The Michael Shermer Show Shermer Says 5: What Went Wrong in Minnesota? Protests, Panic, and Personal Responsibility
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Jan 26, 2026 A commentary on the Minneapolis shooting and the tangled facts surrounding it. Discussion of protest tactics, ICE authority, and legal remedies. Analysis of video footage limits and how stress shapes human behavior. Exploration of 'forward panic' and the role of personal responsibility in high-risk confrontations.
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Panic Can Override Rational Training
- Michael Shermer argues that frame-by-frame video analysis misses how humans behave under acute stress in seconds-long events.
- He introduces the concept of a "forward panic" where trained agents can suddenly snap into chaotic, panicked violence.
Seconds, Not Seconds Of Deliberation
- Shermer emphasizes that panicked responses occur within a few seconds and are not rational calculations.
- He compares the behavior to the Rodney King beating as an example of feeding-frenzy violence.
Avoid Confronting Law Enforcement Actions
- Shermer advises people to avoid placing themselves in high-risk confrontational positions during enforcement actions.
- He stresses that taking such risks means accepting personal responsibility for potential consequences.
