Bourbon & Rum Podcast

Duration: 56:22 | Recorded on January 25, 2026

S3E4 – A measured, in-depth conversation on immigration enforcement, protest, and political trust, centered on the fatal ICE-related shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

Featured Spirits

Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon

Cruzan Blackstrap Rum

Show Notes

/ The Minneapolis Shooting:
Both hosts reflect on their initial reactions to early media reports, including claims that the victim was armed. Kent explains why later video evidence undermined those claims, while Kyle emphasizes situational risk when armed law enforcement and civilians intersect. 

/ Protest as Patriotism vs. Protest as Risk:
Kent’s take: protest is a foundational democratic act and often the last available lever when institutional channels fail. Kyle does not dispute the right to protest but stresses prudence, especially when protests intersect with armed federal agents executing warrants. Should moral legitimacy override personal safety considerations? 

/ Selective Enforcement and Political Provocation:
A major fault line emerges around ICE’s deployment strategy. Kent contends that Minnesota was deliberately targeted as a political provocation, citing agent concentration and comparative deportation rates with states like Texas. Kyle counters that lack of local cooperation necessitates heavier federal presence, framing the issue as operational rather than partisan—even while acknowledging optics matter.

/ Trust, Transparency, and Official Narratives:
The conversation turns to credibility, particularly after officials made statements later contradicted by video evidence. Kent argues that misinformation erodes trust not just in individuals but in institutions, making peaceful compliance less likely. 

/ Federal Authority vs. Local Consent:
Kent questions whether federal enforcement should adapt tactics when operating in communities that are openly hostile to its presence, likening it to policing in historically tense neighborhoods. Kyle warns that conditioning enforcement on local approval risks undermining the rule of law. 

/ Weaponization of Government—Now and Then:
Do current events reflect a deeper pattern of government weaponization? Kent sees the present moment as uniquely dangerous, while Kyle points to earlier examples—Trump prosecutions, COVID-era censorship pressures—as evidence that the problem is bipartisan and longstanding. 

/ NATO, Defense Spending, and Strategic Drift:
The episode briefly widens to foreign policy, with discussion of NATO burden-sharing, U.S. troop deployments in Europe, and whether increased allied spending should translate into reduced U.S. defense budgets. Both argue current military spending fails to reflect modern warfare realities, especially in light of drone use in Ukraine.

/ Polarization, Media Saturation, and Historical Perspective:
In closing, the hosts compare the current moment to the late 1960s and early 1970s, noting that today’s fragmentation is intensified by algorithmic media and constant exposure. Kent reflects on whether greater awareness fuels despair, while Kyle suggests that information overload amplifies conflict without necessarily worsening underlying conditions. 

Reference

The man killed by a US Border Patrol officer in Minneapolis was an ICU nurse, family says (AP News)

The NRA unequivocally believes that all law-abiding citizens have a right to keep and bear arms anywhere they have a legal right to be. (x.com)

Rutte says Europe cannot defend itself without the US: ‘Keep on dreaming’ | REUTERS (YouTube)