Minnesota Is America's Future
The future of the US is playing out, and being determined, on the streets of Minneapolis.
We are often told, particularly in California, that California is the future, but in 2026 that is no longer true. To understand what America’s future will look like, climate notwithstanding, we are better off turning our attention to Minnesota. That is the state where Trump’s Gestapo has been clashing with Americans who have braved freezing temperatures and genuine physical danger to stand up for their country, democracy and our rights.
Two people have already been killed by federal forces this year in Minnesota. These executions of American citizens who, despite the disinformation campaigns from the regime, were guilty of absolutely nothing, at the hands of the state are terrifying and a deliberate reminder by the regime that they will stop at nothing to implement their nefarious policies and please their leaders.
The demonstrations in Minneapolis do not appear to be fading away and ICE and their bosses seem to be more confrontational with each passing day. At a moment that desperately calls for deescalation, Trump’s thuggish Praetorian Guard is doing precisely the opposite. This means that the possibility for significantly more violence cannot be ruled out.
While I remain convinced, perhaps naively, that we cannot-and should not-resolve our difference violently, ICE has already dramatically increased the violence over the last year. It would be foolish to assume that will fade away and peace will be restored, and a huge mistake to assume that is the only direction this can take.
It has been clear for some time now that we are in a new America, one where the norms, mores, laws and even Constitution no longer apply. All those ideas and documents were flawed in many ways, but together they defined a time of our political life that is now over. The question of what will come next is still unanswered, but Minnesota is providing some clues.
The clashes in Minnesota highlight the regime’s willingness to use violence to achieve its goals and intimidate its opponents. Everybody who protests ICE now will do so with the memory of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Jeffrey Pretti in their minds, and some part of us will think we might be next. This is a big part of the reason why ICE agents and federal troops killed those two people. Similarly, the slanderous disinformation campaigns following the killings of both these people is the regime’s way to remind us that they will give no quarter and will not think twice about defaming and lying about their victims.
Events in Minnesota also demonstrate both the fragility of the American political system and how vulnerable it is to a regime that is willing to break laws, ignore norms and use violence. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have been spoken eloquently and powerfully against the regime and in support of the demonstrators. They have been unequivocally critical of ICE, expressed outrage at the two executions and urged demonstrators to remain peaceful. However, other than words these local leaders have few tools at their disposal.
ICE has made it clear they do not care much about the wishes, rights or authority of local elected officials. Moreover, while Governor Walz could have brought in the National Guard, it is unclear what that would have accomplished as Trump could have simply nationalized the Minnesota National Guard. The American federalist system, long rhetorically treasured by conservatives, has proved relatively unhelpful in constraining ICE violence.
Following the murder of Pretti, the regime has made some mild efforts at possible deescalation, notably replacing Greg Bovino, who had been border patrol commander at large and responsible for the attacks in Minnesota, with Tom Homan, who is Trump’s border czar. It is not at all clear what difference this will make. The de facto firing of Bovino suggests the regime understands that things are not going well for them in Minnesota, but it is likely they see this as a problem of media relations rather than substance.
There is no going back after what the world has witnessed in Minnesota this month. Millions of people have seen the videos of Good and Pretti being executed and heard the disinformation campaigns from the regime following these killings. The fascistic rantings of Stephen Miller, who sounds equal parts Joseph Goebbels and Eric Cartman, about how ICE has complete immunity, can do what whatever they want and are unequivocally above the law, cannot be unheard, and reflect the true feelings of the regime. None of this can change or be forgotten, even if every ICE agent left Minnesota today.
The damage has been done and the true face of the Trump regime, for those who have chosen not to see it over the last year, has now been made too visible and obvious to ignore. This is what the regime is. The question we now face is whether the future of the US is the Trump regime or the Americans defending their, and all oour, rights and democracy, in the chilly Minnesota winter.