Minnesota ICE Shooting, Venezuela Oil Tanker Pursuit, RFK Jr's New Dietary Guidelines

Summary

Up First from NPR – January 8, 2026

Episode Summary

This episode covers three major stories:

1. The controversial shooting by an ICE agent in Minneapolis;
2. The dramatic U.S. pursuit and seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker;
3. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s new and controversial dietary guidelines.

Each segment includes on-the-ground reporting, interviews, and expert analysis—delivering context on politics, international relations, and public health.

---

1. Minnesota ICE Shooting: Disputes and Protests

Theme:
A fatal shooting by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis has ignited protests and conflicting narratives between local and federal authorities.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

• Incident Breakdown ([01:57]–[05:23]):

  • Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old woman, was shot and killed by an ICE officer in Minneapolis, captured on multiple observers’ videos.
  • City officials and witnesses dispute the Trump administration’s claim that the shooting was "self defense."
  • Eyewitness Caitlyn Callinson, who recorded the event, reported that Good received “multiple conflicting instructions” from officers ([02:47]):
    • Get out of her car;
    • Get out of the road;
    • Leave the scene by driving away.
  • Good was shot when she tried to drive away while someone else pulled at her door. The ICE officer shot through the windshield and again through the side of the car.

• Local vs. Federal Reactions ([03:53]):

  • Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claims officer acted in self-defense, stating he was struck by Good’s car.
  • Video evidence (reviewed by NPR) allegedly does not show the officer being hit; instead, he is walking after firing.
  • Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey squarely blames the ICE agent:
    • “Having seen the video myself… This was an agent recklessly using power that resulted in somebody dying.” – Jacob Frey ([04:18])

• Community Response and Fallout ([04:52]):

  • Large, mainly peaceful vigil held; heightened anger and tension reported.
  • Minneapolis Public Schools closed for the rest of the week.
  • Hundreds gather to protest, with chants of "arrest the shooter.”
  • Prior incidents cited: Similar ICE shooting inside a car in Chicago (September).

• Ongoing Investigation ([05:23]):

  • Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has alerted the National Guard as a precaution for potential unrest.
  • Active investigation involving state law enforcement and FBI; no further comment provided.

Notable Quotes

• “This was an agent recklessly using power that resulted in somebody dying.”
  — Jacob Frey, Minneapolis Mayor ([04:18])
• “To have a shooting into a vehicle of someone who is not armed should be very concerning.”
  — Brian O’Hara, Minneapolis Police Chief ([04:32])
• “They weren’t surprised by the shooting, that ICE officers have been very aggressive towards community members in the city.”
  — Meg Anderson, NPR Correspondent ([05:11])

---

2. U.S. Pursuit of Venezuelan Oil Tanker

Theme:
U.S. Navy forces pursued, boarded, and seized a Venezuelan oil tanker that repeatedly tried to evade capture, reflecting escalating U.S. intervention in Venezuela’s oil sector.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

• The Chase ([05:56]):

  • U.S. ships targeted “ghost ships”—sanctioned oil tankers—in the Caribbean throughout December.
  • The tanker started as "Bela One," switched its name to "Maranera," and hoisted the Russian flag mid-chase to evade U.S. forces.
  • American forces pursued the ship thousands of miles into the North Atlantic, intercepting it between Britain and Iceland ([06:55]).
  • Neither the name nor flag change deterred U.S. action.

• U.S. Policy Goals ([07:41]):

  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined a plan to “stabilize Venezuela”—including U.S. control over up to 50 million barrels of oil.
    • “We're going to sell it in the marketplace at market rates, not at discounts Venezuela was getting. That money will be handled in such a way that we will control how it is dispersed in a way that benefits the Venezuelan people.” — Marco Rubio ([07:41])
  • The operation could yield $2-3 billion at current oil prices.

• International Fallout ([08:01]):

  • Russia expressed disapproval but kept its response muted, emphasizing freedom of navigation.
  • The Russian government granted the Maranera permission to use its flag on December 24, perhaps expecting to deter U.S. intervention.

• Long-Term U.S. Oversight ([08:55]):

  • Trump administration officials indicate the U.S. may supervise Venezuela’s oil industry “for years.”
  • Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated at a Florida conference:
    • “The U.S. will be controlling the sales of Venezuela’s oil industry indefinitely.” ([09:14])

Notable Quotes

• “The U.S. will be controlling the sales of Venezuela’s oil industry indefinitely.”
  — Chris Wright, U.S. Energy Secretary ([09:14])
• “This nautical makeover did not deter the Americans.”
  — Scott Carter, NPR ([06:58])

---

3. RFK Jr’s New Dietary Guidelines Shake Up Nutrition Advice

Theme:
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has unveiled new federal dietary guidelines, challenging decades of nutritional advice and sparking debate.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

• Major Changes ([09:37]):

  • Red meat and dairy, long discouraged, are now prioritized at the top of a redesigned food pyramid.
  • MyPlate is being replaced by a new visual emphasizing animal-based foods ([10:00]).

• RFK Jr. on Dietary Change ([10:19]):

  • “Protein and healthy fats are essential and were wrongly discouraged in prior dietary guidelines. We are ending the war on saturated fats.” — RFK Jr. ([10:19])
  • However, the guideline to keep saturated fat under 10% of daily calories remains.

• Expert Pushback ([10:39]):

  • American Heart Association and Academy of Dietetics note excess saturated fat (esp. from red meat) remains a heart disease risk.
  • Prof. Christopher Gardner (Stanford), recent Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee member, objects:
    • “I'm very disappointed in the new pyramid. That teaches red meat and saturated fat sources at the very top, as if that's something to prioritize. It does go against decades and decades of evidence and research.” — Dr. Christopher Gardner ([11:08])
  • Gardner supports emphasizing plant-based proteins instead.

• Reduction of Processed Foods ([11:39]):

  • Stronger recommendations to cut “refined carbohydrates and highly processed foods, including sugary drinks and snacks” — a move praised by experts.
  • Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian (Food Is Medicine Institute, Tufts):
    • “To have the US Government for the first time recommend that a wide class of foods be eaten less because of their processing is a big deal and I think a very positive move for public health.” ([12:09])

• Potential Impact ([12:32]):

  • Federal guidelines influence school lunches, military meals, and allowed foods in federal nutrition programs.
  • Concern: Red meat at the pyramid’s peak may lead to misunderstanding and unhealthy dietary shifts.

Notable Quotes

• “Protein and healthy fats are essential and were wrongly discouraged in prior dietary guidelines. We are ending the war on saturated fats.”
  — RFK Jr., U.S. Health Secretary ([10:19])
• “I'm very disappointed in the new pyramid… It does go against decades and decades of evidence and research.”
  — Dr. Christopher Gardner ([11:08])
• “A dramatic reduction in highly processed foods... is a big deal and I think a very positive move for public health.”
  — Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian ([12:09])

---

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Minnesota ICE Shooting: [01:57]–[05:38]
• Venezuela Oil Tanker Pursuit: [05:56]–[09:24]
• RFK Jr’s Dietary Guidelines: [09:37]–[12:59]

---

Tone and Style

The episode maintains a brisk, news-driven tone, balancing urgent reporting with expert context. Hosts and correspondents speak with authority and clarity, emphasizing both facts and the broader implications of each headline.

---

Quick Recap

• Minneapolis reels after an ICE shooting; city leaders and witnesses dispute federal self-defense claims.
• U.S. Navy overtakes a Venezuelan oil tanker after a dramatic Atlantic chase, signaling deeper control over Venezuelan oil.
• RFK Jr. elevates red meat and dairy in new dietary guidelines—clashing with decades of nutrition science, but draws praise for the call to curb processed foods.

---

Transcript

[Layla Foden]

The Trump administration says the ICE agent who killed a Minneapolis woman did it in self defense.

[Michelle Martin]

But the city's mayor says eyewitness accounts and video footage show that's not true.

[Scott Carter]

This was an agent recklessly using power.

[Layla Foden]

I'm Layla Falden with Michelle Martin and this is up first from NPR News. U.S. forces boarded an oil tanker that spent two weeks fleeing American ships across the Atlantic. The ship even repainted its name and raised a Russian flag mid pursuit. How, how far will the conflict over Venezuela's oil industry go?

[Michelle Martin]

And RFK Jr. S new dietary guidelines overhaul long standing nutrition advice and put red meat and dairy at the top of a new food pyramid? Are the recommendations backed by science? Stay with us. We give you news you need to start your day. This message comes from Carvana Finance. And buy your next vehicle with Carvana. Shop a huge selection, customize terms to fit your budget and buy completely online. No hassle, no pressure. Get the car. You love the easy way with Carvana.

[Allison Aubrey]

Public media counts on your support to ensure that the reporting and programs you depend on thrive. Make a recurring donation today to get special access to more than 20 NPR podcasts. Perks like sponsor free listening, bonus episodes, early access and more. So start supporting what you love [e-mail].

[Scott Carter]

On Ye Gods with Scott Carter here from the faithful.

[Meg Anderson]

I told my very Catholic mother that she needs to meet Jesus the faithless.

[Michelle Martin]

I just so don't believe in God.

[Scott Carter]

And the fearless. Serve people, connect with people. That's how we thrive.

[Layla Foden]

If life's a mystery, we investigate who done it.

[Allison Aubrey]

I pray to the humor God.

[Scott Carter]

Listen religiously to Ye Gods with Scott Carter wherever you get your podcasts.

[Michelle Martin]

An officer with Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE shot and killed a Minneapolis woman on Wednesday. The shooting, which was captured on video by multiple observers, immediately sparked protests as community members accused the agent of murder.

[Scott Carter]

Arrest the shooter. Arrest the shooter.

[Layla Foden]

Minnesota state law enforcement officials say they are working with the FBI to investigate the fatal shooting, which the Trump administration says was an act of self defense. This as the mayor demanded that ICE get out of Minneapolis and accuse accused the officer of recklessly using their power.

[Michelle Martin]

NPR criminal justice correspondent Meg Anderson was at the intersection where it happened and she's with us now to give us the latest. Good morning, Meg.

[Meg Anderson]

Good morning.

[Michelle Martin]

So like a lot of people, I was watching the coverage all afternoon and it just seemed like details were coming out bit by bit. So what can you tell us now?

[Meg Anderson]

Yeah, so city officials have identified the Woman killed as 37 year old Renee Nicole Good. We don't yet know much more about her, though. A witness I spoke to said she was there at the scene as a legal observer regarding what happened. Community members have been very active here tracking a surge in ICE activity around the Twin Cities, and observers were called to this intersection in South Minneapolis yesterday morning. Caitlyn Callinson was there and videotaped the shooting. She says Good was in her car and received multiple conflicting instructions from officers. She was told to get out of her car and she was also told.

[Michelle Martin]

To get out of the road.

[Meg Anderson]

She was told to drive away.

[Michelle Martin]

The ICE officer who ended up shooting her was in front of her vehicle and when she tried to get away because someone was pulling at her door, the ICE agent who was in front of her shot through the windshield once and then twice through the side.

[Meg Anderson]

She says when ICE officers pulled Goode from the car, she was already unresponsive.

[Michelle Martin]

And as I think people who've been following this have seen and heard, we've heard conflicting interpretations from federal and local officials. So what have they been saying?

[Meg Anderson]

Yeah, so. In a press conference yesterday evening, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the officer who killed the woman. She claimed he was hit by her vehicle and shot in self defense. In the video NPR reviewed, however, the officer does not appear to be hit and can be seen walking after he fired the shots. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Fry said in a press conference yesterday that the video of the shooting does not corroborate Noem's account.

[Scott Carter]

Having seen the video of myself, I.

[Meg Anderson]

Want to tell everybody directly that is.

[Scott Carter]

This was an agent recklessly using power that resulted in somebody dying.

[Meg Anderson]

The city's police chief, Brian o', Hara, also spoke. He stressed that it should be very concerning whenever there's a shooting into a vehicle of someone who is not armed. And I should note this is not the first time that ICE has shot someone inside their car. An ICE officer killed a man in Chicago in September, for instance, inside his car.

[Michelle Martin]

So what's been the atmosphere like there?

[Meg Anderson]

Yeah, so last night there was a very large vigil held here and it's been mostly peaceful. There's a lot of anger and it's been very tense. Minneapolis Public Schools are closing for the rest of the week out of an abundance of caution. Yesterday there were hundreds of protesters at the intersection where she was killed chanting and calling for the shooter to be arrested. And some of the protesters told me, you know, they weren't surprised by the shooting, that ICE officers have been very aggressive towards community members in the city.

[Michelle Martin]

So what happens next?

[Meg Anderson]

Minnesota Governor Tim Wall said he gave a warning order to the Minnesota National Guard yesterday, which he said is basically a heads up in case there is unrest. And state law enforcement officials said they couldn't comment more on what is now an active investigation.

[Michelle Martin]

That is NPR's Meg Anderson. Meg, thank you. Yeah, you're welcome. U.S. forces boarded an oil tanker they had been pursuing for nearly two weeks across the Atlantic.

[Layla Foden]

Yeah. During the chase, the tanker changed its name and even began flying a Russian flag. All of this comes as the Trump administration begins releasing new details about their plans for Venezuela's oil industry.

[Michelle Martin]

NPR's Greg Myhre has the details. Good morning, Greg.

[Scott Carter]

Hi, Michelle.

[Michelle Martin]

So this boat was somewhere between Britain and Iceland. How did it get there?

[Scott Carter]

It was quite the adventure. U.S. ships in the Caribbean have been targeting sanctioned oil tankers, these ghost ships for the past month. They homed in on one in late December. It was called the Bela one and believed to be heading to Venezuela to pick up oil. But the Bella one refused to halt. Instead, it changed course and headed out to the Atlantic with US Forces in pursuit. Now, somewhere along the way, the Bella one changed its name. The crew simply painted a new name on the hul, the Maranera. And it also changed flags. It lowered the flag of Guyana and used the flag of Russia.

[Michelle Martin]

Did that make any difference to the US Forces chasing it?

[Scott Carter]

No. This nautical makeover did not deter the Americans. They caught up with the marinara in the North Atlantic between Britain and Iceland. As you noted, several thousand miles from where this chase began. The U.S. forces boarded the tanker, which along with the crew, is now headed to the US So it's been a pretty dramatic week for the US Operations related to Venezuela, but many critics are still asking if there's a real plan for the road ahead. Secretary of State Marco Rubio responded and said the US does have a strategy to stabilize Venezuela. One component is the US taking control of up to 50 million barrels of oil from Venezuela.

[Michelle Martin]

We're going to sell it in the marketplace at market rates, not at the discounts Venezuela was getting. That money will then be handled in such a way that we will control how it is dispersed in a way that benefits the Venezuelan people.

[Scott Carter]

So the current price of oil is relatively low, but that amount that he's talking about could work out to somewhere between 2 and 3 billion dollars.

[Michelle Martin]

I'm wondering about the reaction to the US seizing a tanker with a Russian flag. Has that in any way sort of increasing tensions with Moscow?

[Scott Carter]

Well, the Russians certainly are not happy about this, but so far the response has been pretty measured. The Transportation Ministry says it gave this ship temporary permission to fly the Russian flag back on December 24. It added that, quote, freedom of navigation rules operate in the open sea and no government has the right to use force against ships. Russia didn't say why it granted this permission. Perhaps it thought it might deter the US from seizing the ship. Russia is an ally of Venezuela, but didn't really do anything to prevent this recent US Campaign. So maybe this seemed like some sort of low cost way to assist Venezuela.

[Michelle Martin]

So as the Trump administration talks about its plans for Venezuela, the focus seems to be increasingly on the oil industry. So what else can you tell us about this?

[Scott Carter]

Yeah, Trump gave a long interview to the New York Times last night and said US Oversight of Venezuela could last for years. And a lot of this focused on running the country's oil industry. It also looks like Energy Secretary Chris Wright will be playing a key role. He told an energy conference in Florida yesterday that the US Will be controlling the sales of Venezuela's oil industry indefinitely. So it looks like this multi pronged approach, much of it related to the.

[Michelle Martin]

Country'S oil industry that NPR's Greg Myra. Greg, thank you.

[Scott Carter]

Sure thing, Michelle.

[Michelle Martin]

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Released new dietary guidelines which he says aim to, quote, revolutionize our food culture, end quote.

[Layla Foden]

The guidelines come with a new food pyramid replacing the current my plate symbol and they upend years of nutrition advice.

[Michelle Martin]

NPR's Alison Arbery is with us now to tell us more about this. Good morning to you.

[Allison Aubrey]

Alicent Good morning, Michelle.

[Michelle Martin]

So what are the main changes in these new guidelines?

[Layla Foden]

Yeah.

[Allison Aubrey]

Well, for decades Americans have been advised to eat low fat dairy and limit red meat. But that advice has been turned on its head. At the very top of this new pyramid is a cut of steak, a wedge of cheese and a whole turkey or chicken. Here's Secretary Secretary Kennedy at the unveiling.

[Scott Carter]

Protein and healthy fats are essential and we're wrongly discouraged in prior dietary guidelines. We are ending the war on saturated fats.

[Allison Aubrey]

Now. Ending the war on saturated fat may be a bit strong as the guidelines do still include a long held recommendation to limit saturated fat to 10% of your daily calories.

[Michelle Martin]

What's been the reaction from public health and nutrition experts?

[Allison Aubrey]

Well, there's some criticism. Keep in mind that both the American Heart association and the Academy of Dietetics and Nutrition point to the science showing that excessive saturated fat from sources like red meat is linked to heart disease. I spoke to Christopher Gardner of Stanford University. He's a nutrition expert. He was on the dietary guidelines Advisory committee, a group that spent two years reviewing all the evidence, including the effects of saturated fat on health.

[Michelle Martin]

I'm very disappointed in the new pyramid.

[Scott Carter]

That teaches red meat and saturated fat sources at the very top, as if that's something to prioritize. It does go against decades and decades of evidence and research.

[Allison Aubrey]

Now he's in favor of increasing plant based sources of protein such as beans, rather than just emphasizing animal protein.

[Michelle Martin]

Now, you mentioned, you know, earlier that the guidance on how much saturated fat we should eat is actually staying the same. So are there real changes here or is it just being presented differently in this chart?

[Allison Aubrey]

Yeah, well, there are some. Definitely some real changes. The guidelines call for Americans to cut way back on refined carbohydrates and highly processed foods, including sugary drinks and snacks. Now this is easier said than, than done. These foods make up, you know, about 70% of the food supply. Everything from chips and soda to grab and go prepared foods. I spoke to Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian. He's a cardiologist who directs the Food Is Medicine Institute at Tufts University. He applauds this call for a, quote, dramatic reduction in highly processed foods.

[Scott Carter]

To have the US Government for the first time recommend that a wide class of foods be eaten less because of their processing is a big deal and I think a very positive move for public health.

[Allison Aubrey]

So I'd say Secretary Kennedy has found some common ground with lots of public health experts on this issue. You know, there's this widespread consensus that the standard American diet and poor eating habits are a leading cause of chronic disease.

[Michelle Martin]

Will these dietary guidelines make a difference? Does anybody really pay attention to them?

[Allison Aubrey]

You know, new guidelines alone can't change people's habits, of course, but they are highly influential. They dictate what can be served in school meals on military bases and determine what's allowed in federal nutrition programs. The worries that people will see meat at the top of the pyramid and ignore the call to also eat more fruits and vegetables and cut back on sugar and highly refined and processed foods, aka junk food.

[Michelle Martin]

That is NPR's Allison Aubrey. Allison, thank you.

[Allison Aubrey]

Thank you, Michelle.

[Michelle Martin]

And that's up first for Thursday, January 8th. I'm Michelle Martin.

[Layla Foden]

And I'm Layla Foden. If you enjoy starting your day with up first, and I hope you do, please consider signing up for npr. Your subscription will help keep keep the NPR network strong and support local public radio stations through a recurring monthly donation. And you get some cool perks with it, too, like ad free listening, bonus episodes and early access to some NPR content. Visit plus.NPR.org to sign up.

[Michelle Martin]

Today's episode of up first was edited by Cheryl Corley, Andrew Sussman, Jane Greenholsh, Mohamed El Bardisi, and Alice Wolfley. It was produced by Ziad Buch, Nia Dumas, and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from David Greenberg, our technical director is Stacey Abbott, and our deputy executive producer is Kelly Dickens. We hope you'll join us again tomorrow. Want to hear this podcast without sponsor breaks? Amazon prime members can listen to Up First Sponsor free through Amazon Music, or you can also support NPR's vital journalism and get up first [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org Netflix's Stranger Things has reached its end, and we're unpacking the biggest moments in the final season. We'll talk about what we thought of the finale, what happened to our heroes when they set out to battle the forces of evil one last time, and.

[Allison Aubrey]

Of course, the terrible wigs.

[Michelle Martin]

Listen to Pop Culture Happy Hour in the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts. Have you ever thought about leaving the.

[Meg Anderson]

US Starting over somewhere new?

[Michelle Martin]

Well, I have. And according to one poll, 40% of young women said they'd move to another country permanently if they had the chance.

[Scott Carter]

But why?

[Meg Anderson]

Where to start?

[Michelle Martin]

Listen to the It's Been a Minute podcast on the NPR app or wherever.

[Meg Anderson]

You get your podcasts.