Democracy on ICE? The mood turns in America

Summary of Democracy on ICE? The mood turns in America

by The Economist

26m•January 30, 2026
Listen to Episode

Overview of Democracy on ICE? The mood turns in America

This episode of The Economist’s The Intelligence (hosted by Jason Palmer) covers three main items: the political fallout from federal immigration-enforcement actions in Minneapolis and Congress’s response; signs that Kim Jong-un may be grooming a daughter for succession in North Korea; and an obituary for Mark Tully, the BBC’s long-time Delhi bureau chief. The show ties immediate events to broader institutional and historical questions: how Congress, courts and civic protest constrain executive power in the U.S.; how North Korea manages dynastic succession; and how a correspondent shaped British and Indian understandings of modern India.

ICE, Minneapolis and U.S. institutional checks

  • Incident and context

    • The episode opens with the recent killing of “Alex Pretty” (shot by a federal agent in Minneapolis) and the earlier death of “Renee Good,” raising alarm about ICE/CBP tactics and federal operation “surges” in cities.
    • Minneapolis became the focal point of public outrage and sustained grassroots protest and documentation.

  • Political and institutional response

    • Congress intervened: Democrats pushed back against expanding ICE powers and used the threat of a shutdown to extract concessions — a short-term win that bought two more weeks of DHS funding while negotiations continue.
    • Some Republican voices expressed concern; leadership changes in Minneapolis enforcement: Greg Bovino (CBP) was moved out and Tom Homan (immigration “czar”) installed, adopting a more conciliatory tone and promising professional conduct and accountability.
    • A federal judge warned ICE is ignoring court orders; a judge noted the administration had ignored ~100 court orders in January (per discussion), raising questions about judicial enforcement.

  • Data and trends cited

    • Cato Institute: only ~5% of recent detainees had violent convictions — suggesting ICE’s net has been wide.
    • Immigration agents roughly doubled in the past year; the administration seeks broader deportation powers.

  • Public mood and risk

    • Polling mentioned: three in five Americans think immigration-enforcement tactics are too forceful.
    • Observers warn protests are time-limited instruments to force leaders to act; risk exists that escalations (e.g., property damage) could be used to justify a law-and-order response.
    • The episode frames this as a test of U.S. checks and balances: whether courts and Congress can restrain an assertive executive branch.

  • Notable quotes

    • Tom Homan (tone shift): “Nothing’s ever perfect. Anything can be improved on…If they don’t, they’ll be dealt with.”
    • Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey: “This kind of conduct and siege needs to stop…nationwide.” (paraphrase)

North Korea: a daughter in the spotlight

  • Core observation

    • Kim Jong-un has been increasingly showcasing a young female companion—referred to in state media as the “respected child” and commonly named Kim Ju-ae / Kim Joo-yee—at high-profile events including the Grand Mausoleum, missile tests, embassy receptions, and on a recent Beijing trip.

  • Why this matters

    • The girl’s repeated and elevated public appearances, symbolism (standing next to missiles, association with a white horse), deference from military officers, and presence at diplomatic events suggest she may be being groomed for succession.
    • South Korean analysts think the daughter could be positioned as a fourth-generation leader; there’s speculation her status might be formalized at the forthcoming party congress.

  • Complications and context

    • North Korea’s patrilineal, patriarchal tradition raises questions about acceptance of a female ruler; the regime has elevated women under Kim Jong-un (e.g., sister in high power, first female foreign minister), but dynastic legitimacy could be challenged.
    • Kim may also have a son; some analysts say the daughter could be a decoy until a son matures.
    • Noah Snyder’s analysis: Kim’s focus is internal stability—he’s trying to reduce the chances of intra-elite threats by introducing potential successors publicly and earlier than past Kims did.

Mark Tully obituary — legacy and perspective

  • Who he was

    • Mark Tully, long-time BBC Delhi bureau chief for 20+ years, known as “the Voice of India” for broadcasts that reached about 50 million people (broadcasts translated into six Indian languages).

  • Career highlights and style

    • Reported on major Indian events: Bhopal disaster, Ayodhya riots (where he was physically assaulted), the Sikh Golden Temple attack, and the aftermath of Indira Gandhi’s assassination.
    • Praised for reporting from villages, tea houses and railways — bringing ordinary Indians’ views to international audiences.
    • Deep interest in faith and spirituality; after leaving the BBC in 1994 (following a dispute with BBC leadership), he stayed in India and presented Something Understood, a program about faith and the arts.

  • Views and concerns

    • Tully worried about religious tensions and the erosion of secularism in India, particularly with the rise of Hindutva and Narendra Modi’s politics.
    • He remained attached to India: born there, spent most of his life there, and intended to die there.

  • Closing note

    • Tully died aged 90; the obituary frames his life as circle-shaped—beginning and ending in India—with a journalist’s moral commitment to listening and bearing witness.

Key takeaways and implications

  • Short-term political effects
    • Congress can still act as a check when pressured (threat of shutdown), but concessions are temporary and broader policy battles over ICE funding and powers continue.
  • Institutional tests
    • Courts face enforcement challenges if the executive ignores orders; potential escalation to the Supreme Court looms.
  • Civic power
    • Sustained local protest and grassroots documentation played a decisive role in publicizing abuses and pressuring political responses.
  • North Korea
    • Public grooming of a possible female successor signals regime concern about internal continuity and a strategy of visible succession planning.
  • Media and memory
    • Mark Tully’s career underscores the role of steady, local reporting in shaping international understanding and protecting democratic values like secularism by holding power to account.

Recommended follow-ups (from the episode)

  • The Economist’s Checks and Balance podcast will air a deeper discussion of ICE and U.S. institutions (available later the same day and every Friday).
  • Watch for North Korea’s party congress for any formal recognition of succession plans.
  • Keep an eye on judicial rulings and enforcement actions related to ICE/CBP and on congressional negotiations over DHS funding.

Promos noted in the episode: a Blue Apron ad and a mention of Season 3 of Boss Class (focused on generative AI at work).