On Wednesday, Tim Walz, the Democratic Party’s vice presidential nominee, will take the stage during the third night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. We will keep an eye on whether he, Bill Clinton, and other speakers present accurate information.

Walz, who is 60 years old, is a former teacher and became Minnesota’s governor in 2019, following his multiple terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is the main speaker for the evening, and former President Bill Clinton is also scheduled to address the audience on Wednesday. Vice President Kamala Harris will announce Walz as her running mate in early August and is expected to speak on Thursday night.

Stay tuned here tonight as YSL News’s Fact Check Team distinguishes between facts and myths and provides necessary context.

DNC context: Israel-Hamas conflict splits opinions

The ongoing war in Gaza continues to be a contentious issue for both politicians and voters as it approaches its one-year anniversary. It’s expected to be a significant topic during the DNC, especially with protests planned outside the Chicago convention hall.

Younger voters and influential Democratic donors have voiced their dissatisfaction with Biden’s response to the war, advocating for an immediate ceasefire and the cessation of U.S. military aid to Israel.

In contrast, Harris has been more vocal regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has resonated with some progressive supporters.

While Harris has reiterated the Biden administration’s stance that Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas, she has also expressed concern for the plight of civilians in Gaza. In December, she stated that Israel “must do more to protect civilian life” and in March, she called for an immediate ceasefire due to the “humanitarian catastrophe.” In a December address in Dubai, she remarked that “international humanitarian law must be respected.”

Conversely, Republicans have criticized Biden for not adequately supporting Israel, condemning the pro-Palestinian protests happening nationwide. Former President Donald Trump even claimed in a March interview that Democrats “hate Israel” and that any Jewish individual who supports them “hates their religion.”

YSL News has debunked various statements regarding Israel and the Gaza conflict:

• Fact check summary: The Israel-Hamas war has led to numerous misleading claims online. Here’s what’s factual and what isn’t.
• Claim: Americans are being conscripted for the Israel-Hamas war.
• Claim: Israel has mostly withdrawn its soldiers from Gaza, but not all have left.
• Claim: Requests for warrants against Israel and Hamas leaders in The Hague have been made, but not yet approved.
• Claim: An old video of a protest outside the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul has been shared.
• Claim: An image shows Israel’s swim team at the Paris Olympics with the message ‘Bring them home now.’
• Claim: An image depicts the Liberty Bell vandalized by protestors.

-Hannah Hudnall

DNC context: Misleading claims about Walz’s history and achievements

As Tim Walz prepares to deliver his keynote address at the DNC in Chicago, numerous false and misleading statements about his life have emerged since Vice President Kamala Harris announced him as her running mate in early August.

The 60-year-old governor of Minnesota grew up in Nebraska and enlisted in the National Guard after completing high school. He worked as a social studies teacher and football coach, notably leading the Mankato West High School to a state championship in 1999, despite some misleading claims circulating on social media.

Walz began his political journey by volunteering for John Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaign. Three years later, he secured a position in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving multiple terms before being elected as Minnesota’s governor in 2018.

He was still in office on May 25, 2020, when a video depicting former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on George Floyd’s neck for over eight minutes began circulating, resulting in national protests. Contrary to some claims, it was Walz—not Trump—who activated the National Guard when protests in Minneapolis escalated.

Harris initially presented Walz during a campaign rally in Philadelphia. She highlighted his role as a faculty advisor for the school’s first gay-straight alliance club and noted his efforts in passing a bill to protect abortion access in Minnesota after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Here are several claims about Walz that we have already fact-checked:

• Claim: Tim Walz lied about coaching his high school football team to a state championship. (False)
• Claim: Tim Walz claimed he intended to invest in a ladder factory to help migrants cross the border wall. (False)
• Claim: An image shows Kamala Harris and Tim Walz with a communist symbol. (Altered)
• Claim: ‘No one’ attended the Harris and Walz rally on August 7 in Michigan. (False)
• Claim: Tim Walz signed a bill that redefined ‘sexual orientation’ to include pedophiles. (False)
• Claim: Tim Walz possesses a net worth of $138 million, with his daughter having $82,000 in student loans forgiven. (False)

-Chris Mueller