"Here's the Scoop" Podcast Summary

Episode: U.S. Prosecutors Resign in MN; U.S. Signals Potential Action in Iran
Date: January 14, 2026
Host: Yasmin Vossoughian, NBC News
Guests:

• Shaquille Brewster, NBC News Correspondent (Minneapolis)
• Misty Maris, NBC News Legal Analyst
• Gordon Lubold, NBC News National Security Reporter
• Catherine Prosev, NBC News Senior Meteorologist (brief segment)

Episode Overview

This episode dives into two major breaking news stories:

1. The escalating tensions in Minneapolis after the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Goode by an ICE officer, including federal crackdown and the high-profile resignation of prosecutors from the Minnesota U.S. attorney’s office.
2. The U.S. signaling possible military action against Iran amid mass anti-government protests, troop repositioning in the Middle East, and analysis of U.S. strategy and implications.

Also included are key national and international headlines, a climate update, and a lighthearted diplomatic story out of Asia.

1. Minneapolis: ICE Protests, Federal Actions, and Prosecutor Resignations

[01:03 – 10:12]

Escalation on the Ground

• Protests and Clashes: Since the killing of Renee Nicole Goode by an ICE officer, federal response has escalated:
  • Over 2,000 federal agents deployed
  • Reports of tear gas and pepper spray used on both protesters and civilian “ICE observers”
  • Frequent confrontations captured by citizens and media
• First-Person Account:
  • Sarah Lechner (ICE observer) describes being tear gassed:

    “I got pepper spray all over me...I couldn’t see to walk home, hardly, because...it affected everybody. ...We’re just ordinary people who love one another and want to protect our own neighborhood.” (02:38)

The Role of “ICE Observers”

• Shaquille Brewster: Outlines how some residents—like Sarah—became de facto observers, monitoring ICE activities out of concern and solidarity, not as professional activists.

  “She told me that she was drinking coffee...heard commotion outside, grabbed her whistle, grabbed her coat and went outside to see what was going on. …The labels get weird. But you see those scenes over and over again.” (03:09)

• Observers Follow Agents:

  • Observers trail ICE vehicles in their own cars, blowing whistles, documenting events.
  • These are often rapid, tense encounters.

Legal Questions: What’s Protected, What’s Not?

• Yasmin Vossoughian: Asks what’s legal in terms of documenting ICE or intervening
• Misty Maris: Clarifies:

  • Filming officers from a safe distance is protected by the First Amendment.

  • Getting too close, blocking traffic or operations, or physically impeding can cross into illegality.

    “Protest is...protected by the First Amendment…But there is a line...time, place and manner. Blocking traffic…could lead to arrest.” (05:36)

  • On warning others (e.g., whistling to alert about ICE):

    “There’s strong, strong arguments that that would fall under your First Amendment protections.” (07:08)

Prosecutors’ Resignation: What It Signals

• Six prosecutors from the Minnesota U.S. attorney’s office resigned, reportedly over a directive to focus the investigation on Renee Goode’s partner and supposed connections to anti-ICE organizations, rather than on the use of force by the ICE officer.

  “That’s actually a real tragedy because you’re talking about non-political rank and file prosecutors...reports indicate that the directive...was to specifically look into Renee Goode’s partner...which, by the way, has absolutely zero and nothing to do with an investigation into excessive force by a federal officer.” (07:33)

Legal Challenges, Injunction Denied

• Recent legal attempts by Minnesota to force ICE out were denied by a judge.
• The state may show irreparable harm, but the likelihood of legal success is slim.

  “Here there’s a real uphill battle, if not an impossibility, that Minnesota will be successful. But there may be more activity in the courts while this plays out.” (09:21)

Community Sentiment

• Ongoing ICE presence causes deep fear, stress, and division in neighborhoods:

  “A friend of mine was just telling me...she had a panic attack driving the other day…I mean, everyone is so, so stressed.” — Sarah Lechner (08:50)

2. U.S.–Iran Tensions & Military Posturing

[12:39 – 22:42]

Protests and Rising Unrest

• Mass protests in Iran, initially over inflation, have morphed into full-blown anti-regime demonstrations.

  • Over 2,500 deaths reported by Human Rights Activist News agency.

• President Trump signals support for protesters, posting “help is on the way” on Truth Social.

Potential U.S. Military Action

• Gordon Lubold explains that U.S. Central Command has presented President Trump with a spectrum of options:

  • High-end kinetic strikes: Target sites, regime leaders
  • Lower-level actions: Signaling, limited operations

  “At the high end with these strikes, go after specific target, specific individuals, compounds to take out regime leadership. ...You could walk it back…much lower kinetic operation, more of a signaling operation...” (13:30)

  • Past operations (e.g., in Syria) sometimes involved warnings to Russia or Iran ahead of strikes.

Troop Movements and “Defensive” Measures

• U.S. evacuates hundreds of troops from Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.

  “This is a defensive move from what we can see right now...as we reported, hundreds of U.S. troops have been evacuated...” (15:44)

• Comparison to “Midnight Hammer” operation in June against Iran’s nuclear sites; current actions seen as more coordinated but still on edge.

What Might Happen Next?

• Trump’s pattern is favoring “in and out” missions—quick, decisive actions, as seen in Venezuela (Caracas operation).

  “The president likes to get in and out, likes to declare victory, and that’s perfectly reasonable.” (17:22)

• However, Iran is a higher risk scenario—analysts and officials (including Israeli and Arab allies) warn that striking Iran now could have unpredictable consequences and destabilize the entire region.

  “If they were really to go at the high end version and potentially target individuals in the regime, the idea that suddenly the opposition, you know, is going to all come into place and they’ll, you know, greet us as liberators…is far from, far from clear.” (19:03)

• Israeli Position: Israel advises caution, reportedly opposes a U.S. strike at this time, possibly due to current regime stability and the risk of undercutting protest momentum.

• Key Insight:

  “Picking the right moment to limit exposure for the US Military and President Trump politically is key. And so we’re just not sure where that moment is just yet.” (21:28)

3. U.S. Immigration Policy Headlines

[22:47 – 24:50]

• Visa Suspension: Trump administration halts immigrant visas from 75 countries, citing high welfare use—includes Afghanistan, Brazil, Egypt, Somalia.

  • Most green card holders already face a five-year wait for most public benefits.
  • Policy starts January 21.

• Local Resistance:

  • San Diego supervisors move to further restrict cooperation with ICE (agents can’t access county property without a warrant).

4. Other Headlines & Noteworthy Segments

[24:50 – 26:56]

Economic: Saks Fifth Avenue Files for Bankruptcy

• Saks Global—the parent company—cites debt from Neiman Marcus buyout, declining retail sales, and online competition. Future of luxury fashion is in doubt.

Climate Update

• 2025 ranked as the third-warmest year ever.
  • Past 11 years are the hottest on record.
  • Catherine Prosev: “Should actually be startling that we managed to have a top three warmest year globally despite part of 2025 being in La Nina…2026...could be even warmer.” (24:50)

“Drum Diplomacy”: Japan and South Korea

• Japanese PM Sanai Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung meet, discuss security, and then stage a joint drum performance of K-pop hits, symbolizing warming ties.
  • Yasmin Vossoughian: "Maybe all world leaders need to give drum diplomacy...a try. You could see Trump on the cowbell, Putin on the accordion...I would definitely listen to that." (26:03)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On ICE protests:

  “We’re not paid agitators. We’re just ordinary people who love one another and want to protect our own neighborhood.” — Sarah Lechner (02:38)

• On prosecutor resignations:

  “...the directive was...to specifically look into Renee Goode’s partner...which...has absolutely zero and nothing to do with an investigation into excessive force by a federal officer.” — Misty Maris (07:33)

• On U.S.–Iran strategy:

  “This is a president who was declared that, you know, he wanted to end foreign entanglements...if they were really to go at the high end version and potentially target individuals in the regime, the idea that suddenly the opposition...will greet us as liberators...is far from clear.” — Gordon Lubold (18:07, 19:03)

• On “drum diplomacy”:

  "Maybe all world leaders need to give drum diplomacy...a try. You could see Trump on the cowbell, Putin on the accordion...I would definitely listen to that." — Yasmin Vossoughian (26:03)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Minneapolis: ICE, protests, legal debate: 01:03–10:12
• U.S.–Iran military strategy: 12:39–22:42
• Immigration headlines: 22:47–24:50
• Saks Global bankruptcy, climate update: 24:50–25:26
• Japan–South Korea “Drum Diplomacy”: 25:26–26:56

Summary

This episode brings urgent, on-the-ground reporting from Minneapolis, insightful legal and policy analysis on immigration protests and prosecutorial resignations, and clear, candid discussion of U.S. foreign policy and military options in Iran—plus a roundup of major headlines and global context. The tone is brisk, accessible, and, at times, lightly humorous (especially in the concluding “drum diplomacy” segment), making even the heaviest stories digestible and relevant for the evening news listener.