← Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present
Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present
NEW: Ilhan Omar Assaulted at Town Hall; "Staged" Immediately Becomes Trending Topic
00:22:18
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- [00:00]
A
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.
- [00:15]
B
Hey there folks. It is Wednesday, January 28, and it was an incredible day and night of developments out of Minneapolis, including a US Congresswoman attacked, assaulted, and it's all on camera at one of our town hall meetings last night. Welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ Robes. Did I get ahead of myself? We came on yesterday, I was really excited to say, hey, the tone has come down, the tensions have come down. And then yesterday we things got a little more heated.
- [00:46]
A
Absolutely. And look, I when you look and see what happened at Ilhan Omar's town hall meeting, that certainly was unfortunate and concerning because the rhetoric we keep talking about this when politicians start throwing barbs at other politicians and start blaming other politicians for problems or accusing them of malfeasance and et cetera. Yes, you have outliers out there who take those words and put them into action. We have seen it time and time and time again. Thankfully, this one didn't amount to much. It didn't appear that Ilhan Omar was injured in any way. But who knew at the time what was in that substance that this man came up and squirted her with in a town hall meeting.
- [01:31]
B
And there were a stack of significant developments yesterday, including that one in particular. You will see headlines. We will give you some context for it if you haven't seen the video. But it was really concerning robes. When I first saw the headlines before seeing the video, attacked, assaulted. Now all of that is true. Given though what we have seen over the past year when it comes to politicians and gunfire and assaults and attacks, I thought the worst the video. Actually I was a little relieved. It's still scary, but a little relieved. So we're going to give some context at least, folks, what that video does show. But that was certainly a major headline coming out of Minneapolis. Also, preliminary investigation resulted in this headline. There were two agents who fired shots in that incident that killed Alex Preddy. Also growing calls for Kristi Noem to be fired and if not impeachment. We'll get into that. Also, Trump made various comments having to do with Alex Preddy, Kristi Noem, also the guy who just got demoted out of his job as commander there in Minneapolis. We'll get into that. Trump did use the word demons deescalate. That is a big deal. And two judges made two significant rulings yesterday. One is threatening to throw the ICE director in jail. We'll explain. And the other judge blocked a five year old from being deported. A story that really pulled to the heartstrings Of a lot of people. But Robes, let's start with Ilhan Omar last night trying to give a town hall in Minneapolis. And of course cameras were rolling.
- [03:03]
A
That's right. So look, she was up at a podium. It was, it was a small town hall meeting. It was a small room. And as she started talking about Kristi Noem, a man who was sitting in the front row and it's, it was odd because there were cameras on him and I don't know how what your impressions were, but he was drinking out of a water bottle. But it looked like vodka might have been in that water. But he looked drunk to me.
- [03:27]
B
Okay.
- [03:28]
A
His facial expressions, he looked, he looked inebriated.
- [03:32]
B
He certainly was dishevel. That's funny. You. I didn't think about it. The way you put it, he looked like. No, it looked like it was a water bottle, but he looked like somebody who was been drinking quite a while. He was a mess.
- [03:43]
A
It looked like vodka was in that water.
- [03:45]
B
Clear observation again, not making any indictment on the guy, but it's. He looked a bit of a mess. And yes, people were pointing out to your point, Robes, at the very beginning of this thing, there was a shot of him as an individual. Why? Don't know. Could have been random, whatever. But yes, according to that.
- [04:01]
A
So he jumps up and I hate to say squirt seems like it's so. But that is what he did. He squirted. That's what it looked like, a substance on her. Folks who were in the room said it smelled terrible, like vinegar. He was immediately tackled and taken away and charged an assault charge. Third.
- [04:21]
B
Third degree.
- [04:22]
A
Third degree assault charge. His name is 55 year old Anthony Kazmierzik. I'm. I'm not sure. It's a tough name with a lot of consonants, but that is his name. And now you pointed out to me to look on X and to see what one of the big trending topics is. And it's staged because a lot of people have looked at this video and are now claiming that it was staged, that this wasn't a real attack, that this was orchestrated by Ilhan Omar.
- [04:51]
B
And between and within the past hour at least before we came on staged, simply the word staged was the number one trending topic on X. As we sit here now of this recording, I see it's the number three trending topic. But robes, that's a lot of people talking about that and a lot of. Obviously you would, you know, it's coming from a certain segment of the political population, but they are examining this video, and they are breaking down every head movement, every nod, every time her eyes move and suggesting that she signaled to this guy, go.
- [05:26]
A
It was a very small head nod. I looked for it. I was like, really? That's what you're pointing to as the signal that she gave him to jump up and fake attack her. Look, some people said that because he was sitting in the front row, because the camera was fixated on him beforehand because of that head nod. They also say she didn't duck like a normal person when she was attacked. They said that the cameras were just too conveniently fixed on this man. So, yes, there are people who are going to say this and believe it and think that she did this to insert herself and say, now she's a victim of a political attack.
- [06:06]
B
That's a lot. And yes, that's to be expected. What's not to be expected? I think it throws a lot of people. I don't know her well. We spent a decent amount of time with her, always found her pleasant. Don't know her well. We know it's reported. We know about her public Persona and her background, at least to that degree. We also know what the president has been saying about her. That's pretty much it. You watch this video Robe. She didn't cower. In fact, she left the podium and went after this guy as he was being grabbed by somebody, and she quite literally put her fist up and was about to clock this guy. Yes. For most people, you might see that and say, that is not a normal reaction. And then there are other people from other segments of the population and go, yeah, I recognize that. Like, she. She's built different. She's from somewhere else. She's. That. Her mindset could quite possibly be to defend. And by defending, I don't run. I'm gonna come right back at you now. I don't know her personality, but I recognized something in that video. When I saw her do that, I was like, whoa.
- [07:14]
A
She. I mean, that's, to me, the biggest point against anyone who's claiming this was staged. She was angry, she was pissed. And people pointed to the fact that she just came back in 10 minutes, got a napkin, wiped her eyes, and came back and finished. But I. I see that as her actually reacting naturally. That was natural to her from being attacked and thankfully not being hurt or injured by what was ever. What was in that liquid. If it was just vinegar, who knows? But I think that was a reasonable response for somebody who was pissed off and has been under attack verbally for months. Like, actually Last night while Trump was in Iowa talking about her again. I can't remember a speech recently where he hasn't invoked her name and saying.
- [08:04]
B
How much money she has in the bank, that she married her brother, that she is not in the country legally and that she should go back to her shit country. He has said all those things publicly and has almost put a target on her to a certain degree. So this actually is probably in line with what's to be expected. We should probably be fair to almost not be surprised that this hasn't happened more often. You look at what happens to her and it looks innocuous enough because it's just a clear liquid. It's not some big. Even a cup of water or a big cup of liquid. Couple of little squirts didn't hit her in the face. Got her in the. In the chest, the torso area. So, yes, no harm, but no physical harm. There's a lot of harm in what we just saw. Who's next?
- [08:50]
A
Yes. And how is she? I mean, look, she. She kind of took the situation and. And as you pointed out, TR chased down this guy and was visibly upset and continued on with her, with her speech. But I don't know, doesn't that. Wouldn't that mess with your head to know the next time you were around folks, the next time you were in front of a group, what could possibly happen? I mean, that's just some scary stuff. And in one of the posts on X, I thought this was interesting. They started it out saying, if you think Ilhan Omar's attack was legit, you might have the IQ of a Somali. Just continuing that rhetoric of Somalis being stupid and idiotic and not worth anything. It's just. It's frightening.
- [09:34]
B
It's the same thing. I mean, we have something now. We've given more red meat to extremists to go fight about something. That's all this is just a distraction from something else. Who knows what this guy's motivations were, but this is. We thought things were going to come down again. We mentioned Rose. We have so many headlines. And I almost felt silly for being a little too optimistic because I thought yesterday was really a turning point and now it's blown up in a significant way here. And this scene was an ugly one. We'll see what happens with him. Don't know but robes to think now that she staged this, is this what we're doing? So we can't even agree about this now. We can't believe anything. Everybody is up to something. We don't trust anything we see.
- [10:21]
A
I had that same thought when I was reading these X posts and I thought, wow, you. Even the video that we see, we argue about what we're seeing. Anything that happens, we question the validity of it. Is it real? We can't trust videos. We can't trust images. We can't trust people. No one trusts anyone. It's scary. That's scary.
- [10:48]
B
All right, well, Ilhan Omar, again, not. Not injured. And she did continue on with her speech. Can you imagine, though there tell. Oh, I think some accusations are. You can tell it's staged. Obviously, no woman, a woman should cower. That is a woman should run. A woman should be scared. So given that this woman didn't do that, that's further evidence. That is so offensive that it's staged.
- [11:09]
A
That I read those same comments. That is so offensive. That's not how women react.
- [11:13]
B
Right. You know what? President Trump would have gone back on that stage and continued his speech if they would have let him after his ear was shot.
- [11:21]
A
Yes.
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B
Right. You see how defiant he was. And a bullet just flew past him. But that's. Right, that's his reaction. But her reaction should have been something else.
- [11:32]
A
Yes. And by the way, I did see on, I'm sure you saw it too on X, that folks on the other side of the aisle were. Were then putting up the President Trump being shot in the ear and saying this was staged. So.
- [11:43]
B
Oh, God.
- [11:44]
A
Yes, people were firing back with that.
- [11:46]
B
Oh, God. Oh, okay. So again, got ahead of myself. Saying things. Things are starting to calm down there in Minneapolis. Go through of some of the other headlines. Internal review. This was done by Border Patrol. They do have to do one of these. But this was based on a body cam footage that they reviewed. But I guess the headline here rope some of this stuff we already see ourselves from the video. But they did confirm it was more than one federal agent that fired that day.
- [12:12]
A
Yes, and they mentioned two agents fired, that Preddy did resist. But this was of note, they did not put in this report that he had taken out his gun. There was no mention of him brandishing his gun, taking out his gun. However, they do mention that Border Patrol agents on the scene there in that scene, scuffle, started yelling, gun, gun, gun. And we heard that in the video for ourselves.
- [12:37]
B
So some of that was obvious. We saw already. But yes, that at least that detail about more than one agent's firing was of note. Also, Kristi Noem, she has been, you know what, she has been on tv. We see her everywhere. We get in line to take a plane. We see her. We. She is everywhere these days because of what's going on. But now, folks, robes are saying she should be out of a job. And if she isn't out of it, wait, first, resign. Don't resign. Trump, fire her. Trump, you don't fire. We're going to impeach her. That's where we are now.
- [13:07]
A
Yes. And yes, Hakeem Jeffries, of note, said Kristi Noem should be fired immediately or we will commence impeachment proceedings in the House. And that impeachment resolution right now has 150 sponsors. And of note, including those who are calling for her resignation, as you might imagine, Democrats, but now two Republicans are also calling for her resignation.
- [13:28]
B
Yeah, that's fairly significant right now. We should note, yes, they can talk about impeachment and beat the drum all day long, but chances of an impeachment, given that Republicans control the House and the Senate, very, very unlikely. Meanwhile, the president was talking yesterday. He went to Iowa. He had a speech there planned, but on his way getting aboard Air Force One. And then after he got to Iowa, ropes. He made several comments and he. What a big word for the president to use.
- [13:55]
A
De escalate. Yes, finally. That was long overdue. And you. That was what you were talking about yesterday. And the hope you had. The hope we all have had and that we continue to have. But yes, it does matter. Words matter. And for him to say deescalate. He said a little bit, but still, fine, take. We'll take the smallest amount of de escalation. It's better than the opposite.
- [14:17]
B
He could have said anything. De escalate slightly. De escalate just a skosh. I don't care what he said after de escalate, long as de escalate came out of his mouth. He did talk about Alex Preddy yesterday in that assassination. Excuse me, excuse me, excuse me. And talked about Preddy and Preddy's killing. You'll understand here in a second. The word assassin. I'm reading in front of me. He was asked about whether or not Preddy was an assassin. Those are words that Gregory Pavino, the former commander in charge there on the ground, a word he used. President was asked specifically if he thought Alex Preddy was an assassin. This was significant. It was short, but it was significant.
- [14:55]
A
He said no. We had to rewind the video a couple times to hear him say it because we saw the headlines like, wait, did he say no? He did say no. He did add that Preddy should not have been carrying a gun, which was interesting. Because that drew some ire from the NRA who said that President Trump should be careful about what he says about gun ownership. And then when he was asked about Bavino thought this was funny, this was really interesting. He said, he's a pretty out there guy. Maybe that wasn't good here. So, yes, that was the best you're going to get about him. Second guessing a decision to put Vivino in Minneapolis.
- [15:28]
B
You know, that's what you say in private. I've said that to, like talking about friends or something. Somebody took somebody to a party and they cut up the night before. And the next day you talk about. He said, yeah, that dude's wild, ain't he?
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A
Yeah. Maybe he shouldn't have come to the party.
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B
Yeah, you just kind of embrace and we all understand. But to hear the president kind of dismiss, like, yeah, he's something, ain't he?
- [15:46]
A
It's interesting as we watch President Trump in some of these very serious times where people choose their words very carefully, it's like he is just stream of consciousness. He just says whatever he thinks and lets the chips fall where they may.
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B
Some of us in other people, we seem to embrace that or even encourage that from your president.
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A
Sometimes it's a little disconcerting. Maybe you should have thought about that before you said it out loud. Okay. I mean, at least it's an honest reaction. I do think that you, you can say that about him.
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B
You know, I think this was an honest reaction, too, about Renee Goode. It's a bizarre thing to say. It also got headlines, but he talked about Renee Goode's parents. He said Renee Goode's parents were supporters of his. And because of that, it made him feel a little differently about her death. The way he put to your point, stream of consciousness, but to hear him say, makes me feel bad anyway. But, I mean, I guess you could say even worse. He was saying he feels even worse that she's dead because his parents are. Her parents are Trump supporters. Again, stream of consciousness. Maybe that's true.
- [16:52]
A
On par for him, though.
- [16:53]
B
Maybe he's making some point you can understand. But he did say that out loud. But stay here, folks. To federal judges made significant decisions and announcements yesterday that could change things on the ground in Minneapolis. Stay here. All right, folks, we continue on this Wednesday. Last. Couple of things we want to update you about happened in Minneapolis yesterday. One of them, this is going to be interesting to watch on Friday. What's gonna happen on Friday because the acting director of ICE has been told to get his butt to court.
- [17:31]
A
In Minneapolis or else Robes facing contempt of court charges if he does not show up for court. The ICE director, is he allowed to take the 5th if he wants to?
- [17:43]
B
Wow. No, no, no, no, no, he's not that. No, no, no, no. I'm sorry. You made me stop and think. No, no, no, he's not.
- [17:50]
A
Was being investigated could somehow implicate him in criminal activity. I was just curious, is he actually going to have to sit there and, and, and testify?
- [17:58]
B
But he has to answer because the judge said he. The judge called it dozens. And we have Robes, we've. There's been a lot of court activity there. But this judge said dozens of orders have been ignored by the administration. And he said you need to get in here and answer for it. And potentially contempt of court charges. Now talk about a headline in a video. If you see the ICE director in handcuffs going to jail, that would be something.
- [18:26]
A
Todd Lyons is his name. And it's interesting with all the names we've had floating around that we now know are now household names, Todd Lyons isn't up there for me. So it's somehow. He has been able to kind of stay somehow beneath the fray or at least the headlines. But he is the acting ICE director and no more for him come Friday.
- [18:44]
B
You know what? I think a lot of them would have preferred to stay under the. The ICE director is getting no attention right now.
- [18:51]
A
Well, he's about to get a big bright white spotlight.
- [18:54]
B
All right. Well, the last thing from judge yesterday and again this was the one that pulled it. A lot of heartstrings. Robes, the story five year old boy. Everybody saw this video being detained along with his father. This was last week. I said they were doing a targeted operation going after the dad who then they say was in the country illegally. But he had just come home robed in the vehicle in the driveway with his son. 5 year old. The dad ran, left the boy there. I stayed with the boy. But then they say they gave him an option. Do you want your child to go with you or not? And he said yes. So they were both moved to a family detention facility in Texas. That's getting worked out. The judge said you cannot deport the dad or the son until all this gets adjudicated. But Robes, a lot of the damage was done. I say damage, but it was, it was. Look, we should see what's going on there. And we see a lot of clashes and violence, but man, to see those little five year old eyes caught up in all of this. It was an important picture to see.
- [19:52]
A
It was because there was this sweet little innocent 5 year old. And look, the others will say that they used ICE agents, used the five year old as bait to get the dad to come back and used him to try and detain the dad, which is a tactic that I don't think anybody in this country wants to see happen. But yes, his sweet little hat he had on, the backpack, it came from school. Yeah, he just come from school. And so yes, this is. Look, anytime we can humanize these stories and yes, obviously folks want the letter of the law to be followed. We, I think, in this country have laws in place so that they can be acted upon. Yes, that's how our country works. And yet still we need to see the human side of things sometimes. And that little boy embodied what a lot of people are feeling.
- [20:36]
B
We haven't put it together yet. The balance between law and order and decency, like both things can be true. You could be an American who absolutely believes that undocumented folks who are here illegally have skirt our laws should be picked up and they should be taken out of the country. You can believe that, but also think in doing so you show some humanity, some respect, some grace for the child or the mom or the spouse who's having that person pulled, plucked out of their life. There's. We haven't found the right way to talk about it.
- [21:11]
A
We've dehumanized the people here and I say we. But that comes from the administration calling all and really, truly throwing this blanket over so many folks who are here undocumented as rapists, murderers, the worst of the worst. And, and so now we just have this in our heads, that anyone who's being arrested or who ICE is going after is in that category and it's just not always the case, obviously.
- [21:36]
B
Well, folks, we just wanted to hop on, give you that up. I say that update those updates should mention Tom Holman is there now. The new point person did meet with Jacob Fry, the mayor of Minneapolis and also with Governor Waltz of Minnesota. By all accounts, Robes. Those went fine. Did nothing earth shattering, but had good stuff. Starts initial conversations. We'll keep an eye on what's happening in Minneapolis today. We'll have the morning run up for you here in just a little bit on the feed. We always appreciate you spending some time here with us, but for my dear amy Robach, I'm T.J. holmes. We will be talking to you all very, very soon.
- [22:22]
A
This is an I Heart podcast, guaranteed human.