Morning Wire Podcast Summary

Episode: Minneapolis Fuels Unrest & Trump’s Iran Plan
Date: January 12, 2026
Hosts: John Bickley & Georgia Howe
Guests: Cabot Phillips, Tim Pierce, Binham Bin Talablu
Main Theme:
This episode explores two headline stories: the aftermath and protests following a deadly ICE-involved shooting in Minneapolis and President Trump’s developing response to the Iranian regime’s violent crackdown on anti-government protests, alongside rumblings regarding Cuba.

1. Minneapolis ICE-Involved Shooting and National Unrest

Key Discussion Points:

• Cell Phone Footage and What Happened

  • [02:14] The hosts discuss new cell phone footage obtained by Alpha News showing the fatal ICE-agent-involved shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good in Minneapolis.
  • The video provides more context, showing Goode's wife yelling "drive, baby, drive" before Good accelerates towards an ICE agent, who then opens fire ([02:50]).
  • Republican View: Video reinforces the agent acted in self-defense.
  • Democratic View: Some, like Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Adam Schiff, describe it as murder or wrongful killing.
  • Correction: Cabot Phillips notes Good and wife were not bystanders but acting as "legal observers" aiming to disrupt ICE operations ([03:26]).

• Political Response and Outrage

  • Rep. Ilhan Omar spoke at a protest (“We are going to make sure that these people pay for what they have done to us.” – Ilhan Omar, [03:50]), and on CBS implied the officer should not have been in front of a vehicle ([04:05]).
  • The episode highlights the polarized rhetoric and factual disputes shaping public reaction.

• Protests and Organized Movements

  • Tens of thousands protested in Minneapolis, with the demonstration spreading nationwide ([04:24]).
  • Organized under banners like “ICE out for Good,” with some protests turning violent and resulting in arrests and police use of tear gas. Organizations like Freedom Road Socialist Organization and The People’s Forum also offered support.

• Portland Incident and Broader Context

  • A similar ICE-involved shooting occurred in Portland, where agents opened fire after a vehicle was used as a weapon ([04:58]).
  • Both individuals shot were confirmed gang members, which led to a notable moment from Portland Police Chief Bob Day, who broke down in tears during a press conference ([05:33]).
  • ICE Director Todd Lyons commented:

    "I have no idea what he's crying about. I would think he would be happy that we take these criminal elements out of his neighborhoods." (Tim Pierce quoting Todd Lyons, [05:49])

  • Data shows a major uptick in vehicular attacks on ICE agents: two in 2024 compared to 66 in the past year ([06:00]).
  • DHS Secretary Noem describes these acts as domestic terrorism.

2. Trump Weighs Action Amid Iranian Protests

Key Discussion Points:

• Scale and Severity of Protests

  • Anti-regime protests have escalated widely across Iran since late December ([07:35]).
  • The Iranian government has imposed internet blackouts, and reports suggest casualties may have reached hundreds or thousands as security forces crack down, bolstered by proxies ([07:48]).

• International Voices and Context

  • Exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi:

    "In the last 48 hours Iranians have suffered more casualties than America did after the 9/11 attack. This is a moment that is defining.... This is an opportunity to liberate that nation." ([08:20])

  • Videos show massive demonstrations, fueling speculation about the regime’s hold on power.

• White House and DC Response

  • Reports suggest President Trump is considering a potential military strike to protect Iranian protesters. Wall Street Journal reports Trump will be briefed on specifics soon ([08:44]).
  • Iran threatens retaliation against U.S. and Israeli interests ([09:28]).
  • Mark Warner (Democratic Senator) warns:

    "We take a kinetic strike. Does that actually unite the Iranian people in a way that the regime has not been able to?... The last time we intervened in Iran in a major way was 1953... that led to the ayatollah." ([09:56])

  • Internal White House debate and concerns over unintended consequences are underscored.

3. U.S. Relations and Strategizing over Cuba

Key Discussion Points:

• Speculation over Trump’s Intentions
  • Trump’s post hints at a potential deal with Cuba as Venezuela’s support wanes ([10:25]).
  • Observations are made that Cuba lacks significant natural resources but is geopolitically relevant as a hub for Russian and Chinese influence and as an ally to Venezuela.
  • With Venezuela’s energy aid halted, Cuba’s regime may be on the brink of collapse.
  • Trump suggests the U.S. is positioned to negotiate, with Cuba needing U.S. protection ([11:02]).

4. In-Depth: Iranian Protest Crackdown and the Future

Guest Analysis:
Binham Bin Talablu, Sr. Dir., Iran Program, Foundation for Defense of Democracies ([11:16]–[15:44])

Key Insights:

• Conditions on the Ground:

  • Internet blackouts aim to sever communication among Iranians, between domestic dissidents and those abroad, and to shield regime violence from international scrutiny ([11:37]).
  • Gruesome reports: regime workers power-washing blood from streets.

• Historic Scale and Nature:

  • This is seen as the most significant challenge to regime legitimacy in 46 years ([12:37]).
  • Protesters invoke the name of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi as a symbol of hope for regime change ([13:07]).

• Potential Futures for Iran:

  • The biggest question is how the regime might fall—evolution, devolution, or revolution ([13:07]).
  • There’s a difference between foreign-imposed change and foreign-supported change, with the latter potentially facilitating a stable, representative system favored by protesters ([13:38]).

• U.S. Role:

  • President Trump is keeping U.S. allies and adversaries guessing, a psychological strategy ([14:42]).
  • Repeated threats may embolden protesters or inadvertently help the regime by suggesting the West’s support is unreliable.
  • Trump holds significant leverage after isolating Iran by undermining Venezuela, its key ally in the Americas.

Memorable Quotes:

• "There's nothing worse than having to imagine what a crackdown looks like based on texts and reports... having to see regime workers having to power wash blood off the streets." – Binham Bin Talablu, [12:07]
• "This... is the most important challenge to the regime's legitimacy from the street, in the past 46 years." – Binham Bin Talablu, [12:45]
• "Iranians want a more representative government. They've had one of the oldest constitutional revolutions in Asia, so this is not particularly alien to them." – Binham Bin Talablu, [13:38]
• "If it's left alone, if it's just the hard military men who come in, if it's another regime figure, that would be a setback..." – Binham Bin Talablu, [14:18]

5. Notable Quotes & Moments

• “We are going to make sure that these people pay for what they have done to us.” – Rep. Ilhan Omar ([03:50])
• “He should know that you shouldn't be trying to get in front of a moving car.” – Rep. Ilhan Omar ([04:05])
• “I have no idea what he's crying about. I would think he would be happy that we take these criminal elements out of his neighborhoods.” – Todd Lyons, ICE Director ([05:49])
• "In the last 48 hours, Iranians have suffered more casualties than America did after the 9/11 attack." – Reza Pahlavi ([08:20])
• “Does that actually unite the Iranian people in a way that the regime has not been able to?” – Sen. Mark Warner ([09:56])

6. Timeline of Important Segments

• Minneapolis shooting footage and reactions: [02:14]–[04:16]
• Nationwide protests and violence: [04:24]–[05:33]
• Portland ICE incident and analysis: [04:58]–[06:18]
• Discussion of Iranian protests: [07:35]–[09:22]
• Trump’s Iran strategy & Washington debate: [09:22]–[10:18]
• Speculation over Cuba: [10:18]–[11:02]
• Expert analysis on Iran’s uprising & US role: [11:16]–[15:44]

Conclusion

This Morning Wire episode delivers a fast-paced, fact-focused breakdown of two high-stakes issues—the unrest following a deadly ICE-involved shooting and a historic protest wave in Iran. With reporting and contributions from policy experts and on-the-ground insight, the show offers both context and analysis of the facts, political rifts, and potential global consequences of both crises.