The Fifth Column TACO Tuesday in Minneapolis and the Fall of the Short King Cop (Members Only #298)
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Jan 27, 2026 A heated breakdown of Minneapolis unrest and whether it fits the ‘insurgency’ label. Analysis of Trump’s symbolic taco stunt and GOP spin control. A messy retreat by a short-lived conservative figure and the fallout among state Republicans. Skepticism about early domestic terrorism claims and officials’ evasive phrasing. Concerns about outside agitators escalating local protests.
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'Low-Level Insurgency' Framing Questioned
- Protesters in Minneapolis aren't merely spontaneous rioters; some commentators labeled elements as a "low-level insurgency" informed by a playbook.
- Hosts treat that framing skeptically and trace it to retweets by influential Silicon Valley figures like Joe Lonsdale.
Taco Tuesday And Short-Lived Toughness
- Matt Welch mocks Trump's "TACO Tuesday" response of sending a large federal contingent and a taco platter to Minneapolis.
- He ridicules the short-lived enthusiasm of officials like Gregory Bovino who then retreated from their stances.
Political Risk Of Jumping To Violent Labels
- Early official statements labeled a killed man as armed and intent on mass violence, but evidence and later backtracking undermined that narrative.
- The hosts highlight the political cost when officials leap to extreme characterizations without facts.