Federalist Radio Hour: 'The Kylee Cast’ feat. Breccan Thies, Ep. 28

Episode Title: Everything I Saw On My ICE Ride-Along In Minneapolis
Host: Kylie Griswold
Guest: Breccan Thies (Federalist White House Correspondent)
Date: February 12, 2026

Episode Overview

In this compelling episode, Kylie Griswold interviews her Federalist colleague and White House correspondent, Breccan Thies, about his recent trip to Minneapolis for an immersive ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) ride-along. Their deep-dive conversation unpacks what Thies saw firsthand—unfiltered by corporate media spin—about ICE operations, street-level agitator activity, the state of law enforcement cooperation, the organized resistance to federal immigration enforcement, and what it all means for American sovereignty and public order. The episode also touches on the dangerous escalation of lawlessness and its political implications, all told in a candid, on-the-ground style.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Thies’ Arrival and Mindset

(03:36)

• Thies describes arriving in Minneapolis and spending the first days interacting with agitators before joining ICE officers.
• He admits a mix of nerves and curiosity, noting familial concerns:

  “My mom and my fiancée were like, please don’t actually go do that… But honestly, it’s actually like the most fun stuff you can do sometimes is just talking to people—even people who are, frankly, pretty violent and have pretty bad ideas.” (03:36, Breccan Thies)

• Awareness of risk was heightened, particularly the unpredictability and potential for violence during both agitator encounters and ICE operations.

2. Blending in Among Agitators

(06:15)

• Thies explains how he disguised himself to mix with left-wing activists, describing strategic clothing choices and acting skills.

  “I wore like a barista beanie with like hair sticking out… Just to cover my bases, you know.” (06:51, Breccan Thies)

• Emphasizes most agitators are not local but imported for protest; many appear to be paid, or at least are able to spend weeks away from home.
• Agitator circles require backstories and streetwise blending-in from new faces due to the transient, networked nature of the resistance.

3. Media vs. Reality on the Ground

(10:20 - 14:56)

• Thies observes that media narratives rarely mesh with lived events.

  “Most of the time, things you see blown up in the media are not actually happening in real time now… They kind of escalate and de-escalate quickly.” (10:20, Breccan Thies)

• He describes swift escalations at protests (e.g. blockades, violence), noting that ICE operations tend to be efficient unless swarmed by agitators.
• Blockades and events frequently arise and dissolve, driven not by ICE but by localized resistance efforts.

4. Agitators’ Misconceptions and Group Mentality

(16:55 - 20:52)

• Griswold and Thies discuss how agitators perpetuate media-driven paranoia, such as fables about ICE targeting schoolchildren.

  “Even the agitators themselves don’t have a clear view… They themselves are so skewed by the media.” (16:55, Kylie Griswold)

• Thies recounts conversations with activists convinced of ICE raids at schools, despite no factual basis.
• The “mind virus” is pervasive; the resistance relies on rumor and echo chamber reinforcement to sustain their worldview.

5. The ICE Watch Network and Crowd Dynamics

(21:31 - 26:12)

• Thies details the organization of anti-ICE groups:
  • Sentries stand watch with high-visibility vests, track vehicle license plates, and warn about ICE movement on encrypted chats.
  • Activists distribute pamphlets, scripts, and legal training to embolden non-compliance.
  • The coordinated “circle of agitators” can quickly escalate any arrest into a crowd-control event.
• Notably, this both emboldens illegal aliens and forces ICE to employ overwhelming show of force (several agents per arrest).

  “There were eight, ten ICE agents to arrest one person. And the reason there are so many people there is because they just know… people showed up. There were people everywhere... It just makes it a lot more testy.” (23:38, Breccan Thies)

6. The Blockade System & Sophistication of Resistance

(27:14 - 32:36)

• Blockades are commonly set up at roundabouts or intersections using makeshift barriers.

  “They’re set up at roundabouts often… and then they’re just able to sort of get pallets or couches and other things that can be put in the street.” (27:55, Breccan Thies)

• The system relies on a networked database, cross-referencing suspected ICE cars and even sharing instructions for setting up new blockades online.
• Griswold points out the high level of coordination, hinting at “Astroturf” rather than organic action.

  “This is not like a few radical people who have time on their hands. This is a well-orchestrated, well-oiled machine and operation here.” (32:10, Kylie Griswold)

• Thies speculates about indirect funding and the difficulty of meaningful law enforcement infiltration or prosecution.

7. Federal and Local Government Response

(39:17 - 57:10)

• Frustration expressed at lack of federal response:

  “If the federal government would devote a fraction of the resources… It would send such a powerful message and it would just be such a demonstration of force that we honestly, desperately need to see, because this kind of stuff is not going to stop.” (39:17, Kylie Griswold)

• ICE and Department of Homeland Security often lack proper support; local police have only recently begun minimal cooperation, mainly focused on crowd control, not immigration enforcement.

  “They’re not going to help ICE do immigration enforcement. They are going to support ICE in the crowd control department.” (57:10, Breccan Thies)

• Both speakers articulate a sense that anarchist groups are treated with more leniency than right-leaning protesters, and political expediency is hampering serious action.
• The political consequences regarding congressional apportionment and long-term party dominance are explored in depth, warning that lack of enforcement will have generational consequences.

8. The ICE Ride-Along Experience: Procedures and Atmosphere

(63:18 - 72:45)

• Thies recounts how, due to security protocols, his ICE ride-along had to be scheduled last to avoid being “outed” or attacked by agitators, who keep 24/7 surveillance on ICE staging areas and anyone associated.
• The ride-along involved long periods of surveillance and profiling, police work involving databases and monitoring, with the actual arrest involving a DUI offender.

  “It’s a lot of nothing and then a short amount of something… a lot of waiting, running plates… until the person of interest is there.” (66:20, Breccan Thies)

• During the arrest, crowds quickly assembled, many filming and shouting at ICE; the arrestee resisted, requiring ICE to break a window.
• Griswold highlights the importance of understanding the reality of ICE’s work—contrary to the “Gestapo” media narratives, their approach is methodical and human.

  “It’s police work… federal officers putting in the time to make sure they have the right person…” (70:48, Kylie Griswold)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “[Agitators] are just going to tell you everything they think about [ICE]… And none of these guys are actually from Minneapolis… A lot of people are bused in, flown in, many of them getting paid very clearly.”
  (06:53, Breccan Thies)

• “Most of the time you don’t hear about ICE operations at all… The only difference in Minneapolis is that the politicians and the people are making sure it doesn’t go smoothly, and that’s how you create a dangerous scenario.”
  (14:56, Breccan Thies)

• “These anarchy groups, they thrive because the federal government hasn’t done a whole lot… Why do we have to deal with this anarchy every other year? Why is it worse in the summer than in any other time?”
  (32:36, Breccan Thies)

• “If you deport 75 illegals from Minneapolis, they lose a congressional district. That would happen around the country in all these states.”
  (54:50, Breccan Thies)

• “It’s a lot of nothing, and then a short amount of something.”
  (66:20, Breccan Thies, on the ICE ride-along)

• “We need to think past the midterms for a handful of reasons… If you do not run with the mandate that the American people overwhelmingly gave you in 2024… you can kiss goodbye ever winning another election again.”
  (45:11, Kylie Griswold)

Important Timestamps

• 03:36 — Thies’ mindset before arriving; family’s concern, risks
• 06:53 — Disguising as an agitator, the non-local nature of the protest movement
• 10:20 — Disconnect between street reality and media narratives
• 14:56 — Political/civic dynamics that enable or curb ICE operations
• 16:55 — The “mind virus” and misinformation among agitators/debunking ICE raids at schools
• 23:38 — How agitator tactics change ICE arrest procedures
• 27:55 — Blockade logistics and operational sophistication
• 32:36 — Chronic problem of anarchist organizing and lack of federal government response
• 39:17 — Frustration at lack of FBI/intelligence agency action; double standard in protest response
• 45:11 — Political consequences and the stakes for future elections
• 63:18 — Security protocols around the ICE ride-along; agitator surveillance on ICE facilities
• 66:20 — Step-by-step of the ICE ride-along, culminating in a high-tension arrest at a McDonald’s
• 70:48 — Griswold’s summary: The real human, procedural, lawful face of ICE operations

Takeaway Themes

• Street-level reality in Minneapolis is far riskier and more anarchic than national media accounts allow.
• The sophisticated, well-funded, and nationalized protest/agitator network makes ICE enforcement functionally different in Minneapolis versus compliant regions.
• Local government’s tolerance of anarchy, combined with minimal or delayed law enforcement, has emboldened anti-ICE groups and complicated even the most routine federal operations.
• Political consequences are enormous—not just in election security but in congressional apportionment and, ultimately, the durability of American sovereignty.
• The reality of ICE work, while demonized, is procedural, targeted, and often marked by professionalism and patience, in stark contrast to activist myths.

Recommended Follow-up:

• Read Breccan Thies’s full article: “Checkpoints and Street Corner Sentries: In Minneapolis, ICE-hating Anarchists Are an Occupying Force” (thefederalist.com).
• Watch for further Federalist reporting on American law enforcement and border issues.