When Did Republicans Stop Caring About Gun Rights?

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Matt Welch are joined by special guest Emily Jashinsky, host of After Party, to examine the killing of Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis and the Trump administration’s shifting narrative about the shooting. The group discusses the Second Amendment and free-speech implications of statements being made by Trump administration officials and the Republican Party’s sudden embrace of gun-control talking points, as well as the broader politics of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as the administration pushes for escalation while losing public support on immigration.

The panel also discusses the upcoming Academy Awards and how political themes are shaping expectations for the awards season. A listener asks how to show up and protest against state violence while navigating the ideological baggage of left-wing protest spaces.

0:00—ICE kills Alex Pretti in Minnesota

20:00—Public support for Trump administration policy

39:07—Listener question on protesting state violence

45:23—The influence of politics at the Oscars

53:01—Weekly cultural recommendations

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The Reason Roundtable: Live in Washington, D.C.! February 4

Mentioned in the podcast:

“The Second Shooting,” by Liz Wolfe

“The Trump Administration Is Lying About Gun Rights and the Death of Alex Pretti,” by Robby Soave

“DHS Again Promises a Thorough Investigation of a Fatal Shooting After Prejudging the Outcome,” by Jacob Sullum

“Democrats Plan To Block DHS Funding After Minnesota Killing. Republicans Should Join Them,” by Eric Boehm

“Leaked ICE Memo Claims Agents Can Enter Homes Without Judicial Warrants,” by Autumn Billings

“ICE Tells Legal Observer, ‘We Have a Nice Little Database, and Now You’re Considered a Domestic Terrorist,'” by C.J. Ciaramella

“Vance Goes to Minnesota,” by Liz Wolfe

“ICE Demonstrates Why We Need the Second Amendment,” by J.D. Tuccille

• Producer: Paul Alexander
• Video Editor: Ian Keyser