1 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:14,800 Speaker 1: Good morning, keeps, and welcome to WIKF Daily with Meet 2 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:19,320 Speaker 1: your Girl. Danielle Moody recording from the home bunker, Folks. 3 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:24,599 Speaker 1: I am very happy, I guess happy ish to report 4 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:31,920 Speaker 1: that the white woman, Susan Luis Lorinsk, who murdered isjk Owens, 5 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:36,480 Speaker 1: the black mother of four in Florida, has been arrested 6 00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:42,559 Speaker 1: and charged with manslaughter. Susan Luis Lrinsk, according to The 7 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 1: New York Times, was charged with manslaughter with a firearm 8 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 1: in the shooting death of ijk Owens, and she has 9 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 1: also been charged with culpable negligence, battery, and two counts 10 00:00:54,960 --> 00:01:00,880 Speaker 1: of assault. This shooting happened on Friday night, and it 11 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:06,200 Speaker 1: has taken until this week, with the family of aj 12 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:10,399 Speaker 1: Owens giving a press conference going on cable news networks 13 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 1: retaining counsel to get this arrest to take place. Now. 14 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:19,240 Speaker 1: One of the reasons why it takes so very long, 15 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:23,399 Speaker 1: aside from the obvious, you know, racism, but one of 16 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 1: the reasons why it takes so long is because of 17 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:31,959 Speaker 1: the absolutely heinous law that we know as stand your ground. 18 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:36,880 Speaker 1: And this is what stand your ground states, is that 19 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:39,960 Speaker 1: the law allows for the person to have a right 20 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:43,080 Speaker 1: to meet force with force if they believe it's necessary 21 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:47,040 Speaker 1: to prevent death or great bodily harm. And this is 22 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:51,279 Speaker 1: what the sheriff said with regard to this particular case. 23 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 1: Anytime that we think or perceive or believe that that 24 00:01:56,760 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 1: might come into play, meaning stand your ground, we cannot 25 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 1: make an arrest. The law specifically says that, and what 26 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 1: we have to rule out is whether the deadly force 27 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 1: was justified or not before we can even make the arrest. 28 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:14,440 Speaker 1: Can you guys just think about this with me for 29 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:19,640 Speaker 1: a fucking moment. That somebody can commit murder in the 30 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:22,239 Speaker 1: state of Florida, in the state of Minnesota and other 31 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 1: places right that have standing ground laws, and that murderer 32 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 1: just get to walk free until it can be determined 33 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 1: because the burden of proof is on the police to 34 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:37,520 Speaker 1: determine whether or not the person who was still alive 35 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 1: and well was justified in committing murder. So now we 36 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:47,080 Speaker 1: have instances where people one cannot make wrong u turns 37 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:51,120 Speaker 1: right into a driveway, cannot knock on a neighbor's door, 38 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 1: cannot have a conversation with somebody because what by virtue 39 00:02:56,600 --> 00:03:01,960 Speaker 1: of somebody else's skin, right, they're melanin They fear for 40 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 1: their lives and can use that refrain that we've heard 41 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:09,200 Speaker 1: from police officers who are trained and have guns against black, 42 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:13,359 Speaker 1: unarmed black people, and now you can't go to your 43 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:20,760 Speaker 1: neighbor's home. It is absolutely obscene where we are and 44 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:26,239 Speaker 1: how our society has been rapidly crumbling under these anti 45 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 1: neighbor right, anti civility laws that are placed on the books. 46 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:37,840 Speaker 1: You know, the Second Amendment is not the only fucking 47 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 1: amendment as a part of our constitution. The only reason 48 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:46,720 Speaker 1: why guns were written into the constitution is because it 49 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:53,160 Speaker 1: was a burgeoning country that did not have police departments 50 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:55,160 Speaker 1: in the way that we have them now all over 51 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 1: the place where you could call for help it could 52 00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:01,920 Speaker 1: take days, So the ability to protect your land actually 53 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:08,080 Speaker 1: mattered when we were still using horses and buggies. The 54 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 1: fact that we our laws and our thinking have not evolved, 55 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:15,160 Speaker 1: and it feels to me like we're still just operating 56 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 1: with this reptilian brain in America is wild. This story 57 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:26,720 Speaker 1: has captivated, you know, the hearts and minds of people 58 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:31,279 Speaker 1: across the country because how many parents have had to 59 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:35,799 Speaker 1: go and knock on neighbors doors, right, how many parents 60 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:40,520 Speaker 1: have had to have conversations. This is a normal act 61 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:46,040 Speaker 1: of parenting, and now four children are without a mother. 62 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 1: It's absurd and it's sick, but that is the reality 63 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:57,800 Speaker 1: here in America. You know. My other story before we 64 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:03,040 Speaker 1: get to our guests today, is that of CNNs now 65 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 1: fired CEO Chris Lickt and the fact that Chris Lickt, 66 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:11,719 Speaker 1: I think, lasted about four hundred days so a little 67 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 1: over a year as the CEO of CNN, where he 68 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:20,279 Speaker 1: greenlighted the town hall and celebrated the town hall of 69 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 1: Donald Trump and has ushered in, you know, just like 70 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:33,719 Speaker 1: his predecessor bullshit theory of both sides right, and has enacted, 71 00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 1: you know, the failure of journalism, the failure of journalism 72 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:45,280 Speaker 1: to provide context, to provide analysis, to provide information to 73 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:50,480 Speaker 1: the viewer that is needed. I believe that the media 74 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 1: is also part, a large part on top of the 75 00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:57,600 Speaker 1: policies that are being created in the denigration of our 76 00:05:57,920 --> 00:06:02,800 Speaker 1: society with the fear mongering, with the lies, with the 77 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 1: both sides is we don't trust the people down the street. 78 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:11,359 Speaker 1: And so I'm glad that Chris lick is out, but 79 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 1: I'm sure that he will just be replaced with another 80 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:18,240 Speaker 1: You know, person that will do the bidding of Zaslov 81 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:21,920 Speaker 1: and you know, and bring in more Republicans, more liars, 82 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 1: and more stories that don't allow us as a country 83 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:32,200 Speaker 1: to come together right, that continue the fracture. What I 84 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:37,600 Speaker 1: am happy to talk about today though, is with Representative 85 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 1: Lee Finke, who is the first out trans representative in 86 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:50,600 Speaker 1: the state of Minnesota. And we get into a conversation 87 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 1: because Minnesota has done, you know, the unthinkable. The Democrats 88 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:02,400 Speaker 1: have taken back the governorship, the State Senate, and the 89 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:06,800 Speaker 1: State House, and in this last session passed some of 90 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:12,360 Speaker 1: the most progressive policies that we've ever seen, from gun 91 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 1: reform to minimum wage, to cannabis to aid for children. 92 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 1: It is remarkable, and so it's incredible to finally get 93 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 1: to tell a good story of what happens when people 94 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 1: give power to the party that is actually aligned with 95 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 1: the people. So coming up next my conversation with Representative 96 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 1: Lee Finkey, Folks, I am very excited to welcome to 97 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:47,600 Speaker 1: Woke f Daily Representative Lee Finkey, who is a representative 98 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 1: in the Minnesota Legislature that just wrapped up an extraordinary 99 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 1: and significant term, passing some of the most progressive and 100 00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:02,160 Speaker 1: thoughtful pieces of legisl that we have seen in quite 101 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:04,920 Speaker 1: some time since Democrats have been able to take over 102 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:11,480 Speaker 1: the State House, the Senate, and the governorship. So Representative 103 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:16,680 Speaker 1: Thinkee tell us about this session that just ended and 104 00:08:17,080 --> 00:08:19,200 Speaker 1: why it's making headlines. 105 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:23,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, so, I mean, the thing, thank you very much 106 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:26,480 Speaker 2: for the invitation. I'm so glad to be here. The 107 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:28,560 Speaker 2: thing about our session, right, we have what we call 108 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:32,240 Speaker 2: the trifecta, right, the three power in the three chambers, 109 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:38,080 Speaker 2: and we had that before in twenty twelve and twenty thirteen. 110 00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:40,080 Speaker 2: Long this is my first session, so this is my 111 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:42,439 Speaker 2: first experience. But when we had it in twenty twelve 112 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 2: twenty thirteen, there was a lot of caution about how 113 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:50,960 Speaker 2: we can keep those things rather than a lot of 114 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:55,880 Speaker 2: aggressive desire to govern. And I think that coming out 115 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:59,160 Speaker 2: of that experience, our leadership wanted to make it clear 116 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:02,480 Speaker 2: that we were going to win our re elections by 117 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 2: doing as much good stuff for the people of Minnesota 118 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:09,400 Speaker 2: as we can, and truly we held to that. I mean, 119 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:12,800 Speaker 2: we passed every single priority bill that we had in 120 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:15,160 Speaker 2: the House dfl up on the wall. We had our 121 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:19,839 Speaker 2: thirty priority bills. Every single one of them is now 122 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:23,440 Speaker 2: signed into law. And I mean massive important things that 123 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:27,720 Speaker 2: have been waiting to get done in Minnesota, gun control legislation, 124 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:33,559 Speaker 2: driver's license for everyone, paid family medical leave, right down, 125 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 2: cannabis legalization, expungements. And I mean the word historic gets 126 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:42,079 Speaker 2: thrown around a lot, and it kind of has lost 127 00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:44,440 Speaker 2: its meaning and the past of the conversation. But it 128 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:48,200 Speaker 2: truly is historic. Every single bill we passed was historic 129 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:51,480 Speaker 2: and transformational. The housing bill is the hot was a 130 00:09:51,520 --> 00:09:54,839 Speaker 2: billion dollar housing bill, the biggest by at least seven 131 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:58,840 Speaker 2: hundred million, right like the education bill, All of the bills, 132 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 2: the tax bill, just hugely, significantly progressive bills. 133 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 1: So one of the things, you know, it's funny because 134 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:14,280 Speaker 1: a in a headline story it says, Minnesota legislature wraps 135 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:19,120 Speaker 1: up seventy two billion dollars state budget and ends legislative 136 00:10:19,120 --> 00:10:22,600 Speaker 1: session with far reaching impact. Right. And one of the 137 00:10:22,640 --> 00:10:26,360 Speaker 1: things that was harped on, of course by Republicans in 138 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:29,480 Speaker 1: your state was the fact that this was I think 139 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 1: that they said very disappointing. You know, every and that 140 00:10:35,559 --> 00:10:39,200 Speaker 1: there was let's see quote even a little bit of 141 00:10:39,280 --> 00:10:41,640 Speaker 1: tax relief that is in some of the bills is 142 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:44,920 Speaker 1: not going to be recognized because of all the expenses 143 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:48,720 Speaker 1: from our car tab fees and taxes and delivery fees, 144 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:52,560 Speaker 1: increases costs all the way around, said the House Minority 145 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:57,760 Speaker 1: Leader Lisa de Muk. What do you say to that 146 00:10:57,960 --> 00:11:03,200 Speaker 1: kind of reaction to this history to actually, in my 147 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:06,000 Speaker 1: humble opinion, which is what I say nationally all the time, 148 00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:10,839 Speaker 1: tax payers actually getting back their tax dollars in ways 149 00:11:10,880 --> 00:11:13,160 Speaker 1: that make sense for them. So what do you make 150 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 1: of those comments by the minority leader? 151 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:19,439 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean I think that they misunderstand the work 152 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 2: that we have done, right. I mean, we came into 153 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:25,680 Speaker 2: the session with, as Lisa Damuth, Minority Leader. Damuth said 154 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:29,520 Speaker 2: many times, we came in with a historic budget surplus, 155 00:11:29,880 --> 00:11:33,720 Speaker 2: but most of that was left over from the federal 156 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:36,160 Speaker 2: COVID money that was not ongoing money, and it was 157 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:40,160 Speaker 2: not surplus tax payments. We use that money to build 158 00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:43,120 Speaker 2: a budget for the people of Minnesota that is going 159 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:46,480 Speaker 2: to transform what it means to live in Minnesota in 160 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:49,360 Speaker 2: a progressive way, in a way that's going to improve 161 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:52,000 Speaker 2: the lives of people. And we have I mean, I 162 00:11:52,080 --> 00:11:56,320 Speaker 2: have no problem saying, you know, we did increase taxes 163 00:11:56,360 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 2: in places to better the lives of everyone in Minnesota, 164 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:04,120 Speaker 2: but we we'd also pass a historic middle class tax cut, 165 00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:10,240 Speaker 2: just tremendously powerful tax bill from Representative Gomez, our tax chair, 166 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 2: that is going to really help people. So we have 167 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:17,320 Speaker 2: to have ongoing services. But we also recognize that this 168 00:12:17,480 --> 00:12:20,239 Speaker 2: is a time when people need support in their pocketbooks, 169 00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:24,160 Speaker 2: but they also need better access to healthcare. They also 170 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 2: need better access to the services that their lives depend upon. 171 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:29,960 Speaker 2: That's going to take money, and we are going to 172 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:32,640 Speaker 2: make sure that's not going to stop in two years 173 00:12:33,160 --> 00:12:34,959 Speaker 2: when we have to do this all again. We are 174 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:37,000 Speaker 2: going to fund these programs into the future. 175 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:41,200 Speaker 1: How do you think that we need to be using 176 00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:48,560 Speaker 1: your state as a symbol, right, as an example for 177 00:12:48,679 --> 00:12:52,280 Speaker 1: how government is supposed to work form by the people. Like, 178 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:56,440 Speaker 1: what is the conversation because we're seeing, right, we saw 179 00:12:56,520 --> 00:13:00,000 Speaker 1: pushback in Wisconsin. We've seen pushback with people in terms 180 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:02,560 Speaker 1: of how they are voting and what they are doing 181 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:07,280 Speaker 1: in trying to fight against these Republican supermajorities that aren't 182 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:10,120 Speaker 1: offering the people anything, They're just taking things away. So 183 00:13:10,559 --> 00:13:14,640 Speaker 1: what is it that other states can take at this 184 00:13:14,760 --> 00:13:19,079 Speaker 1: moment that we're seeing when we're seeing the opposite happen 185 00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:20,360 Speaker 1: in these red states? 186 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:25,959 Speaker 2: I mean, I think that what Minnesota saw one. Minnesota 187 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:28,760 Speaker 2: has just the DFL party here. We have a dog 188 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:31,280 Speaker 2: at ground game that has made sure that we are 189 00:13:31,720 --> 00:13:35,640 Speaker 2: at least running in every district and everybody's hearing from us. 190 00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:38,800 Speaker 2: We don't leave districts that we can't win and say 191 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:41,080 Speaker 2: we're not going to put resources there. We want everybody 192 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:46,400 Speaker 2: to hear our message. And then the thing that we 193 00:13:46,720 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 2: had a one vote majority in the Senate, right, we 194 00:13:50,559 --> 00:13:53,480 Speaker 2: have senators in the state of Minnesota who are not progressive. Right, 195 00:13:53,559 --> 00:13:56,600 Speaker 2: I'm in a safe blue urban district. I'm the first 196 00:13:56,679 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 2: trans person in this place. I have my own world 197 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:03,520 Speaker 2: that I opper in. But we have rural senators and 198 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:05,640 Speaker 2: we brought them along with us, and we said we 199 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:09,959 Speaker 2: are going to focus on transformational policies that we can 200 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:13,160 Speaker 2: all get behind, and then we passed them. We said 201 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:14,520 Speaker 2: we were going to do them, and we did it. 202 00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:17,360 Speaker 2: We didn't say we weren't going to do things. We didn't. 203 00:14:17,920 --> 00:14:20,280 Speaker 2: I mean, I can't stress enough how important it was 204 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:24,720 Speaker 2: that our leadership sat together across the entire spectrum and said, 205 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:28,120 Speaker 2: what can we get done, what do we need to 206 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:30,960 Speaker 2: do to get that done? And then they actually followed 207 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:33,240 Speaker 2: it all the way through and held people to say 208 00:14:33,240 --> 00:14:35,520 Speaker 2: and you said you would support this, and now we're 209 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:38,040 Speaker 2: here and we're going to support it. And you know, 210 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:40,080 Speaker 2: I mean, I don't know states that are in a 211 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:44,040 Speaker 2: trifecta Republican. I mean, that's an extremely different circumstance when 212 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:48,280 Speaker 2: you're in zero power. But I do think that the 213 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:55,160 Speaker 2: idea that Democrats nationally are getting their message to everyone 214 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:57,120 Speaker 2: in every part of the country and every part of 215 00:14:57,160 --> 00:15:02,680 Speaker 2: their state really has a value, even if not right now. Right, 216 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:05,920 Speaker 2: that work that was being done, the reason this got 217 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:09,440 Speaker 2: done in Minnesota was because of you know, projects that 218 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:15,680 Speaker 2: got started five ten years ago. There's an MVP project, right, 219 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:17,680 Speaker 2: that was something that was started to build what does 220 00:15:17,680 --> 00:15:20,680 Speaker 2: a state like statewide agenda for the state of Minnesota 221 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:23,200 Speaker 2: that's run by progressives look like. And that that work 222 00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:25,680 Speaker 2: was going on for years and years and years, so 223 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:28,520 Speaker 2: that when this moment came, it was just teed up. 224 00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:31,000 Speaker 2: They knew exactly what they wanted to do. They've worked 225 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:32,920 Speaker 2: it through the whole state. Right, you got to do 226 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:36,080 Speaker 2: that work so that when your moment comes, you can 227 00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:37,240 Speaker 2: do what we just did. 228 00:15:37,920 --> 00:15:40,680 Speaker 1: You know, and what you're talking about really is planting 229 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:44,520 Speaker 1: the seeds right, and not giving up or seating different 230 00:15:44,520 --> 00:15:46,560 Speaker 1: parts of your state. And when we look at it 231 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:50,600 Speaker 1: at a macro level, the Democratic Party seating different states 232 00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:53,000 Speaker 1: altogether and just saying oh, we're not going to put 233 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:56,480 Speaker 1: people on the ground in places like Texas or Florida 234 00:15:56,520 --> 00:15:58,520 Speaker 1: is a foregone conclusion and we're not going to bother 235 00:15:58,560 --> 00:16:01,520 Speaker 1: wasting time in Mississippi. And I think that what we 236 00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:05,160 Speaker 1: see is that, yes, planting those seeds is not going 237 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 1: to bear fruit the day that you planned, right, that 238 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:11,600 Speaker 1: you have to have more of a long term on 239 00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:16,000 Speaker 1: top of a short term strategy. Is that your opinion. 240 00:16:16,280 --> 00:16:19,000 Speaker 2: That is my opinion, right, and that's based in my work. 241 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:23,920 Speaker 2: You know, I come from activism. I come from LGBTQ 242 00:16:24,160 --> 00:16:27,680 Speaker 2: and abortion activism, right. Those are areas that I've worked 243 00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:30,760 Speaker 2: in for a long time. And when you are doing 244 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:34,240 Speaker 2: work on behalf of the queer community, you don't leave people, right. 245 00:16:34,320 --> 00:16:37,560 Speaker 2: We can't say let's everybody leave Florida. We got to 246 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:40,400 Speaker 2: abandon Florida, right, because there are trans people in Florida, 247 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:43,480 Speaker 2: and we don't just leave them behind. We continue to 248 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:45,720 Speaker 2: work there and we continue to make sure that the 249 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:48,320 Speaker 2: people who live there are being heard and having their 250 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:51,520 Speaker 2: needs met, and then we recognize that when the opportunity comes, 251 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:54,480 Speaker 2: we are going to be ready to make sure those 252 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:57,520 Speaker 2: people are getting the representation they need. Right and it's 253 00:16:57,560 --> 00:17:00,120 Speaker 2: the same with the people who are doing reproductive work 254 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:02,240 Speaker 2: all over the country. You don't just walk away from 255 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:05,840 Speaker 2: people who need access to your services. I mean the Democrats, 256 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:10,600 Speaker 2: the DFL in Minnesota were the DFL. You know we 257 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:13,280 Speaker 2: need to make What we did was say we may 258 00:17:13,280 --> 00:17:15,400 Speaker 2: not have your county right now, we may not have 259 00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:19,000 Speaker 2: your seat, but we're going to make sure you know 260 00:17:19,080 --> 00:17:22,560 Speaker 2: that when we legalize cannabis, this is still going to 261 00:17:22,600 --> 00:17:26,720 Speaker 2: benefit you. And here's how. When we pass paid family medically, 262 00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:30,000 Speaker 2: here's how that's going to benefit the workers in your town. 263 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:32,320 Speaker 2: Even though you probably aren't going to vote for the 264 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:34,680 Speaker 2: people who are going to pass this, we still are 265 00:17:34,720 --> 00:17:36,120 Speaker 2: going to pass it and we're going to make sure 266 00:17:36,160 --> 00:17:37,480 Speaker 2: you know that it benefits you. 267 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:40,520 Speaker 1: And I think that that, you know, education is a 268 00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:44,199 Speaker 1: huge part of campaigning. Education is a huge part of 269 00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:47,600 Speaker 1: I think party responsibility is not just asking people for 270 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:50,840 Speaker 1: their votes when you need it, but also showing them 271 00:17:51,320 --> 00:17:54,800 Speaker 1: how their vote is actually benefiting them, showing them the 272 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:58,520 Speaker 1: policies that you're creating and why they are necessary. Right. 273 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:02,359 Speaker 1: You know, I want to switch gears for a moment 274 00:18:02,440 --> 00:18:06,000 Speaker 1: to ask you your thoughts on what is happening outside 275 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:11,720 Speaker 1: of your state with attacks towards transgender Americans, particularly trans youth. 276 00:18:12,520 --> 00:18:16,159 Speaker 1: And you know, we just saw, you know, there have 277 00:18:16,200 --> 00:18:18,640 Speaker 1: been a series of town halls that CNN is doing 278 00:18:18,680 --> 00:18:22,240 Speaker 1: with Republicans and Nikki Haley being one of those Republicans 279 00:18:22,320 --> 00:18:27,879 Speaker 1: that decided to use her prime time to well wage 280 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:31,840 Speaker 1: an attack on trans girls and saying that it's trans 281 00:18:31,920 --> 00:18:36,680 Speaker 1: girls are the reason that CIS girls are committing suicide. 282 00:18:37,280 --> 00:18:40,560 Speaker 1: And it was disgusting. It wasn't pushed back against by 283 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:43,359 Speaker 1: the quote unquote journalists that was there. I want to 284 00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:47,240 Speaker 1: get your thoughts on how the Republican Party is weaponizing 285 00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:48,840 Speaker 1: fear against the trans community. 286 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:53,399 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean I have a lot of thoughts on that. 287 00:18:53,440 --> 00:18:55,879 Speaker 2: I mean, that's that's the reason that I ended up 288 00:18:55,960 --> 00:18:58,920 Speaker 2: running for office, right, I mean, even in our decid 289 00:18:59,119 --> 00:19:02,040 Speaker 2: dividing government two years ago, we started to hear this, 290 00:19:02,160 --> 00:19:04,520 Speaker 2: We started to have this debate happening in our house, 291 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:07,560 Speaker 2: in our Senate, and I started to get it just 292 00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:10,160 Speaker 2: was getting closer and closer to home, and I thought 293 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:12,879 Speaker 2: somebody has to be there, right, we need trans people 294 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:17,520 Speaker 2: in these spaces. That ended up being me, and we 295 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:19,600 Speaker 2: ended up with a trifecta, so I was able to 296 00:19:19,640 --> 00:19:23,120 Speaker 2: do some aggressive pro trans work. At the same time, 297 00:19:23,160 --> 00:19:28,320 Speaker 2: we saw the national discourse become just truly dystopian. The 298 00:19:28,359 --> 00:19:33,959 Speaker 2: situation for trans people in this landscape that the Republicans 299 00:19:33,960 --> 00:19:40,000 Speaker 2: are creating is it's almost beyond my ability to describe 300 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:42,800 Speaker 2: it as to people who are not trans, right, I 301 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:47,919 Speaker 2: mean young people and adults now, and adults in some 302 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:51,440 Speaker 2: of these states are facing D transition, forcable D transition. 303 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:55,480 Speaker 2: They are being forced to decide whether to move or 304 00:19:55,520 --> 00:19:58,760 Speaker 2: to lose medications that they have been taking, sometimes for years. 305 00:20:00,320 --> 00:20:03,400 Speaker 2: What that means to our community is just that's such 306 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:07,760 Speaker 2: a violence, such a disgusting and cruel violence against our 307 00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:12,520 Speaker 2: community that it really is about eradication, right. 308 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:13,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, yea yeah. 309 00:20:13,920 --> 00:20:17,000 Speaker 2: It's like taking someone's medication away from them that they 310 00:20:17,119 --> 00:20:20,760 Speaker 2: use to be who they are is a way to 311 00:20:20,800 --> 00:20:22,480 Speaker 2: try to say, we don't want you to be here, 312 00:20:23,119 --> 00:20:26,520 Speaker 2: so you're either going to change, or you're gonna coffin 313 00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:28,679 Speaker 2: or the closet, is what I say, right, Like you 314 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:31,719 Speaker 2: can either you can either find a way to your 315 00:20:31,720 --> 00:20:33,600 Speaker 2: coffin or we're going to take away who you are. 316 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:38,879 Speaker 2: And I mean, what is being done. That Nikky Haley 317 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:44,040 Speaker 2: quote that you're referring to is just it's just such 318 00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:48,000 Speaker 2: a blatant one. It's disconnected from any reality that exists 319 00:20:48,119 --> 00:20:52,560 Speaker 2: anywhere whatsoever. And two, mentally, you know, the problem of 320 00:20:52,600 --> 00:20:55,920 Speaker 2: teenage mental health among CIS girls is a real problem 321 00:20:55,960 --> 00:20:58,240 Speaker 2: and it deserves to be taken seriously and talked about 322 00:20:58,280 --> 00:21:01,439 Speaker 2: into Not only is it defense have been discussing to 323 00:21:01,560 --> 00:21:05,240 Speaker 2: our community, but it also is offensive to young people 324 00:21:05,280 --> 00:21:07,840 Speaker 2: who are having real mental health challenges and are looking 325 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:10,760 Speaker 2: at a world that doesn't seem to be offering them 326 00:21:10,760 --> 00:21:15,080 Speaker 2: a future. And then to blame it on a minority 327 00:21:15,160 --> 00:21:19,119 Speaker 2: community of you know, one percent of the population. I mean, 328 00:21:19,119 --> 00:21:22,040 Speaker 2: it's it's abysmal to me. I mean, it makes me 329 00:21:22,119 --> 00:21:26,880 Speaker 2: so angry and so frustrated that people keep doing this, 330 00:21:27,720 --> 00:21:30,439 Speaker 2: even as we see polls that show Republicans don't support this. 331 00:21:33,320 --> 00:21:36,639 Speaker 1: It's so sickening. And I found Nikki Haley, you know, 332 00:21:36,720 --> 00:21:39,600 Speaker 1: I find Republicans in general to be reprehensible, like just 333 00:21:39,680 --> 00:21:43,800 Speaker 1: absolutely abominal human beings. And I say, that and blanket 334 00:21:43,840 --> 00:21:46,040 Speaker 1: it because if you support the Republican Party at this 335 00:21:46,160 --> 00:21:48,920 Speaker 1: stage in life, then I know who you are, right, 336 00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:52,280 Speaker 1: and you're showing the world who you are. But when 337 00:21:52,320 --> 00:21:54,720 Speaker 1: I look at this, when I look at the trans population, 338 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:58,560 Speaker 1: and I think, and maybe you know better than me, representative, 339 00:21:58,560 --> 00:22:01,720 Speaker 1: But when I understand it to be, what about a 340 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:05,960 Speaker 1: million people in the country out of three hundred and 341 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:11,879 Speaker 1: thirty million people. So you're having, in our two party system, 342 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:17,159 Speaker 1: one party wage war on a million people, a minority 343 00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:20,600 Speaker 1: of a minority of a minority. How do you think 344 00:22:20,640 --> 00:22:28,040 Speaker 1: that we shift change, create new messaging that shows exactly 345 00:22:28,119 --> 00:22:30,080 Speaker 1: what it is that they're doing, because it's not enough 346 00:22:30,119 --> 00:22:32,560 Speaker 1: to try and shame people that can't be shamed. It's 347 00:22:32,560 --> 00:22:35,919 Speaker 1: not enough to just call them bigots or transphobes. It's like, 348 00:22:36,520 --> 00:22:39,960 Speaker 1: I feel like I want to showcase the number that 349 00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:43,560 Speaker 1: they're talking about that is the cause of all your 350 00:22:43,600 --> 00:22:44,679 Speaker 1: problems in the world. 351 00:22:45,119 --> 00:22:48,399 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean the number is really interesting to me 352 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:51,320 Speaker 2: because you know, I as I get into these spaces, 353 00:22:51,359 --> 00:22:55,400 Speaker 2: it's it's often like there is this idea that Republican, 354 00:22:56,560 --> 00:23:00,000 Speaker 2: this political messaging wants people to think that trans people 355 00:23:00,119 --> 00:23:03,879 Speaker 2: are like it's a disease, right, and it's spreading. Tons 356 00:23:03,920 --> 00:23:07,600 Speaker 2: of people are becoming trans, they are turning trans kids 357 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:10,480 Speaker 2: trans as. That's not a thing, but like that's what 358 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:13,800 Speaker 2: the idea is. And they're everywhere and they're spreading. And 359 00:23:13,840 --> 00:23:16,439 Speaker 2: then but then once you start trying to do resources 360 00:23:16,480 --> 00:23:18,960 Speaker 2: for trans people like we are doing in Minnesota, the 361 00:23:19,840 --> 00:23:22,840 Speaker 2: story flips right, and Republicans say, like, there's not enough 362 00:23:22,840 --> 00:23:25,399 Speaker 2: trans people us to really worry about this, you know, 363 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:27,719 Speaker 2: we don't need to pay so much attention to this 364 00:23:27,760 --> 00:23:31,159 Speaker 2: one little group. And so you can't have it both ways, right, 365 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:34,440 Speaker 2: Either we're a menace and we're everywhere or a very 366 00:23:34,480 --> 00:23:37,920 Speaker 2: tiny minority population and we just deserve rights to have 367 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:41,760 Speaker 2: resources and respect and pay and housing like everybody else. 368 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:45,320 Speaker 2: And I mean, I think that it is it is 369 00:23:45,400 --> 00:23:49,440 Speaker 2: hard to be in that walking that fine line, because 370 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:51,640 Speaker 2: I don't want our community to seem like. 371 00:23:53,880 --> 00:23:55,720 Speaker 1: Or who whoa are we. 372 00:23:55,680 --> 00:23:58,879 Speaker 2: Who must like de brand upon everybody, you know, like 373 00:23:58,960 --> 00:24:01,440 Speaker 2: we are just parts of the community, like every other 374 00:24:01,480 --> 00:24:04,760 Speaker 2: part of the human experience. Right, Queer people of any 375 00:24:06,560 --> 00:24:10,320 Speaker 2: identity interact in the same way. I think that the 376 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:14,480 Speaker 2: thing that we are facing now is very deliberate. It's 377 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:17,160 Speaker 2: a choice right. Leaders of this movement has said they 378 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:20,600 Speaker 2: chose this issue because this issue resonated. They threw everything 379 00:24:20,600 --> 00:24:23,240 Speaker 2: at the wall, and trans kids stuck. Right. That's a 380 00:24:23,320 --> 00:24:25,399 Speaker 2: direct quote from one of the leaders of this movement. 381 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:29,760 Speaker 2: So it's really hard to figure out how to message 382 00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:35,159 Speaker 2: against strategic hatred. But I do think we continue to 383 00:24:35,240 --> 00:24:38,600 Speaker 2: just exist in the world. Data shows us that less 384 00:24:38,600 --> 00:24:41,960 Speaker 2: than half of the country knows a trans person, and 385 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:45,200 Speaker 2: that's partially because there aren't that many trans people. I mean, 386 00:24:45,720 --> 00:24:49,320 Speaker 2: there's a lot in terms of raw numbers, but comparatively 387 00:24:49,359 --> 00:24:54,000 Speaker 2: percentage wise, there just aren't. And more people have access 388 00:24:54,040 --> 00:24:56,439 Speaker 2: to what it means to be trans and how people 389 00:24:56,480 --> 00:24:59,960 Speaker 2: who are trans are just everyday members of our community. 390 00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:03,199 Speaker 2: These that to me, is the strongest message that we have. 391 00:25:03,320 --> 00:25:05,600 Speaker 2: It's just going to take time because there aren't there 392 00:25:05,640 --> 00:25:09,080 Speaker 2: just aren't that many of us, and especially in those 393 00:25:09,119 --> 00:25:12,399 Speaker 2: states and in those communities that have been the most 394 00:25:12,440 --> 00:25:16,040 Speaker 2: hostile to us. Right, people are fleeing. We passed the 395 00:25:16,040 --> 00:25:19,680 Speaker 2: trans Refuge bill in Minnesota and people are coming. People 396 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:22,360 Speaker 2: are coming fast, right, So that that's going to leave 397 00:25:22,440 --> 00:25:26,439 Speaker 2: more vacuum in areas where there aren't trans people, where 398 00:25:26,760 --> 00:25:30,040 Speaker 2: festering anti trans sentiment continues to. 399 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:33,520 Speaker 1: Grow, right because those people won't will no longer be 400 00:25:33,560 --> 00:25:40,240 Speaker 1: there for their own safety. You know, I feel like 401 00:25:40,920 --> 00:25:48,160 Speaker 1: we're living at this really incredible time where we have 402 00:25:49,520 --> 00:25:52,280 Speaker 1: trans people like yourself that are holding office for the 403 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:56,520 Speaker 1: first time in you know, in cabinet positions in the 404 00:25:56,560 --> 00:26:02,520 Speaker 1: Biden administration, in you know, in in low in state governments, 405 00:26:02,840 --> 00:26:06,000 Speaker 1: and yet at this same time, right, you have some 406 00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:08,840 Speaker 1: of the biggest attacks that we haven't seen against this 407 00:26:08,880 --> 00:26:13,359 Speaker 1: community probably since the nineteen eighties and early nineties. So 408 00:26:13,680 --> 00:26:18,880 Speaker 1: what keeps you representative thinking, what keeps you hopeful? And 409 00:26:18,920 --> 00:26:22,480 Speaker 1: what message do you have for young queer kids that 410 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:26,560 Speaker 1: are living in these really terrifying times. 411 00:26:28,480 --> 00:26:30,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean this is a tough question, right, because 412 00:26:30,960 --> 00:26:34,920 Speaker 2: I am committed to the fight. Right, These are lifelong fights. 413 00:26:35,960 --> 00:26:37,479 Speaker 2: We have to be in this work forever. 414 00:26:37,760 --> 00:26:37,960 Speaker 1: Right. 415 00:26:38,000 --> 00:26:42,000 Speaker 2: We don't outlast bigotry, we don't outlast racism. It's always 416 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:44,119 Speaker 2: going to be here. We always got to commit, and 417 00:26:44,160 --> 00:26:46,000 Speaker 2: it can be hard to lose, or it can be 418 00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:48,359 Speaker 2: easy to lose sight of a hopeful future when you 419 00:26:48,400 --> 00:26:52,520 Speaker 2: think about doing this forever. But I will say that, 420 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:57,199 Speaker 2: you know, I am hopeful because of the relationships that 421 00:26:57,280 --> 00:26:59,440 Speaker 2: I have in the world, and because of the young 422 00:26:59,480 --> 00:27:01,960 Speaker 2: people that I meet in my work. Right, there are 423 00:27:02,080 --> 00:27:06,440 Speaker 2: young LGBTQ people, young trans people in our communities here 424 00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:10,800 Speaker 2: who I meet because they're inspired by me. But I 425 00:27:10,880 --> 00:27:13,439 Speaker 2: meet them and I am so inspired by them and 426 00:27:13,480 --> 00:27:19,280 Speaker 2: the idea I transitioned in adulthood in the nineties in 427 00:27:19,320 --> 00:27:22,320 Speaker 2: the suburbs where I grew up like, I had no concept. Right, 428 00:27:22,359 --> 00:27:24,160 Speaker 2: you can't be what you can't see, and there were 429 00:27:24,200 --> 00:27:27,199 Speaker 2: no trades people, there was no concept of this. And 430 00:27:27,280 --> 00:27:29,400 Speaker 2: I see these young people having a chance to live 431 00:27:29,440 --> 00:27:34,360 Speaker 2: their authentic lives, and I'm so inspired and I'm deeply moved, 432 00:27:34,400 --> 00:27:38,119 Speaker 2: and I'm reminded that the world is improving and that 433 00:27:38,240 --> 00:27:41,199 Speaker 2: our position in the world is making progress right, and 434 00:27:41,320 --> 00:27:46,320 Speaker 2: their existence because we are publicly queer, right, being trans 435 00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:50,359 Speaker 2: is to be visibly queer almost for most people, almost 436 00:27:50,400 --> 00:27:54,480 Speaker 2: all the time. And to see young people living their 437 00:27:54,520 --> 00:28:00,680 Speaker 2: lives is the evidence that our communities effort is being rewarded. 438 00:28:01,760 --> 00:28:05,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, representatively, Thinkee. I thank you so much for 439 00:28:05,880 --> 00:28:08,480 Speaker 1: the work that you're doing in Minnesota, for the work 440 00:28:08,480 --> 00:28:11,040 Speaker 1: that you've done and continue to do as an activist 441 00:28:11,080 --> 00:28:15,840 Speaker 1: for for equity and for justice, for the LGBTQ plus community, 442 00:28:15,880 --> 00:28:19,520 Speaker 1: but for all of us, I really really appreciate you 443 00:28:19,600 --> 00:28:21,639 Speaker 1: and thank you for making the time for WOKP. 444 00:28:21,960 --> 00:28:24,120 Speaker 2: Thank you, Danielle. I really appreciate being here. 445 00:28:29,080 --> 00:28:31,680 Speaker 1: That is it for me today. Dear friends on woke 446 00:28:31,680 --> 00:28:35,760 Speaker 1: as always, Power to the people and to all the people. Power, 447 00:28:36,080 --> 00:28:38,280 Speaker 1: get woke and stay woke as fuck.