Podcast Summary: "Stop This Mass Invasion" – Mayor Frey Blasts ICE Operation in Minneapolis

On with Kara Swisher (Vox Media), January 26, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode features Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey discussing the federal government’s aggressive ICE operations in the city, following the killing of two American citizens—Renee Goode and Alexander Preddy—by ICE agents. Host Kara Swisher and Mayor Frey dive into the local impact, the broader constitutional and political stakes, and how Minneapolis is responding under siege by federal forces. The conversation traverses everything from personal threats and legal battles to public safety and the lived experience in Minneapolis.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Background: The State of Minneapolis under Federal Crackdown

• Kara Swisher opens by detailing recent violence: the killings of Renee Goode and Alexander Preddy—both US citizens—by ICE officers during protest crackdowns. ([00:32])
• Mayor Frey is described as overwhelmed but resolute, with only 600 local police facing 3,000 heavily armed federal agents.
• Swisher frames the crisis as a “fascist threat” from within the US government, urging national attention to these events.

2. Subpoenas & Intimidation from the DOJ

• DOJ subpoenas local officials (Mayor Frey, Gov. Tim Walz, others) for allegedly impeding immigration enforcement. The subpoenas are vague and, in Frey's view, purely meant to intimidate. ([06:05]-[07:33])
  • Quote:

    “The subpoenas were purely designed to intimidate. This is retaliation against local Democratic officials, largely for political reasons. This has got nothing to do with safety. It’s got nothing to do with law.”
    (Jacob Frey, [06:33])

• Frey notes the chilling effect this could have on the First Amendment and democracy; weaponization of the DOJ against political opponents is something seen “in other countries,” not the US.

3. Arrests of Local Activists and Guardrails

• Swisher notes the arrest of civil rights attorney Nikima Levy Armstrong at a church protest, asking about guardrails to such federal actions. ([09:11])
• Frey condemns the overreach, calling for release of activists even if he disagrees with protest tactics; emphasizes respecting private/sacred spaces and the First Amendment.
  • Quote:

    “We have local activists getting arrested while they don’t seem to care at all about the unconstitutional conduct of both border control and these ICE agents.”
    (Jacob Frey, [09:11])

• On legal limitations: The only real guardrail left is the judiciary, which is under stress. Several lawsuits are in motion to halt ICE operations and resist federal overreach.
  • Quote:

    “This lawsuit talks about the fact that we’ve only got like 600 police officers… and there are 3,000 ICE agents and border control with potentially more on the way and another 1500 militarized troops on standby... It does in fact feel like an invasion.”
    (Jacob Frey, [11:09])

4. The Abandonment of Constitutional Norms

• Frey expresses deep worry for the future of American democratic institutions and the possible long-term erosion of constitutional norms. ([13:02])
  • Quote:

    “I have a deep concern for the endurance of our republic when the constitutional norms and these mainstays of good governing principles are thrown in the trash can.”
    (Jacob Frey, [13:55])

• Historically, unlike now, federal-local cooperation transcended party lines especially in times of crisis (e.g. 35W bridge collapse).

5. Accusations of Encouraging Violence & Asymmetry in Force

• Frey flatly denies administration claims that he and local politicians encouraged violence against law enforcement.
  • Quote:

    “Never once have I encouraged violence. Never once. I would ask them very plainly, give me one instance.”
    (Jacob Frey, [15:51])

• Swisher and Frey highlight the disproportionate presence: 3,000 ICE/Border Patrol agents vs. 600 local officers, with more federal troops possibly inbound.
  • Reality on the ground is jarring: normal daily life for many, but pervasive fear for immigrant communities and those directly targeted by ICE. ([17:15]-[19:16])

6. Masked/Unbadged Federal Agents & Security Risks

• Swisher and Frey call out the dangerous lack of transparency—agents are masked and sometimes not even badged, heightening risk after the recent assassination of a local official posing as law enforcement. ([19:16]-[20:00])
  • Quote:

    “When you’ve got these ICE agents running around without a clear description of who they actually are… it would be very easy for somebody to just put out a bulletproof looking vest, some SWAT gear, a black outfit and pretend they are ICE and they’re not.”
    (Jacob Frey, [19:20])

7. Links to Somali Community & Fraud Scandal

• Swisher notes the Trump administration justifies the crackdown by referencing fraud in the local Somali community, but most of the accused are US citizens. ([23:54])
• Frey draws a line—fraud should be prosecuted at the individual, not community level.
  • Quote:

    “The fraud that took place here is very real… but the whole community… is not held responsible.”
    (Jacob Frey, [24:32])

8. Expansion of ICE Powers, Unconstitutional Home Entries

• ICE agents now reportedly allowed, per a memo, to enter homes without judicial warrants—raising deep constitutional concerns. ([27:13])
  • Frey’s advice: Residents should NOT let anyone in without a judicial warrant signed by a judge.
  • Pushback against VP Vance’s claim of “absolute immunity” for ICE agents; this is not what the law provides. ([27:47]-[28:17])

9. Advice and Message to Immigrant Community

• To a question from Rep. Robert Garcia, Frey assures the city’s immigrant residents they are valued and protected. City employees, including police, will not cooperate with ICE on immigration enforcement.
  • Quote:

    “The message to our immigrant community is that we love them. They’re our family... we will not coordinate with any federal agency around immigration enforcement actions… when you call 911, you’re going to get somebody that doesn’t care what your documentation status is, but cares about you as a person.”
    (Jacob Frey, [31:33])

10. Criticism from the Left: Is the City Doing Enough?

• Swisher addresses criticism (notably from Democratic Socialist City Councilman Robin Wansley) that Mayor Frey’s administration isn’t doing enough to physically protect residents from ICE.
• Frey responds: Local police will intervene to protect safety, but their numbers and constitutional limitations are real. They’re “doing what they can to help.” ([36:23]-[38:18])

11. Investigating ICE Killings Locally

• The FBI initially opened a civil rights investigation into an ICE killing, but then blocked the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) from evidence. Frey calls for an independent state investigation:
  • Quote:

    “I believe that the investigation should be conducted by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension… They have run cases before that have led both to a charge of an officer and a lack thereof... and they are independent.”
    (Jacob Frey, [38:37]-[38:54])

12. Calls to Abolish ICE & the Dangers of Sloganeering

• Swisher and Frey discuss rising calls to “abolish ICE” (paralleling “defund the police” after George Floyd), with Frey again taking a moderate stand:
  • Enforcement is necessary, but ICE needs full “bottom-to-top transformation.” Moving ICE from DHS to Justice, rooting out abusive agents, and deep reform are necessary—but simple abolishment is not the solution. ([43:32]-[46:46])
  • Quote:

    “Let’s talk about what we’re trying to accomplish here… I agree that we need a full on bottom to top transformation on how ICE operates… But just to get rid of all enforcement. No, I don’t think that’s smart.”
    (Jacob Frey, [44:16])

13. What Can the Rest of the Country Do?

• Frey urges action beyond Minneapolis, warning that “this could be you next.” Advises everyone to contact their representatives and express opposition to these tactics. ([46:54]-[48:13])
  • Quote:

    “This could happen in another city and it could impact your day to day life directly like it’s presently impacting ours. That’s why you gotta stop this from the very jump.”
    (Jacob Frey, [47:03])

Notable/Memorable Quotes

• “This is about terrorizing people. This is about plucking five-year olds off the street, using them as bait to try to get more of their families out the door. This is heinous and does not belong in America.”
  – Jacob Frey ([12:19])
• “A huge percentage of the shootings that have happened thus far… have been ICE. … Let us be safer. Stop this mass invasion of our city and we’ll be just fine.”
  – Jacob Frey ([17:15])
• “I want them [police] spending time preventing homicides and shootings… You know what I don’t want them doing? I don’t want them spending a single second hunting down a father who just dropped his kids off at daycare… That guy makes our city a better place. He’s not a threat.”
  – Jacob Frey ([29:24])
• “We are a city from the north. We are bold, we are tough, and we are resilient… However, this could be you next.”
  – Jacob Frey ([47:03])
• “It’s so safe. I mean, for those of you that don’t know, we’re rated as the happiest city in the whole country. And there’s a good reason for that. … You could be minus 10 degrees, but you still feel the warmth.”
  – Jacob Frey ([49:48])

Important Timestamps

• [00:32] – Kara Swisher’s introduction, overview of ICE killings and intensified federal actions
• [06:05] – Discussion of intimidation via DOJ subpoenas
• [09:11] – Arrest of Nikima Levy Armstrong, protests, and constitutional guardrails
• [11:09] – “Stop this mass invasion” lawsuit; “This feels like an invasion”
• [13:55] – Frey’s warning about lasting damage to constitutional democracy
• [15:51] – Frey refutes claims he encouraged violence
• [17:15] – Breakdown: real presence of ICE/federal agents, impact on shootings/crime
• [19:16] – Masked, unbadged agents: security risk
• [24:32] – Fraud in the Somali community: individual vs. collective punishment
• [27:13] – ICE allowed to enter homes without judicial warrant; Frey’s advice to residents
• [31:33] – Message to immigrants: “You are protected, you are family.”
• [36:52] – Limitations of local action, criticism from the left, and reality for police
• [38:37] – Independent investigation: BCA’s role blocked by FBI
• [44:16] – Position on abolishing ICE
• [46:54] – Frey’s call for national solidarity; “This could be you next.”
• [49:48] – On Minneapolis’s safety, sense of community

Summary/Tone

The episode is urgent, combative, passionate—and deeply grounded in the lived realities of Minneapolis under unprecedented federal incursion. Both Swisher and Frey maintain a tone of moral clarity, outrage, and determined resistance. Frey speaks with both warmth (toward residents and immigrants) and deep concern for the direction of national governance. Swisher is incisive, pressing Frey on tough questions from multiple sides.

For listeners: This episode provides a detailed, eye-level account of what it’s like when local governance collides with militarized federal action. It’s a chilling snapshot of a city’s—and perhaps a country’s—constitutional stress test.

For Further Listening

• [17:15] Frey paints a vivid, personal picture of “normal life” amid chaos
• [31:33] His answer to Rep. Robert Garcia on talking to frightened immigrant communities

Advertisements, intros/outros, and sponsor segments have been omitted for conciseness and focus on core content.