Why is Kevin Warsh Trump's Pick to Lead the Fed Reserve? And Voices from the Iranian Uprising

Summary

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Here's the Scoop – January 30, 2026

Episode Overview

In this Friday episode of NBC's "Here's the Scoop," host Yasmin Vossoughian delves into two major stories: President Trump’s selection of Kevin Warsh as his pick to lead the Federal Reserve, and moving, firsthand accounts from inside Iran’s ongoing anti-government uprising. The episode features analysis and interviews with senior NBC correspondents and on-the-ground voices, framed in the show’s characteristic blend of sharp analysis and human narrative. Brief news headlines and a tribute to Catherine O’Hara complete the show.

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I. Why is Kevin Warsh Trump’s Pick to Lead the Federal Reserve?

Segment: 00:02–07:53

Main Points

• President Trump announced Kevin Warsh as his intended nominee for Fed Chair, tapping him to potentially replace Jerome Powell.
• Warsh is a seasoned veteran: Harvard-trained attorney, Stanford BA in public policy/economics, investment banking and Fed Governor experience (appointed by George W. Bush in 2006).
• Wall Street views Warsh as a palatable, credentialed choice, especially after months of White House indecision.

Deep Dive & Analysis

Credentials and History:

• Warsh’s prior Fed experience and work as G20 liaison during the 2008 financial crisis bolster his global stature.
  • Christine Romans: “He has stature on the global stage... Wall Street at least thinks he’s a palatable choice after months and months and months, frankly, of the president going back and forth about who he was going to choose.” [01:11–02:04]

Trump’s Motivation:

• Trump’s public posts praise Warsh as “straight from central casting” and reference Warsh’s alignment with the president’s desire for lower interest rates.
• Warsh signaled support for Trump’s economic approach on Fox News:
  • Kevin Warsh: “The real reason we’ve had progress on the inflation front isn’t because of the Federal Reserve, in my view, Maria, it’s because of the president’s policies... I frankly quite understand his frustration.” [02:24–02:44]
• Romans notes Warsh’s visible “auditions” on TV, using rhetoric (“regime change at the Fed”) the president favors.

Evolution of Warsh’s Economic Philosophy:

• Warsh previously held a hawkish stance on inflation, resisting rate cuts in the 2008 crisis.
  • Romans explains: “A hawk is someone who is so concerned about inflation they want to keep interest rates high...he didn’t want to cut interest rates too much... Even concerned about trying to support the job market too much.” [04:12–04:56]
• Vossoughian flags this “upside down” apparent shift as notable and raises questions about consistency and reliability in Warsh’s approach.

Independence and Confirmation Hurdles:

• The Fed’s independence is a major concern. Powell emphasized the need for distance from politics, a message implicitly aimed at Trump and Warsh.
  • Romans on Fed independence: “There are seven governors who vote...just ’cause he goes in there and wants to cut interest rates doesn’t mean the Fed’s gonna cut interest rates. But he does lead the discussions and try to build the consensus...” [05:54–06:27]
• Senate confirmation isn’t a given. Key Republicans, notably Sen. Thom Tillis, vow to block nominations until DOJ investigations into alleged misconduct conclude.
• Romans predicts confirmation hearings will focus on whether Warsh would serve as an independent central banker or as an arm of the President’s political and economic agenda.
• Summary of the Fed’s dual mandate for listeners: ensuring price stability and plentiful jobs.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “The President wants interest rates all the way down to 1% and he wants them down there yesterday. He wants to goose the housing market and he thinks that the Fed is just overly concerned about inflation.” — Christine Romans [02:57–03:30]
• “The question is what kind of a Fed chief he will be. And you don’t know that until they take the seat.” — Christine Romans [04:57–05:03]
• “Kevin Warsh is going to have to very clearly say whether he is going to the Fed to pursue the president’s policies or he’s going to pursue the Fed’s mandate, which is just two things: keeping prices stable and making sure there are plentiful jobs.” — Christine Romans [07:22–07:53]

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II. Voices from the Iranian Uprising

Segment: 09:16–18:52

Main Points

• Trump administration ramps up military posturing towards Iran while demanding both a new nuclear deal and an end to regime violence against protesters.
• Thousands killed in recent uprisings; protestors risk everything for fundamental change.
• NBC’s Molly Hunter shares raw, firsthand accounts from Iranians, shedding light on both the scale of the crackdown and the protesters’ desperate hopes.

In-Depth Reporting & Personal Narratives

Protest Timeline and Government Crackdown:

• Protests began with bazaar shopkeepers and escalated rapidly — January 8 and 9 marked by huge crowds and violent response.
• Parisa, a pseudonymous protester from Isfahan, described sudden, brutal violence by security forces:
  • “Around 20, 30 motorbikes made a line in front of the group without any warning, nothing. They just started shooting people straight into their faces and bodies. What I could see was legs falling down and blood everywhere on the street... I started running away.” — Parisa [11:10–11:38]
• The use of military-grade weapons, snipers, and machine guns documented by other sources, painting a chilling portrait.
  • “I saw with my own eyes... they started opening fire on the people... using snipers... heavy machine guns... the one that has the power to destroy a building...” — Farhad, protester from Tehran [12:26–13:00]

Impact and Demands of the Protesters:

• Amid heavy repression and an internet blackout, many protesters have lost friends and family.
  • Hunter: “Every single person we spoke with has a brother, a friend, a cousin, a son-in-law that was either killed, disappeared or arrested.” [12:00–12:26]
• Independent human rights groups estimate the confirmed death toll at 6,300, but those on the ground believe the true number is significantly higher.

Desire for International Action:

• Iranian voices call for American and international military intervention, expressing skepticism about negotiation:
  • “Without any international intervention, I don’t think anyone else is going to do that again because it’s suicide.” — Farhad [14:09–14:17]
  • “Do not let the Islamic Republic live or recover for one day longer.” — Anonymous protester [15:07–15:46]
• Protesters feel that they have “done their part” and that only outside force can bring about real change.

Wariness of “Day After” Scenarios:

• Both Vossoughian and Hunter reference Iraq and Afghanistan, probing whether Iranians are braced for the aftermath of intervention. Most are living intensely in the present, prioritizing an end to the current regime over concerns about the future.
  • “Now, if we need to take missiles, if we need to take military forces on the ground, anything that it takes to stop this barbaric regime is what the Iranian people want.” — Parisa [16:48–17:04]

Universal Rejection of Negotiating with the Regime:

• The hope is for dismantling—not just removing the top leadership, but the entire security apparatus. Deals with existing leadership are deemed unacceptable.
  • Hunter: “They want it dismantled. They don’t just want the Supreme Leader taken out. They want the entire security system that keeps that cleric class... in place taken out.” [18:15–18:52]

Notable Quotes

• “They are literally tracking the location of US military forces in the Middle East. They showed me on their phones.” — Molly Hunter [17:04–17:31]
• “I think as Americans, as we look at the possibility of what may be to come in Iran... We think about Iraq, we think about Afghanistan... and the question of the day after, right?” — Yasmin Vossoughian [15:46–16:27]

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III. Headlines and Updates

Segment: 19:58–24:41

Major News Briefs

• Epstein Files Released:
  DOJ releases a massive tranche of material: 2,000 videos, 180,000 images, and 3.5 million pages. Much is “commercial pornography” and not created by Epstein himself.

• Alex Preddy Shooting:
  DOJ opens a civil rights inquiry into the fatal shooting of a Black VA nurse by federal agents in Minneapolis. Trump called Preddy an “agitator and perhaps insurrectionist.” Anti-ICE protests erupt in several cities.

• Government Shutdown:
  A partial government shutdown seems inevitable due to Senate gridlock and the House being out of session until Monday. This would mark the second government shutdown of Trump’s second term.

  • Melanie Zenonis: “Any one senator can hold up a timing agreement. And last night that distinction went to Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.” [21:57–22:58]

• Don Lemon and Protest Arrests:
  Former CNN anchor Don Lemon and others arrested in Minnesota; charged under the FACE Act for protest activities interrupting a church service—an unprecedented application of this law.

  • Ryan Reilly: “The statute...is called the Face act...typically it’s used in the context of protests against abortion clinics, but it also does cover protests against churches. It’s just never been used in that context before...” [23:19–23:46]

• Lindsey Vonn Injury:
  Lindsey Vonn vows to continue her Olympic dream despite a crash and knee injury days before the 2026 Games.

• Catherine O’Hara Tribute:
  The episode closes with heartfelt memories and notable comic moments from the legendary actress and comedian, who passed at age 71.

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IV. Selected Memorable Moments

• On Kevin Warsh’s “Auditions”:
  “He was on CNBC in the summer and said he called for regime change at the Fed. And that’s exactly the kind of language the President wants to hear.” — Christine Romans [02:57–03:30]

• From the Iranian Uprising:
  “Can you imagine what’s the result?” — Farhad, describing the use of machine guns against protesters [13:00] “Anything that it takes to stop this barbaric regime is what the Iranian people want.” — Parisa [16:48–17:04]

• Catherine O’Hara Eulogy:
  “A wig swapping, vowel bending icon who could have been a caricature but instead became a study in reinvention and resilience.” — Yasmin Vossoughian [25:14–25:24]

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V. Timestamps for Key Segments

• Fed Chair Pick & Warsh Analysis: 00:02–07:53
• Iranian Uprising & Protesters’ Voices: 09:16–18:52
• Headlines and News Updates: 19:58–24:41
• Catherine O’Hara Tribute: 24:41–25:33

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This episode of "Here's the Scoop" offers a brisk, thorough look at high-impact stories shaping US and global politics, blending expert analysis with powerful, personal testimonies that illuminate headlines and their human stakes.

Transcript

[A]

Hey, everybody. Welcome to here's the Script from NBC News. I'm Yasmin Vasugin. We have made it. It is finally Friday. And on the pod today, President Trump is ramping up military pressure around Iran. We are going to hear from Iranian anti regime protesters about what they're fighting for. Plus, the DOJ has released another trove of documents from the Epstein files. And we'll remember a legendary actress and comedian, Catherine O', Hara, who has died at the age of 71. At first, though, the president is tapping Kevin Warsh to become the next chair of the Federal Reserve. If Warsh is confirmed by the Senate, he would replace the current chair, Jerome Powell. He and the president have had a long standing beef over interest rates. So how did war Trump support and what hurdles does he have towards confirmation? For that, I want to bring an NBC News senior business correspondent Christine Romance. Hi, Christine.

[B]

Hi.

[A]

So Trump posted about Warshaw on Truth Social this morning saying that he was quote, unquote, straight from central casting. And he highlighted in that post Warsh's experience with the Fed. What do we know about him? Who is this guy?

[B]

You know, he's a Harvard trained attorney. He has worked in investment banking. He has a bachelor's degree from Stanford with a in public policy but with an economics focus. He's done a lot of economics research. So he comes to this position with a beefy resume. And by the way, George Bush had appointed him to the Fed as a governor in 2006. So he has served on this body before. When he was at the Fed in 2006, he was there for the great financial crisis and he was tapped to be sort of the liaison to the G20 from the federal Reserve. So he has a stature on the global stage. So these are all reasons why Wall street at least thinks that he is a palatable choice after months and months and months, frankly, of the president going back and forth about who he was going to choose.

[A]

So Wall street feeling like he's a palatable choice. I think what we're trying to get to the bottom of is why it is the president actually likes Warsh. And we know he has been hammering Fed Chair Jerome Powell, wanting him to lower interest rates. Warsh telling Fox News just a couple of months ago that he actually gets where the president is coming from.

[C]

The real reason we've had progress on the inflation front isn't because of the Federal Reserve, in my view, Maria, it's because of the president's policies. His policies have strengthened the economy. His policies have lowered prices. But unfortunately, The Fed's working across purposes with him and I frankly quite understand his frustration.

[A]

We don't necessarily know if Bush wants to cut interest rates, but it seems as if he'd be more in line with what the President is thinking when it comes to the economy. Was this the key reason as to why he wanted Warsh for the job?

[B]

And you know, that's not the only what sources have told me audition that Warsh had on cable television. You know, he was on CNBC in the summer and said he called for regime change at the Fed. And that's exactly the kind of language the President wants to hear. The President wants interest rates all the way down to 1% and he wants them down there yesterday. He wants to goose the housing market and he thinks that the Fed is just overly concerned about inflation. The Fed thinks that inflation hasn't been defeated yet is still too high. Inflation is very important. Remember when the Fed said inflation Was transitory in 2022? Remember what happened? It was not transitory. And we are still living through kind of the echoes of getting it wrong on inflation and how long it would last. So the Fed has very recently barely healed scars about inflation. And you've got the President and this particular Fed now designee saying that inflation isn't a problem. So it sets up for an interesting experiment at the Fed if he is conf.

[A]

Confirmed. The interesting though thing, Christine, is Warsh wasn't always like this. Right. He was at one point considered more of a hawk when it comes to interest rates. He would, he would agree with what Powell was doing when it comes to the economy and inflation.

[B]

You're absolutely right. And let's remind our viewers what our listeners what a hawk is. A hawk is someone who is so concerned about inflation they want to keep interest rates high. And when during the financial crisis you had all these jobs being lost, you had the concerns of very low inflation before the financial crisis and then suddenly concerns even about falling prices because of what was happening in the economy. You still had Kevin Warsh concerned about inflation and he didn't want to cut interest rates too much and was even concerned in some of the minutes from the Fed meetings at the time about trying to support the job market too much. Because it might seem now if you fast forward to today, it would seem as if that's a. It's upside down, it's backwards, he's changed.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So the question is what kind of a Fed chief he will be. And you don't know that until they.

[A]

Take the seat the Fed is supposed to Remain independent. And we. This is historical precedent. Jerome Powell said yesterday that the next Fed chair needs to stay out of elected politics. Is Wash going to do that?

[B]

That's the big question. What happened when he met with the President yesterday? Why did the President at the cabinet meeting on Thursday say I'm going to announce my pick next week. And then after a meeting with Warsh, he said, I'm going to announce my pick tomorrow. So what happened in that meeting? What did they talk about? Does the President feel like Kevin Warsh is going to cut interest rates dramatically and immediately? I will point out though, there are seven governors who vote on the Fed. The New York Fed president votes on the Fed, and then there are four other regional Fed bank presidents who vote. So just cuz he goes in there and wants to cut interest rates, doesn't mean the Fed's gonna cut interest rates.

[A]

Right.

[B]

But he does lead the discussions and try to build the consensus or the case for what he thinks should happen on rates. And by the way, all of the regional bank presidents, even if they don't vote, they sit around that table and they have, they discuss what's happening in the economy. So there is what Kevin Warsh says on the outside, influenced by the, or talking to the President or believing, as he has said he does in the President's policies. And then there's a whole different conversation with a lot of data that happens around that Fed board and a lot of other voices and he will be in that milieu.

[A]

And you mentioned, you know, it's not just the President's decision here. Right. The President could have this, this nominee, but it's obviously going to have to get confirmed by the Senate. North Carolina Republican Thom Tillis has said he's not going to vote for any Fed nominees until the DOJ investigation into the Fed's renovation project actually wraps up. And you repeated that position this morning as well. He could have a tough road to being confirmed as the Fed chair. And Tillis may not be the only one that is voting no.

[B]

No, you're right. And there will be other GOP senators who are going to really try to litigate again this unprecedented pressure campaign against the Fed. You know, firing Lisa Cook for unproven mortgage fraud allegations right now, investigating a DOJ probe. The Fed tells us into Jay Powell for his testimony about a multibillion dollar renovation at the Fed that the Fed chief himself, the current Fed chief says is a pretext, you know, is a pretext from the White House because the Fed is not doing what the President wants. You're going to hear all of that being litigated, no question in these confirmation hearings. And Kevin Warsh is going to have to very clearly say whether he is going to the Fed and is to pursue the president's policies or he's going to pursue the Fed's mandate, which is just two things. The Fed is in charge of keeping prices stable and making sure there are plentiful jobs.

[A]

That's it. Christine Romans, thank you.

[B]

Thank you, Yasmin.

[A]

Coming up, as President Trump weighs military action in Iran, we hear from protesters on the ground there with their hopes for the country's future. We're back in a minute. This is a Monday.com ad, the same Monday.com helping people worldwide getting work done faster and better. The same Monday.com designed for every team and every industry. The same Monday.com with built in AI scaling your work from day one. The same Monday.com that your team will actually love using the same Monday.com with an easy and intuitive setup. Go to Monday.com and try it for free.

[D]

Free.

[A]

Yes, the same Monday.com on the night.

[C]

Before Halloween in 1975, 15 year old Martha Moxley was murdered. But police failed to make an arrest until in 2000, her one time neighbor Michael Skakel was arrested. He was also a cousin of the Kennedys. The Kennedy connection is the reason that most people know about this case. But the deeper I dug, the more I came to question everything I thought I knew. Dead certain, the Martha Moxley murder. All episodes are available now wherever you get your podcasts.

[A]

And we are back with here's the scoop from NBC News. The president is ramping up pressure on Iran as he is weighing potential military action warning Tehran it must negotiate a new nuclear deal. Iran's foreign minister says the country is willing to talk but not under threat. And earlier this month, the nationwide anti government uprising in Iran left thousands of Iranians dead. And while the protests have cooled off for now, people still want to see major change there. NBC News foreign correspondent Molly Hunter has been speaking with Iranian protesters about what that change could look like. And she's joining us now. Hi, Molly.

[D]

Hi, Yasmin.

[A]

I'm incredibly excited about this interview because I care deeply about Iran. It's a place that I've covered extensively and so much has happened there in the last few weeks. These were some of the largest protests that we have seen in that country. And you actually had the opportunity to speak with Iranians there. What are they telling you about this movement and why it's happening now?

[D]

It's been really different than anything we've seen in recent years, as you know, Yasmin. And I think a couple things made the crackdown so much more deadly, which is why, of course, we're still talking about it a few weeks later. It started in late December, as we know, with shopkeepers in the bazaar. And it started slowly escalating to the point kind of in that first week of January. January 8th and 9th are the two biggest nights of protests. And everyone we spoke with said originally they had different reasons for hitting the streets. They felt like life was too expensive, they felt like inflation was through the roof. But they also all wanted freedom and they wanted dignity. So when you get to Thursday, January 8, the mood was still exciting. And then Parisa in Isfahan, I spoke to, she was at the front of the protests and it turned violent pretty quickly.

[E]

Around 20, 30, motorbikes made a line in front of the group without any warning, nothing. They just started shooting people straight into their faces and bodies. What I could see was legs falling down and blood everywhere on the street. And I could see screaming, shouting, and I started running away.

[D]

Parisa is not her real name, Yasmin. So we've changed these names to protect their identities. Parisa we met in person. She lives and works in London. She is mid-20s, a professional.

[A]

Molly, everyone that I've spoken to inside Iran and outside Iran, they all know someone who died in these protests. We're talking about thousands upon thousands of Iranians. Are you hearing the same thing?

[D]

Every single person we spoke with has a brother, a friend, a cousin, a son in law that was either killed or disappeared or arrested. The difference between Thursday, January 8th and Friday, January 9th is that Thursday were the huge crowds and Friday was when the lethal force came out and Ferhad was in Tehran. And he described the war grade machinery that he saw on the streets of the capital.

[F]

I saw with my own eyes in this case, it was a motorcycle with two people riding it. They took out a mini Kalashnikov and they started opening fire on the people. And I saw five or four people falling down. And they are using snipers. They also used heavy machine guns, the one that has the power to destroy a building and they are using it to shoot at people. Can you imagine what's the result?

[A]

I think what's so incredible about the descriptions that we're hearing from these Iranians is there was an Internet blackout. So while there was a trickle of video coming in, really the world had no idea what was going on to this extent, right? To this degree. So what do they want. What are they telling you that they want to see happen? With the loss of all these lives pouring into the streets for these massive.

[D]

Protests, they feel like they have played their part. They feel like they paid a huge price. As we've talked, the death toll. Look, there's a US Based human rights organization which tracks the deaths with confirmed numbers. They put that death toll around 6,300. Everyone that I'm talking to, as I'm the same with you, Yaz, says that it is far, far higher. But they want President Trump to act universally. They feel like they heard President Trump speaking in early January, encouraging the protesters. They felt like this is different this time because America is going to back us up because we take Mr. Trump at his word. And Farhad put it really nicely, we've done our part.

[F]

So without any international intervention, I don't think anyone else is going to do that again because it's suicide.

[A]

The President, that is President Trump, has been threatening Iran in recent weeks, as we all well know. He's gotten, for instance, carriers into position to possibly strike, although there are no, quote, unquote, plans to strike at this moment. Last night, the President told reporters that he had spoken to leaders inside Iran in recent days, and this was his message to them. I told him two things. Number one, no nuclear, and number two, stop killing protesters. So where are we in the latest negotiations, possible plans for what the President wants to do next with Iran? Did you hear anything from these Iranians as to whether or not they want this president to even be negotiating with the current regime?

[D]

We asked everyone what they want to see. As I mentioned, they all said they want to see American military action, but they also said, no negotiation. Do not let the Islamic Republic live or recover for one day longer, were the exact words of one of these protesters. So after President Trump spoke last night, we heard from the Iranian foreign minister today who said, we are ready to return to nuclear negotiations and we have never sought nuclear weapons and they have no place in our security calculations. And he adds, and this is the key line, I think, for anyone who's followed Iran for as long as we both have, Yasmin, Iran has no problem negotiating, but negotiations cannot happen under the shadow of threats.

[A]

I think, as Americans, as we look at the possibility of what may be to come in Iran, and I imagine Iranians are thinking this as well. We think about Iraq, we think about Afghanistan, we think about Iran, because the United States has been in this position before with Iran. And the question of the day after, right, what happens if in fact The United States does strike Iran. Are Iranians worried about this? What did they tell you they want? The day after having seen what took place in Iraq and Afghanistan and the incredible amount of bloodshed and difficulty in establishing a true democracy.

[D]

People that we spoke with are so focused on the present. We talked about, what do you want? Do you want boots on the ground? Do you want airstrikes? And Parisa, again, she's the mid-20s, from Isfahan, lives in London. She basically said that all of her friends, her family, the people she was speaking with, anything was better than what they had.

[E]

Now, if we need to take missiles, if we need to take military forces on the ground, anything that it takes to stop this barbaric regime is what the Iranian people want.

[D]

Right now. They are literally tracking the location of US Military forces in the Middle East. They showed me on their phones. They are looking where the USS Lincoln is. And they want to see real action from the international community, real action from President Trump. And then they'll feel emboldened, I think, to possibly hit the streets again, because they feel like this is the final blow, this is the beginning of the end. And it has to be, I think, given the price they've paid.

[A]

I just want to flag for you, Molly. The president spoke about Iran at the White House today and was asked if there's going to be a deadline placed on Iran. And he said they do want to make a deal, it seems. He was also asked about the presence of the carrier and what that could predict, I guess, in a way, as to what he was thinking about a potential strike. And he said, listen, it's a good place for them to float. And I'm paraphrasing here, but also saying that he told the Iranians that if, in fact they executed protesters, you know, hearkening back to a couple weeks ago, that you're going to pay a price like nobody's ever paid before. What do you make of the president saying that in the White House today?

[D]

I think one of the reactions to the idea of negotiating a deal from these Iranian protesters that we spoke with, we can look at Venezuela, where obviously the very top leadership was taken out, but the leadership class remained in place. And I think the Iranians that I spoke with, they want it dismantled. They don't just want the Supreme Leader taken out. They want the entire security system that keeps that cleric class, that keeps the Supreme Leader in place taken out. So a deal with that current leadership is not acceptable to them.

[A]

Really fascinating stuff. I am so thankful for you providing it to us. Thank you.

[D]

Thanks Yasmin for having us.

[A]

All right, we are going to take a very quick break and when we are back, what is in the newly released batch of Epstein files? Stay with us.

[G]

Close your eyes. Listen to Monday.com feel the sensation of an AI work platform so flexible and intuitive it feels like it was built just for you. Now open your eyes. Go to Monday.com, start for free, and finally, breathe.

[D]

Stay informed with the NBC News app.

[C]

Breaking news just coming in moments ago.

[D]

Watch, read and listen throughout your day and now unlock even more with a subscription. It's the best of NBC News with fewer ad interruptions, including ad free articles, podcasts and full NBC News shows. Plus deeper access and exclusive content.

[B]

Let's just take a step back.

[D]

It's more context and clarity from the reporters you trust. Download the NBC News app now and subscribe for more.

[A]

Once upon a time in an icy winter world, a wicked woman stole a child. Only the power of love can save him and defeat her. The Snow Queen New to Morrison Mysteries. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back to here's this group of MBT News. Let's get to some headlines. A massive new trove from the Epstein files was released today. The latest Department of justice dump includes 2,000 videos, 180,000 images and more than three and a half million pages. In a press conference, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the release includes commercial pornography and images seized from devices owned by the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein that he did not personally create. The Justice Department has shifted gears, opening a civil rights investigation into the fatal shooting of Alex Preddy, the 37 year old Veterans Affairs ICU nurse killed by federal agents last Saturday during this confrontation between authorities and protesters in Minneapolis. The FBI has taken over the investigation from the Department of Homeland Security. Earlier this week, the two Border Patrol agents who shot Preddy were put on administrative leave pending an internal probe. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche did not go into detail on why the DOJ decided to open a case into Preddy's death, but suggested that the circumstances of the case merit a probe. This came just hours after President Trump called Preddy a, quote, agitator and perhaps insurrectionist on true Social. Meanwhile, anti ice protests are taking place today in cities from LA to New York with activists urging, quote, no work, no school, no shopping to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. A partial government shutdown could be looming this weekend. NBC News Capitol Hill correspondent Melanie Zenonis says a last minute snag may derail a deal just hours before the midnight deadline.

[H]

So after bipartisan negotiations between Democrats and the White House yesterday. Senators thought they had an agreement last night to strip the DHS funding bill out of a larger funding package and just vote on a short term patch for DHS in order to give them more time to negotiate some reforms for ice. However, because this is the United States Senate, any one senator can hold up a timing agreement. And last night that distinction went to Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. He's been holding up this deal over a completely unrelated issue. He's been insistent that a funding bill include a provision allowing him and others to sue the DOJ for having their records obtained without their knowledge as part of the January six investigation. Graham does appear to be backing off his demands. So the hope is that the Senate will be able to land this plane at some point today. The problem, though, is that the House is out of session until Monday, so that's the earliest they can pass the deal, which means 75% of the federal government will at least temporarily shut down, leading to the second government shutdown of Trump's second term.

[A]

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon, independent Minnesota journalist, Georgia for, and two others were arrested by federal authorities in connection with a protest at a Minnesota church service earlier this month. The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that Lemon was charged with conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshipers. Want to play. NBC News's senior justice reporter Ryan Reilly.

[I]

So we haven't yet seen the court documents against Don Lemon yet. What we do know is that in a previous attempt, the Justice Department failed to convince a federal magistrate judge that there was probable cause for his arrest. The statute that this revolves around is called the Face act, and typically it's used in the context of protests against abortion clinics, but it also does cover protests against churches. It's just never been used in that context before, since it was passed way back in 1994.

[A]

In a statement, Lemon's attorney called this a, quote, unprecedented attack on the First Amendment, adding, they're going to fight these charges vigorously in court. Legendary skier Lindsey Vonn says she's not given up on her Olympic dream, hours after crashing into a safety netting during a World cup race and being airlifted from the course. In a statement on Instagram, Vaughn said she's still undergoing tests on her left knee. And even though it was just days before the start of the 2026 Winter Games, Vonn added, quote, if there is one thing I know how to do, it is a comeback. Finally, Canadian American actress and comedian Catherine O' Hara has died at 71 for more than four decades, O' Hara turned comedy into something at once outrageous, into deeply human. From her early days on Second City Television in Canada to Delia Dietz in Beetlejuice.

[D]

Charles I will not stop living and breathing art just because you need to.

[A]

Relax to the portrayal of Kevin's frantic mom in Home Alone. Kevin o' Hara committed completely. Do you remember when she played Winky the dog's mom in Best in Show.

[D]

God Loves a Terrier?

[G]

Yes, he does.

[F]

Good.

[A]

And then there was Schitt's Creek, where she starred as her defining creation.

[B]

Moira Rose, Won't you join me for.

[D]

A little stroll through the slice of paradise I like to call the town.

[A]

Where I currently am, A wig swapping, vowel bending icon who could have been a caricature but instead became a study in reinvention and resilience.

[D]

One day you will look at those photos with much kinder eyes and say, dear God, I was a beautiful thing.

[A]

Catherine o', Hara, we will miss you. And that's going to do it for us at here's this group from NBC News, I'm Yasmin Vestigin. We'll be back on Monday with whatever the weekend may bring. And if you love what you heard, subscribe. Wherever you get your podcasts, we will see you Monday.

[G]

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