American Sunrise Early Edition – January 8, 2026

Podcast: Real America’s Voice
Host: Alison Hans (with Brian Glenn)
Date: January 8, 2026
Episode Theme: Unpacking the Minneapolis ICE Operation Shooting, U.S. Strength Abroad, and Political Shifts at Home

Overview

This episode of American Sunrise Early Edition focuses on a cascade of breaking stories:

• The fatal shooting during a federal ICE operation in Minneapolis
• Political fallout and narratives from city, state, and national leaders
• America’s assertive foreign policy moves (notably, the seizure of a Russian-flagged Venezuelan oil tanker)
• Mass protests in Iran
• The rise and risks of GLP-1 weight-loss injectables
• Shifting voter sentiments and challenges facing the Trump administration in the polls

The hosts and guests examine these news stories through the ever-present lens of American values, law & order, and cultural divides, with repeated appeals to faith and patriotism.

Key Segments & Discussions

1. The Minneapolis ICE Shooting: Facts, Fallout, and Flashpoints

[00:04] – [08:02]

• Breaking Incident: An ICE agent fatally shot a woman, Renee Nicole Goode, in Minneapolis during an immigration-related operation. Controversy erupts over who instigated the violence:

  • Federal narrative: Goode used her SUV as a weapon, attempting to kill ICE agents.
  • Local narrative: City officials claim she was an innocent bystander, out “caring for neighbors.”

• Political & Social Response:

  • Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Governor Tim Walz immediately condemned ICE and rallied protestors.
  • President Trump and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem frame the act as “domestic terrorism.”

    "These vehicle rammings are domestic acts of terrorism. We're working with the Department of Justice to prosecute them as such."
    — Alison Hans paraphrasing DHS Secretary Noem [07:00]

• Host Commentary:

  • Brian Glenn reflects on the flashpoint nature of these incidents, referencing the proximity to the George Floyd incident and its summer-of-2020 legacy.
  • Both hosts are critical of officials “inciting” unrest before facts emerge.

    "The mayor didn't give a second for any of us to unpack what happened yesterday... In my opinion, inciting people to get up and take to the streets."
    — Alison Hans [04:35]

• Law Enforcement vs. Activism:

  • Glenn speculates that protests may remain subdued due to Minnesota’s cold winter, but warns that the situation could escalate.
  • Emphasizes the need for facts and a pause before judgment.

2. Congressman Randy Weber Reacts

[08:16] – [12:21]

• Weber’s Perspective:

  • Draws parallels to other cities where vehicles were used as weapons.

    "You don't put your vehicle in reverse, Allison, and then all of a sudden put it in Ford and drive toward one of our officers. Bad things are going to happen when you try to run over our great, you know, first responders."
    — Rep. Randy Weber [08:33]

• Illegal Immigration & Law Enforcement:

  • Argues that the Trump administration is justified in stricter immigration enforcement and removal of illegal entrants.
  • Expresses frustration with politicians rushing to politicize incidents and protest ICE operations.

• Political Outrage:

  • Weber believes officials' speedy responses are rooted in “Trump derangement syndrome”—a strategy to oppose the president at every opportunity.

    "They came out very quickly. And the reason is Trump's in office and they have Trump Unqualified repugnant derangement syndrome."
    — Rep. Randy Weber [11:20]

3. America’s Foreign Policy: Oil Tanker Seizure & Iran Protests

[13:28] – [17:49]

• U.S. Seizure of Sanctioned Oil Tanker:

  • U.S. Navy intercepts a Russian-flagged vessel tied to Venezuela, citing evasion of sanctions.
  • Steve Rogers (Navy veteran/former Joint Terrorism Task Force) lauds “peace through strength” and reassertion of the Monroe Doctrine.

    "We need to remain as the dominant power in the Western Hemisphere... Now we've got our eyes on them."
    — Steve Rogers [15:00]

• Iranian Protests:

  • Hosts and Rogers highlight mass unrest and severe government crackdowns in Iran.
  • Rogers hopes reform comes from within, but acknowledges it may reach crisis levels requiring international attention.

    "A lot of prayer, a lot of courage, a lot of guts to do what you must do to free your country. And it just may work."
    — Steve Rogers [17:16]

4. GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drugs: Miracle or Menace? (w/ Dr. Kelly Victory)

[18:57] – [24:59]

• The Weight-Loss Dilemma:

  • Dr. Kelly Victory describes obesity as “a weighty problem”—40% of Americans are overweight/obese, with dire related health consequences.
  • Blames “addictive” processed food, engineered for perpetual snacking.

    "These snacks are addictive, so that's why so many Americans are overweight."
    — Dr. Kelly Victory [23:01]

• Concerns over GLP-1 Injectables (e.g., Ozempic):

  • While effective, injectables can cause pancreatitis, loss of gut motility, and concerning muscle/heart muscle loss.

    "You're not just losing skeletal muscle like in your quadriceps or in your arms. You're also losing heart muscle and that cannot be rebuilt."
    — Dr. Kelly Victory [23:28]

• A New Approach:

  • Presents a daily oral peptide (reta-trutide) as an alternative—claims it reduces food cravings/noise with fewer side effects.

5. Polls, Public Opinion & the Trump Administration’s Challenges

[28:48] – [41:00]

• Minnesota Fraud Scandal:

  • Mark Mitchell (Rasmussen Reports) shares polls showing strong public belief in widespread federal program abuse, with skepticism extending to basic government functions.

    "75% of likely voters are angry with the level of waste, fraud, and abuse in federal government spending...These people look at the government and they say, why isn't Trump taking more aggressive action?"
    — Mark Mitchell [29:19]

• Trump’s Approval and Younger Voters:

  • Despite some policy wins, Trump’s approval has dipped, especially with under-40 voters demanding visible, aggressive reform and economic populism.

    "They want arrests. They want these people put in jail. They don't really care if Trump ignores judges. They just want this stuff fixed."
    — Mark Mitchell [31:34]

• Venezuela & Foreign Policy:

  • Seizing oil tankers is broadly popular, especially with younger, more “based” (not traditional conservative) voters.

    "Their principle is: they took our oil. Why aren't...of course we're going to take it back. Why wouldn't we do that?"
    — Mark Mitchell [33:10]

• Housing Crisis:

  • High support for stemming institutional home-buying to help younger people enter the market.

• Congress & Republican Party:

  • Abysmal approval ratings for congressional productivity, public doubts Republicans can govern or deliver on accountability.

    "Agree or disagree, Republicans in Congress have not delivered on Trump's mandate. And 60% of Republicans agreed with that statement."
    — Mark Mitchell [37:14]

6. Election Year Outlook and Next Steps

[42:39] – [46:10]

• Accelerating News Cycle:

  • Hosts note that 2026’s first eight days have produced enough “for three months,” underscoring a frantic, high-stakes political year.

• Minneapolis as Bellwether:

  • All eyes remain on Minnesota—the handling of the ICE shooting and its fallout could foreshadow trends in law enforcement, political protest, and partisan divides before the 2026 midterms.

• Law Enforcement vs. Local Autonomy:

  • Uncertainty reigns as federal and state leaders position themselves on who controls public order in crisis situations.

    "Whether or not you agree with these ICE occupations in these cities or not, crime is lower."
    — Brian Glenn [44:22]

Notable Quotes & Moments (Chronological, with Timestamps)

• “Ground zero. A deadly shooting during a federal ICE operation has pushed Minneapolis into the center of a national emergency.”
  — Alison Hans [00:04]

• “What the winter elements might save [Minnesota] from is any type of long term or large gathering of a protest against this.”
  — Brian Glenn [05:17]

• “Domestic terrorism. Homeland Security, Kristi Noem calling the attack exactly that, warning that violence against federal law enforcement is an attack on the rule of law itself.”
  — Alison Hans [00:30]

• “You don't put your vehicle in reverse and then all of a sudden put it in Ford and drive toward one of our officers. Bad things are going to happen...”
  — Rep. Randy Weber [08:33]

• “These snacks are addictive, so that's why so many Americans are overweight.”
  — Dr. Kelly Victory [23:01]

• "They're not just losing skeletal muscle...You're also losing heart muscle and that cannot be rebuilt.”
  — Dr. Kelly Victory [23:28]

• “They want arrests. They want these people put in jail. They don't really care if Trump ignores judges. They just want this stuff fixed.”
  — Mark Mitchell [31:34]

• “Their principle is they took our oil. Why aren’t—of course we're going to take it back.”
  — Mark Mitchell [33:10]

• “If Donald Trump doesn't give it to them, they're going to vote for people like Mamdani.”
  — Mark Mitchell [34:06]

• “Where is the accountability, even performative accountability, at the end of the day?”
  — Mark Mitchell [38:26]

Episode Flow & Tone

• Language/Tone:
  Patriotic, urgent, occasionally combative; frequent references to faith, law & order, and “real America” values.
• Style:
  Rapid-fire headlines; conversational exchanges between hosts and expert guests; polls and public sentiment are referenced to drive home points.

Conclusion

This episode frames the Minneapolis ICE shooting as a pivotal test of federal vs. local authority, touching off debates about law enforcement, immigration, and partisan protest. It blends analysis of international events with a domestic snapshot of deep voter dissatisfaction, especially among younger Americans. With a tense, fast-moving news cycle and a critical election year on the horizon, the show’s hosts warn that the choices made in coming weeks may have long-lasting implications for the country’s direction.