Balance of Power: US Pulls 700 Agents From Minneapolis

Podcast: Bloomberg – Balance of Power
Date: February 4, 2026
Hosts: Joe Mathieu, Kailey Leinz
Featured Guests: Tyler Kendall (Bloomberg Washington Correspondent), Mitch Landrieu (former Mayor of New Orleans), Heather Conley (AEI), Rick Davis (Stone Court Capital), Jeannie Shanzano (Harvard Kennedy School)

Episode Overview

This episode covers breaking developments in U.S. policy and politics, notably the Trump administration’s decision to withdraw 700 ICE agents from Minneapolis following national controversy over federal enforcement tactics. The hosts examine the political and social fallout from ICE raids, ongoing negotiations over funding and restructuring at the Department of Homeland Security, and a consequential uptick in U.S.—China/Iran/Russia diplomacy. Interview highlights include an in-depth conversation with Mitch Landrieu on federal-local law enforcement tensions and a geopolitical analysis with Heather Conley on U.S.-Iran negotiations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. US-China Relations – Trump’s Call With Xi Jinping

Timestamps: 01:34 – 04:15

• President Trump’s call with Chinese President Xi ahead of a highly anticipated April state visit was described as a "long and thorough call" with wide-ranging topics: trade, military, Taiwan, Russia-Ukraine war, Iran, energy purchases, and U.S. agricultural goods.
• Deliverables:
  • China’s commitment to ramp up U.S. soybean purchases to 20 million tons for the current season (up from 12 million tons), and up to 25 million tons next year—though enforcement remains an issue.
  • Discussion of Xi’s prior call with Russian President Putin.
• Quote:
  • Tyler Kendall: “It was almost a check in ahead of President Trump's visit to Beijing... [Soybean purchases] is going to be a metric we watch closely.” (02:50)

2. Critical Minerals Summit – Countering China’s Market Dominance

Timestamps: 04:15 – 06:11

• The U.S. pushes forward with a $12B critical minerals stockpile, assembling 55 countries for a summit.
• New action plans (non-binding) between the U.S., EU, Japan, and Mexico address concerns about China flooding markets and undercutting Western firms.
• Focus on establishing price floors for imports and “bolstering supply chains.”
• Quote:
  • Rep. Krishnamoorthy (via clip): “The Chinese Communist Party destroys their competition by flooding the market with critical minerals at costs beneath production.”

3. Minneapolis ICE Drawdown – Major Domestic Flashpoint

Timestamps: 06:11 – 11:37

• Official Announcement: Trump administration, via Tom Homan, draws down 700 ICE agents in Minneapolis after significant unrest and controversy over tactics.
• Context: Minneapolis had 3,000 ICE agents deployed (versus 600 police officers), raising local-federal tensions.
• Contention: The withdrawal is linked to “unprecedented collaboration,” but skepticism remains regarding the sincerity and impact of this move.

4. Interview: Mitch Landrieu – Perspective on Federal-Law Enforcement Dynamics

Timestamps: 08:42 – 16:08

• Landrieu’s View: Federal-local law enforcement partnerships work only when based on cooperation and proper training. He criticizes ICE under Trump, Miller, and Homan as having become a quasi-militarized force acting outside acceptable norms.
• Concerns Raised:
  • Lack of accountability, overuse of force, and poor training for ICE in contrast to other law enforcement like police, FBI, DEA.
  • Calls for more background checks, de-escalation training, and the use of body cameras.
• Memorable Quotes:
  • “No mayor … would not receive help from federal agencies to help root out crime … but that’s not what’s happening.” (09:44)
  • “If you can’t trust the police to treat you in the right way, you’re not going to cooperate with them. It just doesn’t work.” (15:27)
  • “Most Americans think what ICE is doing is making us less safe. And I happen to agree with that.” (11:07)
• On Masking ICE Agents:
  • Argues for police transparency and accountability; masking represents “no accountability and not being able to question somebody’s authority.”

5. Political Response and Senate Viewpoints

Timestamps: 11:37 – 16:08

• Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX): Blames “non-cooperation” of sanctuary jurisdictions for violence, suggesting protests would be safer with closer cooperation with ICE.
• Landrieu’s Counter:
  • Rejects “blaming the victim,” and asserts that ICE is not following the standards of professional law enforcement.
  • “They have given us a bad name. … Most people think they are out of control.”

6. The ICE Debate: Reform or Abolish?

Timestamps: 17:47 – 21:05

• Rep. Christian Menefee (D-TX): Calls for abolishing ICE due to institutional problems and “radicalization.”
• Landrieu’s Advice on Messaging:
  • Rejects “abolish without replacement” (and “defund the police” slogans).
  • Emphasizes right-sizing ICE funding, focusing on real public safety threats (not immigrants per se), redistributing massive ICE budget to other enforcement priorities.

7. Confederate Symbols & Public Memory

Timestamps: 21:05 – 23:36

• Context: Return of Confederate monuments/statues in D.C.; President proposes new Columbus statue.
• Landrieu’s Perspective:
  • “The myth of the Lost Cause... is a lie. … Had Robert E. Lee succeeded, we wouldn’t be here today.”
  • Supports memorializing history in cemeteries, not as public honor; calls for facing history honestly as patriotic duty.

8. Political Panel – Analysis and Next Steps

Timestamps: 25:31 – 34:45

• Rick Davis (Republican): Sees the Minneapolis drawdown as incremental progress; de-escalation in response to public outrage offers “more constructive dialogue” but notes situation is volatile.
  • “One more shooting by an ICE agent … is going to blow all that up. We are dancing on the edge of a pin.” (27:33)
• Jeannie Shanzano (Democrat): Highlights deep Democratic mistrust over masked ICE agents and the real motives of federal authorities, especially given “3,000 ICE officers sent there … with a very small number of immigrants.”
• Masking Debate: Both panelists agree on the importance of restoring public trust via accountability and demasking, aligning ICE with other law enforcement standards.

9. U.S.–Iran Negotiations & Regional Tensions

Timestamps: 36:12 – 44:54

• Heather Conley (AEI): Details U.S./Iranian negotiation dance over nuclear and military issues; Iran resists broad talks, seeking to limit scope to nuclear, excluding regional issues and proxies.
• Diplomacy or War:
  • U.S. bolsters regional military presence while keeping diplomatic engagement open; Iran tests boundaries (recent drone incident).
  • Challenges: Unclear U.S. military objectives; risk of escalation and regional spillover if diplomacy fails.
• Quotes:
  • “This is gunboat diplomacy … compelling Iran to the negotiating table.” (37:52)
  • “Both were testing each other's boundaries, and this is where you have to clearly and decisively deter that behavior.” (44:18)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Mitch Landrieu:

  • “There is no mayor in America that I’m aware of that would not receive help … but that’s actually not what’s happening and it’s a shame.” (09:44)
  • “I thought defunding the police was a really dumb slogan. Sometimes you need more money than less.” (18:37)

• Rick Davis:

  • “We are dancing on the edge of a pin. But right now … we’re still having conversations that could result in a positive change.” (27:33)

• Heather Conley:

  • “Both were testing each other's boundaries… you have to clearly and decisively deter that behavior.” (44:18)
  • “The myth of the Lost Cause, which was that the Civil War was fought for a noble cause, is a lie.” (21:43, via Landrieu)

Timeline & Timestamps

• 01:34: Overview of Trump-Xi call and implications for U.S.-China relations
• 04:15: Critical minerals coalition to counter China’s dominance
• 06:11: Breaking: ICE drawdown in Minneapolis; context and administration rationale
• 08:42: Interview: Mitch Landrieu on law enforcement, federalism, ICE
• 11:37: Landrieu responds to Sen. Cornyn on “non-cooperation”
• 14:07: Masking debate—transparency and accountability in law enforcement
• 17:47: Rep. Menefee’s call to “tear down” ICE; Landrieu’s pragmatic response
• 21:05: Confederate monuments’ return—politics of public memory
• 25:31: Political panel: Rick Davis and Jeannie Shanzano analyze ICE, Congressional negotiations
• 29:45: Masking issue’s political future; panel perspectives
• 36:12: Heather Conley on U.S.-Iran talks, military risks, and regional strategy