The Morning Edition
Episode: Beyond the Alex Pretti video: On the ground in Minneapolis
Date: January 27, 2026
Host: Julia Karkatzel (for Samantha Selinger-Morris)
Guest: Michael Kosiol, North America Correspondent
Overview
This episode delves into the recent killing of Alex Preddy, an American citizen and nurse, by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis—the second such fatal incident in three weeks. The discussion critically examines the events, political responses, community reaction, and broader implications of aggressive ICE operations under the Trump administration, providing on-the-ground insights from Minneapolis.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Recap of the Alex Preddy Shooting
- Event description (01:14–04:20):
- Alex Preddy was documenting a targeted ICE operation—a legal practice in Minneapolis—when a confrontation led to his fatal shooting by federal agents.
- Footage shows Preddy being taken to the ground; controversy surrounds whether he reached for a gun. Analysis suggests he was disarmed immediately before being shot.
- Kosiol notes, “This was not someone who was out there trying to attack ICE agents...he was in fact disarmed right before he was shot, and all he was really trying to do was film this law enforcement operation, which…is legal.” (03:20)
2. Who Was Alex Preddy?
- Personal background (04:24–04:57):
- 37-year-old Minneapolis native, nurse at Veterans Affairs, described as an “all American person who was helping veterans.”
- His “good citizen” status has shifted the conversation about ICE and law enforcement operations.
3. The Firearm Controversy
- Legal and political implications (05:03–06:25):
- Preddy held a gun license—carrying was legal in Minnesota.
- Trump administration questioned why he brought a gun, while the NRA and gun rights advocates defended his right, critiquing the administration’s stance.
- Kosiol: “You actually had the bizarre case of…the NRA criticising the Trump administration.” (05:56)
4. Administration and Political Backlash
- White House narrative & internal division (06:48–08:45):
- Senior officials (Stephen Miller, Kristi Noem) labelled Preddy a “domestic terrorist” and “would-be assassin.”
- The White House quickly walked back these statements amid increased scrutiny and backlash, with press secretary distancing Trump from inflammatory language.
- “We’re now seeing those sorts of claims unravel because Donald Trump has intervened…with the White House refusing to back in those claims.” (08:14)
5. Atmosphere and Community Reaction in Minneapolis
- On the ground observations (08:56–11:47):
- Despite freezing temperatures (down to –25°C), hundreds attended a vigil for Preddy.
- Grief, anger, and activism pervaded—chants for peace, visible anti-ICE graffiti (“kill ICE”) dominated the streets.
- “A lot of sadness and a lot of anger…you see the anger, too, when you just…see the things graffitied on…shop fronts and bus shelters.” (10:30)
6. Protesting, Observing, and Policing ICE
- Role and labelling of protesters (11:47–14:21):
- Protesters/observers document ICE actions, using group chats to mobilize and film operations.
- Tensions: Some protesters remain peaceful; others engage in heated confrontations.
- Vice President J.D. Vance and conservative media have amplified rhetoric, branding observers as “domestic terrorists.”
- Kosiol: “Some people…get in the faces of these ICE agents and…it’s not pretty…they’ll yell out all sorts of horrible things…But these officers are also trained in trying to de-escalate…and, you know, looking at the video…that’s pretty clearly not what happened here.” (13:24)
7. Nature and Impact of ICE Operations
- Aggressiveness and public perception (14:35–16:08):
- ICE actions increasingly covert—agents in unmarked vehicles, masked, sometimes in plain clothes—fuelling fear, confusion, and radicalization.
- Political fallout: Even Republicans (e.g., Ted Cruz) demand investigations and de-escalation.
8. Trump’s Tactical Shift and Political Calculus
- Administrative circuit breaker (16:08–18:06):
- Trump redeploys tough Border Patrol head (Greg Bevino) and sends Tom Homan as “circuit breaker” to restore order.
- National mood shift forces administration’s hand, as right-wing media and party figures call for change.
- “For all his critics and all his faults, [Trump] does have a sort of kind of nose for politics. And he clearly is sensing that…the politics on this have shifted and that ICE has gone too far.” (17:37)
9. Prospects for an Independent Investigation
- Process vs. perception (18:06–19:51):
- Kosiol argues for the process value of an impartial investigation, but doubts it will sway public opinion—“I think the debate has already changed…over the last three weeks.”
- The role of presidential leadership in shaping public and party response is emphasized.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On the shooting footage:
“From all the analysis…this guy was not out to massacre law enforcement agents…but he was in fact disarmed right before he was shot, and all he was really trying to do was film this law enforcement operation.”
—Michael Kosiol (03:20) -
On Preddy’s identity:
“This was an all American person who was a nurse who was helping veterans. And I think there’s no doubt that that also contributed to the way that his death has changed the narrative…”
—Michael Kosiol (04:31) -
On the NRA and Trump:
“You actually had the bizarre case of…the NRA criticising the Trump administration and saying…you’re calling into question our Second Amendment rights.”
—Michael Kosiol (05:56) -
On shifting White House stance:
“We had Christy Noem, the Homeland Security secretary, call him a domestic terrorist…the White House press secretary saying today that she has not heard Donald Trump talk about Alex Preddy in those terms.”
—Michael Kosiol (07:30–08:17) -
On the mood in Minneapolis:
“A lot of sadness and a lot of anger…you see the anger, too, when you just…see the things graffitied on…shop fronts and bus shelters. ‘Kill ICE’…on every second window.”
—Michael Kosiol (10:30) -
On ICE’s methods:
“These ICE agents are rocking up in unmarked cars, they’re wearing masks…sometimes in plain clothes. And so that leads to these…images of masked, unidentified people grabbing people on the street. And that’s a very powerful—and radicalizing—image.”
—Michael Kosiol (15:04)
Important Timestamps
| Segment | Time | |--------------------------------------------------|---------| | Play-by-play of Alex Preddy’s shooting | 01:14 | | Alex Preddy's background | 04:24 | | Firearm legality & NRA-Trump split | 05:03 | | Trump Admin’s inflammatory rhetoric/backlash | 06:48 | | Minneapolis vigil/atmosphere | 08:56 | | Protester roles and dynamics | 12:16 | | ICE operation methods and radicalization | 14:35 | | Trump replaces ICE leadership | 16:08 | | Prospects for investigation | 18:06 |
Summary
The episode goes beyond viral video snippets and analyzes the political, social, and community fallout from a second fatal shooting by ICE in as many weeks. Journalist Michael Kosiol details the complex realities on the ground—community mourning, political fissures, the legal gun debate, and the power of both video evidence and media narratives. The incident has triggered a rare consensus that change is inevitable, affecting both the tactics of ICE and the broader debate about American law enforcement's reach and accountability.