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

>> Cathy: MINNESOTA'S NCE AGAIN IN THE NATIONAL HEADLINES, WE'LL EXPLAIN WHY.

WE'LL ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT IRANIAN POLITICS SATURDAY'S U.S.

AND ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES, ESTIMATES OF THE ECONOMIC IM-- AND MARY LAHAMMER TRACKS POLITICS ON THE NATIONAL STAGE.

>> NATIONAL ATTENTION CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON MINNESOTA AS ANOTHER MAJOR MEDIA EVENT COMES TO MINNEAPOLIS.

WE'LL HAVE THE BACK STORY.

>> IN MINNEAPOLIS YOU'RE DOING PROTESTS, YOU'RE DOING ALL MANNER OF RESISTANCE.

>> 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.

AND VANESSADAYTON.

SUPPORTING ACCESSIBLE HEALTH CARE STATEWIDE.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "ALMANAC" TONIGHT WE'LL CHAT WITH THE OUTGOING MINNESOTA I.T.

COMMISSIONER ABOUT PLANS TO RENOVATE ST.

PAUL'S GRAND CASINO ARENA, WE WON'T TALK TO HIM ABOUT THAT, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE ARENA AND PLANS TO RENOVATE THAT.

OUR POLITICAL PANEL WILL HAVE A LOT OF REGIONAL AND NATIONAL NEWS TO BREAK DOWN AS WELL.

>> Eric: WE START TONIGHT WITH U.S.

AND ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES IN IRAN.

PRESIDENT TRUMP ORDERED THE SURPRISE ATTACK SATURDAY KILLING DOZENS OF HIGH RANKING LEADERS INCLUDING THE AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI.

AFTER INITIALLY DENYING U.S.

INVOLVEMENT IN REGIME CHANGE, TRUMP TOLD REPORTERS THURSDAY HE WANTS TO INFLUENCE WHO BECOMES THE NEXT LEADER OF IRAN.

JOINING US TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE POLITICAL CLIMATE IN IRAN, SHA HER SQUAD AHMADI WHO SPECIALIZES IN POLITICAL HISTORY OF IRAN AND IRAQ.

WELCOME.

WHO'S LEFT OF THE GOVERNING STRUCTURE AND WHO'S IN CHARGE RIGHT NOW?

>> AT THE MOMENT THERE'S A THREE-PERSON PANEL WHO'S TAKEN OVER THE ROLE OF AYATOLLAH KHAMENEI.

HOWEVER I THINK THIS S AN OPEN QUESTION OF WHO S IN CHARGE AND IT'S IN CHAOS AND THE MILITARY HAS DEMONSTRATED THEY DON'T HAVE A TRONG CENTRAL AUTHORITY.

>> Cathy: COULD YOU EXPLAIN FOR FOLKS MAYBE A QUICK PRIMER, I THINK IT'S A CONFUSING SITUATION WHERE THE SUPREME LEADER HAS DIED.

BUT WHO'S SUPPOSED TO BE LEADING THE COUNTRY?

>> IRAN HAS A VERY COMPLICATED SYSTEM SO I'LL GIVE A VERY QUICK EXPLANATION.

IT'S CALLED AN ISLAMIC REPUBLIC, MEANING THERE ARE TWO PILLARS ONE IS CONSTITUTIONAL, DEMOCRATIC, PEOPLE VOTE FOR THEIR PRESIDENT, THEIR CONGRESSPEOPLE AND THEN THERE IS AN UNELECTED BRANCH.

THOSE PEOPLE HOLD THE MOST POWER AND THOSE ARE RELIGIOUS AUTHORITIES.

THEY ARE UNELECTED, AND AT THE VERY TOP OF THAT SYSTEM IS THE SUPREME LEADER WHO WAS AYATOLLAH KHAMENEI >> Cathy: BY THE WAY OPINIONS OF THE SUPREME LEADER SEEMED A BIT ALL OVER THE MAP IN A SENSE.

>> ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

JUST IN THE LAST FIVE TO TEN YEARS IT'S BECOME INCREASINGLY OBVIOUS THAT THE PUBLIC DOES NOT SUPPORT THE SUPREME LEADER, NOT ONLY HIS PERSON, BUT HIS AUTHORITY AND THE POSITION ITSELF.

>> Eric: POPULARITY OF WHOEVER MIGHT FOLLOW, IS THERE A SUCCESSION IN PLACE OR WHOEVER TAKES OVER NEXT, OR?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC WAS FORMED WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS MIGHT HAPPEN BECAUSE FROM ITS INSTITUTION THERE WAS SO MUCH PRESSURE ON THEM TO DISSOLVE.

IN FACT JUST A YEAR AFTER THEY WERE CONSTITUTED THERE WAS A VERY PROTRACTED WAR WITH IRAQ.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF LEVERS HERE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS THAT HAPPENED OBVIOUSLY.

HOWEVER, THE REAL QUESTION IS WHO HAS PUBLIC CONSENT OR PUBLIC SUPPORT TO RULE.

AND IS THERE AN AUTHORITY WITHIN THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC THAT CAN TAKE ON THAT MANTLE.

>> Eric: PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID HE'S NOT WORRIED IF IRAN BECOMES A DEMOCRATIC STATE.

HE SAYS THAT'S UP TO THE IRANIAN PEOPLE.

>> I THOUGHT THAT WAS AN EYE OPENING COMMENT.

IN MY VIEW IT SEEMS HE'S OPEN TO THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC BECOMING A SORT OF MILITARIZED STATE ALA EGYPT AND THAT HAS SERVED THE UNITED STATES WELL.

AFTER THE 1967 WAR WITHS ISRAEL ALTHOUGH THE ARAB STATES LOST, THOSE AUTHORITIES REMAINED, AND BECAME ALLIES TO SOME EXTENT WITH THE UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL.

THIS MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT HE'S IMAGINING.

>> Cathy: SO WHAT DO YOU THINK THE GENERAL PUBLIC MAKES OF THE OTHER COMMENT THAT HE WOULD WANT TO INFLUENCE THE NEXT CHOICE OF LEADER?

>> THE QUESTION FOR THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WOULD BE WHAT KIND OF INFLUENCE?

HOW MUCH MONEY, HOW MUCH TIME ARE THEY INVESTING TO MAKE THIS MAP?

FROM THE IRANIAN SIDE WHAT DOES THIS MEAN ON THE GROUND.

HOW MUCH CHAOS HOW MUCH CHAOS * POSSIBLE THAT IRAN WILL SPLIT INTO MULTIPLE STATES?

THIS S PROBABLY THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO FROM THE IRANIAN PERSPECTIVE, AND MAYBE A PLAUSIBLE IF NOT DESIRABLE SCENARIO FROM THE ISRAELI AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE.

>> Cathy: COULD THE WAR SPIRAL OUT OF CONTROL?

ALREADY BOMBS HAVE BEEN FALLING IN OTHER ARAB COUNTRIES.

WHAT'S THE BIGGEST FEAR HERE?

>> ABSOLUTELY, IT CAN SPIRAL OUT OF CONTROL BUT ALSO IT COULD UNDERMINE ARAB STATES WHO WANT TO ALLY WITH THE UNITED STATES.

WHY HAVE THESE BASES BUT FOR PROTECTION?

NOW THE BASES ARE MAKING THEM VULNERABLE SO THIS CAN BECOME A VERY COSTLY WAR FOR THE UNITED STATES BUT ALSO UNDERMINE THE DESIRABILITY OF BEING N AMERICAN ALLY.

>> Eric: WHAT'S YOUR SENSE N HOW DANGEROUS IRAN AND NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES ARE TO THE U.S.

AND ISRAEL?

>> CAN YOU REPEAT THAT?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

>> Eric: IN OTHER WORDS DOES IRAN POSE A DANGER TO ISRAEL OR THE U.S., PRE-WAR.

>> PRE-WAR.

THIS IS THE PITCH THAT THE UNITED STATES IS MAKING, IRAN POSED AN IMMINENT HREAT TO THE UNITED STATES, NOW, RUBIO PROPOSED THIS DIFFERENTLY, IRAN POSED A THREAT TO IT AND THAT'S WHY THEY GOT INVOLVED.

CLEARLY THERE IS NOT CONSENSUS ABOUT WHY THE WAR STARTED, THERE IS NOT CONSENSUS ABOUT HOW MUCH OF THE NUCLEAR CAPACITY OF IRAN HAD BEEN UNDERMINED OVER THE SUMMER.

THIS IS AN OPEN QUESTION, WHETHER OR NOT IRAN POSED IMMINENT THREAT.

>> Cathy: ALL OF THIS IS OCCURRING DURING RAMADAN, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?

>> RAMADAN AND PURIM, WHICH IS A JEWISH HOLIDAY.

THIS IS AN ANCIENT CIVILIZATION, IRAN'S CONNECTION AND SRAEL'S CONNECTION TO THE LAND IS VERY ANCIENT.

IT'S INTERESTING THAT THESE HISTORIES INTERTWINE IN THESE DYNAMIC WAYS THAT ARE BOTH KIND OF POETIC AND VERY TRAGIC.

SO IT IS A VERY SAD STORY.

THE HOLIDAYS I THINK MAKE IT EVEN MORE SO.

>> Cathy: NOW, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT OFF AIR HERE ABOUT YOUR FAMILY.

HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO CONTACT THEM?

BECAUSE THE INTERNET'S DOWN.

>> IT'S VERY HARD TO CONTACT PEOPLE.

VERY HARD.

THERE'S ALSO, IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET INFORMATION OUT OF IRAN AND SOMETHING I WAS THINKING ABOUT JUST ON THE WAY HERE WAS HOW MUCH A.I.

ALSO COMPLICATES THIS.

I MEAN, TO WHAT EXTENT ARE MATERIALS COMING OUT OF IRAN THAT ARE NOT EVEN TRUE AND WE DON'T KNOW BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE GENERATED BY SOMEONE ELSE.

SO IT'S SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT IN THIS INFORMATION ECONOMY THAT WE'RE IN, WHAT DO WE SEE, IS IT REAL, WHO'S PUSHING WHAT.

THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTION MARKS HERE.

>> Eric: REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR EXPERTISE AND SHARING IT WITH US.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.

>> Eric: YOU BET.

MORE NATIONAL NEWS AFFECTING MINNESOTA, THE FIRING OF HOMELAND SECURITY HEAD KRISTI NOEM AFTER A CONTENTIOUS WEEK OF CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS AND OF COURSE THE SHOOTINGS DEATHS OF TWO CITIZENS IN MINNEAPOLIS DURING FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ACTION.

POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER HAS MORE CONTEXT ON THE CONFLUENCE OF STATE AND NATIONAL POLITICS.

>> GOVERNOR WALZ WENT TO D.C.

TO TESTIFY ON THE MISUSE OF FEDERAL FUNDS IN MINNESOTA.

>> I'M WITH YOU.

I WANT YOUR HELP ON FRAUD.

WHY WOULD I NOT WANT MONEY TO GO TO THE PROGRAMS I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT, FEEDING PEOPLE, CLOTHING PEOPLE, HOUSING PEOPLE?

BUT WHAT I.C.E.

DID DISRUPTED EVERYTHING THAT WE WERE DOING, IT DISRUPTED OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS, AND IT FORCED OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, WHO HAVE WORKED HARD TO GAIN THE PUBLIC TRUST, TO HAVE THE PUBLIC BELIEVE IN THEM.

>> CAN WE AGREE THAT THIS FRAUD IS A SERIOUS THING, GOVERNOR WALZ, YES OR NO?

CAN WE AGREE ON THAT?

>> YES, ANY FRAUD IS SERIOUS.

>> THANK YOU.

BECAUSE IT'S INTERESTING THAT YOU AND I AGREE THAT IT'S A SERIOUS THING CONSIDERING THE MAN SITTING NEXT TO YOU, YOUR ATTORNEY GENERAL KEITH ELLISON, JUST TWO MONTHS AGO SAID, QUOTE, THIS IS A POLITICAL MATTER.

THIS IS NOT A ERIOUS THING, END QUOTE.

>> WE'RE DOWN SO MANY FEDERAL PROSECUTORS THAT IT HAS PUT OUR ABILITY TO PUT, HOLD THESE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE DEFINITELY AT A LOSS.

>> IMMIGRATION ACTION AND FRAUD ARE NOW PERMANENTLY LINKED IN STATE AND NATIONAL POLITICS.

>> I JUST ASKED IF YOU HAD ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO SAY TO THE PARENTS OR FAMILY OF RENEE GOOD AFTER YOU CALLED THEM DOMESTIC TERRORISTS.

>> CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE WHAT THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH AND THE LOSS OF THEIR SON AND THE LOSS OF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.

>> HOW ABOUT SPECIFICALLY CALLING THEM DOMESTIC TERRORISTS WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE OF THAT >> MA'AM, I DID NOT CALL HIM A DOMESTIC TERRORSIST, I SAID IT APPEARED TO BE AN INCIDENT OF.

>> I THINK THE PARENTS SAW IT FOR WHAT IT WAS.

>> THE SPOTLIGHT ON MINNESOTA IS NOT GOING AWAY.

LEGENDARY TECH JOURNALIST KARA SWISHER HAS ALSO SOLD OUT THE PANTAGES IN MINNEAPOLIS FOR AN EVENT CALLED RESIST AND UNSUBSCRIBE PRODUCED BY TANE DANGER.

>> IT WAS ALL BORN OUT OF DO SOMETHING, LIKE WHATEVER IT HAPPENS TO BE, AND IN MINNEAPOLIS YOU'RE DOING PROTESTS, YOU'RE DOING ALL MANNER OF RESISTANCE.

AND SO IT SEEMED LIKE THE PERFECT PLACE BECAUSE YOU GUYS REALLY HAVE SHOWN HOW TO DO RESISTANCE IN A REALLY EFFECTIVE WAY.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN TEASING OUT SOME SURPRISE GUESTS PERHAPS.

I KNOW YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO REVEAL IT.

>> CAN'T TELL YOU.

>> I KNOW, BUT I'M JUST WONDERING MAYBE IF THERE'S SOMEBODY WITH THE LAST NAME WALZ OR KLOBUCHAR.

>> I KNOW THEM, I KNOW THEM.

>> I WONDER IF YOU'VE TALKED TO THEM.

>> I HAVE TALKED TO THEM.

>> AS A POLITICAL REPORTER I WATCH THE TWO OF THEM IN D.C.

THIS WEEK AND ONE OF THEM HAD SOME PARTICULARLY SHARP EXCHANGES WITH THE NOW FORMER KRISTI -- >> HOMELAND -- >> NOEM.

YEAH.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT, ARE YOU SURPRISED THAT SHE'S GONE NOW >> NO, WE'VE SAID IT ON THE PODCAST THAT SHE'S GOTTA GO.

>> NOEM IS THE FIRST DEPARTURE IN THE SECOND TERM OF TRUMP.

>> SHE MURDERED PEOPLE, SO THAT COULD BE IT.

BESIDES, YOU KNOW, SHE'S JUST SO INCOMPETENT THE WAY THIS HAS BEEN ROLLED OUT AND OF COURSE THERE'S NOT JUST INCOMPETENCE OF HER VARIOUS ACTIONS ESPECIALLY IN MINNESOTA, WHICH EVERYONE SAW THE INCOMPETENCE ON DISPLAY.

AND ILL-WILL.

>> SO THERE'S ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND AS MARY SAID SHE WAS ON CAPITAL HILL THIS WEEK AND AMY KLOBUCHAR WAS AMONG A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW, REALLY GRILLED HER.

>> YES, YES.

>> HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK SOMETHING LIKE THAT MATTERS?

THE SHOW OF HER -- >> A LOT.

THAT WAS TO ME I AS ODDLY ENOUGH WITH ONE OF THE SENATORS WHO GRILLED HER, NOT KLOBUCHAR, THERE WAS A REPUBLICAN SENATOR, WE HAD AN OFF THE RECORD THING, I CAN'T SAY WHO IT IS, BUT HE GAVE HER A TALKIN' TO, LET'S JUST SAY.

THEY ALL DID.

WHEN I SAW THE REPUBLICANS ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL REPUBLICANS WENT AFTER HER, AND EVEN JOHN KENNEDY WHO HE DOES HIS BEST TO BE A LAPDOG TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WAS GOING AFTER HER.

THEY PROBABLY FELT SAFE TO DO SO.

>> THE BULWARK NEWS AND OPINION SITE WITH MORE THAN A MILLION FOLLOWERS TWICE SOLD OUT THE PANTAGES THEATER AND FILED REPORTS FROM MINNEAPOLIS.

>> THEY ARE DEFINITELY NOT WINDING DOWN.

WE'VE SEEN JUST HIS WEEK SIX OR SEVEN TRUCKLOADS OF BRAND NEW VEHICLES COME IN.

>> BACK AT THE STATE CAPITOL LAWMAKERS ARE CONSIDERING A VARIETY OF MEASURES DEALING WITH IMMIGRATION ACTION AND FRAUD BUT IN A IED HOUSE, BILLS ARE STRUGGLING TO ADVANCE.

>> THE HOUSE FRAUD PREVENTION COMMITTEE HEARD SUSPICIOUS SPENDING IS ALREADY DECREASING.

>> THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

I MEAN, 62% DROP WHEN WE'RE ACTUALLY STARTING -- WE HAVEN'T EVEN IMPLEMENTED, REALLY, FRAUD PREVENTION, OR VERY LITTLE.

BUT WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN TALKING ABOUT, SO WE'RE SCARING OFF THE FRAUDSTERS.

>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS WE CAN DO AS A STATE IS BETTER VETTING OF BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE ON THE FRONT END.

>> ONE BILL WOULD REQUIRE FRAUD TO BE A FACTOR IN THE BUDGET FORECAST.

>> EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR THAT WE DEAL WITH IS ROLLED UP INTO THE FORECASTS.

SO IT SEEMS LOGICAL TO ME THAT WE WOULD SIMILARLY PUT IN WHAT THE COST OF FRAUD IS INTO THE FORECASTS.

>> WHILE WE APPRECIATE THE INTEREST IN CREATING ADDITIONAL TOOLS, OUR TWICE A YEAR FORECASTS ARE NOT THE PLACE FOR THIS ANALYSIS.

>> IT DOESN'T REALLY LAY OUT A PLAN.

AND SO I WOULD LIKE -- AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU IF YOU HAVE A LEGITIMATE PLAN.

>> A HOUSE COMMITTEE ALSO FAILED TO ADVANCE THE FRAUD ISN'T FREE ACT.

>> ANY FUNCTIONAL PRIVATE SECTOR ORGANIZATION WOULD HAVE HAD HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE FIRED IN A BILLION-DOLLAR SCANDAL INCLUDING PROBABLY THE CONSIDER CEO OF THAT ORGANIZATION.

AND THAT ACCOUNTABILITY HAS NOT HAPPENED.

♪ >> Cathy: AS FEDERAL IMMIGRATION OPERATIONS IN MINNESOTA REDUCE FROM A BOIL TO A SIMMER, THE IMPACT IS BEING QUANTIFIED IN A HANDFUL OF EARLY REPORTS.

ONE OF THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINES LABOR COSTS IN THE TWIN CITIES.

WITH US NOW ARE THE AUTHORS OF THAT STUDY, AARON ROSENTHAL IS THE RESEARCH DIRECTOR AT NORTH STAR POLICY ACTION, THE ORGANIZATION THAT PUBLISHED THE STUDY, AND AARON SOJOURNER IS A SENIOR ECONOMIST AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AT THE W.E.

UPJOHN INSTITUTE FOR EMPLOYMENT RESEARCH.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT MISSED WORK, WOULD THAT BE AN ACCURATE THING TO SAY?

SPECIFICALLY WHAT AREAS OF WORK WERE YOU CONCENTRATING ON?

>> YEAH, SO WE LOOKED AT THREE LABOR OUTCOMES.

WE WERE LOOKING AT THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES SHOWING UP TO WORK, THE THE NUMBER OF HOURS THEY WERE WORKING, AND THEN THE NUMBER OF BUSINESSES THAT WERE IN OPERATION.

AND BASICALLY WHAT WE'VE FOUND IS A 3% DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES WORKING AND THEN ABOUT A 2% DECLINE IN THE NUMBER, TOTAL NUMBER F HOURS BEING WORKED IN THE TWIN CITIES, AND A 2% DECLINE ROUGHLY IN THE NUMBER OF BUSINESSES THAT WERE IN OPERATION FROM THE BEGINNING OF JUNE TO THE MIDDLE OF FEBRUARY.

>> Cathy: WERE YOU LOOKING AT, DID YOU ALSO INCLUDE SAY POLICE IN THIS AS WELL AND OTHER PARTS OF THE ECONOMY?

>> NO, IT'S DATA THAT COMES FROM A PAYROLL AND TIME-KEEPING SYSTEM THAT A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES USE.

SO THINK ABOUT IT LIKE RETAIL, RESTAURANTS, LOCAL BUSINESSES IN THE TWIN CITIES COMMUNITY.

THAT'S THE FOUNDATION OF THE INFORMATION.

IT'S PEOPLE COMING INTO WORK, SWIPING, SWIPING IN, SWIPING OUT, AND WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT IT, THOUGH, IS THAT YOU CAN SEE DATA DAY TO DAY, SHIFT TO SHIFT AND YOU CAN SEE HOW IT CHANGED FROM, YOU KNOW, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, JANUARY.

EACH DAY.

>> Eric: THIS IS THE $106 MILLION FIGURE?

>> YEAH, SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NUMBER IN PARTICULAR IN THAT CASE OF THE NUMBER OF HOURS WORKED AND THE DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF HOURS WORKED SO AGAIN I SAID ABOUT A 2% DECLINE WHICH DOESN'T SOUND THAT BIG BUT REMEMBER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 2 MILLION PEOPLE WORKING IN THE TWIN ITIES METRO AREA, SO WE QUANTIFY THAT, WE MAKE SOME PRETTY CONSERVATIVE ASSUMPTIONS ACTUALLY ABOUT HOW MUCH PEOPLE ARE GETTING PAID, HOW MANY HOURS THEY USUALLY WORK AND IF WE APPLY THOSE ASSUMPTIONS WE GET $106 MILLION IN LOST WAGES.

AGAIN, JUST IN ABOUT A SIX-WEEK PERIOD.

IF WE MAKE AN ESTIMATE AROUND, SAY, A MEDIAN WAGE THAT SOMEBODY IN THE TWIN CITIES MAKES, THAT NUMBER GOES UP TO ABOUT 140 MILLION.

SO THE DECLINE IS PRETTY HUGE.

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> Cathy: DID YOU INCLUDE THE ONE-DAY WORK STOPPAGE IN THIS?

>> YEAH, THIS IS ABOUT FROM THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY WHEN THE AGENTS FIRST SURGED RIGHT AFTER THE NEW YEAR WHEN THEY SENT 2,000 MORE AGENTS IN, UNTIL MID-FEBRUARY.

SO IT INCLUDES THE DAY OF THE GENERAL STRIKE AND IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE THE DATA IS DAILY, SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE STRIKE DAY IN THERE AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THAT'S THE DAY WHEN WORK WAS THE LEAST.

IT WAS ABOUT 17% BELOW EXPECTATIONS.

IN THE WHOLE METRO AREA.

>> Eric: YOU FELLOWS ARE ON THE FRONT END OF RESEARCH ON THIS OBVIOUSLY, WAS IT HARD DIGGING UP THE DATA?

>> IT WAS.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S EARLY DAYS TO TRY AND ACTUALLY COLLECT DATA AND LOOK AT ECONOMIC OUTCOMES.

OUR FEELING IS THERE'S A LOT OF ANECDOTAL REPORTING COMING OUT, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT REPORTING, RIGHT, ABOUT SPECIFIC BUSINESSES BEING IMPACTED.

BUT ULTIMATELY THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION RIGHT NOW, THEY NEED DATA RIGHT NOW TO TRY AND MAKE A DECISION ABOUT HOW MUCH RELIEF TO PROVIDE TO MINNESOTANS AND WE FEEL THAT IF THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT HOW MUCH RELIEF TO PROVIDE, THEY NEED TO KNOW THE SCALE OF THE HARM DONE.

AND SO THAT'S WHY WE FEEL IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS ANALYSIS OUT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

>> Cathy: WHERE ARE THE GAPS IN YOUR RESEARCH THAT YOU REALLY WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK AND MAYBE REDO IF YOU COULD?

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

>> YEAH.

YEAH, SO WE HAVE ONE MEASURE OF CONSUMER SPENDING THAT WE LOOKED AT, BUT IT WAS FROM A TOTALLY DIFFERENT SOURCE, IT'S FROM CREDIT CARD TRANSACTION.

AND IT'S ONLY AVAILABLE AT THE MONTHLY LEVEL, SO NOT THE DAILY.

SO IT'S KIND OF NOISY, WE'RE HOPING TO GET MORE DATA ON THAT.

THAT WILL HELP MEASURE CONSUMER SPENDING IMPACTS.

HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS, WE KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE SKIPPED HEALTH CARE, LEARNING LOSS IN SCHOOLS.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S -- PEOPLE WERE IMPACTED ALL OVER THE COMMUNITY IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

WE'RE JUST STARTING TO GET A HANDLE ON IT.

THERE'S STILL SO MUCH TO LEARN.

>> Eric: YOU'D SAY THIS IS A PRETTY SERIOUS IMPACT ON THE TWIN CITIES ECONOMY, OR THE STATE'S ECONOMY, OR?

>> I MEAN, $106 MILLION SORT OF SPEAKS FOR ITSELF AND AGAIN THAT'S A CONSERVATIVE ASSUMPTION.

SO IT'S LIKELY THAT THE ACTUAL LOST WAGES WERE QUITE A BIT BIGGER AND THEN WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THAT'S JUST LOST WAGES, RIGHT?

SO THAT RIPPLES THROUGH THE ECONOMY.

WHEN PEOPLE DON'T HAVE MONEY TO SPEND IT'S NOT JUST THAT THEY DON'T HAVE WAGES, IT'S THAT THEY CAN'T THEN GO AND SPEND THAT AT RESTAURANTS AND GROCERY STORES AROUND THE STATE.

>> Eric: RIPPLE EFFECT.

>> RIPPLE EFFECT.

EXACTLY.

SO THIS WILL RIPPLE ALL THROUGH THE ECONOMY AND THAT MEANS THAT THAT $106 MILLION ACTUALLY BECOMES QUITE A BIT BIGGER LOSS FOR THE TWIN CITIES.

>> Cathy: THIS MAY SOUND LIKE A SILLY QUESTION BUT DID ANYBODY BENEFIT IN TERMS OF THE I.C.E.

OFFICERS STAYED IN HOTELS.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

>> Cathy: RENTAL CAR AGENCIES.

>> YEAH, NO, THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE ANY KIND OF ACTIVITY THERE'S COSTS AND THERE'S BENEFITS AND IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A FULL ACCOUNTING YOU WANT TO MEASURE BOTH.

AND IT'S DEFINITELY TRUE THAT LIKE THE HOTELS FROM THE I.C.E.

AGENTS WERE, AND THE DHS AGENTS WERE MORE FULL.

MAYBE THEY WERE EATING AT RESTAURANTS MORE THAN IF THEY WERE SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY.

BUT AGAIN THAT'S OFFSET BY THE FACT THAT MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS WERE SCARED TO GO OUT IN PUBLIC AND THEY WERE CAUSING VIOLENCE IN THE STREET AND IN A RACIALLY DISCRIMINATORY WAY AND IT WAS DISRUPTING A LOT OF PEOPLE'S LIVES, WORK LIVES, SOCIAL LIVES, WORSHIP LIFE, LIKE PEOPLE JUST WEREN'T GOING ABOUT THEIR DAY.

SO WE -- HOTELS PROBABLY IN THE DATA, RESTAURANTS IN THE DATA.

ON NET, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE DRIVING IT UP.

OTHER THINGS WERE DRIVING IT DOWN ON AVERAGE, IT WAS DOWN.

>> Eric: GOOD STUFF.

APPRECIATE YOU GUYS COMING OVER.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> OF COURSE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Eric: EXCELLENT.

♪ >> WELCOME O DAY 17 OF LENT.

A VARIETY OF CHRISTIANS DENOMINATIONS OBSERVE THE 40 OR SO DAYS BETWEEN ASH WEDNESDAY AND EASTER SUNDAY AS A TIME OF PRAYER, FASTING AND ALMS GIVING.

AND THE SEASON HAS RESONANCES FAR OUTSIDE THE WALLS OF CHURCHES.

I HAVE A FRIEND WHO WORKED AT A MCDONALD'S AS A TEENAGER IN THE '80s AND RECALLS LINES OUT THE DOOR FOR THREE FOR ONE DOLLAR FILLET-O-FISH SANDWICHES ON FRIDAYS.

IF YOU GREW UP CATHOLIC THE MUSCLE MEMORY IS ESPECIALLY STRONG.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS, COINS IN OUR LITTLE CARDBOARD PERATION RICE BOWL BOXES, PONDERING THE SINS AS A NINE-YEAR-OLD IN THE CONFESSIONAL LINE, AND OF COURSE, CONTINUALLY REDEFINING WHAT PRECISELY IS COVERED UNDER THE SWEETS YOU GAVE UP FOR LENT.

AS AN ADULT, LENT BECOMES MORE COMPLICATED, AS BOTH TEMPTATIONS AND OBLIGATIONS INCREASE.

I HAVE A PARTICULARLY DEVOUT FRIEND WHO DOES SOMETHING I CALL IRONMAN LENT.

COLD SHOWERS, NO ALCOHOL, NO SODA, NO DESSERTS.

IT PROBABLY GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT I LACK THAT SORT OF DISCIPLINE, SO IN ADDITION TO SOME SMALL SACRIFICES I TRY TO INCORPORATE A NEW POSITIVE PRACTICE DURING LENT.

LAST YEAR, FOR INSTANCE, I VISITED A MOSQUE FOR IFTAR, HE EVENING MEAL THAT BREAKS THE DAILY FAST DURING RAMADAN, AND I WAS STRUCK BY THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE TWO OBSERVANCES.

IN ADDITION TO THE CALENDAR, LENT AND RAMADAN FOCUS ON RHYTHMS AND RITUAL, AND HE IDEA THAT QUIET, SINCERE OBSERVANCE IS MORE PLEASING TO THE ALMIGHTY THAN FLASHY PIETY.

SCRIPTURE TELLS US TO REND OUR HEARTS, NOT OUR GARMENTS.

SO, WHETHER YOU'RE MOVING THROUGH LENT, THROUGH RAMADAN, OR JUST THROUGH THE MUCKY, SNIRTY SHOULDER SEASON BETWEEN WINTER AND SPRING, REMEMBER THAT EVERYONE IS GOING THROUGH SOMETHING.

SO BE MINDFUL, BE FOREBEARING, AND MOST OF ALL, BE KIND.

♪ >> Eric: THE COMMISSIONER OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IS STEPPING DOWN THIS MONTH.

THE WALZ APPOINTEE TOOK THE HELM IN 2019, BEEN THROUGH COVID AND FRAUD AND CYBER ATTACKS AND ROLLED OUT A BRAND NEW STATE PROGRAM.

WE WELCOME BACK TO THE "ALMANAC" SHOW COMMISSIONER TAREK TOMES.

HOW OLD IS OUR I.T.

SYSTEM?

>> Cathy: WE HEAR IT'S CREAKY.

>> Eric: FLOPPY DISCS FROM THE '80s?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY NOT, IN A LARGE CORPORATE SETTING LIKE WHAT STATE GOVERNMENT IS, MORE SIMILAR TO 3M OR CARGILL YOU HAVE EVERYTHING FROM THE ABSOLUTE MOST CUTTING EDGE OF TECHNOLOGY TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS LIKE PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE, JUST ROLLED OUT TO, OF COURSE, OLDER TECHNOLOGIES.

AND SO I THINK THE STATE OF MINNESOTA IN PARTICULAR UNDER GOVERNOR WALZ HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB OF MODERNIZING SYSTEMS, COMPLETELY OVERHAULED AND MODERNIZED DRIVER AND VEHICLE SERVICES, WORKER'S COMPENSATION, THE OFFENDER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AT THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, CHILD WELFARE INFORMATION SYSTEMS, SO THERE'S AN ABSOLUTE PLETHORA OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY IN STATE GOVERNMENT.

>> Eric: DIDN'T CATCH FRAUD.

>> WELL, I THINK THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A LOADED QUESTION, RIGHT.

GLOBALLY, FRAUD IS UP 30 TO 40% GLOBALLY, WHETHER YOU'RE A PRIVATE SECTOR OR PUBLIC SECTOR ORGANIZATION.

COMPANIES LIKE VISA, TARGET, AND OTHERS ARE INVESTING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO FRAUD PREVENTION AND DETECTION.

IF YOU LOOK AT MINNESOTA THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE SYSTEM AND OTHER SYSTEMS, ANYTIME YOU HAVE PROGRAMS THAT ARE BASED ON, YOU KNOW, PROVIDING BENEFITS TO PEOPLE OF COURSE YOU HAVE TO CONTINUE TO BUILD AND INSTRUMENT ROBUST FRAUD PREVENTION AND DETECTION PROGRAMS AND I'M REALLY CONFIDENT THAT THE STATE OF MINNESOTA IS WELL ON ITS WAY TO BEING AT THE FOREFRONT IN AMERICA AS IT RELATES TO FRAUD PREVENTION INSET GOVERNMENT.

>> Cathy: HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO KEEP UP ITH ALL THE THREATS, CYBERSECURITY THREATS?

IT FEELS LIKE EVERYONE'S IND OF, IT'S ALMOST LIKE WHACK-A-MOLE, THERE'S ONE HERE, TAMP THAT DOWN, HOW DIFFICULT IS IT?

>> NO, I THINK THE WHACK-A-MOLE ANALOGY IS A REALLY APT ONE.

I'M SURE ALL OF US HERE HAVE RECEIVED TEXT MESSAGES OR PHONE CALLS FROM, YOU KNOW, ACQUAINTANCES, RELATIVES THAT ASK, IS THIS REAL, I RECEIVED A TEXT MESSAGE ASKING ME TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND THESE THREATS ARE CONTINUING TO CHANGE, CERTAINLY WITH THE PROLIFERATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE THEY'RE GETTING MORE AND MORE SOPHISTICATED AND I THINK IT'S AN AREA WHERE WE AS A SOCIETY HAVE TO MAKE A LITTLE BIT OF A STAND.

WE HAVE TO NOT STAND FOR LIVING IN AN UNSAFE DIGITAL PLACE, AND I'M REALLY HOPEFUL THAT WITH INCREASES IN CAPABILITIES, MAYBE LAW CHANGES AT TIMES, THAT WE CAN MAKE CONSUMERS AND PEOPLE MORE SAFE AND MORE COMFORTABLE IN THIS DIGITAL WORLD.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED A.I., HOW FAR ALONG IS THE STATE OF MINNESOTA IN THE ADOPTION OF A.I.

TECHNOLOGY?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

WE'VE STARTED OUR JOURNEY YEARS AGO, PROBABLY THREE YEARS AGO.

WE HAVE AN EFFORT THAT'S REFERRED TO AS TAIGA, TRANSPARENT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE GOVERNANCE ALLIANCE.

AND WE HAVE 15 TO 20,000 USERS IN STATE GOVERNMENT THAT ARE USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TOOLS FROM A GENERATIVE A.I.

PERSPECTIVE AND REALLY NEAT IMPLEMENTATIONS THAT ARE REALLY GROUNDBREAKING IN HELPING -- WE ROLLED UT AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CAPABILITY THAT ANALYZES HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF BILLS THAT NAVIGATE THEIR WAY THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS THAT STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE FAST LOOKING TO REPLICATE AS WE RECEIVE NATIONAL AWARDS OR THAT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IMPLEMENTATION.

>> Eric: TECH IS THE ENGINE OF GOVERNMENT.

>> YOU GOT IT.

>> Eric: I SAW THAT IN NE OF YOUR INTERVIEWS I WATCHED THIS WEEK.

EXPAND ON THAT A LITTLE BIT.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, I REALLY THINK HAT TECHNOLOGY IN A STRONG, FORWARD-LEANING TECHNOLOGY CAPABILITY JUST LIKE WE SEE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS REALLY WHAT ALLOWS ADMINISTRATIONS TO BRING POLICY INITIATIVES TO LIFE.

IF YOU GO WAY BACK TO THE AFFORDABLE CARE LAN, LOTS OF TECHNOLOGY THAT HAD TO UNDERPIN THAT.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT FOR GOVERNOR WALZ ONE OF HIS REALLY SIGNATURE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, PAID FAMILY CFSS FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE STARTED AS AN IDEA AND ASPIRATION BUT IF THE TECHNOLOGY WASN'T THERE TO SUPPORT TURNING THAT INTO SOMETHING A CITIZEN OR RESIDENT CAN ACTUALLY INTERACT WITH AND RECEIVE BENEFITS FROM.

AND SO I THINK INVESTING IN TECHNOLOGY CAPABILITIES REDUCES FRAUD, IT HELPS GOVERNMENT WORK MUCH, MUCH, MUCH MORE EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY, SO YOU REALLY GET MUCH MORE, YOU KNOW, BANG FOR THE TAXPAYER DOLLAR, AND ULTIMATELY YOU CONNECT WITH PEOPLE AND ALLOW THEM TO GET SERVICES ON THEIR TIME.

>> Eric: YOU HEAD TO THE U OF M, YOU'LL BE A VICE PRESIDENT.

>> Cathy: YES.

>> I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN THAT VIBRANT COMMUNITY.

FIVE CAMPUSES.

DIFFERENT AND DISTINCT, CERTAINLY DIFFERENT STUDENT NEEDS ACROSS THOSE FIVE CAMPUSES.

A LAND GRANT INSTITUTION, AN INCREDIBLE RESEARCH ARM, IT'S WHERE TOMORROW LITERALLY IS INVENTED AND SHAPED AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO JOIN THAT COMMUNITY.

>> Eric: AND YOU CONTINUE TO SERVE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THANKS, COMMISSIONER.

CONGRATULATIONS.

WELL, YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD HALL OF FAME COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACH LOU HOLTZ DIED THURSDAY AT THE AGE OF 89.

FAMOUSLY LED NOTRE DAME TO 100 WINS IN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

BEFORE THAT HE COACHED THE U OF M GOPHERS AND HELPED REBUILD THE TEAM IN JUST A COUNTY SEASONS.

IN APRIL OF 1985, A KTCA CAMERA CREW FOLLOWED HOLTZ AND THE GOPHERS FOR A WHOLE MONTH.

HERE'S A CLIP FROM THAT DOCUMENTARY.

HERE'S THE COACH.

>> HINK BACK OVER ALL THE YEARS YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN FOOTBALL, ALL THE WAY BACK TO WHEN YOU WERE A KID, WHAT IS THE SINGLE MOMENT IN FOOTBALL THAT GIVES YOU THE BEST FEELING YOU'VE EVER HAD?

>> YOU KNOW, THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY IT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT TO DO BUT I CAN TELL OU WHAT GAVE WORST FEEL.

THE WORST FEELING WAS I WAS IN THE FIFTH GRADE AND PLAYING WITH THE EIGHTH GRADE FOOTBALL TEAM AND WE WERE PLAYING A GAME AND I TURNED DOWN A TACKLE COMPLETELY IN FRONT OF SOME FRIENDS AND FAMILY, AND I MEAN, I JUST OUT AND OUT TURNED INTO A COWARD.

AND I'LL NEVER FORGET THE HUMILIATION, EMBARRASSMENT AND THE RIDICULE THAT I EXPERIENCED FOR THE NEXT WEEK AFTER THAT FROM MY TEAMMATES, SO TO SPEAK.

BECAUSE THE FIRST TIME I HAD A CHANCE TO BE A FOOTBALL PLAYER AND I TURNED IT DOWN.

BUT IT MADE A VERY STRONG IMPACT UPON ME.

BECAUSE I THINK THAT SOMETIMES IN LIFE WE'VE GOT TO DO THINGS THAT WE DON'T GENUINELY LIKE TO DO.

BUT IF WE BENEFIT FROM A BAD EXPERIENCE AND ANALYZE IT, IT CAN TURN OUT TO BE THE MOST POSITIVE THING THAT'S EVER HAPPENED.

♪ >> Eric: THERE'S A NEW DEAL IN TOWN.

IT'S BETWEEN THE CITY OF ST.

PAUL AND THE MINNESOTA WILD.

THIS WEEK, THE TWO ANNOUNCED A $600 MILLION PLAN TO RENOVATE GRAND CASINO ARENA, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE XCEL ENERGY CENTER, THE RIVERCENTRE, AND ROY WILKINS AUDITORIUM.

THEY'LL ASK THE LEGISLATURE TO FUND A THIRD OF THE PROJECT.

SAINT PAUL'S ASSISTANT MAYOR FOR HOUSING, ECONOMIC VIBRANCY AND INFRASTRUCTURE NICK STUMO-LANGER JOINS US WITH DETAILS.

HOW DID YOU PUT THIS TOGETHER?

SHE'S BEEN MAYOR TWO MONTHS?

>> YEAH, I'M IN THE END OF MY EIGHTH WEEK HERE AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.

SO THIS STARTED DURING HE TRANSITION.

SO LATE NOVEMBER, EARLY DECEMBER WE STARTED MEETING WITH THE TEAM AND JUST STARTED PATCHING WITH A FRAMEWORK OF A DEAL, GETTING US IN A ROOM.

I THINK THE MAYOR DID A REALLY GOOD JOB OF A CLASSIC LEGISLATIVE TRICK WHEN SHE LEARNED AT THE LEGISLATURE, GET EVERYONE IN THE ROOM TELL THEM YOU HAVE TO KEEP GOING BACK UNTIL YOU GET A DEAL AND IN TRUE LEGISLATIVE FASHION WEPT A LITTLE BIT OVER THE DEADLINE BUT GOT IT DONE.

>> Cathy: MOST PEOPLE, NICK, WOULD SAY, LOOK, IT SEEMS LIKE THE ARENA IS FINE, YOU KNOW, DOESN'T LOOK BAD.

BUT WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?

>> YEAH, THE WILD HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB ALONGSIDE THE CITY F KEEPING IT UP FOR KIND OF THOSE AESTHETIC COMPONENTS BUT REALLY HAT THIS DEAL HAS IS A LOT OF THE GUTS OF THE ARENA.

HVAC SYSTEMS, KITCHEN COMPONENTS, LOOKING AT NHL STANDARDS TOO WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE TEAM AND COMPETITIVENESS THAT THEY HAVE AND THEN ALSO MAKING SURE THAT GATE 2 OUT ON WEST SEVENTH IS ACTIVATABLE, SAFE FOR FOLKS.

THERE'S A LOT OF PARTS OF THIS DEAL THAT YOU WOULDN'T NECESSARILY SEE.

>> Eric: THERE IS A $3.7 BILLION SHORT-TERM SURPLUS.

YOU'RE LOOKING FOR 200 MILLION FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

WHAT ARE THE CHANCES?

WHAT ARE YOU THINKIN'?

>> SO A LOT OF THE FOLKS ON OUR TEAM, MYSELF INCLUDED WE HAVE A LOT OF GOOD RELATIONSHIPS AT THE LEGISLATURE, AND THE WAY THAT HE MAYOR HAS APPROACHED THIS HAS BEEN TALKING TO FOLKS, CONSISTENTLY EVEN WHILE WE WERE IN NEGOTIATIONS LETTING THEM KNOW WHAT WE WERE THINKING, HEARING FROM THEM ADJUSTING THE TERMS OF THE DEAL BASED ON THOSE INPUTS.

BUT WE KNOW THAT IT'S CHALLENGING RIGHT NOW AT THE LEGISLATURE, THERE'S A LOT OF BIG PROBLEMS TO SOLVE, WE'RE ALSO UP THERE ASKING FOR SUPPORT BECAUSE OF THE IMPACTS OF OPERATION METRO SURGE ON OUR RESIDENTS.

AND BUT YOU WOULDN'T BE INVOLVED IN POLITICS IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE SOME OPTIMISM.

>> Cathy: I'M WONDERING, ERIC AND I WERE TALKING OFF AIR, WE WERE TRYING TO REMEMBER SENATOR PAPPAS WAS COOL TO THE RENOVATION IDEA LAST SESSION.

AND, YOU KNOW, SHE'S A BIG PLAYER.

ARE WE TO ASSUME EVERYONE'S BEHIND THIS IDEA?

, NECKER THE DELEGATION.

>> YEAH, WE HAD GREAT CONVERSATIONS BEFORE THE ANNOUNCEMENT WITH EVERY EMBER OF DELEGATION, EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER, CIVIC LEADERS, THAT KIND OF ENGAGEMENT AHEAD OF TIME EVEN IF THEY HAVE OTHER PRIORITIES, IT JUST MATTERS A TON.

POLITICS IS A RELATIONAL BUSINESS.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE TRY TO MODEL AND DO WELL.

>> Eric: NOW, ONE OF THE STICKER SHOCK THINGS WAS THE HALF-CENT SALES TAX IN ST.

PAUL GETS EXTENDED TO 2061.

THAT'S A LONG TIME.

>> YEAH, SO THE TERMS ARE, WE HAVE TO SEE WHAT COMES OUT AT THE LEGISLATURE, BUT WE KNOW THAT THE CURRENT SALES TAX EXISTS AND EXISTS FOR THIS PURPOSE, AN EXTENSION OF A SALES TAX IS ACTUALLY A REALLY MAYBE MORE PALATABLE WAY OF GOING TO THE LEGISLATURE RATHER THAN ESTABLISHING A NEW ONE.

IT'S DONE ITS JOB PUTTING INVESTMENT INTO THE ARENA COMPLEX.

>> Eric: HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS DEAL TO ST.

PAUL?

>> I THINK IT'S HUGE.

I WILL SAY TOO THERE ARE A LOT OF PUBLICLY OWNED SPACES IN DOWNTOWN ST.

AUL IN PECULIAR, CHS FIELD, PUBLICLY OWNED ASSET, THE SCIENCE MUSEUM, THIS ARENA COMPLEX, PUBLICLY OWNED ASSET.

WHEN WE INVEST IN SSETS WE CAN DRIVE ECONOMIC VIBRANCY DOWNTOWN AND ACROSS THE REGION.

>> WHAT'S THE TEAM IN FOR UNDER THIS DEAL >> YEAH, UNDER THIS DEAL ESSENTIALLY A THIRD, A THIRD , A THIRD, THE TEAM IS IN FOR $162 MILLION UP FRONT AND A PARTNER ON ROY WILKINS.

>> Cathy: WHICH NEEDS TO BE DONE BECAUSE ROY WILKINS IS WHAT 90 YEARS OLD OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT >> IT'S A CLASSIC CULTURAL BEACON, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT SAYS THAT WAY.

THE FIRST PART IS STABILIZING STRUCTURE SO THAT FURTHER INVESTMENT CAN APPEN AND THE BASEMENT REALLY GETTING TO CONNECT TO RIVERCENTRE, THAT PUTS US IN DIFFERENT STRATOSPHERE FOR CONFERENCES.

>> Eric: DO YOU HAVE HEARINGS SCHEDULED?

HAVE YOU BEEN GRANTED HEARINGS?

>> I'M NOT THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS DOOR.

[ LAUGHTER ] -- BUT I'M REALLY EXCITED, WE'VE GOTTEN GOOD RECEPTION WE'RE WORKING HARD.

>> Cathy: FRIENDS, MARCH IS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, DOGSLED RACING HAS A LONG AND STORIED HISTORY HERE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

AND WOMEN HAVE EEN STEADILY INCREASING RANKS WITHIN THAT SPORT.

REPORTER KAOMI LEE MET UP WITH TWO WOMEN WHO STARTED THEIR OWN DOGSLED TEAM AND JUST COMPLETED THEIR FIRST YEAR OF RACING.

>> ON AN EARLY MORNING IN FEBRUARY, 11 DOGSLED TEAMS AND DOZENS OF VOLUNTEERS ARRIVE AT THE GUNFLINT TRAIL IN GRAND MARAIS [ HOWLING ] THEY'RE AT THE TRAIL CENTER FOR THE 2026 GUNFLINT RUN DOGSLED RACE.

EMILY FORD OF TWO HARBORS IS PREPARING FOR THE RACE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

>> THIS IS OUR ROOKIE SEASON.

WE DID OUR RACE RAISE LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN HOW PEOPLE DID.

WE RAN OUT OF ALASKA, AND NOW WE'RE COMING HOME TO RUN HOME RACES WHICH IS REALLY NICE.

>> FORD AND THEIR ARTNER ANNA DID THE IDITTA ROD LAST YEAR.

FORD DIDN'T GROW UP AROUND SLED DOG RACING.

THEY WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO HOW WELL THEIR LONG DISTANCE DOGS COULD DEE HERE IN A 65-MILE FAST COURSE.

>> I DON'T EXPECT TO DO ANYTHING TREMENDOUS TODAY, LIKE MY GOAL IS TO GO OUT AND HAVE FUN WITH MY DOGS AS IT ALWAYS IS.

>> FORD WAS UP AGAINST WELL KNOWN MINNESOTA MUSHERS.

LIKE FRECKING.

>> OLIVIA, ONE OF OUR HANDLERS ACTUALLY RAN, WHAT RACE WAS THAT >> IT WAS JUST THE RECREATIONAL RACE BUT IT WAS HER FIRST EVER DOGSLED RACE.

>> FIRST EVER RACE, AND SHE WAS DRAGGED TO THE FRONT.

I WAS DRAGGED AT THE START.

I'M USED TO DRIVING LIKE A BIG SLED AND WE HAD THE SPRINT SLED WE GOT AND IT'S TINY, THEY WEIGH ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AND I JUST CAUGHT THE SNOW AND I JUST TUMBLED.

AND LIKE THE NUMBER ONE RULE OF MUSHING IS YOU NEVER LET GO OF THE SLED.

>> YOU COULD SAY THAT TENACITY AND GRIT HAS BEEN PART OF FORD'S STORY ALL ALONG.

IN 2022, FORD HIKED 1200 MILES THROUGH WISCONSIN WITH JUST A SLED DOG, DIGGINS.

AND THEIR OWN SURVIVAL SKILLS IN THE BITTER COLD.

>> IT WAS ZERO DEGREES WHEN WE WENT TO BED LAST NIGHT.

>> FORD SAYS THEY'RE ONE OF TWO BLACK MUSHERS IN THE STATE.

THEY'RE QUEER AND IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH ANNA HENNESSY, WHO ALSO RACES.

THEIR STORY AND LOVE OF THE OUTDOORS IS RESONATING MORE BROADLY.

>> LOVE DOGS AND ADVENTURE, WE TALK ABOUT THIS, LIKE WE LOVE LONG-TERM ADVENTURE.

>> FORD NOW HAS 26,000 FOLLOWERS ON INSTAGRAM AND THEY'RE OFTEN ASKED TO SPEAK AT SCHOOLS.

>> I MOSTLY HEAR IT FROM PARENTS WHO HAVE KIDDOS, AND THEY'RE LIKE YOU'RE MY KID'S LIKE BIGGEST HERO OR WHATEVER, AND LIKE YOU, YOU KNOW, MY KID WANTS TO GO OUTSIDE BECAUSE OF YOU AND THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING.

>> TODAY FORD AND HENNESSY TRAIN AND CARE FOR THEIR 20 DOGS ON 65 ACRES OFF THE GRID NEAR TWO HARBORS.

HENNESSY WORKS AS AN E.R.

NURSE.

FORD HAS A SEASONAL JOB AS HEAD GARDENER AT GLENSHEEN MANSION.

>> IS IT A LIFESTYLE, HOBBY, IS IT A PASSION >> YEAH.

>> ALL THREE ARE TRUE.

>> IT'S NOT EASY, RIGHT, LIKE WHEN PEOPLE COME OUT HERE THEY'RE LIKE, OH, DOGS AND YOU GET TO PET THEM AND IT'S FUN AND IT'S CUTE, RIGHT.

>> IT'S CUTE.

>> YOU TAKE YOUR PHOTO AND THEN LEAVE.

BUT WE WAKE UP, HAUL OUR WATER, WE'RE FEEDING THE YARD AND THEN GO TO WORK OR WE HAVE TO GET THE MILES IN FOR THE DAY OR LIKE YOU GOTTA WANT TO DO IT.

>> MM-HMM.

>> OR ELSE IT KIND OF ALL STARTS TO FALL APART.

>> THAT MEANS 200-MILE TRAINING RUNS OVER TWO DAYS WITH LITTLE SLEEP.

FORD AND HENNESSY JOIN A GROWING BUT STEADY ROSTER OF FEMALE MUSHERS.

>> I STARTED IN MUSHING PROBABLY AROUND '94, '95.

>> HEATHER BRANDON WAS THE SOLE FEMALE JUDGE OF THIS YEAR'S JOHN BEARGREASE SLED DOG RACE.

ORGANIZERS SAY SHE MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE FIRST WOMAN.

IN THIS PHOTO FROM 1996 ONLY ONE WOMAN COMPETED IN BEARGREASE.

BRANDON SAYS THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE SHE QUIT RACING ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO.

>> THAT'S WHEN IT REALLY FLIPPED.

BACK THEN WE WERE DEEPLY IN THE MINORITY AND NOW IT SEEMS LIKE WOMEN ARE THE MAJORITIES.

>> THIS YEAR WAS ANNA HENNESSY'S FIRST BEARGREASE.

BRANDON SAYS SHE WAS IMPRESSED.

>> THE MUSHER'S ROLE IS TO HIGHLIGHT THE DOGS, GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THEM NOT AS IN RUNNING THEM DRY, BUT AS IN MAKING SURE THEY'RE IN THE BEST SHAPE AND HEALTHIEST AND HAVING AS MUCH FUN AS POSSIBLE.

AND I FEEL LIKE ANNA DID A WONDERFUL JOB WITH THAT.

>> IT'S A SPORT WHERE WOMEN CAN COMPETE ALONGSIDE MEN, AND THEY'RE HOLDING THEIR OWN.

MINNESOTAN ERIN EILEY WON THE BEARGREASE IN 2025.

COLLEEN WALLEN WON HER FIRST BEARGREASE IN 1994.

SHE SAYS FORD AND HENNESSY HAVE BEEN GOOD ADDITIONS TO THE LOCAL MUSHING COMMUNITY.

>> THEY DON'T LIVE TOO FAR FROM HERE AND SO IT'S REALLY COOL TO SEE THEM OUT ON THE TRAIL AND SHARE THE TRAIL WITH THEM AND HIGH-FIVE EACH OTHER WHEN WE'RE GOING BY.

AND SHARE SOME STORIES.

>> THAT CAMARADERIE IS BUILT ON MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND RESPECT OF THE HARD WORK AND SACRIFICE THAT RUNNING DOGS DEMANDS.

FORD AND HENNESSY'S KENNEL MAYBE NAMED LOST KEY DOG SLEDDING, BUT THEY'VE FOUND EACH OTHER AND MUCH MORE.

>> I ACTUALLY FEEL REALLY PROUD OF US.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID WE WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO START OUR KENNEL, PUT TOGETHER OUR KENNEL, AND RACE ALL IN OUR FIRST YEAR.

>> AND DO WELL.

>> AND DO WELL.

WE WERE LIKE.

>> BET.

>> BET!

[ LAUGHTER ] >> WE'LL DO T.

>> WATCH US.

WE WILL DO IT.

♪ >> Eric: THIS WEEK LAWMAKERS IN BOTH D.C.

AND ST.

PAUL DEBATED FRAUD AND IMMIGRATION IN MINNESOTA, THE ESCALATING CASUALTIES IN THE WAR IN IRAN NOW INCLUDE A MINNESOTA NATIONAL GUARD MEMBER AND KRISTI NOEM HAS BEEN FIRED FROM HER ROLE LEADING THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.

SO A LOT OF NEWS, LET'S GET TO IT.

DEMOCRATS UP TONIGHT EMBER REICHGOTT JUNGE, FORMER STATE SENATOR, ALYSEN NESSE, LOBBYIST AT THE CAPITOL.

REPUBLICANS WITH THEM TONIGHT, ANNETTE MEEKS, FORMER CONGRESSIONAL STAFFER AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CANDIDATE WHO NOW HEADS UP THE FREEDOM FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA.

FINALLY PREYA SAMSUNDAR, G.O.P.

STRATEGIST AND FORMER COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR THE RNC AND THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN.

PREYA, GOVERNOR WALZ IS VOWING ACCOUNTABILITY FOR KRISTI NOEM.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT FORM THAT COULD TAKE, OR?

>> I MEAN, SHE'S ALREADY GONE I MEAN I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT MORE ACCOUNTABILITY YOU COULD POSSIBLY HAVE IN THIS SITUATION.

AND IF YOU, YOU KNOW, WANTS TO CLAIM RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT, I THINK THE RESPONSIBILITY OR THE PERSON THAT REALLY SET THIS INTO MOTION S SENATOR JOHN KENNEDY DOWN FROM LOUISIANA WITH A BIG OLD QUESTION OF ARE YOU ACCUSING THE PRESIDENT OF AGREEING WITH YOU THAT YOU COULD SPEND $220 MILLION ON ADVERTISEMENT WHERE YOUR FACE IS THE ONLY THING PEOPLE SEE?

THE PRESIDENT DIDN'T LIKE THAT VERY MUCH, AND THAT'S WHY YOU SAW A VERY QUICK MOVEMENT WITH HER BEING GONE BY MIDDAY THE NEXT DAY.

>> Eric: ALYSEN, CAN THERE BE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY AT THE STATE LEVEL?

>> I MEAN, I THINK THE DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE ARE CERTAINLY LOOKING AT WAYS TO HOLD THOSE THAT ERE IN CHARGE OF OPERATION METRO SURGE ACCOUNTABLE AT THE STATE LEVEL, THEY'RE LOOKING AT WAYS POST-ELECTION WHERE THAT MIGHT BE FEASIBLE.

>> Cathy: HENNEPIN COUNTY ATTORNEY, SENATOR REICHGOTT JUNGE, IS LOOKING AT MAYBE PURSUING CHARGES AGAINST FORMER HEAD OF I.C.E.

OPERATION IN MINNESOTA GREG BOVINO.

AS AN ATTORNEY, THOUGH, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S A HARD HILL TO CLIMB, RIGHT OR IS IT?

>> YES, IT IS A HARD HILL TO CLIMB BECAUSE THEY CAN ALWAYS TRY TO THERE HAVE TO THE FEDERAL COURTS AND HER JURISDICTION IS SOMEWHAT LIMITED THERE.

BUT I'M GOING TO JUST TWIST THAT BACK TO THE CONGRESS, AND IF THERE WAS ANYWHERE THEY SHOULD BE DOING AN INVESTIGATION ON OVERSIGHT IT WOULD BE IN THE I.C.E.

KILLINGS HERE, WHICH THEY HAVE REFUSED TO DO.

AND SO I'M THINKING THAT THAT'S THE FEDERAL ASPECT OF THIS.

>> Eric: TOM EMMER IN HIS POST-COMMENTS AFTER THE ELLISON AND WALZ TESTIFIED BEFORE THE HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE THOUGHT THAT ELLISON SHOULD GO TO JAIL.

>> WELL, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WANT SOMEBODY TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WAS WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE IN MINNESOTA WHILE THEY RAIDED OUR TAXPAYER MONEY, SPENT IT FOOLISHLY ON ON-PROFITS THAT NO ONE APPARENTLY WAS KEEPING AN EYE ON IN THE WALZ ADMINISTRATION AND THEN TO SAY, WELL, THAT'S NOT OUR PROBLEM, LET'S FOCUS ON THIS IN WASHINGTON, THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO DIVERT PEOPLE'S ATTENTION FROM THE REAL FACT THAT WE'VE BEEN ROBBED IN MINNESOTA AND WE DESERVE SOME ACCOUNTING AND FRANKLY SOMEBODY DESERVES TO BE FIRED HERE.

I DON'T KNOW WHO IT IS BUT GOVERNOR WALZ DOESN'T SEEM TOO CONCERNED ABOUT IT.

>> TO BE CLEAR, THOUGH, ATTORNEY GENERAL ELLISON HAS PUT OVER 60 PEOPLE IN JAIL FOR THE FRAUD THAT THEY HAVE COMMITTED AND THE MONEY THEY HAVE STOLEN FROM THE TAXPAYERS OF MINNESOTA.

>> ACTUALLY, THAT WOULD BE THE U.S.

ATTORNEY HAS PUT 60 PEOPLE IN JAIL.

>> WELL, IN COORDINATION WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, BUT I MEAN, ALSO JUST -- YEAH.

>> I MEAN, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY AT THE END OF THE DAY LIKE WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT ELLISON HAS SAID UP UNTIL THE POINT WHERE HE IS GETTING PULLED IN FRONT OF CONGRESS TO TESTIFY, HE'S SAYING THAT THIS IS A POLITICAL STUNT, THIS IS NOT A SERIOUS MATTER.

HE IS BLOWING THIS OFF AND THIS IS NOT JUST INSIDE LIKE CONVERSATIONS, THIS IS HIM TELLING NATIONAL AUDIENCES ON CNN THAT THIS DOES NOT MATTER AND RANKLY THIS IS HOW DEMOCRATS WERE TREATING FRAUD THE ENTIRE TIME UP UNTIL, ONE, DONALD TRUMP PUT A TARGET ON THEM RIGHTFULLY OR WRONGFULLY SO, PUT A TARGET ON MINNESOTA AND SAID YOU'VE GOT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF FRAUD, WE NEED TO INVESTIGATE THIS, AND, TWO, WHEN NATIONAL MEDIA STARTED COMING IN AND STARTED DOING INVESTIGATING BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, RIGHTFULLY OR WRONGFULLY AGAIN WE HAD A PRESS CORPS THAT HAS BEEN DEFERENTIAL TO THE WALZ ADMINISTRATION >> Cathy: OH, I THINK 2026 ACTUALLY -- THE RECORD SHOWS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF REPORTERS ON THIS STORY FOR YEARS.

>> ON THE FRAUD, ON THE FRAUD, ABSOLUTELY.

BUT NOBODY HAS PUSHED WALZ TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND SO HE'S KIND OF EEN ABLE TO BRUSH IT OFF BUT NOW THAT MORE PRESSURE HAS COME IN, NOW THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE ASKING QUESTIONS, NOW THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE LIKE PUSHING ON THEM TO GIVE ACCOUNTABILITY, THAT IS WHY YOU HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THE MOVE INTENT WE'VE SEEN IN JUST THE LAST SIX MONTHS.

>> I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE NOT EVER HAD AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW, AND THAT IS WE HAVE TWO MAJOR ISSUES IN A SHORT SESSION.

ONE IS RECOVERY FROM THE METRO SURGE OPERATIONS AND FIGURING OUT HOW WE REPAIR THOSE ECONOMIC COSTS AND ALL THAT.

AND FIGURING OUT HOW TO RECOVER FROM THE FRAUD.

SO ONE IS A TALKING POINT FOR ONE PARTY AND ONE FOR THE OTHER.

BUT EVERYBODY IN THE STATE IS LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS IN BOTH, EVERYBODY'S AFFECTED.

SO I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO LOOK TOWARD THE FUTURE, NOT WORRY ABOUT WHO DID WHAT THERE, WE NEED RESOLUTIONS, E NEED SOLUTIONS GOING FORWARD.

>> Cathy: THEN WHY IS THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL, THAT BILL IS SEEMINGLY HAS SUCH A HARD ROCKY ROAD?

I MEAN, IT'S GONE NOWHERE AT THIS POINT.

>> IT MAKES NO SENSE.

IT REALLY DOESN'T.

THAT SHOULD BE AN EASY, BIPARTISAN VOTE THAT SHOULD HAVE PASSED THE FIRST DAY F SESSION.

AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE OPPOSITION, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE REPORTS THAT KEEP COMING OUT SAYING WE KNEW THIS WAS HAPPENING AS FAR BACK AT 2019 AND NO ONE DID ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

WHEN THE REPORT CAME OUT FROM THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR THAT SAID WE KNEW PEOPLE WERE FALSIFYING REPORTS AND BACK-DATING THEM, NO ONE GOT FIRED OVER THAT?

THAT'S THE STUFF I THINK THAT REALLY CONCERNS PEOPLE AND WHY WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT INDEPENDENT OFFICE AND YET NO ACTION.

>> Eric: ALYSEN, BUILDING ON THE SENATOR'S COMMENTS, THE SHAPING OF A DEAL, TARGETS, PRIORITIES, IS THAT COMING INTO FOCUS?

I KNOW IT'S ONLY BEEN THREE WEEKS.

>> I AS JUST GOING TO SAY WE JUST FINISHED WEEK THREE.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE'RE COMING UP, THERE'S ABOUT THREE MORE WEEKS UNTIL LEGISLATIVE DEADLINES.

THERE ARE SERIOUS BEHIND THE SCENES NEGOTIATIONS GOING ON AROUND AN OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL.

WHAT HAPPENS ON THE FLOOR, WHAT HAPPENS IN PUBLIC IS OFTEN NOT THE REAL PROPOSAL, SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING PUBLICLY BUT A LOT OF WORK IS BEING DONE BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE AND THE G.O.P.

AND D.F.L.

>> AND I AGREE WITH THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.

I AGREE THAT THAT'S A PASS.

AND I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE FUNDING FOR THE COSTS OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, SO PROPERTY TAXES DON'T RISE.

THERE SHOULD BE FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN IMPACTED TERRIBLY, AND FUNDING FOR THE SMALL BUSINESSES.

SO WE CAN DO ALL OF THAT IN ONE PACKAGE AND ACTUALLY SUCCEED IN HELPING MINNESOTANS.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU THINK, WOULD REPUBLICANS WANT TO GIVE MONEY TO, SAY, MINNEAPOLIS TO DEFRAY COSTS?

I MEAN, WOULD THAT FLY?

>> I MEAN, WE STILL HAVE SO MUCH THAT WE NEED TO REALLY PEEL BACK HERE.

AGAIN, WITH THE FRAUD I MEAN, WE'VE LOST $9 BILLION, WE HAVE NO IDEA WHERE, YOU KNOW, MONEY IS GOING, WHERE IT'S COMING, WE'RE STILL SEEING, YOU KNOW, CORRECT ME, I MIGHT BE INCORRECT HERE, BUT THERE IS LIKE A HOUSING LIKE MONEY THAT THEY'RE ADVERTISING, BUT THERE IS POTENTIAL FRAUD IN THAT AS WELL.

THERE'S JUST SO MUCH GOING AROUND IN TERMS OF ACTUAL FUNDING.

I THINK IT'S JUST HARD TO TALK ABOUT ALLOCATING FUNDS WHEN RIGHT NOW REPUBLICANS ARE SO FOCUSED ON FIGURING OUT WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING, IS IT ACTUALLY GOING TO LEGITIMATE SOURCES, AND HOW DO WE BRING BACK SOME OF THIS MONEY BACK TO THE TAXPAYER.

>> I'LL ADDRESS THE MINNEAPOLIS FUNDING.

NOT ONE DIME SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THEM.

I'M SORRY.

THESE BUSINESSES MADE A DECISION TO CLOSE FOR THE PROTESTS AND WHAT WAS HAPPENING DOWN THERE AND NOT ONE DIME OF TAXPAYER MONEY, OBODY FROM CLOQUET SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A SMALL BUSINESSMAN WHO MADE A DECISION TO CLOSE THEIR BUSINESS BECAUSE OF THE PROTESTS THAT WERE GOING AND THEY SHOULD HOLD THE ELECTED OFFICIALS IN MINNEAPOLIS ACCOUNTABLE WHO WERE POURING GASOLINE ON A FIRE METAPHORICALLY, BUT THEY WERE.

THEY WEREN'T TRYING TO DO ANYTHING TO STOP THE RIOTING IN THE CITY AGAIN AND SO WHEN PEOPLE WERE AFRAID TO COME DOWNTOWN THERE'S A REASON AND YOU'RE GOING TO, BUSINESSES ARE GOING TO SUFFER AND THERE HAVE TO BE CONSEQUENCES, THESE ARE THE VERY REAL CONSEQUENCES.

>> THE IMPACT IS NOT JUST MINNEAPOLIS, I HAPPEN TO LIVE THERE.

THE IMPACT IS STATEWIDE.

IT IS HAPPENING EVERYWHERE.

THE COSTS ARE EVERYWHERE, AND THEY HAVE LESS ABILITY TO PAY FOR THE COSTS.

I ALSO WANT TO JUST CHALLENGE YOUR NUMBER, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE FOR $9 BILLION OF FRAUD, THAT WAS THROWN OUT BY AN ASSISTANT U.S.

ATTORNEY WHO HAD NOT THE RIGHT TO THROW THAT OUT AT THAT TIME.

BUT I THINK IT'S AROUND 300 MILLION.

DOESN'T MATTER, MY POINT IS, THE POINT IS WE NEED TO PREVENT FRAUD, WE NEED TO TRY TO RECOVER FROM THE DOLLARS THAT WERE PUT OUT AND PROSECUTE.

>> AND GO FORWARD WITHOUT DOING -- >> YES, AND PUT A STRUCTURE IN PLACE.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

>> I AGREE WITH YOU.

>> BUT THE REALITY IS IS LIKE -- >> 30 SECONDS.

>> THE U.S.

ATTORNEY DIDN'T JUST THROW THAT NUMBER OUT THERE.

LIKE BASED ON THEIR INVESTIGATIONS AND BY THE WAY THEY HAVE DONE MORE TO INVESTIGATE THE FRAUD THAN ANYBODY ELSE IN THE STATE FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS AND WE'RE HEARING THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE REPORTS SAYING THAT THEY KNEW THAT THESE SYSTEMS ERE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FRAUD THE PAST 50 YEARS.

THE REALITY IS IS HE HAS EVERY RIGHT BECAUSE HE'S THE EXPERT ON FRAUD AT THIS POINT.

>> Eric: GOTTA GO.

THANKS, PANEL.

WE SOLVED ANOTHER ONE.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> Cathy: WELL, WE TRIED.

♪ >> I WOULDN'T CHARACTERIZE IT AS A HOSTILE PLACE BUT IT CERTAINLY IS AN IMPOSING PLACE.

AND I THINK THAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE MANY CONNECTIONS UP AT THE CAPITOL IT CAN BE A HARD PLACE TO FIND YOUR AY, TO NAVIGATE NOT ONLY THE ROCESS BUT JUST WHO DO I NEED TO SPEAK TO AND WHERE DO I GO, WHAT ARE THE STEPS.

AND LUCKILY FOR ME I HAD A VERY GOOD MENTOR AND HE WALKED ME AROUND AND INTRODUCED ME TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AND I THINK THAT THIS IS WHAT THIS PROGRAM IS TRYING TO DO.

♪ ♪ >> Cathy: WE LOVE PAHOUA YANG HOFFMAN AS AN ALMANAC GUEST.

AND WE LOVED HAVING HER AS A COLLEAGUE AS WELL.

THE CAPITOL PATHWAYS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IS STILL GOING STRONG, BY THE WAY.

AT LAST COUNT, 343 INTERNS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM.

OKAY, FRIENDS.

IT'S HISTORY TIME.

LAST WEEK WE ASKED YOU ABOUT A QUESTION ABOUT A NOTABLE MOMENT IN MINNESOTA'S ONLINE HISTORY.

WE TRAVELED BACK TO THE YEAR 2005 WHEN YOUTUBE'S FIRST-EVER VIDEO WAS UPLOADED TO THE WEB.

A COUPLE ONTHS LATER A MINNESOTAN AND A FORMER ALMANAC GUEST UPLOADED A VIDEO THE TO SITE AND CLAIMS A NEW TITLE: THE FIRST PERSON TO SWEAR ON YOUTUBE.

WE WANTED TO -- WE WANT TO KNOW WHO THAT POTTY MOUTH IS.

WE GOT QUITE A FEW CALL-INS BUT NONE OF THEM HAD THE RIGHT ANSWER, SO LET'S HEAR 'EM.

>> "YES, THE ANSWER TO THIS WEEK'S QUESTION.

I'M GONNA BE THE FIRST ONE TO GUESS JESSE VENTURA.

THIS IS STEVE AND SUE, PEARL LAKE.

>> "THE ANSWER TO THE ALMANAC QUESTION TONIGHT IS THE ALWAYS COLORFUL TOMMY RUKAVINA.

THIS IS MEL FROM SAINT PAUL.” >> “I BELIEVE THE PERSON THAT DID THE FIRST SWEAR >> Cathy: PRETTY GOOD, FRANK, FROM OAK GROVE BUT YOU'RE A LITTLE BIT WRONG THERE.

ALTHOUGH JAWED KARIM DOES HAVE A CONNECTION TO THE ANSWER.

WE'RE GOING TO ASK THIS ONE AGAIN.

WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT FORMER ALMANAC GUEST AND FORMER PBS STAFFER CLAIMS TO BE THE FIRST PERSON TO SWEAR IN A VIDEO ON YOUTUBE?

WE THINK CHUCK'S MOM MIGHT KNOW THE ANSWER.

IF YOU THINK YOU DO WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

612-229-1430 IS THE NUMBER TO CALL OR E-MAIL YOUR ANSWERS RIGHT OR WRONG TO ALMANA ALMANAC@TPT.ORG, YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME TO SHARE FEEDBACK ON THE SHOW TOO, WE LISTEN TO EVERY VOICEMAIL AND READ EVERY E-MAIL.

WOW, THAT'S QUITE A JOB.

BEFORE WE GO I WANT TO REMIND YOU TO TUNE IN TO "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL."

MARY LAHAMMER IS LIVE WEDNESDAYS DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION ON TPT'S MINNESOTA HANNEL.

FOR MORE WAYS TO WATCH OR CATCH UP ON EPISODES YOU'VE MISSED GO TO TPT.ORG/AATC.

WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH TIME LEFT FOR SHOW-ENDING MUSIC AND WE DIPPED WAY BACK INTO THE ARCHIVES FOR THIS ONE.

HERE'S A CLIP F THE LEGENDARY BLUES MUSICIAN TAJ MAHAL.

HE COULD PLAY.

WELL, JUST ABOUT ANYTHING.

HERE'S TAJ WAY BACK IN 1980 PERFORMING ON THE TPT ARTS SHOW "WYLD RICE."

ENJOY IT.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

♪ >> SINGING: ONE OF THESE DAYS WHEN YOU HEAR A VOICE AND RUN WHERE YOU GOING TO RUN TO ONE OF THESE DAYS WHEN YOU HEAR A VOICE SAY COME WHERE YOU GONNA RUN TO?

>> "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 THROUGH THE HEALTH CARE FOR ALL MINNESOTANS FUND.

SUPPORTING ACCESSIBLE HEALTH CARE STATEWIDE.

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

♪