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We are at a dangerous moment. That’s not our assessment, it’s a warning from Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, who I spoke with this morning. Pritzker was among the first governors to face Trump’s militarized ICE operations, and he spoke candidly about what happened there: Agents in camouflage and masks, driving unmarked cars, shooting residents — including one woman five times and one man fatally — then systematically lying about what happened. “This has been building up for some time now,” he told me. “DHS consistently lies.”
Pritzker tells me he believes Trump is deliberately provoking violence to justify invoking the Insurrection Act, warning that ICE and CBP are “throwing tear gas canisters when there’s no need for it” and “firing pepper pellets and rubber bullets” to escalate peaceful protests into chaos. His fear: “I also think that you haven’t seen ICE and CBP opening fire on large crowds of people…. This could explode at any minute because the president of the United States wants it to.”
The governor also draws a direct line to the 2026 midterms, arguing that Trump’s demand for state voter rolls and the militarized occupation of Democratic cities represents a strategy to disrupt elections that Trump fears he’ll lose. Pritzker urges Democrats in the Senate to refuse funding ICE’s proposed budget increase and warns: “We are about to lose our rights as U.S. citizens.”
Listen above. It’s a clarifying conversation.
In today’s newsletter, Trump tries damage control in Minnesota. Even Trump allies are demanding answers. Will government shut down over ICE funding? A federal judge is now weighing whether ICE’s presence amounts to an occupation. And some reflections on Alex Pretti from those who knew him.
Changing Face:CNN reports that Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovinowill be leaving MinneapolisTuesday.Tom Homan is headed in to try and clean up the mess there. On X Sen Lindsay Graham (R-SC) said it’s a “𝕏very good decision” and suggested Homan has the expertise to make the operation “safer.”𝕏Senate Majority Leader John Thune calledit the right step toward, “turning down the temperature” in Minnesota. On Truth Social𝕏Trump saidthat Homan “will report directly to me.” The White House is reportedly unhappy with its officials’ handling of — and messaging around — the fatal shooting there this weekend. But so far there’s no change in ICE policy.Making Nice: Trumpon Monday saidhe is “on a similar wavelength” with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz — whom he hasrepeatedly insultedas a “grossly incompetent” “weird radical liberal” who “doesn’t have a clue” — following a “very good call” between the two.According to Walz, Trump said he would look into “reducing the number of federal agents in Minnesota.” But Trump and other administration officials continue to blame Democrats for the violence, which otherwiseshows few signs of stopping. Here’s what we know.Final Strawman: At least eight Republican congresspeople are now calling for a full investigation into the death of Alex Pretti by ICE agents. (That’s as of midday Monday.) Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA) called for a “full investigation” and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA)called fora “full joint federal and state investigation”. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) said the shooting raises “serious questions” and that “agents do not have carte blanche in carrying out their duties.”Even. Rep. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) said a “prioritized, transparent investigation” is necessary to protect “the right to protest.” The GOP head of the House Homeland Security committeefervent Trump supporterssound upsetannounced he has demanded testimonyfrom leaders at ICE, CBP, and USCIS. And are you sitting down? Even Texas Gov.Greg Abott saidICE needs to “recalibrate.” Seems they’ve seen the polling.The People Don’t Like It:OneNYT poll from last weekfound that58% of US adults disapprove of Trump’s handling of immigration, and 63% disapprove of ICE’s tactics(55% strongly disapprove). Arecent AP-NORC pollfound that just 38% of US adults approve of Trump’s handling of immigration, down 11 points from ten months prior.Stand Down: The resistance to ICE’s violence seems to be penetrating Trump’s bubble. Even conservative news outlets are speaking out. The New York Post editorial boardcalled on Trumpto “de-escalate.” “The American people didn’t vote for these scenes,” the board wrote, “andyou can’t continue to order them to not believe their lying eyes.” The Wall Street Journal hassimilarly pushed Trumpto “pause ICE enforcement in the Twin Cities” and “consider a less provocative strategy,” arguing that “the President who said you have to have a heart in enforcement ought to show some.”
Positive Move or Pretense: Gov. Walz said thatin their call todayTrump agreed to ensure state agencies are “able to conduct an independent investigation” into Pretti’s death. Trumptold the Wall Street Journalhis administration is “reviewing everything” about the incident, though he refused to say whether the agent who shot Pretti acted inappropriately. State officials say the fedsblocked Minnesota investigatorsfrom accessing and reviewing evidence — as they did after the death of Renee Good — prompting state officials toget an emergency court order(from a Trump-appointed judge!) barring federal officials “from destroying or altering evidence.” Trump’s DOJ on Mondayfought the ruling, complaining state officials have no right “to dictate the federal government’s evidence-preservation procedures.”Here We Go Again: The country is barreling toward a government shutdown over ICE funding, and the dynamics have fundamentally shifted over the last 72 hours. A spending bill that would keep government open past Jan. 30 includes funding for DHS and washeaded for passage.Senate Democrats say they willSenate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)block the funding billunlessmoney for DHS is removed. The White House and GOP senators havebegun reaching outto find a way forward, but so far there’s no indication the crisis will be averted by the Jan. 30 deadline.said on Mondaythat his colleagues are prepared to pass a spending bill to keep government open “right away” if DHS funds are stripped out. But it’s not at all clear that the GOP is ready to make that compromise. It’ll be another long week. The Senate is in recess today but expected back on Tuesday. Even independent Sen. Angus King (I-ME), said this weekend that he “hates” shutdownsbut warnedhe “can’t vote for a bill that includes ICE funding under these circumstances.”Cold Feet: A federal judge heard arguments on Monday in a separate lawsuit brought by the Minnesota AG that seeks to end the unprecedented ICE operation there. “If this is not stopped right here, right now,” Minnesota Assistant Attorney General Brian Carter warned, “I don’t think anybody who is seriously looking at this problem can have much faith in how our republic is going to go in the future.” Lawyers argued the ICE surge hascrossed the linefrom mere law enforcement and hasbecome an unconstitutional“invasion and occupation.” The judgeseemed skepticalof the government’s motivation for the operation, but alsoexpressed doubts about her authority to halt it— in part because there’s so little legal precedent for this unprecedented situation.
Tear Gas, Then Gaslight: Senior administration officials blamed Pretti for his own death and slandered himwithin hours of the shooting. They called Pretti a “domestic terrorist” and “assassin” who wanted to “massacre law enforcement.” DHSclaimedPretti “violently resisted” immigration agents,one of whom“fired defensive shots” while “fearing for his life.” (Trumpinitially called Prettia “gunman,” but has otherwise not echoed these claims.) However, verified video footage and sworn witness testimony flatly contradicts this account.Videos clearly show Pretti“They shot him so many times,”holding a mobile phone(not a gun) as he tries to help another protester, then federal agents tear gas him up close, repeatedly push him, and tackle him to the ground. Slowed-down video footage appears to show that while agents are beating a prone Pretti, one agent walks away from the scuffle carrying a gun that matches the one for which Pretti had a permit. It wouldseem that this agent accidentally discharged Pretti’s gun, and in quick reaction another agent starts shooting Pretti at point-blank range. Within seconds,ten gunshots can be heard.one witness testified. “I don’t know why they shot him. He was only helping.” Another witness, a physician,testified that agents initially blockedhim from administering aid. Video shows one agent𝕏searching Pretti’s pockets and body, perhaps looking for the gun that had been removed.According to the physician, no agents were performing CPR. Instead, they “appeared to be counting [Pretti’s] bullet wounds.”Real Hypocrites: Senior administration officials — whoblamed Pretti for carrying a firearmdespite the fact he was a legal gun owner and his gun taken before he was shot — arefacing pushback from gun advocacy organizationsnormally aligned with Republicans. Several gun rights groups condemned the administration’s comments as undermining the First and Second Amendments. As thepresident of the Minnesota Gun Owners Law Center noted, you “don’t have to choose between exercising your First Amendment rights or your Second Amendment rights.” Recall that in 2020, Trump himselfdefended armed protesterswhostormed state capitolsduring COVID lockdowns. He called them “very good people” andtold governorsto “see them, talk to them, make a deal.” He said they “seem to be very responsible people” who had just “been treated a little bit rough.” Trump had earlierurged protestors in a series of tweetsto “LIBERATE MICHIGAN!” “LIBERATE MINNESOTA” “LIBERATE VIRGINIA, and save your great 2nd Amendment. It is under siege!” You may also remember many of these same administration officialssupporting Kyle Rittenhouse, whoshot and killed two protestorsin 2020. He was rewarded with a Mar-a-Lagomeeting with Trump, who called him a “nice young man.” Rittenhouse recently𝕏joked about doing the same in Minnesota.
Truth Shines Through: Pretti’s family on Sunday denounced the “sickening lies told about our son…
