Podcast Summary: "Democrats Push to Impeach Kristi Noem, and Ilhan Omar Is Attacked in Minneapolis"

Podcast: The Headlines – The New York Times
Host: Will Jarvis (in for Tracy Mumford)
Date: January 28, 2026

Episode Overview

In today’s episode, Will Jarvis guides listeners through key national stories, focusing especially on two headline-grabbing events: a violent attack against Representative Ilhan Omar during a Minneapolis town hall, and growing calls among Democrats to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The episode also addresses the challenges facing the IRS as tax season begins, new data on US population growth, a devastating report on Ukraine war casualties, and a tribute to GPS pioneer Gladys West.

Key Discussion Points

1. Attack on Ilhan Omar at Minneapolis Town Hall

[00:29 – 01:44]

• Ilhan Omar speaks out: Representative Omar hosted a town hall in Minneapolis to discuss aggressive ICE operations.

  • Omar calls for the abolition of ICE:

    “ICE cannot be reformed. It cannot be rehabilitated. We must abolish ICE for good.”
    (Ilhan Omar, 00:29)

  • She also demands the resignation or impeachment of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem:

    “And DHS Secretary Kristi Noem must resign or face impeachment.”
    (Ilhan Omar, 00:44)

• The attack: Shortly after starting, a man from the audience approached and used a syringe to spray Omar with a vinegar-smelling substance.

  • The attacker was quickly apprehended by security and arrested by police.
  • US Capitol Police condemned the assault as “unacceptable” and vowed “swift justice.”

• Omar’s response: Despite the attack, Omar insisted on continuing the event:

  “Here is the reality that people like this ugly man don't understand. We are Minnesota strong and we will stay resilient in the face of whatever they might throw at us.”
  (Ilhan Omar, 01:29)

2. President Trump’s Response and Ongoing Political Rancor

[01:44 – 02:11]

• Trump’s rally remarks: Hours earlier, Trump had mocked Omar at an Iowa rally, referencing her Somali heritage and her invocation of the Constitution.

  “Great people come in. They have to show that they can love our country. They have to be proud. Not like Ilhan or Omar did.”
  (Donald Trump, 01:44)
  “You know, she's always talking about the Constitution provides me with the following… She comes from a country that's a disaster. It's a problem.”
  (Donald Trump, 02:02)

• Post-attack reaction: In a subsequent ABC News interview, Trump, without evidence, accused Omar of staging the attack:

  “She probably had herself sprayed, knowing her.”
  (Will Jarvis paraphrasing Trump, 02:11)

3. Democratic Push to Impeach Kristi Noem

[02:11 – 03:10]

• Escalating backlash: Democrats are demanding immediate dismissal or impeachment of Secretary Noem for her role in federal agency-led killings in Minneapolis.
• Challenges: Impeachment would require support from some Republicans.
• Administrative fallout: Senior Customs and Border Patrol officer Gregory Bovino has been removed from his assignment and had his official social media account suspended after publicly defending his work.

4. Immigration Policy and Population Growth Slowdown

[03:10 – 04:06]

• Census data: US population growth slowed dramatically, with only about one million people added in the first half of last year.
• Contributing factors:
  • Declining birthrates.
  • Trump administration’s border shutdown and tightened visa restrictions.
  • Fewer people choosing to immigrate to the US.

5. IRS Under Strain as Tax Season Begins

[04:06 – 06:08]

• IRS struggles: Staff reduced by 25% under Trump administration’s workforce cuts; the agency saw rotating interim leadership.

• Meet Frank Bisignano:

  • Newly profiled by Times reporter Andrew Duran.
  • Has three major challenges:
    1. Political pressure: Needs to deliver smooth tax refunds after Republican-led tax cuts to improve public perception.
    2. Relevant experience: Former CEO of a major payments processing company; respected by some for his expertise.
    3. Dual roles: Also serves as head of the Social Security Administration, splitting his time and responsibilities.

  "He is also running the Social Security Administration... As far as I know, there's never been someone leading the IRS and the Social Security Administration, you know, at least in modern times like this. And so we'll see if he can handle both jobs at once."
  (Andrew Duran, 05:25)

6. Ukraine War: Human Toll

[06:08 – 07:19]

• New casualty report: Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates almost 1.8 million troops killed, wounded, or missing over four years—making it the deadliest European conflict since WWII.
• Details:
  • 100,000–140,000 Ukrainian troops killed.
  • Russia suffering losses at an unprecedented scale.
  • Stalemate on the front lines; Russia has managed minimal territorial gains in recent years.

7. Remembering GPS Pioneer Gladys West

[07:19 – 08:29]

• Gladys West has died at 95: Her mathematical work was crucial to the development of GPS.
• Little-known legacy:
  • Grew up in rural Virginia, worked as one of only four Black mathematicians at a Navy facility in the 1950s.
  • Calculated the earth’s shape, contributing to GPS accuracy.
  • Lived in obscurity for most of her life; her contributions only surfaced publicly in recent years.
• Personal touch:

  "West herself still preferred paper maps, which telling the Guardian at one point that she was a hands on kind of person."
  (Will Jarvis, 08:18)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “ICE cannot be reformed. It cannot be rehabilitated. We must abolish ICE for good.” (Ilhan Omar, 00:29)
• “Here is the reality that people like this ugly man don't understand. We are Minnesota strong and we will stay resilient in the face of whatever they might throw at us.” (Ilhan Omar, 01:29)
• “She probably had herself sprayed, knowing her.” (Trump, paraphrased by Will Jarvis, 02:11)
• “He is also running the Social Security Administration... There's never been someone leading the IRS and [SSA] in modern times like this.” (Andrew Duran, 05:25)
• “GPS, the system she helped make possible, is everywhere these days, West herself still preferred paper maps.” (Will Jarvis, 08:18)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:29 – 01:44: Ilhan Omar’s town hall and assault
• 01:44 – 02:11: Trump’s remarks and conspiracy claims
• 02:11 – 03:10: Push for Kristi Noem’s impeachment
• 03:10 – 04:06: Population slowdown linked to immigration policy
• 04:06 – 06:08: IRS leadership and staffing crisis
• 06:08 – 07:19: Ukraine war casualty report
• 07:19 – 08:29: Gladys West’s obituary

Conclusion

This episode packs a swift rundown of pressing political and human-interest stories: from the direct attack on a sitting member of Congress and the intensifying fight over immigration policy, to inside-the-Beltway administrative crises and a moving remembrance of an unsung scientific hero. The Times team offers context, analysis, and strong reporting—making it clear how the headlines shape the broader American narrative in 2026.