♪♪♪ >> Eric: FULL CONTROL OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS NOW ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER.

STATE SENATOR KELLY MORRISON OFFICIALLY RESIGNED HER SEAT THIS WEEK AS SHE CONTINUES HER RUN FOR CONGRESS AND THE SPECIAL ELECTION WILL COINCIDE WITH THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION.

SENATOR MORRISON'S OPEN SEAT ERASES THE DFL'S ONE SEAT CONTROL OF THE STATE SENATE.

DEMOCRATS ON THE COUCH TONIGHT.

KARL LA BIGHAM, OW A WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

ABOU AMARA.

REPUBLICANS WITH US TONIGHT.

SPHOIK SPHOIK, SPHORMER STATE SENATOR ALSO A PRACTICING ATTORNEY AND ANNETTE MEEKS.

NOW HEAD OF THE FREEDOM FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA.

ANNETTE.

>> YES.

>> Eric: SINCE DEFUND THE POLICE, THE BIG LETTERS IN POWDER HORN PARK.

ARE THE DEMOCRATS NOW SEEING A POLITICAL PROBLEM AND THEY'RE SCRAMBLING TO GET GOOD WITH THE POLICE OR AM I BEING TOO SANECAL?

>> I THINK YOU'RE BEING TOO OPTIMISTIC.

I'M NOT SURE THEY SEE THEIR PROBLEM.

WE HAD SOME CITY COUNCIL WHO NOT EVEN SAY THE NAME OF THE POLICEMAN WHO WAS AMBUSHED AND IS A SASS NAILTED ON THE STREETS OF MINNEAPOLIS.

WE ARE STILL ARE ABOUT 200 POLICE OFFICERS DOWN IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

IT IS AN UNSAFE CITY.

WE SEE THAT EVERY DAY IF YOU WORK OR LIVE THERE OF AND I DON'T BELIEVE THEY HAVE -- PART OF -- IXING A PROBLEM IS ACKNOWLEDGING YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.

AND I'M STILL NOT SEEING THAT IN THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT DEMOCRATS WHO WE JUST SAW STANDING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT WHILE SIGNING A BILL CEREMONIOUSLY.

>> I THINK YOU CAN POINT TO A COUPLE.

EDGES, THE VAST MAJORITY OF DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN PRO SAFETY.

MAYOR JACOB FREY DEFENDED THE POLICE AND WOULD BE.

AMY KLOBUCHAR WHO'S BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF DEMOCRATS.

>> WELL, IT'S NOT PROBLEMMIC AND WRONG, IT'S ABSOLUTELY WRONG.

BUT WHAT YOU SAW WAS OPTICS AND RIGHT NOW I THINK THEY'RE SENSING THEY -- PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THE SENSE THAT THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE IS OUT OF CONTROL.

IT'D BE ONE THING IF IT WAS JUST MINNEAPOLIS.

WE COULD JUST IGNORE IT.

BUT YOU CAN'T IGNORE MINNEAPOLIS.

IF YOU'RE GOING THERE FOR ANY KIND OF EVENT -- >> Mary: WHAT ABOUT THE BURNSVILLE OFFICER?

DID THAT BROADEN THE ISSUE, THE LOSS 69 BURNSVILLE OFFICER?

AND FIRST RESPONDER?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> E SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THE HOES OF OFFICER MITCHELL IN A HORRIBLE TRAGEDY.

AND THIS CANNOT BE THE NORM.

THE CONTINUOUS VIOLENT SITUATIONS THAT THEY FACE.

DEMOCRATS AND GOVERNOR WALZ SIGNED IN THE LARGEST FUNDING INCREASE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT GREATLY APPRECIATED THE HELP WITH EQUIPMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT WE ARE GIVING OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.

I ALSO WILL SAY, CATALYTIC CONVERTERS, I SERVED IN THE SENATE.

IT TOOK FIVE YEARS GRIDLOCK, FINALLY THE DEMOCRATS TOOK OVER, CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WERE SIGNED.

GUN SAFETY LAWS HAVE PASSED AND THE STRAW PURCHASES WERE SIGNED INTO LAW.

THAT'S THE FOOTAGE THAT YOU HAD TODAY.

SO THE LEGISLATION IS PASSING.

DEMOCRATS DO STAND WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> Eric: ABOU, I WONDER WHEN THE MARY MORIARTY HENNEPIN COUNTY ATTORNEY, GOVERNOR WALZ IS AGAINST ME BECAUSE I'M A QUEER WOMAN.

YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> I THINK IT'S PROBLEMATIC AND WRONG, RIGHT >> I THINK ULTIMATELY LEADERS SHOULD BE HELD TO ACCOUNT FOR THEIR DECISIONS IN OFFICE.

AND KIND OF PLACATING ON THIS IDENTITY ASPECT TO E WAS BIT PROBLEMATIC.

HERE'S THE DEAL.

PROSECUTION 101.

IF YOU'RE INTERESTING A CASE, NOTHING THE DEFENSE SAYS OR DOES SHOULD BE ABLE TO DESTROY YOUR CASE.

BECAUSE IF NOT, THEN OU DON'T HAVE BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT.

SO THE IDEA THAT YOU'RE POINTING THE FINGER AT OTHER PEOPLE INSTEAD OF LOOKING IN THE MIRROR IS A PROBLEM.

>> Mary: SHE SAID MAYBE THE GOVERNOR HAS A CONFLICT ON THE TROOPER CASE BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR IS HEAD OF THE STATE PATROL AND THE TROOPERS HAND HE'S CLOSE CLOSE TO TROOPERS.

>> I THINK SHE'S THROWING A LOT AT THE WALL HOPING SOMETHING STICKS.

YOU TALK ABOUT HER USING IDENTITY POLITICS AND HER IDENTITY AS A WEAPON.

THAT'S HOW DEMOCRATS FIGHT.

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

>> THAT'S WHAT YOU DO.

>> Mary: AND KARLA, IS THIS TROUBLING INFIGHTING FOR YOUR PARTY, THOUGH?

>> I THINK IT'S BAD JUDGMENT BY MARY MORIARTY NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHARGED FROM THE BEGINNING.

A LOT OF US HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT FROM THE BEGINNING.

SO I THINK IT'S MORE OF A MARY MORIARTY ISSUE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

>> IT WAS CASE BEFORE THAT LAST YEAR.

SHE HAS JUST PROFOUNDLY BAD JUDGMENT BECAUSE SHE HATES COPS AND HER OPPORTUNITY TO PROSECUTE THIS INNOCENT YOUNG OFFICER WHO WAS DOING HIS JOB AND TRYING TO SAVE THE LIFE OF HIS PARTNER, I THINK IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE THAT SHE WOULD TRY TO DURING PRIDE MONTH USE HER POLITICAL IDENTITY OR EXCUSE ME, HER SEXUAL IDENTITY AND THROW THAT AT THE GOVERNOR.

I THINK THAT'S -- I'LL BE HE LAST PERSON TO DEFEND GOVERNOR WALZ.

I'LL DEFEND HIM ON THIS ONE.

THAT WAS REALLY UNFAIR.

>> Mary: SHE WON BY A VERY LARGE MARGIN, THOUGH.

>> SHE DID.

AND I THINK SHE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GOVERN IN THE PHILOSOPHY THAT SHE RAN ON.

I WAS SUPPORTING PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT WITH MARY MORIARTY.

WE SHOULD ALLOW HER TO GOVERN IN THE WAY SHE SEES FIT ND THEN WE HAVE ELECTIONS.

AND THAT'S WHAT 2026 WILL BE ABOUT.

>> AND SHE WAS VERY AGGRESSIVE IN WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF NEEDING TO POLICE THE POLICE.

AND SO SHE'S DOING IT NOW.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THAT'S WHAT YOU VOTED FOR AND THAT'S WHAT YOU GOT.

>> Eric: STATE SENATOR KELLY MORRISON BEATS THE DEADLINE.

THERE'LL BE A SPECIAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.

BIGGER TURNOUT, I SUPPOSE MORE CONTROLLABLE FOR THE DEMOCRATS?

>> YOU KNOW, SHE HANDLED THAT WITH SUCH GRACE.

AND RESPECT FOR HER CONSTITUENTS AND HER COMMUNITY.

AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

AND O I THINK IT'S JUST -- SHE IS A TREMENDOUS ADVOCATE AND I WISH HER THE BEST.

SHE'S JUST A REALLY BRIGHT PERSON AND JUST A REALLY GOOD LEGISLATOR, SHARP.

>> Eric: HOW MUCH MONEY'S GOING TO BE SPENT ON THAT RACE IN THE PECIAL ELECTION EVEN THOUGH IT LOOKS LIKE A NOMINALLY DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT?

>> AT THE PRESIDENTIAL LEVEL, REPUBLICANS DON'T HAVE A SHOT.

AT THE SENATE LEVEL, THE REPUBLICANS DON'T HAVE A SHOT.

THEY'RE GOING TO PUT ALL THEIR MONEY, ALL THEIR EGGS INTO THIS BASKET, BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T DEMOCRATS WILL ONTINUE TO CONTROL.

AND SO I SUCT, IF I'M A REPUBLICAN, I'D FOCUS ALL MY MONEY ON THIS.

[Overlapping conversations] >> Mary: IT WASN'T CLOSE.

IT WAS A 12 POINT SPREAD BEFORE.

BUT IT SPLIT WITH THE HOUSE SEATS.

THERE IS A REPUBLICAN AND A DEMOCRAT.

SO DOESN'T THAT MAKE REPUBLICANS THINK THEY COULD COMPETE?

>> THE LEGISLATURE FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS.

ONLY STATEWIDE.

AND SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS KIND OF A FALSE START THERE.

WE HAVE DONE VERY WELL AND BEEN VERY COMPETITIVE AND CONTROLLED THE STATE SENATE I MIGHT ADD UNTIL THIS MOST RECENT ELECTION.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, I THINK IT'LL BE A VERY COMPETITIVE ELECTION -- [Overlapping conversations] >> IT WAS A MILLION DOLLAR SPECIAL ELECTION.

AND I HAD TWO REPUBLICAN HOUSE MEMBERS.

AND THE DEMOCRAT HAD STEPPED DOWN.

SO IT WAS A MILLION DOLLARS.

IT AS A MONDAY IN FEBRUARY AND IT WAS REALLY COLD.

>> YOU MAY SEE THE FIRST 2 MILLION -- [Overlapping conversations] >> MUCH MORE THAN $2 MILLION.

[Overlapping conversations] >> FOR A LEGISLATIVE SEAT.

>> Mary: THAT DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF MONEY.

>> THIS IS WHERE THE TOP OF THE TICKET MATTERS.

AND HAVING DONALD TRUMP AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET IS GOING TO POISON THE WELL DOWN TICKET AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO END UP BEING THE REASON -- >> I THINK THAT'S WISHFUL THINKING.

WHEN YOU SEE THE POLLING NUMBERS.

WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT TRUMP HAS BEEN DOOMED FROM THE GET-GO.

AND INSTEAD HE HAS A, WHAT, 34 FELONY CONVICTIONS AND HIS NUMBERS GO UP.

AND HERE IN MINNESOTA, HE'S ACTUALLY DOING REMARKABLY WELL AND NO ONE'S MORE SURPRISED THAN ME.

>> Eric: THIS BRINGS US TO NICOLE MITCHELL AND HER DECISION NOT TO RESIGN BEFORE THE DEADLINE.

WHAT SAY THOU?

>> I FEEL SORRY FOR HER, TO BE HONEST.

SHE IS UNDER AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF PRESSURE.

THE REPUBLICANS DID WHAT THEY HAD TO DO WHICH IS TO APPLY AS MUCH PRESSURE AS THEY POSSIBLY COULD TO SEE IF THEY COULD GET HER TO RESIGN OR GET SOME KIND OF CONCESSIONS OUT OF THE MAJORITY.

THAT DIDN'T WORK.

SHE DID THREE CRAZY THINGS.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT ERLER.

SHE DID WHAT SHE DID.

WHEN THE POLICE SHOWED UP, SHE'S SAYING LIKE A MEADOW LARK ON A FENCE POST.

AND THEN THE THIRD THING SHE DID WAS SHE BLAMED THE VICTIM ON THE VERY NEXT DAY.

THEN SHE TALKED TO HER LAWYER WHO GAVE THE TWO BEDS WORDS OF ADVICE WHICH IS SHUT UP.

AND SHE HAS.

SO HIS JOB MOSTLY RIGHT NOW IS TO PUT AS MUCH DISTANCE BETWEEN THE SESSION AND THE CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS.

>> Eric: WHY AREN'T DEMOCRATS MORE UNIFIED IN A RESPONSE?

YOU'RE SEEING POCKETS OF SHE SHOULD RESIGN, SHE SHOULD NOT RESIGN.

>> DEMOCRATS HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS ABOUT HOW THIS SHOULD BE HANDLED.

SHE'S GOING TO HAVE HER FIRST HEARING NEXT WEEK.

AND SO -- THE PROCESS IS PLAYING OUT IN THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO.

SHE WILL ULTIMATELY PLEAD GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY.

I THINK THAT WILL INFORM THE PARAMETERS OF WHAT HAPPENS HERE.

WHAT THE PROSECUTORS ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO BRING FORTH.

ARE THEY GOING TO STAY ON THE CHARGES THEY HAVE?

SO LOOK TO ME, AGAIN, IT'S A MATTER OF WHEN SHE'S GOING TO RESIGN.

IT'S NOT A QUESTION OF IF.

>> Mary: KARLA WHAT ABOUT THAT ETHICS HEARING NEXT WEEK?

>> I THINK IT GOT A CONTINUANCE AND IT'S IN JULY NOW.

>> THE LEGISLATIVE ETHICS HEARING.

>> SO I THINK THAT THEY'LL MAYBE PROBABLY WAIT AGAIN UNTIL AFTER THAT CONTINUANCE UNLESS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE, IT'LL BE THE SAME AS BEFORE.

BUT I UESS WHAT I WOULD SAY IS, I WISH SENATOR MITCHELL WOULD HAVE HANDLED HER SITUATION WITH AS MUCH GRACE AS RESPECT AS SENATOR MORRISON DID FOR HER COMMUNITY.

>> Mary: MEANWHILE IT'S TIED, THOUGH.

WE HAVE EMERGENCIES IN MINNESOTA.

WE SOMETIMES NEED SPECIAL SESSIONS.

>> MAYBE THEY SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT WHEN THEY PASSED EVERYTHING ON STRAIGHT PARTY LINE VOTES WITHOUT TALKING TO A REPUBLICAN.

THINK ABOUT THAT.

THEY WOULD RATHER HAVE AN COULD YOU SEED FELON SIT THERE AND PASS LAWS AFTER LAW AFTER LAW INCLUDING NEW CRIMINAL PROCEDURES ON GUN PURCHASES AND WHATNOT, RATHER THAN CUT A DEAL ON ANYTHING -- >> Mary: THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR THE GOVERNOR.

HE CAN'T CALL A SPECIAL SESSION IF SOMETHING HAPPENS.

>> YOU NEGOTIATE THESE THINGS OUT BEFORE A SPECIAL SESSION ACTUALLY TAKES PLACE.

AND SO THE IDEA THAT -- THIS IS NOT SOME CRAZY SCENARIO WHERE, OH, MY GOD, WE NEED A SPECIAL SESSION.

THE GOVERNOR WOULD ENGAGE LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP.

THEY WOULD AGREE IN PRINCIPLE TO A EAL AND THAT DEAL WOULD BE VOTED ON THE FLOOR.

[Overlapping conversations] >> THIS GUY DOESN'T LEAD.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH TIM WALZ.

HE DOES NOT LEAD.

>> BRAGGING ABOUT WHAT THEY DID LAST SESSION, ABOUT LEADING OUR COUNTRY INTO BEING A COLD CALIFORNIA.

THAT'S WHAT TIM WALZ HAS BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST YEAR, NOT NEGOTIATES WITH DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN LEADERS.

>> WHERE WAS HE THIS SESSION?

>> NATIONAL STAGE, INTERNATIONAL STAGE.

[Overlapping conversations] >> Eric: IT'S GETTING SO GOOD, BUT I'M GETTING THE HOOK!

WE HAVE RUN LONG TONIGHT.

WE'LL HAVE OUR HISTORY QUESTION A