Podcast Summary: "Will Renee Good and Alex Pretti Ever Get Justice?"

Podcast: To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
Host: Charlie Sykes
Guest: Christy Greenberg (Host of Courtside with Christy Greenberg; former Deputy Chief, SDNY Criminal Division)
Date: January 31, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on the fallout from the recent high-profile killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, probing ongoing official cover-ups, the weaponization of law enforcement, and emerging threats to civil liberties and rule of law in the United States. Charlie Sykes and legal analyst Christy Greenberg deeply examine the legal, political, and cultural implications, touching on everything from attacks on journalists to the secrecy shrouding the Epstein files. The show seeks to make sense of a "very, very dark week," urging listeners to stay vigilant as institutions are tested like never before.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Political and Legal Chaos: A "Death by a Thousand Cuts"

• Charlie Sykes opens by highlighting the chaos in the judiciary and society, recent corruption and manipulation by powerful figures (Bezos, Trump), and the chilling atmosphere of lawlessness ([00:41-04:19]).
  • “It’s death by a thousand cuts for the rule of law in this country.” – Christy Greenberg ([04:31])

2. The Arrest of Don Lemon: First Amendment Under Threat

• Context: Don Lemon, former CNN anchor and independent journalist, was arrested while filming a church protest in Minneapolis ([05:33]).
• Christy explains: The arrest was against judicial advice; prosecutors “tried to continue to appeal to somebody else” after no evidence of conspiracy or crime was found, escalating abnormal legal maneuvers all the way to the 8th Circuit ([05:33-07:17]).
  • “I can’t think of a situation…where prosecutors have done that, especially in a case where this was not a national security emergency.” – Christy Greenberg ([06:26])
• Point: Lemon was merely documenting, not inciting or participating in violence.
  • “You can’t just be there observing and filming. That’s not a crime.” – Christy Greenberg ([07:37])

3. Pattern of Election Subversion and Conspiracies

• FBI raid on Fulton County (GA) election office occurs as Trump continues to push election-related conspiracies, with Tulsi Gabbard (now Director of National Intelligence) awkwardly involved ([07:51-09:21]).
• “It always seems to come back to the elections… This felt like a really sort of ominous signal of what they are prepared to do.” – Charlie Sykes ([08:37])
• “For anybody thinking this is going to be a cakewalk in 2026... they’re not going to pull some stunts here for the midterms.” – Christy Greenberg ([09:23])

4. Minneapolis Killings, Cover-ups, & Erosion of Norms

• Police killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good drew national outrage; administration pushes narratives smearing the victims while refusing basic transparency ([09:57-18:51]).
• “For these kinds of violations, you need some kind of force or threat of force or intimidation... That’s not a crime.” – Christy Greenberg ([07:37])
• Trump attacks the deceased as “insurrectionists” even after public outrage ([10:40]).
  • New footage of Pretti is weaponized by right-wing media, but is legally irrelevant.
• “The fact that they're refusing to do that investigation... it looks like a cover-up. It is a cover-up.” – Christy Greenberg ([11:55])
• Officials maintain shooter anonymity and withhold evidence, breaking longstanding norms of law enforcement accountability:
  • “They want anonymity for agents, because with anonymity comes maybe some greater sense that they can act outside the bounds of the law.” – Christy Greenberg ([14:44])
  • “You have absolute immunity, anonymity, and we will not investigate you. There will be no Department of Justice investigation into the murder of these two unarmed protesters.” – Charlie Sykes ([16:08])
• Absolute immunity narrative debunked: Agents are not legally immune but become so in practice when feds stonewall and withhold evidence from state authorities ([16:52-18:51]).

5. The Power of Citizen Video

• Cell phone footage as a turning point: Public documentation trumps official lies, shifting public opinion and exposing abuses.
  • “These little platoons of Minnesotans with those cell phones accomplished what a lot of ranting and raving and protests and acts of Congress were not able to do.” – Charlie Sykes ([18:51])

6. Judicial Barriers and the Problem of Erasing Evidence

• Minnesota state officials seek judicial intervention to prevent federal evidence destruction ([20:25]).
• “Assuming this DOJ actually complies with that order, we’ve seen time and time again… they consider judicial orders to be suggestions.” – Christy Greenberg ([21:09])
• Statute of limitations issues & fading evidence: State authorities lack access to key evidence (victims’ cell phones, vehicles, bodycam footage), risking justice even if courts later allow prosecutions ([21:09-22:55]).

7. Will There Be Justice for Renée Good & Alex Pretti?

• Christy Greenberg is cautiously hopeful but realistic:
  • “I worry with this administration that, you know, today's outrage, you know, fades away to the next day's outrage.” ([23:44])
  • Civil lawsuits may have a chance given egregious facts—“I like their chances at least in a civil lawsuit.”* – Christy Greenberg ([24:37])
• Essential role of continued protest and public attention.

8. Militarization and Lawless Tactics of ICE

• ICE “out of control” in Minneapolis; militarized raids, tactics shocking even conservative judges ([25:24-29:41]).
  • “You like parachuting into Fallujah? You’re in an American city… and you are kitted out with all of this weaponry...” – Charlie Sykes ([25:24])
• Court orders ignored: Judges hand down restraining orders reiterating basic constitutional rights, yet ICE continues to flout legal requirements.
  • “You can't use pepper spray on peaceful protestors...can't detain people unless you have reasonable suspicion...” – Christy Greenberg ([26:33])
• Conservatives turning against ICE’s lawlessness: “ICE is not a law unto itself.” – Judge Schultz (paraphrased by Charlie Sykes, [28:50])
• Systemic accountability failures: “Every time... you start to maybe get towards a real ruling that may mean something, a contempt ruling, it goes away.” – Christy Greenberg ([29:47])

9. Are the States Powerless when Feds Go Rogue?

• Justice system stress test: The federal government, normally the guarantor of civil rights, is now the violator ([31:14-34:42]).
• “What happens when the federal government goes rogue? ...Do the states have the ability to push back and, and reassert those rights or not?” – Charlie Sykes ([32:08])
• States like Minnesota and officials such as Keith Ellison are trying, but stonewalled by locked-down evidence ([34:42]).

10. The False “Worst of the Worst” Narrative

• ICE claims to target criminals, but only 8% of those swept up had a criminal record ([35:28]).
  • “It was a very low number of the worst when you’re talking about the worst of the worst.” – Christy Greenberg ([35:35])
• Change in priorities under Kristi Noem: Crime investigators moved to mass deportations, reducing real crime-fighting capacity.
• “If you are prioritizing something different... you are losing a valuable resource in the fight against crime.” – Christy Greenberg ([38:02])

11. Performative Cruelty as Policy

• Emphasis on theatrical, militarized raids as political messaging, leading to unintended public backlash ([39:24-43:09])
  • “Rather than do the job and do it efficiently, they figured, you know, screw that. We just want to look like we’re in this Rambo movie with a Michael Bay soundtrack…” – Charlie Sykes ([40:18])
• Examples:
  • Kristi Noem’s photo op at the El Salvador prison—“lacks any humanity” ([40:37])
  • Midnight deportation attempts of Guatemalan children—blocked only by last-minute legal intervention ([41:21])
• “The cruelty is the point. ...You are trying to scare people into leaving.” – Christy Greenberg ([42:09])

12. The Epstein Files: Still Hidden, Still Suspect

• Millions of documents released, but most heavily redacted; rationale extends beyond legitimate victim protection ([44:11-47:36]).
  • “It is just as easy for the department to say, we’re going to waive this privilege and we’re going to share this information with the public. So it’s a choice. Their hands are not tied.” – Christy Greenberg ([45:25])
• Apparent coordination to shield Donald Trump: Files mentioning him reported back to Trump, defying ordinary prosecutorial practice ([46:11]).
  • “If there’s nothing there, then why are they behaving the way they are?” – Charlie Sykes ([47:36])
  • Conclusion: The public is unlikely to see what matters before the end of the term.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It’s death by a thousand cuts for the rule of law in this country.” — Christy Greenberg, [04:31]
• “You have absolute immunity, anonymity, and we will not investigate you. There will be no Department of Justice investigation into the murder of these two unarmed protesters.” — Charlie Sykes, [16:08]
• “When you won’t share the evidence and let anybody look at it...it looks like a cover-up. It is a cover-up.” — Christy Greenberg, [11:55]
• “The cruelty is the point...they’re trying to scare people into leaving.” — Christy Greenberg, [42:09]
• “Assuming this DOJ actually complies with that order, we’ve seen time and time again with this administration that they consider judicial orders to be suggestions.” — Christy Greenberg, [21:09]
• “Rather than do the job and do it efficiently, they figured, you know, screw that. We just want to look like we’re in this Rambo movie with a Michael Bay soundtrack…” — Charlie Sykes, [40:18]

Important Timestamps

• Introduction & cultural context: [00:41]
• Don Lemon's arrest discussion: [05:33–07:37]
• Georgia election raid and MAGA conspiracy theory: [07:51–09:21]
• Minneapolis Killings & investigation failures: [09:57–18:51]
• Anonymity, impunity, and cover-ups: [14:00–18:51]
• Public impact of citizen video: [18:51]
• Judicial interventions and federal stonewalling: [20:25–22:55]
• Will there be justice? [23:44–24:56]
• ICE militarization and lawlessness: [25:24–29:41]
• Federal vs. state legal authority in civil rights cases: [31:14–34:42]
• ICE’s real targets & shifting priorities: [35:28–39:24]
• Performative, publicized enforcement tactics: [39:24–43:09]
• The Epstein files & Trump coverup: [44:11–47:36]

Final Thoughts

The episode offers a sharp, sobering critique of how U.S. law enforcement, immigration, and political institutions are being twisted to undermine fundamental rights, transparency, and justice. Christy Greenberg’s legal analysis, paired with Sykes’ pointed commentary, make clear that the fight for justice for Renee Good, Alex Pretti, and countless others remains uncertain—but is sustained by public vigilance, protest, and persistent questioning. The urgent message is clear: “We are not the crazy ones”—but the reality being uncovered is, indeed, increasingly irrational and dangerous.