Gov. Walz TRASHES Trump on shootings, national guard, economy

Summary

The Briefing with Jen Psaki

Episode: Gov. Walz TRASHES Trump on shootings, national guard, economy
Date: September 17, 2025
Host: Jen Psaki (MSNBC)
Featured Guest: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz

---

Episode Overview

This episode of The Briefing with Jen Psaki dives into two urgent themes shaping American politics in 2025: the Trump administration’s escalating use of "enemies lists" and politicized law enforcement, and the rolling crisis of gun violence with its effects on public safety, democracy, and local governance. The focal point is a candid, wide-ranging interview with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a frequent Trump target, who sharply criticizes the administration’s response to recent shootings and national policy trends, and discusses his decision to seek a third term.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump’s “Enemies List” and Politicization of Law Enforcement (00:37–10:24)

• Enemies List Expansion: Jen outlines how Trump allies, notably Kash Patel, have publicly named dozens of individuals as "enemies," triggering a wave of investigations against public servants, media figures, and former officials (01:45–03:50).
• Redefinition of Hate Speech: Trump administration officials, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, now advocate for crackdowns on "hate speech" — a dramatic reversal from past conservative free-speech rhetoric (04:19–06:34).
• Chilling Effects & Pushback: Despite aggressive targeting, legal challenges and resistance frequently neutralize administration efforts; courts and civil servants continue to check executive overreach (06:34–10:24).
• Trump’s Selective Outrage Over Political Violence: After the assassinations of high-profile political figures, Trump mourned conservative Charlie Kirk, but refrained from honoring Democratic leaders like Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman (12:04–13:15).

2. Interview with Governor Tim Walz

On Trump’s Response to Violence and Empathy Deficit (13:49–16:38)

• Walz laments the lack of empathy from Trump after the killing of Speaker Melissa Hortman, describing Trump’s leadership as self-serving and devoid of compassion.
• He highlights the deep trauma in Minnesota following the shooting and underscores Melissa Hortman’s legislative legacy.

“What goes through my mind is nothing surprises me. There’s no compassion, there’s no empathy in this man. … We had a horrific act of political violence … and it gets reduced to a footnote.”
— Governor Tim Walz (13:49)

Why Walz is Running for a Third Term (17:11–19:47)

• Motivation: Walz frames his bid as an act of “servant leadership,” citing unfinished work and the need for experienced crisis management amid national turmoil.
• Obstacles: He details stonewalling and antagonism from the federal government, rising insurance costs, a brewing farm crisis, and labor union busting.
• Minnesota as a Bulwark: Vows to shield state residents from regressive federal policies, especially regarding healthcare, gun safety, and LGBTQ+ rights.

“Democracy is certainly on the line. But there's a lot of basic things we can do at the state level … the nonsense stops at our border. You live your life. We will protect you for who you love.”
— Governor Tim Walz (18:57)

Authoritarianism and the National Guard: Walz’s Longstanding Warnings (19:47–23:35)

• Walz, a military veteran, expresses disgust at Trump deploying military forces domestically for political effect.
• He criticizes the administration for “cosplay” photo ops and cutting counterterrorism funding at the expense of local security.

“He’s waging war against our cities. … What doesn’t make people feel safe? A tank next to Chipotle. It’s stupid. And it’s for the cameras.”
— Governor Tim Walz (20:57)

Minnesota’s Legislative Division and Gun Reform Push (25:22–28:26)

• After a school shooting that killed two children, Walz calls a special legislative session on gun violence, facing an evenly divided statehouse.
• He insists on fighting for gun reforms (assault weapon bans, magazine limits) despite legislative gridlock, citing personal experiences with grieving families.

“You call special session, nothing happens. But I’m asking legislators to sit with these parents and listen to them. … I just want to do something for them.”
— Governor Tim Walz (27:28)

Personal and Political Security in a Hostile Climate (28:26–31:40)

• Walz describes the new threat landscape for politicians, including his own family, after multiple political assassinations in Minnesota.
• He criticizes opposition to sensible measures like banning guns from the State Capitol.

“... What a sad testament that you have to think about going to the state fair and asking people to vote for you … Don’t bring guns and don’t threaten.”
— Governor Tim Walz (30:42)

3. FBI, Human Trafficking, and Immigration Crackdowns (31:57–43:14)

• Testimony of FBI Director Kash Patel: Denies Epstein trafficked to associates, contradicting public evidence and victims’ statements (32:39).
• Resource Diversion: Reports by Rep. Jamie Raskin and NBC’s Ken Dilanian reveal massive law enforcement diversion away from crimes like child exploitation and toward immigration enforcement, weakening efforts against domestic terror and human trafficking (33:01–38:53).
• Impact Across the Nation: Field offices are overwhelmed; key task forces have been effectively disbanded.
• Booker and Raskin’s Critique: Senator Cory Booker and Raskin blast the administration’s priorities as making the country “weaker and less safe” (37:53).

---

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• “[Trump] sees the presidency as his personal kingdom and a revenge tour. He’s doing nothing to improve people’s lives. … It’s all smoke and mirrors.” — Gov. Walz (15:29)
• “Is your life with Donald Trump — are you sick and tired of this? He didn’t do a damn thing for prices. He’s not doing anything.” — Gov. Walz (18:27)
• “History is not going to be kind to these people. History is going to remember them for what they’re trying to do, not what they’re going to get done.” — Gov. Walz (17:46)
• “A tank next to Chipotle. It’s stupid. And it’s for the cameras.” — Gov. Walz (20:57)
• “If the bureau is not looking at domestic terrorism, nobody else is. … We are now more susceptible to extremists because of these actions.” — Quoted by Ken Dilanian (41:58)
• “We don’t have Nixon anymore. We have Trump.” — Robert Redford via Bob Woodward (44:30)

---

Key Timestamps

• Enemies List and DOJ Retaliation: 00:37–03:50
• Trump Admin Reframing Hate Speech & Law Enforcement: 04:19–06:34
• Legal Pushbacks, Trump’s Enemies List Grows: 06:34–10:24
• Selective Mourning of Political Violence: 12:04–13:15
• Governor Tim Walz Interview Begins: 13:15
  • On Trump’s empathy deficit: 13:49
  • On running for third term/trump’s policies: 17:11
  • Authoritarianism and National Guard: 19:47–23:35
  • Gun violence special session: 25:22
  • On security, family, and open democracy: 28:26
• FBI & Law Enforcement Diversions: 31:57–43:14

---

Conclusion

This episode delivers a sobering but defiant perspective on democracy’s resilience amid authoritarian pressures, highlighting Governor Walz’s unvarnished criticisms of Trump on political violence, the economy, and the militarization of domestic policy. The second half, with investigative reporting on law enforcement priorities, reinforces the episode’s central warning: The drive to punish political enemies and weaponize government comes at a heavy price for public safety and the functioning of American institutions—but resistance, both legal and civic, is not only possible but already underway.

Transcript

[Jen]

Avoiding your unfinished home projects because you're not sure where to start. Thumbtack knows homes, so you don't have.

[Senator Cory Booker]

To don't know the difference between matte.

[Jen]

Paint, finish and satin or what that clunking sound from your dryer is. With Thumbtack, you don't have to be a home pro. You just have to hire one. You can hire top rated pros, see price estimates and read reviews all on the app.

[Commercial Announcer]

Download Today at Maurices we're all about great jeans. You know, the ones that fit you just right, the ones that simply make you feel good because you don't just wear jeans, you live in them. Find great jeans starting at $29.90 in stores [e-mail] a lot happened today.

[Host/Interviewer]

I mean, you've probably seen by now there was no shortage of explosive moments during Cash Patel's testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee today. He's also testifying tomorrow, so stay tuned for that. But as I was watching it this morning, one of the most telling moments, to me, at least in today's hearing, is one that has gotten a lot less attention. It came when Senator Sheldon Whitehouse asked Cash Patel about his enemies. Listen.

[Senator Cory Booker]

When you were here for your confirmation, we talked about your so called enemies list. It appears to me that there have been adverse actions of various kinds taken against about 20 of the 60 people on your enemy's list. You've been in office for seven months. At that rate, you've got 14 months until you've hit all 60. Can you explain that?

[Jen]

Again, that is an entirely inaccurate presupposition. I do not have an enemy's list. You can continue to characterize it as you wish.

[Host/Interviewer]

Again, it wasn't the loudest moment of the hearing. There are plenty of those. Or the most viral moment today in this hearing, there were shuffling of papers, there was moving of glasses. But it was one of Kesh Patel's most brazen. Because nine months into this administration, it is definitely not an inaccurate presupposition, to use his words, that the Justice Department is targeting the President's enemies. They are. I mean, Senator Whitehouse was referring to the list of people Kash Patel openly published an alphabetical list of so called corrupt deep state actors who he wanted Trump to take on. Now that list included people like former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey, both of whom Trump's Department of Justice is now investigating. It includes former DHS official Miles Taylor, who Trump ordered the Justice Department to also investigate. It includes Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton, whose home was raided by the FBI as part of the investigation into him. So it is painfully obvious that Trump's Justice Department is systematically targeting basically all the people whom Kash Patel and Donald Trump said they would target. Which is exactly why the Senator asked about it today. Why bother denying it so aggressively at this point? I mean, the only thing that has changed about Donald Trump's enemies list is that it's gotten a lot longer. I mean, far longer than the 60 people only Kash Patel was dumb enough to name publicly in a book. It has grown to include everyone from career civil servants who publish data Trump doesn't like to members of the Federal Reserve Board who won't act like Trump's puppets to late night TV hosts who've made fun of Donald Trump. Every day, Trump seems to be adding more and more names to the list of enemies he wants to single out for retaliation. And this week, the Trump administration is taking new steps to make their enemies list even more broad, to include basically anyone to the left of Trump and his administration. Yesterday, in response to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Vice President J.D. vance made this announcement to the American public.

[Senator Cory Booker]

In a country of 330 million people, you can of course, find one person.

[Jen]

Of a given political persuasion justifying this.

[Senator Cory Booker]

Or that or almost anything. But the data is clear. People on the left are much likelier to defend and celebrate political violence. This is not a both sides problem. If both sides have a problem, one side has a much bigger and malignant problem. And that is the truth we must be told.

[Host/Interviewer]

Now, what the Vice President said there is simply not true. I mean, in fact, until recently, you could go to the Justice Department's own website, the Justice Department of his government, by the way, and read this study which found that far right attacks continue to outpace all other types of terrorism and domestic violent extremism. Now, today, 404 Media was first to report that the Justice Department has now quietly removed that study from their website, so you can no longer read it there. It doesn't take a lot of speculation to figure out why. I mean, the Trump administration wants to use Charlie Kirk's death as pretext to target even broader swaths of those they deem the political left as they define it. And they are already telling us how they will choose their new targets. I mean, here was Attorney General Pam Bondi just yesterday on a podcast hosted by the wife of another Trump official. There's free speech and then there's hate speech. And there is no place, especially now, especially after what happened To Charlie, in our society, do you see more law enforcement going after these groups who are using hate speech and putting cuffs on people? So we show them that some action is better than no action. We will absolutely target you, go after you if you are targeting anyone with hate speech, anything. And that's across the aisle. As an aside, they're sitting very far apart in those chairs. But that aside, I mean, that was Trump's Attorney general saying that she will target literally anyone expressing hate speech in the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination. Now, trying to stop the spread of actual hate speech in this country is important. It's not necessarily a bad goal in and of itself. Not saying use law enforcement. I'm saying reduce it. Reduce the rhetoric. But conservatives have actually been the ones arguing that the government should not police hate speech. I mean, even Charlie Kirk himself was on record expressing that very opinion. So the question is, how does the administration define the kind of hate speech that they suddenly want to outlaw?

[Jen]

And what do you think Pam Bondi thinks she's gonna go after hate speech? Is that.

[Host/Interviewer]

I mean, a lot of people, a.

[Jen]

Lot of your allies say hate speech is free speech, should probably go after people like you because you treat me so unfairly. It's hate.

[Host/Interviewer]

I mean, that's the First Amendment, according to Trump. If you treat him unfairly, it's hate. Trump is putting anybody and everybody who refuses to shower him with unqualified praise on his enemies list. It's, of course, by the way, how he defines unfairly. Now, that has led to a lot of scary headlines. So let me acknowledge that. I mean, here's just a sample from the last 24 hours. Free speech alarm grows as White House targets rhetoric over Kirk's killing Trump officials vow crackdown on left leaning groups after Charlie Kirk killing. JD Vance vows retribution on liberal institutions after Charlie Kirk killing. All of those headlines sound scary and they're upsetting and unprecedented. And believe me, I feel all of those things too. But here's the thing. While the Trump administration has been successful at adding more and more names to their enemies list in a broad, crazy way, how they define it, they've done a pretty bad job silencing those already on it. I mean, every day we get more and more evidence that when people stand up and push back against this administration, more often than not, they win. I mean, consider the evidence. Since taking office, Trump has gone out of his way to target any law firm that works with Democrats or anyone else he considers an enemy. And a number of those law firms caved to Trump's demands. We know that. But so far, every firm that has stood up and pushed back against Trump in court has won. It's almost like firms full of experienced lawyers know more about how to win in court than Trump and his merry band of minions do. Who would have thought? It's the same story with individuals targeted by Trump. I mean, Trump tried to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook after complaining about how she and other Federal Reserve officials would not obey his demands to lower interest rates. But Lisa Cook fought that firing, and this week, an appeals court denied Trump's bid to remove her from that job, keeping her at the Fed just in time for her to cast her vote this week on where to set interest rates. I'm sure Trump loved that. Trump repeatedly threatened to send federal troops into the streets of Chicago, just like he has done in Washington, D.C. and he may still. But Illinois Governor J.B. pritzker pushed back forcefully against that takeover. He has repeatedly pushed back forcefully. And so far, right now, Trump has wavered on whether or not he will follow through with his threat. Trump did send federal troops, of course, into the streets of Washington, D.C. right where we are here. And his Justice Department promptly began arresting protesters. But when DOJ officials went to charge those protesters, the D.C. residents selected to be on grand juries declined over and over again to sign off on those prosecutions. And the result of all of this has been that more and more people are choosing to stand up and fight back. Last week, a group of fired former Justice Department employees sued Kash Patel over their dismissals. This week, Maureen Comey, the fired former Epstein prosecutor and daughter of James Comey, sued the doj, challenging her dismissal. So, yeah, Trump's enemies list may be growing, and that is scary. Those headlines can sound scary, but the list of people pushing back is also growing. One of Donald Trump's most frequent targets has been former vice presidential candidate and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a man who is almost certainly near the top of Donald Trump's long list of enemies. This week, Governor Walz faced a choice that every person who's been on a national ticket has faced, whether or not to step back or exit the political arena or to step forward. And there are a lot of legitimate reasons why someone like Tim Walz might choose to leave the public eye, especially given the current environment he would be governing in everything that's happened in his states and the fact that he is definitely at the top of the enemy's list. But today, Governor Walz made it clear that he has no intention of going anywhere by officially announcing that he will seek a third term as Minnesota governor. Governor Walz is not backing down from this fight. Definitely not. And he joins me here in just 90 seconds.

[Jen]

AI.

[Commercial Announcer]

Had the time of my life.

[Senator Cory Booker]

A I never felt this way before.

[Commercial Announcer]

From building timelines to assigning the right people and even spotting risks across dozens of projects, Monday Sidekick knows your business, thinks ahead and takes action. One click on the star and consider it done.

[Jen]

And I owe it all to you.

[Commercial Announcer]

Try Monday Sidekick AI you'll love to use on Monday.com@maurices we're all about great jeans.

[Host/Interviewer]

You know, the ones that fit you.

[Commercial Announcer]

Just right, the ones that go from work days to weekends and everywhere in between. The ones that simply make you feel good because you don't just wear jeans, you live in them. With 25 sizes, five lengths and six denim brands, you've got options and fit experts in every store. To make jean shopping easier, find great jeans starting at $29.90 in stores and at marisas.com oh hey, love your shoes.

If you're hearing this, this is your sign to try those on. Trust us, you can totally pull them off. In fact, try on every shoe here if you want.

[Jen]

We won't stop you.

[Commercial Announcer]

In our house, you've got unlimited freedom to play. And hey, fall is the perfect season to do. Wear whatever you want. And with tons of shoes that get you at prices that get your budget, we'll give you something to brag about. So go ahead, try them on. Let us surprise you.

[Host/Interviewer]

Today in the northern suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota voters cast their ballots in a special election to fill the seat held by former state House Speaker Melissa Hortman, the longtime Democratic state lawmaker who, along with her husband was shot and killed at their home in June. And yet, in Donald Trump's public remarks, just hours after Charlie Kirk's assassination, in which he condemned a number of recent examples of political violence, he notably left out the killing of Melissa Hortman and several other attacks on Democratic figures. Well, Donald Trump was asked about Melissa Hortman in the Oval Office yesterday, and here's how that went. In retrospect, given all of the moving ways that this White House has paid tribute to Charlie Kirk, do you think it would have been fitting to lower the flags to have staff when Melissa Hortman, the Minnesota House speaker, was gunned down by an assassin as well?

[Jen]

I'm not familiar.

[Host/Interviewer]

The Minnesota House speaker, a Democrat who was assassinated this summer?

[Jen]

Well, if the governor had asked me to do that, I would have done that. But the governor of Minnesota didn't ask me. I didn't. I wouldn't have thought of that, but I would have if somebody had asked me.

[Host/Interviewer]

Joining me now is Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, former Democratic vice presidential candidate. Today he announced he's running for a third term as Minnesota's governor. He just can't get enough of the campaign trail. Governor, it's great to see you and there's so much I want to ask you about, but I know Melissa Hortman was a close friend, friend of yours. She's featured heavily in your announcement video. She's clearly been top of mind for you as you've rolled out your reelection campaign. And I just have to start by asking you what went through your head, what went through your mind when you heard those remarks from Donald Trump in the Oval Office yesterday?

[Jen]

Well, Jen, it's good to see you, and thank you for asking. It's been pretty traumatic in Minnesota. And I think Minnesotans, certainly every Minnesotan, knows Melissa Hortman's name and most decent people do. What goes through my mind is nothing surprises me. There's no compassion, there's no empathy in this man. There's no sense of governing for the whole country. We had a horrific act of political violence and the loss of an exceptional human being, a mom. Just, it's hard to explain to people. And it gets reduced to a footnote, this beautiful life, this big life. Melissa, Mark Gilbert, Melissa, she fostered and helped train service dogs. And Gilbert failed. And she told me on a wink that she said, I want him to fail so he could stay with us and just a decent person and probably one of the most skillful legislators I've ever worked with. Minnesota is a better state that got massive things done to improve people's lives. And you just see the disrespect and how easy that rolled off his tongue. Yet we're supposed to believe that they're definitely concerned about political violence. And you see the vice president go on a podcast, it's government by podcast to just lie and to bring hate. And they're not interested in solving this. We in Minnesota are. And I said today, announcing that I was going to run again. Look, I don't think I have any, you know, you don't have a right to stay in these jobs. But I'm proud of the work we did together. I'm proud of Melissa's legacy. And I think right now, as you said, folks are standing up and brave folks, teachers standing up for their students who bring their full selves to their classrooms. We had doctors here who Patched up little bodies after they were shot with assault rifles and stood up and said, dammit, do something about this. We're tired of patching them up. Get rid of these things. And all across this country you got people pushing back and you've got a president that sees the presidency as his personal kingdom and a revenge to her. He's doing nothing to improve people's lives. Insurance costs are at a 15 year high. We see electricity costs going up. He's not fixing anything for anyone and it's all smoke and mirrors. So I think when people see this, and I appreciate you asking about Melissa, I think there's a steeled resolve in Minnesota that we're done with this. Two weekends in a row we've gone to memorial services for an 8 and 10 year old to hear about these beautiful lives. And I guarantee you Donald Trump doesn't know their names and, and he's out there doing this. He doesn't care. I actually believe, Jen, if there had been students shot at that event, I don't know what he would have done because apparently this is, as the Vice President said, a fact of life. Well, we're done with it in Minnesota. We're going to do something about it. We're going to continue to try and improve lives and I don't expect any help. And in fact, I just expect the President continue to interfere because this isn't about improving lives. This isn't about uniting the country. This is about his warp view of where things are at. And I can tell you it's not the majority opinion.

[Host/Interviewer]

There's so much that's happening in Minnesota and I want to get there because I think you're taking on one of the hardest issues that's so important to parents out there and families out there. But first I just want to ask you, I mean, you've decided to run for a third term. We're in a politically fraught environment, a dangerous environment, one where you are, as I mentioned, I think, likely top of the enemy's list. Why did you decide to run for a third term and what in terms of how you're going to approach pushing back if you win a third term? What does that look like? Because we've seen that works.

[Jen]

Yeah, I think most people are seeing this. It's servant leadership. This is a moment. The people who walked across the Edmund Pettus Bridge with John Lewis, the folks who, you don't know their names, but they were there resisting some of the things we've seen in the past. And I think right now I've got the experience. We've been able to do things together in Minnesota that have improved lives. And I think stepping off the field right now, it's just not the time. And like I said, again, I'm sure there's people that can do this job, but I'm positioned to do it. We've proven that we can do it. And I look, we're going to need to do this. I've been telling people, I've been saying since January it's going to get worse before it gets better. But it is going to come to an end. History is not going to be kind to these people. History is going to remember them for what they're trying to do. It's not what they're going to get done. So I'm not naive. This is tough. The federal government makes my job difficult every single day. We're seeing rural hospitals close, as I said said, we're seeing insurance costs at a 15 year high. We can't sell soybeans at all. And we've got a farm crisis brewing. Thank God for Willie Nelson coming out here and doing farm aid because Donald Trump's not going to do a damn thing about it. And all of this as he fires people who try and tell him what the labor statistics show, trying to make it more difficult. Get rid of the National Labor Relations boards and try and bus unions. I got people who've spent their whole life at the VA hospital caring for our warriors now out of work and lost their union protections. That's what it is. And I asked folks who are listening at home, is your life with Donald Trump? Are you sick and tired of this? He didn't do a damn thing for prices. He's not doing anything. Good luck with your coffee coming up here because of the tariffs. It's all these things. So I don't want to panic people. Democracy is certainly on the line. But there's a lot of basic things that we can do at the state level that can try and fend off some of this. So that's why I'm back in again and again. The voters will decide. But I do not believe that, that this lack of compassion and lack of empathy and lack of decency and lack of fact and my God, I'm home to the Mayo Clinic. I had to issue an executive order that if you want to get a vaccine, you can. I mean, we have gone back 50 years with these people and Minnesota's not going back. We refuse. It stops at our border. The nonsense stops at our border. You live your life. I'VE said it again. We will protect you for who you love. We're going to protect families. And I think that's just our calling. And the good thing is, I know I'm not in it alone. I'm so proud of folks all across Minnesota, all across this country. Every time I see JB Pritzker stand up there, I swell with pride because I know he's fighting the good fight, too.

[Host/Interviewer]

You and Kamala Harris were out there on the campaign trail basically warning about Trump's authoritarian tendencies. I mean, you said that over and over again, among other things. I want to play just a clip of something that was said and talk about on the other end. Let's just play that real quick.

[Jen]

He is going to send the military against the enemy from within. Now, I want you to think about it. In other words, Americans who don't support him. As someone who now is the commander and chief of the Minnesota National Guard, the idea of sending US Military personnel against American citizens makes me sick to my stomach.

[Host/Interviewer]

I know you're not going to say I told you so, but by all means you can say I told you so. Say whatever you want. I'm most interested. I mean, how you feel now. I mean, you essentially warned that Trump was going to normalize the presence of National Guard and active duty military, a group of people whose service you are quite familiar with from your own experience. How does it feel watching back that clip and know that that didn't hit with the public as the way it should have?

[Jen]

It didn't. And look, I know that was my responsibility, trying to do the best I could. I think about this as a teacher. Were there different ways I could have delivered this? Did it seem so extreme that people thought this could never happen and that foundational separation with the military and the federal forces not being used against this? He's waging war against our cities. He even talks and uses the language of war. And look, our cities know that we want to make sure that crime is down. It is. But we can always do better. They should be partners with us. Just this week, they cut our counterterrorism funding money that we could use to protect schools. We could use it to help fund our police, making sure we could hire more. But I'll tell you what doesn't make people feel safe. A tank next to Chipotle. It's stupid. And it's for the cameras. And it' syou know, you can get into the legal aspect of posse comatitis, but it's foundational. So I keep saying, Jen, where Are the don't tread on me people. We were told for years that we needed to be prepared about an overbearing federal government that would step in over local control and actually put troops on the streets. I mean, where are those people? And I would just ask them to rise up and this isn't the way things should be done. And again, he doesn't really have any interest in stopping the crime. If he did, he would go with the professionals. He would listen to local law enforcement. He would coordinate with us. I will tell you, we do have a great example and this is why some of our institutions are still holding. We got a US Attorney out here who's a great partner doing good work for us on many fronts. And that's because he coordinates, coordinates with state agencies, coordinates with local officials. That's what we should be doing this for. The camera. I'm a big tough guy. I also said Jen on that and I'm still gonna hold to this. I still think at some points he puts on a military uniform because it's just cosplaying with his administration. Whether Kristi Noem is dressing up as one thing or another. But come out here and help us. We don't disagree with you, that there's more that we can do. But what you're prescribing is nothing but vengeance and photo ops. That's not helping anybody. So here in Minnesota, we're going to continue to work on it. We want people to be secure. Secure in their persons, secure in their families, secure in their economics. He's doing nothing to help on any of those fronts. And that's one of the reasons I'm going to do this again. And there's a lot of people that are getting engaged. We've had a special election tonight. As you said, XP is going to win that race. This is an immigrant family that came from a refugee camp, came here and built a life respect, respected in his community. And he is going to step into that position that Melissa Hortman held. And you know what? Years down the line, we're going to be talking about XP doing good work for his community because it's what the voters want.

[Host/Interviewer]

Governor Walz, one of the reasons I love talking about you is you never hold back. I have more questions for you. I hope you don't mind sticking around. We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back.

[Jen]

AI.

[Commercial Announcer]

Had the time of my life.

[Jen]

Hey.

[Senator Cory Booker]

I never felt this way before.

[Commercial Announcer]

From building timelines to assigning the right people and even spotting risks across dozens of projects. Monday Sidekick knows your business, thinks ahead and takes action. One click on the star and consider it done.

[Jen]

And I owe it all to you.

[Commercial Announcer]

Try Monday Sidekick AI you'll love to use on Monday.com@maurices we're all about great jeans.

[Host/Interviewer]

You know, the ones that fit you.

[Commercial Announcer]

Just right, the ones that go from work days to weekends and and everywhere in between. The ones that simply make you feel good because you don't just wear jeans, you live in them. With 25 sizes, five lengths and six denim brands, you've got options and fit experts in every store. To make jean shopping easier, find great jeans starting at $29.90 in stores [e-mail].

Ah, DSW Earth, place of the humble. Brag here. The shoes are so good no one would ever know how little you paid if you didn't go telling everyone that it's. And with never ending options for every style, mood and occasion, all at really great prices, they'll definitely give you something to brag about. So go ahead, stock up on fresh sneakers from your favorite brands or try those boots you always secretly knew you could pull off. Find the shoes that get you at prices that get your budget at DSW stores [e-mail] Let us surprise you.

[Host/Interviewer]

We are back, as promised, with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Governor, one of the questions I think a lot of people are grappling with right now is kind of how to fight back or push back or still advocate for the things that are important. And in the wake of the shooting that killed two children at the Annunciation School last month, you said that you're going to call state lawmakers back for a special legislative session to address gun violence. This would mean they'd come back. They're supposed to come back in February. They'd come back presumably in the fall. And right now I think it's important for people to know. I mean, the Minnesota Legislature is deeply divided, of course, along party lines, very, very close. And even within the parties, there's not broad support for any one particular legislative solution. But this is interesting to me because it's a choice you're making even if you don't have the support. Why call a special session if it's unclear whether you can get anything actually passed?

[Jen]

No, that's right. After this special election tonight, Jen, the house will be 67. 67. And we have absences in the Senate, which means neither side has the 34 votes necessary to even get there. So we are the most evenly divided. I think maybe many of your viewers don't think about it because we continue to be able to win out here. But this is a very divided and purple state. Look, I've spent the last two weeks setting in the living rooms of parents who sent their children to the first couple days of school and then buried them later when 116 bullets were fired in less than two minutes by an assault weapon, as they said in church. And this happens all across the country. And there's always a reason. You know, the Republicans are, you know, concerned about mental health, even though they voted against it. They're, you know, they're concerned that there's other things that we can do. But they've made it clear they don't want to do anything on guns. And look, I think, you know, folks say if you come back, you don't get anything done. It's a failure. It's a failure burying children. And I don't know when it's gonna stop. I've heard that saying. And I sat with those 20 families in my office as I was a member of Congress and after Sandy Hook, and people said, once we've decided that we're not going to move anything after we shoot children, then that debate is over. I refuse to believe that. I'm a gun owner. For a long time I had the support of the NRA when they were still somewhat normal, before they advocated for anything goes. And I'm going to push it. We do not need assault weapons. We do not need high capacity magazines. We do not need ghost guns without serial numbers on them. We do not need these things. And that doesn't infringe upon your right to own firearms and to do the things you need to do. So I think the fight is worth it. I recognize the risks. I think there's a frustration. You call special session. Nothing happens. But I'm asking legislators to sit with these parents and listen to them. They're asking us to do something. They're begging us to do something. They testified yesterday in the Minnesota Senate and a mother said, come to my house and help me change the bandages on my daughter who got shot. We got little ones who jumped on top of their friends and help protect them. And I just want to do something for them.

[Host/Interviewer]

It's hard to watch any of those videos. I've seen a lot of them. I've shared a lot of them of these parents and mothers who are caring for their kids or mourning their kids and asking for something to happen and not do something. So I'm happy to hear you're doing something as you've been planning. I mean, Minnesota has been through so much. I don't have to tell you, we've been trying to cover it as closely as possible on the show. And as you've been planning this special session, you've publicly also discussed putting in additional security measures for legislators, which is unfortunately something I think a lot of state capitals are going to have to consider. It just made me think a lot about how you've campaigned. You've been out there. There were these pictures I was looking at today of you at the Minnesota State Fair sharing food with constituents. And we have one right there, a video of it. I think you literally shared a burger with them. I'm just curious how you have thought for yourself, how you feel about your own safety in this political climate and how you think it's going to impact how you do retail campaigning, which I know is something that's kind of part of your bread and butter.

[Jen]

Yeah, I'm best at eating with people. I don't want it to go away. But yeah, I think we have to show it. You know, you have to take precaution to be candid. Our legislators are traumatized. Keep in mind that I have several of these members that the killer was on their doorstep and they weren't there by pure chance. And when I talk to them, they're horrified. And look, I just have to tell you this. Minnesota had one of the most open capitals. We had many doors open. We don't have metal detectors. And we have something that I think is absolutely insane, that you can carry firearms in the state capitol. And Republican legislators refused to limit that in there. So there were people carrying firearms, presumably while the mothers were there talking about doing something about it.

[Host/Interviewer]

It.

[Jen]

And I asked him, I said, are we just going to bring chainsaws? We going to do whatever? Why do you need them in there? Well, we don't feel safe if we don't have them. We've got to break this cycle. We have got to do something. I'm committed to doing it. And I recognize there's some risks. And candidly, I worry about those people. I worry about my family. I've taught my children to be strong and independent and speak out, but when they do that, they feel the hate, which I would tell Vice President Vance does come from all sides and it is coming out there. And it doesn't help us when he tells us that it's just Democratic organizations, when that is, as you said, patently false. And you can try and scrub that away, but it doesn't change the fact. So I'm going to keep campaigning. I feel blessed. I've got the Minnesota State Patrol. But what a sad testament that you have to think about going to the state fair and asking people to vote for you, vote against me and vote for somebody else. Don't bring guns and don't threaten. And so I'm going to do it. I appreciate you having me on. I appreciate all your viewers who got 15 emails from me today. So I have to make my plug. Wallsforgovernor.org I saw Elon Musk tweeting at me. So I'm not just on Donald Trump's enemies list. I'm on the richest man in the world's enemy list, which, which I will just cop to. I take great pride in that, Jen. So I'm okay with that one.

[Host/Interviewer]

Governor Walz, we all fell in love with your family and your kids, Hope and Gus, during the campaign. Thank you so much for spending so much time with me and really speaking out on so many important issues. I really appreciate it.

[Jen]

Good to be with you, Jen.

[Host/Interviewer]

Okay, we're going to take a quick break, but after that, we're going to show you what FBI Director Kash Patel said today about the Epstein investigation. It was a very long hearing. A lot was said and why it doesn't exactly pass the smell test. We'll be right back. As we've been talking about throughout the show, I mean, today, Trump's FBI Director Kash Patel testified to the Senate Judiciary Committee for more than four hours. And while he said a lot of outrageous things, many of which you may have seen, this answer, which was Patel answering a question about Jeffrey Epstein to Republican Senator John Kennedy, well, it was, it was quite something.

[Jen]

Who, if anyone, did Epstein traffic these young women to besides himself? Himself? There is no credible information. None. If there were, I would bring the case yesterday that he trafficked to other individuals. And the information we have, again, is limited. So the answer is no one.

[Host/Interviewer]

Now, to many, that answer strains credulity. That statement directly contradicts the claims of multiple victims who have spoken out publicly. For example, in a sworn deposition in 2017, Epstein victim Sarah Ransom alleged that she was, quote, lent out by Epstein to his friends and associates for sex. And if that is not true, and there is really no there there in this story, then why hasn't the Trump administration released the files related to Jeffrey Epstein's case? It really makes no sense. Why would all of these victims be putting themselves out there? Trump could put this entire issue to bed immediately if he just gave Kash Patel And Pam Bondi the thumbs up to release the files. But that is actually not why that statement stuck out to me so much today. It stuck out to me because while the Epstein case may be the most prominent case of sex trafficking in our country, it is far from the only one. Which is why the FBI and our law enforcement agencies focus resources there. Not to worry. FBI Director Kash Patel says he is very much on the case. Protecting our youth is maybe the top priority for the FBI. Is it now? I mean, that answer strains credibility too, because today Democratic Congressman and ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee, Jamie Raskin, released this report. Its title, epstein is the Tip of the Iceberg. The Trump administration is dismantling the anti human trafficking infrastructure and coddling human traffickers, sexual predators and rapists. Quite a title. The report alleges that the Trump administration has been diverting massive amounts of money and personnel from federal law enforcement to its immigration crackdown, quote, undermining the investigation and prosecution of nearly every other law enforcement priority, including human trafficking and child exploitation. Trump's immigration crackdown has diverted one in every three U.S. marshals, one in every five FBI agents, nearly 2/3 of the ATF, 3/4 of the DEA, and nearly 90% of the person from Homeland Security Investigations, which is the principal Investigative Unit of DHS. In 2023, Homeland Security Investigations identified or rescued more than 1,800 children and arrested more than 4,000 suspects for crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children. As Raskin's report put it today, with 90% of the agency now assigned to the president's immigration agenda, these efforts have all but stopped. And the government is left with few resources to stop the criminals who engage in child exploitation, trafficking and wor. And that is not even the only new piece of reporting today that strains Kash Patel's claim that his top priority is, quote, protecting our youth. MSNBC's own Kendelinian is out with new reporting today showing that Trump's deportation efforts are diverting FBI agents off literal child predator cases. For example, a team of FBI agents on Baltimore's domestic terrorism squad had been investigating a nihilistic, violent extremist group that calls itself Seven Group. The group allegedly befriends children online, blackmails them, and gets them to do things like post graphic sexual imagery of themselves, set themselves on fire, abuse their pets or siblings, or die by suicide. Nearly every agent assigned to that case in Baltimore has been reassigned to work full time on immigration enforcement. As Delanian writes in his piece today, every FBI field office across the country has been required to send agents out on immigration roundups, leaving them less time to work other cases. More agents are being diverted to immigration now than were diverted to counterterrorism after 9 11. That is a startling fact. And all of the work they would have been doing, like, say, investigating sex trafficking, that work isn't getting done. There's no secret other group of people who can do it. The reporter who got that scoop, Ken Delaney, joins me live when we get back. Okay, let's just say that Senator Cory Booker did not hold back when questioning Trump's FBI director, Keshe Patel today.

[Jen]

Have there been any FBI agents who investigate crimes against children that have been assigned to immigration enforcement?

[Senator Cory Booker]

Yes or no?

[Jen]

The premise of what you say is entitled, have there been any FBI agents to investigate foreign domestic terror? You don't get to say America is not safer under this legislation. I am not safer. Is safer because of the FBI. You're making a presumption of 4700 children, sir. We have 6000 weapons and 25,000 felons have been that FBI agents who investigate human trafficking have been reassigned to immigration enforcement. You are not denying that FBI agents who are in the task force that fight against Russian oligarchs have not been reassigned. Public Correction Squad reassigned. I believe you have made our country weaker and less safe.

[Host/Interviewer]

Senator Booker was specifically calling out FBI Director Kash Patel for the agency's reported diversion of 20% of FBI agents nationwide to enforce Trump's sweeping deportation program, a move which, as our own MSNBC justice correspondent Kendallanian has reported, has diminished efforts to fight domestic terrorism, including extremists who target children. Joining me now is MSNBC justice and intelligence correspondent Ken Delaney. And, Ken, your reporting was brought up a lot during the hearing today by a number of people. There's a lot in it that really stuck out to me. There's a stat in it that I just want to read. Roughly 20% of FBI agents, 2,840 out of around 13,800, have been diverted to work on immigration enforcement, according to data obtained by the libertarian oriented Cato Institute. That represents a significantly larger shift in FBI priorities than what happened after the 911 terrorism attacks, when 1,234 FBI criminal investigators are reassigned to counterterrorism. I just wanted to read the quote. Exactly. And the numbers. What strikes me, I mean, your reporting focused a lot on Baltimore, which is an interesting kind of microcosm of what we're seeing nationwide, is that you talk to people from field offices all across the country. There is not. I just said this earlier, like some secret other group of FBI officials who are able to jump in when they're diverted. They're diverted. What is the impact writ large that you're seeing on these offices? And what kind of cases are they no longer able to work on because of their being diverted to immigration efforts?

[Senator Cory Booker]

Yeah, well, that's why I focus on the Baltimore example, Jen, because look, we all know that the FBI has basically gotten out of the political corruption business. We knew that. I'm glad Cory Booker reminded people that they did away with the Foreign Influence Task Force. They've largely walked away from lots of kinds of corporate crime and white collar fraud, not entirely, but in certain cases of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. But what I didn't realize was that whole squads, for example, in Baltimore who were working on domestic terrorism would be essentially disbanded and forced to go out on the street to look for immigrants. And in particular in that case, as you said before the break, they were working on cases involving this nihilistic 7, 6, 4 group that is a terrorism group, but it's also a child exploitation ring. Essentially. These are people that blackmail children and get them to do horrific things online, including post sexual, sexually explicit imagery of themselves. Other things that we don't even want to talk about. And look, some of these members were charged recently under the Trump administration in Washington, but there are many more out there. And there are a number of cases being worked by the squad in Baltimore. Those cases are still open, but they're not being worked by as many agents. And that's just one example. And I'm told that that's happening, happening all across the country. And domestic terrorism agents were particularly vulnerable because a lot of them had worked on January 6th cases. And you know, those cases essentially went away as soon as Donald Trump took office. So they were seen as a ripe target to send them out to do immigration enforcement. But again, it's everything, really, because as you said, there's a finite number of agents, around 13,800. And they have a huge, enormous undertaking. Christopher Reagan used to talk about opening a counterintelligence investigation involving China like once an hour. They have an enormous number of those cases. There's no way they're devoting the same energy and effort and man and woman power to those cases now as they were before they were having to do these immigration roundups. This was something the FBI didn't do, that they're now having to do. It takes a lot of time. And I'm hearing complaints all over the country about it.

[Host/Interviewer]

I'm sure you Are. I mean, you have to that point. I mean, there's this chilling quote in your piece from a former FBI official who asked not. Not to be named for fear of retaliation, as you say in there. But the quote is this. If the bureau is not looking at domestic terrorism, nobody else is. We are now more susceptible to extremists because of these actions. The thing about law enforcement and all of the work they do is you don't know all of the things they prevent from happening. I mean, that's part of the work that they do. And why it's so incredible is that it sounds like you're talking to officials across the country. I mean, is that sentiment about taking our eye off the ball and what could be missed and what threats could be impacting communities because there aren't the officials looking at them? Is that what you're hearing from bureaus all over the place?

[Senator Cory Booker]

100%. And that's a really smart point you're making. And it's really hard to quantify the things that don't happen because FBI agents are on watch and they infiltrate a group and they make a case that probably doesn't even make headlines. These cases come across my inbox all the time. Just today there was an ISIS case down in South Carolina. It didn't make the news, but this is something that, that hadn't metastasized, had this person not been prosecuted, could have resulted in a horrific terrorist attack. And that's what my sources are saying they're worried about is that there are just fewer people looking at all this stuff. And it's not. Look, they would be happy to go find dangerous criminals who happen to be undocumented immigrants, but that's not largely what they're doing. They tell me they are largely doing sort of administrative civil violations because that's the low hanging frame fruit. The dangerous criminals are hard to find. They're on the run. That requires a lot of intelligence that DHS doesn't necessarily have. And so what they're doing is they're getting the nannies and the gardeners and they're going to Home Depot and they're bringing FBI agents with them.

[Host/Interviewer]

Kendallanian, thank you for your reporting as always. Coming up, a legend remembers a legend. We'll be right back. Carl Bernstein on line one. One.

[Jen]

Yeah, Bernstein, I think I got a lead on doll. I just. I got it. What?

[Senator Cory Booker]

I just talked to him. I just hung up from him. Bernstein, listen, it goes all the way to Stans. It goes all the way to Stans.

[Jen]

He gave the check to Stans for the Committee to Re Elect. Did he say that? He said it. I've got it on my notes. Jesus. It's down on record, Bernstein. That money winds up in the back car. The Watergate burglary.

[Host/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Jen]

Fantastic. I'm coming home.

[Host/Interviewer]

Okay, that was Robert Redford as Bob WOODWARD in the 1976 film all the President's Men. Of course, Redford died today at the age of 89. And today, Bob Woodward actually shared a few quotes from conversations he recorded during Redford's final years, including one about the staying power of the film. On New Year's Eve 2021, Woodward writes, Redford said he had rewatched all the President's Men a few days prior. He says Redford told him, I was taken aback by how appropriate it was, how timely it was, and how little has really changed. We don't have Nixon anymore. We have Trump. That does it for me today. You can catch the show Tuesday through Friday at 9pm Eastern on MSNBC. And don't forget to follow the show on Bluesky, Instagram and TikTok.

[Commercial Announcer]

Ah, DSW Earth, place of the humble. Brag here. The shoes are so good, no one would ever know how little you paid if you didn't go telling everyone that is. And with never ending options for every style, mood and occasion, all at really great prices, we'll definitely give you something to brag about. So go ahead, stock up on fresh sneakers from your favorite brands or try those boots you always secretly knew you could pull off. Find the shoes that get you at prices that get your budget at DSW stores [e-mail] Let us surprise you.