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City Cast Twin Cities

City Cast Twin Cities

👋 Bye bye, Bovino

January 27, 2026

Hey, Twin Cities – Adam today. If you're looking for ways to help your neighbors right now, check out this great list of mutual aid organizations and GoFundMes that can use support (thank you to Kirstie Kimball of beyond beurre blanc for sharing). If you have the funds, I'd highly recommend finding a fundraiser that hasn't had its needs met yet and donating what you can.

If you know of organizations that are in urgent need of folks donating their time or money, reply to this email to let us know. We will be spotlighting ways to support our neighbors every day for the foreseeable future.

Today’s Must-Know

A man with short spiky hair in a Border Patrol uniform looks down solemnly while standing at a podium.
Border Patrol Commander At-Large Greg Bovino is being stripped of his title and sent back to California today. (Stephen Maturen / Stringer)

New Leadership for Operation Metro Surge

Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino and some immigration enforcement agents are expected to leave Minneapolis and return to their home states, with Bovino expected to retire soon. The move comes amid scrutiny of the killing of Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents, and reports say Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem could be at risk of losing her job as well. [The Atlantic / CNN]

  • New boss: President Trump announced that border czar Tom Homan will be deployed to Minneapolis to oversee ICE operations and report directly to him. Homan previously held leadership roles at ICE under President Obama and during Trump’s first term and has favored aggressive deportation tactics. He was also at the center of a 2025 controversy involving the deportation of Venezuelan immigrants to a prison in El Salvador. [Star Tribune]
  • Saving face: The leadership changes come as Republicans face substantial blowback from within their own party over the killing of Alex Pretti. A dispute in the Senate over DHS funding could cause the government to partially shut down by the end of the week. A person close to the Trump administration said officials initially thought the optics of protests in Minneapolis would help the White House, but "now it's starting to turn against us." [Politico / NPR]

Sponsored Content

Visit the Saint Paul Winter Carnival through Feb. 1

Visit the Saint Paul Winter Carnival through Feb. 1

Make plans to take part in the 140th Saint Paul Winter Carnival now through Feb. 1. Join the fun with festive events, ice sculptures and parades throughout St. Paul. Stop by Frozen Family Fun Night powered by Xcel Energy from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Jan. 27, where attendees can meet characters from Frozen!

What the Cities Are Talking About

Fracturing support: Some Republicans around the country are breaking from the party's support of ICE's operations in the Twin Cities following the killing of Alex Pretti. Notably, Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Madel has dropped out of the governor's race, saying that he cannot support the "retribution" being wrought on Minnesota, and he cannot count himself a member of a party that would do so. [Star Tribune / CBS News]

Setting the record straight: Following claims from DHS officials that Minnesota's Department of Corrections has not been cooperating with ICE, the DOC has launched a page on its website solely dedicated to combating misinformation from the federal government. [MN Department of Corrections]

Where's DOGE? A study from progressive research institute, North Star Policy Action, reports that Operation Metro Surge is costing taxpayers at least $18 million per week. The study cites federal agent payrolls, the costs of detaining people, and overtime pay to local police as contributing factors. [KARE11]

A dark building with gold lettering that reads "the copper hen"
The Copper Hen and other restaurants on Nicollet Ave. opened their doors to protesters and medics after law enforcement unleashed chemical munitions on crowds that gathered near the site of the killing of Alex Pretti. (Em Cassel / Racket)

Taking care of each other: Copper Hen Cakery and Kitchen found themselves transformed into an "ad-hoc field hospital" when law enforcement officers deployed a litany of less-lethal crowd control measures following the killing of Alex Pretti in South Minneapolis. Copper Hen, Pimento, and other restaurants on Eat Street are keeping their doors open to community members who need help while continuing to serve food through all the chaos. [Racket / 🎧 City Cast Twin Cities]

Mining in the BWCA: The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a resolution to end a 20-year ban on mining near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The resolution will now go to the Senate and to the President for signature if it passes. [Associated Press]

Post-Modern Times: Modern Times Cafe in South Minneapolis announced that they will operate as a free and donation-based restaurant for everyone except federal agents "until the occupation is over." They're accepting donations in-person, via Venmo, and through the Central Area Neighborhood Development Organization. [Modern Times Cafe]

What to Do

Tuesday, Jan 27

Wednesday, Jan 28

More Twin Cities Events

Twin Cities Job Board

More Twin Cities Jobs

Congrats to newsletter subscriber Anna D. for winning a pair of tickets to Dom Flemons Presents The Bronze Buckaroo Film & Songster Show. Missed out? Tickets are still available for the event, which takes place this Thursday, Jan. 29, at 7:30 p.m. at The Cedar Cultural Center.

Stay safe, stay warm, and stay connected with your neighbors.

— Adam Sage

Free · Daily

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