Bulwark Takes – DOJ Targets Tim Walz and Jacob Frey

Podcast: Bulwark Takes
Host: Sam Stein (Managing Editor at The Bulwark)
Date: January 17, 2026

Overview

This episode dives into breaking news from Minnesota:

A landmark federal court ruling limits the actions of federal agents, especially ICE and Border Patrol, against peaceful protesters in Minneapolis.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued unprecedented subpoenas to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, escalating tensions between the federal government and local Democratic leaders.
Host Sam Stein contextualizes these stories within the ongoing Operation Metro Surge and the political atmosphere following the fatal police shooting of Renee Goode.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Federal Judge’s Ruling Against Federal Agents

[01:30–06:03]

Background:
A federal judge, Kate Menendez (Biden appointee), issued an 80-page ruling barring federal agents in Minneapolis from arresting peaceful protesters or using non-lethal munitions/crowd control tools against them.
Motivation:
The ruling responds to increasing reports and disturbing footage showing aggressive federal actions, including ICE and Border Patrol agents using disproportionate force.
Testimonial Evidence:
Anecdotes include families traumatized by gas canisters—one notably where a six-month-old girl struggled to breathe after gas filled their car.
Video Clips Referenced (not played, but described):
- Cell phone video of ICE agents “pummeling some dude with his knee,” repeatedly hitting the defenseless man’s head.
  - Quoted directly:
    - "Hey, stop. Knee him in the face. That's his face. Stop it." (Narrated at [03:10])
- Another clip from CNN with DHS Secretary Chris Y. defending agent conduct as “by the book,” juxtaposed with footage of agents reportedly choking a person with their legs.
Key Provisions of the Ruling:
- Prohibits the use of pepper spray or non-lethal munitions on peaceful protestors.
- Bars the stopping or following of vehicles unless unsafe.
  - "Judge also prohibited federal agents from stopping vehicles... as long as those vehicles are maintaining a safe and appropriate distance." (Sam Stein, [05:17])
- Provides new legal space for protestors and press to document ICE activities without fear of retaliation.
Political and Legal Impact:
- Stein frames this as a significant victory for protest rights, though appeals are certain.
- He notes the apparent contradiction between claims of ICE being impeded and footage showing agents acting with “impunity.”

2. DOJ Subpoenas Target Minnesota Leaders

[06:04–10:45]

Event:
The DOJ issued subpoenas to Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey, alleging they are obstructing federal law enforcement.
- "The subpoenas, which are without recent precedent, escalate an already bitter political battle..." (Sam Stein quoting The Washington Post, [06:24])
Political Context:
- Both Walz and Frey are Democrats who have publicly criticized ICE and encouraged peaceful protest.
- They have also condemned any violent or riotous actions by protestors.
Subpoenas’ Significance:
- Stein casts these DOJ actions as unprecedented “weaponization” of federal power against political opposition:
  - "This is the weaponization of the Justice Department in ways that we have never seen." (Sam Stein, [08:30])
  - He underscores the irony that those making the accusation of “DOJ weaponization” are now doing it themselves.
Protest and Policing Background:
- Tensions are especially high after the police killing of Renee Goode.
Investigation Imbalances:
- While local officials are being targeted, the DOJ is “refusing to investigate the actions of the police officer who shot and killed Renee Goode.”
- "At least six US Attorneys in Minneapolis have resigned because the instructions from above are that the investigation into Renee Goode's shooting should focus on Renee Goode, her relatives, and whether she has any connection to some sort of, I don't know, nefarious organization that's whipping up these protests. They're refusing to investigate the officer." (Sam Stein, [09:27])
Systemic Issues Highlighted:
- The resignations of DOJ officials underscore dissent within federal legal circles.
- Ongoing daycare center corruption investigations provide an unusual nexus for these resignations and investigations, showing deeper problems in local-federal relations.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the intensity of ICE operations and Judge Menendez’s intervention:
- "This is a victory for people who care about the right to demonstrate, the right to protest, which are fundamental American rights..." (Sam Stein, [05:37])
On the irony and precedent of the DOJ actions:
- "When the Post says that this is without recent precedent, what they really mean is this is kind of without precedent... This is the weaponization of the Justice Department in ways that we have never seen." (Sam Stein, [08:15 & 08:30])
On the focus of the DOJ investigation post-Renee Goode’s killing:
- "They are refusing to investigate the officer. And so these U.S. attorneys resigned..." (Sam Stein, [09:40])
Summing up the bizarre state of justice and priorities:
- “Just to reiterate, what we know now is that the Justice Department is investigating and issuing subpoenas to Tim Walz, Jacob Frey, but they are refusing to look at the man who shot and killed Renee Goode. Seems ass backwards to me.” (Sam Stein, [10:18])

Timestamps for Important Segments

[01:30–06:03] – Breakdown of the federal judge’s order against ICE and law enforcement in Minneapolis
[03:10] – Description and reaction to violent ICE footage
[05:17] – Key points from Judge Menendez’s order
[06:04–10:45] – DOJ subpoenas to Walz and Frey; analysis of political motivation and precedent
[09:27] – Resignation of U.S. Attorneys over the Renee Goode investigation
[10:18] – Sam Stein’s summary and indictment of DOJ’s priorities

Summary Flow & Tone

Sam Stein delivers a direct, impassioned report with a tone of exhaustion (“It’s been a long week. I’m pretty tired.”) mixed with urgency and deep concern over “ass backwards” federal priorities and political targeting. The content is rich in local detail and national significance, framed as both a breaking news update and an alarm about civil liberties and misuse of federal power.

If you care about protest rights, DOJ overreach, or the ongoing powder keg of policing in America, this episode delivers essential context and fiery analysis.

Transcript

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Hey, everybody, it's me, Sam Stein, managing editor at the BoR. It's pretty late on Friday. It's been a long week. I'm pretty tired. But there's some breaking news out of Minnesota tonight. Actually, two pretty big stories that I just wanted to address and bring you. The first one I think is probably more important. Definitely more important, although it could be appealed. But a federal judge on Friday evening issued a ruling. I think it was like an 80 page ruling that was pretty significant. The ruling barred federal agents in Minneapolis from arresting peaceful protesters and from using non lethal munitions and crowd control tools against them. So obviously this is a big deal. You've been seeing tons of footage from Minneapolis showing ICE agents, Border patrol agents, federal agents really using aggressive tactics against peaceful demonstrators. We've had anecdotal evidence, we've had stories of families. There's one really horrifying story about this father who was taking his six kids home. I believe it was. And one of the girls, a six month old, couldn't even breathe because of they had launched gas canisters and they'd gone into the car. In theory, this, this ruling, this issue, this order from the federal judge should put a stop to that. Basically says you can't do that stuff. The, the judge who issued the order, U.S. district Judge Kate Menendez, a Biden appointee. The thing is, it's going to be appealed, right? Like, so the Trump administration is going to appeal it. We'll see what happens. But it's the first real case, I think, at this point of a federal judge intervening in the ICE operations. Operation Metro Surge is what they're calling what's happening in Minneapolis. And I'm just going to play two video clips so you can get a sense of the type of stuff that we're talking about. So this first clip is from the ap, and this is just a cell phone footage of, of ICE agents or border patrol agents, what appears to be just absolutely pummeling some dude with his knee as other Border Patrol agents hold this person down. You just watch it and you can see it looks like the knee is connecting with this man's head multiple times while he's just down there defenseless. Take a look at this. It's a short video clip. Hey, stop. Knee him in the face. That's his face. Stop it. If this is just one piece of cell phone footage, you have to imagine that this is happening all across the city. In fact, we know there's a lot that's happening across the city because there's a lot of other footage that's out there. So if you look, this one was pulled from cnn. This has DHS Secretary Chris Y. Claiming that ICE officers are doing everything by the book, that they're skilled, they're. You know, I think Stephen Miller used the phrase flawless all alongside other video of ICE agents just absolutely beating the hell out of someone. It looks like they're choking this dude with their legs around his neck. Again, this person is just square down, face down on the cement. And these agents are just completely on top of him, viciously beating him. Take a look. The officers that we have out there.