Why is Trump obsessed with Minneapolis? | Today, Explained

Minnesota has become ground zero for the biggest federal immigration operation in US history. Thousands of immigration officers are patrolling the streets of Minneapolis, leading to the death of one anti-ICE protester, Renee Nicole Good, and setting off a massive swirl of protests. Vice President JD Vance visited Minneapolis late this week — showing his support for law enforcement, and sending a political message at the same time: that this White House is doubling down on its war against blue cities, and Minneapolis specifically. Now, President Trump has subpoenaed the state’s top Democratic officials, alleging they were impeding federal immigration enforcement actions. The Justice Department has promised to arrest anyone who impedes the immigration enforcement actions, and a Trump official accused some state officials of “terrorism.” With Minnesota now in a full-blown conflict with the Trump administration, the Democratic state leadership is front and center in the standoff. In this video episode of Vox’s Today, Explained podcast, host Astead Herndon interviews Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison about the Somali fraud scandal that first brought on the ICE surge in his state. Did Democratic officials do enough to staunch the fraud? What more could they have done to cut the fraud off at its knees? And now that ICE is in Minnesota, what more can they do? Are the courts the only recourse, if President Trump does as he has been threatening, and invokes the Insurrection Act? 00:00 Intro 01:21 The fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good 03:26 The DOJ going after Democratic state officials 07:38 Minneapolis protests against ICE 10:17 Trump's threat to impose the Insurrection Act in Minneapolis 12:30 "Defund the Police" and "Abolish ICE" 16:41: Is Minneapolis a sanctuary city? 19:19 The fallout of the Somali fraud scandal in Minnesota 23:40 The fallout from the scandal on Democratic leadership 24:29 Pushing back on the Trump administration Today, Explained is a