Latest / Breaking The Meta / "I'm Being Taxed Without Being Represented" — A First Responder's Run for MN Senate | Denise Slipy
Transcript
- Breaking The Meta: Hello everyone and welcome to Breaking the Meta. My name is Mike Wins and today we are sitting down with Denise Slipey who is running for Minnesota's State Senate District 6. And I'm excited to sit down and talk with you because there's a lot going on in Minnesota. So how are you doing Denise? Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: Indeed there is. Indeed there is a lot going on. This last year has been unbelievable, but you know, we are Minnesotans. We are resilient. We have grit. We have strength and we have community and that has been shown. Breaking The Meta: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yes, yes it has. ⁓ I have family and friends in Minnesota. it's been pretty wild to see how you guys have really come together ⁓ and shown what community should look like in every state where we're dealing with what we're dealing with right now. ⁓ So let's. Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: That is cool. Breaking The Meta: Let's ⁓ start out for people that don't know Minnesota very well. If you wouldn't mind letting everyone know what part of Minnesota is encompassed in Senate District 6. Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: Sure. So I am located in America's backyard. So this area of the state is where everybody comes to fish. It's fondly known as cabin country. ⁓ So it is the north central area of Minnesota. So Brainerd Lakes area. So it'd be all of Crowan County, part of Cass County and Itasca County. So from Brainerd. Breaking The Meta: Okay. Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: all the way up to Itasca. Breaking The Meta: you. Well, it makes actually more sense ⁓ having your rack of firearms behind you based on that information. ⁓ So would you mind giving us a little background on who you are and why you decided to run for a state senate seat in the first place? Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: Well, ⁓ I'm originally from Indiana. So ⁓ big, big change from a red state to a blue state, right? But when I moved up here almost 15 years ago now, there was a big change in the culture. And with what I saw, ⁓ the labor movement with our unions was strong. And people had... Breaking The Meta: Okay. Just, yeah. Yep. Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: a better quality of life. And ⁓ the air is clean. We have blue skies. We have white clouds. And these are things that people just take for granted, But to see the Northern Lights frequently, to actually see it and experience it and the clean lakes. And it's just... the community and Minnesota nice is a thing. yeah. so anyway, moving up here, I fell in love with the place, fell in love with the area. One of the things that probably prompted me to run was the lack of representation. The rural area has been left behind by the party, both parties. Breaking The Meta: It sure is a thing. Mm. Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: And unfortunately, we were represented by people who really truly do not care about the people of the community. They only care about themselves. And they've tried to pass ⁓ a legislation ⁓ bill that actually helped their business and would have ⁓ screwed some of us. So yeah, yeah. ⁓ Breaking The Meta: Of course. Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: They won't meet with anybody that is not their party. currently I'm being taxed without being represented. Getting out in my community, I'm a first responder. So I'm used to running in when other people are running out. And really seeing the needs, the 75 mile difference between the needs of Itasca and Crowley County are different. Breaking The Meta: Mm. Ha ha. Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: Right. And I understand that. And then you have the small towns between here and Itasca, Emily, Outing. ⁓ They have kind of been ignored and left out. But when our former representative, who was ironically on the floor trying to pass the Trump Derangement Syndrome Bill, ⁓ he was busted for soliciting a minor. therefore that opened up a seat. ⁓ and there were several Democrats that actually stood up and, and went for it. ⁓ we decided to take it to an endorsing convention so that, you know, cause it was going to be a quick fill. ⁓ and I came out with the endorsement. I was, ⁓ honored to have my community actually come together and say, you know, Denise, we want you to represent us. ⁓ ⁓ That being said, here I am. ⁓ That was the special election back in April. I haven't stopped. ⁓ We have continued on ⁓ and 2026, feel is going to be our year ⁓ because people have seen the difference and they know I'm in the community. They know I'm fighting for them, not for a party, right? ⁓ I am seeking the DFL, which is the Democratic Farmer Labor Party here in Minnesota. We're unique. ⁓ Breaking The Meta: Yeah. Yeah. Yep. Mm-hmm. Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: But I am seeking their endorsement. you have, you know, we are in a state of a two party system. We have to choose a side. And I can tell you right now, the Democrats that are fighting for the seats in Minnesota are fighting for the right reasons. It's not for personal gain. It's because we want to help our communities and we don't want anybody left behind. Breaking The Meta: Yeah, it's been amazing to me since I started this process of reaching out to progressives that are running across the nation. How many amazing people that are just have that same mentality. It's also been amazing how many veterans and first responders and ⁓ firefighters and scientists that are running for state and federal ⁓ office across the nation right now. It's pretty amazing. I always tell people to watch the videos because if you want to feel really good about, feel really some hope on this country, look at some of these amazing people that are running for office. So thank you for being willing to do it because there's a lot of people that would not even be willing to consider it, let alone actually do it and then decide to do it again. ⁓ Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: Yes. Right, right. Breaking The Meta: ⁓ So could you give us, obviously as ⁓ rural Minnesota, you guys have your own kinds of needs and pain points. Would you mind giving us ⁓ some examples of what the pain points are for the people of District 6? What kind of stuff they are talking to you about? What kind of stuff they need help with pretty much on a regular basis, especially right now? Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: Currently, ⁓ most of the doors that I've been knocking, most of them are worried about healthcare. Healthcare is number one. And rural healthcare has been ⁓ put on the back burner. A ⁓ lot of the hospitals up here are on the brink of closing. They're not closed, but they're on the brink of closing. ⁓ And we really need to focus on healthcare being a right, not a privilege. Breaking The Meta: Mm. Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: One of my constituents, or hopefully will be my constituent, we have had conversation several times over the healthcare costs. she says, Denise, she says, this is going to be the first time in my adult life that I am not going to have insurance because I cannot afford it. It went up 40%. And that is a lot. So we have the healthcare. Then our education system, right? Our public education system is being, I don't even know what the word, ⁓ the correct word would be for that. ⁓ But the funding, they're trying to pull public school funding. ⁓ And our state is there again, unique in its own way, but anybody, we have what we call the North Star Promise ⁓ that was passed ⁓ Breaking The Meta: Mm. Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: during the DFL trifecta, which is if you have, ⁓ if your income, your household income is less than $80,000, you can go to a community college for free. So you can get that associate's degree, right? But another unique thing about Minnesota is the fact that our labor unions are so strong. If college isn't your thing, go to a trade school. You can get those apprenticeships, you know. Breaking The Meta: Okay. ⁓ wow. Mm. Yeah. Yeah. Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: And so basically what it's boiling down to is affordability. And people just can't afford to live anymore. And ⁓ they're working to live instead of, or living to work instead of working to live. And we can change that. We can sit down and talk about the kitchen table, right? All night long. But people are tired of the status quo. They're tired of... ⁓ You know, our leadership, the Democratic leadership, uh, kowtowing to, to the president, they are tired of not being represented. They are tired of not being heard. And I'm, that's one of the main reasons that I ran because I was tired of it as well. And to have my voice heard, I need to be sitting at the table and here I am. Breaking The Meta: Mm-hmm. Ahem. Is District 6, is there a large agriculture part of District 6 as well? Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: There is, ⁓ there are some generational farmers that are hurting right now. ⁓ One of them that I actually had numerous conversations with is, you know, the soybeans. ⁓ my God, you know, what am I going to do? You know, they're sitting in a silo ⁓ and they're not, they're rotting, right? They can't do anything with them. Now on the flip side of that, some of the Breaking The Meta: Right. Yeah. Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: farmers that are ⁓ raising cattle, ⁓ the beef, they're doing well, you know, for now. ⁓ Who knows what's going to happen with tariffs down the road, right? ⁓ Some of our farmers are truly worried that they're gonna go bankrupt. ⁓ I saw statistics the other day and this isn't necessarily our area, but a lot of farmers are filing bankruptcy. The suicide rate is off the chart because they feel like that they're failing ⁓ and it's not them, it's the system. The system is failing us and it's time to fix the system. Breaking The Meta: Yeah. One of the other issues that I think is pretty much across the board, especially right now that people are that has had a giant magnifying glass put on it. And this is really a it's not a left right. It's not a Republican or Democrat issue at this point. Is this idea of accountability or the lack thereof when it comes to our politicians? ⁓ So my question to you is, what does accountability mean to you? Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: Absolutely. Breaking The Meta: And what does your district holding you accountable, ⁓ like what do you want that to look like? Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: So I've told all of them when I'm having town hall meetings and knocking the doors, know, give me a shot. Give me, give me a chance to be your voice in St. Paul. If I'm not doing what you think I need to do, you only have to put up with me for four years and you get another choice. Right. And I telling everybody, do not let anybody go unopposed. Make sure that you're getting on the ballot. Try. Right? The answer is always no, if you don't ask. So we're going to have the same politics, the same ⁓ status quo, unless people actually start stepping, stepping up, standing up and saying, you know what, I've had enough. And I think this past couple of months, Minnesota has stood up and said, we've had enough. We're not doing this any longer. And we're moving forward and we're going to protect our neighbors. Breaking The Meta: Yeah. Yeah. Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: We're gonna protect our rights. And the last time I looked at the Constitution, which will be 250 years old, you know, July 4th, we celebrate our 250th anniversary. We need, or 250th birthday, we need to really look at our Constitution. And then we need to look at the politicians and it's time for some of them to go and it's time for new voices to stand up. Breaking The Meta: Yeah. Obviously, there are even though it's kind of been shown that as a whole, ⁓ Minnesota is actually the only forever blue voting state in in pretty much since the beginning of the nation. Like I forget how many years really it's been. But basically, Minnesota has been voting blue for a long, long, long, long time. But obviously not all of Minnesota is blue. Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: Right. Breaking The Meta: So I two questions. One, what has been your experience when you interact with people that maybe are Republican voters, but see a D next to your name? And then after that, if you wouldn't mind talking about what, if anything, has changed after what's been going on in St. Paul and Minneapolis with ICE? Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: So I actually have a chief of police. So I'm a reserve officer for a local police department. And I actually had a chief of police. says, Denise, know, I know you. I know your family. He said, and you have a good heart and I understand why you're doing what you're doing. He said, and you've got my vote. I've heard that from small town mayors. our small town, you cause this is, this is our community. It's a lot of small towns and they, and they've said the same thing. We know you, we see you out in the public. We know that you're doing this for the right reasons because you want to be the change. You live the example, you do what you say you're going to do. And you know, it's, it's not a rubber stamp for the democratic party. And so. Breaking The Meta: Yep. Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: ⁓ I'm winning those people over. The ICE part, know, Renee Good being murdered, unbelievable in our own streets, you know, but there again, that's two and a half to three hours south of us. And there is a whole lot of difference between the cities and the rural area. And, you know, I focus up here on the rural area. I do not like ICE in my community. Breaking The Meta: Mm-hmm. Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: There is a purpose for ICE, right? We have to, we have immigration that needs to be taken care of. But that there again, it's a system failure. Don't tell me that, you know, you're going to these people's hearings and snatching them up and then saying, well, they're not following the process because obviously they're following the process or they wouldn't get their immigration hearing, right? So. I think there again, big differences on what we look at and how we prioritize. ⁓ I've talked to dairy farmers up here that are talking about, we don't know how we are going to continue because most of their workers are migrants. And it doesn't matter if they're here with their visas or not because they were being snatched up. Well, now they're being afraid to go to work. Breaking The Meta: Yeah. Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: Right? So they're not going to work now what's happening. Right? So, so there's a big economic impact on everything that is going on right now. And you got to look at the full big picture. You can't just focus on that small thing. ⁓ one of my favorite restaurants in Brainerd, Mexican restaurant, they went in and, and got two of them, you know, on supposed warrants. I don't know. Wasn't there. Breaking The Meta: Hmm. Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: right? But that's a big impact on our community because it was one of the restaurants that a lot of us went to eat at. We would have meetings there. would have, you know, there again, economic impact, especially for our small mom and pop area. Breaking The Meta: Yeah. I definitely think one of the biggest frustrations that a lot of us have had over the decades now, it feels like, is this idea that a lot of what has been coming out from government is band-aids on an open gushing wound instead of working on figuring out why the wound was there in the first place. So. Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. You're exactly right. We've got people that are drowning at the bottom of the river and we're not going up to find out what's causing them to fall in the river to begin with. You're exactly right. Breaking The Meta: Yeah. So. ⁓ Where obviously there's also this issue of there's this feeling of division. I know that when you talk with people, especially in you you've already mentioned a little bit when you've interacted with people, you guys all have we all have the same problems, whether we consider self conservative or ⁓ progressive, we tend to be struggling with the same things right now. But there's a strong feeling of division. do you think you can help, I don't know, fix that problem? Because that is part of the problem, especially from a ⁓ political standpoint, from a representative standpoint. A lot of us have started, a lot of people in this country have started acting the same way we are seeing our representatives act. ⁓ And that it's kind of bled into just normal society. So how do you see us, how do you see moving forward and working with people that in some, in some respects have extreme fundamental differences on how we just see society moving forward? Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: So one of the things we've got to start doing is talking to each other again. Stop the social media. Don't get me wrong. Things are good. It's good. That's what I going to say. Don't get me wrong on this. But there's got to be more to our lives than just looking at the screen. And when you're actually out, Breaking The Meta: I mean, we gotta have some of it, because this is gonna be on it right now. Ahem. Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: I was at a ⁓ meeting the other day and there was four of us sitting at the table. Now we're talking, right? We've got our notebooks out. We're writing because we're having conversation. and these were people that are like, Denise, these are some things that if you make it to St. Paul, I would like for you to really think about and to work on this would really help our community. And this will help our small businesses. So I'm writing it down, right? And as I'm writing, I kind of looked over. And I saw a group of teenagers, young adults, right? Every one of them is on their phone. They've got their earbuds in. There's no conversation, right? They're all, you know, sitting there on their devices. And I was like, man. So I went to CLC college and come to find out they have this program called ⁓ and I was out there tabling for an event. And they have this program that's called Connect Effect. And it's one hour, no phones, everything is on airplane mode, right? And you actually talk to people. ⁓ my gosh, what a concept, right? That is radical, you know? Breaking The Meta: Mm-hmm. There you go. It's a crazy idea, right? Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: But I went to one of them and I was sitting with four young adults, you know, and come to find out we all really cared about the same thing. You know, they're worried about how they're going to pay for their education. They're worried about being able to own their first home. They're worried about being able to find a job when they do graduate. ⁓ They're worried about healthcare. Breaking The Meta: Of course. Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: And I said, wait a minute, you guys are 18, 19, 20 years old and you're worrying about healthcare? And they're like, yeah, what if I lose my mom and dad's insurance? And I'm like, oh gosh, I didn't even think about that, right? Because my daughter is 35, you know? So I had forgotten that up until they're 26, they're on your insurance, right? But what if I don't have a good enough job with benefits? And I'm going, ⁓ my God, they worry about the same things, just maybe in a little bit different way, you know? Because they haven't really experienced it yet, but they're seeing it. I just told them, said, there's hope. When I left there, I said, there is hope for the future because These people will someday, hopefully, step up and run for office. You know, I was so proud the other day we were getting ready for caucuses. Minnesota's ⁓ another state that does caucuses once every two years. And we actually get to participate in building our party's platform. And I'm getting ready for caucuses and I get a picture from my daughter who still lives in Indiana. Breaking The Meta: Mm. Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: And there she is on the Capitol steps in Indiana, getting ready to sign her paperwork. She is filing for the House of Representatives in Senate district 64 in Indiana. You talk about a proud, proud moment, you know, and she says, mom, it's from watching you this past year, what you're doing and why you're doing it. And my daughter's a lot further progressive than what I am. Right. But man. Breaking The Meta: Nice! I know, I just interviewed her. ⁓ Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: ⁓ good, good. Yeah. Yeah. So, see, so seeing candy step up to take the baton, right? And start leading the way for the next generation, which actually should be this generation that is taking the helm. ⁓ So hopefully I'm there just to bridge that gap in four years. If I'm not doing what I'm supposed to do, I expect to be held accountable and vote me out. Let's vote somebody else in. And I keep hearing, I keep hearing term limits, right? We need term limits. We need term limits. Folks, we have term limits. Nobody is appointed, well, except for the Supreme court. We need term limits there. 100 % agree on that. But every two, four, six years there is. Breaking The Meta: Yes, we do. Yep. Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: a term, right? It's up to you. Yes, it's up to you to vote them out. Give somebody else with fresh ideas. We've been doing the same thing over and over and we're not progressing. Then we're having an issue. So, you know, whatever your religious beliefs are, whatever your, your biasness is, right? That all needs to be put aside and Breaking The Meta: We just need to get more people involved. Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: If you're, especially if you're running for office, you need to run for your people and run for the community that you're representing. And I believe that's what I'm doing. I'm running to represent my, ⁓ my union brothers and sisters. I'm running for, ⁓ my, my elderly folks in the district that are scared of one healthcare scare that will put them in bankruptcy. I'm running for, ⁓ my grandchildren so that they have a future and have the same rights that I have been fortunate to grow up with. And I think people are starting to see that. ⁓ I'm showing up in places that, ⁓ my gosh, you're here, you know, and I'm getting the thank you for runnings, know, walking through Walmart the other day, ran in, I'm in a ball cap, right, sweats. I'm not trying to, you know, Breaking The Meta: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Hehehehehe Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: run in just to grab a few things and it was right after Alex Preti had been killed. And lady walks up in the aisle and she goes, oh my gosh, you're Denise Slipey. And I said, yeah, yes I am. She said, can I have a hug? And I said, absolutely. I gave her a hug. And I said, got to together on this. We're all in it together. And she said, I have never. Breaking The Meta: Mmm. He he. Aww. Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: ever even thought about voting for Democrats until you stepped on to the ticket. She said, because when you stepped up and I seen the sincerity and you being genuine and you were just yourself and you stood up there at that, what was supposed to be a debate and you were by yourself because she didn't show up, that showed courage. Breaking The Meta: Mmm. Mm. Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: And it showed integrity because you did what you said you would do. And I cannot wait to cast my vote for you. And I was like, wow, you know, thank you. And she said, by the way, this is my daughter, introduced me to her daughter, had a really nice conversation, right? I turned to go down a different aisle and it's the same thing, right? You know, ⁓ my God, Denise, can I have a hug? Well, absolutely. Breaking The Meta: Yeah. You It took forever to get out of that. Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: So needless to say, you know, if you just have to be authentic and you have to be genuine and you have to do it, you know, I am disgusted with our leadership from the top. ⁓ cause they keep cow tiling to this. don't, I don't even know what to call it. It's chaos and they keep letting it happen. Nobody's standing up. ⁓ I'm thankful that Amy Klobuchar is going to run for governor. ⁓ I'm thankful that Angie Craig. has stepped up to run for the US Senate to take hopefully Tina Smith's place. ⁓ I'm thankful for Tim Walz's, ⁓ as our governor, for his years of guiding us through the pandemic ⁓ and the stuff that's going on right now, right? I mean, is leaving. ⁓ Breaking The Meta: Hopefully, fingers crossed. Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: Yes, yes, they are supposed to be ice out from what I understand ⁓ this week. So we'll see. But, ⁓ you know, I'm just thankful for the leadership that we have had. And do I agree with everything from Tim Walls? Absolutely not. Do I agree with everything from Amy Klobuchar? Nope. Do I agree with the things that's going on in Congress right now? No, they haven't done anything for the betterment of the people. So, you know, we've got great candidates that have stepped up and I'm getting to know them. ⁓ We have Trina Swanson, who's running against Pete Stauber for the eighth district. A fabulous, fabulous person. We have ⁓ Nikki Hardy, ⁓ who is running against Josh Heintzman, which is my opponent's husband, who is our current representative. So yeah. Breaking The Meta: Mm. Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: I am so thankful for the people that are stepping up because we're all in it for the right reasons, not for personal gain. Breaking The Meta: Yeah. Yeah. So for anyone that has been listening to us talk for the last 30 minutes or so, as we get to the end, there are what are one or two things that no matter what they've heard that you would want to make sure that they walk away with knowing about you and your campaign? Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: Common sense. It's real. It is still here and we can still have it. And I will be honored to represent Minnesota Senate District 6 in St. Paul. ⁓ They can find out more about me at Slypee4Senate.com and it's the number four. ⁓ So S-L-I-P-Y-4-Senate.com. I'm an open book. I'm willing and able to answer questions. ⁓ You want to know anything about me. I'm transparent. ⁓ I am who I am. ⁓ I'm a country girl. I ⁓ like fishing, hunting. I do everything that Minnesotans do. ⁓ yeah, you're going to probably hear a lot because you know, this radical leftist because I want people to have health care and I want people to be housed and I want people to have food. And I want to, you know, actually follow the Beatitudes, which, you know, Jesus's teachings, if we want to get to the religion, you know, I'm going to follow Jesus. I'm not going to follow Moses and, you know, 10 commandments is a Moses, Moses law. The Beatitudes is what Jesus put out and You know, he cared for the sick, cared for the elderly and we didn't worry about who had papers. As a matter of fact, treat the foreigner as your neighbor, right? And the least that you do for these is what you've done for me. So, you know, I truly believe that we all do better when we all do better, as Paul Wellstone said. And when we know better, we do better, which is Maya Angelou. Breaking The Meta: you Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: We know better now, let's do better and let's go win this thing. Breaking The Meta: Yeah. Denise, thank you for sitting down and talking with us for a little bit. I appreciate getting to know you and what you hope to do for the people of Minnesota. ⁓ For everyone who's listened and gotten this far, thank you so much. We both appreciate it. If you wouldn't mind hitting all those buttons down below, like and subscribe and doing all that horrible social media stuff that helps me out and makes it possible for me to keep doing what I'm doing. I really appreciate it. Just so you know. Denise Slipy Slipy4Senate: Absolutely. Breaking The Meta: One of the reasons that I'm doing what I'm doing, which is reaching out and interviewing progressive candidates across the nation that are running in both state and federal is because ⁓ these people aren't taking PAC money. These people want to be held accountable. These people want to change the status quo. And that involves needing visibility and name recognition in a way that you can't get. as easily when you don't have millions of dollars of PAC money behind you helping you be able to pay for everything. So please watch and share this content for all of these people when you see it, because that's how their name gets pushed out to more people and hopefully gets more visibility, whether it's by media or by people in their district. So please help out. It means the world to me. It means the world to anyone that's running in this way. So, and for anyone that doesn't know anything about this podcast, Breaking the Meta is about breaking the status quo. It's about having hard conversations when necessary and fighting for the idea that all people, matter your race, religion, gender or identity, get rights, respect, dignity and safety. Denise, thank you again for being here. I really do appreciate it. And for everyone else, we'll see you next time on Breaking the Meta. Bye guys.