The NPR Politics Podcast

Episode Title: Week in Politics: Minneapolis ICE Shooting and Congressional Republicans Defect
Date: January 9, 2026
Participants: Tamara Keith (Host, White House Correspondent), Claudia Grisales (Congress Correspondent), Domenico Montanaro (Senior Political Editor), Clay Masters (Minnesota Public Radio)

Episode Overview

This episode navigates the week’s two dominating political stories: a rare split among congressional Republicans over health care subsidies and the intensifying controversy following an ICE shooting in Minneapolis. The hosts explore Congressional shifting allegiances, the real-world effects on Americans, and the escalating fallout in Minnesota, while drawing broader political implications for the 2026 midterms and the Trump administration.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Congressional Republicans Defect on Health Care Subsidy Vote

[00:46 - 08:43]

• Expired ACA Subsidies: Pandemic-era health care subsidies for Affordable Care Act plans expired at the end of 2025, doubling or more the insurance premiums for millions.
• Discharge Petition Maneuver: 17 moderate House Republicans joined Democrats, bypassing Speaker Mike Johnson using a discharge petition to force a vote to restore subsidies.
  • Claudia Grisales: “They used a discharge petition...to get around [Speaker Johnson] and force that vote. But then we saw those 17 House Republicans defect. It’s a really big statement against President Trump...” (01:25)
• Impact on Constituents: Republicans representing districts that favor Kamala Harris (Democratic presidential candidate) faced constituent pressure and tough races, prompting practical decisions over party loyalty.
  • Tamara Keith: “People are actually feeling this now.” (01:58)
• Trump's Response: President Trump took a hard line, challenging the caucus to “figure it out” (re: health care), suggesting, “Give the money to the people, not the insurance companies” as a slogan.
  • Domenico Montanaro: “...when you’re president, you have to legislate on it. And people’s premiums are going up this year...” (03:12)
• Narrow GOP Majority: Resignations and fatalities further diminished the House GOP’s razor-thin margin, rendering the conference “one bad flu away from losing majority votes on any day.” (Claudia Grisales, 04:51)
• Democrats’ Strategic Use of Power:
  • Tamara Keith: “Democrats…using their minority to almost…create a majority in more than one case.”
  • Discharge petitions referenced as a rare but effective tactic—also used to force release of Jeffrey Epstein DOJ records (06:33).
• Senate Roadblocks: Despite the House passage, prospects in the Senate look bleak, but bipartisan talks continue under public and political pressure.

2. Congressional Republican Defections on Foreign Policy

[08:43 - 11:27]

• Venezuela War Powers Resolution: Five Republican senators joined Democrats to restrict President Trump from further military actions in Venezuela without Congressional approval.
  • Notable Defectors: Todd Young, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul, Josh Hawley.
  • Claudia Grisales: “Trump defection city on Capitol Hill grew a little bit this week.” (09:06)
• Trump Reaction: Trump lambasted Republican defectors on social media, calling for primary challenges against them (10:02).
• Electoral Calculus: Vulnerable Republicans in blue/purple states (e.g. Susan Collins of Maine) are visibly distancing from Trump ahead of reelection campaigns.

3. The Minneapolis ICE Shooting and Its Aftermath

[12:51 - 24:46]

• Incident Summary:

  • A Minneapolis ICE officer fatally shot Renee Goode, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, during a snowstorm following an ICE vehicle bog-down.
  • DHS (Kristi Noem)’s Narrative: Framed as an act of domestic terrorism—the claim disputed by subsequent video evidence and witness statements.

• Local Response:

  • Clay Masters: Describes swift, sharp backlash from city and state officials; Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey “calling for ICE to get the F out of Minneapolis.”
  • Elevated ICE presence ("Operation Metro Surge") had already heightened local anxieties in immigrant neighborhoods.
  • Clay Masters: “So tension has been escalating now for the last month…” (14:04)

• Community Reaction:

  • Peaceful protests and school closures in Minneapolis, heightened fears of a repeat of George Floyd-era unrest (15:37).
  • Jurisdictional Disputes: The FBI, not state authorities, is handling the investigation, deepening local distrust (16:10).

• Escalation of Rhetoric:

  • Political leaders are responding rapidly, often inflaming tensions rather than calming them.
  • Domenico Montanaro: “This has gone at the speed of social media. It’s basically like comment section come to life…” (16:42)
  • Mayor Frey (quoted by Clay Masters): “They killed somebody. Which one of those is more inflammatory? I’m going with the killing somebody.” (17:27)

• Federal vs. Local Relations:

  • Minneapolis’s separation ordinance aims to keep local police out of federal immigration enforcement, but tension has been exacerbated by lack of cooperation and communication.
  • Political Context: State officials, incl. former VP nominee Gov. Tim Walz, are targets of MAGA influencers, fueling national attention and GOP attacks.
  • Tamara Keith: “Tim Walz skyrocketed to national attention...Now...he was planning on running for reelection...Instead, announced he’s retiring.” (20:42)
  • Viral incidents and right-wing media further complicated the landscape.

• Possible Gubernatorial Successors:

  • On the DFL side, Senator Amy Klobuchar is a likely contender.
  • On the GOP side, candidates include state house leader Lisa Damon and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell.

4. “Can’t Let It Go” Segment

[25:10 - 32:15]
Each host shares a memorable story or moment from the week.

• Tamara Keith: The long-delayed Senate action (via bipartisan resolution) to hang a plaque honoring police who defended the Capitol on January 6th.
  • Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC): “A lot of people said that was a dark day for democracy. I would leave you with this. It was a great day for democracy because of the law enforcement officers...we came back and completed our constitutional duty to certify the election.” (26:54)
  • Delay linked to Trump’s opposition and Speaker Johnson’s compliance (27:45).
• Claudia Grisales: Marjorie Taylor Greene’s post-congressional drama—her public spat with the Trump administration and denial of leaking travel plans to activists, as reported by Axios.
  • Claudia Grisales: “MTG is just spilling tea, if you will, left and right now, after this dramatic falling out with the president...” (28:13)
• Domenico Montanaro: Use of AI for personalized fitness and nutrition plans.
  • “I did that with AI and it was like a revelation.” (31:20)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Time | Speaker | Quote/Highlight | |----------|--------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:25 | Claudia Grisales | “They used a discharge petition...to get around [Speaker Johnson] and force that vote...a big statement against President Trump.” | | 03:12 | Domenico Montanaro | “Trump told the Republican Conference…‘figure it out when it comes to health care…give the money to the people, not the insurance companies’” | | 04:51 | Claudia Grisales | “One bad flu away from losing majority votes on any day.” | | 06:33 | Claudia Grisales | “This is how the Epstein...records were forced to be released...started with the discharge petition. It’s really remarkable.” | | 09:06 | Claudia Grisales | “Trump defection city on Capitol Hill grew a little bit this week.” | | 10:02 | Trump (via hosts) | “Republicans should be ashamed of the senators that just voted with Democrats…should never be elected to office again.” | | 14:04 | Clay Masters | “Tension has been escalating now for the last month…” | | 16:42 | Domenico Montanaro | “This has gone at the speed of social media. It’s basically like comment section come to life…” | | 17:27 | Mayor Jacob Frey | (via Clay Masters) “They killed somebody. Which one of those is more inflammatory? I’m going with the killing somebody.” | | 26:54 | Sen. Thom Tillis | “A lot of people said that was a dark day for democracy...I would leave you with this. It was a great day for democracy because of the law enforcement officers...we took a brief recess...and before we left this compound, we came back and completed our constitutional duty to certify the election.” | | 28:13 | Claudia Grisales | “MTG is just spilling tea, if you will, left and right now, after this dramatic falling out with the president...” | | 31:20 | Domenico Montanaro | “I did that with AI and it was like a revelation.” |

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:46] House Republican defections on health care vote
• [04:51] GOP House majority narrows further
• [06:33] Democrats’ strategic discharge petitions
• [08:43] Senate Republican defectors on Venezuela war powers
• [12:51] Minneapolis ICE shooting: Event summary & local response
• [15:37] Escalating tension and protests in Minneapolis
• [16:10] State vs. federal investigation of ICE shooting
• [20:42] Tim Walz’s political controversy & decision not to run for reelection
• [23:56] Minnesota governor’s race: Possible candidates
• [25:10] “Can’t Let It Go” segment (plaque for Jan 6 officers, MTG drama, AI fitness routines)

Tone and Style Notes

• Conversational yet incisive: The hosts mesh facts and analysis with personal insight and wit (e.g., “Trump defection city”; “another Icarus in the time of Trump”).
• Emphasis on the direct and often blunt language of both political figures and the hosts (not shying from quoting expletives or pointed remarks).
• Analytical: Each story is situated within broader trends and implications for national politics and upcoming elections.
• Empathy and real-world connection: Coverage underscores how these stories—health care premiums, ICE operations—are sharply felt by real people.

Summary

This episode captures a U.S. political system in turbulence—fractures within the Republican Party, a highly charged and tragic federal-local confrontation in Minneapolis, and the friction of governing in the Trump second term era. Combining news breakdown, contextual analysis, and memorable off-script moments, it’s political reporting with immediacy and nuance.