The Ben Shapiro Show
Episode 2354 - DEMOCRATS' CHAOS OPERATION: Minneapolis Explodes After ANOTHER ICE Shooting
Date: January 26, 2026
Host: Ben Shapiro
Podcast: The Daily Wire
Episode Overview
This episode focuses on the recent shooting of Minneapolis resident Alex Preddy by a federal Border Patrol agent during an ICE operation. Ben Shapiro analyzes the incident’s details, the motivations, and responses of local and national political figures—particularly Democrats—accusing them of deliberately fostering chaos to undermine federal law enforcement and President Trump’s immigration agenda. Shapiro reviews multiple video angles of the event and dissects reactions from both sides, ending with pointed suggestions for the Trump administration's next steps.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Incident Summary & Initial Analysis
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[09:15] Ben recounts the shooting of Alex Preddy, an ICU nurse, by a federal Border Patrol agent during an immigration enforcement operation.
- The event was recorded from multiple angles and is already becoming a political Rorschach test.
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Shapiro’s Framing:
- Ben insists this is not a random occurrence but a byproduct of deliberate Democratic policies in blue states, which result in increased federal presence and heightened tension.
“They are doing this on purpose, there is no question. This is a purposeful attempt to undermine federal law enforcement in their pursuit of duty.” — Ben Shapiro [11:02]
2. Causes & Political Context
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[13:30] Demarcates a difference in how red and blue states cooperate with federal authorities:
- Red states: Facilitate deportations by notifying federal authorities.
- Blue states: “Sanctuary” policies force more frequent, forceful federal operations, which increase risk of violence.
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[14:51]
- Ben accuses Democratic politicians and media of stoking chaos for political gain, suggesting they “believe that ugly images on TV…will undermine the Trump administration's immigration program and the Trump administration itself.”
3. Breakdown of the Event (Video Evidence)
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[21:10] Multiple video angles are described:
- Angle One: Far view; Preddy is subdued and then shot. Ben stresses that resisting federal law enforcement is a crime and urges listeners not to do it.
- Angle Two: Closer; shows Preddy possibly helping a woman, being sprayed, and then subdued. A whistle is audible, indicating organized protester activity. Shooting happens while Preddy is surrounded.
- Angle Three: Shows an officer removing a gun from Preddy’s waistband; then, after Preddy has apparently been disarmed, shots are fired (possibly triggered by a gun misfire).
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Analysis of Reasonable Use of Force:
- Ben outlines the legal standard: an officer must reasonably believe there is an imminent threat of grave bodily harm, which is complicated in chaotic, fast-moving situations.
“The legal standard here is that a reasonable officer must believe that there's an imminent threat to of grave bodily harm. That is the legal standard here.” — Ben Shapiro [25:15]
- Discussion about the SIG handgun’s misfire providing possible context for the officers’ perception of threat.
4. Protester Organization & Political Facilitation
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[34:00] Detailed account of well-coordinated protest actions in Minneapolis:
- Protesters use Signal app group chats for live coordination.
- Participation includes local politicians like Minnesota State Rep. Alex Falconer, who encourages residents to join resistance networks and support targeted individuals.
“Protesters are coordinating...to get protesters to the place where ICE is doing the thing in order to get, in many cases, lawbreakers obstructing law enforcement.” — Ben Shapiro [37:10]
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Violent Actions: Reports of protesters biting an ICE officer’s finger and attacking a hotel believed to house federal agents.
5. Democratic Political Reaction
- [43:55] Ben dissects responses from local and national Democrats:
- Governor Tim Walz: Calls for ending federal operations, likens ICE presence to an “occupation,” and questions officers’ legitimacy.
- Ben criticizes Walz for undermining law enforcement and enabling violence.
- Mayor Jacob Frey: Requests National Guard, frames conflict as endangering city safety but is unclear on whether aim is to curb ICE or curb protests.
- Sen. Amy Klobuchar & others: Oppose DHS funding, decry ICE training, and threaten a government shutdown over ICE conduct.
- Governor Tim Walz: Calls for ending federal operations, likens ICE presence to an “occupation,” and questions officers’ legitimacy.
6. Narrative vs. Facts
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[55:30]
- Ben objects to statements that facts of investigations “don’t matter” compared to public outrage (referencing the Minneapolis police chief).
- Critiques likening ICE to the Gestapo, Stasi, and drawing analogies to Anne Frank as grossly irresponsible and false.
“That last statement is totally insane...if there's a full investigation and it finds that this shooting was justified, that doesn't matter. That's the only thing that should matter, shouldn't it not?” — Ben Shapiro [57:00]
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[1:08:10] Highlights mainstream left-wing figures' amplification of “engineered chaos” and their comparison of ICE to authoritarian enforcers (citing Thomas Friedman, Gavin Newsom, and Mikey Sherrill).
7. Trump Administration & ICE’s Response
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President Trump:
- Frames the situation as part of broader crime and corruption in Minnesota.
- Vows continued tough action, sends Tom Homan to the state.
“Let our ICE Patriots do their job. 12,000 illegal alien criminals, many of them violent, have been arrested and taken out of Minnesota.” — Donald Trump (via Shapiro) [1:13:00]
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Kristi Noem (DHS Secretary):
- Initially brands Preddy as seeking to “inflict maximum damage.”
- Under questioning, moderates tone, emphasizing need for full investigation.
“This is not connected to the video that you saw. I'm sorry, it isn't. The idea that Kristi Noem said this guy's a domestic terrorist...let's just say that that is a matter under dispute.” — Ben Shapiro [1:17:40]
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Greg Bovino (Border Patrol):
- Adopts aggressive language about “massacre,” but more nuanced in direct interviews; still, Ben criticizes this for undermining credibility.
8. Discussion of “Protesting with Guns”
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[1:26:00]
- Shapiro notes that legally armed protest is common and lawful, but that resisting arrest while armed raises legitimate risk of force.
- Criticizes administration voices for conflating armed protest with intent to commit violence.
"Don't resist officers while carrying a gun. Don't resist officers at all. PR matters when you're in a PR war. Democrats have started a PR war and a violent...war conflict in Minneapolis." — Ben Shapiro [1:29:00]
9. Conservative Policy Recommendations
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[1:31:00]
- Some suggest ICE suspend operations in Minneapolis (“let blue cities deal with the consequences”).
- Ben opposes retreat: argues for continued enforcement, but for the President to demand Minnesota leaders propose constructive alternatives that involve cooperation with federal law.
“…the President of the United States should invite Governor Walls to the White House and Jacob Fry and he should sit them down and he should say, listen...We’re not going to stop enforcing the law because you activate protesters.” — Ben Shapiro [1:35:20]
- Warns that local nullification of federal law is a path toward breakdown of civil order.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Democratic Strategy:
“They are desperate for the ugly images on the TV because they believe that that is going to undermine the Trump administration's immigration program and the Trump administration itself.” — Ben Shapiro [11:25]
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On Officer Responsibility:
“Remember, the legal standard here is that a reasonable officer must believe that there's an imminent threat to of grave bodily harm. That is the legal standard here.” — Ben Shapiro [25:15]
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On Politicians Encouraging Protest:
“It’s your patriotic duty to resist…The resistance matters. We're not telling people to be silent, but we're not telling people to go out and cause problems. We're going to cause good trouble.” — Gov. Tim Walz (quoted by Ben) [1:03:00]
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On Law & Investigation:
“There should always be full investigations. Not because I believe the officers are guilty of murder or manslaughter. There should be a full investigation because I believe that it will exonerate the officers. And even if it didn't…you need the full investigation in order to ensure that there is continued trust in law enforcement.” — Ben Shapiro [17:45]
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Critique of Overblown Rhetoric:
“Anne Frank was not attempting to immigrate to the country from which she was deported…American law enforcement agents, ICE officers, border patrol agents are not Nazis. They are not the Gestapo.” — Ben Shapiro [1:05:45]
Important Timestamps
- [09:15] — Summary of Alex Preddy’s shooting, context for political escalation
- [21:10] — Video evidence breakdown; analysis of the scuffle and use of force
- [34:00] — Protester coordination and facilitation by local politicians
- [43:55] — Democratic officials’ responses; calls to end federal operations
- [55:30] — Law enforcement, media, and public narrative clashes
- [1:08:10] — National Democratic leaders amplify “chaos” rhetoric
- [1:13:00] — Trump’s response and federal law enforcement stance
- [1:17:40] — DHS response, scrutiny of Kristi Noem’s statements
- [1:31:00] — Policy debate: ICE withdrawal or continued enforcement
- [1:35:20] — Ben’s recommended path for federal-local negotiations
Tone and Language
Ben Shapiro’s tone is characteristically brisk, unapologetically partisan, and at times biting—especially towards Democratic officials. He blends factual breakdowns with sharp polemic, repeatedly emphasizing law-and-order values and accusing opponents of fostering chaos for political gain. The language is direct, often combative, and geared toward rallying conservative listeners to see the episode as a microcosm of broader blue state/federal conflict.
Takeaways
- Shapiro asserts that the Minneapolis shooting is a planned consequence of Democratic strategies to resist federal immigration enforcement.
- He calls out both sides—Democrats for deliberately enabling obstruction, and some Trump administration officials for rhetoric that undermines trust in law enforcement.
- The episode is as much about the structure and consequences of federal-local relations as about the specific, tragic incident.
- Ben’s consistent message: Do not resist law enforcement, especially while armed, and maintain due process through full investigations—all while calling for political leaders to take responsibility for the environments they foster.
This summary covers all substantive content, omitting ads, intros, and non-content sections to provide a comprehensive understanding for listeners who have not heard the episode.