A beloved photo of Walz and Emmer laughing together has resurfaced on social media

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One of my favorite photos — something I’ve kept bookmarked on my phone for years to look at when I’m feeling down or discouraged — recently became part of a national political debate. I have mixed feelings about it.

It’s a photo of Tim Walz and Tom Emmer taken in 2015 when they were both representing Minnesota in Congress. I don’t know who took it, but it’s a relatively low-resolution pic by modern standards. It was taken in a dimly lit theater, making their frames and faces the only things popping out of a dark background. They’re sitting shoulder to shoulder, both wearing dark suits, white shirts and corn-colored ties.

The reason I’ve kept this photo for years is because of what these two men from two different political parties and two very different ideological perspectives are doing in it. They are smiling, laughing and sharing a moment of joy … together.

What’s captured in the picture is not just a chuckle. Walz and Emmer are both in the throes of jollity. Their faces are alight with the happiness that only comes from a true, whole-body laugh. Walz is clapping and smiling so wide he can’t keep his eyes open. Emmer is cracking up so hard he’s wiping a tear from his eye. He looks like he might roll off his chair into Walz’s lap.

To me this photo represents the power of laughter to bring people together. Republican Rep. Emmer and Walz, now Minnesota’s Democratic governor, don’t see eye to eye on much politically. But in that image, they are sharing a deeply human moment. They are connected on something bigger than politics. If two professional politicians can connect and laugh together, so can any of us.

For context, the photo was taken at a show of the Theater of Public Policy, a project I co-founded with Brandon Boat in Minneapolis back in 2011. In each show, I interview one or more smart people in front of a live audience. Then a team of improv comedy performers takes what the guests have said and brings it to life on stage through entirely unscripted improv comedy. The Star Tribune once described it as watching “CSPAN being suddenly swarmed by the cast of ‘SNL.‘ “

For this show, Walz and Emmer joined us while we were on tour in Washington, D.C. I interviewed them on stage about some tough issues. They also recounted stories, each making the other laugh. Emmer told a joke I use to this day.

Then the improv cast took everything said and reflected it back through unscripted comedy sketches. They weren’t making fun of anyone. Rather, they used humor to put a light on the absurdities of politics and on the ways we have more in common than we think.

The photo of Emmer and Walz cracking up was taken during that improv comedy portion of the show. The audience had a similar reaction — the theater was filled with Democrats, Republicans and independents all laughing together.

After the show, Walz and Emmer had good things to say. Emmer personally thanked me for doing something that brought people together. He even tweeted afterward how good a time he had with Walz.

With Walz now the Democratic vice presidential nominee, Emmer (or more likely his staff) has sent out rather harsh social media posts calling Walz unqualified and an “empty suit.”

In response, people have found and reposted Emmer’s old tweet about the Theater of Public Policy show, which included the picture in question and a nice comment about Walz. Even folks in national media have shared it to call out Emmer. It’s surreal to see this photo of Walz and Emmer laughing together that’s been on my phone for years now being shared on social media, reposted thousands of times.

But it’s disappointing to see that image of a very human moment of connection now used as a political cudgel. To me, this photo was always about how humor can overcome division. I don’t like it being used as a gotcha.

There’s a lot of nastiness and trolling in politics. There are a lot of people who make a living on trying to divide us further.

Yet that photo and the laughter in it are about hope. There’s joy in connecting and sharing this life with others — even (especially?) across the divides. That’s still in that photo and it’s still true in this country.

Tane Danger is the co-founder of Danger Boat Productions and the Theater of Public Policy. He lives in Minneapolis.