The Minnesota Moment | Scott Lucas | TFP #94

In our second episode of 2026, John is joined by returning guest Professor Scott Lucas to discuss the recent tragic events in the U.S. state of Minnesota. 🎙️ Serious geopolitics. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on global affairs. Producers - Neil Smart & Lin Siah 🎧 Watch now on The Focus with John Bruni Subscribe and Support our Channel /    / @thefocus_sageintl   The Focus Social & Website X: https://x.com/TheFocus_SAGE IG:   / thefocus_sage   LinkedIn: sage-international Facebook:   / thefocus.sageint   Website: https://sageinternational.com.au/ You can also listen to our podcasts on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5SsaNdo... Auscast Network: https://auscastnetwork.com/shows/news... Episode Description From Minneapolis to Washington, D.C., Minnesota has become the epicentre of seismic political conflict — from mass protests to intense debates over immigration enforcement, federal power, and public accountability. We explore how the state’s recent upheavals reflect broader shifts in U.S. political life, and what they reveal about leadership, legitimacy, and the social fabric of American civic life. About the Guest Scott Lucas is Professor of International Politics at the Clinton Institute, University College Dublin. He is the founder and editor-in-chief of EA WorldView, a leading site for global political analysis, and a frequent commentator on major international TV and radio outlets. EA WorldView – https://eaworldview.com/ UCD Clinton Institute – https://www.ucdclinton.ie/ Image Credits 1. Alex Pretti VA Image (official portrait by United States Department of Veterans Affairs) Wikimedia Commons 2. This image was originally posted to Flickr by Chad Davis. at https://flickr.com/photos/146321178@N.... It was reviewed on 24 January 2026 by FlickreviewR 2 and was confirmed to be licensed under the terms of the cc-by-4.0. Wikimedia Commons 3. Renee Good, approximately 26 seconds before the shooting by Jonathan Ross, public domain (U.S. Department of Homeland Security employee work), from Wikimedia Commons: File:Renee_Good_DHS_agent_perspective.jpg. 4. Tim Walz and Climate Solutions Grant in Minnesota on July 23, 2024, by Office of Governor Walz & Lt. Governor Flanagan, public domain (posted to Flickr and released under Public Domain Mark), from Wikimedia Commons: File:Tim_Walz_and_Climate_Solutions_Grant_in_Minnesota_on_July_23,2024-_17.jpg. 5. “Frey 2021 0145 F.jpg” by Jacob Frey, licensed under CC BY 2.0 (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic), from Wikimedia Commons: File:Frey_2021_0145_F.jpg. 6. “U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar 05 Aug 2020” by Tony Webster, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0), from Wikimedia Commons: File: U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar 05 Aug 2020.jpg. 7. “2026 Minneapolis, Minnesota press conference about Alex Pretti on January 25 by Commander of Operations Gregory Bovino of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations’ (ERO) (cropped)” by Roberto Schmidt / AFP / Getty Images (licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International – CC BY-SA 4.0), from Wikimedia Commons: File:2026 Minneapolis, Minnesota press conference about Alex Pretti on January 25 by Commander of Operations Gregory Bovino of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations’ (ERO) (cropped).jpg. 8. Stephen Miller (22 February 2025) by Gage Skidmore, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 (Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic), from Wikimedia Commons: File:2025 - Stephen Miller (cropped).jpg. 9. Soros talk in Malaysia by Jeff Ooi, CC BY 2.5 / Wikimedia Commons. 10. Official Portrait of Secretary Kristi Noem by Tia Dufour / U.S. DHS (public domain) — Wikimedia Commons. 11. Thomas Homan speaking at an event by Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons.