♪ ♪ >> CATHY: OPERATION METRO SURGE CONTINUES TO BE SCRUTINIZED AS VICE PRESIDENT JD VANCE BASHED DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP ON THURSDAY.

SENATOR KLOBUCHAR HAS FILED PAPERS TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR BUT HAS MADE NO ANNOUNCEMENTS.

JUST TWO OF THE TOPICS WE'LL COVER WITH THIS WEEK'S POLITICAL PANEL.

DFLERS UP FIRST.

JAVIER MORILLO IS A LONGTIME UNION AND PARTY ACTIVIST AND A FORMER NATIONAL COMMITTEEMAN FOR THE DNC.

ALYSEN NESSE, PARTY LOYALIST AND LOBBYIST UP AT THE CAPITOL.

REPUBLICANS WITH US TONIGHT, AMY FREDERIKSEN IS A FORMER STATE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, NOW A LOBBYIST.

ANDY BREHM IS A FORMER PRESS SECRETARY FOR U.S.

SENATOR NORM COLEMAN, NOW AN ATTORNEY.

PRETTY INTERESTING TO HEAR THE FORMER GOVERNORS SPEAK.

GOVERNOR VENTURA THINKS WE'RE IN A ERIOUS POLITICAL FIGHT FOR THE SOUL OF AMERICA.

WHAT DO YOU THINK, SENATOR?

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT'S GREAT.

I APPRECIATED WHAT ALL OF THEM, ACTUALLY, HAD TO SAY.

AND KIND OF DEMONSTRATES WHY THEY ARE THE LEADERS THAT THEY ARE, RIGHT?

I THOUGHT THAT GOVERNOR PAWLENTY WAS SPOT ON WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT HOW WHEN YOU FIRST EXAMINE SOMETHING, LIKE LET'S TALK ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO WITH THE SHOOTING OF RENEE GOOD, YOU MARSHAL THE FACTS, NEITHER SIDE DID THAT.

THAT'S WHAT STRUCK ME.

IMMEDIATELY JUMPED IN WITH COMMENTS WITHIN, YOU KNOW, AN HOUR OR TWO OF THE NEWS BEING OUT THERE.

AND I THINK THAT THAT KIND OF LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN REALLY LACKING.

I'M HOPING THAT WE SEE SOME CHANGES GIVEN THE VISIT OF THE VICE PRESIDENT WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

I'M SEEING SOME SIGNS THAT MAYBE WE'RE SEEING SOME SANITY RETURN.

>> Cathy: BECAUSE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DID TALK TO THE VICE PRESIDENT, EVIDENTLY.

>> YES.

>> Cathy: GO AHEAD.

>> GOOD, I MEAN, I THINK THE MORE CONVERSATIONS THAT CAN BE HAD, THE BETTER.

THAT'S BEEN LACKING TOO.

THIS IS NOT A TIME FOR POLITICS.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS -- THERE'S A LOT OF WISDOM THERE WITH THE FORMER GOVERNORS.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S GOOD POINTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS.

I MEAN, I THINK WE ARE SEEING EVIDENCE THAT I.C.E.

IS REALLY GOING BEYOND WHAT I THINK MOST MINNESOTANS, MOST AMERICANS WOULD LIKE IT TO DO.

AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE AN IMMIGRATION CRISIS, BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE LAST ADMINISTRATION THAT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ANT DEALT WITH AND THEY SAID SO VERY CLEARLY IN THE LAST ELECTION.

TOUGH TIMES.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, WE'VE HAD AN IMMIGRATION CRISIS FOR 40 SOME YEARS, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A FUNCTIONING IMMIGRATION SYSTEM.

AND THE LAST FOUR YEARS WERE CHALLENGE AND HE RHETORIC WERE REALLY HIGH, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE AREN'T TALKING ABOUT IMMIGRATION, AND THIS ISN'T -- I'M SORRY -- I'M GETTING A LITTLE OO EMOTIONAL.

YEAH.

>> I WAS OUT IN THE COLD TODAY, AND PROUD TO BE A MINNESOTAN, HONESTLY.

I THINK THAT THE WAY THAT MINNESOTANS ARE STANDING UP FOR DUE PROCESS, THE WAY THAT MINNESOTANS ARE DEFENDING THEIR NEIGHBORS, TO ME, I HONESTLY, THIS WEEK, THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT WOULD IT HAVE BEEN LIKE IF IN THE 1930s GERMANS HAD RISEN UP AGAINST THEIR GOVERNMENT HEN THEY WERE GOING AFTER THEIR NEIGHBORS.

IT HAS BEEN TRULY AN ASTONISHING AND BEAUTIFUL THING TO WATCH.

BECAUSE, AS ALYSEN WAS SAYING, THE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM HAS BEEN GROWN A VERY LONG TIME.

THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE ENTIRE INDUSTRIES THAT ARE -- THAT DEPEND ON IMMIGRANT LABOR.

THIS IS WHY, YOU KNOW, I NEVER TIRE OF SAYING, IF YOU ENJOY WHAT I.C.E.

IS DOING, YOU'RE AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, LIVE BY YOUR VALUES AND BOYCOTT FOOD BECAUSE IF YOU ATE TODAY, YOU BENEFITTED FROM THE LABOR OF MMIGRANTS.

AND WE CANNOT FIX THIS PROBLEM THROUGH DEPORTATION ALONE, WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE SEEING, LIKE, WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS A MESS CREATED BY ONLY TRYING TO DO THINGS THROUGH EPORTATION.

>> Cathy: I'M WONDERING, WE ASKED THE QUESTION TO LARRY JACOBS, ABOUT THE POLL, THE CNN/"NEW YORK TIMES" POLL WAS NOT GREAT FOR THE PRESIDENT IN TERMS OF WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT IMMIGRATION AND WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH I.C.E., RIGHT, AND THE OPTICS DON'T LOOK GREAT.

HOW DO YOU THINK THIS ?ENDZ I MEAN, THE FACT THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND VICE PRESIDENT VANCE TALKED IS GOOD, BUT HOW DOES THIS WHOLE THING PLAY OUT?

>> RIGHT.

WELL, AGAIN, I THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN O THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE WALZ ADMINISTRATION FINDING SOME KIND OF COMMON GROUND.

THEY HAVE TO.

AND I THINK ABOUT THIS IN ANY KIND OF SITUATION WHERE THE SIDES CAN BE SO AT EACH OTHER, YOU KNOW, THERE'S FAMILIES FIGHTING OR DIVORCES, AT SOME POINT YOU HAVE TO COME TO THE TABLE AND YOU HAVE TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE.

THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS.

YOU KNOW, JAVIER, I TEND TO AGREE, RIGHT, THE IMMIGRATION HAS BEEN BROKEN FOR DECADES.

IT'S NOT ALLOWING US TO BE THE COUNTRY THAT WE'RE PROUD TO BE, WHICH IS FOLKS COME IN AND THEY EMIGRATE TO THIS COUNTRY, BUT ALSO, THE LAST FOUR YEARS OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, BY THEIR OWN NUMBERS, THE ILLEGAL CROSSINGS AT THE BORDER WERE UNMANAGEABLE EVERY SINGLE DAY AFTER HIS INAUGURATION BY HIS OWN NUMBERS, UNMANAGEABLE.

SO WE DO HAVE -- ITCHING IT'S -- I THINK -- I THINK BOTH SIDES HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS SOME RUTH ON BOTH SIDES AND THEN ACTUALLY GET TO THE -- TAKE OUT THE POLITICAL RHETORIC AND GOAT A SOLUTION BECAUSE IT IS A CRISIS ON A NUMBER OF LEVELS.

>> Eric: ONE CLASSIC APPROACH TO THIS COULD BE PRESIDENT TRUMP DECLARES VICTORY AND GOES HOME.

>> SURE.

I MEAN, I THINK -- WHEN PEOPLE LOOK AT THE SITUATION HERE RIGHT NOW, THEY GO, THIS IS NOT GOOD.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WANTS A CONTINUATION OF THIS CHAOS.

IT'S DANGEROUS.

IT'S RIPPING A STATE, CITY, AND COUNTRY APART, FOR THAT MATTER.

YOU KNOW, PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS A POINT IN THE SENSE THAT OUR LEADERS IN THIS STATE SAID, WE'RE GOING TO BE SANCTUARY CITIES, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE HELPFUL AT ALL N TERMS OF ENFORCING FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAW.

>> Eric: THE VICE PRESIDENT TALKED ABOUT COOPERATION SEVERAL TIMES.

>> SO THERE WAS NO CHOICE, IF WE WANT TO HAVE ENFORCEMENT OF IMMIGRATION LAWS, AND MOST AMERICANS WOULD LIKE THAT, I.C.E.

HAD TO COME IN HERE.

>> THAT IS ABSURD.

I'M SORRY.

>> NO, IT IS NOT.

>> YES, IT ABSOLUTELY -- >> HOW IS IT ABSURD?

>> BECAUSE IT IS NOT THE JOB OF LOCAL JURISDICTIONS TO ENFORCE FEDERAL LAWS.

AND THAT IS ALL SEPARATION ORDINANCES DO.

THAT IS ALL THEY DO.

>> THAT'S YOUR OPINION.

>> AND -- BUT IT'S THE LAW HERE.

>> NO, BUT THAT'S YOUR OPINION.

>> OTHER CITIES HAVE WORKED WITH I.C.E.

AGAIN, IF I HAD BEEN MAYOR OF MINNEAPOLIS, WHICH, OF COURSE, I'LL NEVER BE, IF I WERE, OKAY, LET'S MAKE A DEAL, WE'LL HELP YOU GET THE CRIMINALS, WE'LL HELP YOU GET THE REALLY BAD GUYS.

>> THEY'RE SHOOTING PEOPLE LIKE RENEE GOOD IN THE FACE.

>> JAVIER, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, I THINK WE HAVE TO GET AWAY FROM THE POLITICS AND TRY TO FOCUS ON THE -- >> ALYSEN, GET IN HERE.

>> PREVIOUSLY WORKING FOR THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS, GOING THROUGH ORDER I UNDERSTAND, IT IS OUTSIDE THEIR JURISDICTION.

THE STATE OF MINNESOTA IS COOPERATING WITH I.C.E.

THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, WHICH IS THE APPROPRIATE AGENCY TO COORDINATE WITH I.C.E., BECAUSE THEY RUN OUR PRISONS, HENNEPIN COUNTY RUNS THE JAILS, THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS DOES NOT.

IT ERODES TRUST, IF SOMEONE IS BEING ABUSED IN THEIR HOME AND THEY'RE TOO SCARED TO CALL 911 BECAUSE THEY MAY -- BECAUSE THEIR STATUS IS IN QUESTION, IT ERODES TRUST OF LOCAL POLICING THAT THEY ARE WORKING SO HARD TO STRENGTHEN.

>> Eric: WE BETTER TALK ABOUT MICHELLE LATOY THAT AND AMY CLOAB SURE.

>> SHE'S RUNNING FOR U.S.

SENATE, WHICH IS GOING TO BE A GAME CHANGER, NOT JUST ON THE GOP SIDE BUT A SHAKE-UP ON THE DFL SIDE AS WELL, BECAUSE IT'S AN ACTUAL CANDIDATE RUNNING AND THAT'S GOING TO PLAY INTO THAT BIG ENDORSEMENT PRIMARY BATTLE ON THE DFL SIDE.

AND THEN AMY KLOBUCHAR HAS NOT OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED, WE'RE HEARING PERHAPS NEXT WEEK.

BUT SHE FILED THE PROPER PAPERWORK.

SO MOVING FROM D.C.

BACK HOME TO MINNESOTA TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR, IN THE WAKE OF TIM WALZ SAYING HE WILL NOT RUN AGAIN, ANOTHER GAME CHANGER IN THAT RACE.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU THINK, ALYSEN?

>> I'M EXCITED.

THERE'S NO MORE POPULAR ELECTED OFFICIAL IN MINNESOTA THAN AMY KLOBUCHAR SO LET'S GO.

>> Eric: HOW ABOUT MICHELLE TAFOYA.

>> I THINK SHE'S FANTASTIC.

I SAW HER AUNCH A VIDEO, SHE'S GOT A LOT OF ENERGY, SMART, ARTICULATE.

MINNESOTA REPUBLICANS HAVE STRUGGLED IN TERMS OF OUR STATEWIDE CANDIDATES, LOOKING LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME REALLY SOLID ONES.

>> Cathy: IS SHE PRO CHOICE?

>> YES.

YES.

WHICH IS GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING DYNAMIC WITHIN THE GOP ENDORSEMENT AND PRIMARY PROCESS.

>> YEAH.

AND I THINK THIS ELECTION IS GOING TO BE ABOUT WHO'S EXCITED, ABOUT WHOSE BASES ARE EXCITED TO URN OUT.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A VERY FRACTURED REPUBLICAN BASE FOR -- ON ISSUES LIKE ABORTION, ON THE FACT THAT, LIKE, MICHELLE TAFOYA HAS BEEN CRITICAL OF DONALD TRUMP IS GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE ALL THAT BACK AND KISS THE RING AS EVERY REPUBLICAN IN PUBLIC OFFICE NOW HAS TO DO.

SO THERE'S A REASON WHY REPUBLICANS HAVEN'T WON STATEWIDE IN A VERY LONG TIME BECAUSE THEY CAN'T MUSTER -- THEY CAN'T PUT TOGETHER A CANDIDATE WHO HAS ENOUGH APPEAL TO THE URBAN CORE.

>> Eric: THE FEBRUARY 3rd PRECINCT CAUCUSES BE MEANINGFUL?

>> WELL, AT THE DFL, AT EAST THERE WILL BE A POLL OF POTENTIAL GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES.

SO WE'LL GET TO SEE AFTER THAT HOW THOSE THAT HAVE ANNOUNCED DO.

>> AGAIN, THINK WE'RE KIND OF MOVING AWAY FROM THAT CAUCUS OOM.

CAUCUS SYSTEM.

I THINK THAT MOST STATES HAVE MOVED TO A PRIMARY.

>> Eric: REPUBLICANS HAVE DEFENDED THAT VERY STRONGLY.

>> I AGREE.

AND I HAVE ALSO DEFENDED AND LIKE THE ENDORSEMENT.

BUT IT HAS BEEN FAILING.

AND IT HAS NOT PRODUCED CANDIDATES THAT CAN ACTUALLY WIN AND IT'S BEEN REFLECTIVE OF THE GOP PARTY AT LARGE.

WE REALLY HAVE SOME PARTY INSIDERS GETTING TOGETHER, MAKING A DECISION FOR LITERALLY TENS OF THOUSANDS AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MANS.

>> Eric: SPEAKER DEMUTH THE FRONTRUNNER ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, DO WE KNOW THAT YET?

>> SEEMS SO.

WE'VE GOT A GOOD -- SHE'S RUNNING A GOOD CAMPAIGN.

WE'VE GOT A GOOD BENCH.

GOOD, HEALTHY COMPETITION, THAT BENEFITS US.

YOU'RE SEEING THAT IN THESE DEBATES, DIFFERENT STRAW POLLS COMING OUT IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

I THINK THAT BENEFITS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

A LOT OF REALLY GOOD CANDIDATES.

>> Eric: HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US THE REST OF THE YEAR BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE VERY INTERESTING AND IMPORTANT.

>> Cathy: TO SAY THE LEAST.

>> GOOD TO HAVE JOHN HOFFMAN BACK.