Corporate leaders in Minnesota stay silent amid ICE raids. Why?

Summary

Marketplace Morning Report – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Corporate leaders in Minnesota stay silent amid ICE raids. Why?
Air Date: January 16, 2026
Host: David Brancaccio
Notable Contributors: Stephanie Hughes, Chris Farrell, Louis Johnston, RT Rybeck

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Episode Overview

This episode of Marketplace Morning Report centers on the silence of Minnesota’s corporate leaders following the killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent, amid an increased federal immigration enforcement presence. It explores why major local companies, despite their historical community engagement, have largely refrained from making public statements about the crackdown—a decision with socio-economic implications for the region. Additional segments include a look at rising community college enrollment and a brief health update concerning cell phones.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Rising Community College Enrollment (00:01 – 01:44)

• For the fourth consecutive year, community colleges have seen an increase in enrollment, rising 3% from the previous year based on data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
• Profile Highlight:
  • Titus Dominic, a 41-year-old Navy veteran and truck driver, enrolls in culinary school at Columbus State Community College to pursue a career as a restaurant owner.
    • Quote: “The ultimate goal would be at some point to be able to own my own restaurant.” —Titus Dominic (00:32)
    • Quote: “At some point I have to pull that thread and say it’s time to go for it.” —Titus Dominic (00:46)
• Key Insight:
  • There’s a notable increase in short-term, job-focused certificate programs—students across ages are finding value in short-term credentials.
    • Quote: “It speaks to students of all ages seeing the value of these short-term credentials. There's a wage payoff that students are seeing and they see it as clear steps toward the career or the job that they want.” —Matthew Holtapple (01:09)
  • More high school students are enrolling in community college courses, accelerating their postsecondary progress.
    • Quote: “This kind of program helps students get into college sooner… they can do college work and they can succeed.” —Matthew Holtapple (01:24)
  • Growth isn’t at the expense of four-year colleges, as enrollments there are also ticking up.

2. Health Guidance Shift on Mobile Phones (01:44 – 02:25)

• The FDA has discreetly removed website pages indicating that cell phones are not a health risk.
• The Department of Health and Services (under Robert Kennedy Jr.) has initiated a new study on the effects of radio waves from phones.
• Notable Information:
  • Previous FDA language stated there was no link between cell phone use and health problems, signaling a possible shift in public health messaging.

3. Minnesota Corporate Silence after ICE Raid and Killing (03:22 – 07:09)

• The state is unsettled after the killing of Renee Good, an American citizen, by an ICE agent, and increased federal law enforcement presence.
• Despite being at the center of raids—impacting stores and staff of household-name companies like 3M, Target, Best Buy, and General Mills—executive leadership has been notably quiet.
• Quote: “There have been very few public statements so far. Generally, companies have said, look, they can’t stop immigration officials from entering public spaces. And that’s right…with that history, with that background, corporate Minnesota’s silence about increased federal immigration enforcement is striking.” —Chris Farrell (04:20)
• Employers report multiple negative economic effects:
  • Fewer customers frequenting businesses.
  • Employees fearful to come to work.
  • Severe labor shortages and production issues in sectors like agriculture, restaurants, and construction.
    • Quote: “Farmers, restaurateurs, construction firms…warn repeatedly about labor shortages and production bottlenecks from the crackdown.” —Chris Farrell (05:06)
• Explaining the Silence:
  • Minnesota’s largest companies are national/global operations; local economic issues have diminished influence.
    • Quote: “When you’re looking at those kinds of things, it’s better to keep quite quiet or to be as uncontroversial as possible and not take a side.” —Louis Johnston (05:44)
  • Political climate is seen as volatile and potentially retaliatory.
    • Quote: “Executives seem concerned that if they raise objections their company might find itself dealing with political retaliation, regulatory scrutiny, perhaps a consumer boycott or some combination.” —Chris Farrell (06:02)
• Past vs. Present CEO Activism:
  • Historically, CEOs were more willing to speak out on social issues (“Davos Man” mentality), but current uncertainties (tariffs, geopolitics) push business leaders toward caution.
  • Long-term Risk:
    • Stakeholders worry that silence may undermine Minnesota’s advantage: a culturally vibrant and growing workforce.
      • Quote: “The bigger threat is if we lose our competitive advantage of having a culturally flowing workforce that continues to grow.” —RT Rybeck (06:53)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “At some point I have to pull that thread and say it’s time to go for it.” —Titus Dominic (00:46)
• “It speaks to students of all ages seeing the value of these short-term credentials.” —Matthew Holtapple (01:09)
• “There have been very few public statements so far… corporate Minnesota’s silence about increased federal immigration enforcement is striking.” —Chris Farrell (04:20)
• “When you’re looking at those kinds of things, it’s better to keep quite quiet or to be as uncontroversial as possible and not take a side.” —Louis Johnston (05:44)
• “The bigger threat is if we lose our competitive advantage of having a culturally flowing workforce that continues to grow.” —RT Rybeck (06:53)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:01 – 01:44: Community college enrollment trends and student motivations
• 01:44 – 02:25: FDA quietly shifts cell phone health guidance
• 03:22 – 07:09: Discussion of the ICE incident, Minnesota corporate silence, and its implications

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Tone and Language

The conversation maintains Marketplace’s trademark calm, fact-driven, and accessible tone. Contributors speak frankly about tense social and economic realities, using expert interviews and firsthand accounts to explore the business and community impact.

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In summary:
This episode sharply illustrates how Minnesota’s historically civically engaged corporate sector has retreated from public comment in a moment of crisis, weighing the business risks of speaking out against the risks to community reputation and workforce stability. The episode also briefly touches on trends in education and public health, all against a backdrop of political and economic uncertainty.

Transcript

[David Brancaccio]

The popular kid on campus Community colleges. I'm David Brancaccio in Los Angeles. For the fourth fall in a row. Enrollment in community colleges was up this time, up 3% from a year earlier. Now that's according to a new report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research center. Why is interesting Marketplace's Stephanie Hughes has.

[Stephanie Hughes]

That 41 year old Titus Dominic has always loved to cook. So this fall he enrolled in a culinary program at Columbus State Community College in Ohio.

[Titus Dominic]

The ultimate goal would be at some point to be able to own my own restaurant.

[Stephanie Hughes]

Dominic worked as a cook on an aircraft carrier when he was in the Navy years ago. For the last decade he's worked as a commercial truck driver. He hopes this program will launch his new career.

[Titus Dominic]

At some point I have to pull that thread and say it's time to go for it.

[Stephanie Hughes]

More people are doing the same as Dominic going to community college with the aim of getting a particular job. There's been an increase in people seeking associate's degrees and Matthew Holtapple, who leads the research team at the National Student Clearinghouse, says there's been an even bigger rise in short job focused certificate programs.

[Titus Dominic]

It speaks to students of all ages seeing the value of these short term credentials. There's a wage payoff that students are seeing and they see it as clear steps toward the career or the job that they want.

[Stephanie Hughes]

Another driver of growth. More high school students are now taking community college classes.

[Titus Dominic]

I think this kind of program helps students get into college sooner, so it helps students learn they can do college work and they can succeed in college.

[Stephanie Hughes]

Holtz Apple points out that community colleges aren't necessarily gaining at the expense of other schools. There has also been an uptick in the number of students going to four year colleges. I'm Stephanie Hughes for Marketplace.

[David Brancaccio]

The U.S. food and Drug Administration has quietly removed web pages that used to say mobile phones are not a health risk. The Wall Street Journal noticed the change. Robert Kennedy Jr. S Department of Health and Services has ramped up a new study of the health effects, if any, of the radio waves emitted by phones. The FDA pages used to say in part, the weight of scientific evidence has not linked exposure to radio frequency energy from cell phone use with any health problem.

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[Kyle Rysdal]

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[Jimmy Allen]

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[David Brancaccio]

The country, and especially people in Minnesota remain on edge and upset after the killing of Renee Good, a 37 year old US citizen, by an ICE agent in Minnesota. This with more ICE agents and other federal officers deployed to the area. Amid all this, a key set of regional voices has been noticeably quiet executives for many of Minnesota's leading corporations. There are many. For more, I'm joined by Marketplace's senior economics contributor Chris Farrell in St. Paul. Hey Chris.

[Chris Farrell]

Good morning, David.

[David Brancaccio]

Minnesota has headquarters for some very high profile businesses. I'm thinking 3M Target, Best Buy, General Mills, many more. Some of them have been right at the center of the immigration enforcement immigration raids in their stores, employees detained. In some cases, there have been calls for firms to protect employees and customers. What have been the public statements from big companies, given everything we've seen in the past week or so?

[Chris Farrell]

Well, David, there have been very few public statements so far. Generally, companies have said, look, they can't stop immigration officials from entering public spaces. And that's right. But here's the thing. Prominent executives served on nonprofit boards. They weigh in on workforce issues, and they tap their corporate foundations and personal pockets to support community initiatives. So with that history, with that background, corporate Minnesota's silence about increased federal immigration enforcement is striking.

[David Brancaccio]

Now, the administration's promise is that strict immigration policy will lead to more and better jobs for citizens. But I mean, we've seen calculations, right, that this immigration enforcement has had negative effects, a negative impact on Minnesota's economy.

[Chris Farrell]

Well, local businesses, they're saying, we have fewer customers. Employers say some workers are too afraid to come for their shifts. Farmers, restaurateurs, construction firms, just to name a few of the vulnerable industries warn repeatedly about labor shortages and production bottlenecks from the crackdown.

[David Brancaccio]

What explains the retreat from the public square by large companies in Minnesota on these issues?

[Chris Farrell]

Minnesota's leading companies, they're national, they're global corporations, and the local economy is less important, says Louis Johnston, professor of economics at the College of St. Benedict and St. John's University.

[Louis Johnston / RT Rybeck]

When you're looking at those kinds of things, it's better to keep quite quiet or to be as uncontroversial as possible and not take a side.

[David Brancaccio]

And Chris, the general political environment is volatile and the rhetoric can be intense. Some will say vicious.

[Chris Farrell]

Executives seem concerned that if they raise objections, their company might find itself dealing with political retaliation, regulatory scrutiny, perhaps a consumer boycott or some combination.

[David Brancaccio]

Once upon a time, CEOs, I think, were more prone to taking stands on public issues. The term was CEO activism.

[Chris Farrell]

Political scientist Samuel Huntington famously dubbed this mindset Davos Man, a multinational corporate elite confident in his problem solving insights involving the world's most pressing issues. These days, CEOs are focused on navigating multiple uncertainties like tariffs and geopolitical upheavals. But here's the thing, David. You know, in Minnesota and elsewhere, there are concerns that silence will exact a long term price. Here's RT Rybeck, a former mayor of Minneapolis.

[Louis Johnston / RT Rybeck]

The bigger threat is if we lose our competitive advantage of having a culturally flowing workforce that continues to grow.

[Chris Farrell]

Rybeck is now the head of the Minneapolis Foundation.

[David Brancaccio]

Chris Farrell is Marketplace's senior economics contributor, speaking from St. Paul. Chris, thank you.

[Chris Farrell]

Thanks a lot, David.

[David Brancaccio]

Our executive producer is Nancy Fargali. Our digital team includes Antoinette Brock, Emily McCune and Dylan Mietanen. Our engineers are Tessa Block, Brian Allison and David Schreck. In Los Angeles, I'm another David, David Brancaccio. It's the Marketplace Morning report. From APM American Public Media.

[Kyle Rysdal]

Hey, everybody, it's Kyle Rysdal, the host of Marketplace. It has been a year since the fires here in Los Angeles, and businesses that burned are still struggling.

[Titus Dominic]

You know, I won't lie. I've looked, I've looked at, you know, hey, maybe we moved the store. It just, it wouldn't be the same.

[Kyle Rysdal]

Hardware store on the ground Reporting and what the year ahead has in store for business owners still recovering. Listen to Marketplace on your favorite podcast app.