Overview of Up First — "Minnesota ICE Shooting Aftermath, Senate DHS Funding Vote, Icy Weather"
This episode (Up First, NPR; hosts Leila Faldin and Michelle Martin) covers three main stories: the killing of a Minneapolis resident by federal immigration agents and the local fallout; the potential congressional standoff over Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding tied to that incident; and a major winter storm that knocked out power, canceled thousands of flights, and created hazardous conditions across much of the U.S.
Key takeaways
- Video evidence released and verified by NPR contradicts the Trump administration’s initial claims that the victim brandished a weapon.
- The second recent fatal shooting of a Minneapolis resident by federal immigration agents has escalated local protests and prompted legal fights over investigative access.
- Senate Democrats say they will withhold votes for DHS funding unless additional oversight/guardrails are added, putting a larger federal spending package at risk of delay or partial shutdown.
- A widespread winter storm left hundreds of thousands without power (especially across the South), caused multiple deaths, and led to the cancellation of over 10,000 flights.
Minneapolis shooting — what happened and why it matters
- Incident: A 37-year-old Minneapolis resident (identified in coverage as Alex Preddie; transcript contains variant spellings) was shot and killed by federal agents. This is the second such fatal shooting in the city in recent weeks (the earlier victim named in reporting as Renee Macklin).
- Administration narrative vs. video: DHS and senior administration officials publicly characterized the victim as armed and dangerous. NPR-verified footage shows the person holding what appears to be a phone, being tackled and beaten by masked federal officers, sprayed with a chemical agent, pinned down, and then shot after an agent appears to pull an object (claimed by DHS to be a gun) from the victim’s waistband. Reporters counted roughly 10 rounds fired.
- Local reaction: Large, mostly peaceful protests have erupted. Reporters and local officials describe the mood as grief and anger and say many residents fear federal tactics used in raids.
Investigation and legal questions
- State investigators (Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension) say DHS has blocked their access to the scene; they sought court intervention.
- A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order preventing Homeland Security officers from destroying or altering evidence related to the death.
- Concerns raised about the independence and credibility of any investigation led or controlled by DHS/ICE.
Congressional response — DHS funding standoff and shutdown risk
- Senate Democrats announced they will withhold votes for DHS funding unless additional guardrails/oversight are attached, creating leverage because the Senate needs some Democratic support for the full spending package.
- Stakes: The funding measure is part of a larger $1.3 trillion spending package that funds defense, health programs and more; rejecting DHS funding could imperil the broader package and create partial government shutdown risk.
- What Democrats want: More oversight, stronger limits on use of force, expansion of body cameras for officers—Democrats previously won some funding for body cameras but seek additional policy changes.
- Political dynamics: Some Republican senators have called for an independent investigation. Procedural obstacles exist (House in recess, Speaker uncertainty) and splitting DHS funding out of the mega-bill would require GOP leadership cooperation.
- Notable quote: Senator Amy Klobuchar — "When they're killing two constituents in my state and they're taking two-year-olds out of the arms of their mom, no, I am not voting for this funding."
Winter storm impacts
- Geographic spread: From the Deep South (Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, etc.) to New England (Massachusetts, New York area), with varying precipitation types—heavy snow in some areas and damaging ice in parts of the South.
- Power outages: Hundreds of thousands without electricity—e.g., over 300,000 customers offline in Tennessee at one point, with more than 180,000 in Mississippi during peak outages. Restoration could take days due to hazardous conditions and persistent freezing temperatures.
- Infrastructure and safety: Fallen trees and ice-covered roads made travel dangerous; warming centers opened but access is limited in rural areas.
- Air travel: More than 10,000 flights canceled over the weekend (largest single-day cancellations since early COVID pandemic); major disruptions around Washington, New York, and Boston; airlines expected to cancel additional flights while they rebalance crews and aircraft.
- Advice from officials: Stay off icy roads to allow emergency crews to work; monitor utility updates and local emergency resources.
Notable quotes and soundbites
- Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino / White House commentary characterized the victim as armed and a “would-be assassin” (Stephen Miller quote referenced).
- NPR reporter Jasmine Garst on local mood: grief, anger, and “a sense that this city is at a breaking point.”
- Senator Amy Klobuchar: “When they're killing two constituents in my state ... no, I am not voting for this funding.”
What to watch next
- Outcomes of any independent or federal investigations and court rulings about investigative access and evidence preservation.
- Whether Senate leadership and House Republicans agree to strip DHS funding from the larger spending package or negotiate additional guardrails.
- Power restoration progress and flight rescheduling over the coming days; travel advisories and airline communications if you have flights.
Production credits (episode)
- Hosts: Leila Faldin and Michelle Martin
- Reporting from Minneapolis: Jasmine Garst; congressional reporting: Sam Greenglass; storm reporting: Joel Rose
- Episode editors and producers listed in the episode (full credits in transcript).
If you want a shorter bullet summary or timestamps for each segment, say which format you prefer and I’ll condense it accordingly.