Steven T. Dennis

On Friday, the odds of the Senate passing the megabus were very high. It had been negotiated by top Democrats including Patty Murray! 24 hours later, the killing of one VA ICU nurse on his knees carrying a phone in his hand, Alex Pretti, led to a tsunami of outrage and demands for changes.

Photo at the memorial site for Alex Pretti, where a sign lays next to flowers and reads “MINN IS ❤️ PRETTI GOOD” and “Thank You Alex”

📍 Minneapolis

Steph Curry on watching the protests from his hotel window: "In negative 10-degree weather. It was beautiful to see that turnout. That speaks to how important people felt to have their voice heard. In those elements and whatever streets outside our hotel, they were out, and it was amazing to watch."

They are in Maine now.

Sen. Collins says she talked to Secretary Noem this morning, but has not received an official response to the questions she's asking about ICE operations in Maine

Says DHS bill includes "many important changes" on body cameras, IG review of detention centers and OBBB spending

Receipts:

Could be seen as a dig at 2028 Ted Cruz rival JD Vance, who RT'ed Stephen Miller calling Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse at a VA hospital who was shot on his knees with a cell phone in his hand, an "assassin."

ICE tactics were already broadly unpopular before Pretti's killing.

01/26/2026 15:27:26[TWT] Priscilla Alvarez @priscialva BREAKING: Top Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino and some of his agents are expected to leave Minneapolis and return to their respective sectors, sources tell me, @KristenhCNN + @kaitlancollins. Sent via Twitter Web App. View original tweet.

Bovino retreating from Minnesota per CNN's Priscilla Alvarez

She is one of the concerned people. She said her goal for this week however is to clear the approps megabus and avoid a shutdown

Democrats' only real remaining leverage is filibustering appropriations packages. They can no longer even slow nominations on their own after Republicans went nuclear again on noms floor time last year.

There are few other bills Trump admin even wants. It's all exec orders these days.

Susan Collins, for example, had the power to block Tulsi Gabbard on Intel, but chose to work to get her confirmed instead. RFK. And on and on.

Example: When Powell revealed DOJ had launched a criminal investigation against him, Tillis instantly created a blockade blocking all Trump Fed picks' confirmations until the matter was resolved.
All other R senators have similar powers on their committees but have not used them to date.

A bunch of Republican senators have issued statements of concern re: Alex Pretti's killing, including calling for an investigation.
The only action I've seen one of them take beyond concern tweets, however, is Rand Paul calling a public hearing for Feb. 12.
They hold all of the leverage.

A few agencies have been fully funded. Otherwise similar

Hell no

Remarkable stat.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara: "People have had enough. This is the third shooting in less than 3 weeks. The MPD went the entire year last year recovering about 900 guns from the street, arresting hundreds of violent offenders, and we didn't shoot anyone ... this is not sustainable."

The best thread every week

A flood of carefully calibrated Senate GOP statements tonight. Here's one from Jon Husted, who is up for election in Ohio this November. (He was appointed to JD Vance's seat; Vance has had far more pointed things to say in the wake of both killings of US citizens in Minneapolis).

Shutdown hobbling much of the government now fully on track, with Senate Rs planning to reject calls by Democrats to split off and rework the DHS bill to add more guardrails in wake of the killings of US citizens in Minneapolis.
Shutdown would start Jan. 31.

I think we could all use some dogs in snow pics.

no matter what else is happening, if feasible, please share photos of your dogs playing in the snow tomorrow

Stephen Miller’s tweet on the Minnesota shooting is slapped with a community note

Since @peoplemag.bsky.social is doing such a good job covering this with honesty & the humanity it deserves in spite of this vengeful regime trying to snuff it out, here’s the links to their articles. Give them all the clicks—they earned it.

People are definitely setting up a barricade of trash cans and this couch, in the middle of the street where ICE is.

"That's my couch," said a woman standing nearby. "It's been on my porch for four years because it won't fit up the stairs. My neighbor will be pleased it's gone now."

I'm on site where a federal agent shot a Minneapolis man this morning. It's bad.

Dozens of federal agents are facing off with hundreds of outraged residents. People being tear gassed, helicopters above, I keep hearing pops, and lots of loud BANGS.

This smoke is from tear gas:

What the Trump Admin is telling you.

-Don't record ICE
-Don't carry a gun around ICE
-Don't ask ICE for a warrant.

So that takes out the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Amendments.

Statement from Michael and Susan Pretti Parents of Alex Jeffrey Pretti “We are heartbroken but also very angry. Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital. Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately, he will not be with us to see his impact. I do not throw around the ‘hero’ term lightly. However, his last thought and act was to protect a woman. The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. He had his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down, all while being pepper sprayed. Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man. Thank you.

Kare 11 local news just read, in full, this statement from Michael and Susan Pretti, the parents of Alex Pretti.

"Please get the truth out about our son."

Unlikely. They would need 67/290 to override a veto.