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

>> Cathy: COMING UP ON "ALMANAC" NEWLY ELECTED D.F.L.

HOUSE LEADER ZACK STEPHENSON.

TANE DANGER HAS A POLITICAL ESSAY FOR A POLITICAL PANEL WILL FILL THE COUCH AND MARY LAHAMMER DIG INTO A NEW FILM ABOUT KINDNESS AND CONNECTION.

>> WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS IN A NEW FILM THAT MAKES A CASE FOR KINDNESS.

>> THROUGH OUR DARKEST MOMENTS, PEOPLE FIND PURPOSE.

>> 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 POWER TO 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH MEMBER-OWNER COOPERATIVES.

DELTADENTALMN.ORG/TPT.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

>> Cathy: IN THE NEXT HOUR WE'LL TALK WITH THE NEWLY ELECTED HOUSE D.F.L.

LEADER, A DUO OF EXPERTS ON BRIDGING THE POLITICAL DIVIDE AND CURBING VIOLENCE SHARES THEIR PERSPECTIVE, TANE DANGER HAS A SPECIAL ESSAY FOR.

>> DIRECTOR ANGELA, WHAT DID CHARLIE KIRK BRING TO THE CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT?

>> IN NLY 31 YEARS, HE HAD CREATED A YOUTH MOVEMENT, HE HELPED GET DONALD TRUMP ELECTED TWICE, HE WILL DEFINITELY HAVE A LEGACY AND WE'RE HEARING A LOT FROM HIS ACOLYTES THIS WEEK AS THEY MOURN HIS DEATH.

>> EVEN WHEN HE WAS ALIVE, HE WAS UNUSUAL IN THAT HE SAID, YOU KNOW, SOME REALLY AWFUL THINGS BUT HE DID IT WITH A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF A CHARM.

HE WAS KIND OF A HAPPY WARRIOR, WHICH WAS DIFFERENT I THINK FROM A LOT OF THE OTHER MAGA LEADERS WHO CAME EVEN NOW, YOU KNOW, COME ACROSS AS SORT F ANGRY AND SOUR AND COMBATIVE.

AND WHAT CHARLIE KIRK I THINK KIND OF PATENTED ALMOST WAS THE ABILITY TO DO THIS AND SEEM LIKEABLE, FRIENDLY, OPEN.

YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE THAT MET HIM EVEN THE PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T AGREE WITH HIM SAID HE WAS ALWAYS POLITE AND SO ON.

HE MODELED HIMSELF EARLY ON AFTER RUSH LIM BAUGH, BUT WITHOUT LIM BAUGH'S HARD EDGES.

LIMBAUGH WAS, YOU KNOW, CAUSTIC CONSTANTLY.

AND I THINK WHAT MAKES THIS SUCH AN UNUSUAL CASE, AGAIN, EVEN BEFORE HIS ASSASSINATION IS THAT KIRK KIND OF PIONEERED THIS SMILING VERSION OF MA GA THAT YOU DON'T REALLY SEE VERY OFTEN AMONG A LOT OF MAGA SUPPORTERS.

>> SO IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT HE WAS TRULY OMMITTED TO FREE SPEECH AND HE WANTED TO BE OUT THERE AND MIX IT UP VERBALLY BUT ONLY VERBALLY MIX IT UP WITH LIBERALS, OTHER PEOPLE WHO MIGHT OPPOSE HIM.

I MEAN, HE DID PLAY A POSITIVE ROLE IN MODELING A KIND OF OPEN INQUIRY, OR IS THAT AN UNFAIR CHARACTERIZATION?

>> YEAH, AND I THINK THAT'S THE WAY HE'S BEING REMEMBERED, I THINK A KEY PART OF THE VERY I THOUGHT MOVING OBIT FOR HIM THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT J.D.VANCE POSTED ON X THE OTHER DAY, THAT'S WHAT HE SAID IS HE EXEMPLIFIED THIS CONSTITUTIONAL VIRTUE OF FREE EXPRESSION.

HE WAS ON HIS WAY TO A COLLEGE TOUR AROUND THE COUNTRY, NOT JUST AT THIS UNIVERSITY IN UTAH WHERE THIS HORRIFIC KILLING TOOK PLACE, BUT HE WAS HEADED TO OTHER UNIVERSITIES WHERE HE WAS GOING TO DEBATE LIBERAL SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS.

AND I THINK HE'S BEING REMEMBERED IN THAT WAY BY A PORTION OF BOTH THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT.

BUT WHAT'S STRIKING TO ME RIGHT NOW IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE MOVING VERY QUICKLY FROM THE PHASE OF WHO WAS CHARLIE KIRK THE MAN, THE POLITICAL ACTIVIST, INTO THE PHASE OF CANONIZING HIM, HE'S GOING TO BE SORT OF THE MAGA MARTYR AND HE MAY MEAN VERY DIFFERENT THINGS A YEAR FROM NOW, SIX MONTHS FROM NOW, FIVE YEARS FROM NOW THAN HE DOES RIGHT NOW AND IT'S VERY INTERESTING IN THAT CONTEXT THAT WHILE MANY IN THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT ARE CALLING FOR THIS AS A SORT OF A WAKE-UP CALL, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE TOXICITY OF OUR POLITICAL CULTURE, WHERE HAVE YOU NOT HEARD THAT FROM, AND THAT IS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE WHICH HAS A VERY DIFFERENT INTERPRETATION.

>> I WANT TO COME TO THE WHITE HOUSE IN A SECOND AND PRESIDENT TRUMP'S PARTISAN RESPONSE TO THIS.

BUT SPENCER COX, THE GOVERNOR OF UTAH SPOKEN VERY EXLEY >> HE JOINS US.

CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> YOU'RE SITTING HERE THOUGH BECAUSE OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE.

I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WENT THROUGH YOUR MIND WHEN YOU HEARD ABOUT CHARLIE KIRK'S MURDER.

>> YEAH, IT REALLY DID BRING A LOT OF IT BACK FOR ALL OF US IN OUR CAUCUS.

VIOLENCE HAS NO PLACE IN OUR POLITICS AND I THINK WE SHOULD ALL BE -- ELIMINATE THAT.

WE ARE A DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY, WE SHOULD SOLVE OUR DISPUTES WITH A PERSON EAT THE BALLOT BOX, NOT WITH VIOLENCE.

>> THERE WAS A VERY INTERESTING INTERVIEW THIS MORNING WHO STUDIED POLITICAL VIOLENCE FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS, HE SAID BOTH SIDES HAVE TO APPEAR TOGETHER ON VIDEOTAPED STATEMENTS DECRYING THIS.

AND I WONDER -- IS THE TWO -- TOOTHPASTE OUT OF -- >> SEASONS OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN THIS COUNTRY BEFORE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU THINK ABOUT 1960s OR YOU CAN GO EVEN EARLIER.

AND THE IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IS THAT THOSE SEASONS CAME TO AN END AND THIS ONE CAN TOO.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK AT IT.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT IT.

I THINK THE IDEA YOU MENTIONED IS A GREAT ONE AND I WOULD DO THAT IN A HEARTBEAT.

BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE LIKE THIS.

AND I DON'T BELIEVE IT WILL BE LIKE THIS FOREVER.

>> Eric: VIOLENCE IS GOING TO BE THE SUBJECT OF THE SPECIAL SESSION WHICH GOVERNOR WALZ INDICATES HE'S GOING TO CALL.

AND ANYTHING GET -- GET EVERYBODY ON RECORD WHETHER THEY SUPPORT A BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS OR NOT?

WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING IN THE SPECIAL SESSION?

>> WELL, I THINK LISTENING TO THE AMILIES, LISTENING TO THE BROADER COMMUNITY, IF THEY'RE LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA THEN STUFF WILL HAPPEN BECAUSE I THINK IF YOU BO OUT AND TALK TO REGULAR MINNESOTANS THEY THINK THIS IS A REALLY COMMONSENSE THING.

THAT YOU DON'T NEED WEAPONS OF WAR ON THE STREET.

THAT YOU DON'T NEED A -- - CONTROVERSIAL IDEAS TO MINNESOTANS, THEY MAY BE CONTROVERSIAL AT THE CAPITOL BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S -- I THINK IT'S A COMMONSENSE THING.

>> Eric: IT'S A TIED HOUSE.

WHAT'S THE GUN CONTROL ATTITUDE OF YOUR CAUCUS?

>> MY CAUCUS IS VERY UNITED IN WANTING TO DO SOMETHING MEANINGFUL TO DECREASE GUN VIOLENCE, VERY UNITED.

>> Cathy: ARE YOU STILL TALKING WITH REPUBLICANS ABOUT AN AGENDA?

YOU DON'T WANT TO GO IN WITH AN OPEN AGENDA.

>> WE'RE TALKING -- YOU TALK ABOUT THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEMS WE'RE IN NOW, IT'S GOING TO INVOLVE A LOT OF LISTENING -- ABSOLUTELY, WE'RE HAVING GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS >> Eric: HOW DO YOU AND THE SPEAKER GET ALONG, REPUBLICAN DEMUTH >> DEMUTH AND I CAME INTO THE LEGISLATURE TOGETHER IN 2018, WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER OVER THE YEARS.

AND PARTICULARLY THE LAST SIX MONTHS WHEN I WAS COCHAIR OF THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE AND WE WERE DOING BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS, WE HAVE POSITIVE -- WE DON'T ALWAYS -- OKAY.

>> CFSS >> Cathy: I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN COMPARED TO MELISSA HORTMAN IN THAT YOU WORK CLOSELY WITH HER.

SHE WAS KIND OF A MENTOR OF YOURS.

>> MM-HMM.

>> Cathy: WHAT WOULD BE YOUR LEADERSHIP STYLE?

I MEAN, YOU'VE EARNED FROM HER BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR OWN STYLE SO HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR LEADERSHIP STYLE ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO -- >> ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, MELISSA HORTMAN WHEN I WAS 17 YEARS OLD AND I'M 41 YEARS OLD NOW SO I'VE KNOWN HER MOST OF MY ADULT LIFE.

AND THERE ARE THINGS SHE DID THAT I ABSOLUTELY WANT TO FOLLOW -- TREATMENT THAT THEY DESERVE.

I AM SOMEONE WHO I TRY TO BE MORE OF A SERVANT LEADER, I'M GOING TO SERVE THIS CAUCUS REMEMBERING THAT -- WORKS FOR THE CAUCUS, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

>> Eric: WHAT'S THE IDEA BEHIND MAYBE INCREASING SECURITY EVEN TEMPORARILY DURING THE SPECIAL SESSION?

IS THAT GOING TO COME UP -- >> IT ABSOLUTELY IS GOING TO COME UP BEFORE THE SPECIAL.

AND FRANKLY I DON'T THINK IT CAN BE TEMPORARY.

THE CAPITOL NEEDS TO BE AN ACCESSIBLE PLACE TO THE PUBLIC.

IT WAS BUILT SO THAT PEOPLE CAN WITNESS THEIR GOVERNMENT IN ACTION.

BUT THAT ISN'T ACCESSIBLE IF IT'S NOT SAFE.

IF PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SO THEY WON'T GO AND THEN THE WHOLE THING FALLS APART.

WE NEED TO MAKE THE CAPITOL A SAFE PLACE FOR MINNESOTANS TO GO TO.

AND BY THE WAY THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE, NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT ELECTED, NONPARTISAN STAFF DAY IN AND DAY OUT, THEY DESERVE TO HAVE A SAFE WORKPLACE TOO.

>> Cathy: CAN METAL DETECTORS BE INSTALLED?

WHAT CAN BE DONE PRETTY FAST HERE?

>> THAT NEEDS TO BE -- STATE OF MINNESOTA, YOU HAVE TO WALK THROUGH METAL DETECTORS.

I THINK IF YOU HAVE TO DO THAT TO GET INTO THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY COURTHOUSE YOU SHOULD HAVE TO DO IT TO GET INTO THE STATE CAPITOL.

WE'RE AN OUTLIER ON THIS, WE'RE ONE OF THE FEW STATES THAT DON'T HAVE WEAPONS SCREENS IN THE STATE CAPITOL.

>> Eric: HAT HAPPENS TO -- REPRESENTATIVE HORTMAN WAS SPEAKER EMETA.

ARE YOU TWO GOING TO WORK IN TANDEM?

HOW IS THAT GOING TO WORK?

IS IS >> ABSOLUTELY.

REPRESENTATIVE LONG AND I HAVE BEEN FRIENDS A LONG TIME, HE'S A CRITICAL MEMBER, WE HAVE THINGS WE NEED TO ACCOMPLISH.

WE TALK ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE AND THERE'S ALSO THIS ISSUE OF AFFORDABILITY THAT IS THE NUMBER ISSUE WHEN YOU HEAR WHEN YOU TALK TO MINNESOTANS ACROSS THE STATE ABOUT THE COST OF HEALTH INSURANCE AND HOUSING AND CHILDCARE ARE ALL JUST STRANGLING THE MIDDLE CLASS.

>> Eric: CANDIDATE RECRUITMENT, HOW'S THAT GOING?

>> REALLY WELL.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE EAGER TO WORK.

I HEARD WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER -- MAYBE PEOPLE WOULDN'T RUN OR STEP AWAY.

I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT HASN'T BEEN THE EXPERIENCE.

ACTUALLY A LOT OF PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THE MOMENT WE'RE IN, THE SERIOUSNESS OF IT, THEY WANT TO GET TO WORK.

>> Cathy: WE WISH YOU WELL.

>> I'D LOVE TO COME BACK.

THANKS.

♪ >> Eric: IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE HORRIFIC JUNE POLITICAL SHOOTINGS THAT LEFT SPEAKER EMETA MELISSA HORTMAN AND HUSBAND MARK DEAD.

ATTEMPTED MURDERS OF SENATOR JOHN HOFFMAN AND HIS WIFE.

HOUSE DEMOCRATS MET EARLIER WE THOUGHT THIS WAS A GOOD WEEK TO CHECK IN WITH THEM AGAIN.

SHANNON WATSON HEADS UP "MAJORITY IN THE MIDDLE," A GROUP WHOSE MISSION IS TO BRING TOGETHER PEOPLE FROM ALL SIDES OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM.

JOINING HER IS NATHAN STOCK, AN EXPERT ON CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

-- ASSASSINATION DO TO YOUR MOVEMENT?

>> IT MAKES A LOT MORE PEOPLE PAY ATTENTION OF THE.

AND IT -- THE WORK WASN'T DONE, SO WE HAD INITIALLY SET UP "WHAT WE CAN DO WEEKS" FOR THOSE COUPLE OF WEEKS IN AUGUST AND WE ALREADY KNEW OUR WORK WASN'T GOING TO BE DONE ONCE THE WEEKS WERE OVER AND WE WERE LIKE WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK FOR THE FAIR -- AND COME BACK AND SEE WHAT ELSE WE NEED TO DO.

THE FACT HAT THESE TWO THINGS SORT OF COLLIDED AT THE SAME TIME JUST BRINGS A LITTLE MORE URGENCY TO THE WORK.

>> Cathy: DOES IT GIVE YOU PAUSE EVIDENTLY MORE MERICANS SUPPORT POLITICAL VIOLENCE, 39% OF DEMOCRATS BACK IN MAY AGREED THAT USE OF FORCE IS NECESSARY TO REMOVE PRESIDENT TRUMP.

24% OF REPUBLICANS THINK THAT THE PRESIDENT'S JUSTIFIED IN USING THE U.S. MILITARY TO SUPPRESS DEMOCRATIC PROTESTERS.

-- THE WORK THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO, IT'S A PRETTY DAUNTING SITUATION THAT WE HAVE ERE.

WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT THIS REALLY?

>> SURE.

WELL, WE LIVE IN A CONTEXT WHERE -- HARD OPPOSITION TO THE OTHER SIDE, PERCEPTION THAT THE OTHER SIDE IS OUT TO GET YOU IS VERY DEEPLY INGRAINED.

THAT SAID, IN -- BEFORE AND AFTER THE '24 ELECTION WHEN YOU ASK AMERICANS IS POLITICAL VIOLENCE, IS IT OKAY TO USE FORCE TO PEND AN ELECTION RESULT FOR EXAMPLE HUGE MAJORITIES SAY NO, AND THAT'S 85% CONSISTENTLY REJECT POLITICAL VIOLENCE.

AND WHEN YOU DRILL IN TO, OKAY, IN WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD YOU ACTUALLY -- ENGAGE IN VIOLENCE, THE NUMBERS HAVE TENDED TO BE VERY, VERY LOW.

SO -- >> Cathy: QUOTING A PROFESSOR WE HAD ON NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO THIS MORNING WHO SPENT 30 YEARS STUDYING POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND THOSE FIGURES CAME FROM HIM, SO I WAS JUST CURIOUS AS TO WHAT YOU THOUGHT -- >> I THINK IT DEPENDS ON HOW YOU ASK THE QUESTION.

AND LIKE, YES, THERE ARE SCENARIOS IN WHICH AMERICANS MAY BELIEVE THAT VIOLENCE IS JUSTIFIED.

THAT'S NOT -- MOST PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE IN A FREE AND SAFE SOCIETY AND TAKE THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL AND GO TO LITTLE LEAGUE GAMES AND GO TO WORK.

>> Eric: -- JUST IN A SPASM HERE, LEADER STEPHENSON INDICATED ANYPLACE A THING THAT COULD COME AND GO.

IS IT PERMANENT OR IS IT A FAD?

>> I CERTAINLY HOPE IT'S A FAD.

AND I DO THINK THAT THE MORE PEOPLE WHO PAY ATTENTION TO SORT OF HOW FAR WE'VE GONE AND SAY, OKAY, THIS IS NOT OKAY, THIS IS ENOUGH AND THEN THEY OWN, THEY TAKE STEPS IN THEIR OWN LIVES, IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES TO DOWNPLAY THE RHETORIC AND COMMUNICATE THAT THIS IS NOT THE SOCIETY THAT WE WANT TO LIVE IN.

HOPEFULLY THAT CAN STOP MORE OF THE VIOLENCE FROM HAPPENING.

>> Cathy: WHAT ABOUT LEADERS -- ON BOTH SIDES -- THINK IT'S BECAUSE OF THEM.

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A GRASSROOTS KIND OF FROM THE BOTTOM, UP.

BUT WHAT FROM THE TOP?

>> WELL, YOU NEED BOTH.

I MEAN, THERE'S VERY CLEAR RESEARCH FROM THE INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT CONTEXT THAT LEADERS SET AN IMPORTANT TONE AND WHEN YOU SEE LEADERS DEMONIZING GROUPS OF PEOPLE, PAINTING COMMUNITIES AS THREATENING BECAUSE OF THEIR IDENTITY, THEN, YEAH, YOU OPEN THE DOOR TO -- CERTAIN PEOPLE.

THAT'S VERY, VERY DANGEROUS.

WELL, THEN YOU GET EVERYBODY ELSE WHO'S STILL IN WHAT I CALL THE SILENT MAJORITY, WE HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO LIFT UP OUR VOICES AND SAY, LOOK, WE DON'T WANT THIS.

AND ULTIMATELY YOU BUILD A BIG ENOUGH MOVEMENT THAT YOU CHANGE -- THAT MAKE -- RHETORIC, DEHUMANIZING LANGUAGE -- -- >> WE HAVE AN ATTENTION ECONOMY AND PEOPLE ARE REWARDED FOR SORT OF STOKING THOSE DIVISIONS AND THAT -- UNTIL VOTERS TELL THEM NOT TO.

>> >> I WAS AT THE DNC, DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE HEARING IN MINNEAPOLIS AND MANY OF THE SPEAKERS THREW IN A SWEAR WORD AND WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT FOR THIS OR WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT FOR THAT.

DIDN'T SEEM LIKE THEY WERE -- TEMPERATURE, JUST AS AN EXAMPLE.

>> THAT WAS A VERY SPECIFIC ROOM, VERY SPECIFIC AUDIENCE, THEY'RE SORT OF TRYING TO FIRE EACH OTHER UP.

I -- MEETINGS WAS POIGNANT AND REALLY A MESSAGE THAT I WOULD LIKE AMPLIFIED.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME WHEN YOU SPEND A LOT F TIME IMMERSED IN THOSE CLIQUES THEN YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO SEE DIVISION ON THE OTHER SIDE AS THREATENING TO YOU.

AND THEN OF COURSE WHEN YOU KNOW PEOPLE WHO ARE LITERALLY GETTING ASSASSINATED, THAT AFFECTS YOU AT A VERY HUMAN LEVEL.

AND SO I'M TRYING TO GIVE PEOPLE A LOT OF GRACE RIGHT NOW, KNOWING THAT SOMETIMES THE THINGS THAT YOU SAY WHEN YOU ARE FEARFUL OR ANGRY OR GRIEVING LIKE YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT AT YOUR 100% BEST.

AND SO LIKE GIVING PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT OF LEEWAY FOR RIGHT NOW.

>> Cathy: NATHAN, YOU'RE A MIDDLE EAST EX-PELTER AND I'M WONDERING, GENERATIONS ON BOTH BOAT SIDES OF THAT CONFLICT HAVE DEMONIZED THEIR OPPONENTS, RIGHT?

I MEAN, IT'S ALMOST LIKE -- DO YOU SEE THE -- GOING IN THAT KIND OF DIRECTION IN TERMS OF THIS INGRAINED DEHUMANIZING LANGUAGE, RHETORIC BEING USED OR NOT?

>> AT THIS MOMENT IN OUR HISTORY, HARD -- PARTISANS ON THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT -- SEE THE OTHER SIDE AS THREATENING.

THERE'S A LOT OF RESEARCH, I RECOMMEND THE ORGANIZATION MORE -- THAT SUGGESTS THAT THE MEDIAN REPUBLICAN OVERESTIMATES THE CONSERVATIVENESS -- PARDON ME, THE LIBERALNESS OF THE MEDIAN DEMOCRATIC AND VICE VERSA.

WE TEND TO CARICATURE OUR POLITICAL OPPONENTS.

HOWEVER, WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE PERIODS IN UR HISTORY OF POLARIZATION AND DEPOLARIZATION.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE PERIOD 1900 THROUGH 1970 YOU SAW A PERIOD OF POLITICAL DIVERGENCE.

-- THERE'S ALSO EVIDENCE FROM OUR PAST OF MOVING IN THE OTHER DIRECTION.

>> Eric: AND WE'RE 50/50 AS A COUNTRY WHICH DOESN'T HELP MATTERS I SUPPOSE.

>> 50/50 OR IT DEPENDS N HOW YOU TALK TO.

IS I CAN'T REMEMBER IF IT'S PEW OR GALLUP, LAST YEAR WAS THE FIRST YEAR THEY DID THEIR ANNUAL SURVEY OF WHAT PEOPLE IDENTIFIED AS, AND MORE PEOPLE HAVE FINALLY STARTED IDENTIFYING AS INDEPENDENTS RATHER THAN, YOU KNOW, REPUBLICAN PARTY OR DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE DO HAVE A GENERAL LEAN ONE WAY OR THE OTHER BUT THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE NOW IN THIS COUNTRY WHO ARE IDENTIFYING AS INDEPENDENTS.

WHICH I THINK IT INTERESTING.

>> Eric: OOD LUCK.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Eric: YOU BET.

>> Cathy: IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.

♪ >> I WAS ON TV TALKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN ALL PRACTICE BETTER DIALOGUE ACROSS DIFFERENCE WHEN NEWS OF ANOTHER POLITICAL ASSASSINATION CUT THE SEGMENT SHORT.

IT IS DEEPLY SAD.

THERE IS A HUMAN TRAGEDY, AS THERE IS EVERY TIME A PERSON DECIDES TO TAKE ANOTHER’S LIFE.

I AM SO SORRY FOR CHARLIE KIRK, HIS FAMILY, AND EVERYONE WHO CARED ABOUT HIM.

JUST AS I WAS AND AM STILL SO SORRY AND SO SAD FOR MELISSA AND MARK HORTMAN, THEIR FAMILY, AND THEIR FRIENDS, AND EVERYONE WHO LOVED THEM.

AND I AM SO DISMAYED THAT WE ARE SEEMINGLY MARCHING TOWARD THE NORMALIZATION OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE.

I DO NOT WANT THIS TO BE AN EVERGREEN MONOLOGUE.

I DON’T WANT A MESSAGE OF GRIEF AND DESPAIR BECAUSE A PERSON WAS KILLED FOR THEIR POLITICAL BELIEFS TO BECOME ROUTINE, WHERE IT’S JUST THE NAMES AND PARTY THAT CHANGES.

WE CAN CHOOSE TO REVERSE THIS DOWNWARD PIRAL.

WE CAN ALL DECRY HEINOUS ACTS LIKE THIS ACROSS THE BOARD AND MAKE CLEAR WE DO NOT WANT TO LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE THIS IS EVER OKAY.

ONE SMALL YET MEANINGFUL THING THAT WE CAN ALL DO IS THAT WE CAN REACH OUT TO PEOPLE ACROSS THE DIVIDES AND LET THEM KNOW WE CARE ABOUT THEM.

YOU CAN DO THIS.

AND IT WILL MATTER.

IT WILL MATTER TO THAT PERSON AND IN A WAY IT WILL MATTER FOR ALL OF US.

WE ARE BIG ENOUGH AND STRONG ENOUGH TO BUILD BONDS BETWEEN OURSELVES WHERE OUR SHARED HUMANITY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING OF ALL.

AND I BELIEVE, I REALLY DO BELIEVE THERE IS ENOUGH GOOD AND THERE IS ENOUGH LOVE IN ALL OF US TO SHAPE A WORLD THAT IS DEFINED Y GOOD AND LOVE.

BUT WE GOTTA CHOOSE TO O THAT.

EACH AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US.

AND WE OUGHTA DO IT NOW.

♪ >> Cathy: THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA PRESS RELEASED THEIR NEWEST COOKBOOK THIS SUMMER CALLED, "KITCHENS OF HOPE."

BEYOND SHARING RECIPES FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE, THE GOAL IS TO SHARE STORIES OF IMMIGRANTS ALONGSIDE THE DISHES FROM THEIR HOMELANDS.

THE BOOK BOASTS MORE THAN FIFTY RECIPES AND FEATURES DOZENS OF CONTRIBUTORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

JOINING US NOW IS CO-AUTHOR LEE SVITAK DEAN, SHE SPENT DECADES WRITING FOR THE STAR TRIBUNE TASTE SECTION.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE SECTIONS.

WITH HER IS ONE OF THE CONTRIBUTORS, INGRID KUBISA.

INGRID, SO NICE TO HAVE YOU HERE, THANK YOU.

LEE, GOSH, IT'S BEEN SUCH A LONG TIME SINCE YOU'VE BEEN HERE.

THANK YOU.

SAY, I WANT TO KNOW, HOW ARE THE DISHES AND THE COOKS PICKED?

>> IT WAS A VERY INTERESTING PROCESS WHERE WE -- WILLING TO TALK TO US AND IT TOOK AWHILE TO GAIN SOME TRUST THAT THESE CRAZY THREE AUTHORS WERE ACTUALLY GOING TO PUT A BOOK TOGETHER.

SO ONCE WE STARTED TALKING WITH PEOPLE AND THEY FELT COMFORTABLE WITH US, THEN THEY TOLD THEIR FRIENDS AND WE GOT A WIDER CIRCLE.

AND WHAT WE DID, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE COVERED THE ENTIRE WORLD WITH THE STORIES AND WE ACTUALLY HAD SPREADSHEETS OF, YOU KNOW, HERE ARE THE PEOPLE FROM SOUTH AMERICA, HERE ARE THE PEOPLE FROM THE FAR EAST, HERE ARE THE PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER.

AND.

>> Cathy: YOU'RE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO.

>> YES.

>> WHAT DISHES DID YOU GROW UP THAT YOU STILL MISS >> CASAVA LEAVES, ONE OF SOME OF THE FAVORITE DISH.

AND A LOT OF FISH, I'M STILL MISSING THAT ONE, I CAN FIND A LOT HERE BUT IT'S NOT THAT FRESH.

>> Eric: HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN THIS AND WHY DID YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE?

>> BECAUSE IT WAS A REALLY INTERESTING OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO TELL THE PEOPLE WITH ABOUT WHERE I'M COMING FROM.

THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO IS KNOWN FOR WAR BUT ALSO IT'S A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY.

AND AS THEY SAID, THEY REACHED OUT TO SO MANY PEOPLE AND ONE OF MY FRIENDS DID WHEN I WAS WORKING WITH THE ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND THAT'S HOW I GOT INVOLVED.

>> Cathy: WHEN YOU ARRIVED IN THIS COUNTRY, HOW MUCH F A FOOD CULTURE SHOCK WAS IT?

>> OOH, IT WAS REALLY, REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE I COME FROM A FAMILY WHERE RADIO MY MOM GOT UP AT 5:00 A.M. TO JUST COOK NOT KNOWING WHO WAS GOING TO COME TO THE HOUSE TO EAT.

AND HERE IT WAS LIKE HOT DOGS, LIKE NOT BIG MEALS AT THE TABLE.

SO THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING FOR ME, TO GO TO PEOPLE'S PLACE JUST LIKE, OKAY, WE ONLY HAVE THIS DISH AND THIS AND THIS.

AND I GREW UP IN A FAMILY WHERE LIKE THE TABLE WAS ALWAYS FULL.

AND, YEAH, A LOT OF FOOD HAD SUGAR, WHICH WAS REALLY INTERESTING, LESS SPICY, SO, YEAH.

>> Eric: ON THAT SPICE ISSUE, HOW EXOTIC DID THE SPICES GET AS YOU SAMPLED THESE RECIPES?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT THERE WERE SPICES THAT WEREN'T NECESSARILY ON EVERYONE'S PANTRY SHELF ORIGINALLY, AND WE HAD TO LOOK FOR SOME OF THEM AND ALWAYS GOT HELP FROM THE CONTRIBUTORS LIKE INGRID HERE.

BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT THEY MADE OUR KITCHENS SMELL WONDERFUL WHEN WE WERE TESTING THE RECIPES, AND WE HAVE QUITE A -- >> Cathy: OF COURSE YOU DID, OKAY.

WHAT AS THAT LIKE?

>> IT WAS A VERY LONG PROCESS AND VERY INTERESTING.

OUR KITCHEN SMELLED WONDERFUL AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE.

IT TOOK US TO -- -- WASN'T NECESSARILY AWARE OF ORIGINALLY SO THAT WAS REALLY A GREAT ADVENTURE FOR US.

>> Cathy: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE INTERNATIONAL MARKET HERE IN THE TWIN CITIES?

>> THERE IS THE SUN FOOD, A FEW LOCATIONS, SUN FOODS.

IT'S AN ASIAN MARKET BUT YOU CAN STILL FIND LIKE AFRICAN FOOD AND ALSO IN BROOKLYN PARK AN AFRICAN, INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN MARKET WHERE YOU CAN FIND ALMOST EVERYTHING NOW.

>> Eric: HOW MUCH DOES FOOD CONTRIBUTE TO THE CULTURE OF THE CONGO?

>> FOOD IT IS EVERYTHING, ESPECIALLY WHERE I WAS BORN, THE EASTERN PART, SIDE OF KONG YES, IT'S A PLACE WHERE HOSPITALITY COMMUNITY AND FOOD IS LIKE THE MAIN THING.

SO GROWING UP, WE SHARE FOOD LIKE CHRISTMAS, FOR INSTANCE, I'LL JUST GO TO MY EIGHBOR'S PLACE WITH FOOD AND JUST KNOCK AND, HEY, TODAY WE HAD MAYBE -- OR DONUTS, AND YOU GUYS -- AND MAYBE WANT TO TRADE.

>> Eric: -- RELATIONSHIPS IT SOUNDS LIKE.

>> YES, YES.

YEAH.

>> Cathy: -- YOUR BOOK.

>> I THINK THAT I WAS REALLY TOUCHED BY HOW IMPORTANT THE FOOD TRADITIONS WERE AMONG THE INDIVIDUALS FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AND ALSO JUST THE SORT OF SENSE THAT THEY BROUGHT BY HAVING THESE MEALS AND INCORPORATING THEIR FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, NEW NEIGHBORS, IT JUST NOT ONLY EXPANDED SORT OF THEIR TASTE BUDS BUT REALLY JUST MADE FOR A MORE NEIGHBORLY, MORE FRIENDLY SENSE OF HUMANITY, YOU KNOW.

>> Cathy: A COMMUNAL EXPERIENCE.

>> YES, VERY MUCH.

>> Eric: PROCEEDS FROM THE BOOK.

>> THE PROCEEDS FROM THE BOOK GO TO THE ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, WHICH IS A LOCAL NON-PROFIT THAT DOES GLOBAL WORK AND AMONG THE HUMAN RIGHTS THAT THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT IS IMMIGRATION, SO THAT'S -- >> Eric: WHAT'S YOUR IMMIGRATION STORY, INGRID?

>> SO I ALSO CAME AS I SAID AT THE BEGINNING IT'S BECAUSE OF GROWING UP IN CONGO, IT'S A WARTORN COUNTRY.

I DO RECOMMEND EVERYONE TO VISIT ONE DAY.

BUT BECAUSE OF WAR MY FAMILY HAD TO MOVE HERE IN 2016 TO SEEK ASYLUM AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE.

NOW WE ARE U.S. CITIZENS, WE ARE ABLE TO GO BACK AND FULLY GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH IN MINNESOTA, WE WANT TO GO BACK WITH MY SISTERS ND PEN A COFFEE SHOP AND GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY BACK IN CONGO.

>> Eric: HOW BIG IS YOUR STORY?

>> I'M THE OLDEST AND I HAVE FIVE YOUNG -- AND JUST GOT MARRIED.

SO, YEAH, GETTING BIG.

>> Cathy: CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Cathy: IS THERE GOING TO BE A -- >> WE HAVE SOME EVENTS COMING UP -- AS WELL AS AT THE AMERICAN SWEDISH INSTITUTE COMING UP AT THE END OF THE MONTH.

AND BARNES & NOBLE, YES.

>> Cathy: WHAT A GREAT PROJECT.

I LOVE IT.

>> Eric: IT IS FANTASTIC.

THERE IT IS.

"KITCHENS OF HOPE," AVAILABLE AT ALL THE USUAL PLACES.

>> THE USUALLY PLACES AND LIBRARIES.

>> Eric: PERFECT FOR HOLIDAY GIFT-GIVING.

♪ >> Eric: CONTINUING OUR QUEST TO FIND SOLUTIONS AND HOPE IN THE CURRENT POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT, THERE'S A NEW FILM PREMIERING THIS WEEKEND ON AMAZON PRIME CALLED 'THE CASE FOR KINDNESS.'

POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER HAS A LOCAL CONNECTION TO THIS GLOBAL PROJECT.

>> I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK FOR IT, YOU'LL PROBABLY FIND SOME SOMETHING KIND INSIDE OF EVERYBODY.

>> WHAT EXACTLY IS KINDNESS AGAIN?

>> PBS HAS LONG TRIED TO MODEL KINDNESS, AND NOW SO IS A FIL FILMMAKER WITH CONNECTIONS TO MINNESOTA.

>> SPECIFICALLY TARKEY WHERE WE ARE NOW.

>> MY MOTHER AND STEPFATHER -- FOUNDATION AND THAT'S JUST KIND OF WHAT I GREW UP DOING AND HELPING PEOPLE HEAR AROUND THE WORLD.

>> I'VE BEEN TRAYING THE WORLD AS A FILMMAKER FOR 20 YEARS.

>> THE CASE IS A PROJECT THAT CAN PROVIDE HOPE.

>> I THINK FOR MINNESOTANS, THIS CAN BE PARTICULARLY -- WITH WHAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH WITH THE POLITICAL ASSASSINATION AND SCHOOL SHOOTING.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK COMMON THEMES WE HAVE IN THE FILM IS MOMENTS PEOPLE FIND PURPOSE.

YOU KNOW, AND SCARLET LEWIS WHO -- SANDY HOOK.

>> SOMETIME SHORTLY BEFORE HE DIED.

I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.

I STOPPED IN MY TRACKS.

AND I KNEW INSTANTLY THAT IF THE SHOOTER HAD BEEN ABLE TO GIVE AND RECEIVE -- NURTURING -- RIGHT THERE.

>> AFTER WE SUFFERED THROUGH A SCHOOL SHOOTING I THINK OUR COMMUNITY REALLY NEEDS SOME SOLUTIONS.

I'M WONDERING WHAT YOU PROVIDE US.

>> WELL, THANK YOU, MARY.

AND I'M SO SORRY FOR WHAT YOUR COMMUNITY WENT THROUGH.

WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS -- >> THIS IS JESSE'S CLASS PICTURE.

AND INCREDIBLE TO THINK HALF OF THOSE KIDS ARE GOING TO BE MURDERED.

>> CHOOSE KINDNESS FOR THE PERSON WHO TOOK YOUR SON'S LIFE.

THAT IS NOT AN EASY SOLUTION.

WHY WAS IT THE BEST SOLUTION FOR YOU?

>> WELL, I THINK YOU NEED TO UNPACK INDNESS JUST A LITTLE BIT AND HE CHOOSE LOVE MOVEMENT HAS A FORMULA THAT WE ACTUALLY TEACH IN SCHOOLS ALL OVER THE WORLD FROM REAL LITTLES, EVEN DAYCARES TO 12 GRADE, HOMES, COMMUNITIES, AND THAT STARTS WITH COURAGE.

>> IT'S EASY TO VILIFY A SHOOTER IN YOUR SON'S SITUATION, IN THE MINNESOTA SCHOOL SHOOTING.

THE HARDER CHOICE, THE MORE COMPLICATED CHOICE IS THIS -- KIND OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE HURT PERSON WHO HURT PEOPLE.

>> THAT IS MY GOAL IS TO KIND OF SHIFT OUR PERCEPTION OF THESE PEOPLE FROM GOOD AND BAD.

THEY WEREN'T BORN SCHOOL SHOOTERS, THEY WEREN'T BORN MASS MURDERERS.

IF WE COULD IDENTIFY THAT BEFOREHAND AND ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS AND ADDRESS THE PAIN AND GIVE THEM -- LIFE SKILLS THEY NEED TO GROW AND TO LEARN FROM, GROW THROUGH AND BE STRENGTHENED BY THAT PAIN, THEY WOULD NEVER GET TO THE POINT WHERE THEY ARE SO HOPELESS THAT THEY WANT TO RELEASE PAIN ONTO SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE.

>> WHAT SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATION WOULD YOU HAVE FOR MINNESOTA LAWMAKERS?

WE'RE KIND OF HEARING THE USUAL IT'S GUN CONTROL AND IT'S MORE MENTAL HEALTH.

IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU THINK THERE'S SOMETHING FAR MORE EFFECTIVE IN THERE.

>> THEY'RE RIGHT, THE PROBLEM IS GUN VIOLENCE AND THE LACK OF MENTAL HEALTH, ABSOLUTELY THEY'RE RIGHT.

THIS POLITICAL RHETORIC THAT'S GOING ON AND THE FIGHTING BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES WHILE OUR CHILDREN ARE SUFFERING AND DYING -- HAVE TO START LOOKING -- -- SORT OF THING THAT LEADS TO THESE HEINOUS ACTS.

>> LOVE, KINDNESS IS A CHOICE IN EVERY SITUATION.

>> WHAT RESPONSIBILITY AS STORYTELLERS DO WE HAVE?

>> FOR ME AS A TORYTELLER I WANT TO BE HONEST.

I DIDN'T NOW A LOT ABOUT KINDNESS BUT -- A KIND ACT, YOU RELEASE OXYTOCIN AND WHILE YOU'RE VIEWING A KIND ACT YOU GET THE SAME BENEFITS AS IF YOU WERE DOING IT.

>> I DON'T WANT NO ONE TO BE HURT, DON'T HURT THEM NO MORE.

I LOVE YOU, MAN.

>> THANK YOU, MAN.

>> I ENJOY THE DISCUSSION WITH PEOPLE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WE -- EACH OTHER AS PEOPLE.

>> MINNESOTA IS WHERE GEORGE FLOYD WAS MURDERED, WHERE AN INTERNATIONAL RACIAL RECKONING HAPPENED.

>> FOR ME IT'S LOOKING AT A LOT OF THE ISSUES BASED HERE IN THE U.S. AND ONE OF THOSE HAPPENS TO BE RACIAL INJUSTICE.

AND BULLYING AND HATE.

AND IN POLITICS -- ARE SO POLAR OPPOSITES AND -- WILLING TO GET PAST THAT.

AND I DON'T THINK IT'S EVER BEEN LIKE THAT BEFORE.

>> IT HASN'T AND -- BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT.

>> TALK ABOUT LUIS MIRANDA AND WHAT HE AS A POLITICAL STRATEGIST SAYS ABOUT THE HATE AND DIVISIVENESS IN POLITICS.

>> WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU CHANGED -- -- COMMONALITY OF WHAT YOU FIND.

AND A LOT OF IT'S FOUND IN MUSIC.

AND GARTH TALKS ABOUT WHEN HE'S AT A CONCERT HE DOESN'T SEE RED OR BLUE, HE SEES PURPLE.

>> THE SOLUTIONS ARE NOT IN OUR DIFFERENCES BUT IN OUR COMMONALITIES.

>> DO YOU -- THIS OPTIMISTIC?

>> YEAH, I DO, ACTUALLY.

-- ABLE TO MEET A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WENT THROUGH REALLY DARK THINGS.

YOU KNOW, MOMENTS IN THEIR LIFE.

THEIR TRAGEDY TURNED INTO A PURPOSE.

YOU KNOW, IF ANYTHING, I CAME AWAY WITH THIS NDERSTANDING THAT WE NEED COMMUNITY AND WE NEED PEOPLE TO BE TOGETHER.

AND THAT'S HOW WE'LL MOVE FORWARD.

>> WHAT WILL DETERMINE THE FATE OF HUMANITY?

TO ME, THE ANSWER IS OBVIOUS.

KINDNESS.

♪ >> Eric: WE END THE HOUR TONIGHT WITH A FAMILIAR COUCH FULL OF POLITICOS.

ANDY BREHM, FORMER PRESS SECRETARY FOR U.S.

SENATOR NORM COLEMAN, NOW A LAWYER AND COLUMNIST FOR THE STAR TRIBUNE.

PREYA SAMSUNDAR, G.O.P.

STRATEGIST, FORMER COMMUNICATIONS.

DEMOCRATS WITH US, JEFF HAYDEN, FORMER SENATE DEPUTY MAJORITY LEADER NOW A LEGISLATIVE LOBBYIST.

ROUNDING OUT THE GROUP TONIGHT SUSAN KENT FORMER STATE SENATE MINORITY LATER AND D.F.L.ER.

ANOTHER COLUMN, EXCELLENT COLUMN -- WHY DOES THIS TOUCH SUCH A NERVE, DO YOU THINK?

>> OH, A COUPLE REASONS.

THERE'S THE PURE VIOLENCE OF WHAT WE SAW.

I WOULDN'T ADVISE ANYONE TO WATCH THAT VIDEO BUT FOR THOSE OF US THAT DID IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO UNSEE.

A FATHER, A USBAND, JUST BRUTALLY MURDERED IN FRONT OF 3,000 PEOPLE, IT'S A HORRIFIC SIGHT.

AND -- WHO WE ARE AS A PEOPLE.

POLITICAL VIOLENCE IS N ATTACK ON EACH ONE OF US, IT IS AN ATTACK ON OUR WAY OF DOING THINGS HERE SO IT DOES IMPACT EACH OF US IN A VERY PERSONAL WAY.

>> Eric: HOW DOES T AFFECT THE CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT I GUESS YOU'D SAY?

>> I THINK IN A LOT OF WAYS WE'RE KIND OF AT A CROSSROADS HERE BECAUSE IN A LOT OF WAYS WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE, THESE ACTS OF VIOLENCE, AND I THINK AS A LOT OF REPUBLICANS AND CONSERVATIVES ARE SEEING IT, THEY'RE SEEING IT AS, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE TRYING TO SILENCE OUR VOICE, SOMEONE THAT'S TRYING TO PUT US BACK IN -- TRYING TO KEEP US OUT OF THE WAY SO THAT AN AGENDA CAN GO FORWARD.

THAT'S HOW -- SEEING IT.

AND THEY'RE TAKING IT AS A CHALLENGE, THEY WANT TO CARRY CHARLIE KIRK'S LEGACY ON.

THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE BEING LOUD, THAT THEY'RE BEING PROUD THAT THEY'RE NOT HYING AWAY, THEY'RE SHARING THEIR FAITH, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT HE ISSUES AND THEY'RE HAVING IT JUST LIKE CHARLIE KIRK DID, JUST LIKE BEN SHAPIRO DOES IN A VERY RESPECTFUL MANNER BUT AT THE SAME TIME HAVING THESE OPEN AIR PUBLIC CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE ISSUES, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE HAVING THAT DEBATE ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND EVERYWHERE ELSE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> Cathy: CHARLIE KIRK WAS EXERCISING HIS RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH -- ORGANIZATIONS THAT -- HE SAYS FOMENT POLITICAL -- I'M WONDERING THAT WOULD ALSO BE A CRACKDOWN ON SPEECH, SO THIS IS A BOTH SIDES PROBLEM, RIGHT?

>> NOT NECESSARILY, AND I THINK WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

IT'S THIS DEA ALMOST THAT WE'VE LOST OUR SENSE OF EMPATHY, WE'VE LOST OUR SENSE OF VALUE FOR HUMAN LIFE.

AND WHAT YOU'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW AND I THINK THIS HAS BEEN SO TROUBLING AS A YOUNG CONSERVATIVE MYSELF WATCHING THIS PLAY OUT IN THE WAKE OF CHARLIE KIRK'S DEATH IS THAT THERE ARE SO MANY DEMOCRATS ONLINE RIGHT NOW THAT ARE CHEERING THAT HE DIED, THAT ARE CELEBRATING.

IT'S HORRIFIC, IT'S HORRIBLE TO WATCH.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE SEEING THAT.

WHAT I'M SEEING IS DEMOCRATS OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN SAYING THIS WAS TERRIBLE AND POLITICAL VIOLENCE IS NEVER THE ANSWER.

AND I THINK WE SHOULD ALL BE ABLE TO STAND UP AND SAY THAT.

AND WE CAN SAY THAT IT IS A TERRIBLE THING THAT THIS YOUNG FATHER AND HUSBAND IS GONE IN A TERRIBLE WAY.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE ALSO HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND WE SHOULD SEE MUCH MORE, I THINK DONALD TRUMP'S IMMEDIATE RESPONSE BEFORE WE KNEW WHO IT WAS, ANYTHING ABOUT HIM, NYTHING ABOUT HIS MOTIVE, WAS IMMEDIATELY ATTACKING THE LEFT, WITHOUT ANY INFORMATION.

WE NEED OUR LEADERS LIKE DONALD TRUMP, LIKE REPUBLICANS AND OUR LEADERS - DEMOCRATS COMING TOGETHER AND SAYING THIS IS NOT -- -- >> Cathy: THERE WERE -- ONLINE SAYING THIS GUY GOT WHAT HE DESERVED, YOU KNOW?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, YOU CAN PARSE OUT.

I JUST THINK WHAT SUSAN IS SAYING, SENATOR KENT, OVERWHELMINGLY DEMOCRATIC LEADERS THAT I SAW, NOW, THIS IS THE PROBLEM WITH SOCIAL MEDIA, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT, IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT AND WHAT'S BEING FED BACK TO YOU.

>> YOUR ALGORITHM.

>> OVERWHELMINGLY I SAW PEOPLE SAYING LIKE THIS WAS TERRIBLE.

ESPECIALLY DEMOCRATS AND LEADERS IN HIS STATE THAT JUST WENT THROUGH THE SAME THING.

AND I WILL REMIND FOLKS THAT MELISSA HORTMAN IS A DEMOCRAT AND SHE WAS THE SPEAKER EMETA OF THE DEMOCRATS, AND HER HUSBAND.

JOHN HOFFMAN WHO MAY BE WATCHING THE SHOW RIGHT NOW IS A LEADER AND A DEMOCRAT.

SO I THINK WE HAVE TO BE REALLY CAREFUL -- AND FOR ME -- KEEPS COMING BACK AROUND -- PEOPLE KNOW MY SISTER WAS KILLED -- THE SPECIFIC NATURE OF GUN VIOLENCE, AND THEN TO IMMEDIATELY START TO ASSESS BLAME, I JUST READ IN THE NEW YORK TIMES TODAY THAT THE YOUNG MAN WE HAVE NO IDEA WHY HE DID IT GREW UP IN A REPUBLICAN SUBURB OF UTAH AND NOBODY REALLY KNOWS, SO I DON'T WANT TO SUGGEST THAT HE WAS OR WHAT HIS MOTIVE WAS SO WE DON'T KNOW AND SO WE SHOULD SAY THAT AND SO I THINK THAT AS PEOPLE HO HAVE A PLATFORM NO MATTER IF YOU'RE ELECTED OFFICIAL, FORMER ONE, WE SHOULD BE REALLY, REALLY CAREFUL.

AND I WILL SAY -- LAST TIME THAT THIS HAPPENED AND WE HAD DEMOCRATIC LEADERS OR REPUBLICAN LEADERS THAT THEY WERE GOING TO TONE IT DOWN AND CONTINUES GET TONED DOWN, THE RHETORIC IS SO HIGH.

>> Eric: WELL, BOTH SIDES ARE DOING THAT.

>> NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

THE GOSPEL READING TODAY, I'M A CATHOLIC, TAKE THE PLANK OUT OF YOUR OWN EYE BEFORE YOU START LOOKING IN THE SPECK OF YOUR NEIGHBOR'S EYE, AND BOTH PARTIES HERE HAVE INCREASED THE RHETORIC AND I THINK WE BOTH HAVE TO DO BETTER.

>> YEAH, BUT ANDY, I WANT TO BE CAREFUL HERE BECAUSE I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS IS THAT, YES, Mr. KIRK SHOULDN'T HAVE DIED.

BUT I DON'T KNOW IF HE FOLLOWED THAT, I DON'T KNOW IF HE FOLLOWED THAT SCRIPTURE EITHER.

I'M JUST NOT SURE.

I MEAN, THE THINGS THAT I SEE AND HEAR.

>> THERE SHOULD NEVER BE A "BUT," THOUGH.

THIS MAN WAS ASSASSINATED IN FRONT OF 3,000 PEOPLE.

HIS MURDER WAS CAPTURED ON MULTIPLE CAMERA LEVELS ACROSS THE BOARD.

THERE SHOULD NEVER BE A "BUT."

>> BUT THERE SHOULDN'T -- >> MELISSA HORTMAN WAS MURDERED.

>> OH, YES, THEY DID.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> THERE WERE PEOPLE SAYING THAT ALL THE TIME.

>> -- DISCUSSION IS PART OF THE PROBLEM.

THIS IS PART OF THE PROBLEM.

AND WHEN MELISSA HORTMAN DIED MOST REPUBLICANS WERE OUTRAGED BY IT BUT SENATOR MIKE LEE SAID A BUNCH OF GARBAGE.

>> AND IT WASN'T JUST HIM.

>> AND REPUBLICANS LIKE ME CALLED HIM OUT.

AND LET ME FINISH, JEFF.

MOST DEMOCRATS HAVE TOO, NOT ALL OF THEM, OKAY?

SO THE POINT IS WE NEED A RESET AND IT STARTS BY LOOKING OURSELVES IN THE EYE AND OUR OWN PARTIES IN THE EYE.

EASY TO POINT FINGERS, WE'VE DONE THAT FOR A LONG TIME.

I THINK THE HARD WORK IS HOW CAN WE ALL DO BETTER, BOTH PARTIES CAN.

>> 'M JUST GOING TO GO BACK TO THE FACT THAT HE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME WAS ABSOLUTELY MAKING CLAIMS ABOUT WHO'S RESPONSIBLE AND WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

HE WAS OT ACT LIKE ALL THE OTHER FORMER PRESIDENTS DID WHO STOOD UP AND SAID POLITICAL VIOLENCE IS NEVER THE ANSWER.

>> AND ILHAN OMAR AND ERIN MAYE QUADE WERE TWEETING THINGS OUT -- GO BACK AND FORTH.

>> I'M SORRY, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, THERE'S ONE OF THEM.

BEEN SETTING THE EXAMPLE.

HE ABSOLUTELY DID NOT.

>> I THINK HIS -- SOMEONE THAT HE WAS VERY CLOSE WAS AGAIN, MURDERED.

>> AND MELISSA HORTMAN WAS A VERY GOOD FRIEND -- >> Eric: LOOKING TO THE SPECIAL SESSION, IS THERE MOMENTUM FOR AN ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN OR SOMETHING ELSE?

OR IS THIS JUST AN ATTEMPT FOR DEMOCRATS TO GET REPUBLICANS ON RECORD WHAT THEY THINK ON THAT ISSUE?

>> ERIC, I THINK WE SHOULD REFRAME THAT.

AND I'M KIND OF GETTING THE IDEA THAT WE SHOULD ALL CARE ABOUT THESE ISSUES.

>> YES.

>> WE SHOULD CARE ABOUT SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH, WE SHOULD CARE ABOUT ASSAULT RIFLES MEANT FOR WAR.

I WAS SITTING AT THE VFW IN MINNEAPOLIS WITH ETERANS THAT SAYS THAT YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE AN ASSAULT RIFLE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR POLITICAL, THEY BELIEVE IN THE SECOND AMENDMENT.

SO WE SHOULD LOOK AT DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS AND HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AND YOU SAID EXACTLY WHAT WE SAID WE DON'T WANT TO DO WHICH IS TO PUT IT IN A POLITICAL FRAME AS OPPOSED TO CARING ABOUT OUR CHILDREN.

I DON'T MEAN TO ATTACK YOU, ERIC, I'M JUST SAYING THAT'S THE PROBLEM WE HAVE HERE.

>> THE GOVERNOR -- FOOTBALL, I AGREE WHEN YOU HAVE A TRAGEDY LIKE THIS YOU HAVE TO HAVE EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE.

THE GOVERNOR'S JUST INCAPABLE OF DOING AND HE SAID, HEY, IT'S TIME FOR POLITICAL SHOTS, PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF THAT.

WE CAN HAVE A DEBATE ON GUN CONTROL BUT LET'S DO IT WITH THE -- SCHOOL SECURITY AND DO IT IN A WAY THAT -- >> WE KEEP DOING THIS, WE KEEP PUTTING THIS IN POLITICAL [ NO AUDIO ] THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE -- DAY ONE BUT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A DISCUSSION, THE LEGISLATURE WOULDN'T VEN BE AT FULL STRENGTH UNTIL FEBRUARY SO IF THEY DO THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A BIPARTISAN PACKAGE THAT THEY PUT THROUGH.

>> Eric: ARE YOU TAKING THE TICS OUT OF A POLITICS?

WHAT IS A RIPER POLITICAL ISSUE THAN GUN CONTROL -- BAN?

>> I'M JUST TRYING TO PARROT AND MIMIC WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE JUST SAYS, WHICH IS WE SHOULD CARE ABOUT PEOPLE.

WE JUST HAD A PIECE BEFORE THAT SAID WE SHOULD BE KIND AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR PEOPLE.

I GUESS AS A POLITICAL SHOW WE CAN DO THAT, I WOULD RATHER NOT DO THAT BECAUSE I'M TIRED OF PEOPLE, OF CHILDREN GETTING KILLED.

I'M TIRED OF CHILDREN AT MY KIDS' FORMER SCHOOL, I'M TIRED OF MY SISTER, MY BEST FRIEND, CERTAINLY I'M TIRED OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE, THAT'S ALL THAT I'M SAYING.

>> AND GUNS ARE THE NUMBER ONE REASON OF OUR CHILDREN DYEING AND WE CANNOT PRETEND THAT IS NOT THE REALITY AND THAT HAS CHANGED OVER TIME, IT'S GOTTEN WORSE AND WORSE AND WORSE -- >> BUT -- >> AND IT IS -- AND YES, POLITICS ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE A PART OF EVERYTHING BUT I DO THINK THIS, I SAW RECENTLY -- SOMEBODY AFTER THE ANNUNCIATION SHOOTING, IF IT WAS TOO SOON TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION.

AND I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO REMEMBER IS COLUMBINE, SANDY HOOK, EL PASO, LAS VEGAS.

IT IS NOT TOO SOON TO REALLY ACTUALLY TRY TO URGENTLY TRY AND DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE.

>> Cathy: PREYA, GO AHEAD.

>> THE PROBLEM IS BEFORE COLUMBINE PEOPLE HAD ACCESS TO GUNS AND THERE AREN'T ANY ISSUES.

THE PROBLEM IS NOT -- THE GUN DOES NOT WALK UP AND SHOOT SOMEBODY.

UNARMING LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS IS NOT THE ANSWER HERE.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE ROOT CAUSE OF THESE ISSUES, A LOT OF IT IS MENTAL HEALTH BUT YOU CAN'T JUST GO AROUND AND SAY, WELL, BAD THINGS ARE HAPPENING.

LOOK AT THE UK, THEY'VE BANNED GUNS EXCEPT FOR HUNTING PURPOSES, YOU KNOW WHAT'S GONE UP?

KNIFE ATTACKS, THEY ARE LOOKING NOW AT HOMICIDES.

40% OF HOMICIDES -- >> THE NUMBERS -- THE NUMBERS -- -- >> NUMBERS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE REST OF THE WORLD -- DISTINGUISHING FACTOR.

>> DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE PUSHING A BUTTON AND 100 BULLETS COME OUT.

>> -- IF THEY WANT TO DO A BAD THING THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT.

THAT'S WHY THEY'RE CALLED CRIMINALS.

>> THAT'S OVERSIMPLISTIC.

>> I EALLY WISH WE HAD MORE TIME WITH THIS.

THANK YOU, PANEL.

>> Eric: THANKS, GUYS.

♪ >> THERE ARE SOME RECORDS THAT SAY THAT -- HAD EVERY MAJOR FIRE DURING HIS TENURE.

AND THEY WOULD USE -- THE REST OF THE CITY DIDN'T WANT TO GO TO LIKE THE BOG FIRES OR -- FIRES THEY WOULD HAVE BACK IN THE DAY WHICH SOMETIMES WOULD BURN FOR DAYS.

>> Cathy: CLEARLY WE HAD A FULL AND FEISTY SHOW TONIGHT.

WE DO HAVE TIME FOR THE MINNESOTA HISTORY SECTION OF THE HOUR.

OUR QUESTION LAST WEEK FEATURED A RECORD-SETTING EVENT IN APRILT APRIL.

ERIC TOLD YOU THE RECORD INVOLVED THE MEASUREMENT OF 18-1/2 INCHES, THE TOWN OF ORONO, MINNESOTA, AND MADE NEWS AS FAR AWAY AS PAKISTAN AND TURKEY.

OUR QUESTION FOR YOU WAS QUITE SIMPLE: WHAT IS THIS RECORD?

ERIC THEN GAVE A BUNCH OF MISLEADING HINTS WHAT A SHOCK.

ABOUT PRINCE AND SNOW.

THESE NEXT CALLERS DIDN'T FALL FOR THAT RED HERRING BUT STILL DIDN'T GET IT RIGHT.

>> “THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION ON ALMANAC IS THE BIGGEST AGATE.

THANK YOU, BYE."

>> “THE ANSWER TO THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION IS THAT IN ORONO, IN APRIL OF 2025, IN NOERENBERG GARDENS, THERE WAS AN 18-AND-A-HALF-INCH IRIS BLOOM.

LARGEST ANYONE HAD EVER SEEN.” >> “ THE ANSWER IS A GOLDFISH.

THANK YOU, BYE.” >> THE ANSWER WE SOUGHT WAS AN ANIMAL BUT MOST DEFINITELY NOT A FISH.

VICKY WAS ONE OF MANY CALLERS WHO GOT THIS ONE RIGHT.

>> "IN ORONO, MINNESOTA, IN 2025, MR. PUGSLEY, WHO IS A MAINE COON CAT, SET THE RECORD FOR HAVING THE WORLD'S LONGEST TAIL ON A LIVING DOMESTIC CAT.

IT WAS 18.5 INCHES LONG.” >> Cathy: YES, VICKY.

Mr. PUGSLEY'S TAIL SENT TO THE GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS TO CEMENT THE RECORD.

HE LOOKS KIND OF HAPPY HANGING OUT WITH HIS KITTY SIBLINGS, DOESN'T HE?

THE CAMERON FAMILY OF ORONO OWN FOUR MAINE COONS BUT Mr. PUGSLY IS THE ONLY ONE WITH SUCH A LARGE TAIL, LONG TAIL.

LOOK AT THAT THING, HE COULD BREAK HIS OWN RECORD SOMEDAY.

HIS OWNER AMANDA CAMERON SAYS IT HAS GOTTEN EVEN LONGER SINCE THE WORLD RECORD LAST SPRING.

HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?

HOW DO CAT'S TAILS GROW?

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

IT WAS THIS WEEK BACK IN 2006 WHEN A TRIO OF TRUMPETERS FROM THE MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA JOINED US IN STUDIO.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK.

♪ ♪ >> "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.

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

MORE AT EDUCATIONMINNESOTA.ORG.

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