No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen — Episode Summary

Episode: Trump's allies bail amid latest ICE shooting
Date: January 25, 2026
Host: Brian Tyler Cohen
Guests: Tommy Vitor, NJ Governor Mikey Sherrill, Rep. Sarah Jacobs

Main Theme

This episode analyzes the aftermath and political fallout of the latest ICE shooting in Minneapolis, where an ICU nurse was killed. The episode highlights the crumbling support for Trump, even among his traditional allies, due to the administration's aggressive enforcement actions and contradictory positions—especially on gun rights. The show also features interviews on media consolidation, the U.S. political landscape, anti-democratic trends, and Trump’s saber-rattling toward Greenland.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. ICE Shooting in Minneapolis and Right-Wing Revolt

[00:15–06:17]

• Incident Recap:
  • A 37-year-old ICU nurse, Alexander Preddy, was killed by ICE agents while lawfully filming them and carrying a permitted firearm.
  • Video evidence shows he was disarmed before being shot, countering the administration’s claim he was a “domestic terrorist.”
• Reactions from the Right:
  • NRA & Gun Owners of America strongly condemned Trump's US Attorney Bill Asale for justifying the shooting (01:06).
  • Conservative pundits and staffers, including Tim Pool and a Rand Paul staffer, criticized the administration’s narrative and called out the hypocrisy regarding gun rights.
  • Former Bush White House Counsel called for Trump’s impeachment over “lawless, fascism, and cruelty” (01:06).
  • Even the Republican House Homeland Security Committee initiated official hearings into ICE actions.
• Fox News Guest (02:43):
  • “It was said that Mr. Preddy was banishing a weapon. Well, he was not...One of the agents actually physically takes Mr. Preddy’s gun...before he’s shot. And then all of a sudden, he’s shot.”
• Social Media and Community Feedback:
  • On conservative subreddits, many acknowledge the shooting was unjustifiable: “I don’t see how anyone reasonable can side with ICE here.” (04:33)
• Host Analysis:
  • Brian criticizes the administration’s baseless narrative, double standards, and the breaking of their own base by disregarding gun rights:
    • “There’s no underlying principle… The only thing they care about is power. Unbridled, uncompromising power.” (05:16)
  • Reiterates that the White House’s approach is isolating them from their own supporters.

2. Tommy Vitor Interview: Authoritarian Optics, Media, and Democratic Leadership

[07:54–27:19]

A. Newsom vs Trump in the Optics War

• California Gov. Gavin Newsom invoked provocative comparisons between Trump’s ICE/CBP and SS officers, drawing attention with his outspoken criticism at Davos.
• Brian and Tommy discuss Newsom’s unapologetic approach as a potential 2028 presidential candidate.
• Tommy: “Gavin Newsom has made himself like the proverbial fart in Trump’s spacesuit. That shit just lingers.” (13:30)

B. How Capitulation Fails (Media & Europe)

• Acquiescence by major media companies (e.g., CBS, ABC) only fuels Trump’s disdain.
• Tommy: “All you show Donald Trump is that you are weak and can be bought and bullied.” (14:56)
• European response to Trump’s Greenland threats includes a strong united front; even Trump can be forced to back down under coordinated international or economic pressure.

C. The Authoritarian Clampdown on Press Freedom

• Trump administration excludes media outlets and controls press pool composition.
• Brian notes: “…every third question is from like, My Pillow Podcast or something. It’s just a steady erosion of any opportunity to hold this guy to account.” (18:47)
• Erosion of access further threatens public understanding and accountability.

D. The Right-Wing Tilt of Media and Algorithmic News

• Increased media consolidation is skewing platforms further right despite claims of liberal bias.
• Tommy: “We are living in a very rigged media environment in favor of Donald Trump.” (19:57)
• Discussion of the significance of independent progressive media to counteract right-wing narrative dominance.

E. Distraction as a Strategy, Not Just an Accident

• Trump deliberately creates new crises, shifting attention from one scandal to another (e.g., Epstein files, Greenland, ICE) to avoid accountability.
• Tommy: “If all this Greenland stuff was just designed to be a distraction from the Epstein files, then he was distracting from a story to another one that polled even worse.” (24:19)
• Brian emphasizes it’s more than distraction; it’s autocratic, dangerous behavior that stands on its own as condemnable.

F. The Cost of Inaction and Focus on Power

• Trump’s selective prioritization shows he acts only when it aligns with personal/political benefit—demonstrated by his inaction on economics, social programs, and transparency:

  • “He’s not gonna let the law stop him… Which goes to show that when he doesn’t do something, it’s because he just doesn’t have the will to do it.” (26:13)

• Polling Data (Tommy):

  • Majority disapprove of Trump on economy (NYT poll), and 61% think ICE has gone too far (26:40).

3. Interview with Governor Mikey Sherrill—Resisting Authoritarian Federal Overreach

[28:05–43:36]

• On Federal “Vengeance” Against Blue States:

  • Trump using ICE and “spurious investigations” to target Democratic-led states like New Jersey.
    • “He’s actually targeting quite a few blue states… with spurious investigations to root out fraud. So his typical use, targeted investigations against his political opponents, contrary to all the values of our democracy.” (28:50)

• Refusal to Cooperate with ICE:

  • Sherrill and other Democratic governors (e.g., Abigail Spanberger, Virginia) have ended cooperation with ICE as it acts like “his private militia.”
  • “This ICE agency is different. This president is really putting together his private militia.” (30:23)

• Policy Priorities in New Jersey:

  • Declared a utility/state-of-emergency to address energy rates and to move quickly on energy reform (31:58).
  • Emphasizes renewable energy, but the state’s progress stymied by Trump’s bans on federal wind projects.
    • “We would love to move into…wind power, but the president has stopped all of the federal wind farms…” (33:01)

• Utility Oversight and Grid Independence:

  • Working with other Democratic governors to hold grid operators accountable for integrating renewables and lowering costs.

• Democracy and Redistricting:

  • Describes bipartisan barriers to redistricting, but supports preparing the state for anticipated Republican “malfeasance.”
  • Predicts a blue wave/“tidal wave” in coming elections, citing surging turnout in diverse communities.
    • “We are seeing the traditional Democratic coalition of working people…coming together.” (42:04)

4. Interview with Rep. Sarah Jacobs—Allies Lost in Trump’s Greenland Sabre Rattling

[43:41–58:36]

• Trump’s Greenland Gambit: Vanity & Instability

  • Trump’s threats to annex Greenland have unnerved U.S. allies for no apparent strategic gain, eroding U.S. credibility.
  • “Trump sets the fire and then claims to put it out and wants to get credit for it.” (44:27)

• Impact on Alliances and Global Trust:

  • Danish and Greenlandic leaders baffled by U.S. behavior, frustrated by lack of clear demands from Trump; historic protests against the U.S. in Denmark.
  • “Prior to all this, 80% of Danes thought…the U.S. was an important ally. Now only single digits...think that we are.” (46:00)
  • Damage seen as long-lasting—even a new administration won’t easily restore deep trust in U.S. commitments.

• Congressional Abdication & Authoritarian Risks:

  • Many Republicans privately oppose Trump’s plans but refuse public action—waiting until “after he invades” to act.
  • “The idea that we will or will not be invading an ally based on the whims of a single person is deeply problematic.” (51:13)

• Isolation, China, & NATO Self-Sabotage:

  • Trump’s erratic foreign policy undermines NATO—the only real bulwark against Russian and Chinese ambitions in the Arctic.
  • “NATO is the only thing actually preventing some incursion on Greenland by China or Russia…But [Trump] is trying to destroy [NATO] at this very moment.” (54:26)
  • Undercuts own rationale while alienating allies.

• America’s Reputation & Domestic Opposition:

  • Danish people “felt bad for us,” understanding most Americans do not support Trump and his policies (57:38).
  • Brian: “You can't get 96% of Americans to agree on what day it is…96% disagree with military invasion of Greenland!” (56:23)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Tommy Vitor (about Newsom’s strategy):
  • “Gavin Newsom has made himself like the proverbial fart in Trump’s spacesuit. That shit just lingers.” [13:30]
• Fox News Guest (on shooting):
  • “When I looked at the video…one of the agents actually physically takes Mr. Preddy’s gun. And that is before he’s shot. And then all of a sudden he’s shot, there’s a pause and there are more bullets that are shot in his direction.” [02:43]
• Brian Tyler Cohen (defining the core problem):
  • “There’s no underlying principle to anything that they’re doing, because the only thing they care about is power. Like unbridled, uncompromising power.” [05:16]
• Sarah Jacobs (on allies’ confidence):
  • “I don’t think anyone in the world will agree to make a deal with the United States that’s longer than four years because they just don’t believe…any deal will…be implemented beyond four years.” [48:51]
• Governor Mikey Sherrill (on ICE in blue states):
  • “This ICE agency is different. This president is really putting together his private militia.” [30:23]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:15: Overview of Minneapolis ICE shooting
• 01:06: Backlash from NRA and 2A groups
• 02:43: Fox News guest details video evidence
• 05:16: Brian Tyler Cohen: “Unbridled, uncompromising power”
• 07:54: Tommy Vitor joins; Newsom’s provocative critiques
• 13:30: Newsom in Trump’s “spacesuit” analogy
• 18:47: Trump excludes media, eroding press freedom
• 19:57: Media consolidation helps the right
• 24:19: Distraction as strategy, not accident
• 28:05: Mikey Sherrill interview: ICE and state resistance
• 30:23: Sherrill on ICE as “private militia”
• 31:58: Emergency orders on utilities/energy in NJ
• 33:01: Renewables blocked by federal wind farm freeze
• 43:41: Sarah Jacobs joins; no real “Greenland deal”
• 44:27: “Trump sets the fire and claims to put it out”
• 46:00: Collapse in Danish trust in America
• 51:13: Congress’s abdication on foreign policy
• 54:26: NATO would collapse if Trump invaded another member
• 57:38: Danish people “felt bad for us,” not angry
• 58:36: Episode wrap-up

Conclusion

Brian Tyler Cohen’s episode incisively dissects the unraveling of Trump’s public support over a brutal ICE shooting, unpacks how his administration’s pursuit of unchecked power is alienating both his base and institutions, and offers a detailed look at growing authoritarianism, media co-optation, and international instability. Interviews with Tommy Vitor, Governor Mikey Sherrill, and Rep. Sarah Jacobs illustrate profound domestic and international consequences of Trump-era policies, highlighting the urgent need for independent media and persistent, proactive resistance at every level.