>> Cathy: ALL RIGHT.

>> Eric: WISH YOU WELL.

>> Cathy: GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> ERIC: GOVERNOR WALZ MIGHT HAVE ANGERED STATE WORKERS BY CALLING THEM BACK TO IN PERSON WORK, BUT HE IS MAKING A POINT TO STAND WITH FEDERAL WORKERS AFFECTED BY DECISIONS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER TAKES A LOOK AT THE GOVERNOR'S NATIONAL TRAVELS AND FEDERAL WORKERS SPEAKING OUT IN THE STATE.

>> Mary: GOVERNOR WALZ HAS BEEN HOLDING TOWN HALLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND IN HIS OLD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN MINNESOTA, GOING ON OFFENSE AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATION IN D.C. >> YOU HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO ADDRESS YOUR GOVERNMENT FOR A REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES.

AND I THINK WE HAVE A FEW GRIEVANCES THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO BRING UP.

BUT YOU DIDN'T COME HERE TO COMPLAIN.

YOU CAME HERE TO LIFT P. >> TIM WALZ S SORT -- SORT OF APOLOGIZE SAYS, BUT THEN HE MOCKS THE RIGHT.

THIS CLOWN IS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

>> THIS GUY BUGS ME IN A WAY THAT IS PROBABLY UNHEALTHY.

[ Cheers ] >> BUT -- BUT -- I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT BEING A SMART ASS, I WAS MAKING A JOKE, THESE PEOPLE HAVE O SENSE OF HUMOR, THESE ARE THE MOST LITERAL PEOPLE, MOST LITERAL PEOPLE.

BUT MY POINT IS, THEY'RE ALL MAD, AND I SAID SOMETHING THAT I PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE ABOUT A COMPANY.

>> I THINK THAT'S QUITE SAD, BUT I THINK GOVERNOR WALZ, UNFORTUNATELY, IS LIVING A SAD EXISTENCE AFTER HIS DEVASTATING DEFEAT ON NOVEMBER 5th.

>> Mary: THE FORMER VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE DEFENDS HIS TRAVEL DURING THE LETTING -- LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> I HAVE A NATIONAL PLATFORM, WE'VE GOT REPUBLICAN FOLKS THAT DON'T WANT TO ADDRESS THE ILLEGAL ACCESS OF OUR SOCIAL SECURITY RECORDS, THE IRING OF V.A.

EMPLOYEES, A ROGUE ADMINISTRATION.

>> EACH ONE OF HESE, HOW IN THE WORLD ARE WE GETTING AMERICANS TO THINK THAT BILLIONAIRES ARE LOOKING OUT FOR THEIR BEST INTEREST?

>> Mary: FEDERAL WORKERS IN MINNESOTA ARE COMING FORWARD, UNION LEADERS SAY THEY HAVE PROTECTIONS SO THEY CAN SPEAK UP WHERE THEIR COLLEAGUES FEAR THEY CANNOT.

>> THEY CAN ALSO BE THREATENED WITH JAIL TIME AND FINES.

FOR BEING EMPLOYED AND SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT OR LEAKING ANY INFORMATION TO THE PRESS OR ANYTHING ONLINE AS WELL.

SO THAT'S WHY MANY EMPLOYEES DON'T COME FORWARD.

>> Mary: THE USDA WORKERS SAY THE CUTS ARE TTACKS ON FARMERS.

>> IT BOILS DOWN TO INTEGRITY AND BEING GOOD PEOPLE, BECAUSE THESE ARE PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOODS IN JEOPARDY.

>> Mary: THE TSA WORKER, ADDS, NATIONAL SECURITY IS AT STAKE AND AIR TRAVEL AS WE KNOW IT.

>> WHEN DO WE WANT IT?

>> NOW!

>> DOGE IS RUN BY VERY UNSERIOUS PEOPLE, MAKING VERY SERIOUS DECISIONS.

>> Mary: THE V.A.

WORKER SAYS THEY'RE ALREADY SHORT STAFFED AND WONDERS IF ANYONE IN WASHINGTON CARES ABOUT VETERANS OR FEDERAL WORKERS.

>> NONE OF THESE RECKLESS ACTIONS ARE ABOUT MAKING GOVERNMENT MORE EFFICIENT.

THIS IS ABOUT PUTTING TAX CUTS FOR MILLIONAIRES, BILLIONAIRES AND BIG ORPORATIONS ON OUR GOVERNMENT'S BALANCE SHEET.

>> Mary: REPUBLICANS REMIND US OF THE SURPLUS THAT THE DFL TRIFECTA SPENT.

>> I HOPE YOU'RE CONTACTING GOVERNOR WALZ BECAUSE WHAT HE'S DOING IS CAUSING OVERALL A BUDGET -- A BUDGET DEFICIT OR A $20 BILLION -- MILLION-DOLLAR CUT TO ANOKA-HENNEPIN SCHOOLS.

>> AND I DON'T WANT CITIZENS IN MINNESOTA TO THINK THE SKY IS FALLING HERE BECAUSE T'S NOT.

THE ELECTIONS WERE CLEAR IN NOVEMBER.

AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY SAID WE CAN'T SUSTAIN THE KIND OF SPENDING.

>> I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK BACK TO JUST TWO SHORT YEARS AGO WHEN WE HAD $18 BILLION IN A SURPLUS.

IF WE HAD JUST HELD BACK 1/3 OF THAT, WE'D HAVE WAY MORE THAN ENOUGH MONEY RIGHT NOW TO ADDRESS THESE POTENTIAL FEDERAL CUTS, WHICH HAVEN'T HAPPENED YET.

>> Mary: IN RESPONSE TO THE PROPOSED FEDERAL CUTS, DFL LAWMAKERS ANNOUNCED THE PROTECT MEDICAID, NOT MILLIONAIRES ACT, ADDING A NEW TOP TIER OF INCOME TAXES.

>> WHAT IT SAYS THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO PAY FOR TAX CUTS FOR MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES AND CORPORATIONS ON THE BACKS OF MINNESOTA'S CHILDREN OR ANY OTHER VULNERABLE MINNESOTAN.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT PLANET WE'RE LIVING ON!

THAT ANYONE WOULD BE SO CRUEL TO THINK THAT THAT WAS OKAY.

I JUST DON'T.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW WE CONTINUE TO APPLAUD THE HOARDING OF WEALTH, THE HOARDING OF MORE WEALTH THAN ANY ONE PERSON COULD POSSIBLY SPEND IN A LIFETIME.

>> WITHOUT MEDICAID, WE WILL LOSE OUR MEDICAL CARE, OUR HOME, AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BUY FOOD.

>> IT'S MY JOB, AS THEIR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, TO PROTECT THE HEALTHCARE THEY NEED TO SURVIVE.

>> WE, AS SENATOR MANN SAID, ARE NOT GOING TO LET PEOPLE DIE BECAUSE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THEY HAVE JUST GIVEN UP