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Early Start with Rahel Solomon

Police: Two People Shot By Federal Agents In Portland; Protests Erupt In Minneapolis Over Deadly ICE Shooting; Venezuela Releasing Political Prisoners "To Seek Peace". Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired January 09, 2026 - 05:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[05:00:25]

RAHEL SOLOMON, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning and welcome to our viewers joining us from the U.S. and all around the world. I'm Rahel Solomon. It is Friday, January 9th, 5:00 a.m. here in New York.

And straight ahead on EARLY START.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN HOST: Federal agents opening fire for the second straight day.

KEITH WILSON, PORTLAND MAYOR : Portland is not a training ground for militarized agents.

REPORTER: A group of women sing at a vigil Thursday in memory of Renee Nicole Good killed in her vehicle in Minneapolis by an ICE agent.

J.D. VANCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: That guy is protected by absolute immunity. He was doing his job.

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN ANCHOR: On Friday, President Trump is set to meet with oil industry leaders.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The oil companies are ready to go.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(MUSIC)

SOLOMON: And we begin this morning with a growing pushback. After two straight days of shootings by federal agents, most recently in Portland, Oregon. That's where two people were hospitalized on Thursday. This incident coincides with nationwide protests over the deadly shooting of an American woman by ICE. That shooting happened Wednesday in Minneapolis.

Department of Homeland Security says that border patrol agents were going after a Venezuelan gang member during a vehicle stop in Portland. They accused the suspects of weaponizing their car and trying to run over the agents. A senior law enforcement official tells CNN that a married couple were arrested while seeking treatment for gunshot wounds. State officials have promised an investigation. Protests have erupted in Portland and the mayor is calling on ICE to pause operations in the city.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WILSON: Portland is not a training ground for militarized agents. When the administration talks about using full force, we are seeing what it means on our streets. The consequences are not abstract. They are felt in hospital rooms and living rooms, in the quiet moments when families try to make sense of what happened, what is happening. We know what the federal government says happened here. There was a time when we could take them at their word. That time is long past. That is why we are calling on ICE to halt all operations in Portland until a full and independent investigation can take place.

Today, I spoke with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. We shared not just our concerns, but our grief for the families who are suffering and grief for the recklessness of our federal government. The administration is trying to divide us, to pit communities against one another, to make us fear one another.

Portland, this is a moment to hold each other close.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: Protesters across the U.S. are calling for justice for Renee Good. That's the woman killed by an immigration officer in Minneapolis. Large crowds turned out in Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston and Washington. And it comes as Minnesota Governor Tim Walz questions if the investigation into the shooting will be fair. State officials say that the FBI have blocked them from joining the probe.

Thirty-seven-year-old Renee Good is being remembered as a loving mother of three who liked to sing and write poetry. She was killed Wednesday when an ICE agent shot into her car.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey slamming the federal government's crackdown on immigration.

Here's what he told my colleague, Laura Coates.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR JACOB FREY (D), MINNEAPOLIS: We collectively can't take the bait. The Trump administration and some of these federal agents clearly wants to cause chaos, and they want to look for an excuse to deploy a further military occupation. We all know that that occupation would be horrific to the immigrant neighbors that we all want to protect. And so, to that extent, we're all singing from one accord. Public servants, politicians --

LAURA COATES, CNN HOST: And that is peaceful assembly?

FREY: Peaceful, peace. We need peace. We need safety. We need to meet their hate with a whole lot of love.

We need to meet the kind of conduct that they are showing with a whole lot of justice.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: CNN's Leigh Waldman is on the ground in Minneapolis and filed this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LEIGH WALDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Throughout the day today, we have seen people gathering here where Renee Nicole Good spent her last moments. This is where her car crashed following that shooting that happened. You can see this growing, beautiful memorial. People singing "Amazing Grace", leaving candles, candles, flowers, leaving signs honoring her life, honoring how her life was ended and demanding that ICE get out of their city.

[05:05:08]

WALDMAN (voice-over): A group of women sing at a vigil Thursday in memory of Renee Nicole Good killed in her vehicle in Minneapolis by an ICE agent. The mood outside of the memorial somber, where just one day ago, the 37-year-old mother's encounter with ICE turned deadly.

CLARK HOELSCHER, NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENT: I can't imagine, like that they, you know, came home and their mom, you know, wasn't going to be there for them anymore.

WALDMAN (voice-over): The Department of Homeland Security has accused Good of attacking ICE officers with her car. Graphic video captures the moment it all unfolded. Federal agents drive up and approach Good's vehicle, telling her to get out of the car. One agent appears to pull on the door handle and as Good starts to drive away, she is shot.

While some in Minneapolis are mourning, some are protesting. Outside the federal building, federal agents deploy a chemical agent.

As protesters and law enforcement clash, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called on protesters to remain peaceful.

GOV. TIM WALZ (D), MINNESOTA: We're not going to win this through violence. We're going to win it through justice. We're going to win it through compassion.

WALDMAN (voice-over): But Governor Walz referred to the event as a brazen use of force and says the Trump administration has excluded the state from the investigation.

Vice President J.D. Vance joined the White House press briefing Thursday, where he placed blame on good and seemingly justified the agents actions.

VANCE: That guy is protected by absolute immunity. He was doing his job.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALDMAN (on camera): A large group of protesters marched from about a mile away to the area of the vigil here, where the community has blocked off the streets, so they have a place that they can safely gather.

This is not the only place where we have seen protests throughout the day. They've been happening here in Minneapolis, but also across the country. People using their voices, using their First Amendment right to demand action, to demand accountability. As we still have so many questions remaining regarding this shooting, including the moments directly before this shooting happened.

SOLOMON: All right. Joining us now is Sunny Slaughter, a law enforcement and litigation expert. She's coming to us live this morning from Washington.

Sunny, welcome.

Let's start in Minneapolis where the FBI has taken over the investigation. And state authorities say that they have been denied access to the case. Is that standard? Is that appropriate? How do you see it?

SUNNY SLAUGHTER, LAW ENFORCEMENT & LITIGATION EXPERT: Good morning, and thank you for having me. You know, it's not the usual. It's not the standard operation. They usually work together to ensure that they have continuity not only of information and context, but that they also can provide calm to the community when they are communicating exactly the details and investigative processes.

So, I think this is a different stance for the federal government. And it's concerning to some of those that are witnessing what is happening.

SOLOMON: And, Sunny, I had on a legal guest yesterday who said that you may not see federal charges here, but he would expect to see potentially state charges here. How much does that complicate things if there is to be a state investigation, if they don't have access to the evidence, if they don't have access to the case from the beginning?

SLAUGHTER: Well, what happens is that when they don't have all of the access, then they don't have all of the information to conduct a thorough investigation. And that also further complicates what the public's expectations are and what the potential is for litigation that is sound, reasonable and addresses all of the issues.

So, it doesn't make sense not to have all of the information. And going forward, when you don't know what you're truly going forward with, prosecution then becomes difficult.

SOLOMON: Yeah. How concerned are you about the perception of a lack of transparency in the public because of the way the investigation is being handled, because of this move?

SLAUGHTER: I'm very concerned because the disruption with an investigation also causes disruption between local and federal law enforcement agencies who have to work together not only on immigration issues, but on other issues that have nothing to do with immigration. They often have cooperative agreements. They work together on missing persons, investigative practices, training. And now, this is really concerning that we are not moving forward in a way where law enforcement agencies are in unison and stiff, even when they don't agree.

SOLOMON: I mean, would you -- would you go so far as saying it makes the job of local police departments even harder, even if they didn't necessarily have anything to do with the incident, sort of, at the issue of these protests.

SLAUGHTER: Oh, it'd absolutely makes it harder because public trust has been built over the years, particularly after the shooting of George Floyd, when it was really a lens on local law enforcement and the relationships and building trust between law enforcement that are local and those in the community, because local law enforcement needs the help of community when it comes to other crimes, when it comes to reporting, when it comes to support, when it comes to law enforcement response.

[05:10:21]

And because local law enforcement officers live in these communities amongst those that they are not only in charge, in charge of enforcing laws, but also charged with the protection of the people in the communities. It's going to complicate -- it is complicating everything at this moment.

SOLOMON: And what about the likelihood of increased protests or tensions that rise even further because of what could be perceived by some as a lack of transparency here?

SLAUGHTER: You know, that's a really great question, and its one that I've been hearing over and over again. Protests need to be peaceful because when they are not, and when there is disruption, it not only disrupts the community and the sanctity and security of the community, but it then fosters less transparency when there's no incidents amongst whether the community will believe anything that law enforcement says locally, whether they will believe that they are being protected and whether they can separate political ideology from what they are doing every single day in communities.

These are difficult times for all of us, and our lens of humanity is being tested in ways, and particularly when transparency is called into question, when there competing narratives about actions that have happened and whether people will believe local law enforcement who is operating in their community every single day.

Transparency is key. Competing narratives need to, you know, calm down. Protests are striking up everywhere. These are dangerous times, not only for immigration, but in living in general. When people don't have confidence in their local law enforcement agencies.

SOLOMON: Sunny Slaughter, we appreciate your time today. Thank you

SLAUGHTER: Thank you for having me.

SOLOMON: Still ahead, President Trump providing more clues about how long the U.S. operations against Venezuela may last. That story straight ahead.

Plus, an Iranian exile is calling for more anti-government protests in his homeland, just as the regime could be gearing up for a new crackdown.

Stay with CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SOLOMON: Welcome back and updating our news on Venezuela. Opposition leader Maria Machado is coming to Washington, D.C. next week. President Trump told reporters he's looking forward to saying hello to her.

Trump has said that the Nobel Peace Prize winner is, quote, a very nice woman but doesn't have the support or respect to lead Venezuela.

Meanwhile, demonstrators in Caracas Thursday demanded the release of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. They carried signs reading free Maduro and no to the foreign invasion.

And later today, President Trump is set to meet with oil industry leaders, executives from Chevron, Exxon and Conoco are among more than a dozen attendees expected. And in an interview with "The New York Times", Trump said that he expects the American intervention in Venezuela to last much longer than a year.

Venezuela's national assembly president said Thursday that the government will release a significant number of prisoners as a gesture to seek peace. Because of these releases, President Trump said on Truth Social that he will cancel another round of bombing attacks. One of the Trump administrations demands was that all prisoners -- political prisoners be released. The releases will include Venezuelans and foreign nationals.

Since the U.S. raid that kidnapped President Nicolas Maduro, American officials have been working to establish an interim government. Spain confirming that five of its citizens have been freed.

Lots of moving parts here. Let's get now to Paris, where senior international correspondent Melissa Bell is standing by.

Melissa, President Trump posting in the last hour that he canceled that previous second wave of attacks on Venezuela as the country is cooperating with the U.S. What more can you share with us about U.S.- Venezuela talks?

MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I think it is noteworthy of, Rahel, that this Truth Social post comes just a day after the Senate advanced, voted to advance towards legislation that would ban any further military attacks on Venezuela without congressional approval.

Still, what President Trump has done with this post is link his decision. He says not to carry out that second wave of attacks on Venezuela, on cooperation of the interim government. What we have seen over the course of the last 24 hours is the beginning of some of those prisoner releases that have been demanded, we understand, by the American administration. Many of these are political prisoners. Many of them have been incarcerated, Rahel, after the 2024 election. Some 2,000 people had found themselves behind bars.

After that poll, a couple of the releases have begun. A couple of the more high profile opposition figures to have been behind bars. People like Enrique Marquez were able to leave jail last night. Still a lot of anxious -- waiting from a lot of anxious families because there's been very little clarity about exactly how many political prisoners, how many overall prisoners would be released, when it would happen, and how long this would last.

But certainly, the Trump administration, seeing this as a sign of goodwill and cooperation, as you said, ahead of this crucial meeting that will take place on Friday between oil executives and President Trump with, you'll remember over the course of the last week or so, the Trump administration insisting on the fact that there would be in this latest Trump, Trump post -- Trump Truth Social posts. I'm sorry, $100 billion, he insisted, worth of oil that could be sold, profits of which could be made.

[05:20:03]

He explained, much will depend, of course, on the cooperation of these big oil giants. And what we understand from heading into this meeting from a number of sources behind the scenes of the preparation that's gone into it, is that there is reticence on the part of these oil companies you're looking at. We understand $110 billion worth of infrastructure investment that would need to take place every single year with about 10 years to get those that investment back.

That is a lot of money in a country with a great deal of uncertainty and what the executives are going to be looking for is assurances about security and the long-term plans of the Trump administration in the country, Rahel.

SOLOMON: Yeah. I mean, it's a great point, Melissa. Every energy oil analyst expert that we've spoken to has stressed that it would take billions of dollars years. And a lot of these companies would need a certain level, a great level of security, insurance, stability to move forward.

Melissa Bell in Paris, we'll see how it all shakes out. Thank you.

All right. Still ahead, anti-regime protests are picking up steam in Iran despite a government crackdown. But now concerns are growing that the government is preparing a new attempt to end those protests. That story straight ahead.

Plus, the Syrian army advances in Aleppo as the fighting with the Kurdish led SDF intensifies. That story and much more straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:25:41]

SOLOMON: Iran's supreme leader has a message for the U.S. president, amid protests that have been rattling Iran for 13 days now. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says that President Trump should focus on his own problems at home. He added that in Iran, quote, "there are some agitators who want to please the American president by destroying public property. A united Iranian people will defeat all enemies."

The statement came after Trump repeated his threat to attack Iran if security forces kill protesters. The demonstrations have spread to more than 100 cities despite a government crackdown and restrictions on internet and phone lines.

For more, let's bring in our Nada Bashir. She is in London.

Nada, the Iranian regime has cut internet lines again, plunging the country into a nationwide blackout. What do you make of this tactic? We've seen it before.

NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Rahel. We have seen this tactic used by the Iranian regime during previous protest movements. Its aim is clearly to prevent protesters from being able to organize from sharing videos on the ground. But what we've been hearing from many analysts and commentators is a fear that this blackout on the Internet, on communications, could be an indicator that the Iranian regime may begin to crack down even more violently on protesters taking to the streets.

That is certainly something that we have seen in the past. Of course, this blackout, meaning no videos are getting out, as we have seen since late December. Meaning, of course, that any such violent attacks that may take place during this blackout will not be shared with the rest of the world as it happens. And that is the fear right now.

We have seen these protests gaining momentum, spreading across over 100 cities in Iran, many taking to the streets. Now, of course, not only calling for economic reform, but that is how this began. We saw these protests, organized protests taking place in the bazaars. Business owners at Tehran University organized demonstrations against the regimes handling of the economic crisis in Iran, with inflation soaring, with the currency plummeting, with everyday items becoming too expensive for people to actually buy.

But this has grown into so much more. Now, we are hearing calls for the regime to be toppled. We are hearing calls for a complete overhaul of the political landscape in Iran. And that is something, of course, that we have seen in the past that has triggered a violent crackdown by the Iranian regime and its security forces, and we are beginning to see some of that violence now, according to the Iran human rights organization, a Norway based NGO, at least 45 people have now been killed, including children. Hundreds more are said to have been injured, and at least 2,000 reportedly detained as well.

And as you mentioned, we have now heard today from Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has spoken in response to that threat from the U.S. president, Donald Trump, that if protesters are killed, the U.S. may attack. And he has said in this televised statement, the Islamic Republic will not back down in the face of those who are looking to destroy us and is blaming the protests in his words, on agitators seeking to please the U.S. president.

SOLOMON: All right. Nada Bashir reporting live for us there in London. Nada, thank you.

In Syria, government security forces are advancing in Aleppo as fighting intensifies with Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic forces. Authorities say that at least seven people have been killed since clashes erupted on Tuesday. These are what I believe are live pictures. Well, it says earlier, so perhaps that was earlier. Now it is live.

More than 140,000 people have been forced from their homes. Rescue workers scramble to put out flames sparked by shelling on Thursday. Kurdish authorities are resisting integration into the central government. Kurdistan regional offices and officials accused the Syrian army of ethnic cleansing by targeting Kurdish neighborhoods.

Israel launched new strikes on Gaza Thursday, where a formal ceasefire is approaching the three-month mark. Medics say that at least four people were killed and three others hurt in two separate strikes. Earlier, Israel said that it hit the site of a failed militant rocket launch.

Also on Thursday, Israel said that it had banned the international staff of more than three dozen NGOs from entering Gaza unless they register with Israeli authorities. Now, those NGOs have already been given 60 days to wrap up their operations. The aid groups say that they're concerned that sharing information about their staff could put those workers at risk.