Pod Save America — "ICE Kills Minnesota Mom"
Date: January 9, 2026
Hosts: Jon Favreau, Dan Pfeiffer, Tommy Vietor
Special Guests: Zoran Mamdani (NYC Mayor), Jacob Frey (Mayor of Minneapolis)
Episode Overview
This episode centers on the killing of Renee Good, a 37-year-old Minnesota mother of three, by an ICE agent in Minneapolis—a tragedy captured on video and quickly politicized by Trump administration officials. The hosts break down the event, the government’s response, the broader implications for immigration enforcement and police accountability, and the disturbing nationalization of such violence and rhetoric. The episode also covers Republicans’ shifting stances on ACA subsidies and foreign policy powers, and features exclusive interviews with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on the ICE shooting, and NYC Mayor Zoran Mamdani on universal childcare.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The ICE Shooting in Minneapolis: What Happened
- [02:35–06:53]
- Event breakdown:
- Renee Good (37, mother of three) shot three times by an ICE officer in her car while driving home after dropping her 6-year-old at school.
- Videos show conflicting ICE commands, Good reversing to leave, and the ICE officer firing as he stood safely beside the car.
- ICE claims self-defense, but video evidence and third-party analysis (e.g., NYT) indicate otherwise.
- “In a normal world, law enforcement and government officials of either party would simply say there will be an investigation into this tragic incident that they don't want to prejudge.” – Jon Favreau (05:07)
- Event breakdown:
2. Administration Response and Rhetoric
- [06:00–09:24]
- Vice President J.D. Vance’s Press Conference ([06:00–06:56])
- Vance labels Good a "deranged leftist" and "domestic terrorist".
- Claims ICE acted in self-defense, accuses media of being "agents of propaganda".
- “This is classic terrorism... You should be ashamed of yourself. This is one of the most disgraceful things I've ever seen for the American media.” – J.D. Vance (06:44)
- Host Responses:
- Outrage at instant vilification of victim and media.
- Concern about government officials prejudging investigations.
- Emphasis on the administration's pattern of lying without consequences or shame.
- Vice President J.D. Vance’s Press Conference ([06:00–06:56])
3. Policy, Precedent, and ICE's Track Record
- [09:24–19:07]
- Citing the Department of Homeland Security's own rules, Favreau highlights the clear violation (“Firearms may not be discharged at moving vehicles unless...”) and the agent’s ability to step aside instead.
- Pattern of ICE violence and deception: At least nine shooting incidents since September; in previous cases (Gonzalez, Martinez), official accounts were later disproven by video evidence.
- Importance of actual investigations over online speculation, and the Trump administration's disregard for due process.
4. The Broader Political Context:
- [19:07–22:03]
- Shift from labeling immigrants as "aliens" or "criminals" to smearing American citizens as "domestic terrorists" when events cannot be racialized.
- Widespread expectation among some Republican politicians that any disregard of police/ICE orders merits lethal force (“They think that if you disobey a police officer...that should get you shot and killed. That’s not the fucking law.” – Jon Favreau, 19:07)
- Federal agents' broad immunity makes legal accountability difficult—leaving public opinion and local prosecutors as uncertain checks.
5. Interview: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey
- [25:33–36:30]
- [Key segments: 25:40–34:06]
- Frey calls Good a “victim” and sharply denounces administration rhetoric: “That’s a load of bullshit. Anybody who watches that video could come to that conclusion. You don't need a law degree.” (26:12)
- Asserts that ICE’s presence is not about safety but targeting minority communities for political effect (“This is about targeting specifically Latino and Somali immigrants. This is discriminating only on the basis of…are you a Latino or…Somali person…not okay. It’s not constitutional.” – Frey, 28:41)
- Stresses city’s efforts to keep peace, protect residents, and resist provocation (“We are not going to take the bait. We are going to keep the peace. We're going to demand justice.” – 27:52)
- Skeptical of “absolute immunity” claims for ICE: “Isn’t that guy [Vance] a lawyer? Yale Law School graduate? …That is comical…That’s some wild stuff, man.” (32:24)
- Condemns the DOJ boxing out of state investigators and warns about the legitimacy of any federal investigation.
- Minneapolis is resilient; city is coming together, not falling apart as national Republicans allege.
6. Interview: NYC Mayor Zoran Mamdani on Universal Childcare
- [64:30–71:57]
- Announces $1.21 billion for universal 2-year-old childcare in NYC (“We will be receiving a $1.21 billion investment in making universal childcare a reality in New York City…deliver universal two care for every single 2 year old across the city in the next four years.” – Mamdani, 64:53)
- Funding is from the state, leverages existing revenues, part of a campaign to make the city more affordable and equitable.
- Describes broad grassroots pressure for the proposal, and argues it demonstrates the value of working across ideological divides within the Democratic party.
- Responds to ICE shooting: Expresses heartbreak, pledges NYC government will stand by immigrants, and reaffirms sanctuary policies and Know Your Rights education (“These ICE raids are cruel and inhumane, and they do nothing to actually serve the interests of public safety.” – Mamdani, 70:32)
7. Other Major Political News
- Trump’s Foreign Policy Interview ([39:00–46:52]):
- Trump claims his only constraint is his own morality (“I don't need international law. … The only limits on my power are my own morality, my own mind.” – summary at 40:00)
- Boasts of “taking” Venezuela’s oil, wants to buy Greenland, proposes paying Greenlanders $100,000 each to join the US.
- Dan Pfeiffer: "It's very clear that Trump and the people around them are drunk on power. They are higher on their own supply." (42:02)
- Congress Pushback on Foreign Adventures ([46:52–49:00]):
- Bipartisan (including five GOP senators) support for War Powers resolution restricting Trump’s military actions in Venezuela.
- Trump calls these Republican senators "stupid" and says they should never be elected again.
- ACA Subsidies Extension Standoff ([49:00–58:31]):
- 17 House Republicans join Democrats to support three-year ACA subsidy extension.
- Senate deal possible, though Hyde Amendment language and partisan wrangling remain obstacles.
- Trump tells GOP to “be a little flexible on Hyde” but shows little real engagement (“You gotta be a little flexible…Wish you could explain to me what the hell’s going on with the mind of the public.” – Trump, via McCarthy, 51:10)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “J.D. Vance is disgusting. He lies with such ease, with such little compunction. He is unburdened by decency, morality, shame, any concern about, possibly by the truth.” – Dan Pfeiffer (07:30)
- “They believe that even if evidence comes out, video evidence, documentary evidence, circumstantial evidence … they can just blow right through it and bend reality to their will without a care in the fucking world.” – Dan Pfeiffer (08:53)
- “This administration has decided they don’t give a fuck about the legal system...they are above the law, that they are above accountability.” – Jon Favreau (11:30)
- “The crime is not what you actually did. The crime is a disagreement with the regime.” – Dan Pfeiffer (20:10)
- “Here’s the thing. We’ve worked with federal agencies substantially in the past to successfully drive down crime...That’s not what this is about. This is about targeting specifically Latino and Somali immigrants.” – Jacob Frey (28:15)
- “These ICE raids are cruel and inhumane, and they do nothing to actually serve the interests of public safety.” – Zoran Mamdani (70:32)
- “The only limits on my power are my own morality, my own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me.” – (Trump, as summarized, 40:00)
Timestamps for Key Segments
| Time | Segment | |--------------|------------------------------------------| | 02:35–06:53 | The shooting of Renee Good detailed | | 06:00–09:24 | J.D. Vance’s incendiary remarks analyzed | | 11:30–19:07 | ICE track record, public investigation | | 25:40–36:30 | Interview: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey | | 39:00–46:52 | Trump’s NYT interview: foreign policy | | 46:52–49:00 | War Powers resolution in the Senate | | 49:00–58:31 | ACA subsidies standoff/Trump on Hyde | | 64:30–71:57 | Interview: NYC Mayor Zoran Mamdani |
Tone & Language
The tone is passionate, fiercely critical of the Trump administration, especially over its disregard for law, due process, and basic humanity. The hosts maintain their signature blend of conversational, incisive, and sometimes explicit political analysis. Both mayors interviewed are candid and direct, balancing deep frustration with calls for solidarity and practical advice for their communities.
For Listeners Who Missed the Episode
You’ll come away understanding:
- The brutal details and disturbing governmental response to the ICE killing in Minneapolis;
- Why police and federal agency accountability remains a profound challenge in the Trump era;
- The growing danger of official propaganda branding dissent as “domestic terrorism”;
- How local leaders are organizing to protect their communities, and what policy gains (like universal childcare in NYC) are still possible amid chaos;
- Ongoing developments in Congress on health care and war powers—where the Trump agenda may be facing cracks even in the GOP.
Skip the ads, don’t miss the interviews, and expect unfiltered, profanity-laced anger paired with political strategy, humor, and hope for persistent resistance.