Podcast Summary: The Majority Report with Sam Seder, Episode 3555
Title: Protests Erupt Over ICE Murder; Big Oil's DC Influence Operation w/ Nick Cleveland-Stout
Date: January 8, 2026
Host: Emma Vigeland (in for Sam Seder)
Guest: Nick Cleveland-Stout (Quincy Institute)
Overview
This episode dives into two dominant themes: the national outrage and mass protests following the police killing of legal observer Renee Goode by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, and an in-depth interview with Nick Cleveland-Stout on how oil money drives US foreign policy, particularly toward Venezuela.
The hosts offer searing analysis of the government's response, frame the police killing within the context of rising fascism and state violence, and trace how think tanks, backed by oil and foreign interests, shape Washington's most consequential decisions.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Murder of Renee Goode by ICE: Protests and Political Fallout
[00:19–42:15]
Facts and Sequence of Events
- Renee Goode, a 37-year-old mother and legal observer, was shot and killed by ICE near George Floyd’s murder site in Minneapolis.
- ICE agents blocked a physician from providing aid as she bled out.
- Protests erupted in Minneapolis and nationwide; significant demonstrations occurred in NYC during a visit by Kristi Noem to ICE offices.
- The Trump administration and right-wing media instantly painted the victim as a domestic terrorist, claiming she tried to ram officers with her car—a narrative heavily disputed by eyewitnesses and video evidence.
Victim Background & Dehumanization
- Goode, described by loved ones as a devoted Christian, singer, and creative writer, was not an activist.
- Right-wing narratives quickly zeroed in on her being a lesbian and having pronouns in her bio, using these traits to discredit and villainize her.
Quote:
"Her ex husband said she was no activist ... described her as a devoted Christian ... loved to sing, participated in chorus ... studied creative writing. ... That is who Renee Nicole Goode was. Here is how the President of the United States chose to respond to this killing. In contrast, I have just viewed the clip ... The woman screaming was obviously a professional agitator and the woman driving the car was disorderly."'
— Emma Vigeland [03:22]
Government and Media Responses
- The Trump administration and Kristi Noem called the killing an act of self-defense, justifying it under the lens of combating domestic terrorism.
- Pattern observed: Official statements in recent ICE shootings consistently misrepresent victims as aggressors, often claiming car-ramming attempts—a justification debunked in multiple incidents.
Witness Testimony Contradicts Official Narrative
- Eyewitness (Emily Heller): ICE blocked medical help; ambulance delayed due to ICE vehicles; agents showed no urgency or care.
Quote:
"I knew that this would be twisted and it would be self defense and that's absolutely not what happened. ... The ambulance couldn't even get through because the ICE agents had all abandoned their vehicles in the road."
— Witness (as interviewed by Emily Heller) [28:54]
Analysis & Political Context
- Hosts draw historical parallels to fascism and religious authoritarianism:
- The administration uses dehumanizing and faith-driven frames to vilify victims and embolden the base.
- Democratic leadership seen as feeble or complicit, failing to counter tyranny.
Quote:
"Anti-Semites have the right to play ... for by giving ridiculous reasons, they discredit the seriousness of their interlocutors. ... The time for argument is past. And that is exactly what Trump and Stephen Miller and Kristi Noem are engaging in here."
— Emma Vigeland citing Sartre [08:46]
- The police state (DHS, ICE) is a post-9/11 creation; abolition is possible.
- ICE's systematic violence and its role in fostering “sub-citizen” labor force and entrenching white supremacy are emphasized.
Notable Moments
- Dissection of the actual shooting via freeze-frames, showing lack of any threat to the officer—contradicting the self-defense claim. [33:13]
- Call for local/state officials to assert authority and resist federal obstruction.
- Discussion of how the same tactics and language used to justify Israeli state violence are mirrored domestically.
2. Big Oil, Think Tanks, and US Policy in Venezuela
Guest Interview: Nick Cleveland-Stout
[44:44–67:53]
What Are Think Tanks & Why They Matter
- Think tanks shape US policy and discourse by providing “expert” analysis for Congress, media, and the public.
- Many are deeply funded by foreign governments, Pentagon contractors, and major oil companies.
- Few disclose donors or face foreign lobbying rules, giving them outsized, opaque influence.
Quote:
"Think tanks present themselves as these very kind of objective research organizations ... But it's also true that a lot of them take funding from corporate sources, foreign governments. ... We wanted to look under the hood."
— Nick Cleveland-Stout [45:23]
Who Pays Whom?
- Atlantic Council: Top recipient of Pentagon and foreign government money; receives over $1 million/year from Chevron; also funded by Exxon.
- Brookings, CSIS, Heritage Foundation, and others also take large, undisclosed sums from oil majors.
- Foreign government and Pentagon contractor donations over five years:
- Foreign governments: $110 million
- Pentagon contractors: $35 million
How Influence Works
- Donors can suggest research agendas (“donor recommendations”), directly shaping think tank output.
- Think tankers, not classified as lobbyists, testify to Congress and write laws under the guise of neutrality.
Big Oil’s Venezuela Play
- Venezuela policy is heavily shaped by think tanks and oil industry interests.
- Chevron stayed in Venezuela after nationalization while Exxon and ConocoPhillips left and now seek compensation.
- With the Trump administration's aggressive posture in Venezuela (including open military threats), oil majors anticipate windfall profits from privatization and access to heavy crude reserves.
Quote:
"The Atlantic Council takes a million dollars from Chevron per year and actually even has a terrace in their new building called the Chevron Terrace... They even had one of their fellows, Matthew Kroenig, publishing an op ed in the New York Times very recently, two days ago, making the case that ousting Maduro was a good thing."
— Nick Cleveland-Stout [52:01]
Expanding the Military-Industrial Nexus
- Trump seeks to raise the military budget to $1.5 trillion, possibly as a means to directly subsidize oil company involvement in Venezuela.
Role of Major Donors
- Paul Singer, “vulture capitalist” and major GOP/MAGA donor, owns distressed Venezuelan assets (Citgo). Stands to profit massively from regime change.
Quote:
"He bought Citgo for just $6 billion, which is pennies on the dollar ... and he goes back a long time with [Republican leaders]."
— Nick Cleveland-Stout [65:26]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Matt: "This is what fascism is. ... When they take power, [they] get to kill people who ... are too far away from fascism ideologically." [08:04]
- Emma Vigeland: “...You have those two buckets. You’ve got the followers who treat this as an act of faith, essentially, and the fascists who get the thrill out of lying.” [14:25]
- Emma, on ICE shootings: “There are good Samaritans, there are people ... racially profiled in their cars ... and if there is any violence that the Gestapo inflicts upon these Americans ... the claim is going to be that they were trying to use their car as a weapon.” [25:00]
- Nick Cleveland-Stout (on think tanks): “They are not seen as lobbyists ... but they are representing the sympathetic interests of their donors ... they don’t come across that way; they're seen as objective independent analysts.” [50:05]
Important Segment Timestamps
- ICE murder of Renee Goode, scene-setting and analysis: [00:19–19:10]
- Fascism, state violence, and media narrative: [08:04–19:10]
- Eyewitness account directly contradicting ICE: [28:54–31:00]
- Dissection of shooting via video freeze-frames: [33:13-36:23]
- Call for local/state resistance: [31:40–33:13]
- Transition to think tanks/oil interview: [42:15–44:44]
- Nick Cleveland-Stout interview (think tank influence, big oil, Venezuela): [44:44–67:53]
- Charts & financial flows discussed: [54:52–55:55]
- Paul Singer’s Venezuela profiteering: [64:37–66:20]
Closing Tone & Takeaways
The episode is urgent, irreverent, and deeply analytical, refusing to accept official narratives at face value and spotlighting connections between violence at home and profit-seeking abroad. It dissects how racist state violence and corporate capture of policymaking are mutually reinforcing—encouraging listeners to stay skeptical, organize, and demand accountability at every level.
For More
- [Quincy Institute think tank funding tracker – recommended by Nick Cleveland-Stout]
- Fundraisers for Renee Goode’s family (see episode description)