In March 2025, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz unveiled a bold and unprecedented initiative: a shadow government operating out of St. Paul, designed to directly challenge the Trump administration’s policies and narratives. Walz, leveraging his state’s progressive infrastructure, has assembled a team of Democratic operatives, former state officials, and grassroots activists to form this parallel structure. The Minnesota shadow government holds daily press conferences, led by figures like former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, whom Walz appointed as “shadow secretary of communications,” to counter Trump’s messaging on issues like voting rights and economic policy. With Minnesota’s progressive policies—such as universal free school meals and robust abortion protections—as a backdrop, Walz’s operation uses state resources and media platforms to present what he calls the “truth,” aiming to mobilize national opposition to Trump’s agenda while maintaining a strong local base of support.
 

Simultaneously, a parallel shadow government led by Mike Walz, a former intelligence operative and distant cousin of Tim Walz, has been established in Langley, Virginia, just blocks from the CIA headquarters. Mike Walz, who spent decades in covert operations before retiring in 2023, has tapped into his extensive network within the intelligence community to create a sophisticated operation focused on gathering and analyzing data to support the Minnesota effort. The Langley shadow government operates in secrecy, using encrypted channels to provide Tim Walz’s team with detailed intelligence on Trump administration activities, including alleged voter suppression tactics and foreign policy missteps. For example, in April 2025, Langley operatives uncovered evidence of a coordinated effort to limit mail-in voting in swing states, which Minnesota’s shadow government then used to fuel a nationwide campaign exposing the administration’s actions, complete with press conferences and viral social media pushes.
 

The symbiotic relationship between the two shadow governments has proven highly effective, creating a seamless operation that combines public advocacy with covert intelligence. Minnesota’s shadow government, under Tim Walz, serves as the visible arm, rallying public support and shaping discourse through its daily briefings and policy proposals, such as a “shadow budget” that prioritizes green energy and healthcare expansion. Meanwhile, Mike Walz’s Langley operation acts as the hidden backbone, feeding Minnesota with actionable intelligence—like intercepted communications between Trump officials and foreign actors—that amplifies the impact of their public campaigns. This partnership has allowed the two groups to operate in lockstep: Minnesota’s public pressure prompts Langley to dig deeper, while Langley’s findings give Minnesota the ammunition to sustain its attacks. By May 2025, their combined efforts had already forced the Trump administration to address voting rights concerns publicly, marking a significant, if controversial, victory for the Walz-led shadow governments.