By Ben Meiselas
I want to lay this out as clearly as possible because we are watching a level of authoritarian propaganda this country has never seen. The Trump regime continues to lie about the murder of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Macklin Good, a mother of three, a poet, a U.S. citizen who had just dropped off her six-year-old son at school. She encountered ICE agents on a snowy Minneapolis street while driving home with her partner. Moments later, she was shot in the face multiple times by an ICE officer identified by the Minnesota Star Tribune as Jonathan Ross. That is what the video shows. That is what eyewitnesses describe. And that is what the Trump regime is desperately trying to rewrite.
Instead of accountability, the administration has labeled Renee a “domestic terrorist.” They claim she was part of a coordinated attack on officers. They accuse the media of being a “disgrace” for reporting what is on camera. They are hiding evidence, blocking Minnesota investigators from accessing it, and directing federal agencies to wall off the scene of a homicide from state authorities. They are telling the public to ignore what everyone can see for themselves.
At a press conference, JD Vance repeated the lie that Renee used her car as a weapon. He reduced her to “that woman,” insisted she tried to run down an officer, and then drifted into disgraceful lies about her being part of “left-wing networks” targeting officers. Excuse my language, but I want to be clear right now: it’s all bullshit.
He also attacked the press for allegedly “putting law enforcement at risk” by reporting facts. Meanwhile Minnesota investigators say they have been denied access to evidence. The FBI will not participate in a joint probe. The Trump regime is sealing off the investigation and silencing anyone trying to document what actually happened.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem publicly insisted Minneapolis has “no jurisdiction” over the killing. When confronted with the clear video evidence, she dodged, shifted blame to local officials, and rambled about “fraud” and “illegals.” She then confirmed that state investigators are being kept away from any aspect of the case.
The propaganda machine was right on schedule. Republican Randy Fine went on TV and justified the killing by saying that if Americans “get in the way of the government repelling a foreign invasion” they will “end up just like that lady did yesterday.” That is how authoritarian governments operate.
While the Trump regime spreads lies about Renee Good, the U.S. Senate delivered a significant rebuke to Trump’s foreign agenda. In a 52 to 47 vote, with Republicans Murkowski, Young, Paul, Collins and Hawley joining Democrats, the Senate advanced a War Powers Resolution restricting further military action in Venezuela without explicit congressional authorization. Trump responded by threatening a veto and declaring that he has the power to launch invasions anywhere in the Western Hemisphere without approval. He even lashed out at the Republicans who voted with Democrats, declaring they “should never be elected to office again.”
At the same time, officials leaked one of the administration’s most reckless schemes yet: paying Greenland residents between $10,000 and $100,000 each if they support secession from Denmark. Reuters reports that even military “options” are being considered if Greenlanders refuse. European nations are already preparing joint defensive contingencies in case Trump attempts an invasion. This is just another Trump extortion scheme.
Back in Minneapolis, Renee Good’s real life looks nothing like the regime’s talking points. NPR’s reporting shows a mother of three, born in Colorado, with no criminal record beyond a traffic ticket. She had recently moved to Minneapolis with her family. She described herself online as a poet and writer. She filled her accounts with images of her children, her home, tattoo art, cooking ideas and everyday life. Her ex-husband confirmed she had simply just dropped off their six-year-old son at school and was driving home when they encountered ICE agents. She was not fleeing. She was not attacking anyone. She was not even an activist (nor should it matter if she was). She was in a car on a snowy street when she found herself in the presence of ICE officers. As as she tried to make a K-turn and leave the area, the agent shot her point-blank multiple times.
Protesters in Minneapolis, captured by our friends at Status Coup News, stood face to face with armed ICE units and demanded accountability. One speaker told the agents that no amount of money is worth tearing a family apart. Another told them they have a choice and a conscience. Their grief and anger were genuine and grounded in what happened, not in propaganda.
Apologies if I am being too blunt, but it’s clear this regime will happily come to your state. To your street. Cause chaos. Murder you. And then call you a terrorist.
This is the Trump regime.
A murderous regime that hates the American people.
And we refuse to normalize this regime at the MeidasTouch Network.
Here is some other news we’re tracking:
• Bloomberg reports the White House has been excluding DNI Tulsi Gabbard from Venezuela planning meetings due to her past comments about U.S. intervention in Venezuela, with aides joking that DNI stands for “Do Not Invite.”
• Ex-Trump campaign lawyer John Sarcone has been disqualified from investigating New York Attorney General Letitia James because he was unlawfully appointed. He is the fifth Trump-installed U.S. attorney removed by a federal judge.
• New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul announced a plan for universal child care, with state support for two years of free care for two-year-olds as part of an expansion of pre-K programs.
We are living through a moment where truth is being tested in real time. Authoritarians rely on people giving up, tuning out or doubting their own eyes. The murder of Renee Good is on video. It is clear what happened. The regime is betting it can bury the truth under noise, intimidation and repetition.
We are not going to let them.
Say her name: Renee Nicole Macklin Good.
Ron Filipkowski, our editor-in-chief, will be publishing his bulletin with all the day’s news later, so keep a lookout.
I hope you are enjoying all the new coverage from our DC bureau, led by Pablo Manríquez.
See you soon.
