On January 7, 2026 in Minneapolis, ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed U.S. citizen Renee Nicole Good during a street confrontation that was captured on multiple videos.
The White House and DHS framed it as “self-defense” and “domestic terrorism” anyway, then reposted footage to sell the story. (Reuters)
The thing about lies from the lectern is that they do not just ask for disbelief. They draft supporters into a second job: improvising explanations for why the explanation keeps changing.
In the Good case, federal officials said she tried to run an officer over, and top administration voices used “domestic terrorism” like it was a spare label in the glove box. Legal experts and local officials pushed back on the term, because that is not how it works and also because the video does not do what the press conference says it does. (PBS)
Meanwhile, reporting has shown pressure inside DOJ and the FBI shifting attention toward investigating Good’s widow, not the shooter, prompting resignations and public accusations of a cover up. (Reuters)
Here is the underrated part of reality: it is low maintenance.
It does not require a spokesperson.
It just sits there in the footage, waiting.
And Minneapolis got a sequel. Days later, federal agents fatally shot Alex Pretti, with the administration again leaning into claims that bystander video immediately complicated. Two incidents, same city, same institutional reflex: narrate first, verify never. (Reuters)
When the truth is on video, the story is simple and it stays simple. When it is not, everyone who repeats the line becomes responsible for patching the holes. Worth remembering the next time “public trust” is treated as a branding problem instead of a governing one.
References
[Reuters] “US federal agent involved in Minneapolis shooting during immigration surge in city” (Jan. 8, 2026). https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-federal-agent-involved-minneapolis-shooting-during-immigration-surge-city-2026-01-07/
[Reuters] “New video emerges of Minnesota shooting, further inflaming tensions” (Jan. 9, 2026). https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/minneapolis-mayor-demands-transparent-investigation-into-ice-shooting-protests-2026-01-09/
[Brennan Center] “Labeling Renee Good a ‘Domestic Terrorist’ Distorts the Law” (Jan. 16, 2026). https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/labeling-renee-good-domestic-terrorist-distorts-law
[PBS NewsHour] “Experts question Noem calling Good a ‘domestic terrorist’” (Jan. 10, 2026). https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/experts-question-noem-calling-good-a-domestic-terrorist-heres-what-the-term-means
[Washington Post] “FBI opened probe on Minneapolis shooting; none exists now, Justice Dept. says” (Updated Jan. 19, 2026). https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/01/18/fbi-minnesota-shooting-civil-rights-investigation/
[Reuters] “Trump administration defends killing American in Minneapolis, contradicts videos” (Jan. 25, 2026). https://www.reuters.com/world/us/federal-officials-dig-minneapolis-shooting-narrative-despite-video-evidence-2026-01-25/
[Minnesota Star Tribune] “Video shows agent disarming Pretti right before shots fired” (Jan. 24, 2026). https://www.startribune.com/videos-show-federal-agents-killing-minneapolis-man/601570108
[People] “Protester standing ‘5 feet’ from Alex Pretti says officials ‘not telling the truth’” (Jan. 2026). https://people.com/alex-pretti-shooting-witness-trying-to-help-11892446