MAIN ST MEETS WALL ST.

The Spaces convened a fast-moving discussion on Minneapolis unrest around ICE operations, leadership moves in federal enforcement, macroeconomics, and a candidate interview. Hosts Roden, Jay, Stock Mom, Walter, and Barbie reacted to reports that CBP leader Greg Bavino was relieved and that the “commander-at-large” role was eliminated, with later pushback noting conflicting updates. They debated whether the administration should invoke the Insurrection Act versus pursuing de-escalation while sending Tom Homan to Minnesota. Speakers alleged coordinated protest activity via Signal groups, NGO networks, and foreign-linked funding, urging FARA/RICO actions and cutting NGO pipelines. An economy segment highlighted a strong durable-goods beat, near-zero odds of a Fed cut this week, deflation risks, and precious metals strength as a hedge amid dollar weakness and geopolitical uncertainty. The group rejected “worst first” deportation messaging in favor of removing all illegal entrants, citing wage, housing, and service burdens and polling favoring deportations. A key update noted the 8th Circuit allowing agents broader use-of-force latitude. The featured podcast segment hosted by Jack Danger and Jay Gatling interviewed congressional candidate Dahlia Alakiti (running against Ilhan Omar) on her background as a legal immigrant journalist, calls to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization nationally, immigration reform, assimilation, and her campaign strategy in MN-5.

Twitter Spaces Session Summary and Analysis

Session context and participants

• Host/moderator references: “Roden/Rodent” appears to be the main host and producer. Co-hosting and frequent contributors include Jay (interviewer/podcast host), Walter (policy/immigration analyst), Barbie (research and NGO investigations), Stockmom (market/economy segment), Southern, DJ, Tim, Hot Rod, LASD (law enforcement perspective), Jennifer, Hope, Coop, Swamp, Sunlight, Matt, Eli.
• Featured guest interview (podcast played within the Space): Dalia (Dahlia) Alakiti, Republican candidate in MN-05, running to unseat Rep. Ilhan Omar.
• Administrative/tech notes: The Space had crash/restart issues. Elon Musk was said to be staffing up to improve Spaces, Grok, and video Spaces. The panel encouraged listeners to repost the Space and follow contributors’ articles.

Headlines and breaking developments discussed

• Border/ICE operations leadership: Multiple speakers (notably Walter) asserted that Greg Bavino was “relieved” and that the “commander-at-large” role was eliminated; later, a counter-claim surfaced (via “Trisha McAllen”: Bavino not relieved). Net: there was confusion; participants perceived leadership change as a political cave-in that could depress morale. Tom Homan was said to be heading to Minnesota to coordinate (some saw that as positive, others worried about optics of replacing Bavino).
• Minneapolis protests and legal posture: The 8th Circuit stayed a district court injunction, allowing federal agents to use standard crowd-control tools and limiting prior restrictions (responding to an ACLU petition). This was framed as restoring necessary latitude for agents’ self-protection during protests/riots.
• Escalation around ICE: Two high-profile fatal encounters were repeatedly referenced (names used by speakers include “Renee Good” and “Alex Freddy/Priddy,” with inconsistent spellings). One incident involved a protester with a firearm engaging physically with agents; a widely shared clip shows scuffles including civilians and an initial gunshot; DHS bodycam footage was said to exist but not yet released. Several speakers characterized the latest incident as “suicide by cop”; others emphasized waiting for full investigation.

Core themes and debates

1) Minneapolis unrest and ICE confrontations

• What’s happening: Participants described coordinated attempts to obstruct ICE operations in Minneapolis, including surrounding vehicles (doing donuts), whistles to signal ICE presence, and hotel attacks (vandalism, fireworks). Claims of AI-generated martyr images were raised.
• Legal/permit angle: Speakers argued many gatherings lacked permits (thus, unlawful assembly), and that obstructing lawful ICE operations should prompt arrests; they contrasted treatment with Jan. 6 prosecutions.
• Law enforcement risk and standard of review: LASD underscored that benefit of the doubt should go to trained officers pending investigations, given millions of annual encounters and split-second decision demands. Data cited by Roden: approximately 0.003–0.004% of ICE/Border Patrol encounters involve a shooting; assaults on ICE reportedly up ~30% YoY, with 275 incidents in 2025 (including projectiles, bites, physical assaults). Emphasis on the mental toll for officers post-incident.
• Optics and messaging: Multiple participants criticized local leadership (Gov. Tim Walz, Mayor Jacob Frey, AG Keith Ellison) for rhetoric they believe emboldens obstruction (“F-ICE”), arguing this puts “crosshairs” on ICE agents and curtails policing.

2) Federal posture: Insurrection Act vs. de-escalation

• Pro-Insurrection Act view (Jay, Walter, others): The administration should have invoked it earlier (e.g., post-Portland), arguing that strong, central action is necessary to restore order, deter escalation, and reassure the base; cited Rasmussen polling suggesting strong support for deportations and enforcement (e.g., 64% supporting deportations, ~80% for criminal removals). They warned that leadership changes (Bavino) signal weakness and will depress morale and polling.
• Anti-Insurrection Act view (Southern, Swamp, Roden): Employing it could validate opponents’ “authoritarian” narrative, trigger broader unrest, and collapse individual accountability into one political frame. Advocates preferred Tom Homan’s relationship-based de-escalation, targeted prosecutions, and financial disruption of organizing networks rather than sweeping domestic emergency powers.
• Outlier proposal rejected: One participant (Eli) floated “declaring war on Somalia” to enable treason/deportation actions without insurrection measures. This was broadly rejected as an extreme, unlawful, and counterproductive “op.”

3) NGO/organizing ecosystem: “SignalGate,” foreign ties, and legal recourse

• Investigative claims (Barbie, Data Republican, Cam Higby, Sunlight references):
  • Existence of large, structured Signal groups (1,000+ participants) with codes, manuals, logistics, and funding guides; purported participation by Minnesota officials and staff in these chats.
  • Foreign-linked funding channels: references to Canada-based actors, and broader “green-red” alliance narratives (far-left + political Islamists) aiming to destabilize U.S. institutions; alleged top-down orchestration (International Peoples’ Assembly; Neville Singham; The People’s Forum; state media tie-ins).
  • Operational security breaches and intimidation: James O’Keefe allegedly doxxed with live threats (license plate, vehicle ID), implying insiders in state systems.
• Legal pathways proposed:
  • FARA enforcement (foreign agents), RICO for organized criminal conspiracy, terrorism/sedition/insurrection charges where violence results, NGO grant audits, and IRS scrutiny.
  • Financial choke points: track wire transfers, shut down USAID-like flows (credit to Cash Patel’s efforts); identify shell hospice/Medicaid fraud (CA), “Feeding” program fraud in MN; networked religious charities named as potential pass-throughs (Lutheran Services, Catholic Charities) but caution about scale/verification.
• Historical analogies (Sunlight): U.S. revolutionary handbooks (Weather Underground’s 1974 manual “Prairie Fire”) and the “issue is never the issue” frame; lineage to BLM leadership, DA funding, and ideological frameworks.

4) Media and celebrity posture

• Panelists criticized celebrity interventions (Golden Globes statements, actors from “Stranger Things,” Natalie Portman posts, Stephen King’s commentary) as hypocrisy and relevance-seeking. Chinese investment/censorship of Hollywood was invoked to call out selective activism.

5) Immigration policy and political messaging

• “Worst of the worst” vs. “all out” deportations: Multiple panelists (Tim, Jay, Stockmom) insisted they “voted for all,” not just criminals, citing wage depression (~12% in low-skill sectors), inflated rents, public services strain, and benefits costs. They condemned a pivot to “worst first” as a political cave.
• Accountability: Frustration that high-profile opposition figures and officials (e.g., Walz, Fry) are not being investigated/prosecuted; skepticism toward “strongly worded letters.”

6) Markets and economy (Stockmom)

• Fed outlook: CME FedWatch implied ~2% chance of a January cut; no cut expected. Next meeting March; emergency cut seen as unlikely.
• Durable goods: +5.3% vs. +3.2% expected—a solid beat suggesting corporate confidence in future demand (capital goods, aircraft, electrical equipment).
• Inflation trend: Alternative “Truflation” series allegedly below 2% (Fed’s target). View expressed: risk of deflation rising; Powell portrayed as politicized and tardy on cuts.
• Policy rationale for a cut: Massive Treasury refinancing ahead; lower rates would reduce borrowing costs, support GDP, and alleviate housing affordability drag (via 10-year Treasury linkages). Maintaining high rates risks growth-sensitive sectors (REITs, housing) and Fed credibility.
• Metals: Silver/gold up as hedges amid a weaker dollar, geopolitical risk, and dedollarization/central bank buying; breadth expanding to palladium/copper; lingering risk of late-year inflation rebound but near-term safe-haven demand dominates.
• Yield curve and recession risk: Historically persistent inversion followed by re-steepening correlates with recessions; institutions remain cautious.

Guest interview: Dalia Alakiti (MN-05)

• Background:
  • Born in Baghdad; journalist for 37 years; lived under socialism/dictatorship; emigrated legally to the U.S. in 1993 (via then-diplomat Amb. Chris Stevens) after activist threats in Iraq.
  • Identifies as “culturally Muslim.” Distinguishes Islam as faith from “political/radical Islamism.” Supports religious freedom and adaptation/assimilation to American civic norms.
• Platform and priorities:
  • Immigration reform: Advocates clear, lawful path to citizenship and border security; rejects “open borders” framing. Emphasizes national security risks of illicit financing and terrorist group support.
  • Designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization nationwide (some states have done so; federal designation sought).
  • Civic order: Condemns orchestrated intimidation (praying en masse to block traffic framed as intimidation, not faith; obstructing ICE operations), calls for rule-of-law approach and de-escalation pending investigations.
  • “Green-red” alliance: Asserts collaboration between DSA/far-left and political Islamists; sees shared objective to undermine the U.S.
  • Dual citizenship in public office: Supports requiring sole U.S. citizenship for federal office holders to avoid conflicts and flight from justice.
• On Ilhan Omar:
  • Accuses Omar of weaponizing victimhood, serving factional interests, and being a “tool” of socialists and political Islamists; references allegations of funneling campaign funds to consultants/husband; welcomes reported DOJ scrutiny.
• District strategy:
  • Acknowledges MN-05 is heavily blue but rejects “lost cause” framing; seeks to mobilize young conservatives, recruit local candidates, and expand on prior base (~86,000 votes; ~25%).
  • Appeals to moderate Democrats and immigrant communities with a law-and-order, assimilation-friendly message and emphasis on real reform over performative politics.
• Call to action: Volunteers and donations at “Dahlia for Congress” (website noted as dahliaforcongress.org; X handle uses “4”: @Dahlia4Congress). She committed to return post-primary.

Additional notes and perspectives

• Polling and base morale: Speakers argued enforcement remains popular and that any perception of “caving” harms core support more than it gains persuadables.
• Accountability vs. prudence: The room split between immediate hardline federal measures versus sequenced, targeted enforcement and financial network disruption. Many warned of playing into “authoritarian” narratives and exacerbating unrest.
• Community ethics: Hope shared a personal story of assisting a stranded driver in freezing conditions, underscoring the panel’s stated differentiation between humanity toward individuals and refusal to condone lawlessness.

Action items and community logistics

• Follow and repost: Strong asks to repost Space, follow Barbie and Walter’s research/articles, and support investigative threads (Data Republican, Cam Higby, Zero Hour, Sunlight’s compilations).
• Legislative engagement: Continued pressure on Senators regarding the SAVE Act; House passage acknowledged; outreach campaigns ongoing.
• Upcoming programming: Jay and Jack Danger hosting a Saturday “Drax” space; schedule reminders for daily shows (today/Wednesday/Friday); plan to re-host Dalia post-primary.

Key takeaways and highlights

• The Minneapolis situation is a flashpoint for national debates over immigration enforcement, protest policing, and federal-state coordination. The 8th Circuit’s stay materially affects agent rules of engagement.
• Conflicting reports about CBP leadership shifts (Bavino) created a perception of disarray; sending Tom Homan to Minnesota was broadly seen as constructive, though some cautioned about optics if framed as a “replacement.”
• A significant portion of the discussion centered on alleged NGO-led, transnationally financed protest infrastructure, with calls to prioritize FARA/RICO and financial interdiction over blunt-force domestic emergency measures.
• Market segment flagged strong durable goods and argued for earlier rate cuts, citing Treasury refinancing and deflation risk; metals strength tied to uncertainty/weak dollar.
• The Dalia Alakiti interview provided a detailed platform grounded in personal experience under authoritarianism, a nuanced stance on Islam vs. Islamism, strong immigration reform messaging, and a strategy to contest a deep-blue district.

Caveats and open questions

• Bavino status: Conflicting claims appeared (relieved vs. not relieved); requires authoritative confirmation.
• Bodycam and full investigative record: Conclusions about the ICE fatal incident(s) remain contingent on complete evidence release.
• NGO allegations: Numerous assertions require evidentiary corroboration (funding flows, specific official participation in Signal chats, foreign ties). Some sources cited are social media investigations; formal probes would be necessary for prosecutorial action.
• Economic data: The alternative inflation series (Truflation) cited is not the Fed’s official metric; policy decisions will hew to CPI/PCE and broader Fed assessments.

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This summary aims to reflect the speakers’ stated views and the flow of the discussion accurately and comprehensively, noting where claims are asserted opinions or investigations-in-progress rather than established facts.