This week’s edition covers stories
from December 11th to December 17th, 2025.
Today’s issue is 739 words, a 6-minute read
ICE Operations Spark Street
Confrontations
The scene: Federal immigration raids in Minneapolis have turned chaotic, with protesters clashing with ICE agents across the metro.
What went down:
Monday: ICE agents called for backup during a traffic stop near Karmel Mall, claiming 60-70 “agitators” were “fighting them.” Agents fired projectiles and pepper spray while protesters threw snowballs. At least four people were arrested.
Last week: Darnella Frazier — yes, that Darnella Frazier who filmed George Floyd’s murder — said ICE arrested her sister and her sister’s boyfriend. The couple drove to a police station with an ICE agent in their car after he entered the vehicle during a confrontation at a Plymouth apartment.
The charges: Rekeya Frazier, 23, and Oluwadamilola Bamigboye, 24, face federal charges for allegedly interfering with ICE agents.
Why it matters: These incidents are part of “Operation Metro Surge,” and they’re hitting close to home for communities still processing the Floyd case. Local officials say they’re seeing racial profiling and questioning whether citizens’ rights are being violated.
The tension: Community members aren’t backing down, and neither is ICE. Expect more confrontations as operations continue.
Hollywood Tragedy: Rob Reiner
and Wife Killed
The big picture: Legendary director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer were found stabbed to death in their LA home Sunday. Their son Nick, 32, has been arrested for murder.
What happened: The couple’s daughter discovered the bodies. Police say Nick wasn’t home at the time but believe he fled after the stabbings.
The backstory: Sources say Rob and Nick argued at a holiday party Saturday night, where Nick was acting “strangely.” Police found him near USC and arrested him.
Why it matters: Reiner directed cultural touchstones like “The Princess Bride” and “When Harry Met Sally” after gaining fame on “All in the Family.” The shocking family tragedy has stunned Hollywood.
What’s next: Nick is being held without bail pending trial.
Minneapolis Made LGBTQ+
History 50 Years Ago
Flashback: On December 30, 1975, Minneapolis became the first U.S. city to pass a trans-inclusive non-discrimination ordinance.
The details: The law prohibited discrimination based on someone’s gender presentation, explicitly protecting trans people; a radical move for the time.
Context matters: Minneapolis was already a hub for gay rights activism, emerging from student organizing at the U of M in the late ’60s. The city also hosted the first recorded same-sex marriage in 1971.
The fight continued: St. Paul passed a similar law but voters repealed it in 1978. Minneapolis’ ordinance survived repeated attacks and remains in place.
The bottom line: Half a century later, federal protections still don’t exist. Minneapolis led the way—and is still waiting for the nation to catch up.
Learn more about it at The 19th News here.
City Official: We Need to Talk About
Property Taxes
What’s happening: Minneapolis officials are floating alternatives to property tax hikes as homeowners face mounting bills.
By the numbers: Property taxes make up 48% of city revenue now and could hit 57% within six years—already the highest among 10 peer cities.
The proposals: Steve Brandt, head of the Board of Estimate and Taxation, suggests:
- A city income tax
- Real estate transfer taxes (paid when properties sell)
- Voluntary payments from tax-exempt institutions like hospitals
The pitch: “The advantage of the transfer tax is that it catches people, sellers, when they’re flush with cash,” Brandt says.
The pushback: Critics worry an income tax could drive residents out. But Brandt argues that diversifying revenue is essential to protect seniors and low-income homeowners.
The reality: Something’s gotta give—the question is what.
Top Trends This Week
AI is Rewiring Everything
AI has shifted from being a tool to becoming a traffic source. Traditional keyword SEO is being replaced by structured, conversational, and multimedia-rich content optimized for AI-generated answers. ChatGPT is moving toward launching its own advertising platform, with Sam Altman saying the platform should only make money when it earns users’ trust by showing the best recommendation first. AI played a lead role in influencing shopping decisions during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, with consumers using AI to compare, decide, and get personalized gift recommendations.
Retention Marketing > Acquisition
With ad costs surging, retention systems are proving their value, with loyalty emails, personalized offers, and customer-support excellence delivering more ROI than last-minute ad blitzes. Brands are focusing on customer lifetime value over quick wins.
Privacy-First Data Collection
Meta’s new approach reveals a larger trend: user choice is becoming the main factor in digital advertising, and marketers who adapt early will have the best chance of success in the changing European market. Spotify also launched Uber Intelligence, a tool that uses trip and delivery data with clean-room technology to ensure privacy while giving marketers actionable insights.
Spotify Wrapped Dominates
The 2025 Spotify Wrapped dropped with brands from Gymshark to Merriam-Webster remixing the highly anticipated reveal for their own customers. In its initial launch, Spotify Wrapped 2025 engaged 200 million users within roughly 24 hours, marking a 19% year-over-year increase, with sharing across platforms reaching 500 million. The campaign featured 50+ real-world activations globally and introduced a new “Wrapped for Advertisers” tool that turns listening behavior into marketing insights.
The Omnicom-IPG Mega-Merger
Omnicom has completed its $13.3 billion takeover of Interpublic, forming the world’s largest advertising holding company with more than $20 billion in revenue and roughly 100,000 staff worldwide. The fallout: The new Omnicom has already axed well-regarded creative agency brands including FCB, DDB, and MullenLowe, with roughly 4,000 additional jobs expected to be cut. The merger positions AI-driven capabilities as the new industry baseline, with Omnicom emphasizing its expanded enterprise genAI platform across all agencies.
The bottom line: Marketing is entering a new era where AI isn’t just a tool but a primary discovery channel, consolidation is forcing agencies to prove integrated value, and authenticity beats flashy tactics every time.
Stay informed, stay connected.
See you next week!
–
Isabella and the NewPrensa team
Advertisements
Hi, friend: Isabella here!
I’m a Communications Specialist by day and slippin’ on ice by night!
Do you enjoy reading NewPrensa?
Forward it to someone you think may enjoy it too!
Got suggestions, feedback, or a good scoop?
Send it to us at newprensa@newpublica.com or message us on instagram @newprensa
If someone sent this newsletter your way, feel free to subscribe to get local, BIPOC news delivered to your inbox every Thursday morning.
