Amanpour Podcast Summary
Episode: Former Minneapolis Chief of Police Medaria Arredondo
Date: January 26, 2026
Host: Bianna Golodryga (substituting for Christiane Amanpour)
Podcast: CNN Amanpour
Episode Overview
This episode examines the fallout from a second deadly federal immigration officer-involved shooting in Minneapolis, exploring its implications for policing, federal authority, civil liberties, and public trust. Guests include former Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arredondo, immigration policy expert David Bier of the Cato Institute, and former Columbia University President Lee Bollinger, who discuss the crisis in Minneapolis, the expansion of federal power, and the defense of academic freedom.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Federal Shooting Fallout in Minneapolis
Guest: Medaria Arredondo, Former Minneapolis Police Chief
Host: Bianna Golodryga
A. Eroding Community Trust after Second Shooting
- The city is in turmoil following the killing of Alex Preddy, a registered nurse, by Border Patrol just weeks after another fatal shooting by an immigration officer.
- Multiple bystander videos contradict Department of Homeland Security (DHS) statements that Preddy posed a deadly threat.
"What we have right now...is a crisis of credibility."
— Medaria Arredondo [03:43]
B. Federal Agents vs. Local Police: Strained Relations
- An influx of ~3,000 federal agents (Border Patrol, ICE) into a city with only 600 police officers has increased tension and reduced local capacity.
"There has not been the sort of traditional cooperation and communication that federal partners in local departments...have had standing for many years. That makes it incredibly difficult."
— Arredondo [05:30]
- The federal surge stretches local resources and "increases uncertainty and fear" within neighborhoods.
C. Premature Official Judgements & Protocol Breach
- DHS and Border Patrol leaders quickly labeled Preddy an "armed suspect" and suggested self-defense, despite conflicting video evidence.
- Arredondo criticizes making such accusations before investigations conclude.
"You're not going to make those types of statements, particularly when there's been no investigation completed."
— Arredondo [09:52]
D. Use of Force and Escalation
- Video shows Preddy being pepper-sprayed at close range, then shot after being disarmed and surrounded by multiple officers.
- Arredondo highlights this as a failure of de-escalation training.
"Using the pepper spray, that would seem to escalate situations..."
— Arredondo [11:02]
- He notes the firearm was lawfully carried and removed from Preddy before shots were fired, questioning the justification for lethal force.
E. Contrast with Local Policing Tactics
- Minneapolis officers typically handle gun removals without resorting to shooting.
"Minneapolis Police recovered about 900 guns...and we didn't shoot anyone."
— Current Chief O'Hara (quoted by Arredondo) [13:57]
F. Political Dynamics
- President Trump’s administration claims "success" elsewhere but public backlash and communication with Minnesota's governor suggest efforts to de-escalate.
- Arredondo hopes for an "off-ramp" to mutual agreement and restoration of peace.
G. Personal Reflection
- Arredondo remains emotionally invested in Minneapolis, expressing empathy for both the community and officers impacted by these events.
2. Federal Power, Civil Liberties, and State Sovereignty
Guest: David Bier, Director of Immigration Studies, Cato Institute
Host: Bianna Golodryga
A. Federal Militarization and Overreach
- Minneapolis is flooded with federal immigration officers, far beyond any real enforcement need, leading to more interactions with bystanders and observers rather than actual suspects.
"You have literally dozens of agents on the streets…not having anything to do except interact with bystanders...The result is these tragic incidents."
— David Bier [20:43]
- Officers are accused of viewing filming/observation as illegal, escalating to confrontations that infringe First Amendment rights.
B. Legal and Constitutional Questions
- Ongoing legal battles center on whether the federal surge violates state sovereignty (Tenth Amendment).
- Early signs suggest judicial skepticism toward Minnesota’s arguments, reflecting long-standing concerns about unaccountable federal police presence.
C. Second Amendment Tensions
- Preddy was legally armed; federal statements imply mere possession of a gun near agents was grounds for lethal force — a stance Bier denounces.
"It is a absolute ironclad right...So the idea that somehow the fact that he had a gun is in of itself some reason that he should have been...assaulted by law enforcement makes no sense."
— Bier [26:58]
D. Political Leverage and Demands
- Attorney General Pam Bondi implied ICE/federal agents would leave if Minnesota conformed their policies (ending sanctuary policies, providing welfare data, etc.); Governor Walz called this “a provocation.”
"No, not at all. This is really getting at the strongest part…they’re trying to coerce the state into totally changing its laws…by imposing this many agents on the street."
— Bier [28:48]
E. Presidential De-Escalation—Genuine or Not?
- Bier is skeptical that President Trump’s hints at de-escalation will yield meaningful policy change.
"He is the one who sent all these agents to Minnesota... I do not believe we will see a serious change."
— Bier [30:04]
3. Hostage Recovery & Gaza Update
Guest: Jeremy Dimon, CNN Correspondent
- Israel retrieved the body of Ron Gvili, the last Israeli hostage in Gaza.
- The recovery marks closure for Israel and signals a possible shift in Gaza ceasefire and humanitarian efforts.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu stresses disarmament and demilitarization of Gaza, which may diverge from U.S. and international reconstruction priorities.
4. Attacks on Academic Freedom and Democracy
Guest: Lee Bollinger, Former President, Columbia University
Interviewer: Michelle Martin
A. Historic Federal Intrusion
- Current federal attacks on academia are compared to McCarthyism and threaten the independence and mission of universities.
"The level of intrusion, the threat to academic freedom...is much more imperative today than it really has been in modern history."
— Bollinger [37:43]
B. Assault on Democratic Values
- Universities, like the press, are at the frontline of democratic erosion.
"We’re witnessing a tectonic shift…toward the use of authoritarian tactics that threaten our democratic form of government."
— (Michelle Martin quotes from Bollinger’s book) [38:36]
- Key institutions (business, media, law) have capitulated too quickly out of fear of federal power.
C. Collective Action is Crucial
- Effective resistance requires broad, cross-sector solidarity and collective action from civil society.
"Only when civil society broadly acts and rises up and says this cannot stand do you really have effective resistance."
— Bollinger [42:18]
D. Value of Universities
- Universities extend far beyond elite benefits; they are vital for societal advancement, economic growth, and knowledge.
"It benefits everybody in the society…universities are at the very forefront of that."
— Bollinger [43:05]
E. Funding Pressure and Broader Impact
- Political interference and funding cuts threaten the research ecosystem and U.S. global academic leadership.
- Harvard’s legal resistance to federal overreach is presented as a possible model for other institutions.
"Universities need to be much clearer about their identity…They need to make that claim."
— Bollinger [47:45]
5. Tribute—Dr. William Foege
- Brief remembrance of Dr. William Foege, architect of the smallpox eradication campaign.
Notable Quotes
- Arredondo: "What we have right now...is a crisis of credibility." [03:43]
- Arredondo: "More doesn't mean better...adding in additional federal agents...increasing the uncertainty and the fear." [05:30]
- Bier: "You have literally dozens of agents on the streets…not having anything to do except interact with bystanders..." [20:43]
- Bier: "It is a absolute ironclad right...So the idea that somehow the fact that he had a gun is in of itself some reason that he should have been...assaulted by law enforcement makes no sense." [26:58]
- Bollinger: "The level of intrusion, the threat to academic freedom...is much more imperative today than it really has been in modern history." [37:43]
- Bollinger: "Only when civil society broadly acts and rises up and says this cannot stand do you really have effective resistance." [42:18]
Key Timestamps
- 03:43: Arredondo addresses the "crisis of credibility"
- 05:30: Concerns about federal-local police cooperation
- 09:52: Appropriateness of early labeling by authorities
- 11:02: Arredondo on pepper spray and escalation
- 13:57: Chief O'Hara's record of de-escalation (quoted)
- 20:43: Bier on the real targets of federal enforcement
- 26:58: Second Amendment concerns with federal overreach
- 28:48: Bondi's coercive demands; Bier critiques motivation
- 37:43: Bollinger links current federal attacks to McCarthyism
- 42:18: Importance of collective action to defend democracy
Conclusion
This episode of Amanpour delivers a comprehensive look at the acceleration of federal-fueled turbulence in Minneapolis, concerns about constitutional overreach, and the broader implications for American civil society and academia. Through candid interviews and analysis, the episode underscores deepening crises of trust and calls for unified resistance to authoritarian tactics—both on the streets and within America’s core institutions.