January 10, 2026

By now, we have all seen the videos. On Wednesday, a 37-year-old woman was shot dead in her car by an ICE agent. The victim, Renee Nicole Good, was a mother and U.S. citizen. Pictures of the vehicle after the shooting show a bloody driver’s-side airbag and stuffed animals bursting out of the glove compartment.

Regardless of one's politics, it is a human tragedy. A young child has lost his mother. A family is devastated. A community is pulled apart.

In normal times, the White House would express regret for the loss of life. The president would try to comfort the grieving family and offer words of support for the community. The administration would announce a full investigation but otherwise remain circumspect.

As we’re all well aware, we do not live in normal times. 

Yet, even so, it was jarring to hear government officials tell shameful lies, promote personal smears and engage in victim blaming. One after another, they raced to the gutter in their description of the events leading to this tragic event.

So, when Vice President JD Vance took to the White House press podium on Thursday, I was prepared for more of the same. Instead, it got even darker.

Vance laid out a conspiracy theory that justified this killing. He said the administration is investigating a “broad left-wing network” of American citizens and institutions, including the media, that dare protest or condemn the government’s inhumane immigration crackdown.

Here is some of what he said:

“There is an entire network, and frankly, some of the media are participating in it that is trying to incite violence against our law enforcement officers. It’s ridiculous, it’s preposterous. And part of our investigatory work is getting to the bottom of it. Who’s funding it? Who's supporting it? Who’s cheerleading it? And of course, if there is illegal activity related to that, we are going to get to the bottom of that and prosecute it where we can.”

Several things stand out immediately:

First, he suggests “some in the media” are involved. Involved with what? Reporting the news honestly and truthfully? Citing facts? Not capitulating to the administration’s demands? 

To be clear, Vance isn’t talking about the legacy media organizations that have happily bent the knee. He’s talking about media organizations — many of them independent — that are standing up to the administration. I’ve been warning about this for months, but now we are here. The Trump administration is getting ready to target the media — even more directly and forcefully than it already has.

The media organizations Vance is referring to aren’t inciting violence. They are simply doing their jobs, and the administration doesn’t like it. 

Second, Vance describes an investigation that he is involved in. It should go without saying that the vice president shouldn’t be directly involved in any investigation. The city and state police should be working jointly with federal investigators. This sounds like the beginnings of a cover-up. What are they investigating? What are they trying to hide? 

Which brings me to my next point. 

Third, Vance says this investigation is targeting mere “cheerleading.” So, let’s be very clear here. He’s referring to the people who are standing up to ICE agents, posting on social media and using nonviolent tactics. That is the essence of constitutionally protected free speech. 

Vance didn’t say they’re investigating those who are “inciting” violence — he very specifically said “supporting” and “cheerleading.” So, not only are they investigating the media, but they are also investigating those who speak out and utilize their First Amendment rights. 

This should worry you. But it is only the beginning of what is to come. 

Almost as an afterthought, Vance says that if there is criminal wrongdoing, they will prosecute. Here, he is trying to do clean up and clarify that he believes there is illegal activity. Prosecutors aren’t supposed to investigate people. In a free society, they only investigate crimes. The administration is launching an investigation against media organizations it does not like and people it wants targeted. 

Let us not lose focus: An ICE agent shot a woman driving in Minneapolis. The government should be investigating that crime. Instead, the Trump administration wants to target the media and scrutinize what citizens are saying and posting on social media.

Sadly, the Trump administration has lulled too many legacy media outlets into a false sense of normalcy. When the vice president stood behind the White House press podium and announced an investigation hinged on violating the First Amendment — hours after a woman was killed by federal officers — there wasn’t an uproar, there wasn’t astonishment and there wasn’t outrage. 

Those of us in the pro-democracy movement cannot become numb to this reality. We must hold on to our outrage, and we must stay alert to these attacks on our freedom. Soon, these illegal investigations will turn into illegal prosecutions. Innocent people will be thrown in jail and innocent people will die. This is not hyperbole — this is a warning. 

Now, here's a little joy from our pawtners in the opposition.