Podcast Summary: Tangle — "DHS agents kill another Minneapolis protester"

Host: Isaac Saul
Episode Date: January 26, 2026

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode of Tangle tackles the fallout from the recent killing of Minneapolis protester Alex Priddy by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents, the third federal immigration enforcement-related shooting in Minnesota in less than three weeks. Host Isaac Saul explores the facts of the incident, public reaction across the political spectrum, and the broader controversies surrounding federal immigration enforcement tactics, DHS accountability, and Second Amendment rights.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What Happened in Minneapolis?

[04:34–08:34]

• Incident Overview:
  • DHS and CBP agents killed Alex Priddy, a 37-year-old Minneapolis ICU nurse and US citizen, during an altercation.
  • Video shows Priddy filming agents, intervening as they push a woman to the ground, then being confronted, pepper-sprayed, tackled, and shot multiple times as he lay on the ground.
  • Priddy was a licensed gun owner; his firearm was removed by agents during the scuffle and reportedly discharged.
• Wider Context:
  • Comes just weeks after another officer killed Renee Goode in her car.
  • The shootings have sparked mass protests, strikes, and statewide calls for federal agents to depart Minnesota.
  • DHS's "Operation Metro Surge" has sent thousands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to Minnesota, intensifying local opposition.
• Competing Narratives:
  • DHS Secretary Kristi Noem described Priddy as a "domestic terrorist" intent on causing mass harm, claiming he brandished his weapon at agents (a claim refuted by local officials and many witnesses).
  • Minneapolis officials and Governor Tim Walz accuse the Trump administration of prematurely spinning the narrative and vow a state-led investigation.
  • Calls for impartial investigation arise from across the spectrum, including some Republicans.

Memorable Quote

"This looks like a situation where an individual arrived at the scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and to kill law enforcement."
— DHS Secretary Kristi Noem [approx. 06:30]

2. Reactions from the Left

[09:46–14:36]

• Anger and Demands for Accountability:
  • Editorials and commentators say this latest killing demonstrates DHS/ICE’s tactics are chaotic and dangerous.
  • Calls for a "pause" on ICE operations in Minnesota until a thorough, multi-jurisdictional investigation occurs.
• Second Amendment Irony:
  • Some left-leaning writers highlight the contradiction between conservative support for the Second Amendment and the federal killing of armed, law-abiding American citizens.
• Concerns over Federal Overreach:
  • Skepticism toward DHS/ICE statements, asserting the administration is laying a pretext for violent overresponse and minimizing civilian deaths.

Notable Quotes

• "An ICE pause would not represent abolition. It is governance. It is an acknowledgment that the tactics producing sweeping disruption, mounting injury and now multiple civilian deaths are failing in their own stated aims."
  — Star Tribune Editorial Board [11:20]
• "If you exercise your constitutionally protected right to bear arms, masked federal agents can murder you in cold blood."
  — Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic [12:20]
• "These particular lies don't exactly seem to be intended to be believed... Instead, it feels like the point is just to give the hardcore supporters of the current administration something to hang their hat on."
  — Ben Burgess, Jacobin [13:38]

3. Reactions from the Right

[14:37–18:20]

• Mixed Responses:
  • Some on the right are unsympathetic, framing Priddy and others killed as reckless agitators resisting lawful enforcement.
  • Others raise Second Amendment issues, noting that from available footage, Priddy did not brandish his weapon nor threaten agents.
  • Conservative voices criticize the Trump administration’s rapid, narrative-driven response for damaging credibility and fueling public distrust.
• Emphasis on Cooperation:
  • Some argue that if Minnesota officials cooperated with federal authorities, such conflicts would not occur.

Notable Quotes

• "I do not care that a leftist agitator got himself killed because he decided to arm himself with a gun and venture out to resist ICE..."
  — Greg Price, conservative commentator [15:00]
• "Was it a bad idea for Priddy to actively engage law enforcement while he was carrying? Yes. Though from the video I've seen, the only contact he made...was a momentary hand on the agent's shoulder after the agent had pushed another protester to the ground."
  — Cam Edwards, Bearing Arms [16:25]
• "The Trump administration...is doing its very best to lose [the PR battle]. More dead Americans does not help."
  — Erick Woods Erickson, Substack [17:20]

4. Isaac Saul’s Take

[18:21–31:18]

• Objective Account of Events:
  • Isaac narrates the entire incident, noting Priddy was de-escalating and aiding others, not acting aggressively toward agents.
• Critique of Law Enforcement Tactics:
  • Pepper-spraying and violent takedowns escalate, not resolve, tense situations.
  • Continued use of force, even after Priddy was disarmed and subdued, is condemned as counter to lawful policing.
• Media & Administration Response:
  • Strong criticism of the administration’s effort to cast the dead as "domestic terrorists"—contradicting available evidence.
  • Emphasis on the vital role of citizen journalism and video evidence to counter misleading official narratives.
• Second Amendment Double Standards:
  • Isaac highlights ideological inconsistency: right-wing voices dismiss Priddy’s constitutional gun rights, which they usually champion.
• Lack of Accountability:
  • Masked, unnamed agents, poor training, and diminished standards are breeding lawlessness and eroding public trust.
  • DHS’s recent hiring lapses cited as proof of deteriorating standards.
• Rare Nonpartisan Consensus:
  • Many moderate Republicans and mainstream conservative editorial boards are calling for oversight, distancing themselves from the administration’s stance.
• Urgent Call for Reform:
  • Urges swift oversight and accountability for DHS actions, from unlawful detentions to civilian deaths.

Standout Quotes

• "Pepper spraying someone while trying to handcuff them generally does not produce a perfectly compliant response."
  — Isaac Saul [20:29]
• "Cops don’t get to assume you’re a threat because you are legally carrying a firearm."
  — Isaac Saul [23:12]
• "These agents are masked, anonymous, protected by the state. Unlike police officers or other law enforcement, they’ve been given carte blanche to act however they like without being easily identified, something that should never be normalized in American society."
  — Isaac Saul [26:36]
• "Even President Trump appears to be looking for an off ramp."
  — Isaac Saul [28:45]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [04:34] — Initial report and details of the Minneapolis shooting
• [09:46] — Left-leaning commentary and calls for investigation and ICE pause
• [14:37] — Right-leaning reactions: law-and-order stances, Second Amendment debate, criticism of federal messaging
• [18:21] — Host Isaac Saul’s detailed, personal commentary
• [26:36] — Saul on the dangers of masked, unaccountable federal enforcement
• [28:45] — Discussion of shifting conservative pushback and rare bipartisan concern

Notable/Memorable Moments

• Competing Narratives: Minneapolis shooting becomes a flashpoint for debates on Second Amendment consistency, the dangers of federal militarization, and the perils of media spin.
• Host’s Emotional Resonance: Saul’s reference to a nightmare about not being heard echoes public frustration with official stonewalling and narrative control.
  ["For so many months I’ve felt like I’ve been shouting and unable to get the people I want to hear me most to listen..." — Isaac Saul, 18:21]
• Public Sentiment Shifts: Data and poll results indicate a rapidly fracturing consensus and growing support for significant reform—or even abolition—of ICE.

Conclusion

Isaac Saul’s episode provides a thorough, nuanced exploration of the Minneapolis DHS shooting and its broader implications. The incident catalyzes rare unity among various political voices calling for oversight, while also exposing deep fractures regarding immigration enforcement and civil liberties. The podcast becomes not just a news recap, but a meditation on accountability, the dangers of unchecked federal power, and the need for principled governance above partisan interests.