>> Eric: THERE ARE JUST 24 DAYS LEFT IN THE 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

LEADERS ARE MEETING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

POLITICAL REPORTERS ARE SPECULATING HOW MANY BILLS WILL ACTUALLY MAKE IT TO THE- GOTUALLY MAKE IT TO THE- GOVEALLY MAKE IT TO THE- GOVERNLY MAKE IT TO THE- GOVERNOR MAKE IT TO THE- GOVERNOR'SAKE IT TO THE- GOVERNOR'S DE IT TO THE- GOVERNOR'S DESIT TO THE- GOVERNOR'S DESK.

TO THE- GOVERNOR'S DESK.

TO THE- IT'S JUST ABOUT THE BEST TIME OF YEAR FOR OUR NEXT GROUP OF GUESTS - THIS WEEK'S VERSION OF THE POLITICAL PANEL.

DEMOCRATS UP FIRST TONIGHT.

ABOU AMARA IS A FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFFER NOW AN ATTORNEY IN PRIVATE PRACTICE.

ALYSEN NESSE IS A PARTY LOYALIST AND LOBBYIST UP AT THE CAPITOL.

REPUBLICANS HERE, ANNETTE MEEKS, FORMER CONGRESSIONAL STAFFER AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CANDIDATE WHO NOW HEADS UP THE FREEDOM FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA, AND BRIAN MCCLUNG GETS THE FINAL SEAT ON THE COUCH TONIGHT, FORMER GOVERNOR PAWLENTY STAFFER AND LONGTIME CAPITOL OBSERVER, NOW A PUBLIC RELATIONS PROFESSIONAL.

ABOU, IF THE LEGISLATURE BAILS OUT HENNEPIN COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER, GETS A BONDING BILL, AND DOES SOME FRAUD PREVENTION, GIVEN THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE TO DO NOTHING, THEY GOT THE BUDGET IN TACT, THAT'S A DECENT SESSION WITH DIVIDED GOVERNMENT, ISN'T IT?

>> I THINK THERE WOULD BE A GREAT RESULT.

THERE'S STILL A GOOD RESULT EVEN IF ONE OR TWO OF THOSE THINGS DON'T HAPPEN.

NOTHING NEEDS TO HAPPEN, THEY COULD DO NOTHING AND GO HOME, OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE PROBLEMS THEY SHOULD SOLVE.

I SUSPECT SOME OF THOSE THINGS WILL BE DEALT WITH.

I DON'T KNOW IF ALL OF THEM WILL BE.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD SMAITION.

THERE'S SOMETHING THEY HAVE TO DO.

SUMMATION.

I THINK THERE'S ENOUGH RETIRING LEGISLATOR, AND, FRANKLY, ENOUGH CITY THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE.

SOME OF THE WATER PROJECT AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT ACTUALLY COULD BE PRETTY BENEFICIAL TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND TO THEIR RE-ELECTIONS, I THINK SOME OF THOSE MIGHT GET DONE.

BUT I DON'T SEE ANY OVERWHELMING URGE.

I MEAN, I HAVE MY OWN LIST OF THINGS I WISH THEY WOULD DO AND THINGS I WISH THEY WOULDN'T DO.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE MUCH.

>> Cathy: DOESN'T HCMC NEED SOMETHING?

>> YES.

>> Cathy: TALK ABOUT THE INFUSION OF CASH, WHAT ABOUT THE SALES TAX?

>> I THINK THE SALES TAX SAY NONSTARTER, I THINK REPUBLICANS HAVE MADE THAT CLEAR, EVEN SOME DEMOCRATS ARE NOT FOR THAT.

BUT HCMC, IT'S TOO BIG TO FAIL AND IT'S TOO IMPORTANT TO THE STATE.

IT IS REALLY WHERE A LOT OF OUR DOCTORS ARE TRAINED, IT'S THE MAJOR SAFETY NET HOSPITAL, IT'S A LEVEL ONE TRAUMA CENTER.

SO HCMC NEEDS TO BE THERE.

ALSO IN THAT YOU HAVE FUNDING FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES AND AMBULANCE SERVICES AROUND THE STATE.

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING UNCOMPENSATED CARE POOL, AND WE KNOW ESPECIALLY IN RURAL MINNESOTA THAT THOSE AMBULANCE SERVICES ARE STRETCHED THIN SO I THINK YOU'LL SEE THAT.

I THINK ANOTHER ONE IS THAT REPRESENTATIVE PAUL TORKELSON HAS SAID, WE HAVE GOT TO IMPROVE THE TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE OF THIS STATE, AND HE'S A RETIRING LEGISLATOR, AND, SO, I THINK YOU'LL SEE SOME F THOSE LEGISLATORS WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THEIR LAST SESSION, WANT TO MAKE SURE SOMETHING THEY WISH THEY HAD GOTTEN DONE IN THEIR FIRST SESSION HAT HAS TO GET DONE BY THE END OF THEIR LAST ONE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ESPECIALLY THE I.T.

INFRASTRUCTURE FOR COUNTIES WHO DELIVER OUR HUMAN SERVICES SYSTEM.

REPRESENTATIVE TORKELSON CAME INTO THE LEGISLATURE IN 2008, HE AID, I SHOULD HAVE ADDRESSED IT THEN, IT HASN'T BEEN UPGRADED SIN, BUT IT'S THE LAST THING I'M GONNA DO IN 2026.

>> Eric: DOES THE ACTIVITY IN WASHINGTON, FROM BOTH SIDES, DOES THAT FILTER OWN TO THE 2026 LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS OR SENATE ELECTIONS OR IS IT ALL POLITICS LOCAL?

>> I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE HIGHLY LOCAL THIS YEAR.

I THINK THE DEMOCRATS WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT ALL TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP.

AND I'M SURE THEY WILL.

BUT I ALSO THINK THERE'S ENOUGH LOCAL ISSUES HERE IN MINNESOTA THAT WILL FORCE THEM TO AT LEAST HAVE SOME HONEST DEBATES ABOUT WHAT DIRECTION SHOULD OUR AT A TIME GO BECAUSE WE HAVE A ONCE EVERY, WHAT, TEN YEARS ELECTION WITH ALL THE STATE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES AND ALL 201 LEGISLATORS.

>> NO DOUBT CANDIDATES MATTER, MINNESOTA CANDIDATES MATTER, BUT THE ATMOSPHERE IS GOING TO BE FUNDAMENTALLY ABOUT DONALD TRUMP AND ABOUT THIS ADMINISTRATION.

JUST TWO MONTHS AGO YOU HAD AGENTS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON THE STREETS OF MINNESOTA.

IF YOU DIDN'T THINK THAT'S NOT GOING TO IMPACT VOTERS IN MINNESOTA IN THIS ELECTION, I THINK YOU'D BE FOOLING YOURSELF.

SO, THAT'S THE ATMOSPHERE.

SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE PARTICULARS, BUT FUNDAMENTALLY, THIS IS A CHECK ON THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, THAT'S WHAT THIS ELECTION -- >> WELL, IT'S THE DIFFERENCE NOW WITH TIM WALZ NOT RUNNING FOR A THIRD TERM AND WITH, YOU KNOW, FRAUD WAS THE FOCUS PRIOR TO THAT.

SO GO BACK TO NOVEMBER, DECEMBER WHEN THE HE FOCUS WAS ON POTENTIALLY $9 BILLION WORTH OF FRAUD, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MINNESOTA, WHO'S ASLEEP AT THE SWITCH.

IF TIM WAS WERE RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION, IT WOULD BE A REFERENDUM ON TIM WALZ AND WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN MINNESOTA.

WITH HIM OUT OF THE WAY, IT DOES OPEN IT UP, AND IT MAKES IT MORE OF A NATIONALIZED ELECTION.

SO THAT'S ADMITTEDLY TRUE.

BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LEGISLATURE THAT'S DIVIDED BY ONE SEAT.

RIGHT?

A MAJORITY IN THE SENATE OF ONE SEAT.

A TIED HOUSE.

SO WE DO KNOW, IT WILL COME DOWN, IN THOSE RACES, WHEN YOU'RE KNOCKING ON DOORS, PEOPLE GET GET TO PEOPLE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE IN THEIR DISTRICT.

SO CANDIDATE QUALITY MATTERS.

AND THE ULTIMATE OUTCOME IN THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO BE ON THOSE HANDFUL OF RACES.

>> YES.

I WILL SAY, THOUGH, EMOCRATS ARE WINNING ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN PLACES WE HAVE NO BUSINESS WINNING IN.

STATE RACES IN MISSISSIPPI, STATE RACES IN THE REDDEST COUNTIES IN FLORIDA, JUST FLIPPED TO BLUE, BECAUSE LABOR IS GETTING INVOLVED, MIDDLE-CLASS PEOPLE ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE, THEY'RE SPEAKING TO THE ISSUES THAT PEOPLE CARE ABOUT, AND THEY ARE WINNING.

>> I THINK THE INTERESTING THING IS WHAT BRIAN SAID, WHAT LEVEL OF FRAUD WILL ULTIMATELY INFILTRATE EVERY SINGLE RACE IN THIS STATE.

WHEN YOU GO OUT TO GRAPE, AS OUR GOVERNOR CALLS THEM, ROCKS AND COWS, PEOPLE ARE FURIOUS, THEY'RE FURIOUS THAT NO ONE HAS BEEN MONITORING THIS, THEY'RE FURIOUS WE CAN'T GET THE MONEY BACK.

AND THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TO PREVENT IT FROM EVER HAPPENING AGAIN.

GREATER MINNESOTA.

AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE THE BIGGEST PROBLEM SENATOR KLOBUCHAR RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, WHERE WAS SHE?

>> Eric: BUSY WEEK FOR THE GOVERNOR, POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE, WRITING A BOOK, JIMMY KIM MEL.

>> Cathy: HE WAS IN SPAIN, GOING TO SPAIN NEXT WEEK.

>> HE HAS A NATIONAL PLATFORM.

I'VE SAID THAT MANY TIMES.

HE HAS A NATIONAL PLATFORM AND HE USES IT.

SOME PEOPLE THINK HE'S VERY UNPOPULAR IN MINNESOTA.

HE'S POPULAR IN OTHER STATES.

HE HAS A MESSAGE, HE DID DO SO MANY GOOD THINGS IN MINNESOTA AND FOR DEMOCRATS.

NOT ALL.

>> ORRY.

>> BUT HE IS POPULAR.

HE WOULDN'T HAVE THESE OPPORTUNITIES, THE ROOMS WOULDN'T BE FULL IF HE WASN'T WANTED.

>> IF HE WERE POPULAR, HE'D BE RUNNING FOR RELEANGS, HE KNOWS THAT.

RE-ELECTION.

HE KNOWS THAT, JUST HIM SAYING LAST NIGHT, I'M GOING TO TEACH AGAIN.

GOOD LUCK.

AND HE'S WRITING A BOOK.

WHO'S WRITING A BOOK?

IS HE WRITING IT?

WELL, HE SHOULD BE NEGOTIATING WITH LEGISLATORS.

I THINK THIS GUY IS SO DISENGAGED FROM BEING GOVERNOR IN MINNESOTA, THAT HE'S LEADING HIS PARTY IN A VERY FALSE NARRATIVE, HE'S NOT POPULAR.

>> WELL, WE FOUND OUT LAST WEEK THAT GOVERNOR WALZ HAD NOT MET WITH REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP SINCE SEPTEMBER.

I MEAN, THAT'S A DERELICTION.

I WORKED FOR A GOVERNOR FOR SIX YEARS.

WE NEVER WENT THAT LONG WITHOUT MEETING WITH THE DEMOCRATS.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST SILLY.

AND THIS IS A GOVERNOR WHO HAS LEFT RURAL MINNESOTA BEHIND.

AND NOW HE STARTS A P.A.C.

ABOUT SMALL TOWNS.

I MEAN, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

LOOK AT HAT GOVERNOR WALZ DID TO NURSING HOMES IN GREATER MINNESOTA.

I MEAN, JUST AS ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW HE HAS LEFT GREATER MINNESOTA BEHIND.

SO, I DON'T KNOW, I UNDERSTAND HE'S LOOKING FOR THE NEXT THING THAT HE'S GOING TO DO.

I GET THAT.

BUT I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE ANSWER.

AND I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE LONG LIVED.

>> Eric: STATE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE WAS EETING AND THERE ARE SEVERAL MELISSA HORTMAN MEMORIALS PLANNED.

I WROTE THEM DOWN.

STATE OFFICE BUILDING, THE NEW RENOVATION, WOULD BE NAMED FOR HER, STATE PARK, HIGHWAY 610.

IN HER DISTRICT.

SHE BROUGHT BACK.

A STATUE.

AND THEN KARI DZIEDZIC DIED OF CANCER, WOULD BE THE SENATE BUILDING WOULD BE NAMED FOR HER.

>> WOULDN'T THAT BE NICE?

THAT WOULD BE A NICE BIPARTISAN THING THAT THEY COULD DO TO REMEMBER -- TO REALLY IMMEMORIALIZE -- IS THAT THE WORD?

>> Eric: YEAH.

>> TWO GREAT LEADERS THAT ARE OUR STATE LOST TWO YOUNG.

SO THAT WOULD BE A NICE THING.

>> Cathy: LET'S TALK ABOUT ROYCE WHITE HERE FOR JUST A MOMENT.

RUNNING FOR THE GOP NOMINATION FOR SENATE AGAIN.

AND EVIDENTLY HE'S GOT NO CONTACT ORDER, HIS EX-WIFE, HIS SON ARE AFRAID OF HIM.

AND I'M WONDERING, THE MINNESOTA GOP CAME OUT TONIGHT AND SAID THAT THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST ROYCE ARE TROUBLING, HE SHOULD SUSPEND HIS CAMPAIGN, WE HAD MICHELLE TAFOYA, IT'S UP TO ROYCE WHITE AND THE PARTY WHETHER HE REMAINS IN THE RACE.

>> I'M NOT HEARING A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR ROYCE WHITE ANYHOW, RIGHT?

HE'S BACK AT IT AGAIN.

I THINK THIS S A WAY FOR HIM TO KIND OF KEEP HIMSELF OUT THERE AND RAISE SOME MONEY AND PROBABLY FUND HIMSELF IN SOME WAY.

WE KNOW IN THE PAST HE'S USED HIS CAMPAIGN FUNDS TO GO TO STRIP CLUBS AND OTHER INAPPROPRIATE THINGS.

SO, REALLY, -- YOU HAVE A WELL KNOWN BROADCASTER WHO CAN DELIVER A MESSAGE.

A NAVY SEAL WHO HAS A MILITARY BACKGROUND WHO HAS A LOT OF APPEAL TO A LOT OF REPUBLICANS.

ROYCE WHITE HAS REALLY NOT BEEN A MAJOR PART OF THIS CONVERSATION.

HE'S KIND OF PLAYING THE MIKE LINDELL ROLE, LIKE LINDELL IS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

SURE, GREAT.

YOU'RE KIND OF THIS MAGA GUY.

BUT ULTIMATELY HOSE AREN'T THE PEOPLE IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, HE'S NOT REALLY SERIOUS IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, I DON'T THINK ROYCE WHITE IS A SERIOUS CONTENDER IN THE SENATOR RACE.

>> THAT'S WISHFUL THINKING, TWO YEARS AGO HE WAS ENDORSED BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

TO SAY HE DOESN'T HAVE SUPPORT IS ABSURD.

YOU JUXTAPOSE THAT WITH REPUBLICANS, MICHELLE TAFOYA, WHO IS ACTUALLY WITH THE DEMOCRATS IN TERMS OF ABORTION.

IF SHE'S REALLY GOING TO GET DELEGATE TO SUPPORT HER, ON AN ISSUE LIKE ABORTION, WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO ASK HER, ARE YOU GOING TO SUPPORT CODIFYING ROE V. WADE IN THE SENATE, THAT ISSUE IS GOING TO BE A NONSTARTER WITH REPUBLICAN DELEGATES.

SO PEOPLE MAY SQUABBLE WITH ROYCE WHITE, BUT HE IS CLOSER TO THE BASE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> SORRY.

YOU KEEP ON YOUR DFL SIDE.

I'LL STAY ON MY REPUBLICAN SITE.

I KNOW THOSE DELEGATES.

THE DELEGATES WANT TO WIN.

IT'S A PRAGMATIC RACE, THEY LOOK AT MICHELLE, SHE CAN WIN, SHE'S PUTTING TOGETHER A WINNING MESSAGE AND RAISING THE MONEY.

ROYCE WHITE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TWO YEARS AGO.

AND HE DIDN'T WIN.

AND I THINK IT'S TIME DELEGATES WANT SOMEBODY NEW.

>> Eric: HOW VIGOROUS IS THE CRAIG FLANAGAN DFL SENATE ENDORSEMENT AND PRIMARY GOING TO BE?

>> IT'S ABSOLUTELY PICKING UP.

WE JUST SAW IN ILLINOIS WHAT THAT RACE WAS WITH THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR THAT JUST CAME OUT ON -- WITH THE ENDORSEMENT.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY PICKING UP.

WE'LL SEE WHO HAS THE BEST DELEGATE PLAN FOR MAY 29th.

>> Eric: WILL MONEY MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE THERE?

>> FOR ME, THERE'S A CONVERSATION AROUND THE CONVENTION AND THE PRIMARY.

CONVERSATION AROUND THE DELEGATES, I THINK PEGGY FLANAGAN IS PROBABLY LIKELY TO WIN THAT.

MONEY WILL PLAY A HUGE ROLE IN AUGUST.

>> CAN WE CLOSE OUT WITH MEAT RAFFLES?

>> PLEASE.

>> WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE TRIFECTA, THIS YEAR'S TRIFECTA IS DRINKING THIS NURSING HOMES, AGATE LICENSE PLATES AND MEAT RAFFLE MODERNIZATION, SO DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE MEAT RAFFLES, PEOPLE.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR PROBABLY NOT THIS UPCOMING WEEK BUT THE NEXT WEEK.

>> Cathy: THREE BIPARTISAN EFFORTS.

>> LET'S GET IT DONE.

>> Eric: YOU'RE REPRESENTING THE MEAT --