State of Emergency: Minnesota Leaders Confront Federal Crackdown in CNN Town Hall

MINNEAPOLIS — On Wednesday night, January 28, 2026, CNN hosted a live town hall titled "State of Emergency: Confronting the Crisis in Minnesota," marking a pivotal moment in the escalating standoff between local officials and federal law enforcement.

Moderated by Anderson Cooper and Sara Sidner from a community center in Minneapolis, the event brought together a panel of state and local leaders, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Police Chief Brian O'Hara, and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. The broadcast comes as the Twin Cities remain the epicenter of a national debate over federal immigration enforcement and local sovereignty.

A City Under Siege

The town hall was prompted by the fallout from "Operation Metro Surge," a massive deployment of over 2,000 federal agents to the region. Tensions reached a breaking point following two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens by federal agents in recent weeks:

• Renee Good (37): Shot and killed in her vehicle by an immigration officer in early January.

• Alex Pretti (37): An ICU nurse shot and killed by federal agents in Uptown just two weeks later.

Mayor Frey, who has become a vocal critic of the operation, reiterated his stance during the town hall, describing the federal presence as an "occupation" that has made the city "far less safe." Frey previously made headlines for telling federal agents to "get the f*** out of Minneapolis," a sentiment he defended on the national stage.

Local vs. Federal Authority

The discussion highlighted the legal and political chasm between the state of Minnesota and the Trump administration.

• Attorney General Keith Ellison discussed the ongoing legal challenges against federal tactics, including allegations of excessive force and warrantless arrests.

• Police Chief Brian O'Hara addressed the strain on local resources and the breakdown of trust between the community and law enforcement caused by the masked federal units.

The town hall also addressed the news that the Department of Justice is currently investigating both Mayor Frey and Governor Tim Walz for "alleged obstruction" of federal law enforcement activities—a move Frey dismissed as "performance politics" and "retribution."

Community Impact and Safety

The live audience, comprised of Minnesotans from across the political spectrum, pressed the leaders on issues ranging from public safety to the rights of immigrant neighbors. The atmosphere in the city remains volatile; just 24 hours prior to the CNN event, U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar was attacked at a separate local town hall when a man sprayed her with an unknown substance (later identified as apple cider vinegar) before being tackled by security.

Looking Forward

While President Trump recently announced that Border Czar Tom Homan would visit Minneapolis to discuss "next steps," and that some agents might be reassigned, local leaders expressed skepticism.

"Our city is rock solid," Frey stated during the broadcast, "but we cannot have a productive path forward while our residents are being killed in their own streets by agents who refuse to coordinate with local authorities."

The town hall concluded with a call for transparency and an independent investigation into the deaths of Good and Pretti, as Minnesota remains at the forefront of a constitutional tug-of-war over the limits of federal power.