The Brief : Spencer Pratt is running for mayor. I'm not joking.

Plus: $9B in fraud, Maduro in cuffs, and Minneapolis on edge.

I am back! At least making my way back, because being on hiatus for a month is hard, and I’m not being sarcastic. Playing catch-up is brutal, and so is finishing all the things I delusionally thought I’d squeeze in during vacation. Please tell me I’m not the only one who suffers from that delusion.

New year, new plans. Here’s what to expect: The Brief hits your inbox M/W/F with my brief rundown on the headlines. Sundays get a lighter Sunday Desk newsletter—BTS, what I’m reading, maybe a recipe, animal photos. My ridiculously long, over-sourced deep dives stay exclusive to paid subscribers. And when I MUST get something off my chest? Desk Notes with unfiltered thoughts.

Thankfully, while I was gone, the news was very slow and uneventful.

Yes, that was sarcasm. Let’s get into it.

ICE Shooting in Minneapolis: The Facts Are Still Coming

The fraud surge was followed by increased ICE enforcement—and progressive “rapid response” activists tailing agents, reporting locations, and obstructing operations.

On Wednesday it turned deadly. Renee Nicole Good, 37, a U.S. citizen and mother of three, was shot after refusing to exit her vehicle and driving toward an officer.

DHS reports she and others had been stalking and impeding agents throughout the day; notably, the same agent had been injured in a similar dragging incident last summer.

Meanwhile, legacy outlets have largely framed Good as a mother, poet, and singer who was simply “caring for her neighbors.” But reporting from the New York Post paints a different picture: Good was an “ICE Watch” activist—part of a network specifically trained to monitor and resist federal immigration enforcement.

Renee Nicole Good (right) was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis.Instagram / @renee.n.good

Good was involved with a local “ICE Watch” in Minneapolis.Instagram/mnicewatch

Fellow activists at her vigil called her a “warrior.” One mother named Leesa told the Post: “She was trained against these ICE agents—what to do, what not to do, it’s a very thorough training. To listen to commands, to know your rights, to whistle when you see an ICE agent.”

How did Good get involved? Through her 6-year-old son’s charter school—Southside Family Charter School—which proudly puts “social justice first” and prioritizes “involving kids in political and social activism.” She moved to Minneapolis last year, connected with the anti-ICE network through the school community, and became a regular participant in obstruction efforts. One eyewitness described her as “the main car in the protest... very successful in blocking traffic. She was doing exactly what she set out to do.”

So no—this wasn’t a random mom who stumbled into a dangerous situation. This was someone who sought it out.

What followed was a narrative war:

• Mayor Frey: Called self-defense “a garbage narrative” and told ICE to “get the f*** out of our city.”

• Noem: Called it “terrorism,” but got key details wrong about the car strike.

• Walz: Rushed to “unjustified” and declared Minnesota “at war” with feds.

• Trump: Said she “intentionally attempted to hit the officer.”

• Homan: The only measured voice—”Rush to judgment on both sides. Let the facts come out.”

The FBI is investigating. Protests are spreading. AG Pam Bondi warned that obstructing federal officers is a federal crime: “If you cross that red line, you will be arrested and prosecuted.”

It’s devastating this ended in death. But I’m not surprised these situations are escalating. These activists believe they have a right to obstruct federal agents without consequence. What I still can’t wrap my head around: she had three kids at home—including the 6-year-old whose school introduced her to this world. What made her think this was worth the risk?

Minneapolis Fraud: A 23-Year-Old Owns Legacy Media (Again)

Nick Shirley’s daycare exposé—now at 139 million views—revealed Somali-owned centers licensed for 80-120 kids sitting completely empty, allegedly scamming $110M+ through programs like Feeding Our Future.

Legacy media’s response? Smear the 23-year-old as a “MAGA influencer” with racist motives. Meanwhile, feds now estimate $9 billion in total fraud under Walz’s watch. Seventy-plus convictions. Asset seizures—Porsches, homes, jewelry. Congress wants Walz’s documents by February 10.

No wonder he announced he won’t seek reelection.

Word is Amy Klobuchar will run in his place. The speculation? If she wins, she appoints Walz to her Senate seat. Stupid move given the investigations—but this is Minnesota politics we’re talking about.

---

Sponsored in Partnership with PragerU:

Born in Venezuela, Franklin Camargo and his family struggled to survive and prosper under socialism. After a family trip to the United States as a young boy, Franklin made it his goal to live in a capitalist society. Now a proud resident of the United States, he dedicates his life to speaking out against the same policies that destroyed his home country.

---

Venezuela: I Woke Up to Bombs

Picture it: tiny cabin in the Puerto Rican mountains, 5 AM, casually checking X.

First thing I see: bombs dropping over Venezuela.

I gasped loud enough to wake my husband. Nicolás Maduro and his wife, captured by U.S. forces, en route to New York. I spent the rest of the day glued to my feed while getting ready for a wedding. (The FAA shutting down Puerto Rico airspace made it the topic at the reception.)

The rundown: Trump’s “Operation Absolute Resolve” grabbed Maduro mid-dictator vibes. He’s now facing drug and weapons charges in New York. Venezuela claims ~100 dead; U.S. reports 7 troops injured. Trump’s eyeing those oil reserves for “years” and already teasing action on Cuba and Nicaragua. It’s called the Don-roe doctrine.

If you need the why, go watch John Krasinski in Jack Ryan season 2. I have more thoughts incoming.

NYC’s Socialist Mayor Said the Quiet Part Loud

Zohran Mamdani was sworn in on January 1st and declared with his full chest:

“We will replace the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism.”

Then his housing appointee, Cea Weaver, resurfaced with her greatest hits: homeownership is a “weapon of white supremacy” and “white people will have a different relationship to private property.”

She lives in gentrified Brooklyn. Her mom owns a $1.6 million house in Nashville.

Cool. Cool cool cool.

Spencer Pratt for Mayor of LA. Yes, Really.

On the one-year anniversary of the Palisades fires, the Hills villain announced his mayoral run from a stage at the “They Let Us Burn” rally.

His pitch: “The system is fundamentally broken.” He’s promising to be “Karen Bass’s worst nightmare”—faster permits, actual fire preparedness, accountability for Newsom.

---

---

The numbers back his anger: 31 dead. 13,000+ structures destroyed. One year later? Fewer than 12 homes rebuilt. Only 646 permits issued.

If he wins, Heidi Montag becomes First Lady, peak LA. But after this level of government failure? Let the reality TV villain have a shot.

Honorable Mentions

• Trump invites Colombian president to White House days after threatening it with a military strike

• Rubio says he will meet with Denmark about Greenland next week

• Trump sat for a four hour interview with the NYT to be published on Friday

• Senate advances resolution to curb Trump’s military authority in Venezuela

• U.S. Trade Deficit Shrinks to 16-Year Low in October After Trump Tariffs

That’s the first Brief. What story do you want me to dig into? What do you think?

• Was Maduro worth the operation? I'm working through my thoughts—what's your take?

• 'Warmth of collectivism'—inspiring or terrifying? No wrong answers. (Okay, one wrong answer.)

• Genuine question: What did these activists think was going to happen?

• Heidi Montag as First Lady of LA—thoughts?

Drop it in the comments.

And Rachel and I are back with new podcast episodes starting Tuesday!