Panel Discussion with Bhaskar Sunkara, Founding Editor of Jacobin, Eric Blanc, author & activist, Emma Fletcher, Minneapolis CWA member & DSA leader, and Ramy Khalil, Labor Power Publications Editor; recorded on February 21, 2026

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In January, Minneapolis became the epicenter of resistance to Trump. His administration was testing how far it could go in transforming the DHS into a force for crushing dissent, but encountered weeks of mass resistance to ICE abductions and the brutal murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. 

The powerful mass strike on January 23rd represented the high point of the struggle. The defiance from the Twin Cities inspired an outpouring of protests across the nation and ultimately forced the Trump administration to announce the ending of its ICE operations in Minneapolis — a major defeat for Trump.

While Minneapolis provides a tremendous inspiration, the battle is far from over. Labor Power Publications organized this panel discussion for a critical review of the “Minneapolis Model.” 

• The Power of the Strike: How did the January 23rd action change the terrain, and what were its strategic limits?
• Beyond the Twin Cities: How can we translate mass neighborhood level organizing into a national strategy to protect our neighbors and defeat Trump’s racist agenda?
• The Path to a General Strike: What would it truly take to organize a coordinated mass strike on a scale capable of kicking ICE out for good?