Tim Kaine in CNN "State of the Union" interviews during 2018

On Gun Control: Background checks get bipartisan support after marches

KAINE: Bluntly, the NRA leadership, funded by gun manufacturers, has basically been able to gridlock everything in Congress now for nearly decades. That's why Congress has not been willing to act, even to do things that an overwhelming majority of the American public want us to do. But the activism of these young people is actually changing the equation.

Q: These young people see inaction from all of Congress, Republicans and Democrats. Does your party bear responsibility too?

KAINE: Yes, Democrats participated, for example, to give gun manufacturers liability protection, to wall off the CDC from researching gun violence. But this now goes back a ways. In recent years, the Democratic Party in Congress has been nearly unified, especially on background checks, for example. Very few Republicans would support it.

On Immigration: DREAMers & DACA saved by executive order, not Congress

(BEGIN VIDEO) TRUMP: I say this to DACA recipients--that the Republicans are with you. They want to get your situation taken care of. The Democrats fought us. They did not want DACA in this bill.

(END VIDEO) Q: Do Democrats risk losing the support of Americans who overwhelmingly want this fixed?

KAINE: That quote of the president, he is either lying or he is completely delusional. Why is there DACA? Because a Democratic president, President Obama, supported by Democratic legislators, put it in place in 2012. Why is DACA threatened? Because a Republican president, Donald Trump, supported by Republican legislators, announced that the program was going to be ended. One person can save DACA. If President Trump believes in DACA, all he has to do is retract his executive order from September, where he broke a promise to DREAMers and said he was going to end the program.