Donald Trump’s masked gunmen surround the fallen Alex Pretti, Minneapolis, Minneapolis, January 24, 2026

EA-PoliticsJOE VideoCast: Will Trump Lose Support Over The Execution in Minneapolis?

EA-Times Radio VideoCast: Trump’s Authoritarian Regime and the Execution of Alex Pretti

UPDATE, JAN 30:

In a 27-minute podcast recorded on Tuesday, I chat with the Irish Independent’s Indo Daily about the execution of Alex Pretti and the threat of Donald Trump’s authoritarian regime.

I consider if Trump has “crossed a line” with the American people, including his base, with his shock troops in Minnesota. And I answer host Fionnan Sheahan’s question if the US is drifting into “fascism”.

I don’t use the word fascism because it is such a politically-charged term.

I prefer the word “authoritarian”, not just with respect to Minnesota but with the entire approach of the Trump Administration from early 2025. Their authority is the only one that matters.

You have to ask yourself not if the authoritarian moment is possible in the US, but if it is here.

My analysis follows reporting by David Smith of The Guardian — listen from 13:40:

ORIGINAL ENTRY, JAN 27: Throughout Monday, I spoke with international media outlets about Saturday’s execution of intensive care unit nurse Alex Pretti by the Trump Administration’s Border Patrol in Minneapolis.

Choosing my words carefully, I set out the facts of the execution, dismantling the Trump camp’s disinformation portraying Pretti as a “would-be assassin”.

I talk about the catalyst of the Trump camp’s “shock troops” for the “authoritarian moment”. I consider how far this could go, and whether the threat to the US system — as well to many people in America — can be met.

Watch DW News from 3:10

I chat with host Ben Fajzullin about the pressure on the Trump camp, including from a handful of Republican legislators, over their lies about Pretti and whether it will check their assault on Minnesota.

I explain that Trump has taken a “small step back” but his camp are continuing to press their propaganda and physical campaign against Minnesotans — and doing so without legal authority and legal accountability.

These Minnesotans are saying, “We will come out for our coummunities despite the threat of violence against us.”

On the other hand, Trump officials have doubled down about sending more of their agents into Minnesota. They have threatened to confront state and local officials.

We are at that authoritarian moment.”

Listen to The Pat Kenny Show from 6:45

Shaken by what has happened, I use a 13-minute deep dive with Dublin NewsTalk’s Pat Kenny to establish the facts of the execution.

I talk about the wobble of the Trump camp as their lies were dismantled by videos and witnesses. However, I warn that they will not stop with their quest for power, despite upsetting part of their base of support such as the National Rifle Association.

Watch Al Arabiya English from 11:23

I cut through Trumpist rhetoric and disinformation, including from the previous guest on the program:

Once you get beyond the Trump camp’s attempt to wish away the execution by attacking Alex Pretti as a “domestic terrorist”, once you get beyond them attempting to deflect and blame the protestors and Governor Tim Walz…

…You get to thousands of federal agents operating without legal authority and legal accountability in Minnesota.

Then you have the question of “Where do we get stability in the law, justice, and safety for these communities?”