First — Minneapolis investigations and trust in federal agents
Calls grew for an independent probe after two people were killed last month by federal immigration officers during a large Department of Homeland Security operation in Minneapolis. The sweep, ordered by the administration, brought some 3,000 Border Patrol and ICE personnel to the city, a force far larger than the Minneapolis Police, and sparked protests and clashes. Images and video of confrontations circulated widely.
Republican Sen. Rand Paul, chair of the Homeland Security Committee, has pushed for a public hearing and questioned whether the Department of Homeland Security’s internal response can restore public confidence. He and others criticized public misstatements by senior officials — including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who described one victim as an “act of domestic terrorism,” and other statements that minimized or misstated the victims’ actions. Paul said he saw “no evidence” in video that one of the victims had assaulted officers, and that trust is “without question” broken.
Former Justice Department investigators and prosecutors raised other concerns after reviewing video of the incidents. Sam Trepel, who led federal civil-rights work and prosecuted the George Floyd case, noted questions about use of force, the pushing of a woman who was trying to help a man, and chemical agents sprayed on people in ways that were not clearly justified. She and other former federal investigators described the Civil Rights Division as depleted and said federal teams were not coordinating with state investigators in the usual way, which they called unprecedented and harmful to public trust.
Department of Justice officials said the FBI was conducting a standard criminal investigation and that the Civil Rights Division would be involved as needed. But some former investigators said an independent review outside the federal apparatus might better restore confidence than an internal investigation. Minneapolis officials — the city has said its police will not assist in federal immigration enforcement — have faced criticism for limited cooperation as well.
In related actions, DOJ’s Civil Rights Division brought an indictment in Minnesota against reporter Don Lemon for alleged intimidation at a protest; Lemon denies the charge. Sen. Paul has scheduled a February hearing that is expected to include heads of the agencies involved and to examine the scope, transparency, and coordination of investigations into the Minneapolis operations and shootings.
Second — Artemis II and America’s return around the moon
After numerous delays, NASA prepared to launch Artemis II: a crewed test flight to travel around the far side of the moon and back, the first U.S. human mission beyond low Earth orbit in more than 50 years. At Kennedy Space Center the Space Launch System — a 3.5‑million‑pound rocket topped by the Orion crew capsule — rolled out atop an Apollo-era crawler to the pad, a slow, four‑mile procession that drew engineers and family members who worked on the vehicle.
Artemis II will send four astronauts — mission commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Jeremy Hansen (Canada) and Christina Koch — on a roughly 10‑day mission that will sling them behind the moon and validate life‑support, navigation and re‑entry systems. The flight’s purpose is to test the integrated systems with humans aboard ahead of Artemis III, the mission intended to land astronauts on the lunar surface. Flight teams emphasized that the mission will be watched closely; flight controllers expect to confront the unexpected and plan rigorous contingency procedures, especially for the communications blackout while the spacecraft is behind the moon.
NASA faces a complex architecture to return humans to the lunar surface. After award of a nearly $3 billion contract to SpaceX for a lunar Starship lander, NASA’s Artemis surface campaign hinges on privately developed systems, including refueling in orbit and reusable stages. SpaceX’s Starship program rebounded with successful launches after spectacular failures, but uncertainty about technical readiness has contributed to schedule risk. Jim Bridenstine, NASA’s earlier administrator, warned Congress that the lander and surface systems had grown “extraordinarily complex,” and that timelines could slip.
Industry partners are responding: Blue Origin showed a “Mark I” cargo lander and said it would target lunar deliveries; Jeff Bezos’s company paused tourist flights to focus on lunar work. Blue Origin spokespersons pointed to reusable first-stage returns as part of a broader commercial argument. NASA has sought backup options and has also asked contractors how to accelerate efforts; the agency is considering Plan B options while pressing to meet political and strategic goals, including U.S. leadership before other nations.
Artemis II follows Artemis I — an uncrewed test flight — that validated much of the system but also uncovered a damaged heat shield on re‑entry. Engineers will modify trajectories and operations to protect crewed vehicles; Orion and SLS teams stressed that re‑entry heating and shield performance are key risks being managed before human launch.
Third — Boom Chicago: Amsterdam improv that shaped U.S. comedy
In the early 1990s a small English‑language improv troupe opened in Amsterdam and became an unlikely incubator for American comedic talent. Boom Chicago, founded by Northwestern alumni Pep Rosenfeld and Andrew Moskos (with Ken Schaefle), gave Americans an opportunity to perform and refine sketch and improvisational comedy for international audiences. Its alumni list includes Seth Meyers, Jason Sudeikis, Jordan Peele, Amber Ruffin, Brendan Hunt, Ike Barinholtz and others who later rose to prominence on late‑night TV, SNL, film and streaming.
Performers learn to be “bigger” and more universal when playing for multilingual audiences, audience members said: references must travel across cultures, and improvisers must develop instincts for ensemble work, long set reps, and the ability to pick up quick cues. Boom Chicago’s shows and comedy academy also expanded into corporate events and international tours, providing wide exposure and income beyond nightly shows.
Veteran cast members recalled Dutch audiences as “honest” laughers: quick to react but not to sweeten feedback. That directness, veterans said, was one of the club’s strengths. Alumni reunions bring former cast members back to Amsterdam to perform and rib each other on stage; staffers note the club’s ongoing role as a stepping stone to U.S. opportunities, and as a place that helped performers “see themselves outside their own home.”
Last Minute — “America’s attic” at the Smithsonian
Lonnie Bunch III, secretary of the Smithsonian, said the museum’s vast collection — more than 155 million items — embodies the American effort to “enlarge freedom.” He highlighted a handmade tin wallet containing a “freedom paper” belonging to Joseph Trammell, a man who secured his freedom in the 1850s. Trammell’s paper and its protective case represented, Bunch said, both the fragility of freedom and its centrality to American aspiration.
Those stories, and more, were featured on 60 Minutes on this edition.