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

>> CATHY: COMING UP ON "ALMANAC," APRIL RAIN AND SNOW IS HERE AROUND THE STATE.

THE NEW BAND FAVOURITE GIRL PREVIEWS THEIR DEBUT ALBUM RELEASE CONCERT.

AND WE'LL HAVE PLENTY OF POLITICS FOR YOU.

SETTLE IN.

"ALMANAC" STARTS RIGHT NOW.

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

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH ITS MEMBER-OWNER COOPERATIVES AND CUSTOMERS.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH AND HELPING COMMUNITIES THRIVE.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

AND VANESSA DAYTON, THROUGH THE HEALTHCARE FOR ALL MINNESOTANS FUND, SUPPORTING ACCESSIBLE HEALTHCARE FOR MINNESOTANS STATEWIDE.

>> CATHY: WE HAVE A FULL SHOW FOR YOU TONIGHT.

THE WINTER STORM DIDN'T PACK MUCH OF A PUNCH IN THE METRO AREA, BUT WE'LL HEAR ABOUT WHERE THE SNOW DID END UP.

CHRIS FARRELL IS HERE TO TALK JOBS NUMBERS, GAS PRICES, AND MORE.

KATY VERNON AND HER NEW BAND WILL PREVIEW THEIR DEBUT ALBUM FOR US.

AND OF COURSE, PLENTY OF POLITICS.

>> ERIC: AND THAT IS WHERE WE START TONIGHT.

THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN ON SPRING BREAK ALL WEEK, BUT IT'S BEEN A BUSY WEEK OF POLITICAL NEWS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

ANGELA GREILING KEANE IS NOW THE SENIOR EDITOR FOR POLITICS AT CNBC.

AND WE ARE ALWAYS DELIGHTED WHEN SHE CAN JOIN US IN STUDIO INSTEAD OF VIA WEBCAM.

UM -- WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT REACTION IS TO THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH ON IRAN?

>> I DON'T THINK IT DID THE JOB THAT HE INTENDED IT TO TO DO.

THE SPEECH WAS HIS FIRST PRIME TIME REMARKS OR FIRST REALLY ANY PUBLIC REMARKS OF ANY SORT SINCE THE START OF WAR AND THE STATED PURPOSE WAS TO CALM THE PUBLIC.

HE'S BEEN CERTAINLY WORKING TO CALM THE MARKETS EVER SINCE STARTING THE WAR.

BUT THE REACTION WAS ONE OF I THINK UNESSENTIALTY.

PEOPLE HEARD THAT THE WAR IS NOT OVER.

HE SAID IT'S COMING TO A CLOSE SOON >> Eric: TWO TO THREE WEEKS, >> HE CHARACTERS THAT AS SOON.

BUT HE'S SAYING SOON SINCE THE WAR STARTED.

SO IT'S KIND OF A RELATIVE TERM AND PEOPLE DIDN'T SEEM TO READ IT AS, OH, EVERYTHING'S FINE.

THINGS ARE UNDER CONTROL.

>> Cathy: AND CONGRESSIONAL REACTION?

>> CONGRESS IS OUT THIS WEEK.

THEY'RE ON A TWO-WEEK RECESS.

SO THEY'RE NOT IN WASHINGTON RIGHT NOW.

BUT WE SAW THE ANTICIPATED RESPONSE FROM DEMOCRATS.

OF COURSE SLAMMING THE SPEECH.

THAT'S NOT SURPRISING.

AND REPUBLICANS WERE MORE MUTED.

SO THAT'S THE MORE INTERESTING PART.

BECAUSE REPUBLICANS WERE NOT RUSHING TO THE PRESIDENT'S DEFENSE OR SUPPORTING HIM PUBLICLY, PRO ACTIVELY.

THEY COULD HAVE DONE SO ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND WE DID NOT SEE THAT SORT OF OUTPOURING.

>> AS ATTORNEY GENERAL, PAM BONDI SEEMED LIKE A GOOD SOLDIER, WHAT HAPPENED THERE?

>> SHE DID EVERYTHING SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO DO IN TERMS OF PUBLICLY SUPPORTING THE PRESIDENT, LIKE YOU SAID, BEING A GOOD FOOT SOLDIER.

SHE TRIED TO -- SHE DID, YOU KNOW, GO UP AGAINST ALL OF HIS ENEMIES OR PERCEIVED ENEMIES, BUT SHE COULD NOT LAND THAT PLANE IN TERMS OF GETTING CASES THROUGH A LOT OF HER PROSECUTIONS WERE THROWN OUT BY JUDGES OR JURIES, BECAUSE OF LACKING EVIDENCE, AND THAT OF COURSE MADE THE PRESIDENT MAD.

HE WANTED MORE ON THAT FRONT.

HE ALSO WAS UPSET THAT THE EPSTEIN FILES WERE THE HEADLINES FOR SO LONG AND BLAMED HER FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN.

>> Cathy: OU KNOW, THE D.O.J.

'S INDEPENDENCE, LONG-TIME INDEPENDENCE WAS KIND OF SURRENDERED UNDER HER WATCH, AND ALK ABOUT THAT PART OF HER LEGACY.

ANY LONG-TERM RAMIFICATIONS TO THAT?

>> WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS I THINK FOR THAT ONE.

WE CERTAINLY SAW A DIFFERENT D.O.J.

POSTURE UNDER ATTORNEY GENERAL BONDI THAN WE HAVE IN THE PAST.

BUT I THINK IT'S TOO EARLY TO KNOW WHETHER THINGS WILL BE DIFFERENT IN A SUBSEQUENT ADMINISTRATION OR IF SHE WILL HAVE SET PRECEDENT THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY HERRER SUCCESSORS.

>> Eric: AND AT LONG LAST, HERE COMES THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET.

44% INCREASE IN DEFENSE SPENDING.

10% NONDISCRETIONARY CUTS.

>> WHAT THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET IS A BLUEPRINT.

SO IT CAME OUT THIS MORNING.

AND INDEED, 1.5 TRILLION IS THE ASK FOR DEFENSE.

THAT'S THE INCREASE THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED.

THAT'S A BIG, BIG NUMBER.

AND WILL CONGRESS DO EXACTLY WHAT THE PRESIDENT WANTS?

NO, BECAUSE NEVER, EVER DOES CONGRESS DO EXACTLY WHAT THE PRESIDENT WANTS ON THE BUDGET.

BUT WE NOW KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS PUSHING FOR AND OF COURSE THERE'S A LOT OF SIM BEE YOAS JIS THESE DAYS BETWEEN REPUBLICANS IN THE IMRES AND THE WHITE HOUSE.

WE SOANS SEE EXACTLY WHAT HE ASKED FOUR.

>> Cathy: I WANT TO GO BACK TO PAM BONDI BECAUSE HER OUSTER CAME JUST AFTER KRISTI NOME WAS SHONE THE DOOR.

WHO ELSE IN THE CABINET IS LOOKING OVER THEIR SHOULDER?

>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF REPORTING OVER THE LAST 24 HOURS ON EXACTLY THAT QUESTION AND LABOR SECTION LORI CHAVEZ DEREAMER AND COMMERCE SECRETARY HOWARD LUT NICK.

SECRETARY LUT NICK OF COURSE APPEARED IN THE EPSTEIN FILES UCLAING IN A PICTURE ON EPSTEIN ISLAND, SO HE'S TAKEN A BIT OF A DIFFERENT POSTURE, HAS NOT BEEN OUT IN PUBLIC AS MUCH EVER SINCE THAT OCCURRED.

SO IT SEEMS HE MAY HAVE A TARGET ON HIS BACK AND THE LABOR SECRETARY HAS BEEN SOMEONE WHO IS ALSO SEEMINGLY NOT BEEN PLEASING THE PRESIDENT LATELY.

SO THOSE ARE THE TWO THAT SEEM MOST LIKELY TO GO.

BUT THE FLOOD GATES SEEM TO HAVE BEEN OPENED WITH TWO IN SHORT ORDER.

>> Eric: HOW'S CONGRESS DOING WITH FUNDING THE ENTIRE GOVERNMENT?

>> NOT SO GREAT.

THEY ARE, AGAIN, ON RECESS RIGHT NOW AND THE HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT IS STILL SHUT DOWN AND HAS BEEN SINCE VALLEN VALLEVALENTINE'S DAY.

WE ARE ANTICIPATING THAT THEY -- THEY'VE COME TO AN AGREEMENT, THE LEADERSHIP, DURING THIS RECESS TO MOVE FORWARD, SO I DO THINK THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THAT THAT WILL GET FUNDED AGAIN WHEN CONGRESS RETURNS.

BUT THE PROCESS HAS BEEN ARDUOUS.

WE'VE SEEN OF COURSE MULTIPLE SHINS NOW IN THE PAST -- SHUTDOWNS NOW IN THE PAST HALF TO THREE-QUARTERST OF A YEAR AND NO SIGNS THAT ANYTHING WILL CHANGE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS AFTER THIS.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, THE LAST TIME WE TALKED TO YOU WITH BLOOMBERG NEWS AND NOW YOU HAVE A EW JOB WITH CNBC, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

>> I'M THE SENIOR POLITICS EDITOR.

SO WORKING WITH A FANTASTIC TEAM.

WE ARE ON THE DIGITAL SIDE AT CNBC.COM AND OF COURSE ON TELEVISION AS WELL, SO COVERING THE INTERSECTION OF BUSINESS AND POLITICS.

>> Eric: CAN FOLKS LOOK FOR YOUR BYLINE ONLINE?

>> NOPE, I AM AN EDITOR.

THANK YOU, GOOD TO BE HERE.

♪ >> ERIC: IT WAS A BIG ECONOMIC NEWS WEEK, MUCH OF IT RELATING TO THE WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

RISING GAS PRICES IN THE U.S., FEAR OF A WORLDWIDE RECESSION, JOBS NUMBERS THAT LOOK BETTER NATIONALLY THAN HERE IN MINNESOTA.

HAVEN'T EVEN MENTIONED THE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S WORLDWIDE TARIFFS.

CHRIS FARRELL IS BACK.

HE COVERS ECONOMIC NEWS FOR AMERICAN PUBLIC MEDIA.

IN TIMES LIKE THIS, YOU REALIZE HOW ENERGY PRICES EXPAND TO, LIKE, EVERY PART OF THE ECONOMY.

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

JUST FILTERS EVERYWHERE.

OF COURSE WE'RE ALL FEELING WHEN YOU GO TO FILL UP AT THE GAS PUMP.

BUT NO, I MEAN, THERE'S -- WHETHER YOU'RE LOOKING AT PETROCHEMICALS, DOESN'T MATTER WHAT INDUSTRY YOU'RE LOOKING AT, OIL AND GAS ARE ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL.

SO THE FARMERS HERE IN MINNESOTA REALLY BEING HURT BY INCREASING PRICES OF, FOR EXAMPLE, FERTILIZER, AND SO A LOT OF COMMODITIES THAT WOULD MAKE THEIR WAY THROUGH THE STRAITS, IT'S ALSO HAVING AN IMPACT.

>> Cathy: I WONDER HERE, WHAT ARE THE SMART PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THE ECONOMIC FALLOUT FROM THE WAR IN IRAN.

IS IT POSSIBLE THERE COULD BE A WORLDWIDE RECESSION?

>> THERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.

IT'S TOO EARLY.

THERE'S ALWAYS THIS CAVEAT THAT EVERYBODY IS SAYING IT DEPENDS HOW LONG THE WAR LASTS.

SO EARLIER YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE PRESIDENT IN HIS ADDRESS TALKING TWO OR THREE WEEKS AND HE'S USING -- HE'S BEEN USING THAT A LOT, TWO OR THREE WEEKS.

AND WE'RE HAVING SOME ESCALATIONS GOING ON, NOW, BECAUSE REMEMBER, EUROPE AND ASIA ARE BEING IMPACTED A LOT MORE BY WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE MIDDLE EAST THAN WE ARE.

BUT OF COURSE THOSE ARE IMPORTANT MARKETS FOR US FOR BUYING OUR GOODS, BUYING OUR SERVICES, SO THEY ARE BISE IMPACTING THAT THEIR ECONOMIES WILL VULNERABLE.

THAT SPILLS OVER TO OUR ECONOMY AND EVEN THOUGH IT IS TRUE, YOU THINK BACK TO THE OIL CRISIS OF THE 1970s, OUR ECONOMY IS FAR LESS VULNERABLE TO HIGHER OIL PRICES BECAUSE YOU JUST THINK ABOUT THE REFRIGERATOR MAYBE YOU BOUGHT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS OR TEN YEARS.

IT'S MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT.

CARS ARE MORE ENERGY FIRST OVERALL.

SO WE HAVE AN ECONOMY THAT'S LESS VULNERABLE.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE INVULNERABLE.

THERE IS STILL -- WE STILL USE ENERGY.

AND IT'S A GLOBAL PRICE.

AND WHAT'S APPENING IN THE MIDDLE EAST PUTS THE RISK OF A RECESSION BACK INTO THE CONVERSATION.

>> Eric: SO WHAT DOES THE FED DO WITH ALL OF THIS UNCERTAINTY?

>> O WE GOT THE EMPLOYMENT REPORT, AND IT WAS A PRETTY GOOD REPORT.

AND THAT ACTUALLY WAS I THINK A RELIEF TO THE FED.

BECAUSE THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE INFLATION RATE AND THE INFLATION RATE, IT'S GOING TO GO UP, RIGHT?

I MEAN, IT WAS ON ITS WAY DOWN TO 2%, BUT IT'S BEEN STUBBORN AROUND 3%.

THIS IS GOING TO GIVE IT A BOOST.

WELL, NOW THIS EMPLOYMENT REPORT SAID, OKAY, THE ECONOMY'S STILL MOVING.

WE'RE STILL GETTING JOBS.

IF YOU LOOK OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, WE'RE GAINING 30,000 JOBS A MONTH AND THE ONE MONTH NUMBER WAS 178,000, BUT THAT KIND OF GAVE TOO STRONG A PICTURE ON HOW THIS ECONOMY IS DOING.

SO THE FED IS PROBABLY JUST GOING TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT?

, WE'RE JUST GOING TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT THE DATA COMES OUT.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO CUT RATES AS MANY PEOPLE EXPECTED.

WE MAY EVEN INTERUP HAVING TO RAISE RATES IF THE INFLATION NUMBERS COME IN REALLY BAD.

THE FED IS GOING TO BE CAUTIOUS.

THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE SLOWLY.

AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE VERY WEARY OF CUTTING RATES BECAUSE OF THIS INFLATION RISK.

>> Cathy: WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THE STATE JOBS REPORT THAT THE METRO AREA OBLESS RATE -- I MEAN, IT DIDN'T LOOK GREAT IN THE METRO AREA.

GREATER MINNESOTA WASN'T AS BAD.

>> I THINK IT'S WHAT WE KIND OF THOUGHT THAT THIS OPERATION METRO SURGE, IT JUST HAD A MAJOR IMPACT ON THE METRO.

IT JUST DID.

AND SO WHEN YOU LOOKED AT THE JOB LOSSES.

WHAT WAS IT?

2000 I BELIEVE IN THE METRO AREA.

I MEAN, THAT'S A LOT OF JOBS.

AND SO EVERYBODY WAS BEING VERY CAUTIOUS AND PROPERLY CAUTIOUS, BUT IT SEEMS THAT OPERATION METRO SURGE WAS THE DIFFERENCE.

IN MAKING THIS.

IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN A GREAT REPORT ANYWAY.

THE JOB MARKET HERE IS STAGNATING, MOVING TOWARDS STAGNATION.

BUT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A 4.4% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AND THE NATIONAL IS 4.3% AND THAT'S REALLY UNUSUAL.

BECAUSE WE'RE USUALLY WELL BELOW THE NATIONAL.

>> YOU HAD A WONDERFUL SERIES AND THE GIST OF IT WAS GOOD NEIGHBORS HELP THE CONOMY?

>> SO WE'VE ALL HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS ENORMOUS CIVIC ENERGY THAT WAS RELEASED DURING THE TRAGEDY OF OPERATION METRO SURGE, AND SO THE QUESTION I PURSUED WAS, CAN YOU TURN THAT ?RG INTO A STRONGER ECONOMY?

BECAUSE YOU THINK OF ALL THE ROLES THAT SMALL BUSINESSES PLAY.

THEY SUPPORTED EACH OTHER.

THEY HELPED EACH OTHER.

BARBER SHOPS BECAME FOOD BANKS AND COFFEE SHOPS BECAME WARMING STATIONS.

AND THERE IS A LONG COTTAGE INDUSTRY OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH THAT SAYS THAT KIND OF ENERGY, THAT SORT OF CIVIC SOCIAL CAPITAL CAN LEAD TO A STRONGER ECONOMY.

>> Eric: CAN FOLKS GO TO MPR.ORG AND FIND IT ARCHIVED SOMEWHERE, >> Cathy: MPRNEWS.ORG.

>> Eric: SAY IT AGAIN?

>> MPRNEWS.ORG.

>> I WASN'T EVEN CLOSE.

OFF WE GO.

[ Laughter ] >> THANKS, CHRIS.

♪ >> CATHY: AS YOU JUST SAW ON YOUR SCREEN THERE, EARLY APRIL CAN BE MIGHTY SNOW-FILLED IN MINNESOTA.

AND IT APPEARED THAT A LOT OF THE STATE WAS GOING TO GET HIT WITH WET SLUSH, SLEET, AND SNOW ACCUMULATION STARTING ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

IT TURNED INTO JUST RAIN HERE IN THE TWIN CITIES METRO, AND YEAH, I MEAN, A LITTLE BIT OF ICE.

AND THE WINTER STORM WARNING WAS CANCELLED.

BUT OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE HAD PLENTY OF PRECIP, INCLUDING SHOVELABLE SNOW.

AND THIS WEEKEND BRINGS MORE SNOW ACROSS NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

KENNY BLUMENFELD IS A SENIOR CLIMATOLOGIST FOR MINNESOTA'S DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE, THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: I WAS GIRDING MYSELF FOR THE ICE APOCALYPSE AND IT REALLY DIDN'T HAPPEN.

>> YEAH, WE WERE ALL KIND OF WONDERING HOW THAT ONE WAS GOING TO GO.

A DECENT CHANCE OF HAPPENING, BUT ALSO A DECENT CHANCE OF IT JUST BEING RAIN.

WE GOT THE LATTER IN THE TWIN CITIES.

SHOULD POINT OUT, MAJOR ICE TORM IN EVEN WISCONSIN, THERE'S STILL POWER OUT FROM THAT.

AND HEY'RE GETTING MORE ICE WITH THIS STORM THIS WEEKEND.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A TOUGH TIME.

>> Cathy: ICE STORMS, WE SHOULD JUST SAY, I MEAN, THIS TIME F THE YEAR IS A HARD TIME TO FORECAST ANYWAY, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, THAT'S TRUE, BECAUSE WE HAVE DIFFERENT AIR MASSES, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE GOT THE REMNANT WINTER.

AND THEN WE HAVE SUMMER WHICH IS BUILDING AND THOSE THINGS GET BROUGHT TOGETHER BY A NICE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM, STORM SYSTEM.

AND SO YOU CAN HAVE KIND OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT AIR MAGSES COMING TOGETHER.

YOU GET SNOW, YOU ET RAIN WHERE IT'S WARM.

IN BETWEEN YOU GET SLEET.

WE DON'T GET A LOT OF ICE STORMS IN MINNESOTA, BUT TRUE ICE STORMS.

BUT EVEN SEEING THE POTENTIAL FOR IT IN HE FORECAST WAS EYE OPENING.

>> Eric: WHY DO WE GO FROM WINTER TO SUMMER OW WITH VERY LITTLE SPRING?

OR IS THAT SOMETHING I'VE NOTICED ANECDOTALLY?

>> I MEAN, DO WE?

BECAUSE WE HAD A TASTE OF SUMMER IN MARCH, RIGHT?

>> Eric: OKAY.

>> BUT NOW WE'RE BACK TO -- I MEAN, THERE'S GOING TO BE A FOOT OF SNOW IN PARTS OF NORTHERN MINNESOTA THIS -- YOU KNOW, TONIGHT.

SO I THINK -- IT'S KIND OF A MINNESOTA GOOD-BYE ON THE WINTER.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE EXPERIENCE IS THAT LEVELS OF WARMTH THAT USED TO HAPPEN OCCASIONALLY IN THE SPRING, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU GOT 75, 80 N MINNESOTA, THEY WOULD HAPPEN OCCASIONALLY IN MARCH.

THOSE ARE HAPPENING A LOT MORE FREQUENTLY.

I THINK WE'RE THREE YEARS IN A ROW NOW WHERE WE'VE HIT 70 IN MARCH IN THE TWIN CITIES AND THAT USED TO BE SOMETHING THAT WAS A ONCE A DECADE TYPE EXPERIENCE.

BUT, YEAH, SO IT'S REALLY WHAT'S HAPPENING IS WE'RE GETTING THIS, YOU KNOW, EARLY SUMMER TYPE EXPERIENCE, AND THEN WE'RE BEING REMINDED THAT, ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, WE CAN HAVE WINTER WEATHER HERE NOT JUST IN EARLY APRIL.

BUT EVEN IN EARLY MAY.

>> Cathy: I WONDER WHEN SPRING WILL COME TO NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA.

THEY HAVE JUST GOTTEN PASTED THIS WINTER WITH SNOW.

>> YEAH, IT WAS REALLY KIND OF A LATE BLOOMER FOR THEM INTO.

>> Cathy: YEAH.

>> THERE WASN'T THAT MUCH SNOW UP ON THE IMPORTANT TRAILS, BUT THEN FEBRUARY, THAT MASSIVE KIND OF FIRE HOSE OF SNOW HAPPENED AND THAT REALLY CHANGED THE COURSE OF THE REST OF THE WINTER BECAUSE THEY HAD TO MELT OFF THAT SNOW AND THEY'RE GETTING MORE, THEY'RE GETTING TOPPED UP YESTERDAY, TONIGHT.

>> Eric: DROUGHT?

>> WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT DROUGHT.

SO THERE ARE TWO AREAS OF DROUGHT AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO LIKE ABOUT THIS -- THIS DOUBLE HEADED WEATHER SYSTEM IS THAT IT'S PRODUCING SOME NICE PRECIPITATION IN AREAS THAT NEED IT.

WE HAVE DROUGHT IN SOUTHWESTERN MINNESOTA AND IT'S ESPECIALLY BAD IN THE FAR SOUTHWEST CORNER WHERE WE ACTUALLY HAVE SEVERE DROUGHT IN TWO COUNTIES.

THEN WE HAVE AN AREA NEAR CLOQUET JUST WEST OF DULUTH, A LITTLE BIT LARGER, THAT'S ALSO IN THAT SEVERE DROUGHTS.

THESE ARE AREAS THAT NEED PRECIPITATION.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET OUT UDROUGHT, BUT IT'S A GOOD SIGN.

>> Cathy: SAY, AS A FORMER STORM CHAISER, I WONDER HOW THE SEVERE STORM SEASON MIGHT PLAY OUT THIS YEAR.

ANY HINTS TO THAT AT ALL?

>> WELL, WE'RE LOOKING AT IOWA RIGHT NOW.

SOME OF THE AREAS TO OUR SOUTH HAVE GOTTEN ACTIVE PRETTY QUICKLY.

IOWA HAD SEVERE WEATHER YESTERDAY.

TODAY I THINK IT'S THREE DAYS IN A ROW IN MISSOURI.

THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT WHAT IS HAPPENING THERE NOW GETS SHIFTED NORTHED.

BUT AS LONG AS WE'RE IN A ACTIVE PATTERN, THAT'S ALWAYS KIND OF THE KEY.

ACTIVE PATTERN MEANS YOU GOT A LOT OF WEATHER SYSTEMS COMING THROUGH AND AS LONG AS WE'RE IN AN ACTIVE PATTERN WHEN THE WARM AND HUMID AIR ARRIVES, WE WILL HAVE SEVERE WEATHER.

RIGHT NOW THAT LOOKS REASONABLY POSSIBLE JUST BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING INTO SPRING.

THE WARM HUMID CONDITIONS AREN'T THAT FAR AWAY.

WE'RE ALWAYS WORRIED ABOUT DRY CONDITIONS SETTING IN AND SHUTTING THE WHOLE THING DOWN.

>> Eric: ANY PREDICTION ABOUT SUMMER WOULD BE WORTHLESS AT THIS POINT, WHO KNOWS?

>> WELL, THE CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER MAKES THOSE.

I WON'T TELL THEM THAT YOU CALLED IT THE WORTHLESS, BUT THE CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER'S OUTLOOK ON SUMMER IS PRETTY NONDEDESCRIPT FOR MINNESOTA.

NO SIGN OF BEING WARM OR COLD.

>> Eric: GLEF ON WAS TOO HARSH.

THANK YOU.

♪ >> THE EARLY SPRING MEANS THAT MIGRATORY BIRDS HAVE BEEN BUSY.

SO WELCOME BACK TO THE PERSON WHO CALLS HERSELF THE BIRDCHICK.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: I LOVE THAT NAME.

>> I'M NO LADY.

[ Laughter ] >> Cathy: SO THIS MUST BE, LIKE, WHAT, CHRISTMAS, NEW YEAR'S THE 4TH OF JULY ALL ROLLED INTO ONE FOR BIRDERS?

>> IT'S SUPER EXCITING.

YOU DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SO YOU MAY GET FIVE NEW SPECIES THAT YOU DIDN'T SEE YESTERDAY.

YOU MAY GET A BIRD THAT'S WAY OFF COURSE.

BIRDERS CALL IN SICK A WILL THE THIS TIME OF YEAR.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO KNOW.

>> OR THEY'RE JUST LATE TO WORK.

>> Cathy: OKAY.

♪ >> ADIA: TONIGHT WE'RE JOINED BY A FAMILIAR FACE WITH A NEW BAND.

KATY VERNON IS A VETERAN OF THE TWIN CITIES MUSIC SCENE, KNOWN FOR HER CONFESSIONAL COMPOSITIONS ON UKULELE, BUT SHE'S HERE TONIGHT WITH A GROUP THAT'S DECIDEDLY MORE ROCK- AND MORE "FEMME-FORWARD," AS THEY DESCRIBE IT.

FAVOURITE GIRL HAS THEIR RELEASE PARTY NEXT FRIDAY AT THE PARKWAY THEATER FOR THEIR DEBUT ALBUM, AND WE DID SAY ALBUM.

IN ADDITION TO THE CD YOU SEE HERE, A VINYL IS ON ITS WAY.

WELCOME BACK, KATY VERNON.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO WHO'S HERE WITH YOU?

>> YEAH, NEW BAND.

A WHOLE BUNCH OF VERY TALENTED WOMEN.

SO WE HAVE ON LEAD GUITAR ALI PICALA.

WE HAVE ELISA EMMANUEL.

ON BASS, DAISY FORESTER, AND THEN THE ORIGINAL FAVORITE BOY, COLE HODEGARD ON TRUMPET.

>> SO YOU'VE MADE THE SWITCH AS WE SAID TO MORE ROCK, MORE NOISE, MORE SOUND.

TELL BUS THAT?

>> I THINK I KIND OF REACHED A POINT WHERE FELT LIKE I WAS GETTING OLDER, I FELT A LITTLE KIND OF UNHEARD.

YOU KNOW, YOU HEAR ABOUT WOMEN AS WE AGE, EFEELING KIND OF INVISIBLE, AND I WAS LIKE, NO, I WANT TO BECOME MORE VISIBLE.

I WANT TO GET LOUDER.

I HAVE THINGS TO SAY.

AND I JUST WANT TO GET BACK TO THAT SENSE OF FUN AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, POP ROCK IS FUN.

AND I WANTED TO LEAN INTO THAT AND HAVE MAYBE MORE SERIOUS MESSAGES IN THE SONGS BUT WITH, LIKE, A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR.

>> WOULD YOU SAY -- HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF AS A GIRL?

>> AS A GIRL, I WAS LOUD.

I WAS A SHOWOFF.

I TALKED A LOT.

I SANING A LOT.

DANCED N SOME TABLES.

WAS TOLD TO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF PULL BACK A FEW TIMES PULL BACK A FEW TIME TIMES.

AND I THINK THERE'S A POINT IN LIFE WHERE THE DAY-TO-DAY LIFE IS KIND OF HARD.

AND YOU SHOULD HAVE FUN DOING WHAT YOU LOVE DOING.

AND I LOVE SINGING.

I LOVE MAKING MUSIC.

I KNEW I WANTED TO BE SURROUNDED BY WOMEN ON STAGE AND JUST, YEAH, GET LOUD, TAKE UP SOME SPACE.

>> THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.

SPEAKING OF WOMEN, YOU HAD A POST ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT REBECCA SLOMENT.

HOW DO YOU WEAVE IN, LIKE, THESE THEMES OF WOMEN WANTING TO BE HEARD, NEEDING TO BE HEARD INTO YOUR NEW ALBUM?

>> YEAH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, I VERY MUCH UST FEEL LIKE IT CAN BE SCARY TO SPEAK YOUR TRUTH.

THAT SOUNDS REALLY HEAVY BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU PUT IT TO A BEAT AND YOU ARE KIND OF LOUDLY JUST ENCOURAGING OTHER WOMEN TO STEP INTO THEIR OWN POWER AND ONE OF THE SONGS WE'LL SING TONIGHT IS CALLED "SHINE."

IT'S ABOUT LIFTING UP OTHER WOMEN AND I NEEDED TO LIFT MYSELF UP AND ONCE I STARTED LIFTING MYSELF UP AND THINKING THERE'S VALUE IN WHAT I HAVE TO SAY IN THE WORLD, WHICH, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T ALWAYS FEEL, I WANTED TO SHINE THAT SPOTLIGHT ON OTHER WOMEN AND JUST ALL ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER, YOU KNOW?

WE DON'T EED TO COMPETE.

WE JUST NEED TO LIFT EACH OTHER UP AND HAVE FUN.

WE'RE GOING TO SING A SONG CALLED "CON FETE CALLED "CON FETFETTI ."

THE WAY THAT THE WORLD FEELS PRETTY HEAVY, BUT FIND THE SMALL THINGS TO CELEBRATE, WHETHER THAT'S HELPING A NEIGHBOR, YOU KNOW, JUST TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

AND JUST, YOU KNOW, ENJOYING A GOOD MEAL, ENJOYING BEING TOGETHER, ENJOYING SINGING, DO THAT, BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE WHOLE BIG PICTURE CAN BE STRESSFUL BUT YOU CAN ALWAYS FOCUS AND ENJOY HE LITTLE THINGS.

YES, AT THE PARKWAY WHICH IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE VENUES IN DO YOU DO YOTOWN.

SALLY FORTH IS ANOTHER BAND THAT DAISY IS IN AND SARAH MARZ WHO WAS RECENTLY ON YOUR SHOW.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WITHOUT FURTHER IS WITHOUT FURTHER I ADO, FAVOURITE GIRL.

♪ ♪ >> >> ♪ NOBODY CAN LIVE YOUR LIFE FOR YOU ♪ ♪ DON'T WAIT AROUND FOR SOME SPECIAL DAY E ♪ ♪ THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEONE OMES BEHIND YOU ♪ ♪ BUT NO ONE ELSE CAN SAY WHAT YOU SAY ♪ ♪ WHEN YOU FEEL YOU'RE LOST, DON'T THROW IT ALL AWAY ♪ ♪ BECAUSE THERE'S STILL SO MUCH TO CELEBRATE TODAY ♪ ♪ THROW YOUR OWN, THROW YOUR OWN, THROW YOUR OWN CONFETTI ♪ ♪ SHOW THE WORLD HOW YOU CARE.

TAKE THIS FEELING ANYWHERE ♪ ♪ ♪ EVERYBODY'S CHASING A RAINBOW.

♪ ♪ TRYING TO FIND THEIR PLACE IN THE STARS ♪ ♪ ALL YOU NEED IS ALREADY IN YOU ♪ ♪ YOU ALREADY TRAVELED SO FAR ♪ ♪ WHEN YOU FEEL YOU'RE LOST, DON'T THROW IT ALL AWAY ♪ ♪ CAUSE THERE'S STILL SO MUCH TO CELEBRATE TODAY, HEY ♪ ♪ THROW YOUR OWN, THROW YOUR OWN, THROW YOUR OWN OAFNLG ♪ ♪ SHOW THE WORLD HOW UCH YOU CARE ♪ ♪ THROW YOUR OWN, THROW YOUR OWN, THROW YOUR OWN CONFETTI ♪ ♪ TAKE THIS FEELING ANYWHERE ♪ ♪ .

♪ THROW YOUR OWN, THROW YOUR OWN, THROW YOUR OWN CONFETTI ♪ ♪ TAKE THIS FEELING ANYWHERE ♪ ♪ WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO FIND ♪ ♪ IT'S ALL INSIDE, IT'S ALL INSIDE ♪ ♪ YOU'LL BE ALL RIGHT ♪ ♪ IT'S ALL INSIDE, IT'S ALL INSIDE YOUR MIND ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WHEN YOU FEEL YOU'RE LOST, DON'T THROW IT ALL AWAY ♪ ♪ CAUSE THERE'S STILL SO MOACH TO CELEBRATE TODAY, HEY ♪ ♪ ♪ THROW YOUR OWN, THROW YOUR OWN, THROW YOUR OWN CONFETTI ♪ ♪ SHOW THE WORLD HOW MUCH YOU CARE ♪ ♪ THROW YOUR OWN, THROW YOUR OWN, THROW YOUR OWN CONFETTI ♪ ♪ TAKE THIS FEELING ANYWHERE ♪ ♪ THROW YOUR OWN, THROW YOUR OWN, THROW YOUR OWN CONFETTI ♪ ♪ SHOW THE WORLD HOW MUCH YOU CARE ♪ ♪ THROW YOUR OWN, THROW YOUR OWN, THROW YOUR OWN CONFETTI ♪ ♪ TAKE THIS FEELING ANYWHERE ♪ ♪ WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO FIND ♪ ♪ IT'S ALL INSIDE, IT'S ALL INSIDE ♪ ♪ YOU'LL BE ALL RIGHT ♪ ♪ IT'S ALL INSIDE, IT'S ALL INSIDE YOUR MIND ♪ ♪ ♪ >> ERIC: IT'S BEEN MORE THAN SIX WEEKS SINCE THE END OF OPERATION METRO SURGE WAS ANNOUNCED.

THE NUMBER OF FEDERAL AGENTS IN MINNESOTA HAS DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY.

BUT LEGAL ACTION AGAINST IMMIGRANTS HAS INCREASED AT A PACE SOME SAY IS NEARLY UNSUSTAINABLE FOR DEFENDANTS AND THEIR ATTORNEYS.

JULIA DECKER IS AN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY AND POLICY DIRECTOR FROM THE IMMIGRANT LAW CENTER OF MINNESOTA.

WELCOME BACK.

GIVE US A LITTLE CONTEXT OF HOW BUSY IT'S BEEN FOR LAWYERS.

>> YEAH, SO AS YOU MENTIONED, EVEN THOUGH THE AGENTS SORT OF NUMERICALLY SEEM TO HAVE WITHDRAWN, THE IMPACT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SWEPT UP IN THE SURGE CONTINUE TO BE FELT BY THOSE IMPACTED.

SO ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT WERE SWEPT UP, THAT WERE ARRESTED, DETAINED, EVEN IF THEY HAVE BEEN RELEASED, ARE STILL IN THE SYSTEM.

SO THEY MAY BE FACING IMMIGRATION PROCEEDINGS, FEDERAL COURT PROCEEDINGS.

>> Eric: IS DUE PROCESS BEING FOLLOWED?

>> THAT'S A -- YOU'RE GOING TO GET A LAWYER'S ANSWER ON THAT.

IT DEPENDS.

THERE ARE -- BECAUSE THERE ARE OFTEN MULTIPLE PROCEEDINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE FACING, THE SORT OF TYPE OF PROCESS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO GET, OFTEN DEPENDS.

>> Cathy: WHAT -- CAN YOU EXPLAIN FOR FOLKS ABOUT THE SO-CALLED -- SOME FOLKS ARE FAST TRACKED, SO-CALLED SO SOMAI DOCKET?

>> A NEW DOCKET WAS CREATED WITHIN THE IMMIGRATION COURT HERE IN MINNESOTA, SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS POPULATION OF PEOPLE WITHIN THE IMMIGRATION COURT.

THIS HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY UNDER THE PREVIOUS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR UNACCOMPANIED MINORS.

A DOCKET SIMILARLY WAS CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT POPULATION.

THIS IS SIGNIFICANT IN THE SENSE THAT HAS CREATED NOW FOR A SPECIFIC NATIONALITY.

THAT'S NOTABLE.

BUT, YES, THAT IS -- THIS IS ANOTHER SORT OF -- I WOULD SAY, TARGETS ATTEMPT BY THE ADMINISTRATION.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS CONCERNING.

FOR MULTIPLE REASONS.

>> Cathy: IS IT LEGAL?

MANY PEOPLE WOULD PROBABLY ASK THAT QUESTION?

>> SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S LIKELY TO POTENTIALLY BE SOME CHALLENGES IN FEDERAL COURT AS THERE HAVE BEEN ACROSS, YOU KNOW, TOO MANY OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S ACTIONS.

ONE OF THE DIFFICULTIES WITH CHALLENGING THINGS IN FEDERAL COURT, THOUGH, IS THAT THOSE WHEELS TURN ERY SLOWLY, AS WE'RE SEEING LITIGATION AGAINST MANY OF THE ACTIONS THAT OCCURRED DURING THE SURGE IS STILL ONGOING RIGHT NOW EVEN THOUGH, YOU KNOW, IT'S WEEKS AFTER THE SURGE.

>> Eric: I'M GUESSING IT'S HARD TO COME UP WITH PRECISE NUMBERS, BUT I THINK, LIKE, 3700 ARRESTS WERE MADE DURING THE SURGE.

AND IT WAS ADVERTISED, THAT THIS IS THE WORST OF THE WORST.

WAS IT LIMITED TO THAT?

>> SO A COUPLE POINTS.

I WOULD NOTE FIRST THAT THAT'S SORT OF THE NUMBER THAT WE'RE TOLD.

SO -- AND IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO OFTEN SORT OF CONFIRM THOSE NUMBERS INDEPENDENTLY.

SO WE ARE SOMETIMES DEALING -- HAVING TO SORT OF GO OFF OF NUMBERS THAT WE'RE BEING OLD BY THE ADMINISTRATION THAT IS THEMSELVES CARRYING THESE OPERATIONS OUT AND TRANSPARENCY HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO COME BY.

WE DO KNOW FROM, YOU KNOW, NUMBERS THAT WE ARE BEING ABLE TO GET THAT IT APPEARS THAT MANY OF THE PEOPLE BEING ARRESTED AND DETAINED NATIONWIDE OFTEN DO NOT HAVE CRIMINAL RECORDS -- >> Eric: THEY'RE N A CIVIL PROCEEDING IMMIGRATION-WISE?

RIGHT?

>> CORRECT, IMMIGRATION PROCEEDINGS ARE CIVIL PROCEEDINGS.

NOW, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT PEOPLE MAY HAVE A CRIMINAL VIOLATION ON THEIR RECORD BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IT COULD BE A MISDEMEANOR VIOLATION LIKE A SPEEDING TICKET OR A RELATIVELY LOW LEVEL VIOLATION THAT COULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED A CRIMINAL RECORD.

IT COULD LSO BE THAT SOMEBODY HAD BEEN CHARGED BUT NOT ET CONVICTED.

THIS VERY BROAD CATEGORY OF CRIMINAL, THERE'S A LOT OF NUANCE IN THAT DISCUSSION.

>> Cathy: I CAN'T -- GIVEN THE NUMBERS WE'VE SEEN IN TERMS OF CASE LOAD, DO YOU HAVE ANY DEA HOW LONG THESE CASES MIGHT PLAY OUT IN COURT.

IT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD TAKE A LONG TIME?

>> THESE CASES CAN TAKE A VERY, VERY LONG TIME AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT -- I WAS ACTUALLY JUST LOOKING AT SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT WAS VERY RECENTLY BEING PULLED, RELEASED VIA SOME OF THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT THAT WERE NOT ABLE TO BE GOTTEN UNTIL RECENTLY THROUGH LITIGATION BY SOME NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, THE SORT OF ARTICLING WAITING -- AVERAGE WAITING TIMES FOR CASES IN MINNESOTA IS SOMETHING LIKE 7 700 DAYS FROM THE ISSUANCE OF THE CHARGING DOCUMENT FOR PEOPLE.

AND THAT, TO BE CLEAR, CROSS BOTH DETAINED AND NON-DETAINED CASES.

DETAINED CASES ARE MOVING FASTER.

BUT THOSE ARE ALSO CASES WHERE IF, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WANT TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT THEIR CASE AND THEY ARE SITTING IN DETENTION FOR A LONG TIME, WE HAVE SEEN CASES, FOR INSTANCE, LAST MONTHS OR EVEN YEARS AND PEOPLE RE SITTING IN DETENTION THE ENTIRE TIME THAT THEY ARE FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIVES, ESSENTIALLY, WHILE THEY ARE SITTING IN THAT DETENTION CENTER.

>> Eric: WELL, THANKS FOR COMING OVER AND SHARING.

WE KNOW YOU'VE BEEN BUSY.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.

>> YOU BET.

♪ ♪ >> ARON: I'M GETTING CLOSE TO AN IMPORTANT ANNIVERSARY IN A MAN'S LIFE: THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF WHEN I STARTED PLAYING THE DRUMS.

I PICKED UP THE DRUMS DURING A STRANGE POINT IN MY LIFE BECAUSE I THOUGHT LESSONS WOULD GIVE ME STRUCTURE AND A DEFINABLE GOAL OUTSIDE OF WORK, BUT WHAT THE DRUMS REALLY TAUGHT ME IS SOMETHING MUCH MORE IMPORTANT: THAT I'M TERRIBLE AT DRUMS.

I'M TRASH AT THE DRUMS.

TRULY AWFUL.

I MAKE LARS ULRICH LOOK LIKE NEIL PERT.

I AM THE RINGO OF RINGOS.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW TERRIBLE I AM AT THIS INSTRUMENT.

MY CAR NEEDING A NEW RADIATOR MAKES A MORE CONSISTENT BEAT THAN ME TRYING MY BEST.

MY COORDINATION ON A DRUM SET IS SO BAD THAT YOU WOULD THINK MY ARMS WERE PURELY DECORATIVE.

THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY FALLING DOWN A FLIGHT OF STAIRS WOULD SOUND BETTER THAN ME ATTEMPTING A SONG I'VE PRACTICED FOR A MONTH.

AND DESPITE ALL THAT, I LOVE TO DO IT.

IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE ACTIVITIES.

IT GIVES ME SO MUCH JOY JUST TO TRY BEING GOOD AT THIS THING.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK WE SHOULD TRY TO DO MORE OF: BE BAD AT SOMETHING.

IT OFTEN FEELS LIKE SUCCESS IS THE ONLY DETERMINING FACTOR IN WHETHER WE SHOULD DO SOMETHING OR NOT.

AND I THINK THAT'S WRONG.

IF YOU'RE BAD AT SOMETHING, BUT DOING IT MAKES YOU HAPPY, SHOULDN'T YOU DO IT REGARDLESS?

IF EVERY CAKE YOU BAKE TASTES LIKE A BRICK BUT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE A STAR, SHOULDN'T YOU BAKE?

IF ATTEMPTING TO DANCE MAKES YOU LOOK LIKE A DEER TAKING ITS FIRST STEPS BUT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE SHAKIRA, SHOULDN'T YOU SHAKE IT?

JOY WILL ALWAYS BE HARD TO COME BY, SO DON'T LET EXPERTISE GET IN THE WAY OF IT.

SO THIS SPRING, TRY.

TRY ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT MAKES YOU HAPPY, EVEN IF YOU'RE BAD AT IT, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE BAD AT IT, BECAUSE THE ONLY THING YOU SHOULD BE A NOVICE AT IS BEING MISERABLE.

TAKE IT FROM A GUY WHO POORLY MARCHES AT THE BEAT OF HIS OWN DRUM.

DOING SOMETHING POORLY TO FEEL GOOD ALWAYS FEELS BETTER THAN DOING SOMETHING PERFECT THAT YOU JUST DON'T CARE ABOUT.

♪ ♪ >> CATHY: TUESDAY WAS THE INTERNATIONAL TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY.

IT WAS ALSO THE DAY THE U.S.

SUPREME COURT STRUCK DOWN A COLORADO LAW BANNING LGBTQ CONVERSION THERAPY FOR MINORS, WHICH OPENS THE DOOR FOR THE PRACTICE TO RESUME IN MINNESOTA, JUST THREE YEARS AFTER IT WAS OUTLAWED HERE.

D.F.L.

REPRESENTATIVE BRION CURRAN IS THE CHAIR OF THE MINNESOTA QUEER LEGISLATORS CAUCUS.

I'M SO HAPPY YOU'RE HERE.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS.

IT'S A DISCREDITED PROCEDURE FOR WANT OF A BETTER WORD, I GUESS.

WHY -- WHY IS IT SEEN AS BEING SO DESTRUCTIVE TO A MINOR?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S NOT ONLY DESTRUCTIVE TO A MINOR.

IT'S DESTRUCTIVE TO ANYONE.

SO WHAT CONVERSION THERAPY OR ANY SORT OF OTHER TERMINOLOGY THAT SOMEONE MAY WANT TO USE FOR IT, I'VE DESCRIBED IT AS ABUSE BEFORE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A SERIOUS THING TO TRY TO FORCE SOMEONE TO BE SOMEONE OR SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE JUST NOT.

AND WHAT WE SEE IN CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE PEOPLE IS THAT WHEN THEY ARE EXPOSED TO SO-CALLED CONVERSION THERAPY, IT CREATES THIS EVEN MORE INTERNAL CONFLICT WITH THE PERSON ALREADY TRYING TO COME TO TERMS WITH WHO THEY ARE AND SEEKING OUT COMFORT.

AND INSTEAD, THERE ARE EFFORTS TO TURN THE PERSON AWAY FROM WHO THEY TRULY ARE.

AND FEEL SOME SHAME ABOUT WHO THEY ARE.

IT'S DESTRUCTIVE AND IT LEADS TO SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN LEVELS OF DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE AMONG OUR YOUTH.

>> Cathy: THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME FOLKS WHO SAY, LOOK, THIS IS STILL GOING ON.

I MEAN, IT'S KIND OF PREIVE LEACHT OUT IN THE LEACHT OUT INPREVALENTOUT IN THE ARE COACHES AND RELIGIOUS FOLKS WHO ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE?

ISN'T THAT OKAY TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ONE'S GENDER OR SEXUALITY?

>> YEAH, SO I THINK THERE'S A DEFINITE DISTINCTION BETWEEN WHAT'S CONSIDERED CONVERSION THERAPY OR WHAT'S CONSIDERED A PRACTICE THAT SOMEBODY IS OFFERING TO SOMEONE OR A SERVICE THAT SOMEONE IS SEEKING OUT VERSUS HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHO SOMEBODY IS AS A PERSON, HOW THEY MIGHT FEEL PERSONALLY ABOUT WHO THEY ARE, THAT'S A VERY DIFFERENT THING.

WHEN THE COURT STRUCK DOWN COLORADO'S LAW, THEY WERE INDICATING THAT CONVERSION THERAPY OR TALK THERAPY IS EQUAL TO THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE ANY OTHER MEDICAL PRACTICE THAT WE WOULD SAY THAT IT'S FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND NOT HOLD SOMEBODY ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE POTENTIAL HARM THAT THEY'RE CAUSING SOMEBODY.

>> Eric: WHAT'S THE POSSIBLE EFFECT THAT THE COLORADO CASE MIGHT HAVE ON MINNESOTA?

>> YEAH, SO HERE IN MINNESOTA, OUR LAWS ARE NEARLY IDENTICAL TO THE STATE OF COLORADO.

THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT'S DECISION IS IT DOESN'T FULLY REVERSE EVERYTHING SURROUNDING THE CONVERSION THERAPY BAN THAT WAS PASSED IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

AND OTHER STATES.

WHAT IT DOES O IS REVERSE SOME OF THE WORK E'VE DONE AROUND SPECIFICALLY WHAT THEY CALL TALK THERAPY.

SO ANY SORT OF PHYSICAL EXPOSURE THAT PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE OR SOME OF THE HORRIBLE THINGS YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF, LIKE, SHOCK THERAPY AND THINGS LIKE THAT, STILL VERY MUCH ILLEGAL IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

WHAT WE'RE SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT NOW IS THAT THERE MAY BE MORE ACCESS FOR PEOPLE TO RECEIVE SERVICE CALLED THERAPY WHERE THEY'RE SORT OF TALKED OUT OF BEING QUEER OR TRANS.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, THE DECISION, GETTING BACK TO THE SUPREME COURT DECISION, IT WAS 8 TO 1.

DID THAT SURPRISE YOU?

>> I FIND IT VERY SURPRISING.

I FIND IT ALARMING, BUT I ALSO DON'T FIND IT TERRIBLY SURPRISING, UNFORTUNATELY, IN THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT THAT WE'RE IN.

I THINK WE SEE A FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION WHO FALLS WOEFULLY SHORT WHEN IT COMES TO BEING KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT HEALTHCARE IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND THEY'VE MADE A LOT OF MISSTEPS ALONG THE WAY IN MANAGING HEALTHCARE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

AND I THINK THE SUPREME COURT HAS BEEN FOLLOWING SUIT WITH THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION.

AND THAT'S ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO KEEP WATCH ON.

>> Eric: HOW IS THIS BEING ENFORCED IN THE MINNESOTA LEVEL?

>> SO A NEW RULING OF COURSE, HERE IN MINNESOTA -- >> Eric: BUT SINCE 2023, HOW IS IT BEING ENFORCED IN THIS STATE?

>> SO THE PRACTICE IS BANNED.

SO PEOPLE CAN'T -- PEOPLE CAN'T ACCESS ANYTHING HAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ADVERTISED AS CONVERSION TYPE THERAPY, TALK THERAPY, ANY SORT OF PHYSICAL, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WHAT I CALL ABUSE BUT OTHERS CALL THERAPY TO TRY TO CONVERT SOMEBODY INTO SOMETHING THEY'RE NOT.

IT'S JUST SIMPLY BEEN BANNED AS A SERVICE THAT YOU CAN NO LONGER SEEK OUT FOR YOUTH AND VULNERABLE PEOPLE.

>> Eric: SO SOMEBODY WANTED TO REINSTATE THE PRACTICE IN MINNESOTA, THEY WOULD USE THE SUPREME COURT RULING IN WHAT WAY, I WONDER?

>> THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE USED IN THE WAY, AGAIN, THAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT TALK THERAPY.

>> Eric: OKAY.

>> AND I WOULD JUST SAY THAT -- I THINK A MOVE LIKE THAT FROM THE SUPREME COURT REALLY DISCREDITS THE MEDICAL PRACTICE OF THERAPY AND WHAT IT IS AND WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE SRT SRSORT OF REPROGRAM THEIR BRAIN IN A HEALTHY WAY TO HELP DEAL WITH THINGS ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS, THAT'S WHAT THERAPY IS.

IT'S NOT ABOUT SWAYING PEOPLE.

AND I THINK IN THE CONTEXT OF GENDER AFFIRMING CARE, YOU KNOW, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS MEDICALLY NECESSARY.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS SAFE, THAT IS PROVEN, THAT WE SHOULD BE PROVIDING FOR PEOPLE.

>> Eric: GOT TO RUN.

THANKS, APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

♪ >> ERIC: IT'S BEEN A QUIETER POLITICAL WEEK IN MINNESOTA WITH THE LEGISLATURE ON BREAK, BUT THE PLETHORA OF POLITICAL NEWS OUT OF WASHINGTON, D.C.

MEANS WE ARE GOING TO END THE HOUR TONIGHT WITH A TRIO OF POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSORS.

LARRY JACOBS HEADS UP THE CENTER FOR POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE AT THE U OF M'S HUMPHREY SCHOOL.

THE U OF M IS ALSO WHERE KATHRYN PEARSON TEACHES POLITICAL SCIENCE.

ONE OF HER AREAS OF EXPERTISE IS CONGRESS.

HERE, TOO, DAVID SCHULTZ, TEACHES POLITICAL SCIENCE AT HAMLINE UNIVERSITY AND IS ALSO AN ADJUNCT LAW PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ST.

THOMAS.

14TH AMENDMENT.

1868.

GRANTS CITIZENSHIP TO ALL PERSONS BORN OR NATURALIZED INCLUDING FORMERLY ENSLAVED PERSONS AND ENSURES EQUAL PROTECTIONS UNDER THE LAW FOR ALL PERSONS.

130 YEARS OF CASE LAW.

THE PRINTED PAGE SEEMS VERY SPECIFIC.

>> IT IS VERY SPECIFIC AT THIS POINT.

WE GOT TEXT.

WE GOT 130 YEARS OF PRECEDENT.

WE'LL LISTEN TO THE SUPREME COURT ORAL ARGUMENTS THE OTHER DAY.

EVEN TRUMP'S PRESENCE IN COURT IS NOT GOING TO MOVE THEM.

8 TO 1, THE LANGUAGE IS PRETTY CLEAR ON THIS ONE.

AND THE REPERCUSSIONS IF THE COURT WOULD GO IN THE OTHER DIRECTION WOULD CREATE AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF CHAOS.

HE GETS TO USE IT AS A CAMPAIGN ISSUE NO MATTER WHAT.

>> Eric: WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THIS?

>> CERTAINLY IT IS THE CASE THAT IMMIGRATION IS ALWAYS BEEN A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE TO PRESIDENT TRUMP.

BUT ITH METRO SURGE IN MINNEAPOLIS AND CERTAINLY OTHER CRITICISMS AND PROBLEMS WITH I.C.E., YOU KNOW, THOSE NUMBERS ON IMMIGRATION HAVE REALLY GONE DOWN AND SEM DMEAMS SOME AREAS EVEN HAVE AN EDGE.

AND SO I THINK THAT IS PART OF THE RATIONALE FOR TRYING TO GET HIS NUMBERS BACK UP ON IMMIGRATION, BUT IT'S COMPLICATED AND I THINK WE'LL HEAR FROM BOTH SIDES IN THE CAMPAIGN.

>> I COMPLETELY AGREE.

IF YOU GO BACK TO THE REDISTRICTING DEBATE WHICH WE WERE GOING THROUGH JUST A FEW MONTHS GO, ONE OF THE BIG CASES WAS IN TEXAS AND TWO OF THOSE DISTRICTS THAT WERE REDISTRIBUTED AND REPUBLICANS WERE SO CONFIDENT THEY'RE GOING TO WIN THEM, IT'S BASED ON THE 2024 RESULTS, BASE IS A ED ON ON THE HISPANIC VOTE.

AND I THINK A LOT OF THOSE HISPANICS VOTERS ARE BEING TURNED OFF ABOUT.

WHAT HAPPENED IN MINNEAPOLIS AND TRYING TO DO AWAY WITH BIRTH RIGHT WHICH YOU KNOW THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO RUN.

>> Eric: ARE YOU ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT THE JUSTICES ARE GOING O DO JUST BY MONTHING -- >> THE INTERESTING QUESTION WILL BE, WILL THEY DECIDE IT ON THE BASIS OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW OR ON STATUTORY LAW?

>> Eric: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

>> SO CONSTITUTIONAL LAW WILL BE -- SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY -- MORE PERMANENT, BUT ACTUALLY THE COURT IS WILLING TO SAY THAT BECAUSE IT'S SO DIFFICULT TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION, WE WILL PREFER TO DO IT ON STATUTORY GROUNDS AND THEREFORE CONGRESS DISAGREES.

SO THE QUESTION BECOMES, WHICH ARE THEY GOING TO DO?

ARE THEY GOING TO DO IT ON STATUTORY AND THEN PUNT ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL AND WAIT FOR THE CASE TO COME BACK OR JUST DO IT ON CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT NOW SO THE ISSUE DOESN'T COME BACK?

>> THERE WAS A STRING OF DECISIONS BY THE COURT, PARTICULARLY ON THE NATIONAL INJUNCTIONS AND OTHER AREAS WHERE THERE IS A LOT OF FEAR THAT THIS COURT WAS JUST GOING TO ROLL OVER FOR DONALD TRUMP.

WELL, WE'VE HAD TARIFFS AND NOW WE'VE HAD THIS ORAL ARGUMENT.

IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A COURT THAT ON BIG ISSUES IS STANDING UP TO DONALD TRUMP AND IF YOU GO BACK TO THE FIRST TERM, OF COURSE, HE HAD A TERRIBLE LOSING RECORD.

>> SAY, THE EXECUTIVE ORDER ON VOTING THAT WAS SIGNED, WAS THAT AN ATTEMPT TO SIGN THAT ORDER TO SHAKE LOOSE THE S.A.V.E.

ACT IN THE SENATE.

>> THE S.A.V.E.

ACT IS GOING NOWHERE, SO HAT WAS PRESIDENT TRUMP'S WAY OF CONTINUING THIS ISSUE.

BUT THAT IS BEING MET WITH A LOT OF COURT CHALLENGES.

THUNE IS UNWILLING TO DO AWAY WITH THE FILIBUSTER AS ARE SEVERAL OTHER REPUBLICANS, AND SO DESPITE THE PRESSURE FROM THE PRESIDENT, EALLY SORT OF ALMOST UNPRECEDENTED RESSURE ON A SENATE LEADER TO DO AWAY WITH THE FILIBUSTER AND SORT OF HOLD UP LEGISLATION UNTIL THE S.A.V.E.

ACT WOULD ASS, IT JUST DIDN'T WORK.

THE HOUSE WENT ALONG WITH IT BUT THE SENATE CARES ABOUT MINORITY RIGHTS AND WERE UNWILLING TO DO THIS.

>> CAN I ADD ONE MORE THING TO IT ALSO TOO IS THAT A LOT OF THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO ARE REPUBLICANS GOT ELECTED WITH LOTS OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS AND LOTS OF DISTANT VOTING AT THIS POINT.

AND I JUST SAY THAT BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF HARD FOR TRUMP TO SAY, LOTS OF VOTER FRAUD, AND A LOT OF REPUBLICANS ARE PUSHING BACK AND SAYING, YEAH, BUT WE HAVE CONTROL OF CONGRESS AND THE PROCESS AT THIS POINT.

SO I THINK THERE'S ALL KINDS OF SELF-INTERESTED REASONS BECAUSE I THINK REPUBLICANS HAVE LEARNED HOW TO ALSO USE EARLY VOTING IN A LOT OF THESE PROVISIONS AND HAVE CAUGHT UP TO THE DEMOCRATS.

>> THERE'S DEFINITELY THIS POLITICAL EDGE.

THERE'S THE CONSTITUTIONAL ARGUMENTS ABOUT THE POWER THAT'S BEEN GIVEN TO CONGRESS.

PRESIDENT HAS NO ROLE HERE.

BUT THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE WHICH IS THERE IS A LOGISTICAL ISSUE.

RUNNING AN ELECTION IS VERY TIME CONSUMING.

IT IS AN ENORMOUS OPERATION.

AND IT INVOLVES OVER 8,000 LOCAL AND STATE ELECTION JURISDICTIONS.

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ELECTION WORKERS.

AND SO THIS IDEA THAT DONALD TRUMP IS GOING TO, LIKE, SNAP HIS FINGERS AND GET, YOU KNOW, THE ELECTIONS AND VOTER ROLLS BEING SET UP AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, IT'S AN IMAGINARY IDEA.

IT'S JUST IMPOSSIBLE.

>> AND THE THAT POSTAL SERVICE IS GOING TO BE INVOLVED.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST UNWORKABLE.

>> THERE IS NOT A FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE'RE NOT LIKE OME FOREIGN COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE, LIKE, A NATURAL ELECTIONS BUREAU THAT RUNS EVERYTHING.

AS LARRY IS POINTING OUT HERE, IT IS AN INCREDIBLY DECENTRALIZED SYSTEM.

>> ARTICLE I, SECTION 4, STATES CONTROL ELECTIONS.

>> Eric: I DON'T WANT TO SOUND LIKE JOHN LENNON SINGING "IMAGINE," BUT ARE THE STARS LINING FOR SOME COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM?

>> NO, THEY'RE NOT.

I MEAN, THEY HAVE TO DEAL -- WE'RE ON DAY 47 OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY SHUT DOWN AND T.S.A.

AGENTS ARE BEING PAID, BUT ONLY THE -- THE COAST GUARD IS NOT.

OTHER D.H.S.

EMPLOYEE RAZE NOT.

AND SOS THAT GOING TO BE DEALT WITH IN A RECONCILIATION BILL BECAUSE THAT CANNOT BE FILIBUSTERED IN THE SENATE.

BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE A HEAVY LIFT WITH JUST THE REPUBLICANS, SO I DON'T THINK ANY MEANINGFUL IMMIGRATION WILL BE PART OF THAT.

>> Cathy: DO YOU AGREE?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY, WE'RE AT A LEVEL WHERE CONGRESS IS REALLY NOT OPERATING.

IT -- THIS IS MAYBE NE OF THE GOVERNANCE CRISES WE'VE HAD.

AND WE'VE HAD OME SERIOUS ONES.

WITH DONALD TRUMP UNABLE TO KIND OF MARSHAL GOVERNING COALITIONS, YOU'VE GOT SOME RENEGADES IN THE HOUSE THAT'S JUST INCREDIBLY TIGHTLY DIVIDED.

NO, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THE FILIBUSTER IN THE SENATE.

THIS IS A REALLY TREACHEROUS MOMENT.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, THE INCENTIVES ARE NOT LINING UP.

AGAIN, I'M GOING TO BE THE REALLY CYNICAL PERSON TODAY AND SAY THAT NEITHER THE DEMOCRATS NOR THE REPUBLICANS WANT TO FIX THE IMMIGRATION ISSUE.

YEAH, BECAUSE WHAT?

IF YOU FIX IT, YOU LOSE THE ISSUE TO RUN ON.

>> Cathy: SAY, HOW MUCH PUSHBACK DID YOU GET TO YOUR "STAR TRIBUNE" OP-ED PIECE ON FRAUD?

AND YOU PRETTY MUCH SAID -- IT WAS A VERY INTERESTING PIECE.

YOU PRETTY MUCH SAID THAT THE DFLERS LOOK IN THE MIRROR.

YOU KIND OF FAILED ON OVERSIGHT.

AND THIS IS WHY WE HAVE THE MESS IN MINNESOTA.

>> YEAH, IT'S THE LEGISLATURE.

A OT OF PEOPLE HAVE POINTED THE FINGER AT TIM WALZ, AND OKAY, MAYBE HE HAS A ROLE BUT I WENT AND LOOKED AT THE HEARINGS INVOLVING THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR.

AND THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR'S REPORTS.

AND THEY'RE JUST, OVER YEARS AND YEARS, THEY'RE POINTING TO THE VERY CONDITIONS THAT LED TO THE FRAUD WE'RE SEEING NOW AND THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEES IN THE LEGISLATURE, ON THE DFL SIDE, WERE CONTINUALLY STONE-WALLING WHAT THE LEGISLATURE AUDITOR WAS BRINGING FORWARD.

YEAH, IT WAS VERY UNPOPULAR TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

BUT IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS YOU HAVE PROFESSORS AT UNIVERSITY, AND I TAUGHT WITH WALTER MONDALE FOR A VERY LONG TIME, AND THIS WAS A GUY WHO REALLY BELIEVED IN DATA, HE BELIEVED IN ACCOUNTABILITY, AND I THINK HE'D BE HORRIFIED IF HE WAS ALIVE TODAY AND AW WHAT WAS GOING ON.

SO YEAH, I'M TAKING SOME REAL HEAT ON IT.

BUT I'M OKAY.

I THINK WALTER MONDALE WOULD BE PROUD.

>> Eric: 30 SECONDS LEFT.

IS THE CONGRESS GOING ALONG WITH THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET WITH A 44% INCREASE IN DEFENSE SPENDING?

>> NO, THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET IS LWAYS JUST A BLUEPRINT, EVEN UNDER UNIFIED PARTY CONTROL, ABSOLUTELY NOT.

THIS WILL BE A CAMPAIGN ISSUE THAT BOTH SIDES WILL RUN ON, IN ADDITION TO THE VIDEO COMING FROM THE WHITE HOUSE WHERE PRESIDENT TRUMP TALKED ABOUT THE STATES NEEDING TO PAY FOR DAYCARE AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES.

>> IN 50 YEARS UNDER THE CURRENT BUDGET SCHEME GOING BACK TO 1976, THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET HAS NLY BEEN MARGINALLY ACCEPTED FOUR TIMES.

>> Eric: TIME HAS ESCAPED.

THANKS, PANEL.

♪ >> WE'RE ALL HUMAN.

AND I WANT TO GET BACK TO A MORE NORMAL STATE.

I WANT TO SPEND, YOU KNOW, TIME IN PUBLIC SPACES.

I MISS NOT GOING TO RESTAURANTS.

I MISS NOT GOING TO VENUES.

I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAS TICKETS IN THE FOURTH ROW FOR THE EAGLES CONCERT THAT'S BEEN CANCELED TWICE.

I WANT TO GO.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS VIRUS IS WHAT'S TELLING US WHAT WE CAN DO AND CANS DO.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T IGNORE THAT.

AS I'VE SAID BEFORE ON THIS VERY SHOW.

WE ARE NOT DRIVING THIS TIGER.

WE ARE RIDING IT.

>> Cathy: JUST RIDING THE TIGER.

FIVE YEARS AGO, IT FELT LIKE WE WOULD NEVER SEE MIKE IN PERSON AGAIN.

BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO WELCOME HIM IN THE STUDIO ON OCCASION THESE DAYS.

ALL RIGHT, FRIENDS, IT IS TIME FOR HISTORY.

MINNESOTA HISTORY.

DIEHARD BASEBALL FANS KNOW THAT TODAY WAS THE HOME OPENER FOR OUR MINNESOTA TWINS.

SO THE PRODUCERS DECIDED WE'RE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO ASK A QUESTION RELATING TO BASEBALL.

THERE'S A NICE SHOT OF TARGET FIELD WHERE THE TWINS WON 10-4 TODAY.

YES, THEY WON THEIR HOME OPENER!

OUR QUESTION INVOLVES A BASEBALL GAME THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PLAYED AT TARGET FIELD, BUT IT DOES INVOLVE AN OPENING DAY OF SORTS FOR THE MYSTERY PERSON IN QUESTION.

ON THE FIRST DAY THIS PERSON "WORKED" FOR THE TWINS AT THE MAJOR LEAGUE LEVEL, THE VERY FIRST THING HE OR SHE DID WOULD BECOME A SIGNATURE PART OF THEIR CAREER.

THE DUBIOUS HONOR WOULD LAND THEM IN A TOP TEN LIST OF OTHERS WHO SHARED THEIR PROFESSION.

OUR QUESTION: WHO AM I?

AND WHAT DID I DO IN MY FIRST PERFORMANCE FOR THE MINNESOTA TWINS?

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU ARE CALLING FROM STRIKE LAKE, RADKE LAKE, OR MOLITOR LAKE, A WETLAND JUST SOUTH OF SAUK CENTER.

651-229-1430 IS THE NUMBER TO CALL WITH ALL OF YOUR PITHY ANSWERS.

IF YOU'D RATHER TYPE THAN TALK, DROP US A LINE.

ALMANAC@TPT.ORG IS THE ELECTRONIC INBOX.

BEFORE WE GO, WE HAVE SOME EXCITING NEWS FOR YOU.

WE HAD SO MUCH FUN TAKING THE SHOW ON THE ROAD TO ROCHESTER LAST SPRING, SO WE'VE DECIDED TO DO IT AGAIN.

WE'RE HEADING TO ST.

CLOUD NEXT MONTH.

THAT'S RIGHT, ST.

CLOUD, CENTRAL MENTAL CENTRAL MENTA MINNESOTA.

FRIDAY, MAY 1ST, WE WILL BE COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE CAMPUS OF ST.

CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY.

WANT TO BE A PART OF THE LIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE?

SURE, YOU DO!

HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE TO SECURE YOUR FREE EVENT TICKET.

TPT.ORG/EVENTS.

THERE IS LIMITED SPACE, SO YOU DO NEED TO REGISTER TO ATTEND.

FOR SHOW-ENDING MUSIC, WE HAVE ANOTHER TUNE FROM FAVOURITE GIRL.

DON'T FORGET.

THE RELEASE PARTY FOR THEIR DEBUT ALBUM IS NEXT FRIDAY, APRIL 10TH, AT THE PARKWAY THEATER IN MINNEAPOLIS.

YOU CAN GET MORE DETAILS AND PURCHASE ADVANCE TICKETS ON PARKWAY'S WEBSITE.

HERE'S FAVOURITE GIRL WITH "SHINE."

♪ ♪ >> ♪ CHOICES MADE ♪ ♪ IN DARK ROOMS ♪ ♪ WITH THE SAME OLD ♪ ♪ BOYS CLUB RULES ♪ ♪ ALWAYS CLOSING THE DOOR ♪ ♪ SAYING THEY DON'T ♪ ♪ NEED YOU ANYMORE ♪ ♪ IT'S TIME ♪ ♪ TO SHINE ♪ ♪ IT'S TIME ♪ ♪ TO SHINE ♪ ♪ VOICES WITH ALL THE POWER ♪ ♪ CHOOSE WHO TO SHOWER ♪ ♪ WITH THEIR PRAISE ♪ ♪ IT'S TEMPTING TO ASK ♪ ♪ THE PRICE ♪ ♪ DON'T WANNA OWE THEM ♪ ♪ MY WHOLE LIFE ♪ ♪ IT'S TIME ♪ ♪ TO SHINE ♪ ♪ IT'S TIME ♪ ♪ TO SHINE ♪ ♪ IF I GET ONE FOOT ♪ ♪ ON THAT LADDER ♪ ♪ START TO FEEL LIKE ♪ ♪ I MATTER ♪ ♪ YOU CAN BET I'M GONNA REACH ♪ ♪ ON OUT BEHIND ♪ ♪ TAKE YOUR HAND ♪ ♪ LIFT YOU UP ♪ ♪ SO YOU CAN SHINE ♪ ♪ I'M NOT RIDING ♪ ♪ ANY COATTAILS ♪ ♪ I PUT THE WIND ♪ ♪ IN MY OWN SAILS ♪ ♪ GONNA STEER MY OWN COURSE ♪ ♪ I RIDE OR DIE ♪ ♪ ON MY OWN HORSE ♪ Captioned by: Veritext/Paradigm-Captioning Www.veritext.com >> "ALMANAC" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH ITS MEMBER-OWNER COOPERATIVES AND CUSTOMERS.

DELTA DENTAL OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH AND HELPING COMMUNITIES THRIVE.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

AND VANESSA DAYTON, THROUGH THE HEALTHCARE FOR ALL MINNESOTANS FUND, SUPPORTING ACCESSIBLE HEALTHCARE FOR MINNESOTANS STATEWIDE.