Sunday, January 25, 2026

WHEN 47 DAYS OF TRAINING MEETS A LIFETIME OF IMPUNITY: THE EXECUTIONS OF ALEX PRETTI AND RENEE GOOD

 

WHEN 47 DAYS OF TRAINING MEETS A LIFETIME OF IMPUNITY

THE EXECUTIONS OF ALEX PRETTI AND RENEE GOOD

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Fascist Boot (Just Kidding—Defund ICE)

By BIG EDUCATION APE, Because Someone Has to Say It

January 25, 2026

Let me get this straight.

You need 1,500 hours to become a licensed cosmetologist in Minnesota. That's about nine months of training to safely handle scissors near someone's ears.

But apparently, 47 days—roughly 320 hours—is plenty of time to train a Border Patrol agent to make life-or-death decisions with a firearm in American cities during "Operation Metro Surge."

What could possibly go wrong?

Oh, right. Alex Pretti and Renee Good are dead.

THE TALE OF TWO EXECUTIONS

Renee Good: Poet, Mother, U.S. Citizen—"Domestic Terrorist"?

On January 7, 2026, Renee Nicole Good—a 37-year-old poet, mother of three, and U.S. citizen—was shot three times by ICE Agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis. Secretary Kristi Noem and President Trump immediately labeled her a "domestic terrorist" who "weaponized her vehicle" to run over agents.

The problem? Multiple bystander videos analyzed by The New York Times show Good's SUV moving away from Agent Ross when he opened fire through her windshield and driver-side window.

But sure, let's trust the people who think "alternative facts" is a legitimate phrase.

Alex Pretti: ICU Nurse, Veteran Caregiver—Shot 10 Times in 5 Seconds

On January 24, 2026—just yesterday—Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA, was filming a federal immigration raid. Witnesses say he tried to help a woman who had been shoved by agents.

What happened next? Approximately six federal agents tackled him. Video shows Pretti holding a phone (not a gun) in his hand. An agent appears to pull a handgun away from the scuffle—and then other agents opened fire on the pinned man, shooting him 10 times in five seconds.

DHS claims Pretti was a "domestic terrorist" who "violently resisted" with a handgun.

Who are you going to believe—the fascists or your lying eyes?

QUALIFIED IMMUNITY: THE "GET OUT OF JAIL FREE" CARD FOR KILLER COPS

Here's where it gets legally obscene.

If Alex Pretti had been killed by a Minneapolis Police officer, his family could sue under Minnesota state law, which has limited qualified immunity. They'd have a fighting chance at justice.

But because he was killed by federal agents (Border Patrol/ICE), the family must navigate a legal labyrinth designed to ensure zero accountability:

The Bivens Black Hole

Unlike local cops, you can't sue federal agents under the standard civil rights law (Section 1983). You need a "Bivens claim"—a judicial doctrine the Supreme Court has spent the last decade systematically destroying.

If a court decides this is a "new context" (spoiler: they will), the case gets dismissed entirely, regardless of whether the shooting was justified.

The "Clearly Established" Catch-22

Even if the case survives the Bivens hurdle, the family must find a prior case with nearly identical facts—like, say, "federal agents shooting a prone man after another agent had already disarmed him."

No such case in the 8th Circuit? Too bad. Immunity granted.

It's a legal Möbius strip: A right can't be "clearly established" unless a previous victim already won a nearly identical case. But if the previous case was dismissed for lack of "clearly established" precedent, no precedent ever gets created.

Congratulations. You've just discovered the perpetual motion machine of injustice.

THE WRIT OF MANDAMUS: WHEN THE GOVERNMENT PLAYS HIDE-AND-SEEK WITH EVIDENCE

So what do you do when federal agencies refuse to release evidence—like autopsy reports, body-cam footage, or Renee Good's bullet-riddled SUV?

Enter the Writ of Mandamus (Latin for "we command")—an extraordinary court order that forces government officials to do their damn jobs.

How It's Being Used:

  • Renee Good's Case: Attorneys are drafting a Mandamus petition to force the Hennepin County Medical Examiner to release the autopsy report, which the DOJ is reportedly "holding."

  • Alex Pretti's Case: On January 24, a federal judge granted a Temporary Restraining Order (similar to Mandamus) to prevent the Trump administration from "destroying or altering" evidence at the scene.

Translation: The government's first instinct was to cover it up. A judge had to literally command them not to destroy evidence of their own killing.

Let that sink in.

THE PROPAGANDA MACHINE: BOVINO, NOEM, MILLER, AND THE BOOTLICKING CHORUS

Let's talk about the sycophants.

Kristi Noem (DHS Secretary)

Called both victims "domestic terrorists" before any investigation. Also famous for shooting her own dog and writing about it in a book. Credibility: -47.

Stephen Miller (White House Senior Advisor)

The architect of "Operation Metro Surge." Once described by a former colleague as someone who "would have been in the Gestapo if he'd been born in 1920s Germany." Subtlety: 0.

Speaker Mike Johnson

Praised the raids as "restoring law and order." Also believes the Earth is 6,000 years old. Scientific literacy: Pending.

Tom Bovino (Acting ICE Director, presumably)

Defended the agents' actions as "heroic." Definition of "heroic": Shooting unarmed civilians 10 times in 5 seconds.

WHAT THE VIDEOS SHOW VS. WHAT THE FASCISTS CLAIM

Government ClaimWhat the Video Actually Shows
Renee Good "weaponized her vehicle"SUV moving away from Agent Ross
Alex Pretti "approached with a handgun"Pretti holding a phone; agent pulls gun away before shooting
Agents acted in "self-defense"Six agents tackling one man, then executing him while pinned

Conclusion: Either the Trump administration is lying, or they've discovered a parallel universe where phones are guns and driving away is an assault.

Occam's Razor says: They're lying.

THE FBI SUPERVISOR WHO SAID "HELL NO"

On January 24, FBI Supervisor Tracee Mergen resigned after being pressured to reclassify the Alex Pretti investigation from a "shooting" to an "assault on an officer."

Let me repeat that: The government tried to rewrite the nature of the incident to protect the agents.

This is not incompetence. This is a cover-up.

DEFUND ICE. ABOLISH QUALIFIED IMMUNITY. CALL CONGRESS NOW.

Here's the bottom line:

47 days of training is not enough to prevent the ICE Keystone Kops from killing people.

Qualified immunity is a judicial abomination that ensures killer cops never face consequences.

Federal agents operate with even less accountability than local police.

And the Trump administration is actively covering up the evidence.

WHAT YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW:

  1. CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES (Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121)

    • Demand passage of the Qualified Immunity Abolition Act of 2026
    • Demand an independent investigation into both killings
    • Demand defunding of ICE until accountability measures are in place
  2. SUPPORT THE ACLU LAWSUIT against DHS Secretary Kristi Noem

  3. SHARE THE VIDEOS (before they get "accidentally deleted")

  4. DONATE to the legal defense funds for the Pretti and Good families

  5. VOTE out every bootlicking sycophant who values "law and order" over actual human lives

FINAL THOUGHT: WHO ARE YOU GOING TO BELIEVE?

The fascists will tell you these were "justified shootings."

The videos show executions.

The government will claim "officer safety."

The victims are dead.

Stephen Miller will call it "restoring order."

History will call it what it is: state-sanctioned murder.

Until there is justice for all who have been harmed or killed at the hands of fascist government agents, there can be no peace.

Defund ICE. Abolish qualified immunity. And for the love of democracy—

CALL CONGRESS. CALL THEM NOW. CALL THEM OFTEN.

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

"WTF WTF WTF." — Every reasonable person watching this unfold

SOURCES & FURTHER READING:

  • ACLU Lawsuit: ACLU v. Noem (2026)
  • The New York Times video analysis of the Renee Good shooting
  • Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison's TRO filing (Jan. 24, 2026)
  • FBI Supervisor Tracee Mergen resignation reports (Jan. 24, 2026)
  • Supreme Court cases: Harlow v. Fitzgerald (1982), Anderson v. Creighton (1987), Taylor v. Riojas (2020)

DISCLAIMER: This article contains strong language, righteous anger, and an unapologetic commitment to the truth. If that offends you, perhaps examine why state violence doesn't.



MORNING NEWS UPDATE: JANUARY 25, 2026

 

MORNING NEWS UPDATE: JANUARY 25, 2026

U.S. News
  1. A massive winter storm is impacting large parts of the U.S., bringing heavy snow, ice, frigid temperatures, and widespread power outages (over 730,000 reported without power in some updates), affecting travel and daily life from the Midwest to the East Coast and beyond.
  2. President Trump approved an emergency declaration for West Virginia as the winter storm approaches, with similar preparations in other states.
  3. A Border Patrol agent fatally shot a man in Minneapolis, escalating tensions and a state-federal standoff, sparking protests and calls for federal agents to leave the area.
  4. Federal agents were involved in another high-profile shooting incident, with new video angles emerging of the event.
  5. Massive Winter Storm Paralyzes East: A "catastrophic" winter storm stretching 2,000 miles has left 213 million people under weather warnings. Over 800,000 customers are without power, primarily in Tennessee, Texas, and Mississippi.

  6. Nationwide Protests Following Fatal Shooting: Major protests have erupted in Minneapolis, NYC, and San Francisco after video evidence contradicted federal claims regarding the shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse.

  7. Sundance Assault Incident: Florida Congressman Maxwell Frost was assaulted at the Sundance Film Festival by an individual shouting racist remarks and deportation threats; the suspect has been arrested.

Politics
  1. Congress is engaging in "shadow diplomacy" to reassure NATO allies amid President Trump's threats toward NATO countries and related policies.
  2. Discussions continue around President Trump's first year in office, with analyses from outlets like the Washington Examiner and political reports.
  3. Trump heads to Iowa amid a partial government shutdown looming as senators return to Capitol Hill.
  4. At Davos, Trump's "shock therapy" approach (including tariff threats and statements on issues like Greenland) has left Europe shaken but potentially healthier in response.
  5. New National Defense Strategy (NDS 2026): The Trump administration released its roadmap for 2026, signaling a major shift by "dialing down" on China confrontation to prioritize Western Hemisphere dominance and domestic security.

  6. "Shock Therapy" at Davos: At the World Economic Forum, European officials described the current U.S. approach to trade and security as "shock therapy," forcing rapid transitions in the transatlantic partnership.

  7. U.S. Withdrawal from WHO: Reports continue to detail the logistical and public health fallout as the U.S. formalizes its exit from the World Health Organization.

World Affairs
  1. U.S. military pressure is intensifying in the Middle East, with a massive American naval buildup, top commanders arriving in Israel, and Iran on high alert amid discussions of Trump's Gaza plans.
  2. Syria extended a truce with Kurdish forces by 15 days to facilitate the transfer of Islamic State (IS) detainees to Iraq.
  3. Ongoing developments in Ukraine and regional conflicts, including reports of Russian missile actions (though specifics vary by source).
  4. Iran Uprising Casualties: Local reports suggest the death toll from ongoing protests in Iran could reach 30,000 as international pressure on the regime intensifies.

  5. U.S. Operations in Venezuela: Following the capture of Nicolás Maduro, educators and world leaders are debating the implications of the U.S. plan to oversee a transition government in the country.

  6. UN Water Conference Prep: Global stakeholders have gathered in Dakar to prepare for the 2026 UN Water Conference, identifying water scarcity as the "defining business issue of the decade."

Education
  1. Education leaders are drawing lessons from the "AI gold rush," with increasing school engagement levels and AI becoming a pillar of institutional strategy in edtech for 2026.
  2. Discussions in publications like NEA Today on improving outreach to boys, AI's impact on teaching, and debates over later school start times.
  3. Various school assembly headlines compilations highlight national/international education updates for late January.
  4. Dismantling the Education Department: Secretary Linda McMahon is continuing her "Returning Education to the States" tour as the administration moves to decentralize federal school oversight and freeze research cash.

  5. School Safety & Immigration: A new national survey reveals that 70% of high school principals report students from immigrant families are missing school due to fear of federal enforcement.

  6. Teacher Strike Threats: Following a "victory" strike in California, unions in major districts like Los Angeles and Oakland are declaring impasses, signaling a wave of potential walkouts in early 2026.

Economy
  1. Economic updates reflect on 2025's market performance (e.g., strong S&P 500 returns despite volatility from tariffs) and projections for 2026 growth around 2.1%.
  2. Fed surveys indicate modest U.S. economic expansion recently, with stable employment and divided policymaker views on rates.
  3. Ongoing analyses of FED concerns, including interest rates, inflation, unemployment, and productivity in today's economic landscape.
  4. AI Productivity Gains: At Davos, tech giants including Cisco and ServiceNow committed to a joint initiative to train 120 million people in AI by 2030, citing cases where AI saved companies over $100M in tax analysis.

  5. RAM Price Crisis: A significant shortage in DDR5 memory has hit a new high, driving up the cost of enterprise servers and consumer PCs globally.

  6. Global Growth Forecast: The IMF has slightly upwardly revised global growth to 3.3% for 2026, citing front-loading ahead of expected tariff implementations.

Technology
  1. Advances in understanding how the human brain may work more like AI than previously thought, per new scientific insights.
  2. In healthcare tech, 35% of patients might switch doctors due to frustrating digital tools, and 20% of healthcare workers use unauthorized AI tools.
  3. White House tech advisors emphasizing U.S. leadership across the AI stack.
  4. Gemini-Powered EVs: The world’s first electric vehicle powered by Google’s Gemini AI is launching this week, promising a more integrated voice-and-vision driving assistant.

  5. Room-Temperature Laser Magnets: Researchers have produced nanometer-thick magnets at room temperature using lasers, a breakthrough that could lead to faster non-silicon processors.

  6. Workday/NetSuite Spoofing: A new wave of malicious Chrome extensions has been identified that specifically spoof corporate software like Workday to steal employee credentials.

Health
  1. New research reveals how pancreatic cancer evades the immune system using a molecular trick, aiding potential future treatments.
  2. NIH ends funding for all research using human fetal tissue.
  3. Patient and worker frustrations with digital health tools could drive changes in doctor selection and AI usage in healthcare settings.
  4. Colorectal cancer rising as a leading cause in some cancer statistics.
  5. Alzheimer's Memory Breakthrough: Scientists identified a natural "aging molecule" that, when targeted, can restore early memory abilities by improving communication between brain cells.

  6. Dangerous Amoebas Spreading: Health officials issued an urgent warning regarding heat-resistant "free-living amoebae" that are surviving modern water chlorination systems globally.

  7. Cancer's "Immune Shield": New research into pancreatic cancer has revealed how the protein MYC allows tumors to hide from the immune system, opening a new door for targeted immunotherapy.

Sports
  1. No. 1 Arizona men's basketball team dominates West Virginia in a key matchup.
  2. Big 12 and Big Ten conference updates, including Arizona's unanimous No. 1 ranking in the AP Top 25 for the first time in program history.
  3. Ongoing college basketball odds and games highlighted for January 25.
  4. NFL Championship Sunday: The sports world is focused on today's high-stakes matchups: Patriots vs. Broncos and Rams vs. Seahawks to determine the Super Bowl LX contenders.

  5. NCAA Scoring Record: BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa made history yesterday with a 43-point game, breaking the school record previously held by Danny Ainge.

  6. UFC 324 Results: Justin Gaethje outlasted Paddy Pimblett in a "main event thriller" in Las Vegas, while Dominick Cruz was announced as the headline inductee for the 2026 Hall of Fame class.

The dominant U.S.-focused story today is the severe winter storm's widespread effects, alongside political tensions and international military buildups. Stay safe if you're in affected areas!