The NPR Politics Podcast Minnesota shooting blurs political lines around guns
27 snips
Jan 29, 2026 
Odette Youssef, NPR domestic extremism correspondent who covers organizing and public safety, discusses how Minneapolis residents have turned to gun ownership after police withdrawals and rising anti-trans rhetoric. She details who is getting permits and why, reactions from pro-gun groups, and how federal use-of-force policies and political rhetoric are reshaping safety conversations.
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Local Shift Toward Self-Defense
- After George Floyd's killing and the unrest, many Minneapolis residents lost faith in police and began arming themselves for safety.
- Odette Yousef describes groups like Sequerity training non-traditional clients, including LGBTQ people, who sought permits and firearm skills.
Reluctant Gun Owners Explain Why
- Odette recounts training a transgender client who never expected to learn to use a firearm but felt compelled by hostile rhetoric.
- The client and others are reluctant gun owners pushed by fear and declining trust in institutions.
Political Lines Blur Over Gun Carrying
- President Trump publicly criticized Alex Preddy for carrying a firearm despite Preddy having a legal permit to carry.
- Major gun-rights groups pushed back, arguing lawful carrying alone doesn't imply criminal intent.