Trump Changes Course in Minneapolis, and Social Media Giants Face Big Tobacco-Style Lawsuits

Summary

The Headlines — January 27, 2026

Podcast: The Headlines
Host: Will Jarvis, The New York Times
Episode: Trump Changes Course in Minneapolis, and Social Media Giants Face Big Tobacco-Style Lawsuits
Date: January 27, 2026

---

Overview

In this episode, Will Jarvis (sitting in for Tracy Mumford) delivers the day’s most significant stories, focusing on President Trump’s shifting approach to the recent federal shooting in Minneapolis, a pivotal court case against major social media platforms, news from the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, and a surprising romance novel recommended during a New York City snowstorm.

---

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Trump Administration Shifts Strategy in Minneapolis

• Initial Response & Public Outrage:

  • The shooting of Alex Preddy by federal agents in Minneapolis sparked outrage when video evidence contradicted official accounts.
  • Originally, administration officials framed Preddy as a significant threat, but public and media scrutiny forced a change in approach.

• Press Secretary Comments:

  • Caroline Levitt, speaking for President Trump, repeatedly emphasized the need for the investigation to “lead itself” and refrained from labeling Preddy as a “domestic terrorist” ([00:29]–[01:14]).
    • Notable Quote:
      “He wants to let the investigation continue and let the facts lead.”
      — Caroline Levitt ([00:29])

• Leadership Changes & De-escalation:

  • Border czar Tom Homan was dispatched to take control of Minnesota operations, while Gregory Bevino, known for aggressive tactics, was withdrawn ([01:14]–[01:36]).
  • President Trump softened his stance toward Minnesota Governor Tim Walz after a phone call, shifting from blaming Walz for violence to noting they "seem to be on the same wavelength" ([01:36]–[02:01]).
    • Notable Quote:
      “They seem to be on the same wavelength.”
      — Will Jarvis, paraphrasing Trump ([02:01])

• Community Impact & Refugee Detentions:

  • Increased ICE presence has caused fear among local residents; MPR correspondent relayed the governor’s plea for an independent investigation ([02:01]–[02:19]).

    • Notable Quote:
      “No one wants this. And I, I hope that's true. No one wants this.”
      — MPR Correspondent ([02:19])

  • Over 100 refugees without criminal records were detained, flown to Texas, and released without IDs, leaving families to fund their return ([02:26]–[03:57]).

    • The administration cites “verifying the merits” of refugee applications but offers no rationale for relocating detainees to Texas for interviews.

---

2. Hostage Crisis and Ceasefire Progress in Israel-Gaza

• Recovery of Last Hostage Remains:

  • Israel announced the recovery of Sergeant Ron Gavili's body—the last hostage from October 7, 2023—viewed as a watershed for national morale ([04:22]–[05:08]).
    • Notable Quote:
      “I don't think you can really overstate how important it was to ordinary Israelis ... to reach this point.”
      — David Hobfinger, Times Jerusalem Bureau Chief ([04:22])

• Impacts on Ceasefire and Political Scene:

  • The return of the last captive is seen as a crucial step for Netanyahu and a prerequisite for further ceasefire negotiations and possible political transition in Gaza ([05:08]–[05:57]).
    • The plan hinges on Hamas disarmament, international intervention, and forming a new Palestinian government.
    • Notable Quote:
      "Getting all the Israeli captives back was perhaps the most important precondition to allowing Israel and Gaza to move into ... phase two of the Trump peace plan."
      — David Hobfinger ([05:17])

• Border Reopening and Humanitarian Relief:

  • Israel intends to reopen a vital border crossing with Egypt, allowing medical evacuations and potential returns for displaced Gazans amid widespread devastation ([05:57]–[06:38]).

---

3. Landmark Social Media Lawsuit in California

• Trial Highlights:

  • Meta, TikTok, and YouTube face a landmark trial alleging their platforms are engineered to be addictive and harmful to children, echoing past legal strategies against Big Tobacco ([06:38]–[08:16]).

    • Notable Quote:
      "This is the first time that they'll really have to defend themselves in court about the products themselves and how they're engineering the products in a way that's potentially harmful."
      — Interviewer/Reporter ([06:54])

  • Internal documents and emails will be key evidence, including references to “making apps more addictive” and internal warnings about mental health risks from features like beauty filters and algorithm-driven feeds.

    • Example:
      Slide decks from YouTube explicitly used “addictive” language ([07:12]).

  • Meta is expected to claim the plaintiffs are cherry-picking evidence; YouTube points to improved safeguards for youth ([08:16]).

---

4. New York’s Blizzard, Public Libraries, and a Hockey Romance

• Mayor’s Advice for Snow Day:

  • New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani encourages residents to embrace the snowstorm as a chance to stay in, rest, or read, specifically plugging free library access to the steamy bestseller, Heated Rivalry ([08:39]–[08:55]).

    • Notable Quote:
      “Advantage of our public library's offer of free access to Heated Rivalry on ebook or audiobook for anyone with a library card.”
      — Mayor Zoran Mamdani ([08:48])

  • The book’s popularity has surged, prompting discussion within the NHL about LGBTQ representation—the league has never had openly gay players, though the commissioner has publicly praised the novel ([08:55]–[10:04]).

---

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “He wants to let the investigation continue and let the facts lead.” — Caroline Levitt ([00:29])
• “They seem to be on the same wavelength.” — Will Jarvis (paraphrasing Trump) ([02:01])
• “No one wants this. And I, I hope that's true. No one wants this.” — MPR Correspondent ([02:19])
• "I don't think you can really overstate how important it was to ordinary Israelis ... to reach this point." — David Hobfinger ([04:22])
• "Getting all the Israeli captives back was perhaps the most important precondition..." — David Hobfinger ([05:17])
• "This is the first time that they'll really have to defend themselves in court about the products themselves and how they're engineering the products in a way that's potentially harmful." — Interviewer ([06:54])
• “Advantage of our public library's offer of free access to Heated Rivalry on ebook or audiobook...” — Mayor Zoran Mamdani ([08:48])

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:29]–[03:57]: Trump Administration response to Minneapolis shooting, refugee detentions, local impacts
• [04:22]–[06:38]: Israeli hostage recovery, Gaza ceasefire implications, humanitarian aid updates
• [06:38]–[08:16]: Landmark social media lawsuit, Big Tobacco legal parallels, company defenses
• [08:39]–[10:04]: NYC snowstorm, public library, Heated Rivalry and LGBTQ sports discussion

---

Tone and Language

The episode is brisk, journalistic, and factual, with occasional moments of sober reflection (notably from David Hobfinger on Israeli sentiment) and lighter touches (as in Mayor Mamdani’s romance novel recommendation). Attribution is clear throughout, and analysis is grounded in investigative reporting and sourced commentary.

---

Summary

This episode captures pivotal shifts in U.S. federal and state relations in the wake of a controversial federal killing, explores the social and diplomatic fallout of the last Israeli hostage’s return, delves into a high-stakes legal battle that could reshape social media regulation, and closes with a warming nod to queer romance during a citywide snow day. Essential listening for anyone tracking American politics, technology, global affairs, or the cultural zeitgeist.

Transcript

[USAA Advertiser]

If you, your parent or spouse served in the military, you could join our family. Our members saved an average of $70 a month on auto insurance when they switched. Tap the banner or visit usaa.com join today to check your eligibility. Restrictions apply.

[Will Jarvis]

From the New York Times, it's the headlines. I'm Will Jarvis in for Tracy Mumford. Today's Tuesday, January 27th. Here's what we're covering.

[Caroline Levitt]

Well, look, this has obviously been a very fluid and fast moving situation throughout the weekend. As for President Trump, whom I speak for, he has said that he wants to let the investigation continue and let the facts lead.

[Will Jarvis]

In this case, the White House is trying to change course in the face of outrage over the killing of Alex Preddy by federal agents in Minneapolis. Administration officials initially claimed Preddy was a dangerous threat, even as videos showed he was pinned down and unarmed when agents shot him.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Stephen Miller labeled Preddy a domestic terrorist. Does the president agree with that?

[Caroline Levitt]

Look, as I've said, I have not heard the President characterize Mr. Preddy in that way. However, I have heard the president say he wants to let the facts in the investigation lead itself.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Was he alarmed to hear his top officials referring to him in that way, rushing to that judgment?

[Will Jarvis]

Thanks, Caroline. Yesterday, Press Secretary Caroline Levitt did not defend or repeat those statements. And in a pivot on the ground, the White House says it has sent border czar Tom Homan to oversee operations in Minnesota. President Trump said Homan will report directly to him.

[Caroline Levitt]

And I know that he's catching a plane in just a few hours to do just that at the, at the request of the president.

[Will Jarvis]

With Homan going in, the administration is pulling Gregory Bevino out. The outspoken senior Border Patrol official had become the face of the aggressive tactics federal agents had used in the state. At the same time, Trump has also backed off his attacks on Minnesota's Governor Tim Walls. After the two talked on the phone yesterday, he went from blaming Walls for the violence in his state to saying they, quote, seem to be on the same wavelength.

[Minnesota Public Radio Correspondent]

First of all, I ask that we have a fair and independent investigation into the murder of both Renee Goode and Alex Walls.

[Will Jarvis]

Described the phone call to Minnesota Public Radio. He said he told the president how the current surge of ICE agents has made people afraid to go outside and afraid for their lives.

[Minnesota Public Radio Correspondent]

I told him that this is un. Sustainable. And I said, quite honestly, you know, no one wants this. And I, I hope that's true. No one wants this.

[Will Jarvis]

What about the investigation? Meanwhile, the Times has been learning new details about what's happened to some of the Minnesota residents who've been caught up in the administration's immigration operations. According to lawyers, family members and faith leaders, more than 100 refugees with no criminal record have been arrested there in recent weeks and flown to detention centers in Texas. Unlike asylum seekers who arrive at the US Border and try and make a case to stay, people with refugee status have often had extensive vetting and arrived in the country on flights coordinated with the federal government. But the administration announced earlier this month that it would begin re examining many of their cases with new background checks, starting with the roughly 5,500 refugees in Minnesota. Some of them have described a frightening and confusing process, being picked up without warning and flown to detention centers in Texas for interviews without lawyers. Some said their wallets, IDs and other documents have been confiscated and that after multiple days in custody, they've been released to find their own way back to Minnesota. Family and friends have scrambled to buy them plane and bus tickets home. In response to questions from the Times, a spokesman for U.S. citizenship and Immigration Services said that the agency is quote, unquote, verifying the merits of all refugee applications and ensuring no issues were overlooked. He did not explain why refugees are being flown to Texas for the interviews. On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israeli troops have recovered the remains of the last captive taken. On October 7, 2023, Sergeant Ron Gavili was killed while defending one of Israel's southern border towns. His body was then brought to Gaza by militants. Gavili was one of roughly 250 people living and dead who were taken that day.

[David Hobfinger]

I don't think you can really overstate how important it was to ordinary Israelis across the political spectrum to reach this point.

[Will Jarvis]

David Hobfinger is the Times Jerusalem Bureau chief.

[David Hobfinger]

From the start of the war, you know, the seizure of the hostages really created an overwhelming imperative for the Israeli military and for the Israeli government to to bring those hostages home. And the longer the war dragged on, the fate of the hostages, both living and dead, was something that really animated a big anti war movement in Israel. You saw banners and billboards and bumper stickers all over the country. There were protests small and large in every little town and hamlet and major city. It also was like the biggest source of opposition to Netanyahu.

[Will Jarvis]

David says that the return of the last captive is an emotional moment for the entire country and also a crucial step forward in the Gaza ceasefire plan.

[David Hobfinger]

Getting all the Israeli captives back was perhaps the most important precondition to allowing Israel and Gaza to move into what is supposed to be phase two of the Trump peace plan for Gaza. That may actually prove to be a more difficult phase because it requires Hamas to disarm and for Gaza to be demilitarized. It requires the creation of an international force of soldiers designed to keep the peace. It requires the creation of a new Palestinian government. All of these things are in motion, but it's unclear how quickly they can come to pass.

[Will Jarvis]

Yesterday, following the return of Gavili's body, Israel said that it would soon reopen a key border crossing between Gaza and Egypt that that it's locked down for more than a year and a half. Aid groups say that could allow them to evacuate people who need advanced medical care. It could also potentially allow for some of the hundred thousand Gazans who fled during the war to return home, though Israeli strikes have turned most of the territory into ruins. In California, what could be a landmark trial on the effects of social media kicks off today with Meta, TikTok and YouTube facing allegations that their platforms have caused harm to kids.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

These companies have been under scrutiny for many years about the kind of content they host, but this is the first time that they'll really have to defend themselves in court about the products themselves and how they're engineering the products in a way that's potentially harmful.

[Will Jarvis]

Cecilia Kong covers technology for the Times. She says this case is one of several trying out a new legal strategy that's inspired by the lawsuits against Big Tobacco. Basically, the argument is that social media companies knew they were making potentially dangerous and addictive products and pushed them out to the public.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Anyways, in this first trial and potentially future ones this year, we're going to see the tech CEOs stand on trial to defend emails and other documents where they themselves are confronted with evidence about the stickiness of their products and how they're being engineered to get people to engage more and more, and how that was really concerning to a lot of other employees within these companies. So, for example, YouTube will be asked to explain why there were slide decks internally at the company where they use language like how to make their app more addictive. Mark Zuckerberg also will have to defend internal documents where his employees had asked him to respond to research that their own scientists were coming up with that showed that some of their tools, like beauty filters on Instagram and some of the algorithms that were being used in the main news feed to drive people to certain content was unhealthy, potentially for young users.

[Will Jarvis]

Cecilia says that Meta is expected to argue that the plaintiffs have oversimplified the problems and cherry picked statements from internal documents and YouTube has pointed to extra safety measures it's put in place for kids. And finally, the snow is coming down.

[New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani]

Heavily across our city.

[Will Jarvis]

New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani urged people to use yesterday's snowstorm as a chance to stay home, nap or take.

[New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani]

Advantage of our public library's offer of free access to Heated Rivalry on ebook or audiobook for anyone with a library card.

[Will Jarvis]

He pointed people to Heated Rivalry, the love story about professional hockey players that, thanks to a very steamy TV adaptation, has become a global phenomenon, according to the New York Public Library. Thousands of people took him up on his suggestion. Downloads surged. Mamdani, it turned out later, has not read or watched the series, but basically everybody else has. It's currently the most popular romance novel in the country, according to the library, and it's been one of the most watched shows on HBO in recent months. The plot has sparked a lot of conversations around the NHL and its relationship to the LGBTQ community. The league has never had any openly gay players. The NHL commissioner himself said he's a heated Rivalry fan. He called it a little spicy, but said he binged the show in one night. Those are the headlines today on the Daily A look at the Ghost Fleet. The ship's moving oil around the world. You can find that in the New York Times app or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Will Jarvis. We'll be back tomorrow.

[New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani]

This podcast is supported by the American Petroleum Institute. Energy is all around today. America's natural gas and oil keeps the country moving, growing and building, and makes every day a little easier. But energy demand is growing, and the infrastructure built today will help secure a more affordable, reliable future. With enough energy to go around when America builds, America wins.