Published on Jan 29, 2026, 4:00:00 AM
Total time: 00:43:47
As ICE agents have continued to threaten and kill people in Minneapolis and Minnesota’s governor and other state officials plead with the agency to leave, we share an interview with the governor of another state that was recently targeted by ICE: JB Pritzker of Illinois.
In October, as ICE agents were descending on Chicago in “Operation Midway Blitz”, Ben Smith and Max Tani of the Mixed Signals podcast from Semafor spoke to Governor Pritzker about the novel communications tactics he was using to combat ICE’s incursion into his city. Eventually he was successful in stopping President Trump from sending in National Guard troops, and Border Patrol agents left the city.
It was an urgent and timely conversation with lots of significance as we watch a similar situation unfold daily in Minnesota.
Thanks to Semafor for letting us share this interview with you. Find all episodes of Mixed Signals here.
Sign up for Semafor Media’s Sunday newsletter here.
The hosts are on X: @semaforben, @maxwelltani
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