Fox News host and former Trump press secretary Kayleigh McEnany attacked Tim Walz as “a progressive in sheep’s clothing,” just minutes after multiple news agencies began reporting that the Minnesota governor is the vice presidential pick for the Democratic ticket. However, the examples she chose to highlight as supposedly “far to the left of America” are all popular, mainstream policies that only further illustrate the right’s floundering efforts to define the Democratic ticket.

On America’s Newsroom, McEnany claimed that Walz's policies on protecting gender-affirming care for transgender youth, taking action on climate goals, ensuring all drivers are properly licensed, and supporting abortion rights show that he’s secretly an extremist.

But McEnany chose to misinform Fox’s audience while fearmongering about policies that are well within the mainstream.

Gender-affirming care is medically necessary and supported by major medical associations

As CNN explains, “Gender-affirming care is medically necessary, evidence-based care that uses a multidisciplinary approach to help a person transition from their assigned gender – the one the person was designated at birth – to their affirmed gender – the gender by which one wants to be known.” It is also backed by the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. CNN additionally reported that a 2023 executive order Walz signed to protect access to gender-affirming care does “not change any existing Minnesota law but instead requires state agencies to use their existing powers to protect gender-affirming care and study the health benefits of such care. The order also directs agencies to investigate health care organizations that may have denied individuals access to gender-affirming care.”

Minnesota’s carbon emissions goals are in line with many others states’ goals and have support from the state’s largest electrical utility

CBS News reported that Minnesota’s goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040 is similar to 100% clean energy standards from 21 other states, plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, and renewable energy is already the largest share of the state’s power sources. CBS also reported that Xcel Energy, the state’s largest utility, supports the goal.

Minnesota joined 18 other states in granting driver’s licenses to all residents regardless of immigration status, a policy which was supported by law enforcement

After Walz signed a law to remove a requirement of authorized presence in the U.S. for driver’s license applicants, The Associated Press reported that supporters said “it will improve public safety by ensuring that all drivers are licensed and insured, and have taken driver’s education courses. Backers included law enforcement, faith, business and immigrant rights groups.” The AP also reported that 18 other states “grant licenses to residents regardless of immigration status, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. They include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and the District of Columbia.”

There is no such thing as abortion at the moment of birth, and third trimester abortions are incredibly rare

In November 2023, KFF Health News refuted the common right-wing talking point of abortion “until the day of birth.” The article also explained that only about 1% of abortions are performed after 21 weeks of pregnancy. And the NBC-affiliated Minneapolis television station KARE reported in April that state health records show that just one (1) abortion in the third trimester of pregnancy was performed in the state during each of the years 2022, 2020, and 2019, and none at all in 2021. The legislation that Walz signed into law in 2023 codified the “fundamental right” to abortion, although the Minnesota Supreme Court had already ruled in 1995 that abortion is a fundamental right in the state’s constitution.