Tensions escalate in in Minnesota after another killing

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Consider This from NPR

Episode: Tensions escalate in Minnesota after another killing
Date: January 26, 2026
Host: Scott Detrow
Featured Guests: Danielle Kurtzleben (NPR White House Correspondent), Heather Zelensky (friend of Alex Preddy)

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Episode Overview

This episode of Consider This examines the aftermath of the fatal shooting of Alex Preddy, a Minneapolis ICU nurse and U.S. citizen, by a federal immigration officer. It explores escalating tensions in Minnesota following a second civilian death at the hands of federal agents, analyzes the political response from both state and federal leaders, and provides a portrait of Preddy through the memories of his close friend. The 15-minute conversation delves into the complexities of federal and local government relations, shifting narratives around the shootings, and the deeply personal impact on a community mourning a beloved member.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Shooting and Immediate Context (00:00–02:47)

• Incident summary:
  • On Saturday, federal immigration officers shot and killed Alex Preddy, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and U.S. citizen.
  • Preddy’s friend, Heather Zelensky, remembers him as a “great listener” with a “good laugh.”
  • Preddy worked at the VA Hospital in Minneapolis; an archival clip of him honoring veterans is played.
• Conflicting narratives:
  • Officials claim Preddy “brandished a weapon and tried to assault officers” during an immigration enforcement operation.
  • Border Patrol Commander Greg Bevino (clip from CNN):
    “That suspect injected himself into that law enforcement situation with a weapon.” (00:53)
  • Videos circulating online show Preddy not brandishing a handgun, contradicting federal statements.
• Recent precedent:
  • This incident comes just two weeks after another ICE agent shot and killed Renee Macklin, heightening local tensions.

2. Political Responses and Shifting Narratives (02:47–06:44)

• Federal-state communication:

  • President Trump calls Minnesota’s Democratic Governor Tim Walz; both release positive summaries of the call.
  • Trump administration sends border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota; DHS shake-up follows—Greg Bevino and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem are reportedly leaving the area.

• Collaborative tone versus finger-pointing:

  • Governor Walz describes a “more collaborative tone”:
    “Whatever has happened here, there is a definite change of tone. There is...a more collaborative tone...I'm going to take them for their word right now that they're going to reduce [force].” — Governor Walz (03:37)
  • Press Secretary Caroline Levitt, however, blames Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Fry for the tragedy:
    “This tragedy occurred as a result of a deliberate and hostile resistance by Democrat leaders in Minnesota.” (04:44)
  • Danielle Kurtzleben points out the administration’s contradictory messaging:
    “It really seems like they're trying to have it both ways...slamming Democratic leaders...while also trying to put out this message of ‘don't worry, we're trying to work together.’” (05:04)

• Significance of Tom Homan’s appointment:

  • Homan, experienced under various administrations, is seen as a change in approach—reporting directly to Trump.
  • Trump emphasizes Homan “hasn’t been involved in Minneapolis” up to now.

• Rhetoric and public perception:

  • Senior officials Stephen Miller and Kristi Noem have publicly labeled Preddy as a “domestic terrorist” and “would-be assassin.”
  • Kurtzleben notes Trump’s camp is now trying to walk back that rhetoric, with the Press Secretary denying Trump ever called Preddy those terms (06:16).

3. Remembering Alex Preddy: Personal Reflection (06:47–12:52)

• Friendship and personality:
  • Heather Zelensky met Alex Preddy more than a decade ago, sharing routines over coffee and exchanging photos of his dog and her travels.
  • On Preddy’s character:
    “He was a really good balance. He was a great listener...He would have something clever and cute to say...He had a good laugh and just a really strong voice and...a very, like, masculine, positive presence.” (07:37)
  • Loved the outdoors, dedicated to his calling as an ICU nurse, and found deep personal satisfaction in his career: “He had thought about becoming a doctor or something, but he loved being a nurse so much. He's like, ‘Nah, this is what I'm gonna do.’” (08:31)
• Community and activism:
  • Though Zelensky did not discuss his protest involvement in detail with him, she remembers:
    “He was proud to see everyone show up and peacefully go to downtown Minneapolis and share with the world that change is needed in America.” (09:20)
• Response to accusations:
  • Asked about Preddy being called a terrorist or would-be assassin by federal officials:
    “Liars, traitors.” (09:58) — Heather Zelensky
    “Cowards.” (10:04) — Interviewer echoes.
  • Zelensky emphasizes Preddy’s compassion:
    “He was nothing like what the people you just named said. He was an American citizen. He was a good man. He was a hard worker, and he cared for people, and he cared for nature. He cared for animals and women and other men and his friends and immigrants...He cared about people, and he was just living a good life.” (10:20)
• Vivid memories:
  • Zelensky shares a final, warm memory:
    “We just were talking in his kitchen, you know, and he was laughing, and I was looking at the picture of his dog on his refrigerator...He was just laughing...” (11:24)
  • She refuses to let the narrative of violence erase Preddy’s humanity:
    “I think we need to keep humanity in front of us and not buy into this narrative that's being pushed by the people that took his life.” (12:25)

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On the political response and narrative control:
  “It really seems like they're trying to have it both ways here to put out this red meat of slamming Democratic leaders as these irresponsible extremists, while also trying to put out this message of ‘don't worry, we're trying to work together to improve things.’”
  — Danielle Kurtzleben (05:04)

• On Preddy's character and humanity:
  “He was nothing like what the people you just named said. He was an American citizen. He was a good man. He was a hard worker, and he cared for people, and he cared for nature ... He cared about people, and he was just living a good life.”
  — Heather Zelensky (10:20)

• Final reflection:
  “I think we need to keep humanity in front of us and not buy into this narrative that’s being pushed by the people that took his life.”
  — Heather Zelensky (12:25)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–02:47 — Introduction and summary of the fatal shooting, Preddy’s background, and immediate community reaction
• 02:47–06:44 — National political response: Trump-Walz call, shift in federal personnel, messaging contradictions
• 06:47–12:52 — Conversation with Heather Zelensky: Personal memories, Preddy’s career, and refuting official accusations
• 10:20–12:38 — Zelensky’s moving tribute to Preddy’s character and life

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Tone and Takeaways

The episode balances the urgency and gravity of a city in crisis with deeply personal storytelling, pushing back against politicized narratives and emphasizing the individual humanity lost in national headlines. Through Heather Zelensky’s words, listeners meet Alex Preddy—a friend, caregiver, and community member—rather than just another name in the news.

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Transcript

[Scott Detrow]

It was a deadly weekend in Minneapolis. On Saturday, a federal immigration officer fatally shot a 37 year old ICU nurse and US citizen Alex Preddy.

[Heather Zelensky]

He was a great listener. He had a good laugh.

[Scott Detrow]

That's Heather Zelensky, a friend of Preddy. Preddy worked at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Minneapolis. Today we remember that freedom is not free. We have to work at it, nurture it, protect it and even sacrifice for it. A video circulating from 2024 shows Preddy honoring a veteran. Forget and always remember our brothers and sisters who have served so that we may enjoy the gift of freedom. So in this moment, we remember and give thanks for their dedication and selfless service to our nation in the cause of our freedom. In this solemn hour, we render our honor and our gratitude. Preddy's death comes two weeks after an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Macklin. Good. Federal officials claim Preddy, quote, brandished a weapon and tried to assault officers as they conducted an immigration enforcement operation. Here's Border Patrol Commander Greg Bevino on cnn. That suspect injected himself into that law enforcement situation with a weapon. The videos of the shooting contradict that Preddy is not seen brandishing his handgun in any of them. Consider this. Tensions escalate in Minneapolis after a second US Citizen is killed by immigration officers. Coming up, we hear from Preddy's friend. From npr, I'm Scott Detrow.

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[Scott Detrow]

It's Consider this from npr. The fatal shooting of Alex Brady by federal agents on Saturday has inflamed tensions in Minneapolis and across the country. We'll hear from a friend of his in a moment. But first, on Monday, President Trump spoke with Minnesota Democratic Governor Tim Walz. The Trump administration is sending border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota. The administration is working to reframe the narrative surrounding the deadly shootings by federal immigration agents in the state. NPR White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben joins us now to talk about this. Hi, Danielle.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Hey, Scott.

[Scott Detrow]

What do we know about what happened in this call?

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Well, President Trump and Governor Walz each put out a summary of the call. Now, Walz has given much more detail of the two. First of all, in a statement calling the conversation productive, which he then elaborated on in an interview with Minnesota Public Radio's Clay Masters. And here's what he said.

[Scott Detrow]

Whatever has happened here, there is a definite change of tone. There is a definitely a more collaborative tone. I want to make sure that I'm not jeopardizing that, that I'm going to.

[Mint Mobile Announcer]

Take them for their word right now that they're going to reduce.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

So that's notable. Walz says that Trump said he's willing to reduce the force in Minneapolis. Walz also added that with Homan coming in, his understanding is that Greg Bevino, who had been heading operations in Minneapolis, is leaving and the DHS secretary, Kristi Noem, will no longer be there. Trump, meanwhile, posted on social media about the call, and he made it sound friendly. He said he and Walz were on a similar wavelength, as he put it. He also characterized Walz as, quote, happy that Tom Homan was going to Minnesota. Now, Walz and Trump both really seem to be emphasizing that they want to work together in the wake of these two killings.

[Scott Detrow]

I mean, how does this square with how the administration had previously talked about Walls?

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Well, there's a big contradiction. And it was apparent at the White House press briefing today where Press Secretary Caroline Levitt, she blamed Walls along with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Fry for the Saturday shooting.

[Heather Zelensky]

But let's be clear about the circumstances which led to that moment on Saturday. This tragedy occurred as a result of a deliberate and hostile resistance by Democrat leaders in Minnesota. For weeks, Governor Waltz and the mayor, Jacob Fry and other elected Democrats were spreading lies about federal law enforcement officers.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

So you have Trump emphasizing cooperation, and then you have the White House blaming Walls. It really seems like they're trying to have it both ways here to put out this red meat of slamming Democratic leaders as these irresponsible extremists, while also trying to put out this message of don't worry, we're trying to work together to improve things.

[Scott Detrow]

So that's their statements. Let's talk about their actions for a moment. The administration says it's sending border czar Tom home into Minnesota. What does this change mean? Why is this significant?

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Well, it seems clear this administration recognizes they need to change something in Minneapolis, which is something Walz also noted. Now, the whole world at this point has seen these two horrifying shootings on video. In that last one, you saw a man pepper sprayed, wrestled to the ground by federal agents, one of whom shot him several times. So thus far, DHS Secretary Noman Bevino, they've been the face of the immigration enforcement surge there. Homan, meanwhile, he is no moderate on immigration, but he did also serve under Obama. And Trump really seemed to emphasize this changing of the guard today in announcing this, he went out of his way to say Homan hasn't been involved in Minneapolis and that he will be reporting directly to Trump.

[Scott Detrow]

Still, though, Danielle, Stephen Miller and Kristi Noem have both called Preddy a domestic terrorist, a would be assassin, it really seems hard to walk back that rhetoric.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Very much, but they are trying. Today when Levitt was asked about that, she said she's never heard Trump characterize Preddy that way. And this is meaningful because Trump, as you know, has no problem being inflammatory. So backing away from this shows they're trying not to repeat that message.

[Scott Detrow]

That is NPR White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben. Thank you so much, Danielle.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Thank you.

[Scott Detrow]

And to learn more about Preddy, we reached out to Heather Zielinski, his friend. They had known each other for more than 10 years. We reached her earlier this afternoon. Heather, thanks for talking to us.

[Heather Zelensky]

Thanks for having me.

[Scott Detrow]

Tell me how you knew Alex Preddy.

[Heather Zelensky]

Alex was a friend. We met when I had moved back to Minneapolis and we, we met at a cafe. And then the last time I saw him was at Gigi's Cafe.

[Scott Detrow]

Is that how you'd usually get together over coffee or lunch or something like that? Yeah.

[Heather Zelensky]

And we, we would, like, text and he'd share pictures of his dog and I would share pictures of my trick trips and travels.

[Scott Detrow]

You know, what was he like to talk to? Was he a talker? Was he a listener? Was he funny?

[Heather Zelensky]

He was a really good balance. He was a great listener. And, you know, you could see the wheels of his brain spinning. And he would have something clever and cute to say. But he would also do this thing where he would, like, fold his arms and kind of like put his fingers on his chin and just grin and shake his head, you know, and, and he had a good laugh and just a really strong voice and like a Very, like, masculine, positive presence.

[Scott Detrow]

And we know we love the outdoors. We also know he had a tough job. He was a nurse in the ICU at the Veterans Administration. What did he ever say about that job, what he liked about it, what he just struggled with?

[Heather Zelensky]

I actually have a text where he really got into some of the details. He. He talked about people facing their mortality. And, you know, he worked in an icu. He worked with veterans, and it was demanding, but he had thought about becoming a doctor or something. But he loved being a nurse so much. He's like, nah, this is what I'm gonna do.

[Scott Detrow]

That was his calling. That was his space.

[Heather Zelensky]

Yeah, that was his space, and he was good at it, you know?

[Scott Detrow]

Had you talked since this ICE presence in Minneapolis began, had you talked about why he had decided to go out and join the protests?

[Heather Zelensky]

No, but he was proud to see everyone show up and peacefully go to downtown Minneapolis and share with the world that change is needed in America.

[Scott Detrow]

I want to ask you this next question. I want to ask what you thought and how you felt when you heard Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem call Alex Preddy a domestic terrorist or top White House aide Stephen Miller call him a would be assassin.

[Heather Zelensky]

Liars, traitors.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Cowards.

[Scott Detrow]

A lot of people around the country, around the world are. Are learning about Alex today over the course of the last few days. What do you want people to know about him?

[Heather Zelensky]

He was nothing like what the people you just named said. He was an American citizen. He was a good man. He was a hard worker, and he cared for people, and he cared for nature. He cared for animals and women and other men and his friends and immigrants and, you know, people that have lived here for generations and people that have been here for one or two. He cared about people, and he was just living a good life.

[Scott Detrow]

It can take a lot of time to work through all the feelings that you feel in a situation like this when you lose a friend. But I'm wondering, over the last few days, is there one memory or one moment of time you spent with him that you're thinking a lot about?

[Heather Zelensky]

Well, we just were talking in his kitchen, you know, and he was laughing, and I was looking at the picture of his dog on his refrigerator. She was wearing a little pink tutu. He was just laughing, you know, and when the images of him laying there come to my mind, I don't push them away, because we need to look at that. But I. I also am grateful and that I have that moment, you know, over tea in his kitchen, peacefully, you know, where I can remember his laugh and the tone of his voice and that he was just a good person and I felt safe being around him. I think we need to keep humanity in front of us and not buy into this narrative that's being pushed by the people that took his life.

[Scott Detrow]

Heather Zelensky, thank you so much for talking to us and sharing your memories of your friend Alex Brady.

[Heather Zelensky]

Thank you. Thanks for having me. Thanks for the opportunity to tell the truth about him.

[Scott Detrow]

This episode was produced by Henry Larson, Vincent Akovino and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Ted Meebig. It was edited by Justine Kennan, Rebecca Meltzer, Patrick Jaron Wadanan and Courtney Dorning. Our executive producer is Sammy Yettigan. It's Consider this from npr. I'm Scott Detrow.

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