Garage Logic – Weekly Scramble:
ICE Officer Involved in Minneapolis Shooting Has Now Been Identified
Date: January 9, 2026
Host: Chris Reivers
Co-host: Mike Fratelloni

Episode Overview

This episode of Garage Logic’s Weekly Scramble series features a candid discussion between Chris Reivers and Mike Fratelloni on the breaking news surrounding a fatal law enforcement shooting in Minneapolis. The incident involved a mother of three, Renee Nicole Goode, who lost her life during an altercation with a federal ICE agent. The hosts dissect the known details, societal context, political reactions, and broader issues of law enforcement, community consequences, and divisiveness.

Key Points and Discussion Breakdown

1. Immediate Reaction to the Shooting

[01:24-11:22]

• Chris opens with a personal perspective, applying the “Joe Soucheray 48-hour rule” to avoid knee-jerk judgments before all facts are established.
• Chris emphasizes sympathy for the deceased, a mother of three who recently moved to Minnesota, and calls for cautious discussion until more details are available.
• He highlights a core belief: compliance with law enforcement orders typically avoids tragic outcomes.
  • "The number one way you can avoid getting shot by a federal ICE agent is don’t put yourself in that position to begin with." – Chris ([02:40])
• Mike agrees that the event was tragic and unnecessary, but points out that police actions require split-second decisions with high stakes for all involved.
• Both discuss the “theater” around law enforcement actions, with Chris questioning the tactics and optics.
• Uncertainty raised about federal ICE bodycam usage and footage release.

Memorable Quote:

• "I don't expect a protester's car to lunge at an officer... Those are split second decisions. I don’t like the video, Chris." – Mike ([05:05])

2. Motives and Consequences

[10:09-13:30]

• Mike explores what could possess someone like Renee Goode to confront and block ICE agents, risking her life and leaving her children.
• He wonders if motives are rooted in misplaced compassion, misinformation, or a lack of respect for consequences.
• Chris suggests the current climate has fostered a belief that “actions don’t have consequences,” especially among younger generations.
  • "The idea that if you misbehave, nothing's gonna happen to you. That needs to come to an end because that is leading to over 90% of the problems that is plaguing this country currently." – Chris ([09:26])
• Both question the rise of activism that crosses the line from protest into interference with law enforcement.

3. Law Enforcement Presence and Public Perception

[17:07-22:00]

• Chris recounts seeing a huge uptick in unmarked law enforcement vehicles and helicopters around the city.
• Notes the “theatrics” and optics of a large federal operation; Mike calls attention to the logistics and perceived overreach.
• Discussion shifts to the criminal fraud that has partly prompted such interventions in Minnesota, and the reality that not all culprits are undocumented immigrants.

4. The ICE Agent’s Background and Law Enforcement Psychology

[20:45-22:45]

• Mike shares breaking information that the ICE officer involved had previously been injured in a similar incident, being dragged 100 yards by a car during a stop last year.
  • "Do you think he said, I'm not doing that again?... I'm not trying to excuse this. But if you had that experience before, like, oh, she's going to drive over me or drag my body... that can't happen again." – Mike ([21:39])
• Both ponder how past trauma may affect an officer’s split-second decisions under pressure.

5. Political Fallout and Leadership Response

[22:54-29:33]

• Chris sharply criticizes city and state leaders (Mayor Jacob Frey, Governor Tim Walz) as well as national figures for inflammatory rhetoric in the immediate aftermath.
  • "It would really help things if the mayor of the city of Minneapolis doesn't get to a podium into a microphone where he knows the entire world is gonna see him say, get the F out of my city or our city. That doesn't help matters." – Chris ([22:54])
• Mike agrees, stating leaders should avoid language that “tosses diesel fuel on the campfire.”
• The hosts discuss the difficulty politicians face when balancing public statements and constituency expectations, especially in sanctuary cities.

Memorable Quote:

• "Be a leader. Don’t be just a leader for a certain section of people that might vote for you. Be a representative of all of us. And we don't have that anymore, especially in this state." – Chris ([26:00])

6. Broader Societal Division and Meaning

[27:14-30:56]

• Mike asks who, if anyone, "wins" in such tragic incidents from a partisan political standpoint – a question both find distasteful but necessary in the analysis of America’s political climate.
• Chris laments growing national division, stating, "We are more divided than we have ever been... And I don't even know that it's going to be possible for the two sides to come together." ([28:23])
• Mike invites listeners to write in their ideas for how to use this tragedy to forge unity rather than division.

7. Immigration Policy: Alternatives and Sustainability

[30:24-33:07]

• Mike floats the idea of incentivizing self-deportation as a cost-effective and less traumatic alternative to current ICE operations.
• Chris and Mike discuss the relationship between funding for social programs and migratory patterns, observing that when support is cut, those not invested in staying often leave.
  • "We can't continue to operate this way. It's not sustainable. And not only is it not sustainable, this is going to implode to a great proportion." – Chris ([32:35])

8. Governor Walz, Recent Political Maneuvers, and Public Trust

[35:50-41:44]

• Chris is critical of Governor Tim Walz for previously ignoring fraud issues, only to campaign on addressing them now that he faces political pressure.
• Adds frustration over Walz’s comment about deploying the National Guard for potential protests, recalling a different reaction during the 2020 unrest.
• Mike considers the timing of Walz’s announced retirement from reelection; ponders whether the governor might re-enter the race in light of the incident, claiming, “Minnesota needs me.”
  • "Think about that. He was one a couple of days, right?... He could have stood on this horrible tragedy and said, you need me to bring back the calm." – Mike ([40:04])

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• "The number one way you can avoid getting shot by a federal ICE agent is don’t put yourself in that position to begin with." – Chris ([02:40])
• "I don’t expect a protester’s car to lunge at an officer... Those are split second decisions. I don’t like the video, Chris." – Mike ([05:05])
• "The idea that if you misbehave, nothing's gonna happen to you. That needs to come to an end." – Chris ([09:26])
• "Do you think [the agent] said, I'm not doing that again? ...If you had that experience before, like, oh, she's going to drive over me or drag my body... that can't happen again." – Mike ([21:39])
• "We need the opposite of that. We need people to actually be adults and be an elected official." – Chris ([23:05])
• "Be a leader. Don’t be just a leader for a certain section of people that might vote for you. Be a representative of all of us." – Chris ([26:00])
• "We are more divided than we have ever been... And I don’t even know that it's going to be possible for the two sides to come together." – Chris ([28:23])

Listener Call to Action

• Mike and Chris ask listeners for constructive ideas:
  • "If you were tasked to take this tragedy and turn it into something positive, if it was your goal to say, how do we become closer after an event like this instead of more divided, what would you do? Please send us your thoughts." – Mike ([29:45])

Tone and Style

The episode balances somber reflection with trademark candidness and humor. Both hosts approach the controversial subject matter with a mix of personal bias (both acknowledging and interrogating their own perspectives) and frustration at systemic and political failures, returning to themes of personal responsibility, the consequences of societal division, and the urgent need for mature leadership.

Closing

The episode winds down with lighter banter and sponsor mentions, but the heart of the conversation remains a pointed, personal, and locally-focused analysis of a tragic event with deep political and societal implications for Minneapolis and beyond.