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Culture War Roundup for the week of January 26, 2026

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I want to present the claim that what ICE is doing in Minneapolis is inefficient at its stated goals, broadly unlawful/lawless, and disproportionate

Ironically, it's mostly not ICE there, it's CBP officials under Greg Bovino because Homan, the head of ICE was against this whole plan and so was the actual head of the CBP who was bypassed by Noem and handed off to Bovino.

https://x.com/EWErickson/status/2015289632385024333

A lot of what is happening now is Kristi Noem marginalized Tom Homan and the head of Border Patrol because those two prioritized deportations of criminals and gang members. Noem and Corey Lewandowski wanted broad, public round-ups without prioritizing the illegal aliens. They have bypassed Homan and the head of Border Patrol and elevated Greg Bovino because they want the public confrontations and displays. And that's not the progressive press reporting this. That's the conservative Fox News, New York Post, and Washington Examiner:

https://foxnews.com/us/ice-leadership-shakeup-exposes-growing-dhs-friction-over-deportation-tactics-priorities

https://nypost.com/2025/12/11/us-news/trump-border-czar-homan-dhs-chief-noem-barely-speaking-or-meeting/

https://washingtonexaminer.com/news/investigations/4423912/noem-lewandowski-campaign-oust-trump-border-leader-sources/

The Noem/Miller/Lewandowski faction especially fucked up with their messaging immediately after the shooting and internal politics has shifted against them and towards Homan, via Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin https://x.com/BillMelugin_/status/2015571364212609379

Now as Matt Finn (another fox news guy) points out, the decision to send Homan into Minnesota reflects a notable change in the Trump admin's posture. Again, away from the Noem crowd which fucked up and towards the Tom Homan view. https://x.com/MattFinnFNC/status/2015784517789794574

They wanted a spectacle, they got it twice in a month. Be careful what you wish for.