The Al Franken Podcast
Episode: Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan on ICE in Minnesota
Air Date: January 18, 2026
Guest: Peggy Flanagan, Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota and U.S. Senate candidate
Overview
This episode of The Al Franken Podcast centers on the aftermath of the killing of Renee Goode in Minnesota, the escalating brutality of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) operations in the state, and the broader ramifications for Minnesotans and U.S. immigration policy. Host Al Franken and his longtime friend, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, dissect the Trump administration’s militarized response, the community's reaction, and the stark polarization around ICE’s conduct. The conversation also touches on Flanagan’s Senate run, campaign issues, and stories of resilience and solidarity among Minnesotans.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Killing of Renee Goode & ICE Brutality
- Event: The shooting of Renee Goode by ICE agents prompts outrage.
- Federal & State Response:
- Kristi Noem, in response, sends 1,000 more ICE agents (+ border security) into Minnesota, intensifying the situation rather than diffusing it.
- President Trump threatens to invoke the Insurrection Act to send in the military, labeling protestors “insurrectionists.”
- Gov. Walz urges de-escalation.
- ICE’s Actions: Reports of ICE agents yanking people from cars, wrestling, beating, pepper spraying and using rubber bullets, including at schools and community sites.
“ICE agents have continued to terrorize Minnesotans, yanking them from cars, dragging them, wrestling them to the ground, beating them…”
—Al Franken [01:57]
2. Media Manipulation & Political Spin
- Right-Wing Narrative: Trump, Noem, and Vance immediately classify Renee Goode as a "domestic terrorist," despite evidence and video suggesting otherwise.
- Disinformation: Clips cited where Trump claimed he won Minnesota "all three times," calling the state “corrupt,” and his administration's push for ICE officers’ “absolute immunity.”
- Media Stunt: DHS puts out video montages of ICE actions set to pop songs, essentially for propaganda.
“She was a mom... with stuffies in the glove box... The idea, as J.D. Vance... [says] ICE agents have absolute immunity. First of all, that’s false.”
—Peggy Flanagan [11:31]
“Trump wants the Commanders...to change it back to the Redsk—add it to the list.”
—Al Franken [11:04]
3. Resignation & Blocked Investigations
- Justice Dept Turmoil: Six U.S. Attorneys in Minnesota, plus six Civil Rights Division attorneys in D.C., resign after being told not to investigate the killing (or to instead investigate the widow).
- FBI's Role Questioned: The FBI, led by Kash Patel, blocks state and local (including AG Keith Ellison’s) access to evidence in Renee Goode’s case—raising suspicion of a cover-up.
“This is one of those places where we can see in real time just the deep commitment to injustice...”
—Peggy Flanagan [18:58]
4. Community Resistance and Solidarity
- Legal Observers: Mobilization of trained citizens to witness (and record) ICE activity as a vital protection mechanism.
- Protests: Statewide demonstrations against ICE, including in smaller communities and under challenging conditions.
- Grassroots Support: Neighbors are stepping up to deliver groceries and essentials to those too afraid to leave their homes.
- ICE Targeting: Not just immigrants, but also U.S. citizens, Native Americans, and those displaying progressive bumper stickers.
“We are passive aggressive right to our core... if you come for us, gosh darn it, we’re gonna make sure people are getting fed and stepping up.”
—Peggy Flanagan [41:33]
5. Impact on Daily Life—Fear and Disruption
- Students & Schools: ICE agents storming Minneapolis’s Roosevelt High School during dismissal, tackling staff, and deploying chemical agents with children present.
- Disrupted Health & Commerce: Many immigrants are skipping medical treatments. Business activity plummets in immigrant-heavy districts due to ICE presence.
- Personal Stories: Peggy shares her own family’s experiences and emotional moments reflecting Minnesota’s diversity and unity.
“... offering distance learning along with other districts... because they are trying to protect children from federal agents. This is madness.”
—Peggy Flanagan [29:17]
“We have a Somali mayor of St. Louis Park, and she is in her 20s and she’s amazing...”
—Peggy Flanagan [40:28]
6. Political and Legislative Context
- ICE and Public Opinion: First time ever in polling—more Americans support abolishing ICE (46%) than keeping it (43%).
- Trump's Rationale: Links ICE surge to alleged Somali fraud cases, painting entire communities as suspect (despite data showing 90%+ of Somalis in MN are citizens).
- Lake and Riley Act: Flanagan’s primary opponent (Rep. Angie Craig) supported this legislation, which strips immigrants’ due process and allows indefinite detention—sparking Flanagan’s criticism.
- Broader Issues in Senate Run: Healthcare (ACA subsidies, Medicare for All), cost of living, tariffs, support for farmers, SNAP cuts, affordable childcare—all critical campaign points.
“The Lake and Riley act…strips due process away from immigrants, allows for indefinite detention.”
—Peggy Flanagan [46:47]
“Healthcare continues to be the number one thing that I hear from Minnesotans.”
—Peggy Flanagan [50:03]
7. Bipartisanship, Farmer Sentiment & The Minnesota Spirit
- Farmer Feedback: Even Trump-voting farmers voice frustration over tariffs and want a return to just selling their goods, not relying on bailouts.
- Minnesota’s “All Are Welcome” Ethos: Franken and Flanagan recount stories of Somali and immigrant integration, pride, and multiculturalism—including Minnesotans' willingness to stand against injustice, whatever their politics.
“You look like a Minnesotan.”
—Al Franken, telling a Somali-American Senate page [35:25]
“The Minnesota that I have always known... Somalis and immigrants and Ojibwe and Dakota people are part of this state. And it is... what the beauty is the threat.”
—Peggy Flanagan [39:19]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On ICE’s Over-Militarization:
"Masked agents...with not a whole lot of training... released into our streets to wreak havoc with their $50,000 bonuses. It's outrageous."
—Peggy Flanagan [31:19] -
On Personal Impact:
“I know a family who hasn’t left their house in two months. Like, they're afraid to even take out the recycling. That’s just untenable.”
—Peggy Flanagan [42:58] -
On Fighting for Justice:
“Sometimes you’ve got to pick a fight to win one.”
—Peggy Flanagan quoting Paul Wellstone [53:19] -
On Community Spirit:
"Minnesotans are unique, we are strong, and when you come for people we love, we're going to stand up for each other."
—Peggy Flanagan [62:25]
Important Timestamps
- [01:25] Opening: Setting the scene—ICE’s actions and political response
- [09:22] Al & Peggy reminisce about their first collaboration and Native advocacy
- [11:11] Deep dive into Renee Goode killing & Trump administration’s spin
- [13:09] Audio of Kristi Noem’s misleading press conference
- [14:05] Legal observers and the importance of video documentation
- [16:15] DOJ resignations over politically motivated investigations
- [17:25] FBI exclusion of state agencies from searches & evidence
- [18:58] Kash Patel and trust in federal investigation
- [24:02] ICE/Border Patrol omnipresence across Minnesota and resultant community fear
- [25:42] GOP and non-liberal backlash against ICE violence
- [29:17] Roosevelt High School ICE raid—children endangered
- [31:36] DHS’s music video propaganda on ICE raids
- [33:06] ICE detaining Native Americans, ignorance of citizenship
- [35:25] Franken’s story of Somali inclusion in Wilmer, MN school
- [41:33] Neighbors supporting vulnerable families; passive aggressive solidarity
- [46:47] The Lake and Riley Act’s impact and political divisions
- [50:03] Healthcare as the top issue in Senate campaign
- [55:39] Farmers’ anger about tariffs and Trump’s bailout policies
- [62:25] Flanagan on Minnesotan resilience and standing up for each other
Final Thoughts & Calls to Action
- Legal Observation & Support: Minnesotans are urged to train as legal observers, document incidents, amplify firsthand accounts, and support frontline organizations.
- Elections Matter: The stakes are clear—for immigrants, communities of color, and public safety. Policy and persistent organizing are crucial.
“The resiliency of people who come before us is in our bones. We got to tap into that. We’ve got to take care of ourselves. And then we got to bundle up and go outside and document what’s happening, but also bring food to our neighbors and protest…”
—Peggy Flanagan [61:04]
For Listeners New to the Episode
This conversation goes far beyond headlines, digging into granular realities Minnesotans are living—the legal, personal, and emotional fallout of ICE’s militarization—and showcases how everyday people are resisting, supporting each other, and insisting on a humane future for their state. If you want to understand the climate in Minnesota (and the country) in this moment, and what real community response can look like, this episode is essential listening.