN, RIGHT?

I THINK AS SOON AS THAT AMOUNT THAT WAS BEING PAID TO RENT THIS KIND OF LAVISH PLACE -- I DON'T KNOW WHO SIGNED OFF ON THAT.

BUT IT WASN'T A GOOD IDEA.

PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE HAD SOME FOR THOUGHT ON THAT.

THEY GOT KIND OF CALLED OUT, AND, YOU KNOW, IT HAD TO BE REELED BACK.

WHICH IS NOT SURPRISING TO ME.

THAT HAPPENS.

>> IT'S A GOOD SOLUTION.

>> I'VE GOT A TWO-BEDROOM, TWO-BATH CONDO FOR SALE.

I'M WILLING TO RENT IT OUT SHORT-TERM.

IF THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED.

THE TAXPAYERS WON ON THIS ONE.

WHAT THEY INITIALLY PROPOSED WAS OUTRAGEOUS.

AND EVERYBODY REALIZED THAT AS SOON AS IT BECAME PUBLIC.

IT DIDN'T PASS THE SMELL TEST.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH.

WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE GOVERNOR'S TONE IN THAT SPACH?

>> I WAS VERY IMPRESSED BY THE TONE HE HAD.

I THINK ABOUT SOME SPECIFIC LINES THAT COME OUT TO ME WHEN WE HAVE A REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT'S BANNING BOOKS IN MINNESOTA, WE'RE GETTING RID OF CHILD HUNGER.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A STATE THAT HAS DRAMATICALLY INCREASED RESOURCES TO THE MOST DIRECTLY IMPACTED, THE MOST UNRESOURCED.

AND I THINK HIS STATE OF THE STATE REALLY SHOWED ALL OF THE AMAZING WORK THAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED SINCE THIS LEGISLATIVE CYCLE HAS BEGUN.

>> THERE WAS SOME NATIONAL UNDERTONES IN THAT SPEECH.

THERE REALLY WAS.

AND I'M CURIOUS WHAT OUR OTHER FRIENDS THINK ABOUT THAT.

FLORIDA WAS MENTION AND HAD RON DeSANTIS.

>> I THOUGHT THAT WAS AN INTERESTING KERFUFFLE HE WAS TRYING TO START.

THEY THINK WE'RE FOOLISH.

WE DOUBLED OUR STATE BUDGET IN TEN YEARS.

THEY LOOK AT THAT AND THINK, OU PEOPLE ARE NUTS.

THAT'S USUSTAINABLE.

BUT I THOUGHT HE BETTER DO SOME BETTER FACT-CHECKING.

THE PEOPLE BANNING BOOKS WERE THE DULUTH SCHOOL BOARD.

HIS DFL COLLEAGUES WHO BANNED "TO KILL A"TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD"."MOCKINGBIRD.""

HE MIGHT WANT TO DO SOME FACT-CHECKING.

>> THIS IS TIM WALZ, FORMER FIRST-DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN, TOO MODERATE TO BE ENDORSED FOR GOVERNOR.

AND A-RATING WITH THE NRA BACK IN THE DAY AND WHEN HE WAS IN CONGRESS.

AND NOW HE DID EVERYTHING BUT SAY WE ALL DO ETTER WHEN WE ALL DO BETTER THE OTHER NIGHT ON -- IS HE EVOLVING, OR WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> I LOVE THIS TIM WALZ.

AND I HAVE KNOWN TIM PERSONALLY, KNOWN THE GOVERNOR PERSONALLY, AND I THINK THIS IS TRUE TO HIS VALUES.

AND, LIKE ANY -- YES, ANY POLITICIAN WILL -- LIKE, SHOULD EVOLVE.

ON ISSUES.

BUT I THINK THIS IS ALSO -- I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNTRY WHEN WE HAVE STATES LIKE FLORIDA THAT ARE NOT JUST BANNING BOOKS, BUT PASSING DON'T SAY GAY LAWS.

LIKE, TARGETING CHILDREN IN THESE WAYS.

IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ACTUALLY BE A BEACON, AND NOT -- NOT JUST FOR DEMOCRATS, FOR PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO ARE FREEDOM-LOVERS.

BECAUSE AS THE GOVERNOR SAID, FLORIDA IS WHERE FREEDOM GOES TO DIE.

>> SENATOR?

>> WELL, THERE'S TWO THINGS I THINK AT WORK HERE.

ONE IS, IT'S ALWAYS HELPFUL TO SORT OF NATIONALIZE AN ELECTION, RIGHT?

AND WHILE THE GOVERNOR IS NOT 3 FACING RE-ELECTION, IN ANOTHER YEAR, THE HOUSE WILL BE UP FOR RE-ELECTION.

HE ANTS TO KEEP HIS TRIFECTA, I'M SURE.

AND SO SO MANY PEOPLE DON'T PAY ATTENTION ON SORT OF A STATE LEVEL, SO IT'S ALWAYS A WAY TO RAISE AWARENESS TO NATIONALIZE ISSUES AND ELECTION.

AND WE TOUCHED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT ON THE COUCH.

YOU KNOW, DOES THIS GOVERNOR HAVE AN EYE TOWARDS SOME NATIONAL -- SOME NATIONAL OFFICE?

I DON'T KNOW.

BUT HE CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW -- IS MAKING OME MOVES TO DO SOME CONTRAST THERE.

>> HE'S AISING HIS NATIONAL PROFILE, DO YOU THINK?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I AM UNSURE.

WHAT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT IS ABOUT THE SUCCESS HE IS HAVING IN MINNESOTA.

WE ARE SEEING A BUDGET THAT LOOKS PHENOMENAL SO FAR.

WE ARE RESTORING VOTING RIGHTS TO FOLKS INCARCERATED AND FEEDING CHILDREN.

SO IF WE WANTS TO RUN FOR HIGHER OFFICE, GREAT.

I'M JUST HAPPY HE'S DOING WHAT HE SAID HE IS GOING TO DO ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

I ALSO WANT TO ADD THAT PART F HIS SUCCESS COMES FROM THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THE MOST DIVERSE AND YOUNGEST LEGISLATURE WE HAVE EVER HAD IN OUR STATE HISTORY AND THEY ARE MAKING DEMANDS AND THE DEMANDS ARE BEING MET AND ALSO WHAT THE VOTERS ASKED FOR.

HE IS NOT DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

HE IS DOING WHAT HE RAN ON, DOING WHAT THE MAJORITY OF MINNESOTANS REQUESTED.

>> WOW, WOW.

I'M SORRY.

SORRY.

>> IT'S HARD TO ACCEPT.

I GET IT.

>> IT'S HARD TO ACCEPT, IS RIGHT.

I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY WHO CAMPAIGNED ON SOME OF THIS STUFF.

EXCEPT FOLKS IN MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL.

THIS IS NOT WHAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA EXPECTED.

NOR NEED.

I THINK SOME OF THIS STUFF IS -- YOU KNOW WHAT HE'S DOING, HE'S TURNING THIS INTO A COLD CALIFORNIA.

AND IF THEY WANT CALIFORNIA, THEY'VE GOT GOOD AFTERNOON NEW SOME.

THIS IS A JOHNNIE COME LATELY GOVERNOR FROM A COLD, MISERABLE STATE, OUT THERE TRYING O DO -- I'M SORRY, HE'S TURNED US INTO A COLD CALIFORNIA.

AT LEAST THEY HAVE NICE WEATHER.

AND NOW WE HAVE IN NEW INCOME TAX LEVEL, RECORD SPENDING, THAT IS UNUS TAKENABLE.

AND I THINK WE'LL SEE THE PAYOFF AS PEOPLE LEAVING AND OUR STATE IS GOING TO PAY A HEFTY PRICE.

>> JAVIER?

>> THE REALITY IS THAT LAST FALL, I SAY THIS EVERY TIME WE COME ON THIS SHOW.

LAST FALL, REPUBLICANS WERE EXPECTED TO SWEEP.

AND INSTEAD, DEMOCRATS WON A TRIFECTA IN MINNESOTA, AND DEMOCRATS WON -- RUNNING ON PRECISELY THESE THINGS.

I AM SORRY, THAT IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE THAT HE DID NOT RUN ON THESE TINGS.

IF PEOPLE WEREN'T PAYING ATTENTION, NONE OF THIS IS A SURPRISE TO ME.

FREE LUNCHES FOR KIDS.

PEGGY FLANAGAN, THAT HAS BEEN HER -- HER REASON FOR BEING ELECTED IN OFFICE THE ENTIRE TIME I HAVE KNOWN HER.

AND SO -- LIKE, THE FACT THAT DEMOCRATS, WHEN THEY GET ELECTED, ACT LIKE DEMOCRATS SHOULD SURPRISE NO ONE.

>> SOUNDS LIKE HE'S RETIRED ONE MINNESOTA, WHICH HAD BECOME KIND OF A PARODY.

>> FOR SURE.

>> IS HE MORE COMFORTABLE AND AUTHENTIC WHEN HE IS TALKING ABOUT THE BEST PLACE TO RAISE KIDS?

>> I THINK SO.

AND I THINK THERE HAS OBVIOUSLY BEEN SOME INTERNAL POLLING.

ALSO, WHEN HE DID THE UNIVERSAL SCHOOL LUNCH, RIGHT?

THERE WAS SOME GREAT, LIKE, PRESS MOMENTS IN THAT.

THERE WAS SOME REALLY BEAUTIFUL PICTURES OF HIM WITH KIDS.

AND VERY NATURAL MOMENT.

I'M NOT EVEN LIKE -- SOME OF IT WAS UST VERY NATURAL AND ORGANIC.

AND SO I THINK THAT THEY HAVE MADE A CONSCIENCE SHIFT.

I THINK THEY HAVE MADE A CONSCIOUS SHIFT LEFT.

AND THAT MAY BE FOR WHAT AREEVER THE REASON.

IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT.

BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THOSE ARE THE ISSUES IN THE ELECTION.

IT MIGHT BE WHAT THEY HELD IN THEIR HEART.

BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT WAS THE BIG ISSUES IN THIS ELECTION.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THE IMPACT HAS BEEN OF THE YOUNGER MEMBERS, MORE DIVERSE MEMBERS?

IT SEEMS A LITTLE FRESH AIR IS BLOWING THROUGH THE PLACE UP.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THE YOUNGER, MOST DIVERSE CAUCUS HAS REALLY LED TO MAKING SURE THAT WE STAY -- WE STAY FIRM AGAINST THE THINGS WE RAN ON.

THEY SAID WE NEED TO RESTORE VOTING RIGHTS.

THEY SAID WE NEED DRIVER'S LICENSE.

THEY SAID WE NEED TO FEED CHILDREN.

ALL WE'RE DOING IS ACTUALLY DOING WHAT WE RAN ON, AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE, THE NEW FOLKS OF COLOR THAT ARE AT THAT LEGISLATURE, ARE JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE STAY HONEST AND TRUE, AND I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO SOME OF THE SENIOR MEMBERS.

NONE OF THIS ALSO WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT SENATOR CHAMPION.

HE HAS GONE A GREAT JOB OF ORGANIZING HIS CAUCUS, DONE A GREAT JOB OF MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS ARE IN LINE AND ORGANIZED.

>> AND I THINK IS IMPRESSIVE.

>> JAVIER, THERE'S A VOTE IN THE HOUSE MONDAY ON LEGALIZING RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.

I'M WONDERING, WHY NOT -- IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EQUITY HERE, RIGHT, PART OF THE ARGUMENT TO DO THAT, WHY NOT JUST EXPUNGE RECORDS, CRIMINAL RECORDS, INSTEAD OF GOING THE WHOLE ENCHILADA, AND LEGALIZING POT?

>> I THINK IT'S BOTH AND.

WHY NOT BOTH AND?

I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE WILL SOON BE IN -- LIKE, ALONE, GEOGRAPHICALLY IN A SENSE.

THIS IS HAPPENING IN MANY STATES.

I THINK PEOPLE OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORT -- SUPPORT LEGALIZING MARIJUANA.

AND DOING IT IN A WAY THAT IS SENSIBLE AND EQUITABLE I THINK IS JUST -- IS JUST THE WAY TO DO IT.

I MEAN, I THINK THE -- THE IMPORTANT THING -- YOU KNOW, LIKE, THE LEGISLATURE IS BEING BOLD.

I THINK A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE YOUNG -- THE YOUNGER MEMBERS AND THE NEW MEMBERS.

THE MEMBER -- REMEMBER, A LOT OF THESE ISSUES WERE ON THE TABLE THE LAST TIME WE HAD A DEMOCRATIC TRIFECTA.

AND THIS TIME, WE HAVE A ONE-SEAT MAJORITY IN THE SENATE, AND HEY ARE DOING THESE THINGS BECAUSE THERE IS PRESSURE FROM THE BOTTOM TO MAKE THEM HAPPEN.

>> WHAT ARE YOUR COLLEAGUES TELLING YOU ABOUT MARIJUANA IN THE SENATE?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S GOING TO PASS.

EVERYTHING IS MORE TENUOUS IN THE SENATE BECAUSE OF THE 34-33 SPLIT.

THERE IS JUST A LITTLE BIT NATURAL, OLDER GROUP IN THE SENATE.

AND SO THAT'S WHERE ANY OF THESE, WHETHER IT'S SPORTS BOOK, CANNABIS -- TAX INCREASES.

THAT'S WHERE THIS COMES UP FOR QUESTION, BECAUSE EVERYONE IS A -- IS A DECIDING VOTE.

EVERYONE IN THE DFL CAUCUS IS A DECIDING VOTE.

NOT ON THE REPUBLICANS, SADLY.

>> WELL, AND MANY OF THE DEMOCRATICS, THEY HAVE A ONE-SEAT MAJORITY IN THE SENATE.

MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE CAMPAIGNED VERY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT IS IN THE RADICALS IN THE HOUSE.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BE THE REALLY BIG DIFFERENCE, I THINK, IS A LOT OF THINGS ARE GOING TO GO TO THE SENATE.

AND THANKFULLY, DIE.

BECAUSE THEY'RE POORLY WRITTEN.

THEY'RE NOT WHAT THEY CAMPAIGNED ON.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO REMOVING THE TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY?

I MEAN -- YOU DON'T EVEN HEAR ABOUT IT ANY MORE.

>> IT IS BEING -- THE HOUSE JUST PROPOSED, IT'S BEING REMOVED FOR THE AST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ON SOCIAL SECURITY.

>> 75%.

>> AMY KLOBUCHAR IS PUSHING A NEW BOOK.

IS THERE SOMETHING WE SHOULD GLEAN FROM THAT.

>> SHE IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

>> I THINK SO TOO.

>> THANKS, PANEL.

>> GOOD JOB.

>> SUPER JOB.

♪ ♪ >>> WELCOME TO THE INDEX FILE SECTION OF THE SHOW, WHEN WE TRY TO STUMP YOU ON A MINNESOTA HISTORY QUESTION.

TONIGHT, WE ASK YOU ABOUT A WORLD RECORD THAT WAS SET IN MINNESOTA.

WE'RE GOING TO SET THE STAGE FOR YOU.

THE PLACE WAS St. MR. JOHNSON: UNIVERSITY IN COLLEGEVILLE.

TURNS OUT THAT IN THE SPRING OF 1978, IT WAS REPORTED TWO ST. JOHN'S STUDENTS DID SOMETHING TO SET A RECORD.

THE AUTHORITY WAS NONE OTHER THAN THE FABLED GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS.

HERE'S A HINT.

ONE OF THE STUDENTS HAD CONTEMPLATED SETTING THE RECORD FOR GRAPE-THROWING BEFORE LANDING N THE WINNING EFFORT IN ANOTHER CATEGORY.

OUR QUESTION: WHAT 1978 WORLD RECORD WAS SET BY TWO St. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY STUDENTS?

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

WHETHER YOU ARE DIALING IN FROM ST.

CLOUD, St. JOSEPH, ST. WENDELL OR ANY OF THE OTHER SAINT NAMES IN STEARNS COUNTY.

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WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT TIME.

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