How darkness is revealing the brightest parts of America
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The Minneapolis Awakening

How darkness is revealing the brightest parts of America

Austin Weatherford
Jan 29
 
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They thought they could act in the dark. They thought that by labeling a nurse a “domestic terrorist,” “gunman,” and “would-be assassin,” they could obscure the reality of a paramilitary force acting outside the bounds of law. But in the freezing cold of Minneapolis, something unexpected happened. The darkness didn’t hide the truth — it illuminated it.

The tragic, state-sanctioned killings of Renee Good and ICU nurse Alex Pretti have brought us to a terrible precipice. But if you look past the fear, you will see something else entirely: An awakening. From the streets of the Twin Cities to the most unlikely corners of the internet, the sleeping giant of American decency is waking up.

The “Fake Pivot”: Don’t Be Fooled

First, we must be clear-eyed about what is happening in Washington. As outrage mounts, the administration is attempting a classic two-step. Legacy media outlets are reporting a “pivot,” with headlines claiming the President is “softening his rhetoric” or making an “about-face”.

The rest of us are not falling for it. This is a cosmetic shuffle designed to let the news cycle move on while the machinery keeps grinding.

  • The Personnel Swap: Replacing the local commander with “Border Czar” Tom Homan is not moderation. Homan is an architect of mass deportation who has advocated for raiding workplaces and deporting U.S. citizen children.

  • The Lies Remain: No one has been held accountable. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller retain their jobs despite spreading easily disproven lies that Pretti “brandished” a weapon he was licensed to carry.

  • The Operation Continues: The crackdown in Minneapolis has not ended; it has merely recalibrated its PR strategy.

The Silver Lining: Enough People Have Seen Enough

The administration made a massive miscalculation: They underestimated the average American’s threshold for cruelty. The sheer visibility of the violence has shattered the “political” vs. “apolitical” divide.

I think this brief video sums it up pretty well:

@lizaminnella
Liz Minnella on Instagram: "The Katies don’t like that the fede…

The “power of witnessing” is breaking through the silos. We are seeing a revolt not just from activists, but from people who simply want to live their lives in peace and are offended the government is lying about it killing a citizen legally exercising his 1st and 2nd Amendment rights.

“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”

GEORGE ORWELL
  • GOP Calls for Accountability: Senator John Thune, the Senate Majority Leader, has called the killing an “inflection point” and demanded a full investigation, signaling that the administration can no longer count on blind loyalty. Senator Thom Tillis went even further, becoming the first Republican to call for Secretary Noem’s immediate firing, stating plainly, “What she’s done in Minnesota should be disqualifying.” They are not alone in their condemnations.

  • Lifestyle Leaders Speak Up: From sewing circles to “Lord of the Rings” fans to fitness models, influencers are drawing a line. As one whiskey influencer on Instagram put it:

“This is a bourbon account but I can’t drink bourbon if ICE shoots me in the face.”

  • Unexpected Defenders: Even the National Rifle Association (NRA) broke with the President, defending Pretti’s right to bear arms and rejecting the narrative that a legal gun owner is automatically a domestic terrorist worthy of summary execution.

I’m not suggesting any of this is noble, but it demonstrates a shift has occurred. I’ve spoken to conservative friends in Minneapolis and business leaders around the country this week, and they are telling me they feel it. It is time to welcome these folks into the fold with grace, allowing them the space to make their voices heard in their own way.

Minnesota Nice (With Teeth)

Ground zero for this awakening is Minneapolis itself. The resistance there offers a blueprint for other cities cross America. It is not built on radical ideology, but on radical neighborliness.

The people of Minneapolis are reclaiming “Minnesota Nice.” It turns out that “niceness” — real, deep decency — has teeth.

  • Decentralized Power: There is no single leader for the administration to target. The resistance is like “mushrooms, roots under the soil,” popping up everywhere through mutual aid, grocery deliveries, and neighborhood watches.

  • Joy as Resistance: In the face of terror, there is singing. There are marching bands and DJs. There are neighbors protecting neighbors not with violence, but with “swarms” of presence and care.

  • Institutional Courage: It isn’t just the people in the streets. Local school boards, the Mayor, and the Governor are refusing to cooperate, proving that local institutions can be a firewall against federal overreach.

The Call to Action: Hold the Line

The pressure is working. Even Republican Representatives and Senators are sensing the ground shift, calling for independent investigations. They are worried that the public is souring on a federal agency acting “far beyond the limits of a police force”.

We must confirm that is true.

This is your assignment for today: Contact your Senators and Representatives immediately. Tell them that swapping commanders is not enough.

Guide to Calling Your Elected Officials

Guide to Calling Your Elected Officials

February 10, 2025
Read full story

The Message: “I’m asking the Congressman/Senator to support an independent investigation into the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, and that you demand accountability and de-escalation nationwide.”

The darkness tried to take Minneapolis. Instead, it woke up America. Let’s keep the lights on.

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