MAJOR UPDATE on Trump Mobilization of TROOPS in Minnesota
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖The Trump administration's Department of Defense is readying up to 1,500 military personnel for deployment in Minnesota, allegedly without invoking the Insurrection Act.
- ❖The FBI and DOJ are reportedly investigating Minnesota's governor, mayor, and the grieving widow of Renee Good, but not the ICE agent, Jonathan Ross, who shot Good.
- ❖Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison's office and the county attorney are conducting an independent investigation into Renee Good's death, asking the public for evidence.
- ❖A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction against ICE's use of chemical agents and improper interactions with peaceful protesters, which Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem dismisses as unnecessary.
- ❖AG Ellison asserts that ICE's presence in Minneapolis, with 3,000+ agents compared to 600 local police, is causing economic disruption, violating rights, and driving up state costs.
- ❖Minnesota plans to legally challenge any federal deployment of active-duty military without the Insurrection Act, arguing it is 'completely and absolutely unnecessary, unjustified and have to go'.
- ❖The federal actions are framed as vindictive and partisan, an attempt to destabilize and impoverish Minnesota because it did not vote for Trump and has liberal policies.
- ❖AG Ellison urges Minnesotans to make the federal actions an electoral issue, holding accountable any politicians who supported the Trump administration's alleged assault on the state.
Insights
1Federal Military Mobilization in Minnesota
The Trump administration's Department of Defense is preparing to deploy up to 1,500 military personnel to Minnesota. AG Ellison states this is happening without the invocation of the Insurrection Act, which he argues is legally required for such deployments. He vows that Minnesota will challenge this in court if it occurs, asserting the deployment is unnecessary and unjustified.
Host: 'Donald Trump's Department of Defense declares that they are readying up to 1,500 military to put boots on the ground against fellow Americans in Minnesota. Is that with or without the Insurrection Act being invoked? Because last I looked that has not been invoked.' () AG Ellison: 'No, he cannot deploy active duty military on the streets of Minneapolis without invocation of this insurrection act which will trigger a court proceeding where we will show that they're completely and absolutely unnecessary, unjustified and have to go.' ()
2Alleged Federal Investigation Bias in Renee Good Case
The FBI and Department of Justice are reportedly investigating Minnesota's Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and Becca Good (the widow of Renee Good), but are explicitly not investigating Jonathan Ross, the ICE agent who shot and killed Renee Good. AG Ellison and the host characterize this as a 'cover-up' and a clear demonstration of bias, especially given public video evidence of the shooting.
Host: 'Everybody but the person who pulled the trigger three times and fired into Renee Good's head... they're not going to be investigating at all uh uh the Jonathan Ross, the ICE agent.' () Host: 'Everybody AG Ellison is being investigated by the FBI except for the person who pulled the trigger.' () Todd Blanch (DOJ official): 'No, we are not investigating.' () AG Ellison: 'How can the federal government declare that they are not investigating the death of Renee Mlin? Good and deny the state access to information that it needs to conclude its investigation. Have a word for that. It's called cover up.' ()
3Minnesota's Independent Investigation and Legal Challenge
Minnesota's Attorney General's office, in collaboration with the county attorney, has opened an independent investigation into Renee Good's death. They have established a public portal for video and statements and are working with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Additionally, AG Ellison's office is pursuing a separate case against ICE's actions, seeking a preliminary injunction to stop alleged violations of protesters' rights and unconstitutional conduct.
AG Ellison: 'We're doing the investigation we can do with what we have and are available. We've opened up a portal... the county attorney's office and the AG's office have a a memorandum of understanding where we're working together.' () Host: 'Judge Menendez issued her preliminary injunction about that and then you have your case which you'll give us an update on where some filings are due today and during the week and then Judge Mendez in that case about what your case is about will make decisions on that.' ()
4Federal Actions Framed as Political Retaliation
AG Ellison and the host assert that the Trump administration's aggressive actions in Minnesota, including the ICE surge and troop deployment threats, are not based on legitimate law enforcement needs but are vindictive, partisan retaliation because Minnesota did not vote for Trump. They argue these actions are designed to destabilize the state, harm its economy, and suppress dissent, warning other 'blue states' that they could be targeted next.
AG Ellison: 'The president is deliberately trying to destabilize and impoverish a state of the United States. Never seen it before.' () AG Ellison: 'You didn't vote for me three times. How dare you? ... I'm going to use my little chessboard to hurt you. That's what's going on. It is vindictive partisan and there is no legitimate reason for it.' () AG Ellison: 'This could be coming your way. He could target, if he could target us, he can target anyone and create an element of fear.' ()
Lessons
- Understand the legal framework governing federal troop deployments: The Insurrection Act is typically required for active-duty military to be used domestically, and states can challenge deployments made without it.
- Monitor federal-state conflicts over law enforcement and civil liberties: Be aware of how federal agencies like ICE and the DOJ operate within states, especially when state officials allege overreach or political motivation.
- Engage in local and state elections with these issues in mind: AG Ellison advocates for making federal actions against states an 'electoral issue,' urging voters to hold politicians accountable for their stance on such conflicts.
Quotes
"How can the federal government declare that they are not investigating the death of Renee Mlin? Good and deny the state access to information that it needs to conclude its investigation. Have a word for that. It's called cover up."
"No, he cannot deploy active duty military on the streets of Minneapolis without invocation of this insurrection act which will trigger a court proceeding where we will show that they're completely and absolutely unnecessary, unjustified and have to go."
"I mean, I can't imagine a moment in American history... where the president is deliberately trying to destabilize and impoverish a state of the United States. Never seen it before."
"This could be coming your way. He could target, if he could target us, he can target anyone and create an element of fear. What he's trying to do is create an atmosphere of fear where no one is willing to speak against him."
Q&A
Recent Questions
Related Episodes
Black Woman Killed in ICE Pursuit. Newsom “Can’t Read” Remark. Tariff Repayment Push. TPS Fight
"This episode dissects multiple critical events, from the tragic deaths during an ICE pursuit and a police shooting, to debunking a viral controversy around Governor Gavin Newsom's remarks, and honoring Reverend Jesse Jackson's enduring legacy in economic and media justice."
rump’s DOJ arrests journalists Don Lemon, Georgia Fort
"Federal agents arrested prominent journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort for covering a church protest, sparking widespread condemnation and raising critical questions about First Amendment rights and the weaponization of the Justice Department."
Don Lemon, Georgia Fort Arrested Over Church Protest. Press Freedom on the Line Under Trump.
"The Trump administration's arrest of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort for covering a church protest is framed as a direct assault on press freedom and a calculated distraction from the release of damaging Epstein files."
FBI Special Agent issues SHOCK TAKEDOWN of ICE
"Former FBI Special Agent Tony Box condemns ICE's actions in Minnesota, labeling the killings of Renee Good and Alex Prey as murder and criticizing the agency's inadequate training and leadership."