By J. Patrick Coolican | Editor-in-chief
Good morning, Reformers,
David Wallace-Wells points out this morning that despite the celebratory mood upon the collapse of Operation Metro Surge, the Trump administration has actually increased arrests nationwide significantly (as our colleagues at Stateline reported recently).
Wallace-Wells attributes this to a change in tactics by the Trump administration, but also “liberal complacency setting in as the lame-duck mood spreads through Trumpland.”
As he notes, immigrants held in detention by ICE has grown by 75% since Trump returned. Given tens of billions in extra money, they are building a detention and deportation machine.
Which brings us to today’s Reformer:
Appleton resident Brian Wojtalewicz expresses concern for immigrants’ rights during a town hall in Appleton, Minnesota discussing the Department of Homeland Security’s recent purchase of CoreCivic’s former Prairie Correctional Facility, which will now be used as an ICE detention center Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)
Appleton area could lose more than $800,000 per year in revenue following government prison purchase
By Madison McVan
The federal government’s purchase of a 1,600-bed prison in Appleton for an immigrant detention facility could deal a major blow to city, county and school finances.
The prison had been owned and operated by CoreCivic since 1996 until its closure in 2010, which led to significant job loss and population decline. Even as the prison sat empty, however, CoreCivic regularly paid property taxes on the facility, generating 30% of Appleton’s tax revenue.
Earlier this month, CoreCivic announced it sold the prison for $496 million to the Department of Homeland Security, and signed a $500 million contract to operate the facility over the next five years. The federal government isn’t obligated to pay local property taxes.
Me talking here: Locals say they’re working out an agreement with CoreCivic, i.e., asking the company if they can spare some Christmas hams for the poors.
By Ashley Murray
The high court in its 2026 term delivered blows to Trump’s core campaign promises to upend a constitutional provision governing who becomes a U.S. citizen at birth and to swiftly address the growing national debt with “trillions of dollars” raised by taxing imports.
The justices also ruled the president cannot fire, without cause, Fed Board Gov. Lisa Cook and deny her a chance to plead her case. And a lower court blocked Trump from installing his name on the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
But even after the Supreme Court ruled against him, Trump is forging ahead and using what some legal observers describe as “creative lawyering” to find alternative routes to push his agenda, even as public support fades.
By Sue Abderholden
Our regular mental health policy writer uses the Lindsay Clancy trial to talk about maternal mental health.
“Whether you agree with her defense or not, most agree that caregivers missed warning signs and her care was suboptimal. It has led to an outcry to pay attention to new parents’ mental health and to put more resources into education and treatment.”
Sue discusses the 2003 Mine Ener tragedy, when the young woman killed her 6-month old daughter. That prompted the family and public health authorities to pass a robust post-partum depression policy at the Legislature.
“Early identification is critically important, so I urge you to take time to learn about maternal mental health and reach in to support new parents who are struggling — bring food, clean their house, give them time to sleep, share resources. Let them know they are not alone. Legislators should pass bills that address the shortcomings in our own state.”
IN OTHER NEWS
White House to press forward with FDA nominee despite US Senate chairman’s concerns | Reformer via States Newsroom
Inside a year of reporting with Annunciation survivors | Star Tribune podcast
Is America still capable of enforcing the world order? | Wall Street Journal gift link
OH BY THE WAY
The most knowledgeable people about Minnesota politics at this point in an election cycle are door-knockers.
Here’s Paul Winkelaar talking about door-knocking on dirt roads in Barnum, near Moose Lake.
“Older men, well lots of them hate (Gov. Tim Walz). But when I ask them about Trump, there is a long pause, and then they admit life is getting harder. It’s not that they regret their vote. It’s that they realize he is not doing his job. These men want sh*t fixed. Ironically, lots of these conversations are when men are in their garage or in their yard. actually fixing sh*t. They could give 2 sh*ts about Dems or Republicans. They know the rich are getting richer and their lives are harder. They are done with Walz and they are done with Trump.
That being said, if Dems are gaining votes on dirt roads, like today, it’s because candidates are talking about fixing sh*t… and making people’s lives easier.
Also: People are nice on the doors. If they aren’t with you, they are gracious and polite. That wasn’t true for the past 10 years. I think people are tired of the vitriol.”
Here’s U2 doing Woody Guthrie’s “Jesus Christ” on the tribute album “Folkways,” h/t reader DC.
Have a great weekend! JPC
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