Radio Talkers React To ICE Shooting

The shooting in Minneapolis, where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good during an encounter amid ongoing immigration enforcement operations in the city, ia topping talk in radio nationwide.

Video footage shows the agent firing into her vehicle's windshield as it moved, with conflicting accounts: federal officials claim self-defense after she allegedly tried to run over the agent, while local witnesses and leaders dispute this, calling it unjustified and demanding accountability. Protests ensued, and the FBI is investigating, sidelining state authorities. 

Reactions from radio talk hosts have been polarized along ideological lines, with conservative voices largely defending the agent and criticizing local Democrats, while public radio hosts (often more neutral or center-left) have emphasized the tragedy, community anger, and need for transparency.

National Radio Talk Hosts

• National conservative talk radio has framed the incident as a justified act of self-defense by ICE, often tying it to broader critiques of Democratic immigration policies and post-George Floyd unrest in Minnesota. For example:
• On The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show (syndicated on iHeartRadio and Premiere Networks), hosts Clay Travis and Buck Sexton discussed the shooting at length, arguing that video evidence supports the agent's actions and predicting left-leaning media would downplay it if proven justified. Travis called Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey a "crazy lunatic" for blaming ICE and demanding they leave the city, saying, "Minnesota's lost its way... these people, their brains are broken." Sexton accused Democrats of hypocrisy on law enforcement, stating, "The Democrat party does not care about the law. It cares about power," and described the shooting as "clean," adding, "If you try to run over a law enforcement officer, they do not have the obligation to let you crush them... the officer has a right to defend himself."
• FOX News Radio hosts and segments, including reactions from guests like Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), echoed this defense, portraying the shooting as part of necessary immigration crackdowns and highlighting clashes with protesters as evidence of leftist agitation. 
• They criticized Democratic rhetoric for escalating tensions and defended Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's claim of self-defense.
• Other conservative shows, like The Mark Davis Show (on 660 KSKY in Dallas, syndicated nationally), featured discussions with fellow host Mike Gallagher analyzing reactions, though specific quotes were limited; the focus was on dissecting media coverage and local backlash as overreactions to lawful enforcement.

On the public radio side (often national in reach via NPR syndication), hosts have taken a more measured tone, focusing on the human cost, investigative needs, and community outrage without explicitly endorsing either narrative:

• NPR's Mary Louise Kelly on All Things Considered interviewed Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara, who called the incident a "tragedy" and the video "alarming," stressing de-escalation and noting the victim was not an ICE target but got involved when her vehicle blocked the road. O'Hara expressed concern over the "manner how this enforcement action is being conducted" by federal agents, without outright condemning ICE's presence.
• Similar coverage appeared on NPR affiliates, with hosts like Steve Inskeep on Morning Edition interviewing state lawmakers about community reactions, highlighting tensions and demands for ICE to withdraw.

Local Radio Talk Hosts (Minnesota/Twin Cities Area)

• Local reactions, particularly on Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) and affiliated news-talk stations, have centered on outrage from community leaders, the push for independent probes, and fears of escalating federal-local conflicts. These are often more news-oriented but include host commentary:
• MPR host Clay Masters interviewed State Rep. Aisha Gomez (DFL), who arrived at the scene post-shooting and highlighted "differing reports of what happened," expressing sympathy for the victim and criticizing federal overreach. Masters framed the discussion around local grief and accountability, noting video evidence raised questions about ICE's account.
• On conservative-leaning local talk radio like Twin Cities News Talk (AM 1130 KTLK, iHeart), hosts have aligned with national counterparts, defending the shooting as self-defense amid "ridiculousness" in Minnesota politics, though specific episodes focused more on reporting state investigators being sidelined by the FBI.
• Listener sentiment on local airwaves, as captured in call-ins (e.g., one X user noted MPR callers seeming "ecstatic" about potential unrest akin to 2020 George Floyd protests), reflects deep division, with some hosts moderating debates on whether ICE actions exacerbate or resolve issues.

Overall, conservative hosts nationally and locally have been vocal in supporting ICE and blaming Democratic "extremism," while public radio hosts prioritize investigative fairness and community impact, avoiding strong partisan takes. Coverage remains fluid as more details emerge.