Washington, D.C. — Today, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) joined the Center for American Progress for a conversation, moderated by CAP President and CEO Neera Tanden, to lay out a vision for the future. The event is featured as part of CAP’s series “What’s Next: Conversations on the Path Forward,” which brings leaders to CAP to offer ideas on how to respond to this moment.
To watch a recording of the event, click here.
In the conversation, Gov. Walz discussed delivering on education, reproductive freedom, climate, and the economy for his state. He has also traveled the country listening to Americans who feel left behind by their federal government. Gov. Walz said, in part:
It was during that hearing that I heard about Sen. Padilla. I believed, all along, we were marching toward authoritarianism, and people were telling me “You’re overreacting.” I said, “The road to authoritarianism is littered with people telling you you’re overreacting.” And it has just been a steady state. This is so predictable. We’re in a dangerous time. We’re seeing it manifest itself.
The institutions appear to somewhat be holding. Certainly not Congress; they are not holding. The courts are holding, better than I might’ve anticipated, to be honest with you. And I think, as Neera said, whether they’re elected officials at the national level or below that, but just regular folks starting to stand up and make the case: We will get through this. We have to get through this. But I think we’re kidding ourselves whistling past the graveyard if we think this isn’t going to get worse before it gets better. We have to buckle up a bit, but look, I’m seeing it across the country: People are starting to buckle up.
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