WSJ What’s News: Pretti Shooting Escalates Standoff Between Federal Agents, Minnesota Officials

Date: January 26, 2026
Host: Luke Vargas (The Wall Street Journal)

Overview

This episode covers the deepening crisis following the shooting of Alex Preddy, a Minneapolis nurse and legal observer, by federal agents during protest activity. The fallout includes a fierce jurisdictional standoff between federal and Minnesota officials, a rare fracture among gun rights advocates, and political maneuvering in Washington amid rising public outrage. The show also touches on major domestic and international financial developments.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Preddy Shooting: Timeline and Contradictions

• Incident Recap:

  • Federal agents shot and killed Alex Preddy, an intensive care nurse identified as a legal observer, during weekend protests in Minneapolis.
  • Bystander footage challenges the DHS narrative of violent resistance, showing a different sequence of events.

• President’s Response:

  • President Trump stated the administration is investigating, but refused to say if the shooting was justified. He also criticized Preddy for carrying a gun:

    “[Preddy’s] 9 millimeter semiautomatic handgun [was] very dangerous and unpredictable.” (Luke Vargas relaying Trump’s comments) [00:32]

• Video Evidence Contradicts Official Account:

  • Visual Investigations reporter Brenna Smith details the event chronology per video review:
    • Preddy, filming with two civilians, was followed by an agent who shoved one associate.
    • Preddy interposed himself between the fallen person and the officer, who then used chemical spray.
    • DHS agents swarmed the group, separated Preddy, and apparently confiscated his firearm before shooting him.

    “Bystander footage then shows one officer seemingly withdrawing a gun from Preddy, and soon after another officer begins to fire at him.” (Brenna Smith) [01:42]

    • An audio expert confirmed 10 gunshots in 5 seconds, likely from one federal agent.

    “Officers then [are] shouting ‘where is the gun?’ as they’re applying first aid to Preddy.” (Brenna Smith) [02:58]

2. Federal–State Standoff: Law Enforcement Turf War

• Jurisdiction Clash:

  • Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara ordered his officers to stay at the scene, refused to cede control to federal agents.
  • Minnesota’s top investigators were blocked by federal officers even with a signed search warrant.

  “Federal operations in the city have gotten out of hand.” (Chief O’Hara via CBS) [03:44]

• Legal and Political Response:

  • Minnesota’s attorney general filed a suit to prevent DHS and DOJ from destroying evidence.
  • Homeland Security dismissed destruction allegations as “an attempt to divide the American people.” (DHS spokeswoman) [04:04]
  • Secretary Kristi Noem promised details would be disclosed as “appropriate.”

    “The information is consistently coming out when it’s appropriate...That’s exactly what President Trump and his administration want.” (Kristi Noem relayed by Brenna Smith) [04:36]

3. National Political Fallout

• Gun Rights Lobby Criticizes Trump Administration:

  • FBI Director Cash Patel’s comments on Fox News sparked backlash:

    “You cannot bring a firearm loaded with multiple magazines to any sort of protest that you want. It’s that simple.” (Cash Patel) [04:49]

  • Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus: Patel “completely incorrect” on Minnesota law.
  • The NRA: Officials “shouldn’t be demonizing law-abiding citizens.”

• Senate Democrats Threaten Government Shutdown:

  • Democrats refuse to fund government unless DHS reforms are included, risking a shutdown.
  • Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) calls for bipartisan action:

    “Our Republican colleagues have to stand up and stop this.” (Amy Klobuchar) [05:53]

  • Klobuchar opposes abolishing ICE, but pledges to vote against DHS funding:

    “And no, I am not voting for this funding.” (Amy Klobuchar) [06:09]

4. Other Headlines (Briefly Covered)

• US Winter Storm:
  • Widespread snow, power outages, and oil/natural gas production disruptions. (Luke Vargas) [07:22]
• Vaccine Recommendations:
  • The CDC shrank its recommended childhood vaccine schedule; the American Academy of Pediatrics calls the move unscientific. (Luke Vargas) [07:22]
• China Military Corruption Probe:
  • General Jiang Youxia, a top military official, accused of leaking secrets and bribery.
• Gold and Silver Historical Rally:
  • Gold hits $5,000/oz (up 17% for the year); silver up 55%. Analyst attributes this to political uncertainty, Fed rate moves, and global central banks diversifying reserves.

    “Central banks and other countries that aren’t aligned with the west started thinking, hang on, do I really want to hold quite so many dollars? Maybe I should own some gold...” (Market Analyst) [10:28]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump (Paraphrased by Host):

  “Preddy’s 9 millimeter semiautomatic handgun [was] very dangerous and unpredictable.” [00:32]

• Brenna Smith, Visual Investigations Reporter:

  “What these videos show is before the shooting, Preddy was seemingly with two other civilians...a crowd of DHS agents then swarms the civilians...one officer seemingly withdrawing a gun from Preddy, and soon after another officer begins to fire at him.” [01:42]

• Chief Brian O’Hara:

  “Federal operations in the city have gotten out of hand.” [03:44]

• FBI Director Cash Patel:

  "You cannot bring a firearm loaded with multiple magazines to any sort of protest that you want. It’s that simple.” [04:49]

• Senator Amy Klobuchar:

  “Our Republican colleagues have to stand up and stop this.” [05:53]
  “And no, I am not voting for this funding.” [06:09]

• Market Analyst on Central Bank Gold Buying:

  “Central banks and other countries that aren’t aligned with the west started thinking, hang on, do I really want to hold quite so many dollars? Maybe I should own some gold in my foreign exchange reserves in case my dollar holdings get weaponized in the same way.” [10:28]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Preddy Shooting & Investigation: 00:18 – 04:49
• Gun Rights, Political Fallout, Senate Response: 04:49 – 06:11
• Other News (Weather, Vaccines, China, Gold): 07:22 – 11:18

Tone & Language

The episode maintains the Wall Street Journal's measured, factual news tone while conveying mounting urgency over the Minneapolis standoff and its national repercussions. The reporting includes direct expert and witness analysis, neutral summaries of political disputes, and a focus on evidence-based journalism (notably through the bystander video investigation).

This summary captures all significant news and detailed discussion around the Preddy case, the ensuing law enforcement and political crisis, and high-level overviews of other business and international events featured in the episode.