The Occupied Twin Cities

On today's episode, Leo Dickenson and Josh Christianson join Josiah to discuss Operation Metro Surge and the fraud crisis that the Trump regime has used to justify the occupation of the Twin Cities. 

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References

• Thumbnail was taken by photojournalist Jeff Wheeler for the Minnesota Star Tribune
• "How Minnesota became a hub for Somali immigrants in the U.S.," Joe Hernandez, NPR, https://www.npr.org/2025/12/03/nx-s1-5631809/somali-immigrants-minnesota-twin-cities-trump-ilhan-omar
• "Key figures in the long-running controversy over alleged fraudulent safety net programs in Minnesota," Ray Sanchez and Cheri Mossburg, CNN, https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/02/us/fraud-minnesota-programs-scandal-trump
• "Everything we know about Minnesota's massive fraud schemes," Jonah Kaplan and Joe Walsh, CBS News, https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/minnesota-fraud-schemes-what-we-know/
• "Minnesota investigators say child care centers accused of fraud are operating normally as governor drops reelection bid," Zoe Sottile and Andy Rose, CNN, https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/05/us/minnesota-child-care-fraud-investigation
• "Federal agents probe fraud allegations targeting Somali child care providers in Minnesota," Nick Schifrin and Jonah Anderson, PBS, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/federal-agents-probe-fraud-allegations-targeting-somali-child-care-providers-in-minnesota
• "School districts could face funding gaps due to virtual learning, missing students during Operation Metro Surge," Gordon Severson, KARE 11, https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/ice-in-minnesota/school-districts-could-face-funding-gaps-due-to-virtual-learning-missing-students-during-operation-metro-surge/89-11755d76-3b77-4fed-a2d3-f766e332131b
• "Death raises new fraud allegations in Minnesota’s Medicaid-funded ICS program," A.J. Lagoe, Kelly Dietz, Steven Eckert, Gary Knox, KARE 11, https://www.kare11.com/article/news/investigations/kare-11-investigates-unattended-death-raises-new-fraud-allegations-minnesota-medicaid-funded-ics-program/89-61240443-b8c1-4a60-969b-0b601c5fbd5d
• “The Largest Funder of Al-Shabaab Is the Minnesota Taxpayer,” Ryan Thorpe and Christopher Rufo, City Journal, https://www.city-journal.org/article/minnesota-welfare-fraud-somalia-al-shabaab
• "Key source says story that prompted Trump tirade against Somalis is erroneous," Deena Winter, The Minnesota Star Tribune, https://www.startribune.com/city-journal-fraud-story-seattle-detective/601537870
• "Who is Nick Shirley, the 23-year-old MAGA journalist whose Minnesota fraud story went viral?," Hadas Gold, CNN, https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/30/media/nick-shirley-minnesota-somali-video
• "Fact check: What’s really happening with child care fraud in Minnesota," Chabeli Carrazana, The 19th, https://19thnews.org/2026/01/child-care-fraud-minnesota-fact-check/
• "ICE Reportedly Stole a 10th Grader’s Phone, Then Seemingly Sold It for Cash," Frank Landymore, https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/ice-reportedly-stole-10th-grader-230138675.html
• "Immigration officers assert sweeping power to enter homes without a judge’s warrant, memo says," Rebecca Santana, Associated Press, https://apnews.com/article/ice-arrests-warrants-minneapolis-trump-00d0ab0338e82341fd91b160758aeb2d
• "ICE plans $100 million 'wartime recruitment' push targeting gun shows, military fans for hires," Washington Post, https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/12/31/ice-wartime-recruitment-push/
• NSPM-7, https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/09/countering-domestic-terrorism-and-organized-political-violence/
• Timeline on Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Metro_Surge#Timeline_of_operation
• "Minneapolis Pastor Says He Was Detained by ICE After Joining Protest, Told 'You're White' and 'Wouldn’t Be Any Fun Anyway' on Release," Ashley Vega, People, https://people.com/minneapolis-pastor-says-ice-detained-him-after-joining-protest-told-he-wouldnt-be-any-fun-because-youre-white-11884703
• "ICE entered Minneapolis hospital without warrant, handcuffed patient to bed, community organizers say," Jason Rantala, CBS News, https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/hcmc-hennepin-healthcare-ice-patient-handcuffed/
• "Ecuador says ICE tried to enter its Minneapolis consulate — here's what happened," BBC, https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cvgpdx1yr15o
• "Walz: ICE may leave MN soon," Fox 9 KMSP, https://www.fox9.com/video/fmc-ch876hzml20j4brm

Audio credits

• Opening audio is from several videos of community members at the scene of Alex Pretti's murder a few hours later; videos shared by Left Voice on Bluesky:  https://bsky.app/profile/leftvoice.bsky.social/post/3md6zzb4mzk2r
• Day Without End - Protomartyr
• "ICE operations underway in Minneapolis," KARE 11 on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cC18RJCLlio
• "What is the role of local police at ICE raids?" KARE 11 on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8K7DHBDkK4
• "Minneapolis leaders react to ICE operations, KARE 11 on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41MN4OvMoo8
• "LIVE: Greg Bovino speaks on immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis," Associated Press on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIWHl4YR9jg
• Video of protestors in Boston, shared by @vvv.gay on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/vvv.gay/post/3md7k2dyb222f
• Deer Dance - System of a Down

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What is Fruitless?

A show about history, politics, faith, media, and the internet hosted by Josiah Sutton. Aiming for at least two free episodes per month. Artwork by Kipp Paulsen. More content can be found on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141