The Jim Acosta Show

Episode: Trump's Minnesota Cover-up Continues

Date: January 27, 2026
Host: Jim Acosta
Guests: Rep. Maxwell Frost (FL), Iowa Senate candidate Josh Turek, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell

Episode Overview

In this charged episode, Jim Acosta dives into the ongoing fallout from the killing of Alex Preddy by federal agents in Minnesota, the apparent lack of federal oversight into such incidents, and the broader implications for American democracy under Donald Trump’s administration. Through candid conversations with Congressman Maxwell Frost, Senate candidate Josh Turek, and Attorney General Andrea Campbell, Acosta explores government accountability, ICE abuses, immigrant rights, and the deepening divide over civil rights and democratic norms in America.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The DOJ’s Refusal to Investigate the Killing of Alex Preddy (00:06 – 05:48)

• Jim Acosta overviews breaking news: The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division will not investigate the killing of Alex Preddy, an ICU nurse shot by federal agents in Minneapolis.

• Rep. Maxwell Frost reacts sharply, calling it “disgusting,” asserting Trump "doesn't care if a citizen has been gunned down and executed in the streets by federal agents."
  Quote (Frost, 00:53):

  "He is only the president of the people who support him... He doesn’t care if a citizen has been gunned down and executed in the streets by federal agents."

• Frost calls the deportation campaign a "kidnapping campaign and a human trafficking campaign," underscoring systemic abuses and the lack of accountability.
  Quote (Frost, 01:25):

  "Deportation is a legal process that's actually not being followed. So it's more of a kidnapping campaign and a human trafficking campaign."

• He points to rising deaths within ICE detention facilities, referencing 35 deaths last year with little public attention, demanding an independent investigation and Congressional action.

• Lack of Oversight: Frost claims Congress has abdicated its role, particularly speaker Mike Johnson, whom he labels a “lap dog and puppet” for Trump.

  • He calls for denying ICE appropriations and launching impeachment proceedings against DHS Secretary Kristi Noem "immediately" for incompetence and overseeing crimes.
  • Quote (Frost, 05:27):

    "I think what Congress needs to do... is two things. One, deny ICE money... And number two, we need to begin impeachment proceedings on [Secretary] Kristinoem immediately."

2. Continued Lack of Accountability & Outrage over ICE’s Actions (05:48 – 14:34)

• Acosta and Frost discuss Trump shifting, not fixing, problems: removing Greg Bevino as CBP chief is framed as "enough," but the underlying abuses continue.

• Rep. Frost emphasizes the need for increased pressure:
  Quote (Frost, 06:19):

  "We are pissed off. And this isn't the moment to say, we got to win. Let's move on. This is the moment to increase pressure and push even harder."

• Acosta raises Trump’s inconsistent stance on the Second Amendment—limiting gun rights for protestors while celebrating right-wing gun carriers like Kyle Rittenhouse (08:25).

  • Frost highlights hypocrisy:
    Quote (Frost, 09:32):

    "Kyle Rittenhouse... celebrated. So, no, it has nothing to do with Second Amendment or rights... it has to do with what helps Donald Trump in the moment. He has no values."

• Congressman Frost also describes ICE's recruitment efforts targeting disaffected police, selling "freedom from accountability" to attract "bad cops" (11:35).

  • Quote (Frost, 10:16):

    "They're recruiting police officers who are frustrated... 'Are you tired of the restrictions? Are you tired of the accountability? Join ICE. We'll give you a $50,000 starting bonus, and you won't have restrictions.'"

• Frost gives a firsthand account of being disrespected and blocked from entering an ICE facility (13:15–14:34), emphasizing the importance of Congressional oversight visits and legal action when denied access.

3. Funding, Abolishing ICE, and the Democratic Dilemma (14:34 – 18:44)

• Discussion of the “big betrayal bill” giving massive ICE funding, proposals like Rep. Jimmy Gomez's bill to redirect ICE money toward housing (15:04).

• Frost urges the Democratic Party not to accept “crumbs” in policy negotiations: Quote (Frost, 17:25):

  "If you let them get you to a place where you accept crumbs, do you know what you ultimately get? You don't even get the crumbs."

• Frost stresses the need for transformational change, telling a story about meeting people on the ground who demand bold action rather than political compromise.

4. Personal Risks for Critics—Assault on Maxwell Frost (18:44 – 22:41)

• Frost recounts being assaulted by a man at Sundance for being Latino, the man shouting “I’m proud to be white” and making deportation threats before punching Frost (19:11).
• He reflects on the emboldening of bigots under the Trump administration and the danger posed even in “liberal” spaces. Quote (Frost, 21:20):

  "There's a lot of bigotry in this world... and there's a lot of people who feel emboldened right now... It was a shocking incident to me."

5. Iowa: Economic & Political Crisis Under Trump (w/ Josh Turek) (22:43 – 34:48)

• Josh Turek outlines how Iowa has been devastated by Trump’s tariffs—rural towns suffering, closure of 31 rural hospitals, highest farm foreclosures, and increasing cancer rates (24:46-28:04).

• He details how anti-immigrant enforcement is terrorizing communities and families like his own (he’s married to an Afro-Latina immigrant). Quote (Turek, 28:36):

  "This is United States of America, honestly... My family is terrified. People are legitimately terrified of what's going on."

• Turek discusses how Iowa’s political shift is fueled by people’s empty wallets—calling out Trump's alignment with billionaires and blaming him for slashing social safety nets.

• Asserts that Iowa is not truly “red” but a “common sense state masqueraded red,” and that the state is “in play” due to the policy backlash.

• Kitchen-table issues—healthcare, wages, and public schools—are framing the upcoming election.

6. Blue State Worries: Could Massachusetts Be Next? (w/ AG Andrea Campbell) (36:36 – 46:35)

• Andrea Campbell voices solidarity with Minnesota, labeling the killings by ICE as “horrific and horrible and un-American.” Quote (Campbell, 37:19):

  "Everything they are doing in Minnesota is retribution and retaliation."

• Campbell pledges to use her power as Attorney General to pursue “all accountability for ICE officials” if similar abuses come to Massachusetts (39:57).

• She calls DOJ accountability “absent,” referencing cover-ups, and likens current tactics to those of "Nazi Germany" (39:01).

• Calls for the removal and impeachment of DHS secretary Kristi Noem for "cruel and wicked tactics" (41:17).

  • Points out ICE officers operating without masks or accountability are “causing harm” not protecting safety.

• Confirms she would criminally pursue ICE agents for unconstitutional acts in Massachusetts, despite possible federal-state legal barriers (42:23-44:38).

• Urges protests and legal pushback as critical countermeasures.

7. Where is the Humanity? Public Outrage & Propaganda (48:23 – 56:41)

• Acosta plays wrenching video of ICE agents surrounding a crying woman and her toddler in Minnesota, underscoring the human toll (48:23). Notable protester quote:

  “Don’t you have any humanity?” (48:33)

• Acosta addresses right-wing responses, playing a soundbite of Megyn Kelly dismissing Alex Preddy’s death ("I'm supposed to feel sorry for Alex Preddy, but I don't." 50:40):

  Acosta’s response:

  "Where is your humanity, Megyn Kelly? Where is your soul?"

• He condemns the Trump administration for “a war against American people,” accusing them of wanting their cruelty to become public cruelty, and criticizes the notion of rights being reserved only for MAGA adherents ("Second Amendment for me, but not for thee," 51:12).

• Acosta draws a hard line:
  Quote (Acosta, 54:44):

  "Donald Trump has a fascism problem... We have a secret police force out right now violating the civil rights of anybody they come across pretty much all the time."

8. Reflections, Calls to Action, and Closing (56:41 – End)

• Acosta reaffirms that the crisis is far from over despite “apparent” retreats or personnel changes, warning of continued and escalating threats to democracy.
• He expresses gratitude to his guests and listeners, highlights the importance of independent media, and marks the upcoming one-year anniversary of The Jim Acosta Show.
• He closes with a call to retain empathy and determination to resist authoritarianism, promising continued vigilance and coverage.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Maxwell Frost (00:53):

  "He is only the president of the people who support him... He doesn’t care if a citizen has been gunned down and executed in the streets by federal agents."

• Acosta (06:19):

  "We are pissed off... This is the moment to increase pressure and push even harder."

• Frost (09:32):

  “Kyle Rittenhouse... celebrated. So, no, it has nothing to do with Second Amendment... has to do with what helps Donald Trump in the moment.”

• Frost (10:16):

  "They're recruiting police officers who are frustrated... ‘Are you tired of restrictions? ...Join ICE. We'll give you a $50,000 starting bonus, and you won't have restrictions.’"

• Frost (17:25):

  "If you let them get you to a place where you accept crumbs, do you know what you ultimately get? You don't even get the crumbs."

• Turek (24:46):

  "Iowa is without a doubt in play... but Iowans are hurting. We're now 50th in economic growth, basically dead last for every single health care metric... and leading the nation in farm foreclosures because of the Trump tariffs."

• Campbell (37:19):

  "Everything they are doing in Minnesota is retribution and retaliation."

• Acosta (48:33):

  "Don’t you have any humanity?" [Protester, video]

• Megyn Kelly (50:40):

  "I'm supposed to feel sorry for Alex Preddy But I don't."

• Acosta (54:44):

  "Donald Trump has a fascism problem... We have a secret police force out right now violating the civil rights of anybody they come across pretty much all the time."

• Acosta (Closing):

  "The rest of us still have a soul... We can still have empathy... It is going to take sustained determination on the part of the American people to overcome this moment right now."

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:06 – Opening and DOJ’s refusal to investigate Alex Preddy killing
• 00:53–06:19 – Frost on Trump’s lack of care, Congressional response, and ICE as “kidnapping campaign”
• 08:25–10:16 – Second Amendment hypocrisy, ICE recruitment of “bad cops”
• 18:44–22:41 – Frost details assault at Sundance, personal risks
• 24:46–34:48 – Josh Turek on Iowa’s economic decline, family fears, and election issues
• 36:36–46:35 – AG Andrea Campbell on state-level pushback, DOJ’s inaction, and ICE accountability
• 48:23–56:41 – Video of ICE abuses, Acosta’s commentary on humanity, Megyn Kelly clip, Trump’s PR vs fascism problem
• 56:41–End – Reflections, gratitude, anniversary mention, and closing words

Summary Tone & Style

Unvarnished, urgent, and impassioned, this episode is marked by direct language, emotional testimony, and a clear focus on civil rights abuses and democratic crises. The guests, particularly Rep. Frost and AG Campbell, convey moral clarity and resolve, while Acosta consistently challenges hypocrisy and urges his audience to stay informed, involved, and empathetic.

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