Bovino Out Of Minnesota, Trump Refocusing On Economy, Social Media On Trial

Summary of Bovino Out Of Minnesota, Trump Refocusing On Economy, Social Media On Trial

by NPR

13m•January 27, 2026
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Overview of Up First (NPR)

This episode of NPR’s Up First (Jan. 27) covers three main news stories: the fallout from two fatal shootings by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis and the removal of Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino from the operation there; President Trump’s trip to Iowa as he tries to refocus on the economy amid political pressure over the immigration crackdown; and the start of a landmark California trial testing whether social media companies knowingly designed apps that harm children.

Minnesota immigration operation and Greg Bovino

  • What happened

    • Greg (Gregory) Bovino, the visible Border Patrol commander leading the multi-state operation in Minnesota, is being moved back to his prior post in California and is expected to retire — effectively a demotion from leading the Minnesota operation. Border “czar” Tom Homan is set to replace him in that role.
    • The change follows outrage after two people—reported in the episode as Renee Macklingood (spelling varies in the transcript) and Alex Preddy—were fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis.

  • Investigations and legal conflict

    • Minnesota officials say state investigators have been blocked from parts of the federal investigation. DHS previously blocked the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) from investigating one shooting and refused BCA access to the scene in another case even after a state judge issued a warrant.
    • A federal judge ordered the feds not to destroy evidence; the Justice Department is challenging that order. In court, the U.S. attorney said the federal government is preserving evidence; state attorneys say they’re unsure.
    • Minnesota has sued to halt the federal operation, arguing it overwhelms local public-safety resources. State attorneys claim the Justice Department has pressured the state (citing a demand for voter rolls in a letter), while DOJ calls the lawsuit frivolous and defends its right to enforce immigration laws.
    • A chief federal judge (Patrick Schiltz) ordered acting ICE director Todd Lyons to appear in court after repeated failures to comply with orders to provide hearings for detainees.

  • Local response and mood

    • Minneapolis continues to hold vigils and protests. Thousands of federal agents remain, and residents want assurances of a thorough, independent investigation.

Trump, Iowa trip, and Republican pushback

  • Trip context

    • President Trump visited Iowa to highlight his economic agenda and to try to shift attention away from the controversy over the Minneapolis immigration operation. The White House framed the visit as the start of regular campaign travel ahead of midterms.

  • Political fallout

    • The shootings and operation have generated bipartisan criticism, including from Republicans who question the goals and tactics (e.g., Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt: “Nobody likes feds coming into their state”).
    • Some Republican lawmakers are calling for greater transparency and investigations; polling shows increasing public concern that ICE tactics have gone too far.
    • The White House initially described one of the victims as a “domestic terrorist,” then adopted a softer tone emphasizing ongoing investigations. The administration’s press secretary blamed local leaders for obstructing federal work, maintaining tension with Minnesota officials.

  • Risks

    • The controversy could complicate messaging ahead of midterms and potentially contribute to legislative friction (e.g., shutdown risks mentioned by reporters).

Social media on trial — Los Angeles case

  • Case basics

    • A California state-court trial began where a teen plaintiff (identified as “K.G.M.”) alleges she began using social media at age 10 and developed depression and body-dysmorphia linked to excessive social-media use.
    • Defendants include Instagram/Meta, YouTube, and TikTok. Jurors will see thousands of pages of internal company documents and hear expert testimony.

  • Core legal question

    • Whether companies intentionally designed features (infinite scroll, autoplay, frequent notifications) to addict young users and prioritized profit over child safety.

  • What the companies say

    • Tech firms deny the claims, argue they’ve worked to make platforms safer for kids, say “social media addiction” has no clinical diagnosis, and contend causation between platform use and mental-health harms is unproven.
    • They also raise First Amendment and federal-law defenses about operational and content decisions.

  • Potential impact

    • If juries side with plaintiffs, the decisions could reshape app design and broader internet business models; experts warn it could make the internet “less conversational” if courts regulate design choices.
    • The case is the first of many related suits (thousands of plaintiffs, including school districts and state attorneys general). Outcomes might prompt large-scale settlements similar to those in opioid or tobacco litigation.

Key takeaways and implications

  • Minnesota: The federal immigration operation in Minnesota is in legal and political flux — leadership was changed, state-federal fights are active in court, and public trust remains strained after two deadly shootings.
  • Politics: The incident is causing intra-party strain for Republicans and complicates the White House’s effort to pivot to economic messaging ahead of midterms.
  • Tech regulation: The Los Angeles trial could set important precedents on platform design liability and influence many pending cases; a plaintiff victory could trigger industry-wide changes or settlements.

Notable quotes from the episode

  • “Nobody likes feds coming into their state.” — Gov. Kevin Stitt (summarizing Republican unease over federal operations)
  • “The court’s patience is at an end.” — Chief U.S. Judge Patrick Schiltz (ordering ICE leadership to appear in court)
  • “The public is going to know for the first time what social media companies have done to prioritize their profits over the safety of our kids.” — Matthew Bergman, attorney for the teen plaintiff
  • “If the plaintiffs win, the internet will almost certainly look different.” — Eric Goldman, law professor (on potential consequences of rulings)

What to watch next

  • Federal court hearings in Minnesota, including the ordered appearance by acting ICE leadership.
  • Any changes in the size/scope of the federal operation in Minnesota and whether state investigators gain more access.
  • Congressional or intra-party Republican responses that could affect legislative dynamics ahead of midterms.
  • Progress and verdicts in the Los Angeles social media trial and related consolidated cases; potential settlement talks or industry responses.