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

>> Cathy: WE HAVE NOTHING ON A STICK.

>> Eric: NO GIANT REPTILES.

>> Cathy: NO GIANT SLIDE.

>> Eric: BUT A LOT OF POLITICS.

>> Cathy: YEAH, BACK AT THE FAIR.

"ALMANAC" IS COMING UP NEXT.

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

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 27 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH WHILE ADVANCING SOCIAL EQUITIES.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

PLASS APPLAUSE.

>> I'M CATHY WURZER FROM TWIN CITIES PBS AND MPR.

WELCOME TO THE MINNESOTA STATES FAIR.

>> YAY!!

[Applause] >> Cathy: I TELL YOU WHAT, WE'VE BEEN DOING THERE FOR MORE THAN A DECADE NOW.

AND WE'RE ALWAYS THRILLED TO DO IT AGAIN.

WE ARE LIVE HERE AT THE FAIR, OF COURSE.

WE ARE WORKING WITH TWIN CITIES PBS, WITH MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO, KIND OF A NICE MARRIAGE OF PUBLIC MEDIA HERE, TO BRING YOU A LIVE EDITION OF "ALMANAC" FROM THE STATE FAIR.

WE HAVE A GREAT SHOW LINED UP FOR YOU.

>> ERIC: AND I'M ERIC ESKOLA.

A SPECIAL WELCOME TO ALL OF OUR FANS ON PUBLIC RADIO AND TV.

WE HAVE A LOT TO SHARE IN THE NEXT HOUR.

WE'LL COVER POLITICS, TALK WEATHER WITH PAUL HUTTNER, SPORTS WITH LARRY FITZGERALD, AND KEVIN KLING WILL HAVE A STATE FAIR STORY FOR US.

>> CATHY: DID WE MENTION LIVE MUSIC AND LITTLE BABY ANIMALS.

YEAH, RIGHT HERE ON STAGE.

I LOVE THAT SO VERY MUCH.

WE HAVE A LOT TO GET TO SO LET'S DIVE IN.

OUR FIRST GUEST, GOVERNOR TIM WALZ.

GOVERNOR, THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

>> THANK YOU.

[Applause] >> I FEEL CATHY SET ME UP.

WE WENT FROM CUTE BABY ANIMALS TO ME, NICE SEGUE, SO THANK YOU.

>> CATHY: NICE SEGUE.

LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WAS IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR.

YOU CALL YOURSELF THE EDUCATION GOVERNOR.

TEST SCORES CAME OUT, THESE ARE THE STANDARDIZED TESTS THAT KIDS TAKE AND THE RESULTS WERE NOT GREAT.

AND WHAT REALLY STOOD OUT TO ME, AND I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK, ONLY 70% OF STUDENTS CONSISTENTLY ATTEND CLASS.

SO WHAT -- IN THE 2023 SESSION, WHAT WAS PASSED THAT MAY HELP THIS?

>> YEAH, NO, AND I THINK AS AN EDUCATOR, WE KNOW THIS AND THE FOLKS HERE WHO DO THIS, THESE ARE KIND OF A LAGGING INDICATOR.

THESE WERE TAKEN LAST YEAR AND THE TESTS THAT ARE GIVEN ARE GIVEN TO A DIFFERENT SET OF KIDS EACH YEAR BUT IT DOES TEST OUR SYSTEM WHERE IT'S AT AND I THINK WE STILL RECOGNIZE THE COVID DISRUPTIONS AND WHAT HAPPENED, WE'RE STILL RECOVERING FROM THAT.

I THINK THE POLICIES THAT WERE PASSED IN THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION CERTAINLY MAKING SURE WE'RE ABLE TO FUND THE RESOURCES NECESSARY, BUT I THINK SOME OF THE CHANGES, THE LITERACY CHANGES THAT WERE IN THERE, THESE WERE BIPARTISAN, A BROAD LITERACY PACKAGE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE FOCUSING ON READING, AND THEN I THINK A CONCERTED EFFORT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE HIRING TEACHERS, A WIDE SPECTRUM OF TEACHERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS A PROFESSION BECAUSE WE KNOW, WHEN YOU ASK COUNTRIES LIKE FINLAND WHO DO INCREDIBLY WELL ON THIS, THEY WILL TELL YOU, WHEN I ASK THEM, WHY IS YOUR EDUCATION SYSTEM SO GOOD, THEY SAY WE VALUE TEACHERS, AND THEY ALSO ADD THIS, THEY SAID THEY DON'T GIVE HOMEWORK.

WE FOCUS ON THE TIME IN THE CLASSROOM TO GET IT DONE SO THERE IS AN INTERESTING FOCUS ON THE KIDS, THE CLASSROOM, I THINK HERE IN MINNESOTA, WE DID THAT LAST YEAR.

>> Eric: SKIP AROUND A LITTLE BIT.

MARIJUANA, REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING MAYBE A SPECIAL SESSION NEEDED TO TWEAK AND CORRECT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I WOULD ASK THE FOLKS HERE, HAVE YOU SEEN -- HAS THE SKY FALLEN ON EVERYONE HERE, HAS THERE BEEN MASSIVE CHANGES?

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, I'M NOT CONDONING THE USE TO ANYBODY.

I HAVE A 16-YEAR-OLD AND A 22-YEAR-OLD BUT PROHIBITION DIDN'T WORK.

I TRUST ADULTS TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS.

WE'RE IMPLEMENTING THIS IN A THOUGHTFUL MANNER, WE'RE NOT REINVENTING THE WHEELS, 22 OTHER STATES HAVE DONE THIS, AND WE'LL BE MOVING FORWARD.

THERE'S GOING TO NEED TO BE CHANGES.

WE STILL TWEAK OUR ALCOHOL LAWS 160 YEARS AFTER STATEHOOD, AND WE'LL GET BETTER ON THAT.

>> Cathy: THE MOORHEAD POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK IT WILL SUSPEND A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM BECAUSE OF THIS NEW LAW THAT BANS THE USE OF SOME PHYSICAL HOLDS AND RESTRAINTS OF STUDENTS.

SCHOOLS DON'T SEEM TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT DO WITH THIS LAW AND I'M WONDERING, WHAT'S THE GUIDANCE FOR SCHOOLS?

HOW MIGHT THEY IMPLEMENTS THIS NEW LAW AND MIGHT A SPECIAL SESSION BE NEEDED TO TWEAK IT?

>> STUDENTS NEED TO BE SAFE IN SCHOOL, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS WE DID ON THAT.

WE PASSED SOME COMMON LEGISLATION TO MAKE SURE KIDS MAKE SURE KIDS ARE SAFE FROM SHOOTINGS BUT WE ALSO MADE THE CASE OF HOW WE TREAT OUR STUDENTS, AND THIS HAS BEEN THE LAW FOR A LONG TIME, ESPECIALLY AROUND SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS, THIS WEEK THE ATTORNEY GENERAL GAVE AN OPINION ON THIS THAT GAVE FULL AUTHORITY TO SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS TO USE WHAT THEY DEEM NECESSARY IN TERMS OF OTHER -- BROKE OF OTHER STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AROUND THEMSELVES.

IT'S JUST CLARIFICATION.

I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE, WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO BE SAFE BUT WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE A STUDENT IS NOT BEING KNELT ON OR SOMETHING THAT BEST PRACTICES DOESN'T WARRANT.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE THIS AND I SAY, I KNOW THAT SCHOOL RESOURCES OFFICERS AREN'T A UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED THING.

FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I WORKED WITH THEM EXTENSIVELY AND I BELIEVE IN THIS PROGRAM.

I WORKED TEACHING THE DARE PROGRAM WHEN I TAUGHT 6TH GRADE FOR A LOT OF YEARS AND WE WORKED HAND IN HAND WHERE WE BECOME AN INTEGRATED, WHERE POLICE ARE SEEN AS SUPPORTIVE AND FRIENDLY AND OUR CHILDREN RUN TOWARDS THEM AND UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING.

I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS AROUND THIS, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MADE THE CASE.

THIS IS NOT MEANT TO PRECLUDE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS FROM BEING ABLE TO INTERVENE IN PROTECTION OF LIFE AND, YOU KNOW, INJURIES, BUT IT ALSO SETS SOME LIMITS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROTECTING THE CHILDREN.

>> Eric: WHAT DIRECTION ARE YOU GIVING DEPARTMENT HEADS AS THEY PREPARE FOR THE '24 SESSION?

IS IT ANOTHER PEDAL TO THE METAL OR CORRECT AND IMPLEMENT?

>> I THINK WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT.

I'M VERY PROUD OF THIS, WE PASSED A LOT OF THINGS, WE PROTECTED REPRODUCTIVE RATES.

WE MADE SURE IN MINNESOTA YOU'RE ABLE TO MAKE YOUR OWN HEALTH DECISIONS.

WE MOVED FORWARD ON COMMON SENSE GUN REGULATION, WE FUNDED TRANSPORTATION.

I CAN SAY THIS, NOW AS THE AGENCY, OUR JOB IS TO IMPLEMENT THESE CORRECTLY.

I THINK YOU SAW US DO THIS.

MANY OF YOU HERE RECEIVED CHECKS INTO YOUR CHECKING ACCOUNTS, YOU SAW THE DEPOSITS ON THE RETURN CHECKS, YOU'LL BE RECEIVING PAPER CHECKS.

I THINK WHAT I'M TELLING THEM IS LET'S IMPLEMENT, LET'S TWEAK WHAT NEEDS TO BE TWEAKED AND THEN LET'S -- AGAIN, MY FOCUS KIND OF IS, LET'S KEEP BUILDING ON THE SUCCESSES WE HAD IN A WAY THAT IMPROVES THE LIVES FOR MINNESOTANS.

>> Cathy: SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, THEN, NO SPECIAL SESSION TO TWEAK MARIJUANA LAW, AND NO SPECIAL SESSION TO TWEAK ANY OF THE LAWS THAT WERE PASSED, RIGHT?

>> NO, I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARY.

THEY GET PAID TO DO THEIR WORK DURING THE TIME.

WE DID SOMETHING THIS YEAR THAT -- DON'T BE PATTING ANYBODY ON THE BACK BUT YOU SHOULD COME TO EXPECT IT, WE FINISHED ON TIME AND DID OUR WORK.

THAT'S -- [Cheering] >> -- SO THEY CAN WAIT UNTIL FEBRUARY.

>> Eric: A COUPLE OF MINUTES LEFT.

YOU'RE, WHAT, 59 YEARS OLD?

>> I AM.

I KNOW IT'S A YOUTHFUL 59.

>> Eric: YOUR TERM IS UP IN JANUARY OF 2027 SO YOU STILL HAVE ONE MORE RUN IN YOU, PROBABLY.

SO LET ME GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT MULTIPLE CHOICE HAT'S NEXT.

PRESIDENTIAL RUN IN FOUR, FIVE YEARS FROM NOW?

[Cheering] >> WELL, I HAD SOMEONE TELL ME, YOU KNOW, NEVER TURN DOWN A JOB YOU HAVEN'T BEEN OFFERED BUT, HONESTLY, I HAVE A LOT ON MY PLATE HERE.

I'M GOING TO MAKE URE WHERE HE USHER MINNESOTA IN TO WHAT WE'VE SEEN ACROSS THE STATE.

WE'RE TOP FIVE IN BUSINESS PLACE TOO LIVE, HEALTH CARE, THOSE THINGS.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TOWARD NUMBER ONE ON THOSE.

>> ERIC: CABINET POST, I WOULD -- VETERANS AFFAIRS?

AGRICULTURE?

>> I WOULD CERTAINLY BE HONORED TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THOSE THINGS BUT MY HEART IS HERE IN MINNESOTA AND A JOB TO DO.

>> Eric: THIRD TERM?

>> WELL, IT HASN'T EVER BEEN DONE BEFORE -- >> Eric: WHY IS IT SO HARD -- IT IS HARD TO GO THIRD TERM.

>> I THINK, LIKE, MY FAMILY IS TIRED OF ME, I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE REST WILL FEEL BY THEN BUT WE'LL SEE WHEN THAT TIME COMES UP.

>> Eric: ALL RIGHT, SIR.

>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT, GOVERNOR TIM WALZ.

BY THE WAY, BEFORE YOU GO, THE ONE THING YOU'VE EATEN SO FAR AT THE FAIR THAT YOU WOULD GO FOR AGAIN.

>> FRIED GREEN TOMATO SANDWICH AT FARMERS' UNION.

IT'S RIDICULOUSLY GOOD.

>> Eric: THANKS, GOVERNOR.

>> Cathy: THANKS, GOVERNOR WALZ.

>> THANKS, FOLKS.

[Cheers & Applause] >> Cathy: WE ARE LIVE FROM THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR AND IF YOU'RE LISTENING ON THE RADIO, IT'S A LITTLE HOT OUT HERE BUT NOT AS BAD AS IT HAS BEEN THE LAST FEW DAYS SO AT LEAST WE'RE UNDER SOME SHADE HERE AT THE MPR BOOTH.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A QUICK LITTLE REMEMBRANCE OF ANOTHER GOVERNOR.

GOVERNOR AL QUIE DIED THIS PAST WEEK.

HE WAS 99 YEARS OLD, JUST ABOUT A MONTH SHY OF HIS 100TH BIRTHDAY.

GOVERNOR QUIE WAS AN EXCELLENT HORSEMAN.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, HE WAS RIDING HORSES UNTIL HE WAS 96.

WELL, OUR MARY LaHAMMER DID AN INTERVIEW WITH THE GOVERNOR WHEN HE TURNED 90 AND THEY DID THE INTERVIEW IN A BARN, SO WE'RE GOING TO SHOW YOU A LITTLE EXCERPT OF THAT 2012 INTERVIEW WITH FORMER GOVERNOR AL QUIE.

>> OKAY, BUDDY.

>> MARY: ON HIS 90th BIRTHDAY, GOVERNOR AL QUIE REMAINS ACTIVE.

WHILE A SORE HIP KEEPS HIM OFF HORSES FOR NOW, IT DOESN'T STOP HIM FROM TRAINING OTHERS TO RIDE, NO MATTER HOW SMALL.

>> NOW GET YOUR FEET ON BOTH SIDES HERE.

>> Mary: THE STATE'S OLDEST LIVING GOVERNOR IS STILL PLAYFUL, QUICK WITH THE SMILE, AND SEEMINGLY ENDLESSLY KIND.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE HIS TEMPERAMENT?

>> HIS TEMPERAMENT IS FAIRLY GOOD, EXCEPT HE IS SO FRIGHTENED OF OBJECTS THAT HE HASN'T SEEN BEFORE.

>> Mary: CALMING THIS HORSE CAN BE HARD WORK FOR QUIE BUT HE'S NEVER SHIED FROM A CHALLENGE.

A LIFETIME OF PUBLIC SERVICE FROM THE FARM KIND OF SOUTHERN MINNESOTA BEGAN AS A MILITARY PILOT AND ST. OLAF GRAD WHO WENT ON TO THE STATE SENATE, THEN TWO DECADES IN CONGRESS.

>> RUDY PERPICH HASN'T SAID NO IN THE TWO YEARS HE'S BEEN GOVERNOR.

>> Mary: AND FINALLY ONE TERM AS GOVERNOR, AN OFFICE HE GAVE UP TO SOLVE A SHORTFALL.

>> THE TOP ACCOMPLISHMENT IS THAT I THINK THAT I LISTENED TO PEOPLE, ALWAYS TRYING TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE COUNTRY, BEST FOR THE STATE.

>> Mary: AND HE STILL WANTS PEOPLE TO EVOLVE, TO REMAIN OPEN TO CHANGING THEIR MINDS.

>> AND BE ABLE TO BE WILLING TO BE EMOTIONALLY INVOLVED WITH THEM, AS YOU STAYED BACK BECAUSE YOU WANT YOUR COMFORT ZONE.

IT'S AMAZING IN PRISON, WHEN YOU SMILE AT A PERSON, PAY ATTENTION TO THEM -- MY FIRST 47 YEARS, I WOULDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ANYBODY WHO DID WRONG.

IF YOU'RE WRONG, YOU OUGHT TO CHANGE YOUR MIND.

>> Mary: QUIE'S PRISON MINISTRY ADDED TO HIS NATIONAL STATURE.

THE STATE'S LINO LAKES PRISON HAS A UNIT NAMED AFTER HIM, THE ONLY GOVERNOR TO GAIN SUCH AN HONOR.

♪♪ >> ERIC: JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT GOVERNORS PAST AND PRESENT AND, OF COURSE, ALL THINGS POLITICAL, A PAIR OF EXCELLENT POLITICAL REPORTERS.

BRIAN BAKST IS A VETERAN AT OUR STATE FAIR SHOWS.

HE'S PART OF THE STELLAR MPR NEWS CAPITOL REPORTING TEAM.

AND WE WELCOME DANA FERGUSON ANOTHER KEY MEMBER OF THE MPR NEWS CAPITOL TEAM.

EXCELLENT REPORTERS.

ANYTHING CATCH YOUR EAR WITH THE GOVERNOR'S SEVEN MINUTES WITH US?

>> I WAS PAYING ATTENTION TO THE QUESTION YOU GAVE HIM AT THE END.

HE'S BEEN ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ASKING WHAT HE'S UP TO.

OBVIOUSLY THERE IS AN INCUMBENTS PRESIDENT, HE'S NOT RUNNING FOR THAT.

BUT WHAT'S NEXT IS STARTING TO FILTER ON HIS RADAR AND THE FACT THAT HE'S OPEN TO SOME OF THESE THINGS, EITHER A THIRD TERM OR A CABINET POST WAS KIND OF INTERESTING TO ME.

>> Eric: OKAY.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE REACTION OF THE LEGISLATURE AS THEY GO DOOR-KNOCKING, OF THE VOTERS, WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD AFTER THIS VERY ACTIVE SESSION THAT WE HAD?

>> YEAH.

IN TALKING TO LEGISLATORS GETTING OFF THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THEY'RE ALL SAYING, FOLKS ARE KIND OF OVERWHELMED WITH THE AMOUNT OF POLICY THAT GOT PASSED, THE HUGE BUDGET THAT THEY PASSED THIS YEAR, AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STILL JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND ALL OF IT.

AS WE ALL REMEMBER, IT WAS A FAST AND FURIOUS SESSION.

THERE IS A LOT BUILT INTO THE BUDGET BILLS THAT WE MAYBE DIDN'T KNOW RIGHT AWAY WAS IN THERE, AND THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER QUESTION THAT YOU ASKED ABOUT WAS REALLY AN ISSUE THAT WE'RE STILL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS, TRYING TO ADOPT OR ADAPT, FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT WORK FOR THEM.

>> Cathy: SOUNDS AS THOUGH THE GOVERNOR IS NOT INTERESTED IN CALLING A SPECIAL SESSION TO TWEAK THAT BILL OR THE MARIJUANA LAW OR ANYTHING, REALLY, UNTIL NEXT YEAR, RIGHT?

>> WELL, AT THE END OF SESSION, THERE WAS SOME TALK THEY MIGHT HAVE TO COME BACK TO DEAL WITH THE MERGER OF SANFORD AND FAIRVIEW.

WELL, NOW THAT'S OFF THE TABLE SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.

THEY'RE ALREADY BUILDING TOWARD NEXT SESSION, YOU'RE STARTING TO HEAR SOME OF THE TASK FORCES PUT TOGETHER AGENDAS.

THE BONDING BILL IS GOING TO BE THE BIG CENTERPIECE NEXT YEAR, THERE'S $7 BILLION WORTH OF REQUESTS ALREADY ON THE TABLE SO THEY DON'T COME BACK UNTIL FEBRUARY BUT THEY'LL HAVE A LOAD TO DO BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.

>> Cathy: DANA, GETTING BACK TO MARIJUANA FOR A MOMENT, THIS WEEK, THE REVENUE DEPARTMENT SAID, SO FAR, THE STATE OF MINNESOTA TOOK IN ABOUT $500 MILLION IN GUMMY MONEY, AS IT WERE.

>> 600,000.

>> Cathy: EXCUSE ME, $600,000.

IS THAT CONSIDERED DECENT OR ARE WE EXPECTING MORE MONEY?

I WOULD ASSUME MAYBE THIS MIGHT BE SOME PRETTY BIG MONEY COMING DOWN THE PIKE.

>> I MEAN, I THINK IT'S SORT OF REVEALING.

WE DIDN'T HAVE A SENSE BEFORE OF JUST HOW BIG OF A CASH COW THE THC GUMMIES WERE.

YOU CAN SEE, ANECDOTALLY, PEOPLE WERE BUYING THEM, THEY ARE EVERYWHERE SO NOW IT'S NICE TO KNOW, AND FOR THE STATE TO HAVE SOME OF THAT MONEY TO USE FOR OTHER EDUCATION, OTHER PURPOSES, AND IT'S JUST KIND OF INTERESTING THAT $6 MILLION WENT TOWARD GUMMIES.

>> Eric: LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT AN ISSUE THAT MIGHT BE BUBBLING UNDER THE SURFACE AS A POLITICAL POINT.

ARE THE DEMOCRATS AT ALL THINKING OF SCALING BACK THE STATE OFFICE BUILDING RENOVATION AND EXPANSION?

I JUST -- I GOT A SENSE THE REPUBLICANS COULD MAKE SOME HAY WITH THAT.

>> THEY ARE NOT.

IN FACT, I SPOKE WITH SOME OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS LAST WEEK AND I'LL HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU NEXT WEEK, CATHY.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

>> THEY'RE MOVING AHEAD.

STARTING IN DECEMBER, THEY'RE GOING TO START MOVING SOME OF THE TENANTS OUT.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE IS GOING TO MOVE OUT.

PRETTY SOON THE LEGISLATURE AND THEIR STAFF WILL BE THE ONLY ONES -- THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO GET THROUGH THIS NEXT SESSION WITH THEM IN PLACE BUT AFTER THAT, THEY'RE GOING FULL BORE.

THEY'RE GOING TO BREAK GROUND IN PROBABLY EARLY NEXT YEAR ON THAT EXPANSION WITH THE NEW WING AND THEN GO IN AND RENOVATE THE OLD ONE.

>> Cathy: SAY, DANA, I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING -- OF COURSE THE TEST SCORES, WE TALKED TO THE GOVERNOR ABOUT THOSE TEST SCORES AND THAT THE FACT THAT THE ONLY 70% OF MINNESOTA STUDENTS CONSISTENTLY ATTEND CLASS I THINK WAS INTERESTING.

SO THERE WAS A WHOLE HOST OF THINGS PASSED DURING THE PAST SESSION THAT WOULD GO TO EDUCATION BUT DO WE KNOW, DID LAWMAKERS PASS ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ABSENTEEISM ISSUE?

>> I THINK THERE IS A LOT MORE OF A FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT IN SCHOOLS AND THEY'RE HOPEFUL THAT BUILDING OUT SOME OF THAT SORT OF COMMUNITY SCHOOL MODEL IS GOING TO HELP.

POTENTIALLY HAVING FREE MEALS IN SCHOOLS COULD BE ANOTHER DRIVER FOR GETTING STUDENTS TO SCHOOLS MORE CONSISTENTLY, BUT NOT ANYTHING REALLY SPECIFIC ON ADDRESSING ABSENTEEISM.

YOU WOULD HAVE TO THINK IF COVID ISN'T QUITE AS BAD AS IT WAS LAST YEAR, THIS MIGHT BE A DRIVER FOR GETTING STUDENTS TO THE CLASSROOMS, TOO, BUT CERTAINLY SOMETHING THEY CAN WORK ON.

>> Eric: LOOKING AHEAD TO THE '24 SESSION AND THEN THE ELECTION, THE STATE HOUSE MEMBERS ARE UP, NOT THE SENATE.

HOW MANY SEATS IN MINNESOTA, IN THE STATE HOUSE ARE COMPETITIVE?

WHAT -- CONTROL WILL BE TOUGH.

>> IT'S A SHRINKING NUMBER.

THERE ARE ONLY A HANDFUL OF SEATS THAT DEMOCRATS STILL HOLD IN GREATER MINNESOTA AND THOSE ARE BECOMING A LITTLE MORE TENUOUS IN SOME PLACES, SO EXPECT REPUBLICANS TO FOCUS ON THOSE.

AND IN THE SUBURBAN AREAS, THERE ARE SOME SEATS THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE PICKED UP OVER THE YEARS THAT REPUBLICANS WANT TO TRY TO GET BACK.

IT WILL DETERMINE -- IT WILL DEPEND A LOT ON WHO'S ON THE TOP OF THESE TICKETS.

IF IT'S A TRUMP-BIDEN REMATCH, THAT'S GOING TO SUCK A LOT OF OXYGEN OUT AND SOME OF THESE LOCAL RACES, THEY JUST KIND OF GET SWEPT UNDER.

>> Cathy: LET ME ASK ABOUT A LOCAL RACE THAT ACTUALLY IS REALLY INTERESTING, THE DULUTH MAYORAL RACE.

SO I'M WONDERING, WHAT MESSAGE WAS SENT THAT CURRENT MAYOR EMILY LARSON LOST PRETTY HANDILY TO ROGER REINERT.

>> YEAH, I WAS UP THERE ON PRIMARY NIGHT AND I WAS TALKING TO ROGER REINERT.

HE SAID HE FOCUSED HIS CAMPAIGN ON BREAD AND BUTTER THINGS, FILL THE POTHOLES, PLOW THE SNOW.

HE REALLY WANTS CONCENTRATION ON BEDROCK THINGS AND HE SAID THAT'S GOING OVER WELL WITH THE VOTERS IN DULUTH.

OF COURSE, HE'S A FORMER DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKER, HE'S NOT RUNNING WITH THE PARTY AFILLATION BUT IT HELPS IN A CITY THAT'S LARGELY DEMOCRATIC.

>> Eric: WE'VE GOT TO GO BUT I WONDER ABOUT, JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THE BONDING STUFF, CAN THERE BE A SMALL BONDING BILL IN AN EVEN YEAR AFTER THE INCREDIBLE RECORD-SIZE BONDING BILL LAST TIME?

>> YEAH, THE BONDING CHAIRS WEREN'T GIVING US A WHOLE LOT OF SPECIFICS ABOUT JUST HOW BIG IT CAN BE.

THEY LEFT ABOUT ONE BILLION DOLLARS IF THEY NEED TO DO A CASH-ONLY BILL, SO THERE WILL BE SOMETHING.

THEY'RE DETERMINED THEY WANT TO TAKE ANOTHER BIG BITE OUT OF THOSE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF NEEDS OUT THERE BUT YET TO BE SEEN HOW BIG THAT BITE WILL BE.

DANA AND BRIAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OUT TO THE CROWD AND SHELLETA AND TANE.

>> I'M TANE DANG GERE.

>> I'M SHELLETA BRUN BRIDGE.

WE ARE USUALLY NEXT TO THE MONITOR ON "ALMANAC" BUT TODAY WE ARE HERE WITH A GIGANTIC CROWD OF PUBLIC RADIO AND TV FANS.

[Cheers & Applause] VERY EXCITING.

SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SO MANY FUN THINGS TODAY.

WE ALREADY HEARD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE WITH CATHY AND ERIC, CATHY WILL HAVE SOME BABY ANIMALS WITH HER.

>> OH, MY GOD.

>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN ESSAY FROM MINNESOTA LEGEND AND TREASURE, KEVIN KLING.

AND SHELLETA, YOU'LL BE WALKING AROUND THE CROWD.

>> I AM, I'M GOING TO FIND SOME VERY INTERESTING FOLKS IN THE CROWDS AND WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL GUEST THAT I'M GOING TO TALK TO, AND I'M HOPING THAT SOMEONE HAS THOSE NEW, LIKE, LUTEFISK BUN STICK THINGS, I WANT TO TRY THAT BUT BEFORE WE DO ALL THAT, WE'LL SEE WHAT CATHY AND ERIC HAVE GOING ON OVER THERE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

BACK TO YOU, CATHY AND ERIC.

>> CATHY: WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON HERE AT THE MAIN STAGE.

WE'RE AT THE MPR NEWS BOOTH, CORNER OF JUDSON AND NELSON, LIVE ON THE RADIO BUT THIS IS ALSO A TELEVISION PROGRAM YOU'RE WATCHING, IT'S "ALMANAC" ON TWIN CITIES PBS.

IT IS A SUNNY DAY HERE AT THE STATE FAIR AND I HAVE TO SAY IT'S JUST MAYBE A LITTLE CLOSE, SHALL WE SAY, WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE 80s AND HUMIDITY IS A LITTLE UP THERE BUT NOT AS BAD AS IT WAS EARLIER THIS WEEK, THAT'S FOR SURE.

WE'VE HAD RECORD-BREAKING TEMPERATURES THIS SUMMER, WE'VE HAD SMOKE, WE'VE HAD ALL KINDS OF WEATHER ANOMALIES.

JOINING US RIGHT NOW IS MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO'S CHIEF METEOROLOGIST, PAUL HUTTNER.

>> HEY, CATHY, ERIC, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

HEY, EVERYBODY.

>> IT'S ONLY 82 DEGREES RIGHT NOW.

>> Cathy: IT FEELS A LITTLE WARMER THAN 82 ON THE STAGE HERE, I HAVE TO SAY THAT.

>> IT DOES, YEAH.

>> Cathy: LET'S PUT THIS SUMMER INTO CONTEXT.

IT'S BEEN HOT BUT WHERE DOES IT FIT IN THE CONTEXT OF PAST SUMMERS?

>> YEAH, WE WERE ON PACE, CATHY, FOR A TOP-FIVE WARMEST SUMMER UP UNTIL THIS WEEK, RIGHT, WITH THAT HEAT WE HAD EARLIER THIS WEEK.

IT'S GOING TO COOL OFF THE LAST WEEK OF AUGUST SO I THINK WE'LL END UP TOP 10-ISH FOR WARMEST SUMMERS ON RECORDS BUT WE'VE HAD 26 DAYS OF 90-DEGREE PLUS HEAT.

I CALL THAT WURZER WEATHER... CATHY LIKES IT HOT.

>> Cathy: YEAH, I DO.

>> SO 26 DAYS OF 90-DEGREE WEATHER AND THE DROUGHT AGAIN.

>> Eric: WHY SO HOT?

>> I THINK THAT'S A MATTER OF VARIABILITY.

THERE'S WE THINK A BIG HIGH RIDGE SETTING UP FROM TEXAS ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE MIDWEST.

THEY HAD HEAT INDEX VALUES OF 134 LAST WEEK IN KANSAS.

THAT BERMUDA HIGH HAS BEEN PARKED OVER THE CENTER PART OF THE COUNTRY AND IT FINALLY EDGED NORTH INTO MINNESOTA.

CLIMATE CHANGE IS HAVING AN IMPACT ON OUR WEATHER IN MINNESOTA BUT LESS SO IN SUMMER THAN IN FALL AND WINTER WHICH ARE THE FASTEST WARMING SEASONS.

>> Cathy: SO WE'RE GOING TO SAY GOODBYE TO METEOROLOGICAL SUMMER SIX DAYS FROM NOW SO IN CASE YOU DON'T LIKE THIS, HANG ON, FALL IS COMING.

IS IT TOO EARLY TO TALK ABOUT WINTER?

>> NEVER.

NEVER TOO EARLY IN MINNESOTA, RIGHT?

I JUST FLASH BACK TO LAST WINTER REALLY QUICK BECAUSE DECEMBER 14th IS A DATE THAT STICKS IN MY HEAD.

THAT WAS THE DATE WHEN WE STARTED THAT STRING OF 11 SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL EVENTS THAT LED TO 90 INCHES OF SNOW, RIGHT, SO THAT WAS A THIRD SNOWIEST WINTER ON RECORD.

40 YEARS WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT MUCH SNOW SO IF YOU'RE UNDER 40 IN THE AUDIENCE, THIS WAS THE SNOWIEST WINTER ON RECORD, CATHY, AND, YEAH, JUST CRAZY.

IF WE LOOK AHEAD, WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT COULD BE A SUPER EL NIÑO.

>> ERIC: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EL NIÑO AND SUPER EL NIÑO.

>> THE DEGREE OF WATER WARMING IN THE TROPICAL PACIFIC OCEAN, SO AN EL NIÑO MEANS A HALF A DEGREE CELSIUS WARMER THAN AVERAGE IN THE TROPICAL PACIFIC AND THEN YOU WORK YOUR WAY UP, STRONG EL NIÑO, WHICH NOAA IS FORECASTING NOW ABOUT A TWO IN THREE CHANCE FOR NEXT WINTER IS 1.5 DEGREES CELSIUS WARMER THAN AVERAGE ON THAT TROPICAL PACIFIC WATER BASIN.

THERE ARE SOME MODELS THERE THAT ARE SAYING WE COULD HAVE TWO DEGREES CELSIUS OR MORE, AUSTRALIAN MODELS, SOME OTHER MODELS.

THAT WOULD BE WHAT'S UNOFFICIALLY CALLED A SUPER EL NIÑO.

WE'VE ONLY HAD A FEW OF THOSE AND EL NIÑO IN GENERAL, BIAS FOR A WARMER THAN AVERAGE WINTER IN MINNESOTA, ABOUT 70 TO 80% OF YEARS, SO PRETTY GOOD CHANCE WE'LL BE WARMER THAN AVERAGE.

SNOW COULD GO EITHER WAY BUT I'M THINKING AFTER LAST YEAR, WE MAY END UP AVERAGE OR BELOW, MAYBE EVEN HAVE SOME MELTY PERIODS WITH SOME ICE AND RAIN THIS WINTER, IF THIS EL NIÑO THING KICKS IN LIKE IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL.

>> Cathy: I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE'LL SEE MORE ICE THAN SNOW.

WE DON'T REALLY KNOW.

>> WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE BUT MINNESOTA, EVEN IF YOU'RE WARMER THAN AVERAGE, IT'S STILL COLD ENOUGH TO SNOW MOST OF THE TIME, RIGHT.

BUT WE GET THOSE PERIODS WHEN WE'RE UP AROUND THE FREEZING MARK, AND ESPECIALLY BELOW ABOUT 5,000 FEET IN THE ATMOSPHERE, THAT'S ENOUGH TO CHANGE IT OVER TO RAIN OR MAYBE SOME SLEET OR SOME FREEZING RAIN, SO I THINK WE MIGHT SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THAT THIS WINTER.

>> Cathy: SO, GETTING BACK TO THE DROUGHT.

WHAT DOES NOAA SAY IN TERMS OF RAIN AMOUNTS FROM NOW UNTIL FALL WHEN WE HAVE TO RECHARGE THE GROUND WATER?

>> THE 30- AND 90-DAY WATER OUTLOOKS CALL FOR AVERAGE TO MAYBE BELOW AVERAGE RAINFALL SO I DON'T SEE ANY BIG CHANGE RIGHT NOW.

BUT WHAT WE KNOW WHEN THE HEMISPHERE PATTERNS CHANGE, THEY CAN GET STUCK SO THAT'S WHY WE HAD ALL THAT SNOW, ALL THAT SNOW, ALL THAT SNOW AND THEN, BOOM, WE GO FROM OUR CRUEL SPRING INTO ONE OF THE WARMEST SUMMERS ON RECORD, AT LEAST A TOP 10.

SO THESE PATTERNS CAN CHANGE.

WE COULD WORK OUR WAY OUT OF THE DROUGHT BUT IT'S REALLY HARD TO DO IN LATE SUMMER AND FALL.

>> Eric: SOUNDS GREAT.

>> Cathy: WELL, YOU ARE TERRIFIC.

THANK YOU, PAUL HUTTNER, AS ALWAYS.

YOU GET TO HEAR MR. HUTTNER ON "ALL THINGS CONSIDERED" IN THE AFTERNOON WITH TOM CRANN ON MPR NEWS.

PAUL HUTTNER, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

>> THANK YOU.

4 ENJOY THE FAIR, EVERYBODY.

>> TANE DANGER AND SHELLETA BRUNDIDGE, I KNOW YOU'RE OUT THERE IN THE CROWD.

WHERE ARE YOU?

>> WE'RE OUT IN THE CROWD, HAVING A GREAT TIME MEETING SO MANY NEW PEOPLE.

BUT TANE IS UP TO SOMETHING, HE RAN DOWN AND GOT ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR FAIR FOODS THIS YEAR.

>> THIS IS BRAND-NEW AT THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR, IT IS LUTEFISK ON A BUN, AND IF YOU COULDN'T LOVE LUTEFISK MORE -- PAUSE FOR APPLAUSE... [Laughter] NO, IT'S ON A BUN.

WE'RE VERY EXCITED.

SHANGHAI HENRY'S IS WHERE WE GOT THIS FROM AND WE HAVE THREE BRAVE VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE WILLING TO TRY THIS.

YOUR NAMES ARE -- >> LEANNE.

>> GARY.

>> JULIE.

>> ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, LUTEFISK ON A BUN EATING.

EVERYBODY GIVE THEM SOME APPLAUSE.

SHELLETA, I HAVE ONE FOR YOU.

>> LET'S TRY THIS.

>> OKAY, HERE WE GO.

CAN I GET QUICK, IMMEDIATE REACTIONS, ONE OR TWO WORDS?

>> EXCELLENT.

>> WOW, THAT'S A STRONG REACTION.

I'VE NEVER FELT THAT STRONGLY ABOUT ANYTHING.

HERE.

>> LUTEFISK FOR 2023.

>> OKAY, THAT'S YOUR CAMPAIGN.

AND YOU CAN DO IT IN RHYME.

>> SURPRISINGLY NOT BAD.

>> THAT'S MORE MINNESOTAN, TOO.

THAT'S VERY GOOD.

SHELLETA, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I'M A LUTEFISK VIRGIN, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME HAVING LUTEFISK AND IT IS REALLY GOOD.

ALL RIGHT!

>> THIS IS FANTASTIC.

SO, OKAY, BRAND-NEW FOODS AT THE FAIR, SHANGHAI HENRY'S OVER AT THE INTERNATIONAL BAZAAR.

THANK YOU.

LET'S HAVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR VOLUNTEERS.

I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO SAY THIS, IT'S TOSSING IT BACK TO ERIC ESKOLA WHO HAS A SPECIAL GUEST ON STAGE.

>> IT'S ONE OF OUR FINEST "ALMANAC" STATE FAIR TRADITIONS, KEVIN KLING SHARING OUR COLLECTIVE CONNECTIONS TO THE GREAT MINNESOTA GET-TOGETHER.

LET'S HEAR WHAT HE HAS TO SAY THIS YEAR.

LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR STORY-TELLER EXTRAORDINAIRE, KEVIN KLING.

[Cheers & Applause] >> HI, EVERYBODY.

[CHUCKLING] >> HEY.

IT'S REALLY GOOD TO BE HERE.

HUNTER S. THOMPSON SAID, "THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT KNOW WHERE THE EDGE REALLY IS ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE GONE OVER IT."

NEVER WILL YOU SEE MORE MINNESOTANS WHO KNOW THE EDGE MORE THAN AT THE STATE FAIR, LUTEFISK ON A BUN?

OKAY.

BECAUSE THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE WE'RE AT OUR BEST ND SOMETIMES AT OUR WORST, SO THIS IS MY ODE TO THE STATE FAIR.

I'D RATHER TO GO TO THE FAIR IF I HAD MY DRUTHERS AND KINDLY RELY ON THE STRANGENESS OF OTHERS.

FOR THE FAIR IS OUR FAIR AND EVERYONE SWEARS IT'S THE FAIREST OF ALL THE STATE FAIRS.

WHERE ELSE CAN YOU HAVE CHEESE CURDS AND BEER BY MID MORN THEN HUSTLE ON OVER TO WATCH A CALF BEING BORN?

OR THE PEOPLE IN THEIR MUSCLE SHIRTS, ZUBAZ, SEQUINS, A FASHION PLATE FROM SURVIVORS OF THE DISCO FEVER OF '78.

RIDES AND GAMES, FEATS OF PRESTIDIGITATIONS, DESCOUPAGES AND HOMAGES TO PRE-REFRIGERATION JUST BATTER IT, DEEP FAT FRY IT AND THROW IT ON STICKS, BASICALLY WHAT WE DID IN THE 1300S TO HERETICS.

THERE IS ART THAT WINS.

AND ART THAT SPINS.

ART IN CANS.

ART IN JARS.

ART IN PIES AND CAKES AND BARS.

ART FROM BUTTER.

ART FROM SEEDS.

ART THAT CROWS AND BLEATS AND BREEDS.

A HALL OF PRESIDENTS MADE ENTIRELY OF CROP IF YOU NEED TO CLEAN UP WE'LL SELL YOU A MOP A PILLOW THAT HELPS YOU SLUMBER AND A KNIFE THAT CUTS THROUGH A NAIL AND THEN A CUCUMBER.

IF OVER TIME THE FOODS BRING BODILY DISTORTIONS, THERE'S A FUN HOUSE MIRROR THAT PUTS THINGS BACK IN PROPORTION.

THE FAIR IS AN ANNUAL CHECK-UP, A WAY TO KEEP SCORE.

BUT I ALSO THINK IT'S A LOVE LETTER TO MINNESOTA, AND MUCH, MUCH MORE.

IT'S A VISCERAL CONNECTION WE HAVE, A GENTLE REMINDER THAT WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER, AND BE SURE TO BE KIND.

WHERE BUTTER IS QUEEN AND THE CORN DOG IS KING, AND WE ARE THE PEOPLE LIVIN' THIS DREAM.

BECAUSE IT'S OUR STATE FAIR, AS EVERYONE DECLARES, MINNESOTA, IT'S THE FAIREST OF ALL FAIR FAIRS.

>> Eric: A STATE TREASURE, KEVIN KLING.

GIVE IT UP.

[Cheers & Applause] KAOMI LEE IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STAGE WITH A SPECIAL MUSICAL GUEST.

>> KAOMI: THANKS, ERIC.

I'M HERE WITH DAN NEWTON, AN ACCOMPLISHED ACCORDION PLAYER WITH A WIDE-RANGING CAREER.

NOT ONLY DOES HE PLAY SOLO, LIKE RIGHT NOW, HE'S ALSO LEAD IN DAN NEWTON'S CAFÉ ACCORDIAN ORCHESTRA, AND IS A MEMBER OF THE HONKY TONK JUMP.

THE HONKY TONK JUMP WILL BE PERFORMING FOR FREE AT THE SCHELL'S STAGE AT WEST END MARKET ON AUGUST 28 AND 29, THAT'S NEXT MONDAY AND TUESDAY.

DAN, WELCOME TO "ALMANAC."

>> IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE.

HI, EVERYBODY.

>> DID YOU FIND THE ACCORDION OR DID THE ACCORDION FIND YOU?

>> A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.

I WAS A PIANO PLAYER 45 YEARS AGO IN A COUNTRY BAND AND GOT BOOKED INTO PLACES THAT DIDN'T HAVE PIANOS AND A FRIEND OF MINE HEARD ME COMPLAINING ABOUT IT AND SAID I HAVE THIS THING IN MY ATTIC THAT HAS A PIANO-SHAPED KEY ON IT, YOU SHOULD TRY THAT.

AND HERE I AM 45 YEARS LATER.

>> THIS INSTRUMENT IS SO BEAUTIFUL AND COLORFUL, IS THERE A STORY BEHIND IT?

>> THIS PARTICULAR INSTRUMENT IS THE WORK OF A St. PAUL RESIDENT NAMED KEN MAHLER, HE RUNS A MUSIC STORE ON RANDOLPH AVENUE, IT'S CALLED THE "PLANET SQUEEZE BOX."

HE DESIGNS THEM, HAS THEM CUSTOM MADE IN ITALY AND SHIPS THEM TO HIS STORE HERE IN St. PAUL, AND HE FINISHES THEM AND I'VE BEEN PLAYING THIS ONE SINCE 1999.

>> Reporter: OKAY, DAN.

TAKE IT AWAY.

>> THANK YOU.

HERE'S A SONG ABOUT THE LAST HOT DAY OF THE SUMMER.

I LIVE JUST ACROSS FROM COMO LAKE ON THE FAIRGROUNDS AND WROTE THIS A FEW YEARS AGO ABOUT A WEEK AFTER THE FAIR ENDED.

♪♪ ♪ NOW IT'S THE LAST HOT DAY OF THE SUMMER, I'M SWEATING LIKE THE FAIR'S BIGGEST HOG ♪ THERE IS A WARM WINDS BLOWING ACROSS COMO LAKE ♪ SMELLS LIKE A 10-DAY-OLD CORN DOG ♪ ♪ IT'S THE LAST HOT DAY OF THE SUMMER, JUST TRYING TO CATCH A BREEZE ♪ AND THE BARBECUE SMOKE FROM MY NEIGHBOR'S BACKYARD'S GONNA BRING ME DOWN TO MY KNEES ♪ ♪♪ ♪ IT'S THE LAST HOT DAY OF THE SUMMER ♪ THEY SAY THE AIR QUALITY IS LOW ♪ WHEN THE LEAVES TURN BROWN AND THEY TUMBLE TO THE GROUND ♪ YOU'LL WONDER WHERE DID SUMMER GO ♪ ♪ IT'S THE LAST HOT DAY OF THE SUMMER I'M JUST TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO STAY COOL ♪ BUT WHEN THE WINTER COMES AROUND AND I THINK BACK ON THE DAY I'LL THINK THAT I'M JUST A NATURAL FOOL ♪ ♪♪ ♪ IT'S THE LAST HOT DAY OF THE SUMMER, AND WE'RE WONDERING IF IT'S EVER GONNA END ♪ BUT WHEN THOSE ICE DAMS FORM AND YOUR CAR WON'T START ♪ YOU'LL WISH THAT IT WAS SUMMER AGAIN ♪ ♪ IT'S THE LAST HOT DAY OF THE SUMMER ♪ AND I'M SWEATING LIKE THE STATE FAIR'S BIGGEST HOG ♪ THERE'S A WARM WIND BLOWING ACROSS COMO LAKE, ♪ SMELLS LIKE A 10-DAY OLD CORN DOG ♪ ♪ OR IT SMELLS LIKE SOME ROASTING CORN, OR THOSE SQUISHED SWEET MARTHA COOKIES YOU FIND ON THE GROUND ♪ ♪ OR MAYBE IT SMELLS LIKE THE BIGGEST HOG AT THE FAIR, WHO KNOWS ♪♪ >> DAN NEWTON, EVERYONE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> BACK TO YOU, CATHY.

>> CATHY: THANKS, KAOMI.

DAN WAS TALKING ABOUT SWEATING LIKE A HOG.

OF COURSE, THE STATE FAIR IS KNOWN FOR THE ANIMALS AND WHAT WOULD AN "ALMANAC" SHOW FROM THE STATE FAIR BE WITHOUT BABY ANIMALS.

BABY FARM ANIMALS.

A COLLECTIVE AHHH, FOR OUR NEXT GUESTS.

ELLIE AND GABBY ARE WITH US WITH TWO FOUR-LEGGED BABIES.

THEY ARE SO CUTE!

ELLIE, FIRST, WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

>> I'M FROM NICOLLET MINNESOTA.

>> AND YOU ARE HOLDING WHO?

>> THIS IS BUBBLES, SHE -- OR HE IS A GOAT KID.

>> Cathy: YOU'RE BUBBLES?

OH, WHAT A CUTE -- BUBBLES DOESN'T WANT TO TALK RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S OKAY.

HOW OLD IS BUBBLES, BY THE WAY?

>> HE WAS BORN ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO.

>> Cathy: OH, MY GOODNESS, YOU ARE SO CUTE.

AND GABBIE, WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

>> I'M FROM MORRIS, MINNESOTA.

>> Cathy: AND WHO ARE YOU HOLDING?

>> WE HAVEN'T NAMED HIM YET.

WE SAID YOU GUYS COULD.

>> Cathy: OH, WE CAN HAVE A NAME THE LAMB CONTEST.

I LOVE THAT.

WHAT DO YOU -- AT YOUR FARM, DO YOU HAVE LAMBS OR WHAT LIVESTOCK DO YOU HAVE?

>> I DON'T HAVE LIVESTOCK, MY FAMILY FARMS CROPS.

>> Cathy: YOU'RE BOTH WITH, OF COURSE, WE SHOULD SAY, FFA, WHICH IS A GREAT ORGANIZATION.

SO YOU'RE OVER AT THE MIRACLE OF BIRTH CENTER, RIGHT?

WHAT'S IT LIKE OVER THERE?

>> IT IS AMAZING.

WE HAVE SOME OF THE BEST CREW EVER.

WE ALL COME TOGETHER TO HELP DO TOURS FOR THE ANIMALS AND TAKE CARE OF THEM AND TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR LIVES AND EVERYTHING.

>> Cathy: I BET YOU GET A LOT OF INTERESTING QUESTIONS.

I'M SURE AS PEOPLE GO THROUGH, ESPECIALLY THE KIDS WANTING TO KNOW ABOUT KIDS AND LAMBS AND CALVES AND THAT KIND OF THING.

>> YEAH, WE DEFINITELY DO.

>> Cathy: I'M WONDERING, COULD YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT -- DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE LAMB YOU'RE HOLDING HERE?

>> SO, THIS LAMB IS A POLY PAY BREED, A MIX OF FOUR DIFFERENT BREEDS OF LAMBS, AND THEY'RE REALLY, WHAT'S THE WORD -- YOU CAN USE THEM FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, THEY'RE VERY VERSATILE.

SO YOU CAN USE THEM FOR MEAT OR THEIR COAT AND THEY'RE ALSO VERY MATERNAL SO THEY'RE REALLY GOOD MOMS.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO KNOW.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT OUR GOAT FRIENDS?

>> WELL, BUBBLES IS.

[LAMB SQUEAKING] >> WHAT'S THE MATTER?

YEAH, OKAY.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS?

NOT SURE, OKAY.

>> SO, BUBBLES IS A MALE, HE IS A WEATHER, HE IS A BOAR GOAT.

[LAMB SQUEAKING] I THINK HE HAS A LITTLE BIT OF DIFFERENT BREEDS BUT, YEAH.

>> Cathy: DOESN'T SEEM TO BE TOO IMPRESSED TO BE ON LIVE TV STATEWIDE.

THAT'S OKAY, BUBBLES.

WHAT SHOULD WE NAME THE LAMB?

MAYBE BRENDAN THE LAMB FOR OUR FORMER "ALMANAC" LONG-TIME PRODUCER'S NAME IS BRENDAN SO MAYBE HE WOULD APPRECIATE HAVING A LAMB NAMED AFTER HIM.

IF WE WANT TO GO TO THE MIRACLE OF BIRTH CENTER, WHAT DO WE THINK?

>> WELL, THE MIRACLE OF BIRTH CENTER IS AWESOME AND WE HAVE A LOT OF YOUNG -- OR JUST-BORN ANIMALS.

WE HAD SOME PIGLETS BORN THIS MORNING AND A CALF WAS BORN THIS MORNING, WHICH IS SUPER EXCITING.

WE HAVE A LOT BORN YESTERDAY.

WE ALSO HAD SOME MORE PIGLETS BORN YESTERDAY SO THERE'S PLENTY TO SEE.

>> Cathy: A LOT GOING ON.

I'M SO HAPPY YOU CAME HERE AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING OUR CUTE LITTLE FRIEND BUBBLES, THE GOAT, AND OUR NEWLY NAMED BRENDAN THE LAMB.

THANK YOU TWO.

HAVE A GREAT FAIR.

THANK YOU.

SHELLETA AND TANE, SEND IT BACK TO YOU.

>> OH, MY GOD, THEY SAY NEVER TRY TO FOLLOW AN ANIMAL OR A CHILD ON TELEVISION BUT WE'LL PERSEVERE.

I AM STANDING HERE AGAIN WITH Ms. SHELLETA BRUNDIDGE.

>> AND WE HAVE TO ASK BRENDAN HENEHAN, THE FORMER EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF "ALMANAC" HOW HE FEELS.

THIS IS A HISTORIC DAY.

YOU HAVE HAD A LAMB NAMED AFTER YOU.

WHAT DOES THAT FEEL LIKE?

>> I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW THERE COULD BE A BIGGER HONOR, SO, YEAH, RIGHT.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY HOPES AND DREAMS FOR THE LAMB?

ANY ASPIRATIONS?

>> WELL, I'M HOPING IT'S GOING TOWARD THE WOOL VERSUS THE MEAT SIDE, SO WOOL VERSUS MEAT, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT KIND OF GO THE WOOL ROUTE, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

>> I HAVE TO ASK YOU, EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW, INCLUDING ME, BECAUSE WE'RE NOSEY, WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING WITH ALL THIS TIME OFF SINCE YOU'RE NOT PRODUCING "ALMANAC" FOR US EVERY WEEK?

>> YEAH, I'M RETIRED NOW AND SO I'M BEING LAZY, ISN'T THAT WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO WHEN YOU'RE RETIRED.

[CROWD REACTS] >> SHELLETA: SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE A LOT OF RETIRED PEOPLE IN THE CROWD.

WHERE ARE ALL MY RETIRED PEOPLE AT?

THIS IS THE RETIRED PEOPLE?

>> IT'S A MORNING AT THE STATE FAIR SO THAT HELPS.

LIKE, OKAY, THAT'S GREAT.

EVERYBODY, A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR BRENDAN HENEHAN, EVERYBODY.

IF YOU LOVE "ALMANAC," YOU LOVE THIS MAN.

>> AND YOU KNOW WHO ELSE I LOVE, UNCLE LARRY.

THAT'S WHAT I CALL LARRY FITZGERALD, HE'S HANGING OUT WITH CATHY AND ERIC.

>> BACK TO YOU, CATHY AND ERIC.

>> Eric: IT'S STATE FAIR TIME AND THE MINNESOTA TWINS ARE STILL HANGING ON TO FIRST PLACE IN THE A.L.

CENTRAL.

THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS FINISH UP THEIR PRESEASON SCHEDULE WITH A GAME AGAINST ARIZONA ON SATURDAY, AND THE MINNESOTA LYNX ARE BATTLING FOR A WNBA PLAYOFF SPOT.

HERE WITH MORE, LARRY FITZGERALD, SENIOR.

LONGTIME "ALMANAC" SPORTS COMMENTATOR, YOU CAN HEAR LARRY'S RADIO WORK ON THE NATIONAL PROGRAMMING NETWORK.

TWINS ARE GOING TO SURVIVE THE VALUE BUT HOW FAR CAN THEY GO IN THE PLAYOFFS?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, THEY'LL WIND UNPLAYING EITHER HOUSTON OR TEXAS, AND THEY'VE LOST 18 STRAIGHT POST-SEASON GAMES.

IT'S BEEN A LONG, LONG TIME, BUT THIS COULD BE DIFFERENT.

THIS SEEM HAS BEEN SHOCKING TO ME.

THEY'RE ABOVE 500 BUT THE ONLY TEAM ABOVE 500 IN A RATHER WEAK DIVISION.

CLEVELAND'S FADING BUT THE NEXT 12 GAMES, THEY'VE GOT TEXAS AND CLEVELAND SO AFTER THIS STRETCH, MIGHT START ORDERING PLAYOFF TICKETS.

>> Eric: BYRON BUXTON BACK IN CENTERFIELD?

>> HE HASN'T PLAYED IN THE FIELD AT ALL.

>> Eric: HE WAS TAKING SOME FLY BALLS OUT THERE IN PRACTICE.

>> I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM PLAY IN A GAME AND THAT'S WHAT COUNTS, AND THEY'RE 100-PLUS GAMES INTO THE SEASON AND IT'S AN EXPERIMENT.

THEY'RE GOING TO BRING HIM BACK IN SEPTEMBER.

I JUST HOPE THEY CAN PLAY AND GET INTO THE GAME BECAUSE HE HASN'T SHOWN THAT HE CAN SO FAR THIS YEAR.

>> Cathy: SO THE VIKINGS HAVE THEIR, WHAT, THIRD PRESEASON GAME COMING UP AGAINST ARIZONA.

HOW HAVE THEY LOOKED SO FAR?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT, I BELIEVE ANY TIME YOU KEEP SCORE, IT'S IMPORTANT TO WIN AND SO THEY'RE O AND 2 IN THE PRESEASON, LOST THEIR LAST PLAYOFF GAME TO THE GIANTS.

THEY STILL GOT TO SHOW ME SOMETHING.

IF THEY DON'T BEAT THE ARIZONA CARDINALS, GIVE UP ON THE VIKINGS BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BE TO BE DONE.

>> Eric: SO YOUR OVER/UNDER ON HOW MANY WINS, EIGHT -- >> THE SCHEDULE THEY HAVE, WITH SAN FRANCISCO AND THE WORLD CHAMPION CHIEFS AND -- I MEAN, CINCINNATI, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A REALLY TOUGH STRETCH AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WIN THEIR HOME GAMES.

I WOULD SAY TEN WINS IS A POSSIBILITY FOR THE VIKINGS THIS YEAR, NO DOUBT.

>> Cathy: OKAY.

DO THE LYNX MAKE THE PLAYOFFS?

>> YES, THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE IT, AND THEY BEAT DALLAS BACK-TO-BACK GAMES, EVEN THOUGH DALLAS HAS BEEN QUITE CRITICAL OF MINNESOTA'S FANS.

>> Eric: OUR FANS ARE TOUGH.

>> THREE OF 'EM GOT THROWN OUT OF THE GAME THE OTHER NIGHT, I'VE NEVER HEARD ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

>> Eric: I LOVE IT BUT... >> BUT THEY'RE 500 NOW, REMEMBER, THEY STARTED ZERO AND SIX, SO THEY'LL BE IN THE MIX BUT CAN THEY BEAT VEGAS, THAT'S THE QUESTION.

>> Eric: I GUESS THE SPORTS WRITERS AND SPORTSCASTERS HAVE VOTED YOU TO GO TELL KARL ANTHONY TOWNES THAT IT'S NO LONGER HIS TEAM?

[Laughter] >> I THINK HE KNOWS THAT.

ANTHONY EDWARDS IS THE FUTURE, HE KEEPS GOING THIS WAY, AND, YOU KNOW, MINNESOTA RIGHT NOW HAS FOUR PLAYERS PLAYING INTERNATIONALLY ON THIS WORLD CUP EXTENSION SO ONLY ONE AMERICAN AND THAT'S ANTHONY EDWARDS AND HE MIGHT BE THE BEST PLAYER OUT THERE.

>> Eric: HOWEVER -- GO AHEAD.

>> Cathy: FOOTBALL GOPHERS?

>> OKAY, THE GOPHERS ARE GOING TO BE GOOD THIS YEAR.

THIS IS THEIR LAST YEAR, REMEMBER, THE BIG 10'S GOING TO BE 18 TEAMS, AND TRYING TO WIN THE BIG 10 CHAMPIONSHIP IS GOING TO BE MORE DIFFICULT AFTER THIS YEAR THAN EVER.

LET'S HOPE THEY GET OFF TO A GREAT START AGAINST NEBRASKA NEXT WEEK AND CAN SHOW THAT THEY CAN HOLD UP THEIR END AND WIN THE WEST.

>> Eric: IS THE BIG MONEY FROM THE TV CONTRACTS GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO OFFSET ALL THE ADDITIONAL TRAVEL COSTS AND SO FORTH FOR THE TRAVELING TO THE WEST COAST FOR GAMES AND ALL THAT?

>> I THINK IT WILL.

I MEAN, YOU CAN DO A LOT WITH $60 MILLION, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GETTING RIGHT NOW.

SOME OF THESE NEW TEAMS THAT ARE COMING IN, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET QUITE ALL OF 60, THEY'LL GET, LIKE, 30 MILLION, BUT THE GOPHERS, THEY'RE IN GOOD SHAPE AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A SELL-OUT NEXT WEEK, AND I HOPE THEY CAN ENTERTAIN THE FANS AND GET OFF TO A GREAT START.

>> Eric: WHAT KIND OF DAMAGE WOULD LARRY FITZGERALD, JR., HAVE DONE IF NAME LIKENESS WAS INVOLVED AND THEY COULD PAY THE PLAYERS ABOVE BOARD?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT, I ASKED HIM ABOUT THAT A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND HE SAID HE'D HAVE DONE QUITE WELL BECAUSE HE'S DOING QUITE WELL RIGHT NOW AND HE'S NOT PLAYING.

>> Eric: DO YOU LIKE THE CHANGE IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL, THE NEW CONFERENCES AND THE MONEY AND ALL THAT?

>> NO, NO, I DON'T LIKE ALL THIS MOVEMENT.

IT KIND OF SPEAKS TO SOMEBODY'S LOST CONTROL OF SPORTS.

I MEAN, REGGIE BUSH IS SUING THE NCAA FOR SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE YEARS AGO.

THE NCAA HAS JUST GONE SILENT AND THEY'VE ALLOWED THIS -- YOU KNOW, ALL THIS TRANSFER OF PLAYERS DECIDING THAT I DON'T WANT TO PLAY TODAY, I WANT TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

SOMEBODY'S GOT TO PULL THE - LINE AND SAY, HEY, WAIT A MINUTE, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

>> Eric: YOU GOING TO GO TO THE GYMNASTIC TRIALS NEXT YEAR AT TARGET CENTER?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I DON'T MISS ANY MAJOR EVENTS IN MINNESOTA, YOU KNOW, I'VE DONE 44 SUPER BOWLS AND I MIGHT HAVE A COUPLE MORE IN ME SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

>> Eric: YOU STILL GRACE US WITH YOUR PRESENCE EVEN AFTER ALL THAT, THAT'S AMAZING.

WE'RE INDEBTED WITH YOU.

>> IT'S A TREAT BEING WITH CATHY AND ERIC, MY LONGTIME FRIENDS, AND MANY OF YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: OH, LARRY FITZGERALD.

>> Eric: LARRY FITZGERALD.

LET'S CHECK IN ONE LAST TIME WITH OUR ROVING REPORTERS.

>> WE'VE HAD SO MUCH FUN OUT HERE WITH ALL OF YOU TODAY, YOU'VE BEEN AN AMAZING CROWD.

GIVE YOURSELVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR SPENDING YOUR FRIDAY MORNING AT THE STATE FAIR WITH US.

WE'VE HAD SO MUCH FUN, WE DON'T HAVE ANY TIME LEFT TO DO ANYTHING ELSE.

WE HAD A COUPLE OF GUESTS, WE HAD TO SEND 'EM BACK HOME.

>> THAT'S OKAY.

IF YOU ARE LISTENING TO THIS RIGHT NOW ON MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO, AND YOU ARE THINKING, THIS IS GREAT BUT I WISH THERE WERE A VISUAL ELEMENT TO THIS SHOW -- >> BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE.

>> THIS IS ACTUALLY A TELEVISION PROGRAM.

>> YES, IT IS.

>> THIS SHOW, TPT "ALMANAC" AIRS EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT AT 7:00 p.m. ON TWIN CITIES PUBLIC TELEVISION, INCLUDING THIS SHOW LIVE FROM THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR, SO IF YOU ARE SITTING IN YOUR CAR RIGHT NOW AND YOU'RE LIKE, THIS IS GREAT BUT WHAT WAS SHELLETA WEARING AND DID TANE MATCH?

>> YES, AND THEY HAVE TO SEE THE ANCHOR SOCKS, MAKE SURE YOU SHOW THE ANCHOR SOCKS BECAUSE NOW EVERYBODY WILL WANT TO SEE THE ANCHOR SOCKS.

HE ACTUALLY ROLLED UP HIS PANTS SO YOU COULD SEE HIS SOCKS.

HE'S SUCH A HAM.

>> BUT, PLEASE, TUNE INTO THE PROGRAM ANYWAY.

AND JOIN US TONIGHT ON TWIN CITIES "ALMANAC," I THINK THAT'S IT FOR US.

WE'RE GOING TO THROW IT BACK UP TO THE STAGE ONE MORE TIME.

>> YES.

>> WITH THAT, PLEASE, ONE MORE TIME, A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE, CATHY AND ERIC UP ON THE STAGE.

SHELLETA BRUNDIDGE, EVERYBODY.

>> Cathy: THANK YOU.

YOU TWO ARE AMAZING.

TANE DANGER AND SHELLETA BRUNDIDGE.

WE'RE LIVE AT THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR, I'M CATHY WURZER.

WE HAVE ONE MORE POLITICAL CONVERSATION FOR YOU.

BY HISTORY, OF COURSE, WHEN WE DO THE CONVERSATIONS, THE POLITICAL SCIENTISTS PAGES THAT WE HAVE ARE ALWAYS THE MOST POPULAR SO WE HAVE TWO OF OUR FAVORITES WITH US.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT DEBATES, INDICTMENTS, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES NEAR AND FAR.

WE HAVE A DUO OF POLITICAL SCIENTISTS WITH US.

KATHRYN PEARSON IS A POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

HERE TOO IS LARRY JACOBS.

HE HEADS THE CENTER FOR POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE, PART OF THE HUMPHREY SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

HERE WE ARE BACK AT THE FAIR.

GOSH, WHAT SHOULD WE TALK ABOUT?

LET'S SEE.

PROFESSOR PEARSON, I DON'T KNOW, WHAT DO YOU MAKE -- PUT IT INTO SOME HISTORICAL CONTEXT HERE.

FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS A MUG SHOT OUT THERE, HE WAS INDICTED.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY ABOUT THIS?

>> WELL, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT IT INTO HISTORICAL CONTEXT BECAUSE THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED.

BUT CLEARLY HE CHOSE THE TIME, HE WANTED THAT MUG SHOT OUT THERE, HE'LL USE IT TO ACTIVATE THE REPUBLICAN BASE, FUNDRAISE.

EVERY OTHER INDICTMENT SORT OF CHARGED SO FAR HE'S BEEN PRETTY RESILIENT TO IN TERMS OF MAINTAINING HIS POPULARITY AMONG A SEGMENTS OF THE REPUBLICAN BASE AND I THINK THAT WAS FURTHER REINFORCED BY THE FACT THAT HE DIDN'T SHOW UP AT THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATING CONTEST DEBATES AND DIDN'T REALLY NEED TO.

>> Eric: IS THERE CONSENSUS THAT IT WAS NIKKI HALEY AND DONALD TRUMP WHO WON THE REPUBLICAN DEBATE?

>> MAYBE NOT A CONSENSUS, VIVEK RAMASWAMY I THINK PROBABLY HELPED HIMSELF THE BEST.

IF YOU LOOK AT HIS POLL NUMBERS, HE'S KIND OF STARTING TO BITE ON THE HEELS OF GOVERNOR DeSANTIS WHO'S HAVING HIS OWN TROUBLE.

I THINK THE BIG THING, THOUGH, AS KATHERINE SAID IS DONALD TRUMP EMERGED UNSCATHED.

HE'S GOT A 40-POINT LEAD OVER THE CLOSEST RIVAL FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION AND EACH INDICTMENT SO FAR HAS BOOSTED HIS SUPPORT, HELP HIM FUNDRAISE AT INCREDIBLE LEVELS, AND HE EMERGED UNSCATHED.

HIS CONVERSATION WITH TUCKER CARLSON, WHICH WAS ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT USED TO BE CALLED TWITTER, 74 MILLION PEOPLE STOPPED BY, THE DEBATES HAD 13 MILLION.

>> Eric: HAD THE DEMOCRATS -- >> Cathy: WHY DO WE THINK THE HE REMAINS AS POPULAR AMONG THE BASE?

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THIS IS HIS BASE.

THIS CERTAINLY IS NOT HELPING HIM AMONG INDEPENDENT VOTERS AND WILL SERVE IN A GENERAL ELECTION CONTEXT TO REALLY MOTIVATE DEMOCRATIC VOTERS.

BUT I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, HE HAS A FOLLOWING THAT HE'S HAD SINCE THE 2016 NOMINATING CONTEST TO REALLY, YOU KNOW, LISTEN TO HIM, LISTEN TO HIS SUPPORTERS AND BELIEVE THAT HE IS INNOCENT AND THIS IS IN FACT POLITICALLY MOTIVATED, AND SO IT IS HARD IN THIS POLARIZED ERA, WHERE PEOPLE ARE GETTING DIFFERENT CONTENTS FROM DIFFERENT POLARIZED NEWS SOURCES TO REALLY BREAK IN WITH SOME FACTS.

>> Eric: WHAT ABOUT THE 14th AMENDMENT AND THE STATEMENT THAT HE'S ALREADY INELIGIBLE, TRUMP IS, TO SERVE IN THE WHITE HOUSE?

>> WELL, IT'S A GREAT THING TO TALK ABOUT AND IF WE HAD MORE TIME, WE WOULD GO INTO THE DETAILS OF IT BUT IT WILL NOT BE SOLVED BEFORE THE 2024 ELECTION.

THERE ARE A LOT OF OPEN QUESTIONS.

IF IT WAS PRESSED, IT WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE COURTS, IT WOULD END UP AT THE SUPREME COURT AND BY THEN THE NEXT PRESIDENT WILL BE SWORN IN.

SO I SEE NO CHANCE OF THAT ELIMINATING DONALD TRUMP.

>> Eric: COULD STATES DO IT ON THEIR OWN, INDIVIDUAL STATES?

>> THEY COULD, BUT YET AGAIN, YOU'LL HAVE LEGAL CHALLENGES, IT WILL GO THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM AND IF WE HAVEN'T NOTICED, COURTS MOVE SLOWLY.

>> Cathy: PROFESSOR PEARSON, DO YOU WANT TO COMMENTS ON THAT?

>> I THINK COURTS MOVE SLOWLY IS KIND OF KEY TO EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON AND I THINK THE DEBATE ILLUSTRATED HOW POPULAR TRUMP IS AMONG REPUBLICANS, AND HE'S FAR AND AWAY THE LEADING REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE AMONG REPUBLICANS BUT HE MAY NOT BE A CANDIDATES IN 2024, NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE OF THE LEGAL ISSUES BUT YOU NEVER KNOW WITH HEALTH AND AGING, SO EVEN AS THE FOCUS IS ON TRUMP, I THINK IT'S STILL IMPORTANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE OTHER REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES RIGHT NOW AND EVEN OTHER CANDIDATES WHO COULD JUMP IN IN THE ABSENCE OF A TRUMP.

>> Cathy: SO THE FORMER PRESIDENT DIDN'T DEBATE THIS WEEK.

I'M WONDERING IF THE FUTURE OF DEBATES, JUST GENERALLY SPEAKING, YOU KNOW?

ARE THEY LOSING THEIR STEAM AS SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT IN OUR DEMOCRACY?

>> YOU KNOW, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS SWORN OFF PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES BUT THIS IS A DONALD TRUMP YEAR.

I THINK EVERYTHING NEEDS TO HAVE AN ASTERISK NEXT TO IT.

I THINK WE JUST SAW A DEBATE WITH ALL THE MAJOR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES, MINUS DONALD TRUMP.

IF DONALD TRUMP WASN'T AHEAD BY 40 POINTS, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE SO I'M NOT READY TO SWEAR THEM OFF.

I THINK THEY'RE AN IMPORTANT PART.

I THINK THE BIG QUESTION IS GOING TO BE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GET TO THE GENERAL ELECTION BECAUSE THERE -- I THINK THERE WILL BE A DEBATE -- DEBATES, I THINK, YOU KNOW, JOE BIDEN QUITE POSSIBLY, DONALD TRUMP, IT COULD BE A DECISIVE ELEMENTS OF THEIR CONTEST.

>> Eric: I CALL ON THE EXPERTISE OF KATHRYN PEARSON, SEPTEMBER 30th, GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, CONTINUING RESOLUTION, REGULAR ORDER, GIVE US THE SPIEL ON ALL THIS?

>> WELL, CERTAINLY, IT SEEMS PRETTY LEAR THAT THE 12 ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS BILLS THAT FUND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT NEED TO BE PASSED BY SEPTEMBER 30th WILL NOT BE COMPLETE.

SO WHAT LEADERS WOULD LIKE TO DO IS PASSÉ CONTINUING RESOLUTION THAT CONTINUES TO FUND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AT THE SAME LEVEL.

HOWEVER, THE HOUSE FREEDOM CAUCUS, REPUBLICANS, CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE, WANT TO ADD A NUMBER OF VERY CONTROVERSIAL PROVISIONS TO A CONTINUING RESOLUTION, SUCH AS INCREASE BORDER SECURITY, NO FUNDING OR REDUCE FUNDING FOR THE WAR IN UKRAINE, SORT OF SOCIAL POLICY, THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, SO THIS COULD BE A REAL PROBLEM AND I THINK DEMOCRATS ARE PREPARED TO GIVE REPUBLICANS SOME VOTES BUT ONLY IF A CONTINUING RESOLUTION DOESN'T INCLUDE SOME CONTROVERSIAL POLICY RIDERS.

SO WE COULD BE LOOKING AT A POTENTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN ON OCTOBER 1 OR A PARTIAL SHUTDOWN.

>> Eric: WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN PRACTICALLY TO U.S. CITIZENS?

>> IT DEPENDS WHICH FEDERAL AGENCIES ARE SHUT DOWN.

SOCIAL SECURITY TYPICALLY CONTINUES, THAT'S AN ENTITLEMENT.

MEDICARE AND MEDICAID, BUT CERTAINLY PARKS, VETERANS BENEFITS, MANY OF THE DISCRETIONARY FUNDS THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT TO MANY AMERICANS COULD BE HALTED FOR A TIME.

>> Cathy: SAY, GETTING BACK TO PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS, WE ADDRESSED THIS ON "ALMANAC" A FEW WEEKS AGO.

REPRESENTATIVE DEAN PHILLIPS SAYS NOW HE'S NOT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT BUT THERE WAS SEVERAL WEEKS OF WILL HE OR WON'T HE.

WHAT WAS HE TRYING TO DO?

>> WE TALKED ABOUT IT AND MY COMMENT WAS, HE WOULD BE BOWING OUT.

I THINK IT WAS, HONESTLY, SHAMELESS OPPORTUNISM.

I THINK DEAN PHILLIPS WAS LOOKING FOR A WAY TO BOOST HIS OWN NAME RECOGNITION, POSSIBLY BECAUSE HE'S THINKING OF RUNNING IN THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND WANTS TO DISTINGUISH HIMSELF, AND DISTINGUISHING HIMSELF IN CONGRESS.

I NEVER THOUGHT THIS WAS A SERIOUS REAL EFFORT TO RUN IN A PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN WHICH REQUIRES MONTHS AND EVEN YEARS TO PREPARE FOR AND HE HADN'T DONE THAT.

>> Cathy: HIS ARGUMENT, THOUGH, WAS TO GET NEW BLOOD TO RAISE UP NEW LEADERS IN THE PARTIES.

DOES THAT HAVE VALIDITY TO IT?

>> SURE IT DOES, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY, AND I THINK, FRANKLY, IN THE 2028 ELECTION OR ACTUALLY STARTING SOON AFTER 2024, WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A KIND OF MOVING ON, JOE BIDEN AND FRANKLY OTHER PEOPLE AROUND JOE BIDEN WILL HAVE MOVED ON, THERE'S GOING TO BE AN OPENING AND WE CAN ALREADY SEE SOME OF THE YOUNGER DEMOCRATS AND YOUNGER REPUBLICANS AS WE SAW THE OTHER NIGHT, WITH NIKKI HALEY AND OTHERS.

>> Eric: 30 SECONDS.

>> TIM WALZ'S FUTURE.

>> WELL, HIS ANSWERS TO THE MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS WERE SORT OF NONANSWERS, CERTAINLY HE IS SOMEONE WHO IS IN THE NATIONAL MEDIA FREQUENTLY, SORT OF TALKING ABOUT ALL OF MINNESOTA'S SUCCESSES IN TERMS OF LEGISLATION THAT HE CHAMPIONED THAT HAS BEEN SIGNED INTO LAW.

HE IS ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT DEAN PHILLIPS DID MENTION IN TERMS OF, MAYBE WE JUST NEED A MIDWESTERN GOVERNOR SO TIM WALZ, GETCHEN WHITMERE, THOSE ARE INDEED SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT I THINK POST-2024, WHERE THE SPECULATION WILL BE.

>> Eric: FRESHMEN ORIENTATION IS OVER, YOU GUYS HAVE A GOOD SCHOOL YEAR.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Eric: THE PROFESSORS, EVERYBODY.

[Applause] >> Cathy: LARRY JACOBS AND OF COURSE KATHRYN PEARSON.

>> Eric: AND THANKS TO THE PROFESSORS AND EVERYBODY WHO JOINED US TODAY.

YOU HAVE BEEN A FABULOUS AUDIENCE.

GIVE YOURSELVES A HAND.

[Applause] WE WANT TO THANK THE BEST CREW IN TELEVISION FOR THEIR WORK TODAY.

A REMINDER TO OUR RADIO LISTENERS, YOU'VE BEEN HEARING A TV SHOW.

YOU CAN TUNE IN TONIGHT TO SEE WHAT EVERYBODY WAS WEARING.

IT MIGHT SHOCK YOU, YOU NEVER KNOW.

>> Cathy: I HAVE TO MENTION, BECAUSE WE ARE ON MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO NEWS, THAT WHEN YOU WERE OUT AT THE FAIR, COME VISIT US AT THE MPR BOOTH HERE AT JUDSON AND NELSON.

AND OF COURSE IF YOU STOP BY ON MONDAY AT 2:00 p.m., YOU CAN JOIN ME AND Dr. MARK SEELEY FOR THE ANNUAL STATE FAIR WEATHER QUIZ.

IT'S LIKE 25, 26 YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS SO IF YOU HAVE AVAILABILITY ON MONDAY, COME ON OUT AND WE'LL TRY TO R.ARE WE'LL TRY TO STUMP YOU AND YOU CAN STUMP THE WEATHER GUY, TOO.

YOU CAN TUNE IN AT NOON ON TUESDAY TO LISTEN TO THE WEATHER QUIZ TO EE WHO WON AND IF WE COULD STUMP Dr. SEALY.

>> Eric: DAN NEWTON IS BACK WITH US FOR ANOTHER TUNE.

A REMINDER THAT DAN WILL BE PLAYING WITH HONKY TONK JUMP NEXT MONDAY AND TUESDAY AT THE SCHELL'S STAGE AT WEST END MARKET.

THAT'S AUGUGUST 28 AND 29.

THANKS FOR ATCHING, REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

BE CAREFUL.

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