Overview of Left, Right & Center
This episode of Left, Right & Center (host David Greene) examines three connected themes: the federal ICE deployment and street protests in Minneapolis after the killing of Renee Nicole Good; President Trump’s threats to invoke the Insurrection Act and to pressure institutions (including the Fed); and broader questions about executive power, accountability, protest tactics, and U.S. foreign-policy posture. Guests Mo Alethi (left) and Sarah Isger (right) debate legality, political strategy, and practical responses — with listener comments from the show’s Substack threaded into the conversation.
Participants
- David Greene — host
- Mo Alethi — executive director, Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service (left)
- Sarah Isger — senior editor at The Dispatch, ABC News legal analyst (right)
Key topics covered
- Minneapolis: ICE deployment, protests, and the death of Renee Nicole Good
- President Trump’s public threats (Insurrection Act) and rhetoric about using force
- Legal and ethical questions around protest, civil disobedience, and law enforcement conduct
- Accountability and transparency for federal agents (ICE)
- Federal Reserve independence: DOJ probe, Powell’s statement, removal power and political pressure
- U.S. foreign-policy posture: Iran protests, Greenland remarks, Venezuela, and China/Taiwan implications
- Listener reactions (Left, Right & Center Substack)
- Lighter items: rants & raves including a Verizon outage and NFL playoffs
Main takeaways
- Minneapolis crisis is political and legal:
- Mo: The administration is intentionally flexing force to create chaos and show power; the ICE deployment goes beyond stated fraud-fighting aims and risks unchecked federal muscle in cities.
- Sarah: Interior enforcement is meant as a deterrent—sending a message that noncooperation by sanctuary jurisdictions will be countered by interior operations. She stresses legal channels (Congress) for changing policy.
- Legal complexity and uncertainty shape public reaction:
- Panelists agreed legal facts matter but are contested. They debated whether ICE could lawfully stop Renee Good and whether her actions constituted unlawful interference; much depends on the detailed facts and legal standards (e.g., reasonable suspicion, impeding a federal officer).
- Sarah warned against labeling the officer’s act as “murder” without legal basis; others argued the killing was unnecessary and emblematic of lack of accountability.
- Civil disobedience vs. dangerous confrontation:
- Both guests cited the 1960s civil-rights model — peaceful protest that accepts arrest to build public sentiment — as the most constructive and historically effective approach.
- They warned that attempts to evade arrest or provoke violent confrontations (which risk safety and political backlash) are counterproductive.
- Accountability recommendations for ICE and federal agents:
- Proposals mentioned: visible ID for agents, removal of masks, body cameras, coordination with local law enforcement, independent investigations into uses of force, and greater congressional oversight (including changing rules that shield federal officers).
- Fed independence and political pressure:
- Trump’s administration pursuing a DOJ probe into Fed Chair Jerome Powell (renovation testimony) was framed as political retribution and a threat to Fed independence.
- Legal questions include what “for cause” removal requires and whether the president can act against a Fed chair — and the political fallout included Republican pushback on confirming Fed nominees.
- Foreign-policy posture:
- Panelists framed Trump’s rhetoric/ideas (Greenland, Venezuela, signal to Iranian protesters) as muscular, transactional, and at times alienating to allies.
- Discussed a potential shift from a post-World War II alliance-centered order toward a raw power-based “territory and influence” view (U.S., China, Russia), and raised the practical test of how far the U.S. will go regarding Taiwan/China.
Notable quotes & lines of argument
- Mo Alethi: The administration “wants widespread chaos in the streets as a pretext” — framing the deployment as intentional muscle-flexing.
- Sarah Isger: If you don’t like the law, “go to Congress” — emphasizing legal/political remedies over confronting officers.
- Paraphrased from Stephen Miller (cited by guests): the world is “defined by strength and power” (used to explain a certain White House worldview).
- Mo on accountability: Transparency (IDs, body cams, coordination) is essential and currently lacking.
- Powell’s message (summarized): criminal investigation threatens Fed independence; monetary policy should be evidence-based, not politically directed.
Practical action items & recommendations (from the discussion)
- For protesters and organizers:
- Prefer civil-disobedience methods that accept arrest rather than attempts to evade or provoke law enforcement.
- Train for de-escalation and safety when monitoring or protesting ICE activity (to reduce risk in a volatile environment).
- For advocates and citizens:
- Pressure Congress for oversight reforms: require transparency, change statutes that create strong immunities for federal officers (e.g., removal/section 1442 issues) and mandate independent investigations of federal-use-of-force incidents.
- For voters and civic actors:
- Ask candidates how they would respond to major geopolitical questions (e.g., Taiwan) and what limits they place on executive power.
- For local authorities:
- Demand coordination, transparent rules of engagement, and independent reviews when federal deployments occur in cities.
Areas of unresolved debate / watchlist
- Legal outcome and accountability in the Renee Nicole Good shooting — investigations and legal determinations remain central and contested.
- Whether invocation (or threat) of the Insurrection Act will be pursued, and under what legal standards.
- How Congress and courts respond to alleged politicization of institutions (DOJ probe of the Fed, removal power cases before the Supreme Court).
- Geopolitical direction: whether future administrations will re-center allies/alliances or pursue a more transactional, power-based global posture.
Short listener highlights & lighter notes
- Substack and listener comments were used to surface concerns about ICE provoking public reaction, whether protesters are disproportionately privileged, and how to hold the agency accountable.
- Rants & raves: David lamented the Steelers’ playoff exit; all three hosts discussed the impact of a recent Verizon outage (unexpectedly rediscovering terrestrial radio and the limits of mobile dependence).
This episode blends legal analysis, political strategy, and civic prescription: the core tension is how a democratic society balances lawful protest and accountability with public safety and the rule of law — while also guarding institutional independence (e.g., the Fed) and managing an evolving global order.