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

>> Cathy: COMING UP ON ALMANAC WE'LL LOOK AT THE PRESIDENT'S FIRST 100 DYES WITH A DUO OF POLITICAL SCIENTISTS.

EPIDEMIOLOGIST MIKE OSTERHOLM IS HERE TO TELL US ABOUT A NEW VACCINE PROJECT, LARRY FITZGERALD ON A BIG PLAYOFF WEEK, AND MARY LAHAMMER IS TRACKING THE ACTION UP AT THE CAPITOL.

>> WITH JUST WEEKS LEFT IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, LAWMAKERS STILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A BALANCED BUDGET AT THE STATE LEVEL, WITH MANY UNKNOWNS REMAINING FROM HE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

>> WE WORK TOGETHER EVEN WITH A ZERO TARGET.

>> AND WE HAD TO FILL AND FIX A HUGE HOLE.

>> 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 TS MEMBER-OWNER COOPERATIVES AND CUSTOMERS.

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

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

>> Cathy: COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR, LARRY FITZGERALD BREAKS DOWN A REALLY BIG SPORTS WEEK FOR MINNESOTA FANS, A LOOK AT HOW THE END OF THE VIETNAM WAR 50 YEARS AGO CHANGED MINNESOTA, AND A DUO OF FORMER MINNESOTA HOUSE SPEAKERS LOOKS AHEAD TO THE FINAL TWO WEEKS OF SESSION.

>> Eric: BUT FIRST TONIGHT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CONTINUED TO DOMINATE HEADLINES THIS WEEK.

FRIDAY'S NEWS INCLUDED THE PRESIDENT'S PROPOSED 2026 BUDGET WHICH WOULD CUT DOMESTIC SPENDING TO ITS LOWEST LEVEL ON RECORD.

KATHRYN PEARSON TEACHES POLITICAL SCIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, THE ACADEMIC HOME OF MICHAEL INTA.

THANK YOU BOTH.

SCORCHED EARTH BUDGET, I READ ONE OF THE ONLINE THINGS TODAY.

IS THAT TOO DRAMATIC?

>> I DON'T THINK THAT'S TOO DRAMATIC.

IT IS DEFINITELY A BUDGET THAT MAKES SIGNIFICANT CUTS, AND EVEN AS REPUBLICANS SO FAR IN THE OUSE AND SENATE HAVE REALLY SORT OF ESSENTIALLY DONE WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAS ASKED THEM TO, THIS IS TEEING UP BIG BUDGET BATTLES IN THE HOUSE AND IN THE SENATE.

THIS WILL GO THROUGH THE RECONCILIATION PROCESS SO DEMOCRATS REALLY WON'T E INVOLVED BECAUSE IT ONLY REQUIRES 51 VOTES IN THE SENATE, IT CAN'T BE FILIBUSTERED SO REPUBLICAN MAJORITIES IN BOTH CHAMBERS CAN PASS THIS.

BUT REPUBLICANS IN VULNERABLE DISTRICTS ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE MEDICAID CUTS, THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT SOME OF THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES THAT ARE SPREAD OUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND WHAT SOME OF THE DOWNSIZING MEANS FOR THEM.

SO THERE COULD BE SOME INTRA PARTY REPUBLICAN BATTLES TO COME.

>> Eric: WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE BUDGET?

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU THINK?

IS IS >> I THINK LIKE KATHRYN SAID MANY OF THESE REPUBLICANS IN VULNERABLE DISTRIBUTES WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO STAND FOR REELECTION FOR A FEW YEARS, SO THE PRESIDENT CAN MAKE THESE PROPOSALS BUT A LOT OF TIMES HE'S NOT THINKING ABOUT THE PARTY.

HE'S LIKE I'M GOING TO DELIVER THESE CUTS AND EFFICIENCY AND BUT THESE CANDIDATES IN VULNERABLE DISTRICTS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO RUN AGAIN SO I THINK THEY'RE VERY FEARFUL.

I'M LOOKING TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO, I HEARD THERE'S ALREADY PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PRESIDENT SAYING, HEY, YOU MIGHT WANT TO TONE THIS BACK, YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE PARTY.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF THAT BEHIND THE SCENES STUFF HAPPENING.

>> Cathy: SO FAR THE PRESIDENT SEEMS TO HAVE STEAMROLLED OVER CONGRESS OR MAYBE CONGRESS HAS ABDICATED ITS RESPONSIBILITY AT THIS POINT.

DO YOU THINK THEN THE BUDGET, IS THIS THE LINE WHERE PEOPLE WON'T CROSS?

>> I THINK SO, I THINK IT IS FAIR TO AY THAT GIVEN WE HAVE UNIFIED PARTY CONTROL IT IS REALLY SURPRISING HOW LITTLE LEGISLATION HAS PASSED THROUGH CONGRESS.

REPUBLICANS HAVE THE VOTES BUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS AN UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND CONGRESS NOT FIGHTING BACK BECAUSE REPUBLICANS ARE IN CONTROL AND CONGRESS ALSO NOT HOLDING THE OVERSIGHT HEARINGS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT WE WOULD EXPECT IN A SORT OF A TYPICAL SITUATION WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY BEEN DOWNSIZED BY 10%.

IS REALLY IS EXTRAORDINARY THE EXTENT TO WHICH CONGRESS HAS SORT OF SAT BACK AND NOT DONE ANYTHING BUT THESE BUDGET BATTLES WILL BE HUGE, BUT JUST TODAY THERE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE THREE DIFFERENT BUDGET RECONCILIATION MARKUPS BY REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE AND THEY'VE POSTPONED THEM BECAUSE OF INTERPARTY CONFLICT.

>> Eric: THE 100-DAY MARK IS ARBITRARY BUT MAYBE A GOOD TIME TO LOOKED AT A REPORT CARD ON THE RESIDENT'S PERFORMANCE.

WHAT HAS INTRIGUED YOU THE MOST AS A POLITICAL SCIENTIST?

>> OH, WOW, JUST THE SPEED, CHAOS, SHOCK AND AWE.

HE SAID HE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING ON IMMIGRATION.

MY GOD, HE HAS PEOPLE, HE'S PULLING THEM OFF THE STREET, YOU GOT THE VISUALS OF KRISTI NOEM, SHE'S UP THRU AT THE PRISON.

ALL OF THAT STUFF, SOME OF THE THINGS TRUMP SAID HE WAS GOING TO DO HE'S DONE AND HE HAS THE VISUALS TO KIND OF BACK IT UP.

DOGE WITH ELON USK SAYING, HEY, FEDERAL WORKERS, GO HOME.

I MEAN, SO THESE ARE VISIBLE, TANGIBLE THINGS.

I WANT TO GET RID OF WASTE AND INEFFICIENCY IN GOVERNMENT.

BUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HE CLAIMED THAT HE WAS GOING TO DO, REDUCE PRICES, CONTROL INFLATION, NOW UI MEAN YOU HEARD THE STATEMENT HE WAS LIKE, WELL, WITH THE TARIFFS, WELL, LITTLE KIDS, YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF HAVING THREE DOLLS THEY CAN JUST HAVE ONE.

NO, ACTUALLY HE SAID MORE DOLLS, LIKE 20-SOMETHING DOLLS AND YOU COULD JUST HAVE TWO.

LIKE, EAH.

THE >> AND THE ECONOMY IS GOING TO BE IVOTAL IN THE 2026 MIDTERMS.

MIDTERMS ARE ALWAYS TOUGHER FOR THE PARTY OF THE PRESIDENT BUT IF THE ECONOMY IS DOING AS POORLY AS CONOMISTS ARE PREDICTING AFTER THE NEWS WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE DAYS OF THE SHRINKING OF THE ECONOMY WITH GDP THAT IS GOING TO BE PARTICULARLY PROBLEMATIC FOR REPUBLICANS HEADING INTO A MIDTERM ELECTION BECAUSE THE ECONOMY I MEAN ALL OF THESE THINGS FROM A POLITICAL SCIENCE PERSPECTIVE ARE REALLY SORT OF STUNNING, BUT THE ECONOMY IS WHAT VOTERS ARE MOST IN TUNE WITH.

>> Cathy: HOW MUCH OF WHAT HE'S DOING WILL STICK?

OR WILL THE COURTS STILL HOLD?

>> OOH, HAT'S THE MILLION-DOLLAR QUESTION, RIGHT?

YEAH, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALREADY SEEN SOME PUSHBACK FROM THE COURTS EVEN THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

AND I THINK SOME OF THE BUDGET CUTS THROUGH EXECUTIVE ORDER, AND I THINK CONGRESS IS GOING TO BE RELUCTANT REALLY TO MAKE MANY OF THE CUTS THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS PROPOSING.

BUT HE STILL IN TERMS OF SOME OF THESE CUTS THAT HE'S MAKING TO THESE INDEPENDENT AGENCIES, CIVIL SERVICE, I THINK IT'S GOING TO REALLY FORCE THE SUPREME COURT TO MAKE A DECISION ON IS THE BUDGET ACT OF 1974, IS THAT CONSTITUTIONAL?

I MEAN, IF THE CONGRESS APPROPRIATES MONEY FOR A CERTAIN AGENCY OR FOR FEDERAL PROGRAMS, THE PRESIDENT DOESN'T HAVE A RIGHT -- NIXON FOUND THAT OUT 1974 YOU CAN'T HOLD ONTO MONEY THAT CONGRESS APPROPRIATES.

>> Eric: HAS DONALD TRUMP TRANSFORMED THE PRESIDENCY, IN OTHER WORDS IN THE FUTURE, PRESIDENTS WILL BE MORE OPEN TO EXCUSING EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND SO FORTH?

>> I THINK AT THIS POINT THE ANSWER IS PROBABLY YES AND SORT OF I THINK BEHIND CLOSED DOORS SOME REPUBLICANS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT THINKING ABOUT WHAT THAT COULD MEAN FOR THE EXT DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT WHENEVER THAT MIGHT HAPPEN.

PRESIDENTIAL POWER HAS BEEN EXPANDING FOR DECADES, BUT TRUMP HAS ACCELERATED IT TO REALLY AN UNPRECEDENTED DEGREE.

IT'S A MARKED DIFFERENCE THAN HIS FIRST PRESIDENCY.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU THINK, PROFESSOR?

>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW, IT DEPENDS ON WHO'S IN POWER, RIGHT?

I MEAN, POLARIZATION, DOES CONGRESS, YOU KNOW, IF YOUR PARTY IS IN POWER, DO YOU WANT TO JUST FURTHER YOUR AGENDA REGARDLESS OF THE CONSTITUTION AND THE REQUIREMENTS, OR ILL CONGRESS TAKE A STAND?

RIGHT NOW IT DOESN'T SEEM REPUBLICANS ARE WILLING TO TAKE THAT STAND.

I FIND IT HARD TO ELIEVE THAT A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT WITH A MORE DIVERSE COALITION RACIALLY, ETHNICALLY, ECONOMICALLY, I THINK I WOULD FIND IT HARD TO SEE A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT DO MANY OF THE THINGS THAT DONALD TRUMP IS DOING RIGHT NOW.

>> Eric: TO BE CONTINUED.

THANKS, FOLKS.

GOOD STUFF.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YA.

>> Eric: THANKS VERY MUCH.

♪ >> MY SON RECENTLY FIGURED OUT READING.

AND IT'S LED HIM TO A NEW HABIT.

WHENEVER WE DRIVE AROUND TOWN, HE WILL READ, OUT LOUD, EVERY STREET SIGN WE PASS.

>> AXEL WEIGHT LIMIT 7 TONS.

NOISE ORDINANCE ENFORCED.

NO FISHING OR STANDING ON BRIDGE.

>> IT'S A CUTE HABIT BUT IT ALSO STARTLED ME BECAUSE I'VE REALIZED FOR THE FIRST TIME JUST HOW MANY STREET SIGNS THERE REALLY ARE.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE 1.3 MILES FROM OUR HOME TO OUR SCHOOL, THERE ARE NO LESS THAN SIX SIGNS REMINDING US "... >> RIGHT LANE MUST TURN RIGHT.

>> I'VE BEEN DRIVING A CAR FOR THREE DECADES AND I'VE NEVER ONCE REGISTERED ... >> RIGHT LANE MUST TURN RIGHT.

>> BUT NOW THANKS TO MY SON, THEY'RE EVERYWHERE.

WHICH IS STARTLING BECAUSE I AM SOMEONE WHO PROVIDES HIMSELF ON OBSERVATIONAL SKILLS AND SOMEHOW I NEVER CONSCIOUSLY ACKNOWLEDGED ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT FEATURES OF MY DAILY ROUTINE.

>> RIGHT LANE MUST TURN RIGHT.

>> RIGHT LANE MUST TURN RIGHT.

>> I THINK THIS IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT MEANS WE'RE TELLING OURSELVES SOMETHING THAT SIMPLY ISN'T TRUE.

WE LIKE TO BELIEVE WE USE OUR EYEBALLS TO SEE THE WORLD, BUT EYEBALLS DO NOT SEE.

EYEBALLS ARE FILTERS.

THEY ONLY PAY ATTENTION TO NOVELTY.

ONCE SOMETHING BECOMES NORMAL, IT DISAPPEARS.

AND THIS EXPLAINS A LOT ABOUT MODERN LIFE.

THIS IS WHY WE'RE ALWAYS SURPRISED BY THINGS WE SHOULD HAVE SEEN RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.

MY GOSH, SOCIAL MEDIA HAS TAKEN OVER OUR BRAINS.

MY GOSH, WE PUT A LOT OF CARCINOGENS IN THE SOIL.

MY GOSH, MY COUNTRY'S SOCIAL CONTRACT HAS BEEN FUNDAMENTALLY ALTERED.

YOU EE, THIS IS WHY WE TALK ABOUT BOILING FROGS.

THIS IS WHY WE SCREAM AT THE HEAVENS, HOW DID WE GET HERE?

EYEBALLS DO NOT SEE.

WE DO NOT SEE.

SLOW AND STEADY CHANGE IS LITERALLY INVISIBLE.

WHAT'S MY PROOF?

WELL, MY SON'S FRESH EYEBALLS ARE MY PROOF.

IT'S A CHAOTIC WORLD, AND AS HE'S SHOWN ME, SOMEONE ACTUALLY TOOK THE TIME TO PUT UP SIGNS WARNING US OF EVERY POSSIBLE DANGER.

AND ME?

[ WHOOSH ] I NEVER EVEN NOTICED.

♪ ♪ >> IT'S BEEN A BIG ROLLER COAST COASTER WEEK FOR PLY IN.

SPORTS FANS WITH NOT ONE BUT TWO TEAMS IN THE PLAYOFF HUNT.

BAD NEWS FIRST.

LAST NIGHT, WHICH WAS THURSDAY THE WILD WERE ELIMINATED AGAINST IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE NHL PLAYOFFS.

THE GOOD NEWS, WEDNESDAY NIGHT THE TIMBERWOLVES BEAT HEAVILY FAVORED L.A. LAKERS AND NOW HEAD TO THE NBA CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS.

LARRY FITZGERALD SENIOR IS HERE.

WHEN HE'S NOT ON THE ALMANAC SET OR ATTENDING PLAYOFF GAMES HE DOES RADIO WORK FOR THE NATIONAL PROGRAMMING NETWORK.

WELL, GOSH, FITZY, EVIDENTLY THE WILD HAVE THE WORST PLAYOFF RECORD, MOST LOSSES IN FIRST-ROUND PLAYOFF ACTION OF ANY MAJOR SPORTS LEAGUE, LIKE ACROSS THE BOARD.

BASEBALL, HOCKEY, FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL.

WE HAVE THAT TO LOOK AT.

>> THAT'S DISAPPOINTING, YEAH.

REMEMBER, THE TWINS HAD, IT'S LIKE TEAMS IN THIS TOWN TAKE TURNS CARRYING THAT TYPE OF THING.

BUT THE TWINS ENDED IT A COUPLE YEARS AGO GETTING OUT OF THE FIRST ROUND BEATING TORONTO AND AS YOU KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING THIS YEAR IS NOT GOOD.

>> Eric: THE WILD, THEY DIDN'T GET OUTPLAYED THAT BADLY.

>> NO, THEY DIDN'T.

REMEMBER, THEY HAD CONTROL OF THE SERIES AFTER WINNING TWO GAMES 5-2 AND THEN THEY LOSE IN OVERTIME.

I WAS AT THAT GAME.

THEY LOSE 4-3, THAT GAME COULD HAVE BEEN THEIRS AND OF COURSE GAME FIVE, ONE OF THEIR GUY GUYS ON'T GO OFFSIDES THEY WON THAT GAME IN OVERTIME.

BUT YOU CAN'T MAKE MISTAKES AT CRITICAL IMES AND THEY DID AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE A PRETTY GOOD SEASON HAS COME TO AN END.

THEY HAVEN'T ADVANCED IN THE FIRST ROUND SINCE 2015.

>> Cathy: THAT'S RIGHT.

>> SO A LONG TIME.

>> Cathy: I WONDER WHAT WE HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR.

WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO DO NEXT YEAR IN ORDER TO GET BEYOND THE FIR ROUND?

>> I THINK THE LONGER YOU KEEP KIRILL KAPRIZOV HEALTHY, YOU'RE GOING TO BE GOOD.

HE MISSED, HE DIDN'T PLAY A GAME AFTER DECEMBER 1ST, HE WAS OUT.

HE DIDN'T COME BACK UNTIL THE PLAYOFFS, AND HE'S BEEN SENSATIONAL, HE HAS NINE POINTS, FIVE GOALS.

JUST UNFORTUNATE, HE'S THAT BIG A PIECE TO THEM, THEY'RE PAYING HIM 9 MILLION A YEAR, HE'S ANTICIPATING MAKING A WHOLE LOT MORE AND HE WILL, BECAUSE HE'S ONE OF THE GREATEST PLAYERS THAT CAN PLAY THE GAME BUT THEY'VE GOT TO KEEP HIM ON THE ICE.

>> Eric: WHERE ARE THESE GENIUS NBA PUNDIT MISREADING THE LAKERS AND WOLVES?

>> WHEN YOU COVERS TEAMS AS I DO AND DO NATIONAL STUFF AS I DO, YOU LISTEN TO WHAT THE PEOPLE IN THE BUSINESS ARE DOING AND SAYING AND I'M LISTENING AND WATCHING, ESPN HAD 11 GUYS THAT SAID THE LAKERS WERE GOING TO BEAT THE TIMBERWOLVES, I SAID WHAT ARE THEY WATCHING?

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

HAVE OU SEEN THIS TIMBERWOLVES TEAM, THE WAY THEY'RE BUILT, THE WAY THEY PLAY FOR EACH OTHER, YOU'VE GOT AN ASCENDING SUPERSTAR WHO'S ONLY 23 YEARS OLD IN ANTHONY EDWARDS WHO'S AN OLYMPIAN AND YOU'VE GOT TO START LOOKING AT THAT AND I DON'T THINK THEY WERE.

>> Eric: DO WE GET THE WARRIORS OR ROCKETS?

>> WE COULD FIND OUT AS SOON AS TONIGHT BECAUSE GAME SIX IS BETWEEN HOUSTON AND GOLDEN STATE.

IT'S IN SAN FRANCISCO, SO, WARRIORS HAD FOUR CHAMPIONSHIP RINGS, I THINK THEY KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO IN THAT BRAND NEW ARENA TONIGHT, THEY'RE GOING TO WIN.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO THE OLVES HAVE TO DO IN?

>> TO BEAT EITHER ONE OF THOSE TEAMS, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU BOTH A NOTE MANY PEOPLE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT.

BOTH OF THESE TEAMS WHETHER IT'S HOUSTON, NUMBER TWO SEED IN THE WEST, AND GOLDEN STATE NEITHER ONE OF THEM MADE THE PLAYOFFS LAST YEAR.

THAT TELLS ME THE TIMBERWOLVES ARE NOT ONLY A BETTER TEAM, A EXPERIENCED TEAM AND HARDENED TEAM.

>> Eric: BATTLE TESTED.

>> THAT'S CORRECT AND WHOEVER THEY PLAY I PICK THEM TO BEAT WHOEVER COMES OUT OF THIS GOLDEN STATE-HOUSTON SERIES.

ALTHOUGH GOLDEN STATE'S GOT A HALL OF FAME COACH, HALL OF FAME PLAYER IN STEPH CURRY, AND MINNESOTA IS BETTER BECAUSE ANTHONY DAVE -- ANTHONY EDWARDS -- I'LL GET IT RIGHT -- IS GOING THIS WAY.

AND THEY FOUND RUDY, THEY FOUND THE ORIGINAL RUDY.

27 AND 24?

HE LOOKED LIKE WILT CHAMBERLAIN THE OTHER NIGHT.

>> Eric: OF COURSE LAKERS ARE WILL A LITTLE MALL.

>> THEY ARE, BUT THAT'S COACHING, JJ REDDIC OVER WITH THE LAKERS, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LAKERS THIS, LAKERS THAT.

YOU GOT TO COACH, YOU GOT TO GET PEOPLE TO PLAY THE WAY YOU NEED THEM TO PLAY AND HIGHER LEVEL THAN A REGULAR SEASON.

>> Cathy: BEFORE YOU GO, TWINS.

I KNOW, NOT GREAT, I WANT TODAY BRING IT UP.

>> THEY WON 4 AND 0 SO THEY HAD ME EVEN BELIEVING THEY COULD COME AROUND BUT, MAN, THEY HAVE A WAYS TO GO.

IT'S A TOUGH DIVISION, THREE TEAMS MADE PLAYOFFS, CLEVELAND, KANSAS AND DETROIT AND MINNESOTA DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP IN THE OFF SEASON.

>> Eric: I'M GETTING THE HOOK.

ALWAYS GREAT.

THANKS, FITZY.

>> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.

♪ >> OH, SURE THERE'S ANOTHER COW NAMED TABITHA, WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A COW FOR MOVIE STARDOM, COMMERCIAL STARDOM?

>> I LOOK FOR DISPOSITION, GOT TO BE NICE, FAIRLY MELLOW, GOT TO LOOK FOR THE RIGHT COLORS, KIND OF THAT HALF BLACK, HALF WHITE.

>> COLORS, HE'S A HOLSTEIN, SHE'S BLACK AND WHITE, THEY'RE ALL BLACK AND WHITE.

>> SOMETIMES YOU GET TOO MUCH BLACK, TOO MUCH WHITE.

YOU GOT TO HAVE THAT HALF AND HALF, THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE PERCEIVE.

>> IS SOMEBODY RUNNING A SHOWER BACK HERE OR JUST WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?

♪ ♪ >> Eric: STATE LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT CHANGING SOLAR POWER INCENTIVES THIS SESSION.

AND THIS NEXT STORY INTERSECTS STATE LAW, ELECTRICAL CO-OPS, AND A STATE MANDATE FOR CLEAN ENERGY.

REPORTER KAOMI LEE WENT TO MEET WITH FARMERS IN RENVILLE COUNTY WHO HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET THEIR SOLAR PROJECT CONNECTED TO THE GRID.

>> LAST SUMMER, BROTHERS LARRY AND RALEIGH TRIED TO ELECTRIFY FARMING INTO THE FUTURE ONE SOLAR PANEL AT A TIME.

>> I THINK I HAVE IT 3 ITERATIONS OF THIS.

>> THEY DESIGNED AND BUILT THEIR OWN SOLAR ARRAY RIGHT IN ONE OF LARRY'S CORNFIELDS.

THE OLIVIA FARMERS AND INVENTORS HAD A VISION.

THEY WANTED TO PROVE SOLAR PANELS AND CONVENTIONAL CROPS COULD COEXIST AND THEY WANTED TO SHOW FARMING COULD BE DONE WITH FEWER FOSSIL FUELS.

THEY INVESTED MORE THAN $80,000 OF THEIR OWN MONEY, ND EVEN GOT U OF M RESEARCHERS ON BOARD.

BUT ALMOST THREE YEARS LATER, THEY'RE STILL NOT CONNECTED TO THE GRID.

>> WE CAME UP WITH THE CONCEPT FOR THIS PROJECT ALMOST THREE YEARS AGO.

MET WITH THE CO-OP AND THEY TRIED TO DISCOURAGE US RIGHT FROM THE GET-GO.

>> WE'RE A NOT FOR PROFIT ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, AND WE HAVE A VERY THIN OPERATING MARGIN.

TO PUT THAT INTO PERSPECTIVE AT THE END OF 2024 THE YEAR WE JUST COMPLETED WE HAD A $54,000 OPERATING MARGIN.

>> WITH JUST 1500 MEMBER-OWNERS, IT'S THE SMALLEST ELECTRICAL CO-OP IN THE STATE.

>> WE'VE BEEN FULLY UPPORTIVE OF THAT PROJECT FROM THE BEGINNING.

IT COMES DOWN TO A DISAGREEMENT ABOUT WHAT WE COMMUNICATED WAS GOING TO BE THE COMPENSATION.

>> THE DISPUTE IS OVER SOMETHING CALLED NET METERING.

MOST FOLKS IN RURAL MINNESOTA GET THEIR ELECTRICITY FROM A NON-PROFIT ELECTRICAL COOPERATIVE LIKE RENVILLE-SIBLEY, THEY'RE OWNED BY THE MEMBERS AND MOST COOPERATIVES REGULATE THEIR OWN RATES.

NET METERING ALLOWS MEMBERS WHO INSTALL UP TO 40 KILOWATTS OF SOLAR O GET A BREAK ON THEIR BILL.

>> IF YOU INSTALL GENERATION LIKE OLAR ON YOU ARE YOUR PROPERTY YOU CAN USE THAT GENERATION TO OFFSET ANY PURCHASES OF ELECTRICITY FROM YOUR UTILITY AND SO IT'S JUST LIKE ROLLING THE METER BACKWARDS TO EFFECTIVELY REDUCE OR NET OUT YOUR ENERGY CONSUMPTION.

>> MINNESOTA WAS THE FIRST TO CODIFY NET METERING INTO LAW IN 1983.

TO GET MORE INDIVIDUALS TO INVEST IN SOLAR, IT ADDED A CARROT.

>> IF YOU END UP PRODUCING MORE THAN YOU CONSUME, NET METERING REQUIRES THE UTILITY TO PAY YOU FOR THAT CCESS GENERATION AT THE SAME RATE THAT YOU BUY ELECTRICITY FROM THAT UTILITY.

>> IT'S CALLED THE RETAIL RATE, AND FOR RENVILLE-SIBLEY CUSTOMERS, IT'S ABOUT TEN CENTS PER KILOWATT, THAT'S ABOUT THREE TIMES COSTLIER THAN BUYING IT WHOLESALE.

>> THIS IS A UNIQUE SITUATION WHERE WE HAD A MEMBER PUT SOLAR PANELS IN AN EMPTY FIELD WHERE THERE WASN'T AN EXISTING SERVICE, AND WE HAVE 36 MEMBERS WHO HAVE INSTALLED V.G.

WHERE THEY WERE OFFSETTING ENERGY.

>> ONCE YOU HAVE AN ELECTRICAL SERVICE YOU CAN INSTALL SOLAR.

IT'S NOT ABOUT YOUR INTENT.

>> AARON BUSSE IS ADVISING, HE'S INSTALLED SYSTEMS SINCE 2009.

HE SAYS HIS CLIENTS SATISFIED ALL THE REQUIREMENTS TO CONNECT TO THE GRID.

THE SOLAR WILL OFFSET POWER FROM AN E.V.

CHARGER AND A SHED.

HE SAYS THE CO-OP IS NOT FOLLOWING THE LAW.

>> FROM THE COST PERSPECTIVE I GET IT, MAYBE IT DOESN'T LOOK RIGHT.

IN THIS INSTANCE THEY ARE GOING TO BE USING THE POWER.

THERE'S JUST A LITTLE BIT OF EXCESS ONCE IN A WHILE THAT GOES BACK BUT THAT DOES HELP WITH THE COST OF THE PROJECT.

>> SOME SAY THE DECADES-OLD LAW NEEDS REVISING, AS SOLAR BECOMES MORE AFFORDABLE, MORE OF IT IS COMING ONLINE.

BUT IT'S NOT AVAILABLE AT NIGHT WHEN CO-OPS SAY IS THEIR PEAK DEMAND.

WITHOUT REFORM THEY SAY RATES WILL GO UP FOR ALL PAYERS.

>> NET METERING SAYS THEY MUST BUY THE EXCESS AT A RETAIL RATE AND THEY TURN AROUND AND SELL IT FOR RETAIL AND OF COURSE THAT'S NOT A BUSINESS MODEL ANYBODY CAN SUSTAIN.

>> OVERALL IT'S STILL A VERY SMALL FRACTION OF OUR OVERALL PICTURE BUT IN CERTAIN UTILITIES IT CAN ACTUALLY BE A BIG ENOUGH AMOUNT TO REALLY MATTER.

>> STATE LAWMAKERS ARE CONSIDERING NET METERING REFORM THIS SESSION.

DEMOCRAT STATE SENATOR NICK FRENTZ IS SPONSORING A BILL THAT WOULD REDUCE THE RATES THE CO-OPS HAVE TO PAY FOR EXCESS SOLAR.

FRENTZ IS ALSO CHAIR OF THE SENATE ENERGY, TILITIES, ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE COMMITTEE.

>> THIS LEGISLATION COME PRIMARILY FROM PEOPLE WHO SAY WE CAN HAVE SOLAR ENERGY FOR LESS.

>> REFORM HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS ALSO SAY THE SUBSIDIES ARE TOO EXPENSIVE.

REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS SWEDZINSKI IS COCHAIR OF THE HOUSE ENERGY, FINANCE, AND POLICY OMMITTEE AND COSPONSOR OF THE HOUSE VERSION.

>> WE FEEL IT'S TIME TO STOP WITH THE MANDATES AND STOP WITH INCENTIVE PROGRAMS BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY A GROWN INDUSTRY, IT'S ALREADY MATURE, IT'S NOT LIKE A BABY BIRD BEING KICKED OUT OF THE NEST.

>> THE SOLAR INDUSTRY SAYS THE BILLS ARE JOBS KILLERS AND DISINCENTIVIZES INDIVIDUALS FROM INVESTING IN SOLAR.

>> CHANGING THAT FORMULA REALLY CHANGES HOW A MINNESOTAN IS GOING TO BE ABLE O PAY THAT SYSTEM OFF IN THE TIMELINE THAT THEY CAN DO SO.

>> THE BILLS ALSO SUNSET COMMUNITY SOLAR GARDENS.

THE STATE HAS A GOAL OF 100% CLEAN ENERGY BY 2040.

GABRIEL CHAN SAYS SMALL SCALE SOLAR WILL STILL BE NEEDED.

>> THE FASTER WE CAN MOVE THESE RESOURCES ONTO THE GRID IN A WAY THAT BENEFITS EVERYONE, THEN HE FASTER WE CAN MEET OUR CARBON GOALS ND THE MORE RELIABLE OUR SUPPLY WILL BE.

>> FOR THE ROUNDHURSTS, THEY MAY TAKE THEIR CASE TO COURT.

THEIR CO-OP WANTS THEM TO ACCEPT A RATE LOWER THAN RETAIL RATE.

>> THEY'VE ALLOWED IT FOR OTHER CASES BUT IN THIS CASE THEY JUST LOOK AT IT AS ALL YOU'RE GOING TO DO IS GENERATE ELECTRICITY AND NOT USE ANY, WHICH IS NOT TRUE.

♪ ♪ >> ON THURSDAY OF THIS WEEK HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY ROBERT F. KENNEDY JUNIOR ANNOUNCED PLANS TO CHANGE THE WAY VACCINES ARE TESTED, RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER A NEW COVID BOOSTER WOULD BE AVAILABLE THIS FALL.

THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA ANNOUNCED A NEW PROJECT LAST WEEK TO COUNTER VACCINE HESITANCY AND THE ANTI-VAX MESSAGING COMING OUT OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.

ONE OF THE PEOPLE LEADING THE VACCINE INTEGRITY PROJECT A FAMILIAR FACE TO "ALMANAC" VIEWERS, WORLD RENOWNED EPIDEMIOLOGIST AND HEAD OF THE U'S CENTER FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE AND POLICY, MIKE OSTERHOLM.

WELCOME BACK.

TWO THINGS HAPPENED.

EVIDENTLY NEW VACCINES WOULD HAVE TO BE SUBJECTED TO PLACEBO CONTROLLED TRIALS.

THE VACCINE THAT'S 97% EFFECTIVE AGAINST MEASLES EVIDENTLY THE NEW ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO LOOK FOR NEW MEASLES TREATMENTS.

WHAT DO THOSE TWO THINGS TELL YOU?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IT IS BASICALLY A DISASTER UNFOLDING IN FRONT OF US IN TERMS OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND YOU'VE NEVER HEARD ME USE THAT WORD BEFORE, AND THAT'S HOW BAD IT IS.

EVERY DAY THERE HAS BEEN SOMETHING NEW COMING OUT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WITH SOME NEW CLAIM ABOUT SOMETHING.

AND MUCH OF IT IS JUST PLAIN DISINFORMATION, IT'S NOT TRUE.

AND WE AS SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY REALLY HAVE TO STAND UP AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT MESSAGE IS LEAR TO THE PUBLIC AND TO CLINICIANS WHAT REALLY IS TRUE.

FOR EXAMPLE, TALKING ABOUT DOING VACCINES FOR PLACEBO CONTROLLED TRIALS.

THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF PLACEBO CONTROLLED TRIALS AND PLACEBO IS AN INERT SUBSTANCE SO GIVING SOMEONE SALINE VERSUS A VACCINE.

ON THE OTHER HAND FOR STUDIES WHERE YOU'RE LOOKING AT IMPROVED VACCINES, YOU HAVE A VACCINE THAT ORKS SO YOU CAN'T USE A PLACEBO, IT ETHICALLY WOULD BE WRONG, IKE IMAGINING CANCER TREATMENT STUDIES TODAY WHERE YOU GET THE TREATMENT OR YOU WON'T.

NO, THEY GIVE YOU THE REGULAR TREATMENT AND THEY ADD ON THE ADDITIONAL AND SAY DOES IT DO BETTER.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO AS PART F OUR GROUP REALLY BRING TOGETHER A NATIONAL CONSENSUS ON WHAT ARE THE KEY ISSUES, MISINFORMATION, DISINFORMATION AND HOW DO WE TRY TO BEST INFORM THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT THE FACTS ARE.

>> Eric: WHAT IS THE VACCINE INTEGRITY PROJECT AND WHY IS IT NEEDED?

>> WELL, ACTUALLY IT WAS ON THIS SHOW RIGHT AFTER THE ELECTION I TALKED ABOUT THE DISASTER I SAW COMING AND I WROTE AN OP-ED PIECE IN THE "NEW YORK TIMES" JUST A WEEK AFTER THE ELECTION AND SAID THIS IS ALL GOING TO BE ABOUT 2025 AND IF YOU READ THAT YOU'LL KNOW WHAT'S IN THERE ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH AND VACCINES AND SURE ENOUGH, IT UNFOLDED.

THEN ON TOP OF THAT WHEN Mr. KENNEDY WAS ACTUALLY NAMED AS THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND GOT THROUGH A MAN WHO HAS SPENT LARGELY MOST OF HIS ADULT CAREER AS AN ANTI-VACCINE ZEALOT WHO'S MADE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN LITIGATION SUITS AGAINST VACCINE MANUFACTURERS WE KNEW WE WERE IN BIG TROUBLE.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENED SO FAR.

IF I COULD GO THROUGH DAY BY DAY BY DAY AND SHARE WITH YOU THE KINDS OF INFORMATION THAT REALLY GIVES YOU THE SENSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING, HE GOES TO TEXAS HAS WE HAVE A LARGE OUTBREAK GOING, HE TALKS TO THE FAMILY OF THE YOUNG GIRL THAT DIED AND HE SAYS, YES, YOU SHOULD GET A VACCINE FOR THE OUTBREAK BUT JUST BE CAREFUL BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S IN THEM.

>> Eric: HOW DO YOU USE HIS PROJECT TO GET MORE INFORMATION OUT?

>> WELL, RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE HAVE A STEERING COMMITTEE THAT IS REALLY TWO VERY RENOWNED PEOPLE, FORMER HEAD OF THE NATIONAL HEAD OF THE NATIO NATIONAL ACADF MEDICINE, FORMER FDA COMMITTEE, ASA HUTCHINSON, FORMER GOVERNOR OF ARKANSAS.

AND FRED UPTON, CONGRESSMAN FROM MICHIGAN, VERY INVOLVED WITH A NUMBER OF HEALTH RELATED ISSUES.

SO WE HAVE PEOPLE LIKE THAT IN OUR GROUP TO HELP US DECIDE.

WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IS WE HAVE EIGHT FOCUS GROUPS THAT WERE SCHEDULED OVER THE NEXT EIGHT WEEKS.

MAJOR EFFORTS TO REACH ALL THE VACCINE ENTERPRISE IN THIS COUNTRY FROM THE BASIC RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FINAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE VACCINE.

WHAT ARE THE SHORTCOMINGS, WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS, CDC HAS ALL BEEN BUT GUTTED IN TERMS OF INFORMATION DISSEMINATION SO WE HAVE TO REALLY COME UP WITH OUR OWN.

MY FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD CHOICE WOULD BE TO HAVE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DO THEIR JOB THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO BUT THEY'RE NOT.

>> Cathy: WHY DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD BE EFFECTIVE, YOUR GROUP WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE EFFECTIVE OUTSIDE OF GOVERNMENT?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THAT WE KNOW WE CAN BE EFFECTIVE.

SOMEBODY HAS TO DO SOMETHING AND IT WASN'T BEING DONE SO WE MERELY DECIDED, YOU KNOW, IT'S OUR CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, WE'LL DO IT.

JUST AS WE'VE DONE A LOT OF OTHER PROJECTS, WE'RE THE CENTER RIGHT NOW FOR THE WHOLE WORLD THAT'S MONITORING VACCINE DEVELOPMENT FOR INFLUENZA AND CORONAVIRUS VACCINES SO WE'VE HAD A PRESENCE IN THIS AREA.

WHEN WE SAY WE TOO, BY THE WAY WE HAVE BROUGHT ON A NUMBER OF OUTSIDE PEOPLE WHO ARE REAL EXPERTS TO BE PART OF THIS EFFORT WITH US AND SO WE'RE KIND OF THE CATALYST, WE'RE ALSO THE PLACE THIS RESIDES BUT WE'RE JUST A SMALL PEOPLE OF WHAT ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE INVOLVED.

>> Cathy: WILL YOU BE ABLE TO KEEP VACCINES AVAILABLE TO ALL OF THOSE WHO NEED THEM DO YOU THINK?

>> WELL, THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT POINT.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO REPLACE THE ADVISORY COMMUNITY OF PRACTICES.

WE WON'T, WE'RE NOT A GOVERNMENT GENCY, WE WON'T.

WE'RE HERE TO BASICALLY TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT VACCINES, WE'RE HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC KNOWS THAT WE'RE HERE TO COUNTER THE DIS AND MISINFORMATION THAT'S COMING OUT OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION BUT IN THINGS LIKE THAT THEY'RE STILL GOING TO BE VULNERABLE.

>> Eric: KEEP US POSTED ON HOW IT GOES AND WE'LL HAVE YOU BACK OF COURSE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> Eric: THANKS A LOT.

♪ >> I’M A DOCTOR, SO IT’S ALWAYS BEEN PART OF MY JOB TO KEEP UP ON THE LATEST DISCOVERIES IN MEDICAL SCIENCE.

I LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT POTENTIALLY RISKY THINGS, FOR MY PATIENTS AND FOR ME.

THAT WAY I CAN MAKE SURE TO AVOID THEM.

LIKE WHEN THEY SAID SUN EXPOSURE CAUSES SKIN CANCER, BOOM, JUST LIKE THAT, I WAS DONE.

THREW AWAY ALL MY COPPERTONE TANNING BUTTER.

EVEN GOT RID OF MY THONG BIKINI.

OR WHEN SOME BRANDS OF SMUCKERS PEANUT BUTTER WERE RECALLED BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE CONTAMINATION WITH SALMONELLA.

PEOPLE WERE SHOCKED, EVEN THOUGH SMUCKERS ALREADY SOUNDS LIKE THE NAME OF A SERIOUS DISEASE.

WELL, THE TESTS ARE BACK, AND I’M AFRAID -- YOU MEAN -- YES.

YOU HAVE SMUCKERS.

NOW A NEW STUDY SHOWS THAT HIGH LEVELS OF PARTICLES IN THE AIR CAN CAUSE AN INCREASE IN SOME KINDS OF CANCER.

THE HIGHER THE LEVELS, THE HIGHER THE RISK.

THESE PARTICLES COME FROM CARS, SMOKESTACKS AND BURNING VEGETATION, SO FORGET ABOUT DRIVING TO THE BONFIRE DOWN AT THE POWER PLANT.

THEN I READ THIS OTHER REPORT, WHICH SAYS THAT HIGHER LEVELS OF CERTAIN METALS IN THE DRINKING WATER SUPPLY ARE CAUSING AN INCREASE IN LUNG INFECTIONS, ESPECIALLY IN PEOPLE WITH SERIOUS LUNG DISEASE.

THE MOST DANGEROUS ONES SEEM TO BE MOLYBDENUM AND VANADIUM, WHICH WOULD BOTH BE EXCELLENT NAMES FOR THRASH METAL ROCK BANDS.

THE HIGH LEVELS OF METALS COME FROM INDUSTRIAL RUNOFF AND EROSION OF WATER PIPES, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE ONES IN YOUR BASEMENT.

SO I WOULDN’T WORRY, UNLESS YOUR HOUSE HAS RUNNING WATER.

HUH.

SO BASICALLY, ACCORDING TO THESE RECENT FINDINGS, WE’LL ALL BE SAFE AS LONG AS WE DON'T DRINK THE WATER OR BREATHE THE AIR.

GOOD TO KNOW.

IF ANYONE NEEDS ME, I'LL BE INSIDE HIDING UNDER MY BED.

I MEAN, AS FAR AS WE KNOW, BEDS ARE STILL SAFE, RIGHT?

♪ >> Eric: THIS WEDNESDAY MARKED THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VIETNAM WAR'S END, A MAJOR SHIFT FOR THE U.S. MILITARY AFTER NEARLY A DECADE OF ON-THE-GROUND OPERATIONS.

THE WAR LED TO A LARGE EXODUS FROM VIETNAM AND DISPLACED ASIAN GROUPS LIKE THE HMONG.

MINNESOTA HOLDS THE LARGEST URBAN HMONG POPULATION IN THE COUNTRY, BUT THE STORIES OF LAO AND HMONG VETERANS WHO SUPPORTED THE U.S.

REMAIN LARGELY UNTOLD.

THE DIRECTOR FOR THE CENTER FOR HMONG STUDIES AT CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY LEE PAO XIONG IS HERE AND JOINING HIM IS AUTHOR OF "KISSINGER'S BETRAYAL: HOW AMERICA LOST THE VIETNAM WAR," STEVE YOUNG.

WANT TO GET BOTH OF YOU IN THE CONVERSATION, BUT YOU HELP KIND OF SET UP THE RESETTLEMENT.

>> I STARTED IT ACTUALLY.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> Eric: WHAT LED YOU TO DO THAT AND HOW TOUGH A JOB WAS IT?

>> WELL, IT WAS FATE.

SO WE JUST BOUGHT A HOUSE, I WAS A YOUNG LAWYER IN NEW YORK, BOUGHT A HOUSE IN BROOKLYN, SUNDAY AFTERNOON MY WIFE AND SOME FRIENDS WERE PAINTING IT UP, LISTENING TO ROCK AND ROLL RADIO, BIG ANNOUNCEMENT, THE CITY OF DENANG HAS FALLEN.

I HAD NERVEB SERVED IN VIETNAM FOR A LONG TIME.

COMMANDER TRUE WAS THE BEST VIETNAMESE GENERAL.

IF HE COULD NOT HOLD DENANG, THERE WAS NO HOPE.

>> Eric: DID YOU GO OVER THERE?

>> NO, I DECIDED WE HAD TO HAVE A REFUGEE MOVEMENT.

AND I'M DRIVING LIKE THIS, MY WIFE SAYS I NEED TO CALM DOWN.

HOW COULD I CALM DOWN?

I HAVE A FRIEND IN WASHINGTON, HE IS ONE OF KISSINGER'S STAFF AIDES.

I WON'T GO TO WORK AT SIMPSON, THATCHER AND BARTLETT, TALKED TO PARKER AND HE AND SOME OTHER FRIENDS GOT IT STARTED.

>> Cathy: NOW, SAY, I NEED TO ASK YOU BOTH ABOUT TRAUMA BUT SPECIFICALLY THIS IS STILL A WOUND I THINK FOR SO MANY PEOPLE, RIGHT?

AND SO PROFESSOR, IS IT TOO MUCH TO SAY THAT THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE HMONG AND LAOTIAN COMMUNITY THAT STILL HAVE A LOT OF TRAUMA AROUND THIS?

>> ABSOLUTELY, I MEAN, THE EXODUS, THE LOSS OF A COUNTRY AND THEN THE LOSS OF PEOPLE TRYING TO GET ACROSS TO THAILAND TO SEEK REFUGE AFTER THE FALL OF WHETHER IT'S VIETNAM OR THE FALL LAUGHOS.

AND SO A LOT OF -- FALL OF LAOS.

SO A LOT OF EVACUATIONS STARTED IN THE COUNTRY OF LAOS MAY 12 AND MAY 14TH AND THEN THE PLANES CAME IN AND EVERYBODY HAD TO FIND THEIR WAY.

>> Cathy: YOU WERE JUST A KID.

>> I WAS NINE YEARS OLD, THE FIRST DAY OF THE EVACUATION MAY.

>> Eric: YOU VISITED SOME OF THE REFUGEE CAMPS.

>> IN '78 I WAS PART OF THE SECOND PHASE OF THE REFUGEE MOVEMENT.

THERE WAS NO WAY TO GET A VISA SO WE HAD TO GET SOMETHING CALLED PAROLE AUTHORITY WHICH MY FRIENDS WERE ABLE TO DO IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

BUT TO GET HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE BECAUSE THE BOAT PEOPLE ARE NOW COMING OUT OF VIETNAM, THOUSANDS OF MA HONG AND CAMBODIANS IN THAILAND WITH NO WAY TO GO TO THE STATES.

THERE HAD TO BE A REFUGEE PROGRAM WITH AN ACT OF CONGRESS.

LEO STARTED A SMALL GROUP, WE VISITED CAMPS TO INTERVIEW PEOPLE AND GO BACK TO WORK WITH TEDDY KENNEDY TO GET THE 1980 REFIE ACT -- REFUGEE ACT PASSED.

AND WE KEPT OUR WORD WITH THESE PEOPLE.

>> Cathy: AND OF COURSE THE MINNESOTA HAS THE LARGEST HMONG POPULATION OUTSIDE -- >> ABSOLUTELY, WE HAVE ABOUT 3,000 HMONG, THE LARGEST URBANIZED POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> Cathy: THINK ABOUT HOW THAT'S CHANGED THE TRAJECTORY OF MINNESOTA.

HOW DO YOU VIEW THAT?

>> YES.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY SAID IF YOU GO AROUND CITY OF ST. PAUL AND BOARD UP EVERY BUSINESS OWNED BY HMONG PEOPLE AND OTHER REFUGEE GROUPS, YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THE REFUGEE ON MINNESOTA.

AND I THINK THAT'S A PRETTY VISIBLE.

>> Eric: YOU SAID THAT AMERICA ENDED UP BEING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY IN THIS THING.

>> I DID BECAUSE ANOTHER LONG STORY, NO TIME FOR IT BUT I RAN ACROSS DOCUMENTS STARTING YEARS AGO AND ELLSWORTH BUNKER IN SAGAN OUR AMBASSADOR TO HELP ME WRITE MEMOIRS, HENRY KISSINGER ON HIS OWN WITHOUT TELLING PRESIDENT NIXON DECIDED TWO THINGS IN 1971.

HE DECIDED THE AMERICANS WOULD NOT ASK FOR THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE NORTH VIETNAMESE TROOPS.

ALL THE SACRIFICES EVERYBODY HAD MADE WE WERE GOING TO LEAVE THE ARMY IN SOUTH VIETNAM, ONE, AND TWO, HE TELLS THE RUSSIANS, THE VIETNAMESE AND THE CHINESE THAT IF FIGHTING BREAKS OUT AFTER A PEACE AGREEMENT THE UNITED STATES WILL NOT INTERVENE.

HE GAVE A GREEN LIGHT TO WHAT HANOI DID, SO WE'D WON THE WAR BY 1972 AND THEN IN '75 WE LOST IT BECAUSE OF ONE MAN, ONE AMERICAN.

>> Cathy: NOW, PROFESSOR, DIDN'T YOUR FATHER, WASN'T HE A SOLDIER IN THE CIA'S SECRET WAR >> YEAH, HE WAS, HE WAS IN THE HEAVY ARTILLERY UNIT AND THAT'S HOW WE KNEW ABOUT THE EVACUATION.

IEP OF THOSE FLIGHTS THAT WOULD LAND IN THE HEADQUARTERS WERE DESIGNATED FOR A COLONEL.

SO HE CAME UP WITH A LIST AND THAT LIST, THAT ORIGINAL LIST IS AT THE CENTER FOR HMONG STUDIES.

AND WE HEARD ABOUT THEVACCATION BECAUSE ONE OF MY UNCLES WAS WORKING FOR LON PAO IN HIS COMPOUND AND HE SAID THEY'RE GOING TO EVACUATE SO IF YOU WANT TO LEAVE YOU BETTER COME.

AND MAY 12TH I ACTUALLY GOT ON THE PLANE.

>> Cathy: DID YOUR DAD EVER TALK ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCES?

>> IT'S PRETTY PAINFUL AND I THINK HE'S GETTING OLD NOW AND PEOPLE THAT PARTICULAR AGE, IT'S TOO PAINFUL FOR THEM TO REMEMBER, I'VE HAD TO BRIEF HIM, HE SAID, YEAH, AFTER WE GOT THERE THEN THERE WERE MORE EVACUATIONS.

I SAID, YEAH, IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN WE GOT ON THE FIRST FLIGHT OUT OF LAOS.

AND FOR MANY OF THEM I THINK THEY PREFER TO LET IT GO AND NOT THINK ABOUT IT.

>> Eric: HOW DID YOU AND OTHER FAMILIES END UP IN MINNESOTA?

>> MY UNCLE VANG LING WAS THE FIRST HMONG REFUGEE TO END UP IN MINNESOTA.

SO HE CAME HERE NOVEMBER OF 1975 AND MY UNCLE CAME HERE IN FEBRUARY OF 1976.

>> Cathy: STEVE, DO YOU REMEMBER A PUSHBACK AT ALL TO THE RESETTLEMENT?

>> THE ONE PUSHBACK WAS IN '75 TEDDY KENNEDY IN THE SENATE IMMIGRATION COMMITTEE HAD TO AUTHORIZE PAROLE FOR HE SENATE.

AND SO MY FRIEND LIONEL ROSEN BLAT WAS NEGOTIATING WITH KENNEDY'S STAFF AND KENNEDY SAID WE WILL TAKE A NUMBER OF VIETNAMESE THE SAME AS THE NUMBER OF CUBANS WE TOOK IN 1965, WHICH WOULD ONLY 150,000 PEOPLE.

SO WHEN I WAS IN LIONEL'S OFFICE WHEN HE SAID THAT HAS MY FEELINGS WERE HOW CAN YOU DO THIS?

BUT THEN 150,000 IS BETTER THAN ZERO.

>> Cathy: I WANT TO KNOW HERE, PROFESSOR, ABOUT THE YOUNGER GENERATION.

DO YOU THINK THEY UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS 50TH ANNIVERSARY?

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE'RE WORKING REALLY HARD TO TRY TO EDUCATE, NOT ONLY JUST OUR YOUNGER GENERATION BUT EVEN MINNESOTANS, OVERALL MINNESOTANS BECAUSE THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW WE ENDED UP HERE.

AND I THINK IT'S ALSO VERY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT HMONG WERE NOT PART OF THE RESETTLEMENT PART OF THE PLAN, THEY SAID THE HMONG WERE TOO PRIMITIVE.

BUT LIONEL ROSENBLAT WENT TO VISIT THE FORMER UNITED STATES MARINE INSTALLATION AND HE GOT UP THERE AND SAID HE'S HMONG, WHAT DO YOU MEAN THEY'RE TOO PRIMITIVE?

THEY HAVE AMERICAN CODE NAMES AND THEY SPOKE NGLISH.

AND THERE'S ALSO A PH.D., DR. YUNG DAO AND HOW COULD THEY BE PRIMITIVE?

SO HE ACTUALLY REALLOCATED THE REMAINING NUMBERS LEFT OVER FOR THE HMONG SO MY FAMILY WERE ONE OF THE 10,000 WHO FIRST CAME TO THE UNITED STATES.

WE WERE SPONSORED Y A MENNONITE CHURCH IN MORGANTOWN, INDIANA.

>> Cathy: OH, MY GOSH.

>> WE WERE HE GUINEA PIGS TO SEE IF WE COULD LIVE IN AMERICA.

AND IT WORKED OUT, WE THRIVED.

>> Cathy: I WISH WE HAD MORE TIME BUT WE DON'T, WE GOTTA GO.

GREAT TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> '75 MINNESOTANS VOLUNTEERS.

>> Cathy: I ACTUALLY REMEMBER THAT, THANK YOU, WE'LL TALK LATER.

JUST OVER A COUPLE WEEKS TO GO IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

BIPARTISAN COOPERATION IS NEEDED TO PASS BILLS WHILE PROTESTS AND FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS CREATE ADDED PRESSURE.

POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER HAS THE STORY.

[ CROWD CHANTING ] >> MAY DAY RALLIES CALLED OUT CONCERNS OVER DECISIONS IN DYED CFSS D.C. >> CROWD: WHEN WE FIGHT WE WIN!

>> CROWD: STOP THE DESTRUCTION!

>> DEMOCRATS ALSO GATHERED ON THE STATE CAPITOL STEPS TO EXPRESS THEIR FRUSTRATION.

>> HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF MINNESOTANS ARE RAISING THEIR VOICES.

THEY ARE, JUST LIKE YOU ARE.

IN RALLIES AND TOWN HALLS AND TOWN GATHERINGS BECAUSE WE ARE THE ANTIDOTE TO WHAT IS HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND THEY MAY NOT BE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING, WHAT YOU'RE DOING, BUT THEY SHOULD.

BECAUSE THE POWER OF OUR GOVERNMENT RESTS WITH US.

>> IT'S UP TO US, NO ONE ELSE IS COMING TO SAVE THIS COUNTRY.

IT'S UP TO US, WE HAVE TO STAND UP FOR THE CONSTITUTION, WE HAVE TO STAND UP FOR DEMOCRACY, WE HAVE TO STAND UP FOR OUR KIDS, AND WE HAVE TO STAND UP FOR MINNESOTANS WHO CAN'T STAND UP FOR THEMSELVES.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> GOVERNOR WALZ WENT TO HARVARD FOR A FORUM ON NATIONAL POLITICS, AGAIN TAKING ON PRESIDENT TRUMP.

>> IF YOU LEAVE A VOID, DONALD TRUMP WILL FILL IT.

>> SO HOW IS TIM WALZ FILLING THAT VOID RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL, I'M GOVERNING IN MINNESOTA, THE STATE THAT RANKS FIRST IN HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, CCESS O EDUCATION, BIOTECH RESEARCH, HIGHER ED.

IF I EVER HAD 100 DAYS TO LIVE I WOULD SPEND IT IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE IT'S LIKE A LIFETIME, YOU KNOW.

[ LAUGHTER ] IT'S BEEN 100 DAYS OF DESTRUCTION, YOU THINK WE CAN SURVIVE 550 MORE, THAT'S THE REAL CHALLENGE.

>> YOU'RE NOT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

>> I AM NOT.

>> WHILE THE GOVERNOR'S TRAVELS CONTINUE TO TAKE HIM ON THE NATIONAL SPEAKING CIRCUIT WHAT HE'S BACK AT THE STATE CAPITOL HE IS MEETING WITH LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AS THEY TRY TO IRON OUT FINAL BUDGET AND POLICY BILLS.

>> WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF AUDIO HERE THAT I WANT TO PLAY.

>> WALZ AGREES WITH ME THAT THIS PIDDLY STUPID STUFF RUNNING SMALL PEOPLE OUT OF BUSINESS IS TERRIBLE.

>> THE HOUSE QUESTIONED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ABOUT THE MASSIVE FEEDING OUR FUTURE FRAUD.

>> I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE SEEMING FOCUS ON PRIORITY ON KEEPING GRANT RECIPIENTS IN BUSINESS AS OPPOSED TO DEFENDING THE STATE AGENCIES AND MAINTAINING THE INTEGRITY OF TAXPAYER FUNDS THAT ARE GOING TO THESE RECIPIENTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING SERVICES TO PEOPLE.

>> WHENEVER THERE'S A CRISIS WE ALSO HAVE GOT TO PUT ON OUR DETECTIVE HAT BECAUSE FRAUDSTERS TRY TO MAKE USE OF THOSE TRAGIC INCIDENTS TO ENRICH THEMSELVES.

>> WE AGREE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU, ATTORNEY GENERAL.

WE ARE ADJOURNED.

THANK YOU.

>> THE SENATE WILL COME TO ORDER.

>> THE TARGET THAT OUR COMMITTEE WAS ASSIGNED THIS YEAR WAS A NEGATIVE $227 MILLION.

>> THIS IS REALLY THE WAY A COMMITTEE SHOULD BE RUN IN THE LEGISLATURE.

WE'VE HAD VERY MUCH RESPECT ACROSS THE AISLES, WE'VE HAD BILLS HEARD FROM BOTH PARTIES.

>> THE NEXT BILL ON THE CALENDAR FOR TODAY IS HOUSE FILE 2431.

>> BUDGET BILLS CONTINUE TO MOVE IN A BIPARTISAN MANNER, INCLUDING HIGHER EDUCATION.

>> WE HAD ZERO NEW MONEY AND WE HAD TO FILL AND FIX A HUGE HOLE.

>> THAT WAS A BIG VOTE, IT WAS BIPARTISAN FOR BUT ALSO BIPARTISAN AGAINST.

>> GOVERNING IN A TIE IS NOT EASY.

IN FACT, I DON'T THINK ANYONE HAS EVER BEEN IN THE SITUATION THAT CHAIR RARICK AND I HAVE BEEN IN WHERE WE HAVE A PERFECTLY TIED COMMITTEE AND WE SHARE THE GAVEL.

>> WE HAVE THE MOST AMAZING STAFF WHO CAME UP WITH SOME GREAT IDEAS WHEN WE DID GET STUCK AND THEY ACTUALLY HELPED MOVE US FORWARD.

>> WITH A RACE HAT IS 35 DAYS LONG IT'S VERY COMPACT, SO THE EXHAUSTION LEVEL WAS THERE.

I WILL BE SUPPORTING ALL OF THE BILLS THAT ARE BEST FOR MY COMMUNITIES, THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO REDUCE TAXES, THAT ARE GOING TO REDUCE REGULATION.

>> SPECIAL ELECTION FRESHMAN COMING TO THE CAPITOL DURING SESSION FROM BOTH PARTIES AND BOTH CHAMBERS HAVE TO GET UP TO SPEED QUICKLY.

>> YOU ARE LITERALLY THE TIE VOTE.

THE ENTIRE COMPOSITION OF AN ENTIRE LEGISLATIVE BODY CHANGED WITH YOUR ARRIVAL AND HOW HEAVY IS THAT >> I GUESS IT'S, IT IS HEAVY BUT REALLY THE FOLKS THAT WERE BEARING THE WEIGHT OF THAT IT REALLY WASN'T ME.

>> UT DO YOU GET TO BE THE MOST POPULAR DEMOCRAT?

>> I GUESS, BUT I REALLY WANT TO RECEDE BACK INTO THE SHADOWS OF EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO BE HERE, I WANT TO DO THE JOB WELL AND BE PART OF THE TEAM.

>> SO HERE YOU ARRIVE IN A TIED CHAMBER WITH COCHAIRS IN A BUDGET YEAR.

HOW FAST AND HOW HARD DID YOU HIT THE GROUND RUNNING?

>> IMMEDIATELY.

♪ >> Eric: WITH JUST 17 DAYS LEFT, THE MILLION-DOLLAR QUESTION REMAINS: WILL LAWMAKERS GET THEIR WORK DONE ON TIME?

SO TIME TO CHECK IN WITH OUR FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER DUO.

MARGARET ANDERSON KELLIHER SERVED AS THE DFL SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE FOR TWO LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS, FROM FROM JANUARY 2007 TO JANUARY 2011.

ALSO SERVING TWO SESSIONS AS HOUSE SPEAKER, REPUBLICAN KURT DAUDT HELD THAT POSITION JANUARY 2015 TO JANUARY OF 2019.

WELCOME BACK.

THE POWER OF THE SPEAKER AT THE END OF THE SESSION.

THERE'S AN EDUCATION BILL THIS YEAR TIED UP IN RULES COMMITTEE.

SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THERE WAS SOME TENTATIVE AGREEMENT, THE SPEAKER BROUGHT THE BILL TO THE CAUCUS, THE D.F.L.

CAUCUS AND THEY SAID NO SALE.

>> YEAH.

>> Eric: HOW MUCH POWER DO YOU SPEAKERS HAVE?

AND HOW MUCH DO YOU HAVE TO BOW TO THE WILL OF THE CAUCUS?

IN A PRIVATE MEETING.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> WELL, CAN'T TALK ABOUT HE PRIVATE MEETING BUT I WILL SAY THIS.

THIS IS THE SEASON OF GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT FOR EVERYONE AT THE CAPITOL.

>> YES.

>> AND THAT INCLUDES LEGISLATORS.

AND SO ONE OF YOUR MAJOR JOBS AS THE LEADER OR AS A LEADER IS TO HELP PEOPLE THROUGH THAT SEASON OF DISAPPOINTMENT.

AND I WOULD SAY THAT'S COMING CLOSE NOW, WHERE YOU JUST HAVE TO SAY TO FOLKS AT SOME POINT, YOU KNOW, HERE'S OUR CHOICES, IF WE WANT TO FINISH ON TIME, IF THAT'S THE PRIORITY, THEN YOU HAVE TO GIVE HERE.

IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS, THEN THIS IS WHERE THE PRESSURE GOES.

>> Cathy: HOW DID YOU HANDLE THIS?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THE SPEAKER HAS A LOT OF POWER IN A NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCE.

I LOVED THE JOB AND HAD FUN AT IT AND I ENJOYED THE END OF SESSION BUT IT COMES AT YOU QUICKLY.

THIS S A DIFFERENT SCENARIO, THOUGH, WHERE YOU HAVE A TIED HOUSE, 67-67 WITH NEITHER PARTY HAVING THE 68 VOTES THAT THE CONSTITUTION REQUIRES TO PASS LEGISLATION.

SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THIS UNFOLDS.

NOW I'LL NOTE ON THAT EDUCATION BILL, THAT BILL DID GET OUT OF COMMITTEE, SO THERE WERE DEMOCRATS VOTING FOR IT TO GET IT TO THE FLOOR.

>> Eric: BUT THE RULES COMMITTEE SAID NO I THINK AFTER A CAUCUS MEETING, I BELIEVE.

>> RIGHT, CORRECT.

SO THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS HAS CHANGED THEIR MIND AND THE BACKGROUND ON THAT IS DEMOCRATS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS GAVE SCHOOL WORKERS UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS WHICH THEY HAVE HISTORICALLY OT HAD.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK WOULD BE AN EASY CUT, BUT APPARENTLY THE TEACHERS UNION SPOKE UP AND SAID, NOPE, WE DON'T WANT YOU VOTING FOR THAT.

>> Eric: DO YOU HAVE TO -- DO YOU AT SOME POINT HAVE TO SAY THIS IS GOING TO BE DONE AT THE LEADERSHIP LEVEL AND CAUCUS IS GOING TO HAVE TO TRUST ME?

>> YES.

AND IT CAN BE UNCOMFORTABLE, LET ME SAY.

I MEAN, THAT IS, AND THAT'S WHAT THE WHOLE, IN SOME WAYS THE WHOLE EXERCISE IS ABOUT THAT.

IT'S UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOUR MEMBERS NEED AND FOR SOME MEMBERS IT'S A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

OTHERS, IT'S ENDING ON TIME.

OTHERS IT COULD BE JUST THE NUMBER OF THINGS THAT THEY GET TO DO.

AND SO UNDERSTANDING THAT ABOUT EACH MEMBER OF YOUR CAUCUS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE MORE THAN ONE PERSON WOULD COME STORMING AT ME ON THE LAST NIGHT AND SAY I AM EQUAL TO YOU WITH AN ELECTION CERTIFICATE, YOU ARE NOT MORE POWERFUL THAN ME.

AND THEN THEY MIGHT NOT TALK TO ME FOR A COUPLE MONTHS.

>> Cathy: THIS SOUNDS EXHAUSTING.

>> IT CAN BE.

[ LAUGHTER ] AND THE END OF SESSION WHILE IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S THAT FINAL WEEKEND AND I THINK IT ALWAYS ENDS ON A MONDAY NIGHT, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S THREE WEEKS.

YOU DON'T SLEEP, YOU'RE AWAKE ALL NIGHT, BUT I THINK I WOULD GIVE IT PROBABLY A 50/50 SHOT AT FINISHING ON TIME RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S AN OLD PHIL GRAHAM QUOTE THAT SAYS, WHERE HE SAID BALANCING THE BUDGET IS LIKE GETTING INTO HEAVEN.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO GET INTO HEAVEN BUT NOBODY WANTS TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THERE.

>> YES.

>> AND THEY'VE GOT SOME WORK TO DO.

I FEEL LIKE IT PROBABLY WILL SEEM LIKE THEY WON'T BE GETTING DONE RIGHT UP UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE AND THEN IT WILL ALL COME TOGETHER.

>> Cathy: I WAS TALKING TO BRANDON BIERSBACH OF THE "STAR TRIBUNE," THIS STICKY WICKET, WHERE UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS CAN GET CARE THROUGH MINNESOTACARE.

REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING TOO EXPENSIVE, EMOCRATS ARE SAYING THIS IS ACTUALLY A GOOD DEAL.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE SHE THOUGHT IT COULD DERAIL THINGS.

>> I THINK IT WILL DERAIL THINGS.

I THINK THERE'S TWO THINGS FOR SURE THE REPUBLICANS WILL DIG IN ON.

ONE IS THERE WILL BE NO TAX INCREASES.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE DEMOCRATS UNDERSTAND THAT THE REPUBLICANS WILL TAKE THAT POSITION.

SO I THINK THE DEMOCRATS WILL PROBABLY WALK AWAY FROM WANTING TO INCREASE TAXES.

BUT THIS ISSUE OF GIVING HEALTH CARE BENEFITS TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE GET MATCHING FEDERAL DOLLARS FOR, IT IS SOMETHING THAT'S NEW, THEY JUST GOT THE BENEFIT AS OF JULY 1ST, EXCUSE ME, AS OF JANUARY 1ST SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HISTORICALLY HAD.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT NOW IS PROJECTED TO BE ABOUT THREE TIMES THE ENROLLMENT AND POTENTIALLY THREE TIMES THE COST OF WHAT WAS PROJECTED EVEN A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO IN THE FEBRUARY FORECAST SO INSTEAD OF 200 MILLION FOR FOUR EARS IT COULD BE 600 MILLION.

IT'S AN EASY THING TO CUT AND I THINK THE REPUBLICANS WILL IG IN AND SAY WE'RE NOT DOING IT.

>> THEY MAY DIG IN BUT IT'S REALLY A COST AVOIDANCE ISSUE ABOUT OUR HOSPITALS WHERE PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARE HURT OR INJURED THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO ANYWAY.

AND SO IT'S REALLY A SHIFT I THINK FROM COUNTY TAXPAYERS OVER TO THE STATE AND IT'S A PROGRAM THAT WORKS.

SO, I DON'T KNOW, I THINK YOU'RE PROBABLY RIGHT THAT THEY'RE GONNA DIG IN BUT I DO THINK THE MORAL ISSUE HERE IS ABOUT PROVIDING THE CARE O THERE CAN BE MORE PREVENTATIVE CARE.

>> AND I THINK THE REPUBLICANS, THE PUBLIC'S ON THE SIDE WITH REPUBLICANS, THIS HAS BEEN POLLING ABOUT 80% AND YOU SEE TRUMP REALLY DOUBLING DOWN ON THIS ISSUE AS WELL.

>> Eric: THERE'S A $360 MILLION PLACEHOLDER IN THE SENATE BUDGET FOR REVENUE RAISING.

AND I WANT TO GO BACK TO TIM PAWLENTY WHEN A CIGARETTE TAX WAS MARKETED AS A HEALTH IMPACT FEE.

[ LAUGHTER ] ARE WE GOING TO SEE SOME OF THAT LEDGER DOMAIN?

>> YOU KNOW, YOU NEVER KNOW HERE.

I MEAN, I THINK THE REAL CONCERN HERE IS THOSE OUT YEARS FOR THE BUDGET.

THAT IS WHERE I THINK THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE MOST SERIOUSNESS BY THE GOVERNOR.

THE GOVERNOR CARES A GREAT DEAL, SO DO LEGISLATORS, BUT THE GOVERNOR CARES A GREAT DEAL WHAT HAPPENS AND SO CUTTING THE GROWTH AND SPENDING ON SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS WHICH HE HAS PROPOSED I THINK MAKES SOME SENSE.

>> Eric: I THINK THE SENATE IS LOOKING FOUR YEARS DOWN THE LINE, I THINK THE HOUSE IS MORE LOOKING AT TWO YEARS DOWN THE LINE.

AND YOU REMEMBER LAUREN SOLBERG WHO CHAIRED WAYS AND MEANS WHEN HE WAS ASKED ABOUT A SITUATION WHERE THERE WAS A SHORTFALL COMING IN THE OUTYEARS AND HE SAID, WELL, THAT'S WHY WE MEET EVERY YEAR, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT NEXT YEAR.

>> I REALLY FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD BE A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVE.

I NEVER LIKE TO SEE ANYONE LEAVING, KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD OR LEAVING A PROBLEM UNSOLVED AND I THINK THE HOUSE TARGETS ARE HIGHER THAN I'D LIKE TO SEE, THE GOVERNOR'S NUMBERS ACTUALLY IN HE TAILS, THE NEXT BIENNIUM WERE LOWER THAN THE HOUSE TARGETS, SO.

>> AND YOU HAVE THIS FEDERAL UNCERTAINTY.

I MEAN, THIS, YOU KNOW, THIS SESSION MAY END ON TIME, BUT IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT THESE FOLKS WILL BE COMING BACK TO THE CAPITOL AT SOME POINT IN THE NEXT YEAR AS THE FEDERAL -- >> YEAH, WE COULD LOSE FEDERAL MONEY FOR SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS AND HA HAVE TO BACKFILL THAT.

>> SO BALANCING THIS THING UP AND MAYBE EVEN SAVING SOME OF THOSE GOOD IDEAS FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF THINGS.

>> Cathy: ERIC AND I WERE TALKING OFF AIR ABOUT THE FISHING OPENER NEXT WEEKEND AND YOU KNOW HOW Y'ALL HAVE BEEN IN THE BOAT WITH HIM.

>> I WAS NEVER IN THE BOAT.

I WAS NEVER INVITED TO THE BOAT BUT I O FISH.

>> Cathy: THAT IS TRUE.

BUT ALL FOUR WILL BE IN THE BOAT I GUESS FOR FISHING OPENER DIPLOMACY.

>> THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.

AND ACTUALLY WALZ DID NOT DO THAT HIS FIRST TERM ALWAYS, I THINK HE DID IT SOMETIMES, BUT I THINK IT WAS THE BEST THING AND IT HAPPENS RIGHT BEFORE THE END OF SESSION AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT HE'S DOING THAT.

>> Cathy: ALL BE IN THE SAME BOAT LITERALLY.

>> REALLY GOOD.

>> Eric: COULD SPEAKER DEMUTH BE A CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR OR SENATOR?

>> I THINK ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE IT'S WIDE OPEN AND I THINK SHE ABSOLUTELY COULD.

BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO DEPEND ON HOW SHE CLOSES OUT THIS SESSION AND SHOWS HER LEADERSHIP.

BUT I THINK SHE'S DOING A GREAT JOB SO FAR.

>> Eric: YOU FOLLOWED HER AT ALL, HOW SHE'S DOING?

>> I REALLY LIKE HER A LOT.

WE HAVE SOME GREAT WOMEN CANDIDATES ON THE D.F.L.

SIDE, ALL THREE FRIENDS.

I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

>> Eric: ALL RIGHT.

VERY NONCOMMITTAL, ADAM SPEAKER.

>> Eric: APPRECIATE YOU BOTH.

>> Cathy: WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

♪ >> YOU GUYS HAVE DRUMMED THIS INTO MY HEAD, PAUL, SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE BASEMENT SEEMS LIKE I HEAR THAT ALL THE TIME.

>> WHAT CHANNEL ARE YOU WATCHING?

>> I BELIEVE THAT'S WRONG.

>> IT'S IN THE BASEMENT IN THE FETAL POSITION UNDER THE STAIRS!

[ LAUGHTER ] >> YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

>> VERY GOOD.

>> EVERYTHING BUT THE FETAL POSITION.

♪ ♪ >> Cathy: I LOVE THOSE WEATHER QUIZZES AND WE ARE SO COMPETITIVE, ERIC AND I, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SCHEDULE ANOTHER ONE REALLY SOON.

OKAY, TIME FOR THIS WEEK'S HISTORY QUERY.

YOU MAY RECALL THAT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO OUR QUESTION HAD TO DO WITH A MINNESOTAN THAT FAILED TO SET A NEW WORLD RECORD LAST FALL.

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THE "RUNNERUP" THEME GOING.

THIS WEEK'S MYSTERY PERSON HAS DONE SOMETHING EVERY DAY FOR NEARLY 54 YEARS.

BUT STILL TRAILS THE LEADER IN THIS INTERNATIONAL 'CONTEST' BY MORE THAN A YEAR.

WHO IS THIS MINNESOTAN AND WHAT STREAK DOES SHE OR HE CLAIM SECOND PLACE IN?

IF YOU THINK YOU KNOW THE ANSWER, RUN, DO NOT WALK, TO THE PHONE.

651-229-1430, THAT'S THE NUMBER TO CALL.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU'RE CALLING IN FROM THE BANKS OF THE ZUMBRO RIVER, ROOT RIVER OR WHITEWATER RIVER, ALL BODIES OF WATER FLOWING THROUGH OLMSTED COUNTY.

IF YOU'D RATHER TYPE THAN TALK, YOU CAN ALWAYS DROP US A NOTE.

OUR ELECTRONIC ADDRESS IS ALMANAC@TPT.ORG.

AND WHILE YOU'RE ONLINE A REMINDER THAT IT'S TIME FOR THE ANNUAL ALMANAC VIEWER SURVEY.

EACH PRING WE ASK YOU TO SPEND A FEW MINUTES TO LET US KNOW HOW WE'RE DOING.

IT'S A BIG HELP TO PLAN UPCOMING SHOWS.

YOU CAN GO AND FILL IT OUT AT TPT.ORG/ALMANACSURVEY.

THEY REALLY WANT YOU TO FILL THIS THING OUT.

FOR TONIGHT'S SHOW, ENDING MUSIC THIS WEEK, 2002, I LOVE PRUDENCE JOHNSON, SHE JOINED US HERE IN STUDIO B.

SHE'S FANTASTIC.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK.

♪ >> SINGING: THAT SYCAMORE HEAVEN BACK SOUTH ♪ ♪ I LONG FOR THE ... THAT OLD COUNTRY THAT GOOD FOR THE SOUL COUNTRY GOOD FOR COOKIN' THINGS THAT MELT IN YOUR MOUTH ♪ ♪ WHEN MY COUSIN CINDY LOU PLAYS A TWILIGHT HYMN FOR YOU ... ♪ ♪ SHE MAKES THAT OLD PIANO.

>> "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.

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DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

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♪