Tangle Podcast Episode Summary

Episode: Operation Metro Surge ends, DHS shuts down
Host: Audrey Moorhead (subbing for Isaac Saul); Editorial Take by Isaac Saul (read by Lindsay Knuth)
Date: February 17, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) partial shutdown triggered by funding disputes in Congress, as well as the conclusion of "Operation Metro Surge"—a controversial DHS immigration enforcement mission in Minnesota. The show presents arguments from the left and right, executive editor Isaac Saul’s independent analysis, and answers a listener question about congressional pay during government shutdowns.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Current Crisis: DHS Shutdown & Minnesota Drawdown

• Background: At 12:01am on Feb 14, 2026, DHS partially shut down after Congress failed to pass a funding bill, largely due to Democratic demands for immigration policy reforms.
• Scope of Operations Impacted:
  • 90% of DHS workers (TSA, Secret Service, Coast Guard, FEMA) are working without pay.
  • Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) faces disruptions.
  • ICE and CBP continue mostly unaffected due to special funding from previous legislation.
• Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota:
  • Launched under Trump’s administration to target undocumented immigrants in the Minneapolis area.
  • Over 4,000 arrests were made, but only 5.2% were violent convicted criminals.
  • Operation drew significant public resistance and is now ending.

Notable Context (02:02–07:40)

"Democrats are refusing to fund the Department of Homeland Security until Republicans agree on reforms to immigration enforcement tactics. That means 90% of Homeland Security workers... are working without a paycheck." — Audrey Moorhead (04:35)

2. What the Left is Saying (09:13–13:54)

• Critiques of Operation Metro Surge:
  • Failure to Target Criminals: Only a small percentage arrested were violent offenders.
  • Institutional Distrust: Actions fueled fear and eroded trust in government.
  • Potential for Reform: The backlash may finally catalyze immigration reform.
  • Notable Left Viewpoint:

    "The worst of the worst narrative is a fig leaf for far broader mass deportations." — Zeeshan Aleem, msnow (09:42)

  • Protest as Power: Community resistance—peaceful patrols, monitoring raids, protests—exposed the agency’s militarization.
  • Editorial Reflection:

    "Trust in government, already fragile, has been further eroded, but trust can and must be rebuilt... Which side can declare victory will be in the eye of the beholder." — Minnesota Star Tribune (12:45)

3. What the Right is Saying (13:54–18:09)

• Critiques and Recommendations:

  • Criticism of Operation’s End: See Trump as "throwing in the towel" due to local resistance.

    "The public considered the DHS operation arbitrary and heavy handed, and the officers in camouflage lost the image battle to the agitators." — National Review editors (14:40)

  • Focus on Targeting Criminals: Emphasize that enforcement should prioritize those with other criminal offenses.
  • Faulting Local Governments: Blame Minnesota leaders for creating obstacles and demanding federal reimbursement.
  • Political Fallout:

    "What did the White House get in return for that measly number? Nothing more or less, I think, than the near total destruction of its credibility on immigration." — Nick Katoggio, The Dispatch (15:50)

4. Isaac Saul’s Independent Take (18:09–24:44)

• Political Dynamics:
  • Democrats hold leverage due to public backlash against both Trump and DHS tactics.
  • Republicans lack a strong bargaining chip and are relying on time and potential distractions.

  "This is not a time to be precious about process. This is a moment to be ruthless in power. Americans don't want open borders and Americans do not want a paramilitary. Democrats can claim that lane." — Rep. Jake Auchincloss to Isaac Saul (19:37)

• Pattern of DHS Deception:

  • Recent incidents—such as the shooting of an immigrant—were inaccurately described by agents and officials.

    "That story was a lie. Surveillance footage...shows the ICE agent shot the man while he stood in his doorway. ... No bystanders assaulted federal agents, and there was no struggle." — Lindsay Knuth, relaying Isaac Saul’s analysis (20:36)

  • Public’s tolerance for enforcement is being eroded by repeated official dishonesty.
• Operation’s (Lack of) Success:
  • Arrests were not as focused on dangerous criminals as claimed—but crimes like fraud and smuggling are serious too.

  • The operation’s true defeat: mass civil resistance forced DHS’s withdrawal, and the agency ended up shutting down due to its eroded political capital.

    "We just watched DHS get run out of town by a wave of civil disobedience. ... That's how much political capital has been lit on fire in the failure that was Operation Metro Surge." — Isaac Saul (22:55)

• Looking Forward:
  • Secretary Kristi Noem’s job security is questionable.

  • More gridlock is likely, as neither side is incentivized to compromise.

    "Democrats are dug in...their demands sound reasonable to most Americans, and the political moment favors them. ... But unfortunately for all of us, it looks like more gridlock is on the horizon." — Isaac Saul (24:21)

5. Listener Question: Congressional Pay During Shutdowns (26:43–29:24)

• Question: Status of bills to halt congressional pay during shutdowns?
• Answer:
  • Two Bills from Sen. John Kennedy:
    • Both would withhold or defer pay for Congress during shutdowns; constitutional issues (27th Amendment) require tweaks to their implementation.
  • Senate Resolution:
    • Recently advanced to defer Senate pay during shutdowns, but watered down in effect.
  • Impact:
    • Any effect will only apply post-midterms; current measures unlikely to prevent shutdowns this session.

    "Because of that watering down, Kennedy's resolution may well pass, but it likely won't be able to prevent any shutdowns during this session of Congress after this term is over." — Lindsay Knuth (28:32)

6. Other News ("Quick Hits" and Under-the-Radar Story)

• Quick International and Domestic Updates:
  • US–Iran negotiations, EPA rollback, shooting at Rhode Island hockey game, death of Jesse Jackson, entertainment industry merger talks.

• Under-the-Radar: Indonesia preparing to send troops to Gaza as part of a stabilization force.

  "Indonesia is the first country on the Board of Peace to commit to providing stabilization troops, ... a key element of the second phase of the Israel Hamas ceasefire brokered by the US." (29:24)

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• On the leverage in Congress:

  "Democrats are dug in and they have the public sentiment on their side." — Isaac Saul (19:22)

• On official dishonesty:

  "Most Americans don't like illegal immigration, but no one likes being lied to." — Isaac Saul (21:51)

• On the real measure of success:

  "We just watched DHS get run out of town by a wave of civil disobedience." — Isaac Saul (22:55)

Conclusion

This episode provides a comprehensive, balanced breakdown of a major moment in U.S. immigration enforcement and politics, highlighting the battle over DHS funding, the repercussions of controversial enforcement tactics, and the rare event of forced DHS withdrawal due to organized local resistance. The analysis from all sides, paired with direct coverage of evolving legislative responses, makes this episode a must-listen for those tracking immigration, government funding, and the limits of executive power in 2026.