What Do Tear Gas and ICE Raids Do to People?

January 29, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

🎙️ The Voices & The Context

The Format: Science journalism podcast episode blending on-the-ground reporting, expert interviews, and host discussions—part investigative news, part deep-dive science explainer.
The Key Players:
- Hosts/Reporters: Rose Rimmler (filling in host), Blythe Terrell (editor, tear gas segment), Meryl Horn (producer, ICE raids segment)—sharp, empathetic chemistry unpacking heavy topics with facts and outrage.
- Guests: Protesters T and A (anonymous eyewitnesses from Minneapolis protests); Jennifer Brown (neuroscience PhD, tear gas researcher); Bill Lopez (professor studying raid aftermath); brief mentions of others like Carly Toddis.
The Vibe: Intense and educational, blending urgency about real-time Minneapolis unrest (ICE raids, protests, tear gas violence) with rigorous science—serious, horrified, but empowering through knowledge.

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What you'll learn

1 (00:00) **🎙️ Introduction: Minneapolis ICE Raids and Protests**
2 (05:12) **Tear Gas History and Immediate Effects**
3 (15:35) **Tear Gas Mechanisms and Dangers**
4 (18:45) **Long-Term Tear Gas Effects**
5 (24:02) **Tear Gas Protection and Wrap-Up**
6 (26:39) **ICE Raids' Community Impacts**
7 (34:10) **Mental Health and Safety Outcomes**

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Federal agents have descended on Minneapolis in the U.S., and things have gotten chaotic — and deadly. The Trump administration says the agents are there to enforce immigration law, but officers have shot three people so far, killing two, and are using tear gas and smoke on protesters. So today, we’re looking at the potential health impacts of tear gas. We’ll talk about what we do — and don’t — know about potential long-term effects of this stuff. And we’re also looking into research on the mental health effects of immigration raids. We speak to Dr. Jennifer Brown, Dr. Carlee Toddes, and Dr. William Lopez.

This episode does mention mental health issues. Find resources here: spotify.com/resources

For more on William Lopez’s research on ICE raids, check out his new book, Raiding the Heartland https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/53706/raiding-heartland?srsltid=AfmBOoperKoqv48ZYzaHfQ87nM2xI3QiAbI7lo2wLqt5BykNo-47cHxS

Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/3MbC1Py

Transcripción en español: https://bit.ly/4cm5b9i

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) What’s going on in Minneapolis?

(05:40) Tear gas is banned in war

(08:34) What tear gas does to the body

(16:44) The possible long-term effects of tear gas

(22:44) Can you protect yourself from tear gas?

(24:36) How immigration raids affect people’s health

(34:10) Do ICE raids make communities safer?

This episode was produced by Blythe Terrell, Meryl Horn, Michelle Dang, Ekedi Fausther-Keeys and Rose Rimler. Wendy Zukerman is our executive producer. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell. Fact checking by Michelle Dang and Ekedi Fausther-Keeys. Mix and sound design by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bobby Lord, Bumi Hidaka, So Wylie, Emma Munger and Peter Leonard.

Special thanks to all the Minnesotans who took the time to speak to us about what’s going on there, including photographer Matt Gundrum. Thanks also to the other researchers we spoke to, including Dr. Margot Moinester, Professor Joanna Dreby. Thanks to Paul Schreiber, Nimra Azmi, Whitney Potter and Jack Weinstein.

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