Minneapolis - Again
The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command. - George Orwell, 1984
Once again, we have to start today with what’s happening in Minneapolis. I’m going to start with who Alex Pretti was, as described in a statement by his parents.
“We are heartbroken but also very angry.
“Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital. Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately, he will not be with us to see his impact. I do not throw around the hero term lightly. However, his last thought and act was to protect a woman.
“The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. He has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down all while being pepper sprayed.
“Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man. Thank you.”
In my opinion, the death of another ICE verifier was inevitable after the federal government refused to hold Renee Good’s shooter accountable – or even have an investigation. And they are at it again. And now I’m going to read several statements from officials our federal government.
“This looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement.” - Tricia McLaughlin, assistant homeland security secretary.
“A would-be assassin tried to murder federal law enforcement [officers] and the official Democrat account sides with the terrorists.” - White House Deputy Chief of Staff and Homeland Security Advisor, Stephen Miller.
“If you approach law enforcement with a gun, there is a high likelihood they will be legally justified in shooting you.” US Attorney for the Central District of California, Bill Essayli.
Alex Pretti was licensed to carry a concealed weapon. CNN’s Dana Bash brought that up to Greg Bovino of CBP, who said, “we respect that 2nd Amendment right, but those rights don’t count when you riot, and assault, delay, obstruct, and impede law enforcement officers, and most especially when you mean to do that beforehand.”
According to reporting in the Atlantic, Greg Bovino is being demoted from “commander at large” and returning to his former job in El Centro, CA, where he is expected to retire soon.
“Fearing for his life and for the lives of his fellow officers around him, an agent fired defensive shots. This looks like a situation where an individual arrived at the scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and to kill law enforcement.
“This individual impeded the law enforcement officers and attacked them. This individual came with a weapon and dozens of rounds of ammunition and attacked them. And these agents took action to defend their lives and defend the lives of the people around them and acted according to their training.” - Kristi Noem
The same article in The Atlantic quotes sources that say Kristi Noem is also at risk of losing her job. Calls to impeach Kristi Noem are growing, an impeachment resolution now has 140 cosponsors, nearly 2/3 of the Democratic caucus.
The Guardian correctly says that the Trump administration approach “prioritizes the vilification of the dead victim as to blame for the incident over preserving the neutrality of any investigative process.”
These statements from federal officials are so far removed from reality that I’m reminded of George Orwell’s 1984. “The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”
The party in 1984 had a core belief that “who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.”
We are watching this play out before our eyes. The Trump administration believes they control the present, and within minutes of the Pretti shooting they rewrote the past. Pretti was the aggressor, the attacker, his intent was evil, he was a terrorist, and just like with Renee Good, his shooting was justified.
And there are good quotes about the Pretti case as well. Quotes that show that the Trump administration does not yet fully control the present.
“It is nonsense and it’s lies,” said Minnesota governor Tim Walz at a press conference about six hours after the shooting. “They’re telling you not to trust your eyes and ears, not to trust the facts that you’re seeing in front of them.”
“In a country that has more guns than people, the mere possession of a weapon does not establish an imminent threat to officers — and neither does having a weapon and approaching officers. I don’t think there’s any evidence to confirm the official narrative at all. It’s not unlawful for someone to carry a weapon in Minnesota.” – Seth Stoughton, a former police officer and use-of-force expert who testified for prosecutors in the trial of the Minneapolis officer convicted of murdering George Floyd.
“Imagine how they lie when there’s no evidence to contradict them. And maybe that, more than anything explains why Alex Pretti really was a threat because he was brandishing a weapon, a handheld 1080P 60FPS weapon of mass illumination. Because there is nothing more dangerous to a regime predicated on lies than witnesses who capture the truth.” - Jon Stewart, the Daily Show.
“Responsible public voices should be waiting a full investigation, not making generalizations and demonizing law-abiding citizens.” – The National Rifle Association.
It’s getting a little weird when I agree with the NRA.
According to PBS, Republican Governors and Members of Congress are starting to push back.
“At best, these federal operations are a complete failure of coordination of acceptable public safety and law enforcement practices, training and leadership. At worst, it’s deliberate federal intimidation and incitement of American citizens.” – VT Governor Phil Scott.
“[…] what is the goal right now? Is it to deport every single non-U.S. citizen? I don’t think that’s what Americans want.” – OK Gov Kevin Stitt.
NE Sen. Pete Ricketts, called for a “prioritized, transparent investigation.”
“The credibility of ICE and DHS are at stake. There must be a full joint federal and state investigation. We can trust the American people with the truth.” - LA Sen. Bill Cassidy.
“I disagree with Secretary Noem’s premature DHS response, which came before all the facts were known and weakened confidence.” – UT Sen. John Curtis.
NC Sen. Tom Tillis said “any administration official who rushes to judgment and tries to shut down an investigation before it begins are doing an incredible disservice to the nation.”
It’s clear. They are losing the narrative and they know it.
They fear investigation because they fear the truth.
The American people aren’t having it. We want accountability.
Just 38% of Americans approve of Trump’s performance on immigration, down from 49% in March. A drop of 11% means 29M people have changed their mind in the last 10 months.
Don’t tell me nothing has changed.
Sources:
Greg Bovino Loses His Job, Nick Miroff, The Atlantic, Jan 26, 2026
More Hill Democrats want Kristi Noem out as DHS secretary, Nicholas Wu, Politico, Jan 26, 2026
Trump-administration-alex-pretti-shooting-statements, George Chidi, The Guardian, Jan 26, 2026
Republican calls are growing for a deeper investigation, Steven Sloan, Associated Press, Jan 26, 2026
videos-of-deadly-minneapolis-shooting-of-alex-pretti, Jim Mustian, Michael Biesecker, Associated Press, Jan 26, 2026
nra-statements-minnesota-minneapolis-shooting, Megan Ziegler, Fox9 KMSP, Jan 25, 2026
Alex Pretti’s parents’ statement, CBS News, Jan 25, 2026