Senate Funding Deal, Border Czar Homan In Minnesota, Georgia Election Ballots Seized

Summary

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Up First – January 30, 2026

Main Theme:
This episode focuses on three top stories: the Senate’s late-stage deal to fund government agencies amid a looming shutdown, controversial federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota following fatal incidents, and the FBI’s seizure of 2020 election ballots in Georgia—with wider implications for trust in government and democracy.

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1. Senate Funding Deal and Looming Government Shutdown

(Segment Start: 00:02, Main Content: 02:03–05:39)

Key Discussion Points

• Late Night Deal: Senators reached a budget agreement to provide temporary funding for most federal agencies, aiming to avoid a long-lived government shutdown. However, the deal was likely too late to prevent a short-term closure.
• Exclusion of DHS Funding: The contentious Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding was stripped out to allow more time for negotiations, especially following the deaths of two Americans at the hands of federal agents.
• Legislative Process Hurdles: Although the Senate reached this deal, any changes require re-approval by the House of Representatives, which was out of session, making a short shutdown almost certain.
• Democratic Demands for DHS Reforms: Senate Democrats are pushing for:
  • An end to "roving patrols" with administrative (rather than judicial) warrants
  • Easier legal and independent probes into ICE and DHS misconduct
  • Clear identification and body camera requirements for immigration agents
• Republican Reactions: The recent shooting of Alex Preddy, a U.S. citizen, shifted some GOP positions. Notably:
  • Senator Lisa Murkowski and Senator Thom Tillis called for Secretary Kristi Noem’s resignation.
  • Senator Rand Paul expressed opposition to administrative warrants.
  • Some Republicans maintain ICE is adequately managed and oppose further congressional mandates.

Notable Quotes

• “The way Congress works is that if one chamber makes any change, it has to go back to the other chamber. … So, you know, the Senate still needs to vote on it. And then the measure would need to be revoted on in the House, which is out this week. So that means that a short-term shutdown is all but inevitable.”
  — Jimena Bastille, NPR Reporter (03:00)
• "Democrats want to mandate that immigration agents display clear identification, not cover their faces and wear body cameras."
  — Jimena Bastille (04:24)
• "The shooting of Alex Preddy, a US Citizen, was a turning point for [Republicans]."
  — Jimena Bastille (04:41)

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2. Border Czar Tom Homan in Minnesota — Immigration Enforcement Crisis

(Segment Start: 05:47–09:48)

Key Discussion Points

• Federal Drawdown Announced: President’s border czar Tom Homan announced plans to pull back some federal immigration agents from Minnesota, citing ongoing controversy after the deaths of two civilians during a recent operation.
• Continuing Federal Action: Despite the announcement, local observations show ongoing ICE arrests; skepticism remains high among community members and officials.
• Local and State Response: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey welcomed any reduction in enforcement but stressed that ICE searches should end entirely.
• Lack of Clarity: Homan offered little detail or timeline; the supposed drawdown depends on increased cooperation from state and municipal institutions, especially access to jails, allowing fewer agents on the streets.
• Broader Impact on Community:
  • Persistent fear among immigrants; many have avoided leaving home due to fear of ICE raids.
  • Mutual aid groups are struggling to keep up with needs as some families lose income.
  • Calls for an eviction moratorium to address housing insecurity among affected families.
• Protest Movements:
  • Plans for another general strike, following a previous demonstration with high turnout despite harsh weather.
  • Activists face fear and intimidation, especially after the recent fatal shooting, causing some to hesitate but vowing ongoing protest.

Notable Quotes

• “You know, it feels like nothing has changed, Steve. Federal agents continue to make arrests around the state.”
  — Sergio Martinez Beltran, NPR Reporter (06:17)
• “Homan did say he's working on ways to make immigration enforcement safer, more efficient, and by the book. But the big headline… is that all of these plans are dependent on the cooperation of state and local officials.”
  — Sergio Martinez Beltran (07:10)
• “The fear continues. And many people say even if ICE hypothetically leaves the state, let’s say tomorrow, there will be lingering effects.”
  — Sergio Martinez Beltran (08:22)
• “There is another general strike planned… That turnout stretched for blocks and blocks in downtown Minneapolis, and it was 20 degrees colder than it was today. So there could be a bigger turnout this time.”
  — Sergio Martinez Beltran (09:09)

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3. FBI Seizes 2020 Election Ballots in Georgia

(Segment Start: 10:00–13:38)

Key Discussion Points

• Massive Ballot Seizure: The FBI, under a court-issued search warrant, seized about 650 boxes of ballots and election materials from Fulton County, Georgia, the scene of headline-grabbing 2020 election fraud allegations.
• Legal Context: The records were kept under seal due to ongoing lawsuits and were seized citing two federal laws—one dealing with fraudulent voting and another with recordkeeping (which typically has a two-year window, now long passed).
• Ongoing Mistrust: Trump and allies continue to push fraud claims despite repeated confirmation and audits (even by his own supporters) finding no fraud.
• Federal Overreach Concerns: The involvement of the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, at the scene of the seizure, is unusual (not typically within her agency’s scope).
• Election Integrity Fears:
  • DOJ’s actions, widely seen as directed by Trump, are fueling anxiety among state and local election officials about further federal interference.
  • Intensified scrutiny falls on the 2026 midterms, with worries about eroding norms and voter confidence.

Notable Quotes

• “The FBI now has about 650ish boxes worth of stuff from Fulton County’s 2020 election.…So they have my ballot, Steve.”
  — Stephen Fowler, NPR Reporter (10:48)
• “We don’t know. That’s because the warrant mentions an FBI affidavit, but that’s under seal in the search warrant.”
  — Stephen Fowler on reasons for the seizure (11:39)
• “All of this action by the Trump administration is ratcheting up tensions with state and local election officials who worry about what other steps the government might take in this midterm year.”
  — Stephen Fowler (13:22)

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4. Memorable Moment: Women and Trade Work — Sunday Story Teaser

(Highlight at 13:47–14:12)

• Upcoming Feature: The podcast closes with a promo for a Sunday Story episode focusing on women in skilled trades and concerns about the rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
  • “You cannot look at the workforce of the construction trades and say, oh, they've taken DEI too far. You look at the workforce of the construction trades and you see we have a long way to go.”
    — Sergio Martinez Beltran (14:00)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Senate Funding Deal and Shutdown: 02:03–05:39
• Minnesota Immigration Enforcement: 05:47–09:48
• Georgia Ballot Seizure: 10:00–13:38
• Sunday Story Teaser on Women in Trades: 13:47–14:12

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Summary Tone & Style

Throughout, NPR’s Up First maintains its characteristic crisp, urgent, and explanatory tone, blending immediate news with policy context and on-the-ground reporting. The hosts and reporters reflect skepticism, clarity, and attention to the underlying stakes for listeners concerned with democracy, civil rights, and political process.

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Transcript

[Layla Falden]

Senators cut a deal to fund most government agencies.

[Steve Inskeep]

The agreement likely came too late to avoid a brief government shutdown. The idea is to keep the government open while lawmakers negotiate new restrictions for immigration agents.

[Layla Falden]

I'm Layla Falden with Steven Skiep, and this is up first from NPR News. The president's border czar, Tom Homan, suggested some immigration agents could leave Minnesota. Trump didn't seem to know about it when asked if agents are pulling back.

[Steve Inskeep]

No, no, not at all.

[Layla Falden]

So, so what is the plan for Minneapolis?

[Steve Inskeep]

Also, we try to answer questions about an FBI raid in Georgia. The agency seized thousands of ballots from the 2020 election that President Trump lost. What does this imply for future elections? Stay with us. We've got the news you need to start your day.

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[Sergio Martinez Beltran]

Our State of Stigma report helped us.

[Stephen Fowler]

Understand that believing in mental health is easy, but asking for help is not. Now, with the report on our hands, we can work to make mental health care more accessible.

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[Steve Inskeep]

On the brink of a partial shutdown.

[Layla Falden]

Again, the hope is that it won't last long because senators did reach a deal. Democrats declined to approve funding for the Department of Homeland Security. They've now agreed with President Trump on a two week extension to allow time to negotiate reforms. After federal agents killed two Americans. They'll make an effort to fund other agencies as well.

[Steve Inskeep]

NPR's Jimena Bastille has been tracking it all. Ximena, good morning.

[Jimena Bastille]

Good morning.

[Steve Inskeep]

Okay, so what is the what's in the deal?

[Jimena Bastille]

The plan senators have would allow them to approve the five bipartisan bills that fund other agencies and take Homeland Security Department's funding part out and essentially temporarily strip it out.

[Sergio Martinez Beltran]

Got it.

[Jimena Bastille]

It would give them two weeks to keep negotiating just that part. However, the way Congress works is that if one chamber makes any change, it has to go back to the other chamber. So, you know, the Senate still needs to vote on it. And then the measure would need to be revoted on in the House, which is out this week. So that means that a short term shutdown is all but inevitable once the House returns early next week. It's also not entirely clear if the new package can be approved by them. If the House does act quickly, you know, the effects of the shutdown could be limited since most federal offices are closed over the weekend.

[Steve Inskeep]

Okay, so they might have this worked out by Monday or Tuesday. Might have it worked out. Good to know the mechanics. Now let's talk about the substance. What is it that Democrats want the Department of Home Homeland Security do differently?

[Jimena Bastille]

Senate Democrats have outlined three buckets of policy that they're pursuing. First, what they call ending, quote, roving patrols. This primarily has to do with the use of warrants. Officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement were using administrative and not judicial warrants necessarily to enter people's homes. A whistleblower memo described how the agency was giving itself permission to enter homes. And judicial warrants are approved by judges instead of by the agency. Second, Democrats want to make it easier to pursue legal action against immigration officers and, quote, independent investigations into ICE and other federal enforcement misconduct. They say that the agency is not doing a good job of investigating employee misconduct. And dhs, which is involved in the recent killings, is now investigating itself in these instances. And third, Democrats want to mandate that immigration agents display clear identification, not cover their faces and wear body cameras.

[Steve Inskeep]

Republicans had resisted some of these demands for the past year. What about now?

[Jimena Bastille]

The shooting of Alex Preddy, a US Citizen, was a turning point for them. Several Republicans called for hearings and independent investigations. Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who are frequent Trump critics, also said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem should resign. Senate Homeland Security Committee Chair Rand Paul said he's, quote, not a fan of administrative warrants, which has signaled perhaps some flexibility on that point of negotiat. And GOP Senator Susan Collins of Maine, another senator, has taken steps to curb ice, particularly within her state. Still, divides continue to persist within the Republican Party. Several Republicans told us that they do believe ICE is doing their job and that the existing bill already includes additional mandates for reporting and training. So they don't believe that Congress needs to go any further.

[Steve Inskeep]

Okay, we'll hear how the debate unfolds in the days to come. NPR's Jimena Bestillo, thanks so much.

[Sergio Martinez Beltran]

Thank you.

[Steve Inskeep]

The president's borders are. Tom Homan said the federal government is working on plans to pull some of the thousands of federal immigration agents out of Minnesota.

[Layla Falden]

Homan said that as he arrived to oversee the government's military style presence in Minneapolis, he acknowledged some problems with an operation that led to chaos and where federal agents shot and killed two Americans.

[Steve Inskeep]

How quickly, if at all, is change coming? NPR's Sergio Martinez Beltran is in Minneapolis. Sergio, good morning.

[Sergio Martinez Beltran]

Good morning.

[Steve Inskeep]

What do you see so far?

[Sergio Martinez Beltran]

You know, it feels like nothing has changed, Steve. Federal agents continue to make arrests around the state. Minneapolis continues to see most of these speak ups. In fact, just yesterday, the superintendent of the Columbia Heights School District north of Minneapolis said several of her students were harassed and stopped by ICE officers. And one of the websites activists use to monitor ICE activity continues to show a high number of hits just all over the map. NPR asked Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Fry about this drawdown plan and he said in a statement any drawdown is a good step, but he said the search must end.

[Steve Inskeep]

I do want to acknowledge there's a bit of a change in appearance and tone. Tom Homan comes there, he's wearing a civilian suit rather than a police or military style uniform. Seemed to acknowledge some problems in this operation that has led to deaths. But how is the drawdown supposed to work once it gets going?

[Sergio Martinez Beltran]

There is no timeline and Homan did not offer any specifics as to how they would wind down operations here. Homan did say he's working on ways to make immigration enforcement safer, more efficient, and by the book. But the big headline, Steve, is that all of these plans are dependent on the cooperation of state and local officials. Homan said that means more access to prisons and jails, which would mean fewer agents on the streets. Homan also said the administration will prioritize the arrest of migrants with criminal records or who pose a public safety threat. And it's important that the administration has said this all along and yet has arrested a bunch of undocumented immigrants who have not committed crimes. So it will be important to see whether, in fact, there will be fewer collateral arrests in Minnesota from now on.

[Steve Inskeep]

I want a little bit of clarity if you've got it. He says he wants more access to jails. I think Minnesota officials have said they give some access to jails, is that right?

[Sergio Martinez Beltran]

Yes. And that's something that Homan acknowledged yesterday in his press conference as well, and something that the administration of Governor Tim Walls has maintained all along as well.

[Steve Inskeep]

Okay, unusual. What, what do you hear from people who've been protesting?

[Sergio Martinez Beltran]

Well, they have a lot of questions. And, you know, after what they've gone through over the past month, people here are super skeptical about anything the federal government says. I mean, President Trump said last night there would not be a pullback of federal agents in Minnesota. And we continue to see immigration agents making arrests. So the fear continues. And many people say even if ICE hypothetically leaves the state, let's say tomorrow, there will be lingering effects. For example, it's the end of the month, and there are many immigrants who have not left their homes in weeks, or their primary breadwinner has been arrested by ice. So they could misrend. Now, mutual aid groups have been paying for some of those bills, but they're not sure how long they can keep it up. And they're calling on the governor to implement an eviction moratorium. So, you know, many residents in Minneapolis are, I would say, cautiously optimistic, and they have vowed to continue to protest until this surge ends.

[Steve Inskeep]

Okay, so what are they going to do next, the protesters? I mean.

[Sergio Martinez Beltran]

Yeah, there is another general strike planned. Exactly. A week ago, there was a big statewide strike here in Minnesota, similar to what's expected here today. That turnout stretched for blocks and blocks in downtown Minneapolis, and it was 20 degrees colder than it was today. So there could be a bigger turnout this time. On the other hand, Steve, the morning after that strike last week, Alex Brady was killed by Border Patrol agents. And that has had a chilling effect on some of the activists here. One community organizer told me she's noticed an increase in fear among people doing simple things like delivering groceries to their neighbors. So there's this feeling like everybody's taking it day by day, and things have the potential to become extremely volatile again.

[Steve Inskeep]

Npr Sergio Martin Martinez Beltran, thanks so much for your insights. Really appreciate it.

[Sergio Martinez Beltran]

You're welcome.

[Steve Inskeep]

The FBI has taken possession of hundreds of thousands of ballots from the 2020 election in Fulton County, Georgia. Fulton county includes most of Atlanta.

[Layla Falden]

It was a hub of baseless fraud claims from the 2020 election. At one point after his election defeat, Trump called a Georgia official and was heard on tape asking him to find exactly enough extra votes for Trump to win. Nationwide, thousands of election officials from both parties certified Trump's defeat in 2020. His own allies conducted an extended audit in Arizona and admitted finding no evidence to change the results.

[Steve Inskeep]

The seizure of Georgia ballots is raising concerns about this year's elections. So we've called NPR's Stephen Fowler, who was in Atlanta and has covered this story for years and years. Hi there, Stephen.

[Stephen Fowler]

Good morning.

[Steve Inskeep]

What exactly happened in Fulton county.

[Stephen Fowler]

Well, the FBI now has about 650ish boxes worth of stuff from Fulton County's 2020 election. Earlier this week, there was a judge who signed off on a search warrant, then asked where all the ballots, tabulator tapes, the scanned images of the ballots, and all copies of voter rolls from that election. So several trucks came in to take them away late Wednesday night. And I live in Fulton County. I voted here in 2020. So they have my ballot. Steve. And the Republican led state election board took the county to court last year trying to access these ballots and records. While that was playing out, the Department of Justice also sued over these records. So now somehow we are here with this seizure.

[Steve Inskeep]

Okay. We know that the Justice Department is now doing whatever Trump feels like telling them to do, but they seem to have gone to a judge, you say, so what evidence did investigators give for seizing voting material?

[Stephen Fowler]

We don't know. That's because the warrant mentions an FBI affidavit, but that's under seal in the search warrant. There are two criminal laws mentioned. One of them about counting of ballots that are fraudulent. The other has to do with keeping records of an election for two years after it's over. The FBI hasn't answered any of our questions, and I will note we are more than five years after this election. So there are also questions about the statute limitations.

[Steve Inskeep]

You mentioned state lawsuit. There's the federal laws around Fulton county for years. Right.

[Stephen Fowler]

Well, the only reason these records are available to be seized by the FBI is because a court ordered them kept under seal because of numerous lawsuits making fantastical and unproven allegations of fraud in Georgia's most populous county that's also heavily Democratic. And I cover this election and its aftermath firsthand, which has included five years of constant false claims about how Fulton county ran its election, like workers pulling out suitcases of ballots to accusations that any ballot that wasn't cast on election Day was somehow fake or illegitimate. Also, it's one of several places where Trump faced criminal charges for his efforts to overturn that election, though that that case was dropped at the end of last year.

[Steve Inskeep]

Why was Tulsi Gabbard not a law enforcement official, but the Director of National Intelligence seen at the site of the ballot seizure?

[Stephen Fowler]

Well, it's not something you would think it's in her purview. But the White House says Gabbard is playing a key role in making sure an election can never, ever be rigged again. At the same time, the Trump administration is inserting itself in elections in other ways, like suing states for unredacted voter rolls and using data from other government agencies like Social Security to find evidence of non citize, which evidence has shown to be incredibly rare. All of this action by the Trump administration is ratcheting up tensions with state and local election officials who worry about what other steps the government might take in this midterm year.

[Steve Inskeep]

NPR politician reporter Stephen Fowler is in Atlanta. Stephen, thanks so much.

[Stephen Fowler]

Thank you.

[Steve Inskeep]

And that's a first for this Friday, January 30th. I'm Steve Inside.

[Layla Falden]

And I'm Layla Falded. President Trump has a vision for the American workforce. He says he wants to make America skilled again. But women in the skilled trades worry that his attack on DEI will undo decades of progress.

[Sergio Martinez Beltran]

You cannot look at the workforce of the construction trades and say, oh, they've taken DEI too far. You look at the workforce of the construction trades and you see we have a long way to go.

[Layla Falden]

This weekend on the Sunday story, what role will women play in this skilled trades revival? Listen right here on NPR's Up first podcast.

[Steve Inskeep]

Today's up first was edited by Anna Yukonanoff, Gigi Duban, Ben Swayze, Mohamed El Bardisi and Alice Wolfley. It was produced by Ziad Buch, Eva Pukech and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Nisha Hyness. Our technical director is Carly Strange. Our executive producer is Jay Shaler. Join us again.

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