Nightly Scroll with Hayley Caronia – Episode 222

“Trump Unleashes Border Czar Tom Homan on Minnesota”
Date: January 28, 2026
Host: Hayley Caronia

Episode Overview

In this charged and fast-moving episode, Hayley Caronia unpacks the fallout from the ICE shooting of protester Alex Preddy in Minnesota. She covers the emerging political, legal, and culture-war angles: from Trump’s deployment of Tom Homan as "border czar" to the state; calls for the impeachment of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem; scrutiny of fundraising around Preddy’s death; and backlash over anti-Trump rhetoric from healthcare professionals. Through it all, Hayley offers her trademark candid, conservative commentary and doesn’t shy from critiquing both sides—including the Trump administration itself, as well as liberal hypocrisy and media manipulation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Border Tensions and Alex Preddy Shooting

• Multiple Law Enforcement Agencies Involved

  • Two agents (Border Patrol and Customs & Border Protection) both fired; full details remain unclear as investigation continues ([02:06–04:55]).
  • Hayley emphasizes the unreliability of early footage: “There is a lot that we don’t know...I think anyone that comes out and says, yeah, I firmly know exactly what’s going on here is lying.” ([06:23]).

• Second Amendment Concerns

  • Hayley calls out President Trump for expressing disapproval of Preddy and others carrying guns at protests:

    “President Trump earlier today said he didn’t like that Alex Preddy had a gun on him... It also brings me no joy to report on the fact that the President of the United States doesn’t like the fact that an American citizen was carrying a gun.” ([05:22])

• Official Responses

  • Trump signals displeasure about armed protesters:

    “I don’t like that he had a gun. I don’t like that he had two fully loaded magazines. That’s a lot of bad stuff. And despite that, I say that’s a very unfortunate [incident].” – Donald Trump ([04:55])

  • Kristi Noem sees it as obstruction of law enforcement:

    “This individual showed up to impede a law enforcement operation and assaulted our officers...I don’t know of any peaceful protester that shows up with a gun and ammunition rather than a sign.” – Kristi Noem ([08:10])

• Hayley critiques Noem’s comments and offers a sharp reminder: “We have to apply the Second Amendment equally. Liberals can also have guns and carry legally... That statement wasn’t the best.” ([09:21])

2. Political Fallout: Impeachment Threats & Administration Response

• Democratic Calls for Accountability

  • House Democrats threaten to impeach Secretary Kristi Noem over the shootings, should Trump refuse to fire her ([10:20]).

• Trump’s Unyielding Support

  • Trump doubles down:

    “I think she’s doing a very good job. The border is totally secure.” – Donald Trump ([10:37])

• Hayley: “We have Kristi Noem to thank. We have Greg Bevino to thank. We have Tom Homan to thank...they are doing an incredible job.” ([10:55])

3. Move to Minnesota: Tom Homan as Border Czar

• Caroline Levitt clarifies Homan’s new role: “Mr. Homan will be the main point of contact on the ground in Minneapolis.”
• Hayley highlights Homan's bipartisan track record:

  “It was under Tom Homan’s leadership under the Obama administration when they deported even more people than Trump did.” ([12:30])

• She also critiques fractured cooperation among state/federal law enforcement: “There shouldn’t be two opposing law enforcement teams on the ground in Minnesota, although it does sort of seem that way now...” ([13:40])

4. Election Integrity & Accusations of Fraud

• Governor Walz’s Statements
  • Walz touts Minnesota’s “most secure” elections:

    “We have the safest, most secure, most well attended elections in the country...” – Tim Walz ([14:37])

• Hayley’s Rebuttal:
  • Points to reporting on questionable vouching practices and driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants; claims of ulterior motives linking protests to election turnout.

    “How on earth can you possibly have the safest and most secure elections in the country if each citizen can vouch for eight illegals to vote?” ([15:52])

5. Fundraising in the Wake of Tragedy

• Alex Preddy’s GoFundMe

  • Set up by YouTuber and Lincoln Project alumnus Keith Edwards; reaches $1.6M rapidly.

  • Hayley scrutinizes the ethics and logistics:

    “Why was he the one that started the GoFundMe for Alex Preddy? ...His ethics might be questionable.” ([20:48])

  • Keith Edwards on the power of activism:

    “Shows that we are very powerful. ...What if we’ve been thinking too small?...Nothing is going to fix the pain for this family.” ([19:53])

  • Hayley warns about fundraising for questionable figures and the potential for grift:

    “Our society is just horrible...I’m just, I’m a little wary of the GoFundMes and where all this money is coming from and who’s raising it.” ([22:38])

6. Media Manipulation: “Looksmaxxing” Alex Preddy

• MSNBC (“Ms. Now”) Criticized
  • Hayley notices that the news outlet aired a “looks-maxxed” version of a photo of Preddy, implying enhancement for sympathy:

    “They gave Alex Preddy a spray tan, a nose job, shaved down his chin, whitened his teeth, made more of his smile visible...Why stop there?” ([27:35])

  • She lampoons their journalistic standards and motives.

7. Healthcare Professionals' Anti-MAGA Hate

• Nurses and Doctors Under Scrutiny

  • Anesthesiologist Eric Martindale posts anti-MAGA refusal-of-care, then claims to be hacked.

    “I will not perform anesthesia for any surgeries or procedures for MAGA. It is my right. It is my ethical oath.” – Eric Martindale ([33:38])

  • Florida nurse Lexi Lawler wishes a gruesome labor complication on White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt and is subsequently fired, but fundraises for legal expenses ([34:50]).

    “As a labor and delivery nurse, it gives me great joy to wish Caroline Levitt a 4th degree tear. I hope that you fucking rip from bow to stern and never shit normally again, you cunt.” – Lexi Lawler ([36:02])

  • VCU Healthcare employee posts “how-to” on harming ICE agents:

    “All the medical providers, grab some syringes with needles on the end, have them full of saline or succinylcholine...that will probably be a deterrent. Be safe.” – VCU Employee ([39:08])

    • Also advocates using poison ivy water in water guns against ICE agents and discusses covertly poisoning them on dates.

  • Hayley: “How could you bring her back after she has said these things? You can’t even claim that this is a joke. She is dead serious.” ([39:50])

  • Morgana Morrow, librarian in West Virginia, arrested after soliciting a “sniper” to kill Trump ([40:39]).

8. Culture & Super Bowl Politics

• Trump Boycotts the Super Bowl

  • Ostensibly due to bad optics and anti-Trump half-time artists (Green Day, Bad Bunny):

    “The NFL is super out of touch with their fan base. The performances are always liberal.” ([43:30])

  • Hayley mocks the NFL partnering with Bad Bunny for “Toad Labubu” plushie jeans: “Why would anyone, a grown man...wear a plush Puerto Rican Toad labubu on their jeans?” ([45:45])

9. Scrolling Time: “Are You Law Enforcement?”

• Twitch Streamer Harassed by Protesters

  • Hayley plays and narrates viral footage of a streamer being mistaken for ICE and hounded by protesters (“Are you law enforcement? Are you law enforcement?” visual bit) ([49:05]).
  • Hayley: “Doesn’t matter if you’re ICE or not, they’re still going to stick their phones in your face and record you just for good measure, just in case.” ([49:59])

• Australian Influencer’s Outrage and Boycott

  • Aussie influencer in tears over U.S. events, vows to never visit again ([51:14]).
  • Hayley: “If this influencer decides to not take a trip to the United States ever again, I think we’re going to be A-OK. ...It’s just virtue signaling. Useless.” ([52:28])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Trump on Preddy Shooting:

  “I don’t like that he had a gun. I don’t like that he had two fully loaded magazines. That’s a lot of bad stuff.” ([04:55])

• Hayley on 2A Rights:

  “We have to apply the Second Amendment equally. Liberals can also have guns and carry legally, of course, like this applies to all American citizens.” ([09:21])

• On Medical ‘Professionalism’:

  “It gives me great joy to wish Caroline Levitt a 4th degree tear...never shit normally again, you cunt.” – Lexi Lawler, nurse, before being fired ([36:02])

• On Media Portrayal:

  “Why wouldn’t you give him a full head of hair? Why not?...Would leftists really care about that who are mostly ugly, fat slobs?” ([27:35])

• On Protesters' Approach:

  “Doesn’t matter if you’re ICE or not. They’re still going to stick their phones in your face and record you just for good measure.” ([49:59])

• On Cancel Tourism:

  “If this influencer...decides to not take a trip to the United States ever again, I think we’re going to be A-OK.” ([52:28])

Segment Timestamps

• Opening & Announcements: 00:01–02:05
• ICE/CBP Shooting & Second Amendment Discussion: 02:06–09:21
• Impeachment Threats & Trump’s Response: 09:22–10:55
• Minnesota Border Oversight & Tom Homan Appointment: 10:56–15:52
• Election Security & Accusations of Fraud: 15:53–19:53
• GoFundMe Fundraising and Keith Edwards: 19:54–24:40
• MSNBC Photo Manipulation Segment: 24:41–32:28
• Healthcare Workers’ Anti-MAGA Rhetoric: 33:29–41:00+
• Super Bowl & NFL Segment: 41:00–45:56
• Scrolling Time (Twitch Streamer, Australian Influencer): 45:57–53:00

Tone and Style

Hayley’s style throughout is blunt, irreverent, and combative, mixing sharp criticism, pointed satire (“leftists really care about...hot Alex Preddy?”), and cultural observation. Her perspective is forthrightly conservative, skeptical of liberal narratives and eager to challenge hypocrisy—whether from her side, mainstream media, or the opposition.

Summary prepared for listeners seeking a nuanced, comprehensive outline of the episode’s content and key takeaways.