The Dispatch Podcast: “ICE’s Siege Mentality”
Date: January 27, 2026
Host: Steve Hayes
Panelists: Mike Warren, Mike Nelson, Mindy Bells
Overview
In a wide-ranging roundtable, Steve Hayes and panelists dissect three major topics: the deadly Minneapolis ICE shooting and the Trump administration’s response, the aftermath and U.S. posture relating to brutal crackdowns in Iran, and a hopeful in-depth look at Mosul, Iraq’s post-ISIS rebirth. The episode is marked by frank criticism, especially regarding government narratives and a sharp recognition of turning points—both tragic and hopeful—on the domestic and international stage.
1. Minneapolis ICE Shooting: Facts, Fallout, and Siege Mentality
What Happened in Minneapolis?
[03:09] Mike Warren recaps the incident:
- On Saturday morning, anti-ICE and anti-CBP protests occurred in Minneapolis (Whittier neighborhood).
- Protester Alex Preddy, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and legal concealed carry holder, filmed officers and was taken down during a scuffle.
- After being disarmed, Preddy, pinned on the ground and surrounded by officers, was shot multiple times in the back by a CBP agent and killed.
- The official narrative from the Trump administration, circulated within hours, claimed Preddy was "attempting to massacre federal officers"—a claim disproven by multiple video angles.
- "The administration, which has demonstrated an inability to tell the truth about incidents like this, continue to do so with Alex Preddy." – Mike Warren [08:50]
- Broad skepticism followed, including from Republican lawmakers and gun rights advocates.
- Some Democrats announced they would withhold votes to fund DHS until an investigation occurs; DHS and CBP claim officers remain on duty.
The Chaos and Combat Mindset
[11:48] Mike Nelson draws on his Special Forces background:
- Officers frame protesters as "hostiles," adopting a "domestic insurgency" mentality.
- "We have to remind ourselves these are American citizens...not my adversaries hiding among the population." – Mike Nelson [12:23]
- He acknowledges confusion during the altercation—possible accidental discharge when Preddy's pistol was seized, language like "gun, gun, gun," and "sympathetic gunfire."
- The administration’s escalation of language—from admitting error to labeling Preddy an "assassin"—fuels distrust.
Public Trust and Changing Tides
[15:30+] Steve Hayes and panel:
- Administration officials (notably Stephen Miller) double downed on false "assassin" narrative.
- "They're just lying. They're just making stuff up ... They're trying to create a narrative that contradicts what everybody can see on video." – Steve Hayes [15:55]
- Discussion turns to “insurgency” claims about protest organization; this rhetoric is critiqued as hyperbolic.
Key Quote
"What the administration's doing, I think that isn't helpful is ... they're just making stuff up ... that dramatically hurt their credibility." – Steve Hayes [15:55]
"Insurgency" Accusations Debunked
- Viral Twitter threads likened Minneapolis protests to early-stage urban insurgency.
- Mike Nelson [19:01] counters: "This was incredibly hyperbolic ... there are no indications that Preddy was part of that [armed resistance]. All he was talking about was recording, monitoring, sharing information, blowing whistles ... a far cry from organized insurgency."
A Potential Turning Point?
- Notable public response: 60 Minnesota businesses, some Democratic senators, public figures speak out.
- Reporting suggests frustration and internal dissent within DHS and CBP.
- “It seems like the administration is listening—at least stepping back from its initial lies.” – Steve Hayes [23:45]
- Mindy Bells asks whether this could be a galvanizing national moment, given the reaction's breadth and intensity:
"They're putting in place a siege mentality..." – Mindy Bells [25:32]
Key Moments
- [03:09–09:19]: Recap of facts and initial government spin.
- [11:48–15:30]: Military mindset and public trust breakdown.
- [19:01–21:54]: Response to "insurgency" accusations.
- [24:52–29:51]: Mindy Bells on Minneapolis' shock and the siege mentality.
2. Iran’s Crackdown & U.S. Response: Missed Moments & Strategic Malaise
Iran’s Brutality and Trump’s Non-Response
[32:29] Steve Hayes sets up the gravity:
- Iranian crackdown on protests; thousands killed. Khamenei ordered crackdown on Jan 9.
- Trump warned Iran but has not responded militarily despite moving a carrier strike group into the region.
- Mike Nelson [34:18]: U.S. missed the moment to help the protesters—"Iran has learned that all they needed to do was kill off enough of their own people quickly enough before the spark rose into a full fire."
- The movement of U.S. naval forces is seen as face-saving, not real support for democracy.
Key Quote
"I think it's going to be a real stain on his legacy... there were people who probably went into the streets believing President Trump has our back ... and they're dead now because of it." – Mike Nelson [38:47]
Resonance & Global Repercussions
- Mindy Bells [40:51]: “People living in the Middle East ... have it in their DNA to respect US power. But every generation has to learn... whether U.S. commitments are real.”
- Parallels are drawn to Bush Sr.'s 1991 encouragement of Iraqi revolt—a lesson in the consequences of unfulfilled U.S. promises.
Where is NATO? Where is the Plan?
- U.S. allies stung by Trump’s dismissive rhetoric about NATO’s value.
- "There is no plan... people within the administration have ideologies... but the reality is kind of filling in that inaction from the president." – Mike Warren [45:31]
- National Defense Strategy paints Iran section as lacking in substance, relying on old victories and vague hopes.
The Vacuum Dilemma
[47:53] Mike Nelson:
- Iran’s intent unchanged; U.S. posturing is "hope as a method."
- "Iran is like the villain in a horror movie ... you think is dead, but then comes back."
- Overdependence on one-off military actions (like "Midnight Hammer") leaves systemic problems unaddressed.
Key Moments
- [32:29–41:15]: Iran’s crackdown, Trump’s inaction, and parallels to Iraq.
- [45:31–50:56]: Strategic vacuum, uninspired national strategies, and Iran’s enduring threat.
3. The Rebirth of Mosul, Iraq: Reporting from Mindy Bells
Why Mosul?
[53:59] Mindy Bells recounts her reporting goals:
- Long fascinated by "places being built up" amid so much breakdown—Mosul as test case for resilience.
- Mosul has been decimated multiple times: under Saddam, during the war, and under ISIS. Bells recalls her 2008 visit: “I end up having to leave in the dark in the middle of the daytime ... it was hard to get into. It was scary to get out of.”
- After ISIS, expectations in the West were that Mosul would languish. Yet, now, markets are open, displaced people return (even if only to shop), and life is visibly, vibrantly returning.
“Life is returning alongside the structures themselves. That is, to me, miraculous.” – Mindy Bells [57:50]
Carp, Culture, and Everyday Miracles
- [60:11] Mindy Bells describes Iraqis’ masgouf (carp grilled on special outdoor grills) as more than food—its return marks a symbolic healing of rivers, end of grim fatwas (once issued because of corpse pollution during the war), and a return of traditions.
- The new market’s revival is a communal signal: “No one can get enough masgouf now.”
- Festivals, family cookouts—these granular details underscore Mosul’s comeback.
Religious, Ethnic Reconciliation
[65:17] Bells:
- New generation leading the rebuilding, “people who grew up knowing nothing but insurgency.”
- UNESCO orchestrated joint Muslim-Christian construction crews—restoring both churches (some once used for ISIS executions) and mosques (including al-Nuri, where Baghdadi declared the caliphate).
- “We know that we can do it now... We will do anything not to have war again.” – Mindy Bells [69:57]
The Power of Place: Why Rebuild Old Landmarks?
[72:14] Bells details UNESCO’s efforts:
- Surveys conducted among returnees and refugees; overwhelming demand to rebuild the “leaning” minaret (which had defined Mosul’s skyline for centuries) as it was: leaning, not straight.
- The physical return of these landmarks powerfully connects dispersed Moslawis, evoking global responses, shared joy from the diaspora.
The American and Military Perspective
[76:19] Mike Nelson:
- Details scale of destruction during the liberation of Mosul—U.S. and Iraqi forces’ “advice and assist” posture mitigated U.S. risk but increased civilian exposure to destruction.
- “Just because victory is declared and America may take its eye off these things, the struggle’s not over.”
- Bottom-up, community-driven rebuilding stands out and offers lessons for other war-torn regions.
Key Quotes
“What has been done is a miracle thus far ... it’s also indicative of—as we look at Ukraine—whatever the end state there, it will require generations to recover.” – Mike Nelson [78:35]
Key Moments
- [53:59–62:24]: Mindy’s motivations, rebuilding, return of carp, and daily life.
- [65:17–70:01]: Religious, social healing and joint reconstruction.
- [72:14–76:12]: Cultural continuity and power of physical restoration.
- [76:19–79:59]: Military reflections and the struggle ahead.
Notable Quotes
“They're just making stuff up ... that dramatically hurt their credibility.”
– Steve Hayes [15:55]
“All he was talking about was recording, monitoring, sharing information ... a far cry from organized insurgency.”
– Mike Nelson [19:35]
“It feels like it's being turned into a combat zone. ... I think they've caused the chaos in so many cases.”
– Mindy Bells [28:43]
“Iran has learned ... all they needed to do was kill off enough of their own people quickly enough before the spark rose into a full fire.”
– Mike Nelson [34:25]
“We know that we can do it now. ... We will do anything not to have war again.”
– Mindy Bells [69:57]
Conclusion
The episode is a study in contrasts: an eruption of domestic violence and government “siege mentality” in Minneapolis, matched abroad by the U.S.’s strategic fecklessness as Iran’s regime slaughters its own. Yet in the story of Mosul, viewers find a rare glimmer of hope—the incremental, grassroots, and communal work of genuine reconstruction. The panel’s frank, sometimes raw language and willingness to call out both governmental deceit and societal resilience makes this a must-listen for anyone wrestling with today’s crises in policy and culture.