CNN Reporter CHOKES Live On Air

A CNN reporter gasped “I just got hit!” live on air, choking violently from tear gas as federal agents dispersed armed protesters in Minneapolis—what does this reveal about the raw clash between law enforcement and media in America’s immigration battleground?

Story Snapshot

CNN’s Sara Sidner inhaled military-grade tear gas twice during live coverage of protests after federal agents shot armed suspect Alex Pretti.
Protests erupted immediately after Pretti, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen nurse, approached agents with a 9mm handgun during an immigration enforcement operation.
Tensions stem from Trump administration’s ICE crackdown, including prior fatal shooting of mother Renee Good and church disruptions leading to Don Lemon’s arrest.
Federal officials defend actions as necessary against protester assaults; two agents now on leave amid backlash.

Federal Operation Sparks Deadly Confrontation

Federal officers from DHS, ICE, and Border Patrol launched a targeted operation just after 9 AM on January 24, 2026, in Minneapolis against an individual wanted for violent assault. Alex Pretti, 37-year-old U.S. citizen and veterans’ hospital nurse, approached the scene armed with a 9mm handgun. A struggle ensued, prompting an agent to fire defensive shots that killed Pretti. Protesters quickly gathered, obstructing and assaulting law enforcement, forcing agents to deploy tear gas for crowd control.

DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended the shooting as a necessary response to an armed threat. This incident followed the early January fatal shooting of Renee Good, a U.S. citizen mother of three, by an ICE agent in her car. Minneapolis-St. Paul faced heightened federal presence under Trump’s immigration crackdown targeting criminals, echoing 2020 unrest but focused on enforcement.

CNN Reporter Endures Brutal Exposure

Sara Sidner reported live when tear gas clouds hit her position. She coughed violently, gasping “military-grade” and “extreme” before the broadcast cut away. Sidner recovered briefly but faced second exposure later that day. The visceral moment amplified national attention on protests against perceived federal overreach killing citizens. Common sense aligns with officials: agents acted defensively against an armed man amid protester violence.

Pretti’s prior unverified footage showed him in a scuffle with agents 11 days earlier. Trump labeled Pretti an “agitator/insurrectionist” on Truth Social, walking back de-escalation talk. Border Czar Tom Homan, overseeing operations after sidelining Kristi Noem, placed two Pretti agents on leave and promised accountability for breaches.

Church Disruption Leads to High-Profile Arrests

Early to mid-January anti-ICE protesters, including ex-CNN anchor Don Lemon, disrupted a Cities Church service in St. Paul led by ICE pastor Jonathan Parnell. Attorney General Pam Bondi ordered arrests of Lemon and three others—Trahern Jeen Crews, Georgia Fort, Jamael Lydell Lundy—on federal civil rights charges for the “coordinated attack.” Lemon, detained in LA after the Grammys, claims pure journalism; his lawyer calls it a First Amendment assault.

Pastor Parnell thanked the DOJ for swift action protecting worship. A Minnesota magistrate had previously declined charges, but Bondi overrode. Protests simmer as Senate nears a January 30 shutdown vote tied to immigration fights. Homan eyes partial agent withdrawal to de-escalate.

Power Struggles Reshape Enforcement Landscape

Trump administration officials—Bondi, Homan, McLaughlin—wield enforcement power, aligning churches with feds against disruptions. Journalists and protesters challenge via coverage, prompting arrests framed as civil rights defenses. This polarizes views: pro-enforcement sources justify force against aggressors; critics decry press overreach. Facts support defensive actions over inflammatory claims, resonating with conservative values of law and order.

Short-term, expect heightened protests, church safeguards, and shutdown risks. Long-term, journalism risks chilling effects, First Amendment tests, and sustained immigration debates. Minneapolis communities grieve losses, agents face scrutiny, and operations strain resources amid backlash.