Today, Explained – “Minneapolis vs. ICE”

Date: January 24, 2026
Host: Estad Herndon (for Saturday edition)
Featured Guest: Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison
Theme:
The episode digs into the turmoil in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of protester Renee Goode by ICE officers, the Trump administration’s unprecedented federal intervention in the city, and the broader battle over immigration enforcement, state sovereignty, and protest rights.

Main Theme & Purpose

Host Estad Herndon interviews Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to understand:

• The surge of federal ICE presence in Minneapolis.
• The political fallout and legal challenges following the shooting of Renee Goode.
• The escalating confrontation between state/local officials and the Trump administration.
• Questions around sanctuary city policies, protest rights, and the Insurrection Act.
• Broader reflections on law enforcement reform, immigration, and the impact of demographic changes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Immediate Political Response to the Killing of Renee Goode

• Official Reactions: The Trump administration immediately condemned the protester, with leaders labeling the victim as a “domestic terrorist” and “deranged leftist.”
  • Quote (Ellison, 02:09): “I thought they were deeply callous and I thought they showed no compassion for Ms. Good or her family or her children... Normally, officials ... say, wait, let's do an investigation. ... But we're not doing these things the normal way.”
• Effect on Local Officials: Ellison sees the federal stance as unprecedented and weaponized, bypassing established investigation norms.

2. State vs. Federal Escalation

• Local Leaders' Pushback: Mayor Jacob Frey and Governor Tim Walz sharply criticized the federal presence, with Fry reportedly saying, “get the F out of our city.”
  • Ellison frames local statements as a reaction to escalation and a reflection of local sentiment.
• Federal Investigation of State Officials: The DOJ responded by targeting Minneapolis officials with subpoenas, alleging interference with ICE operations.
  • Quote (Ellison, 04:39): “This is clearly a weaponization of the criminal justice system... out of revenge, out of malice, out of retribution.”

3. Exclusion of Local Authorities from Federal Investigation

• Federal Secrecy: The Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division refused to investigate Goode’s death, and state/local prosecutors are barred from the FBI’s investigative files.
  • Quote (Ellison, 06:23): “State and local prosecutors have been informed that they're not going to be allowed to have access to the investigative file that the FBI has acquired.”

4. Could State Action Have Prevented the Tragedy?

• Legal Limits: Ellison insists the state’s lawsuit isn’t about ICE’s existence but its conduct—specifically, upholding constitutional rights and state sovereignty.
  • Quote (Ellison, 07:00): “ICE, even ICE, has an obligation to... obey the Constitution, the Fourth Amendment ... this lawsuit is about their conduct.”

5. Protest Rights and ‘Impeding’ ICE

• Peaceful but Disruptive Protests: Herndon probes whether tactics like disruption or blocking ICE could be construed as impeding law enforcement.
  • Quote (Ellison, 08:38): “In America, you have a right to express your views and peacefully assemble... That exercise ... may be annoying to someone else.”
  • On legal boundaries: “Can you physically block them? No... Can you criticize them as you’re not blocking them? Yes, you can.” (09:30)

6. Democrats’ Clarity on Protest Boundaries

• Ellison argues Democratic officials communicated protest boundaries clearly. Lawbreakers have been arrested, but most protesters are within the law.
  • Quote (Ellison, 10:31): “There are some people who've broken the law and they've been arrested ... but that's not been what most people are doing.”

7. Insurrection Act Threats and State Strategy

• What If Trump Deploys Troops? Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act in Minnesota.
  • Quote (Ellison, 11:48): “It would mean that we had federal active duty troops patrolling our streets... That's extremely problematic.”
• Legal Challenge: Ellison confirms the state is ready to challenge any invocation in court.

8. Defund the Police vs. Abolish ICE – Politics & Activism

• Differentiating Slogans and Policy: Ellison distinguishes activist slogans (“defund the police”/”abolish ICE”) from official Democratic positions, highlighting how Republicans have weaponized these messages.
  • Quote (Ellison, 14:38): “As a politician, ... we embrace and lift up our members of law enforcement ... the ones that don't, don't deserve to be police officers. And then my Republican opponents would say, you're for defund the police.”
• On Abolish ICE: “I’m not running into anyone who’s saying that,” notes Ellison, downplaying the mainstream presence of the slogan among Democratic voters (17:03).

9. Sanctuary City Distinctions & ICE Claims

• On Sanctuary Policy: Minneapolis uses a “separation ordinance” rather than formal ‘sanctuary’ status; it does not deputize local police to enforce federal immigration law.
  • Quote (Ellison, 17:45): “It's not our statutory obligation to be functionaries and deputies of ICE. We have other jobs that need to be done."
• On ICE Access to Jails: Ellison refutes claims that state blocks ICE from lawfully apprehending detainees at jails.
  • Quote (Ellison, 18:32): “Everyone who has a legal ... right to enter a jail, goes into the jail... To hold them [detainees] there beyond the amount of time they would legally [be held], ... that's on them to do.”

10. Minnesota’s Changing Demographics & Somali Community

• Population as Strength: Ellison credits Somali and other immigrant communities for economic growth and helping Minnesota keep congressional seats (21:02).
• Response to Fraud Allegations: Dismisses conservative claims that Democrats ignored fraud among Somali Minnesotans, calling such arguments “racist and bigoted” (22:03).
  • Quote (Ellison): "Fraud is something that the Trump administration has certainly not taken seriously... He's not sending accountants... He’s sending guns and aggressive men with guns." (23:10)

11. Political Impact of the Crisis

• Governor Walz Stepping Down: Herndon queries Ellison on rumors about a 2026 gubernatorial run. Ellison is noncommittal but indicates a sense of duty (25:21).

12. How Can Minnesota Push Back Now?

• Ellison’s Strategy: Telling the public the truth, supporting local investigations, encouraging positive protest, and mobilizing voters.
  • Quote (Ellison, 26:02): "Telling the public the truth ... supporting the county ... putting forth a positive vision ... encouraging people to vote like their lives depended upon it, because I think that they really, really do."
• Message to Residents: Quoting his mother—"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (27:04) – Ellison urges resilience and unity.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Trump admin rhetoric:
  “If the officer is as innocent as you claim ... why not let's just have an investigation and then say ... here's the conclusion ... after reviewing the evidence. That is not what they did.”
  — Keith Ellison (02:09)

• On weaponizing investigations:
  "This is clearly a weaponization of the criminal justice system. Just like Letitia James, just like James Comey ... targeted out of revenge, out of malice, out of retribution."
  — Keith Ellison (04:39)

• On protest rights:
  “Can you physically block them? No... Can you criticize them as you're not blocking them? Yes, you can.”
  — Keith Ellison (09:30)

• On the Insurrection Act:
  “Putting troops, active duty troops in the streets of Minnesota is extremely problematic ... It’s hard to describe how bad it would be.”
  — Keith Ellison (11:48)

• On community and fraud allegations:
  “That Republican talking point is absolutely wrong. And it's kind of racist and bigoted... I've prosecuted over 300 cases of Medicaid fraud ... it's multicultural in terms of the people we've prosecuted.”
  — Keith Ellison (22:03)

• On pushback and hope:
  “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
  — Keith Ellison (27:04)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:34: Estad Herndon introduces the situation in Minneapolis; the fatal shooting of protester Renee Goode.
• 01:35: Interview begins with AG Keith Ellison
• 02:09: Ellison reacts to Trump administration statements
• 03:30: Discussion of local officials’ strong language against federal actions
• 04:25: DOJ subpoenaing Minneapolis leaders
• 05:18: Exclusion of state/local agencies from federal investigation of Renee Goode’s death
• 06:35: Could Minnesota officials have prevented the tragedy?
• 08:10: Discussing protest tactics and protester intent
• 09:10: Legal boundaries for protesters—what is “impeding”?
• 10:51: Trump’s threats to invoke the Insurrection Act
• 13:03: Comparing “defund the police” rhetoric to current calls to abolish ICE
• 17:24: Addressing sanctuary city accusations
• 21:02: Minnesota’s shifting demographics and Somali community
• 22:03: Pushing back on accusations of selective fraud investigation
• 25:21: Ellison’s thoughts on gubernatorial rumors and political future
• 26:02: Ellison’s four pillars of pushback
• 27:04: Closing message of hope and resilience

Tone and Style

The episode is frank and urgent but remains measured and thoughtful. Both Herndon and Ellison engage seriously with the legal and moral dimensions of the crisis. Ellison’s style is direct but reassuring, calling for both accountability and community endurance.

Summary Takeaway

This episode offers an incisive look at the collision between federal immigration enforcement and local resistance in Minneapolis, with Attorney General Keith Ellison presenting the legal, ethical, and political stakes for Minnesota. The conversation deftly navigates protest rights, the dangers of federal overreach, and the challenge of maintaining community trust—and underscores the critical role of clear communication and steadfast civic engagement in the face of national strife.