>> CATHY: ANOTHER BUSY POLITICAL WEEK IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AND TWO OF THE BIGGEST STORIES HAVE MINNESOTA TIES.
WITH THE OUSTER OF REPUBLICAN HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN MACCARTHY, MINNESOTA CONGRESSMAN TOM EMMER COULD MOVE FROM MAJORITY WHIP TO HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER NEXT WEEK.
AND ANOTHER MINNESOTA CONGRESSMAN ALSO MAKING NEWS, DEMOCRAT DEAN PHILLIPS CONTINUES TO FLIRT WITH CHALLENGING PRESIDENT BIDEN FOR THE NOMINATION.
PLENTY OF FODDER FOR THIS WEEK’S POLITICAL PANEL TO PONDER.
DEMOCRATS WITH US TONIGHT, JAVIER MORILLO IS A FORMER NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEMBER AND LONGTIME PARTY LOYALIST.
SUSAN KENT IS A FORMER STATE SENATE LEADER, STILL ACTIVE IN PARTY POLITICS.
REPUBLICANS WITH US TONIGHT, FORMER STATE SENATE LEADER IS ALSO A TITLE YOU CAN GIVE TO AMY KOCH.
WE WELCOME BACK FORMER TIM PAWLENTY SPOKESMAN, NOW A PR PROFESSIONAL, BRIAN MCCLUNG.
SENATOR KOCH, LET US TALK ABOUT WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON, VOTE ON THE SPEAKERSHIP NEXT WEEK.
WHAT ARE TOM EMMER’S FORTUNES IN THIS MESS?
>> WELL, SO TOM IS ALWAYS BEEN LIKE THIS, EVER SINCE I’VE KNOWN TOM, HE WAS MY HOUSEMATE WHEN I WAS IN THE SENATE.
AND TWO THINGS.
WE REPRESENTED SAFE DISTRICTS, SO WE ALWAYS FELT IT WAS OUR DUTY TO STEP INTO LEADERSHIP AND CONTINUE TO PUSH THE AGENDA OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
AND I’VE ALWAYS SEEN TOM DOING THAT.
SECOND, TOM DOESN’T HAVE A PLANNED-OUT — WHEN HE RAN THE FIRST TIME, HE JUST SHOWED UP AT THE CONVENTION AND SPOKE ON THE FLOOR AND GOT THE ENDORSEMENT.
WHEN HE RAN FOR GOVERNOR, I CALLED HIM, HE’S, LIKE, REALLY?
IT HADN’T REALLY OCCURRED TO HIM.
SAME THING WHEN HE RAN FOR CONGRESS THE FIRST TIME.
SO I DON’T THINK THAT TOM PLANS ON THIS.
BUT HE IS ALWAYS IN A POSITION OF LEADERSHIP, PEOPLE LOOK TO HIM FOR LEADERSHIP, AND I’M NOT SURPRISED AT ALL THAT WE FIND WITH HIS NAME FOR THE POTENTIALLY FOR THE TOP, SECOND, YOU KNOW, HIGHEST POSITION IN THE HOUSE.
>> Eric: BUT HE VOTED TO CERTIFY JOE BIDEN’S ELECTION.
>> WELL, RIGHT, BUT HERE’S THE THING, TOM EMMER IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR MEMBERS OF THE U.S. HOUSE, BOTH ITH REPUBLICANS ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM, AND, FRANKLY, WITH DEMOCRATS.
BECAUSE HE IS A STRAIGHT SHOOTER, HE’S A STRAIGHTFORWARD GUY, HE’S HONEST AND LOYAL.
AND THOSE ARE CRITICAL THINGS THAT WE NEED MORE OF IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
SO, I DO THINK THAT TOM IS WELL POSITIONED TO BRIDGE THAT, AS THE MAJORITY WHIP HE’S BEEN THE PERSON WHO’S BEEN BRINGING TOGETHER THOSE FACTIONS TO GET THINGS PASSED IN THE HOUSE.
AND HE’S BEEN, OVERALL, PRETTY SUCCESSFUL IN DOING THAT.
SO, YES, I THINK THE TRUMP LOYALISTS ARE GOING TO PUSH AGAINST TOM EMMER, SURE, BUT HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET TO 218 VOTES?
THAT’S THE QUESTION.
WHO CAN VOTE FOR SPEAKER AND HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER, WHO CAN GET TO 218, IF YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE THAT KIND OF LITMUS TEST, I DON’T SEE HOW YOU EVER GET THERE.
>> Eric: HOW CAN DEMOCRATS USE THIS DOWN BALLOT, YOU KNOW, IN THE MINNESOTA ELECTORAL POLITICAL SENSE OR CAN THEY?
>> I THINK IT’S JUST REFLECTIVE OF WHERE THINGS ARE RIGHT NOW.
AND I THINK THE POINT YOU MADE IS EXACTLY RIGHT.
TOM EMMER LIVES IN THE REAL WORLD AND RECOGNIZES THAT THE ELECTION WENT FOR JOE BIDEN AND HE VOTED ACCORDINGLY.
THE TWO PEOPLE WHO WERE MOST LIKELY TO BE THE ACTUAL NEW SPEAKER OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DID NOT.
THEY VOTED AGAINST THAT.
AND THAT’S WHERE THE BASE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS AND EVERYBODY SEES IT AND THAT HAS REAL EFFECTS ON THE ELECTORATE AND PEOPLE LOOK AT WHERE REPUBLICANS ARE RIGHT NOW AND JUST SAY, NO, THIS DOESN’T MAKE SENSE.
>> WE SAW IT IN THE LAST MIDTERM ELECTIONS THAT, AN ELECTION YEAR THAT WAS MEANT TO BE A BIG YEAR FOR REPUBLICANS, THE BIG ISSUES ON THE BALLOT WERE ABORTION ACCESS AFTER THE OVERTURNING OF ROE V. WADE AND DEMOCRACY BEING ON THE BALLOT.
AND RIGHT HERE WE HAVE ANOTHER DEMONSTRATION OF A PARTY THAT IS SO BEHOLDEN TO ITS EXTREME ELEMENTS THAT IT SIMPLY CANNOT GOVERN ITSELF, LET ALONE THE COUNTRY.
>> Cathy: SO I ASKED THIS OF ONE OF OUR POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSORS, IF JIM JORDAN BECOMES SPEAKER, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR TOM EMMER, THOUGH, REALLY?
>> HERE’S THE THING, THOUGH, IF JIM JORDAN BECOMES SPEAKER, I THINK THEN THERE’S A SENSE THAT YOU MIGHT NEED TO BALANCE THAT WITH SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT THE TRUMP HARDLINE REPUBLICAN AND HAVE TOM EMMER BE THE HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER.
THEN YOU WOULD HAVE SOME BALANCE.
NOW, THAT’S NOT NECESSARILY THE WAY THINGS WORK IN WASHINGTON.
I GET THAT.
BUT THAT MIGHT BE THE MORE SENSIBLE THING.
BUT HERE’S THE BOTTOM LINE.
I DON’T SEE HOW JIM JORDAN GETS TO 218 VOTES.
I DON’T THINK HE HAS THE SUPPORT OF HALF OF THE REPUBLICANS.
SO I EALLY HAVE A HARD TIME ENVISIONING A FUTURE WHERE JIM JORDAN BECOMES THE SPEAKER.
SO THAT SAID, I GET IT, LIKE, LOOK, THE PROBLEM IS, RIGHT NOW HALF A DOZEN REPUBLICANS CAN SCREW UP THE WHOLE THING.
AND THAT IS NO WAY TO GOVERN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THAT IS NO WAY TO GOVERN THE COUNTRY.
AND, SO, THEY NEED TO FIX THAT.
THEY NEED TO GET RID OF THIS RULE WHERE ONE PERSON CAN BRING A MOTION TO VACATE.
IT IS UNWORKABLE.
NANCY PELOSI NEVER DID THAT.
KEVIN McCARTHY SHOULDN’T HAVE, HE DID AND THEY USED IT TO OUST HIM.
SO LET’S FIGURE THAT OUT SO E CAN MOVE ON.
>> Eric: IS DEAN PHILLIPS SHOWING US THAT HE’S NOT GOING TO BE A CAREER MINNESOTA HOUSE MEMBER, U.S. HOUSE MEMBER FOR MINNESOTA?
>> YOU KNOW, I FIND THIS SORT OF INTERESTING.
I’M NOT SURE.
[ Laughter ] >> Eric: WHAT’S HE UP TO?
>> YEAH.
YOU KNOW, HE’S SPEAKING HIS MIND.
I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING THAT HE SAID, I’M GOING TO STEP DOWN FROM LEADERSHIP BECAUSE, CLEARLY, MY VIEWS DO NOT REFLECT THAT OF THE CAUCUS.
YOU KNOW, SO, WE SHALL SEE.
I WAS CURIOUS TO SEE HOW HE WAS GOING TO VOTE THE OTHER DAY TOO.
>> Cathy: I THOUGHT HE WASN’T GOING TO RUN.
NOW HE IS?
I DON’T GET THIS, SERIOUSLY.
>> YOUR GUESS IS AS GOOD AS ANYONE.
IT’S BAFFLING.
THERE’S ABSOLUTELY NO STRATEGY BEHIND IT.
THERE’S NO BASE BEHIND IT.
THERE’S NO ONE CLAMORING FOR HIM TO DO THIS.
I THINK THIS IS SOMEONE WHO’S JUST REALLY GONE ASTRAY, BIT OF AN EGO TRIP, FRANKLY, WHAT IS BEHIND IT?
I MEAN, HE’S NOW SAYING, WELL, OPEN TO VOTING FOR A REPUBLICAN IF THEY CAN FIND SOMEONE WHO’S A CENTRIST.
THAT’S THE SAME FANTASY WORLD IN WHICH MY FRIEND BRIAN HERE YOU LIVE UNDER WHEN YOU’RE SAYING, WELL, THE SENSIBLE THING WILL BE FOR THEM TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO’S MORE MODERATE.
THE SENSIBLE THING DOES NOT HAPPEN IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THESE DAYS.
AND JIM JORDAN MAY NOT HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE MAJORITY OF THE CAUCUS BUT HE HAS THE SUPPORT OF DONALD TRUMP, HE GOT ENDORSED TODAY.
SO I THINK THAT PRETTY MUCH, LIKE, MAKES THIS A BATTLE ROYALE.
>> Eric: WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON PHILLIPS?
>> I JUST WISH HE WAS THE MAIN MINNESOTA STORY COMING OUT OF THE U.S. CONGRESS THIS WEEK.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT EASIER.
NO, I MEAN, I THINK HE DOES — HE IS AN INDEPENDENT VOICE.
HE ALWAYS HAS BEEN.
HE REPRESENTS AN AREA THAT IS AS PURPLE, AT BEST.
AND I THINK HE DOES WHAT HE’S GOING TO DO.
NOT TO MENTION, I MEAN, ISN’T IT KIND OF ON BRAND MINNESOTA POLITICS, WE GO OUR OWN WAYS?
AND, YOU KNOW, DEAN HILLIPS IS NO EXCEPTION.
HE GIVES THEM SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT IN D.C. >> Cathy: I WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO ASK ABOUT THE SITUATION WITH THE CANNABIS, THE CANNABIS DIRECTOR, AND THAT THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR IS NOW LOOKING INTO THIS.
WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE VETTING ON THE ALZ ADMINISTRATION’S PART?
>> WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT GOVERNOR WALZ WAS UP FRONT AND SAID, WE GOT THIS WRONG, WE’RE GOING TO GO BACK AND GET IT RIGHT.
AND, HONESTLY, LET’S SEE WHAT THE AUDITOR HAS TO SAY.
I THINK WE’VE ALL LEARNED A FEW THINGS FROM THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR OVER THE YEARS.
AND MAY HAVE SOME GOOD DIRECTION.
>> Cathy: UNUSUAL THAT THE AUDITOR IS LOOKING AT THIS?
>> YES, IT IS UNUSUAL.
I DON’T REMEMBER ANY TIME THAT THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR LOOKED AT THE APPOINTMENTS PROCESS OF THE GOVERNOR THAT I WORKED FOR.
AND I’LL SAY, YOU KNOW, I GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT OF LEEWAY, RIGHT, THE APPOINTMENTS PROCESS IS COMPLEX, IT’S HARD, THERE’S A LOT HAT GOES INTO IT, THERE’S A LOT THAT YOU’RE TRYING TO ALANCE.
WHAT BOTHERS ME IS THAT THEY DIDN’T CALL THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE.
YOU KNOW, SHE HAD AN OUTSTANDING TAX DEBT TO THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.
THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE IS PART OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.
JUST CALL ON EVERY APPOINTMENT, RUN THE CHECK.
IT’S NOT THAT HARD TO DO.
SO, I THINK THEY’VE LEARNED A LESSON, MAYBE, ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO CHECK OFF WHEN YOU’RE MAKING THIS KIND OF — THIS IS A VERY HIGH-LEVEL APPOINTMENT.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME YOU’RE APPOINTING SOMEBODY TO THIS NEW OFFICE.
SO, YOU KNOW, DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO MAKE SURE YOU GET IT RIGHT.
>> YEAH, IT WAS UNDOUBTEDLY A SCREWUP, WHICH THE GOVERNOR SAID HIMSELF THAT IT WAS A SCREWUP.
I DO FIND IT BAFFLING THAT THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR, LIKE THE APPOINTMENTS PROCESS, LIKE THIS IS A POLITICAL APPOINTEE, THE FACT THAT THEY GOT IT WRONG IS ITS OWN PROBLEM AND THE BAD PRESS THEY’RE GETTING.
IT FEELS VERY WEIRD TO ME.
>> I JUST WONDER IF THERE ISN’T MORE TO IT.
THAT’S ALL.
IT SEEMS PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY PEOPLE WENT TO TIKTOK AND GOOGLE AND FOUND OUT THE ISSUE.
AND SHE WAS GONE IN 24 HOURS.
FIRST OF ALL, NO HARM WAS DONE TO THE STATE.
THAT’S THE OTHER THING TO THINK ABOUT.
THERE WAS NO HARM.
THIS THING CYCLED OUT IN BASICALLY A DAY.
SO, I’M NOT SURE ABOUT THE AUDITOR APPROACH EITHER.
THAT JUST MAKES ME THINK, LIKE, IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE’RE MISSING?
>> WELL, I’VE ASKED THE QUESTION OF THE AUDITOR IN THE PAST WHEN THEY’VE TAKEN UP SOME THINGS.
AND THEY DO — THINGS THAT SHOW UP IN THE NEWS, THEY SOMETIMES RESPOND TO.
AND OBVIOUSLY THIS ONE GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION AND FOR SOME REASON THAT SEEMED LIKE A THING THEY WANTED TO — >> WELL, IT DOES SET THE TABLE GOING FORWARD.
BECAUSE THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY IS GOING TO BE A MAJOR PLAYER, THERE’S GOING TO BE A LOT OF SCRUTINY ON IT, AND THERE IS — IT’S SUPER COMPLICATED BECAUSE IT’S NOT LEGAL ON A FEDERAL LEVEL.
AND, SO, MAYBE THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR’S LOOKING AT THIS AND SAYING, HEY, WE HAVE TO DO THIS TIGHT, WE HAVE TO DO THIS RIGHT, RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING AND WE’RE NOT GOING TO JUST SIT BACK AND LET THIS THING HAPPEN.
>> Eric: GOVERNOR’S RESIDENCE ENOVATIONS, WAY OVERBUDGET.
DOES IT MATTER?
>> I MEAN, THIS IS LIKE EVERYBODY WHO STARTS TO RENOVATE THEIR KITCHEN, RIGHT, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT TURNS INTO A MUCH BIGGER PROJECT THAN YOU ENVISION.
SO, NO SURPRISE.
I MEAN, I’VE BEEN IN THE GOVERNOR’S RESIDENCE A LOT.
>> Eric: WHAT DID YOU THINK?
DID YOU THINK IT WAS IN SHAMBLES?
>> IT WAS IN BAD SHAPE, ESPECIALLY THE PRIVATE RESIDENCE PORTION OF THE GOVERNOR’S RESIDENCE IS IN BAD SHAPE.
AND IT NEEDS A LOT OF WORK.
SO THEN ONCE YOU GO IN THERE, AND THIS IS A HOUSE, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS BUILT AROUND 1900, AND THERE’S GOING TO BE ISSUES WITH IT.
SO, I THINK IT’S SMART FOR GOVERNOR WALZ TO SAY, WE’RE GOING TO TAKE THIS BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE AND GET THEM TO WEIGH IN.
HE SHOULDN’T BE MAKING THAT KIND OF DECISION UNILATERALLY.
IT’S TOUGH, IT’S THE HOUSE YOU LIVE IN.
>> I AGREE.
YOU GO INTO THOSE WALLS, LOOK AT THAT OLD PLUMBING, THERE’S CERTAINLY BOUND TO BE SOME SURPRISES.
I THINK HE HANDLED IT THE RIGHT WAY.
>> THE GOVERNOR SHOULD HAVE A PLACE THAT HE CAN MEET WITH DIGNITARIES AND THAT ISN’T A PARTISAN ISSUE, THAT’S JUST A STATE OF MINNESOTA ISSUE.
I WAS JUST DOWN IN KENTUCKY, DROVE BY THE GOVERNOR’S MANSION, AND IT’S GORGEOUS AND, I THOUGHT, MMM, INNESOTA COULD DO BETTER.
[ Laughter ] >> Eric: REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE TAKE ON SENATOR KLOBUCHAR?
>> OH, COME ON!
>> Eric: I’M JUST ASKING.
>> WE’VE GOT SOME GOOD NAMES AGAINST ANGIE CRAIG.
[ Laughter ] >> Eric: ALL RIGHT, THANKS,
