"Tim Walz, a White Man!" (Issue #64)
Yet another Minnesotan takes the national stage!
Hi friends!
On July 21st, just minutes after Biden bowed out of the presidential race, I texted my friend about the news. There wasn’t confirmation Kamala Harris was going to be the nominee, but it did seem likely. Embracing this possibility, I documented a prediction:
My friend didn’t really believe me. At the time, most lists didn’t include Walz as a candidate at all. But me? Either I’m psychic, or I’m just so addicted to political news that I could sense even the earliest vibrations of a Minnesota VP.
The next day, my friend
posted on her Instagram story, with tons of helpful info about the folks most likely to be chosen as Kamala’s running mate. Walz wasn’t on the list, so I shot her a message:“I think MN gov Tim Walz is probably a strong contender as well, he’s been a close ally of the Biden / Harris ticket, has the correct infrastructure behind him with a governorship, popular in the home state, a new track record of progressive policy passing which might interest the leftists, and from flyover country.”
And then, slowly, my prediction started coming true. And to my own surprise, I started seeing Walz as the most strategic pick for the Democrats to win the election. Especially given the other options. While Pennsylvania’s Josh Shapiro may have seemed promising at first, his record, especially regarding his views on Israel / Palestine, represented major flaws in his candidacy. For me, it was his remarks in an op-ed he wrote at 20 years old (gift link) that were especially unsettling. In the article, Shapiro seemingly argued that the Palestinian people are inherently violent — incapable of peace. But hey, you can read it for yourself. ⬇️
“Palestinians will not coexist peacefully. They do not have the capabilities to establish their own homeland and make it successful even with the aid of Israel and the United States. They are too battle-minded to be able to establish a peaceful homeland of their own. They will grow tired of fighting amongst themselves and will turn outside against Israel.”
Shapiro claims his views have changed and that he’s now a supporter of a two-state solution, but the fact is he said what he said, and it’s deeply upsetting!
And look, we can even put my views to the side for a moment. Because truthfully, I’m not in love with Walz either (as a Minnesotan, I voted for Erin Murphy during Walz’s first primary bid for governor). But let’s talk about electability for a moment. Because Shapiro’s outspoken support of Israel threatened to further the already massive concerns about the democrat's ability to win in Michigan, a critical swing state. During the 2023 Democratic presidential primary, 100,000 people in Michigan voted uncommitted in protest of the genocide in Gaza and the Biden administration’s continued support of the Israeli government. And that’s in a state that went to Trump in 2016 by a mere 11,000 votes. Maaaaybe Shapiro could help in Pennsylvania (where he is exceedingly popular), but it would have been a choice that, I felt, only furthered the dems’ odds of losing in Michigan.
But even as headlines continued to point towards Shapiro, Walz’s star was rising. Videos of him calling Republicans “weird” caught on like wildfire, and the Harris campaign quickly adopted this rhetoric, using the term on X 14 times between July 23rd and August 3rd. And as other VP contenders had article after article dragging up the skeletons in their closet, Walz’s record proved harder to attack. Which doesn’t mean he’s perfect.
Like I said earlier, when Walz first ran for governor in Minnesota in 2018, I didn’t vote for him in the Democratic primary, opting instead for his more progressive challenger. Then, during the uprising in the summer of 2020, following the murder of George Floyd, Walz activated the Minnesota National Guard, a decision heavily criticized by some Minnesotans who viewed this move as a direct threat to the freedom to protest and the overall safety of protesters. Trump actually praised Walz for this decision at the time and, in recent years, has even tried to take credit for it. It’s all very odd, given the fact the Republicans are now saying that Walz took too long to activate the Nat Guard (the flip-flopping is endless)! But it’s not just his handling of the uprising. Governor Walz also played a critical role in the construction of Line 3, a massive oil pipeline with an even bigger carbon footprint, running directly through Indigenous land, that contributes more to climate change than Minnesota’s entire economy. If you haven’t heard of it, I highly recommend you read up on it here.
Look, I am not the kind of person who believes politicians will save us. I’m not the kind of person who sees Walz as a hero. I am not the kind of person who is satisfied with the bare minimum. That said, what I can say for Walz is that he worked alongside a diverse and progressive coalition of organizers and legislators to sign into law some impressive Minnesota policies. School breakfast and lunch are now free for all kids, Minnesotans have a right to gender-affirming care, I can look forward to taking paid family or medical leave, and abortion rights are protected in the state. The fact is, Minnesota as a whole has become a model for progressive action ever since winning Democratic control of the Senate in 2022 and securing a trifecta in the state.
As a Minnesotan, it’s weird seeing my complicated Governor celebrated on a national stage. And assuming he does leave, I’m interested in seeing Peggy Flanagan step into the role. Not only would she be the nation’s first-ever Native American governor (and Minnesota’s first female governor), but she comes from an activist background and has a progressive track record.
At the end of the day, when Harris chose Walz, opting for the most progressive of those being considered, I was (for once) pleasantly surprised with the dems. And that’s not to say that the Harris / Walz ticket is one I would have picked myself. Undoubtedly, they’re an administration that will need to be pushed. And that, I think, is essential to remember. That electoral politics are both necessary and yet woefully insufficient. It is possible, I think, for us to hold all those nuances.
A round-up of things to watch, read, and listen to as you head into the weekend.
I know how frustrating paywalls are! When possible, I’ll try to offer gift links through my subscriptions to support access to high-quality journalism.
Netflix: Simone Biles Rising
I’m so glad I began watching this documentary right before the Olympics started! The series follows Simone Biles’ journey to the 2024 Olympics, tracking her life story and return to competitive gymnastics following her mental health concerns at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. It’s already such a beautiful portrait of Simone, her family, and the life she has built for herself to become the most decorated gymnast in history! Even better, more episodes are coming soon!
The Ezra Klein Show: Is Tim Walz the Midwestern Dad Democrats Need? (gift link)
If you’re not a Minnesotan and/or are still getting to know Walz, this interview is a great place to start. It has lots of great highlights, including Walz saying paid parental leave is the first thing he’d want to enact should Kamala win the election. Check it out!
The Daily: She Used to Be Friends with JD Vance (gift link)
Since the first day I saw JD Vance, I’ve been calling him a skin suit. And by that, I mean the man looks (and acts) like he stands for nothing. He’s a shell of a man who shifted from calling Trump “America’s Hitler” to running as his VP. This episode of The Daily only furthered my convictions that JD stands for jack! In an interview with one of JD’s old law school friends, this episode tracks all the ways JD used to have a semblance of integrity and human empathy, only to abandon them in recent years.
A collection of images worth preserving.
The Presidential Bachelorette
My weekly veepstakes routine went as follows – open Google, type either “Tim Walz,” ”Kamala Harris,” or “Josh Shapiro,” hit search, scan the headlines, repeat. As the official VP announcement drew near, I found this headline.
As a fan of the Bachelor franchise, I sent the headline to Andrew. Soon, he gifted me this meme in return:
“Tim Walz, a White Man”
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In an attempt to prove I predicted Walz would be a VP contender on the day Biden pulled out of the race, I searched through my text messages for my first mention of the Minnesota Governor. Not only did I find this proof, but I also found an interview my friend sent me all the way back in 2020. I’m obsessed with Gail King’s closer, so I clipped it and shared it on Insta and TikTok. :)
Minnesota Stays Winning
Andrew found this meme from @tornadojally on X, and it’s proof that Minnesota pride is EARNED.
Minnesota icons from left to right: Joe Mauer, Suni Lee, Justin Jefferson, Prince, Anthony Edwards, and Tim Walz.
In the background is a map of the 1984 presidential election, when every state except Minnesota voted for Reagan. And because of this one election, Minnesota has since held the longest streak of voting blue in presidential races.
The Best Black Job
Remember when Trump said immigrants were taking “Black jobs”? Well, this bizarre comment has spawned a whole genre of memes, including my most recent fave.
My Current Favorite Photo
As part of the first all-Black gymnastics podium finishers, Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles decided to bow to Rebeca Andrade of Brazil, who won the gold. It was such a great live moment, and the picture is the perfect record of this incredible accomplishment!!
Things to try + share in the group chat.
*This American Ex-Wife: How I Ended My Marriage and Started My Life by Lyz Lenz highlights a shocking statistic – 70% of divorces are initiated by women. Part cultural study and part memoir, Lenz makes a case for divorce, fighting against the dominant and often inaccurate image of divorce as a sad failure to be avoided at all costs. I’m excited to check it out!
I’m obsessed with this mother and daughter's idea for a travel playlist. In this reel, they asked strangers they’d meet on the road for song recommendations and added them all to a playlist. It’s such a fun activity to spice up travel, and in the end, you have a playlist to remind you of the trip!
Before you go, make sure you didn’t miss this past month’s P.S. These issues come out monthly and include highlights, recommendations, and fun tips.
This past Monday, I shared July’s recap, which included:
✈️ Recap of My Trip to Greece
🌎 Ways I’m Bringing European Vibes Stateside
🛠 Attainable Home Project Ideas (no renovation required!)
🌿🐱🌿 How to Be a Plant Mom and a Cat Mom
🍉 Summer Recipes to Make on Repeat
🎧 What to Listen to Next (Podcasts + Songs)
🎥 A Reel Worth Your Time
Check it out here.
Have a great weekend!
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Heyyyyyyy! Loved this entire post, Celisia! Such good info and, as always, your critical analysis and candor are a killer combo.
I've heard a lot about the pipeline, and found this post by Climate Defiance via Earthly Education helpful in understanding how Walz did eventually listen to activists, learn, and change his stance. It's still messy, of course, but so far I am appreciating the way this ticket seems capable of listening to people and adjusting (ex. Kamala in Detroit on Tuesday vs. Friday in Arizona, etc).
You can find the post here. Would love to know if you have anything to add to that convo! https://www.instagram.com/p/C-aKwR6TLiz/?img_index=1