Hot Dish 6.28.24

By Rochelle Olson

Before we get to the debate on this soggy Friday, let’s start with a moment of Zen courtesy of the Minnesota Zoo (which seeks and receives state bonding money on occasion so it’s political. Everything’s political. And ya know what else is political? Winners and losers. The Legislature picks them. We all pick winners and losers. All day. Every day.). Holy moly, Rocky, has there ever been anything as cute as these two Amur tiger cubs? I’d go see them but I’m afraid I’d chain myself to their fence and never leave. Oh and there’s video of the cubs with mom, Dari. It’s better than the Rapidan Dam collapse, I promise.

Now that I’m done procrastinating on the Topic of the Day, we’ll make a harsh shift in tone as we talk debate. To think at 7:59 p.m. on Thursday I was considering how I’d parse the reviews. Alas, they were universally bad, ranging from disappointing to Article 25 and existential dread. Biden looked lost, feeble and barely able to speak. By all accounts, the president failed in Job One, which was to appear energized and up to the task. In contrast, Trump looked better even though much of what he said was patently, verifiably false, including a brief Minnesota mention saying he saved Minneapolis by calling out the National Guard to quell the post-George Floyd riots. (Gov. Tim Walz was the one who did). Trump said something similar in May when he was in St. Paul, as colleague Ryan Faircloth reported at the time.

Star Tribune colleague Jennifer Brooks had this take: “Once again, Trump casually announced that he would not accept the results of any election he loses. He has promised us bloodbaths if he loses. The real horror of Thursday’s debate is that he might actually win.”

Both the Associated Press and the Washington Post used headlines about Democrats panicking over Biden. Post reporter Ashley Parker’s story ended with this kicker from Biden’s biggest fan that reads as devastating to mine eyes:

First lady Jill Biden, too, tried to offer a positive spin after the debate.

“Joe, you did such a great job!” she shouted, as she beamed at her husband. “You answered every question! You knew all the facts!”

That pal, who must be publicly identified only as “An Anonymous Correspondent Who Nearly Fell Off the Wagon Thursday Night,” had a couple other ideas.

“If the Dems are doubling down on a ‘Weekend at Bernie’s’ campaign, might as well trot out Jimmy Carter.” (Ouch. And he’s still alive.)

Mx. Anonymous also sent along Chris Magan’s story about the allegedly tarantula-tossing, possible former escort running for the Hennepin County board. “Ok, but is she willing to run for president?” the wag asked. Marisa Simonetti, however, is a Republican and she’s only 30, not legally old enough to run for president.

Biden’s post-debate performance was, again, by all accounts, mind-boggling better. Biden didn’t address his performance directly, but said, ‘’let’s keep going,’’ and ‘’see you at the next one.’’

I’ve been hitting refresh to see what Minnesota U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips had to say. You likely recall that Phillips ran for president, saying back in October, “If President Biden is the Democratic nominee, we face an unacceptable risk of Trump being back in the White House. I know this campaign is a long shot, but that is why I think it is important and worth doing.” Phillips was, of course, widely derided by fellow Dems, including Minnesota leaders.

Phillips has thus far avoided Tweeting “I-told-you-so.”

Will Walz be in the mix as Democrats try to figure out a plan? He’s tan. He’s rested and ready. Just see this photo of him running with super fit Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey earlier this week

ADMONISHED AGAIN: Briana Bierschbach reports that Mille Lacs County Judge Matthew Quinn has been disciplined again by the state Board on Judicial Standards. The appointee of DFL Gov. Mark Dayton tried to issue orders barring individuals from voting in the fall election because they were on probation related to felony convictions, despite a new state law that restores their voting rights as long as they’re no longer incarcerated.

FLOOD NO-FUN: The flooding is canceling some summer fun. This morning, colleague Tim Harlow reports events canceled at Valleyfair and St. Paul’s Harriet Island. He quotes Clare Cloyd, whom I always like to note is the daughter of the late, great Mary McEvoy, who was one of the sassiest political aides I’ve met and who died in the crash with the Wellstones. The Mississippi River is high and rising, expected to crest this weekend.

WHERE’S WALZ:

1:15 p.m.: Speaking at the LIUNA Local 563 new union hall grand opening.

On Thursday, Walz was with reporter Walker Orenstein in Dexter in southern Minnesota. The governor went to an Xcel Energy wind farm to highlight a new law that will speed up permitting for carbon-free projects. The aim is a carbon-free grid by 2040.

Katie Sieben, who chairs the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, helped convene an influential task force that wrote the blueprint for the law.

House Majority Leader Jamie Long, DFL-Minneapolis, said the new law would shave more than a year off permitting for some projects. Walz and Sen. Nick Frentz, DFL-North Mankato, said regulations for other sectors could use an upgrade too.

The governor, Sieben and others donned hard hats and piled into the narrow base of a turbine surrounded by cornfields. Each turbine can generate roughly 1.6 Megawatts of electricity, roughly a third of the output of the now-famous Rapidan Dam in Mankato - at least when it was operating.