Morning Brief: Anti-ICE Activists Attack Target, Shutdown Scramble, & Nashville Storm Failures
This February 3,2026 Morning Wire briefing highlights three main topics:
– Left-wing activists pressure businesses to dump ICE: Target is the primary focus as demonstrators call on the company to publicly condemn ICE and ban agents from operating on Target property or entering stores. Activists even protested at Target’s headquarters, targeting the new CEO, Michael Fiddelke.
– government shutdown ongoing: Lawmakers work to end the shutdown, with President trump insisting there be no changes to the spending package and pressing for immediate passage. He says he’s working with Speaker Mike Johnson to get a bill signed into law soon.
– Outrage over Nashville storm failures: Winter Storm Fern left widespread power outages, with more than 20,000 Nashville residents still without power. Criticism centers on Nashville electric service’s readiness and response, including a focus on tree trimming over infrastructure, and starting restoration with too few linemen (about 100) compared with other regions that had hundreds.
the brief covers political standoffs, activist pressure campaigns, and frustrations with emergency response to a major winter storm.
Anti-ICE activists pressure businesses to “pick a side,” the House looks to vote on reopening the government, and thousands of Americans demand answers as the lights remain off after Winter Storm Fern.
It’s Tuesday, February 3, 2026, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. Today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
Left-Wing Activists Pressure Businesses To Dump ICE
Businesses that don’t even have ties to ICE are under pressure to take an explicit stance against the federal agency. Currently, Target is the main mark for demonstrators. Over the weekend – similar to the protest that included the storming of Cities Church in St. Paul – dozens of activists marched through Target stores all over Minneapolis. Left-wing activists want the company to publicly condemn ICE and ban agents from conducting operations on Target property, or even entering stores. Activists even went to Target headquarters in Minneapolis on Monday and called out its new CEO, Michael Fiddelke, who officially stepped into the top job on Sunday.
Government Shutdown Is On
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have been working frantically to end the government shutdown before its effects are felt. President Donald Trump says he wants to move forward with the federal government spending package without any changes, as the government has remained shut down since last weekend. He wrote on Truth Social, quote: “There can be NO CHANGES at this time.” The president says that he wants the bill to be signed into law right away, and that he’s “working hard with Speaker Mike Johnson.”
Outrage Over Nashville Storm Failures
The response to the crippling power outages from Winter Storm Fern has frustrated many communities across the country – including here in the Nashville area. It’s been more than a week, and more than 20,000 residents are still without power in the Music City in a situation declared “unacceptable.” The Nashville power outage fiasco has made national news as Reese Witherspoon, John Rich, and other celebrities have spoken out about their Tennessee neighbors living in the dark. The Nashville Electric Service’s lack of preparation is most frustrating to residents. Last summer, the CEO, Teresa Boyles-Aplin, focused on saving Nashville’s tree canopy instead of cutting down the trees that clearly were overtaking power lines. On top of that, Nashville started the power restoration with around 100 linemen – far too few for such a widespread outage. Other regional utilities had 500-600 linemen ready.
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