Runaway Country with Alex Wagner
Episode: Trump and MAGA Justify Renee Goode’s Death
Date: January 15, 2026
Host: Alex Wagner
Guests: Michael Moore (former LAPD Chief), Tim Miller (The Bulwark)
Overview
This episode of Runaway Country tackles the police shooting of Renee Nicole Goode in Minneapolis, its rapid politicization by the Trump administration, and the escalating normalization of state violence against dissent in Trump’s America. Host Alex Wagner speaks with law enforcement veteran Michael Moore and political commentator Tim Miller to unpack how the MAGA movement, media echo chambers, and elevated rhetoric are reshaping norms around law enforcement, public protest, and democratic resistance.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Background on Renee Goode’s Death [00:32]
- One week prior, ICE agents shot Renee Goode, a wife and mother, in the face during a car blockade protest. An agent called her a "fucking bitch" after the incident.
- Trump administration and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem labeled Goode's actions "domestic terrorism," launching investigations into her widow and stalling any inquiry into the ICE agent.
- (Six federal prosecutors resigned in protest after the incident was classified as “assault on a federal officer.”)
Quote:
"Six federal prosecutors in Minnesota have resigned in protest... including the Acting U.S. attorney for the state of Minnesota, a man who was appointed by Trump just last year."
—Alex Wagner [01:33]
2. Polarized Reactions and Parallel Realities [02:22]
- 68% of Republicans polled think the shooting was justified.
- Host and guests reflect on the increasing divide. Many conservatives and national media minimized or justified the killing, treating dissenters as threats.
Quote:
"A not insignificant part of this country has watched Renee Goode's murder and is okay with it… Are we living in parallel realities?"
—Alex Wagner [02:22]
3. Escalation of Authoritarian Rhetoric [03:00, archival Trump clips]
- Trump and surrogates are increasingly calling for military force against internal “enemies,” labeling leftist dissent as domestic terror.
- Discussion on how these tactics lay groundwork for militarization under the guise of restoring “order.”
Quote:
"The bigger problem is the enemy from within, not even the people that have come in and destroying our country... It should be very easily handled by, if necessary, by national guard or if really necess, by the military."
—Donald Trump [03:42]
4. Law Enforcement Perspective: Interview with Michael Moore
Initial Reaction to Video [05:28]
- Moore calls the footage "heartbreaking," expresses concern over tactics by both Renee Goode (her car blockade) and ICE’s response.
- Raises issue that the agent involved had a history of violent encounters.
Quote:
"It was heartbreaking to see it. It was worrisome... and also the loss of life over such an engagement."
—Michael Moore [05:33]
The “Random Dragnet” of ICE [06:40]
- Discussion on chaotic, often random ICE enforcement that upends protocols and creates unpredictable and sometimes violent situations.
- Moore calls for thoughtful planning and “reverence for life.”
- Notes ICE’s current tactics appear unplanned and sweeping, not strategic.
Quote:
"Our responsibility... is to do so in a manner that is thoughtful, that recognizes and respects the constitutional rights of everyone..."
—Michael Moore [07:48]
Officer’s Language and Reverence for Life [08:43]
- Moore contextualizes the “fucking bitch” outburst as a reaction often seen in traumatic use-of-force situations, but notes it's still concerning and speaks to the need for better oversight, rotation, and command responsibility.
Local Law Enforcement Cut Out [13:33, 15:18]
- Wagner raises issue: Local police in Minnesota are horrified, yet feds have prevented their involvement in the investigation, further fueling distrust and conspiracy theories.
Recruitment and Training Concerns [16:53]
- Moore worried about ICE’s rapid recruitment and lack of thorough background checks—compares to LAPD’s own hiring “bad apples” during surges.
- Emphasizes: The culture of an agency can erode discipline and professionalism if not carefully maintained.
Moore’s Note of Hope [14:04]
- He finds encouragement in the federal resignations, viewing them as principled resistance.
- Urges continued resolve, not violence.
5. Escalation, Authoritarianism, and the Psyche of the Right
Post-Moore Conversation with Tim Miller [24:34]
“Twilight Zone” Feeling
- Wagner and Miller describe the vertigo of watching escalation and attempts to rationalize deadly force—even when video evidence appears damning.
- Miller: Other ICE agents on the scene didn’t draw weapons, indicating the officer was not in immediate mortal danger.
Quote:
"You don't take out your gun and fire three times. You don't murder somebody. And that's the thing. And it pains me that people are trying to find rationalizations for this."
—Tim Miller [26:32]
Why the Right Wants Escalation
- Miller: There’s a segment of the right, maybe not 80% but significant, that openly desires authoritarian “order” and is unconcerned by state violence if it targets leftists or immigrants.
Quote:
"They want escalation... to use it as a pretext for continuing to expand their power grab."
—Tim Miller [30:17]
6. Resonance, “Anarchic” Narratives, and the Joe Rogan Wedge
- Discussion of how even some anti-establishment, libertarian-leaning voices (like Joe Rogan) recoil at naked brutality, indicating there are wedges in the Trump coalition.
- Rogan’s reaction to Goode’s killing: “It’s... very ugly to watch someone shoot a US Citizen, especially a woman.” [33:53]
7. Normalization of Brutality & Selective Outrage [42:20]
- Wagner worries gruesome state violence is becoming normalized—people are “rolling the merch cart through the Home Depot”—and only white suburban victims break through to mainstream outrage.
- Miller notes even among activists it’s easier to elicit sympathy when the victim fits a particular (non-immigrant) profile; admits it’s a bad but very real political reality.
8. Hatred, Misogyny, and Cultural Backlash [45:57]
- Wagner: Shocked by the “distilled hatred” surfacing, with layers of misogyny, demonization of LGBTQ folks, and a robust right-wing grievance industry.
- Miller: Trump has fed deep, often dormant hatreds. Cultural change and loss of unearned status for historically privileged groups is fueling this backlash.
Quote:
"The otherizing of this person, right, the dark misogyny, it's like, where the fuck did this come from?"
—Alex Wagner [46:09]
9. Hope & Resistance from Unlikely Places [52:13]
- Importance of police officials, moderate politicians (like Mark Kelly), and even figures like Fed chairman Jerome Powell, openly resisting ICE overreach and Trump’s power grabs.
- Resistance is cutting across traditional ideological fault lines, uniting moderates and progressives in defense of basic norms.
Quote:
"The blue don’t back what the fuck ICE is doing. As much as Joe Rogan matters, I think the involvement of police folks... is meaningful for a movement that literally has bumper stickers about backing the blue."
—Alex Wagner [52:40]
10. New Playbook for Democratic Resistance [59:16]
- Miller calls for moving beyond intra-left squabbles (Bernie vs. moderates) and embracing a united, strategic front.
- Cites Mark Kelly, Jerome Powell, and AOC all responding forcefully and articulately against authoritarian moves, regardless of their usual ideology.
Quote:
"Anybody who is stuck in that [old left-vs-moderate battle] is not seeing clearly what's happening right now."
—Tim Miller [60:00]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- "Are we on Earth 1 or the real Earth 1? Earth 2... I do not know how you look at what unfolded in Minneapolis... and see anything other than a woman... doing the best she can to stand up... and is shot" —Alex Wagner [24:49]
- "They want escalation... They want to use that as a pretext for continuing to expand their power grab." —Tim Miller [30:15]
- "It's crazy to me that we're talking about this... an anarchic revolution being led by... a mom in Minneapolis in a Honda." —Alex Wagner [55:09]
- "We do have to sit with that, and that’s tough." —Tim Miller [32:40]
- "Not all heroes wear capes... The darkness that lies within us perhaps can go back to the shadows in 2029." —Alex Wagner [63:26]
Timestamps for Major Segments
- [00:32]: Episode opens on Renee Goode shooting & political fallout
- [05:28]: Michael Moore’s reaction, breakdown of ICE tactics
- [08:43]: Reverence for life and officer conduct post-shooting
- [13:59]: Federal prosecutors resign in protest
- [24:34]: Tim Miller & Alex Wagner—feeling “Twilight Zone”/parallel reality
- [30:15]: Miller on why MAGA wants escalation
- [33:53]: Joe Rogan’s remarks on the shooting
- [42:20]: Broader normalization of ICE brutality
- [52:13]: Policing, resistance, and signs of hope
- [59:16]: Playbook for opposition; unity across ideological lines
- [63:26]: Closing thoughts—hope amid darkness
Tone and Style
The episode is urgent, candid, and deeply personal—marked by disbelief, rage, sorrow, and, amid the darkness, a pragmatic optimism about the resilience of American resistance. Wagner brings focus to everyday Americans caught in a lawless grind, amplifying voices of conscience from within law enforcement and political spheres who resist the country’s slide toward authoritarianism.
Final Thoughts
This episode confronts a pivotal, chilling moment: where violence against protest and dissent is not only normalized, but celebrated by large swathes of the political establishment and media. Yet, as Wagner and Miller underscore, there are unexpected sources of resistance, coalitions forming across ideological and institutional boundaries, and a mounting questioning—however belated—of America’s new police order. It is a call to wake up, unite, and fight, however uncertain the odds.