Deadline: White House “The gears of democracy creaking back into action”
Jan 29, 2026
Andrew Weissmann, former DOJ official known for high-profile prosecutions, explains court actions against ICE. Alex Wagner, political analyst reporting from Minnesota, describes bipartisan outrage and local reactions. Sarah Longwell, pollster and Focus Group host, shares voter and law enforcement focus-group responses. They discuss courts rebuking ICE, public backlash, and the political fallout from aggressive immigration tactics.
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Video Evidence Shifted Public Mood
- Voters have widely seen and examined videos of the Minneapolis shootings, intensifying public outrage.
- Sarah Longwell says clear visual evidence accelerated a shift in public mood against aggressive ICE tactics.
Vigil Shows Local Police Won't Back ICE
- Alex Wagner describes a spontaneous, large vigil at the Minneapolis shooting site attended by nurses and community members.
- Local police closed the street and offered support, separating city law enforcement from ICE.
Courts Have Tools To Enforce Orders
- Judges can impose meaningful sanctions beyond orders when agencies flagrantly disobey courts.
- Andrew Weissmann urges contempt, fines, injunctions, or jail to enforce compliance.