Podcast Summary: Today, Explained – Can anyone stop ICE?

Date: January 14, 2026
Hosts: Noel King & Ian Millhiser (Vox)
Featured Guest: Madison McVan (Minnesota Reformer), Vice President J.D. Vance (audio clips)

Overview

This episode examines the escalating tensions between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and Minneapolis residents following the controversial killing of Renee Goode by an ICE agent. Host Noel King, speaking with local reporter Madison McVan and legal analyst Ian Millhiser, unpacks the tactics of community observers, declining public support for ICE, the muddled legal investigations, and the thorny question of accountability for federal law enforcement.

1. The ICE Surge and Citizen Response

[00:00–02:25]

• Context: ICE presence surged in Minneapolis after the killing of Renee Goode by an ICE officer spurred outrage, protests, and further scrutiny.
• Public Opinion: Support for ICE has fallen sharply, with a recent poll showing 46% of Americans want the agency abolished.
• Citizen Observers:
  • Residents are organizing to follow and film ICE agents, aiming to disrupt or deter arrests.
  • These tactics are credited by participants with reducing ICE's willingness to stop and question people.
  • Observers organize via group chats and coordinated patrols.
  • Quote:

    "The idea is that if residents follow ICE and record them, that they can possibly prevent arrest from taking place at all."
    — Madison McVan (02:26)

2. On the Ground: How ICE and Observers Interact

[02:52–06:57]

• Observer Tactics:
  • Typically one driver and one passenger, constantly communicating with a broader network.
  • When ICE suspects it's being tailed, agents often perform evasive maneuvers and confront observers directly.
  • ICE agents sometimes threaten observers with arrest for perceived "obstruction."
  • Dramatic Incident:
    • In a ride-along, McVan witnessed ICE agents intimidating observers, looking up their identities, and even showing up at one observer's home.
    • One observer, Patti, had her window smashed by an agent, was handcuffed, and detained—though later released without charges.
    • Quote:

      "The driver of the car said, 'You guys gotta stop obstructing us. That's why that lesbian is dead.'"
      — Madison McVan (06:29)

3. The Roots and Evolution of Local Activism

[07:07–09:50]

• Organizing Background:
  • Minneapolis has a strong tradition of community mobilization, catalyzed by past events like the George Floyd protests.
  • Activists include parents, church members, average citizens, and longtime organizers.
  • Rapid response networks have evolved from reactive crowd-gathering to proactive surveillance of ICE activity.
• Inclusivity and Anonymity:
  • Organizer identities remain anonymous; Renee Goode’s involvement with these groups is unconfirmed.
  • Quote:

    "It's people who have a lot of time and identify as activists. And it's also people who are commuting to work in the suburbs, saying, let me take a different route today to see if I spot ICE.”
    — Madison McVan (08:18)

4. After Renee Goode: Escalation and Shifting Tactics

[09:50–11:11]

• Impact of Goode’s Death:

  • The shooting has galvanized more residents to confront ICE, increasing volunteer patrols and public protests.
  • Activists reassess their personal risk but remain committed.

• ICE’s Framing vs. Local Views:

  • Federal officials portray activists as threats ("domestic terrorists"), while locals argue their tactics are a last resort to protect immigrant neighbors and disrupt what they see as an occupation.

  • Quotes:

    "I think the people on the ground here... feel that this is an occupied city and they want to show... they are unhappy with that."
    — Madison McVan (10:44)
    "This was an act of domestic terrorism." — Governor Kristi Noem (11:22)
    "This is classic terrorism... we're no longer going to enforce the law." — VP J.D. Vance (11:33)

5. Legal Limbo: Can ICE Be Held Accountable?

[16:54–26:28]

• Legal Analysis by Ian Millhiser (Vox):
  • Federal-State Investigation Breakdown:
    • State investigators were excluded from federal proceedings, raising doubts about transparency and accountability.
    • Six federal prosecutors resigned when pressured to focus on the victim's spouse.
    • State calls for cooperation and public submission of evidence reflect distrust of the federal process.
  • Federal Immunity for ICE Agents:
    • VP J.D. Vance asserted (falsely) that ICE agents have "absolute immunity."
    • Millhiser explains "absolute immunity" applies to sitting presidents, judges, and prosecutors—but not to ICE agents.
    • The doctrine from In re Neagle (1890) gives federal agents some protection if acting within the scope of their duties, but this protection is not absolute.
    • The recent Supreme Court case (Martin v. United States, 2025) weakened previous assumptions of federal immunity, leaving the law unsettled.
    • Quote:

      "He needs to go back to law school if he thinks that that's the appropriate term."
      — Ian Millhiser on VP Vance (21:13)

    “Protections for federal law enforcement officers against state prosecutions are not absolute.”
    — Ian Millhiser (22:56)

• If State Charges Proceed:
  • Unclear whether prosecution of ICE officer Jonathan Ross would be allowed, and any such case could reach the Supreme Court.
  • The Court’s ambiguous recent language means "necessary and proper” is subject to interpretation on both sides.
• Public Confidence in Law:
  • Listeners are left with the sense that ICE operates above the law, and that accountability for abuses is politically selective.
  • Quote:

    "There is, in fact, selective law enforcement in the Trump administration... the Justice Department is behaving in a political manner."
    — Ian Millhiser (26:28)

6. Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• "The idea is that if residents follow ICE and record them, that they can possibly prevent arrest from taking place at all."
  — Madison McVan (02:26)

• "This was an act of domestic terrorism."
  — Gov. Kristi Noem (11:22)

• "He needs to go back to law school if he thinks that's the appropriate term."
  — Ian Millhiser on J.D. Vance misusing 'absolute immunity' (21:13)

• "There is, in fact, selective law enforcement in the Trump administration."
  — Ian Millhiser (26:28)

7. Key Segments & Timestamps

• ICE observer patrols in action: 02:26–06:57
• Community organization origins and diversity: 07:07–09:50
• Changing tactics after Renee Goode's death: 09:50–11:11
• Legal process and immunity debates: 16:54–26:28

8. Conclusion

Today, Explained delivers a sharply focused look at a city in crisis, where law enforcement, political power, and community action collide. The episode highlights the blurry boundary between legal protest and “obstruction,” exposes the difficulties of holding federal agents accountable, and ends with a sobering recognition that, for many, the law no longer feels just or effective.