• Bill Ackman’s donation follows a donation to a fundraiser for an ICE officer involved in the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis.
• The GoFundMe for Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis nurse, has surpassed $1 million in donations.
• Ackman and business leaders have called for calm amid protests over US immigration enforcement actions.

Hedge-fund billionaire Bill Ackman donated $10,000 to the family of the second person killed by immigration officers in Minnesota after being urged to by an activist.

A GoFundMe page set up after Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old Minneapolis nurse, was fatally shot by a Border Patrol agent on Saturday shows Ackman is the top donor.

Ackman was called to donate by Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, in a post on X. She cited his earlier donation to a fundraiser for Jonathan Ross, an ICE officer involved in the fatal shooting of Renee Good: “This family could use the $10,000 you donated to Renee Good’s killer,” Watts wrote on X. “Please donate.”

Ackman responded less than five hours later, confirming that he’d made a donation to the GoFundMe, which is titled “Alex Pretti is an American Hero.”

“Done. That said, I don’t agree with the gofundme that he is an American hero, but his loss is tragic for him and his family,” Ackman said in his post.

Earlier this month, after he donated to the Ross fundraiser, Ackman said he also attempted to donate to Good’s GoFundMe, but it was closed. He said his support “was not to make a political statement.”

“I supported Ross because I knew he would need significant funds to cover his defense costs. I supported the gofundme for Good’s family as I thought that it was the right thing to do,” he wrote then.

The GoFundMe for Pretti’s family has raised over $1 million as of Monday morning, with more than 29,000 donations. His father, Michael Pretti, is listed as the beneficiary of the funds.

Ackman is one of several business leaders to call for calm in the aftermath of clashes between protesters and ICE agents in Minneapolis. He published a statement to X on Saturday, urging Americans to “take a deep breath and reserve judgment before this gets even more out of control.”

Last week, Pretti’s family said they’re “heartbroken but also very angry” over the killing in a written statement, multiple outlets reported.

“Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately he will not be with us to see his impact. I do not throw around the hero term lightly. However his last thought and act was to protect a woman,” his family said in the statement.

• Season four of Netflix’s “Bridgerton” will drop in two parts, with the first episodes premiering on January 29.
• The season will tell Benedict Bridgerton’s love story.
• You can read other historical romance books if you can’t get enough of Julia Quinn’s world.

It’s finally “Bridgerton” time again.

Season four of the beloved Netflix series is set to focus on the love story of Benedict Bridgerton, the second-oldest son in the family, who falls for Sophie Baek, a maid with a mysterious past.

Julia Quinn’s novel about their love story, “An Offer from a Gentleman,” is a Cinderella retelling full of the Regency drama and epic romance fans of the show have come to love. Four episodes of the Netflix adaptation will drop on January 29, and viewers will have to wait until February 26 for the second half of the season.

Whether you’re watching the four episodes as soon as they drop or just one a week, you might get the urge to read some historical romance after stepping back into the world of “Bridgerton.”

From stories of marriage of convenience to enemies-to-lovers epics, check out some of the best books for “Bridgerton” fans.

“An Offer from a Gentleman” by Julia Quinn

Though it’s the fourth season of the Netflix series, Sophie and Benedict’s story is actually the third book in Julia Quinn’s “Bridgerton” series, and it’s definitely worth reading if you haven’t yet.

In the novel, the gentle reader finds Sophie at a crossroads. An illegitimate child, Sophie’s biological father raised her as his ward, but after he died, her stepmother forced her to become a servant for herself and her two daughters. She finally gets the chance to be a proper lady of the ton for one night when she attends the Bridgerton masquerade ball in disguise. There, she crosses paths with Benedict Bridgerton, and they share an evening that will change both of them forever.

Try as he might, Benedict can’t forget the mystery woman he met at the masquerade, who disappeared without even telling him her name. He’s been searching for her for years when he crosses paths with Sophie again — this time, when she is working as a maid — but he doesn’t recognize her.

Her familiarity nags at Benedict, but he soon finds himself drawn to the Sophie he knows now. Their relationship seems impossible because of their social standings and because of the piece of his heart that still belongs to his mysterious masquerade woman, but true love always finds a way.

A “Cinderella” retelling full of longing and forbidden love, “An Offer from a Gentleman” showcases Quinn at her finest.

“Bringing Down the Duke” by Evie Dunmore

“Bringing Down the Duke” is the first installment in Evie Dunmore’s “A League of Extraordinary Women” series.

It follows Annabelle Archer, one of the first women admitted to the University of Oxford in 1879. Annabelle is a scholarship student, and her financial support depends on her commitment to recruiting influential men to join the suffragette movement.

Annabelle doesn’t know how she’ll convince Sebastian Devereux, the Duke of Montgomery, to help her cause. His support is crucial because he directly influences the Queen’s policies, but the removed Sebastian is more interested in finding a suitable wife than in women’s rights.

Worst of all, neither Annabelle nor Sebastian expected the palpable attraction between them, threatening to derail everything they were both working toward. They’ll have to see which is more powerful: their goals or their feelings for each other.

“The Davenports” by Krystal Marquis

If you love the ensemble cast of “Bridgerton,” Krystal Marquis’ “The Davenports” is the perfect addition to your to-be-read list.

Inspired by the true story of Charles Richard Patterson, Marquis’ novel follows the family of William Davenport, a previously enslaved man who became a successful business owner with the Davenport Carriage Company. By 1910, his family is wealthy and secure, and his children — particularly his daughters Olivia and Helen — have become fixtures of high society.

When “The Davenports” begins, Olivia is set on marrying a suitable match until she finds herself drawn to Washington DeWight, a civil rights activist, while Helen can’t stop thinking about the man who is supposed to be courting her sister, Jacob Lawrence. Meanwhile, the girls’ former close friend and current maid, Amy-Rose, and Olivia’s best friend, Ruby, end up in a love triangle with John Davenport, Olivia and Helen’s charming brother, until Ruby falls for someone she never anticipated.

Full of heart and no shortage of romance, the first installment of “The Davenports” series will scratch the same itch as “Bridgerton.”

“Outlander” by Diana Gabaldon

Like “Bridgerton,” Diana Gabaldon’s historical romance “Outlander” became a successful TV series, but unlike Quinn’s works, her nine-book series comes with a side of magic.

When “Outlander” begins, former combat nurse Claire Randall is trying to find her footing after the end of World War II in 1945. In an attempt to find a new normal, Claire and her husband Frank visit the Scottish Highlands, but a walk through a stone circle sends Claire back in time to 1743, when war was the backdrop of Scotland.

Claire is desperate to return to her life, but to stay alive, she is forced to marry the surprisingly kind warrior, Jamie Fraser. As time passes, her reluctant marriage to Jamie becomes a passion Claire has never known. Will she return to her life in the future or take on an adventure in the past she never expected?

“The Magpie Lord” by KJ Charles

KJ Charles’ “The Magpie Lord” has all the aristocratic fun of “Bridgerton” with the added flair of dark magic.

It’s been two decades since Lucien Vaudrey set foot in London following his exile to China. When his father and brother suddenly die, Lucien has to return to a life he never expected as the new Lord Crane.

However, his earldom comes with the same adversaries his father had, leaving Lucien in danger of nefarious magic. He enlists the help of Stephen Day, a magician who can’t stand the Crane family, to help him.

Stephen expects to loathe Lucien as he did his relatives, but to his surprise, Lucien is relaxed, tattooed, and clearly wants him. As Stephen’s feelings for Lucien deepen, evil continues to invade the lord’s home, putting them both at risk.

“Suddenly You” by Lisa Kleypas

Amanda Briars decides to take her sexuality into her own hands in “Suddenly You” by Lisa Kleypas.

As a 30th birthday gift to herself, author and spinster Amanda decides to seek out a male companion so she can experience intimacy. So when Jack Delvin, a publisher who wants to work with her, appears on her doorstep, she assumes he’s there for a very different reason, leading to a night of passion neither anticipated.

After their encounter, Amanda and Jack still have to work together, and neither can ignore their attraction. Will their different backgrounds keep them apart, or will love bring them together?

“The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels” by India Holton

If you want a romance like “Bridgerton” with a touch of darkness, “The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels” by India Holton will hit the spot.

Although Cecilia Bassingwaite appears to be a demure Victorian woman, she’s actually a thief. She uses her societal standing to swindle goods from England’s upper class as a member of the Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels.

Assassin for hire Ned Lightbourne is tasked with taking Cecilia out for his boss, Captain Morvath, but everything changes when Ned lays eyes on her.

Cecilia and Ned have no choice but to work together to save the Wisteria Society from Morvath’s wrath — drawing them closer and closer together.

“Rebel” by Beverly Jenkins

In “Rebel” by Beverly Jenkins, Valinda Lacy is building a new life for herself in Reconstruction-era New Orleans.

Originally from New York City, Valinda has big dreams of helping rebuild the city, but her hopes are dashed when ruffians make a target of her and the school she created.

Architect Captain Drake LeVeq steps in to help Valinda and is immediately smitten with her. Drake finds everything about Valinda alluring, especially her independence, so he’s devastated to learn she has a responsible fiancé waiting for her in New York.

The more time Val spends in New Orleans with Drake, the less she wants to return to the life set out for her.

The first installment of Jenkins’ “Women Who Dare” series, “Rebel,” is exciting and steamy.

“The Duchess Deal” by Tessa Dare

The first installment in Tessa Dare’s “Girl Meets Duke” series is “The Duchess Deal,” a perfect story for fans of the marriage-of-convenience trope.

The Duke of Ashbury rarely leaves his home after the war, hiding the burns and scars he took home with him. However, he needs to have a child, so he has to get married.

When his fiancée abruptly pulls out of the wedding, and he spots his seamstress, Emma Gladstone, with the dress in hand, he gets Emma to agree to step in and become the duchess.

The duke plans to keep Emma at arm’s length, only visiting her bed at night to produce an heir. That won’t work for Emma, though, who insists they dine together every night. And the longer Emma is in the Duke of Ashbury’s world, the more enamored she is.

“Ana María and the Fox” by Liana De la Rosa

Like “Bridgerton,” Liana De la Rosa’s “Ana María and the Fox” takes place during a society season in Victorian London.

Mexican heiress Ana María Luna Valdés ends up in London with her sisters when the French occupy her home country, giving her the chance to see what life is like when she isn’t under her father’s watchful eye. She can’t help but notice Gideon Fox, a politician with ambitious plans to bring an end to the Atlantic slave trade.

Gideon is sure he doesn’t have time for a romance with anyone, no matter how alluring he finds Ana. To his dismay, he has no choice but to protect her when a rival politician makes advances on her — nor does he have a choice in the feelings he develops for her.

“A Night Like This” by Julia Quinn

If you like the class tension in “An Offer from a Gentleman,” Quinn’s “A Night Like This” might be right up your alley.

The second novel in the “Smythe-Smith Quartet” follows Anne Wynter, the governess for three cousins in the Smythe-Smith family (who will be familiar to fans of “Bridgerton”). Being a governess isn’t her dream job, but it works for Anne, especially since it helps her keep her real identity private.

Anne is hopeful she can maintain her low profile until Daniel Smythe-Smith, the Earl of Winstead, returns to town, and he immediately sets his sights on her. Anne has had no trouble resisting men in the past, but there’s something about Daniel that stirs feelings in her she never anticipated.

When enemies from Daniel’s past threaten not only him but Anne, he’ll show her just how far he’s willing to go to protect her.

“Slightly Married” by Mary Balogh

Like “Bridgerton,” the “Bedwyn Saga” follows a rambunctious family, and the first installment, “Slightly Married,” focuses on the second eldest son, Aidan Bedwyn.

Aidan might look tough, but underneath it all, the colonel has a soft heart. That warmth leads him to visit Ringwood Manor after one of his soldiers died, determined to care for the man’s sister in his stead.

Instead of finding a grieving, helpless woman, he meets Eve, an enchanting and fearless woman who quickly makes clear that Aidan’s help is the last thing she wants. However, when Aidan offers to marry her so she can keep her home, Eve feels she has no choice but to accept.

Although Aidan is immediately drawn to Eve, the pair agree to a loveless marriage, but one kiss may undo everything they had planned.

• Snow days turn work-from-home parenting into controlled chaos.
• We cancel meetings, loosen screen rules, and get creative.
• Flexibility is the only way working parents get through it.

A massive storm is causing havoc not only for travelers in the US but also for working parents whose kids’ schools are once again closed for a snow day.

I reached out to colleagues across the newsroom here at Business Insider to see how everyone is coping with balancing work and keeping kids entertained at home.

From crafts in bathrooms to kids calling their friends on landlines, and from parents canceling non-essential meetings and being camera-off, this is how we do it.

A balance of outdoor time and crafts indoors.

My two kids, 6 and 8, are thrilled to have a snow day. They are currently outside with some of their neighborhood friends playing in a huge pile of snow that the plows deposited on the corner of our property. My husband was at his computer super early this morning, so he’s taking the first shift with the kids outside so I can work.

Later today, they’ll all be back inside, and I’m going to attempt to keep them occupied and off their screens for as long as possible. I impulsively bought some craft kits right before the storm, and they have had a great ROI. This Mondo Llama clay character kit from Target has been a big hit, keeping three kids occupied for more than an hour with very little supervision while the snow was still falling yesterday. Today, I’m going to tempt them with an opportunity to make jungle animals from another kit, and we might even get a head start on our Valentine’s Day gifts for their classmates.

Luckily, my kids are fairly self-sufficient once they are set up with a project, so I’m hoping I won’t have too many distractions. (Famous last words?)

Jennifer Beck Goldblatt, Senior Editor

A secondhand piano buys sometime before Netflix kicks in.

I’m currently drinking my third coffee of the day out of my “super mom” mug, which feels appropriate. Last night, my husband stayed a few towns over to care for his aunt, so I’m solo-parenting three boys (6, 9, and 12) and trying to work. The storm falling the day after a weekend helped; I was able to cook ahead — soup, cookies, mac and cheese, etc. — that we will eat on the fly today. Three boys eat a lot.

The huge saving grace is that I bought a lovely secondhand piano a few months ago. My kids all take lessons and really love it. My oldest has been downloading YouTube videos to learn new songs, which is actually quite beautiful to listen to while I try to participate in meetings and edit stories.

After lunch, I’ll try to kick everyone outside, but the snow is very deep here (north of Boston), and I’ll have to keep a close eye. After reading what my colleagues are up to, I may bust out the art projects and, of course, Netflix soon, too.

Debbie Strong, Deputy Executive Editor

A landline gives kids independence to set up playdates.

My kids have had three snow days since school started again three weeks ago. My kids are all still in elementary school, so they don’t get remote learning or homework. It’s up to my husband and me to keep them entertained and from fighting with each other.

Adding a Tin Can has been key because we have tons of kids on our street, and they have been mastering how to set up playdates without our help. The neighborhood kids go from one backyard to another, “helping” with shoveling snow from driveways, to sledding down tiny hills. We’ve also started doing lunch and a movie, or dinner and a movie, so we can have some quiet time to do whatever we need.

All my meetings when the kids are at home are camera-off because I either haven’t had time to shower or someone is sitting on my lap having a tiny meltdown.

Conz Preti, Deputy Editor

All non-essential meetings are canceled.

Snow days are a special kind of chaos in a New York City apartment. My 5-year-old is currently doing “science experiments” with food coloring in the shower, and my 7-year-old is thrilled for a bonus day of screens since he usually only gets iPad time on the weekend. My husband and I will take turns hiding in our bedroom to work. I’m canceling non-essential meetings and have warned my team I might be slow to reply.

Once we run out of patience for obstacle courses, art projects, and chess (probably by lunch!), then it’s Netflix time.

Julie Zeveloff, Director of Editorial Product Strategy

Snow days are for playing in the snow after virtual school is over.

As a work-from-home dad, I’m usually the default parent when school closes or someone’s sick. But today’s snow day is different — my wife’s charter school is fully closed, too. I’ve set up shop at my desk in our bedroom while she handles remote learning for our first grader in the living room, with our 2-year-old running laps around them both. So far, so good.

The highlight of the day? Our son’s summer camp — Ramah Nyack — is hosting a midday Zoom dance party. Since we missed the COVID-era remote school by a few years, virtual events like this still feel novel and exciting to our 6-year-old. The best part is that the virtual school day wraps up early, leaving plenty of afternoon daylight for what a snow day should be about: playing in the snow.

Reuben Ingber, Engineering Manager

Managing expectations at work is important.

My husband works in live TV, so he never gets “WFH” days, and when my kids (4 and 6) have snow days or get sick, it’s usually on me. I’ve found that activities like puzzles, crafting, building, and coloring only last so long before my kids ask me to join in. During long meetings in which I need to actively participate, screen time has no limits. This morning, Mrs. Frizzle babysat my kids.

Managing expectations is key, so I proactively communicated to my team and my manager that today is a snow day and that I’ll be less productive and responsive than usual.

Anne Porto, Managing Director

Some have to play Tetris with schedules.

My almost-2-year-old is usually at day care, so my partner and I had to do some calendar tetris to figure out how to make our day work. We rescheduled one-on-one meetings and reviewed our schedules to identify overlaps. We need to make sure that at least one of us is free to listen in with our toddler in the other room while the other is presenting during a meeting.

Our teams were also very understanding of the need to reschedule anything and of guest appearances from the toddler at the beginning or end of calls, as we do hand-offs between the two of us.

Starr Chen, Subscriptions Engineering Manager

Lots of outside time and hot cocoa after to warm up.

A snow day is a perfect opportunity to go outside, especially once the wintry winds have calmed. My kids love to play outside. We give them hot cocoa afterward and dry their jackets, snow pants, and gloves in the dryer.

Sam Fellman, Deputy Editor

• American business leaders have been overwhelmingly silent following the death of Alex Pretti at the hands of federal agents.
• Their reticence is understandable: Who wants to anger Donald Trump and his supporters?
• But that’s not an adequate response for many Americans.

A question for America’s business leaders: Do you think that masked federal agents were right to shoot and kill protester Alex Pretti on a Minneapolis street on Saturday?

If the answer is yes, then no need to read further.

For the rest of you: If you are sickened by what you saw this weekend — say that. Out loud. And don’t qualify it with “both sides” framing — just say that the thing that you saw, with your own eyes, is appalling.

I understand why most of you have not said this yet. You have several reasons to be quiet.

• The Trump administration has spent the last year making it clear that it will pressure and punish institutions and companies that don’t bend to its will. See: Law firms, colleges, media companies, for starters.
• Attaching yourself to any issue that can be considered “political” can generate blowback, starting with the threat of consumer boycotts.
• A bunch of you did speak up in 2020, following the murder of George Floyd, and embraced all kinds of pro-diversity statements and policies. Many of you have since walked away from those moves, partly under pressure from the Trump administration and its allies. Why go through the whiplash again?

To be clear, I’m not asking you to launch an ad campaign, or order up some performative Instagram posts, or any other kind of corporate theatre.

Just say the thing you believe is right: It’s wrong for masked federal agents to kill protesters in the streets, and that you condemn it.

You can go further if you’d like. Perhaps a call for the Trump administration to take accountability for its agents’ actions. Maybe you can ask for a truly independent investigation into Pretti’s killing. Whatever your conscience tells you.

And yes, I know that it’s easier for me to say this than for you to do it. There could be consequences for you and your companies when you speak out: Most people are appalled by Pretti’s death, but not all of them.

Shortly after Pretti’s death, Trump administration officials described him as a “would-be assassin” who “wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement” — characterizations without evidence, but meant to justify Pretti’s death. On Saturday, Trump posted a photo of a gun administration officials say was removed from Pretti, and argued that “ICE had to protect themselves — Not an easy thing to do!” In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Trump said that the administration was “reviewing everything” about the shooting, but said that overall, his agents had done a “phenomenal job” in Minnesota.

So there could be real risk for you. But the bigger risk is silence.

That’s because your silence tells everyone who is appalled by Pretti’s death that they shouldn’t speak up, either. That gives the federal government the tacit permission to carry on.

So say you’re against that. Now. Before it stops shocking you.

• Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, took out a full-page ad in WSJ to apologize for his antisemitic behavior.
• He linked his outbursts to a 2002 car accident and what he described as an undiagnosed brain injury.
• Ye’s antisemitic rants, songs, and merchandise lost him millions in brand deals, including a major partnership with Adidas.

Ye turned to print for his latest apology for past antisemitic remarks and merchandise, linking the actions to a past 2002 injury.

The popular artist formerly known as Kanye West took out a full-page ad in The Wall Street Journal’s section A — a page that typically goes for a five-figure sum.

The Monday ad — one of the artist’s longest at over 700 words — addressed “Those I’ve Hurt” and attempted to explain his controversial behavior in recent years, which led him to lose multiple business deals.

In the apology, Ye attributed his erratic public statements — including antisemitic remarks and Swastika merchandise — to what he described as an undiagnosed brain injury from a 2002 car accident.

The rapper said the crash left him with a shattered jaw and damage to the right frontal lobe of his brain. While doctors treated his visible injuries at the time, Ye said the neurological damage wasn’t properly addressed.

“The deeper injury, the one inside my skull, went unnoticed,” he wrote.

The apology also reveals that he is a Reddit user, with Ye writing that the online forum showed him that “it’s not just me who ruins their entire life once a year despite taking meds every day.”

“I have found comfort in Reddit forums of all places. Different people speak of being in manic or depressive episodes of a similar nature. I read their stories and realized that I was not alone,” Ye said.

The latest in a string of apologies

This isn’t the first time Ye has apologized for his behavior, which became increasingly controversial in recent years and resulting in widespread backlash.

He’s previously said he would go “death con 3 on Jewish people,” worn “White Lives Matter” shirts with Candace Owens, and last year recorded a song that chanted “Heil Hitler.” The actions likely contributed to him losing his place on Forbes’ billionaires list, as brands like Adidas ended partnerships.

He’s also made a habit of apologizing and then later backtracking and making continued antisemitic remarks.

In 2022, he issued an apology while comparing himself to George Floyd.

“It hurt the Black people,” he said at the time. “So I want to apologize for hurting them because right now God has shown me by what Adidas is doing, and by what the media is doing, I know how it feels to have a knee on my neck now.”

In 2023, the rapper apologized to the Jewish community in an Instagram post, saying he was “learning from this experience to ensure greater sensitivity and understanding.”

In 2025, he publicly retracted his 2023 apology in a post on X and said he was a Nazi.

Read Ye’s full apology below:

To Those I’ve Hurt:

Twenty-five years ago, I was in a car accident that broke my jaw and caused injury to the right frontal lobe of my brain. At the time, the focus was on the visible damage — the fracture, the swelling, and the immediate physical trauma. The deeper injury, the one inside my skull, went unnoticed.

Comprehensive scans were not done, neurological exams were limited, and the possibility of a frontal-lobe injury was never raised. It wasn’t properly diagnosed until 2023. That medical oversight caused serious damage to my mental health and led to my bipolar type-1 diagnosis.

Bipolar disorder comes with its own defense system. Denial. When you’re manic, you don’t think you’re sick. You think everyone else is overreacting. You feel like you’re seeing the world more clearly than ever, when in reality you’re losing your grip entirely.

Once people label you as “crazy,” you feel as if you cannot contribute anything meaningful to the world. It’s easy for people to joke and laugh it off when in fact this is a very serious debilitating disease you can die from. According to the World Health Organization and Cambridge University, people with bipolar disorder have a life expectancy that is shortened by 10 to 15 years on average, and a 2x-3x higher all-cause mortality rate than the general population. This is on par with severe heart disease, type 1 diabetes, HIV, and cancer — all lethal and fatal if left untreated.

The scariest thing about this disorder is how persuasive it is when it tells you: You don’t need help. It makes you blind, but convinced you have insight. You feel powerful, certain, unstoppable.

I lost touch with reality. Things got worse the longer I ignored the problem. I said and did things I deeply regret. Some of the people I love the most, I treated the worst. You endured fear, confusion, humiliation, and the exhaustion of trying to have someone who was, at times, unrecognizable. Looking back, I became detached from my true self.

In that fractured state, I gravitated toward the most destructive symbol I could find, the swastika, and even sold T-shirts bearing it. One of the difficult aspects of having bipolar type-1 are the disconnected moments – many of which I still cannot recall – that led to poor judgment and reckless behavior that oftentimes feels like an out-of-body-experience. I regret and am deeply mortified by my actions in that state, and am committed to accountability, treatment, and meaningful change. It does not excuse what I did though. I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people.

To the black community – which held me down through all of the highs and lows and the darkest of times. The black community is, unquestionably, the foundation of who I am. I am so sorry to have let you down. I love us.

In early 2025, I fell into a four-month long manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behavior that destroyed my life. As the situation became increasingly unsustainable, there were times I didn’t want to be here any more.

Having bipolar disorder is notable state of constant mental illness. When you go into a manic episode, you are ill at that point. When you are not in an episode, you are completely “normal”. And that’s when the wreckage from the illness hits the hardest. Hitting rock bottom a few months ago, my wife encouraged me to finally get help.

I have found comfort in Reddit forums of all places. Different people speak of being in manic or depressive episodes of a similar nature. I read their stories and realized that I was not alone. It’s not just me who ruins their entire life once a year despite taking meds every day and being told by the so-called best doctors in the world that I am not bipolar, but merely experiencing “symptoms of autism”.

My words as a leader in my community have global impact and influence. In my mania, I lost complete sight of that.

As I find my new baseline and new center through an effective regime of medication, therapy, exercise and clean living, I have newfound, much-needed clarity. I am pouring my energy into positive, meaningful art: music, clothing, design and other new ideas to help the world.

I’m not asking for sympathy, or a free pass, though I aspire to earn your forgiveness. I write today simply to ask for your patience and understanding as I find my way home.”

With love,

Ye

• Federal immigration officers shot and killed Alex Pretti, 37, in Minneapolis on Saturday.
• It was the second fatal shooting of a US citizen by ICE in Minneapolis this month.
• The killing elicited sharp reactions from Americans, including business and tech leaders.

Federal immigration agents on Saturday shot and killed a US citizen in Minneapolis — the second fatal shooting involving ICE officers this month — adding more fuel to an already explosive national debate over immigration enforcement.

The killing sparked an outcry on Minneapolis streets, as well as online, eliciting sharp responses from all sides, including leaders in the business and tech communities.

The billionaire CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, Bill Ackman, for instance, wrote in a post on X that it was “time to take the temperature down before more lives are lost.”

Minnesota officials, including Gov. Tim Walz, criticized the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, for what they said were overly aggressive tactics. The DHS, meanwhile, defended its agents, arguing that they are being provoked by unruly protesters and an uncooperative city government and police.

Thousands of ICE officers began descending on Minnesota on December 1 as part of Operation Metro Surge. The DHS says it is targeting criminal activity among immigrants in the state and has deployed over 2,000 ICE agents across Minnesota.

Residents of Minneapolis and neighboring St. Paul have been protesting since the federal immigration agents arrived. Those demonstrations grew more intense after the first fatal shooting on January 7. In that incident, ICE agents shot and killed Renee Good, 37, as she tried to drive away in a car.

Here’s how business and tech leaders are reacting to the latest violence.

CEOs of major Minnesota-based companies

The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce distributed a letter on Sunday signed by more than 60 CEOs of Minnesota-based companies.

Among the signatories were Target CEO Michael Fiddelke, 3M CEO William Brown, Allianz Life Insurance Company CEO Jasmine Jirele, Cargill CEO Brian Sikes, General Mills CEO Jeff Harmening, and UnitedHealth Group CEO Stephen Hemsley, among many others.

The letter called for an “immediate de-escalation of tensions” and for state, local, and federal officials to “work together to find real solutions.”

“In this difficult moment for our community, we call for peace and focused cooperation among local, state, and federal leaders to achieve a swift and durable solution that enables families, businesses, our employees, and communities across Minnesota to resume our work to build a bright and prosperous future,” the letter says.

Bill Ackman

The hedge-fund billionaire called for calm in an X post on Saturday, lamenting that the United States had reached a point where “there are only two sides to every issue and every incident.”

“Individuals are ‘convicted’ of serious crimes in the headlines, by politicians appealing to their base, and ultimately in the minds of the public, or they are exonerated, before all of the facts are in and a detailed investigation has been completed,” He wrote. “This is not good for America.”

Just two hours later, in another post on X, Ackman laid the blame on Minnesota’s state government.

“It is almost as if the governor of Minnesota called for protesters to intervene in ICE enforcements in an incendiary manner,” he said, tagging Walz. “Inciting the people to rise up against law enforcement is guaranteed to end badly, and now we have seen the tragic consequences.”

Reid Hoffman

Like Ackman, billionaire LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman is perpetually online, posting frequently on social media. He has been largely quiet this weekend, though he has reposted comments from other people, including one that called ICE “out of control.”

In another post that Hoffman amplified, an X user called out “chronically online tech leaders” for suddenly falling quiet. Another X user called on business and tech leaders to use their platform to stand up to the Trump administration and its immigration enforcement tactics, to which Hoffman replied, “It’s time for all Americans to do so.”

James Dyett

James Dyett, head of global business at OpenAI, also called on leaders in the tech and business communities to use their influence to criticize the Trump administration’s immigration policies.

“There is far more outrage from tech leaders over a wealth tax than masked ICE agents terrorizing communities and executing civilians in the streets,” Dyer wrote on X. “Tells you what you need to know about the values of our industry.”

Jeff Dean

Jeff Dean, Google DeepMind’s chief scientist, wrote in response to a video of the shooting circulating on X: “This is absolutely shameful.”

“Agents of a federal agency unnecessarily escalating, and then executing a defenseless citizen whose offense appears to be using his cellphone camera,” he wrote. “Every person, regardless of political affiliation, should be denouncing this.”

Minneapolis police confirmed that Pretti, who was filming ICE agents when they wrestled him to the ground, was legally carrying a gun.

Border Patrol officials said Pretti had threatened them with the gun, but multiple videos of the incident show that agents had already disarmed and subdued Pretti when he was shot.

Jason Calacanis

Jason Calacanis, a prominent investor and entrepreneur who is these days perhaps most known as one of the hosts of the popular “All-In” podcast, blamed the country’s political leaders in a post on X on Sunday.

“Once again, I will remind everyone that our leaders are failing us,” he wrote. “True leadership would be to calm this situation down by telling these non-peaceful protesters to stay home while recalling these inadequately-trained agents.”

He later posted that “all of this violence” could be avoided by fining businesses that hire immigrants who are not in the country legally.

Cristina Cordova

Cristina Cordova, the chief operating officer at Linear, a product management software company, called the incident “indefensible” in a post on X.

“The victim’s legally owned handgun was removed from the scene, and then ICE agents shot him multiple times. It’s far from law enforcement — it’s just murder,” she wrote.

“Those who defend this don’t care about law or order. It’s about money, power, and protecting an executive branch that’s already been bought and paid for.”