A photo of Renee Macklin Good, who was shot and killed by an ICE officer in Minneapolis earlier in the day on Wednesday, is taped to a light post near the site where she was killed at 34th Street and Portland Avenue.
Ben Hovland | MPR News
Renee Macklin Good’s wife, Becca Good, said that the 37-year-old poet and mother of three was made of sunshine.
“She literally sparkled,” Becca Good said in a statement. “I mean, she didn’t wear glitter but I swear she had sparkles coming out of her pores. All the time.”
But behind that light was a well of deep values that Macklin Good lived by, including a conviction that every person — regardless of “where you come from or what you look like” — deserves compassion and kindness.
“Renee was a Christian who knew that all religions teach the same essential truth: we are here to love each other, care for each other, and keep each other safe and whole,” Good said.
Those were the values that brought the Goods to stop during an ICE operation in south Minneapolis on Jan. 7. Though they were relatively new in town, Becca Good said they wanted to support their neighbors.
“We had whistles,” she said. “They had guns.”
An offering at the memorial for Renee Good in Minneapolis on Friday.
Ben Hovland | MPR News
Bystander videos show a federal agent grabbing the handle of Good’s car and demanding she open the door. As she begins to pull away, footage shows another officer — since identified as Jonathan Ross — pointing his gun at her and firing through the windshield of the car.
A video taken by Ross that began circulating Friday also shows Macklin Good saying to the agent, “That’s fine dude. I’m not mad at you.”
The Trump administration has cast Macklin Good as a “domestic terrorist” who tried to run over federal agents, though that is not supported by eyewitness accounts or footage from the scene.
Her presence made ‘folks feel good’
Macklin Good was born in Colorado Springs as Renee Nicole Ganger. She graduated from Old Dominion University in Virginia in her early 30s, with a degree in English. In 2020, she won a prize from the Academy of American Poets for a poem called “On Learning to Dissect Fetal Pigs.”
MPR newscaster and poet Emily Bright reads Renee Macklin Good’s poem “On Learning to Dissect Fetal Pigs.”
While at Old Dominion University, she took a fiction workshop with associate professor Kent Wascom. That class with Macklin Good was the first class he taught there.
He said he could still clearly remember how her warmth and positivity shaped the experience for everyone as they shared their own writing with the class.
“She was incredibly warm with her peers, generous with their work, and was just a bright and engaging presence that made folks feel good,” he said. “When the temptation to offer a biting critique might have fallen on another student, she was there with something kind to say, something positive to say about the work or something insightful that might be helpful.”
He said at the time that she was taking his class, she was pregnant with her son. It was the early days of the pandemic too, and despite all she was balancing, she stood out in how she continued to uplift others, even remotely.
News crews film near the memorial for Renee Good on Portland Avenue in Minneapolis on Friday.
Ben Hovland | MPR News
Along with her son, who is now six years old, she was also a mother to two other older children. Her wife described them as “extraordinary children” and said the youngest had already lost his father.
The Minnesota Star Tribune quoted Macklin Good’s mother Donna Ganger, who described her as “extremely compassionate.”
“She’s taken care of people all her life. She was loving, forgiving and affectionate,” she said.
Macklin Good and Becca Good had moved recently to Minneapolis, in search of a new home.
When Macklin Good, her wife and their six-year-old son road-tripped to Minnesota for the chance to make a better life, the couple held hands the entire car ride, Becca Good said. Their son made drawings on the windows as the miles stretched on toward Minneapolis.
When they arrived, they found a vibrant and welcoming community and a “strong shared sense here in Minneapolis that we were looking out for each other.” Becca Good said she finally found peace and safe harbor.
But “that has been taken from me forever.”
A woman prays the rosary during a vigil for Renee Good, a woman who was shot and killed by an ICE officer in Minneapolis earlier in the day on Wednesday.
Ben Hovland | MPR News
Each night since Macklin Good was killed, thousands of people have shown up to protest ICE and hold candles in support for Macklin Good and her family, locally and in other cities. Online, a GoFundMe that aimed to raise $50,000 in support of the family, has surpassed $1.5 million and has since closed.
The support has come in from out of state and out of the country.
“I’m sorry that you lost your life so senselessly simply because you were brave enough to stand up for your neighbors,” one donation read. “Please rest in peace knowing that we will take it from here. Tyranny will not stand, Good will prevail.”
“Renee, your death weighs heavily on my heart. You stood up for your neighbors and for immigrants like me, a Somali who knows how much that protection matters. I am heartbroken for your children, who must now live without you,” another read.
“I’m truly sorry for your loss, we all know the truth and I hope you get justice,” read another.
Becca Good expressed gratitude for the wave of support and called for honoring Macklin Good by living her values and coming together “to build a world where we all come home safe to the people we love.”
“The kindness of strangers is the most fitting tribute because if you ever encountered my wife, Renee Nicole Macklin Good, you know that above all else, she was kind,” Becca Good said.
“In fact, kindness radiated out of her.”
Here’s the full statement from Becca Good:
First, I want to extend my gratitude to all the people who have reached out from across the country and around the world to support our family.
This kindness of strangers is the most fitting tribute because if you ever encountered my wife, Renee Nicole Macklin Good, you know that above all else, she was kind. In fact, kindness radiated out of her.
Renee sparkled. She literally sparkled. I mean, she didn’t wear glitter but I swear she had sparkles coming out of her pores. All the time. You might think it was just my love talking but her family said the same thing. Renee was made of sunshine.
Renee lived by an overarching belief: there is kindness in the world and we need to do everything we can to find it where it resides and nurture it where it needs to grow. Renee was a Christian who knew that all religions teach the same essential truth: we are here to love each other, care for each other, and keep each other safe and whole.
Like people have done across place and time, we moved to make a better life for ourselves. We chose Minnesota to make our home. Our whole extended road trip here, we held hands in the car while our son drew all over the windows to pass the time and the miles.
What we found when we got here was a vibrant and welcoming community, we made friends and spread joy. And while any place we were together was home, there was a strong shared sense here in Minneapolis that we were looking out for each other. Here, I had finally found peace and safe harbor. That has been taken from me forever.
We were raising our son to believe that no matter where you come from or what you look like, all of us deserve compassion and kindness. Renee lived this belief every day. She is pure love. She is pure joy. She is pure sunshine.
On Wednesday, January 7th, we stopped to support our neighbors. We had whistles. They had guns.
Renee leaves behind three extraordinary children; the youngest is just six years old and already lost his father. I am now left to raise our son and to continue teaching him, as Renee believed, that there are people building a better world for him. That the people who did this had fear and anger in their hearts, and we need to show them a better way.
We thank you for the privacy you are granting our family as we grieve. We thank you for ensuring that Renee’s legacy is one of kindness and love. We honor her memory by living her values: rejecting hate and choosing compassion, turning away from fear and pursuing peace, refusing division and knowing we must come together to build a world where we all come home safe to the people we love.
When not finding dependable news, and all the other things that make up your days? I just finished Judy Blume’s “Smart Women,” and am now reading a Courtney Milan M/M romance set during the US’s very early days; the protagonists are a white British absconder, and a freed Black US soldier, and they’re making their way to Rhode Island to the Black soldier’s family who they hope will be safe at home. I’m not very far into it, but they’ve self-acknowledged that they’re having feelings for each other, and had tacitly acknowledged they know, to each other. Tonight over supper, I will read on. It’s got a lot of humor, from the British guy.
OK, so I ran across this list from The Root, and thought a snippet could be of interest here I’m also leaving in the related-or-not links because those stories are also of interest. Enjoy!
From a Kenan Thompson picture book to a memoir from the CEO of The Honey Pot, the first month of 2026 is full of great Black books for lovers of every genre.
A new year is here, and if one of your resolutions is to cut down on your screen time, you’re in luck…because with a new year comes great new books by Black authors for every kind of reader, so make room on your bookshelf!
SNL star Kenan Thompson’s hilarious picture book, The Honey Pot CEO Beatrice Dixon’s story of her road to success and Dr. LaNail R. Plummer’s guide to counseling Black women are just a few of the books by Black authors we can’t wait to read this month.
“Unfunny Bunny” by Kenan Thompson with Bryan Tucker (Jan. 13)
SNL star Kenan Thompson can add children’s book author to his already amazing resume. “Unfunny Bunny” is a picture book that centers around Bunny, who wants to be the funniest kid in his class, but worries when his jokes don’t land with his classmates.
“With Love, From Harlem” by ReShonda Tate (Jan. 27)
Amazon.com
Set in Harlem in 1943, ReShonda Tate’s novel, “With Love, From Harlem,” is inspired by the life of jazz performer Hazel Scott and her relationship with pastor-politician Adam Clayton Powell Jr. and how they balance their relationship with their personal ambitions.
You’ll love the references to Harlem legends, like Billie Holiday, Langston Hughes and James Baldwin.
“The Soul Instinct” by Beatrice Dixon (Jan. 27)
Amazon.com
“The Soul Instinct” is an inspiring memoir from The Honey Pot CEO Beatrice Dixon. In the book, she writes about a dream of her grandmother that led her on a journey to create a successful line of feminine care products now available in more than 30,000 stores across the United States, and how she had to learn to trust herself along the way.
“Sweet, Sweet Memory” by Jaqueline Woodson (Jan. 20)
Amazon.com
“Sweet, Sweet Memory” is a beautiful children’s book by Jaqueline Woodson about a young girl who learns about the power of community and our connection to our ancestors after the death of her beloved grandfather.
“Behind These Four Walls” by Yasmin Angoe (Jan. 1)
Amazon.com
“Behind These Four Walls” is a thrilling new novel from Yasmin Angoe. At the center of the story is Isla Thorne, who met her best friend, Eden Galloway, while the two were growing up in a group home. The two planned to run away to Los Angeles when they turned 16, but Eden never made it. Now, ten years later, Isla is determined to solve the mystery of her friend’s disappearance.
“The Book of Alice: Poems” by Diamond Forde (Jan. 20)
Amazon.com
Winner of the 2025 James Laughlin Award from The Academy of American Poets,“The Book of Alice” is a collection of poetry inspired by the life of Diamond Forde’s grandmother Alice, who found her way to New York City during the Great Migration. Using stories from the King James Bible, Forde draws parallels to the Black experience.
“Black Founder: The Hidden Power of Being an Outsider” by Stacy Spikes (Jan. 24)
Amazon.com
In “Black Founder,” MoviePass co-founder Stacy Spikes writes about his journey to becoming a successful tech entrepreneur and how he found power in his position as an outsider to fuel his success and disrupt the status quo.
“Fire Sword and Sea” by Vanessa Riley (Jan. 13)
Amazon.com
“Fire Sword and Sea.” is a page-turner based on the story of real-life female pirate Jacquotte Delahay, Set in 1675, Delahay is the mixed-race daughter of a wealthy tavern owner on Tortuga who hides her identity for the chance to explore life at sea.
“A High Price For Freedom” by Clyde W. Ford (Jan. 13)
Amazon.com
“A High Price For Freedom” is a new book by historian Clyde W. Ford. In the book, Ford explores some of the most fascinating moments in Black history and sheds new light on the stories we thought we knew.
“Just Right” by Torrey Maldonado (Jan. 20)
Amazon.com
“Just Right” is the first picture book by well-known middle grade author Torrey Maldonado. The story, which deals with the special relationship between a little boy and his uncle, emphasizes the power of positive adult role models.
“Getting to Reparations: How Building a Different America Requires a Reckoning with Our Past” by Dorothy A. Brown (Jan. 20)
Amazon.com
“Getting to Reparations” is a new book by Dorothy A. Brown, which explores the idea of reparations for Black Americans through the lens of other communities that have been compensated by the government for past wrongs throughout history.
“The Essential Guide for Counseling Black Women” by Dr. LaNail R. Plummer (Jan. 27)
Amazon.com
In “The Essential Guide for Counseling Black Women,” mental health expert Dr. LaNail R. Plummer shares a guide on how mental health professionals can best support Black women on their healing journey.
“The Ex Dilemma” by Elle Wright (Jan. 27)
Amazon.com
“The Ex Dilemma” is a fun romantic novel that tells the story of nepo baby Wesley Batchelor, whose dating life is put on blast by a mysterious social media influencer. Things get even more complicated when a private investigator, who just so happens to be Wesley’s ex, is hired to find out who is working against him. (snip)
Food reviews, other interesting bits from Australian travel Josh took. Of course protect your screen and keyboard in prep for those little unexpected reactions/remarks he makes while telling a story!
Enjoy some stuff I saved up to bring here today. Look/listen to whatever you care to, whenever you want. A few are shorts; 1 is a comic. The longer ones are worthy when you have a few minutes or can listen while you’re doing another thing. Relax and laugh! Open comments thread.
Note on 1/3: My apologies-this video has been taken down. Here is the link to Josh Johnson’s YouTube page; look around there. You’ll enjoy anything you choose! Again, I’m so sorry. It was there yesterday! 💐 Ali
and may the upcoming year be kind to us all. I think Barry already has some 2026 experience, even, so we do know it’s coming! 😀 I second Frazz’s Motion, and hope to see everyone around!
For me, considering going through the adoption process as an adult is about having the right to configure my family the way that’s best for me—a right we should all have.
The word adoption is synonymous with babies and expectant parents, joy and dreams come true. For most, it’s about families becoming complete and children becoming a permanent part of a legally recognized household.
My story is more complicated.
Recently, I found myself in the atypical and unexpected position of discussing adult adoption with the woman who became my roommate two-and-a-half years ago when I desperately needed a safe place to collapse and recover from a lifetime of trauma. We were strangers who became fast family; she was the perfect big sister and, after understandable initial trepidation about opening her home to a stranger, her extended family and friends have become my family and friends.
Last year my childhood stocking hung on the fireplace and there were gifts under the tree for me—the first time I’ve had a family Christmas since my adopted mother decided I was gay and told me not to come home for the holidays in December 2011.
It hadn’t always been that way. Growing up, my adoptive parents would tell me the bedtime story about how I was wanted, desperately, for the ten years they waited for me. They loved me before they even knew me. While I still believe the sentiment to be true, I have learned over the past 38 years that loving someone does not a healthy environment or nurturing relationship make.
It’s also become clear to me that the caregiving contract between parents and children hardly ends at age 18—especially at a time when we are watching our social safety net be dismantled piece by piece—and it flows in two directions. Unless you are in a family with wealth and security spanning generations, concern about whether the kids will be able to land a good enough job (or jobs, let’s be frank) to support themselves and whether parents and grandparents will have enough in their retirement for their elder care has only increased over the past few decades. (snip-go read it, it’s great info)
The daughter of Democratic VP nominee Tim Walz didn’t start posting until after the 2024 election—and she’s starting to become a leading young political voice.
Hope Walz had no intention of becoming a social media sensation when she first whipped out her phone to shoot a video with her brother, Gus. A few months ago, the Walz siblings—children of former Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz—were headed back to their home state of Minnesota. Their father and his running mate, then-Vice President Kamala Harris, had just lost the 2024 presidential election. And Hope Walz wanted to post an update.
From the front seat of a car, the pair described what it was like to drive without a Secret Service detail for the first time in months.
“We’re finally free,” Gus said from the driver’s seat.
“I would not describe it like that,” Hope replied. “It is a little weird, but it does feel freeing.”
“We’re going to be okay everyone,” she added, before posting the video to TikTok.
After spending months on the campaign trail with her dad, and watching Donald Trump and JD Vance clinch the White House, Walz was ready to return to her everyday life in Montana, where she’d settled after graduating college in 2023. Instead, the video she posted in the aftermath of the election quickly amassed more than 400,000 views. And her next video, breaking down her post-election thoughts, garnered 1 million. Now, Walz is navigating her newfound public platform while trying to map out a future career in public service—a decision inspired by her time on the campaign. (snip-go read the rest of this one, too!)
Scottie's Playtime 