I took the job at the Minnesota Star Tribune in part because these are historic times. I thought that being a columnist for a large media organization would allow me to make a difference.
Not even a year in and I’ve had enough history to last me a while. But even with last summer’s political assassinations and this fall’s school shooting, nothing compares to these last few weeks.
Minnesota isn’t just experiencing its own history, but the whole world is watching as the policies, tactics and armed enforcers of the present administration surge into our state. I don’t know if this is an experiment or a demonstration, perhaps both, but it will be remembered either as a turning point or as a warning sign.
Now, I know there are legitimate reasons to enforce immigration law and deport criminals. But that’s not what I’m talking about. Something truly unusual has been happening on the streets of Minneapolis and in surrounding communities, even some small towns. Arrests and detentions seem to be doled out not based on specific warrants, but on speculative, or even punitive patrols. These events represent a distinct change in the way Americans are policed in their daily lives.
I must stress that my U.S. citizen colleagues in the Twin Cities carry their passports in case they are stopped, specifically to avoid a violent interaction or indefinite detention. My father and stepmother called me last night. They practically begged me not to come down there anytime soon. My stepmom works at the same hospital as Alex Pretti, the man killed by border patrol agents on Saturday. In rural Minnesota we might ignore these matters, or even take some sick pleasure in them, but it’s different to live through it. We must not assume that such madness can be contained.
Here, I realize I might lose some people. Maybe you don’t see it that way. So what I’m writing about today is how someone living under an oppressive regime sees what’s happening in Minnesota. If you don’t think our federal leaders are emulating Vladimir Putin, let’s check in with someone from Russia for a second opinion. That’s the subject of today’s column (gift link).
I interviewed Igor Yakovlev in 2023 for a piece in the Minnesota Reformer. This happened during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, when anti-war protesters in Russia were arrested, jailed and fined. He and I learned that we have many common interests, especially history, so we kept in touch. I went back to him a couple weeks ago to ask some new questions. I was surprised to learn that he’d already been following the situation in Minnesota very closely. He’s concerned for us. And that should concern you.
Read “As freedom is tested in Minnesota, the world watches,” (gift link) in the Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026 edition of the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Aaron J. Brown is a columnist and member of the editorial board for the Minnesota Star Tribune. His new book about Hibbing Mayor Victor Power and his momentous fight against the world’s largest corporation will be out soon.
