Garage Logic - December 23, 2025

Episode Theme: Former Gov. Arne Carlson Says Tim Walz Should Step Out of the Race
Host: Joe Soucheray ("The Mayor")
Guests/Regulars: Chris Reuvers, Kenny Olson, John Heidt, "Rookie" (Matthew), and special guest Gov. Arne Carlson

Episode Overview

This episode of Garage Logic features a candid, in-depth interview with former Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson, who calls for current Governor Tim Walz not to seek re-election in the wake of widespread governmental fraud and mismanagement. The hosts and Carlson dig into the collapse of public trust, the corrosive influence of money in politics, incompetence in leadership, and the urgent need to clean house in Minnesota politics, especially following the recent fraud scandals rocking the state government. The episode's tone mixes the show's trademark sardonic humor with serious concern for the state's (and country's) future.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Nostalgia vs. Present Disillusionment in Minnesota Governance

• The Show’s Opening:
  The hosts reminisce about simpler times when public trust in government was high, families squabbled about Christmas trees instead of officials' scandals, and Minnesota politics seemed mundane.
• Soucheray reflects:
  “We led our lives and we went to work and the kids went to school...We seem to have been swallowed up in this consumption of state government and how foul it is and how crooked it is and how incompetent. We never used to think about that.” (06:40)

2. The Carlson Interview: Causes and Cures for Corruption

The Citizens United Effect

• Carlson ties the decline in trust to Citizens United:
  "To government as a whole is the 2010 decision by the US Supreme Court in Citizens United that opened the floodgates to corporate monies. And from that time on, both parties have been seeking money and have literally left the American public behind." (16:09)
• He shares polling:
  “In 1958, 73% of Americans trusted their government. As of December 4th of this year, that number is down to 17.” (16:33)

Systemic Management Failures

• On feeding our future fraud:
  “Year after year after year after year, the legislative auditor warned the governors, both Dayton and Walz, your internal audit controls are weak, and bingo, fraud occurred. That is gross. Gross neglect.” (18:00)
• Humorous anecdote about a town officer hiding taxpayer funds to protect from state mismanagement:
  “He was protecting his citizens. He did exactly the right thing.” (20:11)

Carlson’s Direct Assessment of Gov. Walz

• “I think he has to step down. I think it's now over...I think it would be well for him to publicly announce that he will not be seeking office again.” (20:48)
• “All we're seeing now is incompetency. And it's just spilling out all over.” (21:53)

On the Jeremiah Ellison Double Salary Scandal

• “How can you hold two full time jobs separated by 1400 miles? ... That's another fraud. And...the city went along with it. There isn't any culture that says, we're dealing with somebody else's money. They worked hard to earn it and now we must protect it at all costs.” (22:46)

On Political Parties and Incompetence

• “Both political parties have to look at themselves and say, you know what, we are part of the problem. And we're going to put up really good candidates...We're not going to make them governor, have in Minneapolis a $30 million shortfall...yet they have enough money to give Ellison an extra, an extra salary.” (23:42)

The Corrosive Power of Incumbency and Money

• “Once you protect incumbency, you then have a schism with the voter and they no longer serve the voters. They basically are in the business of serving themselves.” (27:28)
• “When you have trust in government down to 17%, you really no longer have a democracy.” (27:59)
• “How did Ilhan Omar suddenly have a net worth of more than $30 million? ... That’s a gross conflict of interest.” (28:32, 29:01)

Carlson’s Reform Proposals

• “I would start with term limits. Eight years in the legislature, eight years in executive office, and you’re gone. Once you start to rotate, that diminishes the need for big money.” (25:54)
• “I would abolish fundraising by legislators, obviously during session, but also by caucuses...They become massive political parties and all they do is engage in war at our expense.” (26:19)
• “We need competency, we need honesty, and we need to obey the...Constitution. And I think we're slowly going to...pull out of this one.” (29:33)

Carlson on Trump and Modern GOP

• “I think I'd like to see the Republican Party go back to what it was. A conservative fiscal party...deeply committed to a conservative interpretation of the United States Constitution, very concerned about individual rights. But we've lost our way. And a large part of losing our way is because of this money in politics that buys special favors, special influence.” (30:16, 31:08)

• On the future:
  Carlson is hopeful new, honest leaders will emerge: “I'd like to see some younger people with a sense of real deep sense of honesty and respect for good performance. I'd like to see them start to run.” (31:14)

State Office Structure and Public Accountability

• “The more constitutional offices you have and the more you divide the financial pie, the better the people are represented. So I would say, yes, I think it's very harmful [to eliminate the State Treasurer].” (39:48)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Minnesota government today:
  “All we're seeing now is incompetency. And it's just spilling out all over.” – Arne Carlson (21:53)
• On the role of politicians:
  “In reality, it is over. It is, and it should be recognized early. And then we, as the public, should be talking about what we want from a governor. It's not just a bunch of political ideas. It's also, do you have any management capacity?” – Arne Carlson (20:59)
• On government vs. sports:
  “We don't accept [mediocrity] for a baseball team or a football team or a basketball team...that player would be benched. And here we are sitting, ‘oh no, no. I want to go back in because I'm so great.’” – Carlson (35:05)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-----------|--------------| | 05:10 | Soucheray introduces Arne Carlson’s recent critique of Jeremiah Ellison and the question of illegal dual salaries. | | 15:41 | Arne Carlson joins the show. | | 16:09 | Carlson on Citizens United, the decline of public trust, and the impact of money in politics. | | 18:00 | In-depth on audit failures leading to fraud in Minnesota. | | 20:11 | Carlson’s story about a local official “protecting” town funds. | | 20:48 | Carlson directly calls for Walz not to run for re-election. | | 22:46 | Discussion of Jeremiah Ellison’s double-job controversy. | | 23:42 | On both parties' culpability and solutions through cooperation and competence. | | 25:54 | Carlson details reform: term limits, ending legislative fundraising, and structural fixes. | | 27:28 | Incumbency and self-preservation in politics. | | 29:33 | Carlson’s cautious optimism about the country’s ability to recover. | | 30:16 | Thoughts on Trump, the modern GOP, and political standards. | | 39:48 | Reflection on the loss of the State Treasurer position affecting oversight. |

Show Crew Reaction & Additional Commentary

• The hosts are cynical and skeptical about real change happening:

  • “None of it’s going to happen.” (53:26)
  • Soucheray calls for immediate action: "This has to be fixed. This can't wait to be fixed. Walz should not run again...Somebody's got to start attacking this mess today, and it isn't Walz. He's not competent enough." (48:37)

• Frustration with political “clown show” and inaction between legislative sessions (51:04).

• Several humor breaks throughout (Seinfeld/Festivus jokes, Christmas tree bickering, banter about state fair T-shirts: “Mediocrity is our excellence”).

Closing Reflection

• The episode’s atmosphere fuses Garage Logic’s signature blend of curmudgeonly humor with clear-eyed alarm about Minnesota’s government. Carlson embodies principled, old-school governance, and his blunt call for Walz to bow out is historic, not simply political.
• The hosts, while brimming with skepticism, share Carlson’s hope that a new, competent, honest cohort might eventually rise.
• The audience is left with both an urgent call: “Fix it now,” and the sober concession that entrenched politics and money will make reform a Herculean task—yet the conversation itself, marked by candor and seriousness, models a way forward.

Summary Takeaways

• Arne Carlson is unequivocal: Walz should not run for reelection; public trust is at historic lows due to mismanagement and institutionalized cronyism.
• The state’s recent corruption scandals are the result of long-ignored audit warnings, a culture of incumbency self-protection, and the corrosive influence of money post-Citizens United.
• Carlson prescribes term limits, independent audits, abolishing caucus fundraising, and a return to personal competence and integrity in politics.
• Garage Logic’s crew, mixing humor and exasperation, challenges listeners not to settle for mediocrity—and to start fixing, not just waiting for elections.

Best Quotes:

• “All we’re seeing now is incompetency. And it’s just spilling out all over.” – Arne Carlson (21:53)
• “We no longer serve the voters. They basically are in the business of serving themselves.” – Arne Carlson (27:28)
• “This has to be fixed. This can’t wait to be fixed…Somebody’s got to start attacking this mess today, and it isn’t Walz. He’s not competent enough.” – Joe Soucheray (48:37)