CNN Anchor Inhales ‘Something In The Air’ During ‘Intense’ Moment At Minneapolis Protest

On Jan 10, 2026

CNN’s Laura Coates was reporting live from a protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Thursday when things got pretty dicey.

CNN’s Laura Coates is breathing in what seems to be gas during a live broadcast of a protest.

Protests began raging across the city after an ICE agent fatally shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Good on Wednesday. The Department of Homeland Security has characterized the mom as one of several “violent rioters” who were blocking ICE officers during a targeted operation, and that she “weaponized her vehicle” in an attempt to run over an officer. Videos of the incident, however, indicate that Good was attempting to reverse her car and flee the scene when an officer shot at her several times. Due to DHS’ statements on the incident and the footage published widely to social media by witnesses tell two completely different stories, many people are outraged.

A sign found near a protest on Thursday in Minneapolis, Minnesota after 37-year-old Renee Good was fatally shot by an ICE officer the day before.

After showing viewers remnants of pepper-spray balls that stained the street and protestors carrying milk containers, Coates went on to describe the scene at the protest.

“The tension here is palpable,” Coates reported. “People are upset. They are compelled to come down here. They do not trust that there will be an independent investigation.”

Protesters clash with law enforcement outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Minneapolis, Minnesota following the fatal shooting of Renee Good.

After pointing out a few more details of the chaos that was unfolding, ICE agents began to encroach on the demonstrators.

“We’ve got them coming out right now — The ICE agents coming down, guns drawn right now,” Coates continued. “They’re spraying something into the air right now. People are concerned. I’m going in closer right now. Here we go.”

A beat later, Coates began to cough.

“There’s something in the air right now that makes me cough a little bit,” Coates said as she started to detect the pepper spray. She then noticed the ICE agents getting even closer to protestors.

“Since I have been here, they haven’t gotten this close,” Coates said. “You can see they’re all masked. They’re angry. They’re asking [protestors] for [their] milk right now.”

She continued to calmly describe the scene.

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“We’ve got people around right now, about 40 or so ICE agents that are out here in the area. There is something that is in the air causing you to cough a little bit. [ICE agents] are retreating right now as the crowd is coming closer and closer. They are retreating back in one single line, holding the line as they’re walking right now. You have people who are close, and they’re continuing to yell,” she said.

Throughout the video, protesters could be heard chanting “Shame!” and “Take off your masks!” while others shouted “Fuck you!”

Coates continued, “It’s so intense right now. It’s happening. They’re backing up now, back behind the distance as the crowds are there. …They’re shooting some kind of pellets! The gas has come down right now. We’re going to back up a little bit more. It’s in the air.”

Community members during a vigil following a fatal shooting of Good in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Wednesday.

At this point, Kasie Hunt, who was watching the footage from a CNN studio, told Coates, “Just let us know if you need to move to a safe location right now.”

But Coates plowed up as she began to cough even more.

“There’s been tear gas. People are coughing. It is in the air,” Coates exclaimed. “What it feels like — It feels a little like you’re choking in your chest, and it feels like you’re trying to catch your breath. It inflames your nostrils. It’s a burning sensation in your chest. It’s a burning sensation in your nostrils as well. I’m not going to go further right now, but it does — makes you cough.”

After noting a few more details, Coates described the protestors’ reactions to being tear-gassed.

“People are agitated,” she said. “They are angry, and now they’ve been tear-gassed yet again.”

Watch the full clip above.