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B
Hey everybody, we got a tough one today, you know, as usual, my friend Peggy Flanagan, the lieutenant governor of Minnesota and candidate for U.S. senate, joins me today to discuss the tragic shooting of Renee Good and the unconscionable brutality that ICE is visiting upon our our home state. Of course, Kristi Noem's response to the shooting was to send in another thousand ICE and border security officers, the very opposite of what is needed. ICE agents have continued to terrorize Minnesotans, yanking them from cars, dragging them, wrestling them to the ground, beating them, using pepper spray and rubber bullets for crowd control. Americans don't like what they're seeing. For the first time ever, more Americans want to see ICE abolished than than not 46% compared to 43% abolished. That's amazing. Minnesotans bravely continue to stand up to ICE and Border Patrol, blowing their whistles and documenting the abuse on video and helping their undocumented neighbors and friends. That's what Minnesotans are doing now. After I recorded my conversation with Peggy on Thursday, President Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection act and send the military into the state to put down the folks he's calling insurrectionists. Remember, this is a Guy who pardoned almost 1600 actual insurrectionists on his first day in office. On Friday, Governor Walz called on Trump to turn the temperature down and urged Minnesotans to do the same. Now, before we go to my conversation with Peggy, I wanted to talk about the criminal investigation into Federal Chair Jerome Powell, which, according to Donald Trump, did not come from Donald Trump. It came from said from Jeanine Perot, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. I wonder if they ever talk. This is supposedly an investigation into whether Powell is personally responsible for the cost overruns in the renovation of the Fed's headquarters. Of course, it's not about that. It's about Trump wanting the Fed to lower interest rates to juice the economy. Well, Jamie Dimon, head of JP Morgan, Treasury Secretary Scott Besant, Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Tom Tillis of North Carolina, who sits on the Banking Committee, are seeing this for what it is. And Tillis has said he won't vote to confirm any Fed nominees until this goes away. The Fed keeps two things in mind when it sets interest rates, keeping unemployment down and inflation low. Trump wants lower rates to give a jolt to the economy for the next three years. But that would trigger inflation. But don't take my word for it. That would be ridiculous. Take Jerome Powell's. Who's going to win this one? Powell. And you can take my word for it. This is an unforced error. This is the kind of thing that makes Trump look even more reckless than he normally looks. And Republicans and the business community have taken note. This matters. Lisa Murkowski and Thom Tillis didn't object when Trump added his name to the Kennedy Center. They didn't say anything when he took the $400 million Qatari jet. But this is fucking with the, with the economy. And one more thing before we turn to Peggy Flanagan in Minnesota, I just wanted to talk about my friend Bob Weir, who passed last week. Bobby, of course, one of the co founders of the Grateful Dead. I knew Bobby for 50 years. Tom Davis and I, you might remember Franken and Davis from Saturday Night Live days. Tom and I were big Deadheads. And back in 1975, the first year of SNL, Tom and I kept, well, pestering Lorne Michaels to book the Dead. And Lorne was not a Deadhead. So that first season, no Grateful Dead. But during our first summer break, Lorne went to LA and produced a documentary on the Beach Boys. And Lauren interviewed a number of rock icons. Mick Jagger, I remember, and Jerry Garcia. Well, Lorne was very impressed with Jerry, so he Booked the Dead. And of course, Tom and I glommed onto them and we became friends with the band. And Bobby and I started a long friendship. I think I've gone to 50 or more dead shows over the years. The last one at the Sphere in Las Vegas in March with my daughter Thomason. When she was 12, Thomas and I went to a show at Giant Stadium and Bobby invited us to be on stage with them. And at the end of the show, they huddled on stage to confer on the encore. And Bobby asked Thomason what she wanted to hear from the encore and she said, a Box of Rain, which if you know the Dead is not a rocker and very odd for an encore. But they played it anyway, and the 80,000 Deadheads there loved it. A few years ago, I went to a Dead and company show and during the break I was talking to Bobby and the two drummers, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzman, and I asked them about a version of Alfea, one of my favorite songs that they. This is when they did in 1980 at Nassau Coliseum. And it was the most spectacular hair raising version. And I asked him, why hadn't you guys listened to that version and just tried to duplicate it? And Mickey said, well, that's antithetical to everything we do. And then Billy said, that's totally analytical to everything we do. And then Bobby said, well, it wasn't for want of trying. The Dead did SNL only twice. They were great both times, but Deadheads are fanatics and very resourceful. And both times the Dead were booked. Snl. These Deadheads managed to finagle tickets to the. To the Air show. So about half the studio audience with Deadheads. And they were there for the Dead and were not great laughers. So Lorne refused to book them again. And Tom and I understood. We wanted laughs too. Bobby was a big supporter of my political career. He did a lot of fundraisers for me with various iterations of the Dead and solo. He also was just a great guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and band leader and cared about the world. Fare thee well, my friend. Well, Minnesota lieutenant governor and candidate for U.S. senate, Peggy Flanagan joins us. It's a great one, you know, for a change. We've known each other for a long time.
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Yeah, I mean, what, 2003, 2004, something.
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B
Like that, I think did the first thing we do together. You brought me to a Native American conference in the Twin Cities.
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A
I think that's right. I think, yeah. Indians List was in town, which is no longer, you know, a functioning organization, but at the Time. It was like, basically like the Emily's List of Indian country. So we brought you out to the Shakopee Mdewakan Sioux community to talk to a bunch of native folks from across the country who were running for office.
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B
Do you remember the bit that Tom Davis and I did that we played there?
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A
I do remember that bit.
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B
It was. Tom and I had done this bit on Saturday Night Live where he was. The premise was, what if the Indians had won and Tom was from the Bureau of White man affairs and trying to defend the names of the major league lacrosse teams like the Cleveland Kikes and with their. Their mascot, the Screaming Rabbi and the Milwaukee Dagos and stuff like that. And you brought that. You said they'd like it.
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A
Yes, and they did. And, boy, wouldn't things look a little different now if that were actually the case.
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B
Well, that was 40 years before they started changing. I mean, did you see that Trump wants the commanders. He wants them to change it back to the Redsk.
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A
I'm sure he does put it on the long list of terrible things that.
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B
Add it to the list. Well, last week's killing of Renee Goode was just horrifying. Were you shocked by the immediate response from Trump and Kristi Noem and advance or not?
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A
I mean, you know, it is. It was absolutely horrific. And people are, you know, angry and heartbroken and, you know, in lament. And I have to say that any emotion. Right. That people experience right now is. Feels like. Okay, because this is just so horrific. I mean, shock only in that I still have some expectations for humanity and the dignity with how our leaders are supposed to function in this country. And the tale that Donald Trump and Kristi Noem are trying to spin about who Renee Goode was, calling her domestic terrorist. She was a mom of. Right. With stuffies in the. In the glove box. Right. And, you know, the. The idea as J.D. vance, you know, is standing behind that. That podium saying that ICE agents have absolute immunity. First of all, that's false.
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B
But they don't.
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A
They sure don't.
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B
They have qualified immunity.
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A
It's. Yeah. I mean, it's. It's just terrific.
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B
Let me play a couple of these clips from them. This is Nome. This is like the first hour after Renegade was killed. She called her a domestic terrorist. And then. Do you have that clip, Peter?
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A
She then proceeded to weaponize her vehicle, and she attempted to run an law enforcement officer over. This appears as an attempt to kill or to cause bodily harm to agents.
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B
Okay. We've all seen, you know, many angles on the Tape. And she is, you know, the head of Homeland Security. She has seen the tape. There's no way in it. And then Vance does the thing about absolute immunity. Trump. What Trump said was crazy. He said that the woman driving the car violently. This was. He put it on Truth Social. Violently, willfully and viciously ran over the ICE officer.
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A
Sorry.
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B
Based on the attached clip, it's hard to believe he is alive.
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A
I mean, this is why it is so incredibly important that we continue to have legal observers, constitutional observers, who. Who are recording everything that these folks are doing. Because as we can see from multiple angles, that is absolutely not what occurred.
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B
Trump says weird things all the time at a press conference. This is just. I saw this a couple days ago. Did you see this? He claimed that he won Minnesota three times.
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A
Yeah, I sure did.
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B
Let me play this because it's unbelievable. It's a very corrupt state. I feel that I won Minnesota. I think I won it all three times. Nobody has won it for. Since Richard Nixon won it many, many years ago. I won it all three times, in my opinion. And it's a corrupt state, a corrupt voting state. But I won Minnesota three times, and I didn't get credit for it. I. I did so well in that state. Every time the people were. They were crying every time after. That's a crooked state. California is a crooked state. Many crooked states.
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A
Ooh, it's the ramblings. Yeah. President old man yells at CLOUD. I just, It's. I mean, and it's so interesting, right, to listen to that. And I say interesting in the most Minnesotan way possible. But, you know, the idea. He said, you know, I feel that I won. I feel that I won. I feel that I won. And then it gets to, I won, I won, I won.
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B
Well, he. He said he won, of course, in 2020. So now, six prosecutors from the U.S. attorney's office in Minnesota resigned on this past Tuesday because the Justice Department want. They wanted them to investigate Renee Goode's widow. It wasn't clear what they wanted to investigate or for, but Trump administration officials accused her of impeding an immigration operation. How sick is that?
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A
I mean, it's. It is incredibly sick. And I also am grateful that there remains some level of integrity, as, you know, Joe Thompson and others and DOJ have resigned that they are clear that this goes far beyond what they should ever be asked to do. And, you know, the absolute. Just horror and heartbreak. Right. Of watching your spouse essentially, you know, be executed while you're in the car and then prosecute. Yeah. And then this is a response. It's horrible.
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B
Six prosecutors in D.C. resigned as well from the Justice Department Civil Rights Division. Now, the Civil Rights Division is always brought into these things, but they were told they would not be. So the FBI is now solely in charge of investigating the merv. And a good. And it took that away from the Minneapolis Police Department and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension by basically denying them any of the tools for the investigation.
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A
Correct. And you know this. And I think it's important that we remind folks that this is a normal, you know, the normal operations or order of operations is that the Minnesota bca. Right. Would be part of this investigation. So cutting them out is deeply troubling. And this is one of the places where, if your listeners are interested in how they can push back, they can call their member of Congress and ask them to ensure that the FBI is working in partnership with. With the bca. Now the Attorney General, Keith Ellison, along with Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty are conducting an investigation of their own. They have a public portal where they have asked individuals to submit evidence. And, you know, they are pursuing this investigation, but it absolutely is being hampered by the fact that, you know, no evidence is being shared with them from the FBI.
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B
So the FBI is doing it. And because they're withholding, I mean, they should be sharing all this. This is. That's standard procedure.
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A
That's correct, absolutely.
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B
You know, this suggests that the fix is in from the administration engaged in a cover up and will absolve Ross. You don't want to. I hope that's not the case. I mean, I hope there are professionals at the FBI, but Kash Patel is, of course in charge of this. Do you trust Kash Patel?
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A
I don't trust a lot of what this administration does. And I would just say that this is one of those places where we can see in real time just the deep commitment to injustice or justice through one lens in this moment and the people. Renee Good's family deserves this right, deserves to have a proper investigation, a full and fair and transparent investigation. The people of Minnesota certainly deserve that too. And I just think, you know, Americans as well, we should be able to trust in these systems. And, you know, what we see happening is maddening. That's mad.
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B
Now Ellison says Henneman county doesn't have the gun. I mean, they let these guys leave immediately after this. That's. That's against the normal procedure, of course.
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A
Right, Absolutely. And all of the evidence, you know, the vehicle and, you know, everything else don't have. Yeah. State officials don't have access to.
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B
Have you talked to the attorney general about this in Minnesota and to Keith about the possibility of his being able to do this investigation?
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A
We've talked about, Keith and I have talked about the suit that they're bringing.
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B
Against the Trump administration is to have ICE leave to have.
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A
Yes. Yep. And you know, that was joint with St. Paul in the city of Minneapolis. And so, you know, that's one of the tools in our toolbox to push back on, you know, what is happening in our streets right now. So we've, we've talked about that. And frankly, I'm so grateful for Keith because he continues to be Keith Ellison.
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B
Of course, the ag.
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A
Yeah, yeah. Continues to be one of the most important leaders we have right now who's pushing back on just the absolute cruelty that is coming out of the Trump administration right now. So we talked about, we've talked about the lawsuit.
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B
Now the reaction throughout the country has been there were thousands of demonstrations last weekend. Big cities, small cities. Fairbanks, Alaska, they had a big crowd that braved 20 below. How cold is it in Minnesota today?
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A
Today, I think it's like 13.
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B
Oh, that's not so bad.
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A
It's not too bad. I mean it's, you know, we got a, we're rocking a windchill. It's actually 16. Feels like four.
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B
Okay, that's about right. We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back with Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. Now that the holidays are over, you might be feeling like you've got a big spending hangover. The drinks, the holiday food, the gifts, it all adds up. Luckily, Mint Mobile is here to help you cut back on overspending on wireless this January with 50% off unlimited premium wireless. Mint Mobile's end of year sale is still going on, but only until the end of the month. Cut out Big Wireless's bloated plans and unnecessary monthly charges with 50% off. 3, 6 or 12 months of unlimited. All plans come with high speed data and unlimited talk and text delivered on the nation's largest 5G network. You can use your own phone with any Mint Mobile plan and bring your phone number along with all your existing contacts. This January, quit overspending on Wireless with 50% off. Unlimited premium wireless plans start at $15 a month at mintmobile.com Franken that's mintmobile.com Franken Limited time offer upfront payment of $45 for three months, $90 for six months or $180 for a 12 month plan required. That's the equivalent of $15 a month. Taxes and fees are extra. Initial plan term only. Speeds may slow above 50 gigabytes when the network is busy. Capable device required. Availability, speed and coverage varies. See mintmobile.com for details. And we are back with Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanak. Now, the suit is to get ICE out, but Nome has doubled down or put up another thousand. Is that there are, like 3,000 ICE and Border Patrol agents now in Minnesota, is that right?
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A
Yeah, they're everywhere. And I think it's important that folks know that they're not just in the Twin Cities metro. This past weekend, I was on the road, and we saw them as we were driving up i94 to go up north. They had pulled someone over. We were doing an event in Alexandria, and all of a sudden there was a buzz. People's phones started going off. Because, as you can imagine, as we're doing an event, there's a room full of folks who've been trained as legal observers. And so people had to respond at a local restaurant and a construction site. The same thing happened when we were in Detroit Lakes, that ICE agents were at a local community center and a business kiddie corner from where we were. And then I went to St. Cloud, and just hours before we got to St. Cloud, there was essentially a standoff with the Somali community.
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B
Right, At a shopping.
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A
Yeah, at a shopping center, yep.
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B
So Somalia shopping center, right?
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A
Yeah, that's right.
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B
And there was a confrontation that finally ended. St. Cloud's about 60 miles north of. Of Minneapolis.
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A
That's right. With a significant immigrant population. And. And the local leaders there did an incredible job, I think, of de escalation. And so far, the response across Minnesota has been one of peaceful protests. We had thousands of folks who were marching last weekend and have had faith leaders right on the front lines. And Minnesotans are responding in the way.
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B
That Minnesotans do when you're out state and in red areas. Are you sensing a revulsion even from people who aren't, you know, your typical liberals? And what are you hearing from folks?
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A
Absolutely, that folks are troubled by this. You know, it is. And there's folks who, you know, have said to me, you know, I'm a Republican and, you know, I don't like what I'm seeing or, you know, I don't agree with you on a lot, but, you know, this feels like it's over the line. You know, I think that that's gonna be important for folks who find this deeply disturbing to make their voices heard. We know that, you know, Donald Trump cares Tremendously right about what people think of him and how popular he is.
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B
But this isn't playing. This isn't playing nationally. This is not playing. But is he thinking this place is his base and he doesn't care or he. Is this the cruelty is the point or is this Stephen Miller?
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A
Yeah, I think it is a cruelty of the point. I think, you know, this is. Stephen Miller is, I think, loving every, every minute of this. But yeah, folks are troubled and there's some people who are absolutely in his base who are eating this up. But there's also, you know, like, we have to, I think our job is also to make sure that we are telling the story of what this actually looks like on the ground. I mean, my auntie on my mom's side, on the non native side was.
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B
Literally the Irish side.
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A
The Irish side, right, was forced off the road by ice, right? They, they surrounded her vehicle and like she was forced to pull over. They come up to the window, they have surrounded her vehicle. And you know, because she, you know, has a sparkly personality. She was like, she was like, hey guys, how's it going? And just like, congratulations, you just pulled over a 78 year old white grandma. How can I help you?
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B
And you know, she had a bumper sticker. I heard she did have a bumper.
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A
Sticker that said Black Lives Matter.
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B
So she got pulled over.
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A
Yeah, that they, that's why she pulled her over. But like she's this like, you know, 5ft tall, tiny white lady grandma.
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B
But they didn't break her window and drag her out of the car. Like, we've seen videos of that kind of thing.
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A
Absolutely. And I'm. And thank goodness she's okay. Right? Because like, we don't know how these guys are playing. Right? Like, so we have also seen this, we have seen that folks are being violently dragged from their vehicles. We have also seen ICE agents use their vehicles to ram the vehicles of legal observers and then abandoning these cars or as they violently remove people or detain them, just leaving their cars in the middle of the street or, you know, at gas stations. And it's, it's horrific. I mean, and let's be clear, like these are folks who have no problem going to schools.
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B
They went to Roosevelt, right?
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A
That's right. So Roosevelt High School. And so, you know, shortly in Minneapolis, right, shortly after Renee Goode was killed, ICE agents went to Roosevelt High School. During dismissal, they tackled staff members who are beloved by the students who go to this school. They, they deployed chemical agents with children present. And I think it's important to name. I think sometimes people think of high school students as just smaller adults. They're children and they have no problem putting kids at risk with their behavior. So this is. And then Minneapolis Public School closed school for two days. They're offering distance learning along with other districts across the state because they are trying to protect children from federal agents. Right. Like, this is madness. And this is the story that we have to make sure that we are telling. So whatever cowboy version that the Trump administration is trying to portray, like these are, you know, tough guys who are using chemical agents against children.
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B
And this is not polling well. There's a recent poll out that more Americans, I think it's 46% to 30 some or maybe it's a 40 low 40s. I want ICE to be disbanded. Now. That's never happened before. I mean, a lot of people have been critical of ice, and especially now. I mean, huge numbers of Americans are responding to this, saying they're against what's happening. But to say they want ICE disbanded is pretty amazing.
- [30:35]
A
I mean, it is. And I think folks are, are clear that this agency, under the direction of Kristi Noem, right. It's supposed to be under the guise of safety. No one is making Minnesotans or Americans less safe right now. I think then, then ICE overhauled. Right. Start over. And, you know, as this vote is coming up in Congress, in my opinion, they shouldn't get one more penny, right. To terrorize us. And they've got what, you know, $75 billion, something completely bananas.
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B
Amazing. I think they're funded more than any military in the world other than like Russia and China. Yeah.
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A
I mean, and it's these, you know, these individuals, masked agents with, you know, not a whole lot of training who are just like, released into our streets to, to wreak Havoc with their $50,000 bonuses. And it's outrageous.
- [31:36]
B
Trump's Department of Homeland Security put out a video montage of aggressive arrests in Minnesota of unarmed non white men, many of them thrown to the ground and cuffed, set to the 1977 hit Cold as Ice. Someday you'll pay the price is the lyric. This is sick. I mean.
- [32:06]
A
Yeah, I mean, it's. And they have, right, like influencers with them as they are detaining folks whose purpose is to record that, to put together that very video montage. Right. It should not be entertainment for folks, you know, watching this occur. It's, it is, it's sick. And that's why it's so important that people on the ground are also recording what is happening. That is not, you know, set to a 70s classic rock. Right. You know, like, soundtrack. Yeah. And like this is the language that they understand. Right. And that's what this is, you know, sort of all about, right, is, is getting, getting those, those clicks and showing these videos. But we have to make sure we're showing, you know, what's happening to real folks. And I know that you've probably heard this, that they're also targeting and detaining Native Americans as well. That's been a real issue.
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B
Now, do they know that Native Americans aren't immigrants?
- [33:10]
A
I mean, I'm not sure. I'm not sure they do. You know that. Yeah, we've, we've been here and so, but it's, yeah, there was a Red Lake descendant and there's video of this young man who is, you know, hit by ice and then violently dragged from the vehicle and was detained for hours until his mom had to bring documentation down to have him be released. And so tribal leaders are now responding with making sure that folks can get a copy of their, you know, tribal ID for free so that they can keep that on their person. It's just, it's horrific. So we know that this is going way beyond, right, getting quote, unquote, violent criminals off our streets. They're just sort of targeting everybody who has brown skin or little old white ladies, grandmas who have Black Lives Matter bumper stickers right on their cars.
- [34:10]
B
Now, Trump claimed to be sending ice into Minnesota due to the, the fraud investigations and prosecutions against Somalis in Minnesota. Now we have a large, vibrant Somali community in Minnesota is largest in the country, about 80 to 100,000. And Trump has been targeting them. 92 to 95% are citizens. Somalis are coming to Minnesota. And the 90s, there was a civil war in Somalia and Minnesota has the largest Somali population in the country. And yeah, there were some fraud and, and Somalis were involved in it. But it's unfair to demonize an entire community because of a few bad apples. If you get to the Senate, which I, you know, I've endorsed you and you, you're going to win. And when you get there, you may get a page, a Senate page. I think I had one. I was there and it was, you know, Wilmer, Minnesota.
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A
Well, absolutely, yeah.
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B
Wilmer is the county seat of Kandahyohai county, which is the largest Turkey producing county in Minnesota, which is largest Turkey producing state in the country. And it's a great community. And I had a page, Muna Abdullahi from Wilmer, her principal recommended her. She had written an essay, which was great, and was interviewed by my chief of staff in Minnesota. And she became a page. So the day she arrived, I went down to. To the Senate chamber, and new pages were there, and she was the only one with a hijab, the headscarf. And so I went up to her, I said, you look like a Minnesotan. And. Yeah. And she smiled and she was a great page. And your page, when you're 16 or, you know, when you're a junior in high school, then you leave. And she invited me to her commencement because she was chosen as commencement speaker, and she wanted me to introduce her. And I just tell the story about Wilmer. I go there, I see the program. I remember there were 236 seniors graduating, and I looked at the names, and about 60% are your Scandinavian, German names. Hovland was the name of the class president. About 20% or so were Hispanic. The valedictorian had been born in Ecuador. In Ecuador. And about, I guess, 10 or 15% were Somali. And this is Muna Abdullahi. And she was chosen as class speaker. I introduced her. She got a huge applause and then a standing ovation at the end. She gave a great speech. And then at the end of this thing, they hand out the diplomas. And this gym, of course, is full. They say, hold your applause to the end until all 236 get their diplomas. So. So she's first. Her name is Abdullahi. A, B, D, A. You know, so they say, muna Abdullahi. And the place went nuts. And, you know, parents and family are sitting in the bleachers, so. And they're stomping on the bleachers. But the thing is, they did this for every kid. And this is Minnesota, and this is how our state works. I saw her. She went to the University of Minnesota. I saw her in 2016 on election day. She was getting out to vote for Hillary. And I saw her, and she told me that her sister had been voted a homecoming queen. My God. And so they said they're going to target Somalis, almost all of whom are citizens, which is absolutely crazy.
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A
That's right. But like Al, that story that you just told, that is Minnesota. Right. And when you said to her, you look like a Minnesotan, the Minnesota that I have always known, Somalis have lived here. Right. And it is.
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B
I see you're tearing up a little bit.
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A
Yeah. So I'm a crier. That's fine. And especially over last week. But, like, that's. That is the thing about all of this is that it is the beauty of this place that we live, and it is that Somalis and immigrants and Ojibwe and Dakota people are part of this state. And it is, I think, what the beauty is the threat.
- [39:56]
B
And the Jews. And the Jews.
- [39:57]
A
And the Jews, absolutely. Two proud St. Louis park alumni.
- [40:02]
B
We had some Jewish criminals in the 40s and 50s, mobsters in Minneapolis, in north Minneapolis, and Humphrey kicked them out and got them out. They went to Las Vegas, but the Jews from the north side then moved to St. Louis park, where you and I are from. Great community, of course.
- [40:28]
A
Yep. And we have a Somali mayor. We have a Somali mayor of St. Louis park, and she is in her 20s and she's amazing. And, you know, and again, it's like we're commencement speakers, right? Like, Somalis are commencement speakers. They're mayors. They're small business owners. You know, and I went to. I went to Carmel Mall and met with business owners there. And this was before, you know, the murder of Renee Goode. And they just said, our business is down. We're maybe doing 10% of what we were doing before, just straight up.
- [41:05]
B
Because of ICE being there.
- [41:07]
A
Because of ICE being there. Talk to Somali aunties who shared that there are people in their life who are skipping, going to the doctor or are no longer receiving their dialysis treatments because they're so afraid to leave their home.
- [41:26]
B
And Minnesotans are doing stuff for those families. They're buying groceries. They're.
- [41:34]
A
That's right. We, we. We go to a parish. I'm pretty Catholic. I'm Catholic and native. And, you know, that's always interesting. It's kind of tough, but I figure it out. And, you know, we have members of our community who are so afraid. And so we're figuring out, Right, how to get folks groceries. We have adopted a family and are, you know, shopping for them every week. They've got kiddos at home. And like, that is not unique. Right. There are folks all across the state who are doing this because this is who we are as Minnesotans. Right. We're going to make sure that we're taking care of our neighbor. And if you come after, you know, people that we care about, we are going to just. We're going to stand together and do what we need to do to respond peacefully, but also to show up for each other. We are passive aggressive right to our core. That is the, you know, spirit of. Of Minnesota. Right. But, like, if you, if you come for us, gosh darn it, like, we're gonna make sure that people are getting fed and that, you know, we're, we're really stepping up for each other. So there's stories like that all across Minnesota of neighbors just looking out for neighbors who are afraid and suffering. Right. I know a family who hasn't left their house in two months. Like they're afraid to even take out the recycling. That's just untenable.
- [42:59]
B
Right.
- [42:59]
A
For folks.
- [43:01]
B
We're gonna take a break. We'll be right back with Peggy. Fine. Well, I'm over the whole new year, new me thing. Short term fads don't deliver long term results, but science does, especially when it comes to skincare. That's why I'm here to tell you about One Skin. Their formulas are powered by the OS one peptide, a patented peptide built on longevity science, proven to target aging at the cellular level. It's not about adding extra steps to your routine. It's about swapping in smarter ones with products like OS1 body, OS1 face, and OSI. OneSkin has been validated in four separate clinical studies for their Science first approach to aging. Their products deliver hydration, barrier strengthening and visible improvements to the skin with every product. All of their products layer effortlessly and can even replace multiple steps in your routine. No wonder they have over 10,000 five star reviews. In fact, my daughter Thomason has been using One Skin products and says her skin feels more hydrated and smoother than ever before. Born from over 10 years of longevity research, OneSkin's OS1 peptide is proven to target the cells that cause the visible signs of aging. And for a limited time, get up to 30% off your first three subscription orders. When you use Code Franken at Oneskin co. Franken, that's up to 30% off with code FRANKEN. That's up to 30% off at OneSkin Co Franken with Code Franken. After you purchase, they'll ask where you heard about them. Please support our show and tell them that we sent you. The number one resolution for people last year was to save more money, but nearly half gave up by February. Don't let that be you. Download Rocket Money to reach your financial goals this year. Track your spending, cut waste, and automate savings in one simple app. Rocket Money shows you all your expenses and categorizes them so you know exactly where your money's going and where you're overspending. From there, the app cuts waste by canceling your unused subscriptions and lowering your bills. No customer service needed. With that money freed up, the app will automatically set some cash aside for your goals. Whether it's an emergency fund, paying off debt or saving for vacation. Rocket money's got you covered. Users love the app with over 186,000 five star ratings. And on average, users can save up to $740 a year when using all of the app's premium features. Make saving money a priority this year. Go to RocketMoney.com Cancel to get started. That's RocketMoney.com Cancel RocketMoney.com Cancel Using my.
- [45:58]
A
GI bill taught me I can do anything. And seeing me graduate taught my daughter she can, too. VA Benefits cover too tuition, housing and supplies. Get what you earned.
- [46:07]
B
Visit choose.va.gov not all veterans are eligible for the type or amount of benefits mentioned here. And we are back with Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. Now you're running for, for the Senate, and again, I should point out, I endorse you.
- [46:29]
A
Thank you.
- [46:30]
B
Very valuable endorsement.
- [46:32]
A
Yes. Yes, it is.
- [46:33]
B
The Star Tribune put out a piece. It was yesterday. Now, your primary opponent is Congressman Angie Craig, and it pointed out that she voted for the Lake and Riley Act. Can you explain Lake and Riley?
- [46:48]
A
Sure. So the Lake and Riley act was the first piece of legislation that came up in the, in the second Trump administration last January of 2025. And essentially what it does is strips due process away from immigrants, allows for indefinite detention.
- [47:15]
B
These are, they're accused of a crime of some kind of crime, but they don't get they can go the prison without due process.
- [47:26]
A
Right. And they just hold people, which, you know, it's still true in this country that whether or not you're a citizen, you are afforded due process, or at.
- [47:38]
B
Least you're supposed to be.
- [47:40]
A
And I think it's important just to name that this didn't sneak up on us. Right, that Donald Trump wasn't being coy about what his plans were. There literally, Right. Were signs at every rally and at the Republican National Convention that said mass deportations.
- [48:02]
B
Now.
- [48:02]
A
Right. This wasn't just in the fine print. It was in giant signs. Right. And so this vote that came down, Senator Tina Smith and Senator Amy Klobuchar read the, you know, sort of led the delegation in voting no. And Angie Craig was the only Democrat that voted in favor of it. And so, you know, I think anyone who thought for a second about what it would mean to actually, you know, deport millions of people had to realize that, you know, Donald Trump was going to fulfill this campaign promise and, you know, potentially do so through brute force. So this is a critique that I have had about my opponents and a contrast, you know, that I'VE been talking about long before Renee Goode was killed because I think it's important to name that we shouldn't. We should always put humanity first and politics second. And this is incredible. I think this is what gave permission for what we are seeing in our streets right now. She also voted for a resolution praising ICE in June.
- [49:13]
B
This is when they were in LA and she.
- [49:16]
A
Right. I mean, that's right. Like as kids are literally being right as we are seeing kids at their elementary school graduation and ICE is, you know, essentially kidnapping their parents. Like, I am glad that she's now speaking out, but, boy, it should have taken all of this to get there.
- [49:39]
B
Okay, well, let's talk about some of the other issues that you care about in your run for the Senate. What are you hearing from people as you go around the state? I imagine the subsidies for the ACA going away is a huge issue, especially outstate, right?
- [50:03]
A
Yeah, absolutely. And so healthcare continues to be the number one thing that I hear from many. And we've done over 100 events. We're doing 44 stops on this loud, clear voice tour across Minnesota. And I think I've probably spent more time in the congressional districts of Republicans in Minnesota than they have. But what we're hearing from folks who are in the community of Camby and small town southwestern Minnesota, this woman raised her hand and she said, you know, I'm a librarian. And she's like, they keep me just under the hours I need to qualify for healthcare through my employer, married to a farmer. So, you know, we purchase our insurance on the open market. And she said our deductible is $15,000 a year.
- [50:54]
B
That means she has, she asked, pay out of pocket $15,000 for the insurance covers.
- [50:59]
A
That's right.
- [51:00]
B
Any care.
- [51:01]
A
That's right. And she said, I just paid $600 for a five minute medication check. And she said, like, you know, this medication has completely changed my life. And so it was worth, you know, that to our family. But they're in an impossible, you know, position. I talked to a psychiatric nurse practitioner just this past weekend that they found out at the end of last year that they were no longer going to be able to have the same insurance that they did previously. She's now looking, they're buying their insurance and their deductible will range anywhere between $10,000 a year to $16,000 a year. And she's someone who is in the medical field delivering care to people every day. So this, I think, is a thing. I am a supporter of Medicare for All And I got there because I've been hearing directly from Minnesotans about the high cost of care.
- [51:58]
B
Now, Medicare for All is Medicare for All. It's the British system, essentially. Right, okay. And every industrialized country except us has universal health care, and they do it different ways.
- [52:13]
A
Right, Right. But the bottom line is that, folks, we are the only industrialized nation that does not offer this to our citizens, and, boy, does it show. And when I hear folks who say, like, oh, you know, I've had folks say, like, gosh, what's the response in greater Minnesota when you talk about, you know, Medicare for All? And I'm like, applause.
- [52:41]
B
Right. But would you be in favor of something where you could have Medicare for All who want it? I mean, Buttigieg ran in 2020 on that. And by the way, getting to Medicare for All is going to be very hard politically. I don't know if you know that. Yeah.
- [53:02]
A
I mean, so, yeah, not every. Certainly not everyone is on board. But what I know is that the numbers of people who believe that we should have an option or should universal healthcare in this country is growing, and folks are absolutely for it. And so the thing that I worry about is that sometimes I think Democrats are like, oh, gosh, what's the fight that we think we can win? Or fighting from a defensive crouch instead of being bold and audacious and defiant when pushing back against the status quo. And I think that's what's needed in this moment. You and I have a deep love of Senator Paul Wellstone, and we all know the famous quote that I think is the kind of unofficial slogan of Minnesota, which is, we all do better when we all do better. But my favorite quote from Paul was, sometimes you got to pick a fight to win one. And I think that that is the moment that we are in right now, that we have to ask for what people need and deserve instead of starting from, like, what do we think that we can win? Because I think that has to do with why we find ourselves here politically anyways. Right. That we have to make sure we're doing everything possible so that people can afford the lives that they want to live. And so if it's health care, if it's child care, if it's housing, and, you know, Wall street coming in and buying up entire neighborhoods and pricing people out and, you know, jacking up the rent or, you know, I know that you know this as you represented Minnesota so well, child care continues to be an issue, and we've got folks who are driving in one direction. Right. 60 minutes and 45 minutes in the other direction, because that's where they can bring their child for the day and are spending an awful lot of time in their car instead of having partners at the federal level who are working with us to make sure that families can get that care, which isn't just good for the family themselves. Right. Of course, to have a safe place to bring your child, but also for the economy overall and for employers. So I think people are ready for this. It's what I'm hearing from Minnesotans, and we have to make sure that we are. We're sticking up for the folks who are getting hosed by this administration, as Donald Trump and his billionaire besties are doing quite well right now.
- [55:30]
B
And I'm sure you're hearing a lot about cost of living all the time. How do farmers feel about tariffs?
- [55:40]
A
Well, they don't like them. And I will tell you this, like, I've been just stunned at the size of the middle finger that the Trump administration is giving to farmers. There was a bumper crop this year of soybeans. And, you know, one of the things that, you know, we, we look to is the, the directions, right. Of the trains that are coming in and out of Minnesota, right. Are they going north, south, or east, west? If they're going north, south, you know, that means that a lot of these farmers are having to bend their beans and, or use them. Right. For. For feed. They go east, west. That means they're getting to China, who, you know, purchases Minnesota soybeans. And unfortunately, Right. Because of these tariffs, we haven't seen, right. The soybeans going to. To. To China. And I will tell you what I'm hearing from farmers, and they're. And they say, like, we would rather be able to simply sell our product than get this bailout for the Trump administration. And I was talking to a guy this past two weeks ago who said he was like, it's like Donald Trump with this bailout is essentially throwing a glass of water at a dying man in the desert. And I was like, right. But also that Donald Trump was the person who put that dying man in the desert in the first place.
- [57:07]
B
I mean, first of all is the timing of it. For some people, this money, it might come too late. And did it make them whole? Right.
- [57:17]
A
No. Right. Like, folks wanted to sell their product. And we also see this money going to Argentina, right. And to cattle farmers there. Beef cattle is doing quite well, you know, and so it just feels like farmers are completely getting hosed. And so, like, those are the things that I'm also hearing from farmers is that health care is the number one cost for them. So things like Medicare for all are things that farmers are interested in. And I had these four Republican farmers come to an event and they were all sitting in the back with their arms crossed, right? Like sort of, you know, grumpy scowls on their face. And I was like, all right, I gotta figure out what's going on with these guys. And, you know, one of them raises his hand and he said, you know, we voted. You know, referencing the three other guys who are sitting with him. He's like, we voted for Trump in 16 and 20, and we didn't vote for that lady the last time. I was like, okay. And he said, but we're here because you're a tough cookie. And for your listeners, being called a tough cookie by that's a compliment. Yeah, it's a big deal. Right? And he said, we're really concerned about the fact that SNAP is essentially, you know, being taken out of the Ag Bell. This has always been a place where he's like, we've been able to count on Republicans and Democrats working together.
- [58:44]
B
There were cuts and SNAP in the big, beautiful bill.
- [58:47]
A
That's right. And he said in the dirty little secret that people aren't going to tell you is that there's a lot of farmers who utilize SNAP themselves. And so he's like, you know, I don't agree with you on everything, but I'm here. And that to me. And he also said that there's, you know, some of these farmers who voted for Trump who were very vocal in their support are now just more quiet. And so that, I think, is giving me some hope. But here's the deal. Whether or not you voted for Trump and you are concerned by what you are seeing now or how your community is being impacted, or the people that you love and care about, come on in. Because it's literally right. Like, all of us versus extremist billionaires. I am betting on us. Right? But I think it's incredibly important.
- [59:42]
B
I don't know if the billionaires are extremists. I think they're just selfish. I mean, they're just.
- [59:47]
A
That feels extreme to me. Right. But, like, yeah, I mean, they're doing great, and we need to. We need to point that out at every moment. Right? Like the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress are all like, you got to fight over this one piece of pie when, like, if we come together, we can get the whole damn pie.
- [60:07]
B
Well, good luck.
- [60:10]
A
Thank you.
- [60:11]
B
I hope that. I hope between now and when we air this. This is Thursday, and we air this on Sunday at midnight. I hope things have calm down in Minnesota. But. But that would, you know, if I. But I don't think they're going to. I think the administration is intent on stirring shit up.
- [60:41]
A
I think that's right. And I would just, you know, just continue to. To say that people lift up the firsthand accounts that are coming from Minnesotans, amplifying the videos and documentation of the outrageous behavior that we're seeing in our streets, and if you can, to attend a training to become a legal observer, because that is one of the most powerful tools in our toolbox right now, is telling the truth. And to invest in some of these organizations on the ground who are doing incredibly important work. We have to use this tool of nonviolent resistance, of peaceful protests, of using our platforms. I oftentimes think about one of my aunties who said, peggy, Donald Trump is not in the top 10 worst presidents that Native Americans have ever seen. I was like, that makes me feel better and worse. But it's important to remember that I think, you know, for. For me, I'm not even supposed to be here, right? And there are people who loved me into existence. And so many of us. And that resiliency of people who come before us is in our bones. We got to tap into that. We've got to take care of ourselves. And then we got to bundle up and go outside and document what's happening, but also bring food to our neighbors and protest and just continue to make sure that people know Minnesotans are unique, we are strong, and when you come for people we love, we're going to stand up for each other.
- [62:34]
B
Well, thanks, Maggie, and good luck to you. I know you're going to win. I know you're gonna win and be a great singer.
- [62:45]
A
Thank you. That means so much coming from you.
- [62:48]
B
Well, I hope you enjoyed listening. That beautiful music is by Leo Kotke. The great Leo Kotke. I want to thank Peter Ogburn for producing this podcast. We'll talk again next.