Politics
Harris, Walz emphasize 'freedom,' 'joy' and press attacks on Trump, Vance in raucous first rally
Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris introduced running mate Tim Walz at a rally Tuesday evening in Philadelphia, where the Democratic duo pledged to restore freedom and hope they contend would be stripped away if former President Trump wins a second term in the White House.
The Minnesota governor, little known nationally before his selection Tuesday as Harris’ No. 2, told a raucous partisan audience that he is the product of small-town America, who believes in old-fashioned values.
“I was born in West Point, Neb., and lived in Butte, a small town of 400 where community was a way of life,” said Walz, 60. “Growing up, I spent summers working on the family farm. My mom and dad taught us to show generosity toward your neighbors and to work for the common good.”
Walz said communal strength loomed large in Minnesota, the state where he has governed since 2019 and that he planned to bring that culture to the White House.
“Minnesota’s strength comes from our values,” Walz said, “our commitment to working together, to seeing past our differences, to lending a helping hand. “
In introducing Walz, Harris pictured her running mate as the kind, common sense alternative to Republican policies that she said had stripped away fundamental rights.
“We fight for a future where we defend our most fundamental freedoms,” Harris said. “We fight freedom to vote, freedom to be safe from gun violence, freedom to love who you love openly and with pride, and the freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body, not having the government tell her what to do.”
Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz attends a campaign rally in Philadelphia.
(Matt Rourke / Associated Press)
Democrats have been buoyed by Harris’ entry into the race two weeks ago, after President Biden’s withdrawal. Polls have shown a narrowing of an already tight race. The candidate’s campaign reported that she had collected more than $300 million in campaign donations, with a spokesperson saying an additional $20 million poured in after Harris announced on social media Tuesday morning that Walz would join her on the ticket.
The Democratic duo plans to visit battleground states in the Midwest, before flying west to campaign in Arizona and Nevada. Those states are expected to hold the key to victory in the election along with the swing states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan and Georgia.
Harris, 59, whipped through the resume of her new political partner, depicting him as an everyman who understood the travails of regular Americans. She described his youth on a family farm in Nebraska, his two decades as a high school social studies teacher and work as an assistant coach for a state champion high school football team.
She noted that Walz simultaneously coached linebackers on the West Mankato High School football team and supported students who wanted to start a gay-straight alliance.
“At a time when acceptance was difficult to find for LGBTQ students, Tim knew the signal that it would send to have a football coach get involved,” Harris said. “So he signed up to be the group’s faculty adviser. Students have said he made the school a safe place for everybody.”
It was that supportive stance that led to students voting Walz as the most inspirational faculty member, Harris said.
“We both believe in lifting people up, not knocking them down,” Harris said. “When we look at folks, our fellow Americans, we see neighbors not enemies.”
Walz said more than once that Harris had brought “joy” back to America’s public arena, but the folksy politician showed he also wasn’t above throwing a punch.
He chided his vice presidential rival, noting that Republican JD Vance’s rural roots grew into a much different life than one he recognized from Middle America.
“Like all regular people I grew up with in the heartland, JD studied at Yale, had his career funded by Silicon Valley billionaires and then wrote a bestseller trashing that community,” Walz said, before throwing his arms wide and chiding: “Come on! That’s not what Middle-America is.”
Walz drew knowing laughter from the crowd at the Liacouras Center arena at Temple University when he reprised one of his first attacks on the Republican ticket, saying Trump and Vance “are creepy and, yes, just weird as hell.”
He found another punchline in the multiple criminal cases against Trump, saying of the former president: “He froze in the face of the COVID crisis. He drove our economy into the ground and make no mistake, violent crime was up under Donald Trump.” After a round of applause, Walz added: “That’s not even counting the crimes he committed.”
Saying he welcomed a chance to debate Vance, Walz then made a thinly veiled reference to a prurient, and unfounded, rumor about Vance’s purported fixation with living room furniture.
“I can’t wait to debate the guy — if he’s willing to get off the couch and show up!” Walz said.
Harris and Walz both suggested that a second Trump term would strike a crippling blow against progressive government programs. They said he would try to gut the Affordable Care Act, the law that brought health care coverage to millions of Americans; “gut” Social Security and Medicare; .and continue to crack down on abortion, a procedure that became much harder to obtain after Trump-appointed Supreme Court justices helped reverse the Roe v. Wade decision.
“Today in America, one out of three women live in a state with a Trump abortion ban,” Harris said. “Some of those bans go back to 1800s, before women had a right to vote. We have a message for Trump and those who want to turn back our freedoms: We’re not going back!”
That led to a prolonged chant from the crowd: “Not going back!”
SAN FRANCISCO — With the California governor’s race quickly approaching, six candidates will face off Wednesday evening in the first debate since former Rep. Eric Swalwell dropped out of the race in the aftermath of sexual assault and misconduct allegations.
The debate takes place at a critical moment in the turbulent contest to replace termed-out Gov. Gavin Newsom. Ballots will start landing in Californians’ mailboxes in less than two weeks, and voters are split by a crowded field of eight prominent candidates. The debate also takes place after former state Controller Betty Yee ended her campaign because of a lack of resources and support in the polls.
Two Republicans — Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and conservative commentator Steve Hilton — and four Democrats — billionaire Tom Steyer, former Biden administration Secretary Xavier Becerra, former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan — will take the stage at Nexstar’s KRON4 studios in San Francisco. Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and state Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, both Democrats, were not invited to participate because of their low polling numbers.
As the candidates strive to distinguish themselves in a crowded field, the debate could include fiery exchanges about the role of money in politics and potential heightened attacks on Becerra, who has surged in the polls since Swalwell dropped out. With the debate taking place on Earth Day, environmental issues are also likely to be raised.
The Wednesday night gathering is the first televised debate in the gubernatorial contest since early February. Last month, USC canceled a debate hours before it was set to begin over mounting criticism that its criteria excluded all major candidates of color.
The 7 p.m. debate is hosted by Nexstar and will be moderated by KTXL FOX40 anchor Nikki Laurenzo and KTLA anchor Frank Buckley. It can be viewed on KRON4 (San Francisco), KTLA5 (Los Angeles), KSWB/KUSI (San Diego), KTXL (Sacramento), KGET (Bakersfield) and KSEE (Fresno). NewsNation will also air the debate.
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By Shawn Paik
April 22, 2026
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Sparks flew on Capitol Hill as Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., accused Federal Reserve nominee Kevin Warsh of being a potential “sock puppet” for President Donald Trump.
Warsh, tapped by Trump in January to lead the Federal Reserve, faced a two-and-a-half-hour confirmation hearing before the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee.
If confirmed, he would take the helm of the world’s most powerful central bank, shaping interest rates, borrowing costs and the financial outlook for millions of American households for the next four years.
WHO IS KEVIN WARSH, TRUMP’S PICK TO SUCCEED JEROME POWELL AS FED CHAIR?
Kevin Warsh, nominee for chairman of the Federal Reserve, listens to ranking member Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., make an opening statement during his Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee confirmation hearing on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
In her opening remarks, Warren sharply criticized Warsh’s record and questioned his independence, arguing he is “uniquely ill-suited for the job as Fed chair” and warning he could give Trump influence over the central bank.
She accused Warsh of enabling Wall Street during the 2008 financial crisis, which fell during his tenure as a Federal Reserve governor when he served from 2006 to 2011.
“In our meeting last week, we discussed the 2008 financial crash, where 8 million people lost their jobs, 10 million people lost their homes and millions more lost their life savings,” Warren said. “Giant banks, however, got hundreds of billions of dollars in bailouts… and he said to me that he has no regrets about anything he did.”
She added that Warsh “worked tirelessly to arrange multibillion-dollar bailouts” for Wall Street CEOs, with nothing for American families.
The hearing grew more tense as Warren pivoted to ethics concerns, pressing Warsh over his undisclosed financial holdings and questioning him over links to business dealings connected to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The two spoke over each other and raised their voices in a heated exchange on Capitol Hill.
WARSH’S $226 MILLION FORTUNE UNDER SCRUTINY AS FED NOMINEE FACES SENATE CONFIRMATION
Sen. Elizabeth Warren: The Fed has been plagued by deeply disturbing ethics scandals in recent years. It’s critical that the next chair have no financial conflicts — none. You have more than $100 million in investments that you have refused to disclose. So let me ask: do the Juggernaut Fund or THSDFS LLC invest in companies affiliated with President Trump or his family, companies tied to money laundering, Chinese-controlled firms, or financing vehicles linked to Jeffrey Epstein?
Kevin Warsh: Senator, I’ve worked closely with the Office of Government Ethics and agreed to divest all of my financial assets.
Warren: Could you answer my question, please? You have more than $100 million in undisclosed assets. Are any of those investments tied to the entities I just mentioned? It’s a yes-or-no question.
Warsh: I have worked tirelessly with ethics officials and agreed to sell all of my assets before taking the oath of office.
Warren: Are you refusing to tell us if you have investments in vehicles linked to Jeffrey Epstein? You just won’t say?
Warsh: What I’m telling you is those assets will be sold if I’m confirmed.
Warren: Will you disclose how you plan to divest these assets? The public might question your motives if, for example, someone who profits from predicting Fed policy cuts you a $100 million check as you take office.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren questions Kevin Warsh during his Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee confirmation hearing on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Warsh: I’ve reached a full agreement with the Office of Government Ethics and will divest those assets before taking the oath.
Warren: I’m asking a very straightforward question. Will you disclose how you divest those assets?
Warsh: As I’ve said, I’ve worked with ethics officials.
Warren: I’ll take that as a no.
In a separate exchange, Warren invoked Trump’s past statements about the Fed and challenged Warsh to prove his independence in real time.
She insisted that Warsh answer whether he believes Trump won the 2020 presidential election and if he would name policies of the president with which he disagrees. The hopeful future Fed chair dodged the question and said he would remain apolitical, if confirmed.
THE ONE LINE IN WARSH’S TESTIMONY SIGNALING A BREAK FROM THE FED’S STATUS QUO
Warren: Donald Trump has made clear he does not want an independent Fed. He has said, “Anybody that disagrees with me will never be Fed chairman.” He’s also said interest rates will drop “when Kevin gets in.” Let’s check out your independence and your courage. We’ll start easy. Mr. Warsh, did Donald Trump lose the 2020 election?
Warsh: Senator, we should keep politics out of the Federal Reserve.
Warren: I’m asking a factual question.
Warsh: This body certified the election.
Warren: That’s not what I asked. Did Donald Trump lose in 2020?
Warsh: The Fed should stay out of politics.
Warren: In our meeting, you said you’re a “tough guy” who can stand up to President Trump. So name one aspect of his economic agenda you disagree with.
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Kevin Warsh listens to a question during a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee confirmation hearing on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Warsh: That’s not something I’m prepared to do. The Fed should stay in its lane.
Warren: Just one place where you disagree.
Warsh: I do have one disagreement — he said I looked like I was out of central casting. I think I’d look older and grayer.
Warren: That’s adorable. But we need a Fed chair who is independent. If you can’t answer these questions, you don’t have the courage or the independence.
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