Minnesota ICE, Iran Protests, DOJ Subpoenas Federal Reserve

Summary

Up First from NPR — Episode Summary

Date: January 12, 2026
Hosts: A. Martinez, Layla Fadel
Main Theme:
A concise rundown of the three biggest news stories: the Trump administration’s ICE surge in Minnesota after a deadly shooting, escalating protests and US policy towards Iran, and fresh Justice Department subpoenas increasing pressure on the Federal Reserve.

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1. Minnesota ICE Surge and Community Response

Segment begins: [03:14]

Key Points

• Background:
  After an ICE agent in Minneapolis shot and killed Renee Goode, protests intensified across the city and country. The Trump administration announced hundreds of additional Homeland Security agents would be deployed to Minnesota.

• Political Reaction:

  • Rep. Ilhan Omar and other officials objected to the federal deployment; Omar was denied access to an ICE detention facility—a new policy requiring 7 days’ notice is now in place, raising transparency concerns.
    • Jason DeRose (NPR): “Omar says she was turned away over the weekend...Homeland Security now says it requires elected officials to give seven days notice to enter a detention center.” [03:56]

• Atmosphere in Minneapolis:

  • High tension, frequent sirens and helicopters.
  • Community in the affected neighborhood is fearful yet supportive; mutual aid is visible.
  • Notable Moment:
    • A peace vigil with neighbors singing, walking, and pausing for silence at detention and raid sites to offer comfort.
      • Jason DeRose: “Several hundred people gathered at a church not far from last week’s killing and then walked about a mile loop around the neighborhood, singing to their neighbors...and they kept a moment of silence at each of those places.” [05:01]

• Faith Community Role:

  • Local religious leaders and faith-based groups are at the forefront of protests, seeing resistance as a moral imperative.
    • Carol Hornbeck (family therapist): Reflects on hymn lyrics: “The hardest thing becomes holy.” [06:04]
    • Jason DeRose: “Her resistance work is hard but holy and is what's giving her strength and resolve right now.” [06:07]

• Outlook:

  • Concern over increasing federal force and whether traditional community defense tactics (alerts, patrols) can keep up.

---

2. Iran Protests and US Threats

Segment begins: [06:59]

Key Points

• Protest Escalation:

  • Largest protests in years, triggered by economic hardship but evolving into broader anti-regime demonstrations; chants include "Death to the dictator."
  • Reports (difficult to verify due to internet blackouts) suggest ~500 protesters killed.
    • Jackie Northam (NPR): “The protesters are in virtually every corner of Iran now... massive crowds and some burning buildings, but also dead bodies on the streets and in the morgues.” [07:41]

• US Policy Response:

  • President Trump threatened strikes, claiming Iran asked for negotiations, and cited “what’s happening in Iran” as cause for potential action, referencing past US military operations as leverage.
    • A. Martinez: “Trump says Iran asked for a meeting. Is the country's regime worried he'll follow through after what he did in Venezuela?” [01:26]

• Iran’s Position:

  • No public confirmation from Iran about negotiations.
  • Iran’s weakened leadership and military post-12 Day War with Israel makes it vulnerable, though it still possesses ballistic missiles.
    • Nader Habibi (Brandeis University): “I don’t think they are underestimating the risk. That’s why they are issuing threatening postures...even though in reality they might not be able to carry out those threats.” [09:24]

• Efforts to Address Protests:

  • Moderate President Massoud Pizeschkian called for dialogue and attempted to stabilize the economy, but unrest persists.
    • Jackie Northam: “No matter how big these crowds are, there are still millions of people who have not joined in...the regime still has support and tens of thousands of pro-government protesters took to the streets today.” [09:51]

---

3. Justice Department Subpoenas and Pressure on the Federal Reserve

Segment begins: [10:40]

Key Points

• New DOJ Action:

  • The DOJ served grand jury subpoenas to the Fed regarding its DC headquarters renovation and past Senate testimony, but Fed Chair Jerome Powell says the real target is Fed independence in setting interest rates.
    • Jerome Powell (Fed Chair): “The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the president.” [11:33]

• Broader Pressure Campaign:

  • President Trump denies prior knowledge, but has repeatedly tried to influence or fire Fed officials (including Powell and Lisa Cook).
  • The probe is seen as an attempt to force the Fed to lower rates, which Powell has resisted to control inflation.

• Reaction from Lawmakers:

  • Bipartisan criticism from Congress; concerns for both the Fed and DOJ’s credibility.

    • Scott Horsley (NPR): “Some of the senators who will vote on [the next Fed chair nominee] have been expressing their unhappiness...including not only Democrats like Elizabeth Warren, but also Republican Senator Thom Tillis.” [12:55]

  • Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC): Threatened to vote against Trump's Fed nominees, citing the undermining of institutional independence.

• Powell’s Defiance:

  • Jerome Powell: “Public service sometimes requires standing firm in the face of threats. I will continue to do the job the Senate confirmed me to do with integrity and a commitment to serving the American people.” [13:36]
  • Powell's term as chair ends in May; he could remain on the Fed board for up to two more years, potentially limiting Trump’s ability to further reshape the central bank.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Minneapolis Protests and Vigil:

  • Jason DeRose: “You hear sirens and helicopters throughout the day and night, and people are really on edge.” [04:39]
  • Carol Hornbeck (on resistance): “The hardest thing becomes holy.” [06:04]

• On Iran’s Calculus:

  • Nader Habibi: “They are issuing some threatening postures in terms of retaliation, even though in reality they might not be able...” [09:24]

• On Fed Independence:

  • Jerome Powell: “Public service sometimes requires standing firm in the face of threats...” [13:36]
  • Scott Horsley: “Trump has ignored those guardrails designed to protect the Fed’s independence. And this Justice Department probe could be the latest example...” [12:49]

---

Timeline of Key Segments

• [03:14] — Minneapolis ICE Surge and Local Response
• [06:59] — Iran Protests and US-Iran Confrontation
• [10:40] — DOJ Subpoenas Federal Reserve, Political Fallout

---

Summary Tone

Direct, measured, and driven by a sense of duty to convey news that impacts listeners’ lives. Personal stories enrich the reporting, while analysis focuses on the larger political and social consequences of unfolding events.

Transcript

[A. Martinez]

Oh, my God, I am so glad not to be wearing heels. I wore heels for 12 hours.

[Layla Fadel]

You've been wearing them a long time.

[A. Martinez]

Okay. We're going to host this podcast after going to the Golden Globes, you know, like we do every Monday.

[Layla Fadel]

Yeah, we lost. I mean, we didn't win, but we didn't.

[Scott Horsley]

Still.

[Layla Fadel]

It was a nice night.

[A. Martinez]

But public radio went to Hollywood.

[Layla Fadel]

Yes, that's true.

[A. Martinez]

In the podcast category, first time ever. And in that category, we were the one news podcast that informs the public. Often under intense pressure, our journalists are around the world. Today we're going to be talking about Iran and the Fed and all of these things. And I was just thinking about that when we were in this glamorous room that we were representing the difficult work of our journalists around the world, of our editors and producers that come in here at an ungodly hour. And I'm proud of that. And I was proud to represent that.

[Scott Horsley]

Yeah.

[Layla Fadel]

And it was nice to hear so many people support us, too. That was really nice. Even though we didn't go home with a trophy, at the least we had the support of the room, which was really nice to hear.

[A. Martinez]

And we have the support of all our listeners.

[Unknown Sponsor Voice]

Yeah.

[Layla Fadel]

There you go.

[A. Martinez]

The Trump administration is sending hundreds of additional federal agents into Minnesota.

[Layla Fadel]

Protests continued over the weekend after 37 year old Renee Goode was killed by an ICE agent. How is Minneapolis responding to the surge of federal forces?

[A. Martinez]

I'm Layla Falden. That's a Martinez. And this is up first from NPR News. After President Trump threatened to strike Iran over its deadly crackdown on nationwide protests, Trump says Iran asked for a meeting. Is the country's regime worried he'll follow through after what he did in Venezuela?

[Layla Fadel]

Jerome Powell says the Justice Department is using a grand jury investigation to pressure the central bank to do what the president wants.

[Jerome Powell]

The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public.

[Layla Fadel]

Stay with us. We've got all the news you need to start your day.

[Sponsor Voice]

This message comes from BetterHelp. President Fernando Madera shares BetterHelp's commitment to expanding access to therapy.

[Scott Horsley]

Our State of Stigma report helped us understand that believing in mental health is.

[Jerome Powell]

Easy, but asking for help is not.

[Scott Horsley]

Now, with the report on our hands, we can work to make mental health care more accessible.

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[Layla Fadel]

Head to warbyparker.com Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem says she's sending additional federal law enforcement agents to Minnesota.

[A. Martinez]

Meanwhile, protests continued on Sunday across the country after an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Goode in Minneapolis last week.

[Layla Fadel]

Joining us From Minneapolis is NPR's Jason DeRose. Jason. So, okay, additional forces. What do we know about these forces that Noem is sending?

[Jason DeRose]

Well, Noem says she's moving many more Homeland Security agents into Minnesota. Here she is speaking on FOX News Sunday.

[Jackie Northam]

There'll be hundreds more in order to allow our ICE and our Border Patrol individuals that are working in Minneapolis to do so safely.

[Jason DeRose]

She says some have already arrived. Others will arrive today. But some elected officials here are pushing back against DHS actions, including U.S. representative Ilhan Omar. She's demanding a full investigation into Renee Goode's killing. Also, a US Representatives had normally been allowed to visit ICE detention centers unannounced, but Omar says she was turned away over the weekend. Now, Homeland Security, according to a memo obtained by NPR, now says it requires elected officials to give seven days notice to enter a detention center. So overall, as someone who knows the area and has been here for a few days, tensions are pretty high. You hear sirens and helicopters throughout the day and night, and people are really on edge.

[Layla Fadel]

That neighborhood where the shooting took place, I mean, how are people feeling there?

[Jason DeRose]

Well, there is a lot of fear there, but there's also a lot of care for neighbors. I want to play this piece of tape for you from a singing and walking vigil from Sunday afternoon. Several hundred people gathered at a church not far from last week's killing and then walked about a mile loop around the neighborhood singing to their neighbors to bring some comfort and encouragement. And as they walked, they stopped from time to time in places where ICE agents had detained people recently. And they kept a moment of silence at each of those places.

[Layla Fadel]

You know, there is a lot coming at Minneapolis right now, the killing of Renee Good, the larger immigration actions there. So tell us, I mean, you cover religion. Jason, what has been the response from communities of faith?

[Jason DeRose]

Well, you know, here in Minneapolis, people of faith have really taken the lead in working to counter what they believe to be unjust actions by the Trump administration around immigration enforcement. In a statement over the weekend, Renee Goode's wife said that Renee was a Christian whose faith motivated her work. That's also true of Minneapolis resident Carol Hornbeck, a family therapist. She says she's been thinking all lot about a verse from the hymn how firm a foundation I will be with.

[Jackie Northam]

Thee thy troubles to bless and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress, so that.

[Sponsor Voice]

The hardest thing becomes holy.

[Jason DeRose]

Ornebeck says the idea that her resistance work is hard, but holy is what's giving her strength and resolve right now.

[Layla Fadel]

All right, now what are you going to be looking for in the next few days?

[Jason DeRose]

Well, as those additional federal agents arrive, I'll be looking to see what they're actually doing on the ground. And I'll be watching how community members who oppose ICE's presence respond to these increased federal forces. They've been patrolling neighborhoods and alerting people with whistles and chat groups about where ICE agents are. Will they continue to think that kind of work is enough, especially since ICE is now responding so aggressively using pepper spray and as of last week, deadly force.

[Layla Fadel]

That's NPR's Jason DeRose in Minneapolis. Jason, thanks.

[Jason DeRose]

You're welcome.

[Layla Fadel]

President Trump will rule out strikes on Iran, which is seeing significant protest despite saying Tehran asked to negotiate.

[A. Martinez]

He told journalists on Air Force One that the US Might have to act before the meeting because of, quote, what's happening in Iran. Protesters have been pouring into the streets for several weeks in the biggest challenge to the theocratic regime in in response, the Iranian government has cracked down hard with the U. S. Based Human Rights Activist News agency reporting almost 500 protesters killed.

[Layla Fadel]

NPR's international affairs correspondent Jackie Northam has been following all of this. Jackie, I mean, these are the biggest protests in Iran in years and they seem to be picking up steam.

[Jackie Northam]

Oh, yes. I mean, the protesters are in virtually every corner of Iran now. And you know, while they started out in late December in response to the country's terrible economy, they've now spread to anger at the hardline regime. You know, there are chants of death to the dictator, meaning Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. And videos we're seeing show massive crowds and some burning buildings, including mosques, but also dead bodies on the streets and in the morgues. Now it's really difficult to verify information coming out of Iran. Internet and cell phone service has been cut by the regime for several days now. But, you know, there are still ways to get information and videos out of what's happening in Iran.

[Layla Fadel]

President Trump says the Iranians want to set up a meeting considering the US's operation in Venezuela. I mean, are we seeing his threats maybe take on a little bit more weight?

[Jackie Northam]

Well, the Iranians have not said anything publicly about negotiations with the us, but surely the Venezuela operation will likely be part of any of their calculations. Regarding the protests, Iran has said it would consider US military bases and ships legitimate targets for preemptive strikes if it looks as though the US would strike Iran. But you know, all of this comes at a particularly vulnerable time for the regime. Many of the government's senior leadership were killed and its military capabilities were badly weakened during the 12 Day War with Israel last summer. The regime still has a stockpile of ballistic missiles, though. I spoke with Nader Habibi and he focuses on Middle east economics at Brandeis University. He left Iran in the late 1990s but is in daily contact with people there. Habibi said the regime knows the US could do considerable damage to the missile facilities as well as hit political targets. Here he is.

[Jason DeRose]

I don't think they are underestimating the risk. That's why they are issuing some threatening postures in terms of retaliation, even though in reality they might not be able to carry out those threats, which is.

[Jackie Northam]

Why the Iranians may have asked the Trump administration for negotiations.

[Layla Fadel]

Has the regime there, though, maybe addressed the grievances of the protesters or maybe maybe cool off the situation before any possible US strikes?

[Jackie Northam]

Yes, Iran's more moderate president, Massoud Pizeschkian, has said from the start that the government needs to sit down and listen to the protesters concerns. And at one point last week, the regime tried to prop up the economy by throwing US dollars into the market. But clearly this has not stopped people from coming out. But you know, no matter how big these crowds are, there are still millions of people who have not joined in because many Iranians who have seen other widespread protests over the years know what the security forces can do. And you know the regime still has support in tens of thousands of pro government protesters took to the streets today.

[Layla Fadel]

That's NPR's international affairs correspondent, Jackie Northam. Jackie, thanks.

[Jackie Northam]

Thanks so much.

[Layla Fadel]

The Trump administration is stepping up its pressure campaign against the Federal Reserve, which it has been pushing to lower interest rates.

[A. Martinez]

Fed Chairman Jerome Powell says the Justice Department served subpoenas on the central bank late last week.

[Layla Fadel]

NPR's Scott Horsley is here. Scott, so what's this latest move by the Justice Department?

[Scott Horsley]

Well, the Federal Reserve says it was served with grand jury subpoenas On Friday seeking information about the multi billion dollar makeover of the Fed's headquarter building here in Washington and testimony that Fed Chairman Jerome Powell gave the Senate Banking Committee about that project back in June. Powell was grilled at the time about cost overruns on the headquarters renovation. He acknowledged the price tag has ballooned from 1.9 billion to 2.5 billion dollars. But in an unusually com video statement last evening, Powell says that's not what this new Justice Department probe is really about.

[Jerome Powell]

This new threat is not about my testimony last June or about the renovation of the Federal Reserve buildings. The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the president.

[Scott Horsley]

The Justice Department hasn't commented. President Trump told NBC last evening he was not aware of the DOJ investigation. But there's no question Trump has moved aggressively to impose his will on the central bank. He's threatened in the past to fire Powell. He's also tried to fire another member of the Fed's governing board, Lisa Cook, although so far the Supreme Court's kept that on hold.

[Layla Fadel]

Jerome Powell, though, says this is really about interest rates. So what is President Trump trying to achieve?

[Scott Horsley]

Well, politicians often want lower interest rates in order to goose the economy in the short run. But the Fed was designed to be insulated from that kind of political pressure. Precisely. So policymakers at the Fed can do what they think is in the best law interest to the economy, even if it means making some unpopular short term decisions, like keeping interest rates high to curb inflation. Now, Trump has ignored those guardrails designed to protect the Fed's independence. And this Justice Department probe could be the latest example of the Trump administration going to extraordinary lengths to get its way.

[Layla Fadel]

Yeah, so it's clear the president is executing a pressure campaign. So what's been the reaction?

[Scott Horsley]

Well, some senators have recoiled at this. You know, Powell's term as chairman expires in May, and Trump will get to nominate his successor. But some of the senators who will vote on that nomination have been expressing their unhappiness with this move by the Justice Department that includes not only Democrats like Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, but also Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina. Tillis said yesterday the administration's move is putting not only the Fed's independence and credibility in question, but also the Justice Department's. And Tillis threatened to vote against any Trump Fed nominee until this issue is resolved. In the meantime, Jerome Powell says he's not going to bend to intimidation.

[Jerome Powell]

Public service sometimes requires standing firm in the face of threats. I will continue to do the job the Senate confirmed me to do with integrity and a commitment to serving the American people.

[Scott Horsley]

Powell has not said whether he plans to stay on the Fed board after his term as chairman expires. That would be unusual, but Powell could stick around for two more years, which would limit Trump's ability to put more loyalists on the central bank board.

[Layla Fadel]

That's NPR's Scott Horsley. Scott, thanks a lot.

[Scott Horsley]

You're welcome.

[Layla Fadel]

And that's up first for Monday, January 12th. I'm A. Martinez.

[A. Martinez]

And I'm Layla Fodel. Up first gets you caught up, and Morning Edition takes you deeper. We're live every morning on your local NPR station with reporting, interviews and the context behind the headlines. And if you want to listen in the afternoon, you can do that, too. Download the NPR app and listen in anytime. You can find all of NPR's most popular shows, including up first and Morning Edition. So many options to get the news you need to start your day.

[Layla Fadel]

Today's episode of up first was edited by Daniel Burke, Kate Bartlett, Pallavi Gogoi, Mohamed El Bardisi and H.J. mai was produced by Zia Butch, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We got engineering support from Simon Laszlo Jansen. Our technical director is Carly Strange. Join us again tomorrow.

[Scott Horsley]

Foreign.

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