Is Minnesota Trump's Waterloo? (with Ed Luce) - Stay Tuned with Preet Recap

Podcast: Stay Tuned with Preet

Published: 2026-01-29

Duration: 1 hr 7 min

Guests: Ed Luce

Summary

The episode explores whether recent events in Minnesota could be an inflection point for the Trump administration, focusing on public reactions to ICE actions and the political implications.

What Happened

Preet Bharara discusses with Ed Luce the potential consequences of recent ICE actions in Minnesota, including the fatal shootings of U.S. citizens by federal agents. They explore how these events might serve as an inflection point for the Trump administration due to the widespread public visibility and reaction. Luce suggests that this visibility makes it difficult for Trump to maintain his usual narrative, citing a significant portion of Americans who have seen the videos and are appalled by the justifications given for the shootings.

The conversation touches on the political and psychological aspects of the administration's tactics, with Luce commenting on Stephen Miller's strategy and its potential disconnect from broader public opinion. Luce argues that while Miller is intelligent, his reliance on a narrow media ecosystem and disregard for the median voter could undermine the administration's position.

Preet and Luce delve into the historical parallels between the current situation and past Trump administration policies, such as family separation at the border. Luce believes the current situation is worse due to its violent nature and direct impact on American citizens.

The discussion then moves to the role of private sector cowardice in enabling Trump's policies, highlighting how businesses and institutions have shied away from hiring former Biden officials due to fear of retribution from the Trump administration.

In a geopolitical context, the episode also addresses Canada's strong stance against Trump's interest in Greenland, marked by a powerful speech by Mark Carney at Davos. Luce sees this as a significant moment of international pushback against Trump's policies.

The episode concludes with a look into the potential future political landscape, considering how current events might impact Trump's strategies and the reaction of different political forces in the U.S. Luce suggests that public opinion may force Trump to back down on some policies, reflecting on the nature of political survival and adaptability.

Key Insights