Does Tim Walz Have Any Regrets?

Summary

The New Yorker Radio Hour: "Does Tim Walz Have Any Regrets?" – Detailed Summary

Introduction

In the February 28, 2025 episode of The New Yorker Radio Hour, hosted by David Remnick, Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota joins for an in-depth conversation titled "Does Tim Walz Have Any Regrets?" The episode delves into the complexities of Democratic strategies in the wake of the Trump administration, the recent election defeat, cultural and economic challenges, and Walz's personal reflections on political leadership and future aspirations.

Democrats' Struggles in Washington vs. State Governance

David Remnick opens the discussion by highlighting the apparent paralysis within the Democratic Party in Washington amidst a surge of far-right appointments by President Trump. He contrasts this with the proactive resistance observed among Democratic governors, including Tim Walz, who feels they possess greater leverage to oppose federal policies.

"Minnesota needs answers. We'll see Trump in court." [00:38]

Remnick emphasizes the Democrats' frustration with national opposition, referencing anecdotes from Democratic leaders like Hakeem Jeffries and Senator John Fetterman, who express concerns over the party's strategic responses to Trump’s maneuvers.

Tim Walz on Democratic Policy Effectiveness and Grassroots Movements

Governor Walz responds by acknowledging the public's desire to disengage from overwhelming negative news but counters that there is still active resistance against policies that harm everyday lives. He draws parallels to the grassroots Tea Party movement that emerged during President Obama’s tenure, suggesting that a similar, albeit evolving, grassroots opposition exists within the Democratic base.

"If I were Republicans, I would be really, really worried about these town halls, because in my opinion, that was the real start that led into the 2016 election." [03:41]

Walz emphasizes the importance of demonstrating the effectiveness of Democratic policies to counteract the persistent and adaptive Republican strategies.

Election Defeat: Reflections and Regrets

The conversation shifts to Walz's recent election loss, which he attributes to a combination of insufficient economic messaging and the overwhelming cultural issues overshadowing tangible policy discussions. He expresses deep personal disappointment, particularly in not securing enough support from white men, reflecting on how the economic disenfranchisement and cultural alienation contributed to the defeat.

"I thought there would be more massive immigration raids on Inauguration Day. I thought they'd be in the schools, things like that." [04:16]

Walz candidly shares his feelings of letting people down and the internal struggle of reconciling his policies with voter expectations.

"I never lost an election before. So the thing for me that gives me the most angst to be candid, was letting people down." [13:38]

Cultural vs. Economic Issues in the Campaign

Remnick probes into the campaign’s focus on cultural issues, questioning whether defending democracy overshadowed more pressing economic concerns like housing, gas prices, and inflation. Walz concedes that while cultural issues are significant, failing to effectively communicate and prioritize economic policies alienated key voter demographics.

"You need to make the decision that what's going to impact your life the most is right in this room on these economic issues." [12:03]

He criticizes the campaign's approach to issues like transgender rights, suggesting that fear-based messaging was ineffective in motivating lasting behavioral change among voters.

Relationship with Kamala Harris and Future Political Aspirations

The dialogue touches upon Walz's partnership with Kamala Harris during the campaign. Despite the electoral outcome, Walz maintains a respectful and professional relationship, highlighting mutual support and personal admiration.

"Watching her around her family, you know, with Doug, with the girls, with her son, that inspired me the most because I loved that they had that our families, when we got time to spend together, was really, really fun." [32:25]

When asked about future political ambitions, Walz expresses openness to national roles but emphasizes his commitment to impact at the state level, citing the effectiveness and immediacy of gubernatorial influence compared to the prolonged path to national office.

"My job is make sure that I'm honoring the system where it is, where it sets in terms of." [29:58]

Views on Donald Trump and His Administration's Impact

A significant portion of the interview addresses Walz's perspective on Donald Trump’s presidency and his appointments. Walz criticizes Trump’s loyalty over competence, expressing concerns over appointments that undermine democratic institutions and promote authoritarian tendencies.

"Every one of those people in all of those positions are loyal to Donald Trump first." [28:56]

He specifically cites appointments like Pete Hag and Seth as troubling examples of policies that could erode democratic checks and balances.

Policy Failures and Economic Concerns

Walz elaborates on specific policy failures, such as Medicaid cuts and the mismanagement of federal funds, illustrating the tangible negative impacts on Minnesotan residents. He advocates for clear, actionable policies that directly address economic hardships faced by everyday citizens.

"If you're really concerned about the safety of women's sports, it's men sexually assaulting female athletes." [20:15]

Personal Reflections on Losing and Public Service

Throughout the conversation, Walz reflects on his journey in public service, underscoring a deep sense of responsibility and commitment to the welfare of his constituents. Despite the electoral setback, he remains resolute in his dedication to governing and addressing the state's challenges.

"I just want the best person who's there. I would support." [35:07]

Conclusion: Preparing for the Future and Democratic Resilience

In concluding the interview, Walz remains hopeful about the Democratic Party's future, expressing confidence in the depth of talent within the party's current leadership and the potential for new leaders to emerge stronger from the recent defeat.

"They will [qualified individuals to take over]." [32:22]

He emphasizes the necessity of maintaining strong state-level governance as a bulwark against federal overreach and continuing the fight for policies that benefit the most vulnerable populations.

"My job as governor is make sure that I'm honoring the system where it is, where it sets in terms of." [29:58]

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• "President Obama... there wasn't somebody on the scene. But what evolved out of that was, was the grassroots Tea Party movement." – Tim Walz [03:41]

• "I use this, David, that President Obama... It wasn't totally organic, I." – Tim Walz [03:52]

• "I thought there would be more massive immigration raids on Inauguration Day." – Tim Walz [04:16]

• "I'm a shadow government guy. I think we need a shadow Department of Transportation secretary." – Tim Walz [07:36]

• "The economic situation of men has changed in proportion to women." – Tim Walz [09:28]

• "If you were really concerned about the safety of women's sports, it's men sexually assaulting female athletes." – Tim Walz [20:15]

• "You need to teach it a different way." – Tim Walz [24:54]

• "I would argue that he’s building an authoritarian government." – Tim Walz [28:56]

• "Yelling at the governor of Maine... we are the law." – Tim Walz [28:56]

• "If you disagree, you go to court." – Tim Walz [29:31]

• "Donald Trump was viewed better than Kamala Harris on the economy." – Tim Walz [12:03]

Final Thoughts

Governor Tim Walz's candid reflections offer a comprehensive look into the challenges faced by Democrats in navigating both cultural and economic landscapes amidst a tumultuous political climate. His insights underscore the importance of effective communication, policy prioritization, and resilient leadership in shaping the future of both Minnesota and the broader national discourse.

Transcript

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[David Remnick]

Welcome to the New Yorker Radio Hour. I'm David Remnick. Democrats in Washington have seemed almost paralyzed by the onslaught of far right wing appointments to the Trump Cabinet and the wrecking ball that he's unleashed on his own government agencies. The Democrats register their opposition, but they seem lost in any attempt to organize themselves against the administration's fire hose. Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic leader in the House, offered a baseball analogy recently, saying they're waiting for the right pitch. Last week on our program, Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania said, how many years can you jump on cable and yell and scream that the world's on fire? In the states, though, Democratic governors seem much more determined. They seem to have more leverage to oppose the federal government. Governor Tim Waltz tweeted this in president Trump just shut off funding for law enforcement, farmers, schools, veterans and health care. Minnesota needs answers. We'll see Trump in court. That's one of the many reasons that I wanted to speak with Tim Waltz. That, of course, and the election that brought Donald Trump back to the White House. I hear all the time from non Trump voters two reactions to what's going on in the last month. One is, I don't want to watch the news. I want to shut it all out. Yeah, it's too much. And the other thing is, where is the Democratic Party? Let's start with the inclination to shut things out. You nodded when I said that and you hear the same thing.

[Tim Waltz]

I think it's human nature. Look, I'm with them on that, too. It does feel like, and we know this, you don't cover the planes that land almost literally, you cover the planes that crash, which we've seen. And so people, I think, have a tendency to want to move on with it. People are just trying to take a breath, seeing what the impacts were. But they're out there is what I would say. There hasn't been a disengagement. I'll make the case on this. I use this, David, that President Obama, I talked to him and he said, look, when I came in in 2009, he had a 70% approval rating. We had the House, we had the Senate. There was no charismatic Republican. It was John Boehner and Mitch McConnell. There wasn't somebody on the scene. But what evolved out of that was, was the grassroots Tea Party movement. And then the Republican leadership followed in, lifted that up and started to move forward. So I'm not so certain. And the real resistance here is the pushback towards these policies that aren't improving people's lives and they're showing up. If I were Republicans, I would be really, really worried about these town halls, because in my opinion, that was the real start that led into the 2016 election. That tea Party movement did not lose its. It just morphed into mega, in my opinion. And look, it wasn't totally organic, I.

[David Remnick]

Know that, but you're suggesting a kind of parallel existence, a parallel opposition, a center left Tea Party movement. In a way.

[Tim Waltz]

What I'm saying is, is that I think for whatever reason, we've got to show them that our policies work. And I'll take responsibility for the, you know, I needed to do my job and win this election. I knew what was coming if we didn't. And here we are with that being said.

[David Remnick]

But did you actually know? I mean, is the, the storm of the last four weeks exactly what you and Kamala Harris envisioned? Is there nothing that surprised you?

[Tim Waltz]

I thought there would be more massive immigration raids on Inauguration Day. I thought they'd be in the schools, things like that. So in that regard, my imagination was pretty good about what they could do because I heard it out there. We need to deliver the policies. And look, I'm way more popular than Trump is in Minnesota. Not because I'm a popular guy necessarily. It's because the policies we were able to put in place resonate with people. And I, for whatever reason, we've lost that with people they voted for, billionaires who gutted programs that many of these people who supported him are going to pay a price for. But we can't just write that off to, well, these people just didn't figure it out or whatever. We didn't give them an alternative that was strong enough for them to come. But I think there's a lot of.

[David Remnick]

People that feel the Democratic leadership in Washington is too hesitant. For example, Hakeem Jeffries, who's the leader of the Democrats in the House, said that he's like Aaron Judge. Aaron Judge is a great hitter because he doesn't swing at every pitch. And that Hakeem Jeffries says, I'm not going to swing at every pitch. And There's a lot of things to swing at, and to many people, this seems exceedingly complacent.

[Tim Waltz]

Well, first, I wouldn't underestimate the skill set that that leader Jeffries has. And I certainly, you know, just candidly, my staff pulls me back because I am swinging at every pitch, if you will. I think the audacity of the Trump administration and especially what Musk is doing, I think some of our folks are operating in a world that doesn't exist anymore, and we need to, we need to have better imagination that. Look, I'm not talking. I heard people say, well, you know, you, you, you didn't give the message that you should have. Look, I'm not going to give a message to demonize people. I'm not going to demonize people for using a bathroom and things. But I know that we need to do a better job of what does motivate people. And I think what we're seeing now is we're articulating very clearly what they're doing and we're running out programs that we think make a difference. And so it was clear to me as a middle class kid that the Democrats were fighting for me. I'll acknowledge this. A large number of people did not believe we were fighting for them in the last election, and that's the big disconnect. We were. Our policies are super popular, but they did not believe that. Look, I won a congressional district that Donald Trump won by 18 points. I won that thing by 32 points at one time. I think I squeaked by like a point in my last election in that convention.

[David Remnick]

How did you lose them?

[Tim Waltz]

I think Covid broke us in more ways than we have yet analyzed, socially, culturally, economically, in a way, and there's angst. These folks, they see an economy that it's impossible to own a house, you got a car payment that's 800 bucks. And we didn't say. I think we did. I think the vice president laid out some things. I think we had the $25,000 down payment assistance on a house that makes a lot more sense than a tax cut for billionaires, because we're never going to see that. So, you know, my analysis on this is I think we're too cautious to go into media environments that we haven't been. I think we are less likely. Like you go back to your earlier question. We have to flood the zone. I'm a shadow government guy. I think we need a shadow Department of Transportation secretary. I think if Pete Buttigieg is out there talking about these plane Accidents. He should be there every day. He's articulate, he's smart, he knows it and he should be. That's true across the spectrum. Governors are starting to do this.

[David Remnick]

Governor, you mentioned specific services that are not being delivered in your state and elsewhere. Can you boil that down? What are the specific services that have suddenly stalled in Minnesota as a result of what's happening in Washington?

[Tim Waltz]

We saw in our federal workers, we, you know, not a lot. We are, we're a giver state, not a taker state. But we've got, you know, thousands of federal workers. And then today I've got the analysis of what the Medicaid reductions would look like. And I think.

[David Remnick]

What do they look like?

[Tim Waltz]

Well, I'll just take an example. He's a leader, Tom Emmer, you know, number three over there in the house or number two, wherever he's at, he's got 124,000 Medicaid recipients, 21,000 of them will be cut off. Those are things that are real to people. So I think getting these numbers, articulating where it's at and then saying what we would do differently, I think that's been the gap in this. To be honest with you, David, I don't think we have done a good enough job. We tried it on the trail, but opportunity economy doesn't really fall where you at. You've got to be specific with people having Medicare pay for in home health care for our seniors. I got it right now. I got a mother in law just had a surgery for a brain tumor. She's going to need to go into rehab or whatever. The ability for Medicare to be able to pay for that rehab in her home rather than that would not only save us money, it would improve quality of life and make a difference. And that was a proposal the vice president put out. It didn't get anywhere.

[David Remnick]

Governor, last week I had the opportunity to speak with Senator John Fetterman who said the following. I think that the Democratic Party made it increasingly difficult for men, specifically white men, to make that choice, meaning the choice for their Democrats. I think it's incredibly difficult sometimes. Now, he wouldn't say exactly what made it hard, but the numbers suggest that there really is something to that. What is going on with Democrats and men?

[Tim Waltz]

The economic situation of men has changed in proportion to women. But I would argue this, just because women are getting rights and moving up in the workplace, that doesn't mean that men don't have that same opportunity that it's there. I think this idea that when somebody else gains A freedom. You lose one or somebody else gains an opportunity.

[David Remnick]

Look that it's zero game.

[Tim Waltz]

Somehow I have lived straight up the middle of this. I know football, I hunt. You know what they do? They take time to demonize my military career, say he's not a real coach, he was the defensive coordinator. He doesn't really know how to hunt because you know, I, I, I say so or whatever. So anything that was, if that's what defined and I would say it doesn't if that was to define masculinity, to know football, fix your own car, you're in the army for 20, they don't care. They demonize that. And they voted for a guy who can't do any of those things. And so I think I disagree with this.

[David Remnick]

I understand all those things and yet they voted the way they voted. They see you in one way and they see Donald Trump in quite a different way.

[Tim Waltz]

Yeah, they did in November of 2024. Now when those promises don't come out, when they're station in life doesn't improve, when the ability to take care or support their family doesn't get better, he's going to have to deliver. This goes back to my case on this. If you don't deliver on policies, the ideal that boggles my mind. I honest to God thought that it was a good talking point that when the Wall Street Journal said Tim Walls is the least wealthy person to ever run for vice president and the first in 40 years, it's not a lawyer apparently wasn't a flex. They went with the guy who's a billionaire and has never been in their situation, someone who I'm very proud, I pay my bills, I got an 850 credit score. They went with the guy who didn't pay his bills, didn't care about it. So somewhere in there's a disconnect. So I don't think it's as simple as we've lost it. I think there's complexity around it. I will acknowledge this. We did not win white men. Would I change that by saying, you know what, we don't need to hire so many women? No, of course not. But I will acknowledge this. But they definitely must not have heard my message, which is one, that you should get a fair shake in this, you should have a good job, you should get health insurance. They didn't believe that.

[David Remnick]

I think what you're telling me is that the rubber is gonna meet the road on economics.

[Tim Waltz]

Yes.

[David Remnick]

That the popularity or unpopularity or the opposition or non opposition to Trump will depend on the Price of eggs, as it were, and many other economics.

[Tim Waltz]

Look, I just talked to a labor group, the electricians yesterday, and I said, I know we don't all agree on everything on this, but I said, you're in to talk about policies on misclassification of workers, the ability to organize, the ability to get good jobs in this. I said, you're going to have to decide whether who's using which restroom is more important than those things. You need to make that decision. What I'm telling you is the decision that's going to impact your life the most is right in this room on these economic issues. And I got as more, you know, look, I'm a labor guy and they support me, but it was. I'm telling you, it was different even since the election. That there was. Yeah, you're right. If his stuff worked, if tariffs worked, I'll say this, God dang, it worked. People have more money, they're able to buy a house. The middle class is more secure. I don't believe that. Now they may dismiss, and there's a, you know, I think 30% or whatever of his voters. They'll dismiss all the economic stuff. The others will not. I'll tell you, the biggest change on this was, and it drove me mad during the campaign, Donald Trump was viewed better than Kamala Harris on the economy. Pretty wide gap of all those things. I worried about it the entire campaign, that we were not getting out the economic message that was making a difference, even though the numbers on democracy, women's rights, abortions, things that we care about matter. But that one core issue on the economy, they didn't trust us.

[David Remnick]

Governor, as a person who started his career as a sports reporter after a game, to me, the most interesting thing was never to go to the winning locker room, but to go to the losing locker room. On a human level, tell me what it was like to lose that election and what you felt in the days after.

[Tim Waltz]

Yeah, I never lost an election before. So the thing for me that gives me the most angst to be candid, was letting people down. An old white guy who ran for vice president. You'll land on your feet pretty well. I still struggle with it. It was my job to get this won. And now when I see Medicaid cuts happening, when I see, you know, LGBTQ folks being demonized, when I see some of this happening, that's what weighs on me personally. I'll serve where I'm asked to serve.

[David Remnick]

But what was the next morning like? Did you feel a sense of desolation or Failure?

[Tim Waltz]

No.

[David Remnick]

Or an inability to understand what had just happened. Did you think you were gonna lose going in?

[Tim Waltz]

No. And that's the one that surprises me. And I have been in elections where I knew it was tough and there's election nights where I said, look, we're gonna win by a point or we're gonna lose by a point.

[David Remnick]

On the day before the election, you thought you were gonna win?

[Tim Waltz]

I did. What was telling you that it just felt like the mood of folks and look, maybe a bad poll or whatever, you know, the Iowa stuff was coming out. It felt like what happened in New York City the week before was a bridge too far.

[David Remnick]

The Madison Square Garden, right?

[Tim Waltz]

Yes. Yes. You know, there's a lot going on. Like, I don't know if you guys know this, but there's literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. Yeah, I think it's called Puerto Rico. It just felt like people would, would choose a calmness and, and a hopefulness over that. Obviously Donald Trump knew more about America on November 5th of 2024 than I did. And maybe those.

[David Remnick]

What do you mean by that? What did he know that you didn't know?

[Tim Waltz]

Well, he knew that that message would work. And I said, I'm, I'm guilty of this. I, they, it, they sucked me in on say, for example, I was just horrified and angry when they were demonizing folks in Springfield, Ohio. And there I was talking for almost a week about immigration. Right where they wanted us to be. This is.

[David Remnick]

They're eating the dogs and the cats.

[Tim Waltz]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. That, that's, that bothered me on a real human basis on that one. I was pretty fired up, you know, pushing back. It wasn't fair. We need to do this. It just struck me and he was right. For whatever reason, he was right that more people were okay with saying that than they were against. I really think it was a piece of it. I think the immigration piece did play a role.

[David Remnick]

I'm speaking with Governor Tim Waltz of Minnesota. This is the New Yorker Radio Hour. More to come.

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[David Remnick]

This is the New Yorker Radio Hour. I'm David Remnick and I'm speaking today with Tim Waltz, the governor of Minnesota. When Governor Waltz got the nod from Kamala Harris to be her running mate, he seemed to have it all, particularly in the regular guy department. He was bluff, friendly, a Midwesterner, a veteran of the Army National Guard, a history teacher in public high school, a football coach, a longtime congressman and then governor of Minnesota. But it might have been one little phrase that put Waltz in the public eye. He called Trump and J.D. vance weird. Weird. And for a hot minute it stuck. You suddenly heard Democrats all over the country trying some variation on the weird theme. It seemed to resonate more strongly than scarier words like authoritarian or fascist. But you know, the end of the story. The voters spoke in November and here we are. I'll continue now my conversation with Governor Tim Waltz. It seems that one of the difficulties the Democrats had were on, and this sometimes is A euphemism is on cultural issues. How did you react to the ad that said this? Kamala Harris is for they. Them. Donald Trump is for you.

[Tim Waltz]

Why? I reacted knowing it was probably going to be bad, you know, bad for us, bad for us, bad for the trans community. I think there's some. And they know this, that because this community is so demonized, they pick, you know, we're hearing it here. We can't have, you know, in women's sports or whatever. Look, if you were really concerned about the safety of women's sports, it's men sexually assaulting female athletes, you know, coaches and things. Let's just be candid about it. There's 10 transgender athletes out of 590,000 in the country.

[David Remnick]

College athletes, you mean.

[Tim Waltz]

I think my response to this, I have stood for those rights because I believe human rights and the trans rights are human rights. And I could argue from a moral perspective, which I have and I will, of why we need to defend these human rights because they'll come after each and every one of us. By the time that ad came and they ran a billion dollars behind it, we were dismissing it without a response to it. And I don't think our response, you know, had to drag everybody through it. I think it should have been as simple as this. This isn't going to improve your lives and leave these people alone.

[David Remnick]

You had a debate with JD Vance, standing there next to him. What was your sense of his strengths and weaknesses? And do you have any second thoughts or regrets about that confrontation?

[Tim Waltz]

Well, I think you always do. Look, I said it, David. I am a poor debater in that I think I started a disadvantage. As a schoolteacher, my inclination is to answer the question, and that puts me at a disadvantage.

[David Remnick]

How did you react to the rap that you were too nice to him?

[Tim Waltz]

Somehow I think it's fair, and I think he was well coached in this. And my guess is it came from the Minnesotans that said, look, if you're nice to Tim, it is just in his nature, he will be nice to you. But we did not prep for that JD Vance because he was nice to me.

[David Remnick]

You were prepping for the JD Vance that would get right up in your grill, huh?

[Tim Waltz]

Yeah, I think so. My team took everything in, and this is on me. It's 100% on me. People who say, oh, you were over prepped and you did all this. No, I'm the guy standing there, and this is 100% on me. I will argue that. I would argue like golf. I am not a Scratch golfer. I'm a 90 golfer. I think my team got. I think my team got me to low 80s just by the work they did. But that's about the best you're going to get. But what struck me about you're saying.

[David Remnick]

You could have been a lot worse?

[Tim Waltz]

Oh, I think so, yes. I know I could have been. It's my inclination, like I, I think that, you know, and it's, it's retrospect on this. They maybe should have let me be. When I have had really good debates, which I do have those once in a while where I'm just speaking the truth, straight to it. But the thing that struck me was the ease that he would say things that somebody that smart knows wasn't true and the ability to say it was really disarming to me because I'm horrible at it. When I get it wrong, people can see it.

[David Remnick]

For example, what did he say that was markedly untrue?

[Tim Waltz]

Talking about immigrants and housing was one that was really it.

[David Remnick]

25 million illegal aliens competing with Americans for scarce homes is one of the most significant drivers of home prices in the country. It's why we have massive increases in home prices that have happened right alongside massive increases in illegal.

[Tim Waltz]

We know that's not true. They're not. That's not why housing is more difficult to find. It's not anything like that. And then he morphed that into the use of federal lands, that the federal lands are too protected. And it was a really, you know, under inside the bubble thing that he was talking about is, is that we need the federal government out of this. We can demonize immigrants at the same time. And I'm like, I'm sitting there thinking to myself, we've got a housing shortage in Minneapolis. Not as bad as other cities, but we have it. There's no federal lands here and there's no immigrant can afford a house in Minneapolis. And you're making this case. And I'm talking about. It's people like you, J.D. the, you know, the venture capitalists who came in and preyed on these areas, bought up all the houses, jacked them up, gentrified the area and made it difficult for be there. And then you blame the very people who you kicked out. And that part of it of standing side by side, I watched. He was good at it. And how are you going to find common ground with someone who is so diametrically opposed to the where things are at?

[David Remnick]

Did the campaign end up relying too much on the message of defending democracy? Is that possible?

[Tim Waltz]

Yeah, I Think it's possible. This is where the fourth grade school teacher in me knows is fear is a good short term motivator. It doesn't change behavior. And people tuned out to it because it seemed so unlikely that this would happen. It was over the horizon. Housing costs, gasoline, eggs and all of that. My point was, is just to show no one was asking for this agenda. No one was asking for this stuff. And it's just weird to focus on who's using the bathroom. Like I said, I think we were trying to make an intellectual argument that, let's just all be candid. We were right about right now, as it sure appears to be happening. But it wasn't about being right. It was about convincing enough Americans that this was a problem, but doing it in a way that, you know, brought to them, brought it home to them. It's like trying as a teacher. I teach a lesson and the kids don't get it. It's not because the kids are dumb, it's because you're not teaching it right. So pivot around and teach it a different way.

[David Remnick]

You just announced that you won't be seeking the open U.S. senate seat in your home state. First of all, why and would you ever be open to running for a national race again after what you've just been through?

[Tim Waltz]

My first responsibility is that we win that seat in Minnesota. So I think you look at the whole field and I think you'd have to including me in that to look at it. But candidly, a couple things. First, I was in Congress for 12 years and I said when someone asked, do you miss it? And I said, I'd rather eat glass than miss it. But I recognize that that's a different skill set.

[David Remnick]

Why would you rather eat glass than go back to Washington?

[Tim Waltz]

Because it's so frustrating now. I think when I was there, there was still the ability to work across the aisle. And it's something I prized myself on. Agriculture Committee, VA Committee, Armed Services, working on things together that really mattered. And I think that's gone. And now being in this position as, you know, executive for the state, it's just different. And I think about the impact that I can make, especially now as you build.

[David Remnick]

So you're saying you can make a greater impact as governor of Minnesota than senator from Minnesota? Oh, yes, in the Trump era, yes.

[Tim Waltz]

But now, look, as you gain seniority and it takes a while there, I would argue that might not hold true with Senator Klobuchar. She is an effective national voice. She can change policies, but she's earned that over 18 years. You go as a 61 year old junior senator from Minnesota, you know, it's going to take a while. And I think the ability to be able to impact states now as kind of the last firewall against this is more important. And to be very candid on this is we've got a deep bench with people who are, you know, probably better qualified than me to be able to do that job. And they will.

[David Remnick]

A blunt question, is Donald Trump corrupt?

[Tim Waltz]

Yeah, I believe that. I mean, I think his career has shown that. I think you disclose and you should own no stocks and you should own no interest in any company if you're an elected office, you should not get wealthier while you're in elected office. And I think the inability to do that never shown us his tax returns. Look, I don't know for a fact he is, but I have an inclination that there's things in there that should be shown.

[David Remnick]

What's the inclination? What is the pattern you're seeing whether Trump or Trump family or his relationship to other business people tells you that he's corrupt?

[Tim Waltz]

I'll just give you this one. You don't agree with him, he threatens you. Look, I disagreed strongly with George Bush, but I respected him greatly. When we had a flood, George Bush was out here in my congressional district and he did what he needed to do and I would go back to Washington and fight him on his policies on the Iraq war. But I never for once questioned that he was corrupt. I never once questioned that he wasn't trying to do the right thing. I just thought he couldn't figure out what the right thing was.

[David Remnick]

Of all the appointments that Donald Trump has made, which ones trouble you the most?

[Tim Waltz]

Man, that's tough. I think maybe, well, you can rank.

[David Remnick]

Them from 1 to 10 if you like.

[Tim Waltz]

It's tough. I think Pete Hag, Seth over at Dodge really worries me. He, he couldn't get into elected office in Minnesota. He was thrashed when he tried to run. So he came in this door and his policies, especially on women in the military, I, I find, you know, revolting in the antithesis of what this democracy and folks who want to serve. So I, I think that's troublesome. And I think it's troublesome because these moves of removing generals, I, I'm not prone to hyperbole, but a lot of these things, the final stopping point of the generals, you look globally around the world, the final move, if you're trying to move towards an authoritarian government, is.

[David Remnick]

The generals meaning to politicize the military. Let's put this all together, whether it's the Justice Department or the Pentagon or all the other appointments that have been made and all the other moves that you've seen take shape over the last, what is it, five, six weeks? What is Donald Trump building in the aggregate? How is he changing America in systemic terms?

[Tim Waltz]

Yeah, look, the thing that's common about all those, not just that they're not qualified, the thing that's common about those is every one of those people in all of those positions are loyal to Donald Trump first. And the American people fall right on the line. I appoint people who challenge me daily. That's how you're supposed to do leadership in this. And so I think it's clear that he's building an authoritarian government that is to Donald Trump first. He yelled at the governor of Maine, we are the law. We are the federal law. He is not the federal law. And we, we bend. No need to, no man.

[David Remnick]

And Janet Mills, who then turned and said, we'll see you in court.

[Tim Waltz]

Yes. For simply, if she's following her law and federal law and if you don't like it, you go to court. So, yeah, I, and look, I.

[David Remnick]

How far do you think he will go? You're saying he's building as far as he can.

[Tim Waltz]

Government far as he can.

[David Remnick]

What does that mean, as far as he can?

[Tim Waltz]

I think he'd like to see a change. I think he's already hinted at it. He'd like to run again. I think the checks and balances of government are off. He's said that he's hinted and the vice President's hinted the checks and balances are off.

[David Remnick]

Meaning I'm not quite.

[Tim Waltz]

We don't have to listen to the courts. If the courts rule against us, we won't do it anyway. Look, it happens to me here. I think sometimes the courts here rule against me. I may disagree, but I fully respect and I will implement exactly what they tell me to do. If. And that's the way that, that is the way it has to be. And I would fully expect to be called to the carpet if I didn't. I would argue that the road towards authoritarianism has been paved with people saying, you're overreacting. I don't think you can underestimate how far he will go. And I think you should assume this is, I would say, a worst case scenario. If I'm wrong, that's okay. The democracy holds. If I'm right, then we need to be prepared that he'll continue to make these moves. And I think as Governors. My job is to make sure the firewall is there. My job as governor is make sure that I'm honoring the system where it is, where it sets in terms of.

[David Remnick]

I don't say this to further pain you, but it must eat at your guts every day to know that you lost by a point and a half. And the difference was between an administration led by Kamala Harris and yourself and this.

[Tim Waltz]

Yes. Yep, it does. And that's one I'll take with me to the grave, that I knew what my job was. It wasn't to become vice president. It was to protect the most vulnerable. It was to make sure that we balance the budget, to make sure that we keep peace in the world, make sure we tackle climate change, make sure that women make their own reproductive rights. All of those things are at stress right now. So I think for me is to do the best I can, to push back against that, to do the right thing. Look, if there's a place to find common ground with Donald Trump, I would find it, but I think we're being very naive here. He's not interested in finding common ground with us. He is not interested in that. He sees us as an impediment and an obstacle. And I think he'll continue to move to remove those obstacles the best he can.

[David Remnick]

Who do you see in the Democratic Party as a possibility for 28? Because, as we know, these dates come at us faster than we sometimes anticipate.

[Tim Waltz]

It's deep. And look, I'm going to say it, I'm biased towards the governors, and there's a bunch of them out there doing the work. But look, there's people that I. Unabashed. I'm a big fan of Pete Buttigieg. I think he talks about it. I don't know what Vice President Harris is going to do, but I think she's got a lot to offer folks, and I wish we would have got to see more of that, but I think the bench is due.

[David Remnick]

Have you talked to her much since the election?

[Tim Waltz]

A couple times.

[David Remnick]

Just a couple of times?

[Tim Waltz]

Yeah, just a few. Well, I think, you know, I'm doing my job and she's doing her job, and we, you know, she's out in California, I believe, living, and I'm here in beautiful Minnesota, where the weather's always telephone.

[David Remnick]

You can text, you can phone. Would you really, after that kind of experience, you just talk a couple of times?

[Tim Waltz]

Well, maybe it's, you know, maybe she doesn't want to talk to me after we get this thing done. No, I think it's just. There'll be a time and a place. But we left. Good. And my family misses her. I will say that my daughter, especially my daughter, found her. I do.

[David Remnick]

What was that relationship like as it reached its end?

[Tim Waltz]

Look, it was professional. It was clear that she was the top of the ticket, and my job was there to support her. She inspired me. I think there were a lot of things that America never knew about her. When I found out she was a band kid, I'm like, why aren't we running ads on that? This was like, she played in the high school band. My God, that's a common experience for everybody. And I have to say this, watching her around her family, you know, with Doug, with the girls, with her son, that inspired me the most because I loved that they had that our families, when we got time to spend together, was really, really fun. And it just felt like the right thing.

[David Remnick]

So did the results of this last election tell you that a woman, and particularly a woman of color, cannot be president of this country?

[Tim Waltz]

Well, I think it's tough, and I'm ashamed by that. I'm disappointed. In our country, we had a supremely qualified leader, woman of color, who. Who would. We would not be in all this. You wouldn't be having this angst. I'll guarantee you that. And. And yet we didn't choose that. So. It bothers me. Yes, it bothers me. Do I think that that's going to make it harder? It probably will, but it'll also, I think, you know, forge the steel of that next woman and that next woman of color who's going to rise up, and they will. So, yeah, it's tough. I thought we'd be there. My mom is late 80s, and she's madder than hell. Not that I won, but she said she doesn't know if she's going to live long enough to see a woman president, and that bothers her.

[David Remnick]

Have you had it with national politics for yourself?

[Tim Waltz]

Look, I never had an ambition to be president or vice president. I was honored to be asked. I told the vice president I would go wherever she asked me. If she didn't pick me. And she sent me to Omaha to win one electoral vote, that's what I would do. I've always done this. If I feel like I can serve, I will. And if. If nationally, that's looks like, you know, maybe people like, dude, we tried you, and look how that worked out. I'm good with that. I just want the best person who's there. I will support.

[David Remnick]

I guess what I'm asking you is, would you run for president?

[Tim Waltz]

Well, I had a friend tell me, never turn down a job you haven't been offered. If I think I could offer something or if there's, there's a piece there that would do it, I would certainly consider that. I'm also, though, not arrogant enough to believe there's a lot of people that can do this. And by the time we get to 20, 28, what that skill set to do, it looks like we need to coalesce behind that person, whoever it is. And so I'll, you know, if, if, if it would be that might have the skill set, I'll do it. You might do it, yes. But if it means that we don't have to put up with what we're doing, I'll do whatever it takes. I certainly wouldn't, wouldn't be arrogant enough to think that, that it needs to be me. I would just say that when you.

[David Remnick]

Read presidential history, you read American history, there are people that feel they are destined to do this.

[Tim Waltz]

Yeah, I never felt that. I never feel that. I don't think I didn't feel destined to be member of Congress or to be governor. And I always said this. I didn't prepare my life to be in these jobs, but my life prepared me well. And if this experience I had and what we're going through right now prepares me for that, then, then I would. But I certainly, I worry about people who have ambition for elected office. I don't think you should have ambition. I think you should have a desire to do it if you're asked to serve. And that's kind of where I'm at. And if folks aren't asking, I'm with them, then I'm going with the person they're asking for governor.

[David Remnick]

Thank you so much for your time.

[Tim Waltz]

Pleasure to be with you.

[David Remnick]

I really appreciate it. Be well.

[Tim Waltz]

Thank you.

[David Remnick]

Tim Walls is the governor of Minnesota and this is the New Yorker Radio Hour. Thanks for joining us. See you next time.

[The New Yorker]

The New Yorker Radio Hour is a co production of WNYC Studios and the New Yorker. Our theme music was composed and performed by Meryl Garbus of Tune Yards, with additional music by Louis Mitchell. This episode was produced by Max Balton, Adam Howard, David Krasnow, Jeffrey Masters, Louis Mitchell, Jared Paul and Ursula Sommer, with guidance from Emily and assistance from Michael May, David Gable, Alex Parish, Victor Guan and Alejandra Deckett.

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And we had help this week from Chris Hagel.

[The New Yorker]

The New Yorker Radio Hour is supported in part by the Turina Endowment Fund.

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