A deadly federal operation turns into a political crisis in Ep. 15 of On Background, as investigative journalist Susan Crabtree and co-host Eric Eggers expose how ICE raids in Minneapolis led to violent attacks against ICE, which in turn led to two deaths, and triggered a leadership shakeup at DHS. After Renee Good was fatally shot by an ICE officer, Secretary Kristi Noem and top aide Corey Lewandowski were summoned to the White House and sidelined as Border Czar Tom Homan seized operational control.

Reporter Anna Giaritelli joins from the frozen streets of Minneapolis—where windchills hit -15°F—to describe an organized leftist resistance network of 10,000+ volunteers using whistles to alert communities when ICE arrives. What began as a crackdown on welfare fraud in the Somali immigrant community has morphed into sanctuary city warfare, with Minnesota's governor and mayor forming an alliance to push federal agents out entirely.

The conversation expands to California, where Rep. Kevin Kiley reveals how the Minneapolis fraud scandal ended Tim Walz's political career and why Gavin Newsom is desperately trying to distance himself from similar corruption in the state's "homeless industrial complex"—where taxpayer money disappears at rates approaching $1 million per homeless person. Kiley exposes Newsom's Prop 50 gerrymander targeting his district and explains why this is the moment to force accountability before Democrats change the narrative.

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On this episode of On Background, hosts Susan and Eric are joined by Ryan Tucker of the Alliance Defending Freedom to discuss a disruptive protest inside a church in St. Paul/Minneapolis linked to anti-ICE activism—and the presence of Don Lemon at the scene. The group breaks down why entering a sanctuary to intimidate worshipers crosses a legal and moral line, and how federal authorities may respond. Tucker explains the possible use of the FACE Act—typically tied to abortion clinic cases—to prosecute disruptions of religious services. They also critique Minnesota officials’ response, discuss church security concerns, and argue this was a coordinated action, not spontaneous journalism.

A stunning national security scandal takes center stage in Ep. 13 of On Background, as investigative journalist Susan Crabtree breaks down a Secret Service sting that exposed shocking lapses in judgment, discipline, and leadership. Crabtree explains how an agent assigned to Vice President J.D. Vance was allegedly compromised in a honeypot operation. This raises urgent questions about manpower shortages, internal culture, and the agency’s ability to protect America’s leaders.

The conversation widens to a broader crisis: ICE agents being doxxed, sensitive government information leaked, and the FBI raiding journalists’ homes in pursuit of sources. Crabtree warns that media double standards, aggressive federal tactics, and foreign adversaries exploiting internal chaos are converging at a dangerous moment.

With Iran escalating threats and trust in institutions eroding, Crabtree argues the country is nearing a breaking point—and accountability may finally be unavoidable.

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Explosive fraud allegations in Minnesota and California are shaking Democratic leadership—and this episode of On Background breaks it all down. Investigative journalist Susan Crabtree explains why Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s sudden exit may be tied to massive fraud scandals and mounting political pressure from Amy Klobuchar.

Then comes California, where Crabtree draws chilling parallels to Gavin Newsom, detailing alleged failures involving homelessness spending, wildfire recovery, utilities, COVID relief, and education funding. She argues that audits were blocked, accountability was avoided, and entrenched political interests benefited. In the meantime, the legacy media largely looked the other way.

As federal scrutiny intensifies, Crabtree predicts 2026 will be a year of investigations, whistleblowers, and political reckoning for one-party rule.

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In this episode of On Background, Susan Crabtree and Eric Eggers are joined by former FBI Special Agent Rich Staropoli to expose the catastrophic breakdown in security and leadership following the Brown University shooting. From delayed alerts and missing camera footage to the complete absence of command authority, the response was disorganized, unserious, and dangerous. Officials prioritized optics over action, messaging over manhunts, and political caution over public safety. Staropoli explains why this was not confusion but institutional failure, and why these same patterns are now spreading nationwide. This episode lays out exactly what went wrong, who is responsible, and why these failures will continue unless they are confronted directly.

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In this episode, Susan Crabtree and Eric Eggers unpack the chaotic and fast-moving revelations surrounding the arrest of alleged J6 pipe bomber Brian Cole Jr. They highlight contradictions in FBI narratives, questions about the timing of the arrest after five years, and concerns about the involvement of DOJ prosecutor Jocelyn Ballantine, previously accused of attempting to coerce false confessions in Proud Boys cases. The hosts scrutinize media spin, disputed claims that Cole is a “right-wing election denier,” and potential motives that appear inconsistent with his background. They explore whistleblower leaks, possible institutional bias, and the FBI’s history of questionable investigations while stressing the need for evidence-based scrutiny. Follow on X!

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In Ep. 9, Susan Crabtree and Eric Eggers interview IRS whistleblower Joseph Ziegler, who helped expose the Hunter Biden tax case and testified before Congress about political interference and DOJ obstruction. Ziegler recounts early red flags, including blocked interviews, suppressed search warrants, and prosecutors removing references to “political figure one.” He explains how he and supervisor Gary Shapley became whistleblowers after being sidelined from the case and describes the retaliation, personal fallout, and political pressure they endured. Ziegler emphasizes that his actions were nonpartisan, rooted in fairness and accountability, and reveals how extensive evidence contradicted DOJ narratives. He also discusses the “deep state,” whistleblower protections, and ongoing reforms needed within federal agencies.

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In Ep. 8, Susan Crabtree and Eric Eggers speak with The Federalist co-founder Sean Davis about The Federalist’s Dow Prize–winning investigation that dismantled the Russia-collusion narrative. Davis recounts early red flags surrounding the Steele dossier, CNN’s role as “patient zero,” and James Comey’s long history of manipulative tactics. He details how the media, intelligence agencies, and political operatives worked in tandem to perpetuate the hoax, destroy Michael Flynn, and target outlets like The Federalist through censorship and financial pressure. The conversation also exposes the incestuous ties within Washington’s media ecosystem and warns that the same global censorship and political-lawfare forces remain active and poised to intensify.

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