During Wednesday’s broadcast of Katy Tur Reports on MSNBC, network Security and Intelligence Analyst Christopher O’Leary discussed [1] the recent shooting at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Texas and argued that federal law enforcement practices should be reviewed alongside calls to reduce political rhetoric.
O’Leary began by characterizing terrorism as a form of communication aimed at shaping perceptions beyond those directly affected.
“So, terrorism is theater. It’s intended to influence an audience beyond its immediate victims. It’s putting a message out. And terrorism falls into really three categories: It’s either religiously motivated, ideologically motivated, or, in this case, politically motivated,” he said.
“And the politically motivated ones, it doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It happens because conditions have been set that people start acting out against.”
According to O’Leary, the current environment has fueled anger and contributed to violent acts against government institutions.
He cited several factors, including diminishing confidence in institutions, economic inequality, and how federal law enforcement operates.
“The conditions are distrust in institutions — that’s been building for quite some time — attacks on institutions, the wealth gap, oppressive policies — at least this is what people perceive — and then the militarization of ICE and other federal law enforcement, the wearing of the masks, the aggressive tactics,” O’Leary explained.
He argued that these conditions create a sense among some individuals that violent acts are the only available means of protest.
“So, the people who are starting to act out against this feel it’s their only recourse. Again, this is predictable. We see this happening throughout our history and in other places as well,” O’Leary said.
While noting that toning down heated political rhetoric is important, O’Leary maintained that addressing underlying policies and enforcement methods is equally necessary.
“So, we can tone down the rhetoric, and that’s the right message. But you also have to start looking at what policies you’ve implemented and what tactics you’re using, because, if you tone down the rhetoric, but you leave those other pieces in place, nothing’s going to change,” he said.
Former FBI agent Christopher O’Leary is on MSNBC telling Trump to bend the knee and stop the deportations of people here illegally, or the attacks will not only continue, but they will escalate. pic.twitter.com/TlqR9PbnBx [2]
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) September 24, 2025 [3]
The comments followed reports of gunfire directed at an ICE facility in Texas, which authorities confirmed was under investigation.
O’Leary’s remarks highlighted an ongoing debate over the relationship between public discourse, government policy, and violent acts targeting federal agencies.
He framed the Texas shooting as part of a broader pattern in which political motivations drive individuals to target institutions they see as symbols of oppressive or unfair practices.
As the investigation into the ICE facility shooting continues, O’Leary’s analysis suggested that federal agencies may face increasing scrutiny not only over the incidents themselves but also over the policies and tactics that critics argue contribute to the conditions in which such attacks occur.