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

>> CATHY: WE'VE GOT LOTS TO COVER TONIGHT.

MINNESOTA'S COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC SAFETY IS HERE, WE'LL TALK WITH U.S.

REPRESENTATIVE KELLY MORRISON ABOUT DEMANDS FOR I.C.E.

AGENTS IN MINNESOTA, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT CONSTITUTIONAL OBSERVER TRAININGS.

PLUS, MARY LAHAMMER HAS BEEN COVERING STATE CAUCUSES.

>> Mary: IMMIGRATION ACTION CONTINUES TO IMPACT MINNESOTA POLITICS AS ACTIVISTS HEAD TO PRECINCT CAUCUSES ACROSS THE STATE.

WE'LL HAVE CONTEXT.

>> OUR STATE IS ONCE AGAIN THE CENTER OF AMERICA'S HEARTBREAK, BUT I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES SEE THAT WE'RE ALSO THE CENTER OF AMERICA'S COURAGE.

>> THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO DAYLIGHT BETWEEN GOVERNOR WALZ AND SENATOR KLOBUCHAR, THEY ARE GOING TO BE MORE OF THE SAME.

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

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

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

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH AND HELPING COMMUNITIES THRIVE.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

>> ERIC: WELCOME BACK.

TONIGHT, WE'LL TALK WITH A FORMER U.S.

ATTORNEY FOR THE DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA ABOUT THIS WEEK'S ROUND OF RESIGNATIONS.

AND OUR PANEL OF ANALYSTS IS STANDING BY TO BREAK DOWN ANOTHER WEEK OF STATEWIDE POLITICS.

>> CATHY: BUT WE START THE HOUR WITH WORD THAT THE FBI AND MINNESOTA BUREAU OF CRIMINAL APPREHENSION, OR BCA, WILL REPORTEDLY JOINTLY INVESTIGATE THE SHOOTING DEATH OF ALEX PRETTI.

THE NEWS COMES THE SAME WEEK BORDER CZAR TOM HOMAN SAYS HE'LL MOVE 700 FEDERAL AGENTS OUT OF MINNESOTA, LEAVING MORE THAN 2,000 FEDERAL AGENTS ON THE GROUND.

MINNESOTA'S COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH OVERSEES THE BCA, IS HERE.

WELCOME, COMMISSIONER BOB JACOBSON.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOO, CATHY AND ERIC.

>> Cathy: I SAY "REPORTEDLY," BECAUSE IT'S NOT BEEN OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED THAT THE BCA IS WORKING WITH THE FBI OR DID I MISS SOMETHING?

>> YOU HAVEN'T MISSED ANYTHING.

WE HAVE, SINCE, AND ALL OF THE THREE HOOTINGS THAT WE HAD IN A PERIOD OF LESS THAN THREE WEEKS, AS EVERYONE CAN RECALL IN JANUARY, WE'VE BEEN ASKING, PUSHING, PRODDING, THE FBI ND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE, JOINTLY, OR TO GIVE US EVIDENCE IN ALL OF THOSE INVESTIGATIONS IS THAT WE COULD MAKE SURE WE COULD EITHER PARTNER OR DO THOSE ON OUR OWN.

REFERENCE THE PRETTI ASE, WE ARE CERTAINLY HAVING CONTINUAL CONVERSATIONS WITH Mr.

HOMAN AND HIS TEAM AND OTHERS, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

I THINK WE'VE MADE SOME PROGRESS, PERHAPS, ON THE PRETTI INVESTIGATION, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE AN AGREEMENT RIGHT NOW TO DO THAT.

BUT I'M VERY HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN GET THERE, BECAUSE, AGAIN, MINNESOTANS, I THINK, HAVE COME TO EXPECT THAT IF THERE IS AN OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING, WHETHER IT'S A FEDERAL AGENT, WHETHER IT'S A LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, THAT THE BUREAU OF CRIMINAL APPREHENSION WILL BE INVOLVED IN THAT, JUST TO ENSURE THAT IT'S AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION AND A FAIR INVESTIGATION.

>> Cathy: CAN YOU GIVE US A SENSE, AND MAYBE YOU CAN'T, BUT ARE YOU ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE FBI?

SINCE YOU ARE THE HEAD OF THE BCA.

AND HOW DICEY ARE THEY?

>> THERE'S A LOT OF COMMUNICATION GOING BACK AND FORTH, AND NOT TO GET INTO THOSE DISCUSSIONS, AND I WOULDN'T CALL IT A NEGOTIATION, BUT I THINK WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE EACH UNDERSTAND HE PROCESS AND WHERE WE COULD BE HELPFUL TO EACH OTHER.

AND, AGAIN, I THINK THE CONTINUED PLEA FROM US ALSO IS THAT MINNESOTANS REALLY DEMAND THAT INVESTIGATIONS LIKE THIS ARE HANDLED IN A WAY THAT APPEARS TO BE AND IS IMPARTIAL.

THE BUREAU OF CRIMINAL APPREHENSION AND THE FBI HAVE DONE JOINT INVESTIGATIONS BEFORE LIKE THIS.

WE WOULD JUST LIKE TO GET BACK TO A POINT WHERE WE'RE DOING BUSINESS THE WAY WE HAVE DONE BEFORE.

WE LIKE WORKING WITH THE FBI.

THEY DO QUALITY INVESTIGATIONS, BUT WE THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE INVOLVED IN THIS ONE MOVING FORWARD.

>> Eric: HAVE YOU SEEN EVIDENCE OF THE WITHDRAWAL OF I.C.E.

AGENTS?

>> WHAT I THINK WE'VE SEEN, PROBABLY EVERYBODY IN MINNESOTA HAS PROBABLY SEEN LESS OF SOME OF THE WHAT WE CALL SWEEPS.

YOU KNOW, WHERE FEDERAL AGENTS ARE MOVING INTO NEIGHBORHOODS IN LARGE NUMBERS.

SO I DO THINK THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES.

BUT IT'S REALLY HARD FOR US TO TELL.

WE REALLY DON'T, YOU KNOW, HAVE ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION, THE DATA FROM HOMELAND SECURITY AND I.C.E.

ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

THEY HAVE TOLD US THAT THEY'RE MOVING TO MORE TARGETED INVESTIGATIONS.

AGAIN, WE ARE IN ALMOST CONTINUAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM ABOUT HOW THEY MOVE FORWARD AND HOW WE DO OUR WORK.

AND THEY HAVE TOLD US, AND Mr.

HOMAN HAS SAID QUITE PUBLICLY, TOO, THAT THEY REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON MORE TARGETED INVESTIGATIONS AND MOVE AWAY FROM THE SWEEPS WHERE PEOPLE ARE RANDOMLY IDENTIFIED OR ASKED FOR IMMIGRATION OR PROOF OF IMMIGRATION.

>> Cathy: IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH THESE AGENTS WILL HAVE BODY CAMERAS SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE.

DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW, ARE HAVE THEY TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THIS?

THEY MAY HAVE THEM, BUT WILL THEY USE THEM?

>> I THINK IT'S GREAT NEWS.

MINNESOTANS EXPECT THAT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS UTILIZE THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY, BODY CAMERAS ARE AMONG THOSE THADGES WE THINK IS VALUE IMPORTANT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO USE.

WE HAVE HEARD THAT FEDERAL AGENTS ARE NOW GOING TO BE USING BODY CAMERAS.

I HOPE THAT'S TRUE.

AND I BELIEVE THAT THAT WILL BE TRUE.

THE KEY ITH THOSE BODY CAMERAS ALSO IS TO REMEMBER, THERE'S A LOT OF ACCOUNTABILITY AROUND BODY CAMERAS, AND I KNOW Mr.

HOMAN HAS TALKED ABOUT TRANSPARENCY.

SO THE PIECE WITH TRANSPARENCY IN THOSE INVESTIGATIONS, WITH BODY CAMERAS, ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE INVESTIGATIONS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN, IS TO BE ABLE TO, IF THERE IS BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE, TO LED US ALSO VIEW THAT AS PART OF THOSE INVESTIGATIONS.

>> Cathy: SAME WITH THE PRETTI CASE?

>> YES.

>> Eric: WHAT'S YOUR SENSE OF THE CONDUCT OF THE PROTESTERS?

>> THE PROTESTERS, PROBABLY LIKE ALL MINNESOTANS, THEY WANT TO SEE A SAFE MINNESOTA.

THEY WANT TO SEE A PLACE WHERE THEY FEEL AS THOUGH WE CAN GET BACK TO SOMETHING, OU KNOW, CALLED NORMAL.

AND, SO, THE PROTESTERS ARE SEEING THINGS HAPPENING IN THEIR COMMUNITIES THAT I THINK DON'T MAKE THEM FEEL SAFE, THAT THEY, IN SOME CASES, FEEL THREATENED AND I THINK ALL OF US, AS WE'RE WATCHING NEWS MEDIA DISPEEDZ SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDS, WE'RE SEEING ALL KINDS OF THINGS SURROUNDING I.C.E.

AGENTS AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND IT DOESN'T REALLY GIVE YOU A REALLY -- CANNOT GIVE YOU A SAFE FEELING.

WHAT I TELL PEOPLE, OFTENTIMES, AN INDICATION OF A SAFE COMMUNITY ISN'T HAVING A NUMEROUS NUMBER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN A COMMUNITY TO MAKE YOU FEEL SAFE.

THE BEST INDICATION OF A SAFE COMMUNITY IS THE ABSENCE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND YOU STILL HAVE THAT SAFE COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IF WE HAVE TOO MANY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS INVOLVED IN AREAS, THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS NECESSARILY MAKE COMMUNITIES FEEL SAFE.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE REALLY HOPING THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND THERE'S A REDUCTION, I HOPE THERE'S A REDUCTION COMING, THAT THE TARGETED ENFORCEMENT FOLLOWS.

THAT WE FOCUS ON, YOU KNOW, THE WORST OF THE WORST, AS HAS BEEN DESCRIBED.

AND THAT WOULD BE A GOOD MOVE FORWARD RATHER THAN THE SWEEPS OR THE ENFORCEMENT THAT MAKES NEIGHBORHOODS AND PROTESTERS, YOU NEGOTIATION WANT TO COME OUT AND PROTEST WHAT'S GOIN' ON.

>> Cathy: I KNOW THAT YOU -- THIS IS NOT YOUR DEPARTMENT, NECESSARILY, WITH THE 700 AGENTS, EVIDENTLY, WHO WILL BE LEAVING OR HAVE LEFT, DO YOU KNOW, WHERE ARE THE NATIONAL GUARD IN ALL THIS?

REMEMBER, THEY WERE ON STANDBY, THEY WERE DOING SOME WORK OVER AT WHIPPLE.

I HAVEN'T SEEN MUCH OR HEARD MUCH FROM HEM, DO YOU KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENED TO THE NATIONAL GUARD?

>> SO THE NATIONAL GUARD IS STILL AVAILABLE TO US.

THE NATIONAL GUARD OPERATE UNDER THE GOVERNOR, IN THIS INSTANCE.

SO I WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE NATIONAL GUARD AND THEIR LEADERSHIP TEAM THAT AS WE SEE, OR WE THINK THAT THERE MAY BE AN ISSUE WHERE WE NEED MORE PERSONNEL, MORE STAFFING, THEY'RE READY TO GO.

AND THE GREAT THING IS, THEY'RE MINNESOTANS, WANT TO SERVE OTHER MINNESOTANS.

>> Eric: WE KNOW YOU'RE BUSY.

REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING OVER.

THANKS, COMMISSIONER.

♪ >> Cathy: BY THIS TIME NEXT FRIDAY, WE COULD BE LOOKING AT ANOTHER PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

DEMOCRATS HAVE PROPOSED RESTRICTIONS ON I.C.E., REPUBLICANS HAVE CALLED THAT EXCESSIVE.

WE'VE BEEN REACHING OUT TO MEMBERS OF OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.

JOINING US AGAIN IS MINNESOTA'S FORMER U.S.

-- -- >> I'VE BEEN THERE THREE TIMES, BUT I WAS DENIED MY FIRST ATTEMPT.

>> Cathy: WHAT DID YOU SEE?

>> WELL, WHAT I SAW AT WHIPPLE WAS REALLY UPSETTING.

HONESTLY.

I MEAN, THAT HAS TO BE THE OVERWHELMING REACTION THAT I HAVE TO DESCRIBE.

IT'S A PLACE FULL OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SHACKLED IN THEIR LEGS, THERE ARE NO MEDICAL PROTOCOLS TO SPEAK OF, IT'S CONSIDERED A HOLDING FACILITY, AND THAT IS USED AS AN EXCUSE TO NOT HAVE THE SERVICES THAT TYPICALLY ARE GIVEN -- ARE PROVIDED AT A DETENTION FACILITY.

SO IT'S A VERY DEHUMANIZING PLACE THAT DOESN'T ADHERE TO THE RULES THAT I THINK MOST OF US WOULD EXPECT IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> Eric: IS IT ERVING THE PURPOSE THAT HOMELAND SECURITY WANTS IT TO SERVE?

>> THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

ONE OF THE AGENTS THAT I SPOKE TO DURING ONE OF MY VISITS SAID THAT THEY ARE EMBARKING ON A MASS DEPORTATION CAMPAIGN AND THEY SEE THIS AS A PLACE TO RAPIDLY MOVE PEOPLE ON THEIR WAY OUT OF OUR COUNTRY.

IT'S PRETTY SHOCKING TO SEE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE, THE DESPERATION AND THEN THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, REALLY.

THE LACK OF INFORMATION THAT THEY'RE ABLE O PROVIDE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS THERE, WHO THE PEOPLE ARE, WHAT THEY'VE BEEN ARRESTED FOR, WHAT THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS IS.

THEY SAY THAT THEY HAVE THAT INFORMATION.

BUT THEY DON'T SHARE IT WITH ME WHEN I'M THERE.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED THE LACK OF MEDICAL PROTOCOLS.

THERE ARE MEASLES CASES AT THE DETENTION FACILITY IN TEXAS.

AND THERE ARE PEOPLE GOING BACK AND FORTH.

>> EXACTLY.

>> Cathy: DO YOU WORRY ABOUT THAT?

>> VERY MUCH SO.

I BROUGHT THAT UP ODAY.

I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT.

AS YOU KNOW, MEASLES IS ONE OF THE MOST CONTAGIOUS INFECTIOUS DISEASES AROUND, IT STAYS IN THE AIR FOR TWO HOURS AFTER AN INFECTED PERSON LEAVES A ROOM.

SO I ASKED.

WE DO HAVE EOPLE -- WE KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE BOTH BEING TAKEN TO TEXAS AND IN SOME CASES BEING BROUGHT BACK BECAUSE THEY WERE SENT TOO SOON, GOOD QUESTION, WHY THEY WERE SENT BACK, WHY THEY WERE SENT TO TEXAS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THEY HAVE NO -- THERE ARE NO MEDICAL PROTOCOLS, THERE'S NO -- >> Cathy: WE SHOULD SAY, THIS IS A CONCERN, ESPECIALLY FOR YOU, BECAUSE YOU'RE A PHYSICIAN.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, OF COURSE.

AND I HAVE THAT KIND OF IN MY DNA TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE TREATMENT THAT ARE PEOPLE ARE GETTING AND ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE.

>> Eric: IS THERE ANY CHANCE THAT THE REPUBLICANS KIND OF REELING ON THIS ISSUE POLITICALLY, IS THERE ANY CHANCE THIS COULD BE TURNED INTO A BROADER DEBATE AND PASSING SOME BILLS ON COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION POLICY?

>> I CERTAINLY HOPE SO.

WE'RE DECADES IN THE MAKING F BEING AT A STANDSTILL.

I MEAN, AS YOU BOTH KNOW, THERE WAS A PRETTY COMPREHENSIVE BILL THAT HAD BEEN NEGOTIATED, LED BY A VERY CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA, JAMES LANGFORD, AND PRESIDENT TRUMP, THEN CANDIDATE TRUMP, MADE THEM SQUASH IT BECAUSE HE WANTED TO USE IMMIGRATION AS A CAMPAIGN ISSUE.

WE'RE LONG OVERDUE FOR COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM.

AND I THINK FOR MOST PEOPLE, THAT MEANS HAVING A SECURE BORDER.

IT MEANS REMOVING PEOPLE WHO COMMIT VIOLENT ANDRIEMS IT MEANS A MUCH SMOOTHER, MORE OBVIOUS PATH TOWARD LEGAL RESIDENCE FOR CITIZENSHIP IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> Cathy: ARE YOU IN THE CAMP OF ABOLISH I.C.E.

OR REFORM THE SYSTEM IN TERMS OF WHAT THAT COG IN THE WHEEL?

I >> I THINK IT'S A SEMANTIC QUESTION.

IT IS CLEAR THAT IT NEEDS COMPREHENSIVE REFORM.

WHILE WE ARE SEEING WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE STREETS OF MINNEAPOLIS AND IN THE METRO AREA, WE'VE LOST TWO AMERICAN CITIZENS TO VIOLENCE.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEEN THOSE VIDEOS WOULD CONSIDER THOSE MURDERS.

WE ARE BEING ASKED TO NOT BELIEVE WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH OUR OWN EYES.

AS LONG AS THERE IS OBVIOUS RACIAL PROFILING GOING ON, SWEEPS OF PEOPLE JUST GOING ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF THEIR DAY, BY MASKED, WITHOUT NAMETAGS, IDENTIFICATION, FEDERAL AGENTS HEAVILY ARMED, THAT'S NOT HOW A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY SHOULD CONDUCT ITSELF IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> Eric: WHAT'S THE STATUS OF FEDERAL FUNDING TO MINNESOTA?

ARE WE GETTING WHAT WE -- WHAT'S BEEN AUTHORIZED OR IS IT BEING HELD UP OR WHAT'S THE GENERAL -- >> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

MINNESOTA SEEMS TO BE IN THE PRESIDENT'S SIGHTS.

I HAVE ASKED SEVERAL OF THE AGENTS AT WHIPPLE, MINNESOTA HAS ABOUT 1% OF THE UNDOCUMENTED POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES, SO WHY ARE YOU SPENDING SO MUCH TIME IN MINNESOTA?

AND THEY DON'T HAVE REALLY AN ANSWER FOR THAT.

THE FACT THAT HE'S THEN GOING AFTER FEDERAL FUNDING FOR MINNESOTA WOULD SUGGEST TO ME THAT HE IS TARGETING A STATE THAT HE EITHER DOESN'T CARE FOR THE WAY WE ARE VALUED -- OUR VALUES OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY AND CARING FOR EACH OTHER, OR HE HAS BEEF WITH OUR GOVERNOR.

I DON'T KNOW.

BUT IT'S CLEARLY UNFAIR.

AND THE WEAPONIZATION OF THAT OFFICE HAS TO STOP.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED THAT MINNESOTA SEEMS TO BE IN THE PRESIDENT'S SIGHTS.

I'M WONDERING HERE, LITTLE LIAM RAMOS AND HIS FAMILY, EVIDENTLY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS EXPEDITING DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THAT FAMILY.

AND I'M WONDERING, WHY DO YOU THINK THE ADMINISTRATION'S TAKING SUCH AN AGGRESSIVE STANCE AGAINST THIS FAMILY?

>> I HAVE NO IDEA, CATHY, BUT IT'S TRAGIC.

THAT LITTLE BOY IN HIS LITTLE RABBIT HAT CAPTURED THE IMAGINATION OF THE NTIRE COUNTRY.

I THINK MOST AMERICANS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR POLITICAL STRIPES, DON'T THINK A CHILD SHOULD BE USED AS BAIT IN ALREADY UNCLEAR IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT CLAIM.

THE FACT THAT HE CONTINUES TO GO AFTER THIS FAMILY IS SHAMEFUL.

>> Eric: I KNOW YOU'RE BUSY, APPRECIATE YOU COMING OVER AND TALK TO US, AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME BACK.

THANKS.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> Eric: YOU BET, YOU BET.

"ALMANAC" HAS REPEATEDLY REACHED OUT TO ALL TEN MEMBERS OF OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION, INCLUDING OUR REPUBLICAN ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THOSE INVITATIONS TO JOIN US, OF COURSE, ARE STILL OPEN.

ELECTED OFFICIALS ACROSS THE STATE GOT TO HEAR FROM VOTERS IN DROVES AT PRECINCT CAUCUSES THAT KICKED OFF A BUSY CAMPAIGN SEASON.

POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER SHOWS US HOW THE IMMIGRATION ISSUE IS AFFECTING ALL THE TOP CONTESTS.

>> I HAVE ANNOUNCED EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY WE'LL DRAW DOWN 700 PEOPLE EFFECTIVE TODAY.

>> Mary: ANOTHER PROMISE OF A DRAWDOWN OF FEDERAL AGENTS IS MEANT WITH HOPE AND SKEPTICISM IN MINNESOTA AS A BOY WITH A BLUE HAT AND BACKPACK CAME HOME AFTER JUDICIAL INTERVENTION.

>> THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT OUR CHILDREN SHOULD BE AROUND.

NOT MASKED AGENTS CARRYING AUTOMATIC WEAPONS THAT ARE PULLING THEM AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES.

>> HE CALLED THE OPERATION METRO SURGE ILL CONCEIVED AND INCOMPETENTLY IMPLEMENTED.

LET ME TELL YOU, THAT'S ABOUT AS POWERFUL LANGUAGE YOU'RE EVER GOING TO READ IN A JUDICIAL DECISION.

>> Mary: SCHOOL LEADERS ARE TIRED OF KIDS MISSING AND FEARING I.C.E.

AGENTS PATROLLING OUTSIDE CLASSROOMS.

>> NO AMOUNT OF SCHOOL-BASED SUPPORT CAN UNDO THE TRAUMA CAUSED BY FEDERAL AGENTS POSTURING IN, ON, AND NEAR OUR SCHOOL PROPERTIES.

>> SCHOOLS MUST BE SAFE PLACES.

THEY MUST NEVER BECOME PLACES OF INTIMIDATION.

I.C.E.

DOES NOT BELONG IN AND AROUND OUR SCHOOLS.

IN AND AROUND OUR US TOPS.

[ Applause ] I WILL CONTINUE TO BE TRANSPARENT.

I WILL CONTINUE TO SPEAK UP.

AND I AM ASKING URGENTLY FOR ACTION.

GET .C.E.

OUT OF SCHOOLS!

>> THEY ARE EXHAUSTED.

I AM EXHAUSTED.

EVERY DAY I SEE THE STRESS, TEARS, AND FEAR AS THEY FACE THE UNCERTAINTY OF EACH SCHOOL DAY.

HOW MANY KIDS WILL BE IN CLASS THAT DAY?

AND HOW MANY WILL GO HOME TO FIND A PARENT MISSING?

>> WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT LIAM AND HIS FATHER WERE ABLE TO RETURN HOME SAFELY.

BUT WE KNOW THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE SUPPORT THAT HE'LL NEED TO PROCESS THIS EXPERIENCE THAT ILL LIKELY HAVE LONG-LASTING TRAUMATIC EFFECTS.

>> FRUSTRATION WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ACTION IN MINNESOTA LED TO ROBUST, EVEN RECORD TURNOUT FOR DEMOCRATS IN PRECINCT CAUCUSES ACROSS THE STATE AND A RELATIVELY EASY WIN FOR U.S.

SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR IN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR.

>> OUR STATE IS ONCE AGAIN THE CENTER OF AMERICA'S HEARTBREAK, BUT I HOPE MY HAD COLLEAGUES SEE THAT WE'RE ALSO THE CENTER OF AMERICA'S COURAGE AND HOPE.

COURAGE AND HOPE WHEN 50,000 PEOPLE MARCH PEACEFULLY IN BELOW-ZERO WEATHER, COURAGE AND HOPE WHEN NEIGHBORS ARE HELPING NEIGHBORS.

>> Mary: REPUBLICANS SAW DECENT TURNOUT IN A CROWDED CONTEST FOR GOVERNOR WITH VOTERS EAGER TO END DECADES OUT OF STATEWIDE OFFICE.

SPEAKER LISA DEMUTH CONTINUES TO LEAD THE FIELD.

>> THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO DAYLIGHT BETWEEN GOVERNOR WALZ AND SENATOR KLOBUCHAR.

THEY ARE GOING TO BE MORE OF THE SAME.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A WALZ THIRD TERM AND MINNESOTANS NEED AND DESERVE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED.

>> Mary: HER CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED A PLAN TO STOP THE FRAUD, SPECIFICALLY USING HER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PICK TO TACKLE THE ISSUE.

>> I WILL SPECIFICALLY BE EMPOWERED TO REALLY CHANGE THE CULTURE OF GOVERNMENT, GETTING DOWN INTO THE PARTICULAR AGENCIES AND CROSS-AGENCIES TO MAKE SURE THAT FRAUD STOPS.

>> Mary: BUT THE PRESIDENT AND I.C.E.

ACTION COULD BE TOUGH ISSUES FOR REPUBLICANS TO COUNTER HERE.

>> WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD SAID AS FAR AS MAKING SURE THAT OUR BORDERS WERE SECURE, HE'S DELIVERED ON THAT.

THE BIDEN POLICIES ALLOWED AN INFLUX OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.

THE FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS THAT ARE HERE DOING THE JOB THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ASKED TO DO ARE TO MAKE OUR STREETS SAFER.

>> WE'VE TAKEN A LOT OF BAD PEOPLE OFF THE STREET.

EVERYBODY SHOULD BE GRATEFUL TO THAT.

>> Mary: REPUBLICAN KENDALL QUALLS FINISHED A STRONG SECOND GOING ON TO THE STATE CONVENTION.

>> THERE'S SO MUCH SUPPORT THAT 2/3 OF THE DELEGATE POOL ARE LOOKING FOR AN OUTSIDER TO LEAD OUR STATE.

NOT JUST TO ATTRACT SWING VOTERS, BUT ALSO TO CLEAN UP THE MESS OF St.

PAUL.

WE HAVE A CHOICE OF CANDIDATES, A LEGISLATOR VERSUS A LEADER.

AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR A POLITICAL OUTSIDER TO BE THE LEADER.

>> Mary: IN THE DFL U.S.

SENATE, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PEGGY FLANAGAN PROVED POPULAR WITH THE ACTIVIST BASE.

>> DONALD TRUMP AND THE REPUBLICANS HAVE UNDERESTIMATED WHO WE ARE.

>> THESE ROOMS ARE PACKED, PEOPLE ARE ENGAGED, THEY ARE READY TO FIGHT BACK, THEY ARE READY TO STAND UP FOR THEIR NEIGHBOR.

AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT DEMOCRACY IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR AND MINNESOTANS KNOW IT.

SO, I AM JAZZED AFTER DFL PRECINCT CAUCUSES AND SO GRATEFUL FOR EVERYONE WHO TURNED OUT TONIGHT.

>> Mary: THE MORE MODERATE MEMBER OF CONGRESS, ANGIE CRAIG, HAD TO DEFEND HER VOTE ON IMMIGRATION.

>> SHOW WE'RE XPERIENCING TOGETHER.

ANGIE CRAIG HERE.

ON CAUCUS NIGHT.

I'M SO EXCITED TO MEET EVERYBODY.

I'M OT SUPPOSED TO -- WHEN WE'RE IN SESSION, BUT I DID ANYWAY.

RIGHT AFTER I VOTED AGAINST A SINGLE DAMN PENNY FOR I.C.E., I HAVE NO [ BLEEP ] LEFT FOR THIS ADMINISTRATION.

>> CATHY: ANOTHER WAVE OF RESIGNATIONS CAME FROM THE U.S.

ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR THE DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA THIS WEEK.

EIGHT RESIGNATIONS, THAT'S ON TOP OF THE SIX LAST MONTH.

ARE A RESPONSE TO THE IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN, AND PRESSURE FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ABOUT HOW TO PROSECUTE CASES.

SEVERAL OF THE PROSECUTORS WHO RESIGNED HAD BEEN ASSIGNED TO FRAUD CASES, LEAVING QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THAT WORK WILL CONTINUE.

JOINING US AGAIN IS MINNESOTA'S FORMER U.S.

ATTORNEY TOM HEFFELFINGER.

HE SERVED IN THAT CAPACITY UNDER TWO REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTS.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, FOR MOST PEOPLE WHEN THEY HEAR EIGHT PEOPLE GONE, SIX GONE, AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF CHURN IN OFFICES, BUT THIS SEEMS EXCESSIVE.

CAN YOU GIVE US SOME CONTEXT?

>> FIRST OF ALL, THE HUMOR IS THAT THERE'S ANOTHER EIGHT BEYOND THE EIGHT THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED.

YOU GOTTA THINK ABOUT IT FROM THE CONTEXT OF WHAT THE OFFICE HAS BEEN ALLOCATED FOR FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.

THAT OFFICE IS ALLOCATED 70 PEOPLE.

AND THEY'VE LOST 31, THEY'RE DOWN TO 20 RIGHT NOW.

AND IT'S GETTING WORSE.

BECAUSE THEY CAN'T DO THE WORK.

AND THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE U.S.

ATTORNEYS, ASSISTANT U.S.

ATTORNEYS THEY HAVE A STATEWIDE IMPACT.

BECAUSE THE U.S.

ATTORNEY COVERS INDIAN COUNTRY, IT COVERS FRAUD IN FARMLANDS, IT COVERS WHITE-COLLAR CRIME.

WHO'S GOING TO COVER THE VIOLENT CRIME ON WHITE EARTH OR RED LAKE, IF THERE'S NO ASSISTANT U.S.

ATTORNEY TO COVER IT?

IT'S A BIG DEAL.

>> Eric: THIS WAS SHOCKING TO ME THAT THERE ARE 400 PLUS HABEAS PETITIONS, WHICH IS ALLEGING ILLEGAL DETENTION?

>> RIGHT.

>> Eric: HOW LONG DOES EACH ONE OF THOSE HABEAS PETITIONS TAKE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS?

>> NORMALLY NOT VERY LONG.

BUT THERE WERE SO MANY OF THEM THAT THE U.S.

ATTORNEYS THEY BROUGHT IN TO DO THESE AND, REMEMBER, A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE THAT CAME IN TO DEFEND THOSE, THEY'RE NOT FROM MINNESOTA, THEY'RE NOT ASSISTANT U.S.

ATTORNEYS IN MINNESOTA, THEY GOT BROUGHT IN FROM MIAMI OR FROM -- OR THEY'RE FROM ANOTHER AGENCY LIKE I.C.E.

AND, SO, THEY HAVE -- THEY'LL GET 50 OR 60 OF THOSE DUMPED ON THEIR DESK AT ANY ONE TIME.

AND THE JUDGES, THEY WANT TO MOVE THOSE QUICKLY.

>> Eric: SURE.

>> BECAUSE THOSE PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE SITTING IN JAIL.

AND THE JUDGES, QUITE PROPER SO, SAID, I DON'T WANT THOSE PEOPLE SITTING IN JAIL.

>> Cathy: SO WE GOT A LITTLE TASTE OF THIS WITH THE YOUNG ATTORNEY WHO WAS BEFORE JUDGE BLACKWELL, WHO SURPRISED EVERYBODY SAYING, DON'T LIKE THIS JOB, NOT WELL TRAINED.

I THINK SHE'S AN I.C.E.

ATTORNEY.

I'M OVERWORKED, MY CASELOAD IS TOO MUCH.

THAT'S REALLY KIND OF THE MESSAGE WE'RE HEARING?

>> SHE USED A FAIRLY AGGRESSIVE TITLE.

>> Cathy: YES, SHE DID.

>> WHICH I WON'T PUT ON TV.

BUT SHE WAS WRONG, FIRST OF ALL.

AND THERE'S A WHOLE REASON -- BUNCH OF REASONS WHY SHE'S WRONG.

BUT IT'S SAD BECAUSE WHAT YOU HAVE NOW IS YOU HAVE ONE LAWYER WHO'S NOT AVAILABLE TO WORK THE 88 CASES THAT WERE ASSIGNED TO HER, THAT MEANS THERE'S 88 PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUBMITTED A PETITION FOR HABEAS CORPUS THAT AREN'T GETTING THEIR CASES RESOLVED.

IT ALSO MEANS HE CAN'T WORK ON ANYTHING ELSE.

AND SHE LOST HER JOB FOR IT.

>> Eric: FROM A 30,000-FOOT OBSERVATION, WHAT HAS GOT YOUR ATTENTION BEYOND THE STAFFING LEVELS AND SO FORTH?

BECAUSE YOU COULD IVE US A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT HERE.

>> ELL, I MENTIONED ONE OF THEM.

INDIAN COUNTRY.

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> BECAUSE SPENT A LOT OF TIME, AS DOES EVERY U.S.

ATTORNEY, COVERING THE STATE AND THAT INCLUDES INDIAN COUNTRY, BUT IT ALSO INCLUDES THE DULUTH HARBOR, IT INCLUDES AGRICULTURE.

SO I'M SEEING THOSE AS AREAS WHERE THERE'S NO FEDERAL COVERAGE.

NUMBER TWO, YOU DON'T HEAR ABOUT THIS AS MUCH, BUT WE'RE LOSING FBI AGENTS, TOO.

SO IF YOU LOSE FEDERAL PROSECUTORS, YOU ALSO LOSE FEDERAL AGENTS.

AND THINK ABOUT HOW THE LAW -- HOW IT'S CHANGED.

WHAT YOU'RE SEEING FROM INVESTIGATORS NOW IS BASICALLY MILITARIZATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THAT'S WHAT -- THINK OF WHAT YOU'RE SEEING WITH I.C.E., THEY'VE GOT GUNS AND STICKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT WE'RE ALSO GETTING THE MILITARIZATION OF THE U.S.

ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

BECAUSE THEY'RE BRINGING IN LARGE NUMBERS OF J.A.G.

LAWYERS, THESE ARE MILITARY LAWYERS, SO YOU'VE GOT MILITARY -- YOU GOT MILITARY-TRAINED AND EXERCISING INVESTIGATORS WORKING WITH MILITARILY TRAINED PROSECUTORS.

THAT'S A MAJOR CHANGE IN WHAT THE METHODOLOGY IS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AT THE EDERAL LEVEL IN MINNESOTA.

>> Cathy: WHAT, THEN, AND MAYBE THIS IS A TOUGH QUESTION FOR YOU TO ANSWER, WHAT, THEN, DOES DANIEL ROSEN, THE U.S.

ATTORNEY FOR MINNESOTA, DO ABOUT THIS?

HE'S THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT -- THE AGENCY.

>> HE SHOULD BE OUT IN WASHINGTON BEGGING FOR HELP.

I SAW IN AN ARTICLE IN THE PAPER WHERE HE APPEARED IN COURT AND SAID, WE DON'T HAVE THE ABSENT TO COVER THESE.

WELL, HE'S SAYING THAT, AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS SAYING, WE'VE GOT ALL THE EOPLE WE NEED.

WE DON'T NEED MORE.

AND HE HAS THE ABILITY, THAT'S WHAT THE U.S.

ATTORNEY'S SUPPOSED TO DO, HE HAS THE ABILITY TO GO TO MAIN JUSTICE IN WASHINGTON AND SAY, WE NEED MORE PEOPLE.

WE NEED MORE PEOPLE.

>> Eric: YOUR EXPERTISE ON THIS IS SO WELCOME.

APPRECIATE YOU COMING OVER.

>> MY PLEASURE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Eric: THANKS.

>> HAVE A GOOD ONE.

>> Cathy: YOU TOO.

>> SHELETTA: THE HOTTEST SPORT IN TOWN RIGHT NOW AT THIS VERY MOMENT IS WRESTLING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

IF YOU HAVEN’T BEEN WATCHING THE MATCHES ON THE BIG TEN PLUS NETWORK, YOU’RE MISSING A TREAT.

MINNESOTA HAS WON FIVE STRAIGHT ROAD DUALS BEATING BOTH ILLINOIS AND IOWA.

IN FACT, THEY ARE SO GOOD -- I BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW THIS -- SINCE 2024, THE GOPHERS HAVE WON 10 OF THEIR LAST 11 ROAD MATCHUPS.

AND I’VE GOTTA HURRY UP AND FINISH UP THIS MONOLOGUE BECAUSE THEY’RE GOING UP AGAINST RUTGERS TONIGHT, AND I DON’T WANNA MISS IT.

I’M A NEW FAN OF COLLEGE WRESTLING.

BUT I GREW UP WATCHING WRASTLING.

WRESTLING IS STRATEGIC AND SANCTIONED BY THE NCAA.

WRASTLING INVOLVED TWO-BY-FOURS AND METAL CHAIRS.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE TYPE OF WRASTLING MATCHES WAS THE TAG-TEAM BATTLES.

WHERE TED DIABASI WOULD BE IN THE CENTER OF THE RING PUTTING A WALLOP ON HIS OPPONENT BEFORE TAGGING HIS PARTNER JUNK-YARD-DOG WHO’D COME IN AND FINISH ‘EM OFF.

I LOVED THOSE TAG-TEAM BATTLES.

I REMEMBER AS A YOUNG GIRL SETTING UP IMAGINARY MATCHES PICKING THE WRASTLER I WANTED TO PARTNER WITH.

THINKING TO MY 14-YEAR-OLD SELF: IF I’M GONNA BE FIGHTING OFF THE BAD GUYS, I WANNA DO IT WITH ANDRE THE GIANT OR HACKSAW JIM DUGGAN.

YOU KNOW, BIG GUYS WITH STICKS.

NOT SO MUCH NOW.

I TURNED 54 THIS PAST TUESDAY, AND MY PERSPECTIVE HAS CHANGED EVER SO SLIGHTLY.

I’VE COME TO THE REALIZATION THAT IF I’M IN A BACK ALLEY BRAWL AND I NEED A REAL FIGHTER, I’M NOT WHISTLING FOR STONE-COLD STEVE AUSTIN TO SAVE ME.

UNH UNH, HONEY.

I WANT ONE OF MY SNOWBALL-THROWING MINNESOTA NICE NEIGHBORS TO COME TO MY RESCUE.

BECAUSE APPARENTLY THERE IS NOBODY WHO WILL FIGHT HARDER FOR THEIR FRIENDS THAN A LUTEFISK-EATING POLAR-PLUNGING PULL-TAB-PLAYING MEAT-RAFFLE-WINNING TATER-TOT-HOT-DISH-EATING ICE FISHING LUTHERAN IN A PLAID SHIRT.

AND I AIN’T JUST WHISLTING DIXIE.

[ WHISTLING ] I MEAN THAT, FROM THE HEART.

>> ERIC: OPERATION METRO SURGE STARTED BACK IN DECEMBER AND DURING THE FEDERAL OPERATION, INTEREST HAS BALLOONED FOR CONSTITUTIONAL OBSERVER TRAINING.

THAT'S BEEN THE CASE FOR THE IMMIGRANT DEFENSE NETWORK, A MINNESOTA-BASED COALITION OF IMMIGRANT, COMMUNITY, AND LEGAL ORGANIZATIONS.

THEIR FOCUS INCLUDES CONSTITUTIONAL OBSERVING, AND THEY'VE BEEN TOURING THE MIDWEST WITH TRAINING SESSIONS.

THEY WERE IN AITKIN, MINNESOTA YESTERDAY, AND THE MANAGER OF IMMIGRANT DEFENSE NETWORK IS HERE NOW, EDWIN TORRES DESANTIAGO.

WHAT MAKES UP THE TRAINING?

>> YEAH.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

WE'VE BEEN TOURING THE ENTIRE MIDWEST, FROM WISCONSIN, LA CROSSE, WE'RE GOING TO BE IN IOWA, ALL OVER MINNESOTA, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA.

THE TRAINING IS A KNOW YOUR RIGHTS TRAINING, BUT ALSO WHAT TO DO IF YOU SEE A FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY, WHAT ARE THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE BEING DETAINED, WHAT ARE YOUR RIGHTS TO OBSERVE THOSE ENFORCEMENTS.

>> Cathy: AND 30,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TRAINED?

>> THAT'S JUST IN OUR NETWORK.

OUR FIRST TRAINING WAS ON FEBRUARY 2nd, 2025, SO OVER A YEAR.

TO DATE WE'VE DONE 82 TRAININGS ALL OVER THE STATE.

WE NOW HAVE A TRAINED OBSERVER IN 82 COUNTIES OUT OF THE 87.

>> Eric: WHO'S PAYING FOR THE OPERATION?

>> A LOT OF IT IS INDIVIDUAL DONORS.

PEOPLE DONATING TO THE NETWORK.

A LOT OF PARTNERS ARE SHOWING UP.

THEIR NETWORK S OVER 110 ORGANIZATIONS COMING TOGETHER FOR A SHARED PURPOSE AND INTEREST TO DEFEND OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, WITH THE SHOOTING DEATHS OF RENEE GOOD AND ALEX PRETTI, I'M WONDERING, ARE YOU HEARING FROM ANY OF THE OBSERVERS THAT THIS MIGHT BE JUST TOO MUCH FOR THEM, THAT THIS WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT THEY WERE NOT BARGAINING FOR?

>> SO IN THE TRAINING, IT'S LIKE A THREE-HOUR TRAINING, ONLY BECAUSE YOU SIGN UP TO BE PART OF THE TRAINING, YOU GO THROUGH THE TRAINING, IT DOESN'T EAN YOU CTUALLY REGISTER TO BE A TRAINED OBSERVER, YOU HAVE TO COMMIT TO THAT AFTER THE LONG TRAINING, WE SAW A MASSIVE SPIKE AFTER THE KILLING OF RENEE GOOD, WITHIN 24 HOURS WE HAD NEARLY 10,000 SIGN-UPS OF NEIGHBORS WANTING TO BE TRAINED ALL OVER THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

SO WE STARTED DOING TRAININGS PRETTY MUCH EVERY SINGLE DAY, WITH PARTNERS.

AND I WANT TO ALSO POINT OUT THE NUMBER'S MUCH MUCH BIGGER IF YOU INCLUDE EVERY SINGLE PARTNER IN THIS FIGHT.

WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES, AND MANY OTHER GROUPS ARE ALSO DOING KNOW YOUR RIGHTS TRAINING.

>> Cathy: PARTS OF THE TRAINING, OF COURSE, MUCH HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT THE VIDEOS THAT HAVE BEEN SHOT, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

>> Cathy: SO TALK ABOUT THE KEY NATURE OF HAVING PEOPLE RECORD EVERYTHING.

>> YEAH.

WELL, THE FRAMEWORK, IT'S KIND OF LIKE FOUR PILLARS.

YES, IT'S ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY.

VERY QUICKLY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WANTED TO PAINT ALEX PRETTI AS A DOMESTIC TERRORIST.

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

WE HAVE SO MANY CAMERAS AND ANGLES THAT THEY WALKED BACK THOSE SENTIMENTS AND THOSE STATEMENTS.

SO PART OF IT IS ACCOUNTABILITY, RIGHT?

JUST LIKE PRESS HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBSERVE IN ANY SITUATION, CONSTITUTIONAL OBSERVERS ALSO HAVE THE SAME 'CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT UNDER THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO OBSERVE.

NUMBER TWO, WE ALSO CONNECT AND HELP WITH PEOPLE BEING DETAINED WITH HOW THEY WERE DETAINED, WAS THERE ATTORNEYS, SO THEY CAN HAVE A LEGAL PROOF WHEN THEY GO TO THEIR HEARINGS IF THEY HAVE AN IMMIGRATION HEARING.

THIRD, WE HELP GIVE A LOT OF OUR LEGAL PARTNERS, WHETHER IT IS ACLU, MINNESOTA ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, OR MANY FOLKS, ACCESS TO SOME OF OUR INFORMATION SO THEY CAN POTENTIALLY BRING LAWSUITS FOR VIOLATIONS OF CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.

THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING.

>> Eric: WHAT TYPICAL QUESTIONS DO YOU GET FROM FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE?

WHAT ARE THEIR CONCERNS?

>> WE HEAR EVERYTHING.

HOW CAN THEY GET WAY FROM THIS?

HOW CAN THEY EVEN DO THIS?

IS THIS EVEN LEGAL?

CAN THEY JUST BE REGULAR CIVILIAN CLOTHING AND KIDNAP SOMEONE?

DO THEY NOT HAVE TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO PRESENT WHO THEY'RE WITH OR SHOW AN ID OR SHOW A WARRANT?

THERE'S A LOT OF CONFUSION WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING.

THIS IS CHAOTIC.

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

AND PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEY'RE SEEING.

THEY'RE SEEING WARRANTLESS ENTRIES, THEY'RE SEEING KIDS BEING PICKED UP, THEY'RE SEEING LITTLE BABIES BEING USED AS BAIT.

THEY'RE SEEING FOLKS BREAKING INTO APARTMENT COMPLEXES.

THEY KNOW THIS IS NOT RIGHT.

>> Cathy: I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU.

YOU MENTIONED THAT FOLKS ARE BEING TRAINED TO OBSERVE THE SITUATION.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Cathy: RIGHT?

WHERE'S THE LINE BETWEEN OBSERVING AND OBSTRUCTING THE AGENTS, AS YOU'VE HEARD TOM HOMAN TALK ABOUT THAT?

>> RIGHT.

OUR CONSTITUTIONAL OBSERVERS ARE TRAINED NOT TO OBSTRUCT.

THEY'RE NOT THERE TO OBSTRUCT.

THE IDEA THAT IF WE GIVE EDWIN ANOTHER FIVE MORE MINUTES TO RUN, THAT'S NOT TRUE.

IF THEY WANT TO GET EDWIN, THEY'LL GET EDWIN.

I WANT PEOPLE TO OBSERVE HOW EDWIN WAS TAKEN.

HELP EDWIN KNOW THEIR RIGHTS.

OBSTRUCTING LITERALLY ONLY MAKES IT WORSE FOR EVERYONE, INCLUDING THE PEOPLE GETTING DETAINED.

>> Cathy: I KNOW WE HAVE TO GO TO THE NEXT SEGMENT, BUT I HAVE TO ASK YOU THIS, EDWIN, I LISTENED TO YOU ON NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO IN THE MORNING, AND YOU WERE TALKING WITH MY COLLEAGUES THERE, AND YOU SAID THAT YOU'RE THE PRODUCT OF THE FAILED IMMIGRATION SYSTEM.

>> I AM.

>> Cathy: SO THIS IS PERSONAL FOR YOU.

>> FOR 25 YEARS, I WAS UNDOCUMENTED.

I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO NOT BE WANTED BY THE ONLY COUNTRY THAT I'VE LOVED, AND I AM DAMN PROUD, AND I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN SAY THAT, BUT I'M VERY PROUD TO BE A MINNESOTAN, AND FOR THE NEIGHBORS THAT ARE COMING OUT TO HELP DEFEND AND PROTECT NOT ONLY MY RIGHTS, THEIR RIGHTS, AND OUR CONSTITUTION.

>> Eric: THANKS FOR JOINING US.

APPRECIATE YOU COMING OVER.

>> Cathy: APPRECIATE IT.

>> Eric: THANKS.

>> CATHY: MINNESOTA'S HISTORY HAS BEEN ENRICHED BY FINNISH IMMIGRANTS FOR MORE THAN 150 YEARS.

THEY BROUGHT THEIR CULTURAL TRADITIONS WITH THEM, INCLUDING THE JOY OF SWEATING IN A SOW-NAH.

REPORTER KAOMI LEE REPORTS THAT IT'S NOW BECOME BIG BUSINESS.

AND IN THE U.S., MINNESOTA IS LEADING THE WAY.

>> THESE ARE FRONT-ROW SEATS, SO IT'S AS CLOSE YOU CAN GET FROM LAKE SUPERIOR AND ENJOY IT FROM THE INSIDE OF A SAUNA.

>> THE TWO IS A VIEW FROM ONE OF TWO CEDAR-LINED SAUNAS IN GRAND MARAIS.

THE OWNER EXPLAINS THE NAME COMES FROM FINNISH.

A NOD TO NORDIC-STYLE SAUNAS.

>> IT REFERS TO THE CONCEPT OF FORTITUDE, TENACITY, OR GRIT.

AND LOLU REFERS TO THE STEAM THAT RISES OFF OF OF THE SAUNA ROCKS WHEN YOU PUT WATER ON THEM.

>> GRAND MARAIS WAS THE PERFECT BEAUTY WAS THE PERFECT BACKDROP TO START A BUSINESS.

PRONOUNCED SOW-NAH IN FINNISH SAYS SHE'S NOT A GATEKEEPER AROUND THE WORD.

>> I KNOW THAT SOW-NAH IS THE TRADITIONAL PRONUNCIATION AND I RESPECT THAT AND I HAVE ADOPTED THAT, NOT PERFECT, BY ANY MEANS.

LOTS OF PEOPLE SAY SAUNA AND I'M OKAY WITH THAT.

>> SHE AND HER YOUNG FAMILY SPENT TIME IN GRAND MARAIS DURING COVID, THEY LOVED IT SO MUCH THEY DECIDED TO SELL THEIR TWIN CITIES HOME AND MOVE UP FULL TIME.

HER HUSBAND COULD WORK REMOTELY BUT SHE FOUND A NEW JOB.

THEY FOUND A LAKESIDE PROPERTY BUT IT NEEDED A LOT OF WORK.

THEY SOON INVESTED A MILLION DOLLARS BETWEEN SAVINGS AND LOANS.

SOME WONDERED IF THEIR BUSINESS WAS JUST HOT AIR.

>> I KNOW THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE WHEN WE OPENED UP AND STARTED TALKING ABOUT CREATING A SAUNA BUSINESS, SOME PEOPLE, HOW ARE OU GOING TO MAKE MONEY AT THAT?

OR WILL THAT LAST?

>> Kaomi: THE RISK IS PAYING OFF.

FOUR YEARS LATER, SHE NOW HAS EIGHT PART-TIME STAFF, A FLOATING SAUNA AND A MOBILE SAUNA HAVE BEEN ADD.

AND THERE'S MORE TO COME.

>> WE'RE TOO STRESSED OUT, WE'RE FULL OF ANXIETY, WE'RE POST COVID, WE'RE POST THIS PANDEMIC, AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR MOMENTS TO BE REAL HUMANS NEXT TO EACH OTHER.

AND SAUNA DOES THAT.

>> Kaomi: JUSTIN IS A SIXTH GENERATION FINNISH AMERICAN WHO GREW UP WITH SAUNA.

HIS SAUNA IS ON THE DULUTH WATER FRONT AT THE HOTEL.

THERE ARE TWO WOOD-FIRED SAUNAS AND A OLD PLUNGE IN LAKE SUPERIOR.

IN WARMER MONTHS, HE OPENS A FLOATING SAUNA.

HE ALSO DESIGNS AND BUILDS SAUNAS, SHIPPING OUT TEN A MONTH ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

HE NOW HAS 70 EMPLOYEES.

>> WE'RE ABOUT A $5 MILLION COMPANY TODAY FOR TOP-LINE REVENUE EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

WE'VE JUST EXPANDED OUR MANUFACTURING.

SO THAT WE CAN DO MORE.

WE'VE HAD OVER A YEAR-LONG WAIT LIST FOR OUR SAUNAS FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.

>> Kaomi:S PROJECTIONS TRACK WITH OTHERS IN THE INDUSTRY.

SAUNAS ARE MAKING A COMEBACK IN A BIG WAY.

NOW PLACES ALL OVER THE STATE, LIKE PORTAL IN St.

LOUIS PARK, OR THE 70-PERSON SAUNA CAMP IN INDEPENDENCE, HAVE OPENED.

JUSTIN SAYS MINNESOTA IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE EPICENTERS OF THE MOVEMENT NATIONALLY.

SAUNAS HAVE BEEN PART OF NORTHERN MINNESOTA CULTURE SINCE FINNISH MMIGRANTS FIRST ARRIVED IN 1864.

>> TODAY WE'RE EEING A LOT OF INVESTMENT INTO THE SECTOR BROADLY, BIG, BIG COMPANIES, BIG EUROPEAN COMPANIES WANTING TO COME INTO THE STATES.

OTHER HOME BUILDING SORT OF INFRASTRUCTURE COMPANIES BUYING SAUNA COMPANIES.

>> Kaomi: GLEN HAS BEEN A SAUNA ADVANTAGE LIST SINCE -- EVANGELIST SINCE THE 1990s.

>> I CALL IT THE HOLY TRINITY OF GOOD SAUNAS, HEAT, STEAM, AND VENTILATION.

>> Kaomi: HE WAS EARLY IN THE SAUNA MOVEMENT IN THE TWIN CITIES THROUGH THE 612 SAUNA SOCIETY.

A DECADE AGO HE BUILT A MOBILE SAUNA FOR AN ICE FISHING HOUSE.

>> 612 IS AHEAD OF ITS TIME AND IT WAS RIGHT FOR ITS TIME.

IT BROUGHT SAUNA TO PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS IN PLACES THAT YOU WOULD NOT NORMALLY EXPECT.

BREWERIES, LAKES, RIGHT NOW IT'S SITTING AT THE LOP PIT TRAIL -- LOPPET TRAIL HEAD UP BY CEDAR LAKE.

AND TO HAVE THAT IN OUR CITY IS A GEM.

>> Kaomi: AND HE SAYS CONTRAST THERAPY, GOING FROM HOT TO COLD TEMPERATURES, IS GOOD FOR YOU.

HE SAYS STUDIES SHOW SAUNA CAN IMPROVE OVERALL WELL-BEING AND LONGEVITY.

BUT HE WARNS AGAINST SETTING EXPECTATIONS AROUND SPECIFIC CLAIMS, SUCH AS REDUCING ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE OR WEIGHT LOSS.

>> IF ONE IS LEADING WITH HEALTH BENEFITS, I THINK THAT IT'S A TAIL WAGGING THE DOG.

I MEAN, ENJOY IT AND THEN HEALTH BENEFITS DOWN THE ROAD.

>> YOU'RE WARM BUT THEN YOU'RE GETTING THIS IMMEDIATE COLD ON THE SKIN AND IT'S LIKE -- IT FEELS REALLY GOOD.

>> I LIKE THIS BETTER THAN THE COLD PLUNGE.

>> IT'S NOT ABOUT BIG DOLLARS, IT'S NOT ABOUT CAPITALIZING ON THIS WAVE OR THIS TREND.

>> Kaomi: MEGAN CREST OWNS AND OPERATES A WOOD-FIRED MOBILE SAUNA IN THE DULUTH AREA.

SHE GOT STARTED FOUR YEARS AGO AFTER SEEING HOW SAUNA OVERLAPPED HER INTEREST IN WILDERNESS GUIDING.

SHE SAYS THERE'S NO RIGHT OR WRONG WAY TO SAUNA.

>> I REALLY WANT TO MAKE IT AN INVITING SPACE FOR PEOPLE THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE HAD THIS GROWING UP AS A INNESOTAN OR MIDWESTERNER OR MIGHT NOT LOOK LIKE ME.

>> ERIC: THIS WEEK SAW A >> ERIC: THIS WEEK SAW A >> ERIC: THIS WEEK SAW A ^ >> ERIC: THIS WEEK SAW A ^ TENUOUS START TO A DRAWDOWN OF FEDERAL AGENTS IN THE STATE, THE PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN BROUGHT TO AN END, AND THE LIKELY FRONT RUNNERS FOR MINNESOTA GOVERNOR SOLIDIFYING THEIR POSITIONS COMING OUT OF TUESDAY NIGHT'S CAUCUSES.

WHAT COMES NEXT ON ALL THESE FRONTS?

HERE'S OUR PANEL OF FOLKS WHO DEFINITELY HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS TO THAT QUESTION.

REPUBLICANS UP FIRST TONIGHT.

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

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

DEMOCRATS ON THE COUCH WITH THEM, KARLA BIGHAM IS A FORMER STATE LAWMAKER WHO SERVED IN BOTH LEGISLATIVE CHAMBERS, SHE'S NOW A WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, SARA LOPEZ, PARTY ACTIVIST AND POLICY DIRECTOR AT UNIDOS MINNESOTA.

GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

ANNETTE, DEMUTH THE LEADER NOW IN THE REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL WEEPSTAKES?

>> I THINK THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WELL AGREED UPON, YES.

THAT SHE HAD SUCH A STRONG SHOWING.

AND NORMALLY WHAT'S KIND OF A -- NORMALLY IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF THIS, A LITTLE BIT OF THAT, SHE WAS PRETTY DEFINITIVELY DECLARED THE WINNER ON CAUCUS NIGHT, AND OFF TO A STRONG START, BOTH WITH FUND-RAISING AND OBVIOUSLY WITH ORGANIZING.

>> Eric: YOU HAD 12 CANDIDATES, I THINK, AT SOME OF THE FORUMS.

HOW MANY DECIDE TO DROP OUT NOW AND CONCENTRATE ON THE BIG FOUR OR FIVE?

>> OH, THAT'S ALWAYS A HARD QUESTION BECAUSE EVERYBODY BELIEVES THAT THEY'RE THE REAL ANSWER, OF COURSE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE SHOWING OF DEMUTH WAS VERY IMPORTANT AND THERE'S SOME INDICATION, THE DANGERS YOU END UP EING A FRONTRUNNER AND THAT MAKES YOU SOMETHING OF A TARGET.

AND SHE IS GETTING SOME SUPPORT FROM THE RIGHT PLACES IN WASHINGTON, VERY QUIETLY, MAKING IT LIKELY THAT SHE'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO RAISE MONEY, WHICH IS GOING TO BE ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL IN THAT RACE.

SO, YEAH, YOU'D HAVE TO SAY SHE'S DEFINITELY STARTING, BUT I'M SURE SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO NAVIGATE THAT VERY CAREFULLY.

>> Eric: RUN-OFF, KSTP HAD SOME TRIAL HEATS IN THEIR POLL.

>> YEAH.

>> Eric: AND KLOBUCHAR WAS LEADING PRETTY HANDILY.

>> SURPRISES NO ONE.

>> Eric: THE REPUBLICANS DID MAKE A CASE, THOUGH, THAT SHE WAS UNDER 50% IN ALL OF THOSE RUN-OFFS.

>> SO, AMY KLOBUCHAR KNOWS MINNESOTA.

SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN HERE FOR MINNESOTA.

ESPECIALLY IN OUR TIMES OF NEED.

WHETHER IT HAS BEEN 35W BRIDGE WHEN THAT COLLAPSED, WHETHER IT WAS THE PANDEMIC, CIVIL UNREST, SHOOTING AT ANNUNCIATION, SHE KNOWS MINNESOTA AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN HERE TO HELP LEAD THROUGH THESE TRYING TIMES, AND SHE'S GOING TO DO IT AGAIN.

SHE'S GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT ACROSS THE STATE.

>> WELL, SHE'S REALLY THE ONLY CANDIDATE.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT FOR THE DEMOCRATS.

>> ND THERE WERE SOME UNDECIDED FOLKS, I THINK THAT SHE HASN'T HAD A CHANCE TO STATE, LIKE, HER VISION FOR THE STATE.

AND I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THERE'S A LOT OF HUNGER FOR, A BOLD VISION THAT INCLUDES EVERYBODY.

WE HAVE A CRISIS OF BELONGING.

I THINK SHE'S GOING TO DO ONE HELL OF A JOB RUNNING A CAMPAIGN TATEWIDE.

[ OVERLAPPING CONVERSATION ] >> Cathy: WHERE ARE HER AWARDS, THOUGH?

WHERE ARE THE -- WHERE ARE THE WARTS?

WHERE ARE THE CHALLENGES WITH HER?

>> I THINK THE CHALLENGES START WITH THE PROGRESSIVE LEFT THAT HAS DOMINATED THE DFL IN RECENT YEARS.

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY TOUGH TO RECONCILE MANY OF HER VOTES N WASHINGTON WITH THE RUNNING THE STATE.

AND I THINK HER OTHER BIG PROBLEM, FRANKLY, IS STATE GOVERNMENT.

SHE'S NEVER HELD A JOB IN STATE GOVERNMENT, AND WE'VE GOT SOME BIG HILLS TO CLIMB AND SOME BIG MESSES TO CLEAN UP.

>> AND THAT'S -- >> SHE'S GOING TO GET ALL OF THAT.

>> AND THAT'S THE PERSON THAT NEEDS TO COME IN THERE AND DO IT, WHICH IS AMY KLOBUCHAR, IT'S WHAT SHE'S ALWAYS DONE, LEADING ON EDUCATION, ON WORK FORCE, ON FARMERS, ON ALL OF THAT.

AND THAT'S THE LEADERSHIP WE NEED RIGHT NOW.

AND THAT'S WHAT -- THE LEFT IS NOT GOING TO BE -- ONE BIG UPSET -- >> Cathy: I'VE HEARD RUMBLINGS ON THE FAR LEFT, THOUGH.

[ OVERLAPPING CONVERSATION ] >> ONE THING THAT I WAS PRETTY SURPRISED ABOUT MY CAUCUS, WE WERE ALL QUITE UNITED.

>> YES.

>> MINE WAS DONE IN AN HOUR AND A HALF.

EVERYBODY CAME TOGETHER.

IT'S VOLUNTEER RUN.

BUT I WAS PRETTY SURPRISED ABOUT THE UNITY OF THE GROUP THAT I WAS WITH.

AND THERE WERE A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE, THEY HAD QUESTIONS, BUT I DO FEEL THAT KLOBUCHAR HASN'T HAD A CHANCE TO PUT OUT HER CAMPAIGN, HER VISION.

I I DO THINK THEY'RE GOING TO FALL IN LINE.

JUST BECAUSE THE OPTIONS ARE NOT SO GREAT ON THE GOP SIDE.

>> SHE'S GOT A COUPLE MAJOR PROBLEMS THAT SHE HASN'T HAD TO ADDRESS YET.

I MEAN, EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE HEARD SO FAR, THE NICE CAMPAIGN AD, KIND OF BACKGROUND STUFF, WITH SMILING AMY DOING THIS, OR SMILING AMY DOING THAT.

SHE HAS TO DECIDE WHETHER SHE'S GOING TO RUN AGAINST THE DFL AND THE RECORD THAT THEY'VE GOT, FRAUD ISSUE, ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF, ACTUALLY RUN AGAINST THEM, IN WHICH CASE, IN A WAY SHE'S DISPARAGING EVERYBODY ELSE ON THE TICKET, OR RUN WITH THEM, IN WHICH CASE ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE'S GOING TO GET TARRED WITH MANY OF THE SAME PROBLEMS.

AND I DON'T THINK SHE CAN ENTIRELY ESCAPE THAT.

SO, SHE HASN'T HAD TO NAVIGATE THAT, BUT WE TALK ABOUT THE DIFFICULTY OF BEING THE FRONTRUNNER, THAT'S HER PROBLEM, AND HER PROBLEM, TOO, IS THERE'S NO COMPETITION.

SO IT'S JUST HER.

>> AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD, SHE'S GOING TO BE RUNNING AGAINST THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN WHO COULD BE OUR GOVERNOR.

>> YEAH.

>> AND I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT MANY MANY VOTERS, LIKE ME, WILL LOOK AT AND SAY, THIS WOULD INDEED BE -- YOU WANT TO BREAK NEW GROUND IN MINNESOTA?

LET'S DO IT WITH A REPUBLICAN BLACK WOMAN WHO HAS LED OUR LEGISLATURE DURING SOME OF THE MOST TUMULTUOUS TIMES WE'VE EVER HAD WITH DEFENDANT AND GRACE.

>> AND SPEAKER DEMUTH WOULD CONTINUE THE ATROCIOUS AGENDA OF TRUMP AND THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM THAT HAS HURT- MIATFORM THAT HAS HURT- MINNFORM THAT HAS HURT- MINNESRM THAT HAS HURT- MINNESOT THAT HAS HURT- MINNESOTA.HAT HAS HURT- MINNESOTA.HAT HAS HURT- >> I THINK THAT EVERY SINGLE NEIGHBORHOOD IN RAMSEY AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, WHICH ARE SUPER HIGH DENSITY, ARE NOT GOING TO FORGET WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THEIR CHILDREN.

>> RIGHT.

>> Cathy: SAY, BY THE WAY, MIKE NUCOM, HOW MIGHT HE MAYBE THROW A WRENCH INTO THIS, HE'S WITH THE INDEPENDENCE PARTY, ISN'T W THE ANDREW YANG EFFORT, REMEMBER THAT?

>> HE COMES FROM A WHITE BEAR FAMILY, HE COMES FROM BASICALLY, IF THERE'S NOBILITY AMONG REPUBLICANS IN WHITE BEAR, IT'S THE NEWCOMS, RIGHT, AND HE LOOKS SO MUCH LIKE HIS DAD, IT'S ALMOST SCARY, BUT MY PROBLEM WITH MIKE, HE'S NOT RUNNING AS A REPUBLICAN.

I MEAN, I HAVE A REAL EASY TIME GETTING ENTHUSIASTICALLY BEHIND HIM IF HE WAS PART OF, YOU KNOW, A PARTY EFFORT.

HE'S NOT.

>> Eric: BUT HE WAS ONE, LIKE THE FOURTH OR FIFTH LEADING FUND-RAISER FOR REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR CANDIDATES IN '25.

>> YUP.

>> Eric: $100,000.

>> AND I THINK HE WILL RAISE MONEY AGAIN.

>> Eric: I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE LOOKING AT ANOTHER VENTURA THING HERE, BUT IF HE TAKES 10, 12%, HE'S A GAME CHANGER IN NOVEMBER.

>> THAT'S SO UNLIKELY, THOUGH.

NUMBER ONE, JESSE GOT PUBLIC FINANCING, AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE IN THAT CAMPAIGN.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

THAT'S FAIR.

>> HE RAISED VERY LITTLE MONEY.

AND WITHOUT A PARTY TO GIVE YOU LISTS AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT THE DFL HAS OR WE HAVE, IT'S VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET EVEN THE 5% THAT MAKES YOU A MAJORITY PARTY CANDIDATE.

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC] MICHELE TAFOYA, REPUBLICAN SENATE.

EVERYBODY'S SMILING.

SHE'S PRO CHOICE, IS THAT A DISQUALIFIER?

>> IT'S A PROBLEM.

>> I HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION WITH HER ABOUT THIS ISSUE, BECAUSE I'M AS SOLIDLY PRO LIFE AS ANYONE, AND SHE PLEDGES TO SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT'S NOMINEE, IF THERE ARE ANY, TO THE COURTS, AND THAT'S NOT A DECIDING ISSUE ANY LONGER IN THE U.S.

SENATE.

ABORTION'S A DECIDED ISSUE.

AND IT'S CERTAINLY A DECIDED ISSUE HERE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

>> WELL, YOU'RE GETTING THE REPUBLICAN VERSION OF THE AMY KLOBUCHAR ARGUMENTFUL -- ARGUMENT, WHICH IS, SHE'S THE FRONTRUNNER AND WE WANT HER TO WIN AND SHE'S GOT ALL THE RIGHT ATTRIBUTES IN TERMS OF ELECTABILITY.

THERE'S A COUPLE F OTHER VERY GOOD CANDIDATES, BY THE WAY, STILL IN THE RUNNING ON THAT SIDE.

RIGHT NOW SHE'S THE ONE THAT HAS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE SENATE COMMITTEE'S BACKING, AND SO THE FUND-RAISING HEAD START THAT'S GOING TO BE CRITICAL IS GOING TO BE HERS.

AND I THINK SHE WOULD BE PERSONALLY A VERY GOOD CANDIDATE, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO PRETEND FOR A SECOND THAT THAT ABORTION ISSUE ISN'T GOING TO BE A PROBLEM FOR HER DOWN THE LINE.

>> AND SHE ISN'T FOCUSED ON FEDERAL ISSUES.

ALL I'VE HEARD HER TALK ABOUT IS STATE ISSUES IT'S BECAUSE ALL SHE'LL DO IS FALL IN LINE, AS ANNETTE SAID SHE WILL HELP WITH THE TRUMP NOMINEE, SHE'S GOING TO HELP TRUMP WITH EVERY SINGLE AGENDA THAT HE WANTS TO MOVE FORWARD, UNFEDERALLED, THAT HAS -- UNFETTERED, THAT HAS HURT OR ECONOMY, OUR PEOPLE HERE IN MINNESOTA.

>> Cathy: ON THE DFL SIDE, WE HAVE ANGIE CRAIG AND PEGGY FLANAGAN.

>> RIGHT.

>> Cathy: OW, WERE YOU SURPRISED THAT SENATOR SMITH ENDORSED LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FLANAGAN?

>> I AM NOT.

I THINK THAT BOTH ARE VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH THE WAY THAT THEY HAVE BEEN APPROACHING THEIR POLITICS FOREVER.

AND I WAS EXCITED TO SEE THAT ENDORSEMENT PERSONALLY.

I THINK PEGGY IS GOING TO DO A GREAT JOB WHEN SHE GETS ELECTED.

I THINK SHE'S GOING TO DO A FANTASTIC JOB WITH WOMEN IN THE SUBURBS.

RIGHT NOW, AS OUR STATE CONTINUES TO BE UNDER SIEGE WITH 2,300, AGENTS, WHAT'S HAPPENING SPEAKS BY ITSELF.

[ OVERLAPPING CONVERSATION ] >> Eric: YOU'VE ENDORSED?

>> ANGIE CRAIG, 100%.

YOU KNOW, ANGIE IS THE MOST ELECTABLE CANDIDATE STATEWIDE.

TIME ND TIME AGAIN, WHEN SHE'S BEEN ON THE BALLOT, SHE'S HELPED THE REST OF THE TICKET IN C.D.

.

AND ALSO, SHE'S THE LABOR CANDIDATE, RIGHT?

I MEAN, SHE HAS OVER 2 LABOR ENDORSEMENTS, AND WHEN OU'RE LOOKING AT BOOTS ON THE GROUND TO HELP YOU GET AN ENDORSEMENT, TO HELP YOU GET THROUGH A PRIMARY, THAT'S WHO I WOULD WANT IN MY CORNER IS LABOR.

>> I TELL YOU WHAT I'M DOING IS POPPING POPCORN AS A REPUBLICAN WATCHING THESE TWO BATTLE IT OUT FROM THE MAY CONVENTION UNTIL THE AUGUST PRIMARY.

BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE ROCK 'EM SOCK 'EM ROBOTS AND WHEN ANGIE CRAIG'S, THE CONGRESSWOMAN IS A PRODIGIOUS FUND RADARS, WHEN SHE COMES AFTER THE PARTY'S NOMINEE, WHO I BELIEVE WILL BE THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, MAN, THEY ARE GONNA JUST HAVE TO FIGHT IT OUT IN THE STREET AND IT'S GONNA BE WORTH WATCHING.

>> I DON'T THINK MINNESOTANS ARE GOING TO FORGET WHO VOTED FOR LINCOLN REILLY, PERSONALLY.

I'M A DFLer, BUT I DO WANT A CANDIDATE THAT IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PRIORITIES OF WHAT PEOPLE ARE SEEING IN THE STREETS AND N THEIR COMMUNITIES, PERSONALLY.

BUT WE'LL SEE.

>> AND I THINK ANGIE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF FOCUSING ON OUR FARMERS, ON OUR WORKERS, ON OUR EDUCATORS, ON HEALTHCARE, AND ALSO HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB DEALING WITH THIS IMMIGRATION ISSUE THAT'S RIDDLED OUR STATE.

>> Cathy: 30 SECONDS.

>> AS A REPUBLICAN, I HAVE TO SAY I AGREE WITH YOU.

I THINK ANGIE CRAIG IS PROBABLY THE STRONGER OF THE TWO CANDIDATES.

BUT I DO THINK TAFOYA BEATS HER.

[ Laughter ] >> Eric: COMING UP, THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WHICH I HEAR IS GOING TO BE VERY UNPRODUCTIVE, FROM WHAT I GATHER.

>> YUP.

>> YEAH.

>> Eric: THANKS, GUYS.

>> Cathy: APPRECIATE IT.

>> THE SHA OF IRAN IS AN EXAMPLE.

SO MANY LEADERS THAT I CAN MENTION WHO WE HAVE SORT OF ATTACHED OURSELVES TO AND WHEN THE PEOPLE THREW THEM OUT, WE WERE LOOKED UPON IN DISFAVOR.

I THINK WE SHOULD MAKE WHAT WE SAY ABOUT DEMOCRACY A REALITY AND STICK BY THE PEOPLE.

>> CATHY: MINNESOTA'S CURRENT ATTORNEY GENERAL KEITH ELLISON WAS A U.S.

REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE 5TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT BACK THEN.

TIME CERTAINLY FLIES, DOESN'T IT?

THE TIME HAS COME FOR US TO SHARE THE ANSWER TO THE FIRST INDEX FILE QUESTION OF 2026.

I KNOW, I KNOW, WE'RE REALLY LATE ON THIS.

HERE'S A QUICK REMINDER OF THE QUESTION.

WE TRAVELED BACK IN TIME TO THE SPRING OF 1966 WHEN WELL-KNOWN TELEVISION PERSONALITY JOHNNY CARSON ENGAGED IN A "TONIGHT SHOW" "PERFORMANCE" WITH PROPS THAT BOOSTED THE BUSINESS OF A LESSER-KNOWN MINNESOTAN.

OUR QUESTION FOR YOU WAS QUITE SIMPLE.

WHAT MINNESOTA PRODUCT DID JOHNNY CARSON PLAY WITH ON THE "TONIGHT SHOW?"

THE PRODUCERS FEARED THIS ONE MIGHT BE TOO EASY, BUT IT WAS NOT FOR THESE CALLERS.

>> Cathy: WELL, CAROL, WE ARE WARMING UP RIGHT NOW, NOT AS WARM AS ARIZONA, BUT THERE YOU GO.

FOR THIS WEEK'S RIGHT ANSWER, WE TURN TO JOHN IN PLYMOUTH.

>> CATHY: YES, YOU ARE CORRECT!

THERE THEY ARE!

JOHNNY CARSON FAMOUSLY PLAYED TWISTER WITH EVA GABOR OF -- REMEMBER GREEN ACRES, THE TV SHOW, SURE YOU DO.

ON MAY 3, 1966, ON THE "TONIGHT SHOW."

MILTON BRADLEY WAS PLANNING TO PULL TWISTER OFF THE MARKET DUE TO LACKLUSTER SALES.

BUT THE RISQUE GAME "THAT TIES YOU UP IN KNOTS" SKYROCKETED IN POPULARITY AFTER THE SHOW, DELIGHTING MINNESOTA CO-CREATOR REYNOLDS GEYER, WHO ALSO CREATED THE NERF BALL.

REMEMBER THE NERF BALL?

I NEVER REALLY LIKED TWISTER, I NEVER GOT IT, ANYWAY.

WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH TIME LEFT FOR A TUNE.

THANKFULLY.

IT WAS THIS WEEK WAY BACK IN 1981 - 45 YEARS AGO - THAT THE LATE RICHIE HAVENS PERFORMED ON THE "NIGHTTIMES VARIETY PROGRAM."

NIGHTTIMES WAS A GREAT SHOW, BY THE WAY.

TAKE A LISTEN.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK.

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