Overview of Resistance is fatal: another killing in Minneapolis
This episode of The Intelligence (The Economist) covers three distinct stories: the killing of a Minneapolis man (named in the transcript as Alex Preti) by federal agents during immigration enforcement, the financial and strategic pressures facing OpenAI as it scales its AI infrastructure, and a UK conservation effort to save native red squirrels from invasive grey squirrels. The main focus is the political and social fallout from the Minneapolis shooting—conflicting video evidence versus official accounts, the federal–state tension over immigration enforcement, and the potential political objectives behind aggressive operations. Shorter segments examine OpenAI’s massive cash burn and capacity expansion, and an innovative contraceptive-feeder project aimed at reducing grey squirrel numbers to protect native red squirrels.
Key points and takeaways
Minneapolis shooting and national politics
- Incident: Federal Border Patrol/ICE agents shot a Minneapolis man (transcript: "Alex Preti") multiple times during an operation. Multiple bystander videos circulated online showing a different scene than official statements.
- Official narrative: Border Patrol/Bureau statements (quoted commander Greg Bovino and Secretary Kristi Noem) claim the man approached agents armed and violently resisted, prompting an agent to fire in self‑defense.
- Counter-narrative: Minnesota governor Tim Walz and others point to videos that suggest the man was not brandishing a weapon and may have been trying to intervene or de‑escalate; observers call for independent investigation.
- Political context: The Economist’s Edward Carr (deputy editor) suggests the raids may be politically motivated—targeting Democratic-run, sanctuary cities (Minneapolis noted for its recent policing controversies and protests)—and intended to energize conservative voters by portraying Democratic cities as lawless.
- Broader implications:
- Erodes public trust: Official accounts that conflict with widely viewed video fuel doubts about the administration’s narrative control.
- Federal–state tension: Minnesota officials say federal agencies were imposed on the city and local authorities have been sidelined in investigating the shootings.
- Public opinion & policy stakes: A YouGov poll cited shows significant public skepticism about these shootings (about half say the shooting wasn’t justified; viewing video increases that skepticism). Debate over DHS/ICE funding (upcoming budget vote) could become a flashpoint.
OpenAI’s finances and strategic pressures
- Cash burn and scale: Leaked/reported figures show enormous cash burn (cited as ~$17 billion in 2026 in the episode) driven mainly by rapidly expanding compute infrastructure—training and inference costs.
- Infrastructure growth: OpenAI’s compute reportedly grew from ~200 MW in 2023 to ~1,900 MW in 2025; the company expects further large increases (estimates of developing capacity growth and huge associated capital costs up to the trillions over several years).
- Revenue and monetization challenges: Inference costs have outstripped revenues at times. OpenAI is testing/subscribing to monetization strategies (new subscription tiers, ad-supported tiers, potential device plans), but success is uncertain.
- Competition: Google’s Gemini and other open-source/open-weight models are closing the performance gap; Google reportedly won a Siri-related contract with Apple, underscoring competition.
- Funding and risk: OpenAI is seeking very large rounds of funding (reported as up to $100 billion) and a very high valuation (~$750–$830 billion). Analysts warn this may be a make‑or‑break year—if monetization fails, the company’s heavy spending could become unsustainable.
UK red vs grey squirrels and conservation innovation
- Problem: Native red squirrel populations in England are small (~39,000) versus ~2.5 million invasive grey squirrels. Greys outcompete reds and carry squirrelpox virus, deadly to red squirrels; greys also damage trees by stripping bark.
- Solution: The Red Squirrel Recovery Network (RSRN) and partners are trialing a contraceptive bait (hazelnut butter formula) delivered via a weight‑sensitive feeder that only allows access to animals above a threshold (~450 g), effectively excluding smaller red squirrels.
- Goals & support: The aim is to reduce grey numbers humanely and boost red populations. Public concern about wildlife loss is high (cited: ~88% of Britons worry about wildlife decline); the UK has notably depleted biodiversity among G7 countries.
Notable quotes and insights
- Governor Tim Walz: “Thank God we have video… What is the plan, Donald Trump? What is the plan?” — framing the incident as symptomatic of a broader federal strategy and demanding accountability.
- Edward Carr: Emphasized the need for independent investigations and warned against the administration “rushing to judgment” and defining the story before independent fact‑finding.
- Political observation: The operation can be read as part of a strategy to polarize voters by portraying Democratic cities as "dangerous" and to mobilize the Republican base.
- On truth and narrative: The episode stresses the tension between visible evidence (videos) and official narratives; when governments insist their version supersedes what people see, it becomes an assertion of power that undermines credibility.
Action items — what to watch next
- Minneapolis case:
- Follow independent investigations and any release of law‑enforcement bodycam footage and forensic findings.
- Monitor demonstrations in Minneapolis (scale and whether they remain peaceful), and the political fallout in Washington—especially votes on DHS/ICE funding.
- OpenAI:
- Track OpenAI’s fundraising moves, monetization performance (subscriptions, ads), and any announced hardware/device plans.
- Watch developments from competitors (Google Gemini, open‑weight models) and major contracts (e.g., with Apple) that could shift market dynamics.
- Conservation:
- Monitor outcomes from RSRN trials of contraceptive bait + weight‑sensitive feeders, and any scaling/adoption beyond trial sites.
- Keep an eye on related UK biodiversity policies and public funding/support for wildlife restoration projects.
Short summary
This episode links a contentious federal raid in Minneapolis—where video evidence clashes with official accounts—to broader political aims and public distrust, examines OpenAI’s risky, capital‑intensive growth amid intensifying competition, and highlights an inventive, humane conservation tactic in Britain to save red squirrels from invasive greys. Each story raises the theme of competition: between citizens and state narratives, companies vying for AI dominance, and species competing for survival.