TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.

>> ERIC: COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR, THE SEASON'S FIRST BIG BLIZZARD HIT THE STATE HARD, KEVIN KLING IS HERE WITH A HOLIDAY STORY FOR US, FRED DE SAM LAZARO TAKES US TO COLLEGEVILLE FOR SOME BEAUTIFUL MUSIC, AND MARY LAHAMMER HAS BEEN CATCHING UP WITH NEW LEADERS OVER AT THE LEGISLATURE.

>> Mary: BOTH THE STATE HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE NEW MAJORITY LEADERS.

WE'LL GET TO KNOW THEM BETTER.

I KNOW YOU DON'T LOVE TO TALK ABOUT YOURSELF, DO YOU?

>> >> NO, I JUST LIKE TO PUT MY HEAD DOWN AND DO THE WORK, GET THINGS DONE.

>> I'M SOMEBODY WHO LIKES TO KEEP ON TOP OF THINGS AND TRY TO KEEP WELL-ORGANIZED.

>> 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 28 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

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

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

ONE GREATER MINNESOTA REPORTING ON "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE OTTO BREMER TRUST, WHOSE MISSION IS INVESTING IN PEOPLE, PLACES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR REGION.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY THE BLANDIN FOUNDATION, WORKING TO STRENGHTEN RURAL MINNESOTA.

>> ERIC CATHY WURZER IS TAKING THE NIGHT OFF.

ON TONIGHT'S SHOW, WE'LL REMEMBER PIONEERING HISTORIAN JEAN-NICKOLAUS TRETTER, AND A COUCH FULL OF POLITICAL ANALYSTS WILL PREVIEW THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION FOR US.

BUT WE START WITH ONE OF THE BIGGEST AND LONGEST LASTING STORIES OF THE WEEK, JUST AS PAUL DOUGLAS PREDICTED LAST WEEK ON THE SHOW, TWO BIG SLOW-MOVING WINTER STORM SYSTEMS HIT MINNESOTA THIS WEEK, AFFECTING THE ARROWHEAD AND IRON RANGE IN NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA PARTICULARLY HARD.

THIS MORNING'S SNOW TOTALS INCLUDED 29 INCHES IN FINLAND, 28 IN TWO HARBORS AND 27 IN PARTS OF DULUTH.

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF HOMES AND BUSINESSES ARE STILL WITHOUT POWER AS WE GO ON THE AIR TONIGHT.

HERE WITH MORE, STATE CLIMATOLOGIST, KENNETH BLUMENFELD.

KENNY, HOW DID THIS STORM COME TOGETHER AS KIND OF A COMBO?

>> IT WAS REALLY A BIC LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM THAT CAME OUT OF THE FRONT RANGE OF THE ROCKIES, WHICH IS WHERE A LOT OF OUR BIG STORMS ORIGINATE.

IT CAME OUT OF EASTERN COLORADO AND THEN T JUST TOOK ITS TOO MANY AND IT'S INTERESTING, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK OF IT AS TWO STORMS.

M IT WAS REALLY ONE STORM ITH TWO PHASES.

>> OKAY.

>> THE FIRST SURGE OF MOISTURE AND ENERGY WHEREAS TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY, AND THAT'S WHERE WE HAD A LOT OF THE RAIN AND THE SLUSH AND IT IS FIRST WAVE OF HEAVY SNOW UP SNORT AND THEN THERE WAS A PAUSE AND ANOTHER SURGE OF ENERGY HIT IT FROM THE SOUTH AND WE GOT MORE, MOSTLY SNOW WITH THAT ONE.

>> Eric: AS A CLIMATOLOGIST, YOU ARE DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE TO COMPARE THIS TO THE '91 HALLOWEEN BLIZZARD.

HOW DO THEY RANK?

>> OH, WELL, YOU KNOW, DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU WERE.

UP IN NEICE MINNESOTA, THESE ARE SIMILAR STORMS.

WHAT'S INTERESTING, THOUGH, IS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A STORM FROM EXTRAORDINARILY EARLY IN THE SEASON, THE HALLOWEEN STORM, VERSUS ONE KIND OF TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OF THE SEASON AND WHAT'S UNUSUAL IS THAT WE HAD THE SAME CHARACTER OF SNOW WITH THE TWO STORMS, VERY WETS, VERY STICKY, VERY HEAVY, VERY DANGEROUS TO CLEAR, HARD TO CLEAR.

>> Eric: WHY ALL THE WATER CONTENT?

>> IT WAS A BIG, MOIST STORM AND THE TEMPERATURES WERE HIGH.

WE DO NOT HAVE REALLY ANY COLD AIR WITH THIS SYSTEM.

USUALLY WHEN WE GET A WINTER STORM, ESPECIALLY ONCE YOU GET INTO THE NORTHERLY WINDS, YOU'RE DRAGGING IN COLDER AREA, THE TEMPERATURE DROPS, THE SNOW BECOMES KIND OF LIGHT AND STARTS BLOWING AROUND AROUND WITH THIS, WE NEVER HAD THAT, IT WAS WARM THROUGHOUT THE STATE WITH TEMPERATURES AROUND OR EVEN ABOVE FREEZING, UP EVEN AT THE INTERNATIONAL BORDER.

>> Eric: GIVEN THAT, DOES THIS HELP WITH SOIL MOISTURE ISSUES OR IS IT JUST FROZEN GROUNDS AND IT RUNS OFF?

>> WE HOPE IT HELPS WITH SOIL MOST TUR ISSUES.

OF COURSE NOW ALL THE EVIDENCE IS BURIED.

WE KNEW FROM BEFORE THE STORM THAT AREAS THAT HAD SOME SNOW COVER HAD REASONABLY SOFT SOIL AND NOT TOO MUCH FROST.

THE OPEN AREAS MIGHT HAVE DEEPER FROST BUT WE'RE HOPING SOME OF THIS MOISTURE MAKES IT INTO THE SOIL AND ALLEVIATES THE DROUGHT CONDITIONS.

>> Eric: THIS TIME OF YEAR, HOW DEEP DOES THE FREEZING SOIL GO?

>> IT EPENDS ON THE YEAR AND HOW MUCH SNOW IS ON THE GROUND BUT THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE EEP FREEZE SEASON SO IT REALLY REACHES ITS MAXIMUM LATER IN THE WINTER, IN FEBRUARY ND MARCH WHERE IT'S EASY TO GET MULTIPLE FEET OF FROST DEPTH, ESPECIALLY IN THE RIGHT CONDITIONS IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF REALLY COLDS NIGHTS.

THIS TIME OF YEAR WE WOULD NOT OPEN EXPECTS IT TO BE MUCH MORE THAN A FOOT.

>> Eric: IS IT A TRUISM THAT AFTER THE SNOW COMES THE COLD WARE, IS THAT APPLES IT IS CASE?

>> IT'S NOT.

OFTENTHE IS THE CASE.

>> Eric: WHAT WE GOT COMING UP?

>> COLD WEATHER IS WHAT WE UNDERSTAND.

>> Eric: WHY IS THAT PATTERN SO REPEATSABLE?

>> ON THE BACK SIDE OF LOW PRESSURE WHICH IS WHAT CAUSES ALL THIS INCLEMENT WEATHER, YOU HAVE WINDS COMING FROM THE NORTH AND THE NORTHWEST, AND IF YOU LOOK OFF TO THOSE, THOSE RE SOURCE REGION FOR REALLY COLD AIR.

THINK OF A BIG COLD AIR RESERVOIR SITTING UP THERE IN CENTRAL AND NORTHERN CANADA AND WE'RE ABOUT TO TAP INTO THAT AND SO WE'LL GETS A INTRUSION OF COLD AIR INTO THE REASON THE NEXT WEEK OR SO.

>> Eric: HOW DO WE COMPARE TO THE DAKOTAS?

>> IN TERMS OF SNOWFALL?

THIS WAS A MASSIVE STORM.

YOU LOOK THROUGH THE DAKOTAS AND THROUGH MINNESOTA AND INTO WISCONSIN, THERE WAS A HUGE SWATH, WHERE ALMOST EVERYONE IN THAT AREA GOT EIGHT INCHES OR MORE.

IN THE DAKOTAS, THEY HAD MULTIPLE LOCATIONS WITH OVER A NOTE, SOME LOCATIONS PUSHING TWO FEET, ESPECIALLY IN WESTERN PARTS OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

AND THEN YOU LOOK INTO MINNESOTA, WE HAD KIND OF THE SAME BEHAVER, EVEN PARTS OF WISCONSIN WITH THAT SECOND PHASE, GOT HIT VERY HARD WITH UP TO A FOOT OF SNOW.

>> Eric: IS IT A GIVEN NOW THAT THE ENTIRE MIDWEST HAS A WHITE CHRISTMAS IN STORE OR ARE THERE SOME BARE PATCHES SOMEWHERE OR -- >> THERE AREN'T TOO MANY BARE PATCHES.

YOU COULD GO TO FARTHER SOUTHERN PARTS OF INNESOTA AND SOUTH DAKOTA AND WISCONSIN YOU COULD STILL SEE BARE GROUND BUT MOST OF US PROBABLY GOT WHAT WE NEED TO STAY SNOW-COVERED NORTH NEXT COUPLE WEEKS AT LEAST.

>> Eric: CAN WE LOOK AT THIS AND MAKE ANY PREDICTIONS ABOUT THE REST OF THE WINTER?

>> IT'S VERY HARD BUT WE CAN MAKE COMPARISONS TO OTHER TIMES WHEN WE'VE HAD BIG STORMS IN DECEMBER AND IT OR NOT DOES SETS THE STAGE FOR, IF YOU GET A LOT OF SNOW FALLING, IT'S REALLY HARD TO GET SUPER ARM AFTER THAT.

SNOW IS ACTUALLY A GREAT CONTROL ON TEMPERATURES BECAUSE THE SUNLIGHT BOUNCES OFF IT.

AND SO THERE ARE OLD STUDIES THAT WERE DONE, THAT SAID WHEN THERE IS SEE SNOW ON THE GROUNDS AND YOU HAVE CERTAIN WEATHER CONDITIONS, TEMP ACTUAL MIGHT BE UP TO 20, 25 DEGREES LOWER THAN THE SAME WEATHER CONDITIONS WITHOUT SNOW.

SO THE SNOW ACTUALLY LAST A MAJOR COOLING EFFECT, ND CAN AFFECT THE CHARACTER OF WINTER.

ALL THAT SAID, IF A WEATHER SYSTEM COMES BY AND PUMPS A LOT OF WARM AIR INTO THE REGION, WE COULD LOSE THAT SNOW AND BE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO WARM CONDITIONS.

BUT FOR NOW, WE LOOK AT IT AS THIS KIND OF ENSURES WE'LL HAVE COLD WEATHER AHEAD FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

>> Eric: I UNDERSTAND THIS BETTER NOW.

THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Eric: HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

ALL THE BEST.

>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

>> ERIC: LGBTQ ADVOCATE AND ARCHIVIST JEAN-NICKOLAUS TRETTER DIED LAST FRIDAY AT THE AGE OF 76.

TRETTER SPENT MUCH OF HIS ADULT LIFE PRESERVING AND COLLECTING LGBTQ HISTORIC ARTIFACTS.

THE COLLECTION GREW SO LARGE BY THE LATE 1990S THAT IT HAD OVERTAKEN HIS LIVING SPACES.

SHORTLY BEFORE TRETTER DONATED HIS PERSONAL ARTIFACT COLLECTION TO THE U OF M IN 1999, WE TALKED WITH HIM ABOUT WHY HOLDING ON TO THIS HISTORY IS IMPORTANT AND HOW HE AMASSED SUCH A LARGE COLLECTION.

- HERE'S A SHORT PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.

>> YOU HAVE AN AMAZING COLLECTION.

THIS IS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF IT HERE ON THIS TABLE.

WHY COLLECT?

DID YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WERE GETTING INTO WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED TO KIND OF AMASS SOME OF THIS STUFF?

>> I KIND OF VAGUELY KNEW.

I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW LARGE IT WOULD GET.

[Laughter] AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH IT WOULD GROW.

BUT WHY I COLLECT AWAS BECAUSE I FOUND OUT WHEN I WENT TO DO A DISPLAY FOR THE PRIDE COMMITTEE IN 1983, THAT EVERYTHING WAS DISAPPEARING.

PEOPLE DID NOT SAVE LESBIAN AND GAY THINGS AND AS FAST AS OUR COMMUNITY WAS PRODUCING STUFF, IT WAS DISAPPEARING.

>> ERIC: FOR MUCH OF THE LAST TWO DECADES, LISA VECOLI WAS THE CURATOR OF THE TRETTER COLLECTION AT THE U OF M. ADAM BETTINE TOOK OVER THOSE DUTIES EARLIER THIS FALL.

WE INVITED THEM BOTH TO COME AND THEY GRANTED US AN AUDIENCE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

LISA, HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS COLLECTION?

>> YOU CAN'T OVERSTATEMENT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS COLLECTION.

VERY PEW PLACES IN THE COUNTRY HAVE DEDICATED LGBTQ ARCHIVES AND WE ARE ENORMOUSLY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THIS MATERIAL AT THE U OF M AND WE HAVE IT BECAUSE OF THE STUBBORN PERSISTENCE OF ONE MAN.

>> Eric: HE WAS TALKING IN THE CLIP THAT A LOT OF THIS STUFF WAS THROWN AWAY, AND THIS IS A LOT OF STUFF EFORE IT WAS KIND OF HIP TO HAVE THIS MATERIAL IN A CLICKS, RIGHT?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

JEAN HAD THE FORESIGHT TO COLLECT PARTICULARLY LESBIAN AND GAY MATERIALS IN THE 1970s AND 1990s, LONG BEFORE INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA BUILT COLLECTIONS OR EVEN HAD MAYBE A COUPLE OF COLLECTIONS AROUND LGBTQ PEOPLE.

>> Eric: WHAT DID YOU BRING?

LET'S SHOW SOME OF THE STUFF?

>> I THINK IT'S ONLY RIGHT TO START WITH A PHOTO OF JEAN N HIS APARTMENT.

THIS WAS THE -- A NICE IMAGE OF THE COLLECTION BEFORE IT MOVED OVER TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA IN THE YEAR 2000 AND YOU CAN REALLY SEE THE PUBLICATIONS AND BOOKS THAT REALLY MADE UP THE HEART OF THE COLLECTION.

>> Eric: DID HE GET BOOTED OUT OF THE U OF M OR THEY TOLD HIM THERE'S NO SUCH GAY COMMUNITY TO STUDY?

>> HE SERVED IN THE NAVY AND CAME BACK TO THE UNIVERSITY, WANTED TO PURSUE A DEGREE AT THE UNIVERSITIES IN CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY STUDYING THE GAY COMMUNITY, HE THEY SAID YOU DIDN'T DO IT, THESE THAT'S NOT A LEGITMATE COURSE OF STUDY SO HE NEVER DID GETS A DEGREE.

>> Eric: WOW.

OTHER STUFF?

>> OH, YEAH, SO WE HAVE A COPY OF BECHTEL'S GRAPHIC MEMOIR, FUN HOME, WHICH IS ACTUALLY PUBLISHED IN CHINESE AND THIS REALLY SHOWCASES THE VARIETY OF LANGUAGES IN THE COLLECTION.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE 58 LANGUAGES REPRESENTED AND JEAN WAS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST IN THE NAVY SO REALLY SPOKE TO HIS LOVE OF LANGUAGES.

>> Eric: ALL RIGHT, SIR.

CONTINUE.

>> YEAH.

HERE WE HAVE A 2006 BELT BUCKY FROM THE NATIONAL GAY RODEO ASSOCIATION HERE IN THE MIDWEST, PREDOMINANTLY IN MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN, SO WE HAVE A LOT OF SCHOTCKES AND THINGS LIKE THIS, THE EPHEMERAL OF LBBRTQ HISTORY.

HERE WE HAVE TWO BUTTONS FOR KNEE, WHICH WAS THE GAY AND LESBIAN ORGANIZATION HERE IN MINNESOTA AND ON THE CAMPUS, STARTED IN MAY, 1969, STOOD FOR FIGHT REPRESSION OF EROTIC EXPRESSION.

SO WE HAVE GREAT REPRESENTATIONS OF EARLY TWIN CITIES HISTORY LONG BEFORE OUR CURRENT MOMENT.

>> Eric: AND THE PAMPHLET.

>> LISA, DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT THAT?

>> THIS IS ACTUALLY A COPY OF ONE MAGAZINE AND ONE MAGAZINE WAS THE FIRST WIDELY DEMONSTRATED HOMO FILE PUBLICATION, SO STARTED PUBLICATION IN 1921, AND SO THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE KIND OF MATERIAL THAT WE HAVE IN THE ARCHIVE.

WE HAVE PRINT MATERIALS, WE HAVE PEOPLE'S INDIVIDUAL PAPER, WE HAVE ORGANIZATIONAL RECORDS AND THEN WE HAVE BELT BOCK ELSE AND BUTTONS AND T-SHIRTS AND FRISBEES.

>> Eric: IS THERE -- INTENDED OR UN] ED THEME THAT GOES THROUGH THE COLLECTION R SKIT JUST A BUNCH OF INCREDIBLY RARE MATERIAL?

>> YOU WANT TO TAKE A SLOT?

>> I THINK IT IS INCREDIBLY RARE MATERIAL ON ONE HAND BUT I THINK THE THEME IS THE MINUTIAE OF EVERYDAY LGBTQ LIFE AND REPRESENT TAGS THAT WE ARE EVERYWHERE AND WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT CONTEXTS AND WHETHER THAT'S SOMEONE'S DIARIES AND JOURNALS THAT THEY'VE KEPT TO THE INCREDIBLE ACTIVISM YOU SEE IN NEWSPAPERS CLIPPINGS AND ALL THE BUBBLE INDICATIONS THAT WE HAVE IN THE COLLECTION SO I'M A BROAD SPAN.

>> Eric: WHERE DOES -- >> AND THAT WE HAVE HISTORY AND WE HAVE A CULTURE AND WHICH HAVE SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF, SO I THINK THE AMAZING THING ABOUT JEAN THAT IN THE EARLY '70s WHEN, MANY PEOPLE WERE CLOSETED AND HIDING, HE WAS VERY PUBLIC, HE DEMANDED TO BE RECOGNIZED AND RESPECTED AS AN OUT-GAY MAN AND WHEN EVERYONE ELSE WAS THROWING THINGS AWAY, HE COLLECTED IT.

HE'S ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY THAT DID THIS.

>> Eric: HE HELPED -- DID HE HELP FOUND OR ORGANIZE TWIN CITIES PRIDE OR OR OR.

>> HE DID, HE HELPED ORGANIZE THE FIRST ONE IN 1972.

>> Eric: HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT?

HOW DID HE GET INVOLVED IN THAT?

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW HE GOT INVOLVED BUT HE WOULD ALWAYS TELL THE TOWER THREAD ABOUT 35 OR 50 PEOPLE NOTICE PARK AND WANTED TO MARCH THROUGH DOWNTOWN, SO HALF MARCHED THOUSAND DOWNTOWN AND THE OTHER LAF STAYED IN THE PARK WITH BAIL MONEY BECAUSE THEY EXPECTED TO BE ARRESTED.

THEY WEREN'T HASSLED OR ARRESTED, MUCH TO THEIR SURPRISE.

>> Eric: AND IT'S GROWN INTO ONE OF THE LARGEST CELEBRATIONS IN THE COUNTRY.

>> IT HAS.

>> Eric: WHAT HAVE OU PLANNED FOR THE COLLECTION, ARE YOU STILL COLLECTING THINGS OR WHERE DO WE GO GOING FORWARD HERE?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

WE'RE CONTINUALLY COLLECTING WHETHER THAT'S PERSONAL PAPERS OR ORGANIZATIONAL RECORDS, WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON COLLECTING LOCAL MINNESOTAN HISTORY AND I'M STARTING TO COLLABORATE WITH AMOUNTS SYSTEM CAMPUSES IN COLLECTING STUDENT HISTORY THERE.

>> Eric: IS THIS ONE OF THE LARGEST -- MUST BE ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY OR -- >> I THINK IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY.

ONE ARCHIVE IN L.A. IS KIND OF THE GRANDADDY.

>> Eric: OH, I SUPPOSE.

>> BUT FOR US TO HAVE AN ARCHIVE IN THE MIDWEST THAT'S FREE AND ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE, THAT IS BOTH LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL IN SCOPE IS REALLY A SURPRISE AND A GIFT FROM JEAN.

>> Eric: AEIDEN, WHY DID YOU WANT TO TAKE THIS JOB?

>> OH, IT'S A DREAM.

IT'S HONESTLY THE DREAM JOB.

THERE'S A ONE-OF-A-KIND COLLECTION LIKE THIS IN THE MIDWEST, IT'S JEAN'S SO TO CURATE IT AND STEWARD IT AND NOW CARRY FORWARD HIS LEGACY IS A TREMENDOUS HONOR.

>> Eric: IF FOLKS WANTS TO GO SEE IT, IS THERE AN EXHIBIT OR SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE CAN VIEW THEMSELVES OR IS IT JUST ACADEMICALLY CLOISTERED AWAY OR WHAT HAVE WE GOT HERE?

WE'VE OT TOURS.

SO FOLKS CAN GIVE ME A CALL, AN EMAIL, HAPPY TO SET UP A TOUR AND SHOW OFF MORE MATERIALS FROM THE COLLECTION.

>> Eric: THEY JUST GOOGLE IN -- >> TRETTER COLLECTION.

>> HERE IS AN EXHIBIT EVERY YEAR AT PRIDE THAT'S UP IN THE PARK PAVILION THAT PEOPLE CAN WALK THROUGH AND I WOULD SAY THAT FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE WORKED IN THE COLLECTION, STUDENTS, VOLUNTEERS, STAFF, PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE RESEARCH, IT'S OFTEN BEEN A LIFE A CHANGING EXPERIENCE TO BE EXPOSED TO OUR HISTORY BECAUSE, AS LITTLE BABY LGBTQ PEOPLE, WE OFTEN DON'T HAVE THAT AND WHEN WE FIND IT, IT'S REVEL TOWER.

>> Eric: JUST SECONDS LEFT.

WAS HE SURPRISED IT GAINED THE NOTORIETY AND THE SCOPE OF IT?

OR HE JUST SAID -- >> NO, I THINK HE BELIEVED, HE BELIEVED IN THIS ALL ALONG.

ENED YEAH, YEAH, THAT'S GREAT.

THANK YOU TWO NOR COMING.

A LOT OF INTERESTING STUFF.

YOU CAN GET A TOUR.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Eric: HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> EVERY HOLIDAY SEASON, I'M REMINDED OF THE SAME TIMELESS LESSON.

AMERICANS ARE BURIED IN STUFF AND IT'S STILL GETTING WORSE.

OF COURSE, ECONOMISTS HAVE DEVELOPED A LOT OF CLEVER TOOLS TO MEASURE THE PACE OF OUR ACCUMULATION BUT MY GRANDPA, NOT AN ECONOMIST, CAME UP WITH A ETHOD I PREFER.

TARP SIZE.

FRANK GILLETTE ONCE TOLD US IN THE 1976s, THE LARGEST TARP YOU COULD BUY WAS SIX FEETS BY FOUR FEET.

AND IT'S JUST LARGE ENOUGH TO COVER A MODEST WOOD PILE OR, IF YOU WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE UPPER MIDDLE CLASS, THE OUTBOARD MOTOR ON YOUR ALUMINUM FISHING BOAT.

TODAY THE HARDWARE STORE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD SELLS A TARP THAT'S MORE THAN 100 FEET LONG.

PEOPLE USE THESE TO MAKE SKATING RINKS IN THEIR YARD, WHICH MEANS WE'VE GONE FROM TARPS THAT COVER THE MOTOR ON A BOAT WE WOULD USE ON A LAKE TO TARPS THAT ONTAIN THE ENTIRE LAKE.

THIS IS A DISTURBING TRAJECTORY.

I RECENTLY SAW TARP FULLY WRAPPED AROUND ND OVERSIZED WINNEBAGO AND IT MADE IT EASY TO IMAGINE IN THE FUTURE, OUR ENTIRE PLANET LOOKING EXACTLY LIKE IT.

IF YOU ASK ME, A LIFE BENEATH A TARP IS NOT A LIFE WELL LIVED.

THAT'S WHY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON I'M ACTUALLY CONSIDERING BUYING ONE OF THOSE EXTRA LARGE TARPS AND THEN WITH THE HELP OF A BUNCH OF FREDS, WE'RE GOING TO CUT IT DOWN INTO MANAGEABLE PIECES.

EVERYBODY GOES HOME WITH ENOUGH PLASTIC TO COVER THEIR MODEST WOOD PILE AND THERE'S NOTHING LEFT THAT'S LARGE ENOUGH TO BLOCK OUT THE SUN.

♪♪ >> ERIC: ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY IN COLLEGEVILLE IS HOME TO A PIPE ORGAN THAT WAS EXPANDED TO MORE THAN DOUBLE ITS ORIGINAL NUMBER OF PIPES, GOING FROM 3000 TO 6000.

EARLIER THIS FALL, "NEWSHOUR" SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT FRED DE SAM LAZARO VISITED WITH THE CRAFTSMAN WHO DID THIS WORK AND HAD A CHANCE TO HEAR THE GRAND HISTORIC INSTRUMENT.

[BELLS TOLLING] >> THE BELLS HERALD A NEW DAY AT St. JOHN'S, A BEEN PARTICULAR TINE MONASTIC AND COLLEGE COMMUNITY NESTLED IN 3,000 ACRES OF LAKE AND FOREST IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

BUT THEN THIS SEPTEMBER DAY, THE ATTENTION AS ON SOUNDS COMING FROM INSIDE THE ABBEY CHURCH.

>> IT'S REALLY, REALLY STUNNING WHAT THEY'VE ACHIEVED.

[ORGAN MUSIC] >> WORLD-RENOWNED ORG NORTHEAST STEPHEN HARP WAS REHEARSING FOR A CONCERT ON AN INSTRUMENT THAT'S BEEN NEWLY FIXED.

>> SO IT'S KIND OF A SURPRISE FOR PEOPLE WHO PERHAPS NEVER HEARD AN ORGANG RECITAL AND WONDER WHERE ALL OF THAT SOUND AND COLOR IS COMING FROM BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SEE IT BUT MOST OF WHAT YOU'LL HEAR IS BEHIND THIS REDS SCRIM.

NEVER QUITE SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.

>> I GOT A CHANCE TO EEK BEHIND THAT SCREEN THANKS TO CASEY MARIN.

ALL THIS OLDER STUFF BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE SECOND FLOOR UP THERE IS THE ORIGINAL OR BEGAN AND -- THE ORIGINAL ORGAN AND WORKS BEAUTIFULLY FOR WHAT IT WAS BUILT TO DO, IT JUST WASN'T QUITE POWERFUL ENOUGH FOR THIS ROOM.

A St. JOHN'S GRADUATE AND ORGAN BUILDER HIMSELF, MARIN HAS MAINTAINED THIS ONE FOR 45 YEARS.

>> YOU CAN TELL THAT'S IN TUNE.

>> SO WHAT WE ENDED UP DOING WAS PRESERVING THE OLD INSTRUMENT AND BUILDING UPON IT, AND THE NEW ORGAN KIND OF TOPS IT OFF AND GIVES IT THE EXTRA POWER THAT IT NEEDED.

[ORGAN MUSIC] >> ERIC: JOINING US WITH MORE, FRED DE SAM LAZARO.

WHAT LED YOU TO THIS STORY?

>> MOST OF THE WORK I DO IS IN FAR-AWAY PLACES, SOMEWHAT ORE ESOTERIC THAN HOME BASE AND IF ONLY FOR THE CHANGE OF PACE, IT WAS A NICE IDEA BUT I'VE LONG BEEN INTRIGUED BY BOTH THIS INSTRUMENT, MY DAD WAS THE ORGANIST IN THE CHURCH WHEN I WAS GROWING UP IN BANGALORE AND AT St. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY AND St. JOHN'S ABBEY IS AN EXTRAORDINARY INSTITUTION THAT EMBRACES STRAW DIGS AND DEFIES IT AT THE SAME TIME.

AND SO IT CHECKED A LOT OF BOXES.

>> Eric: IN HE PIECE, WERE YOU THE ONE WHO DESCRIBED IT AS THE VOICE OF GOD, THE SOUND OF IT?

>> I WASN'T ORIGINAL BUT, YEAH, IT'S OFTEN BEEN DESCRIBED -- >> Eric: TELL US ABOUT THAT SENSATION.

>> AS YOU AS YOU HEAR MICHAEL BARONE, WHO IS THE SUPREME AUTHORITY IN ALL THINGS TO DO WITH THIS INSTRUMENT FROM MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO, HE SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE LOUDEST SOUND THAT MEDIEVAL EUROPEANS HEARD UNTIL GUN POWDER CAME ALONG.

I MEAN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WAS A VERY LOUD SOUND, IT WAS THE VOICE OF GOD, SO THE LOUDER YOU GET AN ORGAN, THE MORE AUTHOR TAKE ITTIVE IT IS.

THIS IS A PRE-INDUSTRIAL INSTRUMENT THAT IS BUILT TO INDUSTRIAL SCALE.

>> Eric: I MEAN, YOU HAVE THE HIGH TECH, THEY'RE TUNING THE THING WITH AN APP ON THEIR PHONE AND YOU HAVE THE GOTHIC HISTORY OF IT.

IT'S KIND OF AN INTERESTING COLLISION OF THINGS, ISN'T IT?

>> NE ONE OF THE MORE INTERESTING LITTLE EXCHANGES THAT I -- THAT I OBSERVED WHEN SHOOTING THIS PIECE WAS WHEN THE ORGANIST, STEVEN THARP, WAS TALKING TO THE TUNER, CASEY MARIN, AND WAS ABOUT TO START PLAYING AND CASEY SAYS, YOU HAVE TO REBOOT THE INSTRUMENT.

[Laughter] REBOOT THIS INSTRUMENT WITH 6,000 HANDMADE PIPES SO IT TELLS YOU A LOT THERE.

>> Eric: NOW, TACOMA, WASHINGTON, COMES INTO THE STORY AND IT IS PROBLEM AS I SAW ITS IN THE IECE IS THESE CRAFTSMEN ARE GETTING OLDER AND St. JOHN'S AS A SOLUTION TO THIS.

>> YOU KNOW, THE BROADER CONTEXT OFF ALL OF THIS IS THAT WE AS A SOCIETIES HAVE LOST AN APPRECIATION FOR THE CRAFTS AND FOR PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH THEIR HANDS, AND THIS IS AN INSTRUMENT, ALL 6,000 OF THESE PIPES WERE HAND-MADE BUT CRAFTSMAN.

>> Eric: AND YOU SHOW THE PROCESS IN THE PIECE WHICH IS QUITE INTRICATE.

>> IT IS FASCINATING TO SEE AND WHAT MARTIN PAUSEY THE ORGAN BUILDER FOR THE EXPANSION WANTED TO DO WAS CREATE A LEGACY AND TO BE IN A MILIEU WHERE THERE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO MIGHT ACTUALLY BE INTERESTED IN THIS, YOU KNOW, TO CAPTURE THEIR IMAGINATION, AND OF COURSE THE MONKS AT St. JOHN'S ABBEY, YOU KNOW, HAVE LONG EMBRACED THE CRAFTS.

THEY HAVE A GREAT WOODWORKING SHOP, MOST OF THE FURNITURE ON THE CAMPUS IS MADE IN-HOUSE.

>> Eric: I DIDN'T NO THAT.

>> SO A MARRIAGE OF TWO WONDERFUL TRADITIONS.

>> Eric: AND THERE IS A MUSIC TRADITION AT St. JOHN'S.

>> INDEED, INDEED.

>> Eric: HOW MUCH ARE THEY COMMITTING FINANCIALLY TO THIS EFFORTS?

SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE A BIG NUMBER.

>> IT WAS ALL PRIVATELY RAISED.

FATHER BOB COOPMAN WHO IS THE MUSIC GURU ON THE CAMPUS SPEARHEADED THIS.

THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY STRUCTURE, THE BBEY CHURCH IS LIKE NO OTHER.

IT WAS DESIGNED BY A HUNGARIAN JEWISH ARCHITECT NAMED MARCELL BROWER AND IT'S STUNNING, A BREATH-TAKING SPACE AND THE ORIGINAL ORGAN WHILE PERFECT ADEQUATE DIDN'T REALLY FILL IT ENTIRELY OR COMMAND THE SPACE, AND SO THE EXPANSION WAS SORT OF THE FINAL CHECK FOR THE COMPLETION OF THIS PROJECT.

>> ric: DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY 6,000 PIPERS THERE ARE OUT IN THE WORLD?

HOW RARE IS THIS?

>> IT'S NOT THE LARGEST ONE.

I BELIEVE THAT THE LARGEST ORGAN IN THE WORLD PROBABLY HAS IN EXCESS OF 30,000 PIPES.

>> Eric: OH, MY GOODNESS.

>> BUT THIS IS AN INSTRUMENT THAT IS NOT IN ERY STRONG DEMAND ANYMORE, THE WORLD HAS GONE ELECTRONIC.

MANY OF THE MODERN CHURCHES DON'T HAVE ORGANS, THEY WILL ALSO GO ELECTRONIC AND SO THE ONES WHO ARE ORDERING THIS KIND OF INSTRUMENT ARE DOING SO AT ENORMOUS COST AND INVESTMENT AND SO THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO PRESERVE AN ANCIENT CRAFT AND AN ENDURING ONE.

THERE IS AN INSTRUMENT THAT DATES BACK TO GREEK TIMES.

>> Eric: WHEN I GO TO THE PBS "NEWSHOUR" WEBSITE, WHEN I SCROLL AROUND, HOW DO I FIND THIS ONE?

>> PIPE DREAMS IN THE SEARCH BAR OR UNTOLD STORIES.ORG WILL GET YOU THERE.

>> Eric: HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY.

THANKS FOR COMING.

>> YOU AS WELL.

>> Eric: ALL THE BEGS.

♪♪ >> AFTER THE BEAUTIFUL SNOWFALL THIS WEEKEND, I WAS REMINDED OF A STORY.

NOW, YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY NOTICED THAT MY ARMS ARE DIFFERENT THAN EACH OTHER AND PROBABLY DIFFERENT THAN YOURS.

MY LEFT ARM HAS ALWAYS BEEN SHORTER, WITH FOUR FINGERS.

I'VE ALWAYS WORN A BRACE.

WHEN I WORK WITH KIDS, I TELL THEM ABOUT MY ARM, AND THAT "IF YOU WANT TO HI-FIVE AFTER THE SHOW, YOU'RE OUT OF LUCK BUT WE CAN HI-FOUR ALL DAY."

I ALSO TELL THEM MY RIGHT ARM HASN'T MOVED SINCE I WAS IN A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT 20 YEARS AGO SO IF YOU SEE IT MOVE, LET ME KNOW AND I'LL GET REALLY EXCITED.

SO I TELL KIDS ABOUT MY ARMS, ACTUALLY, I TELL ADULTS, TOO, BECAUSE ADULTS ARE OUT THERE GOING, "I WONDER IF HE KNOWS ABOUT HIS ARMS."

YEAH.

SO MANY YEARS AGO, MY BROTHER AND I WERE LEARNING HOW TO SKI AND WE WERE GOING UP THE SMALL HILL, BUNNY HILL.

TO GET TO THE TOP, YOU NEEDED TO GRAB ONTO A ROPE.

IT WAS CALLED THE ROPE TOW, AND IT WILL PULL YOU TO THE TOP.

AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL WAS A LARGE SIGN THAT SAID, "ABSOLUTELY NO LONG HATS, LONG SCARVES OR WOOLLY MITTENS ALLOWED ON THE ROPE TOW."

AND WE WERE STANDING THERE IN OUR LONG HATS, LONG SCARVES, WOOLLY MITTENS...

THEY DON'T MEAN US.

SO I GRABBED ONTO THE ROPE, AND WHEN I GOT TO THE TOP, I FOUND OUT WHY THAT SIGN WAS THERE.

BECAUSE THE ROPE TWISTS AS IT GOES UP THE HILL, AND IF YOU'RE WEARING WOOLLY MITTENS, THEY ACTUALLY TWIST INTO THE ROPE.

SO I GOT TO THE TOP AND I TRIED TO LET GO, BUT I COULDN'T BECAUSE MY GLOVES WERE NOW PART OF THE ROPE TOW.

I FINALLY PULLED MY RIGHT ARM FREE BUT MY LEFT WASN'T COMING FREE.

SO I DECIDED JUST TO LET GO OF MY BRACE.

IT FLEW THROUGH THE AIR AND THE WOMAN BEHIND ME SAW IT AND YELLED, "OH, MY GOSH, IT'S HIS ARM."

SHE FELL OVER AND PEOPLE ARE PILING INTO HER.

SO WE DID THE ROPE TOW TRICK THE REST OF THE DAY.

THAT'S THE WAY A KID WORKS.

[Laughter] ♪ >> LAWYER, TEACHER, FIRST RESPONDER.

>> YES.

>> MOM, WIFE, MILITARY WIFE.

I THINK ANY ONE OF THOSE WOULD HAVE MADE YOU QUALIFIED.

>> I STARTED MY CAREER AS A TRIAL LAWYER, SOMETHING I'VE BEEN DOING FOR 26 YEARS.

I'VE BEEN TEACHING FOR OVER TEN YEARS NOW, IT'S MY FAVORITE JOB OF ALL THE JOBS I'VE EVER HAD.

AND I ALSO FELT LIKE I NEEDED TO JOIN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT O I DID.

I'M A PARAMEDIC.

>> Mary: THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I BELIEVE IN STATE HISTORY THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE MAJORITY IN THE MINNESOTA STATE SENATE ARE WOMEN.

THAT'S PROFOUND.

>> I'M THRILLED.

AS AN ATTORNEY, I'VE WORKED IN A TRADITIONALLY MALE-DOMINATED FIELD AND I FEEL LIKE IT'S TIME THAT OUR LEGISLATURE REFLECTS OUR POPULATION.

>> Mary: TALK TO ME ABOUT THE VALUE OF DIVERSITY AND THE DIVERSITY YOU'RE BRINGING.

>> THE DIVERSITY THAT I'VE HIGHLIGHTED IN MY NUMBER OF YEARS ON THE FLOOR, MULTIPLE TIMES, IS NOT ONE OF SKIN-COLOR OR THE DEMOGRAPHICS, WELL, THESE ARE THE THINGS WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE OVER.

I SAY THAT AS A MINORITY MISS, A HISPANIC, MARRIED TO A MINORITY.

MY SIBLINGS THEMSELVES ARE MARRIED TO MINORITIES EFFORTS SO ALL MY NEICES AND NEPHEWS ARE MINIORITIES, WE HAVE A RAINBOW OF DIVERSION TEE THROUGHOUT THE SENATE.

BUT I BELIEVE THE GREAT JESS DIVERSITY IS NOT ONE THAT WE DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER.

THE GREATEST DIVERSITY THAT'S IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO CONVERSATIONS IS THE DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT, DIVERSITY OF OPINION.

♪♪ >> ERIC: A ST. PAUL BASED NON-PROFIT IS WORKING TO CHANGE THE HISTORIC ECONOMIC GAP FOR BIPOC COMMUNITIES AND BUSINESSES.

THE CENTER FOR ECONOMIC INCLUSION WAS ONE OF SIX ORGANIZATIONS TO RECEIVE $5 MILLION FROM J.P. MORGAN THIS YEAR TO ASSIST BLACK, LATINA, AND INDIGENOUS WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES.

EARLIER THIS MONTH, THEY LAUNCHED THE VANGUARD ACCELERATOR, A PROGRAM THAT WILL ASSIST BUSINESSES FINANCIALLY.

TAWANNA BLACK IS THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF THE CENTER FOR ECONOMIC INCLUSION.

TAWANNA, WHAT EXACTLY IS THE ROLE OF THE ACCELERATOR HERE?

>> IT'S DESIGNED TO HELP US IN MINNESOTA CHANGE THE FACE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP BUT MORE THAN THAT, TO CHANGE THE FACE OF JOB CREATORS AND WEALTH BUILDERS BY ENSURING THAT WE'RE GIVING INVESTMENTS INTO BLACK, LATINA AND INDIGENOUS-OWNED BUSINESS OWNERS WHO ARE PARTICULARLY SECTORED IN THOSE GROWTH SECTORS IN THE MARKETS SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE AN I COULD PAN WITH GOVERNMENTS AND AGENCIES.

>> Eric: DO YOU SPY LIKE THE MOST PROMISING BUSINESSES SO YOU'RE NOT THROWING GOOD MONEY AFTER BAD?

>> 100%.

>> Eric: WHAT'S THAT PROCESS?

>> WE JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO OPENED UP OUR ACCELERATOR LICKS FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND ALSO OPENED UP OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESSES TO SECURE GRANT FUNDS THAT WILL HELP THEM GET STRONGER.

OUR JOB TO BE EXTREMELY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

THERE ARE ALL TYPES OF BUSINESSES, MOST ARE REALLY GOOD.

HOWEVER, WE'RE FOCUSED ON THE BUSINESSES THAT CAN DO B TO B CONTRACTS, WORK WITH LARGE CORPORATIONS, WORK WITH GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND ULTIMATELY WHO NEED FUNDS AND SUPPORTS IN RDER TO GROW THE JOBS AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THEY HAVE.

>> Eric: THAT'S THE BUSINESS TO BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Eric: WHAT'SED POTENTIAL HERE?

>> THE POTENTIAL IS SIGNIFICANT.

WE ANTICIPATE AOVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS SERVING 76 BUSINESSES IN OUR MARKETPLACE.

OUR GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT IS 76 ARE ABLE TO NOT ONLY RECEIVE FUNDS AND SUPPORT AND TRAINING AND COACHING FROM US BUT THEY'RE ALSO ABLE TO THEN MULTIPLY THAT AND ATTRACT AT LEAST ANOTHER $5 MILLION IN INVESTMENTS INTO THEIR BUSINESSES.

WE THINK SALES ARE IMPORTANT, THEY ARE, BUT ALLEGING HAS TO BECOME MORE EQUITABLE IN OUR MARKET AND SO DOES INVESTING.

>> Eric: WHAT DOES J.J.P.

MORGAN GET OUT OF IT?

>> A COUPLE OF THINGS.

THIS CHALLENGE WE WON IS OBVIOUSLY A BIG EFFORTS OF THEIRS TO INVEST DIRECTLY INTO COMMUNITIES AND INNOVATIONS THAT WILL TRANSFORM THE COMMUNITIES.

MORE THAN THAT, IF BUSINESSES ARE SUCCESSFUL, THOSE BUSINESSES NEED STRONG BANKERS WHO HAVE STRONG COMMERCIAL RICHES SO THERE IS THAT INTEREST IN THEM SEEING THOSE BUSINESSES GROW HERE AND BE ABLE TO DO BUSINESS WITH THEM.

>> Eric: DOES THIS FLY IN THE FACE OF THE OLD RED-LINING PROBLEM 'PROBLEM IN MANY COMMUNITIES?

>> ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE EQUITY AND INEQUITY IN LENDING IN OUR MARKETS, WE SEE THAT WHILE RED-LINING OF COURSE WAS ILLEGAL QUITE SOME TIME AGO, WE STILL SEE DISPARATE IMPACTS ON BUSINESSES OWNED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR.

THEY'RE APPLYING FOR LOANS IT IS 10% HIGHER RATES THAN WHITES BUT RECEIVING THOSE LOANS AT 19% FEWER LIKELIHOOD.

AND A SIGNIFICANT GAP IN THE NUMBER WHO RECEIVE EXACTLY WHAT THEY ASK FOR, THEY KNOW WHAT THEY NEED, THEY'RE GOING FOR IT AND COMPARED TO THEIR WHITE PEERS, THEY'RE STILL NOT GETTING THE CASH SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ADJUSTING THE SYSTEM AND GETTING TO AN JITTABLE PLAYING FIELD.

>> Eric: DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON HOW WE GET MORE WORKERS INTO THE WORKFORCE?

I HEAR THE STATE DEMOGRAPHER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, ITS I A DIRE PROBLEM IN MINNESOTA.

>> THIS IS ONE OF OUR BEST SOLUTIONS.

WE'VE BEEN INVESTINGS IN HAVES WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT NOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW AND WE SEE SUCCESS?

PLACING PEOPLE OTHER PLACES BUT THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, BLACK AND BROWN WORKERS SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, I HAVE GOT IDEAS, I'VE GOT TALENTS, I'VE GOT MEANS, I WANT TO STARTS AND GROW BUSINESSES IN THIS ECONOMY AND MINNESOTA IS REALLY CATCHING UP ON A RENDS THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING NATIONALLY FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW.

THOSE BUSINESSES, THOUGH, RIGHT NOW, LESS THAN 1% ARE ACTUALLY CREATING JOBS.

WE'VE GOT TO CHANGE THAT IN MINNESOTA TO BE SURE THAT OUR BLACK, INDIGENOUS, LATINO AND EVEN ASIAN BUSINESSES ARE POSITIONED TO CREATE JOBS THAT PAY FAMILIES SUSTAINING WAGES.

>> Eric: I THINK YOU SAID IN ONE OF THE STORIES I RED THERE ARE BUSINESSES BUT THEY HAVEN'T SCALED UP.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Eric: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> YOU CAN MUCH A SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP, YOU'RE ONE PERSON, MAYBE DOING THAT JOB FULL TIME, MAYBE PART-TIME BUT IN ORDER TO REALLY CHANGE THE ECONOMY, WE NEED THESE GREAT BUSINESSES TO HAVE THE CAPACITY, THE TOOLS AND THE RELATIONSHIPS TO BE ABLE TO CREATE MORE JOBS.

THAT MEANS SOMETIMES HAVING THE CAPITAL TO BE BLE TO CONTINUES PAYING YOUR WORKERS WHILE YOU'RE WAITING TO GET PAID ON A OVERNMENT CONTRACT.

WE SAW THAT HERE WITH THE GREEN LINE IN MINNESOTA SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

THAT SIGNIFICANT GAP IN TIME CAN RUN A BUSINESS OUT OF BUSINESS.

OR PERHAPS IT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE RECURRING REVENUE THAT'S GOING TO OCCUR THROUGH A CONTRACT IN 2023 BUT YOU'VE GOT SOME RAMP-UP TIME WHERE YOU NEED TO ENSURE YOU HAVE CASH TO BE ABLE TO GET WORKER, GETEK FOLLOWING OR EQUIPMENT POSITIONED BEFORE THAT.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE COMMITTED TO.

>> Eric: WHEN DO OU GRANT THE BENEFITS TO FOLKS, WHEN IS THAT COMING UP?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

RIGHT AWAY.

SO WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PROGRAMS AND LANES IN OUR ACCELERATOR, ONE IS A FORGIVABLE LOAN PROGRAM, WE'LL MAKE OUR FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT OF THAT YET THIS MONTH AND THEN WE'LL BEGIN MAKING THOSE $5,000 GRANTS TO BUSINESSES AND LAUNCHING THE ACCELERATOR NEXT MONTH.

>> Eric: VERY GOOD.

GLAD YOU SAME OVER TO TELL US ABOUT IT.

>> OH, THANKS VERY MUCH.

I APPRECIATE IT, ERIC.

>> Eric: THANKS, THANKS.

>> ERIC: THE HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE NEW MAJORITY LEADERS AT THE CAPITOL.

MARY LAHAMMER HELPS US GET TO KNOW THESE IMPORTANT POLITICAL PLAYERS.

>> Mary: WE'RE MOVING OFFICES, SO THE REPUBLICANS USED TO BE UP HERE.

>> Mary: MOVING FFICES IS A BADGE OF HONOR WHEN IT'S AN UPGRADE FOR LAWMAKERS.

>> IT'S FUN TO BE BACK.

WE A LOT OF NEW MEMBERS MOVING IN.

>> Mary: DEMOCRATS IN MINNESOTA ARE OUTPERFORMED PREDICTIONS BY GAINING CONTROL OF BOTH CHAMBERS AT HE CAPITOL.

>> FEELING LIKE THE BUILDING HAS MORE LIFE AGAIN AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S PRETTY NEAT TO BE IN HERE.

[Laughter] >> Mary: THIS IS AN UPGRADE, THE MAJORITY LEADER'S SUITE.

THIS IS THE MAJORITY LEADER'S -- YOU GET THE CORNER OFFICE, RIGHTS?

>> YES.

>> Mary: SENATE D.F.L.

MAJORITY LEADER KARI DZIEDZIC MIGHT NOT BE A HOUSEHOLD NAME UNLESS YOU KNOW MINNEAPOLIS POLITICS OR HOCKEY.

>> THAT'S AN ACTUAL SIGN FOR DZIEDZIC AVENUE IN FLYERS MINNEAPOLIS.

MY DAD WAS ON THE CITY COUNCIL FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND HE RETIRED AND THREE OTHERS AT THE SAME TIME AND THEY ALL GOT THEIR OWN STREETS.

>> ON A REBOUND SCORE.

>> WE ALL GREW UP PLAYING SKATING, PLAYING HOCKEY, WE HAD A RINK IN OUR BACKYARD.

>> Mary: WHAT'S MORE POLITICAL, SPORTS OR POLITICS?

>> SPORTS.

SPORTS.

>> Mary: DZIEDZIC'S CONNECTION TO HOCKEY IS COMPLICATED FROM A BROTHERS IN THE NHL TO FILING A HARASSMENT LAWSUIT AGAINST NORM GROWN DECADES AGO.

>> THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO SO TRYING TO PUT A LOT OF THAT BEHIND ME BUT I THINK WHAT I DID LEARN AND WHAT I'VE TAKEN WITH THAT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE TREATED FAIRLY AND PEOPLE ARE TREATED EQUALLY.

>> Mary: DEALED DICK GOT INTO POLITICS OF COURSE AS THE FAMILY BUSINESS, LATER WORKING FOR SENATOR PAUL WELLSTONE.

>> THEY WERE BOTH VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT HELPING PEOPLE, PAUL HELPING PEOPLE IN THE STATE, FOR MY DAD, HELPING PEOPLE IN HIS COMMUNITIES.

HE GREW UP WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE AND HOW DO WE MAKE PEOPLE'S LIVES BETTER.

THE WHOLE SENATE RENTS PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE.

WE ARE THE MOST DIVERSE LEGISLATURE EVER, WE HAVE A MAJORITY OF WOMEN IN THE D.F.L.

CAUCUS.

WE ARE HERE TO REPRESENTS THE STATE AND WE'LL DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE TATE.

>> Mary: EXPLAIN WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE MAJORITY LEADER IN YOUR OFFICE HEADING INTO A NEW SESSION.

>> WELL, I'M FEELING A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY, IT'S A BIG JOB AND WE HAVE A PRETTY AMAZING OPPORTUNITY.

WE HAVE THE SECONDS TRIFECTA IN 40 YEARS AND WE HAVE A HISTORIC BUDGET SURPLUS.

>> Mary: HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER JAMIE LONG IS ALSO FROM MINNEAPOLIS.

THE LAWYER WORKED FOR CONGRESSMAN KEITH ELSE SON AND HAS EXPERIENCE ON STAGE NOTE THEATER.

>> I THINK IT HELPS AND I'M LAWYER, TOO, SO I'M USED TO GETTING UP AND TALKING IN FRONT OF PEOPLE.

>> Mary: YOU KNOW YOU'VE LAR HAD SOME CREDIT TEXAS THROW SOME BOMBS AT YOU, WE'VE GOT TWO MINNEAPOLIS LIBERALS RUNNING THE CLAIM BEDROOM.

WHAT'S THIS MEAN FOR THE STATES?

>> AS A MAJORITY, WE DO REPRESENTS ALL PARTS OF THE STATE.

>> Mary: REPRESENTATIVE LONG IS NEWER TO THE LEGISLATURE COMPLETING HIS SECOND TERM WITH FOUR YEARS OF SERVICE, SENATOR DZIEDZIC HAS BEEN IN THE SENATE FOR A DECADE.

I KNOW YOU DON'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT YOURSELF, DO YOU?

>> NO.

>> Mary: HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?

>> I LIKE TO PUT MY HEAD DOWN AND DO THE WORK, AND GET THINGS DONE.

>> Mary: DARE I SAY ABOUT THE ONDITION OF YOUR OFFICE IN NO TIME, THAT ORGANIZATION IS SOMETHING YOU DO?

>> IT IS.

[Laughter] I -- YEAH, I'M, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY WHO LIKES TO KEEP ON TOP OF THINGS AND TRY TO KEEP WELL ORGANIZED IN MY PERSONAL LIFE AND IN PROFESSIONAL LIFE, SO I THINK THE MAJORITY LEADER JOB IS PROBABLY PRETTY WELL-SUITED TO ME.

IT'S A TEAM SPORT.

YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING BY YOURSELF.

>> Mary: BOTH WILL RUN A CAUCUS WITH RECORD DIVERSITY.

HAS THE SENATE REALLY CHANGED?

>> THE SENATE D.F.L.

CAUCUS IS MAJORITY WOMEN SO THAT'S EXCITING, THAT'S A FIRST.

>> Mary: IT'S HUGE.

>> I THINK IT WILL CHANGE THE DYNAMIC, HOPEFULLY IMPROVE THE DYNAMIC AND WE HAVE A LOT OF SUBURBAN MOMS SO THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT MOMS AND PARENTS ARE DEALING WITH.

>> Mary: REPUBLICANS WALKED AWAY FROM TAX CUTS AND INVESTMENTS, LEAVING AN ENORMOUS SURPLUS FOR DEMOCRATS TO DECIDE.

THIS ENDS UP BEING YOUR OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE THERE WAS A POLITICAL CALCULUS.

>> YEAH, I'M A SOCCER FAN AND IT WAS A PRETTY BIG OWN GOAL.

TO HAVE DECIDED THEY COULD BE IN A PLACE WHERE THEY COULD CONTROL EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, I'VE WORKED IN POLITICS LONG ENOUGH THAT WHEN YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING GOOD, I THINK YOU SHOULD TAKE IT.

>> Mary: CHOICE WAS A REALLY BIG ISSUE FOR DEMOCRATS AND PROBABLY HELPED DEMOCRATS OVER I PERFORM EXPECTATIONS IN THE STATE.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT IN YOUR CAUCUS AND IS IT 100% LOCK-SOLID PRO CHOICE?

>> WE HAVE A PRO CHOICE MAJORITIES IN THE D.F.L.

CAUCUS.

>> Mary: DO YOU AVE MAYBE ONE OR TWO SOFT MEMBERS?

>> I BELIEVE WE HAVE A PRO CHOICE MAJORITY IN TALKING TO MEMBERS, AND IT WAS A BIG ISSUE TALKING AT THE DOORS.

WE HAD PARENTS SAYING I DON'T WANT MY KIDS TO HAVE LESS RIGHTS THAN I DO.

>> Mary: OTHER AREAS LIKE MARIJUANA LEGAL STATION WILL LIKELY TAKE TIME.

ON WHETHER THE RICHEST SHOULD STILL PAY.

>> THE VALUES THAT WE ARE REPRESENTING ARE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT.

CHILD CARE IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK LOT ABOUT AS A DAD OF YOUNG KIDS.

HOUSING, AS WELL, IS SOMETHING THAT WE CARE ABOUT IN THE METRO BUT THERE ARE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CHALLENGES ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

>> Mary: ONE THING I THINK OF WHEN I CAN OF YOU IS CLIMATE ISSUE.

THIS IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU.

>> T IS.

THAT'S MY PASSION, I THINK WE'LL PASS 100% LEAN ENERGY BY 2040, THAT'S SOMETHING WE KNOW A LOT OF MINNESOTANS WANT.

>> ERIC: THERE'S JUST 18 DAYS LEFT UNTIL OPENING DAY OF THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND THIS IS OUR LAST LIVE SHOW BEFORE THEN.

SO WE'VE GATHERED AN ESTEEMED GROUP OF POLITICAL ANALYSTS TO ANALYZE THE UPCOMING SESSION.

JAVIER MORILLO IS A DFLER AND FORMER NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEMBER.

HERE, TOO, DFLER AND COMMUNITY ACTIVIST CARIN MROTZ.

REPUBLICANS JOINING US TONIGHT, FORMER LAWMAKER AND ATTORNEY FRITZ KNAAK.

AND WE WELCOME BACK ANNETTE MEEKS, FOUNDER OF THE FREEDOM FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA.

SENATOR KNAAK, 34-343 IN THE SENATE.

EVERYBODY'S A MAJORITY LEADER ON A GIVEN DAY.

HOW IS IT GOING TO WORK OUT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT NEEDS TO BE SAID YOU'RE MUCH BETTER OFF IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO RUN SENATE IF YOU WERE ON THE 33 SIDE OF THAT.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT, AS REPUBLICANS FOUND OUT, THEY HAD A LITTLE BIT OF HELP BUT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO DO THAT.

AND I'M NOT ANTICIPATING IT'S GOING TO BE ANY EASIER FOR THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS NOW.

ON THE OTHER HAND, WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE -- THERE WILL BE A LOT OF PRESSURE TO GET THINGS DONE.

THERE WILL BE A LOT OF MONEY TO BE SPENT.

AND MY GUESS IS, IS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT MORE COOPERATION THIS SESSION THAN WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST.

WE'LL SEE BUT EVERYTHING EEMS TO BE SETTING UP RIGHT NOW SO IT WILL BE A LITTLE BIT LESS PARTISAN.

>> Eric: CARIN, CAN THE DEMOCRATS SATISFY NO TO THE VARIOUS CONSTITUENCY GROUPS THAT WANTS TO TAKE PART IN THE SURPLUS?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN SAYING NO TO THE FOLKS WHO ARE INVESTED IN MAKING MINNESOTANS' LIVES BETTER.

I THINK THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS HAT WE WILL SEE DEMOCRATS START TO MOVE ON AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF BEING M GRIDLOCK AND NOT GETTING ANYTHING DONE, THERE IS A BIT OF CAPTION UP O DO AND THAT INCLUDES EVERYTHING FROM -- I MEAN, WE NEVER DID A TAX BILL WHICH MEANS THERE ARE CITIES ALL OVER MINNESOTA WHO NEVER GOT TO RAISE SALES TAX, TO DO INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.

BUT I THINK WE'LL SEE PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE, WE'LL SEE UNIVERSAL SCHOOL LUNCHES, THINGS THAT WILL ACTUALLY DIRECTLY AND IMMEDIATELY IMPROVE THE LIVES OF MINNESOTANS IN A WAY THAT I THINK WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR FOR SOME SOMETIME.

>> Eric: JAVIER, THE MORE DIVERSE LEGISLATURE IS REALLY EVIDENCE AGAINST ITSELF, NOW.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR LAW-MAKING?

>> I THINK IT WILL BE REALLY INTERESTING IN TERMS OF HOW IT PLAYS OUT WITH -- WITH LEADERSHIP AND WITH GETTING THINGS DONE BECAUSE I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF, ESPECIALLY YOUNG WOMEN WHO HAVE RUN, YOUNG WOMEN OF COLOR, WHO ARE -- WHO ARE COMING IN WITH REALLY STRONG IDEAS AND I THINK WILL BE A REAL POWERHOUSES.

AND THESE ARE INSTITUTIONS, THESE ARE INSTITUTIONS THAT, LIKE YOU HAVE WAYS OF DOING THINGS AND, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE THINGS, I MEAN, THE SENATE IS LOOKING AT THINGS AS SEEMINGLY SMALL AS DRESS CODES AND WHETHER YOU CAN DRINK WATER ON THE SENATE FLOOR, THINGS LIKE THAT, BEING REVISITED WITH KIND OF A NEWER GENERATION THERE.

SO, YEAH, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DYNAMICS.

>> Eric: I WAS COUNTING THEM UP AND THERE ARE THREE WOMEN IN HE REPUBLICAN SENATE CAUCUS.

>> ISN'T THAT SUNRISE?

SHOULD BE A LOT MORE.

>> Eric: HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

>> IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING THAT OUR NUMBERS HAVE GOTTEN SO LOW AND PART OF THE PROBLEM S THAT IT'S JUST VERY DIFFICULT TO RECRUIT CANDIDATES THESE DAYS BECAUSE POLITICS ISN'T A LOT OF FUN.

YOU DON'T GET A LOT OF THINGS DONE AND PEOPLE GET FRUSTRATED AND THEY QUIT.

WE LOTION SOME SUPERIOR REPUBLICAN WOMEN IN THE STATE SENATE THIS YEAR, REALLY GREAT TRAGEDY, AND, FLANKLY, A LOT OF INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE WENT OUT WITH THEM.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF REBUILDING TO DO AS A REPUBLICAN PARTY, NOT ONLY AS THE CORE FUNCTIONS OF THE PARTY BUT IN RECRUITING REALLY GOOD AND ESPECIALLY WOMEN CANDIDATES.

>> Eric: ON THIS QUESTION OF COOPERATION AND KINDER AND GENTLER, BACK IN OUR DAY, WHEN WE WERE -- WHEN I WAS COVERING AND YOU WERE IN THE SENATE, IT WAS A RIVALRY BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE, PUT IT THAT WAY.

>> SURE.

>> Eric: IS THAT NOW GONE?

IS IT GOING TO BE A KUMBAYAH SESSION, WITH THE TWO CHAMBERS EQUALLY RESPECTING EACH OTHER?

>> NO.

I'M SAY THAT IN ONE WORD.

THAT'S THE HISTORY OF BOTH INSTITUTIONS.

IN FACT, I'M SHOCKED TO HEAR THEY'RE CONSIDERING ALLOWING WATER ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE.

EACH HAS THEIR OWN HISTORY, EACH HAS THEIR OWN ATTITUDE ABOUT WHO THEY ARE AND BELIEFS ABOUT WHO THEY ARE AND THAT GETS EDUCATED IN THE NEW MEMBERS FAIRLY QUICKLY SO I'M EXPECTING THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE THAT KIND OF RIFLERY.

NOT TO SAY THEY CAN'T COOPERATE BUT YOU WAIT, THEY'LL BE TAKING SHOTS AT EACH OTHER BEFORE YOU -- >> CAN I JUST SAY, THAT HAS TO BE THE -- FOR ME THE SINGLE MOST ANNOYING THING ABOUT THE LEGISLATURE IS THAT INSTITUTIONAL PRIDE OF HOUSE VERSUS SENATE AND PEOPLE WILL SAY, OH, YOU KNOW, IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WILL EVEN SAY IT, LIKE, OUR OPPONENTS ARE NOT THE REPUBLICANS HERE, IT'S THE THE OTHER BODY.

LIKE IF THAT GETS IN THE WAY OF GETTING THINGS DONE, THAT IS INFURIATING SO I JUST WANT TO NAME IT THAT, YES, THAT EXISTS AND IT'S RIDICULOUS.

>> Eric: CARIN, WHAT KIND OF POSITION SEES GOVERNOR WALZ START WITH?

HE GOT PAST GEORGE FLOYD, COVID, HAD A GOOD VICTORY, HAS A HUH MONG GUESS SURPLUS HERE.

SEEMS LIKE HE'S IN A PRETTY GOOD POSITION TO STRIKE, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK SO.

AND I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO DO VERY QUICKLY, I KNOW HIS BUDGETS PROJECTION WILL COME OUT AT THE INDEPENDENCE OF JANUARY AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE SEEING SOME BIG INVESTMENTS IN MINNESOTA, AND IF THERE IS A LOT OF ONE-TIME MONEY AT STAKE, AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S THE -- THE CHALLENGE TO STAY ONE-TIME MONEY AND MAKE LASTING, REAL INVESTMENTS IN MINNESOTA AND MINNESOTANS.

BUT, YEAH, I THINK THAT THEY'RE COMING OUT READY TO DO SOME THINGS.

>> Eric: WALZ CHECKS, 1,000 FOR AN INDIVIDUAL, 2,000 FOR A COUPLE?

>> OH, PLEASE, WE ARE SO OVERTAXED IN THIS STATE, THE IDEA THAT THEY'RE GOING TO LET THE LITTLE PEOPLE HAVE A LITTLE MONEY BACK IS JUST SO INSULTING.

WITH THAT AID, I THINK HE'LL PROBABLY GET IT PASSED BECAUSE THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A LOT OF OBJECTIONS FROM PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE OF A RECESSION TO SAY I DON'T WANT TO GIVE PEOPLE SOME OF THEIR MONEY BACK BUT I THINK THE BIGGER PROBLEM IS WHAT CARIN SAID, THERE IS A LOT OF PENT-UP DEMAND OUT THERE FROM A LOT OF VERY LIBERAL, SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS.

>> Eric: BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SPENDING LAST YEAR OR VERY LITTLE.

>> A LOT OF PENT-UP DEMAND THAT'S GOING TO DEMANDS A LOT FROM THE LEGISLATORS.

>> Eric: ON A PERCENTAGE BUSINESS HE IS, WITH THIS BEING INFORMED SPECULATION ON YOUR PART, PERCENT OF THE SHORTNATURAL TO SPENDING VERSUS THE PERCENT NOR TAX CUTS.

>> OH, EEPERS.

WELL, YOU KNOW, WITH OUR FRIENDS IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN CHARGE, I WOULD E GRATEFUL FOR 10% OF THAT COMING BACK IN TERMS OF TAXES.

I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PENT-UP DEMAND, JUST LEAVING ASIDE THE MORE TYPICAL INTEREST GROUPS LIKE THE TEACHER UNIONS FOR EDUCATION AND ALL THE REGULARS OF IT, YOU'VE GOT A LONG, HIGH STACK OF LOCAL INTERESTS THAT ARE LOOKING FOR MONEY.

YOU'VE GOT ALL KIND OF PEOPLE THAT FEEL THE MONEY AND KNOW THAT IT'S THERE, YOU CAN SMELL IT IT'S THERE, THEY'RE ALREADY GATHERING AND IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE, I MEAN, IF WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE TIM WALZ IS THE VOICE OF RESTRAINT IN THIS WHOLE THING, WE'RE IN BIG TROUBLE.

>> Eric: AVIER.

>> LET'S REMEMBER WHY WE HAVE THE SURPLUS WE DO AND THAT IS THAT THE SENATE REPUBLICANS LAST SESSION WERE SO BUSY MEASURING THE CURTAINS ON KEEPING THE MAJORITY AND HAVING -- AND WINNING THE HOUSE AND BE ABLE TO SPENDS ALL THE SURPLUS MONEY THEMSELVES, THAT THEY DIDN'T COME BACK TO DO THEIR JOBS, AND SO, YES, THERE IS AN ENORMOUS SURPLUS AND A LOT OF DEMOCRATIC PRIORITIES AND BOTH PARTIES RAN ON A PLATFORM AND MINNESOTANS CHOSE.

>> BE THAT AS IT MAY, THAT MONEY IS BECAUSE WE'RE OVERTAXED, THERE'S NO OTHER REASON, NOT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T SPENDS IT, THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY THAT SHOULD BE GOING BACK TO TAXPAYERS THAT WON'T.

>> Eric: I WANT TO SPEND A COUPLE OF MINUTES ON YOUR -- MICHAEL BRAND CORP AND PENNY HAVE A PODCAST AND YOU SAID THAT MINNESOTA REHABILITATION WERE ROCK BOTTOM.

>> THEY ALWAYS SAY YOU HAVE TO HIT ROCK BOTTOM BEFORE YOU CAN CHANGE AND I THINK THIS IS ROCK BOTTOM, THIS PAST ELECTION FOR REPUBLICANS, AT LEAST IT SHOULD BE.

FORMER GOVERNOR TIM PAWLENTY HAD A REAL INSIGHTSFUL COMMENTS, HE SAID FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS, PEOPLE.

>> ' BUYING OUR PRODUCT.

THAT SHOULD CAUSE US TO PAUSE AND SAY, ARE WE DOING, NOMINATING CANDIDATES, THE BEST CANDIDATES THAT WE CAN IN THE PROCESS PROCESS THAT WE CAN?

I DON'T BELIEVE WE ARE.

>> Eric: SHORT-TERM OR LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS?

>> I THINK WE HAVE STOVE A BOTTOM-UP LOOK AT THE PARTY.

WHAT ARE OUR CORE FUNCTIONS THAT NEED TO BE PERFORMED AND FRANKLY OW WE NOMINATE CANDIDATES I THINK IS JUST TOTALLY BROKEN.

>> THERE'S ALSO A OING GAP ON ISSUES LIKE CHOICE, FOR EXAMPLE, WHERE, LIKE, IF REHABILITATION ARE GOING TO HAVE ANY SHOT IN THE SUBURBS AGAIN, THE EXTREME POSITIONS, MINNESOTANS HAVE REJECTED IT AND IT'S GOING TO BE A REAL -- BECAUSE THE PARTY ACTIVISTS ARE NOT, FOR THE MOST PART, WILLING TO BEND ON ISSUES LIKE THAT.

>> Eric: DO BOTH PARTIES HAVE THE PROBLEM OF THE CAUCUS CONVENTION SYSTEM NOT REALLY REFLECTING KIND OF LIKE MAIN STREET NORMAL PEOPLE OR -- >> YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

THINK OF THE LAST TIME A DEMOCRAT WAS NOMINATED FOR GOVERNOR WHO BECAME GOVERNOR.

YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO WENDELL ANDERSON.

>> WHO WON IT IS ENDORSEMENTS.

>> WON THE ENDORSEMENT, THAT TELLS ME IT'S A PROBLEM IN BOTH PARTIES, THAT THEY'RE GOVERNED BY THE EXTREMES AND WHEN YOU GO TO THESE CONVENTIONS, WE HAVE 2,000, YOU ALL HAVE 4,000 AND THEY DON'T REALLY PICK GOOD CANDIDATES, MOST OF THE TIME.

>> IT'S A CHALLENGE.

CERTAINLY THE CAUCUS AND CONVENTION SYSTEM.

♪ ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE AND THE CANDIDATES THAT ARE ENDORSED ARE USUALLY HE ONES THAT HAVE STRENGTHS IN ORGANIZING RATHER THAN HAVE A LOT OF MONEY TO SPEND.

AT THE SAME TIME, A STRAIGHT PRIMARY SYSTEM FAVORS CANDIDATES WHO HAVE A LOT OF MONEY AND MAY NOT HAVE A LOT OF GRASS ROOTS SUPPORTS AND MAYBE HAVEN'T BEEN DOING THE WORK OF TALKING TO PROSPECTIVE CONSTITUENTS.

SO EITHER/OR, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE A LOT.

>> I THINK THE ORGS IS OUT OF THE BARN ON THAT, THOUGH.

I MEAN, WELD -- WHEN YOU HAVE A SINGLE LEGISLATIVE SEAT, YOU KNOW, AND I'M THINKING OF A ROGER CHAMBERLAIN WHERE I AM, WHERE -- >> REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN -- >> ON THE TAX COMMITTEE, WHO HAD AT AIR BARE MINIMUM A MILLION DOLLARS SPENT IN THAT RACE, IT'S INCONCEIVABLE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S BEING SPENT ANYWAY IN POLITICS IS INCREDIBLE AND FROM THE REPUBLICAN POINT OF VIEW, WE'RE BEING -- DESPITE THE STEREOTYPES, WE'RE BEING OUTSPENT THREE TO SIX TIMES AS HAVE BEEN DEPENDING ON THE RACE.

>> WHAT HAPPENS TO CANDIDATES LIKE THAT IS THEY'RE REALLY HIGH JACKED BY INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES BUT HEY CAN'T FIGHT BACK AGAINST BECAUSE OF OUR DRACONIAN SPENDING AND CONTRIBUTION LIMITS.

>> Eric: WE'LL TALK ABOUT THIS AS THE SESSION GOES ALONG SO RUN OUT OF TIME NOW BUT WE'LL DO IT AGAIN AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO THOSE WHO CELEBRATE.

>> AND TO YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> Eric: ALL THE BEST.

♪♪ >> ERIC: IT'S NEARLY THE END OF THE HOUR AND I'M STANDING BY THE MONITOR.

THAT MEANS IT'S HISTORY TIME ONCE AGAIN.

LAST WEEK I TOOK YOU BACK IN TIME, BACK TO THE SUMMER OF 1960.

I TOLD YOU A FUTURE MINNESOTAN WAS INVOLVED IN AN INCIDENT IN HIS OR HER PROFESSION THAT WOULD NOT BE RESOLVED NEARLY A DECADE LATER WHEN THEY ARE LIVING IN THE TWIN CITIES.

I ADDED DETAILS ABOUT A 1969 COURT-ORDERED HEFTY FINE THAT HE OR SHE NEEDED TO BORROW THE MONEY TO PAY THE INJURED PARTY.

YOUR TASK WAS TO FOLLOW THOSE COMPLICATED DETAILS AND TELL US WHAT A FUTURE MINNESOTAN DID IN 1960 TO LEAD TO A HEFTY $10,000 FINE.

NOW IS THE TIME WHEN WE USUALLY PLAY THE WRONG ANSWERS, FOLLOWED BY THE CORRECT ONE.

BUT THE PRODUCERS WERE TRYING TO BE A LITTLE TOO CLEVER LAST WEEK AND DIDN'T GIVE YOU ENOUGH INFORMATION SO LET'S TRY THIS AGAIN.

HERE'S MORE INFO FOR YOU.

THE PERSON IN QUESTION WAS A PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE AT THE TIME OF THE AUGUST, 1960 CHICAGO INCIDENT BUT HAD LEFT THE PLAYING FIELD AND BECOME A MANAGER WHEN THE FINE WAS HANDED DOWN IN 1969.

WHAT FUTURE MINNESOTAN WAS FINED FOR AN INCIDENT ON THE FIELD IN 1960?

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU ARE CALLING FROM HOMER, BALLCLUB OR STRIKE LAKE.

651-229-1430 IS THE NUMBER TO CALL WITH THE RIGHT ANSWERS.

THE VOICE MAIL WILL ACCEPT WRONG GUESSES, TOO.

REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS SEND US A NOTE TOO.

ALMANAC@TPT.ORG IS OUR EMAIL INBOX.

WE'RE TAKING A BREAK FOR THE END-OF-YEAR HOLIDAYS SO YOU HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO RESEARCH YOUR ANSWER AND GIVE US A CALL.

THERE'S NO "ALMANAC" NEXT WEEK BUT MAKE SURE TO TUNE IN ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30TH, TO CHECK OUT OUR STAFF FAVORITES FROM THE PAST YEAR.

BEFORE WE GO, A CLARIFICATION.

LAST FRIDAY IN KAOMI LEE'S REPORT ABOUT THE PROPOSED TALON METALS' NICKEL MINE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA, WE DESCRIBED ONE OF SEVERAL POSSIBLE MEANS BY WHICH TALON MIGHT ADDRESS CONCERNS ABOUT CARBON EMISSIONS ASSOCIATED WITH ITS PROPOSED MINING OPERATION.

ACCORDING TO A TALON SPOKESPERSON, THE COMPANY HAS NOT YET DETERMINED WHICH PROCESS IT WILL USE TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS.

WE'VE UPDATED THE REPORT AND YOU CAN WATCH IT ON OUR WEBSITE AT TPT.ORG/ALMANAC.

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

MOST HOLIDAY SEASONS, WE ARE TREATED TO A LIVE PERFORMANCE FROM THE STEELES.

THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT THIS YEAR SO LET'S TAKE A LISTEN TO THEIR HOLIDAY PERFORMANCE FROM THIS WEEK IN 2006.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

AND BE CAREFUL.

♪♪ ♪ SOMETHING'S IN THE AIR, I FEEL IT EVERYWHERE ♪ ♪ CHILDREN FILLED WITH LAUGHTER OH, WITH SOUNDS O SWEET TO ME ♪ MISTLETOE IN PLACE BRINGS A SMILE ON EVERY FACE ♪ THERE'S SO MUCH TO THIS TIME OF YEAR.

♪ ♪ I KNOW, I KNOW, I KNOW THAT THIS MUST BE CHRISTMAS.

♪ THAT TIME OF YEAR.

♪ WHEN FAMILY AND FRIENDS COME HOME, SHARING LOVE ♪ ♪ I KNOW THAT THIS MUST BE CHRISTMAS ♪ "ALMANAC" IS A PRODUCTION OF CAPTIONED BY: VERITEXT/PARADIGM CAPTIONING WWW.VERITEXT.COM VE RITEXT/PARADIGM CAPTIONING ♪ MISTLETOE IN PLACE BRINGS A SMILE ON EVERY FACE ♪ THERE'S SO MUCH CHEER THIS TIME OF YEAR ♪ "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 28 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

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

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

ONE GREATER MINNESOTA REPORTING ON "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE OTTO BREMER TRUST, WHOSE MISSION IS INVESTING IN PEOPLE, PLACES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR REGION.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY THE BLANDIN FOUNDATION, WORKING TO STRENGHTEN RURAL MINNESOTA.

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