Fmr. Dem Rep. Phillips: We Pay ‘A Lot More Taxes in Minnesota’ and Aren’t Getting Same Services We Had

February 3, 2026
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Former Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips just dropped a bombshell on NewsNation's On Balance, admitting that Minnesota—long hailed as a progressive utopia—is crumbling under its own tax burden. For most of my upbringing, Minnesota did work better, Phillips lamented, pointing out that residents are now paying a lot more taxes... and not getting the services that we had. It's a rare moment of candor from a blue-state insider, exposing the harsh reality of bloated government: sky-high taxes funding inefficiency, crime waves, and deteriorating infrastructure. Phillips, who hails from the Land of 10,000 Lakes, isn't some wild-eyed conservative; he's a Democrat who challenged Biden in the primaries, making his critique all the more damning. This confession hits different when you zoom out to the Second Amendment lens. Minnesota's tax explosion—property taxes up 20% in recent years, income taxes among the nation's highest—hasn't bought safer streets; it's coincided with surging violent crime, including a 50% spike in carjackings in Minneapolis since 2020. Residents are shelling out more for less protection, while anti-2A policies like red-flag laws and assault weapon bans leave law-abiding folks defenseless against emboldened criminals. Phillips' gripe underscores a broader truth: big-government experiments erode public safety, pushing armed self-reliance to the forefront. When services fail, the right to keep and bear arms isn't a luxury—it's the ultimate backstop against the chaos that high taxes and soft-on-crime DAs breed. The implications for the 2A community are electric. Voices like Phillips cracking the progressive facade validate our warnings: overtaxed, underserved citizens will demand reciprocity, including robust self-defense rights. As Minnesota's model falters—echoed in California and New York—expect more blue-state defections to pro-gun havens like Texas or Florida. This isn't just about potholes; it's a clarion call that government monopoly on force is a myth, and the people are waking up to their natural right to protect what's theirs. Stay vigilant, patriots—Minnesota's confession could be the tipping point.

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Former Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips just dropped a bombshell on NewsNation’s On Balance, admitting that Minnesota—long hailed as a progressive utopia—is crumbling under its own tax burden. For most of my upbringing, Minnesota did work better, Phillips lamented, pointing out that residents are now paying a lot more taxes… and not getting the services that we had. It’s a rare moment of candor from a blue-state insider, exposing the harsh reality of bloated government: sky-high taxes funding inefficiency, crime waves, and deteriorating infrastructure. Phillips, who hails from the Land of 10,000 Lakes, isn’t some wild-eyed conservative; he’s a Democrat who challenged Biden in the primaries, making his critique all the more damning.

This confession hits different when you zoom out to the Second Amendment lens. Minnesota’s tax explosion—property taxes up 20% in recent years, income taxes among the nation’s highest—hasn’t bought safer streets; it’s coincided with surging violent crime, including a 50% spike in carjackings in Minneapolis since 2020. Residents are shelling out more for less protection, while anti-2A policies like red-flag laws and assault weapon bans leave law-abiding folks defenseless against emboldened criminals. Phillips’ gripe underscores a broader truth: big-government experiments erode public safety, pushing armed self-reliance to the forefront. When services fail, the right to keep and bear arms isn’t a luxury—it’s the ultimate backstop against the chaos that high taxes and soft-on-crime DAs breed.

The implications for the 2A community are electric. Voices like Phillips cracking the progressive facade validate our warnings: overtaxed, underserved citizens will demand reciprocity, including robust self-defense rights. As Minnesota’s model falters—echoed in California and New York—expect more blue-state defections to pro-gun havens like Texas or Florida. This isn’t just about potholes; it’s a clarion call that government monopoly on force is a myth, and the people are waking up to their natural right to protect what’s theirs. Stay vigilant, patriots—Minnesota’s confession could be the tipping point.

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