Affording Your Life with Attorney General Keith Ellison

Chair Latz, Senator Limmer, and members, thank you for inviting me to be here today.I am glad that we are here when, if the federal government is to be believed, Operation Metro Surge will soon be winding down. Tragically, whenever the real end to this surge finally comes, it will come too late for Renee Good and Alex Pretti and all who loved them. We will continue to seek justice for them.The surge will end too late for Liam Conejo Ramos and the other children who will have to live with the trauma of their detention.It will end too late for everyone who was wrongfully and illegally detained.It will end too late for Minnesotans who have endured racial profiling, for businesses that have closed, for children that couldn’t go to school, for the people who have fallen behind on their rent because they couldn’t safely go to work.The unprecedented, unconstitutional, and unnecessary exercise of force that is Operation Metro Surge leaves much pain in its wake.Despite this pain, when this surge ends, it will be a victory. It will be a victory for the rule of law, for the power of creative, lawful resistance, and for the strength of unity over division. Minnesotans organized themselves. They exercised their legal rights to observe and protest, by the tens of thousands, in sub-zero temperatures. They helped their neighbors who needed help. In the face of a massive display of force and acts of intimidation and violence, they held their — and our — constitutionally protected ground: bravely, creatively, and peacefully.I promised during the surge that I would match Minnesotans’ bravery. My office and I did much to hold ICE, DHS, and the Trump Administration accountable under the law and the constitution.* On January 9, just two days after the death of Renee Good, my office joined forces with the Hennepin County Attorney’s office to create a portal for witnesses to submit evidence.* This was necessary because almost immediately after ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed Renee, the federal government made the extraordinary announcement that it would not include the state in its investigation or share evidence with state investigators.* It is normal and routine for state and federal law enforcement and investigators to work together: in Minnesota, it happens all the time. The trained investigators of the Minnesota BCA are completely professional and non-political. I cannot stress enough how extraordinary it is for federal law enforcement to refuse to work with state investigators on this case.* On January 12, we filed a lawsuit in federal court to end the surge.* We argued — and continue to argue — that the surge is unconstitutional, violating the First and Tenth Amendments to the constitution and the Equal Sovereignty principle.* On January 15, my office launched a form on our website for Minnesotans to share the impacts of federal government actions, including DHS actions have had on them personally or someone close to them, or that they have personally witnessed.* To date, we have more than 1,500 submissions.* And on January 24, the day that Alex Pretti was killed, my office represented the BCA in filing a lawsuit along with Hennepin County to compel the federal government to preserve evidence.* We won a temporary restraining order just two hours after we filed the lawsuit.* Disappointingly, the FBI has announced that it will not cooperate with the BCA in the Pretti matter, either.Allow me to make clear that although the surge is winding down, the two lawsuits we filed during the surge continue. We will keep challenging the constitutionality of the surge, so that this administration — or any administration — cannot ever again attempt to compel a state to kneel to its policy demands. And we will keep fighting for truth and accountability for the killings of Alex and Renee.Minnesotans had a right to expect that their federal government would have a credible, rational basis for sending more than 3,000 federal agents to our state for the largest immigration-enforcement action in our nation’s history. The federal government has never deployed as many immigration agents to one place at one time as it has here.Instead, every rationale the Trump Administration has offered is a pretext.The government has said the purpose of the surge is to fight unauthorized immigration. Yet Minnesota ranks 28th among all states in the percentage of undocumented immigrants: Florida and Texas alone have nearly as many undocumented people as the entire population of Minnesota.The federal government has said the purpose of the surge is to fight fraud in government programs. I abhor fraud, and my office is already in this fight: We have convicted 300 Medicaid fraudsters in the last seven years.But the government did not surge forensic accountants or computer scientists who could actually help us fight fraud. Instead, it sent 3,000 masked, armed men.In fact, the surge has harmed the fight against fraud in Minnesota. Because of it, the federal government’s work of fighting fraud in Minnesota has ground to a halt. The surge has triggered a wave of experienced prosecutors resigning from the U.S. Attorney’s office in Minnesota, and the remaining staff are drowning under a flood of habeas corpus petitions.The government has also said the purpose of the surge is to fight violent crime and rid our streets of “the worst of the worst.” Yet violent crime rates in Minneapolis were falling before the surge. Furthermore, ICE’s own data shows that 67% of those it has detained in Minnesota have no criminal records, and only a very small percentage have a record of committing violent crime.Notoriously, some of those detained have been children. Is five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos the worst of the worst? Or 10-year-old Elizabeth Zuña Caisaguano?The federal government has also said the purpose of the surge is to gain cooperation from state and local officials in immigration enforcement. Other elected officials in Minnesota have echoed those claims, saying that if only Minnesota had “cooperated” with ICE, the surge would not have been necessary and Renee’s and Alex’s lives would have been spared.So let me be perfectly clear: Minnesota already fully complies with the law when it comes to federal immigration enforcement.The Minnesota Department of Corrections already follows the state law — Section 631.50 — that requires it to notify federal authorities when a non-citizen convicted of a felony nears their release date. The federal government had to back off their false claims to the contrary when DOC presented the facts.Minnesota sheriffs and county attorneys already comply with state law that they may not keep someone incarcerated on an immigration detainer longer than they are otherwise legally allowed to incarcerate them. In February 2025, I issued a legal opinion that restated the law, which is supported by a noted Minnesota case called Esparza vs. Nobles County, as well as cases from other states. When I met in person with Border Czar Tom Homan, he acknowledged that this is the law.So Minnesota already follows the law.After dismissing all the pretexts, it’s clear: This surge is about what President Trump said it was about. In a Truth Social post on January 13, he wrote that “retribution and reckoning” was coming to Minnesota. Operation Metro Surge was Trump’s retribution for our policies, our values, and how we vote.In the face of Donald Trump’s campaign of revenge and retribution against Minnesota, we as a state stood for the rule of law and our constitutional rights, and stood for what we believe in our beloved state: that we are stronger when we stand together, that we all do better when we all do better, and that everyone deserves to live with dignity, safety, and respect — no exceptions. Now, our attention turns to healing and to ensuring that what happened here over the past several weeks can never happen again — not to us, and not to any state, city, or neighborhood in this country. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit affordingyourlife.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit affordingyourlife.substack.com

Last week, I had the opportunity to join Katie Couric for a Substack Live conversation to talk about the reality on the ground here in Minnesota, the status of our lawsuit against ICE, and what we all can do to help our neighbors, here in Minnesota and beyond. Enjoy this special edition of Affording Your Life! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit affordingyourlife.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit affordingyourlife.substack.com

Let’s start with the facts. Republicans currently control the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and the presidency. That means they have full authority to pass a budget and keep the government open. When one party holds all the power in Washington, that party also holds the responsibility to govern.This shutdown began because Republican leadership has refused to negotiate on Democratic proposals to protect and strengthen healthcare – proposals that would make sure families in Minnesota and across the country can afford the care they need. Democrats have been willing to compromise to keep the government open. But negotiations only work if both sides show up, and so far, only one side has walked away.The effects of this shutdown are being felt in every corner of Minnesota.Thousands of federal employees who work at the Minneapolis VA, or the IRS center in Bloomington, or the National Weather Service in Duluth are either furloughed or working without pay. That means workers are missing paychecks. Families are struggling to cover rent. People are having to choose between essentials like groceries and child care.Farmers who depend on the USDA for crop insurance payments and loans are seeing delays right when they need support the most. Small businesses waiting on federal contracts or loans can’t move forward. Families relying on nutrition assistance or housing programs are anxious about whether help will arrive on time.These are not abstract numbers on a budget spreadsheet. These are real Minnesotans. They are our neighbors, friends, and public servants caught in the middle of a political standoff they didn’t create.Republicans have the power to end this shutdown today. All it takes is a willingness to govern responsibly and to sit down and negotiate in good faith.Minnesotans value hard work, decency, and accountability. We expect our leaders to do their jobs. Keeping the government open, protecting healthcare, and respecting the people who serve our country should not be partisan issues.It’s time for Republicans to put politics aside, reopen the government, and start serving the people. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit affordingyourlife.substack.com

There are moments in history when nations are tested—not by war or disaster, but by whether they can remain faithful to their ideals.  Today, we face such a test. Donald Trump just told 800 top military leaders that they need to prepare to confront an “invasion from within.” He is preparing the United States military to turn on Americans who don’t agree with him.This is tyranny.Let me be clear: There is no invasion. There is no enemy army in our neighborhoods. There are only Americans. Our neighbors, our families, our fellow citizens. We may disagree, protest, or demand better, but we belong here just as much as any president does.To speak of an “enemy within,” to call for military force in our cities, or to use American streets as a “training ground” for war, is to abandon the very Constitution that gives a president his authority.Democracies don’t operate this way. But dictatorships do. History has shown us where this road leads. From Berlin to Beijing, from Mubarak to Mussolini, those who invoke the fear of an internal invasion do so to justify censorship, repression, and brutality. Always in the name of “order.” Always in the shadow of tyranny.We do not fear our own people.We do not treat our cities as warzones.And we do not use the military to settle political disputes or to suppress dissent.If we allow the language of war to replace the language of democracy, we risk losing not just our freedoms, but our very identity as a nation.To avoid that dark fate, we need to see the truth of what’s happening with clear eyes: America is not under attack from within. America is being tested from above, by those entrusted with power but unwilling to wield it responsibly.And we, the people, must meet that test.We must speak out, stand up, and remind our leaders that in this country, power flows from the people to the president—not the other way around.This is not just about policy. It is about principle. It is about whether the next generation inherits a republic, or a regime.So, to every citizen: Do not be silent. Do not be afraid.The most patriotic act you can take right now is to demand your government remember that it was built to serve, not to rule. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit affordingyourlife.substack.com

Today I want to speak about Noem v. Vasquez Perdomo — a Supreme Court ruling that affects not just law, but who we are as a nation — and especially about one justice’s dissent that stands as a moral compass in the storm.The Ruling: What HappenedIn Noem v. Vasquez Perdomo, the Supreme Court’s conservative majority stayed an injunction that had barred ICE in Los Angeles from arrests based solely on factors like race or ethnicity, speaking Spanish or accented English, being found in certain locations, or working certain types of low-wage jobs. The district court had found that ICE was relying on those four factors alone in many cases, which the Fourth Amendment forbids.The Supreme Court permitted the government to resume those kinds of detentions under that standard, even though no detailed majority opinion was published. The public only knows who is responsible, and the full force of what’s allowed now, because of Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s dissent.Justice Sotomayor: Her Wisdom and Her WordsJustice Sotomayor’s dissent is not just a legal disagreement. It is an act of truth-telling. She writes:“We should not have to live in a country where the Government can seize anyone who looks Latino, speaks Spanish, and appears to work a low wage job.” These words cut to the heart of what is at stake. They force us to acknowledge that policy, when unrestrained, can touch innocent lives in ways that tear at the fabric of justice.She continues:“Rather than stand idly by while our constitutional freedoms are lost, I dissent.” In those few words, she reminds us that rights do not defend themselves. They depend on someone speaking up even when the cost is high, even when the majority is quiet.Why Her Dissent Matters* Naming the harm: Justice Sotomayor does more than identify legal error. She names the human toll — people seized because of their appearance, language, type of work. She calls out the injustice by telling us plainly: “looks Latino … speaks Spanish.” Those are not abstractions, but people’s lives.* Moral clarity: The phrase “while our constitutional freedoms are lost” is chilling because it suggests we are already losing them — or letting them slip away. She doesn’t wait for them to go; she challenges us not to.* Courage in dissent: In the face of a decision made without full court procedure—without argument, without a signed majority opinion—she stands alone (joined by Justices Kagan and Jackson) to preserve the idea that constitutional protections mean something. She does not allow the marginalized to be erased by silence or ambiguity.Lessons & Charge for UsWe learn from her that:* Words have power, especially when spoken in courage. Her dissent is more than dissent — it is a warning. It is a mirror for what America promises to be.* Constitutional rights depend on vigilance. The language of the law is fragile if those sworn to uphold it remain silent.* Each generation must defend justice. Her dissent is an invitation: not to be mere spectators, but participants. To ensure that rights aren’t conditional on language, race, or job, but universal.Conclusion: Her Voice, Our ResponsibilityJustice Sotomayor has raised her voice in this case with precision, force, and conviction. Her words—“We should not have to live in a country where the Government can seize anyone who looks Latino, speaks Spanish, and appears to work a low wage job” — will echo long after this ruling unless we do more than remember them.As she says, “Rather than stand idly by while our constitutional freedoms are lost, I dissent.” Let us not stand idly by. Let us take her dissent as our rallying cry. To speak, to organize, to defend what should never have to be defended: equal justice under the law.Thank you. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit affordingyourlife.substack.com

A federal appeals court just struck down Trump’s tariffs. Learn what means for you on today’s episode of Affording Your Life. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit affordingyourlife.substack.com

Today, Americans are facing an affordability crisis. We’re here after years of union busting, lax antitrust enforcement and corporate takeover of our democracy and now, fascism and oligarchy reigning over our society. So this Labor Day, I want to tell you about a woman whose courage, vision, and persistence transformed America and the American workplace: a woman who truly knew the meaning of affording your life, Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins.When President Franklin Roosevelt appointed her in 1933, Perkins became the first woman in U.S. history to serve in the Cabinet. But she was more than a symbol—she was a reformer, a fighter, and the architect of many of the protections we now take for granted.She came into office at the height of the Great Depression, when millions of Americans were out of work, when wages were low, hours were long, and protections were almost nonexistent. Frances Perkins had already seen the consequences of unsafe working conditions firsthand. As a young woman, she had watched the flames of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in 1911, when 146 garment workers—mostly immigrant women—died because they were locked inside a burning building. That tragedy seared into her the determination to make workers’ lives safer, fairer, and more dignified.As Secretary of Labor, Perkins set out an ambitious agenda—and she achieved it. She helped design and implement the Social Security Act of 1935, which for the first time gave Americans a system of old-age pensions, unemployment insurance, and aid to families in need. She championed the Fair Labor Standards Act, which established the minimum wage, the 40-hour work week, and restrictions on child labor. She was instrumental in creating the Civilian Conservation Corps and Public Works Administration, which gave jobs to millions.Her guiding principle was simple but powerful: that the government has a responsibility to protect workers from exploitation and to ensure that prosperity is shared, not hoarded.Frances Perkins knew these reforms would not come easily. She faced resistance not only from business interests but also from members of Congress and even some within the Roosevelt administration. Yet she persisted. With intelligence, patience, and moral conviction, she turned ideas that seemed radical into law.Her legacy lives with us every day. When you receive a paycheck that honors overtime pay, when you see a child in school instead of working in a factory, when you know that your retirement is backed by Social Security—those are the reforms of Frances Perkins.She once said, “The people are what matter to government, and a government should aim to give all the people under its jurisdiction the best possible life.”This Labor Day, remember Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins, a true Affording Your Life visionary. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit affordingyourlife.substack.com

Social media is a part of our everyday lives. It is an outlet for creativity, a way of staying connected, a source for learning, and a platform for organizing. But like any powerful tool. It can also be dangerous.The social media company TikTok has knowingly ignored its own dangers, so today my office is suing TikTok for preying on Minnesota’s young people for violating Minnesota law with addictive algorithms and exploitative features. In our lawsuit we allege:* TikTok has violated the law by designing features that cause users — especially children — to compulsively and excessively use the app such that they are mentally, physically, and financially harmed.* TikTok has violated the law by their live streaming and virtual monetary features that it knows induces compulsive use of the app and is used for financial and sexual exploitation of children.* TikTok has violated the law by repeatedly and knowingly misrepresenting the safety of the app when it knows that design features of the app are causing or contributing to compulsive use that harms users.* TikTok has violated the law by also knowingly misrepresenting the safety of the app’s live and virtual monetary features, when it knows those features were being used for criminal and sexually exploitative purposes.* TikTok has violated the law by failing to become licensed, make disclosures, and submit to examinations by the Minnesota Department of Commerce because it is engaged in money transmission and virtual currency business activity.This isn’t about free speech. This is about deception. This is about a company knowing the dangerous effects of its product, but taking no steps to mitigate those harms, or inform users of the risks.Let’s walk through the harm TikTok has caused.95% of smartphone users in the United States aged 13-17 have TikTok on their devices. That means hundreds of thousands of Minnesota kids.TikTok’s own data shows that, on average, these young people spend almost two hours a day on the app. More than 20% use the app in the middle of the night. And I know just about every parent of young children in this state could tell you about how hard it is for kids to turn away from apps like TikTok once they start scrolling.Well, all of that is by design.TikTok has created a dangerously addictive platform that exploits the unfinished reward systems in our kids’ brains. The neurological systems that control our desires for risk-taking, attention, and peer reinforcement are particularly sensitive in teens. TikTok has designed its app to exploit that vulnerability.There’s science behind this, and we all feel it. The urge to pick up your phone, the inability to ignore notifications, the desire to keep scrolling for “just a few more minutes.” These are the products of an engineered addiction – and adults have a hard enough time overcoming them. For our kids, it’s an unfair battle.Former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy put it this way: “you’re pitting a child against the world’s greatest product designers and that’s just not a fair fight.”TikTok is intentionally designed to push our children to make choices that benefit TikTok’s bottom line, at the expense of our kids’ emotional, behavioral and physical health. Here’s how:* The algorithm leverages user data to push content that keeps users engaged.* The infinite scroll that keeps users in an endless state of swiping – there’s no way to “finish” the content.* Push notifications encourage repetitive checking of the App – which kids 13-17 do 17 times a day on average* TikTok LIVE’s unlicensed virtual currency system encourages excessive and exploitative spending.* And visual filters and effects create idealized and unattainable images of usersThis is digital nicotine. Just like Big Tobacco designs its products to addict you to them, TikTok is working to create TikTok addicts. And the worst part is, it’s working. TikTok is profiting, and our kids are paying a heavy price.Studies show that compulsive use of apps like TikTok leads to increased irritability and anxiety, and higher risks of suicidal behaviors. Research tells us that prolonged use of TikTok specifically can lead to disrupted sleep, reduced physical activity, body dissatisfaction, disordered eating, low self-esteem, and self-harm.So, it’s not a coincidence that as screen time is at an all-time high in Minnesota, we’re seeing record levels of children suffering with mental health issues. In 2013, just a quarter of Minnesota’s eleventh graders reported challenges in building friendships with other young people. By 2022, that number reached 40%.None of this is news to TikTok. They know the dangers their app poses to young people, but they’ve never taken any real measures to address them.Take TikTok LIVE – the live streaming platform within the app. Their own internal documents tell us that TikTok knew – but never warned us – that live streaming encourages addictive and impulsive purchases and puts minors at developmental risk.When you combine livestreaming with virtual tipping, you get a strip club. That’s what TikTok built. They know that live is built on transactional gifting, and minors are doing it.TikTok knew but never warned us that 40% of TikTok users encounter inappropriate content related to children, and that its own moderation systems miss a significant amount of harmful material depicting child exploitation.TikTok knew but never warned us that its LIVE tools were putting young users at risk of grooming or exposure to inappropriate content, but kept pushing that content because it was good for their bottom line.My bottom line is that Minnesota will protect our kids, so I’m taking them to court. We’re not trying to shut them down – but it’s long past time for them to clean up their act.My kids are grown now, and I’m thankful that I didn’t have to navigate these waters while they were young. But I feel for the parents of young kids who are trying to keep their kids safe in the social media era. I pledge to them and to their kids that my Office and I will always be on their side.If you or your family have stories about how TiKTok has impacted your health or wellbeing, you can visit our website and share them with us through our social media complaint form. Sharing those stories helps our investigation and can help other families stay safe. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit affordingyourlife.substack.com

On this month’s episode of Affording Your Life, I am joined by Deputy Attorney General Jessica Whitney and Assistant Attorney General Caitlin Micko, to talk about the Minnesota Consumer Data Privacy Act and what it means for you. Learn more about the MCDPA by visiting privacymn.com. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit affordingyourlife.substack.com

Thank you to everyone who tuned into my live conversation with Jim Acosta. I appreciate the opportunity to share about the legacy of Speaker Hortman, the good work of Senator Hoffman, the problems with disinformation in the wake of tragedy, and much more. Watch the full replay here and join me for my next live video in the Substack app. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit affordingyourlife.substack.com

Friends, as we continue to grieve, I wanted to share the story of how I met Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit affordingyourlife.substack.com

I'm hard at work standing up to the lawlessness executive orders being issued by President Trump. On this week's podcast, I discuss my office's work to challenge these illegal orders. Be sure to tune in and share this podcast with friends and family. CFPB Op-ed mentioned during the show: https://www.startribune.com/keith-ellison-why-im-fighting-to-keep-the-consumer-financial-protection-bureau-going/601230180 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit affordingyourlife.substack.com

How does market concentration affect you and your community? Stacy Mitchell, an outstanding thinker and writer when it comes to issues of corporate power, joined the podcast to discuss how a lack of antitrust enforcement led to the creation of food deserts and so much more. Be sure to tune in, rate, and review!You can find Stacy's article on food deserts in the Atlantic here: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/12/food-deserts-robinson-patman/680765/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit affordingyourlife.substack.com

On this episode, Attorney General Ellison discusses his approach to the incoming Trump administration and recaps some of the office's biggest cases of the year. Be sure to tune in, rate and review, and share with friends and family. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit affordingyourlife.substack.com

We do a lot at the Minnesota Attorney General's Office to help folks afford their lives, including fighting to keep your utility bill fair. When your power company is looking to raise rates, we're often on the other side of the table, advocating for individual and small business ratepayers. On this episode, we tell the story of that important work, and share how you can get involved. For more on our advocacy for ratepayers, see this post on our Substack: https://affordingyourlife.substack.com/p/utility-players This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit affordingyourlife.substack.com

Workers are up against a lot right now. Wage theft affects tens of thousands of Minnesota workers every year. Non-compete agreements are stifling competition and suppressing wages. And sometimes employers reach into your paycheck and take money they shouldn't. Fortunately, my Office is committed to standing up for working people and holding bad actors who take advantage of workers accountable.We cover all these issues and so much more on this episode of Affording Your Life. Please be sure to rate, review, and share with friends and family! You can read the Attorney General's full Working for Workers report here: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Reports/LaborReport_2024.pdfTo submit a complaint to the Minnesota Attorney General's Office, visit this link: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Complaint.asp This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit affordingyourlife.substack.com

Attorney General Keith Ellison is joined by Senator Tina Smith to discuss the economic impact that access to reproductive healthcare, or the lack thereof, can have on people across the country. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit affordingyourlife.substack.com

On this week's episode, Attorney General Ellison takes listeners behind the scenes of an investigation. AG Ellison, alongside an attorney, an investigator, and a mediator from the Office, discusses how his team found out that a used car dealership was scamming Minnesotans and what the Office is doing to stop it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit affordingyourlife.substack.com