The Brief | AI Edits, Finger Pointing, and Homan in Minneapolis
White House–DHS blame game, an AI-altered photo on cable news, and pressure campaigns abroad has everyone's heads spinning.
Hey friends!
The news cycle is NUTS you guys! I know that I look super cool and chill online with my amazing song choices and super cool graphics, but I am paddling like a mad woman under the water, and it’s particularly hard this morning because it was leg day at the gym and I am struggling!
In today’s Brief:
Homan parachutes into Minnesota after the Minneapolis shootings and protests
White House vs. DHS turns into a public blame game
MSNow makes Pretti pretty with an AI-enhanced image, then has to yank it
On the Radar: the judicial-warrant push that could turn ICE into a paperwork-only agency
Virginia judge smacks down Dems’ redistricting maneuver
Trump tighten the screws on Cuba, and an Iran armada ultimatum
“We Are the World” 40 years ago
Let’s get into the news!
Homan Takes Over in Minnesota as Administration Finger-Pointing Goes Public
The Trump administration shook up federal immigration personnel in Minnesota on Monday, replacing Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino with border czar Tom Homan. The move came after two fatal shootings by federal agents in Minneapolis—including Alex Pretti’s death Saturday—and subsequent violent protests.
But behind the personnel shuffle, a nastier story is emerging: a full-blown blame game inside the White House over who’s responsible for the messaging disaster that followed Pretti’s killing.
According to Axios, within hours of the shooting, administration officials scrambled to craft a narrative. Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller led the charge on X. When he heard Pretti had been carrying a firearm, sources told the outlet, Miller “heard ‘gun’ and knew what the narrative would be: Pretti came to ‘massacre’ cops.”
The problem? Video footage quickly contradicted the claim. It showed Pretti being tackled by multiple agents, with the gun remaining in his holster until an officer removed it—after which he was shot multiple times while on the ground. Miller’s X post calling Pretti a “would-be assassin” was slapped with a Community Note debunking it in real time.
And then the finger-pointing started in earnest.
Insider speculation points to Lewandowski—Noem’s de facto chief of staff and, shall we say, “very close” personal advisor—as the source who initially leaked the story to Axios reporter Jonathan Caputo. The original version of the report placed blame squarely on Miller for the “massacre” language that Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino parroted publicly.
That didn’t sit well with Miller. After the story dropped, he reportedly picked up the phone and called Caputo directly to “set the record straight.” Miller’s version? Any early comments were “based on information sent to the White House through CBP.” He acknowledged he’d been given bad intel but made clear whose shop that intel came from: Customs and Border Protection, which falls under DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
Translation: Don’t blame me, blame the agency run by the woman in the cowboy boots.
Noem, meanwhile, is pushing back hard. Sources told Axios she’s been telling people: “Everything I’ve done, I’ve done at the direction of the president and Stephen.”
So to recap: Lewandowski allegedly leaked a story blaming Miller. → Miller called the reporter to blame Noem’s agency. → Noem is telling anyone who’ll listen that she was just following Miller’s orders. → What a mess!
The New York Times reported that Noem requested a two-hour meeting with Trump Monday night, bringing along her de facto chief of staff Corey Lewandowski. Notably absent? Miller and Homan. Sources told Axios Noem “wanted her voice heard” and “made sure to convey her loyalty.”
One source briefed on the initial statement told Axios that the officers involved in the shooting “all shut up and got lawyers real quick, so there wasn’t a lot of information.” The DHS statement was reportedly released without full White House approval: ”Others within the White House attempted to clean up the DHS statement prior to it being sent, but it had already been disseminated.”
Meanwhile, the standoff with Minnesota officials continues.
After meeting with Homan on Tuesday, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey announced the city “does not and will not enforce federal immigration laws.” Trump responded this morning on Truth Social: “Surprisingly, Mayor Jacob Frey just stated that, ‘Minneapolis does not, and will not, enforce Federal Immigration Laws.’ This is after having had a very good conversation with him. Could somebody in his inner sanctum please explain that this statement is a very serious violation of the Law, and that he is PLAYING WITH FIRE!” Then Frey crossed his arms, stomped his feet, and said, “I don’t wanna!”
Governor Tim Walz continues to demand that federal immigration enforcement leave the state entirely. Homan characterized his meetings with both Walz and Frey as “a productive starting point,” adding that “while we don’t agree on everything, these meetings were a productive starting point.”
The White House insists the mission hasn’t changed. “Any left-wing agitator or criminal illegal alien who thinks Tom’s presence is a victory for their cause is sadly mistaken,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told Fox News Digital.
Laura Ries of the Heritage Foundation was blunt about the optics: “That’s certainly how the left will interpret it, to keep up morale on their side and to keep their riots and obstruction going.”
She’s probably right about how activists will spin it. But there are no questions we got drama on the streets of Minneapolis and inside the West Wing, where the knives appear to be out.
On the Radar
If reports are true that Dems are demanding judicial warrants for all ICE arrests as part of DHS funding bill, that will take a massive amount of targets off the board for ICE. They would only be able to go after illegal immigrants who have committed a new *federal* crime *after* entering the U.S. illegally.
State & local crimes would not apply. (Feds don’t enforce state & local).
For instance, if an illegal immigrant gets arrested in Minnesota for a DUI crash causing great bodily injury (state crime) and bonds out of jail, ICE would not be able to target him for arrest because there would be no judicial warrant (not a federal crime).
ICE would not be able to target anyone for just being in the U.S. illegally. They would have to wait for a federal crime to be committed, then a federal judge would have to sign off on probable cause for arrest.
It would cripple any hopes of “mass deportations” or widespread immigration enforcement.
Warrants are *not* required for ICE arrests under US law right now. They simply need probable cause that the target is detainable/deportable on immigration grounds and use I-200 and I-205 civil administrative warrants.
The most common judicial warrants ICE uses to target aliens right now is for illegal re-entry (8 USC 1326), a federal felony when a deported alien has re-entered the U.S. after deportation. But again, that is a limited population as most non-citizens haven’t been deported before.
ICE *does* need a judicial warrant to enter homes. Their administrative warrants do not allow them to enter private property. That’s why we often see them waiting for a target to go to or from work when they’re in public.
One ICE contact in a sanctuary city tells me: “If we need a judicial warrant for every arrest, we would maybe have 15 arrests in a year.” (In his city).
Virginia Judge Calls Democrats’ Redistricting Scheme “Blatant Abuse of Power”
If you’ve been following the mid-decade redistricting wars, you know both parties are playing hardball to shape congressional maps ahead of November. But Virginia Democrats just got their hands slapped, hard.
A Tazewell County Circuit Court judge ruled Tuesday that the Democratic-led effort to redraw the state’s congressional districts through a proposed constitutional amendment is “invalid and void.” Judge Jack Hurley Jr. didn’t mince words, calling the General Assembly’s maneuvering “a blatant abuse of power” that ignored procedural rules.
The core issue? Virginia law requires proposed constitutional amendments to be passed and published by the clerk’s office at least three months before a general election. Lawmakers pushed this resolution through during a special session in October, less than a week before the statewide elections. Hurley also noted they violated their own rules by introducing redistricting language during a special session originally called for budget matters, without the required two-thirds supermajority.
Here’s where it gets interesting: Democrats had argued that early voting, which started in mid-September, shouldn’t count as part of the “election” for timing purposes. The judge disagreed. They also tried to claim a 1971 law requiring courthouse postings was an “archaic” relic that shouldn’t apply. The judge disagreed again.
If this ruling holds, it blocks Democrats from potentially flipping Virginia’s congressional delegation from a 6-5 Democratic majority to a 10-1 supermajority, a massive swing that would’ve helped offset Republican redistricting gains in Texas, North Carolina, and Ohio.
Democrats are already appealing and simultaneously pushing legislation to retroactively change state code to align with their earlier actions. Senator Mark Obenshain (R-Rockingham) called this effort “a clear admission that that is a violation of the law.”
The pro-amendment campaign accused Republicans of “court shopping” for a favorable venue in deep-red Tazewell County. Fair point, venue matters. But the judge’s reasoning focused squarely on procedural violations, not partisan outcomes. When you skip steps to gain political advantage, don’t be surprised when someone notices.
MSNBC Forced to Yank AI-Enhanced Image of Alex Pretti
This one is… something.
In the aftermath of the fatal shooting of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis, MSNow ran a segment on Deadline White House featuring host Nicolle Wallace lamenting the “outrage” over his death. Standard fare for the network. But sharp-eyed viewers noticed something strange about the photo displayed during the segment: Pretti appeared significantly more attractive than in his actual VA staff photo.
Side-by-side comparisons quickly circulated online. The differences were hard to miss: darkened and fuller hair, bronzed skin, whitened teeth, a sculpted nose and jawline, and—this is real—seemingly enhanced biceps. Someone, somewhere, decided the actual photo of Alex Pretti wasn’t doing enough to garner the sympathy of the ladies.
MSNow has since added an editor’s note to the YouTube video acknowledging it used “an AI-enhanced image of Alex Pretti” and swapped out the thumbnail. They haven’t explained where the doctored image came from or whether anyone verified it before broadcast.
The incident also connects to reporting from Fox News’ Asra Q. Nomani about a network of far-left organizations—some funded by American billionaire Neville Roy Singham, a self-declared Marxist-Leninist living in Shanghai—that have been fueling protest content around the Minneapolis situation.
Here’s the larger point: In an era when AI-generated misinformation is a legitimate concern, a major news network ran a glammed-up AI photo without verification. Whether MSNow created it or just failed to vet it, the result is the same—their viewers were shown a manipulated image designed to make the subject more sympathetic. That’s not journalism; that’s propaganda production.
Stories like Minneapolis are a reminder that the first narrative usually isn’t the most accurate — it’s just the fastest. Between the Lines is where I unpack how coverage gets framed, what’s skipped, and why certain details surface only after opinions are locked in.
Trump’s Foreign Policy Pressure Campaign: From Havana to Tehran
President Trump is making one thing abundantly clear this week: whether you’re a communist island 90 miles from Florida or a theocratic regime in the Middle East, the era of American patience is over.
The Cuba Squeeze
Reuters reports that Trump declared Monday that “Cuba will be failing pretty soon,” as his administration tightens the economic vise on the Castro regime’s successor government.
The pressure campaign is working on multiple fronts. Politico reported last week that the administration is actively considering a naval blockade to cut off Cuban oil imports entirely, a move that would effectively cripple an already struggling economy.
Meanwhile, Mexico is already feeling the heat. According to Reuters, the Sheinbaum government is weighing whether to halt oil shipments to Cuba amid concerns about Trump retaliation. With Venezuela’s supply lines already severed by U.S. sanctions, Cuba’s energy options are running out fast.
The strategy is classic Trump: maximum pressure, minimum military footprint. Squeeze the regime economically until something breaks.
The Iran Ultimatum
But Cuba is just the appetizer. This morning, Trump turned his attention to a much bigger target.
In a Truth Social post that read like a diplomatic ultimatum wrapped in a threat, Trump announced: “A massive Armada is heading to Iran. It is moving quickly, with great power, enthusiasm, and purpose.”
The fleet, led by the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, is now in Central Command waters—and Trump isn’t being subtle about its purpose. “Hopefully Iran will quickly ‘Come to the Table’ and negotiate a fair and equitable deal—NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS,” he wrote. “As I told Iran once before, MAKE A DEAL! They didn’t, and there was ‘Operation Midnight Hammer,’ a major destruction of Iran. The next attack will be far worse!”
For those keeping up at home, “Operation Midnight Hammer” refers to last June’s U.S. strikes that destroyed several Iranian nuclear facilities, an operation Trump has repeatedly cited as proof that threats from this White House aren’t bluffs.
The timing isn’t coincidental. Iran is reeling from weeks of anti-government protests that began in late December over the collapsing rial. The death toll remains disputed; Iran claims around 3,100, while the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency puts confirmed deaths at over 6,200, with thousands more under investigation. Some reports suggest the true number could exceed 30,000.
Trump has drawn two red lines: mass executions of detained protesters and continued killing of demonstrators. Earlier this month, he claimed credit for halting 800 planned executions after threatening military action, a claim Iran’s top prosecutor called “completely false.”
Iran’s response to today’s ultimatum? The country’s UN mission warned: “Last time the U.S. blundered into wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, it squandered over $7 trillion and lost more than 7,000 American lives. Iran stands ready for dialogue based on mutual respect and interests—BUT IF PUSHED, IT WILL DEFEND ITSELF AND RESPOND LIKE NEVER BEFORE!”
The Pattern
What’s emerging is a coherent—if aggressive—foreign policy doctrine: economic strangulation backed by credible military threats, with no appetite for nation-building or prolonged occupation.
Cuba gets the blockade threat. Iran gets the armada. Both are being told the same thing: the old rules don’t apply anymore.
Whether this pressure campaign produces regime collapse, negotiated settlements, or something far messier remains to be seen. But no one can say they weren’t warned.
40 Years Ago Today: The Night Music’s Biggest Egos Shared One Microphone
On this day in 1985, some of the biggest names in music—we’re talking Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Cyndi Lauper, Tina Turner, and roughly 40 other legends—gathered at A&M Studios in Hollywood right after the American Music Awards to record “We Are the World.”
The mission? Raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia and across Africa through the USA for Africa initiative. The brainchild of Harry Belafonte, the song was written by Jackson and Richie in a single all-night session. Quincy Jones produced, and famously posted a sign at the studio entrance that read: “Check your egos at the door.”
The logistics alone were insane. You had to coordinate schedules for Springsteen, Dylan, Ray Charles, Diana Ross, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, and Willie Nelson—all in one room, all singing together, with individual solo lines assigned based on who fit which part. They recorded through the night, finishing around 8 a.m.
The result raised over $63 million for humanitarian aid and became one of the best-selling singles of all time.
And yes, if you watch the video, Bob Dylan looks exactly like a man who wandered into a surprise birthday party he wasn’t told about and is now being forced to sing karaoke. The man revolutionized American music, but harmonizing with Huey Lewis while Cyndi Lauper bounces around was clearly not on his 1985 bingo card.
Quick Rundown
Ilhan Omar incident at town hall: Rep. Ilhan Omar was briefly interrupted during a town hall Monday night after a man sprayed her with an unknown liquid before being restrained by security. Omar was not seriously injured, and police say the substance is still being tested. Speculation online took off almost immediately, but officials haven’t confirmed motive, substance, or intent. I’m aware of the theories floating around, but I’m just not running with them until there’s actual information to work with.
Government shutdown looms: Senate Democrats are refusing to back a funding bill that includes DHS and ICE money. The deadline is Friday. Expect posturing, then probably a last-minute deal, or a shutdown that lasts until someone blinks.
Winter storm death toll rises: At least 42 people have died across the U.S. from the massive winter storm that blanketed much of the country in snow and ice. American Airlines called it the most disruptive storm in their 100-year history, with more than 9,000 flights canceled.
Minnesota GOP candidate quits over immigration crackdown: Republican gubernatorial hopeful Chris Madel dropped out of the race, citing Trump’s immigration enforcement. Madel recently represented the agent who fatally shot Renee Good earlier this month. “I cannot support the national Republican stated retribution on the citizens of our state,” he said.
Fed expected to hold rates steady: The Federal Reserve’s meeting this week is largely expected to end without a rate cut. Mortgage rates are hovering around 6% for 30-year terms, better than 2023-2024 but nowhere near pandemic lows. Trump is reportedly close to naming Powell’s successor.
Fetterman breaks with Dems on shutdown: Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) opposes his colleagues’ efforts to block ICE funding, saying he “will never vote to shut our government down, especially our Defense Department.” He still wants ICE reforms but won’t risk a shutdown to get them.
Let’s Talk
If video overturned the initial DHS narrative within hours, who actually failed here—field agents, agency leadership, or the White House comms machine?
If Democrats push through a requirement for judicial warrants on every ICE arrest, is that about civil liberties — or is it effectively a de facto amnesty that would make interior immigration enforcement nearly impossible without a judge’s sign-off?
And in Minnesota, where multiple federal shootings and warrantless enforcement are already fueling mass protest, who pays the political price if enforcement grinds to a halt?
Drop a reply in the comments. I read everything.
Until Thursday,
The Brief publishes Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. No corporate overlords—just independent journalism you can actually trust. Share it with someone who needs the real story.
Great write up on everything! I wanted to point out something I read and I can't remember who said it but now I can't unsee it. The image of Pretti makes him look less Jewish. And he might not even be Jewish but I just watch a Holocaust movie and he looks Jewish... and the retouched photo doesn't. Currently the Leftists have been bashing the Jews.
The whole Miller-Noem-Lewandowski circular firing squad basically proves nobody had the footage befo re crafting a narrative. The speed at which they had to reverse course once video dropped tells you everything about priorities in crisis comms. I've seen this playbook before where the first story gets built on assumptions then collapses the moment evidence surfaces.