Walz Address Hit by Bad Audio, Controversy
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz gave a primetime livestream this week. It lasted roughly six minutes. It was about federal agents in Minnesota and his demand that they leave.
The video ran into tech trouble. The audio had a strong echo. Viewers noticed it right away. The echo made parts of the speech hard to follow.
Walz spoke sharply about the federal presence. He said, “What’s happening in Minnesota right now defies belief,” and added, “News reports simply don’t do justice to the level of chaos and disruption and trauma the federal government is raining down upon our communities,”
He also addressed former President Trump directly. In the livestream he said, “Donald Trump intends for it to get worse. This week, he went online to promise that quote, ‘the day of retribution and reckoning is coming,'” and followed with, “That’s a direct threat against the people of this state who dared to vote against him three times and who continue to stand up for freedom with courage and empathy and profound grace.”
Walz urged people to document encounters with federal immigration agents. He said, “If you see these ICE agents in your neighborhood, take out that phone and hit record,” and, “Help us create a database of the atrocities against Minnesotans, not just to establish a record for posterity, but to bank evidence for future prosecution,”
He also claimed agents were going door-to-door and said they were, “ordering you to turn in neighbors of color.” Those lines drew immediate attention and prompted debate across the state.
The address came amid a tense moment locally. According to reports, an ICE agent in north Minneapolis shot a shovel-wielding man on Wednesday evening. Authorities said the agent acted in self-defense. That incident and Walz’s comments have fed a heated public conversation about federal law enforcement tactics.
The livestream’s audio problems made the speech feel rough and unpolished. But the content itself kept the story alive. People on all sides reacted fast. Supporters praised the call to document encounters. Critics warned against inflaming tensions.
Whatever side you take, the episode shows how a short, glitchy video can still spark a lot of argument. The debate over federal agents in Minnesota is far from over.