A (3:40)

So, Ed, correct me. I heard reports of this. You can confirm or deny did. My understanding is that the first time that the vice president called your dad, he actually either sent it to voicemail or just ignored it. Was that. Was that true?

C (3:51)

He missed the first call? Yeah, he missed the first call. I think it was a little bit insane. My mom, like, wasn't home. She was at an event, and I think we were running all over the place. My dad's mom. So my grandma happened to be staying at her house, and so there was a lot going on, but he did indeed miss. Miss the first call, and then he made the second one, thankfully. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

A (4:18)

So what does he say to you with, like, when he. After the call? Is he, like, the vice president just asked me to be a. Running. Like, how. Like, it just must be such a surreal experience to be standing in the room when something like that happens.

C (4:30)

Yeah. I mean, it was on speaker to be completely. So I did hear it, but he, you know, kind of got off the phone, and he goes, well, here we go. Like, our. Our lives are. They just. It just changed. And let's do it. We're gonna do what we're asked to do. And we threw things in suitcases, and we're on the road, so there wasn't much time to really, like, think. But I think, you know, after he got the call, he's like, all right, we're all in. Let's do this.

A (5:00)

And what? Like, I mean, it's obvious to some people. I'M sure. But I was just like, what is your life like from that point in August through, Through election Day? Are. Is it just. Do you even remember it? Was it just so crazy? Like, how does that experience go?

C (5:16)

I think I'm still, like, kind of processing it all, but I remember we, like, get in the cars and we, like, pull out of our house, and all of our neighbors and stuff are there with signs and stuff. And that was, like, very wholesome. And then they, like, drive us in this motorcade to an airport, and there's a private plane. And I've never, like, we're. We're coach. We're economy people, right? So I'm like, oh, my gosh, we're in a private plane. Like, this is the craziest thing. And I'm, like, taking videos and stuff. And then, you know, like, two weeks later, we're in a plane with our name on the side of it. So it was like just a big escalation of just everything, I think. And you're kind of, you know, all of a sudden we have Secret Service everywhere, right? All of a sudden there's this entire, you know, infrastructure around you. Like, here's your briefing book. This is what you do. This is what you do. And, like, I was around it all. They called me, like, the morality captain or what? Noted. What was it? Something, something. The morale captain. And because, like, I kept my dad sane, they like to, like, we made things fun. And so just like having the entire infrastructure around you all of a sudden when you're, you know, I. I didn't know what it was like to be on a national campaign. Most people don't. And then all of a sudden, it was just there and it was all, like, so quick. And we're like, we have to do this, this, this, and this in the next 90 days. So, yeah, it was very fast paced.

A (6:43)

And then. Oh, go ahead, Rich, go ahead.

D (6:46)

I was going to ask, like, hope you've.

A (6:47)

You've got.

D (6:48)

You were raised in politics, right? You were born in, like, 2001, correct?

C (6:52)

Yes.

D (6:52)

Yeah. So, I mean, that was a year to be born.

E (6:56)

Certainly one of the years of all.

D (6:57)

Time, one of the more prominent years. And yet I imagine it was still probably a bit of a. Like, that was. That's another step, right? I mean, to go from being visible and then. And then for your. The really powerful backstory around your coming to existence to be a central piece in his story.

C (7:20)

By the way, I did not know I came about in that way until my dad gave a speech on it. So that was a thing.

D (7:28)

So the birds and the bees for you was just like on a national stage. Yeah. How did, like, how did you, how did you wrap your head around that? Like that's, that's probably a lot at once.

C (7:40)

Yeah, I mean, I like thought I knew what it was like to be in the political sphere. My dad was a member of Congress since 2006, but I never moved to D.C. like my parents kept us in my hometown. I grew up in the same house, you know, that I was born in. I went to the school my parents taught at, which was a public school. Like things were pretty normal. And then he became governor and that was like another step up.

B (8:07)

Right.

C (8:08)

But I moved out of the house like, you know, six months after he became governor. And then all of a sudden, like were on this level and it was like an exponential change. I think I did not expect what it was. It's like, I mean, I, I guess I sort of expected it, but it was like it was different than I thought it was going to be.

A (8:28)

Well, I would.

C (8:29)

Oh, go ahead.

A (8:30)

Oh, I'm sorry. I would, I would think because we've not on your level by any stretch of the imagination, but like all of us have gotten fairly large accounts and so it happens every once in a while that somebody either shouts out your name or basically goes, are you the guy from this. Which happens more these guys. But like, so I assume pretty much. Well, during the campaign for sure. Are you just having people like, like, you know, yelling your name to get your attention and saying hello? Like I have to assume you had some of that when he was governor. But like on a national stage is obviously on steroids.

C (9:00)

Yes. And I think I remember this coffee shop, it's like a mile or two from my parents house. I'm like, let's go get a chai. And I'm like going with Secret Service. And like that draws attention. So they pull up, I pull up in this like armored SUV to go get my chai. And everyone's like, oh my gosh, that's hope. That's, you know, and it's like, I think they maybe wouldn't have noticed me if I didn't show up with like Secret Service agents. But that was just kind of what it was. And we, I think, changed our lifestyle a little bit because my, my dad's kind of philosophy with it was like, we don't ever want to ruin anybody else's experience. So if that means we have to order takeout instead of going and sitting at a restaurant where everybody has to be wanded before they walk in. Like, we will do that. And so honestly, we didn't do all that much just out of kind of respect for everybody else. Yeah.

A (9:59)

I mean, I think that's one of the things that, like, draws people to, to your dad and your family is that, you know, the, the empathetic nature and the like. I don't want to worry anybody else because I'll tell you, you'll be sure you've seen them now. I've been around a lot of politicians now that would never think about that. Right. They would just do the thing.

D (10:16)

It's like a badge of honor.

A (10:17)

Yeah. And I mean, I think one of the reasons. And I will say that, you know, when the, when the list of candidates was coming out, I did want your dad to get.

C (10:25)

Yeah.

A (10:25)

To get the Dom. And. But I think part of it's just like your family just feels very authentic and just very, like, American is the best way I can say it, which is like, sometimes the left doesn't say that stuff, but like, yeah, just like good people trying to do good things for others. And I feel like that has been lost a little bit. But your dad and you all have helped to bring some of that back in a, let's just say, dark period in United States history.

B (10:52)

Yep.

E (10:52)

Yep.

B (10:53)

So Congressman Walls was one of the first members of Congress that I ever sat down with as, As a. As a new advocate. I eventually became a lobbyist working for a major veteran service organization. And Congressman Walls was the lead sponsor of, I think, every single piece of legislation that I ever passed into law. And I, I sat down with Congressman Walls not knowing what to expect. He was command sergeant Major is the highest ranking enlisted service member ever to be in Congress. And I had left the military in a. In a less than nice way, left with a bad paper discharge and everyone of a much higher rank that I had up to that point in, like, I don't know, 2008 or 2009, had had basically discriminated against me, was like, oh, you got bad paper. Like, you're not a real vet. And I sat down with. With Congressman Walls for, you know, what I expected to be a maybe five minute, like, say hi, shake hands, and he walks off kind of session. And I, I think we were probably together for closer to an hour. And I could tell not just from the time that he was spending with some just random vet who randomly knocked on his door, I could tell that he cared. Not just from that, but from seeing his eyes well up as I described My story. And that is exactly why I was so damn excited to see him get the nomination or get picked as, as vp. I, it, it breaks my heart to, to see what, what you and your family have, have gone through, especially recently, because I know the goodness in your dad's heart, and it has. And I can say this without his exaggeration. It has improved his work, has improved the lives of countless veterans, saved the lives of countless veterans. And there is no one else who's in Congress today or that I ever worked with who has a better record. And I, I, I wish that that man were, were our vice president today because that he radiates goodness in a way that few politicians do.

E (13:29)

I like him because he called him weird.

C (13:30)

Yeah.

A (13:33)

There's Luke. Okay.

C (13:34)

He's a man of money, talent. Goddamn right at the end of the day, that's why he does the work. And I think his, you know, authenticity, like, shows and that's really who he is. I think sometimes when we meet people, they're like, oh, like, you are cool. You are like, kind of what I expected. Not very many people I meet that are in the political world are what you or what they portray. And he is, and I think that's pretty cool.

A (14:00)

Well, I want to ask you, Hope, because, you know, Chris, obviously mentioning your, your father's service. So they, of course, what Republicans during the campaign did what, or at least tried to do what they did to John Kerry, which you will not remember, but your dad will remember, which is.

C (14:15)

I remember John Kerry.

A (14:16)

Okay.

C (14:17)

My parents had.

A (14:18)

Well, you remember the 2004 election?

C (14:20)

No, that, like, he had a lasting impact on my dad's politics. And they talked about him and still talk about him.

A (14:27)

So, so for those who don't know, in 2004, the Bush campaign ran these horrible smear. Well, a pack, but, you know, ran these horrible smears about his service. And he was, if you look at his service, he was nothing short of a hero. And then he came home and, and protested against the Vietnam War. And then with your, with your dad, they tried to trump up this, like, complete, like, he left on, like, left in a bad way or something like that, which most Americans, like myself, I was like, I don't even really know. This sounds like bullshit to me, but whatever. But, like, how did, like, so that was one of the first real attacks on, on your family. Like, how did, like, were you expecting it? Were you like, oh, my God, like, what runs through your mind when you hear something? I mean, it was completely false, but, like, yeah. How does that at the first time it happens to you feel.

C (15:15)

Yeah. I mean, I think we knew, like, when he decided that, you know, when he got asked and decided he was going to join the ticket, they were going to just pull up everything, even if it meant they had to lie and twist things. And so I think we were expecting it. I think that, you know, is a natural kind of thing that they decide to go after. So I think it was kind. It was sort of expected, but it still, like, was initially hard to deal with. I'm like, he was deployed when I was alive. Like, there was an entire year where my dad was overseas. He wasn't in, like, combat or whatever, but he was overseas. And, like, that was a. A thing my family dealt with. And to, like, see people attack him for that, it was hard. And I'm like, the man can't hear. He had, like, surgery on his ears because of the. The military and all the stuff going off and things. But, like, he still can't hear. So, like, there's like, lasting effects there. And to see people just diminish, that was hard. But then you're like, you don't. I don't. These people aren't gonna like you no matter what you do.

A (16:25)

Right.

C (16:25)

So just. Whatever.

D (16:27)

Hope, I have a question. One of the things I loved about Governor Walls so much. I have a lot of family in Minnesota, and. And so it's. It's. He's. His charm is very familiar to me. I'm like, how fast can we just have a hot dish and talk about football and drink a beer and. And like, you know, set aside all of that? I think that's something that's been lost in politics. Is the Midwest nice? But also the fact that he's a governor and not, you know, a D.C. animal. How. How is that. How is being from the Midwest kept you grounded as you've gone through, you know, everything that you've gone through, you know, since July?

C (17:09)

Yeah. I think, like, the word that comes to my mind is like, community. In Minnesota, I've lived in the southern part of the state, and then I've lived in Minneapolis and. And then also in St. Paul. It feels very community based compared to maybe other places I've been or lived. And people have each other's backs and the state and like, the services the state provides, you know, support the people of the state, and it just breeds this community mindset. And I think even though I don't necessarily live there now, when I go back, I feel at home because I know the people there are going to have my back and are going to be reasonable and are going to be caring. And I think that kind of keeps your feet on the ground when things are maybe pretty insane because, you know, you have a place to go back to where there is that support.

E (18:04)

Minnesota sounds way nicer than Iowa. I'm losing my Midwest.

B (18:08)

Nice.

E (18:08)

I swear, it's fading.

C (18:10)

Iowa City is a great. I love Iowa City. I will give.

B (18:13)

I do.

E (18:13)

I. Iowa City has a place in my heart.

C (18:15)

Yes.

A (18:17)

Well, I was going to say, as the, as the resident mayor, I was like, what the hell is a hot dish? But I'm. I'm looking at it.

E (18:23)

It's a casserole.

A (18:24)

I would eat the hell out of this. I, I, Yeah, this. I think you're. I think there was actually a video during the.

C (18:29)

Yeah.

A (18:30)

Because I was like, yeah, he would.

C (18:33)

Like, submit it in, like, the Congressional baking off or whatever. He won a couple times, I think.

E (18:39)

Really?

D (18:40)

You can't miss with. With. With Midwest food. Like, it's just a fact. I mean, it kills you really young. But. But shit, it's. It's so good that it's like, I know this is happening, but I'm just.

E (18:51)

Going to cover this. Last weekend, Casey's breakfast pizza brought me back.

C (18:56)

Yeah, Casey's is really good. And quick trip. Have you guys ever been to a. Oh, yeah.

E (19:01)

Oh, Come and Go's gone now, though.

C (19:03)

It's.

E (19:04)

It's Mavericks now on the campaign trail.

C (19:06)

Because we were just, like, in a plane, and then we'd drive in this insane motorcade everywhere, and they wouldn't, like, let us go to gas stations, which was really hard for us because Midwesterners love gas stations. But we'd like.

E (19:17)

Absolutely.

C (19:18)

We would rank like car washes and gas stations that we saw on the side of the road. Like, we had a ranking of, like, the best. The best car washes in the country based off of the seven states we went to.

A (19:31)

I've never heard of any of this. Same.

C (19:33)

Same.

E (19:34)

You've never been to the Midwest?

A (19:35)

Yeah, I have. Just not long enough, apparently. No, no, no, no. I haven't lived there or anything. It's interesting. Oh, go ahead. No, I was gonna say. Well, I was gonna go to a less exciting topic, so I apologize. Other than this. And I saw when I was. Saw you were coming on, I looked and you got. You did a video on. Is it Culver's, too? I don't know what that is either.

D (19:54)

Culver's.

A (19:55)

Yeah. I mean, it looks great. It looked great. I just, you know, if you have.

C (19:58)

A chance to go to a Culver's, go to a call.

A (20:00)

Okay. Okay. Well, shifting to something less. Less exciting or fun to talk about. So obviously there was a lot of excitement, a lot of anticipation about this campaign. And as we were talking before, like, I was part of the white dudes for Harris stuff, which was really fun because we're seeing men getting involved, really, for the first time on our side, like in an organized fashion in years. So there's a lot of excitement. You know, a lot of people felt really good going into election day, and then we lost.

C (20:28)

Yep.

A (20:30)

It is obvious how you were feeling, but, like, what is. What is that? Like, I'm assume. Were you with. Were you with your family when you must have been? Right.

C (20:40)

So, yeah, we were.

A (20:41)

What is your dc? I'd not to make you relive it, but I'm going to.

C (20:45)

You're good.

A (20:46)

What. What was that like? Like, what. Did you think you were winning going into election day? Or were you. Like, it's too close. Just walk us through.

C (20:54)

Yeah, I mean, I think we were a little bit in a bubble, to be honest, like, looking back, but I did. I, like, I was also a little bit surprised, to be honest, because my dad has like, the best political radar I've ever seen. And he, you know, up until then, he's pretty much called every election he's been in. Accurately. And he said in, like the weeks leading up to 2016 that we were in trouble when.

E (21:23)

Oh, really?

C (21:24)

Yeah, like, he. He's really good at that. And he thought we were going to win. And so, like, I think it was a little, you know, a bit of a wake up call for everybody. Like, oh, okay, so we were in a bubble. And so I think there was like, the surprise. And then it was also like, the, okay, so now what do we do? And then also, like, now how is this gonna affect literally everybody in the country?

A (21:51)

Right?

C (21:51)

Yeah.

A (21:52)

Like, is there a period in which you guys don't talk about it? Or is there like a healing process? Or, like, does it just take time? You know, because it's such a unique experience. Right. Like, most people do not ever experience something like this on this magnitude. I mean, Hillary Clinton is the. Is the other. I guess you could throw Mitt Romney in as well, but, like, over time, you know, I think we all knew in 2008 that Obama was going to win, that. I don't think McCain was particularly shocked. But. But, you know, are. Those next weeks must be really, really hard. And if they are, like, how did you. How do you get out. How do you dig from. Out from under that?

C (22:25)

Yeah, my dad copes with things by just like. And maybe this isn't the most healthy thing, but he's like, okay, what's next? So he was like, okay, time to get back to Minnesota, and I'm going to do the work I can do to make Minnesota better and to protect Minnesota. And obviously that's really hard right now in this moment, but, like, his initial thought was, like, let's get back to work. And I think that's kind of where my mind went to. So, like, within a week, I was back in Montana. I work at a nonprofit. I do overnights at the homeless shelter. So I was back at work, you know, kind of trying to get back into everyday life. But then I also started posting on social media around then and was kind of using that as an outlet. And then I talked about this on some other stuff. I started going to therapy in the past year, and so just like, that sort of stuff. But I found, like, staying engaged and staying involved has helped me feel better and move forward and find hope.

A (23:28)

How much does life feel different now that it's over compared to when it's like, obviously it's different, but, like, does it feel like it's closer to the way it used to be, or does it feel, like, totally shifted now?

C (23:38)

Yeah, I think probably it feel. I mean, I thought it was gonna go back to how it felt, but it hasn't. I think just with my dad having such a national profile now and then with what we've seen the administration do to Minnesota, and as of late, it. It's not shocking because I think we knew that this was a possibility in the case when they, you know, when he got picked and got this big national profile. But it is. It's vastly different than it was before. I think you just have more commentary coming from all sides. Minnesota was like, you know, it's a fairly small state, and it, you know, flyover country. And now it seems to be the topic of, like, everything. And then when you're, you know, your dad's the governor of it, it's just. It is another level of kind of notoriety.

D (24:32)

I want to ask you about a specific community in Minnesota that you're probably. That you're probably aware of. Obviously Trump, ICE, Operation Metro, whatever, you know, they're. They're pouring, what, two, 3,000, I think federal agents in to investigate. Investigate fraud in the Somali community. Um, first off, you know, some statistics. 95% of the people in the Somali community in Minnesota are citizens either by birthright or naturalization. ICE has no function in investigating citizens. They can't, they. There's nothing they can do. And the people involved in the, in that fraud case, which I think your dad's administration has successfully rooted out, you know, fraud happens and you go after it. There's what, 50 or 60 convictions, I think, out of a population of a 100,000 people in a state with 6 million. Right, right, right.

A (25:22)

Started in 2019, right?

C (25:23)

Yeah.

D (25:24)

How, say, say what needs to be said from your perspective about the Somali community in Minneapolis specifically. How hard has this been to watch such wonderful people be, be subjected to racist attacks?

C (25:40)

I think the targeting of this community is bullshit. I went to school at the University of Minnesota for a couple years, and the campus is right near, kind of the hub of the small Somali community in Minnesota. It's called like Cedar Riverside. And they're trying to paint it as this like, crime ridden, dangerous area. I used to lime scooter around there like after class. Like, I'm, you know, so to me, I'm like, what are you even doing? Like, I, you know, the, the community is so rich and just culture and just the people are amazing. And I, you know, I'm friends with people from the community and just like seeing an administration attack an entire group of people because of, you know, things that happened years ago and they say it's an entire community. I'm just like, it doesn't even compute in my brain, to be completely honest. I'm like, this is just so bizarre and it's so sad to see because they make Minnesota what it is. Um, and that is, it's hard to kind of grapple with.

B (26:44)

I think it must be so difficult for these people to be so scared all the time. And that's what I'm talking about. Like the ICE agents and all, all of MAGA who thinks that these places are, are war zones because they, they don't go out. Like, they don't experience these things.

C (27:04)

They come to Minneapolis for like a Morgan Wallen concert or something and they're like, I was scared for my life. No, you weren't. Like, come on.

E (27:11)

Racist got court. Racist.

A (27:13)

Well, yeah, it's funny because I'm from Maine and there is a Somali population in Lewiston, which is sort of central Maine. And I know people, I'm obviously not gonna say any names, but like, I know people who. I like, the town I grew up in who are afraid to go there now. They're, they're a very small minority of, of Lewiston. Lewiston Is very blue collar town. Bates is there.

C (27:36)

Yeah, yeah.

A (27:36)

And it's because they are told these things on social media. Just like what's happening in Minnesota. And actually Maine and Minnesota have a lot of overlaps because there's a lot of progress. But there's also a lot of conservatism as well. But like, this is like denigrating this community is. I mean, it's just like they. I think a lot of these people actually believe that they are burning Minneapolis to the ground.

C (27:55)

Yes.

A (27:55)

And that they're doing it in Lewiston as well. And I just. Like, what do you. You are on social media a lot now.

C (28:03)

Yeah.

A (28:03)

You are of a younger generation clearly than I am. Like, what do you think? Like, what do people on the left need to do to fight back against this? Because it's just, it's, as you said, it's complete bullshit. And it's. It's very dangerous now, as we're seeing.

C (28:17)

Yeah, yeah. I mean, it really feels like the administration is trying to get people killed. And I will say, my dad included, it feels like the administration is trying to incite violence against my family and this community. And that is, you know, with that happening, it's. It's easy to kind of slip into hopelessness, I think. But if you really pay attention to what's happening, like these protests are amazing. They are huge and they are peaceful. And I do think they're making a difference. We have to be really careful here. Right. Because I think the administration is just waiting to declare martial law. So, like, there's a very fine line to walk. But I think seeing people like show up in actual community is giving me a lot of hope and I think giving other people a lot of hope. There was like a protest here in Bozeman the night kind of Renee was murdered.

A (29:14)

Yeah.

C (29:15)

Like Bozeman, Montana.

E (29:17)

Like, people I was city had a vigil.

C (29:19)

Yeah. And so I think. I think it's easy to kind of get in this echo chamber of like, truth doesn't matter anymore. And to a large percentage of the country it doesn't.

A (29:29)

Right.

C (29:29)

But I still think the majority of people see what's happening and are starting to wake up and are starting to show up. And I think, like, spaces like this are really important. I always say we don't need like a Joe Rogan of the left. We need like many Joe Rogans of the left, like to flood the system with a whole bunch of people. So, like, you guys, people like me, you know, other really strong voices of all different communities like that's what's going to overpower whatever they have going on.

A (29:59)

Yeah, for sure. I mean, it's almost like we wrote talking points and gave it to you because that's what we say all the time. But it's true. Like it's not one person. We don't need a monolith. We need. Because this is also a very diverse party and appeals to a lot of people. So before we go, I want to obviously get to this horrific murder of, of Renee. Good. But you mentioned that you fee. You know, it feels like this administration is putting your lives at risk. So after Donald, after this Nick Shirley or whatever his name is, video comes out heavily edited and complete. What. What did you experience online? I don't need, you don't need to get into super details here. But like did, did you like, if you had not seen that video, would you have noticed a difference on social about people coming after you? Like, what was that like?

C (30:47)

I mean, I always know when I like end up on some super right wing site or like something comes out because I'll have like people come in my comments and say things. I always know I'm on Fox News because those people are bored and have time. So they come over to my Instagram, they like find my tick tock and come to my Instagram and leave comments. And so I, I do know and I think I've also seen like a larger prep. Maybe you guys can speak to this as well. Larger presence of like bots.

A (31:18)

Yes.

C (31:18)

On social media in the past month. Like it's insanity. And then I had people like emailing me as well, saying some like really freaky stuff and I'm like, okay, so you're really bored. Like, go do something useful. How are you emailing me? But yeah, it was just like a large influx and I've dealt with stuff before, but this was like a level I've never experienced.

A (31:42)

Yeah. And did, did you know obviously they were, they were ratcheting it up against your, your dad as well. Did. That was the. Did you guys have to take any additional security measures because of this or is this a situation where you kind of like, unfortunately expect this at the moment and you're used to it? Like what is.

C (31:59)

Yeah, I think they like gauge that back in Minnesota and I think after Melissa Hortman was killed last summer, they kind of amped some stuff up surrounding my dad.

A (32:11)

Right.

C (32:12)

But I don't have anything. But they. After I got like this one kind of specific, pretty detailed, legit thing like the police in Minnesota or State Patrol Was in contact with people here in Montana, and I think they're watching that very closely. So I. I feel fine. But there were conversations that happened. Yeah.

A (32:36)

Well. And I. I bring it up because I want to. I want it known to folks that, like, you know, everyone. You know, the right. Is always like, we're not stoking violence. We're not stoking violence. And it's, of course, complete nonsense. And I mean, we get stuff, but, like, it's not that big of a deal. But for you, you know, in your position, I can only, you know, imagine some of the awful things. And it's important for us to talk about how dangerous they are making this by ramping up this rhetoric like this, making up these lies. So. So then I think it's important to shift to this horrible, horrible situation in Minneapolis, where it's very clear to us that a nice agent murdered when a.

C (33:14)

Good eyes in a brain. Yep.

E (33:16)

I mean, don't even need eyes.

A (33:18)

We've seen. We've seen 50 different angles.

B (33:21)

Yeah.

A (33:21)

Of this. And it's very clear that at least two of the shots went through the side window. Like, that is not at risk. Also, I don't understand why his. His weapon was drawn when he was also holding his phone at the same time, which is not good. And he also put himself in front of. We're obviously hearing a lot of the national story, and I know you're not in the state right now, but how are. How are Minnesotans, like, react? I mean, obviously rage and anger, but this is, like, in their community. And, like, I. I just. Are everybody okay? I mean, obviously not everyone's okay, but, like.

C (33:55)

Yeah.

A (33:56)

What's the reaction there?

C (33:57)

I think there's also a lot of sadness. I think it was yesterday I posted a video and I said, Minnesota is being targeted because Minnesota takes care of its people. And they're trying to target states that are vote Democratic mostly and do good things, and they're trying to ruin that. And I think that's maybe a common sentiment in Minnesota. Like, we are a good place to live, and they're trying to make it a bad place to live, and they're trying to incite violence in a place that is, you know, wonderful. Minneapolis is a great city. If. If you guys have a chance to go, you should go. And I think just immense sadness over that. And like you said, there's a lot of anger and rage, but I also think, you know, it happened, and now people are like, what are we gonna do about it? And I think people in Minnesota feel A responsibility to make change out of this and create change and create the necessary things coming from this horrible, horrible situation.

A (35:05)

Right, right. Well, I think one of the things that is interesting is that, you know, when you, when you think about from their position, like, all of this anger, and I want to be like, are you angry because Governor Walz passed free school lunches?

C (35:20)

Yeah.

A (35:21)

Kids. Are you angry because he tightened gun laws after some horrible shootings? Are you angry that he passed paid family leave, I believe just went into effect right now? It's, it's, it's really interesting. Is the wrong word, but fascinating to see these, these people get very angry about your dad is just. Democrats in general are trying to help people live better lives and they seem very upset about that.

E (35:47)

Yeah, but Tim, Tim, there's. There's tampons in the boys bathrooms. That's the biggest issue. We're taking care. That's the biggest issue.

A (35:54)

Imagine caring about that. Right? Imagine caring about that. Oh, my God. First of all, I do care and I'm glad, like, I'm glad that it all, it all was, like, misconstrued. But, like, the idea is 100 fine. Also, like, why is it a bad thing for your son to like, maybe be. Have access to that to help a sister or a friend or whatever.

C (36:14)

It's like, so you have a bloody nose.

E (36:17)

None of it is bad.

A (36:18)

None of it is bad. Well, they also think that the, you know, they brought litter boxes into, you know, which.

E (36:23)

Yeah.

A (36:23)

I've had friends, Republican friends mention that to me and be like, go back and find me one example of that. And it falls apart because it's not real.

E (36:30)

But, but Facebook, some guy on Facebook said it was there.

A (36:33)

But I want to ask about Republicans in the state because I think that you sort of, again, there's a similarity with Maine where there are still some, quote, unquote, reasonable Republicans and some maga. Did any. Have any Republicans, any elected Republicans in the state reached out to you or your dad to say I'm sorry or anything like that? Or are they completely silent?

C (36:56)

No. Yeah. I think the Star Tribune, which is like the big newspaper in Minnesota, did an article after Trump tweeted that wildly insane conspiracy theory about my dad having Melissa killed. There was like two, like, one was like, current, you know, like currently elected and something. And one was like, retired that came out and said, this is insane. No other Republicans said anything about it. And then, I mean, that senator from Utah was the one who initially stroked it when it happened in this summer.

A (37:34)

So, like, oh, Mike Lee. Right.

C (37:36)

Yeah, yeah.

B (37:37)

It's always Mike Lee.

E (37:38)

So Notoriously rational individual.

C (37:41)

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So no, people haven't really said. You know, they haven't said anything. I think y. You know, they see it as an opening to win the state, which, you know, careful what you wish for, because now Amy Klobuchar is going to destroy you all. Like, they are not. Like, it's over for them.

A (37:58)

And they know the. The funny thing about that is that, I mean, I wish your dad was staying. And it's. Yeah, I get why he left, but we could talk about that in a second. But, you know, Amy Klobuchar is like a stone cold killer.

C (38:10)

She's an electoral powerhouse. She is going not to them and down ticket to.

A (38:16)

Yeah.

C (38:16)

Any chances they have, like, it's gone. And I, I think they're now realizing that. And it's like, politically, they're just stupid because if they were going to do this, they should have done it in August. But.

A (38:27)

Right. Or just like a better shot with somebody running for a third term than like brand new. Right. There's just like, it's. Yeah. And also going to Mike Lee. One of my favorite photos of this year was Senator Tina Smith cornering him on the Hill because she is awesome. Made him own it. She went right in his face, which I think Democrats should do more of, to be perfectly honest. We've seen more of this recently, but she was like, right in his face. And you could see him as a small, cowardly man. He was just kind of like crouching a little bit. Like. And I'm glad that she did that. And I'm glad. Just like your dad. Like, everyone always tells me about Minnesota. Nice. But I've also learned that there could be Minnesota mean, which might be worse than I live in New York, might be worse than some of ours because it's more silent. But. Yeah, the other one I want to ask you, and it is. This is maybe the most infuriating of all, minus the loss of life, is when you're. When Donald Trump calls your dad. I'm not gonna say it, but, like, he used the slur, the R word. And then Magas decided it was going to be a genius idea to drive by the governor's mansion and scream that out the window.

C (39:39)

Yeah.

A (39:41)

When you saw that, what was your first reaction to that?

C (39:45)

Yeah, well, I think, like, his initial tweet was at like midnight, like the after Thanksgiving. And so I was home in Minnesota, and I just remember waking up and my dad walked, like, I walk in to, like, our kitchen and my dad, like, just shows me the thing, and I'm like, what the heck? I'm like, did you. Did you tweet anything yesterday?

A (40:07)

Yeah. What you do, dad? Yeah.

C (40:10)

No, I literally have no idea. Like. Like, I'm as confused as you are. And then it, like, amped up and then my room is, like, facing the street. And I, like, heard people in the next couple of days when I was still home, like, doing that, and I mentioned it to my dad, who can't hear, you know?

A (40:30)

Right, Right.

C (40:32)

Like, this is. This is happening. And then it just kind of continued to escalate. Now I guess it's like an acceptable insult to call people again, which is the worst part of it all. Like, it's one thing, you know, to call my dad or call my family that. But now I see it, like, back kind of in mainstream type like, discourse, and that's what really upsets me.

E (40:56)

Well, like, every right wing shill on Twitter was like, this is exactly what I vot voted for. And now it seems like every third tweet, they've got it in there somewhere.

B (41:04)

It's.

E (41:04)

It's disgusting.

C (41:05)

Yeah.

A (41:06)

I mean, it's the cruel that we talk about this all the time. The cruelty is the point with some of these people. They want to be mean, they want to be callous, and they want to put other people down because they want to feel better about their lot in life rather than focusing the energy and anger at the people who have done this to them, which are the people that they keep voting for. It is. It is one of the great mysteries of this. It is infuriating. But, like, they are. It's all about projection. And yeah, honestly, any adult. And I see this on. Especially on let's be on Facebook, but, you know, I see people. I mean, they're calling me that now, and I'm just like, imagine being an adult. And I look at some of these profiles. Sometimes they've got kids, you know, 50 year old men. You have a child, you have. Yeah, it's the same guy with glasses and the, like Oakley glasses in the.

C (41:52)

In the hat.

A (41:53)

But like in the. In the goatee. Not beard, but goatee and. But like, it's just like, it's. It just makes me. It just infuriates me because it's like putting down people with disabilities is how you make yourself feel good.

C (42:08)

Yeah.

A (42:08)

Really? Because that's. That's what they're trying to do.

D (42:11)

Let's be really honest. I mean, every one of these guys peaked in high school and high school was the 90s and they hate change and that's all there is to it. They, they, they want to go back to the 90s so that they can relive the glory days where they were the best, where they were the most important people in society. In school every liked them. And that was when you said that things were gay when they, when you didn't like them. And you use the R word for everybody. Like we overthink everything with these guys and really they're just responding to their dads. Yeah, they're. They're just responding to how their dads raised them, which is.

E (42:42)

Everything would be solved if these would just go to therapy.

D (42:45)

Therapy.

C (42:45)

Yeah.

B (42:46)

That's it. That's all they need.

A (42:47)

Or get a hug from their dad. Right. Like something. Right. It's crazy. Well, and actually I want to ask you about that because you, I saw you took a little bit of a social media break recently, which I think was a great idea. And you've talked about therapy. So can you talk a little bit about your self care? Because obviously, like. Yeah, you know, we've all gotten some of this. You get way more. And especially as a woman, it's clearly different.

C (43:10)

Yeah.

A (43:10)

How do you take care of yourself?

C (43:12)

Yeah, movement is a big thing for me. I'm like, my hair is really gross right now because I just got back from hot yoga. I did not time this well.

A (43:20)

That's so at all.

C (43:22)

But I, you know, and I, I run, I'm a runner. I love to ski. I also ski instruct. So if you ever need to learn how to ski, I got you. But I, I like to kind of root things in movement. And then I read a lot, I read a lot of fantasy and Romantasy and I have no shame about that at all.

B (43:43)

You shouldn't.

C (43:44)

And so that has been. And that's been something. Just in the past year I've gotten into reading. I was like a kid where my parents would have to take the book away at night. Like not the phone, but the book because I just stay up all night reading. So it's been fun to like get back in that and then like work like when I, I'm only at the shelter a couple nights a week, but when I'm there, like I always leave feeling better actually about the state of the world when I'm, you know, in the, in my community, like doing real work. And I count that as self care.

A (44:18)

That's great. I mean, but I was told that the children of politicians are supposed to go into crypto.

C (44:26)

Yeah.

E (44:26)

When Are you gonna get on that?

A (44:28)

Make deals with the Saudis? You're not. Why are.

C (44:30)

Yeah.

A (44:30)

You're helping people.

C (44:31)

Yeah, right.

A (44:33)

I mean, yeah. I mean, that's best book you've read.

E (44:36)

In the last year. What do you got?

C (44:37)

Ooh, that's really. It's called. It's a part of a series. I think it's like book three or four in the series. It's called Wrath of the Fallen. Totally fantasy.

E (44:47)

Oh yeah.

C (44:49)

The first book is like Book of Asriel or something like that. So if you need a good fantasy series, that's a good one. It's sort of romantasy, but like there's good.

E (44:58)

My brother recommended this series to me.

C (45:00)

You should read it. It's good.

D (45:02)

All right.

C (45:02)

It's actually good. I think sometimes the writing in some of these books can be really bad. This is well written and the plot is strong.

A (45:10)

I am a big fan of reading stuff or watching something that has no educational value whatsoever.

B (45:17)

Absolutely.

E (45:18)

I don't read anything that's non fiction.

A (45:20)

Just break like just to shut it off. I mean, rivalry.

D (45:24)

I was gonna.

E (45:25)

My girlfriend really wants me to watch it.

C (45:26)

No, no, you have to watch it. I'm. It's like I'm one direction level of obsessed right now.

D (45:32)

Oh, okay.

C (45:33)

I'm fully like fan girling for this.

D (45:36)

I was. This is the. This show is the test for everyone who says they're an ally. Because if you were raised in a different time, watch the first. Watch the. Watch the pilot episode. Oh, and just watch it. My wife and I watched it last night actually, and I was like, holy shit.

B (45:53)

Okay.

D (45:54)

All right. We're just raw dogging the future via. Via a television show right now.

E (46:01)

What an unfortunate choice of words, Rich. What an unfortunate choice of words.

D (46:06)

Not unfortunate at all.

C (46:07)

After episode two on that front, I.

D (46:10)

I figured it would any kind of.

C (46:12)

Tragic love story, but it's like, if you have a chance, you should watch it. It's great.

A (46:17)

I will have to watch it. I. I'm. I'm into the pit. And that just came back.

E (46:21)

My girlfriend and I binged the pit this last weekend.

A (46:24)

Actually. I know somebody that's a writer on the show. And so it's like really inside scoop. Yeah.

B (46:28)

Yeah.

A (46:28)

He's a. He's a musician as well. Yeah, that and Slow Horses are my two. My two jams.

D (46:32)

I need to. I need to watch Slow Horses.

B (46:33)

You know what?

A (46:33)

Like we all should watch that show. Like, why not? Like what is the. Like this is the thing. Like MAGA loses their mind, right?

D (46:40)

And it's like, oh, they can't handle it.

A (46:41)

But we had these.

E (46:43)

They lost their mind that Will was gay on Stranger Things.

B (46:46)

Like, I know.

E (46:46)

Like, there's no way they can handle heated rivalries.

D (46:49)

I thought you were gonna say Will and Grace. They're still losing their mind over. Over people being gay in the 90s.

A (46:54)

I will still say until I'm blue in the face that I actually think that Will and Grace, the show did more for the acceptance of the gay community in this country than pretty much anything else. Because you. They were, like, in your. In your home once. Normalize it. And. And it's normal. And I think this. This is the same idea.

C (47:12)

Yeah.

A (47:12)

More graphic, but, like, you know, but. But still, like, it's like. But that should be fine. It shouldn't be a shock that, like, two men love each other and, you know, like, it. It's just, you know, So I think people. People listening and watching you should. You should take a look. And. And if you feel uncomfortable, you should ask yourself, why.

E (47:30)

Examine why.

A (47:32)

Well, hope we only got a couple more minutes with you. So I want to. I want to ask. So I want to ask. So obviously, last year, everybody got to know you and they got to know your brother Gus.

C (47:42)

Yeah.

A (47:42)

And I think one of the most powerful moments, and I will never forget it from the convention, was watching your dad talk to your. Your brother and just seeing the, like, the pure, like, love between both of them. And, like, if there's anything lasting from that horrible election cycle, I hope that people see that and that they say, that is the relationship that I want to have with my son or that is the relationship I want to have with your dad. So I just want to ask, how. How is your brother doing with all this craziness?

C (48:13)

He's good. He graduated high school last May and is now he's still living at home. He was going to get an apartment, and I said, do not do that, Gus. Like, yeah, mom and dad are not charging you rent right now. Like, there's groceries always. You can. You have the freedom. Like, you're living a lot. Like, just stay. And so he's living at home right now. He coaches volleyball and, like, works at a coffee shop.

D (48:37)

Oh, great.

C (48:38)

And I think he's deciding kind of if he wants to go to school next year or what that looks like. But, yeah, that was. That was completely out of the blue from Gus. I honest, like, I did not see that coming. And so I think it was really touching for me to see. And then just, like, watching him blossom throughout the past year has been really cool.

A (49:00)

That's incredible.

B (49:01)

What's it like to have, like, roughly 4 million adopted sisters and brothers? Because I know that there are a ton of people who declared your dad their new dad.

C (49:12)

Yeah.

E (49:12)

Yeah.

C (49:13)

I mean, I have always felt very lucky. Like, my dad and I are very close, and I've always felt very lucky for my parents and for just my relationship with them and my family. But I think after last fall, seeing how many people were, like, I lost my parents to Fox News, or watching you and your dad or you and your family, like, connect, like, makes me feel hopeful about the family I can have. I really realized how lucky I was and what, like, a privilege it was. And I still get people commenting, like, seeing you and your dad's relationship, like, makes me feel better about the world, and I do not take that lightly. Like, I think, you know, I have a responsibility to use my platform for good, but also to, like, show the normal moments so people can see themselves and find hope in that. And, like, I think that is a really cool thing.

D (50:08)

Oh, I have one maybe final question for you.

C (50:11)

Yeah.

D (50:12)

Before Tim tells us all to buy hoodies.

E (50:15)

Yep, it's coming.

A (50:16)

Get your merch. Get your merch.

D (50:17)

This was. This was. This is coming from my wife when I told her, yep, we're booked. We're gonna talk to Hope while she said, when is she gonna run for something so I can vote for her.

A (50:28)

Oh, that was gonna be my question. You got it.

C (50:30)

All right.

D (50:30)

Damn.

C (50:32)

Yeah, I. So this is. I'm. I'm stealing a saying from my dad. He goes, never say no to a job you haven't been offered yet. Because initially, I'm like, no, absolutely not. Why. Why would I ever do that? But I think if my life takes me to a place where I think I'd be the best person for a certain position or job, like, I would potentially do it. I'm very much figuring out kind of how I want to use my platform still. And I kind of like the flexibility and power I hold in having my own platform in the voice I can have with that, and not really being, you know, held back or constrained by anything. And especially now, like, now that my dad's not running again. Like, watch.

E (51:18)

The gloves are off.

A (51:19)

I was gonna say, are we gonna. Gonna get the unfiltered version?

C (51:22)

And I think you've already seen that from my dad a little bit as well. And, like, I think that's a cool opportunity for us. And so I'm excited to see what I can do with the Platform I have and I'm hoping to continue to grow. But I think if, you know, something comes up in the future, I would think about it. I also would think about working on a campaign in an official capacity. So we'll see.

D (51:44)

I think the goal for me coming off the past year is how do we make the future look more like this versus this looking more like the past. Right.

C (51:55)

Yeah.

D (51:55)

Because this thing where you got to be vetted and you have to go to this school and this school and this school before you can be this cardboard cutout fucking politician. Nobody likes it. Nobody like on either side, nobody likes it. They want authenticity. You've been vetted since you were. You were three or whatever, you know, so, you know, at least that part's already done.

B (52:13)

So.

D (52:13)

Well, we will. We will gleefully welcome you into the political world with open arms if the opportunity.

A (52:20)

Hope you are. You are old enough to be a member of Congress. If you and I.

C (52:25)

So I turned 25 on Friday, I could run for governor of Minnesota. Someone told me, let's go.

A (52:31)

There you go. There you go. I wouldn't say, but like, I think maybe the next governor.

C (52:36)

I'm going to stay far, far away. No, no, no, no.

A (52:39)

Well, before we get to me Hawking, where could people follow you if they want to.

C (52:46)

Yeah, yeah. I'm on Instagram just at my name. Tik Tok. Just at my name. I'm have a goal of starting to post on YouTube this year. It's also just at my name and I have blue sky. I think it's just like Hope Dash walls. What else? I think that's mostly it. And I'm, you know, I'm excited about this coming year. I think I'll have some different opportunities come up. So that'll be good.

A (53:12)

Excellent, excellent. Well, hope.

D (53:13)

Sorry.

E (53:13)

Oh, go ahead.

D (53:14)

Somebody take hope Walls on blue sky. You had to put a dash in.

C (53:20)

I should really know this now.

A (53:21)

I'm trying to remember.

C (53:23)

And the least influencer. Influencer ever. I'm like, I don't even know my handles.

A (53:29)

You got over half a million on Tick Tock.

C (53:30)

Yeah, I do. Which is like bizarre to think about.

A (53:34)

Yeah. Well, I mean, it shows what an effect that your family had on the country in 24. I have to. I was going to say last year and I can't do that anymore.

C (53:42)

I know.

A (53:42)

Right, right. It's crazy, but like, I think it really does show, like, look like, you know, we did lose that election, but, like, it was very close. It was basically 50, 50, so tens of millions of People were really, really excited about your dad and seeing your family and the authentic dynamic that you guys have. So like, I am not surprised that you have that many. But with that I just, I want to thank you and I want to thank your, your dad and your family for, for putting up with the country and going through this, which is not an easy thing to do. And I think you guys all handled it, you know, with grace. You could have done what the other side's kid kids do, which is basically scream and yell and you know, try to hawk stupid that nobody wants to buy except they want to get access to, to the president. But I think you guys showed what it like the, the ideal family should be and we really appreciate it. We really hope more people see your you guys as a model and also step up. And then I'm gonna do the worst pivot of all time.

E (54:39)

Oh boy.

C (54:41)

Jesus.

A (54:41)

It's cold outside, guys. It's cold outside. Rich, you got something snuggly. You know what you got going on over there?

D (54:46)

It's getting hot. Ever since we started talking about heated rivalry, I'm like, I gotta take some layers off.

E (54:51)

He's getting hot and bothered.

D (54:54)

So guys, this hoodie and, and, and, and I got a comment on it actually earlier today. They're like, oh, that's your bottle.

A (55:00)

You did. Wow. I have to say, when I don't pitch it, the sales go down. So I have to come back and say, please buy our merchandise, our made in America union printed merchandise. And you can get it@findoutpodcast.com and also get a membership at Substack, which is. Oh my God. Findoutpodcast.substack.com.

D (55:24)

What is it?

A (55:25)

Yeah. CompuServe. No, findoutpodcast.substack.Com also our YouTube channel. And also we're getting close to making some big announcements about our new shows that are coming and the official launch of our company, Find Out Media. So that's in a couple weeks, so stay tuned for that. But until then, Hope, thank you again. We really appreciate you taking all the time and maybe we'll get your dad on sometime. I would love to. I wanna, I wanna interview the unleashed governor Walls.

E (55:51)

God, I would sell my soul for a get from Tim Walls.

A (55:56)

Do you know that joke? That's, that's Luke's catchphrase if you didn't know it. Right. Okay, okay. Just, just checking. Not that we just want him to say that there's a reason for it. But anyway, so thank you, thank you to your family and best of luck with everything, and I'm sure we'll be in touch soon. So thanks again. All right.