The Brief | France Delayed the G7 for Cage Fighting
Hundreds more agents head to Minneapolis, Iran threatens U.S. bases, and Comer is done waiting on Bondi.
Happy Monday!
I am on the road again with a special surprise up my sleeve, but you have to wait till Tuesday to hear what it is.
I was worried that Monday newsletters would be boring without news, but it looks like that won’t be a problem with Trump as president. We are 12 days into 2026. How is everyone doing? Great? Swell.
Let’s get into the news.
Minneapolis: The Situation Is Only Getting Worse
If you thought the ICE shooting story was going to fade, you haven’t been paying attention to 2026.
Here’s where we are: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Sunday that “hundreds more” federal agents will be deployed to Minneapolis “today and tomorrow” to support ICE operations. The reason? Officially, she cited the massive welfare fraud scandal tied to Minnesota’s Somali community—the $9 billion-plus Feeding Our Future scheme that’s already yielded 70+ convictions.
But let’s be real: this is also about what happened after Renee Nicole Good was shot.
The video war continues. The White House released new footage Friday showing the incident from the ICE officer’s perspective. Vice President Vance posted it three times in an hour, declaring it “conclusive proof” the officer acted in self-defense. The video shows Good’s car moving forward as the officer fires—but critically, it doesn’t capture the exact moment the first shot was fired.
Democrats aren’t buying it. A New York Times analysis suggests the officer’s feet were to the side of Good’s vehicle when he opened fire. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey dismissed the new video entirely, accusing the agent of walking away with “a hop in his step.”
Meanwhile, the protests have turned into something else entirely. Rioters broke into hotel lobbies searching for federal agents. Streets have been seized by agitators with Minneapolis police nowhere in sight. Senator Tina Smith accused the administration of orchestrating a “cover-up” by blocking state investigators.
Here’s what’s undeniable: Good was an ICE Watch activist who was trained to monitor and obstruct federal immigration enforcement. She was, according to eyewitnesses, “the main car in the protest... very successful in blocking traffic.” This wasn’t a random mom who stumbled into danger.
But that doesn’t mean the investigation shouldn’t proceed carefully. Tom Homan remains the only voice calling for patience: “Let the facts come out.”
AG Pam Bondi’s warning still stands: “If you cross that red line, you will be arrested and prosecuted.”
The question nobody seems to want to answer: What did activists think was going to happen when they made obstruction of federal officers their primary mission?
Iran Issues Its Warning
Speaking of things escalating quickly.
Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned President Trump on Sunday that any U.S. attack would result in Tehran striking Israel and regional U.S. military bases, calling them “legitimate targets.”
Per Reuters, Israel is on high alert for the possibility of U.S. intervention to support what’s being described as a “nationwide protest movement” in Iran. The Human Rights Activists News Agency reports 583 people have been killed since unrest erupted two weeks ago.
And then there’s Los Angeles.
On Sunday, a driver plowed a U-Haul box truck through a crowd of hundreds in the Westwood neighborhood during a march supporting Iranian protesters. It appears to have happened in an attempt to get away after the truck with pro-Iran regime signage became surrounded by the protestors. Per Fox News and NBC4 Los Angeles, authorities are on scene investigating, but at the time of writing, their identity has not been released. No injuries have been reported so far, but the investigation is ongoing.
Trade Deficit Hits 16-Year Low
Here’s something you probably won’t see leading the evening news: the U.S. trade deficit fell to $29.4 billion in October, the lowest monthly figure since June 2009.
Imports dropped 3.2% to $331.4 billion. Exports rose 2.6% to $302 billion. The tariffs are reshaping trade, whether critics want to admit it or not.
Now, caveats apply. Economists note that gold markets have been “bonkers” (Moody’s chief economist Mark Zandi’s word, not mine), and pharmaceutical imports collapsed after companies stockpiled ahead of tariffs. The year-to-date deficit is still up 7.7% from 2024.
But here’s the thing: the administration’s trade policy is producing measurable results. U.S. effective tariff rates hit 16%—the highest since 1935. The trade deficit with China continues to shrink, while deficits with Mexico, Thailand, and Taiwan hit record highs (largely due to AI-related imports).
Whether you love the tariffs or hate them, they appear to be doing what they were designed to do.
Comer vs. Bondi: The GOP’s Growing Frustration
Looks like we aren’t the only ones frustrated with Bondi. House Oversight Chairman James Comer went on the record Thursday, expressing disappointment with Attorney General Pam Bondi.
“At the end of the day, I’ve been disappointed in some of the criminal referrals that are collecting dust on Attorney General Bondi’s desk,” Comer told Catherine Herridge on “Straight to the Point.”
The numbers speak for themselves: 54 hearings, 200+ letters, 26 transcribed interviews, nine depositions—and what to show for it? Resignations, yes. The D.C. police chief. The head of Secret Service. Various agency bureaucrats.
But arrests? Prosecutions based on congressional referrals? Not yet.
Comer says he’s raised this directly with the White House. He remains “optimistic” about future action—particularly on Minnesota fraud and the Biden autopen investigation. But his frustration is palpable.
The DOJ’s response? “Longstanding federal law governing grand jury secrecy prohibits the Department from discussing the existence or details of pending criminal investigations.” Translation: trust us, we’re working on it. Oookay.
France Delays G7 For... What?
You can’t make this up.
France has delayed the G7 summit to avoid a scheduling conflict with a White House cage-fighting event planned for President Trump’s birthday.
Yes, really. Politico confirmed it.
I have no further commentary. Some headlines just speak for themselves.
Quick Rundown
Trump signs order protecting Venezuelan oil revenue in U.S. accounts from court seizure, calling it essential for national security. Oil executives are eyeing $100 billion in infrastructure investment.
Two killed, six wounded in a shooting outside a Mormon church in Utah. Details still emerging.
Defense stocks fell after Trump announced he’s blocking dividends and buybacks for contractors until they speed up weapons production. Executive pay caps at $5 million incoming.
DeSantis announces special session on Florida redistricting ahead of 2026 midterms.
Silicon Valley billionaires are reportedly coordinating opposition to California’s proposed billionaire tax via Signal chat. Housing prices in Miami are looking pretty good right about now.
What Do You Think?
I’ve got questions for you:
Minneapolis: Is the deployment of hundreds more agents going to calm things down—or pour gasoline on the fire?
Iran: Are we headed toward another intervention, or is this just saber-rattling?
Comer vs. Bondi: Is the DOJ actually working on these referrals, or are we witnessing accountability theater?
France delaying G7 for cage fighting: Peak 2026, or the most 2026 thing to ever 2026?
Drop it in the comments.
And the podcast is back Tuesday with new episodes—we have a surprise, so don’t miss it!