Podcast Summary: The Jim Acosta Show (Jan 13, 2026)

Episode Theme:
A gripping, urgent examination of recent ICE operations in Minneapolis and their national implications, with perspectives from House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Minnesota Senator Tina Smith, and Senator Elizabeth Warren. The episode focuses on government accountability, immigration enforcement, public outrage, and the Democratic agenda heading into the 2026 elections.

1. Opening & Main Theme

• Jim Acosta sets the tone: "Don't give into the lies. Don't give into fear. Hold on to the truth. And hope."
• The central focus: The brutal ICE operation in Minneapolis, calls for accountability, and what Democrats in Congress plan to do.
• Context: The killing of Renee Nicole Goode by ICE agents in Minneapolis, followed by federal actions and a wave of protests and resignations.

2. Hakeem Jeffries: Outrage and Action on ICE (00:23–24:18)

Minneapolis ICE Operation: A National Crisis

• Acosta calls the Minneapolis situation "un-American" and probes the congressional response.

ICE's Conduct and Accountability

• Jeffries: "ICE is completely and totally out of control... What we saw in Minneapolis most recently as it relates to the killing that was totally unjustified of Renee Nicole Goode shouldn't be happening in America, on our streets or anywhere across this land." (01:00)
• Emphasizes that ICE’s actions are enabled by Trump and Kristi Noem, whom he calls "a complete and total disgrace."
• Denounces ICE's killing of an American citizen and ongoing "rogue" behavior, connecting it to a lack of oversight and clear impunity.

Funding, Leverage & Congressional Power

• Republicans passed a major Homeland Security funding bill—$191 billion, of which $74 billion went to ICE.
• Jeffries: "These individuals, masked agents in most instances, are conducting themselves as if they're never going to be held accountable for their actions. They will be." (03:16)
• Asserts Democrats will use the upcoming appropriations process to enforce accountability—e.g., banning masks, requiring body cameras, implementing warrant requirements, and eliminating "absolute immunity" for federal agents.
• Insists: "Nobody is above the law... particularly when you have been given the ability to bear arms in this fashion." (06:42)

Congressional Leverage

• Acosta summarizes: "So it sounds as though the House Democrats are going to insist and drive a hard bargain here and say you have to make some changes to ICE or you're not going to see that funding." (07:36)
• Jeffries confirms intent to hold the line, emphasizing growing House demands for real change.

On Trump, the Economy & the Message

Fact-Checking Trump’s Claims

• Trump claims to have kept all promises; Jeffries retorts:

  "That certainly is not the case, of course." (09:31)
  "Costs haven't gone down, costs have gone up, inflation is out of control, housing costs out of control..." (09:31)

Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Health Costs

• Acosta notes ACA enrollments dropping; Jeffries blames failed extension of ACA tax credits.
• Jeffries: "Over 90% of the people who rely on the Affordable Care act tax credits make around $63,000 per year. This is unsustainable." (12:04)
• Promises continued Democratic pressure for ACA relief.

Epstein Files and Government Transparency

• DOJ slow-walking mandated Epstein file releases.
• Jeffries: "All options have to be on the table... that of course includes going to court." (13:33)

Fighting Hard Enough?

• Responds to progressive frustration with Democrats:

  "We are on offense... We're on offense legislatively... Democrats are getting things done in the minority." (15:28)

• Encourages supporters: "We have to continue to exceed their diabolical intensity with righteous intensity." (18:06)

Election Security & Trump’s Authoritarian Threats

• Trump regrets not seizing voting machines in 2020.
• Jeffries: "Absolutely all hands on deck... we do believe that part of [Trump’s] strategy could have been to try to use the National Guard to intimidate people... that has been taken away from him..." (19:11)

Media & Propaganda

• Acosta plays a CBS segment that "both-sides" January 6th.
• Jeffries: "I said, wait, is this Lindell TV? Is this Newsmax? Fox News? What's going on? It turned out to be CBS. It was extraordinary." (21:45)
• Emphasizes dedication to honoring Capitol Police and resisting the "whitewashing" of January 6th.

Notable Quote:

"Donald Trump and these extremists... they want to wear America down so they can tear America down. The key is we will not allow them to wear us down."
— Hakeem Jeffries (23:06)

3. Senator Tina Smith: Minnesota in Crisis, Democratic Spine (24:18–36:57)

Ground Zero: Minneapolis

• Tina Smith describes "federal agents... showing up at public electronic charging stations for cars and randomly checking the papers."
• Highlights explicit racial profiling against Somali drivers and the surreal intimidation of a local pastor at a memorial.

Pattern of Abuse & Public Outrage

• Acosta: "They're just, look at this, putting their knee on people's heads and just roughing people up... it's just outrageous." (26:53)
• Smith: "They're just as likely to pull over and detain an American citizen as somebody... who is a legal resident." (27:17)
• Emphasizes Minnesota’s refugee-friendly history and current legal cases involving detained legal residents.

DOJ Resignations and Attempts to Silence Accountability

• Acosta references six DOJ prosecutors resigning over pressure to investigate the widow of Renee Goode.
• Smith: "I honor those lawyers who said, we are not going to be a part of this. We will resign rather than be a part of this. This corruption." (28:55)

First Amendment Rights & Community Resilience

• Acosta: "It's people's God given... First Amendment right... if they want to speak out against what's happening..." (30:09)
• Smith: "They have zero regard for people's First Amendment rights, for basic rights around search and seizure." (30:47)
• Praises the restraint shown by Minnesotans: "Thank goodness Minnesota has remained overwhelmingly peaceful in the face of this attack." (31:44)

Congressional Leverage: Appropriations as Leverage

• Smith decries the new concept of "absolute immunity" for ICE agents:

  "If you are a bad actor and you are told by your bosses that whatever you do goes, that you have absolute immunity, I can promise you... those bad actors are going to do more bad things. And that is exactly what we're seeing here." (32:36)

• Draws a bright line: "I can't imagine a scenario where I would support to give more money to this lawless agency while they continue to just disregard any kind of reasonable behavior." (33:28)
• Stresses this should be bipartisan, with demands for clear reforms ("no mask, wear a badge... minimum training").

Accountability for Democratic Leadership?

• Smith: "Who is really accountable here is the Trump administration that is allowing and condoning and even promoting this lawless behavior... I am doing everything I can..." (34:43)

Cover-Up Claim

• Smith bluntly: "What I see here is a Department of Justice and a Department of Homeland Security that are actively trying to hide what really happened, who are trying to tell Americans that we can't believe our lying eyes..." (35:58)

4. Senator Elizabeth Warren: Economic Populism, Fed Independence & Minneapolis Outrage (38:08–61:45)

Populism, Economic Anxiety, and Fed Takeover

• Acosta introduces Warren as a leading voice for a bold, progressive, populist agenda.
• Warren at the National Press Club: "Donald Trump just stays after it. And now this is a question about weaponizing the Department of Justice right out in plain view..." (38:47)
• Warren: Trump's attempt to oust/further control Jerome Powell is about "seiz[ing] control of the Fed" for political gain ahead of 2026 election.
• "Donald Trump... is looking for plan B. How can he get a hold of the Fed, flood money in before the November election, and then, you know, the devil will take the hindmost." (42:32)

Notable Analogy and Quote:

"It's like a sugar rush. How fast can you type if you just had 82 cans of Red Bull... long term consequences for the economy are a disaster." (41:22)

On Credit Card Interest & Economic Pain

• Warren: "We need a cap on credit card interest rates... It is predatory." (45:58)
• Describes a rare call from Trump to discuss her call for a credit card interest cap—uses it to push for more: "Talk is cheap, right? Don't tell me what you want to do. Show me what you're willing to get out there and bust your tail to get done." (50:08)
• Criticizes Trump for refusing to back even bipartisan housing legislation: "You say you want to lower the cost of housing. You haven't done anything to do that. Call those guys... get on the phone and call those Republicans in the House." (50:08)

The Democratic Path: Organizing and Expanding the Map

• Warren is investing in state parties and infrastructure: "Now is the time to get all that to swing into action so that we are in a place to put some constraints on Donald Trump." (55:29)
• Points to increased competitiveness in states previously considered Republican strongholds.

On ICE in Minneapolis

• Warren, referencing reports from Minnesota:

  "A 77-year-old relative of [Peggy Flanagan] got forced off the road so that ICE agents could examine her credentials... over and over I'm hearing this, family after family, where somebody's just walking down the street and they get slammed to the ground." (57:50)

• "What did Donald Trump promise? That we would be safer. Donald Trump is not making our city safer. He's certainly not making Minneapolis any safer and Minnesota any safer. But he's not making anywhere in our country safer." (58:25)
• Calls the ICE tactics "just fundamentally wrong," and predicts "a moment of big pushback."

Notable Quote:

"As a people, I think we have to be willing to say, this is not who we are, this is not who we want to be." (57:50)

Closing Thoughts

• Both Warren and Acosta note the public’s restraint and peaceful protest, highlighting "the American people are not afraid... not going to be fearful of ice cracking people's skulls, dragging them out of cars..." (62:10)

5. Voices from the Streets: D.C. Protest Coverage (61:52–70:53)

• Acosta and field correspondent at the "ICE Out for Good" rally in Washington, D.C.
• Protesters echo podcast themes: outrage at ICE brutality, support for immigrants, and a resolve to fight for democracy and human rights.
• One protester: "We want to send a message to him, to Congress. Tell them to stop." (70:53)
• Another: "We're here to support our country's democracy because it's not good right now." (70:55)
• Acosta’s message: "Staying on the couch, staying at home, not getting involved, that doesn't work anymore... 2026 is the year that this nation stands tall." (70:53)

6. Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Accountability is coming:
  "They [ICE] will be [held accountable]... The statute of limitations for much of this activity doesn't lapse until five years." – Hakeem Jeffries (03:16)
• On Democratic resolve:
  "We have to continue to exceed their diabolical intensity with righteous intensity." – Hakeem Jeffries (18:06)
• On DOJ slow-walking Epstein files:
  "All options have to be on the table... that of course includes going to court." – Hakeem Jeffries (13:33)
• On unchecked ICE power:
  "If you are a bad actor and you are told by your bosses that whatever you do goes... those bad actors are going to do more bad things." – Tina Smith (32:36)
• On the cover-up:
  "They're trying to hide the truth from Americans. And that, to me, looks like a cover up." – Tina Smith (35:58)
• On populism and Fed power:
  "Trump is trying to get his hands on the Fed... This is the temptation for any president. Roll those interest rates down in the six months before an election... the long term consequences for the economy are a disaster." – Elizabeth Warren (41:22)
• On ICE’s chilling effect:
  "As a people, I think we have to be willing to say, this is not who we are, this is not who we want to be." – Elizabeth Warren (57:50)
• Acosta’s call to action:
  "The American people are not afraid. They're not going to be fearful of ICE cracking people's skulls, dragging them out of cars, doing things that are completely un-American, completely contrary to good law enforcement, completely contrary to what it is to be an American." (62:10)

7. Key Takeaways

• Democratic leaders are intent on using Congressional power to force accountability in ICE and DHS, particularly via budget negotiations.
• There is widespread outrage at the killing of Renee Nicole Goode and ICE’s conduct, with the DOJ perceived as complicit in a cover-up.
• Concerns over economic hardships, rising costs, the erosion of the ACA, and attacks on Fed independence dominate the Democrats’ prospective 2026 agenda.
• Senators Warren and Smith combine policy demands with emotional appeals for democratic values, accountability, and public action.
• Grassroots protest and public mobilization are presented as essential counterweights to Trump-era authoritarianism.

[End of Summary]