Podcast Summary: Raging Moderates with Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov

Episode: Trump Pulls Back in Minneapolis as Democrats Turn Up Pressure on ICE
Date: January 28, 2026
Hosts: Scott Galloway, Jessica Tarlov
Network: Vox Media Podcast Network

Overview

In this episode, Scott and Jessica dissect the latest political turmoil surrounding the aftermath of the killing of Alex Preddy by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. The conversation, rooted in a centrist perspective, covers the growing Democratic pressure on ICE and the Department of Homeland Security, the Republicans’ contradictions around Second Amendment rights, and the broader implications for American politics and political values. The episode also briefly critiques the new Melania Trump documentary and raises questions about performative politics and soft corruption.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reconnecting After a Break (00:47–02:13)

• The hosts swap updates after a month apart, joking about “dating other co-hosts” and favorite guest hosts, while Scott shares travel stories from Australia, Singapore, LA, and Davos.
• Scott observes the jarring changes in news and politics after time away, likening it to feeling a child has grown in your absence, and notes how fast escalation can feel when unplugged.

Notable Quote:
"When you’re in the news every day, you’re a frog in water that’s getting hotter and hotter. ... When you come back, it’s rattling to see how much things have changed."
— Scott Galloway (02:15)

2. The Minneapolis Crisis and Democratic Leverage (05:57–13:00)

• The discussion turns to the killing of Alex Preddy and the subsequent public outrage and government response.
• Jessica highlights Minneapolis community bravery and mutual aid efforts, expressing admiration for how local citizens uphold American values by supporting their neighbors during the crisis (06:47).
• Democrats are threatening to block DHS funding unless ICE is reined in, risking a partial government shutdown.
• Key reforms being demanded by Democrats in exchange for DHS funding include:
  • DHS cooperation with state probes into deaths by ICE (09:06)
  • Limiting CBP jurisdiction to within 100 miles of the border
  • Requiring warrants for arrests and property searches
  • Mandating IDs and body cams for agents
  • Barring ICE from churches and schools

Notable Quote:
"I am continually overwhelmed by how brave and good these people are ... Minnesota values and American values, living by the credos that all these uber-Christians are supposed to: helping your neighbor, taking in the tired and the sick and the poor."
— Jessica Tarlov (06:54)

• Scott is skeptical, noting Democrats’ past weakness in holding out during shutdowns.
• Jessica clarifies that this would be a partial shutdown targeted at DHS, and explains the political challenges of splitting appropriations bills and the risk of losing support in the House (12:29).

3. Impeachment Talk and Accountability (13:00–16:40)

• Jessica discusses the push to impeach Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, for obstruction of Congress, violating public trust, and self-dealing (e.g., awarding contracts to close associates).
• Kyle Cheney’s reporting highlighted thousands of illegal ICE detentions since July, elevating pressure on ICE leadership.
• Notably, even centrist Democrats who previously crossed party lines on ICE funding are now reconsidering, with some publicly admitting their prior votes were mistakes (17:29).

4. Messaging Failure and the Need for Clarity (18:14–23:43)

• Scott critiques Democratic messaging for lacking clear, concrete demands that resonate with the public; “restrict, reform, and restrain” is too vague.
• Jessica notes that public support for abolishing ICE is at an all-time high—even among some Republicans and especially independents.
• She advocates for practical, understandable reforms and emphasizes the importance of distinguishing “abolish ICE” from “ending all immigration enforcement.”

Notable Quote:
"Shouldn’t the condition be something along the lines of ‘all ICE out of major cities for the rest of ’26’? Shouldn’t it be something that regular people can fuckin’ understand?"
— Scott Galloway (18:41)

• Both hosts acknowledge cracks within the Trump administration and among Republicans regarding ICE tactics. 140 co-sponsors now back Kristi Noem’s impeachment (24:43–24:52).

5. The GOP and the Second Amendment Contradiction (25:32–36:40)

• Scott highlights a glaring inconsistency: the GOP has long insisted the Second Amendment is to protect citizens from government overreach, yet defends lethal force by federal agents against someone lawfully carrying a weapon (25:32).
• Jessica observes that some Republicans are now more loyal to their ideology around gun rights than to Trump himself, with conservative gun rights groups and voters vocally dissenting.
• High-profile Republicans and gun rights groups are alarmed by the Preddy killing; videos circulate of angry Trump supporters disavowing their votes, and even Jon Stewart’s monologue gains traction ridiculing the hypocrisy.

Notable Quotes:
"They have loved their gun longer than they have loved Donald Trump, and this is the one amendment they are not willing to play his little games with."
— Jessica Tarlov (26:41)

"I wasn’t shocked when you guys gave up the First Amendment, and I wasn’t shocked when you gave up the 4th and the 10th and the 14th... But the Second? Come on, guys, guns are your whole personality."
— (Jon Stewart, as paraphrased by Tarlov, 28:30)

• Scott supports the historic argument for the Second Amendment: civilian gun ownership as a check against government tyranny (29:27).
• The hosts note a parallel backlash to the handling of the Preddy case similar to the treatment of Kyle Rittenhouse, with increased awareness among previously loyal Trump voters.

6. Gendered Harassment in Politics (36:41–40:55)

• Scott pivots to address online abuse and threats targeting female public figures, referencing both Jessica’s and Kara Swisher’s experiences. He urges men to recognize the different realities women face regarding harassment.
• Jessica affirms the unique sense of threat, especially as a mother and public figure, criticizing platforms for their lax moderation.

Notable Quote:
"Men just do not receive that bullshit. ... Young men need to realize you live around these things in a different world than women face."
— Scott Galloway (39:01)

7. Melania Trump Documentary and Soft Corruption (41:32–46:17)

• The episode closes with a critique of Melania Trump's new documentary, her $40 million Amazon payday, and what it signals about influence-peddling in politics.
• Scott contends the project is a transparent move by Amazon to curry favor (“soft corruption”), and jokes about Melania’s irrelevance and the likely insular impact of the film.
• Jessica reflects on the emptiness that must come from constant flattery for personal gain, contrasting it with genuine accomplishment.

Notable Quotes:
"That documentary would have never been made because she's a strikingly uninteresting person in a very interesting situation. But $40 million for a documentary just doesn't happen."
— Scott Galloway (42:52)

"What must it feel like when you're just being flattered and sucked up to all the time, and it has nothing to do with actual merit or who you are as a person?"
— Jessica Tarlov (44:07)

Key Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------|------------| | Reconnecting and News Whiplash | 00:47–02:13| | Introduction to Minneapolis Crisis | 05:57–06:47| | Community Response and Democratic Demands | 06:47–10:12| | Mechanics of a Partial Shutdown | 12:10–13:00| | Kristi Noem Impeachment, ICE Accountability | 13:00–16:40| | Concrete Demands and Democratic Messaging | 18:14–23:43| | GOP Second Amendment Contradiction | 25:32–36:40| | Gendered Political Harassment Discussion | 36:41–40:55| | Melania Trump Documentary Critique | 41:32–46:17|

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Scott Galloway (on feeling out of touch after disconnecting):
  "When you come back after an extended break from the news... it's rattling and jarring to see how much things have changed in the last month.” [02:15]
• Jessica Tarlov (on the Minneapolis protests):
  "Their example is one for the ages... living by the credos that all these uber-Christians are supposed to." [06:54]
• Scott Galloway (on shutdowns):
  "I'm all for a shutdown. I just don't know if the people who will effect the shutdown have the backbone... If they propose a shutdown, they get a shutdown, and we go through this nonsense again... oh my god, we're going to go to the single digits in terms of popularity." [10:12]
• Jessica Tarlov (on Democratic reform demands):
  "Those are kind of the five big asks that are percolating." [09:45]
• Jessica Tarlov (on the GOP and guns):
  "They have loved their gun longer than they have loved Donald Trump, and this is the one amendment they are not willing to play his little games with." [26:41]
• Scott Galloway (on the Second Amendment’s historic argument):
  "When the Nazis marched into Poland and France... the first thing the Nazis did was get a hold of those [gun ownership] records and then go around... and collect all the guns from the civilian population, such that there was no ability to push back." [29:27]
• Jessica Tarlov (on political flattery):
  "What must it feel like when you're just being flattered and sucked up to all the time and that it has nothing to do with actual merit or who you are as a person?" [44:07]
• Scott Galloway (on gendered harassment):
  "Men just do not receive that bullshit... Young men need to realize you live around these things in a different world than women face." [39:01]

Tone and Style

• The discussion is sharp, irreverent, and pointed—balanced between informed policy analysis and candid, sometimes profane humor.
• Scott’s skepticism and sarcasm play off Jessica’s pragmatism and deep policy knowledge, consistently focusing on centrist approaches and bipartisan accountability.
• Both hosts emphasize substance over spectacle, and regularly challenge political hypocrisy and tribalism, regardless of party.

Conclusion

This episode offers a deep, centrist critique of the crisis in Minneapolis, the breakdown of American political accountability, and the contradictions at the heart of contemporary politics. Sharp, humane, and laced with withering humor, Jessica and Scott provide context and clarity on government overreach, political messaging, and the blurred line between performance and policy in Washington.