Up First from NPR
Minneapolis Protests ICE Shooting; Protests in Iran; States Preparing for Midterms
10 Jan 2026
Chapter 1: What sparked the protests in Minneapolis following the ICE shooting?
Protests continue in Minneapolis over a fatal shooting by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Questions remain over the killing of Renee Good and the community there wants answers. I'm Scott Simon. And I'm Sasha Pfeiffer, and this is Up First from NPR News. This week's killing in Minneapolis was only the latest in a string of violent incidents in the state of Minnesota.
We'll tell you how the community is trying to cope. And in Iran, protests continue to royal cities fueled by the country's crumbling economy. We'll look at the regime's response. Also, how big a role will the federal government play in the upcoming midterm elections? We'll tell you how states are preparing. So stay with us. We have the news you need to start your weekend.
President Trump's immigration actions in Minneapolis continue to draw protests after a fatal ice shooting resulted in the death of a local woman, Renee Good. Hundreds of people marched through the city's downtown district last night. More protests are expected today. NPR's Sergio Martinez Beltran has been covering the story in Minneapolis and joins us now.
Sergio, thanks so much for being with us. Glad to be with you, Scott. You were out in the streets last night.
Chapter 2: How is the Minneapolis community responding to the death of Renee Good?
What did you hear from people? Yeah, this particular protest I went to last night started outside a hotel where organizers say they believe ICE agents are staying and it moved around downtown to a few other hotels. Now, some of the protesters tried to breach at least one hotel and vandalized at least one building and that led to multiple arrests.
Now, most people I talk to say they were out in the streets marching for two reasons. One was to honor the life of Renee Goode. They wanted to remember her and process her killing together as a community. The other reason was to send a message to the Trump administration that Minnesotans do not want immigration agents in their city. That's what Minneapolis resident Dan Craigie told me.
The city is not safe right now with them here.
Chapter 3: What are the key issues behind the ongoing protests in Iran?
I want my voice to be heard. I want my presence to be seen. And I want my daughters to see what's happening and to see what strength and resilience looks like. Craigie also mentioned something others have told me, Scott. The city of Minneapolis has gone through so much trauma in the last five years and they're tired of fighting.
Chapter 4: How has the Iranian government responded to the protests?
Before the killing of Rene Good, Minnesota had had several mass shootings just in the last year. And of course, we recall the murder of George Floyd at the hands of local police.
Chapter 5: What role might the federal government play in the upcoming midterm elections?
Does this come up in conversations you have with residents? A hundred percent. Residents here told me that they're sad, angry, and hurt. And there's this feeling that this shooting could have the same effect and inflict as much trauma as the killing of George Floyd, which sparked some of the largest racial justice protests since the civil rights movement.
Yesterday, I went to the spot where Renee Goode was killed.
Chapter 6: How are states preparing for potential federal interference in elections?
It's now a makeshift memorial full of flowers, art and candles. And there I met Ashley Burris, who lives in Minneapolis. She says this moment is sad, but also heartwarming because the community is coming together. We saw it happen after the murder of George Floyd. We're seeing it happen again. No one is stronger than Minnesotans. We stand by each other. We protect each other.
And we do right by each other. Sergio, remind us why President Trump sent a surge of immigration agents into the city in the first place. Mostly to target the Somali community in Minnesota, which is the largest in the U.S. Last month, Trump called Somalis, quote, garbage and said he does not want them in the country.
And right-wing influencers and other conservatives have been accusing Somalis of committing fraud in the state. Now, those allegations gained traction within the Trump administration and are part of the reason for the surge in immigration agents. However, despite all of this, the Somali community continues to push back. That's what Khalil Omar, a Somali activist, says.
This administration is bringing a lot of fear. And I think that's their goal. But as Somali Americans, as Minnesotans, we're not going to fall for that. We're going to stand up because we're greater than fear. We believe in that, you know, this storm is going to pass. Omar says the Somali American community is also standing up for Rene Good.
And certainly the Trump administration has said it will continue its crackdown in Minnesota, right? Yes, the administration claims they're making the community safer by launching this operation, and they're certainly not backing down, Scott. In fact, I witnessed something kind of surreal happen yesterday.
A rally was taking place where Renee Goode was killed, and at least one SUV with federal immigration agents drove by the memorial. That SUV was trailed by a car with anti-ICE activists who were honking. Again, surreal, but this is Minneapolis right now. And Pier Sergio Martinez Beltran in Minneapolis. Thanks so much. You're welcome.
Internet access remains shut down in Iran after the government there imposed a blackout. This came after tens of thousands of people took to the streets and said it's across the country chanting anti-government slogans. A number of protesters have been killed by security forces, according to rights groups, with hundreds more being detained.
NPR senior international affairs correspondent Jackie Northam has been following developments, joins us now. Jackie, thanks for being with us. Morning, Scott. It sounds as if the protests have grown increasingly large and more urgent since they started nearly two weeks ago. What do we know about last night's?
Well, as you mentioned, there is an internet blackout in Iran, but there are still ways to get messages and videos out. And our contacts are saying last night's protests were huge, especially in the capital, Tehran. They started earlier than normal and people were chanting death to the dictator, meaning Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
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