Most observers looking at the mob action directed against federal officers engaged in immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, in particular, are, in my opinion, losing the plot. What we are seeing in the coordinated attacks on federal law enforcement officers is not a popular resistance to removing welfare-guzzling layabouts from our country. It is the visible part of Mao Zedong’s “People War” or “revolutionary warfare triad.”
The 50s and 60s produced a remarkable stream of politico-military thought built upon at least the figment of Marxist class struggle. Mao Zedong exported “People’s War” to Asia and Africa. Che Guevara’s “foquismo” had a brief moment in the sun but was less successful. While Mao’s “People’s War” was able to manage the transition from popular resistance to guerrillas to regular armies in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and other places. I would even argue that one of the best case studies for Mao’s doctrine is the Irish War of Independence. So while Mao gets a lot of credit, the principles significantly predated his tossing the Kuomintang out of China. Algeria, Iraq, and Afghanistan also provide useful case studies. Guevara’s idea was that of a small, dedicated band of revolutionaries, as those led by Fidel Castro in the Sierra Maestra could set off a popular revolution. Guevara’s method worked in Cuba and, to a certain extent, in Nicaragua, but fell flat on its face when used by the Provisional IRA, the German Rote Armee Fraktion, the Italian Brigate Rosse, and our own Weather Underground. (As an aside, my personal nexus with the Brigate Rosse is having a young carabinieri point a submachinegun at me during a traffic checkpoint in northern Italy because he thought I was one.)
Let’s look at the steps in Mao’s revolutionary warfare doctrine and see what we can see.
Political Mobilization and Ideology: At its foundation is a strong ideological base (e.g., nationalism, socialism, or anti-colonialism) to rally the population, create unity, and justify the revolution. This is why I’ve never taken the Howard Zinn narrative of America lightly and why I see pro-Palestinian demonstrations and DEI, in general, as a stalking horse for something much larger. This involves propaganda, education, and building parallel political structures to undermine the regime’s legitimacy.
A 2015 essay in Military Review defines revolutionary warfare as guerrilla tactics plus political action (RW = G + P), where politics directs the military effort. “Everybody, of course, by definition, will seek a military solution to the insurgency problem,” says the author, “whereas by its very nature, the insurgency problem is military only in a secondary sense, and political, ideological, and administrative in a primary sense.”
If you’re looking for evidence of political mobilization in Minneapolis, I’d suggest you read my colleague, Ward Clark’s, Revealed: Training Materials and Communications for Minneapolis Anti-ICE protestors – RedState and Townhall’s Matt Vespa’s post The Anti-ICE Signal Chat in Minneapolis Has Reportedly Been Infiltrated…and *That* Name Looks Familiar.
What you see is that this “movement” is not organic; it resembles the typical Soros/NGO astroturf. A tactics manual has been written, using, I might add, standard U.S. Army procedure. Secure communications channels have been established with some attempt at Operational Security. What we know from the chats we’ve seen in those channels is that political figures in Minnesota and the Minneapolis government are involved.
The ideology that is superficially embraced is to save illegals from being deported because, presumably, keeping criminals and grifters in your city is a good thing. The underpinning, though, is good, old-fashioned class-struggle. Keep an eye on New York City and see how long it takes for Mamdani to organize a personal militia that operates independently of the NYPD.
Protracted Nature and Stages: The conflict unfolds over time in phases, allowing the revolutionaries to build strength gradually. Mao outlined three stages: (1) strategic defensive—organization and consolidation of base areas in remote or difficult terrain; (2) stalemate or progressive expansion through guerrilla operations; and (3) strategic offensive—transition to conventional warfare to destroy the enemy.
In classic counterinsurgency doctrine, the protracted approach emphasizes rural base areas as starting points, with urban areas targeted later. That said, you work with what you’ve got. Remember the Occupy Wall Street bunch taking over Zuccotti Park? How about the “CHOP/CHAZ Zone” in Seattle? During the George Floyd Summer of Love, autonomous zones sprang up across the country. Most were short-lived, but still, they give us an insight into strategy. If you believe, as I do, that there is an entity at work in the George Floyd demonstrations and now in the anti-ICE actions, it is following the same pattern; see About That Reported ‘No ICE Zone’ in Minneapolis and What the City Has to Say – RedState.
Secretary Noem is right; see Dems ‘Want to Perpetuate Violence’: DHS Sec Noem Makes Announcement About New CBP Shooting in Minneapolis – RedState. Tim Walz’s demand that ICE cease operations in Minneapolis is nothing more than using violence to create a zone that is off-limits to federal authorities.
It is obvious that a non-trivial number of judges and elected officials are affiliated with the current insurrection. They provide moral support and legal cover for the insurgency’s activities.
This is a confirmation email from a SignUpGenius ( signup for “Scott County ICE Watch”, and it is very clearly signed by Brad at the bottom:
• He personally thanks me for signing up
• He gives instructions for patrol shifts, Signal app usage, posting… pic.twitter.com/d3FZDXFcuv— 🇺🇸White Raven🇺🇸 (@White_Raven9515) January 24, 2026
This is a confirmation email from a SignUpGenius ( https://signupgenius.com/go/20F0E4CADA723A0F85-61419545-january#/#) signup for “Scott County ICE Watch”, and it is very clearly signed by Brad at the bottom:
• He personally thanks me for signing up
• He gives instructions for patrol shifts, Signal app usage, posting in the “Daily Scott County RR Chat”, using specific Signal group links, Google Maps routes/hotspots
• He explains Dispatch procedures and links to an overview on https://bradtabke.com/share (a shortened/personal link from his own domain) • He lists training dates, including in-person at Shakopee Library
• He provides his personal cell phone number (952-380-6328) for questions.
• He ends with “Brad” followed by the clear call to contact him. This is not some vague third-party thing. This is Rep. Brad Tabke himself running/organizing/coordinating the Scott County ICE Watch program, including recruiting people for patrol, dispatch, training, and even food receiving/packing/delivery shifts at the New Creation Church location in Shakopee. Combined with everything else that’s already public:
• His repeated real-time posting of ICE locations and movements in Shakopee (multiple times per day in many cases)
• His public statements thanking people who “joined our ICE watch Shakopee group”
• Conservative media
+ X posts documenting that he operates semi-private dispatch/patrol networks via sign-up sites (credit to @SarahisCensored)
• Reports that he had to lock down / change the signup after people started filling it with troll accounts (my fault). …this confirmation email is basically the smoking gun that proves he is personally organizing and leading this rapid-response / watch / interference effort against ICE operations.
This goes far beyond just tweeting opinions or general activism, this is a sitting state representative @BradTabke directly coordinating shifts, dispatching people to locations, training volunteers, and providing real-time operational guidance to monitor and respond to federal immigration enforcement.
This situation is explosive. The scale of coordination, the elected official status, the real-time location sharing, and the documented organizational structure — this is crossing into federal obstruction territory. Arrest him! @DHSgov @Sec_Noem @AGPamBondi
When 16-year-old Antonio Mays, Jr., was gunned down by “security” in Seattle’s CHOP/CHAZ, no one was ever charged with the crime. This only happens when the insurgency has suborned authorities. Why do you think Article III judges are blatantly violating federal law by interfering in immigration cases and with decisions to defund various left-wing NGOs? As Law and Order’s Jack McCoy was fond of saying, one hand doesn’t need to know what the other is doing to have a conspiracy; they just need to be working toward the same purpose.
Many Minnesota politicians, Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey among them, are actively whipping up the forces confronting federal agents; see Minneapolis Mayor Frey’s Rant About ICE ‘Invaders’ Is a Stunning Self-Own – RedState, Walz, Ellison Make Things Even Worse With Disgraceful Remarks About ICE and the Border Patrol Shooting – RedState, and Deputy AG Blanche: Pretti Shooting Was Avoidable If Walz and Frey Cared About Their Citizens – RedState.
During this stage, the insurgency increases the frequency and intensity of contacts to provoke an overreaction from security forces. This is visible daily in Minneapolis.
Mass Support and Base Areas: Success depends on winning the “hearts and minds” of the people, often through land reform, social programs, or addressing grievances. Secure base areas in rural or isolated regions serve as safe havens for recruitment, training, and logistics, expanding outward as strength grows. Here, you need to think of sanctuary cities and the mass of people we see who have decided they have nothing better to do than follow ICE agents around, blowing whistles.
Integration of Violence and Terror: Violence, including targeted terror, is used to intimidate opponents, eliminate collaborators, and demonstrate resolve. It ties together military, political, and psychological elements to erode the regime’s control and build revolutionary momentum.
Here, I think we are turning the corner. There is an organized effort to dox federal officers involved in immigration enforcement and place them and their families at risk. My boss, Jennifer Van Laar, has reported on instructions for improvised explosive devices and explosive-formed penetrators being circulated among the groups hindering ICE agents.
This goes along with what I was told by SIGINT sources earlier this week, which was that they are seeing increased chatter from these well-organized groups on the left discussing using EFP’s, IED’s, complex ambush setups and doing rifle and pistol drills designed for shot… https://t.co/1GAt8GVKYM
— Jennifer Van Laar (@jenvanlaar) January 24, 2026
Firearms were stolen from an FBI vehicle in Minneapolis.
The latest fatal shooting in Minneapolis was unique in that this is the first time we’ve seen members of what I consider to be an insurgency engaging in a physical confrontation with law enforcement while armed. Don’t think it will be the last time. It is a matter of time until a number of people carrying semi-automatic rifles start showing up for the anti-ICE operations.
This leads to the last point.
The insurgency needs martyrs.
Chinese political officers egged “Chinese volunteers” on to martyrdom with as much panache as any Muslim imam has ever sent out suicide bombers.
Martyrs serve several functions.
Symbolism and Sacrifice: Martyrs represent ultimate sacrifice, turning death into a tool for revolutionary inspiration.
Revolutionary Culture: Immediate commemoration, such as tributes, poems, and ceremonies to honor the dead. Renee Good, for instance, already has a memorial.
Mass Mobilization: Martyrdom is utilized to recruit active, often militant, support for the cause.
Propaganda Tool: The narrative of martyrdom is used to contrast revolutionary heroism with the “oppressor’s” violence. Check out many of the “Second Amendment” accounts on social media. You’ll already see an attempt to co-opt gun owners to the cause of the latest casualty in Minneapolis because he was, get this, carrying a gun while physically confronting law enforcement officers, and that is an example anyone who believes in gun rights should aspire to.
Martyrdom is a very selective virtue. It is best exhibited by those who believe the gaslighting rather than by those organizing the confrontations.
Of course, this doesn’t always work out as intended. This was the tactic used by anti-Vietnam War protesters during the late 1960s. It resulted in the Kent State shootings on May 4, 1970, and the Jackson State shootings on May 15, 1970.
These “overreactions” did not lead to a mass movement against the war. Rather large campus demonstrations faded away. Indeed, Kent State may very well have marked the end of the socially acceptable antiwar riot by spawning the famous “Hard Hat Riot” in New York City four days later.
What we know from this is that some entity is organizing the riots in Minneapolis, and they are using Mao’s “People’s War” as a model. This has ceased to be a law enforcement action and is now the early stage of an active insurgency. The final objective, beyond protecting illegals, is unknown, but don’t be shocked to see it turn into a political movement. The movement will become progressively violent. There will be more confrontations with law enforcement and more casualties. The next warning or indication to look for is when the movement turns overtly violent and carries out offensive actions; expect to see federal agents gunned down on the job or targeted at home. Don’t be shocked to see car bombs going off in Minneapolis or Chicago.
The longer the administration treats this as popular and ad hoc pushback against immigration policy, the worse the situation will be when it finally explodes. But there are signs that the White House is aware of the danger; see Trump Tells Walz, Frey It’s Time to Cooperate With Feds, Stop Stoking Flames of Division, Chaos, Violence – RedState. For those people who have wondered if we are on the cusp of a civil war—see The Downfall of America’s Cities: Will Civil War Be Next? – RedState—I think the answer is yes, at least on a regional basis.
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