Minnesota ICE, Iran Protests, DOJ Subpoenas Federal Reserve

0:00Oh my god. I am so glad not to be wearing heels. I wear heels for 12 hours. You've been wearing them a long time. Okay, A. We're going to host this podcast after going to the Golden Globes, you know, like we do every Monday. Yeah, we lost. I mean, we didn't win, but still, it was a nice night. But public radio went to Hollywood. Yes, that's true. And in the podcast category, first time ever. And in that category, we were the one news podcast that informs the public, often under intense pressure. Our journalists are around the world. Today, we're going to be talking about Iran and the Fed and all of these things.

0:41And I was just thinking about that when we were in this glamorous room, that we were representing the difficult work of our journalists around the world, of our editors and producers that come in here at an ungodly hour. And I'm proud of that. and I was proud to represent that. Yeah, and it was nice to hear so many people support us too. That was really nice. Even though we didn't go home with a trophy, at least we had the support of the room, which was really nice to hear. And we had the support of all our listeners. Yeah, there you go. The Trump administration is sending hundreds of additional federal agents into Minnesota.

1:18The protests continued over the weekend after 37-year-old Renee Good was killed by an ICE agent. how is Minneapolis responding to the surge of federal forces? I'm Leila Faudil, that's A. Martinez, and this is Up First from NPR News. After President Trump threatened to strike Iran over its deadly crackdown on nationwide protests, Trump says Iran asked for a meeting. Is the country's regime worried he'll follow through after what he did in Venezuela? And Fed Chair Jerome Powell says the Justice Department is using a grand jury investigation to pressure the central bank to do what the president wants.

1:53The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public. Stay with us. We've got all the news you need to start your day.

2:10On Ye Gods with Scott Carter, hear from the faithful. I told my very Catholic mother that she needs to meet Jesus. The faithless. I just so don't believe in God. And the fearless. Serve people, connect with people. That's how we thrive. If life's a mystery we investigate, who done it? I pray that the humor God. Listen religiously to Ye Gods with Scott Carter wherever you get your podcasts. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem says she's sending additional federal law enforcement agents to Minnesota. Meanwhile, protests continued on Sunday across the country after an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Good in Minneapolis last week.

2:48Joining us from Minneapolis is NPR's Jason DeRose. Jason, so, okay, additional forces. What do we know about these forces that Noam is sending? Well, Noam says she's moving many more homeland security agents into Minnesota. Here she is speaking on Fox News Sunday. There'll be hundreds more in order to allow our ICE and our Border Patrol individuals that are working in Minneapolis to do so safely. She says some have already arrived. Others will arrive today. But some elected officials here are pushing back against DHS actions, including U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar. She's demanding a full investigation into Renee Good's killing.

3:28Also, U.S. representatives had normally been allowed to visit ICE detention centers unannounced, but Omar says she was turned away over the weekend. Now, Homeland Security, according to a memo obtained by NPR, now says it requires elected officials to give seven days notice to enter a detention center. So overall, as someone who knows the area and has been here for a few days, tensions are pretty high. You hear sirens and helicopters throughout the day and night, and people are really on edge. That neighborhood where the shooting took place, I mean, how are people feeling there? Well, there is a lot of fear there, but there's also a lot of care for neighbors.

4:04I want to play this piece of tape for you from a singing and walking vigil from Sunday afternoon.

4:18Several hundred people gathered at a church not far from last week's killing and then walked about a mile loop around the neighborhood singing to their neighbors to bring some comfort and encouragement. And as they walked, they stopped from time to time in places where ICE agents had detained people recently, and they kept a moment of silence at each of those places. There is a lot coming at Minneapolis right now. The killing of Renee Good, the larger immigration actions there. So tell us, I mean, you cover religion, Jason. What has been the response from communities of faith? Well, you know, here in Minneapolis, people of faith have really taken the lead in working to counter what they believe to be unjust actions by the Trump administration around immigration enforcement.

4:58In a statement over the weekend, Renee Good's wife said that Renee was a Christian whose faith motivated her work. That's also true of Minneapolis resident Carol Hornbeck, a family therapist. She says she's been thinking a lot about a verse from the hymn, How Firm a Foundation. I will be with thee that troubles to bless and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress, so that the hardest thing becomes holy. Ornbeck says the idea that her resistance work is hard but holy is what's giving her strength and resolve right now. All right. Now, what are you going to be looking for in the next few days? Well, as those additional federal agents arrive, I'll be looking to see what they're actually doing on the ground.

5:40And I'll be watching how community members who oppose ICE's presence respond to these increased federal forces. They've been patrolling neighborhoods and alerting people with whistles and chat groups about where ICE agents are. Will they continue to think that kind of work is enough, especially since ICE is now responding so aggressively using pepper spray and, as of last week, deadly force? That's NPR's Jason DeRose in Minneapolis. Jason, thanks. You're welcome.

6:16President Trump will rule out strikes on Iran, which is seeing significant protests, despite saying Tehran asked to negotiate. He told journalists on Air Force One that the U.S. might have to act before the meeting because of, quote, what's happening in Iran. Protesters have been pouring into the streets for several weeks in the biggest challenge to the theocratic regime in years. In response, the Iranian government has cracked down hard with a U.S.-based human rights activist news agency reporting almost 500 protesters killed. NPR's international affairs correspondent Jackie Northam has been following all of this.

6:53Jackie, I mean, these are the biggest protests in Iran in years, and they seem to be picking up steam. Oh, yes. I mean, the protesters are in virtually every corner of Iran now. And while they started out in late December in response to the country's terrible economy, they've now spread to anger at the hardline regime. There are chants of death to the dictator, meaning Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. And videos we're seeing show massive crowds and some burning buildings, including mosques, but also dead bodies on the streets and in the morgues. Now, it's really difficult to verify information coming out of Iran.

7:26Internet and cell phone service has been cut by the regime for several days now. But, you know, there are still ways to get information and videos out of what's happening in Iran. President Trump says the Iranians want to set up a meeting. Considering the U.S.'s operation in Venezuela, I mean, are we seeing his threats maybe take on a little bit more weight? Well, the Iranians have not said anything publicly about negotiations with the U.S., but surely the Venezuela operation will likely be part of any of their calculations regarding the protests. Iran has said it would consider U.S. military bases and ships legitimate targets for preemptive strikes if it looks as though the U.S.

8:05would strike Iran. But, you know, all of this comes at a particularly vulnerable time for the regime. Many of the government's senior leadership were killed, and its military capabilities were badly weakened during the 12-day war with Israel last summer. The regime still has a stockpile of ballistic missiles, though. I spoke with Nader Habibi, and he focuses on Middle East economics at Brandeis University. He left Iran in the late 1990s, but is in daily contact with people there. Habibi said the regime knows the U.S. could do considerable damage to the missile facilities, as well as hit political targets.

8:40Here he is. I don't think they are underestimating the risk. That's why they are issuing some threatening postures in terms of retaliation. even though in reality they might not be able to carry out those threats. Which is why the Iranians may have asked the Trump administration for negotiations. Has the regime there, though, maybe addressed the grievances of the protesters to maybe cool off the situation before any possible U.S. strike? Yes, Iran's more moderate president, Massoud Pazeshkin, has said from the start that the government needs to sit down and listen to the protesters' concerns. And at one point last week, the regime tried to prop up the economy by throwing U.S.

9:21dollars into the market. But clearly, this has not stopped people from coming out. But, you know, no matter how big these crowds are, there are still millions of people who have not joined in. Because many Iranians who have seen other widespread protests over the years know what the security forces can do. And, you know, the regime still has support. In fact, tens of thousands of pro-government protesters took to the streets today. That's NPR's international affairs correspondent, Jackie Northam. Jackie, thanks. Thanks so much.

9:57The Trump administration is stepping up its pressure campaign against the Federal Reserve, which it has been pushing to lower interest rates. Pet Chairman Jerome Powell says the Justice Department served subpoenas on the central bank late last week. NPR's Scott Horsley is here. Scott, so what's this latest move by the Justice Department? Well, the Federal Reserve says it was served with grand jury subpoenas on Friday, seeking information about the multi-billion dollar makeover of the Fed's headquarter building here in Washington and testimony that Fed Chairman Jerome Powell gave the Senate Banking Committee about that project back in June.

10:32Powell was grilled at the time about cost overruns on the headquarters renovation. He acknowledged the price tag has ballooned from$1.9 billion to$2.5 billion. But in an unusually combative video statement last evening, Powell says that's not what this new Justice Department probe is really about. This new threat is not about my testimony last June or about the renovation of the Federal Reserve buildings. The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public rather than following the preferences of the president.

11:08The Justice Department hasn't commented. President Trump told NBC last evening he was not aware of the DOJ investigation. But there's no question Trump has moved aggressively to impose his will on the central bank. He's threatened in the past to fire Powell. He's also tried to fire another member of the Fed's governing board, Lisa Cook, although so far the Supreme Court's kept that on hold. Jerome Powell, though, says this is really about interest rates. So what is President Trump trying to treat? Well, politicians often want lower interest rates in order to goose the economy in the short run.

11:40But the Fed was designed to be insulated from that kind of political pressure precisely so policymakers at the Fed can do what they think is in the best long-term interest to the economy, even if it means making some unpopular short-term decisions like keeping interest rates high to curb inflation. Now, Trump has ignored those guardrails designed to protect the Fed's independence. And this Justice Department probe could be the latest example of the Trump administration going to extraordinary lengths to get its way. It's clear the president is executing a pressure campaign. So what's been the reaction?

12:12Well, some senators have recoiled at this. Powell's term as chairman expires in May, and Trump will get to nominate his successor. But some of the senators who will vote on that nomination have been expressing their unhappiness with this move by the Justice Department. That includes not only Democrats like Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, but also Republican Senator Tom Tillis of North Carolina. Tillis said yesterday the administration's move is putting not only the Fed's independence and credibility in question, but also the Justice Department's. And Tillis threatened to vote against any Trump Fed nominee until this issue is resolved.

12:49In the meantime, Jerome Powell says he's not going to ban to intimidation. Public service sometimes requires standing firm in the face of threats. I will continue to do the job the Senate confirmed me to do, with integrity and a commitment to serving the American people. Powell has not said whether he plans to stay on the Fed board after his term as chairman expires. That would be unusual, but Powell could stick around for two more years, which would limit Trump's ability to put more loyalists on the central bank board. That's NPR's Scott Horsley. Scott, thanks a lot. You're welcome.

13:27And that's Up First for Monday, January 12th. I'm Amy Martinez. And I'm Leila Faudil. Up First gets you caught up and Morning Edition takes you deeper. We're live every morning on your local NPR station with reporting, interviews, and the context behind the headlines. And if you want to listen in the afternoon, you can do that too. Download the NPR app and listen anytime. You can find all of NPR's most popular shows including Up First and Morning Edition. So many options to get the news you need to start your day. Today's episode of A First was edited by Daniel Burke, Kate Bartlett, Pallavi Gugoy, Mohamed El Bardisi, and H.J.

14:03Mai. It was produced by Zia Butch, Nia Dumas, and Christopher Thomas. We got engineering support from Simon Laszlo Jansen. Our technical director is Carly Strange. Join us again tomorrow.