Uncomfortable Rant:
Listen up, degenerates of the republic. This is Rxan Smith, your designated driver through this week’s sh*tstorm. I’m sitting here in D.C. watching flakes the size of hubcaps bury the monuments while the news cycle does its usual: shoot first, spin later, tariff everything, bomb something, repeat. Let’s rip the bandage off.
What…... in the living hell... happened this weekend, and what’s coming to ruin your Monday through Friday starting right now, January 26, 2026. Strap in; this ain’t your mommy’s NPR recap. This is Rxan Smith Uncomfortable and it's for people that want to be informed with real news commentary, not their favorite hits played by the radio DJ. But discomfort is the only way we get to truth and it's certainly the only way we can move forward so perhaps drop your addiction to doom scrolling for 5 minutes and read my take.
President Trump is furious—not with the blood on the streets from ICE’s latest kill, but with how badly the optics are tanking after Alex Pretti’s fatal shooting in Minneapolis. The man’s not raging about the murder; he’s raging that Americans saw the murder and aren’t clapping for it. So this morning, he’s shipping border czar Tom Homan straight to Minnesota to take command, oversee the ops, and probably polish the narrative while protests freeze in subzero hell.
Thank you to everyone riding this uncomfortable wave with your time, your rage, your comments, and your heart. If you haven't subscribed yet, please click here today. we're building something real, no-BS, together. If you can afford to support by being a paid member, every dollar will go to amplify my message and if you can afford the time to subscribe and share, you are just as valuable.
Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/rxansmith
• PayPal: https://paypal.me/phireballsports
I’m doubling down here on rxansmith.substack.com, now hosted at rxansmithmedia.com. If every other platform collapses tomorrow, I’ll still be here calling out the hypocrisy, the violence, the greed—even if it burns bridges. I’m not going anywhere.
New bullets January 26, 2026 for those in a rush before we dive deep:
Trump just dispatched Tom Homan to Minnesota to oversee ICE ops amid exploding outrage, ongoing protests in -12°F temps (wind chills to -40°F), and a federal judge hearing arguments today on preserving evidence from Pretti’s shooting.
Other quick hits: Feds backpedaling on “brandished” claim—no evidence. Rhetoric softening (no “domestic terrorism” on Fox). Italian journalists threatened by ICE while filming. Epstein files still 38+ days overdue. Leaked Cruz tapes ripping Trump’s tariffs and Vance. Northeast still buried in storm aftermath.
Celebrities and athletes are publicly turning on ICE following the killing of Alex Pretti. This is a non-exhaustive list:
Olivia Rodrigo — Called ICE a “murderous federal agency” and urged action, expressing solidarity with Minnesota.
Jamie Lee Curtis — Shared tribute artwork honoring Alex Pretti and Renée Good, writing: “THESE WERE AMERICANS! SHOT BY OUR GOVERNMENT!”
Mark Ruffalo — Described the video as a “cold-blooded murder” by an “occupying military gang,” arguing the U.S. has gone to war over less.
Pedro Pascal — Amplified multiple critiques of ICE and calls to abolish the agency.
Janelle Monáe — Shared resources urging followers to contact representatives and defund ICE.
Megan Stalter — Called the situation “pure evil” and encouraged sustained activism and pressure on lawmakers.
Lin-Manuel Miranda — Boosted a National Immigration Law Center post reading “ICE GET OUT.”
Olivia Wilde & Natalie Portman — Wore “ICE OUT” pins at Sundance, publicly condemning ICE as violent and abusive.
Ariana Grande — Reposted NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s call to “Abolish ICE,” alleging the agency fuels violence.
Chrissy Teigen — Amplified AOC’s calls to block ICE funding and skepticism toward official accounts contradicting video evidence.
Busy Phillips — Urged protests, boycotts, voting officials out, and warned authorities would “keep murdering people and lying.”
Chrishell Stause — Shared posts calling the video “cold-blooded” and “stomach-turning.”
Amelia Gray Hamlin — Posted an explicit anti-ICE message.
Julianne Hough — Reposted quotes about Pretti’s humanitarianism with a broken-heart reaction.
Kaia Gerber — Emphasized Pretti as a nonviolent ICU nurse and community member, blaming out-of-control ICE agents.
Halsey — Boosted calls to unmask and prosecute those involved, rejecting “secret police.”
Maren Morris — Shared footage describing it as an “execution.”
Christie Brinkley — Said the administration has “blood on their hands,” calling for “ICE OUT.”
Hilary Swank — Shared an ACLU demand for “ICE OUT OF MINNEAPOLIS NOW.”
Justin Theroux — Highlighted Pretti’s work as a VA ICU nurse, writing “Rest in Peace.”
Athletes and coaches speaking out:
Tyrese Haliburton (NBA) — “Alex Pretti was murdered.”
Stephen Curry (NBA) — Publicly addressed the killing.
Breanna Stewart (WNBA) — Held an “ABOLISH ICE” sign, citing family and citizenship issues.
Angel Reese (WNBA) — Posted “Praying for our country.”
Ryan Clark (NFL) — Called Pretti a hero and the killing senseless.
Dwight McGlothern Jr. (NFL) — Said, “It’s not right what’s happening in Minnesota.”
Alan Page (NFL Hall of Famer) — Seen protesting ICE in Minneapolis.
Steve Kerr (NBA coach) — Said it was “shameful” that law enforcement could kill and appear immune.
Additional developments:
Minneapolis City Council member Aisha Chughtai described ICE as a source of fear and violence, urging continued protests and accountability.
A Wall Street Journal editorial argued Pretti did not deserve to be killed and urged Trump to pause ICE operations in Minneapolis.
Semafor reports Democrats will block DHS funding unless ICE is removed.
Italian journalists Laura Cappon and Daniele Babbo say ICE agents threatened them while reporting in Minneapolis, sparking backlash in Italy.
Since September, DHS officers have shot at least 12 people, killing four, including U.S. citizens Pretti and Renée Good.
A Politico poll shows nearly half of Americans believe Trump’s immigration enforcement is too aggressive.
A federal judge is considering extending an order preventing destruction of evidence in the Pretti shooting.
Protests continue amid dangerous cold conditions in Minneapolis.
That is it for the Deep dive now let's get to the uncomfortable
ICE Minnesota: Murder with Badges, Protests with Tears, and a Whole Lotta “Self-Defense” Bullshit
“They call it enforcement. I call it state-sponsored murder theater—same script, different corpse.”
Oh boy, Minneapolis again. Federal agents—ICE, Border Patrol, whatever mask they’re wearing this week—gunned down Alex Pretti, 37-year-old ICU nurse, VA vet, U.S. citizen. Cellphone videos show the guy disarmed, on the ground, and still they pop him like it’s target practice. This is the second fatal shooting in weeks. Kids orphaned, neighborhoods locked down, protests turning streets into war zones. DHS trots out the “he lunged” line while every frame screams otherwise. Republicans are suddenly calling for “deeper investigation”—yeah, now that it’s their political football. Democrats scream “abolish ICE” while quietly approving budgets that fund more goons. And us? We watch, rage-tweet, then order Uber Eats from the same immigrants we’re deporting. Classic American: outrage as entertainment, justice as optional. This isn’t policing; it’s a snuff film funded by your taxes. If this keeps up, we’ll have more body cams than consciences.
CBC News drops the hammer on the latest deadly ICE shooting (Jan 25, 2026)
Mayor Frey & Co. try to calm the storm—spoiler: it doesn’t work
Read the autopsy:
Has DOJ Poisoned the Minneapolis ICE Shooting Investigation? – Vance & Honig tearing into the legal cover-up.
This Cannot Be Normal, This Cannot Be Okay – Straight gut-punch on the human wreckage.
Masked goons vs. masked protesters—America’s new normal (credit: nwprogressive.org)
Gaza & Israel: The Eternal Meat Grinder, Now with Recovered Remains & More Bombs
Pull quote: “Peace? Nah, we’re still collecting body parts like it’s a horror moviee-messed-up scavenger hunt.”
Israel says they pulled the last hostage’s remains—Ran Gvili—from Gaza rubble. Great, one less family in limbo. But the strikes never stopped: more dead, more razed homes, satellite pics showing neighborhoods flattened post-ceasefire. Iran’s stirring shit, militias popping up like weeds. Both sides dig in deeper than my cynicism. Netanyahu’s crew razes schools while claiming victory; Hamas hides in tunnels while claiming resistance. Meanwhile, civilians pay in blood and concrete dust. It’s not war anymore—it’s a generational revenge porn subscription nobody can cancel. And America? We send billions, pat backs, and pretend diplomacy’s still on the menu. Thompson would call it the death dream of empire; I’d call it exhausting. Wake me when someone grows a spine instead of another settlement.
ILTV morning flash: Gaza updates, Iran bunker drama (Jan 26, 2026)
Context: Global Developments on January 26, 2026 – The full grim picture.
Rubble where kids used to learn—Gaza’s ongoing nightmare (Wikimedia)
Northeast Blizzard: Nature’s Way of Saying “Screw Your Plans”
Pull quote: “Snow’s falling like God’s dandruff, and half the country’s screaming ‘hoax’ while shoveling their own driveway.”
This monster storm dumped a foot-plus from New Mexico to Maine—Northeast got the tail-end sucker punch: 10-18 inches in NYC, higher upstate, ice glazing everything like a bad cake. Flights grounded, power out, people stranded in airports that look like refugee camps. At least 13 dead so far from weather-related crap. And the comments sections? Full of “climate change is liberal BS” from guys whose trucks are buried under two feet of the stuff. Mother Nature doesn’t care about your politics—she just drops ice and laughs while we argue. It’s beautiful in a terrifying way: reminder that we’re all ants on a rock, and the rock’s pissed. Bundle up, idiots; this ain’t over.
Live storm feed: Waves of snow and ice hell (Jan 25-26, 2026)
Forecast bible: January 24, 2026 Weekend Winter Storm by Dr. Ryan Maue.
Fed Meeting + Trump Tariff Tantrums: Money Moves & Mouth Moves
Pull quote: “Fed holds rates like a constipated banker, while Trump threatens 100% tariffs like a toddler with nukes.”
Fed meets this week—expect no cut, rates steady, Powell looking tired of the political heat. Inflation’s cooling but still above target; economy’s chugging despite everything. Then Trump drops the bomb: 100% tariffs on Canada if they cozy up to China. Again. Prices spike, supply chains scream, your groceries get a patriotic tax hike. It’s the Art of the Deal meets economic suicide—threaten allies, watch consumers pay. Thompson would drive to Mar-a-Lago with a trunk full of mescaline just to watch the meltdown. Me? I’m just waiting for avocado toast to hit $60. Buckle up; this week’s economic news is gonna feel like a bad acid trip.
Trump’s latest tariff rage—Canada edition
Preview: THE WEEK AHEAD: Fed Decision, Tariff Threats.
D.C. buried—fitting backdrop for monetary theater
AI Bubble Fears: Tech Stocks High on Hopium, Crash Inevitable?
Pull quote: “AI’s the new dot-com: everyone’s rich until the servers overheat and the valuations evaporate.”
Markets ripping on AI hype, but the whispers are getting loud—economists warning of 1999 redux, insane multiples, data-center debt mountains, retail investors piling in like lemmings. Bill Gates even chimed in: fierce competition ahead, high-value stocks could tank. Half the experts polled think AI stocks decline in ‘26. It’s beautiful delusion: machines will save us, until they don’t and we’re left holding worthless GPUs. Gonzo truth? We’re betting the farm on code that might just hallucinate our ruin. Pop goes the bubble—grab popcorn.
Mizuho breaks down why the AI dream might pop hard
Final Uncomfortable Wrap: This Week’s Circus
This week is primed to explode… protests in frozen streets, tariffs jacking prices, Fed holding steady while the economy wobbles, Gaza grinding bodies, AI hype on the verge of bursting. We have the right to protest when things are wrong; hell, we should protest… loudly, relentlessly, without apology… because silence equals complicity in this rigged game. But I don’t want to see any more lives lost. Use common sense: If you see something wrong, don’t risk your life to prevent it unless you truly believe that anything short of putting your hands on an agent or directly interfering would result in the immediate death of the person you’re trying to protect. It’s not worth the loss of life—yours, theirs, anyone’s. Channel the fury into smarter moves: calls, boycotts, votes, community networks, sustained pressure. Stay breathing to keep fighting. The machine wants us dead or defeated—don’t hand it the win.
ICE murders sparking riots, blizzards burying the Northeast, Fed playing possum, Trump tariff-bombing allies, Gaza collecting more ghosts, AI teetering on cliff. Power, greed, fear, stupidity—same cocktail, new pour. If you’re exhausted by the sanitized spin, this is your spot. Subscribe at rxansmith.substack.com for daily rants—no mercy. Smash subscribe on YouTube @RealRxanSmith, notifications on. Drop your take below: which outrage wins this week?
• • Substack:
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@RealRxanSmith • X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/rxannsmith • Instagram: https://instagram.com/rxansmith • Facebook: https://facebook.com/Ryan.X.Smith • Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/rxansmith • PayPal: https://paypal.me/phireballsports
