Bulwark Takes DOJ Targets Tim Walz and Jacob Frey
Jan 17, 2026
A federal judge has ordered limits on ICE's use of force against peaceful protesters in Minneapolis, igniting crucial conversations about protest rights. Graphic footage reveals alleged violence from federal agents, raising questions about accountability. The DOJ is investigating Governor Walz and Mayor Frey for supposedly obstructing federal officers, leading to debates on the logic behind the subpoenas. Amidst these tensions, the podcast highlights the ongoing challenges within the justice system and vows to continue focused reporting from Minneapolis.
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Judge Limits Federal Crowd-Control Tactics
- A federal judge barred federal agents in Minneapolis from arresting peaceful protesters and using non-lethal crowd-control munitions.
- Sam Stein frames this as a crucial check on ICE tactics amid widespread video evidence of violent confrontations.
Graphic Footage Shows Aggressive Tactics
- Sam Stein describes cell-phone footage showing ICE or border agents appearing to pummel and kneel on a defenseless man.
- He uses these clips to illustrate why local protests and legal limits matter in Minneapolis.
Distance Rule Could Reduce Confrontations
- The ruling includes a requirement that agents maintain an "appropriate distance" when following protesters.
- Stein argues this legal space could reduce violent confrontations between federal agents and demonstrators.