by Shannon Kelly ’26 on February 12, 2026

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On Sunday, Feb. 8, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, colloquially known as Bad Bunny, performed during halftime of the 60th Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. He made history as the first Latin artist to headline the consistently most watched event on television each year in the United States. His performance included guests such as Ricky Martin, Cardi B, Karol G, Jessica Alba, Pedro Pascal, Lady Gaga, and others. For Americans, the Super Bowl halftime show emblematizes the vast social and cultural identities that exist within our country. It is currently estimated that 135 million people watched the halftime performance on Sunday, which was described as a “cultural game changer” in which Bad Bunny “delivered an interactive celebration of Latino culture at one of the most contentious times for the community in the United States.”

The show has garnered praise, controversy, and tension, including on our own campus. Many individuals on this campus utilized YikYak, an anonymous application that allows you to communicate with others in your respective communities, to resort to racist speech and ideology when discussing the halftime performance. For example, many people posted about not understanding the music due to Bad Bunny solely singing in Spanish, wrongly assuming Bad Bunny is an immigrant despite being from Puerto Rico (a U.S. territory), and many made comments sexualizing the dancers. Comments that were made by Providence College students in a group chat include a sarcastic, “I loved all the English” and, “I don’t speak Spanish. I’m not American enough.” Other comments that were made on YikYak include, “Get ICE up and moving around,” “Love me the all inclusive DEI Halftime Show,” and, “English please damn.” This demonstrates the tendency to interpret a performance solely through one’s own cultural identity and a lack of desire to understand both cultural and linguistic experiences that differ from your own. The possibility of YikYak being banned on PC’s wifi is currently being talked about in the Faculty Senate. 

Bad Bunny’s performance highlighted many parts of the Puerto Rican experience in terms of politics, sociality, history, and culture. He even said that he sought to “bring what people can always expect from me and a lot of my culture.” Specific examples include demonstrating Puerto Rico’s agricultural roots in the sugarcane fields, casitas where people live, individuals playing dominoes, and a general focus on Puerto Rican resilience, especially in recognition of their colonialist past, which includes involvement from the U.S. After Bad Bunny won his Grammy for Album of the Year, Ricky Martin addressedBad Bunny, saying he had “won without changing the color of your voice. You won without erasing your roots. You won by staying true to Puerto Rico.” Additionally, Bad Bunny’s performance occurred just months after President Donald Trump signed an executive order that declared English as the national language, despite an estimated 42–45 million people speaking Spanish at home in America and a wide array of languages being spoken throughout the U.S. 

The President made statements about Bad Bunny’s performance on Truth Social, calling it a “slap in the face to our country,” “an affront to the Greatness of America,” and emphasizing that it “doesn’t represent our standards of Success, Creativity, or Excellence.” Turning Point USA hosted their own “All American Halftime Show,” which was presented as an alternative to watching Bad Bunny. Their halftime show was explained to be “an opportunity for all Americans to enjoy a halftime show with no agenda other than to celebrate faith, family, and freedom.” It is estimated that around six million people watched it, although the official total is under speculation. 

An anonymous PC student advised “everyone to rewatch the performance and really sit down with yourself” in order to “empathize that we are not against each other but against the system that is bringing us down.” Bad Bunny powerfully ended his performance by saying, “God Bless America” and listing countries from South America, Central America, North America, and the Caribbean. Behind him stood a billboard that read, “The only thing more powerful than hate is love,” which is a necessary reminder both on this campus and in our world as a whole.

by Marcus Howley ’28 on February 12, 2026

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On Wednesday, Feb. 4, the Trump administration’s border czar, Tom Homan, announced that 700 Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents would be withdrawn from Minnesota. This move left around 2,000 agents in Minnesota as part of Operation Metro Surge that began in December 2025 and saw up to 3,000 ICE agents deployed to the state.

This decision comes in the wake of the killing of two U.S. citizens, Reneé Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, by ICE in January. The killings saw widespread backlash from both government officials and the American public, leading to outrage and protests across the nation. The homicides have been a problem for the Trump administration heading into what looks to be a difficult midterm year for President Donald Trump and his Republican allies. A new national poll conducted by PBS/NPR/Marist Poll found that around 65 percent of Americans believe ICE has gone too far, up 11 points from June. It was also found that 62 percent of Americans believe that ICE is making the country less safe.  

In an interview with NBC, President Trump stated, “Maybe we can use a little bit of a softer touch. But you still have to be tough.” The killings have left Trump and his allies scrambling to correct the situation as public opinion has started to turn against them. This move, along with the removal of Border Patrol’s “commander-at-large” Gregory Bovino last week, shows the administration’s clear attempts at damage control. 

While a majority of the ICE agents stationed in Minnesota still remain, border czar Tom Homan stated at his press conference about the removal of the 700 agents that, “My goal, with the support of President Trump, is to achieve a complete drawdown and end this surge, as soon as we can.” It was reaffirmed, however, that the removal of all ICE agents from Minnesota is dependent upon the administration’s progress in its immigration objectives, with emphasis being placed on the fact that this move signals smarter enforcement, not less enforcement.  

Democratic Governor of Minnesota Tim Walz posted on social media about the removal, “We need a faster and larger drawdown of forces, state-led investigations into the killings of Alex Pretti and Reneé Good, and an end to this campaign of retribution.” Walz has been an outspoken critic of Operation Metro Surge and the government’s handling of the two murders. His complaints about the investigations come after the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security refused to work with Minnesota officials to investigate the murders following  the President’s accusations that Minnesota authorities are “crooked.” This coincides with accusations from Walz and others in the Democratic party that the recent string of ICE operations in Minnesota and other places like Maine are specific attacks to intimidate and disrupt Democrat-run states and cities.  

Democratic Mayor of Minneapolis Jacob Frey stated, “The drawdown and body-worn cameras are a step in the right direction, but 2,000 ICE officers still here is not de-escalation. My message to the White House has been consistent—Operation Metro Surge has been catastrophic for our residents and businesses. It needs to end immediately.” Frey has been very open about his desire for the complete removal of ICE from the city of Minneapolis. The measure for body-worn cameras was recently successfully achieved by congressional Democrats with the help of some Republicans. The reforms came in the form of a bill to temporarily prevent a government shutdown that extended the funding for DHS by two weeks.  

An impending conflict over immigration enforcement is on the horizon as DHS funding expires on Feb. 14. Congressional Democrats are trying to strengthen the push to regain control over ICE agent actions.  

With midterms around the corner, the Trump administration’s decision to remove 700 ICE agents comes as an attempt to prevent damage control on an issue that has public opinion quickly turning against the Republican Party and the Trump administration.

by Sarah McCall ’26 on February 5, 2026

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Thousands Gather in Protest at RI State Capitol

On Friday, Jan. 30, thousands of people gathered at the Rhode Island State House for an ICE Out National Day of Action protest. The streets were filled with high school students, college students, families, Providence community members, and Rhode Island residents. Protesters had signs with phrases like “Abolish ICE,” “We Love Our Neighbors,” “Clear the snow and melt the ICE,” and “Students Demand Justice.” The signs ranged from cardboard boxes with sharpied words to well drawn political cartoons. Some protestors used old cereal boxes and buckets, and one little girl even assembled her sign with two pieces of construction paper and a large stick she found.

I had the opportunity to talk to her mother, who said that she took her daughter and son out of school that day to attend the protest. She explained her reasoning for bringing her young kids with her, saying that she always encourages them to fight for what is right and that she couldn’t sit back. When I asked why she felt it was important to show up, she said, “We are handing this world off to our kids, and we need to make sure it is a safe world for them.” She also told me that her son wore a Spiderman mask so that he could “feel like a hero.” Her daughter also felt like a hero, using the large stick to raise her sign above the crowd. It read “People are Dying” and “Stop Doing This,” with an angry face that she had drawn. These three protestors, along with thousands of others, marched through the city of Providence in hopes of making a change and uniting our community.

There was a significant student presence at the protest. Hundreds of high school and middle school students in Providence organized a walkout and met the protesters at the State House. The students chanted as they walked to the State House, emphasizing that life cannot go on as normal with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents still on our streets. Many of their signs referenced the walkout, saying that they missed a lesson to teach others one and “Students Say ICE Out.”

There were volunteers walking around the protest providing information about different organizations. I had the opportunity to speak with Natalie, a volunteer with the Rhode Island Deportation Defense Line. She explained the program as a community effort to report ICE activity and keep ICE out of the area. With this Defense Line, community members can call (401) 675-1414 to report any unusual activity or potential ICE operations. This call will then be verified by the Rhode Island Deportation Defense Line before it is sent out to an ICE Watch Alert Channel WhatsApp. As I talked with Natalie, I asked why she thought it was important to be at the protest. She said, “We are the people who keep ourselves safe. We need to do our part as a community.” 

Instagram accounts like @pvdstudentunion, @dare.pvd, @amornetwork, and @pslrhodeisland consistently post about protests and ways to get involved locally.

by Madison Benoit ‘29 on February 5, 2026

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As the country reacts to the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement related shootings in Minneapolis, MN, many states have begun to make changes to restrict ICE activities. In Massachusetts, Governor Maura Healey announced new regulations and has made several legislative proposals. One of these proposals  includes an executive order that would stop the state from entering a new cooperation agreement with ICE. The same order also prevents federal agents from making civil arrests in non-public areas of state-owned buildings. Governor Healy has also filed legislation that would prevent ICE agents from entering protected areas, including schools, hospitals, courthouses, and places of worship. These actions are intended to prevent ICE from trampling the rights of Americans and committing unlawful actions.

In New York, Governor Kathy Hochul has shown support for banning formal cooperation agreements with ICE. This is especially notable in New York, as the state currently has 11 municipalities that have cooperation agreements with the agency. Hochul has emphasized that there is no need for New York police officers to assist with civil immigration enforcement. She was supported at the conference by Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the Police Chief of Albany, Brendan Cox, and four of the five New York City district Attorneys.

The Department of Homeland Security has reacted to this policy with Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stating, “Our partnerships with state and local law enforcement are key to removing criminal illegal aliens including murderers, rapists, pedophiles, gang members, and terrorists from American communities.” Hochul has directly stated that the new legislation proposal is a result of the murders of Reneé Good and Alex Pretti, who were both shot by ICE officers in Minneapolis. 

Similar moves to ban cooperation agreements have been taken up in several other states, including Maryland, Illinois, New Jersey, and others. What exactly does this mean?

The cooperation agreements are known as a 287(g). Generally, this means that local law enforcement officials will check the immigration status of individuals they have already taken into custody. This is done by deputized local officers who will not only check their immigration status, but also have the power to begin the removal process by recommending either voluntary departure or a formal hearing. A voluntary removal would prevent the 5–10-year ban from entering the U.S. again. Although the 287(g) can vary, this is the most common agreement type. By banning these agreements, states are looking to limit the power of ICE while maintaining a strong separation between ICE and their local law enforcement.

by Shannon Kelly ’26 on January 22, 2026

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On Saturday, Jan. 10 and Sunday, Jan. 11, thousands of Rhode Islanders participated in a rally in conjunction with “ICE Out for Good” outside of the Rhode Island State House. The protests occurred in various parts of the United States, including California, Minnesota, and Georgia. The rallies took place in response to the murder of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis at the hands of an Immigration Customs Enforcement agent that occurred Wednesday, Jan. 7.

These rallies reflect the country’s opposition to the increased hostility and intimidation tactics that have been demonstrated by ICE under the Trump administration. ICE agents are instructed to respond with “minimal force” when attempting to remove people from their cars and that “deadly force” is only acceptable when one’s life is perceived to be in danger. Questions regarding whether or not ICE agents have been properly trained to engage peacefully with others are a focal point of the recent investigation into the killing of Renee Nicole Good and the injuries of civilians in Portland, OR.

On Tuesday, Jan. 13, Homeland Security posted a clip on social media of Stephen Miller, White House Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Advisor, saying that “You have immunity to perform your duties, and no one—no city official, no state official, no illegal alien, no leftist agitator or domestic insurrectionist—can prevent you from fulfilling your legal obligations and duties.” This statement ultimately proves to raise the question of the true role of an ICE agent and the credibility of “immunity” coming into play when one’s life may not be in danger.

Many people share sentiments of fear regarding the presence of ICE in their local communities. ICE has been seen in our local community in Providence countless times, as well as being spotted remaining outside of schools. 

“ICE Out for Good” is a national coalition. Some of their goals include honoring the lives of those taken by ICE, calling for ICE to leave communities, and creating spaces for collective action. The coalition remains steadfast in demanding accountability for the lives that have been lost, as well as calling towards ending violent ICE raids that are occurring in countless communities across our country. National organizers have said that they “are grounded in moral witness, public accountability, and collective care.”

by Shannon Kelly ’26 on January 1, 2026

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On Saturday, Jan. 24, Alex Jeffery Pretti was murdered in the streets of East Neighborhood in South Minneapolis at the hands of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This is Minneapolis’ second death through the actions of this subset of the Department of Homeland Security that many consider to have been unnecessarily violent and deadly. Minneapolis is emblematic of a national reckoning and opposition with the Trump Administration’s policy aimed at cracking down on immigration. Pretti’s death, along with Reneé Nicole Good’s, has sparked outrage and protest from Minnesotans near and far. 

Videos that have spread all over social media highlight that Pretti was engaging in peaceful protest. There has been controversy regarding whether or not Pretti had a gun on him when interacting with ICE, though Minnesota is an open-carry state, and it has been verified that Pretti had a valid permit. Pretti’s parents have also released a statement that said their son did not have a gun and was holding a phone in his hand, which can be seen in multiple videos from the scene. 

The video also shows roughly seven officers in the video surrounding Pretti. The officers are all masked in the video, which many people believe is feeding into a culture of anonymity and fear. Pretti’s murder has highlighted a dire and deeply fragile resistance toward the Trump Administration’s actions regarding immigration. 

On Jan. 25, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, “Tragically, two American Citizens have lost their lives as a result of this Democrat ensued chaos.” Criticism of the President’s statement includes using inflammatory and accusatory rhetoric to politicize and polarize the murders of civilians. Democrats have also begun an impeachment resolution against DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. 

Part of the DHS’s mission states that “with honor and integrity, we will safeguard the American people, our homeland, and our values.” U.S. Senator from Maine, Angus King, highlighted the fact that these agents are “armed people with masks and telling people they can’t photograph what they are doing and intimidating protesters,” ultimately concluding “that’s not American.” He emphasized that “these people are acting outside the Constitution. They are ignoring our laws and we just cannot keep supporting that.” 

In a time of such violence, resilient efforts must be acknowledged. Hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans have been gathering to protest in freezing temperatures, businesses have temporarily closed, and the people are exercising their right to show dissent to an administration that is arguably not functioning within its legal parameters. 

Pretti sought to be a “force of good in the world” and was a registered nurse in the ICU unit at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Minneapolis. One of his coworkers at the hospital, Dr. Aasma Shaukat, explained that, “he was always looking for opportunities to help.” His parents have released a statement saying, “Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting.” Many people have been present at vigils honoring Pretti’s life in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Chief executives of more than 60 large Minnesota companies have released a letter calling for the need for tension to lessen in the state of Minnesota. Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama have released a statement saying that Pretti’s murder “should also be a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault.” 

Governor of Minnesota Tim Walz has called on Trump to pull ICE agents out of Minnesota. He said something that might be necessary for us all, as one country, to hear: “We are tired, but we’re resolved. We’re peaceful, but we’ll never forget. We’re angry, but we won’t give up hope. And above all, we are clearly unified.”

by Molly Oldread ’26 on October 2, 2025

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On Sept. 24, a shooting occurred at an ICE facility in Dallas, Texas. The shooting left one detainee dead and two other individuals hospitalized as a result of the gunfire at the facility. The shooter was identified as Joshua Jahn, 29, according to sources close to the case. Jahn used a sniper rifle to open fire on the building from a distance. While his motives remain unknown, it has been confirmed that he was not aiming for any specific location of the building. Law enforcement reported the bullet holes were found all over the building and not localized to any one target. 

President Donald Trump claimed the shooting stems from “radical left Democrats constantly demonizing law enforcement,” while Vice President JD Vance also called the event an act of politically motivated violence. Governor Abbott of Texas stated that the shooting will not deter law enforcement from carrying out immigration enforcement. Jahn reportedly used a sniper to open fire on the facility, closely following the assassination of conservative political advocate Charlie Kirk, which was also carried out with a sniper. Since the attempted assassination of President Trump in July 2024, there have been reports of at least seven sniper-involved incidents across the country. Experts told ABC News there have never been so many sniper-related incidents in such a short amount of time, in what they call part of a “frightening trend of rifle-wielding shooters targeting politicians, police, and others from long distances.” 

Jahn allegedly had planned this attack for months and opened fire from the roof of a private office building that overlooks the ICE facility. FBI special agent Joe Rothrock reported that Jahn did a high level of planning, including researching where to shoot from and using apps to track ICE agents. This led officials to believe Jahn intended to harm ICE agents more specifically than the detainees. Shell castings found at the scene were engraved similarly to those found at the site of the Charlie Kirk assassination, which were scribed with messages such as “ANTI-ICE” and “Hey fascist! CATCH!” Jahn used an 8 mm bolt-action rifle in the shooting, and left writings which also caused officials to believe he wanted to harm ICE officials and cause terror. Jahn died by self-inflicted gunshot wounds, and investigators say it is very likely he acted alone.

by Patrick Smith '26 on November 17, 2022
A&E Staff

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A&E - Music

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Australian psychedelic rock band King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard—best known for their bizarre name and incredible variation in style and influence—have continued their insane pace of album releases this year with Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms, and Lava; Laminated Denim; and Changes. All three albums are excellent and definitely lean towards the stronger end of their discography. While I do wish the band would return to fantasy-inspired metal (we may have peaked with Murder of the Universe and Infest the Rats’ Nest), I really enjoyed the last month of their musical output. Allow me to break down my thoughts on the respective albums for you.

Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms, and Lava is the most jazz-focused of the bunch, with an upbeat and aggressive pace throughout. It’s pretty varied thematically, touching on fungus, space, and iron lungs of all things. Speak of the devil, “Iron Lung” is the real winner here. It’s a massive, 10-minute epic with fantastic vocals and some amazing drum and piano work, not to mention the woodwind and brass interspersed throughout. Obviously, it’s not directly related to the music itself, but the song has one of the weirdest and most unique music videos I’ve seen in quite some time in the form of a sprawling collection of odd, psychedelic paintings. It’s worth checking out. It’s generally a solid album, and while it didn’t quite reach my expectations for it based on its wacky name, it was a good time.

Laminated Denim is the shortest of the bunch, only an EP. It’s soft and poppy with a distinctive rhythm. It’s short, containing only “The Land Before Timeland” and “Hypertension,” but upbeat and fun. I like it, but it’s the weakest of the bunch and lacks the feeling of experimentation the band’s music usually encapsulates. It probably could have fit into either Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms, and Lava, Laminated Denim, or Changes in terms of style and length, so its separation feels odd. Even so, it was a nice little addition between its larger brethren and still makes for an enjoyable listening experience.

Changes is the final album to have been released over the past few months and the most different to the band’s usual style. There are some elements of synth, lo-fi, and other approaches they don’t typically engage in. “Hate Dancin’” is my personal favorite on the album. It’s extremely poppy, catchy, and melodic. “Gondii” is a close second, blending the lighter elements of the album with the band’s more traditional fast-paced style for a nice light rock tone. I like Changes, but it does have a tendency to sort of blur into itself. Every song is very similar, and I feel like some variety would have gone a long way towards making the album stand out amongst their rapidly expanding discography.

Overall, these three are generally solid albums. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard are pretty dedicated to their craft, and everything here has their distinct sense of style and quality. I do think that these are maybe a little generic in terms of their output, but still enjoyable. I would consider Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms, and Lava to be the strongest of the three, as tracks like “Iron Lung” stand out and there’s a distinct flavor throughout. Changes is sort of in the middle for me, as it’s pretty good and catchy but all sounds very similar and is a little at odds with the band’s usual stylings. Laminated Denim is probably the weakest for me personally as it’s very short but feels like it’s going on for too long, coupled with a lack of personality. Generally, though, I am impressed by King Gizzard’s output over the last month, and I’m excited to see what they do next.