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

>> CATHY: WE'VE GOT A PACKED SHOW TONIGHT.

MINNEAPOLIS POLICE CHIEF BRIAN O'HARA IS HERE.

WE'LL GET A WEATHER UPDATE FROM PAUL DOUGLAS.

AUTHOR KATE DICAMILLO IS BACK WITH ANOTHER NEW BOOK.

AND MARY LAHAMMER HAS BEEN MODERATING IN MINNEAPOLIS.

>> Mary: I'M MODERATING A MAJOR MINNEAPOLIS MAYORAL DEBATE AND I'LL HAVE HIGHLIGHTS FROM ALL THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES.

>> AS MAYOR, YOU MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS.

>> A MORE DIVIDED GOVERNMENT AND CITY THAN EVER BEFORE.

>> THIS IS INDEED A MULTICANDIDATE ACE FOR RANKED CHOICE.

>> I'M GOING TO BE A MAYOR THAT UNIFIES THIS CITY AND MOVES IT FORWARD.

>> UNLIKE THREE MEN WHO THINK THEY'RE SELLING IRL SCOUT COOKIES -- >> 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.

>> CATHY: WELCOME BACK TO "ALMANAC."

TONIGHT, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE MEDIA, THE "STAR TRIBUNE" SPECIFICALLY.

WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT PUBLIC UTILITY RATE HIKES, AND CHAT THROUGH THE WEEK IN POLITICS WITH OUR POLI-SCI PROFESSORS.

>> ERIC: BUT WE START THE HOUR WITH A CONVERSATION ABOUT MASS SHOOTINGS.

MINNEAPOLIS HAS HAD SEVERAL DEADLY SHOOTINGS IN THE LAST MONTH, INCLUDING THE ONE AT ANNUNCIATION CATHOLIC SCHOOL THAT LEFT TWO CHILDREN DEAD.

THIS WEEK, MINNEAPOLIS POLICE ARRESTED A SUSPECT AND TWO ACCOMPLICES IN THE SHOOTING NEAR CRISTO REY JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL THAT KILLED ANOTHER PERSON.

AND LAST WEEK, TWO SHOOTINGS AT ENCAMPMENTS FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS TOOK YET ANOTHER LIFE.

THE SHOOTINGS HAVE RESULTED IN MORE THAN TWO DOZEN INJURED VICTIMS.

JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT THE SHOOTINGS, MINNEAPOLIS POLICE CHIEF BRIAN O’HARA.

WELCOME BACK.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

I MEAN, IT SEEMS OVERLOAD.

>> IT'S BEEN A ROUGH FEW WEEKS FOR EVERYONE IN THE CITY.

OBVIOUSLY THE ANNUNCIATION CHURCH SHOOTING OF SCHOOL CHILDREN WAS ESPECIALLY HORRIFIC.

BUT THAT WAS A YPICAL PATHWAY TO A MASS SHOOTING OF A SHOOTER THAT WAS LOOKING TO CAUSE AN ESPECIALLY TRAUMATIC INCIDENT JUST TO GET THEMSELVES NOTORIETY SO THAT'S KIND OF SEPARATE FROM THE OTHER INCIDENTS THAT WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH AND JUST QUITE FRANKLY A NUMBER OF THEM ARE ELATED O NARCOTICS DISTRIBUTION AND DISPUTES OVER THE DRUG TRADE AND WHO'S GOING TO HAVE TURF WHERE TO BE ABLE TO SELL DRUGS.

THAT'S FUELED A LOT OF IT.

WE HAVE MADE ARRESTS DIMLY.

WE HAVE A SHOOTER IN CUSTODY AND N ACCOMPLICE.

AND E'RE MAKING PROGRESS IDENTIFYING ADDITIONAL SHOOTERS.

SO IT'S JUST BEEN A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN KIND OF A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

AND AGAIN, A LOT OF IS BEING DRIVEN BY DISPUTES OVER THE DRUG TRADE.

GHSES I'M WONDERING, I WANT TO GET BACK TO THE SCHOOL FOR JUST A MOMENT.

ANNUNCIATION OF COURSE WAS HORRIFIC.

BUT THERE WAS ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL WHO THREATENED TO SHOOT UP AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN MINNEAPOLIS.

DO YOU HAVE SQUADS OUT AT SCHOOLS JUST PATROLLING OR HOW ARE YOU TRYING TO KEEP THE KIDS SAFE?

>> WELL, INITIALLY IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, WE HAD ASSISTANCE FROM THE STATE PATROL, AND THE ENNEPIN COUNTY SHERIFF AND SOME OTHER LOCAL AGENCIES TO HAVE A REALLY SUSTAINED AND VERY, VERY VISIBLE PRESENCE AS SCHOOLS BEGAN.

WE DO NOT AVE POLICE OFFICERS ASSIGNED AS SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS.

HOWEVER, WE HAVE TRIED TO INCREASE AS BEST WE CAN PRESENCE AROUND SCHOOLS BECAUSE WE KNOW THIS IS STILL VERY MUCH IN PARENTS' MINDS.

>> Cathy: I NEED TO ASK YOU TOO ABOUT THE ANNUNCIATION SHOOTING FOR JUST A MOMENT.

HOW'S LIEUTENANT RYAN KELLY DOING?

I MEAN, HE WAS TRULY A HERO IN THAT WHOLE HORRIBLE SITUATION.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY HERO WRIK.

HEROIC AND IT'S A BLESSING FROM GOD THAT HE WAS THE PERSON ON DUTY AND CLOSE ENOUGH TO GET THERE FIRST BECAUSE HE HAS VERY UNIQUE EXPERIENCE AS ACOMB BAT MEDIC AND ALSO AS A POLICE OFFICER.

AND HE'S THE ONE THAT PARENTS AND OTHERS TOLD ME WHEN THEY SAW HIM IN WITH GENTLEMEN SWAT GEAR ON AND JUST A HANDGUN ASKING WHERE THE SHOOTER WAS, RUNNING DIRECTLY TOWARDS WHERE THE SHOOTER WAS, THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT THEY HAD ANY SENSE THAT THEY MIGHT SURVIVE THE INCIDENT.

HE'S BACK AT WORK AND I CANNOT STATE ENOUGH HOW INCREDIBLE OF A JOB HE DID LEADING THAT RESPONSE.

FROM THE TIME HE GOT THERE, UNTIL THE TIME THE LAST KID WAS TREATED BY A POLICE OFFICER AND PLACED INTO AN AMBULANCE WAS 14 MINUTES.

AND THAT'S ABSOLUTELY UNHEARD OF IN A MASS CASUALTY INCIDENT AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF NOT JUST THE COPS RESPONDING, BUT IT'S HIS LEADERSHIP AND HIS DIRECTION ON THE SEEN THAT MADE THAT POSSIBLE.

>> Eric: I WANT TO GO TO 30,000 FEET AND ASK YOU WITH YOUR EXPERIENCE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, IS THE SOCIAL FABRIC JUST IN GENERAL IN THE UNITED STATES FRAYING AT THE EDGES HERE A LITTLE BIT?

OR -- >> WELL, CERTAINLY, THE TROUBLE THAT WE SEE WITH FENTANYL, AS POWERFUL AS A DRUG THAT IS, 50 TIMES MORE POWERFUL THAN ENTANYL, THAT IS CAUSING A LOT OF TROUBLE FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE SUFFERING FROM THAT ADDICTION AS WELL AS PEOPLE THAT ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THEM, SELLING THAT DRUG, AND IT'S CAUSING AS PEOPLE SEE PARTICULARLY ON THE SOUTH SIDE IN MINNEAPOLIS RECENTLY, JUST LEVELS OF NOT JUST CRIME, BUT QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES THAT ARE AFFECTING PEOPLE'S LIVES.

>> Cathy: AND THEN OF COURSE YOU'VE GOT GUNS.

AND EASY ACCESS TO GUNS.

>> FAR TOO MANY GUNS ON THE STREET.

THAT ARE ILLEGAL.

PEOPLE POSSESSING THEM, JUST LIKE THIS SHOOTER WE JUST ARRESTED FOR THE SHOOTING AT THE SABRI ENCAMPMENT IS FROM ILLINOIS WITH FELONY CONVICTIONS.

PEOPLE HO ARE ANOTHER ALLOWED TO POSSESS GUNS, JUVENILES AND PEOPLE POSSESSING WEAPONS UNLAWFULLY.

>> Eric: ONE THING THAT'S HAPPENED IN THE LAST WEEK IS THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IS NOT GOING TO BE CHARGING FELONY CASES BASED ON TRAFFIC STOPS.

I WONDER ON THE FORCE THINK THAT IS A GOOD IDEA, BAD IDEA?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S A NON-ISSUE FOR MINNEAPOLIS BECAUSE OF THE POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN PLACED HERE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

AND THE CONSENT DECREE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE HAVE.

AND JUST QUITE FRANKLY, IN MINNEAPOLIS, EVEN BEFORE THIS, STOPS SIMPLY FOR AN EQUIPMENT VIOLATION ONLY WERE VERY, VERY SMALL.

A FRACTION OF OVERALL TRAFFIC STOPS THAT OFFICERS WERE MAKING.

>> Cathy: SO WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME CLIPS COMING UP HERE FROM THE MINNEAPOLIS MAYORAL DEBATES TODAY, AND THREE CANDIDATES SEEMED TO LIKE YOU WELL ENOUGH TO KEEP YOU IF THEY WIN.

I KNOW WE DON'T KNOW OF COURSE WHO'S GOING TO WIN AT THIS POINT.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING.

>> BECAUSE MY TERM ENDS, SO IT TAKES WHOEVER IS THE MAYOR THAT THEY WOULD WANT TO NOMINATE ME FOR ANOTHER TERM AND THEN WHOEVER IS ON THE COUNCIL, A MAJORITY WOULD HAVE TO DECIDE THAT THEY WANT TO KEEP ME.

THAT'S THE ONLY WAY I COULD STAY.

AND CERTAINLY I'M THANKFUL TO HEAR THAT SOME OTHER CANDIDATES OTHER THAN MAYOR FREY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN KEEPING ME BECAUSE I DO LOVE BEING A POLICE OFFICER IN MINNEAPOLIS.

IT IS A DIFFICULT JOB.

ESPECIALLY BEING THE HIEF.

BUT IT IS INCREDIBLY REWARDING.

AND I DO THINK STABILITY AND CONTINUITY IS WHAT THE CITY NEEDS RIGHT NOW.

>> Eric: GOT TO LEAVE IT THERE.

APPRECIATE IT, CHIEF.

THANKS VERY MUCH FOR COMING OVER.

>> CATHY: PUBLIC SAFETY WAS AN IMPORTANT TOPIC IN A SPIRITED MINNEAPOLIS MAYORAL DEBATE.

OUR MARY LAHAMMER HELPED MODERATE FOR THE DOWNTOWN COUNCIL, MINNEAPOLIS CHAMBER, AND CITIZENS LEAGUE.

IT WAS THE FIRST REAL CHANCE FOR ALL THE CANDIDATES TO INTERACT AND DIFFERENTIATE THEMSELVES IN THE STATE'S LARGEST CITY.

>> Mary: PUBLIC SAFETY, IT'S ON A LOT OF OUR MINDS.

WE'VE HAD MASS SHOOTINGS.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF VIOLENCE, VANDALISM.

SECURITY.

IT'S REALLY RIGHT HERE.

YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED COMING IN AND OUT.

SENATOR, I WANT YOU TO TAKE IT UP FIRST BECAUSE YOU'VE HAD ANTI-MUSLIM VA VANDALISM AT YOUR CAMPAIGN HEAD CARES, TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> WHEN YOU CALL 911, YOU GET THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE AND YOU ACTUALLY GET RESPONSE, PERIOD.

WE DON'T NEED AN ARMED OFFICER TO RESPOND TO EVERY SINGLE CALL.

WE KNOW THAT AT THE CITY, WE HAD A REPORT THAT SHOWED THAT NEARLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN OF 911 CALLS CAN BE DIVERTED AWAY FROM POLICE.

THAT MEANS ALTERNATIVES TO POLICE, THE BCR TEAMS, CITATION CITATION RESPONSE, THE MENTAL HEALTH, WHO.

I WORKED REALLY HARD WITH MY COLLEAGUES AT THE CAPITOL TO BRING IN $19 MILLION IN PUBLIC SAFETY AID TO HELP BEEF THAT UP.

BUT FOR A LONG TIME, IT WENT LARGELY UNTOUCHED BECAUSE WE HAD A MAYOR THAT WAS HAVING AN ADVERSARIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY COUNCIL.

>> Mary: YOU'VE BEEN THE SPOKES PERSON THROUGH MASSIVE TRAGEDIES, SHOOTINGS, EATHS, IT'S BEEN A REALLY BRUTAL SUMMER FOR THE STATE AND THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

IN THE STRONG MAYOR SYSTEM WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH THE POLICE FORCE, WITH THE HENNEPIN COUNTY ATTORNEY?

WHAT ARE YOUR NEW SOLUTIONS?

>> SO LET'S START WHERE WE AGREE.

I BELIEVE IN A COMPREHENSIVE FORM OF PUBLIC SAFETY WHERE WE ARE MATCHING A UNIQUE SKILL SET CAN THE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES HAPPENING ON THE GROUND.

AND WE ARE ONE OF THE FEW CITIES IN THE COUNTRY THAT ARE CARRYING THAT OUT.

WE NOW HAVE 24-HOUR A DAY, SEVEN-DAY A WEEK MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE.

AND I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WE NEED POLICE OFFICERS AND WE NEED FAR MORE THAN WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE PRESENTLY INCREASING THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS THAT WE HAVE ON THE POLICE FORCE.

WE SAW 135% INCREASE IN APPLICATIONS.

AND THE M.P.D.

IS MORE DIVERSE THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN IN HISTORY.

>> Mary: WHERE DO YOU DISAGREE?

>> WE DISAGREE ON POLICE OFFICERS.

WHILE CANDIDATES MAY HAVE CHANGED THEIR POSITION OVER, SENATOR OMAR FATEH VERY CLEARLY SUPPORTED DEFUNDING AND GETTING RID OF POLICE.

I, THROUGH THE MOST DIFFICULT OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE STOOD UP AND SAID THAT IS NOT THE RIGHT METHOD NOW.

THAT IS NOT THE RIGHT METHOD, PERIOD.

>> I SUPPORTED QUESTION -- QUESTION TWO IN 2021.

WHICH WOULD HAVE CREATED AN OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY THAT HAD A POLICE DEPARTMENT UNDER IT, WITH ALTERNATIVES AS WELL.

> >> Mary: IS THAT DEFUNDING THE POLICE?

IS THAT A FAIR DEPICTION?

>> NO, BECAUSE, NUMBER ONE, WE HAVE A CHARTER AMENDMENT -- WE HAVE A CHARTER THAT SHOWS HOW MANY OFFICERS WE NEED.

WE HAVE A BUDGET BASED ON OF OF THAT.

WE INCREASED THE BUDGET YEAR AFTER YEAR SINCE THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.

>> AT ANNUNCIATION WAS ONE OF THE MOST HORRIFIC THINGS THAT OUR CITY HAS EXPERIENCED.

HOW DO WE STOP THAT FROM HAPPENING?

WE BAN ASSAULT RIFLES.

WE BAN HIGH CAPACITY MAGAZINES >> Mary: FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, YOU CAN'T LOCALLY.

>> WE CAN'T LOCALLY BUT IF THE STATE OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ISN'T WILLING TO DO IT, WE SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY IN CITIES TO DO IT OURSELVES.

>> WE HAVE A MAYOR THAT CREATED A TOXIC SITUATION WITH CITY COUNCIL AND WITH COMMUNITIES BY IMPLYING THAT IF YOU'RE PRO-POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY, YOU'RE ANTI-YOU BELIEVE PUBLIC SAFETY AND THAT'S FLAT-OUT WRONG.

>> Mary: REBUTTAL, MR.

MAYOR.

>> LET'S STOP SETTING UP THESE STRAW MAN ARGUMENTS ONLY TO KNOCK THEM DOWN.

I HAVE SAID, NOTWITHSTANDING DONALD TRUMP WE ARE GOING TO ABIDE BY EVERY SENTENCE OF EVERY PARAGRAPH OF BOTH THE CONSENT DID ECREE -- >> Mary: WOULD ANYBODY SUPPORT THAT AND THE NATIONAL GUARD?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

[ Laughter ] >> Mary: OKAY.

>> NO.

>> NO.

>> NO.

>> NO.

>> Mary: THAT WITH A A LIGHTNING ROUND.

[ Laughter ] >> IT HAS BEEN CLEAR IN THIS CAMPAIGN THAT THREE KOIRNTS HAVE CHOSEN TO CAMPAIGN AGAINST ONE CANDIDATE.

DO YOU SUPPORT THE CONTINUATION OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS?

>> Mary: YES, NO, OR MAYBE.

>> MAYBE, MAYBE.

>> YES, I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT RECEIVINGED CHOICE -- >> MAYOR, YES?

>> YES.

>> YES, AND I'VE SUPPORTED STATEWIDE LEGISLATION.

>> CONTRARY TO WHAT IT MAY HAVE SEEMED LIKE, THIS IS INDEED A MULTICANDIDATE RACE FOR RANKED CHOICE.

AND SO I REJECT, AND I WANT YOU TO REJECT THE IDEA THAT THERE IS A BINARY BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE.

WE NEED NEW LEADERSHIP.

>> JACOB FREY HAS BEEN MAYOR NOW FOR NEARLY EIGHT YEARS, ALL VETOES, FULL OF VETOES AND A MORE DIVIDED GOVERNMENT AND CITY THAN EVER BEFORE.

HE LIED ABOUT BANNING NO-KNOCK WARRANTS AND AMIR LOCKE DIED.

HE DIED ABOUT THERE ONLY BEING 27 UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS.

NOW THERE'S MORE UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS THAN WHEN HE FIRST TOOK OFFICE.

>> AS MAYOR, YOU MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS DURING SOME OF THE MOST TRYING OF CIRCUMSTANCES.

AND OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, ESPECIALLY, WE IN THIS CITY HAVE CONFRONTED ADVERSITY TOGETHER.

AND OUR CITY IS COMING BACK, AND THIS CITY RIGHT NOW IS FACED WITH A CHOICE.

A CHOICE BETWEEN A PATH THAT PUTS SLOGANS AND SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS BEFORE SOLUTIONS.

AND THE OTHER PATH THAT VALUES DELIVERING RESULTS FOR OUR CITY.

>> AND I SAID 'M NOT RUNNING AGAINST ANYONE.

I'M RUNNING FOR THE CITY.

FOR FAR TOO LONG WHEN YOU'RE OPENING THE NEWSPAPER OR READING IT ONLINE, IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE READING ABOUT CONFLICTS WITHIN CITY LEADERSHIP RATHER THAN THE PROGRESS THAT WE COULD BE MAKING WITHIN THE CITY.

I AM SO PROUD TO SAY THAT I AM GOING TO BE A MAYOR THAT UNIFIES THIS CITY AND MOVES US FORWARD.

>> I'M A COMMUNITY MEMBER THAT TAKES THIS JOB SERIOUSLY, UNLIKE THREE MEN WHO THINK THEY ARE SELLING GIRL SCOUT COOKIES AND KNOCKING DOORS TOGETHER.

♪♪ >> ERIC: AUTHOR KATE DICAMILLO IS WRAPPING UP SEPTEMBER IN A BIG WAY.

SHE’S RELEASING "LOST EVANGELINE," THE FINAL PART OF "THE NORENDY TALES" TRILOGY, AND AN ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF HER BREAKOUT HIT "BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE."

THIS YEAR MARKED THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF HER NEWBERY AWARD-WINNING DEBUT.

WE HAVE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO SIT DOWN WITH KATE DICAMILLO FOR ALMOST AS LONG.

WELCOME BACK.

CONGRATULATIONS.

>> HOW MANY YEARS IS IT?

24?

I HINK, YEAH.

>> BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO PLAY ANY OLD VIDEO.

>> I LOVE THE VIDEO.

IT JUST, LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE REASON THAT YOU SHOULD PLAY THE VIDEO IS BECAUSE IT SILENCES ME.

WHEN I SEE MYSELF.

YEAH, OKAY, DON'T LET ME GET IN THE WAY.

>> Eric: "LOST EVANGELINE."

SHOE MAKER FINDS A TINY GIRL IN A SHOE.

SHE SIFNGS.

ENDEDUP A BIRD CAGE IN A TRAVELING CURIOSITY SHOW WITH IS A PIERCES BY A TALKING CAT, A TALKING SPARROW, A TALKING MOUSE AND THE CREW ENDS UP ABOARD A SHIP.

[ Laughter ] >> Cathy: YOUR IMAGINATION IS WONDERFULLY FERTILE.

>> OU ALWAYS MANAGE TO MAKE ME SOUND STRANGE.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT?

I GUESS I AM.

YOU KNOW?

AND THAT'S TRUE.

EVERYTHING THAT HE SAID IS TRUE.

>> Eric: SHOWS I READ THE BOOK.

>> YEAH, I KNOW, YOU DID.

>> Cathy: IMAGINATION IS WONDERFULLY FERTILE.

THIS IS WHAT I SAY.

>> ALTHOUGH THAT I THOUGHT THAT THE EASY HIT FOR ERIC WOULD BE THAT TINY LITTLE PERSON WRITING ABOUT A TINY LITTLE PERSON.

[ Laughter ] >> Eric: THAT'S GOOD.

>> YEAH, YEAH, I THOUGHT THAT'S THE ANGLE THAT YOU WOULD TAKE.

>> Eric: YOU'VE GOT 44 MILLION COPIES OF YOUR WORK CIRCULATING.

YOU'VE GOT TWO NEWBERY PRIZES.

DO YOUNGER WRITERS EVER COME UP TO YOU AND SAY, HEY, DICAMILLO, TAKE A BREAK.

LET US GET A TASTE.

DOES THAT EVER HAPPEN?

>> NO, WHAT THE YOUNGER WRITERS COME UP TO ME AND SAY IS, I READ YOU WHEN I WAS A KID.

SO THAT IS -- YEAH, WHO CAN COMPLAIN ABOUT THAT?

IT MAKES ME FEEL ODE, BUT IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE THE LUCKIEST PERSON IN THE WORLD.

>> Cathy: LIKE PEOPLE COMING UP AND SAYING, WE USED TO WATCH YOU WHEN WE WERE KIDS.

[ Laughter ] WHICH IS -- >> AND THAT'S WHERE WE STARTED OUR CONVERSATION BEHIND CENES WAS THAT WE'RE OLD.

>> Cathy: WE'RE GETTING OLD HERE.

SINCE SO MANY KIDS DO SAY THAT THEY GREW UP WITH YOU, THINGS ARE CHANGING OBVIOUSLY.

DO YOU WORRY ABOUT KIDS AND SCREEN TIME INSTEAD OF GETTING THEMSELF INTO BOOKS?

>> YOU KNOW, I GET THIS QUESTION A LOT, AND I -- I TAKE SO MUCH HEART FROM WHEN I'M OUT THERE WITH THE KIDS TALKING WITH THE KIDS, AND THIS IS NOT JUST WHEN I'M DOING EVENTS.

IT IS WHEN I'M IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES AND SOMETIMES I'LL BE COMING UP, AND TWO KIDS WILL BE STANDING THERE TALKING ABOUT, OH, NO, NO, YOU HAVE TO READ THIS ONE.

AND I SEE A LOT OF WONDERFUL THINGS ON THE GROUND THAT MAKES ME THINK THAT BOOKS ND KIDS ARE GOING TO BE OKAY.

AND THAT THERE'S A LOT OF COMFORT AND LIGHT THAT KIDS ARE FINDING IN BOOKS.

>> Eric: I ETECTED A NEW THING YOU DID.

IN THIS BOOK.

>> I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR IT.

>> Eric: IT'S THE LYRICS TO SONGS.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT?

I HAVE TO SAY, WISE YOU, BECAUSE THIS IS A THING THAT HAS JUST TARTED TO POP UP IN MY WORK, AND I WASN'T EVEN AWARE OF IT, YEAH.

>> Eric: HOW DID YOU DO THE RHYMING AND ALL THAT.

>> WHEN YOU'RE WRITING TWO PAGES A DAY AND YOU GET TO WRITE A SONG, IT GETS YOU THROUGH THOSE TWO PAGES A LOT MORE QUICKLY.

OH, WAIT, I'M GOING TO DO MORE OF THIS.

SOMEBODY ASKED ME IF I AVE TUNES IN MY HEAD.

I DON'T.

BUT IT IS AWFULLY FUN TO WRITE THE SONGS.

CAN YOU WRITE MUSIC?

>> Eric: I PROBABLY CAN PLAY A LITTLE BIT.

BUT IF YOU PUT THESE LYRICS TO MUSIC, THIS IS THE PERFECT ENTREE TO A MOVIE OR THEATER MUSICAL.

>> Cathy: YOU NEED TO DO ANOTHER MUSICAL.

>> Eric: GET A MELODIST.

>> NO, I OULD LOVE THAT.

ARE YOU SIGNING UP?

>> Eric: NO, I'M NOT.

AND I LOVE THE ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE BOOK.

>> THAT'S SOPHIE BLACKEL WHO IS JUST DIVINE.

>> Eric: WHAT CAN WE PLUG FOR ME?

>> WHAT CAN YOU PLUG FOR HER?

>> Eric: YOU.

>> ME?

JUST MY MERE EXISTENCE HERE DOES ME A LOT OF FAVORS.

>> Eric: CLEVER, CORNSOUS AND KIND.

KATE DICAMILLO.

COURAGEOUS AND KIND.

>> NOW YOU'VE REALLY THROWN ME OFF MY GAME BECAUSE ALL YOU'VE DONE IS COMPLIMENT ME.

>> Eric: WHEN YOU GOT STUFF TO PLUG, COME BACK.

>> YEAH, THANKS FOR TALKING TO ME.

>> Eric: ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>> IT'S LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> THERE'S THIS ONE IDEA.

THIS ONE CONCEPT.

THAT KEEPS POPPING UP IN THE BOOKS I READ.

I'VE NOTICED IT IN EVERYTHING FROM HARRY POTTER TO WAR AND PEACE.

AND IT GOES LIKE THIS.

EVEN DURING DARK TIMES, NORMAL LIFE CARRIES ON.

THE CONCEPT IS SO UNIVERSAL, I'VE ALWAYS ACCEPTED IT AS A GENERAL HUMAN TRUTH, BUT IT'S ONLY RECENTLY I'VE STARTED TO EXPERIENCE IT PERSONALLY.

YOU SEE, WE ARE LIVING IN DARK TIMES.

LARGELY BECAUSE OUR INDIVIDUAL SENSE OF ORDER, OUR TRUST IN THE SYSTEM, WHICH USED TO FLOW IN A OMEWHAT UNIFIED DIRECTION, ALMOST LIKE A WEATHER PATTERN, IS NOW SCRAMBLED BEYOND FUNCTIONALITY.

MORE LIKE ACOMB BUGS REACTION.

AND THAT'S WHY I WAS SITTING UP THE OTHER NIGHT WORRYING ABOUT MY CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.

ABOUT THEIR HEALTH.

ABOUT THEIR SAFETY.

YOU KNOW, THE DARK STUFF.

HOWEVER, AT THE EXACT SAME MOMENT, I NOTICED A CATALOG AD FOR A FALL JACKET, I THOUGHT WAS KIND OF COOL, AND I WENT, OOH, I GOT A BIT EXCITED.

AND THERE IT IS.

THE PROFOUND AND THE TRIVIAL, ORBITING EACH OTHER IN A SORT OF TIMELESS HARMONY.

EVEN IF THE SKY WAS LITERALLY FALLING, A SMALL PART OF ME WOULD STILL BE THINKING, I BET THERE'S A BETTER WAY TO LOAD THIS DISH WASHER.

AND THAT'S THE LESSON.

EVEN WHEN WE'RE ON THE EDGE OF THE ABYSS, WE STILL NEED TO WALK TO THE GROCERY STORE.

I FIND THIS OVERALL TO BE A HOPEFUL THOUGHT BECAUSE IT MEANS OUR NORMAL SELVES ARE ALWAYS IN THERE SOMEWHERE AND MAYBE EVENTUALLY, WE CAN USE A BIT OF THAT NORMALCY TO PUSH BACK SOME OF THE DARKNESS.

♪♪ >> CATHY: SEPTEMBER 22ND HAS PASSED, AND SUMMER IS OFFICIALLY OVER, BUT YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW IT FROM THIS WARM WEATHER THAT KEEPS STICKING AROUND.

WHAT DO THESE TEMPERATURES MEAN FOR THE STATE'S AUTUMN COLORS?

PAUL DOUGLAS, GO OUT ON A LIMB FOR US.

WILL THE TREES "LEAF" US BREATHLESS THIS SEASON, OR WILL THEY "FALL" SHORT?

>> LEAF US BREADTHLESS?

>> Cathy: YEAH, I KNOW, I DIDN'T WRITE THAT.

>> WHO WRITES YOUR STUFF?

IT'S ACTUALLY VERY CREATIVE.

>> Cathy: YES, THANK YOU.

SO I'M WONDERING HERE, SEPTEMBER STARTED CHILLY.

AND THEN MOTHER NATURE IND OF PUT THE THROTTLE DOWN AND SOME OF THESE EUROPEAN MODELS ARE INDICATING, LIKE, A 0-DEGREE READING IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER?

>> IT'S A POSSIBILITY, FIRST WEEK OF OCTOBER.

AND I -- LOOK, I THINK LEAF PEEPERS ARE GOING TO BE DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE UNUSUAL WARMTH IN SEPTEMBER, EARLY OCTOBER, IT TENDS TO DELAY THE COLORS, AND DULL THE COLORS.

ESPECIALLY THE SUGAR MAPLES, THE REDS.

YOU NEED THE CHILLY NIGHTS TO REALLY PULL OUT THE SUGAR IN THE LEAVES.

>> Eric: I NEED A POWERPOINT.

>> YOU NEED VISUALS?

OKAY.

>> Eric: DO I EVER.

>> THAT'S ALL I GOT.

GOOD NIGHT, EVERYBODY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

I TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY.

UNLESS YOU LIKE VIBRANT COLORS IN YOUR FALL LEAVES.

BUT, YEAH, I MEAN, THE WEATHER IS INCREDIBLE.

AND CATHY IS CORRECT, AND A LOVE THE FACT THAT YOU MENTIONED THE EUROPEAN MODEL.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

>> ECMWF, EVERY DAY GETS WARMER AND WARMER.

WE COULD SEE A 90 EVEN IN EARLY OCTOBER.

SUMMER'S EXTRA INNINGS.

AND IF YOU LIKE WARMTH, YOU MAY BE HAPPY TO SEE NOAA'S 90-DAY OUTLOOK, AGAIN, LOW CONFIDENCE BUT A MILD BIAS FOR MOST OF THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING MINNESOTA.

WE'RE KIND OF RIGHT ON THE EDGE.

AND IN TERMS OF RAINFALL, I THINK WE MAY BE BATTLING ABOUT BROUGHT RETURNING IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

NOTHING YET.

IT'S DRY UP NORTH.

LAKE WATER LEVELS, BRAINERD LAKES, ALEXANDRIA LAKES COMING DOWN.

BUT WE'LL SEE.

I DON'T SEE ANY BIG STORMS LOOKING OUT THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

ALL RIGHT.

AND, YEAH, THIS IS A TREND, SINCE 1970, THE LAST 75 OR WARMER DEGREE DAY IN THE TWIN CITIES IS NOW 11 DAYS LATER THAN IT WAS.

IN 1970.

SO IT'S NOT YOUR IMAGINATION.

SUMMER WARMTH IS SPILLING DEEPER INTO TRADITIONAL AUTUMN.

IT DOES SEEM TO BE A TREND.

AND, YES, ALL THOSE GREENHOUSE GASES, HAVING AN IMPACT.

WHAT WILL THE WINTER BE LIKE?

HOW MUCH SNOW, PAUL?

I WISH I KNEW.

I WISH COULD READ THOSE TEA LEAVES.

THE TEA IS WEAK.

AVERAGE IS 51 INCHES.

BUT THAT'S 30 YEARS OF DATA.

THE LAST TWO WINTERS, WE ONLY HAD 28.5 INCHES THE SNOW.

THE WINTER BEFORE THAT, YOU MAY RECALL, WE GOT CREAMED.

90 INCHES OF SNOW.

IF I HAD TO GUESS, AND THIS IS JUST A WAG, I WOULD GUESS CLOSER TO 40 OR 50 INCHES THIS WINTER, JUST BASED ON STATISTICS, A LOT OF RUMORS, A LOT OF HYPE ABOUT THE WINTER, FARMERS' ALMANAC, PAUL.

THERE'S A BIG BLOB OF WARM WATER IN THE PACIFIC.

>> Eric: YEAH, WHAT WAS THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

>> Eric: THE BIG LOB -- I READ THAT.

>> IT IS NUSUALLY WARM.

THE SURFACE WATERS OF THE PACIFIC.

BUT ALL IT TAKES IS A PARADE OF BIG PACIFIC STORMS FOR UPWELLING FOR COLD WATER TO COME TO THE SURFACE.

ACTUALLY, NOAA HAS THIS UNDER A LA NINA WATCH.

>> Cathy: OH.

>> RIGHT THROUGH DECEMBER.

THE EQUATORIAL WATERS OF THE PACIFIC FORECAST TO BECOME COLDER THAN AVERAGE, AND THAT DOES CORRELATE LOOSELY WITH COLDER, SOMEWHAT SNOWIER WINTERS FOR MINNESOTA.

BUT WAIT.

THERE'S A BIT OF A CATCH.

THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT VARIABLES THAT GO INTO WHAT THIS WINTER WILL BE LIKE.

WILL THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE, THE STRATOSPHERE, WARM RAPIDLY?

THESE STRATOSPHERIC WARMING EVENTS USUALLY PRECEDE POLAR AIR POURING INTO THE U.S.

WE HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY OF THESE SUDDEN STRATOSPHERIC WARMING EVENTS THERE WILL BE.

AND AGAIN, WE LOOK AT SNOWFALL IN SIBERIA IN THE FALL.

SOMETIMES WHEN SIBERIA GETS HEAVY SNOW EARLY IN THE WINTER, THAT TENDS TO LEAD TO A COLDER WINTER FOR MINNESOTA.

WE DON'T SEE THAT YET.

BUT A LOT OF CYCLES AND ONS WILL I LAITIONS AND TELL CONNECTIONS IT'S A LITTLE OVERLY SIMPLISTIC TO SAY WE GOT A WARM BLOB IN THE PACIFIC.

>> Eric: MY ADVICE?

DRESS IN LAYERS.

>> DRESS IN LAYERS.

>> Cathy: THANKS FOR THAT.

[ Laughter ] >> BUT HERE'S THE THING.

WE WANT TO KNOW.

I WANT TO KNOW, WHAT WILL THE WINGTER BE LIKE?

JUST BECAUSE WE WANT TO KNOW DOESN'T MEAN THE SCIENCE IS ROBUST ENOUGH TO MAKE A CREDIBLE FORECAST.

SO THE WINTER, IT'S LIKE INTEREST RATES.

PLACE YOUR BETS.

>> Cathy: THAT PICTURE OF YOU, WAS THAT YOU, OBVIOUSLY?

>> I MEAN, IN 2018, WHEN WE HAD 26 INCHES OF SNOW IN APRIL >> Cathy: SO YOU'RE SAYING COLDER WITH KNOW.

>> WHEN IN DOUBT, BE VAGUE.

TAKE IT TO THE BANK >> ERIC: THIS WEEK, THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION HELD A DAY OF PROCEEDINGS ABOUT A PROPOSED BUYOUT THAT WOULD TAKE A NORTHERN PUBLIC UTILITY PRIVATE.

ALLETE AND MINNESOTA POWER IS TRYING TO SELL ITSELF TO TWO PRIVATE EQUITY PARTNERS.

THE DULUTH UTILITY SAYS IT NEEDS ACCESS TO CASH TO TRANSITION TO 100% CLEAN ENERGY BY 2040.

REPORTER KAOMI LEE WAS AT THE HEARING.

>> Kaomi: IT WAS HIGH DRAMA AT THE STATE PUBLIC TILITIES COMMISSION THURSDAY.

>> MINNESOTA POWER AND OUR PARTICIPATES ARE MAKING SIGNIFICANT, MEANINGFUL, HISTORIC COMMITMENTS.

>> THE DEAL ITSELF ISN'T SPECIAL.

IT'S ABOUT MAKING MONEY FOR ALLETE'S SHAREHOLDERS AND ABOVE MARKET PROFITS.

>> Kaomi: THE CASE BEFORE THE P.U.C.

INVOLVES DULUTH BASED ALLETE AND ITS DIVISION, MINNESOTA POWER.

ALLETE IS A PUBLIC UTILITY AND PROVIDES ELECTRICITY TO 150,000 CUSTOMERS IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

IT WANTS THE COMMISSION TO APPROVE A $6.2 BILLION SALE TO PRIVATE EQUITY PARTNERS OUT OF STATE.

>> WE'RE CHOOSING A PATH THAT LETS US STAY WHO WE ARE.

WE CAN STAY HEADQUARTERED IN DULUTH AND ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES CAN STAY WORKING IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

WE KEEP OUR PRESENCE.

WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN A UTILITY MERGER.

>> Kaomi: ALLETE IS THE EIGHTH SMALLEST PUBLIC UTILITY UNTIL THE COUNTRY.

ABOUT 70% OF ITS CUSTOMERS ARE INDUSTRIAL, INCLUDING MINING AND PAPER PLANTS.

ECONOMIC VITALITY ON THE IRON RANGE IS UNSTABLE.

VICE PRESIDENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, JENNIFER KATY SAYS THE COMPANY NEEDS MORE ACCESS TO CAPITAL.

>> OUR COMPANY NEEDS TO RAISE MORE CAPITAL IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS THAN WE HAVE IN THE LAST 75 YEARS.

AS A PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANY.

>> Kaomi: DRIVING THAT IS THE STATE'S GOAL OF CARBON FREE ELECTRICITY BY 20406789 KATY SAIDS $5 BILLION IS NEEDED TO MAKE THOSE KINDS OF INVESTMENTS.

SHE SAYS THEY SIMPLY CAN'T RAISE THE MONEY IN THE PUBLIC MARKET.

>> SO E INTENTIONAL SOUGHT OUT PARTNERS IN A FURTHER DISCUSSION FUND, IN A PENSION FUND WHO ARE MUCH MORE ALIGNED WITH THE UTILITY MODEL IN TERMS OF LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS LIKE TRANSMISSION LINES.

>> Kaomi: THOSE CHOSEN PARTNERS ARE THE CANADIAN PENSION PLAN AND GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE PARTNERS.

G.I.P.

WAS BOUGHT BY PRIVATE EQUITY FUND BLACK ROOK IN 2024 FOR $12.5 BILLION.

IT WOULD OWN 60% OF ALLETE.

>> I WAS SURPRISED WHEN I GOT THE INFORMATION.

FROM THEM THAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT SELLING.

>> Kaomi: DULUTH RESIDENT BETH IS A LONG TIME ELITE SHAREHOLDER.

SHE VOTED AGAINST THE SALE.

SHE DOESN'T BELIEVE ALLETE'S CLAIM IT CAN'T OTHERWISE RAISE THE CASH.

>> THEY HAVE OBJECTED AT EVERY STEP AND THEY HAVE MET THE GOALS.

AND THEY'RE TELLING THE SEC THAT THEY HAVE THE MOST TO DO THAT ON THE OPEN MARKET.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF CAPITAL ACCESS ACROSS THE OPEN MARKETS.

>> Kaomi: THAT I 69 PAGE RULING, AN ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE SAID THE SALE SHOULD BE REJECTED BECAUSE ALLETE HADN'T PROVEN THAT THE PUBLIC BENEFITS.

JUDGE MEGAN THAT SAËNS YEAR WROTE, THERE ARE NO PREVIOUS INSTANCES WHERE IT WAS UNABLE TO ACCESS CAPITAL FROM THE PUBLIC MARKET WHEN IT NEEDED TO.

AND THE JUDGE CITED ANNUAL REPORTS FROM 2 2023 AND 2004 WHERE ALLETE SAID IT WAS WELL POSITIONED TO, QUOTE, MEET OUR FINANCIAL NEEDS.

HUNTER KINGSTON IS -- WHICH IS AN INTERVENOR IN THE CASE.

HE SAYS THE SALE IS DANGEROUS.

>> THESE EQUITY INVESTORS HOLD ON TO COMPANIES FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

THEY CHANGE THE WAY THAT THEY'RE RUN.

THEY SELL OFF ESSENTIAL ASSETS.

BUT WHAT THEY WOULD DO WITH A UTILITY VERY CLEAR IS THEY'RE GOING TO RAISE RATES.

>> I THINK IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT AT THE 11TH HOUR WE'RE HEARING FROM OPPONENTS SOLELY BECAUSE BLACK ROCK AGUIRREED A SUBSIDIARY.

MINNESOTA POWER RIGHT NOW IS OWNED BY ALLETE WHICH IS PUBLICLY TRADED.

SO IT ALREADY IS BEHOLDEN TO THE SHAREHOLDERS.

TO MAKE IT SEEM LIKE WE'VE GOT THIS LOCALLY OWNED UTILITY IS NOT ACCURATE.

>> Kaomi: BLACK ROCK IS ALREADY THE LARGEST SHAREHOLDER OF ALLETE.

AND SUPPORTERS SAY UTILITY RATES WOULD STILL BE SUBJECT TO THE P.U.C.

>> AND SO THEY CAN'T RAISE RATES.

THEY CAN'T MAKE NEW INVESTMENTS.

THEY CAN'T CHANGE SERVICE QUALITY OR REALLY DO ANYTHING SIGNIFICANT WITHOUT APPROVAL OF THAT COMMISSION.

>> Kaomi: THERE'S A REASON WHY ALLETE IS SO ATTRACTIVE.

20 YEARS AGO, IT GOT ALMOST ALL ITS ENERGY FROM COAL.

NOW MORE THAN 50% COMES FROM RENEWABLES.

SOME SAY IT'S A TEST CASE.

>> WE ARE WHAT YOU CALL CAPTIVE CUSTOMERS OF A MONOPOLY UTILITY SYSTEM.

WE DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE ELSE TO GO.

>> BUDDY ROBINSON IS A LONG TIME RATE PAYER ADVOCATE IN DULUTH.

HE SAYS IF THE COMPANY GOES PRIVATE, CONSUMERS WILL LOSE TRANSPARENCY LIKE REGULAR SECURITIES FILINGS.

>> IN THE BACKGROUND OF ALL THIS IS THE DESIRE TO HAVE HUGE DATA ENTERS FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE THAT'LL CONSUME HUGE AMOUNTS OF ELECTRICITY.

>> Kaomi: GROUND WORK IS BEING LAID FOR A DATA CENTER IN NEARBY HERMANTOWN.

THE PROPOSED SITE IS NEXT TO THIS ALLETE SUB STATION, ALTHOUGH ALLETE SAYS IT'S NOT INVOLVED.

NOW THAT THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION HAS WRAPPED ON ITS FIRST DAY OF PROCEEDINGS, A SECOND DAY IS SCHEDULED OCTOBER 3RD IN WHICH THE COMMISSION IS EXPECTED TO MAKE A DECISION.

THIS WEEK, ALLETE UPPED THE ANTE, PREVIOUSLY, IT OFFERED A ONE-YEAR RATE FREEZE AS PART OF A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE.

THE LATEST OFFER INCLUDES A $50 MILLION RATE CREDIT, AND ONGOING OMPLIANCE REPORTING TO THE P.U.C.

SHAREHOLDER BETH IS NOT SWAYED.

>> $11 TRILLION CORPORATION CONTROLLING THIS VERSUS THE FIVE PEOPLE ON OUR P.U.C.

DOESN'T SEEM TO ME LIKE A BALANCED -- A BALANCE OF POWER OR A BALANCE OF INFLUENCE.

♪♪ >> CATHY: IN OUR LINE OF WORK, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF HAND-WRINGING OVER THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF A.I.

AND THE CHALLENGES A.I.

IMAGES AND DISINFORMATION CAN POSE TO NEWS REPORTING.

BUT JOURNALISTS ARE ALSO INCREASINGLY MAKING USE OF A.I.

TO AUGMENT AND IMPROVE THAT REPORTING IN NEWSROOMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

IN OUR NECK OF THE WOODS, FRANK BI SPEARHEADS THE USE OF A.I.

TOOLS AT THE "MINNESOTA STAR TRIBUNE."

THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

IT'S GOOD TO MEET YOU.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: ABSOLUTELY.

SO I WAS TALKING TO SOME JOURNALISTS IN CALIFORNIA AND THEY'RE USING A.I., MOSTLY NOW TO DO INVESTIGATIVE STUFF, PORE THROUGH TONS OF PAPER AND RECORDS AND DO SOME INVESTIGATIVE STUFF.

WHAT'S THE "STAR TRIBUNE" USING A.I.

FOR RIGHT NOW?

>> JUST LIKE A LOT OF DIFFERENT NEWS ROOMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT AS WELL, RIGHT?

WHERE IT HELPS US AS A TOOL.

THE WAY I REALLY BELIEVE ABOUT A.I.

IS, IT IS A TOOL, RIGHT?

AND TOOLS SOLVE PROBLEMS FOR US.

A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE EVERY SINGLE DAY, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY UNIQUE TO A NEWS ROOM, BUT WE CAN AUGMENT.

SO ONE THING WE DID, AND -- FOR THE STATE FAIR, IF YOU ARE A PERSON THAT'S NEVER BEEN TO THE STATE FAIR, IT'S A VERY OVERWHELMING EXPERIENCE.

THERE'S OVER 300 DIFFERENT VENDORS.

ALL THESE DIFFERENT TIMES OF FOOD.

I KNOW FOLKS WHO LIVE IN MINNESOTA FOR A LONG TIME, THEY HAVE THEIR GO-TOS.

BUT IF YOU'RE VISITING FROM OUT OF TOWN, HOW DO YOU KNOW WHERE TO GO?

AND TO ME, THAT'S A USER PROBLEM I WANT TO SOY.

SO WE BUILT A THING CALLED STRIB FAIR BOT.

GENERALLY WHAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN.

YOU WANT SOMETHING SWEET, NOT TOO SALTY.

YOU DON'T KNOW THE VENDOR.

TYPE IT IN AND USING A.I.

AND OUR FOOD AND CULTURE TEAM AND THEIR EXPERTISE AND THEIR DEPTH OF EXPERTISE, IT TELLS YOU WHERE TO GO.

>> Eric: BROADLY SPEAKING, DOES THE DECISION MAKING COME FROM A HUMAN BEING YET OR IS THAT STILL AN A.I.

GENERATED DECISION ON WHAT GOES ON, WHAT DOESN'T GO OUT IN THE PAPER?

>> WELL, FOR THE BOT ITSELF, RIGHT, STRIB FAIR BOT, IT IS THE EXPERTISE OF OUR NEWS ROOM AND WE USE A.I.

TO AUGMENT THAT.

>> Eric: SO THERE IS A HUMAN ELEMENT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND WE HAVE SO MUCH DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE THERE.

FOR THIS BOT, WE HAVE CLASSICS.

IF YOU'RE FROM OUT OF TOWN, IF YOU'RE FROM TEXAS OR WISCONSIN OR NEW YORK, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CLASSICS ARE NECESSARILY.

BUT USING OUR EXPERTISE, WE'RE ABLE TO USE A.I.

TO AUGMENT THAT.

>> Cathy: AS YOU KNOW, FRANK, THE INTERNET IS FILLING UP WITH A LOT OF A.I.

GENERATED SLOP.

AND DO YOU FIND THAT THERE WILL STILL BE VALUE IN CONTENT WRITTEN Y HUMANS?

>> 14-7BD%.

THE WAY I SEE IT TOO RIGHT NOW, 100%, THE WORK THAT ALL JOURNALISTS HAVE TO DO WITH BUILD A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH AUDIENCE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.

SLOP WILL ALWAYS BE THERE.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THERE.

BUT I THINK M M MAKING SURE THAT WE STAND OUT ABOVE IT IS GOING TO BE MORE IMPORTANT.

>> Eric: IMPACT ON JOBS IN THE NEWS BUSINESS?

>> I THINK IT'S NOT NECESSARILY UNIQUE.

I THINK IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO -- I THINK A LOT OF THE WORK THAT A.I.

WILL REPLACE WILL BE THINGS THAT ALLOW PEOPLE TO DO OTHER TYPES OF WORK.

I KNOW A LOT OF THE TOOLS THAT YOU PROBABLY HEARD ABOUT IN CALIFORNIA, IT'S ABOUT KIND OF THE WORK OF, WHEN YOU GET A LOT OF INFORMATION, HOW DO YOU ACTUALLY DISTILL THROUGH IT?

TOOLS SOLVE PROBLEMS FOR IT.

A PROBLEM THAT A LOT F JOURNALISTS HAVE IS GETTING THROUGH THAT INFORMATION.

HUNDREDS OF PAGES OF PAPERWORK.

DIFFERENT NAMES.

HOW DO YOU PIECE THAT ALL TOGETHER?

AND A.I.

IS REALLY GOING TO BE ABLE TO AUGMENT THAT.

>> Cathy: OF COURSE YOU ARE WORKING FOR THE STATE'S LARGEST NEWSPAPER, AND THERE ARE SO MANY SMALLER -- WELL, THERE'S STILL SOME SMALL OUTLETS OUT THERE AND BLESS THEM FOR DOING THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING.

IS THERE A TOOL OUT THERE THAT CAN HELP YOUR FOLKS DO THEIR WORK IF -- YOUR REGIONAL REPORTERS, INSTEAD OF ATTENDING EVERY CITY COUNCIL MEETING?

IS THERE AN A.I.

TOOL THAT CAN SYNTHESIZE SOME OF THESE SMALL MEETINGS, COUNTY BOARD MEETINGS, AND THEN JUST POINT OUT TO THE REPORTER, HEY, THERE'S A STORY HERE?

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

>> 100%.

AND I SAY ABSOLUTELY, RIGHT?

THAT'S A PROBLEM THAT A LOT OF JOURNALISTS FACE, A LOT OF DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES FACE.

AND I'VE CONSULTED WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT STARTUPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN THIS SPACE.

THERE ARE ALSO SOME OFF THE SHELF TOOLS AVAILABLE NOW FOR THAT.

THEY LISTEN TO THE RECORDING, THEY'RE ABLE TO TRANS DESCRIBE IT AND QUERY THAT INFORMATION.

I USE IT A LOT IN MY PERSONAL LIFE BUT ALSO MY WORK LIFE AND JUST MAKING SURE I HAVE THE INFORMATION I NEED.

>> Eric: FRANK, THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> Cathy: GOOD LUCK.

♪♪ >> YOU KNOW, BRENDAN, I'M REALLY NERVOUS ABOUT MY MATH QUIZ TODAY.

>> SIS, I'M SURE YOU GOT IT.

I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO MY ART PROJECT TODAY.

YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE TO DRAW.

>> I WONDER WHAT MOM DOES WHILE WE'RE AT SCHOOL ALL DAY?

>> GOOD POINT.

I BET SHE REALLY MISSES US.

>> BOTH: HMM.

>> HMM, MY KIDS ARE HEADED OFF TO SCHOOL.

AND I BET THEY THINK I MISS THEM.

I DO NOT.

WHILE THEY ARE GONE, I CAN DO SOMETHING THEY WON'T.

PLAY WITH THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF TOYS, BOOKS AND PLAY GROUND EQUIPMENT THAT THEY NO LONGER USE.

I'M GOING TO GET SOME VALUE OUT OF THE MONEY I SPENT.

I'M THE QUEEN OF MY CASTLE, BUT I CAN'T FIGURE THIS RUBRIC'S CUBE OUT.

MY FRIENDS ARE ERE.

IT'S A PLAY DATE!

AND A PARTY!

COME ON IN, LADIES.

>> OW ARE YOU?

>> SO GOOD TO SEE YOU.

PLAY DATE!

WHOO!

THAT'S RIGHT!

THEY HAD ME BUY THESE UNO CARDS.

I DON'T KNOW THE LAST TIME THEY PLAYED THEM.

DID YOU PULL A DRAW TWO?

SO I TOOK OFF MOST OF MY CLOTHES BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO SWEAT TOO MUCH.

HA!

WHO KNEW GREG WAS GOING THROUGH MENOPAUSE JUST LIKE ME?

MY KIDS HAD ME BUY 50 MILLION COPIES OF -- MY KIDS HAD ME SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON THIS RAINBOW PLAY SYSTEM THAT THEY DON'T EVEN HANG OUT ON ANYMORE!

[ Laughter ] HOW ABOUT WE GO UPSTAIRS, TRY ON ALL MY DAUGHTER CAMERON'S CLOTHES, THE ONES THAT SHE HAD TO HAVE BUT NO LONGER WANTS TO WEAR?

YAY!

LET'S GO!

WHOO!

♪♪ >> THEY GOOD ANCHORS, STAN, TURNER, HE WAS A GOOD ANCHOR.

>> I THINK HE WAS A LOYAL EMPLOYEE TO THE HUBBARD ORGANIZATION.

1968 TO 2002.

UTILITY PLAYER, A WRITER, A REPORTER, AND NEWS DIRECTOR AAND A MAIN ANCHOR.

ANCHORED THE NEWS I THINK THREE SEPARATE TIMES.

I PERSONALLY THINK THAT HE DID NOT GET THE CREDIT HE DESERVED.

♪♪ >> ERIC: THURSDAY, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SUED MINNESOTA SECRETARY OF STATE STEVE SIMON FOR NOT TURNING OVER VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION.

THE POSSIBILITY OF A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN LOOMS EVER CLOSER.

AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS DIRECTED FEDERAL AGENCIES TO CONSIDER MASS LAYOFFS IN THE EVENT OF A SHUTDOWN.

THAT GIVES US PLENTY TO COVER WITH THIS WEEK'S COUCH FULL OF POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSORS.

MICHAEL MINTA JOINS US FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA'S HUBERT H. HUMPHREY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, ALONG WITH LARRY JACOBS, WHO HEADS UP THE U'S CENTER FOR POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE.

AND DAVID SCHULTZ IS BACK FROM HAMLINE UNIVERSITY, WHERE HE TEACHES POLITICAL SCIENCE.

HE ALSO SPENDS SOME TIME TEACHING LAW AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ST.

THOMAS.

PROFESSOR MINTA, THE OLD FIRE HOSE IS GOING HERE.

WHO KN KNOWS WHERE TO START.

BUT THE REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE NEED SEVEN DEMOCRATIC VOTES TO PREVENT A SCHOENBERG.

ARE THEY GOING TO GET 'EM?

>> OH, WOW, THE CONSTITUENTS OBVIOUSLY WANT THE DEMOCRATS TO PLAY HARD BALL.

THEY THINK THEY'RE BEING RUN OVER BY THE REPUBLICANS.

I MEAN, I THINK YES, THEY WILL GET IT.

BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT CAN'T STAY SHUT DOWN FOREVER.

BUT I THINK THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME TYPE OF FIGHT OR SOME PUSHBACK, JUST TO SHOW THEY'RE FIGHTING BACK.

BUT EVENTUALLY, I MEAN, WE NEED GOVERNMENT.

YOU NEED TO FUND IT.

AND IT HURTS BOTH CONSTITUENCIES, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

>> Eric: WHAT'S THE POLITICAL CALCULATION HERE?

FOR BOTH SIDES?

WHAT ARE THEY THINKING?

>> I THINK THE DEMOCRATS IS AS PROFESSOR MINTA JUST SAID, ARE REALLY UNDER HEAT.

THE BASE OF THE PARTY IS FURIOUS AT WHAT THEY SAY AS A CAPITULATION DURING THE SPRING.

BUT THEY ALSO SEE A REAL PLAY HERE, WHICH IS THEY'RE TELLING THE REPUBLICANS, WE WILL ONLY VOTE FOR THIS IF YOU EXTEND THE SUBSIDIES FOR THE HEALTH INSURANCE THROUGH THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

NOW, IF THE REPUBLICANS DON'T DO THAT, PROBABLY 24 MILLION PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LOSE THOSE SUBSIDIES AND THOSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO, ON AVERAGE, SEE THEIR PREMIUMS GO UP 75%.

SO DEMOCRATS THINK, LET'S FIGHT OVER THAT.

AND SO THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO CHANGE THE QUESTION AND WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

REPUBLICAN SIDE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE TALKING A BIG GAME HERE.

THEY'RE SAYING, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO DO MASS FIRINGS.

AND DEMOCRATS ARE LIKE, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO, WE'RE GOING TO RUN ADS ON THAT.

WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY DID IN VIRGINIA.

TALKING ABOUT REPUBLICANS RUINING THE LIVES OF VOTERS.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> IT'S A LOT OF GAME OF POLITICAL CHICKEN GOING ON AT THIS POINT.

THAT BOTH SIDES ARE PLAYING TO THEIR BASES.

BOTH SIDES, I STILL SAY, ARE IN A NEGOTIATING POSITION AT THIS POINT.

AND I SPUBT THERE'S GOING TO BE AT LEAST A TEMPORARY SCHOENBERG.

I MEAN, HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO BE, I DON'T KNOW.

BUT THINK ABOUT IT.

SCHUMER IS UNDER ENORMOUS PRESSURE AT THIS POINT FOR WHAT LOOKED LIKE A CAPITULATION LAST TIME.

SO HE HAS TO TAKE A LINE IN THE SAND AT THIS POINT.

SO AGAIN, I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME SIGNED OF A SCHOENBERG, BUT EVENTUALLY, THEY'RE GOING TO REACH AGREEMENT.

BUT HOW LONG, I DON'T KNOW.

>> Cathy: SO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS SUED EIGHT STATES INCLUDING MINNESOTA TO COMPEL THEM TO SHARE VOTER REGISTRATION LISTS.

BUT I'M WONDERING, WHY IS THAT DATA NEEDED?

DOESN'T THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALREADY KIND OF HAVE A LOT OF THAT DATA?

>> THEY HAVE A LOT OF THAT DATA AT THIS POINT.

BUT I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE, AGAIN, IS ANOTHER EFFORT BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TARGETING STATES LIKE MINNESOTA, YOU KNOW, WHICH ARE FAIRLY LOYAL DEMOCRATIC STATES, AND TRYING TO CREATE LOTS OF PROBLEMS, YOU KNOW, FOR THE WALZ ADMINISTRATION OR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

SO I THINK THAT'S PART OF IT HERE.

BUT I THINK THERE'S EVEN A BROADER CONCERN HERE WHICH IS REALLY ABOUT THE CONCERN ABOUT FEDERALISM HERE AT SOME POINT.

AND THE ISSUE ABOUT FEDERALISM SUPPOSED TO BE THAT PRIMARILY ELECTIONS ARE RUN BY THE STATES.

AND THEY GET TO DO WHAT THEY WANT HERE.

AND I THINK THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO MAKE SOME PRETTY STRONG MOVES HERE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING, WE WANT TO CONTROL THE ELECTIONS.

WE BASICALLY WANT TO -- >> BUT, DAVID, THEY ALSO REALIZE THAT THEY HAVE AREAS THAT REPUBLICANS CONTROL THE ELECTION MACHINERY TOO.

SO I THINK IN A LOT OF WAYS AND YOU SEE IT CONSISTENT WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, S TO MAKE GOVERNMENT AGENCY EXPEND RESOURCES OR PRIVATE GROUPS TO SPEND RESOURCES IN ORDER TO FIGHT OFF THESE -- THEY KNOW THAT THE LIKELIHOOD OF THIS HAPPENING IS VERY LOW, BUT IF YOU SPEND A LOT OF RESOURCES TRYING TO FIGHT, GIVING THE VOTER ROLLS AND ALL OF THAT, YOU KNOW, THE FEDERALISM QUESTION, THAT IT'LL JUST TIE EVERYTHING UP, AND THEN -- AND HAT SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT COMEY BEING INDICTED ALSO TOO.

BUT SORT OF THE SAME THING.

THE ODDS OF HIM BEING ACTUALLY CONVICTED WITH PRACTICALLY NIL.

FORCE PEOPLE TO SPEND RESOURCES AND REALLY PUT DEMOCRATS OR WHOEVER IT IS ON THE BACK FOOT.

>> Eric: HOW ABOUT THE TURNING POINT EVENT AT NORTHROP WITH A FEW DOZEN PROTESTORS.

OF COURSE CHARLIE KIRK'S MURDER HAS GALVANIZED THAT GROUP AND WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT WHOLE SITUATION?

>> WELL, OBVIOUSLY CHARLIE KIRK'S MURDER IS HORRIFIC.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE DIRECTION THE COUNTRY'S GOING, IF IT'S TOWARDS VIOLENCE, IT'S JUST LIKE NO RETURN FROM THAT.

SO I THINK THAT'S POINT ONE.

POINT TWO, I WAS ACTUALLY PLEASED BY THE FACT THAT THE UNIVERSITY TEPPED UP, THAT THERE WAS AN EVENT THAT WENT FORWARD.

YOU KNOW, THE ENERGY THAT WAS IN THE AUDITORIUM FROM CONSERVATIVE STUDENTS, WONDERFUL.

YEAH, THERE WERE PROTESTERS THERE.

I THINK THEY'RE EXERCISING THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, THEIR FREE SPEECH.

AND THEY DIDN'T PREVENT THE EVENT FROM OING FORWARD.

THAT'S THE KEY THING, AND, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO HAVE EXCHANGES OF IDEAS AND SOMETIMES IDEAS THAT YOU MAY DISAGREE WITH MOST.

>> Cathy: I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THIS UP BECAUSE THE TWO MAJOR TV OWNERSHIP GROUPS THAT WERE -- WALKED BACK THEIR DECISION TO CANCEL JIMMY KIMMEL, RIGHT, AND DID THAT SHOW YOU THAT THERE WAS OVERREACH BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND SUBSTANTIAL PUBLIC BACKLASH?

TO THAT DECISION?

BUT I'M WONDERING, IF THIS IS THE FIRST SALVO IN A FREE SPEECH BATTLE?

>> THAT'S A VERY INTERESTING THING AND YOU SAW THAT AS SENATOR CRUZ CAME OUT AND SAID, LOOK, E CAN'T LET THIS HAPPEN BECAUSE EVENTUALLY, DEMOCRATS WILL BE IN CONTROL AT ONE POINT AND YOU DON'T WANT THEM COMING AFTER CONSERVATIVES.

AND SO I THINK THIS IS -- AGAIN, I JUST -- JUST WATCHING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND REPUBLICANS, I MEAN, IT REALLY IS THIS LIKE, LOOK, WE'RE GOING TO THROW IT AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE IF IT STICKS AND THEY KNOW THAT IT MAY NOT LIKELY STICK.

I THINK THAT IT -- THESE -- THE FCC CHAIRMAN, I MEAN, I THOUGHT WAS VERY, VERY -- AND I THINK -- AND THE THING IS, I THINK THEY KNEW THAT THERE'S NO WAY THAT YOU CAN INTIMIDATE IN ORDER TO STOP SOMEONE FROM SHOWING PROGRAMMING, BUT THEY DID IT ANYWAY.

THERE AS A BUNCH OF UPROAR.

AND IT'S SHOWING TO OUR BASE, WE'RE REALLY STOPPING THESE LIBERALS AND THEY'RE GOING AROUND AND THEY'RE USING THE PUBLIC AIR IN ORDER TO MAKE POINTS AND WE'RE SHOWING WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING.

AND YOU SEE KIMMEL IS BACK ON THE AIR.

SO THEY'RE SAYING, HEY, WE'RE TAKING A STAND, BUT YOU SAW THEY ALLOWED THAT KIMMEL IS COMING BACK.

>> BUT I COULDN'T DESCRIBE KIMMEL COMING BACK ON THE AIR AS A TRIUMPH FOR FREE SPEECH.

THIS WHOLE EPISODE SHOWS THE INCREDIBLE POWER OF CORPORATE MEDIA OVER ACCESS TO INFORMATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE GOT SIX CORPORATIONS IN THIS COUNTRY THAT CONTROL ROUGHLY ABOUT 90% OF THE MEDIA MARKET IN THE UNITED STATES.

TWO BIG STATIONS, YOU KNOW, SIN CLAIRE AND I FORGOT WHAT THE OTHER ONE WAS.

NEXT STAR.

THEY STILL REFUSED.

THIS REALLY SHOWED ME THAT WE'VE GOT REAL SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH CORPORATE CONTROL OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND THE FACT THAT CORPORATIONS, WHETHER UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE GOVERNMENT OR INDEPENDENT ON THEIR OWN, THEY ARE THE GUARDIANS OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE GET.

AND THAT IS A DANGEROUS AND SCARY PLACE TO BE.

>> Eric: IS IMPEACHMENT A GIVEN IF THE DEMOCRATS TAKE BACK THE HOUSE IN THE 2026 ELECTION?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I MEAN, CERTAINLY THERE'S GOING TO BE A, YOU KNOW, SOME INTEREST IN THAT AMONG DEMOCRATIC BASE.

BUT, LOOK, DEMOCRATS WANT TO RUN ON AGENDA.

THAT THEY CAN GO INTO 2028 ABOUT AND THAT AGENDA IS GOING TO BE, LET'S GO BACK TO THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CUTS IN HEALTHCARE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO PUSH THE AGENDA.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF INVESTIGATIONS, IF THE DEMOCRATS GET THE MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE.

AND THERE'S PLENTY TO WORK WITH.

I MEAN, JUST, YOU KNOW, PRACTICALLY EVERY DEPARTMENT HAS GOT SKELETONS.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE PRETTY.

THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, GOVERNANCE IS A CARDING TO THE HUMPHREY SCHOOL PLAYBOOK.

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY HARDBALL POLITICS.

>> Eric: CHANCES FOR GOVERNOR WALZ TO WIN A THIRD TERM?

SOUNDS HE'S GOING TO RUN ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP.

>> AGAINST TRUMP, AGAINST GUNS.

NORMALLY I WOULD SAY THE CHANCES OF A THIRD TERM ARE PRETTY LOW, ESPECIALLY WHERE HIS NUMBERS ARE.

BUT RIGHT NOW THERE'S NOT A STRONG REPUBLICAN FIELD OUT THERE THAT'S REALLY EMERGING AT THIS POINT AND WITH WALZ HAVING THE MONEY HE HAS THE RESOURCES AND THE NAME RECOGNITION, HE'S GOT NOT A BAD CHANCE OF WINNING A THIRD TERM.

>> I GENERALLY AGREE WITH THAT.

I THINK ONE THING JUST TO APPRECIATE IS, OUR ELECTIONS, INCLUDING GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN NATIONALIZED.

IT MAY SEEM ODD THAT YOU'D HAVE A GOVERNOR RUNNING AGAINST DONALD TRUMP, BUT THAT IS HOW POLITICS HAVE PLAYED OUT.

AND SO YOU'RE SEEING GOVERNOR WALZ CONSTANTLY HARPING ON THE CONSEQUENCES OF TRUMP'S BUDGET CUTS.

BECAUSE HE'S GOING TO WANT TO -- WHOEVER THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE IS, MERGE THEM WITH DONALD TRUMP.

>> Cathy: YOU GUYS ARE GREAT.

THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> I VOTE YES FOR CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM.

THANK YOU.

[ Cheers and applause ] >> FRIEND AND POLITICAL ALLY JOHN MCCAIN ENTHUSIASTICALLY GREETED THE GOVERNOR BEFORE HIS REMARKS.

>> YOU TELL ME TODAY WE GET JESSE VENTURA, BEHIND THE SAME CAUSE, WE'RE BOUND TO WIN, MY FRIENDS.

WE CAN'T LOSE.

♪♪ >> CATHY: ONCE AGAIN, WE'VE REACHED THE END OF THE SHOW.

LAST WEEK, WE ASKED ABOUT A NEW YORKER WHO EVENTUALLY MOVED TO MINNESOTA PERMANENTLY.

THEY MOVED HERE FIRST IN 1981, AND THE TRIP WAS NOTABLE FOR SEVERAL REASONS, INCLUDING THE LENGTH OF TIME IT TOOK TO GET HERE AND THE MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.

WE ASKED YOU WHO THIS MYSTERY NEW YORKER TURNED MINNESOTAN WAS AND HOW THEY GOT HERE.

AND WE GOT SOME CALLS.

LET’S START WITH THE WRONG ONES.

>> Cathy: I LOVE THAT, VERLEN, ALL GOOD GUESSES AND ALL OF THEM WRONG FOR VARIOUS REASONS.

WE DID HAVE A CALLER WITH THE RIGHT ANSWER, INCLUDING LOTS OF GREAT DETAIL.

THE AIRWAVES ARE YOURS, MIKE FROM MINNEAPOLIS.

>> Cathy: HELLO, MIKE.

YES, INDEED!

IT WAS 44 YEARS AGO THAT KYLE MACKAY AND HER MORGAN HORSE, DUNROVIN-JAY, ARRIVED AT CARLETON JUST IN TIME FOR FRESHMAN WEEK.

AS MIKE NOTED IN HIS FULL MESSAGE, THEY CARRIED JUST A TENT, BED ROLL, AND A CAMERA.

OH, MY GOSH, A CROSS-COUNTRY HORSEBACK RIDING TRIP.

I LOVE THIS!

KYLE RETURNED TO MINNESOTA YEARS LATER TO WORK AT HER ALMA MATER.

I LOVE THIS.

THANKS TO CARLETON COLLEGE AND OUR FRIEND BRENDAN HENEHAN FOR THAT QUESTION.

WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH TIME FOR SOME SHOW-ENDING MUSIC.

IT WAS ON THIS DAY BACK IN 2014 THAT PIETA BROWN PERFORMED FOR US LIVE IN STUDIO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

♪♪ >> ♪ UNABLE TO CONCENTRATE ♪ ♪ DIGGING FOR WORDS ♪ ♪ MY HANDS IN MY POCKETS ♪ ♪ AND MY MIND A BLUR ♪ ♪ THINKING OF DRINKING ♪ ♪ THINKING OF YOU ♪ ♪ I’M GOING SAILING ♪ ♪ IN AN OLD WOODEN SHOE ♪ Captioned by: Captioned by: Veritext/Paradigm-Captioning Www.veritext.com >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

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