Pod Save America

Episode: Trump Targets Minneapolis, the Fed, and Greenland
Date: January 13, 2026
Hosts: Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Tommy Vietor
Noteworthy Guest: Lael Brainard (Economist; former Vice Chair, Federal Reserve)

Overview

This episode focuses on the Trump administration’s latest political maneuvers: targeting Minneapolis in the wake of the Renee Goode shooting; escalating political attacks on the Federal Reserve, including a DOJ criminal investigation into Chair Jerome Powell; and expanding U.S. ambitions abroad, from saber-rattling in Iran to announcing intent to “take Greenland.” The hosts break down the facts, the motivations, and the consequences, offering candid reaction and advice about how Democrats and the public should respond.

Key Discussions and Insights

1. Trump’s DOJ Targets the Federal Reserve

[01:53–18:29, Interview continues at 70:01]

• The Investigation: Trump’s DOJ, led by Jeanine Pirro, has launched a criminal investigation into Fed Chair Jerome Powell. Ostensibly, it’s about alleged misleading Congressional testimony on over-budget renovations at the Fed headquarters, which the hosts dismiss as a pretext.
• Political Motivation: Panelists argue the real issue is Trump’s anger at Powell for not cutting interest rates; the criminal probe is seen as a means to intimidate the Fed.
  • Tommy Vietor [03:19]: “No one, certainly not the chair of the Federal Reserve, is above the law. But this unprecedented action should be seen in the broader context of the administration's threats and ongoing pressure.”
  • Jon Favreau [06:33]: “[Powell] instantly made the story about Trump’s political prosecutions and the motivation behind them.”
• Fallout: Former Fed chairs and economic officials released a rare joint statement warning that such politicization “has no place in the United States.”
• GOP Response: Some Republican senators (Tillis, Murkowski) refuse to consider Trump’s Fed nominees until the issue is resolved. This could derail Trump’s ability to appoint a compliant Fed chair.
• Economic Implications: Panelists warn that undermining Fed independence—seen globally in countries like Turkey and Argentina—risks destabilizing the U.S. economy and stoking inflation.
  • Quote, Jon Lovett [15:09]: “Cycle of Donald Trump threatening something that, if carried out, could lead to an economic crisis, double digit inflation, massive unemployment… striking at the foundations of how our system works…”
• Lael Brainard Interview ([70:01–83:33]):
  • Explains why Fed independence is crucial for controlling inflation.
  • Cites U.S. history (Nixon and the ’70s), Turkey, Argentina as cautionary tales.
  • Quote, Lael Brainard [73:04]: “Once you lose that credibility of the central bank, then inflation starts to go higher and people lose confidence that the central bank can bring inflation back down.”

Key Timestamps

• 01:53–18:29: Main Fed discussion and panel.
• 70:01–83:33: Lael Brainard interview on Fed independence and inflation.

2. ICE Violence and the Crackdown on Minneapolis

[22:10–45:24]

• Incident: ICE agent killed Renee Goode, an unarmed mother, citing unsubstantiated claims she was a “domestic terrorist.” The government praises the action and sends hundreds of additional federal agents to Minneapolis.
• Host Reaction: Outrage at the administration’s dehumanization of Goode, use of force, and doubling down on suppression of protest and dissent.
  • Tommy Vietor [24:10]: “This is literally the kind of thing you'd expect from Vladimir Putin or Bashar al-Assad or the Iranian regime…an officer of the state kills a protester by shooting her in the face three times at point blank range, and officials at the highest level of government call her a terrorist or deranged lunatic.”
  • Jon Lovett [27:44]: “They decided to defend it. And in defending it, they have to continue to defend using words like domestic terrorists…They are radicalizing these people on the streets.”
• Escalation: Federal government blocks local/federal probe cooperation, restricts oversight, and deploys more agents. Large-scale protests erupt, and ICE agents are filmed intimidating civilians, often referencing the shooting.
• Political Analysis: Hosts argue the administration is creating a climate of fear to prompt “self-deportation,” while using force to suppress documentation and protest.
• Democratic Response: There’s debate over how Congressional Democrats should respond—especially given ICE’s expanded funding and powers. Lovett calls for aggressive restrictions or even a DHS funding blockade; the others acknowledge the complexity but insist that the moment demands a forceful stand.

Key Timestamps

• 22:10–33:15: Renee Goode case breakdown and administration’s media spin.
• 33:15–45:24: Local impact, ICE escalation, Democratic strategy debate.

3. Global Chaos: Iran, Venezuela, Greenland, and U.S. “Hemispheric Domination”

[48:51–66:46]

• Iran Protest Crackdown: Trump considers military strikes in response to regime violence against protesters, after setting a “red line.” The hosts discuss the danger of escalation, the lack of good options, and the precariousness of U.S. involvement.
  • Tommy Vietor [49:47]: “He clearly said, if there’s a massacre, I will respond militarily. So it seems like he’s on the hook to respond.”
  • Jon Lovett [54:04]: “If one outcome of [Trump’s threat] is the regime is afraid to kill more people in the streets, that isn’t a bad thing. But if they see this as existential, there’s no number of U.S. airstrikes that will slow them down.”
• Greenland: Trump jokes and then insists the U.S. will “take” Greenland “whether they like it or not.” Allies prepare to defend it from…another NATO member. The hosts mock the logic, suggesting Trump simply wants real estate “legacy,” referencing children’s maps and the board game Risk.
  • Tommy Vietor [59:30]: “He just wants to be the dude—the president who added a lot of territory. This is a legacy project.”
• Venezuela: Trump posts a doctored Wikipedia entry naming himself “Acting President of Venezuela” and threatens oil deals. Cuban president responds with military defiance.
• Summary: Hosts note the chaos of simultaneous military posturing and foreign entanglements; ridicule media glorification of certain GOP figures (Rubio, for example); observe that the grand strategy is mostly about consolidating personal power and distractions from domestic troubles.

Key Timestamps

• 48:51–54:26: Iran protests and U.S. response
• 55:39–60:53: Greenland discussions and U.S. ambitions
• 61:17–66:46: Venezuela, Cuba, and closing foreign policy chaos

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jon Favreau [06:33]: “By giving the statement that he did, Powell instantly made the story about Trump's political prosecutions and the motivation behind them.”
• Tommy Vietor [10:19]: “Axios has an administration official saying Jeanine Pirro, ‘went rogue.’ Come on.”
• Jon Lovett [15:09]: “Cycle of Donald Trump threatening something that if carried out could lead to an economic crisis, double digit inflation, massive unemployment... But the markets don't react because they think cooler heads are going to prevail.”
• Kristi Noem (mocked by hosts) [23:12]: “Every situation is depending on the situation that the officers are in.”
  • Jon Lovett [23:33]: “She's just not prepared for how to address any of this. There is no way to defend what they're doing.”
• Tommy Vietor [24:10]: “This is literally the kind of thing you'd expect from Vladimir Putin or Bashar al-Assad or the Iranian regime…”
• Jon Favreau [33:15]: “You see they're going up to people in parking lots, charging their electric vehicles, demanding papers…dragging protesters out of cars and beating them.”
• Lael Brainard [73:04]: “Once you lose that credibility of the central bank, then inflation starts to go higher and people lose confidence that the central bank can bring inflation back down and it ends up costing the economy just a decade of lost growth.”

Important Segment Timestamps

| Time | Topic | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------| | 01:53 | News open; Fed investigation story begins | | 03:19 | Powell’s video response; DOJ probe context | | 10:19 | “Who’s responsible?” & GOP pushback | | 15:09 | Economic/political consequences of Fed politicizing | | 22:10 | ICE shooting / Minneapolis crackdown | | 24:10 | Panel reaction—outrage and analysis | | 33:15 | On-the-ground impacts; Dem strategy discussion | | 48:51 | Iran protests, military options | | 55:39 | Greenland saga; satirical analysis | | 61:17 | Venezuela & Cuba; U.S. chaos on world stage | | 70:01 | Lael Brainard interview begins (Federal Reserve)| | 83:33 | Show wrap-up |

Structure of the Conversation

1. Federal Reserve and Economic Policy:

• Administration’s pressure campaign against Jerome Powell.
• Politicization of central banking and why it is dangerous.
• Unique bipartisan and institutional backlash (GOP senators join ex-Fed chairs).
• Policy minutiae explained by Lael Brainard; historical and global context.

2. ICE Crackdown and Authoritarian Drift in Minneapolis:

• Case study of ICE violence; government and media response.
• Chilling effect on protests, rights, and oversight.
• How Democrats in Congress should escalate response, funding leverage, and reform demands.

3. Trump’s Foreign Escalations and “Legacy” Ambitions:

• Iran, Venezuela, Greenland: motives, international implications, and mockery of rationale.
• Risks of chaotic, undisciplined foreign policy moves.

Tone & Noteworthy Moments

• Tone:
  Candid, angry, irreverent, and deeply alarmed. The conversation blends matte policy explanation with punchy, often biting humor and frustration with both the administration and Democratic timidity.
• Humor/Pop Culture:
  Frequent references to Risk board game, Mercator maps, and mocking of Trump's real estate obsession.
• Sharpest Critique:
  Repeated analogies to authoritarian regimes, e.g., Russia and Syria, to capture severity of ICE’s actions.
• Memorable Exchanges:
  • The hosts lampoon Kristi Noem’s robotic non-answers and the administration’s convoluted justifications.
  • Extended dissection of what real Fed independence means, why it matters—even when the headlines seem dry.

Key Takeaways for Listeners

• The Trump administration is wielding all levers of government—from DOJ to ICE—to settle scores, intimidate dissent, and destroy norms around institutional independence.
• The politicization of the Federal Reserve is not just an obscure legal battle; it has massive economic and democratic implications.
• In Minneapolis, the embrace of federal violence and the clampdown on oversight and protest mark a sharp authoritarian shift—and require a bolder Democratic response.
• Abroad, Trump’s policy is chaotic and ego-driven, risking unforeseen conflicts while undermining U.S. alliances for momentary political gain.
• The hosts stress that facing this moment requires clear, principled action and less fear of political blowback or institutional inertia.

Listen to this episode for an uncompromising look at the state of American politics and government power—with the facts, the feels, and punchlines you expect from Pod Save America.