ICE agents shoot two, kill one, in regions targeted by far-right propaganda network
ALSO INSIDE: Where to find your local ‘ICE Out For Good’ protest this weekend
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Since day one of Trump’s political career, people have desperately attempted to normalize his absurd abuses of power and blatant corruption – and 10 years later, much of corporate media remains a victim of their own attempts to return to a sense of normalcy.
It’s time to stop sane-washing the insanity.
What Happened
Federal law enforcement officers this week have injured two unarmed motorists and killed a third, an uptick in aggression resulting from an extensive propaganda campaign coordinated by the White House.
Last October, the Trump administration announced its plan to form a propaganda network of far-right content creators and invited 10 of its preferred provocateurs to the DC to lay the groundwork. Since then, creators like Nick Shirley have curated highly edited content to create deceptive illusions of protest-induced warzones and rampant fraud rings allegedly orchestrated by immigrant communities.
“I just want to thank the people around the table in particular. You’ve been amazing. You’ve been brave,” President Donald Trump said at the roundtable. “At some point, we’re going to have to look into, at least in certain cases, rewarding you with some very important medals and honors.”
The group has since acted as both harbinger and herald for the administration, descending on regions with anti-immigrant rhetoric the Trump administration then amplifies to justify raiding and pillaging previously peaceful US municipalities. The cues appear to be coming from White House Deputy Chief of Staff — and apparent shadow president — Stephen Miller, the architect of Trump’s violent and costly immigration enforcement efforts.
The parasitic relationship between the executive branch and online influencers has been leveraged to send Trump’s federal police force — comprising agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, US Border Patrol, and the National Guard — to Los Angeles, Maryland, New Orleans, New York, Portland, and Washington, DC. It has also facilitated or extended three siege-style endeavors: Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago, IL, Operation Charlotte’s Web in Charlotte, NC, and Operation Metro Surge in Twin Cities, MN.
“When Kristi Noem showed up, there was more media there than there were protesters. This is a fabricated reality. That’s insane,” said US Rep. Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.) shortly after the president falsely deemed Portland a war zone. “They were using footage from other countries, suggesting that it was something happening in Portland. There’s no allegiance to the truth from the Republican propaganda arm — which shouldn’t be surprising, as they’re trying to take over and consolidate power.”
Border Patrol on Thursday shot two motorists in Portland, the second occurrence this week of Trump’s federal police using firearms against unarmed civilians. The violence comes after far-right media outlets and influencers spent the past year escalating tensions between Portland residents and the Trump administration.
The human centipede of information from the White House to its online mouthpieces can be seen most recently in the administration’s focus on Minnesota:
Nov. 21: Trump makes baseless claims of fraud by the Somali community in Minnesota as an excuse to target them.
Nov. 22: The Trump administration, led by Miller, makes the rounds on legacy media outlets, providing talking points for small creators to use in their content.
Nov. 28: White House-approved influencers including Shirley, Cam Higby, and Nick Sortor, begin to repeat Miller’s talking points ad nauseam, trying a variety of angles, including religion, language, clothing, Trump’s political opponents, and fraud, in order to manufacture a crisis (with limited success).
Dec. 4: ICE begins to harass the Somali community in Minnesota, launching Operation Metro Surge.
Dec. 26: Shirley posts a video alleging Somali daycare fraud, which is immediately amplified by various Trump administration officials — including Vice President JD Vance — and its entire propaganda network.
Dec. 30: Higby and Jonathan Choe attempt to replicate Shirley’s viral success in Washington state.
Jan 5: Based on Shirley’s viral disinformation video, the Trump administration expands ICE presence in Minnesota.
Jan. 7: An ICE agent in Minneapolis kills Renee Good.
The White House quickly absolved the extrajudicial killing of Good as an act of self-defense, and reiterated its stance that federal police are protected from consequence by absolute immunity. The shooting sparked nationwide protests, which are expected to continue throughout the weekend, and emboldened Trump’s forces, who have continued to injure and open fire at protestors.
The administration has simultaneously escalated its propaganda campaign, with administration officials and far-right influencers working hand-in-hand to slander Good, turn her alleged killer into the victim, and refocus public attention back to alleged Somali fraud. On Friday, COURIER’s Ryan Broderick spotted Fox News Correspondent Matt Finn traveling with ICE agents, who put on a show of tackling a protester to the ground.
Activists and organizers from the 50501 Movement and Refuse Fascism have nationwide protests scheduled for Jan. 10 and 11. The “ICE Out For Good” demonstrations will include a letter-writing campaign, where attendees will demand their congressional representatives abolish ICE and come through with promised consequences for those in charge.
“They have literally started killing us—enough is enough,” said Drew Harmon, volunteer for Minnesota 50501. “We are a peaceful and community-oriented state that will not allow the violent ICE secret police to continue kidnapping our neighbors and killing our friends. Immediately after the shooting, hundreds of Minnesotans gathered to respond on site, just as we did in 2020 after officer Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd. ICE must be removed from Minnesota and permanently abolished.”
Anyone interested in attending ICE Out For Good can find their local protest here.
Attempts to Sanewash
Surge in federal officers in Minnesota focuses on alleged fraud at day care centers
Pro-Trump influencers take a victory lap amid fallout from viral video alleging fraud
Far-Right Spin
Bodycam Shows Aggressive Renee Good Made Eye Contact with ICE Agent Before Aiming Her Car at Him
Democrats Cry ‘Murder’ in Minneapolis ICE Shooting to Distract From Massive Minnesota Fraud Scandal
Renee Good Was A ‘Legal Observer’ — Here’s The Leftist Group That Popularized The Term
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