AUSTIN, Texas — Last year, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz gained national recognition when he was chosen as former Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate.
Walz’s straightforward, Midwestern demeanor attracted the attention of many Democrats throughout the election season, and he brought that same vigor to Austin last weekend.
The former Democratic vice-presidential candidate discussed the 2024 election and his party’s future during a sit-down with “Today, Explained” podcast host Sean Rameswaram at South by Southwest on Saturday.
The hour-long dialogue was condensed into a 30-minute episode titled “A Walz to Remember,” covering various topics, including ones pertinent to Texas.
Rameswaram initiated the conversation by inquiring whether Walz still considers Republicans to be “weird,” a term he used during the campaign to characterize his opponents.
“Oh hell yes,” Walz responded emphatically. “It’s bizarre to obsess over choices people make in their lives that do not affect you.”
Though many find his candid communication style refreshing, Walz acknowledged that he has faced some backlash for his remarks recently. He shared that a post on X, where he stated “Elon Musk is a terrible president,” nearly led to legal trouble.
“He [Musk] even threatened to sue me after that,” Walz claimed.
Walz was quite frank about his opinions on Congress and the initial months of President Donald Trump’s second term during the interview.
“I wish I could live in previously established times. I’m tired of this era of unprecedented events,” Walz expressed.
As a former high school geography teacher and football coach, Walz reflected on his time in Washington, D.C. When asked if he would consider running for Congress again, Walz humorously replied, “I would rather eat glass.”
Nevertheless, Walz gave praise to some members of Congress, including Rep. Al Green, D-Houston, who was recently censured for interrupting Trump’s address.
“I served alongside Al Green. He’s a commendable man,” Walz stated, earning applause from the audience.
Walz further criticized some fellow Democrats for voting to censure the long-time congressman.
“Voting to censure Al Green for standing up is simply wrong,” Walz asserted.
Walz also highlighted his alma mater, the University of Houston, and addressed urgent issues impacting the Lone Star State, like the measles outbreak in West Texas, indicating state and federal leaders are falling short in their response.
“I haven’t encountered a single constituent who thinks ignoring measles is acceptable,” Walz stated.
In spite of his tough criticisms, Walz mentioned he agrees with Trump on two matters: eliminating daylight saving time and discontinuing the penny.
“While the world faces numerous crises, Donald and I are tackling the penny issue,” Walz quipped.
Reflecting on the upcoming 2024 campaign, Walz expressed a desire for more discussions about how inflation affects everyday Americans. He suggested that former President Joe Biden could have advocated for stimulus checks in 2023 to combat rising costs.
You can listen to the complete podcast episode on vox.com.
