Politics and views in the United States.

President Donald Trump backs claims a slain Minnesota protestor was connected to a left-wing network, Minneapolis sues to block a surge of federal agents and Chair Jerome Powell responds to an administration investigation of him and the Fed.

TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to 2026 Talks, where we're following our democracy in historic times.

In my opinion, she was an agitator, a very high level agitator, so professional, she wouldn't stop screaming.

I said, "This isn't a normal situation.

"This is a professional troublemaker."

President Donald Trump is backing claims that Renee Nicole Good was part of a left-wing attack on federal agents.

Good was in her car, unarmed, near a Minneapolis immigration raid when she was killed by an ICE officer.

The administration calls her a domestic terrorist, saying she ran over a federal agent, but cell phone videos show her moving away from officers when shot with several bullets going through the driver's side window, not the front windshield.

Despite growing backlash, the administration is sending several hundred more agents to Minnesota.

The state's Attorney General, Keith Ellison, says he's suing to stop what he calls an invasion.

We asked the courts to end the DHS unlawful behavior in our state.

The intimidation, the threats, the violence.

We asked the courts to end the tactics on our places of worship, our schools, our courts, our marketplaces, our hospitals, and even funeral homes.

Even rural parts of the state are on edge.

Joan Ellison, no relation, lives in the resort and farming town of Pelican Rapids.

She says some are troubled by the newcomers, but the town made a conscious decision to welcome people who are proving to be the good employees and small business owners they need.

They are well respected in the community.

They are integrated into all parts of life in the community, and the community has worked hard to make them feel welcome.

Reports say ICE is violating its own rules by separating families during deportation.

Under current policy, ICE must allow parents to decide what happens to their children.

But Zain Lakhani with the Women's Refugee Commission says most deported parents aren't being allowed to take their kids with them or arrange their care.

We spoke with dozens and dozens of parents who are coming off the plane, some inconsolable because they did not know where their children are, the vast majority of whom had never been asked if they had children at the time that they were arrested.

The Federal Reserve has been served with subpoenas in a probe into whether Chair Jerome Powell lied to Congress about a long-term headquarters renovation project.

In an unusually stark response, Powell calls it part of a pressure campaign by Trump.

This is about whether the Fed will be able to continue to set interest rates based on evidence and economic conditions, or whether instead monetary policy will be directed by political pressure or intimidation.

Several Senate Republicans say Fed independence is crucial for the markets and economy.

They're threatening to stall confirmation of any replacement for Powell.

White House economic advisor, Kevin Hassett, is likely to be nominated when Powell's term ends in May.

Hassett says the Justice Department just wants transparency.

Seems like the Justice Department has decided they want to see what's going on over there with this building that's massively more expensive than any building in the history of Washington.

And if I were a Fed chair, I would want them to do that.

Protests in Iran are escalating quickly, fueled by repression and a poor economy.

The Pentagon's reportedly exploring military options, but the White House says the regime is seeking negotiations.

Trump says the U.S. will put a 25 percent tariff on all of Iran's trading partners.

I'm Edwin J. Viera for Pacifica Network and Public News Service.

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