Good morning. Grab the umbrella on the way out the door.

Would-be speakers got a chance to, well, speak. U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota was one of eight to make a sales pitch to fellow Republicans about why they should pick him to lead the gridlocked House. The critical role in Congress has been empty for longer than most could imagine. Emmer worked yesterday to calm concerns he had a Trump problem — that is lack of adequate support from former President Donald Trump. It stems partly from Emmer’s vote to certify the 2020 election results. Trump told reporters that the two men spoke this weekend and he doesn’t anticipate getting involved in the speaker's contest. Emmer responded on social media that he looks forward to working with Trump. Some Trump allies remain unconvinced around Emmer though. And it remains to be seen if any of the candidates can secure the needed votes to win the gavel.  An internal GOP vote is set for today, with the full House getting a chance to weigh in after that.

MPR correspondent Mark Zdechlik is in Washington for the deliberations. So is KARE 11’s John Croman, who got very few words out of Emmer as he emerged from last night’s forum. Emmer said it was up to the “will of the conference.” The Star Tribune has its Washington-based reporter Hunter Woodall on the scene. Thumbnails on the candidates running can be found here, via NPR. 

Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, a former member of Congress, has run out of patience with the speaker gridlock in Washington. MPR’s Dana Ferguson was there yesterday when Walz sounded off on the three-week-old vacancy that has brought congressional business to a halt. Walz declined to say whether he would support Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer's bid for speaker. But he said the absence of a leader in the chamber has serious implications. "Three weeks without a speaker, no farm bill, no NDAA (defense bill), we have two major conflicts threatening democracy, whether it's in Israel or whether it's in Ukraine. All of these things happening, and the House of Representatives is playing Hunger Games amongst themselves. I don't know what they're doing."

Meanwhile, Walz is headed to Washington this week for some counterprogramming. He’ll appear at a Center for American Progress conference panel focused on Democratic statehouse majorities passing big legislation. It’s got a suggestive title and will be moderated by Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne Jr.

Dean Phillips White House watch: He might be about to announce a presidential campaign but could still change his mind. That’s the key paragraph in a Wall Street Journal story that lays out the reasons for and challenges facing a Phillips run. The Journal’s spiciest quotes were from anonymous Minnesota sources, but the paper also interviewed a New Hampshire Democrat willing to give Phillips a good look.