Federal Agent Shoots Two People in Portland

Summary

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WSJ What’s News: Federal Agent Shoots Two People in Portland (January 9, 2026)

Episode Overview

This episode centers on a high-tension incident in Portland, Oregon, where federal agents shot two people allegedly connected to a Venezuelan gang. The episode also covers other pressing headlines including a bipartisan push in Congress to extend health care subsidies, developments around new U.S. dietary guidelines and their impact on big food companies, a major bankruptcy in retail, and Saudi Arabia quietly lifting part of its booze ban.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Federal Agent Shooting in Portland

[00:57 – 02:07]

• Incident Summary:
  Two people (a man and a woman) were shot by federal agents during a vehicle stop in Portland, Oregon. The Department of Homeland Security claims the driver tried to run over officers, and both individuals are tied to a Venezuelan gang linked to a recent shooting. Their conditions remain unknown.

• Community & Officials’ Response:
  Portland Police Chief Bob Day urged the community to stay calm. Mayor Keith Wilson condemned the shooting and urged ICE to leave the city.

  • Quote – Portland Mayor Keith Wilson [01:48]:
    “Violence in our community is devastating. These are not statistics. These are human beings. Portland is not a training ground for militarized agents. When the administration talks about using full force, we are seeing what it means on our streets.”

• Related Incident:
  The shooting closely followed a fatal incident in Minneapolis, where a 37-year-old woman, Renee Nicole Good, was killed by an ICE agent. Protests have erupted across the country, and tensions between Minnesota authorities and the federal government have risen after the FBI allegedly blocked local police from investigating.

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2. Congressional Healthcare Subsidies Extension

[02:07 – 03:13]

• Congressional Developments:
  The House passed legislation to extend expired healthcare subsidies, defying GOP leadership and underscoring bipartisan concerns. Seventeen Republicans joined Democrats, signaling cracks ahead of the midterms.

  • Quote – Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Leader [03:04]:
    “House Democrats, every single one of us, joined by 17 Republicans, have partnered in a bipartisan way to protect the health care of the American people.”

• Next Steps:
  The bill heads to the Senate, where there is significant pressure for compromise.

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3. Business Updates and Market News

[03:13 – 05:01]

• XAI (Elon Musk’s Company) Controversy:
  The company faced criticism after its Grok chatbot allowed creation of sexualized photos involving children. In response, image generation was restricted to paying subscribers only.

• Retail Restructuring:
  Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus’ parent company is nearing a $1.25 billion bankruptcy. A competing $1.5 billion financing offer from Pimco is in play.

• Mining Sector Merger:
  Rio Tinto is in talks to acquire Glencore, which would create the world’s largest mining company amid soaring demand for copper, crucial for AI and cloud infrastructure.

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4. Impact of New Dietary Guidelines on Food Industry

[05:34 – 10:03]

• Guideline Changes:
  The new federal nutrition guidelines advise Americans to cut highly processed foods, increase protein, and avoid added sugars.

• Industry Response & Challenges:
  Food companies’ business models are deeply tied to processed foods, making compliance particularly challenging and likely to raise consumer prices.

  • Quote – Jesse Newman, Journal Food Reporter [06:17]:
    “The big food companies here in the US—their entire business model is really based on making processed food. And so, you know, any government guidance that takes a hard line against highly processed foods… this is pretty bad news.”

• Protein’s Popularity:
  Guidelines underscore a nationwide “protein bonanza,” driving up demand for dairy, meat, and poultry.

  • Demand has also attracted private equity, as seen in the recent cottage cheese brand deal.

  • Quote – Jesse Newman [07:47]:
    “Protein is obviously a huge trend… It seems to be a protein bonanza. It’s everywhere… That is a real tailwind for the dairy industry, for the meat and poultry industries. They are all feeling pretty good this morning.”

• Dairy Industry Implications:
  The new emphasis on protein and full-fat dairy offers a win for traditional dairy products—provided they minimize added sugar.

  • Quote – Jesse Newman [09:06]:
    “It really promotes dairy products in particular, promotes full fat dairy products. The one place… it’s just not a total slam dunk. There is a lot of high sugar dairy out there… Dairy manufacturers are going to be looking at their product lineups to see what will be a fit.”

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5. Saudi Arabia Quietly Lifts Alcohol Ban for Expats

[10:07 – 11:13]

• Policy Change:
  Select residents—mostly diplomats and those with premium residency—can now buy alcohol from Riyadh’s discreet, unmarked liquor store. It’s a significant cultural shift after a decades-long ban.

  • Quote – Omar Abdel Baki, WSJ Middle East Correspondent [10:29]:
    “It might not sound like a big deal, but for a conservative kingdom that has banned alcohol since the 1950s, it’s quite a big deal.”

• Caveats:
  Access is tightly controlled, requiring verification of non-Muslim status and high-income residency. Use of phones is prohibited inside the store. Further gradual loosening of restrictions may follow, especially at new Red Sea resorts.

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Portland’s Mayor on Federal Violence [01:48]:

  “Portland is not a training ground for militarized agents. When the administration talks about using full force, we are seeing what it means on our streets.”
  — Mayor Keith Wilson

• Healthcare Bipartisanship [03:04]:

  “House Democrats, every single one of us, joined by 17 Republicans, have partnered in a bipartisan way to protect the health care of the American people.”
  — Rep. Hakeem Jeffries

• Processed Food Business Model [06:17]:

  “The big food companies here in the US—their entire business model is really based on making processed food… this is pretty bad news.”
  — Jesse Newman

• The Protein ‘Bonanza’ [07:47]:

  “Protein is obviously a huge trend… It seems to be a protein bonanza. It’s everywhere.”
  — Jesse Newman

• Saudi Arabia's Quiet Booze Reform [10:29]:

  “It might not sound like a big deal, but for a conservative kingdom that has banned alcohol since the 1950s, it’s quite a big deal.”
  — Omar Abdel Baki

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• [00:57] – Portland Federal Shooting Overview
• [01:48] – Mayor Wilson & Portland Leaders React
• [02:07] – Minneapolis ICE Shooting & Aftermath
• [02:07–03:13] – Congressional Healthcare Extension
• [03:13–05:01] – Business News (XAI Grok, Saks/Neiman, Mining Merger)
• [05:34–10:03] – U.S. Dietary Guidelines: Food Industry Impact
• [10:07–11:13] – Saudi Arabia: Partial Alcohol Ban Lift

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Summary Takeaway

This episode delivers a deep dive into a fraught and significant incident in Portland highlighting the complexities of federal-local cooperation and community trust. It ties upticks in federal action to broader themes of protest and accountability. The show also highlights key shifts in Washington’s health policy, evolving dietary guidelines challenging the food industry, dramatic moves in retail and commodities sectors, and an unprecedented social reform in Saudi Arabia. Each segment is presented with informative analysis and direct quotes, giving listeners the context to understand not just what happened, but what it means for business, society, and policy going forward.

Transcript

[Jesse Newman]

Hey, it's Ryan Knudsen, host of the Journal Podcast, our show about money, business and power. If you're looking for more deeply reported stories like we share every day, consider becoming a subscriber to the Wall Street Journal. Visit subscribe.WSJ.com TheJournal all lowercase to subscribe.

[Daniel Bock]

Now.

[Caitlin McCabe]

Portland's police chief urges calm after two people were shot by federal agents. Plus, the House passes a bill to extend health care subsidies as 17 Republicans cross party lines. And we take a look at how America's new dietary guidelines are colliding with Wall Street.

[Jesse Newman]

This is really going to force companies to speed up. So they are going to be looking at how can they simplify their recipes, how can they use cleaner ingredients, how can they take out additives? And a lot of these moves that they're going to have to make are going to make food more expensive, not less.

[Caitlin McCabe]

It's Friday, January 9th. I'm Caitlin McCabe for the Wall Street Journal and here's the AM edition of what's News, the top headlines and business stories moving your world today. We begin in Portland, Oregon, where a man and woman were shot yesterday by federal agents during a vehicle stop. They are now in the hospital where their conditions are unknown. The Department of Homeland security said a U.S. border Patrol agent fired his gun after a driver attempted to run over officers. The agency said the driver and passenger are affiliated with a Venezuelan g involved in a recent shooting in the city. Portland Police Chief Bob Day urged the community to stay calm as officers and the FBI work to learn more about the situation. Speaking alongside him, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson condemned the shooting and called on ICE to leave the city.

[Jesse Newman]

Violence in our community is devastating. These are not statistics. These are human beings. Portland is not a training ground for militarized agents. When the administration talks about using full force, we are seeing what it means on our streets.

[Caitlin McCabe]

The Oregon shooting comes just one day after a separate fatal shooting of 37 year old Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis by an ICE agent, which has sparked protests in cities across the US. Tensions between authorities in Minnesota and the federal government over her death have intensified with local law enforcement officials saying yesterday that the FBI blocked them from participating in an investigation into the incident. Turning now to Capitol Hill, where the House has defied the Republican leadership and passed legislation to extend expired healthcare subsidies. It marks a win for Democrats with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries saying the vote will prevent dramatically higher insurance premiums. House Democrats, every single one of us.

[Jesse Newman]

Joined by 17 Republicans, have partnered in a bipartisan way to protect the health care of the American people.

[Caitlin McCabe]

The vote underlines how some centrist Republicans are willing to break with their party ahead of the coming midterms, arguing that an extension could give the party more time to improve the program. The bill will now go to the Senate, where pressure is building for a compromise. In corporate news, Elon Musk's XAI is under fire from child safety groups and regulators after an update to its Grok chatbot in late December allowed users to create sexualized photos, including of children. In a post overnight, Grok said it had switched off its image creation function except for paying subscribers, making it unavailable for the vast majority of users. We are exclusively reporting that the parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus is nearing a 1.25 billion dollar bankruptcy deal to be announced within days. The Chapter 11 proceedings are being led by a group of bondholders, including Bracebridge Capital and Pentwater Capital. But Pimco has also submitted a competing offer to finance the business with a $1.5 billion loan, and talks are underway to create the world's largest mining company with a market value of more than $200 billion. Rio Tinto is expected to buy copper miner Glencore and has until February 5th to confirm the deal under rules. The deal comes as miners across the industry look to capitalize on a scramble for copper, which is used in data centers supporting AI and cloud computing. Coming up, we take a look at which food giants stand to win and lose under America's new dietary guidelines, plus why Saudi Arabia is quietly lifting its booze ban. Those stories after the break.

[Jesse Newman]

Hi, this is Gunjan Banerjee, and this is Telus Demos. We're reporters at the Wall Street Journal.

[Caitlin McCabe]

And The hosts of WSJ's take on the Week.

[Jesse Newman]

Take on the Week is a weekly show that gives listeners a leg up in the world of markets and investing.

[Caitlin McCabe]

From the Fed's moves to market bubbles, we dive into the biggest deals, key.

[Jesse Newman]

Players and business news ahead. If you're looking for more news and tools that can help you navigate the markets, consider becoming a subscriber to the Wall street journal.

[Caitlin McCabe]

Visit subscribe.WSJ.com takeontheweek to subscribe now.

[Daniel Bock]

Foreign.

[Caitlin McCabe]

This week, when Trump administration officials unveiled sweeping changes to federal nutrition guidelines, one thing was immediately clear. Investors weren't thrilled about what it means for food giants like Kraft, Heinz, Mondelez, General Mills and PepsiCo. The new inverted food pyramid recommends that people avoid highly processed foods, dramatically increase protein intake and skip added sugar. In his remarks, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Suggested the American government's guidance in the past was aimed at protecting corporate profits. So what could the changes mean for the business of food in America? For more, our producer, Daniel Bock spoke to Journal food reporter Jesse Newman.

[Jesse Newman]

Yeah, you know, I think it's pretty safe to say that the new updated dietary guidelines are bad news for most big food companies. I mean, the big food companies here in the US Their entire business model is really based on making processed food. And so, you know, any government guidance that takes a hard line against highly processed foods in particular, this is pretty bad news. And to be honest, you know, the big food companies, they have been thinking about this and trying to figure out what to do for months. I'm not sure that they all really have an answer for the dietary guidelines yet. So, you know, we know that many of them have task forces that were set up to sort of deal with Maha. So they are going to be looking at how can they simplify their recipes, how can they use cleaner ingredients, how can they take out additives? Essentially, they're just trying to figure out how to make their food, you know, appear less processed. And yet this is a pretty tough task because we're also in a moment where prices, food prices and affordability are really top of mind for consumers. And a lot of these moves that they're going to have to make are going to make food more expensive, not less.

[Daniel Bock]

Okay, so there is some downside for consumers and evidently for big food businesses. But are there companies and parts of the agricultural industry that stand to benefit from these changes? I'm thinking about this huge conversation amongst Americans about eating more protein, and now we see that reflected in the guidelines.

[Jesse Newman]

Yeah, protein is obviously a huge trend. You know, I just can't underscore here in the US how, you know, pick your word craze, obsession. It seems to be a protein bonanza. It's everywhere. In fact, there was a General Mills investor day where there was a Wall street analyst who said, you know, it sort of seems like food companies are sprinkling protein over everything. And then you walk the aisles of a grocery store, and it's very true. You know, protein is being added to cereal and to snack bars and to just about every category. And that is a real tailwind for the dairy industry, for the meat and poultry industries. They are all feeling pretty good this morning. We're seeing definitely interest in products from consumers, also from private equity for goods that are high in protein. On Thursday, we saw a private equity firm take a majority stake in a small cottage Cheese brand, good culture. So whether you are a high protein yogurt or you're cottage cheese or you're a cattle rancher, the emphasis on protein is just, is really good news.

[Daniel Bock]

So good news for the dairy industry that has suffered from really low prices for a long time. How important will this be for farmers and producers?

[Jesse Newman]

You know, I would say that this is a win for dairy overall in the sense that, you know, it really promotes dairy products in particular, promotes full fat dairy products. The one place I would say, you know, it's just not a, it's not a total slam dunk. There is a lot of high sugar dairy out there. So if you think about the yogurt aisle, you've got your whole milk, plain yogurt, but then you also have plenty of yogurts with added sugar, or if they don't have added sugar, sometimes they'll have other types of alternative sweeteners. And so dairy manufacturers are going to be looking at their product lineups to see what will be a fit because there's plenty of yogurt with granola, chocolate, granola crumbles on top. That would still fall into the processed food category with a lot of added sugar. And those are less in favor by the administration.

[Daniel Bock]

Jesse Newman is a food reporter for the Journal. Jesse, thanks for your time.

[Jesse Newman]

Thanks for having me.

[Caitlin McCabe]

And in another major change, Saudi Arabia has begun allowing select residents to buy alcohol. It's part of the kingdom's push to attract expats. But as Middle east correspondent Omar Abdel Baki explains, the process of actually buying booze at the only known liquor store in the country's capital, Riyadh, remains a bit unusual.

[Omar Abdel Baki]

I spoke to an expat who did buy alcohol from the store, and basically he only knew it existed through word of mouth. It's attached to a grocery store, sort of unmarked and discreet. It's accessible to either diplomats or people with that premium residency card. And premium residency is status given to high income earners or high skilled workers, expatriates. And they verified that he was not Muslim and that he qualified to purchase alcohol through his residency status. And when they verified that he was, they put his phone in a bag so he wouldn't take pictures and he was able to peruse the liquor store. It might not sound like a big deal, but for a conservative kingdom that has banned alcohol since the 1950s, it's quite a big deal.

[Caitlin McCabe]

According to analysts and people familiar with the Saudi rulers, thinking more changes could be in store, including allowing alcohol at new resorts popping up along the Red Sea. And that's it for what's news for this Friday morning. Today's show is produced by Hattie Moyer and Daniel Bach. Our supervising producer was Sandra Kilhoff. And I'm Caitlin McCabe for the Wall Street Journal. We'll be back tonight with a new show. Until then, have a nice weekend, and thanks for listening.